Hong Kong: Security chief, youths visit GD Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today led members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum on a three-day innovation and technology study tour in the Greater Bay Area. The study tour covers visits and exchange programmes in Dongguan and Shenzhen for the youths to learn about the countrys developments, understand national affairs and broaden their horizons, the bureau said. In the morning, Mr Tang and over 20 members of the leaders forum arrived in Dongguan and toured the Humen Fort and the Naval Battle Museum before attending a seminar organised by leaders of the Dongguan Municipal Government. Noting that it was the leaders forums first activity outside Hong Kong, Mr Tang said the members will be able to study the countrys significant developments in different aspects. The security chief and youth leaders called on Huaweis research institute in Songshan Lake in the afternoon, to learn about the firms research, training and development. The group also visited the Songshan Lake Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation & Start-up Base and were briefed by young people from Hong Kong and Macau on their experiences in starting a business and career development plans in the Mainland. In the evening, they visited the China Resources (Holdings) Company to understand its diverse development. In the coming two days, the groups itinerary includes calling on the headquarters of BYD and Tencent in Shenzhen, a tour of Shenzhen University, and a visit to the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation & Entrepreneur Hub. The group will also go to the Shenzhen Reform & Opening-up Exhibition Hall, the OH Bay and the MixC World to learn about the Mainlands different facets, the bureau added. This story has been published on: 2023-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chinese FM calls for stronger China-Africa mutual support, strategic synergy Xinhua) 09:04, May 26, 2023 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends and addresses the reception celebrating the Africa Day in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the reception celebrating the Africa Day on Thursday in Beijing, putting forward propositions on further deepening China-Africa cooperation. Addressing the reception, Qin congratulated the Organization of African Unity on its 60th anniversary on behalf of the Chinese government, noting that Africa has become an important force with global influence and rising international status. Entering a new era of building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, China and Africa need to strengthen unity and cooperation more than ever, Qin said. He called on China and Africa to firmly safeguard each other's legitimate rights and interests and further strengthen mutual support on issues concerning each other's sovereignty, development and dignity. China and Africa should actively promote modernization programs with distinctive features, Qin said, calling on both sides to promote synergy among the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the African Union's Agenda 2063 and other development strategies of African countries, and help Africa accelerate industrialization, localization and economic diversification. Qin said China and Africa should jointly promote the reform of the global governance system, safeguard the common interests of developing countries and continue to pool the strength of developing countries. China and Africa need to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative, de-escalate hotspot issues in Africa and around the world, and jointly address non-traditional security challenges, Qin said, calling for improving the UN's efforts to promote peace and stability in Africa, and enhancing Africa's capacity to fight terrorism and maintain stability. Qin also called for further strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and accelerating the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative in Africa. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Christophe Lutundula, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attended the reception. They said China has become the most important partner for African integration, and Africa is ready to carry forward the spirit of partnership and jointly build a community with a shared future for Africa and China as well as for mankind. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) (688271):UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE 2022 ESG REPORT 20230526 19:07:24 : : :United Imaging Healthcare 2022 ESG Report 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. Introduction to Sustainable Development Products with Ingenuity Green Convey Health Appendixthe Report Management and Excellent Quality Development and Warmth3 Message from the 14 Stakeholders Engagement 34 Product Quality 47 Environmental Management 53 Access to Medical Treatment 57 GRI Standards Content Index Management Team System and Contribution to UN SDGs 15 Materiality Assessment 36 Optimize Customer Experience 55 Additional Health Care4 About the Report 47 Clean Production and 38 Responsible Supply Chain Operation 5 Key Performance Indicators in 2022 49 Tackle Climate Change 7 About United Imaging 8 Company Profile Responsible People-oriented Governance and Share Success 9 United Imaging Development Milestones 17 Compliance Operation 41 Employees Rights and Interests 10 Awards and Recognitions 18 Information Security 42 Employee Career Growth 21 Responsible Marketing 44 Create an Inclusive Workplace 22 Intellectual Property Protection 45 Occupational Health and SafetyuInnovation-Driven and Win-Win Cooperation 25 Core of uInnovation 26 Product Innovation 30 Promote Industry Development Message from the Management Team In 2011, with favorable timing, geographical advantages, valuable organizational resilience, responding quickly, the industry and served medical institutions in more than corruption governance within the industry, complying and the unity of human , Shanghai United Imaging being agile and innovative, and working together with 50 countries around the world. At the same time, we with international trade rules and external regulatory Healthcare Co., Ltd. was established. In the past twelve teams and external institutions to cope with complex have deepened our cooperation with global universities, requirements. In addition, we have established effective years, we have broken through the boundaries of medical situations. At the same time, in the face of uncertainty, hospitals, research institutions, and industry partners, communication channels between employees, users, technology innovation with creativity. From complete we have always grasped our own determinate strength, accelerating the promotion of precision diagnosis and and shareholders, and encourage employees to actively machine systems to core components, and then to key firmly and continuously innovating, constantly breaking treatment and forward-looking research exploration. participate in the Company's governance and decision- components, we have driven the continuous improvement through, and achieving steady growth. In August 2022, Innovation has never stopped. making processes. of product performance and the continuous reduction United Imaging successfully landed on the capital of costs, and have comprehensively reshaped the market, entering a new stage of development. It also We take the deep-seated demands and clinical needs of The core of all our actions is people. We regard standards of the industry in technology, design, service, brings us more attention and expectations, and we must patients and users as the focal point of innovation. We employees as the most valuable asset and are committed and process, as well as witnessed and promoted the assume greater social responsibility to repay this trust. cross mountains and seas, travel to every corner of the to creating a united, friendly, and harmonious workplace decade-long transformation of China's high-end medical world, and approach every life with our hearts. Moreover, environment for them. We strive to create a positive equipment industry. Therefore, as a global medical high-tech enterprise, we empower technology with innovation, regardless of corporate culture, oppose discrimination based on we always adhere to the mission of "To Bring Equal wealth and geography, so that the value of innovation can race, ethnicity, region or social background, nationality, 2022 is a year that will be remembered by all United Healthcare for All" and firmly support the United be sublimated, thus injecting Chinese wisdom and vitality lineage, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital Imaging employees. The global situation is tumultuous, Nations' 2030 Agenda that we integrate the concept of into the construction of the world health community. status, and understand, appreciate and encourage with the Russian-Ukrainian war, the global public sustainable development into our company's strategy differences in the workplace, and hope to provide a health crisis, and other factors exacerbating economic and operation, promoting enterprise development and To create a low-carbon and environmentally friendly stage for everyone to realize their personal value. uncertainty. At the same time, the global technology contributing to the enhancement of social well-being. production and operation mode, we have optimized innovation has entered an unprecedentedly intense our energy use structure, actively promoted green The new journey is a journey for dream chasers. There and active period, and a new round of technological We regard innovation as the foundation of our business, awareness among employees, advocated for green office is no plain road to achieving great ideals. The new era is revolution and industrial transformation is emerging, and we have kept high R&D investment and a high level initiatives, and organized activities related to World an era for strivers, with countless new challenges for us with competition and constraints becoming even more of innovative talent as the driving forces to promote Environment Day. In addition, we have gradually built to face. In 2023, we will forge ahead with courage and intense. The times are changing, the industry is changing, the process of medical technology and medical model the green innovation competitiveness of our company faith and continue to strive to shoulder the responsibility but the persistence and dedication of our employees to innovation. We have built a professional team of more while pursuing economic benefits to contribute to global for customers, employees, and shareholders, as well as innovation and change remain unchanged. than 7,300 people worldwide. A number of industry- climate action and carbon neutrality. the responsibility for the industry and society, bringing leading products, such as the world's first 2-meter PET/ equal healthcare for all to China and the world. "Resilience" and "Vitality" are the two key words for us CT, 5.0T MRI, 75cm large aperture 3.0T MRI, and the We always prioritize transparency and fairness in in 2022. Faced with new challenges, we have shown world's first integrated CT-linac have filled the gap in corporate governance. We insist on promoting anti- About Reporting Standards Reporting Scope and Boundary Access to the ReportThe Report is prepared mainly in accordance Reporting scope of the Group: The performance The Report is published in both English and simplified with the Rules Governing the Listing of Stocks on indicators in the Report cover all main businesses of Chinese. In case of any inconsistency in content, the the Report the Science and Technology Innovation Board of the Group. Unless otherwise stated, both the economic simplified Chinese version shall prevail. To support Shanghai Stock Exchange and the GRI Sustainability performance indicators and social performance environmental protection, the Report is published Reporting Guidelines (GRI Standards) issued by the indicators herein cover all entities within the reporting in electronic form, which can be accessed and The 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), to scope of the Companys consolidated financial downloaded on United Imagings official website continuously improve the disclosure transparency statements, while the environmental performance (https://www.united-imaging.com/). of United Imaging Healthcare (hereinafter the Report) of the Groups sustainability-related information indicators cover 4 main office/production/R&D sites is the first environmental, social and governance and respond to the stakeholders concern about the of the Group, including Shanghai Headquarters, Suggestions are welcomed through the following (hereinafter ESG) report issued by Shanghai United Groups ESG management and performance. Shanghai Production Factory, Changzhou Production contact details. Your opinions will help us further Base and Wuhan Production Base. improve the Report and enhance the Groups ESG Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. The Report aims to performance. disclose the Groups management strategies, practice E-mailIR@united-imaging.com and achievements in view of the ESG sustainability to Address: 2258 Chengbei Road, Jiading District, the stakeholders including shareholders and investors, Shanghai 201807, China. Abbreviation employees, customers, governments, partners, and the public in an objective and truthful way. Abbreviation Reference The Group, We, United Imaging, UIH Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries The Company Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. Changzhou Production Base United Imaging (Changzhou) Healthcare Co., Ltd.Data of the Report Wuhan Production Base Wuhan United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.Data and cases in the Report are derived from official documents and statistical reports of the US Production Base UIH Technologies LLC Group, and reviewed by relevant departments. The currency in the Report is RMB. As some amounts and percentage numbers in the Report have been rounded, the total amounts may not be the sum of the figures in some tables. Reporting Period Confirmation and Approval Report publication frequency: The Report is released The Report was approved for release by the Board annually. of Directors (the Board) of the Group on 26 Reporting timescale: from 1 January 2022 to April, 2023. The Board commits to supervising the 31 December 2022. In order to enhance the content of the Report and ensuring that it does not Net profit attributable to shareholders of the Key Performance listed company YOY increase by Economic Performance Indicators Indicators RMB billion 1.656 % 16.86 Under public scrutiny, the Company has given back in 2022 to customers, shareholders, employees, and society with long-term, sustainable value creation through Operating revenue YOY increase by standardized governance and efficient communication. RMB billion % 9.238 27.36 R&D investment (including capitalized expenditure) YOY increase byDuring the Reporting Period, the Company continued to strengthen its core competitiveness in R&D, technology, RMB billion % 1.466 39.8939.89 quality, marketing, service and supply chain, and etc., as well as made scientific decisions and promoted the The Company upholds the principle of "uinnovation- implementation of the Company's various strategic driven and win-win cooperation", and is guided by plans and business layouts in a rational and orderly clinical needs and market trends to keep increasing its manner, thus continuously optimizing and enhancing its R&D investment and strengthening the technological global supply chain management system and marketing development, thus continuously launching innovative system, and providing a solid foundation for the stable products for the market and breaking through a series and healthy growth of various financial indicators. of industry technological problems. All taxes and fees paid by the Company Number of countries in which products are launched Net profit after deduction of parental profit YOY increase by RMB billion countries RMB billion % 0.70 59 1.328 13.9113.91 In 2022, the Company actually paid RMB 0.7 With our competitive and innovative technology and In the face of an uncertain environment, the Company billion in taxes and fees, effectively fulfilling its total solutions, the Company's overseas sales have took advantage of certainty to quickly respond, innovate Social Performance Environmental Indicators Performance Indicators Donated Water consumption Water consumption intensity RMB million tons tons/million RMB 10.35 206,359.00 22.3422.34 By donating medical equipment and sharing high quality medical resources, we are able to collaborate and interconnect hospitals, promote the accessibility of Energy consumption Energy consumption intensity medical services, and contribute to the revitalization of rural areas. Therefore, the residents in townships and GJ GJ/million RMB counties can be treated without leaving the township. 201,987.21 21.8621.86 Products certified Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions intensitytons CO e tons CO e/million RMB 90+ 36,556.13 2 3.963.96 2 90+ products with international leading performance The Company is actively exploring the path of low indicators are certified and launched to the market, carbon and environmental protection development. We creating a new scene of medical treatment integration. continuously promote green production in response to Through process cooling water system renovation projects and ground source heat projects the national strategic objectives of achieving "carbon peaking" by 2030 and "carbon neutrality" by 2060. United Imaging 2016 Changzhou Production Base was formally put into use, functioning as the world's largest intelligent device Development Milestones manufacturing base, covering an area of approximately 230,000 square meters. 2017 Series A financing of RMB 3.333 billion was completed, with a post-investment valuation of approximately 33.333 billion, marking the largest single private financing in China's medical device industry in the current year. 2011 2014 2018 2021 Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. was UIH High-end Medical Device Industrial Base was built UIH North American Headquarters was established in Wuhan Production Base was officially open, the base formally founded. in Shanghai, covering an area of 120,000 square meters, Houston, Texas, with an area of approximately 9,000 integrates R&D, production and operation, with a total which provides powerful support to the upgrading and square meters. area of more than 200,000 square meters. development of medical health industry in China. Debuted at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) with our full line of products, and our exhibition scale, exhibit variety and number of listed papers 2013 2014 2022 were the historical records in China's medical imaging North America Research and Development Center was The first official launch of the entire line of products of UIH was listed on Science and Technology Innovation equipment industry. established in Houston, Texas, USA. the United Imaging Medical brand, as well as the official Board (STAR Market) of Shanghai Stock Exchange. launch into the market. 2015 2020 U+ online medical strategy was established to provide The Company has used its professionalism and hard work a series of high-performance imaging products and to write the mission and responsibility of a big country medical information solutions, thereby promoting the enterprise by sending emergency aid to all provinces R&D and Innovation Awards and Awarded the "First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress" by the State Council of the People's Republic of China2020 Recognitions Awarded the approval of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, to establish the "National High-performance Medical Equipment Innovation Center"2020 Awarded the "18th China Patent Award" jointly presented by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)2016 Won the "18th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd China Patent Excellence Awards" jointly presented by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Intellectual Property Administration2017 201920212022 Awarded the "Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award" presented by the Beijing Municipal People's Government2022 , Awarded the "First Prize of Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation Award" by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Bureau2022 Awarded the "Second Prize of Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award" by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government2022 Awarded the "Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation Award (Innovation)" jointly by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration2019 Rewarded by All-China Federation of Trade Unions "The National May Day Labor Medal"2022 Selected as the "National Technology Innovation Demonstration Enterprise" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China2022 Selected as a "National Intellectual Property Demonstration Enterprise" by the National Intellectual Property Administration2022Product Quality and Service The first prize in the Survey Report on After-sales Satisfaction of Medical Devices in Shanghai, with a grand slam for the consecutive four years2016-2022 Awarded the title of "Shanghai Intelligent Factory" (High-end Medical Imaging Equipment Intelligent Factory)2020 Awarded "Shanghai Quality Gold Award" by the People's Government of Shanghai2020 Awarded the "First Prize in Shanghai Key Product Quality Improvement Achievements" jointly by the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization2020Brand Impact Selected as a "National-level Industrial design Center" by the Ministry of Industry and Information "Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2018 rewarded by the Physical World Technology of the People's Republic of China2021 Selected for Forbes' 2019 China's Most Innovative Companies list "The Best Design Award for the 16th Shanghai Silver Pigeon Award" rewarded by Shanghai Municipal Win the Asia-Pacific Medical Imaging Excellence Innovation Leadership Award presented by Frost & Propaganda Office of the Communist Party of China2021 Sullivan2019 2019 China International Industry Fair Award "Top 10 Medical Devices - uMR Omega 3.0T Magnetic Resonance Imaging System" issued by 2020 China Excellent Industrial Design Gold Award Peoples Daily Health Client2021 2020 Excellent works of China International Industrial Design Fair "2022 China Listed Companies Reputation List- the most growth-oriented company in the high-end manufacturing industry" rewarded the Daily Economic News The four product lines MI, MR, CT, and XR have won nearly 20 industrial design awards for more than ten products, including the German Red Dot Best Design Award, German Design Award, China Selected as one of the "2022 Most Valuable Investment Companies on the Sci-Tech Innovation Excellent Industrial Design Award Gold Award, and China International Industry Fair Industrial Design Board" by Caijing Magazine and the Science and Technology Innovation Data Research Center Gold Award, etc.As a high-end medical device enterprise in China, UIH always upholds the mission To management, establish sound risk control mechanisms, with a view toward actively Bring Equal Healthcare for All and the vision of Leading Healthcare Innovation, promoting the construction of a responsible business system. strongly supporting for the UN 2030 Agenda. We integrate sustainability in the Companys strategy and operation, and are committed to promoting the business The Board of the Group assumes ultimate responsibility for UIHs ESG management development while contributing to better social wellbeing. and reporting, and ensures effective ESG management through regular supervision and review. Our management is responsible for breaking down ESG decisions made We firmly believe that a sound ESG management mechanism is crucial to implement by the Board of Directors into specific tasks by regularly reporting the execution and Stakeholders Expectations and demands Communication and responseStakeholders Compliance Operation Operating in compliance with the laws Governments and regulators Engagement Economic development Tax compliance Environmental protection Green operation Social responsibility Response to policies The identification and engagement of and communication with stakeholders are the key to the Shareholders Governance structure Standard governance and investors Groups sustainability strategy. Our main stakeholders Operating performance Profit distribution include governments and regulators, shareholders Investor relations Information disclosure and investors, customers, suppliers and partners, Intellectual property Intellectual property protection employees, communities and media. We make active Innovative products R&D and innovation system and good communication with stakeholders through Product quality Quality and safety system establishment Customers multiple channels to understand their expectations and Safe use Responsible marketing demands in a timely manner. Accordingly, we respond Quality service Customer service management to the topics concerned by parties in the value chain, Innovative products R&D and innovation system and take it as a direction for continuous improvement of the sustainability performance. Suppliers Fairness and transparency Fair opportunity and partners Supplier management Responsible purchasing Marketing management Integrity Mutual benefit and win-win results Industry communication activitiesProtection of essential rights and interests Legal and compliant employmentEmployees Health and safety Work safety management Talent introduction and retention Remuneration performance and promotion managementDiversity and equal opportunity Employee care activities Employee training and development Diversified employee trainingInformation disclosure Proactively releasing information Communities and media Public communication Media and public communication Social responsibility Support of rural revitalization Abiding by the highest ethical standards and honest operation and advocating the compliance culture, United Imaging is dedicated to building a complete and efficient compliance management system to boost its long-term and steady development. Moreover, we highly value the stakeholders rights and interests. We enhance our risk Compliance Operation We strictly abide by local laws and regulations in the of corruption, fraud, extortion, fraud and money We encourage employees and the public to report clues We make efforts to promote the compliance culture. places where we operate, such as the Anti-Unfair laundering. Therefore, we manage our employees, of suspected violations by compliance hotline, E-mail, Specifically, we provide regular compliance training on Competition Law of the Peoples Republic of China, the suppliers, distributors and other partners in light of department feedback and other channels, to effectively anti-corruption and anti-bribery, anti-fraud and conflict Anti-monopoly Law of the Peoples Republic of China, professional ethics and business behaviour. We specify supervise the corruption and other conducts in an all- of interest for the employees and partners, to enhance the Company Law of the Peoples Republic of China, the employees code of business conduct and ethical round manner. Upon receipt of clues, we file records for their sense of integrity and strengthen the soft power and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). standards in the Employee Handbook, and employees analysis and investigation, and deal with reported issues of compliance management. During the Reporting Accordingly, we clarify the Companys code of ethics, are required to sign the Employee Integrity Statement seriously and take rectification measures respecting to the Period, we provided a total of 19 compliance training and establish a sound compliance system by developing when they join the Company. Moreover, personnel in key investigation results and the Companys rules. In addition, sessions for employees and 1 for distributors. Besides, a series of policies such as the Anti-corruption Policy, positions such as procurement operation should sign to protect the legitimate rights and interests of whistle- we establish a special Compliance Policy page on the Business Conduct Guidelines, and the Conflict the Integrity and Self-discipline Commitment to prohibit blowers, we specify the protection rules for whistle-blowers the Companys official website, to facilitate partners of Interest Policies, to provide a solid institutional their misconduct. We also require employees to fill in the in the Anti-corruption Policy, and prohibit any form of understanding of our compliance requirements, thus guarantee for the Companys compliance management. Questionnaire on Conflict of Interest to prevent potential retaliation to them. During the Reporting Period, the Group reaching a consensus on compliance culture. To strengthen the compliance management, we set risks of compliant operation. Our compliance policies had not involved in any related corruption litigation case. up the Compliance Committee consisting of data and rules are applicable to all employees. We take the Quality Management Department Platform Maintenance Center Application Software Information Security and Privacy Protection Group U+ Information Security Capability Center Product Information Security and Privacy Protection Leading Groups Legal and Compliance Department Information Technology Department Information Security Department Information Security and Privacy Protection Officers requirements such as the Guidelines for Registration Review of Medical Device Cybersecurity in China. The Group has set up a three-tier information security management organization structure, in which the Information Security and Privacy Protection Supervision and Management Committee serves as the supreme Executive level decision-making organ, the Company and Product Information Security and Privacy Protection Leading Groups serve as the management and review organ, while the departments and employees serve as the executive level, to systematically promote the relevant management affairs, thus achieving the Groups information security work objective. We have formulated the Management Policy for Information Security and Privacy Protection, which specifies the responsibilities of employees in the information security and privacy protection, to ensure the continuous and effective operation of the information security and privacy protection management system. Information Security Management Organization Information Security MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFICATE Certificate no.: Initial certification date: Valid: Certificate No: Initial certification date: Valid: Certificate No: Initial certification date: Valid: C563411 19 December 2022 19 December 2022 17 November 2023 248808-2017-AIS-RGC-UKAS 17 November, 2017 26 December, 2022 17 November, 2023 563413-2022-IS-RGC-DNV 26 December, 2022 26 December, 2022 17 November, 2023 This is to certify that the management system of This is to certify that the management system of This is to certify that the management system of Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare No. 2258, Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare and the sites as mentioned in the appendix accompanying this certificate Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd. has been found to conform to the Privacy Information Management System standard: No. 2258, Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China ISO/IEC 27701:2019 No. 2258, Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China Management and the sites as mentioned in the appendix accompanying this certificate and the sites as mentioned in the appendix accompanying this certificate This certificate is valid for the following scope: has been found to conform to the Information Security Management System standard: has been found to conform to the Code of practice for information security controls: Privacy Information Management System for Research and Development, Manufacturing, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Sales and Service of large-scale medical imaging equipment such as CT, PET-CT, PET-MR, ISO/IEC 27017:2015 MR, X-Ray, RT and Ultrasound. Research and Development, sales and services of products in the field of medical digital diagnosis and treatment. Medical cloud services are This certificate is valid for the following Scope: provided via UIHCloud to realize the collaboration of devices and applications in the cloud This certificate is valid for the following scope: Cloud Security Management Covers the Research & Development, Sales, and and the sharing of medical resources and to offer end user comprehensive solutions. Services of Products in the Field of Medical Digital Diagnosis and Treatment; Information Security Management Covers the Development, Manufacture, Sales and service of medical equipment, medical consumables and medical service solutions. With the role both as PII Controller and PII Processor, this is in Accordance with Medical Cloud Services are Provided Via UIHCloud to Realize the Sales and Services of Large Medical Imaging Equipment such as CT, PET-CT, PET-MR, MR, X-Ray, RT, ultrasound (Ultrasound), etc. R&D, Sales and the Statement of Applicability, Version 02 Collaboration of Devices and Applications in the Cloud and the Sharing of Services of Products in the Field of Medical Digital Diagnosis and Treatment; Medical Resources and to Offer End User Comprehensive Solutions. This certificate depends on the validity of the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certificate number: 248808-2017-AIS-RGC-UKAS Based on the United Imaging Cloud, We Provide Medical Cloud Services to ISO27017:2015 -Code of Practice for Information Security Controls for Cloud Services is Applied. This is in Accordance with the Statement of Applicability, Realize the Collaboration of Equipment and Applications in the Cloud and the Version 02. Associated with ISO 27001 Certificate Sharing of Medical Resources, and Provide Comprehensive Solutions for End 248808-2017-AIS-RGC-UKAS Customers. Sales and Services of Medical Equipment, Medical Consumables and Medical Service Solutions. Consistent with the Applicability Statement of System and Service Version V02 Place and date: For the issuing office: London, 19 December 2022 DNV - Business Assurance 4th Floor, Vivo Building, 30 Stamford Street, Place and date: For the issuing office: London, SE1 9LQ, United Kingdom Place and date: For the issuing office: Shanghai, 26 December, 2022 DNV - Business Assurance Shanghai, 26 December, 2022 DNV - Business Assurance Suite A, Building 9, No.1591 Hongqiao Suite A, Building 9, No.1591 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai Road, Changning District, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China 200336, P.R. China TEL: +86 21 32799000 TEL: +86 21 32799000 Erie Koek Zhu Hai Ming Zhu Hai Ming Management Representative Management Representative Management Representative Lack of fulfilment of conditions as set out in the Certification Agreement may render this Certificate invalid. Lack of fulfilment of conditions as set out in the Certification Agreement may render this Certificate invalid. Lack of fulfilment of conditions as set out in the Certification Agreement may render this Certificate invalid. ACCREDITED UNIT: DNV Business Assurance UK Limited, 4th Floor, Vivo Building, 30 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LQ, United Kingdom. ACCREDITED UNIT: DNV Business Assurance UK Limited, 4th Floor, Vivo Building, 30 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LQ, United Kingdom - TEL: +44(0) 203 816 4000. ACCREDITED UNIT: DNV BUSINESS ASSURANCE (CHINA) CO., LTD. BUILDING 9, NO.1591, HONGQIAO ROAD, CHANGNING DISTRICT, SHANGHAI 200336, TEL:+44(0) 203 816 4000. www.dnv.co.uk/assurance www.dnv.co.uk P.R.CHINA TEL: +86 21 32799000 www.dnv.com Qualification ISO 27001 ISO 27701 ISO 27017 Information Security Personal Privacy Protection Cloud Service Information Management System System Security Management System By the end of the Reporting Period, United Imaging had obtained the following certifications regarding information security management system, privacy protection system, and IT service management system:ISO 27018 ISO 27799 ISO 20000 CCRC Public Cloud Privacy Security Medical Health and Safety IT Service Management Information Security Service Management System Management System System Qualification Through the systematic construction of information security organization and mechanism, UNI provides customers with services that meet international standards of information security and privacy protection. We have built a multi-layer and multi-measure Our product R&D and design also embody the requirements for information security Data integrity and authenticity Data security protection information security control system targeting four major protection and privacy protection. With the principle of Privacy by Design and Privacy by Anonymity of sensitive information aspects, including data security, application security, Default, we serve customers with products and services that are resilient and Hard disk data encryption host security and network security. Furthermore, we resistant to network threats by incorporating the Security Development Lifecycle Data transmission encryption conduct strict risk assessment of information security (SDL) philosophy into the product development process, thus consolidating the line of and privacy protection as required by the ISO/IEC defence of information security and privacy protection. User authentication and Application security authorization 27001 system. We also formulate and implement the protection User access security protection Risk Mitigation Plan according to the assessment To effectively address information security events such as information leakage, Emergency access supported results and three-level (high, medium and low) we have established the Handling Process for Critical Information Security Events, Application whitelisting information security risk mitigation strategy, to reduce which specifies the process to handle information security events and defines the Audit log the risk to the acceptable level in a scientific and responsibilities of departments and relevant personnel. We also conduct emergency reasonable way. drills for information security events on a regular basis to enhance employees Operating system security Host security protection reinforcement emergency handling capabilities. During the Reporting Period, the Group had no Antivirus software leakage of customer information. Regularly updated virus database Regularly updated security patches In addition, we provide the training on information security and privacy protection for Trusted machine certificates employees through the combination of online information security warning platform and offline on-site teaching, aiming to improve their awareness and ability and reduce Firewall Network security the risks of information leakage. During the Reporting Period, the Group provided a protection Secure encrypted connection total of 17 training sessions on information security and privacy protection.Network whitelisting Responsible Marketing In strict compliance with the laws and regulations To guarantee the legal and compliant marketing, our The promotion information on intended use, functions and performance Consistency products are subject to the domestic registration and filing in places where the Company operates, such as the indicators of the products should be consistent with the registered information. process, FDA pre-marketing submission procedures and Advertising Law of the Peoples Republic of China international market verification process to ensure that and the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Where the products or functions have not obtained relevant marketing Accuracy they meet the marketing requirements of medical devices authorization or registration approval, their safety and effectiveness could Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, United not be externally publicized, and their marketing authorization or registration at home and abroad in terms of safety, effectiveness and Imaging is dedicated to conducting promotion and status should be marked. quality controllability before being externally promoted. marketing practices in line with domestic and foreign Furthermore, we conduct the standardized management for Where the promotion information includes data indicators, the effectiveness laws and regulations, social norms and ethical standards Traceability the external publicity channel and information. Specifically, of data source should be determined, to prohibit the unfair competition of to protect the consumers rights and interests. advertising. we have formulated the News Spokesman Policy, which We have developed the Marketing and Promotion clarifies the news publicity guidelines to be abided by the Document Control Process and preparation principles news spokesman. We also carry out the external exchange for promotion documents to specify the process to activities in an efficient and compliant way, to create a good public opinion environment and brand image. prepare, review, publish and archive the promotion documents and ensure their consistency, accuracy and With focus on patent right, trademark right and software copyright, we take various management measures to consolidate the intellectual property Intellectual Property protection. Besides, we identify intellectual property risks at regular intervals to protect the Companys intellectual property while preventing infringement of others intellectual property. Protection United Imaging firmly believes that intellectual property Cover all product lines and technology R&D cycle in the patent applications for all products, achieving all-round planning of patent right Protection of protection is essential to stimulate driving force patent right Adopt systematic and strategic approach for patent protection of core technologies and key products for innovation, and also the key to keep the strong Carry out pre-research patent protection for the most cutting-edge technology in the industry international competitiveness. We strictly comply with the laws and regulations in places where we operate, including the Patent Law of the Peoples Republic of Protection of Standardize the trademark use process to safeguard the validity of trademark China, the Trademark Law of the Peoples Republic trademark right Monitor trademark in real time, and take timely measures against others registered trademark which is the same as or similar to the Companys trademark of China, and the Enterprise Intellectual Property Management Standards. We have set up the intellectual Analyse and evaluate the industry patent trends regularly, and identify the potential risks; and take relevant measures to avoid the risk of patent infringement Patent risk warning property management structure consisting of Intellectual Property Management Committee, Innovative Product Evaluation Committee, Intellectual Property Department, and emergency group for major intellectual property We also lay emphasis on the protection of business List of intellectual property rights obtained by the end of the Reporting Periodsecret. In specific, we conduct the classified management for the business information documents with different confidentiality levels according to the related information Data In 2022 By the End of 2022security management policies. Besides, we standardize the employees action of sending out confidential Number of Number of Number of Number of information, and require employees to sign the Applied (Pieces) Authorized (Pieces) Applied (Pieces) Authorized (Pieces) Confidentiality and Non-compete Agreement when they Invention Patent 533 5,914 2,309 946 join the Company, to ensure the security of the technical documents and sensitive business information of the Company. During the Reporting Period, we also carried 141 189 1,032 793Utility Model Patent out 20 employee training activities regarding intellectual property protection, allowing the employees to obtain 69 60 313 239 Design Patent the understanding of compliance obligations and responsibilities of intellectual property protection and business secret. Software Copyright 20 14 287 281 To stimulate the creativity of talents and encourage the output of intellectual property achievements, we have 266 103 1,131 735 Others formulated and implemented the Incentive Management Policy for Intellectual Property. Employees are rewarded based on the registration of patent applications and computer software copyright. We also give rewards 1,442 899 8,677 4,357 Total to the employees whose inventions or designs are determined by the Intellectual Property Department as Note: Others include "copyright in works", "trademarks", and etc.the technology secret. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the cumulative number of patent and other intellectual property applications filed by UIH exceeded "8,600" pieces, of which more than "5,900" pieces were Number of Number of Cumulative number of Cumulative number of intellectual for application of inventions patents. Furthermore, we invention patent applied invention patents authorized intellectual property rights applied property rights authorized have received more than "4,300" intellectual property authorizations, of which more than "2,300" pieces were for inventions patents. The specific intellectual property pieces 5,914 pieces pieces pieces 2,309 8,677 4,357 statistics are as follows: With the principle of "innovation-driven, win-win cooperation", United Imaging has blazed a path of win-win cooperation, a path of mutual respect and trust, and a path of deep integration within the industry. Through integrating the strengths of industry, clinical and scientific research and other multiple fields, we comprehensively promote the overall improvement of medical and health care on a global scale.R&D Management R&D Talents Core of We regard R&D and innovation as the driving force for corporate We have set up a high-quality R&D team with global vision development, and highly value the R&D management. Therefore, we have through independent cultivation and talent introduction to uInnovation created a platformed and high-efficiency R&D innovation system regarding consolidate the foundation of talents for the Companys our deep understanding of the industry and our own R&D strategy. continuous innovation and R&D. By the end of the Reporting Period, the Group had 3,088 in-service R&D- related employees, accounting for 42% of the total Product Layout: building a sound technical and market foundation for the development of next-generation products though realized uInnovative Concept and workforce, among which 74% had masters degree or industrialization of a variety of high-end medical equipment and radiotherapy equipment above. With the support of these talents, we gather a solid Mechanisms Project Management: establishing a relatively mature R&D project management process at multiple control stages, including force for enterprise innovation. requirements management, technology pre-research, project initiation, and clinical research Structure of R&D: improving the quality and efficiency of Companys R&D management through the efforts that the High-Power To attract and foster more talents for innovation, we launch To practice the brand promise of Passion for Change, Components Department, the Public Components Department, the Medical Software Department, and the Product Line Department various university-enterprise cooperation programs on we take the deep demands of patients and users as collaborate to develop product and upgrade the technology talent training to enrich the sources of talent introduction well as clinical needs as the focuses of innovation, and enhance our independent innovation ability. Meanwhile, and build a multi-faceted innovation matrix that R&D Process: formulating R&D policy such as the Product Development Process with reference to medical device regulatory requirements and ISO quality system standards we cooperate with many universities in building the practice covers forward-looking research innovation, industry- bases to enhance the practical ability of R&D talents. university-research-medicine collaborative innovation, R&D Ethics: we also concern about R&D ethics. Our experiments are conducted in strict compliance with ethical principles and Besides, we set up United Imaging Assistantship to customization innovation, and design innovation to operation requirements of medical research at home and abroad, such as the Nuremberg Laws, the World Medical Association reward in-school students with outstanding innovation develop diversified, digital intelligence and precise Declaration of Helsinki, the Good Clinical Practice for Medical Devices, and the Measures for the Administration of Registration and performance in biological and medical engineering, and innovative products and medical solutions. Meanwhile, Recordation of Medical Devices, to ensure the safety and rights and interests of clinical subjects. Furthermore, we standardize animal experiment operations to ensure that the animal experiments meet the regulations on management of experimental animals enhance the cultivation of top-notch innovative personnel. we proactively explore the potential technological innovation of high-end medical devices, thereby uEXPLORER, the Industry's First Total-Body The Industry's First All-Digital PET/CT System with uMR Jupiter, the Industry's First 5.0T Whole- Product Panoramic Dynamic Scanning PET/CT. uEXPLORER, Continuous Bed Motion uMI Panorama. uMI Panorama, Body Magnetic Resonance System. In the pursuit of known as the human bodys Hubble Telescope, can as the world's first all-core and pole-free digital PET/CT higher signal-to-noise ratio, resolution, contrast, and realize 4D real-time total-body dynamic scanning and system from United Imaging, achieves "pseudo 2-meter" faster imaging speed in clinical applications, the main Innovation can capture dynamic metabolic processes of all organs, whole-body high-resolution imaging on the short axis and magnetic field strength of MRI equipment in clinical bringing great support to clinical diagnosis, drug "pseudo MRI-like" high-definition anatomical structure applications is getting higher and higher. To achieve research and human biological mechanism research. In imaging of the brain for the first time in the global perfect compatibility between clinical applications and addition, our 2-meter PET/CT is also named as Top molecular imaging field. Compared with traditional PET/ scientific exploration at high field strengths, United 10 Science Breakthroughs of 2018 by the Physics CT, these two achievements significantly improve the Imaging has faced the three major challenges of RF Technology Innovation World, which has received industry attention and praise. refinement level of molecular imaging, not only filling the field uniformity, RF field safety, and site deployment gap in anatomical imaging, but also implementing the accessibility in the field of high-field MRI whole-body United Imaging takes technological innovation as the The epoch-making uEXPLORER can conduct green detection of cell movement in the brain and whole body. imaging. Adhering to the "0-to-1" innovation concept, core, and we continue to promote the evolution of examination and low-dose care, minimizing the United Imaging has launched the uMR Jupiter. uMR medical technology with world-class medical innovation radiation risk of pediatric patients. The clinical As the industry's first product that supports free expansion Jupiter opens a new era of ultra-high field whole-body application results show that, uEXPLORER can meet of PET detector axial field of view, uMI Panorama can imaging, opening up a new field for the mechanism products and solutions of the whole healthy ecosystem, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and the clinical diagnosis and scanning requirements seamlessly upgrade hardware and software on site by research and diagnosis of difficult diseases in all parts rehabilitation, so that high-end medical resources can with 1/20 of conventional drug dose while remaining users, and is equipped with the latest generation of uExcel of the body, breaking the limit that ultra-high field MRI be shared by a wider population and realize our mission examination time unchanged. uEXPLORER is 40 Technology, United Imaging's free-evolving molecular can only be used for neuroimaging, and achieving the of "To Bring Equal Healthcare for All". times more sensitive than traditional equipment, with imaging technology platform. With the help of the first ultra-high field whole-body clinical imaging. radiation dose reduced to 1/40. It is also applicable to Company's strong technical research and development mothers and babies, adolescents and children, greatly system, uMI Panorama develops modular applications The shielded large aperture magnet carried by the contributing to clinical health diagnosis. to meet users' needs at different levels, from detector product eliminates the need for hospitals to prepare hardware, scanning workflow, image reconstruction, special sites for uMR Jupiter, reduces site barriers system quality control to scientific research exploration, and improves equipment accessibility, while the SAR providing an all-round, no dead angle ultimate guidance, calibration monitoring system ensures the safety of The Industry's First 75cm Large Aperture 3.0T uMR "uCT 960+" combines cutting-edge AI technology to uRT-linac, the Industry's First Integrated CT. precision radiotherapy, we expands new applications Omega - This Time, Embracing "Bigger" Freedom. break through the traditional examination mode, overcome Radiotherapy is one of the best treatment methods for of radiotherapy and opens up the era of individualized In response to the scanning needs of patients with the cumbersome workflow of manual positioning, lesion cancer in the world. As precise radiotherapy advances, precision radiotherapy 2.0 larger body sizes, athletes, claustrophobic patients, search, bed movement, contrast agent injection, and re- the survival rate of patients is increased year by year. extremely obese individuals, pregnant women, and scan in the scanning process of traditional CTs, and However, in the face of the increasing anxiety of those with osteoporosis, United Imaging Healthcare avoids the occurrence of lesion displacement, missed patients before treatment and many bottlenecks in uCT 960+ combines cutting-edge AI technology to has introduced the industry's first 75cm ultra-large scanning, and motion artifacts caused by bed movement, radiotherapy technology, how to fundamentally optimize reduce examination time by nearly aperture 3.0T MRI uMR Omega. With its enlarged patient breathing, and scanning range limitations. The the radiotherapy process to achieve both efficiency and 75cm aperture, the system provides patients with examination time is reduced by nearly 70%, and it directly accuracy has become a pain point in the industry. a "first-class cabin" spacious scanning experience, reduces 80% of X-ray radiation dose and about 58% of % 70 accommodating super-obese patients and large contrast agent dosage, greatly reducing the possibility of Therefore, United Imaging launched the world's first athletes weighing up to 600 pounds. The system also inducing other diseases. integrated CT-linac, which combines simulated Direct reduction opens up a broader application space for off-center positioning CT with radiotherapy through the integrated in X-ray radiation dose about imaging of body parts such as the shoulders, elbows, The Industry's First Smart Bionic Minimally Invasive design of linear accelerator and diagnostic CT. The and hips that are far from the center of the body and Interventional Surgery System uAngio 960 - Smart application of artificial intelligence greatly simplifies for MRI examinations. Bionics, Subverting Evolution. Cardiovascular disease, the radiotherapy process and greatly improves the % 80 cerebrovascular disease, and malignant tumors are the radiotherapy efficiency In addition, our integrated The uMR Omega engineers have explored the technical three diseases with the highest mortality rates worldwide. precision radiotherapy system uRT-linac 506c source to challenge engineering limits and adopted a Minimally invasive interventional therapy guided by imaging redefines precision radiotherapy, creating a cross- The maximum amount of contrast agent used is about new technical path of "breaking through with strength". systems has gradually become one of the mainstream border integration of diagnostic-level spiral CT By combining cutting-edge technologies such as ultra- treatment methods for these three diseases due to its and linear accelerator. Meanwhile, relying on high- large aperture net magnet architecture, gradient power many advantages. With a large number of interventional definition diagnostic-level images to guide innovation amplifier, and intraoperative MRI integration, they treatment patients in China, tackling "bottleneck" of intelligent clinical workflow to reach a new height of % 58 focus on patient care and fast, accurate imaging, while technologies and achieving independent control of high-tracer for the AIDS virus. With the help of United Natural Science Foundation of China, "Development of own "gold standard" for the diagnosis of ischemic heart Application Innovation Imaging's Total-body PET/CT uEXPLORER, for the first MR Diagnosis and Treatment Integrated Equipment Based disease and coronary heart disease, and to facilitate early We actively collaborate with universities, hospitals, and time, humans can directly and clearly see the distribution on Mental Image System". The project creatively applies and accurate diagnosis of coronary heart disease patients. research institutions both domestically and overseas, of the AIDS virus throughout the body with the naked medical imaging technology to the analysis of mental deeply engaging in clinical application development eye. This breakthrough greatly promotes the accurate illnesses, jointly explores the brain mechanism of mental Promoting Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Major research at universities, exploring new technologies efficacy evaluation and treatment development of AIDS, illnesses, and opens up a new chapter for the accurate Brain Diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. and scenarios for clinical research, comprehensively benefiting countless patients. diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of mental illnesses. Based on advanced multimodal imaging equipment and improving medical technology application capabilities, intelligent analysis applications, United Imaging has and promoting technology innovation and transformation. Making Mental Illness "Visible to the Naked Eye. Due Helping to Establish the "Gold Standard" for the collaborated with top institutions such as Zhongshan By leveraging our own resource advantages, we hope to unclear causes, unknown mechanisms, and lack of Diagnosis of Ischemic Heart Disease and Coronary Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Huashan Hospital to support relevant clinical specialties in continuously diagnostic and therapeutic tools, mental illnesses such Heart Disease in China. In July 2022, with the support affiliated to Fudan University and Xuanwu Hospital of expanding their diagnosis and treatment methods, as depression and schizophrenia have long been a major of molecular imaging equipment from United Imaging Capital Medical University to conduct research in the improving overall medical technology capabilities and burden on the Chinese population. In 2020, West China Healthcare, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University field of major brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, diagnosis and treatment effects. Hospital of Sichuan University led a collaboration with led 28 domestic tertiary hospitals to collect and establish Parkinson's disease, brain tumors, epilepsy, cerebral Sichuan University of Electronic Science and Technology, a nuclear medicine imaging database for coronary heart small vessel disease, and others. They aim to explore Making HIV No Place to Hide. In December 2020, the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, and United disease that conforms to the characteristics of the Chinese early diagnosis, lesion prediction, and the implementation University of California, San Francisco and Davis jointly Imaging Healthcare to participate in a major research population and clinical diagnostic and treatment standards. and evaluation of new personalized treatment plans for developed a new type of targeted monoclonal antibody instrument development project funded by the National This project aims to promote the establishment of China's major brain diseases.uEXPLORER - Creating a Relaxing Scanning uMR Omega - The Coexistence of Technology and uRT-linac - Creating a Safe, Comfortable, Precise, Design Innovation Experience. uEXPLORER reinterprets United Imagings Professionalism. uMR Omega features a minimalist design and Efficient Radiotherapy Experience. uRT-linac minimalism through architectural methods and "changes that creates a pure sensory experience, removing all visual creates a safe, comfortable, precise, and efficient United Imaging Creative Design Innovation Center with heart" to make operation and use more natural noise and conveying professionalism. The new upgraded radiotherapy experience through its fully digitalized (CDIC) has continuously explored the maximization and simple. Our design and engineering team worked software interaction and visual design highlight the system design, which can monitor and intelligently warn of design innovation value in the most demanding together to create soft and even ambient lighting, which product's technology and professional attributes through a against collisions in real-time, giving patients more field of medical equipment, endowing life science guides users to complete the scan easily with a gentle deep theme. The 75cm large aperture 3.0T MRI provides peace of mind. The product also achieves high-speed, and technology with beautiful visual enjoyment and breathing effect. While helping patients relax, they also more space compared to traditional large aperture devices, fully digitalized real-time control design, using design comfortable interactive experience, and conveying feel hope and care. With the combination of micro- creating a more comfortable scanning environment for to create a safe, comfortable, precise, and efficient humanistic care through every detail. CDIC created the apertures and gentle and beautiful music, we hope to patients. The introduction of a new starry sky lighting radiotherapy experience, with the entire process design gene of UIH from scratch, redefined the design create a natural scanning experience for users, helping environment design, combined with the ACS intelligent light completed in 23 minutes, greatly reducing the time and process standards of large medical equipment, patients overcome the fear of confinement. shuttle imaging, achieves silent scanning and enhances the needed for radiotherapy. and has continuously provided experience and support patient scanning experience. In addition, the uMR Omega in the field of medical and health care. In 2014, United uEXPLORER creatively applies the visual interaction adopts a 13.3-inch large touch screen combined with Imaging won two iF Industrial Design Awards, which are system "aperture projection", which allows patients to piano-style keys, making the operation more intuitive. known as the "Oscars" of the design world, becoming communicate conveniently with technicians, doctors, the first Chinese high-end medical equipment brand to single vertical field, and the innovation of future scenario exploration beyond the simple technology form. The directors of the US NIH-approved "Explorer" research project visited UIH. 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance ReportShanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.Introduction to Sustainable Development Products with Ingenuity Green Convey Health Appendixthe Report Management and Excellent Quality Development and Warmth3 Message from the 14 Stakeholders Engagement 34 Product Quality 47 Environmental Management 53 Access to Medical Treatment 57 GRI Standards Content IndexManagement Team System and Contribution to UN SDGs15 Materiality Assessment 36 Optimize Customer Experience 55 Additional Health Care4 About the Report 47 Clean Production and38 Responsible Supply ChainOperation5 Key Performance Indicatorsin 2022 49 Tackle Climate Change7 About United Imaging8 Company ProfileResponsible People-orientedGovernance and Share Success9 United Imaging DevelopmentMilestones17 Compliance Operation 41 Employees Rights and Interests10 Awards and Recognitions18 Information Security 42 Employee Career Growth21 Responsible Marketing 44 Create an Inclusive Workplace22 Intellectual Property Protection 45 Occupational Health and SafetyuInnovation-Drivenand Win-Win Cooperation25 Core of uInnovation26 Product Innovation30 Promote Industry DevelopmentMessage from the Management TeamIn 2011, with favorable timing, geographical advantages, valuable organizational resilience, responding quickly, the industry and served medical institutions in more than corruption governance within the industry, complyingand the unity of human , Shanghai United Imaging being agile and innovative, and working together with 50 countries around the world. At the same time, we with international trade rules and external regulatoryHealthcare Co., Ltd. was established. In the past twelve teams and external institutions to cope with complex have deepened our cooperation with global universities, requirements. In addition, we have established effectiveyears, we have broken through the boundaries of medical situations. At the same time, in the face of uncertainty, hospitals, research institutions, and industry partners, communication channels between employees, users,technology innovation with creativity. From complete we have always grasped our own determinate strength, accelerating the promotion of precision diagnosis and and shareholders, and encourage employees to activelymachine systems to core components, and then to key firmly and continuously innovating, constantly breaking treatment and forward-looking research exploration. participate in the Company's governance and decision-components, we have driven the continuous improvement through, and achieving steady growth. In August 2022, Innovation has never stopped. making processes.of product performance and the continuous reduction United Imaging successfully landed on the capitalof costs, and have comprehensively reshaped the market, entering a new stage of development. It also We take the deep-seated demands and clinical needs of The core of all our actions is people. We regardstandards of the industry in technology, design, service, brings us more attention and expectations, and we must patients and users as the focal point of innovation. We employees as the most valuable asset and are committedand process, as well as witnessed and promoted the assume greater social responsibility to repay this trust. cross mountains and seas, travel to every corner of the to creating a united, friendly, and harmonious workplacedecade-long transformation of China's high-end medical world, and approach every life with our hearts. Moreover, environment for them. We strive to create a positiveequipment industry. Therefore, as a global medical high-tech enterprise, we empower technology with innovation, regardless of corporate culture, oppose discrimination based onwe always adhere to the mission of "To Bring Equal wealth and geography, so that the value of innovation can race, ethnicity, region or social background, nationality,2022 is a year that will be remembered by all United Healthcare for All" and firmly support the United be sublimated, thus injecting Chinese wisdom and vitality lineage, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, maritalImaging employees. The global situation is tumultuous, Nations' 2030 Agenda that we integrate the concept of into the construction of the world health community. status, and understand, appreciate and encouragewith the Russian-Ukrainian war, the global public sustainable development into our company's strategy differences in the workplace, and hope to provide ahealth crisis, and other factors exacerbating economic and operation, promoting enterprise development and To create a low-carbon and environmentally friendly stage for everyone to realize their personal value.uncertainty. At the same time, the global technology contributing to the enhancement of social well-being. production and operation mode, we have optimizedinnovation has entered an unprecedentedly intense our energy use structure, actively promoted green The new journey is a journey for dream chasers. Thereand active period, and a new round of technological We regard innovation as the foundation of our business, awareness among employees, advocated for green office is no plain road to achieving great ideals. The new era isrevolution and industrial transformation is emerging, and we have kept high R&D investment and a high level initiatives, and organized activities related to World an era for strivers, with countless new challenges for uswith competition and constraints becoming even more of innovative talent as the driving forces to promote Environment Day. In addition, we have gradually built to face. In 2023, we will forge ahead with courage andintense. The times are changing, the industry is changing, the process of medical technology and medical model the green innovation competitiveness of our company faith and continue to strive to shoulder the responsibilitybut the persistence and dedication of our employees to innovation. We have built a professional team of more while pursuing economic benefits to contribute to global for customers, employees, and shareholders, as well asinnovation and change remain unchanged. than 7,300 people worldwide. A number of industry- climate action and carbon neutrality. the responsibility for the industry and society, bringingleading products, such as the world's first 2-meter PET/ equal healthcare for all to China and the world."Resilience" and "Vitality" are the two key words for us CT, 5.0T MRI, 75cm large aperture 3.0T MRI, and the We always prioritize transparency and fairness inin 2022. Faced with new challenges, we have shown world's first integrated CT-linac have filled the gap in corporate governance. We insist on promoting anti-AboutReporting Standards Reporting Scope and Boundary Access to the ReportThe Report is prepared mainly in accordance Reporting scope of the Group: The performance The Report is published in both English and simplifiedwith the Rules Governing the Listing of Stocks on indicators in the Report cover all main businesses of Chinese. In case of any inconsistency in content, thethe Reportthe Science and Technology Innovation Board of the Group. Unless otherwise stated, both the economic simplified Chinese version shall prevail. To supportShanghai Stock Exchange and the GRI Sustainability performance indicators and social performance environmental protection, the Report is publishedReporting Guidelines (GRI Standards) issued by the indicators herein cover all entities within the reporting in electronic form, which can be accessed andThe 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance ReportGlobal Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), to scope of the Companys consolidated financial downloaded on United Imagings official websitecontinuously improve the disclosure transparency statements, while the environmental performance (https://www.united-imaging.com/).of United Imaging Healthcare (hereinafter the Report)of the Groups sustainability-related information indicators cover 4 main office/production/R&D sitesis the first environmental, social and governanceand respond to the stakeholders concern about the of the Group, including Shanghai Headquarters, Suggestions are welcomed through the following(hereinafter ESG) report issued by Shanghai United Groups ESG management and performance. Shanghai Production Factory, Changzhou Production contact details. Your opinions will help us furtherBase and Wuhan Production Base. improve the Report and enhance the Groups ESG Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. The Report aims toperformance.disclose the Groups management strategies, practiceE-mailIR@united-imaging.comand achievements in view of the ESG sustainability toAddress: 2258 Chengbei Road, Jiading District,the stakeholders including shareholders and investors,Shanghai 201807, China.Abbreviationemployees, customers, governments, partners, and thepublic in an objective and truthful way.Abbreviation ReferenceThe Group, We, United Imaging, UIH Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. and its subsidiariesThe Company Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.Changzhou Production Base United Imaging (Changzhou) Healthcare Co., Ltd.Data of the ReportWuhan Production Base Wuhan United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.Data and cases in the Report are derived fromofficial documents and statistical reports of theUS Production Base UIH Technologies LLCGroup, and reviewed by relevant departments. Thecurrency in the Report is RMB. As some amountsand percentage numbers in the Report have beenrounded, the total amounts may not be the sum ofthe figures in some tables.Reporting Period Confirmation and ApprovalReport publication frequency: The Report is released The Report was approved for release by the Boardannually. of Directors (the Board) of the Group on 26Reporting timescale: from 1 January 2022 to April, 2023. The Board commits to supervising the 31 December 2022. In order to enhance the content of the Report and ensuring that it does not Net profit attributable to shareholders of theKey Performance listed companyYOY increase byEconomic PerformanceIndicatorsIndicatorsRMB billion1.656 %16.86Under public scrutiny, the Company has given backin 2022to customers, shareholders, employees, and societywith long-term, sustainable value creation throughOperating revenue YOY increase bystandardized governance and efficient communication.RMB billion %9.238 27.36 R&D investment (including capitalized expenditure) YOY increase byDuring the Reporting Period, the Company continued tostrengthen its core competitiveness in R&D, technology,RMB billion1.466 39.8939.89quality, marketing, service and supply chain, and etc.,as well as made scientific decisions and promoted theThe Company upholds the principle of "uinnovation-implementation of the Company's various strategicdriven and win-win cooperation", and is guided byplans and business layouts in a rational and orderlyclinical needs and market trends to keep increasing itsmanner, thus continuously optimizing and enhancing itsR&D investment and strengthening the technologicalglobal supply chain management system and marketingdevelopment, thus continuously launching innovativesystem, and providing a solid foundation for the stableproducts for the market and breaking through a seriesand healthy growth of various financial indicators.of industry technological problems.All taxes and fees paid by the Company Number of countries in which products are launched Net profit after deduction of parental profit YOY increase byRMB billion countries RMB billion %0.70 59 1.328 13.9113.91In 2022, the Company actually paid RMB 0.7 With our competitive and innovative technology and In the face of an uncertain environment, the Companybillion in taxes and fees, effectively fulfilling its total solutions, the Company's overseas sales have took advantage of certainty to quickly respond, innovateSocial Performance EnvironmentalIndicators Performance IndicatorsDonated Water consumption Water consumption intensityRMB million tons tons/million RMB10.35 206,359.00 22.3422.34By donating medical equipment and sharing high qualitymedical resources, we are able to collaborate andinterconnect hospitals, promote the accessibility of Energy consumption Energy consumption intensitymedical services, and contribute to the revitalization ofrural areas. Therefore, the residents in townships andGJ GJ/million RMBcounties can be treated without leaving the township.201,987.21 21.8621.86Products certified Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions intensitytons CO e tons CO e/million RMB90+ 36,556.13 2 3.963.96 290+ products with international leading performance The Company is actively exploring the path of lowindicators are certified and launched to the market, carbon and environmental protection development. Wecreating a new scene of medical treatment integration. continuously promote green production in response to Through process cooling water system renovation projectsand ground source heat projectsthe national strategic objectives of achieving "carbonpeaking" by 2030 and "carbon neutrality" by 2060.United Imaging2016Changzhou Production Base was formally put into use,functioning as the world's largest intelligent deviceDevelopment Milestonesmanufacturing base, covering an area of approximately230,000 square meters.2017Series A financing of RMB 3.333 billion was completed,with a post-investment valuation of approximately 33.333billion, marking the largest single private financing inChina's medical device industry in the current year.2011 2014 2018 2021Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. was UIH High-end Medical Device Industrial Base was built UIH North American Headquarters was established in Wuhan Production Base was officially open, the baseformally founded. in Shanghai, covering an area of 120,000 square meters, Houston, Texas, with an area of approximately 9,000 integrates R&D, production and operation, with a totalwhich provides powerful support to the upgrading and square meters. area of more than 200,000 square meters.development of medical health industry in China.Debuted at the Radiological Society of North America(RSNA) with our full line of products, and our exhibitionscale, exhibit variety and number of listed papers2013 2014 2022were the historical records in China's medical imagingNorth America Research and Development Center was The first official launch of the entire line of products of UIH was listed on Science and Technology Innovationequipment industry.established in Houston, Texas, USA. the United Imaging Medical brand, as well as the official Board (STAR Market) of Shanghai Stock Exchange.launch into the market.2015 2020U+ online medical strategy was established to provide The Company has used its professionalism and hard worka series of high-performance imaging products and to write the mission and responsibility of a big countrymedical information solutions, thereby promoting the enterprise by sending emergency aid to all provincesR&D and Innovation Awards and Awarded the "First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress" by the State Council of the People's Republic of China2020 Recognitions Awarded the approval of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, to establish the "National High-performance Medical Equipment Innovation Center"2020 Awarded the "18th China Patent Award" jointly presented by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)2016 Won the "18th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd China Patent Excellence Awards" jointly presented by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Intellectual Property Administration2017 201920212022 Awarded the "Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award" presented by the Beijing Municipal People's Government2022 , Awarded the "First Prize of Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation Award" by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Bureau2022 Awarded the "Second Prize of Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award" by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government2022 Awarded the "Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation Award (Innovation)" jointly by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration2019 Rewarded by All-China Federation of Trade Unions "The National May Day Labor Medal"2022 Selected as the "National Technology Innovation Demonstration Enterprise" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China2022 Selected as a "National Intellectual Property Demonstration Enterprise" by the National Intellectual Property Administration2022Product Quality and Service The first prize in the Survey Report on After-sales Satisfaction of Medical Devices in Shanghai, with a grand slam for the consecutive four years2016-2022 Awarded the title of "Shanghai Intelligent Factory" (High-end Medical Imaging Equipment Intelligent Factory)2020 Awarded "Shanghai Quality Gold Award" by the People's Government of Shanghai2020 Awarded the "First Prize in Shanghai Key Product Quality Improvement Achievements" jointly by the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization2020Brand Impact Selected as a "National-level Industrial design Center" by the Ministry of Industry and Information "Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2018 rewarded by the Physical World Technology of the People's Republic of China2021 Selected for Forbes' 2019 China's Most Innovative Companies list "The Best Design Award for the 16th Shanghai Silver Pigeon Award" rewarded by Shanghai Municipal Win the Asia-Pacific Medical Imaging Excellence Innovation Leadership Award presented by Frost & Propaganda Office of the Communist Party of China2021 Sullivan2019 2019 China International Industry Fair Award "Top 10 Medical Devices - uMR Omega 3.0T Magnetic Resonance Imaging System" issued by 2020 China Excellent Industrial Design Gold Award Peoples Daily Health Client2021 2020 Excellent works of China International Industrial Design Fair "2022 China Listed Companies Reputation List- the most growth-oriented company in the high-end manufacturing industry" rewarded the Daily Economic News The four product lines MI, MR, CT, and XR have won nearly 20 industrial design awards for more than ten products, including the German Red Dot Best Design Award, German Design Award, China Selected as one of the "2022 Most Valuable Investment Companies on the Sci-Tech Innovation Excellent Industrial Design Award Gold Award, and China International Industry Fair Industrial Design Board" by Caijing Magazine and the Science and Technology Innovation Data Research Center Gold Award, etc.As a high-end medical device enterprise in China, UIH always upholds the mission To management, establish sound risk control mechanisms, with a view toward activelyBring Equal Healthcare for All and the vision of Leading Healthcare Innovation, promoting the construction of a responsible business system.strongly supporting for the UN 2030 Agenda. We integrate sustainability in the Companys strategy and operation, and are committed to promoting the business The Board of the Group assumes ultimate responsibility for UIHs ESG managementdevelopment while contributing to better social wellbeing. and reporting, and ensures effective ESG management through regular supervisionand review. Our management is responsible for breaking down ESG decisions made We firmly believe that a sound ESG management mechanism is crucial to implement by the Board of Directors into specific tasks by regularly reporting the execution andStakeholders Expectations and demands Communication and responseStakeholdersCompliance Operation Operating in compliance with the lawsGovernmentsand regulatorsEngagementEconomic development Tax complianceEnvironmental protection Green operationSocial responsibility Response to policiesThe identification and engagement of andcommunication with stakeholders are the key to theShareholders Governance structure Standard governanceand investorsGroups sustainability strategy. Our main stakeholdersOperating performance Profit distributioninclude governments and regulators, shareholdersInvestor relations Information disclosureand investors, customers, suppliers and partners,Intellectual property Intellectual property protectionemployees, communities and media. We make activeInnovative products R&D and innovation systemand good communication with stakeholders throughProduct quality Quality and safety system establishmentCustomersmultiple channels to understand their expectations andSafe use Responsible marketingdemands in a timely manner. Accordingly, we respondQuality service Customer service managementto the topics concerned by parties in the value chain,Innovative products R&D and innovation systemand take it as a direction for continuous improvementof the sustainability performance.Suppliers Fairness and transparency Fair opportunityand partnersSupplier management Responsible purchasingMarketing management IntegrityMutual benefit and win-win results Industry communication activitiesProtection of essential rights and interests Legal and compliant employmentEmployeesHealth and safety Work safety managementTalent introduction and retention Remuneration performance and promotion managementDiversity and equal opportunity Employee care activitiesEmployee training and development Diversified employee trainingInformation disclosure Proactively releasing informationCommunitiesand mediaPublic communication Media and public communicationSocial responsibility Support of rural revitalizationAbiding by the highest ethical standards and honest operation and advocating the compliance culture, UnitedImaging is dedicated to building a complete and efficient compliance management system to boost its long-termand steady development. Moreover, we highly value the stakeholders rights and interests. We enhance our riskCompliance Operation We strictly abide by local laws and regulations in the of corruption, fraud, extortion, fraud and money We encourage employees and the public to report clues We make efforts to promote the compliance culture. places where we operate, such as the Anti-Unfair laundering. Therefore, we manage our employees, of suspected violations by compliance hotline, E-mail, Specifically, we provide regular compliance training on Competition Law of the Peoples Republic of China, the suppliers, distributors and other partners in light of department feedback and other channels, to effectively anti-corruption and anti-bribery, anti-fraud and conflict Anti-monopoly Law of the Peoples Republic of China, professional ethics and business behaviour. We specify supervise the corruption and other conducts in an all- of interest for the employees and partners, to enhance the Company Law of the Peoples Republic of China, the employees code of business conduct and ethical round manner. Upon receipt of clues, we file records for their sense of integrity and strengthen the soft power and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). standards in the Employee Handbook, and employees analysis and investigation, and deal with reported issues of compliance management. During the Reporting Accordingly, we clarify the Companys code of ethics, are required to sign the Employee Integrity Statement seriously and take rectification measures respecting to the Period, we provided a total of 19 compliance training and establish a sound compliance system by developing when they join the Company. Moreover, personnel in key investigation results and the Companys rules. In addition, sessions for employees and 1 for distributors. Besides, a series of policies such as the Anti-corruption Policy, positions such as procurement operation should sign to protect the legitimate rights and interests of whistle- we establish a special Compliance Policy page on the Business Conduct Guidelines, and the Conflict the Integrity and Self-discipline Commitment to prohibit blowers, we specify the protection rules for whistle-blowers the Companys official website, to facilitate partners of Interest Policies, to provide a solid institutional their misconduct. We also require employees to fill in the in the Anti-corruption Policy, and prohibit any form of understanding of our compliance requirements, thus guarantee for the Companys compliance management. Questionnaire on Conflict of Interest to prevent potential retaliation to them. During the Reporting Period, the Group reaching a consensus on compliance culture. To strengthen the compliance management, we set risks of compliant operation. Our compliance policies had not involved in any related corruption litigation case. up the Compliance Committee consisting of data and rules are applicable to all employees. We take theQuality ManagementDepartmentPlatform MaintenanceCenterApplication SoftwareInformation Security andPrivacy Protection GroupU+ Information SecurityCapability CenterProduct InformationSecurity and PrivacyProtection Leading GroupsLegal and ComplianceDepartmentInformation TechnologyDepartmentInformation SecurityDepartmentInformation Security andPrivacy Protection Officersrequirements such as the Guidelines for RegistrationReview of Medical Device Cybersecurity in China.The Group has set up a three-tier information securitymanagement organization structure, in which theInformation Security and Privacy Protection Supervisionand Management Committee serves as the supremeExecutive leveldecision-making organ, the Company and ProductInformation Security and Privacy Protection Leading Groupsserve as the management and review organ, while thedepartments and employees serve as the executive level,to systematically promote the relevant management affairs,thus achieving the Groups information security workobjective. We have formulated the Management Policy forInformation Security and Privacy Protection, which specifies the responsibilities of employees in the information security and privacy protection, to ensure the continuous andeffective operation of the information security and privacy protection management system.Information Security Management OrganizationInformation Security MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFICATE Certificate no.: Initial certification date: Valid: Certificate No: Initial certification date: Valid: Certificate No: Initial certification date: Valid: C563411 19 December 2022 19 December 2022 17 November 2023 248808-2017-AIS-RGC-UKAS 17 November, 2017 26 December, 2022 17 November, 2023 563413-2022-IS-RGC-DNV 26 December, 2022 26 December, 2022 17 November, 2023 This is to certify that the management system of This is to certify that the management system of This is to certify that the management system of Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare No. 2258, Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare and the sites as mentioned in the appendix accompanying this certificate Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd. has been found to conform to the Privacy Information Management System standard: No. 2258, Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China ISO/IEC 27701:2019 No. 2258, Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China Management and the sites as mentioned in the appendix accompanying this certificate and the sites as mentioned in the appendix accompanying this certificate This certificate is valid for the following scope: has been found to conform to the Information Security Management System standard: has been found to conform to the Code of practice for information security controls: Privacy Information Management System for Research and Development, Manufacturing, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Sales and Service of large-scale medical imaging equipment such as CT, PET-CT, PET-MR, ISO/IEC 27017:2015 MR, X-Ray, RT and Ultrasound. Research and Development, sales and services of products in the field of medical digital diagnosis and treatment. Medical cloud services are This certificate is valid for the following Scope: provided via UIHCloud to realize the collaboration of devices and applications in the cloud This certificate is valid for the following scope: Cloud Security Management Covers the Research & Development, Sales, and and the sharing of medical resources and to offer end user comprehensive solutions. Services of Products in the Field of Medical Digital Diagnosis and Treatment; Information Security Management Covers the Development, Manufacture, Sales and service of medical equipment, medical consumables and medical service solutions. With the role both as PII Controller and PII Processor, this is in Accordance with Medical Cloud Services are Provided Via UIHCloud to Realize the Sales and Services of Large Medical Imaging Equipment such as CT, PET-CT, PET-MR, MR, X-Ray, RT, ultrasound (Ultrasound), etc. R&D, Sales and the Statement of Applicability, Version 02 Collaboration of Devices and Applications in the Cloud and the Sharing of Services of Products in the Field of Medical Digital Diagnosis and Treatment; Medical Resources and to Offer End User Comprehensive Solutions. This certificate depends on the validity of the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certificate number: 248808-2017-AIS-RGC-UKAS Based on the United Imaging Cloud, We Provide Medical Cloud Services to ISO27017:2015 -Code of Practice for Information Security Controls for Cloud Services is Applied. This is in Accordance with the Statement of Applicability, Realize the Collaboration of Equipment and Applications in the Cloud and the Version 02. Associated with ISO 27001 Certificate Sharing of Medical Resources, and Provide Comprehensive Solutions for End 248808-2017-AIS-RGC-UKAS Customers. Sales and Services of Medical Equipment, Medical Consumables and Medical Service Solutions. Consistent with the Applicability Statement of System and Service Version V02 Place and date: For the issuing office: London, 19 December 2022 DNV - Business Assurance 4th Floor, Vivo Building, 30 Stamford Street, Place and date: For the issuing office: London, SE1 9LQ, United Kingdom Place and date: For the issuing office: Shanghai, 26 December, 2022 DNV - Business Assurance Shanghai, 26 December, 2022 DNV - Business Assurance Suite A, Building 9, No.1591 Hongqiao Suite A, Building 9, No.1591 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai Road, Changning District, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China 200336, P.R. China TEL: +86 21 32799000 TEL: +86 21 32799000 Erie Koek Zhu Hai Ming Zhu Hai Ming Management Representative Management Representative Management Representative Lack of fulfilment of conditions as set out in the Certification Agreement may render this Certificate invalid. Lack of fulfilment of conditions as set out in the Certification Agreement may render this Certificate invalid. Lack of fulfilment of conditions as set out in the Certification Agreement may render this Certificate invalid. ACCREDITED UNIT: DNV Business Assurance UK Limited, 4th Floor, Vivo Building, 30 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LQ, United Kingdom. ACCREDITED UNIT: DNV Business Assurance UK Limited, 4th Floor, Vivo Building, 30 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LQ, United Kingdom - TEL: +44(0) 203 816 4000. ACCREDITED UNIT: DNV BUSINESS ASSURANCE (CHINA) CO., LTD. BUILDING 9, NO.1591, HONGQIAO ROAD, CHANGNING DISTRICT, SHANGHAI 200336, TEL:+44(0) 203 816 4000. www.dnv.co.uk/assurance www.dnv.co.uk P.R.CHINA TEL: +86 21 32799000 www.dnv.com Qualification ISO 27001 ISO 27701 ISO 27017 Information Security Personal Privacy Protection Cloud Service Information Management System System Security Management System By the end of the Reporting Period, United Imaging had obtained the following certifications regarding information security management system, privacy protection system, and IT service management system:ISO 27018 ISO 27799 ISO 20000 CCRCPublic Cloud Privacy Security Medical Health and Safety IT Service Management Information Security ServiceManagement System Management System System QualificationThrough the systematic construction of information security organization and mechanism, UNI provides customers with services that meet international standardsof information security and privacy protection.We have built a multi-layer and multi-measure Our product R&D and design also embody the requirements for information securityData integrity and authenticityData security protectioninformation security control system targeting four major protection and privacy protection. With the principle of Privacy by Design and Privacy byAnonymity of sensitive informationaspects, including data security, application security, Default, we serve customers with products and services that are resilient andHard disk data encryptionhost security and network security. Furthermore, we resistant to network threats by incorporating the Security Development LifecycleData transmission encryptionconduct strict risk assessment of information security (SDL) philosophy into the product development process, thus consolidating the line ofand privacy protection as required by the ISO/IEC defence of information security and privacy protection.User authentication andApplication securityauthorization27001 system. We also formulate and implement theprotectionUser access security protectionRisk Mitigation Plan according to the assessment To effectively address information security events such as information leakage,Emergency access supportedresults and three-level (high, medium and low) we have established the Handling Process for Critical Information Security Events,Application whitelistinginformation security risk mitigation strategy, to reduce which specifies the process to handle information security events and defines theAudit logthe risk to the acceptable level in a scientific and responsibilities of departments and relevant personnel. We also conduct emergencyreasonable way. drills for information security events on a regular basis to enhance employees Operating system securityHost security protectionreinforcementemergency handling capabilities. During the Reporting Period, the Group had no Antivirus softwareleakage of customer information.Regularly updated virus databaseRegularly updated security patchesIn addition, we provide the training on information security and privacy protection for Trusted machine certificatesemployees through the combination of online information security warning platform and offline on-site teaching, aiming to improve their awareness and ability and reduce FirewallNetwork securitythe risks of information leakage. During the Reporting Period, the Group provided a protectionSecure encrypted connectiontotal of 17 training sessions on information security and privacy protection.Network whitelistingResponsible Marketing In strict compliance with the laws and regulations To guarantee the legal and compliant marketing, our The promotion information on intended use, functions and performance Consistency products are subject to the domestic registration and filing in places where the Company operates, such as the indicators of the products should be consistent with the registered information. process, FDA pre-marketing submission procedures and Advertising Law of the Peoples Republic of China international market verification process to ensure that and the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Where the products or functions have not obtained relevant marketing Accuracy they meet the marketing requirements of medical devices authorization or registration approval, their safety and effectiveness could Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, United not be externally publicized, and their marketing authorization or registration at home and abroad in terms of safety, effectiveness and Imaging is dedicated to conducting promotion and status should be marked. quality controllability before being externally promoted. marketing practices in line with domestic and foreign Furthermore, we conduct the standardized management for Where the promotion information includes data indicators, the effectiveness laws and regulations, social norms and ethical standards Traceability the external publicity channel and information. Specifically, of data source should be determined, to prohibit the unfair competition of to protect the consumers rights and interests. advertising. we have formulated the News Spokesman Policy, which We have developed the Marketing and Promotion clarifies the news publicity guidelines to be abided by the Document Control Process and preparation principles news spokesman. We also carry out the external exchange for promotion documents to specify the process to activities in an efficient and compliant way, to create a good public opinion environment and brand image. prepare, review, publish and archive the promotion documents and ensure their consistency, accuracy and With focus on patent right, trademark right and software copyright, we take various management measures to consolidate the intellectual property Intellectual Property protection. Besides, we identify intellectual property risks at regular intervals to protect the Companys intellectual property while preventing infringement of others intellectual property. Protection United Imaging firmly believes that intellectual property Cover all product lines and technology R&D cycle in the patent applications for all products, achieving all-round planning of patent right Protection of protection is essential to stimulate driving force patent right Adopt systematic and strategic approach for patent protection of core technologies and key products for innovation, and also the key to keep the strong Carry out pre-research patent protection for the most cutting-edge technology in the industry international competitiveness. We strictly comply with the laws and regulations in places where we operate, including the Patent Law of the Peoples Republic of Protection of Standardize the trademark use process to safeguard the validity of trademark China, the Trademark Law of the Peoples Republic trademark right Monitor trademark in real time, and take timely measures against others registered trademark which is the same as or similar to the Companys trademark of China, and the Enterprise Intellectual Property Management Standards. We have set up the intellectual Analyse and evaluate the industry patent trends regularly, and identify the potential risks; and take relevant measures to avoid the risk of patent infringement Patent risk warning property management structure consisting of Intellectual Property Management Committee, Innovative Product Evaluation Committee, Intellectual Property Department, and emergency group for major intellectual property We also lay emphasis on the protection of businessList of intellectual property rights obtained by the end of the Reporting Periodsecret. In specific, we conduct the classified managementfor the business information documents with differentconfidentiality levels according to the related information Data In 2022 By Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Legislators and their representatives updated local business leaders on the accomplishments and shortfalls of this year's session in the General Assembly on Tuesday. The Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Post Legislative Update Tuesday morning at New College Institute before a half-dozen people who attended the event in-person and more than 30 who joined the session virtually. Those who spoke were Josh Hess representing Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), Delegate Les Adams (R-Chatham), Delegate Danny Marshall (R-Danville, and Addison Merryman representing Delegate Wren Williams (R-Stuart). "We had hundreds of bills to consider within our committees," said Adams. "The State Senate has a Democratic majority there, so due to philosophical differences, some bills that made it out of one House failed to make it out of the other. The [Governor] Youngkin dynamic allowed me to work hand-in-hand with the Governor's office. We were pretty effective with our priorities." Adams pointed to two bills he helped pass that will help the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) combat fraud that occurred during the pandemic. "They were overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases they were trying to process," said Adams. "I got two bills passed that will help the VEC pursue the rampant fraud perpetrated during the pandemic. Hopefully we'll see some improvement in this new effort to combat fraud." Adams said transportation funding addressed by House Bill 2302 was "priority legislation by the governor." "The governor may now direct funds to enhance transportation projects allowing grants and loans," said Adams. "This is new executive flexibility." Adams pointed out that Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre in Henry County and the Berry Hill industrial site in Pittsylvania County would both benefit by the new law. "Previous projects would take several years and now the governor can put dollars on a project so that we don't lose this business," Adams said. A third concern of Adams involved the Virginia Department of Health and the increased prevalence of people and cattle suffering from the ill effects of tick bites. "There is limited data collection in our state, and the experts have complained about the lack of resources," said Adams. "My bill directs the Department of Health to recommend what strategies should be implemented. Virginia has not had a focus on this area of health since 2010-11 when we had an epidemic with Lyme disease." Redistricting will remove Marshall from representing any portion of Henry County at the end of this year, and he began his remarks by saying what a pleasure it has been to serve an eastern portion of the county. "Citizens are seeing what's happening in Washington now with the budget. In Virginia we have to have a balanced budget," said Marshall. "I wish our friends in Washington would learn that." Marshall said Virginia's economy and revenues were strong, but so is the disparity of how the money is filtered down to localities. "In Virginia we have this composite index, which measures a locality's ability to pay. Fairfax and Loudoun counties are two of the richest counties in America. The household income there is $145,000, and that relates back to K-12 funding," Marshall said. "Loudoun County gets $25,500 per student and here we get about $6,500 per student. Some of my colleagues in Northern Virginia want to change it so it's based on the number of students and if that occurs, they win and we lose." Marshal said energy concerns are the new threat for everyone. "The Virginia Clean Economy Act passed in 2020 says we have to be carbon-free by 2045. Virginia will have to produce electricity with all solar or wind and no coal or gas, so we have a lot of solar projects," Marshall said. "Much of the electricity is going to Northern Virginia; it's not coming to us. An engineer told me that it would take 10% of all the land in Virginia to create enough electricity to power all the cars in the state, so we are going to have to import electricity. It will come from West Virginia and they make their electricity with coal and gas." As the best solution, Marshall said, nuclear power should be getting most of Virginia's attention. "I've been to the shipyards, and they were building a new aircraft carrier there and dismantling the first nuclear carrier that was 50 years old," said Marshall. "Once you power these things up, they produce electricity for 50 years at a stable rate. I put a bill in; it passed the House but failed to pass the Senate. I'll bring it back. It will help our energy costs and flatten electricity rates in Virginia." Marshall suggested patience for Berry Hill and Commonwealth Crossing. "We have come in second a couple of times," Marshall said. "Kia, in February of last year, would have been 8,000 jobs and another 9,000 jobs in a 45-minute radius. So if we had gotten it at Berry Hill, Commonwealth Crossing and Franklin County would have gotten some business. It's just a matter of when, not if." Marshall said the average house sale in Northern Virginia is now over $750,000, and the state is experiencing a housing shortage. "Danville already has 1,000 jobs that we don't have houses for," said Marshall. "We need to be able to build residential like commercial. We want to have land that's shovel-ready so we can build those houses when a company comes in." Representing a western portion of Henry County, Wren Williams of Stuart introduced 15 bills in the most recent session, and seven were passed. "One was a racketeering bill concerning catalytic converter thefts," said Merriman. "It's a major problem for a business with trucks sitting in a parking lot. The value of theft is in the hundreds, but it cost thousands to replace. Racketeering carries a significant higher penalty, so we're looking forward to that going into effect in July." Merryman said another bill by Williams addresses judicial misconduct. "If a judge has been disciplined, that's now out in public," Merryman said. "Basically it brings our criminal justice system into the light. If there is any wrongdoing, then it should be public." Hess said that Griffith's congressional district stretches from Big Island in Bedford County all the way to the Cumberland Gap. "He's on lots of committees, and they've had a slew of meetings," said Hess. Among 15 community project funding requests received by Griffith's office in the past year, one is in the process of being approved for Martinsville and Henry County. Henry County Administrator "Dale Wagoner put in for $2.5 million for the Patriot Centre Industrial Park," Hess said. "Right now it sits with the House Appropriations Committee." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Roanoke man whose house caught fire early Friday morning was one of two deceased males whose bodies were found hours later in the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot, authorities confirmed. Police also said both victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds, one of which appeared to have been self-inflicted. Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel responded at about 3:30 a.m. Friday to two incendiary structure fires that occurred about a mile apart, one on the 800 block of Rorer Avenue Southwest and one on the 30 block of 14th Street Southwest. The department said in a press release that the two fires were connected and the person of interest in the incidents was identified Friday afternoon by Roanoke County police as 62-year-old Lewis James Lambert Jr. Lambert lived at the Rorer Avenue address, according to city real estate records. Police found his body at about 6 a.m. Friday in the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot on Catawba Valley Drive (Virginia 311). Also found deceased in the parking lot was a juvenile male, whom police have not identified. Both Lambert and the juvenile were found with gunshot wounds, one of them believed to be self-inflicted, police said in a press release. Police are not looking for suspects and there is no danger to the public, police added. Roanoke County Public Information Officer Amy Whittaker said Friday morning that a couple of hikers found the bodies as they were passing through the parking lot and called police. Its going to take a little while, of course, to determine what happened here, she added. Whittaker confirmed that the bodies were found in proximity to each other. The parking lot at Catawba Mountains crest is a hub for Appalachian Trail day and long-distance hikers. Access to the trail remained open, although access to the parking area was limited while investigators were on scene. It looks to be a very beautiful weekend, so we do expect there will be hundreds of hikers, Whittaker said Friday morning. Already, this morning, weve seen a lot of hikers coming through, passing through, heading to the trailhead, parking in the parking lot. Chris Whitfield arrived at the parking lot from Morgantown, West Virginia around 10 a.m. He and two other men had plans to spend the three-day holiday weekend on the Appalachian Trail, hiking the Triple Crown loop, which includes the McAfee Knob, Dragons Tooth and Tinker Cliffs, according to the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Clubs website. You definitely hate to see it. Its Memorial Day weekend. Everybodys out here trying to have a good time, he said. Im told that theres two bodies found, so thats really surprising and definitely not what you want to hear when youre about to start a fun day of hiking. But we drove four hours to get here. Were here now. And were going to do it. Whitfields party struggled to find parking spots in the gravel lot. The parking is crowded, he said. We have two cars here, and weve been here for the last 15 minutes looking for a parking spot for my truck. Whittaker said the heavily traveled McAfee Knob trail and the protruding rocks of the 3,200-foot summit have been the scene of other recent unfortunate accidents. Anyone with additional information about Fridays fires or fatal shootings is asked to contact the Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center at 540-562-3265, the Roanoke Fire Marshals Office Tip Line at 540-853-2406 or the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500. Police have encouraged hikers to use the McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle, which operates from park-and-ride lot off of Interstate 81s exit 140. Visit mcafeeshuttle.com for more information. No highway noise here! The beauty of nature abounds as you travel to this lovely one acre lot above the the quiet, Cattail Creek community. Take in the long-range winter views (year-round views possible with selective trimming) while listening to the sounds of the natural waterfall at the property's edge. Enjoy the quiet life in the mountains, yet live only 20 minutes to downtown BurnsvilleLandUndisturbed and wooded, one acre lot in quiet mountainside community. Small waterfall above the property boundary adds to the serene mountain getaway feel. Region & ClimateBurnsville, NC is a gem of a mountain town in western North Carolina featuring fresh air, outdoor activities, and a quaint downtown experience. Burnsville is also home to Mt. Mitchell-the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Fishing opportunities abound amongst the South Toe, North Toe, and Cane rivers that run through Yancey county. LocationThis peaceful one acre lot is located 20 minutes from downtown Burnsville, one hour to Asheville, and 50 minutes to ski resorts. View More The Deputy Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Olavo Correia, defended Thursday the development of a strategic partnership with Angola, in order to boost economic relations and cultural proximity between the two countries. Angola is a country with which the current government has been promoting the strengthening and development of effective mechanisms for cooperation and to deepen the historical relationship between the two states, taking it to a new level and with new meaning, said Correia, also Minister of Finance and Business Development, after receiving a delegation of Angolan investors in Praia. We intend to place this relationship at the level of a strategic partnership with gains for both sides, in areas such as transport and mobility, enhancing the circulation of private investment, tourism, knowledge, innovation, science, technology, in addition to the cultural proximity between the new peoples, he said. The governor said that the private sector is an important pillar in achieving these goals, so whether they are Cape Verdean or Angolan businesspeople who want to take advantage of the range of opportunities that these areas present, they will be able to count on the full support of the government of the archipelago. A delegation of Angolan businessmen is visiting Cape Verde this week, focusing on the diversification of investments, led by Elias Piedoso Chimuco, former member of the Angolan National Assembly, businessman and president of the Piedoso Foundation, of a social and philanthropic nature. It consists of companies with demonstrated capacity in several countries and in the most diverse areas, so the Government of Cape Verde is open to a dialogue that is fruitful for both sides, said Olavo Correia. Angolas foreign direct investment (FDI) in Cape Verde grew in 2022 to almost 295 million escudos (2.7 million euros), in areas such as transport and tourism, against 255 million escudos (2.3 million euros) in 2021, according to data from the National Statistics Institute, making it the third largest investor in the archipelago last year, behind Portugal, with 4,516 million escudos (41 million euros), and Italy, with 371 million escudos (3.3 million euros). Africa must not once again become a geostrategic battleground, declared African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday, calling on the continents countries to resist the instrumentalization of the great powers against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine. Moussa Faki Mahamat was speaking at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), founded on May 25, 1963 in the Ethiopian capital, before becoming the African Union in 2002. In this international context of confrontation and divergent geopolitical interests, the will of one side or the other threatens to transform Africa into a geostrategic battleground, recreating a new version of the Cold War, said the head of the pan-African organization. In this zero-sum game, where the gains of others translate into losses for Africa, we must resist all forms of instrumentalization of our member States, he continued. Africa is at the heart of international power struggles, which have redoubled since the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Against a backdrop of Western sanctions, Moscow is seeking support in Asia and Africa, where many states have not openly condemned Russias military intervention. In recent years, Russia has stepped up its initiatives on the continent, aiming to establish itself as an alternative to the former colonial powers. Moussa Faki Mahamat hailed the successes of the OAU, that of independence and the victory over apartheid, that of significant economic progress, sports, the arts, and the growth of Africas international role. At the same time, he listed negative factors, such as unconstitutional changes of government and their attendant oppression and gagging of freedoms, insecurity, the spread of terrorism, violent extremism, the uncontrolled circulation of arms, and the negative effects of climate change. The current President of the AU, Comorian President Azali Assoumani, has also denounced the unconstitutional changes of power that have multiplied in Africa in recent years. The army and paramilitaries fighting for power in Sudan accused each other on Thursday of breaking a truce negotiated by American and Saudi mediators. Even as a new ceasefire promised for a week came into force on Monday evening, local residents were reporting fighting, artillery fire and air raids in Khartoum. These violations have not ceased since, although several residents said that they have been able to go out, mainly to buy food and drink, and to see a doctor. In the capital of more than five million inhabitants, most families are holed up in their homes for fear of the fighting, often without running water or electricity, and with food and money reserves soon to run out. On Wednesday night, paramilitaries from General Mohamed Hamdane Daglos Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused General Abdel Fattah al-Burhanes army of being responsible for the fighting. They launched a series of attacks, and our forces repelled them, even shooting down a MiG fighter plane, according to one of their communiques. On Thursday morning, the army replied that it had countered attacks by armored vehicles from the Rapid Support militia in total violation of the truce. The Saudi and American mediators, for their part, have been content to repeat since Wednesday that they have passed on to representatives of the two belligerents information showing that they have violated the truce. These emissaries are continuing their discussions in Saudi Arabia. On the third day of the ceasefire, no humanitarian corridors had been secured to allow civilians to leave and aid to be delivered, according to humanitarian officials. Starting early next year, Ford EV customers will have access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada, in addition to the over 10,000 DC fast-chargers that are already part of the BlueOval Charge Network. This will give Ford EV customers unprecedented access to fast-charging Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and E-Transit customers will be able to access the Superchargers via an adapter and software integration along with activation and payment via FordPass or Ford Pro Intelligence In 2025, Ford will offer next-generation electric vehicles with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector built-in, eliminating the need for an adapter to access Tesla Superchargers The reliable Tesla Supercharger network has already established charging corridors across the U.S. and Canada DEARBORN, Mich., May 25, 2023 Ford Motor Company said today it reached an agreement with Tesla Motors that will provide Ford electric vehicle customers access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada, doubling the number of fast-chargers available to Ford EV customers starting Spring 2024. This is great news for our customers who will have unprecedented access to the largest network of fast-chargers in the U.S. and Canada with 12,000+ Tesla Superchargers plus 10,000+ fast-chargers already in the BlueOval Charge Network, said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. Widespread access to fast-charging is absolutely vital to our growth as an EV brand, and this breakthrough agreement comes as we are ramping up production of our popular Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and preparing to launch a series of next-generation EVs starting in 2025. Added Rebecca Tinucci, Teslas senior director of charging infrastructure: Weve spent the last 10 years building an industry-leading Charging Network that enables freedom to travel and provides charging confidence for our Tesla owners. Were excited to deliver on our mission to accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy by welcoming Ford owners, and other electric vehicles who adopt NACS, to our thousands of Superchargers across North America. A Tesla-developed adapter will provide Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit vehicles fitted with the Combined Charging System (CCS) port access to Teslas V3 Superchargers. Ford will equip future EVs with the NACS charge port, removing the need for an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers, starting in 2025. Tesla has led the industry in creating a large, reliable and efficient charging system and we are pleased to be able to join forces in a way that benefits customers and overall EV adoption, said Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer, Ford Model e. The Tesla Supercharger network has excellent reliability and the NACS plug is smaller and lighter. Overall, this provides a superior experience for customers. The BlueOval Charge Network is already North Americas largest public charging network with over 84,000 chargers including access to over 10,000 public DC fast-chargers. Adding more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers creates the single largest integrated fast-charge network across the U.S. and Canada, designed to significantly reduce charge anxiety for Ford customers, with automatic routing to the nearest charger and seamless billing via FordPass. Additionally, Ford dealers are adding roughly 1,800 public-facing fast-chargers and locations to the BlueOval Charge Network by early 2024. 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: Antagonism of antiviral innate immunity by SARS-CoV-2 PLpro from VOCs. (A and B) Quantification of IFN-luciferase activity (A) and NF-Bluciferase activity (B) in HEK293T cells expressing SARS-CoV-2 WT PLpro and the four mutants K92N, A145D, V187A, and K232Q. Blots show GFP-PLpro in cell lysates. GAPDH is a loading control. Error bars are indicated with SEM for three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 and ****P < 0.0001; one-way ANOVA analysis. For (A) and (B), data represent three independent experiments. Credit: Science Signaling (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade1985 The entire family of coronaviruses is equipped with multiple methods of evading the human immune system, and two new studies have taken a deep dive into how these viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, leverage highly specialized enzymes that keep human immune forces at bay. The studies train a bright spotlight on the stealthy strategies that coronaviruses deploy to antagonize and destabilize human cells, steps scripted in their genetic code that ultimately help these viruses evade immune system assault. Some members of the broad coronavirus family are more adept at these strategies than others. Indeed, one of the constants throughout the COVID pandemic has been the worrying discovery of a growing suite of molecular methods that SARS-CoV-2 uses to elude the human immune system. New research from China has taken a leap forward by comparing the evasion capabilities of milder coronaviruses to the trio of coronaviruses known to cause serious, even lethal respiratory infections. "Coronaviruses that infect humans can cause either common colds or severe respiratory symptoms," noted Yuxian Xiong, lead author of one of the two studies reported in Science Signaling. Both research papers involve roughly the same team of scientists from numerous institutions in China, including State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics in Guangdong and Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, also in Guangdong. Regardless of whether the coronavirus causes a bout with the common cold or serious infections, such as COVID-19 or MERS, most set the stage for immune evasion by damaging critical human proteins that prompt the immune response. Coronaviruses launch their attack by deploying the same type of protein-cleaving enzyme. Xiong explained that there are seven coronaviruses that infect humans, and four cause the common cold. They are: HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-OC43. Their more dangerous cousins are SARS-CoV, the culprit behind the 2003 SARS epidemic; MERS-CoV, which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and, of course, SARS-CoV-2, the virus underlying the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guangdong team zeroed in on the viral enzymes known as papain-like proteases, protein-cleaving enzymes that evolved to help coronaviruses ensure their survival by damaging critical signaling proteins that regulate human cells. Once attacked by these enzymes, human cells become destabilized and lose their capacity to marshal innate immune system responses. While these enzymes have been elucidated in the trio of dangerous coronaviruses, Xiong and colleagues have identified protein-like proteasesPLPsin HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-OC43, three coronaviruses that cause the common cold. "We identified the PLPs of HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-OC43 and found that their enzymatic properties correlated with their ability to suppress innate immune responses," wrote Xiong. The innate immune response is the initial cascade of immune system constituents released by human cells in response to infection. Xiong and colleagues describe how coronaviruses use their PLPs to damage the protein ubiqutin and a related ubiquitin-like protein called ISG15. Human cells use ubiquitin and ISG15 as cell regulators. By damaging these regulating proteins, the innate immune response is impaired and the viruses are free to proliferate unchecked. PLPs are said to have deubiquitinating and deISGylating activity. Deubiquitinating and deISGylating activity in coronaviruses play important roles in antagonizing the host's immune system and additionally may promote immune evasion by coronaviruses, Xiong and colleagues say. Dan Cao and a team of scientists in a second study published in the same journal investigated how the SARS-CoV-2's PLPPlprosuppresses the type-1 interferon antiviral response in human cells. Interferon is a critical player in innate immune system activity. Cao found that, when infecting human embryonic kidney cells, Plpro removed chains of ubiquitin proteins (in other words, PLpro deubiquitinated those proteins) from a multiprotein complex in human cells called STING, which stands for Stimulator of Interferon Genes. STING is a 379 amino acid complex and is a major propagator of antiviral responses. Looked at another way, Cao and colleagues discovered how SARS-CoV-2 literally takes the sting out of the STING complex. "Because it is the first line of antiviral defense in humans, the type 1 interferon signaling pathway is one of the main targets of viral antagonism to facilitate immune evasion," Cao asserted in the second Science Signaling study on PLPs and their capacity to elude human immune system activity. "Several SARS-CoV-2 proteins reportedly play antagonistic and evasion roles against interferon-1 responses." Cao and the Guangdong team of researchers additionally found that treating human lung airway cells with an activator of STING, and a compound that inhibits PLpro, slowed the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in culture. The researchers also examined the PLPs from the six other coronaviruses that infect humans as well as several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. They discovered that PLPs from all coronaviruses that infect humans became bound to STING and suppressed interferon responses. The discoveries are leading to new insights about the family of human-infecting coronaviruses as a whole. "SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS encode only one PLP domain, namely, PLpro," Xiong explained, referring to the trio of more dangerous types of coronaviruses. "By contrast, the mild coronavirus NL63 contains two PLP domains, PLP1 and PLP2, but only PLP2 has been reported to have deubiquitinating activity." Having these new discoveries in hand may eventually lead to improved antiviral therapies for existing coronaviruses and even future threats from this family of pathogens, Xiong and Cao say. More information: Yuxian Xiong et al, The substrate selectivity of papain-like proteases from human-infecting coronaviruses correlates with innate immune suppression, Science Signaling (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade1985 Dan Cao et al, The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease suppresses type I interferon responses by deubiquitinating STING, Science Signaling (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.add0082 Journal information: Science Signaling 2023 Science X Network 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: You've been diagnosed with depression. What's next? The cornerstone of treatment remains antidepressants, so it's likely your doctor will prescribe one for you, but which one might be best? You will join millions around the world who struggle with how to treat the mental health disorder. An estimated 3.8% of the global population experiences depression, according to the World Health Organization. The numbers are staggering, but when depression is left untreated, it can impair daily functioning, raise the risk of suicide and lower quality of life. Fortunately, there are many different types of antidepressants available, each with unique mechanisms of action, benefits and potential side effects. Here, experts will explore the most commonly prescribed depression medications, how they work and their common side effects. Depression medications Dr. Abid Nazeer, founder, chief medical officer and medical director of Advanced Psych Solutions in Naperville, Ill., stated, "If you don't treat depression, there's a risk that you may get through the day, but it will feel like a struggle. If it's been adequately treated, you can have a much better day." Meanwhile, Pardis Khosravi, a psychologist and clinical director at Children's Health Council in California, said, "Depression is not something you can 'power through' or think your way out of with positive thoughts. It is a medical illness that left untreated can have a profound impact on your health, quality of life and daily functioning. Untreated depression increases the likelihood of risky behaviors such as substance use, self-harm and suicidal ideation and/or behaviors." Although alternative therapies can be successful in treating depression, medication might become necessary in certain situations when other treatments have failed, depression symptoms interfere considerably with daily life, there is a history of mental health issues, or when a person feels too exhausted to pursue non-medication treatments. Here are some of the most common depression medications: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) SSRIs are a class of medications used to treat depression by elevating serotonin levels in the brain, a crucial neurotransmitter that facilitates communication between nerve cells. The Mayo Clinic indicates that SSRIs prevent serotonin reabsorption into neurons, ensuring that more of the chemical messenger remains available to enhance signaling between brain cells. Additionally, SSRIs are known as selective agents because they primarily impact serotonin rather than other neurotransmitters. These SSRIs have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression: Citalopram (Celexa) Escitalopram (Lexapro) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) Sertraline (Zoloft) While SSRIs effectively treat depression, they may also cause various side effects. Per an article published in the, SSRIs' most common side effects include gastrointestinal problems, sexual dysfunction , weight gain and sleep disturbances. Gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain, while sexual dysfunction includes decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and difficulty achieving orgasm. In rare cases, SSRIs may increase the risk of suicidal ideation, particularly in young people, some research has shown. Antidepressant medications SSRIs are not the only medications for depression: Tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) work by affecting other neurotransmitters. SSRIs generally have fewer side effects than these older antidepressants and are typically the first-line treatment for depression. However, the choice of medication depends on individual needs, and health care providers may recommend different types of antidepressants based on the patient's specific symptoms and medical history. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) MAOIs are another type of antidepressant medication that blocks the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which breaks down neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. By increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters, MAOIs can alleviate symptoms of depression. Some of the most common MAOIs include: Phenelzine (Nardil) Tranylcypromine (Parnate) Isocarboxazid (Marplan) Selegiline (Emsam)available as a transdermal patch Atypical antidepressants These medications can be effective in treating depression. However, the Mayo Clinic states that they are generally not considered first-line therapy due to their potential for serious side effects and interactions with certain foods and medications. According to Mental Health America, atypical antidepressants are a diverse class of medications used to treat depression that do not fit neatly into other categories of antidepressants. They work by targeting multiple neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, to improve mood and ease symptoms of depression. Some of the most commonly used atypical antidepressants include: Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Mirtazapine (Remeron) Trazodone (Desyrel) Vilazodone (Viibryd) Vortioxetine (Trintellix) Bupropion is known for its unique mechanism of action, which involves increasing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Mirtazapine works by increasing the release of both serotonin and norepinephrine, while trazodone primarily affects serotonin levels. Vilazodone and vortioxetine are newer medications that target multiple neurotransmitters and effectively treat depression. These medications may be useful for individuals who have not responded to other types of antidepressants or who experience side effects from other medications. 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: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain University of Cincinnati researchers are presenting abstracts at the European Stroke Organization Conference (ESOC) 2023, May 24-26 in Munich, Germany, including the results of the first large-scale assessment of radiological brain health in stroke patients in a population. Extensive research has helped pinpoint risk factors for initial stroke, but there is limited understanding about what the brains of stroke patients look like on a population level, according to UC's Achala Vagal, MD, professor of neuroradiology. "Imaging can be an objective manifestation of the presence and severity of clinical factors such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and kidney failure," she said. "However, the majority of the large epidemiological studies of brain health have been performed in stroke-free subjects." Vagal was a co-principal investigator on the Assessing Population-based Radiological brain health in Stroke Epidemiology (APRISE) study that gained new information from neuroimaging results of stroke patients. The research team analyzed all available clinical imaging data from nearly 3,500 patients who had a stroke in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region in 2015, assessing the imaging for signs of small vessel disease in the brain in the form of previous injury, microbleeds, white matter disease (wearing away of tissue) or brain atrophy, among other observations. Vagal said the team identified three distinct clusters of observable imaging characteristics that were each associated with a specific set of clinical variables. "This can help us understand the biology of preexisting brain health in stroke patients and help guide future interventions," she said. "We expected all the imaging parameters of brain health due to small vessel disease to be closely clustered, but we found a lack of clustering of microbleeds with white matter disease." With the knowledge gained from the study, Vagal said the team is now using the brain health imaging data to build a prediction model of recurrent stroke. "Such large-scale characterization of preexisting brain health is helpful to identify novel observable characteristics which can guide further studies," she said. Vagal presented the oral abstract "Radiological Phenotypes of Brain Health in a Stroke Population: Primary Results of the Assessing Population-Based Radiological Brain Health in Stroke Epidemiology (APRISE) Study'' during the Imaging scientific communication session Thursday, May 25. Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Walgreens is eliminating 504 corporate jobs, representing about 10% of the retail pharmacy giants corporate workforce, the company confirmed late Thursday. The affected jobs are mostly at Walgreens Deerfield and Chicago offices. The roles represent about 1% of its overall U.S. workforce. Advertisement As we continue to transform our business into a consumer-centric health care company, we are focused on aligning our structure and streamlining our operations to best serve our patients and customers, Walgreens said in a statement Thursday night. The affected employees are not based in stores, microfulfillment centers or call centers, Walgreens said in the statement. Were grateful for the many contributions by the team members who will be leaving our organization, and are committed to supporting them as much as possible during this transition. Advertisement The companys Deerfield and Chicago offices will remain open, and the company is committed to a continued presence in Deerfield and its downtown Chicago location, a Walgreens spokesman said. The layoffs come as Walgreens deals with fallout from opioid-related settlements, and as it strives to become more of a health care destination, in order to compete with rivals CVS Health and Amazon. Walgreens reported a net loss of $3 billion in the first six months of this fiscal year driven by a $5.4 billion after-tax charge for opioid-related claims and litigation. Late last year, Illinois and a number of other states reached a $10.7 billion settlement agreement with Walgreens and CVS, after allegations that the companies contributed to the opioid epidemic by failing to appropriately oversee dispensing of opioids at their stores. Walgreens did not admit to any liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Last week, San Francisco announced it had reached a $230 million settlement with Walgreens, after a federal judge last year found Walgreens liable for contributing to the opioid epidemic in San Francisco. Walgreens has also been working in recent years to increase its health care offerings. Walgreens has invested billions of dollars in Chicago-based VillageMD, which has primary care clinics next to Walgreens stores across the country. Walgreens said it plans to increase the number of Village Medical clinics by its stores to 1,000 by 2027. Walgreens and competitor CVS have been in a race to beef up their health care businesses. CVS recently closed a $10.6 billion deal to buy Chicago-based Oak Street Health, which provides primary care to people on Medicare at centers across the country. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported news of the layoffs Thursday evening. 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 suitable combination of radioactive elements in so-called radionuclide theranostics allows the visualization and treatment of cancer to be combined in a targeted manner. Credit: B. Schroder/HZDR Thanks to the radiation they emit, radioactive compounds are suited both to imaging and treating cancers. By appropriately combining them in novel, so-called radionuclide theranostics, both applications can be dovetailed. A radiopharmacy team at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and Heidelberg University has now presented such a system in the Journal of the American Chemical Society that successfully solves one of the biggest problems to date: it works at physiologically relevant temperatures. "Basically, we can think of it as functioning like a smart key that we use to control our automobiles. We use so-called radionuclides, i.e., unstable atomic nuclei, that spontaneously emit ionized radiation when they decay. We track down the tumor with a diagnostic radionuclide. The targeted internal irradiation close to the diseased tissue is then taken on by a different, therapeutic radionuclide," says Dr. Manja Kubeil of HZDR's Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, describing her theranostic approach. Her team in the Department of Radionuclide Theragnostics develops exactly these types of substance to track and destroy tumors. Thus, the researchers employ matched pairs of radionuclides which, due to their decomposition characteristics, can be used both for imaging and for tumor therapy on the same target molecule. The relevant radionuclide is stably bound in what is known as a chelator and linked to a biomolecule by a kind of chemical bridge. "The word chelator comes from the Latin; its stem relates to being encircled by the claws of a crayfish. We prefer the image of a molecular cage that firmly encloses the radionuclide so that it can't spread in the body uncontrollably. The target-seeking biomolecule for its part must fit perfectly with the docking site on the cancer cells, just like a key in a lock. The radionuclide then accumulates on the tumor tissue and exclusively develops its destructive impact therethat's the idea," says Kubeil. Stable bonds at practicable temperatures Lutetium-177, for instance, is particularly suitable as a beta emitter for releasing electrons to treat various tumors as well as a source of gamma rays for imaging. Actinium-225, an alpha emitter that can be used for efficient treatment, is even more effective in destroying tumors and is also very tightly bound by the chelator. Neither radionuclide occurs naturally on Earth. Appropriate methods have to be used to produce them artificially. Alpha emitters release particles composed of two protons and two neutrons. They are used in cancer therapy because their range in the tissue is very small, but they nonetheless attack and kill cancer cells very effectively thanks to their high energy. Their half-life of seven days in the case of Lutetium-177 and ten in the case of Actinium-225 is ideal for the purpose: it is long enough to enable effective treatment. New chelator with advantages So far, there has only been one complexing agent on the market that binds both radionuclides equally well: DOTA. The most frequently used chelator in nuclear medicine is known for its very stable metal complexes. But DOTA has one big disadvantage: only at what are very high temperatures for biochemical conditions, beyond 80C, is it possible to bond theranostic radionuclides completely. "If you are working with protein derivatives, these temperatures are way too high because even at 40C denaturation kicks in: they are destroyed. Our new chelator system functions reliably at these lower temperatures," Kubeil says. Moreover, under these milder conditions, it achieves faster radiolabeling than the known chelators. Another advantage is that the new system efficiently attaches to various bioconjugates. This means an increase in the choice of docking sites on diseased tissue. The newly developed chelator could thus form the basis for new modular and personalized pharmaceutical systems that could be geared towards different fields for imaging and therapy by simply exchanging partial chemical structures. More information: Patrick Cieslik et al, Toward Personalized Medicine: One Chelator for Imaging and Therapy with Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2022). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08438 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society 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 It is well known that adolescents tend to adopt the same behaviors as their peers. As Canadian students spend an average of 923 hours per school year in the company of their classmates, Sandrine Charbonneau wanted to see if there was any association between a student's "state" (momentary) anxiety and the "trait" (longer-term) anxiety of his or her classmates. In her master's research at the Montreal Mental Health University Institute research center, under the supervision of Professor Sonia Lupien, she found an association of this type in girls but not in boys. Her findings, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, were based on data collected by Audrey-Ann Journault for her doctoral research on the nature of the anxiety experienced by young people at school and possible contributors, such as parental, academic and individual factors. Charbonneau compiled data from questionnaires completed in class by more than 1,400 girls and boys at six elementary schools and seven high schools on Montreal's North Shore. The respondents were in grades 5, 6, 10 and 11. The state-trait anxiety model Charbonneau applied the state-trait anxiety model developed by American psychologist Charles Spielberger in 1988 to analyze her data. The model distinguishes between two types of anxiety: State anxiety is a transient emotion that fluctuates according to environmental stimuli perceived as threatening. A student experiencing state anxiety has physical manifestations such as sweating, rapid breathing, stomach aches, etc. for a short period of time; Trait anxiety is a personality trait, an intrinsic characteristic of the individual that can lead them to perceive various situations as threatening. A student with trait anxiety will tend to experience more state anxiety at school. Charbonneau analyzed the effect of being around classmates with trait anxiety on a student's state anxiety. She also looked at whether the effect of peer anxiety differed for girls and boys in elementary and secondary school. The effect of trait anxiety The results indicate an association between a student's state anxiety and other students' trait anxiety, but only for girls. Being surrounded by girls with trait anxiety in the classroom has an effect on the state anxiety of girls; boys do not respond similarly to the anxiety of their peers. "Specifically, if the average trait anxiety of the girls in the class increases by 5 points on a scale of 1 to 10 from one year to the next, a girl's individual state anxiety will increase by two points whereas a boy's will increase by only 0.3 points," said Charbonneau. The effect does not appear to vary by age; the association between a student's state anxiety and classmates' trait anxiety is similar for elementary and secondary students. Is there a difference between private and public school students? This question wasn't part of Charbonneau's analysis but Journault did examine it. "My doctoral research indicates that students in the public system are more likely to experience anxiety than students in private school," Journault said. "This flies in the face of conventional wisdom but it is consistent with the findings of other studies. One hypothesis that could account for it is that young people who have more difficulty getting passing grades are at greater risk of anxiety." Why girls and not boys? The role of co-rumination Charbonneau's study is among the first to show that classmates can have an effect on a student's state anxiety and that girls and boys respond differently. Since this is new ground, it is difficult to explain why only girls are sensitive to the anxiety of other girls in their class, but Charbonneau does have a few hypotheses. "It is well accepted in the scientific literature that girls express more anxiety than boys, and it may be because girls are socialized to express emotions, unlike boys," she suggested. She also noted that "girls are generally better than boys at detecting the emotions of others" and since the most frequent interactions in adolescence are with same-sex peers, "affiliation when faced with a stressor is one of the processes that may be directly related to the findings." Studies have shown that girls tend to affiliate when faced with stressful situations, unlike boys. "And, once they have affiliated, they tend to talk more intensely about their problems and negative emotions, a phenomenon called co-rumination," Charbonneau explained. "Young people who co-ruminate tend to constantly share their concerns without finding concrete solutions." More information: Sandrine Charbonneau et al, Anxiety in the Classroom: Only Girls' Anxiety Is Related to Same-Sex Peers' Anxiety, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010084 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: Credit: Bjorn Larsson Rosvall For the first time worldwide, at the University of Gothenburg, a child has been born following a uterus transplantation achieved solely by robot-assisted surgery on both donor and recipient. The baby, a boy measuring 49 centimeters (19.3 inches) and weighing 3,100 grams (6 pounds 13 ounces), was delivered by planned cesarean section Thursday, May 25. The child and the rest of the family are well, as is the donor. The new mother is 35 years old, and the donor is a relative. What distinguishes this case is the surgical method used in the transplantation itself. This time, the donor and recipient alike were operated on entirely by means of robot-assisted laparoscopic (keyhole) surgerysimply stated, "robot surgery"with no open-surgery stage. Robot surgery is considerably less invasive than traditional open surgery. In other types of operation, risks of infections and hemorrhages, for example, have proved to be lower when robot surgery is used. With it, in general, patients operated on get back on their feet faster. The method entails insertion of cameras and robotic arms with surgical instruments attached to them through small entry holes in the lower belly. The surgeons then steer the robotic arms by means of tools resembling joysticks at consoles, where they can simultaneously see mobile 3D images and operate with great precision. Minimally invasive, highly precise In the present case, the transplantation was carried out at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in October 2021. In the donor, the uterus was freed one step at a time, supported by robot surgery. The last step involved detaching the uterus from its blood vessels and removing it vaginally in a laparoscopic pouch. In the recipient, it was then possible to insert the uterus into the woman's pelvis through a small incision; first suture it with the blood vessels; and then suture it to the vagina and supportive tissue. All these steps were assisted by robot surgery. Ten months later, an embryo created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) before the transplantation was inserted in the transplanted uterus, and a few weeks later pregnancy was verified. The mother-to-be felt well throughout her pregnancy, which has thus now concluded with a planned C-section in the 38th week. Credit: Bjorn Larsson Rosvall Pernilla Dahm-Kahler, adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, is also a gynecologist and senior consultant doctor at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. As the principal surgeon in the intricate operation on the recipient, she describes the technique. "With robot-assisted keyhole surgery, we can carry out ultra-fine precision surgery. The technique gives a very good access to operate deep down into the pelvis. This is the surgery of the future, and we're proud and glad to have been able to develop uterine transplantations to this minimally invasive technical level," she says. Previously considered impossible Niclas Kvarnstrom is the transplant surgeon in charge on the research project, and the one who performs the complicated blood-vessel suturing in the recipient. "With the robot assisted technique procedures can be done that were previously considered impossible to perform with standard keyhole surgery. It is a privilege to be part of the evolution in this field with the overall goal to minimize the trauma to the patient caused by the surgery," he says. The transplantation represents a further development of the uterus transplantation surgery that began with open-surgery technique in Sweden 2012. The work is headed by Mats Brannstrom, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and gynecologist and senior consultant doctor at the University Hospital. "This is the 14th baby born in the uterus transplantation project at Sahlgrenska Academy, and more births are awaited this summer. The research project continuously evaluates numerous variables in donors, recipients, and children after the uterus transplantation, following up the operation for several years afterward. All this is done to maximize the efficacy of the operation and minimize side effects in the patients," Brannstrom says. In 2014, the research culminated in the world's first birth after a uterus transplantation. Altogether, eight births took place within the same research project before anyone outside Sweden delivered a baby after a receiving uterus transplant. The research group has spread the methods and technique further through direct knowledge transfer to several centers around the world. An estimated 90 uterus transplantations worldwide have been performed, and some 50 babies have been born as a result. THE PHILIPPINES and the United States (US) have agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture in efforts to boost food security and efficienc... Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. It is now a criminal offense in Montana to interfere with firefighting aircraft by flying a drone near wildfires. On May 19, Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, signed Senate Bill 219 into law. The law, which took effect immediately, made drone interference with aerial firefighting a misdemeanor crime publishable by a fine up to $1,500, jail time up to six months, or both. Unauthorized drone incursions grounded firefighting aircraft on at least two Montana wildfires and two Idaho wildfires last year part of more than a dozen drone-related groundings nationwide in 2022. Drones flying around wildfires could potentially collide with firefighting aircraft, distract pilots or crash into firefighters on the ground. Bill would add criminal penalties for flying drones over wildfires SB 219 would put flying drones over an active wildfire into law as criminal obstruction of firefighting activities, a misdemeanor charge with a fine and possibly six months in jail. The bill was introduced by state Sen. Willis Curdy, a Democrat from Missoula and former longtime wildland firefighter. According to Aerial Fire Magazine, Curdy worked as a smokejumper, pilot and air attack supervisor during his 38 years in wildland firefighting. The bill cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support: a 46-4 final vote in the Senate and a 92-4 final vote in the House. Drone interference in aerial firefighting is already a federal civil offense carrying a penalty of up to $20,000 and suspension or loss of one's license to fly a drone. More generally, it's a federal crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison to interfere with firefighting on federal lands. But the new state law specifically makes drone interference in firefighting a criminal offense for state and local jurisdictions, too. That gives local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors the ability to investigate and prosecute suspected offenders. The law states that violators can also be held liable for firefighting costs. The law carves out an exemption for drone flights that are specifically authorized as part of firefighting operations. Last summer, for example, firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service used drones to surveil portions of the Moose fire north of Salmon, Idaho, and to conduct aerial ignition operations to burn fuels ahead of the fire front. But those drone flights were conducted by firefighters in coordination with the manned aircraft operations nearby. Unauthorized drone incursions have been a threat to aerial firefighting operations for years, since relatively affordable and capable consumer drones have been able to reach the same altitude as little as a 150 feet above ground as firefighting aircraft often fly. Firefighting officials generally ground aircraft when an unauthorized drone is spotted, but it's unclear how many more go unnoticed. Since 2015, there have been an average of 26 drone incursions annually, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center. Most of those incidents resulted in officials grounding the aircraft fighting a fire. Just in 2022, that included incidents on the Moose fire, the Grizzly Gulch fire on Mount Helena and the Ross Fork fire between Ketchum and Stanley, Idaho. But the data is also an undercount: It missed some known incidents, such as a drone incursion that grounded aircraft fighting the Matt Staff fire east of Helena last year. Law enforcement officials and firefighting organizations voiced support for the bill. And Matthew Hall, the fire protection bureau chief at the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, mentioned the Mount Helena incident when speaking in support of the bill to the Senate Natural Resources Committee the past winter. "Because of the life-safety impacts drones pose to low-flying aircraft," he said, "the aerial initial attack operations were immediately suspended. Not only was this a significant risk to aviators, but it severely limited our capabilities in fire suppression when they were needed most." High risk of catastrophe According to Benji Hegg, a longtime wildland firefighter who is in his seventh year as an Air Tactical Group supervisor, unauthorized drones present a "low frequency but high risk of catastrophic mishap." Hegg, 42, is a 25-year veteran of the Forest Service who started as a wildland firefighter upon graduating from Missoula's Sentinel High School. He's now a year-round fire equipment specialist for Forest Service Region 1. But during fire season, he also spends anywhere from 70 hours to more than 150 hours per season in an "air attack" plane above wildfires, orchestrating the slew of aircraft assigned to aid firefighters on the ground. He takes resource requests from incident managers on the ground and turns them into a stack of aircraft operating in various roles at various altitudes. The risk drones pose is not just from distracting pilots, but also from collisions with aircraft. Even a small consumer drone could take down a plane. If a firefighting helicopter were to have a rotor strike on a drone, there's a high chance of a crash, he said. And "survivability rate, you dont want to go down that road." When air tankers full of fire retardant dive down to a couple hundred feet above the ground to drop their load, he said, they need all engines operating at full power to climb back up after a run otherwise they risk crashing into the ground. If an engine ingests a drone, it would be similar to a bird strike and would likely disable the engine, he said. And "thats the heightened risk of having a fatal crash with an aircraft." Hegg himself hasn't yet encountered a drone on a fire he's worked, but "almost everybody else I know thats in the air-attack world has. Its just time and place." If he were to encounter one, likely from either a pilot report or ground-personnel report, "I will shut the air show down immediately, land all aircraft," and the aircraft won't take off again until the drone operator is found or firefighters confirm the drone has left firefighting airspace. That "could be 30 minutes, it could be two hours." All the while, he said, firefighting efforts and safety are compromised because ground personnel are lacking air support. "The first priority for me when were on the fire is aircraft personnel safety," he said. "I dont know that everyone out there has the understanding and the knowledge of the risk that theyre putting to both the personnel on the ground and in the air that are trying to put that fire out." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess lived right across the alley from The Rowe apartments during college, and he said he loved his time spent there. Now, eight Missoulians from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to access discounted homeownership in the desirable neighborhood just steps from the Hip Strip. Its a wonderful project for people in our community who otherwise wouldnt be able to afford to live here, Hess said Thursday as he gazed out at Mount Sentinel from the window of one of the soon-to-be-certified units. All eight of the deed-restricted condos are under contract, said head of sales Tyler Eisenzimer, and the certificate of occupancy from the city is expected in the next week or two. The collection of one-bedroom units, listed for $299,000 each, is set aside for households earning up to $68,640 a year. The special pricing was negotiated through a right-of-way vacation by the city and partnership with the North Missoula Community Development Corporation. Developer Cole Bergquist was able to create the affordable housing opportunity by combining the Rowe with the Reed, a set of 40 market-rate units next door to the deed-restricted housing. In fact, the city only required Bergquist to develop seven deed-restricted units, but he was able to squeeze one additional condo into the development. NMCDC Executive Director Brittany Palmer said the tripartite partnership was a creative way to use all the tools we can, since other housing options like a community land trust werent a good fit for this particular property. By creating homeownership opportunities for people making up to 120% of the Area Median Income, Palmer added, the Rowe creates a more inclusive and diversified area. University students and employees are among the eight individuals moving into the condos soon. The project, however, wasnt without its challenges. Bergquists team broke ground on The Rowe in May 2021, and labor and construction costs stretched the timeline out to about a two-year process. Eisenzimer said switch gear boxes were the hardest item to come by in the building process. Finding qualified owners also proved difficult, despite Missoulas pressing need for affordable housing. The Rowe originally utilized a lottery system to find occupants, but those who were on the initial 100-person waitlist saw rates increase past the AMI limit by the time they were ready to start moving in. We didnt have enough buyers, Eisenzimer said. Eventually, however, eight eligible households filled up the vacancies. And while that figure pales in comparison to the enormity of Missoulas housing crisis, Hess is optimistic the city and its partners should be able to duplicate the success of The Rowe in the future. The first time is always the hardest, Hess pointed out. Now that the city, NMCDC and the developer have worked out some of the kinks, he believes the Rowe stands as a replicable model for affordable housing. This is something well be able to point to and say, Heres a path, said Hess. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. More than 80% of landlords have legal representation in eviction proceedings, according to national data, versus less than 5% of tenants who utilize an attorney while being evicted. In Missoula, one group of renters is looking to change that dynamic. The Missoula Tenants Union this week launched a campaign aimed at securing tenants rights to counsel, and theyre targeting the Missoula City Council with their effort. The campaign seeks to enshrine a legal right to representation with financial support provided by the citys budget. This is an advantage for everyone involved, said MTU Press Officer Ken Grinde on Thursday. Grinde explained that renters will benefit from having a professional represent them in the important proceedings surrounding eviction, while landlords and property managers will enjoy more efficient processes. Right now, its just not a level playing field, Grinde explained. He stressed the importance of properly executed evictions: those decisions factor into not only housing, but also employment, education and even child custody. But others in the field feel the effort would do more harm than good. John Sinrud, president of the Montana Landlords Association, called the idea a total joke. Its absolutely foolish, he said. If a tenant wants to stay in their housing, he added, just comply with state codes. Sinrud pointed out tenants already have access to legal help through means like Montana Legal Services and, in the case of students, the university system. His association also provides a free hotline to answer tenant and property owner questions. Theres a lot of resources, he stressed. Instead of streamlining the eviction process, Sinrud predicted that a tenants right to counsel could extend the proceedings and potentially allow tenants to stay in situations that pose a risk to the property, other tenants and the owner. He cited an example of a Havre man who went into another tenants property without permission and ultimately took months to be evicted because of legal wrangling. Scenarios like that, said Sinrud, create an unsafe situation for a lot of individuals. Grinde, however, said the right to counsel wont infringe upon anyones ability to enact reasonable removals. You can still legitimately evict someone, he explained. This will add a level of protection against slumlords, inefficient proceedings and unnecessary evictions. But it could also open the city up to legal challenges, Sinrud warned. He cited House Bills 282 and 283, which pertain to rental laws, as grounds to sue the city if it takes part in the MTUs campaign. Well keep an eye on it, said Sinrud. We will sue and we will win. Grinde, however, said the MTU could also look to the county for support. If we could find champions at the county, that would be great, he said. If either municipality takes up the tenants right to counsel, it would be the first in Montana to do so. Across the country, meanwhile, 15 cities and three states have passed legislation pertaining to the issue. The American Civil Liberties Union has also spearheaded a nationwide campaign to address the lack of legal representation for renters. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. More than 400 days ago, Stacy Pier was at rock bottom. After being convicted of his third DUI in 30 years, instead of facing penalties, 52-year-old Pier was given the option of participating in the recently formed Responsibility, Opportunities, Accountability for Drivers (ROAD) Court as a path to recovery. It was a tough start for Pier to move past his alcohol dependency, he said at his graduation ceremony from the program on Thursday at the Missoula County Courthouse. Just in the first month, he had two strokes. Emotionally, too, he was a train wreck, thinking he might end up relapsing when he started. Yet with the ROAD Courts comprehensive approach, he began to embrace the program. And after the first three months something clicked and he started to really progress. I love this program, Pier said. It has helped me beyond what I thought was possible. I think its my duty to help when I think about what my life had become and what it is now. Pier spoke to a courtroom full of ongoing participants, ROAD Court team members and supporters celebrating his graduation on his 401st day of sobriety. To compete with a past graduates 16-page essay, he developed a poster board detailing all hes learned and how he has developed in the five-phase program. Road court has opened my eyes to have better values in life, Pier said. Rock bottom isnt when you experience the worst time of your life. Its when you change. Its about what you do with it when it happens. I am so much more than the bad choices Ive made in my life. Mike Ramose, a longtime friend and former boss of Pier, said it's been wonderful to see Pier go through the program. "I've watched Stacy for so many years and he was kind of a train wreck, actually," Ramose said. "We've watched him for the 401 days and things started clicking for him and it was just like wow. He's done such an incredible job and to see him happy is powerful." Even though he has since graduated, Pier still plans to be engaged with the ROAD programs helping others who have been down a similar path. Participants in the program meet weekly as a group as well as check in with Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway, who enforces compliance within the program. Participants voluntarily going through the program will have jail time reduced, 70% of fees waived and opportunities to have drivers licenses reinstated. Holloway said ROAD Court offers a greater chance of impacting people convicted of successive misdemeanor DUIs in the city and county than the traditional DUI penalties. According to Holloway and other studies on treatment courts, participants in the program are far less likely to reoffend and are far more likely to be employed and sober. We have a problem with impaired driving in Montana, given the number of bars we have among other things, but the goal of ROAD Court is to make it less so and make our streets safer, Holloway said. Since forming in 2019, the program has seen 39 graduates including Pier and has diverted 1,014 days of jail time. Holloway said the program, funded through the Montana Department of Transportation and by Bureau of Justice Assistance grants, has allowed them to save money by avoiding the $140-a-day cost of using the Missoula County jail. The program currently has 19 active participants with 10 pending referrals, with another participant graduating alongside Pier. Its one of more than 40 treatment programs across the state, with Gov. Greg Gianforte recently announcing permanent funding for eight treatment programs throughout Montana this May. Holloway previously met Pier as a probationary court officer for his first DUI penalty three decades ago. With them both now in different positions, today they hugged, with Holloway saying Pier has touched every one of the team members. This is a far better ending than when we met each other 30 years ago, Holloway said. You have come to court when you werent expected to come to court. You have shown up because you said Ive needed this. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Missoula County Sheriff's office released the name of a woman found dead in her home on the 500 block of South Avenue West. Taeko Miller, 68, a Missoula resident, was found dead on May 13 after police were called to the residence, according to a Thursday press release. Around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, Missoula police went to the 500 block of South Avenue West after a man called 911 reporting his mother was unconscious in her house. "Officers responded and recognized suspicious circumstances regarding a 68-year-old female who was deceased inside of the home," a May 14 press release stated. After detectives gathered initial information and interviews, they arrested Miles O. Miller, 21. Miller is charged with one count of deliberate homicide and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, both felonies. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in court on Tuesday, May 16. If convicted, Miller faces up to life in prison. "Our heart-felt condolences go out to the family and friends during this very difficult time," the release said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. When Courtney Little Axe was a student at UM, she worked as an intern in their anthropology department focusing on repatriation. One day, in particular, stands out to her. She found a picture in an online archive search, and the man featured looked familiar. Upon a closer look and by analyzing details in the piece, Little Axe was able to place one of the items in UMs collection with the tribe it belonged to. That little spark really lit the fire for me, she said. For Little Axe, examining, researching and repatriating Native items has never felt like a job its always been her passion. But now, as UMs new Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act repatriation coordinator and collections manager, Little Axes passion has become her full-time position. Little Axe, Northern Cheyenne, Absentee Shawnee and Seminole, grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana. She has degrees from UM and Haskell Indian Nations University and has worked in repatriation for the Autry Museum of the American West in California. Little Axe is the first person to serve in this position for UM, and Dave Kuntz, director of strategic communications at the university, said the role shows how high of a priority this (work) is for the university. Public schools, museums and other institutions nationwide house remains and items affiliated with tribes. Sometimes the items are donated. Other times, a school or museum staff member may have bought or unethically obtained the items for archaeology or research purposes. In the last few decades, there has been a national effort to return sacred items and remains to the tribes to which they belong. Passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, commonly known as NAGPRA, established a process for tribes to request the return of Native remains from institutions that have them. Due to oppressive and assimilationist U.S. policies, many tribes have lost Native language speakers and other connections to culture. When culturally sensitive items and ancestral remains are returned to tribes, tribal historic preservation officers say Indigenous people gain a connection to their identity and community and can continue to heal from generational trauma. More than 30 years later, not all institutions are compliant with NAGPRA. ProPublica in January reported that at least half of the remains of more than 210,000 Native Americans have not been returned. According to ProPublicas database, UM reports still holding the remains of at least 25 Native Americans. To date, UM has made available for return 63% of the 67 Native remains it reported to the federal government. Little Axe, who started at UM about a month ago, said her first priority is returning ancestral remains and culturally sensitive items to the tribes they belong to. First and foremost, I have to get that done, she said. Institutions a lot of times want to provide a space for inclusivity for Native people but if youre not supporting them on the back end, where you still have ancestral remains in your collection as an intern (at UM), it was a little disheartening. Little Axe said she hopes to ensure the school is compliant with NAGPRA and wants to rebuild relationships with tribes. While repatriation is gaining national attention, Little Axe said the actual process of returning items is often misunderstood. Its very difficult, she said. Its tedious. The process, it can take years. I think people think its easy to return items I wish it were. But a lot of times, theres a lack of documentation (on the items), and so its really not a straight path to repatriation. She also said repatriation can challenge traditional anthropological mindsets. People might think, What will we have in our collection if we give everything back? she said. Well, a lot of these items were unethically obtained. Sometimes, the documentation will say this item was a gift. But it might not necessarily be like that. You know, there were situations where someone might give someone a ceremonial item in exchange for a can of soup just to survive. I think now anthropology is starting to move towards being more ethical. UM last summer received $99,314 from the National Park Service to support documentation and repatriation, and in January, the school was awarded $325,107 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to address challenges in determining cultural affiliation for objects with vague records. Little Axe said because the repatriation process can be time-consuming, its critical for institutions like UM to be able to work in collaboration with tribes. What happened in history is that Natives were omitted from the conversation as a whole, she said. Were trying to take more proper care and be more culturally aware and sensitive. Its just human decency. Its a respect thing. As a Native woman, Montanan and UM alumna, Little Axe is thankful to be at the table when helping return items to tribes. You know, non-Natives, they might look at these items and think, Oh, its just a beautiful piece of art, she said. When in fact, this is actually a ceremonial item that we use for our culture. Its not just a rattle. Its not just a bundle. Its a piece of us. We really have to do something, we have to get these items back now. Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Cathy and Tim Hoffman of Glen Ellyn relax beside a sculpture titled Hear: With an Ear to the Ground, by artist Olga Ziemska, at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle on May 24, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) The five sculptures are made from a variety of natural materials: some from river rocks, others from trees. For weeks, volunteers collected, pruned and prepared fallen branches from sugar maple, hackberry, linden, willow, elm and wild black cherry trees found at the Morton Arboretum. So its only right that the exhibition the sculptures belong to, which will debut at the Arboretum on Friday, is called Of the Earth. And it is perhaps even more fitting that the sculptors last name translates into that very phrase or earthly. Advertisement She met with the exhibitions team, the marketing team, and were like, Oh, your name means Of the Earth in Polish? How perfect is that? So it made sense right away, said Preston Bautista, the Arboretums vice president of learning and engagement. And the fact that we could provide her with materials for the artwork, I mean thats so unique. With these five sculptures of human figures, three of which depict female forms, Polish American environmental artist Olga Ziemska will become the first woman to have a major sculpture installation on the Arboretums 1,700 acres a huge canvas many artists can only dream of having. Of the Earth, which will remain until spring 2025, will also be the largest of Ziemskas exhibitions anywhere in the world. Advertisement The exhibitions signature piece welcomes guests outside the Arboretums Visitor Center: she is a 6-foot-tall female figure built from willow tree branches stacked on top of each other. Stillness in Motion is the newest in Ziemskas Matka (mother in Polish) series similar pieces have been installed in Romania and Poland. Olga Ziemska is the artist behind the new outdoor sculpture exhibition at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. (Olga Ziemska / HANDOUT) We wanted to make sure to bring a woman artist. We want to have, moving forward, a more diverse pool of artists as part of our exhibition program, said Bautista. The fact that a woman is depicting a female figure, I think its very different (than) when a man does that. I think a man actually approaches that from sort of the point of view of almost a spectator or a voyeur. Whereas, you know, Olga doing this its herself. In a lot of ways, theyre sort of self-portraitures. Theres so much of her identity in all of this. He gestured toward Ona (meaning she in Polish), which is located on the Arboretums west side and looks over a clearing. The 14-foot-tall sculpture shows a woman with wind-swept hair made from tree branches and mirrors for eyes. I use art as a tool to better understand the things we often overlook, Ziemska said in a news release. Humans have a complex relationship with the natural world, but there is no separation between people and nature. Everything on Earth is of the Earth. Another Of the Earth sculpture that calls to mind one of the artists international pieces is Oculus, out in the East Woods. Its a version of Ziemskas Mind Eye, which was built in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy. Next to the maple collection, two 10-foot-tall human head profiles made out of hundreds of tree cookies, or the cross-section of a tree, look at each other. They both have mirrored spherical eyes that can be seen from both sides. Though the sculptures are meant to emphasize a oneness between humanity and nature, Cleveland-based Ziemska did use some human-made materials in her sculptures, like steel and glass-fiber reinforced concrete, in order to withstand the weather in the Midwest. Besides glass, Ona also had a last-minute addition to her concrete skin yellowish rocks that glow blue in the dusk. Its always tremendous to come out to the Morton Arboretum and see how theyve chosen art and nature and put the two together in a really universal way, said visitor Sue Hamburg, whose favorite sculpture was Ona with her wild hair. So no matter who you are, or where you come from, or what your background is, you can identify and you can relate with nature, because all of us human beings come from the natural world. Hamburg grew up locally, often hiking at the Arboretum with her sister Barbara Brabets, who is visiting the United States from where she now lives in Australia. An unmissable part of Brabets trip itinerary, the sisters planned to visit the Arboretums newest art installations, as they have done in the past few years. Advertisement But Hamburg had to return to her home in Minneapolis on Friday, so the pair went out on a limb and hoped theyd be able to see most of Ziemskas sculptures Wednesday afternoon ahead of their debut. The Arboretum has had exhibitions for a few years now, perhaps more famously the wooden troll sculptures of Troll Hunt from 2018 to 2021 and other giants in Human+Nature in May 2021. The search for the next exhibition, which would open summer of 2025, is already underway. I wanted to build on Trolls and Human+Nature. I wanted to build on this idea of artists-commissioned works for the Morton Arboretum, Bautista said. So were gonna move forward in that direction. And they will happen every two years, so they are going to be a biannual exhibition, every couple of summers. Were hoping to be able to engage a range of artists from all over the country all over the world. Advertisement At the base of a hill in the Arboretums crabapple collection, fashioned out of river rocks and artificial turf, the silhouette of a reclining female figure emerges from the ground. This is 45-foot-long Strata, located next to an oak tree in an open field. Tari Marshall, the Arboretums director of public relations and social media, pointed out that Strata seems to emphasize the layers and complexity of each human. Looking over Meadow Lake, a short walk from the Visitor Center, a couple sits on lounge chairs and consider a human head laying horizontally. Hear: With an ear to the ground is made up of hundreds of white river rocks. Brabets, the visitor from Australia, said she noticed some children playing around the sculpture going Wakey-wakey! trying to wake it up from its apparent slumber. Hamburg said she believes outdoor art like these exhibitions are more easily accessible to people who otherwise wouldnt seek out art museums on their own. Importantly, she said, this kind of art allows visitors not to be afraid of it or feel like I have the wrong answer interpreting it. Of the Earth opens May 26 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle; 630-968-0074 and mortonarb.org adperez@chicagotribune.com Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A state senator from Butte and a longtime backer of the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in Butte said Thursday that Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte disregarded veterans by nixing $6 million in state money to build a sixth cottage at the skilled-nursing facility. Gianforte used line-item vetoes to strike that and another $17 million in funding for 11 other projects from an appropriations bill passed by the Montana Legislature. He said the federal government should pay the lions share of costs for a sixth cottage. It took years for state and federal lawmakers to cobble funding to build the $20 million veterans home in Butte, which took in its first veteran in March 2021. The facility includes five cottages with separate bedrooms for 12 veterans each, but there have long been hopes a sixth cottage would be added. The $6 million would have paid for that. A more fiscally responsible approach is to allocate the states portion of the project and secure federal funds for the balance, as we have done in the past, Gianforte said in a veto message. But Democratic state Sen. Ryan Lynch of Butte and Dave Williamson, chairman of the Southwest Montana Veterans Home Foundation, say the state could easily afford the $6 million cost now. They regard the veto as a slap at veterans. It was Lynch who got the $6 million added to the appropriations bill and its final version passed the Senate 34-14 and the House 68-28, both with bipartisan backing. Lynch said Gianforte has shown a complete lack of concern for seniors and nursing homes as they have closed at a record pace across Montana under his administration. With the start of the Memorial Day weekend upon us, the governor has made it perfectly clear that he doesnt support veterans and their service to this country either, Lynch told The Montana Standard on Thursday. Williamson noted that federal tax dollars helped fund construction of the facility and said the U.S. Veterans Administration covers or helps cover costs for much of the care delivered there. But he said it is a state-owned facility and, The state needs to own up to that. I am extremely disappointed he did that (line-item veto) not for myself but for the 100,000 veterans in the state of Montana, plus their spouses and their children, said Williamson, who served in the Army for 35 years. He said the overall bill included funding for more than $1 billion in projects and believes the veto was politically motivated. Among other factors, he said, Lynch is a Democrat and got the funding added and Gianforte and Senate Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls are Republicans. Although lawmakers can override Gianfortes vetoes after the session by mail if two-thirds of both Republican-controlled chambers affirm measures by mail, Williamson says its a long shot and doubts it will happen. Fitzpatrick sent the governor a letter May 18 raising objections to funding for more than a dozen projects in two bills, including the one in question, saying it was unnecessary and wasteful spending. Gianforte cited the letter and objections in his veto message. As originally passed by the House, Fitzpatrick said, the bill would have spent $1 million in state funds on a sixth cottage if the federal government put up a $6 million match. But the match requirement was eliminated in a Senate committee and replaced with $6 million in state funding, he said. While I have supported funding for the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in the past, I believe the primary burden for the construction of the sixth cottage should be borne by the federal government, Fitzpatrick said in his letter. Gianforte said Fitzpatrick had provided thoughtful recommendations to bring greater fiscal restraint and responsibility to the bill. He said the federal government paid for 65% of previous construction costs for the veterans home and should cover costs here, too. Williamson noted that it took years to secure federal money for the home in the first place due to funding formulas at the VA but said the state could easily cover all costs for a sixth cottage now. The Legislature in 2021 steered $3.3 million toward construction of a covered walkway connecting cottages at the home and lawmakers allocated another $5.25 million this session to finish that project. That remains in the bill, Williamson said. The $6 million for a sixth cottage should have remained too, he said. What is $6 million when youre dealing with $1.12 billion (in overall spending)? Thats nothing, Williamson said. So when hes saying hes doing good by taxpayers by eliminating $23 million out of $1.1 billion in projects, thats bogus. Lynch said he hopes veterans hold Gianforte accountable for his mean-spirited and spiteful actions that fly in the face of common sense and decency. He issued a statement to the media later Thursday saying Gianforte had given himself and his rich friends nearly $1 billion in tax breaks this session and grown the state budget by almost $2 billion and has the audacity to call that conservative. Veterans should reach out to their local legislators and ask that they exercise their authority and override this terrible decision from the Governor, Lynch said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Recent changes to Montana law forbidding the consideration of greenhouse gases in its environmental reviews wont stop an upcoming trial into whether the state is violating its constitutional duty to safeguard a clean and healthful environment, a judge ruled this week. In the May 23 order, however, Lewis and Clark County District Judge Kathy Seeley did dismiss a portion of the lawsuit that sought to overturn the states energy policy. Republican lawmakers repealed the states energy policy in the legislative session that ended earlier this month. The plaintiffs challenged the law specifically, Seeley wrote, and she cannot rule on the constitutionality of statute that no longer exists. The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by attorneys with the environmental group Our Children's Trust on behalf of 16 young plaintiffs in Montana. They allege the state's policies of promoting fossil fuels and not regulating greenhouse gas emissions violate their rights to a clean and healthful environment under the state constitution. Scheduled to begin next month, the trial is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, and will test some of the strongest environmental language found in any state constitution. Some of the youth plaintiffs are set to take the stand, and Our Children's Trust has also lined up a number of expert witnesses to testify on the science and impacts of climate change. The lawsuit also takes aim at the states laws governing environmental reviews, known as the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). In response to a separate ruling in another ongoing case, Republican lawmakers last month enacted a major change to the environmental statute. While the law previously barred state agencies from considering environmental impacts that are regional, national or global in nature, the judge in that case found this could still apply to the effects of greenhouse gas emissions within Montana. Republicans sought to address that by amending the law to specifically forbid state agencies from considering greenhouse gas emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate in the state or beyond the states borders. The state, along with Gov. Greg Gianforte and several departments and agencies, is being defended in the climate lawsuit by Attorney General Austin Knudsen's office. Knudsen previously argued that with the recent changes to MEPA under House Bill 971, the Legislature has created "a wholly new statute" and the allegations to the previous version no longer apply. In her order, Seeley referred to the new version of the law as the MEPA limitation. On its face, the MEPA limitation appears to conflict with the purpose of MEPA, which is to aid the state in meeting its constitutional obligation to prevent degradation by informing the agency and the interested public of environmental impacts that will likely result from state actions, Seeley wrote. She also rejected the state's argument that the state has no authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The state may not have the power to regulate out-of-state actors that burn Montana coal, but it could consider the effect of burning that coal before permitting a new coal mine, she wrote. This court cannot force the state to conduct that analysis, but it can strike down a statute prohibiting it. Elsewhere in her order, the district judge also addressed the states point that the MEPA changes include exceptions if the federal government decides to mandate the consideration of greenhouse gases. The intent of the framers was not to lag behind the federal government in environmental protections, it was to have the strongest constitutional environmental protections in the country, she said, referring to a 2020 Montana Supreme Court ruling that came to the same conclusion. The trial, scheduled for 10 days beginning June 12, will require the plaintiffs to show that the impacts of climate change in Montana can be attributed to the states use of fossil fuels. They will also need to make the case that a stable climate is included under the state constitution's environmental provisions, which also tasks the Legislature with protecting the environmental life-support system from degradation. Based on the plain language of the implicated constitutional provisions, the intent of the framers and Montana Supreme Court precedent, Seeley wrote, "it would not be absurd to find that a stable climate system is included in the clean and healthful environment and environmental life-support system contemplated by the framers. In a 2021 order, Seeley previously narrowed the scope of the lawsuit. The plaintiffs had initially asked the court to order the state to complete an inventory of emissions caused by fossil fuels and to prescribe a policy for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On both of those requests, she found that doing so would require the court to exceed its authority by overseeing analysis and decision-making that should be left to the legislative and executive branches. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Sixteen Montana young people are making history by suing Montana government for violating their inalienable constitutional rights. Held v. State of Montana, the first constitutional climate trial in U.S. history, is scheduled to begin June 12, 2023, in the 1st Judicial District Court in Helena. The 16 plaintiffs ranged in age from 2 to 18 years old when they filed their original claim in 2020, and come from large and small communities, including Broadus, Missoula, Bozeman, Polson, Kalispell, Helena, Livingston, and the Flathead Indian Reservation. They are represented by Our Childrens Trust, the Western Environmental Law Center, and McGarvey Law. Our Childrens Trust is a non-profit law firm that exclusively represents young people securing their right to a safe climate, based on the best available science. The firm has represented youth in all 50 states with cases currently pending in seven states and five countries. The plaintiffs assert that Montanas government is violating three of their inalienable constitutional rights: The right to a clean and healthful environment; The right to seek safety, health, and happiness; and The right to individual dignity and equal protection of the law. The plaintiffs also argue that fossil fuels degrade Montanas constitutionally protected public trust resources, including the atmosphere, rivers and lakes, and wildlife. The case argues the state of Montana has been aware of fossil fuels dangers since at least 1968 and government actions have knowingly caused and made climate change worse. Montanas Constitution establishes several inalienable rights, including the right to a clean and healthful environment. Inalienable rights are not transferable and cant be taken away or nullified; they flow from our nature as free people. Moreover, Article IX, Section 1.1 states The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. The suit doesnt challenge a specific law or agency action, rather the plaintiffs argue that the totality of various government actions contributes to the deprivation of their constitutionally protected rights. It argues that Montanas extensive support for fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas is unconstitutional because the resulting pollution is dangerously heating the planet. Montana is the sixth largest coal producer in the U.S. and ranks 12th in oil production and 20th in natural gas production. Montana government support and even encouragement of these harmful industries has robbed these young people of a healthy environment. The plaintiffs are seeking declaratory relief. They want the judge to acknowledge that fossil fuels are causing pollution and warming the planet and declare the states support for these industries unconstitutional. This would establish an important legal precedent and case law stating that the burning of fossil fuels is dangerously warming the planet. A victory for the Montana youth would help create a foundation for other climate cases. The Held v State of Montana court case would put fossil fuels and climate change on trial and could force Montana state government to change energy policies. The case may be settled out of court. Either way, you can support these courageous youth by going online to the Our Childrens Trust website and adding your name to the wall of support for the Montana case at ourchildrenstrust.org/montana-call-to-action. If it goes to trial, you can also attend the trial, assemble outside of the courthouse, or watch a live stream of the trial at the Myrna Loy Theater in Helena. The League of Women Voters believes that climate is beyond crisis and has reached the point of being a climate emergency. Thank you to these courageous youths who are taking action to challenge Montanas fossil fuel future! Durham man charged in hazmat incident. Authorities stress there is no danger to public. DURHAM Police on Tuesday arrested a University of New Hampshire graduate student on felony charges related to the alleged misuse of hazardous chemicals stemming from an incident at his home 10 days earlier. Authorities say they do not believe the incident poses any threat to the general public with a prosecutor saying he suspects the suspect was a "hobbyist." Police said Emad Mustafa, 29, of 35 Oyster River Road, had sought medical help May 13 for a possible exposure to a toxic chemical. The response involved the Durham Police Department, Durham Fire Department and McGregor Memorial EMS. Mustafa was transported to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, where he was subsequently treated and released on the same day. On Tuesday, May 23, a search warrant was executed at Mustafa's residence that included the Seacoast Technical Assistance Response Team (START) under the direction of the Strafford County Attorneys Office. Durham police and fire departments, UNH police, New Hampshire State Police and federal partners were also involved, police said. The Durham Police Department in New Hampshire. More local news: Starbucks workers in Rochester first in NH to vote to unionize, but what happens next? Assistant Strafford County Attorney Joachim Barth said the chemicals Mustafa allegedly had were mercury, dimethyl sulphate, sodium azide and sodium metal. He said authorities believe it is an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public. "I suspect he was a hobbyist," said Barth. "These chemicals are highly reactive so I am not surprised at the result." Barth said Mustafa attempted to throw away the chemical mixture in a public dumpster. "We have no reason to believe that the chemicals came from the university," Barth said. "We have probable cause to believe that he handled and mixed hazardous chemicals which, in the manner he used them, were capable of causing serious bodily injury. We have probable cause to believe that he disposed of hazardous materials contrary to statutory requirements." Durham police said the health and safety of the community was the priority during this investigation and at no time was there a safety concern for the community or surrounding neighbors. The hazardous material was identified and contained during the operation, police said. Mustafa was released on personal recognizance bail. Mustafa was charged with reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and improper disposal of hazardous materials. Both charges are Class B felonies punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison. START is a 40-member regional hazardous materials team led by the Seacoast Chief Fire Officers Mutual Aid District. The Southeastern New Hampshire Hazardous Material Mutual Aid District was called to assist START, police said. Mustafa is a UNH Ph.D. student, police said. He is scheduled for arraignment June 22 in Strafford County Superior Court. The identity of Mustafa's attorney was not immediately known. Attempts are being made to reach Mustafa's representation to comment for this story. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. More local news: Green Elephant owners opening Thai bistro in Portsmouth: Here's what to expect This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Durham NH man charged in hazmat incident at his home Gahanna police gave away steering wheel locks, like the one pictured above, to Kia and Hyundai owners to help prevent vehicle thefts. Demand for steering wheel locks for Kia and Hyundai owners is apparently so high, that Gahanna police gave away hundreds of them before they were even able to host an event on Saturday to hand them out. Kia and Hyundai provided the steering wheel locks to Gahanna police as one of the measures the automakers are taking to prevent thefts of the cars. Over the last several years, the models of cars have been targeted by thieves because of the ease with which they can be stolen. Gahanna police were given 400 wheel locks to give away, all of which have already been claimed by Kia and Hyundai owners. In light of that, the police department will no longer host an event Saturday at its station on Rocky Fork Boulevard to hand out the locks. Gahanna police became the latest central Ohio law enforcement agency that gave away free steering wheel locks to Kia and Hyundai owners. Other police departments, such as Hilliard and Dublin, have done similar steering wheel lock giveaways in 2023. The thefts of Kias and Hyundais have become so pervasive that the City of Columbus filed a federal lawsuit against the automakers, arguing the makers have been negligent in refusing to change design flaws that have led to the surge in thefts. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gahanna police give out hundreds of wheel locks to Kia, Hyundai owners Louisville Bank Shooter's Parents Said There Were No Signs Of Violence: 'Were Always Saying Do No Harm' Louisville Bank Shooter's Parents Said There Were No Signs Of Violence: 'Were Always Saying Do No Harm' The parents of a 25-year-old man who sprayed bullets at a downtown Louisville, Kentucky, bank where he worked, killing five colleagues, said that there were no signs he was capable of such violence before the deadly incident that occurred on April 10. Connor Sturgeon had been struggling with mental health issues for about a year, including anxiety and panic attacks and was seeing a psychiatrist and taking meds, his parents, Todd and Lisa Sturgeon, told NBC's TODAY in an interview that aired Thursday. RELATED: Louisville Bank Employee Livestreamed Fatal Attack On Coworkers But they said there was no indication he would ever commit violence at this level. Im afraid that whatever we come up with as the cause still isnt going to make sense, Todd said of any reason behind the attack, which was carried out at Old National Bank on East Main St. with an AR-15-style rifle. Eight others were injured in the incident. Sturgeon died exchanging gunfire with police shortly after they arrived on the scene. It would have been bad enough if we had just lost our son, Lisa said. But for him to take others with us with him its just its beyond what weve taught him, the way we live. Were always saying do no harm. He didnt do that. Todd and Lisa Sturgeon on the TODAY Show Todd and Lisa Sturgeon on the TODAY Show Photo: TODAY Show/NBC Todd added that the couple was hesitant to do an interview. We have a concern about inadvertently being disrespectful to the families, he said on TODAY, adding that they're waiting for the right time to contact the victims of their son's shooting spree. Lisa did take the opportunity to apologize to the victims' families in the interview. We are so sorry," she said. "We are heartbroken. We wish we could undo it, but we know we cant. The grieving mom also shared that she first learned something was wrong when her son's roommate called her the morning of shootings, telling her that her son said he was "going to go in and shoot up Old National. She added that she thought at the time, "Where did he get a gun? We dont have guns. Lisa also recalled thinking after the life-changing phone call: Theres no way this is happening. Please stop him. Please make sure nobody gets hurt." She said she hurried to the bank and phoned police, but her son had already arrived at his place of work. "He punished others, she said. He took others lives. A photo of Devon Hoover Todd said he was driving when he learned of shots at the bank, remembering, "You go from praying for his life to praying that this is unimaginable, that he just commits suicide and doesnt hurt anyone else." Of Sturgeon's mental health problems, his parents said that he seemed to be getting better while under the care of professionals and taking his medicine. But he suffered a setback in the days before the mass shooting. "He called me on the Tuesday before the event," Lisa said, "and he said, I had a panic attack yesterday and ... I had to leave work." The mom said she told him that his family was there to help. She met him for lunch the following morning and made an appointment with his psychiatrist for the next day, which was several days before the shooting. Sturgeon and his parents were all on the video call with his doctor. Lisa now says that her son seemed to be coming out of the crisis" after the call. The last time Sturgeon's parents saw him was on Easter, a day before the shooting. Sturgeon legally purchased the weapon he used to kill, which his parents say should not have been possible. What were hoping to do is stimulate some conversation around this, Todd said. I think the overwhelming majority of Americans dont want people in an impaired state to have a weapon in their hand." Oxy App Lisa added, How many mass shootings have there been this calendar year already? It has been happening to other people like us, and were continuing to let it happen and we have to fix that. The couple also shared that they can't help but feel guilt for what unfolded. Well-meaning people keep saying to us, You know, you did what any reasonable parents would have done," Todd said. "But Connor in his darkest hour needed us to be exceptional, not reasonable and we failed him." Lisa said, We failed those people." The five victims who were killed are: Josh Barrick, 40; Deana Eckert, 57; Tommy Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Jim Tutt, 64. The mass shooting also made headlines because Sturgeon livestreamed part of the attack 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. MONDAY 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. GLEN ALPINE The Glen Alpine Board of Aldermen held its last budget meeting Monday night before holding its public hearing on it in June, telling its clerk to calculate a new tax rate and cutting her proposed raises for staff in half. Town Clerk Melissa Lalonde had prepared three proposed balanced budgets for the budget workshop. Those budgets proposed property tax rates of 32 cents, 31 cents and 30 cents per $100 of property value; and each budget included a 10% raise for the towns nine employees. The towns current property tax rate is 34 cents per $100 of property value. But the majority of the board Jason Miller, Michelle Lewis and Tommy Helms pushed back against the 10% raise, and some wanted the tax rate dropped lower. Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Cox recuses himself from discussing raises for employees since he also is the towns police chief, and board member Shelia Perkins was not in attendance because of her mothers funeral. Lewis initially supported the budget with a 30 cents tax rate, saying in the meeting that she felt some of the towns residents needed immediate relief from this years property revaluation. Miller was the first to suggest dropping the tax rate to 29 cents, and Helms backed him up on that. At a previous meeting, Helms had suggested a lower tax rate than that, but said taking into account different deferments, he could work with 29 cents. Lewis later agreed. The town recently received the results of a pay study conducted by the Western Piedmont Council of Governments. That study found all of the towns positions were underpaid except for the part-time zoning and code enforcement officer position. It would take a raise of more than 16% to get the town clerks position to the minimum pay suggested in the pay study, and about 24% to get the police chiefs pay to the minimum suggested in the study. Other town employees didnt have as large a difference in their pay and the minimum pay suggested in the study, but many of them have worked for the town for several years, according to information from the town. Most of the police officers have decades of experience under their belt from their service with other agencies. Lalonde told the board they could still have a balanced budget with a 10% raise for employees and a tax rate of 29 cents per $100 of property value, but board members were still reluctant. I wasnt able to give any raises this year to my employees. I didnt get a raise, so you know, its nothing personal, but weve got a town to run, Lewis said. We talked about this in the last budget meeting. We cant pay these types of raises I understand, you know, you will have employees that will say, well, Ill just go someplace else, and Ive heard that my entire year but thats a personal decision. Lewis suggested a 5% raise instead, and Helms, a retired Glen Alpine employee himself, agreed, saying that paired with a 29 cents tax rate would give the employees some extra money and give the residents a break, too. But the 29 cents per $100 of property value rate is not revenue neutral. At that tax rate, the town still would bring in an additional $78,195.99 in property tax revenue compared to the 2022-23 fiscal year, according to information from Lalonde. She said the revenue neutral rate would be 22 cents per $100 of property value. The town already has more than $1 million in its fund balance (savings), and Lalonde said things are shaping up to look like the town will start the next fiscal year with about $1.5 million in its fund balance. She said she does not believe the town will need to tap into the fund balance to close out the current fiscal year. Mayor Bob Benfield didnt agree with the majority of the boards opinion on their proposed amount of increase for employees. He said in the meeting that he did not think a 5% raise was a wise idea, and said he feared it would mean employees would leave. He said at the current pay rates, the town couldnt compete with other employers so if employees left, they wouldnt be able to replace them. You get what you pay for, Benfield told the board. And I feel like youre shortchanging our employees. Miller said he didnt think 5% was a shabby raise, but Benfield doubled down. He said if another police officer left, it would mean no more 24/7 police coverage for the town. We cant hire a guy out of basic police training because we have nobody to train them, Benfield said. We have to hire veteran officers, and its your duty as a board member to make sure weve got the money to do that. Other municipalities in the area, including Burke County, are proposing cost-of-living adjustments and merit raises in an effort to attract and retain employees. Lewis, Miller and Helms all agreed that they didnt want their stipends for being board members to be increased, and asked Lalonde to set a public hearing on the budget and prepare a proposed budget based on the 29 cents per $100 of property value tax rate with a 5% raise for employees. The board did not discuss any of the other requested budget items, and the budget meeting was adjourned after about 40 minutes. Theyll meet for the public hearing on the budget June 12 at 6 p.m. at Glen Alpine Town Hall. Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Visitors to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition took in the view of the Court of Honor from the roof of the Manufacturers Building. (C.D. Arnold/Art Institute of Chicago) Chicagoans didnt have to travel far to find adventure 130 years ago this month the world came to us. The party was so grand, we hosted it again 40 years later. The first Worlds Fair here, the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893, was a miracle considering just 22 years earlier the city was in shambles following the Great Chicago Fire. Advertisement Yet the Century of Progress International Exposition of 1933-1934 may have been harder to pull off due to the Great Depression. Though there are hints of both events still present around the city, Chicagos iconic flag design forever cements their importance two of its four red stars are dedicated to the fairs (the fire of 1871 and Fort Dearborn represent the other two stars). Advertisement Before we head into a long, reflective weekend, heres a look back at when Chicago became the destination for fun, new technology, culture, a little sleaze and even a now-famous serial killer. How you can support this newsletter Become a Tribune subscriber: its just $3 for a 1-year digital subscription. Follow us on Instagram: @vintagetribune. And, catch me Monday mornings on WLS-AMs The Steve Cochran Show for a look at this week in Chicago history. Thanks for reading! Kori Rumore, visual reporter Chicago history | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Todays eNewspaper edition Photo gallery: The Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893 The Columbian Exposition Administration Building was a 55,000 square-foot dome that held the offices of fair organizers. It was the first building fair goers likely saw after they paid their entrance fee. (Chicago Tribune archive) Chicago rose from the ashes of The Great Fire of 1871 to host the 19th centurys greatest fair. See more photos here. How Chicago beat New York to get the 1893 Worlds Fair With fair buildings as the background, officials for the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 pose for a group portrait. The architect Daniel Burnham stands third from left. (Chicago History Museum) To many, New York was the obvious choice to host the Worlds Fair, but Chicago always the underdog possessed something in this competition that New York did not: grit and determination. Read more here. Take a walking tour of the White City The Agricultural Building of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. (International News) Navigate between the buildings and attractions in what is today Jackson Park on Chicagos South Side. Read more here. Advertisement 130 years later, was H.H. Holmes Englewood Murder Castle the house of horror legends claim? It wasnt even a hotel, experts say. The H.H. Holmes "murder castle" in March 1937. The building at 601-603 West 63rd Street was sold in 1938 and was razed to make way for an Englewood post office. The main entrance is at 603 E. 63rd Street and housed a sign company in 1937 where Holmes had his drug store. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) On the 130th year since Daniel Burnhams sweeping transformation of Chicagos southern lakefront into the classical alabaster-columned White City, the tales of Holmes dealings here, including his so-called Murder Castle in the Englewood neighborhood, remain largely sensational tabloid fabrications. Read more here. Tragedy at the 1893 Worlds Fair: Fire killed 16 while crowds watched The cold storage plant at the Columbian Exposition World's Fair, which held refrigerated food for vendors, caught fire in July 1893, killing 16 firefighters who were trapped by a collapsing tower. Editors note: this historic print has some hand painting on it. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) Firefighters ascended a tower to get closer to the smokestack and extinguish the fire. As they fought the blaze, however, another fire broke out 70 feet below them, forming what the Tribune called a pit of fire. Read more here. Photo gallery: Century of Progress International Exposition of 1933-1934 The Sky Ride soars over the lagoon between Northerly Island and the lakefront for the Century of Progress World's Fair in 1933. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Technological innovation was the theme of the second Worlds Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934. The title also reflected the citys centennial and its spectacular growth from a frontier settlement to an industrial metropolis. See more photos here. Women helped burnish Chicagos image for Century of Progress Worlds Fair 90 years ago Mrs. Edward J. Kelly, wife of the mayor, from left, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Mrs. Henry W. Hardy, president of Federated Women's organizations; Mrs. Rufus C. Dawes, and Mrs. Carter Harrison, as distinguished guests are given a driving tour of the fair grounds on Womens Day at the Century of Progress Worlds Fair in 1933. (Chicago Tribune historical photo ) In 1929, a group of socially prominent women pledged to keep the Chicago Worlds Fair scheduled for 1933 from being an embarrassing dud. No one asked them to assume that burden. To the contrary, the men who planned it snubbed them. Read more here. Yes, there was science but also some sleaze At Chicago's second World's Fair, A Century of Progress International Exposition, the most popular attraction was fan dancer Sally Rand. Rand was perceived to be naked while dancing with ostrich feathers covering her body. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) The fairs management reasoned that, if regally clad young women were an attraction, those without clothes would be an even bigger draw. Read more here. Mysterious doctor Couney saved thousands of premature babies and put them on display at the fair Sunday crowds walk past the Living Babies in Incubators exhibit as well as an area featuring doughnuts and Maxwell House Coffee on Aug. 26, 1934. The baby exhibit was the brainchild of Dr. Martin A. Couney, a pioneer in neonatology. Of all the amazements available to visitors to Chicagos Century of Progress worlds fair that took place along our lakefront in 1933 and 1934 Sally Rand and her is-she-naked? fan dancing legendarily among them none was more mind-boggling and successful than what was inside one of the buildings on the midway with a sign, so big youd have to be dead to miss it, touting Living Babies in Incubators. Read more here. Advertisement Wanted: Someone with big bucks and a big heart to restore the legendary House of Tomorrow The 'Century Homes House of Tomorrow,' by architect George Fred Keck, was featured at the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago 1933. The home consists of several stacked 'drums,' with glass-enclosed living quarters above and a ground floor airplane hanger below. (Hedrich-Blessing Collection) An architectural wonder of Chicagos 1933-34 Worlds Fair may be on its way to a brighter future if, that is, somebody is willing to spend nearly $3 million to restore it but not own it. Read more here. Join our Chicagoland history Facebook group and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Some members of the North Carolina Bar Association have quit the organization in protest after it canceled a drag show event. The June gathering was organized by the associations own Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee, which was established in 2021. The idea was that it was just going to be a social gathering fun and fellowship for people who wanted to attend who are lawyers, who are friends of lawyers, and just have a good time, Charlotte attorney Michael Roessler said. Drag queens were included just because that is a part of the LGBTQ community, he added. However, bar association President Clayton Morgan notified the Sexual Orientation committee on May 5 that he was canceling the event. According to minutes from a May 8 meeting with committee members, Morgan said that even though the event was not meant to be controversial, it would be misconstrued by bar association members, the public and the General Assembly. Morgan noted backlash from the event could affect legislative changes sought by the bar association in areas such as family law. The ramifications of jumping into a political space will affect those practice areas as well as our clients, the minutes quote Morgan as saying. But Roessler said the cancellation amounts to something else: a betrayal. Just two years ago, the bar association made a public commitment to stand for full equality for LGBTQ people and they also promised to stand against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, Roessler said. And this decision is an abandonment of that commitment. Roessler, who has since quit the North Carolina Bar Association, accused Morgan of being fearful of the General Assembly. We have a homophobic, anti-queer Republican supermajority, and you are afraid of it, he said, according to the minutes of the meeting. In a telephone interview, Roessler said planning for the event occurred late last year, before Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham switched parties to Republican, giving the GOP a supermajority in the legislature. That means Republicans now have enough votes to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Through a spokesman, Morgan declined to speak to the News & Record. In a written statement, the association said the NCBA does not endorse political candidates, routinely assume positions in politically-charged debates or present programs and events through which divisive political statements may be expressed or implied. The bar associations leadership determined that the drag event would most likely be interpreted as a political statement on behalf of the NCBA, the statement said. It went on to praise the Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committees contributions to making it a better and stronger organization. But Roessler noted that the bar association has previously waded into a politically-charged issue, citing its release of a 2020 report on the relationships between the organization and systemic racism. They went out of their way to say, Hey, we acknowledge systemic racism exists, Roessler said. And thats certainly an issue that would count as a political issue. Candelario Saldana, who helped formed the Pauli Murray LGBTQ+ Bar Association in 2020, said his organization has raised enough money to host an alternate drag trivia event in Durham on June 8. Saldana, whos also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, said cancellation of the initial event was a slap in the face. If you cant even stand with us for a drag event, then whats your stance on all the other issues? he asked. Whats your stance on the transphobia and homophobia thats currently sweeping the country? Saldana said his bar association, which initially had 75 members, has gained 38 more new members since the May 8 meeting between the Sexual Orientation committee and Morgan. Meanwhile, the Sexual Orientation committee has issued a lengthy resolution that seeks, among other things, a retraction of the decision canceling the event and acknowledgment that House Bill 673 is inherently discriminatory against the LGBTQ+ community. HB 673 would ban drag shows from being performed on public property or in the presence of minors. It also seeks education for bar association leadership on the importance of drag to the LGBTQ+ community and the history of drag bans. Saldana said hes heartened by the support hes seen. This isnt just LGBTQ attorneys that are helping out, he said. I have allies that have called me and asked how they can support us, what they can do. Theyre listening. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Dillon's Barrett Hospital & HealthCare recently announced it has been recognized for the 12th time as top-100 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in the nation, according to a press release from the hospital. According to the release, there are more than 1,300 CAHs in the United States. Barrett Hospital & HealthCare ranked among the top in performance of all rural hospitals, large or small, up to 25 beds. This consistent and repeated achievement of Barrett Hospital & HealthCare shows our organizations commitment to excellence and quality," said Barrett CEO Taylor Rose in the release. Im proud of the work our team does every day to provide the best possible health care to our patients and our community. We honor every single employee who made this award a reality. Compiled by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, this annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nations rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Index. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two of Buttes largest employers and two economic development organizations are backing a Norwegian companys request for millions of dollars in tax abatements to locate a battery materials factory here. Cenate is considering Butte and three other locations for a manufacturing plant and says tax incentives will be a factor in its decision. Its other potential landing spots are Moses Lake or Tri Cities in Washington state and Hermiston, Oregon. This tax abatement program is precisely what these opportunities are intended for, Rick Edwards told Butte-Silver Bow Commissioners this week on behalf of NorthWestern Energy and Headwaters RC&D. If this particular business was to come in, it would really complement other businesses within our community, he said. We can definitely use 250 new jobs and the additional revenues and things it will bring to this community. Officials with the Butte Local Development Corp., St. James Healthcare, the Montana Carpenters Union and local accountants also spoke in favor of the abatements at a public hearing Wednesday night. NorthWestern Energy and St. James alone employ hundreds in Butte. Nobody spoke in opposition. Several people said Cenate would bring good-paying jobs. Calculations and projections by county officials back that up and they will soon ask the council to authorize the abatements. Cenate Sin-NAH-Tah is developing silicon-based materials for higher-density batteries with faster and longer-lasting charges. If it chooses Butte, it would build a factory on a 40-acre site in the Montana Connections Business Park and use raw materials from the REC Silicon facility already there. The other three locations it is considering are all near REC Silicons other U.S. manufacturing plant at Moses Lake in Oregon. Cenate has a pilot plant south of Oslo, Norway, but is looking to expand into the U.S. Cenate wants tax abatements in Butte that would reduce its locally assessed mills for property taxes by 75% the first five years. It would pay more in phases in years six through nine and pay 100% of the taxes normally owed after that. Without abatements, Cenates projected local tax bill would be about $26 million total over 10 years, officials say. With them, it would pay $14.35 million a savings of $11.6 million. The county hasnt awarded tax abatements since 2016. At that time, the abatements went to developers for major renovations of the Copper King Hotel. That was a much smaller project, and the projected savings over four years was $248,000. Those backing the abatements Wednesday night said Cenate would be a boon for Butte. The tax abatement is a critical part of the package and the best tool we have to attract this business, said Kelly Sullivan, executive director of the Butte Local Development Corp. While well abate $11 million in taxes in the first five years of the abatement, Cenate will still pay $14 million in years six through 10. Our REC facility has been here since the late 1990s and while weve attracted many thriving businesses in the years since, there has been nothing quite to this caliber, she said. Opportunities like this dont come along every day. Jay Doyle, president of St. James Healthcare, said an economically strong community equals a strong and robust hospital and health care system. Every company that we bring in here with good benefits and pay allows St. James to invest in new, state-of-the-art technology and facilities for our community, Doyle said. Cenate says it would employ 100 to 250 people in Butte and county officials estimate annual pay for the first 100 jobs at about $70,000, based on the job mix provided by the company and average wages for such positions in southwest Montana. Cenate says they intend to be competitive in the region and would hire process engineers, operators, administrators and people specializing in internal and external logistics, among others. This is the exact type of project that we should be wanting to abate tax dollars for a certain period of time, Andy Durkin, an accountant and controller at Mountain West Holding Co. in Butte, told commissioners. Theyll provide incredibly high-paying jobs and those employees will be members of our community. Courtney Loeffler, a regional director at Headwaters RC&D, noted the long cry for more retail shopping outlets in Butte. If we can get this company here, then retail will follow, she said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The operations and day-to-day control of 121-year-old Montana State Capitol changed hands Thursday, somewhat unceremoniously, coming under primary control of the state Legislature. House Bill 856 from House Speaker Matt Regier, a Kalispell Republican, cleared the Legislature easily; its final vote in the House of Representatives was 95-1. The bill was perhaps the most tangible distillation of the Legislature's efforts to establish equal footing as a branch of state government. The body meets for just 90 days, often less, every two years. And while proposals to move to annual sessions have quieted in recent years, lawmakers have established new duties such as interim finance committees to conduct oversight of agency spending in order to harden its presence throughout the year. The bill landed on Gov. Greg Gianforte's desk May 12. By law, the Republican governor had 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or a follow a more passive route he elected to use here taking no action on the bill in that timeframe, allowing it to become law. Since the Legislature adjourned May 2, Gianforte has curbed other efforts by the Legislature to gain ground from its biennial status. The governor vetoed pay raises for lawmakers, which would have raised wages from $16 per hour to $24, as well as a bill to sharpen the Legislature's ability to muscle the executive branch into compliance with its audit functions. The second floor, where the governor and the Secretary of State offices are housed, remains under the executive branch's purview. The arrangement came after some amendments to the bill during the legislative process to ostensibly win over the support of the executive. The Department of Administration, which previously managed operations in the building, raised numerous concerns about the bill during the session, including issues about maintenance, cleaning, liabilities and more. DOA previously handled everything soup to nuts from the snow removal to power, lights, water, internet and emergency repairs like when two basement bathrooms in the Capitol flooded during the session that just ended, department director Misty Ann Giles told lawmakers earlier this year. There's no doubt the legislative and executive branches have enjoyed some harmony over GOP priorities like tax reform and abortion restrictions. Still, tension remains. Early in HB 856's process the governor publicly said he had concerns about the bill and a spokesperson for Gianforte said Thursday the governor's inaction on the bill was intentional. "As with all bills that reach the governor's desk, the governor carefully reviewed HB 856 and chose not to sign it," press secretary Kaitlin Price said in an email. "While there are many successes from the legislative session, from tax cuts to pro-housing reforms to pro-student, pro-parent education reforms, some legislators' commitment to putting Capitol parking space assignments into Montana law and spending $25 million to renovate their space is not on the list." Regier in a phone interview Thursday said the bill was about equal footing as a coequal branch. "I think no matter whos in the Legislature and whos in the exec(utive), Id imagine the executive would want control of everything like they have in the past," Regier said Thursday when asked to respond to comment from the governor's office. "Thats not equitable. Were two branches of government, we should be in control of our space and the executive should be in control of their space and thats the way we set it up." The Capitol complex proposal, drummed up by legislative leadership in both parties before the session, maintained its bipartisan support even during an increasingly divisive session. While the Republican supermajority of the last session had the votes to shepherd the proposal through the Legislature on its own, Democrats made up 46 of the bill's 81 co-sponsors. The bill allocates $50 million to be split between executive and legislative branches for long-range maintenance projects for the Capitol building that will be available by the end of June. The Legislative Council, made up of legislative leadership, will serve as a long-range building committee to recommend construction and remodeling priorities to the Legislature and Department of Administration. "For too long, the legislative branch has ceded too much of its power to the executive branch, including the right to decide how we use our own space," House Minority Whip and Butte Democrat Derek Harvey said in a statement. "With this bill, I'm hopeful we'll be able to bring about changes that make the Legislature more transparent, accessible and open for public participation." "Republican leadership is excited to get to work on long-term planning for better and more efficient use of space in the state Capitol building," a spokesperson for the Senate GOP said Thursday. The speaker said he has no personal rift with the governor's office, but added lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed some frustration with other legislation being vetoed, particularly transparency measures. Earlier this month the governor vetoed House Bill 693, which would have barred state agencies from withholding public records that were part of litigation; Gianforte wrote in his veto letter the bill would only benefit trial lawyers, not bolster the public's right to know. The governor last week shot down a separate attempt by the Legislature to sharpen its oversight of the executive branch by vetoing Senate Bill 73. That proposal, from Sen. Tom McGillvray, a Billings Republican, would have made executive branch officials subject to an official misconduct charge if they withheld materials sought by the Legislature's audit division. The charge was a misdemeanor, but could have resulted in a government official losing their job. During the last interim session, McGillvray and Legislative Auditor Angus Maciver raised concerns about "increasing" resistance from agencies. During the legislative session, the executive branch maintained its opposition to McGillvray's SB 73, even after he had amended the bill to clarify only an intentional withholding of materials could result in an official misconduct charge. In his veto letter on May 19, Gianforte was adamant that the bill could lead to the audit division's work trampling personal privacy rights of state employees. His veto letter was accompanied by a letters from officials with the Department of Administration, Department of Public Health and Human Services, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Montana Federation of Public Employees the state employees' union urging him to reject the bill. "The Montana Constitution directs that I, as governor, 'see that the laws are faithfully executed,'" Gianforte wrote. " Giving an unelected bureaucrat such unfettered authority, especially without safeguards for Montanans' privacy interests, is unacceptable." Maciver had, during the bill's hearings, pushed against this notion that the bill would disrupt the status quo. He provided to the committee a contract signed in January for a third-party contractor to review personally identifiable health information in order to properly conduct its claims audit. Despite the Department of Administration's testimony against the bill, he noted, the department had cosigned the audit contract. "That's been occurring for three decades," Maciver told lawmakers. "It's never been an issue that that was how the work was done and it's done that way because it has to be done that way in order for it to be a valid audit. So the idea that were embarking in new territory, I just wanted to make sure the committee understood that this work is going on right now, has been for a long time and we do it in cooperation with the Department of Administration." McGillvray's bill reached the two-thirds support threshold to trigger a poll of lawmakers to attempt a veto override. Regier said several veto override efforts are already underway; he had just returned three votes to override vetoes this week. "I'd like to see that one overturned," Regier said of the veto on SB 73, giving teeth to the legislative auditor. "That's the foundation of good governance." According to the Secretary of State's Office listing online, lawmakers have been polled on 16 bills that were vetoed but met the two-thirds support threshold. The override polls are due back 30 days after the veto. The first round of override polls are due June 2, with following batches of polls due back to the Secretary of State on June 8, 13 and 15. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, have expressed concern about policies of each others governments following Chinese raids on consulting firms and U.S. restrictions on exports of semiconductor technology. Their governments announced no progress in disputes over technology and security but said Raimondo and Wang promised to strengthen exchanges on trade issues. Companies from both sides have been buffeted by tighter official controls on trade in semiconductors and other activity on security grounds. Raimondo's office said she raised concerns about Chinese actions against U.S. companies in China. Wang's ministry said he expressed key concerns about U.S. policy on semiconductors, exports and trade. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. COLUMBUS JUNCTION Columbus Junction City Council tabled action on establishing a volunteer-based transfer rig program within the Louisa County/Columbus Junction Ambulance Service (LCAS). LCAS Executive Director Jim Ingham and LCAS staffer Dan Conry presented the proposal to the council on Wednesday. Conry developed the proposal after conducting research and talking with prospective users. According to the two, a $103,700 annual profit was projected, assuming an average of 10 transfers per week. They said those projections were based on primarily providing the service to UnityPoint Muscatine. Muscatine Fire does have an agreement with UnityPoint Muscatine to run transfers, (but) due to staffing issues and volume of transfers, Muscatine Fire cannot handle all the transfers, Conry wrote in the proposal. Even with additional transfer assistance from other ambulance providers, Conry said the Muscatine facility still cannot cover all its transfers. The key for LCAS to provide the service will be recruiting additional volunteers who will then be paid to either be on call or actually provide transfer services. Ingham and Conry both emphasized if the LCAS eventually provides the transfer service, it will not impact the services emergency calls response. We are not going to take away from our 911 rigs, Conry said, pointing out a current backup unit will serve as a transfer rig if the program is eventually approved. Ingham agreed. We will never ever let 911 be (unstaffed), he said. Both said recruiting volunteers would be the main handicap to developing the transfer service, and city officials agreed, especially since the $14 per hour volunteer pay will be on the low side of what EMTs and paramedics in Iowa now receive. Theres not a line (of volunteers) waiting, council member Darin Mapel said. However, officials said a sense of community service and other nonmonetary reasons could help with the recruitment. Mayor Mark Huston suggested the call for volunteers to staff the new service could help convince past volunteers to rejoin the LCAS, referring to the LCASs loss of several volunteers before the city took over the former nonprofit operation almost 18 months ago. Council members questioned other parts of the proposal. Hal Prior wondered if the transfer volunteers could also respond to a 911 emergency if they were on call and none of the normal 911 teams were available. Ingham said the potential was there, but it was something still being worked on by the LCAS staff. Council member Frank Best said he was concerned the proposal would attract volunteers, but they would drop out for whatever reason. Ingham and Conry both said that unlike 911 calls, the transfer rig would not be required to respond whenever there was a request. The two said if transfer crews were unavailable, UnityPoint would need to find other transfer providers. Eventually, the council agreed to table the issue and ask the LCAS Ambulance Board to review the proposal and submit a recommendation to the council. Huston said he expected a possible recommendation would be available for the councils June 14 meeting. In other action, the council: Approved a guaranteed paid hours policy for LCAS staff, which will be based on the number of hours worked by an individual staff member. Discussed possible parking restrictions for some streets that may be used as a detour route when the Iowa Highway 92 widening project begins sometime before April 2024. Close After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the front lines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. Above, crews stand together in Kyiev, Ukraine after a successful delivery. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. Above, a Genesis crew loads the ambulance onto a trailer as it waits to be shipped overseas. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the front lines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. Above, a crew stands with a convoy of donated equipment, including the Genesis ambulance, in Ukraine. Photos: Genesis donates an ambulance, supplies to Ukraine After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the front lines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. Above, crews stand together in Kyiev, Ukraine after a successful delivery. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. Above, a Genesis crew loads the ambulance onto a trailer as it waits to be shipped overseas. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the frontlines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. After six years of service in the Quad-Cities, this Genesis Health System ambulance was donated to Ukraine and is now helping injured soldiers and civilians on the front lines of Ukraines war with Russia. UnityPoint-Trinity also contributed to the efforts by donating supplies. Above, a crew stands with a convoy of donated equipment, including the Genesis ambulance, in Ukraine. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CEDAR RAPIDS Ahead of what airlines say could be the busiest Memorial Day weekend for travel since before the pandemic, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stopped at The Eastern Iowa Airport to highlight federal investments he said will make for a better passenger experience and support job growth. He also stopped in Dubuque on Thursday to see how the city is using federal infrastructure funding to remove an at-grade crossing and build a railroad overpass in the city. Buttigieg, who made history as the first openly gay man to launch a competitive campaign for president, also criticized Republican state lawmakers for misplaced priorities in passing legislation targeting LGBTQ Iowans. Asked about state legislatures in red states including Iowa passing a number of anti-LGBTQ bills, Buttigieg said states trying to rollback LGBTQ rights aren't helping anybody. He said the Biden administration is in Cedar Rapids trying to make life easier for airline passengers, while in Des Moines they're making life harder for LGBTQ high schoolers. Of all the things you could do with the power and the trust and the resources put in your hands as an elected official, why wouldnt you be concentrating more on building roads and bridges and fixing up airports, and making insulin more affordable, and helping veterans and all the other things were doing as an administration? Buttigieg said to applause. Were going to continue focusing on the work we can do by the way, often on a bipartisan basis thats making people better off and delivering concrete results. Calling the Midwest the cradle of aviation innovation in the world, Buttigieg said the nation has been slipping through a lack of investment over decades. Since the 1980s, we have been needing to do more, whether its our airports, our roads and bridges, our transit rail and ports, he said. And thanks to President (Joe) Biden and the bipartisan leaders from both sides of the aisle were doing it. AIRPORT PROJECT Buttigieg toured the fourth and final phase of the Cedar Rapids airports terminal modernization to see federal infrastructure dollars at work. The $120.9 million project is funded in part by a $20 million grant made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law championed and signed into law by Biden. Airport officials also received a $28 million state grant from the Iowa commercial aviation fund. The $68 million fourth phase includes remodeling the rest of the terminal, adding 32,000 square feet and four additional jet bridges, building a larger patio with a license to serve alcohol and adding a pet relief area and a sensory room for people overstimulated by travel. Construction, which began in early March, is estimated to take 18 to 24 months. When completed, the work will improve travel and passenger amenities, expand concourse space to accommodate larger planes and position the airport to capitalize on growing demand and add flights, Buttigieg, city and airport officials said. The 2021 Infrastructure law put aside $25 billion for airports to address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions near ports and airports, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies. This was Buttigiegs first trip to Iowa as the secretary of transportation, according to a Department of Transportation staffer. Buttigieg won the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses. What we see here brings together a lot of the different things that we are trying to support, Buttigieg said. Making sure that, of course, we have the support for economic growth, a better passenger experience. The new law provides more funding for terminal work for airports to upgrade bathrooms and concourse, and provide for quicker, more efficient security screening and baggage claim process, Buttigieg said. What weve seen in the aviation sector is its come roaring back faster than anybody thought, he said. Its great news. But its meant, obviously, a lot of stress on the system. Amid an ongoing air traffic controller shortage that's been partly to blame for disruptions across the system, Buttigieg said the transportation department continues to hire and train controllers even as key facilities remain below targets. WHAT FUNDING MEANS FOR CEDAR RAPIDS Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany ODonnell said aviation and transportation long have been integral to Cedar Rapids success, both past and present. She noted the citys deep-rooted connection to aviation history, mentioning that brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright the first two men to fly an airplane lived in Cedar Rapids when they were young. ODonnell also mentioned the communications technology developed at what is now Collins Aerospace that connected NASA engineers with Apollo 11 astronauts on their historic lunar mission. Cedar Rapids economic strength relies heavily on this airport, ODonnell said. The significant investment that we mark today will not only benefit the passengers, but also contribute to the flourishing commerce and certainly workforce development of our city. From its humble beginnings 75 years ago with a farmhouse serving as its terminal, our airport has evolved today into a facility we can all take pride in, ODonnell said. Airport commission chairman Duane Smith said the current construction will create an estimated 450 jobs, which also contributes to our vibrant economy. Rick Peterson, a union laborer working on the terminal project, praised the federal investment that helps me support my family and give me a little peace of mind. Peterson said the large influx of dollars for large-scale public works projects means construction workers like me and the next generation no longer have worry about when and where their next job will pop up. WHO FROM IOWA VOTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW? Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand thanked former Iowa U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat, and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican, who were the only members of Iowa's congressional delegation that voted for the infrastructure bill. Kudos to the two of them for looking at this package, understanding how great the need in the United States was for infrastructure spending and making the investment, Sand said. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and Reps. Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted against the infrastructure bill. When youre in a rural state like Iowa, your airports are your lifelines your connections to everywhere else, Sand said. And when you have just a handful of them in your state, everything thats happening at every single one of them is important to the entire state. Buttigieg said Its been since the Eisenhower administration that we were putting this level of funding in roads, bridges, transit you name it. And what that means is a lot of needs have built up over the years. And were not going to be able to do it all in one year, or even in five. But, over the five-year life of this bill, were going to be doing more than ever before. Im excited to say yes more than weve ever been able to do. The Inflation Reduction Act's rollout is bringing green jobs across the USsee the projects happening near you The Inflation Reduction Act's rollout is bringing green jobs across the USsee the projects happening near you Projects are planned in over 30 different states Solar Batteries Electric vehicles Semiconductors Other projects Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MATTESON, Ill. (AP) A 9-year-old boy was fatally shot and a 20-year-old woman wounded during an altercation outside a home in a suburb south of Chicago, police said Friday. Officers responded about 6 p.m. Thursday to a report of a shooting in Matteson, according to police in the city. A caller told 911 dispatchers that her grandson had been shot. The boy suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen and died at a hospital, police told reporters at a news conference. The woman's wounds were not considered life-threatening. Police did not release further details of the shooting. The Cook County medical examiner's office identified the boy as Omuiri Jones Brown, according to WMAQ-TV. Denise Jones the boy's grandmother, told WBBM-TV that her granddaughter had a fight with another girl at school. The other girl and some of her friends then drove to Jones' home. They fought outside, and a teenage boy who was with the group of girls began shooting, Jones said. She described her grandson as an honor roll student who loved to dance. The boy had been staying with Jones after his mother moved to Chicago, she said. His mom moved out and he stayed here because he didnt want to go to Chicago, because he was afraid of getting shot, Jones said. Mayors and police officials around the U.S. are rolling out familiar strategies in response to the traditional summer bump in violent crime. The push for more police and community involvement comes despite a continuing decline in homicides and other violent crimes that spiked in 2020. Chicago and Baltimore are among the large U.S. cities reporting fewer homicides overall. But totals remain far higher than before the pandemic, and crime among young people is a concern. To combat the violence, city officials are promoting more engagement between officers and communities. In some cases, they're enlisting people outside law enforcement to enforce curfews and keep the peace. Like his predecessors Edward VII and the Duke of Windsor, Prince Charles of Wales arrived in Chicago as a young, single man on Oct. 18, 1977. It was the first stop on his 10-city, nine-day visit to the United States and the first visit to Chicago by a member of the British monarchy in more than 50 years. There were squeals and sighs and even tears just about everywhere Charles went during his daylong tour of Chicago, columnist Dorothy Collin reported in the Oct. 20, 1977, Tribune. And then in 1986, an invitation to play in a polo match brought Prince Charles back to Illinois. The prince had been invited by Michael Butler, manager of Oak Brook Polo Club, and his sister, Jorie, for a match against a local team. How else could a prince end a daylong stay in Chicago but with a rousing game of polo? the Tribune asked. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) The man suspected of shooting a police officer in suburban Chicago has been charged with another crime while the shooting is investigated, local police said. Samer Hernandez, 29, has been charged with armed robbery in connection with a vehicle theft that occurred May 20, Romeoville Deputy Police Chief Brant Hromadka said Thursday night. Police said Thursday that Romeoville Police Officer Dominic Thielman, 32, was shot while investigating the vehicle theft around 12:15 a.m. earlier that day. He was shot in a shoulder and is listed in stable condition at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Hromadka said. Hernandez faces possible shooting charges, pending the completion of an investigation by an outside law enforcement agency, Hromadka said. Hernandez was being held on a $5 million bond. It wasn't clear whether he has an attorney who might comment on the allegation against him. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. On this version of Hot off the Wire: The unofficial start of the summer travel season is here, with airlines hoping to avoid the chaos of last year and travelers scrounging for ways to save a few bucks on pricey airfares and hotel rooms. Days from a deadline, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are narrowing in on a two-year budget deal that could unlock a vote for lifting the nations debt ceiling. A judge is poised to sentence two members of the Oath Keepers who stormed the U.S. Capitol in a military-style formation with other members of the far-right extremist group during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Asiana Airlines and government officials say a passenger opened an emergency exit door during a flight in South Korea. War and Treaty and Trace Adkins will play the Memorial Day Concert in Washington. The Celtics and Stars stave off elimination in their conference finals, the Rays and Orioles get strong pitching performances in wins, and Harry Hall leads the Charles Schwab Classic. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The archbishop of Chicago is urging the Illinois attorney general to provide information about newly uncovered cases of priests who sexually abused minors that were included in a statewide investigative report. Air Force fighter pilot Gen. CQ Brown Jr. has been tapped to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A man was arrested after a car collided with the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British prime ministers home and offices are located. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks told graduates of Harvard University to be superheroes in their defense of truth and American ideals, and to resist those who twist the truth. Lawmakers in several states are looking to loosen child labor laws, even as the federal government cracks down on surging violations. In at least 10 states, legislators have proposed letting children work longer hours and in more hazardous occupations as a fix for labor shortages. Many residents of Guam are without power and utilities after Typhoon Mawar tore through the remote U.S. Pacific territory and ripped roofs off homes, flipped vehicles and shredded trees. About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. OKLAHOMA CITY 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. States with the biggest Native American populations States with the biggest Native American populations #51. New Hampshire #50. District of Columbia #49. Vermont #48. Rhode Island #47. West Virginia #46. Delaware #45. Hawaii #44. Kentucky #43. Connecticut #42. Maine #41. Iowa #40. Wyoming #39. Mississippi #38. Arkansas #37. Massachusetts #36. Indiana #35. New Jersey #34. Nebraska #33. South Carolina #32. Maryland #31. Tennessee #30. Idaho #29. Alabama #28. Virginia #27. Ohio #26. Kansas #25. Missouri #24. Pennsylvania #23. Louisiana #22. Illinois #21. Utah #20. North Dakota #19. Georgia #18. Nevada #17. Oregon #16. Wisconsin #15. Minnesota #14. Colorado #13. Michigan #12. Florida #11. Montana #10. New York #9. South Dakota #8. Washington #7. Alaska #6. North Carolina #5. Texas #4. New Mexico #3. Oklahoma #2. California #1. Arizona States with the biggest Native American populations #51. Vermont #50. District of Columbia #49. New Hampshire #48. West Virginia #47. Rhode Island #46. Delaware #45. Maine #44. Hawaii #43. Wyoming #42. Kentucky #41. Connecticut #40. Iowa #39. Mississippi #38. Massachusetts #37. Arkansas #36. Tennessee #35. Indiana #34. South Carolina #33. Ohio #32. Kansas #31. Missouri #30. Pennsylvania #29. Nebraska #28. Louisiana #27. Idaho #26. Alabama #25. Maryland #24. Utah #23. New Jersey #22. North Dakota #21. Virginia #20. Wisconsin #19. Nevada #18. Minnesota #17. Michigan #16. Georgia #15. Oregon #14. Colorado #13. Florida #12. Montana #11. South Dakota #10. Illinois #9. Alaska #8. Washington #7. North Carolina #6. New York #5. New Mexico #4. Texas #3. Arizona #2. Oklahoma #1. California Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden said a deal to resolve the government's debt ceiling crisis seemed very close late Friday, even as the deadline for a potentially catastrophic default was pushed back to June 5 and seemed likely to drag negotiations between the White House and Republicans into another frustrating week. The later X-date, laid out in a letter from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, set the risk of a devastating default four days beyond an earlier estimate. It came as Americans and the world uneasily watched the negotiating brinkmanship that could throw the U.S. economy into chaos and sap world confidence in the nation's leadership. Yet Biden was upbeat as he left for the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, declaring, It's very close, and I'm optimistic. With Republicans at the Capitol talking with Biden's team at the White House, the president said: Theres a negotiation going on. Im hopeful well know by tonight whether were going to be able to have a deal. But a deal had not come together by the time Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy left the Capitol late Friday. In a blunt warning, Yellen said failure to act by the new date would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests. Anxious retirees and others were already making contingency plans for missed checks, with the next Social Security payments due next week. Biden and McCarthy seemed to be narrowing on a two-year budget-slashing deal that would also extend the debt limit into 2025 past the next presidential election. After frustrating rounds of closed-door talks, a compromise had appeared to be nearing on Friday. Republicans have made some headway in their drive for steep spending cuts that Democrats oppose. However, the sides are particularly divided over McCarthy's demands for tougher work requirements on government food stamp recipients that Democrats say is a nonstarter. Earlier Friday, McCarthy said his Republican debt negotiators and the White House had hit crunch time, straining to wrap up an agreement. Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress. Failure to lift the borrowing limit, now $31 trillion, to pay the nations incurred bills, would send shockwaves through the U.S. and global economy. But many of the hard-right Trump-aligned Republicans in Congress have long been skeptical of Treasury's projections, and they are pressing McCarthy to hold out. As talks pushed into another late night, one of the negotiators, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., called Bidens comments a hopeful sign. But he also cautioned that theres still sticky points impeding a final agreement. While the contours of the deal have been taking shape to cut spending for 2024 and impose a 1% cap on spending growth for 2025, the two sides remain stuck on various provisions. A person familiar with the talks said the two sides were dug in on whether or not to agree to Republican demands to impose stiffer work requirements on people who receive government food stamps, cash assistance and health care aid. House Democrats have called such requirements for health care and food aid a nonstarter. Asked if Republicans would relent on work requirements, Republican negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana fumed, Hell no, not a chance." House Republicans displayed risky political bravado in leaving town for the holiday. Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, but now their return date is uncertain. The world is watching, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said after meeting Friday with Yellen. Lets remember we are now in the 12th hour. Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have 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. We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point, said McCarthy. One idea is to set the topline budget numbers but then add a snap-back provision to enforce cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals. On work requirements for aid recipients, the White House is particularly resisting measures that could drive more people into poverty or take their health care, said the person familiar with the talks, who was granted anonymity to describe behind-closed-door discussions. Over the Republican demand to rescind money for the Internal Revenue Service, it's still an open issue whether the sides will compromise by allowing the funding to be pushed into other domestic programs, the person said. In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending beyond what Biden had proposed in his budget, instead offering to keep it at his proposed levels, according to another person familiar with the talks. The teams are also eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., to facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid. 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. Meanwhile, McCarthy is feeling pressure from the House's right flank not to give in to any deal, even if it means blowing past the Treasury deadline. McCarthy said Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, told him, Make sure you get a good agreement. Watchful Democrats, though, are also pressing Biden. The top three House Democratic leaders, led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, spoke late Thursday with the White House. McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting. The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Bidens desk. 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 as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscows forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometers (more than 4 miles) from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom, said resident Tatiana Safonova. We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said described the sound beforehand like a growling, noisy moped driving by. Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "Im somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war - so its quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded. Ukraines Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russias Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. Late Friday, officials in the Russian-held sector of Donetsk reported two missile strikes on the city of Mariupol, where a monthslong siege early in the war left much of the city in ruins. Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed official as saying the missiles were long-range Storm Shadows, which the United Kingdom delivered to Ukraine this month. In Moscow, Chinas special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers, the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says its neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict, but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraines allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin must first withdraw his forces. Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London, contributed. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. 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. Assets worth Sh.537 million owned by a City Hall official, whose monthly salary is Sh21,000, have been frozen by the High Court. Justice Esther Maina delivered the ruling on Wednesday following Michael Auka Ajwangs inability to provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of his undisclosed riches to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Mr. Ajwang serves as a Nairobi County Purchasing Officer. Among the assets owned by the public servant are ten motor vehicles and nine valuable parcels of land situated in Siaya and Kisumu Counties. Notably, one of these lands accommodates a luxurious 3-Star hotel. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) believes the properties were acquired through corrupt means. In addition, Justice Maina granted an injunction order that prohibits Ajwang and Hydeout Riviera Limited, a company associated with the defendant, from transferring or disposing of the mentioned properties. Ajwang and Hydeout Riviera are also forbidden from making any claims on the Sh799,000 seized from their accounts by the EACC. Pending the hearing and determination of this suit, a temporary injunction is issued restraining the Defendants/Respondents by themselves, their servants, agents or any other person from demanding Kshs. 799,000 seized pursuant to a search conducted by the Plaintiff/Applicant in Miscellaneous Criminal Application Number E1773 of 2022, the court ruled. The orders will remain in effect until the case is comprehensively heard and resolved. The Kenyan government has dismissed a news article published by Reuters titled Exclusive: Chinese hackers attacked Kenyan government as debt strains grew as sponsored propaganda. In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, said the news article initially published on May 23, 2023, and updated on May 24, 2023, presents serious allegations of cyber-attacks and unauthorized access to crucial and sensitive systems operated by the Government of Kenya. It insinuates that the attacks were carried out under the aegis of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, which is an act tantamount to deliberate economic espionage against Kenya, the statement read in part. Dr. Omollo said after thorough examination of the claims, the allegations put forth in the article lack authoritative evidence of their existence, as no conclusive verification has been provided by relevant officials from both the Kenyan and Chinese governments. The bulk of the critical networking infrastructure deployed by the Government of Kenya is sourced from the Peoples Republic of China. 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, he stated. Furthermore, the PS averred that the extensive dissemination of the article and its swift endorsement by other foreign media outlets with recognizable biases strongly suggest a coordinated and deliberate assault on Kenyas sovereignty. Dr Omollo also highlighted that Kenya is actively reinforcing its systems and capabilities for detecting and mitigating threats through the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4). He said the country is making significant investments in the development of a more robust and well-coordinated cybersecurity framework. The PS emphasized that, similar to numerous countries worldwide, Kenyas cybersecurity infrastructure is still in its developmental stage, which implies a considerable inherent risk of exposure to cyber threats. Consequently, attempted cyber-attacks are not uncommon incidents. The Government and its agencies are alive to this reality, and the necessary precautions that are under constant review to match the dynamic nature of the threats landscape have been deployed, he said. The Government will intensify funding in schools to upgrade their infrastructure and human resource. President William Ruto said this will enhance the learning experience and improve student living. Better learning facilities will also help deliver a more holistic education, he noted, adding that learning environment matters. He said the Government is committed to building a modern, dynamic and inclusive education ecosystem that is student-centered. Such a system, he added, moulds minds, shapes character and transforms young people into agents of progress. The President stressed that Kenyas education system must equip our children with the skills and values they need to thrive. Our goal is to create an education system that matches requirements of the market and prepares them for the threats and opportunities of the future. He spoke on Thursday during the commissioning of a new dormitory and the laying of the foundation stone for a new Science Laboratory in Nairobi School, Nairobi County. President Ruto said the Government will do what it takes to achieve modern-day education. We are investing in new technologies, developing new curricula and improving teacher training to ensure that our children receive world-class education, he observed. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. April Louis, an ex-employee of Wine Spectator magazine, is suing the publication for alleged transgender discrimination and harassment, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. 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. The suit claims Louis was unjustly fired after taking medical leaves for three gender-affirming surgeries, leading to economic loss and emotional distress. It also accuses a senior editor of breaching the companys blind-tasting protocol, crucial to the magazine's credibility. The legal action, filed in the Napa County Superior Court, targets Wine Spectators parent company, M. Shanken Communications, and Louis supervisors senior editor MaryAnn Worobiec and president Laura Zandi. "Our clients are prepared to staunchly counter this baseless case, Michael Weber, counsel for the defendants, told the paper. In the suit, Louis claims she notified her managers about her transgender identity and the need for surgeries before being hired. The lawsuit details her struggles post-surgeries, including battling severe psychiatric distress and being put on involuntary administrative leave without explanation. She was terminated in February 2023, the same day her medical insurance was revoked. The lawsuit also alleges that senior editor James Molesworth violated the companys blind tasting protocol, and Louis' complaints about these breaches contributed to her termination. Louis also accuses Worobiec of making "demeaning and harassing remarks" about her throughout their working relationship. Molesworth declined to comment. July 18, 1982 Church congregation begins taking in refugees The Wellington Avenue Church congregation votes to join the sanctuary movement -- becoming just the second church in the U.S. to harbor refugees who entered the country illegally. The movement, which has roots in the medieval tradition of churches providing sanctuary for those fleeing persecution, was aimed at providing a safe haven for Central Americans running from political repression and violence in their home countries. They were refused asylum here because of U.S. support for the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala. About 20 Chicago-area churches became sanctuaries in the 1980s. Salvadorans wear masks to hide their faces during a visit to Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ on Aug. 9, 1982. (Chicago Tribune) November 1982 Group becomes national leader in sanctuary movement Recognized for its work in organizing and transporting refugees from El Salvador to a network of welcoming churches around the U.S., the Chicago Religious Task Force on Central America becomes the national clearinghouse for the sanctuary movement. The group distributes books on the sanctuary movement and holds rallies in downtown Chicago to bring awareness to the issues facing Central American refugees. Members of the Chicago Religious Task Force on Central America protest outside the Federal Building on Sept. 16, 1983, in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune) Jan. 20, 1985 Chicago's chief legal officer: Don't assist the feds A week after 18 workers driving cabs were arrested, Corporation Counsel James Montgomery recommends Chicago not cooperate with federal immigration authorities in arresting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally unless subpoenas are obtained. Chicago's Immigration and Naturalization Service Director A.D. Moyer criticizes Montgomery's suggestion. March 7, 1985 Mayor encourages 'equal access by all persons' to city services, licenses Mayor Harold Washington signs an executive order ending the city's practice of asking job and license applicants about their U.S. citizenship and halting cooperation by city agencies with federal immigration authorities. Mayor Harold Washington says he took an oath to obey the laws and raises his hand before signing the executive order enhancing Chicago's sanctuary status on March 7, 1985. (Chicago Tribune archives) Dec. 17, 1985 'Operation Taxicab' rounds up immigrants suspected of living in U.S. illegally Calling cabdrivers who are living in the U.S. illegally "a serious menace," the city's immigration director, Moyer, orders spot checks of drivers' identification at airports and other hangouts. Dubbed "Operation Taxicab," 129 drivers are arrested in a single day -- 51 could later prove they were in the U.S. legally. Though there was no federal law prohibiting employers from hiring workers in the country illegally, Moyer blames Mayor Washington's earlier executive order for opening the door. An abandoned cab is towed following a raid by immigration agents at the Merchandise Mart taxi stand on Dec. 17, 1985. (Chicago Tribune) April 30, 1987 Feds offer immigrants ways to gain legal status Less than 1 1/2 years after overseeing raids on taxi drivers in the U.S. illegally, Moyer details plans to open four centers to help immigrants with paperwork to become legal U.S. residents. The effort is part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act, a law passed by Congress and signed by President Ronald Reagan to offer a path to legal residence for people in the U.S. illegally since Jan. 1, 1982. A.D. Moyer, Chicago district director for immigration services, points out locations at a April 30, 1987, news conference where immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally can get help. (Chicago Tribune) Nov. 1, 1987 Sanctuary group urges 'hiring undocumented workers' The Chicago Religious Task Force, a national clearinghouse for the sanctuary movement helping Central American refugees, said in a Chicago Tribune story that it was planning to urge priests, nuns and "employers to break the law by hiring undocumented workers" in the Chicago area, where tens of thousands of the immigrants live. April 25, 1989 Daley adopts Washington's sanctuary stance Shortly after taking office, Daley signs 13 executive orders including one that reaffirms "fair and equal access" to employment, benefits and licenses to all -- regardless of nationality or citizenship. Mayor Richard M. Daley signs an executive order on April 25, 1989. (Chicago Tribune) June 4, 1992 Chicago Crime Commission asks for amendment The group asks Mayor Daley to amend the 1989 executive order to allow Chicago police to share citizenship information with the INS to help combat street gangs. Later, Daley says any information about a person involved in serious crimes would be turned over to the feds. (This provision would be added as part of the city's 2012 Welcoming City ordinance.) Aug. 15, 2006 Woman seeks church refuge to avoid deportation, reviving sanctuary movement Ordered to be deported, Elvira Arellano and her U.S.-born son take refuge inside Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. She had been arrested in a post-Sept. 11, 2001, sweep of O'Hare International Airport, where she was working as a cleaner. Authorities discovered she had been using a fake Social Security number and had been previously deported to Mexico. Arellano would spend a year living in the church with her story receiving national attention. While awaiting a decision on her application for political asylum, Arellano is living in Humboldt Park with her partner and two sons. Elvira Arellano and her son, Saul, greet supporters at Adalberto United Methodist Church on Sept. 30, 2006. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune) Sept. 7, 2011 Cook County won't fulfill ICE detainer requests In a vote of 10-5, the Cook County Board passes an ordinance to free immigrants suspected of living in the U.S. illegally who are jailed in both felony and misdemeanor cases despite federal immigration authorities' requests to detain them. The ordinance was based on a recent federal ruling in Indiana that determined ICE detainers are voluntary requests and not criminal warrants. Sept. 12, 2012 'Welcoming City' ordinance passes Building on an existing ordinance that prohibits agencies from inquiring about the immigration status of people seeking city services, this ordinance also prevents local police from detaining people solely on the belief that they are in the U.S. illegally, and cooperating with federal agents when they suspect status is the only reason the warrant has been issued. With its introduction in July 2012, Mayor Emanuel said the ordinance would "make Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the country." Mayor Rahm Emanuel after the City Council meeting on Sept. 12, 2012. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) April 2, 2014 City Council urges President Obama to stop deporting 'individuals with no criminal history' The City Council passes a resolution encouraging Congress and President Barack Obama to pursue immigration reform. "Children and their families should not have to live in fear of government-forced separation," it stated. Nov. 18, 2015 Alderman pushes for Rauner to reverse decision on Syrian refugees Following the Paris terrorist attacks, 31 governors -- including then-Indiana Gov. and now-Vice President Mike Pence and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner -- sought to turn away Syrian refugees from their states. In a resolution reaffirming Chicago's sanctuary city status and "refuge for refugees from around the world," Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, says it's up to the federal government to make that decision. Fatima Adris and her son Osama Omarien, 2, were on hand when the City Council backed a resolution asking Gov. Bruce Rauner to reverse his decision on accepting refugees Nov. 18, 2015. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) Oct. 5, 2016 City workers, police can't use immigration status for intimidation Following Jianqing Klyzek's case, aldermen amend 2012's Welcoming City ordinance to require that reports of "physical abuse, threats or intimidation" against immigrants, in the U.S. legally or illegally, be sent to oversight agencies that cover the Chicago Police Department and other city agencies. Surveillance footage from the raid on July 31, 2013, shows Jianqing Klyzek, 32, shortly after Chicago police officers entered the Copper Tan and Spa. Klyzek says she was hit in the head by a Chicago police officer while she knelt on the floor. (Image from video via Klyzek's attorney) Oct. 12, 2016 Municipal ID program launches Suggested in 2015 by a City Council ordinance, Mayor Emanuel launches a program to give all Chicagoans -- including immigrants in the U.S. illegally, the homeless, the formerly incarcerated, young adults and the elderly -- official identification that will not convey information about national origin or legal status. New City Clerk Anna Valencia will oversee the program. Nov. 13, 2016 Following Donald Trump's election, Mayor Emanuel defends city's stance "Since the Presidential Election, there has been a sense of uncertainty among many immigrant communities in Chicago and across the nation. I want to assure all of our families that Chicago is and will remain a Sanctuary City," Mayor Emanuel said in a Nov. 13, 2016, news release. "Chicago has been a city of immigrants since it was founded. We have always welcomed people of all faiths and backgrounds, and while the administration will change, our values and our commitment to inclusion will not." Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks during a news conference at Lurie Children's Hospital the day following his statement. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Dec. 5, 2016 City looks for Rauner's backing of sanctuary status A resolution sponsored by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, new Democratic state Comptroller Susana Mendoza and 35 of the city's 50 aldermen calls on Governor Bruce Rauner to issue a statement of "support for cities that welcome our undocumented family members and neighbors and condemn any effort to strip the city of Chicago of federal funding." The resolution calls on Rauner to speak at a special council meeting "held solely for the purpose of discussing the president-elect's plans for cities that welcome and protect immigrants." Asked to respond to the specifics of the city resolution, a Rauner spokeswoman instead issued a general statement reiterating the governor's support for immigration reform. Jan. 25, 2017 Emanuel defends city from President Trump's threats In response to President Trump's signing of an executive order intended to block federal funding to sanctuary cities like Chicago, Mayor Emanuel says, "There is no stranger among us. We welcome people." The city's aldermen vote to reaffirm that Chicago protects all residents regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration status, criminal record, gender identity and sexual orientation. "You mess with one in Chicago, you mess with all of us," said Northwest Side Ald. John Arena, 45th. Mayor Rahm Emanuel presides over the meeting of the Chicago City Council on Jan. 25, 2017. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) Jan. 27, 2017 Chicago advocates condemn Trump's order on migrants Chicago immigration reform advocates and Muslim leaders denounced President Donald Trump's executive order to temporarily block refugees coming to the U.S. while the government reviews screening processes, calling it an effective ban on Muslims in America. In issuing the order, which calls for a four-month halt on all refugee admissions, an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees and a temporary moratorium on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries with terrorism concerns, Trump said he seeks to protect the nation from terrorist attacks. He called for a review of all screening procedures for those seeking immigrant visas to the U.S. Demonstrators converge in reaction to the executive order travel ban on Jan. 29, 2017, outside Terminal 5 of O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Jan. 30, 2017 'Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act' introduced in U.S. House Rep. Mike Quigley, of Chicago, and 32 Democrats introduce a bill that would "ensure that federal funds cannot be unduly withheld from any state or local authority that limits or restricts compliance with a voluntary immigration detainer request." This bill was introduced during a previous session of Congress but was not advanced. Feb. 10, 2017 Rauner doesn't take a position on Democrats' immigration plan Asked if he would support legislation to make it harder for federal authorities to access information about immigrants living in Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner didn't reply yes or no, saying he is "very pro-comprehensive immigration reform" and wants the state "to continue to be welcoming and diverse." Legislation under consideration at the state Capitol would allow schools, medical facilities and places of worship to decline access to federal immigration authorities, and it would limit cooperation and communication between local police and immigration officials. The plans were introduced as part of a broader "sanctuary state" effort to extend statewide some protections like those in Chicago and Cook County, where local laws prohibit government workers and police officers from asking about residents' immigration status. The legislation is sponsored by Democrats, and their party controls the General Assembly. Pressed to provide his position on the sanctuary state idea Friday, Rauner declined. "I've answered it," he said. "I've said what I'm going to say." Gov. Bruce Rauner takes questions from members the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on Feb. 1, 2017. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune) March 15, 2017 Former sanctuary seeker allowed to stay in the U.S. another year following ICE meeting Elvira Arellano, the twice-deported immigration activist whose year of living in a Humboldt Park church a decade ago made her a lightning rod in the immigration debate, was granted a reprieve and allowed to remain in the United States for another year. She is awaiting a hearing on her petition for political asylum, which she filed three years ago. Elvira Arellano, 42, was allowed to stay in the U.S. another year following her annual check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago on March 15, 2017, the third such appointment since she returned to the U.S. in 2014. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune) March 27, 2017 U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says sanctuary cities could lose federal funding Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he is "urging states and local jurisdictions to comply with these federal laws." He says the Justice Department will require compliance with immigration laws in order for the cities to receive grants through the Office of Justice Programs. The Obama administration had a similar policy in place. July 25, 2017 Justice Department rules intensify crackdown on sanctuary cities like Chicago The Justice Department escalated its promised crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities, saying it will no longer give cities coveted grant money unless they give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice when someone in the country illegally is about to be released. In this file photo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks in Columbus, Ohio on Aug. 2, 2017. (Jay LaPrete/AP Photo) Aug. 7, 2017 Emanuel sues Trump's Justice Department over sanctuary city policy Mayor Emanuel's Law Department files its much-touted lawsuit against President Donald Trump's Justice Department over its effort to withhold some grant funding from so-called sanctuary cities. Aug. 16, 2017 Sessions blasts sanctuary cities, singling out Chicago During a news conference in Miami, Sessions vowed to continue fighting cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities -- aiming much of his frustration at Chicago. Aug. 23, 2017 Mother of 6 seeks sanctuary in a Chicago church to avoid deportation Francisca Lino, 50, a Bolingbrook resident and mother of six children -- five of them U.S. citizens -- is taking sanctuary in the same Chicago church that protected immigration activist Elvira Arellano. Lino was scheduled to meet with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, but, instead, she held a West Side news conference at Adalberto United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park. Francisca and Diego Lino, left with their twin daughters Juliana, 15, middle and Judith in the room where Francisca is taking sanctuary. The Lino family along with their supporters gathered at Adalberto Church in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on Aug. 23, 2017 to announce that Francisca Lino, who was required to turn herself into immigration that day, will instead take sanctuary in the church. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) Sept. 15, 2017 Judge rules in city's favor on sanctuary cities, grants nationwide injunction A federal judge in Chicago blocked the Trump administration's rules requiring so-called sanctuary cities to cooperate with immigration agents in order to get a public safety grant. Oct. 13, 2017 Chicago judge refuses to change ruling on sanctuary cities U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber said Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration could suffer "irreparable harm" in its relationship with the immigrant community if it were to comply with the U.S. Department of Justice's new rules requiring sanctuary cities nationaide to cooperate with immigration agents in exchange for receiving public safety grant money. November 2017 Lino's attorneys file a civil rights lawsuit They allege the U.S. government violated her Fifth Amendment rights and expeditiously deported her in 1999 without due process. April 19, 2018 Emanuel wins legal victory in sanctuary city lawsuit The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago upholds a nationwide injunction prohibiting Attorney General Sessions from requiring cities to give immigration agents access to immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are in their lockups, in order to get certain public safety grants. Following the ruling, Mayor Emanuel calls on President Trump's Justice Department to hand over grant money to Chicago. October 2018 Chicago sues Trump administration for withholding police funding The city has already sued over the matter, but now the DOJ has imposed a new round of restrictions, city officials say. Among other things, the new stipulations include requiring local police to inform immigration officials about immigrants in custody who have questionable legal status and allowing them to access the prisoners for questioning. July 27, 2018 Judge: Feds can't dock sanctuary cities A federal judge sides with the city of Chicago in its sanctuary city lawsuit, ruling that the Trump administration does not have the authority to withhold federal public safety funding from the city if it limits its cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Chicago Corporation Counsel Ed Siskel, shown in 2017 addressing the lawsuit against the Justice Department, called the July 27, 2018, ruling "another significant legal victory for Chicago." (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) May 2019 Pregnant mother of three takes sanctuary inside Chicago church Adilene Marquina Adam, 34, says she was told to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead, the family takes refuge inside a small storefront church, the Faith, Life and Hope Mission, on 63rd Street in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. Adilene Marquina Adam with her son Joshua Pino Marquine, 3, inside the Mision, Fe, Vida Y Esperanza church in Chicago on May 22, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune) Sept. 26, 2019 Mayor Lightfoot upstages ICE press conference Robert Guadian, ICE's newly appointed Chicago field office director, held a news conference to underscore what he said are the dangers of local police not cooperating with his agency in so-called sanctuary cities like Chicago. But outside of ICE's Chicago office, Lightfoot appeared with a group of immigration activists and called Guadian's criticism of the city's sanctuary ordinance "nonsense." Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at a rally outside the Chicago ICE office on Sept. 26, 2019, to denounce recent actions taken by the immigration agency. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Oct. 28, 2019 President Trump makes his first visit to Chicago as the nation's chief executive Speaking at the annual gathering of the International Association of Chiefs of Police at McCormick Place, Trump slammed Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson in front of his peers and criticized the type of federal order the city is under to reform the CPD. Trump also called Chicago "the worst sanctuary city in America" and cited the refusal of the city's Police Department under Johnson to detain people in the country illegally for immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump speaks at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference at McCormick Place on Oct. 28, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Feb. 15, 2020 Border Patrol to deploy to Chicago The Trump administration is deploying law enforcement tactical units from the southern border as part of a supercharged arrest operation in sanctuary cities across the country, including Chicago, an escalation in the president's battle against localities that refuse to participate in immigration enforcement. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a video condemning the news that additional agents were being sent to sanctuary cities to help immigration enforcement, and warned residents that they did not have to open doors to anyone who doesn't have a warrant. No matter what the Trump administration does, remember that you have power and you are not alone. Chicago will always stand strong and we will use all of our tools to make sure everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/q4FPklwxrw Mayor Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) February 15, 2020 Feb. 18, 2020 City leaders call for end to attacks on immigrants Chicago politicians and immigrant advocates vowed to push back against plans by President Trump's administration to deploy tactical units from the southern border to strengthen immigration enforcement in Chicago and other so-called sanctuary cities. U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia contended the timing of the initiative was intended to "instill fear" in immigrants not just about deportation but about participating in the 2020 census. "The timing is no accident," Garcia said at a news conference. "The attempted intimidation has a clear purpose: It is to intimidate our neighbors who are Latino, African American, Asian American communities in particular, not to open their doors. Trump succeeds if we do that. Trump wants us to be undercounted in our communities so that we would lose federal resources and services that are vital to our communities and weaken our political power." U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia holds a news conference to demand an end to President Trump's attacks against sanctuary cities and in defense of immigrants and refugees at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago on Feb. 18, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) April 30, 2020 Judges rule in favor of Chicago in sanctuary city fight with Trump Justice Department President Donald Trump's Justice Department can't withhold federal grants from sanctuary cities such as Chicago that extend protections to undocumented immigrants, a federal appeals court ruled. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was delighted by the ruling, saying she "let out a cheer" when she found out about it. The battle started in 2017, when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the federal government would require sanctuary cities that want federal public safety funding to give notice when immigrants in the country illegally are about to be released from custody and allow immigration agents access to local jails. Aug. 31, 2022 Seventy-five migrants who arrived in Texas were dropped off at Chicagos Union Station Around 9 p.m. along the Canal Street side of the station, a group of about 15 people, some of whom were from Venezuela and were waiting for another bus, were standing or sitting on a sidewalk. Some were looking at their phones as others were speaking to each other and to a Tribune reporter. Most were men, but there was one woman with her young daughter and husband. They were waiting to be picked up and taken to a shelter, they told the Tribune reporter. Read more. Elier Salazar Chacon, 29, carries his 3-year-old daughter Cataleya Salazar Ramirez while talking with a Chicago police officer after arriving on a bus with other migrants from Texas at Union Station on Aug. 31, 2022, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Armenia MFA: US should adequately respond to Azerbaijan president statements, to prevent ethnic cleansing attempts ECtHR gives Azerbaijan until June 6 to provide information about 2 detained Armenia soldiers Humanity can land on Mars as early as 2040 - NASA Pashinyan: Armenia's foreign policy field of maneuver is narrowing Armenia PM: 2020 war was continuation of 2016 war Armenian premier: Hammer and sickle parliamentary election campaign in 2021 was dire political situations expression Kvien: US stands with Armenia on its path to prosperous, safer future Pashinyan: Lack of democracy in Armenia served as tool that we all will not know whole truth about Karabakh issue Armenia PM: Can democracy ensure security as well? US State Department welcomes Azerbaijan presidents recent remarks on consideration of amnesty Apple releases Apple Music Classical for Android before iPad or Mac apps PM: All possible threats to Armenia's democracy are external Miller: US hopes Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders talks in Chisinau will become effective step in resolving issues Lautaro Martinez gets married China starts drilling superdeep borehole in deep-Earth exploration Newspaper: Azerbaijanis make women sit at Karabakh checkpoint Guardiola is named Premier League Manager of the Season Indonesia to soon launch golden visa for foreigners What dangers might lurk in cheap Android TV Boxes? RFE/RL: Armenia recognizes Azerbaijans territorial integrity, Security Council chief says Russia MoD records ceasefire violation in Karabakh In 2025, Japan plans to test the technology of transmitting solar energy from space to Earth Armenia PM receives delegation led by Slovenia parliament speaker Karabakh ombudsman: Upsetting that Charles Michel refers to Artsakh people as Armenians living in former NKAO Azerbaijan fires from mortars at Karabakh army positions Armenia Security Council chief in Bratislava, attends panel discussion with Azerbaijan presidential assistant EU preparing big meeting between Armenia, Azerbaijan, France, Germany, European Council leaders Armenia PM chief of staff is appointed Academic City Foundation board of trustees chairman Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia UAE will send spacecraft to explore asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter Slovenia parliament speaker says they express their support to EU civilian mission in Armenia Sanosyan: Working group will engage in development of Gyumri international airport on Monday Ex-MP, former official declared wanted in case into importing 1 ton of cocaine to Armenia Doctors called the main features of beautiful breasts Russia ambassador to Ankara: There is no sacred date for Armenia-Turkey relations normalization Armenia air carriers to undergo audit in summer for chance to resume their flights to EU countries Peter Stano: EU welcomes intensification of Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process Charles Michel: Dialogue between Baku and Armenians living in former NKAO is now crucial Economy minister: Armenia will get privileges with Iran-EAEU free-trade zone agreement implementation Slovenia legislature speaker visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Apple Watch saves the life its owner injured in an accident: How to enable Crash Detection function? Indoor plants remove cancer-causing toxins from air, study finds How long will it take to restore Armenia railway infrastructure? Karabakh army: Azerbaijan fires 7 mine shells on line of contact Economy minister: 10 years ago one tourist spent about $800 in Armenia but now spends $1,200 on average Armenia deputy PM on talks with Azerbaijan: There will be no discussion about corridor assuming any special regime Economy minister: 12.6% growth in Armenia GDP is 4th in world Economy minister: Foreign direct investments amounted to about $1bn for first time in Armenia history New bridge to be built near Armenia village leading to Turkey border (VIDEO) Millions of Android users can be spied on: More than 421 million people downloaded infected programs shamshyan.com: Teen boy killed after shooting at Yerevan sports complex parking lot Al Hilal offers 1.2bn to Messi Karabakh MoD: Artsakh army did not fire at Azerbaijan positions in Askeran, Shushi, Karvachar regions Slovenia parliament speaker arrives in Armenia on official visit (VIDEO) Statement by the Artsakh Foreign Ministry on the Threats Made by the President of Azerbaijan Israel president heads for Azerbaijan on visit Mkhitaryan to be ready for action at Champions League final China successfully launches Shenzhou-16 spacecraft with three astronauts to its space station Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan defense ministry disseminates disinformation again Xavi: Messi and I have developed tactical plan Mayor: UAVs attacked Moscow Man, 30, needs deodorant to be surgically removed from his stomach after losing it when he shoved it up his ass Saturn's moon Enceladus spews plumes of water hundreds of kilometers into space Azerbaijani president is preparing ground for another aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh. MFA A smartphone with a flicker-free screen that outperforms the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro: Honor introduce 90 Pro Dollar, euro drop in Armenia Iran announces Israel-linked terrorist teams dismantling in West Azerbaijan Province Armenia, Russia PMs to meet in Moscow in June WhatsApp has a new function: Who can use it? Karabakh ex-minister of state: Azerbaijans Aliyev showed that the concept voiced in Armenia cant be implemented TASS: Turkey invited to European Political Community summit Zatulin: West will turn blind eye to Armenians deportation from Karabakh if Azerbaijan enters into clash with Iran AraratBank presents documentary The will to get back on their feet: self-discovery Nanoscale robotic hand made of DNA could be used to detect viruses ChatGPT fabricates information about precedents and embarrasses the lawyer using it Foreigner found dead in downtown Yerevan hotel had died suddenly, preliminary data say Armenia Security Council head to have panel discussion with Azerbaijan presidential assistant More than 346,000 cars imported into Armenia in last 5 years Armenia PMs son vs. fallen soldiers mother criminal case sent to court shamshyan.com: Foreigner found dead in downtown Yerevan hotel room Stepanakert responds to Aliyev statements addressed to Karabakh president, parliament Lilit Nersisyan, colleagues new method reveals antibiotic response to bacteria in 5 minutes Fly Arna launches new direct flights connecting Yerevan to Kuwait Scientists present a "sweater," thanks to which robots will receive the function of touch (photo, video) Armenia petitions to ECtHR in case into Azerbaijan abduction of 2 Armenia soldiers Jude Bellingham is named 2022/23 Bundesliga Player of the Season UK premier's trade envoy to visit Azerbaijan to discuss projects in occupied territories Armenia premier: Traditional agriculture has no future PM: 11,926 kids were born in Armenia in first 4 months 2023, this is 1,401 more than in same period of 2022 Mockups of all iPhone 15 models have been shown Mass production of iPhone 15 will begin soon Armenia PM: Peace is only thing that guarantees external security Armenia premier: We hope we will be able to continue normalization of our relations after Turkey election Armenia PM on peace treaty with Azerbaijan: As of now there is no agreed draft that could be signed Armenia's Pashinyan: Some statements made by Azerbaijan president yesterday are not comprehensible Azerbaijan razes to ground Karabakh monument to Armenian victims of Great Patriotic War Karabakh defense army dismisses Azerbaijan MoD disinformation Armenia PM: Moscow talks on humanitarian situation in Karabakh, illegal closure of Lachin corridor not satisfactory Armenia's Pashinyan: Politico-military situation in our region continues to be quite tense Biden says default averted Biden congratulates Turkeys Erdogan on presidential election win Today there is a real possibility of achieving peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was stated by the former acting US Deputy Secretary of State and former US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, Philip Reeker, in an interview with the VOA Armenian service. According to him, ensuring security in the South Caucasus will create broad opportunities for the development of trade, energy projects, and infrastructure in the region. The long-running conflictwith respect to Nagorno-Karabakhin the South Caucasus is a tragedy, says Reeker, as it took many lives, caused losses, and neutralized development opportunities for decades. As per the former diplomat, the international community is making great efforts to achieve long-lasting and sustainable peace between the parties. According to Reeker, during his tenure as the US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, he had called on the parties to withdraw their troops. Describing as "constructive" the statements of Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the former US diplomat emphasizes that the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan must include various concepts, and sovereignty and territorial integrity are a part of it. Also, he underscores the security and rights of the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh, which, according to him, Azerbaijan must discuss with them. The former US diplomat believes that there is an opportunity to move forward in this matter with a good basic peace agreementand with a focus on its implementation. Philip Reeker does not agree with the view that today's developments in the Caucasus are similar to the Ukrainian scenario. Today, there is an active and real process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is supported by the United States, says the high-ranking former US diplomat, emphasizing that Ukraine is a different story in that regard. I am convinced all of you are interested in Armenia, all of you are worried about the events taking place in Armenia. This was stated by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan during a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community in Qatar Thursday at the Armenian embassy in Qatar. "If we had been a country that did not have external problems, challenges, but simply dealing with its own problems, it could have had much greater success. Now we have problems, big challenges, we are trying to address them. Let me tell you that it's not easy, it's complicated. It is complicated because for years our ideas related to the future of Armenia have been different, in many cases we did not want to imagine and formulate that future to the end. Due to some circumstances, we left it to be solved by itself, or we said: a new generation will come in the future, let them solve the issue. But it turns out that time is limited, new problems arise over time that you could not have predicted: what happened during the 44-day war of 2020," said the Armenian president. He said that this war was predictable back in 1990-1991, when Armenians started trying to solve their problems with Azerbaijan through war. "It was very visible that such a situation would happen, but we did not want to face that problem. It was easier to present to the public, to the Armenian people, that we have won the war in 1994, we had signed an agreement in May to stop the war, and then had said the time will come, we will solve [it]. We were in the so-called negotiation process for 20 years or more. During that negotiation, we again did not want to face the truth because it was clear that Azerbaijan was preparing for war. Now, in today's situation, as the state of Armenia, we are trying to solve the security issue of Armenia as well," emphasized Vahagn Khachaturyan. Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. The Senate floor in the Howlett Building during the legislative session in Springfield on May 18, 2023. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Senate late Thursday approved a $50.6 billion state budget as Democrats finally found common ground after missing an initial self-imposed deadline and engaging in several extra days of deliberations. The measure now goes to the House, which is expected to vote on it this weekend. Advertisement The Democratic-controlled Senate approved the budget by a 34-22 vote without any Republican support, although members of the minority party largely toned down their perennial criticisms about being excluded from negotiations. Still, they accused Democrats of ignoring their priorities. Three Democrats Sens. Suzy Glowiak Hilton of Western Springs, Patrick Joyce of Reddick and Doris Turner of Springfield joined Republicans in opposing the spending plan. Advertisement Democratic Sen. Elgie Sims of Chicago, the chambers lead budget negotiator, expressed disappointment at the lack of Republican support. We want your partnership, Sims said to the other side of the aisle before the vote was taken. But we need your partnership to be transparent and to be authentic. And when it is not, we will do it without you. The process for approving the budget has been slowed as Democrats, who control the governors office and both chambers of the legislature, face economic uncertainty after a couple of years of record revenues thanks to a strong job market and spending stimulated in part by pandemic relief money. In the past two years weve had money, like, coming out of our ears, Rep. Margaret Croke, a Chicago Democrat who is part of the Houses moderate caucus, said earlier Thursday. Weve been very flush with cash, and this is the first year weve had to take a hard look at the budget and make some tough decisions where there are both winners and losers, and unfortunately there are always going to be some people who dont get what they need. Late Thursday afternoon, Senate Democrats introduced a tweaked version of the spending plan Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders presented as a done deal the previous day. The Senate adjourned late Wednesday night without taking an expected vote on that plan. Lawmakers in the House met privately Thursday afternoon to discuss the initial plan, which had not been shared with rank-and-file lawmakers in full before Pritzker stood before reporters with Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch of Hillside to announce theyd reached an agreement. They indicated that they expected the budget to pass through both chambers without significant changes. Having already blown a self-imposed deadline to pass a budget last week, Senate Democrats moved the vote to Thursday, setting up a potential final vote in the House in the early morning hours Saturday. Pritkzer praised the Senates late night vote in a statement, saying the plan makes transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois while building on our record of fiscal responsibility. Advertisement I look forward to the House taking up this budget that will make child care and education more accessible, health care more affordable, and our states business and economic position even stronger, Pritzker said. Moments before the budget passed through the Senate, Republican Leader John Curran said the Democrats inclusion of his caucus in budget talks was a step forward in our working relationships. But he indicated that the final product of the budget does not reflect the entire state of Illinois. He criticized the budget for ignoring the overwhelming call for relief from tax and utility costs that he believes are crushing families and small- and medium-sized businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic. And he said the budget is not friendly to big business, reflecting why companies like Caterpillar and Boeing have relocated offices out of state. The budget presented here today undoubtedly represents a further expansion and growth of state government at a time when Illinois itself is contracted, Curran said. Before the plan began to move forward Thursday, House Democrats acknowledged the challenge of balancing requests from the various caucuses within their record 78-member supermajority with the need to stay within the overall spending level agreed upon by Pritzker, Welch and Harmon. Democrats had to grapple with skyrocketing costs in a program that provides Medicaid-style health benefits for immigrants who are in the country without legal permission or otherwise dont qualify for the traditional insurance program for the poor. Advertisement While Croke said dissension within the Democratic ranks has eased over the last week, other party members privately acknowledged a lively debate over competing budget priorities, particularly after the announced budget deal increased spending for the immigrant health care program by more than $300 million from Pritzkers initial budget proposal, which had pegged the price tag at $220 million. Projected spending on the program had spiraled to $1.1 billion, but Pritzkers office said the proposal gives the administration tools to control the costs. There also have been differences over whether to extend a $75 million tax credit program for private school scholarship donors, which was left out of the budget package approved by the Senate and now going to the House. On Wednesday, the Pritzker administration highlighted elements of the budget including an additional $100 million for Monetary Award Program grant funding for college students; an increase of $100 million in higher education funding; and an increase of $85 million to support homelessness prevention, affordable housing and other programs related to a vision of ending homelessness in the state. The proposal also includes an additional $200 million to the states underfunded pension plans on top of the $9.8 billion required under state law. The governors office also emphasized a $20 million investment in a new Illinois Grocery Initiative to expand grocery access to urban neighborhoods and rural towns. The more-than-3,400-page budget plan, filed by Sims, the Senates chief budget negotiator, also included $15 million for the states violent crime witness protection program, which is half of the $30 million that Pritzker proposed for the program in February. Advertisement The program is the result of 2013 legislation that called for the state to provide aid to law enforcement agencies to relocate witnesses of violent crimes if they are at risk of danger, but it didnt get funded until Pritzker allocated $30 million for it last year. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, which administers the fund, said the program was still being organized. Also in the budget was a $30 million appropriation for a fund that distributes money to police departments for body cameras and squad car dashboard camera systems. Another $10 million goes to departments to hire and retain police officers, and $4 million was set aside for their firearm ballistics technology. Another $15 million was also set aside for grants associated with a youth summer jobs program, geared toward especially benefiting young people in Chicago and other urban areas. The budget also includes a roughly $112 million increase in the share of state income tax revenue distributed to local governments, partially satisfying a request from municipal leaders, including new Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. In response to another request from Johnson, the budget would provide $42.5 million to aid migrants arriving from the countrys southern border. The rejiggered plan that came out Thursday, however, would make that money available to counties and towns statewide rather than just Chicago and other parts of Cook County. A day after the Senate failed to vote on the budget as anticipated on Wednesday, Sims sought to downplay any disconnect between Democrats in the Senate and the House. Advertisement Just like with any budget, its 3,000-page document, so everybody wants to go through to make sure that the terms of the agreement are actually on the paper, Sims said. But during a committee hearing Thursday morning, GOP Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet raised concerns about the lack of wiggle room within the Democrats plan, which calls for spending nearly all of the $50.7 billion in revenue the state expects to collect for its general fund for the budget year that begins July 1. Youve only got about $100 million in give between revenue and spend, Rose said, questioning whether state agencies would come back to the legislature looking for more money later in the year. Republican Sen. Jil Tracy of Quincy said it was perhaps ... a tactical error for Pritzker and the Democratic leaders to announce a deal before it was finalized. It should have been done after the budget was passed, Tracy said. Also Thursday, lawmakers punted on another outstanding issue. The House voted 69-36, and the Senate followed with a 36-18 vote, to approve a measure extending their deadline for drawing district maps for Chicagos new elected school board to April 1, 2024. Advertisement The deadline had been July 1, but two draft maps were criticized in public forums for not being representative of the diverse student population of Chicago Public Schools. The extension gives us more time to ensure that these last-minute submissions are given the thought and the analysis they deserve, said Democratic Sen. Robert Martwick, vice chair of the committee charged with crafting the map and a sponsor of the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. Also, the House voted 69-35 to send Pritzker a measure that would require lawsuits challenging laws under the state constitution to be filed in either Cook County or Sangamon County, home to Springfield. Democrats who supported the measure said it was necessary to prevent people who sue the state from trying to get their cases heard before judges who they believe will rule in the favor, while also conserving resources for the attorney generals office, which represents the state in court. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state has been hit with a barrage of legal challenges to Pritzkers executive orders as well as new state laws abolishing cash bail and banning certain high-powered semi-automatic weapons. 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 > One attorney was charging people $200 to have their names added as plaintiffs to the lawsuit, said state Democratic Rep. Jay Hoffman of Swansea, a reference to the numerous lawsuits filed by failed Republican attorney general candidate Thomas DeVore. Advertisement Republicans, including Rep. Dan Caulkins of Decatur, who has sued the state over the sweeping gun ban approved in January, called the measure a power grab by the Democratic majority. 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, said Caulkins, whose gun ban lawsuit is awaiting a ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court. Tyrants are always the same, whether kings or lawless Chicago politicians. Hoffman, who is from the Metro East area outside St. Louis, noted that the circuit courts in Sangamon County are dominated by GOP judges. jgorner@chicagotribune.com hsanders@chicagotribune.com dpetrella@chicagotribune.com The secondary school of Artsakhs (Nagorno-Karabakh) Lisagor village, which is bilaterally surrounded due to the blocking of the Lachin corridor and the Hakari bridge by Azerbaijan, has three graduates this year: one girl and two boys. Village head Gagik Nasibyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this. "They are children, they are youth, they all want to leave the village, go to university, study; but now they cant leave the village. We don't know what will happen," he said. There is no shortage of medicines and basic necessities, but the food is already running out in the village. "We estimate that our food will run out in ten days, but we hope that the Russian peacekeepers will deliver supplies to us again. We are able to use some of the vegetables and fruits we have grown, but soon there may be a problem with flour. A few days ago, there was a problem with baby food," he said. On April 30, Azerbaijani sources released videos alleging that Artsakh residents were using the Azerbaijani checkpoint on Hakari bridge without any problems. According to Nasibyan, no resident of Lisagor has passed through that checkpoint since then, and there are no more residents of Lisagor remaining in Goris, Armenia. "People don't want to go through the checkpoint, they have fears, the risk is very huge, they know that something can change at any moment, and that's why they don't go [to that checkpoint]," he said. On May 5, and through the mediation of Russian peacekeepers, food and medicine were delivered to the Azerbaijani-besieged villages of Artsakh. According to Nasibyan, this food and medicine will be enough for Lisagor for about a month. The Azerbaijani side, once again grossly violating the provisions of the tripartite statement of 2020 and continuously providing disinformation regarding the transfer of weapons from Armenia to Karabakh, closed off the Hakari bridge on the Artsakh-Armenia border on April 23. Baku officially announced the setting up of an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Lachin (Berdzor)-Stepanakert motorway. Emory College of Arts and Sciences historian Mariana P. Candido, who specializes in West Central Africa during the era of the transatlantic slave trade, has been named a 202324 Berlin Prize fellow. She is among 26 U.S.-based recipients that the American Academy in Berlin selected as representing the highest standards of excellence in their fields within the humanities and social sciences. The prize provides recipients the time and resources to advance important scholarly and artistic projects, while also creating opportunities for community engagement through lectures, readings and performances. Professor Candidos scholarship is distinguished by a rare combination of archival depth and chronological breadth, says Joseph Crespino, the Jimmy Carter Professor of History and department chair. The Berlin Prize fellowship, one of the most prestigious in the field, is fitting recognition for her ground-breaking research. Candido plans to spend the fall in Berlin writing a new book, Beyond Queens and Captives: Women in Angola, 1500 to 1880s. The idea grew out of a course she teaches on African womens history that discusses the historical forces shaping African womens lives, as well as how women served as active historical agents. Candido used first-hand accounts from archives and libraries in Angola, Portugal and Brazil for the course, after discovering that existing books on women in Angola did not cover the formation and consolidation of the Black Atlantic World. After realizing the challenge of teaching and summarizing the period that spans from early contacts with Europeans, the rise of the transatlantic slave trade, political and economic transformation in the interior, and the partition of the African continent by European powers and prioritizing how these events affected women I decided to write a book about it, Candido says. The new book, Candidos fourth, will examine African women's multiple roles as leaders and commoners, free and enslaved, during the era of the slave trade and European imperialism. Ana Caterina Teixeira, director of Emorys Portuguese program and a core faculty member in the Institute for African Studies, connected Candido with three then-undergraduates Valentina Garcia Ocampos, Lucas Wright and Brandon Carmona to help translate the primary sources into English for the course and, now, for the book. Candido is excited to add to her work in Germany. She plans to include objects and ethnographic notes about Angola at the Ethnologisches Museum that will expand the geographical scope of the book to include more information about the interior of Angola. That work, and collaboration with colleagues from Postdam University, Humboldt University and scholars from the Max Planck Institute, will help with her broader goal of interrogating the historical roots of inequalities, racism and the afterlives of slavery, Candido says. Specifically, the book will demonstrate the gendered impact of Portuguese conquest and occupation, including the political power of female rulers in the region and how slavery affected the skilled work that women fulfilled. It also examines the historical nature of gender roles and sexuality, including the acceptance of same-gender relationships and marriages. My book will serve as a corrective to established male-centered histories of precolonial Africa, Candido says. It is refreshing to receive support for this kind of work I do and what I am planning to do. A recent WBEZ poll of Chicago voters found that nearly two-thirds reported feeling unsafe. Indeed, as many prepared to cast their votes for the citys mayoral election last month, 44% identified public safety as the most important issue influencing their decisions. With Brandon Johnsons successful unseating of incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot theres an expectation from his supporters that hell somehow figure out how to make the citys streets safer while still adhering to leftist ideologies that often undermine resources and authority necessary for police and fire to do their jobs. Advertisement The unfortunate reality is that this latest election result simply covers up Lightfoots shortcomings with a more charismatic Democrat. Johnsons message isnt that unique from other elected Democrats running cities across the country, nor is it that dissimilar from the rhetoric weve heard from Lightfoot and her Democratic predecessors. What is measurably different now is that Chicagos Democratic political class and other Democratically run cities around the country can no longer afford to ignore voters demand to get serious about addressing crime in meaningful ways. Advertisement Those who can afford to migrate to safer pastures are doing so, and those who cant are left behind to persist in a pressure cooker of constant fear, uncertainty and insecurity. With the mounting socioeconomic burden that Chicago residents are asked to shoulder along with the rest of Illinois, in the form of high costs of living and the subsidization of a failing school system, its no surprise that even center-left voters are looking for change. Yet, even as crime, taxes and the quality of educational systems in many Democratically controlled cities continue their downward spirals, Democratic leadership continues to point fingers in the wrong direction. Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration over the migrant crisis, yet never once issued any similar SOS regarding Chicagos consistent inclusion as one of the worlds 50 most dangerous cities during her time as mayor. [ Paul Vallas: Killing of Officer Areanah Preston sheds light on Chicagos flawed public safety approach ] Of course, these concerns are not wholly unique to Chicago. They are burdens shouldered by taxpayers and communities across Illinois, which hasnt fared much better at the state level on responsibly addressing any of these hardships plaguing our citizens. Two years ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act, which made Illinois the first state in the nation to repeal cash bail. In response, Orland Park unequivocally stated that abolishing cash bail will affect almost every offense, including kidnapping, armed robbery, second degree murder, drug-induced homicide, aggravated DUI, threatening a public official, and aggravated fleeing and eluding, meaning more of these offenders will be released immediately back to the streets to inflict more pain. Recently, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody rightfully suggested that Pritzkers experimental justice policies and progressive economic agenda are obvious catalysts for the mass outward migration of companies and individual taxpayers the state has witnessed in recent years. Florida is one of the states these businesses and residents are flocking to the most. Thats because governing on crime, taxes, education and other top-of-mind issues for voters looks tremendously different and has been tremendously more effective under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Illinois and Florida stories could not be further apart. While Illinois has seen increases in violent crime rates, DeSantis has helped Florida realize its lowest crime rate in 50 years. During the pandemic, DeSantis prioritized in-person instruction as soon as it was known that it was safe to do so, while CPS forced students in Chicago to stay under lockdown after CDC guidance had given the go-ahead to get back into the classroom. Florida has the lowest unemployment rate among the nations 10 largest states at 2.6%. Advertisement In recent weeks, Gov. DeSantis signed his third consecutive anti-crime, pro-public safety legislative package brought to his desk by the conservative legislature. Among the policies DeSantis enacted are pretrial detention, resistance of bail reform efforts moving in states like Illinois, increased sentences for drug traffickers targeting children and subjection of child rapists to capital punishment. All told, DeSantis and conservative leaders in Florida have done more to address the publics interest in securing safer neighborhoods and thriving communities than any of Illinois Democratic leaders have done for the Prairie State in decades. Its time that Pritzker and other Democratic policymakers in Illinois scrap their failing agenda on crime or ultimately get left behind. Marko Sukovic is the general manager of a managed services consulting firm and is chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The nation's leading experts in pediatric health, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have named the mental health crisis among children a national emergency. Shortages of qualified mental health professionals are at crisis levels locally, statewide, nationally, and globally. This shortage disproportionately affects the pediatric and adolescent populations, and this crisis is compounded for children of color. To address this shortage, Emory Universitys Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is partnering with the Liz Blake Giving Fund and Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta (Childrens) to develop a scholarship program to expand and equip the workforce of mental health professionals. The Blake Scholars Program will provide full tuition for nurse practitioners with an interest in child and adolescent behavioral and mental health to pursue a post-graduate certificate in psychiatric mental health nursing from Emorys School of Nursing. Graduates of the Blake Scholars Program will be considered for pediatric psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner positions at Childrens, including the new Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center. The Atlanta pediatric community has been strengthened by the recent arrival of John Constantino, MD, chief of behavioral and mental health at Childrens. He has a proven track record of innovating, transforming access, and pioneering prevention strategies in behavioral and mental health care for children, said Liz Blake, founder of the Liz Blake Giving Fund, Through this scholarship, we are thrilled to leverage the strengths of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Childrens to address this unprecedented crisis in mental health for children. A core value of the Liz Blake Giving Fund is collaboration. The partnership with Emory School of Nursing and Childrens is exactly the type of transformational alignment we are excited to support. The program is a 26-credit hour, three-semester program with six classes. Classes will be held online with both onsite and virtual intensives and clinical practica. Classes will start in Fall 2023. For admissions requirements, information sessions, or additional program information, visit https://nursing.emory.edu/blake-scholars-program. For questions, email nursingquestions@emory.edu. About the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing As one of the nation's top nursing schools, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University is committed to educating visionary nurse leaders and scholars. The school offers undergraduate, masters, doctoral and non-degree programs, bringing together cutting-edge resources, distinguished faculty, top clinical experiences, and access to leading health care partners to shape the future of nursing and impact our world's health and well-being. About the Liz Blake Giving Fund Liz and Frank Blake have been active leaders in the philanthropic community in Atlanta for many years, both in their professional careers and in retirement. In late 2019, the Blakes launched the Liz Blake Giving Fund, which supports effective partnerships seeking to make a collective impact on women and their children through 2Generations approaches to promote: the empowerment of women as successful providers for their families and leaders in their communities, as well as the early brain and social development of infants and young children. This Scholarship supports the healthy social-emotional development in children and infants. Army Capt. Brian Geil knows that many of the Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) cadets he instructs and trains at the University will one day become military leaders who may well be asked to risk their livesand those of the soldiers under their commandin combat. Tasked with that responsibility, Geil sets a high bar for excellence, integrity, and service-oriented leadership, not only in the instruction he provides in the classroom but, more importantly, in the leadership qualities he models for the young cadets. As leaders, we strive to be the example by which our cadets can follow, said Geil, who teaches the first two levels of ROTC leadership courses and military history online to cadets from across the South Florida area. Ive had my fair share of leaders who didn't do what they preached and thats one of the quickest ways to lose the respect of your soldiers. Leadership 101 tells you to do what you expect your subordinates to dothats the golden rule. One of the biggest things I stress is holding yourself accountable and maintaining your integrity in all situations. Another one would be pushing yourself, he added. If youre meeting the standard, but its obvious that youre not trying as hard as your soldiers, then you need to do more and better. The Southern Strike Army ROTC Battalion, which includes the University of Miami, is one of the largest ROTC battalions in the United States with more than 250 participating student cadets across South Florida. Lt. Col. Heath Papkov, professor of military science, oversees the battalion and manages the training schedule, recruitment, and retention for South Florida. Geil is the officer in charge at the University, responsible for training, recruitment, and administration. Geil spent the first half of his life in Texas, the second in Georgia. Both his grandfathers, his uncle, and a cousin served in the armed forces, but it was his older brotherwho joined the ROTC at Kennesaw State Universitythat inspired him to make soldiering a career. I always wanted to challenge myself physically and serve a larger purpose to make sure that my career had a larger impact than just trying to attain financial security, he said. There are a lot of ways you can go about thatteaching, community workbut I felt like the military met all those boxes. As a sophomore at the same Georgia college as his brother, Geil joined ROTC, earned a scholarshipand that kickstarted everything. He has been active in the military for nearly 10 years with two duty assignments at Fort Gregg-Adams, formerly Fort Lee, in Virginia, where he completed lieutenant and captain leadership courses; Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where he trained as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist; then Fort Drum in New York and Fort Campbell in Kentucky. The intensive leadership instruction instilled proper instructing techniqueshow to gain your audiences attention so they learn better; how to inspire your students; and things to avoid, like asking leading questions or forcing people to get involved. Geil is nearing the end of the second year of a three-year assignment as an ROTC instructor at the University. His first graduating class was last year, and his second was commissioned this past May 14. An avid learner himself, Geil teaches a military history class that analyzes the conflict and tactics of major battles since World War II, and he plans to soon include more focus on Revolutionary and Civil War battles. Because were really trying to develop leaders, we mostly highlight command control and effective communication, he explained. Reviewing case studies of specific generals or other officers, students discuss how these leaders motivated or failed to motivate their soldiers and explore how proper planning and communication affect a battle. This Memorial Day weekend, as we prepare to honor and mourn service men and women who died while in service to the country, Geil is keenly aware that the trauma and toil of military service sometimes exact a fatal cost. I would say most Americans have the misfortune of knowing someone who took their own life, he said. The military can place you in a high level of stress for both personal reasons and family life. For me, one of the biggest things Ill reflect on for Memorial Day are the mental health issues that affect veterans. That said, Geil emphasized that the military is taking amazing steps toward combatting those issues by making sure that those who have served and are servingand their family membersget the care they need. Cadets are away from campus for the summer. So, Geil took advantage of the short downtime and traveled to Mexico City for an intensive Spanish language program. He reports later this summer to Fort Knox to participate in the annual training event there for thousands of cadets and civilians. Hell be working 18-hour days for a month and a half as part of the massive training exercise. Geil said hes blown away by the level of support, respect, and admiration that members of the military receive from the public, and he reports that support on campus is phenomenal. If hes in uniform and out and about in Miami, its not unusual for strangers to approach him and express their support in English and Spanish. For Memorial Day, hell reflect on those who gave their lives in service. My job in explosive ordnance disposal taught me that everything we know was learned by people who made the ultimate sacrifice, Geil said. So, I want to pay homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the knowledge, the capabilities, and ultimately the freedoms that we have now. Debasish Panda, Chairman, IRDAI, has said that the industry should take a call for making 'Insurance for All by 2047' a reality by increasing investments in the sector. While speaking at the CII Annual Session 2023 held in New Delhi on Thursday, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) chief said, "The insurance sector offers a huge market which provides a strong potential for growth of the sector." He said most Indians have relatively-lower access to insurance compared to international markets, which indicates a huge potential for new entrants. "Hence, the industry should take a call for making 'Insurance for All by 2047' a reality by increasing investments in the sector," stated Debasish Panda. Elaborating further on the CII Annual Session theme of 'Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability and Internationalization,' Panda mentioned that this reflected the spirit of India, which is aiming to rank high on competitiveness, technology use and sustainability through the credo of Vasudeva Kutumbakam and internationalisation. Addressing the gathering, Panda said that the Indian economy today is at an inflection point. "The country is among the fastest-growing economies in the world, with strong demographics, large domestic market size and a robust stock market, among others. Hence, there is optimism about India, which is drawing investors who are keen to establish a footprint in the sector," Panda said. "India has the largest market as it has 1/5th of the world population. Hence in a world starved of opportunity, India is a beacon of hope and this is rightly termed as the 'India's Century'," he said. Insurance provides a strong foundation of growth and is inseparable from the growth process, Panda said, adding it acts as a safety net for the poor, prevents debt distress, helps businesses to scale up, among others. "Despite this, the insurance market is largely under-penetrated. The challenge is to double the penetration of the Indian insurance market in five to seven years and create greater awareness about insurance products," stated Panda. He also said technology adoption is changing the insurance landscape in the country. "The use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are impacting the sector in more ways than one," he said, adding, "The regulator is encouraging insurance tech (insurtech), regulatory technology (regtech), and finance tech (fintech) to provide ease of insurance." The IRDAI has undertaken several reforms with the aim of building availability, accessibility and affordability of insurance products for citizens, the chairman said, adding, "For this, the authority has adopted the use and file system, wherein it would be possible to launch life insurance products without the approval of the regulator." The chairman said IRDAI has moved away from the micro-management of industry expenses, for example the cost of intermediaries, operating cost of management, created an overall limit for life, non-life, health insurance based on weighted average of 5-6 years, among others. Such reforms have facilitated the ease of doing business, promoted healthy competition and encouraged the use of technology, he added. According to Panda, the number of regulations have to be reduced with the repeal of 97 circulars and rationalisation of 79 returns. "Further, to meet the distribution challenge, the authority has increased the number of tie-ups that insurance companies can undertake with banks," he said, adding, "Besides, the government is encouraging the use of technology platforms to reduce distribution costs and enhance the affordability of insurance products." Chairman Panda indicated that the government has now moved from a factor-based to a risk-based solvency regime; from rule-based to compliance-based supervision and is transitioning towards becoming the global reinsurance hub. The IRDAI recognises the need for further reform for which proposals have been sent to the government, Panda said, adding that some reforms include the proposal for changes in the Insurance Act to cater to different segments and geographies; allowing perpetual licence for distributors; and permitting insurance companies to offer value-added services. Panda said that the authority is also working on creating a UPI-like moment for insurance. This is being proposed through the Bima trinity -- Bima Sugam, Bima Vistar and the woman-centric Bima Vahak. Panda said, "To reach the last mile, a state-level insurance plan is being proposed, limits on subordinate debt have doubled and exposure to the banking, financial services and insurance (BSFI) sector has increased, which would help in achieving insurance for all by 2047." Earlier, Sanjiv Bajaj, President, CII, said that there is considerable scope for investment by new enterprises in view of the large, under-penetrated insurance market where most citizens are outside the ambit of insurance. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], May 26: Allure Cosmetics, a beauty brand that has quickly risen to prominence since its establishment in 2018, has achieved a remarkable feat by generating impressive sales of Rs 2 crore within just four months. This success serves as a testament to the brand's unwavering commitment to providing high-quality products and exceptional customer experiences. Since its inception, Allure Cosmetics has experienced exponential growth, with its revenue increasing by 100 times. This upward trajectory has been further accelerated by the recent launch of their multi-brand e-commerce website, which has solidified their position as a consistently profitable enterprise. In 2022, Allure Cosmetics made a significant step by growing its business into a multi-brand e-commerce site. With this expansion, Allure Cosmetics now offers a wide selection of branded beauty products on a single platform, providing customers with a complete shopping experience. What sets Allure Cosmetics apart from its competitors is its commitment to offering authentic products at competitive prices, accompanied by excellent service and reliable delivery. The beauty industry in India has seen significant growth and transformation and numerous international and local brands have entered the market. However, Allure Cosmetics excels at assembling a luxury portfolio of partner brands and remains at the forefront of the latest trends in the beauty industry. Their commitment to addressing the beauty needs of each individual is evident in the diverse range of products. Leveraging its advanced technology platform, Allure Cosmetics connects brands directly with consumers across India, delivering exceptional customer experiences powered by insights and data. Valuing customers and exceeding their expectations is at the heart of Allure Cosmetic's business. They achieve this through fast delivery, effective communication, and ensuring a pleasant shopping experience. Allure Cosmetics actively encourages customers to share their feedback, rate products, and engage with the brand, emphasizing their commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Allure Cosmetics strives to be the brand of choice for beauty products and to be the first brand that comes to mind when consumers consider their purchase. By emphasizing quality and customer satisfaction, and being at the forefront of the online beauty movement, Allure Cosmetics is establishing itself as the trusted and preferred choice for beauty enthusiasts. The visionary behind Allure Cosmetics is none other than Sagar Pawa, the founder and mastermind responsible for the thriving empire. With an MBA in Marketing and over a decade of work experience in marketing and online startups, Sagar possesses a unique blend of educational qualifications and hands-on expertise. His exceptional leadership skills, astute marketing acumen, and flair for driving sales and promotions have been instrumental in Allure Cosmetic's success. Furthermore, his visionary approach extends beyond conventional practices, as he consistently focuses on research and development, product development, and continuous product enhancement to ensure that Allure Cosmetics remains at the forefront of innovation in the industry. Sagar Pawa's ability to cultivate and nurture relationships is another standout quality. Recognizing the value of strong connections, he fosters bonds not only with his employees and co-workers but also with suppliers and business partners. This collective strength of his network allows him to maximize output and utilize resources efficiently, fueling Allure Cosmetic's growth. Through his unwavering commitment to excellence and relentless pursuit of growth, Sagar Pawa has transformed Allure Cosmetics into a powerhouse within the beauty industry. Allure Cosmetics captivates customers with superior products and unparalleled customer experiences, and has established itself as a brand that customers can trust and rely on. Allure recognizes the importance of understanding the Indian sense of beauty. They appreciate the cultural beliefs and diverse definitions of beauty that exist in India. Allure's commitment to providing products that cater to Indian customers' unique tastes and preferences sets them apart in the industry. Allure Cosmetics has exciting plans for the future to further expand its product range. From Makeup Brushes and beauty accessories to hair brushes, pedicures, and manicure set and bath accessories, Allure Cosmetics aims to offer a full range of beauty tools and accessories to meet all customer needs. In addition, they plan to diversify their brand portfolio by adding more brands to their offering to ensure customers have a diverse and extensive range of products to discover and shop. The outstanding performance of Allure Cosmetics has propelled them to actively seek a Private Equity (PE) investment to fuel their expansion plans. With ambitious targets in mind, the brand aims to skyrocket its revenue to an astounding 1000 times by the next year. This would position Allure Cosmetics as one of the fastest-growing unicorns in the competitive landscape of investor-driven enterprises. Allure Cosmetics' remarkable journey from a single brush set to impressive sales of Rs 2 crore in four months is a testament to their commitment to providing quality products, exceptional service, and an unparalleled shopping experience. With ambitious expansion plans and a focus on customer satisfaction, Allure Cosmetics aims to cement its position as the leading e-commerce brand in the beauty industry, catering to the diverse tastes of customers across India.For more information visit: https://www.allurecosmetics.in (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 26: De Beers Group today provided an update on progress toward its 2030 'Building Forever' sustainability goals. The goals were set in 2020 and are De Beers' blueprint for creating a positive and sustainable impact in its host countries and throughout the diamond value chain. They span four pillars: leading ethical practices, partnering for thriving communities, protecting the natural world, and accelerating equal opportunity. 2022 sustainability report highlights milestones in climate ambition and ethical leadership of the diamond industry. During 2022, De Beers saw advances across all four Building Forever pillars and all 12 goals, which included reductions in water use and energy intensity, innovations in diamond tracing technology, increased representation of women in senior leadership and progress toward its climate commitments. A notable milestone was setting emission reduction targets across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, which have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). De Beers' near-term SBTi-validated targets are to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions 42 per cent by 2030 and to reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions 25 per cent within the same timeframe. In setting the targets across all three scopes, De Beers is extending its climate ambition over and above its existing commitment to be carbon neutral across Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The SBTi-validated targets represent the reductions required by the organisation to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. However, under its existing carbon neutral commitment and with the implementation of its 'Reduce and Replace' strategy, De Beers expects to exceed its SBTi-validated targets for reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. De Beers also accelerated the pace of innovation and investment in its blockchain provenance platform, Tracr. The platform was deployed at scale in 2022 and enables participants to provide assurance of a diamond's source as it travels through the value chain. More than half of De Beers' global production by value is now being registered on Tracr, which was recently named by Forbes as one of the world's 50 leading blockchains for the third time. Al Cook, CEO, De Beers Group, said: "De Beers has a simple belief that informs everything we do: the diamonds we discover belong to the communities and countries in which they are found. We are inspired by the beauty and rarity of natural diamonds and the natural world, and we know how precious diamonds are - not only for the people who wear them, but for all those they touch along the way." "Building Forever is about taking a long-term view. We work hand-in-hand with the communities in which we live and work to shape a better future. Our actions range from addressing the climate crisis to growing prosperity wherever we operate. And by using our proprietary technologies, we can now connect our customers to the origin, impact and stories of their diamonds. Building Forever will continue to guide every decision De Beers makes and touch every diamond we discover." The 2022 sustainability report provides a detailed overview of the Building Forever pillars and goals, along with key progress toward each - a summary of which follows: Leading ethical practices De Beers is committed to advancing industry standards, enhancing the transparency of diamond provenance and improving the livelihoods of artisanal miners. Key highlights include: - Increased the number of entities participating in the Best Practice Principles, the company's set of leading ethical, social and environmental standards which are independently audited, to 2,690 from 2,283 in 2021. - Launched the Tracr blockchain platform at scale, enabling diamond origin to be immutably recorded from source to store. More than half of De Beers' global rough diamond production by value is now being registered on Tracr. - Increased the number of mine sites participating in GemFair, De Beers' programme to support the formalisation of the artisanal mining sector, to 263 from 219 in 2021. The programme also provided fair and equitable finance to support the operations of 49 members. Protecting the natural world De Beers understands that for its business and host communities to thrive, it must protect the natural world. In all of its activities, De Beers follows best practices for biodiversity and water management, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and mine closure and rehabilitation. Key highlights include: - Achieved a 14 per cent reduction in freshwater withdrawals and a four per cent reduction in energy intensity compared with 2021. - In partnership with Anglo American and EDF Renewables, commenced development of more than 70 MW of renewable energy projects in southern Africa. - Invested $2 million in Kelp Blue, a start-up that grows underwater kelp forests off the coast of Namibia, which can absorb carbon up to 50 times faster than land-based forests. In addition to supporting De Beers' carbon neutral commitment, Kelp Blue will also create jobs and support sustainable economic development in Namibia. - Marked the 20th anniversary of the Diamond Route, the 500,000-acre network of conservation sites that De Beers manages across southern Africa, protecting more than 50 mammal species. - Continued Okavango Eternal, a partnership with National Geographic to protect the critically important headwards of the Okavango Delta. Progress included installing innovative water monitoring technology, deepening research and understanding, and engaging with communities on soil-friendly farming methods. Partnering for thriving communities De Beers is focused on working with a range of stakeholders to help build a sustainable future and contribute to a better quality of life in its host communities, with particular emphasis on health and wellbeing, education and skills development, economic diversification, and livelihood support. Key highlights include: - Marked two decades since the introduction of De Beers' pioneering HIV programme to provide free and confidential treatment to employees and their families living with HIV and AIDS. The programme has helped to save an estimated 650 lives during this time and has also ensured there have been no cases of mother-to-child HIV transmission among De Beers employees or their partners for 14 consecutive years. - In collaboration with Right to Care, rolled out a community-oriented primary care partnership to strengthen medical clinics in southern Africa, prioritising areas that lacked medical provision. - Supported 420 students in securing 12-month internships in different sectors through a partnership with International Youth Foundation. - A total of 18 southern Africa-based companies completed the Stanford Seed Transformation entrepreneurship programme that De Beers supports in partnership with Stanford University. - In total, more than 3,340 jobs were supported by De Beers through various socioeconomic development projects and initiatives and 71 per cent of its goods and services were procured from local suppliers. Accelerating equal opportunity De Beers is focused on accelerating economic inclusion and supporting diverse voices to help shape the future of its business, host communities and society at large, with a particular focus on addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in its talent pipeline and encouraging fresh and diverse talent into the diamond jewellery sector. Key highlights include: - At the end of 2022, women comprised 33 per cent of senior management positions within De Beers Group (up from 31 per cent in 2021). - Extended the partnership with WomEng, a highly regarded social enterprise committed to helping women and girls pursue careers in engineering and technology, for another three years. - Since 2018, De Beers has provided 89 scholarships to women studying STEM at universities in Canada, has reached more than 3,700 school students in southern Africa through STEM workshops, and has supported more than 2,400 women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. - Provided funding for a free 12-week jewellery making course for teens in New York City, which aims to fill the void of limited access to jewellery studios for teenage designers. De Beers also established an internal Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Council bringing volunteers from across the business to deepen understanding of the company's diverse workforce and further cultivate an inclusive culture. De Beers Group's full 2022 sustainability report is available to read here. Notes to Editors Images depicting key Building Forever highlights are available to download here. Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world's leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world's largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group's strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and De Beers Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to 'Building Forever,' a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future - where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube (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 26: Perm State University, one of the leading universities in Russia, signed a remarkable cooperation agreement with the Russian House in New Delhi on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, during a special signing ceremony. The cooperation agreement was signed by Prof. Blagonravova Anna Sergeevna, the Rector of Perm State University (PSMU), and Oleg Osipov, Director of the Russian House in New Delhi. The historical cooperation agreement will not only result in providing better facilities to Indian students at Perm State University but also in promoting such facilities on an international level. These agreements signify a strong partnership between Perm State Medical University and various institutions in India, enhancing educational opportunities for Indian students interested in pursuing medical studies in Russia. The signing ceremony was part of the agenda of the 2-Day Visit of the Rector of Perm State Medical University to India. The event also witnessed the delightful presence of respected members of Rus Education - Prof. Syed K. Washim, Chairman; Air Marshal (Dr.) Pawan Kapoor, Vice-Chairman; and Dr. Dinesh Singla, Director, appreciated the collaboration. During the event, Oleg Osipov, Director of the Russian House, Delhi, stated that with the signing of this historical cooperation agreement, they would be able to promote Russian education programs in India and encourage Indian students to study in Russia, especially at Perm State Medical University, on a larger scale. Being a Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in India, Russian House in Delhi, along with Russian Houses in Mumbai, Chennai, Trivandrum, and Kolkata, comprehensively covers the entire country, making the agreement applicable throughout India. Rector Perm State Medical University, Prof. Blagonravova Anna Sergeevna, expressed gratitude towards the Russian House in New Delhi for this cooperation. While addressing the guests, she stated, "The university feels pleased to continue its relationship with India and will do everything to help Indian students adapt to the new environment in a hassle-free manner." The efforts of the Russian House in India are commendable for providing accurate and direct information to Indian students about the Russian education system and helping them choose medical universities in Russia. This will enable them to make a valid contribution to the healthcare system in India and worldwide, said Prof. S.K Washim, Chairman of Rus Education, the exclusive admission partner of Perm State Medical University. After the conclusion of the signing ceremony, both dignitaries exchanged copies of the cooperation agreement and expressed their gratitude to each other for their new cooperation. Perm State Medical University has a lot to offer for Indian medical aspirants. All the aspiring candidates can reach the exclusive admission partner in India - Rus Education for the admission process - Call: 18008333338 or write on del@ruseducation.in (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) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], May 26: MediaTek, the world's leading fabless semiconductor company, powering more than 2 billion connected devices a year, hosted its 12th Chapter of Technology Diaries themed 'The Vision to Go Beyond with Brilliant Technologies' with a focus on latest technologies from MediaTek across Automotive, Satellite Communication and Space Tech. MediaTek reiterated its commitment towards expanding its footprint across Smartphone and Smart Device ecosystem in India. MediaTek shared its latest portfolio of cutting-edge technologies and a line-up of 5G chipsets, including MediaTek Dimensity 9200+, 9000+, 8020, 7050, 7200, Kompanio 1200, MediaTek Dimensity Auto and MediaTek Genio 1200. MediaTek also showcased some of the latest collaborations across the portfolio with Motorola, Flipkart, HP, OnePlus, Lava, Xiaomi, Infinix, Oppo, Vivo, Tecno, Realme, iQOO and Samsung, among others. "Brilliant technology is not just about creating new products and services, but also about creating meaningful experiences that enhance peoples' lives. At MediaTek, we focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible and using innovation to solve complex problems. With brilliant technology, we believe in transforming the world around us with increased commitment towards working with global and Indian OEMs and expanding the R&D facilities in India. New-gen technologies like the Internet of Things, 5G, 6G, Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and AR/VR are ushering in a new wave of innovations. Further, we are looking forward to unlocking innovation in newer verticals like automotive, satellite communication and connectivity," said Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India. The event fostered insightful discussions on the next frontier for technology, while also displaying MediaTek's supremacy in arenas including smartphones, smart devices, automotive and smart vehicles, satellite communication, computing and connectivity. The event saw insightful interactions around: - Flagship and premium experiences - flagship experiences with MediaTek Dimensity 9200+, 9200, 9000+, 9000 system-on-chips (SoCs) and premium experiences across MediaTek Dimensity 8000 and 7000 series.- Smart Devices - market leadership across digital TVs, smart speakers, Wi-Fi routers, arm-based Chromebooks and other smart home products. MediaTek portfolio caters to a wide range of customers across smartphones, smart homes, automotive, IoT and home/enterprise connectivity segments. Recently launched MediaTek Genio 700 is designed for smart home, interactive retail, and industrial and commercial applications.- Satellite Connectivity- reliable connectivity everywhere with two-way satellite communications on smartphones and other devices.- MediaTek Automotive Platform- MediaTek Dimensity Auto drives the future of intelligent, always-connected vehicles empowering smart vehicle technology innovation through delivering impressive computing power and wide-ranging technologies.- Wi-Fi 7 - MediaTek comprehensive Wi-Fi portfolio caters to broadband, retail routers, consumer electronics products, and gaming. The first company to showcase live demos of MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 Filogic portfolio's true potential to key customers and industry partners. The event witnessed robust participation from industry leaders and opened the stage to insightful interactions through a Fireside Chat session on "Joining the League of Extraordinary with Brilliant Technology", moderated by Anuj Sidharth, MediaTek and included expert panellists from Shivam, Motorola and Prabhu Ram, CMR. According to Shivam Ranjan, Head of Marketing at Motorola - Asia Pacific, "I was delighted to be a part of the MediaTek Technology Diaries event and interact with eminent leaders from the industry on market trends, technologies, and innovations. Meaningful consumer innovation has always been a part of Motorola's DNA. Having recently been recognized as India's best 5G smartphone brand, we have already taken a lead in enabling the best consumer experiences leveraging 5G technology in India. Plus, our devices have consistently evolved to support new technologies and consumer use-cases through industry leading hardware and software features. Our recently launched motorola edge 40, powered by the incredibly powerful and power efficient MediaTek Dimensity 8020 is testament to the two brands coming together to disrupt the marketplace with class leading features." Prabhu Ram, Head- Industry Intelligence Group, Cybermedia Research (CMR) said, "According to our research at CyberMedia Research (CMR), India's connected consumers are increasingly aware of the significance of chipsets for enhanced device performance. As they delve further into content creation, consumption, gaming, and more, their expectations for smartphones and new form factors, such as foldables, are soaring. Various players across the smartphone value chain, including chipset manufacturers, are actively engaged in continuous R&D to meet consumer aspirations for cutting-edge, innovative and yet, accessible smartphone experiences." This was followed by the panel discussion on "The Vision to Go Beyond with Incredible Technologies", moderated by Rajiv Makhni, and panellists included Anku Jain, MediaTek, Atul Handa, Flipkart, Faisal Kawoosa, TechArc, Anshika Jain, Counterpoint, Sumit Singh, Lava. The panellists offered impactful and innovative views on the post-5G ecosystem in India, the pathways for faster adoption, factors influencing consumer decisions, the potential inherent in satellite communications, and upcoming technologies expected in both hearables and wearables segment among others, while also throwing light on recent consumer and technology trends. Atul Handa, Business Head - TV, Flipkart said, "Flipkart is poised to partner with Indian consumers in their upgrade journey. The latest launch of Motorola Envision X Google TV range is a remarkable fusion of QLED display, superior technology and the powerful MediaTek Quad core processor, which stands as a testament to this commitment. By offering the latest innovations at an affordable price point, we aim to democratize the television industry in India, while providing an immersive and personalized audiovisual experience." "We have a long-standing association with MediaTek and are happy to participate in the latest edition of MediaTek Diaries which brings various stakeholders from the tech space under one roof. We are even more thrilled with the response that our latest smartphone Lava Agni 2 powered by India's first Dimensity 7050 has garnered, and we are committed to increase its production. Taking forward our partnership, our endeavor is continue providing hi-tech devices at affordable prices to Indian consumers," said Sumit Singh, Head - Product, Lava International. Speaking at the event, Faisal Kawoosa, Founder & Chief Technology Analyst at Techarc said, "Communication, collaboration, and co-creation are three important tasks that the smart devices ecosystem need to do with respective sectors like healthcare, auto, smart homes, etc. We need to first know each other's space, share data and information, and then jointly modify or create new devices. This is where I see a larger role of someone like MediaTek to drive it and create this collaborative inter-sectoral ecosystem. In fact, MediaTek Technology Diaries is the right platform to set this inter sectoral collaboration into action." Anshika Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research said, "Smart TV contribution to overall shipments reached its highest ever of 90% during the year and it is expected to go up further due to more launches in the sub-INR 20,000 price range and non-smart-TV-to-smart-TV migration." The MediaTek Technology Diaries is an interactive, informative series aimed at demystifying the newest technologies transforming our daily lives. The series is in tune with MediaTek's philosophy of making great technology available to help consumers connect seamlessly with the things that shape our daily lives by enhancing, enriching, and making us smarter and healthier. For more information, please visit: i.mediatek.com/technology-diaries, i.mediatek.com/mediatek-5g. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) With the government's continued push for reforms, experts said the Indian hospitality sector is thriving and the outlook for 2023 is bullish. Aditya Kushwaha, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Axis Ecorp, said the Indian hospitality sector had been thriving, and the outlook is bullish for 2023. He said domestic tourism was the industry's principal growth driver. "Holiday goers are keen to explore new places and are always on the lookout for comfortable stays and great deals. We had recently forayed into the sector with the launch of Deefellows and our first property in Jim Corbett. We aim to have 10-15 holiday locations and garner revenue of over Rs 50 crore in the first year of operation," Aditya Kushwaha said. A noteworthy projection made by a recent report indicated the addition of approximately 12,000 rooms in 2023 alone. Moreover, the report anticipates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 3.3 per cent in the number of rooms by 2025. The report compiled by CBRE South Asia said the recovery in demand is expected to outpace the rate of supply expansion, resulting in positive performance indicators for the hotel sector. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa, CBRE, said, "In recent years, several international hotel chains have made significant investments in the country, looking to tap into the growing demand for hospitality services." Magazine said several private equity (PE) funds have also invested in domestic and international hospitality operators looking to expand their footprint in the country. "The sector has also benefited from the government's continued focus on reforms, as a result, the government expects the country's tourism and hospitality sector to earn USD 50.9 billion as visitor exports by 2028," he added. Visitor exports is the spending within a country by international tourists for leisure and business travel. This includes spending on transport. Another real estate expert said there is a greater demand for experiential and boutique properties that cater to the needs of new-age travellers. Ankit Gupta, Founder and Director of Business Development, at Roostels India, said, "We believe that there is immense growth potential in the Indian hospitality market. In this post-pandemic world, guests are looking to explore new places and focusing more on the experience. We are seeing greater demand for experiential and boutique properties that cater to the needs of new-age travellers. To cater to the demand of this segment, Gupta said, "We are launching Roadies Rostel. This will be a one-of-its-kind theme hotel where adventure junkies will be able to indulge in various indoor and outdoor sports. Our first property will be launching in Ahmedabad in July and are looking to expand our presence through franchisee routes in 15 top holiday destinations in this financial year." The CBRE report also emphasised that the sector's outlook has experienced a remarkable upturn following a successful vaccination campaign, the reopening of borders, the lifting of travel restrictions, and sustained economic growth. Encouragingly, the report predicted an influx of investments surpassing USD 2.3 billion over the next 2-5 years, with an additional investment of over USD 0.4 billion expected between 2020 and 2023. According to the report, religious tourism has long been a consistent revenue generator for the hospitality sector in India. It said leading hotel chains are recognising the evolving preferences of religious tourists and catering to their needs by offering clean, hygienic, and family-friendly accommodations. These accommodations often command a premium price due to the increased value placed on comfort and amenities, it added. (ANI) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 26: A trusted legacy brand with quality, reliability, and innovation at its core, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd.'s launches its Mini Master Plus Pump, equipped with unique Hy-flo MAX* Technology. The latest flagship comes with an array of innovative features and speeds up the process of pumping water, thereby ensuring faster water tank filling in half the time. Today, consumers are more informed and conscious in making decisions when buying any product. In Indian households, especially those living in joint families or staying in multi-floored bungalows, tank filling can take a significant amount of time leading to a lot of inconveniences. Therefore, pumps play a crucial role in supplying a fast stream of water and ensure faster tank filling. Keeping this in mind, Crompton with its flagship Mini Master Plus Pump has taken faster tank filling to a new level. The wide product range of technologically superior pumps provide the users optimum benefits including low maintenance costs, higher durability and performance, value for money as well as less energy consumption. Crompton's Mini Master Plus Pump is equipped with advanced features including Stainless-Steel sheet (SS) on critical components, like volute casing and adapter making it rust-free & provide a hassle-free operation. This ensures no issues like jamming or pump failure thereby guaranteeing a smooth flow of water. Moreover, its construction influences the pumps' hydraulics that in turn, delivers a higher water output and better performance. The 4 key features that help in faster* tank filling and creating a seamless consumer experience include: - Big Impeller Size: Water delivery increases by 120% to 200% and Tank filling time is reduced by 50% to 60% due to 35%-50% bigger impeller size. - Powerful Motor: A powerful motor with bigger stamping and efficient design provides 60 to 100% more power, which helps in faster tank filling. - Unique Hydraulic Design: The unique design of Hydraulic flow path including hybrid pump (with SS insert) suction area and flow area, resulting in lower friction (water flow loss) and hence aids in providing consistently high-water discharge. - Warranty: Twice the warranty - 24 months emphasizing the quality of performance being delivered by the product Speaking about its flagship product, Rajat Chopra, VP and Business Head, Pumps at Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. added, "Crompton has consistently delivered innovation that adds value to the life of our consumers. Pumps are a critical application especially in delivering water to ensure uninterrupted flow of essential utilities. With our consumer centric design approach, our flagship series is equipped with long-lasting quality and modern features. As a brand that offers meaningful solutions to every need, this is our endeavor to help in significantly reducing the time and effort of pump filling and enhance the quality of consumer experience." With a brand legacy of 80+ years, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. is India's market leader in the category of fans and residential pumps. Over the years, the organization has continuously strived to produce a range of innovative products that cater to the modern consumer including superior quality and high-performance water heaters, anti-dust fans, antibacterial LED bulbs and a range of other categories like air coolers, food processors like mixer grinders, electric kettles and garment care like irons. The company has further invested in brand and innovation to not only better understand and meet consumer needs, but to also help drive energy efficiency. The consumer business also has a well-established and organized distribution network driven by a strong dealer base across the country offering a wide service network and robust after sales service to its customers. Having consistently worked towards the development of energy efficient products, the company bagged two prestigious National Energy Consumer Awards (NECA) for the Most Energy Efficient Appliances of the Year 2019 organized by the Bureau of Energy efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power - one for Ceiling Fans for its HS plus model and the other one in the LED Bulb category for its 9-Watt LED bulb. The company has also been featured in Brand Top 75 most valuable Indian brands list for 2020 released by WPP and Kantar. Furthermore, Crompton was also recognized as the Brand of the Decade 2021 by Herald Global and BARC Asia in the Consumer Electrical category. (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 New Delhi [India], May 26: HarperCollins India is delighted to announce the publication of a compelling memoir of a trailblazing personality - From Manjunath to Manjamma: The Inspiring Life of a Transgender Folk Artist. From being ostracized and mocked to being awarded one of the highest civilian honours of the country, Manjamma Jogathi's is an incredible, heart-rending story, which she, along with Harsha Bhat, tells in this book with remarkable honesty. The book is timed well for release on 5th June, as June is also celebrated as the Pride Month. Talking about the book, Manjamma Jogathi said, "This is my tale of surviving all odds as a transgender person and making the journey from the lap of death to winning the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian awards of the country. This book is my honest attempt to give the reader a glimpse into the world of transgenders and all the trials and tribulations we go through as we try to give voice to our stories." "A tale of hope and survival, this book is also an appeal for more transformational inclusivity in the society which allows all who are like me to craft their own destinies, while never having to contemplate putting an end to life itself like I had to." "As the first transgender folk artist who also became the president of a national academy, my art and its pursuit has given a new meaning to my life and I want this to inspire all who are on the verge of giving up to give life a chance because I have and so can you." Talking about the book, Harsha Bhat said, "I met Manjamma as just another journalist on the eve of her receiving the Padma Shri award, but today she calls me her daughter. This journey of bringing her story before the world, has been one of discovering the power of human spirit which can go beyond all that life throws at them to be who they decide to be." "This is a story of not just a person, but of potential, possibility and the power of perseverance which took Manjamma from 'the pavement to the President's court'. For someone who endured rape, attempted suicide, faced abandonment, Manjamma survived it all and has lived to tell her tale, one with many firsts to her credit and many feathers on her cap as an artist and an inspiring individual." ABOUT THE BOOK As a young Manjamma lay unconscious after a suicide attempt, she could not have imagined that one day she would receive a National Award from the President of India. A transgender folk artist who became the president of the Karnataka Folk Academy, her life's journey has been nothing short of epic. As a young boy, Manjunath discovered that he felt more like a woman, which led to him being ostracized and mocked. The transformation into Manjamma, a performer of the Jogathi Nritya, was a testimony to her grit and determination. Jogathi Nritya is a dance form performed by the Jogathi transgender community, and Manjamma became its leading proponent, popularizing it on a national level. From being stripped of her modesty to being given one of the highest civilian honours of the country (the Padma Shri in 2021), Manjamma's is an inspiring, heart-rending story, which she tells in this book with remarkable honesty. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Manjamma Jogathi is a Padma Shri awardee and a transgender folk artist. Hailing from the Vijayanagara district in Karnataka, she was the first transwoman to be the president of a government academy in India. Her contribution to the preservation and promotion of Jogathi Nritya won her Karnataka's Rajyotsava Award, the state's highest civilian award, in 2010, and the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2021. She has been conferred an honorary doctorate by Sharnbasva University, Kalaburagi. She runs the Padma Shri Matha B. Manjamma Jogathi Pratishthana, a trust that works for the upliftment of the trans community in India. She works and speaks extensively on gender equality. Harsha Bhat is a journalist, linguist, author and content strategist. She writes on culture, heritage, cinema, as well as political lyrics and social media and content strategy. A former senior sub-editor at Swarajya, she is a graduate of mass media from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and holds a master's degree in linguistics from University of Mumbai. For more information, please contact: shabnam.srivastava@harpercollins.co.in (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Opinion contenteditorials, columns and guest commentariesis created independent of news reporting and is exclusive to subscribers. A rosary on a sidewalk following a peaceful walk by Catholics down Chicago Avenue from St. John Cantius Church to the Chicago Water Tower in May 2019. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) The stunning report on Catholic child sex crimes and cover-ups just released by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is chock full of numbers. It says that at least 1,997 girls and boys across the state have been sexually violated by Catholic clergy, often repeatedly. Advertisement It identifies 451 proven, admitted or credibly accused predator priests who are or were in ministry in Illinois. It names 160 religious order clerics who are or were here, have been substantiated by Catholic sources as abusers, but have not been disclosed as such by the Illinois dioceses. Advertisement But perhaps the most disturbing number appears nowhere in the 696-page document. Zero. Thats the number of clerics who committed or concealed heinous crimes against kids and whom Raoul says in his report he now plans to prosecute. Let that sink in: At least 451 child predators assaulting nearly 2,000 boys and girls, sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times. A conservative estimate is that dozens, if not hundreds, of the abusers supervisors and colleagues who knew or suspected kids were being molested and ignored or concealed these horrors. This suggests two possibilities. Either virtually every Illinois prosecutor in the state is lazy, inept or cowers before the Catholic hierarchy which cant be true. Or virtually every Illinois prosecutor is handcuffed by archaic, predator-friendly state laws that make criminally pursuing those who commit or conceal child sex crimes very tough which sadly is true in a number of states. Clearly, this grave injustice and the resulting risks to public safety cries out for legislative remedies, especially since church officials have proven that they cannot or will not police themselves. [ Editorial: Attorney generals report on Catholic clergy child sex abuse lays out a shameful chapter in Illinois history ] Possibilities include extending or eliminating the civil and criminal statute of limitations, toughening (and using) state RICO laws and beefing up mandatory reporting requirements. The options are vast. The political will, however, seems to be lacking, at least in some jurisdictions. Advertisement But a West Virginia attorney general sued a diocese and former bishop for not protecting children from predator priests and teachers and violating consumer protection laws by falsely advertising a safe environment at Catholic schools and camps. New Yorks attorney general filed a civil suit again a diocese for allegedly covering up systemic child sexual abuse. Her rationale: While a national church policy purportedly mandates prompt investigations of child sex abuse reports and disclosure of the results, two bishops lied publicly and buried the evidence of abuse by priests, the Times-Union reported in 2020. A New Hampshire attorney generals investigation forced the Manchester diocese to disclose 9,000 pages of abuse related records. Church officials agreed to tighten the way they monitored and reported abusers and five years of unprecedented state oversight of diocesan abuse dealings, including annual audits of their personnel records. Could Raoul have used any of these legal maneuvers here? Im no attorney; I have no idea. But I do know, based on three decades of intense involvement in this issue, that where theres a will, theres a way. Raouls job, according to his website is to advocate on behalf of all of the people of Illinois and legislate with members of the General Assembly for new laws.But he didnt advocate the passage of a single potential legislative remedy. Advertisement Instead, in his report, the attorney general (a former lawmaker himself) devoted almost 50 pages to what must be considered a fools errand: suggesting ways the church hierarchy might improve its handling of abuse reports. For instance, Raoul makes the vague recommendation that bishops should improve child sex abuse allegation intake procedures and ensure that such staff are adequately trained. But prelates have been dealing with abuse reports for ages and have specifically had such personnel in place for at least two decades. If in 2023, these employees are inadequately prepared for these sensitive positions, its likely not because a bishop has never given training a thought. Besides, this recommendation, like the rest offered by the attorney general, is unenforceable. Dont misunderstand me: his proposals are all sound, simple common sense steps. But theyre ones any leaders genuinely concerned about kids safety would have voluntarily adopted long ago. And theyre nearly all recommendations that we in Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP ) have fruitlessly spent years patiently prodding prelates to enact. If Illinois officials are serious about stopping the cover-ups and preventing the crimes, theyll work less at trying to persuade the six largely intransigent church leaders who run the states dioceses. Theyll work more on finding and making tools that can force recalcitrant church officials to do what they refuse to do. Advertisement In other words, reform advocates have dangled carrots before and gently coaxed bishops toward change for ages. Its time that those bishops face the stick. The time to give the Catholic hierarchy more time to clean house has long passed. Its time for lawmakers to do their first duty: protect the safety of Illinois most vulnerable citizens, its children. Its time for the state law enforcement authorities to push harder and try novel approaches. Ands time for governmental leaders to draft and adopt reforms that will help make this happen. David Clohessy is a clergy abuse survivor and was director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) for more than 30 years. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. PNN New Delhi [India], May 26: Leading Utility Token YES WORLD is now available for trading on the leading centralized exchange - LaToken. LaToken is a prominent exchange in South Asian countries and with this listing, YES World Token is going to make major inroads for people to acquire their favourite cryptocurrency. YES WORLD is also available on other crypto exchanges like XT.com, Coinsbit.io, CoinsTiger, as well as Pancakeswap decentralized change. YES WORLD token is a climate token that works on a community-based solution to the biggest problem of current times - climate change. The price action is seen after the news of some major projects that YES WORLD community is going to undertake in the coming months. Yes World is a community own ecosystem based on blockchain technology. The community makes the major decision regarding the ecosystem and all the community members are the beneficiary of the value creation through the burning events. The community-driven approach is the only solution to the climate change emergency, is the core principle of YES WORLD. While all other climate actions have not been greatly successful, YES WORLD believes that a community-based approach where the masses are aware about the impacts of climate change, and empowered with the right information and action plan, is the way forward towards sustainability. YES WORLD as a community works on several other initiatives geared towards the reduction of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. It recently announced a series of products and appliances with greater power efficiency and are based on low-carbon technology. All these products are going to be sold to worldwide consumers through the existing community members as well as the d2c model. The low carbon footprint, competitive pricing, and energy efficiency are some of the USPs of such products. All low-carbon technology businesses will be run by the community members and the YES WORD community will be the beneficiary of the profits generated through burning events. This is a unique business model, and the market opportunity of low-carbon technology is one of the biggest in the coming times. YES WORLD has also launched YES Airdrop recently which is a community-building exercise and more than 100 million people are expected to join the community through free airdrops. YES Airdrop is the world's first climate airdrop and emphasizes the community-driven blockchain-based community-building focus to solve the climate change-related emergency. YES WORLD Token, the native token for the community and a mechanism to deliver value creation to the community members who are the token holders, as they take the right climate actions for environmental sustainability. YES WORLD Token is available for users through airdrop at yesairdrop.com. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir New Delhi/ Delhi-NCR [India], May 26: Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies Technical Campus (VIPS-TC) and the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) are delighted to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at fostering innovation, academic excellence, and research collaboration in the field of Information Technology and related disciplines. This landmark collaboration is set to create significant opportunities for students, faculty members, and researchers from both institutions. The MoU has been signed between Prof. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, and Vineet Vats, Vice-Chairman, VIPS-TC in the presence of Dr. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Director General VIPS-TC, Suneet Vats, Vice Chairman VIPS-TC and Ajay Bindal, Vice Chairman, VIPS-TC. This MoU aims to facilitate administrative support, improving or initiating new Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral programmes at VIPS-TC, internships programmes, special training programs, faculty support, guidance in infrastructure development, and joint organisation of seminars, conferences, workshops on topics of mutual interest. The collaboration will create a unique opportunity for faculty members and students from both institutions to work together on cutting-edge technological advancements and address the emerging challenges in the IT sector. According to Prof. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, "This MoU benefits everyone, including the students at VIPS-TC, VIPS institute, IIT-Gandhinagar, and society as a whole. Our motto prioritizes the students' benefit. The MoU's scope goes beyond improving education quality and inviting faculty and students to IIT Gandhinagar for internships. It also includes offering VIPS-TC students a semester-long program as visitors to IIT Gandhinagar. The NEP 2020 enables this mixed education mode through the academic bank of credits, a common repository for transferring credits between institutions. The implementation is overseen by the NeGD of the Ministry of IT." Vineet Vats, Vice-Chairman, VIPS-TC said, "Through this MoU with IIT Gandhinagar, we at VIPS-TC aim to nurture the students in futuristic technologies for the addressing the global requirements of Industrial Revolution 4.0." Dr Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Director General, VIPS-TC said, "This MoU is on academic alliance for our students. It is an outcome of vision and thought process of Dr S C Vats, Founder Chairman, VIPS-TC with emphasis on Man-Making, Character Building, and Nation Building." According to Suneet Vats, Vice-Chairman, VIPS-TC, "We want VIPS-TC to rise, along with its students. Swami Ji once said that with 100 boys and girls of character, he could transform this country. Today, we have 8000 students with us, and we are dedicated to fulfilling his mission of Man-Making, Character Building, and Nation Building. The soul of this institution resides in its students, alumni, and faculty, who work hard every day. At VIPS-TC, we are prepared for the future and aim to be India's leading institution." The MoU between VIPS-TC and IIT Gandhinagar signifies a significant step towards bridging the gap between academia and industry, fostering a culture of innovation, and nurturing talent in the field of IT and technology. By combining their respective strengths, VIPS-TC and IIT Gandhinagar aim to contribute to the development of technological advancements that will have a positive impact on society. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The divas were spotted at Mumbai airport on Thursday night. Dressed in casuals, Kareena and Kriti looked uber cool. Mumbai-based paps shared pictures and videos of Kriti and Kareena. In the clips, the duo are seen sharing smiles as they exit the airport. Before coming to Mumbai, Kareena dropped a sting of selfies on her Instagram Story. Kareena looked adorable in a shirt that she paired with blue flared jeans and a cap. Take a look In 'The Crew', Kareena and Kriti will be seen sharing screen space with Tabu and Diljit Dosanjh. It is a story of three women and is touted as a laugh-riot, set against the backdrop of the struggling airline industry. However, their destinies lead to some unwarranted situations and they get caught in a web of lies. The film is produced by Rhea Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor. Rajesh Krishnan is directing it. (ANI) Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks has received an honorary doctor of arts degree from Harvard University. Hanks, 66, appeared at Harvard University to deliver a commencement address to graduating students in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Thursday, People reported. 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." https://twitter.com/PRADAYSL/status/1661837598438858759 "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." "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. "It's 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 won't 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." During Hanks' appearance at the university, Harvard also gave him a Harvard-branded volleyball in reference to his 2000 movie Cast Away. (ANI) Actor Ali Fazal who is gearing up for his upcoming Hollywood action thriller film 'Kandahar' set for release in the US today, shared BTS pictures from the sets. Taking to Instagram, Ali dropped behind-the-scene pictures from the sets featuring Gerard Butler, Ric Roman Waugh and the crew of 'Kandahar'. The film which is a major action motion picture stars Gerard Butler along with Ali Fazal who plays the role of Kahil. Sharing the pictures, he wrote, "Behind some greatness is always a director orchestrating it all!! KANDAHAR HITS HARD TODAY!! North America." https://www.instagram.com/p/CsrPFHcKleq/ He thanked his director and team for this beautiful journey. Ali added, "I cannot thank you both enough. Ric for bringing me on board this journey . And Mr Gerard Butler, for all things notorious on and off camera.... ( and much more ) and to the entire crew of Kandahar on sets and off sets.. you people are the real heroes. Will share more photos later. Go buy your tickets now." From posing with his co-stars and riding a bike, the pictures shows how much fun Ali had while shooting. Ali's wife and actor Richa Chadha also makes an appearance in one of the pictures. 'Kandahar' directed by Ric Roman Waugh is Ali's first action film and was shot extensively in the Al Ula region in Saudi Arabia. The film is expected to release in India in a few weeks. Few days ago, Ali treated fans with a first-look poster of himself from the movie. Sharing the poster, "Pulse pounding action apparently- An adrenaline ride made for the big screen .. here's a screen grab for some context. Cuz some serious Action went down here in the desert. DIRT BIKIN' IT ON A KTM YES. Check out my new movie KANDAHAR . Only in theatres, MAY 26." In the first look poster, Ali can be seen sporting a rather rugged look in front of a dirt bike in the middle of the desert. Ali is the first Indian actor to have a lead titular role in a Hollywood film with the 2017 movie 'Victoria and Abdul' with the legendary Dame Judi Dench. The actor is now starring as one of the leads in the action caper film by the director, Ric Roman Waugh who has to his credit films including Angel Has Fallen and Greenland. Helmed by Ric Roman Waugh, the film star popular Scottish actor Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Travis Fimmel and Elnaaz Norouzi in lead roles. The film's description reads, "Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), an undercover CIA operative, is stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan. After his mission is exposed, he must fight his way out, alongside his Afghan translator, to an extraction point in Kandahar, all whilst avoiding elite enemy forces and foreign spies tasked with hunting them down." Meanwhile, Ali Fazal will also be seen in the web series 'Mirzapur Season 3' which will stream on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video. Apart from that, he will also be seen in 'The Underbug', 'Girls will be Girls', 'Metro In Dino', and in another Hollywood film 'Afghan Dreamers'. (ANI) According to a press statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighting India's G20 Presidency philosophy of "One Earth, One Family, One Future", the Union Health Minister stated, "Jamaica lauded India's achievement in digital health, pharmaceuticals, and health system strengthening and agreed to sign MoU to institutionalize collaboration in the healthcare sector." Commending India's health priorities, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of, the World Health Organization praised India's progress in its G20 presidency, as well as its pursuit of advancing digital health and traditional medicine. Aligned with India's health goals, the deliberations with the United States Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra centred on collaboration in healthcare and pharma sectors as well as issues related to Global Health Architecture. The Maldives delegation expressed their gratitude for India's aid for vaccine support during the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed their desire to collaborate with India in the areas of drone technology, research and innovation research, and health system strengthening. Dr Hilal bin Ali bin Al Sabti, Minister of Health, Oman, vastly appreciated India's G20 health priorities and agreed to strengthen the collaboration in pharmaceuticals, digital health, communicable diseases, and digital health. Moreover, the Union Minister of Health congratulated Nisia Trindade Lima Minister of Health, Brazil on the upcoming G20 presidency as well as agreeing to participate in future endeavours pertaining to health workforce capacity building, disease surveillance, TB eradication, AMR, and traditional medicine Mandaviya also conducted bilateral meetings with the Health Ministers of Bangladesh, Iran, Innovators, Venezuela, Argentina exploring areas of collaboration in fortifying healthcare systems and enhancing capacities for disease surveillance, eradication of Tuberculosis, Anti-Microbial resistance and capacity building amongst other domains. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday praised the residents of Dindori district and said they did not discriminate against daughters. CM Chouhan made the remark while addressing a program in the district on Thursday. He participated in the women's conference organized in Dindori and inaugurated various development works and performed Bhumi Pujan. "The people of Dindori are praiseworthy. More daughters are born than sons in the district. Here the number of girls is 1104 per 1000 boys. Dindori district knows how to respect women. The women are progressive, they are doing the work of conservation of advanced seeds of millets like Kodo-Kutki. They have done the important work of preserving the fertility of the soil by saving a lot of agricultural land of Dindori from the use of chemical fertilisers. The state government is with the farmer women in their efforts to improve and develop agriculture in the state," CM Chouhan said. The resolution of the state government is to remove the poverty of women and take them forward and include them in the Lakhpati club. In the Livelihood Mission, the work of connecting the women of self-help groups with employment-oriented works and boosting their income will be given the form of a movement. Many schemes of the state government are yielding positive results for the welfare and respect of girls in the state. The recently launched Mukhya Mantri Ladli Bahna Yojana will change the lives of women, they will move towards self-reliance with dignity, the chief minister said. He added that the state government had started efforts to save and increase the number of girl children from 2003. Arrangements were made to save daughters, make them Lakhpati and provide education through the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana. Now, girls are not a burden on the family. The state government is getting the girls of poor families married under the Mukhyamantri Vivah-Nikah Yojana. They are being presented a cheque of Rs 49,000 as a gift at the time of marriage, CM added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign has been successfully implemented in the state. Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana is a life-changing scheme for women from poor families under which a monthly aid of Rs 1000 will be given to them from June 10, Chouhan added. (ANI) "The police recovered a huge cache of arms and cartridges from the arrested Naxal's possession," said Aman Kumar, Supredentent of Police (SP) Khunti. The arrested associates of PLFI have been identified as Lalit Kherwar and Shivnarayan Singh. "Lalit Kherwar and Shivnarayan Singh, two associates of the banned Naxal organisation People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were arrested," Khunti SP said. Further investigation is underway. Earlier on May 21, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested the absconding self-styled supremo of the PLFI, a proscribed Naxal outfit of Jharkhand. Dinesh Gope alias Kuldeep Yadav alias Badku was nabbed in New Delhi, said the NIA, adding "The accused had 102 criminal cases against him and carried a bounty of Rs 30 lakh." Gope, a resident of Khunti district in Jharkhand, was earlier charge-sheeted by the NIA in the case relating to the recovery of demonetized currency of Rs 25.38 lakh from the operatives of PLFI. He was absconding in the case which is among one of the two cases being investigated by the NIA's Ranchi branch against the PLFI. According to NIA investigations, more than 102 criminal cases are registered against Gope in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, and most of these cases relate to murders, abductions, threats, extortion, and raising funds for the PLFI, a Maoist outfit formed in 2007 in Jharkhand and also a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). The NIA had also declared a reward of Rs 5 lakh for leads on Gope, in addition to the reward of Rs 25 lakh announced by the Jharkhand Government. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday alleged that the Left displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by relegating "Sengol" and said they relegated it as a nondescript 'walking stick'. "The Sengol was integral to our Independence but the Left relegated it as a nondescript 'walking stick' in a museum corner despite Pt Nehru's crucial role. Another instance of how an entire eco-system censored any event in history that glorified ancient Bharat and Hindu rituals," Assam CM tweeted. The historic sceptre 'Sengol' was received by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, to represent the symbol of the transfer of power from the Britishers to India. The same spectre will be handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the head priest of Madurai Adheenam on May 28. This is the same Sengol that was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of August 14, in the presence of several leaders. Recalling the entire event that took place on the occasion of India's independence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Even after 75 years of independence, most of the people in India are not aware of this event in which India's transfer of power took place through handing over of Sengol to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. It was a special occasion on the night of August 14, 1947, celebrating India's independence. On this night Jawaharlal Nehru received the 'Sengol' from the Adheenams (Priests) of the ThiruvaduthuraiAdheenam (Mutt) 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. What we are celebrating as independence is actually marked by the very moment of handing over the 'Sengol'." The Prime Minister took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the Nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions. The establishment of "Sengol", makes the spirit of 15 August 1947 unforgettable. It is the symbol of the promise of boundless hope, boundless possibilities and a resolve to build a strong and prosperous nation. The word Sengol is derived from the Tamil word 'Semmai', meaning 'Righteousness'. It is an Indic civilizational practice from the Chola kingdom, which was among the leading kingdoms in the Indian sub-continent for centuries. (ANI) Tensions erupted between Border Security Force (BSF) jawans and a group of locals on May 24 when the security personnel were carrying out a raid to nab drug smugglers in Bira village in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. According to the BSF, the events unfolded when the jawans of Border Outpost Ramchandrapur from the 107 Battalion under the South Bengal Frontier received information from reliable information about a large quantity of Ganja being stored in an abandoned house in Bira village, near the border. Responding to the tip-off, the jawans set up an ambush around the location and around 9:45 pm they approached the tin house and observed two smugglers packing the ganja into plastic packets. "As the jawans approached them, one of the smugglers fled the scene, while the other was apprehended by the jawans. While the BSF jawans were conducting a search of the surrounding area, a crowd of approximately 150-200 men and women gathered at the scene, vehemently demanding the release of the captured smuggler," the press release stated. The BSF jawans attempted to calm the crowd, but it gradually started moving closer to them, growing increasingly agitated. Armed with sticks and rods, the mob began chanting "Maro Maro" (Hit them), it stated. "Consequently, when the crowd continued to advance with the intention to attack, the jawan fired one round into the air in an attempt to disperse them, but the crowd remained undeterred. Meanwhile, as the BSF jawans began escorting the arrested smuggler and the confiscated items towards the border outpost, the crowd began pelting stones," the BSF release stated. The jawans fired another round into the air, but the crowd persisted in their attempts to secure the smuggler's release. Ultimately, the jawans fired several more rounds into the air, one after the other, successfully bringing the arrested smuggler to the border post along with the seized contraband, it stated. The apprehended smuggler has been identified as Misanto Ghosh, a 22-year-old resident of Ramchandrapur village in North 24 Parganas district. During interrogation, the smuggler confessed to being involved in smuggling since 2021, working for Shahid Mandal (Laltu) from Bira village, who procures Ganja from Odisha, the release said. He further revealed that another smuggler named Ronnie Mandal was also present with him on the spot but managed to escape, BSF stated. The arrested smuggler was handed over to Bangaon Police Station along with the seized contraband. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those involved in smuggling. (ANI) Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan on Thursday stated that she was not invited to the inauguration of Telangana Secretariat, which was recently inaugurated by the Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in Hyderabad. Soundarajan while speaking at an event in Chennai said that she was not even given an invite since the CM was ruling the state and questioned if opposition refers the president as a non-political person but why you (opposition) don't say this for Governors. "Very recently Telangana Secretariat was built magnificently, it was inaugurated by CM. Everyone questioned whether the Governor was invited. (They said) no, since CM is ruling. Not even an invitation for that ceremony was given (to me). You (Opposition) say the President is a non-political person but why you don't say this for Governors?...," said Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan. "State governments which do not respect the Governors in their respective states are shedding crocodile tears that the constitutional head has not been invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament building. I was neither informed nor invited to the inauguration of the Telangana New Secretariat," said Soundarajan. Soundarajan remarks came in the backdrop of the ongoing row over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for May 28. But opposing the inauguration at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI) Former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has filed a reply in the Delhi Court, opposing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's application seeking NOC for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport and submitted that the applicant has no-valid or effective reason for the passport to be issued for 10 years. In the reply, it is submitted that "The application is devoid of any merit for issuance of Passport for 10 years" Swamy further submitted that the court, may exercise the discretion to grant permission after scrutinizing and analyzing all other correlated matters in deciding on the litigation of the Applicant in the broad spectrum of areas of justice and law. Swamy further stated that at this stage, NOC for the passport for the applicant may not be more than 1 year and may be reviewed annually or as deemed fit by this Court. "The right to hold a passport, like all other Fundamental Rights, is not an absolute Right and is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the Government in the interest of national security, public order, morality, and prevention of crime," Swamy added. On May 24, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi asked Subramanian Swamy to file his written submissions by Friday while hearing the plea for a fresh passport by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, an accused in the National Herald case. Gandhi had moved the court seeking a 'no objection certificate' (NOC) to secure a fresh "ordinary passport" after having surrendered his diplomatic travel document upon his disqualification as an MP. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Mehta had observed that in the bail order, no restrictions were put on Gandhi's travel and the court had rejected Swamy's request for restrictions on his travel. Also, after the relief was granted, Gandhi travelled several times without permission as there were no travel restrictions and the right to travel is a fundamental right, the judge observed. Counsel for Gandhi, Advocate Tarannum Cheema who appeared along with advocates Nikhil Bhalla and Sumit Kumar sought the grant of the no objection certificate (NOC), saying there are no criminal cases pending against him. "The applicant ceased to be a Member of Parliament in March 2023 and as such he surrendered his diplomatic passport and is applying for a fresh ordinary passport. By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking permission and no objection from this Court for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him," the application Rahul Gandhi's Advocates submitted that there are no criminal proceedings pending and that travelling abroad is a fundamental right. The applicant ceased to be a Member of Parliament in March this year following his disqualification as a member of Lok Sabha. He was convicted in a Surat court in a criminal defamation case. He surrendered his diplomatic passport and decided to apply for a fresh ordinary passport. "By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking permission and no objection from the Court for the issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him," stated Rahul Gandhi's lawyers. The lawyer also added that the complainant's request to put restrictions on travel was rejected in 2015. Moreover, since the bail order, the applicant has travelled several times without permission as no permission was required and there are no travel restrictions. In 2015, the Court while granting bail to the applicant Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case did not put any condition on travel for the applicant and others as well, Rahul Gandhi's lawyers noted. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday moved Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court seeking no objection for the issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him. The National Herald case is being argued in a Delhi court and was filed by Subramanian Swamy against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and some persons associated with them. (ANI) "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. God is watching all, He will do justice to all," Delhi CM tweeted in Hindi. "I pray to God for Satyendra ji's speedy recovery. May God give them the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances," he tweeted. Jain has been hospitalised after he fell in the bathroom at Delhi's Tihar Jail, jail officials said on Thursday. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Jain on May 30 last year under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 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. (ANI) As per sources, the raids were done in around 40 locations at residences and offices of various Government contractors who have alleged links with State Minister Senthil Balaji. Balaji is a senior DMK leader from Karur. Raids are currently underway including in Chennai, Karur and other places, the sources said. More details awaited. (ANI) The 29-year-old man was mistaken to be a thief and was beaten by a group of people in Mumbai's Borivli East area, police said. The man identified as Pravin Lahane passed away a while later. The body has been sent for a postmortem. Earlier, after receiving information at the control room of Mumbai Police about a person some people having beaten up a person, police arrived at the spot and took him to the hospital. The deceased brother is a police officer at the Santacruz police station. Mumbai Police had on Thursday said that four persons were detained for allegedly beating to death Lahane in the jurisdiction of the Kasturba Marg police station area. The police had registered a case under sections 304, 143, 144, 147, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigation is underway and details are awaited. (ANI) Ahead of the Parliament building's inauguration, Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh on Friday said that the new building should be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu. Digvijay's remarks came in the backdrop of the ongoing row over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for May 28. Congress and other opposition parties slammed the Centre after it announced the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition parties stressed that President Murmu should inaugurate the new Parliament building. Speaking on the row over President not being called for inaugurating the new Parliament, he said, "This is an affront to the post of President. We still have time, inauguration must be done by the President." PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28.' On May 24, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the Parliament building without President Droupadi Murmu, saying it is an "insult to the country's highest constitutional post". 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." At least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. 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) The golden scripture, which carries historical significance, was stolen last month. Luguthang is one the remotest villages in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang. Following the theft, police started an investigation and launch a hunt for the holy book. The police team was led by Tawang District, Sub Inspector Pema Wangchu. "The four accused were arrested and the stolen property was recovered from the Meragoh village after a 9-hour trek," said police. Further investigation is underway and details are awaited. (ANI) A special court is considering ED-related cases. The case pertains to the state government's LIFE Mission project, which intended to provide homes to the poor who lost their houses in the floods of 2018. The housing project was proposed at Vaddakanchery in the Thrissur district. The project intended to build houses for 140 families in Vadakkanchery by spending Rs 14.50 crore out of Rs 18.50 crore granted by the Red Crescent via the UAE consulate In April this year, Kerala High Court also dismissed Sivasankar's bail plea in the LIFE Mission Scam Case observing that "Sivasankar has a lot of influence in the ruling party of Kerala. He is especially close to the Chief Minister". Sivashankar's bail plea in the same case is also pending before the Supreme Court. In the bail plea before the High Court, Sivasankar said, "The arrest is a political stunt. There is no direct allegation against the petitioner. The entire case is a political hit job by the Enforcement Directorate using the professional privity the petitioner had with the Chief Minister of Kerala." (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to some media houses in a petition filed by businessman Vijay Nair. He had filed a petition against the CBI over the alleged leakage of information to media in his case. Justice Gurang Kant issued notices to some media houses and directed them to file a reply. These media houses were impleaded by the court earlier. The bench also directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file a status report. The counsel for the agency submitted that the ED is not required to file a reply. The bench also asked the counsel for the petitioner Vijay Nair if he still wishes to pursue the petition as he has already been protected by the order of the High Court passed on November 21, 2022. The matter has been listed on October 11 for further hearing. During the hearing, advocate Nisha Bhambhani, counsel for Broadcaster and Digital Association (NBDSA), informed the court that as per the direction of the court, a report has been filed. She also submitted that only three media house parties to the matter are its members and they did not violate the code. On November 21, the High Court directed news channels to adhere to the guidelines governing them and to ensure that all broadcasts carried while reporting liquor scam case are based on official press releases by the investigation agencies. The bench had also issued notice to 5 channels impleaded by Vijay Nair. He alleged that the sensitive information related to the case is being leaked to the media. While hearing the petition moved by businessman Vijay Nair, the bench of Justice Yashwant Varma passed the above directions. The bench also perused the status report and heard the submissions made by the counsel for the CBI and ED. The counsel for CBI had submitted that the agency issued 3 press releases. The press releases do not contain what has been broadcast. ED's counsel said that they did not issue any press releases. Justice Verma asked the counsels, Where from they are getting the information? The counsel replied that the channels only answer this. Advocate Nisha Bhambhani, the counsel for News Broadcaster and Digital Standard Authority (NBDSA) submitted that some of the channels are not their partners. We are not monitoring what they broadcast. "If self-regulation is a mere eyewash, then why should we not disband you?," Justice Varma had asked the counsel for NBDSA while expressing displeasure over the reporting made by news channels. The bench asked the counsel about certain channels and whether they are members or not. Where from they are getting the information related to disclosure made to CBI? You call them and ask them. The counsel for NBDSA said that I can communicate and ask them to remove the content. The counsel had submitted that some of the channels are members of the News NBDA. I won't be able to tell where from they are getting the information. After noting the submission the bench directed to Implead NBDA and examine what has been broadcasted. The court had also said the broadcast in the instant matter was not according to the press releases issued and in accordance with the guidelines and directives. This constrained the petitioner to approach this court. This is not a case where atleast at this stage it can be said that the information was collectively leaked or provided by the investigating agencies," the bench said. "....What the news channels publish has to be in line with the disclosures made by CBI, ED...it could be something which is reflected from order, where are they getting from?" It asked. Meanwhile, the court directs NBDSA to examine whether the channel complied with the guidelines Businessman Vijay Nair had approached the Delhi High Court alleging that the sensitive information related to his case is being leaked to the media by the CBI and ED and it is prejudicing his right as an accused. Nair is an accused and in the custody of ED. He has been granted bail in the CBI case. (ANI) The fresh order revoked the May 22 order issued by the State government cancelling with immediate effect the nominations of State Waqf Board Chairman Maulana Saadi and members Mir Azhar Hussain, G. Yakub, and IAS officer Zehera Naseem. Soon after Karnataka's assembly election results were declared, Maulana Saadi had demanded that the post of the deputy Chief Minister be given to a person from the Muslim community. He also demanded some of the key portfolios for Muslim communities claiming that there was a pre-poll understanding between Congress and the Muslim community which, he said, played a decisive part in Congre's victory in the election. His removal through the May 22 was seen as a censure of his statement by the Congress leadership in Karnataka. (ANI) U.S. pursuit of hegemony at G7 summit is obvious to all 09:21, May 26, 2023 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online Cartoon by Ma Hongliang The U.S.-led Group of Seven (G7) held a summit in Hiroshima, Japan, between May 19 and 21, issuing documents, including a joint communique, that hyped up issues related to China, and accused China of using so-called "economic coercion." The bloc included "economic security" in a G7 leaders statement, repeatedly emphasizing "economic coercion." G7 Hiroshima Leaders Communique said that the bloc recognizes "the necessity of protecting certain advanced technologies that could be used to threaten our national security without unduly limiting trade and investment." The so-called "economic security" is an excuse the U.S. uses to try to play small-clique politics with its allies and undermine the stability of the global industrial and supply chains. The U.S. is the main culprit when it comes to abusing "economic coercion." For a long time, the U.S., using national security as an excuse, has employed unilateral sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction and decoupling. Statistics showed that the previous U.S. government alone imposed more than 3,900 sanctions. By the end of fiscal year 2021, the U.S. had imposed sanctions on 9,421 entities and individuals, up 933 percent from 2000. For "security" or for hegemony? The answer is self-evident. Related: G7 teetering on the brink by pointing fingers over Taiwan issue (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a PIL seeking direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on May 28. As a vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha was not inclined to entertain the plea, advocate Jaya Sukin sought to withdraw his PIL. The bench allowed the request of the advocate to withdraw his plea. At the outset of the hearing, Justice Narasimha said to petitioner lawyer Jaya Sukin, "We do not understand why you come with such petitions but we are not interested in entertaining it under Article 32." The PIL said Lok Sabha Secretariat violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for the inauguration. "The statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on May 18 and invites issued by the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, about the inauguration of the new Parliament building, is in violation of the Indian Constitution," the PIL filed by Sukin said. "That Prime Minister is appointed by the President and other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President of India is authorized to appoint constitutional functionaries such as Governors, Judges of both the Supreme Court and high court, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, chairman and manager of the Union Public Service Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, Financial Commissioner, and other Election commissioners," the plea said. The Lok Sabha Secretariat, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Law and Justice were made parties in the case. The plea stated that the respondent's (Secretary and Union) decision was "illegal, arbitrary, high-handed, whimsical and unfair, an abuse of authority and against the principles of natural justice". "Respondents has violated Indian Constitution and Constitution is not being respected. Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Indian Parliament comprises the President and the two Houses - Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha," it added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament complex on May 28. At least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI) India Metrological Department (IMD) on Friday said that monsoon is expected to make onset in Kerala on June 4 and that it will most likely be normal this year. "We are expecting the monsoon to arrive in Kerala around June 4. Before June 1, we are not expecting the monsoon to arrive. Monsoon is most likely to be normal this year," IMD said. IMD also said that as per the predictions that stand as of now northwest India will get below-normal rain this year. "There is no cyclone probability in the Arabian Sea for next week. In northwest India, as of now, below normal rainfall will be there," IMD officials said. IMD said the reason for pre-monsoon rain in the northern part of the country is due to the weather phenomena of Western Disturbance. "Due to Western Disturbance, we have witnessed, rainfall and thunderstorm activity. So, because of that, we have been witnessing a bit of relief in Delhi and neighbouring cities," IMD said. "If rainfall distribution is almost similar everywhere, then it will be an ideal situation. There won't be any problem. If we get equal distribution everywhere, there won't be much impact on agriculture. In northwest India, as of now, below-normal rainfall will be there," IMD said. Southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about 7 days. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing operational forecasts for the date of monsoon onset over Kerala from 2005 onwards. Last year, the monsoon over Kerala occurred on May 29, two days after IMD's prediction on May 27. The operational forecasts of the date of monsoon onset over Kerala during the past 18 years (2005-2022) were proved to be correct except in 2015, the IMD said. The southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterizing the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season. (ANI) The IT department on Friday carried out raids at around 40 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to the State Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji. However, visuals showed DMK workers entering into a scuffle with the IT officials, when they had come to search the premises of state Minister Senthil Balaji's brother Ashok, in the Karur district. Taking to Twitter, Annamalai said, "IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji and his brother. TN CM Thiru (MK Stalin) should instruct his partymen to behave responsibly and remind them that we don't live in the 60s". As per sources, the raids were done in around 40 locations at residences and offices of various Government contractors who have alleged links with Senthil Balaji. Balaji is a senior DMK leader from Karur. Raids have been carried out in Chennai, Karur and other places, the sources said. (ANI) Training his guns at the grand old party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the 'Sengol' given to former Prime Minister Pandit Nehru was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'. Shah in a series of tweets questioned and asked why Congress hates Indian traditions and culture. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," Tweeted Shah. https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1661979859206422528?s=20 He further said that Congress needs to reflect on its behaviour as the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling Adheenam's history BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1661980050957406209?s=20 While, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that there is no documented evidence of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. "All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1661948021142351872?s=20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions. Meanwhile, BJP National President JP Nadda said, "What connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building?" Nadda further said, "The answer is simple- they are dynasty-run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution. Those parties which are boycotting the Parliament's inauguration lack any commitment to democracy because their sole aim is to perpetuate a select group of dynasties." https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1661979036279603201?s=20 "These dynastic parties, particularly the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, are unable to digest the simple fact that the people of India have placed their faith in a man hailing from a humble background. Elitist mindsets of dynasts are preventing them from logical thinking," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1661979297806942215?s=20 "The people of India are seeing how these parties are putting politics above the nation. These parties will be punished yet again by the people for their partisan politics!," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1661979435375919104?s=20 This comes after at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The opposition said that the inauguration of 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 are slated to dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. (ANI) Eighty prison officials from Delhi's Tihar jail have been transferred on Friday, weeks after gangster Tillu Tajpuriya was killed inside the high-security prison allegedly by members of a rival gang. As per Tihar Jail officials, these 80 officials include five deputy superintendents, nine assistant superintendents, eight head wardens and 50 wardens. The current rejig comes in the wake of earlier this month, in which as many as 99 Tihar prison officials were transferred Tillu Tajpuriya was killed on May 2 allegedly by members of the rival Jitendra Gogi gang in Tihar. The entire incident was captured on the CCTVs installed in the prison. This was apparently to avenge the killing of Gogi in 2021. On September 24, 2021, Tajpuriya's gunmen, dressed as lawyers, shot Gogi dead in a courtroom in Rohini. CCTV footage from Tajpuriya's killing showed several jailed inmates brutally stabbing the gangster multiple times in front of uniformed personnel, who failed to intervene. The police personnel could be seen standing near Tajpuriya, who lay on the floor, and watching as three men repeatedly stabbed the gangster with weapons that they fashioned from the grills of lockup. Police said that the accused had fashioned four knives with the exhaust fan's blade. An investigation had been initiated into Tajpuriya's killing and later, nine Tihar Jail officials, including the assistant superintendent, were suspended. Sources earlier told ANI that the jail administration has initiated the process of listing dreaded gangsters, lodged inside Tihar Jail, and started shifting them to different prisons which would be far from the cells of their rival gang members. Tajpuriya who headed the infamous Tillu gang, was arrested in 2016 for multiple crimes and had been in jail ever since. (ANI) Government's policy think tank NITI Aayog will be organising its Eighth Governing Council Meeting in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on Saturday. While the main theme is 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India', the think tank in a statement said prominent themes including Thrust on MSMEs, Infrastructure and Investments, Minimising Compliances, Women Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, Skill Development, and Gati Shakti for Area Development and Social Infrastructure would be also discussed during the day-long meeting. As the chairman of NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the meeting, according to a statement from NITI Aayog. Chief ministers or lieutenant governors of all states and Union Territories, Union Ministers as ex-officio Members, and the vice-chairman and members of NITI Aayog will be present. As a preparatory prelude to the 8th Governing Council Meeting, the second Chief Secretaries Conference was held in January 2023 where these themes were extensively discussed. According to the statement, 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 grassroots-level perspectives. The Chief Secretaries Conference, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 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. According to NITI Aayog's statement, as the world's 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, NITI Aayog said the 8th Governing Council Meeting provides an opportunity to create a roadmap for Viksit Bharat by 2047 in which the Centre and states can work together as Team India. The think tank said this will play an important role in the international context as India's socioeconomic growth and transformation can have a positive and multiplier effect on the world at large. This 8th Governing Council Meeting is also being held in the backdrop of India's G20 Presidency. India's 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. (ANI) Slamming the Opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building and questioning the history of 'Sengol', Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that by doing this Congress party is also opposing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister on Friday took a jibe at Congress by showing an old issue of Time magazine. "This is the issue of Time magazine from August 25, 1947. I would like all our friends who are opposing the inauguration of the new Parliament building, to read this article and get some idea about the symbolism of 'Sengol' and what happened in 1947. By doing this drama, they (Opposition) are also opposing their own leader Jawaharlal Nehru," he said. PM Modi will dedicate the new Parliament building to the country on May 28. 'Sengol', which marked the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India, will be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the Nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions. Notably, at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The opposition said that the inauguration of the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 also 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) Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N K Premachandran on Saturday said that the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead of the country's President is a "violation of democratic norms". "The head of the state is none other than the president of India. The President of India is the constitutional head of the country," he said. So "the parliament building must be inaugurated by the head of the state," he reasoned. Premachandran noted that the Prime minister, speaker, and chief justice are heads of the executive, legislature and judiciary respectively but the head of the state is the president of India. Giving out the reason why the president should do the Parliament building inauguration, he said that Prime Minister has no privilege in Parliament other than being the leader of the house. "It is a constitutional provision that a joint session of the Parliament is addressed by the president of India, not by the prime minister. The prime minister has no privilege in the parliament other than being the leader of the house," Premachandran said. "In such a situation president is just being a spectator when the parliament building is inaugurated by the Prime Minister is against all the democratic norms," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla will lead the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building on Sunday, May 28, which will be dedicated to the nation. Even though the exact details of the inauguration have not been made public, ANI has learnt through reliable sources that the inauguration will take place in two phases. The sources told ANI that the rituals ahead of the inaugural ceremony will begin in the morning and is likely to be held in a pandal (canopy) near the Gandhi statue in Parliament. PM Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Hariwansh and some senior ministers in the government are likely to be part of the ceremony. (ANI) Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), an ally party of the Bharatiya Janata Party has supported the inauguration of the new parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. SKM leader Jacob Khaling called the new Parliament a need of the hour showcasing India's development. Speaking to ANI, the SKM leader said, "We support the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. The new Parliament has been built by the Centre in record time, which is a reflection of India's development. Our only MP Indra Hang Subba also has the same stand as that of the party. SKM congratulates PM Modi for this achievement". "The new parliament which has been built with all technical facilities was the need of the hour. We hope that it will facilitate the constitutional work being done in the Parliament," he added. Reacting to several Opposition parties boycotting the inauguration event, the SKM leader said, "In a democracy, every party has the right to have their independent opinion and stand. So, interfering with that won't be right. But, I can say that this Parliament does not belong to one party but to the whole country." PM Modi will dedicate the new Parliament building to the country on May 28. Notably, at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The opposition said that the inauguration of the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 also 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) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre completes nine years, here is a look at its major achievements. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Fuels LPG Revolution India has achieved significant growth in LPG consumers in the past nine years. Nearly 17 crore LPG consumers have been added in the last 9 years. As per Ministry data, the active domestic LPG consumers in the country has increased from 14.52 crore in April 2014 to 31.36 crore as of March 2023. This significant increase can be attributed to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) which has led to an increase in LPG coverage from just 62 per cent in 2016 to a whooping 104.1 per cent in the year 2022. Holistic Growth with Rise in Higher Education Institutions The government has taken significant measures to increase gateways to education for the youth by giving a boost to building Universities, IITs, IIMs, and similar institutions across the country. The number of universities in the country has seen a significant increase in the last 9 years, from 723 in 2014 to 1113 in 2023. In addition, 5,298 colleges have been built in the last 9 years (38,498 in 2014 to 43,796 in 2023), thereby increasing student access to education across the country. It is noteworthy that 43 per cent of universities and 61.4 per cent of colleges are located in rural areas. In addition, With 7 IITs and 7 IIMs built over the last 9 years the Modi government has ensured the betterment of opportunities for students. Impetus to Road Infrastructure under Bharatmala Pariyojana India has about 63.73 lakh kilometres of road network, which is the second largest network in the world. The National Highways play a crucial role in enabling efficient movement of goods and vehicles, connecting people and has contributed a lot to the economic and social development of the country. PM Modi's government has taken several steps in the last 9 years to increase the capacity of National Highways infrastructure in the country. Through a corridor-based National Highways development approach, the speed of construction continuously increased between 2014-15 and 2021-22. From construction of 12 km/day in 2014, it had increased to 29 km/day in 2021-22. Empowering Women: Transformative Decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio The PM Modi-led government has laid special emphasis towards women's empowerment. As a result, a transformative decline has been noticed in the Maternal Mortality ratio. Making Quality Medicines Affordable for All To make sure that quality medicines are affordable to all classes of people, the Modi government has taken several steps leading to a rise in affordability by the poor. Ayushman Bharat Yojana has been one of the pioneer steps in this direction. Digital Revolution: Transforming India's Economy through Digital Transactions The PM Modi government has laid special emphasis towards digitisation, with 'Digital India' being the flag bearer scheme. This has resulted in the number of digital and UPI transactions skyrocketing between 2014 to 2023. Revolutionizing Medical Education in India The PM Modi government has also laid special emphasis on revolutionalising medical education in the country. As a result, a huge rise has been witnessed in the number of medical institutes in the country. The Road to Peace: North East India's Journey to End Insurgency The North East region has experienced a road towards peace under the nine years of the Modi government. Insurgency has been eliminated in many areas, and the insurgent groups have been brought to the discussion table leading to the establishment of peace in the region. Jal Jeevan Mission: Har Ghar Jal The Modi government had set water availability as one of its major priorities. As a result, the number of houses with tap water connections has increased manifold in the last nine years. This also includes tap water connections in rural areas. Record Growth in the Number of Airports in India Record growth has been witnessed under the Modi government in the number of airports. The number has risen manifold from 2014 to 2023 leading to better commuting and travel facilities for the people and assistance in economic growth. City Gas Distribution Network: Energizing Households City Gas Distribution (CDG), Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural (CNG) play an important role. The Natural gas pipelines help in promoting sustainable development, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing pollution. In the year 2014, the reach availability of the CDG network was in only 66 cities. In 2023, this network reached 630 districts. Also, the number of PNG connections has increased from just 25.40 lakh in 2014 to 103.93 lakh in 2023. From Endangered to Flourishing: India's 9-year Wildlife Conservation Journey India is home to 75 per cent of the world's tiger population. Recently, a report on the Status of Tigers in India was released, indicating a growth in the tiger population to 3167 from 2226, thus a 42 per cent increase in the number of tigers, since 2014. India currently boasts the highest number of leopards and tigers. The leopard population has increased by more than 60 per cent from 2014 to 2018. India is the only country in the world to have Asiatic lions, whose numbers have also increased in the past few years. India's Wetlands Wonder Multiply India has one of the largest networks of Ramsar Sites in Asia. Wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability and overall human well-being. As part of dedicated efforts to preserve ecosystems, India now has 75 Wetlands of International Importance designated as Ramsar sites covering an area of 1.33 million ha across the country. While, from 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar Sites. From 2014 to 2023, the country added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar Sites. During 2022 itself, a total of 28 sites were declared as Ramsar Sites, the ministry stated. Laying Down the Tracks of Development and Connectivity The PM Modi government has taken up construction of two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) namely the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana, Punjab to Sonnagar, Bihar (1337 Km) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal, Maharashtra to Dadri, Uttar Pradesh (1506 Km). Starting from scratch in 2014, 886 km of work (66.27 per cent) on EDFC, and 863 km of work (57.30 per cent) on WDFC have been completed (as on March 22, 2023). The remarkable progress can be gauged from a 9.6 times increase in expenditure incurred (including land for these projects) from Rs 10,357 crores in 2013-14 to Rs 99,872 crores as on March 22, 2023. Railway Electrification: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future Railway electrification offers a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation that is free from environmental pollution and dependency on fossil fuels. Between India's independence and 2014, only 21,413 route kilometres (RKMs) of railway tracks were electrified as per the ministry. However, over the past 9 years, the pace of electrification in India has accelerated significantly, with a record-breaking 37,011 Route kms (RKM) of tracks being electrified in the last nine years alone. A total of 58,424 RKMs have been electrified, which accounts for 90 per cent of Indian railways. Rejuvenating India's Cultural and Spiritual Heritage The PM Modi government is committed to bringing antiquities and artefacts from all over the world. Through the ages, innumerable priceless artworks with deep cultural and religious importance were stolen and smuggled to foreign countries. As per ministry data, India has received 251 priceless antiquities of Indian origin back from various countries by April 24, 2023. Of these, 238 have been repatriated since 2014. In addition, about 72 items are in the process of being repatriated from various countries. From Idea to Innovation: Igniting the Startup Landscape in India Under the PM Modi government, startups are undergoing rapid development. As a result, India becomes the country with the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. Since the inception of the Startup India program, the number of startup units has increased by 225 per cent. While in 2016, there were only 442 startups in the country, now the number has increased to 99,371 (by May 14, 2023), according to ministry data. At present, at least one startup is operating in every State and union territory of the country. More than 100 unicorns are also operating in India. This has also resulted in the creation of 8.93 lakh jobs in the country since the start of the program. Enhancing Urban Mobility: India's Metro Rail Transformation The Modi government has focussed on the metro rail transformation to deal with the problems of rapid urbanisation and rising population. Before 2014, only five cities in India had a 229 k m rail network. By April 2023, 860 km of metro rail network is operational in 20 cities. Before 2014, the monthly average of metro lines started was 0.68 km, which has increased to 5.6 km per month. India's Techade: Broadband Connections Grow Exponentially Broadband services have expanded rapidly in the last 9 years under the Modi government, which has resulted in a positive impact on the economy and society. As per the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India had 6.1 crore broadband connections in 2014. Now, the number has increased to 83.22 crore in 2023 (Till December 31, 2022). Out of these, 79.98 crore connections are wireless while 3.23 crore are wirelines. India's Commitment to Food Security: Ensuring Availability and Accessibility for All The Modi government is committed to ensuring foodgrain availability and nutrition for its people. To ensure no one sleeps hungry, the Central Government provides subsidized food grains to States under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). As per the Ministry, over the last 9 years, food subsidy amounting to a total of Rs. 4.04 lakh crore has been released to DCP states, while Rs. 14.48 lakh crore has been released to FCI. The Modi government has also decided to provide free-of-cost foodgrains to around 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries for one year from January 01, 2023, to December 31, 2023. PMAY(U) results in over 800 per cent Increase in Urban Houses Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), which was launched in 2015 is bridging the urban housing shortage among the lower income group (LIG) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category and providing affordable housing to eligible urban households As per the Ministry, between 2004 and 2014, only 8.04 lakh houses were completed. While, 2015 onwards, more than 74 lakh houses have been constructed (by May 24, 2023). There has been a significant growth in central assistance, which was only Rs 0.20 lakh during the period 2004-2014, and now stands at Rs 2.01 lakh crores. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Friday said that that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation of the recently busted Bhopal-Hyderabad module of the radical Islamic organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT). Mishra told reporters, "NIA team has come to Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. International connections of the accused associated with HuT have come to the notice. Now, the NIA will investigate it further. The investigation diary has been handed over to them." Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace, here no accused will not be spared, he added. Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested 16 members associated with HuT from different locations on May 9. Of these members, ten persons were arrested from Bhopal, one from Chhindwara, and five from Hyderabad. The MP ATS team also recovered anti-national documents, technical equipment, radical literature and other materials from the accused at the time of arrest. A case was registered against these accused under UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967) and other relevant sections. Notably, Bhopal NIA court had sent these accused to judicial custody till June 2. Meanwhile, Mishra also took a jibe at the congress party after their meeting got postponed and said that date after date were being given for meetings in Congress, but the meeting was not being held. "There are two types of leaders in the Congress party, one is popular leaders and others are leaders of '10 Janpath' (referring to leaders close to Gandhi family as '10 Janpath' is residence of Sonia Gandhi). Those who are popular are not allowed to move forward and those who are close to '10 Janpath' are able to do anything," Mishra added. Reacting to the allegation made by senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh related to disturbance in livelihood and saving officials, Mishra said, "I do not take the words of Digvijaya seriously. He makes allegations and we ask for proof but he is not able to give proof. He only does the work of character assassination." (ANI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Friday visited Kerala University here and met with its Vice-Chancellor. Congress and Left parties affiliated employee organisations had raised objections to the minister's visit, which was reported to be for the inauguration of the Kerala University Employees' Sangh office at the Kerala University campus in Palayam. "I came here to meet the VC, and we discussed areas of cooperation between the health university, the Kerala University and the Government of India and other issues of mutual interest," Muraleedharan said. He said, "I heard that here the people have put a ban on anybody who comes to the university, who is not an impersonator...I don't belong to that category so perhaps that could be the disqualification they see in me. I don't care." The Left and Congress-affiliated organisations allege that the office, which was to be inaugurated by Muraleedharan was situated on the University's land and it was land by the BJP-affiliated employee organisation. However, the university authorities said that there was no such office space that was allotted to the organisation. (ANI) The two persons have been identified as Mohammed Zubair and Mohammed Januffer. According to the statement, in two different cases, on the basis of APIS profiling done by the officers of the AIU batch, two Srilankan passengers were intercepted, who had arrived from Colombo on flight No.UL 165. During the examination, two capsules each of gold in compound form were recovered from both passengers, the statement said. The capsules were concealed inside the body of the passengers. On weigh meant of the recovered gold, it weighed 1202.55 grams. The same was seized under relevant sections of CA-1962, it added. Further investigation of the case is under process. Last week, in a similar incident, the AIU of the Customs Department seized 1,259 grams of gold worth Rs 56.48 lakhs at Kochi airport, said an official statement. On the basis of profiling done by the officers of the Customs AIU batch, a passenger coming from Dubai to Kochi Airport by flight AI 934 was intercepted at the green channel. According to the statement, the accused has been identified as Subash, a native of Palakkad district. During the examination of the said passenger, 4 capsules suspected to contain gold in a compound form totally weighing 1259 grams found concealed inside his body were recovered and seized. (ANI) Navneet Kaur Rana, independent MP from Amravati, on Friday slammed the Opposition for their call to boycott the new Parliament building inauguration and said that she was proud that the vision behind the new building was that of Indians. While talking to ANI, Rana said, "The old Parliament was built by the British but the brain and work behind the new Parliament is of Indians and I don't understand, why the opposition is making so many issues. They are upset that PM Modi has done what they (the opposition) couldn't. They have problems with PM Modi." "I am proud of it as a member of parliament from Amravati," she added. Launching a scathing attack on Uddhav Thackeray, she said, "At the time of Sea link inauguration why didn't you invite Prime Minister? Also, you did not invite many of us. I want to tell you that a lion always walks alone. PM Narendra Modi stands by his words. The new Parliament has been built in the given time. If PM Narendra Modi is here, everything is possible." Lashing out at those involving President Droupadi Murmu in the row, the Amaravati MP said, "A tribal woman is in President's chair. Those who are questioning from Maharashtra you tell us why no woman has become Chief Minister of Maharashtra yet. If you are boycotting the inauguration, will you also boycott sitting in the new Parliament building?" PM Modi will dedicate the new Parliament building to the nation on May 28. As many as 21 political parties have announced to boycott the inauguration ceremony. The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a PIL seeking direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on May 28. Notably, a total of 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. 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. The opposition said that the inauguration of the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 also be present for the inauguration. Amongst the opposition parties, Shiromani Akali Dal and Bahujan Samajwadi Party and JDS will attend the function on Sunday. The sources told ANI that the rituals ahead of the inaugural ceremony will begin in the morning and are likely to be held in a pandal (canopy) near the Gandhi statue in Parliament. PM Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Hariwansh and some senior ministers in the government are likely to be part of the ceremony. (ANI) Hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a tirade at the Congress party for banishing 'Sengol' to a museum as a 'walking stick', Congress leader KC Venugopal on Friday said that the minister should first answer the question why President Droupadi Murmu has not been invited to inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28. "This is an issue of sidelining the President of India, who is also the first tribal woman President. Why don't they answer this question?" the Congress General Secretary told ANI. "What is the disqualification of the President of India to inaugurate and why they didn't invite the President of India [to inaugurate]," he added. This comes after, Shah said that the 'Sengol' given to former Prime Minister Pandit Nehru was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'. Shah in a series of tweets questioned and asked why Congress hates Indian traditions and culture. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," Tweeted Shah. He further said that Congress needs to reflect on its behaviour as the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling Adheenam's history BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," read his tweet. PM Modi will dedicate the new Parliament building to the country on May 28. 'Sengol', which marked the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India, will be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the Nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions. Notably, a total of 21 opposition parties, including Congress, have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The opposition said that the inauguration of the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 also 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) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared a video glimpse of the new Parliament building stating that the iconic building will make every Indian proud. In a tweet, PM Modi said, "The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-Tweet some of them. Don't forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride." PM Modi will dedicate the new Parliament building to the country on May 28. Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday praised the new Parliament building terming it "pretty damn impressive". In a tweet, Omar Abdullah said, "Setting aside the brouhaha about the inauguration for a moment, this building is a welcome addition. The old Parliament House has served us well but as someone who has worked there for a few years, a lot of us often spoke amongst ourselves about the need for a new & improved parliament building. Better late than never is all I'll say & this one looks pretty damn impressive." 'Sengol', which marked the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India, will be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the Nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions. Notably, at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The opposition said that the inauguration of the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 also 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) Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Friday reserved its order on the bail plea of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal, arrested in a money laundering case connected with the multi-crore cattle smuggling case. Sukanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 26. Special judge Raghubeer Singh after hearing the submissions of the applicant and the agency, reserved the order for June 1. Advocate Amit Kumar argued on behalf of Sukanya and argued on the parity with another accused Tanya Sanyal who was not arrested and a charge sheet was filed without arrest. He also submitted that Tanya is the wife of BSF commandant Satish Kumar who is also one of the accused. Allegations against Tanya are that she received bribe money for cattle smuggling from Enamul Haque and laundered the same. Despite, serious allegations, Tanya was granted regular bail. Her bail was not opposed by the ED, the counsel argued. Advocate Amit Kumar also argued that the applicant Sukanya also compromised her health due to the investigation of the case. Her surgery was due and she was to travel to Cochin. After receiving the summon she joined the investigation and was arrested. The investigation is over and a charge sheet has been filed. There is nothing incriminating against the applicant, the counsel argued. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 12 filed a reply opposing the bail application of Sukanya Mondal. The agency said in the reply that there is sufficient evidence against the accused. ED through Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) submitted that there is incriminating material against the accused. A charge sheet has been filed. She should not be enlarged on bail. The bail application may be dismissed. He argued that the issue of national security and the weakening of the Economy of the country is involved in the matter. He also argued that Anubrata Mondal, the father of the applicant is an uneducated person and his whole business activities were taken care of by the applicant. The court on May 6, issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a bail plea of Sukanya Mondal. She was remanded to judicial custody after ED's interrogation. Her father is a TMC leader and is in custody in this case. ED was granted custody of Sukanya to trace the proceed of the crime, trace the money trail and identify the modus operandi. She has to be confronted by Anubrata Mondal also. It is also alleged that the accused is a teacher in the West Bengal government. She is actively involved in business activities as per data collected so far. The total cash proceeds of crime deposited in her various bank account and her business entities are worth several crores. Anubrata Mondal, Trinamool Congress party's president of Birbhum district Anubrata Mondal and said to be a close aide of chief minister Mamata Banerjee was earlier arrested by the CBI in connection with the same case in July last year. ED arrested him in the alleged multi-crore cattle smuggling scam after questioning him inside the Asansol jail where he was lodged. In the case, the court earlier noted that this case of ED is based upon the Scheduled Offence (CBI case), the proceedings of which are going on there at Asansol, West Bengal in a CBI Court and some accused have been running into Judicial custody in connection with those proceedings of the CBI case. (ANI) Amid an uproar over the services issue in the national capital boiling since the Supreme Court's May 11 order, a fresh letter from Special (Services) Secretary Kinny Singh surfaced on Friday, accusing Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj of intimidating him and his fellow bureaucrats. The 2014-batch IAS officer Kinny Singh, in his letter dated May 16, alleged that Saurabh Bhardwaj called him to his chamber, where another bureaucrat Ashish More was already present, and forced him to sign on a paper. "Today on May 16 at 1.20 pm, I went to the Hon'ble Minister, Services [Saurabh Bhardwaj] chamber because I was called by his PA and former Secretary Services Ashish More is already sitting in the Office. After reaching there, the minister asked about the files he had asked to be sent to his office," the letter read. "I submitted that in pursuance of the minister's directions, one file of Transfer posting and CSB minutes related to the concerned period has already been shown. I also informed him that the concerned branch and officials have been instructed to give all files. It was also submitted that a few transfer orders and CSB Minutes were also shown to the minister in the morning. The minister asked for a particular file related to the TSR Subramanian judgement and the constitution of CSB in Delhi. I informed that I got this information from a branch that as the charge of Services-I is with YVVJ Rajashekhar the concerned file is with YVVJ Rajashekhar," it added. Singh in his letter added that upon hearing this Bhardwaj asked why all the files are with Rajashekhar and why the copy of the Notification is not kept anywhere else in any other file. "Then the minister told me also to sit there and then called Amitabh Joshi, Deputy Secretary (Services-I). As soon as he came, the minister shouted over him and reprimanded him. He asked him to immediately bring all the concerned files and till then, both the Secretary, Special Secretary should remain to be seated in front of him," the letter read. "After a while, Joshi brought some files and gave them to the Bhardwaj and kept them on his table. The minister asked about the file with the Notification of the constitution of CSB which was notified/issued. Joshi told that this file is with Rajashekhar Special Secretary-I (Services). Then the minister got very angry and handed over a white paper to Joshi and asked him to write what he has dictated verbally. Bhardwaj dictated that only one copy of the Notification of the constitution of CSB is available and the concerned file is with Rajashekhar. Then he asked Joshi to sign the statement dictated by the minister," it added. Kinny Singh further said that, thereafter, Saurabh Bhardwaj asked him and More also to sign the same statement. He said that upon hearing Ashish More's response, the minister got furious and shouted at him and threatened him with dire consequences. "Sign Kar, Aise Kaise Sign Nahi Karega..Tere Ko Karna Hi Padega. Iss Ke Baad Tera Career Khatana Teri Toh Zindagi Barbaad Kar Ke Rakhunga. Issi Dilli... Chirag Dilli Ka Rehne Wala Hu," he quoted minister Saurabh Bhardwaj as saying. However, earlier this month, in a complaint to the LG, former services secretary More also complained that Bharadwaj intimidated and detained him along with another official Kinny Singh in his office over some files. More alleged that the minister forced him to sign a paper and when he did not do so, Bharadwaj threatened him with dire consequences, saying that his career will be completely ruined. Kinny Singh said that a copy of this letter has also been sent to Principal Secretary to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. (ANI) Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending congratulations and said the inauguration of the new Parliament building would be a step towards a developed India. In his letter, he also condemned the boycott by 19 Opposition parties of the Parliament's inauguration and urged them to reconsider their decision. "Parliament is a sacred institution in a democracy. Here the decision on those policies of the country happens, which is directly related to the public. Determining a better future for India and the Indian, Parliament has a vital role in doing this. In such a situation, I and my party Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) strongly condemn the boycott done by the opposition parties on the new parliament's inaugural event," Chirag Paswan wrote. "In the last nine years, these opposition parties have time and again violated the rules of parliamentary procedures. Contempt has been done, and sessions have been disrupted in the House also important legislative businesses have been boycotted which is a dereliction of parliamentary duty. The parliamentary system of the opposition, dignity and this disdainful attitude towards democracy is on the rise," he added. He further mentioned that opposition parties had boycotted a special session conducted in the Parliament over the passing of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) bill in the year 2017. "This is in public memory and it is recorded that these opposition parties boycotted the special session on GST, which was presided over by the then President Pranab Mukherjee. On the election of Ram Nath Kovind as the President these parties were also late in maintaining common courtesy and formalities," he said. He further stated that the move to boycott the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament suggests is a common practice for the vote bank politics adopted by the opposition. "It is a very sad public fact that the opposition runs away from the Parliament because it represents old and selfish public desires, which have been repeatedly rejected by the public. Opposition unity strives not on a shared vision for national development, but for votes. This is a common practice for vote bank politics," he wrote. "Such parties can never fulfil the aspirations of the Indian people. It is an insult to the ideals of countless other great men of honest service who with dedication and commitment, spent their entire life in nation-building. These works of the opposition parties tarnish the values and contributions of great leaders who established our democracy and worked tirelessly for it," he added. He also pointed out that if opposition parties do not reconsider their decision then people will never forget this grave insult done to the Indian democracy. "Not to divide, but to show unity and a shared commitment to the welfare of our people is an opportunity. We request the opposition parties to reconsider their decision. If they don't do this, the 140 crore people of India, Indian democracy and their elected representatives will not forget this gross insult of the opposition towards the representatives," he mentioned. "Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) strongly supports every decision taken by you in the public interest. The inauguration of the new Parliament House is definitely your step towards a developed India," he wrote to PM Modi. Earlier, Congress and eighteen other opposition parties 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". 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. 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. (ANI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday informed that additional security forces had been brought into the State and security personnel consisting of CAPF, Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles, IRB and VDF had been deployed at 38 vulnerable areas. The Chief Minister was briefing the media at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today. The 38 locations where security personnel were deployed are Napat, Haotak, Salton Heiyaikon, Saiton Leitanpokpi, Nganukon, Salal Konjin, Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang, Torbung, Govindpur, Torbung Bunglow, Phougakchao Ikhai Maning, Phougakchao Ikhai Awang, Kwakta Maning, Terakhongshangbi, Khudekpi, Toronglaobi, oksongbung, Ngangkhalawai, Thamnapokpi, Naranseina, Sunusiphai, Phubala, Thinungei, Ningthoukhong Kha-Khunou, Ningthoukhong Macha Ebema, Upokpi, Potsangbam, Nachou, Chothe, Ngariyan Oil pump, Keinou, Irengbam Foothills, waroiching, Leimaram, Kamong, Heikrujam, Sagang Bazar and Chairel Manjil. Biren further informed that a team of legislators from the ruling party had visited Guwahati and met Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, apprising him of the prevailing situation in Manipur. He reiterated the Union Home Minister's commitment to take action against those who instigated violence. The Chief Minister also stated that the Union Home Minister, during his visit to the State, would meet different sections of people, appealing to the public to take part in the meeting to get a long-lasting solution. He appealed to the public to maintain a peaceful environment so that the Union Home Minister could be apprised of the prevailing situation of the State. He said that the priority of the Government is making people feel safe and secure, urging the public to have faith in the Government's effort to restore peace and normalcy. Appealing to the public not to have apprehension, the Chief Minister informed that operations had been conducted against armed militants in various areas in the periphery of the State. Efforts are being made to hold peace talks with all sections of people and the Government has been meeting various peace committees formed in the wake of the prevailing situation in Manipur, he added. He further appealed to the people to refrain from violent activities and not to believe or spread any unfounded information rumours, which could create tension among different communities. He sought the support of the public towards Government efforts to bring normalcy. Stating that the Government is unbiased in its efforts, Singh informed that paramilitary forces along with State forces had also been deployed to safeguard certain areas of Imphal inhabited by the Kuki community. The Chief Minister further informed that Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Shri Nityanand Rai, who is currently on his visit to the State, is holding meetings with different Civil Society Organisations. The MoS will visit places of Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Moreh, he informed. Stating that so far around 495 guns had been returned out of more than 1000 guns snatched from different police stations, he urged them to return it before security personnel started conducting search operations so that they could avoid facing legal consequences. Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai, informing the media, on their meeting with Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah at Guwahati, stated that the team briefed the Union Home Minister about the situation of the State. Awangbow Newmai also informed that the Union Home Minister had assured that there would be no shortage of supply of essential commodities in the State, adding that the situation of the State would be normalised soon. "Amit Shah appealed to the people not to have any apprehension and to have faith in the Government effort and join hands to make the State move towards peace and development," the minister informed. (ANI) The accused associate of the terror outfit has been identified as Mohd Yousaf Chouhan. "District Police Kishtwar received inputs about the involvement of one Mohd Yousaf Chouhan resident of district Kishtwar in terror-related activities," an official statement said. Police said that a case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. "Accordingly case FIR No. 117/2023 under sections 13/18/39 UAPA, and 4/5 Exp. Substance Act has been registered at Police Station Kishtwar," the official statement said. Police said that on the disclosure of the accused associate, they were able to recover one Chinese Grenade from the Cherji area. "Subsequent to it SSP Kishtwar Khalil Poswal deputed teams of Police along with Army and CRPF who arrested the accused person and, on his disclosure, recovered one Chinese Grenade from the Cherji area. In this regard, a major search operation has been launched in Cherji, Chicha and Padyarna areas, so that active terrorists of the district are nabbed and further leads into the case are developed," the official statement said. (ANI) According to the statement, the passenger arrived from Air Arabia flight no. G9435 on Friday. On the basis of profiling following his suspicious behaviour, his shoes and undergarments were searched after which the gold paste was recovered from his shoes. Following the recovery, the accused passenger was detained. (ANI) The arrested persons were allegedly en route to deposit the Rs 2,000 notes in the bank. RBI had recently decided to withdraw Rs 2000 currency notes from circulation, however, they will continue to remain as legal tender. "During checking, a joint team of police and District Reserve Guard (DRG) intercepted two persons on a motorcycle and recovered cash worth Rs 6 lakh in denomination of Rs 2,000 notes," said Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjneya Varshney, adding that the recovered cash was belonging to commander of the platoon-10 Mallesh. The intercepted youths were identified as Gajendra Mandavi and Laxman Kunjam, both residents of the Basaguda area in the district, the officer informed. The duo failed to furnish any document supporting the recovered cash, the police added. "On being questioned, Gajendra revealed that the cash belonged to the commander of platoon-10 Mallesh and the Naxal commander had given him Rs 8 lakh (in the denomination of Rs 2000 notes) to deposit in separate bank accounts of familiar people," said SP Varshney. The arrested persons had managed to deposit Rs 1.86 lakh in four separate bank accounts and were taking the remaining cash towards Rekhapalli, the officer elaborated. Varshney further informed that apart from cash, the joint team had recovered 11 passbooks of separate banks, anti-government pamphlets as well as notes from the duo. Police have registered an offence in this connection and are probing the matter further. (ANI) Divisional Commissioner Kumar said that Yatra shows that Jammu and Kashmir is moving ahead with peace and development. "Adequate arrangements were made for the Yatris this year. At least 4500-5000 devotees in 125 buses will visit various temples during the Yatra. It is an indication that we (Jammu and Kashmir) are moving towards peace and development," the divisional commissioner told reporters. During the fair which will be held on May 28 in Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal district, devotees including Kashmiri Pandits will visit 5 famous temples including Tulmulla, Ganderbal; Tikker, Kupwara; Laktipora Aishmuqam, Anantnag and Mata Tripursundri Devsar and Mata Kheerbhawani Manzgam in Kulgam district. On a question about India successfully holding G20 meet in Kashmir, Kumar said, "It is an indication that people of the region want to move ahead with development. The message from the G20 event is that Jammu and Kashmir are moving ahead." Earlier in the month, an official statement informed that the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri convened a meeting of officers to review arrangements for the celebration of the fair. (ANI) A group of villagers attacked the monitoring team of Cheetah in which three members of the team got injured in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, an official said. The incident occurred in Barkheda village of the district on Friday around 4 am after the team reached near the village while tracking the movement of the female cheetah Asha.The villagers also vandalised the vehicle of the monitoring team. "The monitoring team is continuously engaged in tracing the locations of the cheetahs. In this episode, the location of the female Cheetah Asha which is roaming in the open wild was found near Pohri area of Shivpuri district and our team was also in Barkheda village for tracking the Cheetah," Kuno Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prakash Kumar Verma said. He added, "Meanwhile, around 4 am on Friday, unknown villagers attacked our team and thrashed them in which members of our team members sustained injuries. The villagers also vandalised the vehicle." After the incident, a case has been registered in this regard at Pohri police station in the district and the police are investigating the matter further, he added. According to the information, the location of Asha roaming in the open wild of Kuno Park was found in the Pohri area on Thursday night. Following which, the monitoring team engaged in tracking Asha, followed her by tracing her location through the GPS system. Late at night, the team reached Barkheda village while tracing the location, the villagers suspected the team as dacoits and opened fire in the air to drive them away. But when the team did not move from there even after firing, the villagers surrounded the team and attacked them. They beat up the team members and also vandalised the vehicle. During the incident, among the team members, forest guard Pawan Agarwal, tracker Mukesh Gurjar, driver Hukum Yadav, were injured. The team informed the matter to the officials of Kuno Park and they reached the Pohri police station and lodged a complaint into the matter. (ANI) In a span of a few days, a Japanese choral band touring China, stand-up comedy shows in several cities, and jazz shows in Beijing, were among more than a dozen that were abruptly called off, The New York Times reported. Some of the performances were cancelled just minutes before they were supposed to begin and that too without any explanation. Beijing authorities, just before the performances were scrapped, fined a Chinese comedy studio around USD 2 million, after one of its stand-up performers was accused of insulting the Chinese military in a joke; the police in northern China also detained a woman who had defended the comedian online. According to The New York Times, those penalties, and the sudden spate of cancellations that followed, point to the growing scrutiny of China's already heavily censored creative landscape. China's top leader, Xi Jinping, has made arts and culture a central arena for ideological crackdowns, demanding that artists align their creative ambitions with Chinese Communist Party goals and promote a nationalist vision of Chinese identity. Performers must submit scripts or setlists for vetting, and publications are closely monitored. Xi on Tuesday sent a letter to the National Art Museum of China for its 60th anniversary, reminding staff to "adhere to the correct political orientation." The Chinese President's emphasis on the arts is also part of a broader preoccupation with national security and eliminating supposedly malign foreign influence. The authorities in recent weeks have raided the corporate offices of several Western consulting or advisory companies based in China and broadened the range of behaviors covered under counterespionage laws. Many of the cancelled events were supposed to feature foreign performers or speakers. It was only to be expected that Beijing would also look to the cultural realm, as its deteriorating relationship with the West has made it more fixated on maintaining its grip on power at home, said Zhang Ping, a former journalist and political commentator in China who now lives in Germany, according to The New York Times. (ANI) The first stop in his four-nation trip is Tokyo where he will meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders and visit US troops stationed in Japan. According to the statement, Secretary Austin's visit comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize Alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic US-Japan "2+2" Ministerial meeting earlier this year. Later on, Secretary Austin will travel to Singapore where he will deliver plenary remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. On the margins of the Dialogue, the Secretary will meet with key leaders to advance US defence partnerships across the region in support of our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in ASEAN centrality. After completing his trip to Singapore, Secretary Austin will visit India. At the third stop, New Delhi, he will meet with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernize the US-India Major Defense Partnership. This visit provides an opportunity to accelerate new defence innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and drive ongoing efforts to expand operational cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries. Secretary Austin will conclude his trip in France to participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day and meet with French and United Kingdom defence leaders. (ANI) Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said that the country must accept 'inconvenient truths' about its relationship with China, news.com.au reported. The news.com.au is an Australian-based news website which is owned by News Corp Australia. Marles, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, despite recent diplomatic breakthroughs, said the relationship with China remained "very complex". According to news.com.au, Marles said that it was a relationship that could not be defined with "simplistic platitudes" after China wound back trade restrictions on Australian timber last week and with signs sanctions against barley could soon dissipate. The immense threat China posed in undertaking the largest conventional military build-up since the Second World War must be taken in combination with the significant trade opportunities, he said. Marles further stated that there are human rights issues in China and Australia is vigilant in the way in which the country has raised that. "But we've also seen a huge growth in the Chinese economy, which has given rise to the single biggest alleviation out of poverty that we've seen in human history," he said. "I mean, there are human rights issues in China and we are vigilant in the way in which we've raised that, but we've also seen a huge growth in the Chinese economy, which has given rise to the single biggest alleviation out of poverty that we've seen in human history," Marles added. He stated that all of the facts are sitting together and are complex. Australia has a trading relationship with China, which is of enormous benefit to this country, reported news.com.au. "And we have added in at the same time, we do have security anxieties in relation to China with the significant military build-up that we've seen. All of that is complex. There's not a way around the complexity of that," Marles said. The Australian Defence Minister said that the country would work with China where it can, but will also disagree with China when it must. "But at the end of the day, we value a productive relationship with China. That's obvious because China matters. And we're seeking to stabilise that relationship with China and you can see that happening," he said. He added that, unlike China, Australia was seeking to engage with the region to make sure motive and strategy were "transparent," as per the report in news.com.au. (ANI) Russia, on Thursday, signed a deal with the Belarus government to formalise the deployment of tactical nuclear missiles on the latter country's territory, TASS, a Russian-based news agency reported. The Defence ministers of Russia and Belarus, Sergey Shoigu and Viktor Khrenin, respectively signed the documents on Thursday defining the procedures for storing Russian nuclear weapons at a special facility on Belarusian territory, the Belarusian Defense Ministry reported. "During the meeting, documents determining the procedure for keeping Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special storage facility on the territory of the Republic of Belarus were signed," the ministry's press service said. The measures taken by Russia and Belarus "comply with all existing international legal obligations," Shoigu stressed. The defence ministers discussed the current military and political situation and issues of military and technical cooperation between the two countries. Earlier, on March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the Rossiya-24 news channel that at the request of the Belarusian side, it will deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, just as the United States has been doing on the territories of its allies, according to TASS. "Even out of the context of these events, this statement (about the possible supply of depleted uranium shells by the UK to Ukraine - TASS), Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko has long raised the issue of deploying Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus," Putin said. He stressed that "there is nothing unusual about this." He claimed that the US has been doing the same for decades. The US placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territories of their allied countries, NATO countries, in Europe a long time ago, Putin said. He further stated that in six states, the Federal Republic of Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Greece, there aren't any tactical nuclear weapons for now, but there is a storage facility. "And we agreed [with Belarus] that we will do the same. Without violating - I want to emphasize this - our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons," the Russian President stressed. In March, he also talked about the crew training and storage. "We have already helped our Belarusian colleagues to reequip their planes. Ten planes are ready to apply this type of weapon. We have handed over to Belarus our well-known and very effective Iskander system that can carry [nuclear weapons]. On April 3, we will start training the crew and on July 1 we will complete the construction of a special storage for tactical nuclear weapons on the Belarusian territory," Putin said. "Thus, everything the President of Belarus asked about, all the issues he raised in this regard, they are being implemented, and all our agreements will be reached in the very near future," the Russian leader further said But he stressed that Russia does not transfer such weapons to Belarus, just as the United States does not transfer them to its allies, reported TASS. Earlier, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, in response to the UK's plans to supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, said that Russia would supply Belarus "ammunition with real uranium." As the Russian leader indicated, the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons will be completed in Belarus by July 1. Moscow has already provided Minsk with Iskander tactical missile systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons and has helped Minsk to re-equip its military aircraft to carry specialized weapons. Also, Belarusian missile crews and pilots have undergone training in Russia. (ANI) The ban on video-sharing social media platform TikTok does not threaten civil liberties but actually stops it from accessing the information of one-third of the American population, according to the New York Post. The New York Post is a daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. According to the publication, there is ample evidence that shows that China used TikTok as spyware and manipulation against Americans. The links between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and TikTok are direct as there are over 300 employees at the video-sharing social media platform that previously worked for Chinese state media. Twenty-three of ByteDance's directors previously worked for CCP propaganda outlets, and at least 15 ByteDance employees work for them now. Fundamentally, China is the world's most sophisticated techno-authoritarian state, and President Xi Jinping's regime believes data and the control of information bestow power. Chinese law explicitly requires businesses to operate and build their cybersecurity networks in a way that gives the CCP unfettered access to their data. So Beijing has access to TikTok's US user data by default; it doesn't even need to ask for it, reported New York Post. And TikTok aggressively harvests a wide range of user data: names, contacts, networks, GPS locations, even keystrokes, outside-the-app monitoring like Internet browsing and encrypted data. China used TikTok to push divisive content during the 2022 midterm elections, promoting videos that attacked specific US politicians and hit hot-button social issues without disclosing those videos were coming from Chinese state-controlled accounts. TikTok pushes pro-CCP content to US users, which means that within the nation there are things for China people are growing and putting them against their own nation. Employees of TikTok's Top Buzz news app in the US were instructed to place specific pieces of pro-China messaging in the app and to "pin" it to the top. Earlier, the platform also suppressed information. The Washington Post found only 20 videos available with the hashtag Tiananmen Square on TikTok, most of which say that the massacre never happened. TikTok is a dystopian reality-distorter that serves the interests of Xi's CCP, according to New York Post. Make no mistake, the platform doesn't exist so we can be entertained by cat videos. Its purpose is to capture and move audiences. Then there are the pernicious effects on America's youth. The app is essentially psychological warfare against America's kids, with its aggressive algorithms sending them down rabbit holes of sex- and drug-related content. It's been linked to mental illness, anxiety, depression, attention disorders, and even physical tics, especially in teen girls. We are in a reverse opium war. Rand Paul's solution is to say if you don't like TikTok, do not use it, reported New York Post. (ANI) The new Head of the Asia Department at the French Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Benoit Guidee has chosen India for his first foreign trip. After reaching the national capital, he spoke on Friday about the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on July 14 this year. "The new Head of the Asia Department at the French Foreign Ministry, Amb. Benoit Guidee, chose India for his first foreign trip. Watch him speak on the preparation of PM @NarendraModi's visit to Paris as Chief Guest of France's National Day on July 14," French Embassy in India wrote on Twitter with a video message from Ambassador Benoit Guidee. "Dear friends. Namaste. I'm delighted to be here in India for a couple of days of official meetings. I've chosen India as my first trip as director for Asia in the French Foreign Ministry. This was an obvious choice because India is our most important partner and most trusted partner in the region," he said in the video message. "I have had very fruitful meetings with Indian officials to prepare the trip by Prime Minister Modi for Bastille Day on 14 July. We are delighted that this year Bastille Day will be India Day. So we are all waiting for this very important visit by Prime Minister Modi which will strengthen our partnership for the decades to come," he said speaking on India-France relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the Guest of Honour on France's National Day on July 14. The news was confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month. He tweeted both in French and Hindi, expressing his pleasure over PM Modi's visit. "Cher Narendra, heureux de t'accueillir a Paris comme invite d'honneur du defile du 14 juillet !," tweeted Macron in French, which translates to, "Dear Narendra, happy to welcome you to Paris as guest of honor on July 14!" "priy nreNdr, 14 julaaii kii predd ke smmaanit atithike ruup meN tumhaaraa peris meN svaagt kr ke mujhe bhutkhushii hogii / ," tweeted Macron in Hindi, which translates to, "Dear Narendra, It will be my pleasure to welcome you to Paris as a guest of honor for the 14th of July parade." On the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend this year's Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour on July 14 in Paris this year.PM Modi was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the Parade in Paris. According to an official statement, an Indian armed forces contingent will participate in the Parade alongside their French counterparts. PM Modi's visit is expected to herald the next phase in the India-France Strategic Partnership by setting new and ambitious goals for our strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation, including in a wide range of industries, the official statement read. India and France defend the goals and tenets of the United Nations Charter, which serve as the cornerstone of collaboration between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region, and share a vision for peace and security, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. "This historic visit of PM Modi will also deliver common initiatives in order to respond to the key challenges of our time, including climate change, biodiversity loss and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and will be an opportunity for India and France to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, including in the context of India's G20 Presidency," the official statement added. (ANI) UK Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, and United Nations Lord Tariq Ahmad is set to visit India from May 27-31 with a focus on strengthening ties between the two nations in science, research and innovation sectors. Lord Ahmad will announce the UK-India Health-Tech Bootcamp winners, welcoming collaboration between the health and start-up communities in the two nations, British High Commission in India announced in a statement. Lord Ahmad is in India for a visit to accelerate UK-India collaboration on science, technology and health. His visit to India comes after an agreement signed between India and UK in April on science, research and innovation. Lord Ahmad will meet senior ministers and officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant. During his visit, Lord Tariq Ahmad will visit historical sites and high-tech research facilities in Jodhpur, New Delhi and Hyderabad. He will also meet senior officials from the Indian government. Lord Ahmad's visit focuses on science, technology and innovation and emphasises the UK's commitment to deepening partnerships in these areas across the globe. According to British High Commission in India's statement, strengthening the UK-India relationship is a "key pillar" of the UK's long-term foreign policy. "The visit's focus on science, technology and innovation emphasises the UK's commitment to deepen partnerships in these areas across the globe - evidenced by the recent announcement of a new Tech Envoy to the Indo-Pacific," the British High Commission in India said in a statement. It further said, "Strengthening the UK-India relationship is a key pillar of the UK's long-term foreign policy, as part of its enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific set out in the Integrated Review Refresh." The visit of Lord Ahmad comes as the UK and India continue to make progress towards a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The nineth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between India and the UK was held from April 24-28. The British High Commission in India in a statement said, "An ambitious, balanced FTA would boost our current trading relationship, worth 36 billion in 2022. " Round nine of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of India"A trade deal with India supports the government's growth strategy to take advantage of the UK's status as an independent trading nation, creating new trade and investment opportunities and championing free trade," the British High Commission in India said in a statement. In the statement, UK Minister for South Asia Lord Ahmad called India and UK "trusted partners." He said that India and UK are deepening collaboration on science and technology. "The UK and India are trusted partners united by the unique living bridge that closely connects our countries and people," Lord Ahmad said in a statement. "Building on the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations, we are deepening our collaboration on science and technology, bringing new innovations to both our nations," he added. Lord Ahmad's visit to Rajasthan will be his first trip to his mother's birthplace of Jodhpur as Minister for South Asia and will showcase the region's rich cultural history, according to the statement. He will visit the Mehrangarh Fort and hold discussions about education, sustainability and gender equality with emerging women leaders, the British High Commission in India said in a statement. Lord Ahmad in New Delhi will launch the 'English Skills for Youth' programme, co-developed by the British Council and Microsoft India, which will enhance global employment opportunities for Indian young people, particularly young women. He will announce the winners of the UK-India Health-Tech Boot Camp boosting health-tech innovations from India. During his visit to India, Lord Tariq Ahmad will travel to Hyderabad. He will highlight science and tech innovations with trips to T-Hub and T-Works, the technology start-up incubator and prototyping facility which are part of the world's largest innovation campus, and space launch vehicle company Skyroot. Lord Ahmad will visit the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology and hold discussions on the further potential for science and technology collaboration with Indian alumni of Chevening, the UK's flagship international scholarship programme. Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India in the statement said, "The UK and India enjoy an invaluable partnership. As we deliver the UK-India Roadmap 2030, we are deepening and accelerating our collaboration on health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence. " Scott further said, "With India's Presidency of the G20, we have an opportunity also for the UK and India to work together to shape and deliver solutions to global problems." Notably, India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1. (ANI) The King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni will be on a state visit to India from May 29 to 31, as the two nations mark their 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. A state visit to India by the king of Cambodia is taking place after almost six decades, with the last one in 1963. This visit would mark the 70th anniversary of relations between India and Cambodia established in 1952. "He would be accompanied by a 27-member high-level delegation including the minister of the Royal Palace, President of the Senate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other officials," Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), MEA said in a media briefing on Friday. The last visit to Cambodia by the president of India was that of President Shimati Pratiba Patil in 2010. President Rajendra Prasad visited Cambodia in 1959. The visit of the King of Cambodia will commence in the morning on 30th May 2023, with the Ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Rajpathi Bhavan. He would then visit Raj Ghat to pay floral tributes, the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) informed in the briefing. MEA Secretary informed that the Cambodian King is scheduled to meet the President, Vice President, and the Prime Minister of India. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will also call on him. President Droupadi Murmu will host a banquet in honour of the King at Rashpathi Bhavan. Giving a brief background about India's relations with Cambodia, Saurabh Kumar said that India and Cambodia relations have their roots in Hindu and Buddhist cultural influences that emanated from India. "These historical links continue to provide a strong foundation for our contemporary ties. India established diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1952," he added. India was the first democratic country to recognize the new government in Cambodia and reopened its diplomatic mission in 1981. India also played an active and positive role in the finalization of the Paris Peace Accords of 1991 and contributed towards the conduct of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia or Untak-sponsored elections in 1993. "This contribution of India is appreciated and remembered in Cambodia even today," he added. Further, elaborating on the depth of India-Cambodia relations, Saurabh Kumar said, "The ASEAN and Mekong Ganga Corporation Cambodia hosted the first India ASEAN Summit in 2002 when it held the Chair of RCR in 2022. Again, during the Cambodian Chair of RCN, the ASEAN-India relations were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership." "Conservation and restoration of ancient temples in Cambodia by India would be an important part of the conversation. Since 1986, India, through the Archaeological Survey of India, has been engaged in the conservation and restoration of ancient temples in Cambodia. In the late 80s and early 90s, restoration work was carried out on the Angkot Wat. Restoration of Ta Prohm temple has completed two phase phases, while the third phase of work is underway. Last year, restoration work commenced on Prayer Vihar, a World Heritage Site and one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva," the MEA secretary informed speaking on the restoration works done by India in Cambodia for the ancient temples. About the defence and demining cooperation with Cambodia, MEA Secretary East said that it includes training courses for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, training in demining and peacekeeping modules providing demining equipment as well as goodwill visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships and exchange of official delegations. "India has extended a grant of US dollar 1.5 million for the procurement of demining equipment, and gifted sniffer dogs and offered a US dollar 50 million line of credit for capacity building and other related works for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Customised training courses for more than 80 Cambodian armed personnel will be held this year in different areas. The first army-to-army staff talks between India and Cambodia were conducted in April 2023," he added. "Lieutenant General Hun Manath, who is the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, visited India in February this year. India and Cambodia trade is around US dollar 320 million with Indian exports of US dollar 198 million and imports from Cambodia at US dollar 122 million. Cumulative investments from India in Cambodia are estimated at US dollar 115 million primarily in pharmaceuticals, two and three-wheelers and some in the area of mining. Cambodia has been supportive of India in international fora it has joined the International Solar Alliance. A delegation from Cambodia recently participated in the launch of the International Big Cat Alliance," Saurabh Kumar stated. The visit of His Majesty the King will be important, it will be an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen India-Cambodia relations. The visit has a strong symbolic value coming as it does on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It would also contribute to our efforts to add greater contempt to our trade, economic, defence, culture, and people-to-people ties. Speaking on Human resource development and capacity building he said, "India is actively assisting Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development through training slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships. More than 2200 Cambodian nationals have been imparted training under the ITEC program since 1981. Over 30 ICCR scholarships are available to Cambodian students on an annual basis," he said. "Lines of credit and lines of credit of around US dollars, 100 million have been extended to Cambodia for projects in infrastructure, water resources, and path transmission lines, amongst others. Cambodia has benefited from 48 quick-impact projects targeted toward local communities in areas such as education, health, sanitation, ecotourism, and infrastructure. 31 of these have been completed and 17 of these projects are under implementation," he stated further. (ANI) The Embassy of Kazakhstan in India held a round table dedicated to the Astana International Forum (AIF), a new international conference designed to become a tool for restoring the culture of multilateralism at the global level. During the event that was held on May 22, the participants were informed that the Astana International Forum is intended to become a platform for eminent delegates from governments, international organizations, businesses, and academia, to engage in a dialogue to seek ways to address climate, food scarcity and energy security challenges. It was stressed that the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is very timely and falls at a time when humanity is facing historical challenges, the likes of which the world has not encountered for decades or longer. In this context, it was noted that holding the Astana International Forum is more relevant and necessary than ever, designed to respond to global challenges, giving priority to cooperation as the main postulate of a functioning international system. During the discussion with the participants of the Astana International Forum briefing, the editor and political observer of the "Business Central Asia" business magazine Inderveer Singh said that Kazakhstan has always been supportive towards the means of dialogue and exchange of viewpoints. Kazakhstan also continues to engage constructively with countries around the world to discuss global issues while respecting international law. At the same time, the rise of nationalism and overly-ambitious campaigns in many countries are destabilizing international relations, making it difficult to find common ground on issues related to the betterment of humanity. Certainly, this requires a coordinated global response. In this context, the launch of the Astana International Forum, a new international platform for building a culture of multilateralism, would be a really commendable initiative of Kazakhstan. Most importantly, it will encourage voices that are often silenced to be heard. The world will be able to listen to them and understand the views and positions of all countries on today's issues, which are urgent and their solutions. In turn, the Vivekananda International Foundation Senior Research Associate, Pravesh Kumar Gupta stressed that Kazakhstan has already played an essential role in regional and international conflict settlement efforts. One of the most notable examples of Kazakhstan's commitment to conflict resolution is its participation in the 1990s negotiations to end Tajikistan's civil war. Kazakhstan sponsored a series of discussions between the warring parties, and its efforts were critical in ending the conflict. As a commitment to strengthening security and peace in the region through dialogue and discussion, the Government of Kazakhstan now intends to organize the Astana International Forum from 8 to 9 June 2023. Through this platform, Kazakhstan seeks to bridge the fissures in international relations, which is crucial for the holistic development of the world. At the end of the meeting, the participants noted the importance of holding such meetings with the Embassy of Kazakhstan and the expediency of holding them in the future. (ANI) State Minister of Urban Development and Housing in Sri Lanka, Arundika Fernando, issued a letter on May 19, 2023, to the Immigration Emigration Controller General, requesting the release of the Chinese man who arrived with a fake passport. This incident has raised concerns about the level of corruption and disregard for law and order displayed by politicians who hold power over the country's public servants, True Ceylon reported. In a shocking incident, an alleged Chinese investor managed to enter Sri Lanka using a fake Guinean passport, highlighting the extent of influence exerted by Chinese individuals over Sri Lankan politicians. True Ceylon is a media house from Sri Lanka providing updates related to political news of the country. Chinese individuals involved in development projects in Sri Lanka or in other countries have become adept at deceiving government officials, often relying on corrupt politicians to escape repercussions habitually by giving kickbacks, True Ceylon reported. The letter sent by State Minister Fernando requested permission for Li Pan, holder of passport Bearing no: EA9528151 issued by the People's Republic of China, to enter Sri Lanka without any hindrance. The purpose of his visit was stated as investing funds in housing projects under the purview of the ministry. Sri Lanka's undisclosed relationship with China involves secretive methods employed by the Chinese, including resorting to force and providing kickbacks to Sri Lankan officials, in order to achieve their objectives. China's Belt and Road Initiative is known for its aggressive approach, raising concerns about debt sustainability, lack of transparency, environmental impacts, and strategic motives, True Ceylon reported. The initiative is often viewed as a means for China to expand its influence and gain geopolitical advantages in the regions where its projects are implemented. On May 18, the Chinese investor and two companions arrived at Katunayake Airport on an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai. The Chinese investor had presented a forged Guinean passport to the immigration officer, but the fraud was later discovered. Despite apprehending the Chinese national, immigration officials intended to deport him back to Dubai, True Ceylon reported. However, he managed to contact State Minister Arundika Fernando, who promptly intervened by faxing a letter to the Controller General of Passport, requesting the release of the Chinese man and his companions. The government has claimed that appropriate action will be taken, but the individuals remain at large in Sri Lanka. In another incident in March, Sri Lankan officials arrested over 30 Chinese nationals involved in online fraud based on an Interpol alert. These individuals had entered the country on tourist visas and had defrauded people for more than two months. The arrests were made in the Western province of Sri Lanka, True Ceylon reported. Prior to arriving in Sri Lanka, the group had been involved in a global fraud operation, swindling approximately SLR 300 million from victims worldwide. The Chinese Embassy responded to the fake passport incident, urging Chinese citizens visiting Sri Lanka to strictly abide by local laws and regulations while respecting religious and cultural customs. The embassy acknowledged the reports and stated that an investigation was underway, without confirming or denying any involvement in securing the release of the Chinese man. The misuse of power by politicians in Sri Lanka, however, has drawn severe criticism. The release of an investor engaged in housing projects who used a fake passport to enter Sri Lanka cannot be dismissed as a minor issue. There can be other fraudulent activities he can engage with, True Ceylon reported. Many have questioned the Controller General's decision to release the individual with a forged passport, especially after a cabinet minister issued an order preventing deportation and blacklisting. This incident has raised concerns about influential individuals bypassing the law due to their connections in Sri Lanka. While India has historical and cultural ties with Sri Lanka, its engagement with the country has not been as extensive as China's. China has been successful in attracting the Sri Lankan government for many projects, sidelining India, True Ceylon reported. Factors such as political differences, regional rivalries, and differing priorities have influenced Sri Lanka's inclination towards China. (ANI) US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy Vipin Narang and Director Michael Horowitz of the Emerging Capabilities Policy Office met with their Indian counterparts for the inaugural US-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue (AD3) in New Delhi on May 22. The meeting between the two sides followed a commitment by US and Indian officials at the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in 2022 to deepen collaboration on evolving new defence domains, the US Department of Defense Spokesperson Lisa Lawrence said in a readout of the inaugural US-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue During the meeting, US and Indian officials discussed about the unique defence challenges in these domains, their respective defence policies and areas of convergence and opportunities for further cooperation. The two sides discussed opportunities for maintaining safety, stability and promoting uses of technologies in these sectors. US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl in a tweet stated, "Space Policy's Vipin Narang & Emerging Capabilities' Mike Horowitz met with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi for the inaugural U.S.-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue strengthening our defense partnership in space, AI, and more." The US Department of Defense Spokesperson Lisa Lawrence in a readout of the inaugural US-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue said, "The Dialogue followed a commitment by US and Indian officials at the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in 2022 to deepen collaboration on evolving new defense domains, with an emphasis on space and artificial intelligence." Lisa Lawrence further said, "US and Indian officials exchanged views on the unique defense challenges in these domains, their respective defense policies, and areas of convergence and opportunities for further cooperation. They also discussed priorities for maintaining safety, stability, and promoting responsible uses of technologies in these domains." Earlier this week, the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that US partnership with India is one of its most consequential relationships and the country works closely with India on vital priorities. "Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We work with India closely on our most vital priorities, and we expect Ambassador Garcetti to be able to deepen the relationship between our countries and work on these matters of shared concern," Matthew Miller said. Miller said US consular teams recognize the visa issue. "We obviously recognize that it's an area of concern and our 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 key to the bilateral relationship. It is a top priority for our government, and I know it's a top priority for our embassy in the country." Speaking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US on June 22, Miller said, "Certainly, the war in Ukraine will be one of the topics that is under discussion. It's been one of the topics that have been 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." PM Modi will embark on an official state visit to the US on June 22. (ANI) The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court took notice of the kidnapping of three-year-old Samrat Kumar from Kandhkot four days ago. Chief Justice Sindh High Court Ahmed Ali M Shaikh has asked the session judge of Kandhkot, IGP Sindh and SSP Kandhkot to submit a report on the incident within two days, Pakistan vernacular media Jasarat reported. It should be noted that after the abduction of the three-year-old child Samrat Kumar, the kidnappers released a video that showed that the child's hands were tied and he had difficulty eating. A strong reaction was expressed against the kidnapping of an innocent child across the province. The above screengrab is from the alleged video released by the kidnappers, tweeted by Imdad Soomro (Sehwani) with the caption, "Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Ahmad Ali Shaikh took the notice if kidnapping of three years old Hindu boy Samrat Kumar... Directed IG Sindh, SSP Kandhkot and Sessions Judge to submit report." Imdad Soomro (Sehwani) is an Investigative Correspondent working for one of the leading media houses of Pakistan, The News.com.PK. Moreover, ten people, including a two-year-old girl, the aforementioned three-year-old child, and a woman, are in possession of robbers in the Kandhkot district. Within a few months, seven policemen, including an inspector, were killed by dacoits and more than 10 policemen were seriously injured. Kandhkot police could not free the innocent Samrat Kumar from the clutches of the kidnappers, and the Hindu community gave a call for agitation, as reported by Pakistan vernacular media Jasarat. According to the details, a few days ago armed men on a motorcycle kidnapped Samrat Kumar in front of his house in the Mizranpur area of Kandhkot city. The political and social organizations of the city, including the Hindu community, are constantly protesting. The police have not been able to do anything to recover the innocent child. There are more than 30 people abducted from the district. On the call of the Hindu Panchayat against the kidnapping of three-year-old Samrat Kumar and against the growing insecurity in the district, political and social leaders and hundreds of citizens, including Chaudhary Dewan Lal, Mehr Chand, Dilip Kumar Thakur, Tulsidas, Hafiz Nasrullah Chana, Zarit Bejarani, Ghulam Mustafa Mirani, under the leadership of Ashok Kumar, Santosh Aggarwal, Raj Khanna, Sajjad Brohi, Shahnawaz Marhito, Haji Altaf Hussain Bhangwar and others, protested from Dil Tower Chowk in the city by raising banners with the picture of the innocent child, Pakistan vernacular media Jasarat reported. The protesters reached the DC office and sat down at the main gate of the office. Addressing the sit-in and talking to the media, the leaders said that the work of the police is zero. The police are completely silent. Bandits are committing acts without any fear and kidnapping innocent children, because of this their business is also affected. Earlier the business class used to go to shops but now they are going to protest for peace every day. The women were robbed by the peddlers, Pakistan vernacular media Jasarat reported. For not paying the ransom there was a murderous attack on the shopkeeper. But now innocent children are being abducted, which is very depressing. Where do they go? How long will they endure this cruelty? We are protesting and appealing to the higher authorities with the help of the media to recover all the abductees including the innocent Samrat Kumar and restore peace. On this occasion, DC Manoor Ali Mithiani came to the main gate of the sit-in and talked to the police officers regarding the rescue of all the abductees, including the innocent Samrat Kumar, after which the sit-in was ended. On the other hand, the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court has taken notice of the kidnapping incident of innocent Samrat Kumar. IG Sindh Police, District Sessions Judge, and SSP have been asked for a report in two days. (ANI) US Ambassador Eric Garcetti inaugurated the US Consulate in Hyderabad on Friday during a gala celebration of the 247th anniversary of American Independence. Telangana State Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joined Ambassador Garcetti, along with US Consul General Jennifer Larson and Ausaf Sayeed of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The event took place as a part of Ambassador Garcetti's first official visit to Hyderabad since assuming his duties as the top US diplomat in India. "President Biden is fond of saying: Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I'll tell you what you value," said Ambassador Garcetti. "By that standard, it should be clear how deeply the United States values this city and this region. We opened this USD 340 million facility because Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha are writing one of the most important chapters of the US-India Strategic Partnership." Ambassador Garcetti began his trip to Hyderabad with a visit to the historic Chowmahalla Palace. He also toured the US-supported Mitr Transgender Clinic, met with students at the Y-Axis Foundation, joined a lunch at the Indian School of Business, and visited T-Hub's facility in Raidurg. He will wrap up his trip to Hyderabad with visits to iconic cultural sites, including Charminar and the Paigah tombs, where the US government is providing a quarter of a million dollars to support the conservation and restoration of six tombs built between the 18th and 19th centuries as part of the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. Eric Garcetti was credentialed as the 26th US ambassador to India by President Droupadi Murmu on May 11, 2023. After serving on the Los Angeles City Council for 12 years, Ambassador Garcetti won the election in 2013 as the youngest mayor inthe city's history. He then won re-election in 2017. As Mayor, Garcetti oversaw a period of economic growth and opportunity, won a bid for Los Angeles to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, and pursued an aggressive health and climate agenda. He also served as a naval officer in the reserve component for 12 years. Ambassador Garcetti earned a B.A. as a John Jay Scholar from Columbia University, where he studied Hindi and Indian culture. He holds a Master's degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and was a Rhodes Scholar at The Queen's College, Oxford. Ambassador Garcetti and his wife, Amy Elaine Wakeland, have one daughter and have been foster parents for more than a decade. A fourth-generation native of Los Angeles, Ambassador Garcetti is an avid pianist and photographer. (ANI) The UN has chosen Brazil to host the international climate meeting, COP30, in the Amazonian city of Belem do Para in 2025. The announcement came from Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday, according to CNN. Lula in a video posted on Twitter said: "I've participated in COPs in Egypt, Paris, Copenhagen and all people talk about is the Amazon. So why not have the COP in the Amazon so [people] can get to know the Amazon, see its rivers, its forests, its fauna." Brazil's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mauro Vieira, said the UN approved Brazil's bid to host COP30 on May 18 after Lula's request during last year's COP27 meeting in Egypt. Belem do Para is a northern Brazilian city located on the fringes of the Amazon forest. It's the capital city of the state of Para located on the coast of the Amazon River estuary. The governor of Para, Helder Barbalho, said in the same video that it is a "great privilege for the whole country" to host the event, saying it "increases the responsibility" of Brazil's climate agenda regarding the rights of indigenous people and the environment, according to CNN. Lula has promised to tackle Amazon deforestation and repair the damage to the Amazon caused by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, under whose presidency deforestation surged. (ANI) 11-Year-Old Mississippi Boy Shot By Police Officer After Calling 911 For Help: Why Did He Shoot Me? The family of an 11-year-old Mississippi boy police shot after he called 911 for help demands the responding officer be fired and charged with the shooting. Aderrien Murray was reportedly shot in the chest early Saturday by an Indianola police officer who responded to a domestic disturbance call at the boys home. NBC News reported the familys attorney demanded a full investigation into the incident. This should not have happened, Carlos Moore said. The main question [Aderrien] has been asking is why did this happen to me? The child suffered a collapsed lung, lacerated liver and fractured ribs. Hes blessed to have survived but hes still in pain emotionally and mentally. According to CNN, the young boy was released from the hospital and is now recovering at home with his family. However, Moore said Aderrien is traumatized from the incident and will require counseling. A group of protesters gathered Thursday at Indianola City Hall, calling for the police officer to be held accountable for shooting an unarmed Black boy. Moore argued against claims that police had mistaken the 11-year-old for the adult who was the subject of the 911 call. He also stated the person of interest was over 6 feet tall, and the young boy did not fit the description. This 11-year-old child was about 4 feet 10 it looks like and so he could not have been confused, Moore told CNN. So we dont know what happened, but we do know this officers actions were reckless, very reckless, and could have led to the loss of life. No child should ever be subjected to such violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect and serve, Moore said in a statement. The boys mother, Nakala Murry, said she instructed Aderrien to call 911 after the father of one of her children was at her home irate around 4 a.m. Saturday. Murray said the officer arrived at the home with his gun drawn and demanded everyone inside the home step outside, per CNN. The officer shot from outside the house and struck Aderrien in the chest as he entered the living room. Once he came from around the corner, he got shot, Murry said. I cannot grasp why. The same cop that told him to come out of the house. (Aderrien) did, and he got shot. He kept asking, Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?' she said. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation conducted a probe into the shooting. Moore has demanded body camera footage be released. However, he was denied since it is an ongoing investigation. MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office, the agency said. The 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police after calling 911 has been telling his mom 'it's the cop's fault it's not your fault,' lawyer says The 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police after calling 911 has been telling his mom 'it's the cop's fault it's not your fault,' lawyer says Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot in the chest by a Mississippi police officer after he called 911 for help. His attorney Carlos Moore (right) told Insider the child had a collapsed lung and still struggles to breathe sometimes. Courtesy of Carlos Moore The 11-year-old Mississippi boy shot by a police officer has been comforting his own mother, urging her not to blame herself. Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest last Saturday after he called 911 for help. The Indianola Police Department has placed the officer on paid leave and has not yet released body camera footage. An 11-year-old Mississippi boy was shot by a police officer after calling 911 for help and now that he's home recovering, he's been urging his mother to blame the cop and not herself, according to the family's attorney. Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest early on Saturday morning, shortly after Indianola police officers arrived at his home in response to a domestic disturbance call. The Murry family's attorney, Carlos Moore, said one of the officers had ordered everyone in the house to "come out with your hands up," but when Aderrien complied, the officer opened fire. Moore told Insider in an interview that Aderrien remembers the entire incident, and began receiving counseling on Friday to help cope with the trauma. In the meantime, he's also been reassuring his own mother that she did nothing wrong. "He told his mom not to worry. It was not her fault," Moore told Insider. "She was blaming herself, and he's trying to encourage her not to blame herself. He told us, 'It's the cop's fault it's not your fault.' He was doing all he could to help protect his mom, and he ends up getting shot." Moore said he's outraged at the Indianola Police Department's handling of the situation. Moore said the officer involved has been put on paid leave, which he called "a paid vacation for shooting someone." Moore added that the Murry family hopes to eventually see the officer charged with aggravated assault. The police department has also so far refused to release the footage, citing an "ongoing investigation," though Moore noted that other police departments have previously released body camera footage within hours of shooting incidents. Moore said he believes the police department's reluctance to release the footage immediately indicates that the footage will spark public outcry. The Indianola Police Department declined to comment to Insider, saying state authorities are still investigating the shooting. "We know that if it's in their favor, the immediately release" body camera footage, Moore said. "So we believe that it is worse than we can imagine." Moore told Insider his firm is preparing to file a federal lawsuit next week to obtain the body camera footage, and hopes to also obtain footage from a nearby gas station. Moore also said Aderrien is slowly recovering and "getting better day by day," but continues to struggle with breathing, due to his collapsed lung, and often feels as though he's suffocating. Moore described Aderrien as a "bubbly" child who has struggled to understand why an officer would shoot him. "He is full of personality, an outstanding 11-year-old. He's wise beyond his years," Moore said. "He has an old soul. It was like talking to a grown man." Moore also said he and other adults have been trying to explain to Aderrien that it's still important to trust law enforcement, and that there are many "good cops." But he said the child may never fully feel comfortable around police officers again. "Emotionally, mentally, he's still very much traumatized," Moore said. "He keeps asking what did he do wrong? Why did the officer shoot him? He just can't understand." Read the original article on Insider 13 million Ukrainians live in occupation or near the front line A man injured as a result of a Russian attack on the railway station in Kherson, May 6, 2023 Now Ukrainians have no other chance to survive except to fight, he said. Lubinets cited striking figures: 4.8 million Ukrainian citizens have the status of internally displaced persons within Ukraine, more than 8 million Ukrainians fled abroad, while 13 million Ukrainians are living either under occupation or in close proximity to the front line. Read also: Russias overnight attack: all targets neutralized above Kyiv, while Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv hit At least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been verifiably abducted to Russia. The real numbers could actually be much higher, he said. The realities of the war showed that there is no international system of human rights protection, the ombudsman added. Were now living in a time when the aggressor country is showing everyone that international humanitarian law, the Convention on the Protection of Childrens Rights, the Geneva Convention are just pieces of paper, Lubinets said. An open genocide is taking place in Ukraine... Who is involved in this? The president of the neighboring state. Read also: Two civilians killed in morning Russian air strikes on Kherson Oblast The Kyiv Security Forum founded by former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation, is the states main platform for discussing issues of war and peace, and national and global security. The forums partners include The Atlantic Council, the NATO Information and Documentation Center, the National Democratic Institute, the Ukrainian Womens Congress, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and the Euro-Atlantic Course. NV is the Kyiv Security Forums official media partner. 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 town of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, is mourning the death of a bride-to-be. Paige Ruddy, 19, and her fiance Logan Mitchell-Carter privately exchanged their vows Monday and had a small, family-oriented ceremony, per WMTV News. Their legal wedding at the Sauk County Courthouse on Tuesday, however, tragically never came to pass. Ruddy was reportedly trapped on the second floor of a house fire Tuesday and died the next day from a brain hemorrhage as a result of smoke inhalation. Local fire department Chief Craig Douglas told the outlet Ruddy couldnt navigate through the smoke to safety. She was just a precious human, Ruddys aunt told the outlet Thursday. There was nothing about her that you couldnt like. She was this presence you never knew you needed in your life, but always did. Douglas told the outlet three other people were home at the time of the fire and managed to escape before firefighters arrived at the scene around 4 a.m. The fire chief added that foul play is currently not suspected, while the cause of the blaze remains unclear. The house, which Ruddy and Mitchell-Carter were staying in and belonged to the grooms grandparents, reportedly lacked any working smoke detectors. Ruddys family has since urged others to ensure their own homes are fitted with the functioning equipment. Ruddy planned to enroll in a veterinary technician program this fall. Ruddy planned to enroll in a veterinary technician program this fall. Rudy graduated from the Reedsburg Area High School in June 2022. She planned to enroll in a veterinary technician program at Madison Area Technical College this fall and hoped to nab a related associate degree for her future career. There are enough good qualities about Paige to fill up a room, reads a GoFundMe page created to help with medical costs and funeral expenses. Since she was a toddler Paige was full of life, ready to help anyone with anything, and an absolute joy ... She was kind, fun, and according to her family had lots of spunk. Launched Thursday, the GoFundMe has already surpassed its $10,000 goal after nearly 200 separate donations. Lily Markgraf, who graduated high school alongside her, said Ruddy was the first friend she made after moving to Reedsburg in seventh grade. She had a big caring heart, Markgraf told WMTV News. She was there for anyone who needed it, even if she didnt like the person. If they needed her help, shed be there to help them. Im going to miss her for the rest of my life. Ruddys family is planning to hold a private funeral service next week. Related... 1923 costume designer says Harrison Ford had more than 50 hats created for hit show When it comes to nailing down Harrison Ford and Helen Mirrens looks for the hit show "1923," Emmy Award-winning costume designer Janie Bryant has got it covered. During an interview with Fox News Digital, Bryant detailed what it was like creating a historic look for Ford and Mirrens characters -- married couple Cara and Jacob Dutton. "I'll never forget, I had my first fitting with [Ford] and he was like, Janie, do you have a three-way mirror? I said, Of course, Harrison let me show you. Step right here," she began to explain. "He looks at himself in the mirror, has the hat on, the jacket, the chaps on. He puts his hands in his coat and he's like, Well, what can I tell you? This is f---ing perfect." HARRISON FORD SAYS 1923 ROLE EMOTIONALLY RELATES TO HIS NEAR-FATAL PLANE CRASH Janie Bryant speaks onstage at the 1923 Costume Exhibit at Paley Center For Media. The "1923" costume designer admitted she had to create nearly 50 hats for Ford until he found the right one for his character, Jacob. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The cowboy hat is an extension, an expression of who they are," Bryant explained. Harrison Ford stars as Jacob Dutton in "1923." "One of the things that I talked to Harrison about was he knows the importance of a hat the certain style of [a] hat makes you famous, right? Think about Indiana Jones and the fedora," she said, referring to another one of Fords popular movie roles. Fifty hats later, Bryant dished on how critical it was to provide Ford with the right accessory for the "Yellowstone" spinoff, "1923." "This hat for Jacob Dutton felt as important as any of those other characters created on screen," she continued. "I talked to Harrison a lot about [how] I feel like Jacob Dutton really must have the Montana peak crease so that is the hat that he ended up with, and I named it The Jacob." Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton in "1923." As for Mirrens character, Bryant went on to say how she and Ford are both "total" professionals to work with. She added that her and Mirrens visions were "aligned" when creating the costume. '1923' STAR HARRISON FORD SHARES SECRETS ABOUT SEASON TWO AND REVEALS WHY HE'LL NEVER RETIRE "Both Helen and I loved the idea that Cara would be old-fashioned so I designed her costumes that were of an earlier period, which I love, because it really illustrates that she is from a different era, which was really important," Bryant noted. "She has long hair, she wears it in a bun. It's almost a Victorian-esque feel I really wanted her to have those elements in her costume of being from a different period." Janie Bryant photographed at the "1923" costume exhibit. Taylor Sheridan, director of "1923" and "Yellowstone," communicated to Bryant that a certain hat is critical when creating costume looks for each television character. "Taylor Sheridan he is super specific about what his leading men will wear when it comes to hats. I mean, he is a cowboy himself. He knows about hats." In terms of making sure all the costumes accommodated the "1923" period, Bryant added that Sheridan can always count on her to do the job. Taylor Sheridan attends the black carpet during "Yellowstone" season 5 Fort Worth premiere. "He is very passionate about what his shows look like and how they're designed one thing that I truly appreciate about him is that we have creative conversations, and we get to collaborate together," Bryant remarked. "I always feel like there's a lot of creative freedom in the process, which is amazing. He trusts me and relies on me to be able to do my job as a costume designer I feel very blessed." As for costume design challenges, Bryant pointed out that since the 1920s were 100 years ago, several of the materials -- including silk -- did not last, but she enjoys creating the period pieces. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren star as Jacob and Cara Dutton in "1923." HARRISON FORD RESPONDS WITH NSFW ANSWER WHEN ASKED ABOUT CO-STAR, SAYS HELEN MIRREN IS STILL SEXY Bryant further explained that she had to purchase certain fabrics from all over the world including Spain, Italy and England to complete "1923" costumes. Julia Schlaepfer, left, and Janie Bryant attend the "1923" costume exhibit. Meanwhile, Bryant is no stranger to designing costumes for hit Hollywood shows. She is also the mastermind behind the costumes for the drama series "Mad Men." She revealed her secrets to what it takes to become a successful Hollywood costume designer. "A little bit of spice, a little bit of sweetness and being creative diplomatic," Bryant laughed. "I really do truly love what I do. I love working with the actors. I love the film business, too But it's so much fun to create things that people love and really identify with, like all these different amazing characters." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Bryants costume designs are currently on display at the "1923" exhibit at the Paley Museum in New York City. The original costumes show a carefully curated sample of more than 1,000 costumes, including those worn by Ford and Mirren, and is a stunning tribute to the iconic series. The "1923" exhibit is available to visit until May 28. 2 Georgia men dead after police say they shot at each other during fight Two Georgia men are dead after they started shooting at each other during a domestic dispute on Tuesday night, according to WALB.com. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment on Country Club Drive in Americus around 10:25 p.m. They found two men with gunshot wounds. TRENDING STORIES: Michael Atkins, 24, was dead at the scene. The other man, Jekwan Cobb, 26, was taken to the hospital, where he also died. Investigators determined that the men shot at each other and that there is no indication that any other suspects were involved. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the case. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the American Police Department at 229-924-3677. A Texas House committee has recommended to impeach embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton amid a series of allegations of abuse of office. Also in the news: An Indiana doctor who spoke out about providing a 10-year-old rape victim with abortion care was found liable for violating patient privacy laws. Washington is heading out for the long weekend with mere days until the nation could see an unprecedented default on the national debt. I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Are you reading this from the airport? Today's the busiest day for flying in years. Now, here we go with Friday's news. 20 impeachment counts against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Texas lawmakers have issued 20 articles of impeachment against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, ranging from bribery to abuse of public trust as state Republicans surged toward a swift and sudden vote that could remove him from office. The charges were released Thursday night, hours after a Republican-led House investigative committee recommended impeaching the states top lawyer. The House could vote on the recommendation as soon as Friday. If it impeaches Paxton, he would be forced to leave office immediately. Read more Indiana doctor who reported Ohio 10-year-olds abortion violated privacy laws An Indianapolis doctor who spoke publicly about providing abortion care to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio was found liable Thursday for violating state and federal patient privacy laws by the Indiana Medical Licensing Board. During a disciplinary hearing, Dr. Caitlin Bernard said she followed state reporting requirements and hospital policy which she has asserted repeatedly. But in a split decision, the board found that the doctor violated privacy laws in her handling of the patients information. While Bernard could have had her license revoked, the board found her fit to continue practicing medicine. Read more Dr. Caitlin Bernard testifies on Thursday, May 25, 2023, during a hearing in front of the state medical board. More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. Six days until the debt ceiling deadline President Joe Biden and lawmakers prepare to leave Washington for the long Memorial Day weekend with only days remaining until a June 1 expiration date for the nation's debt. Unless a deal is reached Friday, negotiators are expected to continue to meet virtually over the Memorial Day weekend. House Republicans began departing the capital Thursday, but are on a 24-hour notice from McCarthy to reconvene at the Capitol if necessary. House Democrats tried to seize on Republicans' absence: With one side of the chamber empty, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the debt ceiling crisis "manufactured, MAGA madness" during remarks from the House floor. Read more Biden nominated the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Colin Powell. Exclusive interview: Nikki Haley talks about the 2024 GOP path to victory. Mexico's president knocked DeSantis, says Hispanic voters shouldn't give him ''a single vote.'' US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York, in Washington, DC, May 25, 2023. Supreme Court limits government power to curb water pollution 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. The decision has potentially sweeping national ramifications for water quality, agriculture and development. 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 are at risk of criminal prosecution" if they don't realize their property is subject to federal environmental rules. 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. Read our full recap of the decision here and how the court sided with a grandmother who lost her home. Head of Russian private army says forces are handing control of Bakhmut to Moscow The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claims his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military. His announcement Thursday came days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. The Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Russian President Vladimir 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. Read more Just for subscribers: These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. Study identifies symptoms that distinguish long COVID A clearer picture of what's become known as long COVID-19 is starting to emerge, which should eventually allow researchers to treat symptoms that can devastate people's lives for months or years after a COVID-19 infection. In a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers identified symptoms that are the most distinctive to long COVID, including: fatigue, especially after exercise, brain fog and dizziness, among others. Researchers believe it's possible that long COVID has different causes in different people, or that some people are affected by a combination of factors. Read more Mapping Colorado River water: How California, Arizona and Nevada plan to use less. Quick hits Photo of the day: Johns Hopkins grads get a surprise commencement speaker The latest graduates from Johns Hopkins University got a powerful message from a surprise commencement speaker Thursday: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the students via a livestream from embattled Kyiv. He highlighted how unexpected events such as a war can change the course of life, so its important to seize the moment at hand. Read more Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses via livestream the graduates of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this subscribe to USA TODAY here. Associated Press contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas AG Paxton, debt ceiling, Indiana abortion doctor, EPA, Ukraine, Russia: Daily Briefing 22-year-old missing for months found dead in Oregon woods, cops say. Worst nightmare A woman missing for months has been found dead in remote Oregon, police said. Kristin Smith, 22, of Gresham, was reported missing in late December, the Portland Police Bureau said in a May 25 news release. Remains found in a wooded area in Portland on Feb. 19 have been identified as Smith, according to police. I am deeply saddened, lost and broken, Smiths mother, Melissa Smith, wrote on a GoFundMe page. Ive fought so hard to find her, and I didnt find her in time. In the months since her daughters disappearance, Melissa Smith said shes participated in a number of searches, as well as hung thousands of fliers in the area, according to the GoFundMe. Kristin Smith, 22, of Gresham, was reported missing in late December, the Portland Police Bureau said. Ive been living the worst nightmare possible these last 6 months, Melissa Smith wrote in a May 11 Facebook post. Police said officers along with other agencies combed the area where Kristin Smiths remains were found for any other evidence. An investigation into Smiths death is ongoing, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 503-823-0433 or 503-823-1081. Woman vanished in 1984. Hair strand just helped identify her body, California cops say Missing 18-year-old was killed by someone she thought loved her, Texas family says Duo disguise overdosed woman in wheelchair, set house ablaze to hide body, IN cops say A man drowned in Wolfe Lake Thursday while attempting to swim across the body of water, according to the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team. The drowning was reported at 5 p.m. when a bystander saw a 23-year-old man attempt to swim across the lake, which is near downtown Campton. The search and rescue team said he made it about halfway across before going under the waters surface. A friend who was with the victim attempted to rescue him, but was unsuccessful, according to the search and rescue team. Rescuers found the mans body after roughly 30 minutes of searching, using GPS tracks and conducting a drag operation. After well over an hour submersion (in approximately 40 feet of water), he was rushed to the shore line and attached to monitors, the rescue team said in a Facebook post. But, unfortunately, the patient succumbed to the elements and was pronounced deceased by local EMS and the coroner. The search & rescue team said swimming across any large body of water without a proper flotation device is never a good idea. Add cold water temperatures and exhaustion into the mix and it makes a deadly combination, the team said in a Facebook post. In Dnipro, 27 May has been declared a day of mourning for those killed in the Russian missile attack on a medical institution on Friday. Source: Mayor of Dnipro Borys Filatov on Telegram Quote: "Tomorrow in Dnipro, a day of mourning has been announced for those who died in the Russian missile attack on one of our hospitals." Details: Filatov reported that the missile attack destroyed the wing of a medical institution where psychiatric care was provided. He emphasised that there were no military facilities there. As of 16:00, 26 people are known to be injured, including two children. Two people have been killed. Background: On 26 May, Russian troops launched a missile attack on a health centre and a veterinary clinic in Dnipro, in spite of the fact the Geneva Convention bans such attacks on civilian infrastructure. As a result, at least two people were killed and 23 people were injured, including 2 children born in 2020 and 2017. As of 13:50, the fires in both buildings had been extinguished. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! 300-year sentence handed down to former Tulare youth pastor for child molestations in 90s A Tulare man was sentenced on Friday to 300 years in prison for molesting a group of children in the late 1990s. Steven Brian Arey was convicted in April on 20 counts of lewd acts with a child under the age of 14, according to a statement from the Tulare County District Attorneys Office. Each count carried the special allegations of substantial sexual conduct and being committed against multiple victims, the DAs office said. Each count was a felony and considered a strike offense. The majority of the crimes took place over a period of six years beginning in 1996. The victim was a boy between 7 and 13 years old at the time. Two more victims, both females under the age of 13, were assaulted between 1996 and 2001, according to the DAs office. Arey was a former youth pastor who was working for the California Department of Corrections in Santa Clarita at the time of his arrest in 2019. He was one of two men arrested for molestation with ties to the same church in Visalia. In addition to the sentence, the 52-year-old will be required to register as a sex offender. WASHINGTON The U.S. has an extra four days to avoid defaulting on its debt. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Friday provided an updated timeline for when the government could run out of money, saying her projection is now by June 5 based on the most recent data if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt ceiling. Yellen had previously said the U.S. is on track to default in early June and "as early as June 1," which had White House and Republican negotiators targeting the first of the month for a deal. The more precise projection, outlined in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, gives President Joe Biden and McCarthy additional time to strike a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avert a default as they head into Memorial Day weekend. The two sides are nearing a new deal to raise the debt ceiling through 2024 and fulfill Republican demands for spending cuts. But they still have disagreements on expanded work requirements for welfare programs and expedited permitting for oil and gas projects. Biden, before departing the White House Friday evening for the Camp David presidential retreat, told reporters "things are looking good" and he hopes to have "some clear evidence tonight before the clock strikes 12" that a deal is finalized. "It's very close and I'm optimistic," Biden said. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks on the U.S.-China economic relationship at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Washington. Yellen said the Treasury is set to make more than $130 billion of scheduled payments in the first two days of June including payments to veterans and Social Security and Medicare recipients, leaving the department with "an extremely low level of resources." She said the government's balance would be inadequate to satisfy an estimated $92 billion of payments and transfers, including a scheduled investment in the Social Security and Medicare trust funds of about $36 billion. As a result of the debt-ceiling standoff, Yellen said the Treasury has already seen borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June. The rating agency Fitch on Wednesday put the country's "AAA" credit rating on a negative watch ahead of possible inaction by Congress to raise the debt ceiling. Yellen urged Congress to take action, saying a default would "cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests." Smart analysis delivered to your inbox: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Biden, McCarthy closer to a deal but still not there White House negotiators and House Republicans have neared zeroed in on a potential deal to cap annual discretionary spending for the next two years, effectively keeping spending levels flat for many domestic programs. McCarthy has said Republicans want the next fiscal year's budget to be smaller than last year's budget. In another concession to Republicans, a deal in the works would roll back $10 billion of $80 billion in IRS funding approved in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act last year that was designed to crack down on wealthy Americans and corporations that evade taxes. Even with the additional four days, any deal faces a complicated path to passage. Members of Congress are set to return from the long Memorial Day weekend on Tuesday. McCarthy has also told Republicans he will follow a rule giving members 72 hours to read a bill before holding a vote. It's unclear whether a deal will have the votes in Congress for passage even if it has the backing of Biden and McCarthy. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a top Republican negotiator, said the June 5 potential default date "puts additional pressure on us" and maintains and ensures the urgency of reaching an agreement. The deal is within reach, it just has to be agreed to, and we're waiting for the White House to understand the current set of terms we're dealing with, McHenry said. Yellen warned of June 5 date in January letter to McCarthy This isn't the first time Yellen has referenced a June 5 date. The Treasury secretary sent a letter to McCarthy, R-Calif., earlier this year warning that a "debt issuance suspension period" could last through June 5 before the Treasury exceeds the debt limit. The Treasury Department in January announced it would start taking extraordinary measures to prevent the country from defaulting on its debt obligations after the federal government hit its borrowing limit of $31.8 trillion. "The period of time that extraordinary measures may last is subject to considerable uncertainty due to a variety of factors, including the challenges of forecasting the payments and receipts of the U.S. government months into the future," Yellen wrote in January. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks to reporters about debt limit negotiations, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ORG XMIT: DCJM108 More: U.S. Treasury Department to take 'extraordinary measures' as government nears debt ceiling Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yellen extends timeline for looming default by 4 days to June 5 Whether its backyard grilling, camping out or beach trips, theres plenty of ways to spend Memorial Day weekend in South Carolina. But why not try something a bit more organized or different this year? In the Columbia area, you could attend a Memorial Day ceremony, participate in an organized run, enjoy water slides or do more than one event if you choose. Below are five Columbia-area events for the Memorial Day weekend. Raise the Colors When: Monday at 7:30 a.m. Where: Savage Craft Ale Works at 430 Center St., West Columbia Cost: $40 Get some good exercise over Memorial Day by joining the Raise the Colors: A Memorial Day Remembrance Murph. According to the organizers website, the event is not just a workout. It gives participants the opportunity to humble themselves through a bit of sweat and pain to honor those that sacrificed everything for our freedom. Join law enforcement in Lexington County along with Sorinex, Savage Craft Ale Works and Shellback Tactical in a murph workout that will consist of a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats and another mile run, all while wearing a weighted vest. To sign up for the event or find additional information, click here. Memorial Day Service When: Monday at 7 p.m. Where: Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church at 3011 Leaphart Road, West Columbia Cost: Free Come gather to honor those who sacrificed everything. The service will feature a collection of patriotic songs. All veterans and their branches of service will be recognized. A reception will immediately follow in the Fellowship Hall. Fort Jackson Cemetery Ceremony When: Monday at 9 a.m. Where: 4170 Percival Road, Columbia Cost: Free The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is set to host a Memorial Day commemoration ceremony at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Visitors are encouraged to contact the national cemetery to confirm information prior to the event. For contact information, click here. Palmetto Falls Water Park When: Saturday-Monday (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 12-5 p.m. on Monday) Where: 6511 Strom Thurmond Blvd., Fort Jackson Cost: $13-$17 per ticket The Palmetto Falls Water Park will be open for family fun throughout the Memorial Day weekend. Daily fees for DoD ID cardholders are $13, while costs are $15 for guests of authorized patrons and $17 for unaffiliated civilians. Memorial Park When: All weekend Where: 700 Hampton St., Columbia Cost: Free Heres something easy and free to do at your own time and pace. Remember our fallen soldiers with a visit to Memorial Park. The park is a memorial to 980 South Carolinians who died in Vietnam. It also has monuments honoring the USS Columbia warship and those that served with her during WWII; the China-Burma-India Theater Veterans of WWII; casualties of the Pearl Harbor attack of December 7, 1941; a Holocaust monument; and a Korean War Memorial. $5K reward offered for woman last seen in Orlando on Christmas Day Orlando police are offering a $5,000 reward for tips to help find a woman last seen in Orlando on Christmas Day last year. Police said Runy Leidy Medina Pacheco traveled from her home in the Dominican Republic to Orlando in October 2022 for an extended vacation. Police said she was staying at Cadence Crossing Apartments with an acquaintance she knew from the Dominican Republic. On Christmas Day 2022, police said Runy spoke to family members in the Dominican Republic but no one has heard from or seen Runy since. Runys 42nd birthday passed on May 18, and her loved ones said they did not hear from her. Read: Orlando police searching for woman, 40, missing since Christmas Day Police said this has caused significant concerns for her safety. She is described as a white, Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 5-foot-5-inch tall and weighs around 150 pounds. Read: Missing Orange County man found dead in car pulled from retention pond Anyone with information on Runys disappearance is asked to call Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. See a map of where she was last seen: 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. Lawmakers in Texas voted Wednesday to approve a bill for a localized version of the Amber Alert system that would enable police to notify people within a 100-mile radius as soon as a child goes missing. The so-called Athena Alert bill is named after Athena Strand, the 7-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted and killed by a FedEx driver delivering a package to her house in rural Wise County on Nov. 30. Her body was found Dec. 2, less than 10 miles from her father and stepmothers home. Tanner Horner has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping charges and is being held on a $1.5 million bond. The legislation now goes to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who must sign it before it becomes law. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Athena Strand. Athena Strand. GOP state Rep. Lynn Stucky, who authored House Bill 3556, told the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety that Wise Countys sheriff would have been able to issue a localized alert almost immediately had the Athena Alert been in place at the time. I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for sending my bill, HB 3556, to @GovAbbotts desk, Stucky tweeted Friday, using the governors Twitter handle. Special thank you to Athenas mom, Maitlyn Gandy, for coming to Austin to testify in support. 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, Gandy, the mother, was quoted as saying in a press release issued by her attorneys. 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. 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. Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin told HuffPost that his office deeply appreciates Stuckys efforts with the Athena Alert bill. With its passage, law enforcement will be able to make a local judgement call and send out an alert that may help bring a child home to his\her parents, Akin said. Hopefully, we will never need to make that judgement call, but if it does happen again and if so decided, we have an additional tool to help us recover a missing child. ACTIVE AMBER ALERT for Athena Strand from Paradise, TX, on 12/01/2022, TX pic.twitter.com/bcUymFRLxz Texas Alerts (@TX_Alerts) December 1, 2022 On the day of Athenas disappearance, her stepmother spent about an hour looking for the girl before reporting her missing to police at around 6:40 p.m., authorities said, but an Amber Alert wasnt issued until the following afternoon. At the time, Akin said that Athenas stepmother had told police that she and the girl had had an argument. Authorities didnt suspect foul play and believed she might have run away, the sheriff told CBS last year. At first we thought it was just another missing child, a missing child who would be found in a matter of minutes, Akin told HuffPost on Friday. But, that was not the case. We were not able to post an Amber Alert because, at that time, the case specifics did not meet the criteria set by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The states Amber Alert criteria include a preliminary investigation [that has] verified the abduction and eliminated alternative explanations for the childs disappearance, and a determination by law enforcement that the child is in immediate danger of sexual assault, death or serious bodily injury, among other factors. Athenas father, Jacob Strand, was not at home when Athena disappeared and Gandy, her mother, lived in Oklahoma. Athena was visiting her father and due to return to Gandys after the Christmas break, the mother said. Authorities said that Horner, 31, confessed to strangling Athena after hitting her with his truck and told them where to find her body. Athenas family filed a wrongful death suit against Horner, FedEx, and the subcontractor who hired Horner, BuzzFeed News reported. Subscribe to our true crime newsletter, Suspicious Circumstances, to get the biggest unsolved mysteries, white collar scandals, and captivating cases delivered straight to your inbox every week. Sign up here. Related... A 71-year-old retiree just earned his bachelor's degree after enrolling in university in 1969 Arthur Ross just completed his degree at the University of British Columbia after leaving the school in the 1970s. University of British Columbia Arthur Ross, 71, is a retired attorney who graduated with a bachelor's degree after first enrolling in university in 1969. It took Ross 54 years to complete his degree after his 35-year-long law career, reports say. Ross joked he's the "slowest" graduate, but he's not the first to walk across the stage decades after beginning. A Vancouver man graduated from the University of British Columbia with his Bachelor of Arts degree on Thursday, after leaving the school in the 1970s. Arthur Ross, 71, is a retired lawyer who first enrolled in university as a young man in 1969. He retired in 2016 after a decades-long career, and eventually decided to return to school and finish the degree he started so long ago, the Vancouver Sun reported. "I always thought maybe at some point, I would go back and try to finish off that degree, just as something to do," he told the Vancouver Sun. "And it was stimulating, it sharpened my brain." Ross joked he was the "slowest" graduate after finishing took him nearly 54 years. According to the Washington Post, he began pursuing an English degree before switching to acting. He left university for the first time two years after enrolling to attend theater school in Montreal. Three years later, he grew tired of acting and turned to law school, which he only needed three years in undergraduate studies to attend, per the Washington Post. Then, he began a long career as a lawyer before an opera in 2016 sparked his interest in returning to school. According to the BBC, a German opera inspired Ross to learn more about history and discuss with others. So, in January 2017, he enrolled in the University of British Columbia once more to complete a history degree. "It's a waste not to take the opportunity to study something, anything, that is of interest to you," Ross told BBC. "Here, the opportunity has presented itself to me, and I have enjoyed it." His journey was slowed in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Ross told multiple outlets that his fellow students at the beginning of their professional journeys are the real heroes. "They certainly lost something at that point, but a part of their character emerged that said 'OK, we'll just have to do this in a different way,'" Ross said, per BBC. "I have tremendous admiration for them finishing." Now, with his history degree, Ross will go back to the life of a retiree six years after embarking on the journey to complete his degree. He's not the only spring graduate that began their degree in another decade. On May 14, a 101-year-old World War II veteran walked across the stage 80 years after he was supposed to attend his college graduation. Read the original article on Business Insider courtesy of brands "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Even with Black History Month behind us, its never too late to support Black-owned beauty brands making a difference 365 days of the year. From superfood, vegan-friendly face masks to moisturizing plant-based body washes , these 9 Black-owned holistic beauty brands are bridging the gap between external and internal wellness for all. Rooted in traditional ancient Chinese medicine, holistic healing dates back 5,000 years ago (yep, prior to modern westernized medicine!) Ancient healers and spiritual gurus used the practice as a form of linking common illnesses and diseases to traumas within the body by intersecting wellness through a mind, body, and spirit connection. I think healing for our bodies is all about being intentional, explains Abena Boamah-Acheampong , Founder and CEO of Hanahana Beauty . With clean and holistic beauty intentionality is key, down to the ingredients being used to create said products. I believe if you are doing anything at any level of healing you must be mindful that items, whether used internally or externally are intentionally made, she adds. When it comes to Hanahana Beauty, we are international not only about the ingredients but also the overall process it is the standard that all clean beauty should be. However, it's also important to read and research what brands (and products) we're using as customers because some things are just marketing moments. Using a similar approach within their beauty products, these Black-owned beauty brands have intertwined the scope of holistic healing by using all-natural and ethically sourced ingredients to help repair the body's overall wellness from the inside, and out. Whether youre on the hunt for more Black-owned brands to support or simply want a new approach to how you experience all-natural beauty ahead, are a few favorites that are more than just skin deep. Golde Courtesy of Golde Courtesy of Trinity Mouzon Co-founded by Trinity Mouzon Wofford (and husband, Issey Kobori), Golde is the ode to all-natural self-care. From morning superfood smoothies to superfood facial masques, Golde wants to help change our relationship with wellness by focusing on internally and externally healing our bodies. Wellness is really a holistic pursuit that combines what you put on your skin and what you put in your body. At Golde, we make both ingestible superfood blends (like matcha, turmeric lattes, and collagen boosters) *and* topical skincare, because we know how connected the two inherently are, adds Mouzon Wofford. I started Golde in 2017 on a mission to bring superfoods to everyone's wellness routines. I was feeling caught between the crunchy granola stuff I'd grown up with in my local health food store and the wave of ultra-premium wellness offerings just didn't resonate. We're all about making wellness easy and fun for all. Shop Now Clean Greens Face Mask $34.00 golde.co The Review: Ive been following this brand since its inception and my forever favorites are the face masks. Its like superfoods for your face! The Clean Greens Face Mask detoxifies my skin and clean out my pores while the Papaya Bright Mask takes me back to the islands and leaves my skin bright. Both give my face an au natural pick me up. ELLE.com Beauty Director, Danielle James The Afro Hair & Skin Co Courtesy of The Afro Hair & Skin Co Courtesy of Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka Dedicated to crafting ethically-sourced, organic products by hand, Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka wants to feed our hair and skin with positively charged ingredients that are healthy and sustainable. With kindness at the core of the brand's mission, The Afro Hair & Skin Co believes self-care is the best way to heal our connection with ourselves and the world around us. When we are intentional about doing what it takes to truly support and heal ourselves inside out, we begin to understand where and how holistic beauty can play its part, explains Meier-Oruitemeka. The Afro Hair & Skin Co. is very much about distilling the magic of botanical, plant-based ingredients into everyday personal care products that, not only meet our practical everyday beauty needs as Black women, but also allow for us to develop rituals that bring us peace, pleasure and allow for us to re-center ourselves. Shop Now BLOOM Omega Healthy Hair Oil $33.88 amazon.com The Review: I've been using The Afro Hair and Skin companys products for around 4 years now and love it! My favorite hair product is their FLOURISH hair butter. This nourishing butter melts beautifully into my Afro, leaving it moisturized, and making detangling and combing a lot easier. Other than how beautiful it makes my hair look & feel, I fell in love with Flourish because of its natural ingredients which is great for my sensitive scalp. lawyer, legal tech and natural hair blogger, Comfort Nkang . Jacqs Organics Courtesy of Jacqs Organics Courtesy of Barbara Jacques After learning that she had an ovarian tumor while expecting her daughter, Barbara Jacques began studying green medicine and holistic plant botany as a way to cope with her illness. This later inspired the creation of her brand, Jacqs Organics. Providing healing remedies to address unique skincare concerns that often plague Black women and women of color, Jacqs is your one-stop destination for nontoxic vegan and sustainable skincare that promotes healthy healing the right way. The more research I did, the more concerns I had about the effects of ingredients on our overall health, adds Jacques. JACQS is on a mission to change the way the beauty industry sees skincare and women of color. Black, brown, hispanic, asian women, and everyone in between should be seen and to be seen as much more than props and profit margins. We're creating a clean skincare line backed by science and fueled with probiotics, and plant activities to address the unique skincare concerns for melanated skin. Shop Now Cleansing & Moisturizing Antioxidant Beauty Balm $49.00 shopjacqs.com The Review: My favorite Jacq's product is the antioxidant beauty balm cleanser. The cleanser immediately melts my makeup and doesn't require excessive rubbing. My experience with Jacq's was my first time using a beauty balm and I'm thoroughly impressed! My husband and I both enjoy using the clarifying masque. It leaves my skin feeling clean, tight, refreshed, and very smooth. beauty content creator, Nya Bryanna Henry Beneath Your Mask Courtesy of Beneath Your Mask Courtesy of Dana Jackson Committed to prioritizing health and overall wellness, Beneath Your Mask wants to change the interpersonal relationship you have with yourself behind closed doors. After being diagnosed with lupus and lupus nephritis, founder Dana Jackson wanted to find a way to repair her skin with nontoxic ingredients that wouldn't further challenge her immune system. Id become hyper-sensitive about what I was putting in my body and, subsequently, what I put on my body. Id never treated my skin like an organ prior to my illness, shares Jackson. I began hand-crafting beauty that is safe to absorb and doesnt compromise on any level. Beneath Your Mask is where a commitment to health and wellness meets a lifestyle of luxury and decadence. The name comes from the premise that you cant truly be healed until you remove the mask youre presenting to the world. This life-changing diagnosis forced me to remove my own mask and I wanted to show others that theres beauty on the other side of their own journeys. Shop Now Illuminate Clarifying Face Mask $70.00 beneathyourmask.com The Review: I love this mask so much! Being a model and having makeup on and off my face all day means I have to take my skincare seriously and this mask felt so good and left my skin feeling so soft and healthy and cleansed. I have really sensitive skin so I have to be careful about the products I use and this product gave me NO problems. model and radio host, Danae Reid . Kaike Courtesy of Kaike Courtesy of Keli Smith Founded in 2015 after battling with severe eczema, Keli Smith created her brand Kaike after noticing a lack of eczema-focused skincare products on shelves. Her brand Kaike provides all-natural concentrated skincare to help nourish and provide healing properties to dry, eczema-prone skin. Kaike's mission is to celebrate our skin. Born from the belief that less is more, we create clean, indulgent skin and body care products to nourish your skin, says Keli. Skincare should be a piece of cake. Our concentrated skincare approach delivers decadent ingredients to feed your skin for a healed, healthy glow. What I couldnt find on beauty shelves, I created with clean, nourishing products that treats dry, itchy, eczema-prone skin skin like mine. Shop Now Kaike Melt Cleansing Oil $25.00 shopkaike.com The Review: Kaike's Melt Oil Cleanser literally melts away my makeup so effortlessly; it's my favorite Kaike product, and it smells so good! Other makeup removal products dont always cleanse my makeup entirely, but Kaike did a great job on the formula, especially with the apricot seed oil and watermelon seed oil. content creator and founder of Naked by Nature, Amber Williams . Hanahana Beauty Courtesy of Hanahana Beauty Courtesy of Abena Boamah-Acheampong Founder and CEO of Hanahana Beauty, Abena Boamah-Acheampong, believes beauty is more than skin deep. From ethically sourcing raw ingredients to providing transparent and accessible skincare for the body and face, Hanahana Beauty is changing how we experience natural, holistic skincare that heals both the body and the soul. Hanahana Beauty's mission is to bring a level of humanity into the beauty space like never before seen, explains Boamah-Acheampong. Being able to create sustainable paths from the producers we work with to our community and customers. This can be seen through key points such as transparency and accessibility. Shop Now Unscented Shea Body Butter $12.00 hanahanabeauty.com The Review: I hate being ashy, which is why I adore Hanahana Beauty products. You don't have to work too hard for buttery smooth skin because Hanahana Beauty's Shea Body Butter (in the lemongrass scent, of course) melts like a dream and leaves my extremely dry skin supple and gleaming. ELLE.com Beauty Commerce Editor, Nerisha Penrose Plant Apothecary Courtesy of Plant Apothecary Courtesy of Plant Apothecary Plant Apothecary believes magic is a mindset. With sustainably inclusive ingredients that derive directly from the earth, nature is at the core of the brand's mission all while providing plant-based mood-enhancing formulations. When we blend the best of our worlds, we push boundaries and make beautiful things happen. Its in the flowers that bloom, the lights that shine, and in the compass that leads us home. We lift each other to our highest of heights for an outcome that honors the very best in our nature and nature as a whole, e xplains brand co-founder Holly McWhorter. Shop Now Cloud Break $18.00 plantapothecary.com The Review: Having dry and sensitive skin and wanting to try all of the latest products doesn't always end well for me, so I typically like to stick with brands that have natural ingredients. Plant Apothecary was a brand that I found on TikTok and I have been swearing by it ever since. My skin literally soaks up the Cloud Break cleanser every morning, which I use with my Foreo Luna cleansing tool. The cleanser is able to wash the impurities from my pores, without drying out or stripping my skin like most cleansers would, and that's why it's my go-to product. Beauty Content Creator and Founder of Kelsee's Beauty Bible Podcast, Kelsee Majette . The Healing Place Apothecary Courtesy of The Healing Place Apothecary Courtesy of The Healing Place Apothecary Founded by Nubian Flunder, The Healing Place Apothecary provides plant-based formulations rooted in holistic wellness principles from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Handcrafted locally in small batches, The Healing Apothecary uses sustainable, all-natural ingredients that cater to all melanin skin tones. In bridging the gap between the modern world and the natural world, we believe in prioritizing our health and wellness while being chic, savvy, and totally fabulous. We believe in balance and vitality, the brand shares. Shop Now Rose Water Hydrating Mist $17.00 thpapothecary.com The Review: The Healing Place Apothecary's Rose Water Hydrating Mist is a must-have for anyone looking for a versatile and effective skincare product. It not only hydrates, tones, and tightens the skin, but also calms irritated skin, and acne, and sets your makeup. I love how it leaves me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated all day long! HBO Digital Associate Producer, Kenia Reyes You Might Also Like The landscape of Portuguese gastronomy isnt complete without a certain sauteed, peanut-coated, and lovingly seasoned African touch. Colorful traces of Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) Africawhich includes Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tome e Principecan be found across the country, as people from the former colonies have migrated to Portugal with their culinary secrets in tow. As with most diasporic traditions around the world, these immigrants have created spaces where a sense of home could be accessed through foodand they range from street-food stands to stylish restaurants, with Ankara print in the place of table cloths, and Afrobeat and Amapiano music spilling out onto the city streets. But humble or extravagant, an African dining experience in Lisbon is a distinct reminder of the many African communities who call this place home. Read on to find the most delicious African meals in Lisbon, from Cape Verdean cachupa eaten over Creole conversations and blaring morna rhythms, to Mozambican crab curry from an award-winning chef in the Mouraria neighborhood. Mambo The place to indulge in Fela Kuti-infused evenings while leaning over a plate of something tangy, Mambo is prettily perched on Green Street (Rua da Silva), one of the most scenic alleyways in Lisbon and offers modern twists on Senegalese and Angolan favorites. Though this trendy eatery is tucked in a neighborhood with a strong history of diaspora settlement, Mambo is one of the few African-owned restaurants in the Santos areabut owners Gil Silva, and Duda and Mamadou Faty hope there will be more in the future. Here youll find one of the city's most coveted plates of mafe (a stew with peanuts and tomatoes as the key flavors, absorbed by meat or vegetables), and an enviable record collection to match. There are also gluten-free and plant-based options, making the menu fresh and exciting while staying true to its African roots. Where to find it: Rua da Silva n8 Casa Mocambo If your artsy, pan-African grandparents opened up their living room and turned it into a restaurant, it might look something like Casa Mocambo. Owner Mafalda Nunes created the space in the name of the first African neighborhood in Europe to honor the original mocambo (meaning place of refuge in Ubuntu). With African art all over the walls and a plethora of well-watered plants, the restaurant is easily one of Lisbons most choice eateries for a laidback Sunday dinner with Luso-Fusion staples. The menu includes fried fish with black beans, vegetables, and fried plantain; pork with shrimp and sweet potato; and the famous vegetarian mocambo (grilled sweet potato with black beans, vegetables, and mouth-wateringly good okra). Downstairs, local African and Afro-Brazilian artists play live samba. Consider this the ideal place to fill up after climbing the steep hill of Rua do Vale de Santo Antonio. Where to find it: R. do Vale de Santo Antonio 122A Sofias Place Let Sofias Place show you the best of Cape Verdean and Portuguese cuisine, with hints of Brazilian, Cuban, and other Caribbean flavors. Located in Sao Bento, it's a hit for the atmosphere as much as it is for the food. Since opening in early 2022, it has earned its place in the community as the spot to eat, drink, and dance. Ana Sofia Lopes desire to create a community where the African diaspora felt welcomed and well-represented manifested not only in the restaurants creative menu, but also on Diaspora Fridays when tables are moved aside for dancing to their top-tier music selection. Before hitting the dance floor, tuck into legumes a bras (vegatables cooked with a base of onions, garlic, and potatoes, and held together with scrambled eggs), bife de atum grelhado (grilled tuna), and the classically adored moamba de galinha (chicken stew). Where to find it: R. de Sao Bento 67 Mimbas African Cuisine Bringing a bit of Cameroonian spice into the mix, Mimbas African Cuisine is a must-visit when youre in the Moscavide area. Enjoy beans and puff puff (fried dough), achu (a traditional yellow soup), kati kati (a distinctive chicken dish), and all the spicy grilled fish you could ask for in a port city. These African delicacies stand out from the food scene in the city because aromatic Cameroonian food is inspired by a mix of cultural groups and neighboring countriesNigeria, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea, to name a fewwhich makes for a truly unique result. At Mimbas African cuisine, the cozy interiors and the wooden crockery create a space that invites you to slowly savor the food while forgetting about the city bustle outside the restaurant walls. Where to find it: R. Francisco Marques Beato 48 Tambarina Put all your trust in Tambarina to be your introduction to Cape Verdean foodor a guiltless indulgence in a plate full of nostalgia. Owner Domingos de Brito overcame discrimination from his neighbors and the police when opening Tambarina in 2011, and he did it all to bring a taste of his home country to Lisbon, where he has spent the majority of his life. Cape Verde is treasured not only for being the easy-going, musical archipelago of West Africa, but also for its flavorful corn- and bean-based dishes. Among them is cachupa, a classic dishand the restaurant's most popularmade from a base of chickpeas, corn, cassava, sweet potato, and fish or meat. Tambarinas presence in Lisbon's Poco dos Negros neighborhood, an area with a history as a mass grave site for enslaved Africans, represents an active history of overcoming a painful pasts with pride. Eat until your stomach is content, your body sways in its seat to the rhythms of the ever-present nostalgic tunes, and your cup is refilled with grogue (the national liquor of Cape Verde, made from distilled sugar cane). Where to find it: R. do Poco dos Negros 94 Courtesy of Cantinho do Aziz Cantinho do Aziz Run by a two-time Gourmand Cookbook Award-winning chef, Cantinho do Aziz is regularly graced by famous facessuch as Alfred Enoch, Monica Bellucci, and Mayra Andradelooking for that signature Cantinho do Aziz taste. It almost goes without saying that the food does Mozambiques culinary reputation justice, bringing the countrys flavors to the streets of Portugal with humble brilliance and clean-the-bowl dishes. Owner Chef Jeny Sulemange knew that Lisbon simply wasnt complete without a restaurant that inspired curiosity around the dishes of her birth country. Today, serving Mozambican classics like the crab curry is by far what keeps the restaurant's iconic yellow seating area packed. (The original Lisbon restaurant is in the historically African-occupied Mouraria neighborhood, but there are also Cantinho do Aziz eateries in NYC and the U.K.) Where to find it: R. de Sao Lourenco 5 These Chefs Are on a Mission to Decolonize West African Food From the Gambia to Ghana, there's a movement to elevate endemic flavors. Djairsound Turn up the sexta-feira vibes at Djairsound, where youll dine and sip to the beat of drums. The restaurants moqueca de camarao (a seafood stew hailing from Brazil) and cachupa (served the traditional way with egg, rice, and chili) draw in visitors looking for a traditional Lusophone plate that never disappoints. Youll want to try as much of it as you can and then finish up with some pudim de queijo, a widely loved dessert also known as cheese flan. Dance your meal off afterwards with some of Lisbons finest Cape Verdean musicians who regularly perform at this treasure spot in the Santos area. Where to find it: R. das Janelas Verdes 22 Roda Viva Mozambique meets Portugal in full-flavor manner in the kitchens at Roda Viva. Owner Octavio Chamba celebrates what it means to be African and naturally creative in the kitchen when serving up some of his homelands dishes to the city. A Mozambican feast is guaranteed hereand the golden-hour lighting, earth-toned decor, and intimacy of this tiny corner of Lisbon means most visitors turn into faithful regulars. With Ankara table cloths as the backdrop to the riot of colors that define a Roda Viva plate, this is the kind of restaurant experience thats hard to imitate. Make sure to try the matapa, a delicious green stew made from shrimp, peanut and cassava leaves. The crab stew and typical Mozambican samosas are also popular. Where to find it: Beco do Mexias 11 R/c Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler At 91, Brighton yodeler 'Bootsie' wins first-place prize. Watch how she did it. BRIGHTON When 91-year-old Dolores "Bootsie" Kawa was a little girl growing up on a farm in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, she picked up a skill that recently won her a multi-state talent competition among senior living community residents. "My mother yodeled, and you pick it up," Kawa said. "You either got it or you don't." From left, Dolores "Bootsie" Kawa and her daughter Linda Frazee are covered in confetti at Independence Village of Brighton Valley after Kawa won first place in the 2023 Ageless Talent Show put on by StoryPoint Group senior living communities She said she and her mother Pearl would yodel together while cooking. "She used to make pies and cakes and give them around to people in the neighborhood. Even if we were poor, she still shared," Kawa said. Earlier this year, Kawa was "shocked" when she was named the first-place winner of the 2023 Ageless Talent Show. Residents living in more than 40 StoryPoint Group senior living communities across several states competed. Marie Bush, the executive director of Independence Village of Brighton Valley where Kawa lives, said the talent show was a new event for residents in StoryPoint Group communities. "Everything that we do is to engage our residents," Bush said. "We have so many talented residents in the community. Its nice for them to show that off and keep them engaged and entertained." Kawa made it to the finals after performing a rendition of classic country song "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" with her daughter Linda Frazee, a Brighton real estate agent. Frazee sang the tune a cappella, and Kawa did the yodeling parts. They dressed up in western wear and charmed the crowd at Independence Village of Brighton Valley. "I dragged her into it," Kawa said. "We just knew there was going to be a competition," and she wanted to sign up. While she cannot dance like she used to due to Parkinson's disease, Kawa and her daughter made it work. "She had to wheel me out in a wheelchair. I think Linda sings real good," she said. 'Bootsie' Kawa shows off her first-place trophy from her home at Independence Village of Brighton Valley, which she won for her yodeling talent in the 2023 Ageless Talent Show among residents in StoryPoint Group senior living communities across the country, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. A life and family of music Kawa, who picked up the nickname Bootsie in her youth from a comic strip character, discovered she liked to dance at a young age, practicing her moves in the back of her grandfather's truck. "They called me a second Shirley Temple," she said. Kawa's family moved to Detroit when she was a girl. After her father died at the age of 40, when she was 16, she had to leave school to work and help support the family. She worked as a waitress and at a printing company, among other jobs. Frazee said her mother and father Raymond met when they were youths in Detroit. Bootsie and Raymond were married in Detroit in 1953 and raised three children. Kawa has three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. "He was a boy that would ride his bicycle by her house, and she couldn't stand him," Frazee, who works with Brighton-based real estate team Terri Lloyd & Co. - Keller Williams Realty, said of her parents. From left, "Bootsie" Kawa and her daughter Linda Frazee smile for the cameras at Independence Village of Brighton Village after Kawa won her first-place prize in a talent competition for her yodeling skills. Frazee added that her mother isn't the only one in the family with musical talent. "We can all carry a tune," Frazee said. "One time, my dad thought I was gone. I was 18. He went to take a shower down in the basement. I heard him singing in the shower. He was a quiet man, so singing must be in our genes." She said she and her mother also learned how to play the 19th-century American folk song "Oh! Susanna" on the harmonica together. Subscribe: Receive unlimited digital access to your local news coverage Kawa's love of music, singing and dancing landed her in Sounds of Canton, a performance group comprised of local seniors. She and her fellow members would dress up in flashy outfits, sing and dance at places like the Village Theater and events for other seniors. "We performed at the MGM casino in Detroit. We did 'Big Spender' and won first place. We did our feathers," she said. She then gestured like she was twirling a feather boa and sang some lines from the 1966 number, originally written for Broadway musical "Sweet Charity" by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields and choreographed by Bob Fosse before appearing on a Peggy Lee album. Bootsie joined Sounds of Canton after her husband died in 2001, just short of their 50th wedding anniversary. She was also a "Red Hatter," a member of a local chapter of The Red Hat Society, a social organization for older woman who wear red hats and purple attire at functions. She said it was a way to be social and she made a lot of friends. Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton woman, 91, wins over seniors across U.S. with yodeling talent 95-Year-Old With Dementia Dies After Police Use Stun Gun On Her In Australia Nursing Home Police cars are pictured on Feb. 21, 2013, in New South Wales, Australia. Police cars are pictured on Feb. 21, 2013, in New South Wales, Australia. A 95-year-old woman with dementia died one week after a police officer in Australia shocked her with a stun gun in a nursing home, officials said Wednesday. Clare 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, the New South Wales Police Force said in a statement posted online. Two officers had arrived at Nowlands nursing home in Cooma early on the morning on May 17 following reports of a person armed with a knife. Kristian White, a 33-year-old senior constable, shot a stun gun at Nowland in her home as she approached on a walker while carrying a steak knife. The woman then fell to the ground and hit her head, fracturing her skull. At the time she was tasered, she was approaching police, NSW Police Force Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter told reporters last week. It is fair to say at a slow pace. She had a walking frame. But she had a knife. Body camera footage of the encounter has not yet been released. But news of the incident outraged local community members and others who criticized the use of force against a 95-pound person. Shes either one hell of an agile, fit, fast and intimidating 95-year-old woman, or theres a very poor lack of judgment on those police officers and there really needs to be some accountability on their side, said Nicole Lee, the president of advocacy group People With Disability Australia. NSW officers are prohibited from using stun guns on people who are elderly or disabled unless exceptional circumstances call for it, according to the police forces conduct guide. The rule also applies when dealing with anyone who has a particularly small body mass. White, who has roughly 12 years of experience on the force, was suspended from the police force with pay amid an investigation. He has also been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault, though the charges may be upgraded following Nowlands death. White is set to appear in court July 5. Related... A gas ring The government is being urged to protect people from gas cookers as they pose health and environmental risks. Gas cookers produce emissions which contribute to global warming and have been linked to respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease. The charity Global Action Plan is calling on the government to help the UK transition to cleaner alternatives. The government offers grants to low income households to improve insulation and upgrade gas or electric boilers. But it does not cover the cost of switching from gas to electric cookers. The government has been contacted for a comment. More than 36 million people in the UK cook with gas appliances and may be exposed to levels of indoor air pollution that would violate UK outdoor air pollution regulations, according to the Collaborative Labelling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP). CLASP estimates that indoor air pollution from gas cooking costs the UK around 1.4bn annually in healthcare costs, including lower life expectancy, illnesses, greater healthcare expenditure, and lower productivity. Cooking with gas stoves produces nitrogen oxides which have been linked to respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests that even when gas stoves are off they leak methane, and when on, produce carbon dioxide gas and nitrogen oxides. A study found that children in homes with gas stoves, rather than electric, were 42% more likely to have asthma. Gas hobs also use fossil fuels which produce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global warming. This is a problem because the UK is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. 'Triple threat' Ben Hudson, head of insight and engagement at Global Action Plan, said: "The onus is on the government to act, as it is unrealistic to expect individuals to foot the bill of swapping to electric cookers, especially in a cost-of-living crisis. "Gas cookers are a triple threat: bad for our health, the environment and the economy." Global Action Plan, are calling for the UK government to help households switch to cleaner alternatives and protect public health. They want to see laws that set limits on pollution from gas cooking appliances and a new energy label that allows people to compare the efficiency and emissions of gas and electric cooking appliances. They also want an acceleration of the transition to cleaner electric cooking by coupling incentives for heating and home upgrades with electric cooking appliances. Harvard Medical School recommends ways you can protect your health if you have a gas stove. These include ventilating your kitchen when cooking by opening you windows, using air purifiers and using exhaust fans that move the air to the outdoors. Halle Bailey attends the Australian premiere of "The Little Mermaid" at State Theatre on May 22, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage) With all the buzz surrounding The Little Mermaid, Halle Bailey is riding high, and justly so. Just like Ariel, Bailey is fond of adventure, as she revealed in an interview with Travel + Leisure. Bailey Loves Jamaicas Natural Beauty Theres something deeply cathartic about being by any body of water, and Bailey knows this from experience. Whether shes in the ocean, a lake, or by a waterfall, shes at her happiest. Recently, Bailey visited one of Jamaicas beloved natural features: Dunns River Falls. Bailey said, I just spent my birthday in Jamaica and swam in Dunns River Falls for the first time. That was beautiful. If you have the chance to visit these falls, youll agree. Whether you want to climb the falls, or just take in the views, its a great tourist attraction for all ages. Moreover, Dunns River Falls is iconic, having appeared in Dr. No (the first James Bond film), and several popular television programs. Shes Not Much of a Travel Planner Some people plan their travel itinerary from A to Z, but not Bailey. I am a go-with-the-flow person, she explained. I need to become a better planner. She joked to Travel + Leisure that if she traveled with Ariel, the mermaid would pack way too much. Thats probably not far off after all, Ariel sings about hoarding gadgets and gizmos, whozits and whatzits, and the like. As for Ariels animal crew? Youd best believe Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle would come along for the ride. Her Role as Ariel Helps Advance Representation When millennials were kids, Brandy was the closest thing to a Black Disney princess when she played Cinderella. It wasnt until 2009 that Disney officially debuted a Black princess, Tiana. While The Princess and The Frog was cute, it came too late for millennials who had already outgrown Disney. The current generation of Black children is fortunate. Seeing a Black Ariel has impacted them in a way that cant be quantified. Racist backlash aside, Bailey is grateful she got the opportunity to star in The Little Mermaid. He [Rob Marshall, the director] did not want to change my hair, so I am playing Ariel with my locs, Bailey said. I know that means so many little girls and boys will see themselves in this film, and it makes me so happy. I truly believe the film does a great job at showing representation in a matter of fact way, and that is significant. [Source] "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" alumna Adeline Rudolph will reunite with fellow co-star Tati Gabrielle for a sequel to the 2021 film "Mortal Kombat." Rudolph will portray the iconic steel fan-wielding character Kitana, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Kitana was first introduced in the 1993 video game "Mortal Kombat II. Meanwhile, Kitanas close friend in the Mortal Kombat games, Jade, will be portrayed by Gabrielle. Additionally, fan-favorite Johnny Cage will be played by Karl Urban. The upcoming live-action sequel will see the return of filmmaker Simon McQuoid, who will direct with a script penned by Jeremy Slater. The films production is spearheaded by McQuoid, Michael Clear, Todd Garner, E. Bennett Walsh and Aquaman director James Wan. More from NextShark: Chloe Bennet Spearheads Campaign to Get More Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to Vote Based on the popular video game franchise of the 1990s, Mortal Kombat follows a coalition of martial artists and warriors who defend Earthrealm from evil forces. Besides Mortal Kombat, Rudolph will also star in Millennium's upcoming film "Hellboy: The Crooked Man. More from NextShark: Asian talents including BTS, Blackpink, Olivia Rodrigo land 2021 MTV EMA nominations Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Nathan Chen pushes for Salt Lake City to be 2030 Winter Games host Kim Chae-won dating rumor debunked after photo revealed to be doctored This adorable bear cub had Colorado neighborhood in a tizzy. See it high in its perch A mischievous little bear cub ran around without its mother anywhere in sight and wreaked havoc in a Colorado neighborhood, officials said. It eventually climbed so high into a tree that Colorado Parks and Wildlifes Southeast Region officers couldnt reach it with dart guns, officials said in a May 25 Twitter post. Such a cute little bear cub! officials said in the post. It looks calm but this little fella had a Colorado Springs neighborhood in a tizzy Wednesday by running around all day without its sow in sight. Such a cute little bear cub! It looks calm but this little fella had a #ColoradoSprings neighborhood in a tizzy Wednesday by running around all day without its sow in sight. By evening, @COParksWildlife officers Travis Sauder and Phil Gurule came to its #rescue. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/rREH5oMOCJ CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) May 25, 2023 Officials from the power company helped hoist CPW officer Travis Sauder in a bucket truck so he could get a clean shot with a tranquilizer dart, officials said. After that, they reeled the little cub in with a catch pole and brought it down safely, officials said. The cub was small for its age at 15 pounds and looked neglected, officials said. With the cub being too young to survive on its own, officials took it to CPWs southeast region office and then to a rehabilitation facility where it will stay until its old enough to be released back into the wild. Earlier this month, a startled bear cub climbed a utility pole and was electrocuted about five miles northwest of Colorado Springs, McClatchy News previously reported. Because black bears are wary of unfamiliar things and people, theyll run away or climb a tree when they perceive danger. Officials are asking residents to secure garbage and other things that could attract black bears, such as bird feeders. Best block party ever. Neighbors wait to break bears fall as its coaxed from tree Startled bear cub dies when its electrocuted climbing utility pole, CO officials say Watch as disheveled bear wakes up at Ukraine sanctuary. If Monday was a bear Some New York City schools are teaching middle and high school students about ageism and the value of intergenerational connection, using a pilot program. | Adobe Stock A pilot program that began in spring semester in a handful of New York City schools teaches students about the harm of ageism and the value of intergenerational connection. The program, Intergenerational Connections to Fight Ageism, was established by New York Citys Department for the Aging and its Department of Education. Program creators believe the initial step in learning about age discrimination, like any other form of discrimination, is by educating through others perspectives. The idea for the program was sparked by two high school internships where students had to work with older adults. Students participating in the internship began asking questions about ageism and wanting to understand why older generations are often stereotyped. They said Disney has all these characters that were old and wicked or spooky or scary. Or grandmothers that turned into wolves, NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez told MarketWatch. She added, Just out of the mouths of these young people came this idea to talk about ageism. And where better to talk about ageism than schools, where so many impressions are made and learning happens? Related One student who completed the course told The Wall Street Journal the class made her realize she needed to be more patient with her grandmother, who struggles with electronics. Another student said, I thought 60 and up was very old, but the class really changed my mind. Program creators believe that teaching the course to middle schoolers and high schoolers can prevent future generations from the harmful effects of discriminating against people based on their age. They add that people of all ages can be victims. If you see how you are marginalized and disenfranchised and hurt by ageism, Cortes-Vazquez told Chalkbeat, you would think about doing that to someone else. Kaydiana OMealley, who teaches at the School for Human Rights in Brooklyn, has incorporated anti-ageism education into her economics courses. Her goal is to combat age discrimination in the workplace. Michael Prayor, superintendent of high schools in South Brooklyn, told Chalkbeat these programs are personal for him. I think of my own father, whos 93 years old, and I want him to live in a society where he is still respected, loved and cared for as a senior citizen, he said. One of the best ways to go about creating a society that supports and reveres the elderly is to start with educating our young people. Students who participated in the classes will be interviewed this summer so that adjustments can be made to improve the program. Program designers plan to expand the classes to ages as young as middle school, hoping to help youth better recognize age biases and put an end to ageist ideals. In Ukraine, there is a shortage of electricity There is currently a certain resource deficit in the power system, but this does not mean power cuts to consumers, he said. Read also: Russian strikes could cause electricity deficit this summer in Ukraine Ukrenergo Ukrenergo now has a toolkit to prevent such extreme measures as turning off industrial or household consumers. We have temporarily limited exports to Europe to guarantee Ukrainian consumers a sufficient amount of electricity. Ukrenergo will also be able to cover the additional load from air conditioners that Ukrainians turn on during hot weather, said Kudrytskyi. Earlier, Ukrenergo urged Ukrainians to use electricity wisely after 7 p.m. Read also: Russias latest drone air raid deals no damage to energy infrastructure, says Ukrenergo 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 U.S. military is investigating the death of an airman killed Wednesday in a noncombat incident at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the Pentagon announced Thursday. Air Force Maj. Stephen Khou, 36, of Philadelphia, deployed to Kuwait as an active duty cyber officer with Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria that began in 2014. About 13,000 U.S. troops work on military bases across Kuwait as part of a longstanding partnership with the tiny Gulf country. At home, Khou was assigned to the 32nd Weapons Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The squadron offers graduate-level training in offensive and defensive cyber warfare for officers as part of the Air Force Weapons School. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 with a bachelors degree in engineering, then commissioned through Officer Training School in 2012, according to his public LinkedIn page and Air Force records. Khou began his career in cyber warfare while earning masters degrees in systems engineering and cyber operations at UCLA and the Air Force Institute of Technology. Before arriving at Nellis, Khou worked for a Germany-based detachment of the 83rd Network Operations Squadron, according to LinkedIn. The unit defends the Air Forces digital networks and helps ensure clear lines of communication across U.S. air units in Europe. In 2019, the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network named him its top officer Defender of the Year. He has earned the Pentagons Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Force Achievement Medals and two Air Force Commendation Medals as well. Khous death is the second announced by the U.S. armed forces so far this week. On Thursday, an American soldier died in an on-duty military vehicle accident at an Army training range in Kuwait. The military is withholding the service members name until 24 hours after their next of kin are notified. Air-raid warnings were issued across all of Ukraine on the night of 2526 May. Air defence forces were activated. Source: Map of air-raid warnings Details: Air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv at 03:02. Warnings were initially issued for northern, southern and eastern oblasts and quickly spread across the entire country, reached central and then western regions. Updated at 03:50: Mykola Lukashuk, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, said there was a threat of air raids in the city of Kryvyi Rih. Updated at 04:01: Ai-raid warnings have been issued for all of Ukraine. Updated at 04:20: A series of explosions rocked Kyiv. Updated at 04:22: Air defence equipment has been activated in the city of Kyiv and in Kyiv Oblast. The Kyiv Oblast Military administration said there was a high threat of missile strikes. Updated at 04:33: Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, said the situation in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was under control. Updated at 05:35: An all-clear has been issued in the city of Kyiv and the majority of Ukrainian oblasts. Updated at 05:40: Ihor Taburets, Head of the Cherkasy Oblast Military Administration, said air defence equipment was activated in the oblast. Updated at 06:30: An all-clear has been issued for all of Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! More than two decades after a mutilated body was found in the woods of northern Alabama, police have identified the cold-case victim with cutting edge DNA technology. The headless body, with hands and feet also removed seemingly to prevent identification, was discovered on April 15, 1997, along a creek in Union Grove. Officials at the time were only able to conclude the victim was a White male and that he died by homicide, according to a press release from the Marshall County Sheriff's Office. "Investigators from the Marshall County Sheriffs Office and the State Bureau of Investigation worked tirelessly to identify the individual and followed up on numerous leads; but were still unsuccessful in making a positive identification," the sheriff's office said. The case eventually went cold. However, police on Wednesday announced a breakthrough, identifying the remains as 20-year-old Jefferey Douglas Kimzey of Santa Barbara, California. The sheriff's office also said there are persons of interest in the case and that investigators are actively pursuing leads. NATALEE HOLLOWAY, SUSPECT JORDAN VAN DER SLOOT: TIMELINE OF ALABAMA TEEN'S DEATH Mutilated remains found along a creek in Union Grove, Alabama, on April 15, 1997, have been identified as 20-year-old Jefferey Douglas Kimzey of Santa Barbara, California. The turning point came in 2019 when Sheriff Phil Sims and then-Chief Investigator Keith Wilson partnered with Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company. Scientists used a process called DNA phenotyping to analyze samples discovered at the crime scene and "reverse-engineer" DNA to make a prediction of the victim's physical appearance. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In 2021, authorities released an image composed by Parabon NanoLabs of what the victim may have looked like, including that he was light-skinned with blue eyes and dark blond or light brown hair and that he likely had freckles, local news station WHNT reported. FLORIDA JURY RECOMMENDS DEATH PENALTY FOR JOSEPH ZIELER IN CASE OF 1990 DOUBLE HOMICIDE Parabon NanoLabs continued its work, using genetic markers called single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to search for possible relatives in available databases, the company's chief genetic genealogist CeCe Moore explained to the Los Angeles Times. "With genetic genealogy and SNP testing, we can find second, third, fourth cousins and beyond, and we can use that information to reverse engineer someones identity," Moore told the outlet. In 2019, police released a composite image based on DNA evidence that showed what the unidentified victim may have looked like. QUEBEC POLICE SOLVE NEARLY 50-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE MURDER OF TEENAGER USING DNA ADVANCEMENTS Over several years, the lab was able to identify genetic matches for possible relatives and compare that information with historical documents to identify the body. When Parabon NanoLabs had a match with "high confidence," Moore took that information to the Marshall County Sheriff's Office. Deputies then made contact with a relative living in Madison, Tennessee, who pointed them to Kimzey's biological parents in California, according to WHNT. DNA testing of Kimzey's parents confirmed the victim's identity. Investigators are now working with Parabon to identify DNA the sheriff's office said it has recently become aware was related to items found at the crime scene. Police are encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact the Marshall County Sheriff's Office. Alex Murdaughs accomplice takes plea deal and agrees to cooperate with FBI in dead housekeeper theft case Alex Murdaughs accomplice and friend Corey Fleming is now cooperating with the FBI over the convicted killers scheme to steal millions of dollars from his dead housekeepers family. Fleming, a longtime friend and law school classmate of the disgraced legal scion, accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors this week over his involvement in Murdaughs financial fraud schemes. He appeared in federal court in South Carolina on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. At the court hearing, Fleming confessed that he had taken part in one of Murdaughs financial schemes and admitted that he knew what he was doing when he did so. Prosecutors allege that Murdaugh orchestrated a financial fraud scheme which included stealing almost $4.3m from the estate of Gloria Satterfield and its insurance carriers. Satterfield was the Murdaughs longtime housekeeper who died in a mysterious trip and fall accident at the prominent familys 1,700-acre Moselle estate in South Carolina in 2018 the same property where Murdaugh shot dead his wife Maggie and adult son Paul three years later. Following her death, Murdaugh recommended that Satterfields sons hire his friend and fellow attorney Fleming to represent them in bringing a wrongful death claim against him, so that they could collect from his homeowners insurance policies. The insurance companies ultimately settled the estates claim for more than $4m two payments of $505,000 and $3.8m. Murdaugh and Fleming then stole the settlement money for themselves and the housekeepers sons didnt get a dime. Much of the stolen money was funneled through a fake Forge bank account which sought to imitate the legitimate and totally unrelated business Forge Consulting. In accepting the plea deal, Fleming admitted that he helped Murdaugh steal the insurance money meant for Satterfields sons and has agreed to cooperate with the FBI and US Attorneys office in the case. Corey Fleming in court on Thursday (ABCNews4) He has also agreed to submit to polygraph tests and to turn over his law licences in South Carolina and Georgia. He faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced at a later date. He was released Thursday on a $25,000 unsecured bond. He is also facing separate state charges over the Satterfield case. Ronnie Richter, an attorney representing the Satterfield family, welcomed Flemings guilty plea. This was a good day for justice because this is the first time anyone associated with the Satterfield case has pleaded guilty to anything, he said. Flemings plea deal comes the same week that Murdaugh was indicted on a slew of new charges over their scheme. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office announced on Wednesday that a federal grand jury had returned a 22-count indictment against the 54-year-old disgraced legal dynasty heir, charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The convicted killer was already awaiting trial on more than 100 financial crimes charges over a decade-long multi-million-dollar fraud scheme where Murdaugh stole millions from his law firm and legal clients a scheme he confessed to orchestrating when he took the stand at his murder trial. Alex Murdaugh appears in court for sentencing (AP) But, now he has been hit with a further 22 charges for what prosecutors describe as three separate schemes to steal money from personal injury clients he represented through his law firm. As well as the scheme with Fleming, prosecutors allege that Murdaugh ran a second scheme from at least September 2005 to September 2021, where he allegedly routed and redirected clients settlement funds into his own pocket including by directing his law firm colleagues to pay the funds directly into his personal account. In the third scheme, Murdaugh and his banker Russell Laffitte allegedly conspired from July 2011 to October 2021 to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Laffitte, who was CEO of Palmetto State Bank at the time, acted as Murdaughs personal banker and as a custodian or conservator for some of his law firm clients. Laffitte then conspired to defraud those clients, with the two men diverting the money to themselves. Laffitte was convicted in November of financial fraud charges in connection to Murdaughs alleged white collar fraud schemes. Murdaugh faces up to 30 years in prison on the highest charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the new indictment. His other financial charges already amount to more than 700 years in prison if convicted. Even without the financial charges, Murdaugh will already spend the remainder of his life in prison after he was found guilty on 2 March of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul on the familys Moselle property back on 7 June 2021. Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison the day after the verdict. Satterfield, who worked for the family for more than 20 years, was found at the bottom of the steps leading into the familys home. She never resumed consciousness and died from her injuries three weeks later on 26 February. Gloria Satterfield died in a trip and fall at the Murdaugh home in 2018 (Provided) At the time, Murdaugh claimed that she had tripped over the familys dogs and hit her head, and her death was regarded as an accidental fall. However, her death certificate cited her manner of death as natural and no autopsy was ever carried out. Questions have been swirling around Satterfields death for the past few years as the string of deaths, stolen money and corruption surrounding Murdaugh came to light. In September 2021, an investigation was reopened into her death and investigators said they planned to exhume her body. Satterfields death isnt the only mystery death tied to the South Carolina legal dynasty. A homicide investigation has also been opened into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of a road in Hampton County. The openly gay 19-year-old had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and his death was officially ruled a hit-and-run. But Smiths family have long doubted this version of events, with the Murdaugh name cropping up in several police tips and community rumours. At the time of his murder, Paul was also awaiting trial for the boat crash death of Mallory Beach. I am shocked: Lawyers on both sides of the Ross Harris case sound off on decision not to retry him Attorneys from both sides of the Ross Harris trial are sounding off on the district attorneys decision not to retry the Georgia father. Harris was charged with intentionally leaving his 2-year-old son in a hot car to die in 2014. Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne talked to members of the prosecution and the defense Friday on Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jesse Evans is now a police chief, but in 2016 he was the ranking prosecutor in the Ross Harris trial. He said hes stunned to learn that the district attorneys office where he used to work has now decided not to retry Harris for his sons murder. The current D.A., Flynn Broady, was elected after the trial. Evans said Broadys decision ranks as one of the biggest professional disappointments in a long career involving hundreds of homicides. My heart broke, Evans said. Im stunned. Im shocked. Theres nothing in the Supreme Court decision that said the prosecution could not go forward. Its just a shocking miscarriage of justice that the decision wold be made to dismiss the charges. RELATED STORIES: Evans said he was not consulted in the decision. A member of the defense team seems to suggest that the D.A.s office did the right thing. Carlos Rodriguez said that as a member of Harris defense team at trial, if necessary, he and lead attorney Maddox Kilgore were prepared to retry charges of malice murder, and cruelty to children. Those charges are now dismissed as a result of the D.A.s decision. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Ross is innocent, Rodriguez said. Hes a loving father. He forgot Cooper was in the car. It was unintentional. It was an accident, not a crime. The Supreme Court decision let stand convictions against Harris for sex offenses involving a teenage girl. The prosecution argued that several extramarital affairs were a motive in Coopers death. Rodriguez said thats not true. He may have been a bad husband but he is not guilty of murder, and this dismissal certainly confirms that for us, Rodriguez. The D.A.s office said that crucial motive evidence that was admitted at the first trial is no longer available to the state due to the Supreme Courts decision. This case is not reliant solely on the motive evidence, Evans said. This man murdered his child, and you can prove that case just as I sit here and I speak with you. Just as we could prove it back in 2016. Evans said the prosecution argued that Harris wanted to be free to further his sexual relationship with women he met online. The Supreme Court decision suggested that the large volume of sex evidence at the trial painted Harris in such a bad light it may have unfairly affected the murder part of the case. Evans said the case could have been retried with less of it. Its hard not to get emotionally invested in Coopers life and Coopers death, and I think its a sad day that there isnt going to be accountability for what happened to him, Evans said. Rodriguez says T. Bryan Lumpkin, a third member of the original Ross Harris trial defense team, has also been part of the meetings with the Cobb D.A.s office over the past 11 months as it studied whether to retry Harris. Rodriquez says the defense mainly met with D.A. Flynn Broadys chief deputy assistant. He said the office has exceptionally excellent attorneys. A text from Broady to WInne said, Our office fought long and hard to maintain the conviction for Coopers death. Rodriguez said the dismissal of the murder charges restored Coopers legacy and that Cooper was very loved by his father. Cooper Harris will not get justice based on the decision that was made here, and thats a very sad day within the criminal justice system, Evans said. Rodriguez said that if the defense needed retail to prove Harris would be exonerated in Coopers death, they were ready to go. But yesterdays exoneration was just the same. Evans said that now that he is Acworth Police chief, he has a better sense of what the police did in this case to seek justice for Cooper. Authorities on Thursday afternoon rescued a woman who clung to tree branches in the middle of the Mokelumne River in Amador County after she fell off her paddle board without a life jacket. The swift water rescue occurred on the North Fork of the Mokelumne River, just off of Electra Road near Vaughts Beach. The Amador County Sheriffs Office, the Amador Fire Protection District and the Jackson Fire Department responded. About 2 p.m., authorities received a report of a 50-year-old woman who fell off her paddle board, said Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman. He said the woman was not wearing a life jacket, which is unbelievable for anyone to be without a life jacket right now in the fast-moving, cold waterways of Northern California. The woman clung onto the tree branches in the river for about 45 minutes before rescuers could safely reach her, Redman said. Emergency personnel safely removed the stranded woman from the water, and she was not injured, according to a news release from the Amador Fire Protection District. The Jackson Fire Department assisted with shoreline safety. For weeks, public safety officials in the Sacramento region and the Sierra Nevada foothills have warned residents that Northern California rivers are unsafe for recreation. Waterways are running cold and extremely fast for this time of year due to a record-setting Sierra snowpack. On Monday afternoon, firefighters rescued a rafter in the Cosumnes River in Sacramento County. The male rafter, who was not wearing a life jacket and was rafting with friends, was swept downstream and became separated from his tire raft near Rancho Murieta, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. In Placer County, coroners officials have confirmed that a body found a week ago at Folsom Lake is that of a 22-year-old Sacramento County man who was swept into the American River more than two weeks earlier. Another swimmer, a Bay Area man, remains missing after he disappeared May 14 in Placer County. Authorities said he jumped into the North Fork of the American River by Yankee Jims Bridge near Foresthill. AMC Networks Intl. Latin America has acquired RTVE hit, Spanish-Portuguese thriller Sequia, which will be broadcast throughout the region on its Europa Europa channel. The story centers on the mystery behind two mummified corpses apparent murder victims that are discovered when a long submerged village emerges from the drying Campomediano reservoir along the Spanish-Portuguese border during a prolonged drought (sequia in Spanish). More from Variety While a Spanish inspector and investigative reporter suspect the bodies may be linked to environmental protests that took place to prevent the creation of the reservoir, a Portuguese detective is secretly investigating the possibility that one of the deceased could be the heir to the Souza Cardoso fortune who disappeared years ago. Weaving between two time periods, the late 1990s and the present, when secrets begin to be revealed, the story follows two influential families in Spain and Portugal who inhabit beautiful areas of both countries as well as the day-to-day life of a poor and exploited underclass on both sides of the border. Describing the series as a blend of thriller and family noir, director Joaquin Llamas says the story of Sequia arose from the need to address a cyclical problem the lack of rain and poor water management that has had a brutal impact on certain areas and on people on both sides of the border. Sequia stars Elena Rivera, Rodolfo Sancho, Marco DAlmeida, Miryam Gallego and Miguel Angel Munoz. The series, which was shot on location in the Madrid region, Extremadura and Lisbon, marks the first co-production between Spains RTVE and Portugals RTP, which produced the show with Atlantia Media and Coral Europa. A major success in Spain, the series attracted 1.3 million viewers when it premiered in addition to 3 million views via the RTVE Play service. The series premiere in Portugal drew 400,000 viewers. 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. Angler dies jumping into river to get his dropped fishing pole, California cops say A man died after jumping in a river to get a dropped fishing pole, a California sheriffs department said. Witnesses reported seeing Robert L. Gardella, 69, of Phelan, on the Colorado River, about 2 miles north of Lake Havasu, when he jumped from his anchored boat on Wednesday, May 24, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said in a news release. Gardella began struggling in the water before going underwater, deputies said. He didnt resurface. The sheriffs department said it and other agencies searched the waters for Gardella. The Arizona Department of Public Safety also searched the area by helicopter. Deputies said they looked for the man until sunset and began searching again the next morning. About an hour and a half into searching on May 25, divers found Gardella, who was recovered and pronounced dead, deputies said. Lake Havasu is along the California-Arizona border. Phelan is about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Man fishing with friends dies trying to get phone dropped in canal, California cops say Man drowns trying to retrieve dropped phone from harbor, California officials say Kayaker vanished on fishing trip with friends. He was found dead days later, CA cops say Catholics attend Mass at the Maria Auxiliadora Catholic church in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, May 26, 2023. Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia are acknowledging that the institution has been deaf to the suffering of victims of sexual abuse at a time when the country has been rocked by a pedophilia scandal involving priests. (AP Photo/Juan Karita). LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) A Spanish Jesuit priest who died in 2012 has been accused of sexually abusing a minor in Bolivia three decades ago, the latest in a string of pedophilia cases that have shaken the Catholic Church in this Andean country. Jorge Vila Despujol, who died in Barcelona in 2012, was formally accused before prosecutors Thursday by a person who alleges they were indecently touched when they were 13, the Jesuit Society in Bolivia said in a statement. The name of the alleged victim is being kept confidential. The abuse allegedly occurred when the victim was at an educational institution in the central region of Cochabamba, although no further details were given. Vila Despujol founded the organization Defense of Children International in Bolivia, which promotes the rights of minors. The organization is still active, and it condemned all forms of abuse in a statement in which it also urged other victims file reports with the Public Prosecutors Office. The Jesuits in Bolivia have been in the spotlight since the Spanish newspaper El Pais published excerpts from the diary of late priest Alfonso Pedrajas a few weeks ago, in which he admitted to sexually abusing dozens of minors in Catholic boarding schools in the 1970s and 1980s. An alleged victim of Pedrajas formally filed an accusation against the deceased priest on May 19, the Jesuit order said. The revelations about Pedrajas, a Spanish Jesuit who died in 2009, has helped uncover other cases of abuse by Church authorities, including from other orders, amid a broad inquiry by prosecutors. One Carmelite parish priest, Milton Murillo, was sent to pre-trial detention for three months earlier this month. The Public Prosecutors Office said this week it had formally charged another priest, Garvin Grech, with covering up Murillos alleged crimes. Grech has fled to neighboring Argentina, according to police. Attorney General Wilfredo Chavez said earlier this week that around 23 priests have been implicated in alleged pedophilia cases. 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. Earlier this week, Jordi Bertemeu, one of the Vaticans top sex crimes investigators, arrived in Bolivia amid the growing scandal. The Bolivian Catholic Church acknowledged on Wednesday that it had been deaf to the sufferings of the victims of sexual abuse committed by priests and pledged to seek reparation for the victims. A soft-spoken Republican state lawmaker in Louisiana shot down a bill that would ban affirming healthcare for transgender youth in the state, the sole southern state that has not outlawed gender-affirming care amid a wave of restrictive measures targeting LGBT+ people across the country. State Senator Fred Mills, the chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, cast the committees tie-breaking 5-4 vote to block the bills progress in the GOP-dominated state legislature on 23 May. Following the vote, Mr Mills has faced a barrage of attacks from anti-trans far-right activists on social media, his businesses have received harassing messages, and the Louisiana Republican Party is pressuring state lawmakers to sidestep the committee process and put the bill on the Senate floor for a vote. Louisianas House Republicans also plan to sabotage other legislation to send a message to the state Senate. Mr Mills, who is not seeking re-election and delivered congenial farewell remarks to his Senate colleagues on 25 May, appears unfazed. Anytime you have to break a tie vote, no matter which way you vote, theres going to be backlash, and this is a national topic, Mr Mills told the USA Today Network. I did like I always do. I listened to the debate and made the vote I thought was right. Why would I want to handcuff a doctor and his or her decision? I think they know more about this than politicians. Anti-trans self-described fascist pundit Matt Walsh issued a threat to his nearly 2 million Twitter followers and claimed that Mr Mills sided with the butchers and the groomers, using the transphobic smear to falsely suggest that the St Martin Parish state lawmaker supports pedophilia. He will regret it, Walsh said. This is the biggest mistake of his political career, and also the end of his career. Hes going to be infamous and disgraced by his own base. Well make sure of that. Louisiana state Senator Fred Mills (Louisiana Senate) Far-right activist Greg Price with the State Freedom Caucus Network told his followers to let Senator Mills know how you feel about him single-handedly killing this bill to ban sex changes for kids. Louisiana is the only state in the US South that has not banned gender-affirming care for trans youth. Nineteen states have enacted legislation to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth, and at least eight other states are considering similar legislation, against the guidance of major medical organisations, including the Americans Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, that recommend affirming treatment for trans youth experiencing gender dysphoria. House Bill 648, authored by Republican state Rep Gabe Firment, would ban health providers in the state from administering affirming care to patients younger than 18, or face the revocation of their professional licence. That care can include hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers, which are also often prescribed for cisgender or nontransgender youth, as well as social transitioning measures, mental healthcare, and affirming surgeries, which are not recommended under major medical guidelines. A statewide report from the Louisiana Department of Health found that no affirming surgeries were performed on Medicaid-enrolled minors in the state between 2017 and 2021, and the prescription of affirming medications for trans youth within that same time period was also exceedingly rare. Mr Mills said the witness testimony and reporting from the health department persuaded him to vote against the bill. All the testimony I heard by the proponents that children are getting mutilated, I didnt see it in the statistics, he told the Louisiana Illuminator. Always in my heart of hearts have I believed that a decision should be made by a patient and a physician. I believe in the physicians in Louisiana, he added. I believe in the scope of practice. I believe in the standard of care. After national backlash from far-right groups, the Louisiana Republican Party issued a statement calling for procedural action that will result in a Senate floor vote on House Bill 648 to give all senators a chance to weigh in on this pivotal piece of legislation. The Republican Party of Louisiana is deeply disappointed in Senator Fred Mills tie-breaking vote to kill the legislation in committee, according to a statement from the party. The bill passed through the states House of Representatives by a vote of 71-24. Louisina Trans Advocates said the GOPs strategy would be a complete disrespect of the process and would be undemocratic. The onslaught of legislation and volatile political debate surrounding the bills have also negatively impacted the mental health of an overwhelming majority of young trans and nonbinary people, according to polling from The Trevor Project and Morning Consult. A separate survey from The Trevor Project found that 41 per cent of trans and nonbinary youth have seriously considered attempting suicide over the last year. When you prescribe hormone therapies to these kids, they get better, Louisiana psychologist Clifton Mixon told the state Senate health committee this week. They want to live. They go to school. They get better grades. Their relationships improve, and they can begin to live a more normal teenage life. Alfredo Arriojas wears a head lamp to light his way through an underground gold mine in El Callao, Bolivar state, Venezuela, Friday, April 28, 2023. Arriojas said he doesnt like mining, but has been doing the job for more than two years in hopes of owning a home and car for his family, with money left over to invest it in something good that gives me income. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) EL CALLAO, Venezuela (AP) Venezuela is known to have the worlds largest oil reserves, but its soil holds another valuable resource: gold. The government in 2016 established a huge mining development zone stretching across the middle of Venezuela to diversify its revenue. Seven years later, there is a proliferation of mines burrowing for gold, diamonds, copper and other minerals. The Mining Arc of the Orinoco is plagued with violence and shrouded in secrecy because many mines operate outside or on the margins of the law. They offer lucrative jobs for ordinary Venezuelans, but conditions are brutal. At an underground mine in Bolivar state, operators use dynamite to loosen rocks some 260 feet ( 80 meters) below the surface, where workers descend daily to toil in oppressive heat with no safety gear. The miners typically begin their day strapping themselves to a thick steel wire, holding on as best then can while dropping about 200 feet (60 meters) down a shaft, entering a world where headlamps provide the only light. They wear shorts and flip-flops or rubber boots and must bend at the waist to walk 60 feet (20 meters) down a quasi-ramp. There, they collect rocks and throw them into sacks to be carted via pulleys above ground to a grinding mill. One of the miners, Alfredo Arriojas, says he doesnt like mining, but has been doing the job for more than two years in hopes of owning a home, with money left to invest it in something good that gives me income. By law, about half of the extracted gold must enter state coffers, but authorities as well as critics of the government report growing illegal mining. Rights advocates say that labor laws are flouted and that human rights violations abound. Violence between rival gangs prompts many miners to reconsider their trade. Another nearby mine in Bolivar captures gold through open-pit operations on the surface, where workers spend hours near ponds that breed mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as malaria. Open-pit miner Jose Rivas says hes had enough: I just want to buy my house and work on something else. Arizona teen who brought AR-15 to school had 'lightning link' device to make the gun fully automatic, court docs say Arizona teen who brought AR-15 to school had 'lightning link' device to make the gun fully automatic, court docs say The 15-year-old accused of bringing an AR-15 to his Phoenix high school last week also allegedly possessed a device that would allow the weapon to function as a fully automatic machine gun, according to court documents exclusively obtained by NBC News. The boy allegedly brought the device known as a "lightning link" along with a disassembled AR-15 and ammunition to Bostrom High School on Friday, according to the probable cause statement. The AR-15 was disassembled into an upper and lower receiver, the two main parts of the gun, according to the probable cause statement. When combining the upper, lower receiver and lightning link together they create a prohibited weapon, it says. An AR-15 is normally a semi-automatic weapon, but the addition of the lightning link would make it fully automatic, meaning it could fire continuously without the shooter having to repeatedly pull the trigger. Bostrom High School in Phoenix, Arizona. (KPNX) The boy who was arrested on four felony charges and remains in custody denied he owned the AR-15 and told authorities he was holding it for someone, the probable cause statement says. He told police that he received the firearm that same day while on school grounds and denied knowing the rifle could function as a machine gun when the lightning link was inserted into the rifle, according to the probable cause statement. Detained by the principal, live ammunition, incriminating Instagram messages The court documents provide new details on the disturbing allegations against the boy, who NBC News is not naming because he is a minor. Police were called to the Phoenix campus just after 12:45 p.m. on Friday, when they received reports from unidentified sources that a student was possibly in possession of a firearm and that officials placed the school on lockdown while they detained the student in the main office. When police arrived shortly before 1 p.m., they found the boy in the main office speaking to the principal and vice principal, the probable cause document states. The boy allegedly swore at police and moved his hands towards his waistband, prompting officers to handcuff him and place him under arrest. Police allegedly found the lightning link in the boys backpack along with a lower receiver for the rifle with a fully loaded magazine, additional ammunition and firearm-related accessories, it states. The upper receiver was found concealed inside the boys sweatpants with the barrel facing upwards towards the officers and a live cartridge inside the chamber, according to the document. Following the boys arrest, police assembled the pieces of the AR-15 and found it successfully test fired as a functioning firearm, the probable cause statement says. And after police obtained a search warrant for the boys laptop, they allegedly found Instagram messages between the boy and another minor negotiating the sale of a firearm, the probable cause statement says. It is unclear whether the other juvenile was also a student at the school, or whether they were discussing the firearm the boy allegedly brought to the school. The boy denied the Instagram conversation and told police he was selling gloves, the statement says. There were no other juveniles detained in relation to the incident, according to Donna Rossi, director of communications for the Phoenix police. He was arrested on charges including minor in possession of a firearm; manufacturing possessing or selling a deadly weapon; disorderly conduct with a weapon; and interfering with an educational institution, according to the juvenile arrest worksheet. The detain order, filed in the juvenile department of Maricopa County Superior Court, states that the boy must remain detained and that the court found he is likely to harm himself or others, and that his caretaker(s) are unable to control, supervise or parent the juvenile in a home environment, despite the caretakers best effort to do so, and that the juvenile requires stabilization and structure in an out-of-home placement setting. The boy is required to appear in court with a parent on June 12 for a pre-trial conference, the document states. He made his first court appearance on Saturday, according to a spokesperson for the juvenile court. It was not immediately clear how and when the boy in Phoenix allegedly obtained the gun, whether it was assembled or disassembled at the time he allegedly obtained it and whether the weapon was disassembled in order to allegedly be brought to the campus. Rossi said the departments specialized gun crime unit is working to trace the source of the weapon and ammunition, and that there is currently no indication that the weapon could be classified as a ghost gun, an untraceable weapon assembled by parts often bought online. Court documents also did not provide additional context about where or how the juvenile obtained the lightning link, a small piece of metal resembling a bent key that can be slipped into the trigger mechanism of the firearm to allow for continual firing by holding the trigger down. Though they have been regulated since 1986, law enforcement officials said there are other ways to mimic the device to skirt regulations. An official with the Maricopa County Attorneys Office previously said the office does not comment on juvenile cases and could not immediately be reached Thursday. Representatives for the Phoenix Union High School District could not immediately be reached. As always, the safety and well-being of our staff, students, and visitors remains our top priority, and we will work with law enforcement as they continue to investigate, an earlier statement from the district said. Parents were in shock, mom says The boys mother, who asked not to be identified, told NBC News she and her husband dont know where he got the gun from. She said her son has ADHD and described him as a little guy, hes easily influenced, he wants to fit in. She said that she was not aware of the allegation that he possessed a device to make the weapon fully automatic. The mother said that nobody in their immediate family owns guns and that her son has never expressed an interest in guns and does not have a criminal history, adding that she and her husband were in shock when they heard the allegations he was facing. It was your typical Friday morning, we were talking about vacationing for the summer, she said. All of a sudden, later on in the afternoon, I get a call about him being taken by the police regarding a gun that he had on campus, she said. She added that her son does not have a lawyer and that he is allowed one phone call a day while in detention. Were just going with the flow, so far so good, she said. The boys father could not immediately be reached Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear whether the boys parents could face charges in connection with the incident. Rossi said that will be part of the investigation. The Maricopa County Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to questions. Growing calls to regulate AR-15s The alleged incident also raises questions about how a minor could allegedly obtain a potentially lethal weapon that has become an increasing source of controversy and death in American life. The AR-15 has been the weapon behind a dozen of the 21 deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. since 2006, including the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 60 people and the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 26. Arizona prohibits minors from buying or possessing a gun without written consent from a parent or guardian, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a nonprofit gun control advocacy group. The state does not ban adults from possessing semi-automatic rifles, but it does ban machine guns and bump stocks, according to the Giffords Law Center. It also bans firearms on school grounds, except by those authorized to carry them or for use in approved school programs. An automatic weapon is defined as any type of weapon that fires two or more rounds at the single pull of trigger, said Rich Marianos, a retired assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The 1934 National Firearms Act requires that anyone who owns a fully automatic weapon to register and pay an annual tax on it. Laws that have passed since further sought to regulate importation or manufacturing of these weapons as well as devices that could make them fully automatic. The Phoenix incident came just days after an 18-year-old shooter in New Mexico used three weapons including an AR-15 to fatally shoot three elderly women: Shirley Voita, 79, Melody Ivie, 73 and her mother Gwendolyn Schofield, 97. The shooter was killed by police on Monday following his deadly rampage. As mass shootings have increased, calls have intensified to place restrictions around sales of semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, which was originally created for military use and is now copied by a variety of manufacturers under different names. With their ability to fire bullets at a fast speed, AR-15s are known to inflict extensive damage to the human body and are more likely to be deadly than other firearms. Washington state banned semi-automatic rifles last month, becoming the ninth state, along with Washington, D.C., to enact such a ban. President Joe Biden has called for a national semi-automatic weapons ban in light of the increase in mass killings. But so far, such a ban has failed to pass in Congress. Youre staring down the barrel of a weapon of war this isnt a slingshot, this isnt a pellet gun, this isnt a knife, Marianos, the former ATF assistant director said. Wheres the accountability? Theres none. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A U.S. Army officer who commanded a young corporal who went missing from Fort Drum in northern New York and was found dead in Sussex County testified on Thursday about the first few hours after finding out the soldier was missing. Tennessee native Hayden Harris was found in a wooded area off a cul-de-sac on Ross Road in Byram in December 2020. Accused of kidnapping and fatally shooting the 20-year-old is fellow soldier, Jamaal Mellish. It is believed that Mellish abducted Harris in Harris' truck and drove him to the New York City area before crossing into New Jersey. Also charged is Hannan Aiken, 18, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime. Mellish and Aiken are being tried together. Cpl. Hayden Harris Frantic worry and a search Capt. Steve Nava, the executive officer for Harris' unit, testified in Sussex County Superior Court of the close professional and personal relationship he had with the young man. Nava recounted how he saw Harris the day he disappeared on Dec. 17, 2020 during a lunch the unit was having for someone leaving the Army. Nava said he received multiple phone calls early the next morning, waking up at the fourth phone from Harris' best friend in the unit, Hunter Brown. Brown told Nava that Harris had gone missing. Nava called the first sergeant and waited in a Target parking lot near where he lived to begin mobilizing the troop together to begin searching for their fellow soldier. Nava said he began making phone calls, trying to determine where Harris had last been and who he might have been with. Nava also said he tried calling Harris, saying he was unsuccessful Harris had never ignored his calls before and had always called him back, he said. Jamaal Mellish watches as attorneys leave the courtroom following a hearing in state Superior Court in Sussex County on Friday, Feb. 22, 2022. A platoon leader stationed in Kuwait called him back and gave him the last name of Mellish, someone Harris was supposed to meet with. Nava said he searched on Facebook and didn't find anyone with that name however he did find a profile that included a connection to Harris. The person identified himself as Yunglord Mel. The profile photo showed a soldier in a Class B Dress Uniform without a jacket and a nameplate that said "Mellish." Nava said he called Mellish via Facebook Messenger but got no answer. However, Mellish messaged him back, asking who he was. Nava told Mellish he was Harris' executive officer and was looking for him. Mellish was also stationed at Fort Drum but Nava did not know who he was. Mellish called Nava back and they spoke to each other for just under four minutes. Nava said in the first conversation he had with Mellish, the man told him he had met with Harris but hadn't seen him since they went their separate ways. Mellish gave Nava his cellphone number and said he would attempt to reach out to Harris. Nava said asked to speak to Mellish in person but was told that he wasn't available as he was dropping off his wife at the Syracuse Airport for a flight. Nava said he called him five more times, speaking to him twice. Mellish told him an address to meet him at, saying they could meet when he got back from Syracuse. Included in the texts between the two was a screenshot of a text exchange between Mellish and Harris, indicating they were meeting. Nava did not talk to Mellish again after that and said he learned Harris had been found dead and that Mellish had been apprehended returning to Fort Drum. Assistant Prosecutor Sahil Kabse showed the jury Nava's call log, texts and Facebook messages between the Army captain and Mellish. Earlier: Missing Fort Drum soldier found dead in Sussex County, fellow soldier in custody New York officers testify Additional state witnesses included three Jefferson County, New York Sheriff's officers involved in the case. Sheriff Deputy Jamie Taylor said he was contacted by Nava and informed of Harris' disappearance and that Harris was supposed to exchange vehicles with another soldier the night before and it was the last possible contact. Mellish and Harris were meeting to exchange vehicles, Harris' white Chevy Silverado and Mellish's red Ford Mustang. Taylor said he spoke with Mellish three times throughout Dec. 18, confirming that he and Harris met for the vehicle exchange near a Walmart, a school and a fire department in an area just on the outskirts of Watertown, New York. Taylor said he waited until 9 a.m. when Harris was due to report for duty. When Harris didn't show, Taylor said he reached out to Mellish again to try and get more detailed information. Mellish told Taylor he was in New York City visiting his mother before she went on a trip. He provided some more detail about the vehicle exchange, saying he stopped at the Ramada Inn on Route 3, dropped a vehicle off and went down to New York City. Mellish told Taylor that a relative was driving his car. He pulled surveillance footage from the Ramada Inn to confirm what Mellish told him and visited the site of the vehicle exchange to see if there was any indication of a struggle which Taylor said there was not. Sheriff's deputies Ryan Snyder and Matt Young testified about pulling over Mellish as he returned from New York City in Harris' Silverado but bearing New York plates instead of Texas ones. Snyder said he initiated the stop and ended up detaining Mellish, taking and later processing Mellish's red Apple iPhone for evidence. Aiken was placed in the back of Young's vehicle and also driven to the sheriff's office since he was a minor and couldn't be left. The pick-up was also towed to the sheriff's office. Young took Aiken's initial statement in which he lied about his name and birthday and Snyder later took a second statement with Aiken saying he gave a false name and birthday because he was afraid he would go to jail for driving a vehicle underaged. Aiken was placed in a temporary foster home for the night because the sheriff's officers were unable to get in touch with his grandmother, who was his legal guardian. Aiken was placed under arrest the next day. The trial is expected to continue on Tuesday, May 30. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hayden Harris Army corporal murder trial: What to know Carlsbad Rotary Club celebrates the installation of new shade structure The Carlsbad Rotary Club recently dedicated a new shade structure that was installed in partnership with the City of Carlsbad. Located at the Flume area the structure provides an additional shaded area for the community to gather. The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate a new location for a bench dedicated to Mary Walterscheid, a long-time club member and well-know Carlsbad resident. Carlsbad Rotary Club members celebrate the completion of a shade structure at the Flumes. Carlsbad Rotary has a strong history of supporting civic projects in the area. Previous examples have included gym pads at the Boys and Girls Club, Project Playground, Friendship Park and several others. Club presidents get to pick a project each year. This one was selected two years ago under President Khushroo Ghadiali. Previous projects at the Flume have included the installation of lights (during Walterscheids term), and a previous shade structure. For more information or to get involved visit the clubs Facebook page at facebook.com/carlsbadrotary.club. Devon, BLM join forces Devon Energy joined forces with the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management to convert a former pad site to a wildlife water provision area. Devon Energy and BLM partnered to install two water tanks and enclosed the area with fencing to keep area wildlife safe. Over two days, volunteers installed two water tanks and enclosed the area with fencing to keep area wildlife safe. Devon is dedicated to environmental stewardship and protecting natural wildlife habitats, said Kooper Saiz, Devon surface landman. Through partnerships with organizations like the New Mexico BLM, we are helping ensure natural resources are restored. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Around town: Carlsbad Rotary project at Flume completed Art on war footing displayed at new show in Moscow The Kremlin is encouraging artwork in support of its offensive in Ukraine Ukraine, 2023. Russian soldiers pose with their Kalashnikovs faced with a ruined city. In front of them, a young woman can be seen carrying Russia's flag and a bullet proof vest with the Z sign used by Russian troops in the offensive. The scene is from a grand painting in a new exhibition in central Moscow called "We are Russians, God is with us" by patriotic artist Vasily Nesterenko. The style of the paintings harks back to the realist tradition from Tsarist and Soviet times and the images are intended to promote support for Russia's campaign in Ukraine. "Stand there, near that painting which shows our victory will be final," a moustachioed man told students from a military academy, dressed in black uniforms, visiting on a school trip. The 56-year-old artist Nesterenko, who has received numerous awards from Russian President Vladimir Putin, is standing nearby posing for photos. "Being in the military is for life, like being an artist," notes the painter. The Manege exhibition hall near Moscow's Red Square is hosting the exhibition that includes paintings depicting Russia's military through the centuries. With the difficulties in its Ukraine campaign mounting, the Kremlin is encouraging artwork that emphasises Russia's fighting spirit and the message that Moscow is fighting a defensive conflict against Kyiv and its allies. At the same time, artists critical of Russia's actions face repression. Several officials in leading state cultural institutions who have chosen to remain silent over Ukraine have lost their jobs in recent months. The state now needs Russian artists to show loyalty, as Nesterenko has done. - 'Always had war' - Born in Ukraine in 1967, he first became well-known for his religious paintings. He decorated part of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow and, more recently, a church dedicated to the Russian army inaugurated in 2020. Since 2004, Nesterenko has enjoyed the title of "people's artist" -- a legacy of the Soviet era -- and has several important duties in the official cultural sphere. "When the cannons start to talk, you cannot keep quiet," Nesterenko told AFP, putting his own political engagement in the context of that of European painters during the 19th century. For more realism, he has visited Russian forces in Ukraine and Syria. Some of his works show ruins and civilian victims, while others are more focused on the camaraderie between soldiers. The painting "Letter to Russia's enemies" shows soldiers in a jolly mood writing a letter -- a work very similar to historic Russian painter Ilya Repin's painting of Cossacks writing to the Ottoman Sultan. "My historical military paintings are well-meaning, optimistic, they do not show the blackness of the darkness like the works of Goya," Nesterenko said. "All wars have pushed our homeland to unite, focus and respond.... We have always had war. Whether it was against the Mongols, the Poles, the Swedes, the French and, several times, the Germans." The show presents Russian history as a necessary succession of glorious military ventures -- in line with Kremlin thinking. Nesterenko is a defender of classical European painting which he says is under threat -- an argument frequently made by Russian officials, who often talk about the decadence of Western culture. "I think there will soon be a time when it is only here that we will love your culture, your art and your religion," said Nesterenko, who continues to travel to museums in Europe on a regular basis. rco/dt/bur/pvh/ach Articles of impeachment one of many troubles Texas AG Ken Paxton has faced in office A House investigative committee recommended impeaching Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, filing 20 articles of impeachment accusing him of abusing the power of his office. The articles of impeachment filed Thursday accuse Paxton of bribery, obstruction of justice and abuse of the public trust, among other abuses of power. Paxton, who was sworn in as attorney general January 2015, has had a tenure riddled with controversy from a felony indictment in July 2015 to an FBI investigation in 2020. FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, right, stands with his wife Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, left, as he is sworn in for a third term in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Ken Paxton has agreed to apologize and pay $3.3 million in taxpayer money to four former staffers who accused him of corruption in 2020, igniting an ongoing FBI investigation of the three-term Republican. Under terms of a preliminary lawsuit settlement filed Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, Paxton made no admission of wrongdoing to accusations of bribery and abuse of office, which he has denied for years and called politically motivated. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) Who is Ken Paxton? Paxton is a 60-year-old lawyer who has served as the Texas Attorney General for three terms. He graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. in psychology and an M.B.A. and later received a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Paxton headed up his own law firm for 14 years in McKinney. His family are members of the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. Paxton has shown his support for right-wing issues and an ally of former President Donald Trump. This handout photo provided by Collin County, Texas shows Texas Attorney General Kenneth Paxton, who was booked into the county jail Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in McKinney, Texas. Ken Paxtons 2015 felony indictment Less than a year after being sworn in as Texas attorney general, Paxton was indicted on felony securities fraud charges July 2015. The charges allege Paxton persuaded investors to buy stock in McKinney-based Servergy Inc. without disclosing that he would be compensated for it, the Texas Tribune reported. Paxton turned himself in to the Collin County jail in August 2015 where he was booked and released. Despite the indictment, Paxton has served three terms in office without going to trial. FBI investigates Ken Paxton for abuse of his office The FBI opened a criminal investigation into claims that Paxton abused his office to help a wealthy donor in late 2020. Top deputies in Paxtons office reported him to the FBI in late September 2020, accusing him of abusing his office, bribery and other crimes, the AP reported. All of the deputies either resigned, were put on leave or fired which prompted a whistleblower lawsuit. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, greeting former President Donald Trump, right, at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/TNS) Ken Paxton led lawsuit over legitimacy of 2020 election Paxton was among the GOP politicians who questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election. On Dec. 8, 2020, he filed a lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in the Supreme Court of the United States for alleged unconstitutional changes to the election laws. The lawsuit was denied by the Supreme Court and Paxton issued a statement three days later accusing the Supreme Court of refusing to determine the integrity of the 2020 election. Transgender care for minors is child abuse, Ken Paxton says In Februrary 2022, Paxton issued a formal attorney general opinion that declared transgender health care for minors child abuse under Texas law. The opinion said gender-affirming health care including puberty blockers and surgery should be classified as child abuse when used for minors. The opinion prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to direct state agencies to investigate transgender health care for youth as abuse. An investigation by the Star-Telegram found the sources Paxton cited misleading sources in his opinion that drew parallels that dont exist. Gender-affirming care can include a host of services, from counseling sessions to surgery, the Star-Telegram previously reported. However, surgeries are rare for minors and medical experts recommend that such surgeries be delayed until after the person turns 18. What articles of impeachment accuse Ken Paxton of doing Twenty articles of impeachment were filed against Paxton Thursday accusing the attorney general of abusing the power of his office. Here are the articles: A man has been arrested for opening a door of an Asiana Airlines flight as it was landing in South Korea. All 194 passengers survived the flight, which landed safely but with its door still open at Daegu International Airport on Friday. Some passengers fainted while others had breathing problems and were taken to hospital, local media reported. The man in his 30s said he was feeling suffocated and wanted to get off quickly, Yonhap news agency reported. Police said the man claimed during questioning that he was stressed after losing his job, according to the report. "He is mentally struggling right now and losing his footing. We could not investigate him properly due to his state," a local police officer told reporters, adding that the man could not be asked any questions as he was not "in a normal state". Flight OZ8124, an Airbus A321-200 jet, had taken off from Jeju Island on Friday about 11:45 local time (03:45 GMT). As it was landing about an hour later, a male passenger opened the emergency door while the plane was still 250m from ground. A passenger's video shared on social media shows the gap in the left hand side of the plane and winds buffeting rows of seated passengers. Flight attendants had not been able to stop him because the plane was about to land, witnesses recounted to local media. They said the man had also tried to jump out of the plane after opening the door. Passengers have described the panic on board. "It was chaos with people close to the door appearing to faint one by one and flight attendants calling out for doctors on board through broadcasting," one 44-year-old passenger told Yonhap. "I thought the plane was blowing up. I thought I was going to die like this," he added. The Asiana Airlines plane landed at Daegu with its door open Several school age children had also been on board, on their way to a weekend sporting event. The mother of one of the students told Yonhap: "The children were shaking, crying, and frightened." An Asiana Airlines passenger opened the emergency exit mid-flight A South Korean passenger on an Asiana Airlines flight A321 was arrested on Friday after opening the emergency exit while the aircraft was landing. The airplane took off from Jeju Island and was landing in Daegu, South Korea when the passenger, who has not yet been publicly identified, opened the door while the plane was still 700 feet above ground level. The passenger was arrested by local police and admitted to opening the aircraft door but didnt explain why he did it. The plane landed safely with a total of 200 people on the plane at the time of the incident, including 194 passengers, none of whom were seriously injured, but The Daegu Fire Department told CNN 12 people suffered minor injuries from hyperventilation, and nine of them were sent to the hospitals in Daegu. Read more It was chaos with people close to the door appearing to faint one by one and flight attendants calling out for doctors on board through broadcasting, one 44-year-old passenger told Yonhap. He added, I thought the plane was blowing up. I thought I was going to die like this. Police told the outlet that the suspect was not drunk at the time of his arrest saying, It is difficult to have a normal conversation with him. We will investigate the motive of the crime and punish him. South Koreas Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement that an investigation is underway to determine if the passenger was in violation of the aviation law, CNN reported. The law states that anyone who doesnt adhere to the Aviation Security Act, which prohibits passengers from opening doors, exits, or equipment inside the aircraft, could be prosecuted and receive a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. There is also an investigation underway by an aviation safety supervisor into Asiana Airlines to determine if there were problems with the aircrafts maintenance. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas of Airline Ratings told CNN the incident was very bizarre. He continued, Technically, its not possible to open those doors in flight. When landing, the speed of an A321 airplane is roughly 172 mph, and Thomas said the door shouldnt have been able to open into the airstream. It seems implausible that the door could be opened in the first place and then against the airstream technically impossible, he said, But somehow or another it has happened. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Anna Unwin (Jenny) Michael Ball (George) Aspects of Love (photo by Johan Persson).jpg (Johan Persson) Given that Andrew Lloyd Webbers back catalogue includes musicals about randy trains (Starlight Express) and a feline death cult (Cats), its kind of surprising that his weirdest ever show is about the relatively normal subject of love affairs in rural France. But with its skin-crawlingly uncomfortable age-gap romances, Aspects of Love still finds plenty of ways to disconcert an audience lured in by the star appeal of musical theatre legend Michael Ball. When it premiered in 1989, Ball played the role of smitten young soldier Alex. His big number, Love Changes Everything, made a dent in the UK singles chart and became one of his signature songs. Superficially, it makes perfect sense to revive this show now that Balls old enough to play another of the shows pivotal roles: Alexs rival in love, his rakish uncle George. Hes on wonderful form here, blending spine-tingling moments of virtuosity with the more low-key naturalness this musicals nimble score demands. But alas, the casting is pretty much the only thing that makes sense about this wild narrative of bohemian bed-hopping. The romantic chaos begins in Paris: starstruck 18-year-old American Alex (Jamie Bogyo) assails broke young actress Rose (the stellar, achingly vulnerable Laura Pitt-Pulford) with flowers and puppy dog eyes, coaxing her to his uncles villa in the Pyrenees. Lloyd Webbers gorgeous, mostly sung-through score showcases his talents at their most subtle and conversational. The jaunty notes of Parlez-vous Francais, playing on the radio in a late-night cafe, blend artfully with these lovers more fraught negotiations. But Don Black and Charles Harts trite lyrics dont match the musics subtlety. Take the shows pivotal line, Love changes everything, hands and faces, earth and sky, an unappetising word salad: by hands, do they mean an awkward lovers sweaty palms? Does love fertilise the earth so perfect red roses can bloom? Back to the story. Rose turns out to be faithless: she rushes off to shag uncle George in the middle of the night before returning for a romantic morning tryst with his clueless nephew Alex. At this point I was struck with the lightning realisation that nothing that followed would make psychological or logistical sense. And indeed it doesnt, except in its mathematicians compulsion to explore every possible romantic permutation. If theres any central emotional journey here, its Alexs trajectory from roughly normal, jealous teenager to polyamorous libertine, just like his lovely uncle. One of the objects of his affection is his 12-year-old niece, Jenny. This version is less problematic than the original: the first time round, they got together when she was 15 here its 18. Thankfully, they cut the creeptastic closing number It Wont Be Long till Jennys a Woman, meaning the show ends weirdly abruptly. But twiddling around with the ages doesnt make any of this okay: if anything, its worse to suggest that Alexs grooming of a prepubescent girl is more legitimate because hes in it for the long haul. Jonathan Kents production doesnt seem that interested in emphasising the darkness of this story (bar a powerful, dimly lit take on Falling). Instead, its laden with distracting digital projections, a whirly revolve, and fussy scenery from designer John MacFarlane all the trappings of a jolly, sexy Parisian romp. Some people will find it charmingly bohemian. I found it all irredeemably icky, even if much like herpes its tunes wont fail to linger. Lyric Theatre, until 11 November In some ways, Bruce Jordan is just like many of the audiences who return again and again to his record-breaking hit comedy Shear Madness. He is now directing the comedy for at least the 40th time in its return to Florida Studio Theatre, where it opens the 2023 summer season. The Sarasota theater first produced the show in 2010 and brought it back the following year because of its popularity. Jordan and Marilyn Abrams created a sensation when they adapted a German play by Paul Portner called Scherenschnitt. It was a serious play set in a beauty salon that required audience participation. They saw it as the basis for something funnier. Arts Newsletter: Sign up to receive the latest news on the Sarasota area arts scene every Monday A summer of laughs: Shear Madness returns to FST in a comedy-focused summer season Comedy on the spot: Sarasota Improv Festival brings laughs back to FST after four-year pandemic break From left, Luis E. Rivera, Gina Milo, Lisa McMillan, Jordan Ahnquist, Shaun Memmel and Gil Brady star in a new production of the murder mystery comedy Shear Madness at Florida Studio Theatre. Marilyn and I went to Dusseldorf to see Scherenschnitt and it was very austere, very Germanic. But as soon as the audience got involved there was laughter because of the disinformation people were giving to the police, Jordan said in a recent Zoom interview. Their version, Shear Madness, first opened in Boston in 1980 and ran for 40 years until the pandemic forced theaters to shut down. It has been running since 1987 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with more than 13,000 performances. Jordan stays busy directing the show around the country, often with actors who have done different versions of the show. People return because the show is at least slightly different every night, based on what audience members tell a detective trying to solve a murder that occurred in an apartment upstairs from a beauty salon. But its also different for Jordan, because he and the actors adapt the script for each city, and the times. They may use an earlier Sarasota script as a reference point, but places and people mentioned will change, sometimes within the run of a production. Local theater staff and the stage manager help with references. He said it never gets boring working on new productions because of the changes and the way audiences react. The thing I love the most is to sit backstage and peek out and watch the audience become addicted to the fun. That gives me the most pleasure. Carol Channing used to say that the wonderful thing about Hello, Dolly! is that the people all feel better when they come out than when they went in. At this particular time, people need some comedy, to get together and in the same room and laugh at the same things. Bruce Jordan is the director and co-creator of the long-running comedy hit Shear Madness, which returns to Florida Studio Theatre. Jordan has returned frequently to Florida Studio Theatre to direct other shows. Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins describes Jordan as one of the greatest comedy directors living in the world. He knows how to get every nuance out of a comedy scene. Hes done this show for 30 or 40 years and the perfection that comes with that - he knows every angle of it. Last year, he staged The Play That Goes Wrong, about a company of community theater actors facing a myriad of problems, from actors getting injured to the set falling apart. In past years, he has staged Spamalot, The Underpants, Murder for Two and The Perfect Wedding at the Sarasota theater. The cast includes several people returning from past productions, including Jordan Ahnquist as Tony Whitcomb, the flamboyant beauty salon owner who is also a musical theater fan; Gil Brady as detective Nick OBrien; and Lisa McMillan, who reprises her role as Mrs. Shubert, a socialite who frequents the salon for the services of stylist Barbara DeMarco, played by Gina Milo. The cast also includes Shaun Memmel as customer Mikey Thomas and Luis E. Rivera as Eddie, an antiques dealer. A future home for community theater?: Players Centre may get to turn Payne Park auditorium into a theater Some dreams are possible: A glorious Man of La Mancha closes Asolo Rep season Tree Fort Productions Projects: Actress and teacher Katherine Tanner launches new theater company in Sarasota Shaun Memmel, left, plays a customer and Jordan Ahnquist plays a hair salon owner Shear Madness, a comical murder mystery in which audience members help solve a murder. Jordan said some actors can get tired of the show quickly. But there are others who want to show off their expertise by creating new things and trying them out. Theres not much improv anymore on stage. Most of the improv is in the dressing room where theyll try things out. Anquist and Brady are among those who are always looking for the next thing and the next corner. I played the show myself for the first five years and I always went out there thinking this is going to be so much fun. You didnt know what was coming and how the joke you worked on in the dressing room would go over. He said the show often lasts so long in different cities because audiences like their power in it. An actress in Chicago said to me once that other shows have improv, or whodunnits or comedy. The thing about this show is that we listen to what the other person says and we respond to it. We make the audience input important to the outcome of the show. They do determine how the show ends every night. And they dont always come to the same conclusion. In the long long long run, there is a character who gets voted more than the others, Jordan said, adding that in a recent run at the Straz Center in Tampa the first 15 nights, it was a different character than the one that usually gets voted. A lot of that has to do with how the characters land their laughs. The more the audience likes them, the more they dont pay attention to the evidence and just vote for whether they like you or dont. There are no set rules for audience members who will be drawn into the action to provide clues and point out evidence to the detective. Our motto is always let the audience win. If they are funnier than we are, let them go. Once that door opens when they can help out, at first it comes in a trickle and then its a flood, Jordan said. Shear Madness has kept Jordan busy and ha been profitable for him and Abrams. And the original playwright never complained. I got a lovely note from him, Jordan said. And we send him a check every week, so hes really happy. Shear Madness Adapted by Marilyn Abrams and Bruce Jordan from a play by Paul Portner. Directed by Bruce Jordan. Runs May 31-June 25. (with extensions possible) at Florida Studio Theatres Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota. Tickets are $29-$49. 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org Follow Jay Handelman on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact him at jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com. And please support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Audience members pick a killer in comical mystery Shear Madness Austin touts US sea power in Indo-Pacific, aid to Ukraine in speech to Navy graduates Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday touted American sea power and teamwork in the tense Indo-Pacific region, as well as among NATO allies amid Russias war in Ukraine as he addressed graduates at the U.S. Naval Academys commencement. Americas sea power lets us sail and fly and operate alongside our unrivaled network of allies and partners, from the South China Sea, to the Gulf of Aden, to the Caribbean. It lets us project power around the world, Austin said at the ceremony in Annapolis, Md. It helps us secure the sea lanes for the free movement of people, goods, and ideas. More than 1,000 graduates make up the U.S. Naval Academys class of 2023, which now will move on for more advanced training and eventual deployment with the Marines or Navy. This years graduates will enter the force as the U.S. has increased its presence in the Indo-Pacific amid heightened tensions with China, which historically sees self-governed Taiwan as part of the mainland and is building up its military installations across the region. Washington has increased security partnerships with the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, and it plans to step up military drills in the region with both nations. On Friday, Austin also noted the partnership with Australia and the U.K., which is working to shore up Australias defense in the Indo-Pacific Your mission and your leadership will be at the very heart of Americas work to forge a more open, more peaceful 21st Century, he said. The American flag atop a U.S. Navy ship has long been the symbol of hope for a more free and secure world. Austin also mentioned Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying U.S. sailors are operating shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO allies. The Navy has helped to expand Ukraines maritime capabilities as Ukraine fights against Russias cruel and reckless war of choice, he told the graduates. While he noted several critical battles that U.S. Navy sailors have fought, including Iwo Jima in World War II, Austin said the sea force has been historically most powerful in preventing wars and violence. They deterred conflict, they kept the watch and they reminded the world what America stands for, he said. The Pentagon chief said graduates will now deploy forward and travel the globe to defend our democracy. And you will learn that the lifeblood of the rules-based international order is actually seawater, Austin said. You will defend our democracy with honor, courage and commitment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Authorities have launched an investigation following an officer-involved shooting in Manchester, New Hampshire, that left a man dead early Friday morning. Officers responding to a 911 call for a report of a person who was armed with a firearm at 1143 Mammoth Road just before 3:30 a.m. encountered the individual in question outside of a home at an apartment complex and opened fire, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella. Officials say that four officers fired their guns at the suspect and one additional officer discharged a less-lethal munition. Manchester police officers did shoot and ultimately kill that individual, New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Chase told Boston 25. Chase noted that life-saving measures were attempted, but the armed resident died from his injuries. The deceased man has been identified as 26-year-old Alex Naone of Hooksett, New Hampshire. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds to Naones chest and abdomen, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Video from the scene showed a large section of the complex roped off with yellow police tape, a slew of evidence markers scattered around on the ground, and a number of officers scouring the grounds. No officers or other residents were injured in the incident and authorities say there is no threat to the public. Pursuant to protocol, the names of the officers involved in the incident are being withheld pending the conclusion of formal interviews, Formellas office added. The initial responding officers had body-worn cameras. Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg added, Were fully cooperating in this investigation with the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office...Were compassionate to the fact that a young man just lost his life. Im also focused on the fact that my officers were involved in this shooting and Im worried about their mental health as well. The officer-involved shooting marks the third in Manchester in the last year. When asked about the shootings, Aldenberg said he wasnt concerned with the actions of his officers in the two previous incidents. The exact circumstances surrounding Fridays incident remain under investigation. Additional details are expected to be released after the autopsy is completed. Man killed in police shooting in N.H. after reports of a domestic assault AG: Officer shoots, injures 18-year-old suspect accused of reckless driving in Manchester 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 Weekend events are expected to lead to traffic issues across Western Washington, but especially in Seattle. Theres pretty much no way to avoid those bottlenecks. INRIX Traffic Analyst Bob Pishue says to be prepared for a lot of congestion. If youre in the north end, we see congestion start to build heading into Seattle mostly in the Marysville-Everett area, thats pretty known for traffic as youre heading down, the Northgate exits. If youre heading from the South, all throughout JBLM is the bottleneck that we always talk about during Memorial Day, Pishue said. Since you cant really avoid the trouble spots, the best thing you can do is adjust your time and give yourself at least two extra hours to get to where youre going. If you want to get into Seattle without driving, to the north, as far as Northgate station, Link light rail is an option, as well as to the south, just past Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Amtrak is also an option from Everett to Tacoma. If youre not near a rail station, every city and county bus line across Western Washington can get you to a station that will get you to Seattle. Another option is to take the ferry! Many routes are running on alternate schedules, but some are already reserved if youre planning on driving, so be sure to look ahead and visit the Washington State Ferries website. By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Azerbaijan and Armenia could sign a peace settlement in their decades-old conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh when their leaders meet at a European summit next week, Baku's envoy to France said on Friday. Up to 47 heads of state, government and EU institutions are expected to attend the summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Moldova next Thursday, which brings together EU member states and 17 other European countries. On the sidelines, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev are due to hold high-level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, diplomatic sources said. "On June 1 in Chisinau we hope that finally a peace treaty can be signed," Leyla Abdoullayeva told a small group of reporters in Paris. "It's a historic moment and a momentum that can't be missed," she said. The two leaders met on Thursday in Russia, traditionally 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. But there was no accord at the meeting beyond agreeing to new trilateral talks between officials from the three countries next week. 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. There has been progress lately towards a settlement based on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. The European Union and the United States have made their own attempts to bring the sides together hoping to take advantage of Russia being distracted by the war in Ukraine. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Nick Macfie) Map of Bangladesh Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely-populated countries, with its people living in a delta of rivers that empty into the Bay of Bengal. Poverty is widespread, but Bangladesh has in recent years reduced population growth and improved health and education. Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh came into being only in 1971, when the two parts of Pakistan split after a bitter war which drew in neighbouring India. Bangladesh spent 15 years under military rule and, although democracy was restored in 1990, the political scene remains volatile. Islamist extremism has also been rising in the traditionally tolerant country. Bangladesh is low-lying and vulnerable to flooding and cyclones. It stands to be badly affected by any rise in sea levels. Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH: FACTS Capital: Dhaka Area: 148,460 sq km Population: 165.1 million Language: Bengali Life expectancy: 71 years (men) 74 years (women) LEADERS President: Mohammad Abdul Hamid Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid Mohammad Abdul Hamid, formerly speaker of parliament, was elected unopposed to the ceremonial post in 2013. He was elected unopposed for a second term in February 2018. Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina started a third term as prime minister in January 2014, after her Awami League won elections boycotted by the opposition amid an ongoing political crisis. Politics has long been dominated by bitter rivalry between two women: Sheikh Hasina, and Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Both have been prime minister at various times since 1991. Their hostility stems in part from differences over who played a greater role in the country's independence struggle - Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, or Khaleda Zia's husband General Ziaur Rahman. They sank their differences when military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad was in power from 1982 to 1990, but they have been uncompromising rivals ever since. MEDIA Media outlets tend to be politically polarised TV is the leading medium. State-run BTV has national terrestrial coverage and privately-owned satellite channels are widely watched. Media tend to be polarised, aligning themselves with one or other of the main political factions. TIMELINE 1971: Indian troops fire on Pakistani positions in support of Bangladesh during its eight-month war for independence Some key dates in the history of Bangladesh: 1204 - Muslim conquest of Bengal. 14th Century - Bengal sees the rise of three city-states; Sonargaon, Satgaon and Lakhnauti. 1352 - Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah unites the three city-states into the Bengal Sultanate, which dominates the area for much of the 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries. 17th Century - Mughal Empire controls Bengal. 18th Century - Nawabs of Bengal, within the Mughal Empire, become the de facto independent rulers of the area. 1757 - After the Battle of Plassey, Bengal is the first region of the Indian subcontinent to be conquered by the British East India Company. 1947 - British colonial rule over India ends. A largely Muslim state comprising East and West Pakistan is established, either side of India. The two provinces are separated from each other by more than 1,500km of Indian territory. 1971 - Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) becomes independent after a war with West Pakistan - now just Pakistan - with India backing the Bengali nationalists against Pakistan. 1973 - First parliamentary elections give the Awami League a landslide victory. 1975 - A military coup sees founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members killed, putting an end to civilian rule. 1979 - Second parliamentary elections brings former army chief Ziaur Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party to power. 1981 - President Ziaur Rahman assassinated during abortive military coup. 1982 - General Hussain Muhammad Ershad assumes power in coup. He suspends the constitution and political parties. 1991 - The country returns to a parliamentary system of government. 2006-2008 - Political crisis sees leaders of both major parties briefly detained. 2014-17 - Bangladesh faces a campaign of violence by Islamists against bloggers, atheists and secular intellectuals. A hearing is scheduled June 9 in the court case filed by a Bellingham man who hopes to join the slate of candidates opposing Mayor Seth Fleetwood in the Aug. 1 primary. In addition, staff at the Whatcom County Auditors Office on Friday were to give a second review to 268 of the challenged signatures on Joel Johnsons nominating petitions to be included on the primary election ballot, according to a notice posted on the Auditors Office website. Johnson has filed a Superior Court injunction preventing Auditor Diana Bradrick from finalizing the names of the candidates for Bellingham mayor until all of his signatures are validated. He is alleging irregularities in the process of counting and verifying the voter registration status of 2,506 signatures on his nominating petitions. In an email, Johnson told The Bellingham Herald that hes tried to meet with Bradrick to discuss the issue. The actions posted on the auditors site do not represent the process that I have proposed in the preliminary injunction and ultimately I plan on following whatever orders the court establishes in the pursuit of justice. Although I may exercise my right to observe these activities, it does not in any way endorse the auditors continuing verification under the previous conditions, Johnson told The Herald. I am asking members of our community to show up (at the June 9 hearing) and stand in solidarity as I speak truth to power and fight for a fair petition verification process. Not only for myself, but for all petitions and initiatives to come, Johnson said. Bradrick wasnt immediately available for comment. Earlier this week, she told The Herald that she was advised not to discuss the issue because of the injunction. That injunction, however, could delay the layout and printing of Whatcom Countys primary ballot, which must be mailed to overseas voters on June 16 and to Whatcom County residents on July 12 in Washington states top two primary, where the two candidates with the most votes advance to the Nov. 7 general election. All voting in Washington state is by mail. A hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. June 9 in front of Superior Court Judge Robert Olson. Five candidates are listed so far for Bellingham mayor, but because of Johnsons legal challenge the race is not finalized: Mayor Seth Fleetwood, who was elected in 2019. Kim Lund, former director of the Bellingham Schools Foundation and a member of the Whatcom County Planning Commission. Kristina Michele Martens, the at-large member of the City Council and a key figure in the process to establish the Whatcom County Racial Equity Commission. Mike McAuley, who served as a Port of Bellingham commissioner from 2010 to 2017 and serves on the Bellingham Planning Commission. Chris McCoy, CEO of Kombucha Town, which makes fermented tea. A one-week election filing period closed May 19. Johnson, a community and labor organizer who founded ReUse Works, which operated the former Appliance Depot, took the unusual step of submitting petition signatures instead of paying a filing fee to run for office. He needs 2,211 valid signatures of registered Bellingham voters in lieu of a $2,211 filing fee. After reviewing the signatures on May 20, the auditor found Johnson had 1,750 valid signatures -- not enough to meet the legal threshold. A total of 485 signatures were challenged and another 268 signatures were awaiting a second consideration on Friday. Eduard Babaryka, the son of jailed ex-presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, goes on trial after spending three years in a pre-trial detention center. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. In an unprecedented move, Belarusian authorities "pardon" jailed Belarusian activist Raman Pratasevich, who was given an eight-year prison sentence just two weeks ago. Experts consider the decision a propaganda move. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly recognizes Russian crimes in Ukraine as genocide and condemned Belarus' role as a co-aggressor in the war. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Kyiv starts an investigation into Minsk's role in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. An all-Belarusian volunteer group fighting for Ukraine faces losses on the battlefield near Bakhmut. These events take place against the backdrop of the Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners on May 21, as the number of political prisoners in Belarus reaches over 1,500. Steven Pifer: Russian nukes in Belarus - much ado about little? Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. In a March 25 interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for use by the Belarusian milit The Kyiv IndependentSteven Pifer Moscow, Minsk sign agreement on placing nuclear weapons in Belarus 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." 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." Son of ex-presidential candidate Babaryka goes on trial Eduard Babaryka, the son of former Belarusian presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, is on trial after three years in custody at a pre-trial detention center. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Belarusian authorities have accused the 33-year-old of tax evasion, money laundering, helping organize "mass riots," and "inciting social hatred," among other allegations. Eduard has rejected the charges, saying they're politically motivated. Eduard's father, Viktar Babaryka, is currently serving a 14-year sentence in Belarus for politically motivated charges. Considered one of Lukashenko's primary political opponents during the last presidential election campaign, the move was widely considered an attempt to take Babaryka out of the presidential race. Viktar Babaryka was hospitalized on April 27 with a collapsed lung and traces of severe beating. He has since gone missing. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on May 11 calling for his release. Army of hired guns: How Russias PMCs are becoming the main invasion force Private armies are illegal in Russia, so naturally, Moscow has been using them for decades. Now, its making them the main invasion force. The rate at which Russia creates new private military company-like units sped up after 2014 but it really took off during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov Before joining his father's campaign staff in 2020, Eduard ran crowdfunding platform Ulej which, among other humanitarian projects, funded the publication of a collection of Belarusian works by Nobel Prize-winning writer Sviatlana Aleksievich. Belarusian authorities claim they helped fund so-called "destructive projects." Eduard and Viktar were arrested by Belarusian authorities in June 2020 while en route to file signatures in favor of Viktar's presidential candidacy. Belarus 'pardons' jailed activist Raman Pratasevich Belarus has "pardoned" jailed Belarusian activist Raman Pratasevich, Belarusian state news agency BelTA claimed on May 22. The Minsk regional court sentenced Pratasevich, a former editor of the Belarusian Telegram channel Nexta, a mouthpiece for the protests against the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian elections, to eight years in prison on May 8. The court accused him of participating in a so-called "extremist group," undermining national security, and other politically motivated charges. Co-defendants Yan Rudzik and Stsiapan Putsila, who were tried in absentia, were sentenced to 19 and 20 years in prison, respectively. Pratasevich fled Belarus in 2021 but was detained when his commercial flight from Athens to Vilnius was forced to land in Minsk while flying over the country. "Literally, I just signed all the relevant documents stating that I was pardoned. This, of course, is just great news," Pratasevich told reporters in Minsk. Pratasevich has been called the regime's "hostage," appearing in official press conferences and on state-owned TV as an alleged "remorseful opposition activist" now loyal to Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Human rights groups say his confessions have been extracted through torture. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya dismissed Pratasevich's pardon as a "smokescreen" for the regime's crimes. She said the move was a "predictable attempt to divert attention" from the new trial against Eduard Babaryka and missing political prisoners. "All of them (political prisoners) have to be released and allowed to live free without coercion or threats," Tsikhanouskaya said. Pratasevich's pardon is the first granted by Lukashenko's regime for a political prisoner. In September 2022, Lukashenko claimed he intended to grant amnesty to prisoners who "really deserve it." The regime has fallen short of this promise. Some experts suggest the move to pardon Pratasevich may help Belarusian authorities bolster pro-regime propaganda or coax other political prisoners into false repentance. The Nexta Telegram channel published videos criticizing Lukashenko's regime on topics like the country's elections, the death penalty, and protests over various government policies. It extensively covered the protests that followed the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election in 2020. NATO Parliamentary Assembly recognizes Russian crimes in Ukraine as genocide, Belarus complicit The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) unanimously recognized Russia's crimes against Ukraine as genocide on May 22 and condemned the role of Lukashenko's regime as a "co-aggressor." At the Luxembourg Assembly session, we managed to adopt an extremely strong declaration that will have far-reaching political consequences," the head of Ukraine's delegation, Yehor Cherniev, said on May 22. The NATO PA statement said the organization would hold Russia's "co-aggressors in the Belarusian regime" accountable for its crimes in Ukraine, adding that it is "concerned about the Belarusian regime's growing support of Russia's war of aggression." At the NATO PA meeting, Tsikhanouskaya reiterated Lukashenko's complicity in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and hand in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. She called on the International Criminal Court to issue a warrant for Lukashenko's arrest, just as it had done for Putin. Belgorod incursion: Meet the anti-Kremlin militia behind the attack inside Russia Editors Note: The Kyiv Independent, together with a number of journalists, was taken to a location in northern Ukraine to interview the members of the units that took part in the military operation inside Russia. Not revealing the exact location was the only precondition for the interview. Norther The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima "We cannot allow Belarus to become a consolation prize for Putin," Tsikhanouskaya said. "Belarus is part of the problem, but it should also be part of the solution." The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on April 28 recognizing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia as genocide, noting that Lukashenko is one of the "named individuals for whom direct responsibility has been alleged" by international human rights organizations. Reuters: Ukraine investigating Belarus' role in child abductions Kyiv is investigating Belarus' potential role in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office told Reuters on May 23. The announcement was a response to a report published by exiled Belarusian opposition members alleging that over 2,000 Ukrainian children, including orphans between the ages of six and 15, were forcibly relocated to so-called recreation camps and sanatoriums in Belarus. The report accuses Lukashenko of personally facilitating the abduction of Ukrainian orphans to Belarusian territory, which would implicate him in war crimes. The Prosecutor General's Office told Reuters it has launched criminal investigations into the "forced transportation/deportation of over 19,000 children" from the Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, including to Belarus. The office hasn't made an official announcement on the subject. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, who has allegedly been overseeing the forced deportations of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. PACE adopted a resolution in April recognizing Lukashenko as being potentially complicit in Russia's forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Kastus Kalinouski regiment suffers losses in Bakhmut The Kastus Kalinouski regiment, an all-Belarusian regiment fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, reported the deaths of five of its soldiers near Bakhmut on May 17. Russian forces reportedly struck a building with members of the regiment inside, causing it to collapse and killing four fighters. The regiment said attempts to retrieve the fighters' bodies failed. One of the regiment's commanders died while trying to evacuate during a Russian assault. The Kyiv Independent reported on May 22 that Bakhmut has effectively been occupied by Russian troops. However, Ukraine's General Staff reported the same day that Bakhmut remains the "epicenter" of fighting. As of July, there are over 1,500 Belarusian nationals fighting against Russia, with the Kastus Kalinouski regiment currently the largest group among them. Local Belarusian and Ukrainian diaspora members gathered at the main Market Square in Krakow for the 'Freedom to Political Prisoners of Belarus' protest, on Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Krakow, Poland. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners The Spotlight segment provides readers with the historical context of contemporary events in Belarus. May 21 marked the Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners. People around the world expressed solidarity with those imprisoned in Belarus on politically motivated charges. The day first came about after 50-year-old Belarusian activist Vitold Ashurak, who was sentenced to five years in prison for politically motivated charges, died in a penal colony on May 21, 2021. He was arrested for having taken part in protests against the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which tightened Lukashenko's grip on the country. While Belarusian authorities say his cause of death was cardiac arrest, his family members say Ashurak had no pre-existing conditions prior to his sentence they suggest he was beaten to death. An official investigation has yet to be conducted into the cause of his death. In Belarus, political prisoners face extremely harsh conditions, and there have been many reports of torture and arbitrary punishment. They are often refused contact with their family, friends, and lawyers, and are subject to solitary confinement. Ashurak was the first to report that political prisoners are forced to wear yellow tags on their clothes, which exposes them to further mistreatment. Former presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, currently serving a 14-year sentence, has been missing for nearly three weeks after he was hospitalized with a collapsed lung and signs of beating. Meanwhile, Siarhei Tsikhanouskiy and Ihar Losik have been missing for over two months. Belarusian anti-regime blogger and political prisoner Mikalai Klimovich died in custody at a penal colony in Belarus on May 7. The 61-year-old was arrested for reacting to a caricature depicting Lukashenko on social media. 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 Russia's war against Ukraine," the U.S. State Secretary said, calling for their "immediate and unconditional release. The EU also issued a statement of solidarity with Belarus, noting that Lukashenko's regime has made over 40,000 politically motivated arrests and pursued at least 12,000 politically motivated criminal cases since the summer of 2020. The Polish and Lithuanian embassies in the Vatican organized a mass to "pray for freedom and express the solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus." Writers association PEN International released a letter signed by over 100 Nobel laureates expressing solidarity with jailed Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. "In the words of Bialiatski we, too, believe, because we know that spring always comes after winter." Svitlana Tikhanovska took part in the Kyiv Security Forum Read also: US condemns Russia deploying nuclear weapons to Belarus She recalled a report which documented the deportation of Ukrainian children not only to Russia but also to Belarus. Therefore, in her opinion, the International Criminal Court (ICC) should treat Lukashenko the same way it does Putin and the children's ombudsman of the Russian Federation, Maria Lvova-Belova. "Lukashenko must be held accountable for his war crimes; we need to ensure a global impeachment of Lukashenko," she emphasized. Tsikhanouskaya called any discussions about the possibility of easing sanctions against the Belarusian regime "erroneous." Read also: Russia to use border incursion to swallow part of Belarusian army We need to put more pressure on this regime through sanctions and political isolation, she said. Lukashenko is being used as an element of destabilization in Europe. Without Putin, this regime would not have survived. We see a policy aimed at the complete destruction of the national identity of Belarus. Lukashenko gives Russia territory, weapons, and opportunities to continue aggression against Ukraine. The only chance for us is Ukraine's victory, but this does not mean that we should not continue our efforts, on the contrary, we must redouble them. She noted that Lukashenko agreed to host Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of the country, which violates the non-proliferation treaties signed in 1986. Read also: US condemns Russia deploying nuclear weapons to Belarus "The majority of the population of our country stands for independence, against war, and against nuclear weapons, but the repressive regime suppresses these moods," Tsikhanouskaya concludes. On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russias childrens ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, for their involvement in unlawful removal of children from Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. Read also: Kyiv Security Forum says clear path to NATO membership for Ukraine at Vilnius Summit is only option As explained by the head of the ICC, Piotr Hofmanski, the Russian dictator can now be arrested in 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. 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: Russia remains committed to Belarus security, Peskov 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 A Belgian aid worker who was imprisoned in Iran for more than a year has been freed after the Gulf state of Oman said it had facilitated a prisoner swap deal. The aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, is set to arrive in Belgium later Friday, Belgiums foreign ministry said. Meanwhile, an Iranian diplomat, Assadolah Assadi, was released from Belgium and is on his way back to Iran, the countrys foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said. Oman said it had brokered the deal: The Omani efforts have resulted in an agreement between the two sides for a mutual exchange deal, Omans foreign ministry said in a statement. According to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Vandecasteele is currently on his way to Belgium. He was taken to Oman on Thursday evening, where he was received by Belgian soldiers and diplomats, De Croo said, and underwent medical tests on Friday morning. If all goes well, he will be with us tonight, De Croo said in a statement. Finally free. Olivier Vandecasteele is seen on his way to Belgium after being released in Iran. - From Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo/Twitter Vandecasteele was sentenced by an Iranian court in January to 40 years in prison, 74 lashes and a $1 million fine, Iranian state-aligned and judiciary news agency Mizan said. The 41-year-old aid worker was sentenced for charges of espionage for a foreign intelligence service and money laundering. Rights group Amnesty International said he had been arbitrarily detained and a campaign advocating for his release said his arrest was spurred by diplomatic-geopolitical reasons. After 455 days of unjust imprisonment, Olivier Vandecasteele has finally regained his freedom. He is scheduled to arrive in Belgium tonight, following 15 months of intense and discreet diplomacy, the Belgian foreign ministry statement said. Assadi, who was based in Vienna, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Belgian court in 2021 over a foiled terrorist plot outside Paris in 2018. In a judgment in March, the Belgian constitutional court paved the way to Assadis release in exchange for Vandecasteele, after rejecting an appeal launched to stop an Iranian-Belgian prisoner exchange treaty. Assadi was detained in 2018 while passing through Germany, according to Irans state-run news agency IRNA. He was standing trial along with a Belgian-Iranian couple and an Iranian national who are accused of planning a terrorist attack after 500 grams of explosive material, called TATP, and a detonator were discovered in their car in June 2018. Assadolah Assadi has been released from Belgium and is on his way back to Iran, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Twitter. - From Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam/Twitter Mr. Assadolah Assadi, the innocent diplomat of our country, who was illegally detained against international law in Germany and Belgium for more than two years, is now on his way back to his homeland and will soon enter our beloved Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said. The released individuals have been transported from Tehran and Brussels to Muscat, Omans capital, in preparation for their return to their home countries, Omans foreign ministry said in a statement. De Croo paid tribute to Belgian diplomats and the countrys security and intelligence service. Olivier is free today thanks to their dedication and professionalism, he said. We have been concerned about Oliviers fate for over a year. For me, one thing has always prevailed. We will not abandon an innocent compatriot, he added. We dont leave anyone behind in our country, especially not someone who is innocent. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent, together with a number of journalists, was taken to a location in northern Ukraine to interview the members of the units that took part in the military operation inside Russia. Not revealing the exact location was the only precondition for the interview. Northern Ukraine At an abandoned gas station in northern Ukraine, five cars with Russian volunteers fighting on Ukraine's side waited for journalists. A few days after a successful incursion inside Russia's Belgorod Oblast, those who took part wanted all the attention they could get. The Russian militia groups, who call themselves the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Free Russia Legion, say they have been fighting alongside Ukraine in some of the hottest spots of the war, including Ukraine's Donbas. They now claim to have attempted to bring the fight into Russia, even if for a short while. While many details of the operation still remain unclear, the cross-border incursion into Belgorod Oblast, which borders Ukraine, appears to have been the boldest operation since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. In early March, the Volunteer Corps' incursion into Russia's Bryansk Oblast was a similar yet much shorter endeavor. Denis Kapustin, also known by his alias White Rex and ties to the Russian far-right, leads the so-called Volunteer Corps. He said the operation that began on May 22 ended a day later when an undisclosed number of soldiers returned to Ukraine. He claimed his troops only suffered two light injuries. "I think that any crossing of the state border with the Russian Federation and a successful return can certainly be called a success," Kapustin told journalists. According to him, his group held "around 42 square kilometers" of land in Russia for "quite a while" during the operation. A close-up of a member of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a volunteer unit said to be fighting alongside Ukraine, shot at a secret position not far from the Russian border in northern Ukraine on May 24, 2023. (Photo by Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) When asked by the Kyiv Independent what the Volunteer Corps wants to prove to the Russian public with these operations, Kapustin said it is the vulnerability of the Kremlin regime and that Russian President Vladimir Putin's powers are "not unlimited." "I want to prove to (Russians) that it's possible to fight against a tyrant," Kapustin said. "The FSB (Federal Security Service) can beat, control, and torture unarmed (Russian citizens). But as soon as they meet with full-fledged armed resistance, they run away." To convey their message to the Russian people, the group consulted with the Ukrainian military and received some tangible help such as medical support for wounded soldiers, Kapustin told the Kyiv Independent. But much is unknown about the two Russian units said to be fighting for Ukraine, including their size and what roles they have taken during the war so far. The Ukrainian public has been rather skeptical of the units' participation in active fighting due to a lack of visual evidence, with some also questioning why there is no report of their casualties. When dying stops being scary: Worn out Ukrainian soldiers in Donbas hold off Russian assaults Editors Note: This story is based on interviews with Ukrainian soldiers, conducted in Donetsk Oblast, near the eastern front line, in late March. Some of the soldiers declined to give their last names for security reasons, and are identified by first names and callsigns instead. DONETSK OBLAST U The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima While the units claimed responsibility for the incursion, Russia immediately accused the Ukrainian military's "sabotage group" of launching a cross-border assault a claim immediately denied by Kyiv. The two units say they work with Ukraine's military within its ranks, but "everything we do, every decision we make behind the state border is our decision," Kapustin explained. It's unlikely that such a complex operation could have been possible without Ukraine's direct military command. Days after the incursion, the biggest question remains the origin of U.S.-made Humvee and MaxxPro military trucks shown in videos and images that allegedly ended up in Russia. The U.S. has provided the same vehicles to Ukraine as part of its $37 billion in military aid. Ukraine denies any involvement in providing the weapons. During the meeting with journalists on May 24, Kapustin denied the involvement of Western equipment or weapons within his group. The White House has said it is now investigating the reports that "U.S. equipment and vehicles could've been involved" in the fighting within Russian borders. A top Ukrainian official, willing to stay anonymous to speak freely, said that the U.S. didn't contact Ukraine's leadership concerning the Belgorod incident. Russian Volunteer Corps About 20 soldiers, some with their faces covered with balaclavas, stood together in front of an armored military vehicle, a "military trophy" they claim to have brought back from their latest operation inside Russia. Only one representative from each Russian unit spoke to journalists. Kapustin's Russian Volunteer Corps, which he says was established on Aug. 22, 2022, is a volunteer unit largely composed of ethnic Russian emigrants who have lived in Ukraine or abroad. While founded much later, Kapustin said that some volunteers have fought in the war since 2014 and the early months of the 2022 invasion. The Volunteer Corps was said to be established in order to make it easier for Russian nationals to join the fight against Moscow's invading army. Kapustin told the Kyiv Independent that the corps continues to receive many applications, claiming that its popularity rose just as Moscow announced mobilization in September 2022. He said, "When mobilization began in Russia, we received 200 applications per day." The corps fighters' age varies from 19 to mid-40s, according to Kapustin, who himself is in his late 30s. Kapustin, who goes by the nom de guerre named after his white supremacist clothing brand White Rex, is also known as a former mixed martial arts fighter and for his connections to other neo-Nazi organizations around the globe. Free Russia Legion The other military unit, Free Russia Legion, was founded much earlier, on March 11, 2022. In April that year, three now-former Russian soldiers who did not reveal their names held a press conference in Kyiv, where they said they had found out about the legion when they were held in Ukrainian captivity as POWs and chose to join after witnessing Russia's brutality in the war against Ukraine. The legion's spokesman goes by his call sign Tsezar (Caesar). According to Tsezar, civil war is brewing in Russia amid growing support for groups like the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps. He insisted that the fighters are simply "peacekeepers" in Ukraine, whose priority remains helping Kyiv win the war. He claimed that destabilizing Russia was not in his group's interests. "I just want to go home and live in peace," Tsezar, a 49-year-old from St. Petersburg, said. "I want Russia to stop bombing Ukraine, I just want Russia and Ukraine to live in peace." Tsezar described the legion as "more centrist" than the right-wing Russian Volunteer Corps. The legion is reportedly largely made of prisoners of war who were captured in Ukraine and former military personnel with experience and knowledge of Russian military tactics. "We will change Russia, freeing the territory and creating centers of new Russian power there," Tsezar told the Kyiv Independent, repeating the narrative that Russia is "occupied" by the Kremlin regime. "We know that the people support us, and every day this support is increasing," he added. Participation in groups such as the corps and the legion is punishable by law in Russia. It violates at least two articles of Russia's Criminal Code for acting against state interests, each bringing a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. In March this year, the Russian Supreme Court recognized the Free Russia Legion as a "terrorist organization whose activities are prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation," Russian Interfax reported. Ongoing operation Just days after the cross-border incursion in Belgorod Oblast, much is still unclear about the operation. Tsezar, from the Free Russia Legion, said that the task was "to carry out deep reconnaissance in combat" and not to reach Belgorod city, the regional center. His legion claimed in the afternoon on May 22 that it had "liberated" the border village of Kozinka with the Russian Volunteer Corps and entered the neighboring Graivoron town. Russian authorities claimed that a cross-border Ukrainian shelling in the morning occurred just before the fighting broke out. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims. The incursion showed that "the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation is absolutely not ready for such things," Kapustin told journalists. By the evening, the local authorities had announced a "counter-terrorist operation" in Belgorod Oblast and that the "majority" of residents in bordering villages had fled their homes. While Russia says it has strengthened its defense in bordering regions, the incursion suggests otherwise. Belgorod Oblast authorities reportedly spent nearly 10 billion rubles (about $125 million) on "the construction of protective structures" in 2022, Russian Interfax news reported in February, citing the regional construction minister Oksana Kozlitina. Can Russia afford to commit to a years-long war? When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out war against Ukraine, U.S. intelligence claimed that Russian forces planned to sweep Kyiv within days. More than 13 months on, Ukraines defenses still stand firm. But Ukrainians are now faced with a different threat the Kremlin appears to The Kyiv IndependentKatie Marie Davies The Kremlin framed what it claimed was an incursion of Ukrainian saboteurs as Kyiv's attempt to distract attention from its loss of Bakhmut a city in eastern Ukraine essentially captured by Russia after suffering enormous casualties amid more than ten months of heavy fighting. Ukraine denied the Russian accusations, with the military intelligence saying that only the two Russian volunteer units were involved. Senior Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, remained silent on the Belgorod combat operation. A top Ukrainian official, willing to stay anonymous to speak freely, confirmed the knowledge of such an operation beforehand. It remains unclear whether the Russian anti-government groups captured any villages on May 22 or May 23, according to the analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a D.C.-based think-tank analyzing the war in Ukraine. Kapustin from the Russian Volunteer Group, however, said on May 24 that the operation is "ongoing." "It definitely has various phases, so phase one, we consider it a successful phase it's over now," he explained. "But the operation is ongoing, that's what I can say for now." "It's only the beginning," he added. "The Russian-Ukrainian border is pretty long, so yet again, there will be a spot where things will get hot," Kapustin said, promising more attacks in the future. How outcome of Russias war can tip international order A year into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there is little doubt in the West that Ukraine needs to win. Led by the U.S., Western support helped Ukraine push back Russian forces and kept Russian President Vladimir Putin from achieving his major warmongering goals. But Russias war The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet ______________________________________________________ Note from the author: Hi, this is Asami Terajima, the author of this article. Thank you for reading my story till the end. I hope you enjoyed it, it's a little bit different from my usual reports from the Donbas front lines. While much remains unknown about these two Russian anti-government groups fighting alongside Ukraine, I think it's important for Ukraine to get as much support as possible from all across the globe. To help the Kyiv Independent continue reporting on the ground, please consider supporting us by becoming our patron. As the criminal case against a Bellingham hiker accused of stabbing a mountain biker multiple times during a March 2021 right-of-way dispute on a trail concludes, the civil case over the incident has just begun. Dake Hartman Traphagen, now 72, pleaded guilty April 26, 2023, in Whatcom County Superior Court to an amended charge of third-degree assault, a felony. Traphagen was sentenced the same day to 30 days in jail, with the option to serve the time through electronic home monitoring. Court records show Traphagen enrolled in a private electronic home detention program May 2 and is expected to complete his sentence by May 31. Traphagen initially faced charges of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, and possession of a deadly weapon, a gross misdemeanor, but his charges were amended down as part of an agreed plea deal, according to court records. A no-contact order was put in place between Traphagen and the victim, George Michael Lanham, a 68-year-old mountain biker, until April 26, 2028, court records show. Sentencing hearing At Traphagens sentencing hearing in late April, Whatcom County deputy prosecuting attorney Maggie Peach said it was clear the parties saw the case and potential trial outcomes quite differently. Since the beginning of the case, Traphagen has maintained that he acted in self-defense a claim the prosecution felt confident they could successfully attack during trial, Peach said. Nonetheless, the parties worked for two years to come to the agreed resolution, she said. As they got closer to trial, Peach said the realities of what a conviction on the original charge could mean for Traphagen began to set in, and the agreed deal took shape. One of the biggest factors in the prosecution proposing the agreed plea deal was that Lanham did not want to see Traphagen serve prison time for the incident, Peach said. The prosecution wouldnt have extended the offer if they didnt feel it was an appropriate resolution, she added. This entire situation, I think one of the real tragedies of it apart from the injuries suffered by Mr. Lanham is how preventable it was, and how a disagreement of a right-of-way of a hiking trail could result in a stabbing, Peach said. Its pretty shocking that it would happen in this community, and I think it affected not only a lot of hikers, but mountain bikers and anyone who uses the trails here. Peach said the agreed resolution took into account Lanhams wishes, his injuries, Traphagens age, lack of criminal history and his belief that he was acting in self-defense. Ill keep this short: Dake hurt me very badly. He stabbed me six times, Lanham said at Traphagens plea and sentencing hearing. Lanham said during one of the last times he was stabbed while the two men struggled, the knife grazed his bone and severed muscles and one of the three main nerves in his arm. He said without nerve stimulation, the muscles in his hand have started degenerating. After two surgeries, doctors have concluded theres nothing more they can do, he said. My dominant left hand will never be the same again. Full recovery is not possible. Im crippled for life. Everything is harder now, Lanham said. Doctors told Lanham its unclear how far the degeneration in his hand could go and that much of the damage is beyond repair. He said hes most concerned with potentially losing his independence in the future. Even so, Im still grateful to have two hands and the wherewithal to live and play on the beautiful shores of Lake Whatcom. I fully support the decision to offer Dake a plea of [no] jail time. I see no benefit of putting him in prison, Lanham said. Who was the aggressor? Traphagens criminal defense attorney, Douglas Hyldahl, said reasonable minds disagreed when it came to the circumstances surrounding the trail dispute. In several motions filed prior to Traphagens plea and sentencing, Hyldahl wrote that Lanham was the aggressor, not Traphagen. Hyldahl wrote that Lanham, as the cyclist, should have yielded to Traphagen and the other hikers. Hyldahl argued that due to Lanhams actions, Traphagen feared for his safety and his life and ultimately stabbed Lanham in self-defense. The springblade knife Traphagen had was one he purchased off the internet and used while fishing, Hydahl said. Traphagen accepted the plea deal to minimize the risk to him and his family, according to court records. Traphagen declined to speak during his sentencing hearing. This was in part due to the pending civil lawsuit, Hyldahl said. Whatcom County Superior Court Judge David Freeman said it was clear the resolution was heavily negotiated. He said he understood why the parties needed it to be seen as an appropriate conclusion to the case. Because of Lanhams support of the plea deal, Traphagens age and lack of criminal history, Freeman followed the agreed recommendation. Its tough. While this resolution is appropriate, Mr. Traphagen at 71 is walking out of this courtroom as a convicted felon. Mr. Lanham is sitting here with what appears to be permanent medical conditions that will affect him for the remainder of his life. No one is walking out of this without some pretty significant consequences, which is unfortunate given the circumstances of how this all occurred, Freeman said during the hearing. Civil case is looming Lanham filed a personal injury civil lawsuit March 3 in Whatcom County Superior Court against Traphagen and his wife, Gail Smedley. Smedley was one of the hikers with Traphagen at the time of the stabbing, court records show. Lanhams lawsuit alleges Traphagen refused to move aside as the pair approached each other at a muddy and difficult point to pass on the trail on Stewart Mountain. Traphagen pulled Lanhams mountain bike down by the handlebars, while Smedley pulled on Lanhams helmet, the lawsuit alleges. Traphagen then stabbed Lanham at least five times, the court records state. Lanhams lawsuit states he has suffered permanent nerve damage and asks for general and special damages due to the permanent injury. The damages requested include Lanhams medical expenses, past and future mental and physical pain and suffering, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life, wage loss and impairment of earning capacity, property damage and loss of use, court records state. In a response to the lawsuit filed by attorneys for Traphagen and Smedley, they allege that Lanham aggressively shouted for the pair to get out of his way as he was riding his mountain bike up the trail and incorrectly asserted that he had the right-of-way, records show. The response alleges that Traphagen was acting in self-defense and that it was Lanhams own actions as the aggressor that caused the incident and ultimately Traphagen to react out of fear for his personal safety, court records state. The response states Traphagen attempted to move out of Lanhams way, but that Lanham rode his mountain bike directly at Traphagen instead of passing by him. Traphagen said he put his hands out to absorb the impact and he and Lanham fell backward. Traphagen said Lanham then held his hands to the ground, spit in his face and refused to get up, according to court records. Traphagen admitted that he stabbed Lanham, but said he did so only after Lanham denied multiple requests to get off of him, the response to the lawsuit states. Traphagen and Smedley have asked for Lanhams lawsuit to be dismissed. They have also made counterclaims against Lanham. Traphagen and Smedley accuse Lanham of assault, negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium. Traphagen and Smedley are requesting past and future special and general damages, court records show. In a response filed Wednesday, Lanham argued that Traphagen and Smedley have not sustained any damages caused by him. Lanham said he acted in self-defense and accused Traphagen and Smedley of being the aggressors, according to court records. Lanham has asked the court to dismiss the counterclaims made by Traphagen and Smedley, records show. A hearing has not yet been set in the case. Police in Berlin said Friday they have launched an investigation into Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters after he was seen wearing an SS uniform during a concert last week in the German capital. "We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to public hatred because the clothing worn on stage could be used to glorify or justify Nazi rule, thereby disturbing the public peace," Berlin Police spokesman Martin Halweg was quoted as telling the AFP. "The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer," Halweg reportedly added. Waters performed May 17 at Germany's Mercedes-Benz Arena where, according to local journalists, a screen projected the words, "The show will start in 10 minutes and a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite." It continued, "Just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly." PINK FLOYD FOUNDER CONDEMNED FOR WEARING SS OFFICER UNIFORM WHERE JEWS WERE DEPORTED BY THE NAZIS Roger Waters has previously been criticized for what many considered antisemitic attacks on both Israel and Judaism. However, after the concerts intermission, Waters came onto the stage wearing an SS officer uniform, complete with a red armband and a fake rifle. Behind him, an inflatable pig floated above the crowd with Third Reich-style banners with crossed hammers instead of swastikas. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Additionally, screens displayed various names of victims considered to be killed by state actors, including George Floyd, anti-Nazi activist Sophie Scholl and Mahsa Amini, the Iranian woman whose death while in the custody of the "morality police" sparked major protests. "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," the State of Israels official Twitter account tweeted Wednesday. PINK FLOYD BANDMATES FEUD OVER MEMBERS ANTISEMITIC, PRO-PUTIN REMARKS The Simon Wiesenthal Center also condemned the event and called for German authorities to prosecute Waters for invoking and distorting Holocaust images. "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," the center tweeted. It added, "Will Germany prosecute #RogerWaters for Holocaust distortion or will promoters rush to book the anti-Semite for more lurid 3-D anti-Israel + #Antisemitic hatefests masquerading as concerts?" Waters has previously been criticized and attacked for what many considered antisemitic attacks on both Israel and Judaism. In 2013, Waters performed a similar stunt by wearing a Nazi armband, firing a fake machine gun and using a pig-shaped balloon carrying symbols of dictatorial regimes along with the Star of David. By 2016, his act was condemned by Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman. Waters has also criticized the Russia-Ukraine war by claiming it was instigated by "extreme nationalists" in Ukraine provoking Russia. The backlash from that accusation led to Waters canceling concerts in Poland. Bill seeks to award Medal of Honor to doctor who died tackling shooter California lawmakers announced this week they are reintroducing a bill to recognize the bravery of John Cheng, a doctor and father of two who was killed while trying to stop a shooter at a Taiwanese church in Southern California last year. The bipartisan bill, first introduced by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter and Republican Rep. Michelle Steel, would posthumously award Cheng the Congressional Gold Medal. Five other churchgoers were injured in the shooting. Just over a year ago, Orange County hero John Cheng jumped into danger to stop an active shooter at Geneva Presbyterian Church, Porter wrote on social media. His selfless actions saved lives. Cheng, a 52-year-old sports medicine physician, was attending a lunch banquet hosted by the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church to a honor former pastor, the Rev. Billy Chang, when a gunman began to randomly aim at the crowd and shoot, Chang recounted in a message sent to a seminary group. A person attaches a note at a memorial for Dr. John Cheng (Mario Tama / Getty Images file) Chang picked up a chair and threw it at the gunman, and Cheng tackled the shooter. Several people tied up the gunman with an electrical cord until police arrived, officials said. Cheng sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. David Chou, 69, of Las Vegas, was charged with dozens of federal hate crimes in connection with the attack, which investigators said was motivated by a hatred for Taiwan. Sheriff Don Barnes called Cheng a hero at a news conference, noting that his actions were critical in subduing the gunman. It is known that Dr. Cheng charged the individual, the suspect, attempted to disarm him, which allowed other parishioners to then intercede, taking the suspect into custody, Barnes said. He added that without the actions of Dr. Cheng, it is no doubt there would be numerous additional victims in this crime. CORRECTION (May 29, 2023, 10 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the award the measure would bestow on Cheng. It is the Congressional Gold Medal, not the Congressional Medal of Honor. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest by an officer who had his gun blazing upon arrival, the Washington Post quoted the familys attorney as saying - Nakala Murry/AP A black schoolboy asked his mother what did I do? after being shot by police whom he called to protect her from a violent former partner. Aderrien Murry, 11, from Indianola, Mississippi, was shot in the chest by an officer who had his gun blazing upon arrival, the Washington Post quoted the familys attorney as saying. Nakala Murry, the boy's mother, said after her son was shot, he asked her: Why did he shoot me? What did I do? and began crying. The Murry family are calling for the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave, to be fired. The boy, who has been released from hospital, was treated for a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs. Aderrien Murry, who has been released from hospital, was treated for a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs - Facebook An officer from the Indianola Police Department arrived on the scene after the boy called 911 and had his gun drawn at the front door, Ms Murry told CNN. She said she told her son to call the police after the father of another one of her children arrived at their house and was acting irate. The shooting occurred within what felt like one to two minutes after the officer asked those in the house to come outside, Ms Murry told CNN, noting that as her son turned the corner of the hallway, the officer opened fire. Ms Murry, who told the officer that no one was armed, said it was impossible for him to know if it was a man, boy, pig or cow that he shot. He wouldnt know, because he shot so fast, she said. The 11-year-old complied with his request to put his hands up, she said, adding, I cannot grasp why. The same cop that told him to come out of the house. [Aderrien] did, and he got shot. Never going to trust police again Carlos Moore, the attorney representing the family, said at a press conference: What are you waiting on? Someone to actually die? Mr Moore told the Washington Post the events would be a lot for the boy to process, adding that, hes never going to trust the police again. He claimed that the officer allegedly involved had previously been named the departments best officer. Ron Sampson, Indianola police chief, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Washington Post. Bailey Martin, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, told the Washington Post that the agency was not commenting on the case, but that it will share its findings with the Mississippi attorney generals office once the probe is complete. 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. Tourist looking at Eiffel Tower from rooftop, Paris, France Everyone dreams about going to Paris. After all, it is the city of love and the backdrop to so many iconic films and historical moments. Its no wonder the whole world has romanticized the French capital, and many Black travelers are adding it to their travel bucket lists. But with many options for accommodations, where is the best place for Black travelers when in Paris? Here are a few Parisian hotels Black travelers are falling in love with. Hotel Gabriel Located in Paris Marais district, Hotel Gabriel is a Parisian dream that travelers are loving. Inspired by 17th and 18th-century architecture, Hotel Gabriel whisks visitors away from modernity and teleports them to a land long ago. Guests love the fact that the hotel is close to some of the main hotspots in Paris. The boutique hotel is just minutes away from the historic Place de la Republique, Canal St. Martin, and the Marais shopping district. With 41 rooms ranging from one-bedroom to double-bed suites, Hotel Gabriels minimalist design and nostalgic artwork by Australian artist Mark Stuart make it a top choice for travelers visiting Paris. The hotel offers 24-hour reception, free baggage storage, pet-friendly rooms, and a delicious breakfast buffet that guests cant get enough of. The hotel designers were strategic in curating a space that was tranquil and Zen where guests could relax in the heart of the city. Hotel Chateau Frontenac A classy hotel with Parisian glamour and a historic past, Hotel Chateau is steps from the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. With 104 rooms, rounded archways, and old-world charm, the hotel has been on many travelers radars as they head to the city of love. The hotel has a softness that is unmatched in Paris, and guests are wooed by its magical allure from the moment they arrive. Traveler influencer Audrey French described in detail the luxury experience she had at Hotel Chateau Frontenac. In a TikTok video, French said the concierge service was top-notch. She described her stay as magical with the room exceeding her expectations in size and comfort. Although she wasnt a big fan of the dinner restaurant, French noted that the hotels breakfast buffet was outstanding with the option to dine in-room if preferred. She also noted the hotel location was convenient and safe as she explored the city. Hotel West End One of the best things about the Hotel West End is its prime location. The hotel sits on Grade-A real estate, giving guests access to a little bit of everything. Its fifth-story rooms provide an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower, and the hotel is surrounded by Champs Elysees, Avenue Montaigne, and Avenue George V. The neighborhood Hotel West End is located is basically a hub for Parisian tourist experiences. Theres a plethora of shops, museums, cinemas, jewelry stores, and high-end boutiques right within walking distance of the hotel. Some Black travelers noted online that the rooms and suites at Hotel West End were noticeably larger than most European hotels with incredible double balconies. The hotel definitely gives Black luxury, and travelers cant get enough. Hotel Elysia Travelers seeking a beautiful aesthetic to accompany the Parisian backdrop have fallen in love with Hotel Elysia. Located in Paris Golden Triangle, the hotel has been delicately designed to emanate romance, and its a hotspot for honeymoon stays in the city. This enchanting hotel seems to be from a dream with its golden, cream-colored walls, exquisite artwork, and royalty-inspired decor. With a five-star rating across most platforms, Hotel Elysia romanticizes the art of living and inspired its guests to love again. Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel If youre on social media, chances are youve seen the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel. The hotel is a hotspot for social media influencers dying to catch a video of the hotels iconic view of the Eiffel Tower. Because of this, Pullman draws in as many honeymooners and newly engaged couples as the romantic Hotel Elysia. Pullman was designed to cater to a diverse array of guests. From the lovebirds to the businessman, the hotel has accommodations for all types of visitors. A hotel with a smooth mixture of new school design and old French traditions, Pullman continues to be a top choice for Black travelers visiting Paris. Florida Governor DeSantis launches 2024 presidential bid Xinhua) 09:26, May 26, 2023 Ron DeSantis attends a swearing-in ceremony of the Florida governor in Tallahassee, Florida, the United States, Jan. 3, 2023. (State of Florida government/Handout via Xinhua) WASHINGTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced his entry into the 2024 U.S. presidential race, vowing to lead a "Great American Comeback." DeSantis made the announcement in a video posted on Twitter. "We need the courage to lead and the strength to win," DeSantis said. "I'm Ron DeSantis, and I'm running for president to lead our great American comeback." His campaign filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission declaring his candidacy earlier Wednesday. DeSantis is considered the top challenger in the Republican primary to his one-time ally, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who formally announced his entry into the presidential race months earlier. According to polls, Trump has been in the lead over other GOP figures. DeSantis, 44, has an Ivy League educational background. He studied history at Yale University and soon after went on to Harvard Law School. Once a naval officer, DeSantis was first elected to Congress in 2012. He was elected as Florida governor in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers a speech at an event in Florida, the United States, Feb. 1, 2023. (State of Florida government/Handout via Xinhua) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers a speech at an event in Florida, the United States, April 17, 2023. (State of Florida government/Handout via Xinhua) Ron DeSantis attends a swearing-in ceremony of the Florida governor in Tallahassee, Florida, the United States, Jan. 3, 2023. (State of Florida government/Handout via Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Black hair struggles just got a bit easier with this innovators creation. TikTok user @Krysanthum created a simple, effective method for ensuring your middle part isnt crooked. Initially, she came across issues of her TikTok filter being unsteady, but after brainstorming on her iPad, she was able to make it successful as it guides you to make a straight, crisp middle part. The innovation came after her own battle with not being able to accomplish straight lines. I came up with this line thing so that if you turn your head too much to either way youre going to see green, she explained. You dont wanna see green at all. You just wanna see pink. Then, I created some graphics to help you figure out how to use this filter. Just keep your head straight and go along the line and hopefully this will help us have the most middlest part ever, amen, she added. However, @Krysanthum didnt just stop there for people that are middle part deficient. She went on to create filters for braid parting, which can be just as much of a challenge, if not more, for people. Her first attempt to do triangle parts was a hit, thanks to her creation. The video has since gone viral, raking in over 180,000 views, as of this writing. Social media users convened in the comments expressing how much of a necessity the filters are for the Black community, especially for those who are beginners at styling their own hair. Whats more, they urged her to patent the filters. Youre doing the Lords work, one user commented. We love a brilliant Black woman. As the video continues to blow up, this may just be the beginning of what the innovator has in store for game-changing filters. In the comment section, she confirmed that shes a mechanical engineer. We always love to see Black women in STEM! Fitness trainer and former bodybuilder Robynn Europe has been awarded $11.25 million in damages in a discrimination lawsuit she brought against the luxury fitness chain Equinox. Europe worked at an Upper East Side location of the gym in New York City. She worked as a personal trainer manager between 2018 and 2019. But was fired in 2019 over the companys claims that she was regularly late to work. In response to her firing, Europe filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court in September 202. She claimed she was subjected to a hostile work environment and was fired because of her race and gender. Racism and sexism they are just pervasive in the fitness industry, Europe told The New York Times during an interview about her case. In coastal cities, training is something you can do without a degree and you can make $75 an hour there are not a lot of opportunities to do that, so its a big draw for people of color. A Troubled Work Environment The New York Times piece details Europes case. It included allegations that a manger who reported to Europe made negative comments about Black women and their bodies. Europe also alleged the manager called employees who werent white lazy. Europe testified that these instances along with other intense issues at the gym caused her severe emotional and physical distress. Her legal team stressed her male bosses did not listen to her attempts to alert them about these issues. Her team also presented a chart during the case showing the patterns of lateness of other employees at the gym who didnt face as harsh consequences as Europe for being late. A Victory For All Black Women An all-women legal team represented Europe The civil justice system prevailed today, Europes attorney Susan Crumiller said in a statement after the verdict was announced. Equinox thought it could get away with its appalling behavior and a jury of New Yorkers said otherwise. Crumiller called it a victory for all Black women. This is not just a victory for our client, but for all Black women who have suffered that noxious combination of racism and sexism that is too often tolerated in the workplace, Crumiller said. We could not be prouder of Robynn for her relentless determination to hold Equinox accountable for its vile misogyny. Europe was awarded $1,250,000 in compensatory damages and $10,000,000 in punitive damages adding up to a total award of $11,250,000. Following the verdict, Equinox released a statement saying it vehemently disagreed with the ruling. It added that it did not tolerate discrimination in any form and went on to request that the court reconsider the case. The post Black Woman Wins $11.25 Million in Discrimination Case Against Equinox Gym appeared first on 21Ninety. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will highlight Russia's strategic failure in its war against Ukraine US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will next week visit new NATO member Finland where he will deliver a speech championing Ukraine's defense against Russia, the State Department said Friday. Blinken will travel on June 1-2 to Helsinki after a meeting of the Western alliance's foreign ministers in Oslo. He will first visit Sweden, which is also seeking to join NATO, and will meet all three countries' prime ministers. In Helsinki, Blinken will meet deliver a speech "to highlight all the ways in which Russia's aggression against Ukraine has been a strategic failure," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. Blinken will outline "our continued efforts to support Ukraine's defense of its territory, sovereignty and democracy in pursuit of a just and durable peace," he said. The Oslo meeting will prepare for a summit of NATO leaders in July in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Several former Soviet bloc NATO members are seeking formal commitments to Ukraine at the summit, even if a formal offer to join looks distant. Dereck Hogan, the top US diplomat for Europe, indicated that the United States -- by far the largest military power in NATO -- was in no rush to make formal promises to Ukraine. Under NATO's Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. "We will look for ways to support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations but right now," Hogan told reporters, "the immediate needs in Ukraine are practical and so we should be focused on building Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities." Hogan said Blinken would seek "progress on the key deliverables" for Ukraine at the Vilnius summit but did not expect announcements in Oslo. Finland and Sweden, which long kept an official veneer of neutrality to avoid conflict with Moscow, both sought membership in NATO after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, whose pre-war efforts to join the alliance were unsuccessful. Finland officially joined NATO in April. Turkey and Hungary have yet to give their blessing for Sweden to join NATO, whose accession decisions need unanimity. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pressed Stockholm over the presence in Sweden of members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara considers terrorists. Western diplomats have voiced guarded hope that Turkey will lift its objections after Sunday's second-round presidential election. Hogan said that Sweden's NATO bid would be "part of our discussions" with Turkey after the election. Blinken's visit in Sweden will be to the northern city of Lulea where he will take part in talks of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, which among other issues has looked to set common standards in the face of China's advances. sct/bgs Secretary of State Antony Blinken will push Turkey and Hungary to ratify Swedens accession to NATO during an informal meeting of foreign ministers in Norway next week, the State Department said, ahead of the alliances main summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. Blinken will travel to Oslo on May 31 in the wake of Turkeys runoff elections between incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his challenger, Kemal Klcdaroglu. Erdogan, who is favored to win on Sunday, has doubled down on his blocking Swedens accession into NATO, criticizing Stockholm as harboring what he describes as terrorists associated with Kurdish militant groups. We have had extensive conversations with the Turkish Government about allies, including ours, a clear conviction that Sweden is ready for membership now, said Dereck Hogan, acting assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, in a briefing with reporters on Friday previewing Blinkens travel. The secretary will also travel to Sweden and Finland. And so of course we have the second round of the elections in Turkey, this coming Sunday. So well see how they will go. But clearly, this will be an ongoing part of our discussions, of our engagements with the new Turkish government, Hogan continued. So we do very much look forward to seeing both Turkey, as well as Hungary, ratify Swedens accession protocols, very soon, prior to the summit in Vilnius. Erdogan said in an interview with CNN last week that, Were not ready for Sweden right now, while an aide to Klcdaroglu reportedly said the candidate is in favor of approving Sweden joining the alliance. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is holding up Swedens ascension over grievances that Stockholm has been critical of the erosion of rule of law in the country. The political relations between Hungary and Sweden are awfully wrong, Orban said during a forum in Qatar on Tuesday, Reuters reported. We dont want to import conflicts into NATO. The holdouts from Turkey and Hungary have prevented Sweden from joining the alliance even as 28 of the 30 member nations of NATO have ratified the accession protocols. Sweden, along with Finland, was prompted to join the alliance in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland was granted accession to the alliance in April. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A county in New Jersey voted unanimously to oppose an offshore wind farm proposed for its coastline, citing the project's negative impacts on the environment, tourism industry and beach vistas. In a 4-0 vote this week, the Cape May County, New Jersey, Board of Commissioners passed a resolution green-lighting reasonable use of all the county's resources to oppose the wind projects developed by Danish multinational energy company Orsted. The county is also considering legal options and appealed a state public utility permit it says would transfer "real property interests" from residents to Orsted. "At first, the County of Cape May was interested in trying to work with Orsted to find a way forward, perhaps with some modifications to the project to reduce visual, environmental and economic impacts," Cape May County Board of Commissioners Director Len Desiderio said in a statement. "We would like to see land-based offshore wind facilities and supply chain infrastructure built here in New Jersey, since that would create good opportunities for trade workers and others," Desiderio continued. "But we cannot sit quietly by as hundreds of windmills are installed off our beaches as state and federal government agencies ignore our legitimate and serious concerns." DEM SENATOR PURCHASED LUXURY CONDO FROM GREEN ENERGY LAWYER PUSHING WIND FARM IN HOME STATE Offshore wind turbines generate are pictured on July 7, 2022 near Block Island, Rhode Island. The resolution particularly targets Orsted's Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 projects, which together, would consist of nearly 200 wind turbines across 161,000 acres in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape May County. According to the county, the turbines would be as close as nine miles from its coastline and would be visible from every beach in the county. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The project would also have two transmission line corridors with one substation in Cape May County. According to the resolution, Cape May County officials have engaged with Orsted since 2021, but the negotiations ultimately fell through after the company turned to state and federal officials who were supportive of the development. 50 BLUE STATE MAYORS CALL FOR OFFSHORE WIND MORATORIUM AMID WHALE, DOLPHIN DEATHS "As time went by, it became clear that Orsted was not interested in finding any compromise," added Desiderio, the chairman of the county's board of commissioners. "It is clear to us now that the approach among this foreign corporation and their partners in the state and federal governments is to build these things as fast as they can despite the potential for devastating environmental and economic impacts," he said. "On behalf of the people of Cape May County, we will not let that happen without a fight." The county further argued the wind project would have little to no positive impact on global warming, lead to a 15% decline in tourism which translates to a billion-dollar loss for the local economy and harm marine wildlife. As part of the effort to oppose Orsted's projects, the county hired Virginia-based law firm Cultural Heritage Partners, the Washington, D.C.-based environmental consulting group Warwick Consulting and former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue to serve as special counsel and offshore wind coordinator. President Biden points to a wind turbine size comparison chart during a meeting about the Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership on June 23, 2022. "The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, with its President, other members, and staff, after announcing that they are partners with Orsted and wearing wind turbine blade lapel pins, deprived the County and Ocean City of required due process and acted in an indefensibly biased and unfair fashion in ruling in favor of the Danish wind company and against the duly elected officials of Ocean City and the County," Donohue said in a statement. "The Commissioners have authorized the exploration of legal challenges on all fronts, including challenges to [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection] permits and a host of federal permits that will be issued over the coming months," he continued. Cape May County is New Jersey's southernmost county, consists of 16 separate jurisdictions and has a population of about 95,000 residents. An Orsted representative, meanwhile, said it was prepared to continue engaging with local officials on its wind development plans. "We are aware Cape May County has issued a resolution," Tom Suthard, Orsted's New Jersey stakeholder relations manager, told Fox News Digital. "The content of the resolution doesnt change our willingness or desire to collaborate with local elected officials and stakeholders throughout the state." "Building upon discussions from the beginning stages of Ocean Wind 1s development, rsted will continue outreach with communities and county leaders," he added. "We are committed to delivering a project that advances New Jerseys renewable energy goals while creating jobs and economic opportunities that further the states leadership position of offshore wind development." Perhaps classic racing yacht Elena should be called Deja Vu. The 180-foot schooner is not only a replica of Morton Plants 1910 commission of the same name, but its also got history with Westward. While Plant famously instructed American naval architect and designer Nathanael Herreshoff to, Build me a schooner that can win, Captain Steve McLaren, who project managed every aspect of Elenas 2009 replica build at Factoria Naval de Marin, had similarly ambitious intentions. Both Elenas rose to the challenge, with the original winning the 1928 Kings Cup Trans-Atlantic Race from New York to Santander. Herreshoff made a name for himself designing several notable Americas Cup contenders. When Westward launched in 1910 she was the largest yacht built under the International Rule of 1908. She carried more canvas than her competitors and displayed a faster speed to windward than any other schooner. Herreshoff designed Elena as a sistership to Westward but fitted her with a fuller keel which lowered her center of ballast and amended the dimension of her rigs to further improve her windward ability. Unsurprisingly, she left the cream of the American schooner fleet in her wake, including Westward. Fast forward to 2009, McLaren, former captain of Westwards 2002 replica Eleonora, set out to repeat history and build another Elena that could wipe out all the competition. It took four years of meticulous craftsmanship to execute the original plans he had located at the MIT Museum in Massachusetts (with handwritten annotations), but the hard work paid off. Under her current ownership, Elena has competed in and won a clutch of regattas, including the Voiles de St Tropez, the Royal Regatta Cannes, and the St Barths Bucket. Shes crossed the Atlantic 16 times and covered 150,000 nautical miles. More from Robb Report The lounge. Robb Report stepped aboard the yacht while docked in Monacos Port Hercules to see the fruits of McLarens labor. While her towering wooden masts, 39-foot bowsprit, and extensive sail plan are exact replicas, McLaren curated the interior spaces himself, from the original Frank Beken photographs that adorn the solid mahogany, Georgian raised paneled walls to the ruby red leather upholstery and vintage fittings. All the fixtures, from the lights to the hinges, were acquired before I even started building the yacht, he told Robb Report. Theyre a bit wonky and rattly, but theyre all original items that I sourced in London and then gold plated to cut down on maintenance. The upper deck. The job of varnishing the exterior woodwork is never endingThe day you finish is the day you need to start again, jokes McLarenbut the 15-year-old interior remains as fresh as the day it came out of the yard, despite regular charters and a few rowdy guests. The main mast descends through the center of the boat in a show of force, but the real design feature is the cantilevered skylight in the main salon and dining area. It was originally conceived to lift off during a racing environment to allow the sails to be fed from the main deck down to the packing crew below. Today, the only elements passing through are a cooling sea breeze and plenty of natural light. A cabin. The sails would have been stored in what is now the main salon to maintain the yachts center of gravity, says McLaren. There were three rinky-dink day cabins aft, and after a day of sailing the owners would leave for their large motor yacht where theyd spend the night in comfort. As yacht ownership has evolved, so has yacht design, and Elenas five guest cabinsall named after classic sailing yachtsare generous in size, while honoring the 20th-century aesthetic. A clamshell emblem found on the chairs, towels, and letterheads pays tribute to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, which takes place where the yacht was built. For McLaren, who has more than 20 years of experience racing large sailing yachts and has captained Elena throughout the entire Mediterranean and Caribbean, the yacht remains a tour de force. It takes a crew of 50 when racing, compared to a crew of eight on charter. Performance-wise she is virtually unmatched. Elena is fared like a race boat to the bottom of the keel, which gives her a slippery hull and means she can easily sail in a five-knot breeze, he says. It would be difficult for a modern carbon fiber boat to sail in those conditions, but Elena is 225 tons of steel, with a wooden mast, Dacron sails, and wire rigging, and can do it easily. I sailed her sistership, Eleonora, and knew what to expect, but you dont know what you have until you go neck and neck, he adds. When we beat them in our first regatta in Monaco in 2009 it was an amazing feeling. Sailing on Elena is an almost balletic experience. For McLaren, the love affair will never end, but for Elenas owner, its a different story. The yacht, which is listed for charter and sale with Y.CO, now awaits a new sailing enthusiast looking to recreate the rivalry and camaraderie that crisscrossed the oceans in the roaring 1920s. Click here to see all the photos of Elena. The 180-Foot Racing Yacht 'Elena' Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Border guards and army repel 10-hour Russian assault near Avdiivka in spite of chemical attack On the Avdiivka front, border guards and Ukrainian Armed Forces have repelled an attack by the occupiers who used tanks and unconventional grenades. Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Quote: "Recently, in the area of Avdiivka, border guards, together with soldiers of one of the mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, repelled a prolonged attack by the superior forces of the invaders. The assault on the positions was preceded by massive artillery preparation and the use of chemical grenades. Ammunition with irritant aerosols was dropped by enemy forces from drones." Details: The immediate offensive began at night, the border guards said. To break through the Ukrainian defences, the Russians sent infantry into battle, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles. At the firing line, Ukrainian artillery fire destroyed the invaders' equipment, including two tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle and one armoured personnel carrier. The defenders killed the infantry of the aggressor country at close range using small arms and grenade launchers. In total, the battle lasted about ten hours. The occupiers failed to succeed due to heavy losses and retreated. Approximately more than 30 occupiers were killed, and more than 50 were wounded. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Donald Trump and Boris Johnson have met several times already, including at a Nato summit in 2019 Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met former President Donald Trump to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The meeting took place on Thursday, during Mr Johnson's visit to the United States. This week Mr Johnson has also met Republican politicians in Texas and Mr Trump's former secretary of state Mike Pompeo to shore up support for Ukraine. Mr Trump has previously described Mr Johnson as a friend but their stances on the Ukraine war differ. Mr Johnson has been a vocal supporter, visiting Ukraine several times and calling for the West to provide more weapons to the country. Mr Trump, on the other hand, has previously refused to commit to sending military aid to Ukraine if he returned to the White House and would not say who he thought should win the war. The US has committed $46.65bn of arms and equipment to Ukraine over the past year, making it the largest donor of military aid to the country, followed by the UK, which has committed $7.16bn. The pair have met several times before, including on the sidelines of the 2019 G7 summit in France. When Mr Johnson became prime minister, Mr Trump described him as "a good man", adding: "They call him Britain Trump." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, pictured on May 25, 2023, has promised to eradicate illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 The city of Belem on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon has been chosen to host the COP30 round of global climate talks in 2025, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Friday. "I am convinced that it will be a great event... the world will love the people of the state of Para" of which Belem is the capital, the president said in a video posted on social media. "I already participated in this conference (Conference of the Parties or COP) in Egypt, in France, and everyone was talking about the Amazon. So I said: 'Why not hold the conference there, so you know where the Amazon is?'" Lula said about his offer to host the annual talks. Brazil had been chosen to host the COP in 2019, but withdrew its offer shortly after the election of Lula's far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro -- a climate change skeptic accused of dismantling environmental protections during his term. Lula, who assumed his third term as head of Brazil in January, has promised to eradicate illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. mel/app/ltl/mlr/bfm 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. 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 Gabby Petito have obtained a letter written by Brian Laundrie's mother, in which she says she would "show up with a shovel and garbage bags" if he needed to dispose of a body. On Wednesday, a judge approved the release of the letter, which was in the possession of the FBI, after the Petitos' lawyer requested it be used as evidence in their civil lawsuit against the Laundries. Petito died at age 22 in 2021 while on a cross country trip with Laundrie, her fiance. Petito's body was found in Wyoming, and after a lengthy search, authorities discovered Laundrie's body in Florida weeks later. He claimed responsibility for Petito's death in a notebook, the FBI said in its final investigation report. A judge ruled the parents of Gabby Petito could obtain the letter written by Roberta Laundrie to her son, Brian Laundrie. It had been in the posession of the FBI. / Credit: Courtesy: Snyder & Reilly, Trial Lawyers The letter from Laundrie's mother, Roberta, was also found with his body. On it, she wrote "burn after reading." "I just want you to remember I will always love you, and I know you will always love me," his mother wrote in the letter, obtained by CBS News. "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." The letter from Laundrie's mother, Roberta, was also found with his body. On it, she wrote "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. 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," she continues. Laundrie was missing for weeks after Petito was reported missing and ultimately found dead, and many speculated his parents knew of his whereabouts. In a civil lawsuit filed in March 2022, the Petitos claim Laundrie told his parents on Aug. 28, 2021 that he had killed Petito. Her body was not found until Sept. 19, near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The Petitos claim in the suit that Laundrie's mother and father, Christopher, concealed their son's murder confession while the investigation was ongoing. They are seeking damages of at least $30,000. In a statement to CBS News, the Laundries' lawyer, Matt Luka, said they "dispute that the letter was anything more than an expression of love between a mother and son and an attempt by Roberta Laundrie to repair her relationship with Brian before he left on his trip with Gabby." He called the focus on the phrases in the letter a file in a cake, going to the moon, and getting new guts are "farcical examples of the lengths someone would go for someone they love." He said in hindsight, the wording is unfortunate. "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' lawyer] for sensationalism and to bolster his case," Luka said. CBS News has reached out to lawyers for the Petitos, who provided the letter to CBS News, for further comment. Nationwide lifeguard shortage as summer arrives Kamala Harris delivers commencement address at West Point Key artifact illuminates historic moment in hours after the JFK assassination United Way of North Central Ohio holds annual meeting United Way of North Central Ohio held its 2023 annual meeting on May 17 at The Union in Marion. Four new members were welcomed to the United Way of North Central Ohio Board of Directors during the meeting. They are: Rachel Jarvis, Community Foundation for Crawford County; Matt Carbary, Sims Brothers Recycling; Caleb Ulmer, Park National Bank; and Kimberly Niedermier, Graphic Packaging Internationals. Outgoing board members Gary Branson, Kerr Murray, Jackie Peterson and Logan Kirk were recognized for serving two terms. Members beginning their first term on UWNCOs Board of Directors are, from left, Rachel Jarvis, Matt Carbary, Caleb Ulmer, and Kimberly Niedermier. The governing board for the upcoming year will be Aaron Rollins of POET Marion, president; Susan Kent of Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, vice president; Matt Orians of Mizick Miller & Co., treasurer; and Erica Kaple of Kegler Brown, secretary. The meeting concluded with the presentation of the UWNCO Red Feather Award to Kurt Kimmel of Kimmel Corporation. The Red Feather Award is made periodically to an individual, organization or business whose dedication to the community and commitment to establishing a legacy of change through collective community impact merits acclaim and advancement. Vaccine clinic in Ontario ONTARIO The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging Inc., in partnership with UsAging and the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, will host a vaccine clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Corner, located at 2131 Park Avenue West, Door #300, in Ontario. This clinic will be open to all ages and to all District 5 counties. Third Street Family Health Services will administer the COVID-19 booster. Gift cards will be given to those who receive a vaccine at the clinic and complete a short survey. Individuals who are interested in participating or want additional information on vaccines may call 567-247-6477. Many forms of ID are accepted to verify your name, identity and age. You do not need to show proof of citizenship or residency status. There is no cost for the vaccine and insurance is not required. New statewide online portal launched to streamline adoption and foster care process COLUMBUS Ohio has launched a statewide online portal where Ohioans can inquire and apply to become foster or adoptive parents. About 15,000 children are in the state's foster care system. InnovateOhio and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) developed OCAF with the goal to make Ohio a leader in simplifying the pathway toward becoming a foster or adoptive parent. The new tool gives users the ability to complete and submit applications electronically, whereas before it was all done on paper. Prospective caregivers can access the portal from Ohios FosterandAdopt.ohio.gov website and can either select an agency they prefer to work with or from a local agency chosen at random. Live chat support will be available during regular business hours. This article originally appeared on Marion Star: United Way of North Central Ohio hosts annual meeting, vaccine clinic This Bristol mom didn't know family of slain Baby TS. But she rallied town to support them All that she knows about Baby TS is what Stephanie Scancella has read online. It broke her heart. It has broken the hearts of everyone in Bristol Borough. Scancella, a mother of seven, heard the scream of emergency sirens shortly before midnight Wednesday night. Everyone in the borough did. She prayed whoever the sirens were for would be OK. The next morning Scancella and the small tight-knit riverfront borough learned what happened in the 1000 block of Radcliffe Street to a 4-month-old infant boy known publicly only by two initials. Memorial for Baby TS, created by concerned neighbors outside of his Radcliffe Street home in Bristol Borough, on Friday, May 26, 2023 Father charged in death of infant son Bristol father charged in death of baby son. What he told police The baby was dead. Doctors called his injuries including bruises on his forehead, neck, thigh, lower eye, and head injuries indicative of a battered child. The childs 30-year-old father, Tyler Sullivan, who is facing homicide and related charges in the death, allegedly told police he violently shook his son twice and bumped his head against the bathtub the day he died. Sullivan also told police he bumped the babys head on a rocking chair and had shaken his son six other times over the last six weeks, court documents said. The death plunged Scancella and the community into mourning and looking for ways to support the babys family, and each other. I work in Bristol Borough and live in Bristol Borough, it's a small town and most of us stick together when truly truly needed, Scancella. This has truly hurt so many hearts. It's all that was talked about yesterday no matter where I went in town. Scancella, like many others in and around the borough on Thursday and Friday, turned to social media to express their grief, anger and sympathy. She could not imagine what the family of TS is going through, especially his mother, who lost her only child. Which is why in Facebook community groups she posted an idea to see what people thought: Lets hold a community vigil. Everyone could meet in the parking lot of St. Marks Parish school on Radcliffe Street at 8 p.m. on Friday. They could bring stuffed animals, flowers, candles, bubbles. They could pray together as a show of support for the family of of the slain infant. The vigil could bring some attention to a Go Fund Me campaign started online by a friend of the baby's 22-year-old mother to help her with expenses. As of Saturday morning, more than $8,200 had been raised. She hoped that many people would turn out to show the family that the community supports them. Her community did not disappoint her. Melissa Hammond brings stuffed animals, flowers, and a wreath to the vigil held in the parking lot of St. Mark's Catholic Church in Bristol Borough, on Friday, May 26, 2023, for a four-month-old baby who police allege was shaken and killed by his father. Concerned residents stand outside a home on Radcliffe Street in Bristol Borough, on Friday, May 26, 2023. An estimated 50 people turned out on the first night of a long holiday weekend. Local firefighters and police officers. Bristol Borough Police Chief Joe Moors. Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. Coworkers of Baby TS's mom, who said she and her family was too distraught to attend. Neighbors hugged and consoled each other, their faces etched with the grief of a deep loss. They walked to the Radcliffe Street home where the baby died and placed gifts outside. They came with full hands and hearts. Religious candles, stuffed animals, foil balloons shaped like stars, flowers, angels, photos, and handwritten notes: "We Love Baby T" and "Rest in Peace Sweet Baby." A eucharistic minister presided offered a pray of healing to the mourners. A teenage boy stacked blocks spelling out "BABY" along the curb by the vigil site. Baby T he is loved no matter where he is," Scancella said. "Baby T is loved by us even though we didn't personally know him." One of the stuffed animals brought tothe vigil held in the parking lot of St. Mark's Catholic Church in Bristol Borough, on Friday, May 26, 2023, for a four-month-old baby who police allege was shaken and killed by his father. More on the Sellersville 7 Police say 7 siblings in Sellersville were terribly neglected. Why no one seemed to notice Sellersville parents of 7 arrested Bucks County parents of 7 charged. Sick kids living in filth, with rats, no food, police say This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Borough baby killed remembered at vigil. "We Love Baby T: Alan Mello of Bristol was reported missing Monday. The Bristol police have found a body inside a car owned by a missing 76-year-old man. The state Medical Examiner's Office has been brought in to positively identify the body and investigate the cause of death, the Bristol police said in a press release. The police had earlier asked for the public's help in locating Alan Mello, who'd last been in contact with family and friends on May 13 and was reported missing Monday. After learning that Mello had gone to Norton, Massachusetts, to visit a friend before he went missing, detectives began retracing the route they thought he'd have taken on the way back, Maj. Brian Burke said in the press release. At about 10:24 a.m. Friday, the police found Mello's red Toyota in "extremely dense overgrowth and brush" off Metacom Avenue, the police said. More: Former RI man gets 25 years to life for strangling disabled woman in California "There were no skid marks or debris that would have alerted anyone that a vehicle had traveled off the roadway," the police said. A man's body was in the driver's seat. The initial investigation hasn't revealed foul play or circumstances, the police said. The police say they will try to determine why the car went off the road. The Bristol Fire Department helped clear the overgrowth, so investigators could process the scene, the police said. "Chief (Kevin) Lynch and the members of the Bristol Police Department extend their thoughts and sympathy to the family of Alan Mello during this difficult time," the police said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Searching for missing man, Bristol police find car, body Brit wins Cannes newcomer prize for 'How to Have Sex' Molly Manning Walker's 'How to Have Sex' won the coveted Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes in 2023 British director Molly Manning Walker won the coveted Un Certain Regard newcomer prize at Cannes on Friday for her much-praised feature debut "How to Have Sex". "This film was the most magical moment of my life," the 29-year-old Londoner said after receiving the prize, which she dedicated to "all those who have been sexually assaulted". The film follows three best friends getting drunk in Crete, with one of the girls, Tara, on a mission to lose her virginity -- but things soon go wrong. All the stereotypes of Brits abroad feature in the film but Manning Walker also sought to break them by digging deeper into the thorny issues of rape and consent. It caused a storm at this year's festival and drew rave reviews. Variety found it "chillingly dark", The Guardian admired its "complex chemistry" and The Hollywood Reporter dubbed it a "hidden gem". Drawing from her own experience, Manning Walker speaking to AFP earlier during the festival, said she was inspired by "the best times of my life", but also the sexual assault she suffered at 16 -- and wanted to show it all without judgement. Shot in a fly-on-the-wall style, she resisted showing graphic assault scenes. "I think we as women know that experience way too much -- we don't need to be re-traumatised," she said. Instead, she focused on her characters' emotional experiences. "Everything was from her eyeline and everything was on her face and reading her emotion," she said. Manning Walker is one of an emerging crop of exciting British woman directors alongside the likes of Charlotte Wells whose "Aftersun" was last year's unexpected breakout at Cannes, earning an Oscar nomination for star Paul Mescal. Before directing she was a cinematographer for nearly a decade and shot films for other young British talents including Charlotte Regan's "Scrapper" that won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance film festival this year. She has also made music videos and adverts, as well as two short films including "Good Thanks, You?" that screened at Cannes in 2020. eab/pvh (Adds dropped words in headline) LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's former prime minister, Boris Johnson, and U.S. former President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine and "the vital importance of Ukrainian victory" on Thursday, Johnson's spokesperson said on Friday. Since being ousted as Britain's prime minister last year, Johnson has been keen to forge a profile as one of Ukraine's most ardent backers in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion and has been visiting the United States this week to speak to politicians about maintaining support for Kyiv. A spokesperson for Johnson, who was once dubbed "Britain Trump" by the former president, said Johnson met Trump on Thursday "to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukrainian victory". There were no further details. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kate Holton) British Airways tail fins are pictured at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, May 17, 2021 There has been a second day of disruption for travellers at Heathrow after British Airways cancelled dozens more short-haul flights following Thursday's IT problems. BA said cancellations were still happening due to the "knock-on effect of a technical issue" resulting in staff being in the wrong location. A total of 175 flights have been axed, affecting more than 20,000 passengers. It comes on the busiest day for UK air travel since 2019. According to data firm Cirium, 83 BA flights, or around 8% of its planned Friday services, were cancelled. This followed the cancellation of 92 flights on Thursday, out of 860 that were scheduled. Most of the cancellations are for European and domestic flights, but there have also been delays to other services, while some passengers have been unable to check in online. Meanwhile, traffic has started building up in Dover as delays are expected on roads and ports over the bank holiday and school half-term break. On Thursday, BA apologised for the cancellations, saying it was related to "technical problems" causing difficulties with online check-in. In a statement on Friday the company said: "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." Those affected have been offered the option to rebook an alternative flight or request a refund, BA added. The BBC understands that the technical issue has been resolved and should not affect flights on Saturday. Data firm Cirium said Friday was expected to see the most departures from UK airports since before the Covid pandemic, with more than 3,000 flights planned. This is partly down to families heading on holiday for the half-term break. Gavin Lanoe, 43, from Guernsey, was stuck at Heathrow on Thursday afternoon. "We were told to go to the flight cancellations desk to get assistance but there were thousands of people there and a few staff, most of the desks were empty," he told BBC News. Eventually he said BA staff told them they could not rebook as their systems were still down and instructed passengers to leave, pay for their own hotels and claim back up to 200. Mr Lanoe then booked a ticket on another airline from Gatwick. He said BA told him they would send his luggage to Gatwick but this morning he discovered his bag was still at Heathrow. "They've had enough IT failures now and they should be more practiced at dealing with them but they are not," he said. The issues started as security guards at Heathrow Airport belonging to the Unite union began a three-day strike over pay. The airport has said operations will not be affected. BA has been hit by other IT problems in recent years including a major breakdown in 2017 that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend. The incident sparked a customer backlash with pledges from the carrier that it would do better in future. Passengers also faced delays due to an IT issue in February, days after flights had been cancelled due to Storm Eunice. Dover has been dogged by long tailbacks of vehicles during busy holiday periods Meanwhile, traffic has started building up at Dover as people embark on cross-Channel ferry trips. Ferry operator DFDS said shortly before 08:30 BST that there was a wait of around an hour at border control for travellers in cars, while coach traffic was "free-flowing". The Port of Dover tweeted that traffic is "currently processing well with no wait time for coaches, less than an hour wait for cars". Dover has been dogged by long tailbacks of vehicles during busy holiday periods. In the lead up to Easter some coach passengers faced 15-hour delays to board ferries to France from the Kent port. Dover's boss said this week it has done "everything we can" to prevent travel delays over the upcoming bank holiday and school half-term break. On the roads, motoring organisation the RAC said it it expects this to be the busiest late May bank holiday since before the pandemic with around 19 million separate leisure trips by car between Friday and the end of Monday. Elsewhere, Eurotunnel reported its cross-Channel vehicle services were busy, but trains were departing on time. On the railway, a fault with the signalling system between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport is expected to cause disruption until around 15:00. Rail passengers are also being warned that services will be "severely reduced" because of strikes during the coming week. Members of the drivers' union Aslef will walk out on 31 May and 3 June, while the RMT union has called a strike on 2 June. Additional reporting by Peter Ruddick Banner saying 'Get in touch' How was your journey affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. A Brooklyn Democrat councilmember in New York City is facing bipartisan accusations of anti-Italian bias over comments he made about a landscaping company. Councilman Chi Osse, a 25-year-old Democrat from Brooklyn, was accused of anti-Italian racism after his comments about Dragonetti Brothers Landscaping, a firm that had to pay out $1 million in restitution after pleading guilty to insurance fraud last year. "I just want to say on Dragonetti that name alone should have been the first red flag in terms of contracting with the city," Osse said in a Monday council hearing. JORDAN NEELY PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN CLASH WITH COPS AT NYC VETERANS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DANIEL PENNY Councilman Chi Osse, a 25-year-old Democrat from Brooklyn, was accused of anti-Italian racism after his comments about Dragonetti Brothers Landscaping, a firm that had to pay out $1 million in restitution after pleading guilty to insurance fraud last year. Two days after , a video clip of his remarks made its rounds around the Big Apples political scene and drew the scalding accusations of racism from a pair of his Italian colleagues from both sides of the aisle: Republican Councilman Joe Borelli of Staten Island and Democrat Councilman Bob Holden of Queens. Borelli told Fox News Digital on Friday that Osse "made an off-color offensive joke, and unfortunately, the standard that politically correct progressives like him demand is one of zero tolerance." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This isnt the first time he has said or tweeted offensive things, so the rules must apply," Borelli said. "Hate has no place here." Borelli previously told the local press that Osses comment was "a racist statement uttered in the course of official business on the council floor." "Ill bet all the salt in the sea that there will be no consequence for it," he added. "We must stand together as a city and unequivocally reject hate and bigotry in all its forms. Osses comment at a City Council hearing comparing Italians with organized crime is reprehensible and disgusting and has no place in our society," Holden told Fox News Digital. Two days after, a video clip of Osse's remarks made its rounds around the Big Apples political scene and drew the scalding accusations of racism from a pair of his Italian colleagues from both sides of the aisle: Republican Councilman Joe Borelli of Staten Island and Democrat Councilman Bob Holden of Queens. It is disturbing to see him repeatedly display bigotry and racism, and its time for him to apologize for his comment, take sensitivity and bias training, and pledge to do better in the future," the Democrat councilman continued. Osse responded to the accusations by pointing to Dragonetti Brothers Landscapings criminal record, saying his comments "had nothing to do with Italians" and "had everything to do with the fact that the company has already been tarnished." Borelli and Holden also pointed to Osses history of racial comments about White Americans, including public tweets, as evidence that the Dragonetti comments are not a one-off. Borelli called them a "pattern." "A cis white man should not be the next speaker of the Council," Osse tweeted in June 2021. "Is this white culture?" Osse tweeted in June 2019 of a White woman drunk dancing at a wedding. Osse also called the NYPDs strategic response group (SRG) as a "goon squad" earlier this week. "I can specifically call the SRG a goon squad because they specifically are a squad of goons - like that lunatic party you decided to join," Osse tweeted. "At least the SRG are loyal to themselves," he continued. "You are loyal to nothing." Both Borelli and Holden are members of the councils Italian-American Caucus. The Brooklyn Democrat did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. Bugattis Opulent New Penthouses in Dubai Will Have Elevators for Your Cars, Naturally Bugattis got your next crash pad in the U.A.E. sorted. The French marque has decided to build its first branded residences in the heart of Dubai. Conceived in partnership with Emirati developer Binghatti, the sculptural skyscraper will reportedly bring the breeze and feel of the French Riviera into the citys bustling Business Bay. Of course, the digs pack a few perks for petrolheads, too. More from Robb Report Christened simply Bugatti Residences by Binghatti, the tower will include 171 Riviera Mansions and 11 Sky Mansion Penthouses that will each be finished to the standard of a multimillion-dollar hypercar. Residents will also have access to an exclusive members-only club and a throng of glitzy amenities. There will even be garage-to-penthouse car lifts, because, well, how else are you supposed to get into your Chiron? A view of Dubais Burj Khalifa from a private balcony. The gold-hued foyer is accented by wavy lines of recessed lighting and towering glass walls that set the luxurious tone for the rest of the building. A few floors up, there is a stunning Riviera-inspired beach where you can pretend like youre in Cannes. The condos sit higher still to ensure you have breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa from the respective private balconies. All residences will offer spacious living areas adorned with the finest material selection the world has to offer, according to the Bugatti. The abodes will also showcase a subtle palette and sleek furnishings in line with understated French luxury. The layout of each penthouse will be customized to the owner, of course. The top-tier pads also come with that convenient car lift. Other highlights of the tower include a private pool, a spa, a fitness club, a chefs table, and a private valet. Residents can also make use of a chauffeur and concierge. An aerial view of the eye-catching structure. This is certainly a smart move by Bugatti. Branded residences are booming. In fact, the sector has grown 150 percent over the past decade, according to Savills. Nameplates such as Aston Martin and Porsche have entered the real estate industry. So too have fashion houses like Fendi and Bulgari. The folks at Molsheim are in good company, then. Bugatti has yet to announce a launch date or pricing for the new residences, but well keep you updated. Click here for photos of Bugatti Residences by Binghatti. Bugatti Residential Skyscraper slide cover Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. It's Your Business: Fourth round from Flywheel Fund to help more technology startup firms Flywheel Fund is a member-managed capital fund that invests in early-stage tech startups in Indiana. The Mill launched Flywheel Fund in 2020, and since then theyve invested over $1.8 million. The fund now has more than 30 portfolio companies from a range of industry verticals such as EdTech, AI/ML, HR Tech, SaaS, Cybersecurity, AgTech, HealthTech, etc. Update on Flywheel Fund 4 We have reached the tail-end of our third fund and have spent the past few months fundraising for our fourth fund, Fundt4stic Four. Im happy to share that we have surpassed our $1 million goal of capital commitments and are looking to have Fund 4 land between $1.1 million and $1.2 million. We are seeing an 80% renewal rate from members of Fund 3, which is great to see, especially in this current challenging fundraising environment. More: It's Your Business: Why the Tech Center is important to Bloomington's economic vitality IU Ventures Summit pre-event Last week, fellow Mill-tenant IU Ventures hosted their IU Founders & Funders Network Venture Summit. As one of the sponsors of the summit, we hosted a pre-event to support the local ecosystem and to also invite investors from across the country to see the work weve been doing here in Bloomington. Attendees got a tour of The Mill and ate lunch as they listened to a The Future of Work startup panel and a Fireside Chat that featured AI experts from our local community. The Future of Work panel was moderated by me and featured two Flywheel portfolio companies: Darrian Mikell, co-founder of Qualifi, and Eric Xiao, founder of Laxis. We explored the shifts and trends in HR Tech; and how, as both founders and leaders, they are addressing these challenges within their own companies. The AI Fireside Chat was moderated by Derek Whitley, co-founder of Flamel.ai, and featured Steven Wasick, founder of infoSentience, and Joanna Millunchick, dean of Indiana University's Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. It was a dynamic discussion that delved into the future of AI and its implications on both a business-level and an academic/institutional perspective. More: It's Your Business: Growth of Flywheel Fund signals growth of business startups Overall, the event was a great success and we had a full-house that saw over 100-plus attendees ranging from seasoned venture capitalists to first-time student founders. Were already thinking about what we can do for next year. Bloomington Investments from Fund 3 Lastly, as our third fund comes to a close, I wanted to highlight some of our fund statistics. 28% of our capital was deployed into woman-founded teams (national average is 2%) 28% was deployed into minority-founded teams (national average is 3%). 32% went into local Bloomington companies. You can read more about them below: Celadore is the worlds first acoustically optimized and modular cello podium. IU professor Jamie Taggs idea for Celadore was the winner of the 2022 Crossroads Idea Competition. Finniva is a real-estate development material sourcing marketplace. Founded by two IU students, Finniva was named the 2022 Crossroads Collegiate Winner. Flamel.ai strives to be the first of its kind: a fully AI-driven design studio for marketing content. Grantcycles platform streamlines and automates grant management and reporting for the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Quiptu is a peer-to-peer platform for renting outdoor adventure gear and a previous winner of the 2021 Crossroads Idea Competition. SecondSight offers the first-ever vertically integrated platform for cyber underwriting, enabling carriers to accurately assess digital risk exposure and vulnerabilities. Solesca is a cloud-based SaaS platform that makes installing agrivoltaics simple for both farmers and solar developers. Terran Robotics combines AI, 3D printing, and robotics to convert dirt into extraordinary walls for homes. Ziptility provides end-to-end infrastructure management software with easy-to-use apps for water and wastewater utilities. Startup Summer program begins In addition, five IU student startups will be added to the portfolio as part of The Mills Startup Summer program, which gives collegiate founders the chance to work full time on their startup while receiving an investment from Flywheel Fund. To learn more about Flywheel Fund, visit www.flywheelfund.vc/. This article and its description of Flywheel Fund is not a public solicitation for investment. Pat East is executive director of The Mill, an entrepreneurship center whose mission is to launch and accelerate startups and whose vision is to become Indianas center of gravity for entrepreneurship. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Flywheel Fund 4 to help new tech startups in Bloomington Rueben Hays, organizer and executive director of the Juneteenth Greenville festival in South Carolina, initially said he and his co-founders wanted a diverse range of ethnicities represented. The organizer of a Juneteenth celebration in South Carolina has apologized and promised to make things right after initially defending the banners advertising the event. WYFF News 4 reported that 50 banners depicting several ethnicities including Black, Hispanic and white have been erected to promote Juneteenth Greenville, a week-long event honoring the day set aside to commemorate the abolition of slavery in America. Some community members had concerns about the banners, but Rueben Hays, the events organizer and executive director, initially said they were intentional because he and his co-founders wanted a varied spectrum of races represented. The organizers of a Juneteenth celebration in Greenville, South Carolina, are responding to concerns voiced by some locals regarding banners advertising the event. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/WYFF News 4) However, in an Instagram post shared Thursday night, Hays called the banners depicting non-Black faces a mistake. This error was an attempt at uniting all of Greenville and thereby a slight oversight on one individuals part that prevented us from embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of the Black culture through the message and meaning of Juneteenth, he shared, and for that, we apologize to you the entire community. According to its website, Juneteenth GVL aims to unite all Americans to celebrate a shared connection of freedom by recognizing, promoting and preserving Juneteenth as a national holiday. The longest-running African American holiday, June 19 commemorates the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to seize control of the state and guarantee the freedom of all enslaved people. Its been a national holiday since June 17, 2021. The Emancipation Proclamation, a presidential decree calling for the release of all enslaved people, was signed more than two years before the troops arrival. The Juneteenth GVL event runs from June 10 to 17. The images on the flag were very intentional, Pete Lee, Juneteenth GVL co-founder, previously shared, WYFF reported. No matter what you believe, it takes everybody to come together and support and push any vision forward. Lee added that Black people have long been pounding on the door of inclusion and requesting a seat at the table, and now that its available, the last thing we want to do is whats been done for years is to exclude. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post S.C. Black Juneteenth organizer defends promo banners featuring white, Latino people appeared first on TheGrio. More than 70 California law enforcement agencies are violating state law by sharing automated license plate reader (ALPR) data with out-of-state agencies, putting out-of-state abortion seekers at risk, according to a trio of civil rights groups. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union chapters for both Northern and Southern California sent letters to 71 agencies including the Folsom Police Department giving them a June 15 deadline to stop sharing license plate data with states that criminalize abortion. Through several public records requests, the EFF found that the listed law enforcement agencies shared license plate data with out-of-state agencies sensitive information about where people live, work or seek reproductive health services and other medical care. ALPRs invade peoples privacy and violate the rights of entire communities, as they often are deployed in poor and historically overpoliced areas regardless of crime rates, EFF staff attorney Jennifer Pinsof said in a statement. Sharing ALPR data with law enforcement in states that criminalize abortion undermines Californias extensive efforts to protect reproductive health privacy. Pinsof was referring to AB 1242, a 2022 California law aimed at protecting out-of-state abortion-seekers from criminal reprisal from their home states. Idaho, for example, has enacted a law that makes helping a pregnant minor get an abortion in another state punishable by two to five years in prison, according to an EFF statement. The agencies that received the demand letters have shared ALPR data with law enforcement agencies across the country, including agencies in states with abortion restrictions including Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. In addition to the Folsom Police Department, law enforcement agencies on the list include ones in Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Merced, Orange, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Solano, Ventura and Yolo counties. A representative for the Folsom Police Department did not responded to a Bee request for comment. On Friday, the Twitter account for Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, which was not listed in the EFF report, challenged the findings. The Sheriffs Office said that ALPR data is used to investigate serious crimes, such as homicide, child kidnappings, human trafficking, and drug trafficking across state borders. The Sheriffs Office then, without evidence, accused the ACLU and EFF of lying as part of a broader agenda to promote lawlessness and prevent criminals from being held accountable. A sign warning the public of dangerous river conditions is posted alongside the American River in Sacramento, California on May 23, 2023. A series of consecutive snowstorms dropped a lot of snow all over Californias mountains this winter. And now all of that snow is finally melting and filling up the states rivers. Its making them larger, faster, colder, and extremely dangerous to swim in. State safety officials are worried about the upcoming recreational activities surrounding this Memorial Day weekend. The concerns especially come after the city of Sacramento has already experienced 20 water rescues this year, the Associated Press reported. Thats the same number of rescues the city saw throughout all of 2022. Read more Other parts of the state have seen river-related accidents this year too. In late April, a man was swept away in the American River in Auburn, California after he jumped in with some friends. He has yet to be found, SFGATE reported. And earlier this May, another man went missing after he waded into the Tule River near the Sierra foothills on a flotation device. In response, the California Governors Office of Emergency Services issued a safety reminder this Thursday, cautioning anyone that is going to visit rivers or state parks this weekend. Parkgoers were told to be aware of their surroundings and to research road and river conditions before heading to an outdoor recreational area. Many parks and hiking trails have lakes or rivers nearby. Conditions could change rapidly and its important to be prepared, the warning said. Earlier this year, officials measured some of the highest snowpack ever in the states Sierra Nevada mountains. During an early April survey, they found more than 120 inches of accumulated snow. It was a welcome change because so many of the states lakes, rivers, and reservoirs rely on snowmelt every year to replenish water. And the snow this year has in fact helped increase water levels for important waterways like Shasta Lake. The winter storms and snowpack has alleviated the intense drought that California struggled through last year. The state is experiencing almost no dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. 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 invasive plants you should rip to shreds. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Three suspects are being sought in connection with a purse snatching at a Los Angeles-area restaurant where a victim was fired upon while fighting one of the alleged robbers, police said Wednesday. The robbery happened as a man and three women were eating on the patio of a Culver City restaurant around 7:40 p.m. on May 14, the Culver City Police Department said. One suspect snatached a purse belonging to one of the women that was on the table and ran off, police said. The man at the table chased the suspect and the pair engaged in a fight, police said. CALIFORNIA TEEN DIES DURING SOCIAL MEDIA STUNT ON 6TH STREET BRIDGE: POLICE Surveillance footage shows an alleged purse snatcher taking a purse from a restaurant table before being chased down. Another suspect shot at a male victim who chased the robbery suspect, police said. A getaway vehicle was parked nearby with the other two suspects. One suspect in the front passenger seat saw the fight and fired a shot at the male victim, police said. The suspect engaged in the fight got into the vehicle and took off without the purse. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Authorities said one suspect was a Black male, around 25 years of age and possibly 6 feet tall. The other two suspects were only described as Black males. The vehicle they fled in is a black four-door older model sedan. It's unclear what type of weapon was used in the shooting. Crocodiles are bred for their eggs, skin and meat in Cambodia A crocodile farmer in northern Cambodia has been torn to pieces by about 40 of the reptiles after falling into their enclosure, local police say. Luan Nam, aged 72, tried to move one of the egg-laying animals out of its cage when it grabbed his stick in its mouth, pulling him in, police said. "Other crocodiles pounced, attacking him until he was dead," police chief Mey Savry told the AFP news agency. The incident happened near the city of Siem Reap on Friday. Mr Nam's body was covered with bite marks and one of his arms was missing, Mr Savry said. The victim was the the president of the local crocodile farmers' association. In 2019, a two-year-old girl was killed and eaten by crocodiles at a similar farm in the area, which is close to the world-famous Angkor Wat temple. The animals are bred for their eggs, skin and meat in the south-east Asian nation. FILE PHOTO: A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto By Fergal Smith TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened to a near one-month low against the greenback on Thursday as U.S. bond yields moved higher and the outcome of talks in Washington to raise the debt ceiling remained uncertain. The loonie was trading 0.3% lower at C$1.3635 to the greenback, or 73.34 U.S. cents, after touching its weakest intraday level since April 28 at 1.3644. "It has been all about the U.S. debt ceiling again today, with higher U.S. yields boosting the USD across the board," said George Davis, chief technical strategist at RBC Capital Markets. U.S. Treasury yields rose as data suggested persistent strength in the U.S. labor market, while jitters about negotiations to lift the cap on U.S. government borrowing could be seen in Treasury bills that are due to mature in the coming days. Another headwind for the Canadian currency was a drop in the price of oil, one of Canada's major exports. U.S. crude prices were down 3.6% at $71.64 a barrel after Russia played down the prospect of further OPEC+ production cuts at its meeting next week. Meanwhile, domestic data showed payroll employment falling 9,900 in March, while growth in average weekly earnings slowed to an annual rate of 1.4% from 1.9% in February. The Canadian 10-year yield touched its highest level since March 8 at 3.304% before dipping to 3.293%, up 2.5 basis points on the day. Still, the gap between it and its U.S. equivalent widened by 5.9 basis points to 51 basis points in favor of the U.S. bond. (Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Richard Chang) In this May 22, 2023 photo, festivalgoers kiss at the entrance to the Martinez Hotel before a premiere during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) CANNES, France (AP) The Cannes Film Festival, a blink-and-youll-miss-it blur, can never be seen in full. Though a wide-screen spectacular, Cannes is often spied only in fleeting glimpses the back of a stars head, the flowing train of a gown. Outside the festival hub, the Palais des Festival, throngs teeter on ladders and rise on tiptoes to catch a view of the French Riviera pageant that has unspooled over the last two weeks. Along the main boulevard, the Croisette, faces on billboards, posters and magazine covers look out on the sea of people rushing by. In Cannes, someone is always watching. AP Photographer Daniel Cole has spent the festival looking to capture the glances and impressions of a splintered spectacle. His images offer snapshots of life in Cannes, whether lost in a crowd or in stolen moments of isolation. The Cannes Film Festival draws to a close Saturday with the presentation of the Palme dOr. Molly Manning Walkers Cannes festival breakout How to Have Sex has won the prize for best film in the 2023 Un Certain Regard sidebar. The astounding debut, which follows three British teens out for a summer holiday in Greece that turns dark, was The Hollywood Reporters hidden gem pick this Cannes and was among the most talked-about movies on the Croisette this year. Four African films also took home awards at the Un Certain Regard ceremony Friday night. Asmae El Moudir won the Un Certain Regards best director honor for her hybrid documentary, The Mother of All Lies, a search for the truth behind her familys stories of the 1981 Bread Riots in Morocco. Kamal Lazraq won the Un Certain Regard jury prize for Hounds, a crime drama set in the suburbs of Casablanca. Omen, the directing debut of Belgian-Congolese hip-hop artist Baloji, took the new voice prize for best first feature. Sudanese drama Goodbye Julia from director Mohamed Kordofani another debut won the Un Certain Regards freedom prize. African cinema, often overlooked or ignored in Cannes, has had pride of place at this years festival, with a record number of films in the official lineup. More from The Hollywood Reporter The Un Certain Regard prize for best ensemble went to the Brazilian drama The Buriti Flower by Joao Salaviza and Renee Nader Messora. The film traces the history of the indigenous Kraho tribe and their decades-long struggle for land rights. American actor John C. Reilly chaired this years Un Certain Regard jury, which also included French director and screenwriter Alice Winocour, German actress Paula Beer, French-Cambodian director and producer Davy Chou and Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Turkey Looks Ahead To First Presidential Runoff People walk past an election campaign poster for Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 25, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. The country is holding its first presidential runoff election after neither candidate earned more than 50% of the vote in the May 14 election. Credit - Chris McGrathGetty Images In an interview with CNN journalist Becky Anderson on May 19, 2023, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fell short of an outright election victory, he brushed off criticism of Turkeys long slide toward authoritarianism: How could someone who is going into a runoff election instead of completing the election in the first round be a dictator? The Turkish President seemed startled over the charges leveled against him and did not mask his discontent. That is the reality, he explained. We have an alliance with 322 MPs in Parliament and the leader of this alliance will go for the runoffs in the first position. What kind of a dictator is that? At the heart of his criticism was U.S. President Joe Biden, who once called the Turkish leader an autocrat during his 2020 campaign. But the broader target of Erdogans chiding is the Western world, which has depicted him as a strongman leader over his now 20-year rule. The May 14 elections were universally regarded as a make-or-break moment for the future of the countrys political system. As Turkey marks the 100th anniversary of the Republic, Erdogans unassailable grip on power has made many think that the Turkish Republic may sink into the oblivion of history after another Erdogan win. Against this backdrop, the stakes of the May 14 votewhich pit Erdogan against an opposition coalition headed by Kemal Klcdaroglu promising to restore Turkish democracywere understandably higher than ever before. Yet for some observers, Erdogans message hit home. After all, what kind of a tyrant would be content with heading to a runoff election after garnering 49.5% of the votes in the first round? Why bother with the second round instead of pushing the 49.5% a little over 50% to nail his triumph that night once and for all? This argument not just reeks of gross logical errors, but it is also misleading. That Erdogan gracefully consented to the result does not obviate the fact that the elections were hardly fair. In its preliminary findings after the vote, the observing delegation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said that while the contest was competitive and largely free, Erdogan had an unjustified advantage over the opposition due to restrictions on the press and free assembly. Read More: Erdogan Is a Personality Cult. Why Turkeys Longtime Leader Is an Electoral Powerhouse The opposition candidate got a 32-minute airing on state-run Turkish Radio and Television (TRT), while Erdogan got 32 hours in a month in the lead-up to the election. This discrepancy speaks volumes about the tilted playing field long before the sides embarked on campaigning. Whats more, Erdogan marshaled immense resources at his disposal, mobilizing the state and party apparatus to bend and twist where possible to his liking. Victory in this environment doesnt burnish Erdogans battered credentials or rehabilitate his public record. However important a staple it may have been in the definition of democracy, an electoral win still does not make Erdogan a democratic leader. It only serves to mask the true nature of the authoritarian regime he has successfully contrived to build all along the way. Democracy is not about elections only. Im not a political scientist nor an expert on the history of electoral politics. But my own predicamentthe fact that I cannot even reunite and meet with my parents for the past seven yearsand the tragedy that thousands of people went through is a testament to the type of regime that has taken hold in Turkey. These elections serve as a cover for a new type of governance Erdogan achieved to build: an electoral autocracy. His record needs no amplification or philosophical exposition. Even an opposition victory would not mean an overnight, smooth return to democracy, as undoing what Erdogan installed would take many years, if not decades. Although it seems like ancient history now, Turkey after the 2013 Gezi Park protests and the politically-charged corruption scandal that implicated Erdogans close circle and family members has given way to a president who has trampled the central tenets of democracy, stamping out the last vestiges of already-imperfect judicial independence, swelling the ranks of bureaucracy with incompetent loyalists, snuffing out the space for free speech and media, and unleashing a sweeping purge of conceived non-loyalists in a push to rebuild the Turkish state in his own image. Erdogan has done all of this and even more. He has jailed more than 100,000 people, including countless women and babies, after sham political trials. In doing so, the President has revealed to the entire world that he has no moral compunction over imprisoning the most vulnerable members of society for the reason that they were not among his loyal flock. Elections, regardless of their results, do not change what Turkey has experienced under Erdogans leadership. His graceful consent to runoff elections does not transform him from a pariah to a liberal democrat in the Jeffersonian mold overnight. Rather, Erdogans two decades in power contain a vast body of evidence about the type of leader he is and the regime he managed to build. Capitol rioter who was photographed with his feet on a desk in Nancy Pelosi's office is sentenced to 4.5 years in prison Richard Barnett, a supporter of then-US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of then-US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 6, 2021. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Richard "Bigo" Barnett was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison on Capitol riot charges. The Arkansas man gained notoriety after being photographed with his feet on a desk in Pelosi's office. Prosecutors alleged that Barnett remained unapologetic throughout his legal ordeal. The Capitol rioter who gained infamy after being photographed with his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on January 6, 2021, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison on Wednesday. Richard "Bigo" Barnett, 63, of Arkansas, was previously convicted of eight counts related to his role in the attack, including two felony charges. Photos of Barnett with his feet propped up on a Pelosi staff desk during the siege became some of the most memorable and symbolic images of the attack. US District Judge Christoper Cooper suggested as much when he chided Barnett this week in court for at times appearing to revel in his notoriety, according to media reports. The judge suggested Barnett's hefty sentence was a message to the rioter's fans and other participants in the attack that storming the Capitol comes with consequences. In addition to perching on the desk, Barnett was captured on video bragging about leaving the representative a note that said "Nancy, Bigo was here, you biatch." Barnett spent months trying to cash in on his fame after the riot, even auctioning off photos of himself in Pelosi's office to fundraise for his legal defense. He told the judge during his sentencing that he regretted joining the riot, which he described as "an enigma in my life," according to NPR, but insisted that prosecutors have pushed him to be remorseful for things he "did not do." Barnett testified that he was swept up in the crowd of rioters on January 6 while admiring the artwork in the Capitol and looking for a bathroom. But prosecutors alleged Barnett played a more active role in the attack, highlighting the stun gun he brought along to the Capitol that day. Barnett vowed to appeal his conviction, suggesting he was treated "unfairly" during the legal process. Prosecutors accused Barnett of consistently downplaying his role in the attack. Prosecutor Alison Prout suggested this week that his conduct continues to be akin to a "4-year-old temper tantrum," according to CNN. An attorney for Barnett, meanwhile, argued that his client was being unfairly targeted because of the infamous photo's popularity. The lawyer did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. May 26, 2023: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that Barnett put his feet on a staff desk in Pelosi's office. A previous version incorrectly said Barnett has put his feet on Pelosi's desk. Read the original article on Business Insider Woman injured after car crashes into pole along Becks Run Road Woman injured after car crashes into pole along Becks Run Road A woman was seriously injured when a car crashed into a pole along a road in Pittsburgh. The 911 call for the crash in the 600 block of Becks Run Road came in at 1:15 p.m. Our photographer on the scene saw emergency crews attempting to get the woman out of the vehicle. She was the only person in the car at the time of the crash, and was trapped under the dashboard. Officials on scene said it was a difficult process to get her out of the car. The woman was given blood on scene and appeared to be seriously injured. She was taken to UPMC Mercy. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: How to keep your yard tick-free as summer approaches School delays ceremony after only 5 of 33 seniors meet graduation requirements Tina Turner cause of death: The singer talked about kidney issues months before her death VIDEO: Flames, heavy smoke billow from Perry South house fire DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Car owner sees group trying to steal his tires and grabs knife, NY cops say. One dead A man saw a group of three men trying to steal the tires and wheel rims off his parked vehicle, New York Police said. He then grabbed a kitchen knife before going outside and stabbing one of the men to death, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Jacob Alvarenga Mejia, 28, was standing in his home in Bellerose Village when he saw the group attempting to steal the tires from his 2023 Toyota Highlander at about 1:30 a.m. May 13, according to a news release from the police department. He approached the group with a large kitchen knife and stabbed one of the men, 22-year-old Luis Pena, multiple times in his upper torso, police said. The other two men took Pena to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the police department. Officers said they arrested Mejia on May 25. He is charged with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault, according to the police department. Nassau County Police Department Det. Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick told ABC7 that Mejia had his catalytic converter stolen two months prior to this incident. That enraged him to the point that when this was happening, he went outside and took matters too far, he told the news outlet. He is being held on a $1 million bond, ABC7 reported. Attorney information for Mejia could not be found online. Bellerose Village is located in Hempstead, about 20 miles east of New York City. An obituary for Pena was not available online. Nurse severely hurt in hit-and-run while cycling from New Orleans Jazz Fest, lawyer says Cheerleader on way to Allstar World Championship run over by carjacker, cops say Mother clings to door as teen steals SUV with 8-year-old inside, Pennsylvania cops say It appears Joe Manchin may be gauging whether to launch a third-party presidential bid. It appears Joe Manchin may be gauging whether to launch a third-party presidential bid. As if we have not suffered enough, Joe Manchin is said to be flirting with the idea of running for president. Earlier this month, the U.S. senator from West Virginia offered what many speculated to be a tease of a presidential bid. For some time now, the political group No Labels, a mix of centrist Republicans and Democrats, has been open about its desire for a third-party unity ticket in the coming 2024 presidential election pledging to spend $70 million to make it a reality should they find preferable candidates. It appears Manchin, a conservative Democrat, is actively gauging whether he should headline such an effort. Though the group has largely been secretive about its inner workings and general strategy, Puck secured audio from a conference call No Labels recently organized with its donors. The hope is to keep the country that we have, and you cannot do that by forcing the extreme sides on both parties, Manchin, who joined the call as a closer, said. Lets try to make people come back together for the sake of the country, not just for the sake of the party. Separately, Manchin delivered a speech to Iowa business and community leaders in Washington, D.C. which others took as a sign of him prepping to make a third-party bid for the presidency. When people say, Whats your politics? I say Im fiscally responsible and socially compassionate, which I think most Americans are, Manchin said in a 30-minute speech, Axios reported. When a politician employs empty jargon to elites residing in early presidential primary states, its right to deduce what prize they might have their sights set on. For the record, when someone like Manchin says hes fiscally responsible and socially compassionate, it loosely translates to, Poverty is bad, but dont tax me to help end it. But it is the kind of shallow statement to expect from a corporate shill like Manchin. And its the type of meaningless, trite political catchphrase that draws the interest of people just like him. Unfortunately, those people dominate the media and how news is crafted, so its not a shock that someone like Manchin, known for his attention-whoring, is exploring his options here. President Joe Biden is currently on course to have a rematch with his predecessor, former President Donald Trump a scenario that remains deeply unpopular with Americans, as expressed in polling. Given the rampant lack of enthusiasm the general public has for another Biden vs. Trump election cycle, groups like No Labels purportedly are seeking 50-state ballot access for a hypothetical bipartisan presidential ticket in 2024. Let them tell it, America needs a centrist alternative to the extremism of both political parties. While one cant dispute how the racism, queer and trans antagonism, and general authoritarianism that fuels GOP ideology makes them extremists, the Democratic Party is led by Joe Biden, an old white centrist. Biden has passed some surprisingly progressive legislation, but a wrecking ball to political conventions he is not. There is a limited appeal for a third party full of self-described moderates, no matter how much attention it might get in the coming months as the press fills the void between now and Trumps presumed formal coronation as the Republican nominee next year. Others, however, are worried about what damages a Manchin presidential bid might bring. If No Labels runs a Joe Manchin against Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I think it will be a historic disaster, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota told The New York Times. And I speak for just about every moderate Democrat and frankly most of my moderate Republican friends. I can think of nothing worse than another Trump presidency and no better way of helping him than running a third-party candidate, Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois told the outlet. This is needless anxiety. Every election cycle brings forth complaints about third-party candidates from political parties looking to make excuses for their failures. Much as one might understand why the likes of Ralph Nader and Jill Stein irritate select Democrats, Al Gore did not run the best campaign and ultimately lost to the Supreme Court anyway. In the case of Stein, perhaps the votes she got did not help Hillary Clintons efforts to beat Trump, but the fact remains that Clinton was told for months leading into Election Day that her support among Black voters was soft. The white moderate is not the miracle worker or election decider that some already complaining about a potential Manchin candidacy would like to make it to be. Manchin is one of the most unpopular senators in the country. He has until January to decide whether to run for reelection a race he is expected to lose if his opponent is current GOP West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice. With a tough election cycle ahead, hes looking for something to do. This prospective third-party bid sounds like his latest attempt to showboat and spotlight-steal while he still can. Some close to him, however, argue that he wont really join a No Labels ticket, which is why he is also reportedly considering another option: becoming president of West Virginia University. Manchin hasnt publicly expressed interest in the job, but at age 75, The Spectator predicts he will be weighing all options that dont entail a near-certain defeat at the ballot box in West Virginia next year. That includes fear of an embarrassing defeat on a third-party ticket. I dont like Joe Manchin. I find his politics cruel, and his attention-seeking for them irredeemable. He is the kind of politician who best exemplifies why so many Americans deeply resent politicians. Still, in the interest of not wasting anyones money, he should take that job as president of his alma mater. Its as close to the presidency as hell ever get. As for anxious Democrats fretting over what Manchin will do next year, please stop fretting and focus on the Democratic base, which will actually determine whether Biden gets reelected. FIRST ON FOX One of the nation's largest Catholic advocacy organizations has issued a letter to the Los Angeles Dodgers announcing an upcoming ad campaign calling for a boycott of the baseball club. CatholicVote President Brian Burch addressed the letter to Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter and CEO Stan Kasten. "I represent the nations largest lay Catholic advocacy organization," Burch wrote. "We are supported by millions of devoted Catholics across America who believe that the time-honored values of life, family, and freedom which the Dodgers used to celebrate are demonstrably good for America, and worthy of respect, not ridicule." "We wrote to you last week with a reasonable ask: Please do not honor this anti-Catholic hate group," Burch told the Dodgers' administrators. "There is no place for anti-Catholic bigotry, mocking of religious sisters, or celebrating a perverse activist group whose identity is marked by blasphemy and mockery of Catholics." EXCLUSIVE: BISHOP BARRON CALLS FOR DODGERS BOYCOTT, CITING TEAM'S SUPPORT OF ANTI-CATHOLIC DRAG QUEEN GROUP Three Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence pose for a selfie during the Gay Pride March in Paris. Thousands of LGBT members and their supporters took part in the Gay Pride March in Paris to celebrate Pride Month. In the letter, Burch questioned Kasten's claim to the Los Angeles Times that the Dodgers' administration was "listening to everyone" on the issue of including the anti-Catholic drag queen troupe Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP CatholicVote claims that their organization has prepared a $1 million advertising budget to encourage Catholics to boycott the team. ARCHDIOCESE OF LA CRITICIZES RE-INVITATION OF ANTI-CATHOLIC DRAG QUEENS TO DODGERS GAME "Prior to the launch of this campaign, we are requesting yet another opportunity to speak by telephone or to meet in person with an appropriate representative so that you can better understand the extraordinary harm and hurt your decision has engendered," wrote Burch. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced earlier this month that they would be honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group of "queer and trans nuns," during a June 16 event, but quickly received backlash from religious groups for the decision given the history of anti-Catholic messaging and shocking performances. After intense backlash, the team said last week it would no longer be honoring the group during the upcoming event. DODGERS REINVITE ANTI-CATHOLIC GROUP TO PRIDE NIGHT AMID UPROAR A member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence attends a Jewish-Christian church service on the occasion of Christopher Street Day at St. Mary's Church in Berlin on June 20, 2014. That decision was walked back the next day after LA Pride announced it would no longer be participating in Pride Night in solidarity with the drag queen group. "After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families," the organization said. In the letter, Burch provided Dodgers leadership with his personal cellphone number and promised to meet with team leaders "at any time, anywhere." DODGERS' LATEST REVERSAL ON ANTI-CATHOLIC GROUP'S INVITE TO PRIDE NIGHT DRAWS BACKLASH: 'DISGRACEFUL' "The voices of Catholics including clergy and religious sisters, which we would include need to be heard. We are hopeful you will match your rhetoric of 'listening to everyone' with action," the letter concluded. Bishop Robert Barron has also encouraged a boycott of the Los Angeles Dodgers over their relationship with the anti-Catholic drag queens. The bishop said Catholics had no other recourse for showing their disapproval "since the Dodgers are clearly not responding to a decent appeal to reason." "The Los Angeles Dodgers have made it clear to Catholics and all people of good will that they think mockery of the sacred beliefs of the Catholic Faith is something that they support and will reward with honors and commendation," Barron told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the nearby Archdiocese of San Francisco accused the Dodgers' administration of "worshiping" alternative "gods." "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 and anti-Catholicism is not disqualifying," tweeted Cordileone. "Disappointing but not surprising. Gird your loins." Changes to UKs immigration do not include a ban on Nigerian students When the United Kingdom announced restrictions preventing student visa holders from bringing family members into the country, social media posts began claiming that all Nigerian students are now banned. Many of these posts claimed that this purported ban came after a Nigerian YouTuber gave an interview to the BBC in which he made comments about Nigerians seeking degrees in the UK that some perceived as derogatory. However, these claims are false: the UK limited the cases in which international students - of any nationality - can bring family into the country. There is no immigration ban targeting Nigerian students. This is the Nigerian guy that granted the interview that has made the Uk government ban Nigerian students. Na black dey do black (sic), reads a tweet posted on May 23, 2023. A screenshot of the false tweet, taken on May 25, 2023 The phrase Na black dey do black is used in Nigeria to say that other Black people cause the problems Black people face. Nigerian YouTuber Emdee Tiamiyu gave an interview (archived here) with the BBC in which he claimed some Nigerians seek a degree in the UK to immigrate and do not care about their studies. Were beginning to see that a lot of people just hide behind the studentship. So the student thing is not real, its not like they need the degrees, he said in the interview. Tiamiyus comments sparked a heated discussion (archived here) on social media, with some people accusing him of maligning Nigeria and making threats against him. The same claim also circulated in other tweets and on TikTok. While the United Kingdom recently announced changes to its immigration system, the claim that the country banned Nigerian students is false. UK immigration changes On May 23, 2023, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced restrictions to bring immigration down, specifically targeting international students (archived here). The immigration statistics highlighted an unexpected rise in the number of dependents coming to the UK alongside international students, reads the statement. A statement from the Home Office said that in 2022 almost half a million student visas were issued while the number of dependents of overseas students has increased by 750% since 2019, to 136,000 people (archived here). The Home Office implemented several changes to reduce that number, including removing the right for international students to bring dependents unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes. A screenshot from the UK Parliaments site detailing the new immigration measures, taken on May 25, 2023 The UK issued more than 44,000 student visas to Nigerians (archived here) in the 2021/2022 academic year. Nigeria had the highest number of dependents (archived here) of student visa holders in 2022, with 60,923. However, the announcement does not include a ban on Nigerian students nor does it make specific mention of any one nationality. AFP Fact Check contacted the Home Office to verify that Nigerian students are not banned from the UK. No, its not at all about just Nigerian students. Obviously, what theyre alleging on social media, thats not correct, said the Home Office. Its a restriction for everyone bringing in dependents. The Chapel Hill Town Council put off an anticipated vote this week on UNC Healths expansion at its Eastowne campus off U.S. 15-501. The council, concerned about a plan for parking on environmentally sensitive land and other issues, voted 7-1 Wednesday night to continue the public hearing until June 21. The postponement came despite UNC Healths request for a vote and its offer of $5 million for an affordable housing loan fund a figure that the president of the chamber of commerce called remarkable. This is definitely a worthy project, council member Jessica Anderson said. I would like to see some other way of dealing with the parking. The project would add 1.1 million square feet of medical clinics and offices and preserve 20 acres of a natural heritage forest and wildlife corridor. But it reserves about 10 acres of the forest, between Eastowne Drive and the I-40 off-ramp, for additional future parking. UNC Health has said it needs the expansion to serve outpatients and free space at its Manning Drive complex. The first new building in decades opened at Eastowne in 2021, along with a parking deck. Construction of a second building could begin as soon as it is approved, said Simon George, vice president of real estate and development for UNC Health Care. The campus will be expanded one building at a time, with a new one going up about every three to five years, he said. Aaron Nelson, president of the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, spoke in support of the project. These are high-wage jobs in an industry that by definition improves life in our community, he said. Our economy locally is built on ed and med and bed, he said. Thats what we do, right? Its education. Its our health care and our hospital, and its our housing and our hospitality industry. ... I said before, City of Medicine eat your heart out We are going to be the place where health care is central. UNC Healths 25-year plan would add six new medical buildings (blue) to the Eastowne campus off U.S. 15-501 and four new parking decks. The only construction planned outside the loop -- on 20 acres of natural resource land -- would be a parking deck, if needed. A taxing issue UNC Health is a not-for-profit owned by the state and is not required to pay property taxes, although it sometimes makes a payment instead of taxes. It made a payment in lieu of taxes last year of about $414,000 to the schools, county and town for its Eastowne property, which included $114,000 to Chapel Hill, a spokesperson said. Mayor Pro Tem Karen Stegman asked Wednesday if UNC Heath would make a larger payment with the expansion. George said not with $5 million the system has agreed to provide for affordable housing. Mayor Pam Hemmiger asked if UNC Health would give the town an additional $100,000 per year if the affordable housing money was reduced to $4.9 million. That is unacceptable, George said, who noted the system also benefits the town through unreimbursed health care it provides to Chapel Hill residents. Council member Paris Miller-Foushee said UNC Health was taking a narrow view. Were looking at our budget right now, she said. Im thinking about the people who provide services every single day to community members. ... Those taxes allow us to be able support our folks too. When we talk about benefits, its not us and you, she said. Its the we that Im hoping we can really be thinking about here. Hemminger agreed. I think you can can sharpen your pencils and figure out something (better) in payment in lieu, she said. George called the councils insistence on more money in lieu of taxes, on top of the housing offer, a little harsh. The system had offered $3 million for housing plus $30,000 in lieu of taxes for each new building and the town indicated its preference was for $5 million for housing, he said. The first of roughly a dozen planned buildings and parking decks opened last year on UNC Health Cares Eastowne campus in Chapel Hill. UNC Health already has enough need to fill a second building, project officials have said. Parking, housing, payment in lieu of taxes The fate of the natural heritage forest and how UNC Health could help with the towns need for more affordable housing have been key talking points in the negotiations. The towns Environmental Stewardship and Stormwater Management Utility advisory boards and many local residents asked the council to preserve the entire tract. Council members Adam Searing and Anderson had suggested selling the land to a conservation group. Council members had asked UNC Health to help with housing since thousands of UNC Health workers drive into Chapel Hill every day for work and go home to other more affordable communities. The proposed $5 million loan fund would help the town address the need, similar to the universitys $3 million no-interest revolving loan fund to buy and preserve land and housing for families in the Northside neighborhood near campus. A preliminary rendering of the UNC Health Eastown campus, as seen from the existing parking deck, shows how the next medical building (at right) and future buildings would be connected and look in relation to their environment. The fund could create 500 to 1,000 housing units over the next 20 years more if the town leverages its money and money from its community, university and private partners, town staff has said. Traffic has been another concern, especially how pedestrians and cyclists navigate the area once the campus expands and additional development is built south of the highway at The Parkline office campus and along Old Durham and Pope roads. Project details Developer: UNC Health Care Location: 50 acres at Eastowne Drive, Fordham Boulevard and Interstate 40. Zoning: Office and institutional, but a rezoning would allow more dense development Current use: UNC Health Care medical buildings and parking deck Proposed use: Full medical campus buildout, including seven medical buildings and up to five parking decks, with between 3,500 and 4,700 spaces. The Orange Report Calling Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough readers! Check out The Orange Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Orange County published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m. featuring links to stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Orange-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "Chapel Hill Carrboro Chat." Akron has dismissed a misdemeanor charge against Jacob Blake Sr., a well-known community activist who was arrested last July during a protest of Jayland Walkers shooting. Activist Jacob Blake Sr. of North Carolina hugs defense attorney Elizabeth Bonham after a jury was unable to deliver a verdict March 28. The case was declared a mistrial. Blakes trial for resisting arrest in Akron Municipal Court in March resulted in a mistrial, with jurors deadlocked 4-4. More: Mistrial declared in well-known activist Jacob Blake Sr.'s trial related to Akron protest Stephanie Marsh, a spokeswoman for the city, said the city doesnt plan to try Blake again. The jury was pretty evenly hung for the first trial and ultimately the prosecutors office had to weigh the likelihood of another hung jury in a retrial and determined they didnt want to pursue another trial at this time, Marsh said. Blakes son was paralyzed in a police shooting in Wisconsin. The city also recently dismissed charges against Cortez Rice, another well-known, out-of-state activist who was arrested related to the Walker protests. His teenage son was fatally shot during a dispute with two other students in Richfield, Minnesota, in 2022. They have finally made the right choice, said Elizabeth Bonham, a Cleveland attorney who is among those representing Blake, Rice and two other well-known activists. These charges should have been dropped long ago. Charges previously were dropped against Bianca Austin, the aunt of Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed in March 2020 in a botched police raid in Louisville, Kentucky. Michael Harris, a fourth well-known activist, was acquitted in a trial in Akron court. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Well-known activist Jacob Blake won't be retried in Akron Its called a pocket park due to its small size but the impact left after tearing down Polk Park will be big, historical preservation organizations say. Earlier this year, there was a $5 million fundraising plan to renovate the existing uptown park and retain its historic elements. Instead city officials chose to demolish the beloved park on Wednesday, without holding public engagement as to what would replace it. In March, city officials inked a deal with nonprofit Charlotte Center City Partners and shifted gears. The plan now calls for rebuilding the smaller-than-an acre park and naming it for Hugh McColl, Jr., Bank of Americas former chairman and CEO. Its a move that has rankled preservationists and advocates. They say its an example of erasing the citys history. This is sort of shocking that this could happen in 2023 in a city that is celebrated as so forward looking, that we could in fact, be returning to an era of just destroying like we saw during urban renewal, Cultural Landscape Foundation President Charles Birnbaum said. But city officials counter that the park was dangerous, citing the parks sharp edged design and fountain. Its not compatible with nearby properties and doesnt have a lot of room for activity, city spokesman Lawrence Corley III said. Charlotte City Council approved a proposal to revitalize uptown Thomas Polk Park and rename it after former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl Jr. Those who want to transform the park at Trade and Tryon streets say it has become obsolete, with limited gathering space, poor lighting, outdated landscaping and a hard-to-maintain fountain. The choice to remove the fountain designed by Angela Danadjieva, a respected landscape architect, was weighed heavily, Corley said in an email. The cost to rehab the park was too significant and given the challenges previous stated, City Council voted to redevelop it. LaWana Mayfield, the one city council member who voted against the demolition, said what got them to this point was the citys failure to maintain the park. She told the Charlotte Observer Thursday that before the council vote, she assumed the park was maintained by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. Many questions, no public input before demolition The agreement with Charlotte Center City Partners approved by the city council in March lists multiple opportunities for public engagement. Significant public engagement is planned to ensure all stakeholders are informed of the citys intent to redevelop the park, the March 13 city council agenda says. The city and Charlotte Center City Partners will partner in providing special care to the families of those honored at the current park. It never happened nor was it required because of the scope and type of project, Mayfield said, but she doesnt agree. I always believe the community is able to have an opportunity to speak especially when were looking at something thats a landmark, Mayfield said. Anytime theres a transition the community needs to be a part of this decision. Charlotte Center City Partners refused comment when contacted by the Observer Thursday. Sarah Sue Hardinger, president of the Mecklenburg Historical Association, said Charlotte has a history of handing over noteworthy sites to developers in deals without acknowledging their significance. Birnbaum questioned why the city had a sense of urgency to demolish the park just two months after the councils approval, but lacked the same urgency for maintenance of the park. What is tragic here is the loss of such a significant work of art with without any public engagement, Birnbaum said. The city committed $350,000 to the demolition project. As a practical matter, deconstruction/demolition estimates were approximately the same value, so the City committed to manage the deconstruction, Corley said. Mecklenburg Historical Association says it was left out Corley said the city and Charlotte Center City Partners have been engaged with the Mecklenburg Historical Association but Hardinger doesnt feel like shes been a part of the process. The association sent letters to the city and Hugh McColl, Hardinger said. We thought that having a park that was talking about the founding of the county at the point of the founding of the county was very appropriate, Hardinger said Hardinger said she never received a substantial response. There was a fairly standard note from the mayors office denying us conversation with the mayor and suggesting we could talk at the council at some point long after the vote had been taken, Hardinger said. The parks lost history Before it was the pile of rubble that sits on the site now, cascading waterfalls once flowed down a giant stone staircase. Built in 1991, the park is more than three decades old. Its fountain structure and the systems have exceeded their useful life, city officials said in an email. However, the site was the only known city park designed by a female architect. Cascading waters at Thomas Polk Park in 2004 offered a serene retreat for a lunch-time visitor in 2004. Is there another significant work of architecture, art or landscape architecture in Charlotte, that young women could see as something in the built environment that says, You know what? I want to work in cities. I want to shape cities. I want to create art when I grow up, Birnbaum said. The park is also the site of where commerce began in Charlotte, at the corner of Trade and Tryon streets. Thomas Polk was a huge mover and shaker, Hardinger said. Honoring him was good and having it at that point where the place was founded was very important. Two plaques about Polk are being preserved from the park and moved to his grave site, Hardinger said. Mayfield is wary of naming things after people who are still alive and said there are other community members whose work goes unnoticed that the park could be renamed for instead of McColl. What we know about the future of the park We dont know much about the future of the park, but we know who will head the decision making. Center City Partners formed the Hugh McColl Park Coalition that is currently fundraising for a functional, flexible, and elegantly crafted urban park that celebrates Charlottes history. The design will acknowledges McColls vision and contributions as a In the Charlotte Business Journal, McColl said he isnt involved with the project besides agreeing to let his name be used. The coalition includes: Malcomb Coley, Charlotte managing partner for Ernst & Young Cyndee Patterson, former city councilwoman Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America Charlotte Harvey Gantt, former Charlotte mayor Michael Marsicano, former president and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas Loy McKeithen, former partner at McGuireWoods Rolfe Neill, former publisher of The Charlotte Observer Michael Smith, president and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners. Why did Polk Park get demolished? Ten members of the Charlotte City Council agreed in March it was time for Polk Park to be razed and renovated. The park was frequented by rats, Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston said. But much of how the decision changed from renovation to demolition remains unknown. Preliminary designs from 2016 for renovations would have cost $4 million to $5 million, Corley said via email. But there was no funding source for the renovations, so the city looked to the Republican National Convention, which was coming to Charlotte in 2020 and expected to bring in revenue. The convention was significantly downsized due to COVID-19. A survey was also done in 2019 when we were rushing to get the project done for the RNC. Research and engagement were paused after 2020 when the RNC was scheduled, Corley said. The tasks underway were completed but no additional work was done given the funding situation. Construction costs began to increase and no funding was dedicated to the project. During COVID, the park was no longer a city priority, Corley said. When things began to return to business as usual, a private sector group approached the city about a public-private partnership to renovate the park. Its unclear when this happened. The terms of the agreement were that the private group would lead fundraising for the design and construction and the group engaged Center City Partners to lead public engagement, Corley said. This beloved Southern dish contains a multitude of cultures. Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall If theres a single regret my parents have about raising me and my brother (other than the sass I apparently never outgrew), its that they didnt teach us their native languages. My mom, who immigrated from Malaysia in the early 80s, speaks Chinese. My dad, who moved from Iran a few years before, speaks Farsi. English was their common ground. When they made the move from Illinois to Alabama in time to start a family, it was a foregone conclusion. Other than the few memorized phrases we dusted off for long-distance phone calls with relatives, my brother and I spoke English exclusively. Years later, when we started applying to colleges, we joined our parents in lamenting that trilingual wouldnt join our list of academic accomplishments. While Im not fluent, or even functional, in Mandarin or Farsi, my parents made sure I was proficient in another language. Like many first-generation Americans, food wasand still ismy strongest tether to culture. I grew up eating the cuisines of my parents home countries on most nights. Slippery stir-fried noodles and salty, soy-glazed short ribs from my mom. Herbaceous beef stew, nutty lentil rice, and smoky eggplant dip from my dad. Hamburger Helper and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese were rare delicacies. One of the first dishes my mom learned after moving South was chicken salad. She had begun swapping recipes with two other moms who lived in our apartment building. One, who immigrated from South Korea, shared dak kalguksu (Korean chicken and zucchini noodle soup). The other, who had roots in Kentucky, introduced her to chicken salad, plus a fruitcake starter that likely still lurks in the depths of my moms freezer. Twenty-five years later, the friendships and recipes live on. Part of what makes chicken salad so beloved is its adaptability. Scour your pantry and throw whatevers on handpecans, chopped apples, dried cranberries, herbs, poppy seedsinto the mix. My moms recipe calls for the addition of curry powder. To this day, hers is the only version my mayonnaise-averse 10th-generation Southern husband is excited to eat. In the South, chicken salad is synonymous with bridal and baby showers, church potlucks, and family picnics. If there are more than eight people around, you can bet chicken salad will make an appearance. In Iran, the same is true for a dish called Salad Olivieh. Though it has roots in Russia, Salad Olivieh is a Southern salad in every sense. Imagine a mashup of chicken, potato, and egg salads and you have Salad Olivieh. And just like Southerners comparing pound cakes at a potluck, theres always whispering about whose version is best. In Iran, Salad Olivieh is the unofficial dish of Sizdah Bedar, the final day of the Persian New Year (Nowruz) celebration that begins on the first day of spring and lasts for two weeks. Also known as Natures Day, its bad luck to stay indoors on Sizdah Bedar, so everyone heads to a park for an all-day picnic with family and friends. Salad Olivieh is always there in abundance. And just like Southerners comparing pound cakes at a potluck, theres always whispering about whose version is best. Ill go to the grave naming my dads the far and away winner. Its smooth and creamy with a nice bite from bright green peas. Growing up, my parents loved to remind me and my brother that were 50% Chinese, 50% Iranian, and 100% American. Sometimes it worked. Other times it was decidedly hard to be a mixed-race kid growing up in the Deep South. During those times, I remember thinking the phrase was cheesy and that my parents must not have been so great at math. I see now that they were doing the best with what they haddrawing parallels where they could and putting things in a perspective that might make us feel whole. Chicken salad was one of those surprising connection points. Its quiet ability to transcend cuisine and culture spoke volumes, affirming that I didnt have to be fluent in three languages to belong. Because if something as simple as chicken and mayonnaise could be many things at once, then maybe I could too. Curry Chicken Salad Since no gathering of Southern women is complete without chicken salad, my mom served this dish to my bridesmaids on my wedding day. (We also had Sonic hotdogs, but thats neither here nor there.) Worrying that not everyone would welcome her twist on the classic salad, she supplemented with a store-bought tub. Hers was the unanimous favorite. For someone who vividly remembers fretting over what foreign dish her parents might serve on sleepover nights, the sight of her empty Tupperware moved me to tears. Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Get the Recipe: Curry Chicken Salad Persian Salad Olivieh I wasnt overly interested in cooking growing up, but I always jumped at the opportunity to help prepare Salad Olivieh. My dad would boil the potatoes, chicken, and eggs, then lay out a vinyl tablecloth on the floor of our living room. If it was a warmer spring, hed open the windows letting a breeze in as we sat cross-legged, peeling potatoes and shredding chicken breast with our bare hands. My favorite part came at the end when I had the honor of smoothing the salad into a casserole dish and then putting on my artists cap. Not a naturally colorful dish, Salad Olivieh gets a boost with garnishes of bright green peas and fuchsia radishes and their dark green leaves. Its customary to decorate the dish in accordance with the spring theme. For me, that meant arranging veggies into the shape of flowers and waiting for my dads generous oohs and ahhs. Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Get the Recipe: Persian Salad Olivieh For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. What seems obvious to nearly everyone except maybe the chief and his eight colleagues on the court is that self-policing is clearly not working, said Sarah Turberville, director of the Constitution Project at Project on Government Oversight. Advocates continue to demand that the U.S. Supreme Court adopt a code of ethics; however, Chief Justice John Roberts has refused to do so. Donald Sherman, senior vice president for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, told theGrio the Supreme Court has yet to adopt a moral code due to arrogance. They are constitutionally accountable to no oneexcept for being impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, which is a pretty high standard, and they have life tenure, explained Sherman. He added, They do what they want. Oct 7, 2022; Washington, DC, USA; Members of the Supreme Court pose for a group photo at the Supreme Court. Seated from left: Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr., Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Associate Justice Elena Kagan Standing behind from left: Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY The high court, said Sherman, believes they dont have to be accountable to the public or to Congressdespite being embarrassed by Clarence Thomas and other scandals. Sarah Turberville, director of the Constitution Project at Project on Government Oversight (POGO), told theGrio, I think there is a belief that the justices think they are incorruptible. Because of the unique structure of the court where these people have their jobs for lifeits given way to a sense of impunity, she opined about the justices lifetime appointments. In recent months, the Supreme Court came under fire from advocates, lawmakers in Congress, and the public for being the only court not to adhere to a code of ethics, as theGrio previously reported. Just last week, Democratic congressional members held a press conference to reintroduce a statute that would add four justices to the bench in an effort to salvage the courts reputation. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., attended the press conference and called the court a cesspool of corruption. Her remarks followed revelations that three justices, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Roberts, were connected to questionable financial activity, as theGrio previously reported. Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose lavish trips and gifts from a billionaire benefactor, said Bush, adding, Justice Neil Gorsuch sold his property to the head of a major law firm nine days after being confirmed; [and] Chief Justice John Roberts wife raked in millions of dollars by placing lawyers in elite law firms with business before the court. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, right, and wife Virginia Ginni Thomas arrive for a State Dinner with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Earlier this week, Roberts spoke at a dinner hosted by the American Law Institute, where he was the recipient of an award. While delivering remarks, the chief justice assured the crowd that he and his fellow justices would take action to restore trust in the court, according to the Associated Press. The justices are continuing to look at the things we can do to give practical effect to that commitment, he said. Roberts added that he is confident there are ways to do that consistent with our status as an independent branch of government and the Constitutions separation of powers. This statement comes after the chief justice and eight other justices signed a statement of ethics that he presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee, tasked with investigating several scandals connected to the court. What seems obvious to nearly everyone except maybe the chief and his eight colleagues on the court is that self-policing is clearly not working, Turberville told theGrio. She said that Roberts has been stating for over a decade that the court can address the code of ethics on its own; however, the problems have gotten worse and, as a result, the publics view of the court and faith in the court has plummeted. Supreme Court entrance marble sign plaque in United States legal system. A courthouse room marker inside of Wisconsin state capitol building, Midwest USA. Gilded capital letters carved in stone and traditional architectural interior formality inspire concepts for justice, fairness, and government law. Horizontal format with copy space and no people. Sherman told theGrio, Were past the point that a statement at a fancy dinner where hes given an award is sufficient to address the damage that has already been done to Supreme Courts reputation. He recommended that if the chief justice wants to be a leader, he must to do more. Sherman called for a serious binding code of conduct that addresses conflicts, addresses recusals and addresses independent investigations of misconduct and that is released to the public for public comment and input. Turberville said that POGO and Lawyers Defending American Democracy drafted a code of conduct that Roberts can follow to ensure that the nations highest court is held to a standard of fairness and void of corruption. In addition to the Supreme Court implementing a code of ethics, she believes Congress will need to impose ethical constraints on the court in order to protect the independence of the institution. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Can Chief Justice Roberts restore the publics trust in the Supreme Court? appeared first on TheGrio. (Bloomberg) -- Chiles government plans to call together political party leaders soon to reach an agreement on a new tax reform bill, Finance Minister Mario Marcel said on Friday. Most Read from Bloomberg We already completed a consultation process a first round of meetings and the next step is to summon political parties to have a profound discussion and reach agreements, Marcel said. The governments first reform bill, which sought to raise revenues by about 3.6% of GDP through closing loopholes and creating a wealth tax, was rejected in Congress in March. After that defeat, the President Gabriel Borics administration signaled it would immediately start working on another attempt. The Boric administration is also focused on advancing other proposals including a pension reform and a bill that seeks to decentralize Chile, giving more control to regional governments over their own finances, Marcel said. Read more: Chile Government Reels as Lawmakers Reject Key Tax Reform Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. China enters waters off of Vietnam near Russian gas block in 'worrying escalation' China on Friday once again disregarded Vietnams exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and deployed a research ship along with five escort vessels to an area where a Russian state firm jointly operates a gas block with Hanoi in the energy rich South China Sea. The move is Beijings latest escalatory step in the region after it first sent in the research vessel earlier this month along with at least one Chinese coast guard ship and nearly a dozen other vessels, Reuters reported. A ship from the Vietnam Marine Guard, right, is seen near a ship from the Chinese Coast Guard in the South China Sea about 210 km (130 miles) offshore of Vietnam May 14, 2014. TAKE THAT! PHILIPPINES SENDS CHINA MESSAGE ON CONTESTED ISLANDS AS TUSSLE BREWS The research ship, Xiang Yang Hong 10, on Friday crossed a gas block known as 04-03 operated by Vietsovpetr, a joint venture between Russian-owned Zarubezhneft and PetroVietnam. The news comes one day after Vietnam called on the Chinese vessel to leave the area near the Spratly Islands after it first entered the region May 7. China has attempted to lay sovereign claim over the entire South China Sea, recently increasing its aggressive posture against neighboring nations with jurisdictional rights in the vast body of water like the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea March 9, 2023. CHINA THREATENS 'SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES' AFTER US WARSHIP AGAIN SAILS BY CONTESTED PARACEL ISLANDS Vietnam on Thursday issued a rare public statement demanding that the Chinese vessels leave the area after they crossed block 129, which is also operated by Vietgazprom. Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning responded to questions by reporters Friday following the statement and said Beijing had sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and jurisdiction over adjacent waters. "Relevant ships of China carry out normal activities under China's jurisdiction. It is legitimate and lawful," she claimed. "There is no issue of entering other countries' exclusive economic zones." International ships are allowed to cross other nations' exclusive economic zones as they are not direct territory of any specific sovereign, though nations do have jurisdictional rights over those areas under international law that grant them special rights regarding exploration, use of marine resources and energy production. A China Coast Guard vessel patrols at the disputed Scarborough Shoal April 5, 2017. Ray Powell, who leads Stanford University's Project Myoushu on the South China Sea, described the blatant disregard for Vietnams exclusive economic zone as the most significant incursion in the region since 2019 and a "worrying escalation." Reuters contributed to this report. Special representative of the Chinese government, Li Hui, allegedly tried to convince the European vis-a-vis that they should call for a ceasefire in Ukraine, recognising the occupied Ukrainian territories as those belonging to Russia. Source: The Wall Street Journal with reference to Western officials familiar with the progress of Li Hui's negotiations in European capitals Quote from the WSJ: "The Chinese ambassador dispatched to push Beijing's peace plan for Ukraine carried a clear message: US allies in Europe should assert their autonomy and urge an immediate cease-fire, leaving Russia in possession of the parts of its smaller neighbour it now occupies, according to Western officials familiar talks in capitals across the continent." Details: China's Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to a request for comment. The mentioned officials said that Li Hui, who has visited Kyiv, Warsaw, Berlin, Paris and Brussels this month, urged European governments to view China as an economic alternative to Washington and said they should move quickly to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine before it spreads. Li was supposed to arrive in Moscow on Friday, 26 May. The officials, while saying it is too early to dismiss Beijings efforts, questioned Chinas ability to act as an honest broker in any negotiations given how closely it is aligned with Moscow. The officials said they didnt think peace would be possible until Russian troops left Ukraine. "We explained that freezing the conflict is not in the interest of the international community unless there is withdrawal of Russian troops," a diplomat who spoke to Li said. According to the diplomat, Li was told that "it is impossible to split Europe from America" and that Europe would not stop supporting Ukraine. "They are probably testing the unity of the West and trying to show initiative," another diplomat said. According to another WSJ interlocutor, Chinas main interests appeared to be to ensure that Russia doesnt lose the war and that Moscow refrains from using nuclear weapons. China's 12-point peace proposal, released in February, calls for a cease-fire and peace talks but offers few details. The first point of the declaration is "respecting the sovereignty of all countries", but it does not call on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. In March, Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking of friendship and "common goals." The Biden administration, while foreseeing a role for China in an eventual negotiated settlement, has been sceptical of Beijings intentions as a peacemaker due to its close relationship with Moscow. The White House in March tried to head off an expected call from Beijing for a cease-fire, with a spokesman saying such a move would serve as "effectively the ratification of Russian conquest." Europe is also broadly aligned with Washington in the view that no peace can be achieved in Ukraine without the withdrawal of Russian troops, and its governments are concerned by Xis ties with Putin. According to the outlet, European diplomats said that during their meetings with Li, they tried to convey three key messages: China should continue to put pressure on Russia not to use nuclear weapons, not to provide military aid to Russia and to condemn Moscow's aggression. They also asked Li to support international efforts to secure the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia had seized. Li, Beijings special representative on Eurasian affairs and a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, has visited Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Belgium, the seat of European Union institutions and NATO. Diplomats from several of those countries said they coordinated closely to make sure Li got the same message from European allies. Reminder: In Kyiv, Li Hui told President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "there is no panacea for solving this crisis, but all parties need to start from themselves, build mutual trust and create conditions for ending the war and negotiations". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The State Department is warning of a new type of malware it says a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group has been trying to insert into the computer systems of critical infrastructure across the United States, including Guam. The presence of the suspicious computer code was announced Wednesday by Microsoft in a warning it issued to private sector users of its software. The U.S. territory of Guam is the location of a critical Marine base that would respond to China if it attacked Taiwan. The National Security Agency also issued an alert to electrical utilities, nuclear power stations, water systems, railways and other key sectors that could be vulnerable. The U.S. intelligence community assesses that China almost certainly is capable of launching cyberattacks that can disrupt critical infrastructure services within the United States, State Department spokesman Matt Miller told reporters Thursday. Its vital for government network defenders in the public to stay vigilant. The news comes as U.S. and Chinese officials are holding their first Cabinet-level meetings in Washington during the Biden administration, with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meeting with her counterpart, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. U.S. officials said that the two had candid and substantive discussions Thursday and that Raimondo "raised concerns" about recent government actions against U.S. companies operating in China. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai was also scheduled to meet with Wang. They will both also attend a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, commonly known as APEC, in Detroit on Friday and Saturday along with ministers from other countries in those regions. Asked whether the new malware could affect the economic talks, Miller said, We do intend to use our conversations with the Chinese government to press on areas where we have concerns. Before leaving a summit of leading industrial nations in Japan on Sunday, President Joe Biden expressed optimism that the U.S. and China would soon be able to improve bilateral relations. Tensions heightened after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon in early February off the South Carolina coast after it crossed the country from Montana to the Atlantic coast. China has maintained it was a weather balloon that had blown off course, repeating that claim most recently in meetings national security adviser Jake Sullivan held with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang two weeks ago in Vienna. China had earlier halted regular military communications with the Pentagon to protest then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan last September. A senior U.S. official told NBC News that the two meetings with the Chinese officials in Washington could bolster Bidens push for a diplomatic thaw between the two countries. The official suggested that a trip to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken that was canceled after the balloon was shot down could be rescheduled by August, as well as visits by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Raimondo and climate envoy John Kerry. But Chinas Foreign Ministry reacted harshly to the hacking accusation Thursday, accusing the U.S. of working with its allies to launch a coordinated disinformation campaign. We noted this extremely unprofessional report, a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. We also noted that the U.S. National Security Agency and the cybersecurity agencies of the U.K., Australia, Canada and New Zealand, almost simultaneously issued similar reports. Another negative signal came when Chinas newly appointed ambassador to the U.S., Xie Feng, said on arrival Tuesday that the relationship is faced with serious difficulties and challenges. On Thursday, Feng met with Victoria Nuland, undersecretary of state for political affairs, at the State Department. Nuland tweeted a photograph of herself shaking hands with the new Chinese envoy and tried to strike an optimistic note about easing tensions, writing, Open dialogue is critical to managing our relationship. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com [Source] A Chinese content creator died after consuming several bottles of the Chinese alcoholic beverage baijiu during a livestream. Wang Moufeng, known as "Sanqiange" or "Brother 3000" on the popular short-video platform Douyin, began an online drinking challenge around 1 a.m. on Tuesday. The 34-year-old reportedly drank at least four bottles of the highly intoxicating clear liquor during the broadcast. He was discovered lifeless at 1 p.m. the same day at a friend's home. His body was cremated on Saturday after it was confirmed that day that the cause of his death was excessive drinking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drinking large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time can lead to alcohol poisoning and death. More from NextShark: Woman claims friend ran away with her winning lottery ticket worth $152,000 When consumed, extremely high levels of alcohol can shut down critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate and body temperature. While such deaths affect people of all ages, these are most common among middle-aged adults and men. Local reports suggested that Wang may have downed up to seven bottles of baijiu, which typically contains around 35% to 60% alcohol by volume. Wang's friend, Mr. Zhao, described the incident as a "PK," referring to an online gaming term for a showdown or challenge. Another streamer, "Grandpa Ming," claimed that Wang drank seven baijiu bottles and three Red Bulls, although he did not specify the bottle sizes. More from NextShark: K-Pop Songs Return to Spotify After New Deal With Kakao Entertainment Viewers of Wangs final livestream noted how the influencer showed signs of discomfort after consuming the first three bottles but continued drinking regardless. Before downing the final bottle, Wang reportedly declared, "I decide my fate, not heaven." On Chinese social media, Wangs death sparked a heated debate on the extreme stunts influencers perform on livestreaming platforms to attract views and the responsibility of these platforms to moderate such content. Some commenters argued the streamer bears personal responsibility for his actions and criticized the viewers for not intervening during the livestream. Others, however, argued that it was the platforms responsibility to moderate or restrict such acts, citing the rise of self-abuse acts on livestreams for attention and engagement. More from NextShark: FIFTY FIFTY breaks BLACKPINK's Billboard Hot 100 record with 'Cupid' On Douyin, consuming alcohol during a livestream is considered a "level three violation," which carries punishments ranging from warnings to temporary bans. While Wang's original stream was blocked when he started drinking, he was able to continue streaming using alternative accounts to evade efforts to report him. In 2019, another Chinese streamer died just before New Years Day after consuming large amounts of various liquids for three straight months. More from NextShark: Thai restaurant goes viral for refusing refunds for customers who cant handle the spice Christians caught with a Bible in North Korea have faced death and had their families, including children, thrown in prison for life, a new report says This undated handout picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 17, 2022 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS North Korea offers freedom of religion to its citizens on paper but not in practice. It has imprisoned tens of thousands of Christians, according to a State Department report, citing NGO research. The recent report reveals executions and imprisonment for life for people caught with religious materials. North Korea is notorious for the cruelty it inflicts on people deemed undesirable by the state. In the Hermit Kingdom that prizes weaponry over its own people, many of whom are starving and live in abject poverty, tens of thousands of Christians are said to be languishing in prisons. A recently released Department of State report notes that while North Korea constitutionally allows for religious freedom, there is no such thing in practice. The constitution vaguely states that religion must not harm the state or social order, giving authorities room to target those who seek to openly follow their faith. The report from the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom, citing research conducted by non-governmental organizations which have gathered testimony from defectors, says as many as 70,000 Christians have been imprisoned in camps along with those believers from other religions. One NGO, Open Doors USA, has reported that for Christians in North Korea, life is a "constant cauldron of pressure" and "capture or death is only a mistake away." The North Korea flag flutters next to barbed wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Edgar Su/Reuters As State highlights in its report, North Korean government documents state that "freedom of religion is allowed and provided by the State law within the limit necessary for securing social order, health, social security, morality and other human rights." Anything beyond that can land citizens in deep trouble. People who have been arrested for religious crimes have reportedly faced detention and forced labor, torture, sexual violence, and death. Christians are considered a "hostile class" in the songbun system, in which people derive status from loyalty to the state and its leadership. Christians, ODUSA reported, are regarded as the lowest in society and are constantly "vulnerable and in danger." The Department of State, pulling from information collected by NGOs, noted that an entire family, including their two-year-old child, was imprisoned following the discovery of their religious practices and possession of a Bible. The family, which was most likely targeted by the Ministry of State Security that handles roughly 90 percent of these cases, was sentenced to life in prison. A report from the NGO Korea Future documented a shocking incident in which a man caught praying was nearly beaten to death by guards. Another incident involved a Korean Worker's Party member who was found with a Bible, taken by authorities out to an airfield, and executed before a crowd of thousands. North Korea celebrates the Kim family, specifically the current ruler, Kim Jong Un, and his late father and grandfather, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, above all, recognizing the Kim dynasty or Mount Paektu bloodline in ways reminiscent of deification. The State Department report, pointing to Korea Future's research, says that the state ideology "Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism" has "many hallmarks of religion." It notes the state regards the two previous leaders as "extraordinary beings." ODUSA has reported that Christian materials, including Bibles, are leftovers from the early 20th century up to World War II and are passed among believers. Though there have been reports of underground churches, it is unclear if these are active given that, as one defector said, "meeting other Christians in order to worship is almost impossible." Some even fear being reported by their own family members. This situation has long been a problem in North Korea, and State noted that "multiple sources indicated the situation had not fundamentally changed since" the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry report on human rights in the in North Korea was published. That report found that North Korea "denied the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion" and engaged in "crimes against humanity." Read the original article on Business Insider 'City of Joy' inspiration still working for India's poor More than 40 years after inspiring a best-selling novel, 86-year-old ascetic Gaston Dayanand is still working for India's "poorest" Decades after inspiring a best-selling novel that brought readers into slums near Kolkata, 86-year-old ascetic Gaston Dayanand is still working for India's poorest. His life helping people in the mega-slums of Pilkhana formed the plot of Dominique Lapierre's 1985 book "The City of Joy", which was later turned into a Patrick Swayze movie. Born in 1937 to a Swiss working-class family in Geneva, Brother Gaston said he remembered deciding at six years of age to dedicate his life "to Christ and the poor". "I never wanted to be a priest," the brother of the Prado congregation told AFP at the Inter-Religious Center of Development (ICOD), an NGO he co-founded in Gohalopata,a village 75 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Kolkata. "The church would never have let me live in a slum with the poor, but my life was about sharing with the poorest." A trained nurse, Brother Gaston arrived in India in 1972 to work with a French priest in a small self-help centre in Pilkhana. "It was the biggest slum in India at the time, they said in the world!" Having arrived on a tuk-tuk, he surprised the local residents by entering on foot. "I didn't want to enter a place where there are so many poor people, on a rickshaw, like a rich person," he said. "I went to places where there were no doctors, no non-governmental organisations, no Christians. That is to say, places that were completely abandoned." - 'Chicago on the Ganges' - One day in 1981, Brother Gaston said he received a visit from Dominique Lapierre, who was "sent by Mother Teresa". The well-known French author, who wanted to write a novel "about the poor", convinced the ascetic of his sincerity. The two men became friends. Lapierre, who died last December, described Brother Gaston as "one of the 'Lights of the World' whose epic of love and sharing I had the honour of recounting in my book 'The City of Joy'." Translated throughout the world, Lapierre's novel, published in 1985, sold several million copies. "He financed all my organisations at a rate of $3 million a year, almost all his royalties, for almost 30 years," Brother Gaston said. But the film adaptation of the novel, in which Swayze plays a fictional doctor, displeased him: "I frankly hated this film. 'The City of Joy' has become 'Chicago on the Ganges'." - Surrounded by leprosy - At the time of Lapierre's visit, Mother Teresa was receiving medicine from all over the world. She donated large quantities to the self-help centre, which Brother Gaston was able to use. He trained nurses and established a dispensary. "I had the medicine, I didn't need anything else," he said. "We quickly had more than 60,000 patients the first year, 100,000 the second. Three years later, we had a small hospital." As soon as he arrived in India, he decided to adopt the nationality. "It took 20 years, of course," he said. Brother Gaston was born with the surname Grandjean. In India, he chose the surname "Dayanand", meaning "blessed (ananda) of mercy (daya)". He worked for a long time with Mother Teresa's brothers caring for people suffering from leprosy in Pilkhana. "I stayed for 18 years, surrounded by 500 lepers, in a very small room," he said. Abdul Wohab, a 74-year-old social worker, said: "Gaston is a saint." - 'A board to sleep on' - Now white-haired and confined to a wheelchair, Brother Gaston is still trying to help those in need in the northeastern province of West Bengal. Of the 12 NGOs he founded since moving to India, six are still active, including the ICOD, which has taken in 81 people of all faiths, including orphans and the elderly, as well as those suffering from disabilities and mental health problems. Brother Gaston said he spends "three-quarters of (his) days meditating" on his bed, facing Christ. "I had never had anything else but a board to sleep on. Now I live like a bourgeois in a big bed," he said. "But it's not me who wanted it," he added with a laugh. "The worst part is that I accept it." The ICOD's co-founder and director, Mamata Gosh, nicknamed "Gopa", watches over the man who taught her to be a nurse 25 years ago. "Before him, I didn't know anything," the 43-year-old told AFP. "He is my spiritual father." Brother Gaston's day begins at 5:00 am with three hours of prayer, in front of a reproduction of the Shroud of Turin overhanging an Aum, the symbol of Hinduism, in his tiny oratory adjoining his room. Dressed all in white and barefoot, he sits in his electric wheelchair and visits each of the residents of the thatched hamlet, then returns to his room in the late morning. On his bedside table sits a Bible, a crucifix, his glasses and an old laptop that he uses to keep in touch with his NGO's donors. "I will earn my bread until the last day of my life," he said. lth-mca/pbt/kma/dhw/cwl Climate change: Most NI homes 'need upgrade' to meet net zero goal Homes in Northern Ireland, on average, are not retaining heat like other homes in the UK Most homes in Northern Ireland need to be upgraded to be more energy efficient if 2030 net zero targets are to be met, a report has found. It found, on average, the properties do not retain heat as well as those in the rest of the UK and Ireland. The Ulster University study is part of a report by the Forum for Better Housing Market NI, a group which looks at issues in the local housing market. The forum said "we need to act now" to cut emissions from the housing sector. In total, the report found that about 60% of homes need to improve their energy efficiency to help Northern Ireland towards reaching its net zero goal. The report also indicated that about 50,000 buildings a year must be improved in order to hit the target of a 56% reduction in energy-related carbon emissions from the housing sector in Northern Ireland. With the help of research from Ulster University, the forum's report, called New Foundations: The route to low carbon homes, sets out recommendations to support the process of decarbonisation across the housing sector, which currently contributes to 14% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions. The research recommended developers create more energy efficient homes Among the recommendations is that there should be a single policy to cut emissions in the housing sector, which focuses on trying to incentivise developers, construction firms and homeowners to create more energy efficient homes. Other suggestions include retrofitting existing homes with low carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps, better insulation and a range of "green" mortgage products. According to David Little, chair of the Forum for a Better Housing Market NI, Northern Ireland is lagging behind the rest of the UK and Ireland. "Homes here record the lowest energy performance scores compared to our neighbours and we are not on track to meet UK net-zero targets," he said. The research carried out at Ulster University was led by Prof Martin Haran, who highlighted "a series of failed initiatives allied with a non-sitting Stormont Executive has ensured that Northern Ireland lags behind other UK regions and the Republic of Ireland". The report also points to how other UK nations are tackling the issue, such as in England and Wales, with "the Heat and Buildings Strategy in 2023, pledging 3.9bn in new funding to decarbonize heat and buildings". In 2021, the Welsh government announced it would build 20,000 low-carbon homes by 2026 while in Scotland new rules were introduced to ensure new houses use renewable or low-carbon heating. According to the report, Northern Ireland's Climate Change Bill in 2022 represented a significant milestone "in terms of tackling climate change and decarbonisation", as it puts Northern Ireland on a par with other UK regions by mandating 2030, 2040 and 2050 net zero targets. The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe - largely because much of the housing stock is so old. Northern Ireland homes are among the least efficient in the UK, making them among the least efficient in Europe. A graphic comparing home insulation quality across Europe. Properties are rated on energy efficiency via an energy performance certificate (EPC), which rates the property from grade A - most efficient - to grade G. The government previously set a target to upgrade as many homes to grade C by 2035 "where practical, cost-effective and affordable". However, some campaigners have criticised the progress towards this goal. Many newer homes continue to be built without basic insulation. In 2022, the UK climate advisory group, UKCCC, warned the government that: "We are still building new homes that do not meet minimum standards of efficiency." FILE - A bird flies with Mount Everest seen in the background from Namche Bajar, Solukhumbu district, Nepal, May 27, 2019. As the mountaineering community prepare to celebrate the 70 anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, there is rising concern about the glacier and snow is melting, the temperature is rising and weather is getting harsh and unpredictable on world's highest mountain. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File) KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) As the mountaineering community prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, there is growing concern about temperatures rising, glaciers and snow melting, and weather getting harsh and unpredictable on the world's tallest mountain. Since the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) mountain peak was first scaled by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay in 1953, thousands of climbers have reached the peak and hundreds of lost their lives. The deteriorating conditions on Everest are raising concerns for the mountaineering community and the people whose livelihoods depend on the flow of visitors. The Sherpa community, who grew up on the foothills of the snow-covered mountain they worship as the mother of the world, is the most startled. The effects of climate change are hitting not just the fishes of Antarctica, the whales or the penguins, but it's having a direct impact on the Himalayan mountains and the people there, said Ang Tshering, a prominent Sherpa who has been campaigning for years to save the Himalayan peaks and surrounding areas from the effects of global warming. Almost every year, he and his Asian Trekking agency organize a cleaning expedition in which clients and guides alike bring down garbage left by previous Everest climbing parties. The effects of climate change and global warming have been severe in the high Himalayan area, Ang Tshering said. The rising temperature of the Himalayan area is more than the global average, so the snow and ice is melting fast and the mountain is turning black, the glaciers are melting and lakes are drying up. Growing up on the foothills of the mountain, Ang Tshering said he remembers sliding on the glacier near his village. But that's gone now. Other Sherpas also said they have seen the changes in the Khumbu Glacier at the foot of Everest, near the base camp. We dont really need to wait for the future; we are seeing the impact already, said Phurba Tenjing, a Sherpa guide who recently scaled the peak for the 16th time guiding foreign clients to the summit. Phurba Tenjing has been climbing Everest since he was 17. He said both the snow and ice have melted and the trek that used to take five or six hours over the icy path now only takes half an hour because the glaciers have melted and bare rocks are exposed. Before, the building-like ice chunks of the Khumbu Glacier used to come all the way up to the base camp. But now we dont see it near the base camp, Phurba Tenjing said. Recent research found that Mount Everests glaciers have lost 2,000 years of ice in just the past 30 years. Researchers found that the highest glacier on the mountain, the South Col Glacier, has lost more than 54 meters (177 feet) of thickness in the past 25 years. A team of 10 scientists visited the glacier and installed two weather monitoring stations the worlds highest and extracted samples from a 10-meter-long (33-foot) ice core. The glacier, which sits around 7,900 meters (26,000 feet) above sea level, was found to be thinning 80 times faster than it first took the ice to form on the surface, according to research published in 2022. The glaciers are losing ice at rates that likely have no historic precedent, said Duncan Quincey, a glaciologist at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The change is happening extremely rapidly he said. Its causing challenges for everybody within that region and, of course, for the millions of people who are living downstream," since much of Southern Asia depends on rivers that originate in the Himalayas for agriculture and drinking water. Both floods and droughts are likely to become more extreme, he said. Theres a huge amount of unpredictability within these systems now, and it makes it very difficult for people who require water at a particular time of year to know that theyre going to have that water available, he said. Nepal's government and mountaineering community plan to celebrate Everest Day on May 29 with a parade around Kathmandu and a ceremony honoring the climbers and veteran Sherpa guides. ___ Associated Press climate writer Sibi Arasu in Bengaluru, India, contributed to this report. ___ 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. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Reuters Some people decide to climb out after falling into a hole, and then theres CNN. In the aftermath of the disastrous Trump town hall, CNNs brilliant leadership has decided to dig down and double down in its Sisyphean quest to cater to both sides and attract conservative eyeballs that would rather watch paint dry. Assessing the damage, CNN has decided to embrace masochism and continue bending the knee to an increasingly radicalized MAGA base that views it as the enemy of the people. If at first you dont succeed, fail again and again. Next week, CNN will host Nikki Haley for a town hall, and on June 7 theyre inviting Mike Pence. Platforming two GOP presidential hopefuls, who voluntarily and proudly served in the Trump administration and have yet to crack double digits in polling, will surely turn around CNNs fortunes. This means CNN will eventually invite Senator Tim Scott, who just launched his dead-on-arrival campaign with an embarrassing Howard Dean moment. Scott believes the best way for Americans to get to know him is to remove his face from his posters and replace it with a generic Black man without eyes, nose, or mouth. I wonder if hell allow CNN to promote his own face for his town hall. CNN Failed America With Its Train Wreck of a Trump Town Hall Learning from its Trump town hall, CNN could alter the format to ensure that the unlucky host is no longer belittled with petty insults or incapable of pushing back against a firehose of lies. Better yet, Licht should listen to veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, who savaged her own networks decision to platform Trump during her recent address at the Columbia School of Journalism. She acknowledged she had a very robust exchange of views with Licht over CNNs decision to host a live town hall for Trump in front of fawning acolytes. She further likened the current political situation to McCarthyism and reminded journalism students that newspaper editors in the 1950s made the decision to stop platforming Senator McCarthys lies and wild allegations in the interest of truth and facts. She also knocked down both sides'' journalism and instead warned about the dangers of drawing false, moral or factual equivalence [which] is neither objective or truthful. However, none of this seems to have persuaded Licht, who defended the network for making news even as the Trump town hall was universally condemned. The backlash has been so severe that even the cool, silver-haired fox, CNN staple Anderson Cooper, was forced to chastise his own viewers for not leaving their silo and being open to both sides. This paternalistic lesson was particularly rich coming from Cooper, who is a white multimillionaire living in NYC. Shockingly, it seems Americans dont like being belittled by hosts and reprimanded for not supporting the behavior of a twice-impeached vulgarian who incited a violent insurrection against his own country. These CNN viewers might not be leaving their silo but theyre definitely leaving CNN, whose ratings have plummeted since the Trump town hall. Its gotten so bad that CNN has dropped to fourth place, below Newsmax, a right-wing outlet so extreme in its views that it makes Fox look like a paragon of restraint. Speaking of Fox, even theyre learning from CNNs embarrassing town hall. Fox recently announced that Sean Hannity will moderate an event with Trump, but instead of taking him live, theyre going to pre-tape it. When Fox, which settled a $787 million defamation lawsuit with Dominion, is altering its strategy to avoid making your mistakes, you know youre in the Sunken Place. Although Licht deserves much of the blame, hes merely performing for the audience of his supervillain bosses: John Malone and David Zaslav. Malone, who sits on the board of Warner Bros. Discovery and is a major shareholder, has openly said America needs more cable-news outlets like Fox. He also previously donated $250,000 to Trumps 2017 inaugural committee. For his part, Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, defended the town hall and said this is all part of the plan for CNN to rebuild its image from a left-leaning network into a forum for both sides. Republicans are back on the air. Republicans werent on the air, he said with pride, even though his network infamously helped give Donald Trump free on-air real estate leading up to the 2016 election. Heres How Bad CNNs Post-Trump Town Hall Ratings Have Been Zaslav last week decided to give the commencement speech at Boston University. The graduates responded by booing and chiding him for not paying his writers. At Cannes, he oversaw a lavish Warner Bros. party where he personally hobnobbed with celebrities. While writers continue to strive for a living wage, Zaslav is living his best life. Even if CNNs own hosts and employees are miserable, its good to know at least one person is happy. This entire spectacle is a damn shame and a self-inflicted disaster. I used to work at CNN as a contributor for a year. I can assure you there are people there, both journalists and staff, who worry about the rising threats of right-wing fascism, disinformation, and stochastic terrorism. They want to do their job and inform the public instead of performing bullshit both sides gymnastics. Internationally, CNN still has clout and presence as a respected journalistic entity. Licht and Zaslav are betraying CNNs own legacy and tarnishing their employees credibility, some of whom have at least attempted to do a competent, honest job at reporting on the very real dangers of MAGA. Ultimately, when I see CNNs self-immolation, it reminds me of friends who made the mistake of wasting years of their lives chasing a love interest who was never into them. After a while, it just becomes sad and pathetic. Since the emergence of Trump, Republican voters have targeted CNN as a punchline and an enemy. That hasnt changed. However, by forfeiting its journalistic standards and chasing Trump for the sake of access and non-existent both sides objectivity, CNN has not only lost its own viewers but also its reputation. I hope CNN has learned that when you decide to make news by inviting pigs to play in the dirt, you shouldnt be surprised if youre the one who ends up covered in mud. 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. Five versions of the Four Treatises, an ancient medical book on traditional Tibetan medicine, have been inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register at a recent meeting held in Paris, the Hospital of Tibetan Medicine of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region announced on Thursday. Compiled from the 8th to the 12th centuries, the Four Treatises is the most fundamental classic of traditional Tibetan medicine and has played an essential role in the dissemination and development of traditional Tibetan medicine. "It not only represents the highest level of medical care in Tibet in ancient times, but also reflects the study of humanities, history, tradition, literature, art, and craft in the earlier period of Tibet," stated an introduction of the book on UNESCO's website. Five versions of the ancient book were inscribed on the list, including four xylograph versions and one gold-ink manuscript version. "The inclusion signals that Tibetan medicine has stepped onto the international stage," said Tsering, president of the hospital. A storm along the Atlantic coast pressing into the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states into Memorial Day will threaten to spoil outdoor activities for millions as it unleashes heavy rain, gusty winds and a slew of coastal hazards. The storm still has a chance of becoming a tropical system before it moves over land, AccuWeather forecasters caution. Everything from a day at the beach to barbecues, Memorial Day parades and auto races could be adversely affected by the storm's drenching rain and gusty winds. Rain spread northwestward across the Carolinas and parts of Georgia and Virginia during the first part of the holiday weekend. The heaviest rain and strongest winds have occurred along the coast, but nasty conditions extended hundreds of miles inland to the southern Appalachians. Gusts of 30-40 mph were fairly common across parts of the Carolinas this weekend, with the highest gust clocked at 53 miles per hour at Piney Island, North Carolina on Saturday. Even though winds will ease into early week, any additional strong wind gusts could still blow around any lightweight unsecured objects. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Because winds have blown from the ocean toward the coast for a long period of time, water has piled up in low-lying areas of the barrier islands and along the shorelines of the back bays. This has lead to minor coastal flooding during times of high tide. Wind gusts will ease into Memorial Day, which will bring an end to coastal flooding concerns. The window for tropical development has now come to a close as the center of the storm has moved inland. AccuWeather's RealVue Satellite image shows the coastal storm swirling off the Southeast coast on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (AccuWeather) The Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway was postponed to Monday due to rain. "However, showers might still lead to delays on Memorial Day," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. Weather conditions are likely to improve from south to north across the Southeast into Memorial Day. Even as the heaviest rain and strongest winds ease into Monday, clouds and showers will linger in the Carolinas, and rain will continue to creep northward to portions of northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, southern New Jersey, the southern tier of Pennsylvania and southern Ohio. June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and there may be a broad area where tropical development could occur during early June from the Caribbean to the Bahamas. A dip in the jet stream and a front will linger off the southeast coast of the U.S. later this week. This will lead to areas of downpours and thunderstorms. It is in this area where some tropical activity could develop in the long range. The area from along the southeastern coast of the U.S. to the Caribbean has been highlighted by AccuWeather's long-range meteorologists as a zone to watch for both preseason and early-season development since the late winter and early spring. The first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will be called Arlene. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. A stolen Dodge Charger is shown after it crashed Thursday on U.S. Route 36 east of Robin Road in Clay Township. The car was traveling up to 163 mph, according to Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell. CLAY TWP. A stolen Dodge Charger was going up to 163 miles per hour when it crashed into a utility pole along U.S. Route 36 on Thursday morning, according to Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell. The stated speed was indicated by an initial investigation, Campbell said in a prepared statement. A 28-year-old Columbus man who was driving the car was taken to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Campbell wrote. After treatment, the suspect was taken to the county jail pending the formal filing of charges. Charges of felony auto theft and fleeing and eluding are expected, along with other charges relating to driving and trespassing. The crash occurred east of Robin Road in Clay Township after a pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The incident started when the Tuscarawas County 911 center received a call at 8:15 a.m. from Insurance Auto Auctions, located at 2932 Ohio 259 SE in Goshen Township. The business is near the sheriff's office, located at 2295 Reiser Ave. SE, in New Philadelphia. The caller said that as they opened the auction storage yard, two vehicles sped from the lot. One was a white 2020 Dodge Charger, and the other, a dark gray 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. Law enforcement agencies were immediately told to be on the lookout for the stolen cars. A utility pole broke when a stolen Dodge Charger hit it Thursday on U.S. Route 36 east of Robin Road in Clay Township. The car was going up to 163 miles per hour when it crashed, according to Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell. The cars were spotted in the Uhrichsville area and a pursuit ensued, according to Campbell. All surrounding law enforcement was notified. While the Charger crashed, the Camaro continued westbound. It was next spotted in Newcomerstown, then in Coshocton County, where it was lost, Campbell said. The Camaro was later found undamaged and unoccupied near the Coshocton Walmart in Coshocton County. Law enforcement officers from the Tuscarawas County Sheriffs Office, Gnadenhutten, Dennison, Uhrichsville, Newcomerstown, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office assisted with the pursuit. Dover and New Philadelphia police assisted with police dogs at the crash scene after the sheriff's office was told a second suspect had fled from the crash. "We now do not believe a second suspect fled on foot from that area," Campbell said. A stolen Dodge Charger is shown after it crashed Thursday on U.S. Route 36 east of Robin Road in Clay Township. The car was traveling up to 163 mph, according to Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell. Campell said the initial investigation showed the Charger has a Scat Pack, a trim package that includes a more powerful engine. He said the Charger is a total loss. Sheriff's Detective Capt. Adam Fisher is leading the investigation along with Detective Sgt. Ed Jones, Detective Cole Morris and crime scene technician Sgt. Ryan Hamilton. The vehicles were impounded to be processed for physical evidence. Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com. On Twitter: @nmolnarTR This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Columbus man in custody after allegedly crashing stolen car U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman Anti-LGBTQ+ Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is upset that President Joe Biden isnt appointing more straight white men as federal judges. Almost impossible for white guys not gay apparently to get appointed here, Grothman, who represents Wisconsins Sixth Congressional District, said on the House of Representatives floor Thursday. He cited a recent study, which he did not identify by name, saying that Biden had appointed 97 judges to the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, and that five of them were white men, of whom two are gay. I was expecting maybe 25 or 30 were white guys, Grothman said. \u201cWisconsin's finest Glenn Grothman is on the House floor right now complaining that Biden isn't nominating enough straight "white guys" as judges\u201d Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1685040256 Its true that Biden has sought to diversify the federal courts and that he appointed the first Black woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the courts remain overwhelmingly white, straight, and male. On the federal courts established under Article III of the U.S. Constitution, 70 percent of all sitting judges are male, and 78 percent are white, according to a study released last year by the American Bar Association. Article III courts consist of the Supreme Court, federal district courts, federal appeals courts, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. Twenty federal judges are out members of the LGBTQ+ population, according to an April report by Lambda Legal, but thats only 2.2 percent of the federal judiciary. There are no out bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, or intersex federal judges, Lambda Legal notes. A study released January 30 by the Brookings Institution says that as of that date, Biden had 96 judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate; it appears to not include his Supreme Court appointment. It does say that only five were white men, but 11 of his nominees not yet confirmed are white males. The White House announced its 33rd round of judicial nominees May 3, bringing the total of announced nominees to 167. These include the first South Asian woman to serve on U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the first federal judge of East Asian descent in Michigan. The nominations continue to fulfill the Presidents promise to ensure that the nations courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds, the announcement says. The professional backgrounds include experience as criminal defense lawyers, something that Biden has prioritized along with racial and gender diversity. At any rate, Grothman doesnt really have to worry about white straight men being underrepresented among federal judges. However, his remarks are consistent with his anti-LGBTQ record. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 2014 after several terms as a Wisconsin state legislator, and he has racked up a string of zeroes on the Human Rights Campaigns Congressional Scorecard. Shortly before his election in 2014, same-sex marriage became legal in Wisconsin thanks to a court decision, and he reacted angrily, saying the state was legitimizing illegal and immoral marriages. His opposition to marriage equality has continued. When the Supreme Courts Obergefell v. Hodges decision took marriage equality nationwide in 2015, he said the justices had shown contempt for the Constitution. Last year, he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which wrote marriage equality into federal law, protecting it from future Supreme Court action. Also in 2014, he objected to then-Secretary of State John Kerrys criticism of Ugandas jail the gays law. What we have is the secretary of State going to Africa and educating Ugandans or saying he is going to send American scientists to Uganda to explain how normal homosexuality is. ... What must God think of our country? Grothman said on a right-wing radio show. And just a few weeks ago, speaking at the Wisconsin state Republican convention, he said that fights over restroom access for transgender people are a sign of moral decline in our country. Hundreds of people were accused of witchcraft in the colonial-era US. Connecticut lawmakers have voted to exonerate 12 people more than 370 years after they were convicted of witchcraft in colonial America. Eleven of the 12 were hanged after trials that the state Senate now acknowledges were a "miscarriage of justice". It follows a long-running campaign by descendants to clear the names of those wrongfully accused of being witches. Dozens were executed for witchcraft in the US in the 17th Century. On Thursday, Connecticut's Senate voted 33-1 to exonerate those convicted in trials that took place in the state in the mid-to-late 1600s. The senator who voted against the move, Rob Sampson, said that he believed it was wrong to "dictate what was right or wrong about periods in the past that we have no knowledge of". "I don't want to see bills that rightfully or wrongfully attempt to paint America as a bad place with a bad history," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "I want us to focus on where we're going, which is a brighter and better future." The resolution had already passed in Connecticut's House of Representatives, with 121 votes in favour and 30 against. The resolution follows nearly two decades of lobbying by the CT Witch Trial Exoneration Project, a group set up in 2005 by descendants of the accused. The group said they are "ecstatic, pleased, and appreciative" especially as the decision comes on the eve of the 376th anniversary of the first witch-hanging in New England - that of Alice Young. "We are grateful to descendants, advocates, historians, legislators of both parties and many others who made this official resolution possible." They added that they "will continue to advocate for historical education and memorialisation of the witch trial victims". Some members of the organisation discovered their family links using genealogy tests. The family members and their supporters argue that the exonerations are an important step to learning from the mistakes of the past. Saud Anwar, a state senator who took an interest after a constituent discovered their ancestor was a witch accuser, told the AP that witchcraft trials still take place around the world. "It's relevant, even to this time as well," he said. The Witch Trial Exoneration Project hopes that in addition to correcting past wrongs, that this will bring awareness to "deadly witch hunts still happening in many parts of the world due to fear, misogyny and superstition". At least 45 people were accused of witchcraft in colonial Connecticut, although the Witch Trial Exoneration Project believes the record is likely incomplete. In the more widely-known Salem Witch Trials in nearby Massachusetts, about 200 people were accused, leading to the deaths of 25 people. Last August, Massachusetts formally exonerated Elizabeth Johnson, the last person to be convicted during the Salem Witch Trials. While initially sentenced to death, she was granted a reprieve and lived to be 77. Historians now believe she suffered from a mental disability. Other countries have also sought to recognise people that were unfairly persecuted for witchcraft in the past. Last year, then-First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon offered a formal apology to 4,000 Scots, mostly women, who were accused of witchcraft between 1563 and 1736. About 2,500 of them had been executed. Several Latino legislators in Connecticut who had proposed banning the term "Latinx" in state documents, calling it "offensive" and a "woke term," are proposing the use of another gender-neutral word already being used in Spanish-speaking Latin America. The bill H.B.-6909 aims to approve the use of the terms Latine as well as Latino and Latina in state documents and official communications. The legislation wouldn't prohibit the use of Latinx. For a coalition of LGBTQ groups in the state, the recent proposal is a win. The lead co-sponsor of the new bill is state Rep. Geraldo Reyes, a Democrat, who previously led the legislation of the Latinx ban. That move came weeks after Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders banned the term in state documents on her first day in office. Reyes had said his motivations to ban Latinx differed from Sanders. He said Spanish language defaults to Latino for everyone regardless of gender, and argued that Latinx is not a Spanish word and was offensive to Connecticuts Puerto Rican population. But in legislative hearings, LGBTQ groups testified about the growing use of the gender-neutral "Latine" spelled primarily in Latin American countries as Latine within the Latino and Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ community. That was a selling point in the hearings, according to Nelson Rafael Feliciano Roman, founder and CEO of the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center and coalition president of the Greater Waterbury PRIDE, a coalition of 15 LGTBQ+ community organizations. Roman said the revised bill, which is expected to receive support in the Senate, is a fair compromise. The fact that weve gotten those six legislators that are just from a different generation to see the light and to acknowledge that the term Latine does come from our community, it is acceptable, it is inclusionary, I think is a victory for the LGBT community, Roman, who testified in the bill's hearings, told NBC News. Roman self-identifies as Latine. He said he was once a major proponent of the term Latinx to describe his identity due to a lack of options within the binary Spanish language. Roman said Reyes and the other legislators shifted their stance after learning about Latine as a gender-neutral alternative. The term has been picking up steam. It organically is coming from Central, South and the Caribbean of the Americas. And now its here in the U.S., he said. NBC News reached out to Rep. Reyes for comment but he did not respond immediately. If passed by the state Senate, the bill would go into law in October. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Pride Flag outside a picturesque building in Solvang, Calif. To the Danish, something is rotten in the United States. More specifically, the Danes are unhappy with the anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment put forth by the city council of Californias Danish capital, Solvang. One would be forgiven if one mistook a photo from Solvang as a postcard from Copenhagen. The town has all the similarities to the Scandinavian country. But where Danes have the term hygge, which lacks an English translation but roughly means to enjoy warmth, togetherness, and coziness with others, the residents of Solvang have discord. The visibility of LGBTQ+ people has been a hot topic in Solvang, a town of 6,000 people, the Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month. Supporters and critics of a plan to hang banners with pride-themed messages downtown say they have been threatened with death due to the City Councils initial rejection of the proposal. The men who proposed the banners, a couple of husbands, were harassed online and called groomers and pedophiles. Several people even posted the names and photos of their four young kids online. The Santa Ynez Valley Pride parade was unanimously supported by the City Council last June. On the part of organizers, some pushback was anticipated but never materialized. So instead, Copenhagen Drive was filled with rainbow-colored floats as they glided effortlessly down the street. There is, however, pushback this year. Councilman Robert Clarke has made some of the most disparaging comments. As he wrote in now-public text messages, he called his critics Chardonnay antifa and said Gays Against Groomers would receive $10 for its efforts to protest drag queens for every butt hurt person who complained about the decision at a recent city council meeting. As the situation escalated, Copenhagens mayor stepped in and reprimanded the U.S. town for bragging about its Danish heritage while ignoring its LGBTQ+ population. As the U.S. culture wars rage, the uproar in Solvang occurs at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are at the forefront. Copenhagens chief executive, Lord Mayor Sophie Hstorp Andersen, addressed Solvangs mayor in an open letter. Your citys status as the Danish capital of America is something that you rightly cherish. Your heritage create[s] a strong bond between us, she wrote. Copenhagen and Denmark also have a proud tradition of acceptance and inclusion of LGBTI+ people. She continued, Youll know already of Denmarks longstanding position as one of the most progressive countries in the world. According to the 2023 World Happiness Report, Denmark comes in as the second most happy place on Earth. It has been a tradition for the LGBTQ+ community to hold events in Copenhagen since the 1970s, and Copenhagen Pride has been held annually since 1996. Two years ago, in 2021, WorldPride was held in Copenhagen, she noted. It is against this background that I was surprised to read about the opposition from some of your council members to ideas put forward by your LGBTI+ community for Solvang to embrace Santa Ynez Valley Pride publicly and visibly, Andersen continued. This opposition to Pride does not reflect the genuine warmth and acceptance of Pride that can be seen across Denmark and especially in Copenhagen. She concluded, In the spirit of friendship between our cities, I urge you to give Santa Ynez Valley Pride and your local LGBTI+ community the full support of your City Council, in the same way that the Municipality of Copenhagen wholeheartedly supports Copenhagen Pride for the benefit of all Copenhageners, and to show the world that respect and acceptance are vital elements in a modern, welcoming society. As Andersen explained to the Times, I was informed that the local opposition to put up Pride flags around town was justified with regard to Danish values and traditions. Thats why I think it was incredibly important to kindly make aware that these are not values we can answer for in Copenhagen. The city ended up approving an amended proposal to fly rainbow banners to celebrate Pride Month. However, instead of the banners flying all of June, they will for only two weeks. Also, there will be no rainbow crosswalks designed something that was in the initial plans. Solvang local Elizabeth Walther, who said she is part of the LGBTQ+, told the city council, My family is not political. Our existence is not political, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. Pride is the opposite of shame, Mary Beth Lee, a native of Solvang, said in the hearing that approved the banners. And the LGBTQ people have endured a history of shaming and marginalization for who they are and who they love. Lee added: And if you cant understand that, youre just ignorant. Could state pension COLAs or stipends be on the horizon? Key lawmaker asks for a price tag. PROVIDENCE While he made no promises, Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Newport, chairman of the budget-writing House Finance Committee, quietly asked the state treasurer this week to provide budget-writers with the potential price tag of each of 14 pending bills to give Rhode Island's retired public employees a pension boost. Asked what this signifies, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi told The Journal on Thursday: "We want accurate information and cost analysis, and the professional way to get it is" to ask the state treasurer's office for "a study by the state's actuaries." Does this mean some boost in retiree benefits is likely? Shekarchi said: "I don't want to predict that. I can give you a much better answer when I get that information." More on pensions: A decade after RI 'pension reform,' anger and suspicion still rule the conversation. Bills would either restore COLAs or give a stipend The bills fall into two broad categories: reinstating "cost of living adjustments" or COLAs, to some degree, or giving a one-time stipend in place of COLAs. The retirees themselves are divided. More than 1,430 pensioners who retired before the dramatic 2011 pension-overhaul led by then-Treasuer Gina Raimondo have petitioned the lawmakers for the full reinstatement of the COLAs they were getting annually until lawmakers agreed to rein in the spiraling taxpayer cost. For many, "pension reform" meant the suspension of the 3% compounded increases they were getting every year. And for others, something a bit less that nonetheless, provided an annual increase. The retirees have gotten periodic increases in the decade plus, since "pension reform." Providence, RI--Nov. 8, 2011 With Video RALLY bt 1 Iris Falck Donnelly a former Providence school teacher retired for six years, says because of the lack of COLAs, retirement is getting financially difficult. Union groups from throughout Rhode Island, joined by members of Occupy Providence, rally outside the State House today to show opposition to what they call severe pension cuts. The Providence Journal/Bob Thayer But annual COLAs are not scheduled to resume until the pension fund for state and municipal employees and public school teachers has 80% on hand of what it will need to meet all of its current and future obligations. The projected return date: 2031. Older retirees told lawmakers they may not live long enough to see that happen. Another pocket of retirees hired former state Rep. Robert Jacquard to make a case to the House Finance Committee for a one-time stipend of 3% of a retiree's first $30,000 in benefits, meaning up to $900. More: RI state retirees again beg legislators to restore pension COLAs wiped out in 2011 reform By Jacquard's estimates, the potential cost to the state would be between $18 million and $21 million out of the state's general fund, as opposed to the retirement fund. But more than one retiree asked: why bother? Retired teacher Lorraine Savard even labeled as "utterly insulting" the one-time $500 stipend that current Treasurer James Diossa himself proposed. COLAs were costly for the state There is no question that the restoration of full annual COLAs to all retirees would cost more. The only question is how much more in annual state which means taxpayer appropriations to reinstate these retiree benefits. From the retiree's point of view, these annual adjustments compounded each year, piling on each other and raising a retired teachers "average pension" from $40,151 in 2006 to $43,053 by 2011. But the COLAs price tag jumped from $62.9 million to $104 million over those same five years for retired teachers. For retired state workers, it went from $43.6 million to $64.6 million, according to the state's pension consultant. The cost-analysis that Abney is requesting coincides with final decision- making on the new state budget lawmakers are expected to unveil in the next two weeks. Asked the timeline for producing the cost estimates that Abney has requested, spokeswoman Michelle Moreno-Silva said: "The time to respond will vary depending on the complexity and language of the bill.." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI state pensioners could see COLAs or stipends as lawmaker asks for price tag The author and her future husband, Bruce, in Chicago in 1987. The author and her future husband, Bruce, in Chicago in 1987. In the beginning, I doubted that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was a real thing. I resisted the second-grade teacher who recommended my son EJ be tested, and I fought the doctor who called him fidgety and impulsive. There was no way in hell my husband and I were going to drug our son. We thought he was perfect already: smart, funny, curious and active. He just didnt fit into their damn boxes. On Halloween night 2003, in EJs third grade year, I saw impulsive in action when he bolted across the road to meet a friend, nearly getting smashed by a car in our suburban Chicago neighborhood. Because of this danger and his new teachers comments about social troubles in class, my husband and I decided to get medication for our son. They did what they were meant to do. EJ seemed happier and more in control of his behavior. It didnt occur to me then that he might have inherited the ADHD from me. I was a 36-year-old English teacher with a minivan and a masters degree not a hyper little boy. There was a lot I was hiding, though. That minivan was a mess, my house a disaster. If a neighbor popped by uninvited, Id chat at the half-open front door and use my body to block their view of the kitchen, too embarrassed to let anyone see the heap of days-old dishes in the fancy sink and last weeks groceries cluttering the expansive island. Thanks for stopping, Id say, instead of asking her in for coffee. I knew I didnt deserve this beautiful home and because of the shame, I kept most friends at a distance. Even though I wanted to clean, I was somehow unable to attack the chaos. It was like trying to pay bills before I married my engineer husband I knew it needed to be done, and I had every intention of doing it, just not right now. Simple tasks seemed complex because I couldnt find a starting point, and I didnt see a clear set of steps ahead (write a check, address an envelope, walk it to the mailbox). If I had known that a first step was what I needed, I might have been able to find it. In my mind, the more I thought about it, the more the chore grew into something dark and nebulous. So Id tiptoe around my laundry on the bathroom floor thinking I should clear this mess and then move on to something else. Early in our cohabitation, my husband joked about this laundry negligence, but I could tell he didnt really find it funny. Hey, is that the carpet under there? actually meant, This mess bothers me! I recognized his discomfort, and I vowed to do better, only to slip back into bad habits. At one point he became so frustrated that he gathered up all the little mounds of soiled garments and threw them out the second-floor bedroom window for all the neighbors to see. Looking back, Im surprised our relationship didnt end there. I was furious and ordered him to retrieve the clothes immediately. He did, and he apologized. I forgave him because I was frustrated, too. Neither of us understood why the clothes sat there day after day. When we built our dream home, I swore to myself that I would do my share to keep it neat and organized, despite a lifetime of failed attempts. I would try harder. Sure, a full-time job and three kids kept me busy, but I noticed other working mothers maintaining orderly abodes for their families. If they could do it, why couldnt I? My epiphany hit while browsing the shelves in a bookstore, where I picked up Women with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sari Solden. My jaw dropped at its stories of mothers and grandmothers, many who appeared perfectly functional, living lives as disheveled as mine. But it was the masking the hiding of their messy realities that got me. I collapsed to the carpet and wept, right there in the store, floored by relief and fear. Relief because I wasnt alone. Fear because my behavior was a disorder and maybe I wasnt good enough, smart enough, disciplined enough to overcome it. The authors family at home, Thanksgiving 2002 The authors family at home, Thanksgiving 2002 Online questionnaires told me that yes, since my symptoms disorganization and distraction, mixing-up of numbers, weak word retrieval and memory, procrastination were present since childhood, I probably did have the attentive classification of this disorder. I wasnt hyperactive, but I learned there was another type, without the H, that was more common with girls. (Since then, the label ADHD has come to represent both types.) Although somewhat comforted because I finally had a way to explain my behavior, I still kept all of this ADHD business to myself. I didnt even tell my husband. I was embarrassed, and I vacillated between logic: If youve got an issue, address it. Whats the big deal? And emotion: Talking about feelings makes me queasy. Psychiatrists are unnecessary because I solve problems on my own (usually by ignoring them). Then, a few days later, when I was home alone one Friday morning, I found myself thinking about the two pharmacy bottles that sat in the flip-out drawer of the kitchen sink, where most people keep their sponges. One bottle held EJs daily Ritalin pills. The other was his short-acting homework medicine, which he took occasionally, as needed, so there were plenty of extras. Nobody would notice one missing, would they? I wondered what it felt like to be medicated. I knew the dosage might be a bit off because of the differences in our bodies, but I figured it would give me some idea, right? And as much as I played by the rules and certainly never did drugs recreationally Ritalin or any other I told myself it would only be this one time, and it might help me decide whether to look into medication for myself. I took a pill from the bottle, held it in my hand, and then swallowed it. Ten minutes later, cleaning seemed like a good idea. For four hours I scrubbed countertops, sorted piles, swept floors and folded laundry. I wasnt strung out or revved up, just focused. Not high but engaged. I knew what I wanted to do, and for once, there was no mysterious force derailing me. It was a miracle. The next afternoon, I sat at the kitchen table plodding through a pile of essays that should have been graded the week before. My brain was just not cooperating. I glanced at the sponge drawer. Just one more time, I thought, to help me get these papers returned. Then: Is this what addiction feels like? Before wed allowed EJ to take it, Bruce and I had read plenty of research. So I knew that Ritalin, aka methylphenidate, was classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act in the same group as meth and cocaine. But when used as directed, this was a safe and effective treatment for attention deficit. We weighed the medicines potential effects of sleep problems and appetite loss against the long-term risks of unmanaged ADHD: higher rates of driving accidents and drug abuse from self-medication, as well as problems in school and in social relationships. Ritalin was not addictive unless it was abused. For EJ, we decided the medicine was our better bet. For me, I just knew taking it had made the world clearer, the way corrective lenses sharpened my eyesight. I never considered addiction when reaching for my glasses, so was this any different? Even though I decided it wasnt, I still felt guilty about taking EJs medicine especially without the approval or guidance of a doctor. But I took another one anyway and soon landed in the grading zone, happily and fully concentrating on the task before me. Finally, after a few more clandestine, medication-aided work sessions, I decided I couldnt keep stealing my sons pills. It seemed to be working for me, which led me to believe that I needed it, and I should finally get my own prescription from my own doctor. Not long after, at my annual physical, I blurted out to my GP, I think I might have ADD. My cheeks were hot, and I wanted to hop off that table, grab my clothes and run away. But she didnt laugh at me or even seem surprised. She just referred me to a psychiatrist, whose office called the next day. I made an appointment, and I went. The author and her husband, Bruce, and their grown children (from left to right) Annie, Ben and Ethan in 2022. The author and her husband, Bruce, and their grown children (from left to right) Annie, Ben and Ethan in 2022. If I were to go back in time, Id begin with a practitioner knowledgeable about adult ADHD. I got what I needed, a diagnosis, but the process felt too easy, too similar to those superficial online tests. The psychiatrist asked a few questions, and I answered them. Thats it. And I left with a prescription. Even though the medicine changed my life, because that psych evaluation wasnt more thorough and all-encompassing, I spent years wondering if I really had ADHD. In a practical sense, the medication made me a better mother. For one, the scheduling was beyond me. Before the diagnosis, I once sent birthday party invitations printed with the wrong date, so the doorbell rang a day early. Another time, we walked into a long-awaited daycare Halloween party just as it was ending. My little pirate and his bumblebee brother were crushed. While I believed the demands of a modern family were somewhat ridiculous, and maybe the kids would all be better off staying home and playing board games, I did recognize the value of their activities. My prescription allowed me to get us where we needed to be on the right days, to manage their uniforms and lessons and practices and performances. And in some ways the meds made me a better teacher. I got to class on time and showed up to faculty meetings. I realize now, though, that in the most important ways, I was good enough already. Despite my mix-ups and messy house, I was an effective mother from the start. I found it easy to love my kids, to be with them, to teach them. I also wonder if what made me a good teacher in the first place my creativity and weird, unpredictable lessons was, at least in part, due to a result of, or related to my ADHD. Unfortunately, even with Ritalin, I never transformed my house into the showcase I desired. To this day, its a mess but its now a controlled mess, and now more a reflection of Bruce than of me because when he retired, he assumed responsibility for it. Of course, the duty was never all mine. I just really wanted to be that kind of mom who cultivates a neat, beautiful home. I admired and envied her. But Im not her. And after Bruce and I grew into each other, he assured me time and again that the gifts I did offer the world were as powerful and worthy as anybody elses. Ive come to appreciate my brain for what it is. In fact, Im so fascinated by it and obsessed with how it works that I spent loads of money on an elective brain scan, the way some folks go on a cruise or buy a new guitar. I ended up with a report showing visual evidence that my brain does indeed work differently from those without the disorder, and that, yes, ADHD is a real thing. Today, at 55, I still take a pill every day, and it continues to bring clarity and calm to my life. Ive tried stretches of time without it and survived, but too much of my lifes precious energy was spent on panicky damage control: a missed flight, a purse forgotten in the restaurants bathroom, wrong due dates in an online class, and messes that werent dealt with when they should have been. Over the decades I found other treatments to also be useful, such as nutrition and exercise, but its when I combine these methods with my medication that I feel sharpest. And most content. Because life is best when its in focus. Kim R. Livingston lives in the Chicago suburbs with two cats, two dogs, and her husband, a retired chemical engineer. Their three kids a physical therapist, a doctoral student, and a nurse have mostly flown the coop, and now Kim has time to write. Her first book, Walks Like a Duck: How a Mom with ADHD Led Her Neurodiverse Family to Peace of Mind, will be published by TouchPoint Press in May 2023. Visit Kim at www.kimrlivingston.com to learn more. Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch. Related... Two Ontario County residents were charged with assault, and accused of abusing a toddler. Luis O. Rodriguez, 38, and Stephanie P. Chavez, 29, both of Farmington, were each charged Thursday with second-degree assault, a felony, in connection with the alleged abuse. Rodriguez and Chavez are accused of physically abusing the girl who was hospitalized for at least four days, according to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office. Deputies did not say when the abuse occurred and did not say how the girl was recovering. Rodriguez and Chavez are both in the Ontario County Jail awaiting arraignment. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Luis Rodriguez, Stephanie Chavez accused of abusing toddler Adam Nguyen, seen here in a 2022 promotional video, was placed on leave by Columbus police after a reported criminal investigation in another state. A Columbus police officer who was placed on leave this week has been charged with a felony in Illionis after reportedly taking a video up the skirt of a minor female at an anime convention. According to court records, 26-year-old Adam Nguyen was arrested on May 21 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, which is outside of Chicago. A record of events at the convention center show an anime convention had been taking place there at the time. Nguyen was charged with unauthorized video recording and live video transmission. According to court records, Nguyen is accused of pointing a camera under the skirt of a girl and capturing video without her consent. Nguyen appeared in Circuit Court in Cook County on May 22 and was released on a recognizance bond. He has a court date scheduled for June 23. Nguyen joined Columbus police in October 2021. He was placed on administrative duty with pay on Tuesday pending the criminal investigation. The charge Nguyen faces in Illinois is a class three felony, which carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Court records: Columbus police officer took upskirt video of girl The 16th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Kenya Division was held Thursday at Kenyatta University, the country's second oldest public institution of higher learning. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya in conjunction with Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute and corporate partners, the contest was held under the theme of "Fly high with Chinese." Kenya's secondary school students were assessed on three parameters, including making a three-minute speech in the Chinese language, China's national knowledge test, and prowess in Chinese culture such as folk songs and dances, operas, calligraphy, painting, and martial arts. Senior officials, diplomats, faculty members and young learners graced the Kenya Division finals of the Chinese Bridge. Susan Mutune, the assistant director of Radio and Media at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, said the government recognizes the critical role of the Chinese language in fostering deeper Sino-Kenya economic and cultural ties. "We look forward to building Chinese language competence and proficiency among young learners. This is borne out of the understanding that Mandarin promises vast opportunities for our youth," Mutune said. Tang Jianjun, the counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, noted that the population of local youth keen to gain proficiency in the spoken Chinese language has increased, adding that it will revitalize cross-cultural understanding. Zhou Xiaodong, the Chinese director at Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute, said the contest provided a platform for the young learners to showcase their understanding of the Chinese language and culture. Telema Njoki, a junior secondary school student, was declared the overall winner of the contest, having demonstrated an impeccable grasp of spoken Mandarin. She received gifts and a certificate of honor for emerging as the overall winner in the competition and will also benefit from a sponsored trip to China later in the year. In preparation for a possible U.S. debt default, Navy Federal Credit Union has announced it will offer a paycheck assistance program to help service members and certain other credit union members if their Defense Department-issued pay is disrupted. There is a lot of uncertainty about the effects of such an unprecedented event; military pay could be delayed or stopped altogether. The Treasury Department is expected to reach the current debt limit sometime in early June unless lawmakers and the White House reach an agreement to raise the ceiling. The paycheck assistance program will provide advances on members pay, which will be treated as a 0%-interest loan. The loan amount will be based on the most recent direct deposit to the account. The amount will not necessarily be equal to what the service member receives in net pay. There may be other options available for assistance. Those eligible are all active duty, Guard and reserve military members, and DoD civilian employees and contractors whose pay is issued directly by DoD. Military retirees are not eligible for this program. To be eligible for the paycheck assistance program, members must have a paycheck direct deposit set up with Navy Federal and they must register for the program through navyfederal.org, the Navy Federal mobile app, or by calling 888-842-6328. Registration for the program will be accepted until three business days after the scheduled payday. For more information about requirements, visit Navy Federals information page. Given the potential for financial uncertainty related to the debt ceiling, we want to provide our members with peace of mind, said Pete Amstutz, senior vice president of savings and membership at Navy Federal, in a statement. Navy Federal has more than 12 million members worldwide, and is open to all service branches, including Coast Guard, veterans, civilians and contractor personnel and their families. As with some other military-affiliated banks and credit unions, Navy Federal has offered similar programs during government shutdowns in 2011, 2013, and in 2018-2019. The credit union provided loans to nearly 20,000 members, totaling more than $50 million. Those who may be affected by the debt crisis should check with their bank or credit union to see if similar programs will be offered. Crewless sailboat with shredded sails washes up on Outer Banks beach, police say A sailboat without any crew on board washed ashore on North Carolinas Outer Banks, handing tourists a puzzle to solve over the Memorial Day weekend. It appeared near the 5000 block of South Virginia Dare Trail on May 25, Nags Head police said in a news release. Investigators have discovered the mariner sailing the vessel was rescued off shore by the U.S. Coast Guard and the boat was left to (drift). We have the boat taped off, so do not climb aboard, and please stay clear as this is a safety hazard, police said. Were working on getting it removed. The 33-foot boat, named the True Love, was abandoned after it lost function of its sail May 1, about 90 miles off Cape Hatteras, according to The Coastland Times. A single man was rescued from the boat, which was then towed to within 8 miles from shore and anchored for safety reasons in rough seas. Shipwrecks that wash ashore on the Outer Banks easily capture the attention of beachgoers, quickly becoming tourist attractions. Beached vessels are also known to quickly sink in the pliable sand, as if being mysteriously swallowed by the islands. Gale warnings have been issued for the Outer Banks through Saturday, May 27, and the boat could easily be pulled back out to sea as 50 mph gusts and 14-foot waves pound the beaches. Shipwrecks can go missing off Outer Banks. Heres why NOAA team went hunting for 13 Shipwrecks astonishing descent into the beach starts speeding up on Outer Banks Mystery boat full of supplies washes up in North Carolina. Fate of passengers unknown Critics wonder whether Jude Law used butt double for Alicia Vikander sex scene in new film Firebrand Jude Laws posterior has become the subject of speculation after the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Firebrand. In the historical film, directed by Karim Ainouz, Law portrays English monarch Henry VIII in the last stages of his life. Alicia Vikander plays his sixth and final wife and queen, Catherine Parr. Since its first screening on Sunday (21 May), Firebrand has received widespread praise from its audience, beginning with a seven-minute standing ovation at the end of its Cannes screening. Yet one aspect of the film has been an additional matter of intrigue: the appearance of the rotund kings bare bottom during a sex scene with Catherine. In his review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw likened the appearance of Henrys bottom to a giant, shaved arse of a sheep before posing the question: Did Law use a buttock double for this stomach-turning image? For The Times, reviewer Kevin Maher had a similar query. A gasp-inducing shot of Henrys enormous rolling buttocks suggests that Law has partaken in some alarmingly detrimental weight gain (he hasnt!) or else clever editing, and a substitute posterior, is at work, he wrote. Many reviews of Laws portrayal of the late king discuss the kings grotesque attitude and deteriorated physical state. Jude Law and Alicia Vikander in Firebrand (Larry D. Horricks) Henry suffered from chronic leg ulcers for much of the last decade of his life, thought to have been caused by an infection following a jousting accident in 1536. As a result, his legs are described as rotting. In The Telegraph, Tim Robey wrote: Theres a brief shot of maggots writhing in [Henry VIIIs leg] which could easily cause you to throw up. A UK cinematic release date for Firebrand has yet to be announced. Previously at Cannes, the festival opened with a screening of Jeanne du Barry, which features Johnny Depp as another monarch from centuries ago: French king Louis XV. You can read The Independents review here. Memorial Day on Monday has graced some of us with a three-day weekend, which means more people will be hitting the road, getting out of town or looking for local fun. For those heading out for Memorial Day in Sacramento, heres what to know: Flying out of Sacramento If youre flying out of Sacramento International Airport, expect a crowd. More than 100,000 people are anticipated to pass through SMF this holiday weekend, with a lot of travelers heading to Hawaii, Southern California and Las Vegas. Nationwide, about 2.39 million people are forecasted to fly a 5.4% jump from 2019. With more people at the airport, you might be wondering: Should I fight for parking at SMF or take an Uber? Not to mention, ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft are known for increasing prices during high demand. The Bees Jacqueline Pinedo broke down the cost of parking at SMF and taking a ride-share service. Its technically a long weekend, but lets be honest, three days is not enough. And any delays at the airport will just dampen the time you have left to relax and unwind. You can avoid delays by seeing which airlines are typically on time. Spoiler: United Airlines is one of the top companies thats usually on time. READ MORE: These major airlines are less likely to have delays out of Sacramento International Airport To speed up your time at the airport, you might want to consider using Clear or TSA PreCheck. Going for a drive The roads will also look busier this weekend. About 5 million Californians are expected to be traveling by car this holiday so there might be more traffic than usual. You can make sure you spend less time on the streets by avoiding prime traffic hours. If youre driving around Northern California, Interstate 80 is a peak congestion area for the region this weekend. Be sure you have a full tank and make sure youre driving safely. The California Highway Patrol will be operating a maximum enforcement period. The weather outlook Its going to be a sunny and bright weekend if youre staying in the Sacramento area. Forecasts for the capital city show highs in the 80s, sunny skies and breezy winds. If youre going to the Sierra, expect some thunderstorms. And if youre spending time in the Bay Area, therell be grey skies. Memorial Day events You can avoid airport crowds, traffic and gloomy weather by staying in town. Sacramentos hosting a several events this Memorial Day weekend, including a Concerts in the Park on Friday and a Memorial Day Family Fun Fest. The Sacramento County Fair also returned to Cal Expo and will run until Monday. 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. D.C. Panel Calls On Man To Boot Down Giant Transformers On Sidewalk Some Washington, D.C., residents arent fans of a pair of Transformers statues meeting their eyes in their Georgetown neighborhood. And they may get their wish after a D.C. panel called on the owner Thursday to remove the robots from the sidewalk. Dr. Newton Howard, a billionaire neuroscientist at Georgetown University, owns the sculptures and placed them outside his home over two years ago. A statue of Optimus Prime overlooks the street below while Bumblebee and another Transformer greet visitors on the ground. The statues have reportedly brought tourists, children and fans of the iconic franchise to the street, and several visitors who spoke to Washingtons News4 appeared to delight in their presence. But complaints to several area groups show neighbors havent all enjoyed seeing the Transformers roll out onto their block. It is clear that transformer robot structures sitting on planters are clearly inconsistent with the goal to preserve the historic nature of Georgetown, read a 2021 letter from six of Howards neighbors, according to WUSA9. We are not naive and understand why people stop and look at the Transformers. They need to be, however, in a location suitable to safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic and where residents will not share an unnecessary burden by their presence, wrote Catherine Emmerson on behalf of a citizens group on the Georgetown street in March of this year. The complaints were enough to spark D.C.s Public Space Committee, a government body that decides on the use of public space for matters like sidewalk cafes, to decide Thursday that the bots should be removed from the sidewalk, WUSA9 reported. A separate, three-person federal board which reportedly approved the statues six-month installment back in 2021 called last month for Howard to remove the bots. Workers stop to admire and photograph Bumblebee outside the entrance of Howard's home in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2021. Workers stop to admire and photograph Bumblebee outside the entrance of Howard's home in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2021. D.C. Shadow Sen. Paul Strauss, an attorney representing Howard, argued at the Thursday meeting that the bots dont endanger the public, according to DCist/WAMU. The allegations that they are contributing to a traffic or dangerous activity is just laughable, he said. Peter Cullen and Dan Gilvezan voice actors of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, respectively, in the original Transformers series also joined the meeting to back Howards pleas to keep the statues put. Now, I understand some people think that these statues dont fit the character of the neighborhood, that they stand out like a sore thumb. Well, first, I resent being compared to a sore thumb, Gilvezan said. A healthy, well-functioning thumb, maybe, but a sore thumb? The Mandalorian star Emily Swallow, who was born in D.C. and plays The Armorer in the Star Wars series, also testified in support of Howard. Strauss, in an interview with DCist/WAMU, responded to the committees decision and assured that the fight for the Autobots is not over yet. Obviously theres a variety of legal options but we want to get a better sense of whether reapplying with certain modifications may make some sense, he said. At the end of the day, this should be a decision made by D.C. residents, not federal appointees, Strauss added. Dr. Howards front porch does not involve a federal interest. Related... The explosive indictment of a District of Columbia police officer accused of aiding the Proud Boys ricocheted through the headlines this week: Before the Jan. 6 riot, Lieutenant Shane Lamond allegedly tipped off the far-right groups leader Enrique Tarrio about police plans giving a heads-up about an impending arrest and advising Proud Boys to switch to encrypted texting to avoid law enforcement. In Washington, where Lamond is a member of the same police force that patrols city streets and battles neighborhood crime, the story has been greeted with a fair amount of surprise: After all, this is a cosmopolitan capital with residents from around the world, a place where the mayor, the police chief, and a majority of Lamonds fellow officers are people of color. In theory, it ought to be an inhospitable environment for a guy who, according to prosecutors, told the Western chauvinist group that I cant say it officially, but personally I support you all. Yet that surprise may say more about the state of denial in Washington a city where the national-politics class assumes they live in a deep-blue bubble than about the reality of the capitals Metropolitan Police Department. The idea of a local officer with extremist ties was certainly no surprise to Michael Fanone, the former D.C. cop who became a national figure after being nearly killed by the mob on Jan. 6. Fanones memoir last year painted a grim picture of a racially riven local police force riddled with insurrection sympathizers even after scores of officers risked their lives defending the Capitol. They did not take it seriously at all, Fanone said this week of the brasss reaction to his bestselling book, which includes several troubling scenes from within the department and the local Fraternal Order of Police. Fanone ultimately left the force, alienated by colleagues who snubbed him for speaking out against political figures he thinks downplayed the riot. Fanone wrote that he feared this segment of the force would place him in physical danger once he returned to the beat. There clearly still are members of the department that are sympathetic to that ideology, he told me. The arrest also didnt shock Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a civil rights attorney who has spent years in litigation with the department, often on behalf of protesters who claimed to have been mistreated. Verheyden-Hilliard helped raise the alarm over incidents like a 2017 case where a D.C. officer was spotted at court in a shirt featuring an apparent white supremacist symbol. In 2018, she went to court to force the department to share information about contacts with extremist organizations including the Oath Keepers after video from an extremist group was used as part of the prosecution of several anti-Trump protesters. And in 2019, video surfaced of officers fist-bumping Proud Boys outside the White House. It has been brought to their attention repeatedly, she said. There has, to our knowledge, never been an investigation or a housecleaning. Now the Lamond case may offer another reason to investigate. The indicted officer is not some random beat cop: A 24-year veteran of the department, Lamond led the Intelligence Branch of the department's Homeland Security unit until last year, when he was suspended after coming under investigation. That investigation culminated in a May 19 obstruction of justice indictment for allegedly lying to investigators who were looking into the relationship with Tarrio. Tarrio and three other members of the organization, identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, were convicted earlier this month of seditious conspiracy and face a possible 20 years in prison. Its hard to believe the timing of Tarrios conviction and Lamonds indictment are unrelated. The indictment may make for difficult reading in blue D.C. According to prosecutors, Lamond and Tarrio communicated 500 times beginning in 2019, often via chummy exchanges. The day after Joe Bidens 2020 victory was declared, Lamond allegedly texted Tarrio: Hey, brother. Sad, sad news. You all planning anything? Later that day, he allegedly advised Tarrio to switch to an encrypted messaging platform because Alerts are being sent out to [law enforcement] that [social media website] accounts belonging to your people are talking about mobilizing and taking back the country. And on Jan. 4, two days before the assault on the Capitol, Lamond allegedly switched his settings on the Telegram messaging app to automatically delete messages after 10 seconds, and then tipped off Tarrio that he would be arrested for burning a Black Lives Matter sign torn from a downtown D.C. church during a Proud Boys rampage in December. Lamond has pleaded not guilty, and its likely that his defense will be that he was doing his job: Cops work unsavory sources all the time, developing a rapport in order to bring in information. As an intelligence officer, he was supposed to anticipate potential disturbances a mission that involves charming people like Tarrio so they open up. Lamond's lawyer, Mark Schamel, said his client did not share the views of the contacts he made in the line of work. Hes not a member of any extremist groups and were very comfortable that the evidence will show that he was doing his job, Schamel told me. A jury will rule on that when the case goes to trial. In the meantime, higher-ups are trying to calm the mood. We understand this matter sparks a range of emotions, and believe the allegations of this members actions are not consistent of our values and our commitment to the community, the department said in a statement following the arrest. But officials declined to make anyone available to answer questions about Fanones claims, or about how the department vets extremism in the ranks an issue thats been a challenge for military and law enforcement across the country. Instead, they pointed me to a broad study of organizational culture commissioned in 2021 and completed this spring. Among other things, it recommends the department create policies to define and screen for extremism. D.C. Council member Charles Allen, one of the local bodys more outspoken police-reform advocates, told me this week that thats because the department hasnt done a true deep dive into the issue despite saying it was in the works back when councilmembers, after Jan. 6, pondered ordering up an independent investigation. They look at these individual incidents as one-offs, he said. The indictment that came last week is a major concern, a huge problem, said Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Councils public safety committee. My commitment is to follow up with MPD to make sure that they have systems in place. Yesterday, after we spoke, she sent a letter to the police chief asking about Lamonds case and what provisions the department had in place to address extremism. Whats baffling about local officialdoms reticence is that, given the District of Columbia electorate, taking a stand against domestic extremists on the force would seem like a political winner a way pols can burnish their police-skeptic credentials without pushing the sort of controversial defund-the-police policies that alienate voters. You wont find many people out there who oppose the idea of weeding out followers of organized neo-fascist groups. But Fanone, now a law enforcement analyst for CNN, says that misunderstands the challenges preoccupying the folks atop his old department, and police forces across the country. I think that most law enforcement agencies in this country are scrambling to maintain the officers they have and recruit new ones to replace the hundreds that theyve lost, he says. The last thing that theyre worried about is coming up with a comprehensive screening process for domestic extremism. Fanone also has a less charitable theory of why a progressive city wouldnt jump into action over his allegations of right-wing police radicalism: Local politics in D.C., he thinks, are so hostile to law enforcement that some pols cant appreciate the difference between an extremist officer and any other officer. Or, at least, he thinks a lot of elected officials dont see much upside to making an anodyne statement about how most police are brave and good, but a radicalized minority is imperiling public safety, and we ought to make sure none of our officers belong to that dangerous group. I think people are so anti-cop that they dont care, he says. The Lamond indictment comes during a season of high-profile scrutiny of local law enforcement in Washington. In House Oversight Committee hearings, legislators have taken turns lambasting city officials and the U.S. attorney for allegedly soft-on-crime policies. For the first time in three decades, Congress also used its prerogative to overturn a duly enacted city law, nixing a rewrite of D.C.'s criminal code. For their part, D.C. officials have denounced the congressional meddling as undemocratic, bad-faith grandstanding, saying Congress should mind its own business and let Washingtonians handle local affairs just like other Americans. The congressional agitation has not, however, focused on whether the citys police department is home to a troubling number of insurrectionist sympathizers. Given the makeup of D.C.s top Hill critics, this may not be surprising: The leader of the effort to overturn that criminal-code rewrite was Andrew Clyde, the Georgia congressman who once likened Jan. 6 rioters to folks making a normal tourist visit to the Capitol. Instead, members took aim at another measure recently passed by the D.C. Council, a police-accountability bill that codifies some of the reform policies put in place following the 2020 protests against police brutality. Among other things, thats the bill that finally orders the D.C. auditor's study of white supremacist ties within the force. Congress voted to overturn that one, too. Unlike with the prior congressional disapproval, though, President Joe Biden has vowed to veto this effort, which means the mandatory investigation is going to be law. As far as Im concerned, a real investigation cant come a minute too soon. The idea of even a small number of domestic extremists on the force ought to be terrifying both to federal-Washington folks worried about the security of national institutions and to hometown-D.C. folks who think safe neighborhoods require citizens to feel able to cooperate with police, something thats tougher if theres even a slight suspicion that officers may be part of a hate group. I am surprised about Shane, but Im not surprised about this culture because weve seen this in other departments across the country, Donell Harvin, D.C.s former homeland security chief, told me. Harvin used to meet weekly with Lamond and says the allegation of alerting Tarrio to his arrest if true is far over the line. I know men and women of the D.C. police department and theyre dedicated to the job. But we definitely need to study this. Congress should commission a study. For the record, Harvin, who now teaches at Georgetown, doesnt think Washington is an outlier. Its a national problem: Law enforcement, alas, is overrepresented in extremist groups and their allies. And while the capital may be politically monolithic, most of its police live outside the city in many cases making long commutes from places that arent dotted with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Lamond, for instance, lives in distant Stafford County, Va. Historically, Congress has stopped the local government from enacting the police residency requirements that exist in many other cities. If nothing else, a police residential map ought to undercut the federal-city habit of assuming the District is disconnected from the world beyond the Beltway. What is different from the rest of the country, as we learned on Jan. 6, is that local police in Washington are also part of the defense of the Capitol, sometimes heroically so. In an age when domestic terrorism is one of the top threats, such a force needs to make sure members arent tied to the extremists. And if the locals in charge of the department dont force the issue, its a topic where it would actually be appropriate for Congress to do so. Rather than a case of messing around with local laws in a place they dont live, itd be a matter of legislators looking after their own safety. Youd be hard-pressed to think of a city where this is a more critical issue than Washington, D.C., said Verheyden-Hilliard, the civil rights lawyer. What happens the next time we go on the Jan. 6 path, which we all know could happen? What happens if theres this festering group within the MPD that havent been weeded out? Its very dangerous. Reader Frank Manness captured this picture of workers installing a sign for Fort Liberty, the new name for Fort Bragg. It is still Fort Bragg. But only until Friday. Then North Carolinas mammoth U.S. Army base will become Fort Liberty. More: It's official: Bragg to be renamed Liberty in June Still, it will always be Fort Bragg in my memories. D.G. Martin My first experience in a racially integrated work situation was in ROTC summer camp at Fort Bragg in 1961. I was the product of a segregated secondary and college education. It was different at Bragg. Not only were there many Black cadets in my company, but the regular army lieutenant colonel in charge of us was Black. He was a wonderful leader. More: Pitts: Signs of the times at Fort Bragg a reminder name change coming I remember the welcome speech he gave on our first day. He gathered his cadets around. We were scared to death, and he told us the story of Fort Bragg, and how it came to be named for a military leader, a general in the Confederate army named Braxton Bragg. I thought many years later that he must have had to bite his tongue because Bragg had fought to keep Blacks in slavery. More: D.G. Martin: Pulitzer-winner with Fayetteville ties will be in Afghanistan until bitter end Many of the Black cadets were potentially superior future officers. They prepared me, as the Army of the 1950s and 1960s prepared hundreds of thousands of other southern men, for the changes to come in civilian life in North Carolina. The Fort Bragg sign at Stryker Golf Course on Bragg Boulevard. I arrived at Fort Bragg as a white boy who had never gone to school with Black people, never eaten in the same restaurant, never drunk at the same water fountain, never rode in the same section of a bus or a train and put me right beside some of the best people I ever met (not all my same color). I was never the same. When I left that summer, I don't want to say I was free of racism, but I was a changed person. I rejoiced in the diversity that Army life brought me and the great strength that came from mutual trust and respect. And I knew that the principal beneficiary of the opening of doors of opportunity was me. If our nation is ever successful in completing its task of erasing racism, intolerance and injustice, the armed forces and particularly the Army and Fort Bragg must be given due credit. The Army has led the way. Like many other North Carolinians, I have spent other times at Fort Bragg, including almost two years when I was on active duty, living on Bragg Boulevard. The most memorable time was on Thanksgiving weekend in 2002 when, as I wrote then, a little after midnight I picked up my son Grier at his Raleigh home, helped carry his heavy gear to my car, waited while he ran upstairs to tell his wife goodbye, get a look at his brand new daughter, and then began our drive to Fort Bragg for the beginning of his long journey to the other side of the world. It was raining as we approached Fayetteville, turned off Business I-95, and then on to Bragg Boulevard, passed the house where I lived as a young Army officer, and then passed by the shopping centers, pawnshops, night spots, mobile home lots, car dealerships and the other strong marks of a military town. Still under the heaviness of the rain, we came on the base, passing through security where my son returned the salute of the guard, a signal that we would soon arrive at the point of formation, where my son and his traveling companions would gather this early morning to begin their trip to Afghanistan. I will be happy to call it Fort Liberty from now on, but I will always remember what Fort Bragg has meant for me. D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-Systems vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NCs North Carolina Bookwatch. This column has appeared every week since 1985. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Martin: Goodbye, Fort Bragg Dad killed on walk in 2009, Colorado cops say. Now 14 years later an arrest is made A 38-year-old was recently arrested after he was accused of fatally shooting a Colorado dad of four 14 years ago, officials said. Larry Fuller, 49, was walking home from the Sidekick Bar in Ignacio on New Years Day in 2009 when he was shot and killed, officials said. He was at the bar with his wife before he decided to walk home, according to a May 26 news release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Fuller, a diesel mechanic who moved to Colorado in 2000, died at the scene, officials said. Detectives said the shooting may have been the result of some sort of fight at the bar earlier that evening. The case had gone cold, but in February, Ignacio police asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for help as they assisted with the case from 2009, officials said. Three months later, David Hendren was arrested May 18 at the Navajo Nation in Arizona, according to the Bureau of Investigation. Officials said witness interviews ultimately led to Hendrens identification and arrest. Hendren is facing first-degree murder charges and appeared in court May 26, officials said. Ignacio is about 330 miles southwest of Denver. Man calls 911 to report wifes mysterious death, cops say. Years later, hes charged Mother arrested 4 years after baby found tied in plastic bag in woods, Georgia cops say Pregnant woman was found dead in a pond, Rhode Island cops say. Now, two arrests made Damien Hirst painting of Leonardo DiCaprio sells for more than 1m at charity auction A portrait of Leonardo DiCaprio painted by artist Damien Hirst has sold for more than 1m at a charity auction. The colourful work, comprised of household gloss on canvas, sold at the amfAR gala in Cannes, France, on Thursday (25 May) to raise money for Aids research. The piece, which was part of Hirsts Spin Painting series and was created in 2016, was signed by both Titanic star DiCaprio and the British artist. The artwork was bought for 1.2m (1.04m) and was donated by collector Christian Levett, who said on Instagram he bought the piece at a party of DiCaprios in St Tropez in 2016. According to reports, the Oscar-winning actor was in attendance at the amfAR gala with his mother Irmelin Indenbirken. Other stars in attendance included Rebel Wilson, Eva Longoria, Kate Beckinsale and Heidi Klum, while Bebe Rexha, Halsey, Gladys Knight and Adam Lambert all performed. The highest bid of the night went on a bespoke Aston Martin, which went for 1.5m (1.3m). British artist Hirst emerged onto the art scene in the late 1980s and is known for his eclectic work, which has included butterfly collages as well as controversial creations such as a formaldehyde-preserved shark. In 2014 at an amfAR event in Cannes, the 57-year-olds sculpture, which contained the gilded skeleton of a woolly mammoth, was auctioned for 11m (9.55m). DiCaprio can be seen next in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, which made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday (20 May) to critical acclaim. You can read The Independents five-star review of the film here. San Francisco police officers look on in April of last year near a controversial billboard that warns against fentanyl. San Francisco police officers look on in April of last year near a controversial billboard that warns against fentanyl. This story was produced in partnership with the Garrison Project, an independent, nonpartisan organization addressing the crisis of mass incarceration and policing. In late April, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a massive mobilization of state and local law enforcement agencies aimed at disrupting large-scale fentanyl trafficking in San Francisco. Todays partnership will not seek to criminalize those struggling with substance use and instead focus on holding drug suppliers and traffickers accountable, the governors office said of the partnership, which includes the California Highway Patrol, the California National Guard, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. Several days afterward, in a press conference flanked by Mayor London Breed and members of law enforcement, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins praised the partnership for an unusual reason. She said that many of our criminal defendants in the area of narcotics dealing are asserting a human trafficking defense, and that requires significant evidence on our part in order to rebut that defense. Jenkins said she was very excited at the prospect of having additional resources to be able to dispel the notion that people are not here dealing drugs of their own accord, because that is clearly what is happening. Jenkins ire may have been raised by two recent drug trafficking cases that went to trial in which jurors heard the accused both immigrants from Honduras and their attorneys make a human trafficking defense. The defendants explained that they were forced to sell drugs under fear and coercion from criminal trafficking organizations, and that they owed human smugglers, known as coyotes, considerable sums of money they had to pay back. In both trials, the result was a hung jury and the defendants walked away free from charges. But according to data provided to HuffPost by the San Francisco Public Defenders Office, those cases are rare indeed theyre exceptions to the rule calling into question one of Jenkins stated justifications for concentrating a massive policing effort on her city. Brooke Jenkins was appointed as San Francisco district attorney last summer, and was elected in her own right in the fall. Brooke Jenkins was appointed as San Francisco district attorney last summer, and was elected in her own right in the fall. Since 2015, just 16 cases involving drugs as the most serious charge went to trial. According to data from the San Francisco DAs data dashboard, the office has brought nearly 5,000 narcotics cases since 2015. So if about 16 out of 5,000 went to trial during that period, that means all but 0.34% of narcotics cases ended in a plea bargain, dismissal, refusal or some other means to resolve the case. In other words, there are just not many instances where mounting human trafficking as a legal defense at trial could have even occurred. Its possible that human trafficking defenses have been asserted more frequently during plea negotiations. The district attorneys office did not return a request for comment clarifying whether this is the case nor did the office respond to questions about the data on narcotics cases and the number of cases in which a trafficking defense was invoked by defense attorneys. Plea bargaining allows prosecutors to expend limited resources in their cases; trials are far more costly and resource intensive. About 94% of convictions in state courts are the result of plea deals, according to the group Fair and Just Prosecution. While its almost impossible to know how often defendants accused of fentanyl trafficking assert a human trafficking defense pretrial, the defense was mounted in just three narcotics cases that actually went to trial since 2020, according to the San Francisco Public Defenders Office. Jenkins comments about trafficking also imply that such a defense is inherently fraudulent, which some experts found troubling. Public prosecutors are supposed to form their own opinions about someones guilt or innocence, but that opinion doesnt tell us what is true or what is just thats the role that juries are supposed to play, said Carissa Byrne Hessick, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law. Just because District Attorney Jenkins doesnt believe someone, doesnt mean that person should go to jail. The whole point of our constitutional system is that people outside the government jurors are supposed to make these decisions. In one case involving the Honduran immigrants, defense attorneys used Thomas J. Boerman, a Ph.D. who specializes in gang prevention and rehabilitation programs in the U.S. and Latin America and once drafted sections relating to Central American gangs and drug trafficking organizations for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Boerman testified that people from Central America were often lured to the U.S. by the promise of a legitimate job, only to discover that they would be engaged in drug sales. Dean Preston, who represents the Tenderloin neighborhood as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, told HuffPost that its not at all clear what new resources the multiagency fentanyl task force has created. Theres a lot of theater, a lot of publicity stunts, and its very difficult to determine whats new, Preston said. Theres certainly a ramping up of the tough-on-crime, war-on-drugs rhetoric, thats clear. Preston said hes concerned about the prospect of law enforcement and the military descending upon his district, but so far, he said, its kind of a nothing burger. A new documentary film features the stories of those who built the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a pivotal project to manage the surge in COVID-19 cases. Director Cao Jinling (fourth from the right) joins hands with guests at the premiere of "An Isle" at the China National Film Museum in Beijing, May 24, 2023. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel] "An Isle," released nationwide on May 26, chronicles the touching stories of ordinary people who helped built a makeshift emergency hospital in Hong Kong. The film pays tribute to the solidarity and support shared between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, underlining contemporary China's warmth and remarkable accomplishments. The film details the extraordinary efforts of 16,000 workers from across the nation, who demonstrated unyielding dedication by working day and night, risking their lives to accomplish a task that would typically take two years in under two months. From early March to late April 2022, they turned an impossible mission into an extraordinary reality. Director Cao Jinling, reflecting on the film's production, said that just like the construction efforts depicted in the film, the crew was also "racing against time." Upon securing the filming assignment, they promptly headed to the site. With considerable support from their media colleagues at Shenzhen Media Group, they overcame numerous obstacles. "Despite the demanding schedule, we didn't miss a single moment," Cao noted during the premiere at the China National Film Museum on Wednesday. A poster for "An Isle." [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel] Several individuals featured in the film attended the premiere and shared their inspiring stories of resilience and perseverance in overcoming challenges. Musician Chang Shilei also sang the film's theme song, "We All Should Never Be Alone," which he composed. After the screening, film critic Ye Hang, an expert on Hong Kong cinema, praised the film's vibrant and memorable visuals and character, predicting a lasting impression on the audience. He also commended the film for effectively highlighting the love and support that the mainland has for Hong Kong. Welcome to Room Envy, a series where we ask interesting people about a favorite room in their house. From minimalist living rooms to vibrant kitchens, were zeroing in on the best features of the most enviable rooms. As the founder of Maison Ko, the interior designer David Samuel Ko has accomplished a long list of feats in a short span of time. Through his eponymous firm, the multidisciplinary creative has spearheaded some of his most notable projects to datefrom reimagining a nursery for Hilary Duff to working on a slew of commercial and residential projects (Frankies Bikinis, a lawyers home in Studio City, etc.), David is already off to an impressive start. But even as a professional interior designer, his biggest struggle has been curating his own space. When you spend so much of your time and energy focused on maximizing other peoples vision, it can be challenging to execute your own ideas for yourself. David recalls how when moved into his 1,500-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles, it was the first time that he was really able to create the antithesis of his familys house in the Bay Area. I feel like my space is [like that] because my parents home is filled with stuff theyve hoarded and tons of plants, he says on a Zoom call. At one point, our house was like a jungle and it felt like living at the Rainforest Cafe. Now with my own space, I want everything intentionally placed. Photo: Paige Powell Prior to the big move, David lived in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Brentwood for three years. It was great for a while. That is, until it wasnt, and eventually he felt it was time for a change in scenery. His hunt for a new spot soon landed him in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom situation right in the heart of Studio City, conveniently surrounded by trendy cafes and quaint neighborhood gems. Plus, his new building has amenities: a built-in pool and designated parking spots which, if you didnt know before, are essentials to living comfortably in the City of Angels. Photo: Paige Powell I moved into this apartment last September out of necessity and it came really serendipitously because I was looking for apartments and didnt even see this one, David explains. Then, this number texted me, probably because I asked about apartments in the past, and they were like, Hey, I dont know if youre still looking for a spot but I have this amazing unit. Once I saw it, I immediately fell in love, but I didnt think I was going to live there because it felt too big and too expensive. With the distinguished title of interior designer added to the top of his resume, the space will just about always be really clean. But what ultimately sets it apart from other places that David Samuel Ko has lived in the past is his newfound sense of freedom to experiment, whether thats with a denim Soriana lounge chair or a blush Lampada Cappello Da Terra. Im a designer for a living and while I do this for other people, I couldnt do it for myself, and I found that my space wasnt inspiring enough for me, he says. But here, I now have a lot of room to play. Photo: Paige Powell Location: Los Angeles, California Square footage: 1,500 square feet When you were searching for your current apartment, what were some of the things that you kept in mind? I knew I didnt want a studio because as a designer, I need rooms to be separated from one another. My last apartment in Brentwood didnt have as much space as I preferred, and there was no natural light; because it was blocked by two buildings, itd get really dark. For me, I need light and open space affects me a lot; I get seasonal depression when its gloomy, especially since its been raining here in LA for three months and I dont live here for that kind of weather. I just dont want to feel like Im in a cave. This apartment is also an upgrade in terms of amenities in the unitI have a washer and dryer, a pool, and a parking spot. It all sounds so silly, but it makes a huge difference here. How would you describe your design aesthetic, and how did you go about decorating your space? I lean into whatever the space is telling me. I take more of a collectors approachIm constantly acquiring pieces as a designer and Ive come to the realization [that] Id rather come and buy the pieces to fit what I need and Id rather wait until I find the right item that I can have for years down the road. In terms of my design [style], its very minimal with fun little pops of elements added to the rooms. For instance, I really love this denim chair in my living room and I think this piece fits my style both interiors and fashion-wiseIm very into fashion. I think my space has a neutral tone as a base and then these cool elements tell people a little bit more about me. Overall, I think mixing the interior design and fashion in me brings this whole cool LA boy retro style, and the items will definitely have places in my future homes down the road. Photo: Paige Powell Why is the living room one of your favorite spots in your home? I think it defines me as a person, you know? Everything in this room has been collected with intentionality. Whats shown in my spacelike this really low bench that holds all of my style and design books that Ive had through the yearsgives you a sense of who I am and what Im interested in. Aside from my rug and couch, because those were kind of purchased out of necessity, I also love this pink lamp and even added a little cord cover to camouflage it in the room. I own a piece of art that was gifted by one of my friends for my 30th birthday, and also commissioned two pieces recently. This 70s A Star is Born movie poster is my favorite as well. Are there any particular design books in your collection that you really like? I just came back from a trip to Paris. I went to the Jean-Michel Basquiat x Andy Warhol art exhibit and purchased the Painting Four Hands book. I still havent opened the package yetits in mint condition. Who knows, maybe I can sell it 100 years from now. Photo: Paige Powell What fashion designers or brands inspire your aesthetic? Gucci is probably my number one. My first designer purchase when I was younger was a Gucci wallet and I think ever since then, Ive always loved the brand. I very much associate with being a cis male, but at the same time, I definitely feel like when it comes to fashion, my style is very androgynousIll mix womenswear with menswear and I feel like Gucci is very much that. Smaller designers I love include Dion Lee, for the same reasons, and Acne Studios is great because they always present styles with an edge to them that feel effortless and classic at the core. Any items that youre currently eyeing at the moment? Since my space isnt complete, there are a few things I need to replace like this dining table Ive had for a whileIm waiting until I find the right thing. My design style changes every few months so whenever Im in the mood I purchase what ends up fitting. I have this blank wall next to the lamp and theres this open aluminum steel metal cabinet that I have my eyes on because I just need a new spot for my reading books. I want to get a new dining table that pairs better with these vintage 70s teak chairs. I need a piece to hide all my cords for my Wi-Fi and all the TV stuff to tuck that away. And maybe a new rug too. Soriana Lounge Chair in Denim $.00, Cassina Lampada Cappello Da Terra in Rosa $0.00, Oscar Piccolo Hay Rice Paper Shade $89.00, HAY Edie Parker Table Lighter $450.00, Edie Parker Frama Aluminum Rivet Case $1940.00, Frama Armadillo Malawai Rug $1565.00, Armadillo Bicyclette Trestle Dining Room $0.00, Bicyclette Furniture Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest DC BLOX has contracted for a second subsea optical communications cable to land at its Subsea Cable Landing Station in the International Technology and Aerospace Park in Myrtle Beach, according to a news release. DC BLOX in October broke ground on its $31.5 million project inside the citys International Technology and Aerospace Park, promising up to a quarter billion dollars worth of overall investment when fully built. The current construction of the Cable Landing Station with a planned opening in June 2023, according to the release. Edge Cable Holdings USA, LLC will be landing a state-of-the-art trans-Atlantic subsea telecommunications cable, the Anjana cable, at the Cable Landing Station, according to the release. The Cable Landing Station will house the power and telecommunications equipment necessary for the operation of the subsea cable system, as well as the telecommunications equipment needed to link the subsea cable to the wider North American telecommunications network. The 7,121km cable will connect Myrtle Beach, SC to Santander in Spain and is capable of carrying 480 Terabits per second of data communications traffic. The cable is expected to be operational in 2024. A deaf patient had to rely on her mom and lip reading to talk with hospital staff. Now Ascension Columbia St. Mary's will pay her $35,000 Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee has agreed to pay $35,000 to a deaf patient for whom the hospital failed to provide sign language interpretation during hospital stays in 2017 and 2018, according to the settlement agreement, provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The settlement was finalized this week, following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office into a complaint that Columbia St. Mary's had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires hospitals and other health care providers to provide interpreters or other services to people with disabilities to ensure effective communication. The patient, whom the settlement does not name, was admitted to Columbia St. Mary's in December 2017 for a surgery. Though she was provided with a sign language interpreter before surgery, she was not provided with a qualified interpreter while recovering from surgery in the hospital, according to the settlement agreement. Instead, hospital staff relied on the patient's mother to help communicate with the patient, as well as other, ineffective means, the investigation found. As a result, the patient did not fully understand the care or medical decisions being considered for her. A little over a week after she was discharged, the patient was readmitted to Columbia St Mary's because of an infection of her surgical site and other complications from the surgery, the settlement says. She was treated and released a few days later, but again Columbia St. Mary's did not provide a qualified interpreter, according to the settlement. Instead, hospital staff again relied on the patient's mother to communicate, used written notes and relied on lip reading, the investigation found. As part of the settlement, Columbia St. Mary's also agreed to conduct additional training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and to report any future complaints of possible ADA violations to federal authorities. When asked why the settlement took so long to resolve, Kenneth Gales, a spokesman with the U.S. Attorney's Office, said the agency would not provide information beyond its published statement. He did not answer whether there are any other complaints of ADA violations pending against Columbia St. Mary's, saying that the U.S. Attorney's Office does not comment on the status of investigations. Those interested in learning more about the obligations of healthcare providers under the ADA may call the U.S. Department of Justices ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or visit ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed with the U.S. Department of Justice at ada.gov/file-a-complaint. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Columbia St. Mary's to pay $35,000 to deaf patient denied interpreters (Bloomberg) -- Climate change is killing the elderly in Japan and the government wants to stop it. Most Read from Bloomberg An average of 1,145 people have died annually of heatstroke between 2017 and 2021, according to the environment ministry. In 2020, 86% of the deaths were above the age of 65. Japans cabinet is slated to approve a plan that outlines measures to combat the rising number of deaths from heatstroke, according to an environment ministry official. The move comes as climate change is leading to scorching temperatures and frequent heat waves, affecting countries all around the world. Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world with almost 30% of its citizens over the age of 65. While details of the plan are still under debate, it will address preventing deaths among the elderly, who are among the most vulnerable to heat stress, the official said. Read More: A Billion Air Conditioners Will Save Lives But Cook the Planet Victims of heat stroke sometimes avoid air conditioning for multiple reasons, such as saving money. In central Tokyo last summer, roughly 90% of those who died were not using AC, according to the government. The plan will encourage the elderly to use air conditioning as well as establishing AC-equipped cooling shelters in local municipalities. Many other countries in Asia, including India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand have suffered from record temperatures this year. The El Nino weather pattern could also bring hotter, drier conditions to parts of Asia and Australia. NHK reported earlier that the heatstroke measures plan could be approved by the cabinet next week. --With assistance from Stephen Stapczynski. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President Joe Biden with first lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, May 24, 2023. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) WASHINGTON Just six months into his tenure as the House minority leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., faces a formidable challenge: selling his fellow Democrats on a budget deal negotiated behind closed doors between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, without much input from his end. Complicating matters further is the fact that, less than a week from a potential default, Jeffries has no idea how many votes he might ultimately have to deliver for such a package because he has heard nothing from Republicans about how many defections they expect if a measure hits 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 any final compromise. Even if Republicans meet their threshold of winning over a majority of their members for the package, it could still require backing from scores of Democrats to pass. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times House Republicans havent provided any clarity as to how many votes they think they can actually produce, Jeffries said in an interview. If Republicans are counting on a sizable number of Democratic votes to pass the plan, he warned, they had better come to terms with the White House on a deal that House Democrats can swallow even if they dont love it. 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 satisfy the needs of right-wing ideologues, Jeffries said. The debt limit stalemate is the first major political and policy fight in 20 years in which House Democrats have not been led into the fray by someone named Pelosi. Jeffries, a 53-year-old, six-term lawmaker from Brooklyn, succeeded Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader since 2003 and twice speaker, in January without opposition. Now he is getting something of a trial by fire with the global economy and the retirement accounts of millions of Americans on the line. Of the four congressional leaders, Jeffries has the least power, but he might also have the greatest challenge, because it is clear that House Democrats will be essential to pushing any debt limit bill over the finish line from their minority position in the House. Although Jeffries has had little direct sway in the talks, McCarthy is well aware that he cannot strike an agreement and hope to prevail if House Democrats reject it en masse. With little transparency into the talks, Jeffries troops have grown increasingly anxious this week about the possibility that Biden is going to cut an unsatisfactory deal to raise the debt limit after saying for months that he would not cut a deal at all and then call on Democrats to embrace it. Lot of angst, said Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. We dont know anything. Progressives have signaled they are not inclined to support any deal that cuts domestic spending or imposes stricter work requirements on public benefit programs both central elements of a deal White House officials and congressional Republicans have been trying to hash out. Jeffries said he remains confident that Biden will not give away the store and will come out of the talks with an agreement palatable to enough House Democrats that it can be approved as long as McCarthy, R-Calif., and his colleagues provide their share. I have full faith in the ability of the Biden administration to lead the charge and protect Democratic values and everyday Americans, Jeffries said. And well be there to support that effort as needed. While he is not in the room, Jeffries is in regular conversation with the White House about what is transpiring, with Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff, serving as a major point of contact. He credited the administration with engaging with a wide array of House members to prepare them for what is ahead. Theyve been open, honest and accessible with House Democrats across the ideological spectrum, and that will serve them well at the end of the day when a resolution is reached, he said. House Democrats have been grumbling that the White House, not wanting to knock the talks off track, has remained too quiet, while McCarthy and his lieutenants have gathered regularly with reporters, gaining some advantage on the public relations front. Jeffries has moved to fill that gap in recent days with a series of appearances he has used to assail far-right Republicans, whom he accuses of trying to crash the economy for political reasons. Theyve decided that either they are able to extract extreme and painful cuts that will hurt everyday Americans or crash the economy and benefit politically in 2024, he said. That is unreasonable, its cruel, its reckless, and its extreme. But it is the modern-day Republican Party in the House of Representatives. Jeffries, who has so far had a working relationship with McCarthy, was not ready to extend that criticism to the speaker. Its not clear to me that it includes McCarthy, he said, referring to the group of Republicans he views as hoping for a politically advantageous default. I think McCarthy has a very difficult job in terms of corralling the most extreme elements of his conference. But the extreme elements have said they dont believe House Republicans should be negotiating with the hostage they have taken. As Jeffries navigates the debt limit showdown, senior House Democrats said he is able to draw from a reservoir of goodwill and trust from his membership. Hes clearly on top of these issues, said Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the veteran lawmaker and top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee. He understands the politics of where we are, and I think there is pretty broad support in the caucus for the posture hes adopted. He responds, he answers questions, and he tells you the truth, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. Jeffries has one potential trick up his sleeve should the talks collapse and a catastrophic default appear imminent. He and his team quietly readied a special petition to force a debt limit increase vote if all else fails. All 213 Democrats have now signed the petition, leaving them five short of the 218 votes needed. As the clock ticked this week, he stepped up the call for Republicans to sign on, though there are no indications yet that any will. Jeffries called it a chance for Republicans to prove him wrong and show that not all of them are captives of the extreme right. Unfortunately, so-called moderates in the House Republican Conference have failed to show the courage necessary to break with the most extreme wing of their party, he said. Now is the time to do it. c.2023 The New York Times Company ANNAPOLIS, Md. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told newly commissioned officers at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday that they are ready to defend our democracy with honor, courage and commitment. Austin, speaking during the ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, acknowledged the Navys role in training allies, helping expand Ukraines maritime capabilities in its fight against Russian invasion and bringing relief to international conflict zones. Class of 2023, wherever your career takes you, remind the world of what you stand for and what America stands for: Honor. Courage. And commitment. Democracy. Liberty. And the rule of law, Austin told 1,018 graduates at the academys commissioning ceremony. The secretary said naval officers have a special understanding of the power of teamwork, and we need that spirit for the crucial mission that youre all here to shoulder. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III awards a diploma at the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2023 graduation ceremony May 26. (Chad J. McNeeley/DoD) Austin said U.S. Marines are training alongside allies in Japan and the Philippines to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. He also said the Navy is driving forward the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the U.K. In Europe, he said, U.S. sailors are operating shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO allies. He told the graduating class that their leadership will be at the center of American efforts for a more peaceful future. Our competitors openly challenge that vision, he said. They want to replace the hard-won postwar system of rules and rights with a lawless world of autocracy and aggression. But the American flag atop a U.S. Navy ship has long been the symbol of hope for a more free and secure world. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III awards a diploma at the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2023 graduation ceremony in Annapolis, Md. (Chad J. McNeeley/DoD) The secretary noted that the class rose to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic in their first year at the academy. It separated you from your classmates as you were just starting to feel like a family, but you hung in there, Austin said. You took care of each other. Newly commissioned U.S. Navy ensigns take the oath of office during the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2023 graduation ceremony May 26. (Chad J. McNeeley/DoD) The class included 751 men and 267 women. There were 744 graduates who were commissioned as Navy ensigns, including 539 men and 205 women. There were 257 commissioned as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, including 198 men and 59 women. The newly commissioned officers will serve at least five years. President Joe Biden addressed Naval Academy graduates last year, and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks in 2021. Deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus will not mean real escalation by Russia ISW Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is convinced that the agreement on the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus is aimed at consolidating the actual Russian military control over Belarus, and the probable deployment of nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory is unlikely to mean any escalation from the Russian side. Source: ISW Details: On 25 May, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin signed documents in Minsk on the deployment of Russian non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Shoigu stressed that Russia would retain control over tactical nuclear weapons if they were to be deployed in Belarus and stated that Belarusian aircraft are now capable of carrying nuclear weapons. ISW recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously announced on 25 March that Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus by 1 July, presumably to restore boring information operations about a potential nuclear escalation due to the war in Ukraine. Shoigu also announced during the signing of the agreement that Russian forces would deploy additional military contingents in Belarus to develop military infrastructure, expand joint military drills, and conduct intelligence activities near the borders of the so-called Union State. "The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus requires both significant military infrastructure and Russian command and control over elements of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The Kremlin likely intends to use these requirements to further subordinate the Belarusian security sphere under Russia," ISW noted. Background: The signing of an agreement between Russia and Belarus on the deployment of nuclear forces on Belarusian territory has not changed the US assessment of the level of nuclear threat from the Russian Federation. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Deputies respond to shooting near a Madera school, where a dance was being held The Madera County Sheriffs Office are on scene of a shooting near a school Thursday evening. Deputies responded around 6 p.m. after receiving calls about a shooting in the area of Club Drive and Midland Way, where they found evidence of a shooting near Berenda Elementary School. Deputies then learned of a school dance that was going on at Berenda and placed the school on precautionary lockdown. Deputies searched the school but since cleared it. There is no immediate danger to the school or those at the dance, the sheriffs office said. The students were reunited with their parents, deputies said. Madera Unified released a statement: Madera Unified School District is committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of its community. This evening during an after school dance event at Berenda Elementary School, there was an incident that happened in the neighborhood that required police response. The incident did not occur on the campus. As a safety precaution, the school was put on lockdown. The students, staff and parents who were present at the event were never in any danger and left the event safely once cleared by deputies. Berenda staff acted according to their training alongside district safety staff to support our law enforcement partners. MUSD will continue to work alongside the Madera Sheriffs Department throughout the process of this investigation. It is unknown what led up to the shooting and if there are any victims. Deputies said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 559-675-7770. DeSantis campaign says Florida governor hauled in $8.2 million in fundraising in first 24 hours DeSantis campaign says Florida governor hauled in $8.2 million in fundraising in first 24 hours Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida brought in $8.2 million in fundraising during the 24 hours after he declared his candidacy for president, his campaign confirmed to Fox News on Thursday. The blockbuster fundraising haul by DeSantis is a move by his campaign to exhibit strength, and to showcase energy and enthusiasm for the Florida governor as he enters a GOP 2024 nomination race where former President Donald Trump is the clear front-runner in the latest polling. The money raised by DeSantis tops the previous record - the $6.3 million that President Biden hauled in as a White House candidate during the first 24 hours after his campaign launch in 2019. The DeSantis fundraising includes online contributions as well as funds brought in by bundlers gathered Thursday at a DeSantis donor summit in Miami, Florida. DESANTIS ARGUES ATTACKS BY TRUMP SHOW HE UNDERSTANDS IM THE CANDIDATE WHO CAN BEAT HIM' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Iowa voters on March 10, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. "This historic fundraising haul shows that grassroots Republicans across the country are uniting behind Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback," campaign manager Generra Peck said in a statement. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Dan Eberhart, an oil drilling chief executive officer and a prominent Republican donor and bundler, told Fox News "that's an enormous haul for the first 24 hours and shows that there are thousands of donors big and small behind the governor." Eberhart, who's supporting DeSantis, attended the Miami donor gathering. DeSantis declared his candidacy for president on Wednesday in a campaign launch video first reported by Fox News. That announcement was quickly followed evening following an extremely rocky rollout by DeSantis in an appearance on Twitter with business magnate and Twitter owner Elon Musk, where the Florida governor concurrently kicked off his 2024 campaign. FIRST ON FOX: DESANTIS FORMALLY ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WITH LAUNCH VIDEO The DeSantis' campaign quickly described the severe glitches as a "break the internet" moment due to intense interest in the launch. But Trump and his allies argued the episode was an embarrassing flop. Among other things, the former president on his Truth Social outlet on social media put up a video of a rocket crashing and exploding with the caption "Ron! 2024." Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on April 27, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire. And Trump spokesman Steven Cheung charged in a statement to Fox News that "Ron DeSantis can't run away from his disastrous, embarrassing, and low energy campaign announcement." However, the DeSantis campaign touted that they had a fruitful night showcasing that they hauled in $1 million in online fundraising in the first hour after the governor declared his candidacy. WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE DeSantis was in Miami, Florida on Thursday, where he was huddling with top donors and bundlers. "I think there are a bunch of donors waiting to get off the sidelines, waiting for DeSantis to enter," Eberhart, who contributed $100,000 and raised half a million dollars for former President Trumps 2020 re-election campaign, predicted. "I expect there to be a coalescing of conservative donors around Ron DeSantis." A source at the Miami fundraising meeting told Fox News that attendees were talking about the Twitter glitch but said it was perceived among DeSantis financial supporters that "there was so much interest that it broke the system.its not the governors fault." The mission of the meeting in Miami is to bring in a fundraising haul over the coming days that the DeSantis campaign can showcase next week as a sign of strength. News of the DeSantis 24-hour haul was first reported by the New York Times. Fundraising, along with polling, is a key metric used to measure a candidate's popularity and strength. The money raised by candidates can be used for travel, creating and running ads, for data operations, and to build up campaign stafff and get-out-the-vote efforts. DeSantis Interview Gets Glitchy For Second Straight Day On Campaign Trail Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis couldnt make it a day on the campaign trail without technical hiccups as his prime-time Newsmax interview froze up on Thursday night. The moment arrives after DeSantis Twitter Space conversation with David Sacks and Elon Musk came face to face with glitches as he struggled to announce his 2024 presidential campaign. Viewers Thursday saw the governor, along with Newsmaxs Eric Bolling, freeze up on at least two occasions as he railed about the NAACP in the wake of their warning about his openly hostile state. If youre in Chicago or youre in Baltimore, these kids have a better chance of getting shot than getting a decent education, said DeSantis before he and Bolling appeared motionless on screen for nearly 20 seconds. Newsmax later published a YouTube video of the interview in which it replaced the frozen visuals with an animated press release graphic they aired seconds earlier, except the network slowed the animation down to patch up the blunders. The glitches werent the only head-scratching instances from DeSantis Newsmax interview. The Republican candidate declared that hes been bold colors and not a pale pastel in terms of his political influence on Florida. The latest tech fumble on the governors road to 2024 comes after President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and others mocked the Twitter campaign rollout that Fox News dubbed Amateur Hour on its website. Twitter users had fun with the latest glitch-ridden interview from the DeSantis campaign and joked that it was possible a bear was walking by and they got really still. Freeze frame!! Elizabeth Kim (Liz, Lizzy or ) (@zen4ever2us) May 26, 2023 At least the audio kept working this time https://t.co/HUShOghmE8 Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) May 26, 2023 He's going to say he's so popular he broke Newsmax too. Mike Morton (@TheMikeMorton) May 26, 2023 Related... You are here: Business This photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows the site of the Promotion Event of 6th China International Import Expo (The Netherlands) held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. [Photo/Xinhua] Dutch and Chinese business representatives signed a memorandum of cooperation on matters related to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Amsterdam 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. Newsmax For the second consecutive night, 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis ran into a technical difficulty during an important momentthis time during a Newsmax interview. On Wednesday evening, DeSantis much-awaited campaign announcement during a Twitter Spaces event was marred by crashes, which caused a roughly 20-minute delay. DeSantis appeared on Fox News later that night, where guest host Trey Gowdy poked fun at the inconvenience, joking, Fox News will not crash during this interview. Indeed, it did not. Apparently Newsmax couldnt quite guarantee the same. On The Balance, host Eric Bolling asked the Florida governor about the NAACP issuing a travel advisory for minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals planning on going to the state, citing DeSantis unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms through actions like book bans and defunding diversity programs at state colleges. (Bolling incorrectly referred to the advisory as a ban.) Whats your response to the NAACP for our audience? Bolling asked, just as that audience saw a frozen split-screen. This is such a stunt. Its a typical political farce, DeSantis can still be heard saying, despite the frozen image. Shortly thereafter, the picture feed did resume, only to freeze again about 40 seconds later when DeSantis was talking about minorities in places that arent Florida. If youre in Chicago or youre in Baltimore, these kids have a better chance of getting shot than getting a decent education. I dont see the NAACP talking about Chicago or Baltimore. No, theyre focused on Florida, where people of all races are having the opportunity to get ahead, he claimed. Nearly 30 seconds later, the visual feed finally resumed, this time for good. 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. DeSantis takes in $8.2 million in first 24 hours, trades blows with Trump DeSantis takes in $8.2 million in first 24 hours, trades blows with Trump Governor Ron DeSantis has officially been a candidate for just two days and his campaign is already taking shape. DeSantis is finally beginning to swing back at his main rival and the shaky kickoff to his campaign, doesnt appear to have slowed down donations to his campaign. Within the first 24 hours of his candidacy, DeSantis campaign raised $8.2 million. The campaign is even merchandizing off the technical glitches experienced during his virtual announcement, selling DeSantis Breaks Systems shirts. And after months of avoiding the elephant in the room former President Donald Trump DeSantis started going on the offensive, taking jabs at his former ally during radio interviews Thursday. Read: Unfortunately thats not a covered reason, passport back ups could result in cancelled trips I mean I think he did great for three years, but when he turned the country over to Fauci in March of 2020, that destroyed millions of peoples lives, said DeSantis appearing on the Glenn Beck Program. UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder argued DeSantis does have to start contrasting himself with Trump, but hell have to tread lightly. If he gets into trying to throw mud at Donald Trump, weve seen that go down in the past and it hasnt gone well for the candidates that try to do that, said Binder. The former President chalked up a win Thursday, scoring the endorsement of a 12th Florida Republican US Representative. Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL 6th District) endorsed Trump earlier in the race. Read: UPDATE: FHP arrests driver of Tahoe that ran over motorcycle on Beach Blvd. He told Action News Jax this week he expects the race will be hard fought, but his decision came down to Trumps policy achievements. And heck, Ill take another four years of President Trump and then eight years of DeSantis, said Waltz. On Truth Social, Trump posted a series of videos hitting DeSantis over poll numbers, COVID response and electability. Rob DeSanctimonious and his poll numbers are dropping like a rock, said Trump in one of the videos. Binder said Trumps attacks are on-brand and if they prove effective, they could make that 30-point lead he currently holds insurmountable. Read: School delays ceremony after only 5 of 33 seniors meet graduation requirements Trump has that unique ability to take what might be a policy issue or a personal quirk, and turn it into this cultural phenomenon. And if he can do that to DeSantis its gonna be very difficult for him to overcome, said Binder. Theres obviously a very longways to go in this race. DeSantis held his first public appearance since entering the race at a homeschooling convention in Orlando Friday morning. Hes schedule to appear in Iowa next week, in what his campaign is calling the official campaign kickoff. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Thursday said that, despite launching his presidential campaign on Twitter, he is not a big social media guy and prefers watching cable news to scrolling through social media. I would rather watch you than then be on some app, but it is important for a lot of people, DeSantis told Newsmax host Eric Bolling on Thursday. DeSantis on Wednesday announced his 2024 presidential campaign in an unconventional way by livestreaming on Twitter and being hosted by the platforms owner, Elon Musk. The campaign announcement was riddled with technical difficulties and glitches, mishaps DeSantis claimed were caused by the large volume of listeners tuning in to the announcement. Well, they were very confident that they had the ability to get a lot of people and they were anticipating a lot of people, but there were more people that tried to sign up than even what Twitter had anticipated, DeSantis said Thursday. More on DeSantiss launch from The Hill The Florida governor said that despite the 20-minute delay in getting the announcement kicked off, he would not have traded it for the more conventional route of giving a speech. I would have asked them to have maybe more capacity and say maybe well get even more people, but I would not have traded doing a speech, he said. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Bolling asked whether DeSantis had heard from Rupert Murdoch or Murdochs sons over his campaign announcement, adding they were reportedly ticked off the Florida governor did not appear on Fox for his campaign launch. No, we didnt, but look, I get it. I mean, I understand that different folks have had views on all that stuff, he responded. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Destroyed by fire in 2020, The Cheel restaurant in Thiensville receives $250K state grant to rebuild The Cheel restaurant, which was destroyed by a fire in November of 2020 received a state grant of $250,000 to help with its rebuilding efforts. When The Cheel, a popular Nepalese restaurant in Thiensville, was destroyed by a fire on Nov. 8, 2020, the owner and chef Barkha Limbu Daily vowed to rebuild the restaurant. It hasn't happened yet, but plans are now on track to continue rebuilding thanks to a $250,000 boost from the state. The Cheel was just awarded a $250,000 Community Development Investment grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to help rebuild its restaurant, according to a news release from the WEDC. Reconstruction plans for the new restaurant include an expanded dining room, a patio, event space and an area for live music. The Cheel, 105 S. Main St., opened in 2014 and served farm-to-table Nepalese cuisine, which attracted people from across the state, according to the release. The restaurant, which utilized local ingredients from local farmers, was housed in a 130-year-old Queen Anne building which Thiensville Village Administrator Colleen Landisch-Hansen said was a prominent feature on Main Street. The Cheels previous building was a historic building with its own personality, and were hoping this reconstruction will bring that personality back, Landisch-Hansen said. Were happy to see The Cheel rise from the ashes. The Cheel restaurant was destroyed by a fire in 2020. It received a $250,000 grant from the state to help rebuild. WEDC is committed to collaborating with communities throughout Wisconsin to invest in revitalizing their main streets and support local businesses, said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the states lead economic development organization. This project will not only restore a beloved community institution but support further economic growth and development. The fire started on the second floor of the building while the business was closed. It destroyed the restaurant and an apartment above it. No one was injured, and the fire was ruled accidental. Daily founded The Cheel because she saw there were almost no places in Wisconsin to experience Nepalese cuisine. She moved from Nepal to Wisconsin in 2003, according to the release. Things are lining up, the sun is shining, the team is excited, and I am excited to bring Nepalese food back to the community and continue to give back, Daily said. We could not do this without WEDC. We are lucky to have an organization that supports small, and woman-owned businesses in this state. WEDCs Community Development Investment Grant Program supports community development and redevelopment efforts, primarily in downtown areas. From the programs inception in 2013 through March 2022, WEDC has awarded nearly $34.8 million in CDI Grants to 166 communities for projects expected to generate more than $517 million in capital investments statewide. More: 'No finish line': A Milwaukee man is running a 100-mile ultramarathon for Mel's Charities More: Check out these 2023 Memorial Day events in the greater Milwaukee area Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy. 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: The Cheel restaurant in Thiensville gets $250K state grant to rebuild We Did Not Want To Make This Exclusively Black: SC Board Faces Backlash Over Juneteenth Banner With White Couple A South Carolina organization faces backlash after depicting a white couple on one of its banners for an upcoming Juneteenth event. Rueben Hays, the organizer of this years event and founder and CEO of Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest, said he wanted the celebration to be inclusive for everyone and that all groups are welcome in his effort to unify a divided community, according to The State. Hays said the banner featuring the white couple is one of 10 designs advertised along Main Street in Greenville, South Carolina. His organizations goal is to promote diversity by including Black, Hispanic and Asian residents who are part of the community. We did not want to make this exclusively Black, Hays told the newspaper. That is not in the spirit of unity. Bruce Wilson, a community activist who runs Fighting Injustice Together, said the Peace Center barred him from planning this years Juneteenth celebration after hosting the event for the past two years. A cease and desist order was sent to the current organizers and the Peace Center, threatening to sue if they do not call off the event by May 31. Wilson said the center allowed Hays organization to hold the event on its property, and the activist believes the celebration is now being whitewashed. According to The State, Wilson learned he couldnt use the Peace Center for the Juneteenth event a month ago. Surprisingly, Hays said the decision to include all racial groups came from his Black board members. They were not pressured by anyone, including the city, to incorporate white people into the annual event. City spokesperson Beth Brotherton said the city does not approve the designs of the banners hung from lamposts in the downtown area, per The State. Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 to commemorate the freeing of more than 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Galveston Bay, Texas, in 1865, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Disney pushed back on Thursday on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) request that the federal judge in its First Amendment case against the governor be disqualified over several previous remarks made in court. The company which is suing DeSantis over what it describes as a targeted campaign of government retaliation for speaking out against Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay law argued that DeSantis has failed to reach the high bar required to disqualify the judge. DeSantiss attorneys pointed to remarks that Chief Judge Mark Walker for the U.S. District Court in Northern Florida previously made about the governors feud with Disney in two unrelated cases. However, Disney argued that both instances represent year-old hypothetical questions based on widely-publicized statements that did not make any findings about those statements. The two comments defendants cite provide no basis on which a reasonable, fully-informed person could perceive any riskmuch less a significant riskthat the Courts mind is closed and that it is incapable of fair and dispassionate inquiry into the legal and factual issues in this case, Thursdays filing reads. The company also suggested that Walkers rulings in the two cases, both of which he dismissed in favor of the DeSantis administration, indicate that he remains impartial. DeSantis, who announced his long-anticipated campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday, has been engaged in the feud with Disney for over a year. After the company voiced its opposition to Floridas Dont Say Gay law last year, DeSantis signed legislation to take away Disneys self-governing status and appointed a new board to oversee the district. Shortly before the DeSantis-appointed board took over, the previous board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District signed an agreement giving Disney full developmental authority over its parks. The company filed suit last month, after the board of the newly formed Central Florida Tourism District took action to declare the agreement void. A targeted campaign of government retaliation orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speech now threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights, the original complaint alleged. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Disney is seriously unpopular with GOP primary voters in key states, internal DeSantis 2024 campaign data and leaked audio show The DeSantis campaign has been polling The Walt Disney Co. in early primary voting states, and found it's unpopular. Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG and Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Plenty of Republicans criticize DeSantis over his bitter, ceaseless fight with Walt Disney World. But DeSantis 2024 campaign polling shows it could help him with Republican voters in a primary. Donors got a peek at the information as they raised millions for DeSantis 2024. Maybe getting on Mickey Mouse's bad side isn't the colossal loser that Republican 2024 presidential primary candidates think it is. DeSantis presidential campaign polling data presented in a closed-door session to top donors in Miami this week show that going after The Walt Disney Co. could actually be a political winner for the Florida governor at least when it comes to a GOP primary. Ryan Tyson, pollster for the campaign, found the company was deeply unpopular among Republicans primary, according to findings shared with The Messenger. The publication said surveys showed Disney had a net negative "unfavorable" rating of -44% in Iowa, -35% in New Hampshire; -26% in South Carolina, and -45% in Nevada. "I want to be very clear about this point: The disconnect from the ruling class and their view of Disney and the voters, the primary voters, and their view of Disney could not be wider at this point," Ryan said in leaked audio obtained by FloridaPolitics.com. "It's a chasm. Parents are seeing the trash their children get from Disney+, through the media and whatnot, and they're over it." The takeaway for those viewing the presentation was that Disney was unfavorable with conservative voters, one attendee who asked not to be named told Insider. Republican registered voters who cast a ballot in a primary tend to be more conservative. Following former President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, a growing faction of the party is also populist, and therefore has a sharply negative view of mega corporations, Pew Research Center data show. Tyson did not respond to a text message from Insider requesting more details about the poll, nor did the DeSantis campaign's press representatives. "The campaign thinks this is a very good issue for primary voters," Dan Eberhart, CEO of drilling services company Canary, LLC, told Insider. Eberhart, who fundraised for DeSantis in Miami for a call-a-thon this week, called Disney the "800-pound gorilla of kids content." "It's all woke," he said, using a term conservatives generally use to deride progressive activism. "You can't find a traditional family anywhere." Both Democrats and Republican rivals for the 2024 presidential nomination have attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his ceaseless, bitter crusade against Walt Disney World. On Thursday, 2024 frontrunner former President Donald Trump released a video on Truth Social bashing the DeSantis-Disney battle as "very unfortunate" for Florida's economy after the company scrapped a new campus in the Sunshine State. "Look at Disney and what a mess it is," Trump said. "He could have worked out an easy settlement but he wanted to show the fake news how tough a guy he is. He's not." Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is also running for the GOP nomination, implored Disney World to relocate to South Carolina, saying the state where she previously served as governor would welcome the theme park's business. Disney is Florida's biggest tourist attraction and employs 80,000 people. Neither campaign responded to a query from Insider addressing whether they had polling that conflicted with the DeSantis campaign findings. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley urged Walt Disney World to consider relocating from Florida to South Carolina. Oficina del primer ministro de Corea, John Raoux, File, and Patrick Semansky/AP Photo 'I'm not backing down' of Disney fight, DeSantis said As for the Florida governor, he frequently boasts about his battle with Disney, which is now before the courts. The dispute began when the company said it would repeal a DeSantis-backed schools law that limited how and when LGBTQ topics are taught in public schools. Disney called the bill "Don't Say Gay" in press releases, and the governor acted with the legislature to try to take away special privileges it had in Florida for decades, ones that other theme parks don't enjoy and that save the resort and theme park time and money when it comes to building and other operations. "My wife and I really believe that parents in Florida and throughout the country should be able to send their kids to school, allow them to watch cartoons, just be kids, without having someone try to shove an agenda down their throats," DeSantis said Friday of his support for the schools bill, formally known as the Parental Rights in Education Act, during a speech in Orlando. "It is wrong for a teacher to tell a second grader they might be born into the wrong body." With the help of board members he appointed, DeSantis has floated all kinds of changes to Disney's area, from building a state prison on bordering land, to imposing new taxes, tolls, and ride regulations. Disney has retaliated in numerous ways, including by trying to create a loophole to retain power. DeSantis made it clear during Friday's speech, which was before a homeschooling crowd, that he'll keep pushing on the matter, declaring, "I'm not backing down." "We run the state of Florida," he said. "They do not run the state of Florida. It is wrong to sexualize children, it's wrong to put it in your programming, and it's wrong to try to force that in our schools." Walt Disney World did not respond to Insider's request for a response about the polling. Critics on the left are deeply concerned about the schools' law chilling speech and making LGBTQ parents, teachers, and students feel unwelcome. It has already led to confusion and book removals from school libraries. Republican critics, for their part, previously told Insider that DeSantis' actions were discordant with the party's orthodoxy, given that the governor used state power to punish free speech. They also said they thought it would hurt DeSantis' prospects in a general election. Outside polls bolster the argument that battling Disney is a winning issue for DeSantis. An April Reuters/Ipsos poll found 64% of Republicans said DeSantis was right to roll back Disney's special privileges. Another recent poll, from Harvard CAPS/Harris, found 73% of Republicans and 54% of Independents support the governor limiting Disney's autonomy in Florida. DeSantis has frequently said during speeches that he doesn't look at polls to determine his stance on policy. Hal Lambert, who attended a Miami kickoff fundraiser for the governor this week, and is the founder of investment advisory firm Point Bridge Capital, said the purpose of the campaign sharing the data was to show donors they needn't be concerned about the Disney fight becoming a liability in the primary. "I don't think that the average person sees it as a negative," Lambert said. "People are tired of these corporations pushing their agenda on the American people. When you start doing it to families, and then publicly attacking officials who are simply trying to rein in some activity, people are fed up with it." Indeed, the Disney issue doesn't appear to have dissuaded major donors. When combining this week's calling efforts with online donations, the DeSantis campaign raised $8.2 million in the fist 24 hours of the campaign. Some of the funding was for the primary and some for the general election, but it outraised President Joe Biden's $6.3 million during the first 24 hours when he launched his campaign in 2019. "This is not a winning issue for Trump or the Democrats," Lambert said. "I suspect they're going to drop this because it's not going to get traction for them the way they want, which is to be negative toward DeSantis." Read the original article on Business Insider How does $9,000 a month sound? Here are 8 Kansas state jobs that pay more than $40K The unemployment rate in Kansas sits at 2.9% as of April, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is 0.5% higher than it was in April 2022. If youre looking for a job and are interested in working for the state, Kansas has 802 positions advertised, with 31 of those based in Sedgwick County. Shawnee County has the most open jobs, advertising 262. There are 36 jobs that are advertised as located statewide. The Kansas Department of Children and Families is the state agency with the most open positions, advertising 175, while the Department of Transportation is second, with a posted 153. All other agencies have less than 40 open positions posted. To see a full list of open positions, visit Kansas job portal, where you can filter the jobs by location, agency, posting type and more. Heres a look at some jobs located in Sedgwick County that pay a salary of more than $40,000. All posts will remain open until the positions are filled, according to the job portal. Business Systems Analyst Agency: Corporation Commission Salary: $65,000 to $75,000 Job description: Based in the conservation main office in Wichita, this person will be the primary contact between the information technology and business teams and will keep track of business processes. Technology Support Consultant Agency: Department for Children and Families Salary: $41,870.40 to 46,092.80 Job description: This successful candidate will provide technology support to the department, analyze all equipment and software usage, make recommendations for equipment upgrades and replacement and more. Special Assistant Attorney General/Special Assistant US Attorney Agency: Kansas Bureau of Investigation Salary: $77,384.32/$107,123.90 Job description: This posting is for two open positions for attorneys, one based in Kansas City and the other in Wichita. These attorneys will prosecute cases in the U.S. Attorney Office specifically emphasizing illicit drug trafficking and similar cases. KPRC Protection Specialist Agency: Department for Children and Families Salary: $42,750 if unlicensed, $45,000 if licensed Job description: This individual facilitates over-the-phone interviews with people who have reported children in need of care, records details about the interview and more. Deputy Boiler Inspector Agency: Fire Marshal Salary: $46,155.20 Job description: This position inspects high- and low-pressure boilers and pressure vessels making sure they follow the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and the Kansas Boiler Safety Act codes. This position requires a lot of travel and includes 12 counties, including Sedgwick. Adult Protection Specialist Agency: Department for Children and Families Salary: $42,750 if unlicensed, $45,000 if licensed Job description: This individual assesses reports of abuse and neglect concerning vulnerable adults, records details about the reports and address safety concerns regarding the adults. Rehabilitation Services Counselor Agency: Department for Children and Families Salary: $41,845.44 Job description: The successful candidate will counsel people with disabilities with the purpose of leading them on the track to employment. Child Protection Specialist Agency: Department for Children and Families Salary: $42,750 if unlicensed, $45,000 with license Job description: In this role, the individual will investigate neglect and abuse reports, enact plans of safety, refer families in need to resources and more. What does Amazons job boom in E. Oregon mean for Tri-Cities? Heres what we know While the Tri-Cities waits for Amazon to open its two idle fulfillment centers in Pasco, Eastern Oregon is bracing for construction of new data centers worth billions. Amazon Web Services, the web hosting subsidiary of the Seattle e-commerce giant, secured property tax breaks the Oregonian newspaper reports are worth $1 billion to add five data centers in Boardman, about 50 miles southwest of Kennewick. Amazon already operates about a half dozen centers in Morrow County and neighboring Umatilla County, making Eastern Oregon the companys largest data center cluster after northern Virginia. The Morrow County Commission recently approved a 15-year property tax exemption it hopes will leverage a $12 billion investment in more data centers. The Port of Morrow and city of Boardman also approved the agreement. The existing data centers already employ nearly 940 regular, full-time employees and are responsible for creating or retaining more than 4,700 jobs in the region. Crossing state lines The Oregon data centers and the idle Pasco fulfillment centers are unrelated beyond sharing a common parent. But taken together, they speak to a massive investment with job and economic benefits flowing to both Washington and Oregon. Amazon Web Services data center-related jobs draw workers from both sides of the state line, including the Tri-Cities, as do its construction projects. In 2021, overall 3,500 Tri-Citians or 2.6% of residents with jobs worked in a state other than Washington, according to the the U.S. Census Bureau annual community survey. Amazon Web Services secured property tax breaks reported worth $1 billion to add five data centers in Boardman, about 50 miles southwest of Kennewick. Tri-Cities economic development officials have not made a concerted effort to woo data centers, chiefly because it cant provide the power needed to run them. In Oregon, Amazon buys renewable power from sources around the world. Its local provider is the Umatilla Electric Cooperative. But its clear the job benefits spill into Washington. The Tri-Cities benefit from the data centers, said Randy Hayden, executive director of the Port of Pasco. The port has considered data centers because of their massive impact on property tax rolls, even with the exemptions they receive. But the area cant supply power, he said. Karl Dye, president and CEO of the Tri-City Development Council, agreed that the area cant deliver the low-cost power required, so data centers arent a priority. But many those workers choose to live in Washington. As far as we know, we get more of the commuters, he said. E. Oregon data centers Citing security issues, Amazon is deliberately vague about its existing footprint in Eastern Oregon and declined to identify how many centers it operates or to confirm if the widely-reported impact numbers are accurate. The agreement identifies agricultural property in Boardman, southwest of the intersection of Wilson Lane S.E. and Bombing Range Road, as the site of future development. Data centers are unlabeled in satellite images on Google Maps, but they are easily recognizable and dot both Umatilla and Morrow counties. Amazon is less circumspect about the impact of its operations. A spokesman shared a company-produced report noting it has invested $15.6 billion in data centers in Eastern Oregon since 2011. It also said it paid $41 million in property taxes in 2021 $26 million in Morrow County and $15 million in Umatilla. Amazon Web services is largest taxpayer in both counties. Its tax bill was the equivalent to the next three largest taxpayers combined, according to a Port of Morrow economic impact report. The report showed the impact of past tax breaks by noting the difference between the market and taxable value of the companys properties. Amazon Web Services Morrow County properties had a market value of about $3.5 billion and paid taxes on a valuation of $662 million in 2021. Amazon has built two massive fulfillment distribution warehouse centers across from each other on South Road 40 East in Pasco. Pasco on hold, for now The Tri-Cities will benefit more directly when the fulfillment centers open. The two buildings, each more than 1 million square feet, are off Highway 12 near Sacajawea State Park and together will employ an estimated 1,500. An Amazon official confirmed to the Tri-City Herald that it remains committed to Pasco. While we dont have a specific launch date to share right now, once we have a better sense of timing, well work with the local community and employment organizations in the area to hire hundreds of employees at each facility, the company said in a statement attributed to a spokesman. Amazons two massive fulfillment distribution warehouse centers remain idle in Pasco. Both centers were expected to open last year, but the company paused its distribution network growth after a period of expansion and slowing growth. In February, it posted a staffing job for Pasco, which seemed to signal activity. There were no Pasco jobs posted to amazon.jobs this week. When they open, the eastern warehouse, 1361 S. Road 40 East, will handle household items such as books, toys and technology and the western warehouse, 1202 S. Road 40 East, will handle larger items such as furniture, large packages and pet supplies. In planning documents, the projects built for Amazon by the Ryan Companies of Bellevue continue to be listed by their aliases: Project Oyster and Project Pearl. Web services The Amazon Web Services tax breaks take advantage of Oregons Strategic Investment Program or SIP, designed to encourage manufacturing. It rewards job-creating investments with breaks on some but not all property taxes. Amazon Web Services said its median compensation in Morrow County was $74,000. Thats about $17,000 more than the county median in 2021. In Umatilla, the Amazon median was $82,000, or about $24,000 more than the county median, it said. According to the agreement approved by Morrow County, Amazon will be exempt from most but not all property taxes. In exchange, the company also will pay an annual $2.5 million community service fee and an $850,000 contribution. It is also obligated to pay $5 million to assist with the costs of capital improvements and to cover the costs associated with the agreement. City and port officials in Boardman could not be reached about the Amazon projects. The agreement includes a confidentiality clause that requires government officials to exercise the utmost discretion in sharing information about Amazon Web Services. Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. Dog attacks 3-year-old on bike as family tries to get animal off her head, SC cops say A dog lunged at a 3-year-old girl as her family members rushed to stop the attack, police in South Carolina said. The childs father and uncle reportedly hit the dog to try to get it off her head. When the animal finally released its grip, the girl was taken to a hospital with significant injuries, according to the Charleston Police Department. Officers responded to the attack at about 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 23. The girl had been riding her bike in a residential area when a man out for a walk lost control of his dog, according to an incident report. The dog bit the girl, leaving her with significant visible laceration type injuries to one ear and back of the head, police told McClatchy News in an email. After the attack, witnesses told police the owners family was able to regain control of the dog and put it in a harness. Police contacted an animal control officer, and the dog later was euthanized. Officers said no charges had been filed as of early May 26. An investigation continues, and anyone with information is asked to call police at 843-743-7200. K-9 killed after biting deputy and refusing to let go, SC sheriffs office says Dog attacks 10-year-old walking on street after escaping South Carolina yard, cops say Bystander shoots and kills dog mauling 78-year-old woman in her garden, SC deputies say Dog attack suspected after body with bite marks found in road, South Carolina cops say The Chinese side has expressed key concerns on the U.S. China policies on economy and trade, and semiconductors, as well as issues concerning export control and outbound investments review during Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao's talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday. During their meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in the United States from Thursday to Friday, the two sides had candid, professional and constructive exchanges on bilateral economic and trade ties as well as related issues of common concern. They agreed to set up communication channels to maintain and strengthen exchanges on specific economic and trade concerns and issues concerning cooperation. Service dog also gets diploma at New Jersey college graduation A service dog named Justin stole the show at graduation this week, when he received a diploma of his very own from the Seton Hall University president. The video of Justin graduating, which was originally posted by the university on social media, went viral quickly for capturing the very special moment the service animal opened wide to receive his diploma, alongside his owner, Grace Mariani. The audience cheered loudly as Justin accepted the rolled up document, celebrating his dedication to not only assisting Mariani, but also attending all of her classes during her time at school. Justin holding the diploma in his mouth on the graduation stage / Credit: Seton Hall University/Kristine Foley via Storyful Mariani graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. Her goal is to teach elementary and special education, the university told CBS News. Justin has been by her side ever since she received him through the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence in Long Island. Justin, who impressively graduated college at just 6 years old, is a yellow Labrador-Golden Retriever mix. Seton Hall's graduation also honored both former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi and Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The university graduated 2,337 students total this year or 2,338, if you count Justin. Children's fife & drum corps greets veterans on Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. Military labs identify long-fallen soldiers Ukraine defends itself from deadly Russian missile attacks Donald Trump Jr says his father has the charisma of a mortician Donald Trump Jr called his father a mortician in an apparent slip of tongue while attempting to ridicule Ron DeSantiss glitch-ridden 2024 presidential campaign on Twitter. Former president Donald Trumps eldest son was mocking Mr DeSantis for his troubled campaign launch on Twitter Spaces, which was marred by technical glitches. He played an audio clip of what he claimed was 8 minutes of silence during Mr DeSantiss campaign launch and echoed his fathers description of it as a DeSaster. It was a hashtag disaster. It took a long time for Elon Musk to barely figure out how and what was going on. It took two charismatic billionaires like Elon Musk and David Sacks to carry DeSantis through this where he basically read an op-ed about what he is gonna do, he said. However, while trying to boost his fathers candidacy, he unintentionally referred to Mr Trump as a mortician an undertaker whose job is to prepare dead bodies and organize funerals. Trump has the charisma of a mortician... And the energy that makes Jeb Bush look an Olympian, he said, referring to the doomed 2016 Republican campaign of Jeb Bush, son of former president George HW Bush. Donald Trump Jr continued his rant without realizing his error. He went on to mock the Florida governor, saying the failed launch was indicative of future failures. He said Mr DeSantis would regret running against his father. The clip of his gaffe went viral, receiving over a million views and prompting a trolling spree. Someone needs to tell him he got it all wrong if hes trying to hype his father, a Twitter user said. Another user Allene Lewis quipped: This is rich! For the first time in Donny Hes life he spoke truth about daddy. It was that extra bump that Jr did right before recording this, one said. DJTJ starting the weekend early pic.twitter.com/Y2bAsUpGKy and so we crumble (@literal_analogy) May 26, 2023 Theres no F******g way you make a mistake like this unless your subconscious WANTS you to make a mistake like this, another said. Ron DeSantiss hotly-anticipated 2024 campaign launch fell flat on Wednesday night when it was marred by technical glitches. The Florida governor, 44, chose to announce his presidential run in an unconventional way in a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk and David Sacks. But, the event got off to a rocky start when it crashed several times and the sound repeatedly dropped out. Doug Mastriano attends a rally in Pittsburgh on Aug. 19. Doug Mastriano attends a rally in Pittsburgh on Aug. 19. Doug Mastriano, the Pennsylvania Republican state senator known for his ties to right-wing extremists and his involvement in former President Donald Trumps attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results, announced on Thursday evening that he will not be running for the U.S. Senate, despite having hinted for weeks that he was about to launch his campaign. Mastriano made the surprise announcement with his wife, Rebbie, during a Facebook Live video. At this time, we have decided not to run for the U.S. Senate but to continue to serve in Harrisburg, Mastriano said, referring to the state capital. So I know for some that will be disappointing, for others it wont be disappointing because youre like, Whos going to fill his seat? you know, Whos gonna be our voice in Harrisburg? Mastriano added that he would support whoever becomes the GOP nominee for the Senate seat because I dont want any other Republican candidates to go through what we went through last year when our own party betrayed us a reference to his belief that the party didnt adequately support him during his run for Pennsylvania governor. Mastriano had previously suggested he would enter the 2024 race, despite worries from fellow Republicans that his candidacy could torpedo the partys chances of winning control of the U.S. Senate. Those concerns stemmed largely from Mastrianos poor performance in the gubernatorial election last year, which he lost to Democrat Josh Shapiro by roughly 800,000 votes. His surprise announcement Thursday is likely music to the ears of Republicans across the country. Senate Republicans, per a recent report in Politico, had seen Mastriano as unelectable and hoped to back Dave McCormick in the states primary. McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO, ran in the GOP primary for Senate last year, narrowly losing to television personality Mehmet Oz. Even Trump who endorsed Mastriano during the 2022 Republican primary for governor had reportedly expressed private concerns that having Mastrianos name on the 2024 ticket could harm the former presidents chances of winning back the White House. Pennsylvania state Rep. Russ Diamond posted a 14-tweet thread earlier this week imploring others not to back Mastriano. Today Im calling on all level-headed PA Republicans to join me in requesting that Doug Mastriano abandon any plans he may have to run for US Senate in 2024, he wrote. Diamond also shared a screenshot of a text message hed apparently sent to Mastriano last month. Your appearance at the top of the Republican ticket last year undoubtedly contributed to Republicans losing the majority in the PA House, the text message says. And I fear a repeat of that in 2024, as nothing in the state has changed to mitigate that impact. Today I'm calling on all level-headed PA Republicans to join me in requesting that Doug Mastriano abandon any plans he may have to run for US Senate in 2024. 1/14 pic.twitter.com/5TMwQqPtFJ Russ Diamond (@russdiamond) May 22, 2023 Mastriano had brushed aside such concerns in an interview with reporters earlier this week. Of any of the detractors, none have had the cojones to look me in the eye and have a conversation, he said, according to PennLive. Its just behind a keyboard. Mastriano went on to call the criticism irrelevant. Its the tree falling in the forest, nobody hears it, he said. A March survey conducted by Public Policy Polling showed Mastriano leading McCormick by as many as 18 percentage points in a prospective primary matchup. A Franklin & Marshall College poll from April, however, showed Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey leading Mastriano by 16 points in a general election contest. Mastriano first emerged as a national figure in 2020, when he attempted to pass a resolution in Pennsylvanias state Senate to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the key presidential battleground state and hand the election to Trump. On Jan. 6, 2021, Mastriano organized buses in Pennsylvania to send his supporters to the Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C., which eventually turned into an attack on the U.S. Capitol. During the insurrection, Mastriano was spotted marching near the Capitol steps as rioters ran past police barricades. He later gave a deposition to a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. While seeking the governorship in 2022, Mastriano led an insular campaign that was hostile to the mainstream media. His Democratic opponent, Shapiro, often pointed to Mastrianos unpopular positions on issues like abortion which the Republican wanted to ban without exceptions for rape, incest, or saving the life of the mother. Shapiro also highlighted the Mastriano campaigns extensive ties to right-wing extremism, such as its paid consultant fees to a social media platform helmed by a racist antisemite; the hiring of a man with militia group ties as a security guard; and appearances by Mastriano at events hosted by believers in the QAnon conspiracy theory. Mastriano, who frequently invokes his apocalyptic Christian faith, also appeared alongside and sought counsel from self-declared prophets like campaign manager Vishal Jetnarayan, who has said that he speaks directly to God. Julie Green, another prophet, frequently appeared on the campaign trail with Mastriano, once introducing him at a QAnon event in Gettysburg by reciting a message she claimed to receive from on high. Yes, Doug, I am here for you, and I have not forsaken you, Green said, reading the supposed message from God. The time has come for their great fall and the great steal to be overturned. So keep your faith in me. Related... MAGA firebrand Doug Mastriano said on Thursday that he is not running for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2024. "At this time, we have decided not to run for the U.S. Senate, he said, but to continue to serve in Harrisburg." Mastriano promised to support whoever emerges as the Republican nominee in the Senate contest. But he has signaled that he will continue to be a thorn in the side of GOP officials. During his announcement Thursday, which took place on Facebook Live, he complained for several minutes about the Republican establishment abandoning him during the gubernatorial election last year. Mastriano and his wife, Rebbie, also said that their movement is not going anywhere and that they will hold an annual conference for the grassroots. Were going to continue to grow our statewide network across the state in every county, said Mastriano. Were going to continue to be relevant. The announcement by the far-right state lawmaker will come as welcome news to Republican Party officials who were convinced that Mastriano would obliterate their chances of unseating Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and harm down-ballot candidates if he were the nominee. Mastriano lost the gubernatorial election last year by 15 percentage points. Even former President Donald Trump privately told Republicans that he feared Mastriano would hurt him if they shared a ballot in November. Republican state Rep. Russ Diamond took to Twitter on Monday to try to persuade Mastriano to stay out of the race. He posted a text message he sent to Mastriano earlier this year, in which Diamond said that him being at the top of the ticket undoubtedly contributed to Republicans losing the state House in 2022. During last years gubernatorial contest, Mastrianos support for an abortion ban with no exceptions, his attempts to overturn the 2020 election in the state, and his appearance at the capitol on the day of the Jan. 6 attack turned off independents, swing voters, and even some Republicans. Mastrianos decision to forgo a campaign this time around could clear the path for David McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO and combat veteran who is being recruited by national and state Republicans to run for the Senate. Though he repelled general election voters, Mastriano remains a force in the GOP, winning his primary last year by double digits. Many GOP strategists believed he would be tough to beat in a primary. Public and private polls have shown that McCormick is a stronger opponent against Casey than Mastriano, though Casey has led both Republicans in surveys. Mastriano has suggested in the past that if he does not run for the Senate, someone else from his wing of the party might. But who that might mean is unclear. Kathy Barnette, who had Mastrianos endorsement when she ran and lost in the Senate primary last year, has said she is not running in 2024. Keith Rothfus, a former congressman with ties to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is eyeing the Pennsylvania Senate seat. Carla Sands, an unsuccessful 2022 Senate GOP candidate, did not rule out another run next year when asked by POLITICO last month. Mastriano said recently that he spent time with McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell, who served as Trumps deputy national security advisor for strategy. That was a change from earlier this year, when Mastriano said he had not met McCormick. Dozens of Osceola County residents still dont have a place to call home after Hurricane Ian Its been over eight months since Hurricane Ian made its way through Florida. Yet, one local county continues to see the aftermath. In late September, Hurricane Ian dumped 19 inches of rain onto Osceola County. Those going around neighborhoods in Kissimmee will notice it still looks like last hurricane season. Even though it wasnt necessarily winding that hit Osceola County hard, at least a dozen homes are tarped- with flood damage inside. Read: NOAA forecasters release predictions for 2023 Atlantic hurricane season Teresa Kountz said her whole life turned upside down after Hurricane Ian. It took my breath away, to be honest, she said. Kountz was one of 523 seniors staying in an independent living facility at Good Samaritan Village when floods overtook the area. If it wasnt for my daughter -- I would be homeless or living somewhere where I dont want to be, Kountz said. Read: Tropical disturbance could form off southeast US coast one week before hurricane season For some, the situation is worse. Osceola County said about 114 people receive long-term recovery help for unmet needs like repairing homes. And for those still unable to return to their homes, FEMA is giving them its Transitional Housing Assistance; that help ends on June 29. SEE: 1st tropical wave of the year rolls off the coast of Africa The county said they are trying to get help for as many people as possible through the program - as fast as they can. And as for everyone else, Bill Litton, Emergency Management Director Osceola County, said residents should now plan to stock on Hurricane supplies. Make a plan now but also use this weekend and next weekend for the sales tax holiday, he said. Floridas Disaster Preparedness sales tax holidays will take place May 27 through June 9, and Aug. 26 through Sept. 8. 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. What really happened to the Russian Navy's Ivan Khurs intelligence ship remains a mystery. New video has emerged on social media showing what's purported to be another view of the uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attack on the Project 18280 Yuriy Ivanov class intelligence ship Ivan Khurs in the Black Sea Wednesday about 90 miles northeast of Turkey's Bosphorus Strait. https://twitter.com/pravda_eng/status/1662063328762511360 This video - along with one published yesterday showing a USV view of it approaching the Ivan Khurs - indicates a possible hit on the ship contrary to official Russian claims of it being unscathed. However, several videos and images have also emerged on social media claiming to show the vessel sailing into its home port of Sevastopol today with no apparent signs of damage. https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1662053846191857664 https://twitter.com/squatsons/status/1662062232581324803 "In the conditions of the [special military operation], our telegram channel never publishes fresh photos of Black Sea Fleet ships. But in light of the ... hysteria, let's make an exception," the Black Sea Fleet Telegram channel said in a post that included several photos it claimed to be of the vessel entering Sevastopol. "The medium reconnaissance ship 'Ivan Khurs' returns to Sevastopol..." A photo claiming to show the Ivan Khurs returning to Sevastopol today. (Black Sea Fleet Telegram photo) (Black Sea Fleet Telegram photo) (Black Sea Fleet Telegram photo) The new grainy video of the USV attack, provided today by military sources to the Ukrainian Pravda media outlet, is a view from the starboard side of the Ivan Khurs and appears to show the results of an explosion on the port side. That explosion is followed seconds later by another apparent explosion that appears to be a short distance away from the vessel. The location of that second apparent explosion could be a view of what the Russian MoD on Wednesday said was one of three attacking USVs being destroyed by the Ivan Khurs deck-mounted 14.5mm machine guns. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1661379305236987907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1661379305236987907%7Ctwgr%5E6e5f592d110b9868cb561327048b9a2e2a85e68a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Frussia-claims-ukrainian-drone-boats-attacked-its-navy-ship-off-turkey If this video is real, it appears to lend partial credence to some of the information being provided by both sides in this conflict. The ship appears to be hit, or at least a blast occurred very close to it, which backs up Ukraine's contention, while at least one of the USVs attacking appears to have been destroyed without getting very near the ship's hull, as Russia has claimed. Other than a snarky tweet issued yesterday by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, showing the supposed USV view of it attacking the Ivan Khurs released by Ukrainian sources, Kyiv has not officially said anything about this incident. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1661789365582921744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1661789365582921744%7Ctwgr%5Ee76d8ff09116ef4d5373326164ad9b7ae44b97ca%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fdrone-boats-view-of-supposed-attack-on-russian-ship-emerges The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) on Friday noted the ship's return to Sevastopol under its own power. The reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs of the Black Sea Fleet has completed its planned transition from her area of operations to the permanent deployment base in Sevastopol, the Russian MoD reported Friday on its Telegram channel. While in the Black Sea since late April 2023, the crew carried out tasks to ensure safe operation of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Turkey and also monitored the surface situation in the southwest part of the Black Sea to ensure the safety of navigation under the 'grain deal. A map of Turkey's Black Sea Exclusive Economic Zone. (Turkish Marine Research Foundation map) Despite the video emerging showing what could have been an impact at or near the ship, the MoD made no mention of damage and stuck to its previous story about destroying three Ukrainian UGVs with the ships 14.5 mm machine guns. The ship will replenish its supplies at its home base, after which she will continue her missions, according to the MoD. https://twitter.com/InfoSputnik/status/1662161388876476416 While the official Russian TASS news agency essentially repeated the Russian MoD's statement verbatim without mentioning the issue of damage to the ship, other Russian media outlets have made a point to counter any suggestion the vessel suffered any problems as a result of this encounter. Skeptics and dreamers about the death of the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs, which was recently attacked by enemy naval drones, will have to come to terms again today that the ship is safe and sound, the Russian Readovka media outlet reported on its Telegram channel. First, they demanded to show them a fresh photo and video of the ship, then close to the starboard side, and then the left. The footage shows that the starboard side of the Khurs is in good condition, like the rest of the ship, which smoothly entered its native Sevastopol harbor without fatal or minor damage. https://twitter.com/ReadovkaWorld/status/1662044154115792896 However, even pro-Russian Telegram channels like the one run by Igor Girkin have raised doubts about the status of the Ivan Khurs. Girkin, a former military leader in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic who is also known by the name Igor Strelkov, is one of the more influential and controversial Russian milbloggers. "Subscribers dropped it into the chat - apparently, the Khurs is being towed, there is reason to believe that it is to Novorossiysk, although it may also be to Sevastopol," Girkin wrote on his Telegram channel earlier on Friday. "I wonder what Konashenkov will say now?" Girkin wrote, referring to Russian MoD spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov. "How did it happen that such an expensive and valuable ship has only machine guns on its pedestals for self-defense? The answer to this question, like to any other, sounds like this: the command of the Navy is not able to understand that the fleet is intended for war." https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1662025277248077824 There have been even wilder claims, including that there were five USVs involved, not three, and that several Russian sailors were killed in the incident. Those claims however are completely unverified. https://twitter.com/OSINTMISCIF/status/1662060981160222720 And for whatever reason, there seems to be continued interest in the general area where the attack supposedly took place by the U.S. Air Force, which is running an RQ-4B Global Hawk drone, callsign FORTE10, over the southern Black Sea in unusual vertical racetrack patterns for two days in a row. We reached out to U.S. Air Forces in Europe and will update this story with any information provided. https://twitter.com/wipljw/status/1662151481829597185?s=20 https://twitter.com/FouthTimeLucky/status/1662128972480610305?s=20 So much about this incident remains unclear. But one thing both Ukraine and Russia agree on is that the Ivan Khurs came under a USV attack. It would not be out of the realm of possibility that Russia could have staged this to spark international outrage at Ukraine for attacking its ship inside Turkey's Exclusive Economic Zone and that Ukraine took advantage of that to show it can strike far out into the Black Sea. But if it was a Ukrainian attack, even if the ship suffered no significant damage or any damage at all, that it could be hit by a USV so far from the nearest Ukrainian-controlled shoreline - about 200 miles - would indicate a significant capability expansion of Ukrainian USV operations. They could have also been launched from a mothership. As we have written previously, Ukraine has been working to build out its fleet of USVs, including through a crowdsourced fundraising campaign by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys UNITED24 organization. https://twitter.com/U24_gov_ua/status/1591035625431793665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1591035625431793665%7Ctwgr%5E6e5f592d110b9868cb561327048b9a2e2a85e68a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Frussia-claims-ukrainian-drone-boats-attacked-its-navy-ship-off-turkey But, as we have also previously written, prior USV attacks, particularly on the port of Sevastopol, headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in October and November 2022 and March 2023, have caused limited damage. However, they have forced Russia to ramp up its port security and change how they deploy ships. This attack, in the southern part of the Black Sea, seems to indicate that no place is safe for Russian vessels traversing those waters. We will continue to update this story as more information develops. Update 6:08 EST: Satellite imagery posted on social media by @MT_Anderson shows the Ivan Khurs back in port in Sevastopol. The War Zone has reviewed similar imagery that confirms that is indeed the case. https://twitter.com/mt_anderson/status/1662199951596883968?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Drone Swarms Got Targeting System Updates In Flight In Recent AUKUS Demo photo Drones and ground vehicles showed off new artificial intelligence-driven capabilities to automatically spot and track enemy targets during a recent demonstration by the armed forces of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The test notably included the live updating of the targeting algorithms on the drones, which were also operating as networked swarms, while they were in flight. Altogether, this highlights still-growing cooperation between the three countries on drones, autonomy, and machine learning and artificial intelligence, as part of the still very new AUKUS defense partnership. The Pentagon, the U.K. Ministry of Defense, and the Australian Department of Defense all issued press releases on what was referred to as a "capabilities trial" today. The event itself took place on April 28 in Upavon in Wiltshire in the United Kingdom and was hosted by the U.K. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The test was carried out as part of broader cooperation between the three countries under Pillar II of the AUKUS arrangement, which is centered broadly on "advanced capabilities." "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," British Lt. Gen. Rob Magowan, U.K. Deputy Chief of Defence Staff for Military Capability, said in a statement. "Service personnel, scientists and engineers from our three nations combined to develop and share critical information to enhance commanders decision making." More specific details about the exact parameters of the trial and the scenarios involved are limited, but it included "more than 70 military and civilian defense personnel and industry contractors," according to the U.K. Ministry of Defense. The drone swarm component consisted of groups of Blue Bear Ghost (a picture of which is seen at the top of this story) and Boeing/Insitu CT220 uncrewed aircraft provided by the United Kingdom and Australia, respectively. A stock image of a Boeing/Insitu CT22 drone. Insitu Pacific On the ground, the British armed forces provided Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, and Viking uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV) (not to be confused with the Viking variant of the BvS 10 tracked vehicle in service with the Royal Marines). A British Army Challenger 2 tank, with two Warrior infantry fighting vehicles behind it, during operations in Kosovo. Crown Copyright A Viking UGV. Horiba Mira Private contractors supplied 105mm FV433 Abbot self-propelled howitzers and OT-90 derivatives of the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle that were made in the former Czechoslovakia. A private-owned ex-British Army FV433 Abbot self-propelled howitzer. The British Army retired its last Abbots in 1995. AlfvanBeem via Wikimedia Czechoslovakia-made OT-90 now on public display. Miaow Miaow via Wikimedia "This is the first instance of jointly developed Australian, UK, and US AI capability being deployed on coalition autonomous systems for an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission as part of Pillar II," the press release from the Australian Department of Defense said. The three countries have already engaged in advanced technology sharing under AUKUS as part of an effort to help the Royal Australian Navy acquire U.S.-made Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines and build examples of a new nuclear-powered submarine design domestically. "The trial achieved several world firsts, including live retraining at the edge of models in flight, and the interchange and use of AI models on AUKUS nations' uncrewed aerial vehicles," the Australian military's release added. The ability to perform various tasks across a broad area quickly is one of the inherent benefits of a fully-networked drone swarm capable of operating with a high degree of autonomy. The ability of that swarm to autonomously fuse and otherwise start processing sensor data it collects, helped by machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, takes that all to a whole different level. A swarm operating in this way could rapidly surveil a designated zone of the battlefield, spotting, categorizing, and geolocating threats and potential threats, and then passing all of that data to other nodes, ranging from nearby friendly units to command centers in the rear. Tactical elements in the field could then use that information to help plan assaults, avoid hazards, or otherwise provide situational awareness. Specialists in rear echelons could combine that data with other intelligence to get a better handle on enemy positions and their activities, and help in predicting what their next moves might be. Data could be exchanged between automated target recognition systems on drones and other platforms, such as the ground vehicle involved in this test. The U.S. Army, among others, is actively exploring adding automated target recognition capabilities to its M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. A networked capability like this would allow various assets, crewed and uncrewed, to be cued to certain threats, even if they are out of line of sight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGVgwirplNI Machine learning and AI have the potential to help filter that data from the very beginning, reducing the workload for actual human beings, and could eventually even provide suggested immediate courses of action based on that information. U.S. data analytics firm Palantir, which has a long history of working with U.S. Intelligence Agencies and the U.S. military, recently offered a public demonstration of exactly these kinds of capabilities, which it is developing as part of a software suite called the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). AIP also includes AI-driven chatbot that operators can engage with directly for advice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEM5qz__HOU The specific mention of "live retraining" of targeting "models" during the April test in the United Kingdom is especially interesting in this context, as well. Automated target recognition systems are only as good as their databases. As such, they could have trouble dealing with the sudden appearance of previously unknown threats or known ones that might appear in unusual ways to sensors due to various kinds of interference or other factors. Being able to reprogram the algorithms to properly recognize those targets and upload them to drones right in the middle of a mission has the potential to make automated target recognition capabilities even more game-changing. The U.S. military, in particular, is already exploring these kinds of capabilities with regard to electronic warfare. In that realm, this is known as cognitive electronic warfare, which you can read more about here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X99k09rVUI The absolute "holy grail" of cognitive electronic warfare envisions the ability of electronic warfare suites to automatically update themselves in real time in response to the emergence of unexpected information. That level of capability, which would be assisted by machine learning and AI technologies, would be similarly applicable to automated target recognition. The U.S. Air Force has already demonstrated an ability to update target recognition algorithms linked to unspecified sensors onboard a U-2S Dragon Lady spy plane in flight. The service has also been testing a podded AI-driven high-volume data processing capability, primarily intended to help sift through large amounts of data, from video footage to radar information to signals intelligence. The U.S. military and the U.S. Intelligence Community, as well as many of their counterparts around the world, such as China's People's Liberation Army, are fielding machine learning and AI-driven technology for a variety of purposes. The same goes for work on various tiers of advanced drones with significant degrees of autonomy and swarming capabilities. The April test in the United Kingdom could have a variety of broader ramifications for further research and development and procurement of these kinds of capabilities, as well as how they are employed operationally, due to AUKUS. The event makes clear that parties to that agreement are already actively exchanging technology in this regard, which could help reduce development schedules and cost burden sharing. Jointly developed capabilities could mean U.S, British, and Australian units in the field might be able to more readily tap into each other's data streams or even pass control of drones and other assets back and forth between them. Members of the US Army, British Army, and Australian Army together during an exercise in 2018. US Army "Accelerating technological advances will deliver the operational advantages necessary to defeat current and future threats across the battlespace,' the United Kingdom's Lt. Gen. Rob Magowan said. "We are committed to collaborating with partners to ensure that we achieve this while also promoting the responsible development and deployment of AI." "This capability demonstration is truly a shared effort and is thus a critical step in our collective initiative to stay ahead of emerging threats," Abe Denmark, the U.S. Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for AUKUS, also said. "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." Altogether, the capabilities trial last month at Upavon in Wiltshire looks to have demonstrated a number of significant capability developments, including the ability to update targeting algorithms on drones in flight. Beyond that, it underscores the still-expanding cooperation between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, who are already close allies, on various advanced technologies through AUKUS. Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com Duck Family Treasure on Fox Nation Season two of Duck Family Treasure debuts on Fox Nation Sunday, June 11. There are five episodes, and the Robertson family of Duck Dynasty fame stars. The series shows the family searching for buried treasure. We are delighted to bring back another season of this terrific series, said Jason Klarman, Fox Nation president. It was clear from the start that the Robertson familys entertaining adventures captivated our audience, and we cant wait to see what this season of Duck Family Treasure has in store. Brothers Jase and Jep, along with their wives Missy and Jessica, Uncle Si and history expert Murry Crowe, search for hidden bounties across the south. From the historic Tiger Island in Louisiana to the famous Woodlawn Estate in LaGrange, Tennessee and Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, the Robertsons will hunt for Civil War artifacts, panthers and more while providing an inside look at their lively family dynamic, said Fox Nation. Ill tell you this, its not boring! And its the only show I know that you can watch with the whole family, said Jase Robertson. Im talking from the parents down to the toddlers. Jep Robertson added, Its just good clean fun, which we could all use a little more of these days! The show is produced in conjunction with Warm Springs Productions. Jase Robertson executive produces with Korie Robertson & Zach Dasher of Tread Lively Productions. Duck Dynasty was a hit on A&E. Family patriarch Phil Robertson was suspended by the network late in 2013 for published comments deemed to be homophobic. The first episode of Duck Family Treasure sees Jase, Jep and Murry head to Cajun country to hunt the Idlewild Historic Estate near Morgan City in Louisiana, a town formerly called "Tiger Island, while Si opens an investigation to prove there are black panthers living in Louisiana. Durham teen charged with killing his baby. His family is accused of letting it happen A teenage father in Durham is charged with killing his 6-month-old daughter in February, and his family is accused of letting it happen. The family of James Galan Cruz, 17, was arrested this month in connection with his arrest on first-degree murder and felony child abuse charges. Galan Cruz, accused of killing his daughter on Feb. 25, was prohibited from providing unsupervised care of the child by the Durham County Department of Social Services, court documents show. His sister Karen Galan Cruz, 20, and their parents Israel Cruz, 33 and Ana Raquel Cruz Calix, 44, were arrested May 1 and charged with negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury. Karen Galan Cruz posted a $100,000 bail bond and the parents each posted a $75,000 bail bond the same day. The babys death, first reported Wednesday by WRAL, was not previously announced by the Durham Police Department, which typically issues news releases on homicide cases. The child suffered serious injuries that proved to be fatal, including spinal cord hemorrhaging and fracture of two vertebra. The family members are accused of committing a grossly negligent omission by allowing James Galan Cruz to take care of his child, according to an arrest warrant. Galan Cruz is being held in a juvenile facility, but his case was moved to Superior Court where he will tried as an adult, the Durham County District Attorneys office confirmed. Details behind Durham childs assault, death Police told The News & Observer that officers found the child already dead after responding to a Feb. 25 call to a home on Windrush Lane. On Oct. 19, 2022, officers had previously responded to a report of an aggravated assault at the same address and found the child then 2 months old had been physically assaulted, according to police. An investigation resulted in a felony child abuse charge against a 17-year-old male in January 2023. The N&O has asked police why it took several months to charge the suspect. A recording of the 911 call requested by The N&O shows that an aunt of the child called about the baby on Feb. 25. My niece isnt breathing, the female caller told the operator. Shes purple, and theres no heartbeat. The operator told the caller to lay the baby down and to check for signs of choking. The caller asked for an ambulance and said that she believed the child was dead. She didnt tell the operator any details about what had happened, according to the call. During a power outage, he couldnt charge a medical device. Hes advocating for a bill to help change that for others It was during Hurricane Irma that Miami local Franco Di Paolo found his passion. He had lost his hearing at a young age and received a cochlear implant at two years old. Everything changed during that 2017 storm when the power went out. Franco and his family had prepared with emergency supplies, but without power there was no way to charge his implant. Eventually, he was unable to hear once again. Because of this life-changing experience, Franco became determined to be an advocate for the millions of people who rely on battery-powered medical devices. The batteries in my implant are internal, so there is no way to have extras on hand, Di Paolo, now 21, said. Without power, my ability to hear was gone until power was restored to my neighborhood. I felt unsafe and confused. I was 15 years old and had to look for resources elsewhere to be able to hear, he said. First, we tried to charge the batteries in our car, it would take about 16 hours to reach full charge, then I would look for nearby stores with electricity and ask them if I could charge my batteries. Everyone was always happy to help, which I was grateful for, but it made me realize there are thousands of other people whose lives depend on power or battery-powered medical devices. Now a student at Boca Raton-based Lynn University where he is studying entrepreneurship, Di Paolo is currently working to pass a bill in Florida that will mandate solar panel installation for the exclusive use to charge medical devices during power outages. And he was recently awarded the first Cochlear Americas Vocational Scholarship for academic excellence, athletic achievements and medical device advocacy. I was 2 years old when I received my cochlear implant. For the first time, I was able to hear dogs barking, birds chirping, and the sound of my mothers voice. Because I was implanted at an early age, I adjusted very easily with my other hearing classmates. Growing up with hearing loss taught me how to advocate for myself academically and athletically I played basketball, tennis, and volleyball and ran cross country. My cochlear implant also allowed me to hear my teachers with ease and set me up for success to eventually graduate summa cum laude. He said when Hurricane Irma hit Miami, his family, like thousands of others, lost power for weeks. While we had emergency supplies, we did not consider how we would charge my cochlear implant. My next-door neighbor (who is a Type-2 insulin-dependent diabetic) had installed a generator on his balcony to power a small refrigerator to store his insulin and was going to let me use it to charge my implant. The day after the hurricane I went to his apartment to check on him when we both received bad news. Condos are not permitted to use gas generators due to fire hazards, and this is where my journey began. I realized that what happened to me also affected others during and after the hurricane. Power mobility devices, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, feeding equipment, chair lifts, communication devices, dialysis machines the list of medical devices that require power goes on and on. We had to shelter-in-place. We didnt have any nearby family or friends to turn to, nor did we have the financial resources to evacuate. I couldnt stop thinking about those who needed their medical devices but were left without power, he said. I am very grateful for this scholarship that will help me pursue my passions. Life can sometimes be unforgiving, but maintaining a positive and upbeat attitude has made my journey successful. 86th Royal Poinciana Fiesta Presented annually by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society, this festival celebrates the glorious trees all around us that bloom this time of year. Numerous events are scheduled that start with a party at 6 p.m., June 4 in the Garden House of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. At 7:30 p.m., the 2023 Royal Poinciana Fiesta Queen and Court scholarship recipients, the Larry Schokman Book Award recipient, and the Poinciana Ambassador Award recipient will be presented. Festivities continue June 7-11 with a painting party, walking tour, history talks, bike and trolley tours, and the planting of two new trees. More at www.tfts.org and www.royalp.org Some events are free. Honorees at The Childrens Trust annual Champions for Children award ceremony are Fiorella Altare Christie of the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroes Thrive by 5 Childcare Scholarships Initiative, Abigail Peskin of University of Miamis PCIT Program, Lauren Page, Evelio C. Torres of the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Regina Davis, Annie Neasman of Jessie Trice Community Health System School Health Services and Lori-Ann Cox of Breakthrough Miami. Childrens Trust debuts leader awards The first-ever Excellence in Youth Leadership awards were presented by The Childrens Trust at the annual Champions for Children award ceremony on April 27. The event has celebrated individuals and programs for 17 years for outstanding contributions toward improving the lives of children and families in our community. Congratulations to Lauren Page, an 11th grade student at Ransom Everglades School who is the inaugural recipient of the Excellence in Youth Leadership Award; Evelio C. Torres, President & CEO of Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe who was presented with the David Lawrence Jr. Champion for Children Award for Lifetime Achievement and Dedication to Children; Abigail Peskin from the University of Miami Parent-Child Interaction Therapy program who received the Excellence in Direct Service to Children and Families Award; and Regina Davis, a long-time parental involvement and youth violence activist who was honored with the Excellence in Advocacy Award. Also honored were Breakthrough Miamis Summer Institute, Early Learning Coalitions Thrive by 5 Child Care Scholarship Initiative, and Jessie Trice Community Health System School Health Services. More at www.thechildrenstrust.org The Childrens Trust is the largest funder of summer camps in our community with 276 locations. Each is required to provide literacy instruction in addition to physical fitness as well as other enriching activities. The Trust and M-DCPS are teaming up on Summer 305 to bring M-DCPS teachers into camps to teach reading and math to combat summer learning loss. Parents can find a program near them HERE. Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column. China builds a complete red line system to strengthen ecological conversation 09:29, May 26, 2023 By Chang Qin ( People's Daily China had completed setting ecological conservation red lines nationwide, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) announced during an activity held on the World Earth Day recently in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian province. The red lines cover areas that are ecologically vital and vulnerable and have important potential ecological value. These areas must be put under mandatory and rigorous protection. Photo shows a picturesque view of the Jinhe Grand Canyon located in the Lesser Hinggan Mountains in Heihe city, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (People's Daily Online/Wei Jianshun) China took the lead in proposing and implementing the red line system for ecological conservation. The country has put no less than 3.15 million square km of its area, including no less than 3 million square km of land area, and no less than 150,000 square km of sea area, under the ecological conservation red lines. It has formulated rules and implemented strict measures to strengthen monitoring and control of areas covered by the red lines, achieving effective management and control of ecological red line areas. "The ecological conservation red lines are the bottom lines and lifelines for safeguarding national ecological security," said Zhang Bing, an official with the MNR. Feng Wenli, president of the China Land Surveying and Planning Institute, said China has made great progress in economic and social development since the launch of reform and opening-up, but ecological problems have become prominent bottlenecks hindering socio-economic development due to ecosystem degradation and the decline in capability for the supply of ecological products. Photo shows black storks, a rare bird species, in Mengzi city, Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province, Feb. 18, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Lu Zhong) "Setting and strictly applying red lines for ecological conservation is a major strategic deployment made by China and an important institutional innovation in its ecological progress," Feng said. As the main department responsible for China's ecological conservation, the MNR, together with departments including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, organized the assessment, adjustment, and demarcation of ecological conservation red lines and completed setting the lines for the first time according to the national territorial space planning outline (2021-2035) and relevant plans at the provincial, municipal and county levels. In Harbin city, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, around 10,700 square km, or about 20 percent of its territorial area, is demarcated within the red lines, including major mountain ranges such as the Lesser Hinggan Mountains and the Zhangguangcai Mountains, as well as the mainstream and tributaries of the Songhua River, other rivers, lakes, wetlands and other areas, with the main aim of improving ecological functions including water and soil conservation, water source conservation and biodiversity preservation. Jiamusi city in Heilongjiang puts over 12 percent of its territorial area under the protection of the red lines, including areas that are critical in environmental function, ecologically sensitive and vulnerable, as well as natural protected areas that include national parks, nature reserves and natural parks. Southwest China's Yunnan province has no less than 113,200 square km, or over 29 percent of its territorial area in the ecological conservation red lines. The province's protected areas, excluding some areas of scenic areas there, are within the red lines, with 15 typical ecosystems including the tropical rainforest ecosystem being systematically protected. The red lines cover the habitats and migration channels of more than 90 percent of key state-protected plants and 80 percent of key state-protected animals in Yunnan, further improving the function of ecosystems. Photo shows a picturesque view in a national park in Hongyuan county, southwest China's Sichuan province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Guoxing) Feng said the ecological conservation red lines mainly cover the ecological shield area of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, key ecological areas along the Yellow River, key ecological areas along the Yangtze River, northeast forest belts, northern sand prevention belts, hilly areas in south China, and coastal areas. The red lines cover typical terrestrial ecosystem types including most of the natural forests, grasslands and wetlands, typical marine ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds, as well as the vast majority of uninhabited islands. No ratio targets of areas have been preset during the process of drawing the red lines. In some provincial-level regions, the ecological red line areas account for more than 50 percent of the regions' territorial areas and in other provincial-level areas, that percentage is less than 10 percent, said Feng. At present, provincial regions, including Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Shanghai, Shandong, Anhui and Sichuan, have rolled out detailed rules for the controls of the ecological conservation red lines. The rest of Chinese provincial regions are soliciting public opinion for similar rules or are about to introduce ones to strengthen the supervision of the red lines. "To strictly enforce ecological conservation red lines, we need to improve long-term mechanisms," Zhang said. He added that the MNR will foster stronger collaboration between the ministry and local governments, regularly conduct conservation performance evaluations of the red lines, strengthen the capabilities for dynamic monitoring and early warning, accelerate the revision of relevant laws and regulations and increase publicity, so as to build a modern China where humanity and nature exist in harmony. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Children play at a kindergarten in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Feb. 19, 2021. [Photo/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. Earth's neighboring star Betelgeuse unexpectedly got 50% brighter part of a weird process that will end in the dying star going supernova A picture of Betelgeuse taken by the Hubble telescope. Andrea Dupree (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA), Ronald Gilliland (STScI),NASA and ESA Betelgeuse is flustering astronomers once again, as it is now shining 50% brighter than usual. This dying red giant had only recently mysteriously dimmed its shine after an enormous explosion. It is expected to explode into a supernova visible from Earth, though likely not for thousands of years. Betelgeuse, one of the most visible stars in the Earth's sky, is behaving very weirdly. The red giant a star not far from death is now shining about 50% brighter than it usually would, scientists said. This comes a few years after it mysteriously got dimmer in 2019, prompting speculation about whether it was ready to collapse and explode. Scientists later found out that Betelgeuse was not yet collapsing. But it had experienced an enormous explosion that affected its brightness. These images, taken by the Very Large Telescope, show the surface of the red supergiant star Betelgeuse during its dimming from January 2019 (far left) to March 2020 (far right). ESO/M. Montarges et al. More recently astronomers have noticed Betelgeuse returning to its brightest state about twice as quickly as usual, in about 200 days, per a study published on the pre-print server arXiv on May 18. It's not uncommon for Betelgeuse to get dimmer and brighter but that tends to happen following a 400-day-long cycle. This cycle shortening is likely linked to the Great Dimming of 2019, experts have said. Your friendly neighborhood giant dying star A picture of Betelgeuse in visible light taken from Earth. ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin. Scientists are keeping a close eye on Betelgeuse, as this red giant is a dying star that is close to turning supernova. However, given the huge timescales in the life of stars, this last step may still take thousands of years. Betelgeuse (pronounced like the Tim Burton character Beetlejuice) is a relatively young star in the Earth's backyard, located in the Milky Way about 640 light-years away. It is about 10 million years old, much younger than our sun, which has been around for about 5 billion years. But this star is so big, about 700 times the size of the sun, that it is already starting to die. "One of the coolest things about Betelgeuse is that we're watching the final stages of big-star evolution play out almost in real-time for us, which we've never really been able to study in this much depth before," said Sara Webb, an astrophysicist at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, in an interview with the Guardian. The explosion is still being felt An artist's impression of how a cloud of dust could have dimmed Betelgeuse. ESO, ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser Betelgeuse's weird behavior is likely linked to the Great Dimming of 2019 and 2020. Scientists started raising alarm bells when they spotted Betelgeuse had lost its brightness in no time at all in 2019. When massive stars abruptly lose brightness, it can be a warning sign that they are ready to explode. But later analysis suggested something else an explosion. Betelgeuse had released an enormous amount of its plasma into space in the blast, seen in the artist's impression here: An artist's impression shows the sequence of event leading to Betelgeuse's dimming in 2019. NASA, ESA, Elizabeth Wheatley (STScI) The explosion was so massive that it created a dense cloud of cosmic dust that stood between the Earth and Betelgeuse, obscuring the star. Andrea Dupree, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who tracks the star told Scientific American that the star's weird behavior is likely a consequence of this massive explosion. "Just imagine if you take a hunk of the material out. Then everything else is going to swish in, and it's going to slosh around," he said. Betelgeuse could burst into a supernova visible from Earth one day A pre-supernova star, called a Wolf-Rayet star, 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team When it finally explodes, Betelgeuse is far enough that it won't be dangerous for our planet, but near enough that it will be a spectacular show for anyone watching. On the day, the sight will be momentous. The explosion will be so bright that, for about a week, it could be visible during the day, The Guardian reported. The last time such a supernova exploded in our galaxy was in the 17th century, Insider previously reported. That is, if humans are still around to see it. Experts are quick to explain that this is unlikely to happen for at least another 10,000 years. That being said, stars are very unpredictable, so a supernova within our lifetimes is not completely impossible. Read the original article on Business Insider This story was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. It has been updated with additional information. An effort to reimburse thousands of National Guard troops who racked up a combined $9.3 million in federal taxes because of a paycheck error while serving on Gov. Greg Abbotts border security mission has fallen short of key legislative deadlines. House Bill 3031 by Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, would create a grant program to help about 7,400 troops assigned to Operation Lone Star who had higher tax bills than expected because the state made a tax withholding error on their paychecks. Lawmakers had set aside $6 million in the budget to fund the grant program, if the bill received approval, to help the troops pay the unexpected taxes caused by the states error. The average impact on service members was $867.29, but there were nearly 300 instances with special circumstances that are not included in that average, according to Johnson. HB 3031, however, was not voted upon before a Wednesday deadline for action by the Senate. The bill was overwhelmingly approved by the House with only 17 days remaining in a regular session that ends Monday. The Senate received the bill one day before its Veteran Affairs Committee had its last meeting and with the meetings agenda already set. The bill faced another obstacle when no senator agreed to sponsor it in the upper chamber. Johnson said she and House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Terry Wilson, R-Marble Falls, reached out to multiple senators to take up the bill but were unsuccessful. I was pleased to have a lot of support for that bill in the House, to recognize that the state made a mistake for the soldiers that we have on the border, and the state should make that right by the people we asked to go down there and take time away from their families, Johnson said. Its very disappointing that the Senate did not share the same priorities as the House. Abbotts office and the Texas Military Department, which oversees the National Guard deployment, did not respond to requests for comment. Hunter Schuler, a soldier who led a unionizing effort among the Guard members, said it would be a shame to end the legislative session without action. He said his family filed for an extension on his federal taxes in hope that the state would help them cover the cost of its mistake. The best time to pay soldiers correctly is when their paychecks are issued. The second-best time to pay soldiers correctly is now, Schuler said. Theres not going to be a more appropriate time to pass this bill. This isnt something thats going to make sense to pass in the next legislative session. The tax issue, first reported by The Texas Tribune and the Military Times in October, stems from a problem with the state payroll system, which was not set up to properly process payments for National Guard troops on state duty. In September 2021, Abbott ramped up the scale of Operation Lone Star, at one point boasting that 10,000 troops were deployed on the mission. The tax withholding issues began the following month. Texas Military Department officials have said the issue began when the state tried to switch from monthly payments to paying troops twice a month to mirror federal pay periods. But when that switch was made, officials withheld taxes from only one of those paychecks each month, leaving troops unaware that they would owe additional money come tax time. The tax problem was one of multiple issues troops faced on the mission, including late or incomplete pay, poor living conditions and a rash of suicides tied to the assignment. Officials said they learned of the tax withholding error in July 2022 and tried to address it rapidly through official publications, guidance from supervisors and town halls. They later offered tax classes to help troops work through the issue. But Johnsons proposal was the first tangible effort by the state to make troops whole after the states tax blunder. The bill barred applicants from receiving a grant larger than the difference between the amount they paid in federal taxes and the amount they actually owed in federal taxes. She said she filed the bill because one of her constituents was among those affected. Elon Musk already lives rent-free in our heads. Now his Neuralink has been cleared for human trials. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first clinical trials of devices made by Elon Musks brain-implant firm Neuralink. Founded in 2016, Neuralink has sought FDAs nod since 2019, performing brain implants only in animals till now. The company hopes its technology will help treat paralysis and blindness in humans. Read more How does Neuralinks brain implant technology work? While Neuralinks brain chips sound more like science fiction, they have proved to be successful in monkeys. In 2021, Neuralink released a video showing a monkey playing Pong with its brain. Monkey MindPong Neuralinks system works by letting a sewing machine-like robot surgically insert a microchip inside the brain. It removes a small chunk of the skull, connects the thread-like electrodes to target regions of the brain, and stitches up the hole, finally leaving only a scar. The microchip then interprets brain signals and relays information to computers via Bluetooth. The whole procedure, Musk explained, takes 30 minutes and does not require anesthesia, with patients being discharged on the same day. You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldnt even know, he said last December during a Neuralink Show and Tell event in Fremont, California. Even if someone has never had a vision, ever, like they were born blind, we believe we can still restore vision. Musk claimed he was ready to have the device implanted in his own brain in future. Who are Neuralinks competitors? Neuralinks competitors in the brain-implant field, Synchron and Blackrock Neurotech, have already implanted devices in at least 42 people in the world for clinical trials. Synchron got FDA approval in July 2021 and tested its device on four patients in Australia who successfully sent text messages with their minds, without typing anything. Blackrock Neurotech secured FDAs clearance in November 2021, with its MoveAgain system allowing doctors to pick up neurological signals from the brain of paralyzed patients, allowing them to control digital devices, prosthetics, and their own limbs. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Elon Musk suggested Thursday during a Twitter Spaces with Ford CEO Jim Farley that Tesla might open up some of its automotive operating system code to other automakers. In the same way that maybe Android is helpful to the phone industry as sort of a general standard, like we could potentially open source more code, said Musk. If Tesla takes that leap it will compete with Google, which has developed an automotive operating system based on Android, as well as Apple. Musk was responding to Farleys note that making a fully software updatable vehicle is super hard. The billionaire executive said Tesla would be happy to be helpful on the software front. Musk made the comment during a Twitter Spaces that was used to announce a milestone agreement between Tesla and Ford. Under the deal announced Thursday, Ford's EV customers will get access to the Tesla Supercharging network in the U.S. and Canada. More importantly, Ford agreed to incorporate Tesla's charging port into its second-generation of EVs, which includes a truck and three-row SUV, starting in 2025. Musk often spitballs ideas for Tesla at live events, some of which come to fruition and some of which dont. If Tesla were to try to commercialize its over-the-air updatable software to other vehicles, it would put the automaker in direct competition with Google and Apple. Google offers automakers Android Automotive OS, which is modeled after its open source mobile operating system that runs on Linux and is modified for use in cars. Apple also jumped into the OS game last June when it announced that its next-gen CarPlay aims to power a vehicles entire instrument cluster. Both tech companies also offer a middleware product called Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that connects a user's phone to a cars infotainment system. Supply chain partnerships Musk and Farley also hinted Thursday at other potential partnerships in the future, including in the supply chain. The Ford CEO questioned Musk about Teslas new Corpus Christi lithium refining plant. Ford recently struck a series of deals, including with Albemarle and SQM, to ensure the automakers access to lithium. Musk repeated previous woes that there are not enough entrepreneurs in the U.S. digging into raw materials mining and processing, and that he wishes Tesla didnt have to pick up the slack. He said the company has a nickel-based cathode refinery in Austin, and might also have to get involved in anode manufacturing, but hopefully not. Musk noted that theres going to be a huge market for synthetic graphite (graphite is the main material in most lithium-ion anodes). The two CEOs have remained friendly at times despite competing against each other. Musk has praised the automaker in the past, noting on several occasions that only Tesla and Ford have avoided bankruptcy. Ford, like other legacy automakers, is still aiming to unseat Tesla as the No. 1 seller of EVs in the United States. Ford has a ways to go. In 2022, Ford sold 61,575 electric vehicles in the U.S. Tesla sold 1.3 million EVs globally. The company doesn't break out sales by country. Over the past two years, Ford said it lost about $3 billion on its EV and digital services business, a unit now known as Model e. The company doesnt expect Model e to be profitable until late 2026 with an 8% operating profit margin. Fords traditional gas-powered engine units were profitable enough to offset those losses, though. In terms of production, Ford aims to reach 600,000 EV units by the end of 2023 and 2 million by the end of 2026. Tesla said it wants to hit a 50% compound annual growth rate in 2023 that should see the automaker produce 1.8 million cars. Employee who died in May at Mativ's Whiting paper mill identified; investigations continue WHITING - The employee who died at a Whiting paper mill earlier this month was a "beloved son, father and brother" who "had a knack for making everyone feel welcomed and loved," according to his obituary. "While his time on Earth was cut short, his impact and memory will continue to live on," his obituary states. Joshua Vyse, 40, died "unexpectedly in a work-related accident" on May 14, according to his obituary. Multiple agencies responded to the accident that Sunday afternoon at the mill owned by Mativ Inc., located at 3243 Whiting Road, less than 5 miles south of Stevens Point. "We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our team members at our Whiting facility," Jason Free, Mativ's executive vice president of operations said on May 22 in a statement to USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. "We express our sincere condolences to our employee's family and all others affected by this loss." In light of what happened, Mativ suspended operations at the Whiting facility for one week, Free said, "to allow our employees to deal with the loss before returning to work." "Prioritizing the safety of our employees physical safety as well as psychological safety and emotional wellbeing is our number one goal," Free said. Mativ and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Health and Safety Administration continue to investigate. Mativ's Neenah Converting Center located in Neenah, Wis. An employee died May 14 at Mativ's mill in Whiting. (Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin) Vyse had 'generous spirit' and 'strong work ethic' According to his obituary, Vyse grew up in the Columbus, Wisconsin. A report from the Portage County Sheriff's Office, which USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin obtained through a public records request, lists his residence in Amherst Junction, a village about 16 miles east of the Whiting mill. "Josh's strong work ethic was admirable, as he dedicated himself tirelessly to his job," his obituary says. "He was known for his diligence and commitment, often going above and beyond by taking on additional hours and overtime. His strong work ethic was a testament to his character and his desire to provide for his loved ones." The obituary says that "Josh's sudden departure has left a void in the lives of those he touched," but "the memory of his generous spirit, his patience, and his willingness to help those around him will remain as a testament to the remarkable person he was." Vyse is survived by his mother, children, siblings and nephews, according to the obituary. Law enforcement determines death was accidental; two investigations continue OSHA opened a case stemming from Vyse's death on May 15. The agency has six months to complete an inspection and issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations are found, an OSHA spokesperson said. "OSHA does not comment on the specifics of inspections until they are complete," according to the spokesperson. Mativ is also "actively investigating the cause of the incident," and the company is "fully cooperating with all authorities," Free said. The Portage County Sheriff's Office, on May 22, told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin it'd concluded its investigation. "At this time Josh's death is not considered suspicious and deemed an accidental work place death," according to the sheriff's office report. More: Take a look inside ND Paper's newest addition at Biron's 127-year-old paper mill Portage County Sheriff's Office report describes emergency response to mill Law enforcement responded to the mill shortly after 12:45 p.m. on May 14. Witnesses said they did not see everything that happened, but there was a jam and Vyse's arm got stuck in a paper machine, according to the report. Fellow employees stopped the equipment and were able to free their injured coworker, the report states. A medical helicopter was called to the mill, and emergency responders attempted to provide life saving measures, according to the sheriff's office. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Plover Fire Department, Plover EMR, Portage County Ambulance, Aspirus MedEvac, Portage County Chaplain Services and Portage County Medical Examiner. According to the report, one witness at the mill said "there have been some safety issues recently that were being addressed with staff." When asked about this statement, as well as other, unrelated OSHA cases at Mativ's Wisconsin facilities, Free said, "We take all safety concerns very seriously and work diligently to create the safest work environment for our employees." "We work closely with authorities," Free said, "to continuously improve our safety practices and ensure that we have the right protections in place." More: Wisconsin doesn't make as much printing and writing paper as it used to. Here's why a few local mills still do OSHA previously conducted inspections at Mativ's Wisconsin facilities Online OSHA records show that in addition to the fatality case this month, OSHA opened another inspection at the Whiting mill on March 30. Details are not available, though, since the case remains open. In the last five years, there were also two closed cases at the Wisconsin mills which Mativ now owns. No citations were issued from a 2022 safety inspection at its Neenah facility. Meanwhile, a 2021 inspection at the Whiting mill resulted in three violations and a $16,384 penalty for issues around energy control procedures and guarding to protect employees in work areas. Prior to incident this month at Mativ's facility, the most recent employee fatality at a Wisconsin paper mill was in August at Ahlstrom's Thilmany Plant in Kaukauna. OSHA's investigation determined that 29-year-old Aaron M. Hobart was fatally injured by a "catastrophic failure in two pipe sections" and a power boiler "explosion." OSHA did not issue any citations or penalties to Ahlstrom in the case. More: Wisconsin sees fewer workplace fatalities generally, but there's higher risk in agriculture, forestry industries nationally Mativ's presence in Wisconsin stems from Neenah Inc. Last year, Neenah Inc., merged with Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., to form Mativ Holdings Inc., which is based in Georgia. The company has two Wisconsin mills, in Neenah and Whiting, as well as a converting center in Neenah. The two mills are focused on the company's packaging and specialty papers business unit. Employees at the facilities produce customized, high-end packaging solutions, premium labels and fine papers. The Whiting facility employees more than 200 people, according to a company spokesperson. Last year, the spokesperson said that Mativ plans to sell the Appleton plant, located 430 E. South Island St., that Neenah Inc., closed in 2021. More: Why tissue, packaging and specialty papers look promising for Wisconsin's paper industry Reach Becky Jacobs at bjacobs@gannett.com or 920-993-7117. Follow her on Twitter at @ruthyjacobs. This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Mativ, OSHA continue to investigate death at Whiting paper mill Michael Kunovich's two young sons stood side by side in front of a celebration of life Friday for their father, a sergeant in the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office who collapsed and died May 19 after a struggle with a teenage suspect. They wanted the gathering of law enforcement officers and the public to know that their father was a kind, generous man who stressed to them that work wasn't everything, who encouraged them to travel, who often told his sons how proud he was of them. "What many dont know is how much we say we were proud of him, his hard work and his moral compass," Michael Jr. said. "He had the extraordinary ability to come home after a long shift and be Dad." James Louis Anderson: Colleagues, St. Johns residents remember deputy killed in crash End of Watch: What we know about St. Johns Sgt. Michael Kunovich's death As Michael struggled with his emotion, his brother Max put his arm around him. "Dad, your shift was over way too soon," Michael said. "Go rest high on that mountain, be our guardian angel and guide Max and I to serve like you did. Michael Kunovich Jr., left, is supported by brother Max as he becomes emotional while talking about their late father, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Kunovich, at his funeral Friday, Officers from Florida and beyond came Rain had just ended, but it was cool, gray and blustery Friday morning as hundreds of people gathered at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Old St. Augustine Road to honor Kunovich, 52, a veteran St. Johns County sheriff's officer. Officers from across Florida came, with some from Hillsborough County, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Green Cove Springs, Flagler County and other departments joining St. Johns and Duval sheriff's officers for the service. Brian Briska and Armand Reyes came all the way from Long Island, N.Y., representing the Suffolk County police chapter of the Brotherhood of the Fallen, a nonprofit organization. "Anybody that was violently killed in the line of duty, we want our department represented; two volunteers any time anything like this happens," Briska said. "It's a brotherhood. We have to stick together. Just the emotional support for the family, to know that they're not alone." Reyes, who retired from Suffolk County Highway Patrol after he was injured by a drunk driver in 2011, said he's sadly used to going to services such as Friday's. It's important to acknowledge the humanity of the fallen officers, he said. "It's hard, unless you share what is going on, which is hard to do on a daily basis because we see so much stuff," Reyes said. "We're human, and we're just there to enforce the law and keep everyone safe." "Wish we didn't have to do it," Briska added, "but we're honored to be here." Kunovich A deadly altercation and a murder charge On May 19, about 9 p.m., Kunovich saw a young man in a hotel parking lot in the 2500 block of Florida 16 in St. Augustine and thought something might be suspicious, according to the arrest report. St. Johns authorities later identified him as 18-year-old Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, whom they said is a homeless migrant worker from Guatemala living in the United States illegally. Based on footage from Kunovich's body-worn camera, Aguilar Mendez began walking away when the officer approached in his patrol vehicle. As Kunovich tried to question him and pat him down, Aguilar Mendez pulled away and fled. Backup arrived on the scene, but the Sheriff's Office said Aguilar Mendez continued resisting and Kunovich used his taser at least three times as the 18-year-old tried to wrestle it away, police said. After the suspect was handcuffed, he managed to pull out a folding pocket knife from a pocket and had to be disarmed by deputies. The struggle lasted about six minutes, and Kunovich collapsed in "medical distress" and could not be revived, the Sheriff's Office said. Aguilar Mendez has been charged with murder and resisting law enforcement with violence. The murder count is due to a death occurring during the commission of a felony. Medina Ulloa: Immigrant murder suspect politicized by DeSantis in Jacksonville is sentenced Officers down:Three Jacksonville sheriff's officers have been shot this year. Here's what we know Deputy Eric Oliver: Francisco Portillo-Fuentes, living here illegally, takes manslaughter plea for fleeing Nassau deputy killed in traffic Kunovich was much awarded Kunovich, a 26-year Sheriff's Office veteran, started out as a reserve deputy and eventually became a senior law enforcement deputy, senior internal affairs detective and a patrol shift leader. He was on the SWAT team for five years and most recently served as a sergeant in the Central Region. The Sheriff's Office said he received numerous awards including Meritorious Service in 2003 and 2013, Exceptional Service in 2010 and many letters of commendation. He earned his bachelors degree in public administration from Flagler College. A line of motorcycle units from across the state lead the motorcade escorting the body of St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Kunovich to Oaklawn Cemetery on Friday. Before the ceremony, David Petry, a police officer in Port S. Lucie, readied himself in the church parking lot after he and a colleague drove three hours to get to the funeral. "We just want to pay our respect to a fellow officer who gave the ultimate sacrifice," Petry said. "The drive was nothing to us." This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Funeral packed for St. Johns County sheriff's officer Michael Kunovich Supporters of Turkish President and Peoples Alliances presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan dance as they give handouts to commuters in Istanbul Supporters of Turkish President and Peoples Alliances presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan dance as they give handouts to commuters in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23, 2023. Credit - Francisco SecoAP When international election observers issued their preliminary findings following the May 14 elections in Turkey, they concluded that while the contest was competitive and largely free, it was fought on an unlevel playing field in which the incumbent and the ruling parties, by virtue of biased media coverage and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, had an unjustified advantage. The election saw President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secure 49.51% of the votejust shy of the 50% needed to avoid a May 28 runoffto opposition leader Kemal Klcdaroglus 44.88%. For Nevsin Mengu, one of Turkeys leading journalists, the verdict hardly came as a surprise. Mengu has seen firsthand the hold that Erdogans government has on the countrys media landscape. Her critical reporting of the Turkish President ultimately cost her her job at CNN Turk in 2017, after she reported on his meeting with then U.S. President Donald Trump in a less than favorable light. (She had a previous run-in with Erdogan over comments he made about the role of women in Turkish society.) Mengu has since gone on to present her own popular show on YouTube. Erdogans control over the Turkish media landscape was particularly palpable in the run up to the first-round of voting. In April, Erdogan reportedly benefited from 32 hours of airtime on state television compared to just 32 minutes for Klcdaroglu. Read More: Why Erdogan Is Now the Clear Favorite in Turkeys Election TIME caught up with Mengu on the sidelines of the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy earlier this month, where she spoke about the state of media freedom in Turkey and what to expect from the presidential runoff on May 28. TIME: You were an evening news anchor at CNN Turk before leaving the network in 2017. Can you talk about what prompted the decision? Nevsin Mengu: I had been anchoring the 6 oclock news for a while. How it works right now in Turkey is there are pro-government trolls. They attack people. They finger-point people. The same thing was happening to me. Pro-government trolls hated me, they were always finger-pointing me and I had to go to court to testify because of that a couple of times, because of really silly accusations. There was a Trump-Erdogan meeting [in May 2017], the first meeting after Trump was elected. I was talking about that because that was happening on live TV, and I said basically that the meeting only lasted 23 minutes. And this pissed [off] Mr. Erdogan because he wanted to present the meeting like they were best buddies and that it was a long meeting. He was pissed and through people he contacted my boss and he said they dont want me anymore. My boss negotiated and then I left. Compared to other people, its not such a sad story. I was just fired. Thats fine, it happens. Its true that many journalists have fared worse in Turkey, which is one of the biggest jailers of journalists in the world. But regardless of whether a journalist is jailed or fired, the outcome is more or less the same, right? You were prevented from doing your job. Actually, were kind of lucky compared to former generations of journalists because now theres digital media and you can do your job wherever. I know in America, for example, podcasts are big. You can do podcasts, you can find sponsors, and whatnot. In Turkey, YouTube is really big. So because of all this, now, conventional media is very divided. A big chunk is pro-government, pro-state, pro-Erdogan media. They have the money and they have the means. Then theres the smaller, pro-opposition media. There is nothing in between. People, especially younger people, turn to digital media more and more. People either follow on Twitter, they turn to YouTube. I have a viewer base on YouTube, thank God, and they donate. So I have a small team now. This has been a learning experience for me. I became an entrepreneur journalist, in a sense. Its like a small business, but we are trying to do idealistically what we can do. Were doing videos, were following the elections. When the Ukraine war started, I went there to cover the war. Of course, I cannot be like CNN. But at least I can do free reporting and people value that now in Turkey. You covered the first round of the Turkish election. What did you make of the outcome? Has there been a sense of deflation among the opposition? Im really sorry for the opposition voters because theyre yearning for some hope, for something, someone to take the responsibility. The opposition is in shock right now. Because the thing is, they believed that they would take this election in the first round. I mean, actually, [the result] was not that badErdogan lost in the first round. He does not have a simple majority. That is something very important. You have the majority of the country skeptical, at least, about Erdogan. But now, the opposition seems to be in panic. Thats whats saddening. Plenty of observers seemed to share the oppositions expectation that victory was possibleeven probable. When you saw the final results come in, were you surprised? The thing is, for the last 20 years, we always had this hope that the opposition might win. This is the first time they were this close to winning. Its really hard to poll for polling companies. In the metropolitan cities, Erdogan is losing. He keeps losing. Actually, in 51 cities, he lost votes. In the bigger cities, they do not want Erdogan, basically. In smaller cities and rural areas, he has strong support. But its the same pattern everywhere. I think its harder for pollsters to go to little tiny villages when theyre making a sample. Theyre usually in the bigger cities. Of course, they go to smaller cities also, but maybe not the villages. I think thats why. The presidential runoff is fast approaching. Do you think the opposition has the capacity to come back from this? They have to motivate their voters. One thing we saw in this election is rising nationalism, especially among younger voters. I think what the opposition is trying to do right now is to try and cling on to this more nationalist narrative. I think thats a big gamble, because when they cling on to this more nationalist narrative, then theyre going to lose [the ethnic minority] Kurdish vote. Can the opposition compete with Erdogan on nationalism? In Turkey, now, we have two fronts: Erdogan and the opposition. They are both coalitions. In Erdogans coalition, there are Kurds, there are Islamists, and there are nationalists who are pro-Erdogan. On the other side, you have the same: You have Kurds, you have nationalists, but they are against Erdogan. Erdogan is a personality cult. He could be a nationalist today, he could be an Islamist tomorrow. In three days, he could be a Communist, let me tell you. Thats what they are trying to fight against. I think thats why its hard. Has the opposition leader, Klcdaroglu, been able to compete with Erdogans cult of personality? Thats what some people criticize. We have this mayor of Istanbul, [Ekrem Imamoglu]. He is a famous figure, he is younger, very active, energetic. Some people are saying that he should run for President rather than Klcdaroglu. But then others say that Klcdaroglu is a balancing figure, calmer. So now some people are saying if the mayor of Istanbul ran, he would have more chances to win. I think that could be the case because, if I was the opposition, if the mayor of Istanbul ran, I could have used the narrative that Mr. Erdogan was fine, he built the bridges, roads, whatever. But now hes older. Lets go for a younger alternative, a new start. Why not? They could have used that. But Klcdaroglu is around the same age as Erdogan. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said in its preliminary findings following the first round of voting that although the election was largely free and devoid of media irregularities, it was marred by an unlevel playing field in which Erdogan and his allies had unjustified advantage. Of course. They use all the state [resources]. What Erdogan did was he started handing out money, because he canraising bureaucrats salaries, giving more pensions. This always works. If Erdogan wins, where do you think the Turkish opposition goes from here? One of Turkeys advantages is that we have a very organized opposition. The oldest party of Turkey, the CHP [Republican Peoples Party], is the founder of Turkey and main opposition party. It is organized. So theyre going to renew themselves. Probably the leadership is going to change. This will have political consequences, of course, for the ones who lost. But theyll renew themselves and they will continue. It is what it is. Thats how democracy works. Its not like a three-day thing. Its a long-term thing. And if Erdogan loses, would he bow out gracefully? Well, he has to. What is he going to do? He has to. But of course, the mission of the opposition is going to be really hard because the economy is in ruins and then theyre going to have to basically deal with that. Even if you start today, its not going to be okay for the next two years. Thats what analysts project. Its going to be really hard remaking the institutions, because as you know, in all autocratic countries, institutions are deeply damaged. It will not be an easy task for the opposition either. Has this election changed anything in terms of how Turkish people think of their democracy? Younger people tend not to vote for Erdogan. There is that change, obviously. Turkey is urbanizing really fast, so younger people want more democracy, they want something else basically. So there is that change. Its going to come. But lets see. Maybe with this economy, if [Erdogan] does not change his ways, I dont know how else hes going to stay. I think hes going to have to change his economic policy. In nine months, we have local elections. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. A former computer technician has completed his quest to collect and build six replica cars from iconic Hollywood movies. James Napier, from Wickford, Essex, says he has spent 10 years - including trips across the Atlantic - and about 250,000 putting together his fleet. The collection includes a 1981 DeLorean modelled on Doc Brown's time machine from the Back to the Future trilogy. "It's turned out to be quite an addiction I guess," said Mr Napier. "My wife doesn't get to see me much any more." Back to the Future star Michael J Fox turned up at the 2017 Oscars with a DeLorean (pictured with Seth Rogan) James Napier has used the DeLorean on the school run Mr Napier's collection includes (left to right) a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, a 1994 Ford Explorer and the 1981 DeLorean Mr Napier runs a business hiring out the cars and has also opened a dedicated museum in Basildon this week showing off his collection. His exhibition, at a secret location, is accessible for people who book in advance. It also features various original film props, including model cutlasses used in The Goonies movie. The 40-year-old father-of-three's fleet includes: A 1967 Ford Mustang GT500 modelled on 'Eleanor' from Gone in 60 Seconds and purchased from Italy The 1981 DeLorean modelled on Doc Brown's Back to the Future time machine, which he said involved several trips to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles so he could replicate the tiniest details A 1994 Ford Explorer, to model the Jurassic Park jeeps. His particular car was previously used in promotional events for the film franchise A 1982 Pontiac Firebird modelled on the KITT car from Knight Rider A 2015 Chevrolet Camaro modelled on Bumblebee from Transformers A 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse, as seen in the Fast and Furious franchise He said all the cars were road legal, having used them at takeaway drive-thru restaurants and for the school drop-off. "It gets quite a good reaction," he said, speaking to BBC Essex. "Normally people's jaws are on the floor." Mr Napier said he would soon be adding a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado to the collection, which was the original featured in Austin Powers' Goldmember. Mr Napier said he travelled to Los Angeles several times to copy the design of the original Back to the Future DeLorean Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Friday condemned an agreement between Russia and Belarus to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus. "This is a step which will lead to further extremely dangerous escalation," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. Russia moved ahead on Thursday with its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move. The plan was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. On Thursday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said he was signing documents in Minsk on the process for storing such weapons in Belarus. Borrell said the decision contravened multiple international agreements. "We call on Russia to abide by these commitments," he said. "The Belarusian regime is an accomplice in Russias illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine," Borrell added. "We call on Belarusian authorities to put an immediate end to their support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and reverse decisions that can only contribute to heightening tensions in the region, and undermine Belarus sovereignty." He said any attempt "to further escalate the situation will be met by a strong and coordinated reaction". (Reporting by Andrew Gray;Editing by Kirsten Donovan) EU to send human rights envoy to Cuba, but will not 'impose' demands By Dave Sherwood HAVANA (Reuters) - The European Union will send a special human rights envoy to Cuba this year to discuss the aftermath of anti-government protests in July 2021, but the EU's top diplomat said it will not "impose" demands on the Communist-run Caribbean nation. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on a visit to Cuba this week, said EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore would visit the island in late November "to analyze the situation created before, during and after the demonstrations and arrests." Hundreds of Cubans remain in jail after the protests, the largest since former leader Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Rights groups, the European Union and the United States have all critiqued Cuba's response to such protests as heavy-handed and repressive. Cuba's government said those jailed were guilty of assault, vandalism and sedition. Borrell said the European Union, Cubas top trade partner, would stop short of making demands on the government despite disagreements over human rights. The 27-member EU has repeatedly rejected the United States Cold War-era trade embargo, and Washington putting Cuba on a list of state sponsors of terrorism. "The European Union has neither the capacity nor the will to impose changes in Cuba, but we do want to maintain a framework that allows us to talk about everything that unites and divides us without taboos or prohibitions," Borrell said. Cubas support for Russia in the Ukraine war has become another flashpoint in its relationship with the EU. Cuba, a long-time political ally of Russia, has called for a peaceful solution but has said the United States, not Russia, is responsible for the war. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in what Moscow described as a necessary decision to protect its security. Borrell said Cuba, which this year holds the presidency of the G77 group of developing nations, had a special role in defending international law in Ukraine. "Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the aggressor," Borrell said. "We hope to count on Cuba in its capacity as defender ... of the basic principles of international law." European businesses, from Spain, Germany and France, among others, are top investors in Cuba, and a major source of tourists and humanitarian aid. Russia however, has beefed up commercial ties with Cuba since the start of the Ukraine conflict, signing multiple business deals while shipping cargoes of wheat and petroleum products to the cash-strapped island in recent months. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood, additional reporting by Nelson Acosta; editing by Grant McCool) Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, which opened on Thursday in Beijing. As a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation continues to evolve, mankind needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever in order to address common development problems, Xi said. Committed to a win-win strategy of opening-up, China is ready to join hands with other countries to promote sci-tech innovation and make science and technologies better serve people of all countries, he said. Xi stressed that Beijing should fully leverage its strengths in education, science, technologies and talent, coordinate sci-tech and institutional innovation, continue to promote pilot reforms in Zhongguancun, further accelerate the construction of a world-leading sci-tech park, and strive to take the lead in the innovation of cutting-edge technologies and the development of advanced and sophisticated industries. 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. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union reached a deal with Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE to scale back purchases of Covid-19 vaccines by about a third after some member states said they were reluctant to pay for new deliveries amid an oversupply of shots after the pandemic started to wane. The amended supply contract takes into account the improved epidemiological situation, while continuing to ensure access to the latest available version of the vaccine should new variants of concern emerge, the European Commission, the 27-nation EUs executive arm, announced on Friday. The new pact also foresees a reduction in the quantity of doses purchased by EU member states under the contract, the commission said. The cut in volume will be about 35%, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Following payment of a fee, originally contracted doses will be converted into optional orders, while the time in which countries will be able to take delivery of the vaccines has also been extended to four years from now, the commission said. The amended agreement reflects the companies commitment to working collaboratively to help address ongoing public health needs, while respecting the principles of the original agreement, Pfizer said in a separate statement. The deal could amount to a revenue hit of $1.5 billion to $2.1 billion each year for the company, according to Sam Fazeli, a pharma analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Pfizer-BioNTechs reduced Covid-19 vaccine deal with the EU could put Pfizer guidance of $13.5 billion in 2023 revenue at risk, while also having negative repercussions for Moderna, Fazeli wrote. Of the 900 million initial doses committed to in the previous agreement of 2021, 450 million doses are scheduled to be delivered in 2023. In March, health ministers of Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary issued a joint letter asking the commission to negotiate with Pfizer in particular on non-delivery payments, significantly reducing the number of contracted doses. Read More: Why Covids Aftermath Will Be Felt for a Long Time: QuickTake As of March this year, the World Health Organization recommends getting vaccinated and staying up to date with booster doses generally as a way of preventing Covid and post-acute conditions. Still, with the end of the Covid emergency, free, government-provided booster shots for all are coming to an end in many places, which could contribute to a drop-off in uptake. --With assistance from Naomi Kresge and Slav Okov. (Updates with analyst starting in sixth paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Eugene Police Department responds to a bomb threat at South Eugene High School Wednesday, the fourth threat in as many weeks. After four calls claiming false threats of violence at South Eugene High in the past month, Eugene Police is offering a reward to anyone with information. The calls have all followed a similar pattern, calling into Central Lane 911 and saying that there was a bomb at the high school. The first three had an automated voice. The fourth call was slightly different, with a male-sounding voice, preceded by a call about a gun then a call about a bomb. Each of the four threats of violence, the most recent of which was Wednesday, prompted officials to evacuate students or perform a lockdown, with classes being canceled for the day after the first two incidents. After a police search, no bomb or other danger was found after any of the threats. Similar false threat calls have become a trend nationwide, with schools across the country dealing with disruptions. The FBI has now taken over the Eugene investigation into the calls, and EPD has taken a backseat in the investigation. The FBI has identified the phone number generating the threats, which linked to a paid service that can make such calls. On Thursday, EPD announced a $2,500 reward for "credible information that leads to the apprehension of a suspect(s) in the ongoing threat phone messages." Eugene School District 4J Superintendent Andy Dey said he believes there are students with information about where these calls are coming from or what the motive may be. "If they feel like they know something, then I would encourage them to say something to an adult in our system. It's very likely that somebody knows a little bit more than what they might have already shared," Dey said. "That would be very good information for us to have." EPD asks anyone with information to call 541-871-3339. 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: South Eugene High School bomb threats: Reward offered for info EV battery factory to be built next to Hyundai assembly plant in Bryan Co. What to know. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp celebrates on Friday May 20, 2022 as he officially announces plans By Hyundai Motor Group to build a manufacturing plant in Ellabell Georgia at Bryan County mega-site. The site is located just off Interstate 16. Hyundai Motor Group on Friday revealed plans for the EV battery cell manufacturing factory that is to be part of the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County. Hyundai and LG Energy Solution will partner in the $4.3 billion plant that will produce 300,000 batteries a year. The facility is expected to open in late 2025, just months after Hyundai's EV assembly factory is scheduled to come online. Hyundai Motor Group is focusing on its electrification efforts to secure a leadership position in the global auto industry, said Jaehoon Chang, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. We will create a strong foundation to lead the global EV transition through establishing a new EV battery cell plant with LG Energy Solution, a leading global battery producer and long-time partner. The signing ceremony took place Friday in Seoul, South Korea at the LG Energy Solution headquarters. More: Hanon Systems investing more than $40 million in manufacturing facility in Bulloch County More: Clearing the air: Contractors build cement plants at Hyundai without air pollution permits More: Springfield is a revitalization success story. As growth accelerates, challenges remain. Construction on the batter plant is slated to begin later this year. The battery materials produced by the new facility will be assembled into battery packs by Hyundai Mobis, which is building its own facility in Richmond Hill. Hyundai Mobis will distribute the finished product to Hyundai Motor Group manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. for Genesis EV models, Hyundai and Kia. Two strong leaders in the auto and battery industries have joined hands and together we are ready to drive the EV transition in America, said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. By further advancing our product competitiveness and global operational expertise, LG Energy Solution will commit our best efforts to offering the ultimate sustainable energy solutions to our customers. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 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: Hyundai and LG Energy Solution build EV battery plant in Bryan County Everything you need to know about the Kh-101 cruise missile Russia uses to terrorize Ukraine Debris of the downed Kh-101 missile They are notable for being used in the devastating April 2023 attack on the high-rise building in the central Ukrainian city of Uman. They were also used to attack the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv overnight on May 26. NV explains what you need to know about the Kh-101 cruise missile. Kh-101 is a strategic air-to-ground cruise missile. This is one of Russias latest developments. The missile is designed with technology to reduce radar visibility. Kh-101s can carry a thermonuclear warhead, which changes its designation to Kh-102. The missile was developed by the Raduga design bureau. Russia claims that it is produced with exclusively Russian components. Read also: Civilians dead and injured in Russian drone and artillery attacks in five Ukrainian oblasts Tu-95MS bomber with Kh-101 missiles on suspension mil.ru Read also: Russias overnight attack: all targets neutralized above Kyiv, while Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv hit The following Russian strategic bombers carry the Kh-101s: Tu-160 (up to 12 Kh-101 missiles in two internal compartments) Tu-95MS (up to eight missiles on external suspension). Kh-101 missiles use a combined guidance system: it is basically an inertial system with optical and electronic correction, and a homing head is used in the final section. Unlike earlier generation missiles, the Kh-101 is hypothetically able to change the target while already in the air. According to test results, Russia claims that Kh-101 missiles are theoretically capable of destroying moving targets with a hit accuracy of up to 10 m. The nominal circular probable deviation of the missile is 7 m at a range of up to 5,500 km. Read also: All Kinzhal hypersonic missiles targeted Kyiv, Air Forces reveals details of Russian overnight attack Russia first used the Kh-101 in Syria, and after February 2022, the invaders regularly use them to attack Ukraine. For a taste of how Russia uses these missiles to attack Ukraine, here is a non-exhaustive list: Airstrikes on the Vinnytsia airport and Havryshivka military airfield in the spring of 2022 Strikes on Ukraines critical infrastructure in 2022 and 2023 Missile attack on Dnipro on April 28, 2023, killing a mother and a three-year-old child Missile attack on Uman in April 2023, when 23 people were killed in a high-rise strike Recently, Russia has been using Kh-101 missiles straight from the assembly line to attack Ukraine, said Defense Express. Ukrainian air defense was able to shoot down the Kh-101s even before the Patriot missile defense system arrived in Ukraine, though this is among the most difficult targets. Previously, Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile troops were forced to launch two obsolete missiles from the Buk or S-300 systems to hit one Kh-101 missile. The latest air defense systems, such as NASAMS and IRIS-T, are better able to down such missiles. The main characteristics of the Kh-101 missiles: Length 7.45 m Diameter 742 mm Wingspan 3 m Starting weight 2,200-2,400 kg Warhead weight 400 kg Cruise speed 190-200 m/s Maximum speed 250-270 m/s Maximum range from 3,000 to 5,500 km, according to various data Read also: Russian missile hits hospital in Dnipro, one killed, many others injured, including children Missile upgrade amid the invasion of Ukraine Since late November 2022, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have started to find devices for firing radar traps in the fragments of the Kh-101 missiles. For this reason, Russian engineers are looking for ways to break through this air defense tactic. Russia upgraded the Kh-101 cruise missiles due to problems with guidance accuracy, Colonel Mykola Danyliuk, representative of the Central Military Scientific Directorate of Ukraines General Staff, reported in February 2023. The Russian Kh-101 missile showed limited capabilities of breaking through the air defense system, so the invaders were forced to quickly upgrade the missile, he said. Russians tried to improve the optical and electronic guidance system of such missiles, with modifications appearing in late autumn. The main difference of the upgraded Kh-101s guidance system is the presence of three stationary lenses to help increase accuracy. Read also: Russia has launched about 8,000 missiles against Ukraine since start of invasion, air force says The old optical and electronic system had one lens mounted on a rotary mechanism with tilt angles of up to 10 degrees. The missile upgrade means that Russia doesnt abandon its terror tactics but wants to cause more and more destruction, kill more and more Ukrainians, Danyliuk said. Thats why new modifications and technical solutions may appear to increase the Russian missiles accuracy and lethality. Russia began to obscure its Kh-101 missiles in early 2023. The serial number is erased with a grinder on the missile body. This is done to make the identification and approximate date of manufacture almost impossible to discover. A missiles serial number contains information about the year, quarter, batch, and serial number of the missile in the batch. This makes it possible to estimate the rate and order of use of these projectiles. 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 Image: Sony One week. Thats all thats left before audiences can jump back into the Spider-Verse and go across it. Its been five years but on June 2, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse finally opens, and audiences will get to see the return of Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker, and dozens of other Spider-people in the highly anticipated sequel. And while there surely isnt a better way to spend one of your nights between now and then rewatching the groundbreaking, Oscar-winning original film, maybe you dont have the time. Its also not streaming anywhere right now. So if you just want a quick refresher on what this universe is, whats happened so far, and what you need to know about the main characters, look no further. And then check back next week for more coverage of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Read more Miles Morales Image: Sony Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore, is a teenager from Brooklyn, New York who leaves his normal school for a more prestigious one called Brooklyn Visions Academy. His father, Jefferson, is a police officer; his mom, Rio, is a nurse; and hes passionate about art and music. One day, while making graffiti art in the subway with his uncle Aaron, Miles is bitten by a spider that gives him superpowers. When he attempts to find out more about where the spider came from, he witnesses a fight between Spider-Man and Kingpin. Spider-Man is trying to stop Kingpin from using a massive machine that can destroy space and time and, in the process, Spider-Man is killed by Kingpin. Before he dies though, Spider-Man senses that Miles is like him and makes Miles promise hell stop Kingpin and destroy the machine, which they refer to as a collider. At the start, Miles is just starting to learn about his powers; along the way, he meets several other Spider-people who were brought to Peters world through Kingpins collider. By the end of the movie, hes been the official Spider-Man of his universe for exactly two days. Peter Parker Image: Sony At the start of the movie, Peter Parker, voiced by Chris Pine, is Spider-Man in Miles dimension and has been that for 10 years. However, as mentioned in the previous entry, he dies at the hands of Kingpin trying to stop his inter-dimensional collider. Peter also plays a posthumous role because Miles and his fellow Spider-people (more on them in a minute) end up at the home of his aunt, Aunt May. Mays backyard is where Peter kept hisbasicallySpider-Cave, filled with all sorts of gadgets and gizmos that help the other Spider-people. (Oh, and he had an album of Christmas songs.) The Multiverse Image: Sony Kingpins collider, which was created by Dr. Olivia Octavius (aka Doc Ock), was created to open up pathways to other dimensions, mainly so that Kingpin could reunite with his family, who saw him being violent and left him. It works, but its very dangerousand when it was turned on, it connected to five alternate dimensions and brought a different Spider-person from every dimension to this one: Earth 1610. Because the Spider-people dont belong in this dimension, they have random violent reactions called phasing, and if they stay on Earth 1610 too long, their bodies will disintegrate and they will die. And so all the Spider-people must work together to not only use Kingpins collider to get back to their dimensions, but destroy it so they dont further mess up the multiverse. Peter B. Parker Image: Sony Peter B. Parker, voiced by Jake Johnson, is the first other Spider-person Miles meets. He looks just like Pines Parker, but older and fatter. In his dimension, hes been Spider-Man for 22 years. In that time, he married the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson, only for them to break up over Peters uncertainty about having kids. While wallowing in his sorrows, hes sucked into Miles dimension and helps him, along with the rest of the Spider-people, win the day. Most importantly though, his mentorship of Miles makes him realize that maybe he does want to have a family after all. Miles sends him back to his own dimension at the end of the movie and we see that hes trying to reconcile with Mary Jane. Gwen Stacy Image: Sony Gwen Stacy, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, is another Spider-person who is drawn into Miles dimension when Kingpins collider goes wild. Unlike the others, though, shes blown back in time too. She arrives one week before the collider turns on and says that her Spider-sense told her to hang out at Visions Academy, where she meets and awkwardly befriends Miles. The two develop a friendship, and maybe a tiny bit of romance. In her dimension, shes been Spider-Woman for two years. In that time, she was able to save many people, including her dad, but not her best friend, Peter Parker. Other Spider-People Image: Sony Miles, Peter, and Gwen are also joined in Miles dimension by three other Spider-people. Theres Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage), whose dimension is perpetually 1933 where hes a private detective fighting Nazis. Theres Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn), a young Japanese American girl from the year 3145 who has a psychic link with a radioactive spider who helps power a giant robot Penis dad made. Then theres Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), a pig with the powers of Spider-Man who is from a cartoon universe where hes a news reporter. At the end of the film, each is sent back to their own dimension. Only Gwen, in the films final scene, breaks through back into Miless dimension. Miguel OHara Image: Sony But how did Gwen travel back through dimensions since Kingpins collider was destroyed? Well, the answer to that may come in the end credits of the film. Thats where we meet Miguel OHara, voiced by Oscar Isaac. Called Spider-Man 2099, he and his AI assistant Lyla have created a gizmo that allows Miguel to travel across dimensions at will. He uses it to go back to Earth 67 where he meets another Spider-Man, this one from an old cartoon. Most importantly, Miguel tells this Spider-Man hes from the future and needs him to come back with him. Why? We dont know just yet. Family stuff Image: Sony Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is largely about Miles finding himself and the Spider-Man he wants to be. And, as we learn in the film, every Spider-person needs to experience loss. For Miles, its the death of his Uncle Aaron, whom he looked up to, but is eventually revealed to be Kingpins henchman, the Prowler. The Prowler chases after Spider-Man and, when he realizes its Miles, hesitates to kill him. Thats when Kingpin kills Aaron. Aarons brotherMiles dadsee this and thinks Spider-Man killed Aaron. This only adds to his distaste for the web-slinger, but in the end, Dad is able to witness Miles defeating Kingpin and destroying the collider, so he changes his opinion and becomes a Spider-Man fan. He does not yet know his son is Spider-Man. Only his Spider-friends, and his school roommate, know. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Exclusive: Cal Poly apologizes to Kristin Smarts family for first time for handling of case Cal Polys president has issued a public apology to Kristin Smarts family for the way the San Luis Obispo university handled the investigation into the murdered womans disappearance more than two decades ago. Its the first time Cal Poly has publicly taken accountability for its role in the missteps that occurred in the Smart case. We recognize, even though I wasnt here, that Cal Poly could have done things differently, President Jeffrey Armstrong told The Tribune in an exclusive phone interview Thursday. There were things that we do differently now. There are things that should have been done differently. And for that, Im sorry. Thursday marked the 27th anniversary of Smarts disappearance a day her parents say is a reminder of the pain theyve endured at the hands of Cal Poly and the family of Smarts killer, Paul Flores. Smart was a 19-year-old freshman when she went missing after an off-campus party during Memorial Day weekend in 1996. She was last seen with Flores, who was convicted of her murder in October more than two decades after the crime. The San Pedro man is currently serving a sentence of 25 years to life in North Kern State Prison. Stan and Denise Smart hold a portrait of their daughter, Kristin, at their Stockton home on May 24, 2023, in front of a painting of their children created by Stans sister, Sandy Rudolph. At the time their daughter vanished, Kristin Smarts parents, Stan and Denise Smart, believe Cal Poly leadership at the time did not take her disappearance seriously. Because of this, they say, Flores was free for 25 years despite being the prime suspect in the case. Cal Poly police declined to take a missing persons report when Kristins friends first reported her missing, her friends said in court. When the university police department did take one two days later, Cal Poly police told Stan and Denise Smart their daughter was probably camping. Cal Poly student Kristin Smart was 19 when she went missing after an off-campus party on Memorial Day weekend in 1996. On Oct. 18, 2022, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering Smart after walking her back to the red bricks dorms after the party. But Kristin Smarts essential belongings were left behind and she wasnt the type of person to leave without letting someone know her location her parents said at the time. Why wasnt this ringing alarm bells? they asked. At the time, university police told the campus paper, The Mustang Daily, that they did not think Smarts disappearance was related to a crime. We had girls telling us (Flores) was called Chester Molester, then we have these campus police saying hes somebody you want to bring home to dinner, Denise Smart told The Tribune. I was like, Weve got a problem. Were not making any progress here. Flores dorm room wasnt treated as a possible crime scene. He was allowed to leave for the summer, and the room was cleaned. Santa Lucia Hall on the Cal Poly campus is seen in 2016. University police did not treat Paul Flores room at the resident hall as a crime seen; he was later convicted of killing Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart. Because the room was cleaned, Smarts parents said, crucial forensic evidence was lost by the time the case was transferred to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office a month after Smart disappeared. There wasnt enough to arrest Flores, and he remained free for 25 years. The Smart family still doesnt know where Kristins body is. Paul Flores took Kristins life, Denise Smart said. Cal Poly took ours. If Cal Poly had treated Kristin like a human being and investigated the case with urgency, the Smarts believe, then Flores would have been arrested much sooner and they would have been able to properly bury their daughter. Cal Polys Highland Drive entrance in San Luis Obispo, California. I cant imagine the pain Kristins family has felt and still feels, Armstrong said Thursday. What theyve been through is just unbelievably heartbreaking, About a decade after Kristin Smart went missing, the university offered to erect a memorial to her on campus, but it came with conditions the Smarts said they couldnt agree to. Cal Poly told Smarts parents that the university would memorialize Kristin Smart on campus only if the family absolved Cal Poly of any wrongdoing, the parents said. The university also reserved the right to sue the family if they spoke out against the university, and the family would have to help finance it. Armstrong told the Tribune he was not aware of the negotiation as it was before his tenure, but did not deny that it happened. He said he has been in talks with the family to honor Smart on campus, adding that he would never suggest the Smart family should trade a memorial to their daughter for silence. Cal Poly has taken steps to rectify the situation with the Smart family privately, Armstrong said, and has taken several steps to prevent a situation like the mishandling of Smarts disappearance from happening again. Cal Poly will never be able to control an individual with bad intent when they decide to do something this heinous, the university president said, but added there are extensive public safety services available for students, employees and visitors on campus. An unofficial memorial to Cal Poly student Kristin Smart is seen on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo. Paul Flores is serving a sentence of 25 years to life at North Kern State Prison for killing Smart. According to Armstrong, the university abides by the Clery Act, which requires universities to publicly report crime on campus when it happens. It also follows the Kristin Smart Campus Safety Act of 1998, a law championed by Stan and Denise Smart that requires universities to have a written agreement with local law enforcement about how certain violent crimes are investigated. Cal Poly police officers receive Title IX training, he said, and provide education and preventative outreach on campus. Cal Poly Safer, which was created in response to Kristin Smarts disappearance, provides advocacy, resources and training workshops for sexual misconduct, domestic violence and stalking. We just cant let anything like this happen again, Armstrong said. Twenty-seven years ago, Denise Smart was at a swim meet. It was 1996, and her two youngest children, Matt and Lindsey, were competing in an annual Memorial Day weekend competition in Stockton. It was the first her oldest daughter, Kristin, wasnt there for. Kristin was away at college Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo finishing up her freshman year. That day, Denise received the phone call no parent can imagine: Her daughter was missing. Cal Poly officials told Denise that Kristin likely went camping for the weekend, but a motherly instinct told her that wasnt the case. So she called Kristins roommates, who said Kristin had left behind her backpack, ID and other essential belongings. It was just immediately off-kilter, Denise recalled with goosebumps forming on her arms. I was immediately concerned. Upon receiving the news, Denises husband Stan drove at once to San Luis Obispo. He hoped Kristin would have returned to Cal Poly by the time he arrived there. He thought he would just have to give his daughter a lecture. But that moment never happened, and neither Stan nor Denise could predict the unending nightmare that would unfold from that day. Paul Flores, who was also a freshman at Cal Poly at the time, quickly became a person of interest in the case, then the de-facto sole suspect for nearly three decades. But a botched initial investigation led to his freedom for 25 years, until he was finally arrested and charged with Kristins murder. His father, Ruben Flores, was also arrested that day, accused of helping his son conceal the crime. Two years later in October, a Monterey County jury convicted Paul Flores for the first-degree murder of Kristin Smart. He is currently serving a 25 years to life sentence in North Kern State Prison. His father, who was acquitted by a separate jury, remains free. Despite that resolution, the 27th anniversary of their daughters disappearance isnt a time for celebration, Stan and Denise said. This year, at 27 years, we are beyond grateful that he is in prison, Denise said. But we would be ecstatic at this point if we were able to lay her to rest. On Wednesday, with Paul Flores conviction and sentencing beginning to recede, Stan and Denise sat down with The Tribune at their Stockton home, to talk about their daughters life, the investigation and trial, and where they go from here. Denise Smart said she loves this photo of of her daughter, Kristin. Who was Kristin Smart? Kristin was so much more than a missing girl, her parents told the Tribune. If Kristin were still alive today, Denise said, she would walk in the room, crack a joke and sit on her dads lap even as an adult. She and Stan had an irreplaceable friendship, they said. When Kristin was a teenager, her father got a job as a high school principal in Napa County, so Kristin transferred to his school, commuting with him each day. She was also close with her two younger siblings, Lindsey and Matt. They had begun swimming at 5 and 7 years old, when Kristin was 9. At one meet, Kristin jumped into the pool, and soon, she took up the sport as well. Though her two siblings were more naturally gifted, Denise said, Kristins perseverance and determination were unmatched. Within one summer, she began receiving medals and ribbons, and was even named most improved swimmer of the year. Still, she remained her siblings biggest cheerleader. Each Halloween, Kristin would escort them and the other neighborhood kids to trick or treat. She babysat neighbor Denise Pearces kids and was a role model to them. She became the favorite babysitter of the neighborhood, Pearce said, because she always planned fun activities to do with the kids. Kristin was also determined to have a life of adventure, her mother said. Denise Smart recalled a time when Kristin found a book at Barnes and Noble about how to get hired overseas as a college student. Kristin didnt have the money to buy the book, so she wrote down some information then made some calls. She was a senior in high school at the time. Later, Kristin convinced a Hawaiian surf camp to hire her despite not meeting the employment requirements, her mother said, a testament to her determination. Pearce remembers Kristins excitement for college, and even helped her pick out her first-day outfit: a denim jumper and white blouse. A family photo shows Kristin Smart, right, with siblings Matt and Lindsey at the Stockton home of Stan and Denise Smart. Cal Poly issues first public apology to Smart family Kristin was eager to attend Cal Poly, her parents recalled, but she stayed in close touch with her family, and Sunday phone calls became a tradition once she moved away. Because Memorial Day weekend 1996 was so busy with the swim meet, Denise Smart said she didnt realized Kristin hadnt called that Sunday. Then the call from Cal Poly came. Denise said representatives from the university were flippant when they told her Kristin wasnt accounted for, which was an immediate cause for concern. Denise Pearce, Denise Smarts best friend and fellow swim mom, was with her when she received the news at the swim meet. Pearce recalled her own travels in college and tried to reassure Denise Smart that Kristin was probably doing the same. I thought she still is out there somewhere, Pearce told The Tribune. Never in a million years would I think that she wouldve been murdered. That just wasnt in my reality. But as the days passed, the alarm bells sounded louder. Pearce stayed with Denise while Stan drove to San Luis Obispo with his nephew. The first month was excruciatingly long, Denise and Stan recalled. Denise called every law enforcement agency they could to recruit help to find their daughter, while Stan organized search parties to look for Kristin in sewers and alleyways across San Luis Obispo County. The Smarts said Cal Poly, law enforcement and the news media at the time blamed their daughter for disappearing. Kristin was drunk, they said. She went to a party. She was wearing shorts. Was she promiscuous? She was asking for it. But most witnesses didnt see Kristin actually drink, her parents recalled, and the possibility that she could have been drugged was never explored. Kristins friends told her parents that she was last seen with Paul Flores, whose nickname was Chester the Molester, but the university didnt secure Flores dorm room as a crime scene. Instead, Paul Flores left campus for summer break, and the room was cleaned. There seemed to be no value placed on our daughters life, Denise Smart said. In a phone interview with The Tribune for this story, President Jeffrey Armstrong apologized on behalf of Cal Poly for the way the university mishandled the case in the 1990s. Its the first public apology the university has issued. I cant imagine the pain Kristins family has felt and still feels. What theyve been through is just unbelievably heartbreaking, Armstrong said. We recognize, even though I wasnt here, that Cal Poly could have done things differently. There were things that we do differently now. There are things that should have been done differently. And for that, Im sorry. Denise Smart stands with longtime family friend Denise Pearce at the Smarts home in Stockton on May 24, 2023. Kristin Smart used to babysit for Pearces kids. Just disgusting: Kristin Smarts parents reflect on initial investigation About a month after Kristins disappearance, Cal Poly handed the investigation to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office. Thats when Paul Flores dorm room was searched by cadaver dogs. The dogs alerted to the scent of human remains despite the room being cleaned, but there wasnt enough forensic evidence to pursue an arrest. That July, the Sheriffs Office also searched Ruben Flores Arroyo Grande home, but they didnt bring cadaver dogs. If they brought dogs there, we wouldnt even know you, Denise told The Tribune. It wasnt until March 2021 that the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office found what they believe was a dug-up grave underneath Ruben Flores deck. Soil staining consistent with a decomposing human body tested positive for human blood, and fibers were found that matched the colors of Kristins clothing the night she disappeared. Its believed that the Flores family moved Kristins body from underneath the deck in February 2020, days after the FBI searched the home. Looking back, the Smarts believe the early missteps in the case were responsible for the loss of crucial evidence that could have convicted Paul Flores sooner and led to the recovery of Kristins body. Adding to their frustration, Denise Smart said the efforts by former sheriffs Ed Williams and Pat Hedges felt more like they were following a routine than trying to solve the case. Williams told the Tribune in 1997 that the only way the case would be solved is if Paul Flores talked, which the Smarts said gave Flores a blueprint on how to remain free. Hedges also declined help from outside agencies, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Denise said. Also in 1997, Denise said she received a phone call from then-District Attorney Barry LaBarbera. He told her that Paul Flores lawyer, Melvin De La Motte, said his client would plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for Kristins body. To her, this meant Paul Flores killed Kristin and knew where she was. Its just disgusting, Denise Smart said. This past October, however, De La Motte denied negotiating a plea bargain that would suggest Paul Flores guilt, and he told The Tribune he only ever asked if the Smart family would be open to an involuntary manslaughter plea. After that, for more than a decade, the familys discontent with the Sheriffs Office only grew. Denise said she just wanted her missing daughter to be treated like a real person rather than a black-and-white face in the newspaper. You get so frustrated, Denise said. Theres no vocabulary for it. There are no words. At one point, Denise said, she produced a video of childhood memories of Kristin and sent it to former Sheriff Williams Office to no response. She also paid for billboards and made local and national TV appearances. Stan and Denise Smart hold a portrait of their daughter, Kristin, at their Stockton home on May 24, 2023, in front of a painting of their children created by Stans sister, Sandy Rudolph. Living children exceptional survivors, mother says The 25 years between their daughters disappearance and her killers arrest were filled with unresolved pain for the Smarts, to say the least. Its basically like tearing a piece of your heart out, Denise Smart said. Its not complete without her in it. Denise and Stan were distraught, but they still had two children to raise. Lindsey, their youngest, was about to graduate middle school when her sister disappeared, and Matt was in his third year of high school. She held onto advice someone gave her during a meeting with then-state Sen. Mike Thompson told her in the first year of Kristins disappearance: Hes already taken your daughters life. Dont let him take your family. Dont let him take your marriage. Dont let him take the life of your children. At the time, that advice angered Denise she believed her daughter was still alive. But as the years passed, it became a sort of mantra that kept her going. The parents decided to shelter their children from the grim details of their sisters disappearance. Sharing that with them would have been even more depressing, Denise said. Stan and Denise Smarts lives became about finding a balance between finding Kristin and continuing with their lives. If they dwelled on the bad, Denise said, they would just get older with nothing to live for. You do gain strength from your family, and you gain strength from your friends, Denise said. Its something you have to do together. All Stan and Denise Smart wanted for their two living children was for them to thrive, and the parents are proud to say their children did just that. Both maintained high grades, pursued successful careers and now have families of their own while still grieving the loss of their older sister. Our two children were exceptional survivors living through a living nightmare, Denise said. Denise Smart holds a favorite photo of her children, Kristin, Lindsey and Matt, on May 24, 2023, at her home in Stockton. New SLO County sheriff offers hope to family It wasnt until Ian Parkinson was elected as sheriff in 2010, the Smarts said, that a shift finally occurred. Parkinson had campaigned on a vow to solve Kristins case, and he met with the family before he was elected. He was different than his two predecessors, the Smarts said. Ian made it sound like he understood the value that this family was missing a human being, Denise said. We didnt have any of that from either of the other sheriffs. It was a job for them that they wanted to check off. Parkinson was the first sheriff to have open communication with the Smart family. He gave them his personal cell phone number, always answered emails and always made sure to keep them in the loop, even if he couldnt share specific details. Nevertheless, progress in the case remained sporadic, with starts, stops and stalls continuing for nearly the first eight years of Parkinsons tenure. Then, Det. Clint Cole was assigned the case in 2019, the year that is regarded as a major turning point. The Smarts felt Cole also understood the value of Kristins life, and they appreciated how he prioritized finding new information rather than rehashing what was already known. Around the same time, another a fortuitous meeting occurred during Denises visit here on Kristins birthday that year, Feb. 22. Denise was in her car at Kristins Point of Hope, a memorial at Dinosaur Caves Park in Shell Beach, when she saw a bearded man talking to a friend. She waited it was cold outside to see if the man would leave, but the conversation looked so engaging she figured he must know her friend, too. Chris Lambert, center, with Denise Smart, right, and another member of the Jam Fam on Feb. 20, 2019, at the bench at Margo Dodd Park in Shell Beach. He didnt, but he did know a lot about Kristins case. Denise learned the mans name Chris Lambert and invited him to sing songs at a nearby bench with the Jam Fam, a local musical group. He never said a word that he was a musician. He didnt sing. I dont know if he even opened his mouth, Denise said. But he stood there with us. She then invited Lambert to dinner, and to her surprise, he said yes. Toward the end of the meal, Lambert mentioned the podcast he had been researching. He asked Denise Smart for permission to move forward, and though she wasnt sure what it exactly entailed, she said yes. I instantly liked him and trusted him, she said. The next week, Lambert visited her and Stan at their home in Stockton. He was still shy and slow to warm up, she said, but they eventually talked about the case. Its the conversation in the first episode of his podcast, which was released on Sept. 30, 2019. Within a couple of days, Your Own Backyard had reached 70,000 listeners. I was thunderstruck, Denise said. People from all over the country began to reach out with tips, and Lambert would refer them to law enforcement. This brought the Smart family the most hope theyd had in a while. Someone had to have an answer. Family reflects on the trial As the investigation ramped up, the Smarts were repeatedly told that Paul and Ruben Flores would soon be arrested. But theyd been on this roller coaster for 25 years, they said, and they knew to not let their hopes up too high. They didnt even believe the pair had been taken into custody until they saw the photos online, and they were ecstatic. This was the closest theyd been to justice for their daughter in 25 years, and they hoped it could end with finding her body. What they didnt know was that the ensuing legal process would take more than two years. At times, it was difficult to sit in the courtroom, they said. They were under a strict gag order, so they couldnt defend Kristin when the defense attacked her character. Finally, after three months of testimony, they got word the juries had reached their verdicts on Oct. 18. At 1:30 p.m. that Tuesday afternoon, the Smart family entered the courtroom for the reading of Paul Flores verdict. They sat down on a wooden bench. They held hands. And they listened. The court reporter read the verdict: Guilty. It was such an extraordinary relief, Denise said. Your whole body just melted. Stan smiled. Denise and Lindsey cried. Then Ruben Flores verdict came: Not guilty. It had to have been an error, Denise said she thought at the time. But she remembered Ruben Flores jury didnt see the videotape of the law enforcement interview with Paul Flores. It was hard news to hear, the Smarts said, because they were and still are certain that Ruben Flores helped his son hide their daughter. But they are comforted that at least their daughters killer is being held accountable for his crimes. District Attorney Dan Dow speaks to the media surrounded by Kristin Smarts family outside the Monterey County Courthouse on March 10, 2023, after Paul Flores was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. How Smarts have turned their loss into a new law After the verdicts, waiting five months for Kristins killer to be sentenced felt like another gut punch, the Smarts said. They had already waited too long for some semblance of justice, only to have to wait more. Stan Smart said he was happy the judge told Paul Flores he was a cancer to society he hadnt expected her to be so direct. But he doesnt believe the sentence of 25 years to life the maximum allowed for first degree murder without enhancements like using a firearm is sufficient. The sentence is pretty minimal for taking a persons life and having a whole lifetime to do whatever you want, he said. So Stan and Denise Smart are working to change California law again. In 1998, they championed the Kristin Smart Safety Act, which requires universities and community colleges to have a written policy on how to navigate solving certain violent crimes with local law enforcement. Now, they are looking to add a new sentencing enhancement in Californias penal code that would add years of incarceration for withholding the location of a body something they believe could motivate Paul Flores to finally disclose where their daughter is. You want to try to prevent any other families from going through this nightmare. It shouldnt have to be this way, Denise Smart said. No one should have to go through this. For now, the search for their daughters body continues, Stan and Denise said, and it will continue until she is found. The rise of Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov NV profile How Kyrylo Budanov went from the paratroopers to the recon scouts, the wounds he has sustained, and why he constantly rushes into the fray the life story of the head of Ukraines HUR with all the details. Who is Ron DeSantis and what his presidency could mean for Ukraine Ron DeSantis, the 44-year-old Governor of Florida, is widely regarded as the strongest competitor to Donald Trump within the Republican Party. He has officially announced his decision to seek the Republican nomination for the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. Ukrainian pilots to train on Swedens Gripen jets, says minister Ukrainian pilots will have the opportunity to undertake basic training on the fourth-generation Saab JAS 39 Gripen jet fighters, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said during a visit to Ukraine on May 25, as reported by Swedish TV channel TV4. Tears of joy Ukraine returns 106 Bakhmut defenders from captivity, many of whom were thought missing Ukraine returned 106 more defenders from Russian captivity, namely soldiers who fought near Bakhmut, the head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak reported on Telegram on May 25. Video shows Russias Ivan Khurs ship attacked by drone A video of a drone attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleets Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship near the Bosporus Strait early on May 24 appeared on several Telegram messengers on May 25. Over half of Ukraines adult population use Diia for online government services, 70% from their cellphones The Diia application, which enables Ukrainians to access government services online, has been installed by over 19 million citizens, Vice PM and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov announced at the Diia in DC summit in Washington, reported Interfax-Ukraine on May 25. US will investigate whether Western military aid was used in Belgorod raid Washington will verify whether U.S.-supplied equipment was indeed used during the incursion of the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) into Russias Belgorod Oblast, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said on May 24. Russia still has plenty of missiles to spare, expert warns Despite having spent over a thousand long-range missiles of various types to bombard Ukraine over the course of the war, Russia still has more than enough to continue attempting to strike targets all across the country, military expert Mykhailo Zhirokhov said in an interview with NV on May 24. White Houses red lines disappear after Ukraine shoots down six Kinzhals over Kyiv, says expert The White House has stopped expressing concern about the escalation of Russias war against Ukraine after Ukrainian air defense successfully shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles over Kyiv, Defence Express expert Ivan Kyrychevskyi told Radio NV in an interview on May 25. Dont miss: What Does the F-16 Mean For Ukraine? opinion Oleksiy Melnyk on the significance of the new Western fighter jets set to be delivered to Ukraine Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine F-15EX Klamath Falls F-35 The airbase of Kingsley Field, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, will now replace its current F-15C/D Eagles with F-35As. The move comes just a few years after it was officially announced that the base would convert over to the F-15EX and that its 173rd Fighter Wing would continue its mantle as an F-15 training unit. Now, just as we have suspected would be the case, the Air Force has decided to transfer all Eagle training, both for the F-15EX and F-15E, to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. It also raises more questions about fielding a fleet of just 104 F-15EXs, and how it will fit in with plans to potentially drastically reduce the F-15E Strike Eagle fleet, another facet of the Air Force's truncated fighter fleet planning we have discussed in the past. The Air Forces plans for a new F-35A Formal Training Unit (FTU) at Kingsley Field were announced yesterday. After Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, this will be the third FTU for the Air Forces F-35A and will help meet the growing demand for training capacity for the fifth-generation fighter. The unit in Oregon will be the first FTU for the F-35A within the Air National Guard (ANG). This comes as the number of these stealth jets in the Guard is increasing. Four F-35As of Luke AFBs 56th Fighter Wing, one of two Air Force F-35 training locations, now to be joined by a third at Kingsley Field. Jamie Hunter The plans for Kingsley Field were welcomed by Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz. This is such great news, great news for the realtors in Klamath Falls, housing, schools healthcare providers, this is a big deal, and I am very happy to have been a little part of making this happen, Bentz said, according to KOBI Television, an NBC affiliate based in nearby Medford, Oregon. https://twitter.com/RepBentz/status/1661811997241999387?s=20 The Air Force's Fiscal Year 2024 budget request released earlier this year had provided new details about the plans to divest the entirety of the aging F-15C/D fleet, which have been ongoing for years now. Overall, as we noted before, the expected divestments in the next fiscal cycle align with plans to have these jets gone entirely by 2026. Ultimately, its now planned that Kingsley Field will receive 20 F-35As, following the completion of an environmental impact analysis, which is expected to be completed in 2025. Departing the Oregon base will be its 27 F-15C/Ds, operated by the 173rd Fighter Wing, which is currently the only F-15C/D schoolhouse in the U.S. Air Force. An F-15C from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field. U.S. Air Force The Air Force says that Seymour Johnson Air Force Base currently home to the F-15E FTU will start hosting baseline-level F-15 aircrew training in early 2026. Aircrew will then complete specific F-15 model training (F-15E, F-15EX) once they reach their first operational unit, something that we have considered in the past. After all, according to Boeing, basic conversion can be done in a handful of hours at the squadron level. This could even mean that pilots get trained in the F-15E first before converting to the training F-15EX at their assigned units. The latest decision reverses a plan to have Kingsley Field replace its F-15C/D jets with the F-15EX. At one stage, it had been expected that the first two Air Force to get the Eagle II would both be part of the Oregon Air National Guard, namely the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field, and the 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland Air National Guard Base. Overall, the Air Forces ultimate fleet plan for the F-15EX, and where these aircraft will be based, has become clearer, but ambiguity still remains, especially after this announcement. An F-15EX from the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 96th Test Wing out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. U.S. Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner However, the Air Force has confirmed that the current fleet covers 104 F-15EX aircraft: the 94 stated in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal, eight jets that were funded in previous budgets, plus two more that were funded in Fiscal Year 2022 through an above-threshold reprogramming (ATR) decision. The 104-aircraft total also includes 25 F-15EX jets that the Air Force plans to request funds to buy in the 2025 Fiscal Year. Last year, the Air Force had said it wanted to reduce its planned purchases of F-15EXs from a minimum of 144 to only 80, so the latest budget proposal does at least improve on this, with an additional 24 aircraft. An F-15EX (furthest from the camera) is accompanied by an F-15C and and F-15E as it heads to its new home station, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in March 2021. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven As to where those 104 Eagle II aircraft will eventually be based, thats now open to more speculation, given that none will be headed to Kingsley Field. Now that the Air Force is freeing up more of those jets, and it's possible, although not confirmed, that F-15Es will handle all initial training demands, this prompts additional questions about where the F-15EXs will go. As we have pointed out in the past, a fleet of 104 jets would have been approximately enough to recapitalize around four remaining F-15C/D units across the Air National Guard (ANG) and the schoolhouse at Kingsley. These are the California, Oregon, Louisiana, and Massachusetts ANGs, each of which have a squadron of Eagles, with the main job of homeland air defense. The Air Force has recently announced plans to station F-15EX jets with the California and Louisiana Guard units. The Oregon ANG is different in that it has, for the time being, a schoolhouse squadron that provides a training pipeline for these aircraft, as well as the 142nd Fighter Wing in Portland. Oregon Eagles: 142nd and 173rd F-15Cs. Oregon Military Department Between 2020 and 2021, the official plan was for the Oregon ANGs 142nd Fighter Wing to be the first equipped with F-15EXs, starting this year, along with Kingsley Fields 173rd Fighter Wing as the schoolhouse unit. Since then, the plan to get the F-15EX to the 142nd Fighter Wing has been delayed by two years and a question mark had already begun to emerge over whether Kingsley Field would actually receive the Eagle II at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J-C0yK9i0Y Several agencies are scheduled to visit in the next few months to gather information that will help determine the Department of the Air Forces decision regarding what mission will be best suited for the 173rd Fighter Wing, an Air Force spokesperson told Sandboxx News. The discussions that Ive heard, its all focused on priorities, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar, a spokesperson for the 173rd specifically, also said, according to Sandboxx. Is putting the training base at Kingsley Field the right priority for us, or can we be better filled to do something else We have a great team here that the Air Force definitely is recognizing as something that they can leverage for whatever mission they need. At the same time, Shirar also acknowledged rumors that changing plans might place F-35s with the 173rd Fighter Wing instead, which has turned out to be the case. As we noted in the past, having the F-15EX assigned to both the 142nd and the 173rd Fighter Wings would have provided certain synergies, under the umbrella of the Oregon ANG. Kingsley Field is not the first Guard unit that will trade its F-15C/Ds for F-35As, though, with the Florida and Massachusetts ANG making the same transition. This left Oregon with two squadrons, then California and Louisiana with one, which still didn't make sense based on the 104 aircraft plan. You can read all about these developments here. Now with Kingsley out of the picture, there could be even more F-15EXs to equip other units. A crew chief from the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida ANG, marshals an F-15C into place following a sortie. This unit will replace its Eagles with F-35As. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Shelley Gill If, as now appears almost certain, the Air Force ends up with at least one, and possibly two squadrons of F-15EX that dont have immediate homes it also re-raises the question about basing at least some of those aircraft at Kadena Air Base in Japan. The Air Force has removed its F-15C/Ds from the Okinawa base, replacing them with rotational detachments of Air Force fourth and fifth-generation fighters from elsewhere. With the service yet to decide on a long-term solution, one option could be to base the F-15EX aircraft here. Other options exist, including converting F-16 units over to F-15EX or consolidating the F-22 force to two primary bases by realigning the Hawaii ANG from F-22s to F-15EXs, something we argued made sense in the past. An F-15C from the 67th Fighter Squadron, previously based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, releases flares over the Pacific Ocean during a training mission. Getty Images Either way, the Air Force continues to move away from earlier plans for the large-scale replacement of ANG F-15C/Ds with F-15EXs. Its still unclear, however, to what degree these changes are intertwined with the Air Forces plans for the F-15E fleet. As we have reported in the recent past, there seems to be a strong possibility that the Air Force might reduce its F-15E fleet by roughly half before the end of the decade. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Air Forces proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Presidential Budget on May 2, the Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was asked directly about whether the service planned to cut the F-15E fleet to just 99 jets. His response was: Id have to check to confirm that Senator, but I have no reason to believe its not correct. At the same hearing, Kendall also said later said of the F-15E: Were going to be keeping that for some time and there are some upgrades still underway but not with the numbers I think that you indicated. A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle during Exercise Cope India 23. Indian Air Force Whatever way the Air Force decides to field its F-15EX fleet, the decision to convert the F-15 schoolhouse at Kingsley Field to F-35s seems to suggest a recognition that supporting training for two relatively niche F-15 communities of roughly 100 jets each presents its own challenges and inefficiencies. What is also clear is that the Air Force, more generally, is grappling with how best to organize its legacy fighter jet fleets, as it embarks on a major modernization effort that will very likely see more aircraft retirements. The focus is going to be increasingly put on the services future sixth-generation stealth fighter and the advanced Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones that will work alongside it as part of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. At this point, the Air Force is looking toward fielding 200 new NGAD combat jets and at least 1,000 CCAs, plus 300 F-35As. Concept art from Lockheed Martin showing an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, top right, flying with various types of uncrewed aircraft. Lockheed Martin With priorities driven by modernization, there will certainly be more changes coming to the legacy tactical aircraft fleets with major cuts to the total force already requested by the Air Force through the end of the decade. Congress gets the final say on what the Air Force's budget, and that of the rest of the military, does and doesn't include. So more details about its plans for the F-15EX, as well as the F-15E, should emerge in the coming months as the service seeks to publicly justify its spending and force structure plans. Regardless, the fact that Kingsley is indeed dropping its F-15 training mission is a major development in the F-15EX saga. Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com From the age of your pet to understanding how your coverage works, use these expert tips to decide if pet insurance is right for you. Jnnn / GETTY IMAGES Every devoted dog or cat owner knows theres nothing they wouldnt do for a beloved furry friend. But when the cost of a pet's health needs start to climb because of age, chronic illness, or emergency care needs, balancing your pets wellness with your finances can make emotional decisions even more difficult. We have had incredible advancements in medicine that enable us to do so much more medically for our pets than we were able to even a few decades ago," says Nicole Savageau, VMD, of The Vets of Austin. "Pet insurance can help owners afford some of these larger, unforeseen medical bills when accidents or illness happens, and enable diagnostics and treatments to be done that otherwise may have been cost prohibitive for a family." Companies that offer pet insurance plans, from large-scale underwriters like Nationwide, Progressive, and Allstate to pet-specific brands like Spot and Trupanion, provide coverage for a variety of services and animals at a range of price points. Keep these six key factors in mind when comparing plans to decide if pet insurance is right for you. Related: 9 Ways to Make Your Home More Comfortable for a Senior Dog, According to Veterinarians How Pet Insurance Works Unlike the complicated task of finding an in-network doctor for your own appointments, choosing a veterinarian doesnt require input from your insurance company; theres no insurance network for pet care. Payment through a pet insurance provider typically works on a reimbursement plan, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet owners pay out-of-pocket for the medical treatments and submit receipts to the insurance providers. This means youll need to have the funds upfront to pay the veterinarian while waiting for your reimbursement. (If you dont, the AVMA recommends setting up a payment plan with your veterinary office.) What Pet Insurance Covers The specifics of your pet insurance plan will vary based on the underwriter, the species and age of your pet, and your premiums. Because pet insurance plans arent standardized like human health insurance plans, its important to understand all of the coverages and exclusions and not simply shop on price, says Karen Davis of Nationwide. The most comprehensive Nationwide plans include coverage for exam fees, vaccinations, hospitalization, surgery, x-rays, ultrasounds, prescription medication and food, injuries, and allergies (among other health issues). But not all companies cover exam fees, and the specific limits and allowed costs for accidents, chronic illnesses, and emergency treatments vary widely among providersas do waiting periods for some diseases and injuries. If consulting with your veterinarian while considering different levels of coverage, ask what regular care is recommended for your pet, considering the animals breed/mix, size, lifestyle factors and possible predispositions, recommends Davis. Factors to Consider The financial benefits of pet insurance depend on a variety of factors, including the type of insurance you choose and how often you typically visit the veterinarian. The Age of Your Pet Tomwang112 / GETTY IMAGES If youre considering pet insurance for an aging animal, make sure you understand the insurance companys policy on pre-existing and age-related conditions. You can often still enroll an older pet, but their current health needs wont be covered retroactively. Given that pre-existing conditions are excluded in the pet insurance industry, getting a pet enrolled at a young age before pre-existing conditions occur is the best way to maximize coverage, says Davis. The older a pet, the more health issues that are likely to be outside of coverage. However, age-related issues that crop up after a pet is insured are likely to be covered. The Type of Deductible A key element of a pet insurance plan is the type of deductible you choose, says Davis. Some plans have an annual deductible, and after a pet owner reaches this amount, further treatments are covered. Other plans offer a per-condition deductible. With a per-condition deductible, a new deductible would need to be paid for every new condition presented, which could lead to considerably more out-of-pocket expense for the pet owner in a given year, says Davis. Pet Insurance vs. Wellness Plans Pet insurance and wellness plans may sound similar, but they dont offer the same coverage, says Davis. Wellness plans, often offered by individual veterinary offices, are typically bundled services that may include well-checks, flea or tick prevention, annual bloodwork, and other yearly, scheduled treatmentsall completed at the same veterinary group that offers the plan. Wellness plans are meant for routine veterinary care, while pet insurance is medical insurance that may cover preventive care, office visits, treatments, illness, injuries, prescription drugs and food, telehealth, and more, depending on the plan you choose, says Davis. Pet insurance is only offered by a licensed and admitted underwriter. Your Typical Pet Care Routine Though pet insurance can help offset the cost of emergency care, pet owners who use it regularly are likely to get a better return on their investment, says Davis. Pet insurance is going to be most useful for pet parents who visit the veterinarian, she says. Some pet owners simply dont visit the veterinarian outside of life-threatening emergencies or end-of-life treatment. Maximizing the benefits of a pet insurance plan means taking advantage of coverage for exams, bloodwork, and chronic illnesses. Keeping up with this preventative care is the best ways to save money on your pets health needs in the long run, says Dr. Savageau. Preventing issues before they become a problem ends up saving so much money in the end! she says. For example, heartworm prevention may cost $10 to $15 a month, but if your dog contracts heartworms it will cost thousands of dollars to kill adult heartworms. Pet insurance can help you focus solely on your best friend rather than stressing over if you can afford treatment for your pet." Public security departments in multiple cities have recently urged people to be more vigilant after several cases of AI fraud, in which artificial intelligence tools were used to mimic people's voices and appearances, were exposed. In a case recently revealed by the public security bureau of Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the victim was tricked into initiating a total transfer of 4.3 million yuan ($612,000) via a company account after having a video chat with someone masquerading as his friend. With the cooperation of the bank, police were able to halt a transfer of 3.37 million yuan, but said they are still trying to recover 931,600 yuan that had already been sent. On April 20, a man surnamed Guo, a legal representative of a technology company in Fuzhou, Fujian province, received a video call via WeChat from a scammer. Using AI to masquerade as a friend of Guo's, the scammer asked him for help. Guo's "friend" said he was bidding on a project in another city and wanted to use Guo's company's account to submit a bid of 4.3 million yuan. He promised to pay Guo immediately. The scammer then sent a bank account number to Guo and after that provided a screenshot of the bank transfer voucher to prove that he had transferred the money to Guo's company's account. Guo then transferred 4.3 million yuan to the provided account in two separate payments. When Guo called his real friend for verification after completing the transfers, his friend denied that he had made a video call to Guo or had asked him to transfer any money. "He chatted with me via video call, and I also confirmed his face and voice in the video. That's why we let our guard down," Guo added. The case created a buzz on social media platforms and shocked netizens, who said that people who are trusting and lack awareness, such as children and seniors, are especially vulnerable to such a high-tech scam. They called on the government to strengthen the management of related technologies and crack down on crimes. On May 24, the Internet Society of China also issued a statement about the AI face-swapping scam. It said that as "deepfake" technology which is often used to mimic the voices and appearances of others in videos and audio recordings becomes more freely available, related products and services have gradually increased. It is becoming increasingly common for some people to use AI for criminal purposes, including fraud and slander, and people need to be vigilant and strengthen their awareness to keep themselves from becoming victims of scams, the statement said. People should be more aware of personal information protection and not be so quick to provide images of their faces, fingerprints and other biometric data to strangers. They should not disclose details of their identity cards, bank cards, verification codes and other similar information, it said. It reminded people to carefully manage their social media accounts, especially when logging in on unfamiliar devices, to prevent private information from being stolen. In the times of AI, texts, voices, images and videos are all likely to be deeply synthesized. In cases such as Guo's, it is necessary to verify information by additional means such as by calling the person involved in the transfer, rather than just directly transferring money after communicating by text or other means without verification, no matter who the other party is, it said. In November, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the provisions for the administration of in-depth synthesis of internet information services, making clear constraints on the generation, replacement and manipulation of human faces, as well as on the synthesizing and mimicking of human voices. Some platforms and enterprises have launched initiatives to ban the use of generative AI technology to create and publish infringing content, including but not limited to portrait rights and intellectual property rights. Zhou Linna, a professor at the School of Cyberspace Security of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said "AI face- swapping" is becoming a more common tool online fraud and may fuel distrust and more fear in society. "AI technology is a new thing and can be very convenient, but it could also affect our lives in negative ways," Zhou said. "It is necessary to improve and create laws and regulations to properly use and govern such technology." Faithful flock to Missouri convent to see intact remains of exhumed nun: 'The hand of God at work' Hundreds of people have descended on a rural Missouri town to flock to a convent that recently exhumed the remains of its founder. Four years after the death and burial of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at age 95, The Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles made a surprising discovery after sisters exhumed her wooden coffin on May 18 and found her remains to be remarkably intact. She was originally entombed in the outdoor convent cemetery in Gower, Missouri, and was being relocated to a shrine to St. Joseph in their chapel, according to Catholic Key magazine. In Catholicism, a body that resists normal decay after death is considered incorrupt, and "incorruptible saints give witness to the truth of the resurrection of the body and the life that is to come," according to the Catholic News Agency. The process to pursue sainthood has not been initiated "in this case yet," Bishop Johnston, the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph, said in a statement. Catholics have flocked to Gower, Missouri, to visit the recently exhumed body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, whose intact with no signs of decomposition remains have shocked believers. Lancaster, the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, died in 2019 at 95. In an email to USA TODAY, Lori Rosebrough of Overland Park, Kansas, who stood in line to see the remains, said the incorrupt body is a testimony to Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster's holiness, and that she hopes this will give cause to the Catholic Church to raise the nun's title to Saint. Rosebrough said she wasn't going to pass on the "incredibly rare opportunity" to see "the hand of God at work." "Not many people can say that they touched and prayed over the body of a saint," Rosebrough explained. "I believe that the thousands of us that made the trip to Gower, Mo this week can now say that we have." A photo taken by Lori Rosebrough shows a line of people who flocked to Gower, Missouri, to visit the recently exhumed body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, whose remains have shocked believers. The Diocese said they are working to "establish a thorough process for understanding the nature of the condition of Sister Wilhelminas remains," which have "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," the statement said. According to Bishop Johnston, "incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare." At age 13, Mary Elizabeth Lancaster (who took the name Wilhelmina when she made her vows) wrote to the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore seeking permission to join, but she was too young (so) she had to wait a little bit longer, according to the Catholic News Agency. At age 70, she founded the order of sisters, a group thats well known for their chart-topping Gregorian chant and classic Catholic hymn albums. Photos taken by Lori Rosebrough shows a gathering of people who flocked to Gower, Missouri, to visit the recently exhumed body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, whose remains have shocked believers. For those who wish to see the body, the monastery advises visitors to bring folding chairs and umbrellas for waiting. There are thousands of people coming, the monasterys website says. Please note that you will still be able to see Sisters body and touch relics of her habit and take dirt from her grave after the morning of the 29th, at which point she will be placed in the glass shrine in our church. More coverage from the USA TODAY Network NJ Jewish leaders welcome Biden's new antisemitism strategy. But some want more action Kim Reynolds signs sweeping Iowa education laws on book bans, LGBTQ teaching. What they do: Small, rural communities have become abortion access battlegrounds Oklahoma State Department of Education video 'painted a target on our backs,' teacher says 'Disrespectful': Arizona lawmaker who hid Bibles skips ethics hearing, and chair claps back This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Catholics at Missouri convent to see exhumed nun's intact remains A video of a person urinating in front of a police station has been shared repeatedly across Facebook and messaging app Line alongside a false claim they are one of Thailand's newly-elected members of parliament from the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP). The posts circulated after the party claimed victory in Thailand's elections, decimating the military-backed elites. According to police in the Thai capital Bangkok, the video in fact shows a different person and not the actress-turned-political activist Sirilapas Kongtrakarn. The 48-second clip was shared on Facebook on May 21, 2023 with the caption: "Peeing (in public) and showing it off on social media. The 9th constituency Bangkok MP. Is this the person who will represent people? At Lumpini police station." "Ninth constituency Bangkok MP" appears to refer to MFP's Sirilapas Kongtrakarn, an actress-turned-political activist who won in the Bangkok districts of Wang Thonglang and Bang Kapi during the country's elections on May 14. She was given the number nine during the polls, but her constituency was actually the 14th (archived link). A person urinating on the side of the street can be seen in the video. At the 22-second mark, the camera pans to show a signboard for the Lumpini police station in the Thai capital Bangkok. The posts circulated after the progressive MFP defeated the country's military-backed elite in a historic election breakthrough and were in coalition talks with other opposition parties to form a government. It inked a deal with seven other parties on May 22, AFP reported (archived link). Screenshot of the false post, captured on May 24, 2023 The video was also shared alongside an image of Sirilapas and a similar false claim on Facebook here, here, and here. The claim also spread on messaging app Line, which is popular in Thailand. Below are screenshots of the false messages: Screenshot of false claim circulating in Line groups Some users left comments indicating they believed the false claim. "Crying so hard. I feel sorry for Thailand," one wrote. Another said: "This shows the quality of those supporting the Move Forward party as they are really getting along well." But Sirilapas refuted the false claim on Twitter on May 21 and called on people to send her information about the posts' senders (archived link). "I will collect information and send it to a lawyer," she wrote in the post. No such video can be seen on Sirilapas' official social media account on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube (archived links here, here, here, here and here). Police confirmed the person in the video was not Sirilapas. 'Intoxicated person' "That (person) was not the Move Forward MP," Lumpini police station superintendent Nimit Nuphonthon told AFP on May 23. Nimit explained the person had been arrested for public drunkenness on May 2 at the Okura Prestige Hotel after police received a complaint. Officers asked the person's friend to take them home before the person then urinated in front of the police station and posted the video on social media, he said. They later investigated and invited the person back to the police station before issuing them with a fine and forwarding the case for judicial prosecution, he said. "All prosecution has been completed," Nimit said. Google reverse image and keyword searches also found the same video had circulated alongside another clip from a different angle on Facebook on May 3, more than a week before the Thai elections. Local media outlet Sanook also reported on the incident on May 4 here (archived link). Following the elections in Thailand, AFP has debunked other false claims about the MFP here and here. Lawyer Carlos Moore (right) and Aderrien Murry's family want body-camera footage to be released A lawyer for an 11-year-old boy shot by police in Mississippi says there is "no way" officers could have mistaken the child for an adult. Carlos Moore and the family are asking for a "full and transparent" probe into what happened. The child, Aderrien Murry, was shot in the chest inside his home on Saturday after he called 911 for a domestic disturbance, his mother said. The officer who shot him has been placed on leave. The boy's mother, Nakala Murry said after being shot he asked: "'Why did he shoot me? What did I do?' and he started crying." He is recovering at home after being released from a local hospital earlier this week. He was treated for a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, according to the family. They say he was shot after an officer responding to the early Saturday morning call drew his gun at the front door and asked for everyone inside the home to come out with their hands up. The boy then walked around a hallway corner into the living area where he was struck, the family said. Both his mother and the officer helped render aid until medics arrived, they said. Mr Moore said that Aderrien Murry stands about 4ft 10in (1.47m), and could not have been mistaken for the adult man who was the subject of the domestic disturbance call. "You couldn't perceive that he was an adult or a threat, because he didn't have anything in his hands," Mr Moore told the BBC on Friday. "I don't see why he shot him." Mr Moore added that the boy was just obeying his mother, who had asked him to call the police for assistance after she grew concerned by the behaviour of the father of another of her children. He said the family is relieved the boy survived but they are shaken by the incident, including Aderrien. "He doesn't understand and wants to know what did he do wrong and why did the cop shoot him, and no one can answer that question," Mr Moore said. The Indianola Police Department has yet to comment to media on the incident. Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone told local newspaper The Enterprise-Tocsin this week that the officer "has been suspended pending a psychological examination and to talk about his readiness". Body-camera footage of the incident exists and the video has been handed over to investigators, he said. The child's mother and Mr Moore held a sit-in with supporters outside the Indianola city hall on Thursday. They are calling for the body-camera footage to be released and for the police officer involved to be fired. Mr Moore said he plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city, the officer and the chief of police on Tuesday. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has said it is "currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence", and will submit its findings to the state attorney general's office. Family of Brianna Grier, who died after falling out of police car, files lawsuit Brianna Grier, 28, was en route to a sheriffs department in Georgia on July 15 when she fell out of a moving cruiser. She slipped into a coma and died a week later. The family of a Black woman in Georgia who died after falling out of a police car has filed a lawsuit alleging claims including wrongful death, gross negligence, and excessive force. According to NBC News, the lawsuit announced Wednesday names Hancock County Sheriff Tomlyn Primus, Lt. Marlin Primus, and Deputy Timothy Legette in last years death of Brianna Grier. Grier, 28, was en route to the Hancock County Sheriffs Department on July 15 when she fell out of a moving patrol cruiser. She slipped into a coma and died on July 21, a week later. Attorney Ben Crump holds up a photo of Brianna Grier, who died in July after falling out of a police cruiser. The Grier family this week filed a lawsuit alleging gross negligence in her death. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/11Alive News) The Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that the deputy left the back passenger door open when the automobile departed. The reaction of a second deputy, who asked the driver, Hows your back door open? was captured on body camera video and made public by the authorities. Griers family said she had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was on medication for it. She reportedly was experiencing a mental health episode that day, prompting her family in Sparta about 60 miles west of Augusta to call the police for help, as they had done before. In the past, however, an ambulance arrived, the family said. They knew her condition, they knew it, Griers mother, Mary Grier, said Wednesday, according to NBC. Because that wasnt the first time they were coming down there. Griers relatives and authorities said deputies arrived and arrested her, placing her in handcuffs and putting her in the back of a police vehicle. I dont think they did her right, Mary Grier added. I miss my daughter. In November, the GBI declared that its investigation was closed, and the Ocmulgee Circuit district attorney decided against presenting a case before a grand jury. There have been no criminal charges filed against the officers involved. The civil complaint does not state a dollar sum for the compensatory or punitive damages sought. This young, beautiful Black woman needed help, family attorney Ben Crump said, NBC reported. The police came and put her in handcuffs. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Family of Brianna Grier, who died after falling out of police car, files lawsuit appeared first on TheGrio. The FBI Just Revealed There Was a Plot to Assassinate Queen Elizabeth II During a 1983 Visit to the U.S. Britains longest reigning queen could have had her monarchy drastically cut short, it turns out. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has just released 103 pages of documents revealing that Queen Elizabeth II faced a potential assassination threat 40 years ago while she visited America. More from Robb Report A document appears to describe a tip from San Francisco police detailing a phone call from a man who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet. Names and other details are redacted in the report. 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 document read. The same document adds that it is the intention of the Secret Service to close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge when the yacht nears. The report does not disclose if an arrest was made over the tip, or if any actions were taken at the park. Another document dated July 1976 detailed another trip by the Queen to the U.S. meant to mark Americas bicentennial celebrations, with visits scheduled to Philadelphia, Washington, and New York. The report reveals that a summons was issued to a pilot who flew a small plane over Battery Park, carrying a sign that had the words: England, Get out of Ireland. Many of the Queens visits to America in that time took place during a 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland, commonly referred to as the Troubles, The New York Times reported. Around 3,600 people were killed as Britain deployed military personnel to confront groups like the Irish Republican Army who wanted to reunite Northern Ireland with the rest of the country. The FBI documents were released due to a Freedom of Information Act request, The Times reported. Of course, no attempts were successful as Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully last September at the age of 96. 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. FBI search of home of a journalist and a Tampa Bay councilwoman related to alleged leaks at Fox News: report Tucker Carlson. AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File The FBI is investigating alleged leaks at Fox News linked to unaired footage of Tucker Carlson's interview with rapper Kanye West. The feds executed a search warrant at the home of a Tampa Bay city councilwoman and her husband, a media consultant and ex-journalist, earlier this month. Potential crimes being investigated include unauthorized computer access and conspiracy, The Tampa Bay Times reported. The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into alleged leaks at Fox News related to unaired footage from Tucker Carlson's interview with the rapper Kanye West that was published last year. That's according to The Tampa Bay Times, which reported that as part of the investigation, the FBI executed a search warrant on the home of city councilwoman Lynn Hurtak and her husband, Tim Burke, earlier this month. Burke, a media consultant and former journalist, told The Times that the warrant had his name on it. Federal agents seized personal and business devices belonging to Burke during the May 8 search, including a phone and several computers. Vice News published the unaired footage from Carlson's controversial interview with West last October. The clips, which were edited out of Fox's final interview broadcast, featured West making antisemitic remarks and suggesting that "fake children" were planted in his home to manipulate his kids. Fox News fired Carlson last month, shortly after the company paid out a $787.5 million settlement to Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation lawsuit. In addition to the Vice story, federal officials are also examining leaked material related to a video series titled "FOXLEAKS" published by the left-wing group Media Matters for America, The Times reported. Fox News has asked that lawyers for Dominion investigate the "release of confidential discovery material," which Dominion denied came from the company or its attorneys. A Tampa Bay prosecutor sent a letter to Fox News informing the network of the ongoing criminal investigation into the alleged hacks, The Times reported. The prosecutor, Jay Trezevant, asked Fox to preserve information connected to the investigation for at least three months and said in the letter that officials believe Fox is "one of the potential victim-witnesses" of the alleged crimes. The letter did not mention Burke by name, but The Times said it confirmed with two people close to the inquiry that the matter is connected to the FBI's search of Burke and Hurtak's home. Potential crimes that the feds are investigating include unauthorized computer access; conspiracy; interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and other federal violations. Insider has reached out to Burke, who told The Times after speaking to his lawyer that he could not comment on its story. Hurtak said in a previous statement that the FBI's search related solely to her husband's work. Current Justice Department policy prohibits investigators from issuing subpoenas or search warrants to journalists "acting within the scope of newsgathering activities." Read the original article on Business Insider With the federal government just days away from facing the possibility of defaulting on its debts, attention is beginning to turn to the grim realities that such an unprecedented occasion would bring, both nationally and locally. A recent report by Moody's Analytics found that Mississippi would be one of the worst impacted states by a federal default, where the federal government is unable to meet its existing debt obligations because Congress did not raise its borrowing limit, the debt ceiling. US debt ceiling for dummies: As deadline nears, how we got here, and what's next Moody's analysis found that Mississippi's unemployment rate would rise significantly under a prolonged breach, which it defines as one that drags on "for weeks through much of the summer with the Treasury prioritizing debt payments over other bills." Under that dire scenario, the Magnolia State would see its unemployment rate rise to 9.2%. As of March, that rate was at 3.5%. Also, 64,000 Mississippians could lose their jobs, according to the report. Even under a shorter breach, which Moody's defined as lasting "no more than a week," the impacts would be significant. Unemployment could rise as high as 6.4%, with about 14,500 jobs lost, according to the report. J.D. Schwalm, File photo The Clarion-Ledger The Clarion Ledger State Capitol and downtown Jackson skyline at dusk. State Capitol and downtown Jackson skyline at dusk. A default would impact more than just federal employees. The government may be forced to pick and choose which payments it does dole out, and there could be interruptions to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and state and local reimbursements, along with federal wages, according to statements from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who originally set June 1 as a possible deadline to avoid default but late Friday pushed that date back to June 5. The spillover from those missed payments would likely impact people's spending habits, leading to a wide impact in the larger economy. One reason Mississippi would be so severely hit by a default is that it has historically been one of the most reliant, if not the most reliant, states when it comes to federal funds. According to analysis from MoneyGeek, Mississippi ranks third in the nation in its Federal Dependency metric, behind only New Mexico and West Virginia. So, just how likely is default? Moody's has an answer for that as well. Its analysis finds that there is a 10% chance of default. "If there is a breach, it is much more likely to be a short one than a prolonged one. But even a lengthy standoff no longer has a zero probability. What once seemed unimaginable now seems a real threat," the report reads. Leadership at the Moody's Analytics sister company Moody's Investors Service, a credit rating agency, seem confident that compromise will be reached, and disaster averted. When asked whether the nation's credit rating will change after a default, William Foster, senior vice president and senior credit officer at Moodys Investors Service, told CNN on Wednesday that they were not expecting to have to make such a decision. We absolutely dont think there will be a scenario where we cross the X-date and interest payments will be missed, Foster said. If we did, we would obviously have to change our view on the rating. As of Thursday, President Joe Biden said negotiations with House Republicans were "making progress," insisting that "there will not be a default." This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How MS would be impacted by not raising the U.S. federal debt ceiling The Department of Justice is looking into whether Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was given expensive gifts, headlined by a Mercedes-Benz, a luxury Washington apartment, jewelry and money, according to reports. The main question for DOJ investigators centers around whether the gifts were from the owner or associates of IS EG Halal, based in Edgewater, N.J. The company was handed an exclusive contract to conduct Halal meat certification with the Egyptian government. As NBC News notes, the move was made despite the company having no prior experience in that area, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials. Menendez, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, last week denied he was involved in any wrongdoing. I am sure it is going to end up in absolutely nothing, Menendez said. Sources told NBC News that Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, is heading up the probe into whether Menendez or his wife, Nadine Arslanian, received any gifts and whether the Senate Democrat took any official action in return. According to Senate rules, items given to a lawmaker are considered gifts if a senator has reason to believe the gift was given because of the official position. A Menendez spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Wael Hana, IS EG Halals owner, denied that any gifts were provided to Menendez or his wife. Allegations about cars, apartments, cash and jewelry being provided by anyone associated with IS EG Halal to Sen. Menendez or his wife at all, let alone in exchange for any kind of favorable treatment, are totally without basis, the spokesperson told NBC. IS EG Halal won the exclusive contract in 2019 over a number of other companies that were subsequently cut off by the Egyptian government, swinging millions of dollars in its direction. Menendezs most recent financial disclosure does not include any mention of a Washington apartment or a Mercedes-Benz. This is not Menendezs first run-in with prosecutors as he was indicted on federal corruption charges in 2015. The charges were dropped in 2018 after a jury was unable to reach a verdict . For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Department of Justice is investigating whether expensive gifts were given to New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez and his wife, including a Mercedes-Benz, a luxury D.C. apartment, money and jewelry, sources familiar with the matter said. According to sources, investigators want to know if the gifts which would be valued in the tens of thousands of dollars came from the owner or associates of an Edgewater, N.J., business that won a controversial exclusive contract to perform Halal meat certification with the Egyptian government even though U.S. Department of Agriculture officials complained that the firm had no previous experience in this field. The questions about the gifts were first reported by WNBC and NBC New York. I am sure it is going to end up in absolutely nothing, Menendez said last week, denying any wrongdoing in connection with the ongoing federal corruption investigation. Sources familiar with the matter say Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, along with FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation agents are looking into whether the senator and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, improperly took gifts from the owner or associates of IS EG Halal and whether the senator took any action in return. Menendez, a Democrat, serves as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee helping to oversee billions of dollars in aid to Egypt. Prosecutors would obviously want to look if money, apartments, cars were given to the senator or someone close to him in return for one of his official acts, NBC News legal analyst Chuck Rosenberg said. In addition to the investigation into any possible quid-pro-quo scheme, sources familiar with the matter said IRS criminal investigators are looking into whether the alleged gifts were properly accounted for on tax filings by the senator and his wife. None of the items appear listed on Menendezs Senate disclosure forms. Senate rules state in part that gifts to a member or someone close to him are considered gifts if a senator has reason to believe the gift was given because of the official position. A spokeswoman for Menendez declined to comment when asked if the senator or his wife received a Mercedes, free rent, money or jewelry from the IS EG Halal business or associates. She referred NBC News to past statements in which the senator acknowledged an ongoing inquiry and said that should there be any official inquiries, the senator is available to provide any assistance requested of him or his office. In 2019, IS EG Halal was awarded an exclusive contract with the Egyptian government to certify Halal meat exports worldwide. Seven longtime companies across the globe were suddenly fired by the Egyptian government and those firms lost millions in business to the Edgewater firm a firm run by a Christian with little prior experience in Islamic certification of international meat imports and exports. Peter Paradis, the former deputy assistant inspector general at the USDA, said the change in contracts "defies logic." Paradis played no role in the current criminal investigation into the senator and his relationship with IS EG Halal. But Paradis points to past USDA reports on the controversy, including one that stated IS EG Halal has no preexisting relationship with the US beef industry or Islamic organizations. This corporation has no track record of doing these types of certifications and yet the country in question earmarks them as the sole entity to perform that task? Paradis said. A spokeswoman for Wael Hana, IS EG Halals owner, issued a denial. Allegations about cars, apartments, cash and jewelry being provided by anyone associated with IS EG Halal to Sen. Menendez or his wife at all, let alone in exchange for any kind of favorable treatment, are totally without basis, said the spokeswoman. Sources familiar with the matter said that, as part of the ongoing investigation, the FBI is looking into whether any IS EG executive or associate paid any bribe to any Egyptian official. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service officers based in Egypt have turned over related documents to the Justice Department, the sources said. If representatives of this company were paying Egyptian officials for consideration, for favors, for an advantage in business, thats a crime, Rosenberg said. He explained any such payment could violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. IS EG Halal has said the firm won the contract on the merits and denied any wrongdoing. A spokeswoman said the IS EG Halal firm won the contract without any assistance from the senator or any other U.S. public official. Nor is there any evidence whatsoever that the contract was awarded based upon bribery or corruption in Egypt and nothing like that has ever even been alleged. A spokesperson for the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C., did not return several requests for comment. Sources close to IS EG Halal said Hana, the owner, has been longtime friends with the senators wife and that friendship existed long before she even met the senator. One source familiar with the company said Arslanian had received gifts from the owner, including jewelry, over the years. Sources familiar with the matter said investigators want to know if Egyptian officials knew of the ties between IS EG Halal and the senators wife and whether there was any effort by any Egyptian official to try to run a foreign influence operation connected to Menendez. A senator can certainly help somebody in his or her state, Rosenberg said. They can make connections. They can set up meetings. They can advocate for businesses within their jurisdictions. What they cant do is take money or gifts in exchange for an official act. A spokesperson for Sen. Menendez declined to comment on any of the allegations, citing the ongoing inquiry. In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions narrowing the definition of public corruption. In 2018, Menendez had criminal charges against him dropped after a separate corruption the trial had ended in a hung jury. Allegations in that case were Menendez took gifts and free private jet trips from now-convicted Medicare fraudster Salomon Melgen. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams is overseeing this latest criminal probe, according to sources and individuals who have received subpoenas. Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, declined comment. A spokesman for the FBI and a spokeswoman for IRS-CI also declined any comment. This investigation into Menendez appears to have grown in scope in the past couple of weeks, after a new round of grand jury subpoenas were sent out, including one to North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco. The new subpoenas do not appear related to any IS EG Halal-related matter but separate questions relating to the senator and state legislation relating to a proposed development deal, people familiar with the matter said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A fifth House Democrat on Friday called for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to resign her seat after her return to Washington following a prolonged absence due to shingles. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) argued lawmakers should resign if they become a shadow of your former self. I think if youre a member, and you become a shadow of your former self, you should resign, Torres told Insider this week, calling for Feinstein to step aside for the first time. Once youre no longer the best person to represent your state, you have a duty to move on. Torres joins Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) in calling for Feinstein to leave the upper chamber. Feinstein, 89, has had a distinguished 30-year career in the Senate but in recent years has come under scrutiny for her mental acuity and, in the past couple of months, her ability to fulfill her senatorial duties. The New York Times reported recently that on top of shingles, Feinstein suffered from complications that include encephalitis, a swelling of the brain that can cause memory problems, increased confusion and trouble walking, among other things. Feinstein returned to the Capitol earlier this month looking frailer than ever and has needed a wheelchair to get around the Senate. At one point, she seemed to forget that she had been away from Washington while speaking to reporters shortly after her return. Her office said in a statement upon her return that her doctors have recommended she keep a light schedule as she continues to recover. The California Democrat has steadfastly refused to step down, with other prominent Democrats siding with her, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Feinstein announced in February that she would retire at the end of her term. A Feinstein spokesperson declined to immediately comment on Torress remarks. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Students walked out of area schools to gather at the Tennessee State Capitol building in protest to demand action for gun reform laws in the state in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 3, 2023. [Photo/VCG] The United States of America undeniably has problems with already high and rising levels of violent crime and murder. Most Americans of all political stripes agree. It's just that the right wing and left wing emphasize different narratives surrounding crime. The conservative media emphasizes the rising murder rate and zeroes in on reports of crimes occurring in a few cities associated with liberalism. The message the right is trying to send is that Democrats are weak on crime and that crime proliferates in cities with Democratic mayors and large populations of minorities and immigrants. Fox News is the largest and most representative conservative media company. A search of its website shows 79,600 results for "San Francisco" the city that the right is using as the hallmark example of its crime narrative while MSNBC's website only has 5,500 results for the same term. The liberal media's message about crime is contradictory in a different way. The liberal media will often report "San Francisco is safe" and things to that effect. But the liberal media dedicates vast amounts of resources to cover stories about people going on shooting sprees or shooting individuals unprovoked. One of the cases to attract large-scale media coverage was the shooting of a 16-year-old black teenager named Ralph Yarl by 84-year-old white man Andrew Lester. Fortunately, Yarl survived. Lester is being charged with attempted murder. MSNBC's website has published 2,500 articles about the armed assault on Yarl, but Fox News has only published 108 articles about it. The imbalance in coverage from both outlets is strange. For example, if Fox News is so concerned about murder, why does it downplay some extremely concerning cases of violent men shooting innocent Americans at random? Fox News has dedicated more time to talking about shoplifting at department stores in San Francisco than it has to the attempted murder of Ralph Yarl. Does the story of a white man trying to kill a Black teen just for ringing his doorbell in Kansas City, a mid-sized city in the middle of America, not support Fox News's narrative that San Francisco is America's most hellish city? As for MSNBC, they've been covering the Yarl case relentlessly, in addition to the cases of school shooters, mall shooters, and white supremacist shooters. But their overall coverage of murder as a widespread threat hasn't followed suit. There are all these individual cases of murders and attempted murders happening day after day, which MSNBC reports, but it hasn't dawned on their hosts and pundits that this reflects the trend of increasing murder rates across the country. Conservatives and liberals in America have different world views, and they are more fearful about different things. The demographic compositions of Republican voters and Democratic voters differ, too. Those demographic differences are reflected across the viewership for Fox News and MSNBC. Those channels are businesses. They are primarily concerned with attracting viewers and making profits. So they tailor their programming to appeal to the fears of the viewers they are hoping to attract. Fear sells. But the truth is crimes of all sorts are problems that deserve attention and serious consideration. The overall murder rate in the United States rose from 4.4 homicides per 100,000 people in 2014 to 6.5 per 100,000 people in 2020. The 2014 level was the lowest in decades, so perhaps it had to rise. But the increase was not a minor blip; the rate in 2020 is higher than any year since 2001. The liberal media is just not credible if it reassures concerned citizens that there is no problem after a couple of years of rising crime rates. On the other hand, the conservative media constantly hypes the rising crime rates, but they don't suggest any solutions. Fox News and other conservative outlets downplay and deny the elephant in the room: guns. These criminals aren't killing people with their bare hands. They are using a powerful tool that allows them to kill many more people with ease than they would be able to without such free access to guns. One side denies there is a problem, and the other side refuses to provide the answer. I return to the case of Ralph Yarl because it emphasizes another flaw with the conservative narrative. There are other examples like it: George Zimmerman killing a boy in his neighborhood in 2013, Michael Dunn murdering a teen in a dispute over the volume of music in his car, and cases recently of homeowners shooting people for turning around in their driveway. In each case, a minor incident escalated into homicide simply because of the presence of a gun. The conservative narrative surrounding crime focuses on the idea of a murderer as a career criminal, a gang member, or someone who plans and executes robberies on a regular basis and uses a gun as a tool of their trade. They don't think gun laws will work because "law-abiding citizens" aren't the problem. But in many cases, the murderers had followed the law most of their life up until they snapped and pulled a gun out during an argument. If you had taken the gun away from Andrew Lester, he wouldn't have killed someone just for coming to his front door. And if you take the guns away from the robbers, their crimes wouldn't result in as much bloodshed, either. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. A fight over this south Fort Worth veterans housing project has ended up in court A Fort Worth man is asking a Tarrant County court to weigh in on the citys decision to approve a zoning change for a veterans housing project in the Rosemont neighborhood south of downtown. Ricardo Avitia, a leader of the anti-gentrification group Hemphill No Se Vende (Hemphill is not for sale), accuses the city of not following proper procedure and is asking the court to halt all development while adjudicating his claims, according to a petition filed Wednesday in Tarrant County. The city was not aware of Avitias petition until being contacted by the Star-Telegram. Spokesperson Valerie Colaprett wrote in an email: Based on this petition provided by the Star Telegram, the claims are without merit and the City will defend this lawsuit once served. Avitia responded that he was using every avenue available to him under the law. Just like the city or any other entity would do the same, because they have the resources to do so, he said. Avitias suit comes less than a month after the city approved plans by the American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program to convert a church at 4041 Ryan Ave. into 20 units of affordable housing for veterans. The project is meant to help veterans get stable housing while transitioning out of the military into their next career path, representatives for the San Antonio-based nonprofit told the city council at its May 9 meeting. The units will all be one bedroom, priced at around $400 to $500 per month, and could be open as early as October, said Steven Gonzalez, a representative for the nonprofit, in an interview ahead of the May 9 council meeting. Gonzalez wouldnt comment on Avitias petition Friday, but wrote in a text message that his organizations goal is to create a safe and supportive community for all, adding the nonprofit remains dedicated to working with residents to address any legitimate concerns. Roughly 30 Rosemont residents showed up to the May 9 council meeting to oppose the project. They said the developer and a recently deposed neighborhood association president did not do enough to inform the community. They stressed their opposition was not about the nonprofits mission of helping veterans, but more an objection to the specific type of zoning request the American GI Forum was applying for. It would allow for roughly 60-units of housing on the 1.95 acre lot. Representatives for the nonprofit said this was to allow them to expand their operations if needed, but residents worried this would allow a dense apartment project to be built in their single family neighborhood. They raised fears of gentrification in a neighborhood where roughly a quarter of residents live in poverty, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Allowing zoning density to enter our neighborhood regardless of the program, however noble it may be, will be the end of our beloved Rosemont, said resident Loretta Snoke-Huezo. Several speakers said their neighborhood has long been neglected by the city. The area lacks adequate sidewalks and has flooding problems that need to be fixed before allowing for dense development, Avitia said at the May 9 meeting. The meeting briefly got derailed when residents objected to representatives from the nonprofit getting extra time to speak in front of the city council. Avitia shouted from the back of the chamber that the meeting should be shut down, but was removed by Fort Worth marshals. He later apologized for shouting. He said in a post on Hemphill No Se Vendes Facebook page that the outburst was a reflection of passion for his community and his frustration with the city. We have continually been marginalized, redlined, and discriminated against. These are cold hard facts, he wrote in the Facebook post. Mayor Mattie Parker acknowledged the Rosemont residents concerns, but said they were unrelated to the veterans housing project. She promised to do more to address those issues going forward. The current one-week truce in Sudan is the latest in a series of agreements that have all been systematically violated by rival forces Fierce fighting between rival Sudanese forces on Friday rocked the western region of Darfur, witnesses said, as US and Saudi observers noted "improved respect" for a fragile ceasefire now in its fourth day. Within minutes of the ceasefire taking effect late Monday, witnesses in the capital Khartoum reported air strikes and gunshots. The one-week truce is the latest in a series of agreements that have all been systematically violated, with the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accusing each other of more breaches this week. The United States and Saudi Arabia, which brokered the latest deal, reported "serious violations" since it took effect, particularly on Wednesday. Washington has threatened sanctions for breaches detected by its "monitoring mechanism", but has not yet targeted either side. The conflict, which erupted on April 15, pits Sudan's de facto leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. In a joint statement Friday, the mediators "noted improved respect for the agreement" but said there was nevertheless "isolated gunfire in Khartoum". As civilians, aid groups and mediators pleaded for a stop to the fighting, Sudan's defence ministry issued a call to arms. In a statement Friday, it called on "army pensioners... as well as all those capable of bearing arms" to head to their nearest military command unit and "arm themselves in order to protect themselves," their families and their neighbours. - Medical supplies - The fighting across Sudan has killed more than 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. The United Nations says more than a million people have been displaced within Sudan, in addition to 300,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries. Increasingly desperate civilians have been waiting for brief lulls in fighting to flee or for assistance to flow through as battles have left the capital with intermittent supplies of food, water and electricity. The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Thursday it had finally been able to begin distributing aid to "seven hospitals in Khartoum". An already strained healthcare system has been decimated by the war, with the vast majority of hospitals out of service in Khartoum and Darfur, which together have seen the worst of the fighting. The few hospitals that have not been bombed, attacked or occupied by fighters have almost entirely run out of supplies. Conditions are particularly dire in Darfur, on the western border with Chad, a region already ravaged by a brutal two-decade war that erupted in 2003 and saw then president Omar al-Bashir unleash the feared Janjaweed militia to crush a rebellion among ethnic minority groups. The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed. In El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, residents reported "battles with all types of weapons" on Friday. - 'Race against time' - Even before the conflict began, one-third of Sudan's 45 million people relied on aid to survive. Now, some 25 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, the UN said. "Without immediate action, life-saving activities in many parts of Sudan may be put on hold," said Ahmed Abdelrahman, Brussels operations director at Doctors Without Borders (MSF), warning medics in the country were "stretched beyond their limit". "Our surgical team in Khartoum, for example, has been operating non-stop for more than ten days. If we are unable to rotate in another team, it may not be possible to continue these crucial activities," Abdelrahman said in a statement Friday. The Islamic Relief aid group also warned on Friday that "humanitarian agencies face a race against time to deliver aid to people before the rainy season makes parts of the country inaccessible". The rainy season, which begins in June, also raises the risk of cholera, malaria and water-borne diseases. Alfonso Verdu Perez, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan, said getting supplies through to civilians "is a matter of life and death". "Only 20 percent of health facilities in Khartoum are still functioning -- a true collapse of the system right when it's needed the most," he warned. "Hospitals also urgently need water, electricity and a safe environment for their patients and staff," Perez said, with medical personnel reporting intimidation, threats and attacks by both sides. The army accused the RSF Friday of "storming" and "looting" a children's hospital. bur/jsa An older couple laughing in Paris LeoPatrizi / Getty Images Retiring in another country can hold a lot of appeal, whether due to the potential for a lower cost of living or simply the allure of a new adventure in your golden years. But actually making a your goal a reality requires a good deal more work than packing up your belongings and shipping them overseas when you hit retirement age. Choosing a country A first step is to pinpoint where, exactly, you'd like to settle when you retire. This requires a good bit more research than just looking for places with nice weather. Start by making a list of what matters to you the most, Conde Nast Traveler suggested, whether that's affordable housing, safety and political stability, easy travel to and from the U.S., or good weather. Also consider where people will speak English, if that's your only language. All of these factors could help you start to narrow down the possibilities. There are a number of resources to help you identify appealing places to retire. For instance, Investopedia identified the top five spots to retire abroad based on an in-depth scoring system. International Living also publishes an Annual Global Retirement Index, which takes into account input from retirees living in those locations. Or, you might just go where retirees have gone before: The most retired U.S. workers receiving benefits abroad are located in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom, Forbes reported, citing data from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Navigating visa and residency requirements Visa and residency requirements can vary significantly from country to country. Some countries will offer citizenship if you have a relative who was born there. Others may have residency permits that are "limited or renewable and will come with application and renewal fees," and you will "often have to live in the country for a certain number of years before you can gain permanent residency," Forbes said. In other cases there are "specific visas for retirees who can demonstrate that they earn a certain amount of income per month," or a residency offer might be made to foreigners who purchase real estate for a certain amount, Forbes added. "Find a place with a fairly straightforward residency process, and one for which you can qualify," Kathleen Evans, who has permanent residency in Costa Rica, told Conde Nast Traveler. "Not every country is looking to woo foreign residents." For instance, in some countries, Social Security payments are restricted for residents, whereas in other places, there are financial incentives for settling. You can find more information on the specific visa and residency requirements for each country on the U.S. State Department's website. While you're there, also consider checking State Department information on the safety and political stability of your top-choice countries. Finding housing Since you're likely planning to settle in this location for the remainder of your years, your first instinct might be to purchase a home. But before you go all in, try renting first rent, Investopedia suggested, given that "living in a country is very different from being a tourist." You should also visit your desired location in more than one season, and especially when weather conditions aren't ideal, Investopedia recommended. If you still want to buy, know that the process of buying won't be the same as in the U.S. "U.S. banks often won't approve mortgages for foreign properties," according to Forbes, and "it can be difficult to get local financing as a U.S. citizen in another country." To make a real estate purchase in a foreign country, "explore your options with the help of a lawyer who understands the local market," Forbes said. Or, if you can, you might aim to make an all-cash purchase to skip the financing hassles. Getting your finances in order When it comes to bank and retirement accounts, "Americans who retire abroad should generally keep most of their money in the U.S.," The Wall Street Journal said. This will allow them to take advantage of the tax benefits offered by their retirement accounts. However, the Journal warned that "some U.S. banks and brokerage firms drop customers with foreign addresses." Check with your financial institution and move any money prior to making the move. You'll also want to be aware of fees for wire transfers and ATM transactions before moving, as well as whether your credit card charges foreign transaction fees. And take a look at currency conversion rates, the Journal recommended. Don't forget about health care Another factor to work out before retiring abroad is health care, as the Journal noteed that "Medicare doesn't generally cover services outside the U.S." In certain countries, "you may find that health care is so affordable that you don't need insurance," per Investopedia. But in other instances, you might need an international health insurance policy. Look into the quality of care in the country you're moving to it might not be up to the standards you're used to in the U.S. Sorting out your taxes You might think you can wave goodbye to taxes when you leave the U.S., but, in fact, "your income is subject to U.S. income tax regardless of where you live," said the Journal, and this includes taxes for pensions, 401(k) plans, and Social Security benefits. In fact, you could end up paying taxes to both the U.S. and the country to which you've relocated, though this will depend on which country you've chosen to call home: The U.S. has tax treaties with certain countries that "allow for retirees abroad to be either taxed at a reduced rate or entirely exempt from foreign taxes," Conde Nast Traveler noted. You'll also need to complete some paperwork to avoid hefty penalties. For instance, if you need to submit a report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts to the Treasury Department and willfully fail to do so, the penalty "can be the greater of $100,000 or half of the account value for every year you failed to file," according to the Journal. Consult a tax attorney or advisor prior to moving and remain in communication with them while you're abroad to make sure you stay in compliance with U.S. tax laws. They might also offer guidance on tax credits or other ways to lower your tax burden, so you have more money left to enjoy your retirement abroad. Becca Stanek has worked as an editor and writer in the personal finance space since 2017. She has previously served as the managing editor for investing and savings content at LendingTree, an editor at SmartAsset and a staff writer for The Week. You may also like Celine Dion cancels tour after neurological disorder diagnosis 1st Jan. 6 sedition sentences land 2 Oath Keepers in prison for 18 and 12 years Texas House panel hits Attorney General Ken Paxton with 20 impeachment counts New case against jailed Kremlin critic Navalny goes to court next week (Reuters) - Moscow's city court will hold a hearing on May 31 in a new case against jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, according to official documents posted online, on charges that could keep him in prison for decades. Navalny, who rose to prominence by lampooning President Vladimir Putin's elite and alleging vast corruption, said last month that an "absurd" terrorism case had been opened against him that could see him sentenced to a further 30 years in jail. Russia has already all but extinguished domestic political opposition and civil society under Putin. But since invading Ukraine early last year, it has sought to snuff out all vestiges of dissent with new censorship laws and long jail terms for those publicly opposing the war. Navalny, who says Russia will lose a war that he says has inflicted pain on millions of innocent Ukrainians, is already serving combined sentences of 11-1/2 years for fraud and contempt of court in a maximum-security penal colony, on charges that he says were trumped up to silence him. His campaigning organisations and his flagship Anti-Corruption Fund have been banned in Russia as "extremist". The court record said the charges against Navalny, a former lawyer, related to six different articles of the Russian criminal code: - rehabilitation of Nazism - creation of an extremist organisation - making public appeals to commit extremist activity - covering two separate instances - inducing citizens to break the law - financing extremist activity - involvement of a minor in the commission of acts endangering the life of a minor In a tweet posted on his account by his supporters, Navalny wrote: "Well, Alexei, you're in some real trouble now ... The Prosecutor General's Office has officially provided me with 3,828 pages describing all the crimes I've committed while already imprisoned." He said he had not been allowed to read the material to find out what exactly he was accused of because he was currently in solitary confinement - as he has been for much of his time in prison - and allowed only a mug and one book. Navalny, 46, earned admiration from the disparate opposition for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated for what Western laboratory tests showed was an attempt to poison him with a Soviet-era nerve agent. The Kremlin denied trying to kill him and said there was no evidence he had been poisoned with such a toxin. It was not immediately clear which specific actions or incidents the charges referred to. "Rehabilitation of Nazism" may refer to Navalny's declarations of support for Ukraine, whose government Russia accuses of embodying Nazi ideology - an accusation dismissed as baseless by Kyiv and its Western allies. Last month, investigators formally linked Navalny supporters to the murder of Vladlen Tatarsky, a popular military blogger and supporter of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine who was killed by a bomb in St Petersburg last month. Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee (NAC) said Ukrainian intelligence had organised the bombing with help from Navalny's supporters. This appeared to be a reference to the fact that a suspect arrested over the killing once registered to take part in an anti-Kremlin voting scheme promoted by Navalny's movement. Navalny allies denied any connection to the killing. Navalny's supporters have called for worldwide demonstrations in his support on June 4, his birthday. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Frances Kerry) First Image Of MQ-28 Ghost Bat In The United States photo Boeing has released a picture showing an MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a "loyal wingman" type drone designed by its Australian subsidiary, alongside its demonstrator for the MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone that it is developing for the U.S. Navy. Last year, the Pentagon confirmed that it had acquired at least one MQ-28 to be used to support U.S. Air Force advanced uncrewed aircraft and autonomy efforts. Earlier this year, it also emerged that Boeing has at least put forward the idea of a carrier-capable variant of the Ghost Bat. The picture of the MQ-28 and the MQ-25 demonstrator, the latter also known as the T1, side-by-side appeared on various Boeing social media accounts earlier today. Boeing did not say where or when the photograph was taken, but it clearly shows the two drones at MidAmerica Airport outside of St. Louis, Missouri, which is also known to be the home of the T1 demonstrator. "Krystle Carr, Boeings director of autonomous collaborative platforms, acknowledged the drone had arrived for testing, but didnt say when or for whom," according to a separate report today from Breaking Defense. "She declined to elaborate, and Boeing officials referred all further questions to the Air Force." The War Zone has also reached out for more information. https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/1661824558125522944?s=20 "Our autonomous duo meets at last," according to a post from Boeing accompanying the picture on Twitter. "The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, developed in Australia, provides fighter-like performance to expand airborne missions. The MQ-25 Stingray refuels fighters to keep the mission going. Thats unmatched uncrewed airpower." Boeing has been actively testing the T1, which also carries the U.S. civil registration code N234MQ, for years now as it works on creating the first production-representative prototypes of the Stingray for the Navy. As of April of this year, delays in the construction of those drones have pushed back the Navy's timeline for reaching initial operational capability with the MQ-25 by around a year to sometime in 2026. When they do enter service, the Stingrays will primarily provide aerial refueling support to the Navy's carrier air wings, but also have the ability to operate in a secondary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance role. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqZOaUpORjo&t=18s What is now known as the MQ-28 Ghost Bat first appeared publicly, somewhat out of nowhere, in 2019, after initial development in secret under the Airpower Teaming System (ATS) program for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Three prototypes have since been built and flight tested, and work has been continuing to expand its flight envelope and capabilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4w0DgiNEyM&t=27s In terms of the new capabilities being added to the RAAF's prototype MQ-28s, this includes the installation of an infrared search and track (IRST) sensor system in the nose of one, as seen in the picture below. This highlights the drone's highly modular design and open-architecture missions system. The centerpiece of the Ghost Bat's modularity is the ability to swap out entire nose sections with different sensors and other systems, as you can read more about here. LACW Emma Schwenke/RAAF As of May 2022, the RAAF was expected to eventually acquire at least 10 MQ-28s, at least initially, and begin using them operationally by 2025. The drones are expected to work closely together with Australia's crewed combat jet fleets, which currently consist of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and F/A-18F Super Hornets, to carry out a variety of missions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-JwzfKAesc&t=33s As already noted, in 2022, the Pentagon confirmed that its Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering had acquired at least one MQ-28 on behalf of the Air Force. It remains unclear what the service is using the Ghost Bat platform for, but Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has said in the past that it is a "technology feeder" for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The Air Force is leveraging work that has been done in recent years through a number of advanced drone and autonomy projects to support the CCA effort. Under CCA, which is part of the Air Force's broader Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, the service is seeking to acquire at least one type of advanced drone with a high degree of autonomy that will work closely with crewed platforms. At present, the Air Force is planning to buy at least 1,000 CCAs, but that figure could grow in the future and might eventually include multiple distinct types of uncrewed aircraft. The 1,000 CCA number was based on a concept of operation that would part two of these drones with each one of the 200 sixth-generation stealth crewed combat jets the Air Force is also looking to purchase under NGAD, as well as 300 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. Boeing has pitched the idea of the MQ-28, or a variant or derivative thereof, as a contender in the forthcoming CCA competition, which is expected to be very high stakes. The company had previously received an Air Force contract to deliver examples of this drone to support the service's Skyborg advanced drone program, which is also feeding into CCA. Boeing's involvement in Skyborg came to an end before it delivered any aircraft due to conflicts with testing schedules for the RAAF's ATS program. A Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone. Boeing Australia The U.S. Navy is also cooperating closely with the Air Force on various aspects of the CCA effort, as well as the Air Force's larger NGAD initiative. This includes plans for both services to be able to pass control of each other's CCAs and CCA-like drones back and forth during future operations. The Navy has its own separate NGAD program, which is currently focused heavily on the development of a new sixth-generation carrier-capable stealth combat jet, referred to as F/A-XX. The Navy views F/A-XX as an important component of future carrier air wings. The service also expects 60 percent or more of the aircraft embarked on its flattops to eventually be uncrewed. One of F/A-XX's expected roles will be acting as an aerial control node for those drones. In February, Royal Navy Rear Adm. James Parkin, who currently holds the somewhat confusing title of Director Develop for that service, gave a presentation at the 2023 International Military Helicopter conference in London. His briefing slides included one with a rendering showing a variant or derivative of the MQ-28 with a visible tail hook landing on a carrier. https://twitter.com/GarethJennings3/status/1628029822902407169?s=20 Boeing confirmed to The War Zone at that time that this is official company artwork, but could not provide any further details about it. A carrier-capable drone based on the MQ-28 could be of interest to the U.S. Navy, as well as the Royal Navy. Separately, the U.K. Ministry of Defense released documents earlier this month that indicated the Royal Navy would trial General Atomics' new short takeoff and landing-focused Mojave drone, which you can read more about here, as a possible addition to the air wings for its two Queen Elizabeth class carriers. It is worth noting that the Queen Elizabeth class design, at least currently, has a so-called short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) configuration without catapults or arresting gear. This means that it isn't capable of recovering any aircraft using a tail hook. This had already prompted questions about the context behind the MQ-28 rendering in Rear Adm. Parkin's briefing. Adding arresting gear and even catapults to ships with large flight decks, specifically to support drone operations, is something that navies around the world, such as Turkey and China, are increasingly showing interest in. After the British documents about emerged, General Atomics' spokesperson C. Mark Brinkley posted a number of Tweets where he did not confirm or deny plans to conduct a carrier-based demonstration of Mojave. However, he did note that Mojave has been designed with this in mind from the start and that General Atomics has been "discussing that with fleets worldwide." He also pointed out that the company is developing a conversion kit for MQ-9 Reapers that would allow them to operate from carriers and amphibious assault ships. https://twitter.com/cmarkbrinkley/status/1659679837416726529?s=20 https://twitter.com/cmarkbrinkley/status/1659679840927358976?s=20 https://twitter.com/cmarkbrinkley/status/1659679846258343937?s=20 For Boeing, it will be interesting to see what may happen with its two flagship drone programs, the MQ-25 and the MQ-28, now that examples of both are not only in the United States, but have 'met.' Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com Florence Pugh Shares Hilarious Photo of Her Wearing Quirky Floral Swim Cap from 'Old Suitcase' The actress discovered the vibrant accessory while unpacking, following a trip to Budapest, Hungary Florence Pugh/Instagram Florence Pugh Florence Pugh is making another bold fashion statement! The actress, 27, shared a photo of her wearing a quirky, brightly-colored floral swim cap on Instagram Friday while flashing an awkward smile. Pugh added that she found the eye-catching swim accessory in an old suitcase from her travels in Budapest, Hungary and couldnt resist wearing it in an impromptu photo session! Im so slow at packing because I find things in old suitcases that deserve attention and a full blown home photoshoot, Pugh captioned her post. "Who is she? Where is she going? Questions Im dying to know. #wheninbudapestyoubuythings." Related: Florence Pugh Teases Her Met Gala Look as a New Brand Ambassador for Valentino: 'Big, but We Like Big' The Dont Worry Darling star reposted the photo on her Instagram Stories, as she wrote: In case you need to wake up to a happy sight," poking fun at the image. 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. Pugh isnt afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to her look. The actress surprised fans earlier this month as she unveiled a freshly shaved head while making her Met Gala debut in a feathered headpiece. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Florence Pugh unveiled a shaved head at her Met Gala debut Pugh was seen rocking a shoulder-length banged bob on the very same morning before making the drastic hair transformation for the annual fundraiser. Related: Florence Pugh Shaved Her Head for Her All-Out Met Gala 2023 Debut Earlier this week, the Black Widow star celebrated landing the cover of TIME magazine as one of the Next Generation Leaders. Pugh said she was still processing the achievement as she posted the cover shot on Instagram Thursday. We shot and interviewed this back in March, and the wait has made it feel like it was all a dream and actually of course Im not on the cover of TIME, the actress captioned. But in fact here she is. WHAAAAT? It has been a joy and a privilege to change things gently, speak out proudly, and be the person my 13/14/15/16/17 year old selves would be proud of and would still recognize," added Pugh, who is set to star in Oppenheimer and Dune: Part Two later this year. Pugh shared that her beloved grandma was on set for the TIME shoot, as she credited the amazing confident women in her life for helping her achieve the honor. Its only fitting that despite me being on the cover, shes on the inside," she added. "Granzo Pat in Time magazinenow thats something." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Florida man with AK-47 arrested after asking to use the bathroom at Virginia preschool A Florida man who showed up outside CIA headquarters and told officers he was armed was later arrested with an AK-47 rifle at a nearby preschool in Virginia. Eric Sandow, 32, of Gainesville, Florida, was taken into custody after allegedly approaching the Dolley Madison Preschool in Fairfax County on Tuesday, NBC Washington reported. Police say that he asked if he could go inside the school to use the bathroom, but staff refused and he wandered off. Eric Sandow (Fairfax County Police Department) He was then picked up by police and told them that he was going to talk to the CIA, which is based a mile away. Investigators say he was not armed at the time and made no threats. Officers who detained him then searched his car and found two firearms. Earlier he had shown up at the agencys headquarters and told guards, Im here and I have a gun, a law enforcement source told CNN. Sandow was charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property. He appeared in court by video link on Thursday but did not enter a plea. A judge ordered him to remain in detention and his next court appearance is set for 24 July. There are very likely mental health issues involved, said Chris Carter, a defence attorney who represented Mr Sandow at the hearing and asked for him to be released. The preschool said that police would increase patrols around the school following the incident. Were really grateful that the Fairfax County police responded quickly, and this wasnt anything more than a stressful situation, Christine Ryu-Naya, a member of Dolley Madison Preschools board of directors, said Florida woman selling her $7 million Lake Norman mansion summer home. See it here. A Florida woman is selling her Lake Norman waterfront mansion summer home for $7 million. Each year to escape the Florida summer heat, Gail Temianka spends four months at the 20927 Bethelwood Lane mansion in Cornelius, Ben Bowen of Premier Sothebys International Realty told The Charlotte Observer Friday. This is a second home for her, Ben Bowen of Premier Sothebys International Realty said of mansion owner. Bowen, who works from the Lake Norman-Cornelius office, is the exclusive marketer of the 8,579-square foot mansion. Temianka has lived there since it was built in 2015, Mecklenburg County property records show. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home has a 2023 assessed value of $4.6 million, according to the public records. Patrick Joseph Distinctive Homes built the mansion. This is a second home for her, Bowen said, adding that Temianka has an even more high-end mansion in Florida. 12-foot ceilings, marble accents The mansion has an open floor plan connecting the living, dining and kitchen areas. The home has expansive windows that let in lots of natural light and that look out to a large pool and to the lake. A chefs kitchen in the home includes a $10,000 backsplash, a coffered ceiling and Thermador appliances. The chefs kitchen in the mansion includes a $10,000 backsplash, a coffered ceiling and Thermador appliances. The main living area has 12-foot ceilings, while the primary bathroom has Carrera marble accents. The mansion has a main-level primary bedroom. The mansion terrace looks out to a large pool and to the lake. Sunsets can be seen from a rear terrace and an outdoor cabana that includes a kitchen, bathroom and pool room. The property also has a hot tub, outdoor bar, fire pit and pier. Florida waterfront mansion Temianka was out of the country Friday and couldnt be reached, Bowen said. The Observer tried the only phone number listed for her in public records, and it doesnt accept messages. Temianka, who is 72, lives in a waterfront mansion in Holmes Beach, Florida, which is on Anna Maria Island in the Gulf Coast near Bradenton, public records show . Her late grandfather was the famous early 20th-century violinist Henri Temianka, according to public records. The Carnegie Hall performer led the Paganini Quartet and the California Chamber Symphony. NASCAR neighbors Temiankas Cornelius neighbors have included some famous NASCAR names. Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon lived in a mansion on Bethelwood Lane with now ex-wife Brooke Sealey, Bowen said. Fellow Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace and his family also had a Bethelwood mansion. In its marketing materials for Temiankas home, Premier Sothebys calls Bethelwood Lane a coveted NASCAR enclave. This is an extraordinary opportunity to own an exquisite waterfront home on Lake Norman in a choice location revered by NASCARs finest, according to a Premier Sothebys news release Friday. Following year of disasters in Worcester, city looks at emergency fund for victims WORCESTER - Fire personnel keep an eye on collapsed decks after a section roof gave way at an apartment building on Mill Street, Friday, July 15, 2022. WORCESTER Over the past year, a series of property disasters have rocked Worcester, captured headlines and left affected tenants and business owners scrambling. The city is considering partnering with a nonprofit to establish an emergency relief fund to help residents left economically vulnerable after a disaster with immediate financial support. During the Thursday Standing Committee on Public Safety meeting, Charles Goodwin, director of emergency communications and emergency management for the city, discussed a report on other communities in Massachusetts with some form of fund to aid victims of disasters. On Oct. 12, District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj requested a report on establishing a municipally operated emergency relief trust fund to give emergency and disaster survivors a one-time payment to aid in their recovery. In 2022 and the first half of 2023, a handful of disasters in the city displaced tenants: An apartment building at 2 Gage St. is razed following a deadly fire there. -On May 14, 2022, four people died following a four-alarm fire at a Gage Street apartment house. Former apartment resident Yvonne Ngoiri was later indicted on charges of second-degree murder related to the fire. -On July 15, an early-morning roofing job at a Mill Street apartment building apparently led to construction material falling through the roof, weakening the building and forcing the evacuation of residents. The tenants and property owners Fren Management went to housing court over the matter of collecting and storing belongings from the building units. -On May 1, 2023, a three-alarm fire ripped through a retail plaza on Pleasant Street, destroying two businesses and a vacant space. -On May 14, 2023, 10 residents were displaced after a single-alarm fire raged through the front porches of a three-decker building on Mason Street. The study looked at funds in Cambridge, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lincoln and Melrose. According to the introduction to the report, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is authorized to distribute funds to assist in disaster response and recovery; however, these funds are only authorized for large-scale disasters through a lengthy approval process. The communities in the report established the funds to aid residents in a more timely manner. Haxhiaj called into the meeting to say she was inspired to request the report following the Mill Street collapse, where residents of 32 units were displaced. Goodwin said the Mill Street collapse was unusual in that the American Red Cross could not help the residents, since it was not a fire. The city will look at partnering with a nonprofit to develop its version of a fund, Goodwin said. A fund solely under the purview of the city may take too long to provide direct funding since there are barriers in place on governments releasing that spending, he said. "In the moments following an emergency, one of the biggest benefits that the American Red Cross provides is that financial support in the hours following," Goodwin said. Some of the communities that had emergency funds that were directly under the municipal government could take up to three days to release funds, Goodwin said. Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey, chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety, agreed it can be challenging for municipal governments to release funding in a timely manner. "It's difficult for governments to start doing this type of distribution and understanding the different needs," Toomey said. Toomey said the city also needs to work on finding ways to publicize a potential fund. Councilor-at-Large Donna Colorio, vice chair of the committee, recalled helping a woman recently displaced by a fire and wishing there was more immediate assistance available to help her after she was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and had to purchase new clothes. Goodwin said his goal would be to find a local partner to help with advertising. Residents would be able to donate to the program, Goodwin said. Haxhiaj suggested a community-participation event such as a telethon to raise money if the fund is created. "My sort-of call to action for us would be that the city keeps a heavy hand on whatever partnership or whatever format or model we come up with," Haxhiaj said. In order to give the emergency department more time to form its version of the fund and look for partners, Toomey held any committee action on the report for later review. Goodwin said he expected an update by midsummer. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester emergency relief fund could follow year of disasters Former B-CU student convicted of killing another ex-B-CU student and another man Damon Kemp, a former Bethune-Cookman University student, looks around the courtroom in the S. James Foxman Justice Center, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, during his trial for killing two people, including another B-CU student. A former Bethune-Cookman University student was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder with a firearm in the killing of another ex-student and his friend in a Daytona Beach apartment. Damon Kemp, now 24, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was also found guilty of armed burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault or battery. He has been held in the Volusia County Branch Jail since his arrest in 2018. Kemp did not appear to show any reaction to the verdict. Kemp shot and killed Trey Ingraham and Jordan Paden, both 19, on Dec. 7, 2018, in apartment 434 at the Jade Park Apartment Homes at 500 Jimmy Ann Drive, according to police. Ingraham was shot four times and Paden six. Their bodies were found inside next to the apartment's door. Double-murder trial begins: Damon Kemp goes on trial in double-murder of former B-CU student and other man Jailhouse interview: Suspect in 2 Daytona killings was 'on drugs,' says he's not 'homicidal' Damon Kemp case: Three friends, two murders, one arrest: what happened in Apartment 434? Ingraham was a former B-CU student from Palm Beach County who was planning to return to the university. A jury of six men deliberated for about an hour Friday before reaching a verdict at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach. Circuit Judge Leah Case will set a sentencing date for Kemp who faces 26 years to life in prison based on sentencing guidelines. Each count of second-degree murder carries a minimum of 25 years in prison. Kemp did not testify. He sometimes wrote on a pad on Friday during closings. He took occasional drinks from a bottle of water. The double murder in Daytona Beach Daytona Beach Police responded to a break-in at the apartment complex early on the morning of Dec. 7, 2018, and arrested Kemp. That incident occurred at a different apartment where Kemp, armed with a pistol, threatened to kill the resident, who managed to push him out and lock the door. According to testimony, Kemp kept walking toward a police officer despite the officer having his gun drawn and ordering him to stop. Officers also said Kemp was yelling about Africa, saying he was Black and an officer was white and saying something about Atlanta. Police officers said Kemp was soaked and they found a .40-caliber Glock near a pond. Officers testified that Kemp also said something else: "I killed Ace," referring to Ingraham. Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant State Attorney Boone Forkner, said in her closing that Kemp shot Ingraham and Paden in the back inside their apartment as they tried to flee. Then Kemp left the apartment and jumped in the pond to wash off any blood. Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas holds a holstered .40-caliber Glock as she points toward Damon Kemp, who is accused of using the gun to kill two people. Damon Kemp's palm print on gun holster Kemp's palm print was found on a holster for the .40-caliber Glock, which was the murder weapon, Thomas said. She said an analyst matched shell casings found in the apartment to the Glock, which was found by the pond. The Glock belonged to Ingraham. Daytona Beach Police Detective Dave Dinardi testified that Ingraham had traded a puppy for the gun. Ingraham had gone home to Palm Beach County to bring back some puppies to sell. Kemp's defense attorney, Richard Zaleski Jr., said in his closing that prosecutors had failed to show that Kemp was the shooter. He said that prosecutors could not say when Kemp left his palm print on the holster and Kemp had previously lived in the apartment before Ingraham told him months before to move out. One of Ingraham's sisters had testified he owned a 9 mm and that gun was never found, Zaleski said. Damon Kemp, a former Bethune-Cookman University student, looks around the courtroom standing with his attorney, Richard Zaleski Jr., in the S. James Foxman Justice Center, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, as the jury leaves the courtroom during a break his trial for killing two people, including another B-CU student. But Zaleski said that if jurors found he was the shooter then there was plenty of evidence that Kemp was legally insane at the time of the double murder. Zaleski pointed to Kemp's erratic behavior that night. Zaleski said that at the time Kemp had been living with a man named Quincy Stith who said Kemp had been acting strange, talking about "National Soil Day" and that the radio was listening to him. He said the bizarre behavior continued into the night. He said Stith testified that Kemp had put him in a choke-hold twice as he was driving them around town. Stith later dropped Kemp off at the apartment complex where the two victims lived. Thomas, the prosecutor, said that although Kemp was acting strangely and a state expert testified he may have had some mental issue, his behavior did not rise to the level of legal insanity. She said the state did not have a motive for the killing but it didn't need one. Thomas said Kemp's state of mind that night could have been the result of having smoked marijuana three times that day. Family speaks of pain and loss Ingrahams mother, Nerissa Young from Palm Beach County, asked the judge to sentence Kemp to life. She fought back tears as she spoke about her son and the void left in her life by his killing. I miss him so badly, Young said. I miss his laugh. It was such a contagious laugh. I miss his spirit. I miss the smell of him. I miss his sense of humor. I miss his hugs. Trey was such a sweet and generous young man. She said her family has been grieving for almost five years. This is a scar that I dont think is ever going to heal, Young said as another family member wept in the gallery. Ingrahams older sister, Lakin Goldwire, also spoke. Trey was an amazing kid, she said. And she said Kemp had shown no remorse. Damon is pure evil. He had absolutely no reason to murder in cold blood two people who were trying to help him, Goldwire said. She turned toward Kemp. Kemp appeared to look straight ahead, showing no reaction. You shot Trey in his heart. You shot him in his heart, Goldwire said. The same organ that even created a space for you to know him. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ex-Bethune-Cookman University student convicted of killing 2 men in Daytona Flash 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. Former Sacramento deputy, fired and rehired in 2004, charged with possession of child porn A former deputy, who in 2004 regained his job with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office following a conviction of misdemeanor trespassing, was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges related to possession of child pornography. Timothy James Durel, 57, was charged Thursday in federal court for the Eastern District of California with one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography, court documents show. The criminal complaint filed by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert alleges that Durel received or possessed sexually explicit images of a minor for nearly a decade, spanning from about June 2012 through March 2021. Durel worked during those years as a Sacramento County sheriffs deputy or on-call deputy, public records and state salary records show, and resided in Placer County. Durel is accused of storing the explicit images using a Yahoo email account and electronic devices. Prosecutors sought to have him forfeit his cellphone, laptop and portable hard drives, court papers say. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in March 2021 raided a home on Knowlton Court in Roseville. A Sacramento County Sheriffs Office spokesperson at the time confirmed the subject of the raid was a former on-call deputy and said that the agency had released him, though the exact timing of his dismissal was not specified. Authorities did not name the deputy at the time, but public records show an address for Durel on Knowlton Court. State records show Durel worked as an on-call deputy for the Sheriffs Office from 2016 through part of 2021, and as a full-time deputy from at least 2012 through 2015. The indictment against Durel accuses him of possession of child pornography from June 2012 through February 2021, and with receipt of child pornography from July 2013 continuing through on or about March 2, 2021. Federal authorities raided the Knowlton Court home on March 3, 2021. If convicted on the child pornography charges, Durel faces up to 20 years in prison. Deputy convicted in 2003, then ordered rehired by Sheriffs Office Durel in August 2003 was convicted in Sacramento Superior Court of misdemeanor trespassing after a jury found that he trespassed while on duty into the Carmichael home of a woman he was interested in romantically, The Sacramento Bee reported at the time. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, in a case Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang called very disturbing and a breach of public trust. Durel, at that point a 14-year veteran of the department, was initially dismissed by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office in the wake of the conviction. But in late 2004, Sacramento Countys five-member Civil Service Commission ordered the Sheriffs Office to rehire Durel. The commission at the time said it was prohibited from publicly commenting on personnel actions, and it provided no rationale for its highly controversial decision. A spokesperson for the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association said Durel was reinstated because the Sheriffs Office had already suspended Durel for the trespassing incident before attempting to fire him, The Bee reported at the time. The Bees Rosalio Ahumada contributed to this story. A former SMU engineering graduate student has been arrested after he was accused of making threats toward the universitys president and faculty, officials said. SMU Police Department officers arrested 39-year-old Brian Ethan Jackel at his Duncanville home Monday on a felony warrant, according to university officials. An SMU spokesperson told the Star-Telegram that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs informed the school that Jackel had made serious, credible threats toward some of the universitys officials. According to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV, a patient at the VA facility in Bonham told investigators that Jackel, who was also a patient at the time, had said he wanted to kill the SMU president and faculty members. The patient and Jackel were watching television coverage of the Allen Premium Outlets mall shooting when Jackel made the threats, according to WFAA. Jackel also talked about making homemade explosives and gave the impression he might have pipe bombs at his home, the affidavit states. SMU police conducted an investigation and obtained a felony arrest warrant for Jackel and a search warrant for his home, school officials said. Its not clear if any explosive devices were found in Jackels residence. SMU police worked with local, state and federal law enforcement to provide additional campus security and locate and apprehend Jackel, according to school officials. Jackel is being held in the Dallas County Jail. Boris Johnson Johnson confirmed that he did indeed hold talks with Trump. Without revealing details of the meeting, the former PM noted that he discussed the situation in Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukraine's victory with Trump. Read also: Zelenskyy meets with Trump-era top diplomat Mike Pompeo and U.S. business leaders The meeting likely took place on May 25, when the former U.S. President met with Johnson for dinner. Johnson is currently in Texas at the invitation of pro-Ukrainian think tanks to hold meetings with representatives of the GOP and their donors and convince them of the importance of sustained U.S. support for Ukraine. Read also: Boris Johnson calls for fighter jets and more tanks for Ukraine It is likely that the meeting with Trump took place within the framework of this trip. 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 Fort Worth police search for man wanted in shooting death of his cousin The Fort Worth Police Department is looking for a 23-year-old man wanted in the fatal shooting of his cousin. Jailon Freeman, 25, was found dead by police in the 5100 block of Ivy Wood Lane on April 4. He died from a gunshot wound to the head on a sidewalk outside of an apartment building, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office. Detectives learned that Freeman was involved in an argument with someone when that person shot him and fled the scene, according to Fort Worth police. Jacoby Roberts is the suspect wanted on a capital murder charge, according to authorities and the victims family. He may have ties to the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, Tulsa police said in a Tweet. According to Jailons mother, Nykia Freeman, Roberts is her sons cousin and his mother lives in Houston, where she believes he could be hiding. He could be anywhere, Nykia said about the suspect. If nobody in the public knows that hes done this, then he could be just walking freely. Nykia said she does not know why Roberts shot her son and is not aware of any conflict between the two. I dont even try to figure it out because in my mind there is no reason why, he can never justify why he did it, Nykia said. Police officers stand near the scene of a stabbing and shooting incident in Nakano Four dead, suspect arrested in rare shooting in Japan Police officers stand near the scene of a stabbing and shooting incident in Nakano TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese authorities said on Friday they arrested a 31-year-old man in a rural area for suspected murder after four people were killed in a rare shooting and stabbing incident involving a 12-hour stand-off with police. The suspect had holed up in his house after shooting two police officers who arrived at the scene in response to a report that a woman had been stabbed, the head of the Nagano prefectural police told a televised press conference. He used what appeared to be a hunting rifle in the shooting, he said. The suspect is the son of the head of the Nakano city council, public broadcaster NHK reported. The two police officers and the woman were taken to hospital and pronounced dead within hours, the police chief, Iwao Koyama, said. "This is a heinous crime that has aroused great fear in the residents of the prefecture and society at large," he said. Another elderly woman also died after an apparent knife attack, police said. She had been lying on the ground outside the house since Thursday afternoon and police had been unable to get to her, media reported. Police detained the man around 4:30 a.m. (1930 GMT) on Friday, about 12 hours after the first call to emergency responders, media said. He was arrested for the suspected murder of one of the police officers, Koyama said. Shootings are extremely rare in Japan, where gun ownership is tightly regulated and anyone seeking to own a gun must go through a rigorous vetting process. The suspect had a licence for a hunting rifle, the head of the National Public Safety Commission told a separate briefing. The suspect's mother and aunt who were in the house with him escaped on their own, Koyama said. Few other details were known, including the suspect's motive. (Reporting by Satoshi SugiyamaEditing by Chang-Ran Kim and Michael Perry) Though his presidential campaign launch was overshadowed by technical glitches Wednesday evening, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) laid out a sprawling vision for transforming the federal government and gutting the administrative state. DeSantis described a plan to vastly expand the role of Americas chief executive and tried to distinguish himself from former President Trump by painting himself as a results-oriented leader who cares more about delivering for his constituents than public fanfare and adulation. 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, DeSantis said when asked how voters can know that he will keep his promises. In his campaign announcement, DeSantis said his administration would make major reforms to public health, immigration, education and bitcoin. Theres a lot that the executive branch can do, and all I will say when it comes to these agencies [is] buckle up when I get in there, because the status quo is not acceptable, and we are going to make sure that we reconstitutionalize this government, and these agencies are totally out of control. Theres no accountability, and we are going to bring that in a very big way. Heres what DeSantis said about the changes he would undertake across the federal government. Public Health DeSantis took aim at President Bidens Covid-19 policies and said the health agencies that carried out his agency need to be cleaned out, calling for a major, major overhaul of the whole enchilada with respect to public health in this country. DeSantis has long touted his response to the pandemic as a national model for balancing economic interests with public health. However, Trump has argued that DeSantis was no better than some Democratic governors in terms of how quickly he shut down swaths of Floridas economy. First 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. Obviously its a novel virus, but I think what happened was 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. What I saw, just dealing with them, was I saw a interest in the narrative and in politics over evidence-based reasoning and evidence-based medicine, and so I dont have confidence that those agencies are up to the task, and I think you need major, major overhaul of the whole enchilada with respect to Public Health in this country. Immigration DeSantis devoted a significant share of his time to discussing migration at the southern border and touting his own policies in Florida. He pledged to declare a national emergency on his first day, to reverse Biden policies, build a wall and reinstate Trumps Remain in Mexico policy. DeSantis drew the ire of Democrats and immigrant advocates last year when he arranged for two jets of migrants to be flown from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts. Id reverse what Bidens doing. You need to shut the border down, you should not be entertaining these asylum claims for people crossing illegally. Now asylum is a legitimate thing, but these are people that, when they come, I mean theyre being persecuted, these people come in overwhelmingly are economic migrants that are coming across many other different countries. They should be applying for asylum there if they were truly qualifying for that, but theyre not. They know that if they just show up at the southern border and these are people all over the world that are coming illegally they know that they will get a sheet of paper saying, OK, come back for a court date in three years. And they get released to the interior of our country. Its an absolutely insane system, so well 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, and that were not entertaining those claims in that way, and we really need to hold the Mexican drug cartels accountable, because theyre facilitating a lot of this migration. Education DeSantis again touted his own policies in Florida, pushing back on accusations that he supports book bans, instead saying that his policies empowered parents to have a say in what books were appropriate for their children. He also defended a bill banning the teaching of critical race theory, which has infuriated groups including the NAACP. On a federal level, DeSantis pledged to get rid of accreditation programs for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. With control of the Department of Education, DeSantis said he would offer alternative accreditation regimes that would be colorblind and not offer them to schools who participate or offer DEI initiatives. There are some tools at the federal level that we dont necessarily have at the state level. For example, some of the problems with the university and the ideological capture, that didnt happen by accident. It can trace back all the way to the accreditation cartels. Well guess what? To become an accreditor, how do you do that? Youve got to get approved by the U.S Department of Education, so were going to be doing alternative accreditation regimes where instead of saying, You will only get accredited if you do DEI, youll have an accreditor that will say, We will not accredit you if you do DEI. We want a colorblind, merit-based accreditation scheme, and so as president controlling that agency, you can then approve other types of accreditation. So I think part of it is just knowing where are all the pressure points, how does it get to the point that we then see and that somebody like you will run a report on like when you see some of the outrageous stuff thats generated in some sociology department at a university. That didnt just happen out of thin air. Theres a reason why we got to that point, and I think that there are some tools with the federal government where you can push back and try to get these institutions moored in a more foundational direction about, Hey, were pursuing truth here, and were not here to try to impose one niche ideology on the entire student body. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Bitcoin DeSantis pledged not to interfere with bitcoin if hes president, saying, I just do not have an itch to have to control everything that people may be doing in this space. Twitter owner Elon Musk, who was part of the discussion Wednesday evening, has been a major backer of cryptocurrencies. The Florida governor said attempts to interfere with bitcoin was another example of bureaucratic overreach. He said while he thinks it might be constitutional for Congress to pass a law banning bitcoin, he would not support it. You have every right to do bitcoin. The only reason these people in Washington dont like it is because they dont control it, and theyre central planners, and they want to have control over society, and so bitcoin represents a threat to them. And so, as youre saying, theyre trying to regulate it out of existence. Look, could Congress enact a statute to ban things like bitcoin under the Constitution? They may be able to do it. I would oppose that. I think people should be able to do bitcoin, but Congress has never addressed this in this fashion, and for the bureaucracy to just do it on their own and make it so people cant operate in that space, thats what we mean when we say weve got to return the government to the peoples elected representatives, who are our voice, to be able to make these decisions. And so as president, well protect the ability to do things like bitcoin. I think these are people that are sophisticated. They can make decisions. Theres risks involved with it, but let them do that. I just do not have an itch to have to control everything that people may be doing in this space, and I think that the current regime clearly, they have it out for bitcoin, and if it continues for another four years, theyll probably end up killing it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The right-wing Conservative government under British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made a priority of stopping the small boat crossings French security forces have detained 38 migrants seeking to cross the Channel on a small boat to Britain after they clashed with police, prosecutors said. Three members of the gendarmerie were injured in Oye-Plage outside Calais on France's northern coast, prosecutors in the town of Saint Omer said late on Thursday. They were patrolling the beach in all-terrain vehicles on Thursday morning when the migrants threw stones at them. The windshield of one of the buggies shattered and then and swerved into soft sands "causing it to roll over", prosecutors told AFP. The migrants continued their attack on the three gendarmes stuck in the buggy "before a rapid intervention by their colleagues to free them". The three sustained wounds including to the head but have not been hospitalised. London has repeatedly accused Paris of not doing enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. French officials insist they do seek to stop them on shore. The right-wing Conservative government under British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made a priority of stopping the small boat crossings but people are continuing to undertake the journey on an almost daily basis. In November 2021, 27 migrants died when their boat capsized in the Channel. On Thursday, French authorities charged five military personnel over failing to come to their aid. zl-sjw/ah/ach Consequences of the Russian shelling of the Dnipro The Ministry called the Russian actions "war crimes" that cannot go unpunished, the BBC reported. The missile attack on Kyiv, as well as on Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, were once again aimed at civilian facilities, the FA said. Read also: Russias overnight massive missile strike in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injures one France called the attack a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. Russia hit a hospital in Dnipro in the morning on May 26. Two people were killed and another 30 injured, including two children, as of 5:30 p.m. Three more people are still missing. These numbers could still rise as information about the victims of the attack is being clarified. Read also: Russia attacks east overnight, 4 cruise missiles, 20 flying bombs and an aircraft shot down 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 One of the world's most wanted fugitives accused of involvement in the Rwandan genocide has been arrested in South Africa after more than two decades on the run, authorities announced Thursday. Fulgence Kayishema was taken into custody in Paarl, about 35 miles northeast of Cape Town, on Wednesday afternoon in a joint operation by the United Nations' International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) and South African authorities. He is accused of orchestrating the killing of thousands of people at a church in the Kivumu commune of western Rwanda's Kibuye prefecture in 1994 when he was the local police inspector, according to the IRMCT's Office of the Prosecutor. "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, who led the investigation, said in a statement on Thursday. "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 Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994 as divisions between Rwanda's two main ethnic groups came to a head. The Rwandan government, controlled by extremist members of the Hutu ethnic majority, launched a systemic campaign with its allied Hutu militias to wipe out the Tutsi ethnic minority, slaughtering more than 800,000 people over the course of 100 days, mostly Tutsis and the moderate Hutus who tried to protect them, according to U.N. estimates. MORE: 'Hotel Rwanda' hero Paul Rusesabagina to be released from prison, Rwandan government says PHOTO: Family photographs of some of those who died hang on display in an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial centre in the capital Kigali, Rwanda on April 5, 2019. (Ben Curtis/AP, FILE) In April 1994, during the early days of the genocide, more than 2,000 Tutsi men, women and children sought refuge in the Nyange parish church in Kivumu after they were surrounded and attacked by Kayishema's police force and members of the Hutu militia Interahamwe, according to an indictment filed by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2001. The indictment accuses Kayishema of directly participating in the planning and execution of the attacks on the Tutsi population in Kivumu and the ensuing massacre at the church. Kayishema, a Hutu, allegedly obtained and distributed fuel in an attempt to burn down the church while the Tutsi refugees were barricaded inside. He and others then allegedly brought in a bulldozer to demolish the building, causing the roof to collapse on those inside. Anyone found alive was killed. Kayishema and others then supervised the burial of the bodies in mass graves over the next two days, according to the indictment. Most of Kivumu's Tutsi population was killed in the church massacre. By July 1994, there were no known Tutsis left in the area, according to the indictment. The indictment charges Kayishema, now in his 60s, with one count of genocide, one count of complicity in genocide, one count of conspiracy to commit genocide and one count of extermination as a crime against humanity. The genocide ended in July 1994 when a rebel group led by a Tutsi major-general named Paul Kagame defeated Rwandan government forces and took control of the country. Kagame became Rwanda's de facto leader before officially assuming the role of president in 2000. MORE: Rwanda genocide remembered 25 years later PHOTO: In a refugee camp, a Rwandan Tutsi woman who fled during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, holds her son in her arms. (Reza/Getty Images, FILE) Kayishema, along with many others who allegedly played a role in the genocide, ultimately fled Rwanda and used fake names and forged documents to conceal his identity and whereabouts. He also relied upon a network of trusted supporters, including relatives, former Rwandan soldiers, ex-Hutu militiamen and those aligned with the genocidal Hutu Power ideology, according to the IRMCT. The investigation leading to Kayishema's arrest spanned multiple countries across Africa and elsewhere and was conducted in cooperation with many law enforcement and immigration agencies. Now, there are only three remaining fugitives indicted in the Rwandan genocide, according to the IRMCT. "Kayishema's arrest demonstrates yet again that justice can be secured, no matter the challenges, through direct cooperation between international and national law enforcement agencies," Brammertz said. "Today is a day to think of the victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. While twenty-nine years have passed, they continue to bear the physical and mental scars of their suffering. My Office reaffirms that we will not rest in our efforts to secure justice on their behalf, and by carrying out our mandate contribute to a more just and peaceful future for the Rwandan people." The Rwandan government said its prosecutors worked with the IRMCT's Office of the Prosecutor and South African authorities to ensure that Kayishema "will finally face justice." "Nearly 30 years later, we have a long list of Rwandan genocide fugitives still at large in several countries around the world," a Rwandan government spokesperson told ABC News in a statement on Thursday, "and we will continue to work with partner states and institutions to ensure that they are held to account for crimes committed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi." Fulgence Kayishema, most wanted Rwandan genocide suspect, arrested in South Africa, authorities say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Here are fun, safe, family-friendly events planned in Sacramento for Memorial Day weekend Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate safely in Sacramento. Gorgeous weather is expected, with the latest National Weather Service forecasts calling for sunny skies and high temperatures between the upper 70s and lower 80s. Public safety officials continue to urge people to stay out of Northern Californias roaring rivers, which are running dangerously fast and cold for this time of year due to record snowmelt from winter. But there are many other ways to capitalize on a mild, sunny three-day weekend in the Sacramento region. Here are several events scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in and around Californias capital city. The Sacramento County Fair is here through Monday at Cal Expo. This years county fair will feature daily concerts, livestock shows and auctions, educational exhibits, carnival festivities, interactive activities for children and, on Saturday evening, the Stars and Stripes Rodeo. The fair returned in 2022 after being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The county fair starts at 10 a.m. each day and ends at 10 p.m. except Monday, when festivities end at 7 p.m. General admission is $12 for adults and $10 for youths ages 12 through 17. Children younger than 12 get in for free. Admission on Memorial Day is free for military personnel, with valid ID. Concerts in the Park returned this month, offering free concerts at Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown every Friday evening through July. Headlining this week is Rain City Drive, a post-hardcore band from Sacramento. Also performing are A Foreign Affair, Nvtures Ghost, Serialist and DJ Ness. Festivities start at 5 p.m. at the park (910 I Street in Sacramento) and run through 9 p.m. Food trucks and beverages are available. The International Kids Festival is back for its 19th annual edition, coming to Land Park on Saturday. The festival, hosted by the Council for Cross Cultural Affairs, will feature pony rides, a rock climbing wall, trampolines, face painting, food trucks, performances by professional dancers and gymnasts, and more. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Land Parks William A. Carol Amphitheater. Admission is free. A Memorial Day Family Fun Fest will take over downtown Sacramentos R Street Corridor on Sunday. Hosted by nonprofit Self Care Sundays, the kid-friendly event will include face painting, a petting zoo, creative workshops, food and music. And for those looking to grow their family, pug puppies will be available for adoption at the event. The fun fest runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, centered at 14th and R streets. Tickets range from $7 to $15. Catch a ballgame. The Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, will host the Oklahoma City Dodgers for a four-game series Thursday through Sunday, at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Saturdays game, a 6:37 p.m. start, includes a Salute to Armed Forces ticket page in honor of Memorial Day, as well as postgame fireworks. Fans at Sutter Health Park cheer as the Sacramento River Cats play in their home opener against the El Paso Chihuahuas in Triple-A Minor League Baseball on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in West Sacramento. A crowd of 9,548 attended Tuesdays game, the first of a six-game home stand that concludes with a 1:05 first pitch on Sunday against El Paso. Sweet rides will be on display at the Veterans Memorial Day Car Show on Monday, in the CalPERS lot under the overpass at 2300 Front Street, in the Old Sacramento Waterfront area. The show, put on by the California Automobile Museum, starts at 8 a.m. Memorial Day and runs through 12:30 p.m. Vehicle registration for the car show costs $30 in advance and $40 on Monday; vehicles must be registered by 9 a.m. Feel like running? Or walking? Or just want to see a bunch of dogs? The Barks and Brews 5K will run on two legs and on four through William Land Park on Memorial Day morning. The race will offer a special dog registration option: a package for dog owners who choose to run alongside their canine that includes a commemorative collar and a bone-shaped race bib. Registration is $44 for adults and $20 for children through Friday. Prices rise to $50 for adults and $25 for children beginning Saturday. Honor those who have left us. A number of Memorial Day services are planned throughout the Sacramento region, including at East Lawn Memorial Parks East Sacramento, Elk Grove and Greenback Lane locations. A Memorial Day observance in Rancho Cordova, organized by the Cordova Community Council, will be held 10 a.m. Monday at Cordova High School. This years ceremony will include special tributes to those who died in the Vietnam War. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends and addresses the reception celebrating the Africa Day in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the reception celebrating the Africa Day on Thursday in Beijing, putting forward propositions on further deepening China-Africa cooperation. Addressing the reception, Qin congratulated the Organization of African Unity on its 60th anniversary on behalf of the Chinese government, noting that Africa has become an important force with global influence and rising international status. Entering a new era of building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, China and Africa need to strengthen unity and cooperation more than ever, Qin said. He called on China and Africa to firmly safeguard each other's legitimate rights and interests and further strengthen mutual support on issues concerning each other's sovereignty, development and dignity. China and Africa should actively promote modernization programs with distinctive features, Qin said, calling on both sides to promote synergy among the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the African Union's Agenda 2063 and other development strategies of African countries, and help Africa accelerate industrialization, localization and economic diversification. Qin said China and Africa should jointly promote the reform of the global governance system, safeguard the common interests of developing countries and continue to pool the strength of developing countries. China and Africa need to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative, de-escalate hotspot issues in Africa and around the world, and jointly address non-traditional security challenges, Qin said, calling for improving the UN's efforts to promote peace and stability in Africa, and enhancing Africa's capacity to fight terrorism and maintain stability. Qin also called for further strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and accelerating the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative in Africa. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Christophe Lutundula, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attended the reception. They said China has become the most important partner for African integration, and Africa is ready to carry forward the spirit of partnership and jointly build a community with a shared future for Africa and China as well as for mankind. Condiment king: Turkish chef Nusret Gokce aka Salt Bae. Hanoi has its own 'Green Onion Bae' From Vietnam's leaders not being able to take a joke, to why Jude Law is proud that his new film stinks... Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world. - Not so close, Jude - British star Jude Law -- the former face of Dior Homme -- doused himself in a special fragrance to get in the mood to play Henry VIII, the English monarch who liked to chop and change wives, in the movie "Firebrand", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Henry was getting old and mouldy by the time he married his final wife, Catherine Parr. So, Law had a perfumier come up with a scent that summoned up the smell of "puss, blood, fecal matter and sweat". Co-star Alicia Vikander, who played Parr, said she and the crew struggled not to puke from the stink on set. - You can never be too old - Old white men may have become a term of abuse elsewhere, but Cannes has refreshingly taken this much-maligned minority to its heart. No less than six are competing for its top prize. This year's festival is awash with pensioners, with 80-year-old Harrison Ford saddling up for one last ride as Indiana Jones and Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas also girding themselves to climb all those red-carpet steps to the premieres. Still, old guys can be a contrary lot. Take 80-year-old Martin Scorsese who premiered his "Killers of the Flower Moon" there but refused to compete for the Palme d'Or, saying "it's time for others" -- by which he presumably meant even older men like favourite Marco Bellocchio, 83, and two-times winner Ken Loach, 86. - Dead woman elected - A dead woman has topped the poll in a local election in India two weeks after her sudden demise. Ashiya Bi's husband informed officials of the 30-year-old's death but they told AFP there was no way to remove her name from the ballot. "Once the electoral process begins, it cannot be halted or paused," said Bhagwan Sharan, a district officer in Uttar Pradesh. Despite being a first-time candidate, Bi took 44 percent of the vote. "Ashiya made friends easily and people didn't want to break the promise of support they gave her," said local Mohammad Zakir. - Sense of humour failure - A Vietnamese noodle seller has ended up behind bars for making a jokey viral video at the expense of one of the communist country's politburo members. Public security minister To Lam topped off a visit to London and Karl Marx's grave by dining at celebrity chef Salt Bae's pricey restaurant -- where a 24-carat gold leaf steak can set the average worker back more than $1,000. Street seller Peter Lam Bui posted a parody video impersonating Bae -- aka Turkish chef Nusret Gokce, who parlayed his meme stardom into a string of high-end eateries -- by sprinkling herbs on noodle soup and calling himself "Green Onion Bae". But officials did not see the funny side and had Lam convicted of spreading anti-state propaganda. burs-fg/kjm More opportunities for STEAM students have been created through the launch of a new laboratory. Futures Freewishes Foundation has opened a STEAM lab in Atlanta, GA, according to a press release shared with AfroTech. The I Am a Dreamer lab had its soft opening in partnership with 2K Foundations, a charity that invests in its communities to empower the next generation. 2K Foundations has previously joined forces with the likes of LeBron James I Promise School, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, and more. Its important that all students receive access to STEAM education regardless of their background, Future stated, according to the press release. Our Freewishes Foundation, with the support of the 2K Foundations, has helped make this possible in our Atlanta community. Were thankful for their commitment to support our initiative. The lab is located near where Future grew up, the press release notes. The mission behind the rappers foundation creating the lab is to help close the educational gap for students in underserved communities so they have access to STEAM education as well as resources and tools. Freewishes Foundation is committed to combating such barriers for kids and young adults in Atlanta. We are creating a science technology, engineering, art, and mathematics lab as an extension of Freewishes educational initiative, shared Tia Wilburn, Freewishes executive director and Futures sister. We wanted to add art because both Future and I support creativity. She continued, Our objective in providing educational opportunities is to ensure inclusive and quality education for all students, regardless of income and background. There is a major gap in STEM education that impacts marginalized communities, and we want to close that gap so that no child is left behind. Along with STEAM, Freewishes Foundation provides programs for wellness, digital literacy, meals, housing, and more, according to its website. A good teacher can have a huge impact on students lives, and for a Georgia woman, she has been doing just that for a whopping 78 years. Grace Adkins, lovingly known as Ms. Grace to her students, decided to retire on May 18 her 95th birthday, USA Today reports. Adkins has taught at Westwood School in Camilla since 1976, teaching generations of students. People who live there call her a Westwood icon, the newspaper said. Earlier this month, all the schools students and teachers gathered to sing happy birthday to Ms. Grace. All the kids came outside in front of the learning lab, and I led them in singing Happy Birthday to Ms. Grace, headmaster Keith Croft told USA Today. She enjoyed it immensely. Numerous kids came up and gave her hugs afterward. That was a very special moment. Croft told the paper that Ms. Grace has an immense love of reading and has recommended books for community members to check out on a biweekly basis. Her legacy will continue to live on at Westwood for many, many years, Croft said. One of her biggest accomplishments while at the school was founding the Westwood Learning Lab. In a Facebook post, former students talked about Adkins passion for learning that changed their lives. Mama signed me up to go to The Lab so I could get extra help with math, which I struggled with even in elementary school, the person wrote. It was, and Im sure still is, Mrs. Adkins passion. She is a true educator, a teacher who cared enough to push, to prod, to be mean when she had to. TRENDING STORIES: Another former student wrote about how there were days when they didnt like Adkins very much at the time, but now, realize how much she cared. Matthew, stay on task, the former student said she would tell him. She cared, cared about every young mind who walked through her door, never turning a student away, and never, ever giving up on one, including me. Mrs. Adkins, Grace is more than your name; its what you gave us. Thank you. In a post from the school district, it said: It is impossible to know the number of lives she has impacted with her relentless determination to find the best in every student, firmly believing that Every Child is a Winner. We are grateful for her lifelong focus on students, as she has created early intervention strategies to help each student reach his/her potential. Information used in this story came from USA Today. IN OTHER NEWS: A Gadsden man has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to steal federal property from the Anniston Army Depot, according to a news release from Prim Escalona, U.S. attorney for Alabamas Northern District. Shane Farthing, 41, in his plea agreement agreed to pay restitution and forfeit money gained from the conspiracy, according to the release. Two other defendants, Kelvin Battle, 53, of Anniston, and Steve Bonner, 62, of Goodwater, face the same conspiracy charge, plus an additional charge related to specific instances of stealing or selling property stolen from the depot. Six other defendants have pleaded or have agreed to plead guilty to offenses linked to property thefts at the depot, following an ongoing investigation. Charging documents in the case allege that Farthing and Battle, who were police officers at the depot, and other civilian employees of the Directorate of Emergency Services stole military property from warehouses there. Bonner allegedly acted as a middleman, selling stolen property directly to buyers and delivering stolen property to the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga. The items included equipment to make it easier to use military weapons systems at night. Battle faces two additional wire fraud charges for allegedly making false statements to get emergency loans and a loan guarantee from the Small Business Administration under COVID-19 relief programs. Maximum penalties for the charges are five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy; 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for theft of government property; and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General are investigating the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Martin and Ryan Rummage are prosecuting. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden man to plead guilty in Anniston Army Depot theft ring A Gainesville man has been charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property after bringing an AK-47 to a preschool in Fairfax County, Virginia. A Gainesville man has been charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property after bringing an AK-47 to a preschool in Fairfax County, Virginia. He will remain in jail while his case is being heard, a judge decided Thursday. Eric Sandow, 32, was arrested May 23 after he approached the CIA Headquarters gate and allegedly said, Im here and I have a gun, according to CNN. After he was turned away by officers at the gate, his description was reported to the Fairfax County police. Sandow then made his way to Dolly Madison Preschool, located just 1.5 miles from the headquarters. He requested access to the building facilities to use the restroom, which was denied by school staff. At no point did he gain physical entrance to the school building, the preschool said in a statement on Wednesday. Fairfax County Police were called and arrested the individual. His car was parked in the main parking lot and was searched and seized. We are grateful for the swift response of the Fairfax County Police Department. Fairfax County Police arrested Eric Sandow, 32, of Gainesville, for trespassing at a Virginia preschool Tuesday. The department said on Twitter that officers confiscated an AK-47. More: Judge rules against Alachua County sheriff, says he violated officers rights More: 'Man of God': Sworn complaints against pastor show 'pattern of abuse' against 3 victims Fairfax County police put out a statement on Twitter, along with a picture of the weapons found in Sandows car. Yesterday, our officers took an AK-47 off the streets after a man was trespassing at the Dolly Madison Preschool in McLean. Officers found the unarmed man who said he was making his way to the CIA, police said. The man was detained [and] search warrant executed on his vehicle. Two firearms, including the AK-47 and a pistol, were found in Sandows car. Court records obtained by CNN say Sandow told the officer who arrested him that he worked for the CIA, and he was described as acting incoherent and paranoid. At a bond hearing Thursday at the Fairfax County General District Court, Judge John Kassabian decided not to release Sandow, agreeing with state prosecutors that it would be too dangerous. Sandow will appear in court July 24. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville man arrested after bringing AK-47 to Virginia preschool (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should apologize for the UKs treatment of gay and trans veterans, according to a government-commissioned review that details a culture of homophobia that pervaded the British military for decades. Most Read from Bloomberg The study slated for publication in the first half of June and seen by Bloomberg details accounts of electric-shock conversion therapy, intrusive medical examinations and witch-hunts of anyone suspected of being gay in the military during more than three decades through to 2000, when a ban on gay personnel serving in the military was lifted. The report includes evidence of bullying, blackmail and sexual assaults as well as detailing the significant toll on the mental health of veterans that in some cases led to homelessness and suicide. One of its core recommendations is for Sunak to make a public apology in Parliament for the historic policy, according to people familiar with the matter who said the premiers office has received the submission. A spokesperson for the government said it will carefully consider the findings and respond in due course. They didnt say whether the prime minister would accept the recommendation. Its not unusual for recent prime ministers to apologize for the policies of past administrations. The Conservative premier David Cameron issued several apologies, including for the Bloody Sunday massacre during the Irish Troubles when soldiers shot and killed unarmed civilians. Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, meanwhile, apologized for the treatment of gay World War II code-breaker Alan Turing. Elsewhere, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for the countrys own treatment of the LGBTQ community in parliament in 2017. The report recommended that those affected by the discriminatory policies be compensated for loss of earnings and the distress caused, as well as an examination of their pension rights. Many of them lost their pension entitlements after being dismissed or discharged for being gay. The people said the total compensation bill could be capped at about 50 million ($62 million). The study adds to the litany of evidence in recent months of discrimination within British institutions and businesses. In March, an investigation found that Londons Metropolitan Police is a breeding ground for racism, sexism and homophobia and has allowed predatory behavior by officers to flourish. Meanwhile Black professionals have told Bloomberg that the City of London has lost its way on the path to racial equality. The review was commissioned last year during Boris Johnsons premiership, with a remit to take testimony from those affected by the blanket ban of gay people in the armed forces from 1967 when homosexuality became legal in Britain through to January 2000, when the ban was lifted. Incomprehensible Policy Terence Etherton, the crossbench member of the House of Lords who led the probe, describes it in a preface as a unique record of what, to the modern eye, is an incomprehensible policy of homophobic bigotry in our armed forces. The UK government has said it accepts that the historic policy was wrong and committed to understand, acknowledge and where appropriate address the effect it has had on LGBTQ veterans. We are proud of our LGBT+ veterans and grateful for their service in defense of our nation, a Government spokesperson said. Ethertons recommendations also include that the heads of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force should send individual letters of apology to LGBTQ veterans who served under and suffered from the ban, as well as restoring the commission and rank of the individuals who were dismissed or discharged. Military medals should also be restored, and the wearing of uniforms formally reinstated, he said. The government should also pay for a public memorial for LGBTQ veterans who served and continue to serve in the military, he said. Its not known how many people were impacted by the ban, because the Ministry of Defence failed to keep records of those dismissed or discharged for being gay. Its estimated to be in the thousands, and 1,128 people who were impacted, including family members and veterans who witnessed the abuse, submitted evidence. Some were as young as 15 years old when they joined the military. Promotion and enforcement of the policy by the Ministry of Defence and by many in the senior ranks of the armed forces set the ethos for other serving personnel in all ranks, Etherton wrote in the report. Its a stain on the illustrious history of the UKs armed forces. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Since about the birth of boomers, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of generations has been a perilous exercise almost guaranteed to cause offense. So when Australias Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner offered an interesting aside on generational differences while addressing senators in Parliament House on Thursday, there was little chance it would pass unnoticed. Referring to the Pearls in Policing Conference held in Sydney this week, where he sat next to police officers from Toronto and the United States, Commissioner Reece Kershaw said: We learned that Gen Z, the younger generation, need three times a week praise from their supervisors, the next generation only need three times a year, and my generation only need once a year. The comment prompted raised eyebrows in the Australian parliamentary room, and no end of commentary on social media discussing the relative neediness of the nations youngest workers. The matter may have petered out, but the AFP sought to clarify the issue on Friday with a two-line statement: Reports that AFP Commissioner believes different generations require different level of praise are incorrect. The Commissioner was referring to information recently presented to a policing forum. That information came from Michael McQueen, a social researcher and author of several books, including How to Prepare Now for Whats Next, who presented at the conference. McQueen told CNN the statistics are based on research conducted by global analytics firm Gallup and multinational software company Workhuman, who surveyed more than 10,000 adults across the US in February this year. According to the Gallup website, the survey found that nearly four in 10 employees in the youngest generation of workers would prefer to be recognized by their people manager at least a few times a week. It is not about being needy or wanting participation trophies. Recognition provides the ingredients for employees to grow, the website said. Younger workers prefer to hear more frequent praise than their older colleagues, some research finds. - Thomas Barwick/Digital Vision/Getty Images The worlds changing, I guess Other research shows that assessing workers needs based on their generation is misguided. A paper published in 2021 said research doesnt support the existence of generational differences, meaning there was nothing to manage. Much of what lay people observe as generational at work is likely more accurately attributed to either age or career stage effects masquerading as generational differences, the report said. In 2020, a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that categorizing workers with generational labels like baby boomer or millennial; to define their needs and behaviors is not supported by research, and cannot adequately inform workforce management decisions. Instead of relying on generational stereotypes, employers and managers should focus on individuals work needs, the research found. McQueen, who is a millennial, agrees that an individual approach is best, but says theres value in understanding broad patterns of human behavior and experience. He says the differing levels of desire for praise originate at home. Over the last few decades, theres been a lot of really good research looking at how trends in parenting and education to an extent, but especially parenting, how that has changed the way generations are growing up and how much feedback theyre looking for, said McQueen. The challenge with that is, its based on this flawed premise that you can give another human being self-esteem, which you sort of cant, he said. He said hes more intentional about giving praise to younger staff, and he encourages businesses and police forces to do the same. During his appearance on Thursday, Kershaw also offered up what hed learned about emojis. I saw some emojis that Gen Z use that are actually offensive. But my generation is sending these emojis, so the worlds changing, I guess, is what Im saying, he said. When asked by a puzzled participant which emojis his generation was sending, Kershaw explained: Like a happy face. That can actually mean the opposite in Gen Z land. Happy to give you a briefing on that, he said to laughter. For older readers wondering what a smiley face really means, it can be interpreted as extreme passive aggression. I think the safest one is just the super clear, obvious, big grin with teeth, said McQueen. At least its a proper smile. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Georgia lawmakers remain split on debt ceiling as deadline gets closer and closer The clock is still ticking on raising the debt ceiling as the June 1 deadline looms closer. Economists warn not raising the ceiling could lead the country into recession. Rep. Nikema Williams warned seniors Friday that they could be among the hardest hit if no deal is reached. Williams spent some of Friday at a Forest Park senior center celebrating them but also warning them that the latest Republican proposals on raising the debt ceiling would ultimately hurt them. It could affect their Social Security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and veterans on Memorial Day weekend. Were looking at a manufactured crisis by the Republican party that could cut veteran benefits, William said. Despite negotiations, both sides seem far apart on how to solve the debt ceiling crisis. If they dont reach a deal by June 1, the US government could default on its financial obligations for the first time in history, and that, some economists warn, could tip the country into recession. TRENDING STORIES: Georgia Republicans seem to be holding the line on requiring future spending cuts to make the deal. Were fighting for hard-working Americans, fiscal sanity, and the future of our republic. Republicans cant back down, Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde said. We dont have a revenue problem in Georgia, we have a spending problem, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said. Williams said Democrats are holding the line, too. All 213 Democrats in Congress stand united, ready to lead in the country and do what weve done under Democratic presidents, Republican presidents, and that is save our economy, Williams said. While June 1 is the stated deadline, some believe that date could shift a few days, giving both sides a little more time to strike a deal. RELATED NEWS: A Georgia man pleaded guilty to stealing rifles from a local Walmart and selling them for cash and drugs. U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said 31-year-old Brandon Michael Hatfield of Americus attempted to steal a Rossi, 22LR caliber rifle from a Walmart on Nov. 18 but was stopped by employees before he could leave the store. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the investigation, Hatfield stole five rifles on five different occasions from the store between Nov. 1 and Nov. 6. Hatfield admitted that he stole the firearms and traded them for money and drugs. The defendant stole several rifles in a matter of weeks, flipping them quickly for cash and drugs and thereby increasing the number of stolen firearms on the streets of Americus, Leary said. Law enforcement at every level is working to reduce the number of firearms in the hands of criminals in an effort to improve the safety within every community across the Middle District of Georgia. TRENDING STORIES: Leary said Hatfield had been convicted of several felonies, including dealing methamphetamine, escape and residential entry in Indiana. Hatfield faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Ken Loach won his second Palme d'Or for 'I, Daniel Blake' in 2016 While much talk at Cannes this year has been about the unprecedented seven women directors in competition, an impressive cavalcade of ageing maestros has charmed the French Riviera festival, with 86-year-old Ken Loach entering the race on Friday. Loach could pick up a record third Palme d'Or if he wins the festival's top prize on Saturday with "The Old Oak" about a British pub struggling to survive and the tensions caused by the arrival of Syrian refugees. He is the oldest director of the 21 in competition at the film festival -- but not by much. Other silver foxes in the running include Marco Bellocchio, 83, Wim Wenders, 77, Nanni Moretti, 69, and comparative whippersnapper Aki Kaurismaki, 66. Outside the main competition, there were also glitzy premieres for 80-year-old Martin Scorsese's American Indian epic "Killers of the Flower Moon", starring veteran screen legend Robert De Niro, 79. Harrison Ford, 80, received an honorary Palme d'Or before the festival saw him reprise his role as Indiana Jones. And at the opening ceremony, Michael Douglas, 78, was also given an honorary Palme. Proving that it's never too late to return to the famed Croisette boulevard in Cannes, acclaimed 82-year-old Spanish filmmaker Victor Erice returned with his first film in 40 years, "Close Your Eyes". - Mature magic - Loach with his two Palmes is the big hitter in the group of masterful veterans, but early reviews of the films by Kaurismaki and Bellocchio suggest competition is tough. Although Kaurismaki's red carpet appearance was not exactly graceful -- known to enjoy a drink, the Finn wobbled his way up the famous steps for the premiere of "Fallen Leaves" -- his bittersweet romance from the streets of Helsinki has been hailed as a feel-good gem. Much darker but also generating a positive reaction is Bellocchio's "Kidnapped" about the 19th-century seizure of Jewish children by the Vatican. The Italian maestro has had films in competition before, including his most recent "The Traitor" in 2019, but his only prize so far has been the 2021 honorary Palme. Wenders won the top prize in 1984 for "Paris, Texas" and then three years later, best director for "Wings of Desire". He returns with "Perfect Days", the tale of a Tokyo toilet cleaner that has been hailed as a small gem. - Record third Palme for Loach? - The only oldie with a dud is Moretti, whose "A Brighter Tomorrow" was widely panned, described as "bafflingly awful" by The Guardian. But of the old masters, it is Loach who is mostly hotly anticipated. Having had an amazing 15 films in competition at Cannes, according to the festival website, he has already won the Palme for Irish civil war drama "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" in 2006, and again 10 years later for "I, Daniel Blake". Heading this year's jury is another double-Palme winner Ruben Ostlund, who promised to be scrupulously democratic if Loach's latest seduces the jury. "If it's the best film we are going to give it the Palme," he said, adding with a laugh: "I will definitely work very hard to get over my own egoistic goals of being the first director with three Golden Palmes." eab/er/kjm/ach/jm Flash The 29th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultation was held on Thursday in the city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province. The meeting was co-chaired by Nong Rong, assistant minister of foreign affairs of China, and Chan Aye, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. Senior officials and representatives of other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat were also in attendance. The two sides commented positively on the good momentum of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. They exchanged views on promoting future cooperation, and on international and regional issues of common interest. Nong said that the Chinese side hopes to work with ASEAN countries to explore new opportunities for cooperation in fields such as emerging industries, new energy, currency and finance, traditional and non-traditional security, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Nong said China also aims to enhance the synergy between the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and ASEAN's community building, and strive to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Attendees from ASEAN countries expressed their willingness to join hands with China to promote the upgrading of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, and deepen cooperation in the fields of green development, the digital economy, connectivity and sustainable agriculture. They also said they were willing to jointly push for the greater development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. A Last Generation activist was left with a block of asphalt stuck to his hand Police in Paris on Friday used teargas against activists who attempted to block the annual shareholders meeting of French oil giant TotalEnergies -- the latest standoff involving climate campaigners. The clashes came in a week which saw police raid homes in Germany as part of an investigation into a group that has blocked streets and flung mashed potato at the glass covering famous works of art to raise awareness about the need for climate action. Some activists say shock tactics are necessary to focus attention on the urgency of weaning the world off fossil fuels. AFP looks at various eye-catching acts of civil resistance used by groups across Europe such as Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil and Last Generation. - Glued to the ground - From London to Paris to Berlin, activists have taken to glueing themselves to streets to disrupt traffic. Last month, activists in Berlin blocked dozens of streets, including a busy motorway, during rush hour. Police had to use a drill to dislodge one activist, who was left with a slab of asphalt stuck to his hand. Some of the protesters were given jail sentences. - Art attacks - Nothing grabs attention like soup dripping off a priceless artwork, as two activists from the Just Stop Oil group discovered when they emptied cans of tomato soup over the glass protecting Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" in London's National Gallery in October 2022. The pair, who complained that art lovers were more concerned with paintings than the planet, were arrested and charged with damaging the frame (the glass-protected painting was untouched). Their action spawned a slew of imitations. A man in The Hague glued his head to Vermeer's "Girl With a Pearl Earring", activists in Madrid stuck themselves to paintings by Francisco Goya and protesters in Germany flung mash at a Claude Monet. - Red flags on red carpets - Red-carpet events have also repeatedly been targeted by activists, who accuse the rich and powerful of dining out at the planet's expense. In December, campaigners from Last Generation smeared the facade of the famed La Scala theatre in Milan on the opening night of the new season. Extinction Rebellion meanwhile attempted to stop private jets taking off during this year's Cannes film festival. - Reservoir wars - In France, thousands of activists armed with bowling balls and other objects fought pitched battles with the police in March. They were attempting to block construction of a reservoir for use in irrigation in the southwestern village of Sainte Soline, saying the megadam would distort access to water in times of drought. The clashes left two demonstrators in a coma. - Digging in - In January, thousands of protesters descended on the German hamlet of Luetzerath in western Germany to try to prevent the deserted village being razed to make way for the expansion of an open-cast coal mine. Some dug trenches in the ground, while others camped out in tree houses and erected giant tripods to try to keep the police at bay. Several protesters were hospitalised after the police moved in to clear the site. - Storming shareholder meetings - It's become so routine it's almost expected -- when the shareholders of oil majors such as TotalEnergies or Britain's Shell; big banks such as BNP Paribas and HSBC; or car giants like Volkswagen meet, climate activists are usually on hand to harangue them and their board over their responsibility in the climate emergency. On Friday, shareholders arriving for TotalEnergies' annual general meeting in Paris were escorted past hundreds of protesters by riot police. On Tuesday, activists who stormed Shell's annual meeting sang "Go to hell Shell!" - Skipping school - The torch-bearer for a new generation of campaigners was a solemn 15-year-old with plaits, who in 2018 began skipping school every Friday to protest outside the Swedish parliament over its climate inaction. Greta Thunberg gained cult status and went on to travel the world (by boat and train), urging world leaders to "listen to the science" on climate change. Last year she told AFP she wanted to hand over her megaphone to campaigners from communities that are already being severely affected by climate change. cb/jmy/gil Three former Jackson Police Department officers were indicted by a grand jury last week on homicide charges in the death of Keith Murriel, a Mississippi man who died in police custody on Dec. 31, 2022. Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens, II, announced the charges against former officers Kenya McCarty, Avery Willis and James Land in a press conference on Wednesday. "All three officers have been indicted for homicide," Owens said. "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 that McCarty and Willis were each charged with second-degree murder, while Land was charged with manslaughter. "Ms. McCarty sincerely laments Mr. Murriel's death and has the most sincere condolence for his family and friends," McCarty's attorney Francis Springer told ABC News in a statement on Thursday. "Ms. McCarty doesn't believe she is guilty of the crime for which she is indicted or of any other crime. She will enter a not-guilty plea." Springer told ABC News that an arraignment date has not been set yet. ABC News has reached out to an attorney for Land but requests for comment were not immediately responded to. Efforts to reach Willis directly for comment were unsuccessful. It is unclear if Willis has retained an attorney. PHOTO: Police body cam video released by the city of Jackson, Miss., of Keith Murriel who died after he was taken into custody on Dec. 31, 2022. (Jackson Police Department) Daryl Washington, an attorney representing the family of Murriel, told ABC News in a statement on Thursday that the indictment brings "a level of comfort" to the family. Family of Brianna Grier, Georgia woman who fell out of moving police vehicle, files wrongful death lawsuit "It's been an extremely difficult time for the family, knowing that Keith's death was totally preventable," Washington said. "Although the family would much rather have Keith here with them, there is a level of comfort knowing that the officers have been indicted for the egregious crime they committed last December," he added. "We know that this is only the first step in a long process, but we are encouraged by the thorough investigation that was conducted and believe the officers will be held fully accountable for their wrongful actions." The city of Jackson released body camera footage of the incident on Wednesday that was reviewed by ABC News and shows officers tasing Murriel several times as they try to handcuff him. Murriel can be heard repeatedly urging the officers to stop. "The hardest thing for the family is hearing Keith telling the officers to stop," Washington told ABC News on Thursday. PHOTO: Police body cam video released by the city of Jackson, Miss., of Keith Murriel who died after he was taken into custody on Dec. 31, 2022. (Jackson Police Department) Georgia man found dead in bed bug-infested jail cell died of 'severe neglect': Independent autopsy Following Murriel's death, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into the incident. ABC News has reached out to the MBI for a copy of the final report, as well as a copy of Murriel's autopsy. Jackson City Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who urged the MBI to release the video earlier this year, told reporters that the video is "voluminous" and is made up of footage from various officers' cameras, as well as camera footage from the surrounding area that captured Murriel's encounter with police. "We believe that we have seen actions which are excessive, disheartening and tragic," Lumumba said. PHOTO: Police body cam video released by the city of Jackson, Miss., of Keith Murriel who died after he was taken into custody on Dec. 31, 2022. (Jackson Police Department) Members of Murriel's family, who, according to Washington, have been calling for months on the MBI to release the body camera video, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in April against officers involved in this case. "We chose not to release the video at that time because we did not want to compromise the ongoing investigation," Lumumba said. "We wanted to make it clear while we were releasing this video that we are on the side of justice and want to see justice take place," he added. $3.1M settlement reached in fatal police shooting of Black man in Tacoma, Washington Newly appointed Jackson Police Department Chief Joseph Wade offered his condolences to Murriel's family during the press conference on Wednesday and pledged to be transparent. "We strive at the Jackson Police Department to create community trust. When we fail, we create community distrust," Wade said, urging the community to continue to support the officers who "put their lives on the line every day." "We at JPD will continue to be transparent and we will continue to have accountability measures in place not only from the bottom up, but from the top down as we move forward," he added. Former Jackson Police Chief James Davis announced his retirement on Friday and Wade was named interim police chief. Lumumba publicly disagreed with Davis in February after police released a statement saying that Murriel experienced a "health emergency" that led to his death. According to a Jackson Police Department news release given to the ABC affiliate, WAPT, in January officers responded at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 31 2022, to a call for service in the 500 block of E. Beasley Road. "While at the location, officers successfully took an individual into custody who experienced a medical emergency," JPD said in the release, according to the affiliate. "American Medical Response was summoned to the location to render aid; unfortunately, the individual was pronounced deceased on the scene." Asked during the press conference on Wednesday if Davis' departure had anything to do with the backlash over the incident that led to Murriel's death, Lumumda said, "no." "I shared that, you know I had a different take on it, but that had nothing to do with his decision to retire and my decision to accept his retirement," he added. 3 former Jackson Police Department officers charged with homicide in death of Keith Murriel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Is this going to be Fort Lauderdales Wynwood? A $300 million development underway A $300 million investment is going to transform a humble haven for artists in Fort Lauderdale into a cluster of modern buildings for apartments, cafes, business offices and of course artists, in an area aiming to rival the Wynwood section in Miami. FAT Village turned to dust in early May after backhoes began demolishing the single-story warehouses that once housed artist studios, small businesses, cafes and restaurants in the Flagler Village neighborhood, said Alan Hooper, co-founder of Urban Street Development. The demolition is the first step of a 5.6-acre redevelopment by partners Fort Lauderdale developer Urban Street Development, Houston-based Hines, Chicagos private equity firm Cresset Partners and Chilean developer and investment fund manager Las Americas. The ambitious real estate project will fill the site with two apartment rental buildings, offices and retail space. Construction is anticipated to start in September and finish in 2026. A cohort of developers is building a $300 million FAT Village arts district in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Food Art Technology Village, known as FAT Village, gained popularity over the past few years for its artist studios, art walks and food trucks. Its also a few blocks away from Fort Lauderdales central business district and the eight-mile, urban art Mockingbird Trail. The community spans four blocks, bordered by Andrews Avenue to the east, Florida East Coast Railroad to the west, Broward Boulevard to the south and Northwest Fourth Street to the north. Its one component of the 270-acre and rapidly-evolving Flagler Village. The area as a whole has taken foot traffic off of the popular nearby beaches and Las Olas Boulevard. Fort Lauderdale needs this and it is ready for something like this, said Tim Petrillo, co-founder of Urban Street Development. Fort Lauderdale has been a step behind Miami and a step ahead of Palm Beach. With the influx of people moving in from everywhere around the country to South Florida, we think its good timing. Hines acquired the property last fall for $57.4 million. Allan Kennedy, Hines managing director, said he partnered with local firms, one of the sites sellers and early visionaries like Doug McCraw, co-founder of the FAT Village Arts District, in order to make sure we address local needs and local relationships and the true personality of the city in which it is being built. The two apartment rental towers, one 13 stories and another 24 stories, will have 603 apartments. Residences will range from studios to three-bedroom layouts. Part of the FAT Village project will include a six-story office building, pictured in this rendering. The commercial pieces consist of about 80,000 square feet of retail space including local artist studios at reduced rents and a six-story, 180,000-square-foot office building. The developers are going to seek LEED sustainability certification for the office building. Despite rising concerns about vacant U.S. office buildings as people continue to work remotely, the partners bet big on the South Florida office market. New modern office buildings that are better designed to address todays worker are still getting plenty of attention, Kennedy said. He said the leasing activity of the office tower 830 Brickell in Miamis financial district exemplifies demand for office space in South Florida. Its older buildings that do not have any connection to amenities or adjacency to vibrant parts of town that are struggling. Our office building is different. Hines plans to draw office tenants from the technology, financial and legal industries once the project is completed. Heres a rendering of the apartment area of FAT Village redevelopment. There will 603 apartment rentals, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments. The redevelopment presents a new chapter for a pocket of Fort Lauderdale with a long history, said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of the museum History Fort Lauderdale. Zeiler is also a consultant to the city of Fort Lauderdale on historic preservation. Back in 1890, South Florida pioneer Mary Brickell owned the site. She later worked with Henry Flagler to place the railroad tracks on the edge of the community thats now FAT Village. In the 1920s, it became known as a commercial business district, which eventually went to house construction firms and car dealerships. McCraw and his partners gave the area new life starting in the 1990s when they purchased different sites and launched a community for artists. It was an incubator for those arts organizations, Zeiler said. It served its purpose, but very truthfully the buildings were deteriorating. Ive seen the plans for what theyre going to put in there and I think it is quite beautiful. Lorenzo Serafini Boni On Monday evening in Venice, Italy, a tourist nearly fell into the Grand Canal. She was leaning out from a table along the water, desperate for a view of what was happening above on the Rialto Bridge. For the first time in history, the bridge had been fully shut down. There was a large gold frame placed at its center, and model and activist Quannah Chasinghorse was standing inside of it as part of Golden Goose's inaugural Haus of Dreamers event. Lucas Possiede The Venice-based brand, known for sneakers that come pre-scuffed, had asked Chasinghorse to partake in its very first Haus event. Below her were 70 guests seated in a handful of gondolas, invited by the brand for an evening that promised five surprise performances, a dinner, and, later, an after-party. When they approached her to take part in the project, Golden Goose asked Chasinghorse not just to attend, but also to conceptualize a performance. They said, We want you to be able to perform something special to you, so people can see who you really are, Chasinghorse told me a few hours before the event. She thought about writing a poem, but then was reminded of one she had already written in sixth grade. Eventually, she decided to update it with new verses to represent her growth as a person and create a bridge to the younger version of herself, who never thought what she's doing now would be possible. While standing on the Rialto, she recited it to the gondolas below: From the ceremonial potlaches and the legends our elders tell with a lesson to be learned, to sitting in glam chairs and posing for cameras. Lucas Possiede The opportunity to do this in Venice felt particularly apt because Chasinghorsea member of the Han Gwich'in and Sicangu/Oglala tribes who grew up mostly in Alaskahad visited the city when she was just five. Her mother couldnt afford a hotel at the time, so they camped out on a beach nearby, taking in the sites by day. When I was five, I had photos of me in Venice, posing and just smiling everywhere I went. This is the first time I've been back as an adult. There's photos of me dreaming of becoming a model, posing everywhere I went and now, Im here as a professional model, she told me, breathless and wide-eyed. There is that full circle moment. Lucas Possiede It is no secret that not everyone understands Golden Goose. Its sneakers, which are wildly popular in the US and Europe, are polarizing to some because of their signature built-in wear-and-tear. But CEO Silvio Campara insists the design isnt about an attempt to manufacture a sense of coolness. It is about letting people be their unique selves, he said. That's why I am interested in distress [on the sneakers]. It is to remind people that it's not important to be perfect. It's important to pay attention to what makes you imperfect. That's what makes you unique. In a recent interview with Business of Fashion, Campara said culture is the new luxury. When asked about his statement, he mentioned how the fashion brands that make an impact today are those that are able to provide more than a product or a fashion show. For months, his team has been dreaming up a way to harness this idea, to try and create a culture for Golden Goose that proves they are more than sneakers that look worn in. Then they announced HAUS, an initiative described as a global cultural platform and creative incubator that will eventually take up physical space in the neighborhood of MargheraIts like the Brooklyn of Venice, Campara saidwith a 20,000-square-foot campus. There are plans for a school for artisans, a design archive, an auditorium, a library, and an exhibit area. While that wont be ready until at least 2024, the Haus of Dreamers event had been envisioned as a kick-off, an introduction to the brand outside of the framework of their clothing or shoes. Lucas Possiede Golden Goose invited five so-called dreamers like Chasinghorse, to envision a performance that expressed their true selvesthe concept that Campara maintains is the true spirit of the brand. The evening began with an installation by Milan-based architect Fabio Novembre, a deep blue tunnel built like an optical illusion and set to the sound of a loud heartbeat because, as Novembre said, Venice is alive. It is a living city. The tunnel ended by the water, where everyone was instructed to enter a gondola to view Chasinghorses poem from below. Once her performance concluded, the gondolas headed towards the Venice Venice Hotel, recently opened by Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo, the husband-wife founders of Golden Goose. The modern hotel was the venue for the remainder of the evening, and guests gathered under the arches of its outdoor patio for aperol spritzes and bowls of fritto misto, overlooking the sunset on the water. Shortly after, tattoo artist Dr. Woo called for everyone to gather in the back to announce his installation, a room filled with piles of porcelain plates he designed to look as though theyve been tattooed with spiderwebs and cherubs, inspired by the Venetian damask. Lucas Possiede After guests emerged from his room, a laughing Suki Waterhouse waved over the crowd with a camera swinging from her neck, calling, Dont be scared if I chase you down with this! She would be taking Polaroid portraits of everyone in attendance. Earlier in the evening she told me, I wanted to have something tangibleI think a lot of the time we walk away from these events with iPhone pictures or a Getty photo you don't really like and I wanted people to have this thing that you could actually take away from the evening. Lucas Possiede K-Pop star SUMNIis performance was the finale of the night, taking place after a dinner with an impressive display of floral centerpieces that extended outward, nearly forming a canopy over those seated. After three courses that began with risotto and ended with a lemon sorbet, guests were led outside to the hotels courtyard covered in hundreds of lit candles. SUMNI emerged in the center to sing "Borderline," a pop ballad about her struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder. I wanted to share this moment with people in similar situations, she said. Lucas Possiede In the coming months, there will be a staggered release of capsule collections created by each dreamer, with plates by Dr. Woo and a sustainable shoe by Chasinghorse. But they all seemed more interested in the intangibles behind the project. Asked about her capsule, Waterhouse changed the subject: I am a delusional dreamer. Delusional in the way that I have delusional dreams. I've had dreams come true and I've kind of reinvented the dreams and moved the goalposts every time. I always think in a couple of years, I don't even want to recognize who I am right now, she told me. Lucas Possiede I want to change really radically through the dreams that I have," she went on. "I don't want my soul to become comfortable with where it is. I don't want to be a better version of myself. I think a better version is just like, Oh, maybe I have gone to the gym more or like to drink more water. What I'm aiming for is to not recognize the version of myself that I am. Campara clapped his hands together in excitement, rising from his seat across from her to say, Thats it! He mentioned the wear of the shoes, how that's meant to represent a life lived and reinvented over the years, With Golden Goose, we have been trying to do what she is saying. But still, he added, Golden Goose is not really just that. It is all the people who give a true voice to it. To Campara, Waterhouse and all of the other dreamers weren't another face of the brand, but segments of its soul. And this is something he hopes people will start to see when they recognize the brand's signature broken star on the streets. What is the sense of anything, after all, if it's not lending itself to the heart of the people? You Might Also Like GOP field in PA Senate race still wide open as Mastriano says he won't run 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 year's 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. 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) 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. FILE - David McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, speaks during a campaign stop in Lititz, Pa., on May 13, 2022. The former hedge fun CEO McCormick is the favorite of party leaders and has drawn pledges of financial support from top Republican officials should he decide to run for Senate in 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) 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 This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: McCormick now party favorite with Mastriano not running for Senate A Kentucky doctor has been charged with illegally distributing drugs. A federal grand jury indicted Jason N. Stamper, a Pikeville psychiatrist, Thursday on four counts of distributing and dispensing an amphetamine in 2022 outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical reason. Police found bags of an ADHD drug called Vyvanse in a search of Stampers home in December, according to a citation. The drug contains an amphetamine. The citation said police also found a baggie with a white residue consistent with methamphetamine, along with scales and pipes used to smoke drugs. Stamper, 51, is charged in state court with trafficking in meth and possession of meth and drug paraphernalia, but he has not been indicted in state court. The case in federal court, where Stamper faces up to 20 years in prison on each count if convicted, will likely supersede the state case. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure issued an emergency restriction barring Stamper from prescribing controlled substances after he was arrested. Jennifer Taylor, a Whitesburg attorney who represents Stamper, said they had no comment on the federal indictment. Who is Greg Capers, the Mississippi police officer who shot unarmed 11-year-old Aderrien Murry? Mississippi police officer Greg Capers has been placed on administrative leave after he shot and wounded 11-year-old Aderrien Murry in Indianola last Saturday, authorities say. The shooting of an unarmed boy in his home after he had called 911 to report a domestic disturbance has triggered calls from family and the wider community for Mr Capers to be fired, and for a thorough Department of Justice investigation into the Indianola Police Department. Aderriens mother Nakala Murry told a news conference she had asked her son to call 911 after her former partner showed up irate at the familys home on BB King Road at around 4am on 20 May. Ms Murry said that two officers arrived at around 6am and ordered everyone inside to come out. Aderrien was following his mother out of the house when he was shot in the chest by a police officer in the living room. The police department later confirmed to CNN that Mr Capers had discharged his weapon. Aderrien was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries including a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and lacerated liver. Aderrien has since been released from hospital. Family attorney Carlos Moore told The Independent that the city was stonewalling their requests for bodycam footage to be released, and had not offered an apology or an explanation. Who is Greg Capers? Greg Capers is a sergeant with the Indianola Police Department. According to a social media account, Mr Capers is from West Monroe, Louisiana, where he formerly worked as a police officer, and lives in Indianola. In 2016, he married LaShundra Fletcher-Capers. He has several children. Mr Capers regularly posts on social media about his family, his religious faith, and has shared several photos showing his skills as a police marksman. The new no trespassing sign! he wrote in 2021 next to a bullet-riddled shooting target. A phone number listed under Mr Capers went unanswered on Friday. He did not respond to several messages. Indianola police sergeant Greg Capers has been placed on administrative leave after shooting 11-year-old Aderrien Murry (Twitter / Carlos Moore) On Mr Capers Facebook page, his brother Linton Capers said in a comment that the police officer was hurting. I don't know what happened and my heart goes out to this baby. But I know we were raised to do the right things in life. I'm sure my brother is hurting and more than sorry for what he did, the brother wrote. In May 2021, he was named Policeman of the Year by the police force, according to an article in Indianolas local newspaper the Enterprise-Tocsin. They shot first and asked questions second The Policeman of the Year award has been seized on by Aderriens family and representatives as a sign of institutional problems within the department. At a news conference on Monday, Ms Murry held a sign that read Your best cop shot my baby as she described trying to staunch the flow of blood from her sons wounds. On Thursday, Ms Murry and Mr Moore joined a small group of protesters outside of the city hall buildings calling for Mr Capers to be fired. Mr Capers was placed on administrative leave at a meeting of the towns Board of Alderman on Tuesday. Aderrien Murry, 11, pictured with family attorney Carlos Moore, is recovering at home (Carlos Moore / CNN) Mr Moore told The Independent he was pressing police and city officials for answers. Were asking what did you see and why did you shoot? Mr Moore said in an interview on Friday. I think they shot first and asked questions second. He doesnt appear to be a man or anything, hes a 410 little boy. Theres no way a trained officer should have feared for his life when an 11-year-old boy approaches with no weapon in his hands. Mayor Ken Featherstone has failed to respond to several requests by The Independent for comment. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into the shooting to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. (Bloomberg) -- A Guantanamo Bay prisoner suspected of terrorism is fighting to get his case heard in a London court after he alleged the UK was complicit in helping the US mistreat him. Most Read from Bloomberg Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi Arabian citizen, was first detained in Dubai in 2002 for his alleged involvement in two bombings targeting a US warship and a French civilian oil tanker. Hes been held captive in the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba since 2006. There is an irresistible inference that the UK agencies participated in intelligence sharing in relation to the complainant and were complicit in his torture and ill-treatment, Hugh Southey, a lawyer for Al-Nashiri, said in court documents prepared for a hearing Wednesday. Al-Nashiri has already taken his claims of mistreatment to the European Court of Human Rights, while his separate US appeal over the use of torture was dismissed last year. Al-Nashiri lawyers said he faced waterboarding, mock executions, threats of death, sleep deprivation and rectal feeding. Al-Nashiri was held in numerous incommunicado detention locations around the world and faced torture in secretive US Central Intelligence Agency sites, his lawyers said in their UK filings. Theyve asked a London court to allow the case to proceed arguing that the UK, including security services and the defense ministry, participated in the USs high-value detainee program and encouraged his historic mistreatment, according to the filings. Lawyers for the UK agencies said that Al-Nashiri was held at all times by agents of another state, according to court documents. At no point during the alleged mistreatment were any of the agencies present, they added. They argued the case shouldnt take place in the UK, and so local human rights laws cant be invoked. The UKs defense ministry didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. 'It can happen to anyone.' Agonized family of worker shot, killed on job asks why Melody Kernan holds on to her daughter, Katie Duncan as she reads a statement about her stepfather, Nicholas Kernan, 43, who was found shot while working in Corryville Tuesday. He later died at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center The family along with Kernan's employer Uptown Rental Properties held a press conference at Heritage Park in Mason Friday, 26, 2023. Kernan would have been 44 on Monday. Uptown Rental Properties is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, the CEO said. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. The family of Nicholas Kernan is desperately searching for answers to what seemed like random violence: his midday shooting death. Earlier this week, Kernan was fatally shot in Corryville while on the job for Uptown Rental Properties. "As a family, we used to watch crime shows on TV, but never in our wildest dreams would we imagine that it would be happening to us in real life," Katie Duncan, Kernan's stepdaughter, said during a Friday afternoon press conference at Heritage Oak Park in Mason. Kernan, 43, was found shot in the 2900 block of Bellevue Avenue just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, officials said. He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died, police reported. Nicholas Kernan, 43, was found shot in the 2900 block of Bellevue Avenue just after 3 p.m. on May 23, 2023. He was outside a property working on landscaping and cleaning up when the shooter approached him, Uptown Rental Properties President and CEO Dan Schimberg said. Kernan, who's listed as a field technician on the company's website, joined Uptown Rental Properties in March 2022. Duncan said Kernan was an avid Beatles fan and loved playing the bass guitar, dirt track racing and Christmastime. He was also an organ donor, she said, adding that over 100 people have benefited from those donations. She said Kernan loved the Carew Tower so much that he proposed to his wife, Melody Kernan, on the Downtown landmark's observation deck. Kernan would've turned 44 on Memorial Day. "It feels like a nightmare and we're profoundly saddened," Duncan said. "And if something like this can touch us, it can happen to anyone." Bonnie Kernan, aunt of Nicholas Kernan, listens during a press conference about Nicholas Kernan, 43, who was found shot while working in Corryville Tuesday. He later died at University Medical Center. The family along with Kernan's employer Uptown Rental Properties held a press conference at Heritage Park in Mason Friday, 26, 2023. Kernan would have been 44 on Monday. Uptown Rental Properties is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, the CEO said. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. Cincinnati police have yet to make an arrest or release any information regarding a suspect. Capt. Steve Saunders said the investigation is still in its early stages and detectives are gathering surveillance video and other information. Saunders declined to comment on specific details surrounding the shooting but he said there's been a lot of cooperation from the community. "We want to bring this person to justice," he said. Uptown Rental Properties is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. The company also set up a GoFundMe page that has raised nearly $21,000 for Kernan's family as of Friday afternoon. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Family of slain landscaper 'profoundly saddened,' seeking answers Community service is important to Debbi Gifford, a daughter of Buster Tschanen and Phyllis (Wilson) Tschanen, and her two siblings, Amy Burkhart and Beth Dunlap. Debbi was raised north of Oceola close to her grandparents. She started school at Holmes Liberty and Lykens schools and then to Wynford High School. She remembers seeing Wynford when it opened; it was big, and she looked forward to going there. Debbi loved music, and played in the royal brass, concert and symphonic bands. Arvine Kindinger was the band director and for several years she helped him get kids started in music. Debbi graduated from Wynford H.S. in 1975. Debbi Gifford has long been involved in the Crawford County community through both employment and volunteer work. Debbi married Chris Chandler and they had two children, Jason Chandler and Christi Crall. Debbi drove school bus for Wynford eight years after graduation and she also had other part-time jobs. Chris and Debbi went their separate ways, and then Debbi married Eric Gifford. He spent nine years in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Luke AFB Glendale, Arizona, and then transferred to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska. Debbi was allowed to travel with him. When President Bill Clinton had a reduction in force, Eric left the service and they came back home. Currently, Eric and Debbi live in the "suburbs" of Lemert. Debbi got a job working for Tom and Lavonne Moores WBCO Radio Station, starting as their office manager. She loved working for them, but after a couple years, she wanted to try something new. She began working with Life Touch in Galion in customer service. It was a learning, growing and humbling experience, and she learned the grass isnt always greener on the other side of the fence. She realized she should have stayed at WBCO. The opportunity arose to go back to the station for Mike and Donna Laipply as their station manager. Thats where she really grew into being involved in the community. The three of them served the community well, and she stayed with WBCO for 20 years. The Laipplys sold the business but Debbi stayed on until 2015. During those years, the Moores and Laipplys focused on the community and Debbi also learned the process. Seeing a need in her community she lobbied the out-of-state corporate office to allow an online news source to be developed. Once approval was received, Crawford County Now was launched. During that time, her friend Rhonda Rowland asked Debbi to run for the Wynford School Board. She won the election and continued to serve for 16 years. She was happy to see her grandkids, Tim and Todd Chandler, graduate from Wynford. One of the biggest achievements Debbi participated in was the opening of the new building in the fall of 2020. Again, she experienced the "awe" of something so nice for their district. It is especially fulfilling for Debbi to have three more grandkids Justin Chandler, Jamison Crall and Raelyn Mears at Wynford. Debbi also spent four years with Crossroads Original Designs, the candle factory. She worked in HR, the front office, sales and marketing. Her boss, Justin McMullen, used to call her the utility player. COVID interrupted her time there, and in the fall of 2020 she began her career with Miley Realty and Auction. The part of the real estate business that she enjoys is finding a home for people, not a house. Debbi currently volunteers with Joe Graham on the Crawford County Arts Council. He twisted Debbis arm to have this story because he said, Debbi owes me for going on the Crawford County Tourism Board. Debbi was one of the founders of the Tourism Board so many years ago. She currently serves on the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Galion Chamber of Commerce and the Humane Society Serving Crawford County. She was recently elected to council at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Bucyrus. Currently Debbi is helping her son Jason with the costumes for the Bucyrus Little Theatre production Disenchanted. The show is opening June 2 and running the first two weekends of June. Debbi would love to be an actor, but she doesnt memorize very well. She is better ad-libbing. Her daughter Christi has special things to do as mom and daughter as well. Jason and Christi never cease to amaze their mom. Debbi loves spending time with her husband, mom, kids, grandkids and friends. As with many people, its a daily challenge to be the best that she can be and to realize that her weaknesses are there for a reason, and its up to her to use that positively. Go online for more of Mary Foxs stories and photos on bucyrustelegraphforum.com. If you are interested in sharing a story, write Mary Fox, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 or email littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com. This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: From the arts to animals, Debbi Gifford gives back to the community Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during the plenary session of the second Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union in Moscow, Russia, May 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) supports pairing with China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to achieve the Greater Eurasian Partnership, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during an address at the plenary session of the second Eurasian Economic Forum of the EAEU on Wednesday. Around 2,700 representatives from some 50 countries attended the economic forum that began on Wednesday in Moscow under the motto: "Eurasian Integration in a multipolar world." The forum is designed to look at ways in which BRICS, the EAEU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can be expanded and possibly integrated. Putin said the EAEU supports initiatives that are committed to developing the Eurasian region and will continue to work with China to promote the docking of the EAEU's development with China's BRI. He said the world today is experiencing revolutionary changes and that more countries are seeking to build a new architecture of international economic relations that is fairer and based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. He criticized U.S. economic policy, saying it is"shooting itself in the foot" by reinforcing a trend that undermines its own development. In this regard, he said Russia and its partners in the EAEU are interested in "honest, productive and pragmatic cooperation," noting that anyone acting otherwise "damages the global economy." Putin then argued that the global economy will only benefit from the formation of a decentralized international financial system and that it's important to coordinate efforts to form such a global system. Founded in 2015, the EAEU is an economic union of countries located in Eurasia and consists of five member states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Echoing Putin's call for a decentralized international financial system, Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov said on Wednesday that Belarus plans to completely move away from the U.S. dollar and the euro in trade with Russia and other EAEU countries by 2023. Currently, the U.S. dollar and the euro account for about 8 percent of Belarus's trade with these countries, according to Snopkov at the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. Heres what happened to the federal debt under past presidents and why its hard to assign blame The US reached its $31 trillion debt limit, a borrowing cap set by Congress, in January setting up a political battle between Democrats and Republicans over government spending. Now, more than four months later, lawmakers are running out of time to reach an agreement to lift the debt ceiling and avoid default, which could be catastrophic for the country. House Republicans are demanding spending cuts, which Democrats have refused to accept. Each side blames the other for adding to the federal debt. But both parties have played a role over time, and its difficult to cast blame fairly. While presidents sign bills into law, its Congress which may or may not be controlled by the presidents party that passes spending legislation and tax reforms. Plus, the president and Congress do not have full control over the economy, which can sometimes have a bigger impact on the debt than laws. Further still, decisions made by past presidents and lawmakers continue to have an impact on the amount of debt acquired today. Most of the problem has not been created by any recent officeholder, said Charles Blahous, senior research strategist at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and author of the paper, Why We Have Federal Deficits. The 2021 report attempts three different ways to assign blame for the federal governments long-term debt problem. Legislation passed in more recent decades, like pandemic-related spending and expanding access to affordable health care, has added to the debt. But the impact of those laws on the long-term structural fiscal imbalance are dwarfed by the creation of Medicare and Medicaid and increases to Social Security made between 1965 and 1972. Despite all the political rhetoric expended today to cast blame for skyrocketing federal deficits the largest drivers of the structural federal fiscal imbalance were enacted roughly a half-century ago, Blahous wrote in his report. How big is the US debt? To put the size of the federal debt in some context, it was about the same size as 97% of the countrys gross domestic product, or GDP, at the end of 2022, according to data from the White House Office of Management and Budget. Thats a bigger share than at any other time since 1946, except for fiscal year 2020 when unprecedented borrowing occurred to fight Covid-19. The federal debt as a share of GDP has more than doubled over the past two decades. It was less than 35% in 2003. I think the biggest issue is that we have growing polarization and pandering. Both sides have just said, You know what, Im just going to give voters what they want. And what they want are tax cuts and big new spending, said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an independent nonprofit. In the late 1990s, the federal debt share of GDP actually fell when a strong economy and less defense spending helped lead to a balanced budget under President Bill Clinton and a Republican-controlled Congress the most recent time the US has seen a budget surplus rather than deficit. But since then, the nation has seen three recessions that weakened the economy, and the baby boomer generation is now leaving the workforce in droves, straining Social Security and Medicare. More recently, under both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, there has been trillions of dollars of spending to help the economy rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic. Many economists, though, would argue that much of that spending was beneficial and that more spending is a good thing when the economy is in trouble. Its worth noting that the figures used in the graph above measure debt held by the public, which experts at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities argue is more economically meaningful than gross debt. The former measures the governments borrowing from the private sector and foreign governments, excluding debt it owes itself. Debt held by the public is currently about $24 trillion, and gross debt, which is subject to the congressional limit, is about $31 trillion. LBJ and Nixon: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Some of the government programs contributing most to the long-term federal fiscal imbalance continue to be Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Medicare and Medicaid health care programs for the elderly and the poor, respectively were created under President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, in 1965. They were subsequently expanded under President Richard Nixon, a Republican, who also approved an increase to Social Security in 1972. Some experts disagree about Social Securitys impact on federal deficits. But Blahous specifically looks at its impact on the long-term fiscal imbalance. Blahous found that all subsequent legislation combined, from 1973 to late 2021, has done less to exacerbate the long-term budget situation than the laws passed during those eight years under Johnson and Nixon. Still, Blahous notes, more recent presidents and lawmakers have failed to fix the problem by amending these politically popular programs. In fact, one of the most tense moments during Bidens State of the Union address earlier this year was when he accused some Republicans of wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare. How more recent legislation contributes to the long-term problem Legislation from recent decades has certainly added further to the long-term fiscal problem, but to a smaller extent than the Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security laws passed under Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon before 1973, according to Blahous. The creation of new health marketplace subsidies and expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, is a big driver of the long-term budget imbalance, as well as the subsequent repeal of some of the Affordable Care Act taxes in 2019 under Trump. Blahous also points to the expansions to Medicaid under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, as well as the creation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in 2003 under President George W. Bush as drivers of the long-term problem. Another significant contributor to the fiscal imbalance is the American Taxpayer Relief Act, signed by Obama in early 2013, which made some Bush-era tax cuts permanent. One-time spending plans, like funding for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq or the pandemic-related aid packages, have less of an impact on the long-term problem even if they do add to the annual deficit at the time. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 passed by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by Trump added to the deficits in the short term. But many of the tax cuts are scheduled to expire in 2025 and therefore have a smaller impact on the federal debt over the long run, according to Blahous analysis. Still, all these measures in combination worsened the fiscal outlook, as of late 2021, by little more than two-thirds as much as the major legislation of 1965-1972, Blahous wrote. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On Thursday, May 18, Hardeeville City Council approved the creation of the citys first YMCA with a tentative opening of January 2025. The master plan details a 19.9 acre facility off of East Argent Parkway near 170 behind Pistol Jos Cherry Point Chicken and BBQ. The site will consist of two buildings, a 35,000 square foot building will feature a fitness and child care centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, an aerobics studio and a cafe. The second 18,400 square foot building will house a basketball gym, according to Beaufort-Jasper YMCA CEO Micheal Bostwick. Also included will be a water park, nature trail and 2.35 acres of sports fields. The sites plan states 63% of the space will remain open space. Conceptual master plan for the Hardeeville YMCA The East Argent project was announced in 2017 and touted as the largest planned development in Hardeeville history. The development has plans to add nearly 10,000 homes and apartments, 1.5 million square feet of retail and office space and 1,330 acres of passive and recreational park space. Once all of the proposed homes are built, the population of the city could see a drastic increase from more than 8,500 residents from the most recent census report to more than 20,000 by 2030. Completion of the development is expected to take 15-20 years, according to Hardeeville Mayor, Harry Williams. Jack Fisher, CEO and founder of Preserve Communities, donated 20 acres from the East Argent development to Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry for the project. Fisher established foundation to honor his late sons passions. The new YMCA will be named for James. Currently the only YMCA serving the Beaufort-Jasper area, is in Port Royal. Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), commenting on the explosion on the Crimean (Kerch) Bridge in October 2022, said that the SSU carried out "certain measures" for this. Source: Maliuk in the interview with Dmytro Komarov Quote: "According to the international legislation and the customs and traditions of warfare, considering the fact that it was a logistical route that we were obliged to cut off the enemy, certain such measures were accordingly carried out. However, I will not say the details at all." Details: According to Maliuk, Russia is conducting a pseudo-investigation into the situation with the Crimean (Kerch) Bridge. The head of the SSU added that the occupiers imprisoned more than 20 of their fellow citizens and "incriminated each of them with a certain complicity in the whole process." Maliuk urged not to discuss this situation, but "it's better to follow all this." He also said that the successful attack by naval drones on a ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in Sevastopol Bay last October was a planned special operation of the SSU. Background: According to him, the SSU conducted this special operation together with Ukraines Navy. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! High school student on autism spectrum attends prom after online community rallies behind him Thursday was a special night for seniors at Brashear High School, as prom was held at the Carnegie Science Center. 11 News told you last month about Jordan, a senior in the autistic support program at the school, who planned to attend the event, but his date backed out, so his mom turned to Facebook for help. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Community steps up to help high school student on autism spectrum find last-minute senior prom date Through the power of social media, Jordans mom found a new date, Izabella. Were glad that he found a date that he looks so great with and hes all about showing off, said Jordans mom, Donna. Donnas post seeking a date for Jordan was shared more than 1,000 times and with hundreds of comments, from classmates to strangers, all wanting to be his lucky prom date. 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 Suffragist. Politician. Community Activist. Savannah native Mamie George S. Williams encompassed all of those attributes and was a champion for civic service and social action. Her devotion to the cause was honored on Thursday with the unveiling of a historical marker at the Carnegie Library, 537 E. Henry St. More: A pathway to the past: Tybee Black History Trail dedicated The Georgia Historical Society collaborated with the League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia, Savannah's Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and The Savannah Tribune to dedicate the historical marker to Williams, which highlighted her many achievements. Nearly 70 people squeezed and huddled into a small conference room in the library as Shirley James, Savannah Tribunes publisher, recognized the importance of the day. African American suffragist, politician and community activist Mamie George S. Williams was honored with a historical marker outside of Carnegie Library in Savannah. Mamie George Williams was fearless. She was courageous. She was a visionary. She was forthright, determined. She was an action-oriented woman who worked within the system and made the system work for her, and through that, she made such a significant contribution to this state and definitely to our community as a suffragist and as a community activist, James said. I would want her life to be an inspiration and a source of encouragement to women of all ages, and especially to our young girls. Mamie George Williams is our history, and she is a story to be told continuously. African American suffragist, politician and community activist Mamie George S. Williams was honored with a historical marker outside of Carnegie Library in Savannah. Williams was a lifelong Savannah resident. For more than 30 years until her death in 1951, she was instrumental in organizing voter campaigns in 160 Georgia counties, educating women on voting rights and registering African American women to vote following the passage of the 19th Amendment. She is said to have brought out 40,000 women to vote in Georgia in the 1920 presidential election. Williams became the first woman from Georgia and the first African American woman to serve on the National Republican Committee. In 1924, she was the first woman in U.S. political history to be given the right to speak on the floor in a National Republican Convention, and she organized the first and only National Republican League of Colored Women Voters. African American suffragist, politician and community activist Mamie George S. Williams was honored with a historical marker outside of Carnegie Library in Savannah. Outside of the national political stage, Williams was an advocate for Savannah and other Georgia communities. She served as the president of Carver State Bank and assisted in establishing night schools for Savannah women. She was part of the committee that opened in 1934 the first recreation center swimming pool in Savannah for Black children. Williams also led fundraising efforts for a home in Macon for African American girls and financially assisted with helping African American Girl Scouts in establishing their Log Cabin Camp in Hancock County. More: First City Progress: Legendary Black pastor to be immortalized with bust in Yamacraw Square She is all always around. She is with us in times where there is need for community, to which she dedicated her life, said author Velma Maia Thomas Fann, who also served as mistress of the ceremony. She is available to us at political meetings when a fair civil voice is needed. She is with us every time a child needs a hug, when adults need literacy class, when young men and women join the armed services to protect this nation. I believe Mamie George Williams will be with us whenever we call her. She is here now. And as we celebrate her, she celebrates us and reminds us to keep your lamps trimmed and burning. Laura Nwogu is the quality of life reporter for Savannah Morning News. Contact her at LNwogu@gannett.com. Twitter: @lauranwogu_ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Mamie George S. Williams honored with historical marker in Savannah expel george santos sign Win McNamee/Getty Images Democrats have backed a push to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from the House of Representatives. Santos, a first-term congressman, had his voluminous fabrications about his personal and professional life exposed shortly after his election in November 2022. Earlier this month, Santos was indicted for 13 separate offenses, including fraud, campaign finance violations, and a scheme to defraud the federal government of COVID unemployment relief funds in 2020. Santos has combatively insisted on his innocence. Can he survive the scandal? Here's how similar events have gone down in history. How do expulsions work? While the architects of the Constitution famously did not fully anticipate the way that political parties would shape our politics, they nevertheless imposed prohibitive supermajority requirements for congressional expulsions. The dangers of partisan expulsion have been on full display this year in Tennessee, where Republicans used their legislative supermajorities to expel two representatives from Nashville and Memphis from the state House on spurious grounds. And because parties have almost never enjoyed two-thirds majorities in either chamber, expulsions have been very rare. The vast majority of expulsions from the U.S. Congress took place between 1861 and 1862, when the House expelled three and the Senate expelled 14 members from states that had joined the Confederacy and who had effectively vacated their seats. There have been only two expulsions in either chamber since the Civil War: Rep. Michael Myers (D-Pa.) in 1980 for accepting bribes during the FBI's so-called ABSCAM sting operation, and Rep. Jim Traficant (D-Ohio) in 2002 after accusations of corruption and bribery. Other members of Congress accused of serious wrongdoing have either resigned ahead of potential expulsion, like Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), or weathered the storm until they were either exonerated or subject to lesser discipline, like the "severe admonishment" that the Senate Ethics Committee handed down to Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) in 2002, or the "reprimand" given to Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) in 2020 for campaign finance abuses. Torricelli later resigned anyway, fearing that the scandal would cost Democrats his Senate seat. Others have even survived unsuccessful indictments, including Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). Members have almost always resigned after convictions if they had not already done so. Will Santos get tossed? On May 16, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) introduced a "privileged" motion to expel Santos, a rarely-used maneuver that forced a vote on the matter within two days. "Republicans now have a chance to demonstrate to Americans that an admitted criminal should not serve in the House of Representatives," Garcia said in a press conference after introducing the motion. House Republicans voted instead to refer Santos' conduct to the House Ethics Committee, which opened a probe into the congressman's conduct. 204 Democrats voted against the referral to the Ethics Committee, meaning the party was largely united in its effort to expel Santos from the chamber immediately. But behind closed doors, senior Democrats expressed unease with the strategy, fearing the precedent it would set to expel a member on a party-line vote before investigations are completed. There are two main factors working against the Democrats' plan to expel Santos prior to federal legal proceedings or the House Ethics Committee's investigation. The first is that the GOP holds an extremely narrow majority in the House, and despite the overwhelming evidence of misconduct against Santos, is unlikely to jettison a member of their caucus until greater pressure builds to do so. The very narrowness of their majority is another reason that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his allies are likely to give Santos more time. Republicans currently hold a 222-213 majority in the chamber, meaning they have just four votes to spare on many pieces of legislation. And for McCarthy, losing Santos could mean losing his job as Speaker Santos was one of his backers on the final roll call vote for Speaker in January, a tally McCarthy won by just one vote. If Santos is convicted, however, even Republicans fearful for their agenda would likely vote to expel him, even though it would possibly mean losing the seat to Democrats. McCarthy has said that even though he doesn't support expulsion now, he would support a move against the freshman congressman if he is convicted in court or found to have violated the law by the House Ethics Committee. Santos' seat, New York's third congressional district, voted for President Biden by more than 8 points, and even before the scandals, it was going to be a top Democratic pickup target in 2024. With Democrats dramatically overperforming in special elections so far this cycle, they would have a very good chance of capturing the seat. A nuisance for the GOP Many Republicans, though, seem to regard Santos as such a nuisance, and the producer of enough bad publicity, that they would be happy to see him gone even if it narrowed the party's room for maneuvering in the House. Fellow New York Rep. Mike Lawler called Santos' behavior "embarrassing and disgraceful," and added that "he should resign." But because there is no law preventing him from doing so, Santos may very well continue to serve unless and until he is convicted in a court of law, which might not happen until next year. If he refuses to resign after a conviction (there is also no rule requiring him to do so), it could fall to House Republicans to join with their counterparts to expel him. You may also like Ken Paxton and the scandal splitting the Texas GOP 48 states sue telecom company over billions of robocalls Will the IRS's free online tax filing program kill H&R Block and TurboTax? Hong Kong hits back at UK call for security law to be scrapped People wearing face masks walk on the street during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong By James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong authorities on Friday condemned a British government call for the removal of a China-imposed national security law that Britain said had been used to persecute, "silence and discredit" pro-democracy opposition figures. Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote in his government's latest six-monthly report on Hong Kong that he had highlighted at a U.N. hearing in February how Hong Kong authorities had used the security law to crack down on opposition figures, many of whom are in jail or have been forced into exile. Cleverly called on Beijing to implement recommendations made in an independent U.N. Human Rights Council report last July, including "removing the National Security Law" that Beijing imposed on the former British colony in 2020. Hong Kong authorities said in a statement that they "vehemently refuted, strongly disapproved and firmly rejected the slandering remarks and ill-intentioned political attacks". A Hong Kong government spokesman said Britain should "stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs". The spokesman said Hong Kong's security law had brought stability after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, and that while Hong Kong laws guaranteed certain individual rights, "such rights and freedoms are not absolute" when it comes to safeguarding national security. Britain referred in its report to the erosion of Hong Kong's rule of law, including transferring "powers once vested in the judiciary" to Hong Kong's pro-China leader, and the inability of those facing national security charges to challenge government decisions in the courts. "We have stood with our partners in condemning the steady erosion of civil and political rights and Hong Kong's autonomy," Cleverly wrote in a foreword to the report. Among those who have been persecuted, Cleverly referred to jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faces a national security trial in September, and said he had raised Lai's case with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng this month. The 75-year-old Lai founded the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper that police raided and shut down in 2021. Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under an agreement guaranteeing its freedoms for at least 50 years. While relations between London and Beijing have been strained since Beijing imposed the national security law, a senior British official visited Hong Kong this month, the first such visit in five years. (Reporting by James Pomfret; Editing by Robert Birsel) A man in Missouri City, Texas, was recently driving through his neighborhood late at night when we spotted something large on the side of the road. The resident, Cornealous Greigg Jr., said he saw a "strange glare" so he stopped driving to take a look, FOX 26 Houston reported. "I think it was the reflection because alligators have a distinct reflection from their eyes," Greigg told the station. HUGE ALLIGATOR SWIMMING IN ALABAMA OCEAN SHOCKS BEACH-GOERS: 'NEVER CHARGED OR HISSED' Greigg realized he had stumbled upon an 11-foot, 1,200 pound, alligator. In footage recorded by Greigg, the gator appears to be missing a majority of its right limb (See the video at the top of this article). A massive 11-foot alligator was seen wandering around a Missouri City neighborhood late one night before being captured by a local wrangler. 3-LEGGED ALLIGATOR IN FLORIDA UNEXPECTEDLY GOES VIRAL ON TIKTOK: 'DEFINITELY SHOCKING' READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "A lot of our neighbors walk their dogs, they run, walk by reading books and the worse thing to do is wake up in the morning and there's an alligator at your front door," Greigg told FOX 26 Houston. Greigg did the correct thing after running into the large reptile, experts shared with the station. "I did not get out the car, I dialed 911 and I said, 'I don't know if this is an emergency, but I said there's an alligator walking down the street and he's pretty big,'" he stated. NORTH CAROLINA MAN STARTLED BY 8-FOOT-LONG ALLIGATOR HIDING IN ATTIC DURING HOME INSPECTION A wrangler was notified arrived to the scene about an hour later, the station reported. The three-legged reptile weighs in at around 1,200 pounds and took three hours to capture. The moment was recorded on video. Griegg even saw the alligator's tail whip the wrangler in his chest at one point during the three-hour capture, FOX 26 Houston shared. This isn't the first time Greigg and has had a run in with an alligator he had images of a previous occurrence involving an alligator in his family's swimming pool. "We see these animals pretty often, if you don't mess with him, he won't mess with you," Greigg commented. FLORIDA MAN WHO LOST ARM IN ALLIGATOR ATTACK BEHIND A BAR NOW IN 'FAIR' CONDITION, HOSPITAL CONFIRMS American alligators are rather common in the state of Texas and range from "the Sabine River of East Texas to the Gulf of Mexico across the coastal marshes to the Rio Grande and we to around Interstate 35," according to the DFW Wildlife Coalition in Dallas, Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has a list of "Dos and Don'ts" on its website to provide locals with information on how best to live among alligators. The organization provides warnings and safety tips on what to do if you have an encounter with an alligator. "If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it! Notify local authorities so the alligator can be handled safely," the TPWD stated. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Citizens should contact the TWPD office to remove a nuisance gator from any domestic environment. "If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it! Notify local authorities so the alligator can be handled safely," the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stated on its website. A nuisance gator is defined as "an alligator that is depredating [killing livestock or pets] or a threat to human health or safety" according to the Texas Administrative Code. "Maybe he was threatened by another alligator and decided he wanted to get out of the water and get away from that alligator so he wouldn't lose another limb," DeRamus told the Houston Chronicle. Fox News Digital reached out to DeRamus for comment. Melissa Buford, a diabetic with high blood pressure who is no longer eligible for Medicaid because her income increased, in Marianna, Ark., May 19, 2023. (Whitten Sabbatini/The New York Times) WASHINGTON Hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans have lost Medicaid coverage in recent weeks as part of a sprawling unwinding of a pandemic-era policy that prohibited states from removing people from the program. Early data shows that many people lost coverage for procedural reasons, such as when Medicaid recipients did not return paperwork to verify their eligibility or could not be located. The large number of terminations on procedural grounds suggests that many people may be losing their coverage even though they are still qualified for it. Many of those who have been dropped have been children. From the outset of the pandemic until this spring, states were barred from kicking people off Medicaid under a provision in a coronavirus relief package passed by Congress in 2020. The guarantee of continuous coverage spared people from regular eligibility checks during the public health crisis and caused enrollment in Medicaid to soar to record levels. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times But the policy expired at the end of March, setting in motion a vast bureaucratic undertaking across the country to verify who remains eligible for coverage. In recent weeks, states have begun releasing data on who has lost coverage and why, offering a first glimpse of the punishing toll that the so-called unwinding is taking on some of the poorest and most vulnerable Americans. So far, at least 19 states have started to remove people from the rolls. A precise total of how many people have lost coverage is not yet known. In Arkansas, more than 1.1 million people over one-third of the states residents were on Medicaid at the end of March. In April, the first month that states could begin removing people from the program, about 73,000 people lost coverage, including about 27,000 children 17 and under. Among those who were dropped was Melissa Buford, a diabetic with high blood pressure who makes about $35,000 a year at a health clinic in eastern Arkansas helping families find affordable health insurance. Her two adult sons also lost their coverage. Like more than 5,000 others in the state, Buford, 51, was no longer eligible for Medicaid because her income had gone up. A notice she received informing her that she did not qualify made her so upset that she threw it in a trash can. But a majority of those who lost coverage in Arkansas were dropped for procedural reasons. Daniel Tsai, a senior official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who is helping to oversee the unwinding process for the Biden administration, said that more outreach was needed to help those who lost coverage that way. He said federal officials were in regular contact with state officials around the country to review early data on the unwinding and check whether people who lost coverage had a fair shot to prove their eligibility. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, a Republican, has framed the unwinding as a necessary process that will save money and allow Medicaid to function within its intended scope. Were simply removing ineligible participants from the program to reserve resources for those who need them and follow the law, Sanders wrote in an opinion essay in The Wall Street Journal this month. She added that some Democrats and activist reporters oppose Arkansas actions because they want to keep people dependent on the government. Medicaid, which is financed jointly by the federal government and the states, has become an increasingly far-reaching component of the American safety net. Early this year, 93 million people more than 1 in 4 Americans were enrolled in Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program, up from 71 million before the pandemic. What has played out in Arkansas so far offers evidence of the widespread disruption that the unwinding process is likely to cause in households across the country in the coming months, forcing Americans to find new insurance or figure out how to regain Medicaid coverage that they lost for procedural reasons. The federal government has projected that about 15 million people will lose coverage, including nearly 7 million people who are expected to be dropped despite still being eligible. Among the biggest looming questions is how the process will affect children. In Florida, for instance, a boy in remission from leukemia and in need of a biopsy recently lost his coverage. Researchers at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families estimated before the unwinding that more than half of children in the United States were covered by Medicaid or CHIP. Many children who lose coverage will be dropped for procedural reasons even though they are still eligible, said Joan Alker, the centers executive director. Those kids have nowhere else to turn for coverage, she said. Medicaid is the single largest insurer for children. This is hugely consequential for them. In Arkansas, many of the children who lost Medicaid were the poorest of the poor, said Loretta Alexander, the health policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. She added that losing coverage would be especially harmful for young children who need regular developmental checkups early in life. Most states are taking around a year to complete the unwinding, with each one using its own approach to removing people from Medicaid. But in Arkansas, legislation passed in 2021 required state officials to complete the process in just six months. State officials checked the eligibility of children with Medicaid coverage early in the process because they make up a substantial share of those who are enrolled, according to Gavin Lesnick, a spokesperson for the states Department of Human Services. In her opinion essay, Sanders pointed to the campaign that the state has waged to alert residents to the unwinding, called Renew Arkansas. We hired extra staff and enlisted volunteers to help, she wrote. We texted, emailed and called tens of thousands of Arkansans who likely are now ineligible for Medicaid, and we have made a special effort to reach out to those with disabilities, those who have moved, those with afflictions like cancer, those receiving dialysis and women who are pregnant. Local health workers like Buford are trying to help people regain coverage if they still qualify for it. She said that she had worked with 50 to 75 Medicaid recipients who had lost coverage in April, helping them fill out forms or answering their questions about how to verify their eligibility. Other states have also removed a large number of Medicaid recipients for procedural reasons. In Indiana, nearly 90% of the roughly 53,000 people who lost Medicaid in the first month of the states unwinding were booted on those grounds. In Florida, where nearly 250,000 people lost Medicaid coverage, procedural reasons were to blame for a vast majority. In addition to taking different approaches to removing people from Medicaid, states are also releasing data about their progress in different ways, making it difficult to compare their strategies in the early stages of the unwinding. Were comparing apples to oranges to tangerines, Alker said. Some people who lose Medicaid coverage are expected to get health insurance through their employer. Others are likely to turn to the Affordable Care Acts marketplaces to sign up for private insurance, and many of them will be eligible for plans with no premiums. Debra Miller, 54, of Bullhead City, Arizona, lost Medicaid coverage in April after her roughly $25,000 annual salary as a Burger King cook left her ineligible. Miller, a single mother with diabetes and hypothyroidism, worked with an insurance counselor at North Country HealthCare, a network of federally funded health clinics, to enroll in a marketplace plan with a roughly $70 monthly premium. Its a struggle because its a new bill that I havent had before, she said. Her new plan, she added, does not include vision insurance, leaving her worried about paying for eye appointments she needs as a diabetic. Buford said that for some people in Arkansas, marketplace coverage would be too expensive. You have a car, mortgage, kids, food, she said. You really dont have that much left to pay that much for health insurance. Buford said that her job helping others find health insurance in underserved areas was a calling inspired by watching her grandmother struggle to afford her medications and rely on food pantries. Buford went to a community college near her hometown so she could take care of her sick father, who died in his 40s. I love my job because Im able to help people, she said. Now that she has lost her Medicaid coverage, Buford said she hoped to find an affordable marketplace plan in the near future. The family plan offered by the clinic where she works is too costly, she said. Im grateful for what I have because someone else doesnt have what I have, Buford said. I just wish I could have kept my Medicaid. c.2023 The New York Times Company Wolves As a native Idahoan, I hiked the Owyhee Mountains and camped in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. I skied in McCall and traveled for pleasure to Sandpoint and Coeur d Alene. I love my state and its natural beauty and wildlife. I am sickened and saddened at the brutality of people slaughtering wolves. I understand its a complex issue, but with fewer restrictions in place, people are taking matters into their own hands and slaughtering these valuable creatures in the name of prevention of cattle and other senseless and non-scientific findings. We need our wolf to be a part of a healthy ecosystem, and they need protection based on science and humane policy. I urge Secretary Haaland and President Biden to do the right thing and protect the Endangered Species Act and our beloved wolves. We must act with courage and do right by our children and protect the wolf. We will be judged by our actions, and our land and creatures deserve to be treated with respect. Our people see the wolf as we see ourselves. People and wolves hunt, gather, defend and even educate their tribe or pack. Christina Marie Veloz, Boise Reactor technology S-PRISM, a fourth-generation liquid sodium cooled reactor studied at Idaho National Lab, should be deployed. Its small and modular and can be manufactured in factories. Because the fuel is metallic, reactor overheating expands the fuel dampening the reaction. Without cooling pumps, natural convection of the sodium keeps coolant operational. Consequently, S-PRISM cannot melt down. It is a direct descendant of ERB-2 successful reactor studied at INL. The coolant pumps of ERB-2 were deliberately shut down; it shut itself down. The fast-neutron reactor recycles the long-lived radioactive waste and destroys it producing shorter lived waste. This waste is dangerous for 500 years, not eons. Storing this safely is simpler than storing present waste. S+PRISM can use present waste as fuel for over 500 years transforming it into smaller volumes of shorter-lived waste, solving a problem. These modular fourth-generation reactors must be deployed to replace fossil fuel plants while producing essential baseload power unlike the intermittent wind and solar power. S_PRISM produces over 90% of their rated power while Sun and Wind produce only 25% to 30%. S_PRISM is placeable in closed coal power plants using its infrastructure. It does not need extensive new transmission lines nor extensive land by wind and solar. Allan M. Salzberg, Boise Preserving rights When I moved to Idaho in 2008, I did not agree with the politics in the state but I never thought I would live in a state where the First and 14th Amendments to the Constitution were null and void. Free speech means the free and public expression of opinions without censorship by the government. Also included is the right to receive information. Banning books restricts the rights of everyone. The 14th amendment states, nor shall any State ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Idaho no longer protects those most vulnerable. The Idaho Legislature has banned abortions but makes no provisions for the unwanted children born because of this law. A woman suffering a miscarriage can no longer get care in this state. When a man is able to carry a child, give birth, then raise that child single-handedly, he will have the right to talk about banning abortions. Likewise, laws targeting LGBTQ citizens have been passed. Everyone in this country is allowed to live life as he chooses. Is fear of difference driving these laws? With these recent laws, Idaho is no longer a democratic state. Joan Ehrnstein, Meridian Tracking wildlife Bipartisan work benefits big game. Todays culture is often portrayed as us versus them; right against left. But luckily for those who enjoy wild places and creatures, wildlife management doesnt fit that mold. Take deer, elk, and pronghorn migration. During the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior issued Secretarial Order 3362, a call to beef up information on how big game animals moved across the landscape to survive. This order funded the collection of migration data and standardized that information to advise land managers on how best to conserve wildlife corridors. The Biden administration has continued to complete and fund migration work for the past two years, and now the U.S. Geologic Survey and state wildlife agencies have produced three migration atlases that map migration routes across the West, including 53 in Idaho. This data, made possible with bipartisan support, will benefit Idahos sportsmen and sportswomen for decades to come by informing land management decisions for the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Its always good to remember that great things can be accomplished when we work together. Rob Thornberry, Idaho Falls Legislature Various political leaders tell us we need an independent mayor of Boise. These same leaders are perfectly happy with extremist politicians in other offices, especially the Legislature. The Legislature has recently passed inane laws that have forced medical professionals to leave the state and created a mishmash of confusion concerning who gets a felony when Idahoans go to the emergency room and are simply trying to survive. Where were these politicians who want independent thinking when these laws were passed? The Legislature has been on a mission to eliminate citizen initiatives for several years. The Legislature has schemed to divert public funds to religious schools usually tied in with wealthy donors. Local districts have been forced to fund schools, jails and other facilities with property taxes only because the Legislature has refused to do proper funding. These same politicians who have made a mess of the Legislature are now worried about Boise City Hall? Whatever is going on at City Hall is minuscule compared to the nightmare of the state Legislature. Sidney Asker, Boise Debt ceiling I read that the government is trying to decide what bills to stop paying first if Congress doesnt agree to raise the debt ceiling. The answer is simple: start with Congress. Rick Simon, Boise Flash Chinese Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui (L) poses for a photo with German Federal Foreign Office State Secretary Andreas Michaelis in Berlin, Germany, May 24, 2023. [Photo/Chinese Foreign Ministry] Chinese Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui on Wednesday held talks with German Federal Foreign Office State Secretary Andreas Michaelis in Berlin, with both sides exchanging views on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and relations between China and Germany. According to a press release published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday, Li said during the talks that China's position on the Ukraine issue has been consistent and clear-cut, with the core being the promoting of peace talks and a political solution. He reiterated that there would be no panacea, and all parties need to do their own part to create favorable conditions for restarting peace talks through accumulating mutual trust. China supports European countries' efforts of addressing the root causes of the crisis and finding a solution to both the symptoms and the root causes for the lasting peace and security of the European continent, said Li. China is willing to continue to maintain close communication with the German side and implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders to inject more stability and positive energy to the world, he added. For his part, Michaelis said the German side highly values China's positive efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis. It is very "useful and necessary" for Germany and China to strengthen dialogue on a series of major international and regional issues, including the Ukraine issue, he said. Germany is willing to work together with China to enhance communication at all levels and promote a peaceful solution to the crisis, he added. In a bid to engage with various parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese special envoy is now on a trip to Europe that has taken him to Ukraine, Poland and France over the past 10 days. He is also expected to visit Moscow and Brussels. Typhoon Mawar Weather Service Twins (Landon Aydlett) As Typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at Guam, residents facing terrifying winds and crashing waves from the strongest typhoon 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. The National Weather Service's Guam office employs Landon Aydlett as its warning coordination meteorologist. His brother Brandon Aydlett is the science and operations officer. Together, the 41-year-olds tag-teamed Facebook Live broadcasts watched by thousands as Typhoon Mawar approached with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph), wreaking havoc as residents lost power, internet and water service. Follow our live blog for latest updates on Typhoon Mawar Their colorful descriptions of the Category 4 storm painted a picture as they both took turns describing trees snapped like toothpicks, thrashing winds, nearly 2 feet (0.6 meters) of torrential rain and whiteout conditions" outside the office where they holed up with other colleagues for nearly 48 hours. Reassure your children. Its going to be a little bit scary as we go later into the night," Brandon Aydlett said in a Facebook Live update as the island was in the throes of the typhoon on Wednesday. You can hear the sounds: The winds are howling, things are breaking. Just be together, talk to each other and things will slow down toward midnight and continuing into Thursday morning. Earlier, his brother explained to viewers of another live update that the weather was about to get worse. Were starting to hear the low rumbles in the building here at the National Weather Service," Landon Aydlett said. Our doors are rattling. We hear little whistles through the windows, little cracks in the doors. Were getting those effects here as were nearing typhoon force conditions. He told The Associated Press in a brief telephone interview Thursday morning local time that working with his brother is like working with his best friend. They never planned to work together, he said. But the jobs fell in our laps, and we followed our heart and our passion for the work," Aydlett said. And somehow we both ended up in Guam. The brothers are from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, a small farming town in the Outer Banks about an hour south of Norfolk, Virginia. Brandon Aydlett came to Guam first, more than 13 years ago, and his brother arrived a half-year later. The brothers like to go hiking and paddleboarding. Brandon Aydlett enjoys running. Landon Aydlett who at Thursday's final briefing sported a necklace of small white shells gifted to him after a 2018 typhoon prefers to lift weights. Last year they broke two Guinness world records by building the worlds largest and tallest toy timber tower as part of a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser. The Tower for Humanity raised $20,000 for the Guam chapter of the charity. Landon Aydlett said he's heard about spouses working together in National Weather Service offices, but never about other twins. Guam is an island of about 150,000 people about 3,900 miles (6,275 kilometers) west of Hawaii and 1,600 miles (2,600 kilometers) east of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The weather service office issues forecasts for Guam as well as several islands to the north Saipan, Tinian and Rota that are part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, another U.S. territory. The Guam office also forecasts weather for the nearby independent Pacific island nations of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. On Thursday, in their final live update as the storm began to subside, they kept passing the informational baton back and forth. It would be their last update from Guam, Landon Aydlett said, after nearly 48 hours together in the forecasting office. I dont know what my house is looking like right now," he said. Ill find out very soon, but we will ride it out together. We are one Guam. We are one Marianas. Stay sheltered and stay safe. You're closely following the living history of a nation bravely resisting an imperialistic war of aggression that has inspired the world when, all of a sudden, you come across a picture of a Ukrainian soldier wearing a Totenkopf "skull and crossbones" patch or giving the Nazi salute. Rightfully so, the use of Nazi or neo-Nazi-related symbols by Ukrainian combatants is shocking and almost always causes controversy. These symbols, reminders of some of history's worst crimes against humanity and the attempt to exterminate entire groups of people, are deeply offensive. Of course, seeing these symbols on soldiers is always distressing, to say the least. While these soldiers do not represent a widespread practice in the Ukrainian military, the use of these symbols nonetheless discredits Ukraine and scares away some potential supporters worldwide. After almost a decade of reporting on this war, I'd like to chip in with a couple of thoughts on why you might see these symbols on the battlefield in Ukraine. Not to justify these soldiers' decisions as any use of Nazi symbols should always be condemned but to offer my explanation for this phenomenon. So, why are these symbols present on the battlefield? First of all, let's establish one fact. No, Ukraine does not have "a Nazi problem." Ukraine is no more "Nazi" than any country that has its small number of misfits who admire Adolf Hitler and form fringe groups and gangs based on those views. Ukraine has its groups like the U.K. has the neo-Nazi organization Combat 18, the Scandinavians have the Nordic Resistance Movement, and the United States has the Aryan Brotherhood. With absolutely no proof, the Kremlin's war propaganda created the absurd narrative that Ukraine is a full-fledged, World War II-style Nazi nation that needs to be "de-Nazified" as justification for its brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Just like in many places around the world, people with far-right and neo-Nazi views, driven by their ideology, are prone to joining the military and participating in conflicts. One also has to take into account that in Ukraine, nationalism with deep historical roots is tied to a desire for independence from Russia. It has driven many to take up arms to fight in what they believe is an existential war against a neighbor that seeks to subjugate and destroy their country. Among them, people with far-right views. This feeling was very real back in 2014, in the early days of Russia's war in Ukraine's eastern Donbas. Ukraine's military was deeply disorganized and disoriented. Ultra-nationalist and far-right groups were among the many others that organized volunteer battalions to fight Russia's invasion in the east. These groups were aggressive and highly motivated. It is, of course, true that, for instance, the Azov Battalion was originally founded by neo-Nazi and far-right groups (as well as many soccer ultra-fans), which brought along with it the typical aesthetics not only neo-Nazi insignia but also things like Pagan rituals or names like "The Black Corps," the official newspaper of Nazi Germany's major paramilitary organization Schutzstaffel (SS). But as with any country, real neo-Nazis in Ukraine were and still are a tiny minority. All former guerilla groups with far-right ties were quickly absorbed into Ukraine's Armed Forces or the National Guard between 2015-2016 as linear, disciplined, and fully-controlled combat units. From my experience observing this war over the years since 2014, the Ukrainian military has done a rather good job of "secularizing" and isolating these units from their far-right origins, largely due to pressure from the West. This policy could be described as "keep your views to yourself and train hard." This is what happened with Azov. Far more moderate servicemembers rose to prominence (and even to fame during the Battle of Mariupol and the siege of Azovstal), along with military specialists from other branches of service, who joined Azov because they wanted to serve with a highly professional combat unit. Azovstal garrison: Well keep fighting as long as were alive Death. Fire. Smoke. Bombs. Joy. Hope. Faith. And pride. Those are the things that spell the days of soldiers at Azovstal, the last Ukrainian fortress in the Russian-besieged city of Mariupol. After almost 80 days of fierce fighting, over 1,000 Ukrainian combatants, hundreds among them injured, are The Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko It hasn't helped that, since 2014, some Western journalists have made the supposed "rise of the far right" a staple of their coverage of Ukraine, as headlines of supposed neo-Nazis in the country are consistently attention-grabbing. And right before the full-scale invasion, certain American journalists wrote about how Ukrainian neo-Nazis were allegedly using the threat of Russia's full-scale invasion to seize power in the country. But guess what the Russian invasion did happen, and the neo-Nazi power grab never did. Not only was there no serious evidence ever presented to support claims of an attempted "coup," these fringe elements are nothing compared to Ukraine's state and military machine. A drop in the ocean, as the saying goes. Nevertheless, notorious Nazi and quasi-Nazi symbols are sometimes used by soldiers who do not come close to having any extremist or hateful views. So why is this happening? In the oversimplified memory of some around the world, particularly within various militaristic subcultures, symbols representing the Wehrmacht, Nazi Germany's Armed Forces, and the SS are seen to reflect a super-effective war machine, not the perpetrators of one of the greatest crimes against humanity in human history. While this, of course, does not absolve these soldiers of wearing extremely offensive insignia, it offers a partial explanation as to why, in my opinion, these symbols have become an integral part of global militaristic subcultures that embrace different historical symbols of war, particularly Nazi ones. As these insignia were absorbed into militaristic subcultures around the globe, many who wear Nazi patches on their uniforms have come to disassociate these emblems from the crimes committed by their original users 80 years ago. Although the presence of Nazi symbols on the battlefield generates the most controversy, they are just a fraction of the militaristic emblems embraced by combatants worldwide. Norse and pseudo-Norse, or Viking, symbols of war the very symbols that the Nazis themselves used to create their own insignia are also very common. The culture of modern war patches, a strange, pseudo-art form in militaristic subcultures, has developed into a standalone phenomenon in which those who bear them sometimes completely divorce their modern use with any former ideology. And some symbols hardly have any ideology behind them at all such as the ubiquitous Punisher skull patch coming from the famous Marvel show. Belgorod incursion: Meet the anti-Kremlin militia behind the attack inside Russia Editors Note: The Kyiv Independent, together with a number of journalists, was taken to a location in northern Ukraine to interview the members of the units that took part in the military operation inside Russia. Not revealing the exact location was the only precondition for the interview. Norther The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima This phenomenon is hardly unique to Ukraine. One might remember a scandal over the fact that U.S. Marines Scout Snipers used the SS runes as their unofficial symbol. In 2012, they thought it was a good idea to take a picture of themselves posing next to an SS flag in Afghanistan, prompting swift action from the Corps. Russia's propaganda created and cultivated for years the myth about the Ukrainian far-right, inflating their numbers and so-called power within the country. Many Western journalists have built their entire careers feeding off of Moscow's narrative. The irony is that Russia has long promoted not only Nazi-style symbols but Nazi practices, morphing into a fascist state that has made war crimes part of its foreign policy. The Russian far-right and neo-Nazi paramilitary unit Rusich uses both the swastika and the 88 symbol, a neo-Nazi numerical code for "Heil Hitler." Dmitriy Utkin, the alleged co-founder and top commander of the notorious mercenary army Wagner Group, has a large swastika and the Wehrmacht symbol tattooed on his body. And yes, he goes under the nom-de-guerre Wagner not because he's a big fan of the opera. Hitler was a great admirer of the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner and glorified him during his reign. Russia's official policy is ethnic cleansing, killing those speaking Ukrainian, kidnapping Ukrainian children and raising them as Russian, and denying a nation of 40 million the right to exist. For some Ukrainians, the use of some of these symbols is meant to overtly demonstrate a fierce opposition to Russia which, for its part, is insanely obsessed with the aggressive weaponization of everything about the Soviet Union's role in World War II, which Russian propaganda portrays as largely a Soviet defeat of the Nazis and fascism. So yes, while Nazi symbols are not widespread within Ukraine's military, it is still a difficult issue that needs to be resolved. If I were in charge of such things, I'd enforce severe punitive action for wearing Nazi-related insignia. Nazi symbols do not deserve to be on a Ukrainian soldier's shoulder in this war, where Ukraine is fighting for the very fundamental values the free democratic world is built on. A military has all kinds of people and Ukraine's is a very large one. With all of its branches, Ukraine's Defense Force now has some 1 million people in ranks. And problematic pictures of those who think it's "cool" to wear Nazi-related insignia represent nothing but the attitudes of a select few not the entirety of this military and, least of all, of this nation. 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. A group of travellers was shocked to discover all of their belongings had been destroyed after their hostel in Guatemala had burned down, leaving them with no clothes or passports to get home. Mafalda Vidigal, a Portuguese travel influencer who goes by @mafaldavidigal on TikTok, went viral on the app this week when she shared footage of the wreckage in a video with nearly 20 million views. The vlogger said she was attending a boat party with friends in Guatemala when they returned to find their Mandalas Hostal in San Pedro la Laguna had burned down. POV: youre at a boat party in Guatemala and come back [to] find your hostel burned down and you dont have a piece of clothing to your name let along [sic] a passport to go home, she wrote over the video, which showed the hostel bedroom covered in ash. In a separate video, Vidigal and her friends were seen dressed only in bikinis as they rummaged through what was left after the fire. She explained that they thought it was safer to leave their items in their accommodations, including their passports, writing: Girls, lets leave everything in the room because were gonna go to a boat party and its definitely safer. The women were forced to shop for brand new clothes in the middle of [their] backpacking trip because they only had a bikini and a phone to [their] name. Vidigal shared with followers in a follow-up video that they were able to obtain temporary identification from an embassy. Luckily, we are EU citizens so we went to the Spanish embassy since there wasnt a Portuguese embassy and they gave us this day document, which we can only use once, she said, as she filmed herself boarding a plane. Were now going to the closest Portuguese embassy and hopefully getting everything sorted. She joked, At least we didnt have to pack because thats literally everything we own, as she filmed a small plastic bag with only a few items inside. As for the hostel, a GoFundMe campaign for the Mandalas Hostal located on Lake Atitlan in San Pedro la Laguna showed pictures of the damage from the fire. A volunteer worker who set up the fundraiser revealed that the building was "severely damaged by a fire" but everyone got out safely. On 20 May, the fire spread from the property next door, demolishing several rooms and burning the top two floors of the building completely. The team is currently working closely with the guests who were staying at the hostel when the fire took place to sort out any personal belongings that may have been lost from the fire, the worker said. Fortunately, they were able to evacuate everyone safely and none was physically hurt. As of Friday (26 May), the hostel has raised $1,900 towards its $11,000 goal. In a TikTok comment, Vidigal shared that one of the backpackers she was travelling with was in the hostel at the time of the fire, but she got out in time. @mafaldavidigal Replying to @Kaiya Thank you so so much to everyone and all the support. We contacted the embassy straight away and they helped with the next steps. Ultimately we are just happy we are fine and managed to solve the situation quite fast . original sound - Mafalda | For The Plotcast Many other TikTokers in the comments section shared their support for Vidigal after losing all of her belongings. Oh my god Im so sorry, wrote one user, while another said: I know it doesnt seem like it now, but youll laugh about it one day if everyone is okay. I hope everyone is and the hostel pets, too! The Independent has contacted Mafalda Vidigal for comment. Innocent children and teens are being gunned down. Heres a suggestion for our country A car stopped on a Kansas City, Kansas, street. Masked men got out and fired weapons toward a house, then drove away. This happened in the last few minutes of 6-year-old SirAntonio Browns life. Life over for the boy, who was standing in his front yard. I would ask every elected official in this country to put their children and grandchildren in that front yard and record what they are feeling when a random car drives past. We should all feel this vulnerability. Why? Because this is our normal. Not new, just normal. My daughter, who teaches in New Orleans, told me an elementary school student was recently stopped from carrying a parents gun into the building. Later the same day, a man was shot to death in a fast food parking lot down the street from her school. During the police investigation of the crime scene, a student attempted to cross the bloody parking lot on the way home, seemingly unaware that anything was different that day, or perhaps accustomed to the scene. It happens everywhere and all the time. That is not a sensationalized statement. We, as a country, are allowing our children to be killed. According to the Pew Research Center, the main cause of death of children and teens in 2021 in this country was homicide by guns. And that statistic is not improving. All officials elected to either national or state office are approached by the NRA upon their first hours in office, strong-armed to sign onto its quest to support an amendment that they have interpreted as gospel. If officials dont sign on, or show reluctance to, they are threatened with losing re-election by being primaried, which means the NRA funds someone who will. Nearly anyone can own a gun, whether or not they are trained to use it. States are dropping training, licensing and laws in order to render us defined by gun culture. The previous occupant of the White House encouraged his armed followers into his rally on January 6, 2021, because he knew they werent there to hurt him. This is how blind we are to the dangers of widespread gun possession. Even though they didnt shoot former president Trump, there was plenty of violence committed by gun carriers that day. Easing gun regulation confirms that we dont want to discuss it anymore. We dont understand or trust each other, and were becoming paranoid. How is killing a little boy playing in his yard in broad daylight a winning argument for everyone who wants a gun gets a gun? Were entrenched in this madness, and weve elected the inmates to run the asylum. How about shooting a Black teenager who rings a doorbell? That white shooter claims he was scared to death. As a white woman who has survived having my doorbell rung by Black teenagers over the years, I think he manufactured fear out of alarmist ignorance. Was his gun locked away and unloaded? Or was it by the door, waiting for a Black caller? If the NRA continues to promote lies about gun rights, and ignores my right not to be shot, they should be defunded, disbanded and prosecuted for promoting falsehoods. Like the insurgents on January 6, 2021, they claim they are taking something back, when, in fact, nothing was ever taken from them. The Brown family did have something taken away from them. An innocent child. Contact Ellen Murphy at murphysister04@gmail.com Inside the shameful history of the 'Lavender Scare,' when the US government embarked on an anti-gay witch hunt and purged thousands of employees Frank Kameny leads a picket line in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied In the 1950s, the US government launched a campaign focused on finding and purging gay government employees. It was prompted due to a misguided idea that gay people were vulnerable to blackmail and considered easy targets for Russia. About 10,000 people lost their jobs because of "the Lavender Scare," which had lasting impact on the queer community. "It was a witch hunt," former Navy Lieutenant Joan Cassidy described the decades-long government campaign which later became now known as the "Lavender Scare." Cassidy was one of up to 10,000 government employees who were fired because of their sexuality in the 1950s and 60s. During the Cold War paranoia of the late 1940s and 50s, the US government famously led a witch hunt targeting communists leading to a hysteria dubbed the "Red Scare." The hysteria was later followed by a second government campaign prompted by discrimination against gay people in the federal government, which similarly became known as the "Lavender Scare." The focus of the Lavender Scare was finding and purging gay government employees. According to the National Archives, its impact was actually greater and longer lasting than the Red Scare. Two women photographed on a stoop of a house in the US in the 1950s. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied Sources: Guardian, ABC News, National Archives Lavender is a color often associated with the queer community. Back then, certain newspapers and politicians, including Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen, called gay men "lavender lads." Sen. Everett M. Dirsen, a Republican from Illinois. Bettmann/Getty Images Source: History.com The campaign began in the late 1940s. As the public's general awareness of homosexuality increased, discrimination against the community was on the rise, including within the US government. A gay man is escorted by law enforcement after being arrested. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied In 1946, after noting its security concerns, a US Senate committee gave broad new powers to the US Secretary of State to dismiss employees to protect national security. The following year, the US Park Police started arresting and intimidating gay men under what was called a "Sex Perversion Elimination Program." Then, in 1948, Congress passed a law that labeled gay and lesbian people mentally ill and allowed police to arrest them. Source: National Archives In 1950, GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to possess a list of 205 communists working for the government. Less than a fortnight later, he went further and outlined a number of cases, including two who he said were also homosexual. Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1950. Bettmann/Getty Images McCarthy linked communism and homosexuality, characterizing both as threats. The rationale was that gay people were vulnerable to blackmail since homosexuality was a crime. Because of this vulnerability, they were easy targets for Russia. "Many assumptions about Communists mirrored common beliefs about homosexuals," National Archives archivist Judith Adkins wrote. Adkins added: "Both were thought to be morally weak or psychologically disturbed, both were seen as godless, both purportedly undermined the traditional family, both were assumed to recruit, and both were shadowy figures with a secret subculture." Sources: Variety, History.com, National Archives But that didn't matter. When Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy told the Senate a week later that 91 homosexual employees had already been fired, the damage was done. Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy in 1954, when he was US ambassador to Thailand. Bettmann/Getty Images The media and politicians were suddenly suspicious not only of communists but of the gay community, too. The situation wasn't helped by a Senate committee report released in 1950 called "Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government." Among its many comments, the report noted, "One homosexual can pollute a Government office." Sources: Variety, History.com, National Archives, PBS In 1953, then-newly-elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower continued the trend when he described gay people as a threat to the country's security. Major-General Dwight Eisenhower (1890 - 1969), commander of the American Forces in the European theatre of war, at the time of his promotion, by President Roosevelt, to Lieutenant General. M. McNeill/Getty Images He promptly signed executive order 10450, which stated "sexual perversion" was a valid reason for dismissal alongside being an alcoholic or a criminal. According to the National Archives, "With the stroke of a pen, the President effectively banned gay men and lesbians from all jobs in the U.S. government the country's largest employer." Intelligence officers reviewed government employees. They looked for what they considered signs of homosexuality, including the way people dressed or spoke, and whether or not they were married. Sources: ABC News, NBC News, Variety, National Archives, History.com Former Navy Lieutenant Joan Cassidy, who was fired because of her sexuality, spoke about her experiences in the documentary "The Lavender Scare." Joan Cassidy discusses her experiences during the anti-gay witch hunts with Josh Howard during filming for The Lavender Scare. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied Employees were called into offices for interrogations. "They sat behind the big lights and started grilling them, saying, 'We know you're a homosexual because your partner is in the next room,'" she recalled in an interview with ABC News. "She told us, 'You might as well confess.'" The employees weren't provided with lawyers during interrogation. They were told to name anyone they knew who was gay and worked for the government. "It was a witch hunt," she said. Sources: ABC News, Variety About 2,200 women and men were documented as having lost their jobs due to the Lavender Scare. But David K. Johnson, a history professor at the University of South Florida, estimated that the number was as high as 10,000. A headline describing government employees being fired due to their sexuality. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied Johnson wrote a book on the era titled "The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays." Johnson said a number of people committed suicide due to the intimidation campaign. One of those people was a man named Andrew Ference, who worked as an administrative assistant at the US embassy in France. After two days of questioning about his sexuality, he killed himself. The government later lied to Ference's family about his death, claiming he died from a serious illness. Sources: NBC News, Variety A key difference between the Lavender Scare and the Red Scare was that in this campaign, no one was named meaning there were no famous Hollywood directors to tie to the cause. Hollywood writers and producers were summoned to a hearing about their ties to communism in 1947. G.B. Kress/Getty Images No one publicly testified as well, whereas the Red Scare had the highly watched McCarthy congressional hearings. It meant less exposure, which would have made their lives even more difficult, but it also meant they were never seen as real people. Sources: National Archives, Wall Street Journal In 1957, astronomer Frank Kameny was fired by the Army Map Service for his sexuality. He'd been job working on a classified missile project. After his dismissal, he became one of the key figures who fought the discrimination. Kay Tobin Lahusen's photo of Frank Kameny in the first LGBT Pride March. New York Public Library Digital Collections In one letter he wrote to his mother, he said, "I am right; the world will have to change because I won't." "If I disagree with someone, I give them a chance to convince me they are right," he told Slate. "And if they fail, then I am right and they are wrong and I will just have to fight them until they change." Kameny wrote letters to politicians and business people. He formed organizations and took the government to court, appealing his case right up to the Supreme Court, before it was rejected. He was the first person to petition the Supreme Court on the basis of anti-gay discrimination. Sources: ABC News, History.com, IndieWire, Wall Street Journal, Slate In 1965, Kameny led a protest of 10 people outside the White House. The protest was against systematic discrimination but was triggered by reports that gay people were being forced into labor camps in Cuba. People demonstrated in a picket outside the White House in 1965. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied Source: ABC News, Tampa Bay Times Despite Kameny's hard work, it wasn't for another decade until the ban against gay people working for the government was lifted in 1975. Frank Kameny leads a picket line in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965. PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied Source: National Archives Gay government employees continued to be fired from the State Department until the 1990s due to security concerns. In 1995, President Bill Clinton explicitly ended the order. Clinton denies having an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Diana Walker/Getty Images Even then, conservative groups backed the law, saying it had been necessary. Family Research Council analyst Robert Maginnis told the New York Times that homosexuality was a "behavior that is associated with a lot of anti-security markers such as drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity and violence." But Kameny was positive about the end of the order. He said it represented "the next step." "The government has gone beyond simply ceasing to be a hostile and vicious adversary and has now become an ally," he said. Last year, lawmakers reintroduced the Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration Act, known as the LOVE Act, which aims to "correct historic injustices" by recognizing and reviewing the dismissals of gay employees from the State Department because of their sexual orientation. Sources: NBC News, ABC News, New York Times, The Hill On the 70th anniversary of the Lavender Scare, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation to acknowledge the harmful impact of the campaign. President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to protect Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., on February 9, 2023. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky In the proclamation, Biden declared that the country "has made tremendous progress in advancing the cause of equality for LGBTQI+ Americans," but "must reflect honestly on the darkest chapters of our story." Source: The White House Read the original article on Business Insider Investigation launched after 11-year-old who called 911 for help is shot by officer in Mississippi Calls are growing for an officer to be fired and charged after an 11-year-old Mississippi boy was shot by police after calling 911 for help. Aderrien Murry was seriously wounded early Saturday by an Indianola police officer responding to a domestic call at the home of the 11-year-olds mother, said Carlos Moore, an attorney for the boys family. This should not have happened, Moore said. The main question (Aderrien) has been asking is why did this happen to me? The child suffered a collapsed lung, lacerated liver and fractured ribs. Hes blessed to have survived but hes still in pain emotionally and mentally. Aderrien Murry. (Family photo) On Thursday, a group of protesters called for accountability in the shooting of the unarmed boy during a rally at Indianola City Hall. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said it is investigating the shooting that happened 6 a.m. Saturday at a home on BB King Road. No officers were injured during the incident. A minor occupant of the residence received significant injuries and has been transported to a local hospital, the agency said. MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office. The state investigative agency did not provide additional details. The Indianola Police Department referred questions about the incident to the city attorney, who did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. The officer who fired was not identified by the state agency or the Indianola department. Indianola Alderman Marvin Elder said that officer Greg Capers had been placed on paid administrative leave after a unanimous Indianola council vote. Capers could not be reached for comment Thursday. The attorney for the boys family said he was working to obtain body-camera video of the shooting. Moore said the boy was shot after calling for help for his mother. During a confrontation with the father of one of her children, Nakala Murry handed her phone to the boy and told him to call police and his grandmother, the familys attorney said. When police arrived, they were told the man was unarmed and had run out a back door and that three children were home, Moore said. Police ordered everyone in the house to show themselves with their hands up, Moore said. When the 11-year-old came out of a bedroom with his hands up, he was met by gunfire, the attorney said. He shot him immediately when his hands were up, and hes coming around the corner, Moore said. Moore said that the officer should be charged with aggravated assault and that he expected the family to file a federal civil rights lawsuit in the case. No child should ever be subjected to such violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect and serve, he said in a statement Thursday. We need to hold our law enforcement officers to a higher standard and ensure that they are trained to de-escalate situations and use non-lethal methods whenever possible. Indianola, which had about 9,100 residents in 2022, is about 100 miles north of Jackson. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into the shooting of an 11-year-old boy who called 911 to report a domestic disturbance last weekend. Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest by a police officer who responded to the incident early Saturday morning in Indianola, Miss., his mother Nakala Murry said at a press conference on Monday. The 11-year-old, who has since been released from the hospital, suffered from a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, according to CNN. This cannot keep happening. This is not OK, Murry said at Mondays press conference. If a non-police officer was to shoot somebody, you know its not okay. When the police do it, they have protocol. He was trained. He knows what to do. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that it is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence and will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office when the investigation is completed. The family and attorney Carlos Moore said they are calling on the city to fire the officer involved in the shooting. The Indianola Board of Aldermen voted to place the officer on paid leave amid the state investigation, according to The Washington Post. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Iowa gas prices are down over last Memorial Day. Where are the cheapest spots? Iowa and the Midwest are expected to see pre-pandemic level travel this Memorial Day weekend, as gas prices have decreased significantly from 2022's average of $4.60. Gas prices in Des Moines have gone down nearly a dollar per gallon since last Memorial Day, and travelers are expected to take advantage. Memorial Day road trips have increased by 6% in the last year, according to AAAs 2023 Memorial Day Travel Forecast. It's estimated that 37.1 million Americans will be driving to their destination this weekend. Iowa ranks near middle of the country for gas prices Iowa has the 21st cheapest gas in the country, according to the tracking website Gas Buddy, with a statewide average of $3.43 per gallon. The Friday before Memorial Day in 2022, Iowa's statewide average was $4.29. Cheaper neighboring states, according to Gas Buddy, include: Nebraska, where a Murphy USA station in Omaha is selling gas at $2.93 per gallon. South Dakota, where gas stations are selling fuel for anywhere between $3.00-3.20 per gallon. Missouri, where the statewide average is $3.25. Illinois gas prices come in highest, with a statewide average of $3.95 per gallon. Cheapest gas in Iowa Murphy USA, 907 E. Baker St., Mount Pleasant, $2.89 Casey's, 2105 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, $2.93 BP, 2020 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, $2.93 Cheapest gas in Des Moines Sam's Club, 4625 SE Delaware Avenue, Ankeny, $3.22 Kum & Go, 11989 Hickman Road, Urbandale $3.24 Costco, 4000 NE Spectrum Drive, Ankeny $3.27 Costco, 7205 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, $3.29 Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh, 425 S. Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, $3.29 Cheapest gas stations in Ames Kum & Go, 111 Duff Ave., Ames, $3.15 Sam's Club, 305 Airport Road, $3.37 Cheapest gas stations in Iowa City Costco, 2900 Heartland Drive, Coralville, $3.19 Casey's, 1002 W. Madison St., Washington, $3.29 It's unlikely that gas prices will come close to the average travelers were paying last year at this time, the AAA travel forecast reports. Note: Gas prices were accurate as of 1:30 p.m. listings on GasBuddy.com on Friday, May 26. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa gas prices are down for Memorial Day. Here are the cheapest spots IRA plot to kill the Queen during US visit revealed by FBI file The FBI have revealed the existence of a possible IRA plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the United States in 1983. Newly-released FBI records show that agents warned of an ever-present threat to the late monarch during 11 visits to the US across her seven-decade reign. The files, which appear in the FBIs Vault containing information of high public interest, show they received intelligence that Queen Elizabeth might be targeted by an Irish Republican Army sympathiser, who wanted to avenge the death of his daughter in Northern Ireland, on her 1983 trip. According to the files, a San Franciso police officer informed federal agents he had received a call from a man he knew socially from drinking at Irish bars in the city on 4 February 1983, about a month before the Queen and Prince Philip were due to be hosted by Ronald Reagan at the White House. The unnamed man claimed he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth by dropping an object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia as it sailed underneath, or by attempting to kill her when she visited Yosemite National Park, the confidential FBI memo states. The 102 pages of FBI records about Queen Elizabeth were released under the Freedom of Information Act after media requests were made by following her death last September. The records dont reveal whether the assassination plot developed beyond the angry words of a single pubgoer. But they do show how seriously federal agents took potential threats against the royals during official visits prior to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement that largely brought an end to the sectarian violence known as the Troubles in 1998. During a trip to New York for the USs bicentennial celebrations in 1976, an NYPD intelligence officer reported issuing a summons to a pilot who had flown over a city park with a sign readng England, Get out of Ireland. And ahead of a 1989 visit to Boston, New York, and the southern United States, an FBI memo warned that the possibility of threats against the British Monarchy is ever-present from the Irish Republican Army (IRA). 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 memo added. Two years later, the bureau revealed concerns it had that Irish terrorist groups were planning to protest Elizabeths attendance at a Baltimore Orioles baseball game and White House event during a 1991 state visit. Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Palace of Westminster for a state dinner in 2009 (Getty Images) Citing a story in a Philadelphia-based newspaper called Irish Edition, the FBI 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. The Birmingham Six were six Irish men who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned for carrying out two deadly pub bombings in the English city in the mid-1970s. The group were released from prison months before the Queens US visit in 1991 after an appeal found evidence police had fabricated evidence and tortured the men during interrogation. The FBI noted that while the article did not contain threats against the Queen or then president, George HW Bush, the statements could be viewed as being inflammatory. The article stated that an Irish group had reserved a large block of grand stand tickets. Belgium announced Iran has freed aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele after 455 days in prison Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who was detained for almost 15 months in Iran, landed in Belgium late Friday, according to images broadcast on television, after being freed in a prisoner exchange. The 42-year-old Belgian was greeted by his parents, sister and other family members on the tarmac of the Melsbroek military base near Brussels following his release on Friday. The military plane bringing him back from Oman landed shortly after 9:30pm (1930 GMT), according to the images shown on RTL-TVI channel. Earlier Friday, Iran freed Vandecasteele in a prisoner exchange for an Iranian diplomat convicted of terrorism. Iran announced that the freed Iranian is diplomat Assadollah Assadi, who was jailed in Belgium over a 2018 plot to bomb an Iranian opposition rally outside Paris. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted that Assadi, "the innocent diplomat of our country... is now on his way back to his homeland and will soon enter our beloved Iran." Both Belgium and Iran thanked Oman for its role in securing the release. Belgium has always insisted that Vandecasteele was innocent and his trial rigged. - 'We do not abandon anyone' - He was sentenced in January to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes for "espionage", Tehran's judiciary said at the time. "Olivier spent 455 days in prison in Tehran in unbearable conditions. Innocent," Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, following news of his release. "For me, the choice has always been clear. Olivier's life has always come first. It's a responsibility that I take upon myself, that I accept. In Belgium, we do not abandon anyone," he added, without mentioning the prisoner swap. Last year, Belgium and Iran signed a treaty to enable prisoner swaps. Wearing a dark suit and trainers, visibly slimmed down but smiling, Vandecasteele emerged from the plane and was hugged at length by his waiting relatives. He was not expected to make any immediate public statements. - 'Unbearable conditions' - Critics of the pact have alleged that the prisoner swap deal would only encourage Tehran to take Belgians hostage for use as bargaining chips to seek the return of agents like Assadi arrested for terror offences in the West. An exiled Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI), which was the target of the 2018 bomb plot, challenged the treaty in Belgium's constitutional court. The NCRI reacted furiously to Belgium's decision on Assadi and claimed it violated the court's order that the intended victims of the bomb plot should be consulted before any prisoner exchange took place under the treaty. "The release of the terrorist... is a shameful ransom to terrorism and hostage-taking," the group said. Amnesty International also said the return of Assadi would foster a climate of impunity. But De Croo's government said that, to win Vandecasteele's release, they opted for another route: invoking a constitutional clause stipulating that the government, acting under the authority of the king, is in charge of international relations. That meant that for "the Iranian opposition... we didn't warn them beforehand," one government official said. Belgian officials denied that any ransom was paid. - 'Threat' to Belgium - Assadi was an Iranian diplomat based in Vienna, who was arrested after passing explosives to a Belgian-based Iranian couple who were supposed to travel to France to bomb an NCRI rally. He was arrested in Germany as he tried to return to Austria and extradited to Belgium where he did not enjoy diplomatic immunity. He was convicted of attempted "terrorist" murder and membership of a "terrorist group". Tehran angrily protested, but his sentence was upheld in May 2021 when Assadi opted not to appeal. Belgian officials said they had no choice but to hand over Assadi to get Vandecasteele released, saying that since the Iranian diplomat's arrest on July 1, 2018, Belgium and its interests abroad were confronted with "an increased threat" from Iran. "Let there be no mistake about that: the arrest of our compatriot (in Iran) on February 24, 2022 is a direct result, a direct result of what the Belgian judiciary did to the alleged Iranian diplomat and nothing else," one official said. Earlier this month, Iran released a Frenchman, Benjamin Briere, and a French-Irish citizen Bernard Phelan. But it continues to hold two dozen foreigners, whom Western capitals and families regard as hostages. csg-mad-rmb/pvh/kjm Flash Zhang Haidi (third from left), president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), together with four other RI executive committee members, issued the landmark Beijing Declaration at the opening ceremony of the RI Centennial Celebration. [RI] The centennial of Rehabilitation International (RI) officially got underway on May 21, 2023, at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Zhang Haidi, president of RI and chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), together with other four RI executive committee members, issued the landmark Beijing Declaration at the opening ceremony. The declaration points out that in the past century, RI members worldwide have supported and advocated for the provision of rehabilitation services, barrier-free environments, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. RI has also been a long-term supporter of the Paralympic Games. In 1951, at the Fifth RI World Congress in Sweden, Dr. Ludwig Gutman proposed a special "Paraplegic Olympics," which sowed the seeds for the Paralympic Games. Through these efforts, RI has made tremendous contributions to promoting and safeguarding the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities worldwide. The declaration notes that RI and its members acknowledge disability as part of human diversity and respect the equal rights of all individuals regardless of their conditions and that protecting the equal rights of persons with disabilities, their value, and dignity is an indispensable and integral part of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The declaration states that persons with disabilities, especially women and children with disabilities, continue to face significant challenges around the world, such as discrimination, poverty, and lower educational attainment. In addition, at times of crises, such as wars and conflicts, natural disasters and pandemics, their survival and development face even greater threats and, therefore, they require additional attention and support. It calls upon all nations and the international community, as well as all individuals with and without disabilities, to appreciate human diversity, respect human rights, and pay greater attention to issues that concern women and men with disabilities, who represent 15% of the world's population, promote their equal participation and well-rounded development, and build a peaceful, inclusive, and friendly society. It also urges all nations and the international community to take concrete actions to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and advance disability inclusion in the pursuit of sustainable development, empowering persons with disabilities as both contributors and beneficiaries of peace and development. The following is the full text of the declaration: Towards the Next Century: Promote Equal Participation and Well-rounded Development of Persons with Disabilities Beijing Declaration in Commemoration of the Centenary of Rehabilitation International On the occasion of the centenary of Rehabilitation International (RI), its members from across the world and stakeholders from diverse sectors gathered in Beijing, China, on May 21, 2023 to commemorate its journey over the past century and develop strategies for a promising future. In the past century, RI has established its influence as a prominent international organization in the field of disability, working with its members worldwide to support and advocate for the provision of rehabilitation services, barrier-free environments, and inclusion of persons with disabilities. RI has also been a long-term supporter of the Paralympic Games. In 1951, at the Fifth RI World Congress in Sweden, Dr. Ludwig Gutman proposed a special "Paraplegic Olympics," which sowed the seeds for the Paralympic Games. Through these efforts, RI has made tremendous contributions to promoting and safeguarding the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities worldwide in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The International Symbol of Access, designed by RI in the 1960s, is now widely used worldwide and well-acknowledged as a symbol of respect and care for persons with disabilities. RI upholds a humanitarian spirit across its work, which has shed light on solutions to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and will continue to guide its advocacy for disability inclusion in the future. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," a shared value and vision of all humanity. Over the past century, disability rights advocates and stakeholders, including RI, have made a strong call for the rights of persons with disabilities, achieving increasing visibility of disability issues and significant improvements in the lives of persons with disabilities. Since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the consensus on promoting the equal participation of persons with disabilities and inclusive development as part of the endeavor to achieve fair, inclusive, and sustainable development, has been reinforced among the international community and among stakeholders across sectors. RI and its members acknowledge disability as part of human diversity and respect the equal rights of all individuals regardless of their conditions. Protecting the equal rights of persons with disabilities, their value, and dignity is an indispensable and integral part of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We must recognize that globally persons with disabilities continue to face significant challenges. They, particularly women and children with disabilities, are more likely to experience discrimination, live in poverty, have lower educational attainment, and have fewer opportunities in other aspects of life. At times of crises such as wars and conflicts, natural disasters, and pandemics, their survival and development face even greater threats and, therefore, require additional attention and support. We call upon all nations and the international community, as well as all individuals with and without disabilities, to appreciate human diversity, respect human rights, and pay greater attention to issues that concern women and men with disabilities, who represent 15 percent of the world population, promote their equal participation and well-rounded development, and build a peaceful, inclusive, and friendly society. We urge all nations and the international community to take concrete actions to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and advance disability inclusion in the pursuit of sustainable development, empowering persons with disabilities as both contributors and beneficiaries of peace and development, with efforts dedicated to: Promoting humanitarianism and advocating for a society that is friendly, inclusive, and free of all forms of discrimination and prejudice against persons with disabilities; Formulating laws and regulations to guarantee the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, developing and implementing national plans that promote their equal participation and development, and mainstream disability inclusion in all development agendas; Providing social security and welfare to persons with disabilities, particularly those living in disadvantaged or vulnerable conditions, and ensuring that they will not be deprived of a life with dignity in all circumstances; Promoting the employment and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, especially women with disabilities, by providing vocational training and other services and encouraging and supporting their employment in public and private sectors; Providing universal rehabilitation and healthcare services for persons with disabilities, ensuring access to reproductive health services for women with disabilities, and strengthening early detection and intervention for children with disabilities and prevention of disability, with closer attention paid to groups that require stronger support such as individuals with autism, ALS, and psychosocial disabilities; Improving education for persons with disabilities by developing inclusive education and providing suitable vocational education and lifelong education, and ensuring their access to sports, tourism, recreational, and leisure services; Providing barrier-free physical and digital environments, including accessible facilities, accessible information and communications technologies, and essential services to persons with disabilities, and strengthening disability-inclusive assistance and services in emergency situations such as wars and conflicts, natural disasters, and epidemics; Promoting the application of science and digital technologies to develop and provide better assistive technologies and devices for persons with disabilities, enabling them to live independently in their homes and communities, in addition to ensuring persons with severe impairments access to professional, attentive care; Supporting the development of organizations of and for persons with disabilities, enhancing the representation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and ensuring their right to participate in decision-making processes, and; Calling upon the United Nations to establish a World Disability Organization (WDO) to strengthen the coordination and advocacy for disability rights. We underscore that disability inclusion is an integral part of human development and the protection of humanity and human rights. We call upon governments and the international community to strengthen collaboration to advance the development of global disability affairs, including increasing financial and technical support to disability inclusion initiatives and projects in developing countries and regions. We advocate that the well-rounded development of persons with disabilities can only be achieved through equal participation. We call upon governments and all other stakeholders to create an enabling environment and empower persons with disabilities to be equal and active actors in matters that concern themselves and in the broader socioeconomic and environmental development. Looking ahead, RI will continue to work hand in hand with all countries and stakeholders of the international community and strive tirelessly to safeguard the human rights of persons with disabilities, support their well-rounded development, and contribute to a more united and better future for humanity. The Caspian Sea is likely one of the main routes from Iran to Russia for Iranian-made attack drones and other support that Tehran provides to the Kremlin due to the war against Ukraine and Western sanctions. Source: CNN report, as reported by European Pravda Details: Journalists spoke with experts who track the cargo movement, and based on available data, they assume that a significant portion of Shahed drones, mortar rounds, and other weapons that Russia buys from Iran for the war against Ukraine may move through this route. Cargo traffic data shows that cargo ships in the Caspian are increasingly turning off their transponders (an automatic identification system that is usually kept on), suggesting that they have reasons for secrecy. Thus, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence, the number of vessels in the Caspian Sea that hide data about their movements has increased significantly since September. These are mainly ships under the Russian and Iranian flags, among which there are many vessels that, according to their technical characteristics, are suitable for the transportation of military goods. Most often, vessels in the Caspian turn off the automatic identification system near the Iranian ports of Amirabad and Anzali, as well as on the Russian Volga and near the port of Astrakhan. Using data from MarineTraffic, CNN tracked six Russian-flagged and two Iranian-flagged ships that, according to the assumptions of the interviewed analysts, are behaving suspiciously. They noticed certain regularities, such as ships that can go from Iranian ports to Astrakhan, Russia, but do not enter the port officially there; some ships turn off data transmission on the approach to Amirabad and Astrakhan; or they generally move for a long time with turned off transponders. CNN also analysed Flightradar24 information and found that Iranian cargo aircraft made at least 85 flights to Russia between May 2022 and March 2023. According to analysts, although some of the Iranian Shahed drones could be brought to Russia by aircraft, the sea route is much more profitable as it allows transporting a much larger cargo at once. Background: In mid-May, the White House reported that Iran continues to provide Russia with attack drones for the war against Ukraine. Officially, Tehran has admitted that it supplied Russia with a small batch of kamikaze drones before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But the media have repeatedly described how Moscow obtains weapons from Iran. According to Ukrainian estimates, Russia has already used more than 400 Shahed-136 drones in Ukraine and is thought to have ordered 2,400 such drones in total. Initially, they posed a problem for Ukrainian air defence, but in recent attacks, all or almost all of them have been destroyed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! JERUSALEM Iran has moved dangerously close to enriching weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb, but the regime has not yet crossed the critical threshold of declaring it has built an atomic weapon. Fox News Digital reached out to experts on Irans more than two-decade effort to join the small group of countries that have atomic weapons for explanations about what is stopping Tehran from crossing the nuclear threshold. "If there is reason to believe that there are a number of retardants that have put a pause in their weapons development, theyd relate back to targeted attacks by the U.S. and Israel, who clearly are very much concerned about stopping the mullahs," stated Lisa Daftari, an Iran expert and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Desk. Daftari added, "Israel has reportedly conducted at least two dozen targeted operations on Irans regime in the last 15 or so years, including drone attacks, cyberattacks, if you recall Stuxnet and assassinations of key players in Irans nuclear program." IRAN UNVEILS LATEST VERSION OF BALLISTIC MISSILE AMID WIDER TENSIONS OVER NUCLEAR PROGRAM "We cannot underestimate the power of international pressure on Irans regime," Daftari told Fox News Digital. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "That pressure has been assuaged under this current administration, who, while stepping away from the nuclear deal, are still hoping to revive some form of normalization agreement with Tehran. Otherwise, when there is consistent and targeted pressure on Irans regime in the form of enforced sanctions and economic and political isolation, we see a weakened regime and an emboldened Iranian people who are brave enough to take to the streets," she said. Kamal Kharrazi, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader of Irans regime, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, boasted last year that "Iran is on the nuclear threshold, and this is not something secret," according to a 2022 report in the state-controlled Tehran Times. Just this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed Irans regime enriched 84% purity of uranium, 6% shy of the 90% enriched uranium required for a nuclear weapon. An Iranian military truck carries surface-to-air missiles past a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a parade on the country's annual army day April 18, 2018, in Tehran. Irans regime is testing the resolve of the United States and other world powers who have repeatedly stated they will not permit Iran to build a nuclear weapon. Israel views Tehrans atomic weapon program as an existential threat because Tehran has frequently declared it seeks to obliterate it. "Its an open question as to whether Khamenei wants to die as the father of the Shiite atomic bomb or as the one who kept the Islamic Republic on the nuclear path without provoking a war or pulling the trigger," Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow and Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital. "Currently, however, Khameneis perception of diplomatic and security policy success abroad and ascendency at all costs at home may be sufficient to push him over the edge as he continues to age," added Taleblu, who recently authored a comprehensive assessment of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and intentions. Fox News Digital reported this week that Iran is burrowing deep into tunnels near a peak of the Zagros Mountains in central Iran to shield a nuclear facility from conventional weapon attacks. Aside from the technological impediments for the construction of a modern nuclear weapon, Irans regime has been confronted with deterrence from Israel and the United States over the years, including Stuxnet computer worm sabotage of the regimes nuclear fuel production system. "I think Iran's leadership to date has calculated the costs of doing so would outweigh the benefits at this juncture mainly a destructive attack which targets its entire nuclear infrastructure," Jason Brodsky, policy director of the U.S.-based United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital. ISRAEL'S DEFENSE CHIEF WARNS TEHRAN AGAINST FURTHER NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT: 'WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIT IRAN' "But my concern is that calculus risks changing as the U.S. and Europe's non-response to Iran's nuclear escalation over the last two years for example 60% enrichment and production of uranium metal has emboldened Tehran's leadership to continue testing international red lines." Brodsky added that "If that perception is not altered, Iran is likely to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels at 90%. Tehran's risk-aversion to date shows that it can be deterred. But that can quickly change if the Islamic Republic receives no pushback as it advances its nuclear program." Earlier this month U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a speech to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy that the Biden administration had "Made it clear to Iran that it can never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. As President Biden has repeatedly reaffirmed, he will take the actions that are necessary to stand by this statement, including recognizing Israels freedom of actions." "Weve restored unity of purpose between the United States and Europe and much of the world against Iranian provocations, nuclear activities," he said while also noting that the U.S. is exerting pressure on "Iran through sanctions." Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh stand together during the unveiling of a Kheibar Sheka missile at an undisclosed location in Iran Feb. 9, 2022. "Iran has not crossed the threshold into building a nuclear weapon because the supreme leader has not decided to weaponize the program," Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state who served in the Obama administration, told Fox News Digital. "This position has been confirmed by multiple U.S. intelligence community assessments over the past several years." He continued that "While only the supreme leader can truly say why he has taken this position, it's known that continued diplomatic isolation by the international community that followed the expansion of its nuclear program is causing pain for the Iranian regime." AIR FORCE SQUADRON IN MIDDLE EAST ARMS UP WITH 'BUNKER BUSTING' BOMBS TO COUNTER IRAN Rubin said it was clear that Tehran was "Still open to pursuing a diplomatic path as it knows that if it crosses into weapons-grade nuclear arsenals, which it is capable of doing, the nation would be further isolated internationally even by its allies. It would trigger a regional nuclear arms race, and Tehran would never get out from under the sanctions pressure it currently is experiencing," he said. "What is clear from recent years is that a firm, verifiable diplomatic agreement with Iran over its nuclear program is the best way to ensure that it never obtains a nuclear weapon. Military threats alone will not get us there," Rubin concluded. Low-intensity military deterrence against Irans regime has been playing out for a number of years, according to Israeli media outlets. "We have the ability to hit Iran," Israels defense chief warned this week. The United States military and Israel Defense Forces launched a joint drill, Juniper Falcon, in February. The IDF's website stated "The exercise tested collective U.S.-Israel readiness and strengthened the interoperability between the two militaries," the IDF stated on its website after the drill. Yet there are growing concerns the Biden administration is not inflicting enough pressure on Irans regime to change its conduct. Over 100 former world leaders urged Biden this week to get tough on Iran. Earlier this week Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly said during a visit to Hatzor Air Force Base that Israel is preparing for a "complex, difficult and more significant objective." Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, points to a red line he drew on a graphic of a bomb while addressing the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 27, 2012, in New York City. EX-MOSSAD CHIEF SIGNALS ISRAEL BEHIND IRAN NUCLEAR ATTACKS Military deterrence has been the single greatest factor in slowing Irans illicit nuclear program. U.S. saber-rattling has influenced a change in the Islamic Republics behavior. In 2007, a declassified U.S. National Intelligence Estimate determined with "high confidence" that Irans regime stopped it nuclear weapons program in 2003. Iran experts believe the Islamic Republic temporarily pulled the plug on its illegal atomic program due to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and fears the U.S. would launch a military incursion into Iran. The sheer survival of Irans regime forced the then supreme leader Khomeini to agree to a cease-fire with Iraq in 1988 after eight years of war. At the time he compared the truce to drinking from "a chalice of poison." American pressure prompted Khomeini to release U.S. hostages in 1981 during the diplomatic crisis. All of these examples suggest Irans regime is enormously vulnerable to military pressure and other forms of leverage that threaten its legitimacy and existence. "Irans regime is quite calculating," Daftari said. "As rogue as they have been in capturing oil tankers in the seas, continuing the support of regional terror and, of course, the brutal wholesale executions of innocent protesters, they continue to weigh out the consequences of a heated military confrontation with Israel or the United States." J.D. Vance says Target decided to wage war on customers with Pride Month collection Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) suggested on Friday that Target decided to wage war on its customers by releasing its annual Pride Month collection. Target could have decided to stay out of the culture wars, instead it decided to wage war on a large share of its customer base, Vance tweeted. I no longer shop at Target, and it seems many families are doing the same. Conservatives have called for a boycott of the company over its LGBTQ merchandise, with several Republican lawmakers expressing support. Why support woke corporations that hate you? Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said on Twitter Monday. Target wont be getting another dollar from me. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) compared the situation to the conservative backlash that Bud Light faced last month after partnering with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. What they dont realize is the guys, who quit Bud Light, wives shop at Target. Or at least they used to, Greene tweeted on Thursday. Target announced this week that it would be removing certain items from stores and that it had moved Pride merchandise to the back of some Southern stores, after customers knocked down Pride displays, angrily confronted workers and posted threatening videos on social media, according to The Associated Press. 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 The AP. 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 company has been selling merchandise for Pride Month, an annual celebration of the LGBTQ community, for a decade, according to The New York Times. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Jan. 6 raider got a state regulator job from Ron DeSantis. Here's what has happened since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who launched his presidential bid this week, was the subject of a USA TODAY investigation this week revealing he appointed a woman who raided the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to a state oversight board. Meanwhile, a man with a Nazi flag rammed into barriers outside the White House, while the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the Allen, Texas, shooter's neo-Nazi ideology, warning he is part of a growing trend. And what Target pulling Pride merchandise from its shelves after threats says about extremist far-right's fixation with the LGBTQ community. It's the week in extremism. Sandra Atkinson marches through Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2021, in an image taken from video by Sherri Edwards Cox. A woman in the same clothing later appeared on surveillance video from inside the storming of the Capitol. Appointing an insurrectionist? Appointing an insurrectionist: She stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Then Gov. Ron DeSantis made her a state regulator Sandra Atkinson, a county Republican chair in Florida, can be seen in videos breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to a USA TODAY investigation of footage outside and inside the building, and an interview with a Republican Party colleague. Two months after the insurrection, Gov. De Santis appointed her to the Florida Board of Massage Therapy, where she would spend more than a year overseeing the profession in the state, and granting or taking away practitioners' licenses, often based on their own criminal backgrounds. Atkinson was identified in social media posts and security footage from the Capitol riot first identified by a member of the Sedition Hunters community, a group of volunteer sleuths. A colleague of Atkinson's confirmed the woman in the videos is the GOP county chairwoman, and said Atkinson also later bragged about going into then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. Atkinson's tenure on the board was short-lived. She left at some point in 2022 after her appointment was never confirmed by the state Senate. In her last meeting, Atkinson made an outburst about an applicant's ability to speak English, which was later disavowed by her board colleagues, who called her words "discriminatory." DeSantis launched his presidential bid on Wednesday in a glitch-filled event on Twitter Spaces with former Twitter CEO Elon Musk. The governor has refused to answer any questions about his appointment of Atkinson. U-Haul rams into WH barriers Man with Nazi flag rams White House barriers Allure of neo-Nazism: The Allen shooter was Hispanic. He was also a white supremacist. What's the allure? On Monday evening, Sai Varshith Kandula a 19-year-old Missouri man, crashed a rented U-Haul into barriers outside the White House in what court documents later revealed to be a bid to "seize power" and kill the president. During Kandula's short-lived attack, he allegedly waved around a Nazi flag before being arrested. Kandula told police he brought the flag because "Nazis have a great history" and he admired their "authoritarian nature, eugenics and their one world order," according to court documents. Nobody was injured in the attack. Earlier this month, a man with neo-Nazi tattoos opened fire in a mall in Allen, Texas, killing 9 people including himself. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed this week the suspect in that attack had a "neo-Nazi" ideology. I explained in this story last week how and why neo-Nazism and white supremacy doesn't just attract white people. DHS also issued an advisory bulletin Wednesday warning the U.S. remains in a "heightened threat environment." "Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat," the bulletin states. A sign outside a Target store is seen Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. What Target's LGBTQ walk-back says about extremism today Target faces criticism: Target faces criticism over decision to remove LGBTQ items A week before Pride month, the department store Target this week began relocating some LGBTQ-branded merchandise inside its stores and removing some items after a backlash from conservatives and threats from the extreme far-right. Target held an emergency meeting after people posted videos online criticizing the retail store's annual promotion of LGBTQ pride and products including so-called "tuck friendly swimwear," which allows trans women who have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal male genitals. Online posters falsely claimed the swimwear was for children, in an example of how misinformation is used to fuel extremist threats. Earlier this year, Bud Light faced a similar backlash from conservatives and far-right extremists after a marketing partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Attacks on the LGBTQ community, especially on trans people and particularly on drag shows have become the central focus of the extremist far-right in the U.S. Extremists from neo-Nazis to the Proud Boys street gang have showed up at dozens of protests against drag shows across the country in the last two years. Any community that is considered a threat to the way of life of the population is then targeted as a group to be stopped, Marilyn Mayo, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism told USA TODAY last year. That, in turn, leads people to marginalize that group and then act. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin waits to greet Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak during an honor cordon ceremony, upon his arrival at the Pentagon, Friday, May 5, 2023, in Washington. Statistic of the week: 18 That's the number of years Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to serve in prison Thursday for his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Guide: These are the Oath Keepers being sentenced in the Capitol riot "However long I spend in prison, my goal will be to be an American Solzhenitsyn to expose the criminality of this regime," Rhodes said, comparing himself to prominent Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and referencing the Biden administration. The sentence is the longest any Jan. 6 participant has received. Catch up: Paul Gosar aide linked to Nick Fuentes, white supremacist group in new report This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeSantis appointment of Jan. 6 raider; Nazi flag at White House crash By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan will place additional sanctions on Russia after the Group of Seven (G7) summit the country hosted last week agreed to step up measures to punish Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Friday. Matsuno, Tokyo's top government spokesperson, also condemned Russia's move on Thursday to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying it would further intensify situations around the invasion of Ukraine. "As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, Japan never accepts Russia's nuclear menace, let alone its use," Matsuno told a regular press conference. The leaders of G7, including the United States, Britain, Germany and France, last week showed their resolve to support Ukraine with additional military aids and sanctions on Russia, at the annual summit held in the world's first atomic-bombed city Hiroshima. In a co-ordinated action with G7, Japan will freeze assets of 78 groups and 17 individuals including army officers in Russia and ban exports to 80 Russian entities such as military-affiliated research labs, according to a Friday foreign ministry statement. Japan will also ban providing construction and engineering services to Russia, although the details of the measure will be announced at a later date, a trade ministry statement said. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry) Japan unveils new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine invasion Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in Hiroshima this month Japan announced fresh sanctions against Russia on Friday over its invasion of Ukraine, targeting its military as well as the construction and engineering sectors. Russia was hit with a wave of sanctions after it sent forces into Ukraine in February last year, but calls have grown from Kyiv and its allies for tougher action against Moscow. The latest embargo by Tokyo follows the Group of Seven summit Japan hosted last week in Hiroshima, where the bloc's leaders agreed to "starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine". The new Japanese sanctions include "an asset freeze of Russian individuals and groups, a ban on the export of goods to Russia's military-related organisations, and a ban on the export of construction and engineering services to Russia," top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. The asset freeze targets 17 individuals and 78 groups, including high-level military officials, while the 80 organisations hit with export restrictions include the Russian mobile phone operator MegaFon, according to the Japanese government. The United States, Britain and the European Union have all announced fresh punishments against Moscow recently, as well as commitments of more military aid to Ukraine, including F-16 fighters. Matsuno also condemned plans to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that Moscow had begun moving nukes to its territory. Matsuno said this will "further escalate the situation". "As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, Japan can never tolerate Russia's threat of nuclear weapons, not to mention their use." kh/qan/ssy FILE PHOTO: A model of the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program by "ispace" is pictured at a venue to monitor its landing on the Moon, in Tokyo Japan startup's failed moon landing caused by altitude miscalculation, company says FILE PHOTO: A model of the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program by "ispace" is pictured at a venue to monitor its landing on the Moon, in Tokyo TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese startup ispace inc's failed Hakuto-R moon landing mission last month was caused by an altitude miscalculation that meant the spacecraft ran out of fuel, the company said on Friday. Tokyo-based ispace lost connection with the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander after the spacecraft attempted what would have been the world's first commercial soft-landing on the moon's surface. The crash was the latest setback in Japan's space programme. The national space agency in March had to destroy its new medium-lift H3 rocket after it reached space, and its solid-fuel Epsilon rocket failed after launch in October. Improvements would be made for the next two missions, ispace said. "Through these two missions, it is very important for us to increase our knowledge as much as possible to achieve stable commercialisation in the future," ispace Chief Executive Takeshi Hakamada told reporters at the Japan National Press Club. Whereas national space agencies dominated space exploration in decades past, numerous private players are competing in a new space race between the United States and its allies versus an increasingly ambitious China. NASA has relied on Elon Musk's SpaceX to carry many of its payloads into orbit, and last week the agency awarded a lunar lander contract to a team led by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. After launching its Hakuto-R lander aboard a SpaceX rocket with much fanfare in December, ispace shares made a blistering debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in April. But during the final landing phase in the early hours of April 26, ispace lost contact with the craft. Shares in ispace surged as high as 2,373 yen, more than 9 times their IPO price, in the days following their debut. They crashed to below 800 yen after the Hakuto-R's failure, but have since recovered, last trading at 1,748 yen ($12.94). Photos of debris and an impact crater at the Hakuto-R's intended landing site were released this week by NASA, which scanned the area with its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. An ispace investigation showed that after the vehicle passed over a large lunar cliff, a sensor software glitch caused a discrepancy between its actual and expected altitude, and after its fuel ran out, it plummeted the last 5 kilometres (3 miles) to the moon's surface. Ryo Ujiie, ispace's chief technology officer, told reporters he partially blamed ispace's mission parameters and other settings for the glitch of the software, which was provided by U.S. space software developer Draper. The company had changed the targeted landing location as late as seven months before the touchdown attempt, foregoing a flatter terrain selected in 2021 for the newer site near a cliff "to maximize the benefit of the mission," Ujiie told reporters. He declined to say specifically when the change was made. "That landing site change impacted on this issue," Ujiie said. "We might have (had) a chance to successfully land on the moon if we didn't change that landing site, but its just a hypothesis." A second ispace mission is scheduled in 2024, with another M1 lander due to carry the company's own rover. From 2025, the company is set to work with Draper to bring NASA payloads to the moon, aiming to build a permanently staffed lunar colony by 2040. ($1 = 135.0500 yen) (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Rocky Swift in Tokyo and Joey Roulette in WashingtonEditing by Barbara Lewis, Simon Cameron-Moore and Matthew Lewis) Special Counsel John Durham will testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee about his report in June, a source has told Fox News on Friday. The hearing will happen on Wednesday, June 21. The day before, Durham will appear before the House Intelligence Committee in a closed-door briefing. Durham has found that the Department of Justice and FBI "failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law" when it launched the Trump-Russia investigation. Special Counsel John Durham, who then-United States Attorney General William Barr appointed in 2019 after the release of the Mueller report to probe the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation, departs after his trial recessed for the day at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on May 25, 2022 in Washington, D.C. The FBIs original investigation, known as "Crossfire Hurricane," looked into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. Durham's 300-page report to the Justice Department said his investigation also revealed that "senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received, especially information received from politically-affiliated persons and entities." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This information in part triggered and sustained Crossfire Hurricane and contributed to the subsequent need for Special Counsel Muellers investigation," the report said. "In particular, there was significant reliance on investigative leads provided or funded (directly or indirectly) by Trump's political opponents." "The Department did not adequately examine or question these materials and the motivations of those providing them, even when at about the same time the Director of the FBI and others learned of significant and potentially contrary intelligence," the report said. Special Counsel John Durham indicated the Department of Justice and FBI "failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law" when it launched the Trump-Russia investigation. Durham is referring to past FBI leadership in his report specifically former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Reacting to the report, the FBI said in a statement: "The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect." If the U.S. Senate confirms Gen. Charles CQ Brown Jr., it would mark the first time Black Americans occupy the Pentagons top two positions. President Joe Biden on Thursday afternoon capped off his nomination of General Charles CQ Brown Jr. to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with a White House ceremony in the Rose Garden. During the outdoor event, with Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in attendance the first Black Americans to serve in their respective roles the president hailed Gen. Brown as a warrior who reflects the full diversity of our nation. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Brown would become only the second African American to serve as the top military official in the U.S. Armed Forces in the roles 81-year history. It would also mark the first time that African Americans occupy the Pentagons top two positions. The other is defense secretary. U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Bidens nominee 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, D.C. Applauding at left are Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Brown is a U.S. Air Force four-star general and currently serves as chief of staff of the Air Force. As Biden noted in his remarks, the general is a descendant of a proud line of military veterans. His father, Colonel CQ Brown, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. His grandfather, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Robert E. Brown Jr., led a segregated unit during World War II. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff plays a critical role in the U.S. military, as this individual is responsible for advising the president, the national security adviser, the Homeland Security Council and the secretary of defense on command functions. Biden listed off Browns qualifications and what he would bring to the role as chairman, including more than 3,000 hours of flying experience and 130 combat hours. He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how to keep your cool when things get hard, said the president, who recalled the generals F-16 catching fire in 1991 and his ability to safely return to base. Biden also jokingly noted that Brown also smokes a mean brisket. During Thursdays press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told theGrio that Brown was immensely talented and that the president is proud to nominate him. [Brown] has already made history as our nations first Black service chief [of staff] and he has been an important voice helping make our armed forces more inclusive, she said. U.S. 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, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) The military community, particularly Black veterans, have welcomed Browns appointment. This is exciting, Asha Castleberry-Hernandez, a former Army veteran who previously served as a national security adviser to the Obama and Biden administrations, told theGrio. Its definitely going to inspire young Black men to join the military and say, OK, theres equity. I do have a fair chance to go up the ranks in the military. The last time a Black person was in the role of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was 30 years ago when Colin Powell served during the administration of President George W. Bush. Castleberry-Hernandez, also the founder of the Diversity in National Security Network (DINSN), noted that the prospect of Brown assuming the top armed forces position alongside Austin gives her goosebumps. I would never think in a million years I would see the Joint Chief of Staff and the Secretary of Defense both Black at the same time, she said. Richard Brookshire, co-founder and CEO of the Black Veterans Project, said he welcomes the Biden-Harris administrations appointment of Brown as an important move because Black faces in high positions are important. However, he also pointed out that its not sufficient, citing a Black commander in chief in former President Barack Obama and now a Black defense secretary in Austin. He said neither of which has substantively addressed the militarys race problem. Brookshire said he is more concerned about issues of racism and discrimination that continue to impact Black servicemen and veterans. He explained: Representation in and of itself hasnt ebbed a rising white nationalist threat in the military, racism in the military justice system, which leaves Black veterans up to 2.3 times likely to exit the military without access to veterans benefits, or the economic pitfalls of our nations military industrial complex. Castleberry-Hernandez acknowledged that addressing the issue of white nationalism within the militarys ranks and disparities for Black servicemembers should remain a priority. She said Gen. Mark A. Milley, whose four-year term as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is coming to an end, did a good job in making sure that we address white nationalism within the ranks of the military. She also has confidence that Brown continues that legacy. In 2021, just months after the U.S. Senate confirmed him, Austin announced immediate changes to help counter white supremacy and right-wing extremism within the defense department. Some Republican lawmakers have criticized these efforts and accused the Biden-Harris administration of politicizing the military. Just last week, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., criticized Austin for trying to get out the white extremists, the white nationalists from the U.S. military. He accused the administration of politicizing the military so much, theyre ruining [it]. Castleberry-Hernandez conceded that neither the nation nor the armed forces is perfect, but progress is being made. Thats just the ugly part of what we see when it comes to the military and politics, she said. However, she sees historic moments like this [Browns potential elevation] as the beautiful part of where the country and the U.S. military are today. (Left to right) Unidentified U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division members and E4 Bobby (last name withheld) on Jan. 15, 2002, are stationed at the American military compound at Kandahar Airport in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) It tells you two different stories at the same time, she continued. [And] it definitely tells you that the Biden administration is standing by their word that they want to see more equity, diversity, equity inclusion when it comes to serving in the highest positions of the military. Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Joint Chiefs chairman nominee Gen. Brown hailed as warrior at White House ceremony appeared first on TheGrio. After a week of issues in selecting a jury, a judge has declared a mistrial in the case of an Austin police officer charged with murder in the 2020 shooting death of a man. District Judge Dayna Blazey will discuss with attorneys next week when to reset the trial, she said. The soonest a jury panel of 100 potential jurors can be summoned is June 5, she said. Christopher Taylor Officer Christopher Taylor fatally shot Mike Ramos in 2020 in a parking lot in Southeast Austin after a group of officers responded to a 911 call reporting that a person possibly involved in a drug deal had a gun. It is believed to be the first time an Austin officer has been charged with murder for an incident while on duty. More: Murder trial to begin for Austin police officer in 2020 shooting of Mike Ramos "Our hearts go out to the Ramos family, who have to wait even longer for the trial of Christopher Taylor," said a statement from the district attorney's office on Friday. "Due to the release of Mondays jury panel because of a constitutional violation, the parties were not able to select a jury this week. The judge will reset the case to a future date, and the state will be ready to try the case then." Blazey declared a mistrial during the jury selection process after defense attorneys filed a motion for one on Friday. The Travis County sheriff's office is investigating possible jury tampering after mysterious envelopes were placed on the vehicles of three possible jurors, according to the motion for mistrial. It said a potential juror gave a court bailiff an envelope left on the juror's vehicle on Wednesday. The sheriff's office found the same envelope left on two other potential jurors' vehicles, according to the motion. The envelopes had a piece of paper taped to them with images and words that related to the murder case and to Taylor and Ramos, the motion said. "The words and images depicted are also reasonably interpreted to be threatening and intimidating in nature," according to the motion. "We sincerely hope measures can be put in place to ensure the safety of all potential jurors in the future," defense attorney Doug O'Connell said on Friday. "Tampering with potential jurors erodes the community's trust in the judicial system." Blazey said on Friday there were other problems with the jury selection process. "As this case stands today, we still need seven jurors to be selected in order to have a jury of 14 people, which we have to have," she said. "One panel of 44 jurors is available on Tuesday. It's unknown how many of the 44 will have a schedule that can accommodate a trial of this length on such short notice." The potential jurors in the panel that was supposed to be called on Tuesday had never been told the trial could last four weeks, she said. The defense and the prosecution are each allowed to strike 10 potential jurors, so that further reduces the potential jury pool, the judge said. "It's imperative to me that both sides receive a fair trial, and this is a very important case to the community," Blazey said. She said she plans to call three panels of 100 possible jurors each when the trial is reset. The entire 80-person jury panel was dismissed on Monday because the courtroom doors had been accidentally locked, illegally preventing the public from viewing the process, said prosecutor Gary Cobb. He said that with the courtroom doors being locked accidentally, the mysterious envelopes on the jurors' cars and jurors being unable to serve because of several issues, including vacation plans, created the "perfect storm." More: Judge rules officer Taylor's statements to internal affairs can't be shared with state A month after Ramos who was Black and Latino was killed, he became the name and face in Austin for the national Black Lives Matter movement. Thousands of protesters took to the streets, many chanting his name and holding signs calling for justice for him and for George Floyd, the Black man whose death at the hands of mostly white Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020, helped fuel the Black Lives Matter movement. Michael Ramos To prove a murder charge, prosecutors will have to show Taylor intentionally or knowingly caused Ramos' death. The defense will need to show that Taylor killed Ramos because he was compelled to do so "by threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury to himself or another." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Judge declares mistrial in murder trial for Austin officer Taylor Xi: BRI helps boost Eurasian collaboration 09:49, May 26, 2023 By CAO DESHENG ( Chinadaily.com.cn 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. [Photo/Xinhua] As the Belt and Road Initiative drives an economically vibrant Eurasian region while delivering increasing benefits to the world, President Xi Jinping has urged stronger synergy between the initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to boost Asia-Europe cooperation. While addressing the opening ceremony of the plenary session of the second Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union via video link late on Wednesday, Xi reiterated that the ultimate goal of the BRI 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". The forum was held in offline and online formats in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, with the theme "Eurasian Integration in a Multipolar World". The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization of regional economic integration whose members are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan all of which are partners of China under the BRI framework. Xi said that in a turbulent and changing world, proceeding with Asia-Europe cooperation concerns not only the well-being of people in the Eurasian region, but also will have a profound impact on global development. The development of China, a member of the Eurasian family, cannot be achieved without the Eurasian region, which also will benefit from the development, he added. Xi expressed his hope that the synergy between the BRI and the Eurasian Economic Union will be deepened, and that all countries will work together with unity and dedication to open up new prospects for Asia-Europe cooperation. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI. China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in the second half of the year. Xi said that China is ready to work with participating countries, including the members of the Eurasian Economic Union, to continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, share opportunities and overcome difficulties in trying times to have a better future, and join hands to write a new chapter in the progress of civilizations in a multipolar world. Guided by the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the BRI has deepened mutually beneficial cooperation with participating countries, becoming a global public good and international cooperation platform. Since the initiative was proposed in 2013, over 3,000 cooperation projects have been launched, involving nearly $1 trillion of investment, according to the Foreign Ministry. Many nations have thus realized their dreams of railways, bridges and other infrastructure as well as poverty alleviation. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference on Wednesday that "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 to common development. "We believe that the advancement of high-quality BRI cooperation will create more opportunities for the common prosperity of countries," Mao added. Kirill Babaev, director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of China and Modern Asia, said that the BRI has promoted the development of infrastructure in the Eurasian region, bolstered the construction of transportation and logistics corridors and facilitated trade and investment, enhancing Eurasian economic integration. Noting that China's economy has enormous potential for further growth and that it actively invests in emerging markets and develops economic projects outside China, Babaev said that given the strong economic complementarity of Russia and China, strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation will benefit the peoples of both countries. Ren Qi in Moscow contributed to this story. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Flash Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), presides over the RI executive committee conference and delivers a speech. [RI] The executive committee of Rehabilitation International (RI) held its 2023 spring conference in Beijing on May 19, 2023. Chairpersons of RI's regional branches, including those in Asia-Pacific, African, European, North American, and Arab regions, attended the conference. Zhang Haidi, president of RI and chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. Zhang noted that this executive committee conference was of great importance as it was the first to be held in person after the three-year pandemic, the first one after the change in the committee in 2022, and the first management meeting following the RI's 100th anniversary. She highlighted that the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences had been built to an advanced standard, cultivating top-tier professionals. Although the university is built in China, the achievement also belongs to the RI and the world. Then, Zhang also expressed her gratitude to the executive committee for its support of the building work of the university. Zhang detailed her participation in the 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) held in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 27-30, 2023, and her schedule of leading a delegation to the U.N. headquarters, in New York, to attend the 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16) this June. She called on the RI to advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities and their inclusive development and improve their well-being on the platforms of international affairs and exchange. Conference attendees of the RI executive committee conference pose for a picture. [RI] The primary event lineup of the RI centennial, work reports of regional branches and various special committees and main project update reports, were detailed at the conference. The executive committee came to an agreement on the RI financial reform plan. What the RI will focus on in the future was also planned at the conference. The spring conference kicked off a series of events for the RI centennial. The executive committee expressed appreciation for what the CDPF has orchestrated for the centennial. California judge Alison Mackenzie has signalled she will be dismissing the Romeo and Juliet child abuse lawsuit filed by movie stars Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting. Earlier this year, Hussey and Whiting, who starred in the 1968 feature film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, filed a lawsuit against Paramount, accusing the production company of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit stemmed from a scene in the movie that showcased nude images of both actors, which were filmed when Hussey and Whiting were allegedly minors. The complaint alleged that late director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019 at age 96, told the lead actors that the film wouldnt include nudity, but ended up turning on his word. In January, Zeffirellis son Pippo had called the lawsuit embarrassing and said that the nude scene at the centre of the complaint is far from pornographic. This week, Judge Mackenzie indicated that she will side with the studio in this matter. She determined that the scene was protected by the First Amendment, finding that the actors have not put forth any authority showing the film here can be deemed to be sufficiently sexually suggestive as a matter of law to be held to be conclusively illegal. The judge found that the plaintiffs cherry-picked from the law and failed to provide legal authority for why it should apply to purported works of artistic merit, such as the award-winning film at issue here. She quoted from an appeals court precedent that said child pornography is particularly repulsive, but not all images of nude children are pornographic. In her written decision, she also found that the suit didnt fall within the bounds of a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, and that a February re-release of the film did not change that. Hussey and Whitings attorney denounced the decision and said they planned to file another version of the suit in federal court. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival (Getty Images) We firmly believe that the exploitation and sexualization of minors in the film industry must be confronted and legally addressed to protect vulnerable individuals from harm and ensure the enforcement of existing laws, lawyer Solomon Gresen said in a statement. The actors were seeking compensation believed to be in excess of $500m to match the amount the film has earned since 1968. Romeo and Juliet is a 1968 coming-of-age period romantic drama film based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. An attorney for Paramount declined to comment to the Associated Press about the ruling. (Additional reporting from Agencies) If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331. A federal judge said the United States Forest Service can continue using aerial retardant to fight wildfires while it seeks a permit under the act that governs water pollution. The judge also acknowledged in his ruling dated Friday that the Forest Service violated the Clean Water Act in certain instances when it dropped retardant in waterways. As part of the ruling, Judge Dana L. Christensen required the Forest Service to update him every six months in its pursuit of a permit that would allow the agency to drop retardant in waterways when necessary. The Forest Service is working diligently with the Environmental Protection Agency on a general permit for aerially delivered retardant that will allow us to continue using wildfire retardant to protect homes and communities, said Wade Muehlhof, a spokesperson for the agency, after the ruling was filed. The Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimates it will take about 2 1/2 years to secure the permit. Many people from Western states who shared their experiences with the court said that taking away aerial retardant, which is used to slow the progression of fires, for even a short period of time would be catastrophic. No one knows the damage that these fires can cause more so than communities like mine, said Greg Bolin, the mayor of Paradise, after the judge filed his decision. We lost our town to one of the biggest fires in California history, so this case was very personal for us. The 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in Californias history, burned Paradise to the ground. The town is about 20% rebuilt since then, local leaders estimate. A group of current and former Forest Service employees had sued the agency over its use of aerial fire retardants near navigable waters, contending that it was harmful to the environment and aquatic life. The Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) wanted the Forest Service to increase its no-drop buffer around bodies of water from 300 feet to 600 feet a guideline the agency already agreed to in limited circumstances. In court documents, lawyers for the Forest Service argued that this limitation would prevent the agency from dropping retardant at all. Christensen, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Montana district, wrote that granting the FSEEEs request could conceivably result in greater harm from wildfires including to human life and property and to the environment by preventing the (Forest Service) from effectively utilizing one of its fire fighting tools. What is in aerial fire retardant? The primary fire retardant that the Forest Service has relied on is made with fertilizers from ammonium phosphates. The Department of Agriculture lists retardants as 85% water, 10% fertilizers and 5% minor ingredients, including colorants such as iron oxide to make the drops visible. Some of the ingredients are not publicly broken down because the Forest Service obtains its retardant from a private company: Perimeter Solutions. Andy Stahl, executive director of FSEEE, said in an interview last month he was worried that heavy metals such as cadmium could be in the retardant, based on the cadmium levels in the mine where the phosphate ore for the retardant is collected. Ammonium phosphates act as a fertilizer to algae. When algae overgrows and bacteria eats its decay, it disrupts the balance of the aquatic ecosystem and can lead to a fish kill. Heavy metals such as cadmium can turn into a toxic contaminant that builds up in the fish populations. More recently, the Forest Service started testing retardants made of inorganic salts made of magnesium chloride from a newer company, Fortress. Has aerial fire retardant worked? Over the past decade, the agency has dropped more retardants as fire seasons have lengthened and become more devastating, data shows. The Forest Service dropped almost 53 million gallons on federal, state and private land in 2021 compared to a 10-year annual average of about 39 million gallons. Forest Service research shows less than 1% of retardant drops impacted U.S. waterways over the last 10 years. Of that, 80% were unintentional and 20% were based on an exception: The Forest Service can drop retardant in those areas when theres a threat to human life or public safety and retardant could reasonably be foreseen to alleviate that threat. We believe retardant can be and has been delivered without compromising public health and the environment, Muehlhof said. We appreciate the courts recognition of the important public safety issues involved in the litigation. FSEEE as part of the suit also questioned if aerial retardants really work, and if the benefits of using them outweigh the costs of chemicals contaminating water. Studies on aerial retardants conducted by a branch of the Department of Agriculture show that they can slow a fires spread. But the conditions in which they are dropped have a huge impact on its efficacy; high winds, weather and the type of terrain take significant tolls on whether the retardant can properly impede a fires progress. Paradise, the California Forestry Association and a dozen other localities and organizations had shared their positive views on fire retardant with the court as part of the case. After the ruling landed, Matt Dias, the president and CEO of the California Forestry Association, said, Fire retardant is one of the most important tools we have in our toolbox, and the Courts decision to safeguard this tool was ultimately a decision to prioritize lives, land, businesses, and forested environments. Firefighting experts contend that the devastation wildfires cause can be a worse pollutant than retardant. Because the court rightfully chose to prioritize public safety, said Ken Pimlott, a former director of Cal Fire, Americans across the West can breathe a sigh of relief. Judge who sentenced Oath Keeper for her role in the Capitol riot said she could have used her identity as a trans woman to be a role model, rather than a riot leader Protesters storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington D.C. John Minchillo/AP A judge sentenced Oath Keeper Jessica Watkins to 8-and-a-half years in prison on Friday. He said Watkins could have used her identity as a trans woman to be a role model. Instead, she formed a local militia and encouraged others to commit crimes on January 6. The judge who sentenced Oath Keeper Jessica Watkins for her role in the Capitol insurrection said she could have used her identity as a transgender woman and army veteran to be a role model, rather than a riot leader. US District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Watkins to eight-and-a-half years in prison on Friday. Watkins is a US Army veteran and Oath Keepers member who founded a local militia in Ohio, which she mobilized to join her in attacking the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, CNN reported. Much of Watkins' emotional testimony focused on her struggles as a trans woman in the military, a journey she says made her "fearful and paranoid" and drove her deep into the world of conspiracy theories, according to CNN. Mehta acknowledged her hardship at Friday's sentencing, telling the court that Watkins' "story itself shows a great deal of courage and resilience," according to CNN. "You have overcome a lot," Mehta said, according to CNN. "And you are to be held out as someone who can actually be a role model for other people in that journey. And I say that at a time when people who are trans in our country are so often vilified and used for political purposes." But, he said Watkins' suffering "makes it all the more hard for me to understand the lack of empathy for those who suffered that day," CNN reported. Watkins at first showed little remorse for her actions at the Capitol, where she blocked officers and encouraged other rioters to follow her lead, CBS News reported. She has since apologized and says she is now "ashamed" of her actions, according to CBS News. Despite his empathy for Watkins, Mehta said, "Your role that day was more aggressive, more assaultive, more purposeful than perhaps others," CNN reported. "Your role in those events is more than that of just a foot soldier," he added. "I think you can appreciate that." Watkins was first convicted last year on a number of felony charges including obstructing Congress and interfering with police, CBS News reported. Read the original article on Business Insider South Carolinas new six-week abortion ban is on hold, after a judge on Friday temporarily blocked the law from taking effect and punted the case back to the state Supreme Court to decide for the second time whether the its constitutional. Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman made the decision Friday from the bench at the Richland County Courthouse. They (Supreme Court) may change their view, said Newman, whose official order was still being written and signed. The decision keeps the states 20-week abortion law in place. My view is the status quo should be maintained and the matter be reviewed by Supreme Court as expeditiously they want to review it, Newman said. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the fetal heartbeat ban into law Thursday, triggering an immediate lawsuit by Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Greenville Womens Clinic and two doctors who perform abortions in South Carolina, asking for an immediate temporary restraining order that bars the ban from taking effect. The governor held the signing with his wife, Peggy, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and five Republican lawmakers. The media was not invited to attend. The law bans abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy, or after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, before most people know that theyre pregnant. It includes exceptions for rape and incest at 12 weeks, fatal fetal anomaly and the mothers life. However, given the number of abortion clinics in South Carolina theres only three in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville plus an appointment backlog and a new requirement to get an abortion, the bans critics say lawmakers have essentially passed a near-total ban. Many women, including many of my patients, have no reason to suspect they maybe pregnant as early as 6 weeks LMP (last menstrual cycle. For a woman with an average menstrual cycle of a period every 28 days, 6 weeks LMP is just two weeks past a missed period, Dr. Terry Buffkin, a board-certified OBGYN who is licensed to practice in South Carolina and is the co-owner of the Greenville Womens Clinic, said in the lawsuit. Buffkin continued, Many women also do not have any of the physical indicators of pregnancy, including a missed period, during early pregnancy. Many women do not menstruate at regular intervals and/or sometimes go beyond 6 weeks without experiencing a menstrual period, and therefore may not realize they are pregnant when they miss a period for that reason. Thomas Hydrick, assistant deputy solicitor general for the S.C. Attorney Generals Office, argues for the state over South Carolinas six-week abortion ban on Friday, May 26, 2023, in the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia, S.C. The South Carolina Supreme Court has already reviewed and ruled on a similar six-week ban. In January, state Supreme Court struck down the 2021 six-week ban, also signed by McMaster, ruling 3-2 that the law violated the state Constitutions right to privacy. After months of Republican infighting over abortion restrictions following the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision, overturning the landmark case Roe v. Wade, lawmakers passed S. 474 that they say should be upheld by the high court. Since the courts decision which kept abortions illegal past about 20 weeks Justice Kaye Hearn, who wrote in the majority and was the only woman on the court, has retired because of the states 72-year age limit for judges. In her place, the Republican-controlled Legislature elected now-Justice Gary Hill, resulting in an all-male court. In a statement late Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, South Carolinas ban will cut off access to abortion for women in the state and those across the entire region for whom South Carolina is their closest option for care. This is a developing story. It will be updated. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, teen stars of 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet," sued Paramount Pictures earlier this year over a nude scene. (Willy Sanjuan / Invision / Associated Press) A Los Angeles Superior Court judge sided with Paramount Pictures on Thursday in a child sex-abuse lawsuit tied to a nude scene in the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet." Judge Alison Mackenzie issued a tentative ruling that dismisses the lawsuit, writing that Paramount's actions in making the film are "protected activity" under the 1st Amendment, according to court documents reviewed by The Times. The lawsuit was originally filed in December by Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo Montague when he was 16, and Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet Capulet when she was 15, in the adaptation of the William Shakespeare classic. Directed by Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli, the film includes a controversial bedroom scene in which Whitings bare buttocks and Husseys bare breasts are visible. Whiting and Hussey, who are both now 72, said they were coerced into filming the nude scene after Zeffirelli initially assured them that there would be no nudity filmed or exhibited, and that [they] would be wearing flesh colored undergarments during the bedroom/love scene. They said Zeffirelli told them they must act in the nude or the Picture would fail," and threatened they would never work again in any profession, let alone Hollywood if they didnt comply. The lawsuit accused the studio giant of sexual harassment, negligence, intentional tort, fraud, appropriation of name and likeness, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unfair business practices and child sexual abuse and sought $500 million in damages. However, Mackenzie wrote Thursday that the plaintiffs did not do enough to show that the scene itself was "sufficiently sexually suggestive" to be considered illegal. During the hearing, Mackenzie had called the allegations a gross mischaracterization of the scene, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Solomon Gresen, an attorney for Whiting and Hussey, told The Times that he argued in court that merely shooting a nude scene with minors with the intent of selling the content is in itself illegal under federal law. "The 1st Amendment does not protect the conduct of exhibiting nudity of minors for commercial sale," Gresen said, calling the content child pornography. Mackenzie disagreed in her ruling by citing previous cases that found that "not all nude pictures of children are child pornography" if the images are "in the proper context." To be child porn, the images would need to contain "lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area," she wrote. The suit was also thrown out for procedural reasons. According to the court, the plaintiffs failed to file a "certificate of merit," which is a letter obtained from a licensed mental health practitioner, who must review the case. The document is required under California law when someone older than 40 sues in a child sex-abuse case. Attorneys for Paramount declined to comment. Gresen said he and his clients plan to file a separate lawsuit in federal court for appropriation of name or likeness and will appeal the state court's tentative ruling. Whiting and Hussey are "very disappointed" by the decision, the attorney said. "They waited this long for justice; they can wait for another few months or years." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Michael Sheldon of Cortez, Colo. suffered severe injuries after his road-paving truck flipped on the job in 2006, hurling him headfirst toward a mound of boulders. He waited 14 years for disability benefits. (Corey Robinson for The Washington Post/For The Washington Post) Hurled from a road-paving machine, Michael Sheldon tumbled 50 feet down a Colorado slope and struck a mound of boulders headfirst on a summer day in 2006. After eight surgeries to his head, neck and spinal cord, his debilitating headaches, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress have made it impossible to return to his work preparing roads for new subdivisions. Yet for more than a decade, the Social Security Administration repeatedly denied Sheldon's full claim for disability benefits that would pay him $1,415 a month. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Even after three federal judges found significant errors with how his case was handled and sent it back to Social Security for new hearings, the agency continued to reject Sheldon, court documents show. "They've done everything to prolong this to get me to quit," he said after testifying in March at his fifth hearing. Now 59, he lives with his wife in a trailer in Cortez, Colo., and depends on food stamps and state benefits for the indigent. "I can't replace the battery on a vehicle. Why has this taken 14 years?" Like Sheldon, thousands of other disabled Americans battle for years for benefits, even after federal courts rule in their favor. In the past two fiscal years, federal judges considering appeals for denied benefits found fault with almost 6 in every 10 cases and sent them back to administrative law judges at Social Security for new hearings - the highest rate of rejections in years, agency statistics show. Court remands are on pace to reach similar levels this year. Federal judges have complained of legal errors, inaccurate assessments of whether claimants can work, failures to consider medical evidence and factual mistakes, according to court rulings and Social Security's own data. The scathing opinions have come from district and appellate court judges across the political spectrum, from conservatives appointed by President Ronald Reagan to liberal appointees of President Barack Obama. Northern California District Court Judge Susan Illston, appointed by President Bill Clinton, wrote in January that a disability claim denied by Social Security that ignored key physician records was "so vague as to be essentially unreviewable." The judge reversed the decision and ordered the agency to pay benefits to the claimant, a woman who has delusions, depressive disorder and schizophrenia. Approval rates for benefits are down at every level of review, Social Security data show, even as the number of disabled people applying dwindled during the coronavirus pandemic. Fewer than 20 percent of those who lose their appeal at Social Security take their claim to federal court, as most lack the time or resources to keep fighting. "The system has become one of 'how do we deny this claim' rather than 'what is the right answer in this person's case?'" said Ann Atkinson, Sheldon's attorney outside Denver. "And the federal court is agreeing with us: 'You have to do a better job.'" The high rate of rejections for cases handled by administrative law judges and the attorneys who write their decisions is driven by stringent monthly quotas set by Social Security officials and growing pressure to deny more cases, according to current and former officials, audits and attorneys who represent the disabled. The agency's policies have been reshaped to give less deference to the expertise of doctors who, in some cases, have treated claimants for years, and its policies routinely depart from federal appellate court rulings. The result has been an unmistakable shift to an adversarial disability system, advocates for the disabled claim: rather than calling the case down the middle, they say, Social Security has stacked the cards against the approximately 2 million people each year who apply for help when they can no longer work. Yet federal judges rarely order the agency to approve claims in deference to the government, but instead must typically refer the cases back to the administrative law judges - often the very ones responsible for the errors in the first place, a common practice in administrative law that avoids asking a new judge to rehear a complicated claim. Only about half of the agency judges assigned to rehear cases they initially denied reverse those rulings, prolonging the cycle of appeals and new remands for disabled claimants, few of whom have means to support themselves, a Washington Post analysis found. "Some of them just dig in and say, 'I'm going to find a way to deny this claim again,'" said Steven Weiss, regional managing attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid in Oakland, Calif. Nicole Tiggemann, a Social Security spokeswoman, disputed that the system has overly tilted against disabled people. "The agency evaluates the totality of the evidence and decides cases based upon the issues and evidence in the particular case," she wrote in an email. "The process has always been and continues to be non-adversarial." Yet the rate of cases remanded to the agency from federal judges has long been a source of alarm inside Social Security, current and former officials said. For the last decade, roughly half of all cases that made it to federal courts have been sent back. Under a law known as the Equal Access to Justice Act, the government paid attorneys of claimants who prevailed in federal court $68 million in fiscal 2022, the largest number of awards of any federal agency and more than triple the sum a decade ago, data from the Administrative Conference of the United States shows. "It's absolutely much higher than it should be," said Asheesh Agarwal, Social Security's chief lawyer during the first two years of the Trump administration. Given the stakes for disabled people and taxpayers, he argued, administrative law judges must do a better job deciding cases. "There's a lot of money at stake when you think of a grant of lifetime benefits." Social Security spokesman Mark Hinkle in an email defended the system, noting that disability decisions appealed to federal court "constitute a very small fraction of the overall decisions issued by the agency." Hinkle acknowledged that "despite our consistent efforts to ensure quality decisions, the federal courts may remand decisions for further action." He said that since courts rarely reverse the decisions of Social Security judges outright, "the agency is not directed to issue a decision in favor of the claimant" but must only "consider" new evidence - circumstances like age, a changed medical condition "and any specific action or analysis directed by the court." While Social Security officials defend the rate of court remands, current and former officials said that the agency's own lawyers are increasingly admitting error before proceedings begin in federal court. Government attorneys frequently ask district courts to remand an appeal before the claimant's attorney submits a written brief, a practice that spiked during the pandemic as the agency fell behind. "They recognize right away that some of these cases aren't defensible," said Cody Marvin, a Chicago-based disability attorney who frequently takes cases to federal court. He estimated that 40 percent of the claims his firm appeals to district court judges are returned to Social Security in what are known as voluntary remands. The numbers vary by state, but Social Security acknowledges some degree of error in at least 15 percent of cases, officials said. Administrative law judges and their representatives also acknowledge that the system is flawed. Som Ramrup, president of the organization that represents 1,084 Social Security judges not in management, cited the sustained imposition of monthly case quotas as the "number one reason" behind the high rate of remands. Each judge schedules up to 600 cases a year, according to Ramrup and other administrative law judges. "The judges strive to issue quality decisions, but they certainly are encouraged to rush," Ramrup said. "When you're rushing, it's not going to be perfect. It's a business decision [by the agency] to say, 'that's an acceptable remand rate to us.'" Disabled claimants, meanwhile, can spend years battling for benefits, only to see victories in federal court rejected by Social Security after follow-up administrative proceedings. After a Colorado district court found in 2020 that an administrative law judge had erred in denying benefits to Heather Fowler, her claim was returned to the same judge - who reached the same conclusion after a second hearing. "It should not be this hard to help people get what they need," said Fowler, 47, of Yuma, Colo., who has been unable to work after a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder that she said arose from years of physical abuse as a child. The disability system has relied since the 1950s on administrative law judges, who were meant to serve as impartial fact-finders in disputes over decisions on claims for benefits. These judges adjudicate disputes in government programs, operating outside the federal judiciary as they work directly for more than two dozen agencies. Their triallike hearings are supposed to be free from agency coercion or influence. A law degree is required for the job. The largest share work at Social Security, which has 1,200 judges, including managers, with salaries ranging from $146,000 to $195,000. Unlike those in standard courts, their hearings are closed to the public. Administrative law judges must hear and make complex decisions in disability cases in less than three hours on average, Ramrup said. The role is complicated by the relatively subjective rules used to award benefits. While the judges ultimately answer to Social Security and do not enjoy the independence of the federal judiciary, they have chafed for years at a system that subjects them to scrutiny over how many claims they approve. Two decades ago, Social Security judges were relatively generous, approving 70 percent of appeals in 2001 - a high point. But that changed after an explosive corruption case broke open in 2012, when a Kentucky lawyer was found to have defrauded taxpayers in a $600 million disability benefits scheme. The crime led to new congressional oversight and pressure to deny more claims, according to federal audits, attorneys and current and former Social Security employees. Approval rates plummeted to 45 percent for several years, rising to 51 percent last year, agency data shows. Some administrative law judges who approved high numbers of cases found themselves under new scrutiny, a practice that accelerated during the Trump administration as political appointees took a hard line against paying claims, current and former judges and other officials said. Jonathan Baird, an administrative law judge in the Lawrence, Mass., hearing office, said an agency review in 2020 warned that his pay rate of about 70 percent - which had never before caused concern - was "a huge red flag." He said he was told to rely less on medical opinions from claimants' treating doctors about whether they are disabled and more on treatment notes. These reviews had a chilling effect on his colleagues, Baird said. "They were out to get high-paying judges," he said, referring to colleagues with high approval rates. Other Social Security judges with similar rulings have been forced out. Michael Blanton, 63, a Seattle-based judge who approved between 89 and 93 percent of his cases from 2016 through 2020, was placed on administrative leave in 2021, then told he was being fired over alleged performance shortfalls. Before his dismissal, "I was never informed of any these issues," said Blanton, who is challenging his firing, calling the reasons cited a pretext to attack his record of approving benefits. Social Security officials declined to comment on specific judges or how widespread these reviews are today. The agency "monitors performance to ensure that decisions are consistent with [Social Security] policy, including regulations and rulings," Hinkle wrote. "We provide feedback to [administrative law judges] regarding the quality of their decisions." More than a decade ago, Social Security also imposed production quotas on judges to help address a historic backlog of appeals prompted by the Great Recession and a wave of baby boomers applying for benefits. But even after the logjam cleared, management continued to demand that judges hear and decide about 50 cases a month, Ramrup said. The bottleneck shifted to initial claims during the coronavirus pandemic, leaving fewer cases in the pipeline of appeals. Given these caseloads, administrative law judges rely heavily on mid-level attorneys to draft their decisions. Known as decision writers, they face production quotas, too. It's a high-turnover job that requires years to become proficient. Training suffered during the pandemic, said Spencer Bishins, who left in 2021 after a decade as a decision writer, then wrote a book about why it is so hard to win disability benefits. "I've read a lot of very bad decisions," Bishins recalled, "because the agency squeezes the [decision writers] so much." "The decisions are getting worse with fewer cases," he added. "Shouldn't they be getting better?" Claims for disability benefits have declined from almost 3 million at the peak of the recession to 1.8 million last year, dropping during the pandemic when Social Security's in-person operations ceased, its phones jammed and many claimants could not get help on its website. The Government Accountability Office found in 2021 that the expectation that administrative law judges would hear and decide hundreds of appeals a year did not balance "timely case processing while maintaining high-quality work and employee morale." In response, Social Security hired a contractor to review the workloads, GAO reported, but told auditors in March that "Its long-standing expectations [of its judges] are reasonable." Hinkle said production demands are necessary to "quality public service" and "effective docket management and time management skills in a high-volume environment." In recent years, the demands on administrative law judges have become more onerous as claimants have been required to submit more medical evidence, with records that can now run as large as 3,000 pages. The volume can result in more scrutiny when a case reaches a district court, whose staff has more time to review if the Social Security judge paid attention to the evidence, officials said. Administrative law judges must often weigh medical evidence to determine if someone can still work despite their limitations, and if there are jobs they can still do. Their decisions fall into gray areas that require judgment calls rare in other safety-net programs, experts said. But Social Security has also tilted the scales in recent years away from key medical evidence, critics say, in another sign of the shift toward granting fewer claims. While administrative law judges once based much of their decision on evidence from primary care doctors or psychiatrists who best understood their patients' medical issues, that policy changed in 2017. Now judges are free to disregard the opinions of these treating physicians and rely heavily instead on contracted doctors who examine claimants for as little as 15 minutes, according to claimants, their attorneys and former Social Security employees. This often leads to shoddy records and poor decisions, federal courts have found. Social Security officials said they changed the rules "to focus more on the content and reliability of medical opinions and less on who the treatment source is," a system they say helps courts "better assess whether substantial evidence supports the decision" to grant benefits. The agency's regulations also emphasize that outside doctors spend "sufficient time" examining claimants, officials said. In recent years, other agency rules have also made it harder on applicants to prove their cases. Less weight is given to certain musculoskeletal conditions, for example. IQ tests that show mental impairments do not automatically grant benefits. Evidence can be excluded if a claimant submits it too close to a hearing. If someone applying for benefits cannot communicate in English, that language barrier is no longer a factor considered in awarding benefits under a rule change enacted in 2020. Critics of the agency contend that its administrative decisions are often at odds with precedents set by federal appeals courts, citing, for instance, its refusal to be bound by a 2017 ruling giving substantial weight to Veterans Affairs disability ratings. The Supreme Court has allowed vocational experts to refuse to disclose how they come up with jobs a claimant could still do or how many exist in the economy. An internal panel that must consider appeals before they go to federal court sent just 12 percent back to administrative law judges last year. These policies have exasperated federal judges. "Social Security has attempted by regulation to authorize its judges' decisions to be of lower quality in the eyes of a federal court," said David Camp, president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives. But the agency cannot totally disregard the testimony of physicians who know claimants the best. That's what happened to a 55-year-old South Carolina woman with severe depression who was denied benefits despite her suicidal ideations, anxiety and other mental impairments. In February, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ordered the agency to pay benefits outright after finding that Social Security had improperly accorded "little weight" to the testimony of the woman's longtime treating psychiatrist - among other mistakes. "Given the ALJ's duty to balance the record's evidence, to disregard a 20-year treatment relationship . . . is a disproportionate response," the judges wrote. In another South Carolina case, Shanette Rogers, an Army veteran from Myrtle Beach, who was raped twice in the military, waited five years for a ruling from the 4th Circuit in March that her post traumatic stress syndrome justified an award of disability benefits. The appeals court found that Social Security had ignored evidence from her psychiatrist that her symptoms were tied to her menstrual cycle, chronically restricting her ability to work. "I just feel like I've been really passed along a lot," Rogers, 53, said. "My cycle is a trigger for me. It brings out the demons I'm battling." Advocates say change is needed at every level of review to shift a culture that encourages Social Security judges to deny claims at the expense of the law. "Claims must be properly reviewed at the initial application," said George Piemonte, a disability attorney in Charlotte who represents Rogers. "This can be a matter of life or death for a huge proportion of disabled people. Social Security needs to focus its efforts on getting things right in the first instance." For many claimants, it's easier to walk away than to keep battling. Sheldon only carried on because, he said, he was entitled to benefits he paid for through payroll taxes during decades as a laborer before his accident. "It's just almost like they're against you from the get go," he said. At his hearing in March, a new Social Security judge considered the rulings by three federal judges who found that the agency failed to properly consider the severity of his headaches, nerve damage and other impairments by ignoring treatment notes from his doctors. An outside doctor Social Security hired to examine him also described severe "pain and anxiety" from his injuries. He prepared to wait for months for another rejection. Instead, the written decision came just two weeks later: Sheldon had been awarded the monthly benefits - along with $205,000 in back pay. His first check landed in his bank account this month. Related Content A year after Uvalde, officers who botched response face few consequences Objection to sexual, LGBTQ content propels spike in book challenges A Houma man was found guilty of attempted murder for a drug deal gone bad. A Terrebonne jury convicted Jordan Raymond, 22, of two counts of attempted murder for the shooting of Tanner Lecompte, and the flurry of bullets fired at his truck as he and Alexander Pontiff fled the scene, Friday, May 26. Raymond faces no less than 10 years and no more than 50 for each count of first-degree attempted murder. Sentencing is July 19, at 1:30 p.m. The trial began Wednesday, May 24, in Judge Juan Pickett's courtroom. Terrebonne Parish Assistant District Attorney Chris Erny prosecuted the case, and Defense Attorney James Holt represented Raymond. "Jordan panicked, pulled the trigger, got himself in a bind and tried to remove the witnesses," Erny said. "It's an important case, but relatively simple." The Terrebonne Parish Courthouse, Friday, May 26. The shooting occurred March 25, 2020, when Lecompte and Pontiff attempted to buy some weed for use during the COVID lockdown. The two drove to Scott Lane, where they met Raymond in an open field behind Bayou Towers. They parked the car and opened the passenger doors to speak with Raymond. Raymond asked to see Lecompte's handgun, a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson, which was nestled in the driver's side door. Lecompte, who was in the driver's seat, unloaded the weapon and handed it to him. According to Lecompte and Pontiff, Raymond handed the gun back. Shortly thereafter, Pontiff said, a black Nissan pulled up and three people got out. "That's when Jordan gets brave, pulls his gun out and says 'give me the gun,'" Erny said in his closing statements. According to the two's testimony, Raymond then pointed his own handgun at Lecompte's face and demanded he give him the gun. "Next thing I remember is a .45 pointed at my face, Lecompte said. "It entered my cheek right here, knocked out one of my teeth, then came down here and exited my neck" Photos from the truck showed a visceral scene of red on nearly every surface. As they fled, the truck was struck twice. Once at a safe distance, Pontiff switched places with Lecompte to get him to the hospital. Raymond, as well as his parents Gretchen Caston and Shannon Robinson, all testified that he was home all day, in his room with his girlfriend, playing the video game Madden 2020. The now ex-girlfriend was not subpoenaed as a witness. More: Meet Mikey DiLullo, your new Houma high school sports reporter More: Louisiana GOP official, pastor charged with juvenile cruelty running for state House seat Holt argued that Raymond had no motive to commit the crime. Raymond made $43,000 a year as a garbageman, he said, had applied for Louisiana State University, and wanted to open his own clothing business. Holt said the young men were asking for trouble with illicit activities and in the panic of the moment, were mistaken in who fired a gun. "That type of activity, something always goes wrong," Holt said in his closing statements. "Good people can misidentify and I believe that's what we have here." This article originally appeared on The Courier: Jury convicts 22-year-old for attempted murder in drug deal shooting Justin Ross Harris, whose murder conviction in his sons hot-car death was overturned, will not be retried Justin Ross Harris, whose murder conviction for the 2014 hot-car death of his 22-month-old son in Georgia was overturned by the states Supreme Court last year, will not be retried, prosecutors said Thursday. Last years decision nullified a sentence of life in prison but left in place a 12-year sentence, which Harris still is serving, for other charges he was convicted of in his 2016 trial. The decision not to retry Harris came after a thorough review of the entire case file, the Cobb County district attorneys office said in a news release. 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 release reads. 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. Harris son, Cooper, died in June 2014, after he was left strapped inside Harris car for seven hours on a hot day, while his father went to work. Harris was relieved to learn he wont be retried and thankful that todays dismissal may begin to restore Coopers legacy as a child much loved by his parents, one of his attorneys said Thursday. 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, attorney Carlos Rodriguez said. Throughout the course of representing Ross, we have learned that these tragic accidents often happen while the child is in the care of a loving parent. Ross was no different, Rodriguez said. Cooper will always be remembered Harris was convicted in 2016 on three counts of murder and two counts of cruelty to children for the death of his son, and was also found guilty of three counts relating to his electronic exchanges of lewd material with a different minor. He was sentenced the same year to life in prison without parole for his sons killing and received another 12 years on the other three charges. In June 2022, Georgias Supreme Court overturned his murder conviction, ruling 6-3 that evidence submitted by prosecutors of Harris extramarital relationships which the state had portrayed as motivation behind his alleged decision to kill his son had unfair prejudicial impact on the jury. Other evidence that allegedly pointed to Harris intentionally leaving Cooper to die was far from overwhelming, the courts opinion said. Only the convictions for the crimes against his son were overturned. Harris did not challenge the others in his appeal, the courts ruling said. We would like to thank the Cobb County Police Department, all current and prior DAs Office staff, and all other agencies who worked tirelessly for years to obtain justice for Cooper, the prosecutors news release reads. Cooper will always be remembered by this Office and those who fought for him. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Over more than 100 years, 9 women have raced the Indianapolis 500 and the push for more has stalled Katherine Legge, of England, looks at her phone before practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Katherine Legge remembers returning to the Indianapolis 500 for the second time a decade ago, and the unmistakable feeling of satisfaction she experienced walking through Gasoline Alley and knowing that she was not alone. For the third time in four years, a record-tying four women were in the 33-car field that day. That was the era of Sarah Fisher and then Danica Patrick came along and then, you know, there's me and Simona de Silvestro and I just thought it would kind of snowball and grow, Legge recalled, before pausing for a moment. But it hasn't. Instead, Legge is the only female driver who will start The Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Sunday. The women's movement that began when Janet Guthrie qualified for the first time in 1977, gained traction with Lyn St. James in the 1980s and hit its stride with the arrival of Patrick in the early 2000s has stalled out. By 2020, not only was there no female driver in the field for the first time since 1999, but none even tried for the first time since 1991. De Silvestro started the 2021 race for an all-woman team, Paretta Autosport, but there were no women again last year, and Legge struggled to qualify this year before wrecking in practice. The 42-year-old Briton will start in the penultimate row in the 107th running of the race that has seen only nine women on the grid over more than a century. It's really bad, isn't it? Legge asked. Because I thought there was going to be more. I mean, theres only been nine of us that have run the Indy 500. I hope one year theres nine of us on the grid, you know?" It doesn't appear that will happen anytime soon. Jamie Chadwick is the only woman this season in Indy NXT, the top rung in IndyCar's feeder system, and she's struggled for Andretti Autosport after arriving from the now-inactive, all-woman W Series, which had aimed to provide female drivers more racing opportunities. Lindsay Brewer is likewise alone a step down at the USF Pro 2000 level, and few young women occupy the highest levels of European karting, which is often the first step for drivers with Formula One aspirations. So why did the slowly building momentum for women at Indianapolis Motor Speedway come to such a crashing halt? At the entry level, where drivers are sometimes no older than 6 and girls are vastly outnumbered by boys, they are often subjected to intense bullying. More than once, Legge recalled, it was so bad that she nearly quit. The desire has to be so high to go through all the hardships that you have to go through to do it, she said, that I think a lot of them, its just too much. But the ones who do make it through, I think that lesson helps them down the line in racing. At the highest levels, drivers often must secure their own sponsorship to help offset the immense funding required of an IndyCar program. That can be difficult for women in the male-dominated sport. Men are getting sponsorship and women can't. That sounds unfair but who cares about unfair? Guthrie told The Los Angeles Times in 1987 and there's little evidence that anything has changed in a sweeping way. A successful woman driver will get 10 times the attention that a man will get. So now, what really is important? It keeps coming back to the good ol boy network. Andretti Autosport is at the forefront of driver development, both men and women, and has qualified more women for the Indy 500 than any team: Patrick on four occasions and de Silvestro and Ana Beatriz once apiece. I think it's important for the sport, team owner Michael Andretti said. Yeah, we're still searching for that next Danica. And I will say that there's no reason why, you know, we can't have a competitive woman now. Andretti acknowledged that it's harder for them to succeed, though, and brings up an entirely different reason. The car itself these days is physically demanding to drive, and young women in particular sometimes struggle to muscle it around the track. But give a woman a fast enough car and they can be every bit as good as the men. My time in IndyCar felt like I got a really great shake at it, and I drove for a lot of great teams. But it's kind of like a stock market: It goes up, it goes down, it goes up, it goes down, Patrick said. It, trajectory-wise, tends to be going in an upward fashion, but there will always be these lulls. We can go from five women in the field to none, or one this year. Fisher has more Indy 500 starts than any other woman with nine, and for many years she owned her own team. If you have good people with good opportunities, that's great, Fisher said, but you can't force it because there's too high a risk in this sport. That was evident in practice Monday, when Legge was unable to slow as others did in front of her. She hit the rear of Stefan Wilson's car, sending both into the fence. Legge walked away and her team repaired her car for Friday's final practice, but Wilson was left hospitalized with a fractured vertebrae; Graham Rahal has replaced him in his car. That hasn't dampered the expectations of Legge, whose entire Rahal Letterman Lanigan team has struggled this week. After all, she knows that women will be watching how she does on Sunday. Its really cool to be back here. I forgot how crazy busy it is with so many demands on your time, and I forgot how little time that you get in the car. But its amazing, Legge said. I just am obsessed with making the most of the opportunity so I can come next year, right? Like, I really want to do as well as that car will allow. ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Firefighters are investigating a case of suspected arson after a Kansas City, Kansas, fire partially collapsed the roof of the Franklin Center, a former school building and safe haven for the Argentine neighborhood community since the late 1800s. The building had been used as a community center for people living on the east side of Argentine, who do not have their own community space, and was in the process of being restored prior to the fire. Kansas City, Kansas, firefighters responded to the center at 11:19 a.m. Wednesday morning around 1404 Ruby Avenue, according to the department. Heavy flames rose from the buildings attic and upper stairwell, causing the roof to partially collapse. The Fire is under investigation and it is extremely difficult to rule out arson at this time, said Assistant Chief Scott Schaunaman, a spokesman for the department. KCKFD is currently battling a fire at the former Franklin Elementary building (1404 Ruby Avenue, KCK). Fire crews were dispatched at 11:19 this morning. pic.twitter.com/nr3LwuqcjP KCK Fire Department (@KCKFDPIO) May 24, 2023 The building had been abandoned around 2010 apart from the monthly neighborhood food drives held in its parking lot by the local nonprofit Franklin Center Inc., according to board member Amber Booth. We had a plan to turn it back into a community center, have a health clinic come in, reopen the cafe, have space for the community and programming, she said. We have come very, very close many times but one piece of the puzzle hasnt been there. So obviously this fire makes it even more difficult. The Franklin Center building fell victim to a fire Wednesday afternoon, which Kansas City, Kansas firefighters believe was sparked by an alleged arson, vandalism. The department is still investigating. Now, they are going to need outside help to raise the money, she said. The building holds a special spot in the hearts of Argentine community members, Booth said, as it was a gathering place for the neighborhood before the area became a part of Kansas City, Kansas, in 1910. Many residents went to school in the buildings six classrooms, servicing about eight grades of students. In the 50s, when a massive flood hit the Argentine neighborhood, the building provided a safe haven to thousands of displaced residents. While the school closed in 1973, neighborhood groups joined together to transform the building into a place for child care, adult education, senior citizen activities, a Spanish speaking office and much more. It remained at the heart of the community until 2009. The Franklin Center had been a gathering place for the East Argentine community: providing services that ranged from child care to senior citizen activities. Now, it is abandoned and in need of more repair to bring it back to life, according to local nonprofit Franklin Center Inc. Then the Franklin Centers tenants walked out, abandoning the building. Grants were awarded to Franklin Center Inc. in 2015 to renovate the windows and a million dollar campaign was launched to reopen the building. But after the alleged arson, Booth said, the community will have to wait even longer to see both the building, and the many services it provided, restored. Its very frustrating, she said. We want everybody to know that this act of vandalism does not define our community. Booth does not know precisely how much money will be needed to renovate the building. But, prior to the fire, they were fundraising to reach a goal of four million dollars. Obviously thats going to be a lot more now, she said. On Tuesday, Booths nonprofit will be holding a community gathering at 6 p.m. in the buildings parking lot to share memories and discuss strategies for returning the center to its former glory. I personally know what this means to the community. I care and we as a board care about what the community wants, she said. The Argentine community is a strong, resilient community. And I think the building reflects that. Flash The Japanese government on Friday announced further sanctions on Russia, including a ban on exports, more asset freezes as well as payment restrictions on Russian individuals and entities. The Japanese government will ban exports to 80 Russian entities including several military and tech-related companies, which will take effect on June 2, said a statement by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The assets of 17 individuals and 78 entities from Russia will also be frozen with simultaneous restrictions on their payments and capital transactions, according to the statement, with several Russian military officers and research institutes on the list. Additional bans will be introduced on exports to Russia of items "which could contribute to the enhancement of Russian industrial capacities" and on providing "architectural and engineering services" to the country, the statement said, without specifying a date. How to keep your soft life sun-safe this summer Get sun-smart without giving up the glamour with these simple beauty and fashion alternatives. As summer approaches, you may be on the lookout for the perfect sunscreen, even though you should be wearing it year-round. If youre searching for products that not only enhance your beauty but also protect your skin from the harmful effects of the blazing summer suns rays, consider shopping for makeup products with SPF (sun protection factor). Summertime can be a fun time but the skin should be protected from the suns blazing rays. (Photo credit: Getty Images) If youre a melanated makeup wearer, these products are game changers when searching for SPFs that dont leave a white cast on your skin. From tinted moisturizers to foundations, these products provide the necessary protection while caring for the skin, leaving users with a flawless complexion. Here are some complexion products with SPF that will meet your needs and keep your skin looking beautiful and protected all day long: BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 BLK/OPL is a Black female-owned beauty brand that believes beauty is smart, unique, fun, easy and real. The brands No. 1 bestseller, the foundation stick, offers a long-lasting, full-coverage formula infused with vitamins C, E, and SPF 15. Whether its used to mask blemishes, scars, under-eye circles, or contour, the BLK/OPL foundation stick leaves a flawless velvety finish on the skin. TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 $13.50 Also available at Ulta Beauty Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation Tower 28 Beautys tinted sunscreen foundation is the ultimate two-for-one special for your beauty routine. Providing a natural finish, this light-medium coverage tinted sunscreen covers any imperfections while catering to your skins needs. SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation $32 Also available at Sephora The Lip Bar Just A Tint 3-In-1 Tinted Skin Moisturizer Protect, hydrate, and perfect in one simple step. The Lip Bars Just A Tint tinted moisturizer is packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rose water, and more. This product nourishes the skin while providing a radiant glow with buildable coverage not to mention the SPF 11 protection. Just A Tint 3-In-1 Tinted Skin Moisturizer $17 Also available at Target and Walmart IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Full Coverage Color Correcting Foundation with SPF 50+ Now with an extended shade range, the IT Cosmetics CC+ cream may be the perfect summer foundation for those looking for full coverage and SPF 50+ protection. CC+ Cream Full Coverage Color Correcting Foundation with SPF 50+ $47 Also available at Sephora and Ulta Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen Think no-makeup makeup in a bottle. This light to medium coverage tinted moisturizer can be applied with your fingers and blur the skins imperfections, leaving a glowy natural finish. Packed with SPF 20 and Vitamin E, it hydrates and protects the skin from the sun without the traditional sunscreen feeling. Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen $30 Also available at Sephora BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 BLK/OPL is a Black female-owned beauty brand that believes beauty is smart, unique, fun, easy and real. The brands No. 1 bestseller, the foundation stick, offers a long-lasting, full-coverage formula infused with vitamins C, E, and SPF 15. Whether its used to mask blemishes, scars, under-eye circles, or contour, the BLK/OPL foundation stick leaves a flawless velvety finish on the skin. TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 $13.50 Also available at Ulta Beauty Another way you can still bask in both the sun and your soft life this summer is through fashion. While we know and appreciate the traditional summer fashion, shorts, tank tops, T-shirts, sundresses and swimwear can lead to excessive sun exposure. So if you dont want to constantly feel like you need to reapply sunscreen, consider rocking kaftans, coverups and hats this summer. Here are some Black-owned brands that will have you looking and feeling good under the sun: A + Z Collective A+Z Collection is a resort wear boutique dedicated to providing comfortable, affordable vacation wear styles that prioritize luxury and versatility. Whether youre lounging on international sand or at your local beach, these pieces are designed for a life full of fun + sun. Click here for more! Shop Caribbean Cowgirl While most of us plan on wearing bedazzled cowboy hats to the Renaissance Tour this summer, consider adding stylish hats from Shop Caribbean Cowgirl into your daily wardrobe. Click here for more! Fe Noel Inspired by her Grenadian heritage, Felisha Noels Fe Noel brand is the perfect blend of culture, glamour, sensuality, and sensibility. From the brands light fabrics and designs to its bold colors and patterns, Fe Noel is a go-to for luxury fun in the sun. Fe Noel recently collaborated with Target. While that partnership is sold out online, you may be lucky to find some gems at your local target. Click here for more! Akia Nicole Akia Nicole is a collection of effortless kaftans and relaxed pieces, a brand for the fashion-forward traveler. Designed with feel-good fabrics, bold prints, and vibrant colors, these pieces are the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. Click here for more! Kai Collective Founded by fashion and travel blogger Fisayo Longe, Kai Collective is a London-based fashion brand creating attainable luxury. Crafting clothing designed for multidimensional women, Kai Collective sells colorful kaftans, swim-bodysuits, and coverups. Click here for more! Andrea Iyamah Founded in 2011, Andrea Dumebi Iyamahs self-titled brand draws inspiration from her African heritage and the captivating aspects of nature. With a vision to ignite the spirit of exploration in all, her collections feature vibrant hues, retro yet timeless shapes, and airy fabrics that are perfect for the summer season. Click here for more! Lemlem Handwoven in Ethiopia, Lemlem is an artisan-driven brand designing womens resort wear. Using light, airy fabric, the brand creates easy-to-wear casual pieces inspired by traditional patterns and vibrant color combinations seen in traditional African attire. Click here for more! A + Z Collective A+Z Collection is a resort wear boutique dedicated to providing comfortable, affordable vacation wear styles that prioritize luxury and versatility. Whether youre lounging on international sand or at your local beach, these pieces are designed for a life full of fun + sun. Click here for more! Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle reporter covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post How to keep your soft life sun-safe this summer appeared first on TheGrio. These Kentucky state agencies are hiring. Check out 5 of the highest-paying positions With the possibility of a default on the national debt appearing more likely each day and financial experts advising Americans to prepare accordingly, it may not be a good time to be out of work. Luckily several state agencies in Kentucky are offering steady pay and strong benefits. Currently, the average state worker in Kentucky makes $53,792 annually, according to employment site ZipRecruiter. However, you could make a lot more with these open state jobs. Heres rundown of some of the highest-paid jobs in state government right now. As of May 26, each is still accepting applications. Staff Attorney Salary: $75,051 Agency: Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of the Secretary Location: Lexington In this position, youll offer legal advice to agency officers, employees and departments. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, according to the job listing: Drafting legal documents, litigation in court and at administrative hearings; Legal research and providing legal advice to employees of the agency; Drafting correspondence and/or communicating verbally with members authorized representatives, insurance agents, application assisters and/or other interested and authorized parties regarding findings and/or resolution of members complaints; Assist with open record requests. The advertisement for this position closes June 4. Audiologist Salary: $64,329.84 to $75,051.60 Agency: Cabinet for Health and Family Services Location: Lexington The Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs is seeking an audiologist. Working with this division of the agency, youll serve children at its specialty pediatric clinics. Duties will include care coordination, case management, therapies and collaboration to meet the patients needs. A big part of this job is work in identifying, appraising and interpreting communicative disorders of hearing. According to the job description, duties include but are not limited to the following: Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Provides diagnostic and case management of audiologic services to clinic and nonclinic patients; Conduct hearing aid including evaluations, fittings, repairs, modifications and routine monitoring. Annual calibration of audiological equipment and monitors warranted repair; Partnering and collaborating with regional birthing hospitals, families and community audiologists to ensure infants are screened for hearing loss and receive warranted follow-up services; Counseling patients and families on available resources in the home community. Facilitating the transition from pediatric to adult care; Planning, organizing and developing educational programs for families, other professionals and agency staff; Coordinating the audiometric work of nonprofessional or professional subordinate staff including nurses, hospital and school personnel, graduate students, early interventionists and others. The advertisement for this position closes June 4. Wildlife Biologist Salary: $46,059.12 to $68,234.40 Agency: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Location: Varies The mission of this open position is conservation, specifically overseeing operations at three separate wildlife management areas throughout Western Kentucky. Responsibilities and job duties, as laid out in the position description, are as follows: Work with program and regional staff, administration and agency partners to develop and implement long-term waterfowl management plans for the areas and the region; Schedule the work of staff to develop and maintain wildlife habitat; Ensure wintering habitat for waterfowl while overseeing the development and operations of wetland habitat with associated wetland and upland systems, farming operations and associated maintenance; Oversee the area farm contracts, maintaining and coordinating the use and maintenance of numerous pieces of farm machinery, heavy equipment and trucks, maintenance of area buildings, completing and maintaining area budgets and administrative reports for administration and program staff, wildlife surveys, public inquiries, public meetings, and administration of public area hunts; Serve as the regional waterfowl and wetland management specialist and assist other wildlife management areas in the Green River region as necessary. The advertisement for this position closes May 29. Social Science Clinician Salary: $63,486 Agency: Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Location: Bowling Green/Warren County This is a social work position that demands a high degree of responsibility from the candidate. Responsibilities listed in the job description include, but are not limited to: Serves as the facility treatment coordinator and provides oversight to the juveniles treatment; Provides intensive individual, group and family counseling services for juveniles served in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities and serves as technical expert to facility staff, court officials and community partners; Supervise assigned staff to include timesheet review and approval. Complete and evaluate employee performance. Recommend needed personnel action, including discipline. Develops and implements the hiring process; Reviews background and evaluation materials to develop treatment plans and coordinates group counseling sessions and learning experiences; Coordinates with community staff in ongoing treatment efforts for juveniles discharged from the facility; Provides a mentoring and training reinforcement service for new and less experienced counselors. The post also notes travel may be required and the successful candidate may be required to restrain out-of-control juveniles. The advertisement for this position closes June 2. Environmental Scientist V Salary: $4,942 to $5,686 monthly Agency: Department of Natural Resources Location: Madisonville This is a federally funded, time-limited position, meaning the employment duration will expire with the grant that funds it. The environmental scientist will work with the Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mine Lands and its western region branch, according to the description. Responsibilities include, according to the listing: Evaluate environmental sites, assess environmental impacts and train others in this area of work; Evaluate forfeited mine sites for environmental impacts and off-site impacts; Investigate citizen complaints; Conduct material testing and water samples; Review plans, technical details and specifications for technical accuracy; Conduct scientific studies and prepare detailed reports from environmental testing; Oversee and document the remediation projects; Operate unmanned aerial vehicle drones; Work with minimum supervision. The advertisement for this position closes June 4. To view all currently advertised state government jobs in Kentucky, visit the personnel cabinet website. Do you have a question about employment in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com. NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto on Friday accused the tax collection agency's staff of cutting government revenue by engaging in corruption, colluding with tax evaders and taking bribes. Ruto, who was elected last August on a platform of helping the poor, has had a rough ride in the first months of his term due to growing government debt repayments, revenue collection shortfalls and persistently high prices of basic commodities. Public service employees have complained of salary delays in recent months while local authorities have threatened to shut down their operations to protest against delayed cash disbursements from the national government. "Collusion, wanton bribe-taking and general corruption continue to pervade operations of KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority)," Ruto told KRA's management and board members at an event beamed live on his social media pages. The government's efforts to boost tax collection were being hampered by unscrupulous staff at KRA, he said, who spent their time helping corrupt taxpayers to evade paying. KRA declined to comment. Kenyan authorities have been fighting corruption and the tax collection agency has come under scrutiny. In May 2019, 75 KRA staff were arrested on suspicion of abetting tax evasion and bribery. Ruto also accused KRA staff of resisting and sabotaging attempts to digitise revenue collection in the past, to prevent the government from sealing loopholes. "I have to be candid because I have a job to do," the president said. KRA has not issued its latest tax collection figures but local media outlets said it collected 1.57 trillion shillings ($11.50 billion) in the 10 months to the end of April, meaning it has just two months to meet the government's target of 2.1 trillion by the end of June. In terms of tax collected as a proportion of annual economic output, Kenya has been underperforming other nations like South Africa, Ruto said. To shore up revenue, his administration has proposed a raft of tax increases in spending proposals that will be presented to parliament next month, angering citizens and the opposition. "The (finance) bill prepared by the Kenya Kwanza regime is a punishment that Kenyans cannot and should not entertain," the opposition Azimio coalition said this month, referring to Ruto's Kenya Kwanza political coalition. ($1 = 136.5000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Susan Fenton) Elon Musk standing next to a surgical robot during a Neuralink presentation in 2020 Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-implant company, has won US approval to test on humans. Here is what to know about the multi-billionaire's dream project to enable the human brain to communicate directly with computers. - Cyborg future? - Neuralink is a neurotechnology company co-founded by Musk along with a team of scientists and engineers in 2016 to build direct communication channels between the brain and computers. The aim is to supercharge human capabilities, treat neurological disorders like ALS or Parkinson's, and ultimately achieve a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. Neuralink's technology would mainly work through an implant called the "Link" -- a device about the size of five stacked coins that would be placed inside the human brain through invasive surgery. The hardware would harbor electrodes capable of both recording neural activity and stimulating specific regions of the brain. Researchers hope the implant's powers will also treat paralysis, spinal cord injuries and brain disorders. It could also potentially blur the line between human consciousness and computing, an idea that has long excited technologists, while feeding nightmares of a dystopian future taken over by cyborgs. Last year, 78 percent of US adults surveyed by Pew Research said they probably or definitely would not want a computer chip implanted in their brain to process information faster. - Many competitors - According to data company Pitchbook, California-based Neuralink has more than 400 employees and has raised at least $363 million. Though he wins most of the headlines, Musk is hardly alone in trying to make advances in the field, which is officially known as brain-machine or brain-computer interface research. Hit with delays, the tycoon had reportedly reached out to join forces with implant developer Synchron about a potential investment. Its implant version does not require cutting into the skull to install it, unlike Neuralink's Link. The Australia-based Synchron implanted its first device in a US patient in July 2022. Another implant project, but designed for research purposes, is from company Blackrock Neurotech and has also received FDA approval for human testing. A Neuralink co-founder has also split from Musk and raised venture capital for his own project at a startup called Science. Other companies seeking to make a play in the sector include BrainCo, Kernel and CTRL-Labs, now a part of Meta's virtual reality division. - Animal testing - The FDA approval for human testing comes at a great relief for Neuralink which until now had been testing its implants in monkeys and other animals. Reuters reported in December that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had opened an investigation into potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act at Neuralink. The report estimated that Neuralink killed about 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys for research since 2018. The USDA refused to confirm or deny the report to AFP at the time. Arch rival Synchron reportedly killed only about 80 sheep as part of its research, according to documents seen by Reuters. arp/bgs What we know in the death of Keith Murriel: Former Jackson police face murder charges, more Just hours before the dawn of 2023, Keith Murriel died while in custody of three, now former, Jackson police officers. Two of the now former officers face murder charges while the third faces a manslaughter charge in the incident. On Dec. 31, 2022, Murriel, a Black man, was stopped by now former officers Kenya McCarty, Avery Willis and James Land outside of an extended stay hotel in Jackson. Body camera footage from the Jackson Police Department shows Murriel being tased at least 26 times in a 10 minutes span among hours of videos released from that evening. Before the release of the body camera footage though, it was released that 41-year-old Murriel later experienced a medical-related incident and died. What actually happened? Here's what we know about the incident, what is in the body camera footage and more. What was reported as to have happened the night Keith Murriel died? The three former Jackson police officers arrived at the Beasley Street extended stay hotel around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2022. Murriel died in custody. At the time officials stated that after Murriel's arrest, he later experienced a medical-related incident. "Officers Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land were later placed on administrative leave as a result of the incident," officials said at the time of the incident. American Medical Response was called to the scene to render aid, but Murriel was pronounced dead upon arrival, according to a WLBT report. Jackson mayor disagrees with police chief, calls for body camera footage of tased Black man who died to be released More than a month after Murriel died in police custody, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Anton Lumumba publicly disagreed with Jackson Police Chief James Davis on the events that led to the death of Murriel Dec. 31, 2022. Davis originally stated the Murriel experienced a medical-related incident that lead to his death. "I will say that Chief Davis needs to speak for himself and what he meant by that statement, but based on the knowledge that I have, I must say that I disagree with that statement," Lumumba said. "Maybe he meant that in a different way ... but based on the information available to me, what took place is not clearly communicated." This statement followed after video, taken by a bystander, was given to WAPT showing officers tasing Murriel multiple times. Lumumba called for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to release body cam video of the arrest. It would be three months before any footage is released. Footage from the Jackson police body camera released: Black man tased at least 26 times in 10 minutes Hours of unedited body camera footage from the night of Murriel's death was released on May 24 giving insight of what happened on Dec. 31, 2022. The footage contained instances of Murriel being tased dozens of times as he screamed and said the same statement over and over again, "man, stop." Including a 10-minute span where the stun gun was used at least 26 times on the 41-year-old Black man. Reporters with the Clarion Ledger combed through the footage. Here's everything that they found. Who are the former Jackson police officers charged? Kenya McCarty, who was first to arrive on Dec. 31, 2022, was charged with second degree murder after being indicted last week by a Hinds County grand jury. Avery Willis, who arrived after McCarty, was also charged with second-degree murder last week. James Land, who arrived as "backup" for Willis and McCarty, was charged last week with manslaughter. All three of them were on administrative leave after the incident. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Keith Murriel death: Jackson, MS police charged, body camera footage Here is what you need to know about Lubbock's Juvenile Curfew Directed Enforcement Months after the Lubbock City Council gave the green light to fund Lubbock's Juvenile Curfew Directed Enforcement, the program will go into effect Friday, May 26 through the summer months. The effort this summer, led by Lubbock police, will serve as a pilot for the program. Here is what you need to know about the program and how it came about. Has Lubbock already had a juvenile curfew? Yes. The curfew was established in 1983 when it was added to the city ordinances 14.03.031. "It shall be unlawful for any person sixteen (16) or less years of age to be or remain in or upon any public place or in or upon any establishment within the city between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, official city time, except that on Fridays and Saturdays and nights next preceding school holidays (not including summer vacation) the hours shall be from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m." The ordinance goes on to give the enforcement authority to the Lubbock Police Department. What will the enforcement look like? The City of Lubbock and Lubbock Police Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the new East Patrol Division Station at East 19th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The building is part of the Public Safety Improvements Projects and will be staffed by 97 officers and civilians. Two other police division stations along with a downtown headquarters are currently being built in north and south Lubbock as part of the decentralization plan designed to increase community-oriented policing. Monday, August 9, 2021. According to LPD, the directed enforcement is from midnight to 6 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as stated in the ordinance. Six officers have been assigned to ensure the curfew is enforced with four of the six officers patrolling the city to look for curfew violators. Assistant Chief Nathan White of the Patrol Bureau said the other two officers will be stationed at the East Patrol Division's Community Outreach Room, located at 1901 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., to wait with the kids until an adult comes to pick them up. White said the room will be set up where there are games and snacks for the kids while they wait so that it doesn't feel like "a jail-type setting." "We're always looking for ways to increase our positive interaction with youth, and so this is a good opportunity for us," White said. If a juvenile is struggling with an issue, LPD has the ability to bring in a counselor or an officer trained in mental health to aid them. However, this holding place is only used when a juvenile is found only to be breaking the curfew ordinance. "We won't be bringing somebody who's been caught committing a crime," White said. "They'll be going through the normal process of booking at (the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center)." Are there penalties if my child is caught breaking the curfew? Yes, when the parent or legal guardian goes to pick up the juvenile, both the parent and the juvenile will receive a fine. White said the citation is set at $149 with a maximum amount of $200. If a juvenile is found at a business past curfew, the business is also eligible to receive a citation. If a juvenile is not picked up by 6 a.m., the police have to notify Texas Child Protective Services as they can not hold a juvenile over a six-hour time frame. Why East Division Station and not another station? According to LPD, the station was chosen because it is the most central station in the city. This is a test trial for the program and if proven effective, White said there is a possibility of the program being expanded to the south and west patrol divisions or even the new police headquarters being built next to Citizens Tower. How did the directed enforcement come about? As reported by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal last year, as part of the Lubbock City Council's budget process for the 2023 fiscal, Councilwoman Latrell Joy proposed an amendment of $440,000 to LPD's budget to help enforce the curfew. The amendment failed but Councilman Mark McBrayer made a compromise amendment of allocating $75,000 to the LPD for a 90-day pilot program for curfew enforcement which narrowly passed in a 4-3 vote. Why was this program started? A week after being allocated the funds, LPD Chief Floyd Mitchell presented the council with why renewing and enforcing the city's curfew is important. According to the A-J's story at the time, Mitchell informed the council that LPD made 4,687 arrests from January 2019 through June 2022. Of those arrests, 254 were made during the curfew time period. Mitchell also noted that there is a downward trend in juvenile arrests during June, July and August; however, the number of arrests during those month's curfew hours does increase compared to the other months. White said the whole goal of this program is to intervene with juveniles who are breaking curfew before they commit a crime. If citizens see suspected juveniles out past curfew, they are urged to call the non-emergency number, 806-775-2865, or 911 if a crime is being committed. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Here is what you need to know about Lubbock's juvenile curfew What to know about Stanislav Kravchenko Ukraines new Supreme Court Chief Justice Stanislav Kravchenko 108 of 148 judges present voted for his candidacy. The remaining contenders did not receive more than 20 votes. 11 judges abstained from voting. Kravchenko was elected chief justice for a four-year term. Kravchenko graduated from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. Coming from Chernihiv Oblast, he worked in the local Kozelets District Court from 1993 to 2002, and in the Kyiv Court of Appeal from 2002 to 2011. He then moved to the High Specialized Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases, and in 2014 became its deputy head. The High Specialized Court of Ukraine was created by Andriy Portnov, a lawyer and deputy head of the Yanukovych's Presidential Administration. Read also: Exiled oligarch Zhevagos Ferrexpo comments on ruling to seize assets Kravchenko started his work in the Criminal Cassation Court in 2017, and has been its head since 2021. When he was elected to the Supreme Court in 2017, he received a negative opinion from the Public Council of Integrity, Mykhailo Zhernakov, Chair of the Board of DEJURE Foundation, pointed out on Facebook the day before the session. Some of Kravchenkos decisions were illegal, as recognized by the European Court of Human Rights, Zhernakov said. He also "lied about it in his declaration of integrity and did not declare his property." Kravchenko allegedly promised judges free apartments in exchange for votes in his favor, BBC News Ukraine wrote, citing sources in the Supreme Court. Read also: Higher Council of Justice signs off on arrest of former Supreme Court chief Knyazev Knyazev case Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev was accused of taking a $2.7 million bribe on May 15. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have said that they have evidence. SAP confirmed the detention of the Supreme Court head on May 16. He is the most senior Ukrainian official to have ever been apprehended by NABU and SAP, said Semyon Kryvonis, the bureaus head. The Supreme Court expressed no confidence in Knyazev during a secret vote on May 16, and he was dismissed from his position. He remains a judge until the decision of the High Council of Justice. Read also: Ukraine gets closer to recovering $113 million from Zhevagos Swiss accounts He and his lawyer accomplice are suspected of receiving an illegal bribe. Knyazev was arrested for two months with bail set at UAH 107 million ($2.9 million) on May 18. There is evidence of Kostyantyn Zhevago, the owner of the Finance and Credit banking group, arranging illicit payments to Supreme Court officials in exchange for favorable rulings, Kryvonis said. Businessman Zhevago denies any involvement in the multimillion-dollar bribe. However, on April 19, the Supreme Court upheld Zhevaho's 40% stake in the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant in a lawsuit that had been ongoing since 2005. Law enforcement agencies are also investigating other instances of judges of the Supreme Court accepting bribes. 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 Kolomoisky and business partner Boholyubov both decline to testify in London High Court case Ihor Kolomoisky The Ukrainian tycoon refused to support his defense against the state-owned bank's lawsuit at a hearing in the High Court of London on May 23. Read also: A bad year for Ihor Kolomoisky NV analysis Kolomoisky's position was confirmed during cross-examination at the upcoming hearing on the merits in the High Court, which will begin in June in London. The hearing will focus on the merits of PrivatBank's multi-billion-dollar fraud and misappropriation claim against, among others, Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholyubov. Read also: Kolomoisky loses court battle to regain control of PrivatBank head office It has also been confirmed that none of Kolomoisky's witnesses are ready to give oral evidence on the merits of the case at the hearing. This news comes after an unexpected statement at the March 29 procedural hearing that Boholyubov was not ready to testify at the substantive hearing. So, there will be no witnesses at the trial who would give factual testimony in favor of Kolomoisky and Boholyubov. The investors and their witnesses did not explain the reasons for their refusal to testify. Earlier, NV reported that the London court ordered Kolomoisky to pay 600,000 ($739,364) to avoid delaying the case. Read also: Bad Luck London: New court ruling against Kolomoisky reveals sale of Kryviy Rih mine for $926 to Russian citizen Voevodin 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) -- The US and top European allies condemned Kosovos government following clashes between police and ethnic Serbs that erupted when protesters tried to block ethnic-Albanian mayors from reaching their offices in the north of the country. Most Read from Bloomberg Kosovo police used teargas to disperse the crowds, which included demonstrators opposed to the officials taking office following local elections last month that the ethnic-Serb community boycotted and called invalid. It was the worst escalation in tensions this year between Kosovos ethnic-Albanian majority and the minority Serbs. The flareup imperils an EU-brokered, US-supported plan for the Balkan neighbors to normalize relations, which have threatened to spiral again into violence since Kosovo broke away from Serbia after they fought a 1998-1999 war. In an unusually sharply worded statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced the authorities for accessing the buildings by force and said they had done so against the advice of the United States and Kosovos European partners. These actions have sharply and unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermining our efforts to help normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia and will have consequences for our bilateral relations with Kosovo, Blinken said in a statement. We call on Prime Minister Albin Kurti to reverse course and on all sides to refrain from any further actions that will inflame tensions and promote conflict. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reacted to the violence by immediately putting his nations army on high alert and ordered movement of an unspecified number of units closer to the border with Kosovo, state broadcaster RTS reported. He took similar steps last year when recurring tensions in Kosovo near the border nearly lapsed into fighting. The UK, France, Germany and Italy also denounced Kosovos government, saying it had acted despite our call for restraint. We call on Kosovos authorities to immediately step back and de-escalate, they said in a joint statement. It also expressed concern over Serbias decision to raise the level of readiness of its Armed Forces at the border with Kosovo. They had previously urged Kosovo to avoid deepening tensions via overt displays of authority, and the officials were sworn in during low-key ceremonies over the past week. But When the officials tried to enter their offices accompanied by police on Friday, hundreds of protesters barred their way in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, police said. After the crowds were told to disperse, some people hurled objects and gunfire was heard. Five officers were lightly wounded in the clashes, police said. Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the military is acting on the presidents orders because the situation in Kosovo has become dramatic. Serbs account for less than 7% of Kosovos mostly ethnic-Albanian population of 1.8 million. Kosovo Premier Kurtis spokesman denied reports that 10 protesters were injured and defended the governments constitutional duty to enable the new mayors to access their offices and do their jobs. He was backed by President Vjosa Osmani, who accused the Serbian president of stoking the protests. The actions of the Kosovo Police against Vucics illegal structures and criminal gangs are legitimate, in fulfillment of their constitutional duties, Osmani said in comment on Facebook. She acknowledged, however, that the success of Kosovos actions relied on coordination with countries that guarantee Kosovos sovereignty, which include the US. About 3,800 NATO peacekeepers remain deployed in Kosovo more than two decades after the war, ensuring that neither side reignites armed conflict. KFOR, as the force is known, wasnt involved in Fridays events, according to Kryeziu. The government in Belgrade refuses to recognize Kosovo as a country, and rejects its 2008 split from Serbia a sticking point that is blocking both countries efforts to join the EU. Western envoys have sought to defuse the dispute for years, without success. They have intensified those efforts again after Russia attacked Ukraine. (Updates with UK, France, Germany and Italy joining US comment on Kosovo from first paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. FILE PHOTO: Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from Kuwait hold their documents as they queue upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay city, Metro Manila KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait has suspended all new visas for Philippine nationals indefinitely, the interior ministry confirmed this week, in an escalation of a row between the oil-rich Gulf state and Manila over worker protections and employer rights. Philippine nationals make up around 6% of Kuwait's 4.7 million population, government data shows. Kuwaitis make up 32%. The visa suspension comes after the Philippines in February stopped the first-time deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait after the body of domestic worker Jullebee Ranara was found in the Kuwaiti desert in January. Large numbers of Philippine citizens work overseas, with around 10% of its gross domestic product coming from remittances. Many work in oil-rich Gulf states like Kuwait as low-paid domestic workers, where visa systems tie a worker to one employer and make migrant workers vulnerable to abuse - including employers confiscating their passports. The interior ministry on Wednesday said the Philippines had violated a bilateral labour agreement. The two countries signed an agreement in 2018 following a previous row over worker protections in the wake of several domestic worker deaths. Listed violations include housing workers in shelters, searching for runaways without involving state institutions, communicating with Kuwaiti citizens without permission from authorities and pressuring Kuwaiti employers to add clauses to employment contracts. A week ago the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said all actions taken by the Philippines Embassy and government are "to ensure the safety and welfare of our own nationals". "Providing protection to a country's citizens abroad is a well-established duty of consular offices under international law and conventions," the statement said. The Philippine embassy in Kuwait did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Conor Humphries) 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 Kyiv Security Forum says clear path to NATO membership for Ukraine at Vilnius Summit is only option Kyiv Security Forum says clear path to NATO membership for Ukraine at Vilnius Summit is only option "The main obstacle on Ukraine's path to NATO for many years has been the lack of political will on both sides," the document says. The KSF emphasized that the decision of many political leaders to postpone Ukraine's accession to an indefinite future instead of accepting it, which would have been a historic step and stopped Russia's growing geopolitical and military ambitions, was a "tragic mistake." "The war changed everything," the document reads. Read also: Ukraine officially joins NATOs cyber defense center Ukraine's national resistance against Russia's aggression has made a real breakthrough in the Alliance's security thinking. Ukraine has proved that it is a pillar of common security. The authors argue that now nothing can replace Ukraine's membership in NATO "no special formats or temporary security arrangements". The Kyiv Security Forum emphasizes the need to move quickly from words to actions and hopes that the NATO summit in Vilnius will be a turning point on the issue of Ukraine's membership in the Alliance. Read also: UK first country to start training Ukrainian pilots to NATO standards, says envoy The document calls on the allies to make a political decision to offer Ukraine membership and start accession negotiations. It also calls for negotiations into providing Ukraine security guarantees similar to those enjoyed by NATO members under the Article 5 collective defense clause even before Ukraine joins NATO. "Without unambiguous clarity on Ukraine's accession to the Alliance, we risk an endless war in Europe, and the issue of Ukraine's membership in NATO, instead of becoming a fundamental element of the new European security architecture, will again become a subject of bargaining during political negotiations," the document says. Read also: Zaluzhnyi skips NATO meeting due to difficult operational situation on front line The full text of the position paper is available here. The Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation, is the main platform of the state for discussing issues of war and peace, national and global security. The Forum's partners are the Atlantic Council, NATO Information and Documentation Center, National Democratic Institute, Ukrainian Women's Congress, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and Euro-Atlantic Course NGO. NV is the official media partner of the KSF. 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 defendant appears before Judge Maria Lucy Armendariz with his public defender, Caroline Goodson in Dept. 48, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) The defendant talked about her struggle overcoming anger and accepting her need for mental health treatment. When she was done, the judge led the courtroom in applause, stepping down from the bench and posing with her for photos. Five times that day, Judge Theresa R. McGonigle and two colleagues repeated that ritual, offering personal salutes to accused lawbreakers who had chosen to go through treatment for their mental illness rather than face prosecution. The defendant appears before Judge Maria Lucy Armendariz with his public defender, Caroline Goodson in Dept. 48, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) After completing their court-ordered mental health programs, each walked out free charges dismissed and criminal case expunged from the record. "It was a pretty harrowing incident that took place," Deputy City Atty. Andre Quintero told the young woman about the crime she was charged with. "I'm not going to repeat it because it's not you." The five defendants that day were graduates of the Rapid Diversion Program, an initiative in Los Angeles Criminal Court that is making a small dent in the disproportionate number of mentally ill offenders in the L.A. County Jail population. Rapid diversion aims to identify candidates for mental health diversion as early as possible after they've been arrested so they can be shifted into community care without long stays in jail that would likely lead to further mental deterioration. "Everybody understands that it's better for the community and the person if we don't just give them 10 days in jail and then put them right back out where they started," said Nick Stewart-Oaten, appellate attorney with the L.A. County public defender's office and author of the state law that allows for pretrial diversion. He started the diversion program in L.A. County. Initially, only misdemeanor defendants were eligible for rapid diversion. Some felonies were later included. Most diversions are for low-level offenses often associated with mental illness: trespass, assault, vandalism and public intoxication. In the county's far-flung criminal justice system, the ideal place to catch people early is in court, where inmates are funneled, ideally within 72 hours, for arraignment. Among the thousands of defendants passing through daily, many stand out to public defenders as offenders whose crimes arose from untreated mental illness. In the past, their only option was to request a court-ordered psychiatric exam, a drawn-out process requiring a psychiatrist to be scheduled. "That takes upwards of two months or more," Stewart-Oaten said. "Someone sitting in custody might be decompensating that whole time." Rapid diversion places clinical staff inside the court to provide that evaluation. In the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center downtown, one of six courthouses that have rapid diversion programs, three teams of clinical social workers and case navigators are based in the public defender's 19th floor office. As the case files pile up in arraignment court some days a handful, other days dozens public defenders keep an eye out for cases that may qualify. If a follow-up interview confirms that a defendant is a candidate for diversion, the public defender calls for a clinical evaluation. A social worker and case navigator come downstairs and speak with the defendant. With access to the county's mental health records system, they can piece together a clinical history and make a recommendation: diversion with outpatient treatment, diversion with residential treatment or no diversion. The public defender, city or county prosecutor and clinical team all have to sign off before diversion can be offered. Guidelines on what types of cases are eligible have been worked out in advance with the city attorney's and district attorney's offices. Line prosecutors generally agree with the assessment. "There's a lot of cases we agree on," Stewart-Oaten said. "I thought the hardest part of my job would be convincing my colleagues. It turns out the hardest part is convincing the candidate." Many decline simply because they know they'll be released in a few days. Those who accept are enrolled in a treatment program usually lasting a year. It can last longer if they have setbacks, as many do. Participants meet weekly with their court case manager who reports to the judge on their progress. At any time the judge can revoke the diversion and restart the criminal case. "We're asking these folks to do a lot more than they'd be required to do if they just went forward with their criminal case," Stewart-Oaten said. The treatment program is prescribed by the clinical team. "If our clinical team says you need a residential program, that's the requirement," Stewart-Oaten said. "What we try to do is get lawyers out of mental health decisions. Our lawyers have no input into the correct treatment program." Some candidates balk at a residential program. For those who accept, release may be delayed. "Ideally, we'd like to assess and get into treatment the same day," Stewart-Oaten said. "It won't happen in every case until we have a bed available." In particular, acute care beds in locked facilities are scarce. To keep its emphasis on "rapid," the program focuses on defendants with mid-level mental illness. Often candidates have previously been in treatment, sometimes receiving care at home, when some setback or gap in service touched off an episode. "A lot of time it's a matter of reconnecting them and tweaking the gap," Stewart-Oaten said. In its nearly four years, Rapid Diversion has released more than 1,500 people out of detention. So far, 350 have graduated. Coordinator for the Rapid Diversion Program and Public defender Caroline Goodson, left in red, flanked by resource navigator Brian Pineda-Recinos and case manager Raymond Gonzales, consults with a client who has been identified as a candidate for diversion from criminal proceedings. After spending about 40 days in residential treatment, the client was returning to court for a formal ruling diverting him from prosecution in Dept. 48, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) The graduation ceremony has become a valued element of the treatment, said Public Defender Caroline Goodson, countywide coordinator for the program who attends most graduations. The impersonal machinery of the court is suspended, and the defendant's narrative becomes the center of attention. Goodson starts each one with a tribute. "I would love to tell you what Mr. V. has gone through," she told the court as the defendant stood beside her with his case manager at his other side. (The Times is withholding the defendant's full name at the court's request because his criminal record has been expunged.) "This is a real story of trauma and treatment," she said. "Mr. V. has gone through so much. He experienced trauma as a youth when he was shot. He was then again shot in 2019 in his jaw. From that he suffered mental health issues. He was living on the streets homeless. He was estranged from his family." She then detailed his court-supervised treatment: Salvation Army shelter, job training, a sober living home with substance use services and in the near future, his own housing. Quintero spoke for the city attorney's office. "I often say you had two paths to choose, an easier path and a hard path," he said. "When you consider the charges, they're serious charges. They involved a knife and they involved your family, right? "So the fact that you're reconnecting with them and going to church with them, that's what we want for you. Ultimately that's what we want for you, to have a better life and situation with your family. "On behalf of the people of the state of California, we congratulate you, and we're proud of your work, and we're happy to not object to a dismissal." Judge Natalie Stone added a last word. "It wasn't obvious that you were going to succeed, and it often isn't," she said. "So your example is really nice for me. I know it was really hard for you and tons of work went into this. You didn't choose the easy road. You chose hard work, and I congratulate you." Then she stepped off the bench to pose with the defendant and his team for a group photo. Goodson said she was stunned the first time she saw a judge step off the bench to connect personally with a client. Now it happens almost every time and is part of a ceremony that has become a huge boost for clients. "To hear them praising our clients like that and to hear the prosecution doing it, and doing it in a way that's healthy and acknowledges that the client has accomplished so much is really powerful," she said. It's too early to determine what the success rate for rapid diversion will be, but initial signs are encouraging, Stewart-Oaten said. So far, 5% of graduates have returned with a new charge. About 70% who remain in the program are on track to graduate. And among those who dropped out without graduating and went back to court to complete their criminal cases, the recidivism rate increased to 10%. The Rapid Diversion Program began in 2019 with a $1.1 million MacArthur Foundation grant obtained by the public defender's office and alternate public defender's office with the assistance of a nonprofit called the Center for Court Innovation. The center, which since changed its name to Center for Justice Innovation, still consults with the county. Funding has largely shifted to the county, though the MacArthur grant still pays some costs. The program was absorbed into the L.A. County's new Justice, Care and Opportunities Department established last year to depopulate, and eventually close, Men's Central Jail by expanding community care for people being diverted or released from the justice system. After starting downtown, it has expanded to a staff of 60 deployed in five more courthouses: the Airport, Van Nuys, Long Beach, Lancaster and Compton. A sixth program is scheduled to start in Pasadena by fall. Stewart-Oaten said he fields calls from public defenders and prosecutors in other courts asking when they can get access to diversion. The limiting factor, he said, is hiring the clinical staff. "As soon as we can," he tells them. "We have to find clinical staff, attorneys and navigator staff to expand." "This is not the conversation about how we solved everything," Stewart-Oaten said. "This is the conversation about how we started to solve things. We started at zero diversions. We just hit 1,500. There is a ton more work to do here. We are aware of that." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. I was in labor when I walked the stage and got my college diploma. I hope it inspires my newborn daughter one day. Kelsey Hudie was determined to receive her diploma at her graduation ceremony at Henry Ford College. Kelsey Hudie Kelsey Hudie felt the first signs of labor when she was about to graduate from college. The 27-year-old was determined to attend the ceremony and get her diploma. She told Insider she wanted others to know that nothing should get in the way of their goals. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kelsey Hudie. It has been edited for length and clarity. By the time my baby daughter, Nylah, reaches the age when she's ready for college, I hope she'll have drawn some inspiration from me. I will probably tell her this her whole life: Nothing should stand in the way of success. On May 6, despite being in the early stages of labor, I walked across the stage to receive my college diploma. I was 38 weeks pregnant. My doctor had told me that I was already dilated. I was supposed to be resting up before the delivery. But even though my family was worried, I told them I was determined to attend the ceremony. I studied for my college degree and worked in a school at the same time My fiance, Brandon Bunch, and I got pregnant in September. I was working as a paraprofessional in an elementary school and studying for an associate degree at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. Russell Kavalhuna, the president of Henry Ford College, made sure Hudie was first in line at her graduation ceremony. Kelsey Hudie I'd wanted to be a teacher for as long as I could remember. I graduated from high school in 2014 and signed up for Henry Ford College the same year. But I didn't complete the first semester. I decided that college life was not for me. Next, I worked as an assistant manager at a dollar store. When I missed out on a promotion, I started thinking about returning to college. I knew I couldn't become a teacher without further qualifications. I juggled my shifts at the store with part-time classes at the same college I'd left four years earlier. This time between 2018 and 2023 and delayed by COVID-19 it felt very different. My goal of becoming a teacher no longer felt so distant. My pregnancy didn't really change anything. By then, I was employed at the elementary school. It got tiring keeping up with the little kids, especially toward the end. But I loved the job. I wound up being first in line at the graduation ceremony I felt things happening on the morning of my graduation. My water hadn't broken, and I wasn't in pain. I knew the speeches might be long and I'd have to sit through them. But I said, "I'm going." I put on my cap and gown. We arrived at the college my mom, brother, grandmother, aunt, and me and were met by another of my aunts who worked there. Mom told her that I was in the early stages of labor, and she said she'd help. Unbeknownst to me, she spoke with the people in charge of the ceremony. They'd told Russell Kavalhuna, the president of the college, about my condition. Before I knew it, I was taken backstage so I didn't have to climb up any stairs. They'd changed the order and moved me to the top of the list of students. I was first in line. Hudie gave birth to a healthy 7-pound, 1-ounce girl named Nylah. Kelsey Hudie The president announced to the audience that I was about to give birth. He said he'd have to move quickly. He presented me with the diploma and shook my hand, saying that students at Henry Ford College had grit and determination. The crowd clapped and cheered. My water broke on May 8, and I went to the hospital that night. Nylah was born after an active labor that lasted for hours. I'm now heading to college to get a degree in teaching I'm so glad that I received my diploma before she arrived. It was proof of my accomplishment. If I hadn't walked on that stage, I wouldn't have felt complete. Next up, I'm going to Eastern Michigan University for my bachelor's degree in teaching. I hope my story will inspire others to work on their qualifications especially moms-to-be. Do you have a powerful story to share with Insider? Please send details to jridley@insider.com. Read the original article on Insider LAPD body cam video shows Oscar Leon Sanchez on the ground after being fatally shot by LAPD officers on Jan. 3. (LAPD) Two Los Angeles Police Department officers negligently used deadly force when they shot and killed Oscar Leon Sanchez, who was having a mental breakdown as he was confronted by police in his South L.A. home earlier this year, according to a lawsuit filed by his family. Leon Sanchez, 35, was unclear what was happening when the officers came into his home on Jan. 3, his family said, and shot him in his living room. LAPD undated photo of Oscar Leon Sanchez, who was fatally shot by LAPD officers on Jan. 3. (LAPD) His last words were in Spanish, telling the officers, "no les voy a dejar que me roben" which translates to "I am not going to allow you to rob me," according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The complaint names the two LAPD officers who shot him Diego Bracamontes and Christopher Guerrero along with the city of Los Angeles as defendants. The LAPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations made in the lawsuit. At the time of the shooting, the LAPD's social media account claimed officers were responding to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. Officers said they encountered a man, later identified as Leon Sanchez, holding a "sharp metal object about a foot in length." The officers repeatedly ordered the man to drop the item and when he stepped toward the officers they shot him, the LAPD said at the time. Leon Sanchez's family claims he was holding a piece of a scooter when he was shot just before 6 p.m. Police claimed Leon Sanchez assaulted someone near his home in the 2700 block of South Central Avenue several hours before the shooting, according to the complaint, but he was inside his home when police arrived. When officers approached his home, they found Leon Sanchez standing on a second-story porch and spoke with him for 10 minutes from the ground below. LAPD body cam video shows Oscar Leon Sanchez on the ground after being fatally shot by LAPD officers on Jan. 3. (LAPD) The officers grew impatient and entered the home through an open back door, his family said. They found Leon Sanchez standing in his living room and then shot him five seconds after the officers approached the back door, the complaint said. Leon Sanchez was shot without being given any warnings and the only commands officers issued were in English, even though they understood that Leon Sanchez only spoke Spanish, according to his family. His brother, Emmanuel Leon Sanchez, was also in the living room and witnessed police shoot his brother. After he was shot, Sanchez was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The lawsuit was filed by Los Angeles-based attorneys Christian Contreras and Humberto Guizar on behalf of Leon Sanchez's family including his brother and daughter, Wendy Leon Madero. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Latest plan to save Lake Mead is imperfect and maybe what the Colorado River needs An intake tower (left) stands in Lake Mead beside Hoover Dam, which straddles the Arizona-Nevada state line on the Colorado River. The latest proposal to save Lake Mead solves nothing, long-term. Its success relies on the premise that farmers, cities and tribes in Arizona, California and Nevada will volunteer, rather than being forced, to temporarily stop using significantly more Colorado River water than they have before. Most of that saved water will come at a price. And if the proposal works as envisioned, it would simply stabilize Lake Mead until the current rules to operate the lake expire at the end of 2026. Essentially, buying us time. Plan would front-load water in Lake Mead It may not be the best way to spend an estimated $1.2 billion in federal cash. But it may be the best deal to move us forward. If we can stabilize Lake Mead, even temporarily, the hope is that will free time to focus on a parallel process setting rules for the next 20 years. Rules that could more permanently ensure we dont use more water than the river produces. Arizona, California and Nevada are proposing to voluntarily save at least 3 million acre-feet of water in Lake Mead through 2026, over and above any other water cuts to which weve previously agreed. Thats enough over three years to cover the entire city of Phoenix in more than 9 feet of water. Half of that would be offered up by the end of 2024, which should create more protection than if an equal amount were saved each year. It could do as well as mandatory cuts No ones signed off on this deal. But the seven Colorado River basin states like it enough to ask that it be included in the options the feds are considering to protect Lake Mead and the upstream Lake Powell from reaching dangerously low levels. Doing so would suspend the May 30 public comment deadline on the draft plan and likely delay a final decision for months. But presuming that additional modeling confirms what many believe that a voluntary deal could prop up the lakes as well or better than the current alternatives, which rely on mandatory cuts it seems unlikely that anyone would try to tank what the states negotiated. Another view: This water fight could get aggressive. And ugly Particularly considering that a voluntary option would wipe out the very real possibility of this thing winding up in court, with bitterly fought lawsuits tying up any meaningful action on the Colorado River for who knows how long. If thats the case, a voluntary deal would put us in a far better place to negotiate more permanent solutions for the 40 million of us (and growing) that rely on the Colorado River. Proposal includes an important fail-safe But what if this latest proposal fails to protect Lake Mead? Maybe water users dont volunteer the full 3 million acre-feet. Or perhaps the hydrology changes and the lakes begin to plummet even with additional water saved (hey, its happened before). States would have 45 days to come up with a plan to do more once Lake Mead was forecast to hit 1,025 feet of elevation. And if they fail, the feds could then act unilaterally to protect Lake Mead from plummeting below 1,000 feet. How? Good question. As with everything, the devils in the details, which are still taking shape. But that could be an important fail-safe. Is it ideal? No. But can we live with it? Will it absolve the fights that have gummed up negotiations for months? No. Its only a matter of time before they resurface. But major water deals these days arent about what we like. Or even what we want. Theyre about what we can live with. If voluntary action can keep Lake Mead healthy enough, so were not constantly triaging its day-to-day care, maybe we can finally start formulating a plan for its long-term recovery. That should not only be the goal of whatever happens next, but the expectation. Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On Twitter: @joannaallhands. If you love this content (or love to hate it hey, I won't judge), why not subscribe to get more? This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lake Mead plan may not be what we like, but it could be what we need At least two killed, 23 injured in Russian missile strike on Ukrainian clinic At least two people were killed and 23 others were injured in a Russian missile strike on a medical building in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, the regional governor said Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the missile attack on a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic as another crime against humanity. Only an evil state can fight against clinics, he said on Twitter. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure [Russian] terror. Russia has chosen the path of evil of its own will, and it will not abandon this path by itself, Zelensky added. We must defeat terror and we will do it. Ukraine and the entire free world together. Area Gov. Serhiy Lysak said in a post on Telegram that a 69-year-old man died in the attack and another mans body had been found in the rubble of the veterinary clinic. At least two young children, 3 and 6 years old, were among the injured, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam BEIRUT (Reuters) - Once celebrated as a financial wizard, Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh is spending his final weeks in office a wanted man, faced with French and German arrest warrants that have been prompted by long-running corruption probes. The warrants are the latest twist in cross-border investigations into whether Salameh, the governor for three decades whose term ends in July, abused his post to embezzle a fortune in Lebanese public money. He denies any wrongdoing. The cases have further shredded a legacy already in tatters after the collapse of Lebanon's financial system in 2019, a catastrophe many blame on Salameh and Lebanon's ruling elite. It has shone a spotlight on 72-year-old Salameh's ties to ruling politicians, whose backing for him has only started to fray in recent months as European investigations progressed. Interpol has issued a Red Notice and uploaded his picture on its website. France has declared him a wanted man. Some Lebanese ministers and leading politicians now say he must quit, although others have remained silent, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Salameh, who has long described the accusations as an attempt to scapegoat him for Lebanon's meltdown, has shown no sign of stepping down early. "My conscience is clear. I know these accusations are incorrect," he told Al Hadath TV last week, adding that he would leave office if a court ruled against him. Many Lebanese for years viewed Salameh, who took up his post in 1993 after a career at Merrill Lynch, as the linchpin of a financial system that afforded them a standard of living that was incongruous with Lebanon's frail economy. But in 2019 Lebanon's economic system crashed under the weight of state corruption and profligate spending by ruling factions, and many Lebanese have heaped blame on Salameh for the country's collapsing currency and crippled banking system. REVERSAL OF FORTUNES It is a dramatic reversal for a man once feted for steering Lebanon through the global financial crisis and who was a prominent speaker at international banking conferences. Now, he is rarely seen in public and a source close to him said he spends most of his time inside the central bank, receiving few guests and leaving only when necessary. "He can't be in public places, or private visits, or conferences, or his many homes," the source said. Salameh did not respond to questions on this. The investigations centre on commissions which the central bank charged banks on the purchase of government securities, the proceeds from which went to Forry Associates, a company controlled by Raja Salameh, Salameh's brother. The Salameh brothers deny diverting or laundering any public funds and deny any wrongdoing. The probes have provided a glimpse into Salameh's life, including his relationship with a Ukrainian woman - Anna Kosakova - with whom he has a daughter. French prosecutors said in December they had placed Kosakova under investigation on suspicion of aggravated money laundering as part of the probe. Kosakova and her lawyer in France did not respond to requests by Reuters for comments for this article or to previous requests. As part of its investigation, France's judiciary has summoned Salameh's brother Raja and one of Salameh's assistants, Marianne Howayek. In another probe, a Lebanese judge questioned Lebanese actress Stephanie Saliba in December over suspicions Salameh bought her luxury property using ill-gotten gains, among the list of accusations against him the governor denies. A lawyer for Howayek did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Saliba, who also did not respond, said in a video on social media after her interrogation that she had suffered an injustice without mentioning any accusations against her. Interpol's Red Notice for Salameh cited charges of money laundering, fraud and participation in a criminal association with a view to committing offences punishable by 10 years of imprisonment. GOVERNOR TO FIGHT ON Salameh has vowed to challenge the French warrant, issued after he failed to attend a Paris hearing where prosecutors had been expected to press preliminary fraud and money laundering charges. He said the warrant violated the law. Germany has also issued a warrant for Salameh on charges including forgery, money laundering and embezzlement, a Lebanese judge said. The Munich public prosecutor's office acknowledged it was involved in the case but said it did not comment as a matter of principle on warrants that have been applied for or issued. Salameh told Reuters he had not received any notification from Germany. Salameh, his brother Raja and Howayek were charged in Lebanon with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment in February. But critics have long doubted how seriously the case would be pursued in Lebanon, where politicians can have sway over the judiciary. The judiciary's independence is enshrined in the constitution, yet even Lebanon's top judge complained of meddling last year. Lebanon's justice minister and the deputy prime minister have both said Salameh should quit now. But Environment Minister Nasser Yassin told Reuters opinions in the cabinet were divided at a meeting on Monday. "What's surreal is that despite everything, he's still not willing to step down," Yassin said. (Additional reporting by Friederike Heine in Germany; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Edmund Blair) Dance transcends the arena stage for Larry and Laurent Bourgeois, otherwise known as Les Twins. While our favorite duo continue to impress audiences on Beyonces Renaissance World Tour, they have taken up other avenues to spread positivity and make a difference. The Les Twins feel passionate about improving the literacy rate in children. They fear a disconnect among youth to read and write, which may only worsen with emerging technology such as ChatGPT. As AfroTech previously told you, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) robot was created to resemble a conversation and can analyze words from the user to create a text-based response. Forbes reports 43% of college students have used AI resources such as ChatGPT, and half of those students admitted to turning in assignments or exams with the help of those resources. While showing promise, the technology is also raising concerns for potential negative outcomes. We have worked with so many children in our lives, Les Twins told AfroTech in an email interview. They touch us the most because it feels like we were just one of those kids looking for something to build our confidence. Since text messaging became popular and now with ChatGBT, literacy is lost. Less and less students want to read and write. The pair strive to ensure that youth do not neglect basic skills such as reading and writing. Their passion in this space centers on their belief that literacy can spark creativity, which can lead to greater confidence and improved mental health. They are aligning their mission with Kids Write Network (KWN), a program that encourages a six-step process, researched by McGill University, and merges positive psychology with neuroscience, according to a press release. Furthermore, the program exposes children to the beauty in writing and movement by employing dance with the Les Twins during the RISE for Mental Health Tour (RMH). We all know you need to write music, write choreography, and illustrate art when we develop choreography, we need a map, otherwise can you imagine what a show would look like? Les Twins explained. This is what the KWN has done with literacy; they created a map to help children understand themselves better and build the bridge between literacy and well-being. The students do the writing part of the program, and we show them how to use it through creative movement. Currently, the joint effort has captured the attention of 500 schools and hospitals since its launch in November 2022 in Montreal, Canada. According to the press release, it is the only mental health program that has been folded into school curricula. What we are doing is revolutionary because we are combining a specific science with our art that has participants walking away feeling a sense of freedom they never felt before, Les Twins said. Photo Credit: Connor Heisenberg McCollam Looking ahead, KWN plans to expand into a digital platform supported by AI. Specifically, augmented and virtual reality will be implemented to improve cognitive thinking and to support students who experience barriers participating in the workshops. This technology will allow users to build their profile that will create a space for them to be able to feel included in our workshops without having to be in a crowd that would otherwise make them feel uncomfortable, Les Twins expressed. This technology can help people who are differently abled to move and express themselves in ways previously not possible. AR/VR can allow people to experience certain types of sensory therapy as well without incurring the costs of buying or renting the physical equipment required. This can also help students prepare for potentially stressful or traumatic situations, allowing them to develop the confidence and coping skills before the real-life experience occurs. We are the first ever AR/VR experience that is an innovative science for mental health that uses art as the solution at your fingertips. A level of closure: Mom of 2-year-old who died in hot car reacts to news her ex wont be retried Ross Harris former wife said she can now put his murder case behind her after the Cobb County D.A. announced Thursday that they will not retry the case. Harris was initially convicted of intentionally leaving his son, 22-month-old Cooper Harris, in a hot car for seven hours in 2014, which led to his death. Prosecutors argued that Harris was having multiple extramarital affairs, some with underage girls, and wanted to get out of fatherhood and marriage. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Defense attorneys argued that Harris was a good father who simply forgot to drop his son off at daycare on his way to work. The Georgia Supreme Court later reversed the murder convictions, letting other charges having to do with Harris communication with teenage girls stand. RELATED STORIES On Friday, Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell spoke to a lawyer for Leanna Harris Taylor, Ross Harris ex-wife and Coopers mother, about the D.A.s decision not to retry the case. Attorney Lawrence Zimmerman said the news is closure for Taylor, who can now focus on keeping his memory alive and in peace, something she hasnt been able to do for nearly 10 years. At the end of the day, a child died, and its a terrible tragedy, Zimmerman said. It destroyed the family. She always believed he never intentionally tried to hurt her child. Thats the bottom line. Zimmerman said that despite the bad actions in their marriage, Taylor always thought Harris was a good father. The Georgia Supreme Court overturned the murder and child cruelty convictions against Harris last summer, saying that evidence of his affairs should not have been admissible in court. Nearly a year later, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady has decided not to retry Harris despite the fact that they disagree with the Supreme Courts decision. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Broady cited the fact that motive evidence used during the first trial is no longer available due to the Supreme Courts decision as his reason for not take Harris to trial again. Zimmerman said that when the Supreme Court opinion came out, Taylor felt her ex-husband was vindicated. Its a level of closure, Zimmerman said. This chapter of her life is officially closed, but obviously, she will never get over the pain of losing her son and how she lost her son. An elected Fayette County official with a long history of legal troubles has been served a temporary order that requires him to stay away from and not contact a former elected official who served on the same conservation board. Christopher Rowe, an author and former Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, filed a petition this week for an interpersonal protection order against Matt Miniard, who was first elected to the district in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. The temporary interpersonal protection order was issued after Miniard drove by Rowes home and threatened Rowe and his wife. On Wednesday, Fayette Family Court Judge Tiffany Yahr issued a civil summons requiring Miniard to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. June 1. In the meantime, Miniard cant approach Rowe or his wife or contact him directly or through a third party, according to court documents. Also on June 1, Miniard is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. on an unrelated criminal stalking charge involving one of Miniards tenants, according to court records. Miniard did not immediately return emails seeking comment. In his petition for the interpersonal protection order, Rowe said Miniard drove by his home more than once in early May. On May 11 around 3:30 p.m. Miniard drove by Rowes home and stopped. Miniard returned, stopped in front our house, and yelled my name. I wasnt sure who it was so I asked and he replied, Matt Miniard. He then proceeded to verbally abuse me, referring to me as a piece of s--- and a coward, according to Rowes petition. Rowe then told Miniard he was calling the police. He then said, Im going to f---ing kill you, and finally drove away, according to Rowes petition. Rowe said he has also talked with police and the Fayette County attorneys office about pursuing criminal charges against Miniard. Rowe, who was first elected through a write-in ballot to the board in 2016, said he resigned from the position in 2022 because of Miniard. I left because it got to be too much, Rowe said of Miniards actions on the board. Rowe frequently stood up to Miniard during board meetings when Miniard would verbally attack staff, he said. No way to remove Miniard This isnt Miniards first run-in with the law or his first time being accused of harassment of elected Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors and staff. The Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District helps connect people with programs and resources for various conservation efforts. The elected supervisors, who serve for four years, are not paid. Fayette Countys district was recently awarded as one of the best in the state. Its a position that garners very little interest from voters and is the last race on the ballot. The first three or four people on the ballot are elected, according to Rowe. There are times when not enough people run for the position and a state conservation board has to appoint someone. Even with Miniards pending charges, it appears nothing can be done to remove him from elected office, said John Wright, the chairman of the conservation district. It takes away from the very valuable work we are doing at the conservation district, Wright said. I am afraid we are going to lose the staff that has made the conservation district so successful. According to Kentucky law, once someone is elected to a soil and water conservation district seat, there is no mechanism to remove a supervisor for disruptive behavior or for being charged or convicted of a crime. The only way to do so is if the General Assembly votes to impeach him. Rowe said he understands that due to political reasons, theres reasons why its not easy to remove an elected official. There has to be a better way to remove bad actors and respect the electoral process as well, Rowe said. Fayette County conservation board members have written state legislators to ask if they would support legislation that would allow local boards to remove a member. That removal would have to be approved by the state Soil and Water Conservation Commission, achieving a balance between the interest of the district and their members, according to a January letter the district supervisors sent to Frankfort legislators. Wright said their proposal has received a tepid response so far in Frankfort. We have talked with people at the state level and theres been very little interest, Wright said. We are going to keep pushing. Miniard sues the board Miniard sued the district and some of his fellow supervisors twice in 2022. Both cases were dismissed. Miniard has appealed the decision, according to court records. Miniard, who filed the lawsuits without an attorney, accused the district of an assortment of things, including removing him from committees and failing to comply with open records requests allegations the districts lawyers have denied. According to exhibits attached to those lawsuits, Miniard called, texted or emailed conservation district staff more than 30 times from November 2018 to March 2022, often threatening staff. Some of those 30 communications include: Nov 8, 2018: Called and demanded to know what his powers were as new supervisor and how much he would be paid Jan. 8 to Feb. 11, 2020: Called, texted or emailed staff at least six different times for a copy of a lease between the district and the United States Department of Agriculture. Staff told him on Jan. 8 that information was kept by the federal government and gave him contact information. He still repeatedly asked the staff for the same information. Feb. 18, 2020: Texted staff again and it was so broken and belligerent that it could not be understood, according to an exhibit filed in reply to a court document. April 6, 2020: Demanded the supervisors meeting be canceled because he did not have video conferencing capabilities. April 14, 2020: After being sent the meeting link three different times, Miniard said he could not find the link. Staff sent it to him a fourth time. April 14, 2020: Miniard questioned new anti-bullying and harassment policies and threatened to sue any supervisor who tries to correct him or enforce the policies that he had just voted to approve. June 9, 2020: When confronted with documented acts of bullying against staff during a board meeting, Miniard admitted to committing one to three acts of aggression but not 30, according to a spreadsheet of interactions between Miniard and staff. June 9, 2020: Suggested Heather Silvanik, the operations manager for the district, work during her maternity leave. June 10-October 2020: Raised concerns about Silvanik while she was on maternity leave and demanded termination for insubordination. Jan. 1, 2021: Began aggressively shouting at employees and board members verbally attacking (Silvanik) asking for proof of his acts of harassment and bullying, claiming the (Silvanik) should be terminated due to insubordination. In court documents, Miniard claims Silvanik and the board are trying to prevent him from doing his duties as a supervisor. Due to his sometimes aggressive behavior, Wright is the main person that deals with Miniard. Other legal troubles Miniard has been accused of improper conduct outside of his duties on the conservation district and is currently facing a stalking second degree charge involving one of his tenants. According to a May 4 arrest citation, Miniard told his tenant he would shoot him on two separate dates at two different locations. The tenant alleges Miniard has been trying to evict him by turning off his electricity and removing his belongings from his room, according to a citation filed by the court. Miniard has also served time in jail for assault, according to court records. In July 2012, his then-girlfriend, whom he has a child with, filed for a protective order. In August he was arrested for violating that protective order. In September he was sentenced to 90 days for violating that protection order, fourth degree assault and terroristic threatening. In 2013, he served 90 days for fourth degree assault against his girlfriend. He also filed a complaint against the girlfriend, alleging she had knocked his glasses off his head, according to court documents. Miniard has said he entered an Alford plea pertaining to the domestic violence charges. An Alford plea means the defendant does not admit guilt but admits the evidence could lead to a conviction. In addition to running for the soil and water conservation district, Miniard ran unsuccessfully for council at-large in 2018 and 2022. Miniard has repeatedly claimed the justice system is broken and does not work. The system is so rigged you cant win, Miniard told the Herald-Leader in 2018. Emily Warner, left, holds a sign protesting a Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola as people make public comments on the Regional Transit Plan (RTP), and whether or not to remove the gondola from the plan, during a Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting at the WFRC in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Despite the majority of public commenters who showed up to oppose the gondola at the meeting, the WFRC voted against removing the gondola from the Regional Transit Plan (RTP.) | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News After what could be the most contentious meeting to date, the Wasatch Front Regional Council on Thursday voted to approve a regional transportation plan that includes a gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon, despite the Utah Department of Transportation not yet giving the project an official green light. However the gondola was included with some conditions, after a motion passed with unanimous support that approved the plan while emphasizing a phased approach to the future of transportation in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It passed after Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson proposed a motion to remove the gondola from the plan, which ultimately failed after only receiving two yes votes, one from Wilson and one from Holladay Mayor Robert Dahle. Related Specifically, the council supports prioritizing the first two phases phase one is increased busing, widening the road and tolling private vehicles in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. And phase two is building snow sheds, designed to protect the road from avalanches. Under the motion, those two phases will be implemented and evaluated before advancing to phase three, which is the construction of the gondola and its base station. That aligns with the current environmental impact statement released by UDOT. The gondola is listed in the plan with a phased cost of just over $1 billion, and a 2023 cost of $391 million, putting the overall price tag at nearly $1.4 billion. UDOTs original estimate is $550 million. However, that doesnt include the various operation and maintenance costs that spans years. Jory Johner, Wasatch Front Regional Council director of long range planning, talks about the Regional Transit Plan (RTP) during a WFRC meeting at the WFRC in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The WFRC voted against removing a Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola from the plan. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News A draft regional transportation plan is a long-term strategy for the regions transportation system, set to expire in 2050. The council partners with local governments, transportation agencies, community groups and local stakeholders. It includes things like expanding trails in the foothills and adding a lane to parts of Redwood Road. The future of Little Cottonwood Canyon is a charged issue, evident during Thursdays meeting where roughly 100 people packed into the chamber at the Gateway Mall. Patrick Shea, after addressing the council, walked into the middle of their tables and stood quietly out of protest for the remainder of the public comments, refusing to leave; another man shouted lock him up after Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty spoke in favor of the gondola. A chorus of applause would often follow members of the public who spoke against the gondola, and boos followed the few pro-gondola speakers. Thank you, thanks for listening, one woman said sarcastically before storming out of the meeting. People are really losing faith in government. I think we see that across the country, and this is truly an opportunity for the Wasatch Front Regional Council to step up and do something about that, said Brad Rutledge with the Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, during the 20 minute public comment period. A man listens during a Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting about the Regional Transit Plan (RTP), and whether or not to remove the gondola from the plan, at the WFRC in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Despite the majority of public commenters who showed up to oppose the gondola at the meeting, the WFRC voted against removing the gondola from the Regional Transit Plan (RTP.) | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News We tell ourselves we live in a democracy ... the people are supposed to have some sway. With respect to the gondola, the will of the people has been expressed, said Alta Mayor Roger Bourke. I hope that you err on the side of listening to people on this issue that you do not put this into the proposal and you slow this down, said Kael Weston, former Democratic candidate for US Senate. ... Tax dollars can be better spent on potholes in their area rather than a gondola. Rafferty, Snowbird General Manager Dave Fields, and CW Management founder Chris McCandless whose organizations are all a part of Gondola Works, the group pushing the project were the only three who spoke in favor of the gondola. This winter demonstrated better than ever the need for a transportation system in Little Cottonwood Canyon that does not rely on vehicles, said Fields. Rafferty said he supports the gondola and UDOT in general, commending them for a process that I believe UDOT has been very diligent about. But the overwhelming majority of public commenters spoke against it, some representing groups like Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, Save Our Canyons, or the outdoor retail company Patagonia. Carl Fisher, Save Our Canyons executive director, gives public comment on the Regional Transit Plan (RTP) opposing a gondola during a Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting at the WFRC in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Despite the majority of public commenters who showed up to oppose the gondola at the meeting, the WFRC voted against removing the gondola from the Regional Transit Plan (RTP.) | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Ultimately, the plan was approved with the $1.4 billion project, which at eight miles would be the longest gondola in the world. Though some members on the council may not approve of the gondola, says Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, removing it from the plan risked jeopardizing the 1,000 other projects that it outlines. If we had voted to exclude the gondola, it would not have killed the gondola. ... All that would accomplish is litigation, delay, and the effect of that on our fast-growing state would delay projects that are necessary to improve congestion and air quality, Silverstrini told the Deseret News after the meeting. The basis for that concern was a legal memo obtained by the Deseret News that argues if the council omits certain projects from the plan, the Federal Highway Administration could deny the plan in its entirety. Joe Ivory Mattingly, a resident of Little Cottonwood Caynon for 34 years, gives public comment on the Regional Transit Plan (RTP) opposing the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola during a Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting at the WFRC in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Despite the majority of public commenters who showed up to oppose the gondola at the meeting, the WFRC voted against removing the gondola from the Regional Transit Plan (RTP.) | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News In short, WFRC would risk losing its authority over the scope of the RTP if it omits from the Plan a project that other stakeholders view as regionally significant, the memo reads. However the memos legal standing was questioned by Wilson who said her counsel reviewed it and identified holes. We, in our review with legal input, did not find a relevant statute or regulation that states specifically that the EIS overrides an MPOs (Metropolitan Planning Organization), in this case the Wasatch Front Regional Councils, discretion in deciding what or what cannot be in an RTP, she said, before voting on her failed motion to remove the gondola. Theres no federal law saying you cant exclude that from the regional transportation plan. ... That is the whole basis for this vote, and there is no federal law saying that, said one man as he angrily left the meeting. The gondola was selected by UDOT in August after a lengthy environmental review, where more than 13,000 people submitted public comments during one of the periods. However the final record of decision has not been released yet, meaning the gondola plan as we know it could be subject to change. It is expected to come this summer, a UDOT spokesperson confirmed Thursday. The regional transportation plan, or RTP, reflects the current status of the federally-mandated EIS process; if that process ultimately results in a modified approach, the RTP will be changed to reflect that modified approach, according to council documents. 'Little House on the Prairie' star Melissa Gilbert spends night in ER after nasty bug bite 'Little House on the Prairie' star Melissa Gilbert spends night in ER after nasty bug bite Melissa Gilbert revealed that a scary bug bite sent her to the ER. The actress, who famously starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House on the Prairie," took to Instagram to share that she had been rushed to a hospital in New York after a bug had bitten her, causing her arm to completely swell. Gilbert, 59, revealed the bite was not from a "bee or wasp" but another "flying insect." Gilbert's doctor and her husband, Timothy Busfield, urged her to "hightail" it to the emergency room after her arm continued to swell. APP USERS CLICK HERE "A Public Service Announcement: Well that was a fun night in the ER (she said with dripping sarcasm)," Gilbert captioned the post of her hand in an IV and a close-up shot of her swollen arm. "Two days ago a flying insect (not bee or wasp) bit my arm. By last night my arm was incredibly swollen, red and hot." MELISSA GILBERT SAYS 'NO MORE' TO PLASTIC SURGERY: 'I'M TRYING TO EMBRACE THIS PROCESS OF AGING' READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP She continued, "Called my [doctor and] he suggested we hightail it to the ER. I was gonna wait but [Timothy] said, Absolutely not. We are going! After many tests I was diagnosed with an abscess and cellulitis." According to the Mayo Clinic, cellulitis is "a common, potentially serious bacterial skin infection. The affected skin is swollen and inflamed and is typically painful and warm to the touch." Melissa Gilbert revealed that she was rushed to the emergency room after a bug bite. Gilbert's doctors began treating her with an "IV of clindamycin, Benedryl and acetaminophen," which she said "immediately" made the infected area feel better. "Still kept me up all night. Starting antibiotics, Benedryl and ibuprofen orally today," she clarified. Gilbert urged her social media followers to use her case as a lesson to take bug bites seriously. Timothy Busfield and wife Melissa Gilbert in 2018. Timothy Busfield urged wife Melissa Gilbert to go to the emergency room after her arm began to swell. "The lesson-take bug bites seriously! If it swells up like crazy (my whole upper arm was swollen!), dont wait to get treated, thinking its just a little bite. How bad can it get? Go to your dr or urgent care or the ER. Im serious!" she continued. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Back in the days of #lauraingallswilder, this wouldve meant death or amputation. Theres treatment available. So now Im going to take my meds and rest like the good bunny I am. Stupid bug bite," Gilbert concluded, before thanking the staff at Bon Secours hospital in Port Jervis, NY. In May 2022, Gilbert shared with Fox News Digital that she and her husband had moved to upstate New York and proudly embraced their country home where they grow their own food and raise chickens. Melissa Gilbert moved to upstate New York in 2018. "We bought this place in the winter of 2018. We began cleaning it and making it livable shortly thereafter," Gilbert told Fox News Digital last year. "We were taking it apart and wiping it down. I think at that time I knew it could be a home once we got it together. It had no heat, and the plumbing was kind of wonky. We had to empty all the stuff that was in the house, because it was fully furnished, I mean, to the point where there was cereal in the cabinets and soap in the shower. It was like the people had just wrapped up out of the house, and it sat there for decades like that," she said. The office of ERTC Express in Tampa, Fla. on May 17, 2023. (Bob Croslin/The New York Times) In early February, federal prosecutors in Utah accused Zachary Bassett and Mason Warr of cheating the U.S. government out of millions of dollars. The accounting firm they operated had submitted more than 1,000 fraudulent tax forms to the IRS on behalf of businesses trying to claim pandemic-era stimulus funds, the prosecutors said. COS Accounting and Tax shut down later that month, leaving businesses and taxpayers that had paid the firm to help them claim federal money trying to figure out what had happened and why they were suddenly receiving audit notices from the IRS. Amid the onset of the pandemic in 2020, as large swaths of the economy went into lockdown, Washington set up various programs to help keep businesses and their workers afloat. Among them was the Employee Retention Credit, a tax benefit that was created as part of the initial $2 trillion pandemic relief legislation. The program offered businesses thousands of dollars per employee if they could show that COVID-19 was hurting their bottom lines and that they were continuing to pay workers. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The money was intended to be a lifeline for struggling companies. Instead, it has become a magnet for fraud, creating a cottage industry of firms that market themselves as tax credit specialists who can help clients even those who dont qualify for the money reap huge refunds from the IRS. Although the public health emergency is over, taxpayers can continue to apply for the tax credit until 2025. That has fueled a run for the money and the proliferation of financial service providers, who often charge hefty upfront fees or take cuts of around 25% of any tax refund. The tax credit has become so popular that it is turning out to be far more costly than expected. In 2021, after Congress expanded eligibility, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the credit would cost the federal government about $85 billion over a decade up from an earlier estimate of $55 billion. Even that turned out to be an underestimation: The IRS said it had already paid out $152 billion in refunds associated with the tax credit and had a backlog of about 800,000 applications that it was trying to process. The IRS does not yet know how many of the approved refunds were based on fraudulent applications. But it has begun ramping up efforts to root out scams and focusing additional scrutiny on filings from firms that appear suspicious. On Thursday, the IRS issued a warning to businesses to be on the lookout for scams related to the tax credit, saying it was fueling a flood of invalid applications. These are Johnny-come-latelies showing up, and theyre pushing this product, pushing this activity, in a way that is unethical, Douglas ODonnell, the deputy commissioner of services and enforcement at the IRS, said in an interview. It is drawing businesses into a trap that they will then be claiming a credit that they are not entitled to. ODonnell warned that those who received refunds but were ineligible for the money would have to repay the funds with penalties. He said the IRS was aggressively auditing taxpayers who collected the refunds and the firms that processed them. He estimated that hundreds and possibly thousands of tax credit mills had popped up across the country in the last three years. They seem to be everywhere, ODonnell said. The tax credits are less well known than the more popular Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans to cover payroll, rent and utility expenses during the pandemic. But for eligible taxpayers, they have the potential to provide a substantial windfall in the form of a tax refund. Businesses, including nonprofit organizations and churches, can seek up to $26,000 for each employee on the payroll if they can show that their operations were fully or partially suspended in 2020 or part of 2021 and report a significant decline in their revenues during that time. However, the fine print that determines if a business is eligible is complicated, and the IRS is concerned that firms that are processing applications for the credit at high volume are overlooking important restrictions in order to rake in bigger refunds and commissions. For instance, the IRS is concerned about taxpayers dipping into multiple pots of relief money and said many tax preparation firms are not telling clients that they cannot claim the tax credit on wages if they also received money to cover payroll costs through the Paycheck Protection Program. The ballooning cost of the program is exacerbating Americas precarious fiscal situation. The White House and Republican lawmakers are locked in a bitter fight over raising the debt ceiling, which caps how much money the United States can borrow. The Treasury Department has estimated that the government could run out of cash as soon as June 1 and has resorted to accounting maneuvers so that it can keep paying its bills. Treasury officials last month pointed to the Employee Retention Credit payouts as a reason that federal tax revenues are more meager than expected. Lawmakers have been debating clawing back some unused pandemic relief funds as part of the debt limit and budget negotiations, but the tax credit does not appear to be part of those discussions. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., sent the IRS a letter this month urging it to clear its backlog and issue refunds faster. More applications for tax credits are coming in every day as firms continue to blitz social media sites and TV and radio stations with ads touting the ease of getting federal money. In some cases, the firms are cold-calling potential customers. Since October, about 9,000 advertisements promoting application services for employee retention tax credits have been airing on national cable and broadcast television networks, according to Vivvix/CMAG, an ad-tracking firm. About three-quarters of those were sponsored by one of the biggest players in the industry, Innovation Refunds, which advertises on networks such as CNBC and claims that it takes just eight minutes for the firm to determine if an applicant is eligible. The firm says it has helped businesses claim more than $1 billion in payroll tax refunds. That easy, a narrator says in one of the ads. But its only available for a limited time. Innovation Refunds, which takes a 25% cut of whatever refund a customer receives from the IRS, uses a network of tax attorneys to review the applications and process the forms. It received financing from the investment firm Raistone to expand its ability to advertise and process more amended tax returns. If you dont have the knowledge, then youre not going to seek this out, said Mireille Rosselli, a spokesperson for Innovation Refunds. Were on a shot clock. Rosselli added that Innovation Refunds had a rigorous system of vetting applications: Our process is designed to deliver what Congress has intended to do: ensure that only eligible businesses apply for and receive government incentives and credits. Firms providing employee retention tax credit services use different models. Some do not have certified public accountants on staff and rely instead on lawyers, offshore workers or software to crunch the numbers. Others rely on customers to attest that they are eligible for the tax credits, leaving those customers more liable in the event of an audit. Brian Anderson, who has a background in software, co-founded ERTC Express in 2021 after learning that traditional accountants did not seem to have the time to help their clients go through the cumbersome process of applying for the credits. His business, which has offices in Atlanta and Tampa, Florida, has a team of in-house accountants and a more rigorous monthlong process to determine if a client is eligible to apply. Customers can pay either an upfront fee or a percentage of their refund. Its complex to figure out the answer to the question of, are you eligible, said Anderson, estimating that about one-third of his potential clients do not qualify. If youre not eligible, its a lot of work for nothing. The IRS acknowledges that applying for the tax credit is a complicated process, made more difficult by the fact it must be done by amending previous tax returns using paper forms. The agency cautions that firms that say the process can be accomplished quickly and easily are likely misleading their customers. Traditional accountants have been watching with concern as applications for the Employee Retention Credit have boomed. Many have since been hired to help taxpayers who suddenly find themselves under IRS scrutiny. These guys are preying on people, promising the moon, said Mark Wagner, an accountant who is based near Dallas. If your sales did not meet the criteria for the credit, then you have to pay the credit back, plus penalties, plus interest. A lawyer for Bassett, who pleaded not guilty, said COS Accounting and Tax took seriously its responsibilities to comply with the IRS requirements when applying for benefits for their clients. The lawyer, Kathryn Nester, explained that the regulations and guidance about the credit were not often clear and were revised frequently. That has provided little solace for clients of the business that have been looking for answers about their applications or left to contend with audits. Wanchai Chab was working for a Utah-based company selling pest control supplies in California in 2020. Because he had set up a limited liability company, he was advised that he could apply for the Employee Retention Credit through COS Accounting and Tax. He paid $500 upfront and was told that he would get a credit of $3,500. But instead of getting a big refund, Chab, 25, received an audit notice this year and ended up having to pay additional taxes. Fortunately for Chab, the IRS did not penalize him, because he never received the credit. The auditor said she understood what was going on and knew of lots of people who got ripped off like this, Chab said. c.2023 The New York Times Company A higher proportion of pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs have closed in central London than in most other British cities since the pandemic, according to new research. Data from consultants CGA and AlixPartners suggests the number of licensed premises since March 2020 declined 12% in British cities. However, in central London it fell 15.6%, the third highest percentage. This is equivalent to 540 closures, or one every two days. Even in the most recent quarter from December 2022 to March 2023, the number of venues in central London dropped by a further 1%. The cost-of-living crisis has also affected other hospitality businesses, including some big chains. Italian restaurant chain Prezzo announced it would shut a third of its restaurants after being hit by rising costs for pizza and pasta ingredients and energy. The scale of closures. [ 15.6% fewer licensed premises in central London than March 2020 ] [ 1% fewer venues than in December 2022 ], Source: Source: CGA & AlixPartners, March 2023, Image: Images showing padlocked pub doors. Karl Chessell, director of CGA, said: "The pandemic had a devastating impact on the hospitality sector and London was hit particularly hard with a reliance on office workers and tourists to help drive sales." But Mr Chessell said the good news was that "consumers continue to eat and drink out and hospitality is seen as an affordable treat that consumers want to prioritise". Among London businesses struggling is Spice Box, which started seven years ago as a street food stall before its owner, Grace Regan, opened two restaurants in east London. However, she had to close her Leytonstone venue last year, and on the night I visited her she was closing her Walthamstow restaurant too. No choice left "It's a really emotional day," she said, adding that the rising cost of living was making the business "unviable". "Since Covid, we've seen about a 30% reduction in revenue and on top of that I've seen a 15% increase in the cost of goods - that's food, takeaway packaging, drinks and energy of course - that's all impacting," she continued. She said this drop in customers, teamed with rising costs, had left her no choice but to close up. Grace Regan said her customers tell her they're visiting less "because of the cost of living - they have had less money to spend on eating out" Adrian Mills, who runs Thai Tho in the heart of Soho in central London, says customers are still coming in but are more cautious about what they order. "We have noticed that in this restaurant, [customers] have one glass, not one bottle of wine. They will miss out on a starter, they will miss out on dessert, they've scaled back on their spend," he said. He says he has "sleepless nights worrying" - partly because the amount business spends on oil, meat and other produce is up 25-30% and wage bills are higher; as are rents. "We were paying 27,000 per year for electric, that's now 70,000," he added. 'Never known a harder time' After VAT, business rates and other bills, it's also much harder to make a profit and Mr Mills said the break-even point for the restaurant was now about 20,000 a week. "I've been involved in hospitality and in 30 years we've never known a harder, more difficult time. People will survive, but there will be hundreds of casualties going forward," he added. Back in Walthamstow, Ms Regan says she has lots of friends in the industry who are struggling: "I don't know anyone that's not on the brink of having to close down their business." She's now selling her curries and dahls in retail pouches and hopes to get them into supermarkets, but her restaurants have become the latest of many shutting their doors in the capital. Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk Major work set to begin on Bellevilles Public Square. How long will roads be closed? If youre driving through downtown Belleville this summer, look for detours while Illinois American Water replaces nearly 75-year-old water main pipes under the Veterans Memorial Fountain. Work at the Public Square at the intersection of Main and Illinois streets is expected to begin June 5 and is scheduled to be finished by early September, the water company said in a news release Thursday. Businesses will be able to remain open during the $1 million project but the iconic Veterans Memorial Fountain inside the traffic circle will be turned off during the project. Water main lines will be replaced on Illinois Street from A Street to Washington Street and on Main Street from First Street to High Street. Temporary road closures are anticipated to begin in early June, according to the news release. A marked detour with visible signage will be in place in the downtown area to safely guide motorists around the closure. Illinois American said commuters can expect temporary delays and suggested they consider alternate routes. There could be adjustments in road closures or traffic patterns as the project moves forward, the company said in an additional statement. Any changes-adjustments would be coordinated closely with the City of Belleville. Public and contractor safety is critical. Christina Jackson, a real estate agent who has an office with Nester Realty at 12 E. Main St., said she hopes businesses in the work zone will be able to maintain foot traffic when the streets are closed. Jackson acknowledges that its necessary to keep water main lines in good condition while noting that customers to local businesses might have to walk a bit farther to get where theyre going. Water main replacement Illinois American Water describes the work as important and necessary. The water lines being replaced are approximately 75 years old, the Illinois American news release stated. The original line was installed in 1949 with additions in 1955. The project will replace 1,700 feet of aging water main with new 12-inch ductile iron pipe. The work schedule was designed to avoid large street festivals such as Art on the Square, which concluded Sunday, and the Belleville Shriners Parade set for June 2. Bellevilles Oktoberfest is scheduled for Sept. 15 and 16. Jeff King, engineering manager for Illinois American Water, said in the news release the project is part of our proactive strategy to replace aging water infrastructure in the metro-east. We recognize this is a temporary disruption locally but its essential that this water main be replaced, King said. We are working to minimize inconveniences and complete the project this summer. Pioneer settler John Dixons house on Mercer Boulevard, built 1873, remodeled from Italian influence to Greek Revival. CHARLEVOIX One hundred fifty years ago, the May 24, 1873 Charlevoix Sentinel reported on the construction of one of Charlevoixs finest houses, still standing on Mercer Boulevard at C & O Club Drive overlooking Lake Charlevoix. It was built for pioneer settler John Dixon and his wife Phoebe directly above their second home, down below closer to the lake and todays Depot Beach. The Dixons had arrived here in 1855 only to be chased away for fear of their lives by the violent Mormons of Beaver Island not too long after arrival. Their rustic home stood where the Edgewater Inn is today. After the Mormons were forced off the island in the wake of the assassination of their dictatorial leader King James Strang a year later, the Dixons returned. John, a brilliant businessman, went on to become one of the most influential men ever to set down roots here. Dixon Avenue is of course named after him, since he ended up owning a huge portion of the north side of town. ARCHITECURAL.Hon. J. S. Dixons new residence is being pushed rapidly toward completion. The site . . . commands a sightly view of Pine Lake (Lake Charlevoix). The building is 36 feet square, of the Italian style of architecture, and is to be surmounted by a cupola eleven feet square. A wide piazza passes around the east and south sides, and a large bay window opens to the north. The article goes on to describe the large cellar, divided into root room, wash room, and milk room. The cellar is accessible from the ground level by a large double door, and is lighted by full size double windows. Master wagon maker David Nettleton, sparkplug behind the cutting of our two channels four years prior, was the builder. The house was later used by the Chicago & West Michigan Railway, which arrived here in 1892, to serve as housing for many of the kitchen staff of The Inn, the gigantic 250-room hotel it constructed next door, opened in 1898. In Michigan, only the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island was bigger. A few decades later, the house was remodeled into the structure as it appears today by the Withers family, who owned Monts Cafe on Bridge Street, now the site of GaGa for Kids and Celeste Murdicks Fudge. Retired Dr. James Gels and his wife Carol are the current owners. Subscribe: Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you Speaking of the channels, the same issue contained a lengthy article by editor Willard Smith on the importance of receiving federal assistance to maintain the channels now that they were a reality. The government had refused to help with the 1869 cutting, mistakenly claiming huge costs and the near proximity of three first class natural harbors. Hello, where might they be? Turned out over on Lake Huron. Another Pine River was over there, wishing to make its own harbor, and during the governmental review process the requests got mixed up. (This was not the first time that would happen, to our detriment.) But Charlevoix ignored the refusal, went ahead and completed the project anyhow, for less than $1,500. Best thing that ever happened to the place. Now we had to keep the waterways open, which meant constant dredging, in order to make Round Lake an official harbor of refuge. But the government ignored us. The commerce of the region at that time was primitive almost to insignificance; and its agricultural development was in its infancy. Therefore, no argument could be found on which to base an appeal for an appropriation. Our people have become fully aware of the fact that systematic harbor improvement must soon take place. Our imports and exports have increased more than ten-fold, rendering a harbor (in other words, a real functioning harbor) necessary. Our village and region have attained a prominence parallel with points that have received large endowments from the Government. The State has acknowledged the justice of our demands. We are confident that our hopes concerning this will be realized ($25,000 requested). Let us cling with tenacity to the plow-handle, looking not back, but forward, to the certain consummation of our hopes. The tedious delay has only the effect of engendering strength, and bringing the ball of improvement with greater velocity and power. Willard Smith was relentless, laser-focused, regarding the wellbeing of his adopted home and its potential. He loathed having to take no for an answer. The result? A month later came the first professional dredging of the lower channel to a depth of 12 feet and a width of 35 feet. Larger appropriations and more work were to follow. By April of 1876, Washington finally realized how important Charlevoix and its waterways had become in the formation of the links of the national chain of commerce. In that month, the Pine River channels became waterways officially under the aegis of the federal government. And to avoid any more confusion, the settlement long known as Pine River, but constantly associated and confused with the county name, officially became the city of Charlevoix three years after that. To our readers this issue contains the 600th Looking Back, begun as a 16-week experiment by former Petoskey News-Review reporter Steve Zucker when he began serving as interim Charlevoix Courier editor in June of 2011. Apparently the experiment worked. For a town the size and off-the-beaten-path location of Charlevoix to contain such a stupendous cornucopia of history is astonishing even to the Charlevoix Historical Society. It simply doesnt quit. The society and the Courier would like to express a heartfelt Youre welcome to everyone who has thanked us for this feature, saying how informative it is, how it brightens their day, how it is the first thing they turn to. Each week when I sit down to compose Looking Back, I never know what Im going to find, and select to share. It has been nothing but a pleasure. Heres to many more. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Looking Back celebrates its 600th edition A Louisiana teenager is missing after he went overboard a sunset cruise during a senior trip just days after graduating Bahamian authorities said Cameron Robbins went overboard a sunset cruise near Athol Island, Bahamas on Wednesday evening. Getty Images The Coast Guard is searching for a Louisiana teen who went overboard on a sunset cruise in the Bahamas. Bahamanian authorities told WBRZ they were investigating claims that the boy went into the water on a dare. Cameron Robbins, 18, was on a post-grad trip with friends after graduating over the weekend. A Louisiana teenager who graduated high school last week is now missing after going overboard a sunset cruise in the Bahamas while on a post-grad trip, according to school officials and local authorities. Cameron Robbins, an 18-year-old recent graduate of University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, was traveling with several fellow seniors to the Bahamas this week when an ocean excursion went awry, Abbi Rocha Laymoun, a spokesperson with Louisiana State University, which oversees the University Laboratory School, confirmed to Insider. "The group was full of graduating seniors from the Baton Rouge area visiting Atlantis, on Paradise Island," Laymoun said. The trip was not an official school-sanctioned vacation. Robbins went overboard a small sunset cruise around 9:40 p.m. local time near Athol Island, according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force obtained by ABC News. The Bahamanian police force did not respond to Insider's request for comment. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that its crews were assisting local officials in the search for Robbins. The Royal Bahamas Defense Force told local news outlet WBRZ that it was looking into claims that the teenager went into the water on a dare. The boat reportedly stayed in the area for hours as officials searched for Robbins. WBRZ said it obtained video that appeared to show Robbins swimming in the dark waters alongside the cruise boat next to a life preserver, but the outlet did not publish the footage. Kevin George, director of the University Laboratory School, told WBRZ that Robbins is a "special kid." "He's an athlete, great kid, great smile, great head of hair. Just one of the kids you're so proud of when they cross the stage," George said. In a statement to Insider, George said the school is praying for the best possible outcome. "I have been in touch with Cameron's family and at this time, authorities are still searching for him in the Bahamas," George said. "Our thoughts are with the Robbins family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts as well." Read the original article on Insider There arent many places you can get a glimpse of a polar bear one moment and take in a swinging Hawaiian Luau the next, but you can Saturday at the Museum of Arts and Sciences thanks to the museum and Macon Pops. First for the luau: Macon Pops closes its 10th season Saturday in the museums amphitheater with Hawaiian Swing Revisited, described as big band neo-swing with a Hawaiian twist. Before the music starts, those whove pre-purchased tickets can dine on the luaus roasted hog and trimmings prepared by Satterfields. Sorry, organizers said its too late to get food tickets now but Kona Ice will still be around serving tropical shaved ice and JBA will be on hand with a full bar and tropical cocktails. As for the music, Hawaiian Swing Revisited is built on the Grammy-award nominated Big Kahuna and The Copa Cat Pack Big Band sound created by Macon Pops founders Steve Moretti and Matt Catingub 24 years ago for Concord Records. The band was a standalone group but also worked in support of well-known artists like Rosemary Clooney. The Big Kahuna band played a variety of classic Hawaiian-style tunes in swing-era fashion. We invite everyone to experience the vibe and energy of this music as the Macon Pops Big Band brings back those crazy days, Catingub said. Moretti said the Saturday program is for the whole family and he encouraged bringing lawn chairs and blankets. Weather predictions are for a beautiful day and Susan Welsh, executive director of the museum, said the amphitheater offers some of the best sunset views in Macon. Moretti has said he cant believe its been 10 years since he and Catingub presented the first Macon Pops concert. The support weve gotten has been just amazing and were so glad to be part of the community, he said. We look forward to many more years with specially-themed, fun concerts and more outreach into schools and the community. We pride ourselves in making every concert an experience and Saturday will surely not disappoint. The Pops have ended their season at the museum amphitheater before and Moretti said its the perfect spot. The partnership we have with the museum and team there led by Susan Welsh is just fantastic, he said. And that amphitheater let me tell you its a first-rate concert venue and an amazing hidden gem we love to perform in. Its really a win, win situation. People ought to come early and check out the museum and then enjoy the music. The museums hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. while concert/luau amphitheater gates open at 4 p.m. with the concert at 6 p.m. At-the-gate concert tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. Ticketing and advanced tickets are sold by Macon Pops. Saturday is a great day for a museum visit but so is virtually any other day. Regular admission is free for children under 3, $5 for kids 3-17, and $10 for adults with discounts for students, military and seniors. Museum members are admitted for free. Welsh said the museum was thrilled to host Macon Pops again but also said theres always plenty to do there. This is actually the last weekend to see the Emerging National exhibition, our strongest visual offering of the year showcasing rising stars from across the United States. This year there are four contemporary professional artists representing some of the nations finest undergraduate and graduate art programs. Their work ranges from large-scale abstract paintings and mixed media installations to ceramic sculpture. Also featured in an ongoing display is Georgia-based artist Alfred Contehs 2 Fronts exhibit exploring in large and small format paintings how African diaspora societies in the South are fighting social, economic, educational and psychological wars from within and from without to survive. Conteh uses realism to present both the honest and false narratives of history personified in his colossal, patina-covered figures. Numerous summer programs and mini-camps are set for kids throughout the summer beginning with titles like Pollinator Passion, May 31, and continuing with regular programs like Work of the Heart, Polar Bear Den 2.0, World Oceans Day (June 8), Bird Day and more. Scratching the surface of the museums offerings just slightly deeper, there are also regular animal and reptile shows and displays throughout the year along with planetarium shows and the annual Fulldome Film Festival in conjunction with the Macon Film Festival. There are also outdoor trails and picnic sites as well as the Peyton Anderson Orchard area. We built the amphitheater in the orchard for additional program space for our raptor programs, fly-in bird shows and other programs but its definitely a perfect venue for a wide range of community events, Welsh said. A gift from the Peyton Anderson Foundation allowed us to recover about five overgrown acres in what was a pecan orchard when we bought the property in the 1960s. The amphitheater is there but so is our bat house, bird sanctuary and other things. There are interesting trails here and too often a lot of this seems to be a best-kept secret sort of situation for so many area families. Theres just so much they could be taking advantage of out here. As for that polar bear, Welsh said the preserved, looming, static bear at the entry of the kids section is hands down the favorite selfie spot in the museum. To discover more about the Museum of Arts and Sciences check their site at www.masmacon.com. For more on Macon Pops, go to www.maconpops.com. Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. A three-day search of a remote Portugal reservoir has resulted in the reported discovery of a relevant clue linked to the disappearace of Madeleine McCann. Officers concluded their search of the Algarve reservoir on Thursday, where key suspect Christian Brueckner reportedly visited some days after the three-year-old vanished on May 3, 2007. Using sniffer dogs and a tractor-based tree-cutter, authorities scoured Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve - around 31 miles inland from where the McCanns were staying in the Praia de Luz resort. 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. During the search, a relevant clue was found which led to police officers concentrating on a specific paper, according to the Correio de Manha newspaper. Brueckner has denied any involvement and is currently behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same part of Portugal. Key Points Relevant clue found in search of reservoir How the search was completed Key suspect Christian Brueckner visited reservoir days after disappearance Portugal police give update as search of reservoir closes to an end Relevant clue found in search of reservoir 08:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A three-day search of a remote Portugal reservoir has resulted in the reported discovery of a relevant clue linked to the disappearace of Madeleine McCann. Officers concluded their search of the Algarve reservoir on Thursday, where key suspect Christian Brueckner reportedly visited some days after the three-year-old vanished on May 3, 2007. Using sniffer dogs and a tractor-based tree-cutter, authorities scoured Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve - around 31 miles inland from where the McCanns were staying in the Praia de Luz resort. During the search, a relevant clue was found which led to police officers concentrating on a specific paper, according to the Correio de Manha newspaper. 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. (REUTERS) How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 17:30 , 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? Why has the Madeleine McCann case resurfaced? 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Despite the best efforts of investigators, the McCann case had lain dormant for several years before it suddenly exploded back into life in June 2020. German media revealed that Christian Brueckner, a prisoner, now aged 45, 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. He was reportedly living in a Volkswagen camper van in the Algarve at the time of Madeleines disappearance. German investigators have classified their probe into his movements as a murder inquiry, saying they are working on the assumption that Madeleine is dead. They reported in July 2021 that they had found an abandoned cellar beneath his former allotment near Hanover where she could, theoretically, have been held captive. A search dingy navigates in the Arade dam near Silves, Portugal (AP) Madeleine McCann reservoir search: What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? 16:30 , 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. What do we know about the reservoir being searched by Madeleine McCann investigators? Madeleine McCann search: Police leave holes two feet deep as reservoir hunt ends 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police hunting a remote reservoir in Portugal for evidence linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have left holes around two feet deep. The three-day search was concluded on Thursday after officers were instructed to stand down at the Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve. The remote dam is located around 31 miles from the Praia de Luz resort- the hotel where Madeleine vanished while her parents were at dinner in a tapas bar with friends around 100 yards away from their holiday apartment. Police leave holes two feet deep as Madeleine McCann reservoir search ends Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance 15:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain 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. Madeleine McCann: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him 14:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. 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. 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. (Reuters) ICYMI: How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 14:00 , 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 reservoir search: What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? 13:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. Madeleine McCann police give update as they end search of Portugal reservoir Police flatten area of woodland and dig holes in Madeleine McCann searches 13:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. German prosecutor plays down hope of a breakthrough 12:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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 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: Madeleine McCann: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance Madeleine McCann search: Police leave holes two feet deep as reservoir hunt ends 11:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police hunting a remote reservoir in Portugal for evidence linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have left holes around two feet deep. The three-day search was concluded on Thursday after officers were instructed to stand down at the Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve. The remote dam is located around 31 miles from the Praia de Luz resort- the hotel where Madeleine vanished while her parents were at dinner in a tapas bar with friends around 100 yards away from their holiday apartment. Police leave holes two feet deep as Madeleine McCann reservoir search ends Portugal police end latest search for clues into missing McCann child case, no results released 11:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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 kilometres (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. Portugal police end latest search for clues into missing McCann child case, no results released Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise in Portugal 11:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police have cut down trees and swathes of undergrowth as they continued 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 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: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir 10:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him 10:00 , 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 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 How the search was completed 09:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. 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. Police flatten area of woodland and dig holes in Madeleine McCann searches 09:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. Madeleine McCann police give update as they end search of Portugal reservoir 08:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. 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. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 08:00 , 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? ICYMI: Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise in Portugal 07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police have cut down trees and swathes of undergrowth as they continued 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 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. German prosecutor plays down hope of a breakthrough 07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. Portugal police end latest search for clues into missing McCann child case, no results released 06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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 kilometres (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. Portugal police end latest search for clues into missing McCann child case, no results released How the search was completed 06:00 , William Mata 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. 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. Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him 05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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 Police flatten area of woodland and dig holes in Madeleine McCann searches 05:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. Madeleine McCann police give update as they end search of Portugal reservoir 04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar 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. 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. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 04:00 , William Mata 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. Click here for more information Pictures: Search for Madeleine McCann continues 03:00 , William Mata Personnel at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave (PA) Vehicles and tents of Portugal's investigative Judicial Police are seen at the site of a remote reservoir where a new search for the body of Madeleine McCann is set to take place, in Silves (REUTERS) 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) Personnel at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (PA) Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance 02:00 , William Mata 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 May 3, 2007. For more than 16 years the case has gripped the public attention but while there have been some signs of progress, the investigation has remained unsolved. Here is a reminder of the events of the case. Madeleine McCann (Getty) Watch: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir 01:00 , William Mata Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him Friday 26 May 2023 00:00 , William Mata 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. Read the full story here. Christian Brueckner (Reuters) How the search was completed Thursday 25 May 2023 23:00 , William Mata 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. 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. Personnel at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (PA Wire) German prosecutor plays down hope of a breakthrough Thursday 25 May 2023 22:00 , William Mata 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. Hans Christian Wolters, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in Braunschweig, Germany (Martin Meissner/AP) Madeleine McCann police give update as they end search of Portugal reservoir Thursday 25 May 2023 21:01 , William Mata 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. Members of the media at Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugal after the area was reopened to media (PA Wire) Officers photograph excavation site before police told to stand down Thursday 25 May 2023 14:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police were seen 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. 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. (PA) How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Thursday 25 May 2023 14:30 , 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? ICYMI: Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him Thursday 25 May 2023 14:00 , 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 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 In pictures: Scenes at Portugal reservoir today Thursday 25 May 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain (REUTERS) (PA) Watch: Madeleine McCann: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir Thursday 25 May 2023 13:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Portugal reservoir search to end in hours as police told to stand down' Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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? Thursday 25 May 2023 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? Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Thursday 25 May 2023 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 Portuguese, German and British authorities have ceased their search for items relating to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann a British girl who went missing as a toddler from Praia da Luz , Portugal, 16 years ago. Madeleine was abducted from a ground-floor apartment while on a family vacation in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, when she was three years old. Portugal's Judicial Police said in a Thursday evening statement that a search request from German authorities has been completed and "resulted in the collection of some material that will be subject to" analysis, according to a translation. Items collected during the search will be transported to German authorities for testing in accordance with international rules, Portuguese police said. MADELEINE MCCANN: SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE IN TODDLER'S DISAPPEARANCE CONTINUES IN PORTUGAL WITH K9S, DIVERS Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 from her family's apartment in Portugal. German prosecutor Christian Wolters told broadcast station NDR earlier this week that authorities "have indications that we could find evidence" near a dam in Portugal's Algarve region. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP MADELEINE MCCANN SEARCH RESUMES IN PORTUGAL 16 YEARS AFTER BRITISH TODDLER'S DISAPPEARANCE On Monday, police were seen conducting a search near the Arade dam, about 31 miles from Praia da Luz. 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," Wolters said of the search for evidence. "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 this search." MISSING MADELEINE MCCANN'S PARENTS 'AWAIT A BREAKTHROUGH IN TODDLER'S KIDNAPPING In 2020, German authorities named Christian Brueckner, 45, as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. Brueckner continues to deny his involvement in the case. This undated handout image supplied by the Carabinieri Milano shows a police mug shot of Christian Brueckner, a suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann in 2007 from a holiday 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'S PARENTS RELEASE VIDEO ON MISSING DAUGHTER'S 20TH BIRTHDAY 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. Kate and Gerry McCann hold an age-progressed police image of their daughter during a news conference to mark the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, on May 2, 2012, in London, England. Madeleine was born in May 2003 and would be turning 20 years old this month. The Associated Press contributed to this report. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said the U.S. provision of weapons to Taiwan is extremely wrong and dangerous, urging the U.S. to stop military contact with Taiwan and arming the island. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to media reports that the U.S. government has started to deliver its plan to send weapons aid to Taiwan via presidential drawdown authority, with the first batch of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles already arrived in Taiwan on May 24. The U.S. provision of weapons to Taiwan gravely violates the three China-U.S. Joint Communiques, especially the August 17 Communique, interferes in China's internal affairs, harms China's sovereignty and security interests, and undermines cross-Strait peace and stability, Mao said. "This is extremely wrong and dangerous. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects this and has made serious demarches to the U.S. side," said Mao. From U.S. politician's clamoring for "destroying Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC)" to arming the island of Taiwan into a "porcupine," Mao said it is all too obvious that the U.S. would stop at nothing - even if it means destroying Taiwan - to contain China. The over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including the Taiwan compatriots, will not accept this, Mao said. China urges the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop military contact with Taiwan and arming Taiwan, stop creating factors that heighten tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and stop conniving at and supporting separatist forces' attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" by force, said the spokesperson. "China will closely follow the developments of the situation and resolutely safeguard our nation's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," she added. In May 2021, Isabel Diaz Ayuso won a resounding victory in Madrid's regional elections, doubling the PP's results there An outspoken right-wing hardliner who makes no secret of her national ambitions, Spain's Isabel Diaz Ayuso is seeking re-election as Madrid's regional leader through blistering attacks on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. With Spaniards set to vote in local and municipal polls on Sunday, Ayuso has directed much of her campaign remarks at Sanchez, deriding his time in office as a "disaster" -- and setting the tone for a year-end general election battle. Known for her acerbic and polarising comments, Ayuso shot to prominence as one of the best-known faces of Spain's right-wing Popular Party during the Covid pandemic. Her remarks have drawn comparisons with those of Donald Trump or Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro. "Sanchez hates Madrid," she said during a televised debate with candidates hoping to replace her on May 28. "It's Sanchez or Spain," she said this week. Last year, she accused Sanchez of wanting to keep himself in power and "put the opposition in jail, like in Nicaragua". A year into the pandemic, Ayuso abruptly called a snap poll aimed at capitalising on the support she had earned among some residents by minimising restrictions on the local economy, presenting Madrid as the "capital of freedom." It worked: In May 2021, she won a resounding victory, doubling the PP's results in Madrid, barely two years after taking power as a virtual unknown. On Sunday, she could go even further, with opinion polls suggesting she could secure an absolute majority in the regional parliament, which would let her govern Spain's richest region of 6.7 million people without support from the far-right Vox party. - National goals - A telegenic journalism graduate with a penchant for brightly coloured suits, Ayuso's decision to stick the knife in Sanchez is effective, analysts say. On the one hand, it serves as a "smokescreen" to avoid "issues that are awkward for her", such as Madrid's troubled health system or its housing shortages, said Paloma Roman, a political scientist at the city's Complutense University. On the other hand, "she wants to set the party line", even if it means going over the head of its more moderate leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, making clear "that her ambitions are national", said Ana Sofia Cardenal of Catalonia's Open University. She is "the incarnation of a right-wing Madrid" that believes the PP "must strengthen itself ideologically on the right and engage in a polarised fight" with the left in order to "keep Vox at a distance", said Oriol Bartomeus, a political scientist at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. - Danger for Feijoo - Polls suggest that while PP would win the year-end general election, it would need the support of Vox to form a government. And in this context, Ayuso could pose "a real danger" to Feijoo if she wins an absolute majority on Sunday and other PP candidates who are closer to him obtain a less impressive result, Bartomeus said. Such a scenario brings to mind the bitter public confrontation in February 2022 between Ayuso and the PP's former leader Pablo Casado, which he lost and resulted in his ouster from the party. But analysts said Ayuso would struggle to apply what has been a winning approach in Madrid, where voters are increasingly leaning to the right, to the rest of the country. "This strategy wouldn't work in the rest of Spain as it does in Madrid," said Cardenal, pointing to the wealthy Catalonia region, where the PP -- which has only three of the 135 regional deputies -- practically "doesn't exist". du/hmw/mg/ds/js/yad The makeup artist behind Melissa McCarthy's version of Ursula responds to criticism that Disney should've hired a queer artist for the job Melissa McCarthy as Ursula in Disney's live action remake of "The Little Mermaid" (L), Divine performing at the Red Parrot nightclub in New York City in 1983 (R). Courtesy of Disney, Tom Gates/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Melissa McCarthy plays Ursula in the new Disney live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid." Peter Swords King, who has worked in the industry for 42 years, is the MUA behind McCarthy's Ursula. Speaking to Insider, King responded to criticism Disney should've hired a queer artist for the job. The makeup designer who transformed Melissa McCarthy into Ursula for Disney's remake of "The Little Mermaid" has responded to criticism that a queer makeup artist should've been hired in his place. Peter Smith King, the British hair and makeup designer who transformed McCarthy into Ursula, has 42 years' worth of career experience doing makeup for films, theatre, and opera. From "The Lord of the Rings" to "Mary Poppins," King told Insider he couldn't possibly pick a favorite among his past projects, but did say there was something special about "The Little Mermaid," which premiered on Friday. "It was lovely. A lovely crew, lovely cast," King said. And with regards to working McCarthy, King said she was incredibly involved in the process of creating their version of Ursula. "We discussed everything," he added. When asked if he drew inspiration from the 1989 original animated film for his version of Ursula, King said he actually didn't draw on outside influences. "No, no. It was me. I didn't really draw on anything. I played around quite a lot with different colors, different shapes, and stuff," he said. "It just was sort of Melissa and I talking and creating. So I didn't really draw on anything at all." He also responded to criticism that because the animated villain took inspiration from a legendary drag performer that the makeup artist for the remake should have been from that world. The original 1989 Disney animator said he sought inspiration for Ursula in the late drag queen performer, Divine Drag queen Divine at the premiere of "Female Trouble" on February 12, 1975, in New York City. Tim Boxer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images As Time reported, Harris Glenn Milstead, better known by their drag queen stage name Divine, was active in the 1970s and 1980s but died in 1988. Divine had several visible resemblances to Ursula, including a high hairline, exaggerated eyebrows, and shimmery extravagant eyeshadow. Animator Rob Minkoff, who worked on the design for 1989 "The Little Mermaid" also told Vogue he sought inspiration from Divine for Ursula. "Divine seemed like such a great, larger than life character, and it just seemed like a funny and quirky idea to take [Ursula] and treat her more like a drag queen," he said. Ursula's animation origin story recently led drag queens such as Sierra La Puerta to take issue with McCarthy's sea witch transformation on Twitter after Disney shared a behind-the-scenes clip of King doing her makeup. "We said Ursula was inspired by a drag queen we didn't mean one who had only been doing it for 3 months bc-," La Puerta tweeted on May 17. Sierra La Puerta (@_SierraLaPuerta) May 17, 2023 "RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under" star Art Simone also levied criticism at McCarthy's Ursula makeup, tweeting: "When you lie on your resume and end up with the job." Season 14 "RuPaul's Drag Race" star Kerri Colby responded to a clip on Twitter, writing that it's an example of "absolutely why we should hire up and coming queer artists with a pulse on the present and a vision for the future more often. Yes I agree, this is that." King told Insider McCarthy's makeup in the remake isn't based on drag performances and that he finds criticism of his work 'offensive' King told Inider he disagrees with the criticism levied at McCarthy's final makeup look. "I find that very offensive," he said. "Why can't I do as good a job as a queer makeup artist?" "That's ridiculous. That's trying to claim it and that's fine, if that's what they wanna do, but don't put people down because they're not what they want it to be," he added. King also said that his design of Ursula wasn't "based on Divine," who he says he met in person in London before the drag legend's death. Ursula in the original Disney animated film, released in 1989. Disney/ YouTube "I personally don't get it. Yes, I'm very old now, so that's fine, I get that too, but, you know, a makeup artist or makeup designer could design makeup, they don't have to have an attachment to the nature of what they're doing," he added. King also said that he and McCarthy spoke together about Ursula's makeup for the remake. "We discussed everything. I mean, we both laughed about how much we love drag queens and drag makeup and stuff. But it wasn't based on any drag acts at all," he said. King's comments came after McCarthy previously spoke to Deadline about Ursula's links to Divine at a premiere of the film in early May. Speaking from the red carpet, she said that she'd watched "The Little Mermaid" more "times than any other movie." "I was a nanny, and we used to watch it every night. And I always was like, I know for a fact but I couldn't prove it that she had to be based on Divine," McCarthy said. "She just had to be. I was like, 'the makeup, the look, the attitude.' And now we know that yes, she was of course based on Divine." Representatives for Melissa McCarthy did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Los Angeles County sheriff's officials search Malibu Creek State Park in 2018 in connection with Anthony Rauda's arrest in the area. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) The man accused of stalking an idyllic Malibu park, peppering motorists and campers with gunfire in a series of attacks that ended in the shooting death of a father of two, was convicted Friday of murder and three counts of attempted murder. Anthony Rauda, 46, will almost certainly spend the rest of his life in prison after jurors convicted him of gunning down 35-year-old pharmaceutical scientist Tristan Beaudette, who was killed in June 2018 while he was inside a tent he was sharing with his daughters. Rauda was also convicted of multiple burglaries and three counts of attempted murder: two counts related to opening fire in the direction of Beaudette's daughters and a third related to shooting Ian Kincaid just days before as Kincaid was driving by in a Tesla. Rauda was charged with 10 counts of attempted murder in January 2019, but the jury acquitted him Friday of seven of those counts. In many of those incidents, Rauda was accused of attacking in pre-dawn hours from a distance, and prosecutors did not have ballistic evidence or eyewitnesses linking him to those shootings. Anthony Rauda, seen in a 2016 photo from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, will be sentenced at a later date. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators tried to trace Rauda's movements through his use of the park's public wireless networks, but defense attorney Nicholas Okorocha repeatedly noted in his closing arguments that detectives had not come close to pinpointing his location at the time of most of the shootings. In brief remarks outside the courtroom, Okorocha thanked the jurors for being "careful." Rauda refused to appear in court for any portion of the trial. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter asked him during a brief appearance earlier this week whether he wanted to be present for the reading of the verdict. Rauda grumbled that even being wheeled into the courtroom was "punishment," and asked to leave. The defendant's face was covered in a spit mask at that appearance. He has already been convicted of punching a sheriff's deputy in a courtroom and attacking another with a pencil at Men's Central Jail since his arrest in late 2018. He must appear in court for his June 7 sentencing. During the trial, L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Antonella Nistorescu repeatedly described Rauda as a menacing and calculating presence who engaged in a pattern of stalking and preying upon campers. Beaudette was sleeping in the campground off Las Virgenes Road with his young daughters, just 4 and 2 years old, when he was shot in the head. Prosecutors repeatedly showed jurors gruesome images of Beaudette's head wound and of his daughters' pants, covered in their father's blood. When Rauda was arrested months later in connection with a string of burglaries, he was carrying a rifle that was later matched to Beaudette's murder through ballistic testing, Nistorescu said. The scientist was the last of 11 people Rauda was accused of shooting at over the course of two years. In several instances, Rauda shot at moving vehicles or at campers in hammocks, wounding people on more than one occasion, prosecutors said. Most of the early attacks involved the use of what prosecutors described as an "improvised shotgun" filled with pellets that did not cause anyone life-threatening injuries. Nistorescu said Rauda at some point upgraded to a sawed-off rifle, the weapon used in each of the counts he was convicted of Friday. Prosecutors said that even when Rauda shot at moving vehicles, he was trying to kill his targets in creative ways. Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives reviewed his use of campground wireless networks during their investigation and found that he'd repeatedly searched for troubling phrases such as bullet hits car gas tank. Hes actively trying to do something that you know would cause death when he researches how to blow up a car by shooting out a gas tank, and then you see that he shoots at a BMW," Nistorescu said in her closing arguments. While reports of shootings in the area had been rattling Malibu residents for months, the incidents didn't gain media attention or intense scrutiny until Beaudette's slaying. Then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell faced intense criticism for not warning residents sooner that there may be a gunman at large. Rauda was also convicted of breaking into commercial buildings owned by the Las Virgenes Water District, Spectrum Building Development and the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center five times between July and October of 2018. During several of those burglaries, he was caught on video carrying the rifle used to kill Beaudette. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. John P. Mozena, III, at left, is shown in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court on Friday, when he pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Also shown are defense attorney Patrick Cusma, center, and Assistant County Prosecutor Scott Deedrick. NEW PHILADELPHIA A 37-year-old man from the Newcomerstown area is expected to be sentenced in six weeks for attempted murder for aiming a semi-automatic shotgun at sheriff's deputies Aug. 3. John Phillip Mozena, III pleaded guilty Friday to attempted murder, felonious assault and possession of dangerous ordnance in connection to the incident, which occurred near his family home in Oxford Township. Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Ernest accepted Mozena's plea, found him guilty and ordered a background report to be completed prior to sentencing. Charged: John Phillip Mozena, III indicted on attempted murder charge Mozena withdrew his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. A psychological report previously found he was sane at the time of the crime. Defense attorney Patrick Cusma of Canton withdrew a motion requesting another sanity evaluation, based on a conversation with a second expert who said she would draw the same conclusion as the first. In exchange for the guilty plea, Assistant County Prosecutor Scott Deedrick recommended a total sentence of six to sevenandahalf years. The sentencing range for attempted murder is three to 11 years. Mozena's charge would carry an additional mandatory three years in prison because a gun was used in the crime. Deedrick recommended an additional three years on the underlying charge, which could be extended for another 18 months based on behavior in prison. Mozena was wounded when sheriff's deputies fired at him after he aimed a semi-automatic shotgun at them following a five-hour standoff. Sheriff Orvis L. Campbell said Mozena was shot about four times at his home, a horse trailer with living quarters that is parked on his family's property 5969 U.S. Route 36, in Oxford Township. He was shot in the leg and shoulder. The incident began when Mozena's stepmother called the sheriff's office at 3:28 a.m. because he had shot in his father's direction, Campbell said. Mozena initially became upset after he parked his truck at Speedway on Morris Crossing Avenue, went inside and returned to the parking lot to find the vehicle missing, Campbell said. The son thought his father had taken it, according to Campbell. But the truck had slipped out of gear and rolled into a canal, Campbell said. The son went home, where he got a gun. The defendant's father tried unsuccessfully to get the gun away from his son. After the shooting, a homemade bomb was found inside Mozena's home, and a .44 Magnum gun was found in his truck, Campbell said. Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com. On Twitter: @nmolnarTR This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Oxford Township man to be sentenced for attempted murder The man authorities say is responsible for shooting and killing Migos rapper Takeoff has been indicted. Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed during a private party at a bowling alley in Houston on Nov. 1. The 28-year-old Lawrenceville native was one-third of the Migos trio, which also included Takeoffs uncle Quavo and cousin Offset. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to a report from the Houston County Coroners office, Takeoff was shot in the head and torso during a fight before he died outside the business. Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was arrested in December and charged with murder. Court records in Harris County, Texas now show that Clark has been indicted on the murder charge. Clarks attorney, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, released a statement on Thursday saying the indictment was not unexpected. Todays action by the grand jury is not unexpected. We would ask people to remember that getting an indictment requires meeting a very, very minimal standard of proof. When we get inside a courtroom and in front of a jury, where we will be able to put on our evidence and cross-examine the states witnesses where the standard of proof is guilt beyond reasonable doubt we expect the jury will come back with a verdict of not guilty. Letitia Quinones-Hollins Clark was released from custody in January on a $1,000,000 bond. RELATED STORIES: Police said that there was no evidence that Takeoff had anything to do with the fight that led to the shooting and that he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. The members of Migos all grew up in the same household in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and went on to become rap superstars. Quavo was with Takeoff at the time of the shooting. Pictures showed him kneeling over his nephew after he was shot. Clarks next hearing is scheduled for August 23. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Man arrested after he breaks into strangers home, steals cold Coca-Cola, Carrollton deputies say A Carrollton man was arrested after deputies say he broke into a strangers house and stole an ice-cold can of Coca-Cola. Deputies that on May 20, they were called to a home on Diamond Court. The victim told deputies that he and his wife were upstairs when they heard a noise from their basement. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When the homeowner went down to investigate, he saw a man later identified as Jordan River Van Van Horn sweating profusely. He asked Van Horn why he was in the home and Horn replied, they told him to be here, before he ran away. The victim said it looked like Van Horn had come into the home through the garage. Police noted that two of the locks on the garage windows had been unlatched. TRENDING STORIES: Deputies found a Ford Ranger parked outside and ran the plate number, which was registered to Van Horn. Deputies noticed an empty can of Coca-Cola in the vehicle and the homeowner said he had an entire fridge full of Coke in the garage and he believed that was his. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Deputies saw Van Horn walk out of the woods and confronted him. Van Horn was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and first-degree burglary, Its unclear what Van Horns motive was. A North Carolina man was caught looking over a stall in a grocery store restroom after he was banned from four businesses, officials said. Now, the 19-year-old accused of peeping in the womans bathroom at a Food Lion supermarket is facing charges. The High Point Police Department in a May 25 news release didnt list attorney information for the man, identified as Noree L. Staton. The Food Lion allegations come less than a month after Staton was arrested and charged with sexual battery. Police said he was at a Harris Teeter supermarket in High Point when he groped a woman from behind. Since April 28, he has been banned from that Harris Teeter store and three other businesses, including a Target, Waffle House and YMCA, police said. He was accused of catcalling at the Target store and acting strange near restrooms at the Waffle House restaurant. Then on May 24, the same day that officers responded to the Food Lion incident, Staton was barred from entering a YMCA that reported he went into the womens bathroom and harassed juveniles, according to police. After police said Staton peered over a restroom stall at the Food Lion, he was arrested and charged with secret peeping. He later was out on bond and is scheduled to appear in court in June, records show. Now, officers say they want community members to be aware of Statons recent habits and ask anyone with information to call them at 336-889-4000. People also can use the P3 Tips smartphone application. Staton, a High Point resident, isnt facing charges in the Target, Waffle House or YMCA incidents, police spokesperson Victoria Ruvio told McClatchy News in a phone interview. Soldier secretly recorded sex with women and posted the videos on OnlyFans, NC cops say Bystanders tackle tech CEO accused of peeping in Panera bathroom, California cops say Gas station worker hid camera in womens bathroom and took 150 videos, Missouri cops say The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced Friday that a man has been indicted in connection to the fatal burning of a man in a Phoenix dumpster in March. Dave Jacuan Kahlil Dinkins, 23, faces four total counts including first-degree murder, kidnapping, arson of a structure and abandonment or concealment of a dead body, according to the Attorney's office. This indictment is indicative of the hard work that prosecutors in this office put on every case, every day, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the release. Bringing justice to victims, no matter the circumstances, is the mission of this office. On March 21, Phoenix police originally responded to the area of 11th Avenue and Madison Street for a homicide investigation, where the body of an unidentified man had been set on fire in a dumpster in "The Zone," an area near 12th Avenue and Madison Street where more than 1,000 unhoused people live on the streets in tents. Related: ACLU asks judge to find Phoenix in contempt of court over cleanup of 'The Zone' The investigation initially resulted in the arrest of two of the three people detained, 22-year-old Larry Scott and 19-year-old Isaiah Baskin, with Scott later being released only to be hit with drug charges thereafter. MCAO did not bring any charges against Scott in the arson murder, but did against Baskin. Police claimed that Baskin told them that Scott and an unknown third man, now known as Dinkins, beat up the victim, wrapped him in trash bags, and then helped them put the victim in a dumpster. He also told them that Dinkins was the one to light the fire, and he and Scott added firewood to the fire after, police claimed. According to a police report, surveillance video found by police from local businesses and residents showed Baskin and Dinkins lifting the man into the dumpster. Baskin has since been indicted as well, with an open case for, first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and arson of a structure or property. No other information had been released. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man indicted in fatal burning of body in Phoenix dumpster Man killed by shooter who asked what he was looking at, witness tells Fort Worth police A man died Friday after a person walking by shot him as he sat in a car on South Grove Street, according to the Fort Worth Police Department. Police were dispatched to John Peter Smith Hospital about 9:30 a.m. Friday. Officers learned that the victim and a witness had been sitting inside a car in the 2700 block of South Grove Street, in south Fort Worth, before the shooting. The suspect was walking by and asked the victim and witness what they were looking at, the witness told police. After walking past them, the suspect began shooting into their car, the witness said. The victim, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, crawled into the floor board and was shot, according to police. The witness drove the victim to JPS Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The victims name has not been released. Police have not made an arrest as of Friday afternoon. Homicide detectives are investigating. Man sentenced in DUI that killed Fresno man once hailed as hero for saving newborn A 24-year-old Fresno man was sentenced Thursday in superior court for a 2021 DUI crash that killed one person and injured two others. Israel Douglas received six years and eight months in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing great bodily injury, according to a statement from the Fresno County District Attorneys Office. He pleaded no contest to the charges in February. Douglas had been driving at more than 70 mph when he broadsided a car leaving the parking lot of the Amazon Warehouse at Cedar and Florence avenues. Police at the time determined his blood alcohol count was .09 nearly an hour after the crash. Two passengers inside his car were seriously injured a broken leg, fractured ribs and a fractured spine. The driver of the other car, Aurelio Fuentes, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he died the following week. Fuentes, 23, was a contract employee with Amazon who had just finished a shift when he was struck. Fuentes himself had been in the news in 2019 after discovering and rescuing a newborn girl abandoned in the middle of the roadway in Madera Ranchos. Fuentes was delivering copies of The Fresno Bee at the time. Awful, chilling moment: Fresno Bee newspaper carrier finds newborn on Madera County road BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe Frederick Shava will pay an official visit to China from May 27 to June 2, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Friday. Enditem. Man wakes to message saying he won huge Virginia lottery prize and it wasnt a dream A Virginia man couldnt go back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night to a shocking message. Kendrek Mallory woke up to a message from the Virginia lottery celebrating his new a $1 million win, the Virginia Beach man told lottery officials in a May 23 news release. Its unbelievable, Mallory told lottery officials. Once he got the news, he said he was wide awake. Huge congratulations to Kendrek who won $1,000/week for the rest of his life, when he played online and matched five numbers on the May 15 Cash4Life drawing! He chose the one-time cash option of $1 million, and says, "It's unbelieveable!" pic.twitter.com/2Qp86h85Nl Virginia Lottery (@VirginiaLottery) May 25, 2023 He played Virginia Lotterys Cash4Life game on his phone for the May 15 drawing and won big, according to lottery officials. Mallory had the choice of a weekly payment of $1,000 for the rest of his life or a one-time cash option of $1 million, according to the Virginia Lottery. Mallory chose the one-time lump sum, officials said. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery player thought he broke even on Maryland ticket but he missed a few zeros New homeowner in shock over $1 million lottery win a week after closing on NC home Clerk picks SC lottery ticket when store didnt have players choice. It worked out Dad surprises kids with winning California lottery ticket after gas station coffee run Chelsea are insistent on receiving at least 55m for Mason Mount this summer, with Manchester United yet to match the clubs valuation for the England international despite leading the race for his signature. The 24-year-old is willing to go to United amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal and agreement on a price is now the only obstacle to his move to Old Trafford. Mount only has a year left on his contract and has refused to sign a new deal amid uncertainty at Chelsea. The midfielder believes Uniteds system under Erik ten Hag offers the best fit, with the Dutchman understood to have the clearest idea for him. United do not want to go as high as 55m because their own summer budget is open to change with the takeover, but it is felt a deal will eventually be done despite the clubs currently being some way off agreement. United thrashed Chelsea on Thursday night to secure Champions League qualification which drastically improved what they can offer Mount next season. Ahead of the meeting at Old Trafford, United boss Ten Hag rather pointedly noted that spending big sums without having a cohesive plan in place to utilise those signings effectively was a total waste - as Chelsea have found out this season. When there is no strategy behind, or (not) the right strategy, money doesnt work, he said. In this moment there is a centralisation of good players, of the best managers, also of the money, it is all here in the UK. And that makes a great competition, but also a tough and a hard competition. And you have to do the right things and you can have money but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way and also you need a strategy behind it, because, otherwise, the money doesnt work. JPMorgan's Dimon never met or communicated with Epstein -bank FILE PHOTO: JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in a deposition on Friday that he had never met or communicated with late sex offender and former bank client Jeffrey Epstein, the bank said. The largest U.S. bank faces lawsuits seeking damages by women who claim that Epstein sexually abused them, and by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the late financier had a home. Epstein was a JPMorgan client from 2000 to 2013, remaining so after pleading guilty in 2008 to a Florida state prostitution charge. Dimon, who is not a defendant, had been ordered by a federal judge to set aside up to four days for depositions about what he knew about the bank's relationship with Epstein. "At todays deposition, our CEO repeatedly confirmed that he never met with him, never emailed him, does not recall ever discussing his accounts internally, and was not involved in any decisions about his account," JPMorgan said in a statement. JPMorgan said that the "millions and millions of emails and other documents that have been produced in this case" do not come close to "even suggesting that he had any role in decisions about Epsteins accounts." In court papers, JPMorgan has been accused of knowing by 2006 that Epstein paid cash to have underage girls and young women brought to his home, and ignoring several internal warnings to cut ties with him. Dimon joined JPMorgan in 2004 and became CEO in December 2005. He has not been accused of wrongdoing. JPMorgan said, "In hindsight, any association with (Epstein) was a mistake and we regret it, but these suits are misdirected as we did not help him commit his heinous crimes." JPMorgan is separately suing its former private banking chief Jes Staley, claiming he concealed what he knew about Epstein and should cover losses it may incur in the two lawsuits. A judge on Friday ruled that the Manhattan District Attorney's office must give JPMorgan statements made to one of its prosecutors by a woman who is suing the bank seeking monetary damages over its ties to Epstein. The privileges and laws invoked by District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office to try to block JPMorgan from obtaining the statements did not apply to these records, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff decided. The woman, a ballet dancer known by Jane Doe, has said she was sexually abused by Epstein. She sued New York-based JPMorgan last year in a proposed class action, accusing the bank of enabling his sex trafficking by keeping him as a client from 1998 to 2013, the last five years after he pleaded guilty to the Florida prostitution charge. JPMorgan has denied liability. It has accused Staley, who was friendly with Epstein, of concealing what he knew about Epsteins crimes. Representatives for Bragg and JPMorgan declined to comment following the judge's ruling. Staley's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. JPMorgan on March 7 issued a subpoena to the Manhattan DA's office seeking statements that Jane Doe made to the chief of its sex crimes unit on Aug, 10, 2022, or any statements by people who identified Staley as a witness to or perpetrator of a sex crime. Rakoff said the order that the DA turn over documents applies only to statements by Jane Doe. Epstein died in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. New York City's medical examiner called the death a suicide. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Megan Davies, Will Dunham, Grant McCool and Leslie Adler) Many may be left out of Samsung ice maker lawsuit theyre counting on Thousands have complained about Samsung ice makers saying they make slushy ice, theyre leaking, and theyre over-freezing. Many have been waiting to see how the class action lawsuit plays out to see if theyll get any money back. Action 9s Jason Stoogenke has stayed on top of the case for more than six years. He found out Friday many people may be left out. PREVIOUS: Customers must wait longer for possible settlement in Samsung ice maker case The lawyers sent the judge a letter, saying theyre in the final stage of the settlement and will offer customers individual settlements. In other words, if youre already part of the case, you know it. Everyone else may be on their own. More than 80 people have contacted Action 9 about this issue since 2017, including, most recently, Pamela Hasian in Fort Mill. She said she bought her Samsung fridge in 2018 and that a few years in, her ice maker started over-freezing. RELATED CONTENT: Its beyond frustrating, she said. I dont have to have the best of everything. Im very simple. But she wants what she has to work. She said her fridge was still under warranty and that Samsung sent a tech to fix it. Im thinking everything is hunky dunky, she told Stoogenke. Then she said the ice maker started acting up again. She said Samsung offered her half off another Samsung, but she doesnt want that brand anymore and called it an insult. She was counting on the class action lawsuit. But now, its not clear if it will help her. There are still more steps to go. But if things stay the same and youre left out, you may not have many choices left except sue on your own. The parties asked to report back to the judge in July. Stoogenke asked Samsung about the proposed settlement. He didnt heard back in time for this report. In the past, the company has said satisfaction is a top priority. (WATCH PREVIOUS: Customers must wait longer for possible settlement in Samsung ice maker case) Former President and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 27, 2023. (Sophie Park/The New York Times) The day before a key meeting last year between a lawyer for former President Donald Trump and officials seeking the return of classified documents in Trumps possession, a maintenance worker at the former presidents private club saw an aide moving boxes into a storage room, according to a person familiar with the matter. The maintenance worker offered to help the aide Walt Nauta, who was Trumps valet in the White House move the boxes and ended up lending him a hand. But the worker had no idea what was inside the boxes, the person familiar with the matter said. The maintenance worker has shared that account with federal prosecutors, the person said. The workers account is potentially significant to prosecutors as they piece together details of how Trump handled sensitive documents he took with him from the White House upon leaving office and whether he obstructed efforts by the Justice Department and the National Archives to retrieve them. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Trump was found to have been keeping some of the documents in the storage room where Nauta and the maintenance worker were moving boxes on the day before the Justice Departments top counterintelligence official, Jay Bratt, traveled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida last June to seek the return of any government materials being held by the former president. Nauta and the worker moved the boxes into the room before a search of the storage room that same day by M. Evan Corcoran, a lawyer for Trump who was in discussions with Bratt. Corcoran called Justice Department officials that night to set up a meeting for the next day. He believed that he did not have a security clearance to transport documents with classified markings, a person briefed on his decision said. Weeks earlier, the Justice Department had issued a subpoena demanding the return of the documents. Prosecutors have been trying to determine whether Trump had documents moved around Mar-a-Lago or sought to conceal some of them after the subpoena. Part of their interest is in trying to determine whether documents were moved before Corcoran went through the boxes himself before a meeting with Justice Department officials looking to retrieve them. Prosecutors have been asking witnesses about the roles of Nauta and the maintenance worker, whose name has not been publicly disclosed, in moving documents around that time. During his trip to Mar-a-Lago on June 3, Bratt was given a packet of roughly three dozen documents with classified markings by a lawyer for Trump. Bratt was also given a letter, drafted by Corcoran but signed by another lawyer for the former president, attesting that a diligent search had been carried out for any additional material in response to the subpoena and that none had been found. Bratt was not given access to search the storage room at that point. Two months later, FBI agents with a warrant searched Mar-a-Lago and found more than 100 additional classified documents, including in the storage room and in Trumps office. The detail about the timing of Nautas interaction with the maintenance worker was reported earlier by The Washington Post. A lawyer for Nauta declined to comment. A lawyer for the maintenance worker would not publicly discuss the matter. The New York Times reported this month that prosecutors had obtained cooperation from a witness who worked at Mar-a-Lago. Among other things, the witness provided investigators with a picture of the storage room. The investigation, overseen by special counsel Jack Smith, has shown signs of entering its final phases, and this week, lawyers for Trump who is the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination asked for a meeting to discuss the case with Attorney General Merrick Garland. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, called the investigation 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. He added that prosecutors have harassed anyone and everyone who works, has worked or supports President Trump, and maintained that Trump had tried to cooperate with the Justice Department. Prosecutors have been questioning witnesses about Trumps possible motive for having the documents. They have subpoenaed information about Trumps business deals with foreign countries since he became president. And they have been told by witnesses that some aides may have known Trump still had documents in his possession after an initial 15 boxes of government material found to contain classified documents were turned over to the National Archives in January 2022 after persistent efforts by the archives to retrieve the material, according to people briefed on the matter. Among the most prominent witness in recent months has been Corcoran, who met with Bratt of the Justice Department last June and drafted the letter stating that a diligent search had turned up no further documents. In March, prosecutors successfully pierced Corcorans attorney-client privilege with Trump under the crime-fraud exception, a provision of the law that can be used when investigators have evidence that a lawyers services may have been used in the commission of a crime. Judge Beryl Howell, then the chief judge presiding over grand jury matters in U.S. District Court in Washington, found that prosecutors had sufficiently demonstrated evidence that Trump knowingly misled Corcoran about what documents he still possessed. The Times previously reported that Howell, writing in a sealed memorandum, described what she called Trumps misdirection in dealing with the National Archives in 2021 and early last year, saying it was apparently a dress rehearsal for how he handled the grand jury subpoena last May, according to a person briefed on the memos contents. In the sealed memo laying out her reasoning for ruling that Corcoran should not be protected by attorney-client privilege, Howell touched on numerous instances of what prosecutors considered to be evidence of possible obstruction and wrongful possession of government material on Trumps part, the person briefed on its contents said. Other evidence demonstrates that the former president willfully sought to retain classified documents when he was not authorized to do so, and knew it, Howell wrote, the person said. Howell acknowledged that the standard for meeting the crime-fraud exception is lower than what would be required to bring charges or win a jury verdict, according to the person familiar with what she wrote. Still, the judge made clear she believed the government had met the threshold for both obstructing the grand jury proceeding and unauthorized retention of national defense information, the person said. The government has proffered sufficient evidence that the former president possessed tangible documents containing national defense information, she wrote, adding that they showed he failed to deliver those documents to an officer entitled to receive them. At another point, Howell addressed Trumps intent and state of mind, saying that the government had also provided sufficient evidence to meet its burden of showing that the former president had retained the classified documents willfully, the person said. She also noted that a further search of Trump properties late last year, conducted by experts on Trumps behalf after pressure from prosecutors, turned up additional documents with classified markings in his bedroom at Mar-a-Lago, the person briefed on the document said. Notably, no excuse is provided as to how the former president could miss the classified-marked documents found in his own bedroom at Mar-a-Lago, Howell wrote, according to the person briefed on the contents of her memo. c.2023 The New York Times Company Two employees at former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort moved boxes of papers around the property a day before FBI agents and a federal prosecutor visited in their effort to recover classified documents, multiple media outlets reported Thursday. The Washington Post first reported that a maintenance employee at the Florida club told federal prosecutors he saw Trumps valet, Walt Nauta, moving the boxes on June 2, 2022, into a storage area before he offered to help without knowing what the boxes contained. That same day, a lawyer for Trump contacted the Justice Department and said DOJ officials could come to Mar-a-Lago to pick up classified files, people familiar with the investigation told the newspaper. Jay Bratt, a top prosecutor for the Justice Department, traveled to Mar-a-Lago on June 3 and was handed a batch of classified files and a signed letter attesting that a search had been carried out for any other such material but that none had been found, The New York Times added. But two months later, on Aug. 8, the FBI executed a search warrant on the property amid concerns that sensitive documents remained at the Trump estate and seized more than 100 other classified files in a storage area and in Trumps office. The revelation adds new context to Trumps behavior surrounding the classified files and potentially broadens the timeline for any potential criminality and obstruction. The Post added that prosecutors have also gathered evidence that Trumps team had conducted a dress rehearsal for moving files he wanted to keep. The latest reports come at a pivotal time in the investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is nearly finished collecting testimony and evidence after speaking with top aides to the former president and maids and maintenance staff at the Florida estate, which serves as Trumps residence and is also a private club. And the Post reported last month that federal investigators have gathered evidence Trump may have sifted through boxes of documents after receiving a subpoena to return them. Trumps lawyers also wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland this week requesting a meeting to discuss the probe, claiming it was an ongoing injustice centered on baseless claims. Prosecutors have reportedly homed in on whether Trump attempted to obstruct the governments efforts to recover the files. The saga went on for months after the National Archives attempted to recover documents missing from his White House tenure, and the Justice Department eventually sent agents to Florida with a subpoena to recover the files. The recovery culminated in the bombastic FBI search on Aug. 8. Some in Trumps orbit have reportedly been preparing for an indictment, which could present serious legal peril for the former president. He lambasted the ongoing probe during a CNN town hall-style event earlier this month but also appeared to claim he was allowed to take anything he wanted when he left the White House in January 2021. I took the documents; Im allowed to, he said during the live event. He later added that when he left Washington he had boxes lined up on the sidewalk. Everybody knew we were taking those boxes, Trump said. Several other investigations into his behavior after his loss of the 2020 election are ongoing, including his effort to overturn the presidential election results in Georgia. Related... Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, on The Book of Boba Fett. Even dead, Luke Skywalker keeps finding his way back into Star Wars. It happened first in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker when the deceased Jedi Master returned as a Force Ghost. In 2020, it happened again, this time as a younger, de-aged, CGI version on The Mandalorian. Finally, in 2022, Skywalker returned a third time, the most extensive yet, as that de-aged version on The Book of Boba Fett. It is unusual to see yourself like that, actor Mark Hamill told Esquire about seeing a younger version of himself on the Disney+ shows. Also, he added, It cant be cheap. Read more Lukes appearances on the two Disney+ shows were the first time the character had been seen in that long period between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. And since Star Wars storytelling has only scratched the surface of what Luke did in that time, in books like Shadow of the Sith and in movie flashbacks, Hamill acknowledges its possible the character could return yet again. People say, Oh, now youre going to be able to do a whole series of Luke post-Return of the Jedi. I said, I dont think so, Hamill said. First of all, they dont need to tell those stories, but if they do, they could get an age-appropriate actor. That last part is key because Lucasfilm has only recast major roles when the age difference is huge, such as with Leia and Luke on Obi-Wan Kenobi. If Hamill would hypothetically be okay with a young actor playing the character, youd think others would be too. But thats the past. As for the future of the character, after returning as a Force Ghost for Rey in The Rise of Skywalker, Esquire asked if hed come back for the upcoming Rey movie. One thing you learn working for Lucasfilm: everything is confidential, Hamill said. So, if I were involved, I wouldnt be able to tell you. And if I were not involved, I wouldnt be able to tell you. So, I dont know. Well all find out together, I guess. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A married couple who are also Jacksonville nurses were honored by a global non-profit May is national nurses month its when we all recognize everything that our nurses do to help promote health, prevent diseases and aid sick patients. Today Action News Jax got to meet two local nurses who are being celebrated for their contributions to the medical field by a global non-profit they volunteer with. Rodney and Mary Jose or MJ Kapunan have been married nearly 20 years and share 3 beautiful kids. They met in Bristol, a city in England where MJ says a friend from church introduced them to one another. They stayed friends for 5 years before marrying one another on June 11, 2004. Were here to save lives, MJ said. MJ is a registered nurse working in the cardiovascular operating room at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. Rodney is a charge nurse at HCA Florida Atlantic Emergency. Both have been in the medical field for over 30 years almost 20 of those years they have worked in Jax. Read: Glad to be alive: Downtown Jacksonville buzzing ahead of annual Jazz Festival Both MJ and Rodney the best part about their profession saving lives, the hardest part is coping with the loss of a patient. They say its hard to not form an emotional bond. MJ says her decision to get in the medical field was heavily dependent on her family urging her to help people. For Rodney, he describes himself as being a caring individual who was fascinated with science. When he thought about ways to combine the two, he realized that the world of medicine was for him. But for the month of May, which is national nurses month, the couple is being celebrated by Operation Smile. Its a global non-profit that for the last 40 years has given free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to almost 13,000 patients who live in areas with poor healthcare. Read: AAA predicting record travel this Memorial Day Weekend A lot of respiratory problems because their palette is open, Rodney Kapunan said. Mr. and Mrs. Kapunan got involved with Operation Smile because of Rodneys cousin. Her cleft was from here to here, Kapunan said . Rodney says his cousin went through more than 5 surgeries to fix her lip. Read: Photos: Ponte Vedra home sells for $16.25 million A cleft lip similar to another patient who the Kapunans helped treat while in the Philippines. To date, both Rodney and MJ have served a combined 38 missions to impoverished countries helping people with cleft conditions. Or gaps in the upper lip or roof of the mouth, everywhere from the Philippines, to Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and even Abu Dhabi. The Kapunans say that the best part about Operation Smile is that you dont have to work in medicine to volunteer. For example, speech pathologists are also needed. You can learn more on how to volunteer by visiting the following web link. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Concept art for Marvel's Thunderbolts featuring the main cast. Production on Marvels upcoming Thunderbolts and Wonder Man has reportedly been halted for the foreseeable future. Late Thursday night, Deadline revealed the pair of MCU projects were at a standstill as the WGA strike enters its fourth week. Thunderbolts, which stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour, was set to start production in Atlanta in mid-June, and its crew was only notified earlier that day. As for Wonder Man, the production stoppage was also fairly recent, and took place as the show was shooting in Los Angeles. According to Deadline, the plan for both projects is for them to continue their respective productions once the strike is over, though there is no clear indication of when that may be. Read more Wonder Man, led by by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Demetrius Grosse, and Ben Kingsley, marks the second MCU TV series after Daredevil: Born Again to come to a complete stop due to the strike. As for Thunderbolts, its the second MCU film to be affected by the picketing members of the Writers Guild of America. In the early days of the strike, Marvel had already stopped pre-production on Blade, which was also gearing up to shoot in June ahead of a mid-2024 release. While Wonder Man never had a set release date, Thunderbolts is currently still locked in for late July 2024. But dont be surprised if that date becomes more nebulous as the strike continues. At the moment, other projects such as Captain America: New World Order, Deadpool 3 and Agatha: Coven of Chaos are still in production. In the case of those films and shows, it sounds like Marvel plans to shoot what it can during principle photography and make writing adjustments during the reshoot period. Whether or not the picketing writers will let them continue shooting is another matter entirely. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The federal government's national emergency over the pandemic ended on April 10. The World Health Organization said on May 5 that the COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency. Facemasks have largely disappeared from schools and elsewhere. Their use has become a matter of personal preference. In Erie County Common Pleas Court, however, litigation over the now-defunct mask mandates in schools is advancing though on a narrow legal issue. Changing situation: COVID-19 tests, vaccine, treatment still free in Erie, for now, as federal emergency ends The litigation is proceeding even after parents in September lost two lawsuits in which they tried to force the removal of school board members in Millcreek Township and North East over their approval of masks during the COVID-19 outbreak. The parents sued the two school districts again in November. This time they claimed the school boards for the districts violated the Sunshine Act in how the boards signed off on appeals of the lawsuits that sought their ouster. A judge has tossed one of the secondary lawsuits, against the Millcreek School District. Students arrive at Belle Valley Elementary School in Millcreek Township on Jan. 5, 2021. A mask mandate was in effect at the time due to the pandemic. The same judge is letting the secondary lawsuit proceed against the North East School District, but has limited what remains of the case to a single claim over a notification requirement in the Sunshine Act. The ruling extends the litigation over pandemic-era facemasks in Erie County Common Pleas Court at the same time the two school districts and parents continue to battle over the two original lawsuits on appeal in state Commonwealth Court. The two original lawsuits and the remaining secondary suit all touch on legal fees and who should pay them. The parents or the school districts will have to cover the costs, depending on the outcome of the court cases. How did the anti-mask lawsuits get to this point? The legal ordeal started more than a year ago. A number of parents sued the Millcreek Township school directors over the masks in April 2022. A group of North East parents filed a virtually identical petition on May 2022. Erie Judge Erin Connelly Marucci was assigned he cases and consolidated them The districts rescinded the mask mandates in early 2022, when the pandemic eased and state rules changed, but the parents sued anyway. The parents argued the respective school directors should be ousted because, in requiring masks and quarantine through the beginning of 2022, they followed a September 2021 state Department of Health edict that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled invalid on Dec. 10, 2021. The parents filed the lawsuits under the auspices of a group called Erie County PA Parents Protecting Children. The lead petitioner in the Millcreek case is Troy Prozan. The lead petitioner in the North East case is Erin Beckes. A lawyer from Lancaster County, J. Chadwick Schnee, represents the parents, including in the Sunshine Act lawsuits. The Knox Law Firm in Erie represents the school districts, whose solicitor, Timothy Sennett, is in the firm. Neither Schnee nor Sennett responded to emails seeking comments for this story. In response to the mask lawsuits, the lawyers for the school districts argued that the school directors did nothing wrong in requiring masks. The lawyers said the Pennsylvania School Code gives school directors authority to make decisions that concern student health. Protesters gather outside the Millcreek Township School District's Education Center on Aug. 23, 2021, to demonstrate against COVID-19 vaccinations and mask mandates. Connelly Marucci agreed with the school districts. After holding a hearing in August, she ruled on Sept. 13 that the school directors acted properly under the school code. She repeatedly referred to an 1894 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that affirmed a school district's authority to require smallpox vaccinations. The ruling in the case, Duffield v. School District of the City of Williamsport, was never overturned and "remains good law today," Connelly Marucci said in her opinion. Connelly Marucci ruled against the school districts in one respect. She rejected their requests that she order the parents to pay the districts' legal fees for defending against the lawsuits. Connelly Marucci said the lawsuits were not "frivolous," and that the districts' request for payment of the fees was "without merit." In defeating the parents in Common Pleas Court over the masks, the school districts spent a total of $20,392 in attorneys' fees and legal costs $15,328.50 for the Millcreek School District and $5,063.50 for the North East School District, according to district records. Both sides appeal, and the parents sue again The litigation continued following Connelly Marucci's decision. Both sides appealed to Commonwealth Court. The parents appealed Connelly Marucci's decision that tossed the lawsuits. The school districts appealed her decision that rejected their requests for legal fees. The Commonwealth Court has yet to rule. In April, it ordered the parties to file the first set of briefs in the case by June 6. With the original cases on appeal, Beckes and Prozan, the parents in the respective cases, filed their latest suits in Erie County Common Pleas Court in November and filed amended suits in December. The parents in those suits claimed the school districts violated the Sunshine Act. They said the school directors erred by, among other things, meeting in private executive sessions to decide whether to appeal Connelly Marucci's decision over the legal fees. The parents demanded that Connelly Marucci order the districts to pay the parents' legal fees in the Sunshine Act lawsuits if she ruled that the school districts violated the open-meetings law. The districts' payments of the legal costs are appropriate because of the districts' "willful or wanton disregard of the Sunshine Act," according to the parents' court filings. Members of the Millcreek Township School Board listen to the public at a study session on pandemic regulations on Feb. 22, 2022, at the Millcreek School District's Education Center. The board voted later that month to make masks optional. The lawyers for the school districts argued that the school directors acted properly when they met in executive sessions to consider the districts' respective appeals to Commonwealth Court, which the districts filed on Oct. 10. The lawyers cited a section of the Sunshine Act that allows school boards and other public bodies to meet in executive session to discuss litigation. The school districts also demanded that Connelly Marucci order the parents to pay the districts' legal fees for defending the lawsuits over the Sunshine Act if she tossed the suits, as the districts requested. In having the fees imposed, the districts want to send the parents "a clear message: Pennsylvania courts cannot be used for political fodder," the lawyers for the districts said in a court filing. How did the judge rule on the Sunshine Act lawsuits? Connelly Marucci issued two rulings on the Sunshine Act lawsuits on May 19. One ruling concerned the suit against the Millcreek School District and the other concerned the suit against the North East School District. Connelly Marucci tossed the suit against the Millcreek School District in its entirety. The Sunshine Act allows for "agency business" regarding litigation to be conducted in an executive session, Connelly Marucci said in a seven-page decision. The Millcreek School District's filing of the appeal to Commonwealth Court, she said, "is a matter of litigation which falls under the exception to the Sunshine Act's public meeting mandate." Connelly Marucci also rejected the school district's request that Prozan, the parent who sued, pay the district's legal fees in the Sunshine Act case. The Millcreek School District, Connelly Marucci said in the decision, "has failed to produce any evidence to substantiate their claim for award of reasonable attorney fees." The judge issued a similar but not identical decision in the North East School District case over the Sunshine Act. The difference means that case can move forward. Connelly Marucci said the North East school directors, like their counterparts in Millcreek, acted properly by dealing with the appeal to Commonwealth Court in an executive session. But she also found that the North East school directors, unlike their counterparts in Millcreek, erred in how the North East School District informed the public about its executive session over the appeal. The Sunshine Act requires that school boards and other public agencies publicly announce that they met in an executive session and provide general reasons for why they did so. The reasons include discussions about personnel and litigation. If litigation was a topic of an executive session, according to the Sunshine Act, the public announcement must include such details as name of the parties involved in the lawsuit and the docket number. As Connelly Marucci said, the requirements are set forth in a 1993 Commonwealth Court case involving the Reading Eagle newspaper: Reading Eagle Co. v. Council of the City of Reading. According to Connelly Marucci's decision in the Millcreek case, the Millcreek School Board listed the required details when that board's president, Gary Winschel, made public announcements about the executive sessions at board meetings on Oct. 3 and 11. The judge cited the board minutes as proof. Winschel, according to the minutes, said the School Board at the executive sessions discussed the Troy Prozan case with docket number 10937-2022. In the case of the North East School District, Connelly Marucci said the board failed to follow the Sunshine Act in its public announcement of the executive session. She cited the board minutes. According to the minutes from Sept. 15, Oct. 6 and Oct. 20, Board President Nick Mobilia said at the start of the meetings that the school directors "had met in an Executive Session prior to this evenings meeting concerning areas permissible under Act 84 which include confidentiality issues protected by law, student issues, personnel, legal matters, and other matters relevant to the operation of the district." In her seven-page decision in the North East case, Connelly Marucci said, "This announcement fails to detail general nature of litigation including the title and docket number required by law." Connelly Marucci let stand the claim in the lawsuit against North East that the school directors violated the Sunshine Act due to the deficient public announcement on the executive session. What happens next in the North East case over the Sunshine Act? The ruling does not invalidate the North East School District's appeal of the fee issue to Commonwealth Court, Connelly Marucci said in her decision. But ruling allows Beckes, the parent in in the North East case, to seek legal fees and costs from the district related to the Sunshine Act lawsuit. Beckes claims in the suit that she is entitled to the fees and costs because the North East School District acted with "willful or wanton disregard of the text and intent of the Sunshine Act by failing to announce the reasons for holding executive sessions as required." Because that claim survived, it can be the subject of further litigation. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: North East parent's lawsuit over masks, Sunshine Act survives in court ADEN, Yemen, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's flag carrier Yemenia on Friday started operating seven additional flights to evacuate 1,250 citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan. The Yemeni Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the batch would be evacuated to Aden or Sanaa, and the first of these flights carrying 195 Yemenis has departed from Port Sudan airport. The ministry noted that the government's evacuation process was expected to complete by next Monday. So far, more than 1,590 Yemenis have been evacuated, 790 of whom boarding four flights to Aden and Sanaa, while 800 others were evacuated by sea to the Saudi port of Jeddah, it said. Deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15 have triggered a growing list of countries to evacuate citizens. The Yemeni ministry said that approximately there were 17,000 Yemeni people staying in Sudan. Many of them took refuge in the African country during the ongoing Yemeni civil war. The Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office said in three years it has received hundreds of consumer complaints against a Boston-based cruise company. The AGs Office received at least 783 complaints against Vantage Deluxe World Travel since Jan. 1, 2020, including 147 complaints filed in 2023, a spokesperson said. Michelle Couch-Friedman, founder of Consumer Rescue, said shes been in contact with hundreds of customers who are not getting refunds or finding their trips cancelled at the last minute. The people who are contacting me are distraught, Couch-Friedman said. Some people have been waiting for refunds for three years. Vantage did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company, which markets its trips as deluxe travel, has offices on Canal St. and has been around since 1983, according to its website. The AGs Office has been in contact with the company regarding its recently reported problems but an AG spokesperson said they could not provide any additional information. Couch-Friedman said her organization helps mediate complaints between customers and companies. She has documented the problems with Vantage on her website. Im getting so many complaints from couples waiting for a refund of $20,000, $40,000. I have one lady who has been waiting two years for a $66,000 refund, Couch-Friedman said. The AGs Office said most of the consumer complaints against Vantage come from outside Massachusetts. 69 of the complaints are from Bay State residents. An AG spokesperson encourages consumers to file complaints with their respective AG offices. Florida resident Karen Wilcox said Vantage owes her $6,234 after she cancelled her Icelandic cruise in January. At the time, she said Vantage told her shed get her deposit back because she cancelled her trip within a 24-hour window. We still havent gotten a refund, Wilcox said. Wilcox joined a Facebook group with more than 500 members, all with similar complaints against Vantage. Its been a nightmare for many customers that booked with this company, Wilcox said. My issue is not nearly as bad as some others who are owed $40,000 or $50,000 for cancelled cruises. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A Boston-area professor accused of killing her boyfriend, a police officer, in January 2022 after she allegedly hit him with her vehicle while intoxicated, described the case against her as a "cover-up." A Norfolk County grand jury in June 2022 indicted Bentley University professor Karen Read, 42, of Mansfield, for second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision, which allegedly caused 46-year-old Boston Police Office John O'Keefe's death. "I tried to save his life. I tried to save his life at 6 in the morning. I was covered in his blood. I was the only one trying to save his life," Read told reporters Thursday outside the Norfolk Superior Court after a hearing, earning applause from friends and family, according to FOX 25. The decision to speak independently to media with support from her attorneys was unusual considering Read has yet to face trial. WOMAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING BOSTON POLICE OFFICER BOYFRIEND BACK IN COURT, AS DEFENSE SUBPOENAS NEW WITNESSES A Norfolk County grand jury in June 2022 indicted Bentley University professor Karen Read, 42, of Mansfield, for second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision, which allegedly caused 46-year-old Boston Police Office John O'Keefe's death. "We know who spearheaded this cover-up. You all know," she said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP MASSACHUSETTS PROFESSOR INDICTED IN ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVING DEATH OF COP BOYFRIEND O'Keefe died in the snow outside Boston Police Officer Brian Albert's former home in Canton in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2022. Albert has since sold the home. Investigators say Read drove O'Keefe to Albert's home on Fairview Road in Canton for a party shortly after midnight Jan. 29, 2022, after drinking. Phone records and witness testimony suggest the pair were experiencing "strains within their relationship," FOX 25 reported, citing police. In one voicemail left after Read dropped O'Keefe off at the party, she apparently "screamed to the victim that she hated him," according to FOX 25. That morning, around 6, authorities found O'Keefe on the ground outside the Canton home just before a nor'easter struck the town with 21 inches of snow. Authorities transported the off-duty officer to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead several hours later. Authorities discovered John O'Keefe outside a Canton, Mass., home the morning of Jan. 29, 2022. Albert and his sister-in-law, Jennifer McCabe, were home at the time, but both witnesses told investigators they never saw O'Keefe make it into the house that evening before McCabe found his body outside the next morning. MASSACHUSETTS WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING COP BOYFRIEND COULD BE EXONERATED WITH NEW EVIDENCE: DEFENSE Read apparently became worried when she did not hear back from O'Keefe later on and returned to the Canton home the morning of Jan. 29, where she and McCabe found him on the ground. The officer had cuts on his arms and a 2-inch laceration on the back of his head, skull fractures and both of his eyes were swollen shut, according to hospital records obtained by FOX 25. John O'Keefe had cuts on his arms, a 2-inch laceration on the back of his head, skull fractures and both his eyes were swollen shut, according to hospital records obtained by FOX 25. Read repeatedly asked McCabe, "Could I have hit him?" and "Did I hit him?" that morning after noticing one of her taillights was shattered, evidence the state is using against Read. But Read's attorneys have argued that phone evidence implicates Albert and McCabe in O'Keefe's murder, according to an April 12 motion filed in Norfolk County. MASSACHUSETTS WOMAN ARRESTED ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE IN DEATH OF BOSTON POLICE OFFICER: DA McCabe allegedly searched how long it takes to "die in cold" at 2:27 a.m. on Jan. 29, three hours after OKeefe was last seen walking toward Albert's house, the motion states. "I tried to save his life. I tried to save his life at six in the morning. I was covered in his blood. I was the only one trying to save his life," Read told reporters Thursday, May 25, 2023. McCabe also allegedly "took calculated steps to purge her phone of this inculpatory search and, at the same time, attempted to delete her communications with Brian Albert and remove a screenshot of his contact information from her phone, which she had obviously shared with someone that morning," the motion says. McCabe's lawyer, Kevin Reddington, said Thursday that McCabe "has been cooperating with the government every step of the way" and "provided her testimony as any good citizen would do," FOX 25 reported. Read's attorneys have questioned whether O'Keefe may have been beaten at the party or bit by a dog that apparently hasn't been seen since that day, according to FOX 25, but a medical examiner saw no signs that O'Keefe had been in any kind of fight. "Me and my family and my attorneys and my team have marshaled every resource to get to the truth. It just feels like no one else wants it," Read said Thursday. Digging into the light brown dirt, archaeologists in the United Kingdom found themselves face-to-face with two ancient Roman sculpture heads. The massive stone carvings reveal more about Roman life along this far corner of the empire. Excavations had just restarted at the Hadrians Wall archaeological site in Carlisle, England, the Cumberland Council said in a May 24 news release. Archaeologists and volunteers were excavating the ruins of a Roman-era bathhouse. Two days in, they uncovered something incredible, Frank Giecco, the excavations lead archaeologist, said in a YouTube video from the Cumberland Council. The team unearthed two monumental stone heads of ancient Roman sculptures, the release said. Photos shared on Instagram by Stuart Walker show the sculpture heads sitting in wheelbarrows. One head has a dark brown-gray coloring and appears to be wearing a crown-like headpiece. The other is a light orange-brown color and appears to have braided hair. The sculptures might be a Roman emperor and empress, archaeologists told Stuart Walker. The heads might also belong to statues of Roman gods, BBC reported. Either way, the statues are unique and priceless, Giecco told BBC. The heads are made of sandstone and about three times the size of a human head indicating the complete sculptures might have reached 12 to 15 feet tall, BBC reported. The artifacts might date back as far as 200 A.D., the outlet reported. Its the first sculpture found from the site and could be the find of a lifetime, Giecco said in the release. This truly shows the significance of the bathhouse and raises the site to a whole new level of importance with such monumental sculpture and adds to overall grandeur of the building. The bathhouse excavation site is the largest known building along Hadrians Wall, the release said. Two amazing large Roman sculptures carved from sandstone have been uncovered at the Roman Bath House archaeological dig at Carlisle Cricket Club. Experts initially think that they could be of Emperor Septimus Severus and Emperoress Julia Domna pic.twitter.com/lDrEOHI8j5 Stuart Walker (@StuWalkerPhotos) May 24, 2023 Hadrians Wall was the northernmost edge of the ancient Roman empire, according to an article from the Cumberland Council. The fortified site was occupied from around 72 A.D. to the fifth century. Now, the site is the best known and the best preserved frontier of the Roman Empire, officials said. The bathhouse structure has revealed the luxuriousness of ancient Roman life, the release said. Dozens of carved gemstones, likely lost by bathers, have been uncovered. Archaeologists also found tiles with the imperial stamp of approval at the thermal baths. Excavations at the Carlisle site will continue until June 24, the release said. Carlisle is about 100 miles south of Edinburgh, Scotland. Lost ruins of Atlantis of the North Sea located after sunken church reappears 500-year-old shipwrecks teeming with porcelain and wood discovered in South China Sea Prehistoric cult site uncovered along edge of a river in Norway. See the burial ground Medvedev says war in Ukraine will last for decades and threatens nuclear strike again Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, has stated that the "military conflict" in Ukraine will last "for a very long time" and once again threatened a "preemptive nuclear strike" now apparently because of the supply of nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Source: Russian propaganda publications TASS and RIA Novosti, citing remarks made by Medvedev during his visit to Vietnam Quote from Medvedev: "This conflict will last a very long time. Decades, for sure. This is a new reality, a new environment. As long as there is such a government, there will be, say, three years of a truce, two years of conflict, and it will all happen again. The very nature of the Nazi power in Kyiv has to be destroyed." Details: Medvedev also added that if Ukraine receives nuclear weapons from its Western allies, Russia will apparently have to launch a pre-emptive strike. Quote from Medvedev: "Then that will mean that a missile with a nuclear charge will strike them. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, it will be necessary to launch a preventive strike." Details: The Russian official did not specify whom exactly this strike would target. He also stated that the occupiers have enough shells, and the Russian defence industry has supposedly adapted and increased the production of weapons. In addition, Medvedev claimed that Russian defence enterprises have started to introduce "trophy technologies" that were captured during the war. Medvedev once again repeated the typical narrative that it was not Russia that attacked a sovereign country, but Europe, "constantly heating up the situation in the conflict zone in Ukraine by its decisions", and the US, who he says wants to "destroy [its] centuries-old enemy", that is, Russia. He also said negotiations with Ukraine are impossible while Zelenskyy is in power, but at the same time added that "all proposed plans for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict must be examined." Medvedev also urged Russians not to leave the country in "difficult times", saying that "a decent person should live in his own country and abide by the conditions in which he lives." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Kharkiv, Ukraine Major cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, were targeted yet again by Russian cruise missiles and drones in the early morning hours of Friday. Russia has upped the intensity of its aerial attacks in recent weeks, attempting to disrupt preparations for a long-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. One missile slammed into a clinic in the eastern city of Dnipro later Friday morning, killing at least one person and wounding 15 more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Twitter, calling it "another crime against humanity." An image from video shared on Twitter by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shows damage from what he said was a deadly Russian missile strike on a clinic in the southeast city of Dnipro, May 26, 2023. / Credit: Twitter/Volodymr Zelenskyy But there has also been an increase in attacks inside Russia. Dissident groups of Russian nationals opposed to President Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine have carried out attacks in border cities including Bryansk and Belgorod. Wagner boss, "Putin's butcher," warns Russia could face a new revolution From a bomb blast in Moscow that killed a vocal advocate of the Ukraine invasion, to the most recent cross-border raids in Russia's Belgorod region there's been increasing evidence of armed resistance to Putin's war, inside Russia. A collection of disparate anti-Kremlin armed groups are behind the attacks. They have divergent political views and ideologies, but they're united by a common goal: "To ensure the collapse of the Russian regime as quickly as possible," in the words of a masked gunman from one of the groups, who spoke with CBS News for a rare on-the-record interview. We sent written questions to one of the partisan groups that's claimed responsibility for some of the recent attacks on Russian soil. An image from video provided by an armed Russian opposition group, which cannot be independently verified by CBS News, purportedly shows a fire caused by an attack by the group on a power substation inside Russia. / Credit: Obtained by CBS News The fighters, heavily disguised, said they derailed a train in Bryansk earlier this month in their most successful action to date. They gave us video purportedly showing them setting off an explosion and throwing a Molotov cocktail at a Russian electrical substation. Denmark and Netherlands to lead F-16 training for Ukrainians "We are destroying military targets and support infrastructure," the masked spokesman of the armed group told CBS News. CBS News cannot independently verify the group's claims, and audacious attacks this week on Russian towns in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, were launched by two other partisan organizations calling themselves the Russian Volunteer Corp and the Free Russia Legion. Representatives of the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) hold a briefing near the border in northern Ukraine, May 24, 2023. / Credit: NurPhoto/Getty Fresh from those raids, they held a brazen news conference near the Russian border in eastern Ukraine, with Volunteer Corps commander Denis Kapustin, who's known for his ultra-right-wing leanings, threatening more attacks. "Phase one we consider a successful phase," he said. "It's over now but the operation is ongoing. That's all I can say for now." Kapustin said no American military equipment was used in the attack, and the masked men we spoke with said they could get any weapons they needed thanks to a huge black market that's arisen as a result of Putin's war. The group has threatened more attacks. Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted officials Friday, meanwhile, as saying a Russian national had been arrested and accused of plotting an attack in the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik, not too far from Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the alleged plot, but RIA said officials had identified the suspect as "a supporter of Ukrainian neo-Nazism, a Russian citizen," who was plotting an attack against "law enforcement agencies in the region." CBS News' Tucker Reals contributed to this report. Megan Fox opens up about her struggle with body dysmorphia 2024 GOP candidates hit campaign trail As climate change hurts crops, scientists explore new foods Memorial Day by the numbers: Facts about the solemn American holiday Memorial Day is observed in the U.S. on Monday, May 29. While some Americans will use the federal holiday as a time to enjoy and recharge, others view it as a day of mourning. If youre not certain why that is, here are 10 number-based facts about how Memorial Day came to be, current observance traditions and key statistics about Americas military. VETERANS DAY VS MEMORIAL DAY: WHATS THE DIFFERENCE? 1. When did the first Memorial Day take place? 2. Which state is the birthplace of Memorial Day? READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP 3. When did Memorial Day become a floating federal holiday? 4. How many American troops have died in battle? 5. How many active-duty service members are in the U.S. armed forces? 6. How many people participate in the National Memorial Day parade? 7. How many people visit the Arlington National Cemetery around Memorial Day? 8. How many flags are placed on Arlington National Cemetery graves? 9. How many Americans travel during Memorial Day weekend? 10. How much money is spent on Memorial Day barbecues (meat in particular)? WHAT MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL WILL COST YOU THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR Americas first Memorial Day observance was on May 5, 1868, which was originally called Decoration Day by the Grand Army of the Republic, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and others arrive at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. That year, Americans visited Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and other local resting places throughout the U.S. to decorate the graves of fallen troops. The Civil War ended three years prior (April 12, 1861, to April 9, 1865), and an estimated 620,000 lost their lives in the conflict. President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed Waterloo, New York, the "birthplace of Memorial Day" on May 26, 1966, because records showed the village held one of the first observances on the local level a hundred years prior, according to the Library of Congress. Johnsons proclamation was made during the Vietnam War, which had been fought for 11 years at that point. The Vietnam War ran from Nov. 1, 1955, to April 30, 1975. MEMORIAL DAY: 5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE HOLIDAY "Join me in prayer to the Almighty for the safety of our nation's sons and daughters in Vietnam, for His blessing on those who have sacrificed their lives for this nation in this and all other struggles," Johnson said, at the time. More than 20 other cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, which cites a first local observance dating back to October 1864. Memorial Day became a floating federal holiday on Jan. 1, 1971, after the Uniform Monday Holiday Act went into effect, according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The law moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs published an "Americas Wars" report in May 2021 that estimated the number of fallen troops who died in battle from 1775 to 1991 was 651,031. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The agency also estimated that there were 308,800 in-theater deaths (territories where wars were fought) and non-theater 230,254 deaths (territories where wars werent fought) during the same period. Approximately 1.3 million active-duty service members make up the U.S. armed forces, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The agency is also backed by 750,000 civilian personnel and more than 811,000 National Guard and Reserve service members, which makes the department the nations largest employer. Veterans march on the street May 27, 2019 during the 152nd Memorial Day Parade in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. - The Kings County Parade is one of the oldest Memorial Day Parades in the nation. More than 10,000 people participate in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., according to Music Celebrations International the parades co-organizer which works alongside the American Veterans Center. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Arlington National Cemetery reports that it receives more than 135,000 Memorial Day visitors over the holiday weekend each year. A girl reacts in front of a headstone during Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, May 31, 2021. On Memorial Day, approximately 260,000 graves at the Arlington National Cemetery are decorated with American flags, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website. Memorial Day is viewed as the unofficial start of summer by some Americans, which has made it a busy day for travel. MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: TOP 10 BEACHES IN UNITED STATES The American Automobile Association estimates that more than 42 million Americans will travel over the holiday weekend, according to an updated travel forecast. About 37.1 million Americans are expected to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend while nearly 3.4 million Americans are expected to travel by air. Roughly 1.85 million are expected to travel by alternative means, such as cruises, buses and trains. The holiday weekend is also a big day for barbecues. WalletHub reports that national meat sales will reach $1.6 billion during Memorial Day celebrations and gatherings this year. With 42.3 million Americans projected to travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, AAA anticipated Friday to be the busiest travel day of the weekend, as thousands of people checked in for their flights bright and early at Pittsburgh International Airport. From the Northeast to the Gulf Coast, vacation destinations were on the minds of many as they waited in long lines and prepared for takeoff. Im going to New Mexico, and Im most excited about my trip to go see my sister, said Cayden Mason. Experts predict more than 37 million people will drive to their destination, with nearly two million traveling by train or bus and more than three million flying. Its a lot of people, and theyre probably going to other beaches and stuff, said Jenna Miller, who was flying to St. Petersburg, Fla., with her family. TSA said its ready for this summers anticipated increase in travel and announced that teenagers ages 13-17 may now accompany their parents or guardians enrolled in TSA PreCheck when traveling on the same reservation, something that could come in handy if you want to skip long lines. I wasnt expecting this long. Weve flown every holiday, and Ive never been all the way back there, ever, said Farren Mason of Pittsburgh AAA said this is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when it started tracking holiday travel. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Bethel Park police lieutenant taken into federal custody Inmate dies at Allegheny County Jail Woman arrested, charged after allegedly spraying pepper spray on court employees in Munhall VIDEO: Steelers T.J. Watt talks about viral slip into pool, goals for 2023 season DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts New York Mets catcher Gary Sanchez is unable to catch a popup by Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom behind the plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) CHICAGO (AP) Two-time All-Star Gary Sanchez was designated for assignment Thursday by the New York Mets when they reinstated fellow catcher Tomas Nido from the injured list. Sanchez went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI in three games with New York, looking shaky at times behind the plate. With two Mets catchers on the IL, he joined the club on a minor league contract this month and was promoted to the big leagues last Friday after hitting well in a short stint at Triple-A Syracuse. The team has seven days to trade Sanchez, release him or send him outright to the minors an assignment he could decline if he'd rather become a free agent again. Sanchez also spent time in the minors with San Francisco this season before getting released May 2 and signing with the Mets a week later. His best seasons came across town with the Yankees, where he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star team in 2017 and 2019. He was traded to Minnesota before the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games last year. Nido had been sidelined since May 7 due to dry eye syndrome. He had plugs placed in both eyes that help them remain lubricated and improve his vision. A defensive specialist, Nido went 3 for 15 with a home run during a four-game rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie. Before going on the injured list, he batted .118 (6 for 51) with one RBI and no extra-base hits in 19 major league games this season. He struck out 16 times and walked only twice. Nido will likely serve as the backup to promising rookie Francisco Alvarez for now. Alvarez was in the starting lineup for Thursday night's series finale against the Chicago Cubs. He began the night hitting .253 with six homers, 13 RBIs and an .822 OPS in 29 games. New York will need to make another decision about its catching situation when Omar Narvaez returns from a calf injury. Narvaez began a rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Brooklyn. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports How ignorant can you be, Miami-Dade political zealots? Youre downgrading our childrens education challenging books and you have no intellectual heft to know what youre doing. If iconic 19th century Cuban poet Jose Marti who wrote his most celebrated work during his 15 years of exile in the United States read Amanda Gormans inaugural poem, The Hill We Climb, the war hero and journalist would most likely be a fan. The Marti who gave voice and shaped the idea of a free and independent Cuba would be applauding the nations first youth poet laureates unifying message, not restricting her work, as you have done for elementary school students. Your extremist partisanship and prejudice against Gormans work has brought national shame upon Miami. Although one country and two centuries apart, Gorman and Marti share a similar sentimental tone to dissect their respective times and embrace universal democratic concepts: Empathy for the struggles of the poor. Weariness of political demagoguery that divides. Hope and vision of a better future. In fact, when I first heard Gorman recite at President Bidens inauguration a particular line in her poem same line the Cuban mother of two students at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes wrongly denounced as having hate messages I wondered: Has this young poet read Jose Marti? Is she referencing him? We braved the belly of the beast, Gorman said. Weve learned that quiet isnt always peace. And the norms and notions of what just is Isnt always justice. Why would those evocative lines so upset parent Daily Salinas when Cubas most illustrious historical figure used similar words to highlight countrys worst inclinations? And we celebrate him! Cover of Amanda Gormans book containing the inaugural poem The Hill We Climb and a foreword by Oprah Winfrey. Miami-Dade, Florida, school officials put the book on a restricted list after a parent complained the nations first youth poet laureate was sending hate messages. Martis belly of the beast In his last letter, written on May 18, 1895 from his battle camp at Dos Rios in Eastern Cuba, the day before he was wounded and died, Marti warned a dear Mexican friend and politician of his concern that, once Cubans won the hard-fought war against Spain, the United States would want to annex the island. He said, according to the letter in the anthology Obras Completas (Complete Works): Vivi en el monstruo y le conozco las entranas. Literally, it means: I lived in the monster and I know its entrails. But subsequent interpretations have turned his famous line into: I lived in the belly of the beast and I know its entrails well. And this longer version, which incorporates the rest of Martis thought y mi honda es la de David: I know the monster because I have lived in its lair, and my sling is that of David. Explains university professor and sociologist Lisandro Perez, who researched Martis life as a New Yorker, when the poet seldom left the tri-state area and was informed by the work of journalists like Joseph Pulitzer and Randolph Hearst, who called for U.S. intervention in Cuba. He is conveying the idea, the strategy for the revolutionary movement he launches in 1895 that there had to be silence [secrecy], so as not to interest the United States in the Cuban situation, Perez said. He feared most what the U.S. did do: Come in. Ban Marti, too? So ban the Cuban patriot, too, from the questioning minds of Florida students? If the state continues its witch hunt of ideas, political leanings and lifestyles, Marti whose Jan. 28 birthday is celebrated every year in Miami-Dade might just find his thoughts unearthed and censored, his stardom dimmed. No, neither literary merit nor the honor the grave used to convey upon authors saves grand works from a Florida law that allows one parent no matter how ignorant or bigoted the argument or the person to challenge the mere existence of a book in a classroom or school library. The removal of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrisons masterful novel The Bluest Eye from all Pinellas County high schools proved this back in January. With the four books questioned, investigated by a committee under the right-wings parental intervention in education mandates, the misnamed group Moms for Liberty (who certainly dont stand for the First Amendment) can now proudly claim more than 357 books banned in Florida and counting. Gormans poem was one of the four removed by the district from the elementary side of the Graham Center. Her celebrity, on-point tweets expressing sorrow and outrage, coupled by the also removal of the book The ABCs of Black History from K-5 students, caused a local and national uproar. TV camera crews on their campus, the school sent a message to parents saying the bestseller The Hill We Climb would be available for all in the shared media center. READ MORE: Miami-Dade K-8 bars elementary students from 4 library titles following parent complaint No hope for Florida Id like to think that Marti, whose writings are used and abused by the left and right to advance political agendas, wouldnt, in the name of any kind of ideology, stand for censorship, especially of childrens books. Children are the hope of the world, Marti also famously said. But Miami-Dade school officials, in service to Gov. Ron DeSantis culture wars, are sending a different message by largely banning the work of Blacks, other minorities and LGBTQ+ authors: Only a partisan, white-washed education is allowed here. Because whats behind the ban is exactly what the censors claim to oppose: political indoctrination. A Trump inaugural poet, had he been sensitive enough to have one, would have never been banned in Miami, no matter the content of the work. But these beautiful lines by Gorman were found offensive. 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. I am extremely disappointed by the news that the poem, The Hill We Climb, by @TheAmandaGorman was removed due to a parents complaint. This is a result of the Governors divisive rhetoric & political agenda. It is completely unacceptable & our community will not stand for it. pic.twitter.com/Awx01t2C4Q Lucia Baez-Geller, Miami-Dade School Board (@luciabaezgeller) May 24, 2023 How shameful it is that Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, the son of Cuban exiles, is leading the noxious times in Florida. How shameful that Miami-Dade School Board member Roberto Alonso, who loves to wax nostalgic during meetings about his parents fleeing dictatorship and represents the predominantly Hispanic Miami Lakes district, is behind this Cuba-styled censorship, too. Freedom of speech is the foundation of a free society. Its shredding by elected officials who should be its guardians opens the door to tyrannical rule. Amanda Gormans censors in Miami are accomplices of autocracy trying to make her metaphorical hill a higher climb. But take solace in Jose Marti. He would find her a kindred spirit and true patriot. A Chinese-sponsored hacking campaign targeting critical infrastructure in Guam and other locations within the United States is "of real concern," Microsoft president Brad Smith warned. Microsoft revealed the hacking operation, code-named "Volt Typhoon," on Wednesday, saying it could disrupt communications between the U.S. and Asia during a future potential conflict. The operation has been active for about two years. "What we found was what we think of as network intrusions, the prepositioning of code. It's something that we've seen in terms of activity before," Smith said in an interview with "Face the Nation." "This does represent the focus on critical infrastructure in particular, and that's obviously of real concern." Microsoft said Wednesday it had not detected any offensive attacks from the operation, but noted that Chinese intelligence and military hackers generally focus on espionage and the collection of information rather than destruction. Smith declined to give specifics on how the operation had come to light, and whether it was Microsoft that alerted U.S. spy agencies to the operation. "I don't want to go too deep into that," he said. "We certainly have found a good deal of this ourselves. I don't think we're the only ones that have been looking. We do share information, as you would expect. I don't know that we're the only ones who have found it either. "The good news is we have a pretty broad-based ability, not just as a company, but as an industry and a country to detect this kind of activity," he added. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence agencies uncovered the malware in February, around the same time the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon. The malware appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the U.S. reportedly alarmed U.S. officials because of the critical role Guam would play in the U.S. military response to China's potential invasion of Taiwan. Smith said making the operation public is important to educating the affected sectors, and also to holding the perpetrators accountable. "I do think we live in a world where, frankly, there needs to be some level of accountability for anyone that is engaged in activity that forms this kind of threat or danger," Smith said. "And so there is a need for public transparency in that vein as well." China has denied the allegations. Nicole Sganga contributed reporting. Megan Fox opens up about her struggle with body dysmorphia 2024 GOP candidates hit campaign trail As climate change hurts crops, scientists explore new foods UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- President Csaba Korosi of the UN General Assembly condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Friday's attacks against adjacent government and African Union (AU) military bases in Somalia, said his spokeswoman. "He expresses his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and governments of Uganda and Somalia," said his spokeswoman Paulina Kubiak, referring to the countries of raid victims. "He also wishes a speedy recovery to those injured." Terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations constitutes a grave threat to international peace and security, she said, adding that Korosi underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said in a statement that its reinforcements repelled al-Shabaab fighters, including suicide bombers, who had stormed its forward operating base in Bulo Marer, about 120 km southwest of Mogadishu, the capital. There were no further immediate details on the raids of the government or ATMIS sites or any casualties. The AU mission, mandated by a UN Security Council resolution, includes troops from Uganda. Lord Darroch was the former UK ambassador to the US Ministers are trying to use national security laws to keep secret evidence relating to a claim that Britains ambassador in Washington leaked intelligence to his alleged lover. Court documents obtained by The Telegraph allege that a senior civil servant was arrested on suspicion of leaking diplomatic cables and his home raided by counter-terrorism police a day after Lord Darroch, the former UK ambassador to the US, was warned his alleged affair was being exposed by a tabloid newspaper. The senior civil servant is suing two Cabinet ministers Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly, as nominal heads of the departments involved at the time claiming his arrest was part of a disinformation campaign to protect Lord Darroch and maintain diplomatic prestige. He also alleges that he was harshly treated to ensure that the conduct of Lord Darroch is quietly and quickly forgotten, according to the particulars of the claim lodged in the High Court. Lawyers for the civil servant allege he has been used as a scapegoat after Lord Darroch endangered diplomatic relations with the US. The case threatens to blow open a highly embarrassing episode in UK-US relations involving the leaking of diplomatic cables from Lord Darroch that had been circulated in Whitehall. It has also been alleged that he had an affair with Michelle Kosinski, a CNN reporter. Ms Kosinski denies she had a relationship with Lord Darroch and that he was the source of scoops when she was CNNs White House correspondent. Next week, the High Court will begin a preliminary hearing at which government lawyers will seek more time to prepare their defence. The Government will argue next month that the Justice and Security Act 2013 should be triggered, restricting access to sensitive material. If the Government is successful, then only a special advocate can examine the material and the civil servant and his legal team may never find out what it is. The Act, which can be used in civil cases, is more commonly applied to cases involving terrorism. If the High Court judge agrees to the request, lawyers for the civil servant will not even be able to see certain evidence and other material presented by the Government in its defence of the claim. Such a move will further provoke claims of a cover-up. 'Wholly inappropriate use' David Davis, the Conservative MP, said: This is a wholly inappropriate use of the Justice and Security Act. When Parliament passed this law, members expected the state to use it to deal with real cases of espionage and terrorism, not to cover up potentially embarrassing stories involving diplomats and civil servants. In a legal letter, sent on May 19 to the civil servants legal team, a government lawyer wrote: Please find attached a letter notifying the court that the defendants in the above case intend to make an application under section six of the Justice and Security Act 2013 that the proceedings are proceedings in which a closed material application may be made to the court. The case is highly sensitive. The saga began in July 2019 with the resignation of Lord Darroch after diplomatic cables that were highly critical of Donald Trump, the then US president, were published in a Sunday newspaper. Lord Darroch had suggested the president radiates insecurity and that his administration was dysfunctional, unpredictable, faction-riven and clumsy and inept. In response, Mr Trump described Lord Darroch as a very stupid guy and with their relationship seriously damaged, Lord Darroch quit his post. Lord Darroch quit his post after he was revealed to have been highly critical of Donald Trump The Government announced a leak inquiry and drafted in counter-terrorism police to find the mole. The arrest of the civil servant, under the Official Secrets Act, was terrifying for him. The court documents allege that 14 fully-armed officers from the counter-terrorism command forced entry into the civil servants home in a raid at 5.50am on Oct 13 2020 15 months after the Mail on Sunday had first published details of the leaked cables. He was never charged. The civil servant, who The Telegraph has agreed not to name, points out in his legal claim that at the time he was severely ill and recovering from cancer surgery with a post-surgery infection, something he says his employers at the Department for International Trade knew but failed to inform the police when they co-ordinated his arrest. According to the legal claim, an NHS assessment declared the behaviour of senior civil servants at the Foreign Office and the then Department of International Trade was life-threatening. The entire operation was violent, intimidating, designed to humiliate and cause damage to health and property, states the claim. But it is the timing of the arrest that the civil servant and his legal team insist is both suspicious and significant. Following the revelation over the diplomatic cables back in the summer of 2019, a fresh story about Lord Darroch was about to emerge. This one threatened to be just as damaging. They had been told that Lord Darroch was under investigation by US authorities for allegedly leaking sensitive information to a CNN reporter, who, it is claimed, was in a relationship with him. Ms Kosinski, who like Lord Darroch is married, has denied any such affair and denied that she has ever received classified or sensitive intelligence information from him. Michelle Kosinski has denied an affair with Lord Darroch - Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images On the day before police raided the home of the civil servant, The Sun, which was running the story, had approached Lord Darroch for a right of reply to the claims that The Sun planned to publish. According to the particulars of claim, the very next day the home of the civil servant was raided as part of Operation Asperite, the police inquiry that had been launched in July 2019 to investigate the original leak. The civil servant has always protested his innocence and says he believes his name was given to police by officials in the Foreign Office and Department for International Trade. The legal claim states: The police interrogated the claimant and asked him why his Civil Service colleagues would accuse him of leaking Kim Darrochs official sensitive documents if he did not do it. The claimant was investigated twice, and the Crown Prosecution Service decided on both occasions that the police did not produce evidence to meet the evidential state of a full code test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. A day after the arrest according to the particulars of claim the police contacted The Sun newspaper to inform the newspaper that the civil servant had been arrested. This was deliberate interference with the freedom of the press, states the claim. A day after The Sun published its story, according to the claim, the Defendants retaliated and informed media outlets that the Claimant had been arrested in an effort to take the attention off Lord Darroch. The story went viral around the world. Lawyers for the civil servant, who denies any involvement in the leaking of the diplomatic cables, say that in contrast to the investigation into their client, it is Lord Darrochs alleged relationship with the journalist that raises issues of national security for which the British authorities refuse to investigate. Instead, the lawyers argue, the former ambassador was rewarded with his appointment to the House of Lords on retiring from his post. The ministers as nominated heads of their respective government departments are being sued for misfeasance in public office, which effectively accuses officials and politicians of abusing their positions in power. Lord Darroch has never commented on the claims of a relationship with Ms Kosinski. In a Twitter post in October 2020, Miss Kosinski said: There is a great deal wrong and simply false with what is being reported. A so-called leak investigation found no such leaking. Meaning for all those stories listed, that sensitive information did not come from the former ambassador. Sounds like I had some good sources and did my job. She denies any affair. Paul Diamond, the civil servants barrister, told The Telegraph: Our position is that national security must not be used as an excuse by the Government to conceal information and prevent public scrutiny. Protecting Kim Darroch, the Government and the Civil Service from public embarrassment does not justify concealing all of this on national security grounds. Call for 'maximum transparency' Andrea Jenkyns, a former minister, said: It is vital that ministers do not overreach in this way to hide potentially embarrassing information about diplomats and civil servants. The public and the press have a right to see the evidence involved in this case; we must have maximum transparency to get to the bottom of any allegations made. The case will be watched with interest in the US, with Republicans believing that authorities in the UK had attempted to undermine Mr Trumps presidency, and concern that US intelligence was leaked by an ally. Mike Howell, who runs the Oversight Project at the Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, said: Abusing intelligence and feeding it to the regimes media to take down Trump weve seen this scheme before. The global Left started running this play the moment Trump came down those golden escalators. Darrochs name should be added to the long list of characters that have yet to be held accountable. Shining a light on this sordid affair is an appropriate thing for Congressional investigators to dig in to. He added: Its unfortunate that the British Government is keeping their hearings in secret as the people deserve to know if US intelligence secrets were once again traded away for partisan gain. The Department for Business and Trade, which replaced the Department for International Trade, said it did not wish to provide a comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk in Asia in 1941 The Ministry of Defence has condemned the "desecration" of maritime military graves after reports scavengers had targeted two World War Two wrecks. A vessel, thought to be Chinese, has been seen at the site the British ships were sunk, off the coast of Malaysia. Some 842 British sailors died when HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were torpedoed by Japanese aircraft. The attack on 10 December 1941 is seen as one of the worst disasters in British naval history. It took place just three days after the attacks on the US fleet in Pearl Harbour, and two days after Japan invaded South East Asia. The Prince of Wales was one of the Royal Navy's most important battleships but it, and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse, had been sent to sea without any aircraft to protect them. The ships are resting on the bed of the South China Sea, 60 miles (100km) off the east coast of Malaysia. A Malaysian diver, Hazz Zain, told the New Straits Times newspaper this week local fishermen had spotted a salvage vessel at the location of the shipwrecks last month and shared photographs with her. The "grab dredger" seen in pictures supplied to Ms Zain has two large cranes mounted on it and is said to be equipped with metal cutters that can be lowered to the sea floor to shear off and lift sections of steel and aluminium. Ms Zain told the paper she had alerted both the Malaysian authorities and the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur about the activities of the dredger. A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence in London said: "We strongly condemn any desecration of any maritime military grave." They added: "Where we have evidence of desecration of the wrecks of Royal Navy vessels, we will take appropriate action, including working with regional governments and partners to prevent inappropriate activity at such sites." The New Straits Times newspaper reported the dredger was the Chinese registered Chuan Hong 68. It said the vessel had unloaded items recovered from HMS Prince of Wales, including a cannon and old artillery shells, at a private jetty in Malaysia. Police had seized some of the pieces and were now investigating. In 2017 Ms Zain met the then Prince Charles when he visited Malaysia and showed him video and still pictures showing how the wreckage of HMS Prince of Wales had already been damaged by scavengers. Following that the then UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK would work with governments in Malaysia and Indonesia to investigate claims that up to six British warships had been plundered. The then Prince Charles visited the Taiping Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery during his 2017 trip to Malaysia Prof Dominic Tweddle, director general of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, this week said: "We are distressed and concerned at the apparent vandalism for personal profit of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse. They are designated war graves." The museum said Winston Churchill had, in his memoirs written after the war, recalled the moment he was informed about the sinking of the British ships and the significance of the setback to the allies. "In all the war, I never received a more direct shock," he said. "As I turned over and twisted in bed the full horror of the news sank in upon me. "There were no British or American ships in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific except the American survivors of Pearl Harbour, who were hastening back to California. Across this vast expanse of waters, Japan was supreme, and we everywhere were weak and naked." Mary Moriarty at her offices in Minneapolis, on Oct. 25, 2019. Mary Moriarty at her public defender's offices in Minneapolis, on Oct. 25, 2019. Credit - John MinchilloAP Last month, in the weeks leading up to the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, the Minneapolis City Council voted to settle two additional lawsuits brought by other Black people whom former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on. The largest payout, $7.5 million, went to John Pope, who was 14 and in his bedroom in 2017 when Chauvin pressed his knee on the boys back and neck for 15 minutes. A magistrate took the unusual step of ordering the body camera footage made public, calling it a premonition of the same force later used on Floyd. The footage also showcased the troubling command culture of the Minneapolis Police Department. After Chauvin has had his knee on Pope for more than 10 minutes, his sergeant walks in, sees whats happening, appears to ask if Chauvin needs a break, nods, and walks out. The sergeant, Lucas Peterson, by then had already caused the death of a Black suspect in a choke hold, and filed a false report in another case, claiming a Black woman had assaulted his partner. He was also one of two officers who, four years earlier, had shot and killed a 22-year-old Black man named Terrance Franklin. Read more: Minneapolis Police Were Cleared in the Killing of Terrance Franklin. Franklins Family Says a Video Proves He Was Executedand Now the Case May Be Reopened But if the Franklin case escaped scrutiny at the time, many things changed after Chauvin killed Floyd. This past November, voters in Hennepin County, Minn., elected a chief prosecutor, Mary Moriarty, who campaigned on a promise of prosecuting police, and, local police chiefs tell TIME, specifically called out Franklins death. I remember the one name that she brought up was Terrance Franklin, recalls Stephanie Revering, police chief in suburban Crystal, Minn., which hosted a meeting of the Hennepin County Chiefs of Police Association a week before the election. She said it did not get the investigation it deserved. She would reopen that one. Mary Moriarty at her chief public defender's offices in Minneapolis, on Oct. 25, 2019. John MinchilloAP I do remember Mary raising some eyebrows, that she said something to the effect of, that would be one specific case that she would look into, says Daniel Wills, the Rogers, Minn., chief who now heads the association. The Terrance Franklin case, from the limited details I know, certainly has some loose ends associated with it. It does. The May 10, 2013, shooting predated both body-worn cameras and smartphone video, and for years the public knew only the narrative generated by the police. The details of that narrative would evolve (initially, the Minneapolis chief at the time claimed that Franklin was killed after he attacked a police dog), but it was always the story of heroic cops facing a young Black man who displayed the chilling manner of an automatonblank stare, impervious to painand the action-movie chops of Tom Cruise. In the account the five officers involved provided (after being allowed to meet together), Franklin overpowers four SWAT officers and a German Shepard, then wounds two of the officers by, in a single motion, knocking back a pair of them and tackling a thirdwhile simultaneously taking control of the submachine gun strapped to that third cop, getting his own finger inside the trigger guard and pulling once, then again, all while falling to the ground with the officer still wearing the machine gun, in a tiny basement, in the dark. Only then, police maintained, was the burglary suspect shot to death. But Franklins family unearthed evidence they say supports their belief that the death of Mookie, as he was known, was an execution. Franklin was shot five times in the head. A ballistics report indicated that two officers had held their guns to his head side by side and fired simultaneously. Audio captured by a passerbyand never closely examined by either police or prosecutorsdirectly contradicted the officers contention that the shooting was in self-defense. Among the shouts audible on the tape: Come out little n-r! Dont go putting those hands up now! Those officers need to get time, says Walter Franklin, Terrances father, speaking to TIME on May 11. Ive heard its moving, but its moving slow. Yesterday makes ten years. He said the familys attorney, Mike Padden, had met recently with Moriarty. A spokesman for Moriarty would not comment on the status of the case. Padden was circumspect. All I can say is that were hopeful that the five officers will be prosecuted, he tells TIME. And I am reasonably confident that they will be prosecuted. He refused to elaborate. Sea Change The question is now a criminal one. On the eve of trial for the familys wrongful death civil suitwhich the city had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to preventthe Minneapolis city council voted in February 2020 to settle, paying $795,000. The council president at the time said, I think our policy changes in the police department, leadership changes, have really created a scenario where this is unlikely to happen again. Three months later, Chauvin killed Floydprofoundly altering, among other things, public assumptions about police credibility. These are people that had the expectation up until four, five years ago that any goddamn thing they said would be believed by a jury, says Robert Bennett, who represented John Pope, the teen held down by Chauvin, and specializes in police brutality cases. Thats done. Ive had federal judges tell me that. Ive had FBI agents tell me that. Petersons career reflects that change. At the time of Franklins death, he had been the subject of 13 excessive force complaints, and cost $700,000 in settlements, more than any other officer in the previous seven years, the Star Tribune reported. But he was regarded as a great performer by a former Chief of Police quoted by the paper, and after Franklins death he made sergeant. Read more: Prosecutors Vowed to Revisit the Police Killing of Terrance Franklin. Nearly a Year Later, Little Progress Is Visible Today Peterson is no longer employed by the Minneapolis Police, according to Joseph E. Flynn, his attorney in the Pope case. The circumstances of his departure are not public, and Bennett indicated to TIME that the prospect of them becoming so during legal proceedings was part of the reason the city settled. Thats how you get seven and a half million dollars, he said. The agency is under intense pressure. Though Minneapolis voters in 2021 turned away a vaguely worded proposal to replace the police department, a U.S. Department of Justice probe of unlawful policing was announced the day after Chauvins conviction. Many believe it will end with the kind of court-enforced consent decree the MPD is already under with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, following its 2022 report concluding it engaged in discriminatory policing. Meanwhile, the city hired a new police chief with a remit to restore trust in the department while also addressing a surge in violent crime. Brian OHara, who arrived from Newark, N.J. in November, has moved to replace problematic supervisors. Moriarty, a longtime public defender, rode the wave of revulsion into the prosecutors office. She succeeded Mike Freeman, the prosecutor who originally cleared the five officers present at Franklins 2013 death, and who eight years later vowed to revisit the case, after a TIME investigation surfaced untruths and contradictions in the police account. But though his office was reported to be in negotiations with at least two officers seeking immunity in exchange for testimony about the shooting, Freeman left office without taking action. Moriarty had long been critical of Freeman for his handling of police shootings, and won handily over a strong candidate, Barbara Holton Dimick, a Black former judge and prosecutor who emphasized rising crime. Moriartys first five months in office have been rocky. But Rachel Moran, a St. Thomas University School of Law associate professor who specializes in police accountability, noted that the biggest controversyover the new prosecutors decision to reduce the penalty facing a pair of underage murder suspects, citing, among other things, studies of brain developmentwas in line with the principles she ran on. I have no idea whats going on behind the scenes, but I think her position so far has been essentially Mary living out the things that she campaigned on, Moran says. If I had to guess, shes got people looking into it [the Franklin case], but she knows she really, really wants to have her ducks in a row. Thatd be amazing if she does this, says Ashley Martin, who earlier this month marked the 10th anniversary of Terrances death with their son, Nehemiah, by releasing balloons in a park. Im really worried about the outcome. They will return to the park with balloons again on May 30, Terrances birthday. He would have been 33. The air defence of Ukraine shot down all the missiles the Russians had launched on Kyiv Oblast, yet missile fragments damaged seven private houses. Source: Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on Facebook Quote: "Last night Kyiv Oblast suffered from another missile attackFallen fragments of the shot-down targets damaged seven private houses. The damage is minor roofs, interior and exterior facades and walls." Details: Kravchenko added that the residents of the damaged houses will receive the necessary assistance. According to Kravchenko, it was the 13th attack since the beginning of May. However, thanks to the precise and professional work of the Defence Forces all Russian targets were destroyed, and there have been no hits or casualties. Background: On the night of 25-26 May, Russia launched another attack on Ukraine, firing a total of 17 missiles of various types and 31 kamikaze drones; Ukrainian air defence destroyed 10 cruise missiles, 23 Shaheds, and two reconnaissance UAVs. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A Missouri locksmith who breached the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack dressed in a Revolutionary War costume was found guilty in federal court Friday of four misdemeanor counts. Isaac Yoder, 34, of Nevada in southwestern Missouri, had turned down the governments offer to plead guilty to one count and instead asked for a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 25. The charges each carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Yoder did more than simply go inside, however, Lamberth wrote in his verdict. As described above, Yoder made a speech to other rioters atop a pile of broken furniture, walked around the hallways and Crypt in colonial gear with a flag and sword, and allowed other rioters to take photos with him, all adding to the chaos and further impeding efforts of the police officers to clear the building. The verdict challenges an argument tossed around by Yoder and conservative Republicans including U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri that those who entered the Capitol that day might not have known they were doing anything wrong or that the building was closed. In testimony at his March trial, Yoder said he had never been to Washington, D.C., and that he was unaware the Capitol had been closed for nearly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He entered the building through a fire exit and said police were not actively preventing him from going inside. Lamberth, the senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, didnt accept that version of events and said Yoder knowingly broke several laws. Once inside the Capitol, he drew attention to himself by shouting to other rioters about how Trump supporters had cave[d] on the certification, an overtly political message, he wrote. Yoder also knew that he was a highly visible member of the mob. Lamberth also repeatedly noted in his verdict that Yoder decided to go into the Capitol after his brothers told him that former Vice President Mike Pence folded by refusing to block the certification of the election and that other rioters were fighting with police. Yoder made a speech inside the Capitol building where he said, weve been so weak. Weve lost any kind of credibility because all we do is cave but also urged people not to riot or do bad things. In a video of his speech presented during the trial, Yoder stopped talking after it appeared no one was listening. Yoders argument matches one often used by hard-line Republicans as they have attempted to downplay what happened on Jan. 6, saying that many of those who entered the building were peaceful and may not have known they were breaking the law. But the sheer mass of people who entered the building that day stalled the certification of the 2020 presidential election for hours and forced members of Congress, staff and the vice president into secure locations in the building. The verdict comes days after Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison on sedition charges for helping organize the storming of the building that day. Both former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who this week announced his candidacy for president have said they would pardon people found guilty for their roles in the Capitol riot. Yoder, owner of Yoder Lock and Key, was charged in July 2021 with four misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in the Capitol; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol. He turned down an offer by the government last year to plead guilty to the parading count and requested a jury trial. Then he asked for a change of venue to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. After Lamberth denied that request, Yoder waived his right to a jury trial and asked for the bench trial. Lamberth conducted the trial and decided the case. Authorities became aware of Yoder on Feb. 26, 2021, when the FBI received an online tip, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in his case. The tipster said a man named Yoder who worked at a locksmith business in Nevada had stormed the Capitol in a George Washington costume. FBI agents interviewed Yoder on March 16 in Joplin and he admitted that he had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to the affidavit. Yoder told agents that hed gone to the Capitol after attending a pro-Trump rally with family members, the document said. A review of recordings showed that Yoder entered the Capitol at 3:14 p.m. and exited at 3:32 p.m., the affidavit said. While inside, people stopped to have their picture taken with him. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Indias new parliament building in New Delhi on Sunday, part of a controversial $2.4 billion revamp of the capitals historic center that his critics have called a vanity project. In a ceremony steeped in Hindu religious symbolism, Modi installed the Sengol, a symbolic scepter, in the legislatures lower house. The gold-plated object was gifted to the countrys first prime minister on the eve of Indias independence from Great Britain in 1947. In keeping with his position as a leader who is intent on shedding Indias colonial past, the prime minister gave an impassioned speech from inside the building, calling it a temple of the countrys democracy and an ideal representation of both the modern and ancient. There was a time when India was counted among the most prosperous and splendid nations of the world, he said, adding that the countrys expertise in architecture was exemplified in its cities, palaces, temples and sculptures. But hundreds of years of slavery took away this pride from us. The buildings opening has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political and cultural war between Modi and his opponents, who accuse the populist leader of being authoritarian and undemocratic. In the run-up to the event, they had taken issue with Modis decision to inaugurate the parliament building himself, rather than letting Indias President and head of state, Droupadi Murmu, lead the ceremony. In a statement last week, 19 political parties announced they would boycott the opening, saying that parliament cannot function without the president and calling Modis prominent role in the ceremony a direct assault on Indias democracy. When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building, the statement read. A cyclist rides past the construction site for the new Parliament building in January 2021. - Mayank Makhija/NurPhoto/Getty Image/File Some politicians questioned the governments choice of inauguration date, which falls on what would have been the birthday of the late Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a leading figure in Indias Hindu-nationalist movement. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) considers him a hero, while its opponents argue that Savarkars ideologies discriminated against minorities. indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah had dismissed concerns last week, saying the event should not be politicized and that all lawmakers are invited to attend. CNN contacted Modis and Murmus offices for comment but did not receive responses. Controversial project The new triangular parliament building is part of a major overhaul of New Delhis colonial-era administrative center dubbed the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Since it was announced in September 2019, the plan has drawn criticism from politicians, architects and heritage experts over the cost and timing of the works. Branded by some as expensive, environmentally irresponsible and a threat to cultural heritage, the project will see dozens of new government buildings spread across more than 85 acres of land, including Modis elaborate new private residence. In 2020, a petition was filed to Indias Supreme Court opposing plans on legal and environmental grounds. That same year, a group of 60 former civil servants wrote a scathing open letter to Modi describing the project as a thoughtless and irresponsible act. The group also highlighted the architectural value of buildings earmarked for demolition, saying that the scheme would irrevocably destroy the areas cultural heritage. Outrage grew in 2021, after it emerged that construction at the site had been deemed an essential service and was thus exempted from a city-wide Covid-19 lockdown. This meant that work on the parliament continued as a devastating second coronavirus wave pushed hospitals to breaking point and sent people begging for oxygen in the streets. The government defended its decision to push ahead with construction, saying that delaying work would create liabilities and affect workers livelihoods. The rush was widely thought to have resulted from hopes of opening the parliament building by the 75th anniversary of Indian independence in August 2022. The deadline was not met, though the newly renovated Central Vista Avenue, a 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) boulevard running through the heart of the redevelopment, was inaugurated weeks later. Called Kingsway under British rule, the road was renamed Rajpath in 1955. The buildings spilling out either side once housed Britains Imperial Government, though Indian authorities repurposed them for their own administration after the country gained independence. In a speech inaugurating the revamped boulevard, Modi said that by renaming it Kartavya Path (or road of duty) a symbol of slavery had been erased forever. Modi pictured on a visit to the new parliament building earlier this year. - @JoshiPralhad/Twitter Since his rise to power nearly a decade ago, the prime minister has been keen to position himself as a disrupter of Indias colonial legacy, and often uses emotive language. The renaming of the road falls in line with Modis vision of a new India that removes any trace of colonial mindset, as he put it in a speech on Independence Day last year. In a symbolic, albeit coincidental, turn of events, Kartavya Paths inauguration took place on the day that Britains Queen Elizabeth II daughter of the last Emperor of India, George VI died. Modernization necessary Supporters of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project say the revamp is necessary to modernize Indias government, and that some of the old administrative buildings were unfit for purpose. Designed by English architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in the early 20th century, the circular council building that became Indias parliament was originally intended to serve the countrys colonial government. In the decades that followed independence, newer structures were built nearby to serve a growing Indian administration. According to the architect behind the multi-billion-dollar redevelopment, Bimal Patel, many offices were dysfunctional and in dire need of an upgrade. Capacity is also limited a concern magnified by growing calls to increase the number of MPs sitting in Indias parliament. We need to improve the technology, we need space for dining, we need to create toilets, we need to create storage space, and office and administration space its very clear that it cant be done in the space available, Patel told CNN in 2021. Even some of Modis political opponents agreed. From a purely utilitarian point of view, many would agree there is a need for some significant changes, opposition lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, one of Modis fiercest critics, previously told CNN. One is that the parliament building would have needed an extensive renovation to be fit for purpose, and clearly the government concluded that they couldnt do that, and that they needed to build a new one. The new building sits in front of Indias old house of parliament, a circular structure that will be retrofitted and put to as-yet unspecified use. The interiors include motifs inspired by some of Indias national symbols, including the lotus and peacock. The design also references important heritage buildings, such as Rashtrapati Bhavan, the former British Viceroys house that now serves as the Indian presidents official residence. A photo of the parliament's interior taken during a visit to the building by Modi earlier this year. - @JoshiPralhad/Twitter But Tharoor argued that there had been a lack of consultation among politicians, architects and the public, reducing opportunities for criticism, comments and suggestions. For Modi, who swept to power in 2014 on a ticket of nationalism and a promise of future greatness, the Central Vista Redevelopment Project may be seen as a powerful tool for political influence. But as he looks to secure another term in power at next years general election, his critics have decried the leader for serving himself, and not his people. Referring to President Murmus apparent sidelining at Sundays ceremony, congress lawmaker Jairam Ramesh wrote on Twitter: It is one mans ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi (indigenous Indian) woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building. This article has been updated with details from Sundays ceremony. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Moral blight: Prisons in MO, KS use solitary more than national average, report says Prisoners in Kansas and Missouri are placed in restrictive housing, including solitary confinement, at higher rates than the national average, according to a report released Tuesday. Solitary confinement, which is sometimes referred to as administrative segregation, is a day to day assault on the mind and soul, Antwann Johnson, a prisoner at Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri, told The Star. Some men could not handle the lights being on all day, Johnson said. Others were called racist names by guards. A few resorted to killing themselves, he recalled. Nationally, more than 122,000 people were in restrictive housing for 22 hours or more on a given day in mid-2019, the report found. Across the U.S., about 6% to 7% of prisoners were in restrictive housing in state and federal prisons. In Kansas, though, that figure was 10.5%, while in Missouri, it was 11.9%. Between state and federal correctional facilities, that meant 3,356 of 28,172 prisoners in Missouri were in restrictive housing in 2019. In Kansas, it was 1,010 of 9,631. Nearby Arkansas sat at 13.5%. Nevada topped all other states at nearly 26%. The report was put together by Solitary Watch, a nonprofit watchdog group, and Unlock the Box, a campaign advocating for the end to solitary confinement. They called it a first-of-its-kind analysis that compiled data on solitary in jails and prisons across the U.S. Karen Pojmann, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said the reports data is more or less accurate for Missouri state prisons, but clarified that not every state has the same definition for segregated housing. In the last year, about 2,500 to 3,000 people on average were in some form of restrictive housing on a given day in Missouri prisons. Missouri DOC has three types of restrictive housing: administrative segregation, used for institutional security; disciplinary segregation, where prisoners with conduct violations can be sent; and protective custody, used for the safety of prisoners. But Pojmann said what the report refers to as solitary is not like what people see in movies. In the vast majority of cases, people in restrictive housing in Missouri are housed with cell mates, Pojmann said. Theyre also surrounded by other people in other cells, and theyre able to correspond with and visit with family members. David Thompson, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said officials were not familiar with the organizations that wrote the study or their analysis, so they could not confirm their findings. However, he said, residents placed in restrictive housing can include those sentenced to death and violent or high profile residents who may be targeted. Still, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, told NBC News that the report emphasizes a catastrophe. Inflicting solitary on one person is a moral blight on this nation, she told the outlet. Inflicting it on hundreds of thousands of people disproportionately Black, brown and Indigenous people is a disaster. We as public officials must act now to stop this widespread infliction of torture. Bush tweeted Monday about the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear the case of Dennis Hope, who has spent 27 years more than half his life in solitary confinement in a 54-square-foot Texas cell. Saying Hope spent that time without meaningful human contact, Bush called on Congress to end the use of solitary confinement. Johnson, who was convicted of a 1997 murder in St. Louis, said he has been placed in solitary confinement four times; the longest stay was nearly two years. He was locked in a cell for 23 hours a day and pretty much left alone with just your thoughts. He got one hour of recreation time in what he described as a dog-sized pen. The experience is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually, he said. Johnsons experience is backed by research, which shows solitary confinement can cause severe psychological damage, anxiety and hallucinations, among other health issues. One study of nearly 230,000 people released from North Carolina prisons found that those who spent time in solitary were more likely to die prematurely within a year of their release by suicide, homicide or opioid overdose. Mark Powell, a prisoner in eastern Missouri who was convicted of a sex crime, said he had problems getting health care in the hole, as solitary is sometimes referred to, and that he knows of people who had died by suicide. Mentally the hole is to break you, he said. Pojmanns said Missouri DOC created a restrictive housing committee last year to review practices and find ways to reduce the number of people in restrictive housing. It made recommendations that will be piloted at two facilities in August. Ensuring that restrictive housing is being used as a last resort is a significant part of the plan, Pojmann said. Units for reintegration will also be used to assist prisoners in segregation to readjust to the general population, she said. Nearly 20 years in solitary Another man, who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution, served about three years in the Kansas Department of Corrections for a sex offense. He has been released, but his account echoed the Missouri prisoners experiences. Solitary is incredibly lonely, he said, it can break a person. He was put in solitary confinement about six times. Solitary was 24/7 they did not get one hour out, he said. His cell was about the size of a walk-in closet and had a bunk, toilet, sink with a drinking fountain and a stainless steel mirror. Food was distributed through a port for trays. Some guys made fishing lines out of strips of sheets, which they tossed to other prisoners so they could trade items like food or stamps. The man said the Kansas Department of Corrections should improve its process for reviewing who is placed in solitary and for how long. Some prisoners were there for months, he said, and felt like they were lost through the cracks. On average, residents are placed in restrictive housing for 190 days, Thompson, with KDOC said. As of Thursday, the longest current resident in restrictive housing had been there for 3,523 days, or over nine years. In 2016, the Kansas Supreme Court ordered judges to consider a prisoners duration in solitary when considering if their rights had been infringed upon. That landmark decision came in the case of James Jamerson, who was erroneously held in solitary for more than 1,000 days at El Dorado Correctional Facility. In another case, a prisoner named Richard Grissom who killed three women in Johnson County was put in solitary in 1996 on accusations that he was trafficking narcotics. Between El Dorado, the Lansing Correctional Facility and Hutchinson Correctional Facility, he remained there for nearly 20 years before being returned to general population in 2016, according to court records. One of the reasons he stayed in administrative segregation, as Kansas prisons call it, was because he had a history of influencing and compromising staff and other offenders who will supply him with contraband, including cell phones, a warden once said. Grissom reported suffering from insomnia and paranoia. Detached emotionally, he said human contact caused him discomfort. His marriage collapsed because of his psychological changes. An appeals court in 2018 noted that Grissom, now 62, was not totally isolated from other prisoners while in solitary. Inmates stated in affidavits submitted by Grissom that inmates in segregation communicated by speaking through vents and even played chess that way, the judges wrote. More recently, a lawsuit filed in 2020 against the Kansas Department of Corrections argued that its policy at the time to automatically and permanently hold prisoners who are sentenced to die in solitary confinement was unconstitutional. They could only get out of solitary if their death sentence was overturned or they died. One of the prisoners suing, Sidney Gleason, was held in solitary confinement for more than 14 years at El Dorado Correctional Facility, his lawyers said. The other, Scott Cheever, was in solitary for more than 12 years at Lansing Correctional Facility. In response, the Kansas Attorney Generals Office said the policy the suit challenged was already being revised. KDOC adopted a new policy in 2021 so that residents convicted of capital offenses will not be placed in administrative segregation based solely on that conviction. A four-step review process was implemented with the goal of housing death-sentenced prisoners in general population, according to filings in the lawsuit, which the prisoners then moved to dismiss. Similarly, prisoners on Missouris death row generally are part of general population at Potosi Correctional Center. However, lawyers for Johnny Johnson, who is scheduled for execution on Aug. 1, say he has been in solitary confinement because of his severe mental illness. Kent Gipson, an attorney for Johnson, said administrative segregation makes people with serious mental illnesses even worse off. Its a sad situation, he said. The Tuesday report cautions that the data was self-reported by correctional facilities and does not include numbers from immigration detention centers or youth facilities, indicating that the actual number of people held in restrictive housing is likely higher. Even given all these excluded factors, the numbers far exceed those of other recent counts, which, in the absence of more comprehensive figures, have been widely quoted by media outlets and even scholars and advocates, its authors wrote. The authors issued recommendations, such as limiting solitary confinement to minutes or hours for emergency situations and prohibiting its use with the most vulnerable. No measures on the use of solitary confinement were proposed by state lawmakers in Kansas or Missouri, according to bill searches for the 2023 sessions. Tatyana Alves, 17, is known for her sunny outlook and happy demeanor. This Most Positive attitude that she was voted for having by her peers has driven her success, which has seen the graduating high school senior receive an impressive college scholarship haul of $1.7 million in offers. I just want other people to thrive, the Detroit native said. Being positive helped me to find my purpose, and I think Ive made an influence on a lot of people. Local Detroit graduating high school senior Tatyana Alves is making waves with over $1.7 million in scholarship offers. Alves is a member of the first graduating class at The School at Marygrove! Congratulations on this huge accomplishment! #Detroit #students Michigan Chronicle (@MIChronicle) May 22, 2023 The college-bound student initially stumbled across her K-12 entrance examination school in search of an academic challenge in 2019. She eventually answered that call at The School of Marygrove, which promotes a commitment to developing critical thinkers and community-minded citizens who have the skills and knowledge to be makers and leaders in the 21st century. Alves and 94 other high school seniors make up the first graduating class. Our school isnt as well known, given that it is new, she told the Detroit Free Press. I wanted to be challenged, and I feel that an application (entrance-examination) school does that. https://t.co/bSTYoUwyjl Tatyana Alves and her good friend Julisa can enjoy ice cream after making Detroit history as members of the first graduating class at The School at Marygrove. pic.twitter.com/CMgjxgSf7k Scott A Talley (@STalleyFreep) May 21, 2023 Its pretty cool to make our name known, Alves added in an interview with NBC affiliate WDIV-TV. The incoming Eastern Michigan University freshman will be a business administration major when she starts this fall. I aspire to be an entrepreneur. Just so I can live life comfortably and give back to my community, Alves said. Tatyana Alves is a member of the first graduating class at The School at Marygrove. For Alves, positivity and scholarships go hand in hand. https://t.co/vOVbRinBq4 USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 22, 2023 The outgoing senior found herself in a dark space during her sophomore year due to the rough transition to online schooling through the pandemic. Applying positivity to her goals became life-changing for her. Soon enough, she had earned a 4.0 GPA, obtained her drivers license and gotten a job at a local CVS as a sales associate, all of which increased her confidence and independence, per the outlet. Her mother, Acquanetta Windham cant help but boast of her first baby going to college, according to the Free Press. Im so proud of her, Windham said of her daughter. She exceeded all expectations. As for the abundance of scholarship offers she received, the Detroit teen revealed actively launching her scholarship search in earnest when she was a junior, chalking up some of her success to a micro-scholarship site she discovered through a friend on TikTok Raise. Me. According to WDIV-TV, however, Alves has opted out of using her scholarship money. This is because her education is already paid for thanks to Detroit Promise a tuition-free path to college credentials eligible at 26 different Michigan colleges. At the end of the day, Alves knows her story will serve as an inspiration to others, so she has her own advice for students: Stay connected to those who have taken an interest in your future, exhaust all resources and assistance available, stay locked into your scholarship search and apply positivity to your goals by staying present in the moment. Everybodys always worried about their future. I would say stay present because when you take care of the present, you take care of the past and the future, the 17-year-old said. Mother of Mississippi boy, 11, shot by police shares fury as calls grow for bodycam release and officer firing The mother of an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police joined protesters on Thursday to demand bodycam footage of the incident released and the officer involved be fired. Nakala Murrys son Aderrien was shot in the chest after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance at their Indianola home on Saturday (20 May). He is recovering at home after suffering a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. At a heated rally outside the Indianola City Hall on Thursday, Ms Murry and her attorney Carlos Moore stood beside a small group of protesters calling for justice, WLBT reported. The protesters held signs stating Your best cop shot my baby, Fire Greg Capers now, and Release bodycam footage, according to WLBT. The Indianola Police Department confirmed to CNN that the officer involved in the shooting was Greg Capers, who was previously named the departments best officer. Ms Murry and a group of eight family members met with Indianola town leaders for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, Mr Moore told reporters that Mayor Ken Featherstone had shown the family no sympathy. Nakala Murry speaks to Good Morning America about the police shooting of her son Aderrien (Good Morning America) We asked the mayor to say something to the family and offer some sort of comment on behalf of the city and if theyre sorry, let them know theyre sorry. The mayor would not say anything, Mr Moore said, according to WLBT. The family attorney said he planned to file a federal civil lawsuit against the city of Indianola, the police chief, and Officer Capers. Aderrien Murry, 11, with family attorney Carlos Moore after he was shot by an Indianola Police Officer (Carlos Moore / CNN) Mr Featherstone has not responded to several requests for comment by The Independent. Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Bailey Martin said the agency was currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence, and would report its findings to the state Attorney Generals office upon completion of the probe. The shooting unfolded in the early hours on Saturday (20 May) after Ms Murry asked Aderrien to call police when the father of one of her other children allegedly showed up at her home at 4am in an irate mood. She told a news conference that she that an officer arrived at the house with his gun drawn, and called on everyone inside to come out. Mr Murry 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 a press conference on Monday. She applied pressure to the wounds until first responders arrived. Aderrien was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in a critical condition. He was released from hospital on Wednesday. On Thursday, Ms Murry said her son was doing well. Hes blessed. I dont know how else to describe it - how else to describe how he survived, she told reporters, according to WLBT. She said Aderrien kept asking why the officer shot him. Murder charges dropped for 1, retained for 2 suspects in fatal shooting of Oakland toddler [Source] One of the three men accused in the 2021 fatal shooting of 23-month-old Jasper Wu in Oakland, California, will no longer face murder charges, an Alameda County judge ruled this week. Johnny Jackson Jr., 28, will instead have to prove his innocence in only one felony charge possession of a firearm. The shooting, born out of a rolling battle between two rival gangs, occurred on Interstate 880 on the afternoon of Nov. 6, 2021. Jasper was returning home to Fremont with his mother, aunt and two cousins when a bullet pierced their car and struck him in the forehead. The toddler was just weeks away from his second birthday. Jackson was among four men involved in the incident. He was arrested in December 2022 alongside Trevor Green, 22, and Ivory Bivins, 24, whose murder and gang charges were upheld Wednesday. More from NextShark: Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi's cause of death confirmed after autopsy Keison Lee, the fourth suspect, died in a separate shooting before authorities could apprehend him. Judge Scott Patton said the evidence against Jackson did not meet the burden of proof presented in the preliminary hearings. More from NextShark: Chinese man, 80, sues his adult son for $15,000 for mocking him after he failed a math quiz His attorney described the ruling as the correct decision. He was a victim of an unprovoked ambush on the freeway, defense lawyer Annie Beles told The Mercury News. The four men were members of San Francisco-based rival gangs Chopper City and Eddy Rock. During the shootout, Green and Bivins were together in a dark Infiniti G35, while Jackson and Lee were in a dark gray Nissan Altima. More from NextShark: 'Asian American frontline worker is NOT afraid': SF Walgreens employee follows thief while calling him out Amid the chaos, a bullet fired from the Infiniti missed the Altima, striking the Wu familys white Lexus sedan. In a statement, Norbert Chu, his parents attorney, said they are pleased that Green and Bivins will continue to stand trial, as per ABC7 News. More from NextShark: Harlem Community Honors Korean Soul Food Chain Owner, Condemns Anti-Asian Hate Crimes While the family would have preferred that all three of the initially charged defendants be ordered to stand trial, they are most focused on the two defendants directly responsible for their son's death and are pleased that as to those two defendants all the charges and enhancements, which include the special circumstances that would make them eligible for a sentence of LWOP (life without parole), have been ordered to stand trial on all those charges and enhancements. The trio of suspects remained held as of Thursday without bail, KRON 4 reported. They will be back in court on June 8. UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and its partners continue to help families displaced by the fighting in Sudan, as well as the communities hosting them, said a UN spokesman on Friday. The World Food Programme (WFP) has now reached more than 600,000 vulnerable people with food and nutrition aid since restarting distributions in the country, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The WFP has reached some 180,000 people in three of the five states of Darfur: North Darfur, South Darfur, and East Darfur. The agency is planning to start distributions in Central Darfur in the coming days, he said. As of Friday, the WFP has resumed distributions in Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan, he added. During the past two weeks, the World Health Organization has verified eight new reports of attacks on health care facilities, bringing the total number of such attacks to 38 since this round of fighting erupted in Sudan on April 15, said the spokesman. Dujarric said there is still some sporadic fighting despite a truce. "We are not officially monitoring the truce. And our humanitarian colleagues are exploiting any lull in the fighting to deliver humanitarian aid. But people in different parts of the country are continuing to suffer tremendously," he told a daily press briefing. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss glitch-filled campaign rollout is raising new questions about Twitter CEO Elon Musks ambitions and his ability to carry them out. DeSantis granted Musk exclusive access to his campaign launch via Twitter Spaces which yielded disastrous results for the Republican candidate for president and for Twitter itself. A slew of technical difficulties interrupted the online event, leading to embarrassment for DeSantis and jabs by his rivals in both parties. Once people were able to tune in, the event had a relatively small audience that never topped more than 600,000 listeners at once. I think he had a rough opening, former President Trump said Thursday of the event. This link works, mocked a tweet from President Biden, who included a link to a form for donations to his reelection campaign. DeSantiss decision to go to Twitter Spaces for his initial rollout was widely viewed as an unprecedented deviation from political norms and a major snub of Fox News, the preeminent player in a conservative media ecosystem that has been boosting Republican candidates for decades. Musk beating out Fox on the DeSantis announcement sparked a tidal wave of buzz in media and political circles that the eccentric tech billionaire was angling to replace media mogul Rupert Murdoch as the unofficial kingmaker in conservative politics. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Looming over the dynamic is the future of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who said earlier this month he plans to bring a new version of his show to Twitter, a move that certainly suggests a new level of competition between Fox and the social networking platform. Carlson remains under contract with Fox, and it remains unclear if producing content exclusively for Twitter would violate his deal with the network. As a result, there are reasons to think many at Fox News took delight in the embarrassing night for Musk. Amateur hour, the banner headline on FoxNews.com read Wednesday evening. Much hyped Ron DeSantis presidential announcement a disaster on Twitter. The Florida governor did pop in for an interview with Fox News and host Trey Gowdy after the Twitter Spaces event. Gowdy promised that Fox News would not crash in hyping the interview which netted an average of 2 million viewers, a much larger audience than the Twitter Spaces event had an hour earlier. Allies of DeSantis and Musk in the hours that followed Wednesday nights event sought to cast the episode as a wild success, suggesting the two leading figures broke the internet, with the untraditional campaign launch. There are reasons to think Musk is making some kind of move on Fox that goes beyond DeSantis and Carlson. The Daily Wire, a popular conservative media website, this week announced it would bring all its shows to Twitter, citing Musks stated commitment to free speech. Musk also recently hired Linda Yaccarino, a veteran marketing and advertising executive at NBC Universal, to serve as Twitters new CEO, a move signaling the tech entrepreneur is looking to build a stronger advertising apparatus amid a whirlwind of changes to its content moderation policies and business strategy. Yet the Wednesday technical problems highlight how far away Twitter is from being a more meaningful player in the media landscape that could seriously take on Fox and other heavyweight news outlets. While Musk certainly wants to present himself as a threat to Fox, Twitters not truly a formidable opponent, said Cindy Vincent, an associate professor of media and communication at Salem State University. Musk has said his vision is for Twitter to be a public town square of sorts and made sure to mention at the end of Wednesdays conversation with DeSantis that Twitter Spaces would be a forum that is open to all candidates in the 2024 cycle. That suggests Musk is keen on the idea of his company serving as a platform for liberal and conservative voices alike, though since his takeover liberals have been suspicious of actions he has taken on content moderation and user guidelines. The Twitter Spaces event with DeSantis did not, however, suggest Musk is interested in asking tough questions of the politicians who show up on his platform for an interview. Virtually none of the governors assertions during the more than hourlong conversation were challenged by Musk, tech entrepreneur David Sacks, who moderated the spaces event, or other speakers who were sympathetic to the governors ideology. Musks bid into the right-wing media ecosystem could prove risky for a company that has undergone tremendous upheaval in recent months, said Paul Barrett, deputy director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. I dont see evidence that Elon Musk has any coherent strategy for Twitter and I certainly dont see a path for Twitter to become a rival to Fox, Barrett said. If Musk goes even further to make his social media platform a haven for right wingers, that will drive away millions of centrist and liberal users. Twitter seems to be deteriorating in a way that cant be disguised by a stunt like the DeSantis fiasco. Yet Twitter is just one example in a trend of tech companies reaching into traditional media, so the effort could make business sense. There is for sure a potential for growth there, Adam Weiss, a political and media consultant who has worked with a number of leading conservative figures, said of Musks efforts to build out Twitters media reach. Seth Lewis, the director of Journalism at the University of Oregon, noted Musks troubles in creating a more powerful role for Twitter are of the eccentric billionaires own making. On the one hand, he wants to create this as a media platform that will challenge the old legacy media and cable television and so on, but hes having to rebuild this platform, Lewis said. Its hard to see how you build a massive media company out of the ashes of what has happened to Twitter. It may be an opportunity to create some kind of media company that competes with the stalwarts like Fox News, but were so far away from that at this point that its hard to see how he gets there. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Byu Har in a photo released after his arrest One of Myanmar's biggest hip-hop artists has been detained for criticising the military government on Facebook, the BBC has confirmed. Byu Har criticised the junta's handling of nationwide power outages that have hit Myanmar in the past months. The country has struggled to secure supplies for gas-fired electricity plants since the 2021 coup which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government. His detention is just the latest in the regime's crackdown on critics. Byu Har, who had been based in Yangon, had called the electricity minister "a fool" and "incompetent" in a video posted to Facebook on Tuesday night. "During the past five years under the old lady, we had 24 hours of electricity, not only that, the electricity bill was [going] down," he said referring the former democratically-elected leader Ms Suu Kyi. The rapper used incendiary language to refer to the junta's leaders and also included his home address in the video's caption, inviting them to arrest him if they took issue with the post. The musician was detained in Yangon's North Dagon Township by police on Wednesday before friends and family lost contact with him, sources familiar with the incident told the BBC. Prior to his arrest, the rapper had received several warnings from authorities for producing music critical of the junta, they added. It is unclear where Byu Har is being held or what condition he is in. Myanmar's authorities routinely subject detainees to extreme interrogation and torture, the details of which have been documented by human rights organisations such as Amnesty International. Byu Har is the son of Naing Myanmar, one of the Southeast Asian nation's most prominent musicians. Naing Myanmar's song "The World Will Not End", became an anthem during the 1988 revolution, which saw student activists lead a nationwide uprising against the former military regime. The song has also re-emerged in the current civil war that has been raging since the coup in February 2021. Two years on, the military government has failed to gain authority over large areas of the country. It is battling established ethnic armed groups in border areas that have been at war with the military for decades, and recently-formed anti-coup militias that call themselves People's Defence Forces (PDFs) in much of the rest of the country. Many thousands of people have been killed and some 1.4 million have been displaced since the coup. Nearly one third of the country's population is in need of aid, according to the United Nations. Columbus police say Nalah T. Jackson, 24, seen here at a convenience store in Huber Heights near Dayton, abducted the 5-month-old twin Thomas boys when she stole their mother's running 2010 Honda Accord on Dec. 19, 2022 from outside the Donatos Pizza in the Short North while the mother was inside picking up a Door Dash order for delivery. Ky'air Thomas was found by a passerby early Dec. 20, 2022, wrapped in a blanket in his car seat in the parking lot of the Dayton International Airport. Two days later, Jackson was arrested thanks to two women cousins in Indianapolis and the other twin, Kason Thomas, was found in his mother's car parked in the lot of a Papa John's pizza shop in Indianapolis. A federal magistrate judge has denied a request by a homeless woman to be released pending her October trial on charges that she stole a Columbus mother's car and kidnapped twin infant boys inside in December, launching a four-day search before both children were recovered. Nalah T. Jacksons federal public defender argued Friday morning in U.S. District Court in Columbus that the 24-year-old could be safely released to Cheryls House of Hope, a sober living home in Chillicothe, pending trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers agreed with the federal prosecutors that Jackson is a danger to the community and poses a flight risk. Deavers ordered Jackson to remain incarcerated until her trial, which is currently scheduled for Oct. 10. If convicted, Jackson faces 20 years to life in prison on each of the two kidnapping counts. Past reporting: A chance encounter and mother's intuition: How 2 Indy women helped find missing Ohio twin The kidnapping charges The federal kidnapping charges are from Dec. 19, 2022, when Columbus police say Jackson stole a running 2010 Honda from outside a Donatos Pizza in the Short North with five-month-old twin boys Ky'air and Kason Thomas inside. Their mother had run inside the pizza shop to get a Door Dash order for delivery. Ky'air was found the following morning by a passerby in the parking lot of the Dayton International Airport. Kason was recovered on Dec. 22 in his mother's car in the parking lot of an Indianapolis pizza shop, hours after Jackson had been arrested by Indianapolis police. The arrest and Kason's recovery were due to the efforts of two women cousins who alerted them. Ky'air died from unrelated circumstances on Jan. 29. The Franklin County Coroner's Office ruled in March that Ky'air's death was the result of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death and that an unsafe sleep environment was a significant factor in the death. In this file photo from April 18, 2023, Nalah T. Jackson appeared in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on two felony charges, theft and receiving stolen property, in connection with a Dec. 2 incident unrelated to the alleged kidnapping of twins later in December. Jackson admitted to previously stealing two vehicles on Dec. 2 and crashing them. As part of a plea agreement with Franklin County Prosecutors, Jackson pleaded guilty to grand theft of a motor vehicle and attempting to receive stolen property. Jackson was represented by defense attorney Priya D. Tamilarasan, right. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch The detention hearing During the hearing in U.S. District Court in Columbus on Friday, Cheryl Beverly, operator of Cheryls House of Hope, testified she could admit Jackson into her facility. Beverly said Jackson had previously received services through the nonprofit and Beverly knows her. Assistant Federal Public Defender Stacey MacDonald said during the hearing that while Jackson is receiving some medications, she is not receiving adequate mental health care in the Franklin County jail and has been placed at times in solitary confinement. In response, Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Litton said Cheryls House of Hope is not a secure facility and if she were placed there, she would likely leave, leading to another manhunt. At times during the hearing, Jackson shook her head while Litton described Jacksons many run-ins with the law, times she did not appear in court and the heinous kidnapping of the twins for which she is charged. Deavers said she is willing to work with the jail to make sure Jackson gets the medications she needs, but she must stay behind bars. More federal court news: Former Columbus Alternative High School teacher pleads guilty to taking 'upskirt' videos jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus infant twins kidnapping suspect denied release from jail Nashville is being punished by the state. Where are the city's defenders? | Opinion The relationship between Nashville and the state Capitol hit an all-time low this year, as Republican leaders on the Hill spent the session seizing control of our city. Rather than responding to our pleas for gun reform in the wake of the Covenant School shooting, the Tennessee GOP changed the governance of our airport and sports authorities, dismantled our Community Oversight Board, voted to reduce the size of our Metro Council, and hamstrung our ability to receive funds from the Music City Center. It feels like Nashville is being punished simply for existing. Thankfully, Governor Lee called for a special session on Aug. 21 to pass some version of a red flag law. We need our handful of Democratic legislators to be all hands on deck over the next few months. Instead, two of our three Nashville-based state senators have decided to run for mayor. That doesnt sit right with me. They were elected to do a job, and we should expect that job to come first. More: Learn about candidates running in the Aug. 3 Nashville mayoral election | Editorial Hear more Tennessee Voices:Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. Nashville needs its defenders Even though it often feels hopeless, our state legislators are our best line of defense and our only advocates on the Hill. If theyre distracted by other ambitions, who will fight for our right to govern ourselves as a city? Mayoral candidates answer questions during a debate for the Nashville mayoral candidates at Fisher Performing Arts Center in Nashville , Tenn., Thursday, May 18, 2023. Who will ensure that the economic engine Nashville provides for the state is used to benefit our residents? Who will make our schools and streets safer from weapons of mass murder? We also cant overlook the way theyve chosen to frame their campaign announcements. Its almost as if these candidates are using our tension with the Tennessee GOP as a way to burnish their resumes. Their message seems to be that the most important job qualification for our next mayor is the ability to manage our relationship with the state. This is the wrong approach, and it isnt limited to the two legislators in the race. Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee. Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee. Mayoral candidates must put Nashville first A number of other mayoral candidates seem to feel their first priority should be finding ways to play nice with the state Republican supermajority as they try to destroy everything we stand for. Whitney Pastorek Our rocky relationship with the state cant be fixed by a single elected official. And it shouldnt be the mayors job. Whoever holds the job of mayor must be focused on the day-to-day work of municipal management, not fighting an existential battle with no easy solution. Our next mayor needs to be ready on day one to start building affordable housing, sidewalks, and transit. They must ensure our schools are funded, our trash is picked up, and our power stays on. Now that our current mayor John Cooper has succeeded in handing billions of dollars in public subsidies to the Titans for a new stadium, our next mayor also needs to be someone with a proven track record of success in fighting for Nashvillians who can barely make ends meet. The most important thing our state Democratic legislators can do right now is focus on the special session, and fulfill the promises they made when we elected them. Experience in state government doesnt come easy, and to lose their knowledge with so much is at stake is a terrifying thought. Our city needs them to stay on the Hill and fight for us, even when especially when it feels like theres no hope. In the meantime, the people of Nashville must elect a mayor with the knowledge and Metro experience to actually improve quality of life for the people of Nashville, not toss our tax dollars at tourists and corporations. Because this city doesnt just deserve the right to exist we deserve the ability to thrive. Whitney Pastorek is a writer, community organizer, and middle-aged lifeguard who lives in East Nashville with her supermutt, Wally. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashvillians suffer from conflict with state. Where are the defenders? Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent collectively have decades of design experience. Together the couple channeled their elegant yet functional style into every inch of their summer home in Montauk, New York. The interior designers are so proud of their work on the dwelling that theyve decided to become hosts on Airbnb and invite fans to experience it allup close and personal. Bookings for Berkus and Brents 70s-inspired abode will open at 1 p.m. ET on May 31. The one-night stay is scheduled for June 10and the rental price is a steal, at just $19. The deal is available for two lucky guests, who will also be greeted by the design duo upon arrival and given a tour of the residence. The exterior of the Hamptons home has a moody black finish and is surrounded by greenery. Inside its got a decidedly brighter look: The space is filled with natural light (which both Berkus and Brent name as their favorite aspect of the abode) and decked out in warm neutrals and lots of wood accents, featured everywhere from the bedposts to the railing to the doorframes. We reached for things that are handmade, handwoven, and easy to live with, Berkus tells AD of his and Brents approach to designing the space. The house has changed several times since we first moved in, but the balance remains the samewe wanted it to feel like a beach house, but one without borders. The living room features long windows that display views of the lush outdoor area, which comes complete with tables, seating, and a patio with checkerboard flooring. As a summer home, naturally, theres a pool for guests to cool off in, as well as covered patios. The surrounding natural environment offers plenty for guests to explore when theyre not enjoying the home, including nearby trails, maritime forests, and rolling dunes. The beach is a stones throw away for those who prefer the waves and sand to the calm of the homes private pool. Theyll also be able to explore Montauks many canal-side shops. Whether its spending time in the water or curling up with a book from Berkuss personal collection, there will no doubt be plenty for guests to take advantage of. Brent hopes that whomever they end up welcoming into their home uses it as a space to connect with family or a friend. The house was designed with love and quality time in mind, Brent says. We want each guest to feel at home and immediately embraced by that kind of energy. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Celebrity Style Stories From AD National retailer remodels one of its Wichita stores The remodeled Walmart Supercenter at 501 E. Pawnee was unveiled on Friday. In a release, the chain said it has transformed the space with more self-checkout lanes and remodeled bathrooms, including an updated mothers room. The front of the store also has a new area for grab-and-go food. We know that speed and convenience are important to our Kansas customers, so we are continuously looking for new ways to meet their needs, said store manager Michael Haskew in a statement. By remodeling our stores and expanding time-saving services, such as Grab & Go areas and Grocery Pickup, we are making shopping easier for busy families. Other upgrades include displays that allow customers to touch and experience products. There also are what the chain called digital touchpoints where customers can scan QR codes to learn more about products and items related to them. The store is continuing to offer pickup and delivery along with the new express delivery for an extra cost. The store also has a new mural by Emily Alvarez, a local artist. A release called the mural an eye-catching piece that reflects the diversity and local cultures of Wichita, and is part of Walmarts Community Mural Program, the largest public-facing art installation celebrating communities across America. Lena Black said the eagle plume has been "part of her cultural and spiritual practices" since she was three years old A Native American high school graduate has sued an Oklahoma school district for not allowing her to wear a sacred eagle feather at graduation. Lena Black says Broken Arrow Public Schools violated her religious and free speech rights during her commencement ceremony last year. The Broken Arrow Public Schools has declined to comment on the lawsuit. Her lawsuit follows another in Colorado, where a student sued for not being allowed to wear her Mexican sash. The lawsuit, filed on 15 May, says Ms Black was waiting to take her seat at her graduation ceremony when two school officials told her to remove the "decoration" from her cap. It alleges that they attempted to then pull off the eagle plume. The plume was "physically and ceremonially damaged" as a result, according to the lawsuit, leaving Ms Black distraught. "My eagle plume has been part of my cultural and spiritual practices since I was three years old," Ms Black said in a statement released by Native American Rights Fund. "I wore this plume on graduation day in recognition of my academic achievement and to carry the prayers of my Otoe-Missouria community with me." Her lawyer, Morgan Saunders, has said that she intends to hold the school "accountable for its discriminatory actions". "The Broken Arrow School District violated Ms Black's rights despite existing laws that should have ensured she was able to wear her eagle plume without incident," Ms Saunders said. A spokesperson for Broken Arrow Public Schools declined to comment on the lawsuit to media, but noted the school has a process for students who want to add items to their graduation attire that involves submitting a request and obtaining permission from either a principal or the district's Indian Education Coordinator. "Not only do we make exceptions for the Native American tribes, we also allow other religious and ethnic heritages to be celebrated by the wearing of specific items," spokesperson Tara Thompson told CNN. In the lawsuit, Ms Black said she asked her teacher in advance of graduation about wearing the eagle plume and the teacher agreed to it. The teacher, according to the lawsuit, did not notify Ms Black of any formal request process. Ms Black is seeking at least $50,000 (40,471) in damages from the school district and the two teachers involved. In a similar case, a Colorado student said she has sued her high school and school district in federal court after she was told she cannot wear a sash composed of symbols from the American and Mexican flags during her graduation on 27 May. According to a report by the Colorado Sun, Naomi Pena Villasano, 18, claimed in her lawsuit that school officials at Garfield County School District 16 told her she would not be able to graduate if she wore her sash. According to the lawsuit, the district's superintendent, Jennifer Baugh, has said the policy to ban flags on graduation attire is to not "open the door to a student earing a Confederate flag pin or another flag that would cause offense". Ms Villasano has asked for a judge to order officials to allow her to wear the sash. According to media reports, NATO will upgrade Ukraine's status as a partner Read also: Kyiv Security Forum says clear path to NATO membership for Ukraine at Vilnius Summit is only option In March, Euractiv revealed NATO's intention to elevate Ukraine's status in its relationship by establishing a "Ukraine-NATO Council." This proposal has since gained momentum and signals an upgrade in relations, as affirmed by several NATO diplomats. This move would be the first step towards "enhancing the political partnership" between NATO and Kyiv since the commencement of the war and Ukraine's application for membership, according to two NATO diplomats. Next week, NATO foreign ministers are slated to convene in Oslo, Norway. They will discuss the structure, timeline of the new council, and future membership. Additionally, they will address the need for increased military assistance to Ukraine as it readies for its summer counteroffensive against Russia. Under the proposed plan, Ukraine would become a "full-fledged" participant at the Ukraine-NATO Council table, contrasting with its current status of only being invited to partake in discussions. Read also: UK Defense Secretary in Kyiv to talk NATO and weapons Ukrainians would then have the autonomy to request meetings as needed, facilitating a more straightforward update process about battlefield conditions, as per two individuals familiar with the discussions. This enhanced partnership would pave the way for an array of new cooperative areas previously non-existent, three sources told Euractiv. These could involve expanded intelligence sharing and consultations, joint exercises, investment in the defense industry, and initiatives on interoperability between Ukraine's and NATO member states' armed forces, the report reads. Read also: Ukraine Joining NATO? What is behind Kurt Volker's words? This would provide Kyiv with the option to align with NATO's communiques and standards. Previously, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that all NATO members agree that Ukraine will ultimately become a member of the alliance, but their current priority is to ensure Kyivs victory. During a meeting with Stoltenberg in Kyiv on April 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that there are no barriers to political decisions regarding Ukraines membership. Read also: Ukraine must reclaim its south and become a NATO Member Francis Fukuyama Ukraine expects specific NATO membership proposals or security guarantees at the Vilnius Summit in July 2023. 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 Eliza Anderson, Deseret News We want our children back. That was actress Kate Winslets tearful plea during her recent acceptance speech at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards show, where she won a prize for her portrayal of a distraught mother in I Am Ruth, a U.K. drama about a severely depressed teenage girls struggle with social media addiction. Winslet used the opportunity to spotlight social media harms and urge U.K. lawmakers to pass pending legislation to better protect children online. She said the TV drama is for families who feel they are held hostage by the perils of the online world, for parents who wish they could still communicate with their teenagers but who no longer can, and for young people who are addicted to social media and its darker sides. She also issued a call for action, saying To people in power and who make change, please criminalize harmful content, please eradicate harmful content. We dont want it. We want our children back; we dont want to lie awake terrified for childrens mental health. ... Winslet is one of many celebrities giving a voice to concerns about the dangers of social media and smartphones concerns that are shared by an overwhelming majority of parents. Parents have an intuitive appreciation for what the research is showing namely, that high-tech use is linked to markedly higher rates of loneliness, depression and sleep deprivation among teens, as a Wheatley Institute report noted. This helps explains why more than 80% of American parents are looking for help from policymakers in curbing the power of Big Tech in their kids lives, according to a recent Institute for Family Studies and Ethics and Public Policy Center report. Thankfully, these concerns are finally being heard by federal and state policymakers in the United States. At the federal level, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy released a new advisory this week calling on Big Tech to enforce their own minimum age requirements and purge harmful content from their platforms. Moreover, at least three bills have been introduced in Congress to give parents more power to superintend social media in their childrens lives. Additionally, a growing number of states, including Utah and Virginia, have enacted age-verification laws for porn sites and other laws designed to empower parents. Public policy is critical in this battle with Big Tech. But as we await more action from the government, there is a lot that we as parents can and should be doing to take control of our childrens time online. And the good news is that there are a variety of affordable tools to help us do that more tools, in fact, than ever before, including new features from social media companies who are feeling the pressure from parents, experts and lawmakers to make changes to protect children on their platforms. Here we outline a few of these tools, along with steps parents can take to limit their teens exposure to screens. Delay as long as possible Many experts now agree that kids should not get a smartphone until at least high school. It is easier than ever to delay because there are a variety of non-internet phones, such as Gabb and the Light phone, available for tweens who want to be connected to their friends and family but are too young for a standard smartphone. We both have daughters who started with Gabb phones. Whats great about the Gabb phone is that it looks like a smartphone and allows kids to text their friends, but doesnt allow them to access the internet, including social media sites. The Gabb phone also offers parental control tools, a child lock and an app that helps parents monitor text messages. Delaying a smartphone also helps parents delay social media longer, at least on the childs phone. And given the harms of social media, especially for young teens, limiting your young teens (10-14) to a simple phone is a smart move. Limit and monitor When your older teen is ready for a smartphone, the good news is that you do not have to hand the phone over and hope for the best. There are a variety of tools that parents can use to limit their childrens time online, monitor their phone and oversee their use of social media. Alysses daughter got her first smartphone at age 16, and her parents immediately installed Bark, an internet filtering and monitoring app that alerts parents to problematic photos, text messages and websites, and helps them manage a childs time on the device and on various apps. In addition to preventing the downloading of nonparental-approved apps, Bark also monitors teens use of social media and music apps, such as Instagram and Spotify, and gives parents an alert on their phones if there is a concern. For example, Alysse will receive an alert if her daughter receives a sexually explicit text message, along with suggestions from Bark on how to discuss such a text with her daughter. Bark also recently launched a new phone that contains all the tools that come with the Bark app built into the phone. It can work as a basic phone (like the Gabb phone) and then be upgraded later to allow limited, parental-controlled smartphone use when a teen is ready. Another great tool is Google Family Link, which is free with a Gmail address. Family Link allows parents to block or limit apps, set limits on phone time and block certain websites, as well as track a childs phone via GPS. (Parent tip: Adjust your childs birth date if you plan to use the tool after they turn 13). Both Bark and Google Family Link ended up being a lifesaver for one of Alysses family members. Bark alerted the mom to suicidal text messages her son was sending to a friend late one night, and she was able to use Googles tracking services to find her son before he could do himself any harm. Use built-in controls Finally, parents who have allowed their teens to use social media sites should also be taking advantage of the new parental-control tools offered by many of these platforms, including SnapChat and Instagram. While we do not recommend relying solely on these built-in controls, they can provide a good backup tool, and from our experience, they go over better with teens. Instagrams parental supervision tools, for instance, enable parents to monitor whom their teen is following and who follows them, and (more importantly) to set daily time limits, ranging from 15 minutes to two hours. Parents can also institute scheduled daily breaks from the app all through the parents Instagram account. For Alysses daughter, that means the app wont work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the school week, and she gets one hour a day of Instagram time. When she exceeds the time limit, Instagram shuts off and says come back tomorrow. Parents should also have access to their childrens passwords for their smartphones and social media apps so they can check in on their teens virtual world and make sure they are not getting into trouble online. Related In a pivotal scene from I Am Ruth, Winslets character, worried about her daughters escalating depression, discovers the teens smartphone in the bathroom. She hesitates a second before picking it up to scroll through some of the messages on her social media page (you get the sense this is the first time shes done this). What she finds there shocks her. Panicked, the mother tells her teenage son about the terrible things people are saying about his sister online, but he chastises her for violating his sisters privacy. Suddenly, her daughter rushes in, tears streaming down her face, shouting, along with her brother, for her mom to give the phone back. But Winslet finally finds the courage to do what she should have done earlier: I dont think you should have that phone, she says firmly. This is what is making you ill. For the rest of us, things do not have to reach a crisis point where our teen is severely depressed, addicted to social media, dealing with an eating disorder, or suicidal due to unfiltered and unmonitored smartphone and social media use. Parents are the first and most important line of defense in the battle against Big Tech for our childrens hearts, minds and health. We need to be looking at our childs phone regularly, monitoring its use, controlling the flow of information that is flowing through it and getting in between our child and harmful online content. Most importantly, we do not need to wait for the government to limit our teens exposure to social media. Until Congress moves on key legislation like the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act, we can take steps in the best interest of our children by delaying the smartphone and any social media until at least high school, taking advantage of non-internet forms of communication for the tween years, and using the countless tools available to help us limit, monitor and filter our teens time online once they acquire a smartphone. Alysse ElHage is editor of Family Studies. Brad Wilcox is director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. A Navy destroyer sunk by 2 Japanese kamikaze attacks in World War II has been discovered in the deep Pacific The U.S.S. Mannert L. Abele sunk off the coast of Okinawa in 1945. Courtesy of the US Naval Institute. A group of underwater explorers discovered a long-lost sunken World War II Navy warship. The U.S.S. Mannert L. Abele sank off Okinawa in 1945 after being hit by two kamikaze attacks. Insider obtained old photos of the Abele. A group of civilian underwater explorers discovered the remains of a long-lost World War II-era warship that sunk off the coast of Okinawa nearly 80 years ago amid the Pacific War. The precise location of the U.S.S Mannert L. Abele had been previously unknown until the Lost 52 Project an archeological organization dedicated to finding Navy ships and submarines that sank in the Second World War discovered the Abele in December of last year, the group told The New York Times this week. The US Navy's Naval History and Heritage Command confirmed the discovery last month. Official Navy photos shared with Insider show the decades-old warship as it sank in the Pacific after being struck by two Japanese kamikaze aircraft which triggered dual explosions. The USS Mannert L. Abele sunk in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The Abele was one of several warships that circled Okinawa in the waning days of the war. Courtesy of the US Naval Institute. The Battle of Okinawa was the largest fight in the Pacific Campaign, Tim Taylor of Lost 52 Project told The Times. The fight was the last major battle in World War II and among the most deadly. The US suffered more than 49,000 casualties, including 12,500 deaths, and the Japanese lost approximately 110,00 soldiers in the bloody fight, according to History.com. On April 1, 1945, tens of thousands of Army and Marine Corps forces attacked the Japanese island of Okinawa in a last-ditch effort to move toward the mainland. Taking control of Okinawa's airbases was a key step to invading Japan, and while the Allies eventually proved victorious, it came at a heavy cost. The Abele put up a long, hard fight before succumbing to the Pacific's depths. The Abele was especially sensitive to Japanese kamikaze attacks. Courtesy of the US Naval Institute. The small ship was one of several war fleets that circled the Okinawa island in spring of 1945. The Abele was serving as an advance radar ship ahead of the invasion, using its technology to track incoming Japanese aircraft. The ship, however, was especially sensitive to kamikaze attacks, which the Japanese were increasingly deploying as suicide missions near Okinawa. Over the course of multiple days, the ship fought off several Japanese attacks. But when two Japanese planes crashed directly into the Abele's starboard side triggering dual explosions, the ship sunk to the bottom of the ocean in nearly 4,500 feet of water, according to The Times. Eighty-four sailors aboard the Abele were killed. The Abele was sunk by a Japanese Ohka bomb. The "Betty" bomber in the background is carrying an "Ohka" piloted bomb beneath its fuselage similar to the one that sank the destroyer. Courtesy of the US Naval Institute. The Ohka was a new bomb at the time created by the Japanese that could fly through the air at speeds of 600 miles per hour. The Japanese men pictured above are relaxing in front of a "Betty" bomber seen in the background of the photo that is carrying an "Ohka" piloted bomb beneath its fuselage similar to the one that took down the Abele, Scot Christenson, the director of communications for the US Naval Institute, told Insider. The sinking of the Abele marked one of the first successful uses of this specific type of "Ohka" flying bomb against a US ship. Naval history describes the weapon as a "deadly flying rocket bomb" in the Japanese arsenal that was designed to inflict maximum destruction on the Allied navies. The bombs were small and typically launched from underneath land attack planes, making them difficult to shoot down because of their high speeds. The Abele was named after Lt. Commander Mannert L. Abele. The warship was commissioned in honor of Lt. Commander Mannert L. Abele. Courtesy of the US Naval Institute. The warship was commissioned in honor of Lt. Commander Mannert L. Abele in 1944. Abele commanded the U.S.S Grunion, another Navy vessel that was lost at sea during the war. The Navy awarded him a posthumous Navy Cross for his work sinking three Japanese ships in just one day during the war. The sunken ship will stay where it is in the depths of the ocean. The remnants of the sunken Abele will remain where they are. Courtesy of the US Naval Institute. The Abele and other sunken vessels like it are considered active tomb sites of those who perished in the war. As such, the Navy won't move or disturb the newly-discovered ship, according to The Times. Correction: May 26, 2023 An earlier version of this story misidentified the men pictured in the third photo. They're Japanese, not American. The story also misstated when the Abele sank. Its sinking was nearly 80 years ago, not nearly 70 years ago. Read the original article on Business Insider ISLAMABAD, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed and three others injured in an explosion inside a police station in Khyber district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday morning, police said. Investigation into the incident is underway, but apparently, it happened due to the accidental explosion of a hand grenade when a policeman was checking it, Divisional Police Officer of Khyber district Saleem Abbas told media. He said that the injured people including an officer have been shifted to a nearby hospital. The site inside the police station has been cordoned off for further investigation. 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 Charlottes new bike lane sweeper in a display of true democracy has been named by its constituents. Say hello to Sweepy McSweepface when you see it on the streets. The Charlotte powers that be had honored the votes cast after they asked the public to go online and hit the ballots with name suggestions May 3 through Thursday. The name, no doubt, was inspired by the British Boaty McBoatface scandal of 2016. The leading name wasnt met with the same respect from the United Kingdoms Natural Environment Research Council when it asked the public to name its newest vessel. Although the moniker topped leader boards, members tossed the fan-favorite out and instead named the vessel after naturalist David Attenborough. Back across the pond, Charlotte officials revealed Sweepy McSweepfaces triumph over runner-up names Clearopathra and Sweep Caroline at the Bike Charlotte After Work Social event at the Innovation Barn Thursday evening. The bike sweeper will clear debris from Charlottes bike lanes, which are out of the larger street sweepers reach. The event, attended by Charlotte Department of Transportation staff and its Bicycle Advisory Committee members, also concluded Bike Month, which the League of American Bicyclists has been promoting since 1956, according to its website. Earlier in the week, Reddit users week seemed to rally behind the wordsmith who crafted Clearopathra. Yeah, Ive had enough of making things Blanky McBlankface. Clearopathra is actually good, one user commented. The post, which shared the voting site, had more than 80 comments. But Sweepy McSweepface satisfied enough people for the win. Thank god because if they chose Sweep Caroline I was going to move right out of this town, one user commented on a WSOC tweet announcing the name. [Source] Netflix released the official trailer for its upcoming Korean series Bloodhounds on Thursday. Woo Do-hwan of The Divine Fury and The King: Eternal Monarch fame stars in the show with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha actor Lee Sang-yi. The eight-episode series, directed by Jason Kim ("Midnight Runners," "The Divine Fury"), follows Woo and Lee as a pair of boxers who unknowingly become involved with loan sharks preying on the financially vulnerable. The two forge an alliance with a compassionate retired moneylender, portrayed by Huh Joon-ho. They aim to dismantle the operations of the underworld's most merciless loan shark, played by New World and The Deal star Park Sung-woong. More from NextShark: Mickey Mouse celebrates Lunar New Year in S. Korea with tteokguk on Disney Junior show Bloodhounds will premiere on June 9. Check out its official trailer below: More from NextShark: Michelle Yeoh receives honorary doctorate from AFI: 'After I learned how to fall, I could learn how to fly' Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! James Hong admits he didnt understand Everything Everywhere All at Once after reading its script Mindy Kaling, other South Asian comedians called out for perpetuating stereotypes (Bloomberg) -- The Netherlands will likely send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after pilot training, according to two people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The Dutch government has been spearheading discussions with US officials in the past weeks to press President Joe Bidens administration to give a green light to delivering the aircraft, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity. After months of pressure from Kyiv and allied governments, Biden announced last week that the US would support efforts to train Ukrainian pilots to use the jets. The Netherlands and Denmark are leading the coalition to prepare the pilots, with the support of the UK and Belgium. The Dutch government is already looking into and discussing with its allies possible deployment plans, one of the people said. Despite the willingness of the Dutch government to help beef up Ukrainian air defenses as soon as possible, pilot training and mapping out deployment and logistics could take many months. The Netherlands currently has 42 F-16 fighter jets in its inventory, 24 of which are currently being used by the Dutch army and cannot be sent to Ukraine until mid-2024. A dozen of the other 18 jets were to be sold to Draken International but the government delayed the transfer of the aircraft in December without disclosing an explanation, citing commercial confidentiality. Although the final decision on deployment has not yet been made, Ukraine may get some of the jets that are on sale or some of the currently operational 24 jets next year depending on the training timeline, the people said. The Netherlands keeps all its F-16 jets airworthy through regular maintenance. A spokeswoman for the Dutch defense ministry said Thursday the government would consider the possible delivery of F-16s to Ukraine at a later date. Pilot training is the priority now, she added. Earlier this month, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said there are no taboos against sending fighter jets to Ukraine. Ruttes office declined to comment on the possibility of F-16 deployment. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said 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 Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Thursday the US notes Dutch leadership in coordinating and leveraging the capabilities of other allies to provide important assistance to Ukraine after a phone conversation with Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, according to Austins office. Austin thanked Ollongren for Dutch security aid to Kyiv. The Netherlands has so far provided around 1.6 billion ($1.7 billion) in military support to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, with delivered equipment alone accounting for 732 million, according to the Dutch defense ministry. --With assistance from Diederik Baazil. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The Netherlands is "seriously considering" sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but has not taken any final decision yet, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday. Earlier this week the Netherlands said it wanted to start training Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16's as soon as possible. Asked if the Netherlands would send fighter jets to Ukraine, Rutte told a news conference no final decision had been taken, but added that "if you start training it's obvious that is something you are seriously considering". Any decision on sending F-16s was dependent on approval from the U.S. to do so, Rutte said. He added that the Netherlands would potentially have fighter jets to pass on as it was currently phasing out its F-16's. According to figures from the Dutch defence ministry the Netherlands currently has 24 operational F-16's which will be phased out by mid-2024. Another 18 of the jets are currently available for sale, of which 12 have been provisionally sold. Last Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden endorsed training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy 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. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Bart Meijer; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) A stylised stock image showing Elon Musk's face and the Neuralink logo Elon Musk's brain-chip firm says it has received approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to conduct its first tests on humans. The Neuralink implant company wants to help restore vision and mobility to people by linking brains to computers. It says it does not have immediate plans to start recruiting participants. Mr Musk's previous ambitions to begin tests came to nothing. The FDA said it acknowledged Neuralink's announcement. An earlier bid by Neuralink to win FDA approval was rejected on safety grounds, according to a report in March by the Reuters news agency that cited multiple current and former employees. Neuralink hopes to use its microchips to treat conditions such as paralysis and blindness, and to help certain disabled people use computers and mobile technology. The chips - which have been tested in monkeys - are designed to interpret signals produced in the brain and relay information to devices via Bluetooth. Experts have cautioned that Neuralink's brain implants will require extensive testing to overcome technical and ethical challenges if they are to become widely available. Mr Musk has also previously suggested that the proposed technology could help ease concerns about humans being displaced by AI. Announcing Thursday's news on Twitter, Neuralink talked of an "important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people". The approval was "the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA", it said. The firm promised more information "soon" on plans to sign up trial participants. Its website promises that "safety, accessibility and reliability" are all priorities during its engineering process. The company - which was co-founded by Mr Musk in 2016 - has repeatedly overestimated the speed at which it can execute its plans. Its initial aim was to start planting chips in human brains in 2020, in order to honour a pledge made the year before. It later vowed to get started in 2022. The business was dealt another setback in December last year, after reportedly coming under investigation for alleged animal welfare violations in its work. It earlier denied similar claims. Its announcement on FDA approval for human tests follows recent news of a similar breakthrough involving brain implants by Swiss researchers. A paralysed man from the Netherlands was able to walk simply by thinking about it - thanks to a system of implants which wirelessly transmit his thoughts to his legs and feet. Turns out Elon Musk's FDA prediction was only off by about a month. After reportedly denying the company's overtures in March, the FDA approved Neuralink's application to begin human trials of its prototype Link brain-computer interface (BCI) on Thursday. Founded in 2016, Neuralink aims to commercialize BCIs in wide-ranging medical and therapeutic applications from stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, to neural prosthetic controls, to the capacity "to rewind memories or download them into robots," Neuralink CEO Elon Musk promised in 2020. BCIs essentially translate the analog electrical impulses of your brain (monitoring it using hair-thin electrodes delicately threaded into that grey matter) into the digital 1's and 0's that computers understand. Since that BCI needs to be surgically installed in a patient's noggin, the FDA which regulates such technologies requires that companies conduct rigorous safety testing before giving its approval for commercial use. In March, the FDA rejected Neuralink's application to begin human trials reportedly in part due to all the test animals that kept dying after having the prototype BCI implanted. According to internal documents acquired by Reuters in December, more than 1,500 animals had been killed in the development of the Neuralink BCI since 2018. The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Inspector General has since launched an investigation into those allegations. The FDA's reticence was also born from concerns about the design and function of the interface when implanted in humans. "The agencys major safety concerns involved the devices lithium battery; the potential for the implants tiny wires to migrate to other areas of the brain; and questions over whether and how the device can be removed without damaging brain tissue," current and former Neuralink employees told Reuters in March. While Neuralink has obtained FDA approval to begin its study, the company is not yet seeking volunteers. This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people," Neuralink Tweeted on Thursday. "Recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial." Update, 05/26/23, 11:28 AM ET: This story has been updated to include a response from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the animal welfare advocacy group that previously uncovered Neuralink's animal deaths. On May 25, 2023, Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink shared via Twitter that it had received approval from the FDA to begin human clinical trials. It is important to remember that such FDA approval is not an acquittal of Neuralinks well-documented track record of animal cruelty and sloppy scientific studies. The approval is also not a guarantee that a Neuralink device will someday be commercially available as a significant number of medical devices that begin clinical trials never reach the market. In addition, Neuralink will likely continue to conduct experiments on monkeys, pigs, and other animals even after clinical trials have begun. Past animal experiments revealed serious safety concerns stemming from the products invasiveness and rushed, sloppy actions by company employees. As such, the public should continue to be skeptical of the safety and functionality of any device produced by Neuralink. 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." 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 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 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. Ministry rejects hacking claims of Western agencies 09:57, May 26, 2023 By Mo Jingxi ( Chinadaily.com.cn Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning gives a regular briefing at the Foreign Ministry of China on May 25, 2023. [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn] Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Thursday dismissed as false hacking allegations made against China by Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft, saying it was "a collective disinformation campaign of the Five Eyes initiated by the United States to serve its geopolitical agenda". In a blog post published on Wednesday, Microsoft claimed it had uncovered stealthy and targeted malicious activity aimed at critical infrastructure organizations from telecommunications to transportation hubs in the US, and the attack had been carried out by a State-sponsored Chinese hacking group called Volt Typhoon. "We noted this extremely unprofessional report, a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence," Mao said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. The spokeswoman said China has also noted that US intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency, and their counterparts from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, members of the Five Eyes Alliance, have jointly issued a similar report. "It is widely known that the Five Eyes is the world's biggest intelligence association and the NSA the world's biggest hacking group. It is ironic that the Five Eyes jointly released a report filled with disinformation," she said. Mao said the involvement of a certain company in the reports indicates that aside from government agencies, the US is using additional channels to spread disinformation. "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," she said. Investigation reports released by Chinese institutions in September last year accused the US of using 41 specialized cyber weapons to launch more than 1,000 attacks on China's Northwestern Polytechnical University and stealing core technical data. The US has not yet offered an explanation on the matter. Mao said that Washington should immediately explain its own cyber attacks instead of diverting public attention with false information. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) FRC's Tony Perkins Statement on Louisiana's Stop Harming Our Kids Act NEWS PROVIDED BY Family Research Council (FRC) May 26, 2023 WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Family Research Council president, and former Louisiana state legislator, Tony Perkins released the following statement regarding Louisiana's Stop Harming Our Kids Act: "I urge the Louisiana Senate leaders to discharge HB 648 from committee. The Stop Harming Our Kids Act is necessary to protect Louisiana's children from the use of experimental drugs and surgeries that leave minors with permanent physiological and psychological damage. "'Gender-affirming care' is not scientifically supported and is in direct opposition to good mental health practice. The majority of kids who are gender confused outgrow discomfort with their developing bodies. In addition, a growing number of adults who de-transitioned testify to the harms they suffered as minors, the physiological challenges they continue to face, and the regret they now experience as adults. Louisiana must join the increasing number of states who protect kids and support HB 648," Perkins concluded. Perkins also sent a letter addressed to Louisiana State Senate President Page Cortez which read in part: "The Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony from numerous experts, including a pediatric endocrinologist and credible mental health professionals, regarding the long-term damage done to children when puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries are administered. The committee heard heart-wrenching stories of adults who deeply regret their 'transition.' Also present were heartbroken parents because counselors and school personnel encouraged their children to 'identify' as something they can never be. "I will avoid the hearsay that Governor Edwards wanted this bill killed, and Republican Senators did his bidding. As you are aware, the Senate can rectify the situation by discharging the committee of its duty and ordering it to report HB 648 to the full Senate. "We call upon you to lead the Louisiana Senate to move to bring HB 648 to the floor for a fair vote that will enable our state to protect children from experimental drugs and surgeries being advanced by the profiteers of the gender-transition movement." To read the full letter, please see: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF23E43.pdf To review FRC's Dr. Jennifer Bauwens' testimony on this bill, please see: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF23E44.pdf SOURCE Family Research Council (FRC) CONTACT: Alice Chao, media@frc.org 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 Lauren Boebert's son called 911 in tears to report his father was 'throwing' him around the house. Then she took the phone. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Alex Wong/Getty Images In December, Lauren Boebert's teen son called 911 to report his dad was "throwing me" in the house. The teen sobbed throughout the two-minute call, saying he didn't understand why his dad was mad. The boy called back soon after, denying it happened, with Boebert jumping on to say he was safe. Rep. Lauren Boebert's son called 911 in December to report that his father, Jayson Boebert, had gotten physical with him and was "throwing" him around the house and that he didn't know why. Minutes after the call ended while Garfield County Sheriff's Office deputies were on their way to their home the teen called again to take the accusations back, with Lauren Boebert jumping on the phone to say her son "doesn't need help." Jayson Boebert denied to the deputies and to Insider that he had gotten physical with the teen. "The safety and well-being of my family are the most important things in the world to me," Lauren Boebert told Insider 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." Last month, Boebert, a two-term Colorado Republican who has garnered a national reputation as a far-right representative, filed for divorce. She cited "irreconcilable differences." An affidavit says when Jayson Boebert was served with the petition, he became "extremely angry." "He started yelling and using profanities," the server wrote of what transpired. Lauren Boebert denied that her husband reacted this way, calling it a "complete lie." Still, the congresswoman is suing for parental-decision-making power and child support for their four sons. In a statement on the divorce, Boebert said she would not "discuss this matter any further in public" in deference to their kids. In the December 11 emergency call, which came about four months before the divorce filing, Boebert's son told the dispatcher his mother had been living in a farmhouse at an attached property because the family was having "problems." In the 6:46 p.m. call, obtained by Insider, the teen was sobbing, gasping for air, and had trouble speaking while saying his dad was "throwing me around." The dispatcher asked the teen whether Jayson Boebert was physical with him. "Yes, he was throwing me around," he said, breathing heavily. "He called me a psycho, when he's the " he added, trailing off. The dispatcher told the teen she was going to have an officer come help and he didn't have to worry. She also asked whether there were 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 responded, still crying. "He just does this to me so much." He added: "I'm in the driveway, but my mom's staying down at the farmhouse because there's problems with them. I'm going down there where he can't get to me." Less than five minutes after the call ended, the teen called police again. In the background of the call, a woman can be heard yelling. "All I wanted to say is me and my dad were starting to yell. He didn't really get physical with me," the teen started to tell the same dispatcher before Lauren Boebert took the phone, cutting him off. "Hi, I'm the mom," she said. "OK. There was an argument over dinner. I understand you guys got to come and talk to them," she said, adding that she was "down at our second location with" her son preparing for an event. "Just to let you know, I have him," she told the dispatcher. "His dad's at the house." The dispatcher said she was sending officers to talk to the teen and his dad to see whether he needed help. "He doesn't need help," she said. "But yeah, they can come here." In a police log from the incident, an officer said Jayson Boebert said he got into a verbal argument with his son and told him to go to the farmhouse to be with his mother. According to the log, he said he didn't hurt him but "maybe the door touched his butt on the way out." The officer wrote that the boy said "he started yelling at his dad first and his dad wasn't physical." The teen "said he wasn't sure why he said that his dad hurt him, but he was upset," the log said. The officer said there were no physical marks on the teen, he and Boebert were cooperative, and no crime was committed. Jayson Boebert said he didn't hurt his son and all teenage boys 'test the bull' Jayson Boebert told Insider on Thursday that "nothing physical" happened on December 11. He said that he and his son had gotten into an argument and he insisted the teen go down to the farmhouse about a 400-yard walk from the main house to cool off. He said his son wasn't happy about it but that he needed time to cool off. Insider's attempt to reach the teen was unsuccessful. "He overreacted. We're back to being a family," Boebert, who works in the oil industry, told Insider, adding that he was uncomfortable with his family being in the spotlight. "All I do is work and come home and try to raise everyone," he said. He told Insider he disciplined all four sons by making them run laps and do push-ups not by hitting them. Each one of Boebert's sons went through a phase between 14 and 16 where they didn't always get along with their dad, he said. Boebert said before his wife entered politics, the family spent a lot of time together when he was off from work doing recreational activities. Now that she's "serving the country," he spends a lot of time alone with the boys, he said. "Every teenage boy is going to want to test the bull," he said. "We've gotten over it." On the day of the 911 calls from her Colorado home, Lauren Boebert tweeted four times. First, she made a joke about pronouns. Two more including one where she appeared on video were about her reelection. "When you speak the name of Jesus, you aren't just saying a name," she said in the fourth. "You are declaring what you know about the authority and splendor of His name!" The next day, she tweeted again: "Conservatives, we need to be on OFFENSE not DEFENSE." She then fired off two more tweets about immigration. The December 11 incident wasn't the first time the Garfield County Sheriff's Office was called to the Boebert house. In August, a neighbor called 911 on Jayson Boebert, accusing him of threatening him and running over his mailbox. The man told the dispatcher that Boebert was looking to fight "everyone in the neighborhood" after a neighbor asked Boebert's son to stop speeding down the street in a dune buggy. Deputies responded to the Boebert house again most recently on January 2 for a welfare check. The log of the sheriff's office response was short and didn't say who called for them to go to the house. "Spoke with male at residence who came to the door when I knocked, stated 'we're good,' asked if he was sure he stated that he was," the log said. Read the original article on Business Insider Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS via third party The president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, took a sharp tone against Russian efforts to further envelope allies under Moscows influence, just as the Kremlin signed an agreement to deploy Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus. Speaking near Russian President Vladimir Putin on stage at an event in Moscow, Kazakh President Tokayev warned against political integration within Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus are each members. Kyrgyzstan and Armenia are also in the union. From the outset of the event, Kazakhstan and Belarus indicated interest in collaboration in the economic realm, but not in the political space. But in reality, Belarus and Russia have been working together for years to form a union state, in which Minsk and Moscow work to meld together their governments, cultures, militaries, and economies. Just this Thursday, Russias Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Belarus Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin both signed an agreement on deploying Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus, albeit under the control of Russia. We have a union state in the EAEU, Tokayev said of the Belarusian and Russian arrangement. The creation of a state according to the formula two countries, one state, with a single political, legal, military, economic, monetary, cultural and humanitarian space, with a single union government and a single union parliament." I apologize, but even nuclear weapons are one for two now, Tokayev added. I think we need to discuss this problem. Putin, who was sitting on stage while Tokayev spoke Thursday, raised his eyebrows and smirked at the comment, according to footage from the event shared on social media. The current leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who was sitting next to him, laughed, exchanged glances with Putin, and appeared to mumble something under his breath. Putins transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus is one part of a larger plan from Russia to further weave together Russian and Belarusian military operations. Belarus served as a launchpad for Russias invasion of Ukraine last year, and since then has promised to continue allowing Russian military forces to use Belarus to prepare for military operations in Ukraine. Russia isnt handing over its nuclear weapons to the Republic of Belarus: the Russian side will control them and make decisions about using them, Shoigu said, according to Meduza. Kazakhstans concern about Belarus and Russias Union State arrangement is just the latest sign that Russias leadership in its dwindling circle of allies could be coming untethered. Earlier this week, the prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced that he could withdraw his country from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russian-led military alliance. Some officials in China, a key Russian partner, reportedly refused to meet with a top Russian official during a trip to Beijing and Shanghai this week. India has been urging Russia to pursue peace in Ukraine and to avoid nuclear weapons use in the war. Kazakhstan has been pushing back on aspects of Russias war in Ukraine since the outset, with officials appearing to grow increasingly cautious of endorsing Putins foreign policy and military operations. Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi refused to recognize the sovereignty of the territories Russia seized and illegally annexed from Ukraine during the war last year. Other world leaders also warned against the transfer of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus on Thursday. Belarus democratically-elected opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, warned Thursday that the move could further enable Russia to hold at risk more territory while it continues to wage war in Ukraine, posing a major threat to Ukraine and the rest of Europe. The move also could further solidify Russias efforts to control Belarus, which the opposition has begun referring to as a partial occupation of Belarus. We must do everything to prevent Putins plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya said. It directly violates our constitutional non-nuclear status & would secure Russias control over Belarus for years ahead. And it would further threaten the security of Ukraine & all of Europe. 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. 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 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. [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: 3 Teen Girls Tell 51-Year-Old Asian Woman She 'Caused Coronavirus B*tch!' in NYC 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: San Dieguito superintendent to sue after being placed on leave for her remarks about Asian students 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: Indonesian woman charged with domestic violence for 'nagging' her husband is acquitted 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: Japanese Model Divorces Husband After Literally Spending All His Money 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. 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 Jesse Osborne on trial at the Anderson County Courthouse in South Carolina in 2018. (Ken Ruinard / Associated Press) On Sept. 28, 2016, in Townville, S.C., 14-year-old Jesse Osborne shot his father to death with a .40-caliber pistol while he slept. Then, after kissing his rabbit and other pets goodbye, Osborne drove to the Townville Elementary School, went to the playground and began shooting at a group of first-graders celebrating a classmates birthday. He killed Jacob Hall, who was 6 years old. He injured two other students and a teacher. He had planned to kill dozens more, but his gun jammed. A judge ruled that Osborne should be tried as an adult. He pleaded guilty in 2019 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But this week, Osbornes lawyer, Frank Eppes, was back in court, asking that Osbornes sentence be reconsidered. Eppes says the judge didnt fully take into account a psychologists report that concluded Osborne was a victim of abuse and that he could, in fact, be rehabilitated. Eppes said the court should give Osborne some hope to live with. But does Osborne deserve hope? Does a killer who committed such an awful act deserve our mercy? The mere suggestion raises profound questions about the purpose of incarceration, the role of punishment, the possibility of rehabilitation and the proper limits of compassion and how those concepts apply to murderers who were children when they committed their crimes. Osborne is hardly a sympathetic figure. He was methodical, planning the attack in advance and studying other school shootings. In a video from the day of the attack, he can be seen combing his hair and narrating: Got to have your hair straight when youre going to shoot up a place. Got to look fabulous." He took a 6-year-old boy away from his family forever. The prosecutor in the case, explaining why hed sought life without parole for a teenager, was blunt: He did a horrible thing and hes a horrible person. But the fact remains that Osborne was still a child when his crime was committed. Not a 6-year-old like Jacob, and not an innocent like Jacob. But Osborne was only 14. Its true he did a horrible thing and it may also turn out that hes an irredeemably horrible person, but in my view, the system needs to consider the possibility that hes still growing, changing and maturing, and he could become something other than horrible over the coming decades. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan wrote that juveniles are characterized by transient rashness, proclivity for risk, and inability to assess consequences. Former Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote: Children are constitutionally different from adults in their level of culpability. I called Eppes, Osbornes lawyer, to hear his version. Why do kids commit crimes like murder? he asked. They dont do it because theyre inherently evil. They dont do it because theyre incorrigible and unsalvageable. Most children who kill do it because theyre young and stupid and impulsive, and they dont have the sense God gave a turnip until theyre about 25 years old. It's easy for the court to impose and stick to the longest possible sentence. That's safe, satisfying and morally straightforward. As Eppes points out, South Carolina is Old Testament country." And theres nothing unusual about treating child defendants harshly. English common law going back centuries allowed for the conviction and punishment of 7- to 14-year-olds as long as they seemed to understand the difference between right and wrong. Children as young as 10 were put to death in 18th century England. But the world is changing. Psychologists and neurologists agree that minors are less capable of making mature moral judgments than adults and more capable of being rehabilitated. Today, the U.S. is the only country that allows sentences of life without parole for crimes committed before age 18, according to the Sentencing Project. And more than half of U.S. states prohibit such sentences. The Supreme Court, too, has been moving on the issue, slowly. In 1988, the court prohibited the death penalty for offenders whose crimes were committed before age 15, deeming it "cruel and unusual." In 2005, the justices raised that bar to 18. Then the court said juveniles could not be sentenced to life without parole for any crime other than homicide. Then it banned automatic life sentences without parole for juveniles who killed someone. In 2016, it applied that retroactively to thousands of inmates. That last ruling came in the case of Henry Montgomery, who was imprisoned in 1963 for shooting and killing a sheriffs deputy when he was 17. Sentenced to life without parole, he served 58 years in Louisiana penitentiaries. Finally, after decades in court, he was released at age 75 for a crime he committed when he was "young, wild and stupid," as he put it. The problem with life without parole for juveniles is that you just cant be sure how 17-year-old Henry Montgomery will have changed by the time hes 75. Nor can you know whether the 14-year-old killer Jesse Osborne will be a different person when hes 60. Unfortunately, parole is not permitted for people convicted of murder in South Carolina. So the Anderson County judge's only alternative is to shorten Osbornes sentence. A better solution would be for the Supreme Court to finally and unequivocally declare life without the possibility of parole for juveniles unconstitutional in a ruling that would affect Osborne's case and others around the country. It might also affect the case of Ethan Crumbley, who killed four fellow students at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021 when he was only 15. Crumbley's sentencing is scheduled for June 2 and prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life without parole. Juvenile killers don't necessarily deserve shorter sentences. But they deserve reconsideration over time. Are they still dangerous? Have they shown remorse? Have they learned empathy, kept a clean record, matured, grown? Jacob Halls family, unsurprisingly, wants Osborne to stay in prison without parole, prosecutors said. I understand that. But sentencing decisions arent solely designed to satisfy victims families. Theyre designed to achieve justice, which is a complicated and elusive concept but one that includes fairness and a measure of compassion even for the most heinous killers. @nick_goldberg This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Nikki Sixx in 1985 Producer Bob Rock, who's been working with the new Motley Crue lineup on fresh material, has revealed that Nikki Sixx once harboured doubts as to whether he actually played on band's the first four albums. Speaking with wrestling superstar and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho on his This Is Jericho podcast (full broadcast below), Rock revealed that Sixx explained his theory while Rock was working with Motley Crue and their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. Rock recalled the moment: "He goes, 'I don't think I ever played on any of the Motley Crue records. I think somebody came in at night and replaced all my parts.' He says, 'So I don't really know how to play bass.' And I said, 'Too bad. You're playing bass on it.' So I worked with him through Dr. Feelgood, did a lot of edits and made him play every note. "But when we did The Dirt, I went to see him and we started working on the demos. He picked up the bass and started playing, and I said, 'Woah, woah, woah. What's going on here?' He had been taking bass lessons for five years. All of a sudden he's an amazing bass player. And I think that's so cool, in that point of his career, he wanted to be better. You know what I mean? I admire that." Last month, Sixx confirmed that Motley Crue were working with Rock, and that John 5 would be playing on the new songs. "This new set feels more personal since we havent recorded anything new in a while," Sixx posted on Instagram. "The studio is a highly creative space and with us recording I thought Id try to get a creative head start on some of these for Vince. "I got one done and gonna try to wrap up the next one and show it to the guys. Bob Rock is pushing us hard and bringing out the best in us. Tommy is playing his ass off. Jesus, these drums sound huge." Earlier this week, Motley Crue kicked off the European leg of their Stadium Tour with Def Leppard. The next show is at the Koenigsplatz in Munich, Germany, on Saturday. Full dates below. Motley Crue/Def Leppard Stadium Tour 2023 May 27: Munich Koenigsplatz, Germany May 29: Budapest MVM Dome, Hungary May 31: Krakow Tauron Arena Krakow, Poland Jun 02: Prague Rocks, Czech Republic Jun 03: Hannover Expo Plaza, Germany Jun 07: Solvesborg, Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden Jun 09: Helsinki RockFest, Finland Jun 11: Trondheim Rocks, Norway Jun 14: Copenhagen Copenhell, Denmark Jun 18: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium Jun 20: Milan Ippodromo SNAI San Siro, Italy Jun 23: Lisbon Passeio Maritimo de Alges, Portugal Jun 24: Rivas-Vaciamadrid Auditorio Miguel Rios, Spain Jun 27: Thun Stockhorn Arena, Switzerland Jul 01: London Wembley Stadium, UK Jul 02: Lytham Festival, UK Jul 04: Dublin Marlay Park, Ireland Jul 06: Glasgow Hampden Park, UK Aug 05: Syracuse JMA Wireless Dome, NY Aug 08: Columbus Ohio Stadium, OH Aug 11: Fargo Fargodome, ND Aug 13: Omaha Charles Schwab Field Omaha, NE Aug 16: Tulsa H.A. Chapman Stadium, OK Aug 18: El Paso Sun Bowl Stadium, TX Tickets are on sale now. Despite rumors circulating on social media, Bradenton Fire Department officials say there is no sign of arson in a storage unit fire that caused around $1 million of damage. The Bradenton Police Department, Bradenton Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal responded to a fire that damaged between 20 and 30 units Sunday at the 6915 Manatee Ave. W. CubeSmart self-storage facility. One person was injured and hospitalized with respiratory injuries. A homeless man, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, was found at the scene of the fire where he was renting a storage unit, according to officials. While some social media posts claimed the man set the fire on purpose, City of Bradenton Fire Marshal Chris Melser said hes confident that this was an accident, not a case of arson. Im about 99% sure on what caused the fire. We found everything we needed: the ignition, the source, everything was present and made it easy to find out what happened, Melser said. And there was no intent of arson that we found. The man was suspected of suffering internal respiratory burns and was taken to Blake Medical Center for treatment, but Melser said he anticipated him having a short hospital stint. Officials were able to interview him at the hospital and found no indication of criminal activity. Arson not suspected in Bradenton CubeSmart fire Traffic cameras in the area captured smoke billowing from the storage facility fire. Police blocked part of the road for about three hours Sunday afternoon while firefighters battled the blaze. Manatee County resident Adam Lewis, who lives at the Cypress Winds Apartments across the street from where the fire occurred, said he heard a loud explosion so he walked outside to investigate. As we were walking outside to see what was going on, we heard three or four more smaller explosions. Then fire and EMS showed up, Lewis said. But an entire row of units were charred from what I saw. Lewis said he saw firefighters use a saw to get past the security gates and into some of the storage units, which Melser confirmed in an interview with the Bradenton Herald. The State Fire Marshal was called to the scene due to both the high dollar value amount of the damage as well as the injury sustained at the fire. Either one can trigger the State Fire Marshal to be called, according to Melser. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines Life, May 22) This week, attend bridal and summer fairs, check out the new branch of an NYC burger joint, and stock up on some beauty essentials. Attend a bridal fair When planning any event at the scale of a wedding, it can get overwhelming to sift through all the available suppliers for catering, location styling, documentation, and even venues. This weekend, local publication Bride and Breakfast is having the first of two wedding fairs of this year in partnership with the Trendsetter Team. Held at the SMX Convention Center on May 27 and 28, this years fair promises to have all the things needed for your dream wedding under one roof, with plenty of discounts from suppliers like M Catering, Palazzo Verde, PaperProject, and more. Attendees who pre-register before May 24 get free entrance and exclusive discounts. For more information, visit the event page. CNN PHILIPPINES LIFE STAFF Salu-salo Sining, Kape, at Kwentuhan Online store Looking for Juan is hosting their first summer fair on May 27. The store, which offers locally-published childrens books and other gift items, is bringing together their community for a day celebrating the power of art and stories, featuring an art sale and artist meet-up, coffee and cakes, and more. Visitors can get up to 50% off on Looking for Juans catalog and get first dibs on their tote bag collection designed by Jamie Bauza, Ivy Berces, Kat Melo, and Angela Taguiang. The event is open to all. For more details, visit the event page. CNN PHILIPPINES LIFE STAFF Take a North EDSA field trip via Shake Shack While there are Shake Shack joints all over Metro Manila (its also available via delivery), there are several reasons why their newly opened outpost at SM North EDSA is worth a visit. First is that there are a few store-exclusive dessert items or Concrete in Shake Shack-speak which are best enjoyed right out of the counter. The Apple Pie Oh My paired well with the crinkle cut fries. They also have wine and beer on the tap for a post-work meal with your colleagues. Shake Shack commissioned local illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz to paint their storefront mural as well as the interior wallpaper. They also have merchandise like pouches and drawstring bags in the artists signature flora and fauna-forward work available for sale (dont miss out on the t-shirt). If youre looking for a north-based hangout spot this week, consider this for a bit of art to enjoy while you snack on a warm burger. MARGA BUENAVENTURA The Kiehl's Skin Renewing Set includes the Retinol Serum and five free gifts (5,500 for 50ml), while the Glass Skin Set has the Dark Spot Solution (4,500 for 50ml). Photo by MARGA BUENAVENTURA Stock up on your Kiehls essentials at their LazMall Super Brand Day Skincare routines dont have to be long and complicated; they just have to work. A few of my current bathroom shelf essentials are the Kiehls Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution and the Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum. Theyve helped manage my acne and the occasional spots they leave behind. These will both be part of the LazMall x Kiehls Super Brand Day this May 25, which will have up to 50% savings on these Kiehls formulas. The Skin Renewing Set includes the Retinol Serum and five free gifts (5,500 for 50ml), while the Glass Skin Set has the Dark Spot Solution (4,500 for 50ml) with accompanying gifts too. They also have a new Ultra Pure series with glycolic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid that you can get for 1,950 with free samples. Oh, and an incentive to stay up late: between 12 to 2 a.m. on May 25, you can stack up to 16 free gifts, including wireless earbuds for the first 25 buyers. Consider this your sign to build a skincare regimen thats simple but totally stacked. MB People with incarcerated family members march at the Capitol in Olympia, Washington, in April, demanding that HB 1324, a criminal justice reform bill, be retroactive. People with incarcerated family members march at the Capitol in Olympia, Washington, in April, demanding that HB 1324, a criminal justice reform bill, be retroactive. Growing up, Anthony Covert never felt like he belonged. He was a ward of the state by the time he was a toddler and bounced between foster homes throughout his childhood. Despite being told he was unadoptable, he was eventually adopted by a white couple who loved him but whose complexion did not match his own Black skin, making him a target of ridicule at school. The first time Covert felt like he was part of a community was when he started hanging out with a gang as a young teen. He racked up a juvenile record: assault when he was 14 and residential burglary when he was 17. Shortly after his 18th birthday, he was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was ultimately sentenced to 36 years in prison roughly 10 of which were the result of his juvenile record. Until recently, Washington automatically used juvenile felony records to increase adult prison sentences, which about a dozen states still do. In Washington, it was the result of a bill passed in 1997, during the era of racist fearmongering about so-called super-predator youths. Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced House Bill 1324, which would have ended the practice and allowed those already facing longer sentences because of their juvenile records the opportunity to be resentenced. But just before it passed out of the legislature in April, lawmakers amended the bill so it wouldnt apply to anyone who had already been sentenced leaving Covert and thousands of others behind. In recent years, several states have passed modest criminal justice reform legislation aimed at correcting tough-on-crime-era sentencing practices, which disproportionately harm Black and brown people. But many of these reforms are applied only prospectively, creating a situation in which people face dramatically different punishments based on whether they were sentenced before or after an arbitrary date. This moral and logical inconsistency often boils down to political convenience. Theres a real fear that if we allow an opportunity for redemption and somebody does something wrong, how is that going to come back on me? Washington state Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D), who fought to keep retroactivity in the bill, said in an interview. This is a societal problem about who we consider worthy. Once people are incarcerated and in the system, we somehow devalue them and consider them less worthy. If something was wrong and we change it, to deny that benefit to the people who are in prison is unprincipled.Mark Osler, professor at University of St. Thomas School of Law In California, lawmakers passed a non-retroactive bill in 2017, giving judges the ability to remove additional penalties for possessing a firearm during a crime, which prosecutors often use to juice up already lengthy sentences. Today, roughly 37,000 people in California state custody more than one-third of the states prisoners have some kind of gun enhancement as part of their sentence. Of those 37,000, about 89% are people of color, according to Initiate Justice, an organization that works to end incarceration through inside-out organizing. Its hard to want to give a person a second chance, but people can change, said Anthony Linares, a senior inside organizer for Initiate Justice in Californias Corcoran State Prison. Much of Linares roughly 34-year sentence is from enhancements related to guns, gangs and Californias three strikes law. Linares has since overcome drug addiction, is uninvolved with gangs and is close to earning two associate degrees. He is urging lawmakers to pass Assembly Bill 1310, which would make the 2017 bill retroactive and give him a chance at being resentenced. Some states explicitly restrict retroactive relief. Oregons constitution states that punishments enacted by voters can only be modified in the legislature with a supermajority vote, rather than a simple majority. In 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed a landmark juvenile justice reform bill. One of the bills provisions was ending the automatic transfer into the adult system of 15- to 17-year-olds accused of certain crimes a practice enacted by voters in a 1994 ballot measure. Because the bill did not have a supermajority of support, it was not retroactive. In fact, after first passing the bill, lawmakers went back and specifically amended the language to block people convicted before its passage from benefiting from relief if they ended up back in court for resentencing after its passage. A similar dynamic has played out on the federal level. In 2010, the federal government passed the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the sentencing disparity between offenses for crack and powder cocaine from a ratio of 100-1 to a ratio of 18-1. This overdue reform was not applied retroactively until after the First Step Act passed in late 2018. The First Step Act also amended 18 U.S. Code Section 924(c), to eliminate a practice known as Section 924(c) stacking but only for future cases. Section 924(c) provides harsh mandatory minimum sentences for people who use or possess a gun during a violent felony or drug offense at least five years for the first offense and 25 years for any subsequent offense. Before the passage of the First Step Act, federal prosecutors could stack multiple Section 924(c) violations in the same case. For example, someone with no prior criminal record who robbed three banks with a gun could face mandatory minimums of five years, 25 years and another 25 years, just for the gun enhancements. It was responsible for a lot of the most extreme and disproportionate sentences, Liz Komar, counsel at The Sentencing Project, said in an interview. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced a bill last month to make Section 924(c) reform retroactive after a similar bill died in the previous Congress. But, of course, were in the middle of a federal election cycle thats all about crime, a lot of which is gun crime. So its a much tougher battle to go back for the people who were cut out of the First Step Act, Komar said. I really believe that its not moral to change a statute to the benefit of defendants without making it retroactive, Mark Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, said in an interview. If something was wrong and we change it, to deny that benefit to the people who are in prison is unprincipled. David Heppard (left), the executive director of the Freedom Project, attends the bill signing ceremony with Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this month while wearing a shirt that reads, David Heppard (left), the executive director of the Freedom Project, attends the bill signing ceremony with Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this month while wearing a shirt that reads, "What if the 13th amendment wasn't retroactive?" Chelsea Moore, the Look2Justice co-founder, stands to the right of Heppard. The juvenile history bill in Washington emerged from people in prison talking in the yard and realizing that many of them were serving longer sentences because of their juvenile felony records, said Chelsea Moore, a founding co-director of Look2Justice, an inside-out organizing group in Washington state. They had already been punished for these offenses as kids, often with years in juvenile detention. But when they returned to court to be sentenced for adult convictions, prosecutors used their juvenile records to tack on additional years to their punishment sometimes adding decades to their prison sentence. They were, effectively, being punished twice for the same offense. Nearly one-third of the people incarcerated in Washington have at least one juvenile felony offense on their record. Of that group, more than half are people of color, despite Washingtons overall population being 77% white. Many of them came from impoverished communities, in large part because those are the communities where we see over-policing, said Moore, who also leads the Smart Justice policy at the ACLU of Washington.And those are the kids where if they get in a schoolyard fight, its more likely theyre gonna get an Assault III juvenile felony conviction whereas if youre an affluent white kid, youll get sent to therapy. In 2021, Moore approached then-freshman state Rep. David Hackney (D), a former federal prosecutor, to discuss the juvenile history bill. The federal government, like Washington state, uses a determinate sentencing structure and Hackney came to worry that some of the sentences he imposed were draconian, he said in an interview. During a stint as a war crimes prosecutor at The Hague, he saw how other countries sentenced people convicted of serious crimes to significantly less prison time than the U.S. did. Hackney was quickly on board with the bill and gave Moore his word that he would fight to keep it retroactive. In the first two years, the bill never made it to the floor for a vote. This year, organizers worked to mobilize broad support for the bill not just from criminal justice reform advocates but also from labor, tribal and medical groups. They even got the states Superior Court Judges Association to agree not to oppose the bill, Moore said. The state House of Representatives passed the bill in March, with retroactivity intact. I was very hopeful, said Covert, who is now the lead organizer in the Walla Walla State Penitentiary for Look2Justice. A lot of us were very hopeful, sharing the news with our families, sharing it amongst each other, sharing it with even officers here. In late March, after the bill moved to the state Senate, Sen. Jesse Salomon (D) introduced an amendment to remove all retroactive application of the bill. We talked and talked and talked, Hackney said of Salomon, who did not respond to a request for an interview. I all but begged him not to do it. But there are some Democrats, as well as Republicans, who just dont understand sentencing reform. They see people in prison as bad and they should stay in for as long as they possibly can. The amendment passed and suddenly lawmakers appeared set to abandon the incarcerated people who helped bring the bill into existence. Family members of those in prison with juvenile records marched on the Capitol in Olympia, carrying signs demanding retroactivity for their loved ones. But it was too late. The bill passed out of the Senate in April, stripped of retroactivity. Moore was never able to get an explanation from the lawmakers who voted to remove retroactivity. The only answer we really got was that it wouldnt have passed had they not cut retroactivity, she said. But we were never given the opportunity to see the votes for that. We took it hard. We took it as a big middle finger, Covert said. To him, it felt like lawmakers had acknowledged that his sentence was wrong but refused to take steps to fix it. For weeks, he had felt like the deliverer of hope inside a place that usually doesnt have much of that. Now he had to deliver the bad news. Earlier this month, Moore attended the bill signing ceremony with Gov. Jay Inslee (D). David Heppard, the executive director of the Freedom Project who was formerly incarcerated, initially wasnt sure he wanted to attend. He felt uncomfortable celebrating the partial victory. Ultimately he decided to go, wearing a shirt that read, What if the 13th amendment wasnt retroactive? Hackney has already committed to pursuing a bill next year to make the reforms retroactive. Im still trying to instill that sense of hope, Covert said. But its not as powerful as it was before. 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. 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. Kelly Meggs is an Oath Keeper from Florida who pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the U.S. Capitol riot. Florida Oath Keeper chapter leader Kelly Meggs, of Dunnellon, 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. Database: Background on those arrested in connection with assault on U.S. Capitol 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. Marion's Capitol riot cases: Two people sentenced, two await sentencing, two cases pending Fact check roundup: Debunking false narratives about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot two years later A Top 10 list: Florida connections to the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot: A Top 10 list 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." Meggs was charged with: Seditious conspiracy, Conspiracy, Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting; Destruction of Government Property and Aiding and Abetting; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Tampering With Documents or Proceedings Prosecutors said Meggs helped organize the assault on the Capitol. He and his wife, Connie, are accused of being among those inside the building on Jan. 6, 2021. Connie Meggs has not been sentenced. 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. Ocala Star Banner staff contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Oath Keeper Florida chapter leader gets 12 years for Jan. 6 role On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Oath Keepers founder sentenced to 18 years in prison for Jan. 6 The founder of the right-wing militia group Oath Keepers has been sentenced for his role on January 6th. Plus, White House and Republican negotiators get closer to a debt ceiling deal, the Supreme Court sides with a 94-year-old grandmother, USA TODAY Photojournalist Josh Morgan talks about the 'Flags-In' ceremony, and 'The Little Mermaid' is back. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson and this is 5 Things you need to know Friday, the 26th of May 2023. Today, a major January 6th sentencing. Plus, the Supreme Court sides with a grandmother, and we hear from Flags-In Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the right wing militia group Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in prison yesterday. The sentence comes after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6th attack. It's the first sentence passed down to a person found guilty of the rare Civil War era charge linked to the riot. Before the sentence, he addressed the court, calling himself a political prisoner. Judge Amit Mehta, who oversaw the case, rebuked that characterization and said he and others took up arms to instigate a revolution. In tear-filled victim impact statements earlier this week, law enforcement officers and congressional staffers recounted trauma from that day they say will stay with them forever. White House and Republican negotiators are getting closer to a deal to raise the debt ceiling by June 1st, according to a democratic source familiar with the talks. The source said the two sides made progress on annual spending caps, one of the main sticking points while working into the night yesterday. Republicans have pushed for six years of annual limits on discretionary funding while the White House wants just two years. A report from Reuters said President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are now 70 billion dollars apart on discretionary spending. June 1st remains the date that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says is the earliest possible for a potential default. The Supreme Court yesterday unanimously cited with a 94-year-old grandmother who lost her home to foreclosure and then lost the equity she had in the property when the county sold it. A Minnesota County sold Geraldine Tyler's condo for $40,000, and 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. In the opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts held that Tyler had a plausible case that the county violated the constitution's takings clause. As we move toward Memorial Day weekend, ceremonies are being held to remember those killed in service to the country. One of them was the Flags-In ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. I spoke with USA TODAY photojournalist Josh Morgan to learn more. Thanks for hopping on the podcast, Josh. Josh Morgan: Hey, happy to be here. Taylor Wilson: Can you just start by telling our listeners a bit about what the Flags-In ceremony is? Josh Morgan: It's an annual event that happens just before Memorial Day and about a thousand service members from the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, also known as the Old Guard, they place approximately 260,000 American flags on the tombstones of those laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. It's a way of honoring service members for what they've done, the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Taylor Wilson: And Josh, who did you speak with at this year's ceremony? Josh Morgan: I spoke with three folks who are part of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment: Staff Sergeant Gerald Morgan, Staff Sergeant Colin Clancy and Staff Sergeant Robin Barnhill. Staff Sergeant Gerald Morgan, he is part of the Old Guard and he has been in the army for about 12 years. This is his second time participating in the ceremony. And his thoughts and feelings reflected, I think, those of most who were there. Staff Sgt. Gerald Morgan: It makes me feel that I'm giving back as well, giving back some time, respect, gratitude towards these fallen warriors that stand here before us. Josh Morgan: He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and he mentioned to me that there were folks that he deployed with that were there at Arlington and he, second generation Army, his father served for 27 years and last year they laid flags together. And that was just another great story behind why this means so much to him because he said that his father also served with folks who are at the cemetery. It really illustrates why this act is so meaningful for him and I think for a lot of other soldiers as well. Taylor Wilson: Josh, was there any other super moving moment that stood out to you at this ceremony? Josh Morgan: I don't think that I can pick out an individual moment as much as just reflecting on the ceremony as a whole. So, you got a thousands soldiers out there. They have rucksacks full of hundreds of flags. And then what they do is, the flags are supposed to be about a boot's lengths apart from the tombstone, and so they all put their boot up to the tombstone, they put the flag in, and they do it with incredible speed. And so, it's incredible to see just the vast scale of it all. Because if you've ever been to Arlington National Cemetery, it's ginormous, right? There are so many soldiers there. And one of the other soldiers that I spoke with, Staff Sergeant Colin Clancy, he told me that, too, just this overwhelming feeling of being there and being around all of that. Staff Sergeant Colin Clancy: First time I went through and did this, it was very... I almost didn't have words for it. All of us coming out here with the Old Guard, I feel like it's the very least that we can do for these hundreds of thousands of service members that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Taylor Wilson: All right, Josh Morgan talking with us ahead of this Memorial Day weekend. Thanks so much, Josh. Josh Morgan: Thank you. Taylor Wilson: The Little Mermaid is back. Trailer: King Triton: You broke the rules. You went to the above world. Ariel: A man was drowning. I had to save him. King Triton: This obsession with humans has to stop. Ariel: I just want to know more about them. Taylor Wilson: The live action version of Disney's 1989 animated classic hits theaters today. And actress Halle Bailey is a star in the making. She sat down with USA TODAY ahead of the film's release to discuss making the movie and her impact on kids of color as a Black actress starring as Ariel. Halle Bailey: Well, this whole thing honestly keeps me motivated and positive and happy and inspired. But what truly strikes my heart and makes me just cry are seeing the reactions of the babies and the children and the beautiful Black, Brown boys and girls who see themselves in this character in this new version of Ariel. And that honestly is what I focus on, what makes me the happiest. And everyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with kids. I can't wait to have my own. So, these videos just make me bawl immediately and it makes me feel like I've done a good job. And when they're rooting for me, I'm like, "I don't need anyone else to root for me." It makes me feel overjoyed, overwhelmed, excited, grateful. It's a combination of all the feels. I think that it hits me only in certain waves and moments where it feels like real life because, the other day I'm driving down... Was it Sunset? And I see a big billboard and I'm like, "What?" A part of me is like, "This isn't real? Is it really happening?" So, I think there's moments where you go in and out of this dreamlike state. At the core is just the gratefulness that I feel. I went to Disney World. I was there with the Disney Dreamers Academy and I had a blast just talking to the children and teenagers and peers my age. And it was just a wonderful experience. But walking through the park, I had met this beautiful young girl. Her name was Mila Rose, and she didn't say a word, but she hugged me and squeezed me so tight the whole time, and it was just the most endearing moment. And I was in tears because I just felt like this little girl was reassuring me that what I'm doing is making a difference and it's powerful and it's impacting her. And so feeling that hug from her was like receiving all of the flowers in the world that I ever needed. Taylor Wilson: Thanks for listening to 5 Things. We're produced by Shannon Rae Green and our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Special thanks to Cherie Saunders and Alexis Gustin. I'm Taylor Wilson back tomorrow with another episode of 5 Things. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oath Keepers leader sentenced, 'Little Mermaid' returns: 5 Things podcast OKC retained its spot as America's 20th largest city, and just keeps growing. The downtown Oklahoma City skyline in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] Oklahoma City kept its spot as America's 20th largest city for another year and continues to grow, according to 2022 US Census Bureau population estimates. Oklahoma's capital city joined the top 20 largest American cities after 2021 population estimates were released a year ago. Now, it remains there and is also the 6th-fastest-growing top 20 city from 2020 to 2022. More: Celebrate Memorial Day weekend in Oklahoma with festivals, military tributes and fun runs Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt took to Twitter to celebrate that OKC's top 20 placement was "no fluke!" "Just think - One out of every 50 OKC residents did not even live here when the pandemic started," Holt said on Twitter. "Population growth is the ultimate validation and our growth is strong." The U.S. Census Bureau has released its new annual population estimates for cities, and its no fluke! Oklahoma City is still Americas 20th-largest city! pic.twitter.com/d4vqODMlqr Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) May 25, 2023 How fast is Oklahoma City growing? Oklahoma City grew by nearly 2% between 2020 and 2022, adding 13,716 people. And between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses, Oklahoma City was one of 14 American cities that added more than 100,000 people. The top 20 cities that grew the fastest between April 2020 and July 2022 are: Fort Worth , which grew by 3.95% San Antonio , which grew by 2.62% Charlotte , which grew by 2.57% Jacksonville , which grew by 2.23% Phoenix , which grew by 2.20% Oklahoma City , which grew by 1.97% Seattle , which grew by 1.63% Austin , which grew by 1.29% Columbus , which grew by 0.23% Houston, which grew by 0.06% The other half of the top 20 cities New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, Indianapolis, San Francisco and Denver actually declined in population between 2020 and 2022. More: How big is Oklahoma City really, and which 16 other American cities could fit inside it? Splash pads at Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City opened for the season Saturday, May 13, 2023. Holt said in 2022 he believed people are moving to Oklahoma City due to quality-of-life improvements, largely through the Metropolitan Area Projects program that started in 1993 and is on its fourth iteration. Residents and visitors will enjoy a new fairgrounds coliseum, multipurpose stadium, affordable housing, a new civil rights center, diversion programs and youth center through the one-cent MAPS 4 sales tax. "It's a validation of everything we've done," Holt told The Oklahoman in 2022. "Infinite choices that we have made as a community basically boil down to, 'Do you want to live here or not?' And the answer is clearly that people want to live here." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC, America's 20th largest city, one of fastest growing big cities My Old Kentucky Home Id like to thank Jim Hanna for saying the quiet part loud: he thinks the lyrical changes to My Old Kentucky Home have bastardized (his exact word) the song. Does Mr. Hanna a quick Google search reveals he is (of course) a white male long for the good old days when he could sing loudly and proudly about the darkies in Kentucky? Putting the many other concerns with the song aside, as an English professor, he certainly knows at least how language evolves over time. Im sure he also knows how society itself changes, and while perhaps it is not fair to judge our ancestors perspectives and language, it is certainly within bounds to correct words that are unquestionably hurtful today particularly when they are sung in unison by a group of over 100,000 predominantly white people. The argument is in bad faith, and quite frankly, Im baffled as to why the Herald-Leader found it prudent to print the perspective of an older white male on an issue that doesnt remotely affect him. After all, hes more than free to sing the song original words and all as much as hed like in his own house. Aaron Kruse-Diehr, Lexington Hanna got it right Thank you for publishing Jim Hannas thoughtful response to Linda Blackfords latest out-of-touch and angry tirade. Seems weve all become a little too sensitive and quick to criticize these days. Lets devote more time in looking for things to be proud of and less time making up things to be outraged about. Dont we have enough of that already? #BeKind Lynne McNees, Georgetown Smug Jim Hannas smug op-ed revealed more about his psyche than the song My Old Kentucky Home. His self-comforting assignment of fake morality to an important social issue does not leave much room for thoughtful discourse about vestiges of white privilege. Hopefully, the next shibboleth dissected by thoughtful Ms. Blackford will be the humanity of men like Mr. Hanna, whose evolution apparently stopped in 1850. Michael Andrews, Winchester No Parking With the changes to Lexington Meter enforcement to 9 p.m. and weekends, dont sleep on the fact that there is not the required ADA (Americans with Disability Act) mandated requirements for parking. Where is the dignity, empowerment, independence, and inclusion of people with disabilities? In many states, including California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington D.C., Washington State, Texas, and Massachusetts, disabled placard holders can park in any metered space for free for as long as they want. It is beyond time for a re-examination of Lexingtons parking lots, street parking and garages. The ADA is over 30 years old; the parking accessibility guidelines have not been changed since 2010. This was not the intention of the law. This is why other states have adopted much better policy. Lexington and the Parking Authority: it is time to do better. Are you a person with a disability, a veteran, or a senior citizen? Call your council or at-large member (859) 425-2255. The next Parking Authority Board Meeting is June 8, 10 a.m. on the 2nd floor of the County Clerk Building, at 162 East Main Street. MA Isaac, Lexington Real men Soon it will be D-Day, June 6. For those of us old enough to remember, it is a day of intense pride, much sadness and concern. Ask most victims of public education just what happened that day in 1944 and, following a blank stare, they will shrug, look up from their phone toy and grunt something that sounds like dunno. For their benefit, we reveal that this is the day when thousands of American men (mostly boys) began the freeing of Europeans from the grips of national socialism (NAZIS). Many brave American men died that day. Forward to today. The men we held in such esteem have been replaced with something else. The much needed feminist reforms provided women with rights so long denied. But that movement morphed from pro-woman to intense, visceral hatred of anything male. Media, Hollywood and advertising paint men as weak and designate them to diaper changing, asking women to drive them somewhere and grocery shopping for the family. This type of men is accepted. Others who insist on being real men are shamed as sexist, misogynistic ogres. So the question is - Could we amass enough men to save us from the next Adolph Hitler? Wayne Burns, Lexington Gun control What am I, a regular U.S. citizen, doing about the sickening, horrendous gun violence that pervades our nation? I VOTE for Democratic candidates in primary and general elections who favor banning assault weapons and passing sensible gun control laws. The Republican Party does absolutely NOTHING about our serious gun violence problems, even though most Americans want an assault weapons ban and some doable gun control laws. Republican legislators at the local, state, and federal levels are preventing needed gun laws from being passed. The only thing that will get the attention of the do-nothing Republican candidates is to vote them out of office in the next election. Join me and millions of other voters in voting for Democratic candidates who will DO something about our gun violence problems. Paul L. Whiteley, Sr., Louisville Property valuation Kudos to W. R. Torp for his op-ed piece on the methods used by our Property Value Administrator. His examples of newly sold homes being assessed at a higher value than those which havent sold in many years but which are comparable is true in my neighborhood. The problem he describes has huge implications because our community depends on the generated tax revenues to provide the schools our children need to be successful. No one, not even the property owners whose homes have not been reassessed for years, benefits when our children are shortchanged. I urge the Lexington Herald-Leader to investigate this situation further. I doubt I am the only reader of the Sunday paper who would welcome an in-depth story about the assessment practices of our Property Value Administrator, their efficacies or lack thereof, and the resulting revenue impacts. Linda Barnes, Lexington Social in-security To U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) - I am 69 years old and live in Franklin County. I am writing because there are 635,809 Kentucky retirees who depend on their Social Security checks for their daily substance. Social Security is not a bargaining chip to be used to satisfy the desires of your rich donors, nor is it an entitlement. It is money many of us worked 30, 40 and even 50 years to receive. This money belongs to us, yet you and the rest of your kind think it belongs to you. It shows how little you think of us. If you want to cut spending start with your own pocket. Try eliminating all congressional benefits. Eliminate your cushy retirement, your travel and free medical care. Try paying for your own groceries, gas, and utilities. Eliminate your honorariums when you give a speech. Try standing up for justice and the rule of law and punish those who attacked the Capitol with murder in their hearts. Try being a representative, instead of using retirees money to satisfy your donors gluttonous appetite. Damian Beach, Frankfort Television news It is sad that nationally, and especially locally, television news has become little more than fear-factor news with a little feel-goodism at the end. News or intelligent local coverage is almost non-existent, as is investigative news. Pathetic, yet sometimes attractive, talking heads think they are super star entertainers. Their conversations and wit are usually pathetic and their laughs are so artificial. Walter Cronkite would turn over in his grave. No, hed dig down further! Newspapers demise has meant a poor alternative and a dip in personnel thus quality. This has further driven news downward as folks reduce prescriptions. This is a serious loss - especially for citizens to have local coverage of local issues and events. Don Pratt, Lexington Tina Turner Following the death of rock star Tina Turner, local news outlets reported that she performed twice in Lexington at Rupp Arena, in 1985 and 2000. I believe she appeared in Lexington with Ike Turner much earlier than that. I believe she appeared with Ike at The Spider Web nightclub on DeWeese Street in 1959 or 1960. I dont know if there is a written record of this appearance, but perhaps there are those still alive who can verify she was in Lexington long before she became an international star. James B. Todd, Lexington Beshears popularity I found it interesting that the Herald-Leader added popular to the headlines describing Gov. Andy Beshear. I am not sure who decided he was popular, but running for governor is not a high school popularity contest! He is not popular with the elderly in residential facilities who were abused during COVID when Beshear isolated them from their family & friends. He is not popular with those who had a medical diagnosis but were denied treatment at the time (I was diagnosed with breast cancer and was denied surgical treatment, but could have had my baby removed should I have become pregnant and wanted it removed). He is not popular with the people who lost thousands of dollars in wedding plans because they were not allowed to have the wedding! He is not popular with business owners who suffered severe financial losses, some even losing their business! He is not popular with Christians who were denied their constitutional right to assemble because he said so! And he is not popular with parents whose children could not go to school! Popular? Says who??? Pat Bullock, Salvisa Kentucky voting Well Mrs. Joe Craft, welcome to the glass ceiling under the control of the Kentucky Christian, male dominated, women-loving (tongue in cheek), Bible-thumping and freedom-loving MAGA members. Even though you have traveled to countries some cannot pronounce, they have now put you in your proper place to clean, cook and fetch for your significant other!!! Welcome to the new Kentucky. Jim Dunn, Burgin Compiled by Liz Carey One of three vacant Town & Country buildings in Wichita is about to get a new tenant One of Wichitas three vacant Town & Country buildings is about to get a new tenant. Tammy Downing, who for years ran a New York Hot Dog Cart outside of the west-side Lowes, has just taken over the lease on the building at K-42 and Maize Road that Town & Country Classic vacated in October before moving to 2315 W. 21st St. (That location has since closed, and the original Town & Country building at 4702 W. Kellogg has been vacant since August 2021.) Downing plans to open a new restaurant at the K-42 and Maize spot called The Pit Stop Bar & Grill. It should be ready to go in a month or two, she said. The restaurant will feature a menu of things like burgers, hot dogs and roast beef and ham sandwiches. Shell also have different specials every evening: Shes thinking steak night, fish night, Mexican night, pizza night, etc. Itll be a full-service restaurant that will also have a full bar, she said. Shes planning to open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Downing said shes counting on traffic from workers at nearby Cessna. She also plans to target people moving into new housing going up nearby. I want to focus on everyday people, she said. Downing, who started in the food business when she was 11 working at a catering truck, said that shes been eager to get back into it. She ran the cart outside of Lowes for around 18 years, stopping about 10 years ago. Next year, she said, she might try to get the cart back out and set it up downtown. Im excited to get back in the business, and Im nervous at the same time, she said. Theres a lot of red tape involved. But Im aching to get back into it because I feel like thats what I know best. Stay tuned for updates on The Pit Stop Bar & Grill. Im Brian Gordon, reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina. I wanted to start with a quick mention of Canton, North Carolina. The western North Carolina town (about 25 minutes west of Asheville) saw its 115-year-old paper mill shutter this week. Canton was nicknamed Papertown and the mill was the economic engine of the community for generations. Reports describe many local residents in mourning. On Twitter, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers wrote It is with a heavy heart, that I can announce, with confirmation from Evergreen, that the last mill whistle will blow at 12 noon this Wednesday, May 24 #milltownforever. Canton mayor tweet Small banks in a too big to fail world Over a two-week period in March, following the fall of Silicon Valley Bank, Live Oak Bank in coastal Wilmington saw $250 million in deposits leave its accounts, headed for money markets and the handful of larger banks deemed to big too fail. Live Oak is a relatively new, online-only bank thats become the national leader in approving a specific type of loan for small businesses. Small businesses, by nature, have more volatility, so youve got to be able to work with them and be along for that journey, Live Oak President Huntley Garriott said. After a few weeks of falling balances, Live Oak reversed its decline. Today, it even has more in customer deposits than it did before SVB toppled. But its long-term future, like that of all small-to-medium size U.S. banks, is not assured. Community and regional banks have been disappearing in North Carolina, and nationwide, long before most had ever heard of SVB. There were 87 state-chartered banks in April 2003. Ten years ago, there were 71. This year, there are only 35. Thats all according to data from the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks. Live Oak Bank in Wilmington, NC is the fourth largest state-chartered bank in North Carolina and a national leader for funding small businesses. Why do small banks matter? Gerald Cohen, chief economist at UNCs Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, said losing them is deleterious to commercial and industrial loan activity. Garriott said Live Oak will make business loans that dont qualify under the blanket tests used by the too big to fail banks. In some ways, Live Oak seems poised for success. It has $10 billion in assets and has been growing. But banks of its size in North Carolina are slowly becoming endangered, and its a trend thats hard to ignore. First Citizens cuts jobs and sues Silicon Valley Bank was the 16th largest U.S. bank when it collapsed following a bank run in March. Ironically, the 16th largest bank in the country is now Raleighs family-owned First Citizens Bank, which purchased SVB two months ago. First Citizens made two bits of news this week, both SVB-related. First, First Citizens sued rival HSBC for $1 billion, accusing the London-based financial institution of poaching key former SVB bankers. The operation was allegedly dubbed Project Colony, and it featured 42 employees resigning en masse on Easter Sunday. First Citizens is crying foul. HSBC declined to comment. First Citizens Bank is photographed in Raleigh, N.C. on Monday, March 27, 2023. The lawsuit was filed on Monday. Two days later, First Citizens CEO Frank Holding Jr. informed staff in a companywide email that former SVB employees would be laid off, some effective immediately. The bank later told The News & Observer the cuts would affect close to 500 people based across the U.S. Short Stuff: Workers-wanted ads coming to RDU Hitachi Energy, a Swiss-based energy systems provider with U.S. headquarters in Raleigh, is launching an ad campaign at the Raleigh-Durham Airport next month in an effort to fill 200 open local positions. Less than three years ago, the Durham-based gene editing company Life Edit had five local employees. It now has around 70 in the area. After inking a lucrative deal with Novo Nordisk, which could be worth more than $1.92 billion, Life Edit executives believe the firms headcount will approach 100 people by the end of the year. Triangle entrepreneur/investor Bill Spruill (pictured below) donated $900,000 to N.C. State University to help students turn their promising business projects into revenue-generating enterprises. N.C. State is the place where we generate the most promising technology in the state, said local entrepreneur Bill Spruill. National Tech Happenings The Pentagon did not explode this week, but a (likely AI-generated) photo hoax went viral, showing the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters in billows of smoke. Enough people believed it that the Pentagon Force Protection Agency posted on Twitter: There is NO explosion or incident taking place at or near the Pentagon reservation, and there is no immediate danger or hazards to the public. Facebooks parent company, Meta, conducted its fourth round of layoffs since November, with thousands of job cuts focused on business divisions. Netflix has started cracking down on password sharing, limiting accounts to single households. Its a good time to thank your siblings exes parents. Thanks for reading! Fake photo of Pentagon on fire. This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Open Source Do you enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly technology newsletter and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, the founder of ChatGPT and creator of OpenAI gestures while speaking at University College London, as part of his world tour of speaking engagements in London, Wednesday, May 24, 2023.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) LONDON (AP) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Friday downplayed worries that the ChatGPT maker could exit the European Union if it can't comply with the bloc's strict new artificial intelligence rules, coming after a top official rebuked him for comments raising such a possibility. Altman is traveling through Europe as part of a world tour to meet with officials and promote his AI company, which has unleashed a frenzy around the globe. At a stop this week in London, he said OpenAI might leave if the artificial intelligence rules that the EU is drawing up are too tough. That triggered a pointed reply on social media from European Commissioner Thierry Breton, accusing the company of blackmail. Breton, who's in charge of digital policy, linked to a Financial Times article quoting Altman saying that OpenAI will try to comply, but if we cant comply we will cease operating. Altman sought to calm the waters a day later, tweeting: 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. The European Union is at the forefront of global efforts to draw up guardrails for artificial intelligence, with its AI Act in the final stages after years of work. The rapid rise of general purpose AI chatbots like ChatGPT caught EU officials off guard, and they scrambled to add provisions covering so-called generative AI systems, which can produce convincingly human-like conversational answers, essays, images and more in response to questions from users. There is no point in attempting blackmail claiming that by crafting a clear framework, Europe is holding up the rollout of generative #AI, Breton said in his tweet. He added that the EU aims to assist companies in their preparation for the AI Act. Altman tweeted that his European tour includes Warsaw, Poland; Munich, Germany; Paris; Madrid; Lisbon, Portugal; and London. Brussels, headquarters of the EU, has not been mentioned. He has met with world leaders including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also has been crisscrossing Europe this week to discuss AI with officials like Scholz, European commissioners including Breton, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and two EU lawmakers who spearheaded the Parliament's work on the AI rules. Good to discuss the need for responsible regulation and transatlantic convergence on AI, Pichai tweeted. Google has released its own conversational chatbot, Bard, to compete with ChatGPT. Other tech company bosses have been wading into the debate this week over whether and how to regulate artificial intelligence, including Microsoft President Brad Smith, who unveiled a blueprint for public governance of AI on Thursday. Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI and integrated ChatGPT-like technology into its products, including a chatbot for its Bing search engine. Altman told congressional lawmakers this month that AI should be regulated by a U.S. or global agency because increasingly powerful systems will need government intervention to reduce their risks. Altman was mobbed by students when he appeared in a fireside chat at University College London on Wednesday. He told the audience that the right answer to regulating AI is probably something between the traditional European, U.K. approach and the traditional U.S. approach. I think you really dont want to overregulate this before you know what shape the technology is going to be," Altman said. There's still potential to come up with some sort of global set of norms and enforcement," he said, adding that AI regulation has been a recurring topic on his world tour, which has also included stops in Toronto, Rio de Janeiro and Lagos, Nigeria. OpenAI boss Sam Altman says there are 'no plans' to pull ChatGPT from Europe even if new rules curb its use OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he has no plans to take ChatGPT away from Europe. Drew Angerer/Getty OpenAI CEO Sam Altman isn't ready to leave Europe just yet. The ChatGPT boss claims he has no plans to stop operating there after a week meeting with leaders. The comments come despite Altman raising serious concerns about the EU's proposed AI Act. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said he has "no plans" to pull ChatGPT out of Europe, despite warning that proposed EU rules to govern AI could backfire. The OpenAI chief tweeted on Friday that he is keen to keep the chatbot available in Europe after spending the past week meeting several political leaders across the continent including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the impact of AI on society. "Very productive week of conversations in Europe about how to best regulate AI!" Altman tweeted. "We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave." Altman's comments follow his earlier remarks this week suggesting that ChatGPT could be snatched away from Europeans over concerns that the EU's proposed law on AI known as the AI Act could stifle the potential and reach of the popular generative AI chatbot. Altman claimed on Thursday that his company "will try to comply" with rules issued by the bloc, but would "cease operating" if it found it can't, according to the Financial Times. "The details really matter," he said. ChatGPT was temporarily suspended in Italy after regulators raised concerns that the bot used individuals' personal data, contravening Europe's strict privacy rules. Lawmakers have become increasingly vocal about their concerns around AI since the release of ChatGPT in November. Fears around AI's potential to displace jobs and fuel the spread of misinformation have led to calls for a rulebook to be established that governs AI's use. One of Altman's chief concerns with the EU's incoming rules centers on its definition of "high risk" systems, Time reported, as the current proposal could impact ChatGPT. AI systems that "influence voters in political campaigns" would be labeled high-risk AI tools, per the EU. Altman did acknowledge the potential for AI tools like ChatGPT to have an undue influence on elections after making his first appearance before Congress to discuss the potential harms of AI systems. "Outsiders will use them to affect our elections, insiders to manipulate our markets and our political systems. Democracy itself is threatened," he said. OpenAI, which is heavily backed by Microsoft, released ChatGPT to to the public in November 2022, and the app became the fastest-growing internet app in history, netting an estimated 100 million monthly users by January. Its immediate popularity has fueled massive consumer and investor interest in generative AI, as well as concerns from international lawmakers about the technology's potential impact on jobs, elections, and the media. OpenAI did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider The boss of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has been on a global tour to charm national leaders and powerbrokers The boss of OpenAI, the firm behind the massively popular ChatGPT bot, said on Friday that his firm's technology would not destroy the job market as he sought to calm fears about the march of artificial intelligence (AI). Sam Altman, on a global tour to charm national leaders and powerbrokers, said in Paris that AI would not -- as some have warned -- wipe out whole sectors of the workforce through automation. "This idea that AI is going to progress to a point where humans don't have any work to do or don't have any purpose has never resonated with me," he said. Asked about the media industry, where several outlets already use AI to generate stories, Altman said ChatGPT should instead be like giving a journalist 100 assistants to help them research and come up with ideas. ChatGPT burst into the spotlight 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 now uses the firm's technology in several of its products -- sparking a race with Google, which has made a slew of similar announcements. Altman, a 38-year-old emerging star of Silicon Valley, has received rapturous welcomes from leaders everywhere from Lagos to London. Though earlier this week, he seemed to annoy the European Union by hinting that his firm could leave the bloc if they regulate too severely. He insisted to a group of journalists on the sidelines of the Paris event that the headlines were not fair and he had no intention of leaving the bloc -- rather, OpenAI was likely to open an office in Europe in the future. - 'Exhausting' - The success of ChatGPT -- which has been used by politicians to write speeches and proved itself capable of passing tough exams -- has thrust Altman into a global spotlight. "Years from now, reflecting on this will feel very special... but it is also quite exhausting and I hope life calms down," he said. OpenAI was formed in 2015 with investors including Altman and billionaire Twitter owner Elon Musk, who left the firm in 2018 and has repeatedly bashed it in recent months. Musk, who has his own AI ambitions, said he came up with the name OpenAI, invested $100 million in it, was betrayed when the company turned itself from non-profit to profit-making in 2018, and has said Microsoft now effectively runs the company. "I disagree with almost all of that, but I will try to avoid a food fight here," said Altman. "There's got to be more important things than whatever he's going on about." Instead, he wanted to focus on the mission of OpenAI, which he said was to "maximise the benefits" to society of AI and particularly Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) -- the much-vaunted future where machines will master all sorts of tasks, not just one. He conceded that definitions of AGI were "fuzzy" and there was no agreement, but said his definition was when machines could make major scientific breakthroughs. "For me, if you can go figure out the fundamental theory of physics and answer it all, I'll call you AGI," he said. A major criticism of his products is that the firm does not publish the sources it uses to train its models. As well as copyright issues, critics argue that users should know who is responsible for answering their questions, and if those replies used material from offensive or racist webpages. But Altman argued the bottom line was that critics wanted to know whether the models themselves were racist. "How it does on a racial bias test is what matters there," he said, deflecting the idea that he should publish the sources. He said the latest model, GPT-4, was "surprisingly non-biased". jxb/kjm Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said it is coordinating with operators to establish voting sites in around 20 malls across the country for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in October. Most of the malls that we are engaging are large ones that we have. There are around 20 all over the country and hoping we would increase the number in the coming months, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco told CNN Philippines The Source. Laudiangco said less than a million voters will benefit from the mall voting pilot test. The poll body hopes to increase the number of sites to 50 during the midterm elections in 2025. Meanwhile, Laudiangco said the Comelec is fully ready for the village-level polls. Around 92 million ballots were already printed, he noted. The remaining tasks for Comelec is to distribute these along with other election paraphernalia to the regions, as well as train teachers and other personnel who will be serving as electoral board members on Oct. 30. Based on Comelecs latest calendar of activities for the upcoming polls, the filing of certificate of candidacy is on Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, while the campaign period is Oct. 19-28. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI says has no plans to leave Europe By Supantha Mukherjee and Martin Coulter (Reuters) - OpenAI has no plans to leave Europe, CEO Sam Altman said on Friday, reversing a threat made earlier this week to leave the region if it becomes too hard to comply with upcoming laws on artificial intelligence. The EU is working on what could be the first set of rules globally to govern AI and Altman on Wednesday said the current draft of the EU AI Act was "over-regulating". "We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave," Altman said in a tweet on Friday. His threat of quitting Europe had drawn criticism from EU industry chief Thierry Breton and a host of other lawmakers. Altman has spent the past week crisscrossing Europe, meeting top politicians in France, Spain, Poland, Germany and the Britain to discuss the future of AI, and progress of ChatGPT. He called his tour a "very productive week of conversations in Europe about how to best regulate AI!" OpenAI had faced criticism for not disclosing training data for its latest AI model GPT-4. The company had cited a "competitive landscape and safety implications" for not disclosing the details. While debating the AI Act draft, EU lawmakers added new proposals that would force any company using generative tools, like ChatGPT, to disclose copyrighted material used to train its systems. "These provisions relate mainly to transparency, which ensures the AI and the company building it are trustworthy," Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament who is leading the drafting of EU proposals, told Reuters on Thursday. "I don't see a reason why any company would shy away from transparency." CLASH WITH REGULATORS 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 later this year. AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT, backed by Microsoft, has created new possibilities around AI and fears around its potential have provoked excitement and alarm and brought it into conflict with regulators. Reacting to Altman's tweet on Friday, Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak, who has worked closely on the AI draft rules, told Reuters she and her colleagues must stand up to pressure from tech companies. "I hope we continue standing firm, and we will ensure these companies have to follow clear obligations on transparency, security and environmental standards," she said. "Voluntary codes of conduct are not the European way." 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. German MEP Sergey Lagodinsky, who has also worked on the draft AI Act, told Reuters: "I'm happy to hear we don't have to talk the language of threats and ultimatums." "We all have common challenges, but the European Parliament is an ally for AI, not an enemy." OpenAI on Thursday said it will award 10 equal grants from a fund of $1 million for experiments to determine how AI software should be governed and Altman called those grants "how to democratically decide on the behavior of AI systems". (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm, Martin Coulter in London and Foo Yun Chee in Brussels; Additional reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengalaru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Close-up of Sam Altman's face against a black backdrop Sam Altman wants AI regulation. Or does he? Just a few days ago, Sam Altman asked US lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence. We think that regulatory intervention by governments will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful models, he told the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 16. Read more During his testimony, Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, proposed that Congress pass legislation to create a new federal agency to regulate AI. He suggested a licensing regime to determine who can develop and use large language modelslike GPT-4, the one his company createdas well as independent auditing and testing requirements for this software. GPT-4 and its applicationsnamely, the chatbot ChatGPT and image-generator DALL-Ehave made OpenAI the torchbearer in AI and Altman a posterboy for the technology. So, his call for regulation carried weight. Altman enchanted lawmakers in Washington, schmoozing with them at a private event hours before his testimony, which was warmly received for typically tech-skeptical legislators. But Altmans charm offensive didnt translate across the Atlantic. And now his call for regulation has been muddled by the reality that, well, he didnt really want regulation after all. At least, not the kind European Union lawmakers has in mind. Sam Altman thinks the EU is over-regulating AI The European Union is much closer to passing AI legislation than the US. But Altman is not a fan of their proposed legislation. Altman told Reuters on Wednesday (May 24) that the current draft of the EUs AI Act would be over-regulating. The details really matter, Altman told reporters in London. We will try to comply, but if we cant comply we will cease operating. In other words, OpenAI could leave Europe entirely. The AI Act, which has been in the works for two years, would categorize different AI tools based on riskincluding banning those deemed to pose the highest risk. The higher the assessed risk, the more compliance work its makers will have to do to assure the EU its safe. In recent months, as ChatGPT has become a global sensation, lawmakers have added new requirements to the bill, adding liability for the creators of large language models like OpenAIs GPT-4 or Googles PaLM for how people use their models, the Financial Times reported. It would also force companies to publish lists of copyrighted materials that they train their models on. Kim van Sparrentak, a Dutch lawmaker in the European Parliament, said she and her colleagues shouldnt let ourselves be blackmailed by American companies, Reuters reported. Altman, who has been on a whirlwind trip across Europe that started in Lisbon, Portugal, for a secretive Bilderberg Meeting, and took him across Germany, Poland, the UK, Spain, and France, backtracked from his threat to leave Europe on Friday (May 26). Reflecting on the very productive week of conversations, Altman downplayed his previous statements, saying he has no plans to leave Europe. 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 Googles Sundar Pichai has had a different approach Altman wasnt the only AI leader on a European tour this week. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, was also visiting the continent for the same reasonto win favor with EU lawmakers over AI. Pichai has taken a different approach to courting regulator support in Europe, pushing for a stopgap measure called the AI Pacta voluntary agreement for companies developing AI to bridge the gap between the present and when the EUs new law is passed and goes into effect. Its not clear at this time what the pact would entail, but it demonstrates that Pichai and Altman are taking different paths in their approach to quelling the EUs concerns. The reality, however, is simple. As much as technology companies plead with lawmakers to regulate them, they dont really want to be regulated. Why would they? The only time a company asks to be regulated is when it knows that regulation is comingit just wants to be the ones to shape that regulation so it advantages them over competitors. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Sam Altman, chief executive officer (CEO) of OpenAI and inventor of the AI software ChatGPT, joins the Technical University of Munich (TUM) for a panel discussion OpenAI CEO Sam Altman just completed a tour in Africa and Europe promoting his version of AI and AI regulation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose company has become one of the most lucrative ventures for the rollout of artificial intelligence, has also worked to become one of the new figureheads for AI regulation. Its a hard line to walk, and while he managed to make a number of U.S. congresspeople smile and nod along, he hasnt found the same success in Europe. Hes now been forced to clarify what his companys plans are for keeping on outside the U.S. During a stop in London, UK on Wednesday, Altman told a crowd that if the EU keeps on the same tack with its planned AI regulations, it will cause them some serious headaches. He said If we can comply, we will, and if we cant, well cease operating We will try. But there are technical limits to whats possible. Read more Altman rolled back that statement to some degree on Friday after returning home from his week-long world tour. He said that we are excited 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 While the White House has issued some guidance on combating the risks of AI, the U.S. is still miles behind on any real AI legislation. There is some movement within Congress like the year-old Algorithmic Accountability Act, and more recently with a proposed AI Task Force, but in reality theres nothing on the books that can deal with the rapidly expanding world of AI implementation. The EU, on the other hand, modified a proposed AI Act to take into account modern generative AI like chatGPT. Specifically, that bill could have huge implications for how large language models like OpenAIs GPT-4 are trained on terabyte upon terabyte of scraped user data from the internet. The ruling European bodys proposed law could label AI systems as high risk if they could be used to influence elections. Of course, OpenAI isnt the only big tech company wanting to at least seem like its trying to get in front of the AI ethics debate. On Thursday, Microsoft execs did a media blitz to explain their own hopes for regulation. Microsoft President Brad Smith said during a LinkedIn livestream that the U.S. could use a new agency to handle AI. Its a line that echoes Altmans own proposal to Congress, though he also called for laws that would increase transparency and create safety breaks for AI used in critical infrastructure. Even with a five-point blueprint for dealing with AI, Smiths speech was heavy on hopes but feather light on details. Microsoft has been the most-ready to proliferate AI compared to its rivals, all in an effort to get ahead of big tech companies like Google and Apple. Not to mention, Microsoft is in an ongoing multi-billion dollar partnership with OpenAI. On Thursday, OpenAI revealed it was creating a grant program to fund groups that could decide rules around AI. The fund would give out 10, $100,000 grants to groups willing to do the legwork and create proof-of-concepts for a democratic process that could answer questions about what rules AI systems should follow. The company said the deadline for this program was in just a month, by June 24. OpenAI offered some examples of what questions grant seekers should look to answer. One example was whether AI should offer emotional support to people. Another question was if vision-language AI models should be allowed to identify peoples gender, race, or identity based on their images. That last question could easily be applied to any number of AI-based facial recognition systems, in which case the only acceptable answer is no, never. And theres quite a few ethical questions that a company like OpenAI is incentivized to leave out of the conversation, particularly in how it decides to release the training data for its AI models. I would like to see questions like: How should openai release all its training data? Should openai delete every model trained on data without consent? How much should openai pay data creators every time their models are used? How should openai's control structure be changed? Willie Agnew | wagnew@dair-community.social (@willie_agnew) May 25, 2023 Which goes back to the everlasting problem of letting companies dictate how their own industry can be regulated. Even if OpenAIs intentions are, for the most part, driven by a conscious desire to reduce the harm of AI, tech companies are financially incentivized to help themselves before they help anybody else. 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, The Best ChatGPT Alternatives, 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. Alex Cochran, Deseret News It is fitting that the United States today has an all-volunteer armed forces, because a free land ought to be able to easily recruit volunteers to defend something so precious and important. The size and strength of the U.S. military is a testament to its founding principles and liberties. Over the years, a lot of veterans have described the reasons they volunteered to serve. Many admitted that they were afraid of dying in combat. No one ever asked them if they actually considered the odds of dying they just went to fight anyway, Blake Stilwell said, writing for Military.com. We rely on such people in faraway posts and at trouble spots across the globe to protect our way of life and to allow us to continue to prosper. We think of them as conflicts grow around the world, and any breach of the NATO line could trigger wider wars. We think of them as tensions grow over Taiwan and as terrorists threaten to strike at random times and in random places. We ought to regard them with reverence and honor always. Regardless of why they signed up, these are they who, in the words of America the Beautiful, more than self their country loved. This Memorial Day comes in a year that marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the draft. Some have argued that its time to bring it back; that the lack of a draft has made wars easier to wage and has created inequities between the makeup of the armed forces and that of society at-large. Related The arguments are compelling, until you dig a bit deeper. Even under a draft, the armed forces were inequitable. This was especially stark during the Vietnam War when more than 500,000 people were classified as draft dodgers, according to numerous sources. Morale was low at the time, just as casualties were high. Through the ages, the wealthy sought for ways out, including unjustified medical exemptions, while the poor tended to have few alternatives. The nations first draft was during the Civil War. Wealthy draftees at the time could pay someone to substitute for them, or they could pay $300 for an exemption. In a piece written for the Foundation for Economic Education, Brian OBrien argued that a volunteer force leads to fewer casualties than a conscripted force because the nation has an interest in sustaining recruitment. Americans have different reasons for volunteering to serve, but going overseas to be used as cannon fodder is not one of them, he wrote. This is true, unless the situation is so dire that the nation has no choice. Americans should be thankful that the past half-century has not presented that kind of existential conflict. They should be glad that a volunteer force has more than capably defended the country. As of last year, the nation had 1.3 million active duty personnel, according to usafacts.org. That is a sign of a healthy democracy. But it does not diminish the role of countless brave inductees through history in any way. Americas hallowed military cemeteries are filled with the remains of hundreds of thousands, both those who were drafted to the cause and those who volunteered. They all had dreams of growing old, enjoying careers, marriage and family, but the cause of freedom required them to fight and, in too many cases, to give up their lives. Well over 600,000 soldiers have died in conflicts since the end of the Revolutionary War. Regardless of how they ended up in war, each of these is a hero. They didnt shirk when called. Each deserves the utmost respect and veneration, not only on Memorial Day but always. Today, recruitment is down, just as overall volunteerism is down nationwide. It may be the result of the global pandemic. We hope it doesnt signal a long-term trend. Pew Research Center says there are 19 million veterans in the United States, which is less than 10% of the population. Various sources put the number of WWII vets at between 100,000 and 180,000, and dwindling fast. The nation has much to learn from these brave men and women. Stilwell of Military.com said these falling numbers make it even more imperative to remember the wars fought, to remember the Americans who died and are unable to tell their stories. We wish their stories were the last ones of heroic sacrifice that ever would be needed, but freedom will always require the brave and the selfless to respond when needed. An American Medical Response vehicle drives in San Francisco, Monday, May 22, 2023. Lawyers sued medical transport provider American Medical Response West, saying the ambulance company's lax oversight allowed a paramedic to sexually assault two women in their 80s on their way to a hospital. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A man died while waiting over a half-hour for an ambulance after being struck by a hit-and-run driver last month, according to emergency dispatch logs, an incident that Portland firefighters say highlights their frustration at a lack of available ambulances to respond to emergency calls. The Bureau of Emergency Communications 911 dispatch log was obtained by KGW-TV through a public records request. It revealed that American Medical Response, the private provider contracted by Multnomah County, was operating at level zero a code meaning there are no ambulances available to respond to an emergency call. More and more, day after day, were seeing this level zero pop up, and as firefighters were getting frustrated, Isaac McLennan, president of the Portland Fire Fighters Association, told KGW-TV. This is a highly dangerous situation and it should be unacceptable not only just for firefighters, it should be unacceptable for everybody who lives in this community. Shortly after midnight on April 28, both firefighters and an ambulance crew were dispatched to the accident scene in northeast Portland. Police said it appeared the man, who has not been publicly identified, was attempting to cross the street in a wheelchair when he was hit. The man was still alive when firefighters arrived, but 911 dispatchers repeatedly told them that American Medical Response was operating at level zero, according to dispatch logs. The firefighters worked to stabilize the man in the road while waiting for an ambulance. The logs show the initial dispatch went out at 12:10 a.m. Firefighters arrived at 12:14, and an ambulance got there at 12:42. The ambulance left the scene five minutes later, as a hospital transport was no longer necessary because the man had died. McLennan told KGW-TV there was no practical way firefighters could have taken the man to the hospital themselves as it was clear he needed an ambulance. Global Medical Response, the parent company of American Medical Response, said in a statement to KGW-TV that the incident is still under review by the company as well as by county emergency officials. The safety of our patients is always our top priority. American Medical Response is committed to responding to all calls in a timely manner, it said. Official in Multnomah County, which is home to Portland, have said ambulances should arrive to 90% of emergency calls within eight minutes. However KGW-TV reported that during a five-month period ending in February, that mark was missed about a third of the time. Orlandos Come out With Pride celebration is happening no matter what, organizers say This years Come Out With Pride event in Downtown Orlando is moving forward, despite similar events being canceled in parts of Central Florida. Organizers told Channel 9 that no matter what, the Downtown Orlando Come Out With Pride celebration will happen in October. Despite the safety concerns some members of the LGBTQ+ community have ahead of the popular parade and festival, others said no amount of hate and bigotry will stop them from celebrating who they are. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< All of this hate from people threatening us and saying things like, you know, kill all gays, the fear is there, said Orlando physician Irfan Murgasen. I am a business owner here in Orlando, I focus on transgender patients, as well as anyone else in the community for aesthetic needs. I am not changing anything that Im doing. Murgasen said he thinks it is a mistake for communities to cancel Pride events and that doing so gives in to the pushback, and that hes going to Orlandos event this year louder and even prouder than before. Mother of two, Jenny Strickland said she supports the community but wants to see what happens before October and added that like any large event, shell be cautious. Read: Study: Most Orange County residents feel safe at home, but that number is dropping Im not sure if Ill come, Strickland said. I keep my eyes open for is there a way to escape if we needed to? Is there a place that we would go underneath? Organizers said they have been in contact with the city, county and Orlando police. OPD told Channel 9 that its not aware of any current threats, and Pride will be assessed and evaluated to determine what kind and level of security is needed as the event draws near. Read: Tina Turner cause of death: The singer talked about kidney issues months before her death The main thing that I would want to look into beforehand is what type of security measures are being taken for things like Pride or anything else thats LGBT related, Murgasen added. We have to lead by example, especially for the people that are younger children. You know, theyre going to look to us to see how to act. Organizers said that Pride is still six months away and said a lot can happen with laws and bans that could target the LGBT community so theyre moving cautiously around planning. Read: Be part of her world: Ariel from live-action The Little Mermaid greets guests at Hollywood Studios 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. Orlando Police said an armed robber, who threatened a convenience store clerk with a gun, was arrested Thursday. Police said there were no injuries. Read: Teen arrested after deadly shooting outside Orlando attraction, police say According to the press release, Luis Omar Ubiles, 43, was taken into custody by the Orlando Violent Crimes Detectives. He fled the scene at S. Westmoreland Drive on May 3. Ubiles held the clerk up with the handgun and demanded money, then ran from the scene, investigators said. Read: Tina Turner cause of death: The singer talked about kidney issues months before her death Ubiles was charged with armed robbery. He is being held in Orange County Jail. 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. Otis Taylor gets diploma 57 years after he was kicked out for his hair When he was 17 years old and in his senior year at a Denver high school, Otis Taylor was told to "cut your hair or leave." So, Taylor left and became a renowned blues artist. Now, more than half a century later, he finally got his long-awaited diploma. A clipping of The Denver Post shows a 14-year-old Otis Taylor with his banjo. / Credit: Otis Taylor Taylor, now 74, was born in Chicago and grew up in Denver, Colorado. By the time he got to Manual High School in the '60s, racial discrimination in public schools was not uncommon and there were no laws preventing officials from making decisions based on his or other Black students' hair. It wasn't until recent years that the CROWN Act, which stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair" and bans hairstyle and texture-based discrimination, has made headway in states and in Congress. At that time, he told CBS News Colorado, he had a "James Brown haircut." "You can have all you want on the top, but you had to be clean on the sides," he said. "The whole school district was coming down on people who didn't look how they wanted you to look." And he wasn't willing to give up his freedom of style, so when officials gave him the ultimatum, he left, on a mission to "figure out how to do my music." "I remember that day thinking, 'Oh, I'm out of school!'" he recalled. So he ventured off to California where his dad lived. A few years and a trip to London later, he got a contract with Blue Horizon Records, according to his website. But he soon ended up back in Boulder, where he has been playing music on and off ever since, earning coveted fellowships, awards and dedicated fans. And last week, he finally got a recognition that's been lingering just out of reach for decades his high school diploma. Otis Taylor finally received his high school diploma more than half a century after he was expelled over his hair. / Credit: CBS "Today is a day we rectify the failures of the past," Auon'tai Anderson, Denver School Board vice president, said at the graduation ceremony. "I know what Otis experienced, along with others, will no longer happen again in the State of Colorado." And while getting the diploma was a happy occasion, Taylor told CBS Colorado that his life has been too good to regret or dwell on what happened all those decades ago. "That wrong happened a long time ago. Being a Black man in America, I'm going to deal with wrongs," he said. "My kids went to college. My wife loves me, we've been married for 37 years. How can I regret?" So what comes next for Taylor? He offered a hint on his band's Facebook page. "Now that I have a diploma, maybe I can apply to the Berkley School of Music [sic]." 900-pound baby elephant plays in bubble bath Target pulls some LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise after backlash The best destinations for family trips abroad By Asif Shahzad and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday appealed for immediate talks with state officials, as pressure increased on him amidst a crackdown on his top aides and supporters that has seen thousands arrested as well as many leaving his party. Khan has been embroiled in a tussle with the military since he was removed from power last year in a parliamentary vote that he says was orchestrated by the country's top generals. The military denies this. The stand-off intensified when earlier this month Khan's supporters were involved in violent protests following his brief arrest on May 9. "I would like to appeal for talks, because what is currently happening is not a solution," Khan said in a live talk streamed on YouTube, warning that the country was headed towards anarchy. The political unrest has worsened as Pakistan faces its worst economic crisis in decades. Inflation is at record highs, economic growth is anaemic, and there are fears that the country could default on external debts unless the International Monetary Fund unlocks delayed disbursements. PARTY RESIGNATIONS Most of Khan's top aides were arrested a shortly after his supporters stormed and set ablaze a number of military installations across the country. Many have been released and shortly after announced their resignations from Khan's party. Dozens of other mid-tier leaders have also left. Khan said they were being made to resign under duress in a bid to weaken him and dismantle his party. He distanced his party from the attacks on military installations during the unrest that followed his arrest and reiterated a called for an investigation to determine who was involved. Khan's party members have said they were leaving of their own free will. Many of them cited concerns for their family and health. The former premier, however, struck a defiant tone, warning that his party's popularity was only rising because of the crackdown and would still win an election whenever it was held. He said he only wanted to talk to take the country out of the current crisis. A national election is scheduled to be held by November, and polls show Khan remains the country's most popular leader. Khan had said earlier this week that he would set up a committee to hold negotiations. He says previous attempts to speak to the country's powerful generals had gone unanswered. The civilian government, a coalition of his political rivals, has not indicated that it was willing to talk as the crackdown on his party continued. MILITARY COURTS The appeal for talks came as the pressure mounted on his party and supporters, 33 of whom been handed over to the army to face trial in military courts on charges of attacking armed forces' installations, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Friday. The 33 accused are among the thousands detained since Khan's May 9 arrest sparked violent protests across Pakistan. Khan was arrested on graft charges, which he denies, and was subsequently released on bail. "The accused who are being handed over to the military are those who trespassed and entered very sensitive defence installations," Sanaullah told a press conference in Islamabad. He said only those involved in breaching out-of-bounds areas would face trial under army laws, suggesting there would not be mass trials in military courts. But in response to a question, he also suggested that Khan could also be tried in a military court, saying: "as far as my own assessment and the evidence we have... this man is the architect of all this mess and planning, so yes he comes under this category." Rights groups have raised concerns over military trials of civilians, saying they cannot ensure a fair trial. Such courts are closed to outsiders and the media. The minister said after a verdict from the military courts the accused would have a right to appeal to a high court and then the Supreme Court. (Reporting by Asif Shahzad, writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Alex Richardson) Pakistan to try 33 supporters of former Premier Imran Khan in military courts over recent violence Paramilitary troops and police officers stand guard outside a court where Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan is appeared in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Khan on Tuesday pressed his legal battle before a court in the capital, Islamabad, which granted him protection from arrest until early next month in several cases where he faces terrorism charges for inciting violence. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistans government said Friday that 17 more supporters of Imran Khan would be tried in military courts over recent anti-government violence, bringing the overall number of followers of the former prime minister facing military tribunals so far to 33. The development comes amid a government crackdown on Khans opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its supporters over the violent demonstrations that followed Khan's arrest earlier this month in Islamabad. For days, Khan's followers attacked public property and military installations across the country. The violence subsided only after Khan was released on orders of Pakistan's Supreme Court. At least 10 people were killed in clashes between Khan's supporters and police. Interior Minister Rasan Sanaullah Khan, who is not related to the former premier, said that only 33 suspects have been selected for military trials although police arrested nearly 5,000 of Khan's supporters over the past two weeks. The minister said about 80% of those detained were released on bail pending trials in civilian courts. He also denounced Imran Khan, a crocket star turned Islamist politician, saying that as opposition leader, he was the mastermind of the violent attacks on military installations." We have evidence to back it up, the minister said without elaborating. Khan himself faces more than 100 legal cases, including on graft charges during his 2018-2022 term as premier, and has also been charged with terrorism for inciting people to violence. In courts, he has won protection from arrest in multiple cases, pending trial. On Thursday, Khan proposed talks between the government and his party with the aim to end the ongoing political turmoil. The government has not responded to the offer. On Friday, Khan claimed that several of his party officials and lawmakers have quit at gunpoint and have not left his camp because of the rioting by his supporters, as some have said. Separately from the political turmoil, Pakistan is also struggling with an unprecedented economic downturn. Talks between the government of Khan's successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the International Monetary Fund for the revival of the $6 billion bailout package have been on the hold since December. Khan has claimed that his April 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote in Parliament was illegal and a conspiracy by Sharif, Washington and the military to discredit him. All three have denied the allegations. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) Former Charge d'Affaires to Syria Alex Lamadrid on Friday said he was unaware of a case filed by several Filipino human trafficking victims against him and other embassy officials for alleged neglect. "If the case has been filed recently, I haven't been informed about it yet officially until now," Lamadrid said. Migrante International earlier claimed over 20 Filipino women who were victims of human trafficking in Syria filed complaints of gross negligence, abuse of authority, and failure to protect their rights and welfare before the office of the Ombudsman, but did not specify when. The supposed complainants were part of a group of more than 50 Filipino women human trafficking victims in Syria who were repatriated between 2020 and 2021. Sen. Risa Hontiveros led an inquiry on the matter in 2021. She said corrupt immigration officers were collecting 50,000 from human traffickers for each woman they allow to go to Syria. It was during this inquiry that the women claimed the Philippine Embassy in Damascus had neglected them, and that it did not help them leave the country. "In March 2020 to Sept 2020, there was a lockdown, the airport was closed (re-opened only by Sept 15, 2020) & the Syrian Immigration officials resumed processing of exit permits only thereafter, Lamadrid countered. In its statement, Migrante also claimed the trafficked women sought refuge at the Embassy but "were confined in the basement of the Embassy Shelter and made incommunicado from their families for a period of one to two years." According to Lamadrid, it was standard operating procedure for the women to surrender their cellphones for safekeeping but said these were returned after they protested. "While the shelter is indeed located in the basement of the embassy, the wards are not restricted in their movementthey were free to go around the embassy premises. In fact, they were given swimming lessons in the Embassy pool in the summer months," Lamadrid added. "They also interacted with FilCom during meetings, commemorative events like Philippine holidays, as well as Christmas and other parties organized by Filcom with the Embassy." Migrante said some of the victims were even returned to their abusive employers or recruitment agencies. At least one allegedly experienced verbal sexual harassment while under the custody of the embassy in Damascus, it added. "Many of them had been detained in jails in Syria without being assisted or visited by a representative of the Philippine Embassy," the group said. In response, Lamadrid said: "Our officers and staff, including myself, visited them and arranged for the release of Filipinas who were imprisoned." "I'm not aware of any instance of 'verbal sexual abuse' against any ward of the shelter when I was in Damascus PE," he added. A passenger was arrested after opening a plane door while it was coming in to land, reports say The incident occurred on an Asiana Airlines Airbus A321. Getty Images An Asiana Airlines passenger opened a door as the plane made its approach to land, reports say. A man was arrested after the flight landed safely at an airport in South Korea, CNN reported. Some passengers were taken to hospital after hyperventilating, per CNN. An airline passenger was reportedly arrested after opening a plane's door as it descended into an airport in South Korea Friday. Multiple local outlets reported the story and a video of the incident was posted online showing wind whipping through the cabin. The plane was an Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 from Jeju Island to Daegu International Airport with 194 passengers on board, per CNN. Asiana Airlines and South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. An Asiana Airlines representative told CNN that the door appeared to have been opened by a passenger when the plane was about 700 feet from the ground. Some passengers tried to stop the man from opening the door but he eventually partially succeeded, the Transport Ministry told ABC News. The plane landed safely, according to local media. However, 12 people suffered minor injuries from hyperventilation and nine were taken to hospital, the Daegu Fire Department told CNN. The Daegu Fire Department could not immediately be reached for comment by Insider. The passenger was arrested shortly after the plane landed, several outlets reported. Asiana Airlines told BBC News that police had begun an investigation into the incident. Last year, there were multiple reports of unruly passengers attempting to open plane doors. In one incident that occurred during a Southwest flight, the passenger said "Jesus told her to open the plane door." Read the original article on Business Insider After an incident of a child struck by a car, Highland Police are reminding all residents to exercise caution as the summer months approach. Highland Police reminded motorists, parents and children alike that schools are letting out for the summer and warm, sunny weather means children running outside. Be mindful of your actions, either behind the wheel, motorcycle, bicycle or crossing the roadways, the alert read. Our goal is to keep everyone safe, but we cannot do it alone. Remember to slow down and look both ways while crossing the street. The alert was issued in light of recent motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians. Highland Police Chief Carole Presson clarified that there was an incident involving a child, but said she could not release any more specific information because of the age of the child. She did add that there were no serious injuries, but the department wanted to run a public service announcement for the good of the community. SafeKids Worldwide did a study on child pedestrian injuries in 2019 and found that there were more than 15,000 child pedestrian injuries that year, of which 359 were fatal. While the rate of pedestrian deaths among children has decreased by 67% from 1994 to 2019, boys make up two-thirds of the fatal injuries and Black children are more than twice as likely to die than white children. The highest rates were among children older than 12, and 69% occurred in the road at a non-intersection location. Elsewhere in the metro-east, tragedy has already struck. A 15-year-old was killed and his 13-year-old passenger was injured when a motorcycle failed to stop at an intersection and struck a pickup truck in Richland County on Monday, according to the Illinois State Police. This story was produced in partnership with the Global Reporting Centre. MONACA, Pa. Shell has agreed to pay $10 million to Pennsylvania for exceeding emissions limits during the troubled launch of its massive new plastics plant in Beaver County. The sum includes a nearly $5 million civil penalty and another $5 million to fund local environmental projects. With this agreement, the Department of Environmental Protection is taking steps to hold Shell accountable and protect Pennsylvanians constitutional right to clean air and water while encouraging innovation and economic development in the Commonwealth, said acting Secretary Rich Negrin. The ethane cracker, as the plant is called, is a 384-acre-wide industrial complex that heats ethane a byproduct of fracking in the region and cracks it under high pressure into ethylene to produce polyethylene pellets, a building block for plastic. Image: The Royal Dutch Shell plant in Beaver County, Pa. (Hannah Rappleye / NBC News) It officially switched on last November, with an interim permit that allows it to emit a yearly total of 516 tons of volatile organic compounds chemicals such as benzene, toluene and naphthalene, which are linked to a range of adverse health effects, from respiratory irritation to nerve damage. But state records show that before operations even began, Shell had exceeded its 12-month VOC emissions ceiling due in part to flaring events when excess gasses are burned off instead of released into the atmosphere. Its not normal to look up in the sky and see flames, said local resident Hilary Flint, 31. The sky has been a completely different color since theyve become operational. Hilary Flint. (Katarina Sabados / Global Reporting Centre) The enforcement action comes three weeks after NBC News and the Global Reporting Centre first started asking Shell and DEP questions about the plant, and not long after environmental advocacy groups sued Shell over its excess emissions. The agencys consent order details a range of violations. In addition to repeatedly breaching emissions limits for VOCs, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hazardous air pollutants otherwise known as air toxics DEP cited a slew of malfunctions at the plant dating back to June 2022. In late March, Shell had temporarily halted operations at the plant to conduct repairs and, as part of the consent order, work at the plant can restart effective immediately. But according to the terms of the agreement, it may be months before Shell is in compliance with its emissions limits. If my car doesnt pass inspection, Im not really allowed to drive that car, said James Fabisiak, director of the Center for Healthy Environments & Communities at the University of Pittsburgh. Theres no negotiation about well, Ill get my snow tires next week. The $10 million agreement doesnt preclude DEP from fining Shell for future violations, but Fabisiak said that while its good that DEP has taken enforcement action, he is concerned that Shell is being allowed to restart operations even though the company anticipates being in violation of its rolling 12-month emissions limits into fall 2023, according to the agreement. Generally speaking, Fabisiak said, Its cheaper for industry to pay the penalty, pay the fine, to be allowed to continue to pollute. A Shell spokesperson said, Weve worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) to fix the issues that led to prior violations, and Shell Polymers Monaca (SPM) is resuming production as a result. Weve learned from previous issues and remain committed to protecting people and the environment, as well as being a responsible neighbor. At first I was happy theyre being held accountable, said Flint, who lives in Enon Valley, Pa. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is just putting a price on our lives. A burn pit To date, Shell has submitted 43 malfunction reports to DEP. And since the plant became fully operational in November, state records show the agency has dealt 11 notices of violation to the company, nearly all due to excess emissions. Local environmental activists and residents have been sounding the alarm for months, and for some, the civil penalty is a complicated victory. I think it is really the bare minimum, said Anais Peterson, 25, an organizer with Eyes on Shell, a local, citizen-led advocacy group that has been pushing for more transparency about, and regulation of, the plants emissions. Anais Peterson and Andie Gray. (Katarina Sabados / Global Reporting Centre) How much wiggle room are we giving them? Peterson said. If Shell has said, We cant operate in compliance, the DEP should say, Then youre not operating. In Beaver County, forested hills frame towns tightly packed along the banks of the Ohio River and its tributaries. At night, an eerie, sometimes orange glow from the Shell cracker beams through the sky, visible for miles. In February and March, two separate, dramatic flaring events occurred as residents were already struggling to cope with a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio just a half-hour away that ignited a toxic inferno. Plumes of black smoke and orange fire billowed from the crackers stacks for hours. Portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train burns after a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio (Gene J. Puskar / AP file) I feel like were kind of next to a burn pit, said Rachel Eshom, a 38-year-old registered nurse who lives roughly two miles from the Shell plant. Residents of the Ohio River Valley, which includes swaths of Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania, are no strangers to pollutive industry and catastrophic environmental events. Before the train derailment, a chemical fire in 2019 forced residents to shelter in place, and a natural gas pipeline explosion in 2018 destroyed one home and prompted evacuation of 25 others. Eshom said she and her husband have experienced headaches and a burning sensation in their eyes when driving past the plant. She wants to move farther away but doesnt know where to go. Its just pollution everywhere, she said. Rachel Eshom. (Katarina Sabados / Global Reporting Centre) Communities that host petrochemical plants in Louisiana and on the Texas Gulf Coast have experienced hazardous levels of air pollution, accidents and industrial waste spills, including spills of the so-called "nurdles," or tiny plastic pellets, that crackers produce. In 2022, Shell and one of its contractors were forced to pay a $670,000 civil penalty for spilling industrial waste along Shells 97-mile stretch of pipeline, built to supply ethane to the cracker. A Shell spokesperson said the company cooperated with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies and affected communities to ensure Falcon was constructed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Over the past decade, state leaders in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania have pursued the plastics industry as a way to breathe economic life into the region, offering multinational companies more than a billion dollars in tax breaks and other subsidies to draw in plastics manufacturing projects. Shell said it planned to create just over 600 permanent jobs. Data obtained by the Global Reporting Centre through a public records request shows that 457 full-time employees worked at the plant as of early 2022. Shell said it could not provide updated employment numbers. Beaver County Commissioner Daniel Camp expressed support for the cracker during its construction and believes it will ultimately benefit the region. But since it turned on, he said hes heard regularly from residents who are concerned about air quality. The one thing that we need to do moving forward is making sure that our state and federal leaders hold them accountable, Camp said. Do I believe $10 million is going to do any damage to Shell as a whole? Absolutely not. Its a slap on the wrist. But its in the right direction. The Beaver County Chamber of Commerce declined a request for an interview but said, We have always believed that the growth of industry through businesses like Shell is vital and important for our county. You shouldnt be having all these problems Petrochemical plants often conduct controlled burning of flammable gas, called flaring, to get rid of unwanted waste or to release pressure in the event of a safety concern or an emergency. But flares can also spew large amounts of methane, benzene and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Richard Corsi, an environmental engineer and dean of the Engineering College at the University of California Davis, said flaring is a necessary evil. Corsis research focus is indoor air pollution, and he has previously done emissions-related research funded by both Shell and BP. Flares are kind of this emergency response to, Weve got a problem, weve got to start burning stuff, he said. The hope is that youre not forming lots of bad pollutants, but you always form some pollutants when you combust. According to Wednesdays consent order, the cracker plant had nine flaring violations between June 23, 2022 and April 5, 2023. The Breathe Cam captured the moment on the evening of March 14, 2023 when Shell activated flares, causing an orange glow visible around the plant. (CMU Create Lab / Breathe Project) Corsi said that the biggest air quality concerns posed by flaring events are the release of particulate matter, VOCs and thermal nitrogen oxide, because nitrogen oxide and VOCs mix to form ozone when exposed to sunlight, which can create increased risk of respiratory issues. According to DEP, Shell simultaneously violated its rolling 12-month limits of both VOCs and nitrogen oxide from December 2022 through April 2023. It also violated its rolling limit for carbon monoxide in February, March and April. The engineering that goes into these plants is pretty sophisticated, he said. If you do it right, you shouldnt be having all these problems. Jim Zhang, an air pollution and environmental health expert at Duke Universitys Nicholas School of the Environment, said that flaring poses a particular risk for valley communities, like those in Beaver County, where air temperature inversions are common. Inversions happen when air is trapped near the earths surface, preventing pollutants from dispersing as they normally would. Its like a tent, and they come and put a lid on top of it, Zhang said. Burn or emit anything, Zhang added, and high levels of pollution can accumulate. Thats of particular significance, given southwest Pennsylvanias existing air pollution burden, said Fabisiak. The Pittsburgh metropolitan area currently ranks among the worst in the nation for particle pollution, although air quality has improved significantly in the past two decades, according to the American Lung Association. In most cases, when those sites get permitted for their air quality plans, cumulative effects are not necessarily taken into account very well. In other words, its only that one specific source that gets looked at, and not really in the context of all of the other sources that might be available around it at the time, said Fabisiak. I had to make sure it was real The cracker plant had a series of malfunctions this spring, as residents and activists pressed DEP to step in. By February, Shell had exceeded various emissions limits for five months in a row. When black smoke was seen spewing from the stacks for several hours later that month, environmental groups asked DEP to temporarily halt operations at the cracker. The agency denied the request, writing that it was not giving Shell a pass for these violations but that because of ongoing evaluations and inquiries, it could not commit to specific enforcement measures at that time. In March, a dramatic video taken by a resident showed hoses spraying down the side of a flaring smokestack as flames billowed out. I had to pull over and make sure it was real, the resident said in the video. How much more can they get away with? Shell later announced that it was shutting down portions of the plant to conduct repairs, and in a letter to DEP acknowledged that it had found a construction error partly responsible for the incident. The floors of the flaring structure had been built 2-4 inches lower in places than designed. After a malfunction released benzene at the crackers wastewater storage facility in April, causing a chemical odor to spread over part of Beaver County, Shell held a community meeting with residents to address the recent issues, its first since August 2022. Bill Watson, the plants general manager, said there were no reported injuries to workers or to the community because of these violations. But that being said, no violation is acceptable. In a statement to NBC News before the penalty was announced, a Shell spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation with environmental groups but said the cracker plant is a unique asset, as are the complications that have surfaced there as part of startup all related to the complexities of commissioning brand new systems and equipment that make up one of the largest construction projects in the country. Throughout construction and now in operations, the safety of people and the environment remain our top priorities. At that time, DEP had fined Shell twice for emissions-related violations at the cracker plant, in the amounts of $10,000 and $4,313. A DEP representative said, While it is not unusual for any new facility to have some technical issues during its start-up phase, operators are required to comply with Pennsylvanias environmental laws, regulations, and any environmental permits issued to the operator. That ship is sinking As part of an agreement with environmental groups that challenged Shells air permit when the plant was still being built, the company installed a network of air monitors around the perimeter of the site, which continuously sample the area for VOCs. Shell is also required by the state to report emissions as part of its air permit. But Shells network of monitors doesnt allow residents to get real-time information about the concentration of pollutants in the air at any given moment. Days pass before the data is made public. A number of residents have installed their own monitors at home. PurpleAir monitors are low-cost air quality sensors that measure levels of particulate matter and VOCs in real time. The data is sent to a publicly accessible map, viewable by anyone. So far, 25 monitors have been deployed in the area as part of a campaign led by Mark Dixon, a Pittsburgh-based filmmaker and environmentalist. Mark Dixon. (Katarina Sabados / Global Reporting Centre) Putting monitors where people are feels like a common-sense practice, especially in the context of an unequal relationship between Shell and nearby residents, Dixon said. Our leaders have hitched our economic wagon to this highly polluting, accident-prone industry, said Dixon. And we are going to reap the consequences of that unless we push back, keep a close eye on whats going on, and try to hold them to account as best we can. While the monitors are not regulatory grade, in combination with other information like daily weather forecasts and observations of smells and visible emissions they can help paint a more complete picture for residents who want to know whats in the air before going outside. What people can do is say, Hey, you know, I should really close the windows, close the doors, Zhang said. Clifford Lau, a 67-year old chemist and Eyes on Shell volunteer, periodically samples the air around the plant for VOCs. Laus monitoring is part of an Eyes on Shell effort partially funded by the EPA to independently track air quality. Lau said that while exceeding permitted pollutant levels is problematic, he is more worried about the public health risks posed by the particular cocktail of chemicals released at a given time. The cracker emits various pollutants consistently as part of its regular operations, including carcinogens like benzene and 1-3 butadiene. What effect does that mixture have on the public? Lau said. They become guinea pigs, in essence, to find out. Lau said hes concerned that the region risks turning into Cancer Valley, a reference to southern Louisianas Cancer Alley, an 85-mile corridor of petrochemical plants along the Mississippi River where the EPA has said residents suffer from high rates of cancer and other adverse health effects linked to pollution. What these people are being exposed to here is a low level, but 24/7, 365, he said. Clifford Lau. (Katarina Sabados / Global Reporting Centre) As Eyes on Shell watchdogs continue to test the air quality, hold community meetings and report potential permit violations, some residents contemplate if they can keep living in the plumes of the Shell cracker. Sharon Kessler, 66, who lives on a hill roughly four miles from the plant, worries for her grandchildrens future and what could happen if they stay in the area. Living next to that its like being on the Titanic, and youre locked on the bottom deck, Kessler said, as she pointed in the direction of the cracker. That ship is sinking. The Global Reporting Centre is an independent and not-for-profit newsroom focused on collaborative approaches to global journalism. The GRCs work on this article was supported with funding from the Park Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Andrea Crossan and Britney Dennison of the GRC provided editorial support. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Pennsylvania nurse is facing murder charges after prosecutors say she killed two patients and seriously injured a third person last year. Heather Pressdee, 40 was disciplined or fired from a dozen places of employment over her career before she started working at Quality Life Services, a nursing facility in Butler County, Pennsylvania, according to court records. Pressdee was charged with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, and three counts of reckless endangerment in connection to the incidents that took place over a four-month period, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Thursday. Prosecutors said Pressdee, a registered nurse, gave insulin to two patients who were not diabetic and to another patient who was diabetic. Statement from Attorney General Michelle Henry regarding western PA nurse charged in deaths of patients: pic.twitter.com/ohN5ah8nFl Michelle Henry (@PAAttorneyGen) May 25, 2023 The slain victims a 55-year-old man and an 83-year-old man died on Dec. 4 and on Dec 25, prosecutors said. The victim who survived after emergency hospitalization, a 73-year-old man, was administered a potentially-lethal dose of insulin on Aug. 31, prosecutors said. In this photo illustration, insulin pens manufactured by the Novo Nordisk company are displayed on March 14, 2023. Prosecutors say Heather Pressdee, a registered nurse, administered insulin to two patients who were not diabetic and to another patient who was diabetic in Western Pennsylvania last year. She is now facing homicide charges in their deaths. Pressdee was arrested Wednesday at her home Natrona Heights located 23 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, prosecutors said. The allegations in this case outline the callous abuse of incredibly vulnerable patients by a professional nurse, Henry said. As the charges indicate, these were deliberate and intentional acts perpetrated by a care-giver who was trusted to care for these victims." Previous discipline for 'abusive behavior' State records show Pressdee's registered nurse license was issued July 31, 2018 and was slated to expire at the end of October. It was renewed in August 2021 and was marked active on the Pennsylvania Department of State website Friday. According to a criminal complaint, Pressdee was disciplined at 11 former nursing jobs for "abusive behavior toward patients or staff, and either resigned or was fired from each facility," the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported. In addition to Quality Life Services, the outlet reported, court papers show Pressdee previously worked at the following facilities all in Western Pennsylvania: Orchards of Saxonburg, Butler Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Harmarville Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights, Harrison UPMC Passavant, McCandless Concordia at Rebecca Residence, West Deer Guardian Healthcare, operating as Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Lower Burrell Woodhaven Care Center, Monroeville Platinum Ridge Center for Rehabilitation & Healing, Brackenridge Orchards of Saxonburg, Butler Premier Armstrong Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Kittanning Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Butler It was not immediately known if Pressdee had obtained an attorney in the case. More coverage from the USA TODAY Network Caregivers accused of torturing woman Disabled woman endured 'torture' from caregivers before death, New Mexico prosecutors say Doctor under fire after child's abortion Indiana doctor who reported Ohio 10-year-olds abortion violated privacy laws, medical board finds Michigan Witness: Ex-MSU instructor resembled a 'zombie' after stabbing colleague to death Mississippi 2 Jackson police officers indicted on murder charges stemming from December incident 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: Pennsylvania nurse accused of killing two patients, injuring another Two Pennsylvania parents are facing charges after their children were found living in deplorable conditions alongside caged rats and other animals in a home outside of Philadelphia, a report says. Shane Robertson, 47, and Crystal Robertson, 37, are each facing seven counts of endangering the welfare of children after police responded to a property in West Rockhill Township on April 23, according to WPVI. The children, who range in age from 4 to 16 years old, were described by Crystal Robertson as "garbage disposals with legs," the station reported, citing a police affidavit. The document also said the mother told investigators a refrigerator inside the home was secured with a padlock because the children had been "stealing" food from it, WPVI added. FAMILIES OF 4 PENNSYLVANIA MEN GUNNED DOWN, BURIED ON FARM, SETTLE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT The Pennridge Regional Police Department discovered the alleged conditions on April 23 after a caller reported seeing children enter an abandoned trailer in their neighborhood. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In a news release Thursday, police said they found a 12-year-old girl who told responding officers she was taking a blanket to keep her rats warm, according to WPVI. Then police reportedly spotted a 14-year-old wearing dirty clothes. The officers then brought both children to the Robertsons, who live next door, and returned later with an official from Bucks County Children and Youth, WPVI reported. Inside the home, police found four children hidden in a rear bedroom, around two dozen caged rats, dogs, snakes and feces in numerous locations, the station says. FUGITIVE WANTED FOR SEX ASSAULT, KIDNAPPING IN ALLEGED MULTISTATE CRIME SPREE IS CAUGHT AFTER DAYS-LONG MANHUNT The children, who were living in "unsanitary and essentially unsafe" conditions, were ultimately taken into protective custody, according to WPVI, citing the police statement. The children reportedly were found to be suffering from medical conditions including malnourishment and low kidney function, while one had maggots in her hair. Other children had their heads shaved due to severe matting, while some needed "extensive" dental treatment, the report said, citing police. Police also learned the children did not attend school and several of them did not know their own birthdays, the station added. Both Robertsons are now free Friday after posting ten percent of $100,000 bail, WPVI reports. The Pennridge Regional Police Department did not immediately respond to a request from Fox News Digital for comment. Pensacola man with attempted murder charge can't afford bond. Judge says 'it is what it is.' The Pensacola man accused of attempted murder for shooting a man multiple times at a gas station in 2022 asked for a reduction in his bond Friday. Shannon Lee Wheat, 22, and his attorney Assistant Regional Conflict Counsel Elizabeth Amond went before Escambia Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh and asked for a bond of $50,000 rather than his current bond of $300,000, arguing that because he can't afford it, it's equivalent to no bond. "$300,000 is like a no bond for him, because he has nothing. He's indigent," Amond told Bergosh during the hearing. "I'm asking that the bond be reduced to $100,000 or $50,000 would even be better." Amond also argued Wheat's bond should be reduced since he has no prior criminal record. Assistant State Attorney Ki McInnis said Wheat is a danger to the community due to when and how the incident happened. Wheat arrested: ECSO: Suspect in West Pensacola attempted homicide located and arrested On the hunt: Escambia deputies seeking suspect in attempted homicide at West Pensacola gas station "This crime occurred in broad daylight during lunchtime," McInnis told the court. "The defendant and the victim are strangers. There is recorded evidence from the gas station that shows this defendant discharging a firearm and striking Mr. (Anthony) Westery, and additionally another bystander in the convenience store was also struck." Bergosh decided to deny Wheat's petition for a decreased bond, saying it is "a serious charge and it is what it is." Wheat will remain in Escambia County Jail on $300,000 bond. What are Shannon Wheat's charges? Wheat is charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of firing deadly missiles into a building. Wheat's murder charge is designated as a life felony, for which he faces life in a Florida prison. His second charge is designated as a second-degree felony, for which he faces up to 15 years in prison. Westery shot: ECSO searching for suspect who sent man to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds What is Shannon Wheat accused of doing on Aug. 30, 2022? On Aug. 30, 2022, Escambia County Sheriff's deputies responded to Beacon convenience store and gas station in West Pensacola off Mobile Highway where they found Westery with multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies say he was transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment. Both attorneys says Wheat's fiancee began arguing with Westery after he pulled into the gas station. Court records say Wheat was inside the convenience store when he heard the argument and left the store. "Wheat quickly quickly pays for his merchandise and exits the store as Westery is walking and still talking to the female from the Mustang who has now gotten out of the Mustang and is walking toward Westery," court documents say. "Wheat takes a weapon from his waistband and turns and points the firearm at Westery and fires a volley of shots in Westery's direction." The ECSO identified Wheat as the suspect the next day. On Sept. 1, two days after the incident, deputies located and arrested Wheat. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Florida man denied lower bond request on murder charge A Monroe County man is in custody after he was identified as a person of interest in a shooting that took place Monday in Exeter Township. On Tuesday, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough requested assistance from the public in locating 38-year-old James Michael Pattenaude, a news release said. He was identified as a person of interest after multiple gunshots were fired into an occupied residence on Monday in the 13000 block of Martinsville Road in Exeter Township. On Wednesday, Monroe County Sheriffs Office detectives developed information and located Pattenuade parked in a commercial business parking lot off Airport Highway and South Reynolds Road in Lucas County, Ohio, the release said. Detectives notified the Lucas County Sheriffs Office and requested assistance. At approximately 3 p.m., Lucas County sheriffs deputies attempted to stop Pattenaude and take him into custody. However, Pattenaude fled from the deputies as well as officers from the Toledo Police Department. Pattenaude led the Ohio authorities on a pursuit which ultimately led them back to Monroe County, the release said. Monroe County sheriff's detectives and deputies joined the pursuit, which lasted for several miles until Pattenaude stopped at Memorial Highway at Head O Lake Road in Whiteford Township and fled on foot. Pattenaude was quickly taken into custody at that time. Pattenaude was taken to the Monroe County Jail where he was lodged on a variety of criminal charges. Eleven felony charges have been filed against Pattenaude: single counts of assault with intent to murder, discharging a firearm at a building, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of ammunition by a felon and five counts of felony firearms. He was arraigned Thursday in Monroe County District Court. A probable cause conference is scheduled for June 6. He is being held in the Monroe County Jail on $785,000 in bonds on these charges and a probation violation charge, according to online jail records. Monroe County deputies who responded to the shooting at about 3 a.m. Monday found the homeowner was inside his residence when he heard several gunshots that struck the front of his residence, a news release said. Immediately after, the homeowner observed a vehicle speed away from his residence. Detectives were called in to conduct the investigation and process the crime scene. It was determined the homeowner and Pattenaude know each other. The shooting was not a random event, the sheriff's office said. Multiple sheriffs office deputies attempted to locate Pattenaude at a residence on Milwaukee Road in Milan Township but were unable to locate him there. Goodnough said he thanks the public for the many tips received in the search for Pattenaude. He also acknowledged and thank the Lucas County Sheriffs Office and the Toledo Police Department for their efforts in the pursuit and capture of Pattenaude. In addition, he said, the Lenawee County Sheriffs Office and the Perrysburg Township, Ohio, Police Department provided valuable assistance. This case remains under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call 734-240-7530. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Person of interest arrested in Exeter Township shooting A petition to remove Hernando County School Board member Shannon Rodriguez has over 18,000 signatures. A petition to remove a school board member who targeted a teacher for showing a Disney movie in class has reached more than 18,000 signatures on Change.org. The Hernando County school board member, Shannon Rodriguez, allegedly filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Education against fifth grade teacher Jenna Barbee for streaming "Strange World," a 2022 Disney movie that features an out, gay character. "With the school year coming to an end, time is of the essence. This petition urges Mrs. Rodriguez to listen to the community, step down from her position as a school board member, and serve her community and the school system in a different capacity, as this is not a good fit," wrote Hernando County resident and teacher Shelby Waymire, the creator of the Change.org petition. More: Florida teacher investigated by state agency for showing Disney movie in class The petition started two weeks ago, and as of Friday morning, has 18,708 signatures. "Shannon Rodriguez has displayed time and time again that, as a school board member, she does NOT support those who work in schools and has shown her disconnect with the reality of the public education system," the petition reads. "She has called staff members lazy, claimed we are exposing children to pornography, and aligned herself with those who state that educators are indoctrinating and grooming children." Florida educators are prohibited from teaching about gender and sexual identity due to the Parental Rights in Education Act, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. Teachers have expressed anxiety and confusion over the vague wording of the law, also known as "Don't Say Gay" by critics, for fear of losing their teaching licenses or criminal penalties if found in non-compliance. Disney has been in a legal battle with DeSantis and the state of Florida since speaking out against the law and is suing the governor in federal court, charging him with violating the company's free speech rights and claiming the governor led a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" against the company, a charge DeSantis dismissed as "political." DeSantis' Disney fight Disney CEO Iger wonders if DeSantis 'wants us to invest more' in Florida 'or not?' At a school board meeting May 5, Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters K-8, said Rodriguez reported her to DOE because the Disney movie has an out, gay character. Barbee said the Disney movie tied into her students' Earth science lesson and did not have sexually inappropriate content. Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), his father, Jaegar Clade (Dennis Quaid), his wife Meridian (Gabrielle Union), Avalonia's leader Callisto Mal (Lucy Liu) and Searcher's son, Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), in Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Strange World." See it in theaters starting Nov. 23. "The word indoctrination is thrown around a lot right now, but it seems that those who are using it are using it as a defense tactic for their own fear-based beliefs without understanding the true meaning of the word," Barbee said at the lectern during public comment. Since Rodriguez took office in January, she has argued there is "smut" and "porn" on schools' library shelves and has asked for books to be removed, according to Suncoast News. Rodriguez was also endorsed by conservative parents' rights group Moms for Liberty. At the school board meeting May 8, Rodriguez said she has called DOE about other issues in the district and believes children should not be "a pawn in the crossfire" of liberal political agendas. "As a leader in this community, I'm not going to stand by and allow this minority to infiltrate our schools," she said. Change.org also has a counter petition called "SAVE parental rights and PROTECT children's welfare," created by Hernando County resident Thomas Ksiezopolski. "Shannon Rodriguez is attempting to save parents rights to decide what is best for their children," the petition reads. "She is dedicated to keeping the Woke agenda out of our schools in district 3 Hernando County Florida. Woke has started a petition to have her removed and supposedly they have 12,000 signatures. We need all people to step up and help her protect the children." The petition, created a week ago, has six signatures. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Petition to remove Hernando County school board member circulating Phillip Schofield left his role on This Morning last week following reports of a rift with Holly Willoughby Phillip Schofield has quit ITV after admitting he had an affair with a younger male ITV employee and lied to cover it up. The ex-This Morning host said the relationship with his junior colleague was "unwise but not illegal". In a statement to the Daily Mail, Schofield said he "met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television". He apologised for lying to colleagues, employers, the media and public. An ITV spokesperson said they were "deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit" made by Schofield and confirmed it had cut all ties with the host. It means the 61-year-old will no longer present the British Soap Awards next month. He will also not front a new prime-time series which ITV had said last week they were developing with him. Schofield left his role at This Morning last week after reports of a rift with co-star Holly Willoughby. He said his departure from the show was unrelated to the affair with the colleague, who the BBC is not naming. The TV presenter was still married to his wife Stephanie Lowe at the time of the relationship. They separated in 2020, after Schofield came out as gay. Schofield said he was "so, very, very sorry" for being unfaithful to his wife, and for lying to his colleagues, agents, employers, friends, the media and the public. Schofield said he was "so, very, very sorry" for being unfaithful to his wife Stephanie Lowe (pictured in 2017) The TV host said he would reflect on his "very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it". An ITV spokesperson said: "The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. "Phillip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down." His announcement follows significant online speculation over several months about Schofield's personal relationships. Talent agency YMU has also cut ties with Schofield following his announcement about the affair. In a statement to the BBC, the TV presenter said: "It is with the most profound regret that after 35 years of being faultlessly managed by YMU I have agreed to step down from their representation with immediate effect." Some former ITV daytime figures, including Eamonn Holmes and Dan Wootton, have suggested the network has questions to answer about how much managers knew about the relationship and what action they took. Phillip Schofield's statement in full "I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago. "The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. "Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over. "When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing. Nobody 'forced' me out. Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague, he was never moved on or sacked by or because of me. "In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven't been truthful about the relationship. But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now. "I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife. "I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. "I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it. "To protect his privacy, I am not naming this individual and my deepest wish is that both he and his family can now move on with their lives free from further intrusion, and that this statement will enable them to do so. "I ask the media now to respect their privacy. They have done nothing wrong, and I ask that their privacy should be respected." Schofield's final appearance on This Morning was on Thursday 18 May. He announced his departure from the ITV daytime show that weekend. Cover presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary paid tribute to Schofield at the start of Monday's programme. Schofield had presented This Morning show since 2002, with Willoughby joining him as a co-presenter in 2009. Willoughby is currently on holiday but set to return to the show on Monday 5 June. Earlier this year, his brother Timothy Schofield was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a boy. DPS trooper hospitalized after being shot in north Phoenix; suspect in custody Phoenix police car A Department of Public Safety trooper was hospitalized Thursday after being shot in an incident that forced the closure of the area near 19th Avenue and the Loop 101 freeway. Phoenix police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the area to assist with an "active critical incident" involving the trooper. Phoenix police responded to the area around 12:40 p.m. to back up a DPS trooper involved in a shooting and who had been shot at least once, Phoenix police said in a statement released Thursday night. The trooper was later taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. It was not immediately clear how many times the trooper shot at the suspect. Phoenix detectives later found the man suspected of shooting the trooper at an apartment complex near 67th and Olive avenues. Police arrested him and took him to a hospital to treat injuries he incurred from the shootout with the trooper. Sgt. Rob Scherer, a Phoenix police spokesman, said more details, such as the man's identity, would be released once he was discharged from the hospital and booked into jail. Phoenix police initially tweeted about the incident at 1:47 p.m. warning people to avoid the area. The Arizona Department of Transportation also closed off the ramp from Loop 101 westbound to I-17 northbound due to "a law enforcement situation." This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DPS trooper hospitalized after being shot in Phoenix; suspect in custody Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the government is ready to extend aid to the families of five Filipino seafarers who died after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized in the Indian Ocean. Marcos made the assurance two days after authorities confirmed the deaths of the Filipinos who were among the 39 crew members of Lupeng Yuanyu 028, which sank over a week ago. [LINK: 39 dead, including 5 Pinoys, after Chinese boat capsized in Indian Ocean] Nakikiramay tayo sa mga pamilya ng mga kababayan nating nasawi sa tumaob na fishing vessel sa Indian Ocean noong ika-16 ng Mayo, Marcos said in a statement. Nakaantabay ang ating pamahalaan para sila'y alalayan, he added. [Translation: We condole with the families of our fellow countrymen who died after a fishing vessel capsized in the Indian Ocean last May 16. The government is ready to assist them.] The president also thanked Australia and China for sending rescue teams to conduct extensive operations in spite of the unforgiving weather. In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Manila also expressed its condolences over the death of the five Filipinos, adding it is closely communicating with the government on the matter. We will provide full support to the concerned agency regarding the proper handling of the incident's aftermath, the embassy spokesperson said. Beijing added it is grateful for countries such as Australia, India, and Sri Lanka for sending vessels and aircraft to help in the multinational maritime search and rescue operations. Despite finding no survivors yet, the embassy said search and rescue operations continue. According to Chinese news agency Xinhua, the crew was composed of 17 Chinese nationals, 17 Indonesians and five Filipinos. It was not immediately clear how many bodies were retrieved. Reports as of Wednesday said rescuers found seven bodies, but their nationalities were not specified. Who picks the next attorney general of Texas if Ken Paxton is impeached and convicted? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton could join only a handful of politicians that have been impeached in state history. After months investigating Texas top lawyer, a panel of lawmakers on Thursday recommended impeaching Paxton, who has long been under criminal indictment and at the center of a whistleblower lawsuit. The committee heard hours of testimony on Wednesday from committee lawyers who detailed years of corruption allegations related to his felony securities fraud indictment, as well as the whistleblower lawsuit where Paxton was accused of retaliating against employees who reported him to the FBI. Wednesdays hearing and the investigation culminated in Thursdays decision to recommend Paxtons impeachment. The articles of impeachment can be found here. So what happens next? Heres what we know: What happens if Paxton is impeached? If Paxton is impeached by the House, he would be suspended from his post as attorney general while the Senate conducts a trial. If two-thirds of the Senate vote in favor of conviction, Paxton would be permanently removed from office and could potentially face criminal charges. Along with being impeached, Paxton would also be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under this State, according to the Texas Constitution. What happens to the post of attorney general? If Paxton is impeached and convicted, it falls on Gov. Greg Abbott to decide the future of the attorney general position. Under Texas law, the governor can can make an appointment to temporarily fill the vacant attorney general position. How many Texas politicians have been impeached? Only two other Texas politicians have ever been impeached and removed from office. James Ferguson is the only Texas governor to be impeached and convicted. Ferguson was indicted on nine charges in Travis County, with a majority related to misapplication of public funds and another for embezzlement. He was impeached and removed from office in 1917, according to The Texas Politics Project. State District Judge O.P. Carillo is the second and last elected official impeached in Texas. Carillo was impeached and removed from his position in 1976 for using his office to improperly spend county funds, according to Justia US Law. Roger Waters is under investigation by German police for incitement of the people after wearing a satirical, Nazi-style costume on stage in Berlin, Reuters reports. The outfit was based on the fictional fascist officer Pink, whom Bob Geldof played in Pink Floyds 1982 film The Wall, a satirical critique of a societys descent into fascism. Though Waters outfit did not explicitly replicate Nazi uniforms, which are illegal in Germany, police said it was capable of violating the dignity of the victims, as well as approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a way that disrupts public peace. Waters representatives did not respond to a request for comment, but, on Friday evening, May 26, the musician shared the following statement on social media: A Statement from Roger Waters on the controversy over his Berlin concert My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles. The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms. Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated. The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyds The Wall in 1980. I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it. When I was a child after the war, the name of Anne Frank was often spoken in our house, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked. My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with my father paying the ultimate price. Regardless of the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it. Waters, an outspoken critic of Zionism and Israel, faced political opposition to his German tour. Frankfurts local government attempted to ban his concert in the city, alleging that Waters persistent anti-Israel behavior amounted to antisemitism. Officials noted that some of the musicians shows had incorporated a pig-shaped balloon adorned with the Star of David and various corporate logos. A court overturned the ban, on the basis that the performances can be viewed as a work of art and that Waters did not glorify or relativize the crimes of the Nazis or identify with Nazi racist ideology. Waters is scheduled to play in Frankfurt on Sunday, May 28. This article was originally published on Friday, May 26, at 12:12 p.m. Eastern. It was last updated on Monday, May 29, at 8:20 a.m. Eastern. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork (Bloomberg) -- The coalition of pro-democracy parties that swept the Thai election this month should stop public haggling over the house speakers post and instead focus on forming a government to end nearly a decade of military-backed rule, its leader said. Most Read from Bloomberg The dispute between Move Forward and Pheu Thai the largest parties in the coalition over whose nominee should be speaker of the House of Representatives is a minor issue compared to the mission entrusted to us by the people, Pita Limjaroenrat, the blocs prime minister candidate, said on Twitter on Friday. Pitas call for truce came after leaders of the Move Forward and Pheu Thai publicly argued this week over the speakers post, threatening to derail the coalition of eight parties even before it can take power. The bloc, which has 312 seats in the 500-member lower house, is still canvassing support from members of the unelected Senate for Pitas bid for the top job. It would be best for parties in the coalition to hold discussions over the house speaker issue internally, said Pita, who is also Move Forwards leader. I urge every party to fine-tune our policies together and successfully form the government to fulfill expectations of the people. Read More: Heres How Thailands PM Race Could Play Out as Talks Drag On The row over the speakers job came soon after the coalition signed a pact to work together on an array of issues including charter amendments and ending military conscription while omitting the controversial issue of amending the lese majeste law, a key pre-election promise of Pitas party. Move Forward laid claim to the speakers job, saying its crucial to pushing through its progressive laws and ensuring parliamentary transparency that the party had promised to voters. But Pheu Thai has argued that Pitas party cannot keep all key positions to itself at the expense of other coalition partners. A Pita-led government may be several weeks or months away as the Election Commission has until July 13 to certify official election results, which will pave the way for the first meeting of the house and selection of prime minister. Even though the pro-democracy coalition commands a clear lower house majority, its still short of about 60 votes needed to ensure Pitas win. The Harvard-educated Pita faces opposition from a majority of the 250-member upper house Senate that also gets to vote on prime minister. The chamber is stacked with allies of the pro-military royalist establishment. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Michael Lafler, 37, of Colon, will be sentenced on June 24 to a minimum of 86 months to 15 years in prison in the Oct. 15, 2021, strangulation death of Chelsea Wallen, 33. Prosecutor David Marvin and defense attorney Anastase Markou worked out a plea and sentence agreement late Monday afternoon. Signs like this are peppered around northeast St. Joseph County and northwest Branch County after the death of Chelsea Wallen in October 2021. Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman made sure Lafler understood the plea and his rights. Lafler entered a no-contest plea to involuntary manslaughter homicide and assault to do great bodily harm less than murder by strangulation. Marvin dismissed the life offense of open murder. With Wallens family sitting in the courtroom, Marvin said Michigans evidence code allowed the defense to bring into the scheduled trial Evidence of aggression by the decedent. The defendant can point to bad acts or aggressive acts by Chelsea. The prosecutor put on record, There is a treasure trove of information that I was trying to find ways to keep out of trial that compromises my case severely. The information was not disclosed. David Marvin Marvin said, I do believe that in trial, some of the stuff that would be heard by a jury could result in not guilty, potentially. The prosecutor said because of the information, Working with defense counsel, we came up with a solution that everybody can live with. Marvin said after hours of discussion with Wallen parents, they were not satisfied. The prosecutor kept them informed as Michigans Victims Right laws required. With the possibility of an acquittal at trial, Marvin felt the plea guaranteed Lafler would serve prison time in the death. This is one that has been heavy on me, like with everybody, especially the family, Marvin said. I took it seriously. The first-term prosecutor but veteran defense attorney consulted with other prosecutors from around Michigan. I sought the advice and counsel of many prosecutors, including some with over 35 years experience and upwards to 100 murder cases. With hundreds of Justice for Chelsea signs around the area along roadsides, the prosecutor recognized the plea agreement was unpopular. This decision, I stand by it. Michael Lafler Both attorneys stipulated facts for the plea. The couple began to argue in Colon on the night of Oct. 15, 2021. Chelsea Wallen put a bag containing cocaine inside her mouth. The defendant attempted to remove the cocaine from the decedents mouth. A physical confrontation ensued. The defendant placed his right hand across or around the decedents neck and choked her, the statement of facts read. The joint statement said, this was intended to cause her great bodily harm. The family will get to put their feelings on record at the June 24 sentencing, where security will be tight. The death came as a shock to those who knew her. Wallen was the manager of Countryside Market in Union City. Calls to 911 brought Colon Police to Wallens Colon home that night. Police Sgt. Joel Herr took Laflers statement the next day. At the preliminary examination, the Colon officer said Lafler admitted he and Wallen had been arguing. Lafler said Wallen slapped him, so he went upstairs. He found her later on her kitchen floor. Prior story Lafler to go to trial for murder of Chelsea Wallen Lafler said he slapped Wallen to wake her up and shook her by the neck. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker Medical School pathologist Dr. Amanda Fisher-Hubbard testified during hearings her autopsy determined the cause of death was strangulation. Subscribe Follow the case through sentencing. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter. ---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Plea agreement reached in Chelsea Wallen strangulation death When Columbo first aired in 1968, it broke the first rule of detective fiction. Rather than withholding the identity of the killer, it gave the audience that knowledge upfront. The pleasure, then, came from watching Peter Falks rain-coated lieutenant unravelling the seemingly impenetrable mystery at the viewers leisure. Its a trick thats been repeated by shows like Monk and Luther, though never quite with Columbos panache. But with the combined powers of writer-director Rian Johnson and his lead Natasha Lyonne, Skys new anthology mystery series, Poker Face, pulls it off with no shortage of razzle or dazzle. The premise is simple: Charlie (Lyonne) is a human lie detector. Banned from card games across America, shes now gainfully employed as a cocktail waitress at a casino bar, staying out of trouble and making beer money. But she also cannot fail to spot when somebody is lying, and so when her best friend, Nat (Dascha Polanco), is found dead in a suspected murder/suicide, she goes on a crusade for the truth. But finding it will guarantee her drifter fate, with Charlie condemned to a perpetual crime-solving road trip. Every day youre mad about something you cant do something about, Nat tells Charlie, her bug eyes bulging. But in spite of the world being against her, shes about to find purpose in righting wrongs. The shows creator, Rian Johnson, has done much to re-popularise the murder mystery genre. From his 2005 debut Brick, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a high school detective, to Knives Out, his 2019 whodunnit that has spun-off into a lucrative Netflix series, Johnson has a very specific tone. These are essentially comedies, and Lyonne is the ideal foil; even when dealing with grizzly details, her timbre is naturally funny. Playing roughly the same character shes taken on in every project since American Pie, she is a bundle of unhinged charisma. Its kinda breaking my brain a little bit, she tells a gas station attendant, as the vast scope of her powers becomes apparent. Lyonne is the anchor, but Johnson has assembled a starry cast of cameos. From Adrien Brody to Nick Nolte, Chloe Sevigny to Hong Chau, the Knives Out directors pulling power is on full display. The picaresque nature of Charlies adventures across America help oil this revolving door of A-list wattage, but the show is totally reliant on Lyonne and the quirks of modern small-town America. Johnson combines tropes such as the ascetic mob enforcer or the off-grid trucker, with more 21st-century considerations, like conspiracy listicles and sandwich TikTokers. The itinerant format might leave the show short on emotional attachments (unlike its most obvious analogue, Only Murders in the Building), but as a reverse-whodunit its satisfyingly pacy and pulpy. In a way, Poker Face represents the perfect synthesis of Lyonnes chronology-busting masterpiece, Russian Doll, and the newly established appetite for murder mysteries conducted with the marching band rhythm of the Coen Brothers or Edgar Wright. The plots might wrap themselves up a little too conveniently at times (and the writing involves the casual use of ableist slurs, something that American TV still seems unwilling to grapple with) but the anarchic spirit of Poker Face carries it through. As a reinvention of the hour-long mystery story, it manages reverence to its forebears with the challenge of delivering a distinctive new twist. Once upon a time in Denver, growls Adrien Brodys bejewelled casino owner, relating the origin story of our cardsharp hero. She played with an almost supernatural infallibility, he recounts, like she was seeing through the cards In Poker Face, Americas down and outs, its villains and wretches, line up before Charlie like players at the table. They say, in poker, that all you need is a chip and a chair, but when youve got Natasha Lyonne as a scenery-chewing private (well, public; nobodys paying her) dick, you dont need much luck. STAUNTON Virginia State Police have identified a man killed two days ago just outside of Staunton in a hit-and-run, and authorities are still seeking the public's help in finding the suspect. Police reported earlier that the incident took place Wednesday shortly before 10 p.m. on Parkersburg Turnpike and Pine Tree Lane. The man killed was Rickey C. Dickey, 42, of Staunton, a press release said Friday. Dickey died at the scene. Police said the suspect vehicle was headed east on Parkersburg Turnpike when Dickey was hit. "At this stage of the investigation, the suspect vehicle is believed to have been a maroon or red truck or SUV," police said in the latest release. "The vehicle will have damage to its right front headlight, front turn signal, and/or both." Anyone with information about the suspect vehicle and/or its driver is asked to call the Virginia State Police at (434) 352-7128 or #77 on a cell phone, or email the police at questions@vsp.virginia.gov. The crash remains under investigation. First choice all along: Staunton set to locate JDR courts at Chestnut Hill Shopping Center site High school sports: Regional play is underway; all-Shenandoah District baseball teams named Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Police ID man killed in Augusta County hit-and-run Roger Waters is currently under investigation in Berlin after wearing an outfit resembling that of a Nazi SS officer on stage, according to reports. The Pink Floyd co-founder shocked fans during a concert in the German capital earlier this month. After opening the show with a statement saying he condemns antisemitism unreservedly, Waters performed while wearing a long black jacket, gloves, and a red armband adorned with hammers, rather than the Nazi swastika. He also projected the name of Holocaust teen diarist Anne Frank on a giant screen during the shows, along with several other names of contemporary figures including George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minnesota police in 2020, and Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot and killed last year while covering a raid by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on a Palestinian refugee camp. On Thursday (25 May), Jewish News reported that Waters was being investigated by Berlin police over suspected incitement. Police chief inspector Martin Halweg told the publication: The State Security Department at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office has initiated a criminal investigation procedure regarding the suspicion of incitement of the people (140 Paragraph four of the German criminal Code). The context of the clothing worn is deemed capable of approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a manner that violates the dignity of the victims and thereby disrupts public peace. After the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Berlin Public Prosecutors Office for legal assessment, the police chief added. The Independent has reached out to a representative of Roger Waters for comment. Roger Waters (Getty Images) 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. He had previously compared the Israeli state to Nazi Germany over its treatment of Palestinian people. 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. Earlier this year, Waters was accused of antisemitism by the writer Polly Samson, the wife of his former bandmate David Gilmour. In an online row over Israel and the Ukraine war in February, Samson accused Waters of being antisemitic to your rotten core and 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. Police are investigating a shooting that happened at a Smyrna Steak n Shake Friday afternoon. NewsChopper 2 was over the restaurant, where crime scene tape was strung p in the parking lot and there were several law enforcement vehicles congregated in the parking lot. There was also at least one ambulance at the scene. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Cobb County police said they were assisting Smyrna Police in the investigation. TRENDING STORIES: Smyrna police said one person was shot and taken to the hospital. Police believe the shooting stemmed from a fight in the parking lot. The other person involved left the scene. Its unclear if that person was the shooter. A handgun was visible on the ground in the parking lot from the NewsChopper 2 camera. Police said they dont believe there is a danger to the public but the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who has any information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Smyrna Police Department at 770-434-6666. The patrol police have released a video of the first minutes after the attack on a polyclinic and a veterinary clinic in Dnipro on the morning of 26 May. Source: patrol police of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Telegram Details: In the video, a patrol policeman goes around one of the buildings and helps with the evacuation of the wounded. pic.twitter.com/03FqeaiQwi (@ukrpravda_news) May 26, 2023 Background: On 26 May, Russian troops launched a missile attack on a polyclinic and a veterinary clinic in Dnipro, in spite of the fact the Geneva Convention ban such attacks on civilian infrastructure. As a result, at least two people were killed and 23 people were injured, including 2 children born in 2020 and 2017. As of 13:50, the fires in both building were extinguished. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Police: Texas man shot during visit to downtown Providence for convention PROVIDENCE A 37-year-old man in town for a convention and staying in a downtown hotel was shot and seriously injured Thursday as he rode in an Uber vehicle near Amica Mutual Pavilion, according to Providence police. Anthony Hall, 37, of Austin, Texas, was recovering Friday from wounds that were serious but not life-threatening, Providence police Detective Maj. David Lapatin said. As Hall was sitting in the Uber vehicle on Sabin Street, another car moved into position and someone fired more than one shot in the direction of the ride-share vehicle at about 12:15 p.m., Lapatin said. The Uber driver took Hall directly to the hospital, he added. Hall had climbed into the Uber car at the nearby Marriott Residence Inn Providence, Lapatin said, Police have made no arrests in the case, said Lapatin, who had no further comment on the investigation. The mid-day shooting was followed Thursday night by another shooting in the Silver Lake neighborhood. The mid-day shooting was followed Thursday night by another shooting, apparently unrelated, in the Silver Lake neighborhood. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said police were notified that someone had shot at a group of people and hit a car. No one was injured, he said, adding that the suspects fled. The scene was near Ethan Street and Silver Lake Avenue. It drew a large number of police officers who searched for a gunman. Perez said police would hold accountable those responsible for the shots. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Uber rider from Texas shot on business trip to RI, say police Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said he is not comfortable with a total ban on deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait, as he expressed hope that the Kuwaiti government reverses its decision on suspending the issuance of visas for Filipinos. READ: Kuwait suspends issuance of visas for Filipinos "I'm never very comfortable yung nagba-ban nang gano'n [to ban just like that]," he told reporters on Friday, adding that a total ban might be an "overreaction." "I don't want to burn any bridges," he said. "Baka in the future, magbago ang sitwasyon, baka pwede pa tayo magpadala ulit ng workers." [Translation: Maybe in the future, the situation will change and we can deploy our workers again to that country.] Marcos maintained that the Philippines did not violate the labor deal with Kuwait but said the government has to "react to the situation as it is." RELATED: DFA sees need for 'more talks' on Kuwait visa issuance suspension "The proper reaction is to take the decision of the Kuwaiti government to no longer issue new visas," the president said. "Wala tayong magagawa [We cannot do anything], it's their country, those are their rules." "We'll just leave that issue open, and hopefully continue to negotiate with them and consult with them, and baka sakali [maybe], down the road, magbago ang sitwasyon [the situation will change]," he added. A delegation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), as well as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, went to Kuwait to conduct exploratory talks with their counterparts on May 16 to 17. Details of the bilateral meeting have not been disclosed. To help the 815 Filipinos directly affected by the recent suspension of visa issuance to the Gulf state, the DMW has announced that they will receive aid worth 30,000. RELATED: DFA firm with keeping shelter in Kuwait open DMW Secretary Susan Ople agreed with Marcos' stand against imposing a total deployment ban. She also clarified that the Philippines currently has no deployment ban to Kuwait only a deferment policy. "Before they suspended the visa issuances, we were deploying workers to Kuwait. Ang hindi lang tayo nag-dedeploy ay 'yung first time ever na kasambahay [What we are not deploying are first time household workers]," Ople said in a press briefing on Friday. The secretary added that they wanted to introduce reforms for the protection of Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait during the bilateral talks. Ople said they were open to lifting the deferment policy but it already became moot after Kuwait suspended the issuance of new visas. In late March, Francis was admitted to hospital in Rome after having breathing difficulties, and stayed for three nights Pope Francis has a fever that caused him to clear his schedule on Friday morning, the Vatican said, nearly two months after the 86-year-old pontiff was hospitalised with bronchitis. "Due to a feverish state, Pope Francis did not receive an audience this morning," said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, without giving more details. It was unclear who the pope had been expected to meet with, as his agenda was not made public on Friday, as is customary. Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin blamed the pontiff's busy schedule, saying he was tired. "The pope was tired, yesterday he had a very busy day, he saw a lot of people .. he wanted to say hello to them all," said Parolin, according to Italian news agencies. "And probably at a certain point the resistence breaks down." Francis had eight meetings Thursday, according to his published schedule. The pope's morning audiences are usually reserved for heads of states, associations and clerics, while his afternoons are devoted to work and private meetings. Next on Francis' schedule is Sunday's mass at St Peter's Basilica to celebrate Pentecost, followed by the traditional Regina Coeli prayer. On Monday, he is scheduled to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Francis, who has been the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics for a decade, has suffered increasing health issues over the past year, from persistent pain in his right knee to sciatica to his recent hospital stay for bronchitis. The episodes have sparked widespread concern and fuelled speculation that he might choose to retire rather than stay in the job for life, a choice made by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. In late March, Francis was admitted to hospital in Rome after having breathing difficulties, and stayed for three nights. He was treated with antibiotics for bronchitis. As he left the Gemelli Hospital on April 1, the pope smiled and joked with well-wishers, quipping: "I am still alive!" He went on to participate in Holy Week and Easter services, the most important week in the Christian calendar. - Good days, bad days - For about a year, the pope has had to rely on a wheelchair due to recurring pain in his knee that he has said cannot be treated through surgery. Asked about his health in an interview with US Spanish-language network Telemundo broadcast on Thursday, Francis said it was "much better". "I can walk now. My knee has been mending. I could hardly walk beforehand, now I can. Some days are more painful than others, like today," the pope said. Francis added that doctors had caught his bronchitis infection just in time. "If we'd waited a few more hours, it would've been much more serious. But I was out (of the hospital) in four days," he said. Despite his health issues, Francis continues to travel widely, and concluded a three-day visit to Hungary earlier this month. His next planned trip is to Lisbon from August 2-6 to attend World Youth Day, the Vatican announced on Monday. The pope acknowledged last July, however, that he needed to slow down. "At my age and with this limitation, I have to save myself a little bit to be able to serve the Church," he said then. "Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of stepping aside." In March, however, he insisted that he had no current plans to quit. Benedict XVI, who died on December 31 aged 95, surprised the world in 2013 when he announced he was stepping down, a radical move not seen since the Middle Ages. cmk-ams/ar/cw What Pope Francis told a group of Miami students who want to improve the community Pope Francis spoke virtually with high school students and adult volunteers from Miami and around the world on Thursday to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his global educational organization, Scholas Ocurrentes. Nearly 30 students and volunteers, some of who came from Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles, gathered at the Telemundo studios in Doral to commemorate the organizations mission of creating a culture of encounter through education. Scholas Ocurrentes, founded by Pope Francis in 2013, is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes cultural exchanges and social integration through community-based projects in education, sports and the arts. During the international event, the South Florida group unveiled a mural they painted for the theme of connecting across cultures and differences. What we did was make a mural that symbolizes the encounters young people have across different socioeconomic realities, different cities across the United States and also different beliefs, since not everyone is Catholic, Maria Martha Barreneche, executive director of Scholas USA, told the Miami Herald in Spanish. Students and volunteers unveil their mural at the Scholas Ocurrente anniversary event in Telemundo. Students also had the chance to ask the pope a question: What role does Scholas education play in contributing to cross-cultural encounter and connection in this country? His answer: It creates a space for young people to not only find each other, but its also an educational proposal that respects and embraces each persons authenticity despite differences. Unfortunately, some circumstances and political measures do not help overcome the crisis of the lack of encounter between communities, but instead transform them into a maze, the pope told the students in Spanish. The lack of encounter is a situation that cannot be overcome alone; it has to be done together. Jorge Valero, 21, one of the Scholas volunteer educators at the event and a student at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, said that the popes answer was exactly what Scholas is. Scholas works to create a space to create a dialogue for students to be able to talk about what aches their hearts, what causes issues for them, Valero said. It was phenomenal to get the students to understand that there is somebody listening to them ... that their voices are being heard by people who can help them make a change. Students across the world Scholas chapters from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Spain were also tuned in to the anniversary event, and each one got to present a community project they worked on. Those in Buenos Aires talked about helping young adults from a marginalized neighborhood complete their first year of college. In Granada, Spain, volunteers founded the Be Together initiative (Estar Juntos) that connects adolescents to senior centers to keep them company. Francis says that the culture of encounter is the answer to the crisis of disconnect that we live, Barreneche said. Especially in American society, which is troubled with violence, discrimination and the lack of acceptance to differences, despite that, this country is made up of really diverse groups. To learn more For more information on Scholas, visit https://scholasoccurrentes.org/en/ By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has said an eventual return by Russia of occupied territories in Ukraine is a "political problem" to be resolved by both sides, in his first public comment on Ukraine's request for him to back its plan demanding a total Russian withdrawal. In an interview with Telemundo television, Francis did not take a position on the return of territories as a fundamental condition for peace, something on which Ukraine and many of its Western backers insist. In the interview with the U.S.-based Spanish language network, Francis was asked twice if Russia should hand back the territories. He did not address that part of the question the first time but when pressed again, he said: "It's a political issue. Peace will be achieved once they can talk to each other, face to face or through intermediaries. If they don't talk it's a political issue". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met the pope at the Vatican on May 13 and asked him to back Kyiv's peace plan, which Zelenskiy has repeatedly said is not open to negotiation. The plan calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders. At the start of the war, the pope tried to take a more balanced approach in hopes of being a mediator but later began forcefully condemning Russia's actions, comparing them to some of the worst crimes against Ukraine during the Soviet era. In the interview, conducted in Rome on Thursday and broadcast on Friday, Francis said the Ukrainian side was "not getting their hopes" with the prospects of a mediation but added that the nations supporting Ukraine had formed a "very strong" bloc. Francis has asked Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian bishops' conference, to carry out a peace mission to try to end the war. Zuppi, 67, hails from the Sant' Egidio Community, a Rome-based peace and justice group which in 1992 brokered a deal that ended the civil war in Mozambique, which had killed about a million people and displaced about 4 million others. A diplomatic source has said Zuppi would try to meet separately with Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Conor Humphries) Pope Francis attends the first World Congress of Eco-Educational Cities, at the Vatican By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis did not receive anyone in audiences on Friday because he has a fever, the Vatican said on Friday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni did not provide any further details on the health of the 86-year-old Roman Catholic leader. "Because of a fever, Pope Francis did not receive (anyone) in audiences this morning," Bruni said in response to a reporter's question on why none were listed on his daily schedule earlier in the day. Francis spent five days in a Rome hospital at the end of March for bronchitis but recovered quickly following an infusion of antibiotics and returned to his duties, including a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April. He appeared to be fatigued at a meeting with students near the Vatican on Thursday afternoon. Francis, who became pope 10 years ago, is missing part of one lung. It was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina. Since he assumed the papacy, he has had to cancel events, sometimes at the last minute, because of fevers. He was first hospitalised as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. None of the pope's scheduled events have been cancelled. He is due to preside at a Mass marking Pentecost on Sunday in St. Peter's Square and receive Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday. It was not clear if he would hold private audiences on Saturday. The Vatican announced earlier this week that the pope was expected to travel to Portugal from Aug. 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day and visit the Shrine of Fatima. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Frances Kerry) Entrance to the Port Huron Yacht Club on March 28, 2023. The Port Huron Yacht Club is celebrating 100 years this weekend. Activities at the Port Huron Yacht Club will include a flag raising ceremony, a gala, a boat race and fireworks. Commodore Tyson Connolly said the occasion marks a milestone for the yacht club. "I think there's a great sense of pride and responsibility with our current membership and leadership to maintain and build upon what our previous members and leaders have done before us," he said. "This is a pretty incredible accomplishment." Celebrations will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday with a flag raising ceremony at the Port Huron Yacht Club, located at 212 Quay St. The activities throughout the weekend are aimed for yacht club members. After the flag raising ceremony, yacht club members will hold a gala and watch presentations on the club's history. State Rep. Andrew Beeler will be in attendance as well and will present a certificate of recognition from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The flag raising ceremony is a recent tradition in the Port Huron Yacht Club. It was started in 2021 by past Commodore Pam Walls during John Anter's run as commodore. He said for the 100th anniversary, the ceremony will have all of the past commodores in uniform to help raise the United State, Canadian and Michigan flags. "It honors all of the flags and the start of the sailing season," Anter said. "It's a nice tradition for the club." On Sunday, the yacht club will have a family fun day as well as its first boat race of the year. The Blue Water Kick Off Race will start at 11 a.m. at Lakeside Park. Connolly said there are approximately 40 boats in the race. Although the weekend activities are geared toward yacht club members, the greater community can also celebrate the 100th anniversary. The Port Huron Museum will be unveiling a new exhibit about the Port Huron Yacht Club and its 100 year history on June 16. Connolly said the greater Port Huron community has shown the yacht club a lot of warmth during its tenure. He said the 100th anniversary is a reflection of how far the club has come, and a glimpse into what it can do in the future. Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron Yacht Club hosts 100th anniversary celebration A picture has been shared multiple times on social media in Nigeria alongside a claim that it shows former politician Busari Adelakun s bedroom, abandoned and overgrown with vegetation since his death in the 1980s. But this is false: one of his sons denied the claim and AFP Fact Check found that the image actually shows a room in an abandoned hotel in Japan. Nothing Last Forever!!! This is the private bedroom of Alhaji Busari Adelakun in his hometown in Lagelu Local Government area of Oyo State (sic), reads a tweet published on May 16, 2023. A screenshot showing the false tweet, taken on May 25, 2023 The post includes an image showing a bedroom overgrown with ferns and with a ceiling that looks close to caving in. Another tweet in the same thread claimed that Adelakun was feared by his opponents. The fear of Eruobodo was the beginning of wisdom in Oyo State then. He combined thuggery with politics and never hid his use of juju. In fact, he would boast and threaten to inflict his juju on opponents. When he died in 1984 his bedroom was locked as nobody was bold enough to enter the bedroom, reads another tweet in the thread. The claim also appeared elsewhere on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and a local news blog. Prominent Nigerian politician Adelakun hailed from Ejioku-Ibadan in Oyo state, in southwest Nigeria. He was known as a fearless politician and was popularly referred to by his political supporters (archived here) as Eruobodo which translates to River fears no one. Adelakun was a member of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, which held sway in most southwestern states in the 1970s. He was appointed commissioner in the old Oyo state before defecting to the National Party of Nigeria in 1983, where he helped his party win that years gubernatorial election. This was short-lived, however, following the December 1983 military coup. Adelakun died in 1984 while being detained by the then-military government led by Muhammadu Buhari. But the claim that the picture shows the current state of his bedroom is untrue. Photo from Japan Using a reverse image search, AFP Fact Check found that the picture shows a room in the now-abandoned Hachijo Royal Resort (archived here) located on the Japanese island of Hachijojima. The hotel opened in 1963 and underwent several name changes (archived here), settling on the Hachijo Oriental Resort prior to its demise and eventual closure in 2006 due to declining tourism. Using keyword searches such as abandoned hotel in Japan and Hachijo Oriental Resort, AFP Fact Check found two YouTube videos (here and here) showing the room pictured in the post as well as other parts of the hotel (archived here and here). Adelakuns son, Kunle Musediq Adelakun, released a statement to local newspapers (here and here) explaining that the image does not show his fathers bedroom (archived here and here). What was posted out for social media consumption never represented the bedroom of our father, Adelakuns son said. PRC orders EPE to give credits to New Mexicans after undercharging large customers El Paso Electric will credit people with non-commercial accounts this summer to make up for undercharging some of its large customers. This article was originally published by Source New Mexico. State officials want to make sure New Mexicans are not missing out on what could be more than $1 million because a Texas utility company was found charging incorrect rates on electric bills. Last week, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission ruled that El Paso Electric had been undercharging some of its largest customers a few years ago, consequently making other people pay higher rates. Commissioners said the undercharge created inequities in the rates that other regular El Paso Electric customers paid. Officials in Las Cruces argue the utility owes more than $1.19 million for overcharging people. The PRC ordered El Paso Electric to fix its billing mistakes by creating new discounted rates for people with non-commercial accounts and gave the Texas-based company just under a month to determine how much it will return in credits. The utility has until June 6 to file a notice with credited rates. El Paso Electric will not appeal the decision in court and is moving in motion plans to correct the charge to its customers, according to utility spokesperson Karmen Mayorga. She said the utility will credit its non-commercial customers to make up for undercharging its large customers starting July 1. Pursuant to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commissions order, El Paso Electric is to correct the underbilling of five large commercial customers and will credit the underbilled sum directly to all other customers over the course of the next year, Mayorga said via email. How this happened Utilities can charge their customers certain fees in order to meet state-required renewable energy standards. Large, nongovernmental utility customers used to have caps on how much of these fees they had to pay for utilities renewable energy requirements no more than 2% of their annual revenue. New Mexico lawmakers reversed that rule in 2019 when they amended the Renewable Energy Act. However, El Paso Electric continued to cap fees for some of its biggest customers. This matter dates back to 2018, when the PRC approved fines that El Paso Electric wanted to charge its customers in order to pay for energy from a facility in southern New Mexico. The city of Las Cruces disagreed with the fees and appealed the PRC decision with the New Mexico Supreme Court. Meanwhile, El Paso Electric charged its customers the extra fines from 2019 to 2021. In December 2021, the New Mexico Supreme Court decided that the fees were illegal. The PRC shouldnt have approved the fines because the energy costs that the utility was charging for shouldve been free under federal law, according to the court. So the public regulation commission ordered El Paso Electric to pay back its customers. In 2022, the utility returned over $600,000 to its customers in southern New Mexico. Las Cruces officials had more issues with the Texas utility company, arguing in a hearing that took place in January and February 2023 that the El Paso Electric capping fees on its largest customers since 2019 trickled into higher bills for people with smaller accounts. El Paso Electric could owe more than $1.19 million to people with accounts in southern New Mexico, said Las Cruces Utilities administrator Jose F. Provencio. El Paso Electric argued against paying it all back, saying discounted rates or credits would qualify as retroactive ratemaking, or changing rates after theyve already been set in place and charged. And, the utility argued, El Paso Electric billed people following approval in 2018 directly from the PRC. Last week, the Public Regulation Commission agreed with Las Cruces officials and ordered El Paso Electric to give its general customers credits to make up for the difference in the rates the utility charged them compared to its large customers. The PRC said since the rates were wrong in the first place, the utility needs to fix them. Commissioners also said all parties including the PRC and El Paso Electric have to follow New Mexico law, regardless of what the commission ordered in 2018. PRC attorney Russell Fisk explained this during the public meeting last week. Correcting billing to comply with the amendments to the (Renewable Energy Act) is not retroactive ratemaking, Fisk said. It is ensuring compliance with the law to which the Commission as well as EPE were and are subject. Now that El Paso Electric has to fix the incorrect charges, the city of Las Cruces also wanted the utility to skip over figuring out how much needs to be credited, since Provencios testimony with the city added up to $1,198,067 in error. The PRC disagreed. Commissioners said the utility should be able to calculate the needed billing adjustments, which El Paso Electric has about a month to do. I dont think Ive ever seen a case where the commission ordered an adjustment that would be executed by utility without letting the utility calculate the adjustment, Fisk said. Megan Gleason is a reporter for Source New Mexico. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: PRC orders El Paso Electric to give credits to customers A woman couldnt wait to attend a Nevada music festival she frequents yearly but her latest experience was a little different, news outlets reported. Cristina Celis made the trip from Santa Clarita, California, to Las Vegas for the highlight of her year the Electric Daisy Carnival, FOX 5 reported. Celis attended the festival with her boyfriend while about 32 weeks pregnant, according to Fox 5. Celis was watching the DJ Zedd perform on May 20 when she started to feel different, KSNV reported. Vibing to the music, listening and then I just get like this random weird feeling, Celis told the outlet. So, I decided to go to first aid to get assessed. Then they transferred me to the main first aid tent. After being evaluated, she was sent by ambulance to the University Medical Center, according to FOX 5. Within 15 minutes after arriving, Izzabella Daisy Garcia was born six weeks early. We added the extra Z in honor for Zedd because thats technically where she went into labor, Celis boyfriend told KSNV. We put Daisy for the Electric Daisy Carnival, so thats why we put Daisy as her middle name. Zedd wanted to be part of the celebration, too. The DJ posted on Twitter asking his followers to help locate the woman who had given birth during his show so he could offer a proper congratulations. I heard someone gave birth at the stage DURING MY SHOW. Can someone pls help me find the person? Id like to reach out! https://t.co/rLWiOPRVok Zedd (@Zedd) May 22, 2023 Now the familys main focus is staying in Nevada until their daughter can be released in four to six weeks, according to a GoFundMe page. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but not her daughter, shes coming with us the couple told KSNV. Video shows mom race from giving birth to her NC graduation. TikTok cant get enough Mom gives birth in a tent and leaves baby on 15-degree day, NH cops say. 2 arrests made Woman gives birth in woods but waits hour to lead police to infant, New Hampshire cops say The scribes use different pens for each colour used in the text Armed with a bamboo ink pen and a steady hand, Ethiopian Orthodox priest Zelalem Mola carefully copies text in the ancient Ge'ez language from a religious book onto a goatskin parchment. This painstaking task is preserving an ancient tradition, all the while bringing him closer to God, says the 42-year-old. At the Hamere Berhan Institute in Addis Ababa, priests and lay worshippers work by hand to replicate sometimes centuries-old religious manuscripts and sacred artwork. The parchments, pens and inks are all prepared at the institute, which lies in the Piasa district in the historic heart of the Ethiopian capital. Yeshiemebet Sisay, 29, who is in charge of communications at Hamere Berhan, says the work began four years ago. "Ancient parchment manuscripts are disappearing from our culture, which motivated us to start this project," she says. The precious works are kept mainly in monasteries, where prayers or religious chants are conducted using only parchment rather than paper manuscripts. "However, this custom is rapidly fading... We thought if we could learn skills from our priests, we could work on it ourselves, so that is how we began," adds Yeshiemebet. - 'It's hard work' - In the institute's courtyard, workers stretch the goatskins tightly over metal frames to dry under a weak sun which barely pierces the milky sky. "After the goatskin is immersed in the water for three to four days, we make holes on the edge of the skin and tie it to the metal so that it can stretch," says Tinsaye Chere Ayele. "After that, we remove the extra layer of fat on the skin's inside to make it clean." Alongside two other colleagues, the 20-year-old carries out his task using a makeshift scraper, seemingly oblivious to the stench emanating from the animal hide. Once clean and dry, the skins are stripped of the goat hair and then cut to the desired size for use as pages of a book or for painting. Yeshiemebet says most of the manuscripts are commissioned by individuals who then donate them to churches or monasteries. Some customers order for themselves small collections of prayers or paintings to have "reproductions of ancient Ethiopian works", she adds. "Small books can take one or two months. If it is a collective work, large books can take one to two years. "If it's an individual task, it can take even longer," she says, leafing through books clad in red leather, their texts adorned with brightly coloured illuminations and religious images. Sitting in one of the institute's rooms, with parchment pages placed on his knees, Zelalem patiently copies a book entitled "Zena Selassie" ("History of the Trinity"). "It is going to take a lot of time. It's hard work, starting with the preparation of the parchment and the inks. This one could take up to six months to complete," the priest says. "We make a stylus from bamboo, sharpening the tip with a razor blade." The scribes use different pens for each colour used in the text -- black or red -- and either a fine or broad tip, with the inks made from various local plants. - 'Talking to saints and God' - Like most other religious works, "Zena Selassie" is written in Ge'ez. This dead language remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and its alpha syllabic system -- where the characters represent syllables -- is still used to write Ethiopia's national language Amharic as well as Tigrinya, which is spoken in Tigray and neighbouring Eritrea. "We copy from paper to parchment to preserve (the writings) as the paper book can be easily damaged, while this one will last a long time if we protect it from water and fire," says Zelalem. Replicating the manuscripts "needs patience and focus. It begins with a prayer in the morning, at lunchtime, and ends with prayer." "It is difficult for an individual to write and finish a book, just to sit the whole day, but thanks to our devotion, a light shines brightly within us," Zelalem adds. "It takes so much effort that it makes us worthy in the eyes of God." This spiritual dimension also guides Lidetu Tasew, who is in charge of education and training at the institute, where he teaches painting and illuminations. "Spending time here painting saints is like talking to saints and to God," says the 26-year-old, who was brought up in a church. "We have been taught that wherever we paint saints, there is the spirit of God." ayv/txw/np/leg I experienced the true opportunity of the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary recently, and was reminded just how important it is not just for New Hampshire. For most of my life, Ive experienced the presidential primary process as either a reporter or a political operative, of some kind. As a matter of fact, since I was a teenager and before I could vote, this is the first Republican presidential primary process that Im just a voter. Not in the media, not in the industry of politics. No responsibility beyond deciding who Im going to vote for. Im excited to experience the process, the way Granite Staters have been doing for generations. Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos Ive met many presidential candidates as a reporter and working in the political industry. But my questions to them were always what I thought would be of interest to others, not necessarily what I was interested in personally. I also couldnt share my opinions, because journalists shouldnt do that, or, because whatever I said could effect whomever I was working for. Now, I am free to ask what I want and provide feedback as I personally choose. And, I am acutely aware that this process really only happens in New Hampshire. Former Vice President Mike Pence visited the Granite State this month and thanks to the person a Boston Globe writer once dubbed the concierge to candidates," Dovers Matt Mayberry, I joined him and a handful of others at Genos Chowder and Sandwich Shop in Portsmouth. (The best fish chowder outside of my own kitchen.) It was an intimate gathering. Mr. Pence had a cup of chowder. It was casual. He didnt know where any of us stood on various issues, but engaged in conversation and answered our questions. Not like answering questions at a town hall or debate, more like, just chatting with friends at lunch. Im not sure all of us agreed with everything he said, but he said it comfortably. It was polite. No one was doing anything for the cameras, the media wasnt invited. For my part, I was able to do something Ive wanted to do for two years now. I wanted to thank him for his courage on Jan. 6, 2021. I wanted to thank him for protecting our democratic process. I was given that opportunity and I took it. I left with three thoughts: 1. Mike Pence is a great man. 2. I cant wait to have these kinds of discussions with other candidates. 3. I can actually have these kinds of conversations with candidates, because Im in New Hampshire! When the Democratic National Committee ruled to take away our first-in-the-nation primary status, it missed this experience that thousands of Granite Staters have each presidential cycle. And it's not just a service to us, its a role we proudly take, to inform others. Any state can do that! No, any state cant. Other states are simply too big. Too many media markets. Most other little states are too partisan. The fact 40% or so of our electorate are undeclared/independent and can actually vote in primaries is another example of how we properly represent the rest of the country. The DNC has declared South Carolina the first primary for the Democratic Party, not that it matters for 2024, because the incumbent is a Democrat. But, for the future, South Carolina first doesnt work as well as New Hampshire. Ive worked there and it is simply not as personal. Events are staged and larger. There are multiple media markets candidates have to hit for coverage and pay to advertise in. There are four times the amount of people, which is four times the mail, the social media, etc. Im not getting a cup of chowder with a candidate and getting unprepared answers to unexpected questions in South Carolina. No regular person is. We vet candidates in New Hampshire. We have the ability to do that and candidates have the ability to show us who they really are and thereby, to the rest of the country. Little-known candidates like that obscure Arkansas governor, who no one had heard of, named Bill Clinton, can become president because the nation can learn about him through New Hampshire. Do you know Gov. Bill Clinton and every Democratic candidate that year gave me an interview for my high school newspaper, The Winnachronicle? Youth will not be engaged that way in South Carolina. The New Hampshire secretary of state says we will host both the Republican and Democratic primaries first, even though at the moment that means Joe Biden wont be on the ballot. I will be attending events with every GOP candidate that I can, except Trump because I already know what kind of president he would be and possibly except Niki Haley if I keep getting so many texts. Multiple texts per day is going to make me reply STOP." Do you really want we undecided Republicans to reply STOP?" Seriously. Stop. Who will I end up voting for? Mike Pence is certainly on the maybe list. But, before I decide, I look forward to more cups of chowder proverbial or literal so I can learn about the person behind the podium, without the podium, and as is every Granite Stater's duty, Ill share my personal thoughts for those in places like South Carolina, who don't have that opportunity. Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. Shes a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Preston Xanthopoulos: NH primary offers chance to thank Mike Pence Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) Super Typhoon Mawar now called Betty entered the country's weather monitoring area early Saturday morning, the state weather bureau reported. The weather bureau earlier warned that Signal No. 3 could be the highest alert raised over the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes. In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Betty was last located 1,475 kilometers east of Central Luzon. The storm has a strength of 205 km/h near its center, and gustiness of up to 250 km/h. Betty was projected to remain within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) for three to five days. It was also forecast to remain as a super typhoon until Monday before getting weaker. The storm is the second to enter the PAR in 2023, and the first for the month of May. This story will be updated. The civil trial has just finished its third week, and will return again in June, when Prince Harry is expected to give evidence in the High Court - Victoria Jones/PA The Duke of Sussex has lost a legal application in his phone-hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). It comes just days after a judge denied the Dukes application for a legal challenge in his separate legal case against the Home Office. David Sherborne, the lawyer representing Prince Harry and several other claimants against MGN, made an application to enter three new witness statements into evidence on Friday morning. He argued the evidence is important and that there was good reason why the statements had not been provided sooner. The witnesses all came forward since the trial began on May 10, and David Sherborne (pictured) argued this was due to claims put forward on the publishers behalf they believe are untrue - Jeff Gilbert However, Mr Justice Fancourt rejected the applications, saying it comes very late and requires a degree of investigation on the part of the defendant in order to be able to deal with it. The witnesses all came forward since the trial began on May 10, and Mr Sherborne argued this was due to claims put forward on the publishers behalf they believe are untrue. I do not consider it would be in the interest of fairness of the trial as a whole that this new evidence be admitted at such a late stage, Mr Fancourt said, explaining his judgement. The civil trial has just finished its third week, and will return again in June, when Prince Harry is expected to give evidence in the High Court. Days after another denial The application rejections in his Mirror trial comes days after a judge denied the Dukes application for a legal challenge in his separate legal case against the Home Office. The Duke was not entitled to make personal representations over the decision to deny him the right to pay for his police protection, the judge said on Tuesday. He had applied for a judicial review based on his offer to pay, which he claimed should have prompted the Home Office to quash and retake its decision. Hugh Grant denied Meanwhile, Hugh Grant has been denied the chance to take separate phone-hacking claims against the publisher of The Sun newspaper to trial. Mr Grant, 62, is bringing legal action alleging he was targeted by journalists and private investigators against News Group Newspapers (NGN) in relation to The Sun only, having previously settled a claim with the publisher in 2012 relating to the now defunct News Of The World. NGN, which denies any unlawful activity took place at The Sun, brought a bid to have both Mr Grants claim and a similar claim by the Duke of Sussex thrown out at a hearing in London last month, arguing that both men had left it too late to file their claims. In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt concluded Mr Grants claim could proceed to trial, except for any allegations relating to phone hacking. Other claims will have to be tried The judge found that Mr Grant could have brought a claim for phone hacking sooner, as he had knowledge of it, but that his other claims will have to be tried. Mr Grant, who attended court for some of last months hearing, alleges among other things that he was targeted using burglaries to order. In a witness statement, the Love Actually star said: My claim concerns unlawful acts committed by The Sun, including burglaries to order, the breaking and entering of private property in order to obtain private information through bugging, landline tapping, phone hacking, and the use of private investigators to do all these and other illegal things against me. 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. Federal prisons have long been promised as economic boons to Eastern Kentucky communities looking to replace some of the local dollars lost with the continued decline of the coal industry. A recent study from Kentucky Center for Economic Policy questions that logic. Using U.S. Census data from the three Eastern Kentucky counties where federal prisons have been built in recent decades, the study concludes the prisons pitched as job creators for locals have provided little in the way of economic benefit. But some local county officials have said theyve seen some positive economic outcomes from the prisons, including revenue from occupational taxes and some local hiring. Since 1990, at least seven prisons a mix of federal, state and privately operated have opened in Eastern Kentucky. Three of those prisons, located in Clay, Martin and McCreary counties, are federal. There is a fourth federal facility in Boyd County but it opened in 1940. The study comes months after federal officials revived plans to build a federal prison facility in Letcher County when they announced they were again looking at potential prison locations in the southeastern Kentucky county. A previous years-long plan to build a federal prison there was scrapped in 2019 in the face of local pushback. Could a new $444 million Kentucky prison get held up by inmates worried about bats, wetlands? We wanted to look into what the track record has been, so that folks can make the best decision moving forward about what makes sense, said Jason Bailey, one of the studys authors and the executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. What does the study say? Three counties with federal prisons Clay, Martin and McCreary have all experienced continued population loss since prisons opened in those counties, the study said. The prison in Clay County opened in 1992, while the prisons in Martin and McCreary opened in quick succession in the early 2000s. The poverty rates in those counties have also remained high. When United States Penitentiary Big Sandy opened in Martin County in 2003, the poverty rate was below 30%. In the two decades since, the countys poverty rate has spiked above 40% three different times, most recently in 2021. Over the past three decades, the median household income in all three counties has remained relatively flat. Out of over 3,000 counties nationwide, all three counties rank in the bottom 30 in median household income. Since we have two to three decades of experience now with these three federal prisons, we have enough time to understand what the impact is, Bailey said. Its just not able to in any way stem the out migration, the drop in employment, and the ongoing alarmingly high poverty rates and low incomes in Eastern Kentucky. A graph showing poverty rates over time in Eastern Kentucky counties where federal prisons have been built or may be built. What do local officials say? The high security penitentiary in McCreary County has provided some jobs locally but hasnt had the huge economic impact that was forecast previously, said Jimmie Greene, the countys judge-executive. In recent years quite a bit more local people have been hired at the prison and the county does get a little under $400,000 annually in occupational tax revenue, Greene estimated. As far as the countys median income, Greene said the prisons population may lower that data point. The U.S. Census counts prison populations within the county where theyre located. In a county of 17,000, a population of 1,500 incarcerated people will bring down your median income. Carolea Mills, the deputy judge-executive in Martin County, told the Herald-Leader the prison there had been an overall positive addition. A lot more job opportunities will be open there in the near future as some of the employees of the 20-year-old prison reach retirement, Mills said. Public officials in Letcher County also praised a potential prisons economic impact during a public scoping meeting held in the county in November, the Mountain Eagle reported. Terry Adams, the countys judge-executive, said he supported the prison. Former state Rep. Angie Hatton also said she supported it. Some local citizens at the meeting asked that the nearly $500 million designated for the prisons construction be used instead to rebuild housing and infrastructure in the wake of last Julys deadly flooding, a Bureau of Prisons summary of the meeting said. Only Congress can redirect those funds, the bureau noted in response. Priyanka Chopra recalls the 'dehumanizing' moment a director demanded to see her underwear on set Priyanka Chopra recalls the 'dehumanizing' moment a director demanded to see her underwear on set Priyanka Chopra recalled a Bollywood director once said he needed to "see her underwear" on set. She explained that as part of the scene she had to seduce somebody and take her clothes off. The actor called it a "dehumanizing" moment. Priyanka Chopra Jones has become one of the most famous actors on the planet thanks to a hugely successful Bollywood career, as well as finding success in Hollywood with projects like "We Can Be Heroes," "The Matrix: Revolutions" and Amazon's "Citadel" series. But speaking to The Zoe Report in an interview published earlier this week, Chopra Jones recalled how she once worked on a project on which she heard the director demanding to see her underwear during a scene. Although the "Love Again" star didn't name the director, or which film it was, she explained that she was meant to be "seducing" someone as an undercover agent in the scene. "I'm undercover, I'm seducing the guy obviously that's what girls do when they're undercover. But I'm seducing the guy and you have to take off one piece of clothing," Chopra Jones explained. The star recalled that the director was adamant about seeing her underwear in the scene. She said: "I wanted to layer up. The filmmaker was like, 'No, I need to see her underwear. Otherwise, why is anybody coming to watch this movie?'" Chopra Jones pointed out that the director didn't say this to her, but to a stylist in front of her, which she called "dehumanizing." "It was such a dehumanizing moment. It was a feeling of, 'I'm nothing else outside of how I can be used, my art is not important, what I contribute is not important,'" she said. Unsurprisingly, the actor didn't want to continue working on the project after the incident, and left after being on set for two days, noting that she "just couldn't look at him every day." The Zoe Report also noted that Chopra Jones personally paid back the production company the money they'd spent on the film. The star also spoke about the challenges she's faced in her career, saying that she's been "scrutinized" since she first started working. "I was 17 years old when I started doing this. I've been picked apart my actions, decisions have been scrutinized," said Chopra Jonas. Read the original article on Insider Prosecutors ask for extension in release in Mark Sievers case after convictions affirmed The state is asking for an extension to a request that they forward documentation related to a Bonita Springs man accused of arranging his wife's murder in 2015. The state is asking for a three-month extension in the release of files including an excess of 80,000 pages of discovery, more than 60 depositions, hours of audio and millions of videos in the case Mark Sievers, 55, to the repository of the Secretary of State, which oversees executions. Mark Sievers is on death row, convicted of plotting to murder his wife, Teresa Sievers. His initial death row appeal was denied last year. The Florida Supreme Court later affirmed his convictions. The delay will allow prosecutors to prepare thousands of documents related to the case, which the Secretary of State will evaluate. According to the motion filed Monday, the state has prepared a hard drive that contains all the records to be transmitted, but hasn't reviewed most of the documents to sort, label or categorize. Mark Sievers' attorneys agreed with prosecutors' request, records indicate. Jury recommends death penalty: Jury recommends death for Joseph Zieler in decades-old Cape Coral double homicide Former deputy sentenced: Fired Lee County deputy sentenced in wrongful arrest plot On Feb. 10, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree murder conviction, corresponding death sentence and conviction for conspiracy to commit murder in the case against Sievers. The state affirmed the charges a week after appointing the Office of the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel Southern Region to handle Sievers' postconviction proceedings. A jury convicted Sievers on Dec. 4, 2019, in the slaying of Teresa Sievers, a 46-year-old Southwest Florida doctor. On June 28, 2015, Teresa Sievers left a family vacation and returned alone to her Bonita Springs home. After she pulled into the garage, retrieved her luggage and walked into the house, Curtis Wayne Wright and Jimmy Ray Rodgers beat her in the head with hammers. Court records indicate the plot began weeks earlier, when Mark Sievers traveled to Missouri for Wrights May wedding. Wright agreed to "take care of it" for at least $100,000 in life insurance proceeds, the records show. Wright later recruited Rodgers. Lee Circuit Judge Bruce Kyle sentenced Rodgers to life in prison, convicted of second-degree murder and trespassing by a Lee County jury in October 2019. On Feb. 10, 2020, Kyle sentenced Wright to 25 years for his role in Teresa Sievers' murder. Over the past few months, Sievers has sought to reverse a recent ruling, claiming a lack of evidence. A motion filed Dec. 1, 2022, claimed the court dismissed two 2016 interviews with Wright a full video and a short excerpted clip, both exhibits in the case. Sievers asked to include an excerpt of a February 2016 meeting where Wright attempts to negotiate terms of a plea deal to spare his wife, who was suspected of being involved. The exclusion of the "crucial" video evidence violated Sievers constitutional rights under the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, the motion argued. The motion also addressed the exclusion of a neighbor's testimony recounting snippets of an argument she overheard between husband and wife a weeks before the murder. Sievers' defense said the court overlooked the possibility that the jury improperly used the testimony to corroborate Wright's testimony as to Sievers motivation. Sievers' lawyers said Wrights testimony alone doesn't satisfy the Constitutional standards to justify Sievers conviction and death sentence given the lack of corroboration, the terms of the deal made with Wright, and his alleged propensity to lie to the police and prosecutors. Sievers' death row appeal was denied in November. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Prosecution seeks extension in release of Mark Sievers files Alberto Sierra Jr allegedly killed the 5-year-old boy whose body was found in a toolbag along a highway in Sterling after the child asked him to stop hurting his mother, prosecutors revealed in court Friday. Prosecutors say Sierra and his then-girlfriend Elsa Oliver were in the midst of a physical altercation in September 2013 when Jeremiah Oliver approached Sierra. Jeremiah, who was living and sleeping in a kitchen closet at the time due to perceived behavioral issues, allegedly told Sierra Dont hurt my mommy after the Fitchburg man headbutted the boys mother. Sierra then allegedly grabbed Jeremiahs head and slammed it against the floor. Prosecutors told Judge Karin Bell that Sierra placed Oliver, who was not moving, back into the closet area. The next day, Jeremiah was not breathing, prosecutors said. This allegedly prompted Sierra and Elsa Oliver to dispose of the body. Jeremiah was reported missing after his sister told Fitchburg school officials that Sierra was abusing the children and she had not seen her brother for weeks. Assistant District Attorney Courtney Lynn Sans outlined that Sierra allegedly repeatedly moved Jeremiahs body. She says Sierra first removed the body once he became aware that officials may have become aware of Jeremiahs disappearance. She detailed that the bag in which Jeremiahs body was eventually found on the side of Interstate 190 in Sterling was owned by Sierra. Family members allegedly saw Sierra, a mechanic, use the bag to transport his tools to work. Sierra appeared to lose strength in his knees while his defense attorney argued that Sierra would benefit from a release on probation to care for his advanced case of rheumatoid arthritis. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Jeremiahs death to be a homicide and listed the cause of death as homicidal violence of undetermined etiology. Prosecutors, Fitchburg police, and state police detectives assigned to the DAs office continued working the case, and on Wednesday, May 17, announced the additional murder charge against Sierra. No bail for Fitchburg man charged in murder of 5-year-old boy whose remains were found in suitcase In 2017, Sierra pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery, and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child. The seven charges stemmed from incidents involving his girlfriend, Elsa Oliver, and two of her three kids. He was sentenced to six to seven years in state prison with three years of probation. Elsa pleaded guilty to assault and battery and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child in August 2017. Jeremiahs death led to intense scrutiny of the Department of Children and Families. A caseworker had been assigned to the Oliver family and the worker hadnt noticed Jeremiah was missing for several months. Sierra was held without bail Friday on charges of murder and disinterment of a body. He is next due to appear in court on June 28 for a pretrial conference. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton could become the third official in the states history to be impeached. After months investigating the elected official, a panel of lawmakers on Thursday recommended impeaching Paxton, who has long been under criminal indictment and at the center of a whistle blower lawsuit. The committee, which includes Fort Worth Republican Charlie Geren, heard hours of testimony on Wednesday from lawyers who detailed years of corruption allegations related to his felony securities fraud indictment, as well as the whistle blower suit where Paxton was accused of retaliating against employees who reported him to the FBI. The lawsuit was settled for $3.3 million to be funded with taxpayer dollars, which recieved opposition from House Speaker Dade Phelan. Wednesdays hearing and the investigation accumulated in Thursdays unanimous decision to recommend Paxtons indictment. The articles were released for review Thursday evening. Read the articles of impeachment I rely on Trader Joe's for easy-to-prepare meals and snacks for 2. Here are the 17 staples I swear by. I've been to Trader Joe's often and I've developed a solid list of go-to items from the chain. Melissa Curtin I shop at Trader Joe's for two recently, we had no kitchen for a year during a remodel. We used a lot of simple, premade ingredients from Trader Joe's and our grill to prepare meals. I love Trader Joe's salad with BBQ-flavored chicken, Romano Caesar dressing, and burrata. I've been grocery shopping at Trader Joe's for as long as I can remember. I've frequented many Trader Joe's across Southern California as I believe the chain's prices are better compared to local grocery stores of similar quality. Plus the chain's changing seasonal items always make me excited to eat and cook something new. Recently, my husband and I didn't have a kitchen for close to a year due to extensive renovations in our home. During that time, we cooked with a Weber grill (with a griddle) in our backyard, used a refrigerator we plugged in outside, and washed dishes in a utility sink in our garage. I often prepared meals on top of our washer and dryer. It wasn't ideal, but we quickly developed a solid list of grocery staples from Trader Joe's that prioritized simple and convenient recipes, snacks, and meals. I make healthy meals with Norwegian farm-raised salmon fillets. Salmon fillets can be cooked on a grill. Melissa Curtin I used to only buy wild-caught salmon but I think Trader Joe's farm-raised Atlantic salmon has a far superior fresh taste and is moister and flakier. Cooking the salmon is simple all we do is squeeze on some lemon juice, sprinkle on salt and pepper, and pop the fillets on the grill with the skin side down for a few minutes. Sometimes I make an easy dipping sauce for it using Greek yogurt, dill, and salt. Pair the salmon with grilled vegetables or serve leftover pieces with scrambled eggs in the morning. Trader Joe's bool kogi can be the star of a meal. Bool kogi is grilled beef. Melissa Curtin I use the Korean-inspired sesame-marinated bool kogi as a main dish. The meat is tender and juicy with a sweet-savory taste similar to the "fire meat" found at a Korean BBQ restaurant. Since the beef is already seasoned and marinated, all you have to do is fire the meat up on the grill and slice. It's perfect on a salad or in a sandwich. I make sandwiches with shaved beef steak. Trader Joe's shaved beef steak makes for a great sandwich. Melissa Curtin I really like the shaved beef from Trader Joe's and I use it to make steak-and-cheese sandwiches that remind me of my East Coast roots. To make, grill half a diced yellow onion, then add the shaved meat to the grill. The meat only needs about five minutes or less to cook if you keep moving it around. Top the meat with Trader Joe's shredded Swiss and Gruyere or Trader Joe's sliced provolone and let it melt. Finally, toast ciabatta rolls on the grill with some butter and stuff them with your filling. The whole package of meat makes about four stuffed sandwiches. Trader Joe's Argentinian red shrimp are the best for quesadillas. Trader Joe's Argentinian red shrimp tastes better than some lobster I've had. Melissa Curtin I think the wild-caught frozen shrimp tastes super fresh once defrosted from the bag, which comes with 20 to 25 shrimp for about $12. The shrimp are already peeled, deveined, and tail-free so you only have to defrost them ahead of time and grill. We often use the shrimp to make easy quesadillas. Just grill thinly chopped garlic and onions in butter, then add shrimp. Cook the protein on both sides for four to five minutes. Then, pop a tortilla on the grill and throw shredded cheese inside. Once the cheese starts to melt, toss five or six shrimp into the quesadilla. Fold in half, then grill each side for a few minutes. Serve with sour cream. Trader Joe's salad with BBQ-flavored chicken is our favorite when we're in a rush. Trader Joe's salad with BBQ-flavored chicken is so easy to prepare. Melissa Curtin Our favorite Trader Joe's grab-and-go salad when we have no time to prepare a meal is the variety with BBQ-flavored chicken. The tortilla strips, corn, black beans, spicy chicken, and Monterey Jack combine to create a delicious medley. I think the combo of barbecue sauce and ranch that comes with the salad can be overwhelming, though, so use your toppers in moderation. We also regularly make Caesar salads. Caesar salads were a weekly staple in our house for a while. Melissa Curtin For our base, we cut or rip romaine hearts and douse them with Trader Joe's Romano Caesar dressing. Then we add a lot of cracked pepper and a giant handful of shredded Parmesan. We also top our Caesar with anchovies. Flat filet Anchovies are the best enhancement for a Caesar salad. Trader Joe's sells Cento anchovies. Melissa Curtin These salty anchovies in a tin of olive oil are just under $2. I use them to finish off my previously mentioned Caesar salad. After peeling back the lid of the anchovies, I drip the anchovy oil into the salad, then toss all ingredients together. I also sprinkle extra anchovies on top. They're also perfect for a snack or to top on baguette bread with burrata or tomato. When grilled, Trader Joe's sweet mini peppers have so much flavor. When ready to eat, hold the stem and take a bite. Melissa Curtin We grilled a lot of produce when our kitchen was under construction and we usually just added salt, pepper, and olive oil to them. Some of our favorites were Trader Joe's thin asparagus, eggplant (sliced), cremini mushrooms, and mini peppers. The peppers were the stars of the show since they tasted sweet and super flavorful when grilled. No need to slice them up, either. Just grill the whole baby pepper until it's charred. Italian dry salame has been a weekly staple for us. Salame can be the star of any sandwich. Melissa Curtin Columbus reduced-sodium Italian dry salame is always an easy snack to eat on its own or with slices of cheese. We often make easy-to-grab sandwiches on Trader Joe's pull-apart Aloha rolls using just salame, dijon mustard, and sharp cheddar. Trader Joe's burrata balls taste so fresh and enhance tomatoes or grilled peaches. Burrata is so easy to dress up. Melissa Curtin The chain's burrata come in a pack of two mozzarella balls filled with cream. The quality is better than any I've tried elsewhere and often beats the taste of most I've sampled in restaurants. The beauty of burrata is it can be used in so many ways. We often use it as a delicious base for grilled peaches or fresh tomatoes. To serve, drizzle a split-open burrata ball with olive oil and balsamic. Pair with greens or basil for an added touch. Truffle mousse pate with crackers is a satisfying, easy snack. Trader Joe's truffle mousse pate is good with crackers. Melissa Curtin We've regularly had this pate made with chicken liver, sherry wine, mushrooms, and truffles as a snack. The rich, umami flavor is great. I'm iron deficient so maybe that is why I crave this snack, as chicken liver provides a nice dose of iron. It's also just so easy to eat. Peel back the little layer of gelatin on top of the pate, then spread on crackers. The pub cheese with cheddar and horseradish is a great midday pick-me-up. There are a few varieties of pub cheese out there. Melissa Curtin Another regular snack we devoured is the Rondele pub cheese an invention of creamy flavors like blue cheese, sharp cheddar, and horseradish. I love that the horseradish gives the cheesy dip such a nice kick. Trader Joe's honey-wheat pretzel sticks pair well with the pub cheese. Trader Joe's honey-wheat pretzel sticks are crunchy and slightly sweet. Melissa Curtin The Trader Joe's honey-wheat pretzel sticks are a perfectly crunchy vehicle for all sorts of dips. I especially like pairing them with the aforementioned pub cheese. Volpi's Roltini snacks are great for a quick bite. Volpi snacks have prosciutto and mozzarella. Melissa Curtin These cheese sticks wrapped in prosciutto from Volpi are an easy 140-calorie snack. They are individually packaged, a solid source of protein protein, and so good on the go. Trader Joe's brownie-crisp coffee ice-cream sandwiches are the best late-night treat. There are four in a box of Trader Joe's brownie-crisp coffee ice-cream sandwiches. Melissa Curtin These treats always seem to do the trick on a hot summer day when I'm craving a late-night dessert. I love how the chocolate-chip brownie crisp holds the coffee ice cream, which tastes creamy and homemade. Mango cream bars are refreshing on hot days. Trader Joe's mango cream bars are great for hot weather. Melissa Curtin Trader Joe's creamy bars are a mix of mango sorbet and vanilla ice cream, which makes them a perfect refresher for a hot day. The $3.50 box comes with six bars. Crispy dark-chocolate-chunk almond cookies are the best dessert. Trader Joe's dark-chocolate-chunk almond cookies are easy to eat in one bite. Melissa Curtin Trader Joe's buttery crisp cookies are small so it's easy for me to eat a few without feeling guilty ... although it's hard to not want to eat the whole tub. These cookies have a good crunch and are loaded with dark-chocolate chunks and almond pieces. Click to keep reading Trader Joe's diaries like this one. Read the original article on Insider The Louisville police officer who was injured in a mass shooting at Old National Bank in April has started walking again with the support of a harness as he regains strength in his legs, the Louisville Metro Police Department said in an update Thursday. Nickolas Wilt is showing remarkable progress in his recovery, according to a release from his family on the LMPD Facebook page. Wilt is also responding more consistently to yes and no questions, indicating improvement in his cognitive function, the post said. He is also brushing his teeth with minimal assistance, showing an increasing level of independence. The family said the support and prayers for Wilt have been crucial in his recovery. Officer Wilts progress is truly inspiring, and his determination is a testament to his resilience, the post said. The journey towards full recovery may still be ongoing, but every day brings new advancements and achievements. Five people were killed during the shooting on April 10 that injured Wilt. The shooter, Connor Sturgeon, was an employee at the bank. He was also killed by police during the shooting. Miami-Dade County artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada wants you to wipe your neck with his latest artwork. At the Coral Gables Museum on Thursday, Cortada unveiled a series of paintings highlighting the threat of extreme heat in Miami. He also revealed a cooling towel, printed with one of his designs, which he hopes will keep people cool this summer. Cortada designed the towels with Mission, a New York company that makes cooling gear for athletes and outdoor workers. Mission will donate 3,000 towels to the county to hand out to its employees and residents. The company will be selling the towels online and donate the proceeds to Cortadas nonprofit foundation to support its Keep Cool Miami-Dade campaign. Im trying to get people to understand that our communities are vulnerable, said Cortada, a University of Miami professor and fulltime artist. The cooling towels arent just for better performance, if youre an athlete running a mile or playing tennis. The cooling towels are also necessary if youre working outdoors as a street vendor in la Calle Ocho and its just too hot. Cortada found inspiration for his art in Miami-Dades extreme heat action plan, which lays out the damage heat does to public health and the local economy. Heat kills 34 people a year countywide and sends hundreds more to hospitals, according to a 2022 report accompanying the plan. It also costs an estimated $10 billion a year in lost productivity to employers in the county, according to a separate report by the Adrienne Arsht Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. Jane Gilbert, the countys chief heat officer and one of the authors of the countys heat plan, said she was pleased to see Cortadas visual representation of her work. I try a lot to reach people through facts and figures, she said. But art is another way of reaching peoples hearts. Coping with a warming planet Miami is already hot, and its only getting hotter. An average day in Miami-Dade is nearly three degrees hotter than it was in the 1970s, according to the countys heat action plan. And the hottest days are becoming more common. Back in 1960, Miami-Dade saw roughly 85 days a year when the temperature reached 90 degrees. Today, its 133 days a year. By 2050, it could be 187 days, according to the county report. Cortada, the countys first artist-in-residence, said he chose to design a cooling towel because its a way of coping with a warming world a metaphor for the many ways South Florida will have to adapt to climate change. One coping strategy is giving outdoor workers access to the same gear elite athletes use to cool off during games. Chris Valletta, a former National Football League offensive lineman, founded Mission in 2009 to make cooling towels and clothing for athletes like tennis star Serena Williams, professional quarterback Drew Brees and Miami Heat basketball legend Dwyane Wade. Chris Valletta, founder of Mission, a maker of apparel to help people stay cool on hot days, talks to guests during an event in Coral Gables where artist Xavier Cortada unveiled decorative cooling towels he created in partnership with Mission. But the company soon expanded to offer the same gear to workers who push their bodies just as hard in the sun. Mission makes shirts, socks, gloves and helmet liners for companies like UPS, Halliburton and U.S. Steel. If you strip away the sport and the fan base and you just look at the conditions that someone like Serena Williams and a UPS driver are in, theyre very similar, Valletta said. In many cases, the UPS driver has a much longer match ahead of him or her. Theyve got eight-hour shifts, jumping in and out of hot trucks, running up and down delivering packages, carrying big loads. Keep cool Miami-Dade Sales from Missions new line of Cortada-designed cooling towels will fund the Cortada Foundation, which just launched its Keep Cool Miami-Dade campaign. As part of the campaign, Cortada, Valletta and Gilbert will host a conversation with police, firefighters, doctors and outdoor workers about extreme heat at the Coral Gables Museum on Friday. Theyll also invite families to come to the museum on Saturday to create videos about their experiences with heat and share them online. Cortada also plans to host pop-up events at farmers markets, museums and shopping centers throughout the summer to teach Miami-Dade residents how they can stay safe on hot days. His foundation has launched a #KeepCoolMiamiDade campaign on social media to encourage Miamians to share their strategies for beating the heat. Miami-Dade artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada shows off his cooling towel designed to help people stay cool in the countys increasing number of days of extreme heat. Lets learn together about heat so that youre aware and if you see someone with heat exhaustion, you can intervene and prevent it, Cortada said. Personification of heat Looming over Cortadas event Thursday at the Coral Gables Museum were three large paintings warning about the threat of heat in Miami. One, titled The Personification of Heat, shows the faces of anger, sorrow and despair that Cortada said represent the effects of heat. Another, titled A Human Heat Map, depicts a diverse array of Miamians suffering under the sun, to illustrate how every community in the county has to deal with the dangers of extreme heat. Finally, Scorching Heat features an ominous sun painted in all black. Its a sun, but its a tortured sun, Cortada said. Its a conduit for death, suffering and destroyed economies. His goal, he said, is not to let anybody off the hook for facing the local threat of heat, which is the most immediate effect of climate change Miami is facing. You may think, Ill be dead by then. Thats what I used to hear when I talked about sea level rise, Cortada said. But the heat can kill you at 3 p.m. with a heatstroke. This climate report is funded by Florida International University, the Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all content. A popular web-based platform for vacation rentals announced this week it was cracking down on parties ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Airbnb said in a statement it will enforce its no party rules on Airbnb rentals in Kentucky and across the country. With the summer holidays approaching, we are announcing measures aimed at reducing the risk of disruptive and unauthorized parties in Kentucky, as we continue to draw a hard line on parties and promote responsible travel, according to an Airbnb spokesperson. The platform will not allow certain 1-night and 2-night reservations over both Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July weekend for entire home listings in Kentucky and throughout the United States. The platform piloted the block last year and estimates that it may have stopped at least 100 people booking in Kentucky from holding parties during Memorial Day weekend. On its website, Airbnb boasts that its guest screening technologies have helped hosts avoid booking guests who may hold disruptive parties. The move comes as more cities are either passing or strengthening regulations on short-term rentals, including Airbnb. Large, disruptive parties at short-term rental properties has become a growing concern. Lexington is in the process of adopting regulations for short-term rentals, which includes a registration fee and guidance on where new short-term rentals can go. Its not known how many short-term rentals are in Lexington because there are currently no regulations or ways to track short-term rentals. Louisville is also reviewing its short-term rental policies. Short-term rentals have been regulated in Kentuckys largest city since 2015. However, complaints about the proliferation of short-term rentals in popular Louisville neighborhoods has prompted elected leaders there to call for more stringent guidelines on how many short-term rentals can be in neighborhoods. A possible moratorium on new short-term rentals is moving through the Louisville Metro Council as it debates stricter short-term rental guidelines. (CNN) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, now officially a candidate for president, is no longer tiptoeing around former President Donald Trump nor is he being shy about his plans to flex the powers of the presidency like never before if he wins the White House. DeSantis whose campaign raised $8.2 million in the first 24 hours, according to a campaign spokesperson has filled the hours after his botched Twitter launch by taking his message to the familiar comforts of the conservative airwaves, where, in a dozen interviews, he has assailed Trump as fiscally irresponsible and a supporter of amnesty for undocumented immigrants. He said Trumps Covid-19 mitigation policies destroyed millions of peoples lives and told Fox News his day one priority would be to fire the former presidents handpicked FBI director, Christopher Wray. Trump is a different guy today than when he was running in 2015 and 2016, DeSantis told Tennessee conservative talk radio host Matt Murphy, adding, I dont know what happened to Donald Trump. The sharpening of attacks against Trump whose endorsement DeSantis once sought and campaigned on in his 2018 race for governor comes after months of subtle digs at the former presidents stint in the White House. Throughout Trumps four years in office of which DeSantis served almost two years in Congress and two years as a closely aligned governor and in the years since, the Florida Republican has never before levied such direct and public criticism of the man he now hopes to supplant as the leader of the GOP. Now, DeSantis is making the case that he is better suited to deliver on the promises that Trump himself failed to see through. Doing so will require pushing the limits of the executive branch like never before, DeSantis has suggested in multiple interviews in the past 24 hours. He told conservative radio host Mark Levin that he had studied the US Constitutions leverage points and would use his knowledge to exercise the true scope of presidential power. Youve got to know how to use your leverage to advance what youre trying to accomplish, DeSantis told Twitter CEO Elon Musk during their conversation. Trump has pushed back against these missives by poking fun at the glitches that marred the Florida Republicans entrance into the race and suggesting DeSantis isnt ready for the Oval Office. Rob DeSanctimonious and his poll numbers are dropping like a rock. I would almost be inclined to say these are record falls, Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday. The question is Rob just young and inexperienced and naive or more troubling, is he a fool who has no idea what the hell hes doing? We already have one of those in office, we dont need another one. We need MAGA. DeSantis vision for the executive branch is seemingly at odds with the Republican Partys traditional adherence to the principles of limited government. Many Republicans often accused former President Barack Obama of extending his powers unconstitutionally and DeSantis himself wrote an entire book in 2011 based on that perception. But it is an approach Republican voters have come to expect from their elected leaders in the years since Trump emerged and dispensed with governing norms. It is also in keeping with how DeSantis has led from Tallahassee. As governor, DeSantis has systematically strengthened the office of the governor and stretched its constitutional powers in ways that no previous executive has. He seized control of the states environmental protection agency, deployed the states police force in novel ways, created a law enforcement team to monitor voting, removed a democratically elected local prosecutor and orchestrated a takeover of a small liberal arts college. DeSantis has treated state bureaucracies that previously operated independently as extensions of his executive offices. He has stocked state regulatory boards with like-minded political appointees, who have followed his lead in banning gender affirming care for minors and extending restrictions on school lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity. He has punished Disney, the tourism engine of the state and its most iconic business, for challenging him over those restrictions, and forced state lawmakers to pass a new congressional map drawn by his office. I may have earned 51 percent of the vote, but that entitled me to wield 100 percent of the executive power, and I resolved to use it to advance conservative principles, DeSantis said at an event in Wisconsin on May 6. In his latest book, The Courage to Be Free, DeSantis described his extraordinary use of state power as deliberate and tactical. He wrote that before taking office he had studied an exhaustive list of the governors constitutional authority and would use every lever available to advance our priorities. What I was able to bring to the governors office was an understanding of how a constitutional form of government operates, the various pressure points that exist, and the best way to leverage authority to achieve substantive policy victories, he wrote. Now, DeSantis opening message to Republican voters is that he would bring that methodical precision to the White House in ways that past executives Trump included failed to. Presidents have not been willing to wield Article Two power to discipline the bureaucracy, DeSantis said. Ill come in and on day one well be spitting nails. Among his top priorities, DeSantis said, would be to re-constitutionalize the federal government, which he described as a plan to discipline the bureaucracy and agencies that he saic are detached from constitutional accountability. He would dispel with the longstanding tradition that government institutions like the US Department of Justice operate independently from the president embracing a philosophy that Trump often governed by but never articulated so succinctly. Republican presidents have accepted the canard that the DOJ and FBI are quote, independent, DeSantis said. They are not independent agencies. They are part of the executive branch. They answer to the elected President of the United States. DeSantis also touched on pardons, when asked about whether he would consider the cases of those who face charges related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol, as well as whether he would pardon Trump should he be charged federally. He said he would look at all cases of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization. The DOJ and FBI have been weaponized. 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 and issuing pardons, DeSantis told The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show Thursday. At the same time, DeSantis said pardons would be looked at individually, not necessarily to an entire group. We will apply relief as appropriate, DeSantis said. It will be done on a case-by-case basis. Those remarks drew an immediate rebuke from the Democratic Party, alerting in a news release that DeSantis was spending his first day as an official presidential candidate promising to consider pardons for some January 6 insurrectionists and convicted criminals who attacked law enforcement. In his private pitch to donors, Desantis has noted that Trump, who has already served one term, would be a lame duck president if elected. Since launching his candidacy Wednesday, DeSantis has more publicly laid out why that should give Republicans pause. I understand, and all your listeners should understand, DeSantis said on Levins show, that if we do everything right, if were disciplined, if were strong as anyone could be, it still takes a two-term project. This story has been updated with additional reporting. This story was first published on CNN.com. "DeSantis is going after Trump like never before" Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, speaks during an interview discussing his proposed legislation to make it illegal for social media platforms to be accessed by those under the age of 16, at the Triad Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Congressman Chris Stewart said House Republicans will not agree to reauthorize a law that gives intelligence agencies broad surveillance powers without meaningful reform after seeing how it was misused to justify spying on the Trump campaign and on hundreds of thousands of Americans. Stewart, a Republican who represents Utahs 2nd District and a former Air Force officer, sits on the House Intelligence Committee, which oversees the U.S. intelligence community. This year, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act comes up for reauthorization, and advocates for the law including the FBI will likely face a fight in Congress. In an interview with the Deseret News on Wednesday, Stewart said when the law came up for reauthorization five years ago, he was one of the key advocates for it, saying he helped persuade other lawmakers to support it. If youve lost guys like me, then youve lost a lot of people who are saying, not going to do it again. Im not going to allow this kind of abuse weve seen over the last five years without some changes, he said. And I think that represents a broad majority of Republicans and some Democrats as well. And the FBI knows that, the Department of Justice knows that. They know theyve got a lot of work to do. Stewarts comments come in the wake of the release of the Durham Report, written by special counsel John Durham, which said the FBI used false information to justify spying on former President Donald Trumps campaign. Related He also addressed information released last week showing that the FBI used the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, to spy on Americans over 278,000 times in 2020 and 2021, using Section 702 of the law, which gives them the ability to surveil digital communications. We wont reauthorize 702 and FISA we just simply will not give the FBI this type of power any longer without meaningful reform, he said. The latest revelations show the FBI used Section 702 to gain access to a massive database thats meant to provide the intelligence community with the ability to monitor foreign threats, but they used it to spy on Americans involved in activities like Black Lives Matter protests, the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, and even donors to a congressional campaign. You cant give organizations like the FBI, or the CIA, or the National Security Agency, you cant give these agencies enormous power, where they literally can look at any individual in America, and then not provide oversight, Stewart said. He said he doesnt think these organizations should have the power to open investigations into hundreds of thousands of Americans without any cause at all, without any warrant, without any suspicion of activity, just the ability to open the book into your life. Congress does have some oversight over the FBI because they oversee their budget, Stewart said. But, he said, the FBI has ways of hiding information from lawmakers. They just poke their finger in the eye of Congress, he said. But for lawmakers who sit on the Intelligence Committee, information about the FBIs overreach wasnt a surprise, he said. Theres hardly anything in (the Durham) report that some of us havent known, he said. Those of us serving on our House Intelligence Committee, we were aware of almost everything there. He said members of Congress have been trying to raise awareness of problems within the intelligence community, but they just didnt have the microphone. So, although (the Durham Report) didnt release much information that was new, it was important for him to complete his report, because it was much harder to not pay attention to it than the congressional report, he said. Among the changes he would like to see, he said, include changes in leadership and culture at the FBI. He said it is difficult to legislate some of the necessary changes because ultimately they rely on the integrity of the people who lead the organization. Stewart pointed to reports the FBI spied on some Catholic congregations. Related And they didnt just say, in an offhand way, well, we should look at these guys. It was a coordinated, extensive effort to identify traditional Catholics as possible white supremacist terrorists. And that was signed off by the field agents and by the supervisory agents. he said. Those guys should be fired. He said there is a growing realization among the intelligence community that they have to make changes if they want Congress to reauthorize FISA. Stewart said he doesnt want the intelligence community to lose the ability to monitor threats from terrorists and other countries. But, he said, theyve just got to be reformed. In the 2022 midterms, a number of far-right candidates cruised to primary victories with former President Donald Trumps backing only to blow key races with a general electorate who viewed them as too extreme. And now, Republicans are nervously bracing for many of them to run again. At least four of these candidates who ran, and lost, in 2022 are making it known that theyre interested in running again in 2024 or have already announced bids. Theyre testing the partys commitment this cycle to emphasize candidate quality and offering Democrats a sliver of hope as they navigate a difficult Senate map and a narrow field of swing House races. Jim Marchant, the failed GOP secretary of state nominee in Nevada, recently launched his campaign to challenge a Democratic Senate incumbent. Kari Lake, who narrowly lost her gubernatorial bid in Arizona last fall and continues to lose her court battles challenging the results, is on the verge of joining him in a Senate bid for 2024. Many party leaders breathed a sigh of relief Thursday night when Doug Mastriano, a far-right state senator in Pennsylvania who decisively lost his race for governor last year, announced he would not be launching a Senate campaign. But at the House level, Republicans Joe Kent in Washington and J.R. Majewski in Ohio two MAGA-aligned candidates who hugged Trump tightly but fell short in districts Republicans were favored in have already launched their next bids. Others may soon join. All of these candidates put Trumps false claims of a stolen election front and center in their campaigns, helping them get through contested primaries but putting them at a disadvantage with independents in the general election. Their defeats have led some party leaders to suggest they may take a more active role in the primary process. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told NBC News in an interview last month that Republicans need to appeal to voters beyond the Republican base in order to pull off victories next fall something he said will in part rely on campaigning on the future, not looking at the rearview or the past. Winning elections is about addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division, he said. And so thats something that every candidate got to look in the mirror and say, 'Am I a candidate that can first bring the Republican base together and also extend an appeal to independent voters?' Thats the recipe. Recently, Lake met with Daines and six other Republican senators to discuss her potential Senate bid, a national Republican strategist said. Daines said he has asked prospective candidates to share with him a plan for how they can win both a primary and a general election. Daines, who endorsed Trump last month, believes the former president will be helpful with whom he backs or does not support in primaries. But last year, it was Trump who helped elevate many of these candidates through contested primaries with his sought-after endorsement. Trumps campaign did not answer requests for comment about whether he would be supportive of some of these same candidates this time around. Kari Lake speaks at CPAC in National Harbor, Md. (Lev Radin / Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images file) Terry Sullivan, who was campaign manager for Florida Sen. Marco Rubios 2016 presidential campaign, said that while many candidates do improve during a second run, there were a lot of really crappy candidates last time. And if youre just a fundamentally flawed candidate the first time you run, youre still a fundamentally flawed candidate the second time you run, he said, adding, Youve always had the weirdo candidates that run no matter what. And the difference now is, theyre kind of given more oxygen than they ever did in the past, and theyre actually winning primaries. If anything, what has Republicans most concerned about some of these candidates is, as Daines put it, an insistence on relitigating the 2020 (and perhaps 2022) elections. That seems unlikely to change. For example, Lake on Tuesday announced she would petition the Supreme Court to hear her latest case seeking to invalidate her 2022 defeat at the hands of Katie Hobbs, then-Democratic Arizona secretary of state. I think if Kari could recalibrate her message away from the stolen election claims, shes got enough raw political talent to make that race competitive, the national Republican strategist said. But that was not transferable to other 2022 losers seeking Senate seats this cycle. No, this person said. I think thats Kari Lake-specific. In a statement, Lake said: Electing Republicans up and down the ballot is undoubtedly what is needed to save our great Nation, adding a request to Stay tuned for a major announcement within weeks. Marchant did not respond to a request for comment. Democrats have mostly stayed quiet on the developing GOP primary field, but outside groups have left the doors open to boosting more extreme candidates they see as easier to beat, just as some Democrats did last cycle. In Nevada, Democrats have already started to take aim at Marchant, highlighting comments he made on a webcast earlier this year that seemed to endorse the military intervening in the 2024 vote. Theres never been a larger gap between what kind of candidates Republican primary voters demand and the kinds of candidates general election voters will accept, Democratic strategist Rich Luchette said. Republicans underperformed in the midterms because they nominated people who want to restrict reproductive rights for women, cut Medicare and Medicaid, and support right-wing political violence, including the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6. J.R. Majewski, Republican candidate for U.S. Representative for Ohio's 9th Congressional District, takes the stage at a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (Tom E. Puskar / AP file) Among competitive House races, few frustrated Republicans more than the battle last year in Toledo, Ohio, where long-entrenched Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur was seen as vulnerable in a 9th Congressional District redrawn to be friendlier to the GOP. Majewski an Air Force veteran who, before winning his partys nomination, was best known for painting a Trump banner on his lawn lost to Kaptur by 13 points, his campaign scuttled by an Associated Press report that he had misrepresented his military service. Others on the ground in the district complained about what they saw as a lazy and undisciplined campaign that failed to activate grassroots voters and take advantage of Kapturs weaknesses. Undeterred, Majewski is angling for a rematch in 2024. GOP leaders in Ohio and nationally worry about a scenario in which his recent familiarity with voters carries him out of a crowded primary and prevents them from picking up a winnable seat. I can stomach a MAGA candidate that can win if they do something right, if they bring something to the table to help them get elected, said one unaffiliated Republican official in the Ohio 9th District who requested anonymity to speak candidly. This person added a Majewski nomination unquestionably locks in a GOP loss. Another Republican operative involved in races across Ohio quipped that its time for Majewski to repaint the lawn, not re-announce a campaign. Majewski did not respond to a request for comment. FILE - Republican candidate Joe Kent waits before taking the stage for a candidates debate Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Vancouver, Wash. Kent is seeking election to Washington's 3rd Congressional District in the Nov. 8, 2022 election. (Rachel La Corte / AP file) In Washingtons 3rd Congressional District, Kent, who promoted Trumps false claims of a stolen election and expressed skepticism over the integrity of the vote count in his own race as ballots were being tallied, believes 2024 will prove much more favorable for him than did his last bid. (He ultimately conceded and accepted the results.) Kent was able to defeat then-Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., in a primary last year after she voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, only to lose against Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in a district that tilts toward the right. In a recent memo provided to NBC News, Kents campaign argued that his 2022 loss was due to him being widely outspent during the primary and because his general election opponent did not yet have a record in Congress he could run against. This time, he has no incumbent to face in a primary and can go on the offense against a Democratic rival who has a record to expose, the memo said. Every hurdle I faced in 2022 has been removed for 2024: running against a same-party incumbent, facing a barrage of establishment-backed attack ads in the primary, lacking funding from the DC Republicans in the General Election, depressed rural Republican voter turnout, and a Democrat opponent that didnt then have the radical voting record she has now, Kent said via email. He added his narrow defeat was well within the typical rightward swing the district takes in presidential years. We have great reason to be optimistic about 2024, he said. Thats not the only thing about the presidential cycle that could work in some of these candidates favor. As Sullivan said, a presidential cycle means way more reporters will be focused on Des Moines and Manchester, New Hampshire, rather than on Pittsburgh and Phoenix. Youre going to have a lot less media scrutiny across the board, he said. Its fundamentally different how itll be covered. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com North Carolina Republicans just passed a 12-week abortion ban, but their recent comments suggest this might just be a first step in a long-term plan. Because although they are calling the legislation a compromise, what that means is that its a compromise among themselves. GOP leaders said when introducing the bill that after months of internal deliberations theyd landed on a 12-week ban because that was what would get enough votes to successfully override Gov. Roy Coopers veto. In order to become law, every single Republican in the legislature needed to be on board. But what could happen when theres enough room for disagreement? That could change in the next couple of years, especially if the 2024 elections play out in the GOPs favor. After the veto override vote occurred earlier this month, Republican leaders were asked about the potential for new abortion restrictions in the future. According to House Speaker Tim Moore, there wont be any more abortion legislation this session, but he cant say what might happen in the future. Senate leader Phil Berger said he thinks the legislature ended up in a good place for where we are right now. That doesnt sound like a party dead-set on stopping at just 12 weeks. It sounds like a party thats leaving the door open to going even further. After a recent court decision, legislators will soon be drawing new state House and Senate maps that will be used in the 2024 election. Those maps could help Republicans win even more seats in the legislature, and those new members could determine whether lawmakers have the votes to further legislate abortion. If a Republican wins the governorship, however, lawmakers wouldnt have to worry about a veto at all they could pass new legislation with just a simple majority vote. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and former Rep. Mark Walker, two of the GOP candidates for governor in 2024, have expressed a desire to further restrict North Carolinas abortion laws if elected. Robinson said earlier this year that if he were governor and had a willing legislature, he would want to pass a law that makes abortion illegal for any reason. He has since adjusted his stance slightly saying he supports common-sense legislation that prohibits abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. He has also attempted to dodge the issue, though, telling WFAE that he is not interested in talking about abortion anymore. That doesnt mean hes abandoned the issue, though it just depends who hes talking to. In a recent interview on conservative radio, Robinson said the new 12-week ban gives ourselves the opportunity to set ourselves up to get ready to continue to move the ball. Walker, meanwhile, said in a recent TV interview that he likes to think of the new bill as a first step. There are plenty of Republicans in the legislature who would have liked to see the 12-week ban be stricter. Moore has said that he personally supports a six-week ban, and a small group of Republicans introduced a total ban in the House earlier this year. One of the bills sponsors told WRAL earlier this month that lawmakers want to make slow and incremental changes over time. And theres still plenty of political pressure to restrict abortion further. Many of the same pro-life groups who encouraged Republicans to pass a new abortion law in the first place arent satisfied with just a 12-week ban. The N.C. Values Coalition released a statement after the veto override vote calling it the first real step toward becoming a pro-life state. North Carolina Right to Life said the abortion tragedy in North Carolina has not been solved and we will continue to work for life until these babies are safe as well. And a 12-week ban, while still extreme, makes North Carolina an outlier among most states in the Southeast. A six-week abortion ban recently cleared the South Carolina legislature, though its expected to be challenged in court. States like Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi have complete bans on abortion with little to no exceptions. Republicans could attempt to justify further restrictions by comparing North Carolina to its neighbors. Regardless, abortion will be one of the biggest issues on the ballot in 2024, just as it was in 2022. But North Carolinas new 12-week law is already unpopular with voters. Republicans should be careful about going any further. PROVIDENCE The state is suing the makers of so-called forever chemicals that have been used in cookware, clothing, firefighting foam and other products and linked to a variety of health problems that include cancers, low birth weights and hormonal disruption. The office of Attorney General Peter F. Neronha on Thursday filed a case in Superior Court that alleges that 3M, Dupont and other major chemical companies deceived the public about the health consequences of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and continued to manufacture the compounds despite knowing the risks. We are still uncovering the consequences of exposure to these hazardous chemicals by Rhode Islanders, but the burden of this enormous cost should be borne by the companies who made, marketed and sold these products at great profit while hiding their true dangers, Neronha said in a statement. As alleged, these companies concealed from the public, regulators and consumers the dangers posed by these chemicals, and now their chemicals have infiltrated virtually everywhere from our waterways to our bloodstreams. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha filed the state's lawsuit against the makers of "forever chemicals" on Thursday. The lawsuit comes after studies have tied exposure to the chemicals to numerous health conditions. States and the federal government have started cracking down, restricting levels of PFAS compounds in drinking-water supplies and banning their use in food packaging. In Rhode Island, the General Assembly passed a drinking-water standard last year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a nationwide regulation earlier this year. The chemicals were invented in the 1930s and heralded for their ability to repel oil, water and grease. They were used by DuPont to make Teflon and by 3M to make Scotchgard. Their use is also effective in smothering petroleum fires. Today, there are thousands of the substances that have been used in many types of consumer items, such as microwave popcorn bags, rain jackets, dental floss, guitar strings and carpets. The compounds dont break down in the environment over time, thus the forever chemical moniker. While studies have found that people are exposed through food and even indoor air, the chemicals are most associated with drinking-water contamination. The state Department of Health found PFAS in nearly half of the 87 public water systems it tested in Rhode Island in 2017 and 2019. Thirteen of them had levels above the new state standard. The most serious case occurred in Burrillville, where the Oakland Association was forced to hook up to new water supplies after its well was contaminated by firefighting foam stored by the Oakland-Mapleville Fire District. The attorney generals office is not the first agency in Rhode Island to file suit for PFAS contamination. Last month, the Town of North Kingstown sued some of the same chemical companies in federal court in South Carolina to force them to pay costs that include removing the compounds from water supplied to the public. PFAS were detected in all 11 of the towns wells, while two of the most common substances in the family, PFOA and PFOS, were found above the proposed EPA standard in three wells, according to the complaint. Water suppliers around the state are working to comply with the state and federal standards. For some, it could mean installing expensive filtration systems. The attorney generals suit describes the contamination as widespread but says the state has only just begun to understand the extent of the problem. It seeks to recover the still-to-be-determined remediation costs from the companies that make the chemicals. The defendants who created and profited from the creation of this problem, not the citizens of Rhode Island who suffer from it, must pay to address the PFAS contamination throughout the state, the complaint says. DuPont De Nemours, the new name of Dupont since a corporate reorganization in 2019, says its not responsible for the past manufacture of PFAS chemicals. We believe this complaint is without merit, and we look forward to vigorously defending our record of safety, health and environmental stewardship, the company said in a statement. House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio expressed support for the lawsuit. So too did Utpala Bandy, interim director of the state Department of Health, and Terry Gray, director of the state Department of Environmental Management. Monitoring the pervasiveness of PFAS in our environment is one of DEMs most pressing challenges to help protect public health and natural resources, Gray said. We are grateful for the attorney generals legal action to bring about accountability for this massive ecological liability. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI attorney general files suit against makers of 'forever chemicals' The rich and powerful are using their superyachts for secret meetings far from prying eyes Hercules Port in Monaco in 2017 at the International Monaco Yacht Show. VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images Superyachts are booming in popularity, with sales reaching record levels. The vessels offer the wealthy rare privacy, and layers of security to shield them from intrusions. A yacht-security expert described sweeping vessels for bugs and fending off drone at sea. The superyacht is the ultimate symbol of wealth power and status, and the market is booming. One crucial attraction they offer is extreme privacy: yachts provide a forum for meetings at sea, beyond the jurisdiction of any country and very difficult to spy on. The New Yorker reported last year on the hidden world of yacht-borne power meetings. The vessels let rich and powerful talk freely and make connections away from prying eyes and scrutiny. Even who owns the yachts can be hard to figure out they are often bought by offshore companies on behalf of billionaire owners, giving them an extra shield of privacy. Superyacht owners are said to include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg. In the wake of the war in Ukraine, the superyacht sector and its complicated ownership structures came under new scrutiny, with Western nations seeking to seize yachts owned by wealthy Russians subject to sanctions for their ties to the Kremlin. "These are very private assets and one of the reasons they're bought is for privacy," Sam Tucker, head of superyacht research at market intelligence firm VesselsValue, told the BBC. The popularity of the vessels is sparking a security race, as spies and tabloid journalists try to breach the layers of privacy on the vessels. High-end yachts can provide "absolute, complete, and total privacy," Simon Rowland, CEO of Veritas, a London-based company that provides superyacht security, told Insider. A former Royal Marine, Rowland said that his job was to screen for every imaginable threat and potential privacy breach on board the vessels. His works involves sweeping charter yachts for tiny surveillance devices, fending off drones sent by paparazzi to photograph his wealthy clients, or conducting background checks on crew members to root out moles. "Drones are increasingly a concern for superyacht owners," he said. The level of caution among owners varies, he added not everyone goes all out. The vessels are often made in the Netherlands, Germany, or Italy, sometimes custom built to exacting specifications. Often crew members working on the vessels must sign sweeping NDAs preventing them from revealing information about the yachts or their owners, the yacht industry publication Dockwalk reported. The cost of the vessels varies, with brokerage firm Edmiston saying that costs can range from around $1 million for a modest vessel, all the way up to hundreds of millions for large, custom made yachts. One example yacht, Azzam, was built by German firm Lurssen Yachts in 2013 for the late Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former president of the United Arab Emirates. It is 68 feet long and is reported to have cost around $600 million, making it among the world's most expensive, Forbes said. Read the original article on Business Insider RICHMOND, Ind. A Richmond man awaiting trial on a rape charge now stands accused of dousing city police officers with pepper spray. According to an affidavit, Lane Logan Fultz, 28, was wanted on a warrant stemming from the pending rape case when he was taken into custody on May 15. After he was found in a home along South T Place, Fultz allegedly tried to hide in a wicker basket and fought with officers trying to apprehend him. Once he was taken into custody, the Richmond man allegedly grabbed a can of pepper spray that had been in an officer's possession, and "continued to spray it to keep officers back." "The (pepper) spray affected several officers, including myself, causing difficulty breathing, coughing and watery eyes," an officer wrote. More: Police: Richmond man led officers on chase with toddler in vehicle After the can was taken from him, Fultz was examined at Reid Hospital before being delivered to the Wayne County jail, where he continued to be held without bond on Friday. On Thursday, Fultz was formally charged, in Wayne Superior Court 1, with three counts stemming from the events of May 15 battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer, disarming a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement. Two of the charges are Level 5 felonies carrying up to six years in prison. Fultz's trial on the rape charge filed in Wayne Superior Court 1 in May 2019 is set for Oct. 30. In that case, he is accused of sexually assaulting a female juvenile. 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: Richmond man awaiting trial in rape case accused of dousing officers with pepper spray FILE - A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Two top international rights groups on Friday, May 26, slammed the severe restrictions imposed on women and girls by the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying they amount to the crime against humanity of gender persecution. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File) Two top rights groups on Friday slammed the severe restrictions imposed on women and girls by the Taliban in Afghanistan as gender-based persecution, which is a crime against humanity. In a new report, Amnesty International and the International Commission for Jurists, or ICJ, underscored how the Taliban crackdown on Afghan women's rights, coupled with imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment, could constitute gender persecution under the International Criminal Court. The report by Amnesty and ICJ, titled, The Taliban's war on women: The crime against humanity of gender persecution in Afghanistan, cited the ICC statute, which lists gender-based persecution as a crime against humanity. Rock Hill man charged with murder after Chester man killed in shooting A Rock Hill man has been charged after a fatal shooting in Chester County, according to officials and court documents. Reco Daman White Jr., 20, was taken into custody Thursday, according to a statement from the Chester County Sheriffs Office. White is charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to Chester County jail records and arrest warrants obtained by The Herald. The victim was identified as William A. Colvin, 27, of Chester, said Terry Tinker, Chester County Coroner. The shooting happened around 9 p.m. Tuesday on Stepping Stone Drive near Armory Road, according to the warrants and a sheriffs office statement released on social media. Colvin died at the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Chester, according to the murder warrant. White also is accused of shooting at another person at the scene, the warrant for attempted murder stated. A conviction for murder carries a sentence of 30 years to life under South Carolina law. Attempted murder carries up to 30 years for a conviction. White remains in the Chester County jail without bond, according to deputies and the sheriffs office Web site. A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday said she will dismiss a lawsuit that the stars of 1968s Romeo and Juliet filed over the films nude scene, finding that their depiction could not be considered child pornography and they filed their claim too late. Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie ruled in favor of a motion from defendant Paramount Pictures to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet at age 15 and is now 72, and Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo at 16 and is also 72. Mackenzie determined that the scene was protected by the First Amendment, finding that the actors have not put forth any authority showing the film here can be deemed to be sufficiently sexually suggestive as a matter of law to be held to be conclusively illegal. In her written decision, she also found that the suit didnt fall within the bounds of a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, and that a February re-release of the film did not change that. The actors attorney denounced the decision and said they plan to file another version of the suit in federal court. FILE - Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who played the title roles in Franco Zeffirelli's FILE - Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who played the title roles in Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet," place flowers on the "Tomba di Giulietta," or the Tomb of Juliet, in Verona, northern Italy, on Oct. 22, 1968. We firmly believe that the exploitation and sexualization of minors in the film industry must be confronted and legally addressed to protect vulnerable individuals from harm and ensure the enforcement of existing laws, lawyer Solomon Gresen said in a statement. The film and its theme song were major hits at the time, and despite the nude scene that briefly shows Whitings bare buttocks and Husseys bare breasts it was played for generations of high school students studying Shakespeares tragedy. Director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019 at age 96, initially told the two that they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in the bedroom scene that comes late in the movie and was shot on the final days of filming, the suit alleged. But on the morning of the shoot, Zeffirelli told Whiting and Hussey that they would wear only body makeup, while still assuring them the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity, according to the suit. Despite those assurances, they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge, in violation of California and federal laws against indecency and the exploitation of children, the suit alleged. Zeffirelli told them they must act in the nude or the Picture would fail and their careers would be hurt, the suit said. The actors said that the opposite occurred, that neither had the career the films success suggested, and that the fraud, sexual abuse and sexual harassment they underwent caused them emotional damage and mental anguish for decades. They had sought more than $500 million in damages. "Romeo and Juliette" movie director Franco Zeffirelli, left, actors Olivia Hussey, center, and Leonard Whiting are seen after the Parisian premiere of the film in Paris on Sept. 25, 1968. The judge, though, found that the plaintiffs cherry-picked from the law and failed to provide legal authority for why it should apply to purported works of artistic merit, such as the award-winning film at issue here. She quoted from an appeals court precedent that said child pornography is particularly repulsive, but not all images of nude children are pornographic. The ruling relied on California law that is meant to protect the free speech of defendants from being squelched by lawsuits, and is often the first line of defense when lawsuits are filed. An attorney for Paramount declined to comment about the ruling. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, which Hussey and Whiting did. Related... Since the 1970s, Ive written editorials about what was then called gun control. In recent years, I largely passed over the subject. Back then, it was unthinkable elementary school kids could be gunned down in a classroom, Bible classes and synagogues profaned, or that shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants and music festivals would see mass killing after mass killing. Douglas Rooks After such slaughter and the lack of any substantive response from our elected leaders what can possibly be done? Its the wrong response. Now and again, something comes along to shock. For me, it was a Sunday newspaper story where only one Maine delegation member, Rep. Chellie Pingree, who supports it, was willing to discuss the assault weapons ban that never gets through Congress, despite having been law from 1994-2004. The others, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and Rep. Jared Golden one Republican, one independent and one Democrat though given two weeks, wouldnt talk to the reporter, instead offering lame written statements. Yet Collins once voted to renew the ban, and King, as a freshman senator, was outraged after the Newtown, Conn. massacre of second graders when the Senate couldnt overcome a filibuster to begin debate. It doesnt have to be this way. In 1968, after the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, Congress passed the Gun Control Act which banned mail-order rifle sales such as the one Lee Harvey Oswald obtained to murder President John F. Kennedy. In Maine, Gov. Ken Curtis honored a pledge made at a National Governors Association conference to propose state legislation. At the hearing, hundreds of aroused hunters shouted down the bill, and its sponsor withdrew it. But Curtis never expressed regret or second thoughts, though it doubtless didnt help his re-election bid two years later, which he won by the tiniest of margins. It was the right thing to do. In 2013, after the U.S. Senates disgraceful inaction, Dannel Malloy, now University of Maine System chancellor, then governor of Connecticut, proposed sweeping gun regulations, and got them passed, keeping lawmakers in session. This didnt improve his popularity, but the laws made Connecticut safer and less violent as the nation could have been, had Congress acted. The outlook for sensible gun restrictions today is bleak, but we can call out those who fail to act, or act regressively. Gov. Janet Mills, as attorney general, fought a red flag law passed elsewhere that allows family members to request a judicial order removing firearms from someone who presents a danger to themselves or others. Instead, she supported only a yellow flag law, predictably ineffective, that relies on law enforcement officers evaluating a persons mental competency something theyre unqualified for and understandably reluctant to do. We must save our ire, though, for the U.S. Supreme Court and the late Justice Antonin Scalia, often admired on other subjects, who simply tore up two centuries of legal precedent to find an individual right to firearms in the Second Amendment that simply isnt there. Anyone who carefully reads the text understands this is a right to collective self-defense and has nothing to do with permissible carrying of high-powered weaponry on city streets, something the Framers could not have imagined and would certainly not have condoned. The reaction to 2008s District of Columbia v. Heller, with a 5-4 majority striking down the capitals handgun ban, was curiously muted, with observers deciding some restrictions might still pass muster. Building on Heller, last June Justice Clarence Thomas enthusiastically invalidated concealed weapons permits in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, a precedent the Courts of Appeals are busily applying already. One has to wonder how much will remain. Will even the 1938 federal ban on fully automatic machine guns survive this egregiously wrong constitutional doctrine, to quote another recent opinion? Barring a change in personnel or enlargement of the court, we may be stuck with Heller and Bruen, but that doesnt mean we must remain silent. The logic of this campaign is that guns=freedom, that the Second Amendment is on a par with the First Amendment, rather than being, as it is, a historical curiosity from when brand-new Americans wondered whether government could be trusted with their rights, privileges and immunities. Even in other countries with wild West mythologies Australia, New Zealand, Norway mass shootings led to tighter gun laws. Only in the U.S. do guns=freedom. We must stop deluding ourselves. Arming elementary school teachers wont keep kids safe. Nor will handing out AR-15s to patrol officers. Only when were willing to deescalate, and seek peaceful ways to live in community, will we begin to heal. And it does start with each one of us. Douglas Rooks has been a Maine editor, columnist and reporter since 1984. His new book, Calm Command: U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller in His Times, 1888-1910, will be published later this year. He welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rooks: Guns do not equal freedom (CNN) The suspect in a shooting and stabbing incident that left four people dead in central Japan is now in police custody, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing local police early Friday. Police in Nakano City received a call on Thursday with reports that a man stabbed a woman, a city police official told CNN. When officers rushed to the scene, the suspect fired something resembling a hunting rifle, striking four people, before barricading himself inside a building, the official added. Among the casualties is a woman in her 40s, who was taken to hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead. Two police officers have also died from their injuries, NHK reported. The officers were ages 46 and 61, according to police. A fourth person died Friday, police said according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Citing investigative sources, NHK said police in Nagano requested the Metropolitan Police Department to dispatch a special investigation team specializing in dealing with barricading incidents to the site. An elderly woman was found unconscious outside of the house where the suspect had barricaded himself. She was later pronounced dead, local police said according to NHK. A Nakano City police spokesman told CNN they had arrested Masanori Aoki, a 31-year-old farmer, on suspicion of killing a 61-year-old police officer by shooting him in the chest with what appears to be a hunting rifle. Police are investigating the possible motive and how the weapon was obtained, the spokesman said. Earlier Nakano City police told NHK that the suspect had barricaded himself in a home belonging to Nakano City Council Chairman Masamichi Aoki, who was thought to be the suspects father. According to NHK, a witness to the attack said that he saw a woman run toward him, pleading for help, pursued by a masked man wearing camouflage The man, who appeared to be in his 30s and wielded a knife several dozen centimeters long, stabbed her in the back, NHK reported. Nakano City urged citizens to stay indoors in a statement posted onto social media, and the city police spokesman told CNN that authorities had designated an evacuation zone with a radius of 300 meters around the scene of the incident. An evacuation center was later opened at the gymnasium of a middle school in Nakano City, according to a spokesman from Nakano Citys Crisis Management Division. Local officials are providing shelter, blankets, food, drinks, to around 60 people who have evacuated there. Gun violence is extremely rare in Japan, a country of 125 million people. It has one of the lowest rates of gun crimes in the world due to its extremely strict gun control laws. However, Japan was rocked by a shooting last year that reverberated around the world. Shinzo Abe, the countrys longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead during a campaign speech in Nara in July. His murder sent shock waves through Japan and the international community, and also sparked questions about whether enough security was in place to protect him despite Japans track record for being a safe place. Getting hold of a firearm in Japan is extremely difficult and the suspect in Abes shooting used a homemade weapon. In 2022, nine incidents involving firearms took place in Japan including Abes assassination, one down from the previous year, according to the National Police Agency. Of the nine incidents, six are believed to have been committed by gangs and other groups. In total, four people were killed and two injured in the nine incidents. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Suspect arrested after shooting and stabbing attack in Japan leaves four dead." Ruggerio backs off RIPTA-RIDOT merger, for now. Here's what he proposed. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority would keep its independence under a new, scaled back agency overhaul plan from Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, but the state Department of Transportation would gain new oversight power over the bus operator. Late Wednesday afternoon, a new version of Ruggerio's legislation to fold RIPTA into the DOT one that would abandon the merger but make the director of the DOT chairman of the RIPTA board was put before state lawmakers. "The Senate president continues to believe that RIDOT should oversee all transportation matters in our state, including public transit," Ruggerio said in an email. "While he continues to work towards that ultimate goal, naming the RIDOT director as chairman of the board of RIPTA is an acceptable first step for the time being." More: Despite calls to replace him, RIPTA gives Avedisian a two-year contract RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian Transit advocates have railed against the idea of folding RIPTA into RIDOT, which dedicates most of its resources to highway building and maintenance. They welcomed the decision to abandon the merger on Thursday but are still opposed to having the RIDOT director made the board's chairman. RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. is a member of the RIPTA board but is not the chairman. Legislation is latest in push to bring RIPTA under DOT Ruggerio in February called for RIPTA to be subsumed by the DOT and RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian to be replaced. After a compromise appeared to have been reached on a one-year Avedisian extension, last week the RIPTA board voted to renew Avedisian's contract for another two years, frustrating some labor leaders. In a news release Thursday, Rhode Island Transit Riders wrote that RIPTA is much more open to public comment than is the DOT. "In contrast, not only does RIDOT have no formal mechanism for public input, its current leadership has eliminated the quarterly 'Roundtables' that previous directors scheduled with community groups during the Almond, Carcieri and Chafee administrations," the Transit Riders wrote. "RIDOT is auto-centric and has not been supportive of bus transit," they added. "We think by many measures RIPTA is doing a good job given its relatively low level of funding." In arguing for new leadership at RIPTA, Ruggerio pointed to the agency's facing a $30-$40 million budget gap starting next year, with Avedisian having not spelled out a detailed plan or request for how to fix it. RIPTA supporters counter that the solution to the agency's funding woes is plainly obvious: more state funding. "With all due respect, we view this legislation is a solution in search of a problem," John Flaherty, deputy director of GrowSmart RI said. "RIPTA isn't broken it's severely underfunded. This bill is fiddling while Rome burns. Instead, we wish it was about addressing RIPTA's pending fiscal cliff, something that transit agencies across the country are grappling with as federal COVID aid runs out." The struggle to rescue and control RIPTA comes as the General Assembly considers whether to continue a fare-free pilot program on the R-Line or expand it to the whole system. It is not clear exactly where RIPTA stands on making the statewide bus system fare free. During a Senate Finance Committee hearing earlier this month on Sen. Meghan Kallman's bill to make the system free, Avedisian said he "supports" the idea, but that "we just need to worry about the impact of free fares on our budget." But in written testimony on the House version of the bill, introduced by Rep. Leonela Felix, D-Pawtucket, Avedisian wrote that RIPTA "wishes to respectfully note its opposition to this legislation." This year "in addition to $12.3 million in systemwide passenger fares. RIPTA expects to receive $11.6 million of fare revenue through third-party contracts with businesses, colleges and universities and other organizations," Avedisian wrote to the House. "Rescinding RIPTA's ability to collect passenger fares would jeopardize these contracts and, in doing so, inadvertently remove one of the most proven tools for growing transit ridership." Testifying in person the same day the written testimony was submitted, Avedisian said "we don't oppose" Felix's fare-free bill. "We just want you to think about it in the totality of our overall budget. It does leave about $26 million it would cost the agency." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RIPTA will stay independent in new proposal, not go under RIDOT Mark Milley Milley stressed that Russia will not win the war by military means. He recalled that Moscows strategic goals conquering Ukraine and regime change failed a year ago, after which the Kremlin changed its goals to the capture of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Read also: Aiding Ukraine corresponds with US national interests, CJCS Milley says "The strategic goals set by Russia are unattainable by military means; this is impossible," Milley reiterated. The general also said that Ukraines strategic goals the liberation of all occupied territories could be achieved, but likely not in the near future, considering that "a couple of hundred thousand Russian troops" are present in these territories. Read also: Ukrainian, Chinese foreign ministers discuss Zelenskyys peace formula In Milley's opinion, the fighting will continue for a while and will be "difficult and bloody", and Ukraine and Russia will either hold negotiations, or the war will continue until a conclusion by military means. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that negotiating with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is currently impossible: "As of today, he is a terrorist who does not keep his word," Zelensky emphasized. Read also: EUs top diplomat accepts only Zelenskyys peace formula, rejects Chinas position paper The Ukrainian peace formula consists of ten points and includes the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, an international tribunal for those responsible for the crimes of aggression, and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russias overnight attack: all targets neutralized above Kyiv, while Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv hit Consequences of a rocket attack on a polyclinic in Dnipro, May 26, 2023 Russia launched 17 missiles of various types as well as 31 Shahed drones. 10 cruise missiles were fired from bombers in the Caspian Sea area, while seven S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft missiles were launched from occupied Zaporizhzhya Oblast, said the Ukrainian Air Force. Read also: Russias overnight massive missile strike in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injures one 10 cruise missiles and 23 attack drones were shot down. All targets were shot down in the Kyiv area, while hits were confirmed in Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv oblasts. In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian troops struck Izyum and Merefa with Shaheds, causing fires to break out, said regional governor Oleg Synegubov. In Kyiv Oblast, missile fragments damaged seven private houses, but no victims were reported by Kyiv Oblast Military Administration head Ruslan Kravchenko. Read also: Kyiv targeted for 13th time in May all missiles intercepted, with falling debris damaging mall in Obolon Dnipro city and region were massively attacked with missiles and drones at night, causing fires at three enterprises. Five cruise missiles and six Shahed drones were shot down, regional governor Serhiy Lysak announced. In the city of Dnipro, fires broke out in a detached housing neighborhood, as well as at two private houses and one transport company. Rescuers have already extinguished the fire. Russia regularly fires at Ukrainian cities with Kh-101 cruise missiles, one of the newest missiles in the aggressor states arsenal. They are the same used to strike the high-rise building in Uman in April 2023 and during the latest attack on Kyiv on May 26. This time, the enemy shifted the direction of the attack to the east of Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and facilities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Read also: Ukraine shoots down all 36 Shahed drones in another Russian mass attack on Ukrainian civilians In total, Russia launched: 17 missiles of various types (10 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS aircraft from the Caspian Sea and seven S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from the occupied Tokmak district of Zaporizhzhya Oblast), and 31 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs from the southern and northern directions. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down: 10 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched cruise missiles 23 Shahed-136/131 attack drones 2 Orlan-10, Merlin-BP operational and tactical level UAVs. Shahed drones and several S-300/S-400 missiles managed to reach targets in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. 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 Consequences of the night Russian attack on the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on May 26 According to preliminary data, military personnel from the Eastern Air Command shot down five cruise missiles and six Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones over the region overnight. Read also: Russia attacks east overnight, 4 cruise missiles, 20 flying bombs and an aircraft shot down A private house caught fire in Dnipro, while two houses and a car were damaged in the attack, Lysak said. The fire also engulfed two private enterprises. Both fires have already been extinguished. A gas station was damaged, the governor said. Its employee was injured. He was provided with medical assistance and will continue treatment at home. The Russian army also caused serious damage to a transport company. Read also: Explosions overnight in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, all enemy drones downed Inspection of the territories continues everywhere, and information is being clarified, Lysak added. Meanwhile, the invaders shelled the Marhanets community in the Nikopol district with drones. No casualties have been reported from the attack. Lysak also posted photos of the aftermath of the night strike at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. /Telegram /Telegram /Telegram Read also: Russian missile strike at Dnipro destroys family, kills three-year-old and her young mother An air raid alert was triggered in the capital city of Kyiv and several Ukrainian regions overnight on May 26. All air targets were shot down over Kyiv, presumably Kh-101/555 cruise missiles. At the same time, missile fragments hit a shopping mall in the Obolon district and a private house in the Shevchenkivskyi district. 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 Zaporizhzhya NPP The report said that "in the coming hours" the Russian occupiers are preparing to imitate an accident at the facility Read also: Video shows Russian propagandists come under fire while filming in occupied Ukraine For this, a strike will be carried out directly on the territory of the NPP, the message reads. Afterwards, an emergency leak of radioactive substances will be announced. Ukraine will be blamed for the incident, as usual. To conceal their actions, the Russians have disrupted the scheduled rotation of the permanent monitoring mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today, added the intelligence service. Read also: IAEA inspectors find explosives at Russia-occupied ZNPP The goal of this action is to provoke the international community to conduct a detailed investigation during which all hostilities would be stopped, the statement said. Thus, the Russian forces hope to get the desired pause, which they will use to regroup and attempt to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and has been occupied by Russian forces since March 4. Several ZNPP facilities have been damaged by Russian shelling, and the station's employees are captives of the occupying troops. Read also: Management at ZNPP attempting to flee en masse, Kyiv says The Kremlin uses the site as cover for its forces, as Ukraine cant return fire for the risk of causing a nuclear calamity. 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 Russia says it discussed peace prospects for Ukraine with Chinese special envoy Russia says it discussed peace prospects for Ukraine with Chinese special envoy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui meet in Moscow (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin told his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in call on Friday that Russia was open to dialogue over Ukraine, the Kremlin said, shortly after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed a Chinese peace envoy to Moscow. Russia has repeatedly said it was open to resuming peace talks with Kyiv, which stalled a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine early last year, and has welcomed mediation efforts from both Brazil and China. But it has insisted that any negotiations must be based on "new realities", meaning its declared annexation of four Ukrainian provinces that it largely or partly controls - a condition unacceptable to Kyiv. China for its part signed a "no limits" partnership with Russia less than three weeks before the invasion, and has not only refrained from criticising Moscow but also dramatically expanded its Russian energy imports since the start of the war. It has put forward a 12-point plan for peace in Ukraine that involves declaring a ceasefire but does not stipulate that Russia should withdraw from any of the territory it has seized. In his meeting with Li, Lavrov expressed gratitude for China's "balanced position" and willingness to play a positive role, his ministry said. The Chinese proposal has drawn scepticism from the West, with NATO saying Beijing - whose president, Xi Jinping, made a high-profile state visit to Moscow in March - lacked credibility as a mediator. Lula has also pitched himself as a peace broker and proposed, in line with Brazil's tradition of non-intervention and neutrality, that a group of nations not involved in the war should engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. "I reiterated Brazil's willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in pursuit of peace," he tweeted. Lula has condemned the invasion but he irritated Washington - and pleased Moscow - last month when he suggested the West had been "encouraging" war by arming Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not meet Lula when both men attended a Group of Seven summit in Japan last weekend, despite finding time to speak to an array of other national leaders. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, a hawkish senior ally of Putin's, was quoted on Friday as saying Russia could not trust any truce with Ukraine, and would therefore have to destroy the "very nature" of power in Kyiv. (Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Alex Richardson) (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned senior U.S. diplomats on Friday to protest against remarks by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, whom it accused of "effectively endorsing strikes" on Crimea. The peninsula on the Black Sea was seized by Russia and unilaterally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, but is internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory. "It is time for Washington to learn that any form of aggression against Russia will continue to be met with the strongest possible response," the ministry said. It did not specify which comments it objected to, but when Sullivan was asked in a CNN interview on Sunday whether Ukraine should have weapons that can reach Russian targets in Crimea, he replied: "Yes. We have not placed limitations on Ukraine being able to strike on its territory within its internationally recognised borders. "What we have said is that we will not enable Ukraine with U.S. systems, Western systems, to attack Russia. And we believe Crimea is Ukraine." Russia has reported a series of drone strikes and attacks within its internationally recognised territory in recent weeks, including a cross-border raid on Tuesday in the Belgorod region that it blamed on Ukrainian militants. Kyiv said it had nothing to do with the incident. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Evan Hershkovich Read also: Married couple arrested after Russian opposition flag floats over Moscow by balloon "If the Wall Street Journal continues to engage in activities not related to journalism, publishing disinformation about Russia, it would mean that the editorial board is not at all concerned with the fate of Gershkovich," the agency quotes its source. A few days ago, a court in Moscow extended the arrest of journalist Gershkovich for another three months, until August 30. He is being held in a pre-trial detention center, on alleged espionage charges. After Gershkovich's arrest, the Wall Street Journal denied Russia's accusations against the reporter. The newspaper demanded the immediate release of Gershkovich and also asked to expel the Russian ambassador and all Russian journalists from the United States. Read also: What to know about Stanislav Kravchenko Ukraines new Supreme Court Chief Justice The Lefortovo Court in Moscow arrested Evan Gershkovich on March 30. Russian security services claim that he collected information on a state defense enterprise "at the request of the United States." He was detained in Yekaterinburg, accompanied by publicist Yaroslav Shirshikov, who said that Gershkovich was preparing a report on Wagner PMC and the war in Ukraine. Read also: G7 was about getting Russia to negotiate opinion The Wall Street Journal rejects the Russian regime's allegations and demands the immediate release of the journalist. The United States recognized Gershkovich's arrest as unlawful, allowing the state to negotiate on his behalf. His case will be handled by the State Department unit that typically handles hostage negotiations. Read also: Russias FSB charges WSJ journalist Gershkovich with espionage According to Bloomberg, the arrest of the journalist was personally approved by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russias using strategic bombers to attack Ukraine how many and what type do they have? In the early 2000s, due to the lack of strategic aircraft, Russia returned the morally and physically outdated Tu-95 to service, military expert Mykhailo Zhirokhov assures 144 Ukrainian strategic bombers were eliminated in 1998-2001 under the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with the U.S. At the same time Kyiv transferred some Tu-160, Tu-95 and other strategic bombers, as well as about 600 Kh-55 cruise missiles to Moscow to pay off gas debts. With that said, this is still a relatively small number of aircraft because even in Soviet times, this was very expensive equipment. Read also: Everything you need to know about the Kh-101 cruise missile Russia uses to terrorize Ukraine "In fact, we are talking about about 70 units. For example, there are only 13 Tu-160s in Russia," says the aviation expert. After the USSR collapsed, there was no production or purchasing of new strategic bombers in Russia. "Yes, Moscow claimed that it had mastered the manufacturing of modernized Tu-160, but it has managed to produce only two of them - Tu-160M and Tu-160M2," Zhirokhov said. Besides, Russia had to redeploy in the early 2000s the morally and physically obsolete turboprop Tu-95, due to the lack of strategic aviation. The modification of a Soviet fighter jet, MiG-31K, capable of carrying the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, was also included in strategic aviation in 2021. "Therefore, Russians are flying on planes that are almost out of their lifespan," the expert emphasized. Read also: Russian MiG-31K aircraft may soon return to Belarusian territory, says Ihnat The most modern Russian warplane, MiG-31, was built in 1994, while Tu-95 were manufactured in 1950-60s, and the Tu-22 and Tu-160 - in 1980s, Zhirokhov said. As a reminder, after Russia's plan to plunge Ukraine into a blackout through massive missile strikes on its energy infrastructure failed, the enemy changed tactics. Now, the Russian army conducts demonstrative massive takeoffs of strategic bombers almost every night, launching combined strikes with a small number of cruise missiles of various types. The enemy has also changed its targets. 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 Loud explosions were heard in the centre of the Russian city of Krasnodar on the night of 2526 May. Source: Baza Telegram channel Details: According to Baza, Krasnodar residents reported at least two explosions in the centre of the city around 04:00 on the morning of Friday, 26 May. Early reports indicate that air defence was activated after a drone attack. Witnesses reported hearing a sound similar to the sound a drone makes before the explosions occurred. Operational Staff of Krasnodar Krai in the Russian Federation later confirmed that explosions had rocked the city. "According to the reports obtained by the Unified Emergency Dispatch Service, an explosion was heard in the vicinity of the building located at 54/2 Morskaya Street at 04:17. Emergency services have been dispatched to the site. According to preliminary reports, there have been no casualties. A buildings roof and windows have been damaged, but there was no fire," the staff reported. Background: 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. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (CNN) When Life at Sea Cruises announced the upcoming launch of its 130,000-mile voyage it was billed as the worlds first and only three-year cruise. Demand for cabins was said to be unprecedented, with some travel enthusiasts apparently selling their homes in preparation for the trip of a lifetime. But just a few months after Life at Sea Cruises, a subsidiary of Miray Cruises, opened bookings for the voyage onboard the MV Gemini, the journey, scheduled to sail from Istanbul on November 1, appears to be in crisis, and customers are already requesting refunds. The entire team at Life at Sea Cruises, which was set up specifically for the project, has parted ways with Miray Cruises after an apparent breakdown in communication over the suitability of the ship. Cruising ahead? Mike Petterson, the now former managing director for Life at Sea Cruises, confirmed to CNN Travel on Wednesday that he and the rest of the founding team have stepped away from the project. While there has been speculation that the cruise was to be called off, Kendra Holmes, director of business development and commercial operations at Miray International, insisted that this was not the case during a webinar held by the Miray Executive Team on Wednesday evening. This cruise is not canceled, Holmes said. We are moving ahead. It is departing November 1 as planned. So I just want to make sure to clear that up right now. We are not canceling this. However, its still unclear whether the voyage will go ahead on board MV Gemini, or a different ship. Currently the name of the ship is Gemini, Holmes added, before explaining that she was not able to discuss a new ship at present. I wish that we didnt have these kind of situations, said Fuat G., hotel director at Miray Cruises. We are moving forward. Whatever we have to do to finish that project. And [we will] go to a second, third, fourth and fifth ship. Whatever it is. In an email to CNN Travel, Holmes confirmed they are unable to release any details of the potential new vessel due to confidentiality of the contract, which is standard in the cruise industry. We anticipate sharing even more information with cruisers in the coming weeks, however when we do release the information, we will not be able to state what the vessels current name is or which company it was purchased from, she said. However, she said the customers would be told the gross tonnage of the vessel and how many cabins there are. Due to confidentiality requirements of the agreement, we would be prevented from stating the previous name of the vessel and the company it was purchased from. We will also be releasing updated deck plans, cabin dimensions and public space information. A press release announcing the project back in March stated that the MV Gemini would be overhauled for the voyage. But according to Irina Strembitsky, former director of sales and marketing of Life at Sea Cruises, the ship, which has capacity for up to 1,074 passengers, was deemed unseaworthy by an engineer, who also expressed doubt that it would be able to complete a three-year journey. In the email to CNN Travel, Holmes disputed those claims. Unseaworthy is a very specific term that relates to the safety of a vessel (that a vessel has enough lifeboats / LSAs, decks that are skid proof, among other requirements to ensure its safety), she said in the email. With that said, every cruise ship must have a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate issued by the class society that the ship belongs to, evidencing that the vessel complies with the requirements of SOLAS 1974 in order to be able to sail with passengers. Gemini has this certificate, and it will be renewed again at the end of July 2023. Holmes added that without this certificate, among other required regulatory certificates, a passenger vessel cannot get clearance to depart from any port in the world. This certificate was last renewed in November of 2022 and Gemini has been sailing with passengers since March 2023 in the Aegean Sea, she said. Maritime tracking website Marine Traffic this week showed the Gemini plying the waters of the Mediterranean, calling in to port on the Greek island of Rhodes before sailing on to Cesme in Turkey. After apparently discussing the possibility of the voyage taking place on a separate ship at the price originally offered to customers, Strembitsky says that relations between the Life at Sea Cruises team and Miray Cruises ultimately broke down, and things came to a head shortly before further payments were due to be taken. Concerned customers Understandably, news of the uncertainty in relation to the cruise has been particularly worrying for those whove already put deposits down on some of the 400 cabins advertised. I know a lot of you have concerns, Holmes told passengers during the webinar. So we are trying to do everything we can to help eliminate those concerns. Holmes told CNN they have been hosting two webinars a day at different times to accommodate current and potential guests. We want them to understand that Life at Sea is and always has been, Life at Sea by Miray Cruises and we have an entire team that has been working behind the scenes to make this trip a reality for everyone who wants to go, she said. We are now the front-facing team and we are humbled that our current and potential guests have given us an opportunity to learn more about who we are, our passion for this project, and most importantly, our honesty. Retired high school teacher Sharon Lane, from California, booked a 130-square-foot cabin and had planned to sell 95% of her possessions before setting off. However, Lane says that regardless of how things turn out, she will not be going on the journey, which was due to visit 135 countries and seven continents. Life at Sea says the trip is canceled. Miray says its still a go, but without the entire Life at Sea management team, she told CNN via email on Tuesday. I dont really care who is right or wrong. Im allergic to chaos. Going was a huge calculated risk to begin with. Now, its far too risky for my liking. When reservations opened, room prices ranged from around $30,000 per year, including a discount for solo travelers, to $109,999 per person for a balcony suite. Its very sad, adds Lane. I was all in. It will take me some time to undo what I have already set in place, but at least Im not one of those who has already sold a house and all of my belongings. My heart aches for them. Refund demands Holmes told CNN Travel the voyage is currently just over 50% booked, and theyve refunded reservation fees for less than 10 cruisers to date. During Wednesdays webinar, she said that she and the team at Miray Cruises were currently working on a Google form specifically for the many customers who have been requesting refunds. I know the events of late have created a lot of hesitation, and I understand that, she said, stressing that it would likely take around five to seven days for refunds to be processed. One customer, who asked not to be named, told CNN shortly before the webinar that they remained hopeful that the trip would go ahead and were awaiting further developments before making any decisions. Some people have made arrangements to do this, added Strembitsky, who says that shes currently working on another cruising concept and still hopes to deliver the dream that she and her team spent years working on in some way. So people are hoping somehow it happens. A lot of people are in limbo. This story has been updated with comments from Kendra Holmes, director of business development and commercial operations at Miray International. CNNs Francesca Street, Marnie Hunter and Karla Cripps contributed to this story. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Three-year cruise in crisis amid concerns about its ship and refund demands." Russian missile hits hospital in Dnipro, one killed, many others injured, including children On May 26, the Russian occupiers attacked a polyclinic in Dnipro with a rocket A 69-year-old man was killed as he was passing by when the Russian rocket hit the hospital. 23 others were injured, including two boys, aged 3 and 6. The children were taken to hospital in moderate condition. Read also: Russias overnight attack: all targets neutralized above Kyiv, while Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv hit 21 Ukrainian civilians remain in hospital under constant medical supervision, with three in series condition. the governor said, adding that information is being clarified. Air raid sirens started to sound in the region at 10:30 a.m. "The bastards hit the medical center with a missile. Let's keep calm," Dnipro Mayor Boris Filatov wrote on Telegram. Another civilian was injured in the overnight massive attack of the Russian invaders on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast of May 26. A house was set on fire, another two houses, a car and a gas station were damaged due to the attack, according to the local authorities' reports. Read also: Russias overnight massive missile strike in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injures one Russia launched 17 missiles and 31 flying bombs on Ukraine the past night. Ukrainian air defence shot down 10 Kh-101/Kh-555 missiles and 25 drones. 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 attack border checkpoint SU34 A remarkable video has emerged showing a pair of Russian Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers dropping a load of high-explosive bombs from a very low level against a target within the Russian Federation, on the border with Ukraine. The bombs appear to miss their target, reflecting the difficulties of delivering unguided weaponry of this kind at a very low altitude and in the heat of battle, as well as the desperate measures that were taken by the Russian military to counter an armed incursion into its own territory. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1661819276439724046?s=20 The Su-34s were dropping their bombs on partisan forces at the Grayvoron border checkpoint in the Belgorod region earlier in the week. While the settlement of the Grayvoron is located around six miles inside Russia, the associated checkpoint is right on the border with Ukraine. The Belgorod region as a whole shares a roughly 340-mile border with Ukraine. The Grayvoron checkpoint, on the Ukrainian border, the scene of the Su-34 strike. Google Earth The weapons being dropped by the Su-34s appear to be from the FAB-500Sh series. These 1,100-pound weapons are high-explosive freefall bombs that are specially adapted for dropping at a very low level. While the basic FAB-500Sh is intended for dropping from an altitude of around 500 feet, the FAB-500ShN can be delivered from even lower down to an altitude of just 100 feet. These types of bombs are fitted with drag chutes, which deploy just after being dropped, and they also have special time delay fuzes. Both features allow dropping aircraft to safely get beyond the blast radius before detonation. You can see both of them in action in the clip. Other differences with these weapons include thicker body walls to allow for deeper penetration or thinner ones for maximum fragmentation effect. https://twitter.com/LotA_IL/status/1578680825679265792?s=20 As well as the bombs, there are more pyrotechnics in the form of infrared decoy flares pumped out by the Su-34s as they drop their weapons. These are used to defend against heat-seeking missiles, in particular man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). There are suggestions that weapons of this kind might even have been used to bring down four Russian aircraft over Bryansk Oblast, another Russian border region, earlier this month, although other claims as to the weapon system behind those attacks are prevalent. You can read more about these incidents in our coverage here. The second Su-34 drops flares and rolls out, while bombs from the first detonate below. The Su-34, meanwhile, has been one of the workhorses of the Russian Aerospace Forces during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Air-to-air with a pair of Russian Aerospace Forces Su-34 Fullbacks. Russian Ministry of Defense Based on open-source intelligence, at least 20 examples of the Su-34 have been destroyed by a combination of enemy action and non-combat-related accidents since the full-scale invasion began, reflecting the heavy use of the type, as well as the highly contested airspace over much of Ukraine. A Su-34 shot down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns over a residential area of Chernihiv in April 2022. Photo by Nicola Marfisi/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images While the Su-34 is able to carry a wide range of guided munitions, some of them offering significant standoff range, the aircraft has frequently been noted carrying dumb ordnance on many of its sorties in the Ukraine war. As we have discussed in the past, this speaks to both the rigidity of Russian tactics as well as the limited stocks of more advanced (and expensive) precision-guided munitions. Although the Su-34 has frequently been noted over Ukraine, this is apparently the first time that weve seen it attacking targets within Russia, at least deliberately. In one incident last month, a Su-34 dropped a bomb or other type of offensive weapon on the city of Belgorod, apparently by accident. The weapon caused an explosion and damaged several buildings, and you can read more about it here. A view of the damaged area after a Su-34 accidentally dropped a weapon over the city of Belgorod, on April 21, 2023. Photo by Belgorod Region Governorate/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images As to whats happening currently in the Belgorod region, earlier this week, two self-proclaimed anti-Putin Russian partisan groups supporting Ukraine claimed they had carried out attacks there, liberating the settlement of Kozinka about a mile across the border and entering Grayvoron apparently the scene of the above video. Previously, the officials in the region blamed attacks of this kind which date back to at least March on the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Now, as their complexity and overtness grow, they are increasingly being described as terrorist acts, with counter-terrorist security measures being taken as a result. The two partisan groups refer to themselves as the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), who have reportedly attempted to create whats described as a demilitarized zone as part of efforts to move towards the liberation of all of Russia. The groups claimed victory in their incursion operation while Russia says they were slaughtered. https://twitter.com/ColborneMichael/status/1631290704625319939?s=20 The governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, earlier this week described elements of Russias security forces engaged in fighting in the region as part of a defense against a cross-border incursion. Gladkov said the incursion was being made by a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which had entered the territory of the Grayvoron district. https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1660619995892555776?s=20 This position is refuted by Ukrainian accounts, which instead claim that these operations are being carried out exclusively by Russian citizens. Either way, it means its very hard to identify the forces that the Su-34s were attempting to target. Belgorods regional governor has said that elements of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the border service, the National Guard, and the FSB have all been involved in repelling the incursion. You can see strikes on the same border installation in the Russian briefing from earlier this week posted below. https://twitter.com/mjluxmoore/status/1660970867080167424?s=20 https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1660930707340836866?s=20 As well as armored vehicles, Russian authorities earlier this week said that helicopters were used to assist in the response to the terrorist threat, although the use of fixed-wing airpower was not previously announced. However, with no signs that the activities by the partisans, saboteurs, or other anti-Putin elements within Belgorod Oblast will let up, there is every chance that we will see further deployments of Russian combat aircraft in an offensive capacity within the country's own borders. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Ukraines Defence Intelligence has reported that in the coming hours, Russian invaders are preparing a large-scale provocation to simulate an accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Source: press service of Ukraines Defence Intelligence Details: According to Defence Intelligence, it will be carried out directly on the territory of the ZNPP. After that, the invaders will announce an emergency leak of radioactive substances. Ukraine will, as ever, be blamed for the incident. In order to conceal what they are doing as much as possible, the Russians have disrupted the IAEA permanent monitoring mission personnel rotation scheduled for 26 May, Defence Intelligence notes. The purpose of this action is to provoke the international community into conducting a detailed investigation during which all hostilities will be suspended. In this way, the invaders hope to gain a much-desired pause, which they will use to regroup their ranks and stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the intelligence officers summed up. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Rwanda suspect denies killings but 'sorry' over genocide Fulgence Kayishema appears in the Cape Town Magistrates court By Wendell Roelf CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - One of the Rwanda genocide's most wanted remaining suspects, accused of ordering the death of 2,000 people hiding in a church, denied on Friday any involvement though said he was "sorry" for the 1994 killings. On the run for two decades, Fulgence Kayishema was arrested on Wednesday under a false name on a grape farm in South Africa where, according to a prosecutor, fellow refugees gave him up. Entering court for a first hearing with a bible and book emblazoned with "Jesus first," the 62-year-old was asked by a journalist if he had anything to say to victims. "What I can say? We are sorry to hear what was happening," he responded, coming up from holding cells at Cape Town Magistrates' Court. "It was a war at that time... I didn't have any role." He was a fugitive from justice since 2001, when the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) indicted him for genocide over his alleged role in the destruction of the Nyange Catholic Church in Kibuye Prefecture. An estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed during Rwanda's genocide, orchestrated by an extremist Hutu regime and meticulously executed by local officials and ordinary citizens in the rigidly hierarchical society. At the Nyange church, Hutu militia lobbed grenades then doused it with fuel to set it ablaze. When that failed, they knocked down the church with bulldozers and most of those sheltering inside died. REFUGEES According to a charge sheet seen by Reuters, Kayishema faces five charges in South Africa, including two of fraud. The fraud counts relate to applications he made for asylum and refugee status in South Africa, where the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleges he gave his nationality as Burundian and used a false name. Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the successor to the ICTR, told the BBC broadcaster that Kayishema fled Rwanda after the genocide and was hiding among refugees. "First, he went to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) for a number of months, then he went to a refugee camp in Tanzania. From there he moved to Mozambique. Then two years later to eSwatini and then in the late 90s he ended up in South Africa," Brammertz said. The prosecution persuaded a small number of former Rwandan soldiers with false identities living in South Africa as refugees to provide information on Kayishema's whereabouts, he added. Kayishema briefly appeared in court on Friday accompanied by masked police officers with automatic weapons and bullet-proof vests. The NPA said the case was postponed to June 2 to allow it time for further investigation. "While he was being arrested, more information came, which could mean us adding more charges," NPA provincial spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told journalists. Ntabazalila said prosecutors would oppose bail should he seek it. Kayishema will be held at Cape Town's Pollsmoor Prison ahead of extradition to Rwanda. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf and Duncan Miriri; Writing by Alexander Winning and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alex Richardson and Andrew Cawthorne) Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher met in 2001 and married in 2010 Mega Agency - Cobra Team / BACKGRID Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher are out in Italy. On Tuesday, Baron Cohen, 51, and Fisher, 47, were seen holding hands as they strolled through Rome. The longtime couple were seen leaning in for a kiss and smiling together as they walked through Italy's capital city. Fisher wore a purple polka-dotted dress with a brown belt buckled around her waist on the outing, while Baron Cohen wore white jeans, a button-down shirt and a fedora to go with his Nike sneakers. Baron Cohen and Fisher first met back in 2001 at a party in Sydney, Australia, well before Fisher broke out with her role in 2005's Wedding Crashers and comedian Baron Cohen gained worldwide fame for his 2006 film Borat. "She was hilarious. We were at a very pretentious party, and me and her bonded over taking the mick out of the other people in the party," Baron Cohen recalled of their first meeting in a 2020 interview with The New York Times. "I knew instantly. I don't know if she did." RELATED: Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher's Relationship Timeline Mega Agency - Cobra Team / BACKGRID The couple were engaged in 2004 and welcomed their first child, daughter Olive, in October 2007. Baron Cohen, a native of England, and Australian actress Fisher married tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Paris on March 15, 2010. In the 13 years since their wedding, the couple have welcomed two more children: daughter Elula, whose name means "August" in Hebrew, born in 2010 and son Montgomery, born in March 2015. 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. Baron Cohen celebrated his wife's birthday with a photo he shared to Instagram on Feb. 3, showing Fisher posing for a photo with an alcoholic beverage in her left hand. "Isla looking at me and thinking 'ten more of these and I may find him a tiny bit attractive,' " the actor and comedian wrote in the photo. "Happy Birthday my darling." Mega Agency - Cobra Team / BACKGRID RELATED: The Cutest 'How We Met' Stories in Hollywood Back in November, Fisher stated that she believes "it's nice to keep some things for yourself" while speaking with The Australian Women's Weekly about her tendency to keep details of her personal life private. When asked about the secret to her relationship with Baron Cohen, Fisher said: "I get nervous talking about it because I feel like, by not having my relationship in the public domain and not having spoken about how we met or really talked about our marriage publicly, it's remained something private and valuable to me." "I don't know if that's the secret. But having a shared ability to find humor in the sharpness of life is always going to bring connection," she added. "And, otherwise, I just think it's nice to keep some things for yourself." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Sacramento police to run a DUI checkpoint this weekend. Heres where and when The Sacramento Police Department will set up a DUI checkpoint in downtown Sacramento Friday, heading into the long weekend, the department announced in a news release. The checkpoint will be in the area of 21st Street near Capitol Ave from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests, the department stated. The primary purpose of the checkpoint is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired. The department is warning people that impaired driving is not just from alcohol or drugs. It can be due to marijuana or prescription and over-the-counter drugs. If you plan on taking any medications or drinking, you should plan on staying home. Otherwise, if youre charged with a DUI, youll face a fine of about $13,500 and a suspended license. California Highway Patrol also plans a sobriety checkpoint Friday near Woodland. It will be on westbound Highway 16 near County Road 97 form 6 to 10 p.m., the Davis Enterprise reported. 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. Allison Foster, the Sarasota County School District's executive director of human resources, was unanimously appointed in February to serve as interim superintendent after Brennan Asplen was forced out. As the Sarasota County school year ends, the school district's superintendent search is heating up, as it published a list of all 20 candidates for the open job this week. The collection of 20 applicants includes widespread geographical representation, including from California, Illinois, Texas, Mississippi, New Jersey, Colorado and Florida, among others. Only one current Sarasota district employee applied the district's current interim superintendent Allison Foster, whom the School Board appointed following the removal of Brennan Asplen in December. Asplen's removal came following a conservative-leaning makeover of the board caused by the 2022 elections. Minutes following the new majority being sworn in, the new board moved toward terminating Asplen, who had been with the district since 2020, later prompting criticism that the superintendent's treatment would make it harder to recruit a high-level education administrator. The applicant pool includes current and former superintendents, charter school executives and high-level district administrators. Several applicants are also candidates for other school district superintendent openings in Florida. One applicant was fired from his superintendent position in North Carolina, while another was accused of plagiarizing research, but later cleared. Another applicant has appeared on Fox News several times to discuss parental involvement in education. Below are brief, alphabetical summaries of each candidate. Higher Ed: New College of Florida faculty votes to censure university's board of trustees More: Manatee School Board hires Jason Wysong from Seminole County as next superintendent Wayne Alexander Wayne Alexander, who was the superintendent of Hernando County Public Schools from 2007 to 2009, is the principal of a school in Connecticut and sat on the board of a now-defunct Hernando County charter school. He holds an education doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and applied for superintendent openings in Charlotte, Osceola and Broward counties. Christopher Burr Christopher Burr was the superintendent of the Upper Rio Grande School District from 2016 to 2021. Burr stepped down, and a Change.org petition exists from that time with more than 250 signatures asking for him to be removed on grounds that he "created confusion, chaos, avoidable injuries, and division among the community." Burr was earning his education doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and is currently a middle school principal. Nicola Campagna Nicola, or Nick, Campagna holds a master's degree in curriculum and supervision and superintendent certification from Central Connecticut State University. He's been the principal of several public schools in the New England area and was also an applicant for Broward County's superintendent vacancy. Terrence Connor Terrence Connor has been deputy superintendent and chief academic officer at Hillsborough County Public Schools since 2020, and has held positions in schools and the district level in Clay and Duval counties dating back to 2004. He holds a master's in administration and management from Nova Southeastern University. Margarita De La Rosa Margarita, or Maggie, De La Rosa, currently serves as the chief of strategic initiatives for the Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District in Texas, which serves about 25,000 students. She holds an education doctorate from Southern Methodist University, and her dissertation topic was on successful superintendent and school board relationships. James Drake James Drake was an associate superintendent handling human resources and finances for the Gonzales Unified School District in California from September 2020 until July 2022. He holds an education doctorate from Northern Illinois University and also applied for the superintendent vacancy in Broward County. Allison Foster Allison Foster is the current interim superintendent in Sarasota County and was the director of human resources before being appointed to the district's top position. She holds an education doctorate from the University of Florida and was also the principal of Phillippi Shores IB School from 2008 until 2021. Ken Goeken Ken Goeken is the director of special education and support services for the Rocklin Unified School District in California. He holds an education doctorate with a focus in special education from Northcentral University and also applied for the superintendent vacancy in Broward County. Kelly Linkenhoker Kelly Linkenhoker is a public school principal in Virginia and was an assistant superintendent for Buena Vista City Public Schools from July 2020 to June 2021. In May, she is set to earn her education doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Linkenhoker also applied for a superintendent position in Kingsport, Tennessee. Krish Mohip Krish Mohip is the deputy education officer for the Illinois State Board of Education and was previously the chief of schools for Chicago Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the country. Mohip is set to earn an education doctorate from National Louis University. He was also a finalist for the superintendent position for the School District of Philidelphia. Mathew Neal Mathew Neal is the president of MRJB Educational Consulting and has served as a superintendent in Colorado and for American IB schools in Kuwait. Neal holds an education doctorate from the University of Southern California and has appeared on Fox News to discuss parental involvement in education. He was also a candidate for a superintendent position in Billings, Montana. Virgilio Ogando Virgilio Ogando has worked in administrative roles at several Catholic schools in New York and was also the religious education director at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in St. Cloud. He holds a master's degree in building leadership from Mercy College and is a candidate for Broward County's superintendent vacancy. Wanda Paul Wanda Paul is the chief operating officer of the Houston Independent School District and held the same position at the School District of Palm Beach County from 2018 to 2021. She holds a master's in business administration from the University of St. Thomas and a master's of education from National Louis University. Paul is also a candidate for Broward County's superintendent vacancy. Josiah Phillips Josiah, or Joe, Phillips is the chief information officer for Broward County Public Schools and held the same position at Volusia County Public Schools from June 2021 to April 2022. He holds an education doctorate from Liberty University. Adam Pugh Adam Pugh was the superintendent of Lafayette County Schools in Oxford, Mississippi, from 2011 to 2021, where he led the district to several consecutive "A" ratings. He holds an education doctorate from the University of Mississippi. Marianne Simon Marianne Simon is the elementary region superintendent at Duval County Public Schools and was a principal in Duval County from 2007 to 2019. She holds an education doctorate from the University of North Florida and was a finalist for the superintendent vacancy in Collier County. Art Stellar Art Stellar was a superintendent at Burke County Public Schools in North Carolina from 2009 to 2011 and Taunton Public Schools in Massachusetts from 2005 to 2009. He was fired from his position in Taunton following complaints about his management style and inability to connect with teachers, parents and students, according to a news account. His resume states he holds three degrees from Ohio University, but doesn't specify further. Charles Van Zant Charles Van Zant was the superintendent for the Clay County School District from 2012 to 2016, and was a school board member in Clay County prior to his time as the district's top administrator. Van Zant was reported to have been investigated by the Florida Ethics Commission in 2017 following allegations by a former high school principal who accused him of plagiarizing her research, which led to him getting a professional certification that resulted in a salary increase. The commission cleared Van Zant of wrongdoing. He holds a master's in organizational leadership from Regent University and is a finalist for Collier County's superintendent vacancy. Melissa Whitfield Melissa Whitfield currently serves as the superintendent for Berkely Heights Public Schools in New Jersey, and was the superintendent of the Florham Park School District in New Jersey from 2015 to 2019. She holds an education doctorate from the University of Georgia. Caprice Young Caprice Young has served as a superintendent for several charter school districts in California dating back to 2010 and founded the California Charter Schools Association. She was also a school board member for the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1999 to 2003. Young holds an education doctorate from the University of California. Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Meet the candidates to be next Sarasota County schools superintendent SBU aware of the Russian ties of its new deputy head Serhiy Naumyuk Read also: Kyiv residents who illegally published footage of air defense facing charges, says SBU According to the message, before his appointment as deputy head, Naumyuk underwent all the necessary vetting procedures stipulated by law. Close relatives of Serhiy Naumyuk are citizens of Ukraine, at the same time, Serhiy Naumyuk previously reported about the possession of Russian passports by his father and brother, the SBU said. These documents were obtained after the [Russian] occupation of Luhansk in 2014, where both relatives lived. According to the agency, after leaving the temporarily occupied region, they applied for renunciation of Russian citizenship. However, Russian officials deliberately block the consideration of relevant applications, the press service emphasizes. Read also: SBU nabs blogger sharing Ukrainian army movements on social media At the moment, Serhiy Naumyuk's father and brother are legally residing in the United States, where they are waiting for the cancellation of Russian citizenship, the message reads. They oppose the actions of Russia, which started a full-scale war in Ukraine. Earlier, Ukrainian investigative journalism project Skhemy reported that the father of the new Deputy Head of the SBU, Naumyuk, has a valid Russian. According to journalists, the document is still valid, as it is not on the list of invalid passports on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Read also: Ukraines SBU exposes Volyn Oblast company for exporting strategic components to Russia Naumyuk himself previously confirmed that his father and brother have Russian passports, but explained this as a forced decision "for domestic reasons", and said that they later refused other Russian-issued documents. 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 school bus collided with a tanker truck Thursday in South Carolina, sending at least 18 people, mostly children, to the hospital, authorities said. The bus was carrying 36 passengers when it collided with the tanker at about 4 p.m. at an intersection near Gilbert in Lexington County, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. ALSO READ: Inner loop of I-485 reopens after tractor-trailer carrying mobile home crashes At least 17 children and one adult were taken to Lexington Medical Center for treatment, the hospital told WIS-TV. There was no immediate information on their conditions or the cause of the crash. The bus passengers were from Gilbert Middle School and Gilbert High School. Gilbert is about 30 miles (49 km) southwest of South Carolinas capital of Columbia. (WATCH BELOW: Reckless driver ditches stolen Kia in driveway of north Charlotte home) Scholz: Our support for Ukraine is unwavering, Russia must withdraw its troops During his visit to Tallinn, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured that the support of Ukraine from the West will not diminish, and it is time for Russia to withdraw its troops and realise that the war it unleashed is meaningless. Source: This was reported by the European Pravda with reference to ERR Details: During a press conference after the meeting of the leaders of the Baltic countries in the capital of Estonia, Scholz stressed the importance of defending the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance, adding that Russia had failed to weaken it. Quote: "Putin was wrong in his calculations. He wanted to weaken NATO, but achieved the opposite," said the German Chancellor. He assured that Germany will continue to support Ukraine politically, with weapons and humanitarian aid. "This decision is unwavering," Scholz stressed, adding that the West should strengthen sanctions against Russia and find ways to prevent their evasion. "Together with the Baltic States, the European Union and international partners, we will continue to stand firmly on the side of Ukraine and provide assistance to it as long as necessary. Russia must understand that this war is meaningless, and it must withdraw its troops," the chancellor said. Earlier, Olaf Scholz said that he plans to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin again one day "in due course", without specifying when this could happen. Earlier, the German Chancellor expressed confidence that after the war Ukraine will become a member of the EU, but will not be able to quickly join NATO. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Chinese, US commerce ministers hold talks in Washington 10:02, May 26, 2023 By GT staff reporters ( Global Times China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo held talks in Washington on Thursday, engaging in "frank, professional and constructive exchanges" on China-US economic and trade relations as well as issues of common concern, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a statement on its website on Friday morning. The Chinese side expressed deep concerns over the US' economic and trade policy toward China, its policy on semiconductors and export controls, as well as its outbound investment review policy, according to MOFCOM. The meeting between the two ministers, on top of the recent resumption of high-level engagements between Beijing and Washington, is one of the most important meetings between the two countries since the cancellation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China in February after an incident surrounding a Chinese weather balloon. China and the US agreed to set up communication channels to maintain and strengthen exchanges on specific economic and trade issues in addition to areas of cooperation, said MOFCOM in a notice. Earlier this week, MOFCOM strongly criticized the US for engaging in so-called "trade initiative" talks with the island of Taiwan, asserting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and the one-China principle is the prerequisite for China's Taiwan region to participate in external economic cooperation. Prior to his departure, on Monday, Wang reassured US companies that China continues to welcome US companies to develop in China and achieve win-win results based on mutual respect and benefit at a business symposium in Shanghai. Representatives from several US companies including Johnson &Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell attended the event. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) (CNN) US officials have picked up chatter amongst Ukrainian officials blaming each other for a drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month, contributing to a US assessment that a Ukrainian group may have been responsible, sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN. The intercepts include some members of Ukraines military and intelligence bureaucracy speculating that Ukrainian special operations forces conducted the operation. The chatter, combined with other intercepted communications of Russian officials blaming Ukraine for the attack and wondering how it happened, has led US officials to consider the possibility that a Ukrainian group was behind the incident on May 3. On that morning, two drones flew up toward the Kremlins Senate Palace and struck the top of the building. However, the US has not been able to reach a definitive conclusion on who was responsible and only assesses with low confidence that a Ukrainian group may have been behind the incident, officials said. US officials also still believe it is unlikely that senior Ukrainian government officials, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, ordered the attack or knew about it beforehand. Recent US intelligence reports have assessed that Russian officials have speculated privately, as they have publicly, that Ukraine was behind the attack, leading officials to believe that the incident was likely not a state-sponsored false-flag operation intended to give Russia a pretext to further escalate its war on Ukraine. The Kremlin has also made some internal security changes in response to the attack, one source familiar with the intelligence said, declining to go into detail. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said publicly following the episode that the citys air defenses would be tightened. The drones that hit the Kremlin appeared small, with a relatively light payload, which is probably why they didnt trigger Russian air defenses, sources told CNN. It is unclear whether they would have had sufficient range to be flown from Ukraine to Moscow. The New York Times first reported on the US assessment. Zelensky has denied Ukraine was behind the attack Zelensky speculated earlier this month that the attack could have been a false flag operation, and denied his country was behind it. Russia has no victories to report, he told reporters while in Helsinki, Finland, earlier this month. Because of that, [Russian President Vladimir Putin] has to do some unexpected moves like surprise drone attacks. Moscow launched a wave of missiles at Kyiv following the incident, using drones that read for Moscow and for the Kremlin, the Ukrainian military said. We didnt attack Putin, Zelensky added. We leave it to the tribunal. US officials do not believe it was an attempt to assassinate Putin. It is widely known that Putin does not spend a lot of time at the Kremlin, and he was not in the building at the time of the incident, Peskov has said. There are still a number of possibilities that US officials have not ruled out, including that non-state Ukrainian or Russian actors inside Russia carried out the operation. That could include Russians sympathetic to Putin hoping to shore up support for him. A spokesperson for Ukraines defense intelligence agency referred CNN to Zelenskys comments in Helsinki. The Ukrainians are defending themselves It is not the first time the US has observed Ukrainian officials pointing the finger at each other following a mysterious attack against Russian targets, like the car bombing that killed Darya Dugina and the suspected truck bombing against the Kerch Bridge that connects Russia with Crimea, sources said. The US also has intelligence that Ukraine has considered attacking Russia before. Classified Pentagon documents leaked online earlier this year revealed that the CIA urged Ukraines military intelligence chief to postpone attacks on Russia on the anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine. Another US intelligence report, which is sourced to signals intelligence, says that Zelensky in late February suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russias Rostov Oblast using unmanned aerial vehicles, since Ukraine does not have long-range weapons capable of reaching that far. US officials have said consistently that they do not encourage Ukraine to launch cross-border attacks into Russia. On a visit to Washington earlier this month, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly claimed there was no new information about who conducted the attack but added that broadly speaking, the Ukrainians are defending themselves. They need to defend themselves in a way that is effective, Cleverly said in response to a question from CNN. They are the injured party in this, we should never lose sight of that. And in order to effectively defend themselves they do have to respond through the use of force. But always make sure that its thoughtful, proportional and is supportive of their wider aims rather than in any way counterproductive. This story was first published on CNN.com. "US intelligence indicates Ukrainians may have launched drone attack on Kremlin" Scorpions again supported Ukraine Klaus Meine, the frontman of the iconic hard rock band, expressed his solidarity and support to Ukrainians while performing their famous Wind of Changes song, the unofficial anthem to the end of communism. Read also: Hollywood star Orlando Bloom pokes fun at U2s Bono on Ukraine trip video He also unfurled the Ukrainian flag during the national emblem. Read also: Ukraner and Lely45 release music video about Simferopol The Scorpions cancelled all concerts scheduled in Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. They also revised lyrics of Wind of Changes hit from "I follow the Moskva down to Gorky Park / Listening for the wind to change" to "Now listen to my heart / It says Ukrainia / Waiting for the wind to change. Klaus Meine hopes to give a peace concert on the Maidan in Kyiv after the war ends. He also claimed that they will never perform in Russia again. Read also: Ukrainian rock star Vakarchuk raises $4 million in aid for Ukraine at London concert "I don't think we will perform in Russia again. Not in the foreseeable future. We need to draw our own conclusions from reality," the musician said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine UK ministers are preparing to announce their decision on Scotland's controversial deposit return scheme. Scottish ministers are seeking an exemption from internal market rules to allow the scheme to start next March. The BBC understands the UK government is likely to issue a conditional agreement that could permit Scotland to pilot a UK-wide scheme. Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf says he does not know if the scheme will still be viable. UK ministers are expected to require glass to be excluded from the scheme which was a key part of Scottish proposals. Other conditions are likely to include standardising the deposit charge, bar codes and labelling across the UK. It is thought the UK government will also insist on a reciprocal membership system so that businesses that join anywhere in the UK are automatically signed up across the UK. Mr Yousaf said the fact that he was hearing this information through the media was "yet another demonstration of disrespect" from the UK government, which he said was "intent on undermining democracy". He said industry had invested millions of pounds in the belief that glass was going to be included in the scheme. "We do not know if the scheme is viable if you remove glass from it," he said. However, he said he was not going to pre-empt any decisions about the scheme's future because he had not yet heard officially from the UK government. Lorna Slater, the minister in charge of the scheme, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime: "If it is true that their intentions are to prevent us, to force us to take glass out of the scheme... I'm pretty outraged. "It is an affront to democracy in Scotland - this was passed by the Scottish Parliament - and it will be significantly damaging to our environment." First Minister Humza Yousaf said industry had invested millions of pounds The deposit return scheme, aimed at increasing the number of single-use drinks bottles and cans that are recycled, was due to begin in August. It will now come into effect in March next year. Under the new scheme, 20p will be added to the price of a single-use drinks container, which will be refunded to people who return it to a retailer or hospitality premises that offer single-use products. Concerns have been raised that because Scotland's scheme would come in before similar initiatives in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it could create a trade barrier. The Internal Market Act was brought in after Brexit in a bid to ensure smooth trade across the different nations of the UK. On Tuesday, the Scottish government minister responsible for the deposit return scheme told MSPs she was looking forward to a positive decision from the UK government. Lorna Slater urged Westminster to "do the right thing" and allow the scheme to go ahead Asked if she would compensate businesses if the scheme failed, Lorna Slater said that was a hypothetical question because she remained committed to delivering the scheme next March. On Wednesday, the prime minister Rishi Sunak called on the Scottish government to reconsider their plans. The UK government is planning to introduce its own deposit return scheme, details of which could be announced as early as today. Speaking on a visit to Rutherglen on Friday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that if he was prime minister there would be a willingness to make the scheme work. He said the two governments seemed more inclined to find a point of division between them. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Friday the City of Seattle must transition from gas-powered leaf blowers to electric leaf blowers by 2027, according to a media release from the mayors office. The city - which currently owns about 418 gas-powered blowers and 70 electric blowers - must develop a plan to phase out the gas-powered blowers over the next four years. According to the mayor, starting July 2023, the City can only buy new leaf blowers that are electric, either plug-in or battery. At least 50% of the citys current stock of gas-powered leaf blowers must be phased out by 2025, 75% by 2026, and 100% by 2027. These gas-powered leaf blowers arent just a nuisance; they impact our neighborhoods and the workers who operate them through air and noise pollution, said Mayor Harrell. The City must also look into transitioning electric vehicles to allow for charging of leaf blowers in the field, identifying landscaping options that could reduce the need for leaf blowers, and upgrading electrical capacity at City facilities to support the new tools. Seattle Firefighters looking to advance in their careers to become fire lieutenants are being required to learn curriculum from social justice activists and books that espouse woke ideology. The Seattle Department of Human Resources (SDHR) fire lieutenant test features books from several prominent progressive authors, such as critical race theory (CRT) author Ibram X. Kendi. The required reading tested on by the SDHR to become a fire lieutenant includes controversial woke books, including the entirety of Kendis "How to be an Antiracist" as well as its introduction and acknowledgments, according to a Washington Free Beacon report. TARGET IN REAL, SEVERE DANGER AFTER WAVING WOKE POLITICS IN CUSTOMERS FACES, CRITICS WARN A new report revealed that the Seattle Department of Human Resources (SDHR) fire lieutenant test features books from several prominent progressive authors, such as critical race theory (CRT) author Ibram X. Kendi. Prospective fire lieutenants are also tested on the entirety of "Both Sides of the Fire Lane: Memoirs of a Transgender Firefighter: by Bobbie Scopa, according to the exam bibliography obtained by the Free Beacon, as well as the 800-page memoir "A Leaders Guide to Unconscious Bias and Fighting Fire" by a female firefighter. It isnt just the firehouse brass being tested on woke ideology fireboat engineers in Seattle are being tested on Robin DiAngelos book "Is Everyone Really Equal?: An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education" as well as handouts covering "structural interplay between all oppressions." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Retired Seattle firefighter Wayne Johnson told the Free Beacon this "stuff has nothing to do with firefighting." "It has everything to do with social engineering," Johnson said. The SDHR did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. The Seattle Fire Departments push for incorporating this woke ideology in their curriculum comes as corporations are facing backlash for doing the same. Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a recent interview that "woke" capitalism is "great" for their brand and "the right thing for society." Cornell was asked to address the backlash to "woke" corporate campaigns, which has caused an uproar among conservative consumers and recently embroiled brands like Bud Light, Nike and Disney. "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. Clay Travis called out retail store Target Wednesday for their "Pride" products and said the company faces a "real, severe danger" of suffering damage to their bottom line in the same way as Bud Light. The "Outkick" founder joined "Fox & Friends" to react to reports that Target convened an emergency meeting over their LGBTQ products, particularly clothing for transgender women. The Seattle Fire Departments response to the call from Woke Lane comes as critics retail big box store giant Target is in "real, severe danger" after pushing woke politics in their stores. "Most people go to Target because it's convenient and without any political agenda whatsoever. But so many brands have gone left-wing and decided they have to wave their politics in front of everyone out there. I would be nervous if I was Target's CEO," he told Ainsley Earhardt. Target confirmed "adjustments" to the Pride merchandising plans are underway after Fox News Digital learned it rolled back displays at some of its locations. "For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month. Since introducing this years 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. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year," a Target spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Heckman contributed reporting. See the giant sunspot estimated to be about 4 times larger than Earth See the giant sunspot estimated to be about 4 times larger than Earth A sunspot around the size of about four Earths is so large in scale astronomy experts say it can be viewed with only sufficient eye protection and without the use of a telescope. The sunspot is known as AR3310 and is likely a result of the stars transition into what is known as the solar maximum. According to NASA, sunspots are caused by magnetic fields that twist in a chaotic manner and often create solar flares and coronal mass ejections. When pointed at Earth, these events can generate geomagnetic storms which interfere with electronics and produce stunning auroras. "Depending on the magnitude of the storm, those auroras can push far enough down into the U.S. to be visible to a lot more people," NASA Ambassador Tony Rice stated. WHAT IS A SOLAR FLARE? Only certified solar viewing lenses, or what are otherwise known as solar eclipse glasses, can be used to stare directly at the sun. Looking at the sun without proper protection can lead to severe eye damage. The giant star is a source of constant energy that has been known to wane and wax during what are known as solar cycles. The sun is thought to be in a heightened activity stage which is expected to peak in 2025, with around 115 sunspots. NASA estimates the magnetic field in these sunspot regions is about 2,500 times stronger than Earths poles. The enhanced magnetic field inhibits the flow of heat and gasses into the sunspot region, leading to much cooler temperatures. The temperature at the surface of the sun is estimated to be at around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, while a sunspot could be 6,300 degrees Fahrenheit. 7 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NORTHERN LIGHTS Prior to the peak of what is known as Solar Cycle 25, NOAA intends to launch a spacecraft that will sample solar wind and increase monitoring of the suns activity. Enhanced observations are expected to help improve space weather forecasting and alerts for when events could be distributive on Earth. Chrishell Stause and Mary Fitzgerald's friendship is under the spotlight on Season Six of "Selling Sunset." Stause told Fitzgerald that she "felt a little awkward" when Fitzgerald spent more time with Stause's ex-boyfriend and co-star Jason Oppenheim after their breakup. Selling Sunset. (L to R) Jason Oppenheim, Chrishell Stause in season 6 of Selling Sunset. (Courtesy NETFLIX) "I've been spending more time with Jason because he needed it after the breakup and everything," Fitzgerald, who also dated Oppenheim in the past, responded. However, in her confessional, Stause said the whole situation was frustrating because she needed a friend as much as Oppenheim. "I just feel like it would've been nice to feel like I'd had that friendship and support because it wasn't easy," she said. "I was really hurt," Stause added to Fitzgerald. After the two talked it out, they seemed to have come to an understanding of their friendship. However, when a producer asked Stause in her confessional if she could ever forgive Fitzgerald for not being there for her, she remained silent. In an interview with TODAY.com, Stause answered that very question when she was asked about her friendship with Fitzgerald. She said, "Nothing would ever come between my genuine love for Mary." She's one of the girls that no matter how much time has passed, I dont feel like wed ever wish anything but the best for each other, Stause continued. Chrishell Stause and Mary Fitzgerald in season 5 of It sometimes can be frustrating to work on a show and do things where its in the better interest to not have his talk off camera and make sure we have those conversations on camera, but I think that it does a disservice to an obvious love thats there, she said. In a separate interview with TODAY.com, Fitzgerald echoed that same sentiment. She noted that she and Stause are good and have talked to each other after the show aired. Were the kind of friends that even if we dont talk for a while, and theres a little something, were both just very respectful to each other, she said, adding that theyre fine and get along great. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Senate would give veteran teachers $250 raise over 2 years. Is it a slap in the face? North Carolinas most experienced teachers are expressing frustration that they could receive state raises of as little as $250 over the next two years. Senate and House Republicans are negotiating a deal on a a budget for the next two years, including how much to spend on education and raises for teachers. The budget adopted by the Senate provides a $200 raise this year and a $50 raise next year for teachers who have more than 15 years of experience. They dont want experienced folks to stay, Kim Mackey, a social studies teacher at Green Hope High School in Cary, said in an interview. They dont want to pay us, but many of us love teaching. Its just the state expects us to make a personal sacrifice to do what we want to do. Senate GOP leaders say the state has a greater need attracting and retaining new teachers. The feedback we receive on teacher pay often focuses on beginning teacher salaries and turnover, Randy Brechbiel, a spokesman for Senate leader Phil Berger, said in a statement. The Senate budget addresses this head-on by including considerable raises for starting teacher pay, which would help attract new, qualified candidates and keep them on board. But Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has cited the Senates small raises for experienced teachers in his declaration this month of a state of emergency for public schools. Gov. Roy Cooper visits a fourth-grade class while touring Washington Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Cooper says state lawmakers would starve public education with universal private school vouchers, more tax cuts and small raises for veteran teachers. Ive proposed a pay raise of 18% over the next two years, because our teachers deserve better pay and more respect, Cooper said in a video released this week. But the legislature wants to give them neither one. In fact, the Senate has given veteran teachers a $250 raise spread over two years. $250! Thats a slap in the face, and it will make the teacher shortage worse. Focus on beginning teachers North Carolina used to provide teachers an annual raise for each year they moved a step up the experience scale. But in an effort to move teachers up the salary schedule faster, state lawmakers changed it so that educators with more than 15 years experience only get one more automatic state raise when they reach their 25th year. The Senate budget would provide teachers with an average raise of 4.5% over the next two years. Beginning teachers would get raises of 11% over the next two years, raising the state base salary of $37,000 to $39,000 this fall and $41,000 next year. The increase comes as the National Education Association has ranked North Carolina 46th in the nation in beginning teacher pay. Teachers with more than 15 years of experience would get a $20 a month raise this year and a $5 a month increase next year to reach a salary of $54,250. Thats a raise of 0.5% over the next two years. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, center, outlines the Senate Republicans budget proposal during a press conference on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. Berger says experienced teachers can earn up to an additional $10,000 a year if they take on additional leadership duties in their schools. But few school districts are part of the state-funded Advanced Teaching Roles program. Berger has also said the Senate budget would raise average teacher pay to $59,121 by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, just under North Carolinas median household income. The average salary includes the local salary supplements that many districts pay teachers. Experienced teachers sound off Bergers arguments arent sitting well with experienced teachers. So according to this I will receive a raise of $25 a month and remain at that pay for 9 years, Dawn Zuccarini, a teacher at Harris Creek Elementary School in Raleigh, tweeted last week. Im wondering why the Senate isnt worried about retaining experienced teachers? Mary Helen Earle, a social studies teacher at Enloe High School in Raleigh, warned that the small raise and teacher salary schedule encourages retirement in the midst of a teacher shortage. The states public schools opened this school year with more than 5,500 teaching vacancies. No raise between years 15 and 25? Earle continued in a tweet last week. We need to do better NC! Several teachers mocked the $5 a month raise that the Senate would provide them next year. As I finish my 15th year teaching, its very motivating knowing that I might be able to get a $5 monthly raise after next school year, Stephen Combs, a health and physical education teacher at Apex Middle School, tweeted last week. I wonder why there is a teacher shortage? Insultingly low salary increases Gov. Cooper accused the Senate GOP of providing insultingly low salary increases for teachers. When coupled with the plan to further cut taxes and provide universal access to school vouchers, Cooper said it drops an atomic bomb on public education. Gov. Roy Cooper visits with students as he tours Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. But Berger noted how the Senate budget drew support from seven Democrats. To say that a bipartisan group of 37 state senators, representing 3/4ths of the people of NC, would support a budget that drops an atomic bomb on public education is hyperbolic nonsense, Berger tweeted on Wednesday. Republicans have veto-proof majorities in the legislature, so they dont need Coopers support to pass a budget. Its expected lawmakers will agree on a compromise on teacher raises thats more than what the Senate has offered but is less than what the House would provide. The House GOP budget provides an average 10.2% raise for teachers over the next two years. This includes an across-the-board 4.25% raise this year worth more than $2,000 for teachers with more than 15 years experience. Also unlike the Senate, the House budget would restore providing extra pay for teachers who have a masters degree or other advanced degree. Mackey, the teacher, said unless something is done that the state will continue to lose more experienced educators. They dont want people like me staying around, Mackey said. They want this revolving door of people who come in and teach 15 years and then leave. As a parent I wished theyd value experience. Senator works to get word out about PACT Act help for veterans exposed to toxins Dennis Smith, a retired Marine who served from 1975 through 2000, speaks with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Wednesday, May 24 at the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post in New Philadelphia. Brown was visiting to speak on and hear about recent passage of the PACT Act, concerning the health of veterans. NEW PHILADELPHIA U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, met with local veterans Wednesday to update them on new legislation designed to help those who were exposed to toxins while serving in the military in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and other conflicts. "They are informative," Vietnam veteran Steve Stropky of Dover said of the session. "I got that out of the meeting." More about veterans: Veteran service officer: Be wary of Camp Lejeune ads The roundtable held at the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post 1445 in New Philadelphia was to discuss the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022that Brown helped write and negotiate and was signed into law last year. A sign at the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post welcomes the arrival of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Wednesday, May 24. Brown was set to speak on and hear from veterans about recent passage of the PACT Act, concerning the health of veterans. The law is named after Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, a central Ohio veteran who died in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006. The legislation expands Veterans Administration health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances. "Years ago, we simply didn't do it right as a nation with Vietnam vets and Agent Orange," the senator said. "They had to hire lawyers and all that. We wanted to cut that red tape, making sure people get the service right away that they've earned." Breathing problems for veterans In attendance at the roundtable discussion were representatives from New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, unions and veterans' groups. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, speaks during a roundtable session, Wednesday, May 24 at the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post in New Philadelphia. Brown visited to speak on and hear from veterans about recent passage of the PACT Act, concerning the health of veterans. During the session, Brown asked Jim Thornton, veterans service office with the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office, what illnesses his agency was seeing in former service members. "We're really seeing a lot of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans coming in with breathing problems," Thornton said. Not many of these veterans have cancer, he noted. Asked if veterans know about the PACT Act, Thornton said his office is working to get the word out. The legislation will be a topic of discussion at the agency's Picnic in the Park from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 21 at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia. Veterans who want to attend should call the office at 330-339-1163 by June 1 to make a reservation. Capt. Travis Stocker of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office speaks at a roundtable with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Wednesday, May 24 at the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post in New Philadelphia. Brown was visiting to hear from veterans on and speak about passage of the new PACT Act, which concerns the health of veterans. Capt. Travis Stocker, a Marine veteran who works at the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office, said former service members are sometimes reluctant to seek help from the government. "The biggest problem I think we see is that a lot of times veterans, if they're not missing a limb or something and they take advantage of some of these opportunities that are out there right now, that they're taking away from somebody that is more disabled than they are," he said. Brown said he hears that all the time. "I'm OK. Other people have it worse. I don't need help. You've earned that. You should get it if you have any problems," the senator said. George Peischinger, from United Steel Workers, left, Bobbie Trolio, center, and Nichole Bache, from the New Philadelphia Health Department, participate in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Wednesday, May 24 at the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post in New Philadelphia. Brown was visiting to hear from veterans about and speak on recent passage of the PACT Act, concerning the health of veterans. "They want to be givers. They want to give that opportunity to someone else," Stocker said. Where to get more information Brown is urging all Ohio veterans and family members to visit www.va.gov/pact to find out more about how to claim benefits through the PACT Act. Anyone who would like more information on available resources can reach out to the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office at 330-339-1163 or visit the Veterans Crisis Line at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Sherrod Brown holds forum on PACT Act help for veterans (Editor's note: Paragraphs two and three contain offensive comments) DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegalese women's groups and dozens of well-known figures on Friday accused opposition leader Ousmane Sonko of insulting a woman who has accused him of rape, saying his comments showed he was unfit for higher office. Sonko, 48, is embroiled in a legal saga he says is politically motivated. In a livestreamed speech on Wednesday following a court hearing into the case, he repeated his protestations of innocence in the ongoing trial and said "even if I had to rape, I would not rape someone who looks like a monkey that has had a stroke." "Do you think that I, Ousmane Sonko, am so in need of a woman that I would rape a woman?" In a joint open letter, the signatories, which included over 30 prominent academics, campaigners and artists, said "these remarks reinforce and normalise the culture of rape and are unworthy of a man who aspires to the highest office in our country." "We call on all women's rights organisations and opinion leaders to condemn these dehumanising and insulting comments towards women." Sonko, who has a substantial following among young voters, also faced some backlash to the remarks online. His team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. Senegal's opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi planned to rally in the capital Dakar in support of Sonko on Friday, but the demonstration was not authorised and did not take place. The charges against him have sparked sporadic and sometimes violent protests over the last two years, undermining Senegal's image as one of West Africa's most stable democracies. He is accused of sexually assaulting and making death threats to a woman who worked in a massage parlour in 2021. He denies wrongdoing and has boycotted the court proceedings. The authorities deny his accusations that this trial and another libel case are politically motivated. On Wednesday, a prosecutor in the rape trial requested a 10-year prison sentence. If he is found guilty, this would likely bar him from running for the presidency in the February election. The letter's signatories said Sonko's dismissive attitude to the trial set a dangerous example to his young supporters, undermining progress in a country that only classified rape as a serious crime in 2019. "We welcome the trial and salute the (accuser's) courage and resilience," they said. "Despite ostracism, demonisation and death threats, she held on. Every citizen deserves justice." (Reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) A dangerous trio of bills winding through the Legislature would greatly expand the power of unelected water officials and bureaucrats by stripping authority from holders of senior water rights, most of whom have exercised these rights for more than a century. They include the Modesto, Turlock and Fresno irrigation districts, the city of Sacramento and the city and county of San Francisco. Usurping these agencies control over water, and shifting authority instead to the appointed State Water Resources Control Board, represents an unwise and unnecessary power shift. Opinion Arguments favoring Assembly Bills 460 and 1337 and Senate Bill 389 generalize the existing water rights system as antiquated and broken. This is a narrative promulgated often by those who think they dont have enough water and want to take it from those who do. When it comes to water, its either feast or famine in California feast this year, with full reservoirs and plentiful snowpack and potential for flooding, right on the heels of a blistering multiyear water famine, or drought. A coordinated push for water regulation reform this year is no reflection of current hydrologic conditions, but the result of decades of coveting water by those who dont enjoy similar water rights. Those holding senior water rights do so because their forebears a century ago captured in reservoirs the lifeblood trickling from mountain snowpack. There it is held for strategic release as needed for drinking water and crops throughout the rest of the year. California owes its bounty to that extraordinary insight and investment. Thirsty interests, including those hoping to restore fish counts, have challenged this legacy. Courts have consistently defended the legitimacy of the states water rights system, particularly favoring those with claims predating the creation of the State Water Board in 1914. These holders of senior water rights include the cities and water districts listed above public agencies all, mostly represented by elected office holders accountable to voters. CAs water rights system is working The priority system is not perfect, but it justly rewards prescient investment and a century of stewardship with a valuable resource that should not be snatched away capriciously. The State Water Board for years has tried to increase its authority over senior water rights holders, with limited success. This year, the struggle has shifted to the Legislature. AB 460 would grant the State Water Board sweeping power to issue orders against agencies diverting water from California rivers without hearings, substantially weakening time-honored review standards. Thats why the Association of California Water Agencies and a coalition of business and agricultural interests and manufacturers all oppose the bill. AB 1337 would give the board similar power in any year, wet or dry. Yes, illegal diversions deserve stiff punishment, but there is no justification for handing the state board unlimited authority without regard to conditions, and even water agencies with pre-1914 rights could be vulnerable. Thats why the California Farm Bureau and water agencies up and down the state, including the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts, are fighting the bill. And any diverter would assume the legal burden of proving its claim to water under SB 389, which casts doubt on the validity of vested rights and makes the State Water Board the sole arbiter of disputes. Due process and transparency would actually be reduced. Joining builders, merchants and growers in opposition are local government leaders in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties as well as Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. The sea change to long-established rights represented in each of these bills is stunning. Fallout could threaten the California economy and would plunge water rights questions into a litigation morass. This is not a matter of urban versus rural interests. It should not be subject to partisan bickering. Unfettered authority in the hands of an unelected panel never has been a good idea. Cities and water agencies are more knowledgeable than Sacramento bureaucrats about local needs and conditions. They cannot expect to operate efficiently when subject to the whims of state government. (CNN) Britains Queen Elizabeth II faced a potential assassination threat 40 years ago, ahead of a trip to the United States, according to newly released documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A cache of 103 pages were posted to the FBIs online records site, The Vault, on Tuesday. The files cover preparations for several trips the late Queen made to the US, including an official tour of the West Coast with her husband, Prince Philip, in 1983. One document appears to detail a tip gathered around a month before that visit from San Francisco police regarding a phone call from a man who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet. It continues: 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 same document notes that it is the intention of the Secret Service to close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge when the yacht nears. Theres no mention of any precautions that may have been taken at the national park nor do the files reveal whether any arrests were made. The files illustrate the FBIs hypervigilance at possible threats to the visiting British monarch, collaboration with the US Secret Service and concerns about the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and its sympathizers during royal visits. The Queens cousin, Louis Mountbatten, was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in 1979, using a bomb planted in his fishing boat. Three others died in the same explosion, including two children. Many of the Queens trips to the US took place amid the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the documents reveal the FBI was closely monitoring as it prepared for royal visits over the years. Ahead of a private visit to Kentucky in 1989, one document notes that while the FBI was unaware of any specific threats to the Queen, the possibility of threats against the British monarchy is everpresent from the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Another document in the file, dated July 1976, mentioned an occasion when the Queen traveled back across the Atlantic to help mark Americas bicentennial celebrations, with stops including Philadelphia, Washington and New York. During that trip, the FBI documents disclose, a summons was issued to a pilot for flying a small two-seater plane over Battery Park, carrying a sign that read England, Get out of Ireland. This story was first published on CNN.com, FBI file reveals 1983 plot to kill Queen Elizabeth II during US visit" Kosovo riot police secure a municipal building after using tear gas to disperse Serb demonstrators in the Serb-majority town of Zvecan Police in northern Kosovo fired tear gas Friday as Serbs protested the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors, a decision that drew sharp condemnation from the United States and European powers. Serbia, which ruled Kosovo until a NATO intervention in 1999, placed its army on high alert and ordered forces towards the border, a step it has taken repeatedly in recent years. Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority boycotted elections in the north in April, allowing ethnic Albanians to take control of the local councils despite the vote's tiny turnout of less than 3.5 percent. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti since last week has gone ahead and installed mayors, defying calls by the European Union and the United States, which has championed the territory's independence. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States "strongly condemns" Kurti's move. "These actions have sharply and unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermining our efforts to help normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and will have consequences for our bilateral relations with Kosovo," Blinken said in a statement. The United States also issued a joint statement with Britain, France, Italy and Germany that condemned the decision and urged Kosovo to "immediately step back and de-escalate." The Western powers said they were also "concerned by Serbia's decision to raise the level of readiness of its armed forces at the border with Kosovo and call on all parties for maximum restraint, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric." - Injuries in clashes - In the Serb-majority town of Zvecan, Serb residents clashed with officers before being pushed back, an AFP journalist witnessed. In videos posted online, gunshots and shock bombs could be heard. Ambulances arrived at the scene, where around 10 people suffered minor injuries "from shock bombs and tear gas, and also visible facial injuries", Danica Radomirovic, deputy head of the local hospital, told local media.* Five police officers sustained slight injuries from "heavy objects and shock bombs" that were thrown in their direction, Kosovo police said. "Material damage was also caused to four official vehicles. One of them was set on fire... Gunshots were also heard nearby," Kosovo police added. Kosovo police earlier confirmed that the officers were escorting newly elected mayors into their workplaces. Serbian state-run broadcaster RTS reported that Kosovo police also used tear gas in the Zubin Potok and Leposavic municipalities. Local ethnic Serbs have begun to erect roadblocks in Leposavic as a sign of protest at the events, RTS reported. Serbia last put its army on a heightened state of alert in December after Serbs erected barricades to protest at the arrest of an ex-policeman. There are frequent bouts of unrest in Kosovo's northern districts, home to many ethnic Serbs, who have remained loyal to Belgrade and never accepted Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008. An estimated 120,000 Serbs live in Kosovo, many in the four northern districts. Belgrade backed the local election boycott in April. It is pushing for an "association of Serb municipalities" -- a form of autonomy for the Serb minority in Kosovo, where the majority of the 1.8 million inhabitants are ethnic Albanian. The main Serb party from Kosovo threatened a "decisive response" from ethnic Serbs if the "repression" by Kurti does not stop. In March, Kosovo and Serbia stopped short of signing a potentially landmark deal to normalise their relations, despite months of shuttle diplomacy by European Union mediators. str-ih/mbs/giv-sct/cw A shark bit off the leg of a young US woman while snorkeling on a Caribbean boat excursion, say reports A shark bit off the leg of a 22-year-old woman in Turks and Caicos. Photo by Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild via Getty Images A shark attacked a 22-year-old woman while she was snorkeling in Turks and Caicos. A hotel employee who witnessed the incident said the victim had her leg bitten off, police said. The woman was taken to hospital and is in serious condition, police said. A shark bit off the leg of a 22-year-old woman from Connecticut in Turks and Caicos, according to a witness, authorities said. The woman was snorkeling with a friend in the waters outside Blue Haven Resort when they were attacked by the shark, according to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. An employee of the resort called for an ambulance and indicated that the victim had her leg bitten off, the police said The woman remains in serious condition in hospital, the police statement said. A resort spokesperson told NBC News that the woman was not a guest and the incident is not linked to the resort or the Leeward 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 said. Shark attacks on humans are extremely rare. There were just 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide last year, of which five were fatal, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File. Sharks have been known to attack humans when confused or curious, such as when they see a human splashing in the water. Research has also suggested that sharks might attack when they mistake humans for prey, such as seals and sea lions, Some scientists have often said that there is no real evidence that sharks bite humans because they want to eat them or see them as food, and attacks are bitten by accident while sharks are hunting marine prey at high speed. Read the original article on Business Insider She was badly burned taking a selfie, then became a war refugee. Now US doctors are helping 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. 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. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: US doctors aid Ukraine war refugee badly burned while taking a selfie She vanished months before the Idaho murders. Why has her death been linked to Bryan Kohberger? Bryan Kohberger (left) and Dana Smithers (right) (AFP/Facebook) 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 is 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. 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. What was especially odd was that Smithers cellphone, wallet and daily medication were all found at her home. Dana Smithers was found dead last month (Stacey Smithers) 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. Back in January, Stacey 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. The Shelby County Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar can be seen from the corner of Poplar Avenue and N. 4th Street. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd will be off the criminal court bench for a few months dealing with an undisclosed illness, and her predecessor will occupy the bench until her return, a Shelby County Criminal Court judge confirmed to The Commercial Appeal. Senior Judge Mark Ward, who sat on the bench in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 prior to Boyd's election last year, is slated to take over the docket on June 7, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan confirmed. An exact timeline for Boyd's return is not clear, with Skahan telling The Commercial Appeal over text messages, "She will be out for a few months." "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the people of Tennessee in this new role," Ward said in a press release from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts about his appointment. "Traveling the state to work with different judges, court clerks, and attorneys will be an incredible experience and one that I embrace. I am honored that the Supreme Court has selected me for this position." SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: How a teen accused of shooting a Memphis Police officer got out on bail twice Ward is one of five senior judges, each of whom are appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court for four-year terms. Senior judges are temporarily assigned to various courts throughout the state, working to "promote the effective administration of justice" and provide additional resources, according to the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts website. They also fill in when a judge recuses themselves from a case. Prior to losing reelection to Boyd in 2022, Ward spent 18 years on the Criminal Court Division 9 bench. He is an alumnus of the University of Memphis and earned his juris doctor from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, where he has been an adjunct professor since 2000. He spent 16 years as a private practice attorney, litigating civil and criminal cases. He also worked part time as a public defender, before switching to the role full-time in 1997 and working in the office until his election to the Division 9 bench. Boyd, prior to her leave of absence, received a public reprimand from the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct in early May for asking for donations to benefit a school in a Facebook post that showed the judge wearing her judicial robe. State law prohibits judges from using their position to advance either their personal interests, or those of other people. Boyd did not respond to the letter announcing the office's intent to investigate sent to her in December 2022, which required her to respond within 14 days, and she was also reprimanded for not responding in a timely manner. Boyd responded in an April 10 letter, according to the reprimand, and provided reasons why she could not respond quickly. The board indicated that did not matter. "Failing to respond to an investigation is inconsistent with a judge's proper performance of the judge's duties and undermines public confidence in the judiciary," the board said in its reprimand. "Simply stated, failing to respond is unacceptable." Boyd was previously reprimanded in 2015, and suspended from practicing law for one year with 30 days spent on active suspension and the remainder on probation by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. "Ms. Boyd failed to act with diligence in the handling of a petition to change custody, failed to deposit an unearned fee into a trust account and failed to refund the fee when terminated prior to performing the work," a 2015 release about Boyd's suspension read. Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby Co. Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd on leave due to sickness 'On This Side of the World' turns a one-way ticket to the U.S. into a unifying trip, one captivating song at a time Noam Shapiro, left, directed and Paulo K Tirol wrote the music and lyrics for "On This Side of the World," currently running at East West Players. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 10:22 a.m. May 26, 2023: An earlier version of this article reported that Paulo K Tirol graduated from Berklee College of Music. He left Berklee early after getting accepted to NYUs Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. It was a rainy day in New York City in 2018. The gloomy weather persisted as Paulo K Tirol prepared to introduce one of his songs at Joes Pub at the Public Theater as part of a group show. It was among the songs he was working on focused on the experiences of Filipino American immigrants. Noam Shapiro lived uptown. He bought a ticket to the show, which was presented by Musical Theatre Factory, to support a friend who was also presenting there. As he watched the rain continue to fall, he hesitated to make his way downtown. He went anyway. As actors performed Tirols song Light of the Home, Shapiro was in awe of the rich harmonies and stories of Filipino women leaving their homes to care for others' residences, children and spouses. I wrote in my program that I got chills from Paulos music, Shapiro recalled to The Times. Ive never seen these stories or these characters onstage. I needed to hear more, he added. The next morning, Shapiro sent Tirol a cold email asking to meet up to learn more about the project. Tirol was skeptical, especially after experiencing apathy from others whom hed sent material. But he ultimately agreed. On another rainy day in New York City, they met for coffee and talked for three hours. Shapiro said he wanted to help Tirol finish the musical and get it produced, coming on board as a co-creator. Plenty of workshops and readings later, On This Side of the World premiered at East West Players' David Henry Hwang Theater in downtown L.A. on May 14. Noam Shapiro, left, and Paulo K Tirol at East West Players' David Henry Hwang Theater. "I needed to hear more," Shapiro recalls about his first encounter with Tirol's songs. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Tirol wrote the music and lyrics and Shapiro directed On This Side of the World, about a woman who flies from the Philippines to the U.S. with a one-way ticket and a book full of stories, helping her and the other plane passengers find strength in the journey ahead. The musical, produced in association with FilAm Arts and running until June 10, is an anthology of stories based on the real-life accounts of Filipino American immigrants. Tirol's goal is to add a perspective to the musical genre that is rarely portrayed onstage, bringing together a community that he sought at the beginning of his own journey. Tirol immigrated from Manila to Boston in 2012, leaving behind a corporate career to pursue one in music therapy. At 34, he returned to college. After four semesters at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he pivoted to musical theater writing at New York University on a full-tuition scholarship. On This Side of the World was born as a class assignment at NYU. Tirol was tasked with picking a community and writing a collection of songs over two years. He chose the Filipino immigrant community in the U.S. I had a lot of Filipino immigrant friends whose stories I could borrow to turn into songs and I did not know at the time of any other Filipino immigrant composer-lyricists who were writing about the Filipino American immigrant experience, he said. He wrote six songs that later became part of On This Side of the World. He continued writing after completing his master of fine arts program, creating more songs and refining others. "I did not know at the time of any other Filipino immigrant composer-lyricists who were writing about the Filipino American immigrant experience," Paulo K Tirol, left, with Noam Shapiro, says. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) After connecting with Shapiro, the duo traveled with the show to residencies and workshops. On This Side of the World was one of eight shows selected for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre s Annual Festival of New Musicals in 2020 . It was their first exposure to Southern California, Tirol said. The experience allowed them to meet Snehal Desai, East West Players' producing artistic director ( recently appointed Center Theatre Group s artistic director ). I was really blown away by the songs and also Paulos story as an immigrant, as someone who was in music therapy, as someone who had this very nontraditional path into theater and into musical theater writing, Desai said. As Tirol and Shapiro moved forward, they had to give the show repertoire a shape. During a reading of the musical at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach in early 2022, they discovered the story setting: a plane trip to the U.S. They made the opening number One Way Ticket, a song following six strangers boarding a plane in Manila to an unknown life in America. The character Jemmalyn (Zandi De Jesus) became the leading voice, carrying a book of stories she collected from other Filipino immigrants in America. As each character presents their worries about starting a new life, a new story unfolds. Tirol pulled from his own experience with a one-way ticket to Boston. One of the first things I did was contact all my Filipino immigrant friends who are already living in the U.S. and asked them what their lives were like and what stories they had to tell, he said about moving to the U.S. During the plane ride, he replayed the stories over and over in his head. The same goes for Jemmalyn and plenty of others who bought a one-way ticket to the U.S. The reason I added the Act II opener (Hold On/In Mid-Air), which talks about being in midair, is because I feel it expands the show from being simply about the immigrant experience to seeing the immigrant experience as an experience of being in between, Tirol said. I think everyone has experienced being in between, whether it's facing the unknown or making a choice or waiting to commit to something or waiting for something to happen. The stories presented on the David Henry Hwang stage encouraged audiences, including Desais mother, to reflect on their own experiences. She opened up about her experience coming over at 23 in the 70s and she hadnt thought about it in decades, Desai said. Part of the reason Shapiro decided to help Tirol get the project to the stage was because he wanted to spotlight marginalized voices. I thought that the New York theater scene, in particular, was very insular, he said. It was really focusing on American and New York stories, primarily white and affluent stories, and I wanted to expand the range of stories that were available. The show arrived in L.A. just after Here Lies Love, the first Broadway musical with an all-Filipino cast , was announced on May 1. Tirol recalled a gathering in L.A. following the news, where Here Lies Love cast member Lea Salonga shared the watershed moment for Filipino American theater by also highlighting Tirol and On This Side of the World. "I wonder what did I do to deserve to be the one to write this musical and celebrate our stories and get the response it's gotten," Paulo K Tirol says about "On This Side of the World." (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Tirol and Shapiros musical is not just about the daunting side of making a new home. It is also about the joys of community and a new life. When Tirol got on his Japan Airlines flight in 2012, he never thought he would end up with a musical at the oldest Asian American theater group in the country. He didnt think hed find love and get married. His initial plan was to eventually return to Manila. Life had different plans. In Things I Dont Know Yet, Jemmalyn sings, On my 82nd birthday, amid the speeches and champagne, I start to laugh. Im just another Filipino who stepped aboard a plane. When I think about that line these days, I wonder what did I do to deserve to be the one to write this musical and celebrate our stories and get the response its gotten, Tirol said. Its astounding. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CORRECTION: Francis Shen, then an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, conducted research on the age of federal judges. Incorrect information appeared in an earlier version of this story. A growing dispute over efforts to force the retirement of a 95-year-old federal judge is giving the public a rare glimpse into how the judicial system grapples with issues of age on the bench. Questions about age are looming large over Washington lately, with doubts about whether an octogenarian president is fit for reelection and if the nations oldest sitting senator should finish out her term. The judicial branch is not without its own issues on the matter, as colleagues of Pauline Newman, a federal appeals court judge, attempt to push her out over concerns about her mental state. Anonymous court employees have alleged that Newman is simply losing it mentally with some describing her as paranoid, according to court filings. A formal investigation is being run by three of her fellow judges after Newman rebuffed pressure to retire earlier this year, with new efforts to reduce her role at the court and demands she submit to a cognitive test. Based on its investigation to date, the Committee has determined that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that Judge Newman might suffer a disability that interferes with her ability to perform the responsibilities of her office, the judges wrote in an unsigned order earlier this month. The fight has since only turned more bitter. Newman this month sued her colleagues to block the investigation, insisting she is still fit to serve and that their probe is unconstitutional. At all relevant times, Judge Newman has been and is in sound physical and mental health, Newmans attorney wrote in the complaint. She has authored majority and dissenting opinions in the whole range of cases before her Court, has voted on petitions for rehearing en banc, and has joined in the en banc decisions of the Court. Newmans chambers and her attorney did not return requests for comment. The investigation comes as questions about age are being raised in the two other branches of the federal government. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), 89, faces increased concerns over her health after a months-long absence from shingles complications. The age of President Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, has been the source of attack from rivals. Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term. But unlike the two branches comprised of elected officials, federal judges tenures are not limited, with one key exception: impeachment by the House and conviction in the Senate. The feat has only occurred eight times in U.S. history, according to the Federal Judicial Center. Life tenure designed to provide independence allows federal judges to otherwise serve for as long as they so please. In her lawsuit against the three-judge committee, Newman argued their investigation skirts those constitutional protections, also contesting their characterizations of her mental state and work output. Defendants orders and threats constitute an attempt to remove Plaintiff from officeand already have unlawfully removed her from hearing caseswithout impeachment and in violation of the Constitution, Newmans attorney wrote in the complaint. Its a stark contrast from how her colleagues have portrayed Newmans conduct. By March, half of her fellow active judges on the bench had expressed their concerns to Newman directly or tried to do so, court documents indicate. Chief Judge Kimberly Moore then took things into her own hands, opening a formal investigation on March 24 under the federal judiciarys conduct and disability procedures. Before docketing the order, Moore showed a draft to Newman, who again refused to retire. The probe remains ongoing, but the three-judge committee has already prevented Newman from taking on new cases at the court, even if she maintains her title and salary. They have conducted more than 20 interviews with unnamed court employees, who described Newmans demeanor as paranoid, agitated and bizarre, the documents show. Among other things, the employees alleged Newman needs assistance with basic tasks, claims the court has bugged her phones, and repeatedly seems to have trouble retaining information in conversations. Though it is difficult to say this, I believe Judge Newman is simply losing it mentally, one court employee said, according to the filings. One of Newmans chamber employees purportedly invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during their interview. After another was granted the ability to relocate outside of Newmans chambers while continuing their job, Newman allegedly threatened to have him forcibly removed and arrested. Appointed in 1984 by former President Reagan, Newman, who will turn 96 next month, became the first person to be appointed directly to the Federal Circuit. She is the oldest active federal judge, but the judiciary overall has generally trended older. In 2020, the average age of federal judges was 69, older than any time in U.S. history, according to research conducted by Francis Shen, who at the time was an associate professor at University of Minnesota Law School. As judges age, speculation runs rampant about when they might retire, and which president might replace them. Those battles are even more intense at the Supreme Court, with periodic calls for a justice to retire at a politically opportune time. Just prior to announcing his presidential campaign, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) this week openly discussed the vacancies he could fill, if elected. But for Newman, who sits on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which focuses on patent and other specialized disputes, the pressure to step aside has come from inside the court. Its a notable shift from Newmans long-respected reputation as the courts great dissenter. Judge Newmans dissents have enriched the patent dialogue at the Federal Circuit, Daryl Lim, associate dean at Penn State Dickinson Law, wrote in a 2017 paper analyzing Newmans record. A few have succeeded in gaining traction with the Supreme Court, with her colleagues, and with academics, he continued. Others are pitched to a key for a future court and a true measure of their influence lies in the hands of history. All have become part of its institutional memory, and they provide an unvarnished roadmap of the issues where she saw room for course correction. Newmans reluctance to give into mounting pressure about her abilities is nothing new. Newman had told Lim that she had faced sexism when nominated, now nearly 40 years ago. When I was nominated to be a judge, a number of people spoke out, including some who I thought were my friends, saying that they didnt think that I could handle the job, Newman said at the time. This story was updated at 8:53 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Jersey Shore gets a bad rap, but an abundance of upscale new offerings hope to change that. Once frequented by mobsters, fist-pumping reality stars, and tri-state residents looking to escape the city, the Jersey Shore is the latest region to experience somewhat of a luxury revival, Bloomberg reported on Friday. While long-known as a prime vacation destination famed for its iconic boardwalks and stretches of sandy beaches, many of its oceanfront communities have been spruced up by a wave of swanky new developmentsand discerning travelers are taking note. More from Robb Report In Atlantic City, casinos have invested more than $1 billion to renovate the resort towns most iconic hotels, including Harrahs, Tropicana, and Caesars, which are slated for completion this summer. MGMs Borgata will also undergo a $55 million transformation. In addition, the funds are being used to add a slew of ritzy new restaurants including high-end eateries by Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay, to name a few. On that score, a Nobu-branded hotel is coming sometime in the near future, along with Superfrico and The Hooktwo interactive dining experiences from Spiegelworld, the same people who produced Absinthe in Las Vegas. Developer Bart Blatstein is the mastermind behind much of the citys ambitious makeover. He poured a whopping $150 million into remodeling the Showboat Hotel. And right next door, hell debut the $100 million Island Waterpark in July. Dubbed the largest beachfront waterpark in the world, the family-friendly attraction will span 120,000 square feet and is said to take cues from the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos. The New Jersey amusement park will include over a dozen slides, a surf simulator, a lazy river, and an epic retractable glass roof. Atlantic City is in the middle of a luxury renaissance thanks to a slew of new hotels, restaurants, and casinos Over in Long Branch, the seaside town is making a comeback of its own. Most notably, the Kushner Family shelled out $300 million to revamp Pier Village, an award-winning beachfront community. At the 67-Room Wave Resort, hotel rooms start at a cool $350 per night. Nearby, Asbury Park recently welcomed St. Laurent Social Club, a 20-room, $450-per-night boutique hotel from Top Chef alum and Heirloom Kitchens David Viana. If you travel further south, Icona wants to build what would be Cape Mays first new hotel in five decades. The proposal includes a $150 million, 160-room resort, along with shops and three restaurants. The company also has plans for a 325-room hotel along the beaches of Ocean City. We want it to be the nicest hotel on the East Coast, said Icona Resorts chief executive officer, Eustace Mita, during an Ocean City council meeting in February. This end of the boardwalk needs an anchor to give it class we know it deserves. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The post-pandemic travel boom has people everywhere looking to jet-set to some far-away destinations, but its not always easy or cheap. It seems there are always new travel hacks popping up online, like how to secure an entire row of airplane seats to yourself or how to get extra legroom on a cramped flight. But no cost-effective travel hack has airlines up in arms more than the strategy known as skiplagging. Skiplagging, also referred to as hidden-city or throwaway ticketing, is the practice of booking a less-expensive flight option with a layover city without planning to fly the entire route. Instead, the stopover is the travellers intended destination. The reason so many people use this controversial hack is because its cheaper to book a layover flight than a direct flight. For example, a flight from New York to Orlando might be $250 nonstop, but a similar flight from New York to Dallas with a layover in Orlando might be $130. If a passenger wanted to fly to Orlando using the skiplagging strategy, they would get off the plane at the layover destination in Orlando rather than flying all the way to Dallas. In fact, theres an entire travel service dedicated to this practice called Skiplagged.com, which alerts customers to hidden-city deals and exposes loopholes in airfare pricing to save you money. Skiplagged works by giving travellers the option to search for a route with a hidden-city destination, but the website notes that hidden-city flights are only available on certain routes. If these options are available, they will appear in the flight search results with the final legs of the journey crossed off and the price marked as skiplagged rate. However, airlines are not happy with this cost-saving strategy. In 2014, United Airlines teamed up with travel website Orbitz to sue Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman. The airline claimed the practice of hidden-city ticketing was unfair and strictly prohibited, saying that the New Yorkers website cost the companies $75,000 in lost revenue. However, the case was thrown out because it was filed in Illinois where the court did not have jurisdiction, as Zaman worked and resided in New York City. Zaman also maintained that the practice was perfectly legal. Today, Skiplagged touts their legal success over the airline company on their website, which reads: "Were so good, United Airlines actually sued us for it." Five years later, Lufthansa sued a passenger who did not take the last leg of their ticketed journey. Using throwaway ticketing, the traveller bought a business-class return ticket from Oslo via Frankfurt to Seattle for around 600. He flew Oslo-Frankfurt-Seattle-Frankfurt but failed to board the final leg back to the Norwegian capital. The German airline claimed the trip should have cost the customer 2,769, and asked him to pay the difference between that price and his paid fare. However, an initial court case ruled in the passengers favour. American Airlines then sent a memo to travel agents in January 2021 warning of the practice. The airline reportedly said it planned to begin monitoring skiplagging and that identification of such behaviors could result in an unfavorable outcome. While skiplagging seems like a cost-effective way to travel, it comes with many risks as airlines have cracked down on the practice in recent years. NerdWallet reported that skiplagged travellers could be faced with consequences from airlines, such as having loyalty miles taken away or being billed for the final leg of their journey. Plus, skiplagging only works when passengers dont check their bags as checked bags will end up at the ticketed final destination rather than the layover city. Booking a hidden-city ticket using the skiplagging strategy is a popular way to save money on expensive flights. But there are some risks involved with throwaway tickets, and passengers who break an airlines rules may end up paying far more than they intended. Sleepy Hallow Sleepy Hallow isnt allowing legal issues to stop his musical output. On Wednesday (May 24), the Brooklyn rapper unloaded a new single titled Pain Talk, which features Lil Tjay. Produced by Great John, the collaboration sees the Winners Circle star getting introspective about the obstacles in his life. Feel like me and the judge in the race, if I crash, she gon lock me away, got a Perc, I might pop it today, said Id stop but Im stuck in my ways, and I work like Im tryna get a raise, she said, If you loved me, then you wouldve stayed, I know what she feelin, thats played, I aint really tryna bring you pain, would you love me if I was a lame? Thatd mean minus the watch and the chain, had no car? Had to walk in the rain? Pain Talk boasts a video that comes courtesy of Picture Perfect. The clip shows the artists in church during a funeral and surrounding a bonfire with a bevy of women in tow. In 2021, Hallow liberated his debut studio LP, Still Sleep?, a 14-song effort with a single appearance from longtime collaborator Sheff G. In that same year, he dropped off a deluxe edition of the aforementioned album with added contributions from Coi Leray, Eli Fross, Skillibeng, and more. Since then, Hallow continued his momentum via loose drops like Die Young, 2 Mins of Pain, and Marie. He also embarked on a short 2023 tour that included dates in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Boston. Hallow first began making waves with 2020s Sleepy for President, a mixtape that was considered momentous for NYCs drill scene. In addition to Sheff G, Foushee, Fivio Foreign, and Jay Critch contributed to the 12-track effort. Press play on Pain Talk below. Trending Stories A screen showing cancelled flights as more than 1,400 American airlines have been canceled due to staff shortages and unfavorable weather in Los Angeles, California, U.S. By Joanna Plucinska and Allison Lampert LONDON/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Nikoleta Dodova is among a growing number of dissatisfied airline customers. Having bought her mother and niece airline tickets from Sweden to Macedonia last year, their flight was cancelled and they ended up at an airport over two hours away. She is still waiting for compensation. Official data from regulatory agencies shows complaints against airlines have reached, or neared record levels in countries like Canada and Germany over the last year since COVID-19 restrictions lifted and travel restarted. Rising numbers of disputes between travellers and airlines globally are driving fresh legislation and calls for tougher enforcement of existing rules to protect consumers. "If they (airlines) haven't paid, they're not following the law," Dodova said. "They need to be accountable." The sharpening of rules for payouts could add to pressure on air fares from energy, labour and other rising costs. Lufthansa's payouts alone rose to 331 million in 2022 from 25 million euros in 2021, the German airline group told Reuters in previously undisclosed figures. Legislation is under review in Canada, while the U.S. government is writing new rules and the European Union is pushing for stronger enforcement of its existing regime. Pressure to act is building as summer travel is expected to break records in some regions this year following long airport lines and piles of backed up baggage last summer. Airlines fear a mish-mash of conflicting rules and want those responsible for services out of their control in the industry to help shoulder the compensation costs. European airline group Airlines for Europe (A4E) said compensation has become increasingly burdensome and existing rules leave too much down to interpretation. It is calling for reform of the legislation. While higher fares have helped carriers offset a variety of rising costs "it's in the airline's interest to keep passengers happy even if there are disruptions," aviation analyst James Halstead said. Lufthansa said in a statement it has no backlog of customer claims and refunds are generally paid within the statutory seven days that applies to airlines operating in Europe. Global airline body IATA called on governments to help avoid fragmented regulations and improve services, "instead of singling out airlines, as recent proposals in Canada and the USA have done," director general Willie Walsh said. Canada is promoting shared accountability by providing new access to performance data that airlines can use when negotiating service agreements with airports, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra told Reuters. Some consumer advocates agree with Dodova that rules aren't properly enforced. "The law is not a problem," said John Oberlin-Harris, a British Airways passenger also still waiting for a refund almost a year after a delayed flight caused him to miss a connection at India's Hyderabad airport, forcing him to return to England. British Airways said it works extremely hard to resolve cases in a timely manner when claims are raised. UK law sets out when compensation is due depending on whether any delay was the airline's fault. Sweden's national consumer dispute body decided in March that Dodova is owed 800 euros compensation from Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air. The airline said it was in touch with her and was doing more to improve customer service. RECORD COMPLAINTS Traveller complaints are clogging courts and regulatory agencies in Germany, Britain, Canada and the U.S. In Germany, the arbitration board at the Federal Ministry of Justice, which mediates between consumers and airlines, said it was dealing with 46% more complaints than in 2019, pre-pandemic. German courts reported an increase of around 40% to more than 70,000 cases involving traveller complaints last year. One industry official said airlines in Europe are losing a larger proportion of those battles. In Britain, county court judgments against airlines piled up to more than 4.5 million pounds ($5.68 million), according to consumer watchdog Which? citing an official register of judgments in March. In the U.S., the Department of Transportation (DOT) saw airline passenger complaints rise 55% in 2022. The U.S. is writing rules that would be proposed by year's end requiring airlines to compensate passengers for lengthy delays or cancellations in their control. After two successive summers of travel chaos, U.S. airlines are going all out to prevent large-scale flight disruptions this summer in the face of rising demand. North of the border, the Canadian Transportation Agency, a quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for enforcing existing passenger refund requirements, has a record backlog of 47,000 complaints. It's so high Canada wants to charge airlines a fee if they pass on unresolved complaints to the agency. In Europe, intermediaries like AirHelp, that assist consumers with getting refunds or compensation, have boomed in popularity. AirHelp said active claims were around three times higher in 2022 versus 2019 and that number could grow with strikes expected this summer, AirHelp CEO Tomasz Pawliszyn said. SHARING COSTS Airlines have balked at footing the bill for cases that aren't their fault. The European Union has long enraged airlines with its comprehensive consumer protection legislation, offering payouts of up to 600 euros for delays of three hours or more, or cancellations. "As a passenger, all you know is that the airline cancelled my flight," said Jeff Morrison, president of the National Airlines Council of Canada, which represents Air Canada among others. Morrison said the cost of air travel in Canada could well rise due to new fees and compensation requirements. ($1 = 1.3372 Canadian dollars) ($1 = 0.7923 pounds) (Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt and David Shepardson in Washington, editing by Ben Klayman and Elaine Hardcastle) The California State University Board of Trustees has come to a grim realization: There just isnt enough money to go around and its time to raise tuition. For eight months, a workgroup convened by Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester conducted an examination of the university systems revenue and expenditures, and determined that the latter outpaces the former. That report was presented to the full board earlier this week. In short, the CSU systems revenue only covers 86% of costs; the 14% that revenue does not cover includes instruction, institutional support, academic support, student services and other expenses. The workgroup reached a sobering conclusion: long-term sustainability requires adequate revenues for CSU to fulfill its functions. To thrive, the workgroup concludes the CSU must regularly conduct systematic and comprehensive assessments to ensure that the CSU can provide a quality, affordable, and accessible education to Californians in the 21st century, according to a summary of the report. That 14% shortfall doesnt include an estimated $7.5 billion in backlogged critical capital renewal projects, which will take a decade to complete, according to the Legislative Analysts Office. The backlog remains a critical issue, the report said, that will get worse as capital renewal funds are spent doing emergency deferred maintenance repairs. Leaky roofs, obsolete heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and 50-year-old buildings in need of repair seriously impede universities ability to provide an appropriate educational environment, the report said. All this led the workgroup to one conclusion: After appropriate consultation with student representatives, the board should adopt by September 2023 a tuition policy that provides guidance for gradual, moderate, and predictable increases for students effective the fall of 2024. To mitigate the difficulty that raising tuition would place on struggling students, the workgroup recommended increasing tuition 5% beginning in the 2024-25 academic year for all new and continuing students. Their tuition would then remain flat until they graduate. The following year, the tuition would increase 5% for the incoming class, and then remain flat for them until they graduate. This pattern would continue; tuition would increase by five percent for every subsequent cohort and then would remain flat until they graduate, the report said. Any raise in tuition is likely to meet stiff pushback from student groups, something the report authors seemed to acknowledge. The workgroup recognized that any changes in tuition rates will impact students and emphasized the need to adhere to the stated principle that any scenario be gradual, moderate and, importantly, predictable, the report said. A 24-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in Missouri prison for fatally shooting his father in their Lees Summit home in August. Michael E. Hamilton, of Lees Summit, pleaded guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the killing of Robert Hamilton. He was ordered to serve 15 years on each felony conviction, with the sentences set to run back-to-back. Robert Hamilton was killed in his home on Aug. 31. Officers arrived to find his wife laying on top of his dead body, crying, on the kitchen floor, according to court documents. Detectives were told the younger Hamilton had moved in with his father weeks earlier and that the relationship between them had long been hostile. Michael Hamilton was not in the house when police arrived. Neighbors handed over surveillance footage that showed his pickup truck pulling out of the driveway that evening. On Sept. 1, the following day, police tracked Michael Hamiltons phone to Cooper County, Missouri. He was stopped by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and had in his possession two handguns with apparent blood on them, including one that was confirmed through a lab test to be the weapon used to kill his father. Detectives also found a series of handwritten notes during a search of the Hamilton residence that were collected as evidence. Phrases on the notes included I didnt want this and He was abusive, according to court documents. That song you liked on American Idol finale? A Kansas City area musician wrote it A Kansas City area songwriter can now boast that one of his creations made Katy Perry swoon. On his way to being crowned the new American Idol this past week, high school student Iam Tongi went home to Hawaii and sang for a hometown crowd. Judges Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan went, too. Tongi performed Dont Let Go, written by Independence songwriter/musician Anapogi Fau, who performs what he calls island hip-hop as Spawnbreezie. The song begins with this bittersweet plea: Take my hand and dont let go. Im addicted to your lovin. But if you should know, how my love goes., baby stay close. Tongi barely got the first two lines out when Richie smiled, clapped and let out a whoop. Dreamy-eyed Perry, sitting next to him, looked like she was falling in love. I just love it! Richie shouted. When Tongi reached the chorus, all three judges jumped to their feet. Fau posted a video for the song, from third solo album Dear Billy, on YouTube in 2012. It became a favorite with his fans. New ones have found it over the last few weeks thanks to American Idol, where Tongi performed it last month in that episode in Hawaii and again to celebrate his win. As of Friday afternoon the video had close to 15 million page views. (The Star couldnt catch up with the busy musician this week.) Independence musician Anapogi Fau, who performs as Spawnbreezie, wrote Dont Let Go, performed by American Idol winner Iam Tongi. The name Spawnbreezie popped up in reports from CNN and NBCs Today show to British tabloids that credited him as the songwriter. Fau is well known in Kansas Citys Samoan/Polynesian community, which hosts the 21st annual Island Fest from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at 114 W. Maple Ave. in Independence. After more than 15 years as a solo artist, his fan base stretches around the world; so do his tour dates. Fans who followed Tongi on American Idol appreciated that he performed songs by other Pacific Islander artists when, as one noted on Facebook, it might have been safer to perform more mainstream music. But he chose to bring his community with him, wrote a fan named Kalani Tonga. This is what it looks like to embody the idea that when one of us wins, we all win. What a good dude. Fau posted a video on Facebook congratulating the young American Idol champ and thanking him for what you do for us all. Very much well-deserved, Fau said. It was incredible to watch and witness this part of your musical adventure. Im extremely humbled and honored, but more so proud to have seen you, not only take a particular record, but represented our people on such a major platform as you have. (Bloomberg) -- A coalition between South Africas ruling party and the main opposition, which have been bitter opponents for three decades even though theyve both largely pursued centrist policies, is the tie-up most favored by registered voters, a survey showed. Most Read from Bloomberg The African National Congress took power in 1994 after decades of fighting against White minority rule. The Democratic Alliance emerged from the Democratic Party, a liberal movement that opposed apartheid from within parliament at a time when only White citizens could vote and stand for office. Despite its protestations, South Africas second-biggest political party has been derided by the ANC as representing the interests of the White, moneyed elite. The Social Research Foundation interviewed 3,200 registered voters in July and a further 1,517 in March, and both rounds identified similar attitudes toward political alliances. The prospect of a coalition was expected and welcomed by 47.8% of respondents, while 32.7% were sympathetic to the concept and 11.5% were lukewarm. About 7.5% strongly opposed the idea. For White DA voters, a tie-up with the ANC would represent the crossing of a historical Rubicon and could be considered if it was in the countrys best interests, while ANC voters could be attracted by the DAs record of governing South Africas towns and cities better, Frans Cronje, the SRFs chairman said at a presentation in Johannesburg on Thursday. Among ANC voters, time and time again it appears that 25% or 30% of voters answer questions in the same way that a DA voter would answer, he said. Almost a third of registered voters surveyed said the two biggest parties should govern together if, as predicted by several polls, the ANC loses its absolute majority for the first time in next years elections due to public outrage over power cuts, crime and poverty. The next most popular tie-up was between the ANC and the populist Economic Freedom Fighters at 19%. An alliance between the two main parties was favored by 55% of DA voters and 21% of ANC supporters. A third of ANC voters preferred a tie-up with the EFF. A grouping of all three parties was backed by 14.9% of all respondents and 23% of ANC voters. The DA is currently pursuing a grand coalition of opposition parties that excludes the EFF in a bid to unseat the ANC. If that fails, working with the ANC could be considered, DA leader John Steenhuisen said in an interview this week. We may have to be pragmatic as a party in terms of whats in the best interest of the country, he said. Wed have to go back to our voters and ask them, and we may end up being in a least-worst option in terms of doing some form of agreement. ANC-EFF Alliance While the ANC has been cool on allying with the DA, it hasnt completely ruled it out. The ruling party has worked with the EFF to take control of municipalities in Gauteng, South Africas economic hub. The ANC won 57.5% of the vote in the last national elections in 2019, while the DA garnered 20.8% and the EFF 10.8%. South Africa uses a proportional representation system. The survey also found that the faction-riven ANCs fortunes are heavily dependent on President Cyril Ramaphosa, with his deputy, Paul Mashatile, garnering little public support. Ramaphosas popularity is immense, in the ANC, with 59% of its supporter backing him, Cronje said. He will one day go and the guy taking over is orders of magnitude lower than him. A previous SRF survey showed 39% of ANC voters would vote for a breakaway party formed by Ramaphosa. The latest survey shows the ANC may obtain just over half the vote next year. If it slips marginally below that, it may cobble together a coalition with several small parties, said Cronje, who warned that an outcome that leads to a less stable government could damage voters confidence in democracy,. Do not wish for the collapse of the ANC if you dont know what you are going to replace it with, Cronje said in an address to the Free Market Foundation, a Johannesburg-based think tank. Dont try and stampede it out of power. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. As the 2022-23 season at the South Carolina Childrens Theatre draws to a close, the staff is getting ready for summer. Not summer break. Summer camps. The names of the camps reveal both the fun and the lessons of stagecraft: Avengers Academy, Hogwarts, Superkids & Spykids Improv Bootcamp Stage Crew Olympics, Prop Design and Construction. Last summer, more than 1,100 children and teenagers ages 4 to 18 took part in weeklong camps from June through August at the striking, modern and spacious theater building at 153 Augusta St. in Greenville. We were never able to serve this many students until we moved here to this beautiful space, says Matt Giles, who became Artistic Director in the spring of 2020, as the building was being finished and COVID-19 was closing theaters. Managing Director Katie OKelly and Artistic Director Matt Giles work together to lead the South Carolina Children's Theatre in Greenville. Giles was recruited by Executive Director Debbie Bell, who worked at the theater for 34 years before retiring in October. She and the Board of Directors raised $14 million to construct the building the theaters first true home since its founding in 1987. By the end of the week, the kids in camp feel like this space is theirs. They own it. They know where the restrooms are and how to turn the lights on and off. They move through the building with confidence and joy, Giles says. The staff wants young people to feel like they can be themselves, make new friends, and explore their ideas and creativity, he says. Watching them arrive for camp is the best part of the day, says Katie OKelly, who was hired as the theaters Managing Director in September. When I look out the window and see kids running from their cars to come inside, I think to myself, This is why I do what I do, she says. Giles and OKelly are co-directors a leadership structure that is new to the Childrens Theatre but common in the industry, OKelly says. With the growth we want to have, having co-collaborators is really helpful, she says. Giles oversees programming, the artistic vision, the education department and the stage productions. OKelly runs the business, the administration, the facilities and fundraising. I don't know how Debbie did it. It took two people to replace her, OKelly says. Both Giles and OKelly graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg. Giles is from Spartanburg County, and OKelly is from Florence. The chance to be closer to family influenced their decision to join the Childrens Theater. I fell in love with theater and the arts at Wofford. Coming back to this community where I found my place in the world, and the chance to give back to that same community Its full circle, OKelly says. Taking on Debbies legacy She worked so hard for this institution and put us on a strong foundation to dream about what the next 35 years will look like. Most recently, OKelly was Director of Operations and Production at Triad Stage in Greensboro, North Carolina, and an adjunct professor at nearby universities. We see so many studies on arts integration and the effects on young people it can increase test scores and self-confidence. I think about that every day, she says. In addition to summer camp, the Childrens Theatre conducts semester-long camps, school field trips to the theater, and storytelling in schools often at no charge for children and schools in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Young people and adults onstage at the South Carolina Children's Theatre during a performance of "Once On This Island," which runs through May 21. The production wraps up the season before summer camps start. My No. 1 priority is hunting for new grant opportunities, finding that funding. We dont want to turn a child away. And sometimes that can be challenging, OKelly says. Giles worked in Seattle and Minneapolis but says he felt that he could have more impact in a smaller community like Greenville. He has always wanted to work with teens and children. I have a tremendous passion for young people, Giles says. I love to give artists the tools and the resources to do something amazing. This job was an opportunity to do a thing that I love most, empowering artists to be their best and most exciting artistic selves. Next season, the theater will produce eight shows including the classic Mary Poppins; the silly Pinkalicious The Musical; and The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963, the story of a Black family that visits Birmingham, Alabama, as the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing occurs. In productions, young actors take on some roles, while adults take on others. Children in the audience must have a chaperone, but all performances are suitable for every age. The productions are meant to be a family experience, where parents or grandparents and their children and grandchildren can be entertained and inspired, Giles and OKelly say. Even the hard stuff is told in a way that is accessible and approachable for a young person, Giles says. Giles says he believes that students deal with a lot of hard stuff including COVID and social media. It's hard to be a young person, he says. COVID must have been terrifying for an 8-year-old or a 9-year-old. You look at the adults who have been there for you. What happens when the people who you expect to have all the answers don't have the answers anymore and are just as confused and scared and lost as you are? The theater provides a safe place for young people to talk about their experiences, their questions, their struggles and their worries and to explore their joys, excitement and passions. This space is staffed with people who exist solely to validate who you are, to say that you matter, that you are important. What you bring to the world is profound and beautiful, Giles says. Society is not always kind to young people, he says. Adults, friends and posts on social media can make children and teens feel that they dont matter, that theyre not good enough, not attractive enough. Its a world where youre never enough. The theater is the antidote to that, Giles says. We exist to say that what you bring to the world is enough, that the ideas and the imagination in your brain really are going to change things. And we're here to give you the space and the tools to do so. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville's Children's Theatre. Summer camps keep co-directors busy GREENVILLE, S.C. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a newly minted six-week abortion ban Thursday behind closed doors, triggering a new battle for abortion access in the state as the U.S. South faces a wave of severe restrictions to the care. The state's new ban prohibits abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, which the law says is when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The ban will go into 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, a Republican, said in a news release. "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." Media was not invited and only a couple of lawmakers stood around McMaster as he finalized the bill's passage. Hours after the law came into effect, doctors associated with Planned Parenthood, Greenville Women's Clinic and Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit in state court. South Carolina joins a growing number of states limiting abortion care. Since last year's Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe V. Wade, states across the South have seen a sweep of abortion restrictions introduced and approved by Republican lawmakers. Abortion bans throughout pregnancy have already been passed in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. In Georgia, its allowed only in the first six weeks. Indiana abortion hearing case: Final hearing for Indiana doctor who reported Ohio 10-year-olds abortion focuses on patient privacy S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster signs six-week abortion ban into law May 25, 2023. South Carolina faces immediate legal challenges Challengers to South Carolina's law said it is identical to the 2021 Fetal Heartbeat law, which was thrown out by the South Carolina Supreme Court in January. The majority ruling, authored by former Justice Kaye Hearnthe only woman on the bench, ruled that the state had violated privacy rights enshrined in the state constitution. The South Carolina Supreme Courts lead opinion said the 2021 ban was an unreasonable restriction upon a womans right to privacy. But a few things have changed since the January ruling. Earlier this year, lawmakers stunned by the state supreme court ruling voted to elect Greenville Judge Gary Hill to replace Hearn. For the first time in over two decades, the High Court has no woman on the bench. "The Act is an affront to the dignity and health of South Carolinians. Decisions related to having a family are some of the most personal that South Carolinians will ever make," the lawsuit filing said. "Pregnancy itself is physically, emotionally, and financially challenging, and having a child is an enormous, life-altering decision. There are myriad factors that go into whether and when to have or add to a family." The lawsuit argues that the ban is unconstitutional under the state's constitution and violates "its guarantees to privacy, equal protection, and due process." Before it reaches the High Court, lower courts will consider whether provisions in the state law violate the privacy rights of sexual assault survivors. Lower courts will also consider if the mandated disclosure of their personal information to law enforcement violates the Medicaid Act and whether a law that was settled in January remains settled. Exceptions to the state's new ban include medical emergencies, if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, and for certain fetal diagnoses. Oregon abortions: Bill expanding abortion, gender-affirming care access moves forward in Oregon Abortion care in the South The Center for Reproductive Rights called South Carolina a "key access state" for abortion care. According to the advocacy group, the state has provided the care for in-state residents and patients from states such as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Access to abortion care is increasingly precarious in the South, and it is crucial that we protect it in South Carolina, said Caroline Sacerdote, staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. Just four months ago, the South Carolina Supreme Court did just that. Were simply asking the court to follow that precedent here. Jenny Black, the president of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, told the Associated Press that abortion providers have had to quickly determine how to comply with the pending laws amid the decimation of abortion access across the South. Black said new restrictions will only further put stress on providers who have been seeing an influx of patients from states with restrictions. In a report released in early April by the Society of Family Planning, states where abortion care had remained largely legal saw an increase in abortions. Florida and North Carolina were among the states with the biggest increases, which now have pending limitations. Contributing: The Associated Press Devyani Chhetri covers the South Carolina State House and is a watchdog SC government reporter. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: South Carolina 6-week abortion ban becomes law, providers file lawsuit White rocket rising off the launch pad with a green launch tower and gray sky in the background. The third flight of South Korea's Nuri rocket is in the books. Nuri, the nation's first fully homegrown launch vehicle, lifted off from Naro Space Center on South Korea's south coast Thursday (May 25) at 5:24 a.m. EDT (0924 GMT), carrying eight small satellites skyward. The three-stage, 155-foot-tall (47.2 meters) rocket successfully deployed all of its payloads into their designated orbits, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), South Korea's space agency, said via Twitter on Thursday. Related: Meet Naro: South Korea's first rocket in photos 2 . 6 , 4 1 . pic.twitter.com/xRKpHNVMl2May 25, 2023 See more The primary payload that went up on Thursday is NEXTSat-2, a 400-pound (180-kilogram) satellite that will demonstrate synthetic aperture radar technology, according to NASASpaceflight.com. The other seven payloads are tiny cubesats. Four of those seven comprise the SNIPE ("Small scale magnetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment") mission, which aims to study the plasma environment in Earth orbit. "These satellites are equipped with Langmuir probes, fluxgate magnetometers, and high-energy particle detectors. In addition to their HF and S-band communications equipment, they have Iridium modules to communicate with the ground as a secondary data link," NASASpaceflight.com wrote. The four Korean-built SNIPE cubesats were originally supposed to fly on a Russian rocket, the outlet added, but were switched over to Nuri after Russia invaded Ukraine. The other three cubesats will perform a variety of tasks in orbit, from testing a new spacecraft attitude-control system to measuring cosmic radiation to studying our planet's weather. Related stories: South Korea signs Artemis Accords, aims for moon by 2030 SpaceX launches South Korea's 1st-ever moon mission, lands rocket at sea South Korea launches rocket in 1st space success Nuri flew for the first time in October 2021, on a test flight that carried a dummy payload. That debut mission didn't go according to plan; the rocket's third stage shut down prematurely, and Nuri failed to deploy the test payload as planned. The rocket bounced back in June 2022, successfully carrying six satellites to orbit in a landmark success for South Korea, which wants to launch its own constellation of navigation satellites, among other off-Earth aims. (The nation's Danuri spacecraft is currently orbiting the moon, but it launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, not a South Korean vehicle.) South Korea had one satellite-launch success before last year's Nuri flight, a 2013 mission with a rocket called Naro. But Naro's first stage was built by Russia, whereas Nuri is fully homegrown, developed by KARI. This past week, a crew of private space tourists carried by a vehicle built by SpaceX and operated by Axiom Space arrived at the International Space Station for the vacation of a lifetime. And because everybody poops, once they arrived they had to confront the grim realities of using the restroom in microgravity. NASA seemed to allude to the struggles in a cursory blog post, saying the space tourists had "practiced" what it euphemistically referred to as "hygiene practices." As the good people at Gizmodo pointed out, that almost certainly entails the fraught process of reliving oneself in orbit. Because using the restroom here on Earth depends very much on gravity, doing so in space has long demanded the ingenuity of scientists. Never forget, for instance, a noisesome incident during the 1969 Apollo 10 mission, when the crew were forced to contend with a horrible situation extremely far from Earth. "Give me a napkin quick," commander Tom Stafford said, according to the official NASA transcript. "There's a turd floating through the air." Modern technology has yet fully deal with the challenge. The current generation of space commodes work by sucking both liquid and solid waste into tubes, but people involved say the stench can be appalling. There's also the issue that resources in space are precious, meaning that everything possible needs to be recycled. Back in the summer of 2020, it was announced that the Space Station would be getting a new toilet that, uh, recycles the water out of fecal matter for reuse only for NASA to come back to say that it was calling for new lavatory designs for the forthcoming Artemis moon missions due to the unique challenges of hitting the porcelain throne off-world. Private spaceflight companies have yet to overcome the challenge. SpaceX, for one, admitted in September 2021 that a previous crop of space tourists had struggled with waste management during a crewed mission. A month after that, we got more information when SpaceX revealed that it had fixed a problem on one of its Crew Dragon capsules in which its space toilet, which relies on two separate vacuum tubes for numbers one and two, was leaking and spraying urine onto the floor of the craft. "We didnt really even notice it, the crew didnt even notice it, until we got back," SpaceX's Bill Gerstenmaier told The New York Times at the time. "When we got the vehicle back, we looked under the floor and saw the fact that there was contamination underneath the floor of Inspiration4." Less than a year after that, toilet shenanigans continued to ensue when it was reported that during Axiom's first mission to the ISS, the toilets on the American side weren't working for some hours, which required those on that side of the international divide to ask the Russians if they could use their facilities. "The Russians were very cordial, very accommodating," Ax-1 tourist Larry Connor told CNN of the debacle. "We operate as one team up there and they said, 'Hey, come on over and use ours.'" In other words, space remains a hostile environment in ways both large and small and no amount of training on the ground will fully prepare space travelers, no matter how wealthy, for the reality of life in orbit. More on space tourism: SpaceX Tourists Charting New Frontiers in Product Placement Spain plans to transfer four more Leopard 2 tanks and a batch of M113 armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine. Source: Ukrinform, citing Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles Details: It was reported that Margarita Robles talked during the meeting of the 12th Ramstein about the current status of deliveries from Spain, stressing that her country will send four more Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and a new batch of M113 armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine. Robles also emphasised the "progress in the training of the Ukrainian military on the territory of Spain, where almost 1,500 people have already been trained". The Defence Minister hopes that her country will be able to fulfil its annual quota for the training of the Ukrainian military ahead of schedule. Background: Earlier, it was reported that Spain would send six Leopard 2A4s to Ukraine. It was planned that the delivery of the tanks would be completed by the end of April. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Soldiers of the Special Operations Forces engaged in an unequal battle with the Russian invaders near the city of Kreminna and defeated them. Source: SSO on Telegram Quote: "The Special Operations Forces of Ukraine group entered into battle with superior enemy forces. This happened in the area of Kreminna, in Luhansk Oblast. There, during special reconnaissance, soldiers of the SSO of Ukraine discovered the location of enemy personnel. The operators came into fire contact with the superior forces of the occupier. During the battle, the group broke contact and requested fire support from the reserve forces." Details: After that, the position of Russians was hit with a 60-mm mortar. It is reported that as a result of the actions of the SSO fighters, invaders were suppressed. The number of losses among Russians is still being specified. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Nearly four years after a kitchen fire destroyed the Spring Valley RoadDog gas station, the business reopened Thursday to fill a much needed void for commuters. >> RELATED: Firefighters battle flames at Spring Valley gas station Were excited to be back, Division Director John Sullivan told our News Center 7 videographer. This is an exciting opportunity. Flames could be seen clearly in the early morning hours of Oct. 4, 2019, as the rear of the business at U.S. 42 and 1616 W. Spring Valley Paintersville Road, in Spring Valley, burned to a crisp. The RoadDog, operated by the Duncan Oil Company, was a total loss by the time the flames were extinguished. There were no reported injuries. Rebuilding was never a question. The company wanted to find a new location, Sullivan said, but decided to rebuild on the very site of the old building, which is on the border between Greene and Warren counties. We know the community has a lot of energy behind [RoadDog rebuilding], he said. >> Staffing woes, safety concerns lead Dayton to cancel citywide July 4 festival Plans to rise from the ashes were slowed by the pandemic, which caused supply chain disruptions in securing building materials. But, not to be denied, the business -- the only gas station in the Spring Valley area -- reopened Thursday morning, much to the happiness of commuters who travel U.S. 42 between Xenia and Waynesville. We want to be here for a long time for all the communities we serve, Sullivan said. There are other RoadDog locations in Bellbrook, Dayton and elsewhere in the Miami Valley, according to Duncan Oil, the family-owner business in southwest Ohio. We want to be a food destination as well, Sullivan said, hinting at the RoadDogs rebuilt life including the hot breakfasts, lunches and dinners that were offered at the Spring Valley location in addition to gas and convenience store merchandise. In the rural town of Cottonwood in north central Idaho, lies the home of the sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude. The monastery, which is adorned with multiple crosses and red roofing, has been the place where sisters serve and share their Benedictine faith since the 1920s. I think the fundamental idea behind (a monastery) is that there are, you know, people kind of looking for a deeper commitment of faith, to actually live it as their primary life commitment, said Sister Teresa Jackson of St. Gertrudes Monastery. But monasteries such as St. Gertrudes saw a decline in the number of young people joining the sisterhood early into the 21st century According to a 2022 report from Georgetown Universitys Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, more than 80% of nuns in the U.S. are over the age of 70. As the percentage of younger people identifying with religion decreases, so does the recruitment at monasteries. St. Gertrudes Monastery was hit with two tragedies when two of the sisters, Benita Hassler and prioress Mary Forman, died in mid-March and late April, respectively. But the sisters of this rural monastery have made efforts to ensure the prosperity and continuation of their home. Through Facebook live streams, their active artist-in-residency program, and growing oblate community, the legacy of St. Gertrudes Monastery endures. Jackson joined the sisterhood when she was 39 because she wanted a deeper commitment to her faith. God has a very strange sense of humor, she said. One fateful day I saw a little printout that said Come to a monastic living experience in Cottonwood, Idaho. And I said Cottonwood, Idaho? I mean, Idaho? I was in California, so its like, Idaho? But I fiddled around and finally applied and came up and said, Well, Ive heard Idahos pretty. Itll be a nice little vacation. When Jackson completed her trip, she realized the experience at the monastery was just what she was looking for. It has been 25 years since Jackson made a home in the monastery for herself and her cats. Sister Janet Barnard has been Catholic her entire life. When she visited the monastery for the first time in September 1979 for a retreat, it was like she had finally come home. Barnard joined St. Gertrudes Monastery one year after her grandfather died from a heart attack. I love praying the Psalms, and I love singing hymns. And I love our chapel. Its so beautiful, and its such an easy place to pray, but those were kind of the things that kept me here, she said. The monastery is not just a spiritual home to the sisters, but to oblates as well. Oblates are individuals who dedicate themselves to their faith and God, but are not professed nuns or monks. Throughout the week, the sisters follow a schedule. They start off with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by morning prayer. They sing, and read Scripture and Psalms from the Bible. On Tuesday mornings, they have midday prayer at 11:40 a.m., but the rest of the week there is Mass at 11:30 a.m. After that, they have a midday meal, then evening prayer at 5 p.m., and supper at 5:30 p.m. Most nights from 7 to 8 we do things together in our community room; we call it recreation. Some of us play cards, some of us do puzzles, some of us knit and crochet. Some of us just sit in a circle and talk, Barnard said. On the weekends, they spend less time in the chapel. On Sundays, they have Mass, which is live-streamed on their Facebook page. Jackson said during Mass they have a chaplain who is a Benedictine monk from southern Idaho. The idea is that this is an integral part of our day. Its easy to think, Oh, my gosh, I got so much work. I dont want to interrupt it by going to prayer. But hopefully, we eventually start to think that its work that interrupts prayer, she said. Future of the monastery Jackson said that some 60 to 70 years ago, many men and women were entering churches to become sisters or priests. The Catholic Church hadnt changed a whole lot in, like, 400 years, and then all of a sudden, you know, people were thinking in totally different ways and saying that maybe the way it has been can be different. And so I think that (mindset) changed the culture, she said. Barnard said around the turn of the 20th century, women and men were being called to serve in religious life. Women did not have many opportunities to become educated, but if you were called to serve in the sisterhood, you could learn to read or write. She said society has changed so much, and women have more choices on whether to live a religious-focused and spiritual life or not. There are different kinds of careers, and women can take opportunities to even travel, something that was not so common decades ago. With fewer women being called into the sisterhood, the monastery has still found ways to be active in their community. Jackson said there is an artist-in-residency program in which artists can stay in the monastery for a month while creating their own works, which are on display for the sisters to see. There are employees who work within the monastery who are not part of the sisterhood. The employees work at the local gift shop on the property, the inn and the Spirit Center where many retreats take place. Traditionally, people have sort of said, Well, the employees work for the sisters and were saying Well, all of us are working together. And so I think that kind of creates a different level of commitment, you know, a different sort of creativity and willingness to do things in a new way, Jackson said. Barnard said they are planning to start a co-housing program in which women can stay with them without making a religious commitment. They also have the oblate program, with almost 100 oblates participating. I think there will be a Monastery of St. Gertrude I think that it wont be just the sisters and eventually it might not be any sisters, it might be all oblates and volunteers and employees. But thats up to God, she said. Stovetop Coffee Roasters has officially opened the coffee shop portion of their new Holland location. The shop will open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday. HOLLAND It has only been a few months since Stovetop Coffee Roasters finished moving its roasting operations back to the Holland area. Having originally opened in 2015 in Holland, the company then moved to Ann Arbor in 2016. The company ultimately decided to bring the roastery back to West Michigan now located at 180 E. 40th St. to better cater to their primary wholesale market. More: Stovetop Coffee Roasters returns to Holland with plans for weekend cafe Now that they are settled into the new space, they are officially moving to Phase Two of the process and will open Stovetop Cafe in the same space at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 27. We keep putting one foot in front of the other because we really had a vision for what this space would be and we keep taking steps forward and now its this," said Josh Taves, head of business development at Stovetop as he looked across the new cafe. Taves said it took a few months to get the roastery set up and operational and once that was ready, he knew it was time to open the retail space. While the cafe will be open Saturday and Sunday during the opening weekend, moving forward, it will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Coffee fanatics on the south side of Holland will have a new coffee option moving forward. Stovetop Coffee Roasters now has a coffee shop located at 180 E. 40th St. serving the public Friday through Sunday. While the company does its roasting in Holland, it also has a coffee shop that operates in Grand Rapids. Taves said customers can expect similar offerings at the Holland location moving forward. Starting out, it will be a slightly scaled-back version of what we offer in Grand Rapids, Taves said. We will have some of the popular drinks that people already know using our signature syrups that we make in-house. We will have coffee, espresso drinks and some tea options. Taves said they are also working on connecting with a local bakery to offer food options but will offer more pre-packaged food offerings the opening weekend. Along with the coffee, tea and espresso offerings, Stovetop Cafe will also sell whole beans, shirts and coffee mugs and other coffee-related items. Along with coffee and tea offerings, Stovetop Coffee Roasters' coffee shop will sell mugs, whole bean coffee and more. Taves said the company also has plans for a Phase Three that will focus on community engagement. We want to show people and talk to people about coffee roasting and coffee brewing and why we do the things we do in the process, Taves said. We also plan to do weekly tastings and tours in the space with the roasting staff as well. We are getting it all open and then we hope to engage the public as much as possible. While Taves did not have an exact timeline on that, he said customers should keep an eye on the companys Instagram page stovetoproasters for updates. As for the cafe opening, Taves said the hope is that customers will be able to make the connection between the roastery and the coffee which will now share a space moving forward. While customers will find a wide selection of coffee and tea, they will also sell roasted coffee which is roasted in the same building. With our roastery previously being in Ann Arbor, there was a bit of a disconnect between our coffee shop side of things and our roastery. We hope this space bridges that gap. Contact freelancer Austin Metz at ametz@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Stovetop Cafe returns to Holland with coffee shop A Belgian court sentenced 18 members of a college fraternity to community service over the death of student Sanda Dia in 2018 A Belgian court on Friday sentenced 18 members of a college fraternity to community service over the death of a black student during a two-day hazing ritual in 2018. Sanda Dia, then 20, suffered hypothermia and a cerebral oedema after ingesting a large quantity of alcohol and a salty cocktail laced with fish oil then collapsing in an icy pond. The student, whose father came from west Africa, underwent the ritual humiliation on December 4 and 5, 2018 as a form of initiation to Reuzegom, a Flemish fraternity of the university of Antwerp. He died after spending two days with the group in Leuven and a cabin in woods outside Vorselaar. During the trial prosecutors called for jail terms for the two students considered to have been the ringleaders. But the court was more lenient as it handed out only community service sentence for "grievous bodily harm resulting in death without intent to kill". That ranged from 200 to 300 hours of community service for those involved, as well as fines of 400 euros. The court said that the members of the now-dissolved fraternity "took action as soon as they saw" that Dia was in danger. Dia's family reacted with "relief" and yet "frustration" to the judgements, Sven Mary, a lawyer for his father, said. During the trial Ousmane Dia said that putting the culprits in prison would "not give him back his son", Mary said. Dia's death was a scandal in Flanders and anti-racist groups mobilised to demand justice for the young engineer, alleging that his treatment had been more extreme because of prejudice. mad/del/cw New research from Brigham and Womens Hospital suggests taking a multivitamin each day may help improve your memory as you age. Researchers from the hospital teamed up with Columbia University to study vitamins impacts on cognitive aging. According to the study, adults 60 years and older who took a daily multivitamin for three years performed better in online memory tests than compared to people who took a placebo. Because of our innovative approach of assessing cognitive outcomes using internet-based tests, we were able to examine the effects of a multivitamin in thousands of study participants. The findings are promising and certainly set the stage for important follow-up studies about the impact of multivitamin supplementation on cognition, said Adam Brickman, Ph.D., who co-led the COSMOS-Web study with Lok-Kin Yeung, Ph.D., at Columbia University. Most older adults are worried about memory changes that occur with aging. Our study suggests that supplementation with multivitamins may be a simple and inexpensive way for older adults to slow down memory loss, added Yeung. This is the second recent study to find that taking a multivitamin can improve memory and slow cognitive decline and offers hope that this safe, accessible, and affordable intervention may offer some brain protection as we age. However, speak to your personal provider before starting a daily multivitamin. 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 Succession for wine drinkers: The Apple TV+ show with a 100 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score A new series about wine tasting is being hailed as the best show of the year. Its been a strong year for television so far this year, thanks to the fourth and final season of HBOs Succession, Amazon Freevee comedy Jury Duty and the conclusion to BBC drama Happy Valley. One such acclaimed show, titled Drops of God, is currently airing on Apple TV+ and it has a rare perfect score on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. The show, based on a popular Japanese manga series, begins with the death of Alexandre Leger (Stanley Weber), a famous figure who leaves behind a wine collecton valued at $148m. Drops of God pits Legers daughter Camille (Fleur Geffrier) and protege Issei Tomine (Tomohisa Yamashita) against each other in a battle to inherit his empire. Who will be his heir is decided by a series of three challenges designed by Leger before his death. In other words, its Succession for wine aficionados. The show, created by Quoc Dang Tran, is another multilingual offering from Apple TV+, following on from 2022s Pachinko. It was filmed in French, Japanese and English. New York Magazine called the show a classic" with The Age branding it Rocky with a masterful palate. Azhaar Sholgami (C) and her family had been trying to get British officials to help her grandparents leave Khartoum An 85-year-old British citizen in Sudan was shot and injured by snipers and his wife then died of starvation despite repeated calls for assistance made to the nearby British embassy in Sudan, their family has told BBC News. Abdalla Sholgami lived with his disabled 80-year-old wife, Alaweya Rishwan, just over the road from the UK's diplomatic mission in Khartoum - an area that saw some of the fiercest fighting at the start of the conflict last month. But the London hotel owner was never offered support to travel from their home to the airfield where evacuation flights departed from, even when a British military team was sent to evacuate diplomatic staff from the mission, the family says. Instead, the elderly couple, who had no food or water, were told to make their own way to the airfield 40km (25 miles) outside Khartoum - which would have meant crossing a warzone. The UK foreign office acknowledged to the BBC that the Sholgamis' case was "extremely sad" but added that "our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and we cannot provide in-person support within Sudan". Only diplomatic staff and their families were given assistance to reach the evacuation points. All other British citizens were told to make their own way. The violence in Khartoum was triggered by a power struggle between former allies - the leaders of the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Fighting began on 15 April, and the couple's family says that every avenue was used to try and get assistance from soon after that date, including personal phone calls to the embassy. On 22 April a family member emailed a British MP in an effort to get the appeals for help answered. That night, the embassy was evacuated but Mr Sholgami and his wife were not given any assistance. A further call from the family to the UK foreign office's Sudan hotline was made some time on the 24 or 25 April. A voice note recording of the conversation heard by the BBC indicates that this was a follow-up inquiry. On 3 May, Britain's final evacuation flight took off from Sudan. In an exchange of emails with the ambassador on that day, the family was told to get the couple to the departure point themselves but this was not possible because of the fighting. At some point - and it is not clear exactly when - Mr Sholgami, faced with starvation and with no water, left his home and his wife to find help. After escaping his house he was shot three times - in his hand, chest and lower back - by snipers, just a few metres from the UK embassy. With no hospitals functioning where he was, Mr Sholgami was then taken to a family member in another part of Khartoum and survived. But it was impossible for any family members to reach his wife in an area that was surrounded by snipers. She was left to fend for herself. On 10 May, Alaweya Rishwan was found dead inside the home by an official from the Turkish embassy. Her body remains in the house, unburied. There had been no further word from the UK's foreign office until it sent a message this week to the BBC: "The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous the UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan," it said. Mr Sholgami's granddaughter, Azhaar, grew up in Khartoum and knows how close the embassy is to their house. She is distraught. "I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? I'm still very disappointed in them," she told the BBC. "What happened to my grandparents was a crime against humanity, not only by the RSF, not only by the [Sudanese army], but by the British embassy, because they were the only ones that could have prevented this from happening to my grandparents," she said. Mr Sholgami's son, who's a doctor, had to operate on his father's wounds in Khartoum, without anaesthetic. That is because only a handful of Khartoum's 88 hospitals remain open after weeks of fighting, according to Sudan's Doctors Union. Hospitals have often been targeted by both sides during the conflict. Mr Sholgami managed to escape to Egypt. He is now on his way back to London for further medical treatment. Map of khartoum Reporting by Lara El Gibaly, Vanessa Bowles, Mamdouh Akbiek, Ahmed ElShamy and Nawal al-Maghafi In the UK, you can see more on this on Newsnight on BBC2 from 22:30 on Friday A still from a social media video shows the damage to East Nile hospital after an attack Both sides in Sudan's conflict could be carrying out war crimes on medical facilities and staff, according to evidence seen by BBC News Arabic. Hospitals have been hit by airstrikes and artillery fire while patients were still in the building and doctors have also been singled out for attack - all of which are potential war crimes. Only a handful of the 88 hospitals in the capital, Khartoum, remain open after weeks of fighting, according to Sudan's Doctors Union. The BBC team used satellite data and mapping tools, analysed user-generated content on a huge scale, and spoke to dozens of doctors, to build a picture of how hospitals and clinics are being affected. The World Health Organization (WHO) called the attacks "a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law" adding that they "must stop now". The fighting in Sudan began on 15 April and was triggered by a power struggle between former allies - the leaders of the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Khartoum's Ibn Sina hospital is one of a number the BBC has identified as having been targeted in an airstrike or by artillery fire when medics were treating civilian patients. Dr Alaa is a surgeon at the hospital and was present when the attack happened on 19 April. "There wasn't any warning. Ibn Sina hospital where I worked was hit by three bombs, while a fourth bomb hit the nurses' house which was entirely set on fire," he said. An image from inside Ibn Sina hospital shows the damage there after an attack Christian de Vos, an international criminal law expert with NGO Physicians for Human Rights, says this could be classed as a war crime. "The duty to warn of any impending airstrike to ensure... that all civilians are able to evacuate a hospital prior to an airstrike - that is very clear under the laws of war," he said. Looking at the images of the attack, forensic weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith said it could have been caused by artillery fire. Uncertainty over the kind of weapon used means it is hard to be sure which side was responsible, or whether this was a targeted attack. A still taken from a video appears to show RSF fighters entering Khartoum's Al Saha hospital Another medical facility hit was the East Nile hospital - one of the last operating in that part of the capital. The BBC has seen evidence of RSF fighters surrounding it with their vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons. There have been reports of patients being forcibly evacuated from the building. But we have also spoken to witnesses who say civilians continued to be treated alongside the RSF soldiers. On 1 May, a public area next to the East Nile hospital was hit by a Sudanese army airstrike. There was no warning, according to sources the BBC has spoken to. Five civilians died in that attack. There was a further airstrike two weeks later but there has been no independent confirmation of the number of injured. The WHO has reported that nine hospitals have been taken over by fighters from one side or the other. "The preferential treatment of soldiers over civilians [is] not an appropriate use of a medical facility and it may well constitute a violation of the laws of war," Mr De Vos said. A political advisor to the RSF, Mostafa Mohamed Ibrahim, denied that they were preventing the treatment of civilians. He told the BBC: "Our forces are just spreading they are not occupying and don't stop civilians from being treated in these hospitals." The fighting has made it increasingly difficult for civilian patients to be treated The Sudanese army did not provide a response to this investigation's findings. There is also evidence of another potential war crime - the targeting of doctors. The BBC has seen social media messages threatening doctors by name, even sharing their ID number. The messages accuse them of supporting the RSF and receiving money from abroad. In a widely circulated video, Major-General Tarek al-Hadi Kejab from the Sudanese army said: "The so-called central committee of doctors, should be named the committee of rebels!" Sudanese doctors' organisations have been monitoring threats which they say are coming from both sides and the BBC has spoken to doctors who have gone into hiding. "We know that this is a tactic that is used in wars, for pressure, that is illegal in all international laws. Unfortunately, this has pushed medical staff into a propaganda war - between the RSF and the Sudanese army," said Dr Mohamed Eisa from the Sudanese American Physicians Association. Doctors around the world have been calling for an end to the targeting of their colleagues. At a conference in London last week, Sudan's Doctors for Human Rights said medical staff had been killed, ambulances targeted and hospitals forced to close their doors. Dr Ahmed Abbas said: "We're gathering all the evidence of these transgressions, which are crimes against humanity and war crimes, and this could be presented to international judicial authorities, or national authorities in Sudan." Reporting by Lara El Gibaly, Vanessa Bowles, Mamdouh Akbiek, Ahmed ElShamy and Nawal al-Maghafi Many inhabitants of Khartoum are in desperate need of drinking water, with some reopening wells or using pots to draw water from the Nile river Fighting in Sudan has left hundreds of thousands of Khartoum residents without running water, with some forced to risk their lives and seek it out during brief lulls in violence. After nearly six weeks of street battles between forces loyal to rival generals and with temperatures regularly topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), many inhabitants of the capital's northern suburbs are in desperate need of drinking water. On April 15, when fighting broke out between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the station supplying several districts of North Khartoum with running water was damaged. Since then, about 300,000 of its inhabitants have not seen a drop of water run from their taps. Some have reopened wells or used pots to draw water from the Nile River. "At the start of the war, we took water from the wells of the factories in the industrial zone, but after a week, the paramilitaries captured it," resident Adel Mohammed told AFP. As clashes engulfed the area and battles were taking place in residential buildings and hospitals, Mohammed had to wait days before being able to venture out and fetch water. Now, he and his neighbours wait for the clashes to momentarily subside to take an assortment of pots, basins and jugs to the banks of the Nile, which winds through Khartoum's suburbs. Together, they fill a van and return to distribute a few litres each to families remaining in the neighbourhood. But many others have left. "It was the lack of water and not the bombardments and the fighting that forced me to abandon my house," said Rashed Hussein, who fled with his family to Madani, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) south of Khartoum. Hussein, one of more than a million Sudanese displaced during the conflict, said he could not bear seeing his children without clean water to drink or shower. - Brief chance - Even before the war, 17.3 million Sudanese lacked access to safe drinking water, according to the United Nations children's agency UNICEF. Waterborne diseases and poor hygiene are leading causes of death in children under five, the agency said. Salah Mohammed, another resident of North Khartoum, stayed despite the fighting and found access to water by using a well at a nearby hospital, which treated its water for patients on dialysis. But after a week RSF paramilitaries took over the hospital, and he was no longer able to access the facility. Rashida al-Tijani lives near another hospital, where she is able to find water. She waits "for the shooting to stop to go to the hospital... as quickly as possible", she said, taking as much water as she can for her family. "I haven't been able to wash a single item of clothing since the start of the war." Daily life and the economy have ground to a standstill since the conflict erupted, depleting Sudan's already inadequate infrastructure and public services. Civil servants are on indefinite leave and fighters occupy hospitals, factories and public buildings. Informal networks of neighbourhood groups, known as resistance committees, have mobilised to set up field hospitals and food distribution stations, and deliver water. These committees had organised before the war to oppose the military's grip on political life. "Since the beginning of the war, we have been providing the inhabitants with water," said one committee member, requesting anonymity for fear of repercussions from the army or RSF. On one journey to find water, "our friend Yassine was killed by a bullet", he said. Even in death, the lack of water pervaded. "We were forced to bury him without being able to wash his body," the committee member said. bur/noc/ami/leg Typhoon Mawar, which pounded Guam with destructive winds and flooding downpours earlier this week, is continuing to churn west across the Pacific Ocean and will impact more landmasses in the western Pacific and eastern Asia this week, according to AccuWeather forecasters. Mawar already achieved the status of strongest tropical cyclone on the planet so far this year, and it will remain a powerful storm as it aims for portions of the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan, with more flooding rainfall and strong winds expected this week. Typhoon Mawar is seen on AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue satellite May 28, 2023. As of Sunday afternoon, local time, Mawar was centered across the central Philippine Sea, packing winds equivalent to that of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale (maximum sustained winds of 111-126 mph, or 178-208 km/h), according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), which monitors and tracks tropical cyclones in this portion of the western Pacific tropical basin. Mawar peaked at the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane (maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph, or 252 km/h) on Friday after passing by Guam. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Mawar is forecast to maintain or slowly lose wind intensity as it continues to track to the west-northwest across the Philippine Sea through the beginning of the week. The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea located within the western Pacific Ocean, bounded by the Philippines to the west and the Mariana Trench to the east. "The typhoon is expected to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to northern Luzon in the Philippines through Tuesday, local time," said AccuWeather Lead International Forecaster Jason Nicholls. While the center of the typhoon is expected to remain to the north of Luzon when it approaches early this week, there will still be impacts, and AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the storm can still be the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane around then. "The amount of rain that falls and the strength of the wind in the Philippines will depend on how close the storm gets before making an expected turn to the north," added Nicholls. Despite that uncertainty, even the outer rain bands of a tropical system like Mawar can bring flooding downpours and damaging wind gusts. As Mawar approached the Philippines, the country's weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), began officially monitoring the typhoon as of early Saturday morning, local time. At that point, the typhoon gained the designation of 'Betty' in the Philippines. Ahead of the expected impacts this weekend, officials in the Philippines are preparing. Sea trips around the archipelago nation are being suspended, an official with the Philippine Ports Authority told CNN. Additionally, operators of smaller boats are being warned against fishing and sailing in the waters off the coast. After Mawar impacts the Philippines this week, AccuWeather forecasters expect the typhoon to take aim at portions of Japan and Taiwan through the end of the week. Several days of rain from Tuesday into Thursday or Friday can put eastern and northern Taiwan as risk for flooding. The storm should remain far enough offshore to limit the threat for wind damage to mainland Taiwan. "Despite an expected loss in wind intensity as the typhoon churns to the north, Japan's Ryukyu Islands could also endure impacts during the middle and latter portion of the week," said Nicholls. "Eventually, the southern Japan mainland could endure impacts by the weekend." Mawar has already carved a powerful and destructive path since it was first designated as a tropical system over the open waters of the Pacific back on May 19. Just two days later, it became the first typhoon of the 2023 season and the strongest storm the planet has seen so far this year less than a week later. Although typhoons regularly impact Guam, Mawar has since achieved a strength, both in wind intensity and minimum central pressure, not seen in the tropical basin as a whole since deadly Typhoon Surigae in 2021 or in that specific part of the basin near Guam since Typhoon Damrey in 2000. When it impacted Guam on Wednesday, the typhoon unleashed strong winds of over 140 mph (225 km/h) snapped trees, ripped roofs off of buildings and brought more than 2 feet of rain in just hours. "We're looking out our door and what used to be a jungle looks like toothpicks, like a scene from the movie 'Twister,' with trees just thrashed apart," Landon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Guam, told The Associated Press. While damage and power outages were widespread, the AP reported that there were no fatalities and only minor injuries as Mawar moved through. President Biden approved a disaster declaration for the island late Thursday, which will allow federal funding to flow to the United States territory to aid in the recovery effort in the coming days and months. 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. The Supreme Court just shriveled federal protection for wetlands, leaving many of these valuable ecosystems at risk Many ecologically important wetlands, like these in Kulm, N.D., lack surface connections to navigable waterways. USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr, CC BY The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Sackett v. EPA that federal protection of wetlands encompasses only those wetlands that directly adjoin rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. This is an extremely narrow interpretation of the Clean Water Act that could expose many wetlands across the U.S. to filling and development. Under this keystone environmental law, federal agencies take the lead in regulating water pollution, while state and local governments regulate land use. Wetlands are areas where land is wet for all or part of the year, so they straddle this division of authority. Swamps, bogs, marshes and other wetlands provide valuable ecological services, such as filtering pollutants and soaking up floodwaters. Landowners must obtain permits to discharge dredged or fill material, such as dirt, sand or rock, in a protected wetland. This can be time-consuming and expensive, which is why the Supreme Courts ruling on May 25, 2023, will be of keen interest to developers, farmers and ranchers, along with conservationists and the agencies that administer the Clean Water Act namely, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For the last 45 years and under eight different presidential administrations the EPA and the Corps have required discharge permits in wetlands adjacent to water bodies, even if a dune, levee or other barrier separated the two. The Sackett decision upends that approach, leaving tens of millions of acres of wetlands at risk. The Sackett case Idaho residents Chantell and Mike Sackett own a parcel of land located 300 feet from Priest Lake, one of the states largest lakes. The parcel once was part of a large wetland complex. Today, even after the Sacketts cleared the lot, it still has some wetland characteristics, such as saturation and ponding in areas where soil was removed. Indeed, it is still hydrologically connected to the lake and neighboring wetlands by water that flows at a shallow depth underground. In preparation to build a house, the Sacketts had fill material placed on the site without obtaining a Clean Water Act permit. The EPA issued an order in 2007 stating that the land contained wetlands subject to the law and requiring the Sacketts to restore the site. The Sacketts sued, arguing that their property was not a wetland. In 2012, the Supreme Court held that the Sacketts had the right to challenge EPAs order and sent the case back to the lower courts. After losing below on the merits, they returned to the Supreme Court with a suit asserting that their property was not federally protected. This claim in turn raised a broader question: What is the scope of federal regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act? Housing encroaches on Caloosahatchee River wetlands in Fort Myers, Fla. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What are waters of the United States? The Clean Water Act regulates discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States. Lawful discharges may occur if a pollution source obtains a permit under either Section 404 of the act for dredged or fill material, or Section 402 for other pollutants. The Supreme Court has previously recognized that the waters of the United States include not only navigable rivers and lakes, but also wetlands and waterways that are connected to navigable bodies of water. But many wetlands are not wet year-round, or are not connected at the surface to larger water systems. Still, they can have important ecological connections to larger water bodies. In 2006, when the court last took up this issue, no majority was able to agree on how to define waters of the United States. Writing for a plurality of four justices in U.S. v. Rapanos, Justice Antonin Scalia defined the term narrowly to include only relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water such as streams, oceans, rivers and lakes. Waters of the U.S., he contended, should not include ordinarily dry channels through which water occasionally or intermittently flows. Acknowledging that wetlands present a tricky line-drawing problem, Scalia proposed that the Clean Water Act should reach only those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are waters of the United States in their own right. In a concurring opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy took a very different approach. Waters of the U.S., he wrote, should be interpreted in light of the Clean Water Acts objective of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nations waters. Accordingly, Kennedy argued, the Clean Water Act should cover wetlands that have a significant nexus with navigable waters if the wetlands, either alone or in combination with similarly situated lands in the region, significantly affect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of other covered waters more readily understood as navigable. Neither Scalias nor Kennedys opinion attracted a majority, so lower courts were left to sort out which approach to follow. Most applied Kennedys significant nexus standard, while a few held that the Clean Water Act applies if either Kennedys standard or Scalias is satisfied. Regulators have also struggled with this question. The Obama administration incorporated Kennedys significant nexus approach into a 2015 rule that followed an extensive rulemaking process and a comprehensive peer-reviewed scientific assessment. The Trump administration then replaced the 2015 rule with a rule of its own that largely adopted the Scalia approach. The Biden administration responded with its own rule defining waters of the United States in terms of the presence of either a significant nexus or continuous surface connection. However, this rule was promptly embroiled in litigation and will require reconsideration in light of Sackett v. EPA. The Sackett decision and its ramifications The Sackett decision adopts Scalias approach from the 2006 Rapanos case. Writing for a five-justice majority, Justice Samuel Alito declared that waters of the United States includes only relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water, such as streams, oceans, rivers, lakes and wetlands that have a continuous surface connection with and are indistinguishably part of such water bodies. None of the nine justices adopted Kennedys 2006 significant nexus standard. However, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the three liberal justices disagreed with the majoritys continuous surface connection test. That test, Kavanaugh wrote in a concurrence, is inconsistent with the text of the Clean Water Act, which extends coverage to adjacent wetlands including those that are near or close to larger water bodies. Natural barriers such as berms and dunes do not block all water flow and are in fact evidence of a regular connection between a water and a wetland, Kavanaugh explained. 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. The majoritys ruling leaves little room for the EPA or the Army Corps of Engineers to issue new regulations that could protect wetlands more broadly. The courts requirement of a continuous surface connection means that federal protection may no longer apply to many areas that critically affect the water quality of U.S. rivers, lakes and oceans including seasonal streams and wetlands that are near or intermittently connected to larger water bodies. It might also mean that construction of a road, levee or other barrier separating a wetland from other nearby waters could remove an area from federal protection. Congress could amend the Clean Water Act to expressly provide that waters of the United States includes wetlands that the court has now stripped of federal protection. However, past efforts to legislate a definition have fizzled, and todays closely divided Congress is unlikely to fare any better. Whether states will fill the breach is questionable. Many states have not adopted regulatory protections for waters that are outside the scope of waters of the United States. In many instances, new legislation and perhaps entirely new regulatory programs will be needed. Finally, a concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas hints at potential future targets for the courts conservative supermajority. Joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, Thomas suggested that the Clean Water Act, as well as other federal environmental statutes, lies beyond Congress authority to regulate activities that affect interstate commerce, and could be vulnerable to constitutional challenges. In my view, Sackett v. EPA might be just one step toward the teardown of federal environmental law. This is an update of an article originally published on Sept. 26, 2022. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts, from an independent nonprofit. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Albert C. Lin, University of California, Davis. Read more: Albert C. Lin was a trial attorney for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1998 to 2003. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and to the Honorable James Browning of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Outgoing White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice said shes not losing hope on Congress initiating more action on gun reform in the country. When asked on Thursday if she has lost hope on possible gun reform legislation in the wake of a recent string of mass shootings across the country and states doubling down on their gun policies, she said no. No Im not losing hope because the vast majority of Americans agree on a bipartisan basis that it is ridiculous that we do not have universal background checks for guns, that we cant get a grip on things like assault weapons and high capacity magazines, Rice said during an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe. Rice, who also served as national security adviser and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama administration, explained that common sense gun safety reforms are actually popular among gun owners in this country. So what we have is a problem with Republicans in Congress and state legislatorsthat are making policies that are out of step with the vast majority of their constituents, she said Thursday. Her remarks come nearly a year after lawmakers passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major type of legislation to address gun violence in nearly 30 years. President Biden signed the legislation into law last year. The bill was first drawn up in response to a string of mass shootings that occurred in the U.S., such as the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., and another one that happened a year ago at a local elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. During an appearance on Washington Post Live on Wednesday, Rice touted Bidens polices, including the crackdown on ghost guns, but outlined exactly what she believes Congress needs to do to move forward on the issue. We still need Congress to reinstitute an assault weapons ban, a ban on high capacity magazines, to implement national red flag laws and safe storage laws, and to ensure we have universal background checks for all gun sales, she said. So there are many steps that Congress can and should take and it also could be taken at the state level as well that would meaningfully improve safety in our streets. Biden announced last month that Rice would step down from her role with his administration. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON A swarm of Australian, U.K. and U.S. artificial intelligence-enabled air and ground vehicles collaboratively detected and tracked targets during testing overseas. The trials conducted by the AUKUS partners delivered several world firsts, including the live re-training and international exchange of AI models, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence, which disclosed the news May 26, a month after testing. More than 70 military and civilian defense personnel and industry players participated in the experiment, part of the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Pillar, or Pillar 2, established to expedite the trilateral development of critical technologies, such as AI, quantum, cyber and hypersonics. Pillar 1 more discussed aims to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Abe Denmark, the U.S. senior adviser to the secretary of defense for AUKUS, in a statement said the April demonstration was truly a shared effort. Small drones launched from wherever excel in US Army experiment Together, teams developed models, directed different nations uncrewed aerial vehicles and evaluated performance. The joint deployments in the field featured Blue Bear Ghost and Insitu CT220 drones; Challenger 2 main battle tanks and Warrior armored vehicles; Viking uncrewed ground vehicles; a commercial FV433 Abbot self-propelled artillery gun; and a former Eastern Bloc BMP OT-90, an infantry fighting vehicle. By pooling our expertise and resources through our AUKUS partnerships, Denmark said, 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, U.K. and U.S. leaders have described AI as critical to international competitiveness in many sectors, finance, health and defense among them. By sharing AI and its underpinnings, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said in its announcement, the friendly militaries can figure out interoperability now, and not later, as well as save time and money. https://www.federaltimes.com/federal-oversight/2023/05/25/biden-seeks-legislation-to-invest-in-australia-uk-defense-industries/ The U.S. Department of Defenses fiscal 2024 budget blueprint featured a $1.8 billion allocation for AI, with Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks describing it as a key technology area. The department catalogued at least 685 ongoing AI projects as of early 2021, including several tied to major weapons systems. In this sweet little town in California, the pride flag is condemned as ungodly | Opinion So here we are, in 2023, still debating whether a city in progressive California should fly the rainbow flag in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Its happened in Solvang. In Huntington Beach. In Delano. Now the drama is playing out in Arroyo Grande, a friendly, politically moderate community in San Luis Obispo County a place the mayor pro team refers to as our sweet little town. Yet even sweet little towns arent immune to bigotry and intolerance. That was evident from the many spoken and written comments submitted to the Arroyo Grande City Council, opposing the citys plan to once again fly the rainbow flag during the month of June, in recognition of Pride Month. An ungodly symbol The flag was branded an ungodly symbol; an impediment to peace and happiness; a celebration of men scantily clad in female attire reading to young children. Some claimed it was unAmerican to fly the Pride flag and insisted that only the American flag and the state flag should be flown on public property. A few people foolishly argued that it would be a waste of taxpayer money to hoist flags at City Hall and Heritage Square Park even though the city already owns the flags and it takes what? mere minutes to raise and lower a flag. There were some facetious calls to fly a flag in honor of heterosexuals; others asked for flags honoring people with disabilities or faith groups. Wed like to have Jesus Christ honored and put our flag up there too, one woman said. Those on the wrong side of this debate will argue that they have nothing against the LGBTQ+ community; they may even point out that they have friends and relatives who are gay. Yet from what we heard, it appears there are a fair number of people in the South County who would prefer that members of the LGBTQ+ community get back in the closet and stay there forever. Calls for a boycott Some of the written comments submitted before Tuesday nights council meeting were especially incendiary. There were several references to the need to shield children, as if flying a flag on city property would suddenly turn children gay or transgender. Flying this flag where children will walk by on a daily basis is not healthy for the children of our community. Will the flying of this flag not cause more gender confusion for our children? Jeremy Sutherland, an associate pastor at Harvest Church, wrote in a letter to the council. Linda Ruberto cautioned the council against supporting a perverse sexual orientation. And Elliot Talley, a member of the family that operates a popular South County winery, linked the flag to the trend of sexualizing kids at a young age by encouraging them to get brutal sex changes as a minor and performing drag shows around innocent little children. Talleys statement, along with similar statements from two other members of the Talley family, led to calls for a boycott; some took to social media to say they have already canceled their subscription to produce boxes from Talley Farms. Brain Talley, president/CEO of Talley Vineyards, issued a statement distancing himself from the remarks made by family members adjacent to our business. Talley Vineyards believes in inclusivity and equality in all forms and we pridefully support and employ members of the LGBTQ+ community, he wrote on Facebook, underneath a photo of a rainbow over the vineyard. He also wrote this: In every family, there are members who have differing opinions and our family is no different. Thats very true, but it may require more than a couple of brief statements to convince customers that Talley Vineyards is an ally of the LGBTQ+ community such as flying the pride flag for all to see. 5-0 vote There were numerous calls of support for the city, both at the meeting and on social media. Several expressed disappointment that this would happen in their hometown; others asked what they could do to support the LGBTQ+ community. I want them to know the people who wrote those letters dont represent the vast majority of us, one person posted on Reddit. We dont doubt that, but unfortunately, its the ugly, bigoted comments that are remembered and can harm the reputation of a community. This makes it all the more important for the city of Arroyo Grande to stand strong against efforts to bully them into submission which it has. While some communities have taken the easy way out to avoid controversy theyve decided to fly only official government flags Arroyo Grande passed an ordinance that allows the council to vote on whether to fly other flags. Based on their unanimous vote and the individual comments they made Tuesday night, council members are more committed than ever to supporting the LGBTQ+ community by raising the pride flag. Lets show this marginalized community that we see them, and not only do we see them, we support them, Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Barneich said. The councils decision wont win votes from those who would demonize the pride flag and, by extension, the LGBTQ+ community. But they should earn them the respect of the majority of Arroyo Grande residents who strive to make their community not only a sweet little town, but also a welcoming and inclusive one. Black bear at Big Bend National Park, Texas A bakery in Connecticut had to delay its opening after a bear broke into the premises, charged at an employee, then gorged itself on cake. Nobody was hurt, but as camping season gets into full swing, it's a timely reminder to keep all food and drink well out of the reach of wild animals. The incident took place at Taste by Spellbound in South Windsor on Wednesday, May 24. "Never thought I think Id say this, but we had a bear come into our bakery and charge one of our ladies," the business wrote on Facebook. "Were safe but the cupcakes arent." Kitchen supervisor Maureen Williams was loading a van in the garage where products are stored before being dispatched to different shops. "I came out of the door this morning, came to the right side of the transit to put something in it and noticed something move out of the front left corner of the transit and it was a bear," Williams told Fox61. She explained that she tried to shut the doors to stop the animal raiding the cakes, but it became aggressive. "As soon as I did that, the bear quickly turned and charged back towards me and so I had to high tail it quickly out the door into the back of the bakery and shut the door," she said. Left to its own devices, the animal made its way through 60 cupcakes and a quantity of coconut cake before staff managed to flush it out of the premises. Police attended the scene later, and the bakery's landlord has been working with the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to assess what happened. A fed bear is a dead bear Bears usually prefer to avoid close encounters with people, but it's possible that this particular animal had become habituated through regular contact. This is extremely dangerous for both people and animals. Not only could the bear injure a person if it feels threatened, it may also need to be euthanized if it becomes a risk to public safety. As the National Park Service (NPS) says, a fed bear is a dead bear. Bears that approach human settlements in search of food are also an easier target for poachers, and are more likely to be hit by a car. If you're planning a camping trip in bear country, make sure you check local rules before you head out to ensure you are properly prepared. While eating, always keep your food within arm's reach and never turn your back on it. In some National Parks you can store food in a locked vehicle during the day, provided it is out of sight and the windows are up. At others, all food must be removed and stored in bear-proof lockers. Always wash up immediately after eating, and never eat close to your sleeping area or in your tent. For more advice, see our guides what to do if you meet a bear, and wildlife safety: eight tips for unexpected encounters. Target is expanding removal of Pride merchandise across the country, workers say, in a potential win for anti-LGBTQ protestors Workers say Target on Thursday ordered stores nationwide to stop selling certain LGBTQ Pride merchandise. Dominick Reuter/Insider Target reportedly is doubling down on its controversial decision to pull Pride merchandise from its stores. Sources tell Insider that Target ordered stores across the US to remove swimwear and other items. Such a move would hand a win to protestors who have threatened violence. Target is significantly expanding its controversial decision to pull Pride merchandise from its shelves, workers say, as anti-LGBTQ protestors threaten the company with violence. Employee sources in six states tell Insider that the order came down on Thursday to stores across the US, less than a week after a similar directive to Target locations in Southern states where front-end Pride displays were taken down and moved to low-traffic areas of the store. All the sources requested anonymity out of fear that they will face professional repercussions, as none are authorized to speak to the media. Insider has verified their identities and employment. In particular, they say that a line of transgender-friendly swimsuits is no longer available after right-wing social media activists incorrectly claimed the adult-sized products were being marketed to children. Workers in Florida and Texas, where displays were previously removed, told Insider that products and apparel that mention or celebrate transgender Pride were no longer for sale either. And Insider did a quick check of Target's website on Friday afternoon and found that a pair of adult black overall shorts with a rainbow design was no longer available in any size. According to a member of Target's Pride+ Business Council, the expanded order applies to locations that the company previously told the council would not be affected. "It got far more overreaching than originally portrayed," the source said. A day earlier, CEO Brian Cornell defended the decision to remove some Pride month displays in an email to staff. He said the choice involved "many difficult days of deliberation," and that the company would continue to "stand with" the LGBTQIA+ community. The company did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the reported expansion of the display removals. In a prior statement to Insider, a spokesperson said: "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." If you are a Target worker who wants to share your perspective, please contact Dominick via email or Signal 646.768.4750. Responses will be kept confidential, and Insider strongly recommends using a personal email and a non-work device when reaching out. Read the original article on Business Insider Teen who brought AR-15 to school had device to make the gun fully automatic, court docs say The 15-year-old accused of bringing an AR-15 to his Phoenix high school last week also allegedly possessed a device that would allow the weapon to function as a fully automatic machine gun, according to court documents exclusively obtained by NBC News. The boy allegedly brought the device known as a lightning link along with a disassembled AR-15 and ammunition to Bostrom High School on Friday, according to the probable cause statement. The AR-15 was disassembled into an upper and lower receiver, the two main parts of the gun, according to the probable cause statement. When combining the upper, lower receiver and lightning link together they create a prohibited weapon, it says. An AR-15 is normally a semi-automatic weapon, but the addition of the lightning link would make it fully automatic, meaning it could fire continuously without the shooter having to repeatedly pull the trigger. Bostrom High School in Phoenix, Arizona. (KPNX) The boy who was arrested on four felony charges and remains in custody denied he owned the AR-15 and told authorities he was holding it for someone, the probable cause statement says. He told police that he said he received the firearm that same day while on school grounds and denied knowing the rifle could function as a machine gun when the lightning link was inserted into the rifle, according to the probable cause statement. Detained by the principal, live ammunition, incriminating Instagram messages The court documents provide new details on the disturbing allegations against the boy, who NBC News is not naming because he is a minor. Police were called to the Phoenix campus just after 12:45 p.m. on Friday, when they received reports from unidentified sources that a student was possibly in possession of a firearm and that officials placed the school on lockdown while they detained the student in the main office. When police arrived shortly before 1 p.m., they found the boy in the main office speaking to the principal and vice principal, the probable cause document states. The boy allegedly swore at police and moved his hands towards his waistband, prompting officers to handcuff him and place him under arrest. Police allegedly found the lightning link in the boys backpack along with a lower receiver for the rifle with a fully loaded magazine, additional ammunition and firearm-related accessories, it states. The upper receiver was found concealed inside the boys sweatpants with the barrel facing upwards towards the officers and a live cartridge inside the chamber, according to the document. Following the boys arrest, police assembled the pieces of the AR-15 and found it successfully test fired as a functioning firearm, the probable cause statement says. And after police obtained a search warrant for the boys laptop, they allegedly found Instagram messages between the boy and another minor negotiating the sale of a firearm, the probable cause statement says. It is unclear whether the other juvenile was also a student at the school, or whether they were discussing the firearm the boy allegedly brought to the school. The boy denied the Instagram conversation and told police he was selling gloves, the statement says. There were no other juveniles detained in relation to the incident, according to Rossi. He was arrested on charges including minor in possession of a firearm; manufacturing possessing or selling a deadly weapon; disorderly conduct with a weapon; and interfering with an educational institution, according to the juvenile arrest worksheet. The detain order, filed in the juvenile department of Maricopa County Superior Court, states that the boy must remain detained and that the court found he is likely to harm himself or others, and that his caretaker(s) are unable to control, supervise or parent the juvenile in a home environment, despite the caretakers best effort to do so, and that the juvenile requires stabilization and structure in an out-of-home placement setting. The boy is required to appear in court with a parent on June 12 for a pre-trial conference, the document states. He made his first court appearance on Saturday, according to a spokesperson for the juvenile court. It was not immediately clear how and when the boy in Phoenix allegedly obtained the gun, whether it was assembled or disassembled at the time he allegedly obtained it and whether the weapon was disassembled in order to allegedly be brought to the campus. Donna Rossi, director of communications for the Phoenix police, said the departments specialized gun crime unit is working to trace the source of the weapon and ammunition, and that there is currently no indication that the weapon could be classified as a ghost gun, an untraceable weapon assembled by parts often bought online. Court documents also did not provide additional context about where or how the juvenile obtained the lightning link, a small piece of metal resembling a bent key that can be slipped into the trigger mechanism of the firearm to allow for continual firing by holding the trigger down. Though they have been regulated since 1986, law enforcement officials said there are other ways to mimic the device to skirt regulations. An official with the Maricopa County Attorneys Office previously said the office does not comment on juvenile cases and could not immediately be reached Thursday. Representatives for the Phoenix Union High School District could not immediately be reached. As always, the safety and well-being of our staff, students, and visitors remains our top priority, and we will work with law enforcement as they continue to investigate, an earlier statement from the district said. Parents were in shock, mom says The boys mother, who asked not to be identified, told NBC News she and her husband dont know where he got the gun from. She said her son has ADHD and described him as a little guy, hes easily influenced, he wants to fit in. She said that she was not aware of the allegation that he possessed a device to make the weapon fully automatic. The mother said that nobody in their immediate family owns guns and that her son has never expressed an interest in guns and does not have a criminal history, adding that she and her husband were in shock when they heard the allegations he was facing. It was your typical Friday morning, we were talking about vacationing for the summer, she said. All of a sudden, later on in the afternoon, I get a call about him being taken by the police regarding a gun that he had on campus, she said. She added that her son does not have a lawyer and that he is allowed one phone call a day while in detention. Were just going with the flow, so far so good, she said. The boys father could not immediately be reached Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear whether the boys parents could face charges in connection with the incident. Rossi said that will be part of the investigation. The Maricopa County Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to questions. Growing calls to regulate AR-15s The alleged incident also raises questions about how a minor could allegedly obtain a potentially lethal weapon that has become an increasing source of controversy and death in American life. The AR-15 has been the weapon behind a dozen of the 21 deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. since 2006, including the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 60 people and the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 26. Arizona prohibits minors from buying or possessing a gun without written consent from a parent or guardian, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a nonprofit gun control advocacy group. The state does not ban adults from possessing semi-automatic rifles, but it does ban machine guns and bump stocks, according to the Giffords Law Center. It also bans firearms on school grounds, except by those authorized to carry them or for use in approved school programs. An automatic weapon is defined as any type of weapon that fires two or more rounds at the single pull of trigger, said Rich Marianos, a retired assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The 1934 National Firearms Act requires that anyone who owns a fully automatic weapon to register and pay an annual tax on it. Laws that have passed since further sought to regulate importation or manufacturing of these weapons as well as devices that could make them fully automatic. The Phoenix incident came just days after an 18-year-old shooter in New Mexico used three weapons including an AR-15 to fatally shoot three elderly women: Shirley Voita, 79, Melody Ivie, 73 and her mother Gwendolyn Schofield, 97. The shooter was killed by police on Monday following his deadly rampage. As mass shootings have increased, calls have intensified to place restrictions around sales of semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, which was originally created for military use and is now copied by a variety of manufacturers under different names. With their ability to fire bullets at a fast speed, AR-15s are known to inflict extensive damage to the human body and are more likely to be deadly than other firearms. Washington state banned semi-automatic rifles last month, becoming the ninth state, along with Washington, D.C., to enact such a ban. President Joe Biden has called for a national semi-automatic weapons ban in light of the increase in mass killings. But so far, such a ban has failed to pass in Congress. Youre staring down the barrel of a weapon of war this isnt a slingshot, this isnt a pellet gun, this isnt a knife, Marianos, the former ATF assistant director said. Wheres the accountability? Theres none. This article was originally published on TODAY.com An aerial photograph of a parking lot at Tesla's California factory with Tesla cars parked Tesla could be in big trouble with the EU. A whistleblower leaked a massive trove of data about the electric carmaker Tesla to the German publication Handelsblatt. The leak included thousands of customer complaints about Tesla, particularly the companys full self driving (FSD) system, the cars autopilot. The Tesla files contain thousands of reports about complications with the driver assistance systems, complaints of Tesla vehicles suddenly braking at full speed, or accelerating suddenly, Sebastian Matthes, the outlets editor-in-chief, wrote in an editors note on May 25 about what hes calling the Tesla Files. (His statement has been translated and lightly edited for clarity.) Read more While this is a public relations nightmare for Tesla, it could also present serious legal problems. The data leaked included customer bank details, the salaries of 100,000 Tesla employees, and information about Tesla CEO Elon Musks personal vehicle and even his social security number, the German outlet wrote. The Dutch Data Protection Authority is already investigating. Teslas European headquarters is in Amsterdam. We are aware of the Handelsblatt story and we are looking into it, an agency spokesperson told Reuters. A potentially record-setting GDPR fine The EUs sweeping privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), allows EU countries to fine companies up to 4% of annual revenue for infringement. For Tesla, which brought in $81.5 billion in revenue in 2022 according to its end-of-year earnings report (pdf), that could amount to a $3.3 billion fine. That would be the largest GDPR fine since the data privacy law went into effect in 2018, surpassing the recent fine leveled against Meta. The Facebook parent company was fined $1.3 billion by Irelands Data Protection Commission on May 22 over illegal data transfers of Facebook user data between the EU and US. A Tesla fine under GDPR could blow that figure out of the water. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat who initially supported a ban of TikTok in his home state of Montana, reversed course this week and suggested that the state should not have banned the "silly app." Montana became the first state in the U.S. to completely ban TikTok last week. The measure is expected to be challenged legally and will serve as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America that some national lawmakers have envisioned. Montana's new law prohibits downloads of TikTok in the state and would fine any "entity" an app store or TikTok $10,000 per day for each time someone "is offered the ability" to access the social media platform or download the app. The penalties would not apply to users. After the measure was signed into law by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Tester suggested during an interview with a local outlet, the Havre Daily News, that TikTok should be held accountable for the "treasonous" things it has done. He also suggested that TikTok CEO Shou Chew's testimony before Congress earlier this year was a "trainwreck." MONTANA BECOMES FIRST STATE TO BAN TIKTOK; LAW LIKELY TO BE CHALLENGED Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat who initially supported a ban of TikTok in his home state of Montana, reversed course this week and insisted the state should not have banned the "silly app." The newspaper summed up Tester's comments about the state's action to prohibit the use of the app in the state: "Tester was also asked about Montana's recent banning of TikTok, saying the company is deserving of scrutiny and the state has every right and plenty of grounds to ban the app." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Tester's support for an "outright ban" of TikTok was also highlighted in March by The Washington Post, which reported: "Some Democrats support an outright ban, including Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who told The Early that the person who politicizes this, they should be severely reprimanded." Tester, who is seeking re-election to his post in the Senate next year, has previously said that "eliminating opportunities for China to gather data and spy on the American government is a no-brainer," according to the Alaska Beacon. But Tester, following a lawsuit from TikTok that was filed against the state earlier this week, appeared to have had a possible change of heart about Montana's ban of the app. TIKTOK SUES MONTANA FOR OUTRIGHT BAN OF THE APP IN-STATE Following a lawsuit from TikTok against Montana, Tester told Missoula's KGVO that he's "not really big on banning anything." "So I'm not really big on banning anything. Quite honestly, ban it from government phones. I've got no problem with that. But as far as banning it from the general public, I've got some issues with that," Tester told KGVO, a Missoula radio station. "What I would rather see done, and they can't do at the state level well, I guess the attorney general could but I'd like to see the Department of Justice bring these folks, the head of TikTok, in front of the court, ask some questions. And if they're doing treasonous activities, prosecute." Despite those remarks, a spokesperson for Tester told Fox News Digital on Friday that the senator "has always supported banning TikTok from government devices and has backed legislation to do so." "Defending Montanans freedom and privacy from foreign adversaries like China is one of Senator Testers top priorities," the spokesperson added. "He believes we need to prevent spying on Montanans, and supports the states right to pass its own laws on this issue but those steps must be balanced with respecting Montanans First Amendment rights." Tester's previous comments that suggested that the state should not have banned the app followed a lawsuit against Montana from TikTok, which claimed that prohibiting its use violates the First Amendment. "We are challenging Montanas unconstitutional TikTok ban to protect our business and the hundreds of thousands of TikTok users in Montana," a TikTok spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement. "We believe our legal challenge will prevail based on an exceedingly strong set of precedents and facts." In its lawsuit, TikTok claims that Montana's ban is unlawful because it violates the plaintiff's free speech, is preempted by federal law, violates the Commerce Clause and singles the company out "for harsh penalties based on speculative concerns about TikTok's data security and content moderation practices." TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, has faced bipartisan scrutiny over worries that it could hand over user data to the Chinese government or push pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation on the platform. TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance , has been under intense scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans over worries that it could hand over user data to the Chinese government or push pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation on the platform. The app is already prohibited on federal government devices, including military devices, and several states have already moved in the same direction for state government devices. Fox Business' Breck Dumas and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Texas House ethics panel recommended that Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) be impeached after a months-long investigation into alleged abuse of office. The Republican-led committee unanimously approved the recommendations Thursday after outside attorneys presented evidence accusing the state attorney general of sweeping impropriety that verged on criminality, including claims Paxton had used his position to help a political ally, engaged in bribery and attempted to obstruct justice. The investigators also said Paxton had retaliated against staffers who accused him of crimes, pointing to an ongoing lawsuit brought against him by four former aides. The recommendations included 20 articles of impeachment. Texas lawmakers could vote on the matter as early as Friday. If Paxton is impeached in the state House by a simple majority, he would be required to temporarily step down and be barred from performing his duties while the state Senate holds a trial on the impeachment counts. A vote of two-thirds of the state senators would be required to approve his removal from office. Paxton responded with a brief message on Twitter after the recommendation was made public, saying: Overturning elections begins behind closed doors. Overturning elections begins behind closed doors. pic.twitter.com/Mved9ddU3i Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 25, 2023 He elaborated in a statement later in the day, castigating the investigation as an illegitimate attempt to overthrow the will of the people. Four liberal lawyers put forward a report to the House General Investigating Committee based on hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims, he said. By attacking the Office of the Attorney General, corrupted politicians in the Texas House, led by liberal Speaker Dade Phelan, are actively destroying Texass position as the most powerful backstop against the Biden agenda in the entire country. Impeachment is exceedingly rare in Texas. Only two officials have ever been impeached and removed from office in the states history, and the latest was almost 50 years ago, according to The Dallas Morning News. Whatever happens, this weeks developments present a major threat to one of the most powerful Republicans in Texas and will force lawmakers to reckon with years of scandals and claims surrounding his office. The investigation began in March amid a settlement made with Paxtons former staffers for $3.3 million. The attorney general asked the Texas Legislature to fund the agreement, but lawmakers, including Phelan, a Republican, said he didnt provide enough explanation as to why the state should foot the bill. Paxton had gone on a tirade against Phelan in recent days, accusing the speaker of being drunk during a House session last week. The attorney general has maintained the support of voters for years despite ongoing ethics and legal scandals and handily won reelection last November to a third term in office. He was indicted on federal securities fraud charges in 2015, although that case has yet to go to trial. He was also investigated for bribery allegations in 2017 before he was cleared of those charges. Related... At the heart of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons recent troubles is that he used his office to help a political donor Austin real estate investor Nate Paul in exchange for allegedly helping the attorney general remodel his home and giving Paxtons mistress a job in his company. According to thedailybeast.com, Paxton reportedly acknowledged the affair with the woman, who worked as an aide to a Texas state senator, to his staff in 2018 and said he had ended it. Paul has denied that his hiring of the woman was as a favor to Paxton. Resignations of seven senior members of Paxtons staff followed, accusing their boss of accepting bribes and abusing his office. Others were fired. Four of his former employees filed suit, arguing that Paxton and his agency improperly retaliated against them. A $3.3 million settlement was reached earlier this year. 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. Where articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton mentions his mistress ARTICLE IX (Constitutional Bribery-Pauls Employment of Mistress) While holding office as attorney general, Warren Kenneth Paxton engaged in bribery in violation of Section 41, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. Specifically, Paxton benefited from Nate Pauls employment of a woman with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair. Paul received favorable legal assistance from, or specialized access to, the office of the attorney general. Who is Ken Paxtons wealthy donor, Nate Paul? Nate Paul is a real estate investor based in Austin. He is the son of Indian immigrants. He founded his company, World Class, in 2007 telling Forbes: I was buying at the pit of the crisis. In many of those deals, there was no other bidder. He bought storage facilities, land in Austin, a marina on Lake Travis and a building being used by a call center in south Austin exploiting the low prices and low-interest-rate opportunities after the 2008 financial meltdown. Less than a decade later, institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies helped grow his business into the hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Austin Business Journal. His success got him on Forbes 30 under 30 list. By 2017, Forbes estimated his net worth to be about $800 million. By Brad Brooks and Daniel Trotta LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) - Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton lashed out on Friday against his critics trying to impeach him, saying that removing him from office would be a gift for President Joe Biden and his Democratic agenda. Paxton, a conservative firebrand and ally of former President Donald Trump, has been accused by fellow Republicans of abuse of office and faces a vote on 20 articles of impeachment in the Texas House on Saturday. Staking out a position on the far right on divisive cultural issues, Paxton has sued the Biden administration nearly 50 times in an attempt to halt what he labeled "unlawful tyrannical policies" on issues including immigration, gun rights and business regulation. On Thursday, the five-member Texas House General Investigating Committee voted unanimously to recommend that Paxton be impeached and removed from office for improperly aiding a wealthy political donor, conducting a sham investigation against whisteblowers in his office whom he fired, and covering up his wrongdoing in a separate federal securities fraud case against him, among other offenses. Addressing the media but without taking questions on the eve of the vote, Paxton accused House members including the Republican majority of plotting an "illegal impeachment scheme" led by corrupt politicians loyal to House Speaker Dade Phelan. Debate was due to start at 1 p.m. CDT (1800 GMT). If impeached, Paxton would be removed from office pending a trial in the Senate, where his wife, Angela Paxton, is a senator and where he said he believed he would get a fair trial. A two-thirds vote is needed to permanently expel him. "I want to invite my fellow citizens and friends to peacefully come let their voices be heard at the Capitol tomorrow. Exercise your right to petition your government. Let's restore the power of this great state to the people instead of to the politicians," Paxton said. With many of the accusations against him already aired, Paxton easily won reelection last year after fending off a Republican primary challenge from George P. Bush, a scion of two former presidents. Paxton's resiliency - and the ease with which he dispatched Bush in his 2022 primary contest - reflects a shift within the state Republican Party over the past decade from the business-friendly wing squarely into the social conservative camp. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas, and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; editing by Donna Bryson and David Gregorio) Texas couple charged in death of 2-year-old son, who they said fell down the stairs; bond set at $200K each Two Houston, Texas, parents were charged Thursday in the death of their 2-year-old son, who they claim fell down the stairs of their home before dying. The Houston Police Department said Fredrick Brown, 26, and Christin Patrick, 26, have been charged with injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury in the 208th State District Court. Fredrick Brown and Christin Patrick booking photos The two are accused in the death of their son, Saint Brown, who was just 2 years old when he died in September 2022. TEXAS PROSECUTORS SEEK DEATH PENALTY FOR MOTHER ACCUSED OF KILLING HER 3 CHILDREN Police responded to reports of the death of a 2-year-old boy, later identified as Saint Brown, at a residence on the 5900 block of Flintlock Road at about 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2022. When the officer arrived, Saints parents, Brown and Patrick, said the child fell down the stairs. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A defocused police car sits behind crime scene tape with flashing lights at night. Police said an autopsy conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Saint suffered blunt force trauma, and the manner and cause of death was ruled homicide. TEXAS WOMAN ALLEGEDLY KILLS HUSBAND WITH HAMMER AFTER BEING ASKED TO SIGN DIVORCE PAPERS Brown and Patrick were arrested Wednesday by members of the Houston Police Departments Westside Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team and charged for their roles in their sons death. Court records show bond for both Brown and Patrick was set at $200,000. Brown was also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of more than four ounces, and less than five pounds of marijuana. For those charges, his bond was set at $15,000 and $2,500, respectively. Heres when the Texas House will take up Articles of Impeachment against AG Ken Paxton The Texas House of Representatives is expected to take up articles of impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at 1 p.m. Saturday, according to a memo obtained by the Star-Telegram. The articles of impeachment came out Thursday night, just hours after a House committee investigating Paxton recommended his impeachment. He would be the third official in Texas history to be impeached and the first since 1975. Paxton has been under felony indictment for securities fraud since 2015, but has not gone to trial in the case. Separately, the FBI is investigating him for allegedly abusing his office to aid a campaign contributor, real estate investor Nate Paul, the Associated Press reported. The former employees who reported him to the FBI for corruption also filed a whistleblower lawsuit. The committee, it was revealed Tuesday, had been investigating Paxton for months after he agreed to settle that lawsuit with $3.3 million in taxpayer dollars. Money for the settlement is subject to legislative approval. The Texas House of Representativess Republican-led General Investigating Committee advanced articles of impeachment Thursday against state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). The panel had spent months probing Paxton and recommended impeachment for a range of alleged misconduct and potential crimes. The state House could vote on the impeachment recommendation as soon as Friday. In Texas, impeachment which requires a two-thirds vote in the House would mean he has to step down from his top attorney post until he faces trial in the state Senate. Four former state prosecutors, commissioned by the Texas House, revealed a number of allegations against Paxton earlier this week, including that he took bribes from a real estate developer and then fired deputies who reported it. Paxton was indicted by a state grand jury for securities fraud in 2016. The recommendation comes shortly after Paxton called for the resignation of the Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R), alleging the lawmaker had presided over the state chamber while intoxicated. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Texas House General Investigation Committee on Thursday sent a recommendation to the full chamber to impeach embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton amid a series of allegations of abuse of office heard one day earlier against the state's top elected law enforcement official. Later Thursday night, the committee's chair, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, formally informed the full House that the committee filed 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton and posted them on the official House website. The articles include two counts of "constitutional bribery," two counts of "obstruction of justice" and numerous other allegations of wrongdoing by Paxton dating back several years. He also provided transcripts and video from Wednesday's committee hearing. "I urge you to read the transcript and view the video also available on the committee's website," Murr told members. "After a period of time for your review and reflection, I intend to call up the resolution adopting the articles of impeachment." The unanimous vote to impeach Paxton by the committee made up by three Republicans and two Democrats came after almost no discussion other than it was ordering the Texas Department of Public Safety to keep secure any material that might be relevant in the matter. "The chair moves that the committee adopts the articles of impeachment against Warren Kenneth Paxton, attorney general of the state of Texas, as embodied in the draft resolution and directs the chair to file that resolution with the chief clerk of the House. The clerk will call the roll," Murr said without elaboration. Politics: Oath Keepers are being sentenced for the Capitol riot. What to know about the far-right group members Reports: Trump employees moved boxes at Mar-a-Lago day before officials sought documents Rep. Andrew Murr, R - Junction, Chair of the House General Investigating Committee, walks away after recommending that the committee adopt the articles of impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Capitol on Thursday May 25, 2023. The vote capped a dramatic few days in the Capitol in which Paxton first called on House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign on Tuesday, saying he appeared to be intoxicated during a floor session a few days earlier. But that was soon overshadowed when the investigations panel on Wednesday heard damning testimony from five outside lawyers with prosecutorial experience alleging the three-term attorney general had abused his office by using his authority to help a political ally and donor. Chris Hilton, Chief of the General Litigation Division of the of the Attorney Generals Office, talks to reporters to defend Attorney General Ken Paxton in the committee room being used by the House General Investigating Committee, which was in executive session at the time, at the Capitol on Thursday May 25, 2023. The first bribery count related to an allegation that Paxton played a role in the decision by his political ally and campaign contributor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, to put a woman on his payroll with whom the attorney general was having an affair. "Specifically, Paxton benefited from Nate Paul's employment of a woman with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair. Paul received favorable legal assistance from, or specialized access to, the office of the attorney general," the section of the impeachment document states. The second bribery count alleges that Paul provided renovations to Paxton's home. Paxton is alleged in the articles to have misappropriated public resources and used his official powers by causing employees of his office to perform services for his benefit and the benefit of others. The House committee found that Paxtons actions while in his position as attorney general amount to a dereliction of duty, unfitness for office and an abuse of public trust. The House Committee also accused Paxton of making false and misleading statements in official records in response to the whistleblower allegations. Paxton, according to the committees impeachment articles, failed to accurately disclose his financial interests and personal financial statements in required reports to the Texas Ethics Commission. It was unclear Thursday when the full House will take up the impeachment recommendation. If the 149-member House, where Republicans enjoy a 85-64 majority, votes to impeach Paxton, his fate will be decided in the Senate where he once served and where his wife currently serves. A two-thirds vote of the Senate, controlled 19-12 by Republicans, is needed for removal. But after the House was presented with the impeachment documents, several members questioned how the process would unfold, including what role rank-and-file members would play as the chamber decides whether to move forward with impeaching Paxton. "You get to dictate whether we ask questions or not, will you allow members to ask questions on an important issue," Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, asked. "This is probably one of the most important things that we've done since I've been in the Texas House." House Speaker Dade Phelan promised that the chamber's rules for debate would be followed. In a statement posted on the attorney general's office's Twitter account, Paxton was at once pugnacious and defiant. He said the House was "actively destroying Texas' position as the most powerful backstop" against the Biden administration's policies. "The committee has asked the Texas House of Representatives to use their unsubstantiated report to overturn the results of a free and fair election," Paxton said. He called the testimony from the committee's investigating lawyers "hearsay" and "gossip," and even though the statement was posted on his government page, he dismissed GOP House leaders as "RINOs," the partisan shorthand for "Republicans in name only." More: Will Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton be impeached? Here's what we know. Before the impeachment recommendation was made Thursday, the attorney general's office's top litigator attempted to testify before the panel but was rebuffed by committee members. In a combative question and answer session later with reporters, Chris Hilton said the impeachment effort was "illegal" and that much of Wednesday's testimony was false. "Because we've never been invited to participate, it was not surprising to us that the testimony yesterday was filled with errors big and small," Hilton said, but declined to say what in the testimony was erroneous. "Our system gives the accused the right to offer and present evidence, cross examine witnesses and to know the facts they are being confronted with. What you heard yesterday was hearsay within hearsay," he said. The move toward impeachment, which had not been discussed publicly during the legislative session, dominated the backroom and lobby gatherings inside the Capitol even before Wednesday's hearing began. 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 at the Capitol on Thursday May 25, 2023. Four lawyers hired by the investigations panel methodically laid out a series of allegations against Paxton ranging from a 2015 state securities case that has led to a longstanding three-count criminal indictment against the attorney general; to an extramarital affair that he tried to keep from his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton; and an ongoing federal investigation into his connection to a campaign donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. The lawyers alleged that Paxton had abused his office and retaliated against staff members who had warned him his actions were exposing him to legal jeopardy. Investigators laid bare the details of an ongoing whistleblower lawsuit brought against Paxton in 2020 by four former aides who claim they were fired from his office after they alerted federal authorities that the attorney general might have committed crimes by intervening in multiple legal matters involving Paul. In February, Paxton and the whistleblowers reached a tentative $3.3 million settlement agreement that was to have been paid with state funds. That agreement, for which Phelan and others expressed grave concerns, was the catalyst for the investigation that led to the committee's vote Thursday. Until Tuesday, the committee had not made public its examination of Paxton's actions. Talking with reporters, Hilton insisted that impeachment should be off the table. He cited the section of the state statute governing impeachment that says: "An officer in this state may not be removed from office for an act the officer may have committed before the officer's election to office." More: House panel hears details of complaints against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Much of the wrongdoing alleged by the committee's lawyers occurred before the 2022 election in which Paxton won his third term. It remains unclear if the statute refers to the most recent election or the first election that put the attorney general in office. Hilton made clear he interprets the statute to mean the most recent election. "The voters have rejected these smears; they've rejected these attacks," he said. "And this committee is trying to undermine the will of the voters by investigating him without even so much as reaching out to us to participate in the process." Murr declined to speak with reporters after the committees vote. Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican who serves on the investigations committee and is a 22-year House veteran, spoke briefly with reporters and agreed the vote was historic. "I guess it is," Geren said, declining to address Hilton's remarks. "I don't know what he was talking about so I can't comment." Staff writer Hogan Gore contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lawmakers push to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Will Texas offer one year of health insurance for new moms on Medicaid? Heres what we know Texas is poised to offer a full year of health insurance to new moms on Medicaid, an effort that maternal health advocates have urged for years. The proposed legislation, House Bill 12, was still being negotiated by the House and Senate as of Friday, just days before the legislative session ends on Monday. There is immense pressure for the lawmakers to get the bill passed: Texas politicians have outlined giving new moms more time on Medicaid after birth as a top priority. Medicaid is the joint federal and state health insurance program, best known for paying for health care for people with disabilities or who are poor, or both. In Texas, few adults qualify for the program. One exception is those who are pregnant: During their pregnancy, a Texan making about $30,000 a year or less qualify for Medicaid during their pregnancy and for their childbirth. In Texas, Medicaid pays for about half of all births annually, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In Tarrant County, that means about 10,000 births are paid for by the joint federal and state program each year. Previously, new moms were removed from Medicaid about two months after they gave birth. In 2021, Texas legislators gave moms six months to keep their health insurance, a move that maternal health advocates welcomed but said still wasnt enough time for women to recover from childbirth and to prevent injuries and deaths. Tabitha Israel, a doula and student midwife in Tarrant County, said moms need more support across pregnancy and the postpartum period, and that increased access to care is much needed. You get more recovery and more therapy with a knee surgery than you do with a cesarean, said Israel, who herself has had three C-sections. Israel said that a childbirth without any issues requires months for the body to fully heal, and pregnancies with complications require even longer. Maternal mortality remains a persistent problem across Texas. The most recent data, examining cases of maternal death and illness from 2018 and 2019, found that the rate of serious complication during childbirth has actually increased over the last decade. The report, which was published in December, again recommended extending health coverage for a full year after pregnancy. Despite the expected extension of postpartum Medicaid for new moms, Texas lawmakers made no movement toward expanding Medicaid so that more adults could qualify for health insurance through the program. Texas, which has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the nation, is one of just 11 states that has not expanded Medicaid. A group of public health and progressive policy groups in the state faulted lawmakers for failing to consider Medicaid expansion for another session. Our state leaders continue to do everything they can to avoid having a conversation about all the ways Texas would benefit from Medicaid expansion, perhaps because theyre afraid Texans will see just how negligent they have been, said Adrienne Lloyd, health policy manager at Childrens Defense Fund-Texas. Cindy Campos reads the book "Stay Safe" to her son in Dallas. Cindy Campos' 5-year-old son was so excited about the book that had been sent home with him from school featuring Winnie-the-Pooh that he wanted to read it immediately. But her heart sank as she flipped through the pages advising children what to do if danger is near, including locking doors, turning off the lights and quietly hiding till police arrive. (Cindy Campos via AP) DALLAS (AP) Cindy Campos' 5-year-old son was so excited about the Winnie the Pooh book he got at school that he asked her to read it with him as soon as he got home. But her heart sank when she realized it was a tutorial about what to do when danger is near, advising kids to lock the doors, turn off the lights and quietly hide. As they read the Stay Safe book the school sent home without explanation or a warning to parents, she began crying, leaving her son confused. Its hard because youre reading them a bedtime story and basically now you have to explain in this cute way what the book is about, when its not exactly cute, Campos said. She said her first-grader, who goes to the same elementary school as her pre-K son, also got a copy of the book last week. After posting about it in an online neighborhood group, she found other concerned parents whose kids had also brought the book home. The district's decision to send kids home with the book has made waves. Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, tweeted: Winnie the Pooh is now teaching Texas kids about active shooters because the elected officials do not have the courage to keep our kids safe and pass common sense gun safety laws. It sparked enough of a reaction to warrant an explanation from the Dallas Independent School District, which said in a statement Friday that it works "hard every day to prevent school shootings" by dealing with online threats and improving security measures. It also conducts active shooter drills. Recently a booklet was sent home so parents could discuss with their children how to stay safe in such cases, the district said. "Unfortunately, we did not provide parents any guide or context. We apologize for the confusion and are thankful to parents who reached out to assist us in being better partners. The district did not say how many schools and grades in the district received the books. Campos said the book was haunting her and that it seemed especially tone deaf" to send it home with kids without explanation around the time the state was marking the anniversary of last year's mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. It also comes as Texas' Republican-controlled Legislature wraps up a session in which it rejected virtually all proposals to tighten gun laws but did pass legislation banning school libraries from having books that contain descriptions, illustrations or audio depicting sexual conduct not relevant to the required school curriculum. Active shooter drills have become common in American schools, though theres disagreement over whether they do more harm than good. Campos said that although she doesnt disagree with the book's intent, she wished it would have come with a warning to parents so that she could introduce it to her kids at the right time and in the right way. She said she has discussed school shootings with her kids, and that she might have chosen to wait to read them the book until there was another attack. I would have done it on my own time, said Campos, who first spoke to the Oak Cliff Advocate. The books cover says: If there is danger, let Winnie the Pooh and his crew show you what to do. Inside, it includes passages such as If danger is near, do not fear. Hide like Pooh does until the police appear. Doors should be locked and the passage blocked. Turn off the light to stay out of sight. The book was published by Praetorian Consulting, a Houston-based firm that provides safety, security and crisis management training and services. The company, which didn't respond to messages seeking comment, says on its website that it uses age-appropriate material to teach the concepts of run, hide, fight the approach authorities say civilians should take in active shooter situations. The company also says on its website that its K-6 curriculum features the characters of Winnie the Pooh, which are now in the public domain and even featured in a recent horror movie. Texas prosecutors seek death penalty for mother accused of killing her 3 children A Texas mother could face the death penalty after allegedly stabbing three of her children to death and attempting to murder her two youngest children. Shamaiya Deyonshana Hall, 25, was arrested March 3 and charged with three counts of capital murder in relation to the incident, which occurred in Italy, Texas. Shamaiya Hall booking photo The Ellis County Sheriff's Office is investigating the murders, which also left two other children injured. TEXAS WOMAN ALLEGEDLY KILLS HUSBAND WITH HAMMER AFTER BEING ASKED TO SIGN DIVORCE PAPERS Child Protective Services went to the home that day to conduct a home visit, which is across the street from an elementary school. The CPS worker removed the children from the home and called 911 at around 4 p.m. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP When an Italy Police Department Officer arrived, five critically injured children were found inside the home. ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION TO THE MURDER OF 20-YEAR-OLD TEXAS WOMAN Of the five children, a 5-year-old boy, 6-year-old boy, and a girl were pronounced dead at the scene. Hall was indicted by a grand jury on three capital murder charges. The three capital murder indictments allege that Hall murdered three of her children 6-year-old Legend Chappell, 5-year-old Alayiah Martin, and 5-year-old Ayden Martin by stabbing them with a knife. TEXAS AG SAYS WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DUMPSTER FIRE BEHIND OFFICE, SLAMS MEDIA OVER RECKLESS SPECULATION The grand jury also returned two additional indictments of attempted murder, alleging that Hall also stabbed her 4-year-old son and 13-month-old daughter. In response to the charges, Ellis County District Attorney Ann Montgomery filed the states intent to seek the death penalty for Hall in the three capital murder cases. Montgomery announced in a press release that First Assistant County and District Attorney Cynthia Walker, Chief Felony Prosecutor Grace Pandithurai and Felony Prosecutor Kevin Boneberg would be prosecuting the case. She also thanked the Ellis County Sheriffs Office for its ongoing efforts with the cases. Texas sergeant found dead in car, police investigating: 'Heartbroken for him and his family' Authorities are investigating the mysterious death of a Texas sergeant who was found dead inside his vehicle. Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a press conference that deputies were notified by a concerned citizen of a body inside a vehicle. Police say that when authorities arrived on the scene they found a sergeant with the Waller County Precinct 3 Deputy Constable's Office dead inside the vehicle. Police have not released the sergeant full name at this time and during a press conference, Harris County Sheriff's Office Assistant Chief Thomas Diaz did not specify if the sergeant was found in a police cruiser or his personal vehicle. Harris County Sheriff's Office announced the death of a sergeant with the Waller County Precinct 3 Deputy Constable's Office who was found in a vehicle late on Thursday night. Diaz went on to say that the agency is "heartbroken" over the loss. "We want to express our condolences to our partner agency, Constable Smith, he's got a great reputation in the area, we knew him before this, and we're just really heartbroken for him and his family," Diaz shared in a late night press conference. MANHATTAN DA ANNOUNCES INDICTMENT AGAINST NYPD OFFICER SEEN PUNCHING 'ERRATIC' HOMELESS MAN ON VIRAL VIDEO READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Authorities shared that a concerned citizen called police to notify them discover the agent. "We'd like to highlight that it was a citizen who helped us discover this deputy," Diaz continued. "And we're just really thankful that we have people in the community that are still willing to make those phone calls and take an extra step." Assistant Chief Thomas Diaz with the Harris County Sheriff's Office gave his condolences to the family and shared that police are investigating the death of the sergeant. Investigators, along with the medical examiners, will determine the cause and manner of death, police said. No other details have been released at this time. Texas teenager claims he fatally shot parents, brother and sister because they were cannibals Cesar Olalde, 18, was arrested in the small town of Nash, Texas, after allegedly shooting dead his parents, sister and brother. (Bi-State Detention Center via AP) A Texas teenager told authorities he killed his family because they were cannibals and they were going to eat him. Cesar Olalde, 18, was arrested in the small town of Nash, Texas, after allegedly shooting dead his parents, sister and brother. The suspect was taken into custody after barricading himself inside a home, and when investigators entered they found multiple bodies, reported the Associated Press. Cesar Olalde, 18, was arrested in the small town of Nash, Texas, after allegedly shooting dead his parents, sister and brother. (Bi-State Detention Center via AP) The victims have been named as Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, the suspects older sister Lisbet Olalde and younger brother Oliver Olalde. A probable cause affidavit stated that Mr Olade, who has been charged with capital murder, had called the police and told them that he had pulled the trigger, and shot his family. Multiple spent cartridge casings were found on the floor of the home the affidavit states, and there was blood spatter on multiple surfaces. A co-worker of Lisbet Olalde told police that he went to the home when she failed to show up to work and he was confronted by the suspect who allegedly pointed a gun at him. The co-worker told police that Mr Olalde said he had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him, the affidavit reads. The suspect is being held on a $10m bond, according to Bowie County court records. Nash has a population of 3,800 and is located near the state line with Arkansas. A GoFundMe set up by Diana Olalde has already raised more than $51,000 for her familys funeral expenses Hi, I am Diana and I am fundraising for my familys funeral services. On 5/23/2023 my world changed, she wrote. My whole family my father who was a hard working man, my mother who was a caring and loving person, my sister who was full of life, happiness, and dreams, and my little brother who was an amazing, funny, and cheerful kid passed in a tragic turn events that even in my worst nightmare I couldnt have dreamed. A man reads a Thai newspaper featuring front page coverage of Thailand's general election at a newsstand in Bangkok on May 15, 2023 The government and military control have historically controlled nearly all the national terrestrial television networks and operate many of Thailand's radio networks. The media are free to criticise government policies and cover instances of corruption and human rights abuses. However, a strict lese majeste law prohibits media in Thailand from reporting anything that could be deemed critical of the royal family, and journalists tend to exercise self-censorship regarding the military, the judiciary and other sensitive issues. Multichannel TV, via cable and satellite, is widely available. The radio market, particularly in Bangkok, is fiercely competitive. The print media are largely privately-run, with a handful of Thai-language dailies accounting for most newspaper sales. There were some 61.9 million internet users by July 2022, comprising 88% of the population. Facebook is the most popular social network. Press Television Radio 'They've gone mad', Putin says of Georgia anti-Kremlin protesters Georgian demonstrators protest against the resumption of air links with Russia outside Tbilisi Airport last week President Vladimir Putin on Friday said he was surprised by anti-Kremlin protests in Georgia when Russia resumed air travel with the pro-Western country. Dozens of Georgians protested last week outside an airport in the capital Tbilisi as a Russian passenger plane landed in the Caucasus country for the first time since 2019. The resumption of air travel comes as Moscow's offensive in Ukraine stretches into its second year and Russia's isolation from the West deepens. "Honestly, I was totally surprised by the reaction," Putin said at a meeting with businessmen. "I thought everyone would say: 'Well, thanks, that's good. But no, there was a completely incomprehensible fuss over this issue," Putin said in televised remarks. "When I look from here, I think: 'they've gone mad, it's not clear what's happening there," he said. Russia fought a brief but bloody war with Georgia in 2008, and anti-Russian sentiment runs deep in the pro-Western country. In response to anti-Moscow rallies in Tbilisi, Russia banned air travel with the country in 2019. But in a surprise move, Putin this month lifted a flight ban with Georgia. He has also introduced a 90-day visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. Putin said on Friday it was his understanding that the Georgian leadership had "repeatedly" asked Russia to lift the flight ban and visa regime. At the same time, he said Moscow would not interfere. "What is happening inside the country is none of our business," he said, adding that Georgian people should themselves determine the country's path. Protesters in Tbilisi last week held placards which said: "You Are Not Welcome" and "Russia Is a Terrorist State." Georgian authorities have faced mounting accusations of covertly cooperating with the Kremlin after years of tensions. The government insists it needs to maintain economic ties with Russia. bur/kjm Many survivors of accidents, such as avalanches, have experienced third man syndrome. | Adobe Stock Ernest Shackleton and his teams 1916 Antarctic exploration became a fight for their lives when their boat, the Endurance, got trapped in ice. The route to safety was grueling. Shackleton and two companions, Tom Crean and Frank Worsley, embarked on a journey across mountain ranges and glaciers to a whaling station in Stromness Bay. For more than a day, the men trekked across the island of South Georgia. Against all odds, they survived. They largely credit their survival with a fourth traveler. A presence they all felt which provided hope and direction but was never really there. I know that during that long and racking march of thirty-six hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers of South Georgia it seemed to me often that we were four, not three, Shackleton wrote in South, his book about the expedition. Frank Worsley also wrote of the bewildering experience. There was indeed one thing about our crossing of South Georgia, a thing which I have never been able to explain. Whenever I reviewed the incidents of that march I had the sub-conscious feeling that there were four of us, instead of three, wrote Worsley, per the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Several adventurers and others who experienced life-threatening circumstances tell similar stories that an additional person appeared and guided them to safety. This experience is what is known as third man syndrome or third man factor. What is third man syndrome? Third man syndrome describes the strange phenomenon experienced by explorers or others during survival situations in which a presence intervenes at a critical moment to offer encouragement, guidance and support. Those who have experienced third man syndrome report feeling a presence despite being alone. Third man syndrome is typically experienced by individuals rather than groups. The title derives from a T.S. Eliot poem, The Waste Land, which references a third who walks always beside you. Excerpt from The Waste Land by T.S. Elliot Who is the third who walks always beside you? When I count, there are only you and I together But when I look ahead up the white road There is always another one walking beside you Gliding wrapt in a brown mantle, hooded I do not know whether a man or a woman But who is that on the other side of you? Is third man syndrome real? Writer John Geiger author of The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible claims there are several scientific explanations for third man syndrome, such as biochemical reactions to misfiring brain activity, per NPR. But he believes a spiritual explanation makes more sense. Clearly there is a spiritual or religious explanation to this phenomenon, Geiger told NPR. Many skeptics and nonbelievers also had this experience and they attribute it to other explanations and there is certainly some very interesting science behind this. If we understand that the Third Man Factor is a part of us, the way adrenaline is ... then we can start to access it more easily, Geiger added, per NPR. Its not a hallucination in the sense that hallucinations are disordering. This is a very helpful and orderly guide. No one really knows what causes third man syndrome. Many people claim it is a hallucination or coping mechanism triggered by extreme stress while others believe it is help given by a guardian angel, per CNN. Its an astonishing capacity if you think about, said Geiger. And it sort of hints at this idea that as human beings we are never truly alone, that we have this ability to call upon this resource when we most need it in our lives. Accounts of third man syndrome Geiger spent five years gathering stories from individuals who have experienced third man syndrome. He chronicles the mysterious experiences in his book The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible. Here are a couple accounts given in the book. Ron DiFrancesco was on the 84th floor of the South Tower at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. When the second plane crashed into the building, he made several attempts to escape but failed to find a safe exit. At the brink of giving up, DiFrancesco heard an unfamiliar voice. Someone told me to get up. Someone, he said, called me. The voice which was male, but did not belong to one of the people in the stairwell was insistent: Get up! It addressed DiFrancesco by his first name, and gave him encouragement: It was, Hey! You can do this. But it was more than a voice; there was also a vivid sense of a physical presence, Geiger wrote in The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible. He had the sensation that somebody lifted me up. He felt that he was being guided: I was led to the stairs. I dont think something grabbed my hand, but I was definitely led. With help from what DiFrancesco describes as an angel he made it out of the South Tower alive. He was only one of four people to escape from above the 81st floor. While ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies near Lake Louise, Alberta, James Sevigny and Richard Whitmire were overcome by an avalanche. It carried them nearly 2,000 feet. While Sevigny regain consciousness, he was severely injured and he discovered that Whitmire was dead. His back was broken in two places, he had a fractured arm, cracked ribs, severed nerves, torn ligaments in his knees, broken teeth and internal bleeding. He laid down to die. He then felt a sudden, strange sensation of an invisible being very close at hand. It was something I couldnt see but it was a physical presence. The presence communicated mentally, and its message was clear: You cant give up, you have to try, Geiger wrote in The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible. The presence urged Sevigny to get up. It dispensed practical advice. It told him, for example, to follow the blood dripping from the tip of his nose as if it were an arrow pointing the way. As he walked, he kept breaking through the crust of the deep snow, and was almost unable to pull his feet back up because of his injuries. Part of the time he crawled. The presence, which stood behind his right shoulder, implored him to continue even when the struggle to survive seemed untenable. When Sevigny finally made it back to base camp, there were people there to aid him. When the presence left, he was overcome with loneliness. He understood it was more than luck that led to his miraculous survival. There was a threat to kill Queen Elizabeth during 1983 trip to the US, FBI documents reveal Queen Elizabeth's 1983 trip to the United States seemed to go off without a hitch and included a highly publicized visit to then-President Ronald Reagan. But newly released FBI records unveil an assassination threat made against the monarch before her trip. The online records, released following a request by NBC News under the Freedom of Information Act, outline the itinerary of the 10-day trip and detail the extent of the threat. Per FBI records, a San Francisco police department caught wind of the assassination threat in February 1983, just weeks before the monarch was set to travel to the U.S. with her husband, Prince Philip, for a 10-day trip. Queen Elizabeth ll toasts President Ronald Reagan at a banquet during the Queen's official visit to the US in March 1983 in San Francisco, CA. (Anwar Hussein / Getty Images) The royal visit, which included a stop in California, took place during a 30-year geopolitical conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Per the records, an unnamed police officer reported receiving a phone call from a man who said his daughter was killed by a rubber bullet in Northern Ireland. The same man detailed his plans to hurt the queen and outlined two potential methods: dropping something off the Golden Gate Bridge onto her royal yacht as it passed by or trying to kill her as she visited Yosemite National Park. Queen Elizabeth ll at a banquet during the Queen's official visit to the US in March 1983 in in San Francisco, CA. (Tim Graham / Photo Library via Getty Images) The documents dont mention names or clarify if anyone was arrested. However, they do note that the Secret Service planned to close the Golden Gate Bridges walkways as the queens yacht approached. The records also mention that the police officer who shared the threat regularly attended the Dovre Club, which was a popular spot for those who supported the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). In the end, the assassination attempt was not carried out. President Reagan Laughing at Queen's Remarks (Bettmann Archive) The late monarch, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96, met with Reagan during her trip and famously made the president laugh when she toasted him at a celebratory dinner. I knew before we came that we had exported many of our traditions to the United States. But I had not realized before that weather was one of them, she said in part. But, Mr. President, if the climate has been cool, you're welcome and that of the American people have been wonderfully warm, she added. This article was originally published on TODAY.com FILE - President Ronald Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II raise their glasses in a toast during a state dinner, March 3, 1983, at the M. H. de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Woman at right is unidentified. The FBI has disclosed a potential threat to the late Queen Elizabeth during her 1983 trip to the U.S. West Coast. The documents were released this last week of May, 2023, on the FBIs records website. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File) WASHINGTON (AP) The FBI has disclosed a potential threat to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1983 trip to the United States. The documents were released this week on the FBI's records website. Queen Elizabeth II died last September after a 70-year reign. The queen's West Coast visit with her husband, Prince Philip, included a stop in San Francisco in March 1983. The FBI said that a San Francisco police officer who frequented a bar popular with sympathizers of the Irish Republican Army had received a phone call in February 1983 from a man who claimed his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet. According to the documents, the man said he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth by either dropping an object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the queens royal yacht or try to kill her during a visit to Yosemite National Park. The documents said the Secret Service intended to close the bridges walkways as the yacht drew near. The names of the officer and the caller were redacted in the documents, which did not indicate whether precautions were taken at Yosemite or whether any arrests were made. A March 7, 1983, memo indicated the queen completed the U.S. visit without incident and that no further investigation is warranted. The documents detailed other security concerns involving the queen's visits to various U.S. cities. When she attended a Baltimore Orioles game with President George H.W. Bush in May 1991, several dozen demonstrators in the park chanted slogans condemning Britains policy in Northern Ireland. Three hotels in California rank among the nations best. Heres why people love them Travelers making summer plans in California are in luck because Tripadvisor just released the best hotels in the U.S., and three places in the state made the list. Hotels in Laguna Beach, Sausalito and Santa Monica were recognized as three of the travel agencys top 25 hotels in the country, according to a May 23 news release. The Montage Laguna Beach, a hotel that rests on coastal bluffs in Laguna Beach, ranked No. 7. The hotel resort sits on 30 acres with 260 guest rooms. Tripadvisor reviewers raved about the dining options, which include: the Studio, The Loft, the Mosaic Bar & Grille and the Lobby Lounge for light bites. I have been going to (The Loft) for many years now. The food is amazing and the view is top notch, one reviewer said. Another place with water views also made Tripadvisors top hotels list. At. No. 8, visitors can stay at The Inn Above Tide in Sausalito in rooms with views of the San Francisco skyline. The hotel offers complimentary wine and cheese. Memories for a lifetime, especially the sight of the San Francisco skyline at night and a multitude of birds, including pelicans, flying and catching fish right before our eyes one morning, another reviewer said. The Shore Hotel in downtown Santa Monica ranked No. 19. This hotel overlooks the beach and the popular Santa Monica Pier. One reviewer raved about the complimentary bikes and the nearby bike paths along the ocean. To find the 25 best hotels in the country, Tripadvisor ranked hotels based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, and additional editorial process. Tripadvisors top 10 hotels in the U.S. are: This popular California beach to reopen this weekend. Its driving distance from Modesto This sparkling California beach is one of the best in nation, report says. Heres why Best place for brunch? 22 California restaurants rank among nations favorites Three more Oath Keepers sentenced for roles in January 6 attack: I was just another idiot Three members of a far-right anti-government extremist group who joined a mob inside the US Capitol on January 6 were sentenced to federal prison after their convictions on a range of charges connected to the attack. The hearings in US District Court in Washington DC follow the 18-year prison sentence for Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who was convicted by a jury on a treason-related charge of seditious conspiracy after a nearly two-month trial last year. His is the longest sentence, to date, related to the assault at the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Kelly Meggs, another member of the Oath Keepers who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in that same case alongside Rhodes, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on 25 May. Jessica Watkins, a US Army veteran who was convicted of several other charges in that same trial, was sentenced to eight and a half years. A jury found Watkins guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and guilty of conspiracy to obstruct. My actions and my behaviors that fateful day were wrong, and as I now understand, criminal, she told US District Judge Amit Mehta on 26 May. Violence is never the answer. Federal prosecutors argued that Watkins mobilised a group in Ohio alongside the Oath Keepers, and joined a mob in Washington DC in tactical gear to upend the results of the 2020 presidential election, fuelled by Donald Trumps false narrative that the election was stolen and rigged against him. I was just another idiot running around the Capitol, she said on 26 May. But idiots are held responsible, and today youre going to hold this idiot responsible. Prosecutors argued that she marched from the former presidents rally at the Ellipse and breached the halls of Congress in a military-style stack formation, encouraging members of the mob to push through law enforcement. Jessica Watkins, left, appears with members of the Oath Keepers on 6 January, 2021 at the US Capitol. (REUTERS) According to messages and recordings shared at trial, Watkins declared the group stormed the Capitol on a radio-like communication app on the day of the attack. Judge Mehta, noting her apologies, said that her efforts that day were more aggressive, more assaultive, more purposeful than perhaps others. And you led others to fulfill your purposes, he added And there was not in the immediate aftermath any sense of shame or contrition, just the opposite. Your comments were celebratory and lacked a real sense of the gravity of that day and your role in it. Kenneth Harrelson was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. He was sentenced to four years in prison on 26 May. In his plea for leniency, Harrelson, weeping as he spoke, apologised to US Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who testified during the trial that the Oath Keepers that the group failed to support law enforcement and ignored his warnings that they were endangering officers lives. I am responsible and my foolish actions have caused immense pain to my wife and children, Harrelson told Judge Mehta on Friday. The judge noted that, in evidence from federal prosecutors, there is not a single word in a single communication that anyone would consider extremist, radicalized or encourages anyone to engage in violence. Thomas Caldwell, a fifth member of the group who was on trial alongside the other four recently sentenced Oath Keepers, will face a sentencing hearing next week. Caldwell was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents or proceedings. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the January 6 attack. Fourteen people, 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. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the sentences against Rhodes and Meggs reflect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions. 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, he said in a statement on 25 May. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the [January 6] attack on our democracy. mizzy A TikTok prankster has been arrested less than 48 hours after he was fined for breaching a court order. Bacari-Bronze OGarro, 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, including an 80 victim surcharge and costs of 85. He was also handed a two-year criminal behaviour order. On Friday morning, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: On Friday, 26 May, officers arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of breach of a criminal behaviour order. He has been taken into custody. Enquiries are ongoing. Wearing a green and yellow vest and black jogging bottoms, a video of the arrest was uploaded to OGarros Twitter account showing him being detained by a plain-clothes officer on what appeared to be the roof of a building. On Wednesday, Judge Charlotte Crangle had 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, OGarro posted several videos including one in which he rides an e-bike through a busy Sainsburys supermarket. 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. However, the terms of his court order suggest that uploading the clips without the consent of the people in the video would be a breach, regardless of when they were filmed. Just minutes after leaving court on Wednesday, OGarro also posted a video saying: Hello world Im back and Im taking over this. During a Talk TV interview with Morgan, carried out hours after his court appearance, OGarro was accused by the broadcaster of playing the race card. When OGarro 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. 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. Mizzy was in court on Wednesday over one of his prank videos A London teenager who walked into a stranger's house to make a TikTok prank video has been arrested, two days after appearing in court. Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, better known as Mizzy, was detained on Friday by a plain clothes officer for allegedly breaching a criminal behaviour order. On Wednesday, the 18-year-old admitted breaching a community protection notice over the 15 May trespass in Hackney. O'Garro's prank videos have seen him become notorious in recent days. In the latest arrest, the Metropolitan Police officer can be seen handcuffing the teenager and telling him that he is alleged to have uploaded two videos to social media - an apparent breach of the terms of the behaviour order that was imposed on him on Wednesday. On Thursday, O'Garro was interviewed by Talk TV host Piers Morgan, with their disagreeable exchange being shared widely on social media. Morgan took the teenager to task for his pranks, which have included pestering rail passengers and entering a man's car claiming it was his Uber. On Wednesday, Thames Magistrates' Court heard how O'Garro, who is from Stoke Newington in north-east London, had been issued with a community protection notice last May, with a condition being he must not trespass on private property. Entering the home without permission to film his TikTok prank breached that condition. The court heard how O'Garro walked into the property, down the stairs, sat on a sofa and said "is this where the study group is?" Judge Charlotte Crangle fined him more than 300 and listed as a condition of the teenager's criminal behaviour order that he must not directly or indirectly post videos on to social media without the documented consent of the people featured in the content. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "On Friday May 26, officers arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of breach of a criminal behaviour order. "He has been taken into custody. Inquiries are ongoing." Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk TikToker says the court order barring him from posting videos without permission from everyone in them isn't fair Bacari-Bronze O'Garro at Thames Magistrates' Court on May 24, 2023. Lucy North - PA Images Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, 18, was banned by a UK judge from filming people without their permission. He posted a TikTok recently where he walked into a family's house without consent. O'Garro told Insider his punishment was not fair, and said UK laws are "weak." The teen TikToker arrested this week after walking into a family's house without consent to film a video told Insider that his punishment is not fair. Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, an 18-year-old from London, was banned by a judge from uploading videos of people without their permission in a court order handed down on Wednesday. The hearing was at Thames Magistrates Court, where he admitted breaching an earlier court order by making the video. O'Garro is better known as Mizzy on TikTok, where he built a reputation as a prankster walking through people's front doors without permission, running off with an elderly woman's dog, and asking women on the street "do you want to die?" O'Garro told Insider he didn't think the punishment was fair. In a voice note to Insider sent Thursday, he said: "I don't think the punishment was fair but obviously the UK punishment system is low, it's weak, and there's nothing I can do about that." Since the court hearing he published several videos on Twitter, showing him on top of a bus, riding through a grocery store on his bike, and going into restricted staff areas at a McDonald's. The videos were reposts of older content. O'Garro did not immediately respond to Insider's question of whether posting them was compatible with the court order. The judge, Charlotte Crangle ordered that O'Garro must not post any more videos on social media without the permission of everyone in them, and to not trespass on private property, per London's Evening Standard. She also handed him a two-year criminal behaviour order, and a fine of 200 fine plus fees of 165. "People need to change up their laws and maybe this is a wake up call for the system to change their laws." Per the BBC, the prosecutor at his hearing said O'Garro was issued with a court order last year, after posting several videos where he appeared to be targeting Jewish people. That order, per the report, prohibited him from trespassing on private property. However, he admitted breaking the order when he wandered into a couple's house and sat in their living room. The court heard that the event was distressing for the couple, who had young children. The video circulated to more than 29 million people when it was reshared on Twitter, and many people criticized O'Garro. O'Garro told Insider that "everyone's getting hurt over something that didn't happen to them." "People need to stop getting worried about someone that they don't even know at all whatsoever," he said. "I don't know them and we should keep it like that." Read the original article on Insider Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) Win McNamee/Getty Images An already crowded field of presidential hopefuls has increased: South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has officially launched his bid for the White House, becoming the sixth Republican to enter the race. Scott will look to unseat former President Donald Trump as the party's 2024 frontrunner, and begins his campaign having raised $22 million, according to The New York Times. Scott, 57, has become one of the most well-known Republican faces on Capitol Hill, described by the Times as "a rising star in the GOP." He already has one key backing: Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the number two Republican in the Senate, has endorsed Scott for president, and introduced him at his campaign announcement in Charleston, South Carolina. During his remarks, Scott said the nation was "standing at a time for choosing: victimhood or victory? Grievance or greatness? I choose freedom and hope and opportunity." While polling from Harvard/Harris shows Trump beating Scott 79% to 21% in a hypothetical matchup, Scott campaign officials told Newsweek it was too early in the race for these figures to be meaningful. Not only is Scott the lone Black GOP senator, but he is also South Carolina's first Black senator of either party. He will now look to one-up this accomplishment by becoming the Republican Party's first Black president but where did he come from, and how good are his odds? Scott's beginnings Tim Scott was born in North Charleston, South Carolina, in a "poor, single-parent household" where he "grew accustomed to moving every few years, as well as the long hours his mom worked to keep a roof over their heads," according to his official Senate biography. He graduated from Charleston Southern University, a private Baptist college in his hometown, and was eventually elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. From there, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. Upon his election, Scott and Florida's Allen West became the first Black Republicans in Congress in seven years, NPR reported at the time. Scott eventually garnered committee assignments and began raising his profile in Washington, D.C, transitioning from the House to the Senate in 2013. He was not elected to his first Senate term, but rather appointed by the South Carolina governor to replace a retiring senator. Ironically, the governor who appointed him was Nikki Haley, now competing against Scott in a Republican presidential campaign of her own. The newly minted senator was re-elected to a full term in 2016, then again in 2022. In 2019, he told Charleston newspaper The Post and Courier that his 2022 Senate campaign would be his last political outing, though from his presidential ambitions, it seems he may have been talking about his senatorial career. Scott's controversies and future The senator is a uniquely successful Southern Black politician, Politico reported, calling him "a victim of racism in stores, on roads, online and even in the U.S. Capitol itself, who doesn't see the country as racist and doesn't see himself as a victim." Indeed, Scott has often campaigned on the assertion that the U.S. is not inherently racist. During a 2021 speech, he generated controversy by saying, "America is not a racist country. It's backward to fight discrimination with different types of discrimination." He later elaborated on this stance following a slew of backlash, saying he acknowledged there was "a lingering effect after a couple of centuries of racism and discrimination in this nation." He has also generated anger amongst some liberals for his support of "pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps," categorized by some as a racist trope. Despite these controversies, Scott's website states he is a supporter of "traditional conservative values." Will these values help him win? Some in the party seem to believe so, with GOP pollster Frank Luntz describing Scott as "the exact opposite of Donald Trump, and that's why he is so intriguing. He is as nice and kind-hearted as Trump is tough and critical." For now, though, Scott, like the rest of the GOP candidates, remains far behind Trump, and only time will tell if his "traditional conservative values" will be enough to carry him to the White House. You may also like Ken Paxton and the scandal splitting the Texas GOP 48 states sue telecom company over billions of robocalls Will the IRS's free online tax filing program kill H&R Block and TurboTax? In this handout photo released by Johns Hopkins University, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the graduating class of Johns Hopkins University via livestream from Ukraine, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Baltimore, Md. | Will Kirk, Johns Hopkins University via Associated Press Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surprised the Johns Hopkins Universitys Class of 2023 in Baltimore on Wednesday by delivering the honorary commencement speech from Kyiv, nearly 5,000 miles away. As Zelenskyy appeared on screen for the first time, the crowd of about 10,000, per The Washington Post, definitely looked surprised as they stood up and applauded to welcome him. University staff first reached out to the president in March but it was a close-kept secret among a select few, Jill Rosen, who is the director of media relations at the university, told The Baltimore Banner. She said that another speaker was standing by since no one was certain that it would happen, even up until the last minute. He told graduates that he would keep his remarks brief in honor of his topic of choice making the most out of the time that we have. Every person eventually realizes that time is the most valuable resource on the planet, not oil or uranium, not lithium or anything else, but time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Every person eventually realizes that time is the most valuable resource on the planet, Zelenskyy said, not oil or uranium, not lithium or anything else, but time. He was recently on the frontlines of the war with Russia to award the best fighters. There are people of all ages and backgrounds like the graduates, but who have traded any title they have for warrior at this time, he said. They and you have similar hopes for life, similar expectations from life, he said. But there is a fundamental difference that comes down to the question of time. The time of your life is under your control. He encouraged graduates to think big and become doctors, lawyers, engineers and innovators of technology and new businesses, among an even bigger goal. Im certain a few among you will heed the call to serve and become members of Congress, cabinet secretaries, and yes, yes, maybe president one day, he said. He concluded by speaking about how proud he was of his country and their fight because Ukraine is not losing a single day in its defense by doing everything possible every day to become stronger, to give more protection to people and save more lives. He thanked the United States for being part of that fight. All of our tomorrows, and the tomorrows of our children and grandchildren, depend on each of our todays. And Im certain you, as your forefathers, will continue to lead the free world, he ended. This century will be our century, a century where freedom, innovation, and democratic values reign. A century where tyrannies that repress their own and seek to enslave their neighbors will vanish from us once and for all. But all of our tomorrows, and the tomorrows of our children and grandchildren, depend on each of our todays. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university at the conclusion of the ceremony. Watch the full speech here Related Tina Turner revealed she 'always had a crush' on Mick Jagger shortly before her death at 83 The late Tina Turner revealed who her celebrity crush was a little over a month before her death. The iconic musician died on Tuesday at age 83 after battling a long illness. In an interview with The Guardian at the beginning of April, Turner said, "I always had a crush on Mick Jagger. I loved when we toured with the Rolling Stones." On Wednesday, Jagger took to Twitter to honor Turner after she passed. "Im so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer," Jagger wrote alongside several images of Turner. TINA TURNER DEAD AT 83 "She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her," he concluded. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Jagger and Turner have quite the history together. Tina and her late husband, Ike Turner, opened for the Rolling Stones in the 1960s. Several years later, Turner returned to opening for several of the band's U.S. shows in 1981. Tina Turner revealed a month before her death that her celebrity crush was Mick Jagger. Jagger and Turner performed several songs together, including, "Honky Tonk Woman," "Jumpin Jack Flash" and "Its Only Rock n Roll." TINA TURNER'S LIFE IN PHOTOS In 1989, the pair performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring the Rolling Stones. In 2018, Turner detailed sharing a stage with Jagger in her autobiography, "My Love Story." Turner and Jagger performed a number of times together, starting in the 1960s. "How many women can hold up their end of the stage with Mick Jagger? Yet Mick and I always had the best time together," Turner wrote, according to Today. Elsewhere in her interview with The Guardian, Turner explained how she would want to be remembered after she passed. "As the Queen of RocknRoll," she said in April. "As a woman who showed other women that it is OK to strive for success on their own terms." Tina Turner and Mick Jagger rehearsed their duet for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in July 1985. The Queen of Rock n Roll's death was announced Wednesday on Instagram. Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich, according to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner," the statement on social media said. APP USERS CLICK HERE "With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly." With admirers ranging from Beyonce to Jagger, Turner was one of the world's most successful entertainers, known for a core of pop, rock and rhythm and blues favorites: "Proud Mary," "Nutbush City Limits," "River Deep, Mountain High," and the hits she had in the '80s, among them "What's Love Got to Do with It," "We Don't Need Another Hero" and a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." Title 42 has now been lifted, and a series of expanded pathways have been announced by the Biden Administration for displaced people to seek refuge in the US. The programs are specifically designed to allow eligible individuals from Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the US for a limited time. Soon, refugee processing centers will be established in Colombia and Guatemala for referral to refugee resettlement. Recent experiences have taught us that short-term pathways for entry to the US must be met with clear guidance, humane policy, and investment in immigration infrastructure that allows our new neighbors to access legal representation. Without such a robust system, we are creating a situation where thousands of new Nashville residents become vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, and homelessness. In August 2021, the world witnessed heart-wrenching scenes from Afghanistan, as thousands of our Afghan allies scrambled to flee the country after the Taliban takeover of Kabul. The crisis resulted in one of the largest airlifts in history, and nearly 80,000 Afghans made it to the US. Nashville resettled over 600 Afghan refugees over a period of just a few months. Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee. Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee. Afghan brothers Abdullah and Javid tell their story of how they were reunited after being separated for more than a year after fleeing Afghanistan at their home Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Tenn. On the heels of the resettlement of our Afghan allies, we watched the shocking scenes of Russian forces invading Ukraine on February 24th, leading to a scale of war not seen in Europe since World War II. In response to the displacement of Ukrainians fleeing the war, the US created the Uniting for Ukraine program, a pathway for displaced Ukrainians to live in the country for a period of two years. Members of our coalition soon began supporting hundreds of Ukrainian refugees coming to Middle Tennessee with critical social services. Inna Shulkina stands inside her daughters home in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Shulkina is Ukrainian refugee who fled to the US with her mother. Hear more Tennessee Voices:Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. It's time to work on being welcoming These groups of newcomers from Afghanistan and Ukraine were granted Humanitarian Parole, an immigration class used for short-term humanitarian relief, but one that does not include two of the fundamental benefits of the US Refugee Admissions program: the automatic legal right to work and a pathway to long-term legal residence in the country. The federal government announced in early May that it would extend Humanitarian Parole for Afghans, but we do not know how it will be implemented and, like the initial grant of Humanitarian Parole, it is not a pathway to permanent residence. In order to remain in the US beyond their initial two year term, our new neighbors must file for asylum. Furthermore, asylum seekers in the US must wait 150 days after they have formally filed for asylum to apply for the legal right to work. With massive backlogs in our immigration system, it can take months, if not years, to approve these applications. Soon, our new neighbors from Central and South America will be in similar situations of legal limbo in the US. A gargantuan and ongoing undertaking to file asylum cases for Afghan refugees revealed the burden on a nascent immigration legal services ecosystem in Nashville. There simply arent enough providers to deal with a situation of this scale, and the scale will now continue to grow. As Nashville continues to grow, our population is steadily becoming more diverse and a destination for immigrants and refugees to reunite with families and their diaspora communities. The cultural richness and economic vitality of our immigrant and refugee communities help make Nashville a special place and a world class city. We believe that we have the capacity to welcome. It is imperative that Nashville funds legal services to our new neighbors. Welcoming Nashville Coalition is made up of members from these Nashville based organizations: Nashville International Center for Empowerment Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville Inspiritus Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors American Muslim Advisory Council This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: With Title 42 over, Nashville must be a welcoming place to immigrants TOMS RIVER -- U.S. Army Capt. Jerry Wagner, who served multiple tours in Iraq, will be the grand marshal of the 89th Ocean County Memorial Day Parade, which marches in downtown Toms River Monday, May 29. The parade, which kicks off at 9:30 a.m. from the Toms River Shopping Center, marches south down Main Street (Route 166), before turning left to head east on Washington Street. A ceremony will take place in front of town hall, and Capt. Wagner will be among the dignitaries who will speak. The parade is sponsored by the George P. Vanderveer American Legion Post 129 in Toms River. Teen curfew: There's a 10 p.m. curfew for teens in Toms River's beach areas. Why is it needed? A flatbed truck with Ocean County veterans joined the Ocean County Memorial Day Parade in Toms River on May 30. 2022 Wagner was first deployed to Iraq in 2004, initially to Baghdad and then to Fallujah, where there was heavy fighting. In 2006, during his second deployment, he was in Ramadi with the command supported by U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, who wrote the book "American Sniper," and was one of the most lethal snipers in U.S. military history. Kyle was killed by another veteran in 2013, and Capt. Wagner named his youngest son, Christopher Michael Kiley. Wagner was deployed to Egypt in 2008 as part of a peacekeeping mission. He lives in Toms River with his wife and five children. Wagner received a proclamation at the May 24 township council meeting, thanking him for his service and commemorating his selection as grand marshal. More: Memorial Day: Vietnam War plagued beloved Brick teacher long after the shooting stopped Lorraine and Tom Morrone of Toms River enjoy the Ocean County Memorial Day Parade on May 30, 2022 Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr., a U.S. Navy veteran, urged residents to come to the parade to show support for veterans those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. 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. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Memorial Day parade marches in downtown Toms river Monday I was on top of my MMA career. After 9/11, I gave it all up to join the military Tim Kennedy was on top of his career as an MMA fighter then the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks happened. Kennedy was inspired to leave his old life behind and join the military, and ultimately became a Green Beret. In honor of Memorial Day, Kennedy spoke to TODAY about what that transition taught him, what he wants civilians to understand about military life and what service means to him. Warning: The following story contains some graphic imagery related to war. In some ways I've always known my life path. I am a Sept. 1 baby, so when I was in kindergarten I was the littlest and the youngest in my class, and I think it caused me to have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. We made books of what we wanted to be when we grew up and I drew a picture of me jumping out of an airplane wearing a black belt. I said I wanted to be a military karate guy. I still have that book today. My frontal lobe wasn't even developed yet, but it was my version of what I am now: a professional fighter and United States Army Green Beret. That same year, there was a little girl in my class, Laura, who had gotten a terrible haircut. It was like her mom took a bowl, put it on top of her head and cut her hair. There was this little boy who kept making fun of her and saying "Laura looks like a boy!" So, I followed him up onto the top of the playscape and I hit him in the face and I pushed him off and he broke his arm. This was in the 1980s when school administrators could spank kids, so the principal was spanking me and I start laughing, telling him, "My mom spanks harder than this." I was not invited to come back to that school. 'I was wasting every single opportunity' From the moment kids are born, parents lose influence over their children a little bit each day and I think my parents realized this early on. I was a strong-willed child a stubborn second-born. I needed discipline, so my dad enrolled me in martial arts, boxing and kickboxing, and it saved me. While I was still in college, I competed in sanctioned mixed martial arts fights. I started MMA in the dark era, before it was even sanctioned in most states in America, and I trained out of the elite Jackson Wink fight camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I trained with main-event, hall-of-fame fighters and world champions. I had just won a big tournament and was one of the top UFC middleweights in the world when 9/11 happened. At the time, my life was wild: I'd gotten a couple of women pregnant, I was traveling down to Tijuana to fight bare-knuckle, going to New Orleans to fight in the basement of bars, and all the while being a useless student in college. If you froze that moment, I had every opportunity and every privilege afforded to a smart, athletic, young, white guy and I was wasting every single one of them. Tim Kennedy (Courtesy Tim Kennedy) 'I was only looking out for myself' When 9/11 happened, one of the first photos I saw was the (now famous) photo of the "Falling Man," which is a man free-falling to his death. I saw photos of women jumping, one who, in a last act of modesty, held down her dress as she jumped to her death so she didn't burn alive. Those images seared into my selfish brain and I had this "What the f--- is wrong with me?" moment. At that point, I had no purpose. I had no direction. I was only looking out for myself. Those images started what will be, until the day that I die, me on trying to find things more important than myself to pour into. I went into a military recruiting office on Sept. 12, 2001. At that point, no one really knew what was going to happen. I wanted the fastest, most direct way to be in the fight and make the biggest difference, and after a year and a half of research, I decided to join the Green Berets. 'So few people know what we do' My career was born at Fort Benning in Georgia, where I did infantry training, airborne training, Ranger school and sniper school, before going to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. There, I spent a year and a half going through this pipeline called the Q Course to ultimately become a Green Beret. Tim Kennedy (Courtesy Tim Kennedy) I graduated from the Special Forces Q Course in 2005, immediately went to 7th Special Forces Group and deployed to Iraq in 2006 as part of of the Zarqawi Task Force entrusted with finding Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. I was part of the task force assigned to find and kill him, which we did. There were a lot of phases of this 20-year war good and bad but throughout, it was absolutely a war of finding and killing. So few people know what we do. The personal element is always missing in stories that are written that generalize and stereotype us, because there's a huge discrepancy between the military and civilian mindset. In my experience, the men and women within Special Operations are gentle giants, and they ultimately want peace. You peel back one layer and they are truly some of the most beautiful Americans, and thats the thing that is so hard for people to understand. They just cant reconcile that somebody who could do such extreme violence while deployed is such a caring, loving human. 'Very few people have spent their entire lives in service' Tim Kennedy (Courtesy Tim Kennedy) Freedom isnt free. The cost is different than what most people understand. It takes hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Today, less than 1% of Americans are serving on active duty. They know things that can only be learned while in service. Its something that cant be explained, but it is forever part of the fabric of who we are. Very few people have spent their entire lives in service, but I've seen firsthand that it can be the most fulfilling life. What does service mean to me? The best way I can describe it is when my 3-year-old opens up a musical unicorn and she melts, or when my wife puts on a necklace that bears the birthstones of our children, including the one we lost to miscarriage, and smiles. That feeds my purpose and my reason for being on this planet. That's what service is. It is a greater thing to give than it is to receive, and in a world where there is a "quick fix" for everything like calling an Uber or ordering food to be delivered in seconds I sometimes feel that we've forgotten how important it is to do something more important than you. As told to Kait Hanson This article was originally published on TODAY.com Train crash kills pastors two daughters and hospitalizes his son, Arkansas cops say A pastor and his family were involved in a deadly train collision that left their Arkansas church community grief-stricken, according to multiple reports. As the family was driving over Union Pacific Railroad tracks on May 25, its car collided with a train, according to THV11. The train reportedly pushed the car about 2,400 feet before coming to a rest, according to the outlet. The pastors two daughters were pronounced dead at the scene, and the pastor and his son were airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries, according to SNBC13. His wife was not in the car at the time of the accident. The pair are in stable condition, according to a May 26 statement from the churchs El Paso location, which is about 35 miles north of Little Rock. We are devastated by yesterdays tragic events, the church said in the statement posted on Facebook, adding that the family will need our prayers and support even more in the coming days and months. State police, the Clark County Sheriffs Office and the railroad are investigating the crash, according to KATV. Representatives for the three organizations did not immediately respond to requests for comment from McClatchy News. Dad killed on walk in 2009, Colorado cops say. Now 14 years later an arrest is made Parents said baby was exposed to cleaning chemicals. But it was fentanyl, WA cops say 22-year-old missing for months found dead in Oregon woods, cops say. Worst nightmare young couple using cell phone in the city Everyone knows that scamming is at an all-time high. Social media and pop culture has glamorized fast money for decades, and the proof is evident through the 2.4 million fraud reports filed in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The travel and tourism industry is no exception. According to the Better Business Bureau, American travelers filed almost 30,000 business complaints against travel businesses between 2020 and 2022. Those complaints were followed by 10,000 negative reviews citing everything from unsolicited offers to travelers never receiving theyd services paid for. The FTC says young people are more susceptible to being victims of fraud. However, no travelers seem to be safe as travel scams sweep America. According to the BBB, American travelers have lost $265,000 to travel scams so far in 2023. The data is on track to meet or surpass the $600,000 Americans lost to travel schemes in 2022. With fraud happening effortlessly every day, booking a vacation may cause more anxiety than relief. After all, who wants to lose thousands of dollars to a shady travel agent or a scheming third-party site? You can protect yourself from travel scams by paying attention to the fine print when preparing to travel. The best way to make your dollar stretch this summer may be as simple as ducking and dodging a few travel crooks. Vacation Rental & Hotel Scams Photo credit: Ketut Subiyanto The BBB says that vacation rental units and hotel schemes are some of the most popular travel scams theyve seen. In an interview with CBS, President of the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau Jim Temmer said that con artists are using high-pressure sales tactics to lure travelers into being scammed. Its vital when booking vacation stay accommodations that travelers get exactly what they paid for. However, the new study reveals that a lot of travelers say theyve arrived at their accommodations only for it to look nothing like the online post. The BBB warns travelers to watch out for places that dont look how they appear online. They also advise travelers to be leery of rental properties that dont exist or that arent available for rent. A good way to avoid these types of scammers is to use your discernment whenever a host is pressuring you to book quickly or rushing your purchase decision. You can also stick with properties listed on reputable sites like Airbnb or VRBO. Even with these sites, be sure to check host reviews and use your best judgment. Another common travel scam on the BBB radar is hotel schemes. While booking your stay might be safe, there have been reports of con artists calling guest rooms pretending to be the front desk requesting debit card information. Beware of Third-Party Booking & Timeshare Fraud Sketchy third-party booking websites and timeshare fraud have also become more common, according to the BBB Scam Tracker. The organization received over 1,000 reports over the last three years from victims of timeshare fraud. Their losses amount to $3.5 million. Some third-party booking sites have also been culprits in the mounting travel scams happening across the country. The sites promise to connect travelers with the best deals on flights, hotels, and rentals but steal their banking and credit card information once they make the purchase. Research Is Your Best Friend Photo credit: Andrea Piacquadio There are many steps you can take to protect yourself from travel fraud. The biggest one is doing proper research before ever entering your credit card information online or providing it to a service provider. A quick Google search will yield results containing the name of any business youre considering hiring to book your travel. It also doesnt hurt to check the BBB website to see if any complaints have been filed against the said business. Moving too fast naturally can lead to mistakes and mishaps. To avoid being scammed due to booking last minute out of desperation, schedule your travel plans ahead of time to give yourself proper time to research and prepare. Beware of anyone contacting you via unknown phone numbers and emails saying youve won a free trip. The BBB has identified this as another tactic travel scammers are using to attain travelers banking information. So if you receive a random call saying youve won a free vacation that you never submitted to win, its probably fraudulent. Travel scams are more than likely here to stay. So the best thing you can do is take precautions to avoid unsavory opportunities when planning your next getaway. Hundreds of people have traveled to the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery, in rural Missouri to view a nuns body which appears to show no signs of decay approximately four years after her death, according to the Catholic News Agency. The body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died at age 95 in 2019, was exhumed roughly four years later so it can be moved to its final resting place inside a monastery chapel, the Catholic News Agency reported. When the coffin was unearthed, Lancasters body was apparently incorrupt, which in Catholic tradition refers to the preservation of the body from normal decay. The remains were intact even though the body had not been embalmed and was in a wooden coffin, according to the news outlet. The discovery has captured the attention of some members of the church, and prompted an investigation. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph issued a statement about the discovery. The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions, the diocese 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 Bishop [James] Johnston invites all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of investigation for Gods will. The statement from the diocese notes Incorruptibility is very rare, and a well-established process to pursue the cause for sainthood, but the process has not begun in Lancasters case. Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery in Gower, Missouri. - KMBC The Catholic News Agency reports that more than 100 incorruptible bodies have been canonized their bodies defying the decaying process. In Catholicism incorruptible saints give witness to the truth of the resurrection and life that is to come. Experts say it is not necessarily uncommon for bodies to remain well-preserved, especially in the first few years after death. Western Carolina University Associate Professor and Director of Forensic Anthropology Nicholas V. Passalacqua told CNN in an email, Its hard to say how common this is, because bodies are rarely exhumed after burial. But there are many famous cases of well-preserved human remains. Not just things like Egyptian mummies which were intentionally preserved, but also things like the Bog Bodies of Europe which were very well preserved for thousands of years because they were in environments with low oxygen that restricted bacterial grown and access of the remains to scavengers. Passalacqua also noted in general, when we bury a body at our human decomposition facility, we expect it will take ~5 years for the body to become skeletonized. That is without a coffin or any other container or wrapping surrounding the remains. So for this body, which was buried in a coffin, I personally dont find it too surprising that the remains are relatively well preserved after only four years. The body will be laid out in the sisters chapel until May 29, according to the Catholic News Agency, when the sisters plan a rosary procession. After the procession, Sister Wilhelminas body will be encased in glass near the altar of St. Joseph in the chapel in order to welcome devotees. CNN has reached out to the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery for more information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen hosts a meeting with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington, U.S. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke about the U.S. economy's resilience in the face of global headwinds in a meeting Friday with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, according to a Treasury Department statement. Yellen and Georgieva also discussed recent banking sector stress, the outlook for the U.S. economy as well as the Ukraine war, according to the statement. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Doina Chiacu) The Texas Department of Public Safety said it seized nearly 128 pounds of suspected cocaine on Thursday afternoon and arrested two people after a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle on Interstate 40 in Carson County. At about 3:05 p.m. Thursday, May 25, a DPS Trooper stopped a 2021 Honda CRV traveling east on I-40 near Conway for a traffic violation. A DPS canine unit arrived at the scene and alerted on the vehicle. DPS said that during the stop, the Trooper found a large plastic tote on the rear seat containing multiple plastic-wrapped bundles of the suspected cocaine. A state Trooper found a large plastic tote on the rear seat containing multiple plastic-wrapped bundles of cocaine in a 2021 Honda CRV that had been traveling east on I-40 near Conway on Thursday. The driver and a passenger were arrested. A state Trooper found a large plastic tote on the rear seat containing multiple plastic-wrapped bundles of cocaine in a 2021 Honda CRV that had been traveling east on I-40 near Conway on Thursday. The driver and a passenger were arrested. DPS Special Agents and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents were contacted and assisted with the investigation. DEA Special Agents adopted the case. The driver, Miguel Diaz Garcia, 32, and a passenger, Rodman Duran Garcia, both of Atlanta, Georgia, were arrested and face charges of felony possession of a controlled substance. They were later booked into the Randall County Jail. The drugs were reportedly being transported from Riverside, California, to Atlanta, Georgia. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Trooper seizes drugs after stopping vehicle on I-40 near Conway Trump and his aides performed a 'dress rehearsal' for moving sensitive White House documents even before his team was subpoenaed last May, sources alleged: WaPo A photograph of some of the classified materials that were uncovered after the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago Department of Justice The DOJ is investigating Donald Trump's handling of classified White House documents. Sources told WaPo that there may be evidence of possible obstruction. Workers helped move boxes of documents the day before the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, per WaPo. Donald Trump and his team may have prepared to move sensitive White House documents months before the FBI raided the Mar-a-Lago resort last August, according to a report from The Washington Post. Sources familiar with the Justice Department's investigation alleged to The Post that the former president's aides performed a "dress rehearsal" for moving the documents even before the DOJ shared a grand jury subpoena requesting all classified records back in May. FBI agents seized thousands of government documents, some of them marked confidential, from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort last August. The DOJ's probe entered a new phase in March after Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed dozens of Mar-a-Lago staffers, but movement in the investigation has been quiet in recent weeks. ABC News reported that Smith may be wrapping up the investigation as he decides whether to charge the former president. Some of the charges could include wrongful possession of government documents and obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve the material. On top of the aides' alleged preparation for moving sensitive documents, two of Trump's employees moved boxes of documents a day before FBI agents and a prosecutor met with Trump's lawyer in Mar-a-Lago last June to retrieve any material, the sources told The Post. One of the employees was a maintenance worker at the resort who offered to help a Trump aide, Walt Nauta, with moving the boxes, a source familiar with the matter told The New York Times. The maintenance worker did not know the content of the boxes, the source said. Nauta was caught on security camera moving boxes out of a storage room in Mar-a-Lago before and after the Justice Department issued the May subpoena, The Times previously reported. Federal prosecutors also have evidence that Trump kept classified documents out in the open in his office at Mar-a-Lago and sometimes showed them to other people, sources told The Post. Trump's spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has previously denied any wrongdoing regarding his handling of classified documents. Read the original article on Business Insider As competition builds for the Republican Party 2024 presidential nomination, Donald Trumps legal woes also 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. The timing of the move is suspicious and a sign that obstruction may have taken place, according to The Washington Post, which also reports a dress rehearsal of such a move took place even before a subpoena for the boxes was issued. This comes as Mr Trumps attorneys have called for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland, in what marks the clearest sign yet that an indictment could be on the horizon over the classified documents case. Mr Trump also appeared in court by video for a second hearing in his criminal hush money case on Tuesday, and E Jean Carroll has amended an outstanding defamation case against the former president while Ron DeSantis entered the 2024 race. Key points Trump Mar-a-Lago employees moved boxes of documents day before DoJ visit, report says Trump lawyers request meeting with AG Merrick Garland With insult-riddled post, Trump tries to hijack DeSantis 2024 announcement day Trump appears virtually in Manhattan criminal court as trial date set E Jean Carroll moves to amend defamation case against Trump to include CNN town hall insults Musk insists DeSantiss disastrous Twitter launch was a success 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell 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. Joe Sommerlad reports. Elon Musk rushes to defend Ron DeSantiss disastrous Twitter launch How did a question about Ukraine turn into a rambling answer about trans rights and climate change? 10:15 , Oliver O'Connell Andrew Feinberg reports on how the Florida governor failed to answer a direct question about Russias war on Ukraine during an interview with Trey Gowdy on Fox News. DeSantis dodges Ukraine question with bizarre answer about trans rights DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected in 2024 09:45 , Oliver O'Connell 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. Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC. Ron DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected Trump lawyers ignite speculation of further indictment with letter to Garland 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell A recent letter by Donald Trumps lawyers requesting a meeting with US attorney general Merrick Garland has sparked speculation that a fresh indictment could be looming against the former president. Arpan Rai reports. Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again Fury in Trumps inner circle as Fox News host seems to back DeSantis 07:15 , Oliver O'Connell Members of Donald Trumps inner circle called out Fox News host Mark Levin on Twitter for tweeting the link to Ron DeSantis campaign and accused the conservative commentator of fundraising for the Florida governor. On Wednesday (24 May) evening, Levin tweeted the link hours after Mr DeSantis announced he would be joining the race for 2024 president. Immediately, several Trump allies and supporters began criticising Levin for tweeting the link, believing it was an endorsement of Mr DeSantis. Ariana Baio has the story. Trumps inner circle furious as Fox News host seemingly backs Ron DeSantis Capitol rioter who put his feet on Pelosis desk receives four-year sentence 05:45 , Oliver O'Connell 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. Read more... Capitol rioter who put his feet on Pelosis desk is shut down by judge at sentencing Steve Bannon trial set for May 2024 04:15 , Oliver O'Connell Steve Bannon, the conservative strategist and longtime all of Donald Trump, will stand trial next May on charges that he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S. southern border, a judge said Thursday. Bannons trial in the We Build the Wall case will start May 27, 2024, right after the former president is scheduled to stand trial in the same Manhattan courtroom in an unrelated criminal case. Read more... Steve Bannons trial in We Build the Wall scheme set for May 2024 How Trump-DeSantis relationship deteriorated 03:15 , Oliver O'Connell It wasnt 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 well have a great partnership. Heres how DeSantis and Trumps relationship has evolved and broken down as the two face-off to take on Democrat Joe Biden: Friends to foes: How Trump and DeSantis' relationship has deteriorated over the years Can DeSantis beat Trump? These political veterans arent so sure... 02:15 , Oliver O'Connell Hes a ubiquitous presence in conservative media with a reputation as an anti-woke warrior who has used a compliant state legislature to make Florida a mecca for Trump-era Republicanism. But if Ron DeSantis wants to be president, he has to defeat Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and prominent Florida politicians arent so sure either of those things will ever happen. Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia report. Can Ron DeSantis beat Donald Trump? These Florida political veterans arent so sure Trump and DeSantis' rivalry intensifies 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell 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 Trumps escalating attacks on everything from his record to his personality. Read more... Trump and DeSantis' rivalry intensifies as Florida governor formally enters 2024 presidential race Trump dubs DeSantis 2024 launch DISASTER Friday 26 May 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell 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. Graeme Massie has the story. Trump dubs DeSantis 2024 launch DISASTER and crack bizarre joke about red button Wisconsin fake electors trial set to start just before 2024 election Thursday 25 May 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell A jury trial in a lawsuit seeking $2.4 million in damages from Republicans who attempted to cast Wisconsins 10 electoral votes for Donald Trump in 2020 even though he lost is scheduled to begin just two months before the 2024 presidential election. Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington on Wednesday scheduled the trial to begin on Sept. 3, 2024, and last one month. Read more... Wisconsin trial over fake electors set to start just before 2024 presidential election Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker Thursday 25 May 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump appears to have defamed E Jean Carroll again after calling her a stalker for a decade-old social media post in which she called herself a massive fan of The Apprentice. Read more: Trump calls E Jean Carroll a stalker over 2012 Facebook comment Trump says he understood Bill Barr not pursuing Bidens, now claims double standard Thursday 25 May 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell In his latest missal from Truth Social, Donald Trump claims he was sort of OK with his Attorney General Bill Barr being reticent to pursue an investigation of allegations against Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. The former president then complains: Now Biden thugs want to indict me, for NOTHING! Heres the full post: A very interesting situation is taking place. While I was in office, Bill Barr, as Attorney General, was very slow & unenthusiastic about going after Joe & Hunter Biden regarding their possible criminal activity. Much was being reported in the Media. It was hard getting him to move, but I always felt he believed you just dont go after Presidents, V.P.s, & Presidential Candidates very cavalierly. I understood that, & was sort of OK with it. Now Biden thugs want to indict me, for NOTHING! Trump lambasts DeSantis with new videos Thursday 25 May 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell When the Ron DeSanctimonious facts come out, you will see that he is better than most Democrat governors, but very average, at best, compared to Republican governors! says former president Donald Trump in a newly released video attacking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over his Covid-19 record. Mr Trump adds in a second video that Mr DeSantis is only governor because of him. Capitol rioter who put his feet on Pelosis desk gets four-year sentence Thursday 25 May 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell 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. Read more... Capitol rioter who put his feet on Pelosis desk is shut down by judge at sentencing Exclusive: IRS agent who claimed Hunter Biden case was slow-walked wont talk to Democratic-led Senate panel Thursday 25 May 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell 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. Andrew Feinberg filed this exclusive report for The Independent from Washington, DC. Agent who says Hunter Biden case slow-walked wont talk to Senate Is the Mar-a-Lago classified papers investigation reaching its conclusions? Thursday 25 May 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday asked for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland as a Justice Department investigation into the former presidents handling of classified documents shows signs of winding down. Read more... Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down Trump Mar-a-Lago employees moved boxes of documents day before DoJ visit, report says Thursday 25 May 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell 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 suspicious and a sign that obstruction may have taken place, according to The Washington Post. Gustaf Kilander is following this developing story. Trump staff moved documents at Mar-a-Lago day before DoJ visit, report says DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected Thursday 25 May 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he would aggressively use presidential pardons to free people whove been charged or convicted of crimes stemming from participation in the January 6 attack on the Capitol as well as former president Donald Trump. Andrew Feinberg reports. Ron DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected Trump workers moved Mar-a-Lago boxes of papers before DOJ visit, report says Thursday 25 May 2023 19:21 , Oliver O'Connell Per The Washington Post: Two of Donald Trumps employees moved boxes of papers the day before FBI agents and a prosecutor visited the former presidents Florida home to retrieve classified documents in response to a subpoena timing that investigators have come to view as suspicious and an indication of possible obstruction, according to people familiar with the matter. Trump and his aides also allegedly carried out a dress rehearsal for moving sensitive papers even before his office received the May 2022 subpoena, according to the people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive ongoing investigation. Prosecutors in addition have gathered evidence indicating that Trump at times kept classified documents in his office in a place where they were visible and sometimes showed them to others, these people said. This development comes on the back of a request for a meeting between the Trump legal team and Attorney General Merrick Garland that some have suggested is indicative that the case of the classified document is coming to a head. Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down Fury in Trumps inner circle as Fox News host seemingly backs Ron DeSantis Thursday 25 May 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell Members of Donald Trumps inner circle called out Fox News host Mark Levin on Twitter for tweeting the link to Ron DeSantis campaign and accused the conservative commentator of fundraising for the Florida governor. On Wednesday (24 May) evening, Levin tweeted the link hours after Mr DeSantis announced he would be joining the race for 2024 president. Ariana Baio reports on what happened next. Trumps inner circle furious as Fox News host seemingly backs Ron DeSantis A tale of two campaign launches, as told on Truth Social Thursday 25 May 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump had very different takes on this weeks two campaign launches as Tim Scott and Ron DeSantis joined the race to be the Republican Party nominee for president in the 2024 election. Last night he wrote on Truth Social: Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! And shortly after, he added: 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! On Monday when Mr Scott launched his campaign, the former president posted a warm and welcoming message to the new contender. Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race. It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck Tim! There was a cooler reception for Mr DeSantis. Id like to personally congratulate Rob DeSanctimonious on finally announcing that he will be entering the race for President of the United States. 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. 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! That post came after several others, laden with insults, in which Mr Trump called the Florida governor disloyal and said he need a personality transplant. Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers, sentenced to 18 years in prison for January 6 sedition Thursday 25 May 2023 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell Alex Woodward reports on a damning assessment from the judge: 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. Read the full report: Oath Keepers leader sentenced to 18 years in prison for January 6 sedition Trump lawyers ignite speculation of further indictment with letter to Garland Thursday 25 May 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell A recent letter by Donald Trumps lawyers requesting a meeting with US attorney general Merrick Garland has sparked speculation that a fresh indictment could be looming against the former president. Arpan Rai reports. Trump lawyers ignite speculation that former president could be indicted yet again Steve Bannon trial set for May 2024 Thursday 25 May 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell Steve Bannon, the conservative strategist and longtime all of Donald Trump, will stand trial next May on charges that he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S. southern border, a judge said Thursday. Bannons trial in the We Build the Wall case will start May 27, 2024, right after the former president is scheduled to stand trial in the same Manhattan courtroom in an unrelated criminal case. Read more... Steve Bannons trial in We Build the Wall scheme set for May 2024 Just call me winner: DeSantis laughs off Trumps endless list of nicknames Thursday 25 May 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell Newly-announced presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis laughed off name-calling from his top rival Donald Trump, saying the former president can call him whatever he likes as long as he calls me winner. Fresh off the heels of a glitchy announcement about his bid for the Republican nomination for 2024, Mr DeSantis was asked about Mr Trumps myriad nicknames for him (which include, but are not limited to, Meatball Ron, Ron DeSanctimonious, Tiny D, and RonDishonest) and laughed them off. Read more... DeSantis laughs off Trumps endless list of mocking nicknames: Just call me winner DeSantiss glitchy 2024 launch shows he could be more dangerous than Trump Thursday 25 May 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell John Bowden reports on last nights Twitter launch of the DeSantis 2024 campaign. DeSantiss 2024 bid ridiculed as Musks Twitter event melts down Trump campaign launches new ad after DeSantis formally enters 2024 race Thursday 25 May 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trumps campaign launched a new ad on Twitter taking aim at Ron DeSantis moments after the Florida governor announced his formal bid for the 2024 presidency. The ad includes images of Mr DeSantis with President Joe Biden and asks: Why would we ever settle for Trump imposters? It also includes a clip of Mr DeSantis sitting with a child and pointing to a Trump campaign sign as the governor is heard reading, Make America Great Again. MUST SEE New Ad from Team Trump: Starting Day One WATCH: pic.twitter.com/RoC2FbV22T Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 24, 2023 How the Trump and DeSantis relationship deteriorated Thursday 25 May 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell It wasnt 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 well have a great partnership. Heres how DeSantis and Trumps relationship has evolved and broken down as the two face off to take on Democrat Joe Biden: Friends to foes: How Trump and DeSantis' relationship has deteriorated over the years Trump is just so damned undeservedly lucky Thursday 25 May 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan tweeted on Wednesday night following Mr DeSantiss disastrous Twitter Spaces campaiugn launch: What a lucky man Donald Trump is. Consider his CNN Town Hall versus DeSantiss Twitter Spaces launch tonight. Trump is just so damned undeservedly lucky, he added. Congratulations to DeSantiss crack comms team, @BryanDGriffin, @ChristinaPushaw, and @JeremyRedfernFL, for organizing a totally effective and non-humiliating campaign launch for their boss with tech genius @elonmusk. Bravo! Remember, their pitch is Trump but competent. Lol, he said earlier in the night. Congratulations to DeSantis's crack comms team, @BryanDGriffin, @ChristinaPushaw, and @JeremyRedfernFL, for organizing a totally effective and non-humiliating campaign launch for their boss with tech genius @elonmusk. Bravo! Remember, their pitch is 'Trump but competent.' Lol. Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 24, 2023 Hitler, George Soros, the devil? Trump posts fake DeSantis Twitter Spaces video Thursday 25 May 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump has posted a fake clip of Ron DeSantis 2024 launch on Twitter Spaces featuring George Soros, Adolf Hitler and the devil. The former president went on the attack against the Florida governor before, during and after the hotly-anticipated launch event, as the two men prepare to go head-to-head for the Republican nomination. In one of his most bizarre attacks, Mr Trump posted a two-minute video on his Truth Social page which had been doctored to look like Mr DeSantis Twitter Spaces event. Rachel Sharp reports. Trump posts fake DeSantis Twitter Spaces video with Hitler, George Soros and devil CNN to host Pence for town hall Thursday 25 May 2023 14:41 , Oliver O'Connell CNN will host a third Republican town hall on 7 June in Iowa. Former Vice President Mike Pence will sit down with Dana Bash at Grand View University in Des Moines. Mr Pence is yet to officially enter the 2024 race for the partys nomination. On 10 May, CNN hosted a controversial and much-derided town hall for Donald Trump. Rising network star Kaitlan Collins moderated the event which was held in New Hampshire. On 4 June, the network will host a town hall moderated by senior Washington correspondent Jake Tapper for the former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, also in Iowa. Ms Haley like Mr Trump has officially declared her candidacy for the GOP nomination. Former Vice President Mike Pence (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Can DeSantis beat Trump in the Republican primaries? Thursday 25 May 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia write: Hes a ubiquitous presence in conservative media with a reputation as an anti-woke warrior who has used a compliant state legislature to make Florida a mecca for Trump-era Republicanism. But if Ron DeSantis wants to be president, he has to defeat Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and prominent Florida politicians arent so sure either of those things will ever happen. Read on: Can Ron DeSantis beat Donald Trump? These Florida political veterans arent so sure More than three decades ago, a Michigan man named John Rapanos tried to fill in three wetlands on his property to make way for a shopping center. State regulators warned him that doing so was illegal without federal Clean Water Act permits. Rapanos argued that you couldnt navigate a boat from his wetlands to a federal waterway, so the Environmental Protection Agency had no jurisdiction on his land. When Rapanos ignored the EPAs cease-and-desist letters, the government successfully brought a civil lawsuit against him, which he then vowed to fight to the death. Instead, he made it all the way to the nations highest court. In a split decision in 2006, the Supreme Court overturned the judgment against Rapanos, but did not reach a majority ruling on whether wetlands that flowed into federally regulated waters of the United States qualified for the same protections. In 2016, President Barack Obama sought to answer that question with a new EPA rule extending the Clean Water Act of 1972 to include millions of acres of marshes, bogs and lagoons whose water and any pollution added to it channel into already federally regulated waterways. Republicans chided the move as a federal land grab, while environmentalists cheered what they saw as a reasonable interpretation of the decadesold law through the lens of the latest science shows about hydrology and the increasing threat of extreme droughts and toxic algae blooms. In 2020, President Donald Trump rolled back much of the rules protections, slashing the total protected area of wetlands roughly in half. In 2022, President Joe Biden moved to restore the Obama-era rule. On Thursday, the Supreme Courts new right-wing supermajority revisited the 2006 decision to strike down federal protections for virtually all the wetlands Trump deregulated and then some, eliminating even the few safeguards the Republican administration tried to preserve. An environmental advocate holds up a sign during a rally outside the Supreme Court in October. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Protect our Waters) An environmental advocate holds up a sign during a rally outside the Supreme Court in October. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Protect our Waters) The 5-4 decision written by Justice Samuel Alito, and joined by Justices John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett revoked the Clean Water Acts authority over at least 59 million acres of wetlands across the U.S., according to an estimate by the environmental group Earthjustice. Youre going to see the Clean Water Act significantly scaled back in terms of coverage, said Duke McCall, a partner who specializes in federal water rules at the law firm Morgan Lewis. The impacted waters are going to be significantly narrowed. The Obama administration included any wetlands linked to existing federal waterways via underground aquifers or streams. The Trump EPA narrowed the scope to only include wetlands with visible surface connections to rivers, lakes and other long-standing waters of the United States. But the Republican administration made an exception for wetlands cut off from federal waterways via a berm, bridge or other artificial barrier. The court granted no such leeway, instead dismantling nearly half a century of established federal jurisdiction over wetlands a fact that conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted in his dissenting opinion. At the very least, the ruling takes the U.S. back to the mid-1970s, to the early days of the Clean Water Act, said Emily Hammond, an energy and environmental law professor at George Washington University. But Hammond stressed it could be worse than that, noting that the majoritys opinion repeatedly cites the Supreme Courts 1870 decision in The Daniel Ball case, which found that waterways are navigable only if they are navigable in fact and used for interstate or foreign commerce. Its always been understood, I think, by courts and by Congress and by agencies that when Congress used the term waters of the United States it meant to go further than that navigable in fact standard that Daniel Ball stood for, Hammond said. To see the majority now citing that old decision suggests their eye is to shrink the scope of the Clean Water Act down back to where it would have been before we had a Clean Water Act. In some ways, this takes us back that far, Hammond said, referring to the 1870 case. Kavanaugh wrote that while the last eight previous administrations dating back to 1977 maintained dramatically different views of how to regulate the environment, including under the Clean Water Act, all of them recognized as a matter of law that the Clean Water Acts coverage of adjacent wetlands means more than adjoining wetlands and also includes wetlands separated from covered waters by man-made dikes or barriers, natural river berms, beach dunes, or the like. Thursdays ruling, he argued, will have negative consequences for waters across the country. 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. Michael and Chantell Sackett of Priest Lake, Idaho, pose for a photo in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 14, 2011. The Supreme Court on Thursday, May 25, 2023, 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. 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. Michael and Chantell Sackett of Priest Lake, Idaho, pose for a photo in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 14, 2011. The Supreme Court on Thursday, May 25, 2023, 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. 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. The ruling is part of what liberal Justice Elena Kagan views as a clear trend by the court to curb the federal governments legal authority to regulate pollution in an era of dramatic ecological upheaval when other countries are taking drastic steps to preserve some semblance of natures current biodiversity and order. Last year, the Supreme Court drastically limited EPAs authority to curb power plant emissions under the Clean Air Act. The vice in both instances is the same: the Courts appointment of itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy, Kagan wrote. So Ill conclude, sadly, by repeating what I wrote last year, with the replacement of only a single word. [T]he Court substitutes its own ideas about policymaking for Congresss. The Court will not allow the Clean [Water] Act to work as Congress instructed. The Court, rather than Congress, will decide how much regulation is too much. Last year, the Supreme Court took the unusual step of hearing a case on a defunct power plant regulation the high court typically rejects suits with no active legal bearing in what was widely seen as an attempt to preemptively stop the Biden administration from reviving a controversial Obama-era rule. The courts six conservative justices, including Kavanaugh, ruled in favor of permanently sealing off the legal avenue the Obama administration took to justify parts of its Clean Power Plan regulation. The conservative justices apparent partisan agenda is hardly the only perceived conflict of interest sowing mistrust in the nations highest court. The Trump-appointed Barrett, whose father spent much of his career working for Royal Dutch Shell, declined to recuse herself from key cases involving the oil giant, even as Justice Samuel Alito stepped aside over his disclosed investments in oil and companies. The investigative news outlet ProPublica published a series of exposes over the past month revealing that Thomas, who was appointed by President George H. W. Bush, failed to disclose private jet trips and land deals he received from billionaire real-estate developer Harlan Crow. The National Multifamily Housing Council, which has close ties to Crow the CEO of Crow Holdings Inc. is also the chair of that group, and three of Crows companies are dues-paying members filed an amicus brief on an earlier iteration of this case, as HuffPosts Paul Blumenthal reported. Republican lawmakers celebrated Thursdays decision as a win for family farmers crushed under the boot of regulators seeking to make living off the land ever harder and more complicated. In a huge win for farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and families the Supreme Court has ditched the Obama/Biden WOTUS rule overreach once and for all, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) wrote in a statement. But while farmers and small business owners have been held up as the most sympathetic victims of purported government overreach, McCall said developers are a huge affected group who have been strong opponents of expanded wetland protections. Another way that Thursdays ruling turns the clock back to before the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 is by effectively restoring a variable patchwork of state water rules, Hammond said. The Clean Water Act was designed of course to create some floor among the states so that we wouldnt have the race to the bottom, polluters moving to states where they could pollute more because the policies were more lenient, they said. This decision so dramatically undermines the Clean Water Act that we do in a sense go back to the times of significant disparities among the states in terms of protections for our waters. These kinds of decisions are starting to add up, Hammond added. Theres no doubt there will be cumulative impacts and well see shifts as a result. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story suggested the facts of the Rapanos case occurred in the 2000s. They occurred in the 1980s. Related... Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP Federal prosecutors have evidence Donald Trump showed classified documents to people, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources, as the investigation into his handling of national security materials and obstruction of justice approaches its conclusion. Related: Trump has the charisma of a mortician: Donald Jr confuses dad with DeSantis The development could raise the stakes for the former president as it exposes him to serious action under the Espionage Act, of wilfully communicating national security materials rather than simply retaining them, which is rarely charged. The movement of boxes in and out of a storage room at Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Florida resort, has been a key focus for prosecutors because that was where Trumps lawyer, Evan Corcoran, concentrated when he searched the property for classified documents. Corcoran found roughly 40 classified documents in the storage room and told the justice department no further papers remained on the property. But that assertion was called into question when the FBI seized 101 classified documents months later, including from the storage room in question. The central question for the special counsel, Jack Smith, has been whether Trump arranged for classified documents to be removed from the storage room before Corcoran searched there, to illegally retain them, even though he had been told he could not, as the Guardian first reported. When the chief US judge Beryl Howell forced Corcoran to testify to a grand jury, she opined in a 86-page legal memo that she believed when Trump went through boxes to give materials back to the National Archives last year, it was apparently a dress rehearsal for the subpoena. The Post attributed the dress rehearsal line to officials, though it was in Howells legal opinion that was reported in March. More importantly, it remains unclear if the special counsel has evidence that Trumps response to the archives was a dry run to commit obstruction of justice. Prosecutors have also developed evidence in recent weeks that Trump employees at Mar-a-Lago last year brought boxes of documents back to the storage room the day before justice department officials came to collect classified documents that had been subpoenaed, the Post reported. Trump has denied wrongdoing, though his defence is framed around his near-unfettered ability as president to declassify documents. That argument is being viewed by the justice department as a straw man, because he is actually under investigation for retaining national security materials. The statute at issue is section 793e of the US Code, which makes no mention of whether documents are classified. If prosecutors were looking to charge Trump with classified documents retention, as he claims, the statute at issue would actually be section 798. A Trump spokesperson has previously said of the investigation: This is nothing more than a targeted, politically motivated witch-hunt against President Trump. Trump is not the only public figure being investigated over the retention of classified documents. Joe Biden and Mike Pence, Trumps vice-president, have also been found to have retained records after leaving office. But Trump faces unprecedented legal problems. The clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination faces trial on 34 criminal counts related to his hush-money payment to a porn star; was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a case brought by a writer who alleged rape; faces state and federal investigations of his election subversion; is the subject of the classified records investigation; and faces a New York state civil suit over his business practices. He denies all wrongdoing and claims to be the victim of political persecution a stance that has propelled him to a 30-points-plus lead in primary polling. (Bloomberg) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused his political opponents of making false allegations about the banking system, saying citizens have no problems in withdrawing their cash from lenders. Most Read from Bloomberg Can you tell me who hasnt been able to withdraw his money from the bank over the past 21 years? Erdogan told AHaber television in an interview on Friday, speaking two days before the presidential election runoff. His statement was an apparent response to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who warned of banking problems in case the incumbent is reelected. They are engaging in fear-mongering, Erdogan said. Imamoglu, tapped by main oppositions presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu as a would-be vice-president, said on Wednesday that another Erdogan win could trigger a financial turmoil adding to the countrys cost-of-living crisis. If we dont want a process where the crisis is deeply felt at the banks on Monday in which the nation cannot withdraw its money, we have to work hard, Imamoglu said in Istanbul. Erdogan has come under fire for his unconventional economic views which have amplified woes of the economy. He secured 49.5% of votes in the initial round on May 14, just shy of the 50% threshold required to secure an outright win, giving him the advantage over Kilicdaroglu, who won 45%. Earlier this week, regulators warned media outlets that statements contrary to the facts on lenders would constitute a crime. In separate press releases, the banking regulator and the markets regulator said those who spread such statements would face legal action. The Turkish Banks Association, meanwhile, said matters related to banking should be above politics. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Twitter faces lawsuit for unpaid bills to PR firm Twitters former public relations firm filed a lawsuit against the company on Friday, accusing it of unpaid bills since Elon Musk took over the company in October of last year. The PR firm and Twitter severed ties on November 16, three weeks after Musk acquired the company, but the firm says Twitter still owes $830,498 across six unpaid invoices, Reuters reported. The PR firm told the outlet that Twitter has stopped responding to its requests for payments, instead sending an automated pledge to get started processing it right away. Read more This is not the first time Twitter has been accused of not paying for a service, with at least 10 vendors filing lawsuits against the company since the chief Twit bought out the company for $44 billion in October. Three former executives including former CEO Parag Agrawal are suing Twitter, saying the company backtracked on its obligation to reimburse them for more than $1 million in legal fees. Bloomberg also reported that Twitter is late on more than $10 million in payments to numerous smaller companies from public relations to branded merchandise. These smaller vendors reported that at a certain point, they stopped receiving personal responses from the accounts payable department at Twitter. Eventually, it was clearly just a bot answering us with the same answer over and over again, Norma Miller, CEO of White Coat Captioning told Bloomberg. Other companies and landlords have also accused Twitter of owing them money in recent months and filed their own lawsuits. The United Kingdoms Crown Estate filed a lawsuit against Twitter over unpaid rent at the companys London Headquarters back in January. The landlord of Twitters San Francisco headquarters similarly sought legal action over alleged unpaid rent bills as well. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Two World Language Middle School students were hospitalized Friday after consuming marijuana edibles. The Clintonville school, seen from Google Maps, focuses on providing bilingual education. Two students at Columbus City's World Language Middle School were hospitalized after consuming marijuana edibles at the Clintonville school, the second marijuana poisoning at a Columbus City School this calendar year. Medics were dispatched Friday morning for two students who were ill at World Language Middle School, which focuses on bilingual education, according to a Columbus City Schools spokesperson. An investigation by the districts safety and security team and Columbus police discovered that the two students had eaten some marijuana-infused gummies. 'Throw out everything you knew:' mother warns UA crowd about teen high-potency marijuana use The principal will take the appropriate counseling and disciplinary action, a CCS statement said. School staff and the district will continue to work with Columbus police and other appropriate agencies as needed during their investigations. In March, two students at Fairwood Elementary School, a CCS school in Driving Park, fell ill and were hospitalized after consuming marijuana edibles. The school nurse saw two students after they became ill, according to Columbus City Schools. Kweli Dixon, 18, faces three counts of misdemeanor child endangerment related to that poisoning. Prosecutors allege in court records that one of the children took the gummies from Dixon's purse. Last year, a similar incident happened at Windermere Elementary in Upper Arlington after five students experienced hallucinations after eating the gummies April 22 and were taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital for treatment. An Upper Arlington man, Scott Macre, 43, was charged and pleaded guilty last May to inducing panic, obstructing official business and possession of a controlled substance, all misdemeanors. Four counts of endangering children were dropped. @Colebehr_report Cbehrens@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two Columbus middle schoolers hospitalized after eating THC edibles Two US climate activists arrested for attack on Degas sculpture Timothy Martin (L) and Joanna Smith (R) have been arrested for an attack on a Degas sculpture at the National Gallery of Art Two climate activists were taken into custody on Friday for an attack last month on a sculpture by the French artist Edgar Degas at the National Gallery of Art, US officials said. Timothy Martin, 53, turned himself in to the authorities in North Carolina while Joanna Smith, also 53, surrendered in Washington, the US Attorney's Office said. Martin and Smith are charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit, the US Attorney said in a statement. Martin and Smith were accused in an indictment of smearing paint on the Plexiglas case and base of Edgar Degas' "La petite danseuse de quatorze ans" ("Little Dancer, Age Fourteen") on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The April attack was claimed by a group called "Declare Emergency," which the US Attorney said has also blocked roadways in the Washington area to draw attention to climate concerns. The US Attorney said the attack caused approximately $2,400 in damage and the exhibit had to be removed from public display for 10 days. Martin and Smith face up to five years in prison for each offence and a fine of up to $250,000. Environmental activists, mainly in Europe, have carried out attacks on a number of works of art recently to seek more public awareness about global warming. They have glued their hands to a painting by Goya in Madrid, thrown tomato soup on Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" in London and smeared mashed potatoes on a masterpiece by Claude Monet in Potsdam, near Berlin. cl/bfm Two women who locked boy in room in abhorrent conditions found guilty of abuse, neglect TOMS RIVER - Two women have been found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, after police found him locked in his room in Brick in abhorrent conditions with no bathroom, furniture or toys, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Friday. Helecia Morris, 41, of Brick Township and Donna Jung, 57, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, were found guilty in connection with incidents that happened between April 1, 2015, and January 9, 2016, in Brick Township, Billhimer said. On January 9, 2016, police and representatives from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency responded to a home on Queen Ann Road for a wellness check on Morris's eight-year-old son, the news release said. Officers found the boy locked in his room that "reeked of urine." The eight-year-old and two other children were removed from the residence and taken to the hospital for medical evaluations, Billhimer said. All three were then placed in foster care. Toms River man pleads guilty to assaulting, interfering with an officer at Capitol riot 133 cats and dogs removed from Brick home; resident charged Toms River teacher jailed, accused of taking sex photos in classroom An investigation found that the boy was locked in his room day and night by Morris and Jung, according to the news release. He was not allowed to use the bathroom in the home and was excluded from socializing with the rest of the family. His room did not have a bed, furniture, lights or toys. On January 11, 2016, detectives used a search warrant on the residence, and Morris and Jung were arrested, Billhimer said. Morris and Jung were transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released on bail. Jung and Morris are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Lisa A. Puglisi on July 7, and could face up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, the prosecutor said. Both Morris and Jung were remanded into custody after the guilty verdict, and they will remain in the Ocean County Jail until their sentencing hearing. Billhimer said the trial was delayed due to bail reform, the COVID-19 pandemic and other outside factors. Jenna Calderon covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ news: 2 women guilty of child abuse, face 10 years in jail After a rapid intensification, Typhoon Mawar has become the most powerful storm of 2023 globally, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC). Mawars peak winds have surged to 175 mph, accompanied by gusts nearing 210 mph, the JWTC said, as it heads towards the Philippines. In its latest update, the state weather agency of the Philippines said Mawar has slightly intensified while moving westwards over the Philippines sea. This comes after the agency yesterday issued a notification that the cyclone has regained its status of a super typhoon. The typhoon has also surpassed the strength of any storm recorded in 2022, experts say. Typhoon Mawars intensification came after a brief weakening as it passed by Guam on Wednesday, lashing the island with heavy rains and winds that uprooted trees and blew away roofs and cars. 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 extensive damage was reported, alongside localised flooding, fallen debris, and downed power lines. Key points Typhoon Mawar becomes 2023s most intense storm When will super Typhoon Mawar make landfall in the Philippines? How strong is Typhoon Mawar? Typhoon Mawar trajectory: Wich countries will be impacted? Mawar 'may further intensify' says Philippines weather forecaster 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. Typhoon to maintain its strength 09:14 , Namita Singh Typhoon Mawar, now known as Betty after entering the oceanic area monitored by the Philippines, is packing current winds speed of 270km/h. It is maintaining its strength while moving west northwestward, tweeted the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. TROPICAL CYCLONE BULLETIN NO. 2 Super Typhoon #BettyPH (MAWAR) Issued at 11:00 AM, 27 May 2023 Valid for broadcast until the next advisory at 5:00 PM today. #BettyPH MAINTAINS ITS STRENGTH WHILE MOVING WEST NORTHWESTWARDhttps://t.co/iqWDkvVJK6 pic.twitter.com/Yhv9jABEce PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) May 27, 2023 Jim Cantore shares satellite imagery of the enormous Mawar 09:00 , Graig Graziosi So this morning the sun is setting on a 180mph sustained #Mawar with gusts to 230mph! What a beast in the Pacific! Thank goodness this thing is not forecast to touch land. pic.twitter.com/OuBddKy4M0 Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) May 26, 2023 Flash floods, surf warnings in effect 08:00 , Graig Graziosi A surf warning was issued for Guam and the Northern Marianas ahead of Typhoon Mawar, according to the National Weather Service. The warning will continue through Saturday, and includes a risk of rip currents. The agency also said there was the potential for heavy rains and flooding on Friday night in the region. ICYMI: Typhoon Mawar hits Guam 07:00 , Graig Graziosi Typhoon Mawar has made landing on the US territory of Guam, leaving extreme damage and power outages behind. Andrea Blanco and Ariana Baio report: Follow super Typhoon Mawars trajectory as storm heads for the Philippines ICYMI: Identical twin meteorologists guide Guam through Typhoon Mawar 06:00 , Graig Graziosi 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. The identical twin weathermen protecting an island from a 140mph typhoon Typhoon Odette vs Mawar: Most powerful typhoons to hit the Philippines 04:59 , Graig Graziosi The Philippines is considered the most exposed country in the world to tropical storms as approximately 20 cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the area of the ocean the country monitors, yearly. As the country once again prepares for the onslaught of this powerful cyclone, here are some of the strongest storms that have battered the country in recent times. From Odette to Mawar: The most powerful typhoons to hit the Philippines WATCH: Typhoon Mawar intensify into super typhoon 04:00 , Graig Graziosi Will Typhoon Mawar hit Cebu? 03:00 , Graig Graziosi Cebu, a port city in the Philippines, is bracing for a possible impact of typhoon Mawar as it heads towards the southeast Asian nation. The typhoon is expected to reach the geographical region of the ocean monitored by the county, called the Philippines Area of Responsibility, tonight or tomorrow morning. While theres a slim chance of the typhoon, which has intensified greatly in the last few hours, making a direct landfall in the country, authorities are not ruling the possibility out. The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has activated its Incident Command System in preparation for the possible impact of Super Typhoon Mawar, according to local media reports. The city authorities also shut down schools today and have suspended all ferry rides. Some regions are expected to be lashed by heavy rains and winds even if the typhoon remains on its current path without moving its way towards the Philippines as feared. Were still here: Guam residents get to repair as typhoon Mawar passes without a single death 02:00 , Graig Graziosi Chainsaws buzzed on Friday as neighbours helped each other clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades. While it was still early going in the recovery effort, Mawar appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake. Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries, says a resident. Read this dispatch from the remote US island: Guam breathes sigh of relief as Typhoon Mawar leaves without single death Alaska impacted by Super Typhoon Mawar 01:00 , Graig Graziosi Parts of Alaska experienced 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 were visible 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. Typhoon classification systems 00:00 , Graig Graziosi 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 23:00 , Graig Graziosi 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 22:00 , Graig Graziosi 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 CONTEXT: Hurricanes are getting stronger due to the climate crisis 20:50 , Graig Graziosi Super Typhoon Marwa is only the ninth storm of its kind since 1950 to reach a Category 5 status in the month of May just one month into typhoon season. To understand better how the climate crisis has made hurricanes and typhoons more powerful, read The Independents explanation below: READ MORE: Hurricanes are getting stronger. Heres why Photos capture the wreckage typhoon Mawar left behind in Guam 20:08 , Graig Graziosi Gambaran Guam diterjang angin marah mawar pic.twitter.com/z74h9zgZXd memeng 2 (@DambaanA) May 26, 2023 Mawar now called Betty as it enters Philippines monitor region 19:26 , Graig Graziosi Super Typhoon Mawar has crossed into the Philippines monitoring reigion, where it is now being referred to as Betty by monitors. The Philippines uses its own names for typhoons that enters its area of responsibility. The storm is a Category 5, but is not expected to make significant landfall in the Philippines at its current strength. Mawar 9th typhoon since 1950 to reach Category 5 equivalent status in May 18:09 , Graig Graziosi Only eight other typhoons have reached a Category 5 status in May since 1950. Mawar will be the ninth. Typhoon season typically lasts from April until December. Typhoons gaining a Category 5 equivalent status this early in the season are typically rare. Simply jaw-dropping satellite imagery of Super Typhoon Mawar. pic.twitter.com/850iZSK2JE CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) May 25, 2023 WATCH: Detailed imagery showing super typhoons direction 17:21 , Graig Graziosi Stunning Super Typhoon #Mawar continues to track across the Philippine Sea. Forecasts are indicating that the typhoon will not strike the Philippines. More likely, Mawar will recurve and weaken east of Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/96a5zDg8aw Zoom Earth (@zoom_earth) May 26, 2023 Super Typhoon Mawar may weaken as it approaches Philippines monitoring region 16:37 , Graig Graziosi The Maway super typhoon may weaken slightly on its westward approach to the Philipines. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued an advisory noting that the storm would likely enter its monitoring region on Saturday, and predicted that the storm would slow over the course of the day. The services said the storm will also weaken substantially on Monday. MAWAR is forecast to remain as a super typhoon tonight until the weekend, although the chance of slight weakening still remains, PAGASA wrote. However, this tropical cyclone may weaken at faster rate beginning on Monday during its slowdown period due to potential unfavorable conditions (e.g., effect of upwelling of cooler ocean water and dry air intrusion), although it is expected to remain as a typhoon by the end of the forecast period. TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NO. 6 Super Typhoon MAWAR Issued at 11:00 PM, 26 May 2023 Valid for broadcast until the next advisory at 11:00 AM tomorrow. SUPER TYPHOON MAWAR SLIGHTLY WEAKENS AS IT CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE PHILIPPINE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (PAR) Location of pic.twitter.com/QfDw11pb7x PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) May 26, 2023 Jim Cantore shares satellite imagery of the enormous Mawar 15:31 , Graig Graziosi So this morning the sun is setting on a 180mph sustained #Mawar with gusts to 230mph! What a beast in the Pacific! Thank goodness this thing is not forecast to touch land. pic.twitter.com/OuBddKy4M0 Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) May 26, 2023 Flash floods, surf warnings in effect 14:48 , Graig Graziosi A surf warning has been issued for Guam and the Northern Marianas ahead of Typhoon Mawar, according to the National Weather Service. That warning will continue through Saturday, and includes a risk of rip currents. The agency also said there was the potential for heavy rains and flooding on Friday night in the region. Typhoon Odette vs Mawar: Most powerful typhoons to hit the Philippines 14:30 , Stuti Mishra The Philippines is considered the most exposed country in the world to tropical storms as approximately 20 cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the area of the ocean the country monitors, yearly. As the country once again prepares for the onslaught of this powerful cyclone, here are some of the strongest storms that have battered the country in recent times. From Odette to Mawar: The most powerful typhoons to hit the Philippines WATCH: Typhoon Mawar intensify into super typhoon 14:00 , Stuti Mishra Where will Typhoon Mawar land? 13:30 , Stuti Mishra Typhoon Mawars projected path shows the storm will be headed towards the Philippines, but not directly making a landfall as it moves north, away from the northern island .While the state weather agency is not ruling out the possibility of a direct landfall, the cyclone is projected to move northwards, possibly impacting southern China and Taiwan. According to Jim Yang, a researcher at the China Meteorological Association, the the likelihood of Mawar making landfall in China or Taiwan 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. The map shows the projected path of typhoon Mawar (Google) Some computer models show Mawar turning away from the island towards the sea of Japan, where its strength may reduce after a few days as it encounters cooler waters. However, the cyclone has been intensifying in the last few hours after it battered Guam. Philippines weather agency said it expects the typhoon to reach its peak intensity in the next 24 hours. Will Typhoon Mawar hit Cebu? 13:00 , Stuti Mishra Cebu, a port city in the Philippines, is bracing for a possible impact of typhoon Mawar as it heads towards the southeast Asian nation. The typhoon is expected to reach the geographical region of the ocean monitored by the county, called the Philippines Area of Responsibility, tonight or tomorrow morning. While theres a slim chance of the typhoon, which has intensified greatly in the last few hours, making a direct landfall in the country, authorities are not ruling the possibility out. The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has activated its Incident Command System in preparation for the possible impact of Super Typhoon Mawar, according to local media reports. The city authorities also shut down schools today and have suspended all ferry rides. Some regions are expected to be lashed by heavy rains and winds even if the typhoon remains on its current path without moving its way towards the Philippines as feared. Were still here': Guam residents get to repair as typhoon Mawar passes without a single death 12:30 , Stuti Mishra Chainsaws buzzed on Friday as neighbours helped each other clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades. While it was still early going in the recovery effort, Mawar appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake. Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries, says a resident. Read this dispatch from the remote US island: Guam breathes sigh of relief as Typhoon Mawar leaves without single death When will super Typhoon Mawar make landfall in the Philippines? 11:50 , Stuti Mishra Typhoon Mawar is heading towards the Philippines with sustained winds of 215kmh as the archipelago braces for heavy winds and rains over the weekend. It was last spotted 1,705 kilometres east of southeastern Luzon, located over the Philippine Sea, moving west at 20 kmh, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The map shows the projected path of typhoon Mawar (Google) Its not yet clear whether the typhoon will make a direct landfall in the Philippines or not, but the state weather agency is not ruling the possibility out. In its update on Friday, PAGASA said it expects Mawar to head west-northwest until Sunday and then turn northwest. Mawar may slow down as it begins to move closer toward the waters east of extreme Northern Luzon, PAGASA said. The center of Mawars eye is forecast to be within 250 kilometres of the Batanes-Babuyan archipelago by next week during the slowdown period, added the weather bureau. The super typhoon is still on track to enter the geographical region observed by Philipinnes in the ocean, known as the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR) this evening or morning tomorrow. Once inside PAR, it will be given the local name Betty. Even if Mawar stays over water and does not make landfall in the Philippines, PAGASA says that it can still trigger heavy rain in Northern Luzon starting late Sunday or Monday, with a possibillity of floods and landslides. 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. The Russian mercenary outfit Wagner Group is sending surface-to-air missiles to one of the sides in Sudans war, fueling the conflict and destabilizing the region, the Treasury Department said this week in announcing sanctions against a Wagner commander. Wagners role in Sudan is part of a growing presence in Africa aimed at undercutting U.S. and French influence and profiting off African countries mining wealth, with the proceeds helping to fund Russias war in Ukraine, experts said. Wagner has had a presence in Sudan since 2017, providing security services and overseeing gold mining concessions. The Treasury Department said Thursday that the Wagner Group has been supplying Sudans Rapid Support Forces with surface-to-air missiles to fight against Sudans army, contributing to a prolonged armed conflict that only results in further chaos in the region. The Rapid Support Forces have been fighting the Sudanese military for control of the country since April, and the violence has left hundreds dead and more than a million people displaced. The Biden administration has warned about Wagners presence in Sudan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month the mercenary outfit simply brings more death and destruction where it operates. Russias embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. The Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on Wagners chief in Mali, Ivan Aleksandrovich Maslov, saying the group may be seeking help from Mali to secure military gear for Russias war in Ukraine. Maslov has worked in close coordination with Malian officials and arranges meetings between regional governments and the head of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to the Treasury Department. The Wagner Group may be attempting to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, including by working through Mali and other countries where it has a foothold, the Treasury Department said in a statement. Wagners employees may have been attempting to work through Mali to acquire warfighting equipment such as mines, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, radar, and counterbattery systems for use in Ukraine, the department said. The accusation from Washington comes after a leaked U.S. intelligence document suggested that Malis interim president, Assimi Goita, an army officer who seized power in a coup, allegedly offered to obtain weapons from Turkey on behalf of the Wagner Group. FILE - This undated photograph handed out by French military shows three Russian mercenaries, right, in northern Mali. Russia's Wagner Group, a private military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rogue millionaire with longtime links to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, has played a key role in the fighting in Ukraine and also deployed its personnel to Syria, Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. (French Army via AP, File) (French Army via AP file) The document, part of a trove of top-secret Defense Department material that surfaced on the social media platform Discord, stated that Wagner associates in early February met with Turkish contacts to purchase weapons and equipment for Wagners operations in Mali and Ukraine. Additionally, Malian Transition President Goita had confirmed that Mali could acquire weapons from Turkey on Vagners behalf, according to the document, which was obtained by NBC News and other news outlets. U.S. authorities have accused Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, 21, of leaking the secret documents. Wagner in Africa Victoria Nuland, undersecretary of state for political affairs, told lawmakers in January that Wagners access to gold mines in Mali and the Central African Republic directly funds operations in Ukraine. Wagner units are playing a crucial role on the battlefield in Ukraine, relying heavily on prison convicts for infantry battles. Wagners wider aim has been to bolster Moscows influence in Africa, experts said. Wagner has been building its logistical capacity in both Libya and Sudan, taking advantage of its ties to local allies led by rebel commanders, said Nathalia Dukhan, a senior investigator with the Sentry, a nonprofit that focuses on multinational predatory networks. In Libya, Wagner has allied itself with Khalifa Haftar, who has waged war on the government in Tripoli, and in Sudan it has forged ties with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti. In Sudan, Wagner has sought to use Hemetis RSF as proxies for their operations in the Central African Republic and Chad, Dukhan said. Although its tactics can vary, Wagner is seeking to project Russian influence in Africa, she said. Ultimately, it opts for approaches that serve its geostrategic objectives, expansionist agenda as well as advance its business interests, Dukhan said. According to a leaked intelligence document that first appeared on the Discord platform, a Wagner associate, Vitaliy Perfilyev, in February suggested launching an anti-U.S. media campaign in the Central African Republic after media reports that Washington was working to persuade the government to break its ties to the mercenary outfit. The U.S. and human rights groups have accused Wagner of committing atrocities in the Central African Republic, including summary executions and torture. U.S. authorities previously named Wagner as a transnational criminal organization and sanctioned its top leaders. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The flags of the United States and China fly in Boston By Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. lawmaker on Thursday asked for more detail on the Biden administration's proposed executive order on U.S. investments in China, questioning whether the planned restrictions would be effective. Republican U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry, chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, requesting information related to the proposal ahead of Yellen's June 7 scheduled hearing appearance before the committee. The Biden administration is planning to screen the billions of dollars that U.S. firms pour into sensitive sectors in China. China hawks in Washington blame American investors for transferring capital and valuable know-how to Chinese tech companies that could help advance Beijing's military capabilities. Earlier this month, Yellen said the government had not finalized its approach, but that any U.S. action would be "narrowly scoped and targeted at technologies where there are clear national security implications." She said that Washington had been discussing the prospect of such targeted restrictions with G7 allies. She did not give a timetable for action. In his letter to Yellen, McHenry, a key voice on potential investment restrictions on U.S. companies in China, noted the size of China's reserves and that it had recorded a current account surplus of $417.5 billion last year. He also said a 2014 attempt to restrict financing against Russia had failed. "Do Treasury and the Administration really believe that investment restrictions will be effective this time -- particularly against a surplus country that holds $3 trillion in reserves?" McHenry wrote. A Treasury Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters reported in February that the Biden administration was planning to outright ban investments in certain Chinese technology companies and require investors to provide notification of many other transactions, citing three sources. The ban was expected to apply to some investments tied to chip production, two of the sources said at the time, and would likely track restrictions the U.S. placed in October on exports to China of American artificial intelligence (AI) chips, chipmaking tools, and supercomputers, among other technologies. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Pete Schroeder. Writing by Susan Heavey and Caitlin Webber; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Rosalba O'Brien) U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy speaks during the United States Conference of Mayors 91st Winter Meeting January 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. Credit - Drew AngererGetty Images On May 23, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning about the impact that social media is having on the mental health of young people. I issued this advisory because this is an urgent crisis, Murthy tells TIME. In the effort to maximize the benefit and minimize the harms of social media on children, we have not made enough progress. As a consequence, I worry about the mental health and well-being of our children. In a conversation with TIME, Murthy discusses how parents, policy makers, researchers, and technology companies can and should come together to make social media platforms safer for children. (This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.) More from TIME TIME: Why do you think social medias impact on young people is so concerning? Since becoming Surgeon General, I have focused primarily on mental health and well-being, which I see as the defining public health crisis of our time. And youth are a point of concern. As I traveled around the country and talked to families about mental-health concerns, the No. 1 question I get from parents is about social media: Is social media safe for my kids? And many kids raise the same concerns. At roundtables Ive had with middle-school students, high-school students, and college students, they often proactively bring up social media. Read More: How to Start Teaching Your Kids About Social Media The three things they have told me most consistently are: 1. That social media often made them feel worse about themselves; 2. That it made them feel worse about their friendships; and 3. That they couldnt get off of it. As one student told me, I feel great during the day, then take out my phone and get on social media and see all of these people doing things without me, or accomplishing incredible thingshaving incredible bodies and living incredible livesand suddenly I feel worse about myself. Its a common theme. The reason I issued the advisory is to answer the question that so many parents have been posing to me about social media. What does your report conclude about social media and youth mental health? After putting together the available data, which involved going through publicly available research and looking at published data as well as consulting independent experts, our conclusions are, first, that there isnt enough data to say that social media platforms are safe for kids, and, second, that there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harms. Do policy makers and technology companies have a responsibility to ensure that their platforms are safe for children? I 100% see this as a responsibility for policy makers and technology companies. Any company that produces a product consumed by kids has a fundamental responsibility to ensure it is safe for childrenthat it helps and not harms them. We dont ask parents to inspect the brakes on cars that children will ride in, or the ingredients in medications that children use, or ask them to conduct chemical analyses of the paint used in toys made for children to make sure that they are safe. We set standards and enforce themthats usually done by governmentto make sure that manufacturers meet them. Thats what is missing here. We cant have technology companies set their own standards; we dont do that in any other sectors where kids well-being is at stake. But thats largely what has been happening over the past 20 years. What are some specific standards that policy makers can set for social media use among children? We need to strengthen protections for kids through safety standards, especially by protecting kids from exposure to harmful content. Too many kids are exposed to sexual and violent content, as well as harassment and abuse online. That should not be happening. We can take a page out of safety standards applied to other products for children, and should include standards around age. While 13 is the commonly used age many platforms use to allow users to join, we should keep in mind two things. First, its terribly enforced, because 40% of eight to 12 years olds are on social media. Second, 13 [years old] did not come from a health assessment that looked at what appropriate age kids should be on social media. It came from COPPA [Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule], a law that restricted the age under which data could not be collected and shared. We need to understand what appropriate age a child should start using these platforms. Are there data to inform at what age children can safely start using social media? Thats another thing that standards set by policy makers can do: ensure that technology companies share data thats relevant from their platforms. I hear from researchers all the time who are not able to get full access to the data they need to fully understand the impact platforms are having on children. As a parent myself, I dont want to feel that there is information that is hidden from me about the impact products my kids are using may have on their mental health and well-being. Read More: For Teens, Saving Each Other From Social Media Is a Team Effort Should standards also include restrictions on certain types of content for younger users? Effective standards would protect kids from harmful content. And these standards not only need to be set but need to be enforced. Its important for parents and kids to be at the table to help inform how these standards are shaped. These platforms have been designed to maximize how much time kids are spending on them. One thing new standards can do is to minimize the features that lead to excessive use, especially among younger children. I acknowledge that companies are trying to take steps to make platforms safer, but its really not sufficient. Time matters. Children only have one childhood, and every day, every month, every year matters in the life and development of a child. Photo of Tim Walz Tim Walz vetoed a bill that wouldve granted rideshare drivers minimum pay, at Ubers urging. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has vetoed a bill that wouldve set a minimum wage for rideshare drivers in the state. His decisionthe first veto of his gubernatorial tenurecame after Uber threatened to cease operations across most of Minnesota, if the legislation became law. Rideshare drivers deserve safe working conditions and fair wages, Walz wrote in a letter announcing the veto on Thursday. However, House File 2369 is not the right bill to achieve these goals and is simply not ready to be codified in Minnesota Law. He further claimed that the measure could make Minnesota one of the most expensive states in the country for rideshare on par with cities like New York and Seattleboth places that have already enacted pay floors for rideshare drivers. Read more Minnesotas bill wouldve guaranteed drivers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area a base wage of $1.45 per mile and $0.34 per minute, plus annual adjustment increases based on the Consumer Price Index. Elsewhere in the state, those minimums would have been $0.20 lower. It also wouldve introduced other protections, like forcing rideshare companies to provide more transparency surrounding driver deactivations, and granting drivers the right to appeal such decisions. The would-be law narrowly passed both Minnesotas House of Reps and State Senate, despite significant opposition from rideshare companies. But on Thursday, as the bill landed on Walzs desk, Uber upped the pressure, claiming that the legislation would make it impossible to continue serving most areas of the state, in a statement to multiple news outlets. If the bill is signed into law, beginning August 1, Uber will stop operating our ride service outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. In the metro area, we will only offer premium products to match the premium prices required by the bill. Ubers outright threat was a factor in Walzs decision, but not the only one, the governor claimed to local outlet WCCO News. He said that the measure had prompted concern from the disability community and others who might rely on rideshare. In addition to the veto, Walz also issued an executive order creating a commission to study rideshare business in the state and create future policy recommendations. Rideshare companies celebrated the move. Uber claimed it would support a different bill that set lower pay minimums and ensured drivers were classified as independent contracts, not employeesa critical designation fight playing out in multiple other states. A Lyft spokesperson told WCCO Lawmakers should pass fair pay and other protections, but it must be done in a way that doesnt jeopardize the affordability and safety of those who rely on the service...We look forward to continuing our engagement. In contrast, proponents of the bill were disappointed with the governor and dissatisfied with his promises of a working group and future legislative efforts. It is surprising that @GovTimWalz sides with corporates over poor drivers who campaigned and voted for him like he would be their savior, the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association wrote on Twitter. Today, we saw the power corporations hold on our government, tweeted State Senator Omar Fateh who co-authored the senate version of the vetoed legislation. The fight is not over, and I promise you I wont back down. The Minnesota House and Senate People of Color and Indigenous Caucus also issued a statement. We are disappointed in Governor Walz for vetoing the rideshare legislation. Moreover, it is disheartening that the first veto of his term would be against worker protections for BIPOC and immigrant drivers, the Caucus wrote. By vetoing the bill, Governor Walz discredited the amount of work legislators, community leaders, and advocates put in to ensure the bill was reflective of worker needs and stakeholders concerns. Rideshare drivers and other gig workers have been fighting for fair pay and better protections nationwide, and beyond, in recent years. Minnesota is just one of many states where the conflict between corporate interests and demands for improved working conditions has made it to the legislature. In places like Washington state and New York City, as mentioned above, workers have made headway. Beyond the pay minimums in Washington, newly passed legislation also guarantees drivers paid family and medical leave. The state of Massachusetts sued Uber and Lyft in 2020, alleging the companies improperly classify their drivers as contractors and deny the workers employee benefits. More recently, lawmakers in the New England state introduced a bill to boost rideshare driver protections even further. In contrast, California courts have upheld a ballot measure that specifically designates rideshare workers as independent contractors, and exempts them from employee rights and protections. The workers group that sued over the measure is likely to appeal. 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 possible UFO with flashing lights was filmed flying over a U.S. Marine base in California in 2021 and mystified witnesses, but the government claims it was a training exercise. Jeremy Corbell, who was the only civilian named during Congress' historic hearing in May 2022 on unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAPs), obtained footage and pictures of the possible UFO and shared them with Fox News Digital. Corbell, an investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker, said it was described to him by witnesses at Camp Wilson in Twentynine Palms, California, as a "large, silent and hovering triangular-shaped craft." Sue Gough, a Department of Defense spokesperson, told Fox News Digital that a training course was going on at that time, and the Pentagon's office that tracks UAPs, a government-derived acronym that means UFO, doesn't have any record of this incident. FOOTAGE OF UFOS OVER CONFLICT ZONES SEEN FOR FIRST TIME: THIS IS DEVASTATING A potential UFO was seen flying over a U.S. Marine base in 2021. The photo was obtained by Jeremy Corbell, who shared it with Fox News Digital. "I can confirm that there were military aviation assets in the Twentynine Palms, California, airspace and a Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course was being conducted at the time," Gough said in an email. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "There is no record of communication with the base range control concerning a UAP sighting, nor of the allocation of any base resources to investigate a UAP sighting. AARO does not have a record of this alleged event and cannot verify the authenticity of the report." MOSUL ORB: US SILENT ON UFO FILMED BY MILITARY OVER IRAQ The sighting was seen from Camp Wilson, a 998-square-mile installation at the southern tip of San Bernardino County in the Mojave Desert, making it the largest Marine Corps base in the world. Most of the base is set aside for training. AARO, which stands for All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, is an office within the Department of Defense that has been tasked with investigating and identifying unidentified flying objects and other phenomena in the air, sea or space. In videos that Corbell and his "WeaponizedPodcast.com" co-host, reporter George Knapp, released, voices can be heard asking what the object is. Another voice is heard saying, "We got aliens." The duo examined photos and videos of the incident during the May 23 episode of their podcast, and played interviews with unidentified witnesses who said they're Marines. "Two years ago, this thing happened and nothing has come out," Knapp said on the podcast. "Theres been no media coverage in two years since." UFO SENATE HEARING: PENTAGON OFFICIAL CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA AND RUSSIA'S ADVANCED TECH Even though AARO doesn't have a record of this incident, according to Gough, it highlights what Corbell and lawmakers have said is a glaring oversight in reporting potential UFO sightings. After the April 19 UFO hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote a five-bullet-point letter to the Department of Defense, which was obtained by Fox News Digital. One of the arguments was the lack of a secure way for potential UFO witnesses to safely come forward and share their stories. "To date, we have seen no efforts to communicate the existence of the secure process to the public," the senators said in their letter. "We request that you provide us an update on the plan to publicize the secure process for witnesses to come forward." UFO SEARCH: RETIRED NAVY SENIOR CHIEF NOT GOING TO JAIL TO REPORT WHAT HE SAW IN AFGHANISTAN Rubio told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement that Americans "are understandably concerned" about objects in the country's airspace and near facilities. "Whats worse, our government spent too many years ignoring or downplaying the threat," Rubio said. "Thankfully, that is beginning to change, but as we saw earlier this year, the defense and intelligence communities are still struggling." WATCH CORBELL TALK TO WITNESSES OF THE 2021 INCIDENT (FROM WEAPONIZEDPODCAST.COM) The Florida senator was referring to the Chinese spy balloon and three other UAPs that the Biden administration shot down in February. For now, Corbell and Knapp continue to essentially be witnesses' mouthpieces as they investigate tips, photos and videos. He called this particular case "an open UFO investigation" and said they are crowdsourcing for additional footage and witness testimony. "We encourage additional service members that were at the Twentynine Palms/Camp Wilson installation during this reported event to come forward with additional footage, images or information," Corbell said. "The truth is out there, but without a proper and defined flow of information by the Department of Defense, we will not be able to make progress on understanding the UFO presence on planet Earth and what it means for humanity." Clashes between Kosovo police and ethnic Serb protesters in the town of Zvecan LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, France, Italy, Germany and the United States condemned Kosovo's decision to force access to municipal buildings in northern Kosovo on Friday, calling on the authorities to step back and de-escalate the situation. "We condemn Kosovo's decision to force access to municipal buildings in northern Kosovo despite our call for restraint. We call on Kosovos authorities to immediately step back and de-escalate, and to closely coordinate with EULEX (the EU mission) and KFOR (NATO's mission in Kosovo," the countries said in a joint statement posted on the British government's website. "We are concerned by Serbia's decision to raise the level of readiness of its Armed Forces at the border with Kosovo and call all parties for maximum restraint, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric." Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic placed the country's army on full combat alert and ordered army units to move closer to the border with Kosovo on Friday, after protesters and police clashed in a majority Serb town in the neighbouring country. Police fired tear gas in the town of Zvecan to disperse a crowd from in front of a municipality building. The protesters were trying to prevent a newly-elected ethnic Albanian mayor from entering his office following an election which Kosovo Serbs had boycotted. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) UK intelligence reported on role of "Crimea's head" in creation of paramilitary groups in Russia UK intelligence has noted an increase in the number of paramilitary groups in the Russian Federation that are not part of the country's armed forces. Source: UK Defence Intelligence on Twitter, reports European Pravda Details: According to UK Intelligence, the growth in the number of paramilitary groups accelerated sharply after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and gained special importance in occupied Crimea. Sergei Aksyonov, the so-called "head of Crimea", played an important role in the creation of several such local units, which often claim to belong to "Cossack traditions". Aksyonov is likely "keen to burnish his patriotic credentials" by recruiting fighters, but he is likely also concerned about the ability of the Russian regular army to defend the peninsula, the report said. "The main element of the Russian garrison, the 22nd Army Corps, is currently mostly deployed outside the peninsula and has taken heavy casualties," added the intelligence. Background: The day before UK intelligence reported that Russia had falsified the data of the automatic identification system in the Black Sea in order to depict the "Z" symbol, which the Kremlin uses to promote its aggressive war. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Hospitals call for maternity-friendly society 10:04, May 26, 2023 By Zhao Yusha ( Global Times Medical staff take care of a newborn baby in the special care unit in Ruili, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 11, 2021. A pregnant woman with COVID-19 Wednesday morning gave birth to triplets in the quarantine area of a designated hospital in southwest China's border city of Ruili, the Yunnan provincial health commission said on Thursday. It is the first case of its kind in China.Photo:Xinhua Some grassroots hospitals in China have reportedly seen declines in the number of registered pregnant women this year, local media reported. Chinese demographers predict the country will record 8.5 to 9 million newborns this year, while calling for efforts to play on new advantages and further improve population quality. Doctors from the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) in a hospital in Henan Province told the China Philanthropist magazine that they've noticed a precipitous drop of registered pregnant women this year, compared with previous years. Doctors from Southwest China's Guizhou and Northeast China's Heilongjiang provinces have also reported the declining number of births at their institutes, according to Hongxing News, a news portal based in Chengdu. China's population fell by 850,000 in 2022 from the previous year, the National Statistics Bureau (NBS) said in February. The number of births was 9.56 million last year, or 6.77 per 1,000 people, data from the bureau showed. "Although births in 2023 are expected to further decline from 2022, the number will be between 8.5 million and 9 million," according to He Yafu, an independent demographer. In recent days, the People's Daily and Xinhua News Agency published articles encouraging society to recognize the "new realities" of China's population development. An article published by Xinhua on Monday called for comprehensive and appropriate views of China's population. The article asked people to consider both quantity and quality of the population, and not simply regard increases or decreases as advantages or disadvantages. Cai Fang, former deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said during a recent seminar that there's no need to be pessimistic about the declining birth rate. It is time for China to create conditions to further improve the quality of the population to make up for the decrease, and to replace factor inputs with productivity. He said that the declining population, along with COVID-19, had an impact on consumption. He suggested fair and effective distribution of labor, elevating the income of those with low salaries, and expanding equal access to basic public goods. Wang Pingping, a senior NBS official, said in January that although population declined in 2022, China's population dividend and vast market advantage still exist. The country still has huge labor resources, as the working-age population amounts to 900 million. The official said population dividend has just started to show as education level of Chinese people improves. In 2022, the average education span for people aged 16-59 reached 10.93 years, showing an increase of 0.11 years from 2021. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) (Bloomberg) -- The UK government is planning to deport thousands of asylum seekers per month from next year, a person familiar said, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak comes under rising pressure over his failure to reduce migration. Most Read from Bloomberg Beginning in January the Home Office aims to be able to detain and deport every month more than 3,000 people who it says have traveled to the country illegally, according to the person, who requested anonymity discussing unannounced proposals. The figure was first reported by the Guardian. The plan is designed to help deliver on Sunaks promise to stop the boats, one of five core pledges hes asked voters to judge him on. Its also intended to clear the backlog in processing asylum seekers, which Home Office figures show reached a record high of 172,758 people who had not yet received a decision on their claim by the end of March. The new ambition for deportations comes as the government faces criticism from both Conservative Members of Parliament and the opposition Labour Party over its broken manifesto commitment to reduce overall net migration a figure tallying only those deemed to have entered the country legally. Net migration to the UK was a record 606,000 in 2022, the Office for National Statistics said this week. Thats a long way above the tens of thousands that the ruling Conservatives pledged through most of the 2010s to get it down to, and more than double the level at the time of the 2019 general election when the Tories dropped that promise in favor of one simply stating overall numbers will come down. Sunak has prioritized tackling unscheduled arrivals by boat, rather than those obtaining visas. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Mondelez International was included in the list of international war sponsors The company has been listed since it continued operations in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NACP said. The companys interests, which has an annual income of about $26 billion and operates in 160 countries of the world, is represented on the Russian market by Mondelis Rus LLC, which has three factories: the Bolshevik factory (which produces such cookies as Yubileinoe, OREO, Medvezhonok [Bear] Barney, and TUC crackers); production in Pokrov (Alpen Gold, Vozdushny (Aero), Milka chocolate, and Picnic bar), and the factory in Veliky Novgorod (Dirol chewing gum and Halls cough drops), the report says. Read also: PepsiCo ends Pepsi, 7UP production in Russia The agency added that the company is the leader in the confectionery market in the categories of chocolate, chocolate candies ,and biscuits, and ranks second in chewing gums and caramels. Mondelezs Russian branch increased its profit in 2022 by 303%, to $339 million. The companys revenue amounted to more than $1 billion (+38% for the year). Mondelez replenished the aggressors budget by more than $61 million in taxes. The Mondelez, Nestle, and PepsiCo companies were criticized by their employees in Eastern Europe in April 2022 due to their decision to continue operations in Russia. Read also: Ukraine declares Xiaomi Corporation international sponsor of war Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In this handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, firefighters hose down a Policlinic following a Russian attack in Dnipro, Ukraine, Friday May 26, 2023. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine via AP) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscows forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometers (more than 4 miles) from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom, said resident Tatiana Safonova. We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said described the sound beforehand like a growling, noisy moped driving by. Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "Im somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war - so its quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded. Ukraines Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russias Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. Late Friday, officials in the Russian-held sector of Donetsk reported two missile strikes on the city of Mariupol, where a monthslong siege early in the war left much of the city in ruins. Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed official as saying the missiles were long-range Storm Shadows, which the United Kingdom delivered to Ukraine this month. In Moscow, Chinas special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers, the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says its neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict, but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraines allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin must first withdraw his forces. ___ Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London, contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine In the past two weeks Ukraine reportedly intercepted seven Russian Kinzhal missiles which travel at hypersonic speeds using its Patriot missile defense system. It is widely believed that Patriot and other current missile defenses could not stop hypersonic weapons, which travel at speeds over Mach five, or five times the speed of sound. So, whats going on? The claim that hypersonic weapons are invincible is one of the many beliefs about these weapons. Heres why its wrong. Kinzhal is an air-launched ballistic missile with fins that allow it to maneuver as it approaches its target. It is called hypersonic since its top speed is reportedly around Mach 10, which would give it a range of somewhat over 1,000 km. This system is not, however, what defense analysts typically mean by the term hypersonic weapon since it is not designed to glide over a significant fraction of its trajectory. Its high speed and ability to maneuver, however, mean that it poses a similar challenge as true hypersonic weapons to terminal missile defenses, like Patriot, that are used to defend against weapons of this range. A maneuvering missile traveling at Mach 10 would be too fast for the U.S. Patriot PAC-3 and similar defense systems to intercept reliably. However, Mach 10 is roughly Kinzhals maximum speed, and its speed drops sharply as it reenters and travels through the increasingly dense atmosphere to hit a target on the ground. Patriot is designed to intercept missiles at low altitudes, and my estimates show that Kinzhal slows enough during its dive that current versions of PAC-3 should be capable of intercepting it. Moreover, reports indicate that at least for the first of the Kinzhal intercepts, Ukraine was not using the most advanced version of the PAC-3 (called MSE , which is 25 percent faster than the previous version). This analysis has two important implications. First, Ukraines claims that it intercepted Kinzhal missiles are credible, and its defenses may be able to blunt a significant weapon in Russias arsenal. Second and more generally, the medium-range hypersonic glide weapons like those the United States, Russia, and China are currently developing may not be as effective at performing key mission as advocates often claim. A common argument for building hypersonic weapons is the desire to use them to destroy enemy missile and air defenses early in a conflict, to clear the way for subsequent attacks. Technical modeling, however, shows that the hypersonic weapons the United States has been developing including the Air-Launched Rapid Response hypersonic Weapon (ARRW) , the Armys Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) , and the Navys Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) may also be vulnerable to interception by missile defenses. In particular, reports about the speeds and ranges of these weapons imply that they begin the glide phase of their trajectory with a speed of about Mach 12 or less. Their speed decreases due to atmospheric drag during the glide phase especially if they are maneuvering significantly and will decrease even further as they dive into the thick atmosphere on their way to their targets on the ground. My estimates show that these effects will likely make these systems vulnerable to interception by systems similar to current versions of PAC-3, although intercepting them may require the advanced PAC-3 MSE. The United States must assume it will face defenses like these in other countries soon if not now. To be able to evade such defenses, hypersonic weapons would need to be launched with even higher speeds. Doing so would significantly increase the intense heating they experience during flight, which is a key obstacle to developing these weapons. Increasing their speed also makes them larger and heavier, which reduces the number that aircraft can carry. Adding propulsion, such as scramjet engines being developed for hypersonic cruise missiles, could help the weapon maintain its speed during the glide phase. But these engines are unlikely to be powerful enough to help much against the exponentially increasing drag encountered during the dive phase, which could leave these weapons vulnerable to interception. Russian and Chinese hypersonic weapons similar to these U.S. systems (such as the Russian Zircon and Chinese DF-ZF and Starry Sky 2 ) are also likely to be vulnerable to defenses like PAC-3. In this sense, these weapons do not represent a revolution in threat beyond that posed by medium-range ballistic missiles. The Ukrainian experience with Kinzhal may be a wake-up call for Russia. It should also be a wake-up call for the United States. Congress and the U.S. military need to think clearly about the missions these weapons can realistically accomplish and whether they justify the high priority and budget share they are getting. David Wright is a visiting scholar in the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineerings Laboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy. A total of 48 F-16 fighter jets are essential for the liberation of Ukraine from the Russian invaders. Source: Ukraine's Defence Ministry on Twitter Quote: "4 squadrons of F16s [48 aircraft ed.] are exactly what we need to liberate our country from the aggressor." Background: (Bloomberg) -- Senator Lindsey Graham, after a trip to Ukraine and meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that he had never been more optimistic about the ability of the Ukrainians to go on the offense and take back their territory from the Russians. Most Read from Bloomberg Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said a statement on Friday that it is clear to me that the Russians have been bloodied and weakened. We must provide cluster munitions and additional long range artillery to make the counteroffensive a success. At least two people were killed and 30 injured after a Russian missile struck a hospital and veterinary clinic in Ukraines central city of Dnipro. Most of the 17 missiles and 31 Shahed drones launched by Kremlin forces overnight were shot down by Ukraines air defense. It was the latest in a bombing campaign thats also targeted Kyiv 13 times so far this month. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Earlier, Earlier, Chinese envoy Li Hui, charged with promoting Beijings efforts to broker an end to Russias war in Ukraine, met Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow after traveling to Kyiv last week. Buildings in central Krasnodar, a large southern Russian city, were damaged in an explosion while air defenses shot down a missile over the neighboring Rostov region, according to local officials. Videos shared across Russian Telegram channels showed what may have been a drone flying over Krasnodar, seconds before an explosion. Latest Coverage Ukraine Says One Dead, 23 Hurt in Russian Strike on Hospital Lula Declined Invitation to Visit Russia in Call With Putin China Envoy Meets Russian Foreign Minister Over War in Ukraine China and Russia Take Steps to Boost Food Trade For the Global Oil Market, Russias Output Cut Isnt Happening Coming Up German Chancellor Olaf Scholz holds talks with Baltic leaders in Tallinn NATO foreign ministers meet in Oslo from Tuesday Markets Oil rose and was headed for a modest weekly gain. Supply dynamics remain in focus, with Saudi Arabia and Russia having offered conflicting statements this week on the potential for more production cuts from OPEC and its allies. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Mykhailo Podolyak Podolyak made the statement in response to Chinas Special Envoy Li Hui reportedly trying to persuade Kyivs allies to push for an immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, which would leave much of Ukraines south-east under Russian occupation and control. Read also: Ukrainian victory prevents Chinas global domination Ambassador Herbst "Any 'compromise scenario' that does not involves liberating all territories of Ukraine and about which 'anonymous sources' in European and U.S. elites occasionally talk about, is tantamount to recognizing the defeat of democracy, Russia's victory, and the preservation of Putin's regime," the official said. Read also: China ready to promote political settlement of crisis in Ukraine, Chinese official says According to Podolyak, a compromise like that would lead to spike in armed conflicts, globally. And that is Russia's pipe dream, he emphasized. Read also: Why would China help Russia, which is experiencing the collapse of its civilization? Podolyak On May 26, the Wall Street Journal reported that China's special representative Li Hui, who is charged with trying to mediate the conflict, during his visit to Europe called for a ceasefire without Russian troop withdrawal, which would hand Moscow control over nearly a fifth of Ukrainian lands. 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 Russia is plotting a large-scale provocation at a nuclear power station it occupies in the south-east of Ukraine to disrupt a looming counteroffensive, Kyivs military intelligence has said. A statement from the intelligence directorate of Ukraines Defence Ministry claimed Russian forces will strike the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe, and report a radioactive leak in order to trigger an international probe that would pause the hostilities and give them the respite they need to regroup. In order to make that happen, Russia disrupted the rotation of personnel of the permanent monitoring mission of the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that was scheduled for Saturday, the statement said. It did not offer evidence to back up any of the claims, while the IAEA said it did not have any immediate comment on the allegations, and Russian officials did not immediately comment. This comes after Dmitry Medvedev, who is Russias security council deputy chairman, alleged the West was not fully realising the threat of nuclear war. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky said at least one person was killed and 15 were injured in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in Dnipro on Friday. 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 Ukraine conflict may last for decades, negotiation with 'clown' Zelensky impossible, says Medvedev 05:15 , Namita Singh A senior ally of president Vladimir Putin said the conflict in Ukraine could last for decades and that negotiations with Ukraine were impossible as long as Western-backed president Volodymyr Zelensky was in power. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered the deadliest European conflict since the Second World War and the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Thousands of people have been killed or seriously wounded in the conflict, whose roots date to 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraines popular Maidan uprising. Russia also annexed the Crimea peninsula that year and Russian-backed separatists seized swathes of eastern Ukraine. This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably. This is a new reality, Russian security council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. He said Russia could not trust any truce with the current rulers of Kyiv as the conflict would simply erupt again and so the very nature of the current government of Ukraine would have to be destroyed. Negotiations, he said, with the clown Zelensky, were impossible. Everything always ends in negotiations, and this is inevitable, but as long as these people are in power, the situation for Russia will not change in terms of negotiations. Mr Medvedev, who cast himself as a liberal moderniser when he was president from 2008-12, now presents himself as a fiercely anti-Western Kremlin hawk. Diplomats said his views give an indication of thinking at the top levels of the Kremlin elite. Germany to remove over 100 of its employees working in Russia, says source 14:31 , Tara Cobham Germany will remove more than 100 government employees working in Russia after Moscow imposed limits on the numbers allowed to work at German diplomatic missions in the country, a source with the German foreign ministry said on Saturday. This limit, set by Russia for the beginning of June, requires a major cut in all areas of our presence in Russia, the source said. Those affected include teachers, as well as other employees of schools and the Goethe Institute, and is necessary to maintain the right balance for Germanys diplomatic presence, said the person, who described the number affected as at least 100. Relations between Russia and Germany, which used to be the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, have broken down since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the West responded with sanctions and weapons supplies. The source called the limit, announced in April, unilateral, unjustified and incomprehensible. The person declined to say what the limit imposed by Moscow was. The number of German employees leaving was earlier reported by Germanys Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Russias foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia claims its forces intercepted two British Storm Shadow missiles 13:54 , Tara Cobham Russian forces intercepted two long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain, the RIA news agency cited the Defence Ministry as saying on Saturday. The ministry also said it had intercepted shorter-range U.S.-built HIMARS-launched and HARM missiles, and shot down 12 drones in the last 24 hours, RIA reported. Russia accuses Japan of cynical speculation after Tokyo's nuclear rebuke 12:41 , Tara Cobham Russia on Saturday accused Japan of "cynical, unscrupulous speculation" over Tokyo's comments around the nuclear threat Moscow poses and promised to respond to Japan's latest round of sanctions imposed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Friday said Japan would place additional sanctions on Russia after the Group of Seven (G7) summit Tokyo hosted last week agreed to step up measures to punish Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Matsuno also condemned Russia's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying it would further inflame the situation and that Japan would never accept "Russia's nuclear menace, let alone its use". Russia's foreign ministry said it was assessing the implementation of Japan's sanctions on its national security and economy and would not leave Tokyo's "illegitimate actions" unanswered. The ministry also took issue with Matsuno's casting of Russia as engaging in "nuclear blackmail". "The desire to attribute the non-evident intention to use nuclear weapons in relation to events in Ukraine to Russia is nothing more than cynical, unscrupulous speculation," the ministry said. Russia earlier on Saturday dismissed criticism from US President Joe Biden over Moscow's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying Washington had for decades deployed such nuclear weapons in Europe. The foreign ministry urged Japan to show similar "concern" towards US deployments in Europe. German diplomats and teachers to be expelled from Russia 12:10 , Tara Cobham Russia is to start expelling German diplomats, teachers and employees of cultural institutions next month. It is being seen as a move that will further enhance tensions between the two countries that have already had very fraught ties since Russia invaded Ukraine early last year. The German foreign ministry criticised Russia's move, calling the upcoming expulsions a "unilateral, unjustified and incomprehensible decision". The expulsion will affect several hundred German state employees, including teachers and staff of the Goethe Institute, which promotes German culture and language abroad, daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. The expulsion comes in response to the reduction of the presence of Russian intelligence services in Germany earlier this year. "The Russian Foreign Ministry had made public in April its decision to introduce a cap on the number of staff at our missions abroad and at German intermediary organisations in Russia," a German Foreign Office spokesperson said. The expulsions will lead to "a major cut in all areas of our presence in Russia", the spokesperson added. Germany did not announce any concrete response to Russia's expulsions, which are expected to begin next week. The Foreign Office said that "with regard to the upper limit on the Russian presence in Germany, the German government will ensure that there is a real balance in practice as well". Ukraine asks Germany to provide Taurus long-range missiles - Berlin 11:41 , Tara Cobham Ukraine has asked Germany to supply it with Taurus cruise missiles, an air-launched weapon with a range of some 500 km (310 miles), a spokesperson for the defence ministry in Berlin said on Saturday. Germany received the request several days ago, the spokesperson said, confirming a report by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. She declined to provide further details or say how likely it was that Germany would supply the missiles to Ukraine. If it supplies the missiles, Germany would be following in the footsteps of Britain, which earlier in May became the first country to publicly provide Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles. The United States has so far declined to supply Ukraine with the 297-km range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles amid concerns that Ukraine could use them to strike inside Russia's internationally recognised borders. Ukraine has been asking for months for this kind of weapons, but support from Western allies has focused on shorter-range weapons. Taurus is built by European missile maker MBDA and has similar features to the British Storm Shadow. It can be used to hit high-value targets, troops or fuel dumps deep behind the front lines and has the capability to destroy hardened targets such as bunkers buried deep underground. Russia tells US to not lecture it on nuclear deployments 10:57 , Tara Cobham Russia on Saturday dismissed criticism from US President Joe Biden over Moscow's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying Washington had for decades deployed just such nuclear weapons in Europe. Russia said on Thursday it was pushing ahead with the first deployment of such weapons outside its borders since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the weapons were already on the move. Biden said on Friday he had an "extremely negative" reaction to reports that Russia has moved ahead with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The U.S. State Department denounced the Russian nuclear deployment plan. "It is the sovereign right of Russia and Belarus to ensure their security by means we deem necessary amidst of a large-scale hybrid war unleashed by Washington against us," Russia's embassy in the United States said in a statement. "The measures we undertake are fully consistent with our international legal obligations." The United States has said the world faces the gravest nuclear danger since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis because of remarks by President Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine conflict, but Moscow says its position has been misinterpreted. Putin, who has cast the Ukraine war as a battle for the survival of Russia against an aggressive West, has repeatedly warned that Russia, which has more nuclear weapons than any other country, will use all means to defend itself. Tactical nuclear weapons are used for tactical gains on the battlefield, and are usually smaller in yield than the strategic nuclear weapons designed to destroy U.S., European or Russian cities. The Russian Embassy called the U.S. criticism of Moscow's planned deployment hypocritical, saying that "before blaming others, Washington could use some introspection". "The United States has been for decades maintaining a large arsenal of its nuclear weapons in Europe. Together with its NATO allies it participates in nuclear sharing arrangements and trains for scenarios of nuclear weapons use against our country." The United States has deployed nuclear weapons in Western Europe since U.S. President Dwight D Eisenhower authorised their deployment in the Cold War as a counter to the perceived threat from the Soviet Union. The first U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe were deployed in Britain in 1954. Much of the detail about the current U.S. deployment is classified, though the Federation of American Scientists says that the U.S. has 100 B61 tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe - in Italy, Germany, Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands. Iran says Ukrainian presidents drone criticism is bid for Western arms 10:16 , Tara Cobham Tehran on Saturday accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of anti-Iranian propaganda in his call for Iran to halt the supply of drones to Russia, saying his comments were designed to attract more arms and financial aid from the West. Zelenskiy in a video address on Wednesday called on Iranians to stop their slide into "the dark side of history" by supplying Moscow with drones. Iran initially denied supplying Shahed drones to Russia but later said it had provided a small number before the conflict began. Ukraine says the drones have played a major role in Russia's attacks on cities and infrastructure. "The Ukrainian president's repeat of delusional claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran is in line with the anti-Iranian propaganda and media war aimed at attracting as many arms and financial aid as possible from Western countries," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement carried by Iranian media. Ukraine, Kanaani said, has been refusing to allow an independent investigation into these claims. Russia has boosted its military cooperation with Iran since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It has admitted using Iranian-made drones, but it is now seeking to boost its own production. In his Wednesday address, Zelenskiy said: "The simple question is this: what is your interest in being an accomplice to Russian terror?" "Your 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," he said. Poland says it will close border to freight vehicles from Belarus and Russia 10:05 , Tara Cobham Poland will close its eastern border to freight vehicles registered in Belarus and Russia until further notice, according to a draft regulation published on Friday by the interior ministry. The move comes as a Belarusian court upheld an earlier decision to sentence a journalist of Polish origin to eight years in prison, stoking tensions between the two countries that have been running high in part due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to the justification of the regulation, the decision was necessary to "ensure public safety". While the regulation concerning the border did not mention the case of jailed journalist Andrzej Poczobut, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Twitter that he would add several hundred Belarusian officials to sanctions lists as a result of the verdict, which he labelled "draconian". Poland had previously closed some border crossings with Belarus following Poczobut's imprisonment and the expulsion of Polish diplomats by Minsk. The Belarusian foreign ministry could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. Belarus has previously said that Polish decisions to close border crossings were irrational and dangerous, accusing Warsaw of causing long delays and failing to implement bilateral agreements. Poland has been an important refuge for opponents of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, and Warsaw has become one of Kyiv's staunchest supporters since Belarus' main ally Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Poland also accuses Belarus of artificially creating a migrant crisis on the border by flying in people from the Middle East and Africa and attempting to push them across the frontier. While the numbers of migrants crossing are lower than at the peak of the crisis in 2021, the Polish Border guard reports dozens of attempts to enter Poland illegally daily. Drone attack damages Russian oil pipeline building - governor 09:36 , Tara Cobham An attack by two drones caused an explosion in Russia's Pskov region near the border with Belarus that left an oil pipeline's administrative building damaged, local Governor Mikhail Vedernikov said on Telegram on Saturday. Vedernikov did not point the finger at Ukraine, but Moscow has previously blamed Kyiv for similar incidents, some of which have caused damage to people and property hundreds of kilometres from its border with Ukraine. Ukraine has not publicly acknowledged launching attacks against targets inside Russia, but senior officials in Kyiv have on occasion appeared to welcome the news of successful drone attacks on Russian soil. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on Saturday. "Provisionally, the building was damaged as a result of an attack by two unmanned aerial vehicles," Vedernikov said. He said there were no casualties and that an operational group that would deliver final conclusions was working at the scene. The incident occurred near the village of Litvinovo, less than 10km (6.2 miles) from Russia's border with Belarus. At least 974 attacks by Russia against health care in Ukraine 08:45 , Tara Cobham The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded at least 974 attacks against health care in Ukraine since Russia invaded, with 873 of those impacting medical facilities. The attacks have killed at least 101 people and injured 136 since war began. Russias missile strike on a medical clinic in Dnipro on Friday is not yet included in that figure because it takes time for the WHO to verify all attacks. According to the regional governor, Serhiy Lysak, two people were killed and 31 wounded in this latest attack. Biden feels 'negative' about Russian nuclear moves in Belarus 08:31 , Tara Cobham US President Joe Biden said on Friday he had an "extremely negative" reaction to reports that Russia has moved ahead with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Russia's defence minister announced the deal with Belarus on Thursday. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that tactical nuclear weapons were already on the move. A growing number of LGBT+ Russians seek refuge from war, discrimination in Argentina 07:30 , Namita Singh Anastasia Domini and wife Anna Domini walked hand in hand on a recent sunny day in Argentinas capital while their four restless children played nearby. Its a common sight in a country where same-sex marriage has been legal for more than a decade. But the couple, who got married shortly after arriving in Buenos Aires early last year, still remember the fear they felt when they first decided to hold hands in public after leaving Russia, which explicitly outlawed same-sex marriages in 2020. It was really scary, Anastasia Domini said, but we were looking around and really, really nobody was looking. Report: A growing number of LGBTQ+ Russians seek refuge from war, discrimination in Argentina Ukraine soccer league set for a title-deciding game in a remarkable, war-hit season 07:00 , Namita Singh Two soccer teams exiled from cities in war-battered eastern Ukraine play each other Sunday in the safer western part of the country with the league title at stake. The showdown between competition leader Shakhtar Donetsk and second-place Dnipro-1 at Arena Lviv can be decisive in a soccer season that is finishing on schedule in remarkable circumstances. The stadium was one of four in Ukraine, including Shakhtars home in Donetsk, secure enough in 2012 from Russian aggression to co-host that years European Championship with Poland. Shakhtar leads by five points and needs just a draw this weekend to secure the title ahead of the last scheduled round on June 4. I think it will maybe be one of our best matches ever, Ukrainian league chief executive Ievgen Dykyi told the Associated Press this week in a call from Kyiv. Because the situation now is really hard and all the players understand about this. Report: Ukraine soccer league set for a title-deciding game in a remarkable, war-hit season Zelensky says one killed in Russian attack on Dnipro clinic 06:28 , Namita Singh 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. Analysis: Vladimir Putins Ukraine facade is crumbling this week proves it 06:19 , Namita Singh From nuclear threats to raids on Russian territory, Russias president has plenty on his mind, writes our International editor Chris Stevenson. Analysis: The facade Putin has built over Ukraine is crumbling this week proves it Ukraine struck southern Russia with rocket and drone, country's officials and media say 06:18 , Namita Singh Ukraine struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone, though the missile was shot down by air defences, according to Russian officials and media reports. In the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, a blast damaged a residential and office building, officials said. They did not state what caused the blast, though Russian media said it was a drone attack. Unverified videos on social media showed a drone flying over the city. Firefighters rest during their intervention at a medical facility, the site of a missile strike, in the city of Dnipro on 26 May 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images) All emergency services are working at the scene. The cause of the incident is being investigated. Residents are asked to stay calm, Krasnodar mayor Yevgeny Naumov wrote on Telegram. In the neighbouring Rostov region, the local governor said a Ukrainian missile had been shot down by air defences on Thursday near Morozovsk, where there is a Russian air base. In the area of Morozovsk, an air defence system went off, shooting down a Ukrainian missile, Rostov governor Vasily Golubev said. The military is doing its job. Stay calm. Medvedev warns against underestimating risk of nuclear war 06:15 , Namita Singh Russian security council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev has warned that the West is seriously underestimating the risk of a nuclear war over Ukraine, cautioning that Russia would launch a pre-emptive strike if Ukraine gets nuclear weapons. Russia, which has the worlds largest nuclear arsenal, has repeatedly accused the West of waging a proxy war with Russia over Ukraine that could mushroom into a much bigger conflict. Russias former leader Dmitry Medvedev, a President Putin ally who is now deputy chairman of the countrys security council, meets with staff members during his visit to the military-industrial corporation NPO Mashinostroyenia in Reutov, outside Moscow, on 25 April 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, Mr Medvedev said. Allowing Ukraine nuclear weapons - a step no Western country has publicly proposed - would mean a missile with a nuclear charge coming to them, Mr Medvedev was quoted as saying. The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realise this and believe that it will not come to this. It will under certain conditions. Scarred by war, Ukrainian children carry on after losing parents, homes and innocence 06:11 , Namita Singh Two children squinted to see through the thick smoke that hung in the air after a deafening blast shook their small home in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region.The children, aged 9 and 10, called out for their father. But only eerie silence followed. Then Olha Hinkina and her brother Andrii rushed to the bomb shelter as they had been taught. When the booms stopped and the smoke cleared, they found their father on the porch motionless and covered in blood after being struck by a Russian projectile. Father was killed at seven in the morning, said Andrii, who now lives in the safer western city of Lviv, near the border with Poland.The two siblings join a generation of Ukrainian children whose lives have been upended by the war. Russias full-scale invasion has subjected them to constant bombardment, uprooted millions from their homes and turned many into orphans. Report: Scarred by war, Ukrainian children carry on after losing parents, homes and innocence Ukraine shoots down 10 missiles, over 20 drones in Russian attacks 06:00 , Namita Singh Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and over 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on capital Kyiv, the eastern city of Dnipro and other eastern areas, 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 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 10pm on Thursday and continued until 5am 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 firefighter examines the destroyed building of a medical facility, the site of a missile strike, in the city of Dnipro on 26 May 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images) 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. Mr 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. Russia's Medvedev says pre-emptive strike needed if Ukraine receives nuclear weapons 05:56 , Namita Singh Russia will have to launch a pre-emptive strike if the West gives Ukraine nuclear weapons, Russian news agencies quoted former Russian president and current security council deputy chairman 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, he said. Ukraine warns of Russian plan to simulate accident at Zaporizhia nuclear power plant 04:35 , Namita Singh Intelligence chiefs in Kyiv have issued an alert over what they claim are Russian plans to simulate an accident at the occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, in an attempt to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive aimed at retaking territory. An emergency leak of radioactive substances will be announced in the coming hours, the defence ministry claimed in an online statement on Friday evening, warning that Ukraine will traditionally be blamed for the incident. The occupiers are preparing large-scale provocations to create a centre of radiation danger, the message read. My colleague Jane Dalton has more: Ukraine warns of Russian plan to simulate nuclear power plant accident ICYMI: Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic kills two and wounds 30, Kyiv says 03:15 , Martha Mchardy A Russian missile has hit a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, killing two people and wounding 30 in an attack that President Volodymyr Zelensky called a crime against humanity. 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. A covered corpse lay in the road nearby. Another [Russian] missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. He said a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic had been hit, and added: Only an evil state can fight against clinics. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure Russian terror. Olena Harmash and Max Hunder report: Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic kills two and wounds 30, Kyiv says In pictures: Destruction in Ukrainian town of Kupiansk 02:15 , Martha Mchardy A destroyed building in the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region (AFP via Getty Images) A destroyed house in the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region (AFP via Getty Images) A destroyed building in the town of Kupiansk (AFP via Getty Images) Watch: Water rushes over destroyed Ukrainian dam after Russian shelling 01:15 , Martha Mchardy Voices: Vladimir Putins Ukraine facade is crumbling this week proves it Saturday 27 May 2023 00:15 , Martha Mchardy From nuclear threats to raids on Russian territory, Russias president has plenty on his mind, writes Chris Stevenson. Analysis: The facade Putin has built over Ukraine is crumbling this week proves it Watch: Zelensky receives standing ovation after speech to Johns Hopkins University graduates Friday 26 May 2023 23:15 , Martha Mchardy Ukraine war pensioner sweeps fields for mines to protect cows Friday 26 May 2023 22:15 , Laura Sharman A remarkable pensioner in Ukraine has been using a metal detector to comb her fields for mines and war detritus so she can put her cow out to pasture and plant vegetables. Hanna Plishchynska, 67, returned several weeks ago to her home in Stepova Dolyna, southwesten Ukraine - a rural community of 150 people that emptied as fighting raged for months last year during Russias invasion. The village on the edge of Kherson region found itself on the front lines and took heavy shelling from both sides. Plishchynska wanted to stick it out, but eventually fled with her cow, chickens and ducks. The area is in ruins though the fighting moved away after Ukraine recaptured Kherson city last November. She returned to find her house standing, albeit with smashed windows, and began scouring the area with a metal detector to check for mines and other dangers. What if my cow was killed by an explosion, what would I do? she said. Russias Foreign Minister thanks China for its balanced position on the war Friday 26 May 2023 21:30 , Laura Sharman Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed gratitude for Chinas balanced position and willingness to play a positive role, his ministry said. Lavrov and Chinese special envoy Li Hui discussed prospects for resolving the war in Ukraine at a meeting in Moscow on Friday, it added. Li, who spent 10 years as ambassador to Moscow, has been on a tour of European capitals, and last week visited Kyiv. After those talks, China said it wanted to form the greatest common denominator for resolving the Ukrainian crisis, and make its own efforts to stop the fighting and [establish a] ceasefire and restore peace as soon as possible. Black Sea grain deal slow to get moving after extension Friday 26 May 2023 21:11 , Martha Mchardy A deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian Black Sea ports has not yet resumed full operations, the United Nations said on Friday, having come to a halt before Russias decision last week to extend it. The pact called the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July with Russia and Ukraine to try to ease a global food crisis aggravated by Moscows invasion of Ukraine, covers three ports, but no ships have been authorized to travel to Pivdennyi (Yuzhny) port since April 29, the U.N. said. The United Nations and Turkey are working closely with the rest of the parties with the aim to resume full operations ... and lift all impediments that obstruct operations and limit the scope of the Initiative, the U.N. said in a statement. Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of effectively cutting Pivdennyi port out of the Black Sea deal as Russia complained that it had been unable to export ammonia via a pipeline to Pivdennyi under the agreement. The U.N. said on Friday that the Black Sea deal also provides for the exports of fertilizer, including ammonia, but there have been no such exports so far. Russia is ready without delay, in a matter of days, to launch the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, while Kyiv has been stalling it for almost a year, imposing new conditions, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday. A Ukrainian government source told Reuters last week 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. Under the Black Sea grain export agreement a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul - made up of officials from the Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the U.N. - authorizes ships and conducts inbound and outbound inspections of the vessels. According to information shared by the Ukrainian delegation with the parties at the JCC, there are 54 vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports. Out of these, 11 applications have been shared with the JCC for registration, the U.N. said. Britains Johnson discussed Ukraine with U.S. Trump - spokesperson Friday 26 May 2023 21:08 , Martha Mchardy Britains former prime minister, Boris Johnson, and U.S. former President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukrainian victory on Thursday, Johnsons spokesperson said on Friday. Since being ousted as Britains prime minister last year, Johnson has been keen to forge a profile as one of Ukraines most ardent backers in its fight against Russias full-scale invasion and has been visiting the United States this week to speak to politicians about maintaining support for Kyiv. A spokesperson for Johnson, who was once dubbed Britain Trump by the former president, said Johnson met Trump on Thursday to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukrainian victory. There were no further details. US and EU boost efforts to help solve Kosovo-Serbia dispute as war rages in Ukraine Friday 26 May 2023 20:45 , Laura Sharman The United States and the EU have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as the war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo they must normalise relations to advance in their intentions to join the bloc.The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbias rule, and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died. Russia acknowledges Vatican peace initiative, says no steps yet for a mission to Moscow Friday 26 May 2023 20:00 , Laura Sharman Russia on Friday indicated that it views Pope Francis Ukraine peace initiative positively, but stressed that there are no immediate plans for a Vatican mission to Moscow. The statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry to the state RIA Novosti agency was the first public acknowledgment by Moscow of the popes move. It followed the Vaticans weekend announcement that a veteran of the Catholic Churchs peace mediation initiatives, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, had been tapped by Francis as his envoy. We acknowledge the Holy Sees sincere desire to promote the peace process, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti. At the same time, no practical steps have been taken by the Vatican side to organize the trip to Moscow. Russia acknowledges Vatican peace initiative, says no steps yet for a mission to Moscow Ukraine harasses Russian border regions, Russia strikes Dnipro clinic Friday 26 May 2023 19:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire Friday, authorities said, hours after at least one nighttime blast rocked a Russian city in a region next to the annexed Crimea peninsula. The Kremlins forces, meanwhile, struck a clinic in Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing one person and wounding 16, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Also, a Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, placing nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. The Belgorod town of Graivoron, some 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was under fire for several hours, with four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line damaged, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Ukraine harasses Russian border regions, Russia strikes Dnipro clinic Scarred by war, Ukrainian children carry on after losing parents, homes and innocence Friday 26 May 2023 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The two children squinted to see through the thick smoke that hung in the air after a deafening blast shook their small home in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region. The pair, ages 9 and 10, called out for their father. Only eerie silence followed. Then Olha Hinkina and her brother, Andrii, rushed to the bomb shelter, as they had been taught. When the booms stopped and the smoke cleared, they found their father on the porch motionless and covered in blood after being struck by a Russian projectile. Father was killed at seven in the morning, said Andrii, who now lives in the safer western city of Lviv, near the border with Poland. Scarred by war, Ukrainian children carry on after losing parents, homes and innocence Putin: Russia is open to dialogue over Ukraine Friday 26 May 2023 17:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, confirmed that Russia is open to dialogue over Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Friday. Lula earlier tweeted that he had reiterated Brazils willingness to talk to both sides of the war in Ukraine. Russia Armenia Azerbaijan (Sputnik) Brazils Lula said spoke to Putin on war Friday 26 May 2023 17:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday he had a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed his willingness to establish peace talks with both sides of the war in Ukraine. Lula tweeted he had also thanked Putin for an invitation to attend an economic forum in Saint Petersburg, but had to decline it as he cant visit Russia at the moment. I reiterated Brazils willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in pursuit of peace, the leftist leader added. Lula has pitched himself as a peace broker to end the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. His proposal, based on Brazils tradition of non-intervention and neutrality, calls for a group of nations not involved in the war to engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. Netherlands 'seriously considering' sending F-16's to Ukraine Friday 26 May 2023 16:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Netherlands is seriously considering sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but has not taken any final decision yet, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday. Earlier this week the Netherlands said it wanted to start training Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16s as soon as possible. Asked if the Netherlands would send fighter jets to Ukraine, Rutte told a news conference no final decision had been taken, but added that if you start training its obvious that is something you are seriously considering. Any decision on sending F-16s was dependent on approval from the U.S. to do so, Rutte said. He added that the Netherlands would potentially have fighter jets to pass on as it was currently phasing out its F-16s. According to figures from the Dutch defence ministry the Netherlands currently has 24 operational F-16s which will be phased out by mid-2024. Another 18 of the jets are currently available for sale, of which 12 have been provisionally sold. Last Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden endorsed training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy 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. Poland says it will close border to freight vehicles from Belarus and Russia Friday 26 May 2023 16:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Poland will close its eastern border to freight vehicles registered in Belarus and Russia until further notice, according to a draft regulation published on Friday by the interior ministry. The move comes as a Belarusian court upheld an earlier decision to sentence a journalist of Polish origin to eight years in prison, stoking tensions between the two countries that have been running high in part due to Russias invasion of Ukraine. According to the justification of the regulation, the decision was necessary to ensure public safety. While the regulation concerning the border did not mention the case of jailed journalist Andrzej Poczobut, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Twitter that he would add several hundred Belarusian officials to sanctions lists as a result of the verdict, which he labelled draconian. Poland had previously closed some border crossings with Belarus following Poczobuts imprisonment and the expulsion of Polish diplomats by Minsk. The Belarusian foreign ministry could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. Belarus has previously said that Polish decisions to close border crossings were irrational and dangerous, accusing Warsaw of causing long delays and failing to implement bilateral agreements. Poland has been an important refuge for opponents of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, and Warsaw has become one of Kyivs staunchest supporters since Belarus main ally Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Poland also accuses Belarus of artificially creating a migrant crisis on the border by flying in people from the Middle East and Africa and attempting to push them across the frontier. While the numbers of migrants crossing are lower than at the peak of the crisis in 2021, the Polish Border guard reports dozens of attempts to enter Poland illegally daily. Lavrov, Chinese special envoy Li discuss prospects for peace in Ukraine, Russia says Friday 26 May 2023 15:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese special envoy Li Hui discussed prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine at a meeting in Moscow on Friday, Russias Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Li has been on a tour of European capitals including Kyiv. In a meeting with officials from the European Union in Brussels on Thursday, Li said China had always upheld an objective and just position on the Ukrainian issue and actively promoted peace talks. (EPA) Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic kills two and wounds 30, Kyiv says Friday 26 May 2023 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A Russian missile hit a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, killing two people and wounding 30 in an attack that President Volodymyr Zelensky called a crime against humanity. 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. A covered corpse lay in the road nearby. Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. He said a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic had been hit, and added: Only an evil state can fight against clinics. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure Russian terror. Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said a 69-year-old man had been killed as he passed the clinic and another mans body had been pulled from the rubble. He said 30 people had been wounded, including two children, and contact had not yet been made with three people thought to have been in the building when it was hit. Ukraines Defence Ministry called the attack a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Russias Defence Ministry said it had carried out an overnight strike on Ukrainian ammunition depots. The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit, the RIA news agency quoted it as saying. Moscow has dismissed allegations that its soldiers have committed war crimes and denies deliberately targeting civilians although it has bombarded cities across Ukraine since invading 15 months ago. (EPA) Which companies are leaving Russia and which are staying? Here's a look Friday 26 May 2023 14:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain 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: Which companies are leaving Russia and which are staying? Here's a look Swedish foreign minister says ambition is to join NATO by July Friday 26 May 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Sweden still hopes to be a member of NATO by the time of the alliances summit in Vilnius in July, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Friday. Russias invasion of Ukraine convinced Sweden and Finland last year to ditch long-held policies of military non-alignment and seek security of NATOs collective defence commitment. Finland joined NATO last month, but Swedens membership has been held up by objections from Turkey and Hungary. There isnt going to be any plan B or anything like that. Plan B is plan A - that is full membership in NATO and that is what I and the government are going to work for all the way to Vilnius, he told reporters. Turks vote in the second round of a tight presidential election on Sunday, with incumbent Tayyip Erdogan leading after the first ballot. Billstrom said he hoped Turkeys parliament would begin the ratification process after the dust has settled. It is time for Turkey to start its ratification process and uphold its part of the bargain, Billstrom said. Sweden and Finland struck a three-way deal in Madrid in June last year aimed at addressing Turkeys security worries. But Ankara has continued to drag its heels over Sweden, saying Stockholm harbours members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. Hungary has also objected to Swedens application citing grievances over Swedish criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orbans record on democracy and the rule of law. Billstrom said it was unclear what objections Budapest had to Swedens membership. Hungary gave its support at the summit in Madrid last year for Sweden to be given invitee status without any conditions, he said. It is our firm opinion that they should start ratification. Watch: Zelensky receives standing ovation after speech to Johns Hopkins University graduates Friday 26 May 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia says it carried out overnight strike on Ukrainian ammo depots Friday 26 May 2023 13:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Defence Ministry said on Friday that it carried out an overnight strike on Ukrainian ammunition depots, the RIA news agency reported. The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit, the defence ministry was quoted as saying. Map shows the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine Friday 26 May 2023 13:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The UK ministry of defence has published a map which shows the latest Russian attacks and troop locations in the Ukraine war. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 26 May 2023. Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/Qw6Mi1k2iJ #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/rBD6oYB2is Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 26, 2023 Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Friday 26 May 2023 12:39 , 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. Our foreign editor Chris Stevenson reports: Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Blast in Russia's Krasnodar was caused by drones, governor says Friday 26 May 2023 12:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A blast that damaged a residential and office building in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, east of Crimea, on Friday was caused by two drones, the regions governor said. There is some damage to buildings, but critical infrastructure was not damaged. And most importantly, there were no casualties, governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram. The Russians out for revenge on Putin Friday 26 May 2023 11:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion were formed in Ukraine in the wake of Moscows invasion. Now, the militias are taking the fight to the Kremlin and aiming to topple the president. Kim Sengupta reports: The Russians out for revenge on Putin One killed, 15 wounded in Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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' Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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 Friday 26 May 2023 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. Denmark and the Netherlands will lead a European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday. Denmark and the Netherlands will lead a European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. During today's meeting, several allies and partners also discussed plans for training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16, Austin said. Planning and executing this training will be a significant undertaking, but the coordination of this contact group will help make that possible. But I especially wanted to thank Denmark and the Netherlands, which have decided to lead a European coalition in providing F-16 training for Ukrainian forces. https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1661829429549473803 Austin said that in the coming weeks, my Dutch and Danish counterparts will work with the United States and other allies to develop a training framework. Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to train. We expect more countries to join this important initiative. You can get a sense of how long it would take to train a Ukrainian pilot on the F-16 in our deep dive here. Asked why it has taken the U.S. so long to come around to supporting the concept of providing Ukraine with Western fighter jets and training for its pilots - something the Biden administration only agreed to last week - Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley told reporters that cost was a huge factor. The Ukrainians have been provided nine brigades of combat capability platforms and trained troops, said Austin. That's as big as many of the Western nations have in our land forces. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1640419664818782222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1640419664818782222%7Ctwgr%5Ebcbc008d37c976e666f297104639bd2a61b49702%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-challenger-tanks-stryker-armored-vehicles-arrive-in-country That would not have been possible, Milley said, had funds first been invested in F-16s. Milley added that Ukraine had much greater needs than F-16s, like ground-based air defenses as the best and quickest way to deny Russia air superiority over Ukraine. The U.S. and allies have provided a number of ground-based air defense systems, including Patriots, National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles Systems (NASAMS), IRIS-T, SAMP/T, Crotale, Gepard and others. https://twitter.com/oleksiireznikov/status/1648627423636799488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1648627423636799488%7Ctwgr%5E4abc5a94ebaca56908af99ff47e53f242ca125e3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-u-s-patriot-missile-battery-has-been-delivered Just 10 F-16s would cost $2 billion in procurement and sustainment, he said. "The Russians have thousands of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters," said Milley. "So, if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're going to need a substantial amount of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. 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 defense to cover the battlespace and deny the Russians the airspace. And that is exactly what happened." https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1661715751860830209 While no magic weapon, because there are no such things, F-16s have a role for Ukraine in the future, said Milley. But it is "going to take a considerable length of time to build up an air force that's the size and scope and scale that'll be necessary." The U.K. also plans to train Ukrainian pilots as well. "Approximately 20 Ukrainian pilots will be entering initial training, a British government spokesperson said," according to Foreign Policy. 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 said. There wasn't much talk during the press conference about providing Ukraine with F-16s, which a number of U.S. allies are considering. But Austin did mention that donations of those jets are likely to come. "The proficiency of Ukrainian forces and operating [previously donated weapons] systems as fast as they did is testament to their skill and adaptability under pressure," Austin said. "It's another example of the Ukrainians leveraging the tools provided by the international coalition into the tangible success on the battlefield from anti-tank weapons like Javelins at the beginning of this fight all the way to Patriots today and we'll soon see the same with F-16." You can read more about where those F-16s might come from in our deep dive here. Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest With images emerging on social media purporting to show U.S.-supplied vehicles operating during Monday's incursion into Russia, Milley told reporters during Thursday's press conference that he cannot confirm nor deny that, and has tasked staff to look into it. https://twitter.com/JulianRoepcke/status/1661315398220886016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1661315398220886016%7Ctwgr%5E3fff036f35473bd59303de028b4e8d264e55f209%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-white-house-investigating-u-s-vehicles-used-in-raid-into-russia In a statement released Wednesday, the Freedom For Russia Legion said the vehicles used were captured from the Russians, and they captured them from Ukrainians. https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1661412119491878912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1661412119491878912%7Ctwgr%5E3fff036f35473bd59303de028b4e8d264e55f209%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-white-house-investigating-u-s-vehicles-used-in-raid-into-russia But regardless of what his staff determines, Milley said Thursday that Ukraine is not allowed to use U.S.-supplied equipment in Russia. "The rules that we have established with Ukrainians is not to use U.S.-supplied equipment to attack into the geographic space of Russia," said Milley. "Look, they are a country at war. There is an existential threat. They're fighting for their survival. I can't say with definitive accuracy right this minute whether that's U.S.-supplied equipment or not, what was the nature of the attack or who did what to whom. I can't say that definitively. But I can say that we have asked the Ukrainians not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia." The reason, Milley said, is "because this is a Ukrainian war. It is not a war between the United States and Russia. It's not a war between NATO and Russia, it is a war between Ukraine and Russia and we are supporting and supplying training and advising and assisting. But it is not a direct conflict between the United States and Russia." Speaking of that incursion, the Russia Volunteer Corps (RDK), one of the two self-proclaimed anti-Putin Russian partisan groups that staged the raid along with the Freedom For Russia Legion, claimed to be back inside Russia Thursday. RDK released a video it says was taken Thursday in front of a post office in Russia. "Of course, this time no one needs to prove that we filmed our video not in the Kyiv region, but in the Motherland," the RDK fighters say. "Nevertheless, we decided to make such videos our good tradition! Glory to RDK!" https://twitter.com/natalkakyiv/status/1661724740547903489?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A On the battlefield, Donbas remains the "epicenter of hostilities," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday on her Telegram channel. "There, the enemy is making an offensive in several directions - Avdiivskyi, Marinskyi, Lymanskyi, Kupyanskyi and Bakhmutskyi," she wrote. "On Avdiivskyi and Mar'inskyi - enemy attacks were repulsed. The offensive actions of the enemy are unsuccessful." In Lymansky, "the enemy took a break and did not carry out offensive actions," said Maliar. "Battles are currently ongoing on Kupyanskyi. The enemy attacks, tries to capture a bridgehead for further advance, suffers losses." Meanwhile, in the Bakhmut area, "the enemy is trying to stop our advance on the flanks with artillery fire. Now the enemy is pulling up additional units to the flanks for reinforcement." In the suburbs of Bakhmut, "the enemy replaced Wagner's units with army regular units. At the moment, the Wagnerites remain in the same city of Bakhmut. Our troops control the outskirts of the city in the southwestern part in the 'Airplane' area." You can see how fierce the urban fighting in Bakhmut has been in this video below. https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1661675364811169793?s=20 As part of his efforts to leave Bakhmut, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, prepared caskets of foreign troops fighting in that city on behalf of Ukraine. https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1661741100485476354?s=20 There is also video of his troops leaving Bakhmut. https://twitter.com/warmonitors/status/1661659290342440961?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A But as a parting gift, he promised to leave two of his soldiers behind, though it is unclear if he is serious, or trolling the Kremlin. https://twitter.com/gerashchenko_en/status/1661682770190520321?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Images are emerging on social media claiming to show a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-held port city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. "Berdyans report the sounds of detonation!" according to the Telegram channel of Berdyansk Today, "an independent media resource created to cover the life of Berdyansk." "Ambulances also rushed by! " Berdyansk Today reported. "There were also explosions near the village of Osypenko. At least the locals heard very loud noises and shaking houses! There were several previous arrivals! The loudest was in the districts: AKZ (territory of Azovkabel), Port, Azmol (plant territory)." It's unclear what exactly was hit with what. We will update this story with verifiable information when it becomes available. https://twitter.com/GeoConfirmed/status/1661842679938818056 https://twitter.com/revishvilig/status/1661841583652610077 https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1661826401492672536?s=20 Russia and its client state of Belarus agreed today on a plan to store Russian tactical nuclear weapons in that nation on Ukraine's northern border. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin "put their signatures on documents outlining the process for storing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special facility at the Republic of Belarus," Russia's Defense Ministry (MoD) announced today on its Telegram channel. "Russia is not transferring nuclear weapons to the Republic of Belarus. Control over them and the decision on their use remains with the Russian side," Shoigu stated when signing the documents. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin sign an agreement to place Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. (Russian MoD photo) "Shoigu stressed that the actions taken by Belarus and Russia 'comply with all relevant international legal responsibilities,'" according to the MoD. Shoigu claimed the activities of NATO's joint nuclear missions pushes Belarus and Russia to take proper retaliatory action. In the circumstances of an extremely sharp escalation of threats and activity of NATO joint nuclear missions, we are compelled to take retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere, said Shoigu. The deployment of Russian Federation non-strategic nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus has been planned in accordance with the decision of Supreme Commanders-in-Chief of the Russian Federation. Shoigu emphasized that Belarus has already received the Iskander-M tactical missile system, which can employ missiles in both conventional and nuclear warheads. Some Belarusian aircraft have been upgraded for potential nuclear weapon employment. Military personnel have received the appropriate training, he added. That agreement lives up to a promise Russian President Vladimir Putin made in March. "We have handed over to Belarus our well-known and very effective Iskander system that can carry [nuclear weapons]," Putin said at the time. "On April 3, we will start training the crew and on July 1 we will complete the construction of a special storage for tactical nuclear weapons on the Belarusian territory." https://twitter.com/HannaLiubakova/status/1661647148587401216 The Ukrainian National Guard said one of its soldiers, known as the "Zaporizhzhia Avenger" downed his seventh Russian Su-25 Frogfoot attack jet today with a man-portable air defense system (MANPAD). The Frogfoot was one of two Ukraine claimed it downed over Zaparizhzhia Oblast today, the Ukrainian National Guard reported on its Facebook page. On May 25, the occupation troops of the Russian Federation tried to affect the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces with the use of a pair of Su-25s, the Ukrainian National Guard reported. As a result of the combat, the first Su-25 aircraft was completely destroyed, its pilot managed to catapult over the temporarily occupied territory. The second plane was [hit] by the famous Zaporizhzhia Avenger. After being shot, the enemy Su-25 was seriously damaged and forced to enter an emergency landing in Melitopol. At the end of the runway, Melitopol residents observed a black pillar of smoke. Before that, there were deafening explosions. How much of the "Zaporizhzhia Avenger" story is real and how much is "Ghost of Kyiv" level myth mixed with a dose of propaganda is unclear at this point. We've reached out to the Ukrainian national guard to see if we can interview him, if he exists, and will update this story if and when that happens. https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1661717520225533957 Spanish troops offered a teary sendoff to the Ukrainian troops they were training, alternately pumping fists into the air, wiping their eyes, and saluting as their trainees departed. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1661714874794229761?s=20 There was a prisoner exchange today near Bakhmut, with 106 Ukrainians being returned. https://twitter.com/noelreports/status/1661695135246065665 You can watch British-donated WS-62 Sea King helicopters in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Those helicopters made their official debut in Ukraine in January even sporting patriotic high-visibility Ukrainian markings less than two months after London announced they would be donated to Kyiv's cause. https://twitter.com/anno1540/status/1661685110226264065?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Ukrainian Gen. Valeri Zaluzhny, commander and chief of the Armed Forces, had not been seen in public for a while, creating speculation on Russian Telegram channels that he may have been injured in battle. But he had been in recent contact with Milley and today he surfaced publicly in a video that acknowledged that there have been conspiracy theories swirling around him. https://twitter.com/SlavaUk30722777/status/1661761183299571714 And finally, move over trench beaver wherever you are, there's a new critter winning the hearts and minds of Ukrainian troops. https://twitter.com/evatrmx86qc7r/status/1661464162210312195?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 war latest: Russian missile strike on Dnipro kills 2 as Zelensky says Ukraine doing best to procure air defense Key developments on May 26: Governor: Russian missile strike on Dnipro clinic kills 2, injures 31 Kyiv braces 13th air assault since the beginning of May; no casualties reported Zelensky says Ukraine doing best to procure air defense following the latest Dnipro missile strike Local authorities: 128 children evacuated from embattled areas in Donetsk Oblast since April A Russian missile strike hit a medical clinic in Dnipro, killing at least two people and wounding 31, including two kids, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on May 26. Of the 31 wounded in the Russian morning attack on a city in central-eastern Ukraine, 16 were hospitalized, according to Lysak. He added that eight of the wounded were medical staff. A vet clinic nearby was damaged due to the attack, and a mans body was found under the rubble, the governor said. A 69-year-old man passing by the attack site was also killed. The two children wounded are boys aged three and six, and their conditions are moderately severe, according to the governors report. A few of the victims are in serious condition. Fifty firefighters were involved in a rescue operation to put out the fire, which spread across 1,000 square meters and partially destroyed the three-story clinic, Lysak said. He reported the fire at the clinic being extinguished by around 1 p.m. local time, a few hours after the attack, which occurred around 10:30 a.m. The deadly attack on Dnipro comes as Russian forces have intensified their air strikes on cities far from the battlefield, including Kyiv and Lviv. While the Russian Defense Ministry claims to target military facilities each time, civilian infrastructure often comes under fire. Overnight on May 26, Russia also launched its 13th air assault on Kyiv this month, the local authorities said, with the debris from targets shot down by the Ukrainian air defense damaging the roof of a mall and a house in the capitals two districts. Until late April, Kyiv has endured 51 days without any attacks from Russia. Russian forces have regularly attacked parts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, an area around Nikopol across the Dnipro River from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but such large-scale air strikes on the Dnipro city dont happen as frequently. The deadliest attack on Dnipro occurred on Jan. 14. A Russian Kh-47 Kinzhal missile slammed into an apartment complex full of people on a Saturday afternoon, resulting in a partial collapse of the building. Local authorities reported that at least 46 people, including six children, were killed due to the Jan. 14 attack. Hopes for a miracle die at Dnipro morgue, as relatives line up to identify victims of Russian attack Standing outside a hospital morgue in Dnipro, Yevhen Frantsev, 61, waited for his son to confirm that his missing daughter and grandchildren were killed by Russia. Frantsevs daughter Oksana, 39, was at home with her two daughters Mykhailyna and Leila, aged three and 13 when a Russian The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima Condemning Russias May 26 attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed in his evening address that Ukraine was doing "everything possible" to procure more advanced air defense. Zelensky said that he sees substantial progress in Ukraines ongoing efforts to convince Western allies to supply Ukraine with modern fighter jets, which will become a "key component" of defending the sky and gaining an advantage over Russia on the battlefield. "We are moving faster in defense modernization than could have been predicted six months ago," Zelensky said. The World Health Organization condemned the attack on a medical clinic in Dnipro without naming the party that carried out the attack. 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 Children in war zone As fierce battles rage on in Donetsk Oblast, the regional military administration reported that 128 children have been evacuated with their families or legal guardians from settlements in embattled areas since April. The mandatory evacuations, which began on April 7, covered 21 settlements across Donetsk Oblast, according to the administration. Eight children, however, remain in areas of heavy fighting, according to the statement. They include four children in Bakhmut, a city Russia effectively captured in May after more than 10 months of heavy fighting, as well as one in Avdiivka, two in Krasnohorivka, and one in Keramik. Some families either hide their children or "absolutely refuse to leave," the administration said. Parents reluctance to leave war zones, despite having small children, has been an ongoing controversial topic, with activists and volunteers calling for a stricter mandatory evacuation. No entity including the police, local authorities, or volunteers can evacuate children without the permission of the caretakers. Wagner's influence in Mali has been growing since France withdrew its troops last year The US has announced sanctions on the local boss of the Wagner private military group in Mali, Ivan Maslov. The Russian mercenary group could be secretly trying to obtain military equipment for the war in Ukraine through its operations in Mali and other African countries, the US says. The Treasury Department said Wagner employees could be trying to procure mines, drones and radar equipment. Wagner is known to be operating in some African countries, including Mali. The group has been providing Mali's military government with assistance in the fight against Islamist insurgents. Mr Maslov is seen as a key figure in Wagner, working with Malian officials to build Wagner's presence. The US accusations suggest the group might be trying to exploit the abundance of arms in Mali. The country saw an influx of weaponry after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in 2011, as mercenaries fighting for the former leader returned home. The group's overall boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has accused Russia's defence ministry of failing to provide his personnel with weapons and ammunition for operations in Ukraine. Wagner has led Russia's offensive in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, although it began withdrawing on Thursday in order to hand control over to the Russian military. Earlier this year, the US designated Wagner as a transnational criminal organisation. Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders are already subject to sanctions. Prigozhin has regularly complained of lack of weapons and ammunition in Ukraine "The Wagner Group's presence on the African continent is a destabilising force for any country that allows for the deployment of the group's resources into their sovereign territory," the US Treasury Department statement said. Wagner committed widespread human rights abuses and appropriated natural resources, it added. The Treasury also suggested Wagner might be "seeking to transit material acquisitions for Ukraine through Mali" and was "willing to use false paperwork for these transactions". The statement also accused Wagner of supplying Sudan's Rapid Support Forces with missiles for its conflict with the Sudanese army. Russia has been seeking to expand its influence in Africa as it seeks new allies in the war with Ukraine. Its involvement in West Africa predates the war, but evidence suggests Wagner's operations there have not been any more successful than those of other forces, such as former colonial power France. France withdrew its troops from Mali in February last year following disagreements with the military government, which seized power in 2020. Ukrainian forces repel Russian attack near Avdiivka, despite chemical weapons use The State Border Guard Service clarifies that the battle with the occupiers lasted about ten hours Despite the chemical attack, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and border guards repelled the assault of the Russian military. Read also: Russia loses about two companies per day near Avdiivka and Mariinka, reports Ukrainian military "Despite the chemical attack, the soldiers of the State Border Guard Service and the Armed Forces repelled the enemy's assault on the Avdiivka axis," the message said. The assault on Ukrainian positions was reportedly preceded by artillery fire. Read also: Zelenskyy in Avdiivka, HUR finds suspects in beheading, exports collapse year-on-year "The enemy forces dropped ammunition with irritant aerosols from drones," the report adds. Then the occupiers, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, launched an attack. Read also: Ukraine downs Russian Mi-24 helicopter near Avdiivka The State Border Guard Service notes that the battle lasted about 10 hours. During this time, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 30 enemy troops, two tanks, an infantry fighting vehicle, and an armored personnel carrier. 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 Boat Bucha The Bucha boat will be part of the river flotilla created last year in Kyiv Oblast, he said. The boat is one of those being built for the Ukrainian Navy since 2016. It was laid before Russias full-scale invasion, but its construction and state tests were completed during active hostilities in Kyiv Oblast. The boat was accepted into the Navy by the defense ministers order on May 26. Read also: Ukrainian forces wreck three boats with saboteurs from Russia near Kherson: 18 invaders killed The official ceremony was attended by Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chief of Ukraines General Staff, Lieutenant General Serhiy Shaptala, Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrylov, and Navy personnel. There have been no Navy forces and means on the Dnipro River since the beginning of the full-scale war, Neizhpapa noted. At first, one division was created, and later another one at the request of Zaluzhnyi and other commanders, but in a different area in the south of the Dnipro River. Almost a year ago, Ukraine established a management body for all boats and ships on the Dnipro River the river flotilla management body. Read also: Ukrainian army releases video showing attack on boat seized by Russians in south 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 Graduating students at the University of Massachusetts Boston were surprised with a special gift as they walked across the stage on Thursday morning. Billionaire Rob Hale, a commencement speaker during the ceremony, announced he was giving out envelopes with $1000 in cash to each graduate. Now, we come to the moment our graduates and their families have been waiting for, Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco said after about an hour and a half of graduating speech and performances, reported The Boston Globe. Students started lining up to receive their diplomas when Hale interrupted. He made the surprise announcement as students began to cheer. Each 2023 graduate received the money split in two envelopes one for them and one they can donate. These are turbulent times. You guys have survived. You have prospered. You are to be celebrated, Hale said. We want to give you two gifts. The first is a gift to you. The second is the gift of giving. Hale, who is the co-founder, president and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, had issued his commencement speech earlier in the ceremony. According to the news outlet, he mentioned his first company, Network Plus, which filed for bankruptcy two decades ago. Have you ever met someone who lost a billion dollars before? he asked. Theres a very good chance Im the biggest loser youve ever met. And now you guys are getting career advice from me. If you give a little more than you get, your life will be better because of it. I promise you, he added. It isnt Hales first time donating cash envelopes to graduating students. In 2021, he gave the same gift to graduates at Quincy College. Its honestly great for them to give back like that, William Dos Santos, an electrical engineering graduate, told The Boston Globe. A lot of us are needing this money for starting off work. According to UMass Boston, about 59% of undergraduate students are first-generation college students, many of immigrant parents. Tuition fees at the university are $15,535 per year for in-state students and $37,211 for out-of-state students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, this is just below the average tuition price for a private college in the country. The surprise gift comes as President Joe Biden issued an executive order to forgive up to $20,000 in student debt relief last year. According to Forbes, the House passed a bill to repeal the plan, and the bill is currently awaiting a ruling at the Supreme Court. University of Iowa files lawsuit in response to claims it has failed to pay utility companies The University of Iowa has filed its own lawsuit in response to accusations that it has failed to pay the companies contracted to run its utility system, and the parties have agreed to move their dispute from federal court to the Iowa Business Specialty Court for further litigation. The University of Iowa Energy Collaborative filed its lawsuit in January accusing the university of a breach of contract, claiming the institution had come up short on payments while also mishandling insurance claims. Now UIHC has agreed to withdraw its federal lawsuit, according to court documents filed Tuesday. The filing comes after the university and the Iowa Board of Regents countered with a lawsuit of their own in March, claiming the energy companies that make up the UIEC and operate the universitys utilities have withheld financial records needed to make proper payments. Previously: Power plant operators file lawsuit against University of Iowa alleging breach of contract The school also accuses the UIEC of making requests for duplicate payments in addition to a failure to perform necessary duties. Although UIEC is dropping its federal lawsuit, it can still pursue its claims against the university. Tuesday's court filings give the utility partnership until June 13 to file its answer and any counterclaims to the university's lawsuit. The agreement to move the case to state court comes as the federal court was considering the university's motion to dismiss the case, arguing that federal courts could not hear the case because the university, as an arm of the state, has immunity under the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A $1.2 billion utility partnership The Iowa Board of Regents in 2019 awarded a 50-year contract to the University of Iowa Energy Collective to operate the University of Iowa's utilities in exchange for a $1.2 billion payment upfront, meant to pay off $153 million of debt while adding "nearly $1 billion" to the school's endowment. The University of Iowa Energy Collaborative is a partnership between Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. of New York, ENGIE North America Inc. of Texas, Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. of Maryland and other unspecified individuals who own 2% of the company and do not reside in Iowa, according to the lawsuit. The deal required the university to pay the UIEC $35 million annually for the first five years of the contract, though the UIECs lawsuit claimed the university had broken that agreement. UIEC says in court documents the university has refused to make overdue payments, while they also accuse the institution of failing to file claims for casualty insurance coverage. Issues arise amid contract disputes The Collaboratives lawsuit, filed Jan. 26, claimed the university refused to pay $1.5 million compensation packages for the company's CEO and CFO, the company's administrative costs and corporate overhead, and the cost to the company of maintaining its investment-grade credit rating. The UIEC sought $2.5 million for overhauling a utility system turbine, which the company says the university committed to under the agreement. The lawsuit alleges the turbine was in bad repair because of the universitys "inadequate maintenance." The lawsuit stated in the late fall of 2020, before the overhaul work had started, the turbine suffered an overspeed event that left it damaged and significantly increased the cost of the overhaul. More: Power plant operators file lawsuit against University of Iowa alleging breach of contract The universitys March lawsuit, meanwhile, claims the UIEC has refused to provide critical financial information needed to accurately determine monies owed. The suit also says the UIEC has improperly attempted to expand the scope of purported costs eligible for reimbursement, and accused the UIEC of trying to seek duplicate payments. Additionally, the suit claims the UIEC hasnt performed its tasks as agreed upon in its contract with the University, saying they have failed to perform its operational duties in a manner consistent with prudent utility practices and key performance indicators. The Iowa Business Specialty Court, where the dispute will be heard going forward, is designed to "move business and complex commercial litigation cases through the court system more expeditiously." The University and UIEC agree in court filings their dispute is eligible for the specialty court because it would involve more than $200,000 in compensatory damages, among other criteria. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: UI Energy Collaborative claimed Regents, University breached contract University President Offers 8th Grader Full-Ride Scholarship After He Walked 2 Hours To Get To Graduation A St. Louis, MO, students determination has paid off for him in more ways than one. In order to cross the stage and receive his 8th Grade certificate for his graduation, Xavier Jones walked two hours to Harris-Stowe State University, where the ceremony was hosted, according to the universitys Facebook post. Along with his brother and friend, the Yeatman Middle School student traveled from West Florissant and Mimika in North St. Louis City to the university in midtown. Following the discovery of how Jones made it to the ceremony, Harris-Stowe State University President Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith awarded him a full-ride scholarship to attend the HBCU when he graduates from high school. HSSU President Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith was so moved by his dedication and perseverance, she offered him a Presidential scholarship, which covers four years of tuition, housing, books, and fees! the Facebook post details. "From a determined walk to an inspiring journey! Yeatman Middle School student Xavier Jones walked 2 hours to his promotion ceremony. Moved by his dedication, HSSU President Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith offered him a Presidential scholarship. #Perseverance #EducationMatters #HSSU pic.twitter.com/VjifjKQLyn Harris-Stowe Univ (@HarrisStowe) May 25, 2023 In 2022, Collins made history after she was not only the first Black woman to be appointed as president of HSSU but the first woman in its 166-year history, according to the universitys website. Graduation season has been one for the books this go-around in regard to dedication. As previously shared by AfroTech, Khalil Watson, who was shot and paralyzed seven years ago, went on to cross his graduation stage at Reynolds Community College with the help of a robotic exoskeleton. Fulfilling this dream comes after Watson was unable to attend his high school graduation in person due to his hospitalization at the time. The 25-year-old received his associates degree in pre-social work. Now, he is set to transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to earn his bachelors and masters degrees in social work. I have a passion for helping others, and after going through the things that I have experienced, I feel like Ill be easy to connect with and understand individuals who have similar or worse situations, Watson said. The Carlisle Barracks Main Post Cemetery, which still holds the remains of more than 160 Native youth. (Photo: Jenna Kunze) Five Native American children who died more than a century ago at an Indian boarding school in Pennsylvania will be going home to their closest living relatives this September, the United States Office of Army Cemeteries announced in a federal notice on Thursday. Those students include: Edward Upright, from the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota; Amos LaFramboise, from the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota; Beau Neal, from the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming; Edward Spott from the Puyallup Tribe in Washington; and Launy Shorty from the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. The disinterment of the five Native students remains will begin on Sept. 11, according to the Army. It marks the sixth disinterment and transfer of Native ancestors since 2017. The students died in the governments care between 1880 and 1910 while attending the nations flagship Indian boarding school, Carlisle Indian Industrial School, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1879, Carlisle Barracks became the site of the nations first government-run Indian boarding school. Operating under the motto of kill the Indian, save the man, school administrators tried to forcibly assimilate 7,800 Native American children from more than 140 tribal nations through a mix of Western-style education and hard labor. Before it closed and the property was transferred to the Army in 1918, the school buried the bodies of at least 194 Indigenous children in the school cemetery, including 14 who are marked with unknown grave markers. Many students deaths were announced in the local newspaper at the time, noting causes of death as consumption or tuberculosis, or detailing circumstances of unknown sickness. One teenage student, Edward Spott died of consumption in 1896, just eight months after he graduated, according to the local school newspaper. Edward was a bright young man, full of hopes and possibilities, the article noted, among paragraphs about the goings-on with other students. After graduation and before, he was a member of the preparatory school at Dickinson College and won many friends among students there. He was beloved by all who knew him and his death is exceedingly sad. One hundred and twenty six years later, Edward Spotts 25-year-old relative, Tiauna Augkhopinee, will be traveling from Washington state to Pennsylvania along with her aunt to bring home her relative this fall. Augkhopinee, who works in her tribes historic preservation office, found Edward was buried at Carlisle while researching her family history last August. She then independently pursued his return by following the Armys protocol, having her grandmother sign an affidavit to prove she was Edwards closest living relative. She said that, while she hasnt had much difficulty navigating the return process, she owes her easy experience to the expertise of her aunt and colleagues who helped her. If I was not 25, able bodied, with the ability to communicate and advocate for his return this would be a very difficult process. Augkhopinee told Native News Online. The Army began exhuming and returning the remains of Native childrens at the request of their closest living relatives in 2017. To date, the Army has returned a total of 28 Native American and Alaska Native children home to their families in five disinterment projects since, though not without controversy. Tribal leaders and attorneys have repeatedly critiqued and challenged the Armys internal process for returning ancestors, saying it is more stringent, restrictive, and burdensome than the federal law they say applies: the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In 1990, Congress enacted NAGPRA to provide a process for federal agencies and museums that receive federal funds to repatriate or transfer certain Native American cultural itemsincluding human remainsback to their respective tribal nations. The Army maintains that NAGPRA doesnt apply to the Carlisle Main Post Cemetery because Individually marked graves located within the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery do not constitute holdings or collections of the Army nor does NAGPRA require the Army to engage in the intentional excavation or exhumation of a grave, they wrote in the Federal Register Notice published on Thursday. But attorneys for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and one of the affected tribes, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, have recently reignited the debate that NAGPRA should apply and the Armys internal process is inapplicable to the children buried at Carlisle Cemetery, according to a letter from NARF. For example, the Armys policy provides no means of repatriation by a childs tribe if a living relative cannot be identified, whereas NAGPRA allows for the tribal nation to claim a child. In March, NARF and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyates attorneys sent a letter to the U.S. Armys Department of Army Cemeteries urging the expeditious repatriation of the tribes ancestor, Amos LaFromboise, under NAGPRA. But instead of consulting with the tribe on repatriation, as NAGPRA dictates, the Army published their intent to disinter Amos in September without any notice to Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribal officials, Amos relative, or NARF attorneys, the parties confirmed. Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribal historian Tamara St. Johnwho has researched her tribes ancestors buried at Carlisle for more than six years in preparation for bringing them home told Native News Online on May 25 that the Army continues to disrespect tribal sovereignty by leaving them in the dark. Its clear to me that they are essentially ignoring the tribe's wishes, and they have proceeded without communication, and without a plan, St. John told Native News Online. When her office notified Amos relative, who is an elder, that Amos would be disinterred in September, his reaction was: What are the plans? Just because [Amos name is] on the National Register, doesn't mean that all the necessary things are going to happen, St. John said. My office, we're the people that know how to do this, and instead [the Army is] trying to force this responsibility onto an older person. Although tribes have waited for more than a century to bring home their relatives, St. John said the Sisseton intends to ensure that NAGPRA is followed, and tribal sovereignty is respected. We want to bring them home, she said. It's been far too long, but we want to do it right. About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York." Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com Chinese and Hong Kong representatives take part in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation talks in Detroit The United States and China sparred over trade issues Friday but promised to keep lines of communication open as Beijing's commerce minister paid a rare visit after a period of soaring tensions. Minister Wang Wentao met US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade meeting in Detroit, a day after he saw his counterpart Gina Raimondo in Washington. Tai "discussed the importance of the US-China trade relationship in the global economy and the need for both sides to continue engaging with one another," her office said in a statement. China's state-run Xinhua agency said that the meeting in Detroit was "candid, pragmatic and in-depth." It said Wang raised concern about US trade policies as well as on Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy which Beijing claims and has not ruled out taking by force. Both Tai and Raimondo in turn voiced concern about China's actions against US companies. China recently restricted purchases from US chip giant Micron, citing security risks. The move was widely interpreted as retaliation after President Joe Biden imposed a sweeping ban on China's access to US advanced semiconductors, fearing that Beijing will put them to military use and dominate the global market for emerging technologies. It was one of the first visits by a high-ranking Chinese official since Biden took office, although the environment minister traveled to Washington last year. High-level dialogue ground to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic as Chinese officials stayed home and Biden's predecessor Donald Trump sharply raised the tone against Beijing, including over the virus. Biden met in November with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali with the two leaders both saying that they would work to keep tensions in check. But the United States erupted in outrage in February after spotting what US officials said was a Chinese surveillance drone over US soil, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling off a visit to Beijing. In the most substantive attempt to restore communication, Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, met in Vienna earlier this month with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi. China's new ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, also met Thursday with the State Department's third highest-ranking official, Victoria Nuland. Xie, speaking on his arrival in Washington this week, said there were "profound differences" between the two countries. "This relationship has gone through many twists and turns in the past half century, yet it has always been able to move ahead. The relationship is too important for us to let it fail," he said. sct/bgs Aderrien Murry, 11, poses for a photo with family attorney Carlos Moore after being shot by a police officer A police officer in the southern US state of Mississippi has been suspended after shooting an 11-year-old boy while responding to a domestic disturbance. Aderrien Murry, who is Black, was shot once in the chest and suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, the boy's mother, Nakala Murry, told CNN. Police officials told AFP Friday they are investigating the incident. Murry said her son, who has since been released from hospital, was shot by an African American police officer, who responded to a domestic violence call from the family on Saturday. Murry said she asked Aderrien to call police after the "irate" father of another one of her children turned up at the family home around 4:00 am. Murry said an officer arrived with his gun drawn and asked those inside the home to come out. Her son was shot as he entered the living room with his hands up, she told CNN. "Once he came from around the corner, he got shot," Murry said. "I cannot grasp why." She said her son "kept asking, 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?'" The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation told AFP on Friday that it is "currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. "Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney General's Office," it said. Carlos Moore, an attorney for the Murry family, said the police officer, Greg Capers, has been suspended pending an investigation. "Aderrien Murry is blessed to be home and alive," Moore said in a statement. "No child should ever be subjected to such violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect and serve. "We cannot continue to tolerate a system that allows police officers to use deadly force with impunity." Indianola is a predominantly African American town of nearly 10,000 residents in the Mississippi Delta. According to a Washington Post database, 407 people have been shot and killed by police in the United States this year. cl/md Apple logo is seen on the Macbook in this illustration taken By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday approved Apple Inc's $50 million class-action settlement resolving consumer claims over certain defective MacBook keyboards, in a ruling that spurned challenges to the deal. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, federal court in his ruling called the settlement "fair, adequate and reasonable." Eleven consumers from New York, Florida, California, Michigan and several other states were the lead plaintiffs in the national class action alleging consumer protection and warranty claims. The lawsuit accused Apple of failing to provide sufficient repairs or troubleshooting help for certain MacBook "butterfly" keyboards made between 2015 and 2019. An Apple spokesperson on Friday did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The plaintiffs' lawyers announced the deal a year ago. Apple denied any wrongdoing. Class members will receive $50 up to $395 based on the number and nature of repairs made to a keyboard. More than 86,000 claims for class member payments were submitted as of early March, Davila's order showed. One challenge to the settlement said $125 the compensation for members of one group in the class was not enough, because keyboard repairs can cost more than $300. "[T]he possibility that a better settlement may have been reached or that the benefits provided under the settlement will not make class members 'whole' are insufficient grounds to deny approval," Davila wrote in his order. Other challenges argued it was unfair to deny any compensation to MacBook owners who experienced keyboard failures but who did not get them repaired. Davila said that "while not all who were purportedly injured will receive compensation, the settlement compromise benefits a significant number of individuals." The court's ruling approved a request from the plaintiffs' lawyers for $15 million in legal fees. Two lead plaintiffs' lawyers at Girard Sharp and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith in a statement said they "look forward to getting the money out to our clients." The case is In re: MacBook Keyboard Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 5:18-cv-02813-EJD. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; editing by Leigh Jones) US makes it clear to Ukraine that it does not support attacks on Russian territory The administration of US President Joe Biden has made it clear to the Ukrainian side that it does not support attacks on Russian territory. Source: John Kirby, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication, in an interview with CNN Quote: "We don't want to encourage or enable that, we certainly don't want any US-made equipment used to attack Russian soil. And we have gotten assurances from the Ukrainians that they will respect those wishes we have been very clear that we want Ukraine to be able to defend its own soil, its own territory. They have been attacked. They have been invaded. They have a right to defend themselves. But, we've also been clear, well, that we don't want to see this war escalate beyond this, the devastation and the violence that is already visited on the Ukrainian people." Details: Kirby added that the conversations with Ukraine did not involve "outlining consequences" but were "simply reaffirmations". He said these discussions took place "very recently, within the last day or so". Previously: Kirby's statement comes after the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Freedom of Russia Legion conducted a raid on the territory of Belgorod Oblast of Russia, during which unconfirmed reports suggest that US-made equipment was used. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A Navy SEAL's trident pin is seen during a 2016 hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee A US Navy investigation released Thursday identified major concerns with the brutally difficult training that produces members of the elite SEALs special forces. The probe -- which was launched following the February 2022 death of Seaman Kyle Mullen during training -- found "failures across multiple systems that led to a number of candidates being at a high risk of serious injury." It highlighted problems including insufficient oversight by leadership, lack of risk assessment, a medical system "not trained, organized, integrated, or drilled to ensure continuous effective medical monitoring or care," and performance-enhancing drug use. Mullen died of what was ultimately diagnosed as pneumonia just after completing "Hell Week" -- during which candidates are pushed to their physical limits while being deprived of sleep -- while other members of his training class were hospitalized, the investigation found. He and other class members received medical care for respiratory issues during "Hell Week," but that information was not provided to the clinic that conducted the final medical check following its conclusion, and it cleared him to rest in the barracks. In the barracks, he was monitored by "junior watchstanders with no medical or emergency care training" -- one of whom who did however call a duty medical officer as Mullen's condition worsened. The medical officer said the seaman could go to the hospital if he was in "bad shape" but that all candidates would be evaluated in the morning, and Mullen repeatedly declined to do so. Mullen only received medical treatment after a class officer later called 911 when told by the watchstanders that the seaman's condition was declining. The Navy SEALs have carried out some of America's most dangerous and storied raids, including the May 2011 killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. SEAL is an acronym for Sea, Air, Land, reflecting their specialized capabilities. wd/caw The US Treasury has sanctioned the head of the Wagner private military group in Mali, Ivan Maslov, as part of its pushback against Wagner activities in Africa funneling support to Russias war against Ukraine, according to a press release published on Thursday. The sanctions come after a US official told CNN that Wagner has been trying to ship military equipment for use in Ukraine through Mali and falsifying paperwork for the transactions, citing recently declassified intelligence. The Treasury also confirmed the findings of a CNN investigation into Wagners support for the Sudan paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the current war devastating the country. Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Ivan Aleksandrovich Maslov (Maslov), the head of Russian Private Military Company Wagner (Wagner Group) paramilitary units and its principal administrator based in Mali, said the Treasury. Russian mercenaries boarding a helicopter in northern Mali. - French Army/AP The Wagner Group may be attempting to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, including by working through Mali and other countries where it has a foothold. The United States opposes efforts by any country to assist Russia through the Wagner Group, it added. The US official told CNN last week there were no signs yet that Wagner has successfully procured the equipment, but the group has continued working to procure mines, drones, radar and counter-battery systems from contacts in Mali for use in Ukraine. We are monitoring this closely, the official added. Wagner has sought to expand its presence in Africa in recent years and has been operating alongside Malis armed forces for more than a year, fighting against a jihadist insurgency. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in September 2021 that the Malian government would be hiring private Russian mercenaries for help with security. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said: Treasurys sanctions against the most senior Wagner Group representative in Mali identify and disrupt a key operative supporting the groups global activities. The Wagner Groups presence on the African continent is a destabilizing force for any country that allows for the deployment of the groups resources into their sovereign territory. Maslov is a senior Wagner Group security official who was tasked by Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitriy Valeryevich Utkin to lead the Wagner Groups mercenary units in Mali, according to the press release. Both Prigozhin and Utkin have been sanctioned by the US, the UK, the EU and Canada. In his role as the Wagner Groups principal administrator, Maslov has secured living accommodations for the Wagner Groups incoming forces deployed to Mali. Maslov arranges meetings between Prigozhin and government officials from several African nations. Maslov has worked to carry out the Wagner Groups interests in the extractive sector, said the Treasury. The press release added that Wagner has meddled in and destabilized countries in Africa, committed widespread human rights abuses and appropriated natural resources. In Sudan, Wagner has also been supplying the countrys Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with surface-to-air missiles to fight against Sudans army, contributing to a prolonged armed conflict that only results in further chaos in the region, the release said. This comes after a CNN investigation revealed that Wagner had supplied Sudans RSF with missiles to aid their fight against the countrys army. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The US signs a military deal with Papua New Guinea here's what both countries have to gain from the agreement An Australian warship is seen off the coast of Papua New Guinea in 2018. Ness Kerton/AFP via Getty Images The United States announced a new military agreement with Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country, on May 22, 2023. The deal came shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to visit the small island country the first U.S. president ever to do so. However, continuing fraught budget negotiations in the U.S. led Biden to cancel his plans on May 17. The details of the military agreement will be made public over the next few months but U.S. and Papua New Guinea government officials have said that the deal is focused on supporting Papua New Guineas defense forces and increasing regional stability. China is not mentioned explicitly in the announcement of the deal, but we would be remiss in failing to note the connection. We are experts in U.S. security cooperation and recently published a book about U.S. overseas military deployments. In it, we discuss how U.S. commitments to weaker countries benefit the U.S. and how the broader geopolitical competition with China matters to U.S. military cooperation. Papua New Guineas relevance Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, about 90 miles north of Australia. It has a population of 10 million people and a military with approximately 3,000 active-duty personnel. The United States proposed 2023 military spending budget is over 8,400 times the island countrys annual military spending. Papua New Guinea has a long history of colonization. The British government took over control of the southeast part of the overall island of New Guinea in the late 1800s, while Germany annexed the northern part. Australia then took over control of Papua New Guinea in the early 1900s. Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975. The western half of the island is called Papua and is part of Indonesia. Papua New Guinea has also served as a strategic location for the U.S. in the past. During World War II, for example, Papua New Guinea was the site of a long and bloody campaign fought by the Americans and Australians against the Japanese military, who had occupied parts of the island. Some Papuans have expressed concern about their independence following the U.S. military deals announcement. Papuan university students have been protesting the agreement, asking for more clarity on the pacts details. Today, Papua New Guinea remains strategically located. Anyone with military access to Papua New Guinea could easily reach Australia, a key U.S. ally, by air or sea, with no need for refueling. And the United States military support and training to Papua New Guinea itself could be a further way for the U.S. military to gain influence on the island and shift military policy to fall more in line with that of the U.S. U.S. soldiers lead military vehicles through the waters off the coast of Papua New Guinea in December 1943, during World War II. US Navy/Getty Images Who benefits from the deal What the U.S. gains from supporting a smaller country with a small military may not seem immediately obvious. But while Papua New Guinea is a small country, it is important from a geographical and diplomatic position, given its proximity to Indonesia, Australia and the Solomon Islands. Indeed, the U.S. has security agreements and and partnerships with dozens of countries such as Colombia and Kenya that have weaker militaries and less money than the U.S. We have long studied this question of who benefits when the U.S. partners with a smaller country and found that both countries benefit. When the U.S. gives military aid to another country, regardless of its wealth, that place generally tends to spend less on its own defense. The one exception to that is when the U.S. gives money to support militaries in countries that are part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in that case, countries may respond to U.S. help with spending more on their militaries, too, because of shared interests. But there are also some strings attached. Some scholars have argued that a smaller military power like Papua New Guinea gives up sovereignty or autonomy over its foreign policy in exchange for U.S. support. In that case, the U.S. is exchanging money for Papua New Guinea to align its decisions with the U.S., instead of China. The U.S. gets a commitment from Papua New Guinea to make decisions that are more favorable to U.S. interests and less favorable to China. A Philippine Air Force soldier runs during joint U.S.-Philippines air force exercises in May 2023. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images US-China competition The U.S. and China are clearly engaged in competition with each other over military, political and economic might. The U.S. is arguably the dominant global power, but Chinas strength and influence continue to rise across Asia and Africa, as it has been making military agreements with such countries as the Solomon Islands, Djibouti and Thailand. There have been several incidents that recently escalated tensions between the U.S. and China. One of these tension-raising events focused on the U.S. Air Forces shooting down a Chinese balloon allegedly used for spying that flew across the U.S. in early 2023. Whats next in the Pacific Our work shows that a lack of transparency leads to more suspicion against U.S. military deployments abroad. While the U.S.-Papua New Guinea deal may come with security benefits for both countries, continuing university protests on the island highlight that not everyone in the country wants U.S. involvement or the risk of giving up the countrys ability to make decisions, independent of any outside military pressure. Based on our research, we think that increased transparency on the deal may assuage some of these concerns and make it more likely to be successful. 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: Michael A. Allen, Boise State University; Carla Martinez Machain, University at Buffalo, and Michael E. Flynn, Kansas State University. Read more: Michael A. Allen has previously received funding from the Minerva Research Initiative, the Department of Defense, and the Army Research Office. The views expressed here are the authors' only and do not represent the views of any outside funder. Carla Martinez Machain has previously received funding from the Minerva Research Initiative, the Department of Defense, and the Army Research Office. The views expressed here are the authors' only and do not represent the views of any outside funder. Michael E. Flynn has previously received funding from the Minerva Research Initiative, the Department of Defense, and the Army Research Office. The views expressed here are the authors' only and do not represent the views of any outside funder. US Trade Rep Tai exchanges objections with China's commerce minister in Detroit meeting FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows U.S. and Chinese flags By David Lawder DETROIT (Reuters) -U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai raised complaints about China's state-led economic policies during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who objected to U.S. tariffs and trade policies, their offices said. But statements from the U.S. Trade Representative's office and China's Commerce Ministry both emphasized the need for Washington and Beijing to maintain communication on trade. "Ambassador Tai highlighted the need to address the critical imbalances caused by Chinas state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade policy," USTR said in a statement released after the meeting on the sidelines of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit. "She also raised concerns about PRC (People's Republic of China) actions taken against U.S. companies operating there," China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement that Wang raised complaints about U.S. economic and trade policies toward China, including U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, economic and trade issues related to Taiwan, and on the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that exclude China. Tai on Saturday will hold a ministerial meeting of countries in the IPEF talks, which exclude China and aim to provide a U.S.-centered alternative to its influence. Last week, she announced initial trade agreements with Taiwan. China claims the self-governed island as its own territory. USTR is conducting a four-year review of U.S. tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports, imposed in 2018 and 2019 by then-President Donald Trump. Tai has long raised objections to China's attempts to dominate certain industries using massive state subsidies and said such issues continue to come up in the relationship. Asked during a press conference whether the U.S. would resort to using further trade tools to address China's practices, such as a new "Section 301" investigation that could lead to more U.S. tariffs, Tai said that "aspects" of the Biden administration's response were already evident in U.S economic policies. "The benefit of sitting down and having a conversation with interlocutors from Beijing is so that we can understand each other better and understand how we are experiencing the impacts that we have on each other's economies," Tai said. CABINET-LEVEL DISCUSSION Wang's meetings with Tai in Detroit and with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Washington on Thursday marked the first cabinet-level exchange in months between U.S. and Chinese officials, following a series of setbacks that raised tensions between the world's two largest economies. Tai stressed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between Washington and Beijing as they spoke on the sidelines of APEC, the U.S. statement said. The Chinese statement was similar in tone to concerns raised with Raimondo about U.S. trade, investment and export policies. 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 turning into a new Cold War. But those plans suffered several setbacks, starting with the downing of a suspected 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 major domestic industries. (Reporting by David Lawder, Ismail Shakil and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann, David Gregorio and Grant McCool) Patti Hobfoll holds up a sign protesting a Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola as people make public comments on the Regional Transit Plan (RTP), and whether or not to remove the gondola from the plan, during a Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting at the WFRC in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Despite the majority of public commenters who showed up to oppose the gondola at the meeting, the WFRC voted against removing the gondola from the Regional Transit Plan (RTP.) | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Members of the Wasatch Front Regional Council voted Thursday to approve a new 27-year regional transportation plan that seeks to move forward over 1,000 transportation projects by 2050, including a gondola for Little Cottonwood Canyon. Gondola plan opponents sat quietly as the council members a group of elected leaders from throughout the Wasatch Front and state agency representatives voted unanimously in favor of the plan after rejecting an amendment that would have moved the large plan forward without the gondola. The vote opens up the possibility for federal funding on all the projects in the future. In response to a few jeers from the crowd after the vote, South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, also the council's chairwoman, explained that the plan is a "living document" that is adjusted every four years. That means projects can be added and dropped from the plan in the future. "It is evaluated and ongoing," she said. The council also included a statement saying it does support "prioritizing" and evaluating the first and second phases of the Utah Department of Transportation's plan for Little Cottonwood Canyon before "advancing" to the third phase, which is a gondola. The first phase is increased bus service, tolling/congestion-based pricing, and roadway improvements that could begin as early as this year. The second phase, currently scheduled to begin in the 2030s, calls for avalanche snow sheds and trailhead improvements. A gondola and base station parking are part of the third phase of the plan, currently scheduled to begin in the 2040s. The total group of projects, including a gondola, features $26 billion worth of roads, transit lines and trails, according to the council. But they say the series of projects has the ability to increase access to jobs in the region by 31% on roads and 71% through transit, while increasing bicycle trail access by 43%. "The Wasatch Front Region, and Utah as a whole, continues to experience high population growth. There are more of us with more places to go. The 2023-2050 Regional Transportation Plan helps our local communities and transportation partners stay ahead of this growth, working together to plan for the next several decades and build a network of paths, roads and transit that will benefit all Utahns," Ramsey added in a statement Thursday afternoon. A focus on the gondola While there are more than 1,000 transportation projects in the plan, Thursday's meeting focused almost exclusively on the gondola. UDOT announced in August 2022 it would move forward with a $550 million gondola to help growing traffic concerns in the canyon, in addition to enhanced bus service and tolling. The agency has yet to finalize its record of decision, though. That process is ongoing, according to UDOT director Carlos Braceras, who also serves on the Wasatch Front Regional Council. But Thursday's vote had some significance toward the project. Carl Fisher, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Save Our Canyons, called it a "critical step" toward allowing UDOT to add the gondola to its record of decision. That's why he and dozens of others came to the meeting to plead with the council to drop it from its long-range transportation plan. Carl Fisher, Save Our Canyons executive director, gives public comment on the Regional Transit Plan, opposing a gondola during a Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting in Salt Lake City on Thursday. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Those against the gondola argued that the project comes at the cost of public taxpayers while benefitting private resorts, would cause harm to the environment in the canyon, and shouldn't be added until a record of decision is reached. Alta Mayor Roger Bourke added that it didn't appear the council was taking into consideration what the public had to say on the issue. "We tell ourselves that we live in a democracy, that democracy ... and the preference of the people are supposed to have some sway. With (regard) to the gondola, the will of the people has been expressed in comments in the (UDOT environmental impact statement) and they are overwhelmingly against it," he said. "It remains on the books apparently for bureaucratic reasons." Jory Johner, Wasatch Front Regional Council director of long range planning, talks about the Regional Transit Plan during a WFRC meeting in Salt Lake City on Thursday. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Ski Utah president and CEO Nathan Rafferty, Snowbird general manager Dave Fields and developer Chris McCandless all spoke out in favor of keeping the gondola in the long-range plan during the meeting. They argued that when Little Cottonwood Canyon closes because of traffic, it has a ripple effect where other resorts are flooded across the Wasatch region. "This winter demonstrated, better than ever, the need for a transportation system in Little Cottonwood Canyon that is not exclusively reliant on vehicles on the highway," Fields said, pointing to the several road closures caused by avalanches and mudslides over the past few months. The council's decision Members of the council ultimately decided to vote to include the gondola after a debate over their legal requirements rather than the gondola's merit. Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini referenced a legal review conducted by the council that determined that leaving the gondola off the plan could "jeopardize" the plan altogether, possibly delaying all the other projects included in the document. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson asserted that the county's legal review found nothing that backed the claim. She introduced a substitution that would have removed the gondola from the future transportation plan while keeping the rest of the plan intact, citing the mostly one-sided public comment against the project. "I feel today, perhaps the minority (on the council), but I believe I stand with the majority with concerns about this," she said. The council rejected Wilson's amendment by a 19-2 vote after a short debate before the final vote came down. Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson, the council's vice chairman, said the final plan will ultimately serve the entire region "now and in the future." People who attended the meeting to voice their concern over the plan said they hope the future doesn't include a gondola, even as the process moves forward a little more. Fisher told KSL.com after the meeting that he is "disappointed" by the vote but believes the fight isn't over. "I foresee many legal challenges," he said. "There has not been an (environmental impact statement) in history that has had this volume of public engagement and passion, so I imagine there will be numerous lawsuits that will tie this up." UW researchers agree to go on strike in June for fair contracts Nearly 2,400 research scientists, engineers (RSEs), and post-doctoral researchers at the University of Washington agreed Thursday to go on strike starting June 7. The agreement came after a rally discussing the status of negotiations for fair contracts from the university. RSEs and post-docs told KIRO 7 theyre asking for more money for salaried employees. They claim the university administration is using unfair labor practices and is breaking the law in bargaining. On May 11, RSEs and post-docs filled a UW Board of Regents meeting and said during public comment that they asked the Regents to use their power to urge university administration to reach an agreement with their units. The researchers say they bring in more than $1 billion per year in grants and contracts for the schools research operations. Theyve been bargaining with university administration for months, with the current collective bargaining agreement for post-docs having expired Jan. 31. RSEs say theyve been negotiating with UW for their first-ever union contract since August. A University of Washington spokesperson released the following statement: UW Postdocs and Research Scientists are valued members of our University community, and each provide different but important contributions to our university research mission. We are discouraged by a decision to authorize a strike starting June 7 while we are in the midst of good-faith negotiations supported by Public Employment Relations Commission appointed mediators. Valley cities lag behind in homeownership. How does Modestos rate stack up to others? As the Central Valley housing market finds its new normal amid rising mortgage rates, the regions overall homeownership levels continue to lag below the national average. According to the most recent U.S. census data, the city of Modesto homeownership rate is 56.5%. That means a little more than half the population lives in owner-occupied housing, which is less than the national rate of homeownership at 64.6%, according to census numbers from 2017 to 2021. Still Modesto sits above the pack with a slightly higher homeownership rate than other Central Valley cities. That includes Turlock, Stanislaus Countys second-largest city, whose rate is 54.5%, according to census data. Modesto also has a higher homeownership rate than Sacramento (50.1%), Fresno (47.6%), Stockton (51.2%) and Merced (41.9%). The citys rate even was a smidge higher than the overall California rate of 55.5%. Greater Stanislaus County also outpaces its neighbors in homeownership, with a higher rate than many major Central Valley counties. A comparison of homeowner rates by county: Stanislaus County: 59.5% San Joaquin County: 59.1% Sacramento County: 57.8% Fresno County: 54.1% Merced County: 51.6% California: 55.5% Some Central Valley cities have pledged to work to improve their lagging homeownership rates, including Fresno, whose mayor recently announced a program that grants $100,000 loans to help boost home buying. Stanislaus County Planning and Community Development Director Angela Freitas said the county has some programs in place to help address the regions lower homeownership, including down payment assistance and the year-old Housing Stanislaus Initiative. The latter bring the countys nine cities to understand the areas housing issues and develop a joint vision to address them. When you have high property values and low wages, it doesnt make for a great market for homeownership, Freitas said. Officials from the City of Modesto would not comment when asked about the regions homeownership rates. The regions lower-than-national average homeownership rate is largely a statewide problem, according to data from the Public Policy Institute of California. The state has the second-lowest owner-occupied housing rate in the nation. Only New York state is lower, by a little, at 54.4%, according to census data. So, which state has the highest homeownership rate across the country? West Virginia at 73.9%. The Public Policy Institute noted that the states high housing prices are partially to blame for its low home buying and ownership rates. In Stanislaus County, the median home sale price for April, the most recent data available, was $455,000. Nationwide, the median for April was $436,800, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The Venezuelan government often uses hashtags on Twitter to drum up support online Rafael - not his real name - is a massive internet nerd. At 59 years old, he is active on all the main social media platforms, dabbles in cryptocurrencies and even calls himself an influencer. But that is not all he does online. Rafael is also part of a group of Venezuelans being paid by the state to tweet propaganda. He spends at least 30 minutes a day posting pro-government content. "The aim is to amplify the information the government puts on Twitter," he explains. Every day, Venezuela's ministry of communications tweets a "hashtag of the day", which is repeated not only by elected officials' accounts and state sympathisers but also by "digital troops" like Rafael, who are paid to share propaganda. "You have to space it out to avoid being blocked. I do about 100 in the morning and 100 more in the afternoon," he says. "The idea is to maintain a collective narrative. The fight against the enemy [the West] still exists," explains Prof Felix Seijas from the Central University of Venezuela. This narrative predates social media and is typical of the left-wing Chavismo ideology, which became popular under Hugo Chavez, the mentor and predecessor of current president, Nicolas Maduro. Street art depicting ex-President Hugo Chavez as a revolutionary can be found all over Venezuela In 2018, Rafael found a tweet with a hashtag that made no sense to him. "I asked the person [who had written the tweet] what it was about and he told me about the rewards." BBC Trending has seen a few private groups operating on Facebook and Telegram, with between 700 and 3,000 members, which share the latest hashtag to encourage each other to tweet. Not all participants join groups like this, but Rafael plays an active part in one of them. Despite frequently sharing content in support of the government, he does not support it, because of the arbitrary arrests, expropriations, insufficient wages and Mr Maduro's "lack of charisma". He says he only tweets for the paid incentives, but complains that they are too low. As a security guard for a private company, Rafael earns the equivalent of $80 (65) a month. With the additional $10 he makes a month from tweeting, he can buy small amounts of flour, oil, rice, or even airtime for his mobile phone. Rafael is paid in bolivars by the Venezuelan government. These payments are called "social media mention awards" On the surface, the information he amplifies seems harmless but Venezuelan disinformation experts and political analysts see it as part of a wider strategy to suppress free speech. Adrian Gonzalez, founder of Cazadores de Fake News, a website debunking Venezuelan disinformation, says the government is using propaganda "to neutralise information they cannot control" in an attempt to influence public perception online. One way it can do this is by drowning out the noise of its critics, particularly on Twitter. Marivi Vazquez, from ProBox, an NGO combating online disinformation in Latin America, says the purpose of using "digital troops" like Rafael is to disrupt the "trending" algorithm by polluting it with pro-government messaging. "This is very dangerous because when you see what is trending and you see that most of the hashtags are supposedly supporting the government, it's hard to know what's actually happening in the country." These hashtags are often part of wider campaigns to spread propaganda online. The deepfake videos appeared to show Venezuelans that the West was talking positively about their country. When earlier this year, the Venezuelan government was accused of using videos created using artificial intelligence to spread propaganda online, it responded swiftly. On Twitter, the Ministry of Communications said the hashtag of the day was #SomosInteligenciaSocial or WeAreSocialIntelligence. The purpose was to counter the allegations that supporters of Chavismo were behind the deepfake videos, which were also broadcast on state TV. Rafael says he does not amplify misleading ideas and cannot remember tweeting the "social intelligence" hashtag. He cannot check because his main account, which had more than 14,000 followers, was removed by Twitter, because, he admits, he was not following its guidelines. Nevertheless, we know the hashtag took off. According to analysis by Probox, #SomosInteligenciaSocial was used more than 360,000 times over 24 hours and trended on Twitter in Venezuela. Its analysis also found that 90% of the interactions with the hashtag came from accounts deemed to be bots or "digital troops" paid to amplify the government's propaganda. Rafael sent us proof of the payments he received in return for tweeting propaganda. They were screenshots of transfers made into Sistema Patria, a social security app created by the government which gives Venezuelans access to subsidies, and allows them to receive public salaries and state pensions, among other things. From March to April, his statements showed he made the equivalent of nearly $10. Users collect stickers based on how much they tweet According to experts at ProBox who have studied payments through the app, paid propagandists give the Sistema Patria app access to their data so that it can be monitored. Depending on their Twitter activity, "digital troops" receive a monthly bonus in their digital wallet. BBC Trending asked the Venezuelan government why it was paying its citizens to tweet propaganda. We also asked whether it was actively using deepfake technology to spread propaganda, but it did not respond. Although it is unclear whether the government played any role in creating the deepfake news reports, it is clear it campaigned to drown out criticism, which may have involved paid propagandists. "It's a paradox," explains Mr Gonzalez. "Many people do this because they need to eat, they need money for the internet or because they don't have good access to public services." We tried to speak to more paid propagandists, but some were too ashamed to talk and others feared for their safety. Rafael's candour was an exception. Listen to Venezuela's "social intelligence", deepfakes and propaganda on BBC Sounds. In the city of Dnipro, a Russian missile struck buildings of a medical institution and a veterinary clinic, among other things. The building of the veterinary clinic was destroyed, it is reported that a man died under the rubble. According to rescue workers, a fire covering 200 square metres broke out in the one-storey veterinary clinic building. The Russian missile fell on the premises of the Veterinary Surgical Clinic of Doctor Malyshko. Dmitry, a resident of an apartment building damaged by the missile, told Suspilne that the premises of the veterinary clinic took the main blow. "I ran past the psychiatric hospital, it was clear that they hit the building and the veterinary clinic took the main blow, the doctors were carrying out burned animals. I ran here to save my own cat. At home, glass on the balcony windows was completely broken, shattered," he says Russian missile fell on the premises of the Veterinary Surgical Clinic of Doctor Malyshko Russian missile fell on the premises of the Veterinary Surgical Clinic of Doctor Malyshko Iryna Chernilevska, a volunteer of the French bulldogs rescue community, told Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia that this clinic was very popular. It specialised in neurosurgery for animals. An appointment with the doctors was usually made 2-3 months in advance. "I had an appointment in this clinic today. But I was called to Kharkiv. One of our sponsored dogs was placed in hospital for rehabilitation after undergoing surgery," says Iryna. According to the volunteer, the clinic staff took out all the animals that were in the hospital from the premises engulfed in flames. Some were sent to another clinic, others were taken away by the owners. "There are no victims among the clinic workers," the volunteer said with reference to the clinic administrator, with whom she keeps in touch. Currently, rescue workers are working at the scene of the fire. Iryna Chernilevska says that modern equipment was delivered to the clinic a few weeks before the attack. Volunteers ask for help to restore the clinic. At least 2 people were killed and 30 more injured in a Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro on 26 May; there has been no contact from 3 more people. 27 May was declared a day of mourning for those killed in the attack. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! As congressional negotiators say they may be getting closer to a deal to raise the countrys debt limit, Veterans Affairs leaders are warning that they have no way of protecting veterans from the financial fallout if an agreement isnt reached. There is no blueprint of what happens to VA if the debt limit is reached, VA Secretary Denis McDonough told reporters on Wednesday. But what is clear is that without the ability for the federal government to borrow funds, there is a very real potential that any government program or payment would be halted or severely delayed. Treasury officials have warned that the X-date the day which the U.S. government will not be able to pay off its financial obligations without an increase in the countrys $31.4 billion debt ceiling could come as early as June 1. With the deadline less than a week away, White House officials and House Republican leaders are expected to work together on a compromise bill in hopes of passing something before then. Devastating debt default threatens troop pay, defense programs Unlike ahead of a partial government shutdown, when federal agencies issue warnings to impacted employees and beneficiaries, the department is not planning to issue any detailed guidance on the effects of a debt limit breach. Theres just no precedent for default, McDonough said. So its difficult to know the precise impacts on specific federal programs. But they could be severe, with a wide range of VA benefits and payments potentially delayed for days or weeks if the government cant pay its bills. Veterans benefits checks about $12 billion in payouts are due to 7.1 million individuals early next month and paychecks for more than 450,000 department employees are the two biggest possible casualties. But McDonough warned that other payments from VA are at risk as well: $2.6 billion in checks due to outside health providers, some of whom may stop veterans planned care if payments arent made; $835 million for roughly 57,000 outside pharmacy orders, which could disrupt veterans medications; and $3 billion in support stipends to veteran small businesses and other outside groups. If any of that routine business is delayed or disrupted, McDonough warned, the effects could be catastrophic. Earlier this week, Treasury officials announced they may be able to stave off the X-date a short while past June 1 by auctioning off new treasury bills in coming days. But they also warned that those moves will only provide temporary relief, not a lasting solution. Victor Valley High School teacher Noah Padilla. (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department) An Inland Empire high school teacher has been arrested on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old female student, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Noah Padilla, 24, of Victorville, was taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion of having engaged in sexual misconduct with the student at Victor Valley High School in Victorville, the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Padilla was booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, with the bail set at $30,000. He was released on Thursday, according to arrest records. Padilla is no longer employed by the Victor Valley Union High School District, a spokesperson said Friday. The school district said it is cooperating with the investigation and offering support to all students and staff affected. The conduct alleged in this case is reprehensible and does not align with the values of the Victor Valley Union High School District, Supt. Carl Coles said. The safety and well-being of our students is our primary responsibility, and any breach of that trust is something we take extremely seriously." Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Thomas Hollenbaugh at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can also be made by calling (800) 782-7463. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Since the beginning of March 2023, 10,000 cubic metres of rubbish -- enough to fill four Olympic swimming pools -- have been collected from Ha Long Bay Squinting in the bright light of a hot summer morning, Vu Thi Thinh perches on the edge of her small wooden boat and plucks a polystyrene block from the calm waters of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay. It's not yet 9 am, but a mound of styrofoam buoys, plastic bottles and beer cans sit behind her. They are the most visible sign of the human impacts that have degraded the UNESCO World Heritage Site, famed for its brilliant turquoise waters dotted with towering rainforest-topped limestone islands. "I feel very tired because I collect trash on the bay all day without much rest," said Thinh, 50, who has been working for close to a decade as a trash picker. "I have to make five to seven trips on the boat every day to collect it all." Since the beginning of March, 10,000 cubic metres of rubbish -- enough to fill four Olympic swimming pools -- have been collected from the water, according to the Ha Long Bay management board. The trash problem has been particularly acute over the past two months, as a scheme to replace styrofoam buoys at fish farms with more sustainable alternatives backfired and fishermen chucked their redundant polystyrene into the sea. Authorities ordered 20 barges, eight boats and a team of dozens of people to launch a clean-up, state media said. Do Tien Thanh, a conservationist at the Ha Long Bay Management Department, said the buoys were a short-term issue but admitted: "Ha Long Bay... is under pressure". - Human waste More than seven million visitors came to visit the spectacular limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, on Vietnam's northeastern coast, in 2022. Authorities hope that number will jump to eight and a half million this year. But the site's popularity, and the subsequent rapid growth of Ha Long City -- which is now home to a cable car, amusement park, luxury hotels and thousands of new homes -- have severely damaged its ecosystem. Conservationists estimate there were originally around 234 types of coral in the bay -- now the number is around half. There have been signs of recovery in the past decade, with coral coverage slowly increasing again and dolphins -- pushed out of the bay a decade ago -- coming back in small numbers, as a ban on fishing in the core parts of the heritage site expanded their food source. But the waste, both plastic and human, is still a huge concern. "There are so many big residential areas near Ha Long Bay," said conservationist Thanh. "The domestic waste from these areas, if not dealt with properly, greatly impacts the ecological system, which includes the coral reefs. "Ha Long City can now handle just over 40 percent of its wastewater." Single-use plastic is now banned on tourist boats, and the Ha Long Bay management board says general plastic use on board is down 90 percent from its peak. But trash generated onshore still lines parts of the beach, with a team of rubbish collectors not able to block the eyesore from tourists. - 'Plastic pollution crisis' - Pham Van Tu, a local resident and freelance tour guide, said he had received a lot of complaints from visitors. "They read in the media that Ha Long Bay is beautiful, but when they saw a lot of floating trash, they didn't want to swim or go canoeing and they hesitated to tell their friends and family to visit," he said. Rapid economic growth, urbanisation and changing lifestyles in communist Vietnam have led to a "plastic pollution crisis", according to the World Bank. A report in 2022 estimated 3.1 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year, with at least 10 percent leaking into the waterways, making Vietnam one of the top five plastic polluters of the world's oceans. The volume of leakage could more than double by 2030, the World Bank warns. Larissa Helfer, 21, who travelled to Vietnam from her home in Germany, said Ha Long Bay was beautiful but the trash problem would be one of her strongest memories of the trip. "Normally you (might say) 'Look at the view! Look at the fishing villages!" she told AFP. But here "you have to talk about the trash, (you say) 'oh god... look at the plastic bottles and things in the sea.' And it makes you sad." Thinh, the trash collector, grew up in Ha Long and remembers a very different bay. "It didn't look so terrible," she said. "Of course, a lot of work makes me tired and irritated," she admitted. "But we must do our work." bur-aph/pdw/sco/qan A Vietnamese noodle vendor who imitated 'Salt Bae' after a government official ate a gold-encrusted steak at the chef's London restaurant is now facing a harsh jail sentence Nurset Gokce arrives on the carpet ahead of the FIFA Football Awards in Milan, Italy, on September 23, 2019. Simon Hofmann - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images A noodle vendor in Vietnam was handed down a five-year prison sentence for a viral video. The vendor, Bui Tuan Lam, went viral in 2021 for a video spoof titled "Green Onion Bae." The video came out days after a state official ate a gold-encrusted steak at a Salt Bae restaurant. A noodle shop owner in Vietnam was handed a harsh prison sentence on Thursday for making a video impersonating Salt Bae after a high-flying official enjoyed a golden steak at the chef's London restaurant years ago. According to CNN, Bui Tuan Lam went viral in November 2021 after uploading a video titled "Green Onion Bae," posting the clip days after a Vietnamese official appeared to be eating a gold-covered steak at Salt Bae's London restaurant. He was accused of mocking the official for eating at the restaurant. On Thursday, Lam was sentenced to 5 years in jail for "making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, and items against the state," in a crackdown by the government carried out under the guise of anti-propaganda measures, per CNN. The video appears to show Lam impersonating Salt Bae, whose name is Nusret Gokce not specifically the official pictured dining in London. Lam was arrested in September 2022, according to CNN, and had previously denied mocking the official. Lam's trial lasted one day. He was also accused of posting dozens of videos and pictures on social media to "distort and smear the state," according to CNN. State officials also alleged that he took part in anti-China and environmental justice protests. Read the original article on Insider The UHL Felicity heavy load carrier will become a familiar site in New Bedford as it makes repeated trips from Portugal to deliver parts of Vineyard Winds offshore wind turbines to the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal. Sections of the towers for the first turbine that will be assembled and then installed this summer arrived in New Bedford on Wednesday night. The turbine blades will start arriving in mid-June. Mayor Jon Mitchell said it takes persistence and teamwork to get to this point with the arrival of the first components for Vineyard Wind, and New Bedford is prepared to compete so that in the years ahead people can look back and say they made it happen and we're all better off for it. New Bedford mayor Jon Mitchell speaks at a press conference Thursday celebrating the first ship carrying turbine components for Vineyard Wind which arrived at the Marine Commerce Terminal in New Bedford Wednesday. Offshore wind in New Bedford: A guide to what you need to know In that way, it's a great example of how one American city can move forward and thrive in the long run, he said. The work is not done, this is one project, and of course there's a whole lot being set up in the harbor, a whole lot of investment happening in New Bedford. But I will say it today and again, again and again, New Bedford is prepared to compete. A busy summer as New Bedford takes delivery of turbines Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller said its exciting times for the project and the city, with GEs technology about to turn northeastern wind into green, safe, American energy, producing power to 400,000 homes starting this summer and the next 30 years. When installed, the turbines will be as tall as three Statues of Liberty. He said its special to be able to mark this milestone as he looks forward to a busy summer in New Bedford. These monsters are a very clear symbol that we are keeping our promises, he said. We are delivering offshore wind, we are delivering green power, and we are delivering the jobs, he said. The work here in New Bedford is a symbol for the green energy transition and the move from black, dirty fossil fuels to nice green energy. At the Marine Commerce Terminal in New Bedford, longshoremen work on attaching straps to one of three sections of the mast of a wind turbine which arrived Wednesday aboard the first ship carrying turbine components for Vineyard Wind. Looking to buy or sell a home? Here's what Realtors say to expect in Greater New Bedford New Bedford port built for offshore wind Jennifer Daloisio, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the owner and operator of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, said MassCEC has been laying the groundwork for the offshore wind industry since 2010 when it commissioned a port study to look at offshore wind ports that could be used for this industry. It proudly stands today as the only port in the country purpose-built for the offshore wind industry, she said. It took really visionary and courageous leadership from partners in the community, government, the Legislature and industry to see that building this port was a critical step in bringing offshore wind to the U.S. and putting Massachusetts on the map as a leader. She said communities along the coast have already begun to see the impact with economic growth and jobs from manufacturing to installation to operations and maintenance, and they are grateful to have longtime support from their partners in the trades. Workmen on the gangway are dwarfed by the first ship carrying turbine components for Vineyard Wind which arrived Wednesday at the Marine Commerce Terminal in New Bedford. Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions, said it was a gamble to build the Marine Commerce Terminal to support offshore wind with credit to former Gov. Deval Patrick, but it was also about making sure that SouthCoast residents have access to career opportunities in the building trades to earn good family-sustaining wages and benefits with safe working conditions. We negotiated a project labor agreement for the construction of this facility, and that continued with the legislation to move forward to make sure that there is a project labor agreement for this project, he said. Jeff Lewis, the GE project director, said they are honored to have the opportunity to deliver the first components to the Port of New Bedford and install one of the world's largest offshore wind farms in the world. On the deck of the ship are shipping cradles that the towers for the 13-megawatts turbines are sitting in, and underneath theres a hold for additional tower sections. Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford officials welcome the arrival of offshore wind turbine A gang member with a history of violence will be off the Tri-Cities streets after being sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison for having fentanyl he planned to sell. Jose Oliva Jr., 37, is appealing his sentence, which also includes five years of probation after his prison sentence, according to court documents. A member of the Sureno Florencia 64th Street gang, Oliva was brokering pound-level quantities of methamphetamine for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Tri-Cities. He ran from police when they tried to arrest him, tossing a loaded 9mm handgun, 258 fentanyl pills and 6 grams of methamphetamine into a field, according to court documents. Police also found a fraudulent Social Security card and drivers license he appeared to be using under the name of Jose Antonio Flores. Jose Oliva Jr. had a drivers license using the name of Jose Antonio Flores, according to federal court documents. Oliva previously had sold a pound of meth to a cooperating defendant and police arrested him when he met to collect the money for another pound of meth, which he did not have with him, according to court documents. U.S. Judge Mary Dimke agreed to the sentence of more than 12 years requested by the prosecution, while Olivas attorney requested a sentence of seven years. (Olivas) conduct during this investigation is serious and exasperated by his significant and violent criminal history, said assistant U.S. attorney Stephanie Van Marter in a court document. He plans to continue to be active in gang activity while in prison, and has shown no desire to end his criminal lifestyle, she said in a court document. Of greater significance to the court, is defendant was not only in possession of deadly fentanyl laced pills, but he was also in possession of a loaded firearm, she said. He placed himself, law enforcement and the public at risk when he ran from police with a loaded gun and he also possessed another gun, based on the different caliber ammunition that was seized in his hotel room and car, she said. As a felon, he was not allowed to have a firearm. Jose Oliva Jr. ran from law enforcement and tossed a loaded handgun before he was captured. Olivas history includes other times he ran from the police, including assaulting police when they tried to arrest him, according to court documents. Defendants history of assaultive behavior and domestic assault is very troubling, Van Marter said in a court document. This is even more aggravated in light of the fact that defendant has engaged in two separate acts of assault while in custody pending these charges. Tri-Cities criminal history Olivas history of felony arrests in the Tri-Cities area stretches back to 2001 when he was a juvenile, and he has been sentenced to incarceration previously. In 2016 he was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison for second degree extortion after he hacked into a womans social media accounts and posted a secretly recorded video of them having sex. He was accused of changing her passwords to deny her access and telling her he would remove the images if she bought the accounts back from him. In other cases he was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for possessing drugs in 2018 and sentenced to 13 months after 2013 charges of second degree assault by strangulation and interfering with domestic violence reporting. Oliva has been treated for substance abuse twice, and said that a significant substance use disorder has caused hallucinations, according to court documents. Olivas attorney, Zachary Ayers, said Olivas goal in prison is to enroll in as many courses as possible with a goal of learning welding and electrician skills. He wants to keep busy and stay drug free, his attorney said. The U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington, Vanessa Waldref, said she was grateful for the many law enforcement agencies that identified Oliva as a drug trafficker and worked to prevent him from further distributing this poison in our community. Removing dangerous narcotics from our community is critical to protecting our families and building stronger and safer neighborhoods, she said. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administrations Tri-Cities office, the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force, Border Patrol, the Benton County Sheriffs Office, and the Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and West Richland police departments. RICHMOND Virginia State Police will be stepping up traffic enforcement for Memorial Day weekend as its Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.) goes into effect, a press release said. Last year during Operation C.A.R.E., which was combined with the annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign, state police said 16 people were killed on Virginia roads. "Virginians need to make traffic safety a priority every day and, especially, as we head into the Memorial Day weekend and summer travel season," said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "Memorial Day weekend is filled with celebrations, vacations, outdoor festivals and backyard cookouts, which is why we need all motorists to share the road responsibly by driving smart, safe and sober." In 2022 during Memorial Day weekend, Virginia troopers cited 4,888 speeders, 1,875 reckless drivers and arrested 90 impaired drivers, the release said. In addition, 659 people were cited for seat belt violations, 117 were cited for child safety restraint violations, and police made 144 felony arrests. More than 1,700 disabled motorists were assisted. With the increased patrols this weekend, Virginia State Police also reminded drivers of the state's "Move Over" law, which requires motorists to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped alongside the road. If unable to move over, drivers are required to cautiously pass the emergency vehicle. The law also applies to workers in vehicles equipped with amber lights, the release said. For the entire year of 2022, 26 people were killed in area crashes, 24 in Augusta County and two in Waynesboro, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Pedestrian struck and killed in Augusta County, police search for suspect Stuarts Draft High School's 2023 graduation: Photos Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia State Police: Increased patrols for Memorial Day weekend Voters want compromise in Congress -- so why the brinkmanship over the debt ceiling? House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, left, meets with President Joe Biden to discuss the debt limit in the White House on May 22, 2023. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Theres progress on the debt limit. Theres no progress. Conservatives have revolted. Liberal Democrats are angry. Negotiators actually ate a meal together. Thats a good sign. No it isnt. Whos up? Whos down? Much of the breathless news coverage of the debt limit crisis relies on leaks, speculation, wishful thinking and maybe even the reading of tea leaves. The Conversation decided to tap an expert on congressional behavior, Northwestern University political scientist Laurel Harbridge-Yong, and ask her what she sees when she looks at the negotiations. Harbridge-Yong is a specialist in partisan conflict and the lack of bipartisan agreement in American politics, so her expertise is tailor-made for the moment. What do the debt limit negotiations look like to you? The difficulty that Congress and the White House are having in reaching compromises highlights two aspects of contemporary politics. The first: Since the 1970s, both the House and Senate have become much more polarized. Members of the two parties are more unified internally and further apart from the opposing party. You dont have the overlap between parties now that existed 50 years ago. Even as weve had rising polarization, we still have important differences within the parties. Not every Democrat is the same as another and not every Republican is the same. This relates to a second point: Members individual and collective interests shape their behavior. For Republicans in more competitive districts, their own individual electoral interests probably say, Lets cut a deal. Lets not risk a default that the Republicans get blamed for, and which is going to run really poorly in my district. On the other hand, House Freedom Caucus Republicans come from really safe districts, and they care more about their primary elections than they do their general elections. So their own electoral interests say, Stand firm, fight till the bitter end, try to force the hand of the president. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., center, said on May 25, 2023, that he is optimistic that White House and GOP negotiators can reach a deal. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images These kinds of electoral interests occur at the individual and collective levels for members of a party. Since the 1980s, and accelerating into the 1990s, theres been a lot more competition for majority control, and as a result the two parties dont want to do things that let the other party look good. They dont want to give the other party a win in the eyes of the voter. So you now have many Republicans who are more willing to fight quite hard against the Democrats because they dont want to give a win to Biden. Democrats are also resistant to compromising, both because they dont want to gut programs that they put in place and also because they dont want to make this look like a win for Republicans, who were able to play chicken and get what they wanted. These dynamics, layered on top of policy interests, all contribute to the problems that were seeing now. Whats the role of brinkmanship in this conflict? When I think of brinkmanship, Im thinking about negotiating tactics that push things until the very last minute to try to secure the most concessions for your side. Right now that means coming to the edge of potential default on the debt. Does brinkmanship work? I was looking back at some of the previous government shutdowns as well as debt ceiling negotiations. In some instances concessions were granted, so brinkmanship paid off. In other instances it was less obvious that there was a win, and in some instances there was perhaps a penalty, when the parties couldnt agree and there was a government shutdown. One party may be banking on the fact that the other partys going to get blamed by the public while their own party reputation wont be hurt. In the 1990s, it seemed like it was the Republicans who took the brunt of the blame for a government shutdown. There have been instances in which parties get something out of brinkmanship, as in the government shutdown at the beginning of the Trump administration over funding for the border wall. The Democrats ended up giving some money for the border wall. It wasnt all of what Trump wanted, but it was part of what Trump and the Republicans wanted. Brinkmanship and gridlock are disproportionately consequential for Democrats, who generally want to expand government programs, versus for Republicans, who tend to want to constrict government programs. So gridlock or forced spending cuts are easier for Republicans to stomach than Democrats. It may be part of why we see Republicans going harder on this kind of brinkmanship. How does the public see brinkmanship? On the whole, I think the public doesnt like it. My own work has shown that the public does not like gridlock on issues in which people agree on the end goal. The public, on average, even prefers a victory for the other side over policy gridlock. A win for their own side is the best outcome, a compromise is next best, a win for the other side is next best after that. Gridlock is the worst outcome. The place where it gets a little bit more challenging is that how people understand and interpret politics is heavily shaped by how politics is framed to them. Conservative politicians and media spin the debt ceiling very much as fiscal responsibility, saying this is just like a familys personal budget at home or that its really important to not just raise the debt limit without spending concessions. Those on the Democratic side are hearing that the Republicans are holding the country hostage, we cant give in to them, this will gut really important programs, and so forth. So on the one hand, the public doesnt like gridlock especially gridlock when the consequences are so bad, as default would be. On the other hand, voters in each partys base are hearing the story framed in very different ways. Both sides may end up blaming the other side. Theyre not necessarily going to be calling their legislators and asking them to compromise. Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., speaks about the debt limit and negotiations to reach a deal on May 24, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Democracy is about representation. As they conduct these negotiations, do lawmakers see themselves as representing voters? Many conservative Republicans who are holding firm may believe that they are good representatives of what the base wants. They represent very strongly partisan districts who may agree with them that they need to fight for concessions. In the recent book that I wrote with Sarah Anderson and Daniel Butler, we found that legislators believe their primary voters want them to reject compromises. But in todays crisis, those constituents may not really understand the consequences of default. Sometimes good representation doesnt just mean doing what the public wants legislators have better information or understanding of how things work and should do whats in the best interests of their constituents. However, even if individual members are trying to represent their districts or their states, when we think about this at a more aggregate or collective level, we dont see great representation. Individual legislators may be thinking theyre representing constituents, but that leads to an aggregate that is not representative of the country as a whole. What the public as a whole which tends to be more moderate wants is compromise and resolution of this issue. 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: Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Northwestern University. Read more: Laurel Harbridge-Yong has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, Unite America, the Electoral Integrity Project, and the Dirksen Congressional Center. The faithful embarked on a seven-mile trek on Thursday to celebrate the man a Catholic shrine in south Oklahoma is named after. One of the highlights of a "Day of Prayer and Pilgrimage" was the pilgrimage walk from Moore to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine at 700 SE 89. Sister Maria Faulkner, founder of the Gospel of Life Disciples+Dwellings (GOLD) ministry, said her organization coordinated the day's activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Blessed Stanley Rother's ordination to the Catholic priesthood. Who was Blessed Stanley Rother? Highlights of Blessed Stanley Rother's life and legacy After participating in a pilgrimage walk from Moore to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine on Thursday, Anna Arra stands in from of a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe atop Tepeyac Hill on the grounds of the shrine, 700 SE 89. The shrine focuses on the life and legacy of Rother, an Oklahoma priest who was serving as a missionary in Guatemala when he was shot and killed by unknown assailants in the rectory of his parish church in July 1981. He was 46. Pope Francis proclaimed him a martyr for the faith in 2016. He is the first recognized martyr from the United States and the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Rother has been given the distinction of being called "blessed" to signify that he has been beatified and is one step away from Catholic sainthood. On Thursday, pilgrimage participants walked from the GOLD ministry house called the St. John Paul II Dwelling in Moore to the shrine where they celebrated Mass. More: Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine is expected to bring more than just visitors to Oklahoma City The Rev. Don Wolf, Rother's cousin and rector of Sacred Heart Church at the shrine, talked to pilgrims as part of special activities at the religious center. Also, an original portrait of Rother by Maestro Igor Babailov was presented. Pilgrims visited the shrine museum and Tepeyac Hill on the shrine grounds before returning to the ministry home in Moore where dinner and evening prayer were held before attendees were treated to a talk by Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, author of "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Pilgrimage to Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in OKC honors ordination A Warner Robins Police narcotics officer who was put on paid leave in April for alleged misconduct recently pleaded guilty to violation of oath, according to a statement from the Houston County District Attorneys Office. John Tyler Harvey, a Narcotics Investigation Unit officer with WRPD, admitted to trying to use a person in a drug investigation as a confidential informant in exchange for leniency from the law without prior approval, the statement from DA William Kendall said. While his intentions may have been without malice, his actions were contrary to the principles and responsibilities we uphold as law enforcement officers, said Interim Police Chief Roy Whitehead in a separate statement from the city of Warner Robins. Harvey resigned Wednesday shortly before the plea and was sentenced to a five-year probated sentence, Kendalls statement said. He must give up his POST certification and cannot hold a position of public trust during that sentence. Those who hold positions of public trust should be held to a high standard. In this case, a public officer failed to meet that standard, and violated his oath and the trust the public has granted him, Kendall said. Harvey was one of the six NIU officers put on paid leave last month when the Houston DA launched an investigation into alleged misconduct. Four of the officers were later reinstated, while the status of the sixth officer was still on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, the statement from the city said. The case The timeline of the case began when NIU officers pulled over a vehicle as part of a methamphetamine investigation March 31, Kendalls statement said. After finding fentanyl but no meth, the officers took the two passengers back to the WRPD station. After the passengers arrived and were booked on certain charges, Harvey apparently discovered that one of the two suspects still had 10 ounces of meth in his possession and still owed his dealer about $1,500, the statement said. Harvey told the passenger in the sally port of WPD to conduct business as usual, the statement said, wanting the passenger to be a confidential informant. Kendall and prosecuting attorneys believed he intended to track down the supplier with the help of the informant. The informant was brought into the probation office April 11 to discuss the violation of his probation and told officers he was being forced to work, Kendalls statement said. Kendalls office was notified shortly after and, the following day, found texts between Harvey and the informant. The text messages, which were sent from Harveys city-issued phone, contained conversations about how much meth the informant had left and about the informant buying meth so Harvey could learn more about the supplier. Although Harveys intention to go after a high-level drug supplier may have been well-meaning, endorsing and allowing an informant to sell poison to pay off a debt is not conduct commensurate with the laws of this state, Kendall said in the statement. Although I believe this is not a systemic issue, I do recognize that it hurts public trust and rightfully so. The statement also said Kendall had video evidence and testimony from another officer of Harveys misconduct. The status of the investigation of the sixth officer on paid leave was unclear in Kendalls statement. Washington concerned by China moves against US companies US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has expressed concerns to her Chinese counterpart over Beijing's restrictions on US companies US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressed concern to her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on Thursday over Beijing's restrictions on US companies. The officials, who met in Washington, "had candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the US-China commercial relationship," the US Department of Commerce said in a statement. This included "the overall environment in both countries for trade and investment and areas for potential cooperation," it said. "Secretary Raimondo also raised concerns about the recent spate of PRC actions taken against US companies operating in the PRC," the statement said, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce also said the two had "a frank, professional and constructive exchange." Wang "expressed key concerns on US economic and trade policies towards China," particularly "semiconductor policies," it added. China imposed restrictions on US semiconductor giant Micron on Sunday, claiming that its chips posed "major network security risks" that could affect "national security." The United States, through a State Department spokesperson, expressed serious concerns on the issue. The semiconductor sector is highly strategic and was already the subject of tensions between the two countries, with the United States also restricting sales of advanced chips to China. Tensions are running high between Washington and Beijing as they engage in fierce competition on the diplomatic, military, technological and economic fronts. They are also at loggerheads over several diplomatic issues such as Taiwan and Russia. The two sides have resumed high-level contact in recent weeks, however. Wang's visit to Washington represents a rare trip for a senior Chinese official to the United States. His meeting was "part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the relationship," the US Commerce Department said. jum/bfm/qan The Washington Post editorial board on Thursday called out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for not ruling out pardons for Jan. 6 rioters or even former President Donald Trump. The move showed DeSantis, who officially jumped into the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday, is running as an echo rather than an alternative to his opponent Trump, said the newspaper editorial board. Floating pardons gives Jan. 6 rioters hope that they wont be held accountable, the board warned, saying it will discourage plea deals and encourage defendants to drag out proceedings in hopes that they might get clemency in 20 months. It also heightens the danger that people will again engage in violence if they dont like the outcome of next years elections, calculating that they might receive pardons if their preferred candidate takes power, it added. Trump, who is facing potential charges for his effort to undo the election and for potential mishandling of government documents, has repeatedlysaid he would consider pardons for his supporters who broke into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Read the Posts full editorial here. Related... Race for US debt deal as talks go to the wire US lawmakers have left on a break but would be called back to vote if a debt ceiling deal is reached Democrats and Republicans seemed within grasping distance Saturday of a deal to end the US debt ceiling standoff, with both sides playing hardball in the final race for an agreement to avert a potentially catastrophic default. President Joe Biden gave the strongest sign yet on Friday night that the drama in Washington might be drawing to an end -- saying an agreement was "very close." And Republican congressional leader Kevin McCarthy sounded positive as negotiators reconvened Saturday morning, telling reporters on Capitol Hill: "I feel we can get there." As the clock toward a calamitous national default ticked down, Biden spoke directly with McCarthy early Saturday evening, as well as with the top Democrats in both houses of Congress, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Democrats reportedly drew a red line at Republican demands for tougher work requirements in exchange for social aid that they say would kill party support for a deal. In his morning briefing McCarthy acknowledged negotiators were "not there yet" -- but said he was confident of meeting the critical June 5 deadline for a deal. That is the day when, short of an accord allowing it to keep borrowing, the US government says it will run out of money to pay its bills -- raising the prospect of a default that would likely trigger a recession and send shock waves through the global economy. "I feel closer to an agreement now than I did a long time before," McCarthy said, adding: "Some things we just have to finish out." McCarthy said once a deal is reached, he will give legislators 72 hours before bringing the bill to a vote. He added Saturday morning that the bill would not be lengthy, likely around 150 pages. The dreaded June 5 deadline is four days later than a previous X-date, but still guarantees that -- even with a deal this weekend -- it will be a frantic race to get a bill through Congress in less than 10 days. And winning bipartisan support for its adoption will test the skills of party whips, with grumblings already on both sides over the concessions being made. The deal believed to be taking shape would include an agreement to extend the government's borrowing authority for two years, meaning there would be no repeat of the current drama before the 2024 presidential election. But Democrats would have to offer some ground on Republican demands for sweeping spending limits on social safety and other domestic programs -- most controversially a demand that those applying for benefits such as food assistance work for them. - Hostage-taking accusation - The White House has pushed back hard, accusing Republicans of putting at risk "over eight million jobs unless they can take food out of the mouths of hungry Americans." McCarthy earlier set the tone for the final-stretch negotiations by reposting a clip of himself telling reporters: "I do not think it's right that you borrow money from China to pay people to stay home that are able bodied with no dependents on the couch. "That is not the American way. That is not what we believe." Members of Congress left for a 10-day recess at the start of the long Memorial Day weekend -- with Biden himself, to the consternation of some in his own party, spending the weekend at his Camp David retreat, then his home in Delaware. Economists have spent months raising the prospect of economic catastrophe should the government default, but both the White House and Republican leadership insist they are negotiating in good faith and are confident a deal will be reached in time. McCarthy has said lawmakers would get 24 hours' notice if they are required to return to Washington for a vote. The debt ceiling raise is an annual accounting maneuver that usually passes with little notice. It simply allows the government to keep borrowing money to pay for bills already incurred through the budget. This year, the increasingly hard-right Republican Party has decided to turn the debt ceiling into leverage to force Biden to roll back favorite Democratic spending priorities. Republicans call this taking responsibility for the $31 trillion national debt. The White House accuses the opposition party, which controls the House of Representatives, of taking the economy hostage. The Treasury Department said its cash balance fell on Thursday to $38.8 billion -- which observers noted was less than the net worth of several dozen of the world's wealthiest people, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. bur-ec/tjj/bfm/mca Watch Out for Travel Delays on These 10 Airlines Watch out for travel delays on these 10 airlines Heading into Memorial Day weekend, preparedness for travel is essential, with the Transportation Security Administration telling ABC7 it expects to screen 10 million travelers between Friday and Monday. Airlines have reportedly fixed the problems that plagued travelers in 2022 which sparked surges of cancellations and delays, and 52,000 flight cancellations from June through August last year. Read more Now airlines have hired about 30,000 workers and pilots and say they are more prepared for increased travelers. I dont have the hubris to tell you exactly how the summer is going to go, Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer at Southwest Airlines, told ABC7. But we have prepared and we have a robust plan for it. Travelers looking to get away for the first major travel weekend of the year should still prepare for departure delays. According to a Price 4 Limo report, Allegiant Airlines ranks as the worst airline to fly due to departure delays, with the best overall day to fly on the Saturday before Memorial Day, reporting an average of 86% on-time flights. Travel delays at airports are inevitable, but watch out for the likelihood of being delayed on these 10 airlines. 10. Allegiant Air Image: Ethan Miller (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 22% 9. Frontier Airlines Image: Michael Francis McElroy (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 21% 8. JetBlue Image: Joe Raedle (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 20% 7. Southwest Airlines Image: Scott Olson (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 20% 6. American Airlines Image: Drew Angerer (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 17% 5. Spirit Airlines Image: Ethan Miller (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 16% 4. United Airlines Image: Alex Wong (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 16% 3. Delta Airlines Image: James D. Morgan (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 12% 2. Alaska Airlines Image: Bruce Bennett (Getty Images) Average Departure Delays 11% 1. Hawaiian Airlines Image: Markus Mainka (Shutterstock) Average Departure Delays 9% More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Security Service of Ukraine says it has conducted multiple operations against enemy UAVs and ground targets with suicide drones. Ukraines information war against Russia during its current counter offensive now includes dramatized video of dive bombing drones. On Thursday, the YouTube channel for the Security Service of UkraineAKA the SBU, the countrys intelligence and security agencyreleased a video showcasing special operations in which drone pilots slam their unmanned aerial devices into Russian vehicles, soldiers, as well as other drones. (Content warning: the videos are not necessarily graphic in nature but they do imply violence and the potential for bodily harm). Read more - The SBU said these so-called kamikaze drones, invoking the Japanese suicide bombing tactic of WWII, were conducted by the Special Operations Centers special forces Alpha group. One sliver of video shows a drone targeting an armored vehicle. Another drone angles down toward whats apparently a Russian truck while a soldier dives through the door. The SBU said these drones contain an explosive payload meant to detonate on impact. The ongoing war in Ukraine has seen one of the most massive deployments of active drone warfare in modern history. Photos from late last year show Russia has also made use of so-called suicide drones. Other than these videos of smaller drone attacks, Ukrainian agencies has shared multiple videos of unmanned aerial vehicle air-to-ground attacks, mostly from a relatively cheap Turkish-made drone, the Bayraktar TB2 UAV. Ukraine has been more than happy to spread videos of Bayraktar drone strikes on social media. More than that, Ukraine has made heavy use of much smaller, commercial drones to conduct wartime surveillance, and as is now more clear, attack Russian targets. As noted by Business Insider, a report from the UK-based think tank Royal United Services Institute claims Ukraine uses up approximately 10,000 drones a months, thanks in part to Russias anti-drone systems. The Ukrainian military had previously been using SpaceXs Starlink system for drone control, though the companys CEO Elon Musk has worked to limit military use of its satellite-based internet services. Ukraine has heavily depended on drone operations for its ongoing war against Russia, including in their normal surveillance and air-to-ground attack capacity. However, the Ukrainian military seems to be increasingly reliant on the physical use of drones to ram targets. This past week, Ukraine claimed it used a sea drone to attack a Russian warship in the Black Sea. While Russia claims it foiled that attack, Ukraine state-owned broadcasters claimed the drone attack damaged the vessel. Video of the attack shown by BBC cuts out just before impact. The difficult part of covering any operation in Ukraine is that both sides are waging massive PR campaigns online. Earlier this month, Russia claims a single drone that burst into flames on the top dome of the Kremlin in Moscow was an attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putins life. Drone warfare is evolving, and it seems a new, effective tactic around diving unmanned aerial devices is becoming more ubiquitous. The U.S. is reportedly working on creating programs for flocks of AI-driven drones that could overwhelm air defenses or attack ground targets. These drones could also pack explosives or munitions, and experts have said that the war in Ukraine has led to further weaponization of semi-autonomous vehicles. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Photo: Pool (Getty Images) Neuralink, Elon Musks Brian computer interface company, said late Thursday that it had received long-awaited FDA approval to begin brain tests in human subjects. Soon, the company will conduct invasive brain surgery on humans to determine whether its mind-reading technology can help people with severe paralysis regain control over their bodies using only neural signals. This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people, Neuralink said in a tweet announcing the approval. Recruitment for the trials isnt open yet, so anyone itching to voluntarily have their skull preyed open by Musks company will have to wait a bit longer. Read more We are excited to share that we have received the FDAs approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study! This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our Neuralink (@neuralink) May 25, 2023 Neuralink and the FDA did not immediately respond to Gizmodos request for comment. What is Neuralink? The Musk-owned brain-computer interface (BCI) company is one of many startups racing to connect human brains with computers via implantable brain chips. Neuralinks small circular implant called the Link requires patients to undergo invasive surgery to attach the device directly to the brain where it then reads neural signals. A bed of tiny wires stemming from the device hovers over the patients brain to monitor activity and use electricity to stimulate certain areas. In the short term, Neuralink believes the device could be used to treat severe neurological diseases like Parkinsons and epilepsy as well as degenerative diseases like ALS. Longer term, however, Musk has made clear he believes the device could one day enhance human intelligence and act as a bulwark against artificial intelligence overlords. Think singularity but with bloodier scalps. The FDA approval for human subjects marks a major milestone for Neuralink which up until now had been testing its devices in monkeys and other animals. Those tests werent without controversy. Last year, an animal rights group called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine publicized a complaint filed with the USDA accusing the company of torturing its monkey test subjects during trials. Some of the monkeys equipped with the device, according to the rights group, allegedly experienced extreme vomiting and exhaustion while others, overcome by stress, allegedly mutilated themselves. Neuralink has previously denied mistreating its test animals. Yes Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2021 Neuralink wasnt the first brain-computer interface to receive FDA approval. Synchronize, an Australian-based startup that wants to use the tech to let immobilized people send emails and texts with their thoughts received FDA approval in 2021 and actually reportedly implanted its device into a human head last year. There are plenty of good reasons why a paralyzed or disabled person may seek out Neuralink or some other BCI company to restore physical functions, but its still unclear whether Musks long-term vision of chip-aided supercomputing cyborgs is actually desirable. Last year, 78% of US adults surveyed by Pew Research said they probably or definitely would not want a computer chip implanted in their brain to process information faster. More than half (56%) of the people polled said they believed widespread use of the technology was a bad idea, compared to just 13% who said it was a good idea. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. When the #BamaRush hashtag went viral in August 2021 on TikTok, I was somewhat oblivious, since I dont really use the social media platform. However, when everyone else in the media world, including The New York Times, took notice and started covering University of Alabama students going through fall sorority recruitment, I couldnt help but fall into the rabbit hole of video clips of the students showing off their outfits of the day, detailing where they bought everything from their earrings to their shoes. More: Mania of May brings hectic end to school year | THE MOM STOP And while I quickly got sucked into the easy-to-watch drama of what girls were wearing to where they were going for ice water teas, or whether another girl was invited back to her top sorority for pref night I have to admit, I had one main thought as millions of people watched girls on TikTok go through rush at UA in both 2021 and 2022: Thank goodness it wasnt like that when I went through rush. New sorority sisters join their sororities on Bid Day on Aug. 19, 2018 on Sorority Row outside Bryant-Denny Stadium. New members of Chi Omega show their excitement as they run down the street to their sorority house. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.] Yet another reason Im glad there was no social media when I was in college. I went through sorority recruitment at UA in 1999, along with about 700 other girls. That, too, is a drastic change from todays rush, since more than 2,500 went through recruitment in 2022. Twenty-four years ago, we had 42 girls in my pledge class, which was the top number of girls that could be in a class at that time. Today, that number is more than 150 young women in a pledge class, which is about the same size or larger than most Panhellenic sororities at Alabama in the late 1990s and early 2000s. There are other, noticeable differences. The University of Alabama was less than half its size at about only 18,000 students in 1999, rather than the 38,000-plus students enrolled today. And, while the majority of students at the Capstone were from Alabama in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the majority around 58% now come from out of state. Its hard to compare the college experience I had, when even UA itself has changed so drastically in the two decades. But there are some things I am grateful for. I was a freshman who, while being from Alabama, didnt know that many people at UA. It was a place so unlike than anything I had experienced, and the giant pillared buildings, sorority mansions and expansive Quad were a few of the things that drew me to Tuscaloosa. But when it came to sorority recruitment, I was clueless. My mother had been in a sorority in the 1970s, but not at UA. A family friend who I baby-sat for organized my recommendation letters for each sorority. My mom bought me a few new dresses and after my parents helped move me into Tutwiler Hall, I started rush. New members of Alpha Gamma Delta walk out of Bryant Denny Stadium to meet their new sorority sisters on Bid Day at The University of Alabama. Sunday August 14, 2022. [Photo/Will McLelland] Other than knowing of the sorority I was a legacy to, I was clueless about the Greek system. I didnt have high expectations or hopes pinned on any particular house because I didnt know any difference. I went in with the hopes of finding a fit a place I felt at home and that was it. I distinctly remember asking, after I pledged a sorority on Bid Day what Old Row was. Someone in my pledge class laughed and told me I was in it. I just had no idea. And for that, I am thankful. For with all the TikTok videos, the pressure to be perfect or wear just the right outfit I cant imagine the stress todays potential new members go through. HBO Max released a documentary last week, focused on UAs sorority recruitment. While I did watch it and was underwhelmed by the film, it still made me glad. Glad that I had such a positive experience being Greek at UA and thankful that the sorority recruitment process of my college years was so different from that of today. I can only imagine what it might be like in a few more years when my daughter is in college. Lydia Seabol Avant. [Staff file photo/The Tuscaloosa News] Lydia Seabol Avant writes The Mom Stop for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at momstopcolumn@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Max documentary proves this isn't your mom's Bama Rush | THE MOM STOP There were 18 clashes on key fronts during the day General Staff report The Russian occupiers continue to focus their main efforts on five fronts. Source: summary of the General Staff Quote: "The enemy continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka fronts. In total, 18 combat clashes took place on the specified areas of the front... On the Kupiansk front, the enemy does not stop trying to improve its tactical position. During the day, they conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Masiutivka. Conducted airstrikes On the Lyman front, during the day, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Bilohorivka. There, they carried out an airstrike. Nevske, Dibrova, and Bilohorivka of Luhansk Oblast; Verkhnokamianske and Spirne of Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire. On the Bakhmut front during the day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of Predtechyne. Airstrikes in Hryhorivka and Bila Hora districts... During the day, the enemy did not carry out any offensive operations on the Avdiivka front. They carried out airstrikes on Avdiivka and Pervomaiske and carried out artillery attacks on the settlements of Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Karlivka and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast. On the Marinka front, units of the defence forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the area of the city of Marinka. At the same time, Heorhiivka and Pobeda in Donetsk Oblast also came under enemy fire." Details: The General Staff also reported that the Russians continue to conduct defensive operations on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts. During the day, the Air Force of the Defence Forces carried out eight strikes on areas where Russian personnel and military equipment were concentrated. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A Whataburger in Texas fired a nursing mother for leaving the restaurant to express breast milk, the Labor Department says Erin McDowell/Insider A Texas Whataburger didn't provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk, the DOL said. When the nursing mother left the premises to express milk, the company fired her, the DOL said. Employers have to give staff reasonable break time to express milk for a year after the child's birth. A Whataburger restaurant in Texas fired a nursing mother for leaving the site to express breast milk, the Department of Labor says. The corporate-owned restaurant in Lubbock, northwest Texas, failed to provide reasonable break time for the employee to express breast milk, the DOL said. And when she did leave the premises to express milk, the company terminated her, the DOL said. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are required to provide staff with reasonable break times to express breast milk for their nursing child for one year after the child's birth. "An employer may not deny a covered employee a needed break to pump," the DOL says. Employers are also required to give staff a place to pump at work that isn't a bathroom and is shielded from view and free from intrusion. The DOL said that following its investigation, Whataburger had signed an Enhanced Compliance Agreement stating it would provide FLSA training to all managers in the future and had given $900 in back wages and the same amount in liquidated damages to the worker. "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," Evelyn Ortiz, district director of the DOL's Wage and Hour Division in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said in a statement. "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." A spokesperson for the Whataburger told Insider that it had a company policy that "upholds the right to time and privacy" for nursing mothers at work. "While we are unable to comment on this particular situation, we are committed to supporting nursing mothers and all parents as they balance work and family," the spokesperson added. Read the original article on Business Insider What's up with all the wine at Anajak Thai? It's an L.A. jewel, but don't sleep on these bottles from its massive list Three guys and their wine: Anajak chef and co-owner Justin Pichetrungsi, center, with John Cerasulo, left, and new wine director Ian Krupp. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Wine, wine everywhere: bottles stacked on bottles, crowding every spare surface space, taking every inch of unclaimed countertop, packed like sardines between the tables, layered like a phalanx three soldiers deep atop the bar. Thats more or less the scene at Anajak Thai, the lauded second-generation Sherman Oaks Thai restaurant that has become one of the premier destinations for drinking wine in Southern California the same way people fall in love: first in drips and drabs, and then all at once. Chef-owner Justin Pichetrungsi, grilling prawns in the alley for his tasting menu, straddles tradition and innovation at Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Chef Justin Pichetrungsis Ventura Boulevard dining room the L.A. Times 2022 Restaurant of the Year effortlessly twins traditional Thai dishes with wild-eyed innovation, subverting norms and inventing new forms (Thai Taco Tuesdays, Thai omakase and so forth). Pichetrungsi is also a James Beard finalist for the 2023 awards. Less told is the story of the wine program, which has grown to the point of bursting, a cascading, antediluvian overflow of wine wine wine, which dominates the restaurants interior tableau as a sort of none-too-subtle vinous call to arms. Diners at Anajak come for the haw mok fish curry custard, the crab fried rice and the Wagyu with jaew gastrique, but once seated quickly find themselves wondering: Whats with all the wine? Its almost like weve become more wine than restaurant, laughs sommelier John Cerasulo, the driving force behind the restaurants wine program. I think some people might wonder, you know, Do you have a storage problem? Is there something wrong? But other people take one look and say, 'Wow this is the place for me.' The wine menu, with some teeny-tiny font, lists hundreds of bottles from groundbreaking natural wines to big-name traditional vintages to relative unknowns at Anajak Thai. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) The experience only deepens when handed the wine list, a kaleidoscopic magic-eye puzzle of a document in teeny 4-point font. The list at Anajak veers with easy verve from boundary-breaking naturalists (Frederic Cossard, Clos Saron, Le Coste) to benchmark traditionalist winemakers (Raveneau, Rostaing, Keller) to relative unknowns in the American market (Hermann Ludes, Emrich Schonleber, Theo Dancer), drawing on a deep bench of wines from Burgundy, Germany, the Loire Valley and beyond. It is at once both a natural wine list and a traditional wine list, fusing the two seemingly opposed schools of drinking together in a way that exposes that kind of binary as silly in the first place. I want us to be a place that rewards knowledge, says Cerasulo, and I also want to be crowd-pleasing, and traditional, and kind of on the natty side too, but with wines that are made correctly while feeling alive and fresh. Perhaps best of all, the wines of Anajak are priced to sell, with only a portion of the markup one might encounter in other dining rooms across the city. To hear Pichetrungsi tell it, there would be no modern version of Anajak without the wine. Our beverage program was the first semblance of me having some form of control, he tells me. Pichetrungsi took over after his father had a stroke in 2019, leaving a promising career as a Disney Imagineer to helm the family business, and in those early days there was little to no beverage program to speak of at Anajak. I remember we had those little faux-leather, cardboard-bound mini A-frame menus that sit on the table, Pichetrungsi recalls; by-the-glass offerings included Coppola Pinot, Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and imported plum wine filled to the top of the glass (the Van Nuys pour, we called it.) "I want us to be a place that rewards knowledge," says sommelier John Cerasulo, "and I also want to be crowd-pleasing, and traditional, and kind of on the natty side too, but with wines that are made correctly while feeling alive and fresh." (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Pichetrungsi learned how to cook from his dad but fell into wine of his own volition, hanging around wine shops like Everson Royce in Pasadena and avidly consuming wine books. I started learning about wine for me, he recalls, but eventually I think about wine as being a potential entry point for how I might be able to influence Anajak. My dad was always the cook he was always the one in charge but no one could say anything about the beverage program because it didnt exist, you know? Pichetrungsi started attending wine fairs and trade tastings, making friends in the wine industry, and dreaming of how his love of wine might someday influence Anajak. He also found a ready set of comparisons to his own life in the stories of the vignerons whose bottles he loved. So many stories in the wine world involve children taking over from their parents, he tells me, and sometimes it will be like, the 7th or 8th generation to do so. These stories reflect the food here, because Im second career, Im second generation. The wine and food are like a mirror. At Anajak Thai, wine, wine everywhere, lots of drops to drink. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) When Pichetrungsi took over, he immediately began growing the wine program. Enter Cerasulo, an art-world refugee with a serious wine habit who moved to L.A. from New York right before the pandemic hit. Theres something special about how Justin thinks about wine, says Cerasulo. Its like he eats it he ingests it. Cerasulos timing was fortuitous, as buzz around the revitalized Anajak began growing louder and louder. Coming out of pandemic anxieties, or maybe because of them, the city was ready to drink wine in a meaningful way, and L.A.s wine scene embraced Anajak as a destination. The press started coming in, says Cerasulo, and all the accolades started rolling in, and Justin said, Hey, go for it start buying wine. Suddenly 50 bottles becomes 70 becomes 90 until we ran out of space. Now theres a huge wine island, and the bar is inundated. (I trust his palate implicitly, says Pichetrungsi of his partner. I give him a blank check.) Diners fill the alleyway tables, where L.A.'s wine lovers have embraced Anajak as a destination. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) In the earliest days it was Cerasulo hand-selling bottles of $60 wine in the alley, but now the restaurants wine program is supported by a growing team of opinionated sommeliers who help diners navigate the experience, overseen by Ian Krupp (formerly of Scopa and the Rose), Anajak's newly appointed wine director. Cerasulo now splits time between Anajak and a wine sales position at Thatcher's Wine, an influential wine importer and distributor; Anajaks growing prestige as a wine destination has allowed the restaurant to secure coveted allocations of rare bottles from cult producers. The wine part of what we do has grown so much, says Pichetrungsi, that its almost its whole own thing outside of the food. Its no longer even about, you know, what pairs well with what dish we dont even really answer that question anymore. Who the f cares, you know? Were stoked about the food and were stoked about the wine. My hope is that people will just kind of submit to the whole thing, our whole approach to wine and food, says Pichetrungsi, and make a discovery along the way." Anajak serves the "Jurassique" Savagnin from French winemaker Theo Dancer, who has been shaking up the world of Burgundy. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Anajak has become a destination not just for wine drinkers but also for winemakers the restaurant recently hosted Tomoko Kuriyama and Guillaume Bott, the duo behind the widely revered Burgundy micro-negociant label Domaine Chantereves. Meeting his winemaker heroes has further served as proof of concept for Pichetrungsi, echoing something deeper in his connection to wine as it relates to his life and the story of Anajak. So many of these winemakers will go off to their own careers, as winemaker children do, but slowly youll see them come back and help the family business. They find themselves wanting to come back. And I cant help but think, 'Oh my God, is that me?' he says, laughing inside the bottle-stuffed dining room at Anajak, once his fathers restaurant and now very much his own. These choices we make in our lives its like theyre communicated by the wine itself. New wine director Ian Krupp, left, sommelier John Cerasulo and chef and co-owner Justin Pichetrungsi collaborate on Anajak's wine menu. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Five Wines to Try From Anajaks Remarkable List The wine list at Anajak is a marvel. Its as though the dream of a little country restaurant with an overflowing wine list in the hills of Tuscany or on some lonely rue Bourgogne has somehow been planted along Ventura Boulevard, and paired with Thai fried chicken. Maybe youre already familiar with the exquisite pairing of Thai food and Riesling, as pioneered in the late 20th century by influential restaurants like Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. But the world of Thai food and wine does not begin or end there; this menu rewards exploration and knowledge. You should also feel free to put yourself in the hands of Anajaks wine team, which might even include chef Justin Pichetrungsi himself (hes been known to pick up a somm shift or two). And when in doubt, order a bottle Wed always rather see you with a bottle here than a glass, says sommelier John Cerasulo. Because thats the way the winemaker would want it. Frederic Savart 1er Cru Extra Brut LOuverture Champagne NV Champagne cruises alongside nearly every food imaginable, but this taut, sharp expression of sparkling Pinot Noir seems ready-made for Anajaks rightly famous Thai fried chicken (maybe even better with the caviar supplement). The wine menu at Anajak Thai a vast array of options in a teeny, tiny font, so to be safe, bring a pair of reading glasses. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Stein Weihwasser Mosel Riesling 2020 Yes, Riesling tastes phenomenal with Thai food, and it makes a ready foil for dishes like panang beef with snap peas and makrut lime, or Pichetrungsis pitch-perfect rendition of his fathers drunken noodles. This bottle of Stein, from Germanys hallowed Mosel region, tastes utterly alive, clean and cool like licking a wet rock after a rainstorm and just a touch sweet without being overwhelming or veering into dessert territory. Chateau Le Puy Emilien Bordeaux 2018 For a restaurant and wine list that upends expectations, reach for this definitional natural Bordeaux the same family has owned the estate for 400 years, and they've never used chemical pesticides from a region whose pleasures have been more or less skipped over by many younger wine drinkers who find themselves allergic to anything Robert Parker once liked. Le Puy is famously ethereal, light as a feather and vividly elegant. "Burgundy-like" is sometimes thrown around in reference to this wine; that isn't quite right, but nor are comparisons to the estate's famous Right Bank Bordeaux neighbors, including Petrus and Cheval-Blanc. Instead Le Puy is some other third thing, occupying a particularly edgy place on a modern wine list like Anajak's, where Bordeaux for natural wine lovers makes a certain cheeky sense. This would drink effortlessly with the entire menu on Thai Taco Tuesday (in particular the uni tostada). Emrich Schonleber Fruhlingsplatzchen Grosses Gewachs Nahe 2020 Wine programs like Anajak's offer difficult-to-find bottles, often obtained via allocation, a system whereby favorite clients like restaurants and bars can obtain sought-after wines from importers and distributors. Emrich Schonlebers Rieslings are as expressive as they are rare, like drinking a peach-pear LaCroix filtered through limestone. To see a bottle like this just hanging out on a wine list in the Valley is downright subversive. Theo Dancer Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy 2021 Another tough-to-find bottle, at Anajak its being offered at a fraction of the price youd expect to see on a list in New York or London. Clean and lovely white Burgundy from one of the regions most buzzed-about young winemakers, who recently took over the domaine from his father, like the story of Anajak in Chardonnay form. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Where are Candy and Pat Montgomery from 'Love and Death' now? The case of Candy Montgomery is back in the spotlight due to the HBO Max drama series "Love and Death." Unsurprisingly, viewers want to know what happened to the Montgomery family after Candy Montgomery was acquitted in the stabbing death of Betty Gore, the wife of a man she had an affair with. Montgomery, at the time, was a 30-year-old Texas mother and active churchgoer. She stabbed Gore to death 41 times with an ax on June 13, 1980, in what her attorney later argued was self-defense, after Gore asked if she was having an affair with her husband and approached her with the weapon, according to Texas Monthly. The final episode of "Love and Death," based on a series of Texas Monthly articles and the book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs by Jim Atkinson and John Bloom, aired on HBO Max on Thursday, May 25. Love and Death (Warner Bros.) The final scene of the mini series shows the Montgomery family leaving their home after Montgomery, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, was acquitted of murdering Gore in October 1980, according to the Associated Press. Here's where Candy and Pat Montgomery are now: Who is Candy Montgomery? Pat Montgomery met Candace "Candy" Wheeler El Paso and proposed just two months after they had met, according to "Evidence of Love," which is based on interviews with the Montgomery and Gore families. The pair married in a small ceremony in the 1970s, according to "Evidence of Love," and moved to Collin County, Texas, outside of Dallas, in 1977. The Montgomerys joined the Methodist Church of Lucas, where they eventually met Betty and Allan Gore, according to Texas Monthly. Candy Montgomery and Allan Gore began flirting at church events, and one night at choir practice, she approached him and told him about her feelings for him, Texas Monthly reported. About a week later, she asked him if he would be interested in having an affair, and after weeks of meticulous planning, their affair began and lasted for several months, according to Montgomerys courtroom testimony. Allan Gore later told her he didn't want to be with her anymore, and Candy Montgomery ended the affair the next day. According to Montgomery's courtroom testimony, she went to the Gore home on June 13, 1980 to pick up a swimsuit for the Gore's daughter, who would be having a sleepover at the Montgomery home that evening. Betty Gore made small talk with Montgomery before asking if she was having an affair with her husband. Montgomery said she had, but it ended "a long time ago," according to Texas Monthly. Betty Gore then went into the utility room of her own and brought out a three-foot ax and said, "You cant have him, you cant have him. Ive got to kill you," per Montgomery's courtroom testimony. The women struggled over the ax, and when Montgomery got control of the weapon, she hit Betty Gore in the back of the head. She struck Betty Gore 41 times, 40 of which occurred while her heart was still beating, forensics expert Vincent DiMaio testified in the trial. Montgomery turned herself in less than two weeks after the slaying, and her murder trial began in October 1980. Her attorney, Dan Crowder argued she had acted in self-defense, and Montgomery took the stand in her own defense. Jurors reached a verdict the same afternoon as hearing closing arguments, and found she was not guilty of murder. Where is Candy Montgomery now? Love and Death (Warner Bros.) The last scene in "Love and Death" shows Candy and Pat leaving Texas to head to Georgia. Texas Monthly reported Candy's parents lived in Georgia. Immediately after her trial, Montgomery told the Dallas Morning News she wanted "to get all this behind me and be normal again," and in 2000 she declined to talk to the Dallas Morning News, telling a reporter, "Im telling you in big bold letters Im not interested." Montgomery appeared to have obtained a therapist license in Georgia under her maiden name Candace Wheeler starting in 1996, according to a copy of the license obtained by NBC News. Her license expired in 2012. Where is Pat Montgomery now? Little is known about the Montgomerys' life after moving to Georgia. Several reports suggested the couple divorced a few years later, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Where is Allan Gore now? After his wife's death, Allan Gore remarried and moved away from Wylie, Texas, according to the Dallas Morning News. His new marriage ended in divorce, and his daughters were raised by Betty Gore's parents, according to the Dallas Morning News. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Where can Utah families turn for support when mom, dad or other caregiver dies? Candalyn Winder Mettmann and her daughter, Adair, 10, are photographed at their Murray home on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News When Candalyn Winder Mettmanns first husband Isaac Winder died their daughter Adair was just 2 years old. Given her age, she didnt quite grasp that he was gravely ill but she understood something was amiss as her father lay in a coma in a hospital in Changchun, China, connected to wires and tubes. The small family had recently relocated so Candalyn could accepted a teaching job. Isaac was a stay-at-home dad. Soon after the move, Isaac, 28, became fatally ill after contracting food poisoning and becoming dehydrated, his condition exacerbated by medication he has been taking for unrelated medical issues. Adair was very verbal for her age but she never asked me where her dad was. I think she just got it on some level, Candalyn said. The toddlers grief manifested in horrific separation anxiety, her mother said. I tried to put her in preschool 10 months later, and for two weeks. I couldnt leave without her sobbing for the entire time I was gone, she said. Candalyn moved into her parents basement so she could stay home with Adair, seek out a therapist to help her address her own grief and start an online masters degree program so she could better support her family as a single mom. Candalyn, who has bachelor degree in early childhood and elementary education, sought other resources to help Adair. At the time, Adair was too young for programs offered by the Utah nonprofit The Sharing Place, which offers grief support for children. But once she was able to enroll in its programs, it immediately started getting better. Candalyn said she has a lot of support, privilege and advanced education and yet, she struggled to connect to resources to help her and her daughter. I just think about parents who dont have the same level of privilege trying to navigate that, she said. Adair Winder hugs her mother, Candalyn Winder Mettmann, at their Murray home on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News On Thursday, the state of Utah took a significant step forward to assist children who have lost a parent or caregiver in announcing an initiative that builds on community partnerships to identify and support bereaved children. The Utah Childrens Collaborative will be supported by a $1 million grant by New York Life Foundation, bringing its total investment for both the COVID and childrens collaboratives to $2.25 million. The New York Life Foundation has invested more than $70 million to support bereaved children in the last 12 years, according to Heather Nesle, foundation president. The collaborative will work with University of Utahs Gardner Policy Institute to match birth records with death records of those who have children under 18 years old and then offer resources to families. The Childrens Collaborative will also work with Granite School District, which starting in the 2023-24 school year, will add an entry to its school enrollment forms that allows families to voluntarily share that a caregiver or parent has passed away and to opt-in to being linked to resources. Granite District teachers and administrators will also participate in the New York Lifes Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative, which will help prepare them to help bereaved kids and families. Once Utah children who have experienced the death a parent or other caregiver are identified and their remaining caregivers opt-in, the collaboratives partner organizations will reach out to connect families with an array of supports that they can elect to seek such as Social Security Death and Survivor Benefits, funeral reimbursements or public assistance nutrition benefits. Case managers will also inform families aware of other supports such as grief camps, local support groups, therapeutic services and mentoring. Related John Bridgeland is co-founder and CEO of the Childrens Collaborative for Healing and Support, which initially focused on the 340,000 children nationwide who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19, as part of the long-established COVID Collaborative. It is now expanding to support all grieving children, no matter the cause of death. Bridgeland says Utah is ideal for launching the pilot program because of already existing support services, its demonstrated capacity to collaborate and use data for sound decision-making. While the country has moved on from the pandemic, there is an urgent need to address the crisis of children left behind. Supporting these children in the years ahead is a moral imperative. The Childrens Collaborative seeks to build sustainable, scalable systems to help these children navigate their new reality, said Bridgeland in a statement. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox noted that 1 in 15 Utah children will experience the death of a parent before they reach 18 years old. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the announcement of a new initiative that supports grieving children and boosts access to services at the Gardner Policy Institute in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News We cant let these families suffer alone. We have the resources already available and we need to use them. Not only do children suffer the emotional pain of losing a caregiver, they often experience trauma and when not provided support, they have long-term consequences like low self-esteem, depression and poor performance in school, Cox said. He added, We talk a lot in this state about being trauma informed. We talk about adverse childhood experiences and the loss of a caregiver is at the very top of that. Cox said the Childrens Collaborative recognizes Utahs unique qualities that makes us the right place to pilot this program ... Im very excited. Im very hopeful. I believe that we can do this here in Utah, and then we can get 49 other states to follow our lead. Fast forward to 2023 and Candalyn Winder Mettmann is remarried and has earned her masters degree in education leadership. She and her husband, Jason Mettmann, have a 3-year-old son, Ellington. Candalyn said she believes she and Adair are in a good place but occasionally struggle in their season of grief around the anniversary of Isaac Winders death in 2014. But Candalyn said she is hopeful about the new initiative announced Thursday. Every grieving child deserves to have what my daughter has, long-term financial stability, community support and professionals who understand them. They deserve to have loved ones with the time and resources to show up. They deserve a safe place to land. They deserve a chance to rebuild a beautiful life after their loss, she said. Jason Mettmann and Adair share a somewhat similar history. Each lost their father during childhood, she at age 2 and he at age 16. Mettmanns father died of cancer just as he was becoming a young man and he looked to his father for guidance. The thing that I miss most as I get older is, I want to ask him how to be a better dad, he said. I hope that I make her grandpa and their first daddy proud, right? We get to be a part of his (Isaacs) family as well. His siblings have taken me in as one of their brothers and we all are still a family. The White House does not 'have a plan B' if lawmakers fail to raise the debt ceiling and Biden will not solve the crisis without Congress, the Deputy Treasury Secretary says Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The White House doesn't have a backup plan if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said. He added that Biden will not consider using the 14th Amendment to address the crisis. Still, Democrats want Biden to prepare to go that route with a default possible in as soon as six days. President Joe Biden's administration officials are once again making clear they think it's Congress' job to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a default in a matter of days. As Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned multiple times this week, the US could run out of money to pay its bills as soon as June 1. Even with the increasingly tightening deadline, Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy are still at odds over what should be included in an eventual debt ceiling agreement and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle don't want to cave on their respective parties' demands. Conservative lawmakers, for example, want McCarthy to hold the line on including provisions like banning student-loan forgiveness and strengthening work requirements on federal programs in a deal, while progressive lawmakers have repeatedly warned Biden against caving to GOP priorities. That's why a group of Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to prepare to invoke a clause in the 14th Amendment that experts have said would declare a default, and therefore the debt ceiling, unconstitutional, getting rid of the debate forever. But Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo has once again thrown cold water on that idea. "The 14th Amendment can't solve our challenges," Adeyemo said on CNN on Friday morning. "Now, ultimately, the only thing that can do that is Congress doing what it's done 78 other times, raising the debt limit. We don't have a Plan B that allows us to meet the commitments that we've made to our creditors, to our seniors, to our veterans, to the American people." "The only plan we have is the one that's worked for more than 200 years in this country, which is the United States of America needs to pay all these bills and pay them on time. And Congress has the ability to do that and the President is calling on them to act on that as quickly as possible," Adeyemo said, adding that "the question was whether the United States would use the 14th Amendment. I think the president and the secretary have been very clear that that will not solve our problems now. So yes, that is a no." Biden said during a recent press conference that he thinks he has the authority to invoke the 14th Amendment, but he added that "the question is: Could it be done and invoked in time that it would not be appealed and, as a consequence, pass the date in question and still default on the debt?" Yellen also previously said that "there would clearly be litigation around that; it's not a short-run solution. It's legally questionable whether or not that's a viable strategy." Still, as Insider previously reported, Democratic lawmakers in support of going that route to solve the crisis don't want the president to worry about the potential legal challenges. "There's a window before the Supreme Court signs off on it where there will, in fact, be uncertainty," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said on a press call last week. "But one would hope that you could find a way if really, the kind of consequences that we foresee are happening, to get quickly to the Supreme Court, have them resolve the question quickly, and frankly, the sooner you begin that process, the sooner you end that process." And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently told Politico that the 14th Amendment is an option where "the president should absolutely have this on the table." "It's not even a question of leverage, it's not a question of negotiation. It's a question of saving our economy from potential disaster," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And Kevin McCarthy has decided to take the entire US economy hostage in exchange for vague and unfocused demands or gestures, I should really call them. It is profoundly irresponsible. It is posing a threat to our economy. It poses a threat to our national security. And I believe that the chief executive has a responsibility to protect this country." Read the original article on Business Insider White House rejects Lauren Boeberts claim that antisemitism plan will be used go after conservatives President Joe Bidens administration has announced a national strategy, the nations first, for combating antisemitism, with a call to action across government agencies, law enforcement and other institutions against a reported wave of discrimination and proliferation of online hate. It sends a clear and forceful message: In America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail, the president said in a prerecorded message shared on 25 May. The venom of antisemitism will not be the story of our time. Sharing a video of the announcement, Republican US Rep Lauren Boebert said the plan would instead be used to target conservatives like her. When they say stuff like this, they mean they want to go after conservatives, she wrote on Twitter on 26 May. Their tactics are straight out of the USSRs playbook. Her critics were quick to point out that she was conflating a campaign against hate with an attack on the American right, an echo of other far-right criticism against attempts to combat hate speech, white supremacism and violent extremist groups. Democratic US Rep Sara Jacobs shared Ms Boeberts post with a meme from Mean Girls, with the caption: So you agree? You think youre antisemitic? Congresswoman Boebert is mistaken; antisemitism is not conservative it is evil, deputy White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told The Independent. President Biden is standing up for a bedrock American value that goes beyond politics and is embraced by liberals, conservatives, and independents: that we are better than antisemitism and hate, he added. Those vile forces fly in the face of what America represents. If anyone finds opposition to hate threatening, they need to look inward. Mr Bates also suggested that Ms Boebert study the history of the Soviet Unions long, repulsive history of antisemitism a regime that the president also has condemned. In a statement to The Washington Post, Ms Boeberts office condemned antisemitism and charactised the Biden plan as an attempt to censor speech. This is the latest version of this administrations failed Ministry of Truth, Ms Boebert said in the statement. The First Amendment guarantees a marketplace of ideas where truth, beauty, and justice ultimately win out. If the congresswoman believes efforts to combat antisemitism are a way to go after conservatives, said Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, then what does that say about conservatives? The Independent has requested additional comment from Ms Boeberts office. In 2022, there were 3,697 reported incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism in the US, according to the Anti-Defamation League. That figure marks a 36 per cent increase from 2021, and represents the largest number of attacks against Jewish people in the US since the organisation began reporting such incidents more than 40 years ago. The venom and violence of antisemitism will not be the story of our time. Today, I'm releasing the most ambitious and comprehensive U.S. government-led effort to combat antisemitism in history. Allow me to lay it out: pic.twitter.com/XaELutboLV President Biden (@POTUS) May 25, 2023 The Biden administrations plan with input from hundreds of federal and local officials, faith leaders and civil rights groups, among others includes more than 100 recommendations for policy changes and congressional action, among other steps. It also includes 10 separate calls for technology companies to bolster zero-tolerance policies against hate speech and to combat the spread of antisemitic language across their platforms. Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, co-chair of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism, said the whole-of-government approach will effectively utilize the full force of the United States government to root out antisemitic hate across our nation. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) got a strong rebuke from the White House on Friday for a tweet she posted on Thursday that was critical of the presidents plan to combat hate, bias and violence against Jewish people. After Joe Biden announced the first U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, the Colorado congresswoman took to Twitter to suggest that any plan to target hate was actually a plan to target conservatives. She added, Their tactics are straight out of the USSRs playbook. When they say stuff like this, they mean they want to go after conservatives. Their tactics are straight out of the USSR's playbook. https://t.co/bnICe9b6zO Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) May 25, 2023 Many Twitter users rebuked Boebert and noted that her comments suggested bigotry was a big part of the conservative mindset. On Friday, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates also criticized Boeberts tweets in a statement to HuffPost. Congresswoman Boebert is mistaken; antisemitism is not conservative it is evil, Bates said. President Biden is standing up for a bedrock American value that goes beyond politics and is embraced by liberals, conservatives and independents: That we are better than antisemitism and hate. Those vile forces fly in the face of what America represents. Bates said anyone who finds opposition to hate threatening needs to look inward. He also suggested Boebert Google the Soviet Unions long, repulsive history of antisemitism. She might find a result for Joe Biden, who at the time decried antisemitic acts by Soviet communists as shameful, Bates said. HuffPost reached out to Boeberts office for comment, but no one immediately responded. To be fair, though, shes had a busy week. On Tuesday, she went viral when she declared that having a child was cheaper than using birth control during a hearing on drug pricing. On Thursday, it was revealed that one of her four kids called 911 in December to report that his dad, Boeberts estranged husband, Jayson Boebert, was throwing him around the house. Related... The White House on Thursday released a broad national strategy to fight antisemitism, describing the initiative as unprecedented in scope amid a surge in anti-Jewish crime. However, the White House evaded an increasingly contentious debate over how to define antisemitism, avoiding a clear endorsement of a mainstream, widely accepted definition while simultaneously welcoming an alternative pushed by progressives who argue the former doesn't allow sufficient space to criticize Israel, the world's only Jewish state. The 60-page document details four pillars that undergird the strategy: increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism and appreciation of Jewish American heritage, improving safety and security for Jewish communities, reversing the normalization of antisemitism and countering antisemitic discrimination and building solidarity across communities to counter hate. President Biden called the strategy "a historic step forward" and the "most ambitious and comprehensive U.S. government-led effort to fight antisemitism in American history" in a pre-recorded video message to kick off Thursday's announcement. Protesters shout anti-Israeli slogans during a demonstration in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 4, 2009. VIRGINIA DEMS KILLED MEASURES AIMED AT COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM JUST BEFORE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY "It sends a clear and forceful message," Biden said of the strategy, arguing silence in the face of antisemitism is the same as complicity. "In America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom of antisemitism will not be the story of our time." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Biden's message also included one explicitly political moment, when he called out former President Trump's remarks from 2017 that some protesters opposing the removal of Confederate statues in Charlottesville, Va., were "very fine people," without naming his predecessor. After Biden spoke, his outgoing domestic policy adviser, Susan Rice, and his homeland security adviser, Liz Sherwood-Randall, along with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, outlined key elements of the strategy, which includes more than 100 policy commitments across the executive branch. The document also contains more than 100 calls to action for lawmakers and others across society to take in order to combat antisemitism. These include calls for tech companies to establish a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech on their platforms to ensure their algorithms don't pass hate speech and extreme content to users, among many others. The strategy also argues that antisemitism must be defined to combat it: "If we cannot name, identify, and admit a problem, we cannot begin to solve it." However, rather than endorse a definition, the White House refers to several competing definitions of antisemitism as educational tools for both elected officials and the public. ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS, HATE CRIMES ON THE RISE IN CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO REPORT "There are several definitions of antisemitism, which serve as valuable tools to raise awareness and increase understanding of antisemitism," the strategy states. "The most prominent is the non-legally binding 'working definition' of antisemitism adopted in 2016 by the 31-member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which the United States has embraced. In addition, the administration welcomes and appreciates the Nexus Document and notes other such efforts." As of the end of last year, a total of 1,116 global entities from countries to companies have adopted and endorsed IHRA's non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism, according to the Combat Antisemitism Movement. In the U.S., this includes at least 30 states and 56 cities and counties. The State and Education departments did the same under the Trump administration. According to the definition, antisemitism "is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." IHRA provides 11 specific, contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace and in the religious sphere. Beyond classic antisemitic behavior associated with the likes of the medieval period and Nazi Germany, the examples include denial of the Holocaust and newer forms of antisemitism targeting Israel. such as demonizing the Jewish state, denying its right to exist and holding it to standards not expected of any other democratic state. Experts have argued the definition is important for a range of practical uses such as adjudicating legal cases, monitoring bigotry on campuses and training law enforcement. Mainstream Jewish advocacy groups, such as the American Jewish Committee and Jewish Federations of North America, have pushed for the administration to adopt IHRA's definition. WITH ANTISEMITISM ON THE RISE, AMERICAN JEWISH GROUPS AIM TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THREATS However, critics have argued the newer examples of antisemitism cited in the definition don't allow for what they describe as legitimate criticism of Israel and its policies. Progressive groups urged the Biden administration to leave out a definition of antisemitism entirely or consider alternative definitions. The Nexus Document, written by a group of academics, argues that applying double standards to Israel and opposing Israel's continuation as the nation-state of the Jewish people may not necessarily be antisemitic, creating tighter standards around when anti-Israel speech and activity is antisemitic. The White House's strategy identifies some forms of anti-Israel rhetoric and activity that can cross the line into antisemitism. "Jewish students and educators are targeted for derision and exclusion on college campuses, often because of their real or perceived views about the State of Israel," the strategy says. "When Jews are targeted because of their beliefs or their identity, when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is antisemitism. And that is unacceptable." The strategy also pledges to "combat antisemitism abroad and in international fora including efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel." It also notes the administration's "unshakeable commitment to the state of Israel's right to exist, its legitimacy, and its security" and the "deep historical, religious, cultural, and other ties many American Jews and other Americans have to Israel." Proponents of the IHRA definition expressed satisfaction with the president's strategy. Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt, for example, said the organization is "pleased that the White House reaffirms" the IHRA definition. Dianne Lob and William Daroff, the chair and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, similarly said they "wholeheartedly applaud the Biden administration's continuing embrace of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism." Meanwhile, left-wing advocacy groups critical of IHRA's definition praised the White House. "Importantly, the strategy avoids exclusively codifying any one specific, sweeping definition of antisemitism as the sole standard for use in enforcing domestic law and policy, recognizing that such an approach could do more harm than good," J Street said in a statement, adding that the administration "rightly cites [the IHRA] definition as just one of a range of illustrative and useful tools." ORTHODOX JEWISH GROUP TAKES VICTORY LAP AFTER NYT DENIED PULITZER, HAILS PUSHBACK AGAINST PAPER'S ALLEGED BIAS The progressive group Bend the Arc said it was "pleased that the Biden administration has rejected the idea that government agencies should adopt the IHRA definition as authoritative policy or that it is the sole guide to antisemitism." Other Jewish groups were less supportive. "This decision seriously weakens the White House strategy. It is yet another instance of Biden caving to the anti-Israel radicals," said Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brook, who added that Biden "blew it" by not exclusively using IHRA's definition. He also noted the timing of the announcement hours before the start of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and near the end of Jewish American Heritage Month. Dan Pollak, director of government relations for the Zionist Organization of America, also said he was "disappointed" in the Biden administration, arguing the Nexus Document "gives a free pass to Jew-Haters who single out Israel." Critics of the strategy also noted the White House's inclusion of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, as a partner in building "cross-community solidarity" to combat antisemitism. According to experts and advocacy groups such as the Anti-Defamation League, CAIR has numerous ties to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that frequently fires rockets at Israel from its neighboring stronghold in Gaza. Several headstones at the Am Echod Cemetery in Waukegan, Ill. were vandalized with antisemitic grafitti. DERSHOWITZ: ZIONIST AND CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS ARE 'TERRIFIED TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON CAMPUS' In December, more than 100 lawmakers sent a letter to Biden urging him to form a national strategy to combat antisemitism and address threats and violence against Jewish communities. That some month, Biden established a government task force to coordinate efforts to fight antisemitism and other forms of religious bigotry. The group's first task was to create a national strategy to counter antisemitism. The new White House strategy comes as levels of antisemitism are at historic highs in the country. Jews are the victims of 63% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes but account for just 2.4% of the U.S. population, according to FBI data. Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League found that antisemitic incidents reported in the U.S. surged to historic levels last year, increasing 36% compared to 2021. Earlier this week, a man with a Nazi flag crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at the White House, according to police. Court documents reportedly say the suspect praised Adolf Hitler after his arrest and said that he aimed to "kill the president" if necessary to overthrow the government and install himself in power. In such an environment, launching the White House's strategy is a "historic moment in the modern fight against what's known as the fight against the world's oldest hatred," said Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, who also spoke at Thursday's announcement. "Where antisemitism persists, democracy suffers." Whoopi Goldberg calls American Idol the beginning of the downfall of society Whoopi Goldberg has claimed thatAmerican Idol is responsible for the beginning of the downfall of society. The reality singing competition began in 2002 and has produced winners including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks. During Thursdays episode (25 May) of The View, Goldberg and her fellow panellists were discussing Netflixs new Anna Nicole Smith documentary You Dont Know Me, when the Sister Act star mentioned American Idol. I think that we, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks, Goldberg said. Ive always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with, whats the name of that show? After a producer off-camera replied: ABCs American Idol?, Goldberg quickly pointed out that the show wasnt always on ABC, the network on which The View airs. Goldberg said that she was referring to the early version of the reality singing competition, which used to air on Fox from 2002 to 2016 and was a very different show. Once we gave people the ability to judge other people, I think we ran amok with it, and its gone out of control, Goldberg said. They invited the public to decide who that person was, and I feel once we did that, it began us in a cycle which we have not [escaped]. The judging panel on American Idol is currently made up of Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Earlier this month, Perry and Richie were temporarily replaced on the show when they travelled to the UK to perform at King Charles IIIs coronation concert. Perry stole the show as she performed in a gold lame gown designed by Vivienne Westwood, which was embroidered with the words: KATY PERRY. CHARLES III. 2023. VW. The embroidery included a small crown sewn next to the Kings name. VW indicated the initials of designer Westwood, who died last December. Night Two Of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour - Foxborough, MA Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at Gillette Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Credit - TAS Rights ManagementGetty Images Three days after Jenna Tocatlian saw Taylor Swift perform at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, she was still on cloud nine. But something felt weird when she tried to relive the memories: in her mind, where vivid specifics of the concert should have been playing on loop, there was just a blank space. Post-concert amnesia is real, says Tocatlian, 25, who lives in New York. She got to hear her top choice for one of Swifts nightly surprise songsBetter Manand the experience still feels surreal. If I didnt have the 5-minute video that my friend kindly took of me jamming to it, I probably would have told everyone that it didnt happen, she says. During the hour-long wait to exit the stadium, she started re-listening to the setlist, asking her friends: Did she really play that? How much of it did she play? Tocatlian chalks it up to sensory overloadand the fact that she had been dreaming about the big night for so long, it was difficult to grasp it was really happening. Its hard to put together what you actually witness, she says. Youre having all these emotions while your favorite songs are playing, and youre like, Wow, where am I? From March until August, hundreds of thousands of people are packing stadiums across the U.S. to watch Swifts hugely popular, three-hour Eras Tour. Many later take to social-media platforms like Reddit to describe their inability to recall small details or even large parts of the show. One person wrote that they had waited six months for the concertand after it ended, their brain tried to convince them they hadnt been there. Another wondered if they had dissociated during it, and described feeling guilty about not leaving with more vivid memories. Read More: The New Science of Forgetting That resonates with Nicole Booz, 32, of Gettysburg, Pa., who attended Swifts May 14 show in Philadelphia. Looking back, it feels like an out-of-body experience, as though it didnt really happen to me, she says. Yet I know it did, because my bank account took a $950 hit to cover the ticket. So whats going on? For starters, people might simply be too excited, explains Ewan McNay, an associate professor in the department of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. This is not a concert-specific phenomenonit can happen any time youre in a highly emotional state, he says. People getting married, for example, often say they cant remember their first dance, or if their Aunt Josephine was there. As the bodys stress levels increasein response to exciting or distressing factorsthe neurons associated with memory start firing indiscriminately. That makes it really hard to form new memories. If youre slightly on edge, with a little bit of excitement, youll actually remember better, McNay says. But too much excitement pushes you over the edge in terms of memory formation, and youre unable to make memories. Theres a scientific, biological explanation for exactly what happens when you get this excited (which the body sees as a state of stress). It starts pumping out glucosethe brains favorite molecule for fueling memory, thinking, and learningfrom your liver into your bloodstream. Imagine you ran into a bear in the woods, for example: You want that fuel for your muscles to go and fight the bear or run away from the bear, McNay says, not wasted on something like memory formation. At the same time, your vagal nerveswhich regulate internal organ functionsbecome stimulated. Youre saying, Hey, were really stressed out: were running away from the bear, or were watching Taylor Swift. This response causes your amygdalathe part of the brain responsible for emotional processingto release a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. It helps tag memories as having high emotional content, enhancing the likelihood that theyll be saved vividly in your mind. But McNay describes the process as an inverted U: A little bit is good; too much is bad, he says. Plus, if you add caffeine or alcohol to the mix, youll likely push the curve even further to the right, which means your brain will have a tougher time creating and saving new memories. Read More: How Some Stress Can Actually Be Good for You It can be surprising and disappointing not to remember everything you think you should about a big event, says Robert Kraft, a professor of cognitive psychology at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. We paid a lot of money, were looking forward to it, and afterwards, we want to luxuriate in our memories of the concert, he says. But our expectations are too high. Thats not what memory isits not a recorder. One of the core misconceptions many people have about memory, he says, is that they think of forgetting as a deficiency. In reality, were simply not designed to remember everything. Situations in which we explicitly focus on remembering are typically limited to stuff like studying for an exam or memorizing a presentation. We dont set out to remember our liveswe set out to experience them, Kraft says. Not remembering is actually a tribute to being in the moment and enjoying it. Still, if youre adamant that you want to better remember an important event, a few strategies can help. The first is a purely mental approach, McNay says: You can try to achieve a semi-meditative state, perhaps by telling yourself to chill out and be present. Or, consider a more physical approach. Your brain monitors your body to figure out what emotional state youre in, he explains. Running away from a bearor screaming at a concerttells it that you must be scared. If you commit to standing still, in a relaxed state, on the other hand, youll send a message to your brain that theres no need to get too excited. That can help encourage memory formation. Kraft, meanwhile, prefers to remove any pressure from the equation, and to simply focus on having a great time. Hes a Swift fan, but like many of us, wasnt able to secure tickets to the Eras Tour. If youre in the same boat, take comfort: Im sorry that we both arent going, he says. But we would have forgotten it anyway. Cade Cothren, a former top Tennessee legislative aide, wants to subpoena House Speaker Cameron Sexton's phone and communications app records, arguing the records could be instrumental to his defense in an upcoming October federal public corruption trial. Cothren's attorney on Thursday filed the motion for the subpoena, arguing the records will show continued close communication between the two men that will contradict a core tenant of the prosecution's case. Cothren's team wants records between February 2019 and January 2020 from Verizon, Sexton's phone carrier, and a confidential messaging app. Prosecutors argue Cothren pushed out as former House Speaker Glen Casada's top aide in the wake of admitted drug use and a sexist and racist texting scandal set up Phoenix Solutions to tap into taxpayer-funded mailer services available to lawmakers, as well as the lucrative political campaign mailer business. Cade Cothren, former aide to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, walks out of the Fred D Thompson Federal Building & Courthouse after pleading not guilty to federal charges ranging from money laundering to bribery Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn . Cothren shielded his involvement in the firm by operating under a false identity of Matthew Phoenix while working with Casada and former Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, to allegedly engineer a kickback scheme, according to prosecutors. Smith quickly resigned from the General Assembly and pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme last year, while Casada, R-Franklin, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. More: 'Tricked and lied to': House Republicans admonish shadowy firm where they spent around $200K Their charging indictments argue the trio hid the fact that Cothren was pulling the strings of the firm because the General Assembly, under Sexton's leadership, would not have approved the company as a vendor if his involvement was publicly known. Cothren, through his attorney, now argues he continued to be a close confidant of Sexton after his resignation, and Sexton was even trying to find him a lobbying job in 2019. The motion states Cothren remained "heavily engaged" with Sexton after his resignation and as Sexton ascended to the speakership following Casada's downfall. "Additionally, the requested records will show that Speaker Sexton was actively reaching out to state officials, state employees, as well as third-parties in an attempt to secure Mr. Cothren a job as a lobbyist as well as other opportunities," Cothren's motion states. "These communications are integral to Mr. Cothrens defense in this matter because the governments case appears to rely heavily on its theory that Mr. Cothrens reputation was so tarnished after his resignation that Speaker Sexton was adamantly opposed to associating or working with him at all, even on administrative matters." Rep. Cameron Sexton and Rep. William Lamberth speak to the media after the House Republican Caucus' no-confidence vote on House Speaker Glen Casada on May 20, 2019. Cothren's attorneys deny that a subpoena for a year's worth of Sexton's communications records, some of which Cothren already has, would be a fishing expedition. Since 2019, I have been and will continue working with and assisting the FBI and Department of Justice on this investigation," Sexton said in a Friday statement. "I commend the FBI and DOJ on their hard work, dedication, and resolve in uncovering a criminal scheme that brought over 20 felony charges. It is clear from the indictments that individuals knowingly used their official capacity and connections to target General Assembly members and the Republican Caucus by using fake companies to siphon off money illegally and deceptively. Any accusations suggesting that I had any part in this criminal behavior are categorically false. Communications filed with Cothren's original indictment allegedly showed him reminding Smith and Casada that he couldn't be identified as having any involvement with Phoenix Solutions. Three confidential informants inside the General Assembly helped federal investigators build a case against the trio starting in May 2020, according to a federal warrant obtained by The Tennessean last fall that also revealed the group's haphazard efforts to shield Cothren's identity. More: Three legislative informants played crucial role in Casada, Cothren arrests, search warrant reveals The federal probe sprung into public view in early 2021 as federal agents raided multiple General Assembly offices. Sexton has previously confirmed he cooperated with investigators in the early days of his speakership, and was among a group of lawmakers believed to have testified in a 2022 grand jury before Casada and Cothren were charged. Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Glen Casada's former aide Cade Cothren wants Cameron Sexton's phone records Bud Light and Target were not always political punching bags. But both companies have been drawn into the center of a long-brewing conservative battle after the brands released campaigns supporting or featuring LGBTQ people. Target announced Tuesday it was pulling some LGBTQ-themed items from stores following what a company spokesperson described as threats to employees over this years line of Pride Month merchandise. In interviews, Target customers and employees at stores in North Carolina and Texas said the company moved Pride collections away from the front of the store. Bud Light, meanwhile, drew backlash from right-wing commentators after partnering with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney on a marketing campaign in April. Influential conservative figureheads called for a boycott, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a contender for the GOP presidential nod said he would never drink Bud Light again. Sales have continued to plummet. But several mainstream brands have publicly supported LGBTQ people for years. So whats different now? Advocates and marketing experts say its the growing power of a vocal minority of far-right political commentators, conservative politicians and religious legal groups, which have led the calls to boycott the companies while these right-wing groups and individuals also support a historic wave of state legislation that seeks to restrict LGBTQ rights. Yet another recent uproar centered on the Dodgers, which faced pressure from conservatives such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to disinvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a decades-old LGBTQ nonprofit, from the teams annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night. The team later reversed course, re-inviting the group, and drew more criticism from conservatives. The most protracted battle of all concerns Disney, which has been locked in an increasingly bitter feud with DeSantis. The root of the conflict: Disneys decision, under former CEO Bob Chapek, to publicly oppose Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill restricting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity. DeSantis hit back, targeting the media giants special self-governing status in Orlando, home to Walt Disney World. The firestorm around these brands stems in part from efforts made by corporations to be more inclusive. In recent years, against a backdrop of growing cultural visibility for historically marginalized communities, consumer-focused companies have increasingly featured LGBTQ people in advertising, marketing and other public-facing initiatives, such as Pride events. Of course, major companies also saw a clear capitalist incentive: LGBTQ people in the U.S. collectively represent roughly $900 billion in annual purchasing power, according to a 2019 report from LGBT Capital, a financial services company. That hasnt made them immune to backlash that has been intensified in part by internet-fueled conspiracy theories and a wave of anti-LGBTQ bills in statehouses. Ari Drennen, the LGBTQ program director for Media Matters, a liberal watchdog organization, said a common thread connecting firestorms around Target and Bud Lights campaign with Dylan Mulvaney is Matt Walsh, a political commentator for far-right website the Daily Wire. Hes been one of the most strident voices pushing this forward, Drennen said. Now, theyve been picked up kind of more broadly throughout the right-wing media from people following that lead, but hes been the person whos really been pushing this kind of aggressive boycott tactic. She noted that Walsh declared victory over Target on social media, where he has 1.9 million followers on Twitter. The goal is to make pride toxic for brands. If they decide to shove this garbage in our face, they should know that theyll pay a price. It wont be worth whatever they think theyll gain, Walsh tweeted on Wednesday. First Bud Light and now Target. Our campaign is making progress, he added. Lets keep it going. Walsh did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment. Bud Light Boycott Continues After Company Partnered With Transgender Influencer (Natalie Behring / Getty Images file) Brendan Whitworth, the CEO of Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch, distanced the company from Mulvaney and said in the days after the backlash that it never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. Roughly a week later, Anheuser-Busch confirmed media reports that two of the marketing executives who worked on the campaign were taking leaves of absence. Drennen said that part of what is allowing Walsh to get traction is his increased national recognition in efforts to restrict transition-related medical care for minors. In February, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves invited Walsh to speak ahead of Reeves signing a bill to ban transition-related care for minors in the state. Earlier that month, NBC News reported that Walshs advocacy also influenced Tennessees decision to reject more than $8 million in federal funds to combat HIV. All of this is a coordinated attempt to make it untenable to be specifically trans in public, Drennen said. And one of the ways that theyve attempted to do this is by removing any kind of political support, any kind of corporate support just basically making it untenable to be an ally to the trans community. And I think thats the real connective tissue between these. She added that Fox News covered a new North Face campaign that featured drag performer Pattie Gonia during a segment on Wednesday. On Thursday, conservative commentator Candace Owens announced during her Daily Wire show that, due to the campaign, there will be nothing in my home that is from the North Face. Bob Witeck, president of Witeck Communications, a firm specializing in LGBTQ marketing, said that while the controversies surrounding Bud Light and Target were created by a small number of people, they were amplified by social media and some news outlets. The kerosene just carries a lot further today, Witeck said of how controversies sparked by a small number of people spread further more quickly. He added that the conservative response to Bud Lights Dylan Mulvaney campaign was ignited, in part, by commentator Ben Shapiro, and then picked up by other right-wing voices and news. Shapiro did not immediately return a request for comment. Conversations about LGBTQ people, at a time when LGBTQ issues are more visible than ever, become distorted quickly, he said. Witeck added that LGBTQ advocates are likely to continue filing legal challenges against anti-LGBTQ laws because they violate the Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, a 2020 ruling holding that gay and transgender employees are protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The decision galvanized many grassroots conservative activists. Trans people have been dehumanized, people are defining them in political terms that are dehumanizing, and so its much easier for these media influencers to line up those things in front of people, he said of the backlash to Target and Bud Light, even though these arent the motivating issues in their lives. Laurel Powell, director of communications for the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the U.S., said far-right extremists sense an opportunity, and that is why there has been a more intense response from conservatives to Targets Pride Month collection, for example. Were coming off of the most hostile and dangerous state legislative season when it comes to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Powell said. We are existing in a country right now where one of our major social media networks has essentially become an alt-right platform. They see an opportunity, and what theyre going to find out is that they are out of step with most Americans; they are out of step with the vast majority of people who believe that LGBTQ+ people should be able to live lives free from discrimination. In 2016, a slew of major corporations, including American Airlines, Apple, Microsoft, eBay and Nike, signed on to an amicus brief supporting the Justice Departments efforts to block North Carolinas bathroom bill, which barred trans people from using restrooms that do not match the gender on their birth certificate. Seven years later, the American public and U.S-based companies have only become more accepting of LGBTQ people, the latter with both their internal policies and via public marketing campaigns. However, Witeck said the difference between then and now is that lawmakers have proposed nearly 500 bills to restrict LGBTQ rights in dozens of states. In 2016, you had just one state doing something novel that other states werent doing, Witeck said. To take a stand on even 10 of the bills proposed this year would be a challenge, and most major corporations are based in all of those states. Witeck said he expects Pride Month this year to be militant, because LGBTQ people are anxious and worried. Corporate allyship is going to be tested like weve never seen, he said. Allies have got to really be prepared to grow spines, to really stand by their values. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Why Michigan Legislators Want to Make it Easier to Become a Substitute Teacher This article was originally published in Michigan Advance. Lawmakers on the Michigan House Education Committee heard testimony from educators earlier this month regarding HB 4549, which would modify the requirements to become a substitute teacher in hopes of addressing the ongoing shortage. Rep. Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights), who sponsored the bill, testified in its support alongside Sheryl Kennedy of the Michigan Department of Education. The proposed changes to Michigans school code would allow for anyone over age 21 with a high school diploma to substitute teach in classrooms for grades 9 through 12, and allow anyone over the age of 18 also enrolled in a teacher preparation program to substitute teach in kindergarten through eighth grade. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Shannon said that the changes to eligibility requirements, while uncomfortable for many educators, would be a temporary solution to Michigans shortage of substitute teachers that accelerated during the pandemic. The bill, which has yet to be voted on by the committee, would include a sunset clause expiring the eligibility changes in June 2025. We have a problem, and were doing things that maybe not necessarily all of us are comfortable with, Shannon said. But we have to do something in the meantime. Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) voiced concerns that the bill would make it too easy to become an educator, even for a short period of time. She said that her own experience as a teacher showed her that students require highly qualified substitutes in order to continue their learning and to allow permanent teachers to take time off. You cant put any substitute in an emotionally impaired classroom, Churches said. And I could argue you cant put any substitute in just a fifth-grade room like mine easily. Kennedy and Shannon noted that the bill would not apply to special education teachers and classrooms. Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles) argued that changing the requirements for substitute teachers could provide necessary work opportunities for young Michiganders. He said that he fell into teaching in his own career and hoped the bill would help others do the same. This is going to open the door for a lot of people, Paquette said. Kennedy said one goal of the legislation would be to connect young people who are undecided about their career path to school districts and the communities they reside in, ideally encouraging them to pursue long-term careers as teachers. One of the things that we hope this bill will do is build those relationships, Kennedy said. And perhaps one of those young people that are substitute teaching, or a 21-year-old whos maybe done a little college, they have an experience and then they say, Oh wow, this is what I was meant to do. Various incentives have been adopted at the state and school district level to attract teachers to Michigans public schools, but Shannon said the state wont see the effects of those programs for a few years. In the interim, he said that HB 4549 would help ease the strain on school districts. We want to be able to solve the problem in a systematic way, Shannon said. But we need to have a little time to figure this out. Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter. A recently as March, Irans national security chief found himself on the front pages of the worlds top news outlets as he shook hands with a Saudi minister in a landmark deal brokered by China. That was perhaps the biggest international moment in Ali Shamkhanis career and possibly his last. Almost three months after that meeting, he was replaced. Shamkhani this week stepped down from his ten-year post as the head of Irans Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Iranian media reported. Replacing him is a little-known general from Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who analysts say has little experience beyond the military realm. A name recognized across the Middle East and in the diplomatic circles in Washington and Europe, Shamkhani was a rising star of Iranian diplomacy. He had been the countrys top national security official since 2013, and before that served in a number of important roles, including in the IRGC and the ministry of defense. But internationally, the 67-year-old was known for his recent diplomatic work, especially on the nuclear dossier. Too ambitious His sudden replacement is not unusual in Iran, analysts said, as Shamkhanis tenure could simply have come to an end after a decade in service. But circumstances surrounding the change may speak to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameneis anxiety towards officials who may be stepping up in the limelight or becoming too ambitious, the analysts added. Shamkhanis role in the Iranian nuclear file is something that may have left a bitter taste with President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC. He has handled nuclear talks for the last two years, and while he has had disagreements with former President Hassan Rouhani, he also had issues with Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian, Vatanka told CNN. With Raisi, there was a feeling that Shamkhani was taking all the glory when it came to Iranian foreign policy achievements, most notably the detente with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he said, adding that local media has over the past two years portrayed Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian as symbolic figureheads who may be out of loop, showing Shamkhani as the real decision maker. Elements within the Iranian regime may have felt the need to bring him down a peg because he is getting too big for the interest of other groups, he said. The former national security chief was ambitious, experts say, and had an extensive portfolio, from running for president in 2001 to holding key posts in the IRGC and the defense ministry. His successor doesnt have such a high profile. Shamkhanis removal may also have to do with factional politics in Iran, Adnan Tabatabai, Iran analyst and CEO of the Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO), told CNN. It is fair to assume that strategic decisions made in the Supreme National Security Council such as the Iran-Saudi detente should not end up being a win for any political faction, he said, noting that Shamkhanis former roles, such as his time as minister of defense, may take away from the Councils image as the achiever of these strategic wins. Shortly after Shamkhani stepped down from his national security role, he was appointed as a member of Irans Expediency Council and is now a political advisor to Khamenei, a career path shared by several other former senior officials, according to analysts. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who fell out with Khamenei, was also appointed to the Expediency Council. Such a post has often been a way of rewarding a former senior official for their service and keeping them close to the centers of power, said Sina Toossi, senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC. But while he may still be eligible for future senior positions, the significance of his current role may vary depending on how much access or influence Shamkhani has over the supreme leader and how much he will participate in decision-making or policy-making processes, Toossi added. Shamkhanis rise hasnt been smooth however. Apart from his disagreements with key members of cabinet, the man was also associated with a few scandals, including his ties to Alireza Akbari, a dual British-Iranian citizen who was hanged by the Islamic Republic this year on charges of espionage and corruption. Along with his sons, he was also accused of corruption, allegations that have been used in the past to marginalize individuals or factions, Toossi said. Irans ministry of foreign affairs did not respond to CNNs request for comment. Who is his successor and what is expected to change? Shamkhani was replaced with IRGC General Ali Akbar Ahmadian, who analysts say is expected to be more obedient and less ambitious than Shamkhani. Ahmadian may have been appointed to this position because Khamenei trusts him as a loyal and experienced military leader who can implement his vision and agenda, Toossi said, adding that Ahmadians expertise in defense strategy and naval warfare may also prove useful to Khamenei. Tabatabai said Ahmadian is first and foremost a security and military strategist, and that his appointment may be aimed at de-politicizing security calculations and decision-making of the SNSC. Irans top security body, SNSC has traditionally had secretaries with high profiles and who had played important diplomatic roles. Analysts say that not much is expected to change when it comes to Irans national security policies, and that the Saudi-Iran detente spearheaded by Shamkhani is likely to remain intact. But some raise questions about the fate of the nuclear deal, which Shamkhani has been handling for the last two years. Negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been on and off since 2021, after the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. Talks stalled last year and ties between Iran and the West only further soured after Tehran began supplying drones to Russia in its war on Ukraine. It is unclear what stance Ahmadian will take on the nuclear deal, but experts note that policies of the SNSC are not shaped by the secretary alone and that Ahmadian is likely to be seeking guidance higher up the chain of command. It remains to be seen whether Ali Akbar Ahmadian will be as present in public as Ali Shamkhani had been in the past year in particular, Tabatabai said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com New Wichita wine-tasting event returns for its second year, this time closer to home Decant ICT a new wine festival put on for the first time last year by the American Institute of Wine and Foods Wichita chapter is returning for a 2023 installment and will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. The event, which offers attendees samples of more than 100 wines and spirits, is moving closer to Wichita this year. It debuted at the Prairie Hill Vineyard in Colwich last June and drew a crowd of 276 people, said Beth Bower, the chair of the AIWF Wichita chapter. This year, it will be at the Wichita Marriott Hotel, 9100 Corporate Hills Drive, and will also feature food catered by the hotel. People who attend this years event also will get a wine glass to use for sampling then keep, and the event will also have live music and a photo booth. Tickets must be purchased by June 1. Tickets to the reserve room, which features an exclusive list of upscale wines, have already sold out. Remaining tickets are $60 for AIWF members and $65 for nonmembers. Theyre available at aiwfwichita.org/meetinginfo.php An ice sculpture at last years inaugural Decant ICT wine-tasting event Last years event raised $8,000, which organizers put toward scholarships for aspiring culinarians. Over the past 25 years, the chapter has donated nearly $300,000 in scholarships to places like Butler Community College as well as to the Kansas Food Bank and fundraisers like Zoobilee at the Sedgwick County Zoo and Death by Chocolate at Exploration Place. The Decant ICT event is organized by AIWF members who helped found the original Midwest Winefest but splintered off once the Guadalupe Clinic took control. The local AIWF chapter celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. (QPD/Facebook) The wife of a man who once appeared on Family Feud was consumed by fears hed hurt her years before he allegedly shot her dead. Thirty-nine-year-old Timothy Bliefnick is currently facing trial in Adams County Courthouse in Quincy for the murder of his wife Rebecca Becky Bliefnick. At the time of Bliefnicks death on 23 February, the couple was going through a bitter divorce and a contentious battle in court for the custody of their three sons. Bliefnicks body was found in the bathroom of her home after she didnt show up at her childrens school pickup. Investigators have testified in court that the suspected killer pried open Bliefnicks second-storey window with a crowbar and shot her 14 times. Two years before her murder, Bliefnick issued a chilling warning to her sister, noting that, if something ever happen[ed] to me, make sure the No. 1 person of interest is Tim. Testifying for the prosecution on Tuesday, Bliefnicks sister Sarah Reilly said the slain mother-of-three had sent the text in 2021, the same year the Bliefnicks filed for divorce. I am putting this in writing that Im 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, the text introduced during Ms Reillys testimony read, according to local news station KHQA. 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. Prosecutors have argued during the first week of the trial that Bliefnick was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her estranged husband. She had filed a restraining order against Mr Bliefnick and his father before Mr Bliefnick also filed one against her. A text Bliefnick sent to a friend in May 2021 also read: He has screamed in my face, he shoved me in front of the kids, and has thrown things across the room where the kids and I were standing. Rebecca Bliefnick sent a chilling text to her sister years before he was allegedly murdered by her estranged husband Timothy Bliefnick (Rebecca Bliefnick) Another friend of Bliefnick testified on Tuesday that the slain nurse had confided that Mr Bliefnick had allegedly told her shell be dead before [having] any of [his] money. According to the couples divorce attorney, who testified before the jury earlier this week, Mr Bliefnick was expected to pay $2,100 in maintenance and $472 per month in child support. On Thursday, former police officer Gary Collins told the court that he had met the Bliefnicks when he lived in Illinois, according to KHQA. Mr Collins said he advised Bliefnick to get a restraining order against her husband after she said if anything happened to her, it would be the fault of Mr Bliefnick. At the time of Bliefnicks murder, there was a court order for Mr Bliefnick to return a gun to her. He had reportedly told police he didnt want to do it himself but law enforcement said they couldnt get involved as it was a court ruling. Bliefnick was arrested on one count of murder and one count of home invasion more than two weeks after his wifes killing Meanwhile, investigators have revealed they found chilling searches for how to wash off gunpowder, average police response time, and how to open a door with a crowbar. Adams County Assistant States Attorney Josh Jones said that shell casings found in Mr Bliefnicks basement matched the casings that were near his wifes body. Crime scene investigators reportedly found Beckys DNA in an Aldi bag found at her husbands home. Another Aldi bag found at the scene was reportedly used as a homemade gun silencer by the killer. Mr Bliefnick was arrested on one count of murder and one count of home invasion more than two weeks after his wifes killing. He has denied any involvement in the crime and entered a not guilty plea ahead of the beginning of the trial on Monday. If convicted, he faces between 45 years to life in prison. Winner of historic $2B Powerball sued by man who claims ticket was stolen from him The winner of California's $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot last year is being sued by a man who claims the ticket was stolen from him before the winning numbers were drawn. Edwin Castro was identified as the winner of the record-setting prize in February. At the time, he said he was shocked and ecstatic and chose to accept the jackpot in a lump sum payment of $997.6 million. The same month he was identified, a man named Jose Rivera filed a civil complaint in Alhambra Superior Court claiming the jackpot should be his. The suit was filed against Castro, the California State Lottery Commission, the state of California and a man named Urachi F. Romero, whom Rivera accused of taking his ticket. Rivera purchased the lottery ticket for the $2.04 billion Powerball on Nov. 7 at Joes Service Center in Altadena, California, one day before the draw, according to the complaint. Rivera alleges Romero stole the ticket that same day. The complaint did not detail how the alleged theft happen. After the ticket was allegedly stolen, Rivera made numerous requests and demands to return it but Romero refused, according to the complaint. On Nov. 8, the winning numbers were drawn and Rivera made renewed requests for Romero to return the ticket. Romero allegedly responded by saying the ticket was a loser or if I find the ticket we can split the winnings 50/50, the complaint said. Rivera reported the alleged theft to California Lottery and law enforcement, according to court documents. On Feb. 14, the California State Lottery Commission and the state of California announced Castro was the winner of the Powerball. Lottery officials said they followed a vetting process to assure the ticket and claim were legitimate. Rivera presented a claim form to California Lottery in Santa Fe Springs three days later, claiming his ticket was stolen. Up until the announcement on February 14, 2023, Mr. Rivera had been threatened that his winning ticket would be destroyed if he did not agree to split the winnings, a letter from Rivera's counsel said. The complaint said Rivera requested that California Lottery preserve all footage depicting the winning ticket being purchased at Joes Service Center. Rivera says hes entitled to the jackpot, claiming he suffered emotional damages, trespass to chattel (meaning use of property without an owners permission) and intentional interference with prospective economic relations in the alleged ordeal. California Lottery said it does not comment on pending litigation but expressed "utmost confidence" in the organization's vetting process for winners. "California Lottery remains confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion prize stemming from the Powerball drawing in November of 2022," said Carolyn Becker, state lottery deputy director and spokesperson. A summons was served April 25 at a sprawling $25.5 million Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, home that was sold in March, according to online records. But the person at the home allegedly told process servers they were serving the wrong Edwin Castro, according to a May 17 filing. On Thursday, a motion to quash service of summons was filed by an attorney for Castro. It said that the summons was issued to Edwin H. Castro the father of the actual Powerball winner. A declaration attached to the motion by Castro said he has never personally been issued a summons. He acknowledged that the L.A. home his father was served at was his. He did not address the claims regarding the ticket in his filing. A hearing is set for July 19 on that motion. NBC News has reached out to attorneys for Rivera and Castro for comment. Romero, who did not file a response in the court docket, could not be reached Friday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Lottery Jackpot (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A lawsuit against the biggest Powerball winner in US history alleges the lottery ticket that earned him nearly $1bn was stolen. Edwin Castro drew the winning ticket 10, 33, 41, 47, 56, and Powerball 10 last November, cashing in a hefty $997m from the initial $2bn prize after taxes. Mr Castro, who bought the ticket at a convenience store in Altadena, went on to invest in real estate, including two lavish mansions totalling $29m in Los Angeles, and luxury cars. But a lawsuit filed in February by plaintiff Jose Rivera alleges the winning ticket was stolen. According to court records obtained by the US Sun, Mr Rivera claims he was the rightful owner of the ticket, which was stolen by a man called Reggie. Mr Rivera said in the filings that Reggie, who has since been identified as Urachi Romero and is also named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit, refused to give him back the ticket, saying he had lost it. However, Mr Romero reportedly promised to split the prize if he did find the ticket. Mr Rivera claims he reported the incident to the police. A spokesperson for the California Lottery said in a statement to the US Sun that the agency believes Mr Castro is the rightful owner of the prize from the 8 November drawing. Mr Castro has since been served with court documents regarding the lawsuit at his $25m Hollywood Hills mansion. According to the Sun, he has refused to comment on the ongoing lawsuit against him. Meanwhile, Mr Riveras attorney has reportedly requested that video of the purchase be turned in as evidence. Business owner Joe Chahayed holds a check outside Joes Service Center in Altadena following news the $2.04bn Powerball winner bought the ticket at his store (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Joes Service Center owner Joe Chayahed told the US Sun that he remembers Mr Rivera buying the ticket at his store last year. I knew the guy before he won, he came every morning to buy coffee, donuts, and tickets ... then he disappeared, Mr Chayahed told the outlet. I thought he was mad at me or something had happened, but then someone told me he won the money. The case will be reviewed during a hearing at the Alhambra Court House on 24 July to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed. The Independent has reached out to Mr Riveras attorneys. After becoming the biggest Powerball winner in history, Mr Castro skipped a press conference held by the California lottery but later said in a statement that he was shocked and ecstatic. Following California law, his name was made public and a percentage of the prize, $156m, went to the states public school system. As someone who received the rewards of being educated in the California public education system, its gratifying to hear that as a result of my win, the school system greatly benefits as well, Mr Castro said in a statement at the time, according to The Guardian. Mr Castro claimed his prize in February and chose to collect the totality of it in one payment. WiSebastian Taylor Thomaz, and Amber Rose Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose may no longer be together, but when it comes to their son, Sebastian, they proved theyll always be a united front. On Thursday, the rapper shared a sweet picture of him, Rose and their blended family attending the 10-year-olds elementary school graduation. Hollywood Life reported that Rose beams in the snap while wearing a plaid bodycon dress, completing the look with a black leather purse and eyeglasses. The Black and Yellow MC kept it simple with a white hooded sweatshirt and black trousers. Khalifas rumored girlfriend, Aimee Aguilar, was also included in the photo, matching her beaus look with an all-black look. But Sebastian stole the show, looking effortlessly cool in a black suit, white shirt and sunglasses. On our way to 5th grade, Khalifa tweeted along with the photo. On our way to 5th grade. pic.twitter.com/3EXuhYB4PC Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) May 25, 2023 Time really flies wiz & amber have always been admirable parents , a viewer wrote. time really flies wiz & amber have always been admirable parents Skie onlyfns sale (@thabootygawdus) May 25, 2023 I love the way yall coparent so beautiful, another added. I love the way yall coparent so beautiful Miss Raquel $3 onlyfans (@dominicanraq) May 25, 2023 Another user agreed. I love the way they handle the coparenting , they tweeted. I love the way they handle the coparenting Book Yasmine Sky Tampa Clearwater Beach Orlando (@bookwithyasmine) May 25, 2023 Though Amber didnt share the family picture, she posted a throwback picture of her pregnant with Sebastian on her Instagram Stories. Walking Pauly 11 years ago when I was pregnant with Sebastian , she wrote, paying tribute to her son and late pup. Khalifa and Rose were married from 2013 to 2016 and welcomed Sebastian during their first year of marriage. Woman arrested, charged after allegedly spraying pepper spray on court employees in Munhall A woman has been arrested after allegedly spraying court employees in Munhall with pepper spray on Thursday afternoon. According to the Allegheny County Sheriffs Office, Santhiya Mahilkanthan, 32, was arguing with staff members at the office of Magisterial District Judge Patrick Campbell. Mahilkanthan allegedly became belligerent and aggressive and the staff members asked her to leave. Officials say Mahilkanthan reached through the glass partition and began spraying pepper spray. Staff members reportedly stated they were calling the police and she left the office. A staff member who left the building to get away from the pepper spray told detectives she was pushed by Mahilkanthan. Mahilkanthan allegedly fled the area before being detained by Munhall police. After detectives interviewed staff members, Mahilkanthan was charged with three counts each of aggravated assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct and one count each of criminal mischief, vandalism and obstructing administration of law. She was taken to the Allegheny County Jail. Judge Campbells office will be closed Friday due to the release of pepper spray. 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 A model is supporting her terminally ill grandmother through a medically-assisted death in a heartfelt TikTok series. Two months ago, Ali Tate's grandmother "Bubbie" was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, which she accepted without resistance. "My grandmother decided 30 years ago that if her death would be drawn out and painful, that she was mentally and spiritually committed to medical assistance in death," Tate, 32, a mother of one in Texas, tells TODAY.com. To Tate's knowledge, her grandmother has not chosen her death date, but it's imminent. Tate's grandmother, who lives in Canada where medically-assisted death is legal, asked TODAY.com to not disclose her name to protect her privacy. Tate is also not revealing Bubbie's exact age for privacy reasons, although shared that she is in her "mid-80s." Bubbie did, however, consent to participating in a TikTok series with Tate to explore her choice and discuss the death experience. "What are your thoughts as you move closer to the date?" Tate asked Bubbie in a video. "It's like the light at the end of the tunnel," she answered. According to the Canadian Department of Justice, in order to qualify for a medically-assisted death, a person must be over the age of 18, "have a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability," be capable of decision making and provide informed consent. That person must "have enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated under conditions the person considers acceptable." Bubbie explained that she will make an appointment on a particular day and receive an injection that puts her to sleep, followed by other injections. "It's painless," said Bubbie, stating her preference to die at a hospital rather than home. "I came in quietly, I'd like to go out quietly," she said, adding, "I'm looking forward to just putting it in, to being dependent, no control." "When I'll be ready, I'll know," said Bubbie, adding of her late husband, "I do believe (he) is there saying, 'It's about time.' And I'll say, 'Hi ... I'm here. That's it." Bubbie gave "life advice" to young people feeling upset: "Laugh, have fun, enjoy your loved ones as much as you can. Tell them you love them. Share, be open, be honest. Talk, just talk." "If you have love in your life, hold onto it because it's so precious," she said. "Just honor love. Express it, live it." Although the videos have gotten millions of views and likes, noting Bubbie's bravery and beauty, commenters have said that Tate is "exploiting" her grandmother and that Bubbie is "playing God." "I have no regrets about sharing this journey," says Tate. "I wanted to have a conversation and a showing of death because it's so taboo in the West. You can see how triggered some people are; it's triggering because most haven't integrated the fact that they too, are going to die ... but (those who are dying) can teach the next generation." Tate admits that she initially thought euthanasia was a "terrible idea" although "When it's (in your life), it becomes a pertinent issue to flesh out. What I realized is that body sovereignty is the highest value from which everything must flow." According to Tate, Bubbie's peers and family aren't passing judgment on her decision. "I'm proud of my family for supporting Bubbie," she says. "We're focused on her transition and giving her whatever she needs to feel at peace and that she gets the most out of life before it ends." "I feel lucky to have her," says Tate. "I will absolutely miss her." This article was originally published on TODAY.com A sleek craft that had helped protect American convoys from German submarines during World War I visited Henderson and Evansville a century ago. The initial plan, according to The Gleaner of May 24, 1923, was that Henderson was to observe Memorial Day with a flotilla of three submarine chasers. The swift little boats were frequently in the headlines during the war when German undersea craft were preying upon Allied shipping. Their home port as of 1923 was St. Louis and Lt. Thomas A. Nicholson, son of local coal operator J.L. Nicholson, was to be in command. U.S. Sen. A.O. Stanley of Henderson had sent a request for the tour to Edwin Denby, secretary of the Navy at that time, who was born in Evansville Feb. 18, 1870, where his late father, Charles Denby, was long conspicuous for public service. Edwin Denby, by the way, didnt last much longer as Navy secretary. In 1924 he resigned in disgrace because of the Teapot Dome Scandal. Many of you may vaguely recall that term from your high school history classes. It was the biggest scandal in American government until Watergate came along. When it began, Denby controlled the Navys petroleum reserves known as Teapot Dome near Midway, Wyoming, as well as other reserves in Kern County, California. Teapot Dome took its name from a distinctive rock formation. President Warren G. Harding transferred control of those reserves in 1921 from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Interior. Interior Secretary Albert Bacon Fall went down in history as the first cabinet secretary to go to prison. The second was Attorney General John N. Mitchell during the Watergate scandal. Henderson history: City served Fishtown residents eviction notices 100 years ago Fall wasnt able to persuade Denby to turn over control of the reserves until 1922. Fall then granted a non-competitive lease of Teapot Dome to oil man Harry F. Sinclair. Similar leases transferred control of the California oil fields to Edward L. Doheny. The non-competitive leases, which were very favorable to the oil men, were perfectly legal. What got Fall into trouble was his newfound wealth; once the indefatigable Sen. Thomas Walsh of Montana started following the money there was no stopping him. What tripped Fall up were the secret bribes Sinclair and Doheny had paid. Get this: In 1929 Fall was convicted of accepting a bribe from Doheny that in 1930 Doheny was acquitted of paying. Sinclair didnt help matters when his firm foreclosed on Fall for a $100,000 no-interest loan. Sinclair also spent a little time behind bars. The World War I submarine chaser SC 130 is depicted here in dry dock in an undated photo. The SC 130 visited Henderson and Evansville the first week of June 1923 It was commanded by Lt. Thomas A. Nicholson, son of local coal operator J.L. Nicholson. By the way, the Teapot Dome Scandal prompted legislation that gives Congress the power to take a peek at any Americans income tax returns. It also resulted in a Supreme Court case that established the ability of Congress to compel testimony. Im sorry. Im getting far afield from submarine chasers, arent I? The flotilla of three sub chasers didnt make it here in time for Memorial Day. In fact, only one of them did, and that wasnt until the night of June 3, 1923. So, just what was a sub chaser? According to a 2016 blog by the National Archives, they were authorized in 1916 after the Navy recognized a need for something for something heavy enough for weather at sea, yet nimble enough for antisubmarine maneuvers. The result was the 110 foot submarine chaser. Big shipyards were tied up with orders for larger ships, so the sub chasers were made of wood in smaller commercial shipyards. According to the archives of www.subchaser.org the frame and floors were of white oak, the planking was yellow pine, while the deck planking was Oregon pine. The boats were powered by three 220 horsepower motors. Top speed was around 18 mph. Armament included a 3-inch deck gun, a depth charge launcher, and machine guns. The subchaser.org site says they were normally manned by two officers and about 22 crewmen. The sub chaser that tied up at Henderson had five officers and a crew of 22. All were Navy reservists. The Gleaner of June 3, the day the boat was expected, said it was to tie up at one of the railroad bridge piers because of no wharf here. Its unclear whether that happened or whether it tied up to the wharf boat. The Gleaner of June 5 reported that after the boat had arrived hundreds of citizens went to take a look at it. It had operated in the Mediterranean during the war, one of about 300 that saw duty during World War I. The Gleaner of June 6 reported the boat was planning to leave about 8:30 a.m. for Evansville, which was the northernmost point of its Ohio River tour. It planned to stay one day there before heading downstream and would stop here again on the way down. Henderson history: The Old Union Church a mixture of faith and doubts That the slender, waspish craft could be so effective in ridding the sea of the dangerous submarine requires a stretch of the imagination to one who has never been in the sub zone, The Gleaner reported. But all veterans of the world war are loud in their praise and ascribe to them a major part of the credit for convoying safe through the territory infested by the lurking sub the many huge transports bearing to Europe the American contribution to the war. The sub chasers of World War I were so successful in hunting German submarines that the design was upgraded and saw service, mostly by the Coast Guard, during World War II. 75 YEARS AGO Leonard Willett of Henderson received a reply from F. Seitz of Wallendorf, Germany, thanking him for a jar of beans he had sent a month earlier, according to a reprint of the letter in The Gleaner of May 29, 1948. Seitzs wife and their three teenage sons had been forced from their home in Augsburg by Allied bombing. Seitz had enlisted in the German army Aug. 27, 1939, and was captured by the Russians in 1945. Some months ago I returned from Russia and therefore I am still in a rather bad condition as for my health and bodily strength. You scarcely can imagine how glad we were at your gift, the conserved beans. It meant a dinner for all of us, and we enjoyed them ever so much. Opening the glass, we found your address and read the words expressing the wish to know who got your gift. That is why I wrote to you. We are all grateful to you. God bless you for this. 50 YEARS AGO A.G. Pritchett, who had been a magistrate on Henderson Fiscal Court for 12 years, won the Democratic primary for county judge, which meant he was assured the seat, according to The Gleaner of May 30, 1973. He beat Glenn Johnson by more than 2,000 votes and carried 23 of the countys 29 precincts. He stepped down from that job in 1984 after he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives. He held that position until he died of stroke in mid-2003. In the sheriffs race which state law limited to two terms at that time Deputy J.T. Southard defeated the closest of his three opponents by more than 2,000 votes. All other county-wide races saw the incumbents re-elected. They included County Clerk Mildred Howard, Jailer Arnold Steamboat Ligon, and County Attorney David Thomason, who had been appointed to the job after Ulvester Walker resigned to become commonwealth attorney. 25 YEARS AGO The two firms mining coal in Henderson County agreed to merge, according to The Gleaner of June 2, 1998. Peabody Group announced it had signed a letter of intent to sell its award-winning Patriot Coal Co. subsidiary and undeveloped coal reserves in Western Kentucky to Centennial Resources Inc. In exchange, Peabody was to receive an undisclosed amount of cash as well as a minority interest in Centennial. At that time Patriot Coal operated two mines in Henderson County, the Freedom underground mine and the Patriot strip mine, both east of Niagara. Centennial, meanwhile, operated a strip mine near Hebbardsville. The merger would create a company with some 550 workers, more than 400 million tons of coal reserves and the capacity to produce more than 7 million tons of coal annually, the story said. Actual shipments from the two companies during the last fiscal year totaled 5.2 million tons, including 1.5 million tons by Patriot and 3.7 million tons by Centennial. Both firms took over mining operations that had been started by other companies. Pyramid Mining Co. received the first strip mining permit ever issued by Henderson County allowing the county's first modern surface mine to open in 1988. However, Green Coal Co. also began the process that year and opened a mine that produced coal before Pyramid did. Centennial took over the Green Coal operation after it went bankrupt. Henderson County currently has no functioning coal mines. Readers of The Gleaner can reach Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com or on Twitter at @BoyettFrank. This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: World War I submarine chaser docked at Henderson riverfront in 1923 The Subject The U.S. and its NATO allies have shipped over $40 billion in arms to Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion last year. Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock is preparing for the risk that these weapons will eventually seep into Europe and conflict zones as far afield as Africa and Latin America. In an interview with Semafor, Stock said Europes recent history shows that weapons deployed in local conflicts, such as the Balkan Wars of the 1990s, inevitably make their way to other battlefields, through either legitimate trade or criminal networks, once the guns go silent. You dont need to be skilled with a lot of foresight capabilities, because that is what we have seen in other theaters around the world, Stock said. I sat down with Stock to find out what was driving the work of, essentially, the worlds top cop. A German police officer and academic, Stock has led Interpol since 2014, and is especially concerned about the growing power of transnational criminal syndicates, such as the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico and Italys 'Ndrangheta, to challenge the power of national states, not just in Latin America and Africa, but also Europe. (Last year, Belgium arrested four gang members for attempting to kidnap the countrys Justice Minister.) Stock is pressing for a greater collaboration among Interpols 195 members to combat this threat. Countering the global flow of narcotics, including fentanyl, is also at the top of Interpols mandate, said Stock. He explained how Interpols headquarters in Lyon, France has quietly provided the U.S. and China a venue to cooperate on the issue, even as their respective governments have sparred over it. These people are sitting together, and it's a platform for dialogue and we are talking with each other, he said. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Interview Jay Solomon: What concerns you and Interpol the most right now globally? Jurgen Stock: Cybercrime, organized crime groups getting stronger and stronger despite all the efforts and all the great success stories we have had, or international law enforcement has had. Most of these criminal gangs whether they call them gangs, cartels, transnational organized crime groups are getting stronger and stronger. Jay Solomon: Whats making them stronger? Jurgen Stock: There's a bunch of reasons. But lets say they are quite flexible, in terms of the crime areas in which they invest. We have seen that [when] we were organizing operations targeting drugs, and we identified on that occasion thousands of firearms. We are organizing operations targeting firearms particularly on that occasion, [and] we seize tons of drugs, different drugs. So, you see how flexible they are. Jay Solomon: What threats do these criminal syndicates pose to nation states? Jurgen Stock: Corruption plays a huge role. We see that criminal gangs are investing millions and millions to corrupt officers. This is increasingly undermining the rule of law all across the world, not only destabilizing, let's say, so-called fragile states that are having certain problems, social problems, economic problems and so on. But even undermining the rule of law and stability in the developed world. Youll see more and more violence on the streets. Belgium is an example, the Netherlands is an example, Sweden is an example. Where at the end of such a drug distribution chain, the supply chain, there are fights between groups Is it my turf? Is it your turf? And more violence on the street intimidating governments. We have seen that in Belgium, where they attempted to kidnap the Minister of Justice. So more open violence against state officials. Jay Solomon: How do strained relations between the U.S. and China impact the fight against the fentanyl trade? Jurgen Stock: Interpol is providing a platform again where even if its politically difficult, we can at least have a conversation on the Interpol level. We have an enterprise Executive Committee in my Supervisory Body: We have the U.S. represented and we have China represented. So, these people are sitting together, and its a platform for dialogue and we are talking with each other. Again, Im not saying that all the time it leads to immediate, tangible results. But very often, it helps at least a little bit. And its better than, lets say, radio silence. Jay Solomon: Youve been raising since last summer your concerns about weapons in Ukraine flooding into Africa and Europe. Can you say more? Jurgen Stock: You dont need to be skilled with a lot of foresight capabilities, because that is what we have seen in other theaters around the world. That is still a big concern. And, again, Interpol is providing an opportunity [to stop this]. We have a database where these weapons can be tracked, traced. And we strongly encourage our member countries to use that database to help tracking and tracing these weapons. Jay Solomon: How successful are policing agencies in seizing illicit money? Jurgen Stock: How successful are we as a global law enforcement community? The experts are saying, optimistically, 2% to 3% of all the criminal assets. Even that would be more than disappointing. And some experts are saying youre getting less than 1%, perhaps realistically. Jay Solomon: How often are criminal syndicates using crypto? Jurgen Stock: More and more definitely. I dont have any figures and numbers now, but we see that it's increasingly being used. I mean, sometimes whenever the central platform is breaking down, there might be a certain reluctance or reorientation, but of course they are using it. They have been using it maybe faster than police could develop its tools at least in law enforcement. Jay Solomon: Do digital assets provide an opportunity for law enforcement? Jurgen Stock: Its a double-edged sword. Right? So in the one hand, of course, you provide criminals opportunities to hide their illegal activities, particularly if they are fast, faster than law enforcement. We also have opportunities to track and trace and investigate if we have the necessary tools. If we have the legal framework. The estate of a passenger killed in a tractor-trailer crash last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver. Patrick Calhoun Mays, 66, died after being hit by Oleg Polishchuk of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in November. Polishchuk was traveling south in a tractor-trailer when he crashed into a Ford Focus that was stopped in the right lane because of traffic. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Polishchuk was arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by a vehicle and failure to reduce speed. He was booked into custody at the Iredell County Jail. Patrick Mays wife, Rebecca, was driving the vehicle. His daughter was also in the vehicle. Both of them were taken to the hospital, troopers said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Driver charged after fatal crash on I-77 in Mooresville The lawsuit alleges that Polishchuk negligently, carelessly, and recklessly failed to reduce speed, causing his tractor trailer to collide with the Mays. The lawsuit also alleges Uber Freight knew or should have known that Polishchuk failed to possess the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to transport freight and/or goods without creating a risk to others. Due to the force of the impact of the crash, the Mays vehicle was propelled over 200 feet onto the sound bound off-ramp at Exit 31, the suit says. Polishchuk was operating a 2021 Volvo tractor trailer on behalf of Uber Freight. He was the employee, agent, servant, representative, and/or statutory employee, according to the lawsuit. Mays estate is seeking reasonable funeral and burial expenses, medical bills, compensation for pain and suffering, and damages in a sum that exceeds $75,000.00 from a jury. Channel 9 has reached to Uber Freight for a response. (WATCH BELOW: Lawsuit filed in connection to Novant security guard assault case) The Wyandotte County District Attorneys Office announced on Friday they would not pursue criminal charges against the Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who fatally shot a DoorDash driver during a traffic stop in late April. Amareeya Henderson, 25, was shot and killed on April 29 near the Kansas City, Kansas, 12th Street Bridge. Police have said the shooting unfolded after a confrontation ensued between Henderson and the officer. Jonathan Carter, a spokesman for the Wyandotte County District Attorneys Office, explained the decision to not pursue criminal charges in a Friday afternoon statement: At the time the officer discharged his weapon, the suspect was driving the car at a high rate of speed while the officer was stuck between the door and the drivers compartment. While holding on to the moving vehicle the officer told the suspect to stop. He said Henderson refused commands from the officer to stop and continued to drive at high speeds. Then, the officer discharged his weapon. The case was investigated by homicide detectives across the state line in Kansas City as part of an agreement for outside agencies to review KCK police deadly use of force. It was forwarded to Wyandotte County prosecutors on May 10 to determine whether the shooting was justified under state law. Deadly force, under Kansas law, is justifiable if an officer is in immediate danger or at risk of serious bodily harm, the district attorneys office noted in the explanation of the charging decision. Meanwhile, family and supporters of Henderson have called for accountability in the fatal police shooting, saying Henderson was unarmed and did not pose a threat to police. That night, he and his girlfriend, Shakira Hill, had recently completed a food delivery in the area when they were stopped. Pauletta Johnson, Hendersons mother, was on FaceTime with her son and his girlfriend as Johnson drove to the area where the traffic stop was underway, she previously told The Star. Johnson has questioned what led police to shoot her son to death, saying Henderson was not a street kid and was an innocent man. Attorneys for the family criticized the decision not to file charges on Friday, saying the district attorneys office failed to factor in all the surrounding circumstances. They contend KCKPD Officer Austin Schuler was never in danger and instead made dangerous choices that do not align with the departments own use of force policy. According to the familys lawyers, the vehicle Henderson was driving traveled approximately 250 feet before striking a parked vehicle and after Henderson was shot twice at close range. They say the officers failed to de-escalate as Henderson feared for his safety, and they believe Henderson started to drive away from the traffic stop in search of a more well-lit location. The officer who shot Henderson put himself in harms way by jumping onto the vehicle, the familys lawyers said. The body cam shows a disgusting display of excessive force, and the unlawful, unnecessary killing of another young, unarmed black man, Nuru Witherspoon, an attorney representing the family, said in a statement. The lawyers also called on KCKPD Police Chief Karl Oakman to publicly release the video footage. The police department has the ability to release the footage to the public, now that the investigation is closed, said Kay Harper Williams, another family attorney. Pauletta Johnson said it best. If there is nothing to hide, then KCKPD should release the full, unredacted video to the public. Kansas has one of the strictest laws related to police body camera footage in the country. According to the law, public agencies in Kansas are not required to disclose anything that is considered a criminal investigation record. As of 2016, that includes all footage from police body and vehicle cameras. This means that law enforcement agencies in Kansas, by law, do not need to release body camera footage to the public, but they can choose to do so at their own discretion. Over the past month, the case which marks the third police shooting in Kansas City, Kansas in 2023 has caught the attention of police reform advocates in Wyandotte County. Theyve called for greater transparency from law enforcement. Nikki Richardson, co-founder of the local advocacy organization Justice for Wyandotte, was surprised that the district attorneys office reached its decision one month after the shooting. The swiftness of this decision is unusual for us since we have been repeatedly told that officer-involved shooting investigations require months, she said. The group has filed a request to view the footage and believes the tape should be made public now that the case is closed. Lora McDonald, executive director for the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity or MORE2, questioned on Friday whether the officer followed the departments policies and procedures. We do not know as no footage has been released to the public, McDonald said in a statement. Are existing policies and procedures sufficient? Law enforcement departments around the nation have recognized that shooting into a moving vehicle does not increase safety, but instead turns the vehicle into a more dangerous weapon to bystanders in the area, she said. At an early May rally on the median of Seventh Street and Minnesota Avenue, multiple family members complained about being unable to access the body camera footage. Tamika Manning and her two daughters, cousins of Henderson, traveled from Colorado to support their Kansas City, Kansas, relatives. Ive already seen Amareeya ... I want everybody to see what was done to him, Manning said. In a statement released at that event, the family said they are outraged that Amareeyas life was taken through unjustified violence. ... If there is nothing to hide, release the footage to the public! At the time, they said they had filed an open records request for the footage. Family was given the chance to view footage of Hendersons fatal shooting in accordance with state law, according to Wyandotte County prosecutors. Although criminal charges will not be filed, there are civil and administrative matters related to the incident that have yet to be resolved, the district attorneys statement said. An internal review of the shooting will determine whether Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department policy was followed by the officer or if any changes will be necessary, now that the case is closed, Nancy Chartrand, a spokeswoman for the department, said in a Friday statement. The Stars Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report. Xcel Energy has restored power in parts of New Mexico on Thursday after severe storms pummeled the area Wednesday night. "Xcel Energy power plant personnel were successful in starting the Quay County Generating Station after changing out some computer equipment on the controller," Xcel Energy Senior Media Relations Representative Wes Reeves said in a 4:17 p.m. update Thursday. "All Tucumcari customers affected by last nights outage have been restored after they were connected to Quay County. We will closely monitor the power plant to ensure its continued reliability while transmission line crews rebuild the 20 downed structures on the main transmission feed into the city." It is possible the repairs on the transmission line wont be complete until Monday, Xcel Energy said, so they will keep Tucumcari connected to the backup source for the weekend. As of 4 p.m., they still had close to 600 customers without power in New Mexico, mostly in the Clovis area. The company said distribution crews will continue restoring power into the evening. As reported earlier, Tucumcari remained without power Thursday afternoon after Wednesday's storm heavily damaged the electric transmission line supplying the city. Xcel Energy crews confirmed 20 downed transmission structures on a 115-kilovolt transmission line that supplies the city of Tucumcari with power. The company has called in multiple in-house construction crews, including contract crews, to rebuild these structures and restore the line. Xcel Energy said the backup generating resource for the city, the Quay County Generating Station, remained offline as power plant crews worked through a controller issue. Xcel Energys community relations group was working with state and local leadership to assess the situation for Tucumcari residents and to ensure continued operation of water and sanitation services. Xcel Energy said it had also brought in line crews from area towns to assist with the restoration in Clovis. As of 1:30 p.m., the Xcel Energy outage map estimated nearly 4,500 total customers were impacted between the two communities. Roads also impacted by storm damage, flooding According to an update on Thursday from the Curry County Road Department, CR19 between CR D and CR H was currently closed. "The torrential rains and flooding from last nights storm have been very challenging. A significant number of roads have been damaged, may be hazardous or closed due to flooding," the department states. "We are requesting all persons to pay close attention to road conditions and exercise extreme caution while driving county roads. Thank you for your assistance. Questions or concerns, or notifications of roads may be addressed to Walon Jones or Gordon Beevers at (575) 762-1501." The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a tornado warning Wednesday night for Curry and Quay counties, and media reports said at least one tornado touched down in Curry County, moving close to Grady and Broadview and north of Clovis. A strong tornado reportedly passed over Highway 209 north of Clovis but weakened before it moved into the town. Two-inch hail was also reported in the area. In a post on Facebook Wednesday night, the Clovis Police Department said Clovis police, fire, and EMS units were working to answer all calls for service coming into their Dispatch Center. "Because of this weather event, there are power lines down, trees down, lights damaged and large amounts of flooding," the post said. "If an area looks flooded, DO NOT drive into it. Be careful around the areas of town known to flood, please don't endanger yourselves or others. Take care of each other, try to stay dry and warm." The New Mexico and Texas Panhandle areas have had multiple severe storms move through the area over the past several days, and more severe weather was possible Thursday evening. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Storms damage Xcel Energy power line, impact New Mexico customers Home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso, right, talks to New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone as Boone is restrained after being ejected during the third inning of the team's baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) NEW YORK (AP) Ejected for the fourth time this season and second time in a four-game span, Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn't think there was a need for robot umpires. I don't want that, Boone said after Thursday night's 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Boone was tossed in the middle of the third inning by Edwin Moscoso over the umpires strike zone. Boone held up four fingers while arguing, signaling Boone thought the plate umpire missed four calls on pitches by Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt. A graphic posted by the Yankees' YES Network indicated at least six of Schmidt's pitches that caught the edge of the strike zone were called balls. The Automated Ball-Strike System better known as the robo ump is being tested at Triple-A this season and could reach the majors soon. Clearly he shouldn't have had to throw almost 30 pitches in that first inning, Boone said. But, no, I'm not advocating for the robo. I think these guys do for the most part a great job and work really hard at it. When you're playing for a lot, there's going to be some issues from time to time, as simple as that. Boone also was angry Moscoco walked away during the argument and first base umpire Chris Guccione, the crew chief, stood between the two when Boone tried to re-engage Moscoso. I should not have been thrown out of that game. Boone said. I was very calm, didn't do much at all. And then Gucc was holding me back and just telling me so I didn't need to be restrained. The dismissive attitude in walking away, I took exception to. Boone may have gotten spit on an umpire while arguing, which could lead to a suspension from Major League Baseball. I hope not, Boone said. Boone was ejected moments after Gunnar Henderson lined out to first to end the top of the third. Henderson worked a six-pitch walk against Schmidt in the first in which Moscoso called balls on three borderline pitches. Facing Schmidt again, Henderson laid off two pitches on the outside corner called balls in his third-inning at-bat. Its going to happen. Theres going to be some missed calls, obviously, throughout the game, said Schmidt, who threw 29 pitches in the first and 97 pitches over five innings. It seemed like there was some crucial ones early on. It kind of ran up the pitch count a little bit early on. Boone was ejected against Cleveland on April 12, against Toronto on May 15 and against Cincinnati on Sunday. He has been ejected 30 times in five-plus seasons as Yankees manager. Were fighting tooth and nail out there, and so to see your manager out there fighting tooth and nail for you, as well, is a good feeling, Schmidt said. I know he's always going to have our backs.: ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Sweden's Loreen won Eurovision this year in Liverpool Some 162 million viewers watched this year's Eurovision song competition held in Liverpool, the BBC said Friday also highlighting "record" engagement online. The UK hosted the musical extravaganza on behalf of last year's winner Ukraine, due to the Russian invasion. Sweden's Loreen secured a seventh victory for the Nordic country with the track "Tattoo" and made Eurovision history as the first woman to win the competition twice. The contest "has never been more popular", said Noel Curran, director-general of the European Broadcasting Union that organised the competition. The figure counted viewers over the contest's three live shows -- two semi-finals and the final -- across 38 public service media markets. In host country Britain around 9.9 million people tuned in for the Eurovision final on May 13, up 12 percent on last year. Winner Sweden had an average audience of 2.3 million viewers, accounting for 82.3 percent of all TV viewers in the country. Finland, which took second place, had 1.7 million viewers. On TikTok, the three live shows were viewed 4.8 million times, while videos under the #Eurovision2023 hashtag garnered 4.8 billion views between April 30 and May 15. Starting this year, viewers outside the 37 participating countries could take part in the voting process. Votes were received from over 100 non-participating countries, including the United States, Canada, Turkey and New Zealand. acl/phz/giv Cole Hauser is on a mission to give back to the military community. The "Yellowstone" star shared that hes passionate about supporting the children of fallen soldiers through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. "Im a big fan of second chances for kids when they lose a family member. Its a huge loss for them," Hauser said during an appearance on "CBS Mornings." "Maybe its just my way of serving this country, the soldiers, their families." 'YELLOWSTONE' STAR COLE HAUSER REACTS TO POTENTIAL IMPENDING DEATH IN SEASON 5 FINALE "Yellowstone" actor Cole Hauser, who portrays Rip Wheeler alongside Kevin Costner in Taylor Sheridan's hit Western drama, gives back to military families through charity. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides college scholarships to children whose family members were killed in the line of duty. The charity has awarded more than 1,000 scholarships, according to the media outlet. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Hauser established special connections with service members over the years and made private visits to the Walter Reed Medical Center. Actor Cole Hauser shared that hes passionate about supporting the children of fallen soldiers through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. "There [are] about four or five guys that I stayed in touch with for many, many years," he continued. "Some have committed suicide, unfortunately; some are still alive and doing well. It was an educational time for me as a young man in my 20s." YELLOWSTONE STAR COLE HAUSER SAYS KEVIN COSTNER TAUGHT HIM TO BE 'A GENTLEMAN ON SET': 'IT'S INSPIRING' Hauser stars as Rip Wheeler alongside Kevin Costner in Taylor Sheridan's hit Western drama. He continues to show his dedication to the organization while sitting on the charitys board of directors. He also works closely with Clay Hutmacher, Special Operations Warrior Foundation president. Cole Hauser riding a horse in Montana as Rip Wheeler. Together, they offer scholarships to special operation families in need. Hauser hopes being involved with the foundation will lift the burden from military families who have suffered a great loss. "Its got to be a thousand pounds off your back," he remarked. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The cast of "Yellowstone" at the season 2 premiere party in Los Angeles. The "Yellowstone" actors passionate mission stems from his own military background within his family. His late grandfather, Milton Sperling, was a World War II Marine, a Hollywood producer and screenwriter. Hauser hopes to carry on his grandfathers legacy to his own children. "I think its as good as it gets, the human element of wanting to help, just to see somebody go through that moment of grace." The latter half of season 5 of "Yellowstone" will resume with new episodes this summer on Paramount Network. Alaa Rubil paints images of death and despair to shine a light on the horrors and victims of war in Yemen Yemeni artist Alaa Rubil uses the shell-pocked buildings of his hometown as canvas, painting images of death and despair to shine a light on the horrors and victims of war. Not long after the start of the bloody conflict between Yemen's internationally recognised government and Huthi rebel forces, the southern port city of Aden, where Rubil lives, became the scene of brutal fighting. For several months in 2015, artillery rained down on Aden, and Huthi rockets and mortars fired into densely populated areas killed dozens of civilians, Human Rights Watch reported at the time. Rubil, now 30, has been painting murals since we has a teenager, but found his voice in the aftermath of that round of violence. "I saw that the government was not aware of the people who were displaced," he told AFP. "I wanted to communicate my message to the world by drawing people who lost their homes and families," he said. "By using the walls, I could reach the world." Today, the rubble-strewn streets of Aden double as a semi-permanent exhibition of Rubil's work -- and a testament to what the city's inhabitants have lived through. - 'Feel the people' - On the wall of one shop in a particularly hard-hit area, he painted a large outline of a man's face, but obscured the eyes, nose and mouth with a cupped palm holding up three sticks of dynamite. Across the street, on the interior wall of a bombed-out apartment building, a piece he calls "Silent Suffering" depicts a skeleton playing a violin as peace signs float around its skull. In another work, a girl in a red dress sits on the ground with her head resting in her left hand, next to a black crow perched on a missile. Behind her, the girl's deceased relatives, rendered in black and white, peer down from an open window. The image is based on the true story of a girl who lived in the area and lost her family in the fighting, Rubil said. "She thinks that war is a game. She thinks that her family is returning," he said. "So she is waiting for them." Amr Abu Bakr Saeed, 42, who lives nearby, told AFP the paintings were a dark but necessary tribute to the dead. "When we pass through this place, we feel pain, we feel the people who were here," he said. "These paintings express the tragedies of the people whose homes were destroyed and who were displaced, and prove that war really took place in Yemen." - 'No one cares' - A little more than eight years ago, neighbouring Saudi Arabia mobilised a coalition to topple the Huthis, who had seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people either through combat or knock-on effects such as hunger and disease. Millions remain displaced, their homes and communities destroyed. A truce that went into effect in April 2022 officially expired in October, but has still significantly reduced fighting across the country, raising hopes for a durable peace. Riyadh sent a delegation to Sanaa last month to meet with the Huthis, and the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, told AFP this month he believed all parties were "serious" about bringing an end to the war. Walking through the ramshackle streets of Aden, carrying his paint and brushes in a small basket so he could touch up several pieces, Rubil said he, too, was trying to be optimistic. "I love the idea that this place could turn from a centre of destruction to a centre of peace," he said, adding he hoped art could help the city rebuild. But he acknowledged that many Aden residents were still waiting to see tangible progress. "For me, nothing has changed," said 53-year-old Yasmin Anwar Abdel Shakur, passing by on her way home from work in a government health office. "We are threatened by buildings falling over on us at any time," she told AFP, describing how most buildings that were heavily damaged during the war remain unrepaired. "Many people have died here, their lives are gone," she said. "No one knows and no one cares." rcb-rs/ho/ami/leg A York County woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for committing financial crimes to buy a home in Wyndam Hills, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Melinda Bixler, 50, reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors last year in which she admitted to committing financial crimes such as bank fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo issued the prison sentence earlier this week, according to court records. Bixler's attorney, Chris Ferro, issued a statement on Friday that his client "against tremendous odds built two thriving businesses and helped countless individuals with disabilities and the elderly." He said she had a lapse in judgment. "She fully acknowledged her mistakes and had made full repayment to all affected by her actions. The conduct at issue is totally inconsistent with her character and a lifetime of good deeds and community service," he wrote. Bixler ran two elder care businesses Elder Healthcare Solutions, a for-profit company, and Adult Care Advocates, a non-profit company from a property in the 4000 block of West Market Street in West Manchester Township, according to a news release. Prosecutors alleged that Bixler bought a $685,000 home in Wyndam Hills with money she obtained through unlawful means, the news release states. She obtained a mortgage from a bank by submitting multiple false statements, including a forged letter that stated she had paid off the house on West Market Street. She was still making monthly payments on it, the release and court records state. More: York County woman who ran 2 elder care businesses reaches plea deal in mortgage fraud case Check it out: Here's the York County municipality that grew the most from 2020-2022 She also obtained a fraudulent gift letter from a third party for $350,000 to buy the house. Prosecutors alleged that Bixler funneled money to the third party and disguised the true source of the funds, the release states. For example, Bixler took $78,000 from the bank account of a 94-year-old woman who was living at a nursing home in Lancaster County. Bixler had power of attorney for the woman, the release states. Bixler agreed to the following: Pay a total of $147,882 to three former clients from for the misappropriation of money. Forfeit the West Market Street property and more than $129,350 that remained in the bank account for Adult Care Advocates. Resign her positions with the two elder care businesses. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County business woman sentenced in money laundering scheme On 26 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief focused on listening to reports on the situation at the front and discussing the equipment of offensive brigades. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote: "Held another Staff meeting. The commanders of the joint strategic groupings of troops reported on the operational situation at the front at large and on separate fronts. The staff members reviewed in detail the pace of providing the offensive brigades with equipment and everything necessary. The prospects of increasing the domestic production of scarce ammunition were also analysed." Details: The meeting also discussed the latest Russian airstrikes and how to make defence against them more effective. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! 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 sign on the uniform of a Ukrainian LGBT servicewoman Read also: Petition for Pantheon of Ukraine's Heroes at Askold's Grave in Kyiv gets 25,000 signatures In the petition, several civil organizations urged the president to support Bill 9103 on the institution of registered partnerships and ask the Ukrainian Parliament to pass it as soon as possible. Overcoming severe trials, the Ukrainian state has consciously chosen to move towards European standards, the foundation of which are three fundamental values of the Council of Europe democracy, rule of law, and human rights, Zelenskyys message said. European law assumes that respect and protection of fundamental human rights primarily the right to life, freedom, personal security, prohibition of torture, the right to respect for private and family life, prohibition of discrimination are the main obligations of the state. At the same time, the president noted that during martial law, it is not possible to amend the Constitution, which currently stipulates that marriage is "based on the free consent of a woman and a man." Last year, he suggested that the Cabinet of Ministers consider the issue of the institution of registered civil partnerships. The government tasked the Ministry of Justice to develop a bill on civil partnerships and to eliminate discriminatory provisions that may violate the rights of partners who are not in marriage. The Ministry of Justice is currently working on the proposal. Read also: Zelenskyy reportedly backs petition to ban Russian actors in Ukraine Bill 9103 on the institution of registered partnerships is being considered by the parliamentary judicial committee. "The bill has received a number of remarks and suggestions from the committees and authorized state authorities, which need further refinement for the effective functioning of the relevant institution," the president added. Read also: Zelenskyy responds to petition demanding mandatory test for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship He addressed Ruslan Stefanchuk, the parliaments Speaker, and asked him to consider the issue raised by the petitioners. In August 2022, Zelenskyy responded to a petition for the legalization of same-sex marriages, which gathered over 28,500 signatures. He stated that the Cabinet of Ministers was working on options for legalizing registered civil partnerships in Ukraine. The bill on civil partnerships was registered in the parliament on March 14. Read also: Zelenskyy responds to petition on Odesa mayors actions The author of the bill, Inna Sovsun, explained that registered partnerships are a new institution for those who cannot or do not want to enter into marriage. It can be used by both military and civilian, same-sex and different-sex couples. Read also: Zelenskyy responds to petition to rename Russia to Muscovy Same-sex couples in Ukraine do not legally have the right to marry, cannot jointly own property, inherit a partner's property, or jointly raise children. In the event of the death of one of the partners, the other cannot take custody of their children. Partners are deprived of the right to maintain or care for each other in case one temporarily or permanently loses workability, to be a legal guardian for an incapacitated partner. 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 Zelenskyy on strike on Dnipro: We are working to supply Ukraine with even more anti-aircraft missiles President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that Ukraine will do everything possible to speed up the supply of higher quality and quantity of air defence systems after the Russian missile strike on the health centre in the city of Dnipro. Source: Zelenskyy's address Quote: "During the day, I receive reports on the situation in the city of Dnipro and the elimination of the consequences of another strike. It is a pure atrocity: a Russian missile, ballistics [used] against a hospital and a veterinary clinic. Absolutely sick creatures [Russians ed.]. As of this minute, two people have been killed in this strike. My condolences to families and friends! Debris clearance has not yet been completed. More than 30 people have been injured, including two children. We will do everything possible, everything impossible, to speed up the supply of more air defense systems of a higher quality to Ukraine this is literally a daily issue for [our] work with partners." Details: Zelenskyy also noted that Ukraine has made significant progress in obtaining aircraft this week: "We are moving faster in defense modernization than could have been predicted six months ago." In addition, General Syrskyi made an important report regarding the specific fronts in Donbas at the meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The Minister of Defence reported on the results of the Rammstein-format meeting during the Staff meeting. According to Zelenskyy, there are "good results". The president also announced that he held a meeting with international experts on 26 May regarding Ukraine's accession to NATO and a meeting regarding new sanctions against those who support Russian aggression. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Zelenskyy's office responds to Chinese envoy's call for occupied territories to be given to Russia Mykhailo Podoliak, the advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has responded to the call by Li Hui, the Chinese government's special representative, for a ceasefire in Ukraine through "recognising the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russia's". Source: Podoliak on Twitter Quote from Podoliak: "Any compromise scenario envisaging the liberation of NOT all territories of Ukraine, which anonymous sources in the European and American elites periodically talk about, is tantamount to admitting the defeat of democracy, the victory of Russia, the preservation of Putins regime and as a consequence the sharp increase in conflicts in global politics." Details: Podoliak said that all this is Russia's cherished dream. "The question is rhetorical: Why do individual public actors keep playing the Russian media scenario and protracting the conflict?" Podoliak stressed. Background: Earlier, The Wall Street Journal, referring to Western officials familiar with the progress of Li Hui's negotiations in European capitals, reported that he apparently tried to convince his European counterparts that they should call for a ceasefire in Ukraine, recognising the occupied Ukrainian territories as belonging to Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Faber man was denied bond in Nelson Circuit Court Monday on charges stemming from a fatal vehicle crash that occurred in March. Julian Wesley Warner, 19, is charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter and drinking while driving according to online court records, and appeared in court Monday wearing a neck brace and arm cast for injuries related to the incident. According to Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Will Flory, the crash occurred in the early hours of March 16 along a section of Virginia 151 just north of Paulies Pig Out restaurant. Deputies responded to the scene and found that a vehicle traveling northbound had crested the hill but missed a turn in the road and crashed into the trees. Flory told the court a tree struck the passenger door on impact, allegedly resulting in the death of Warners passenger. Warner was found partially ejected through the windshield and later transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Flory said an open case of Corona beer was found on the shoulder of the road, which appeared to have been ejected from the vehicle. The first deputy who responded to the scene also noted an odor of alcohol about Warner. The defendants blood was later tested at the hospital Flory said he doesnt yet have information about how long the test occurred after the crash. Warner was found to have fentanyl in his system and a blood alcohol content of 0.085, just above the legal limit. The vehicle was traveling 89 miles per hour five seconds before impact, Flory said. He also told the court Warner has three prior charges for speeding, but no other criminal history. These charges are terribly sad, said defense attorney Phillip Banks. Banks told Judge Michael Doucette his client wants to be held responsible for whatever his future holds legally. Banks said Warner has been traveling to and from the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail for physical and psychiatric treatment at UVA University Hospital. Doucette denied Warner bond, saying he might reconsider if Baker secures an alcohol-detecting ankle monitor for his client. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. APPOMATTOX A Prince Edward County man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday for felony murder and other charges in connection with the October 2020 shooting death of a Bedford County man whose body was found burned in Appomattox County. MikTavis Elonta Naeshu Green, 22, was the first of four co-defendants charged with murder in the killing of Carlos Levell Rose to receive sentencing in Appomattox Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty in January to the murder charge and one count each of abduction, conspiracy to commit abduction, arson, conspiracy to commit arson, concealing or altering a dead body, conspiring to conceal or alter a dead body, using a firearm in commission of a felony and destruction of property. Green and co-defendants Keyanta KeShaun Robinson and Enrico Andre Moss took part in abducting Rose on Oct. 20, 2020, from a spot where the victims vehicle was parked off the U.S. 29 Bypass in Madison Heights, Appomattox County Commonwealths Attorney Les Fleet said. Artenna Kainna Horsley-Robey, Mosss girlfriend who was in a sexual relationship with Rose, also was present during the course of the abduction and murder, according to prosecutors evidence. Horsley-Robey met with Rose, 45, near the Percivals Island entrance in downtown Lynchburg and lured him to a predetermined location where the three men seized him at gunpoint, Fleet has said. Robinson drove Roses vehicle, with Green in the backseat next to Rose, and Horsley-Robey followed in Moss vehicle with Moss in the passengers seat, Fleet said. During the course of the drive, Rose was shot dead; his remains were found by law enforcement the following day inside his burned 2002 GMC Yukon off State Park Road near Holliday Lake State Park in Appomattox County. Green and Robinson both said they shot Rose after he went for a gun, Horsley-Robey testified at Moss trial in January. The group set the Yukon ablaze with Roses body inside to cover the crime, according to prosecutors evidence. Fleet said Rose was shot multiple times in the head and chest with bullets that came from two different firearms. A medical examiner at Moss trial testified Rose was dead before the fire, according to the autopsy results, and cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and chest. At Greens sentencing Thursday, Fleet said the defendant did not plead guilty out of remorse. The defendant pleaded guilty because he knew what a strong case the commonwealth had, Fleet said. Roses mother and wife were in the courtroom Thursday and decided not to testify because of the trauma of reliving the event, Fleet told Appomattox Circuit Court Judge Andy Nelson. Fleet read excerpts from their victim impact statements that said Roses mothers eyesight has greatly suffered because of stress from Roses murder and she wrote what monsters you are to burn my son up in reference to the co-defendants. It bothers her the most they burned his body, Fleet said. Montel Shaquille Croner, Mosss brother, who brought the gasoline cans to set the Yukon blaze, pleaded no contest Jan. 5 in Appomattox Circuit Court to one count each of arson and concealing a dead body, according to court records. He was given a 10-year suspended jail sentence and supervised probation, records show. Roses mother wrote the family has been devastated and she hopes Rose haunts the co-defendants every day, Fleet read from the statements. The victims wife said she has endured many sleepless nights and her husbands life was taken for no reason other than complete and utter selfishness. You five did not destroy us you five destroyed yourselves, Roses widow wrote of the co-defendants. Fleet said the evidence is clear Moss, Green and Robinson intended to rob Rose, who was a well-known marijuana dealer, and during the drive to his Bedford County home the shooting occurred. A bullet hole found in the roof and other evidence indicates Rose went for the gun and was shot. He ended up paying the ultimate price for that, Fleet said of Rose resisting the abduction. Scott De Bruin, Greens attorney, said Moss was the mastermind in hatching the plan to kidnap Rose. Its a horrific case, theres no way around it, De Bruin said. De Bruin said Green wanted to spare Roses family a trial in pleading guilty and asked that the sentencing range be from 20 to 22 years. Fleet argued for 28 years. Nelson sentenced Green to 88 years with 63 years suspended, resulting in a 25-year sentence. Green was credited for time served since his arrest; the other four co-defendants await sentencing hearings in June and July. This was a horrendous murder, Nelson said in sentencing Green. Nobody deserved what happened to this gentleman. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Following its adoption at this week's Lynchburg City Council meeting, the new citywide curfew for minors ordinance will go into effect on Friday beginning at 8 a.m., according to a news release from the city. The curfew, adopted 6-1 by city council on Tuesday, will remain in effect for all persons younger than the age of 18 between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. from May 26 to Dec. 1. The city said in a news release, "According to the adopted ordinance, it shall be unlawful for a minor, during curfew hours, to remain in a public place, in a motor vehicle or in an establishment unless the minor is: accompanied by a parent; involved in an emergency; engaged in an employment activity such as going to or returning from work; on the sidewalk directly abutting their residence with a parent inside; on an errand at the direction of a parent with permission in writing; involved in interstate travel through, beginning or terminating in the City; or exercising First Amendment rights, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech and the right of assembly." Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said in the news release, "The goal of the curfew is to assist community youth who might be at risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime. "Our goal is to ensure public safety for all of our residents through cooperative community partnerships and by reducing the opportunity for violent crime after hours without increasing unnecessary interactions with the youth of our community." According to the ordinance, a violation of the curfew by a minor or by any parent who knowingly allows their child to violate curfew could result in a Class IV misdemeanor, which carries a fine of $250. Zuidema and Lynchburg's Commonwealth's Attorney Bethany Harrison have said, however, for most young people who are cited with curfew violations that have no prior criminal history, it's likely they will be diverted from the juvenile and domestic relations court system into one of its various programs. The city has established a dedicated homepage on its website for all information regarding the curfew law, including the full ordinance and a list of those exceptions that will allow minors to be out during curfew hours. More information on the curfew can be found on the city's website at lynchburgva.gov/city-wide-youth-curfew. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Rotary Noon Club honors outstanding teachers and students The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club honored six teachers and six students at Council Bluffs schools during its May 18 meeting held at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. The annual recognition ceremony cited the exceptional work of Shelby Graves, fourth grade teacher, Council Bluffs Community School District; Glenda Lewis, secondary teacher, Heartland Christian School; Jenna Smith, American Sign Language instructor, Iowa School for the Deaf; Nathan Steinbach, culinary arts instructor, Iowa Western Community College; Andrew Brei, physical education teacher, Lewis Central Community School District; and Kim Gorman, fourth grade teacher, St Albert Catholic Schools. The club also applauded outstanding high school student achievements by recognizing Ashley Zuniga, Abraham Lincoln High School; Hannah Steinmetz, Heartland Christian School; Britany Adame, Iowa School for the Deaf; Elise Thrammer, Lewis Central Community School District; Claire Lewis, St Albert Catholic Schools; and Hailey Carlson, Thomas Jefferson High School. Promoting education has long been a focal point of the Rotary Noon Club. It held an annual poker tournament on May 13, with the proceeds going to scholarships for students at Iowa Western Community College. Club members also contribute $25 each annually to Iowa Western scholarships. The mission of Rotary Clubs is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club has been serving Council Bluffs since 1915 with the leading purpose of service above self. A multitude of service projects and fundraising to support projects are carried out throughout the year. Weekly meetings are held on Thursdays at noon at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 S 6th St, Council Bluffs. To learn more about Rotary, consider membership, or make a gift to support the clubs many service projects, visit the club website at portal.clubrunner.ca/6088, contact Club Administrator Cieandra Tripp at cbrotaryclub@gmail.com, or send a note to the Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club at PO Box 673, Council Bluffs, IA 51502. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Iowa State Bar Association Elder Law Section is honoring Older Iowans Month with the release of the seventh edition of the Handbook for Older Iowans and an educational Lawyers in Libraries program taking place at the Council Bluffs Public Library on Wednesday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. Deborah Petersen of the Petersen Law PLLC will be in Meeting Room A. The program will focus on financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, living wills and the Final Disposition Act. Petersen received her Bachelor of Science in business administration from Creighton University and her Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law in 1984. She is in private practice at Petersen Law. Her practice includes real estate, business, estate planning, trust administration, elder law and probate matters. Petersen is currently a member of the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors representing District 4. As we age, there are so many new systems to navigate regarding issues and programs created to specifically assist older adults, Deanna Clingan-Fisher, chair of the ISBA Elder Law Section, said in a news release. This handbook is one way we hope to give older Iowans, their families and caregivers an objective resource to review to gain general knowledge on these issues. Lawyers in Libraries is a joint effort by The Iowa State Bar Association, the State Library of Iowa, Iowa Legal Aid and the Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project to help provide free legal information to Iowans across the state. For more information on legal assistance, visit iowabar.org/?pg=waystogetlegalhelp. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. On the agenda for the May 2 Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors meeting was a request from a local small business owner to amend the countys winery ordinance to allow for the production of other types of fermented alcohol. Doreen Blakely, owner of Modern Matriarch, a small batch rum distillery she started in 2018, has been interested in expanding her operation for a few years, but she doesnt have enough room at the current location, nor is the current location zoned for a larger operation. Blakely currently makes her rum out of a shed that measures 24 feet by 24 feet that sits behind her home on Sunnydale Road. She doesnt have a tasting room, and she doesnt offer public tours of her facility. The shed is simply for making and storing the product, and as such it fits under the countys current winery ordinance. Blakely would like to build a new distillery on land she owns off of 205th Street, north of Honeysuckle Road. She wants to have a tasting room and a gift shop, and offer tours, because its really hard to sell your booze without a destination, she said. People want a destination, Blakely said. People wanna see it. People wanna experience it. People wanna get to know who you are. Under the current winery ordinance, in order to have a tasting room, the public areas of your building have to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which Blakely said would be difficult and costly to set up at the distillerys current location. In addition to a tasting room, Blakely would like to offer some other experiences on her land. When she spoke with the county planning and development office, she was told to write down what she wants a distillery ordinance to say. And then there was a $450 fee to submit the proposed ordinance for consideration. Im like, OK, well, my ordinance is gonna be everything I want it to be if Im paying for it, Blakely said. The ordinance Blakely presented to the planning and development department included everything she wanted to include on her land a distillery, a dog park, a live music venue and space for glamping. Glamping is sort of like camping, but without all the nuisances one would find in the great outdoors. Its a little bit more glorious than just a campground, Blakely said. Blakely pointed to Slattery Vintage Estates in Nehawka, Nebraska as an example of what she would like to create. Its a little vineyard, and theyve got glamping tents, they have a small little cove where they bring in little bands, and theres a little dance floor, and you can sit on the grass or up in the chairs, Blakely said. Its a little slice of heaven. On March 20th, the planning commission held a public hearing for the proposed ordinance, which essentially would change the language in the countys winery ordinance to include other types of fermented beverage production in addition to wine. The commission voted to recommend approval of the amended language, though there was no discussion with regard to a dog park, music venue or glamping. Planning and Development Director Matt Wyant noted that those accommodations already fall under various county ordinances. At that meeting, County Supervisor Tim Wichman, speaking as a neighbor to the land Blakely owns, raised concerns about the music venue portion of the plan, saying, I think it would eliminate not only my opportunity, but everybody elses opportunity for the quiet enjoyment of their property. Wichman was also concerned about the quality of the road leading to Blakelys 205th Street property. Rather than paved asphalt, the road is bituminous, and is not built to handle the potential traffic that a distillery may require, Wichman said. At the May 2 supervisor meeting, Wichman again brought up his concerns about the road, and the amended ordinance in general. I dont think at the present time were ready to move forward with this, he said. We do not have a bona fide project thats either been presented to our planning department or presented to the board for us to even evaluate whether this ordinance is, number one, necessary and, number two, appropriate. Blakely has not, in fact, provided design plans for her project, which, as Wichman said, makes it difficult to approve an ordinance or rezoning. There was an intent behind that, Blakely said. Part of it is, I dont know. Not that Im that genius, its just, you know, its fluid. I dont know, maybe I dont want the dog park. Maybe glamping is gonna be a pain in the neck cause I dont want to be there. I mean, life changes. At the May 2 meeting, Wichman made a motion to table the amended ordinance, noting that the board should study the matter further. I think its something the board should take a look at, he said. Were not in a rush here, we dont have a project to evaluate. I just think that we need to take a little more time and really see whats in (the ordinance), and what would make this a better ordinance than what we have right now. After Wichman indicated his intention to make a motion to table the amended ordinance, Blakely said that Wichman had a conflict of interest because he lives on neighboring property. He should be down here opposing as a neighbor, not as a board member, she said. Wichman said he was speaking only about the ordinance under consideration before the board, which has nothing to do with where he lives. (The ordinance) pertains to every piece of ground outside of the corporate limits of the cities in Pottawattamie County, Wichman said. Ultimately, the board voted to postpone a decision about the amended ordinance pending further study of the situation. As of May 23, the board has not revisited the matter, according to board chair Brian Shea. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A fourth-grade class at Edison Elementary School in Council Bluffs did a special project this week to help other children have happier birthdays. The students along with their teacher, Meaghan Sweeney assembled 24 birthday cake kits to help provide happy birthdays to children who may be food insecure. Each kid made one, and I made one, she said. The kits include a cake mix, frosting, candles, balloons, streamers, tape and birthday cards that are blank inside, Sweeney said. Its the sixth year the class has done the project. I do it every year, she said. The class gave the kits to Story Street Pantry, which will distribute them to families who use the pantry, according to Loren Knauss, co-founder of the pantry. I will ask them if they have a birthday party coming up, and they can have a kit, he said. The project was made possible by a $250 Project Jack grant from the Iowa Association of Realtors funded by donations, according to Tina Polly of the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors. Realtors collect donations for the grants, which are awarded annually to fourth- and fifth-grade classes at any school across the state. Story Street Pantry, based at Our Saviors Lutheran Church at 600 Bluff St. in Council Bluffs, has a mobile unit that visits Edison Elementary, along with Rue Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson High School, All Care Health Center, New Visions Homeless Services and churches in Carter Lake and Missouri Valley, according to its website. To see the pantrys schedule, visit storystreetpantry.org. 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. Nigeria emerges as Africas top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), having reportedly attracted over 30% of the FDI in the continents tech ecosystem and increasingly becoming the hub of digital technology in the continent. The Nigeria tech ecosystem has attracted about $4.4billion investment between the year 2015, 2019 and 2020 respectively, and ICT contributing to about 18.5% to the nations GDP, and NITDA also supported about 753 start-ups in different ways through trainings, seed funding and grants, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, said. Nigeria is thriving and has a vibrant tech ecosystem in Africa and almost 30% of all [FDI] into Africa ends in Nigeria. Inuwa made this statement at the 2023 Leaders Without Borders Annual Business Summit and International Honors that was recently held in London. NITDAs efforts drive digital transformation, as 120 million Nigerians gain internet access and the tech sector attracts $4.4 billion in investments, contributing to 18.5% of the nations GDP. NITDA empowers millions of Nigerians with digital literacy, training over 3.3 million individuals and saving the nation over N305 billion through efficient IT project implementation. The NITDAs chief also asserted that Nigerias fintech businesses are almost twice as large as its largest bank. But, Nigerias overall FDI plunged by 33% to $462.91 million, the lowest level since 2017, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published last month. According to NBS, the total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $1 billion in Q4 2022, lower than $2.1 billion recorded in Q4 2021, indicating a decrease of 51.51%. One of the last at-large suspects of the Rwandan genocide a former police chief, Fulgence Kayishema has been arrested in South Africa. He has allegedly orchestrated the killing of approximately 2,000 Tutsi refugees in 1994. The 62-year-old Kayishema was indicted by a UN tribunal on Rwanda in 2001 but has been on the run since then, having spent more than two decades as a fugitive, living under a false name in South Africa. The Rwandan genocide suspect has been arrested by the South African police and members of a tracking team from the Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the ICTR said in a statement on Thursday. Kayishema, being one of the worlds most wanted genocide suspects, is charged with playing a leading role in church killing of more than 2,000 Tutsi refugees. 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 tribunals chief prosecutor who led the hunt, commented. 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. Kayishema was one of four suspects indicted by the ICTR in 2001 who were still not accounted for, from a total of 96 indicted, and he was possibly the last major suspect still living and at large. Mounting frustrations with Guineas interim military government have driven more people to join anti-government protests in the capital, Conakry, days after several private media and online outlets in the West African country launched a one-day boycott of news in protest at press and internet restrictions by the authorities. Seven people were killed on May 11 in the West African nation as anti-government protests and violent clashes with security forces are gaining momentum over frustrations with military leaders overseeing a promised return to democratic rule. Conakry has regularly seen smoke billowing from burning tires and other debris, since fuel price hikes triggered the first major protest against the military government last June. At least 32 people were injured in unrest this month during the latest clampdown by the army, which was deployed to quell planned demonstrations in the capital last week. Anger mounts against military governments not only in Guinea but also in Burkina Faso and Mali, all of whom seized power in a series of coups in the West and Central Africa region since 2020. Meanwhile, several private media and online outlets in the West African nation launched a one-day boycott of news in protest against the decision by the military to shut down two radio stations, limit access to popular websites and social media, while threatening to close any media that undermines national unity. While the military-led government has denied any crackdown against the two radio stations or blocking of the internet, civilians are now calling upon the government to respect freedom of the press as enshrined in the constitution. As Tee Ngugi, a Nairobi-based political commentator, argued in his recent commentary, to break this cycle (of coups and violence) in Africa will require a cultural shift in our governance, a more assertive African Union divested of ownership by presidents, an international community that will demand the same standard of accountability from African leaders as they demand from governments elsewhere, renewed African intellectual activism divested of hackneyed demagoguery. The charm of Morocco with all its picturesque landscape, enchanting centuries-old cities, and enchanting cultural diversity, arts, cuisine and smells were neatly woven in a story by the Financial Times travel editor Maria Shollenbarger, who gave the reader a sense of the Morocco experience. Shollenbarger traveled with her 80-year-old mother who came all the way from California to fall under the spell of the North African Kingdom with all its time-honored architectural, culinary and hospitality traditions. Navigating through the alleys of the old town of Marrakech, Shollenbarger sampled and savored with her mother as she believes the Red City can overwhelm at any age. Her article, entitled What happened when the HTSI travel editor Maria Shollenbarger took her 80-year-old mother to Morocco?, is a story-telling masterpiece that captures the moment, while successfully using words to describe the depth of the feeling of being dazzled and enchanted by the Moroccan magic. As they both leave Marrakech to discover the hinterland, Shollenbarger takes the reader into a journey of a shifting landscape from the old souks, encircled by their thousand-year-old walls to the Atlas Mountains. Within an hour the landscape was utterly changed. Stands of poplar and birch mountain trees, their leaves glittering like coins sifting through fingers filled the gullies between volcanic peaks. When we descended into the desert plain hours later, she was transfixed by shifts in scenery: the orange earth fading, as soil mixed with sand; steep slopes ceding to low mesas, some covered in the faintest down of green. Beyond, the emptiness of stone desert, she said. Her story-telling shuns western commercially-minded tourism cliches as she delves deep into Moroccos past and present distinctive features describing both what she and her mother feel during their journey. She eloquently zoomed on the genius of Moroccan ancestors in managing scarce resources like water, using the Khettaras, subsurface irrigation channels that have for long kept oasis alive. Her story also smells of mint tea with a diligent description of the making process as she experiences Moroccan hospitality. Three times rinsing the leaves; add muddled fresh mint; three more times, rinsing and pouring, she said as the cloud lifted from the tops of the mountains and the red crescent of the sun cast their summits in relief. Her Morocco immersion was also infused with feelings of love for her mother adding a personal sincere touch and shrouding her journey in Mother-daughter love and the finite character of our experiences with parents. Thank you for this wonderful gift, she quoted her mother as saying in an afternoon. By which she means not just the trip, she continues, but the chance to step into my life for her, an experience as foreign, as meaningful, as Morocco itself, Shollenbarger said. President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo Thursday accused the regional forces deployed in the east of the central African country for cohabitation, except Burundi. Soldiers from Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Burundi have been deployed by the East African Community (EAC) in the east of Congo to back the local army struggling with dozens of rebel groups including M23. Speaking in Beijing (China) to the Congolese diaspora, Tshisekedi slammed the intervening countries expect Burundi, Anadolu news agency reports. There is a kind of collaboration between the East African Community force and the M23 rebels or terrorists, with the exception of the Burundian contingent, which is applying the agreements as they were intended, in the true sense of the word, he said. One example is the intervention of the Burundians when the M23 terrorists began illegally levying taxes in the territories they occupied, he insisted. As for the other armies, cohabitation continues with the M23. Tshisekedi also revealed that he has turned to Southern African countries to send troops to the east of the country. DR Congo has been engulfed in an open-ended conflict with rebels in the east awash with rich natural resources. Several months ago, local people in the restive region had clashed with police as they demanded the departure of the regional contingents that they accused of cohabitation with the rebels. DR Congo has repeatedly finger-pointed neighboring Rwanda for backing M23 but Kigali has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The U.S. and France have also thrown their support behind Kinshasa. China-Laos railway creates opportunities for economic development Xinhua) 11:08, May 26, 2023 Passengers enter the Vientiane Station of the China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) As the China-Laos railway becomes a crucial factor in facilitating travel, the Lao tourism authorities anticipate that around 368,000 Chinese travelers will visit Laos in 2023, up 21 percent compared to 2022. VIENTIANE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China-Laos railway has opened up opportunities for Laos' economic development and boosted the tourism industry in the country, which is its top priority in revitalizing the economy. Lao researchers are optimistic about the growth of the Lao economy, which is projected to expand 4.5 percent in 2023. The economic growth will be driven by the services sector in association with the growth of tourism and processing industries and agricultural production for export, according to a recent report from the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Science (LASES). The reopening of China and the launch of the cross-border China-Laos railway have significantly bolstered regional trade and people-to-people exchanges. Lao staff members greet passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-Laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) The services sector is expected to grow at 4.8 percent in 2023, driven by the recovery of the tourism sector, wholesale and retail trade, restaurant and hotel services and the logistics sector. The China-Laos railway started cross-border passenger services between the Lao capital Vientiane and Kunming, the capital city of southwest China's Yunnan province, on April 13. The first group of Chinese tourists, numbering more than 200 in total, arrived in Laos after traveling on the first cross-border train. Speaking at the launching ceremony of the cross-border train service, Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket said that the Lao government hopes the China-Laos railway will create an economic corridor that generates income for the nation, as well as brings more tourists to Laos from within the region and beyond. The new cross-border train service has been widely advertised internationally, as part of integrated passenger transport services to promote tourism in Laos, which is at the center of ASEAN countries' economic links with China. The railway has handled 13,310 cross-border passenger trips since the launch of its passenger service. As the China-Laos railway becomes a crucial factor in facilitating travel, the Lao tourism authorities anticipate that around 368,000 Chinese travelers will visit Laos in 2023, up 21 percent compared to 2022. The China-Laos railway is a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. The first cross-border passenger train departing from the Lao capital Vientiane to Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, runs on the Ganlanba bridge of the China-Laos railway in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) Meanwhile, the China-Laos railway will lay a new foundation for the introduction of foreign investment, and Laos will take the opportunity to participate in regional and global industrial chains. Since its operation in December 2021, the China-Laos railway has been increasingly used for cross-border transport among countries in the region, thanks to its cost-effective services. The China-Laos railway transported nearly 6.7 million tons of cargo from January to April in 2023, up 156 percent year on year. This has brought the total cargo volume transported by the railway since it began operation to more than 20 million tons. Of the cargo transported, the volume of cross-border transportation topped 4 million tons, worth about 17.7 billion yuan (about 2.54 billion U.S. dollars), according to the China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. In addition, Lao entrepreneurs are exploring more business opportunities brought by the railway. President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) Oudet Souvannavong met a delegation from the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), a joint venture based in the Lao capital Vientiane responsible for the operation of the railway's Lao section, on May 15, to discuss various projects related to business cooperation plans. The Lao business community has been encouraged by sizable profits arising from the use of freight trains of the China-Laos railway. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Egypt is in advanced talks with China for the purchase of around 12 of the latest version of the J-10 Vigorous Dragon multirole combat fighter jet, The New Arab reports. Talks between the two sides started last year and the North African country is expected to send representatives of its Air force to the Chinese state-owned Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group at the International Maritime and Aeronautical Exhibition in Malaysia later this week, the London-based media stressed. J-10 Vigorous Dragon, multirole fighter aircraft, is Chinas latest fourth generation combat aircraft capable of flying at a maximum speed of 2,327km/h at high altitudes. Cairos turning to Beijing for arms deal is likely to anger Washington which is a traditional security partner and provider of $1.3 billion in military aid annually to the Arab country. Egyptian authorities, whose human rights records are slammed in Washington, view the U.S. administration very political. Egypt has also ignored western sanctions against Russia amid its ongoing campaign in neighboring Ukraine. Early this month, leaked US secret documents revealed that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi secretly planned in February to produce rockets for Russia. The Washington Post which saw the documents reported that the Egyptian leader intended to produce 40,000 rockets for the heavily-sanctioned country and instructed officials to keep it a secret to avoid problems with the West. Egyptian authorities denied the report and brushed aside any alleged involvement in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. Egypts position from the beginning is based on non-involvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, the Washington Post quoted Foreign ministry spokesperson, Ahmed Abu Zeid as saying. Tunisias Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar indicated Thursday that the North African country is still in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $1.9-bllion loan, but warned there are red lines not to cross. Tunisia will not break off negotiations with the IMF and its partners, but there is no question of crossing red lines, particularly those linked to the protection of the vulnerable classes and the countrys stability, he told local media Mozaique FM. Tunisia is facing an economic downturn owing to the impact of the pandemic. The country is currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $1.9-billion loan to supplement the national budget facing a deficit of $2 billion. The loan is attached to a string of conditions and reforms rejected by the countrys powerful labor union, UGTT. Ammars remarks echoed those of Social Affairs Minister Malek Ezzahi, earlier this month. Ezzahi indicated that the reforms will not be implemented at the detriment of underprivileged segments of the population. Tunisias President Kais Saied last month indicated that his country will end talks with the IMF and the World Bank that he accused of hijacking the sovereignty of countries. The First Lady of the United States Jill Biden will visit Morocco, part of a coming trip she is making to the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe shortly, her spokesperson Vanessa Valdivia announced on Friday. The Firt Ladys visit to the kingdom is part of a tour of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe which is due to start from next Wednesday, the spokeswoman said. With her visit to the Middle East and North Africa, the First Lady will continue to build on her work to empower young people, and reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our partnerships and advance our shared priorities in the region, the spokesperson wrote on her twitter account. The first lady believes that supporting young people around the world is essential to our shared future, with education, health and empowerment at the heart of it, said her spokeswoman, Vanessa Valdivia. The first lady will also promote the empowerment of women. The tour will also take her to Jordan, Egypt, and Portugal, according to details shared by her office with The Associated Press. In Morocco, Jill Biden will meet with women and youth focusing on U.S. investments that help support education programs and efforts to increase economic opportunity. It will be Jill Bidens first visit to North Africa as First Lady. In February this year, she traveled to Namibia and Kenya. A former South Platte High School employee was sentenced to 20 to 35 years in prison for first degree sexual assault of a child. Foster used his position as an employee of South Platte High School to abuse the minor student, the state attorney general's office said in a press release. According to the release, he confessed and plead guilty to having sexual encounters with an underaged female student. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The annual Memorial Day Program at Fort McPherson National Cemetery offers a sense of gratitude to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. There are a number of area programs set to commemorate the fallen across the area as well. The Fort McPherson ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at the cemetery located two miles south of Interstate 80 at exit 190. The program will feature two speakers, Gold Star Mother Cheryl Schepker, surviving mother of Capt. Dustin Lukasiewicz, and Lincoln County Commissioner Chris Bruns, a Marine veteran. Two flyovers will highlight the program on Monday, the first by the 155th Refueling Wing out of Lincoln, with KC135 Tankers, followed by the national anthem. The second flyover will feature The Pantheon Squadron out of Pueblo, Colorado. The program will include a wreath laying ceremony by several veterans organizations, military honors, the playing of Taps and a release of white doves. At 4 p.m., there will be a program at the 20th Century Veterans Memorial in North Platte. The program will feature Schepker with a flyover by the same airplane groups that are scheduled for the Fort McPherson program. The Wallace American Legion Post No. 213 will host a Memorial Day program at 10:30 a.m. CT, at the Morning View Cemetery. Pastor Shannon Williams will give the prayer and benediction and Emma Matson, Wallace High School co-valedictorian will be the speaker. Jim Smith will be the Master of Ceremonies, and the Legion detail will pay honors with 21-gun salute and taps. Hamburger, beans and chips with an ice cream dessert will be served after the program at the Legion Hall on Main Street in Wallace. A freewill offering is requested for the meal. The public is invited and can view the progress on the Wallace Veterans Memorial wall being erected. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Kearney man died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash northeast of Kearney on Tuesday evening. Around 7 p.m., Buffalo County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to investigate a single-vehicle crash near 160th Street on Poole Road. A southbound pickup had entered the east ditch and struck a power pole. Scott King, 42, was found dead in the road ditch approximately 100 yards from the truck. He is believed to have been the driver of the pickup. The Buffalo County Attorneys Office has ordered an autopsy. The sheriff's office is still investigating. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Six university students will be in the North Platte area for eight weeks, working on community projects and furthering their education at the same time. The students are Rural Fellows within Rural Prosperity Nebraska, a focus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This is the 10th year of the Rural Fellows internship program. The students are part a group of 20 students who will live and work in 10 rural communities across the state from May 31 to July 21. The projects range from public health to downtown creative arts districts. They will make their final presentations in Lincoln on July 28. Maryam Sule, a chemical engineering student at UNL, is assigned to work on projects with Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and the city of Curtis. She is from Bellevue. Two UNL students will work with Lincoln County Fairgrounds on marketing and planning projects. They are applied sciences student Antonio Azpeitia-Lopez of Omaha and integrated science student Laurent Ikuzwe of Kigali, Rwanda. Three students will work on projects with the North Platte city planning and engineering departments. They are Jacob Abaare, a UNL electrical engineering student from Tamale, Ghana; Sonika Khanal, a University of Nebraska Medical Center public health graduate student from Kathmandu, Nepal; and Menli Nepesova, a Waldorf University (Iowa) business management student from Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan. While most students are enrolled at one of the University of Nebraska institutions, this summer two come from universities outside the state Waldorf University and the University of Northern Colorado. This years fellows are ready to hit the ground running, said Helen Fagan, program director. Because the projects are designed by the community and county leaders themselves, the application process for students includes a skills assessment to ensure that communities receive the students best suited to their needs. In the past, students and community leaders connected a few days before the internship began, Fagan said. This year, students have been communicating with their community leaders all semester long. So when the students arrive in their communities on the 31st, theyre already well-versed in the projects theyll be working on and familiar with the team theyll be working with. Our students have got the skills and the drive to make their summers in their communities a success, said Darrell King, the programs community engagement coordinator, and our communities have created some really impactful projects. So the influence these student fellows have will last way longer than just the summer. This year, for the first time, high school students will have a chance to work with the Rural Fellows, too. Two students in Sidney will provide volunteer assistance to fellows Murengezi Ben Atali Benimana and Bobby Coleman in their community development work. Upon completion of their service, the students will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward classes in UNLs College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. As Nebraska becomes more diverse, the good of the community will increasingly rely on drawing from lots of perspectives, Fagan said. This year, 10 of the 20 student fellows are international students. I feel I grow a little more each year in being inclusive, said Terri Haynes, a grant project manager at Educational Service Unit 13 in Chadron, who has participated in the program for four years. For more information about the Rural Fellows program, including the application process and project highlights from previous years, go to ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/rural-fellowship. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Tours on June 9 will show two locations that experienced wildfires during the summers of 2021 and 2022. Presenters will focus on wildfire prevention and recovery. The first tour will begin at 9 a.m. at the Platte River Basin Environments Carter Canyon property near Gering. The second will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Don Lease property near Redington, southwest of Bridgeport. The tours are hosted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the North Platte Natural Resources District, ENVU and Platte River Basin Environments. Speakers are: Mitch Stephenson and Aaron Berger, UNL, welcome, and opening on wildfire recovery on rangelands. Georgette Jordening, NRCS, opportunities to improve recovery following wildfire. Todd Filipi, NPNRD, reseeding fire lines. Derek Sebastian, ENVU, new herbicide options for cheatgrass/annual brome on rangelands. The tour is free, but registration is requested by calling 308-632-1230. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Directions to the first tour at 9 a.m., PRBE Carter Canyon property: Starting from Gering on Nebraska Highway 71, turn west on Carter Canyon Road, then north onto County Road 15 to Robidoux Road, follow Robidoux, and it will turn into Summit Road follow the road to the site. Directions to the first tour at 11:30 a.m., Don Lease property: Starting from Gering on Nebraska Highway 7 south to Nebraska Highway 88, then go east to Road 73, then south about three miles to the site. No chip off the block. Photo: Shannon Finney/Getty Images Joe Biden will almost certainly be the Democrats 2024 nominee, but like most presidents with iffy job-approval numbers, hes dealing with nuisance candidates on the ballot in early states. One of them is 2020 retread Marianne Williamson, a lefty politician with some renown as a self-help author who has an ethereal (or if you wish, spiritual) bent. But Bidens more notable challenger is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; while the heir to the most formidable brand in Democratic politics cant win the nomination, he is drawing the attention of Biden critics on both the left and the right. Many baby-boomers idolized the candidates father, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., who was assassinated while seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968. And many people have an attachment to the Kennedy family, anchored in admiration for John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy as much as for Bobby. So some support for RFK Jr. is likely due to associations that have nothing to do with the eccentric public figure he has become. Unfortunately, most of the limited 2024 Democratic presidential polling available to the public doesnt explore the nature of RFK Jr.s support, such as it is. But now CNN has a poll conducted by SSRS that provides some insights: Within his own party, 60% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say they back Biden for the top of next years Democratic ticket, 20% favor activist and lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and 8% back author Marianne Williamson. Another 8% say they would support an unnamed someone else. Another 44 percent of Democrats and leaners would consider backing Kennedy if they knew more about him. Unfortunately for RFK Jr., it seems voters really dont know who he is, and his support will dwindle once they figure it out. CNN asked respondents to offer their own responses on why they might consider voting for Kennedy. The answers showed how little they knew about his signature anti-vaccination views. Per CNN: Among those who would consider Kennedy, 20% cite his connections to the Kennedy family as the main reason. One said, I liked his dad (RFK) and his uncle (JFK) a lot. I would hope he has a similar mindset. Many suggested they are merely open to learning more: 17% say they just dont know enough about him to rule him out and 10% that they are open-minded and would consider any candidate. One respondent explained they would consider him, Because a reasonable person considers things before making choices. It has nothing to do with RFK himself, just that I wouldnt automatically say no without consideration first. Some say theyd back any Democrat (10%) or anyone who is not Trump (5%). About 1 in 8 (12%) say they would consider him because they support his views or policies and 4% mention his views specifically on environmental issues. Not a word was offered about his views or policies on vaccinations, which notoriously preceded the COVID-19 pandemic, as my colleague Matthew Stieb noted when Kennedy announced his candidacy: The founder of an anti-vaccine organization called Childrens Health Defense, Kennedy Jr. has promoted the disproven claim that vaccines cause autism in children and nearly led a presidential commission on the nonexistent connection in the early Trump years. When the pandemic hit, RFK Jr. hit the useless COVID treatments hard, promoting horse dewormers and anti-malarial pills that dont work. In 2021, he wrote a book called The Real Anthony Fauci, claiming that the former NIAID head pulled off a historic coup detat against Western democracy. At an anti-vaccine rally in Washington, D.C., last year, he compared the COVID-vaccine push tied together with 5G and satellite surveillance to the Holocaust. Should Kennedy get out of the low 20s in Democratic polls nationally or in any early primary state, its likely he will get the exposure necessary to place a low ceiling on his support. Already in the CNN poll, 36 percent of Democratic and Democratic-leaning independents say they would not support RFK Jr. under any circumstances. That number is likely to rise, particularly if Kennedy continues to draw praise mostly from the far right. What does it mean that the incumbent president has drawn two challengers? Not a lot. Kennedy and Williamson are both counting on getting headlines for doing well against Biden in New Hampshire, where the presidents name likely wont be on the ballot because the state is defying the Democratic National Committees calendar for early presidential primaries in 2024. Even if that all transpires, it probably doesnt matter. Back in 1972, incumbent President Richard Nixon had two ostensibly credible opponents in New Hampshire, both of them sitting congressmen (one, Pete McCloskey, opposed the Vietnam War; the other, John Ashbrook, opposed Nixons detente with the Soviet Union). McCloskey won 20 percent of the vote and Ashbrook another 10 percent. Nixon ultimately won 1,347 of 1,348 delegates at the Republican National Convention and went on to win 49 states that November. Nuisance candidates are just that. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images All of the 200 people who work for the New York City Office of Emergency Management are divided into three teams, and one team is on call at any given moment for any manner of disaster that may suddenly befall the city a terrorist attack, a terrible storm, a building collapse. One night earlier this month, Zach Iscol, the citys director of emergency management, was at home on the Upper East Side, putting his kids to bed when the phone rang. It was from one of the on-call teams, saying that a new and unexpected busload of asylum seekers had arrived at the Port Authority. Busloads of migrants had been arriving for months, spiking after May 11 and the expiration of Title 42, the federal directive that kept asylum seekers at bay when COVID was still considered a national health emergency. New York, which alone among American cities has a right-to-shelter law that guarantees a bed for a night to everyone who needs one, had been scrambling to find placement for the hundreds of people arriving every day. The citys existing, inadequate and woefully underfunded shelter system had long ago been exhausted by not just migrants but a record number of native New Yorkers, and so members of the Adams administration had been scrambling to jury-rig alternatives Orchard Beach, and when that caused an uproar, a shuttered correctional facility on Rikers Island, and when that caused one too, half-empty hotels or any building with empty square footage, such as midtown office buildings left dark since commuters stopped coming to midtown. But now they were at last out of options. There were no buildings or beds left, yet still people were coming, with the shelter system in danger of collapse. And the only sites that the city could use were ones it owns, so nothing belonging to the state, the federal government, or private landlords was on offer. A police chief on the call mentioned that there was a police-academy facility in Murray Hill sitting empty. By midnight, Iscol was there, and by 1:30 in the morning, Mayor Eric Adams had shown up. It was, by chance, the police academy where he trained. It was, he said, smaller than he remembered, and he pointed them to a room upstairs that the OEM staffers hadnt gotten to yet: a cafeteria, a place where they might be able to cram a few more cots. And so it has gone for the past several weeks in New York City, and so it will likely will continue for the foreseeable future, a day-by-day, hour-by-hour scramble to meet a human catastrophe that is the product of a dozen global and national circumstances but is landing here. There is no end in sight to what could become the defining crisis of Adamss first term in office. People involved in dealing with the crush of new arrivals coming to the city altogether numbering nearly 70,000, larger than the city of Sante Fe or Palo Alto, few of whom speak English and all of whom are prohibited from working talk about it as if it were a natural disaster like a hurricane, but one that never stops to allow for cleanup and just keeps hammering the shore. Senior administration officials keep a massive Airtable document that includes a list of potential sites and their attributes: who owns them, how many can sleep there, etc. A number of sites that city officials thought were theirs turned out to have been merely leased from the state or federal government. Some landlords see a way to make a quick buck off their vacant properties, volunteering their buildings only to have their insurance companies refuse to indemnify them. There need to be sites for single men and women and sites for families. Places for city aid workers to operate out of in order to help migrants navigate the maze of asylum bureaucracy and find a better place to live. Proximity to public transportation is helpful. Last year, administration officials looked into utilizing the Brooklyn cruise-ship terminal but couldnt get access to it because it was the middle of cruise season. They tried to set up a tent city in Orchard Beach but eventually realized the time and money required to mitigate the flooding that occurred there meant it wasnt worth it. They tried Randalls Island next, but that meant building everything from scratch generators, HVAC, plumbing, laundry, kitchens at a cost of $16 million by one estimation, to be borne with almost no help from the federal government. They tried to put asylum seekers in a high-school gymnasium that was unused because the school didnt have a gym teacher, but after a parent uproar, they backed down. There is no good place to be doing this, Iscol said. Theres just not. Every single site we go to I can tell you all the problems. Its a five-dimensional puzzle youre solving for. Youre solving for transportation, youre solving for community needs, youre solving for economic impact. Youre solving for infrastructure, HVAC systems. You go into one site that seems ideal say, a huge warehouse that hasnt been used and the water is not turned on, and you think you just have to turn the water on, but the water hasnt been turned on since 2019 and suddenly theres leaks everywhere. Even though the crush of migrants at the border has been less than was expected after the expiration of Title 42, the tide of people coming to the city has increased. City officials say they are seeing asylum seekers coming to New York not from the border but from elsewhere in the country, having heard about the citys guarantee of shelter and the services available to them. Earlier this month, Camille Joseph Varlack, the mayors chief of staff, wrote on a Sunday night to the head of every city agency that by Monday evening, they needed to present a list of sites that could be repurposed for migrants. City Council members have been asked to scour their district for possibilities. A member of the FDNY brass was driving past a shuttered Toys R Us off the Belt Parkway and that got added to the list of potential sites. Despite criticism that the administration was ill-prepared for this inevitability, and even though the citys housing czar abruptly resigned this week, inside City Hall, the past few weeks have been viewed as a success. More than 150 sites have been found over the past year, including 120 hotels. Beyond what they see on the news, few New Yorkers have likely even noticed. There are always so many things going on in New York City, you can tell people we are in this crisis and most of them react like, What are you talking about? Its Tuesday, everything is fine, said Anne Williams-Isom, the deputy mayor for health and human services. I am trying to see how to say this without patting myself on the back, but to have 65,000 people come into a system and not have anybody sleep on the streets, that doesnt happen by happenstance; it happens day by day. What are the projections? Where are we going to put people? Whats the staffing like? How do we make sure it gets done? What are the numbers? The mayor has been quite clear that this is part of who we are and our administration is going to have to deal with crises. This wont be the only one. And we have to make sure that the city runs in the way that it needs to run. It is not hard to see in the midst of all of this a mayor who is not letting a crisis go to waste. Eric Adams came into office promising to cut through some of the citys sclerotic bureaucracy, and he has used the occasion to ask the courts to suspend the right-to-shelter law and to do away with zoning laws that prevented new shelters from being built. He has tried to convert office buildings and hotels into housing but been largely stymied; now, with thousands of migrants moving into those spaces anyway, he may finally get his wish. Still, this is a crisis that is bound to get worse. A report from the citys Office of Management and Budget said that the crisis would cost the city a total of $4.2 billion just by next year, the rough equivalent of building 70 new schools. Last week, the city announced a deal to reopen the Roosevelt, a grand, century-old hotel that has been dark since 2020, housing upwards of 200 migrant families there at just over $200 a night, a cost paid by the city. New arrivals are given a COVID shot and any other vaccinations they may lack, then meet with caseworkers who try to get them on their way, connecting them with lawyers who can help navigate their asylum case and with relatives they may barely know who have stable housing elsewhere in the country. Nearly 40 percent of those who have come into this system have moved out, but the city is preparing for this new population to mostly settle in the city. I am as anxious now as I have ever been since this started, said Brendan McGuire, the chief counsel to the mayor. I would have thought that almost a full year into this, there would be some kind of intervention outside the city, some kind of governmental plan from Washington, but there isnt. We are just out here on our own. Beyond appealing to the federal government for money and to direct migrants elsewhere, the city is seeking help from the state and from other municipalities, even promising to pay those cities for the costs incurred. Eventually, though, we are going to run out of room, perhaps within the next month. There will be no more buildings, no more beds, no space for anyone, and the system will finally be breached, our capacity to handle this crisis finally overwhelmed. Williams-Isom wouldnt say when that day would come, or what it would look like, or what would happen next. She only knew that unless something is done, it is coming, for sure. Photo: Nick Wagner/AP Texas attorney general Ken Paxton is facing impeachment as a Republican-led state house committee filed more than a dozen charges over allegations of workplace retaliation and misuse of his office to benefit a personal friend. The Texas Tribune reports that a panel voted unanimously on Thursday to file articles of impeachment against Paxton to the full chamber. If charged by the House, he will be suspended from his position pending a full trial in the Senate under Texas law, which would allow the governor to appoint an interim replacement. The 20 articles of impeachment laid out numerous charges including constitutional bribery, disregard of official duty, misapplication of public resources, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. The house committee heard three hours of testimony the day prior from investigators looking into the various claims made against Paxton. Paxton has been accused of retaliation by four former employees who reported a series of accusations against Paxton to law enforcement, resulting in their firings. They alleged Paxton used his office to benefit his friend Nate Paul, a real-estate developer, in several legal matters. Paul, reportedly, in turn made a $25,000 donation to Paxtons political operation, helped to renovate Paxtons home, and even hired a woman that Paxton was allegedly having an affair with on his recommendation, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Paxton later agreed to a $3.3 million settlement with the four whistleblowers, a sum that will likely be paid with taxpayer dollars. The impeachment charges also concern a securities fraud case that Paxton has been under indictment for since 2015. He has yet to stand trial for it as the case has undergone a series of appeals. In a statement, Paxton accused the committee of asking the state house to overturn the results of a free and fair election. It 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. Paxton served in both the state house and senate before running for attorney general in 2014 after Greg Abbott, the incumbent, sought to become governor. Hes held the office for three terms, most recently beating George P. Bush in a 2022 runoff after being boosted by Donald Trumps endorsement. Paxton was also heavily involved in the push to overturn the results of the 2020 election, suing key battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania alleging fraud and asking the court to void their results. The Supreme Court ultimately declined to hear the case. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Auburn and Opelika have each planned a special Memorial Day event on Monday to honor our nations heroes. Starting at 8 a.m., the City of Auburn will host the 23rd annual Mayors Memorial Day Breakfast at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Tickets for the event are $25 a person or $250 for a table of 10. They can be purchased at Auburn City Hall at 144 Tichenor Ave. A free memorial wreath laying ceremony will follow the breakfast at 10 a.m. at the Auburn Veterans Memorial Monument at the northeast corner of Ross Street and Glenn Avenue. Attendees are encouraged to park at the Douglas J. Watson Municipal Complex, Felton Little Park and the East Glenn Avenue Municipal Parking Lot. Ross Street between Glenn and Harper avenues and Glenn Avenue between Burton and North Debardeleben streets will be closed during the ceremony to provide room for on-street accessible parking. We believe that its our duty to remind our community about the sacrifices and the efforts that these men and women have made on our behalf to allow us to have the freedoms that we enjoy, such as having a day off of work on Memorial Day, Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said. Most importantly, were recognizing and remembering those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Starting at 10 a.m., the City of Opelika will host Memorial Day Services at the Courthouse Square to honor and remember military heroes who fought for our countrys freedom as well as give support to the families who lost loved ones in the line of service. After the service, the Museum of East Alabama will host a reception for the public. In case of rain, the 10 a.m. services will be moved to the Municipal Court Building at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd. Memorial Day is a time for me and fellow citizens to reflect and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said. Its important that we never, ever forget the courage and valor of those that gave their lives to defend the freedom and values we hold dear. Mayors Memorial Day Breakfast in Auburn At the Mayors Memorial Day Breakfast in Auburn, the City will recognize retired Navy Capt. Dick Phelan as the guest of honor and the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Veteran Award. Each year, the Auburn Veterans Committee selects an individual with close ties to the City of Auburn who has served honorably in the U.S. Military and who has had an exceptionally distinguished military or civilian career, reflecting great credit on Auburn and the military services to receive the Distinguished Veteran award, said Cynthia Williford Bean, the public affairs multimedia specialist for the City of Auburn. Phelan served in the Navy for 27 years, retired in 1991 and still lives in Auburn with his wife Edna. His last station in the Navy was in Auburn as a professor of naval science and the commanding officer of the Naval ROTC program. After retiring, Phelan began a second career in financial planning with Wilson Investment Group. He also served on several Auburn civic organizations, including the Auburn Veterans Committee, and served on the Auburn City Council for 16 years. During eight of those years, he served as the mayor pro tem for former Mayor Bill Ham. Mayor Anders said he knows Phelan personally and that he deserves to receive this special recognition on Monday. Dick Phelan is someone that I have looked up to, Anders said. Hes the ultimate servant. He served his country through his time as a Navy pilot, he made sacrifices to provide that service for our county and in retirement he has served our community very well as a four term member of the Auburn City Council and an eight year mayor pro tem. At the breakfast, the City will also present the Auburn Heroes Remembered Award to the family of Air Force Capt. Randal Hudon. Hudon served in the Air Force for 10 years. Afterwards, he joined BellSouth Corporation as a corporate pilot and eventually retired as a certified aviation manager in 2007. He then created his own company, Aviation Leadership Group, which provides leadership, strategic planning and management consulting for business in the aviation industry. On Oct. 29, 2020, Hudon passed away after battling colon cancer for several years. Throughout his life, Hudon has stayed connect to the Auburn community. He received a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship to Auburn University where he earned a bachelors degree in aviation management. He was often a guest speaker for the Auburn Air Force ROTC students after he graduated, he chaired the Auburn University Aviation Management Advisory Council for several years and he was an advocated for the Aviation Management Department at Auburn University. Hudon and his wife Cindy moved back to Auburn in 2018. Opelika Memorial Day Services Opelika has a proud history and tradition of honoring soldiers as well as their families on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Fuller said. Monday we will once again honor the memory of those that gave their lives. Starting at 10 a.m. at the Courthouse Square, Mayor Fuller will welcome those in attendance followed by a prayer by First Baptist Church Opelika kids ministry pastor Paul Dunbar, guest speaker Todd Rauch, a presentation of colors and laying of the wreath by Opelika Fire Department and music and TAPS. Rauch is a retired United States Army Military Police Officer who currently serves on the Opelika City Council, representing Ward 5. His wife Ali Rauch is the president and CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. During Rauchs time in the Army, he was named Soldier of the Year for the 18th Military Police Brigade in Giessen, Germany. During his subsequent deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rauch was awarded the Purple Heart after surviving a mortar attack and helping to save the lives of his fellow soldiers, on August 21, 2003, according to a news release from the City. He suffered extreme trauma and wounds to his right hand and shoulder, and a gunshot wound to his right leg. While at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., Rauch served as a spokesperson and advocate for wounded Veteran programs like Coalition Salute Americas Heroes and Help Hospitalized Veterans, which provide resources, programs and therapeutic care for wounded service members returning from combat, according to the release. Later, Rauch medically retired from the Army, earned his Associate Degree in Psychology from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill. and earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Auburn University in 2010. He worked with the U.S. Armys Aviation & Missile Command as an Intelligence Specialist before moving back to Opelika where he began his time in non-profits and public service. Holy shit Reply Thread Link Im surprised he was so throughly exonerated. Not because its not what should happen (like what the fuck is this conviction. Just say its cause he was black and scary looking to a traumatized victim, its less words and we all know its the truth of the matter) but because the justice system hates to admit when they locked up the wrong man. That he didnt have to agree to not sue and wasnt released under a we arent saying hes innocent, were just done locking him up pretense is amazing Reply Thread Link Hes been out of jail for the better part of 20 years I think, he served 16 years starting in the 80s, so they couldnt use his release as leverage against him Reply Parent Thread Link Disgusting human being. Not even an apology for stealing a fraction of his life away? She made so much money off of TLB, she owes him her funds. Can he sue? Reply Thread Link I dont know how it works if he can sue her but he for sure needs to sue the hell out of the city/police. Reply Parent Thread Link Wow. I am incredibly shocked and so angry right now. I loved the lovely bones and did read lucky, i always was on edge when her dad jumped out of the car being racist after passing a group of Black men on their way to her college or whatever. Good on this producer, Im happy but sad that his life was disrupted like this. I hope he sues her and fuck this bitch with her no comment. Reply Thread Link i read the book too and one thing that always stuck out to me was when the moment when she's asked to identify him in the courtroom and she wrote something like "i said he was the man wearing a blue shirt/suit and i was proud that i'd publicly identified him based on his clothing and not the colour of his skin" Reply Parent Thread Link Wow I hope he sues her and the city and wins. Not like money could fix the time stolen from him, but it is the very least that he deserves. Also, good on that producer. I would legit read a book about that. Reply Thread Link Well, this is extremely disturbing. That book was devastating, but there was at least the knowledge that the attacker was put behind bars. (Which as we all know is extremely rare in sa cases.) But the perpetrator has actually been free this whole time, and an innocent man had years of his life taken away. How awful all around. Reply Thread Link This awful woman ruining an innocent mans life and cant even give a fucking comment. I bought this book years ago. I need to burn it. Reply Thread Link I wonder what this is like for her. She's spent all of this time probably hating and despising this man, taking years to recover etc. Now the real perpetrator is out there still and her career success is built on the book about her rape and the person she blamed is innocent? I feel for her and for the innocent person whose life was taken away. The whole thing just seems awful. Reply Thread Link I feel sorry for her that her abuser is still out there but from what I'm reading....it sounds like she was aware that the guy who ended up going to jail...was most likely not her attacker. It's mentioned that she couldn't identify him in the lineup and that a cop encouraged her to pick someone else. By picking someone else.....you are aware that you are condemning a man to something they didn't do. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah I think it would be a really different story if she truly thought all along this was the man who did it and had been able to identify him in a lineup. Theres a reason cases shouldnt be solely based on ids because people in high stress/trauma situations cant always correctly identify who it was. So I could accept if she had truly believed it and identified him and been pushed by the cops. But seeing that she couldnt do that and that she went along with just picking someone when encouraged by the cops is bullshit. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Oh wow. Okay, that's scummy as Hell, then. Reply Parent Thread Link "Sebold wrote in Lucky that when she was informed that shed picked someone other than the man shed previously identified as her rapist, she said the two men looked almost identical. She wrote that she realized the defense would be that: A panicked white girl saw a black man on the street. He spoke familiarly to her and in her mind she connected this to her rape. She was accusing the wrong man. So she went with it anyway??? The article also mentions that he later got married with a woman who believed his innocence but he refused to have kids because they didn't want to bring kids into this world with that stigma on his back and pass it to them!! She and those cops ruined his life OMG! Reply Thread Link Ah well you know, black people all look the same so close enough is good enough in a court of law. Reply Parent Thread Link Uhm, WOW. I read Lucky and thought it was very powerful (I was also very young when I read it). Wasn't his cousin or brother the person she identified in the line up? I also thought they had actual DNA, not hair "science" what the fuck. And the person who blew this open was someone making a movie based on the book? Jesus. That actually takes some integrity unless he was just worried about things coming to a head after the movie was made/released? Reply Thread Link The guy who blew the case open- Tim Mucciante- had a ton of integrity. He was hired as an executive producer for the movie. As he prepared for the shoot, he was comparing the book to the script when he started to notice that the story in the book didn't really add up. He quit the production, hired a private investigator/former detective to help him look into the investigation and identify sloppy police work, and then they took the findings to the lawyer who ended up representing Broadwater in court. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh my god Reply Parent Thread Link That is amazing we need more like him. Reply Parent Thread Link This is devastating. Even after he married a woman who believed in his innocence, Broadwater never wanted to have children. We had a big argument sometimes about kids, and I told her I could never, ever allow kids to come into this world with a stigma on my back, he said. Reply Thread Link This actually reminds me a lot of Thomas Haynesworth who was exonerated after 27 years in prison for the rape of a white woman after the victim saw him walking down the street and became convinced he was her attacker. Theres an episode of The Innocence Files about him and the case. It talks a lot about how unreliable the human memory is, but especially when trauma is added and then throw in how unreliable it is for people to be able to identify others outside of their race in a line up.. Im so glad that producer took a look into the vase and hired a private investigator. Its seriously frightening how many people, especially black people, who are still locked up for crimes they didnt commit due to unreliable eyewitness testimony and they just dont have the social capital and $$$ to get someone to look at their case. Reply Thread Link I dont think it was a rape case, but I was in a jury pool for criminal court a few years ago and got dismissed because I truthfully told the judge that I couldnt convict on eyewitness testimony alone because we know now that its so frequently not correct. Im kinda surprised the justice system still tries to use it when we hear of so many cases where (even if someone isnt doing it purposely or even with awareness) the witnesses are wrong. Reply Parent Thread Link Eyewitness accounts are so flawed it is scary! I definitely have a terrible time noticing people's faces, clothes, etc., so I am sure I would be the worst in remembering vital details. Reminds me of: Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is not at all on the same level as these stories, BUT when I worked at a Waffle House on the night shift I was robbed one night (don't worry, this is one of my many Funny Waffle House Stories, it was a mildly upsetting experience at worst). I saw the woman who did it VERY clearly and tried to make note of what she looked like and when I was telling the cops later I was very aware of all the ways I could tell I was forgetting small details. It was very strange seeing in action how unreliable memory really is. You remember broad, generalized impressions but the specific details often don't stick (which I guess makes sense - from an evolutionary standpoint, you need to remember "tiger bad" not the actual exact pattern of the tiger's stripes). Also an education in how much cops suck. They listened to my story, drove off and came back with a random woman they picked up god knows where who was superficially similar to the woman I had described, and were like "is this her?" LIKE...c'mon you clowns. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah theres a reason a case shouldnt solely be based around an identification. And I know Im this case they had hair analysis which in those days they believed was reliable vs how we look at it today but the id(which wasnt even clean) was basically the major point Reply Parent Thread Link Sebold failed to identify him in a police lineup, picking a different man as her attacker because the expression in his eyes told me that if we were alone, if there were no wall between us, he would call me by name and then kill me. S I had to google what race this woman was. I didn't need to, but I wanted my suspicion confirmed. Reply Thread Link And to think my 9th grade teacher would only let us watch this version because she thought the 1996 one was the indecent one. WHOS LAUGHING NOW?! (In all seriousness this is awful, I hope they win and that theyre both OK) Reply Thread Link Teachers are so clueless sometimes. I remember how our teacher didn't want to take us to see Titanic bc they were having sex but once suggested we watch Eyes Wide Shut. LMAO She clearly didn't know anything about the movie, just that it was Stanley Kubrick. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I hope it wasnt a film-class teacher because the fact that its a Kubrick movie shouldve been enough lmao Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ah yes, nothing says school-friendly like graphic orgies Reply Parent Thread Link I've been wanting to get into Kubrick lately since any screen cap I've seen of his movies look stunning..the ones I want to watch are Barry Lyndon and 2001, but as someone who's never seen any of his films...which of his films are the greatest starting point? Do I just watch the 2 I want? Or do I start from the beginning and work my way to the end? This wouldn't be hard as he didn't make many movies. Also do I just blind buy some of his blu rays or do I set out on the seven seas and watch them on my phone as a test run? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link LMAO WTF.. Eyes Wide Shut is soooo much more than a single pair of titties Reply Parent Thread Link NOT EYES WIDE SHUT LMFAOOO Reply Parent Thread Link Hah! We watched both versions when I was in high school, lots of snickering at the nude seasons scene in the older version. Not that you could really make out much on the 19" TV on the AV cart. Edited at 2023-01-04 01:44 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i loved when we got to watch this. no one in the class would shut up about how much this romeo dude looked like zach efron, that was it that was the whole lesson. i became absolutely obsessed with olivia hussey and her smoking 15 year old interviews. few things made more of an impact on teen me, and in school of all places. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I know this version is allowable in Catholic schools because they have sex AFTER they are married so its considered all above board Reply Parent Thread Link I envy y'all, all my teachers ever put on for us to watch was Friends and birth videos. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lol my 9th grade teacher had us watching the Leo DiCaprio version Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I had a teacher that wanted to show us Quest for Fire. I think the only reason he never showed it was he couldn't find a copy lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I distinctly remember watching this in high school english class and looking back on it now I'm like *vine voice* what the fuck. is that allowed? is that allowed?? Reply Parent Thread Link we watched this one too and my teacher was trying so hard to cut around the nudity lmao we did see some clips of the 1996 one though, just to compare them a bit Edited at 2023-01-04 02:58 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Lol the nuns in my school used to gast forward through the scene in the Goonies where they break thr penis off the statue Reply Parent Thread Link We got to watch both, but the teenage guys were obsessed with the 1968 version because boobs Reply Parent Thread Link I make sure I only show the Baz version and always fight my boomer colleagues on this, lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I vividly remember my 9th grade teacher exasperatedly going THEY'RE HUSBAND AND WIFE, THEY'RE LEGALLY MARRIED over the sex scene. Reply Parent Thread Link My mom showed this to a high school class when she was a substitute but I can't remember which grade. She said she was taken aback because seemingly the whole class was utterly scandalized by the nudity, which she hadn't known about. Her words as I recall them were, "They showed his total butt and all the kids screamed and covered their eyes." I only remember that because who tf says "total butt" and so I'm not sure how they reacted to the boobs. Reply Parent Thread Link a friend of mine watched REQUIEM FOR A DREAM in 8th grade. clearly the teachers didnt even know what the hell was gonna happen Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah i'm confused we watched this in school too--I do not recall this nudity! Reply Parent Thread Link ...meanwhile we went to see Moulin Rouge with the school... also, my lit teacher actually gave us "watch shakespear in love" as homework when we started studying that period (but she specified the main reason was to learn about how the theater worked in that period, with only men being permitted to act, etc). Reply Parent Thread Link I cant even believe Im seeing thread of the year material four days into the year, thank you for this Reply Parent Thread Expand Link reading all of these I suddenly feel a little better about the time someone in our school's AV club accidentally played a few seconds of Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend on a few publicly facing monitors. Reply Parent Thread Link We watched this version in 9th grade but my teacher had taped over the nude scene with a clip from a football game, which prompted some guy in my class to shout "This is [teacher]'s idea of a good sex scene, a bunch of guys getting slammed from behind." He got detention lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i... had no idea they were that young. what the fuck. how what that even allowed!? Reply Thread Link The director wanted actors close the the ages of the characters. Reply Parent Thread Link Good, theres no reason for them to be naked in that film. I dont remember much of it since the first/last time I saw it was in 2000, but I remember our whole class being enthralled by how beautiful they both looked. Oh and my teacher standing in front of the tv for spicy scenes. Reply Thread Link he looks like HSM Zac Efron he looks like HSM Zac Efron Reply Parent Thread Link I love how this was DECADES ago but her eye brows are trendy again!!!! Its crazy how fashion and trends really do just repeat; the crazy thin eyebrows from the mid to late 90s and early 2000s were seen a century ago in the 1920s. Reply Parent Thread Link Shes so beautiful. I know shes well known for her beauty in the west but it kills me shes basically permanently A-list status in East Asia. I remember first getting into kpop like 12 years ago and was just confused about why the actress in the one movie I saw in English class was referenced so much. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I remember watching this in 9th grade but have no recollection of nudity?? I wonder if our teacher stopped the film before we got to that part Reply Thread Link The only nudity I remember is very briefly seeing the tip of his (flaccid obviously) dick and possibly his crack when he crawls out of bed the morning after. The only reason I remember it is because it was the first time I saw male nudity in a movie. I don't remember her nudity at all, but it could be there. Reply Parent Thread Link She briefly flashes her breasts in one scene, and I remember it because we watched it in 8th grade and the boys in the class would NOT shut up about it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I saw it in 9th grade and was jealous of her breasts. Reply Parent Thread Link i watched this first in the 8th grade and was surprised they showed nudity because the two actors looked young as hell (i didn't know how young at the time), but of course zeffrelli got away with it They are seeking damages believed to be in excess of $500 million. i'm sure paramount will settle but i doubt they'll get anywhere near that much. but i hope they get some retribution Edited at 2023-01-04 01:33 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link think that's normal? You ask for way above leaving room for it to be negotiated to what you actually want. Reply Parent Thread Link oh yeah definitely, but i'm just imagining some paramount execs sweating because they finally made money from top gun after years of flops only to lose it all because of some old asshole filmmaker lmao Reply Parent Thread Link The director is dead so he won't get any shit for this Reply Thread Link bastard lived for 96 years fuck Reply Parent Thread Link Of course he did. Damn it why do all the worst people live forever Reply Parent Thread Link Allegations of sexual assault Director Bruce Robinson claimed to have been the target of unwanted amorous attention from Zeffirelli during the filming of Romeo and Juliet, in which Robinson played Benvolio. Robinson says that he based the lecherous character of Uncle Monty in the film Withnail and I on Zeffirelli.[40] In 2018, the American actor Johnathon Schaech alleged that Zeffirelli sexually assaulted him during the filming of Sparrow (Storia di una capinera, 1993).[41] Zeffirelli's son Giuseppe "Pippo", adopted by the filmmaker as an adult, issued a statement at the time denying the allegation.[42][43] Zeffirelli received criticism from religious groups for what they call the blasphemous representation of biblical figures in his films.[35] Contrariwise, Zeffirelli roused accusations of antisemitism for describing Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ as a product of "that Jewish cultural scum of Los Angeles which is always spoiling for a chance to attack the Christian world."[36] Zeffirelli was a highly conservative Catholic,[36] and served two terms in the Italian senate as a member of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party.[37] He was criticized by members of the gay community for upholding the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality[35][36][37] and by others for support of the Church's position on abortion,[36][37] which extended to calling for capital punishment for women who had terminated a pregnancy.[37] He roused controversy again when he told a newspaper in 2006 that he had not suffered any harm from sexual abuse by a priest as a child.[36] Reply Parent Thread Expand Link kissinger death watch 2023 idk how that evil fuck isnt dead yet. Reply Parent Thread Link During MeToo Johnathon Schaech said that Zefirelli sexually assaulted him. He is for sure roasting on a rotisserie in hell. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I remember we watched it in middle school and when that scene happened my teacher ran to the tv to cover it up with his notebook. I didn't find out till years later how old they were and I thought it was so wrong. I hope they win their lawsuit. Reply Thread Link We only watched ~select~ scene from this version in my Baptist high school, lol. And tbh, even outside of a school setting I only had eyes for the Leo and Claire version so I never went out of my way to watch the 1968 movie. So like I had a vague knowledge that there was some content from this filmed deemed inappropriate by my religious school, but whoa. Did not know it was teens doing full on nudity. Reply Thread Link Flashbacks to my 9th grade teacher trying to cover up the nude scene (I think she forgot about it). I don't know why this play is even taught in school. Reply Thread Link They were aged 15 and 16 during the filming. The director blatantly lied to them. So awful to be exploited and violated that way. Reply Thread Link I remember watching this in 9th or 10th grade where we watch both this version and the 96 version (idk remember why, I think maybe for comparison or something) and when the nude scene came all the boys in the classroom but one didn't want to see watch the scene. Either way that fucked up and hope that the both of them win the lawsuit. Reply Thread Link She was 15 when cast and he was 16, at that age they probably put a lot of trust in the director to have it be so violated is terrible. Reply Thread Link Not the us public education system subjecting all of us to non consenting nude teens. I think I saw this in high school around 08? Reply Thread Link I saw it in 1998! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm another one that watched this in high school, probably 9th grade and my teacher covered the tv during the nudity. (I only really remember his butt being shown) I wish them the best. Edited at 2023-01-04 01:49 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link She is obviously naked but her hair barely and strategically covers her nipple, idk I always though it was "bold" and wondering how their parents let them do it so them being tricked into it totally checks Edited at 2023-01-04 01:52 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I hate the future Reply Thread Link AI is absolutely going to be the death of real actual art. Reply Thread Link The one thing I stupidly thought was safe... Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe it's the Trekkie in me, but I've always struggled to grasp this outlook regarding technological advancement. It's human nature to adapt. AI will likely dominate the arts initially, and that will be a very rocky path, but it's not unreasonable to imagine a future where artists (driven by creativity, one would assume) would find innovative ways to collaborate with or ingeniously challenge AI's influence. Reply Parent Thread Link Holy hera, the comments here are so gloom and doom! I don't belong, lol Reply Parent Thread Link Artists will be able to adapt but artists don't run industry, execs do. So, if a studio or record label head wants a particular visual/sound churned out quickly + for cheap, they'll opt for AI. Reply Parent Thread Link You raise a fair point. I think that responsible consumerism will need to play a pivotal role in discouraging the financial success of those business practices. Given our interconnectedness, constantly gathering information online, it's possible for us to progress towards that. The current landscape appears bleak; learning to navigate the complexities of online existence is its own obstacle. But! I believe in the potential for us to collectively adapt and prosper, even if I don't personally get to witness it in my lifetime. Reply Parent Thread Link and you bet they can sell it in a way that you wouldn't even know its made by AI or make the AI-made music that people want if it makes a lot of money never underestimate corporate greed Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like AI is ruining everything I care about the most and it's kind of devastating. Of all the twisted bullshit the internet has led to, I could kind of foresee the death of real human interaction, the rise of misinformation in ubiquity, the fast radicalization of pre-existing prejudicial extremism, but I didn't predict that art itself would be dismantled and corrupted. This really is the darkest timeline... Reply Thread Link So AI gets to be creative while humans grind themselves to death. Fucking Capitalism. Reply Thread Link This doesn't bode well for the writer's strike. Or really, anything. Reply Thread Link Sounds like something they will use to somehow have an excuse not to pay artists. I am sure they dont just do it out of good heart Reply Thread Link This sucks. Reply Thread Link I hope theres a law that requires artists to indicate when a song or any art form is ai assisted. Reply Thread Link they need to hurry it up because its already starting Reply Parent Thread Link I have seen a lot of youtubers advertise this and I had no idea it was AI-related. I thought they had pre-recorded tracks by actual artists. Reply Thread Link This is going to bomb before it takes off. In this form, at the very least. Reply Thread Link This is cursed as hell Reply Thread Link Tis the future Reply Thread Link I read it as AI-assassinated music at first and I guess I wasn't wrong Reply Thread Link A peek at the future if every artist in every creative field across the world doesn't band together to burn AI theft to the ground https://t.co/v5zMAiILGS Samuel Deats (@SamuelDeats) May 26, 2023 Illustrators warned you. Reply Thread Link i truly hate this Reply Thread Link Watching Carole and Tuesday back in 2019, I never thought something like this would ever happen :( Edited at 2023-05-26 06:44 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Interesting that the man she sent to jail for 16 years isn't mentioned by name in the title. Reply Thread Link girl. i know. i have a lot of issues which i tried to keep out of the post but i really don't like how this ultimately is still centering alice above everything. it's still mostly about her, her feelings, her life and not as much about him as it should be. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh sorry maybe I shouldn't have said anything about it here. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I feel like this is a criticism that gets thrown around a lot, not about this article specifically but any article where the individuals name isnt in the headline, but its just not how effective headlines are written, whether you personally agree or not. Only well-known names are going to be used in a headline because that will draw a reader in, but an unknown person, or not well-enough known that the average reader is going to have any context who they are or why they are relevant, isnt going to have their name in a headline. Like Ive seen complaints about headlines titled Springfield middle-schooler takes home top prize in astrophysics for not naming the kid, but quite frankly Sally Smith takes home top prize doesnt mean anything to anyone because no one knows who Sally Smith is or why the reader should care about her winning a prize or why it is interesting that she did. The headline is meant to grab attention to get readers to read the article, it is not meant to replace all the details you would gather by reading the article. It is simply is a basic rule of headlines to not use unrecognized names in headlines, and Anthony Broadwater is not a sufficiently recognizable name to the average reader. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i havent read the profile yet but just seeing these giant white lady faces on the front page of ontd is annoying me, especially hers Reply Thread Link I watched The Lovely Bones for the first time a couple weeks ago and, woof. Huge waste of Rachel Weisz and Michael Imperioli. Reply Thread Link ...she was in that?! Reply Parent Thread Link She played the mom and acted circles around Marky Mark, lol Reply Parent Thread Link I think you mean Mark Walburg. Edited at 2023-05-26 10:52 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Hope this awful film funded something spectacular in Michaels apartment! Reply Parent Thread Link Stanley Tucci tho >>> Ate everyone Reply Parent Thread Link The assistant district attorney, Gail Uebelhoer, was a thirty-one-year-old pregnant woman whom Sebold saw as another role model, her guide through a court system dominated by men. Sebold felt that she had failed Uebelhoer. But, Sebold writes in Lucky, Uebelhoer reassured her that her mistake was understandable. Of course you chose the wrong one, Uebelhoer said. He and his attorney worked to make sure youd never have a chance. She said that Broadwater had intentionally duped her by asking an almost identical-looking friend from jail to stand in the No. 5 spot and stare at her, to scare and fluster her. (In fact, Broadwater was not friends with the man in the No. 5 spot, and they did not look the same.) In a memo, Uebelhoer wrote that Sebold had chosen the wrong man because he was a dead ringer for defendant. I don't even know what to fucking say. Reply Thread Link the manipulation is so fucking blatant! Reply Parent Thread Link It was horrible to read the book, knowing what happened and seeing how the system set her up to pick the wrong man. Reply Parent Thread Link he was released and became obsessed with surveillance to prove he was never up to anything untoward This made me think of that man who was found innocent of murder bc there was footage of him on the taping of a TV show. This whole story is so incredibly sad. Better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer indeed. Reply Thread Link "This made me think of that man who was found innocent of murder bc there was footage of him on the taping of a TV show The Curb Your Enthusiasm episode?? That was WILD!! Reply Parent Thread Link yes! Who would've thought that CYE would literally save someone's life, it's crazy. Reply Parent Thread Link Now I'm reminded of the man who said he could not be the killer in a case because at almost the exact same time he was at a Wal-Mart like 20 miles (32.1km) away. The cops & DA didn't believe him, but he had a receipt with the time and date. So his lawyer went to that store & got the security video that showed him in the store shopping for at least 15-20 minuets while the murder was going on. Reply Parent Thread Link I think this happened with someone at a baseball game too. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link OH! Like that was his alibi? That's insane, wow. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "unfortunately, anthony was conned: the producer who investigated his claims was also an previously convicted con man lawyer who anthony sold his rights to. however, he found that the man was conning him again, and cut off ties" OMG!!! When your savior turns out to be a lowkey grifter! How crazy is that!! If not for this guy Anthony wouldn't have been exonerated but now this! "this wound up being a frequent thing that people raised as flags whenever attempts at adapting this book came up. there were at the very least two productions that flagged this at some point. one production had her rapist changed to a white man, which sebold approved of. See part of me feels sorry for her cause of what she experienced but I remember when the story broke and we had all those posts, the one thing that I kept noticing while reading the articles on it was the underlying suspicion that she had to have known that Anthony was not the guy. I don't think it was mentioned in previous articles that 2 previous productions had raised concerns about that so part of me is looking at her a bit side-eye because she NOW says she can't trust herself again as a writer cause like she's always known the real story in the back of her mind. But she was still fine in getting it adapted?? And she never tried to go back and maybe re-look at the situation also?? Edited at 2023-05-26 10:47 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Brown, the producer of the movie Lucky, wondered if whatever psychological characteristics had made Mucciante capable of conning people had also made him a different kind of reader. I think that normal people who are equipped to feel empathy read the first chapter about Alices rapethe most unimaginable horror you could possibly imagineand become so fully on Alices side that you dont pay attention to detail, he said. But he could see through the emotional clutter of the experience. I don't think it was mentioned in previous articles that 2 previous productions had raised concerns about that so part of me is looking at her a bit side-eye because she NOW says she can't trust herself again as a writer cause like she's always known the real story in the back of her mind. But she was still fine in getting it adapted?? And she never tried to go back and maybe re-look at the situation also?? this is why i think the article needs to be read bc it's so clear that there were fucking red flags going up over and over again. like... i think she knew but didn't want to reconcile with it. the article is wild:this is why i think the article needs to be read bc it's so clear that there were fucking red flags going up over and over again. like... i think she knew but didn't want to reconcile with it. Reply Parent Thread Link "he most unimaginable horror you could possibly imagineand become so fully on Alices side that you dont pay attention to detail, he said. But he could see through the emotional clutter of the experience. I think his thing is that since he's a professional liar he was able to pick on certain cues of unreliability cause I remember him saying he didn't question the actual assault itself but the legal process around it. Couple that with the fact that he had some lawyer expertise~ so he could see the holes. I think it was a little bit of game recognize game cause she was holding back truths in her own way. " i think she knew but didn't want to reconcile with it. I 100% think it's that. She allowed Anthony to be the fall guy but its kinda bs cause she always knew her actual rapist was out there, so I mean how does allow to sleep better at night. I never been in such a horrid situation but I can't see myself finding relief in knowing that my actual attacker is out there free and probably still assaulting other people while some poor guy who did nothing is paying for his crimes. Like how do you reconcile that. I think she wants to "punish" herself by not writing but it's not because of her unreliability as a writer but moreso because her credibility is kinda shot cause anyone reading the full story will come to the conclusion that she purposely did not want to revisit the case and confront her culpability in it. Reply Parent Thread Link Discussion of this case is one of the best methods of identifying white feminists IMO. People truly value the trauma of white women over black people. This poor man. I felt so sad about him not wanting children due to fearing stigma. Even now this story centers Sebold. Reply Thread Link sebold currently has gone into a state where she is unable to write or trust herself as a writer. she has frequent vertigo and has stated "she will never write again." good tbh. and the fact that the article doesn't even name anthony broadwater in its title made me irritated before i even clicked the link to read through it Reply Thread Link TBH, part of me wonders if she included that never write again bit so others will try to convince her write again Reply Parent Thread Link he was released and became obsessed with surveillance to prove he was never up to anything good. even now, he prefers jobs during certain hours, with cameras on him in case there needed to be proof of his innocence in the future. his wife read his court documents and married him, but the couple decided not to have children so as not to have the stigma attached to him This depresses me. Reply Thread Link that made me so sad to read and i honestly dont blame him for being so paranoid. the man spent almost two decades in prison for something he didn't do Reply Parent Thread Link same, this is heartbreaking (to say the least) Reply Parent Thread Link The lovely bones is exploitative fervid glurge. Reply Thread Link I do feel sorry for Sebold in a way, the system used her to get a case and convict an innocent man but in the end she continued to buy into the lie even as it was becoming clearer things had gone wrong in the trial. I don't know if that was to protect her mental health or her career but when one make their rape your entire career its hard to want to accept that everything they did was gained through an abuse of power by the legal team and their ongoing acceptance of it. But some of her words make it seems she cares more about her writing career than doing right by the man she helped convict and for that I don't feel sorry for her at all. Broadwater is a stronger person, despite everything that he has been through. He has shown Sebold more grace than she deserves after having his entire life ruined. Even though he is now innocent in the eyes of the law as he also was he still lives his life by rules to keep from going back into prison. No one should have to live with that fear. Edited at 2023-05-26 11:15 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link You articulated my feelings exactly Reply Parent Thread Link ty for posting this and providing a summary, OP! Im bookmarking it to come back to it when Im ready (I was never believed about my own abuse, which isnt really relevant/related, but the first time I heard about the horrific things Anthony went through it triggered something, like what if my memories werent real? idek tldr I cant read about it in depth right now) but Im appalled that his name isnt in the title and this piece centres her. his entire life, ruined, and yet only she gets to have her own identity in the aftermath. Edited at 2023-05-26 11:16 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link So in all these years of writing about her SA and talking about it she never, not once thought to point out how the man in prison for the crime looked nothing like the man she described? And since Anthony Broadwater was found innocent she hasn't acknowledged him as a victim and condemned the district attorney for her crimes? What a horrible human being this woman is. Reply Thread Link oops i opened one of the old posts linked here and reacted to a bunch of comments thinking it was this post if you got a notification from me for something you said in 2021, hi! Reply Thread Link Oil prices recorded big declines on Thursday, with WTI and Brent crude down 3% on the intraday session as debt ceiling jitters overcame optimism about another round of OPEC+ production cuts. Rampant short-selling has also been putting a lot of pressure on the markets. According to commodity experts at Standard Chartered, speculative positioning in crude oil has now returned to its March bearish extreme despite the OPEC+ cuts taking effect in the current month. Theres a disconnect between what energy economists are seeing in the data and what speculative traders are acting on. Oil prices have touched multi-year lows on several occasions over the past two months, with StanChart speculating that the disconnect could be the result of the increasingly top-down and macro-led nature of oil-market sentiment. But the shorts might be in for another big short squeeze. Its becoming increasingly clear that Saudi Arabia is no longer interested in staying in Washingtons good books, and the OPEC+ cartel will do anything in its power to keep oil prices high. "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," Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Wednesday as quoted by Reuters. Related: Will OPEC+ Surprise The Market With Another Output Cut? The United States and Europe have been strongly opposed to production cuts by the cartel, with President Joe Bidens administration accusing Saudi Arabia of colluding with Russia and supporting its war in Ukraine shortly after OPEC+ announced the first cuts. "The Saudi Foreign Ministry can try to spin or deflect, but the facts are simple, this will increase Russian revenues and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a strongly worded statement in October. Shale Decline The Biden administration has also been frustrated by the inability or unwillingness by domestic producers to ramp up production in a bid to lower fuel prices. U.S. shale producers have opted to return excess cash to shareholders instead of drilling more. The much-touted second shale boom has lately been getting a reality check as equipment demand declines sharply, a worrying sign that drilling in U.S. shale energy regions is leveling off. The Financial Times has reported that next week, Texas auctioneer Kruse Asset Management will auction off two unused, top-of-the-line drilling rigs valued at $40 million and $30 million when built in 2019 at starting bids of just $12.9M and $2.3M, respectively. Theres no reason for them to be so cheap, but theres just no demand, Dan Kruse, chief executive of Kruse Asset Management, has told the Financial Times. According to Baker Hughes data, U.S. oil and natural gas rig count has declined 6% in the year-to-date to 731 last week, reversing a steady climb since the depths of the pandemic. The current tally is a far cry from the nearly 2,000 rigs that were running around mid-2014 at the peak of the shale boom. Last week, rig count for gas-directed rigs dropped by 16, or 10 per cent--the steepest weekly fall since 2016. Expectations for another shale boom are getting tamped down due to rising costs as well as limited supplies of labor and equipment that continue to hamstring efforts by U.S. shale producers to quickly ramp up production. Still, a number of experts have predicted that U.S. production will continue growing. A week ago, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecast U.S. crude production will rise about 5% in 2023, while fuel demand will increase 1%. U.S. crude oil exports for the month of April surpassed forecasts, hitting a record 4.5 million barrels per day in March thanks to a strong Chinese market due to rising fuel demand. U.S. crude exports grew 22% last year from 2021 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine led the U.S., the EU and Canada to ban imports of Russian oil and dramatically altered global flows. ADVERTISEMENT China is the worlds second largest oil consumer, and has recorded an economic resurgence ever since it rolled back its strict zero-covid policies. April exports to China surged to ~850,000 barrels per day, the highest level since May 2020. Overall, the oil price selloff is likely to prove fleeting, with most experts predicting oil prices above $80 a barrel over the coming years--well above the $58-a-barrel average price between 2015 and 2021. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: - Considering the above-average lifespan of Canadas oil sands, the countrys oil production - Most of the incremental production would come from step-out optimization projects that target prospective areas adjacent to existing operational acreage and improved utilization of solvent-assisted extraction. - S&P Global Platts has upgraded its outlook on Canadian oil sands production, arguing that the ongoing project optimizations will bring total production to 3.7 million b/d by 2030, 0.5 million b/d higher than today. - The ongoing debt ceiling talks have added to the markets frustration so the sentiment going into OPEC+s June 4 meeting is as bearish as it was before the April summit. - Whilst refined products, especially gasoline in the US, have seen some lengthening recently, net sales of crude oil have continued last week, with CFTC data indicating a shortening of another 18 million barrels worth of contracts. - Trading positions of the managed money segment, comprising hedge funds and other non-commercial participants, have slumped to the lowest net length since at least 2011. - Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman has warned oil market speculators that hey will be ouching very soon if they continue shorting oil futures. 1. Upcoming OPEC+ Meeting Might be An Exercise in Ouching 1. Upcoming OPEC+ Meeting Might be An Exercise in Ouching - Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman has warned oil market speculators that hey will be ouching very soon if they continue shorting oil futures. - Trading positions of the managed money segment, comprising hedge funds and other non-commercial participants, have slumped to the lowest net length since at least 2011. - Whilst refined products, especially gasoline in the US, have seen some lengthening recently, net sales of crude oil have continued last week, with CFTC data indicating a shortening of another 18 million barrels worth of contracts. - The ongoing debt ceiling talks have added to the markets frustration so the sentiment going into OPEC+s June 4 meeting is as bearish as it was before the April summit. 2. Canadas Oil Sands to Produce Higher for Longer - S&P Global Platts has upgraded its outlook on Canadian oil sands production, arguing that the ongoing project optimizations will bring total production to 3.7 million b/d by 2030, 0.5 million b/d higher than today. - Most of the incremental production would come from step-out optimization projects that target prospective areas adjacent to existing operational acreage and improved utilization of solvent-assisted extraction. - Considering the above-average lifespan of Canadas oil sands, the countrys oil production is only expected to start declining in the early 2030s at a very limited downward pace, provided government policy does not disrupt current output. - Amidst widespread wildfires and an upcoming general election on May 29, oil and gas issues have been put on the back burner in the province of Alberta as new pipelines are being built and production steadily increases. 3. Lower Investments into Upstream Research Spell Trouble - Explorers in the US shale patch have started to talk about an impending peak in Permian production as output gains from tight basin sweet spots across the country are slowing down and theres no new technology to kickstart new growth. - ExxonMobils (NYSE:XOM) R&D budget last year was the lowest since 2007 at $824 million, whilst its peer Chevron (NYSE:CVX) slashed its research investments to $268 million in 2022, a 40% drop compared to 2020. - Even oilfield services companies are now spending less on research and engineering Schlumberger used to allocate 3% of its revenues on R&D but now that share has dropped to 2.3%. - Whilst the Permian might still see higher exposure to enhanced oil recovery techniques, the technology interests have switched to hydrogen and biofuels, lowering the probability of further unabated growth. 4. China Marks Major Breakthrough in Solar Technology - Attesting to Chinas increasing dominance in the solar manufacturing industry, Chinese producer Longi Green Energy has set a world record for silicon cell efficiency at 26.8%. - This is the first time that a Chinese company has set an efficiency record (a measure of how much solar energy gets converted into actual electricity), with silicones assumed limit believed to be 29%. - After the modern solar cell was invented in the US Bell Laboratories back in 1954, it was the US that has been setting efficiency records, followed by two decades of Japanese R&D breakthroughs in the 2000-2010s. - Chinas market share in all the manufacturing stages of solar panels exceeds 80% and might increase even further as Chinese solar companies seek to pioneer perovskite technologies. 5. Coal Prospects Marred by Weak Demand and High Stocks - The combination of healthy coal stockpiles in European ports and easing natural gas prices across the continent have been keeping Europes coal demand subdued, pushing export volumes into Asia. - Simultaneously, increasing domestic coal production in both China and India has slackened their demand for Indonesian and South African coal, with both benchmarks falling into double digits. - As some European companies are trying to offer their leftover volumes into Asia, Asian buyers are unlikely to buy them as they were imported before the winter season and their calorific properties wouldnt be the same. - Adding to the pricing pressure, discounted Russian coal deliveries into Asia have further eroded coal prices in the region, worsening the longer-term outlook for coal producers. 6. Market Sentiment Sour on Copper as China Takes Time to Recover - Weak Chinese demand has depressed copper prices to a six-month low as the metals value on the London Metal Exchange plunged below $8,000 per metric ton. - Disappointing macroeconomic data coming from China, especially when it comes to construction activity have forced Chinese smelters to export as much -as they could, replenishing inventories globally. - The plummeting of copper prices runs counter to the expectations of major market players with both Trafigura and Goldman Sachs previously predicting -that the base metal will hit all-time highs this year. - Whilst there remain market bulls who point to the contango in copper futures, the widest it has been ever, coppers status as a proxy for global economic growth will hinder drastic surges until recessionary fears subside. 7. Negative Electricity Prices in China Defy Western Logic - The second-largest power producer and third-largest consumer by volume, Chinas Shandong province in the northeast of the country, has experienced negative power prices for the first time in history. - Considering 70% of Shandongs power generation comes from coal and the majority of coal power plants are combined heat and power units, the negative price phenomenon only underscores the weak elasticity of baseload coal generation. - Shandong has been one of the Chinese pioneers for spot power trading and the build-out of renewable capacity has been putting spot markets to a test the combined effect of high solar generation and high coal baseload generation might trigger negative prices in the future. - With very little connectivity to neighboring regions, Shandongs woes might also prompt the Chinese government to build up battery storage capacity, currently only 1% of Shandongs peak demand capacity. Erodgan appears poised to win Turkeys run-off elections on Sunday as an otherwise inconsequential candidate (Sinan Ogan) who managed to win 5.17% of the vote in the first round has thrown his support to the incumbent, essentially rendering him the kingmaker in these critical polls. Erdogan has vowed to erase the opposition from Turkish politics completely. Interestingly, there appears to be a shift in attitude regarding Erdogan in Washington now that it has become clear he is on a path to victory again. The Republican Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has told reporters essentially that he foresees Washington selling F-16 fighter jets to Turkeya major sticking point with Erdogan for years, which Washington has been using for leverage. Of course, the tradeoff will be Turkey ratifying Swedens NATO membership, but once re-elected, Erdogan will likely agree to that, as well. Irans response to an Israeli threat to take unspecified action against Tehrans nuclear program was to test-launch a ballistic missile on Thursday, demonstrating a 2,000-km range and capable of carrying a 1,500-kg warhead. Tehran is keen to point out that its ballistic missiles can reach U.S. and Israeli bases in the region. That news would normally have pushed oil prices up; however, as of early Thursday, oil prices had failed to respond to this geopolitical threat. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Irans response to an Israeli threat to take unspecified action against Tehrans nuclear program was to test-launch a ballistic missile on Thursday, demonstrating a 2,000-km range and capable of carrying a 1,500-kg warhead. Tehran is keen to point out that its ballistic missiles can reach U.S. and Israeli bases in the region. That news would normally have pushed oil prices up; however, as of early Thursday, oil prices had failed to respond to this geopolitical threat. Erodgan appears poised to win Turkeys run-off elections on Sunday as an otherwise inconsequential candidate (Sinan Ogan) who managed to win 5.17% of the vote in the first round has thrown his support to the incumbent, essentially rendering him the kingmaker in these critical polls. Erdogan has vowed to erase the opposition from Turkish politics completely. Interestingly, there appears to be a shift in attitude regarding Erdogan in Washington now that it has become clear he is on a path to victory again. The Republican Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has told reporters essentially that he foresees Washington selling F-16 fighter jets to Turkeya major sticking point with Erdogan for years, which Washington has been using for leverage. Of course, the tradeoff will be Turkey ratifying Swedens NATO membership, but once re-elected, Erdogan will likely agree to that, as well. In a major threat to Europe, Russian media, citing Belarus dictator Lukashenka, claims that Moscow has already begun the process of transferring tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. This announcement followed the signing of a deal on Thursday by Moscow and Minsk to store Russian nuclear warheads in a special facility that is currently under construction and said to be eyeing a completion date within a month. At the time of writing, the export pipeline for oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey was still shut down, with Turkish elections holding up the process (Erbil and Baghdad have come to an agreement). That is some 450,000 bpd offline for export since late March. Libyas still talking about trying to increase its oil output, with the latest interview with NOC chairman Farhat Bengdara saying that it will be up to 1.3 million bpd by the end of the year. Chaos in the country, however, has had a deleterious effect on its crude production ambitions. 1.3 million bpd would be a level that Libya has not reached in over a decade. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Italys Enel has plans to invest $1 billion in solar cell and panel factories in Oklahoma. The plant will be one of the largest solar equipment manufacturers in the U.S. It is also one of the biggest investments in solar manufacturing since the IRA last year. The plant will have up to 3 gigawatts of production capacity by 2025, and a possible future expansion to 6 GW. Construction is scheduled to start later this year, with panels being ready for market at the end of next year. Ford laid out plans to increase EV sales this week, but the company is dogged by high costs that are estimated to be about $7 billion higher than its peers. Ford has secured some new supply deals for lithium on its road to producing 2 million EVs by 2026. Ford said earlier this year that it expects to lose $3 billion on sales of EVs to consumers this yearequivalent to what it lost in total over the previous two years. Chevron is looking to snap up PDC Energy Inc (PDCE.O) for $7.6 billion in a stock and debt transaction in a move that doubles down on its already strong U.S. presence. The deal values PDC at $72 per share, or a 14% premium to its 10-day average as of last Friday. For Chevron, the deal means adding 10% to its reserves. Mike Wirth said he was open to even more deals after this one. The U.S. Energy Department canceled a $200 million grant to lithium battery company Microvast Holdings for its alleged links to Chinas government. The Energy Department conditionally selected Microvast last year for a grant to build a battery plant in Tennessee. Those negotiations have now ended without much explanation. Microvast is a publicly traded U.S. company with a subsidiary in China. Oil India and ONGC Videshtwo of Indias state-run oil companiesare in talks with Tullow Oil to buy a stake in Tullows Kenya block. Tullow has been looking for an investor for its Kenya block since at least last summer. Tullow is operator of the block with a 50% stake, with Africa Oil Corp and TotalEnergies having a 25% share each. Discovery & Development Iraqs Oil Ministry is looking for investments in 13 oil and gas fields and exploration blocks, announcing a licensing round. It follows the countrys fifth licensing round, for which contracts were awarded in 2018but not signed until this year. The licensing round will be launched in the next two months and will cover three provinces in the Western region, focusing mainly on gas. Equinor says it will look to keep Johan Sverdrup production at a new higher rate of 755,000 bpd after successful facilities tests. It previously had a target of 720,000 bpd. Equinor said that it and its partners in the field, Aker BP, Petoro, and TotalEnergies, have committed to trying to keep production at this level from now on. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, will vote in favor of climate resolutions at Exxons and Chevrons annual general meetings next week asking the U.S. oil supermajors to introduce Scope 3 emission targets to reduce the carbon footprint of the products they sell. Government Pension Fund Global, as Norways fund is officially known, will side with environmentalists on the resolutions filed for vote at Exxon and Chevron, Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer, told the Financial Times. The fund, which is commonly referred to as Norways oil fund because it was created with Norways oil and gas revenues, is a shareholder in many large companies in the world and has the power to influence other investors with its investment decisions. Still, the fund has voted against climate resolutions at the European oil majors BP and Shell in recent days, saying that it is okay with the energy transition plans of Europes majors. But it will back climate resolutions at the U.S. majors. Exxon dont really believe in the value of setting Scope 3 targets. We think the company should do so. Chevron, we dont think they are ambitious enough in their transition plans, Ihenacho told FT. Referring to the European firms, she added Both BP and Shell have good Scope 3 targets, they have good transition plans. Chevron and Exxons boards recommend that shareholders vote against the climate resolution in the proxy statements ahead of the annual meetings on May 31. In our view, this proposal reflects the proponents underlying objective to reduce the supply of oil and natural gas at a time in the energy transition when there is no viable alternative at scale. It is overly prescriptive and incorrectly applies a metric that is intended to measure societys progress in reducing emissions to an individual company, Exxon said. Chevron, for its part, said, The journey to a lower carbon future will still require oil and gas as part of the energy mix in nearly all scenarios, particularly in sectors with no effective substitutes, such as air travel, heavy duty transportation, and industrial activities, all of which are contributors to Scope 3 emissions. Chevron believes the worlds continued demand for oil and gas should be supplied by the most responsible producers. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Oil markets are on edge as the next OPEC+ meeting and the "X date" when the U.S. government may default on its debt loom. Oilprice Alert: Whether you are new to the oil and gas industry or an energy market veteran, you will regret not signing up for Global Energy Alert. Oilprice.com's premium newsletter provides everything from geopolitical analysis to trading analysis, and all for less than a cup of coffee per week. Friday, May 26th, 2023 As debt ceiling negotiations seem to be entering the home stretch, fears of a US government shutdown have been subsiding this week, easing some of the pressure on oil prices. Russia and Saudi Arabia continue to confuse the market with conflicting messages, however. Consequently, WTI and Brent have been trending sideways, at $72 and $76 per barrel, respectively. Russia Cools Down OPEC+ Expectations. Only a day after the Saudi energy minister warned market short-sellers they will be ouching soon, Russias deputy prime minister Alexander Novak poured some cold water on expectations of a production cut at the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, saying he doesnt expect new steps. Solar Power Spending to Surpass Oil Investments. According to the IEAs World Energy Investment 2023 report, global spending on renewable energy will surge to $1.7 trillion this year with solar investments rising to $650 billion and overtaking oil for the first time in history. US to Hold First Block Auction Since IRA Enactment. The US government will hold a sale of oil and gas drilling rights on federal lands in New Mexico and Kansas, covering more than 10,000 acres with two-thirds of acreage on offer in Cheyenne County, KS, marking the first auction since IRA was passed last year. Pressure Builds on COP28. More than 130 politicians from the European Union and the United States have called for the removal of the UAEs Sultan al-Jaber, CEO of national oil company ADNOC and also President of the COP28 conference, arguing that the oil industry obstructs stronger climate action. Norway Hails Major Oil Discovery. Norway-focused oil explorer AkerBP (OSL: AKRBP) has reported a new oil discovery in the Yggdrasil area of the Norwegian continental shelf, with a gross recoverable volume of up to 90 million barrels of oil, almost triple the pre-drilling estimate. Chevron to Quit Congo. US oil major Chevron (NYSE:CVX) has reportedly started a sale process for its oil and gas assets in Congo which could garner up to $1.5 billion, with the 31,000 boepd of production on stake becoming another part in the companys divesting of African assets to focus on US shale. Canada Gas Exports Normalize. Exports of Canadian natural gas to the United States returned this week to levels seen before the onset of wildfires in Alberta, with daily volumes averaging 8.1 bcf per day, capping the upside for US natural gas futures that jumped 14% on Canadas gas production cuts. Petrobras to Appeal Amazon Drilling Ban. Brazils national oil company Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) decided to appeal against the countrys environmental agency that banned exploration drilling in the mouth of the Amazon River, saying the company has fulfilled all technical needs for the project to be approved. Mozambique LNG Is Back on Track. More than 2 years after Islamic State-affiliated insurgents attacked the Mozambique LNG liquefaction plant operated by French oil major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE), the company is now restarting work on the project, first improving security conditions in the vicinity. ADVERTISEMENT White House Extends Oil Services Waiver. The Biden administration extended a waiver on sanctions against Venezuela to allow four major oilfield services companies - amongst them Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and Schlumberger - to continue operations in the country with a restricted mandate. Qatar Wants to Move into Iraqi Upstream. Qatar seems to be on the verge of contracting exploration blocks in Iraq according to Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdul Ghani, with Baghdad introducing an annex to its 5th licensing round from 2018 and simultaneously launching its 6th licensing round. Major Agriculture Traders Mull Merger. One of the worlds largest grain traders Bunge (NYSE:BG) is reportedly in talks to merge with rival trading company Viterra, part-owned by the Switzerland-based major Glencore (LON:GLEN), six years after a failed takeover attempt by the latter. Kenya Suffers Massive Outflow of Investors. Despite the discovery of 5 oil fields in the South Lokichar basin and contingent reserves of 461 MMboe, Africa-focused driller Tullow Oil (LON:TLW) will have to develop the project alone after both TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE), and Africa Oil (TSE:AOI) withdrew from it this week. Billionaire Buys Into Mexicos New Megafield. Once the richest man on earth, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim bought a 49.9% minority stake in Talos Energys (NYSE:TALO) Mexico unit for $125 million, seeking to tap into the hydrocarbon riches of the Zama field which is believed to contain up to 2 MMbbls. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Crude oil began trade on Friday with a slight decline as traders weighted mixed messages from the two biggest members of OPEC+. Earlier in the week, prices jumped following comments made by the Saudi Energy Minister that suggested the group may announce further production cuts at its next meeting in early June. "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 on Tuesday. Two days later, however, his Russian counterpart within the OPEC+ context, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, came out with a different message. Speaking to Russian media, Novak said he did not expect any change in policies at the next OPEC+ meeting, noting that U.S. debt ceiling uncertainties and a slower-than-expected recovery in demand from China were pressuring prices. Still, Novak said, he expected Brent crude to rebound above $80 per barrel by the end of the year. Oil prices have shed some 10% since the start of the year, with the decline being mainly attributed to the slower-than-expected post-pandemic recovery of China. Some upward pressure for prices at the end of the week could come from the news that President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy are nearing a deal on the debt ceiling, which would enable the federal government to avoid imminent debt default. According to an unnamed official who spoke to Reuters, the deal would raise the ceiling for two years and put caps on most government spendingsomething that Republicans have insisted on while Democrats wanted a higher debt ceiling with no conditions. Thanks to that upward pressure, both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate could end this weeks trade with gains, albeit quite modest ones. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com His claim of victory in Bakhmut was followed by two more brazen statements. First, Prigozhin said that Wagner would hand control of Bakhmut to the Russian Defense Ministry on June 1st. But how he qualified that was a direct challenge to Putin: If Wagner cannot hand over its Bakhmut positions Prigozhin is also taking credit for what he claimed over the past weekend was his successful capture of Bakhmut. Last Saturday, he claimed to have fully taken Bakhmut, though Ukrainian officials at the time denied this. This week, Prigozhin went public with some numbers that ring loudly in the corridors of the Kremlin. He said that 20,000 Wagner soldiers (many of them prisoner recruits) had been killed in the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine - the key flashpoint of this phase of the war. In all, for the battle of Bakhmut, Wagner says it recruited 50,000 men from Russian prisons - 20% of whom have been killed. Releasing this information may not make Wagner look good in terms of its military prowess, but what it does is reveal losses that Moscow has either been doctoring or withholding entirely. Prigozhin is laying everything bare without Putins blessing. Putin has failed to temper Prigozhin, the head of Russias private mercenary group, Wagner. In fact, Prigozhin is now becoming a global household name, finding himself in the media spotlight more frequently even than Putin. He is a clear and present threat to the Russian regimes longevity at this point. Putin has failed to temper Prigozhin, the head of Russias private mercenary group, Wagner. In fact, Prigozhin is now becoming a global household name, finding himself in the media spotlight more frequently even than Putin. He is a clear and present threat to the Russian regimes longevity at this point. This week, Prigozhin went public with some numbers that ring loudly in the corridors of the Kremlin. He said that 20,000 Wagner soldiers (many of them prisoner recruits) had been killed in the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine - the key flashpoint of this phase of the war. In all, for the battle of Bakhmut, Wagner says it recruited 50,000 men from Russian prisons - 20% of whom have been killed. Releasing this information may not make Wagner look good in terms of its military prowess, but what it does is reveal losses that Moscow has either been doctoring or withholding entirely. Prigozhin is laying everything bare without Putins blessing. Prigozhin is also taking credit for what he claimed over the past weekend was his successful capture of Bakhmut. Last Saturday, he claimed to have fully taken Bakhmut, though Ukrainian officials at the time denied this. His claim of victory in Bakhmut was followed by two more brazen statements. First, Prigozhin said that Wagner would hand control of Bakhmut to the Russian Defense Ministry on June 1st. But how he qualified that was a direct challenge to Putin: If Wagner cannot hand over its Bakhmut positions to the Defense Ministry because the Russian army is not prepared, this means that PMC Wagner has risen to a level higher than the Russian army. Taking things even further, Prigozhin stated: If they cannot take over, then the persons concerned must shoot themselves, adding that Wagner is not just fighting Ukraine, its fighting Russian bureaucracy. (Wagner started the withdrawal process on Thursday). The second challenge to Putin came later in the week when Prigozhin not only praised Ukraines army, suggesting it was better organized than Russias but also warned of a 1917-style revolution at home. Speaking to a pro-Russian blogger, Prigozhin said a revolution would be the result of military divisions and mounting losses (hence his release of numbers of killed in battle). First the soldiers will stand up, and after thattheir loved ones will rise up, he said. Prigozhin has more political capital now following an embarrassing incident that saw anti-Putin Russians infiltrate Belgorod, a Russian city on the border with Ukraine. Prigozhin has latched onto the fact that this armed group entered Belgorod undetected and managed to film its subversive activities without interference of any kind. At this point, Progozhin could be a candidate for poisoning (Russias time-honored method of assassination) but remains safe for the time being due to the power he has accumulated and the necessity of his forces in Ukraine. Russia would prefer its partners of the OPEC+ group to leave oil production unchanged when it meets next week, as Moscow is okay with the current oil prices and production quotas, sources with knowledge of the Russian position told Reuters on Friday. OPEC+, which will hold a meeting on June 4, surprised the market a day ahead of the previous meeting in early April after several major OPEC+ producers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said they would collectively cut more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from their production between May and December as a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market. Russia also announced that its 500,000 bpd cut, initially for March and April, would now extend to the end of this year, making the total new cuts from OPEC+ as much as 1.6 million bpd. Russia, however, is widely believed not to be cutting output as pledged. By our estimates, Moscow did not deliver its announced 500 kb/d supply cut in full. Indeed, Russia may be boosting volumes to make up for lost revenue, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its closely-watched Oil Market Report last week. But Russia, via its Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, hinted yesterday he did not expect any change in policies at the next OPEC+ meeting. 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. I keep advising them that they will be ouching they did ouch in April, Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Tuesday. I would just tell them: Watch out! Ed Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, commented on the contradicting messages, The Saudis were trying to talk up oil prices and dangle a threat of more production cuts, but it looks like Russia wont be on board for additional cuts. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A third of Glencore's shareholders failed to accept the company's climate progress report at today's meeting, demanding additional information. This, after Glencore announced in February a massive $7 billion in dividends, largely on the back of its thermal coal success. The shareholders are looking for additional clarification on how Glencore will reach its emissions goals, and have backed a resolution that would have the company disclose more on how it's coming with cutting back on its thermal coal production. The opposition to the company's reported climate progress surpassed the 20% threshold to be considered material dissent. Glencore has plans to close all its thermal coal mines by 2040, with 12 due to close by 2035, but shareholders could be looking for mid-point targets. The shareholder resolution was put forward by Legal & General Investment Management and the fund arm of HSBCamong others. Glencore opposed the motion earlier this month, saying it "undermined the board's responsibility for its climate strategy, given existing disclosures," Reuters said on Friday. "We will continue to engage with shareholders so as to ensure their views are fully understood and to better understand the reasons behind these results," Glencore said. In February, Glencore made a record payout to shareholdersdisgruntled and not-so-disgruntled aliketo the tune of $7 billion after a bang-up period of bumper revenues and profits thanks to its coal and trading divisions. Glencore said it would pay out $5.1 billion in dividends, a top up payment of $500 million, and buyback $1.5 billion. Glencore mines battery metals copper, nickel, and cobalt key minerals for the future green transition and ramp up of electric cars. However, it has also has reaped the benefits from its decision to keep mining coal while rivals pulled out as the dirtiest fuel surged to a record last year, according to the International Energy Agency. ADVERTISEMENT By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The decline in LNG prices has recently attracted buyers from emerging economies in Asia and South America who were unable to afford sky-high prices last year. Southeast Asia and Latin America were the biggest buyers of spot LNG for a second consecutive quarter in the first quarter, according to estimates from BloombergNEF. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Vietnam have recently purchased their first-ever LNG cargoes. Earlier this year, South Asia returned to the spot market for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as prices dipped to the lowest in a year and a half, prompting the price-sensitive buyers in the region to buy the fuel which was prohibitively expensive last year. South Asian economies India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh showed signs of activity on the spot LNG market in February and March, encouraged by the more than 70% slump in prices since the record highs seen in August 2022. Prices have further dropped since then. In the week to May 19, Asias spot LNG prices dipped to below $10 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) for the first time in two years. Spot LNG prices have now plunged by 86% compared to the record high seen in August last year, when natural gas prices in Asia and Europe soared amid concerns about supply ahead of the winter. Going forward, prices will determine whether South Asia will continue buying spot LNG. Intensified competition between Asia and Europe will drive prices higher, which in turn will reduce the purchasing power of price-sensitive LNG importers such as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Going forward, it will be a tug of war for the marginal cargo. We do see more shift of flow into Asia and of course the prices of the LNG in Europe and Asia will, to some extent decide where the cargoes will be flowing, Oystein Kalleklev, the chief executive of shipping firm Flex LNG, said on the companys earnings call in February. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Oil shipments out of Russia havent dropped in recent months despite the Russian pledge to cut production by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from March onwards, a Bloomberg analysis of shipping data showed on Friday. The most recent tanker-tracking data suggest that instead of falling, Russian crude oil exports by sea are rising. The average four-week crude shipments from Russian export terminals increased for a sixth consecutive week in the week to May 19, according to tanker-tracking data reported by Bloombergs Julian Lee. Russias crude oil exports averaged in the four weeks nearly 4 million bpd, up by 15% compared to the shipments in the first week of April. The four-week average volume of exports was the highest since Bloomberg started monitoring Russian crude shipments in detail at the beginning of 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia has said that the 500,000 bpd cuts will now extend until the end of 2023, but crude oil export data in recent weeks do not reflect any cutson the contrary, Russian crude oil exports by sea are rising. Earlier this month, reports emerged that Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin sought to convince Western analysts in a rare call that Russia is indeed reducing its oil production by 500,000 bpd. 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. Russian crude oil and oil product exports continue to prove resilient, with exports hitting in April the highest level since the invasion of Ukraine, at 8.3 million bpd, the IEA said in its closely-watched Oil Market Report. ADVERTISEMENT By our estimates, Moscow did not deliver its announced 500 kb/d supply cut in full. Indeed, Russia may be boosting volumes to make up for lost revenue, the IEA said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: A new bill that was approved by the California state Senate on Thursday would require two of the countrys largest pension fund to pull $15 billion in investments from oil and gas companies. The measure passed the California Senate with a vote of 23-10, according to Bloomberg, and would require the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System to stop any new oil and gas investments by 2024, and completely divest from large oil and gas company stocks by 2031. The Senate passed a similar bill a year ago, but it died in Assembly. This years crack at divesting the pension funds from oil and gas will now head to the Assembly, where it may share a similar fate. The Senate bill did not earn the backing of CalPERS. Senate Bill 252 would do nothing to combat the dangers of climate change, CalPERS Chief Executive Officer Marcie Frost said. Its only impact, at least in the short term, would be to make it that much harder to achieve the investment returns needed to pay the benefits promised to Calpers members. CalPERS argument is that it uses its investment clout to force climate change issues at the companies it invests in. One of the authors of the bill, Senator Lorena Gonzalez, argues that CalPERS has had decades to push for change with little success. Clearly their strategy isnt working, she said. The two funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS are massive, managing more than $820 billion in assets, and seek a return rate of 6.8%. ADVERTISEMENT Backers of the bill argue that the two massive funds investments into oil and gas are in direct conflict with Californias net-zero by 2045 goals. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. FARGO, N.D. UNO trailed 6-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning in Thursday's Summit League elimination game. Then the Mavericks rallied to keep their season going. The comeback was nearly enough to get UNO another game, but ultimately it was only a few more innings. North Dakota State ended the Mavs' season with a 7-6 12-inning loss. UNO (21-28) scored a run in the seventh before Eddie Rosario drilled his team-high seventh homer a three-run shot to make it 6-5 in the eighth. UNO had two more runners on with one out before the Bison ended the inning with a double play. Down to their last at-bat, the Mavs delivered in the ninth. Junior Cam Frederick tied it with an RBI single. The Lincoln Southwest grad then stole second and third with one out before two strikeouts ended the inning to force extras. The score remained 6-6 until the 12th. Then two straight NDSU batters reached safely on bunts to load the bases with no outs and the Bison scored on Stephen Lund's sacrifice fly. Parker Puetz (3-0) got the final 12 outs for NDSU (23-29), not allowing a hit in three innings. UNO stranded 12 runners on the day. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. As the last days of school come and go this week around Omaha, administrators are fi ling piles of resignation letters from teachers leaving their districts. Metro districts are losing fewer educators this year compared to the previous school year, but the number of people leaving is still higher than pre-pandemic levels, school officials say. Roughly 1,200 Omaha-area educators are known to be leaving their districts, according to the districts, although that number will likely grow as additional staff members exit after resignation deadlines. In May 2022, The World-Herald received data from Omaha-area school districts that added up to more than 1,250 educators leaving, but the final number wound up at nearly 1,400 because more staffers left after the article was published. In May 2021, roughly 900 educators left their district jobs. The teacher shortage is still ravaging the nation, with record-high turnover rates streaming in this month from Washington to Florida. While the numbers are alarming, the Nebraska State Education Association, the State Board of Education and Nebraska lawmakers have made strides in creating initiatives to help alleviate the shortage. Some changes include the repeal of the basic-skills test needed for teacher certification and formation of legislative bills such as those that would give grants for teacher retention. In Nebraska, some reasons for leaving are personal, such as a family relocation. Others are for jobs in different districts or parochial schools. But the high numbers suggest that the extra workloads, student misbehavior, larger class sizes and political environment are taking a toll on Nebraska teachers, causing some to leave education entirely. One Omaha Public Schools elementary teacher said she resigned and will leave the education field after two tumultuous years in her school. It was her first job out of college. She spoke on the condition that her name not be used because she still has a week remaining on her contract. "I think everyone is saying it, but post-pandemic teaching is very, very intense," she said. "We just have very traumatized kids that we're unprepared to help." Student misbehavior was one of her biggest challenges. In each of the past two years, she said, she had an extremely violent student throwing chairs, or using scissors, pencils and pens to stab or throw at others. The teacher said she also was hit and punched multiple times. "Every day we're evacuating the classroom. Every day, I have to move the entire class somewhere else and follow emergency protocols so that they don't get hit," she said. "It's pretty emotionally taxing. I just watched my entire class all year be in fight or flight mode, where they are scared of one of their peers. It's difficult to watch something like that and not really have answers on how to make it better." Although misbehaving students were removed, she said, they eventually returned to the classroom. Behavior is an issue that OPS and other schools around the state and nation are having to deal with more often in a post-pandemic world. OPS is losing fewer teachers than last year but more than normal. Before the pandemic began, in the 2018-19 school year, 319 teachers resigned from the district. Last year, that number was roughly 700 and this year it has dropped to 586 departures so far. Charles Wakefield, chief operations officer at OPS, said the district already has hired 250 to 300 educators to replace the staff members who are leaving. "We're still actively recruiting and looking for certified staff," Wakefield said. "It does get more difficult in the summer to hire, as most of your teachers are already under contract with districts, but we never stop looking." When school districts are unable to find enough teachers, it could mean larger class size or other adjustments. A survey last December by the NSEA found that some districts had left positions vacant while others had filled positions with teachers who were not appropriately endorsed in the content area or held a transitional permit, or by using substitute teachers. Some suburban districts in the Omaha metro have similar resignation numbers as last year, but they are optimistic that they can hire enough teachers to replace those who are leaving. The Millard Public Schools lost roughly 69 educators in the last month while hiring about 79, according to school board reports. In the Papillion La Vista Community Schools, 95 teachers are leaving this year and 92 left last year. Pre-pandemic, those numbers usually hovered around 70, said Annette Eyman, a district spokeswoman. Eyman said the district typically hires roughly 100 teachers each year. "Some of those are newer positions," she said. "We usually have growth positions for enrollment growth and it's pretty consistent." These days, she said, Omaha-area school administrators are less willing to let teachers out of their contracts if they decide after the deadline that they want to leave. "We have to be careful because of the teacher shortage," Eyman said. "We have to be able to find a suitable replacement." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON Oath Keepers extremist group founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weeks-long 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 led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups that 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 could foreshadow lengthy sentences down the road for other far-right extremists, including former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, also convicted of the rarely used charge. Before announcing Rhodes' sentence, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta described Rhodes as a continued threat to the United States and democracy. The judge expressed fear that what happened 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 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 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 sought to prove 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, anti-government 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" under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through "intimidation or coercion." Judges in less serious Jan. 6 cases previously rejected such requests. Prosecutors sought 25 years for Rhodes, arguing a lengthy sentence was necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes gave from jail repeating the lie that the 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. 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." Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, plans to appeal. His 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. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MINNEAPOLIS 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 news 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. 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. 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. 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. Photos: Remembering George Floyd Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. State abortion bans in Tennessee and beyond, which constrain womens health care, have put family planning clinics at risk of losing their federal funding. The conflict involves the Title X family planning program, which provides services to low-income people, including minors. As of 2021, more than 3,200 clinics used federal grants to supply free or low-cost contraception, testing for sexually transmitted infections, screening for breast and cervical cancer, and pregnancy-related counseling. Federal regulations for the program, which was established more than 50 years ago to reduce unintended pregnancies, say participating clinics must offer pregnant women information about terminating pregnancies and abortion referrals on request. But following those rules puts medical providers at odds with state laws banning abortion, some of which threaten jail time, fines, or the loss of medical licenses if they help someone end a pregnancy. President Joe Bidens administration at the end of March cut off Tennessees Title X funds after determining the state health department which oversees its clinics and was awarded $7.1 million last year violated federal rules by not counseling patients about abortion. Continued funding is not in the best interest of the government, two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials wrote to Tennessee officials on March 20. The state had more than 100 Title X clinics as of March, according to an HHS directory. In 2022, the federal government awarded Title X grants to roughly 90 entities, a mix of state and local governments and private organizations. Those grantees distribute funds to public or private clinics. Federal law prohibits clinics from using Title X money to pay for abortions. However, HHS requires clinics to offer pregnant women information about prenatal care and delivery, infant care, foster care, adoption, and pregnancy termination. In states where abortion is generally illegal, that could mean directing patients to providers in other states. But Tennessee told family planning clinics they could discuss only services that were legal in the state effectively cutting off any talk about abortion. Tennessee allows abortions only under limited circumstances, including to save a pregnant persons life. State health department policies for family planning are consistent with state law, said Jade Byers, a spokesperson for Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Tennessee allocated state funds to replace the federal money. Whitney Rice, director of Emory Universitys Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, said failing to provide timely information and referrals for abortion could contribute to further delays in peoples ability to access that care, especially because women may need to travel long distances for it. The clash over the federally funded clinics is part of the widening fallout from the Supreme Courts June 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ending the constitutional right to an abortion. In Idaho, which has a near-total abortion ban, two Planned Parenthood clinics with Title X funding recently stopped giving patients abortion information and halted out-of-state referrals, according to a lawsuit Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union filed in April against Idahos attorney general. State law prohibits providers from assisting in performing or attempting to perform an abortion, and violators risk having their medical license suspended. The clinics decision came after Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, in a March 27 letter, said Idaho law prohibits providers from referring a woman across state lines to access abortion services. That interpretation is preventing medical professionals from providing full information to their patients, said Mack Smith, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky. Though Labrador later withdrew the letter, Planned Parenthood clinics there still are not referring patients out of state for abortions, Smith said. Before Labradors letter, the lawsuit states, Planned Parenthood staff would furnish general information about pregnancy options, a list of abortion providers in other states and organizations that help defray patients abortion and related costs, and a flyer about Idahos abortion law. Staff would also occasionally help patients schedule care outside of Idaho. Now, Planned Parenthood providers no longer do so. When my patients require abortions, I am now forced to tell them that I am unable to help them and that I cannot say anything about their abortion options in other states, Caitlin Gustafson, a physician who had practiced at an Idaho Planned Parenthood clinic, said in a legal declaration. Kimberley Harris, a visiting assistant professor at Texas Tech University School of Law, said clinicians in states with strict bans worry about referring patients to other states because a prosecutor could interpret that as aiding and abetting an abortion. Facilitating medication abortion in particular could pose potential risk to health care providers, Harris said, because a patient they refer to obtain pills out of state might then take them in a state where abortion is illegal. Medication abortion accounts for most abortions in the U.S. and involves taking a series of pills during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The federal regulation might require me to provide counseling and provide information, Harris said of clinicians. But if youre telling providers that they may lose their license, or they might go to jail, or they might face a huge fine? Rightfully, theyre going to be concerned. As senior HHS officials travel the country, they are getting an earful about the issue. HHS spokesperson Tara Broido said that, increasingly, providers and patients have raised concerns about the impact that the Dobbs decision has had on access to pregnancy counseling and referrals. KFF Health News asked Broido which grantees have not been following the counseling and referral requirements. She declined to say. People who use Title Xs services are disproportionately women. A report from HHS Office of Population Affairs said roughly two-thirds of 1.7 million patients in 2021 had family incomes at or below the poverty line. Thirty-six percent were uninsured, more than two times the national uninsured rate for adults. The Office of Population Affairs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jointly recommend family planning services that clinics are expected to follow. They include pregnancy testing and counseling. The Title X program has been whipsawed before. In 2019, the Trump administration barred Title X clinics from making abortion referrals. And the administration said abortion providers couldnt share physical space with Title X clinics. The number of participating clinics subsequently dropped sharply from 3,825 sites in 2019 to 3,031 the following year. With fewer clinics, the number of people receiving free or low-cost family planning services through the program plummeted from 3.1 million in 2019 to 1.5 million in 2020. The Biden administration in 2021 overturned many of the Trump policies. The Biden rules remain in effect, but several states sued to block them. That litigation is ongoing. Sarah Parshall Perry, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, anticipates additional challenges to Title X rules because states have an interest in defending their own laws and their ability to enforce their own laws. In Texas, which prohibits abortion with few exceptions, the nonprofit Every Body Texas oversees 154 Title X family planning clinics. Its providers are still counseling pregnant women about options, but thats not to say it hasnt been made very, very difficult, said Stephanie LeBleu, the groups acting Title X director. LeBleu said the approach to counseling can look different from clinic to clinic. For example, clinics in rural Texas have to be a lot more cautious about how they share information with their clients, LeBleu said. Sometimes that means making a referral to the referral such as directing patients to organizations like All-Options, which operates a national pregnancy options hotline. ask for information on pregnancy options, our clinics refer clients to other resources, Karen M. Landers, chief medical officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, said in a statement. The department declined to say what those resources are and whether clinicians worry about being prosecuted under Alabama law for providing abortion counseling or referrals. Clients are additionally informed of the legality of pregnancy termination in the state, Landers wrote. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Sarpy County Sheriffs Office is searching for a 44-year-old man accused of firing about a half-dozen gunshots following a disturbance. Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, deputies were called to the disturbance involving two men near the 102nd Street and Capehart Road intersection about 6 miles northeast of Springfield. One of the men told deputies the other man, whom the Sheriffs Office identified as Jonathan Sawyer, had allegedly approached the first man in a vehicle and spoke to him about traffic speeds. The altercation allegedly turned physical, and deputies said Sawyer left the area and returned home to 13403 S. 102nd St. While deputies interviewed the first man, they heard gunshots coming from that address. The Sheriff's Office reported that Sawyer allegedly fired the shots. The Sheriffs Office said Sawyer left the scene in his silver 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck with Nebraska license plates WZP 985. He remains at large. The Sheriffs Office said Sawyer is considered armed and dangerous and asks that anyone who sees him or his vehicle to not approach and instead call 911. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Burger King customer allegedly threw a milk bottle at an employee in midtown Omaha after reportedly being informed the order was $1 less than expected. Around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, the employee was working the drive-thru at the fast food restaurant located at 5155 Center St., Omaha police reported. A customer, described as a middle-aged White woman with gray hair, pulled into the drive-thru in a white Dodge Caravan with Iowa license plates and was originally told the order would be about $8, according to a police report. When the customer pulled up to the window, the employee handed them a small bottle of milk and told them the order was about $7. The employee told police the customer seemed upset by the lower-than-expected total and responded by throwing the milk bottle back, striking the employee in the chest. The employee was not injured. The employee told police the customer drove off without paying for or receiving the food order. The restaurants security cameras recorded video of the incident. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A former employee at South Platte High School in Big Springs was sentenced Thursday for first-degree sexual assault of a child. Joel Foster, 39, was sentenced to 20 to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty and confessing to having sexual encounters with an underaged female student, according to a press release from the Nebraska Attorney General's Office. The assault occurred between January and June of 2022. The victim was 15 years old at the time, according to court documents. Foster will receive credit for the 253 days he has already served in jail. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LINCOLN The confirmation hearing for Nebraskas incoming chief medical officer centered primarily on the officials role in a new law restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee approved the confirmation of Dr. Timothy Tesmer in a 4-2 vote, with the remaining committee member, State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, abstaining. Tesmers confirmation will now go to the full Legislature for debate. Under the controversial Legislative Bill 574, Tesmer will have the authority to impose new regulations on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for individuals under 19. As a result, Tesmers confirmation is drawing more attention than usual, with Thursdays hearing stretching for several hours and nearly 100 people submitting written comments, mostly in opposition. Tesmer has more than 35 years of experience in the medical field, primarily as an ear, nose and throat physician. He served on the State Board of Health for two years and was the boards chairman before Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to replace Dr. Gary Anthone, the former chief medical officer. LB 574 opponents suggested that Tesmer would likely favor a full ban on gender-affirming care, as was proposed in the original version of the bill. In March, the state board issued an opinion supporting the original bill while Tesmer was still serving as chairman. Tesmer confirmed Thursday that he voted in favor of the opinion, but said he considered it more of a statement against gender-affirming surgeries for youths, not a statement in favor of LB 574 in its entirety. He said he considers surgeries to be irreversible care that could be harmful, but noted other gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers can be reversed. Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, one of the two votes against his confirmation, was unconvinced by his statement. She said Tesmer was either pretending not to know what the opinion was about, or he was lying to the committee. Other opponents questioned Tesmers leadership on the board, noting that the March vote on the opinion didnt happen in public, and as Tesmer described was drafted and presented to the board within the span of one day. Dr. Tesmer neglected his responsibility to Nebraskans, said Abbi Swatsworth, executive director of OutNebraska. The version of LB 574 that passed will ban gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19 starting Oct. 1. For puberty blockers and hormone therapy, Tesmer and the Department of Health and Human Services must develop regulations for the medication, following a set of criteria within the legislation. Those who were already undergoing such care before the regulations take effect are exempt. Tesmer said he doesnt expect to have the regulations ready to go by Oct. 1. It is unclear how regulations for puberty blockers and hormone therapy would change if that happens. Among the criteria is setting a minimum number of gender-identity-focused therapeutic hours a patient must undergo to receive it, and a minimum waiting period between a medical practitioner receiving the patients consent and prescribing the treatment. Several Nebraska physicians said in interviews with The World-Herald that these criteria are already part of the standard practice doctors follow when prescribing such care. Dr. Joan Daughton, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Omaha, said a number of national organizations already have well-researched and well-documented standards of care for gender diverse and transgender youth. Dr. Andrew Ensz, a family medicine physician in Auburn, prescribes hormone treatment to some of his patients, and said the guidelines he follows from the Endocrine Society are long-established and pretty conservative. LB 574 supporters described puberty blockers and hormone therapy as unregulated medication that is easily accessible to children. The bills introducer, Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, said a social contagion has contributed to a rise in young people seeking the treatment. Both Ensz and Daughton disputed this. Children and adolescents dont get to the point of puberty blockers or hormone therapy unless they have a sustained identity that does not fit the identity they were assigned at birth, Daughton said. Patients have to present letters from a mental health provider a therapist or psychiatrist documenting that they have worked with them for several months, that there is no other psychiatric condition contributing, that their mental health is stable and good and that the child or adolescent and their family all understand the risks and benefits of moving forward with any kind of treatment, she said. It cant be just today you show up and talk to a physician and you start hormones, Daughton said. That never happens. There is such a process for all these kids and their families to go through. Neither Ensz nor Daughton testified at Tesmers confirmation hearing, but several other physicians did testify and echoed their statements. Dr. Alex Dworak, a family medicine physician that works with LGBTQ+ patients and testified in a neutral capacity at the hearing, said the Legislatures LB 574 debate did a lot of damage to Nebraskas trans community, but Tesmer is now in a position to repair some of it. He said experts on gender-affirming care, including himself, are willing to work with Tesmer. The chief medical officer has the unique chance to restore the legitimacy of government in the eyes of a few Nebraskans who are hurting right now, Dworak said. All he would need to do is the exact same thing hes done his entire career work collaboratively with other physicians in other disciplines, and promote best practices for people of all ages. Tesmer said he plans to follow the guidelines established by endocrinologists, pediatricians and other such medical groups, vowing to take a thorough, evidence-based approach when drafting the regulations. Though the law puts that responsibility on his shoulders, Tesmer said he plans to work with a team that includes gender-affirming care providers. We want to do the right thing within the guidelines of the law, Tesmer said. Once the team has a draft of the regulations ready, Tesmer said DHHS will hold a public hearing to gather feedback. Based on that hearing, he said, the team will likely revise the draft, and if they make any major changes there will be another hearing. Following that, Tesmer said the drafted regulations will go through several groups for review, including the Board of Health and the Attorney Generals Office, before finally going to Pillens desk for approval. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who has led the opposition to LB 574, pressed Tesmer at the hearing on his involvement with the Board of Health opinion and his overall views on gender-affirming care. She took particular issue with Tesmer opposing gender-affirming surgeries specifically for trans minors, but not opposing the procedures for all minors. Cavanaugh said his views on this were discriminatory. Tesmer said he respectfully disagreed. In his view, Tesmer found it problematic for a minor to undergo a procedure like top surgery for the purposes of changing their gender identity, while minors who are not transgender that get the same surgery for augmentation or enhancement purposes is not problematic. Changing ones gender identity to me makes top surgery not in the best interest of a minor, Tesmer said. Regardless of his views, Tesmer also promised to set aside his personal opinions and follow best practices when developing the regulations. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023 Nigerias president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that he is a beneficiary of the support and goodwill of the people of Nigeria, promising that he will not disappoint the trust conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari and millions of Nigerians. The assurance was given by Tinubu on Thursday, May 25, while delivering an address when he was conferred with the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, stating that he understands the meaning of the honor given to him. Tinubu in the address titled, I dedicate myself to national purpose and destiny, expressed his appreciation for the transition documents and the committed work performed by the transition council headed by the Secretary to Government of the Federation. I am a simple man who is the beneficiary of the support and goodwill of the people of Nigeria. The people have put their trust in us. You have done your part, Mr. President. READ ALSO: What Tony Blair told Tinubu during official visit in Abuja Now, that great duty descends on me. I understand the meaning of the honor given to me today and of the task that awaits. 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. Our deep thanks also for the transition documents and the committed work performed by the transition council headed by the SGF. The documents summarize the immense work of your administration. They constitute an impressive and noteworthy scorecard. As such, I stand here renewed not only in hope but also in dedication to our national purpose and destiny. I also feel full of pride but this pride I feel is not for myself. It is for what this moment represents. 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. 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. Today is more than a ceremony. It confirms that our path is right and that nothing will deter us from adhering to it. 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. The driver of the couple who were recently murdered in their residence on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, has confessed that he and his gang members killed them because they recognized him during operation. He said the operation went awry when he was identified by the family and he decided to wipe out the family and their female domestic staff, adding that while the house help survived the attack, the couple died . The suspect Adeyemo Wale,and one other were arrested for the murder of Femi Ebeoluwa and his wife, Funmi . Wale and one other of his gang members were among 40 suspects paraded yesterday by Lagos State Commissioner of Police , Mr Idowu Owohunwa, at Police Officers Mess , Ikeja . Wale confessed to the police that he hired two robbers to perpetrate the dastardly act. He said, I used to work for the Ebeoluwas. One day, ,I told them to pay me off as I didnt want to work for them again.They actually paid me off, but few weeks, I squandered the money,so I was thinking of what to do. I later hired two persons to followed me for the robbery. It was while we were at home that my former employer and his wife identified me ,so I had to kill them. He said that his attempt to also kill the female domestic worker who also identified him, failed as she was found unconscious when the Police arrived. Wale told detectives that: I didnt want to kill them. I only wanted to collect money and leave . I didnt know they were preparing to travel the next day for medical check up. It was just a coincidence. We went to his office first but didnt see oga, before going to the house. We attacked Madam first . The plan was just to scare them and collect money. But she recognized me . We didnt use knife or gun. We used wedge shoe to hit her. We also used wood , pliers and our fists on her until she passed out. We met her downstairs. Thereafter, we went upstairs and met oga, who was not very strong. The maid recognized me too. We beat her until she passed out. We didnt know she did not die. Owohunwa who was represented by Lagos State Police Publlic Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hudenyin, while reeling out the achievements of the command in the last one month, said, investigation revealed that Wale who was formerly an employee of the couple, requested to be paid off and was obliged sometime in February during the cash crunch . He recruited Kingsley to aid his plans of robbing the victims. The robbery then led to the gruesome murder of the couple and vicious attack of the housemaid. The suspects went away with unaccounted sum of money in Dollars and Naira with two Samsung smart phones One of the suspects hired by Wale is still on the run, while the police have stepped up manhunt for him. The remains of the couple were interred last week Wednesday. Fire has gutted the personal residence of the outgoing Governor of Kano state, Dr Abdulahi Ganduje at Miyangu Street in Nassarawa GRA Kano. The State Fire Service confirmed the incident to newsmen on Thursday. The Public Relations Officer of the State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, explained that the fire was already under control by the time firefighters got to the residence. It was gathered that the fire started at a place where Ganduje rears cows adding that many of the animals died in the inferno, with other multi-million-naira property razed down. A source said the cause of the fire was not immediately known but it started during the course of metal welding in the house as work was still ongoing to make the place a befitting residence for Kano States outgoing governor. When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar declined to comment. The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the former presidential candidate of Hope Democratic Party, Chief Ambrose Owuru to pay a fine of N40 million for filing a frivolous suit. The ex-presidential candidate had in a suit marked CA/CV/259/2023 asked the court to stop President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, from inaugurating the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29. Owuru, who participated in the 2019 presidential election, said he won the poll and has not spent his tenure as required by law. He insisted that President Buhari has been usurping his tenure of office since 2019 because the Supreme Court has not determined his petition on the outcome of the election. READ ALSO: DSS warns against alleged plot to disrupt Tinubus inauguration In its ruling, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Jamil Tukur ordered the politician to pay the fine of N10 million each to President Buhari, the AGF, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Tinubu. The panel held that Owuru embarked on gross abuse of the court process by filing a frivolous, vexatious, and irritating suit to provoke the respondents. It added that Owurus grievances on the 2019 presidential election were not only strange but unnecessary. Join the conversation Opinions Support Ripples Nigeria , hold up solutions journalism Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate Now May 25, (THEWILL) The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have described the outgoing Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirikas statements and actions on Nigeria Air as flagrant disobedience of the orders of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, which halted the said moves to float the said airline until the determination of the substantive suit brought against it. According to a statement signed by the Spokesperson of AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, the AON has no problems with the establishment of more airlines in the country but is against any contraption that is shadowy and not in the best overall interest of the country. According to Okonkwo, the body needs the outgoing Minister to come forward, defend and counter the very damning submissions in its suit, stating that it is disturbing that a Minister is desperately hoodwinking the entire nation into accepting a massively flawed process just 72 hours to the end of his 7-year tenure in office as Minister of Aviation, even as the courts have halted him. The AON said it is also aware, like the Minister and promoters of Nigeria Air, that the process of acquiring an Airline Operators Certificate (AOC) for Nigeria Air is only at stage one of the five-stage AOC process contrary to his televised statement that the Nigerian Air AOC process was at the concluding stage. The statement dated 25th May, 2023, and made available to THEWILL read, We have noted with dismay the comments by the outgoing Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, to the effect that he will commence operations of Nigeria Air before Monday, May 29, 2023. He equally stated that an aircraft in Nigeria Air colours is on its way to Nigeria in less than 24 hours. All of these statements and actions are in flagrant disobedience of the orders of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, which halted the said moves by the Minister to float the said airline until the determination of the substantive suit brought by AON against it. Again, it is very disturbing that a Minister is desperately hoodwinking the entire nation into accepting a massively flawed process just 72 hours to the end of his 7-year tenure in office as Minister of Aviation, even as the courts have halted him. For the avoidance of doubt, AON welcomes the establishment of more airlines in Nigeria for we believe that the skies are big enough to accommodate all. However, AON is against any contraption that is shadowy and not in the best overall interest of the country. We need the outgoing Minister to come forward, defend and counter the very damning submissions in our suit. It stressed that what the outgoing Minister was doing will be an albatross to the incoming administration and may create problems, hence the new administration should not be blackmailed into accepting a contraption that would definitely and ultimately hurt the Nigerian economy and destroy millions of existing jobs in favour of one or two individuals and a foreign country by this hurried last minute desperation. Advertisement By Izunna Okafor, Awka It is no longer news that a group of villagers, with the instrumentality of two masquerades, on Sunday, April 30, banished a woman from a community in Anambra State over allegation bordering on food poisoning. The incident was said to have happened at Umunankwo Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State. Notwithstanding the virality of the videos and the publications of the said banishment, there was no adequate relevant information in the media concerning the incident, especially with respect to the full identity of the said banished woman, the people behind the said banishment, and other essential information about the circumstances surrounding her banishment. Most importantly, there was no clear information on the nature or kind of food poisoning committed by the banished woman, where, when and how it was committed; and neither was anything said on whom and whom died as a result of the said food poisoning. The views and the purviews of the parties involved in the matter were also unknown, both to the media and to the public. Howbeit, in the midst of all these information scarcity and relevant questions begging for answers on the incident, reactions and counter reactions have continued to rage on the social media for and against the said banishment, while daily publications also continue to sprout from different angles on the incident all in vagueness, as the nitty-gritty of the incident remained un-accessed and un-assessed. It was in the quest to unravel this nitty-gritty of the incident that this reporter, Izunna Okafor, took an investigative dive into the incident. Umunankwo is one of the fifteen communities that make up Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. The community has two sides, divided by river. It was also the same community where over sixty persons died in a boat mishap during the 2022 flooding in Anambra State state. The town operates a presidential leadership structure, with Hon. Tochukwu Udeze as the current president general; while the communitys monarch heads the traditional institution of the community. The family of late Chief Charles Anene Uzor and Mrs. Catherine Uzor is one of the families that make up Umunankwo Community. How the names of this couple came into this report is a matter of of necessity, because they are the parents of the woman, Nneka who was banished with masquerades in Umunankwo Community, as was seen in the viral videos. Her full name is Nneka Uzor, but, she will henceforth (in this report) be referred to as Nneka, for clarity sake. She is one of the twelve children of Chief Charles Uzor, their father (henceforth referred to as Mr. Charles). While their father is late now, their mother, Mrs. Catherine Uzor (henceforth referred to as Mrs. Catherine in this report) is still alive, and will be eighty years old by September this year. It happened that one of the children of late Chief Charles, Mr. Anozie Uzor (henceforth referred to as Mr. Anozie) planned to host a ceremonial banquet in the honour and memory of their late father. The event was slated for April 24, while guests, including the community members and people from outside the community were invited to come and merry with them. Different delicacies, including goat meat pepper soup, and others were prepared and garnished for the event, while assorted drinks were also available for consumption at the occasion. The host of the ceremony, Anozie, had said that their late father appeared to him in a dream and told him that he was hungry, while some fortune tellers also told him the same thing concerning their father, which, he said, made him plan to host the ceremony in his memory. However, something transpired before the event: The host, Anozie, who is a younger brother to Nneka, was said to have repeatedly accused her (Nneka) of witchcraft, given their long-standing quarrel, which makes him to always call her witch and mad woman at every slighted encounter. It is pertinent to note at this juncture that, against some viral media publications that referred to Nneka as a widow, Nneka, the banished woman is not a widow. Rather, she is a daughter of the soil in Umunankwo Community. In the course of his investigation, this reporter discovered that arrangement for her marriage was in progress before her fiancee mysteriously died, just some days to the proposed date of the marriage. Although, some people from the community said they were never aware of the said fiancee and the truncated marriage arrangement. That notwithstanding, since Nnekas dowry was yet to be paid before the said demise of her fiancee, she should not be regarded as a widow. She had also been living in her fathers house with her mother before the said banishment saga. Although she has two children a son, who is a university graduate, and a daughter. Back to the narration, Nneka, in an interview with this reporter, said that her younger brother, Mr. Anozie had always referred to her as a witch and a mad woman. She said she had severally complained about that, but nothing changed, which made her to go to the extent of petitioning the leadership of Umunankwo Community with drinks and money (as required) to look into their matter and stop Anozie from calling him a witch or compel him to prove shes a witchcraft. She, however, said that the community leadership did not even summon them to a meeting, let alone deliberating over the issue she reported. She also said that the drink and money she submitted along with her petition had not been refunded to her till today; while Anozie continues to call her witch at will. He and some of my brothers call me witch and make jest of me everytime and anywhere they see me, while Im sure Im not a witch, she said. To be continued This reporter, Izunna Okafor, discovered that Nneka was also not in good terms with her mother, Catherine Uzor and some of her brothers, especially their eldest brother, Mr Lazarus Uzor (henceforth referred to as Mr. Lazarus), and her uncle, Mr. Nnamdi Uzor (henceforth referred to as Mr. Nnamdi). Further in his investigations, this reporter discovered that the issue between them started as far back as three years ago, in 2020, when some of Nnekas siblings reportedly accused her of beating their mother and chasing her out of the house in the middle of the night, to the extent that she (the near eighty-year-old mother) reportedly jumped the window to escape. According to the eldest brother brother, Mr. Lazarus, who is also a former President-General of Umunankwo Community, the incident happened sometime in December 2020 when he received a call from a member of another community in Ogbaru in the middle of the night, informing him that their mother (who lives in the village) was seen wandering up and down unconventionally at a lonely road in that middle of the night. This, he said, made him to contact some members of the vigilante group to drive to the place immediately, pick up his mother and convey her to her paternal hometown in Ogboakuba community, also in Ogbaru Local Government Area, pending the following morning, when he would make proper enquiry. He said that at the time, some of his other siblings do not reside in the village, except Nneka who lives with their mother, and Anozie who closely lives in Asaba. He said they eventually discovered that it was Nneka who beat and chased their mother out of the house, and threatened her not to return to the house again, over a debt of fifty thousand naira (50,000) she was owing her as parts of proceeds from the sale of her cassava. According to Mr. Lazarus, this got him and his siblings angry, and they travelled home and summoned a meeting, with both Nneka and their mother in attendance. He said that the meeting did not end well that day, as, according to him, Nneka attacked everyone who spoke against her action, to the extent that she fought and injured her younger sister, Chioma, on the head with breakable plate, and also roared at Anozie whom she also described as always easy to be manipulated. He said Nneka, while quarrelling at the meeting, also threatened that five heads would roll, and also threatened to deal with Anozie. Nneka, however, denied these allegations as untrue, stressing that she never touched her mother, let alone beating her. According to her, the issue started when their mother borrowed the sum of fifty thousand naira (50,000) from the village meeting, for Anozie, which, she (Nneka) said she saw as a dent to her own personality, given that many people would assume that her mother borrowed the money for feeding, despite having somebody of her status as a daughter. In order to quickly pay back the money, I told my mother sell my cassava that I was preserving for the coming season when it would have been sold at higher price, so that she could repay the loan immediately. She did that, and the loan was repaid, while Anozie was now owing me instead of owing the meeting. Then, after a very long while, I expected Anozie to pay back the money, but he did not. I told our mother to help remind him about that, which she did, but he never listened to her. So, I had to keep confronting and pestering them constantly for my money. And that was how they started seeing me as an enemy and inciting my other siblings against me, in return for the good thing I benevolently did for them. The next thing was that they accused me of having beating our mother, she narrated. He said that year, in 2020, following the allegation, her siblings mobilised over thirty able-bodied youths who jumped into her house, dragged her out, beat her up and stripped her naked in the public in a broad daylight. In their separate remarks on the alleged assault and harassment of their sister, Mr. Lazarus Uzor, Mr. Anozie Uzor, and Mr. Nnamdi Uzor said they were not involved in the said harassment, but explained that Nneka was only forced into the car and driven to Ogboakuba community when the Traditional Ruler of the community, who is a biological brother to their mother, summoned all of them to his palace over the allegation of beating their mother an invitation, they said, Nneka refused to honour until she was forcefully brought to the palace by the youths. Hence, they said nobody beat or harassed her. The trio further explained that, as a result of Nnekas rudeness, the Ogboakuba monarch, Igwe P.C.U. Afuberoh, after all the deliberations on the matter between her and her mother, pronounced banishments on her (Nneka), barring her from stepping her feet again into Ogboakuba community, pending when her banishment would be revoked and the necessary rituals performed for land cleansing. This reporter, Izunna Okafor, also obtained a copy of an undertaking Nneka was made to sign, promising to be of good behaviour henceforth and never to insult her mother again. It was gathered that Lazarus, at the end of the deliberations, summoned Nneka in the presence of his siblings, and gave her the sum of hundred thousand naira (100,000) as a repayment of the (50,000) debt she said their mother was owing her. Nneka, however, refused to accept the money, on the grounds that he (Mr. Lazarus) had such money but did not repaid her the debt when she complained about it for the matter to end since, until when they (according to her) had finished humiliating, harassing and disgracing her before the whole world, the video of which went viral then on the social media, in 2020, when she was publicly harassed by the youths. Although, it was gathered that Nnekas daughter eventually collected the money on her mothers behalf, so as to use it for her treatment and hospital bills, given that she reportedly sustained varied degrees of physical and psychological injuries at the time. This reporter gathered that these incidents, were a major cause of the perceived long-standing quarrel between Nneka, her mother, and some of her siblings. Nneka, had also been accused (by his siblings) of threatening that five heads would roll. This may not be far from the reason her siblings call her a witch, a villager told this reporter under anonymity. Now back to the day of the banquet in honour of their late father, Chief Charles Uzor; Nneka informed this reporter that Anozie, as usual, also publicly called her a witch that day at the event. This, she explained, got her provoked and also burst her long-bottled anger, to the extent that she consequently cast (threw) a handful of sand (she was using to wash pot that day) at the Anozie, out of that anger. When I threw the sand at him out of anger, some of the sands fell into the pot of pepper soup they prepared for the occasion because the foods were close to that place, she said (in Igbo language). While Nneka said she cast sand at Anozie and some of the sand fell into the pot of pepper soup, Anozie said it was a lie, and alleged that it was their mother who saw Nneka as she was secretly and deliberately pouring sand with a mixture of something unknown to them into the pots of foods prepared for the event. When asked to explain what transpired, the mother, Mrs. Catherine Uzor attested that Nneka deliberately poured whatever she was holding into the food. She also confirmed that what Nneka poured into the pots of foods had texture of sand, but said she could not tell if it was just sand or there was something else attached. This, she said, made her to raise alarm that attracted other people. Nneka, in continuation of her own narration said, Immediately that happened, my brother, Anozie, together with some other youths in the area, started chasing me around with matchet, threatening to kill me, and accusing me of poisoning the communitys food. As that was going on, I ran out to the main road, and, luckily for me, a car came out, and offered to help me, having noticed what was happening; and I entered the car immediately, and we drove off before they could get closer. That was how I escaped from their hands that day and got to another neighbouring community, she narrated. Against Nnekas claim that she escaped out of the town to avoid being harmed or killed by the people chasing after; her brother, Anozie and her uncle, Nnamdi, who were both present at the event claimed that she left on her own without anyone chasing after her. It was gathered that her eldest brother, Mr. Lazarus was not in the village during the incident. Again, while Anozie and Nnamdi claimed that the said poisoned food was no longer eaten that day; Nneka said that some people who attended the event told her that they finished all the pepper soup and the foods which they accused her of poisoning, yet no single person among them died. It was also gathered that Nneka was not banished the same day she was accused of food poisoning. Instead, she was accused of commiting two things in addition to the alleged poisoning, before she was eventually banished from the community few days later. One was that she was accused of wearing a red cap meant only for titled chiefs, which they said, was a taboo in the community. Secondly, she was said to have returned to her home just few days after she ran away and then refused to go back to where she earlier took asylum. Her return and refusal to go back infuriated Nnamdi her uncle, who said I cannot not sleep under the same roof with someone who committed abomination. Nnamdi said he had slept outside the compound the first time Nneka returned to spend the night in the house after running away, and therefore vowed that he would not continue to sleep outside because of Nnekas presence in the compound. According to him, that was why they used masquerades to kick her out of the compound and banish her outrightly from the community, since she had refused to go back to where to took asylum. When asked how it happened, Nneka denied wearing red cap as she was being accused. She said she returned to her house after the food poisoning allegation, to attend an occasion where she was to represent the Omueze (a respected title holder and the eldest daughter among the Umuada) at a function. She explained that, although, Omueze has rights to wear a red cap, she, as her representative that day wore a black cap to the event, which she said she was authorised to wear by the Omueze whom she was representing. She said while other villagers hailed her as she saddled the position of Omueze to pray for and bless the people that day at the event; her siblings saw her siblings as someone who has committed an abomination, and therefore, rounded her up there at the event and forcefully uncapped her, right there in the public. These, according to some members of the village, caused Nnekas banishment from Umunankwo, by a group of people. Speaking further on how the banishment happened, Nneka said her allegation of food poisoning was reported to Umuada (a group of married daughters of the community), who fixed a date for its hearing, deliberation and resolution, but hinted that she was banished by her brother before the date scheduled for the hearing of the matter. She said, Prior to the day slated for the hearing of the matter, I was sleeping in my room when I heard gwaa on my door, and I jumped up in shock. So, I grabbed a wrapper and held tight my chest, as my heartbeat was already speeding. The next thing was that I started hearing masquerades voices in our compound. And they were drawing closer to my room, while I panicked and was enveloped by fear, because I have phobia of masquerade. According to her, it was then that her uncle, Mr. Nnamdi bumped into her room and started mocking her for the ordeal that was to befall her. Shebi I told you, Nneka, that I will see your end this year? Nnamdi was quoted as saying. I was crying and and begging him not to do such thing to me, knowing fully well that I have phobia of masquerade. I quickly grabbed this gown Im wearing now and put on, because I was almost naked then. And before I know it, they invaded my room, dragged me out, and started leading me away to an unknown destination, together with the masquerades, while many of the people took videos of me, including Nnamdi my uncle who did that viral video and commentary that trended on the social media. They subjected me to a whole lot of humiliation. My own blood and siblings masterminded all these against me before the whole world, she said, as she paused a while to dry up some tears rolling down her cheeks. According to her, Nnamdi told the masquerades and the youths to lead her to the land of no return. At a point, as we were going, she continued, I got so tired and told Nnamdi that I could no longer continue the journey; but he insisted that I must continue and that I must get to that land of no return. With tears in my eyes then, I reminded him one thing: I asked him if he still remembered that I was the person who intervened when he had issues and abandoned his wife in Malaysia, and that I was the person who mobilized the Umuada, went to his place in Asaba and incurred every expense involved in re-uniting him with his family. I then asked him if this was how hes now paying me back for my all the things I did for. But he said he never wanted to hear any such story now, and, therefore, ordered me to continue moving. And, I continued trekking, till we crossed the boundary of Umunankwo and got to a place I could no longer continue, due to tiredness. Mrs. Nneka further narrated how she overhead his eldest brother, Mr. Lazarus Uzor, telling the people to lead her to the land of Umuoma, the land of people who committed abomination, which, he said, was where she deserved to be. According to her, Lazarus also said that it was there (in the land of Umuoma) that she would be killed. It was that time I collapsed, as everything turned blank to me. And that was the last thing I could remember, she said. It was gathered that the people left her and turned back when they led her to the boundary between the community and Mputu, another neighbouring community in the area. When asked his view and involvement in the banishment of her sister, Mr. Lazarus said he was fully in support of the banishment, alleging that Nneka committed abominable acts. He also said it was the culture of Umunankwo Community to use masquerades to banish anyone who commits abomination in the community, not minding whom the person is. This, he said, was the reason he supported the banishment, lest the repercussions of Nnekas acts befell the entire Uzor family if they failed to obey the culture and do the right thing. Concerning whom and whom were consulted before the banishment decision was taken, it was gathered that the President-General of Umunankwo, Hon. Tochukwu Udeze, was not informed, while the Traditional Ruler of the community, Igwe Fidelis Onumonu, who has been out of the country, was also not informed. It was the entire community who came for the memorial banquet at our place that day that the food was poisoned. And they were all there when it happened. So, since the entire community witnessed what happened that day, did you still expect me to start going from house to house to consult and inform everybody one after the other again before we took the action? Lazarus rhetorically asked. Nnekas mother, Mrs. Catherine, Anozie and Nnamdi also shared the same view with Lazarus; while only her elder sister, Mrs Nkiruka Ozo (Nee Uzor) was the person who stood against the action from day she heard it. When asked the kind of person of Nneka is, Nkiruka described her as a very empathetic, benevolent, but temperamental human being. Mrs. Nkiruka recalled how she (Nneka) periodically used to give soups, food items, clothes and cash gifts to her siblings including Lazarus, as well their mother, when she (Nneka) was working with Julius Begger construction company as a cook, and when some of her other siblings had not yet become rich. Concerning her own involvement and view on the incident that happened, Nkiruka revealed that her siblings sidelined her throughout the entire incident and never sought her opinion before taking their decision, knowing full well that she would not support their decision on the matter. She further hinted that she was not even informed about the ceremonial banquet held in honour and memory of their father by her male siblings, despite being the eldest daughter in the family for now; and also recalled that she would not have ever known about the event if not that issue came up from it. She also narrated how her uncle, Nnamdi, smashed her phone on the wall and nearly killed her at the first meeting convened by Umuada to deliberate on the matter, simply because she asked him to clearly explain to Umuada, the abomination he alleged that Nneka committed. If not by the special grace of God, I would have been a dead person by now given the way Anozie violently smashed my head on the edge of the wall that day, simply because of the question I asked. And I had just recently buried my 35-year-old son in October last year, she said. She noted that it was their elder brother, Lazarus, who first came to their house that Sunday morning that they banished Nneka and smartly confirmed that she was at home and sleeping in her room then, before he surreptitiously left through the back gate; and the next thing was two masquerades and the village youths besieging and invading the compound. She also noted that some villagers in the community did not support the banishment, which, she said, was the reason it was only two masquerade that joined in the banishment, out of about seven masquerade quarters in the community, while others refused to join them. When contacted for the view of the royalty on the matter, the Palace Secretary of Umunankwo, Hon. Valentine Okwuosa upheld the banishment of Nneka from Umunankwo, and further noted that the traditional ruler of the community (who is out of the country) did not need to be physically present before the banishment would be executed. While noting that the culture of using masquerades to banish person in Umunankwo Community is as old as the community itself, the Palace Secretary added that, even if it was one masquerade that joined in the banishment exercise, every other person and other masquerades have been represented, because it is the things of the spirit. Through enquiries made by this reporter, Izunna Okafor, it was gathered that the community eventually summoned a council on the matter after the banishment of Nneka, where, some elders of the community also hailed the action, while some of the villagers viewed it as unwarranted, barbaric, and a pure act of jungle justice and human rights abuse. On his own part on the matter, the President-General of Umunankwo Community, Hon. Tochukwu Udeze spoke from the both sides of his mouth, as he condemned and upheld the banishment at different occasions. In the videos from the Council meeting summoned in the community after the banishment, the PG was seen speaking in support of the banishment and whatever decision the community would take on the matter. On the contrary, while speaking at the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs in Awka last week Tuesday, he said both he and the Igwe were never consulted before the action was taken, even as he also condemned and faulted the action of the community, and dissociated himself and the leadership of the community from same. Speaking on the matter, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, who invited the parties involved in the matter to her office in Awka to hear directly from them, outrightly also condemned the action of the community, which she described as inhumane, illegal, and unacceptable. The Commissioner expressed sadness on the rate at which cases of dehumanization, molestation, and barbaric cultural practices are fast becoming recurrent and rampant among some communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area; even as she also recalled that it was in the same Ogbaru that a widow was recently forced to drink the water used to bathe her corpse, all in the name of it is our culture. It is wrong, very wrong and unacceptable! You dont do such rubbish to your fellow human being, all because of allegation or in the name of culture. In this modern world, for Christ sake? Are you the law court? she reproached the people involved in the dehumanizing practice. Seriously, its time people stopped taking laws into their hands. It is very wrong and unacceptable to do so, she said. While noting that Anambra State Government, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has zero tolerance for dehumanizing and barbaric cultural practices in the state, Commissioner Obinabo also noted that her Ministry was fully out for the matter, and would see it to a legal end, so as to serve as deterrent to others. As at the time of filing this publication, this reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (State CID), Amawbia, for more comprehensive investigation, after which the suspects would be charged to the court. Until the final verdict on the matter, this is the story behind the story. Related Advertisement By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri The traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo in Oguta local government area of Imo State, HRH Eze Victor Ijioma, has been murdered by unidentified assailants. In the same Oguta local government, the Isama of Mgbele (the traditional prime minister) of Mgbele community was also killed. It was gathered that the two leaders were killed in separate attacks in different locations on Thursday. Sources said the Orsu Obodo monarch was accosted at Umuamaka Junction in the neighbouring Izombe town, where he was killed inside his car. It was further learned that the assailants, who were not satisfied with his death, went ahead to set his corpse ablaze inside his car. However, the Mgbele community leader was said to have been killed in his town. Village sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that military and other security operatives have increased their presence in Izombe, Mgbele and the communities around the area in their bid to fish out the perpetrators, who now have resorted to hit and run tactics. One of the sources said: The Eze, Igwe of Orsu Obodo was accosted while he was driving at Umuakama Junction in the afternoon. They shot him, and they set him ablaze inside his car and left the scene. As I am talking to you now, soldiers and other security operatives are currently combing the villages in search of the assailants. Police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, is yet to confirm the story as at the time of filing this report. . Related By Eric Patrick The outgoing Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday conferred on President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima the national honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, GCFR, and Grand Commander of Order of the Niger, GCON, respectively. Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), was declared winner at the February 2023 presidential election by the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the middle of the night. National Daily had report that, other political parties and its presidential candidates like, Peter Obi of the Labour Party ( LP), Atiku of the People Democratic party (PDP) and many others have storm the tribunal to challenge the victory of the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigerians home and abroad who drummed support for their different political parties have alleged that the last election will go down as the worst election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the history of the country. According to multiple reports saying that Peter Obi, won the presidential election and are calling on the Tribunal to pass a fair judgement. However, May 29, 2023, has been set aside for the swearing-in of the new president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Airline operators and aviation stakeholders, yesterday, kicked as the Federal Government mulled the delivery of two Nigeria Air airplanes today, to herald the takeoff of the controversial national carrier. The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), faulted the project coming upstream on the last day of the current administration and in violation of extant court orders on status quo ante. The Guardian, yesterday, learnt that at least two equipment, in Nigeria Air livery, will fly in from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, today, in line with the Minister of Aviations recent promise that the airline would still take off before Monday, May 29. Contrary to court orders, the minister, Hadi Sirika, had said that the aircraft would be unveiled in Nigerian colours in fulfillment of all promises the Buhari-led administration made in the aviation sector. But the AON has described the new twist as a last-minute disobedience of court order, attempt to muddle the water through a phantom project, and an effort to rubbish the Buhari-led administration. Solicitor to the AON, Abubakar Nuhu Ahmad, of the Nureini Jimoh (SAN) Chambers, in a memo to the Attorney General of the Federation, yesterday, drew attention to the pending suit number: FHC/L/CS/2159/2022, challenging the shady deals, deliberate infraction of the Nigerian laws and self-enrichment/corruption, against the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the Nigeria Air project. Ahmad said that in the said suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos headed by Justice A.L Allagoa, granted three separate orders of injunctions, restraining the defendant from taking of any step about the Nigeria Air project. He noted that while the administration would hand over on Monday, May 29, 2023, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, is planning to circumvent the Court Orders on Friday, May 26, 2023, being the last working day of this administration, and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, amongst others. The minister is planning to hurriedly bring in two aircraft and pretend that Nigeria Air has commenced operation. Aside from moral justification for commercial operation after the last day in office, it is a clever way to violate the court orders. Ahmad stated. He added that the action had 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 tenure has 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, the memo stated in part. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in November 2022, ordered all parties involved in the proposed national carrier to maintain the status quo, effectively truncating the December take-off date as pledged by the minister. The court gave the order upon receiving the application of the AON, urging the court to stop the national carrier deal and withdraw the Air Transport Licence (ATL) already issued to Nigeria Air by the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Operators, like Air Peace, United Nigeria, Azman, and Top Brass, claimed that the firm that served as Transaction Adviser for the transaction was incorporated in March, last year, and alleged that the company was linked to the aviation minister. The local airlines further alleged that the ATL issued to Nigerian Air did not pass through normal security clearance. A stakeholder, who did not want to be mentioned, regretted that after seven years and billions wasted on the project, the minister is still bent on creating landmines for the next administration. He described the national carrier project as one of the most wasteful ventures ever undertaken in Nigerias aviation history. He said: Can the Civil Aviation Authority confirm which AOC Nigeria Air is using? Has an AOC been issued and when was it issued? In all honesty, is this airline founded on a solid foundation to meet the aspirations and dreams of Nigerians? Or is it just a feat to cover the wasteful and shambolic project of Hadi Sirika? It has every inclination of a faulty foundation, and that is where the problem is for the next administration. An airline business is not a venture you hatchet under the table and expect to fly. No! A minister should know this. That we are having this conversation itself is a shame, he said. Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has described last minute efforts by Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to deliver Nigeria Air as an attempt the hoodwink the country. Its spokesman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said the association is not opposed to having a national carrier, but against any project packaged as a contraption, shadowy and not in the overall interest of Nigerians. The association also said recent moves by Sirika to bring in an aircraft preparatory for the take-off is a flagrant abuse of court orders on the project. A statement by Okonkwo reads: We have noted comments by Sirika that he Nigeria Air will begin operations before May 29. He also said an aircraft was on its way to Nigeria in less than 24 hours. These statements and actions are in disobedience to orders of the Federal High Court which halted the moves by the minister to float the airline until the determination of the substantive suit brought by AON against it. AON welcomes the establishment of more airlines in Nigeria for we believe that the skies are big enough to accommodate all. However, we are against any contraption that is shadowy and not in the overall best interest of the country. We need the minister to come forward, defend and counter the damning submissions in our suit. It is disturbing that a minister is desperately hoodwinking the entire nation into accepting a massively flawed process just 72 hours to the end of his seven-year tenure, even as the courts have halted him. The incoming administration should not be blackmailed into accepting a contraption that would hurt the Nigerian economy and destroy jobs in favour of one or two individuals and a foreign country by this hurried last minute desperation Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The billionaire founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos has reportedly recommenced the construction of his $175 million mansion shortly after his engagement to his partner, Lauren Sanchez. According to a recent report by the Daily Mail on May 25, workers were seen constructing the roof of the expansive three-story mega-mansion, located in the prestigious neighborhood of Beverly Hills, California. Bezos, who has a colossal net worth of $138 billion, acquired this lavish 10-acre property in early 2020, which had previously belonged to the esteemed former president of Warner Bros., Jack Warner. Spanning across 28,000 square feet, the $175 million comprises the main home, a guesthouse, a gym, a pergola, and even a separate house designated for security personnel. Following his recent engagement with Lauren Sanchez, the billionaire intends to expand the estate further by constructing a new pool house, a powder room, and retaining walls. The couples engagement took place aboard Bezoss magnificent $500 million yacht while they were attending the illustrious 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the exquisite South of France. It was gathered that Jeff Bezos proposed to Lauren Sanchez with an awe-inspiring 20-carat ring, estimated to carry a price tag of $2.5 million. See the photos below: KanyiDaily recalls that an American attorney, Brett Ward recently revealed that Lauren Sanchez could potentially earn at least $1,000,000 per year if she agrees to marry Jeff Bezos. Related Inibehe Effiong, a well-known legal practitioner and social critic, has expressed his views on the recent Supreme Court judgment that dismissed the disqualification suit against President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima. POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Effiong argued that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should have encouraged one of the participants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary to challenge Shettimas double nomination rather than pursuing the case themselves. According to him, the PDP made a significant error by independently contesting Shettimas double nomination. As previously reported by this newspaper, the Apex Court on Friday dismissed the PDPs suit, which sought the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima from the 2023 presidential election. The Court deemed the case to be severely lacking in merit. Taking to his verified Twitter handle, the legal expert emphasised the importance of strategic planning in legal matters and how it can significantly impact the outcome of a case. In law, strategy is important and can make nonsense of the substance of a case if not properly considered, Effiong wrote. He further stated that the PDP could have convinced one of the numerous aspirants who participated in the APC primary to challenge Shettimas double nomination rather than pursuing the matter themselves. The legal expert opined that the outcome of the case was foreseeable, given the legal landscape surrounding pre-election issues. Effiong concluded by suggesting that it would have been more effective to raise the double nomination as a ground in the petition and argue that it undermined Tinubu/Shettimas qualification. He regarded the case as a mere distraction from more pertinent matters. Yakasai avowed that profligacy, mismanagement, and lack of patriotism on the part of staff were among the long list of factors that killed the first carrier. Tanko Yakasai, the Nigerian elder statesman, on Friday congratulated the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and Nigerians over the rebirth of the national carrier, Nigeria Air. Yakasai who spoke in Kano shortly after the Nigeria Air fleet flew to Abuja stated that the arrival which coincided with activities leading to the swear-in of the elected President signposts a good omen for the incoming administration. He said: Its a big one for the incoming President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu since it coincides with his inauguration due largely to anticipated economic potentials associated with the venture. The elder statesman, however, cautioned, saying: Tinubu must ensure probity and accountability in the operations of the Nigeria Air; suffice to say that we must avoid the pitfalls that obliterated the first idea. Yakasai avowed that profligacy, mismanagement, and lack of patriotism on the part of staff were among the long list of factors that killed the first carrier. He said Nigeria is lucky to be counted among those who boast of national carriers, stressing that the spillover effect, if managed well, would boost the economy. He tasked Tinubu to ensure Nigeria Air blossomed under his leadership to further demonstrate Nigerias leadership role in Africa. The elder statesman praised the outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari, for the parting gift, noting that he has written his name in gold as far as our aviation industry is concerned. The Boeing 737-800 series aircraft which the Federal Government flew into Abuja for the unveiling of Nigeria Air belongs to Ethiopia Airlines, Daily Trust can confirm. The aircraft took off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at 9:55am on Friday and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 12:43 p.m. Shortly after the aircraft landed, Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, expressed delight that after a very long, tedious, daunting and difficult path, the project had taken off We are here. To Almighty God be all the glory. It has been a very long, tedious, daunting and difficult path. We thank everyone for the support. This, by the will of God, will be for us and generations to come. Ya Allah make it beneficial for our country and humanity pic.twitter.com/an4LbgmSf5 Hadi Abubakar Sirika (@hadisirika) May 26, 2023 He later unveiled the aircraft with registration ET-APL at the General Aviation Terminal of the Abuja airport. Checks by Daily Trust showed that the aircraft is owned by Ethiopian Airlines. ET-APL is written on the wing of planes operated by Ethiopian Airlines. Investigations showed that the aircraft flew for its original airline up till Sunday. It embarked on a trip from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv in Israel, according to the flight history. Flightradar, the popular flight tracking website, said the aircraft operated between Tel Aviv and Mogadishu, Somalia, still on May 21, 2023. On 20th May, it operated both Mogadishu in Somalia and Beirut on 20th May while the previous day it also serviced Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Ethiopian Airlines is a majority shareholder in Nigeria Air project. It has a 49% stake, a structure which made domestic airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) file a suit against the Federal Government. According to the ownership structure, two Nigerian companies hold a 46% stake while the remaining 5% stake is held by the Federal Government. Domestic airlines, namely Azman Air, Air Peace, Max Air, Topbrass Aviation and United Nigeria Airlines, member airlines of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, argued that the partnership would put them out of business by opening their market to Ethiopian airlines. Among the list of grievances, the airlines demanded an order of up to N2 billion in damages for wrongful exclusion and unlawful bidding and selection processes for the Nigeria Air project. Although Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had announced that the Nigerian Air aircraft would arrive the country Friday, he was silent on whether or not aircraft was purchased for the project. But last year he had told journalists that the Federal Executive Council approved the leasing of three aircraft for the carrier. We have said in our outline business case, which was earlier approved, that we are starting with three aircraft for the first instance and then we progress. We will have a mixture of Airbus and Boeings because every airline that will grow big uses the two, he said. We will start with domestic flights and then we grow to become international and then we move to become regional and intercontinental. There are challenges currently in our aviation industry but it is a global phenomenon and it will not last forever because aviation is a very resilient sector. Certainly, we will overcome these problems, he added Commenting on the airline project earlier on Friday, Chief Executive of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, said the arrival of the aircraft did not translate into commencement of commercial operation by the airline. Sanusi, who bared his mind on the issue during the interview, said it was one thing for the aircraft to arrive the country and another for the airline to commence commercial operation. According to him, it is practically impossible for the airline to start commercial passenger operation in two days time given the rigorous process involved which he believes would not be waived by the regulatory authority, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as the whole world is watching. He said, It is one thing to bring the airplane to the country, it is another thing to start the airline, getting all the necessary approvals from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Theres a very important and vital component of getting an AOC which is the demonstration flights. Of course there are waivers that the Director General of the NCAA has the power to give, but the demonstration flights is critical to safe operations and I do not think he would give that waiver. So it is practically impossible for the airline to take off in the next two days. It is not possible. Because they have to do the demonstration flights, the five phases have to be completed, the international community is looking at us to see actually whether we are actually following what the international Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has stipulated in their recommended practices and laid down procedures for commercial carriage of passengers internationally. After Sirika announced the launch of the airline at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK in 2017, he granted an interview where he said the carrier had also looked at 81 potential destinations, which included China and India. Daily Trusts messages to Sirika about findings on the aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines but he had not responded as of the time of filing this report. Source: https://dailytrust.com/revealed-nigeria-air-plane-flown-into-abuja-belongs-to-ethiopian-airlines/ Related Manuel (right) and Angelica Quezada (left) were taken into custody on Tuesday night after the fatal double shooting outside their home in Owasso, Oklahoma An Oklahoma couple have been arrested after the husband allegedly shot and killed their daughters boyfriend and his cousin when they showed up at their family home. Manuel and Angelica Quezada were taken into custody on Tuesday night after the fatal double shooting outside their home in Owasso, Oklahoma. Manuel was arrested for first degree murder for allegedly shooting Albert Thomas, his daughters 20-year-old boyfriend, and Alberts cousin, 21-year-old Dajon Ross. Angelica was arrested as an alleged accessory to the crime. Their daughter has not been named and it is unclear how old she is. Albert Thomas, 20, and Dajon Ross, 21, were shot and killed by Alberts girlfriends father on Tuesday night, according to police Police say the men had come to the home to pick up the couples daughter. What drove the father to allegedly kill them is unclear. He is believed to have shot one of the men in the driveway outside their home and the other in the car he was in. It is also not known how long the daughter and her boyfriend had been dating, or whether the father had ever met him before. Police are yet to say why her mother was arrested. One of the pair was shot in the car and the other was shot on the driveway According to public records, Manuel and Angelica have a 27-year-old daughter, 32-year-old son and 28-year-old son. Friends and relatives of the two victims paid tribute to them on social media on Wednesday as news of their deaths spread. Alberts mother launched a Facebook campaign to help pay for his funeral. **** Source: Daily Mail UK Leah Sharibu According to Sunday Punch, the family of Christian teenage schoolgirl abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in 2018, Leah Sharibu, has described reports that she had a baby boy in captivity as a rumour. A senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Jos, Dr. Gloria Puldu, who speaks for the family, also told Sunday Punch on Saturday that all they wanted was to have Leah home alive, with or without a baby. Some media reports had earlier reported that Leah had a baby for a Boko Haram commander in Niger Republic and that she would have been released some months ago but for her pregnancy. Dismissing the reports, Puldu said, I have seen reports that Leah had a baby boy. That is just a rumour as far as we are concerned. What we even desire is to see a proof of life so that we see Leah by ourselves. If they are able to have Leah safe, we will understand. The most important thing is that we want her to be alive. And if she is alive, we will praise God for that. They should release her, despite whatever condition she is in. That is all; it doesnt matter whether she is pregnant or with a baby. Is it not better to have your child alive? So, it doesnt matter, all we are interested in is her life and safety. Puldu also noted that they had unconfirmed information that Leah was still alive. She said, I spoke with Jennifer, who was in Boko Haram captivity, last Monday or Tuesday. I was able to speak with her one-on-one and she told us that she did not see Leah in captivity, but she was with Alison Gada, who informed her that Leah was alive, healthy and not dead. Incidentally, President of Ekklesiyar Yanuwa a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren), Rev Joel Billi, told one of our correspondents that a journalist who has access to Boko Haram, Ahmad Salkida, told him Leah had become a mother. The cleric said he got the call from Salkida on the same day the journalist announced the execution of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi, by Boko Haram. He said he had known Salkida as a young boy while he was a pastor in Biu. Billi said, Ahmed Salkida, whom I knew as a young boy when I was a pastor in Biu, called me to inform me that Andimi had been gruesomely murdered. I was also told by Ahmad Salkida that Leah Sharibu had given birth to a baby. I was devastated. I was staggering and almost fell down because I was shocked to hear that. I couldnt absorb the shock because Leah Sharibu had become a symbol of the Christian faith. I consider her Christian faith stronger than even that of many church leaders. When I heard that Leah Sharibu was now a mother, I had to ask more than three times just to be sure. Ahmad Salkida said, Leah Sharibu is now a mother. Leah was among 110 schoolgirls abducted on February 19, 2018 by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi in Yobe State. In March 2018, the Federal Government announced the insurgents had returned 106 of the kidnapped schoolchildren but that Leah was not among them. It was reported that Leah, who was 14 years old at the time she was kidnapped, w as not released because she refused to convert to Islam. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BLOOMINGTON Childrens Home & Aid hosted its 2023 Thrive Breakfast at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington. Over 270 local businesses and community leaders and elected officials attended the breakfast to celebrate 140 years of providing child welfare, youth and parent support, early childhood care and education, and mental health and wellness services throughout Illinois. The organization unveiled its new name and brand; Childrens Home & Aid will now be called Brightpoint. Thrive Award winners were also announced at the event, including Dennis and Jan Fries, who won the Community Partner Award; Heartland Bank and Trust, Corporate Partner Award; and Keg Grove Brewing Co., Small Business Award. A former staff member spoke at the event about losing her 9-month-old child to SIDS and how Brightpoint helped. Visit brightpoint.org for more information. Who was there? Childrens Home & Aid Thrive Breakfast 2022 John Keck, Jim and Marie Eledge Chris McConnell, Mendy Smith Staci Coussens, Katie Buckley Kelly Schuler, Paula Sweeney Joan Stralow, Suzi Nafziger Lori Hahm, Regina Cason-Collins Jan Murphy, Judi Jacobs Scott Murphy, Al Nathan Scott Henrichs and Mary Bennett-Henrichs Jolene Aldus, Kim Schoenbein Andrea Arduini, Beth Newton Fanya Mojica, Anne McDowell Stacie and John Killian Jim Goldenstein, Jon Sandage, Dan Muller, Don Knapp Gregory Cox, Sara Irmen Cathy Oloffson, Lyn Potts Teri Naour, Julie Koh, Kara Leak Paula Crowley Deneen, Tina Marlett, Katie Klein Emily Janssen, April Garcia, Abby Behrens Melissa Isenburg, Julie Dobski, Tracy Patkunas Lisa Pieper, Jaime Russell Dan Adams, Tony Morstatter Chris McConnell awarding Angie Prang of the DoubleTree by Hilton the Corporate Partner award Stuart Nerby accepting the Small Business Partner Award for Hermes Service & Sales Mendy Smith Featured Speaker Greg Cox Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BLOOMINGTON Dakesa Pina has been selected as Illinois Wesleyan Universitys inaugural vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, effective July 1. Pina currently is director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Illinois State University College of Education, according to a Thursday afternoon news release from IWU. I am excited to join the Illinois Wesleyan community in its efforts to provide the most enriching, progressive, vibrant and welcoming community possible for its students, faculty and staff, Pina stated. During her time at ISU, Pina has been repeatedly recognized for her DEI work. Most recently, she was the first recipient of the Higher Education Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership Award from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. Pina earned a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy at Texas Tech University, a masters in marriage and family therapy at Indiana State University and a bachelors in psychology at Bowling Green State University. She previously served as a staff counselor at ISUs Student Counseling Services; a countering domestic violence adult counselor at Mid Central Community Action in Bloomington; and directed clinical services at the Childrens Advocacy Center of the South Plains in Lubbock, Texas. IWU President S. Georgia Nugent said creating a cabinet-level position devoted to diversity has been a key priority at the university. To become a more inclusive, equitable and just community, we must all work together, Nugent stated. I look forward to welcoming Dr. Pina into the Titan community and our leadership team. Photos: Heartland Head Start graduation ceremony at Illinois Wesleyan University 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. 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 general's office hadn't 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 we're 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 state's 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 Raoul's report found 125 additional abusers in the archdiocese, many of them religious order priests whose cases wouldn't 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 Raoul's investigators substantiated the claims. Asked why it wasn't sufficient for the church to accept cases that the attorney general's 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 we're 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. That's 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 he'd "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 didn't 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. 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 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 The Supreme Court has affirmed the eligibility of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to contest the presidential election that held on February 25. The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, on Friday, held that an appeal the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, filed to challenge the legality of Tinubus candidacy, lacked merit. PDP had in the appeal marked: SC/CV/501/2023, sought Tinubus disqualification on the premise that the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, allowed himself to be nominated for more than one constituency, ahead of the 2023 general elections. It told the court that Shettima was nominated twice, both for the Borno Central Senatorial seat and for the Vice Presidential position. PDP argued that Shettimas dual nomination, was in gross breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended. Consequently, aside from praying the court to nullify Tinubu and Shettimas candidacy, the Appellant equally applied for an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to expunge their names from the list of nominated or sponsored candidates that were eligible to contest the presidential poll. Meanwhile, the apex court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, held that PDP lacked the locus standi (legal right) to interfere in affairs of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which nominated both Tinubu and Shettima for the presidential election. The apex court upheld the concurrent decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, which earlier dismissed PDPs case. It agreed with the respondents that section 285 (14) (c ) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, did not confer the locus standi (legal right) to challenge the candidature of Shettima on the ground of double nomination. The apex court held that section 84 of the Electoral Act only empowered an aspirant that participated in the primary election of a political party, to challenge the nomination of a candidate by the party. It held that the PDP failed to establish the injury it suffered as a result of the nomination by the APC, stressing that the law does not permit a political party to dabble in domestic affair of another political party. The Supreme Court said the PDP was unable to prove that its civil rights and obligations were in danger of being infringed upon. It described the appeal as the action of a nosy busy-body and a meddlesome interloper that is peeping into the affairs of its neighbour. More so, the apex court berated the PDP for filing the appeal which it said was frivolous and capable of exposing the judiciary to public ridicule. The apex court held that evidence before it showed that Shettima duly withdrew as the candidate of the APC in the Borno senatorial election, on July 6, 2022. In whichever angle this appeal is viewed, it is frivolous and bound to fail. From the trial court, down to this court, it has been a waste of precious judicial time. The instant appeal was unnecessary and counsel should do better to advice their client against filing this sort of suit in future, Justice Jauro added. While dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court okayed N2million damages that was awarded against the PDP, in favour of the respondents. Source: vanguardngr 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 Historian and lawyer, Dr. Anokye Frimpong has given a historical masterclass about how Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah earned the unalloyed loyalty of one-time coup leader Col. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. The historian detailed that young Acheampongs enlistment to the then colonial army was threatened on the day of commissioning but for the intervention of the Osagyefo at the parade grounds. In the early 50s when Acheampong was training to be enlisted into the army, on the day that they were to be commissioned, the colonial administration for whatever reason put aside Acheampong and decided not to enlist him. Kwame Nkrumah was at the parade grounds, he went straight to the young Acheampong and asked why he was sitting alone when his colleague had lined up, to which Acheampong replied to the effect that the white man said he was not fit to be in the army. Records available to GhanaWeb shows that Acheampong was commissioned into the army in 1959, by which time Nkrumah was president. He continued his narration on the GTV Breakfast show, that Nkrumah approached the colonial leaders of the army and told them that until Acheampong had joined the parade, nobody will join the army, after jaw-jaw, he was called to join the parade. Historian Frimpong emphasized that this incident was at the heart of Acheampongs loyalty to Nkrumah through his days as Prime Minister to elected president and long after his overthrow. This man said to himself that I will always do whatever that is necessary to acknowledge what Nkrumah has done for him. Acheampong leads bloodless coup: Acheampong led a bloodless coup d'etat that overthrew the elected government of the Progress Party led by Dr Kofi Busia on 13 January 1972. He assumed the position of head of state and chairman of the National Redemption Council (NRC), which was later transformed into the Supreme Military Council on 9 October 1975, with Colonel Acheampong (promoted to General) as its chairman. The historian narrated how Acheampong led the coup that overthrew Nkrumah partly because of the then administration stone-wall approach to Guinean request for herbs in the Nzema area to treat exiled and ailing Nkrumah after a condition he developed post the Kulungungu bombing episode. When they (Acheampong) heard of that his master, his father and friend was seriously ill and needed to be brought home for treatment, he quickly sent disco and that was when Busia was away on a medical checkup and succeeded. Acheampong, he revealed named his junta the National Redemption Council, with the middle word being in respect of Nkrumah Osagyefo means redeemer. The new junta leader sent Nkrumah's medical doctor son, Francis Nkrumah to check on the health of his father but he reported that Nkrumah could not come back to Ghana given the state of his health, attesting that he will die in few months. 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 Amit Agrawal, Country Head of Olam Agri in Ghana, has been honoured with the CEO of the Year award in Agri-Business and Food Processing at the just-ended 7th Ghana CEO Summit held at Kempinski Hotel in Accra. This marks Mr. Agrawals second consecutive recognition by the Summit for excellent leadership in Agribusiness and Food processing, having been decorated as the overall CEO of the year in the private sector in 2022, sturdily affirming his reputation as an exemplary leader in the agriculture and food industries. The CEO Summit, organized by the CEO Network Ghana, is an annual business leadership forum that draws industry players and policymakers together to discuss Ghanas potential for private-public sector collaboration in exploring opportunities and ideas for addressing the economys most significant challenge. Reacting to his recognition, Amit Agrawal said, "I am deeply honoured to be recognized as the CEO of the Year in both Agribusiness and Food Processing for the second year in a row. These awards are a testament to the collective efforts of the entire team at Olam Agri Ghana, whose dedication and hard work have propelled us to new heights. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and I remain committed to driving sustainable growth and creating a lasting impact in Ghana's agricultural and food processing sectors," the Olam Agri Country Head added. The theme for this years CEO forum, Economic Sovereignty, Sustainability, Corporate Governance, and Digital Industrial Transformation: New Paths for Growth and Prosperity. A private-public sector CEO dialogue and learning, was selected to provide a platform for promoting conversations on and around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and its impact on sustainability and business growth. Victoire de Wever, the CSR Partnership and Engagement Manager at Olam Agri, seized the opportunity offered by the forum, to speak on the company's ESG strategy for addressing climate, nature, and livelihoods, and in the process, highlighted the company's efforts to support farmers and farming communities in sustainable growth, improving nutrition and embracing climate-smart practices on and off farms to reduce climate impact while fostering growth. Olam Agri is a differentiated food, feed, and fibre agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities, and a deep understanding of market needs built over 33 years. The company has a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets and products across grains & oilseeds, animal feed and protein, rice, edible oils, specialty grains & seeds, cotton, wood products, rubber, and commodity financial services and is positioned at the heart of global food and agri-trade flows with more than 38 million MT in volume traded annually. 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 Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio says parts of the iconic cotton tree that was brought down by a storm in the capital Freetown will now be preserved in a museum. He said the tree, which stood for hundreds of years, wasnt just a tree, but a connection between the past, present and the future and we must strive to immortalize it. The preservation of the tree will be led by the tourism and cultural affairs ministry, he said and would serve as a reminder of the countrys shared heritage and history. Mr Bio spoke when he visited the site of the fallen tree in the centre of the city. Earlier, the president had described the tree as a great loss for the nation and said the tree was a symbol of liberty for early settlers. It also appears on Sierra Leone banknotes. 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. 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 A primary four history textbook has become the center of discussions after it emerged that it had content that in many parts listed disadvantages of religion, specifically of Christianity. The book, History of Ghana for Basic Schools, Learner's Book 4, was authored by Francis Benjamin Appiah and Henry David Appiah. The cover page sighted by GhanaWeb has the approval of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) even though the outfit has denied approving the said copy. The contentious page making the rounds on social media platforms is under the section titled: "NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES." The authors list seven anti-Christianity points which have triggered the social media debates. The points range from religion being a major cause of conflict globally, that Christianity has led to increase in poverty and that the religion missionaries brought "create a sense of fear or timidity in their adherents." Find the seven points below: NaCCA reacts: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) in reacting to the book has stated that the version cited is not what was approved. A Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Yaw Opoku Mensah is quoted by Joy News as stating that NaCCA had not approved the particular copy. He claimed that per the information provided to him by NaCCA, the approved version of the book did not have the section in question, the Joy News report added. NaCCA is an entity mandated by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) to develop national curriculum and assessment standards for pre-tertiary education institutions other than technical and vocational education and training institutions. 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 Residents of Amakom in the Ahafo Ano South East District of the Ashanti Region have been taken off the national grid following a mass electricity meter theft in the area. According to the residents, they now have no access to electric power after some suspected thieves invaded the community and made away with meters in the community. Expressing concern over the issue to Faustina Adutwumaa, a student of OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies, some residents said the rate of meter theft in the community was alarming. They disclosed that over ten meters were stolen on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, causing fear in the area. The residents have therefore called on the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service to intervene and find a lasting solution to the problem. "We were connected to the national grid just two years ago, and since then, those who connected power have had their meters stolen". "We do not know those doing this to us, but they have left us with no light in our houses, and so we want the police to investigate the situation," one resident Mr Halidu Haruna cried out. 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 lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Emmanuel Acheampong has revealed how the Ghana Card saved him from missing his flight from Germany to Ghana after misplacing his passport. Speaking on Okay FM Ade Akye Abia show, Dr. Acheampong narrated how he got to the airport in Hamburg only to realize he had left his passport at home but the Ghana Card saved the day for him. Yesterday, I was coming from Europe to Ghana. At the airport, I joined the queue to check in and when it hlgot to my turn to be processed, I strangely could not find my passport. I checked all my bags and I could not find my passport so I called home and I was told I had left my passport at home," Dr. Acheampong said. He further stated; "I had one option, which was to rebook the flight and that would cost me extra money. Then I remembered that sometime ago, there were media reports that it is possible for one to travel to Ghana on a Ghanacard, and I had my Ghanacard in my purse." "So I approached the airline, Air France and showed my Ghanacard to them to prove that I am a Ghanaian and I had reason to travel to Ghana. Because the Ghanacard is machine readable, they scanned and confirmed that indeed I am a Ghanaian." "They also conferred with the Immigration officials at the airport, but unfortunately for me, by the time they completed these processes, I missed that particular Airfrance flight, but I was rebooked on KLM because of the alliance between Air France and KLM. So I travelled to Ghana from Hamburg through Amsterdam on my Ghanacard," he added. Dr. Acheampong continued that because he had linked his Ghana Card to his passport and driver's license, it was easier and faster for the officials to confirm his identity through the card. "Interestingly, because I had linked my passport and my drivers license to the Ghanacard, they were able to see all that when they scanned it that I am indeed a Ghanaian citizen." "The good thing is that the Ghanacard is machine readable so you can insert it in any readable machine and every information on it will show, and that's exactly what the airline did without my passport. "And when I got to Ghana, I realised that Ghana Immigration Service had a special desk which processed holders of Ghanacard. So I didn't go through the normal Immigration channel where you had to show your passport. I went through the special desk. I didn't know something like that existed", he happily recounted. Dr. Acheampong admitted that until his personal experience, he did not believe the Ghana Card could be used to travel. "Honestly I was surprised I was able to use the Ghanacard to travel. Some months ago when reports emerged that the Ghanacard could be used as a travel document, many people didn't believe it. Honestly, I also didn't believe it," he admitted. "But I was caught up yesterday because if I lost that flight, I would have spent some money to rebook it so I said no, let me try it because the government has announced that the Ghanacard could be used to travel. I tried it and thankfully it worked. It saved me time, it saved me money and I am happy to be back home." He described the Ghana Card as a very good initiative and urged Ghanaians to embrace it as well as other digitization efforts in the country by the government. "The Ghanacard is a very good initiative. Not only the Ghanacard, but also efforts to digitise many aspects of our econony and national life is very important. Wherever you go, before any office or government would engage you, you'll first have to be identified as the real person." "It is a good effort and Ghanaians should embrace it. My own experience shows that some of these initiatives can help, especially in situations such as I found myself in." 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 (Photo : OZAN KOSE / AFP) Russian authorities had apprehended two Ukrainians who allegedly planned to attack nuclear power facilities in Russia. (not the actual photo) The Federal Security Bureau (FSB) announced that Russia had apprehended two Ukrainians who allegedly planned to attack nuclear power facilities in Russia. "A sabotage group from the Ukrainian foreign intelligence service attempted to blow up approximately 30 power lines at nuclear power facilities in Leningrad and Kalinin" at the beginning of May, the FSB was quoted as saying in a statement by Russian news agencies. Ukrainians Planned to Attack Russia's Nuclear Power Facility It was stated that the objective was to cause "serious economic injury to Russia and tarnish its reputation." The men had planted explosives in four pylons transporting high-voltage lines from the Leningrad nuclear power station, the Moscow Times reported. The Ukrainian special services intended to close down nuclear reactors, disrupt nuclear power plant operations and cause severe economic and reputational damage to the Russian Federation. The attacks were to occur on the eve of the May 9 anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. It was not specified when the individuals were detained. In addition, explosives were planted near seven similar pylons connected to the Kalinin nuclear facility. The FSB stated that it was searching for a third individual of Ukrainian-Russian descent and that 36.5 kilograms of explosives and approximately 60 detonators were discovered in the residences of the suspects and their alleged accomplices. According to the FSB, two Russians who allegedly assisted the trio were also detained. The Leningrad facility is the largest nuclear power reactor in Russia. It is situated on the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg. The nuclear power plant at Kalinin is 350 kilometers north of Moscow. According to the FSB, the saboteurs were enlisted in 2022 by Ukraine's foreign intelligence service (FISU) and trained at bases in Kyiv and the region of Mykolaiv. According to the FSB, they infiltrated Russia via Poland and Belarus. "The defendants have confessed to cooperating with the Ukrainian foreign intelligence service in order to plan and conduct sabotage on Russian land," the FSB said, as per Reuters. The Russian Security Service referred to the attack as "nuclear terrorism" and stated that it was scheduled to occur on May 9, when Russia celebrates its victory in World War II, also known as the Great Patriotic War. According to the FSB, the saboteurs were able to blow up one pillar, and two Ukrainian citizens were detained following the incident: Aleksandr Maystruk, born in 1978 and dubbed Mechanic, and Eduard Usatenko, born in 1974 and dubbed Maks. Yury Kischak, a Russian and Ukrainian national who was born in 1953 and went by the alias YuBK, and is presently in Belgium, was also added to the wanted list. Maystruk and Usatenko told the FSB that they were recruited in 2022 by an officer of the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service named Vitaly Gorbatyuk, trained in special centers in the Kyiv and Mykolaiv regions, and then unlawfully crossed the Russia-Belarus border via Poland. It added that the explosives were transported via an international cargo transportation channel along the route through the Polish city of Chelm and the Lithuanian city of Shalchininkai and then through the territory of Belarus to the Rzhevsky district of the Tver region in Russia. Following the incident, a criminal case was initiated under the articles "Sabotage" and "Illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of explosives or explosive devices." Under the first provision, the utmost sentence is twenty years in prison, while under the second, it is eight years, as per aa.com. Read Also: States Sue Avid Telecom Company Responsible for Billions of Illegal Robocalls US Suspects Ukraine of Conducting Drone Attack Against Russia According to US officials, Ukraine was likely responsible for the thwarted drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month and several other murders and incursions on Russian territory. Intelligence officials do not know which unit was responsible for the drone attack or if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky knew about it beforehand. The US has limited confidence in its assessment based on intercepted communications with Ukraine and Russia because it has not yet identified the specific unit responsible for the attack. Two drones attacked the Kremlin in Moscow on May 3, but they caused minimal damage before Russia disabled them. Ukraine has denied responsibility for the drone assault, as it has for other alleged attacks on Russian soil. Russia has repeatedly blamed Ukraine and the United States for the drone attack, considering Washington to be more than just a strategic partner for Kyiv. US officials believe a pro-Ukraine group was behind the attack on Russia's vital revenue source, the Nord Stream oil pipelines, last year. Some Ukrainian covert operations operate mainly independently and do not always require Zelensky's approval. Related Article: China, Russia Deepen Ties by Signing Economic Pacts Despite Western Criticism @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former President John Mahama has said Africa is where hope resides. In his 2023 Africa Day statement, John Mahama highlighted the many opportunities Africa could capitalize on to improve the continent. I have been participating in a number of activities put together by the Korea-Africa Foundation to commemorate the 2023 Africa Day here in Seoul, and it is clearer more than ever that Africa is where hope resides. On the occasion of this years commemoration, I celebrate the unity, strength, and diversity of the African continent. Ours is a resource-rich and dynamic continent with a growing and vibrant youth population, full of endless potential and promise a place with great prospects on the horizon for building the Africa we all want, Mr. Mahama stated. He continued: Today provides another opportunity to honour visionaries like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Emperor Haile Sellasie, and Gamal Abdul Nasser, who laid the foundation for our continental unity and promoted the ideals of pan-Africanism. We must commend the many others who, in succeeding years, have strived to promote continental peace, development and integration, like Ghana did when under my presidency, we led the way for other African countries with the implementation of a Visa-on-Arrival policy for fellow Africans. The former President stated, 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. He added that if there was any doubt, the advent of the coronavirus pandemic laid bare the need for greater continental unity and cooperation. Mr. Mahama further stated that it is unacceptable that amidst endless opportunities, intra-African trade remains the lowest among all the continents. We must work towards improving healthcare delivery, promoting disease prevention mechanisms and ensuring access to quality healthcare for our people. This will enable us to be better prepared to face health-related challenges as we head into the future. In the spirit of cooperation, we must work together against political instability and dissident activities that may threaten our continent by strengthening security cooperation among member states. This includes addressing issues of corruption, human rights violation, unemployment, inequalities and general absence of rule of law that often serve as impetus for the enablers of instability. As we build bridges among ourselves and work together, we should empower our mother continent, especially our youth and women, eradicate poverty, promote sustainable development and create opportunities for all Africans and generations to come. Happy Africa Union Day! 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 Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has condemned the public declaration of support for a Presidential aspirant by leaders of the political party he belongs to. As the governing New Patriotic Party gears up for its Presidential primaries, some Regional executives and leading members of the party have publicly chosen their favorites to win the elections. With some rooting for the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, others are campaigning for the former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, who are among the candidates vying for the flagbearer position of the NPP. Mr. Pratt, speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', argued that it is not good for the leaders to declare their support for a candidate. To him, it doesn't augur well for the party as the leaders, in his view, are supposed to abstain from making their intentions known about a candidate. He wondered why this culture of executives, Ministers and others vouching for a particular candidate hasn't been addressed by the party to stop them from continuing this habit. He asked the leaders who are into such habit to keep their mouths shut when it comes to their choice of a Presidential candidate. "If you are a leader and you know you play a key role in this election process, shut your mouth!" 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 Not only are the temples at the top of Mount Fanjing marvels of human inspiration, the Fanjingshan mountain ranges have been recognized for their ecological importance too. Fanjingshan became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986 and was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2018, included for its "high degree of biodiversity." Fanjingshan's flora have evolved as if the ranges were an island; in fact, they are described as "an island of metamorphic rock." This level of isolation has created significant endemism, meaning it's populated by species that are limited to a small geographic area or are unique to an area. In fact, there are 3,724 plant species on the site, as well as 2,317 invertebrates and 450 vertebrate species. It's the only place in the world where the Fanjingshan fir and Guizhou snub-nosed monkey are found. Advertisement Accessing the temples is no walk in the park, and there are many "steps" to getting there. China Discovery details the route, which begins at the Fanjingshan Scenic Area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Tongren City. The visit starts gently with a sightseeing bus ride that can be followed by a cable car ride to the first station, and along the forest hiking road, there are sites to enjoy. The steps along the side of the mountain from Pudu Square to the summit are narrow and steep, sometimes offering an iron chain railing to hold. It's slow going, and the estimated time to visit just the peak is four hours. As incredible as the temples atop Red Clouds Golden Summit are, there is also plenty to see throughout the Fanjingshan site, especially for nature and landscape lovers. Visitors with more time to spare can consider a multi-day tour that includes additional sightseeing and a several-hour hike weather permitting, of course. Now That's a Shame Before making UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2018, the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978 to protect the critically endangered Guizhou snub-nosed monkey. However, despite conservation efforts, its numbers have continued to decrease. " " Friends, family and residents of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood attend a vigil for 10-year-old Lena Nunez on June 29, 2020. Nunez was shot and killed by a stray bullet while watching television with her brother in her grandmother's home. Gun violence soared in Chicago in 2020. Scott Olson/Getty Images In 2020, more than 4,000 people were victims of gun violence in the city of Chicago. That number was almost 1,500 more from the year before. Those 4,000 were just part of the story in a particularly (if not historically) violent year in the Windy City, which reported a staggering 769 homicides in 2020, a more than 55 percent jump from 2019. Chicago, of course, is not alone among U.S. cities struggling against a rising level of violent crime, much of it gun-related. The surge has put a spotlight on one possible tool to combat the problem, a decades-old technology that, these days, can almost instantaneously root out the location of a gunshot and quickly dispatch law enforcement to the scene. Advertisement President Joe Biden recognized the lure of such tech in June 2021 when he trumpeted money from the American Rescue Plan that he said could be earmarked for "gunshot detection systems." He was referring to companies like ShotSpotter, a Silicon Valley firm that sells "acoustic surveillance technology" read: hardware, software and an around-the-clock service that detects and pinpoints the location of gunshots to law enforcement agencies. No one is touting these systems as a cure-all to the nation's gun-violence problem. The epidemic has far too many causes and is way too deeply ingrained in society for one easy solution, no matter how well it does, or doesn't work. But ShotSpotter, and other technology like it, could be a critical component in calming things down and turning back the swelling tide of violence. "The goal is to improve public safety," says Ron Teachman, the company's director of public safety solutions and a longtime law enforcement agent in New Bedford, Massachusetts and South Bend, Indiana. "Getting the police to respond comprehensively and effectively. Enhance community trust. Improve community collaboration. And ultimately, reduce gun violence." " " The ShotSpotter system uses an array of microphones that can detect, identify and send alerts when and where guns have been fired. ShotSpotter 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: Possible orbits of a planet in a hierarchical triple-star system. Note that m1, m2, and m3 do not necessarily agree. Credit: The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (2022). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/ac9302 A planetary physicist at The University of Texas at Arlington is the lead author of a study that catalogs all known planet-hosting, triple-stellar systemsthose having three or more stars with planets. Manfred Cuntz, professor of physics, led the project, titled "An Early Catalog of Planet-hosting Multiple-star Systems of Order Three and Higher." This study provides a thorough bibliographic assessment of planet-hosting, triple-stellar systems. It was recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplements Series. Co-authors include UTA alumni G.E. Luke, Matthew Millard and Lindsey Boyle, as well as Shaan D. Patel, a doctoral-bound graduate student. The paper offers a system classification that considers the various types of planetary orbits among other factors. Additionally, the authors examine past controversies and planet retractions based on the criteria for what constitutes a planet-hosting, triple-stellar system. Most planets, such as all in Earth's solar system, orbit a single star. About 100 known planets are members of stellar binaries, the authors wrote in their study. "The number of planets found to be hosted by higher-order systems is relatively smallabout 40 for triple and quadruple systems combined, with the exact number depending on whether some controversial or unconfirmed cases are included," Cuntz said. "The number of confirmed planets in triple-stellar systems currently stands at about 30, which is approximately 0.5% of the total number of planets identified. This aspect makes those planets very special." The NASA Kepler Space Telescope, which was operational from 2009-18, aided in the science of discovering planet-hosting, triple-stellar systems, Cuntz said. Scientists expect the number of known systems to increase, particularly with the abilities of the James Webb Space Telescope, which was launched in 2021. The authors note that the overwhelming majority of triple-stellar system planets are Jupiter-type, meaning they are gas giants, and the host stars are relatively massive, compared to typical main-sequence stars. However, some Earth-mass planets have been found as well. Triple-stellar systems can be divided into two subgroups, each of which travels in a relatively large orbit around the system's center of mass. In a triple-stellar system, two of the stars usually form a close binary pair (two stars that are gravitationally bound to and in orbit around each other), and the third orbits that pair from a farther distance. Systems with more than three stars are expected to produce even more complicated orbiting arrangements. "The existence of planets in triple-star systems is extremely challenging theoretically, both regarding their formation and orbital stability," Cuntz said. "These topics are a stark motivation of future UTA research, also involving students." More information: M. Cuntz et al, An Early Catalog of Planet-hosting Multiple-star Systems of Order Three and Higher, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (2022). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/ac9302 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: Thousands of sea lions have washed up dead on the beach in Chile. Nearly 9,000 sea lions, penguins, otters and small cetaceans have died in an avian flu outbreak battering Chile's north coast, the South American country's fisheries service said Thursday. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 7,600 sea lions, 1,186 Humboldt penguinsan endangered species that breeds only in Chile and Peruand several otters, porpoises and dolphins have been found dead along the coast, the Sernapesca service said in a statement. The disease was present in 12 of Chile's 16 regions, it added, and announced the activation of "surveillance protocols" along the coast, including burying affected animals in a bid to prevent further virus spread. Since late 2021, one of the worst global avian influenza outbreaks on record has seen tens of millions of poultry culled, mass wild bird die-offs and a rising number of infections among mammals in several countries. In Cambodia, an 11-year-old girl fell ill in mid-February with a fever, cough and sore throat, and died from the H5N1 bird flu virus, according to the health ministry there. Her father also tested positive, but Cambodian health authorities ruled out human-to-human transmission. It is rare that bird flu jumps over into mammalsand rarer still that humans catch the potentially deadly virus. Officials in Chile are burying animals that died of bird flu in a bid to inhibit virus spread. There is no treatment for bird flu. There is no treatment for the disease, which is often deadly in wild and domesticated birds. In March, Chile signaled its first case of human infection, in a man aged 53. Elsewhere in South America, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Peruwith hundreds of sea lion deathshave also reported cases. 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: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The marine ecosystems of the South Atlantic Ocean have experienced a significant decline in recent decades due to overfishing and habitat degradation. This is demonstrated by a scientific study led by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) that sheds light on the magnitude of human impact on these once thriving marine areas based on the archaeological analysis of fish remains from several sites in Brazil. The Indigenous communities that inhabited the southern coast of Brazil for thousands of years enjoyed abundant and diverse marine ecosystems teeming with large, high trophic level fish and top predators that played an important role in their food security in the past. This allowed their periodic exploitation by Indigenous populations with simple fishing technology for thousands of years. After comparing the archaeological remains of fish species from the past with the present-day fish populations, the results show a significant decrease in many of the species, particularly sharks and rays, possibly linked to the escalating human impacts, such as overfishing and habitat degradation in recent decades. Thiago Fossile, lead author and researcher at ICTA-UAB and the UAB Department of Prehistory, emphasizes the growing anthropogenic pressures faced by aquatic fauna in Brazil, a country known for its stunning beaches and diverse wildlife. "Many species documented in archaeological sites are now endangered, while for other species there is insufficient data on their distribution and abundance. By using archaeological data, we can gain insight into these lost environments and can redefine conservation baselines." Andre Colonese, senior author of the study and researcher at ICTA-UAB and the Department of Prehistory at UAB, highlights the importance of coastal and marine ecosystems in sustaining subsistence fisheries for thousands of years along the Brazilian coast. "Hundreds of archaeological sites provide valuable information on past biodiversity, contributing to discussions on fisheries management and conservation. This study emphasizes the significance of incorporating archaeological data into conservation debates in Brazil, enhancing the discipline's relevance to environmental issues." For Mariana Bender, co-author from the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, the study offers a new perspective into the understanding of the exploitation of fish biodiversity through time. "It is amazing what archaeological sites can tell us relative to the impacts of ancient human populations on fish biodiversity. Looking at fish characteristics we found evidence that large top predators have long been exploited and recent fisheries have moved towards lower trophic levels. This process is not recent, but instead, has been in place for thousands of years," she says. Co-author Dione Bandeira of the Universidade da Regiao de Joinville (Brazil) explained, "Indigenous environmental stewardship serves as a model for sustainable resource utilization and plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity in tropical and subtropical regions of South America. Additionally, studies focusing on archaeological faunal remains provide valuable insights into the origins and evolution of these enduring practices." The study is published in the journal PLOS ONE. More information: Thiago Fossile et al, Bridging archaeology and marine conservation in the Neotropics, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285951 Journal information: PLoS ONE 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: The European Physical Journal E (2023). DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00283-w Active Brownian motion describes particles that can propel themselves forward while still being subjected to random Brownian motions as they are jostled around by their neighboring particles. Through a new analysis published in The European Physical Journal E, Meng Su at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, together with Benjamin Lindner at Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, have discovered that these motions can be accurately described using four distinct mathematical patterns. Active Brownian particles can be found across a diverse array of scenarios in nature: from sub-cellular structures pulled along by biomolecular motors, to movements of entire herds of animals, which can act collaboratively to find food or evade predators more easily. Recently, researchers developed artificial particles that behave in strikingly similar ways to their natural counterpartspresenting exciting new opportunities in medicine robotics, and many other fields of cutting-edge research. Ultimately, Su and Lindner's discoveries could lead to fascinating new insights into how these systems behave. The motions of active Brownian particles are already known to depend on the friction they experience, as well as external bias forces, which skew their paths in specific directions. Using computer simulations active Brownian systems, backed up by simple calculations, Su and Lindner discovered that variations in these two parameters can force the systems into one of four possible states. When a balance emerges between biased active driving forces, and the friction experienced by a particle, it will enter a "locked" stateconfining its motion to a small region. When its driving force instead dominates over friction, the particle will move persistently in a mostly straight line: entering a "driving" state. Alternatively, the particle can switch back and forth between locked and running states, or between two different running states. When the system is subjected to random noise, the average speed of the particles will change depending on the intensity of the noisebut their motions still stay in one of these four states. More information: Meng Su et al, Active Brownian particles in a biased periodic potential, The European Physical Journal E (2023). DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00283-w Journal information: European Physical Journal E Provided by Springer 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: Two cheetahs are seen inside a quarantine section before being relocated to India at a reserve near Bella Bella, South Africa, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. Three cheetah cubs, born to a big cat brought to India from Africa last year, died in May, 2023. Their mother was among the 20 that India flew in from Namibia and South Africa, as a part of an ambitious and hotly contested plan to reintroduce them to Indian grasslands. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File Three cheetah cubs born to a big cat that was brought to India from Africa last year died in central India's Kuno National Park in the past week, forest officials said, as a heat wave in the region sent temperatures soaring. The cubs were the first to be born in India in more than seven decades. Once widespread in India, cheetahs became extinct in 1952 from hunting and habitat loss. Their mother was among the 20 cheetahs that India flew in from Namibia and South Africa as part of an ambitious and hotly contested plan to reintroduce the world's fastest land animal to the South Asian country. The first cub died on Tuesday, prompting veterinarians in the national park in Madhya Pradesh state to closely monitor the mother and her three remaining cubs. The cubs appeared weak on Thursday afternoona day when temperatures spiked to 47 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit)and authorities intervened to help the cats. They were "weak, underweight and highly dehydrated" and two of them later died, forest officials said in a statement Thursday. The last surviving cub is being treated in a critical care facility. Officials didn't say what caused the deaths but a scorching heat wave in India is believed to have weakened the cubs. The survival rate of cheetah cubs both in the wild and captivity is low, according to experts. A cheetah lies inside a transport cage at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) before being relocated to India, in Otjiwarongo, Namibia, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. Three cheetah cubs, born to a big cat brought to India from Africa last year, died in May, 2023. Their mother was among the 20 that India flew in from Namibia and South Africa, as a part of an ambitious and hotly contested plan to reintroduce them to Indian grasslands. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File The cats were introduced with much fanfare and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the cats would catalyze efforts to conserve India's neglected grasslands. But of the 20 adult cheetahs imported to India, threetwo females and a malehave died. Fewer than 7,000 adult cheetahs remain in the wild globally, and they now inhabit less than 9% of their original range. Shrinking habitat, due to the increasing human population and climate change, is a huge threat. 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: Frequency of Ads Across Counties. Notes: Panel A shows the cumulative ads by date (in millions). In Panel B, each dot represents a given YouTube channel on which the ad was shown over 1,000 times (with only a handful of these channels labeled for readability). The vertical axis shows the number of times (in units of 1,000) that the ad showed on a given channel, and the horizontal axis orders channels in descending order by the number of times the ad showed. Credit: (2022). DOI: 10.3386/w29896 A large-scale study to see if politically partisan cues can induce people to get COVID-19 vaccines found that, yes, they can. The researchers created a video ad campaignwith Fox News clips about Donald Trump supporting vaccinationsand the ad led to an increase in vaccines across numerous counties by a total of more than 100,000. The study involved creating a 27-second video compilation of Trump's comments about the vaccine from Fox News interviews. The researchers then presented the video to millions of U.S. YouTube users in October 2021. Results indicate that the resulting video campaign increased the number of vaccines in each county where the video was shown by 103 on average, multiplied by 1,014 counties. The study did not include any counties where at least 50% of people were already vaccinated. The budget was about $100,000, coming to $1 or less per vaccine. "The campaign was cost-effective," said Brad Larsen, an associate professor of economics at Olin Business School and lead author of "Counter-stereotypical messaging and partisan cues: Moving the needle on vaccines in a polarized U.S.," which was accepted for publication at the journal Science Advances. The research has more implications for Americans' health. The partisan divide has spilled over to other vaccines as well, with Republicans now far less likely than Democrats to get flu shots or to view other immunizations positivelya divide that did not exist before the pandemic. The deepest fault line The Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that, among the 27% of American adults who remained unvaccinated for COVID in late October 2021, 60% were Republicans, far above their share in the electorate. Although race, ethnicity, income, urbanicity, education and age also were associated with Americans' decisions to get vaccinated, political partisanship was the deepest fault line, the paper reported. For their research, the scholars wondered if a remedy for the partisan divide over COVID vaccines might stem from mechanisms like those that created the disparity in the first place: partisan cues. Of course, research already showed that many people form preferences by following cues from their party leaders, a regularity that has grown stronger as the parties have polarized. New Olin Business School research demonstrates the effectiveness of partisan cues in a COVID-19 vaccination video ad campaign. Credit: Washington University in St. Louis They thought that messages publicizing Trump's support for COVID-19 vaccinessupport he did little to advertise after leaving the White Housemight inspire the vaccine-hesitant among his supporters to get vaccinated. So, Larsen and co-authors created the public service announcement (PSA) featuring news clips of Trump on Fox News encouraging people to get vaccinated. By using both Trump and Foxinconsistent messengers about the seriousness of the pandemicthey created a counter-stereotypical message. The study co-authors are Timothy Ryan and Marc Hetherington from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Steven Greene from North Carolina State University, Rahsaan Maxwell from New York University and Steven Tadelis from the University of California, Berkeley. 'A political remedy' The PSA includes four separate video clips: The first and third are from a Fox 13 News Utah segment recorded on March 16, 2021. The second is from a phone interview between Donald Trump and anchor Maria Bartiromo recorded on the Fox News Channel on the same date. The fourth is from a social media post of Ivanka Trump from the spring of 2021. The researchers hired a video editor to combine the clips and overlay them with a soundtrack. Knowing that many users might stop the PSA from playing as soon as possible, news of Trump's endorsement needed to occur immediately, Larsen said. Within the first three seconds of the ad, the Fox 13 Utah anchor says, "Donald Trump is urging all Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine." "It catches people's attention, and it can change the way they think," Larsen said. "And that was our hope." He and his colleagues tested the ad through a large randomized controlled trial on YouTube, targeting counties that lagged in vaccine uptake. Overall, a total of 11.6 million ads reached 6 million unique viewers. They then measured the effect of the campaign on county-level vaccination counts in data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total increase in vaccinations after the campaign was 104,036, costing about $1 or less in ad spending per vaccine. "Given plentiful evidence of small, undetectable effects of public messaging in other settings, these results are encouraging and represent a large return on investment," the authors write. "The result also highlights an approach to increase vaccinations for a fraction of the cost of other interventions, such as vaccine lotteries or direct payments. "In short, we find that a problem with political origins also has a political remedy." More information: Bradley Larsen et al, Counter-stereotypical Messaging and Partisan Cues: Moving the Needle on Vaccines in a Polarized U.S., Science Advances (accepted 2023). DOI: 10.3386/w29896 Journal information: Science Advances (Photo : Mikhail Klimentyev / SPUTNIK / AFP) (MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) Russia is moving forward with its planned deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus after the signing of a deal with the latter. Russia signs deal with Belarus for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the region The plan immediately drew criticism from the United States government Russian President Vladimir Putin first revealed his desire to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus in an interview on Mar. 25 Russia moves forward with deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus after signing a deal on Thursday, sparking criticism from the United States government. Belarus' leader said that the warheads from Moscow were already on the way to the nation, which marks the Kremlin's first deployment of such armaments outside of Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia Moves Forward With Nuclear Weapons Deployment The U.S. State Department denounced the deployment plan. Still, it noted that Washington had no desire to alter its position on strategic nuclear weapons or had seen any signs that Moscow was trying to use a nuclear weapon. On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the American government and its allies are now fighting a proxy war against Moscow following his orders to invade Ukraine. According to Reuters, the Russian president announced the deal to deploy nuclear weapons during an interview with state television on Mar. 25. During a meeting, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk that the West was waging an undeclared war against their countries. Shoigu added that the West was doing everything possible to "prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine." Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko added that in accordance with an order that Putin signed, the tactical nuclear weapons were already on their way to his country. However, there was no confirmation regarding that claim from the Kremlin. In a statement, Lukashenko said that the movement of nuclear weapons has "already begun." His remarks were made during his attendance in Moscow for talks with other leaders of ex-Soviet states. Shoigu was quoted as saying that the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus was what prompted the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, according to Aljazeera. Read Also: Investigation Reveals Use of Spyware in Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict Sparking Widespread Criticism Since Russia started invading Ukraine last year, Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow was prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend the nation's "territorial integrity." However, at the time, NATO said that it did not see any need to adjust its nuclear posture. This comes despite the military alliance calling Putin's deployment of nuclear weapons "dangerous and irresponsible." On the other hand, Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy and defense analyst Richard Weitz said that Moscow is unlikely to benefit from its decision. He argued that Russia already has thousands of nuclear weapons, with some already deployed on the ground or onboard airplanes near Belarusian facilities. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the plans were only the latest example of Russia's irresponsible behavior since its invasion of Ukraine. He repeated Washington's warning that using chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in the armed conflict would result in "severe consequences," said Inquirer. Related Article: Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets After Spotting Russian Planes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce 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: Antarctic Bottom Water is formed close to Antarctica, so one of the only ways to observe its changes is by ship. Credit: Dr Steve Rintoul Antarctica is a unique landscape, full of mystery and wonder. Its environments have a huge impact on the rest of the planeton the climate, the ocean and on life itself. About 250 trillion metric tons of salty, oxygen-rich, and dense water sinks near Antarctica each year. This is known as Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). The process of sinking drives a global network of currents. Newly formed AABW fills up to 40% of the total volume of the world's ocean. Much like the way a lung pumps oxygen into our blood, AABW transports oxygenas well as carbon and nutrientsinto the deep Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. But a new study led by CSIRO researcher Dr. Kathy Gunn, shows this sinking of dense water has slowed. And, with this, deep ocean oxygen levels have also declined. The research is published in the journal Nature Climate Change. "Our observations show the deep ocean circulation around Antarctica has slowed overall by about 30% since the 1990s. This slowdown locks in decades of impacts," Kathy said. This slowdown happened because increased melting of Antarctica's glaciers made surface waters less salty, and therefore more buoyant. This means there is less dense water sinking from the surface to the depths. The interruption of a key process that replenishes the deep ocean with oxygen has effects that reach far beyond the immediate sea. What changes can we expect? The results of the study show the deep ocean circulation is declining at a rate that models predicted wouldn't happen until about 2050. Professor Matthew England, co-author and Deputy Director of the Australian Center for Excellence in Antarctic Science, said recent modeling suggested that under the IPCC high emissions scenario the flow of AABW would slow by more than 40% by 2050. "But these latest observations suggest the projected slowdown is in fact already well underway," Matthew said. And, as this circulation slows down, the bottom of the oceans start to stagnate. "This would trap nutrients in the deep ocean, reducing the nutrients available to support marine life near the ocean surface," he said. Co-author Dr. Steve Rintoul, from our Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, said there are further impacts. "We're used to the idea that melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet causes sea level rise. But this work also shows us that the impacts of melting glaciers in Antarctica extend all the way to the deep sea, affecting climate and ocean chemistry, as well as sea level," Steve said. Measuring the mysterious Southern Ocean Not much is known about the Southern or Antarctic Oceans compared to other oceans. However, the oceans buffer the worst impacts of climate change by absorbing at least 90% of the excess heat trapped in Earth's atmosphere. Kathy and her team have now developed a new method of measuring the deep circulation in the Southern Ocean. From this, they have achieved the first observation-based estimates of how the volume transport of AABW has changed. "AABW is formed close to Antarctica, so one of the only ways to get there and directly observe its changes is by ship," Kathy said. She said repeated full-depth measurements from ships are the gold standard of data acquisition for the deep seas. But these measurements have only been repeated about once every 10 years since the 1970s. "And because the bottom water is so deep, it's very hard to measure by other means," Kathy said. "We are talking depths of up to 6,000 meters. The data that we regularly collect goes only to 2,000 meters." This means data on the deep Southern Ocean is scarce. But researchers still noticed volumes of AABW were getting smaller. "The ship measurements showed us that the bottom water layer was shrinking at several locations," Kathy said. "But we didn't know exactly what was causing it." An instrument was deployed from the side of a ship to collect temperature, salinity and pressure readings in the ocean. Credit: Dr. Steve Rintoul. So how did they do it? To discover how and why the deep ocean was changing, the team combined the ship observations with water speed, temperature and salinity measurements from moored instruments. The moorings were attached to wires anchored to the seabed, with floats at the top, and left for up to two years at a time. Using models to fill any data gaps, the researchers could then calculate the volume and oxygen transport of the AABW. Co-author Dr. Melissa Bowen from the University of Auckland said the novelty of the method is combining a variety of observational data with realistic model simulations. "The data is limited in space, but it shows us what is really happening in the ocean," Melissa said. "The simulation, on the other hand, is not able to reproduce the real ocean exactly, but it can tell us about the nature of the ocean currents where measurements were not available. "By combining what the flow looks like in space from the simulation with the changes in time from the moorings, we use the best information from both," she said. The team focused on the Australian Antarctic Basin, because it has historically shown large changes in AABW, and is most likely to provide an emergent "early-warning" sign. Melissa said the mooring location within the Australian Antarctic Basin is at its gateway with the Ross Sea. "Here we can see dense water pulsing with the tides and fluctuating as its density changes,"Melissa said. She said the method they've developed can continue to provide estimates of AABW. Where to now? The freshening around Antarctica is expected to continue, even accelerate, as the Antarctic Ice Sheet responds to and melts under a rapidly warming climate. But it's not all bad news. "We also found an increase in shelf water salinity between 2009 and 2018, which drove a partial recovery," Kathy said. She says this recovery provides further motivation to continue to work hard in reducing global carbon emissions. "It's all to do with salinity. The salinification and recovery of the circulation shows that the mechanisms can work in both directions," she said. "So, if freshening reduces, then some of the deep overturning circulation could be recovered." But, for now, the overall decline is already changing the deep ocean's structure and chemistry. "The slowdown means we are already committed to a certain amount of change that will play out across the next few decades," Kathy said. More information: Kathryn L. Gunn et al, Recent reduced abyssal overturning and ventilation in the Australian Antarctic Basin, Nature Climate Change (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01667-8 Journal information: Nature Climate Change Provided by CSIRO 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: 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. Credit: Jordan Christian Flash droughts develop fast, and when they hit at the wrong time, they can devastate a region's agriculture. They're also becoming increasingly common as the planet warms. In a new study published May 25, 2023 in Communications Earth & Environment, 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. How flash droughts develop All droughts begin when precipitation stops. What's 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. Timing is everything for agriculture We've lived through a number of flash drought events, and they're 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, it's 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. In the southern Great Plains, winter wheat is at its highest risk during seeding, in September to October the year before the crop's 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 doesn't fall during the growing season for natural grasses, cattle don't have food, and ranchers may have little choice but to sell off part of their herds. Again, timing is everything. It's not just agriculture. Energy and water supplies can be at risk, too. Europe's 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 couldn't get water for cooling, compounding the region's 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 we're 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 they'll 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. We're 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 drought's 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. More information: Jordan I. Christian et al, Global projections of flash drought show increased risk in a warming climate, Communications Earth & Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00826-1 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment 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: Neutron stars are compact objects formed when massive stars collapse at the end of their lives. Tracking how hypernuclei flow collectively in high-energy heavy ion collisions could help scientists learn about hyperon-nucleon interactions in the nuclear medium and understand the inner structure of neutron stars. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory Physicists studying particle collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have published the first observation of directed flow of hypernuclei. These short-lived, rare nuclei contain at least one "hyperon" in addition to ordinary protons and neutrons. Hyperons contain at least one "strange" quark in place of one of the up or down quarks that make up ordinary nucleons (the collective name for protons and neutrons). Such strange matter is thought to be abundant in the hearts of neutron stars, which are among the densest, most exotic objects in the universe. While blasting off to neutron stars to study this exotic matter is still the stuff of science fiction, particle collisions could give scientists insight into these celestial objects from a laboratory right here on Earth. "The conditions in a neutron star may still be far from what we reach at this moment in the laboratory, but at this stage it's the closest we can get," said Xin Dong, a physicist from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) who was involved in the study. "By comparing our data from this laboratory environment to our theories, we can try to infer what happens in the neutron star." The scientists used the STAR detector at RHIC, a DOE Office of Science user facility for nuclear physics research at Brookhaven National Laboratory, to study the flow patterns of the debris emitted from collisions of gold nuclei. Those patterns are triggered by the enormous pressure gradients generated in the collisions. By comparing the flow of hypernuclei with that of similar ordinary nuclei made only of nucleons, they hoped to gain insight into interactions between the hyperons and nucleons. "In our normal world, nucleon-nucleon interactions form normal atomic nuclei. But when we move into a neutron star, hyperon-nucleon interactionswhich we don't know much about yetbecome very relevant to understanding the structure," said Yapeng Zhang, another member of STAR from the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the data analysis together with his student Chenlu Hu. Tracking how hypernuclei flow should give the scientists insight into the hyperon-nucleon interactions that form these exotic particles. The data, just published in Physical Review Letters, will provide quantitative information theorists can use to refine their descriptions of the hyperon-nucleon interactions that drive the formation of hypernucleiand the large-scale structure of neutron stars. "There are no solid calculations to really establish these hyperon-nucleon interactions," said Zhang. "This measurement may potentially constrain theories and provide a variable input for the calculations." Go with the flow Previous experiments have shown that the flow patterns of regular nuclei generally scale with massmeaning the more protons and neutrons a nucleus has, the more the nuclei exhibit collective flow in a particular direction. This indicates that these nuclei inherit their flow from their constituent protons and neutrons, which coalesce, or come together, because of their interactions, which are governed by the strong nuclear force. The STAR results reported in this paper show that hypernuclei follow this same mass-scaling pattern. That means hypernuclei most likely form via the same mechanism. "In the coalescence mechanism, the nuclei (and hypernuclei) form this way depending on how strong the interactions are between the individual components," Dong said. "This mechanism gives us information about the interaction between the nucleons (in nuclei) and nucleons and hyperons in hypernuclei." Seeing similar flow patterns and the mass scaling relationship for both normal nuclei and hypernuclei, the scientists say, implies that the nucleon-nucleon and hyperon-nucleon interactions are very similar. The flow patterns also convey information about the matter generated in the particle smashupsincluding how hot and dense it is and other properties. "The pressure gradient created in the collision will induce some asymmetry in the outgoing particle direction. So, what we observe, the flow, reflects how the pressure gradient is created inside the nuclear matter," Zhang said. "The measured flow of hypernuclei may open a new door to study hyperon-nucleon interactions under finite pressure at high baryon density." The scientists will use additional measurements of how hypernuclei interact with that medium to learn more about its properties. The benefits of low energy This research would not have been possible without the versatility of RHIC to operate over such a wide range of collision energies. The measurements were made during Phase I of the RHIC Beam Energy Scana systematic study of gold-gold collisions ranging from 200 GeV per colliding particle pair down to 3 GeV. To reach that lowest energy, RHIC operated in "fixed-target" mode: One beam of gold ions traveling around the 2.4-mile-circumference RHIC collider crashed into a foil made of gold placed inside the STAR detector. That low energy gives scientists access to the highest "baryon density," a measure related to the pressure generated in the collisions. "At this lowest collision energy, where the matter created in the collision is very dense, nuclei and hypernuclei are produced more abundantly than at higher collision energies," said Yue-Hang Leung, a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. "The low-energy collisions are the only ones that produce enough of these particles to give us the statistics we need to do the analysis. Nobody else has ever done this before." How does what the scientists learned at RHIC relate to neutron stars? The fact that hypernuclei appear to form via coalescence just like ordinary nuclei implies that they, like those ordinary nuclei, are created at a late stage of evolution of the collision system. "At this late stage, the density for the hyperon-nucleon interaction we see is not that high," Dong said. "So, these experiments may not be directly simulating the environment of a neutron star." But, he added, "This data is fresh. We need our theory friends to weigh in. And they need to include this new data on hyperon-nucleon interactions when they build a new neutron star model. We need both experimentalists and our theorists' efforts to work towards understanding this data and making those connections." More information: B. E. Aboona et al, Observation of Directed Flow of Hypernuclei H3 and H4 in sNN=3 GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.212301 Journal information: Physical Review Letters 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: Mapping the UHI risks (R.01; R.02) and the prioritized areas for intervention (R.03). Credit: CMCC Foundation Urban areas are where the majority of the world's population lives, and they are also usually most affected by climate change. Heat waves and extreme temperatures are more intense in heavily-built areas, intensifying existing weaknesses and inequalities among the urban population. An interdisciplinary study published in Urban Climate and led by the CMCC Foundation focuses on the Urban Heat Island phenomenon, providing a reproducible and flexible methodology to explore the risk assessment on the heat-health nexus within the city of Turin, Italy. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) is defined as a temperature difference between urban and rural areas, caused by the excess of heat emitted and by the solar gain trapped by the urbanized environment. "The UHI phenomenon is typical of urban areas and it is stronger during heat waves events," said Marta Ellena, of the CMCC's REgional Models and geo-Hydrological Impacts (REMHI) division, and first author of the paper. "This happens because cities are mostly covered by impermeable surfaces, and this makes temperatures higher, worsening the already existing UHI effect." The main objective of the study was to produce climate risk assessment evaluations at the local scale taking under consideration the main drivers of inequality, which are crucial for suggesting adaptation strategies for more climate-resilient and sustainable cities. An important feature of the study was the identification of the UHI risk per census tract, which is the minimum geographical entity of data collection currently available from Italian municipalities. "This is one of the most innovative aspects of this work," said Ellena, "because previous studies considered city's quarters or districts. For example, Turin has 23 quarters and 8 districts: in this study we considered its census tracts, which are 3843, so it is an enormous set of information, especially compared to previous studies." The research was carried out adopting an up-to-date theoretical framework proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and applying it on the urban area of Turin, the fourth most populated Italian urban area. The UHI-related risk is described in this framework as a combination and interaction of three main factors: hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. The climate hazard is represented by the UHIs and their distribution within the city boundaries; exposure refers to the presence of vulnerable citizens in urban areas who are likely to be adversely affected by the occurrence of UHI phenomena: in this case, the population aged 65 or over. Finally, vulnerability is defined as made up of two factors, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Sensitivity is composed of the elements which contribute to the susceptibility of the exposed population considered, such as demographic and socioeconomic factors, health conditions and the environmental context of the urbanized area. Adaptive capacity, on the other hand, takes into consideration the availability of facilities and services which contribute to more favorable conditions for individuals under extreme temperatures. "The combination of all these different factors allows us to express the complexity of the concept of risk associated with Urban Heat Islands," said Guglielmo Ricciardi, of CMCC and Politecnico di Torino, another author of the study. "It's not only greener or more urbanized areas that influence the risk on citizens. We should also consider the characteristics of buildings, the proximity to hospitals, or to public spaces with air conditioning, among others." The results were collected in tables and visualized through georeferenced maps for individual and aggregated indicators, and are open access and available under a creative commons license. The results of the study allowed for the identification of UHIs in the city of Turin, and the associated risk for the population, as well as the priority areas for intervention on a highly detailed scale. While the lowest hazard was measured in green areas corresponding with the main urban parks, thus demonstrating the significant contribution of vegetation to heat reduction, higher-risk zones are mostly located in the densely populated areas of the suburbs. "A strength of this work is that such a high-resolution analysis of the connection between the UHI hazard, the population exposure, and the related vulnerabilities at the urban level is still uncommon," said Ellena, "and we hope it will be used by policymakers for informed decisions and adaptation measures, or by other researchers as a guidance to reproduce similar analyses in other Italian (and not Italian) urban contexts." More information: Marta Ellena et al, Micro-scale UHI risk assessment on the heat-health nexus within cities by looking at socio-economic factors and built environment characteristics: The Turin case study (Italy), Urban Climate (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101514 Provided by CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change 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 pod of killer whales repeatedly rammed a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar this week, damaging it enough to require Spanish rescuers to come to the aid of its four crew members. It was the latest episode in a perplexing trend in the behavior of orcas populating the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula that has left researchers searching for a cause. Spain's Maritime Rescue service said that killer whales repeatedly ran into the Mustique, a 20-meter (65-foot) vessel sailing under a U.K. flag, late on Wednesday, rendering its rudder inoperative and cracking its hull. Spanish rescuers needed to pump out seawater before towing her to safety. The alert reached the Spanish service via their British counterparts, who had relayed on the distress call, the Spanish service said. A helicopter and a rescue boat were deployed to help the damaged boat to dock in Barbate. This was the 24th such incident registered by the service this year. The service didn't provide data from last year. But the Atlantic Orca Working Group, a team of Spanish and Portuguese marine life researchers who study killer whales near the Iberia Peninsula, says that these incidents were first reported three years ago. In 2020, the group registered 52 such events, some of which resulted in damaged rudders. That increased to 197 in 2021 and to 207 in 2022. The killer whales seem to be targeting boats in a wide arc covering the western coast of the Iberia Peninsula, from the waters near the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain's northwestern Galicia. According to the group, these killer whales are a small group of about 35 whales that spend most of the year near the Iberian coast in pursuit of red tuna. The so-called Iberian orcas average from five to 6 meters (16-21 feet) in length, compared to the orcas of Antarctica which can reach nine meters (29 feet). There have been no reports of attacks against swimmers. The interactions on boats seem to stop once the vessel becomes immobilized. Biologist Alfredo Lopez, of the University of Aveiro and member of the research group, said that the incidents are rareand enticingly odd. "In none of the cases that we have been able to see on video have we witnessed any behavior that could be considered aggressive," Lopez told The Associated Press by phone on Friday. "They appear calm, nothing at all like when they are on the hunt." Lopez said that while the cause of the behavioral turn is unknown, his group has identified 15 individual whales that are involved in the incidents. He said that 13 are young whales, which could support the hypothesis that they are playing, while two are adults, which could support a competing theory that the behavior is the result of some traumatic event with a boat. In either case, he said the whales are showing once again that they are social animals. "Orcs are animals with their own culture," he said. "They transmit information to one another." 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: Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Thermal Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103592 Mosquitoes have thermal preferences. This is an important parameter to better predict outbreaks of diseases transmitted by these insects. "If they have a choice, when it's hot, mosquitoes hide in a cool place to rest," says Niels Verhulst, author of a study recently published in the Journal of Thermal Biology. The entomologist from the University of Zurich summarizes the results of the experiment he conducted with his team. They have been working for several years to better understand mosquito behavior. These insects are vectors of many important pathogens for humans and animals, that cause dengue, West Nile fever or malaria, so it is crucial to be able to predict how their populations develop. Four degrees lower is more restful Verhulst's study examined for the first time outside a laboratory the thermal preferences of the insects. To this end, he observed the temperature of the places where the mosquitoes restedan activity that occupies most of their timewhen they were released in a large, special cage outdoors during the summer. Specifically, he introduced between 100 and 200 females of the species Aedes japonicus (Asian bush mosquito), into the cage on 19 occasions. This cage was equipped with three resting boxes whose temperature had been treated to create a relatively cool microhabitat with approximately 18C over the duration of the experiment and a warm microhabitat with approximately 35C in addition to an untreated ambient microhabitat with approximately 26C. Mosquitoes could freely enter and leave the boxes. For each trial, mosquitoes resting in the three boxes were counted five times, every two hours. The researcher observed that among the resting boxes, the mosquitoes' preference was for the coolest box. This phenomenon became more and more pronounced during the day, as the ambient temperature increased. "Across the experiments, the resting temperatures of Aedes japonicus were on average four degrees lower than the ambient temperatures measured by the nearby weather station," Verhulst says. These results need to be refined over longer periods of time and, in particular, with infected mosquitoes capable of transmitting diseases. Scientists do not know, for example, whether such mosquitoes also prefer cooler temperatures or whether they prefer warmer places to shed pathogens, the same way we do to get rid of a virus when we have a fever. Microclimates that favor survival In any case, the thermal preferences of mosquitoes are an important parameter to take into account in models for predicting disease transmission. "Currently, models cannot correctly predict the development of mosquito populations and their pathogens since they are based on ambient temperatures measured by weather stations. However, these stations measure temperatures at an altitude of two meters in the middle of fields, where no mosquitoes are found anyway. Thus, based on this average temperature alone, a model could estimate that mosquitoes cannot survive in a certain area because it is too hot, while in reality, by finding cooler microclimates, the mosquito will be quite capable of reproducing and transmitting diseases," Verhulst explains. Refining the models by taking this parameter into account will also be important for predicting population movements of the insect in the wake of climate change. More information: Raphaela Ziegler et al, Temperature preference of sugar- or blood-fed Aedes japonicus mosquitoes under semi-natural conditions, Journal of Thermal Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103592 Provided by Schweizerischer Nationalfonds SNF 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: Proportion of philosophers and economists who are comfortable with different discount rates. There is a strong consensus among economists and philosophers on the appropriate level of the social discount rate, a cornerstone of climate economic modelling. 91% of philosophers and 77% of economists are comfortable recommending a discount rate of 2%. Credit: University of Copenhagen A new study shows that philosophers with expertise on social discounting and intergenerational distribution want to put more emphasis on the conditions of future generations in climate economic calculations. But they fundamentally agree with economists on one of the key parameters. How do we value the costs of climate change, which may not be fully materialized for one or two generations? And how much climate action should we do today without wasting resources? These are some of the questions that economics try to answer in climate economic modeling, and in this context the choice of the social discount rate is crucial. The higher the rate, the more you write down future benefits and costs in areas such as climate change. Conversely, if the discount rate is kept low, more weight is given to the challenges of the future and more climate investments with a long time horizon will make economic sense. There is a growing consensus among economists to keep the social discount rate around 2%. Now, a new international study shows that many philosophers with expertise on the topic share this recommendation (see image above). The study used a survey to investigate views on the use of discount rates in climate economic models among philosophers with expertise in discounting. A total of 29 philosophers participated in the study, which follows up on a similar survey among economists. The study is published in Nature Climate Change. This suggests a consensus across two disciplines as different as economics and philosophy on one of the most important parameters in climate economic modeling. This also means that the UN's target of keeping global warming below two degrees is in fact economically optimal when the recommended social discount rate is applied in a recent update to the leading climate economic model (DICE). The study follows a similar survey of economists. The new survey, which presents the recommendations of philosophers with expertise in discounting, shows that they are more willing to emphasize the ethical aspects involved in long-term issues such as climate change. It is perhaps less surprising that philosophers focus more on ethics than economists. Still, it is important to account for ethical considerations when economists model far ahead in the future. As Frikk Nesje, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics and first author of the study, explains: "For example, how should we weigh the concerns of future generations, and how should we approach the choice between consuming more now or rather in the future? Such questions have an ethical component that many economists today are fully aware of, but not always the best to answer." Philosophers bring new perspectives to climate economic models Few philosophers have expertise in discounting compared to economists, and the survey has on the global level only identified 46 relevant philosophers in the field, most of whom, 29, responded to the questionnaire. Of these, almost half did not answer the question on the appropriate level of the social discount rate. However, almost all respondents have provided written remarks. And while many agree with economists on the numerical value of the social discount rate, philosophers generally express a reluctance to reduce economic modeling of long-term issues such as climate change to a question of economic parameters and classical utility considerations. One respondent points out that the present generation has an ethical obligation not to harm future generations and suggests a very low discount rate. Conversely, another emphasizes that it is morally acceptable and sometimes even required "to give greater weight to the concerns of those nearer and dearer to us than to those further away." Both examples represent ethical considerations, which should play a greater role in the climate-economic modeling. Economists shouldn't have a monopoly on policy recommendations, says Nesje. "The aspects highlighted by the philosophers are already part of the public discourse. For example, the administration of U.S. President Biden has been advised to take non-economic inputs into account when revising the social discount rate. But it is interesting in itself to know what other disciplines think about the issues we are working on." More information: Frikk Nesje et al, Philosophers and economists agree on climate policy paths but for different reasons, Nature Climate Change (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01681-w Journal information: Nature Climate Change 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 Indonesia is the biggest palm oil producer in the world, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture crediting it with a nearly 60 percent share of global production. The versatility of palm oilit is used in cosmetics, food products, detergentsis a key reason for its popularity, which translates to a global market worth some US$60 billion that is predicted to reach US$100 billion by 2030. Increasingly, palm oil is also used to make biodiesel. While that might reduce the use of fossil fuels and therefore be viewed as being environmentally and sustainability friendly, the somewhat murky reputation of palm oil gives consumers pause despite it producing "more oil per land area than any other equivalent vegetable oil crop". "There was a lot of conflict and excitement at the same time," says Ishani Mukherjee, Singapore Management University (SMU) Associate Professor of Public Policy. "On the one hand, biodiesel could be championed as an alternate fuel and a move away from fossil fuels, but on the other hand the ecological issues associated with palm oil as a feedstock were something we could not ignore." She adds, "What was revealed at that time were these massive regulatory gaps in how the sustainability of biodiesel was being governed. So, my research came along at that point. I looked at three main policies that were out there to check the sustainability of this product in Indonesia. I realized that there was a lot of leakage happening across the supply chain that was undermining the sustainability of the product." Professor Mukherjee's recent paper "Fueling green connections: Networked policy instrument choices for sustainability regulation," which is based on her previous fieldwork, examined the environmental sustainability of Indonesia's biodiesel governance regime, and won the Review of Policy Research Best Article Prize for 2022. The three main policies that she looked at were: The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification standard, otherwise known as Ministry of Agriculture Regulation No. 19/2011. ISPO is a re-establishment of existing multi-ministerial regulations into a dedicated package that streamlines national sustainability certification efforts; Ministry of Energy Regulation No. 32/2008, the national mandates on biodiesel use that requires a progressive blend of biodiesel and diesel to be supplied across the nation; and The Basic Forestry Law (Law No. 41/1999) that established a classification system for national forests which is used to site oil palm plantations for biodiesel production. These three laws "either have direct effects on sustainability as part of feedstock production upstream, indirectly impact the environment by involving the final commodity downstream or have sustainability 'spillovers' across sectors," Professor Mukherjee wrote in the paper. Subsystems, interconnectedness, and cohesion She then looked into the biofuel regulatory subsystem in Indonesia. "A policy subsystem is the main unit for policy scholars to study and draw the boundaries around any issue area," Professor Mukherjee explains, adding that "the subsystem idea allows us to look at a policy issue and all the actors, institutions and ideas that occupy that space." "For example, the biodiesel policy subsystem unites different ministries (agriculture, forestry, energy) with different non-governmental organizations (environmental and social), and different industries (palm oil and biofuel) and other actors, that the term 'ministry' or the word 'sector' or 'industry' would not fully capture." She then measured the 'interconnectedness' of the subsystem, using the UCINET software to pick out actors' common presence at meeting and conferences, which "gave an idea of how frequently they were meeting and talking" about the issues at hand. High interconnectedness may include routine meetings, information transfer, or contractual obligations, in this case relating to biodiesel policy. Professor Mukherjee also looked at the 'cohesion' between the actors by quantifying how much they agreed on the various issues. To achieve this, she went through proceedings, documented records and meeting minutes to find instances where attendants agreed (or disagreed) on various issues, and followed up with extensive interviews. The result of this network analysis: Indonesia's biofuel subsystem had high interconnectedness and low cohesion, which means the many parties met regularly but they often did not agree on what should be done to regulate it sustainably. "Biodiesel as renewable energy and palm oil are contentious topics. They tend to polarize people so that makes it easy to identify cohesion or the lack thereof," notes Professor Mukherjee. "Sustainability needs to be achieved across the supply chain. That's what wisdom about sustainability policy tells us because there's no point in having piecemeal policy tools if there are so many leakages across the supply chain." "I looked at the three main policies governing biodiesel sustainability, and I saw that they were actually governing sustainability at three different chunks of the supply chain. Those chunks reflected patchiness in the policy network. There were actors clumped together on the downstream of the supply chain." "Another clump of actors appeared in the middle of the supply chain. Another clump appeared in the beginning, more upstream end. That was a very telling example: if we have these clumps appearing in a network, each of those clumps will frame its sustainability priorities differently." Research findings and lessons According to Bressers and O'Toole's 1998 work, "The Selection of Policy Instruments: A Network-Based Perspective", which the biodiesel study updates, policymakers in subsystems with high interconnectedness and low cohesionone of four combinations of high/low interconnectedness and cohesionwould produce policies or regulations with characteristics represented by parentheses below: Provision or withdrawal of resources (Limited withdrawal); Freedom of choice to apply (Absent); Unilateral or bilateral action on target groups (Many bi- or multilateral arrangements); Normative appeal (Present); Proportionality (Present, Individualized); and Role of policy makers in implementation (Implementation by a policy maker or affiliated organizations) Professor Mukherjee compared how the three Indonesian biofuel governance policies matched up to a preference for policy characteristics aligned with high interconnectedness and low cohesion, finding mixed results. "Bressers and O'Toole's theory has been tested in different contexts, but despite those different contexts, they have shown similar results," Professor Mukherjee elaborates, referring to policies in a high interconnectedness/low cohesion subsystem would have the same characteristics. "Here, it is not the case. The beauty of the theory is that you should be able to test it in any subsystem [and get the same results]." "With regard to the resource-based policy variable, Indonesia's biofuel governance follows what we would expect from a poor alignment of goalsthat is, a focus on punitive resource withdrawal (i.e., No. 1)," she notes. "In further agreement with the hypothesis, this punitive tendency is mediated by Indonesia's high interconnectedness, resulting in the incentives of the national mandate and the loosening of the withdrawal capacity of forestry laws. Across other policy variables, however, overall consistency is lackingexcept for the national mandate (i.e., No. 2), for which most of the six variables are aligned with the network structure." One feature of Indonesia's biodiesel governance is the concentration of powerful central policy actors. Specifically, the central actors in this case are government agencies in the form of the ministries of agriculture and energy that affect the design of the policies. As a result, a more nuanced approach is necessary, incorporating centrality, to evaluate the impact of policy networks on sustainability governance, says Professor Mukherjee. "Firstly, the degree of centrality in policy networks should be tested as an explanatory variable of policy choicethat is, to what extent are certain parts of the network concentrated in the center and thereby given favorable positions to formulate policy end up impacting what elements get included in the design of a policy instrument?" "Secondly, the study acknowledges dominance as a missing factor in the research. When singular actors are dominant in a network of high interconnectedness, policy selection may resemble conditions of low interconnectedness, making it an important factor to account for." More information: Ishani Mukherjee, Fueling green connections: Networked policy instrument choices for sustainability regulation, Review of Policy Research (2022). DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12479 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 Since ancient times, religious beliefs and practices have been a powerful force in shaping morality, justice, values and the things that influence a society. However, with increased secularism, does religion still play such a role? To understand the role of religion in society, Assistant Professor Justin Tse decided to focus on the influence of Catholicism on 'social dreaming'a term that defines an idealized vision of a society that is just, democratic and respectful of human rights, and governed by the rule of law. In speaking to the Office of Research, he said, "Given Catholicism is one of the largest and most practiced religions in the world, I thought that it would be a good place to start." In his latest research project titled "Catholic Talk, Social Dreaming: Civil Service Discourse in Ukraine and Hong Kong," two social movementsone each in Ukraine and Hong Kongwere chosen to study the phenomenon. These two movements not only attracted a huge following of secular participants, they also garnered some support from the local Catholic church. The first social movement that Professor Tse examined was the post-maidan Ukraine movement. In the period between November 2013 and February 2014, tens of thousands of people went to Maidanthe main and central square in Kyiv, to protest against President Viktor Yanukovych's push for alignment with Russia rather than with the European Union. This movement attracted highly visible support from the local Catholic priests, who were frequently photographed and filmed by international media at the frontline of the anti-government protests that often turned violent. The other social movement, which took place in Hong Kong from September to December 2014, drew parallels to Ukraine. While the cause was different, both secular participants and the local Catholic church promoted democracy, urging Beijing to adhere to the 'one country, two systems' constitution that was introduced after the cessation of British rule in Hong Kong. Known as the Umbrella Movement as protestors used umbrellas to protect themselves against tear gas, pepper spray and police batons, this movement attracted support from the retired Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who was from the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Professor Tse said, "These two similar yet isolated movements provided a good test bed to determine the relationship between the Catholic church and the concept of social dreaming. In each of the movements, Catholic priests were drawn to the front line. They participated alongside the secular participants to push for what they deemed as the ideal social dreaming for their respective countries. They offered prayers. They appealed to the broader society to support the causes and so on." "While it was evident that the priests and the secular participants were aligned to the same cause in the two countries, what was not clear was whether there was a convergence or a divergence of views in the aftermath of these movements," he continued. The research The research, which took place in 2021 and 2022, was led by Professor Tse and Halyna Herasym, a Ph.D. candidate at the University College Dublin and a researcher at the Ukrainian Centre for Law and Crime Research. The methodology used was a mixed method comprising 60 in-depth interviews (10 Catholic priests and 20 protestors in each location) and an examination of archival audiovisual data during and after the movements. Part 1 of the research focused on getting insights from the Catholic priests whereas Part 2 recorded the secular participants' experience in each location. Given that both researchers are fluent in local languages, specifically in Ukrainian and Cantonese, they were able to draw out nuances and detect local inferences that might have been missed if the interviews were solely conducted in English. Additionally, the research team took time to understand the role of the Vatican. Pope Francis, who came into papacy in 2013, is unlike the popes before him. He is a progressive pope and is not afraid to adapt the teachings of Catholicism to the modernized version of an ideal society. Findings The in-depth interviews revealed that both the Catholic priests and secular participants are aligned in terms of promoting a social dream and a society that is civil, democratic and just. The research showed that there was trust bestowed on the local Catholic churches in their support for building a better future for the local communities. Other than providing physical and spiritual support in the form of presence and prayers, the church was seen to provide material support to the protestors in their pursuit of social dreaming. By material, the church was seen to lend its buildings and infrastructure, for the protestors to use. Professor Tse hastens to add that while church spaces became important as infrastructure for some of the movements, it does not represent complete alignment between the church and secular participants. Those involved in the movements tended to appropriate from the church, while the church as an institution was not always neatly aligned to their aims. Additionally, what was visibly lacking in both movements was the support from the Vatican even though Pope Francis himself has promoted the concept of social dreaming at the global level, especially in the area of protecting human rights. Next steps While the research showed the importance of social dreaming between the local Catholic church and secular participants, what is still not clear is: What does an idealized vision of social dreaming look like? This is the reason why Professor Tse is applying for the Ministry of Education Academic Research Funding (AcRF) Tier 1 grant to further the project. He commented, "There are two routes that we could take to increase our understanding on the role of religion in influencing social dreaming. We could either expand our work by delving into the influencing roles of the different religions in the world, or we could go deeper by delving into the ways by which Catholicism is playing a part in social dreaming across the globe." "Depending on the outcomes from the research, I foresee many implications that we can apply from this work, of which, one entails getting policy makers to include religious input in developing policies to create a better future for the local communities," he continued. 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: Macromitrium microstomum is found throughout New Zealand on the trunks or branches of smooth-barked trees, or on rock. Credit: Silvia Pressel, Author provided When people consider extraordinary plants, most probably don't spare a thought for moss. It blends in against the green background of plant life, and seems to grow everywherewhether you want it to or not. But this group of plants, which actually comprises between 12,000 and 15,000 species, is astonishing. Their almost unique resilience allows them to grow practically everywhere on Earth. They are helping scientists understand the evolution of life, and are one of the most ancient plant groups alive today. A recent study by an Australian research team found that mosses are the lifeblood of habitats around the world, with plants and soil in better shape almost everywhere they grow. Despite their importance, mosses are often overlooked due to their diminutive size. The smallest mosses, known as micromosses, measure only a few millimeters in length. Even the largest moss, Dawsonia superba, a species native to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, only reaches heights of up to 50cma giant among mosses, yet still smaller than the average houseplant. But in fact, mosses help hold up entire ecosystems. Drivers of critical ecosystem services The contributions of mosses to the structure and function of modern ecosystems is often overlooked, lagging behind our understanding of more complex plants. The Australian study examined mosses' relationship to their habitats in detail, and found they are critical to soil health. Macromitrium urceolatum, found predominantly in Southern hemisphere. Credit: Silvia Pressel, Author provided The researchers collected moss samples from ecosystems around the globefrom tropical rainforest to polar landscapes through to arid deserts. Combining their findings from these samples with an analysis of previous research, their results showed that mosses are key players in every habitat in which they are found. Mosses store huge amounts of carbon, help the soil nutrient cycle, and also the decomposition of organic matter. Mosses can even come to the rescue in disturbed ecosystems. Research examining the area around the Mount St. Helens volcano following a devastating eruption in the early 1980s found mosses were among the first forms of life to reappear. Some types of moss, including the Sphagnum species, absorb and hold water in their tissues. This regulates water flow in the area, preventing flooding and creating peatland habitats which are home to rare plants and animals. Mosses also provide unique habitats for microscopic life. Tardigrades, eight-legged micro-animals, are also known as moss piglets or bears of moss, thanks to their habit of clambering through moss "jungles" in search of their next meal. Moss piglets are nearly indestructible and can even survive in outer space, by entering a death-like state called cryptobiosis. Ancient ancestors Mosses, along with liverworts and hornworts, are part of a group of plants known as bryophytes. These evolved more than 400 million years ago and still share many characteristics with the first plants to have emerged on to the Earth's land surfacestheir small size and lack of true roots, for example. And while most plants have a continuous column of water which flows inside them via a xylem and phloem, mosses don'tjust like some of the most ancient plants in Earth's history. Instead, these tiny plants have their own conducting systems to move substances around their bodies. They absorb water and nutrients from rainwater and dust deposits across their surfaces. Their hair-like "roots", known as rhizoids, anchor mosses to the surface they are growing on. Most plants have a xylem, but not mosses. Credit: gstraub/Shutterstock Mosses are almost unparalleled in their ability to survive harsh environments. This makes them excellent for studying the evolution of plants, much of which occurred during challenging conditions on Earth. The study of modern mosses' and other bryophytes' genetics and physiology has given researchers insights into the adaptations that allowed plants to transition from water to landfor example, the formation of partnerships with fungi to access soil nutrients. Their incredible resistance to environmental stress such as drought and UV radiation was also crucial to their ability to evolve on land. One of the most critical features of land mosses is their desiccation tolerance, which is the ability to survive near-complete drying out. When water is scarce, mosses can enter a state of suspended animation where they greatly reduce their metabolic activity, allowing them to survive until conditions improve. Some species, such the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis, can survive a hundred years in this dormant state and revive within hours of rewetting. Studying the mechanisms of this ability in modern plants helps scientists understand how ancient plants might have adapted to land. It is possible that studying desiccation tolerance in mosses could help scientists discover new ways to protect crops from extreme drought in the future. These little plants are also entwined with human history. From exploiting the antiseptic properties of moss for wound healing to using broom moss (Dicranium scoparium) for relief of constipation, mosses have played a substantial role in relieving human suffering. So, perhaps we should think twice before raking out mosses from the lawn. Instead, take a moment to consider the natural beauty of their delicate green tendrilsand their history as some of the most intrepid explorers in Earth's history. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Ron DeSantis has raised $8.2 million in funding in the first 24 hours since he launched his presidential campaign in a glitchy Twitter Spaces livestream with Elon Musk. The campaign of the Florida Governor disclosed the fundraising sum, touting his lead over Republican rival, former President of the United States, Donald Trump. Ron DeSantis Presidential Campaign Raised Over $8 Million According to Axios, despite technical difficulties that plagued the event, DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign hauled more than $8 million in the first 24 hours after its launch on Twitter. With that in mind, the Florida Governor, backed with millions of dollars of funding as early as now cements his footing in the Republican presidential race, where he is in a heated head-to-head battle against ex-president Trump. The campaign announced the fundraising total on Thursday, a day after DeSantis made his long-awaited presidential bid official in a viral live stream, co-hosted by ultra-billionaire Musk. DeSantis is seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. He has been a vocal critic of President Joe Biden. He also repeatedly clashed with the current administration over various issues, such as immigration and vaccine mandates. A DeSantis spokesperson, Bryan Griffin, says the recent $8 million haul does not include the funds of pro-DeSantis groups in the recent months, including Never Back Down and super PAC. He says their funds have been deposited to a Draft DeSantis account, but Griffin failed to disclose the money inside. According to the New York Times, the fund raised by DeSantis's campaign is twice as much as the 24-hour haul of Trump in the first 24 hours after his criminal indictment. On the hand, the $8 million funding was significantly higher than Biden's first 24 hours of funding last 2019, which raised roughly $6.3 million. In other words, the Florida Governor raked up more money than recent presidential candidates in that short time. Read Also: Donald Trump Trolls Ron DeSantis' Glitchy Twitter Presidential Campaign Launch with Elon Musk DeSantis Twitter 2024 Presidential Campaign Launch As per NBC News, the DeSantis campaign launch had a rocky start as Twitter live, joined by its owner Musk and David Sacks, a fanboy of the Florida governor, persistently crashed in the first 20 minutes. Besides the server meltdown, the live stream grappled with janky audio. The MAGA leader, Trump, which DeSantis previously supported, mocked the launch, calling it a mere "disaster." But despite the technical difficulties, DeSantis' campaign raised a staggering amount of money in the first 24 hours. The $8 million haul is a sign of the strong support that DeSantis enjoys among Republican voters. Related Article: Ron DeSantis Set to Launch 2024 Presidential Campaign at Social Media Event with Elon Musk @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce 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: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain After a spirited election campaign, the people of Timor-Leste voted for a new parliament on May 21. The vote was free, fair and largely uneventful. The results were accepted. This is a remarkable accomplishment for democracy. With roughly 40% of the vote and 31 out of 65 seats, Xanana Gusmao's National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) looks set to lead a new coalition government. His coalition would replace the current government consisting of the Fretilin party, which developed from the revolutionary movement that fought for independence from Portugal and then against occupation by Indonesia from the 1970s, along with three smaller parties. This is simply how democracy should work. But in reality, it's a major achievement. Timor-Leste's story represents a decidedly rough ride towards a parliamentary democracy. Following 400 years of colonial rule by Portugal, East Timor enjoyed brief independence in 1975 before being invaded and brutally occupied by Indonesia. This invasion led to the deaths of approximately 200,000 people. After Timorese voters endorsed independence in a 1999 referendum, Indonesia backed-militias unleashed a terror campaign that killed thousands and destroyed nearly all of the country's infrastructure. International peacekeepers were required to restore order and East Timor was placed under United Nations trusteeship. Even after independence in 2002, when the country formally adopted the name Timor-Leste, the country still faced extreme poverty and daunting developmental challenges, all while working to build a new state from the ground up. The rapid departure of UN peacekeepers in 2005 was quickly followed by a political crisis in 2006. What began with a domestic military dispute between competing regional factions in early 2006, rapidly spiraled into a large-scale, violent clash between domestic political elites. Violence and instability threatened to collapse democratic governance and even the state itself. The crisis ultimately led to 36 deaths and 150,000 people displaced. International peacekeepers returned to provide security in the aftermath of the crisis. There were free and fair elections in 2007, which ultimately resolved competition between opposing political elites without violence. Since then, Timor-Leste has consolidated its democracy. Indeed, it is now the only country in south-east Asia rated by the US-based political advocacy group as "free". Surprising success How did Timor-Leste achieve this surprising success? As I highlight in my recent book, Contending Orders: Legal Pluralism and the Rule of Law, the people of Timor-Leste beat the odds by drawing on their history of collective resistance. The country was able to establish new institutions capable of turning aspirations of a democratic state into reality. The decades-long independence struggle brought together diverse interests and groups, from both inside the country and throughout the world. This diverse coalition worked together to promote a shared vision of a future independent and vibrantly democratic Timor-Lestea vision that stood in stark contrast to life under authoritarian Indonesian rule. As independence grew near, these groups splintered in the run up to the country's first elections in 2001. Two particularly important factions emerged: Fretilin headed by Mari Alkatiri, and supporters of Gusmao who now leads the CNRT. From the start, politics were often messy, even divisive, but also provided voters with a real choice among multiple, legitimate political parties. Parties competing for votes became normal. Even though the 2006 crisis ended up strengthening democracy in the long term, the violence could easily have been a prelude to major civil strife. Instead, it created an enduring distaste among political elites for open, potentially violent confrontation that could easily undermine, or even destroy, democratic governance. Parliamentary democracy Constitutionally, Timor-Leste established a political order where parliament and the prime minister, not the president, are predominant. Parliamentarians are selected by an electoral system of proportional representation that incentivises compromise and coalition building. Indeed, coalition governments have become the norm. Timor-Leste's experience also highlights the importance of securing support from powerful non-state local justice community leaders, who still enjoy legal authority rooted in local customs and traditions that often predate even Portuguese rule. These individuals had long maintained order locally and were crucial in resisting Indonesian rule. Since independence, they have been essential to both strengthening the local legitimacy of the state and extending its reach far beyond what would otherwise be possible. Timor-Leste also holds important lessons for international support. It demonstrates the role external aid can play in providing security and support for building a new state. External assistance was generally not compromised by ulterior motives, such as securing mineral resources or concerns about fighting terrorism. Moreover, the international community generally followed the lead of national leaders, rather than trying to impose unwanted policies or practices. Timor-Leste also shows the importance of not picking winners. The international community was willing to work with whoever was elected without putting a finger on the scale. To be sure, Timor-Leste still faces serious political challenges, including reducing corruption, fostering sustainable economic development, using the petroleum fund effectively and tackling poverty. Likewise, more needs to be done to fully establish the rule of law and ensure essential rights and freedoms are consistently respected. But these challenges should not obscure Timor-Leste's extraordinary democratic achievement. 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: (a) Example from Tasiilaq Fjord of prominent moraine ridges (dotted line) that mark the extent of a small glacier during the Little Ice Age (LIA) termination. (b) Example of LIA glacier extent mapping and semi-automated derivation of elevation changes in LIA ablation areas for the Uummannaq region of west Greenland. Credit: Geophysical Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023GL103950 A study has found widespread mass loss of glaciers and ice caps in Greenland since the start of the 20th century. The research provides critical insights into long-term changes to the glaciers and ice caps as a result of climate change, which has contributed about one fifth to global sea-level rise in the last decade. Using historical data, scientists mapped 5,327 glaciers and ice caps that existed at the end of the Little Ice Age in 1900, a period of wide-spread cooling when average global temperatures dropped by as much as 2C. They were then able to reveal that these fragmented into 5,467 glaciers and ice caps by 2001. The studyMass Loss of Glaciers and Ice Caps Across Greenland Since the Little Ice Agepublished in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, said Greenland's glaciers have lost at least 587 km3 of ice over the last century, accounting for 1.38 millimeters of sea-level rise. It estimated that the speed at which the water melted between 2000 and 2019 was three times higher that the long-termsince 1900average. Lead author, Dr. Jonathan L. Carrivick from the School of Geography at the University of Leeds, said, "The impact of meltwater run off from Greenland into the North Atlantic extends beyond global sea-level rise, affecting North Atlantic ocean circulation, European climate patterns, and Greenlandic fjord water quality and marine ecosystems." "This has immense implications on humans too, with these glacier changes having a direct impact on the economic activities of fishing, mining, and hydropower, as well as affecting people's health and behavior." Greenland's glaciers and ice caps rank as the second-largest source of meltwater, after Alaska. Co-author, Dr. Clare Boston from the School of the Environment, Geography, and Geosciences at the University of Portsmouth, said, "Previous research using satellite data suggests Greenland's glaciers and ice caps could lose between 19 percent and 28 percent of their volume by 2100." "These predictions only use information gathered from the past few decades, whereas our research provides baseline data from more than 100 years ago. Seeing how glaciers have evolved over a longer period of time, can give us a better chance of predicting how they'll change in the future." "It's also important to note, that we only looked at glaciers and ice caps that were at least 1 km2 in area, so the overall amount of ice that has melted would be even more than our predictions if you take into account the smaller ones." The paper stresses the importance of understanding these changes in the context of global sea-level rise. The research also emphasizes the complex nature of glacier evolution due to considerable differences in locations, temperatures, and the influence of regional and local factors. Glaciers in the North have experienced the greatest speed up in rate of mass loss compared to other regions. Glaciers terminating in lakes have increased the most in their rate of mass loss. Dr. Carrivick added, "This study contributes great spatial coverage, spatial resolution and temporal detail to our understanding of Greenland's glacier changes, providing a valuable resource for policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders concerned with climate change and its impacts." "It represents a crucial step towards unraveling the dynamics of Greenland's glaciers and their role in global climate change, as the world faces the challenges posed by a warming Arctic." More information: Jonathan L. Carrivick et al, Mass Loss of Glaciers and Ice Caps Across Greenland Since the Little Ice Age, Geophysical Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023GL103950 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters 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: To support refugees and returnees, attention is needed in the urban areas where they almost always end up: informal settlements, the authors write. Here, in 2014 refugees from South Sudan in Ethiopia. Credit: Shutterstock The tragic war underway in Sudan will soon start to impact neighboring countries, as refugees cross borders to flee the violence. Recurring civil conflicts have already displaced up to 3.2 million Sudanese internally. The latest violencefocused on Khartoum but flaring all around the countryis pushing more people to flee. Already 20,000 Sudanese have crossed from Darfur into Chad, where some 400,000 refugees have been living in 13 camps for many years. Some 10,000 have headed north to Egypt in late April. Refugees are also ending up in South Sudan and Ethiopia, where recent heavy rainfall and resulting floods have affected hundreds of thousands of people. Floods have destroyed homes, livestock, and agricultural land, which could drive further rural-to-urban migration within the region. In these receiving countries, the arrival of thousands of refugees may overwhelm already fragile infrastructure and public health services for some of the world's most vulnerable populations. What's more, Sudan itself hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, many of whom are considering "going home". For example, some 70,000 refugees from Ethiopia fled to Sudan during the recent Tigrayan War. If they do, return movements will add to the influx of refugees moving into neighboring countries. To support refugees and returnees, attention is needed in the urban areas where they almost always end up: informal settlements. Take the city of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. It's estimated that more than 80% of the city's population live in informal settlements: areas that often lack clean water or waste management, where housing is made from found materials, roads are unpaved, and electricity is sporadic at best. Informal settlements in Addislike many cities around the worldare some of the most densely populated places on Earth, yet events like the Sudanese war and the displacement it's caused will contribute to their already rapid expansion. Already one of the biggest cities in Africa (its population is over 5 million), Addis is growing quickly, especially its informal settlements. But urban management of informal settlements is extraordinarily challengingeven locating them is a major hurdle for local government planners, who brought this issue to our attention in our briefings with them. Our research has attempted to map informal settlements in inland African cities, including Addis, using satellite data and Google Street View imagery. Our maps have tried to project climate impacts like flooding across cities. Our climate modeling has found that informal settlements are at high risk for flooding today, and at an even greater risk in 25 and 50 years' time, given projected increases in future seasonal rainfall. With flooding comes great risk to human life and property, threatening to wash away precariously built homes and the lives within them. This past March, four family members were tragically killed as a flood washed away their home in Nifas-Silk Lafto, an area of Addis Ababa that our analysis identified as having a high flood risk. Without better alternatives, Sudanese refugees arriving in informal settlements in neighboring countries put themselves in a different kind of danger: environmental risk. Their arrival will further tax the fragile infrastructure of informal settlements and exacerbate existing flooding hazards. Sudan's crisis can thus further inflame environmental risk in urban informal settlements across the region. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) provides temporary shelter to Sudanese refugees, but many will ultimately forgo formal humanitarian assistance and head for the informal settlements in neighboring cities, where many have families and ethnic networks. But without direct support, these cities face potentially calamitous outcomes. The U.S. can lead by sending expert teams to these informal settlements in Addis, Cairo, and N'Djamena in Chad to support them in accommodating new arrivals. Additionally, local and international researchers can collaborate with these growing cities to support them through research and technical assistance. Tailored, data-rich maps identifying the intersecting urban and climate risks are vital to understanding where the greatest threats to the cities' most vulnerable populations, and where to build infrastructure like sewers, clean water systems, and drainage to help manage and sustain the new influx of people fleeing conflict. It is a small but critical step to mitigating widespread suffering across the region in times of crisis. By Kemo Cham Sierra Leones former Minister of Defense, Major (Rtd) Alfred Paolo Conteh, is under investigation over weapons possession, police say. Conteh is suspected of carrying an undeclared weapon into State House, the office of the president, a police spokesman told Politico. Assistant Superintendent Samuel Saio Conteh said the former minister was being investigated on allegations that he failed to declare his licensed weapon before entering State House. He said Paolo Conteh was first questioned by agents of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Thursday. A statement from the head of the CID said the weapon was loaded with 10 live rounds of ammunition. On Friday social media was awash with speculation about the exact detail of the incident. Supporters of Paolo Conteh claimed he was arrested and questioned at the CID, while other reports indicated that he was questioned within the premises of State House. While dismissing suggestions that he was arrested, the police spokesman couldnt confirm where exactly Thursdays questioning took place. Paolo Conteh was again at the CID on Friday, to give further statement. As I am talking to you now, he is currently at the CID giving further statement, said Supt Conteh, in a telephone interview from the CID headquarters. Major Paolo Conteh, a senior member of the main opposition All Peoples Congress, served at various levels in the cabinet of former President Ernest Bai-Koroma from 2007 to 2018, notably as Deputy Defense Minister, Internal Affairs Minister and then Defense Minister. But he came to international limelight as head of the National Ebola Response Center during the deadly 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak. It was in that former capacity that on Tuesday Paolo was invited by President Julius Maada Bio to lend his experience to the governments response to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Thursday was his second visit to State House as part of this Initiative. Paolo couldnt be reached for a comment. But other reports have cited him saying he had declared his pistol at the entrance of the State House. Superintendent Conteh said the CID was investigating to find out the veracity of that claim. The weapon is licensed, as per the findings of the CID through the Small Arms Commission. The question is whether or not he declared it to the security before entering State House, the police spokesman said, refusing to comment further on how long he would be at the CID. Copyright 2020 Politico Online , Cookies . cookies. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. GREENFIELD A former teacher at the Ballston Spa school district was sentenced on Tuesday to 4 to 10 years in prison for child sex abuse. Crim S. Trerise, 57, of Middle Grove was arrested last July by the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office for having sexual contact with minors in the town of Greenfield from 2015 to 2017. At the time, three of the victims were under the age of 13 and one was under the age of 14, according to police. Trerise knew the victims. Trerise was charged with three felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one misdemeanor count of second-degree sexual abuse. He pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court in March to one count of first-degree sexual abuse in satisfaction of the charges. Trerise was a math teacher with the district before his arrest. School officials said at the time that they had not been told by police that any of the victims were students at the school. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. FORT EDWARD Two people were arrested on Thursday after police raided a home and said they found narcotics inside. The Washington County Sheriffs Office arrested John J. Davis, 46, of Cohoes, and Tyanne M. Carpenter, 31, of Fort Edward, after a search warrant was executed at a residence on Seminary Street in the village of Fort Edward, the sheriff's office said in a Friday news release. The office said narcotics were recovered along with evidence of narcotic sales from the home. Davis was charged with felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. He was held to be arraigned in Washington County Court due to previous convictions. Davis was out on bail from drug and weapon charges in Albany County when he was arrested on Thursday. Carpenter was also charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, first-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and first-degree criminal nuisance, all felony charges. She was held in jail for arraignment in Washington County Court due to previous convictions. Two other people, whose names were not released, were also arrested at the residence for misdemeanor loitering charges and released with appearance tickets. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HUDSON FALLS The assistant principal of the Hudson Falls High School is getting ready to transition into a new role this fall. On Thursday, the Hudson Falls Central School District announced Jessica Hogan will be appointed as the next high school principal at the June 13 Board of Education meeting. Hogan has 17 years of experience at the Hudson Falls Central School District including the last two years as assistant principal under Principal James Bennefield. He is leaving after 12 years in the position to become superintendent of the Argyle Central School District on July 1. We conducted a comprehensive and thorough search process with many strong candidates, Superintendent Dan Ward said in a news release. Throughout, Mrs. Hogan stood out with her strong educational background, diverse classroom and administrative experience, commitment to every students success, and her overwhelming pride in the Hudson Falls CSD community. Hogan is a 2000 graduate of Corinth High School and received her bachelor of science degree in childhood education from The State University of New York College at Cortland and her master of Science in literacy at The College of Saint Rose. She began her teaching career in Hudson Falls as a reading teacher in the intermediate school, with stints in the primary and middle schools as well. Upon obtaining her Certificate of Educational Leadership, she became the assistant principal of the High School in 2021. Hogan also has played a role in many major projects including the development of the districtwide Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow campaign. Recently, Hogan launched a digital smart pass system for the high school that will minimize disruptions to the academic schedule. It has been a pleasure working alongside Mr. Bennefield and I look forward to building on the foundations he has established for our students and families of the high school, Hogan said. In conjunction with faculty, staff, students, parents, and the Board of Education, we will support and expand the unique and meaningful high school experiences to set our students up for success in life. I am a Tiger, wholly invested in the success of this community. I have spent my entire career in education at Hudson Falls, I am a resident of Hudson Falls and a proud parent of a student in Hudson Falls. Hogan currently resides in Hudson Falls with her husband and daughters. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The remains of the 44 Continental Army soldiers that were uncovered in 2019 during excavation for a construction project near Courtland Street in Lake George, may soon be honored and laid to rest. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Thursday called on the U.S. Army to support local plans to honor these fallen heroes and help them finally lay them to rest near where they took their last breath in Lake George Battlefield Park. These soldiers were among Americas first heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the Revolution for the birth of our nation. Local historians and archeologists have been working for years to unravel this mystery, and now it is our duty to give these patriots the honor they deserve and a respectful burial near the location where they drew their final breaths in the fighting around Lake George Battlefield site, Schumer said in his announcement. This is the history of our military, the history of New York State, and the history of the birth of our nation, and is important now more than ever as we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. That is why I am calling on the Army to fully support local efforts to help finally lay these soldiers to rest and give these patriots the final honor they truly deserve. Schumer explained that archaeologists and dozens of local volunteers have determined these skeletal remains likely come from what once was a burial ground for Revolutionary War solders who had been housed in a hospital nearby, according to war records. These soldiers likely died around 1776 in the military hospital for the Northern Department that was established by the Continental Army. In order for these original American patriots to be reburied, local advocates and historians are seeking the endorsement and assistance of the U.S. Army, which Schumer is now pushing for to help get these heroes the honor they deserve. Lake George Town Supervisor Dennis Dickinson said since the remains of the 44 soldiers were discovered a partnership of government, historical organization and private sector officials has worked long hours to secure a way to honor the soldiers in the town. We greatly appreciate Senator Schumers enthusiastic endorsement to the Secretary of the Army of Lake George Battlefield Park, the site of many critical battles during the wars of the 18th Century, as the most appropriate location for their reinternment as a lasting tribute to the courage of these unknown Americans, Dickinson said. The efforts since 2019 have led to a comprehensive plan for reinternment of the fallen soldiers at Lake George Battlefield Park, which would include a memorial as well as signage denoting the significant role this played in the formation of America, which Schumer is also urging the Army to provide financial support for. The official reinternment project, entitled Repose of the Fallen, plans to incorporate low impact pedestrian friendly design elements, interpretive signage, and educational information regarding the remains that were recovered. The historical signage throughout the memorial plaza is intended to tell the story of the role that these patriots played in the Revolutionary War. The site will be located in the Lake George Battlefield Park, within walking distance of the remains of Fort George, and located between the new Visitors Interpretive Center and the existing memorial of the Four Unknown Soldiers, adding to the rich local history of the area as a significant site in the birth of America. The recovery of the soldiers remains at the Courtland Street site has been a years-long endeavor that involved participation from hundreds of members of the community. The remains were initially discovered during mechanical excavation of a basement for a small apartment building on Feb. 7, 2019, when skeletal human remains were initially identified in soil stockpiled from the excavation, and after further examination from archaeologists from several New York State agencies, it was concluded that the site likely was a cemetery associated with the military and smallpox hospital established in 1776 at Fort George during the Revolutionary War. The skeletal remains representing a total of 15 individuals were recovered from the partial graves excavated in February 2019. Which prompted a second phase of recovery, focusing on graves impacted by the construction and other graves that were completely destroyed, fragmentary skeletal remains representing at least 27 additional individuals were recovered. The New York State Museum is still examining the discovered remains at their laboratory in Albany. Two weeks ago, the tally of distinct individuals remains identified through their testing process increased to 44, with the potential to rise again. In addition to the remains, artifacts were also recovered during archeological dig of the site, identified as belonging to the First Pennsylvania Battalion of the Continental Army, including multiple regimental coat buttons associated with soldiers uniforms, some of which were able to be discerned with numbers and letters as saying Continental Army in small print. The First Pennsylvania Battalion infantry unit was present in the Lake George area in 1776. 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. Kenya holds Chinese language proficiency contest for secondary school students Xinhua) 13:50, May 26, 2023 NAIROBI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The 16th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Kenya Division was held Thursday at Kenyatta University, the country's second oldest public institution of higher learning. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya in conjunction with Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute and corporate partners, the contest was held under the theme of "Fly high with Chinese." Kenya's secondary school students were assessed on three parameters, including making a three-minute speech in the Chinese language, China's national knowledge test, and prowess in Chinese culture such as folk songs and dances, operas, calligraphy, painting, and martial arts. Senior officials, diplomats, faculty members and young learners graced the Kenya Division finals of the Chinese Bridge. Susan Mutune, the assistant director of Radio and Media at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, said the government recognizes the critical role of the Chinese language in fostering deeper Sino-Kenya economic and cultural ties. "We look forward to building Chinese language competence and proficiency among young learners. This is borne out of the understanding that Mandarin promises vast opportunities for our youth," Mutune said. Tang Jianjun, the counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, noted that the population of local youth keen to gain proficiency in the spoken Chinese language has increased, adding that it will revitalize cross-cultural understanding. Zhou Xiaodong, the Chinese director at Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute, said the contest provided a platform for the young learners to showcase their understanding of the Chinese language and culture. Telema Njoki, a junior secondary school student, was declared the overall winner of the contest, having demonstrated an impeccable grasp of spoken Mandarin. She received gifts and a certificate of honor for emerging as the overall winner in the competition and will also benefit from a sponsored trip to China later in the year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images) A federal study aims to define long COVID in an attempt to help future research for treatment of the mysterious condition. A federal study begins to identify symptoms of long COVID-19 amid search for treatment The scientists involved in the large study have proposed a definition for the condition The definition is based on 12 key symptoms that most separate individuals with long COVID-19 from those who were not infected with the coronavirus Scientists who are part of a federal study have started to identify key symptoms of long COVID that differentiate people who have the condition from those who the coronavirus has never infected. The team also proposed a definition of long COVID-19 based on the symptoms they identified in the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Thursday. Key Symptoms of Long COVID During the early days of the health crisis, many people were found to have experienced a variety of debilitating symptoms. These persisted even long after they recovered from being infected with the coronavirus, as per CNBC. Patients later adopted the name long COVID-19 to describe the condition, and scientists formally call it post-acute sequelae (PASC). However, there has yet to be a systematic, universally accepted definition for long COVID-19 for research. Such a definition could become the foundation for future tools to diagnose the mysterious condition. In a statement, the author of the study, Dr. Leora Horwitz, a professor at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, said that the study was made to come up with a concrete, replicable specific definition for the condition. The research received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and examined almost 10,000 individuals across 85 hospitals, health centers, and community centers in 33 states in the US. Early findings of the study noted a dozen symptoms that were found to most distinguish long OCVID. According to ABC News, millions worldwide have had long COVID and have shown dozens of widely varying symptoms, such as fatigue and brain fog. Read Also: Doctor Faces Disciplinary Action for Performing Abortion on 10-Year-Old Rape Victim Developing Potential Treatment Despite the many cases, scientists are still perplexed about what causes the condition among patients and why it only affects some people. They also do not have any treatment for it and are unsure how to diagnose it. Horwitz said she sometimes heard people say everyone is tired from the health crisis. However, she argued that there is something different about people with long COVID and added that it was important to know the factors. The study compared the participants with 1,100 separate individuals who the coronavirus had not infected. Health experts estimate that about one in three coronavirus patients have experienced long COVID. The other lead author of the study, Andrea Foulkes, said that it is essential to define long COVID before they can even begin to think of developing treatments. She argued that if they cannot distinguish people who have long COVID from those who do not, they would not know whether or not treatment is effective, said USA Today. Related Article: New Study Examines the Impact of Multivitamins on Memory Function @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. EGG HARBOR CITY Lori Giegold wasnt expecting Thursday to be the day when shed again have a taste of being back in Vernon, Sussex County. Lying in bed Thursday morning in her New York Avenue home, her boyfriend stormed into the bedroom, she said, showing her video of a bear sniffing her trash can. Hes like, You want to see something really crazy? said Giegold, 51, recalling the moments before seeing the doorbell camera footage. When she lived near a wildlife refuge in Sussex County, Giegold encountered bears often, she said. Having bears in my backyard was an everyday thing, she said. For a second, it didnt click with me, but then I was like, Holy crap, Im not up in Vernon anymore. This is South Jersey. A timestamp showed the bear passing by her home at 3:41 a.m. Thursday. Recent shark bites scary, but serious injuries remain vanishingly rare PORTLAND, Maine Recent shark bites in Florida and Hawaii and a suspected case in New Jerse Giegold believed the bear to be young but not a small cub. Shed been around bears before, including a time when one came within feet of her, which made Thursdays footage not as startling as it might for others. He had to be about 600 pounds, and I just kind of froze and was like, OK, Im not going to panic, Giegold said of her encounter while in North Jersey. He kind of sniffed at me, turned around and just walked on his way. Egg Harbor City police followed up with Giegold, later contacting the Division of Fish and Wildlife to report the sighting. Hours later, police updated their Facebook page to say the animal was also spotted crossing Duerer Street near Norfolk Avenue. It was unclear whether the Division of Fish and Wildlife would probe the sightings further. A spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the division, couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Some may consider bear sightings an oddity for South Jersey, but theyre not as rare as may be perceived. Like on Thursday, a bear in June 2005 likely picked the city as a place to call home. Law enforcement reported seeing the animal in backyards, in one case watching it move while only separated by a chain-link fence. In another sighting, the bear was seen from the citys rail station by a passenger waiting for a train to Philadelphia. Some as far as Galloway Township reported seeing the creature that year. A decent amount of the city is made of wooded area stretching into portions of Wharton State Forest. Mayor Lisa Jiampetti was made aware of the bear early Thursday morning. She said the city likely wont take further action besides cautioning people about how to act if they spot the animal. Well see where he goes, Jiampetti said. He might just be visiting and move on to another community. Atlantic City school board member, Small critic, removed due to absenteeism ATLANTIC CITY A dissenting voice and a center of controversy has been removed from his pos Police told locals to not approach the bear if its seen. If someone is face to face with a bear, they should make themselves appear big, shouting and clapping their hands, according to a tip sheet from the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Theres a chance the bear may have come from a far-out area in the woods, Jiampetti said. Bears are wanderers, Jiampetti said. Theyll travel miles. Who even knows where the bear came from? Giegold doesnt know where her visitor came from, but she hopes people will leave it alone. Theyre so beautiful, Giegold said. I just hope nobody bothers it and let it live its life. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ABSECON A Philadelphia man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly came to Heritage Park to meet a 15-year-old girl but was set up by an online predator catcher. Nashiem Cephas-Lee, 23, was charged with luring, sexual assault, criminal attempt and endangering the welfare of a child, according to a criminal complaint filed against him by police. He was taken to the Atlantic County jail. Cephas-Lee came to the park off Mill Road to meet a girl he was talking to over Grindr, an online dating app, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Once at the park, he was approached by Cameron Decker, a man posing as the 15-year-old girl, doing so as a predator catcher. A video on Deckers Facebook page recorded their encounter, revealing that the meeting with Cephas-Lee was set up. Police later approached Cephas-Lee and arrested him. Decker came to police headquarters adjacent to the park to inform officers he was preparing to meet Cephas-Lee after they exchanged messages online, the affidavit states. He showed police screenshots of messages between him and Cephas-Lee, in which the 23-year-old intended to meet the girl for sex acts. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Authorities arrested three people this week after a search of properties in Wildwood and Middle Township yielded methamphetamine, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. James OConner, 33, of Wildwood, and Sean Reinek, 48, no hometown given, were charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 500 feet of a public place, conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute, two counts of receiving stolen property, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within a school zone, possession of methamphetamine, money laundering and possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia. Reinek also was found to be a fugitive from justice on charges of drug distribution and eluding police, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. Get South Jersey news at your fingertips Your story lives in South Jersey. From reporting on all of your favorite teams to the news t Gina McCaffery, 34, of Middle Township, was charged with possession of methamphetamine. On Tuesday, the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Cape May County Sheriffs Office, Middle Township Police Department and Wildwood Police Department searched OConner's vehicle and home in the 300 block of West Pine Avenue in Wildwood, as well as McCaffery's home on Lafayette Avenue in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. As a result of the searches, authorities seized about 5 ounces of methamphetamine, two stolen motorcycles and $1,128 in cash, the Prosecutor's Office said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two Atlantic County men were sentenced this month on charges that they used fake deeds to defraud real estate investors. Richard Toelk Jr., 54, of Atlantic City, received three years in prison for theft by deception, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said Friday. Toelk's business partner, Keith Smith, 60, an attorney from Egg Harbor Township, received five years' probation. Prosecutors said the duo, through the fake documents, defrauded investors of about $580,000. The courts ordered the men to pay that amount in restitution. Investigators found Toelk, also known as Richard Donato, and Smith crafted at least 20 fraudulent deeds for real estate in Atlantic City, filing them with the Atlantic County Clerk's Office from November 2018 through January 2019. Buyers placed their trust in these two defendants and handed over large sums of money to them, after being deceived by this elaborate fraud, complete with convincing-looking fake documents. But they were betrayed and taken advantage of, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. Through the work of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, this scheme unraveled, and through these plea agreements, the victims now have an opportunity to recover their losses. Toelk's defense attorney motioned to have his guilty plea withdrawn, a request denied by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor. Toelk kept some deeds for himself while marketing and selling others to investors in New York City and Philadelphia, the Attorney General's Office said. Most of the fraudulent deeds were for properties owned by the city. Under the scheme, the pair transferred ownership of the various properties, sometimes for $1, from the rightful owners to limited liability companies owned by the men. One parcel included city-owned land near the Boardwalk worth more than $1 million. The City of Atlantic City diligently reviews documents and if needed, establishes investigations that in this particular case, exposed criminal activity," Business Administrator Anthony Swan said in a statement following the attorney general's announcement. "The taxpayers can rest assured that the city is safeguarding them. Both men agreed in February during their plea hearing to be jointly liable for the returns. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ATLANTIC CITY Police have been patrolling the Boardwalk for 153 years, since it opened in 1870, said Chief James Sarkos during a ceremony Friday to celebrate a new rest and equipment station donated by the Ocean Club Condominiums on the historic walkway. Now, police have a room off the Boardwalk to use as a break room, storage area and a place to get out of the elements for a time. On Friday, more than 100 residents of the double condo tower between South Montpelier and Chelsea avenues celebrated the opening of the room, which residents paid to renovate and stock with a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, sofas and more. Its not an official police station. You still have to call 911 or the Atlantic City Police Department to report crime, said Ocean Club security committee Chairman Michael Demartino, in a ceremony outside the new room. This is an area for taking a personal break, get out of the sun or winter cold ... eat lunch, talk to their wives, then get back on patrol. Police will soon also have an official substation on the Boardwalk at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, several blocks away. The substation will be a place to do official police business, such as paperwork related to arrests. Sarkos was at the Ocean Club to thank the condo residents, and said there are many changes coming to policing the Boardwalk this summer. First, Memorial Day Boardwalk patrols will be increased by an extra 68 officers, through a program related to the new 11-hour shifts officers are working. The 11-hour shifts mean officers work 77 hours every two weeks, Sarkos said, which is three hours less than what they are paid to work. So they give back those hours through special patrols on what would otherwise be a day off, he said. The give-back program was first used for New Years Day this year, he said. We also have our inside-out program, he said, in which officers who are normally on desk assignments at the Public Safety Building spend one day a week patrolling the Boardwalk in summer. That will add six to eight officers a day, he said. That program has been used before, he said. This has been a year in the making, said Michael Berezein, president of the board of the Ocean Club. Now we can say it is real. The room is a former storage area, he said, and everything in it was donated by Ocean Club residents. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ATLANTIC CITY Kelsey Grammer did a pretty good job showing his love for the resort Friday. The actor, best known as TVs Frasier, helped unlock the ocean in the early afternoon and kick off Memorial Day weekend at Resorts Casino Hotel later in the evening. I just wanna say, I love ya, so lets dance! Grammer told the crowd of more than a thousand people. The crowd was waiting eagerly for 5,000 beach balls and inflatables, which were suspended about 15 feet above the Boardwalk, to drop. Its a ceremonious beginning to the summer. The festivities at Resorts, which was celebrating its 45th anniversary, kicked off at noon with music from MC Bacardi Ardi and DJ Gary, who performed throughout the day. They were joined at noon by the Atlantic City High School Drumline. Many more musical guests, including the funk cover band SideStory, joined the festivities. Mayor Marty Small Sr. held the annual Opening of the Sea ceremony, joined by Grammer. Before the ceremony, Small spoke to a crowd in front of Resorts on the Boardwalk. It is my pleasure and honor today to officially unlock the ocean and let the world know that the famous Atlantic City beach is open for business, Small said. And more importantly, the great City of Atlantic City is ready to welcome all the tourists here to show the world that we are the best in the hospitality industry. Small wished everyone a happy, safe and healthy summer season. He then presented Grammer with a key to the city. Grammer told the crowd he had been coming to Atlantic City since he was 5 years old. I walked on this Boardwalk with my grandmother and my grandfather, Grammer recounted. I once said my grandmother would repeat this story all the time in my little blazer and my little flannel slacks and my little penny loafers. I stuck my hands in my pocket and said, Damn, I love Atlantic City. I still do. Its one of the greatest places in the world. ... And if my family were alive today they would be beaming, smiling from ear to ear, to get the key to this city. Wearing red, white and blue swim trunks, Small plunged an oversized key into the edge of the ocean and turned it to unlock the sea for the summer. 5 places to get a drink on the Atlantic City Boardwalk Walking the boards in Atlantic City and want a boozy beverage to accompany you on your escap Small then climbed into an Atlantic City Beach Patrol boat and was rowed out into the shallow surf, where he threw a flowered wreath into the water. The crowd that gathered cheered with each wave the lifeguards rowed over, until they passed the breaking point. Greg Dolan, Ciara Fiorello and Bridget Hammer, all from Long Island, New York, were patiently waiting with their drinks for the ball drop. The group was in town for this weekends Adjacent Festival, which will be held Saturday and Sunday about a half mile down beach. The group had never been to Resorts ball drop before, and they called it a great way to kick off their Memorial Day weekend, which will be filled with music and dancing at the festival. This has been great, said Fiorello, 40. Great turnout, and the drinks have been fun nearby. In the minutes before the ball drop, a disco-themed flash mob broke out. Resorts President and CEO Mark Giannantonio then greeted the crowd, before a countdown to the ball drop, which was led by Grammer. The crowd counted down from 12, and as the inflatables fell, hundreds of people scrambled to grab as many as they could. Others whacked beach balls back into the air, while the singing and dancing continued. Robert Cintron, 69, and his wife, Maribel, 64, of Burlington Township, had their arms full with several beach balls. The couple frequents Atlantic City and absolutely loved Fridays event. This was such a good time, man. I love it! Robert Cintron said. Were here the whole weekend until Monday. Tiffany Fray, 46, and her husband, Ludwig, 54, of Brooklyn, New York, were having fun taking pictures along the Boardwalk. The Frays also brandished their bounty of beach balls. This was fantastic, a lot of fun, Tiffany Fray said. I loved the ball drop, and I loved the band (SideStory). Im a 70s baby. The couple plans to visit Steel Pier, check out the Absecon Lighthouse and gamble at the casinos a little bit. This is awesome. You have the beach right here, the amusement park, the drinks over here, and you can win some money to make it much better, she said. GALLERY: Resorts' annual ball drop Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. STONE HARBOR Less than a week after being thrown into the spotlight unexpectedly by a shark attack, Maggie Drozdowski was reminded that being surrounded by friends is one of the best forms of therapy. She was bitten by a shark while visiting the borough Sunday, the second day in her first-ever surfing trip at the Jersey Shore. Ive been talking to my friends a lot, the 15-year-old said from the passenger seat of her moms car Wednesday. A wave had crashed into Drozdowski, tossing her underwater, when she was gnawed at by a shark that grabbed her foot, pulling her down farther. The teen managed to break free of its mouth by thrashing her leg before reaching the surface, heading back to shore to have her punctured leg wrapped in towels. My one friend went over it (the wave), and I went under it, and then I felt the shark bite my leg, Drozdowski said. I told my friend that something bit me, and she told me to swim in and look at my foot. Growing up and seeing her friends family joy on their surfboards, Drozdowski gave it a shot herself, trying a new activity, like she did when she chose competitive ballroom dancing over volleyball. Recent shark bites scary, but serious injuries remain vanishingly rare PORTLAND, Maine Recent shark bites in Florida and Hawaii and a suspected case in New Jerse We actually went down because it was my friends brothers birthday, Drozdowski said. He wanted to go surfing, and she (friend) invited me, too. That trip would leave her with a story borough officials said only one in about 11.5 million people worldwide can share. It also left her with six stitches. Its shocking just to believe because it doesnt happen, said her mother, Lisa Piliero, recalling when she FaceTimed her daughter for the first time after the attack. They showed me her foot, like the injuries to her foot, and thats when it kind of hit me. Piliero didnt join her daughter on her weekend trip, learning of the accident by phone from her dad. She was still in the ambulance at the time I was notified, Piliero said. I didnt actually get to talk to her until she got to the ER. Borough officials said after the attack that they were working with marine experts to examine the bites. Stone Harbor shark attack injures teen STONE HARBOR A young surfer was injured when a shark bit her Sunday afternoon, borough off While officials are investigating Drozdowskis attack further, the teenager is home recovering, trying to also take care of her mental health, she said. As someone who struggles with anxiety, Drozdowski said, shes been overwhelmed by television appearances and what she and her mom say are insensitive comments on social media in response to the story. Confiding in her friends, however, has helped her cope. Once the gauze is unwrapped from her foot, Drozdowski plans to resume her competitive ballroom dancing career, performing the cha-cha and Viennese waltz and aspiring to reach a competition in Las Vegas. She started dancing competitively about a year ago. In the meantime, she plans to stay at her familys home in the borough for Memorial Day weekend, returning to Bishop Shanahan High School on Tuesday. A lot of people are shocked, Drozdowski said. Theyre worried about me, but Im telling them Im fine. She also plans to go back into the ocean once her wounds have healed and she ditches her crutches. Overall, she hopes she can best be remembered as a dancer, rather than the girl who got bit by a shark at the shore. A lot of people are saying Im never going to go back into the ocean, but Ill definitely go back, Drozdowski said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. "Taco Tuesday" has become such a wildly popular catch phrase that it's probably uttered millions of times a week in homes across America. The roots of the phrase can be traced back to the Jersey Shore and Gregory's Bar and Restaurant more than 40 years ago. Now, an effort by Taco Bell to claim the phrase for all people - and so the chain can use it in advertising - has rekindled that story. The bar owns the trademark to the phrase in New Jersey. Taco John's, a Wyoming-based eatery, holds the trademark everywhere else in the country. Taco Bell's argument is that anyone should be able to use the phrase. Not letting them do so is like "depriving the world of sunshine itself," the company claims. While the legal battle looms, Gregory's has enjoyed another moment in that sunshine in terms of media coverage Owner Greg Gregory told the Wall Street Journal the bar's salsa recipe was taken from a recipe published in Playboy magazine. Gregory also said that he created the night to stay ahead of the competition, including a rival bar that promoted a "Drink and Drown Wednesday." He may have been referring to a December 1979 promotion for a competitor's "Drink and Drown week," (a worse promotion, if you ask us, in terms of personal and public health.) A review of The Press' archives turned up a few "other" nights that didn't have the staying power of Taco Tuesday like: "Won Ton Wednesday," another Gregory's promotion that coincided with Taco Tuesday in the 80s. An Atlantic City bar's weekly "Steak-on-a-Stick" special. Early returns on Taco Tuesday weren't clear that the night would last, but soon it became a hit and the bar has made more 2 million tacos since. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two Pleasantville brothers sentenced to prison for assaulting a 19-year-old Egg Harbor Township man who was later found dead in the marshes near a Pleasantville strip club have been released. John Hands, 25, of Pleasantville, and Garnell Hands, 30, of Atlantic City, were released Thursday, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections website. Jamaul Timberlake, 31, of Atlantic City, the third person charged in the beating of Irving Mayren-Guzman, remains incarcerated at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, where he is serving a four-year sentence for his role in the attack. Garnell Hands had been sentenced to five years in prison, while John Hands received a four-year sentence March 3 after theyd pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the beating of Mayren-Guzman. Both men were credited for more than a year theyd served in the Atlantic County jail while awaiting trial, and no mandatory minimum prison term was specified in their sentences. The beating of Mayren-Guzman happened Jan. 23, 2022, outside Pleasantvilles now-shuttered Centerfolds Cabaret on Delilah Road. The 19-year-old, who was underage and drinking at the strip club, was later reported missing. His body was found two days later in marshes near the club. An autopsy that took several months to complete attributed Mayren-Guzmans death to drowning, hypothermia and intoxication. Preliminary findings found he had a high blood-alcohol level and tested positive for THC, the intoxicating ingredient in marijuana. But Mayren-Guzmans family believed the three men pummeling him as Timberlake admitted the trio did during a court hearing contributed to his death. Mayren-Guzmans death had sparked community gatherings of friends, family and others in the local Latino community demanding Centerfolds and others be held accountable. The Mayren-Guzman family has a pending civil lawsuit related to his death. A representative of the family, contacted Friday, said they were unaware that the Hands brothers had been released. GALLERY: Sentencing in the assault of Irving Mayren-Guzman (Photo : Sergey SHESTAK / AFP) (SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty Images) Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announces the withdrawal of his troops from Bakhmut who wikk be replaced by Russian soldiers. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced in a video on Telegram that his troops would be withdrawing from Bakhmut Russian soldiers will replace the mercenary group's units Prigozhin said that his troops will rebase to camps in the rear from May 25 until June 1 Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announces the withdrawal of his troops from the contested city of Bakhmut, adding that Russian military soldiers will fill the missing ranks. The mercenary group has started to move its troops out of the Ukrainian city following Prigozhin's announcement in a video on Telegram. He said that from May 25 to June 1, most of the Wagner troops would rebase to camps in the rear and would hand their positions to the Russian military. Wagner Troops To Withdraw from Bakhmut The group's leader on Saturday announced the capture of the Ukrainian city after what is considered the longest and bloodiest battle in the conflict. As per DW News, Prigozhin added that his fighters would completely move out by June 1 and that the Russian military would move in. In a statement, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Moscow was already replacing its Wagner private military units with regular soldiers. These exchanges were happening on the outskirts of Bakhmut but added that the group's fighters remained within the city's borders. The Ukrainian military added that it was still in control of some areas on the outskirts of the devastated city. On top of the withdrawal, Prigozhin said on Wednesday that roughly 10,000 prisoners he recruited to fight in the war had been killed on the battlefield. Prigozhin could be seen telling Wagner troops to leave ammunition behind for Russian soldiers to use. According to BBC, he also said that some of his troops would stay behind in the city to support Moscow's forces. Read Also: Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets After Spotting Russian Planes Russian Soldiers To Replace Mercenary Group The development comes despite the Wagner chief repeatedly targeting top Russian military officials, publicly criticizing them for allegedly failing to support his troops properly. Last month, he threatened to withdraw all his forces in the city due to a lack of ammunition. Even with the Wagner chief saying he is handing the region to the Russian military, Ukraine has not conceded that Bakhmut has fallen. Maliar noted that Kyiv's forces still control part of the Litak district in the southwest of the city. The situation comes as Russia decided to escalate tensions by signing a deal that helps it move forward with deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. President Alexander Lukashenko announced the agreement and claimed the weapons were already on their way to his country. In response to the deal, the US State Department said that Washington had no intention of deviating from its stance on strategic nuclear weapons. It added that there was no evidence that Russia was preparing to use any nuclear weapon. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the move is the latest example of Russia's irresponsible behavior amid the invasion of Ukraine, said Reuters. Related Article: Russia Signs Deal To Deploy Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Gray issued 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 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. 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 advancements in fire science raised too many questions about his conviction for 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 suit alleged 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. The eighth-grader ignited an accelerant he poured on the enclosed back porch on the second floor and the stairs, according to investigators at the time. 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. In a statement to police, Gray admitted to buying gasoline to set the fire, but he later denied the admissions, saying he confessed only because of pressure from the officers questioning him. Grays attorney said he had been questioned for seven hours and couldnt endure the pressure. The lawsuit alleges 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 states. 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. Today, those 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. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term 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. 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 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 reelection 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 would 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% 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% 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 last 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. A former East Moline firefighter entered a guilty plea to a federal child pornography charge during a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court, Davenport. Kyle Daniel DuPrey, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Jackson Jr. DuPrey, who was on pre-trial release, was taken into the custody of the United States Marshals Service after entering his plea. He initially was charged with two counts of distribution and receipt of child pornography, but one of those counts was dismissed in accordance with a plea agreement. According to the agreement, on Nov. 4, 2022, the Scott County Sheriffs Department received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, referencing the dissemination of child pornography. During the investigation there were a total of four cybertips that showed DuPrey used a specific social media platform to receive the child pornography. Initially, DuPrey was charged in Scott County District Court with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a five-year prison sentence. According to arrest affidavits filed by Scott County Sheriffs Investigator Ethan Roling, at 2:59 p.m. Aug. 22, 2021, DuPrey disseminated a video depicting an underage female engaged in a sexual act. At 10:53 a.m. and at 1:54 p.m. on May 4 of this year, DuPrey disseminated two videos showing underage females engaged in sexual acts. The videos were sent through Kik Messenger. DuPrey was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on Jan. 11, 2023, and the Scott County charges were dismissed. According to the plea agreement, the initial cybertip showed DuPrey was using a social media platform and had shared two videos containing child pornography with another user on May 4, 2022. The IP address shows that this was while DuPrey was at his residence. The second cybertip showed that DuPrey distributed one image containing child pornography on Dec. 12, 2021. The third cybertip received on Sept. 25, 2021, shows that DuPrey received and distributed two videos and one image from his work address in East Moline and one video from his residence. The fourth cybertip received on January 21, 202I, shows that DuPrey received and distributed 11 videos and four images containing child pornography while at two places of employment in Illinois and at his former residence in Illinois. On Nov. 16, 2022, a search warrant was served at DuPreys home and an iPhone XR and iPhone 13 were seized. The phones were used to send and receive child pornography. DuPrey faces a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison. He also faces a term on supervised release of at least five years and could be sentenced to life on supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 20 before District Judge Stephanie Rose in U.S. District Court, Davenport. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Local LBGTQ+ support organizations have invited a national campaign to the Quad-Cities to aid their voices against discrimination. NOH8, a charitable organization that uses social media and visual protest to advocate for marriage, gender and human equality, will conduct a photoshoot from 6 to 8 p.m. June 1 at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, 2930 W. Locust St., Davenport. Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities Pastor Rich Hendricks said he'd followed the NOH8 Campaign after its formation in 2008 to protest banning same-sex marriage in California. He said Iowa could use this sort of protest in the wake of passed policies banning gender-affirming care for minors and prohibiting transgender students from using the bathroom that aligns with their identity. "I reached out to them because I'd heard of the NOH8 campaign, and I just felt like it was time for Iowa to make some in-your-face kind of statements," Hendricks said. NOH8's photoshoot is sponsored by the church, One Human Family QCA, Progressive Action for the Common Good and QC Pride. The first 200 attendees will do the photoshoot and receive a NOH8 tattoo for free, and the cost for everyone after is $40 for solo shoots and $25 per person for group shoots. Participants should show up in a plain white shirt to match the campaign. One frame will be chosen from each person and made available to them around six weeks after the event through a website link. Hendricks said the campaign was excited to come to Iowa for the first time and help the Quad-Cities show that love was stronger than hate. "We're excited to see how it's going to unfold, and I think it's going to be an exciting time," Hendricks said. "What a great way to kick off Pride Month." Here's a roundup of Pride Month activities happening in the Quad-Cities: Photos: 2022 Pride Parade Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A 20-year-old Rapid City man pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon to multiple charges accusing him of kidnapping an elderly woman, assaulting her and stealing her car, among other crimes. The April 26 indictment accuses Alexander Herdina of entering an occupied structure to commit a crime, strangling the 88-year-old woman, threatening her with a knife, stealing her 1997 Green Subaru Legacy, attempting or succeeding at accessing her financial resources, and obstructing first responders in some way. He allegedly had methamphetamine in his possession as well. Herdina allegedly committed the crimes on or between April 6 and April 7. He was arrested and booked into the Pennington County Jail just before 6 a.m. April 7. The official charges against Herdina are first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, two counts of aggravated assault one for the alleged knife threat, one for the alleged strangulation possession of a controlled substance, identity theft, grand theft, and obstruction. First-degree kidnapping is a class C felony with a maximum sentence of life in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. First-degree burglary is a class 2 felony with a maximum of 25 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. Aggravated assault is a class 3 felony with a maximum of 15 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine. Possession of a controlled substance is a class 5 felony with a maximum of five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Obstruction is a class 1 misdemeanor with a maximum of one year in the county jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Herdina appeared before Circuit Court Judge Jane Wipf Pfeifle via video conference from the jail for his Wednesday arraignment. With his attorney Paul Brankin seated next to him, Herdina acknowledged he understood the charges and the possible penalties upon conviction and pleaded not guilty to all counts. He also entered a denial to the state labeling him as a habitual offender for a May 2021 felony conviction in Meade County for possession of a controlled drug or substance. If the state is able to prove the conviction, Herdina could face a more severe sentence. In Herdina's case, the first-degree kidnapping maximum would remain a possible life sentence. The first-degree burglary maximum sentence would double to 50 years in prison. The maximum for aggravated assault would increase to 25 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. The penalty for the possession charge would increase to up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Herdina is currently held at the Pennington County Jail on a $100,000 cash only bond. From the jail, Herdina wrote letters to his previous attorney and Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Connolly asking for various facilities, court officials and individuals to have access to information in his case to, "hopefully change the direction of my file and my life toward acceptance of the Pennington County Mental Health Court or other options such as Teen Challenge of the Dakotasor Care Campus Treatment." Herdina is scheduled to appear in court at 2:30 p.m. July 6 for a status hearing on the recent kidnapping case. He has six other open cases in Pennington County Court, which include several alleged protection order violations and an assault he's accused of committing in the jail. Elon Musk's Neuralink, a brain-implant firm, received approval from the FDA to conduct its first-ever in-human clinical study. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval gives Neuralink's device implant test on humans a go signal. Elon Musk's Neuralink FDA Approval for Brain Implant Study According to CNBC, the Musk-owned firm Neuralink announced that the FDA has already approved its study of brain implants in humans. The brain implant device, Link, is surgically implanted into the brain. It contains a grid of electrodes that can record electrical activity from the brain. The electrodes then connect to a computer, which can translate the electrical signals into commands, which control devices or even thoughts. The Musk-led company took to Twitter to confirm the recent FDA approval. It says, "This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA." On top of that, Neuralink notes that it "represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people." The FDA approval for the clinical study is a major milestone for Neuralink, one of the well-known firms in the burgeoning brain-computer interface (BCI) industry. The company is widely known due to the popularity of its owner, no less than the Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter CEO, Musk. What Does Neuralink Do? Musk believes that Neuralink's technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world. The billionaire entrepreneur envisions a future where people with disabilities can use BCIs to regain mobility and independence. The Neuralink owner also believes that brain implants could treat neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Not to mention that Musk seeks to cure other conditions, including obesity and depression, with the help of his brain implant firm. Besides addressing pesky diseases, the ultra-billionaire also touts that brain implants deliver groundbreaking advancements, such as browsing the web and telepathy. Musk is pretty confident with the brain implant tech. Last year, the Tesla and SpaceX big boss said he is willing to impact the device to his children, as he touted its safety. Read Also: Elon Musk Warns of Consequences of AI, Argues Technology Is Not 'Necessary' Neuralink Human Trials As per Reuters, Musk has been floating the idea of starting Nueralink's human trials as early as 2019. But it never actually materialized during that year. As it turns out, Neuralink only requested FDA's approval last 2022, according to the tech firm's employees who spoke to Reuters. And last March, the regulator reportedly rejected its application, citing safety issues with the implant wires and lithium battery. Last November, the tech entrepreneur teased that Neuralink is already six months away from beginning its first-ever human trial, according to The Verge. And this time, the Musk-owned brain implant firm, Neuralink, has gotten FDA's nod to kick off its human trials. Related Article: Elon Musk Slams Work From Home Setup, Calls it 'Morally Wrong' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Eric Nelson, Cortney Ficken and Scott Sitts of Rapid City, Morgan Newman and Terri LaBrie of Sturgis, and Jacob Davis of Belle Fourche have been selected to be part of Leadership South Dakotas 10th class. The Class of 2024 will have 39 participants. They will begin the Leadership South Dakota program when they meet in Pierre this fall. The comprehensive statewide program has a mission to engage citizens from across the state. Leadership South Dakota provides participants with the background, unique experiences and insights necessary to be successful in leadership positions. We're so excited to announce the 10th class of Leadership South Dakota. We had a record-breaking number of applications, and I'm honored to lead what will be my first flagship class of Leadership South Dakota, said John Meyer, the programs new executive director. Leadership South Dakota has a strong history and a very bright future as we enter our second decade. Leadership South Dakota helps homegrown leaders expand their knowledge of the state. From Brookings to Rapid City and many unique places in between, participants learn from extraordinary people who have contributed to the fabric of our state. In the program, the 2024 class members will gain leadership and organizational management skills, helping them shape the state's future. More than 400 Leadership South Dakota participants have graduated since the program began. The 2024 class will travel to a new area of the state for each of the seven sessions in the program to gain valuable insight about topics specific to that region. The 2024 class will hear from leaders about the challenges, opportunities and successes they have encountered on their journeys. Go to leadershipsouthdakota.com/participants/ for more information about Leadership South Dakota and the full list of 2024 class members. The death sentence for a Minnesota man who killed a North Dakota student in 2003 has been changed to life in prison. A federal appeals court judge officially reduced the sentence for 70-year-old Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. last week. Rodriguez had been sentenced to death in 2007 for killing Dru Sjodin. U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider in North Dakota withdrew his effort to seek the death penalty for Rodriguez at the direction of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Rodriguez kidnapped Sjodin from a mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota, sexually assaulted her and then slashed her throat and left her for dead in a ravine near Crookston, Minnesota. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. On Thursday, Governor Kristi Noem published a letter to the South Dakota Board of Regents addressing areas where they can improve higher education in the state. In the letter, Noem announced the creation of a hotline meant to "keep our institutions accountable and ensure that we are all aware of what is occurring at our taxpayer-funded colleges and universities." Information gathered via the hotline will be used guide policy decisions on a myriad of topics. Noem addressed a number of her key policy concerns for higher education to include banning drag shows, ensuring free speech, limiting Chinese influence on universities, and keeping tuition costs low. Noem claimed there is a nationwide crisis of liberal ideologies poisoning higher education, making schools more closed-minded and focused on subjective feeling rather than factually informed logic. To their detriment, college and university students are taught the importance of diversity and equity which do not prepare them for the real world that is rich with disagreement and discomfort, Noem said. Attempting to "revitalize" South Dakota higher education institutions, Noem called for the Regents to join her in an effort to take eight specified actions that can change the educational landscape in the state and show the rest of the nation "what quality higher education is supposed to look like." First on her list is a challenge to the Board to raise the graduation rate of its schools to 65% by 2028 from the current 47%. Claiming steps are already being taken by her administration to increase graduation rates by improving standards and expanding "school choice," Noem said she will work with the BOR to formulate new ideas on how to further increase rates. Second, the BOR should "partner with businesses on registering apprenticeship programs and offer the lowest possible credit rates," she said in the letter. Because students are not being prepared for employment, more apprenticeship offerings will engage students with businesses in the state and get them a job immediately after graduating, according to Noem. Third, she attacked the use of gender pronouns on campuses, claiming they create an exclusive environment and coerce students to use language they don't wish to. To ensure students' right to free speech, she said the BOR "should remove all references to preferred pronouns in all school materials and any enforcement of such." The fourth actionable item further addressed free speech on campuses even if some individuals deem it offensive. Therefore, the BOR should "remove any policy or procedure that prohibits students from exercising their right to free speech," the letter read. Instead of restricting offensive speech, students should be more resilient and colleges should implement policies to foster an environment that better prepares them to address disagreement, Noem said. Fifth on the list is a call for the prohibition of drag shows on college campuses which Noem described as "dangerous theories" in the letter. Though they can be debated in a classroom setting, such performances should not occur on public campuses because, "Our universities should require the highest standards of behavior and decency," according to Noem. Addressing the rising cost of tuition, the sixth item on the list, Noem said the BOR should find ways to ensure the affordability of college. She directed blame at excess spending on administrative positions and services, and the BOR "backfilling their own budgets with taxpayer dollars" as major drivers of rising tuition costs. To alleviate the issue, Noem recommended shifting focus "back to the pursuit of knowledge." Referencing a 2022 University of Pennsylvania study that found 47% of adults cannot name the three branches of government, the seventh item claims civics and American history are not adequately taught at South Dakota colleges which has resulted in the indifference and incompetency of the state's youth. In response, the BOR should make American Government and American History courses a requirement for graduation which will teach students how to "exercise their civic duty," and will help "preserve our republic," the letter read. The eighth item references the imposing threat of Chinese influence on public education by means of Confucius Institutes (CIs). At their peak in 2017, the programs, which had a guised mission to promote Chinese culture and language, operated in collaboration with around 100 affiliate colleges and universities around the country, according to the National Association of Scholars a conservative education advocacy group. Though no known CIs currently exist in South Dakota, Noem urged the BOR to review all sources of funds to ensure none are coming from China. In response to the letter, the Board of Regents Director of Communications, Shuree Mortenson, said they are still reviewing its contents but look forward to having a willing partner in higher education. The letter, along with other BOR efforts like their internal Strategic Plan and the 2021 Senate Bill 55 Legislative Taskforce which studied the cost effectiveness of the state's six public universities "present solutions to support the growth of South Dakota's workforce through our public universities," Mortenson said. Furthermore, she said, "As the public university system of South Dakota, our main goal is to prepare the next generation of leaders with the necessary skills to grow our state's economy. We are fully committed to this mission." To help inform policy actions regarding the eight issues referenced in the letter, Noem created a whistleblower hotline. As governor, she said she has a duty to protect South Dakotans and to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely. "Together, we can and must set an example to the nation of what strong, conversative higher education can look like," Noem said in the letter. "I look forward to working with you on this incredibly important goal." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Bulls, Broncs and Barrels rodeo series kicks off at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds this weekend with a full lineup of rodeo action. On Friday, May 26, 60 barrel racers from across the region will compete at the Sizzlin Summer Barrel Series Race for a spot on Saturday nights main stage at this years first Bulls, Broncs and Barrels event. The top 16 competitors from Friday night will move on to compete Saturday. The barrel racers will start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and the Bulls, Broncs and Barrels rodeo will get started at 7 p.m. on Saturday, gates open at 5. We've got a full contestant list, said Taylor Lindeman, Equestrian Centre manager at the Stock Farm Club. We've got 60 barrel racers that are competing to be in this on Saturday. So they're competing Friday night here at the fairgrounds and we're bringing back the top 16 on Saturday. We've got our rodeo royalty doing concessions. Weve got Red Eye Rodeo bringing in all the stock. Should be a fun night. Saturdays rodeo is the first in a five-part series of Bulls, Broncs and Barrels events taking place in western Montana. The Ravalli County Fairgrounds will host the series again on June 15, two are scheduled to take place at the Darby Rodeo Arena. The remaining event will be held in Deer Lodge. Lindeman said that she and Nicole Hagen of the Stock Farm got involved with the rodeo series to help out and try to make the Hamilton rodeo a larger competitor alongside its partner in Darby. Rodeo is very important to this valley, agriculture is very important to this valley. Without it, the valley really wouldn't exist. Lindeman said. We just want to make sure it stays here, and it stays strong and loud and proud. Tickets are available at Murdochs in Hamilton and Missoula, Darby Liquor and Wine and the Ravalli County Fairgrounds Office. Adult tickets are $20 per person, children 10 and under get in free. Proceeds from the Bulls, Broncs and Barrels go to support the equestrian side of the fairgrounds and the Rockin RC Rodeo Committee events. It should be really big, lots of fun, Lindeman said. A big thank you to our sponsors of this event. Larry's Tractors is our featured sponsor and Eagle Drilling and Pump Services is one of our chute sponsors. We could not have done it without them. Their support of us and rodeo, we could not have done it without their support and wanting to help us keep rodeo in the valley. The Montana Jr. High School Rodeo finals will also be taking place this weekend at the Darby Rodeo Arena. Tickets are $10 and kids under 10 get in free. The rodeo will start at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 28. Food vendors will be on site and tickets will be available at the door. The event is sponsored by the Darby Rodeo Association and Montana High School Rodeo Association. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Through its Markel Style, international insurance giant Markel has been striving for excellence over the past 40 years. Those values for the zealous pursuit of excellence, looking for a better way to do things and reaching ones full potential were written down when the company first went public in 1986. Everyday employees are at the heart of those goals. Everything we do is guided by that, and it starts, really, before people even join Markel, said Sue Davies, chief human resources officer for Markel. How are we thinking about prospective employees, interns or early careers all the way through the employee life cycle? And what are the things that you do at each stage to deliver on commitments that we set out for our employees? Today, Markel has about 1,900 employees across the Richmond area, where its headquartered. In keeping its promise to create an environment in which employees can reach their goals, Markel is always surveying its workforce to keep a finger on the pulse of what they need to be successful. Hybrid work is one area in which the company has taken the lead from employees' desires. Markel decided to operate under a hybrid schedule with three days in-person work and two days at home in the summer of 2021 when the world was returning to work. Markel also adopted a hybrid policy that allows its employees to do their work from almost anywhere for one week during the year. The one requirement is that its somewhere that youre legally allowed to work, Davies said. People have used it to go to the beach. Say, theyve managed to tag along if family were going to the beach; maybe traditionally, theyve gone for a week, but now they go for two weeks, and they work remotely for the other week. I think it gives people more flexibility and thats been well-received. Markel also doubled down on other programs to help with the overall health of its employees. The company sprouted groups for members of traditionally underrepresented demographics who work at the company. It has groups for Black engagement, LGBTQ+, a veterans network and another for young professionals. Each is driven by an executive sponsor. The company is creating a global employee network to look at aspects of well-being, such as physical, mental and financial health. Community engagement has been a drumbeat for the companys workplace culture, Davies said. It introduced a Dollars for Do-ers for all U.S. offices in which the company matches donation dollars with an employees volunteer hours. Markel has also given volunteers time off, with the focus of having team volunteer hours. All of these programs and mentalities have been important during the great war for talent in which employers have recently focused on retaining their current employees amid a shortage of qualified workers. Markel has promoted around 700 people within its 5,000-person organization since 2021. That mission to find better people has also meant educating would-be workers about all of the possible careers inside of an insurance agency, which can sometimes appear to be secretive to the outside world, Davies said. It's an exciting business to be in. We view insurance as keeping that global economy running and allowing people to do their business and take the risks that they need to take, Davies said. So if we can make sure people are there and supported, then that keeps the whole thing moving in a positive direction. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. If you've gotten injured on the job in Virginia, there's a very good chance that you've interacted with the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The commission, founded over a century ago as the Industrial Commission of Virginia and incorporated after the state legislature passed the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, manages and resolves claims from workers who need monetary assistance as a result of injuries sustained on company time. For the third consecutive year, the commission has been named one of the Richmond area's Top Workplaces this year, as the top midsize employer. Its nimble approach to adjusting work styles during the COVID-19 pandemic and employee-driven commitment to community service are just some of the reasons employees say that the commission is a great place to work. "Our goal has been to create a workplace where individuals can reach their potential and become their full selves," Evelyn McGill, the commission's executive director, said. The commission is staffed by 260 employees, most of them based out of the central office in downtown Richmond. Others are spread across regional offices in Bristol, Fairfax, Harrisonburg, Manassas, Roanoke and Virginia Beach. VWC's goal is to be "the most effective and innovative state agency" in the nation. Employees and commissioners have been recognized with awards and positions in prominent regional and national associations, and there is a robust culture of sharing best practices among state workers' compensation agencies that has brought innovations from other states to Virginia and vice versa. The commission's everyday work involves supporting workers across Virginia, so it should come as no surprise that community engagement and service are tightly woven into VWC's principles. The agency's approach to service is driven largely by worker priorities. VWC got involved with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life fundraiser several years ago, in part, because several employees had been diagnosed with cancer. In 2022, the commission was Relay's top fundraiser in Richmond, collecting over $5,000 to go to research and patient support. VWC also raised $1,350 for Safe Harbor's Walk to End Domestic Violence and donated nearly 200 pounds of food as part of its annual food drive with Feed More. And the commission's "Public Service Week" a time when employees have a chance to engage in other service projects in the community was expanded in 2023 to cover the entire month of May. "We have a very giving team," McGill said. Employees also praise the agency's COVID-19 response. Early in the pandemic, VWC transitioned to a hybrid work setup, creating a "Restart and New Normal" committee to figure out how to implement remote work structures not only for everyday work, but also for mediation sessions and other services that the commission provides. Though President Joe Biden signed legislation in April officially ending the national state of emergency brought on by the pandemic, McGill does not see the agency returning to a traditional, fully in-person experience in the future, noting that "the world of work is still being redefined." Even after repeated recognition as one of the region's top workplaces during a time when the culture of office work got turned on its head, McGill knows there's always more room to grow. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ashland has for more than four decades celebrated that delicious little fruit with the seeds on the outside. For many, the arrival of strawberries signals the coming of summer every bit as much as the screams of kids enjoying life without school. Well, maybe not as much. But close. And if you want strawberries in the Ashland-Hanover area, one name comes to mind Agriberry Farm & CSA. Owners Anne and Chuck Geyer have since the 1980s farmed strawberries in the Commonwealth, but in 2010 the company turned its attention to Richmond-area strawberries. Pierson Geyer, its general manager and second generation fruit farmer, oversees production at Agriberrys plot in Chesterfield. The space spans a little over nine acres and is also used by Chesterfield Berry Farm with whom they collaborate. They selected the spot after a consultant identified it as having a unique microclimate perfect for growing strawberries. It had a lot of sandy soil and this factor is important for them, Geyer says. Agriberry mainly grows two varieties: San Andreas and the Ruby June. The intensely flavored Ruby June is popular at local markets, but the San Andreas has longer yields and sometimes produces fruit as late as Labor Day. To get the berries ready for summer, Agriberrys work begins around the time sweater-wearing locals are wandering through pumpkin patches and sipping spiced lattes. A few weeks before fall planting, beds are prepared and the ground carefully fumigated inside plastic row covers to sanitize the soil a delicate process Geyer notes thats done with expert care. By late October, the Agriberry team starts planting strawberry crops and adjusting frost and weed row covers over them to shield them from winter weather. Theres about a seven to eight degree protection from row covers, Geyer says. This year, they planted around 250,000 strawberry plants. But even with diligent care, nature is unpredictable. This past winter was unseasonably warm causing red berries to appear as early as March an impressive contrast to last year when a sudden March frost took about 30% of the companys crops. While frost is the primary nemesis, aggressive mites and deer also pose problems. Once strawberry season officially takes off (anywhere from late March to mid-May), the Agriberry team begins quickly harvesting. Within 72 hours of being picked, the berries will be sent off to CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members, sold at farmers markets both locally and around the Mid-Atlantic and transported to a handful of Central Virginia stores and restaurants, like Berrys Produce, Union Market, Grisette and Sub Rosa Bakery. Agriberry is one of the areas biggest strawberry growers. It is among the very few left. In the 1920s the area had about 61 acres dedicated to strawberries. In the most recent USDA Agricultural Census (2017) that number had dropped into the single digits. Despite this, Hanover County still gives strawberries the spotlight in various ways. Earlier this month, Hanover Vegetable Farm hosted its sixth annual Strawberry & Wine Festival. On June 3, the popular Ashland Strawberry Faire will highlight all things strawberries through food, crafts, games and the energetic Strawberry Kids parade. Growing strawberries is hard work thats often taken for granted, but it fits Agriberrys mission of encouraging people to devour locally grown berries. The closer you are to the source, the riper the harvest, Geyer says. We want people to have an awesome strawberry experience. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A $55 billion private capital firms real estate group has purchased four suburban shopping centers around Richmond for $110 million. Miami-based H.I.G. Realty Partners bought Parham Plaza and Ridge Shopping Center, located across the 1500 block of North Parham Road from each other at the intersection of Parham, Quiocassin and Eastridge roads, as well as Staples Mill Square in Henrico County and Stonehenge Village in Midlothian. All four are owned by separate limited liability companies; the firm responsible for leasing them is Vienna-based Rosenthal Properties. As part of the transaction, Rosenthal is joining H.I.G. and FarmViewVentures LLC as partners in the shopping centers, according to H.I.G.s representative, the New York-based real estate group of the Pryor Cashman law firm. County tax records list the taxpayers for the Ridge center and part of Parham Plaza as LLCs with the same address as Rosenthal, with Walmart listed for the largest part of the center. Target Corp. is listed as the taxpayer for Staples Mill Square and Wegmans for Stonehenge Village. The purchase amounts to about a 34% gain over the current owners purchases of three of the centers in 2019 and one in 2006. It is 64% higher than the combined tax assessment on the properties, according to county records. Pryor Cashman said roughly 95% of the centers are leased. Besides WalMart, Target and Wegmans, tenants include The Fresh Market and Aldi. Walmart at Parham Plaza has 116,000 square feet of store and warehouse space on 8.2 acres, while the stores to the north of it have an additional 53,250 square feet on 5.1 acres. It was last sold for $20.5 million in 2019, Henrico tax records show. Ridge Shopping Center across the street has 66,900 square feet on 6.2 acres. It is anchored by The Fresh Market, a Virginia ABC store, a restaurant and smaller specialized retailers. It previously sold for $26 million in 2019. The Staples Mill property, with 129,000 square feet of building on 11.6 acres, was last sold in 2006 for $2.8 million, while Stonehenge Village, built in 2015 on 16.25 acres, sold for $32.8 million in 2019. H.I.G. says it invests in small to midsize real estate assets in a variety of types, with a focus on special situations investment jargon for complicated deals where a transaction can have unusual but large effect. The firm says it takes a hands-on, intensive approach to rehabilitate and redevelop properties that have been capital starved or poorly managed. A subsidiary of H.I.G., a firm with $55 billion in assets under management, H.I.G. Realty, has invested in more than $7 billion worth of real estate, including office, residential, hospitality and warehouse properties. Close This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the buildings outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down. In May 1977, this 150-foot smokestack came down, thanks to Controlled Demolition of Towson, Md. The smokestack stood behind what used to be Broad Street Station in Richmond; the demolition was part of a contract with the state for removal of the stack and several buildings in the area. This April 1951 image shows St. Andrews School in Richmonds Oregon Hill area. Noted philanthropist Grace Arents founded the school in 1894 and was a key supporter of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The school offered a wide range of programs, including sewing, music and physical education. It still stands today, serving low-income children. In May 1959, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans to move about a third of its workforce from Richmond to Huntington, W.Va., by 1961-62. Many employees worked in the First and Merchants National Bank building at Ninth Street downtown, which was partially owned by C&O. The building has been converted to First National Apartments. This July 1947 image shows the new Curles Neck Dairy plant at 1600 Roseneath Road in Richmond. The building, which cost more than $200,000, gave the 13-year-old dairy modern features including a refreshment room that served up to 50 people, ice-cream-making facilities and curbside service. The building is now home to the Dairy Bar restaurant. This March 1987 image shows the Independent Order of St. Luke building at 900 St. James St. in Richmond, which was the new home for the citys Head Start program. The building, which today stands empty, was built in the early 1900s and was expanded between 1915 and 1920. It was home to the benevolent society under Maggie Walkers leadership, as well as the first location of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank that she ran. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This May 1935 image shows Herberts shoe store at 419 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. The store advertised itself as the first air-cooled shoe store in the entire South. A fall sale that year offered womens shoes as low as $1.77. This May 1957 image shows the Woolworths at Fifth and Broad streets in downtown Richmond. The $1 million building opened in September 1954, and it housed several departments for the nearby Miller & Rhoads, which had an earlier store on the site in the late 1800s. An ad for the Woolworths Easter sale offered handbags for $1, records for 99 cents, and cowhide and plastic belts for between 39 and 98 cents. In February 1968, the National Theater on East Broad Street in Richmond was about to undergo a $150,000 remodeling to make it suitable as a movie theater the building, which opened in 1923, was designed more for vaudeville and other live performances. In June 1968, the theater reopened as The Towne and operated until 1983. It has since been restored again and now hosts concerts. From the Archives: Old Richmond buildings This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the buildings outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down. In May 1977, this 150-foot smokestack came down, thanks to Controlled Demolition of Towson, Md. The smokestack stood behind what used to be Broad Street Station in Richmond; the demolition was part of a contract with the state for removal of the stack and several buildings in the area. This April 1951 image shows St. Andrews School in Richmonds Oregon Hill area. Noted philanthropist Grace Arents founded the school in 1894 and was a key supporter of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The school offered a wide range of programs, including sewing, music and physical education. It still stands today, serving low-income children. In May 1959, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans to move about a third of its workforce from Richmond to Huntington, W.Va., by 1961-62. Many employees worked in the First and Merchants National Bank building at Ninth Street downtown, which was partially owned by C&O. The building has been converted to First National Apartments. This July 1947 image shows the new Curles Neck Dairy plant at 1600 Roseneath Road in Richmond. The building, which cost more than $200,000, gave the 13-year-old dairy modern features including a refreshment room that served up to 50 people, ice-cream-making facilities and curbside service. The building is now home to the Dairy Bar restaurant. This March 1987 image shows the Independent Order of St. Luke building at 900 St. James St. in Richmond, which was the new home for the citys Head Start program. The building, which today stands empty, was built in the early 1900s and was expanded between 1915 and 1920. It was home to the benevolent society under Maggie Walkers leadership, as well as the first location of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank that she ran. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This May 1935 image shows Herberts shoe store at 419 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. The store advertised itself as the first air-cooled shoe store in the entire South. A fall sale that year offered womens shoes as low as $1.77. This May 1957 image shows the Woolworths at Fifth and Broad streets in downtown Richmond. The $1 million building opened in September 1954, and it housed several departments for the nearby Miller & Rhoads, which had an earlier store on the site in the late 1800s. An ad for the Woolworths Easter sale offered handbags for $1, records for 99 cents, and cowhide and plastic belts for between 39 and 98 cents. In February 1968, the National Theater on East Broad Street in Richmond was about to undergo a $150,000 remodeling to make it suitable as a movie theater the building, which opened in 1923, was designed more for vaudeville and other live performances. In June 1968, the theater reopened as The Towne and operated until 1983. It has since been restored again and now hosts concerts. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Chesterfield County-based drug manufacturer is on the cusp of releasing a new medicine designed to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. Indivior PLC received approval from the Food and Drug Administration this week to green-light Opvee, a nasal spray considered an alternative to Narcan, which has been used for years to restore breathing immediately after a drug overdose. Because its so quick-acting, Opvee doesnt just save a persons life, it prevents brain damage, said Mark Crossley, Indiviors CEO. About 80,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl accounted for an outsized chunk of those deaths. Indivior, headquartered on Midlothian Turnpike, is a major pharmaceutical manufacturer for substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses. It has more than 900 employees globally. Earlier this year, the company bought drug manufacturer Opiant Pharmaceuticals, which was already developing Opvee. Like naloxone, the molecule in Narcan, Opvee binds to receptors in the brain, blocking the opioid and restoring breathing. Opvee, whose molecule is called nalmefene, is both quick-acting and long-acting, which could make it a suitable contender to fentanyl, which remains in the body longer than other opioids, Crossley said. Crossley declined to directly compare nalmefene to naloxone, saying a study would be necessary to accurately differentiate the two. While Opvee will come as a nasal spray, naloxone is available as a spray or injection. The company plans to begin selling the drug this fall, and it will be available to patients 12 and older. In a study of 61 participants, reversal of respiratory depression occurred in 2.5 to 5 minutes, and full recovery began in as early as 5 minutes. Some had side effects of nasal discomfort, headache, nausea, vomiting and others. All opioid reversal drugs create an intense withdrawal feeling and, with naloxone, those side effects might last 30 to 40 minutes, NPR reported. But with nalmefene, those issues can last six hours or more, said Dr. Lewis Nelson of Rutgers University. While naloxone isnt as long-acting as the newer alternative, doctors can give a second or third dose of naloxone if it wears off. And there isnt a shortage of naloxone, either, Nelson said. Indivior has not determined a cost yet, but Crossley pledged to make it affordable. We will responsibly price this, he said. We are committed to making this novel rescue medication widely available to those who need it most to help save lives. Indivior expects the drug to result in $150 million to $250 million in annual sales, according to a news release. It will not be available over the counter the FDA does not grant approval for that until years after a drug has reached the market. But it can be purchased with a prescription or can be sold to first responders such as police, firefighters and EMS, who can distribute the medicine, similar to how naloxone is often handed out. Many first responders already carry naloxone to counter overdoses. Narcan recently received approval to be sold over the counter. Indivior is aiming to get insurance coverage for Opvee, Crossley said. Crossley compared buying Opvee to having a fire extinguisher in the house. A person might want a prescription if he or she has been prescribed high-dosage pain medication. Or a parent might buy it for a teenager or young adult. The federal government funded roughly $18 million toward the drugs creation. Opiant got roughly $11 million in a contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and $7 million in a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Crossley did not identify the total cost to create and test it. Opvees molecule, nalmefene, was first approved to counter overdoses in the mid-1990s, but its no longer available in the United States. In Europe, its used in tablet form to limit alcohol cravings. Manufacturing will occur outside Virginia, Crossley said. Indivior is also the maker of Suboxone Film and Sublocade, which are designed to treat drug dependence. 10 essential documentaries on the opioid crisis 10 essential documentaries on the opioid crisis The Crime of the Century Recovery Boys 7 Days: The Opioid Crisis in Arkansas Do No Harm: The Opioid Epidemic Heroin(e) This Might Hurt The Pharmacist Warning: This Drug May Kill You The Trade Dr. Feelgood Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Three juvenile males were injured in a shooting near the White Oak Village shopping center on Thursday night, Henrico County police say. Officers responded to the 4900 block of Wood Thrush Circle just before 9 p.m. Thursday after reports of a firearm violation. Upon arriving at the scene, police located three juvenile victims, who were subsequently taken to hospitals for treatment. None of the victims injuries is considered life-threatening. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Henrico police at (804) 501-5000 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000. On Tuesday, the White House convened a listening session with workers, researchers, labor and civil rights leaders, and policymakers on the use of automated technologies by employers to surveil, monitor, evaluate, and manage their workers. During the session, workers representing diverse sectors of the economy-including call centers, trucking, warehousing, home health care, and app-based ride sharing-shared their stories about how the use of these technologies impacted them. Workers raised concerns about health, safety, privacy, fair pay, labor organizing, collective bargaining, and reasonable accommodations for disabilities. READ NEXT: Joint Statement on the Launch of the North American Semiconductor Conference and North American Ministerial Committee on Economic Competitiveness The listening session was attended by officials from the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC), Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Tuesday's listening session followed a Request for Information (RFI) released by the Biden-Harris Administration earlier this month to advance understanding of the design, deployment, prevalence, and impacts of automated technologies that monitor and track workers. Responses to this RFI will be used to inform new policy responses; share relevant research, data, and findings with the public; and amplify best practices among employers, worker organizations, technology vendors, developers, and others in civil society. The stories workers shared included a warehousing professional who explained that his employer uses automated technology to track how quickly he moves packages-setting quotas he must meet or face discipline, and making him feel like a machine. He and his coworkers face strong pressure to meet those productivity targets by harming their health-such as by skipping meals or breaks-yet many fear to speak out for concern that their employers will retaliate based on data collected on them. A home health care professional described how her employer's electronic verification system makes it harder to give her clients the care they need. The system requires her to clock in and out through a phone system-and because she cannot easily clock in or out while providing care, she has worked for hours at a time that are not counted towards her pay. A driver for app-based transportation services explained how apps continuously track his location, speed, phone use, and more-but provide no transparency about how this data affects drivers' pay or ride offers. A package delivery driver described how automated surveillance technologies-including cameras, sensors, and handheld devices-have become widespread, and can trigger disciplinary action despite being unreliable. A call center professional shared that AI-based conversation management tools frequently give inaccurate prompts that she is required to use, preventing her from properly supporting customers. While other workers are often afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation, she felt comfortable expressing her concerns through her labor union, which advocates for data transparency, and prevents employers from disciplining or firing workers without cause. READ MORE: Statement on Behalf of the Vice President One Year After the Uvalde Shooting @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Weapon scanners will soon be phased in at all Henrico County public schools after the system has faced struggles with weapons being found on campuses. Schools staff recommended that weapon scanners be installed in a phased approach, beginning with the countys high schools. Those scanners could be installed as early as the start of the upcoming school year. When we began this process, Ill admit I was very uncertain about this idea. But as weve gone through the process, there has been thoughtful field testing, there has been learning from other divisions and theres been listening to the community, said Marcie Shea, Tuckahoe District School Board member. The plan involves installing weapon scanners at all county high schools before the end of the next school year. Once approved by the board, it was estimated it would take around eight weeks to start. Middle and elementary schools would have scanners installed afterward. Police ID 17-year-old from Chesterfield as victim of South Side shooting Richmond detectives have identified the victim of a fatal shooting late Tuesday night in South Richmond as a 17-year-old male from North Chesterfield. The Henrico school system covers 74 schools and more than 50,000 students. A preliminary report showed an estimated 230 weapon scanners would be needed to cover all of the countys schools. In addition to the scanners, school administration also recommended the hiring of about 70 school security officers. That would put at least one additional SSO in every school building. Currently, no elementary schools have SSOs. Weapon scanners are similar to metal detectors, but they search for high-density metals like those used in a gun or knife. Theyre popular at large crowd venues like stadiums and music festivals because theyre faster than metal detectors. People being searched can leave small metal items, cellphones or headphones in their pockets. Henrico Public Schools has had multiple incidents involving threats and the recovery of firearms from school campuses. A loaded gun was found in a students backpack at Holman Middle School in January. Just last week, a gun was recovered from a bathroom at Longdale Elementary School. A spokesperson for the school system said six firearms have been recovered from Henrico schools during the current school year. HCPS announced a plan to begin trialing weapon scanners and metal detectors in six of its schools the week after the gun was found at Holman Middle. The School Board still has to approve the recommendation with a vote, but it appeared to be in unanimous support of bringing scanners into schools. This is a complicated process and it will take the division at least a year to phase in the recommendation to acquire scanners, hiring and provide training, said Lenny Prichard, HCPS chief of operations. HCPS tested both weapon scanners and metal detectors across six county schools during February and March, then solicited feedback from parents. School staff decided against using metal detectors because they were too slow. The added time it took for students to remove items like cellphones, laptops and headphones meant that only 8% to 10% of kids were screened. Weapon scanners could screen at least 95% of a school population. Weapon scanners are also able to screen around 1,100 students in 30 minutes, compared to 130 students with metal detectors. Parent responses in focus groups showed that they felt safer with weapon scanners, in large part because weapon scanners screen a significantly higher number of students, Prichard said While survey and focus group respondents largely said they felt safer with visible security measure in place, some said they felt more unsafe about the prospect of students walking through detection systems to start their school day. Parents were also concerned about scanning abilities at schools with open campuses, which do not have any particular entryway for students. Prichard said they were able to push students at open campuses toward choke points between the school and a common arrival area like a parking lot. Felt like we really did a great job, Prichard said, and I know one day at one of our particular campus staff schools, we captured 98% of the students that day. The school division is currently gathering pricing from different vendors in expectation of brining the scanners to Henrico campuses. Close This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the buildings outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down. In May 1977, this 150-foot smokestack came down, thanks to Controlled Demolition of Towson, Md. The smokestack stood behind what used to be Broad Street Station in Richmond; the demolition was part of a contract with the state for removal of the stack and several buildings in the area. This April 1951 image shows St. Andrews School in Richmonds Oregon Hill area. Noted philanthropist Grace Arents founded the school in 1894 and was a key supporter of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The school offered a wide range of programs, including sewing, music and physical education. It still stands today, serving low-income children. In May 1959, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans to move about a third of its workforce from Richmond to Huntington, W.Va., by 1961-62. Many employees worked in the First and Merchants National Bank building at Ninth Street downtown, which was partially owned by C&O. The building has been converted to First National Apartments. This July 1947 image shows the new Curles Neck Dairy plant at 1600 Roseneath Road in Richmond. The building, which cost more than $200,000, gave the 13-year-old dairy modern features including a refreshment room that served up to 50 people, ice-cream-making facilities and curbside service. The building is now home to the Dairy Bar restaurant. This March 1987 image shows the Independent Order of St. Luke building at 900 St. James St. in Richmond, which was the new home for the citys Head Start program. The building, which today stands empty, was built in the early 1900s and was expanded between 1915 and 1920. It was home to the benevolent society under Maggie Walkers leadership, as well as the first location of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank that she ran. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This May 1935 image shows Herberts shoe store at 419 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. The store advertised itself as the first air-cooled shoe store in the entire South. A fall sale that year offered womens shoes as low as $1.77. This May 1957 image shows the Woolworths at Fifth and Broad streets in downtown Richmond. The $1 million building opened in September 1954, and it housed several departments for the nearby Miller & Rhoads, which had an earlier store on the site in the late 1800s. An ad for the Woolworths Easter sale offered handbags for $1, records for 99 cents, and cowhide and plastic belts for between 39 and 98 cents. In February 1968, the National Theater on East Broad Street in Richmond was about to undergo a $150,000 remodeling to make it suitable as a movie theater the building, which opened in 1923, was designed more for vaudeville and other live performances. In June 1968, the theater reopened as The Towne and operated until 1983. It has since been restored again and now hosts concerts. From the Archives: Old Richmond buildings This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the buildings outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down. In May 1977, this 150-foot smokestack came down, thanks to Controlled Demolition of Towson, Md. The smokestack stood behind what used to be Broad Street Station in Richmond; the demolition was part of a contract with the state for removal of the stack and several buildings in the area. This April 1951 image shows St. Andrews School in Richmonds Oregon Hill area. Noted philanthropist Grace Arents founded the school in 1894 and was a key supporter of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The school offered a wide range of programs, including sewing, music and physical education. It still stands today, serving low-income children. In May 1959, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans to move about a third of its workforce from Richmond to Huntington, W.Va., by 1961-62. Many employees worked in the First and Merchants National Bank building at Ninth Street downtown, which was partially owned by C&O. The building has been converted to First National Apartments. This July 1947 image shows the new Curles Neck Dairy plant at 1600 Roseneath Road in Richmond. The building, which cost more than $200,000, gave the 13-year-old dairy modern features including a refreshment room that served up to 50 people, ice-cream-making facilities and curbside service. The building is now home to the Dairy Bar restaurant. This March 1987 image shows the Independent Order of St. Luke building at 900 St. James St. in Richmond, which was the new home for the citys Head Start program. The building, which today stands empty, was built in the early 1900s and was expanded between 1915 and 1920. It was home to the benevolent society under Maggie Walkers leadership, as well as the first location of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank that she ran. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This May 1935 image shows Herberts shoe store at 419 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. The store advertised itself as the first air-cooled shoe store in the entire South. A fall sale that year offered womens shoes as low as $1.77. This May 1957 image shows the Woolworths at Fifth and Broad streets in downtown Richmond. The $1 million building opened in September 1954, and it housed several departments for the nearby Miller & Rhoads, which had an earlier store on the site in the late 1800s. An ad for the Woolworths Easter sale offered handbags for $1, records for 99 cents, and cowhide and plastic belts for between 39 and 98 cents. In February 1968, the National Theater on East Broad Street in Richmond was about to undergo a $150,000 remodeling to make it suitable as a movie theater the building, which opened in 1923, was designed more for vaudeville and other live performances. In June 1968, the theater reopened as The Towne and operated until 1983. It has since been restored again and now hosts concerts. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Just a week after it was designated on his license plate that he was a Bronze Star Medal recipient, Wilbert Hop Hobson was driving through Richmond last year when a police officer pulled beside him and signaled for Hobson to roll down his window. Unsure about why he was stopped, Hobson was relieved when the officer gave him a thumbs-up and said, Thank you for your service, before driving away. Hobson served in the 101st Airborne unit of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He and a fellow member of his unit he remembers only as Rico were listed as missing in action for three days after a North Vietnamese strike sent them sliding from their post on top of a monsoon-soaked mountain into the depths of the Vietnamese jungle, he said. Surviving on just their rations and dodging gunfire from and firing back at North Vietnamese forces, Hobson and Rico earned the Bronze Star Medal when they successfully returned to service. Just months later, Hobson was also awarded an Air Medal for being part of a 10-man team that participated in an airstrike to protect another unit from North Vietnamese forces. Hobson and several other Vietnam War veterans spoke to the Richmond Times-Dispatch as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and as the nation celebrates Memorial Day. Though the police officer recognized Hobsons achievements, Vietnam War veterans have not always been appreciated for their service. The Vietnam War was politically divisive within the U.S., and returning veterans were not supported like those who served in the world wars, said Daniel Gade, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veteran Services. The U.S. entered the Vietnam War by providing aid to South Vietnam in 1955 to assist in the fight against North Vietnam. The U.S. would eventually send troops overseas in 1965, and would begin withdrawing them in 1973. North Vietnam ultimately seized control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified in 1976 as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Approximately 2.7 million U.S. soldiers were sent to Vietnam, including over 200,000 Virginians. Over 58,000 Americans lost their lives serving in the war. The Vietnam War also marked the last time U.S. soldiers were drafted, with almost 1.9 million soldiers enlisted through the Selective Service System. While Hobson said he was fortunate to return to a supportive family and community, he noted there had been several protests against the war when he returned in 1970, including the Kent State University massacre, where four students were fatally shot while protesting against U.S. involvement in Vietnam. When we came back I wouldnt say anything about Vietnam, Hobson said. A lot of guys never even thought about wearing a uniform. Powhatan Owen, a Vietnam War veteran from Charles City who served in the 23rd Infantry Division America, recalled that a nurse advised him against wearing his uniform when he returned home. After a rocket-propelled grenade hit his helicopter, Owen was triaged in Vietnam and made his way home, moving from hospital to hospital. While Owens injuries prevented him from returning to service and earned him an honorable discharge, he said he would have returned to service if he was able. I was proud of my service, I was proud of my uniform, Owen said. I was just a cog in the wheel, but I did my part to move along this thing we call freedom, which we cherish so much. Stuart Blankenship, another Virginia-based Vietnam War veteran, served in 48th Infantry Platoon Scout Dog unit alongside three canine partners, including a trusty German shepherd named Royal. Blankenship also said he was proud of his service and, while people may not have understood his role in the war at the time, there seems to be a clearer understanding within the general public today of the Vietnam War and what veterans went through. Gade agreed with Blankenship, crediting this shift in recent years to peoples willingness to separate their opinions about the war from its soldiers. The country is really coming to grips with the difference between attitudes towards a war and attitudes towards the people who fight in those wars, Gade said. One of the most recent efforts to share Vietnam veterans stories came from Clay Mountcastle, director of the Virginia War Memorial. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, Mountcastle assembled an exhibit 50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience, which highlights the stories of 50 Virginia-based Vietnam War veterans including Hobson, Owen and Blankenship. Id say not a lot and certainly not enough has been done to honor Vietnam veterans before, Mountcastle said. I hope that not only this specific group of 50 veterans, but other Vietnam veterans and their families, will feel seen and appreciated going forward. Having examined photos and letters from over 1,000 Vietnam veterans across Virginia while creating the exhibit, Mountcastle acknowledged that every veteran has a different story and outlook on their time. For Hobson, who now gives back to fellow veterans through several organizations including the American Legion, his time in Vietnam was distinguished not only by the efforts for which he received medals, but also the culture shock as a Black man stepping out of a deeply segregated society which required him to ride on the back of the bus on the way to the airport when leaving for Vietnam and into an integrated war zone where people of all races had to rely on one another in life-or-death situations. We learned to live together, we learned to train together, we learned to fight together and that was the bottom line: looking out for one another, Hobson said. The Army taught me not to put everyone into one category. Having been injured and as one of the 42,000 Native Americans a culture that regularly honors veterans who served in Vietnam, Owen said his journey since departing Vietnam has centered around healing and honoring fellow veterans. He was proud to volunteer for a Burial Honor Guard company in Washington state to commemorate the service of fellow veterans and has further connected with veterans while attending powwows across the U.S., even visiting the Navajo Code Talkers. Owen has also been inducted into three Warrior Societies and has been awarded Eagle Feathers, which are the equivalent of earning a medal in the Native American community, he said. You experience a lot of things in your military life that makes you humble, and it makes me proud to be a part of this nation, he said. It was a big deal for me to volunteer, it was a form of gratitude I can show towards these soldiers and give them honor. Blankenship, who now volunteers at the Virginia War Memorial along with Owen, acknowledged that, while he was not thrilled to get drafted, he was fortunate to come home uninjured and back to a supportive family. Despite their unique backgrounds and encounters in combat, Blankenship captured the sentiment of his fellow Vietnam War veterans when he expressed appreciation for how his time in Vietnam shaped his perspective on life. I wouldnt do it again, but I wouldnt trade anything for it, he said. It was a great learning experience because you find out what you can do. You find out whats important you have a completely different perspective on everything. Close 05-26-1986: Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-29-1983 (cutline)L Last year's Memorial Day Festival meant family picnics. 05-31-1968 (cutline): As part of Memorial Day observances yesterday, an avenue of flags was flown in Williamsburg, with each flag representing an area serviceman killed in Vietnam. Tommy Etchberger, a Boy Scout who participated in a memorial service sponsored by Post 39 of the American Legion, poses beneath one of the flags. 05-19-1989 (cutline): Ronnie Harrison (foreground) enjoys a Memorial Day nap at Libby Hill Park picnic. 05-26-1986 (cutline): Re-enactment groups will recall Memorial Day today. 05-26-1990 (cutline): Re-enacters from the all-African American Massachusetts Regiment led the Memorial Day Grand Reunion Parade of Union and Confederate soldiers down cowod-lined Monument Avenue and past the statue of Robert E. Lee. 05-24-1987: Parade on Monument Avenue for Memorial Day included re-enacters. 05-29-1983: Small neighborhood parade goes down 27th street for Memorial Day. 05-29-1979: The Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-23-1987 (cutline): Earl Peyton of American Legion Post 242 of Sandston put flags on the graves of servicemen at Seven Pines National Cemetery yesterday. The Memorial Day tradition helps to remind those passing the graves that the holiday is meant to be much more than a three-day weekend. 05-20-1970: Memorial Day. Editor's Note: A total of 1,112 Virginians have died in Vietnam since December, 1961 and 278 of them have died since last Memorial Day. 05-27-1991: Memorial Day. From the Archives: Memorial Day A look back at Memorial Day in Richmond. 05-26-1986: Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-29-1983 (cutline)L Last year's Memorial Day Festival meant family picnics. 05-31-1968 (cutline): As part of Memorial Day observances yesterday, an avenue of flags was flown in Williamsburg, with each flag representing an area serviceman killed in Vietnam. Tommy Etchberger, a Boy Scout who participated in a memorial service sponsored by Post 39 of the American Legion, poses beneath one of the flags. 05-19-1989 (cutline): Ronnie Harrison (foreground) enjoys a Memorial Day nap at Libby Hill Park picnic. 05-26-1986 (cutline): Re-enactment groups will recall Memorial Day today. 05-26-1990 (cutline): Re-enacters from the all-African American Massachusetts Regiment led the Memorial Day Grand Reunion Parade of Union and Confederate soldiers down cowod-lined Monument Avenue and past the statue of Robert E. Lee. 05-24-1987: Parade on Monument Avenue for Memorial Day included re-enacters. 05-29-1983: Small neighborhood parade goes down 27th street for Memorial Day. 05-29-1979: The Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-23-1987 (cutline): Earl Peyton of American Legion Post 242 of Sandston put flags on the graves of servicemen at Seven Pines National Cemetery yesterday. The Memorial Day tradition helps to remind those passing the graves that the holiday is meant to be much more than a three-day weekend. 05-20-1970: Memorial Day. Editor's Note: A total of 1,112 Virginians have died in Vietnam since December, 1961 and 278 of them have died since last Memorial Day. 05-27-1991: Memorial Day. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Weather this Memorial Day weekend will be far from ideal across metro Richmond, but there will be numerous windows where it will be nice to be outside. The biggest forecast problem is figuring out precisely when those windows open. For those taking off Friday to get a jump-start on the weekend, the only issue will be some occasional gusty breezes from the northeast. No rain falls on Friday, but a progressively cloudier sky combines with the cool winds to keep the afternoon temperatures from getting beyond the lower 70s. A headline-making storm pushes into the North Carolina coast Friday night and Saturday, making a miserable start to the beach season from the Outer Banks to Myrtle Beach. Strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain will be a full-day presence at the coast. That same storm pushes its rain into Virginia during the second half of Saturday. While it still looks like most of Saturday will be dry in spite of the thickening clouds, be on the lookout for some lighter showers before dusk Saturday. With the east winds continuing, that means an especially chilly day in Richmond, with temperatures holding in the 60s all afternoon long. The most consistent rain settles in for Saturday night and into early Sunday, leaving about a quarter to three-quarters of an inch before coming to an end. Once that steady rain backs away, most of Sunday will just be cloudy and cool, as the storm stalls and spins over North Carolina. However, numerous smaller showers will still pop up from time to time in metro Richmond, so trying to plan an outdoor event will remain challenging. Plus, with the clouds hanging around and the looming threat of showers, temperatures will creep only into the 70s for the afternoon. The weather on Memorial Day will depend on how fast the entire storm system begins to move back to the east. While it will have weakened dramatically, it will also leave behind some relatively cool air spiraling over Virginia and North Carolina for most of the day, substantially enhancing the chance for showers and thunderstorms. It is just too early to say whether any particular outdoor Memorial Day observance on Monday will be free of any rain. For now, the chance for rain over the course of the entire day is a little better than a coin flip, especially during the afternoon, so it is probably wise to wait until Sunday or Monday morning when more data is available to make a better decision. The weather pattern evolves toward something more seasonable by the middle of next week. Then for the first couple of days of June, much warmer air that had been pooling over the Ohio and Mississippi valleys will begin to spread eastward. But the timing of this cool and damp spell will certainly leave May as the first full month cooler than normal in Richmond since December 2022. Frustrated folks waiting to sit by the pool will not have to wait much longer; Thursday and Friday next week will see our first back-to-back days in the 80s in about three weeks. In fact, there are early indications we could get our first 90-degree day on Friday or during the first weekend in June. So be sure the air conditioner is in good shape. Summer is still coming. The most common undergraduate degrees awarded in Virginia The most common undergraduate degrees awarded in Virginia Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Roanoke man whose house caught fire early Friday morning was one of two deceased males whose bodies were found hours later in the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot, authorities confirmed. Police also said both victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds, one of which appeared to have been self-inflicted. Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel responded at about 3:30 a.m. Friday to two incendiary structure fires that occurred about a mile apart, one on the 800 block of Rorer Avenue Southwest and one on the 30 block of 14th Street Southwest. The department said in a press release that the two fires were connected and the person of interest in the incidents was identified Friday afternoon by Roanoke County police as 62-year-old Lewis James Lambert Jr. Lambert lived at the Rorer Avenue address, according to city real estate records. Police found his body at about 6 a.m. Friday in the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot on Catawba Valley Drive (Virginia 311). Also found deceased in the parking lot was a juvenile male, whom police have not identified. Both Lambert and the juvenile were found with gunshot wounds, one of them believed to be self-inflicted, police said in a press release. Police are not looking for suspects and there is no danger to the public, police added. Roanoke County Public Information Officer Amy Whittaker said Friday morning that a couple of hikers found the bodies as they were passing through the parking lot and called police. Its going to take a little while, of course, to determine what happened here, she added. Whittaker confirmed that the bodies were found in proximity to each other. The parking lot at Catawba Mountains crest is a hub for Appalachian Trail day and long-distance hikers. Access to the trail remained open, although access to the parking area was limited while investigators were on scene. It looks to be a very beautiful weekend, so we do expect there will be hundreds of hikers, Whittaker said Friday morning. Already, this morning, weve seen a lot of hikers coming through, passing through, heading to the trailhead, parking in the parking lot. Chris Whitfield arrived at the parking lot from Morgantown, West Virginia around 10 a.m. He and two other men had plans to spend the three-day holiday weekend on the Appalachian Trail, hiking the Triple Crown loop, which includes the McAfee Knob, Dragons Tooth and Tinker Cliffs, according to the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Clubs website. You definitely hate to see it. Its Memorial Day weekend. Everybodys out here trying to have a good time, he said. Im told that theres two bodies found, so thats really surprising and definitely not what you want to hear when youre about to start a fun day of hiking. But we drove four hours to get here. Were here now. And were going to do it. Whitfields party struggled to find parking spots in the gravel lot. The parking is crowded, he said. We have two cars here, and weve been here for the last 15 minutes looking for a parking spot for my truck. Whittaker said the heavily traveled McAfee Knob trail and the protruding rocks of the 3,200-foot summit have been the scene of other recent unfortunate accidents. Anyone with additional information about Fridays fires or fatal shootings is asked to contact the Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center at 540-562-3265, the Roanoke Fire Marshals Office Tip Line at 540-853-2406 or the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500. Police have encouraged hikers to use the McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle, which operates from park-and-ride lot off of Interstate 81s exit 140. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Zoning ordinances get down in the weeds this many feet between house and street, this size lot there and that kind of business here but as Chesterfield County planners go through the laborious, multiyear effort of modernizing their 580-plus pages of codes, some big new development trends are emerging. Essentially, the countys zoning modernization project aims at simplifying land use and development rules, some of which date back 30 or 40 years, said Andrew Gillies, director of planning. When we came across something new, wed put a Band-Aid on and now all you see is Band-Aids everywhere, he said. But as planners think about yanking off Band-Aids, they have found some of the issues the Band-Aids addressed could be handled in ways that tackle one of the biggest challenges Virginians face: finding and maintaining a home they can afford. We want to have more housing options, Gillies said. One way of doing that would be instituting an entirely new zoning category: alternative residential. This kind of zoning would allow for some of the newest ideas in housing, especially for affordable housing and housing for older people trying to stretch fixed incomes. These include cottage courts groupings of small houses around a shared central open space as well as co-housing that goes a step beyond, seeking to create a mini-community that has other common areas for residents. Alternative residential zoning would also allow tiny homes, an outgrowth of the simplified living movement that started getting legs in the aftermath of the Great Recession and that picked up speed as standardized plans began to be published in 2012. The 2018 International Residential Code formally recognized this kind of housing with its Appendix Q, defining tiny homes as domiciles with 400 square feet of floor space, excluding lofts. In an alternative residential district, houses may be built on site or manufactured away from the area, to be trucked in and installed in the district later. Homes may be on individual lots or on common lots. Another new zoning category creates new options for detached single-family homes. Currently, the smallest lot allowed for these houses is 12,000 square feet, Gillies said. That can feel like a lot of lawn to mow in a Virginia August, and many home-seekers these days would like smaller lots. Smaller lots also lower developers costs for acquiring land to build on, which can help hold down the prices of new houses, Gillies said. So the proposed new semi-urban residential zone would allow single-family houses in 9,000-square-foot lots. Even smaller 7,000-square-foot and 5,000-square-foot lots would also be options, but developers would need to provide spaces for amenities a term that can cover anything from open space and walking trails to community centers and playgrounds. For town homes and low-rise apartment buildings, the idea of a new transition residential zoning category is to have a clearer, simpler way for developers and planners to create neighborhoods that can connect traditional suburban neighborhoods with more intensively used areas and major corridors. This zoning would allow building types and heights that do not create sudden, shocking-to-the-eye areas next to those traditional suburbs. These transitional neighborhoods would be located along arterial roads, next to the urban and urbanizing parts of the county, and developers would be required to provide space for amenities, with the amount of space depending on how many homes or apartments are built on a given acreage. Some of those city-like areas next to which the transitional neighborhoods would be located could come under a proposed new mixed-use zoning category. This new category would be another Band-Aid replacement. Chesterfield already has several mixed-use developments, approved through case-by-case conditional-use planned development permits, but they are exist under a hodgepodge of different standards. The new mixed-use zoning would make the rules clearer and more consistent, Gillies said. Mixed-use has been a hot development trend for more than a decade, an outgrowth of the New Urbanism movement in architectural and urban planning theories of the 1980s and 1990s. However, sometimes developers eyes are bigger than their stomachs when it comes to pulling off these complex blends of residential and commercial use. Chesterfields notion includes single-family attached homes as well as multifamily housing together with commercial retail, service and office spaces to create an area that could serve as a node for several neighborhoods, as an urban activity center or as a regional destination. The buildings could be designed in horizontal or vertical formats, and likely locations would include interchanges on Interstates 95 and 295 and state Route 288. Such developments could also house tourism-oriented businesses such as restaurants and hotels. One option would be small residential centers with some light commercial uses contained within residential neighborhoods. Such centers would be designed to be walkable for nearby residents and would be located at the intersections local streets. A variation would be a town center environment that would offer places to live, work and play within a compact walkable area, closely connected to nearby neighborhoods. Those environments would be located near the intersection of major roads. Yet another variation would be even larger regional centers. These would include dense grids of streets in environments comfortable for pedestrians basically, something like a traditional city downtown. Those centers would be required to have formal spaces for amenities. Next to these mixed-use projects would be another new zoning category, called urban residential. These would include single-family attached houses, apartments and some buildings with commercial spaces on the ground floor and residential units above. Developers would need to set aside spaces for small lawns, greens, plazas and gathering areas, as well as common landscaping and screening. All these ideas are still works in progress. Ultimately, it will be up to the Board of Supervisors after hearing from the public and finding out what the Planning Commissions view is to enact, reject or modify changes to the county zoning ordinance. And while the new ideas represent change, there is still plenty that will remain the same, Gillies said. We have a lot of agricultural land, if you want to live way out in the country, you can do that, he said. We have suburban neighborhoods, but the missing piece is a town center, walkable communities with homes and commerce, a lifestyle that many people want now. From the archives: Cloverleaf Mall, 1972-2011 Cloverleaf Mall: Before the opening Cloverleaf Mall: Opening day, 1972 Cloverleaf Mall: Busy first week Cloverleaf Mall: Upscale Sears Cloverleaf Mall: Twin cinema Cloverleaf Mall: Piccadilly Cafeteria Cloverleaf Mall in 1975 Cloverleaf Mall Community Room Cloverleaf Mall: Christmas Tubas, 1985 Cloverleaf Mall: 1987 renovation Cloverleaf Mall: Christmas Eve, 1990 Cloverleaf Mall: 1995 fire Cloverleaf Mall: Frederick's of Hollywood Cloverleaf Mall: Christmas, 1997 Cloverleaf Mall: 1998 renovation Cloverleaf Mall: New police station, 1999 Cloverleaf Mall: Regal cinemas close, 2001 Cloverleaf Mall: Sears closes, 2003 Cloverleaf Mall: Empty food court, 2005 County buys Cloverleaf Mall, 2007 Cloverleaf Mall sold to county, 2007 Cloverleaf Mall: One last shop Cloverleaf Mall: Closing in 2008 Cloverleaf Mall: Fenced off in 2010 Cloverleaf Mall: The walls come down, 2011 Goodbye Cloverleaf, 2011 Kroger rises from rubble of Cloverleaf, 2012 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Jeff E. Schapiro Follow Jeff E. Schapiro 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 Three years into the racial reckoning triggered by the death of George Floyd, a Black man handcuffed and suffocated by a white police officer, the landscape particularly in Virginia and elsewhere in the South is being scrubbed clean of emblems of white supremacy of which that caught-on-video moment in Minneapolis became a modern monument. Less obvious symbols ancient, distinctly Southern and almost entirely white in their provenance endure, with one now shared by a nation likely largely unaware of its complicated origin: Memorial Day, when Americans pay tribute to military men and women killed defending the United States at home and abroad. Memorial Day, for the most part, began as a commemoration by Southerners of husbands, fathers and sons who perished in the 19th-century Confederate revolt to preserve Black slavery. The observance sprang from a womens movement made up of what were known as ladies memorial associations that would impress the Union victors of the Civil War, spurring them to formally honor the Northern dead. These volunteer associations, drawing many of their members from the upper and middle classes, would whether repatriating remains to grieving families, creating Confederate cemeteries or organizing flower-bedecked tributes, most of which the Union refused to provide its former enemies help reinvent the Souths crushing defeat as a noble crusade to preserve a way of life. At its core, of course, was the enforced separation of the races, revived barely 30 years after the Civil War, through Jim Crow laws that stripped many Black Southerners of their voting rights and consigned them to the lower rungs of the economy. Into the early 20th century, the associations ultimately overtaken by the better-known United Daughters of the Confederacy, whose Richmond headquarters was damaged by protesters during post-George Floyd unrest in 2020 worked tireless to promote a positive memory of the Confederacy and to cultivate white Southern solidarity, writes Caroline E. Janney, a University of Virginia historian, in her 2008 book, Burying the Dead but Not the Past: Ladies Memorial Associations & the Lost Cause. The associations, however, became political instruments in the post-Civil War push by the Southern white patriarchy to restore its traditional authority. Southern men, says Janney, could claim that these Ladies were disinterested in politics, but women had literally provided a platform from which ex-Confederate men could lament their defeat. This fact was not lost on the Republicans and Union occupying forces and did little to persuade them that these displays had no political content. As a result, she observes, Even in the tender hands of Southern women, Memorial Days and cemetery dedications smacked of unrepentant rebellion. Often overlooked is the racial dimension of these tributes to the Civil War fallen; that many were proposed and perpetuated by whites. An early observance, at Blandford Cemetery in 1867 in Petersburg, site of the bloody, 292-day siege that presaged the collapse of the Confederacy in 1865, is seen by some historians as the impetus for a national holiday, which wasnt officially established until 1971 by an act of Congress five years after a declaration by President Lyndon Johnson, a Southerner and father-in-law of a Virginia governor and U.S. senator, Charles Robb, recognizing Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace in 1866 of Memorial Day. Lawyer-historian John Peters in Blandford Cemetery, Death and Life in Petersburg, Virginia reports that Mary Logan, wife of Gen. John A. Logan, leader of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union veterans organization, visited Blandford some months after the observance and was moved by the floral arrangements that continued to adorn Confederate graves. The general, taken by her account, directed that local chapters of the Grand Army of the Republic be similarly attentive of Union graves. But like the mists of war, history can confuse and conceal, lending nuanced complexity to the story of Memorial Day initially known as Decoration Day and now a holiday that seems less about war and remembrance and more about the start of the summer travel season and sales by online and bricks-and-mortar retailers. Organized tributes in the South and North to Civil War dead were reported even before the fighting stopped, with flowers cast on soldiers graves. In Charleston, South Carolina, not a month after Lees surrender at Appomattox, thousands of people many of them Black honored with a parade Union casualties who would be exhumed from a mass grave and reburied in individual plots. Virginia incrementally and, often, reluctantly, surrendered the insignia of its Southern character including, in Richmond and other cities, statutes of Confederate military and government leaders. This represents a bow to growth, accelerating suburbanization, nationalized state and local politics, and a population more than half which is non-native. A state holiday honoring Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson it was briefly paired with one for the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. was eliminated in 2020, replaced with Election Day. Three years earlier, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a New York-born Democrat, signed into law legislation by a Black delegate, Delores McQuinn of Richmond, creating charitable trusts to pay for upkeep at often-neglected Black cemeteries. The state had previously helped care for Confederate cemeteries, many created by the ladies memorial associations. Time, too, has obscured the Southern roots of Memorial Day and the paradox that a holiday that is supposed to be about national unity was born of regional revolt. Ritual mourning of war dead is so universal that I doubt whether the Confederate connection could taint Memorial Day for modern Americans or make people reluctant to observe it, says John Coski, a historian retired from the American Civil War Museum in Richmond and an expert in Confederate iconography. I think most people understand the universal need to honor war dead and to make sense of and find meaning in their sacrifice. Close 05-26-1986: Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-29-1983 (cutline)L Last year's Memorial Day Festival meant family picnics. 05-31-1968 (cutline): As part of Memorial Day observances yesterday, an avenue of flags was flown in Williamsburg, with each flag representing an area serviceman killed in Vietnam. Tommy Etchberger, a Boy Scout who participated in a memorial service sponsored by Post 39 of the American Legion, poses beneath one of the flags. 05-19-1989 (cutline): Ronnie Harrison (foreground) enjoys a Memorial Day nap at Libby Hill Park picnic. 05-26-1986 (cutline): Re-enactment groups will recall Memorial Day today. 05-26-1990 (cutline): Re-enacters from the all-African American Massachusetts Regiment led the Memorial Day Grand Reunion Parade of Union and Confederate soldiers down cowod-lined Monument Avenue and past the statue of Robert E. Lee. 05-24-1987: Parade on Monument Avenue for Memorial Day included re-enacters. 05-29-1983: Small neighborhood parade goes down 27th street for Memorial Day. 05-29-1979: The Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-23-1987 (cutline): Earl Peyton of American Legion Post 242 of Sandston put flags on the graves of servicemen at Seven Pines National Cemetery yesterday. The Memorial Day tradition helps to remind those passing the graves that the holiday is meant to be much more than a three-day weekend. 05-20-1970: Memorial Day. Editor's Note: A total of 1,112 Virginians have died in Vietnam since December, 1961 and 278 of them have died since last Memorial Day. 05-27-1991: Memorial Day. From the Archives: Memorial Day A look back at Memorial Day in Richmond. 05-26-1986: Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-29-1983 (cutline)L Last year's Memorial Day Festival meant family picnics. 05-31-1968 (cutline): As part of Memorial Day observances yesterday, an avenue of flags was flown in Williamsburg, with each flag representing an area serviceman killed in Vietnam. Tommy Etchberger, a Boy Scout who participated in a memorial service sponsored by Post 39 of the American Legion, poses beneath one of the flags. 05-19-1989 (cutline): Ronnie Harrison (foreground) enjoys a Memorial Day nap at Libby Hill Park picnic. 05-26-1986 (cutline): Re-enactment groups will recall Memorial Day today. 05-26-1990 (cutline): Re-enacters from the all-African American Massachusetts Regiment led the Memorial Day Grand Reunion Parade of Union and Confederate soldiers down cowod-lined Monument Avenue and past the statue of Robert E. Lee. 05-24-1987: Parade on Monument Avenue for Memorial Day included re-enacters. 05-29-1983: Small neighborhood parade goes down 27th street for Memorial Day. 05-29-1979: The Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-23-1987 (cutline): Earl Peyton of American Legion Post 242 of Sandston put flags on the graves of servicemen at Seven Pines National Cemetery yesterday. The Memorial Day tradition helps to remind those passing the graves that the holiday is meant to be much more than a three-day weekend. 05-20-1970: Memorial Day. Editor's Note: A total of 1,112 Virginians have died in Vietnam since December, 1961 and 278 of them have died since last Memorial Day. 05-27-1991: Memorial Day. Mexicos Secretary of Tourism meets with Italian officials in Milan to reactivate air connectivity Mexico City, Mexico The Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico continues in meeting with Italian tour operators to boost Italian tourism. Mexicos Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marques, held the meetings with Italian companies during this past week in Milan. Accompanied by the Consul General of Mexico in Milan, Ambassador Maria de los Angeles Arriola Aguirre, Torruco highlighted that Italian tour operators were interested in the reactivation of air connectivity and requested a flight direct from Milan to Mexico. Torruco Marques met with representatives of the main tourism media in the region and with leaders of the Mexican community in Milan to boost the flow of tourists to Mexico. He said currently, Aeromexico offers four flights a week that connect Mexico City with Rome. As June 1 it will be a daily flight, with which it is expected to increase the number of passengers to 200,000 a year, between Italy and Mexico. We agree on the importance of increasing the flight routes between Milan and Mexico, Torres reported. Photo: Miguel Torruco Marques May 25, 2023. Arriola Aguirre pointed out that a fundamental part of her work is promoting tourism and encouraging investment in Mexico while highlighting the relevance of cultural tourism in both countries. Secretary Torruco Marques held meetings with representatives of Italian media specialized in tourism such as Eleonora Bianco from Lonely Planet Italia, Eugenio Bersani, director of Latitudes Travel Magazine, the first Italian online magazine specialized in this sector and Francesca Piana, advisor to the Board of Directors of the NEOS Journalists Association. When politicians let you down and high principles are abandoned, its good to be reminded that there is a group of dedicated Americans for whom Semper Fi is not a cliche but a credo. This Memorial Day, there is one movie in theaters that addresses directly the experiences of veterans. While American families are entertained by the Super Mario Bros. movie, now a billion-dollar proposition worldwide, people who prefer more true-to-life action can see the movie I recommend, Guy Ritchies The Covenant, which has barely made any money, even though its an exciting, gripping experience, and its got a star, Jake Gyllenhaal. The story is very simple: Gyllenhaal plays special operations Sgt. John Kinley, in charge of a small unit in Afghanistan in 2018, tasked with destroying Taliban IED factories. IEDs accounted for a very large minority of American deaths in recent wars, and there seemed to be no way to stop them. It meant that American troops operated in what the late international relations professor Angelo Codevilla called replenishing mine fields. Sgt. Kinley understands this and is committed to protecting his troops in this terrible situation. Of course, to operate in Afghanistan, he needs interpreters. When he loses his interpreter to a bomb attack, along with one of his men, he recruits a new one. Ahmed (played by Dar Salim) is a man with a past who also has his own grudge against the Taliban, and the two find it difficult to work together because they are both strong willed. Fighting together, they gradually come to see each other as competent and trustworthy, until they are caught in a trap in a deadly firefight. At first, Sgt. Kinley is in command, because firepower counts most; but soon they are in far too much trouble to shoot their way out, and the interpreter Ahmed takes control, because he knows the lay of the land and the peopleAfghanistan is his country, after all. Indeed, Ahmed, ends up saving Sgt. Kinleys life, heroically taking him to safety after he gets wounded, facing harrowing dangers while hunted by Taliban death squads. The second part of the movie has to do with the debt Sgt. Kinley believes he incurred thereby. Once he recovers in body and mind from his wounds, discharged from the military and again a civilian in the bosom of his family, he faces the prospect of going mad trying to help Ahmed get the visa he was promised for risking his life to work for the American military. The bureaucracy and the feeling of helplessness lead Sgt. Kinley to take matters into his own hands. Of course, this is not just a very competent thrillerit also deals with a real and recent issue. The American government did make promises to interpreters who put their lives on the line, yet after the ignominious retreat from Afghanistan, they were left stranded. American veterans who feel honor bound to such men try and do whats right, often stymied by bureaucracy. The shame and suffering of such a predicament explain perhaps why we look away. But we risk losing some of our understanding and memory of the nobility of the men who served in the Middle Eastern and Central Asian wars if we do not contemplate such examples of the dedication of men who fight for a cause together and face danger and death together. If the idea that democracy could be spread by war is now deemed overly idealistic (to say the very least), then at least military equality between men at war is real and praiseworthy. The Covenant, as the title indicates, is dedicated to that rare experience, and it thus honors men much better than the politicians who mismanage such wars, which is why I recommend it. I also recommend star Jake Gyllenhaals work more broadly. He has recently become the most interesting actor in Hollywood. He reminds me of Nicolas Cage, who was the most interesting actor of the 1990s, because his performances and choices regarding movies and directors revealed the drama of American pop culture after the Cold War, not just the trends, the momentary popularity, or the pursuit of glamour. Starting about a decade back, when he made End of Watch with director David Ayer in 2012 and Enemy with Denis Villeneuve in 2013, Gyllenhaal shed his boyish career and started embodying the agony of men in our times. To give only two more examples, Dan Gilroys Nightcrawler (2014) eviscerated the moral ugliness of the media, and fashion designer Tom Fords Nocturnal Animals (2016) became the best movie about the horror of abortion. All these movies have in common a suspicion that below the surface of American life lie secrets that we would find too disturbing to contemplate. For one example, industries that make our everyday experience what it is, from the police to the media, dont themselves fit into our ordinary lives but involve dark necessities and moral questions that test souls. Indeed, they could lead ordinary men to madness or worse for the sake of something no more momentous than our middle-class way of life. The Covenant seems only partly to fit this pattern. It has in common with Gyllenhaals other movies an insistence on agonized manliness handled by a director of some renown, in this case Guy Ritchie, who doesnt quite fit into Hollywood. Such artists, like the agonized manly characters themselves, cant find a way to win honors without becoming part of a corrupting industry. But The Covenant is not about the darkness hidden in the quotidian experiences of middle-class America. It seems to have nothing of the uncanny or sordid about it. Its about whats known or expected to be shocking and deadlywar. But it does fit the pattern of the other films in a way, because it is also about the military, and about the moral and political fallout of the Afghanistan retreat. Indeed, its a story set in 2018, during the collapse of the effort to pacify that country, which had started with a righteous fury against the terrorists who attacked the United States on 9/11. Hence, The Covenant is a reflection on American politics in the 21st century, the War on Terror, and the way it became, after years of setbacks or failures, an item on the news, something boring or even embarrassing in the background of other more pressing national troubles and the busy goings on of our private lives, and eventually forgotten. Do we have troops in other countries now? Sure, some, somewhere, we cant say for what purpose or what they are doing and what they are suffering. But we should know that they are there, serving America, and The Covenant reminds us of that uncomfortable fact. The Supreme Court's disappointing decision in Sackett v. EPA will take our country backwards. 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. Since the Clean Water Act was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress in 1972, it has been used by Republican and Democratic administrations alike to help ensure Americans in every state have clean water. It is the reason why today America's lakes are swimmable, why we can fish in our streams and rivers, and why clean water comes out of our taps. READ NEXT: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes New Steps to Advance Responsible Artificial Intelligence Research, Development, and Deployment Today's decision upends the legal framework that has protected America's waters for decades. It also defies the science that confirms the critical role of wetlands in safeguarding our nation's streams, rivers, and lakes from chemicals and pollutants that harm the health and wellbeing of children, families, and communities. I am committed to protecting clean air and water for our kids for generations to come. 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 depnd on them. We will work with states, cities, and Tribal communities to pass and uphold critical protections for their residents. Through my Investing in America agenda, we're already deploying historic resources in communities all across America to remove lead pipes, improve water quality, and rebuild the Nation's drinking water infrastructure. Our fight for clean water for all must go on, and it will. READ MORE: Statement by President Joe Biden on the Passing of Tina Turner @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A protest held at Glen Cove Elementary on Friday included more than 200 people following comments at a recent Roanoke County School Board meeting during which a parent accused multiple faculty members of being predators and groomers. When I learned that the school board themselves were inadvertently showing their support for the people saying hurtful things thats when I really got upset and felt the need to support the teachers that were not being supported by their employers, Samantha Newell, an LGBTQ+ ally, Glen Cove parent and the events organizer, said Friday. The comments made by Glen Cove parent and local real estate broker Damon Gettier who said there were LGBTQ+ decorations in some of the classrooms followed a more ambiguous Facebook live video he made in April, where he did not specifically state his disdain for the decorations. What Im here to talk about is the child abuse, grooming, conditioning and indoctrination by sexual predators disguised as teachers and staff at Glen Cove Elementary, he said at the May 18 school board meeting. While Gettier did not mention staff by name, he named jobs that only have one person in those roles at the school. It became apparent that the guidance counselor, the school psychologist, the assistant principal and the music teacher were bent on indoctrinating our children on LGBTQA and not on reading, writing and arithmetic, Gettier said. He said he became aware of rainbows in some classrooms in mid-April, while conversing with his son and another student who attends Glen Cove. The boys told Gettier how a staff person had told them that a boy could be a girl and a girl could be a boy and that they could decide, Gettier said. Gettier distributed to school board members four photos he said were from this years Glen Cove yearbook. Three depicted teachers wearing rainbow-style clothing, jewelry or accessories. The fourth was a rainbow-colored sign declaring EVERYONE WELCOME. The yearbook handout I gave you, that is the yearbook published and given out to children this year. Who approved that who thought those pictures were appropriate? he asked the board. Another parent with knowledge of the situation, Winter Schassberger, wrote on Facebook in late April about a meeting that took place at the school where certain teachers were told they could not display rainbows in their classroom or on their clothing, following Gettiers complaints to the school system. Some of the items were LGBTQ+ affirming and some were just rainbows. Some of the staff identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community and some do not, she wrote in her April 28 post. Upset with how the school system handled the matter, Schassberger also wrote that RCPS used a slapdash solution to appease a group of parents who subscribe to the notion that their beliefs are the only beliefs that matter. The Virginia ACLU said if the school system targeted LGBTQ+ individuals, it believes the law was broken. Since 2020, employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity has clearly violated federal and Virginia state law, following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Bostock v. Clayton County and the General Assemblys passage of the Virginia Values Act respectively, Virginia ACLU Transgender Rights Attorney Wyatt Rolla wrote in an email. If a school system disciplined only LGBTQ+ employees for certain behavior and did not apply those same standards to other employees, it would almost certainly run afoul of these protections. Wyatt also wrote a school policy that singles out Pride flags and other expressions of support for the LGBTQ+ community would likely violate the First Amendments prohibition on viewpoint discrimination by banning a specific message one of inclusion and affirmation for LGBTQ+ students. Gettier initially agreed to speak to The Roanoke Times on May 10 about his Facebook post. Sure. I will reach out tomorrow. Not sure a liberal newspaper will like my position though and I know the offending teachers and admin have reached out to your paper, he wrote on Facebook Messenger. Following his initial message, Gettier did not respond to multiple follow up attempts, and told Roanoke Times columnist Dan Casey earlier this week he was not interested in speaking about his comments at the board meeting. A current staffer at Glen Cove who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of job reprisals said that four or five school employees had been warned about rainbow decorations, clothing and attire in meetings with administrators but that other staffers had not. Since the incident began circulating on social media last month, many parents have spoken out against Gettiers comments, and how the school system allegedly handled the situation. When asked via email May 2 if a policy was made for some staff at Glen Cove to not wear or display anything with rainbows following Gettiers complaints, school system spokesman Chuck Lionberger responded May 4, writing this is a personnel issue and, therefore, we will not offer any comment. After being asked more questions following his response, such as why a potential policy implemented by the school system was a personnel issue, or if any other schools had been told not to wear rainbows, Lionberger responded Im sorry, but we do not intend to offer any further comments. However, Lionberger did confirm to the newspaper this week that nine staffers have resigned, 17% of the schools full-time staff. The nine positions have since been filled, Lionberger wrote in an email. Superintendent Ken Nicely released a statement early Friday afternoon as the peaceful demonstration was getting underway. While we cannot comment on the specifics of a personnel matter, we do want to affirm that Roanoke County Public Schools focus is on our students and their learning and wellbeing, he wrote. Our baseline belief is that our schools must be safe and caring places for all students, where they can learn free of disruption. The school board has also received pushback since the May 18 meeting for allowing Gettier to identify Glen Cove employees during his public comments. Before the public comment portion of the meeting started, Chairman Brent Hudson asked speakers to keep comments to three minutes, and to keep your comments respectful and polite. At no time did the school board intervene when Gettier called certain staff predators and groomers, nor did it when he named them by their position at the school. Hudson also allowed Gettier to speak for approximately a minute and a half after his allotted time was up. Hudson did not respond to an email asking why he and other board members allowed Gettier to speak longer and out employees, while also accusing them of being sexual predators. During the board comments portion of the meeting, board members Cheryl Facciani, David Linden and Hudson spoke out against propaganda and indoctrination in the school system. Hudson said it was very concerning some of the things that have been brought to our attention. The Roanoke Times contacted Hudson earlier this month about the matter, and he denied spearheading the meeting that led to the removal of the rainbows. We will definitely be looking into that. Social agendas and propaganda have no place in our schools, he said. Glen Cove is located in the Catawba District, which Hudson represents. I certainly heard some concerning stuff tonight that I hope well get an update on, Linden said. Theres certainly no room for indoctrination in our schools. And thats something that I know that this board is certainly going to look into. Facciani followed up Lindens comments with some of her own. And I agree our current policies are lacking and needs to clearly set expectations and limitations when it comes to propaganda in our classrooms, she said. My belief is the only flag that should be flying in our schools is the American flag. If you cant fly religious flags. If you cant fly satanic flags or political flags, you just cant have it both ways. Flags are not essential for demonstrating and teaching kindness, accepting others or embracing our differences. The Virginia Education Association in now involved as well. Dorothy Carter is director of Commonwealth UniServ, the agency representing teachers in Botetourt, Franklin, Craig and Roanoke counties, and in the cities of Salem and Roanoke. Carter said she could not speak about anything the union may be doing, but said the idea that Glen Cove is rife with sexual predators is ridiculous. If all this were true, Child Protective Services wouldve been called, and state police would be investigating, Carter said. She also said Hudson should have reprimanded Gettier for outing the teachers and for essentially calling them criminals. RCPS teacher, and teachers union president, Courtney Curtright, said the union wants safe schools for all of our students and safe working conditions for all of our teachers. Roanoke County is by no means the only locality dealing with the idea teachers are indoctrinating students with LGBTQ+ propaganda and indoctrination. Stories have been published about school systems all over the country dealing with similar issues, and a member from a Moms for Liberty chapter said there is a plan by President Joe Bidens administration and teachers unions, among others, to indoctrinate students in an effort break up the traditional nuclear family. A recent report by CNN looking into the conservative organization, which many describe as a hate group, talked to El Paso County, Colorado chapter chair Darcy Schoening, who shared her conspiracy theory with reporter Elle Reeve. When asked why the aforementioned groups would want to make more students gay or trans, Schoening said because it breaks down the family unit, which breaks down traditional conservative values ... It changes the way people think. It changes the way people think about politics. Reeves followed the comments by stating there is no evidence of a coordinated plot to make kids transgender in the U.S. Roanoke County also has a Moms for Liberty Group, but its online communications are closed to the public. Facciani has posted on its forum, according to a message obtained by The Roanoke Times. Many people against the inclusion of LGBTQ+ symbols in schools have made it a religious issue in addition to a political one. Rhonda Thorne, the minister at Metropolitan Community of the Blue Ridge, a church that started for LGBTQ+ resident, but welcomes anyone, said God does not discriminate with his love. Thorne, who identifies as LGBTQ+, said people who use God as an excuse to discriminate against others are misguided. We interpret scriptures differently. If we say God is love, then God can be nothing but love. God created a beautiful and awesome creation, she said. And that even goes back to Genesis, when God looked at Gods creation and said it was good. And so it cant be anything less than that. Sarah Goodman who has taught at Cave Spring Middle School for the last 16 years said actions, or lack thereof, by the school board since Hudson and Facciani began serving in 2022, are the reason she decided to retire from teaching after the current school year. Goodman said the boards response to this latest incident just reaffirms her decision to leave the countys school system. She [Facciani] doesnt believe in getting input from teachers about our own jobs, because she thinks she knows better about our jobs, Goodman said. Theres been a lot of comments that she has made about no need for diversity, inclusion and equity. Photos: Protesters support teachers at Glen Cove Elementary School Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A farm store with fresh meats and local produce planned for a Bent Mountain site is now on hold. The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors this week followed the planning commissions recommendation from earlier this month to remove the existing proffered conditions on approximately 15 acres of land on Bent Mountain Road and Tinsley Lane that were keeping Terio and Lisa Comerose from building two single-family homes on a portion of the property. In 2011, the subject properties were rezoned from Agricultural/Village Center District with conditions, according to county Director of Planning Philip Thompson. Additionally, he said a special use permit was also granted in 2011 for a convenience store, because previous owner Glenn Reed planned to build one with gas pumps, an office building and a private school on the site. This concept was never developed and the properties remain vacant, Thompson told supervisors. The Roanoke Times reported in March the Comeroses purchased the property with the intent to build a food store in addition to the two homes. The retail shop would have emulated Tom Leonards Farmers Market in Glen Allen, Terio Comerose said in March, describing it as a farm store with fresh meats and fresh product, local produce. However, local attorney Andrew Stover who is representing the Comeroses on the matter told the planning commission the only current plans were to build the two single-family homes. He [Stover] stated the applicant is not asking for the existing special use permit for the convenience store to be rescinded so they may keep this open as an option in the future, according to a report submitted by Thompson. There are no concrete plans to develop a convenience store and the applicant does not want to pursue that without more feedback from the community. Nobody spoke out at Tuesdays public hearing, but three citizens did speak at the planning commission meeting to express their concerns regarding the potential store. Concerns raised regarding a store included wanting limited development on Bent Mountain, speeding, whether turn lanes would be required, the lack of demand for a grocery/convenience store due to existing businesses and concerns over staffing at the Bent Mountain Fire and Rescue Station if a convenience store were constructed, according to Thompsons report. The supervisors voted unanimously to allow the building of the two homes, while also keeping the special use permit for a store on the property if the Comeroses do eventually decide to build it. Thompsons report stated the planning commission clarified a grocery store would be classified as retail sales and would require another special use permit in the Agricultural/Village Center District and that a convenience store is limited to a size of 3,000 square feet in that district. The Comeroses did not speak at Tuesdays hearing. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. As he sat in front of a computer screen in a van that serves as a mobile crime processing center, Walter Dandridge Jr. talked about what can be done through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. Police were investigating a series of seemingly unrelated shootings over a period of several months, he said in a hypothetical example. Each time, the suspect fled. Shell casings left behind were the only evidence recovered. Computer images of spent cartridges from nine shootings were submitted to the network, known simply as NIBIN in law enforcement circles. Distinctive marks on the casings, made when the gun was fired, were run through a database that compared them to 7.7 million images of other casings recovered from crime scenes across the country. The results linked all of the casings to a single gun. Thats a huge investigative lead, said Dandridge, a forensic firearms examiner with NIBIN. We dont have nine different shooters. We have one shooter who has fired nine different times on nine different days. Dandridge and his van traveled to Roanoke Thursday, where federal, state and local law enforcement officials spoke at a news conference about the strengths of NIBIN and urged their colleagues to use it more frequently. U.S. Attorney Chris Kavanaugh said his office plans to aggressively prosecute more cases in which a lead was generated by the database. More suspects will be identified, more violent offenders will be charged and more people will be held accountable, he said. Our communities will be safer and our citizens will feel safer, so thats why we are doing this. NIBIN was established in 1997 by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Since then, the system has generated about 890,000 leads and more than 150,000 hits, which occur when a firearms examiner conducts a microscopic review of the shell casing images. A match happens when one shell is connected to others, or when a firearm used in a crime is test-fired and an image of the spent shell is processed through the database. Similar to a crime-solving DNA database that becomes more effective over time as more samples from potential suspects are collected, the success of NIBIN depends on police agencies submitting all of the ballistic evidence they gather in their investigations. That has not happened as frequently in Southwest Virginia as in other parts of the country. A lack of access to NIBIN resources is one reason. Another is a shortage of time, as police officers scrambling to investigate a murder might be more concerned with tracking down immediate leads than submitting evidence to the database. But if its not being used, were leaving valuable evidence on the table, Kavanaugh said. One solution was announced at Thursdays news conference. A ballistic laboratory than can process shell casings will soon open at the Virginia State Police field office in Salem. To be sure, a NIBIN hit alone is usually not enough for an arrest. Its an investigative tool, said Dandridge, who is based in an ATF crime lab in Maryland. But the forensic evidence can often shed additional light on theories or suspects especially when potential witnesses are reluctant to tell police what they saw or know. When confronted with conclusive information that their gun was linked to other crimes, suspects are more likely to make incriminating statements, authorities say. Charges that come from investigations strengthened by NIBIN will be prosecuted both in state and federal courts, Kavanaugh said. One locality that has used NIBIN successfully is Danville. Since 2018, evidence entered into the database has produced 369 hits, city Police Chief Scott Booth said. Recently, the system linked two shootings and provided information that led to arrests. NIBIN is used only for criminal investigations and does not capture or store ballistic information acquired at the point of manufacture or sale. ATF says it maintains and operates the system at no charge to law enforcement partners. Nationally, a number of high-profile cases have been solved through NIBIN. In Cincinnati, a soap factory worker was robbed and shot to death while walking to work in 2016. Cartridge casings recovered from the scene were entered into NIBIN. The following month, Cincinnati police spotted a car with stolen license plates and pulled it over. Two firearms were recovered during a subsequent search of the car. One of them was linked through NIBIN to the factory workers shooting. Armed with that information, police did additional investigative work that eventually led to the arrests of the cars two occupants. Both men were later convicted of murder. The opening of the ballistics crime lab in Salem is part of a renewed emphasis on fighting gun violence, Col. Gary Settle, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said at the news conference. Tools like NIBIN will allow us to get closer to the finish line of making our communities safer, Settle said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Another federal appeals court has issued another decision that could lead to yet another complication for the ill-fated Mountain Valley Pipeline. The latest ruling came Friday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which found that the lead agency overseeing pipeline construction failed to adequately explain its reasons for not requiring additional environmental analysis, in light of earlier problems with erosion and sedimentation. A three-judge panel of the court sent the case back to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC must now either conduct a second environmental impact statement a lengthy process that would likely lead to another delay in the natural gas pipelines completion or more fully explain why one is not necessary. FERC had abundant evidence from the start that the MVPs construction would damage our waters and our communities, said David Sligh, conservation director for Wild Virginia, one of the environmental groups that have been fighting the project in court since 2018. And even when the predictions of harm were proven valid, the agency refused to acknowledge that fact or base estimates of future harm on reality, Sligh said in a statement. A Mountain Valley spokeswoman said Friday that the company was reviewing the courts decision and had no further comment. Earlier, Mountain Valley has said it hopes to have the pipeline in service by the end of the year. FERC also declined to comment. The most recent legal setback one of many that have inflated the pipelines cost and delayed its completion involves a 2020 decision by FERC that gave Mountain Valley another two years to finish work. (Since then, the deadline has been extended again, this time to 2026.) While upholding the first extension, the appellate court ruled that the commission had failed to adequately explain why it did not restudy the environmental impact of burrowing a 303-mile pipeline across steep slopes and through mountain streams. Since work began in 2018, the project has been cited by state regulators for failing to control muddy runoff in West Virginia, where it begins, and Virginia, where it runs through the New River and Roanoke valleys to connect with an existing pipeline in Chatham. In its 2020 decision not to seek the additional review sought by pipeline opponents, FERC acknowledged the environmental impact had been greater than expected when it initially green-lighted construction. FERC attributed those problems to record rainfall in 2018, but said they were not significant enough to warrant a second environmental impact statement. But that bare conclusion, without any support or explanation, is insufficient to pass muster, stated a 36-page opinion authored by Sri Srinivasan, chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals. Another federal court, the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has struck down about a dozen permits issued to Mountain Valley by other government agencies. Those authorizations were later renewed only to be challenged again. The Sierra Club and other groups have sued over a biological opinion, issued last year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, finding that endangered species would not be jeopardized by construction. The Fourth Circuit is considering a request to stay construction while the case is pending. Additional litigation is expected in another case involving the U.S. Forest Services recently granted permission for the pipeline to pass through the Jefferson National Forest. And Mountain Valley is still waiting for approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the buried pipe to cross streams and rivers, either by trenching through or burrowing beneath them. Earlier approvals from the Army Corps were also struck down by the Fourth Circuit. Despite the legal logjam, Srinivasan wrote Friday that nothing in the record establishes that the Fourth Circuits decisions entirely preclude Mountain Valley from engaging in construction on the project. To the contrary, the opinion stated, construction could continue in certain areas adjacent to wetlands, even as the company awaits permission from the Army Corps of Engineers to build within wetlands. But to date, no work except for maintenance to control erosion on the pipelines 125-foot wide right-of-way has resumed. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Weather this Memorial Day weekend will be far from ideal across Southwest Virginia, but there will be numerous windows where it will be nice to be outside. The biggest forecast problem is figuring out precisely when those windows open. For those taking Friday off to get a jump start on the weekend, the only issue will be some occasional gusty breezes from the northeast. No rain falls on Friday, but a progressively cloudier sky combines with the cool winds to keep the afternoon temperatures from getting beyond the lower 70s. A headline-making storm pushes into the North Carolina coast Friday night and Saturday, making a miserable start to the beach season from the Outer Banks to Myrtle Beach. Strong winds, coastal flooding, and heavy rain will be a full-day presence at the coast. That same storm pushes its rain into Southwest Virginia during the second half of Saturday. While it still looks like most of Saturday will be dry in spite of the thickening clouds, be on the lookout for some lighter showers before dusk Saturday. With the east winds continuing, that means an especially chilly day, with temperatures holding in the 60s all afternoon long. The most consistent rain comes Saturday night and into early Sunday, leaving about a quarter to a three-quarters of an inch before coming to an end. Higher amounts are expected on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, as some of the moisture-laden air pushes up the east side of the mountains. Once that steady rain backs away, most of Sunday will just be cloudy and cool as the storm stalls and spins over North Carolina. However, numerous smaller showers will still pop up from time to time, so trying to plan an outdoor event will remain a challenge. With the clouds hanging around and the looming threat of showers, temperatures will only creep into the 70s for the afternoon. The weather on Memorial Day will depend on how fast the entire storm system begins to move back to the east. While it will have weakened dramatically, it will also leave behind some relatively cool air spiraling over Virginia and North Carolina for most of the day, substantially enhancing the chance for showers and thunderstorms. As a result, it is just too early to say whether or not any particular outdoor Memorial Day observance on Monday will be free of any rain. For now, the chance for rain over the course of the entire day is a little better than a coin-flip, especially during the afternoon, so it is probably wise to wait until Sunday or Monday morning when better data is available to make a decision. The weather pattern evolves toward something more seasonable by the middle of next week. Then for the first couple of days of June, much warmer air that had been pooling over the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys will begin to spread eastward. But the timing of this cool and damp spell will certainly leave May as the first full month cooler than normal in Roanoke since December. Frustrated folks waiting to sit by the pool will not have to wait much longer; Thursday and Friday next week will see our first back-to-back days in the 80s in about three weeks. In fact, there are early indications we could get our first 90-degree day Friday or during the first weekend in June. So be sure the air conditioner is in good shape. Summer is still coming. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CHARLOTTESVILLE A second man has pleaded guilty for encircling counterprotesters with torches on the evening before the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Tyler Bradley Dykes of Bluffton, South Carolina, agreed Thursday to a six-month active sentence, and prosecutor Lawton Tufts pronounced his office satisfied with the term because the 25-year-old has no criminal record. Taking that into account, we thought this was an appropriate sentence, Tufts said in court. Also, the fact that he accepted responsibility. Under the plea agreement approved by Albemarle Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins, the full term of the sentence is five years, with five years of mandated good behavior and one year of supervised probation. One month ago, another judge heard that Dykes was recently accused of pasting swastika stickers in his home state and denied him bail. On Thursday, Dykes again appeared in the striped jumpsuit that is the uniform of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail and wearing waist chains and leg irons. The 6-foot-5 young man stood straight as he answered without hesitation the judges volley of questions about his signed plea deal: Yes, your honor. I am, your honor. I have, your honor. I did, your honor. Tufts told the court that on the evening of Aug. 11, 2017, Dykes was among the group of white nationalist torch-bearing marchers who encircled a handful of counterprotesters gathered at a statue of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson in front of the University of Virginia Rotunda. They had just marched down the Lawn shouting neo-Nazi slogans including Blood and soil and Jews will not replace us. The defendant was towards the front, said Tufts. The defendant was multiple times throwing the Nazi salute. Then, Tufts alleged, the defendant allegedly swung his extinguished torch in the direction of some counterprotesters. We dont want him to be in this community because of the nature of the charges, said Tufts, urging the judge to return Dykes to South Carolina after the conclusion of the jail term. Neither Dykes nor his attorney, Bryan Jones, offered any statement on the allegations, but Dykes asked the judge to ensure that his parole officer permits him to travel for his work as a computer technician. I have clients in the Savannah, Georgia, area, which is a about a 35-minute drive from my home, said Dykes. I work in computers and basically do tech support. Higgins agreed to endorse that request in his file. She also agreed to another defense request to give Dykes credit for time served since his March 17 arrest in South Carolina. Despite it being read in open court Thursday, the plea agreement must be sealed for up to a year, Higgins ordered. To prevent a repeat of Virginias notorious past as a haven for the racial terror group the Ku Klux Klan, Virginia criminalizes the use of fire for racial intimidation with penalties that can reach five years. Another man charged under this law accepted a plea deal earlier this month, according to Albemarle County court records. Will Zachary Smith, of Nacona, Texas, was released after signing his sealed plea and ordered to return for sentencing on Aug. 7. Three other men have been indicted for the 2017 event and await adjudication. Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net Oath Keepers founder gets 18 years in federal prison for role in Jan 6 riot | Main | "Voices Of Redemption: A National Survey Of People With Records" May 26, 2023 A long round-up of sentencing news and commentary before a long weekend I hope to be mostly off-line for most of the long weekend, and so I will lean into being away by doing a lengthy round-up of various pieces that caught my attention recently but that I did not find time to blog about. (Also, I must remind everyone that a long weekend is a great time to lean into the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center's new podcast, "Drugs on the Docket.") As always, I welcome reader thoughts on which of these round-up stories might justify more attention. Here goes: From ABC News, "All 123 US federal prisons need 'maintenance': Inspector general" From the AP, "Alaska court reconsiders 135-year sentence given to youngest girl ever convicted of murder in Alaska" From Bolts, "Survivors of Solitary Confinement Face the California Governors Veto Pen" From the Detroit Free Press, "They thought theyd die in prison. Now theyre juvenile justice advocates on a mission" From the Kansas City Star, "American Bar Association calls on Missouri governor to halt execution of Michael Tisius" From The Lancet, "The death penalty: a breach of human rights and ethics of care" From Marijuana Moment, "House-Passed Fentanyl Criminalization Bill Would Also Make It Easier To Study Marijuana And Psychedelics" From the Marshall Project, "LIFE INSIDE, ANIMATED: An animated series featuring the stories of those whose lives have intersected with the criminal justice system." From National Review, "Weakening Capital Punishment Jury Standards Risks Injustice" From Pew, "Racial Disparities Persist in Many U.S. Jails" From The San Francisco Standard, "Can 2 Years and $20M Transform San Quentin Into a Model of Prison Reform?" From Scripps News, "After the sentence: The work to restore rights of returning citizens" From Slate, "I Watched My Brothers Lethal Injection. No one understands what this is like." May 26, 2023 at 11:12 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Virgin Galactic has just completed its last test flight before offering space trips to paying customers. The company sees this as a huge achievement after struggling for a long time to reach the point of commercial operation. Six workers from the company, two of whom were pilots, arrived at Spaceport America in the south of New Mexico after a brief flight that involved a few moments of zero gravity, as reported by APNews. The process involved the mother ship transporting the spaceplane to a height of 44,500 feet (13,563 meters), where it was then released and used its rocket engine to complete the final stage of the flight. This procedure took approximately an hour to complete. The company reported that its spacecraft flew up to a height of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers) before returning to the runway. An Incredible Experience Jamila Gilbert, who is in charge of the company's internal communication and grew up in southern New Mexico, was one of the passengers evaluating the customer experience. She found it difficult to express her experience in words, noting that it may take her entire life to fully comprehend the emotions and visuals that occurred during the time between the ignition of the rocket and the spaceship's peak altitude. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Lindsay Eyink from San Francisco, CA, USA) Virgin Galactic hangar at Mojave Airport After Richard Branson defeated Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin in space by a margin of almost two years, his flight finally took place. Bezos eventually flew from West Texas nine days later, and Blue Origin has since conducted numerous passenger trips. Following Branson's flight, federal aviation authorities prohibited Virgin Galactic launches to examine a mishap. Read also: Billionaire's Space Race: Virgin Galactic Founder Richard Branson Set to Fly to Space on Sunday, Hopes to Beat Jeff Bezos Brief Space Trips For over ten years, Virgin Galactic has been striving to transport people on brief space trips for a fee. Recently, the company has been granted permission from the government to do so in 2021. Now, Virgin Galactic will have to assess information from the recent flight and assess the condition of the aircraft and other gear. This is all in preparation for launching commercial operations, which may begin as early as the end of June. The CEO of Virgin Galactic, Michael Colglazier, has admitted that there have been delays and deadlines that have been missed in the past. However, he expressed confidence in the company's achievements by stating that witnessing the crew's reactions after landing was reassuring. The First Commercial Flight The first commercial flight will involve Italian Air Force personnel performing scientific experiments. After that, individuals who bought tickets many years ago will get the chance to experience weightlessness on a winged spacecraft that takes off from an airplane's belly. In the last ten years, roughly 800 tickets were purchased. The first group of tickets was sold at $200,000 each, but presently, the cost has increased to $450,000 per individual. Virgin Galactic has successfully achieved space travel on five separate occasions since 2018. They have future plans to produce a new fleet of rocket-powered planes at a facility in Arizona, which will allow them to increase their number of flights from Spaceport America to 400 per year. Following Branson's journey, the Federal Aviation Administration halted flights to investigate an issue that caused the rocket ship to deviate from its path during its return to the New Mexico desert runway. Virgin Galactic affirmed that Branson and the other passengers were never at risk. The company modified its carrier aircraft and spaceplane, which took longer than anticipated due to supply chain difficulties and a shortage of labor. Branson was present among a group of clients who witnessed the flight from Spaceport America on Thursday. Huie, a high-ranking member of the Virgin Galactic flight sciences engineering team, announced that the company is fully prepared to begin offering commercial space travel. They plan to increase the number of vehicles in their fleet in the upcoming years. The ultimate objective is to have numerous spaceships and motherships stationed at various spaceports, enabling them to send hundreds of individuals to space annually. Related article: Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Brings Space Tourism One Step Closer [VIDEO] @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cheetah cubs born after controversial reintroduction to India are dying in 47C heat Two more cubs born to a cheetah brought from Namibia to India died in northern Madhya Pradesh states Kuno National Park due to extreme weather conditions, taking the animals death toll to six in recent weeks. Of the four cubs born to the cheetah named Jwala, only one remains alive now. The first cub died on Tuesday due to immense weakness, reported The Indian Express. Following the death on Tuesday, authorities at the national park said that health concerns had been raised as the condition of the remaining three cubs was not normal with temperatures hitting 46-47 degrees Celsius. Madhya Pradesh principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) J S Chauhan said that the teams immediately decided to rescue the three cubs and do necessary treatment. The condition of two cubs was extremely bad, and despite all efforts for treatment, they could not be saved. The remaining cub is in Palpur hospital under intensive treatment and monitoring, he was quoted as saying to the outlet. The fourth cub is undergoing treatment but is stable, authorities said. Officials said all the cheetah cubs were found to be weak, underweight and highly dehydrated. The cheetah cubs were about eight weeks old. At this stage, cheetah cubs are generally inquisitive and constantly walk with the mother. The cubs started walking only about 8-10 days ago, Mr Chauhan said. According to cheetah experts, the survival rate of cheetah cubs in Africa is generally very low. The post-mortem proceedings are being done as per the standard protocol. With the deaths on Thursday, a total of six cheetahs have died at the Kuno National Park, including three cubs and three adults. Over a dozen cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia were translocated to the Kuno National Park (KNP) of Madhya Pradesh in 2022 under the Project Cheetah, more than 70 years after the animals were declared extinct. The efforts to reintroduce cheetahs in India was done amid much fanfare by the Narendra Modi government. While the efforts have been praised, some wildlife activists and experts have raised concerns. South African wildlife expert Vincent Van der Merwe told news agency Press Trust of India that the mortality rate of these cheetahs amid their reintroduction will see a spike in the coming months. We anticipate a 50 per cent mortality in the first year, we know that only 10 are going to survive the initial release period. Theres going to be more than enough prey for them, he was quoted as saying. He said the deaths will be higher as the big cats will try to establish territories and encounter leopards and tigers inside the national park. The recent deaths were within the acceptable range, according to him. However, killing of a female cheetah by males during courtship was unexpected based on a team of experts who reviewed the project. A South African female cheetah named Daksha, died on 9 March following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt. A female cheetah from Namibia named Sasha died due to a kidney ailment on 27 March. Uday, a South African cheetah, died in April due to cardio-pulmonary failure. Uday was part of the batch of 12 cheetahs flown to India on 18 February after eight Namibian cheetahs arrived in September last year. Last week Indias Supreme Court asked the federal government to keep political differences aside and shift the translocated cheetahs to the western state of Rajasthan. A bench of justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol told the federal government that the Kuno National Park seems insufficient for such large numbers of cheetahs. According to Mr Van der Merwe, while deaths after relocation are normal, those outside of the fenced enclosures is where the real danger lies. Thats 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. Theyre going to encounter leopards. There are now tigers moving around in Kuno. The worst mortalities are still to come, he was quoted as saying. According to a report in the Associated Press, fewer than 7,000 adult cheetahs remain in the wild globally, and they now inhabit less than nine per cent of their original range. Shrinking habitat, due to the increasing human population and climate change, is a huge threat. An abstract image of a magnifying glass over a digital cloud. NCB Management Services, a debt collecting company from the United States, has suffered what appears to be a ransomware attack in early February 2023 that left the data of over a million people exposed. Based on breach notification letters sent to affected parties, as well as the filing it submitted with the Maine Attorney General, some 1.1 million people were affected by the breach. Recently, confidential client account information maintained by NCB was accessed by an unauthorized party. To date, we are unaware of any misuse of your information as a result of this incident, NCB said in the letter to its users. Paying the ransom It took the company some three days to realize they had been breached. From that point, until April 19, NCB was engaged in forensic analysis, trying to understand which types of data were accessed. It later learned that the attackers stole financial account numbers or payment card numbers in combination with security code, access code, password or PIN for the account. The company also hints that it paid the ransom, as it stated that it obtained assurances that the unauthorized third party no longer has access to any of NCBs data. Regardless, NCB said it will provide its users with up to two years of free identity theft monitoring services. Read more > T-Mobile to fork out $350m penalty over infamous data breach > Data breaches actually fell in the first part of 2023 > Here's our rundown of the best firewalls In addition to activating the complimentary services offered, we recommend you review your credit reports and account statements over the next 12 to 24 months and notify your financial institution of any unauthorized transactions or incidents of suspected identity theft, NCB said. Cybercriminals usually steal sensitive data in order to sell it on the black market, or use it to run phishing campaigns, identity theft, wire fraud, and other forms of cybercrime. Companies are urged not to pay the ransom demand, as there are no guarantees theyll remain safe, or get their data back. The only thing they can be sure of is that theyll fund another round of cybercrime. Here are the best privacy tools right now Via: Cybernews Our editorial team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Prices were correct at the time of publication. Pullman Singapore Orchard is Singapore's first Pullman brand to make its debut here on our tiny dot and we're here for it. Pullman Singapore Orchard hotel when dawn falls. (PHOTO: Pullman Singapore Orchard) Pullman Singapore Orchard is Singapore's first Pullman brand to make its debut here on our tiny dot, and we're here for it. The hotel building is situated on a prime site along Orchard Road, Singapore's famed retail district, as it replaced another hotel, the former Grand Park Orchard. Across the world, the Accor-owned brand Pullman has a mix of lifestyle and business hotels to cater to different travellers' needs. Here in Singapore, the fashion-inspired Pullman Singapore Orchard intends to celebrate the fashion powerhouses through its design and decor showcase. Art and fashion artefacts are placed at every corner to spark creativity and inspire, and impactful materials create bold and compelling spaces, while common spaces take on a retail design aesthetic. Let's deep-dive into some of the experiences curated by the hotel to see if they're worthwhile. Book a stay here on Booking.com Book a stay here on Agoda What we like about Pullman Singapore Orchard. (PHOTO: Yahoo Life Singapore) READ MORE: 9 new Singapore hotels and villas in 2023 REVIEW: The Outpost Hotel leaves you feeling refreshed but some improvements needed REVIEW: The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, from artillery outpost to luxurious escape Travel guide: 48 hours in Penang, Malaysia Japan travel: 10 things to do in Osaka Reasons to stay in this hotel Club Residence Room at Pullman Singapore Orchard. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore) For those who prefer contactless check-in, the experience of checking in via the hotel's mobile app and digital room keys is seamless. Depending on the party size, you can choose from 326 stylish rooms and suites in nine configurations, ranging from the Classic Rooms to the Presidential Suite. His and hers bathroom; Smart TV in every room. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore) Upon first impressions, the Club Residence Room has a sexy, retro vibe, thanks to the different metal fixture options and the use of black, gold, and brass colours. The bathroom was a sizeable space, with his and hers bathroom for a couple to have their own space for their grooming business. I also liked the wavy glass tiles that turn the bathroom into an inviting space. P. S. O. Beach Club. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore) The pool area on level four, dubbed P.S.O Beach Club, does not offer an infinity view over Orchard Road, but I found that it has sufficient space for a dip, a perfect respite from the sweltering heat. At night, the ambience of the pool area is much sexier, with dim lights lightly reflecting against the cabanas. The Atelier Lounge. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore) For those on business trips, the Atelier Lounge has both a couch area and high table tops to work from, and you can order drinks from the bar area. Hotel guests can take business calls at the Archive Club, which is tastefully decorated with an assortment of knick-knacks like fashion books and artefacts. It's telling when you want to steal that interior design idea for your own home. Book a stay here on Booking.com Book a stay here on Agoda Eden Restaurant at Pullman Singapore Orchard. (PHOTO: Pullman Singapore Orchard.) When it comes to food, Eden Restaurant have perfected its formula for modern and Asian-inspired cuisine with a flair. Walking into the restaurant, the setting immediately reminds me of enclosed bateaux-mouches, excursion boats that operate in Paris and Amsterdam. The food was a delight from the start to the end: some of my favourite dishes were the generous golden brown Eden Crab Cakes (S$30++), White Sesame Hokkaido Milk Puff ($16++), where fried sesame puffs are filled with creamy Hokkaido milk and served with a fragrant lemon curd and the salmon spicy coconut (S$32++) that's drizzled with the right amount of spice with a kick. The glasshouse-like setting also makes for a romantic date night for couples or a gathering among friends. Dinner at Eden Restaurant Pullman Singapore Orchard. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore) Because of its strategic location, there is a handful of shopping malls that are worth a visit. Off-White, Miu-Miu and Gucci at Paragon Mall are always a good idea; so are local brands like Beyond The Vines and The Editor's Market at Takashimaya. For gym enthusiasts, Ritual Gym is just located next door, if you're looking to fit in 30 minutes of HIIT training. What could be done better I would definitely recommend this hotel to travellers who love luxe aesthetics or are young at heart. However, in the bedroom area of the Club Residence Room, I am not a fan of the split level or the two-step stairs separating the entrance and the sleeping area as I'm a clumsy person and will knock into things, particularly well into the night when one wakes up to head to the bathroom. Pullman Singapore Orchard is located at 270 Orchard Road, Singapore 238857. Are you planning to travel soon? Check airfare here: Skyscanner | Trip.com | Expedia Book accommodations and activities here: Agoda | Booking.com | Klook | KKday | HotelsCombined Save big, get the all-inclusive pass & explore your destination in-depth: GoCity General info here: Tripadvisor Affordable data plans here And while you are at it, get your travel insurance with Alliance Assistance | Income | Prudential! SG Telegram banner. 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, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian president denounced the attack as a crime against humanity, as 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) Blast in Russia's Krasnodar was caused by drones, governor says 12:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A blast that damaged a residential and office building in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, east of Crimea, on Friday was caused by two drones, the regions governor said. There is some damage to buildings, but critical infrastructure was not damaged. And most importantly, there were no casualties, governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram. The Russians out for revenge on Putin 11:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion were formed in Ukraine in the wake of Moscows invasion. Now, the militias are taking the fight to the Kremlin and aiming to topple the president. Kim Sengupta reports: The Russians out for revenge on Putin 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. Now TV CEO 361 1.94% 11 19% Model YCorolla 6 2% 5PMI48.8 250 1 510% 936 0.97% 1.23% 2100 4 AI Bowtie1 6% 0.24% 1.5%15% 10% Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A traditional New York City pizzerias first location outside Brooklyn and Manhattan is coming to Gretna. Williamsburg Pizza plan to open its doors southwest of 168th and Harrison streets June 1. Jimmy Johns franchisee Dean Hodges is backing the pizza business move to Nebraska in a partnership with other investors. The restaurant, which will share a building with a Jimmy Johns location, has geared up for its opening by practicing making pizzas and delivering them to area schools for their end-of-the-year celebrations. Even if theyre not perfectly round or perfectly put together, it will still get the word out, Hodges said. For Hodges, the dough is in the dough. We only opened up the book to do this because of the bread, Hodges said. The crust and quality is so good, just like Jimmy Johns. The recipe for the dough was developed by nine-time world pizza champion Nino Coniglio, who opened the first Williamsburg Pizza location with partners in 2013. Last year, Coniglio won the competitive Food Network cooking show Chopped. Now, a decade later, investors are eager to grow the popular pizzeria to new markets with a twist. In New York, they just find a hole in the wall and fire up the ovens, Hodges said. Were attempting to create a brand with logos and a distinct look inside and out. All that we started with was the pizza. The new Sarpy County restaurant will act as a prototype for the brand moving forward. The restaurant serves two pizza styles, Brooklyn round crust and Grandma square crust, with a build-your-own option. According to its website, Williamsburgs Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano are made fresh daily or imported directly from Italy. The menu also offers salads, garlic knots and hero sandwiches New Yorker slang for a sub sandwich served hot or cold. Hodges company, DKPM Investments Corp. are slotting future restaurants in Omaha. Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill plans to open its first Nebraska location southwest of Interstate 80 and Highway 370 in partnership with the investment company. Were going to do four locations here in the Omaha area and one in Lincoln, Hodges said. I invested with them due to the freshness of their food. The Hawaiian-inspired restaurant doesnt use freezers in their kitchen and ensures no food goes to waste. We only want to associate what we are and what we do with the best of the best, Hodges said. Were all about serving our employees so they serve the best product. Most common fast food chains in Nebraska Most common fast food chains in Nebraska #15 (tie). Dunkin #15 (tie). KFC #14. Wendy's #13. Sonic DriveIn #12. Jimmy John's #10 (tie). Domino's Pizza #10 (tie). Godfather's Pizza #9. Taco John's #8. Arby's #7. Taco Bell #6. Dairy Queen #5. Runza #4. Burger King #3. McDonald's #2. Pizza Hut #1. Subway Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. City-Wide Vacation Bible School Many churches are coming together for City-Wide Vacation Bible School, June 5 through 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m. each evening. The location is New Hope Reformed/Riverside Lutheran at 1817 Riverside Blvd in Sioux City. Children exiting preschool through kids exiting 5th grade are encouraged to register by calling 712-276-2418. Participating churches in Sioux City and South Sioux City include many ELCA Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, and Methodist congregations. Rent-A-Space Sale Riverside Lutheran Church, 1817 Riverside Blvd., will hold a Rent-a-Space Sale in the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 10. Vendors can rent a 12'x12' space to sell crafts, rummage, treasures, etc. The church will have a Bake Sale and Lunch open to the public. This fundraiser will help with the cost of replacing church windows. Call 712-233-1491 to get your registration to reserve your spot. Deadline to register for a vendor space is May 30. Summer Worship St. Mark Lutheran Church ELCA begins Wednesday evening worship in the summer months at 7 p.m. All are welcome for this brief service of prayer, scripture, and Holy Communion. St. Mark is in the east Morningside neighborhood at 5200 Glenn Avenue. Food pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Nassau, The Bahamas on June 8 to meet with Caribbean leaders. The U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting will be co-hosted by the Vice President and Prime Minister Philip Davis of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, current chair of the Caribbean Community. This meeting builds on the Vice President's previous meetings with Caribbean leaders in April 2022, at the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, and in September 2022. READ NEXT: Statement by President Joe Biden on the Passing of Tina Turner The Vice President's trip delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration's 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. The U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting will address a range of regional issues. In particular, the Vice President and Caribbean leaders will continue discussions on shared efforts to address the climate crisis, including by promoting climate resilience and adaptation in the Caribbean region and by increasing energy security through clean energy. This builds on the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, launched by the Vice President and Caribbean leaders in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas. The Vice President is traveling to The Bahamas during Caribbean-American Heritage Month and will celebrate the longstanding people-to-people ties between the Caribbean and the United States. READ MORE: Joint Statement on the Launch of the North American Semiconductor Conference and North American Ministerial Committee on Economic Competitiveness @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Former President Donald Trump will hold events in Iowa next week, shortly after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds a campaign kickoff in Des Moines, a campaign official said. Trump will speak June 1 at a meeting of the Westside Conservative Club, a group of Polk County Republicans that regularly meets and hears from local and national Republican figures. The club's meetings are held at the Machine Shed in Urbandale. Trump will also meet with faith leaders while in Iowa, and the campaign will hold a training for caucus volunteers, the official said. DeSantis will make his first visit to Iowa as a declared candidate next week, holding an event Tuesday in Des Moines and events in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella and Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. Also on June 1, Trump will participate in a televised town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity, the network announced this week. The event will be pre-taped in Des Moines earlier in the day and air at 8 p.m., according to The Hill. It will be Trumps second town hall on a major cable network after sitting down with CNNs Kaitlan Collins earlier this month. Former South Carolina governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence will participate in CNN-hosted town halls in Des Moines next month. Scott releases ad, plans Iowa town hall South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican contender for president, launched an ad Friday, depicting America as a place where anyone can succeed on grit and merit. The ad features clips from Scotts speech on Monday in which he announced his candidacy for president, saying America is the land of opportunity and not a land of oppression. We are not defined by the color of our skin. We are defined by the content of our character, and if anyone tells you anything different, they're lying, Scott says in the ad. The ad began airing in Iowa on Friday. Scott, the first Black senator from the South since reconstruction, has criticized notions of systemic racism and victimhood in campaign speeches. Scott says in the ad he is the candidate the far left fears the most. I disrupt their narrative. I threaten their control, he says. The truth of my life disproves their lies. Scott will also join U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra for a town hall at 5:30 p.m. on June 2 in Council Bluffs, his campaign announced Friday. On June 3, Scott will join several other Republican presidential candidates at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's annual Roast and Ride fundraiser. Scott is hovering in the low single digits in Iowa Republican caucus polls, according to FiveThirtyEight. 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. PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Republican Gov. Kristi Noem opened a hotline for complaints about South Dakota colleges and is calling on the state's higher education governing board to ban drag shows, she announced Friday. In a letter to the South Dakota Board of Regents, Noem said states have allowed liberal ideologies to poison their colleges and universities. On campuses across the country, students have been taught the importance of diversity and equity and given access to safe spaces instead of learning to tolerate the disagreement, discomfort, and dissent that they will experience in the real world, Noem wrote. She called on the college oversight board to increase graduation rates, remove references to preferred pronouns" in school materials, cut administrative costs and ensure universities are not accepting any money from China. An Associated Press request for comment to the regents was not immediately returned Friday. Noem pitched the hotline to regents as a way to keep our institutions accountable and ensure that we are all aware of what is happening at our taxpayer-funded colleges and universities. She wrote that information gathered from the hotline will guide policy changes. As I work with our Board of Regents and Board of Technical Education to chart our path for higher education, we are giving students, faculty, and parents this tool to help voice any concerns so that they can be addressed, Noem said in a statement. Republican Tim Rave, a former South Dakota House speaker and Noem appointee, leads the Board of Regents. Noem recently appointed two new members to the board: Jim Lochner, formerly of Tyson Foods, and Doug Morrison, the former Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis director. On Friday, Noem said she plans to make more appointments soon. The Board of Regents in December ordered a review of university campus events and its policy on minors attending them after a drag show at South Dakota State University faced criticism from conservative lawmakers for being advertised as family friendly. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Prosecutors hit a 26-year-old Lincoln man and his 24-year-old wife with felony animal cruelty charges Tuesday after the couple in March brought their already-dead dog to an emergency veterinarian, according to authorities. Jesse Burianek and Riley Bader were each charged Tuesday with animal neglect resulting in death, a Class 4 felony punishable by up to two years of incarceration, according to the complaints filed against the couple in Lancaster County Court. Steve Beal, the city's Animal Control manager, said Wednesday that the couple brought their mixed boxer, Buddha, to an emergency vet March 28 seeking belated medical care for the dog, who had already died. The vet examined Buddha and noticed "severe malnutrition," Beal said, before alerting Animal Control. Investigators took Buddha to the University of Nebraska's Veterinary Diagnostic Center, where medical examiners determined there was no discernible body fat" on the dog's body and there had been a significant loss of Buddha's muscle mass due to "prolonged calorie restriction," Beal said. Buddha should have weighed anywhere between 60 and 80 pounds, Beal said. The dog was 28.8 pounds when Burianek and Bader brought the dog the vet. Animal Control officers cited the couple in March and sent the case along to the city attorney's office for prosecution. The city attorney ultimately passed the case along to the Lancaster County Attorney's Office for felony charges. The couple made their first court appearance Wednesday, where Bader indicated they would retain their own legal counsel but hadn't yet hired an attorney, according to court filings. Beal called the case and the fact that Buddha hadn't seen a vet in several years "discouraging." He implored pet owners to contact Animal Control or other local organizations for help if their pet is need of care that they can't afford. You dont have to let things go to this point," he said. Pet owners in need can call Animal Control at 402-441-7900. And the Capital Humane Society maintains a list of local resources on its website. 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 The Harry Potter universe is in a bit of a crisis. The third Fantastic Beasts film continued the series decline, leaving the future of this enormous spinoff series in limbo. (On top of the movies not being any good, the series has suffered plenty of bad publicity thanks to early decisions to cast Ezra Miller and Johnny Depp.) J.K. Rowlings reputation is forever tarnished in the eyes of many of the young adults who once dressed as Hermione for Halloween, thanks to her seeming inability to stop tweeting transphobic tweets. Warner Bros. seems out of ideas: The most recent project the studio announced is to retell the events of the original seven Harry Potter books in a decade-long television series. Once upon a time, die-hard fans might have been thrilled at the idea of finally bringing, say, the S.P.E.W. subplot to life. These days, the announcement just makes me, once a die-hard, feel exhausted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But last fall, I found myself delighted by a Harry Potter spinoff that made me laugh, that surprised me, and that even made me think about the magic these stories exerted on me in the first place. This spinoff is completely unauthorized by Rowling, Warner Bros., and the Ministry of Magic. Its a satirical play called Puffs, and I watched my daughter and her classmates put it on as Yorktown High Schools fall production. Written by Matt Cox, the silly, self-aware Puffs is the most fun Harry Potter spinoff out there. And it might be coming soon to a school auditorium near you. How did a goofy semi-improvised show put on for two weeks at a tiny comedy club in New York become a student-theater powerhousethe second-most-popular play for high school students in America? How does the modest Puffs sidestep the pitfalls that seem to doom all J.K. Rowlings authorized spinoffs, each one a multimillion-dollar wannabe franchise in the making? Why is Puffs such a blast, even though it recognizes all that is silly about its source material? And how on earth has Matt Cox not been sued into oblivion? Advertisement I still cant believe it, honestly, said Cox on the phoneabout all of it, not just about not being sued. The 34-year-old Cox still lives in New York City, and is a full-time playwright, but back in 2015 he was a Le Pain Quotidien clerk whod gotten a gift: two weeks at the Peoples Improv Theater in Chelsea for a Harry Potterthemed show. Hed been thinking about his Potter fandomhe grew up with the books, waiting in line for midnight releases at his local bookstore in suburban Dallasand how much affection he still felt toward the Hogwarts story even though, as an adult, he now recognized that a lot of it was baloney. And then I thought, What would it have been like to have been another kid at that school? He laughed, recounting it later. What a horror show! You just wanted to get your wizard education, and every year, shit keeps getting worse. Advertisement Advertisement Over a hasty writing and rehearsal period, Cox and his actors devised a shaggy scriptglorified sketch comedy, he saidtelling the story of the Hogwarts years as experienced by the Hufflepuffs, the least cool, least respected of the schools four houses. Over seven years of wizarding school, members of the Puffs class of 1998 make friends, struggle with homework, hide from trolls, and find themselves drafted unexpectedly into a wizarding war. Most of all, the Puffs strive to finish something other than last in the annual House Cup competition. The Puffs motto: Third or nothing! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immediately, enthusiastic audiences showed up in full Hogwarts regalia. The PIT extended the hit show for months, and eventually a revised, somewhat cleaned-up Puffsfull subtitle: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magicopened off-Broadway for a nearly three-year run. But that was just the beginning of Puffs life. By the 20192020 school year, Puffs had landed on the Educational Theatre Associations list of the most-performed plays in American high schools, and on last years list, it placed ahead of such standbys as 12 Angry Jurors and A Midsummer Nights Dream, trailing only an adaptation of Clue. Advertisement Advertisement When my daughter, a onetime Potterphile now annoyed by late-period Rowling, heard her high school was performing Puffs, she was at first disappointed by the choice. I remember her saying, It just seems like a dumb comedy. But she tried out anyway, landing an ensemble role (some random students, plus the Herbology professor). Once my friends were performing it with me in front of an audience, it made the jokes better, she said. And I ended up really empathizing with Wayne and connecting to the themes of the playthat most people never really get to be the star. Advertisement Can I tell you something? the hero of Puffs, Wayne Hopkins, tells the boy in front of him in the Sorting Hat line on his first day of school. I think I might be special? WAYNE: I watch a lot of movies and read lots of books, and its like: a normal boy finds out he actually has amazing abilities and is swept away to a new, magical world? Does that sound familiar? Because that is now my ACTUAL life. And THAT kid, through some incredible circumstances always becomes like the most important person. Like in the whole world. A sort of Chosen One. AHH! Magic is real, and this orphaned boy wizard is ready for seven years of amazing adventures! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually the boy in front of him politely excuses himself, because he is Harry Potter and he has to go get Sorted. Puffs is dedicated to everyone not destined to save the world, and one of its sly strengths is its recognition of the low-level psychic damage that wishing to be the main character can do to most of us, the supporting characters in life. Wayne, orphaned as an infant due to a chocolate frog accident, grows up in New Mexico, is surprised, like Harry, to learn hes a wizard, and arrives at school positive hes going to live out an incredible heros tale. But in fact, his story, like that of all the Puffs, is one mostly of disappointment, low comedy, and watching from the sidelines as other people get what you dreamed of. Advertisement Advertisement Fate: Its never kind to a hero, the narrator says. But who does fate hate even more? The side characters. The Puffs one hero, Cedric Diggory, learns too late that hes but collateral damage in someone elses saga. Cox even points out that this is true for the bad guys, too: As one of the Dark Lords evil henchmen carries a nameless dead comrade off the stage during the final climactic battle, he groans, Someone has to tell his evil wife and kids. Advertisement This thoughtful treatment of the other side of a heros journeyall the non-heroes who have to accommodate him along the waymakes Puffs more than a spoof of the Potter saga. But its also that, and it was the arcane references to books and films that got the biggest laughs at my daughters productions: mispronouncing Leviosa, Voldemorts complaint that none of his stooges ever bothered to buy him shoes, the fact that Neville eventually becomes hot. The show even ends with a Nineteen Years Later epilogue, in which the heroes, now parents, speak to their son, whos frightened about going to school: Ill be honest with you, they say. You should be. When I was there: If it wasnt an evil teacher, it was a giant snake. Advertisement In fact, the lack of preciousness Puffs feels for its source material is the reason, I think, it works so much better than any of J.K. Rowlings attempts to spin the story out further. Fantastic Beasts, Cursed Child, the theme parks, the touring experiences: They all treat the original seven books like sacred texts, reverently digging deeper and deeper into their lore. But when I spoke with Cox, he pointed out that the more you think about the Harry Potter universe, the worse it holds up. All those convoluted plots that require the bad guy to deliver a chapter-long monologue at the end! All those MacGuffins, from the Sorcerers Stone to 700 pages of Horcruxes! And the films only added to the storys absurdities: One of the biggest laughs in the play comes late in the second act, when one of You-Know-Whos adherents observes, We dont need brooms to fly anymore. We just can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a hard world to build upon without breaking it a little too much, Cox said. If you make more and more without it being a little silly, the cracks show. Harry Potter demands irreverence, these days, as a way of acknowledging that for a solid decade, an enormous number of us went absolutely berserk for a decently crafted, fairly funny, somewhat original series of childrens books and movies. Yes, many of those fansCox, for examplehad the excuse of being a kid. But not all of them! Not me! In an era when every Harry Potter spinoff seems, Cox said, made with the hope of enormous dollar signs, and the once-beloved author is beclowning herself online, Puffs gives fans a chance to view their fandom affectionately, yet critically. Ten years later, everyone can have a beer nowyou just talk about the series and go, That didnt quite make sense. Advertisement Advertisement The plays status as parody also helps to give it some legal cover against Potter Inc. As the script notes, Puffs was written as a transformative and transfigured work under the magic that is U.S. fair use laws. Cox has also gone above and beyond to cheekily steer clear of J.K. Rowlings many, many coinages and copyrighted terms: Voldemort is Voldy, Death Eaters are Death Buddies, Hogwarts is a certain school of magic, and Quidditch is simply sports!with an exclamation point. Though Cox has never been sued by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros., We were eventually made aware that they were aware of us, he said with a chuckle. But I think that we had done enough of the homework that it couldnt be an issue. Advertisement Advertisement The one time Puffs got in trouble was when a gag in the off-Broadway production spoiled a detail about the Broadway version of Cursed Child. They said, You have to change this, recalled Cox. We changed it. He recognizes that high school theater teachers may not have the sophisticated understanding of fair use and copyright law hes been forced to develop; hence the note in the back of the script asking that no copyrighted imagery, branded clothing, official cloaks or capes or wands, official fonts, or really any intellectual property created by the team behind everyones favorite boy wizard be used near this play. Advertisement Advertisement You can imagine a world in which J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. loosened up a little and we were six seasons into a goofy Puffs-style series on the CW. But for now, if you want lighthearted wizard fun, Puffs is your best option. Its also popular at community theatersin the next few months, productions open in Bloomington, Illinois; Searcy, Arkansas; and Pensacola, Florida. But your best bet might be to stop by your local high school, because as long as there are kids who grow up on Harry Potterand the upcoming HBO Max series suggests that there will be some for quite a whilePuffs will continue ruling the stages of Americas high schools. Back in the day, we would joke about how the show would eventually be performed by a bunch of teenagers in capes, said Cox. Now schools are doing it with 70 kids! Someone sent photos of a production recently, and there was a little kid in gold clothesI think he was playing the Snitch. Its clear why high schoolers love the play so much. It was built to be a play to have fun performing, said Cox, and the scripts encouragement of ad-libbing, improv, and whimsyall stemming from its origin as a goofy sketch show cooked up by a bunch of friendssets it apart from almost every other show on the market. Audition for a musical in high school, and youll have a good time, but youll feel a lot of pressure to be note-perfect. Puffs is shaggier, sillier, more weird. And look, Cox pointed out: As the world gets nerdier, the reason a lot of people get into acting is they want that opportunity to run around in a cape or with a wand or a sword. With Puffs, you get to play in a world youve dreamt of being part of. He paused. Or a world thats remarkably similar, to be clear. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here. Dear Care and Feeding, This is going to sound terrible, but I want to disown my 16-year-old daughter Clara. Ive tried. Ive really tried to raise her to be compassionate and caring for other people. But its never stuck. She was the stereotypical mean girl in middle school, with a clique of close friends who would bully other girls who didnt live up to their standards. I tried cajoling, punishment, doing what I could to disrupt her ties to her bad influence friends even when I wasnt sure they were bad influences, getting her involved in more wholesome activities, you name it. Nothings worked. Her bullying isnt limited to school, either. Theres this boy who lives a few houses over, whos two years younger than she is. Ive never asked about his medical condition, but hes visibly disfigured in his face. Clara took an instant dislike to him when they started sharing a bus ride to school, and seems to have gone out of her way to make nasty comments and let him know how much she hates him. Ive grounded her twice for following him home after she gets off the bus to harangue him with abuse, but that hasnt stopped her when she isnt under direct observation. The final straw came last weekend. She made a bogus police call on him, claiming he was inappropriately touching another kid in the neighborhood. Ive had to retain a lawyer because she might be charged for filing a false police report, although she hasnt been arraigned as yet, and the lawyer doesnt think its likely theyd charge a minor. Confronting Clara about it, she eventually admitted she knew it was false, but Hes so ugly, it should be a crime was apparently enough justification for her to sic the cops on him. I dont know what to do with her anymore. I want to wash my hands of the whole situation. I dont know where Ive failed with her, but I dont think it can be fixed anymore, and I just want this to be over, and never see her again. Ive cut far less toxic people out of my life before, but if its your own child, its harder to shut that door. What should I do? Cant Deal With This Anymore Dear C.D.W.T.A., You can place Clara up for adoption, but at her age, shes unlikely to find another family and may languish in foster care until shes old enough to live on her own. Perhaps youre at the point where that no longer matters to you. However, I think you should consider trying to get her some professional help before washing your hands of her. Its possible that she has a personality disorder or some other psychological issue thats guiding her behavior. Consider finding a psychologist to do a full battery of psychiatric tests to see what she may be dealing with. If theres something going on beyond her control, Clara may benefit from talking to a therapist or even taking medication. Youve only got a couple years before shell be old enough to care for herself, but getting her some help before that happens may change things before that. If it doesnt, youll at least know that youve done all that you can for her. Id also recommend getting a therapist for yourself if you dont have one already. The situation with your daughter has been difficult for you and a lot to process; you deserve some support, too. If you decide to cut Clara off when she graduates high school, you should let her know sooner than later that she needs to begin to prepare for life outside of your home. Encourage her to start thinking about her future plans now so that she isnt blindsided if you do cut the cord. Jamilah More Advice From Care and Feeding My 6-year-old is currently enrolled in Catholic school, with many of the classes taking place over Zoom. The teacher is horrible. She threatens to rip up and throw away tests if kids talk during a test. She says things like Are you bleeding, is there a bone sticking out?!! Why did you interrupt me?! She also gets very annoyed and impatient when children who are distance learning get lost or ask questions. She spent 10 minutes today complaining to her students about all the work she had to grade last night after helping her own kids and making dinner, and that she lost her Saturday too because she was too busy grading their papers. It was odd behavior and not appropriate. What should I do? Im fearful to approach the teacher directly for fear of reprisal directed at my child. 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. Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion in Sackett v. EPAwhich deals a devastating blow to the countrys wetlandswas so brazen, it was all a bit much for Brett Kavanaugh! Advertisement Justice Kavanaugh wrote a dissenting opinion that did an admirable job explaining the totally ahistorical and atextual nature of Alitos argument, Mark Joseph Stern writes. Stern digs into Alitos tortured logic (Honestly, its like hes barely even trying) and the consequences the courts decision will have for the environment. Beaver Leavers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a faction of Oregonians who are trying to split from the Beaver State to join Idahoaspiring Beaver Leavers, if you will! (They call themselves something else.) Nitish Pahwa examines the underlying factors driving the movement, and why its gained more traction than past attempts, by the left and the right, to reshape the Northwest. Remembering George Floyd Its been three years since a police officer murdered George Floyd, sparking protests across the country. From our archives: Aymann Ismail took a close look at the store that called the cops on Floyd, and the painful reckoning after his killing. Plus: Hear Me Out imagines what a world without police could look like. Max-ed out HBO Max just launched its rebrand in just about the grossest way possible, Sam Adams writes. He reviews the lurid debacle that is The Idol. When whales attack Advertisement Advertisement Im a bitch / Im an orca / Sinking boats / Just off Majorca The recent rise of whale attacks on boats has let a hundred memes bloom. But whats actually going on here? Anna Guasco explains. Feinstein can retire Hillary Clinton says Dianne Feinstein cant afford to retire from the Senate because Republicans wont allow a Democrat to replace her on the Judiciary Committee. I understand why Hillary Clinton, who has lived the life that Hillary Clinton has lived, would assume the worst of Republicans, Jim Newell writes. But her analysis of this situation doesnt make sense. Thats in part, he argues, because this would be quite a bad move for Republicans. Chill out on China Biden recently predicted that U.S.China relations will be thawing very soon. Thats likely trueand unequivocally a good thing, despite the widespread bipartisan belief that were headed for war with China, Fred Kaplan writes. He explains what the U.S. can do to cool tensions now. The end is nigh As Successions finale draws near, we put our heads together and came up with five theories about how the show will end. Today, Slate is ROOTED IN A SELF-ASSURED ZEAL* much like the politics of queer utopianism in Edward Carpenters fiction. In the midst of the horrifying anti-LGBTQ+ backlash were living through, Theodore McCombs turns to these works for a glimmer of hope. Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow. I am not one of Donald Trumps lawyers, and like a close colleague who turned down an invitation to be his attorney, would never take on a client so impossible to control. Yet, blown away by the latest absurd blunder committed by Team Trump, I feel compelled to offer the former president a bit of gratuitous advice. What has triggered my generosity is the ridiculous letter written by Trump attorneys John Rowley and James Trusty to Attorney General Merrick Garland, seeking a meeting with him prior to any charges being filed against their client, to discuss what they consider an unfair investigation by special counsel Jack Smith. Advertisement It is commonplace for counsel to reach out to prosecutors before an indictment is filed to better understand what the client is facing and to see if there are any mutually acceptable alternatives to indictment. In fact, in my book The Vanishing Trial I describe part of such a meeting I had, as a federal prosecutor, with legendary courtroom lawyer Milton Gould on the eve of the prosecution of a bank he represented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, what is there to criticize Trumps team for? Plenty. Lets begin with the addressee, Attorney General Merrick Garland. The letter should not have been written to him, but to Jack Smith, the public official in charge of the investigations, and the one who will be making the charging decisions. Unless Garland finds Smiths prosecutorial recommendations substantially without merit, Smiths recommendations will stand. So, the request to meet will inevitably be denied as it was sent to the wrong person. But worse, the correct addressee, Jack Smith, will surely not be pleased by the blatant attempt to exclude him from the process by going over his head to his boss. Advertisement Worse still, the letter to Garland makes totally unnecessary, absurd, and insulting accusations about the investigations of the former president, calling them baseless, outrageous, and unlawful. It is hard to imagine an approach so well calculated to cause the reader to reject what is being requested. Once again, Team Trump has sacrificed intelligent, practical lawyering at the altar of media coverage. And granted, the letter has received that. But it hasnt exactly helped their client. The end result is that, as usual, Trump and his team have made a bad situation even harder on themselves. Advertisement While it may be understandable that a thin-skinned egomaniac with his liberty on the line might be unable to control himself, how do his lawyers embrace such lunacy? Is it fear of losing the client, complete ineptitude, or some combination of both? Is there no attorney out there capable of getting Trump to act in his own self-interest? In the 1980s and 1990s I worked closely on several criminal cases and one major trial with the late Jay Goldberg, then Trumps main attorney. In a 1991 survey of New York City lawyers and judges, Goldberg was deemed the best pure trial lawyer in town. Jay would never have put up with todays Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement As neither Rowley, Trusty, nor anyone else seems to have been able to effectively provide Trump with proper guidance moving forward, I will take it upon myself to offer the former president a reality-based assessment and some free advice. Sir, you are the principal target of at least three grand jury investigations, two of which are known to be near or at the indictment stage. Many people close to you, including some of your lawyers, have been either forced or have volunteered to testify against you. Coupled with the self-defeating statements you have already made that will be used against you (as in the E. Jean Carroll case that you just lost) and your astounding inability to be an effective witness on your own behalf, the cases will all be especially strong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government wins 90 percent of the criminal cases it tries, including cases much weaker than those being finalized against you. Because in the federal system, losing at trial means very high jail terms, 98 percent of all federally indicted defendants make plea deals and avoid trial. (For more on these numbers, I again invite you to read The Vanishing Trial.) As difficult as it is to beat federal prosecutors once, beating them multiple times is nearly impossible. On top of all that, you are already facing state criminal charges in New York, and some time over the summer, it is expected you will be indicted on racketeering charges in Georgia. In sum, you have got to go 5-for-5, and thus far, on the legal diamond, you have proved yourself neither an Aaron Judge nor a Mike Trout. Advertisement That said, given the uniqueness of your present political position and prior presidential status, there are any number of potential steps to take that can surely be used to lessen the blow and help you ultimately survive. You can still avoid the worst consequences that lay ahead. Perhaps you have not yet given thought to what state-operated jails in Georgia must be like, but I assure you they will be less comfortable than Mar-a-Lago. In short, despite your suicidal instincts and precarious legal position, there is still time to help shape the situation to mitigate (though not eliminate) the ultimate consequences that will fall upon you. Needlessly insulting those whose hands are tightening around your neck does not help. By continually shooting yourself in the foot, you have been left both immobile and terminally bleeding. A change of course is necessary. This advice is offered free of charge, as part of my lawyers annual pro bono obligations This week marked a year since the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 children and two adults were killed. In that year, law enforcement officials blamed for the excruciatingly slow response to the attack have been fired, but the community has seen little else in the way of closure. Investigations into the police response remain open. No statewide gun reforms have been passed. To understand how the state of Texas has respondedor failed to respondto the shooting in the past year, Slate spoke with Scott Braddock, the editor of the Quorum Report (the states largest political newsletter) and co-host of Texas Take, a state politics podcast for the Houston Chronicle. Advertisement This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Slate: How would you sum up what this past year has been like? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott Braddock: The families in Uvalde have been very outspoken about what they wish the state government would do after their children were slaughtered. Weve had our share of mass shootings: El Paso and Santa Fe, and more recently, in Allen, Texas. But the families in Uvalde got involved in partisan politics in a way that we havent seen previously in the state. Some of the mothers and fathers of children who were killed got involved in Beto ORourkes campaign for governor against Greg Abbott, including appearing in some of his television ads, where the descriptions of the children were included. They were some of the most, I think, powerful political ads Ive seen in the state. It became a centerpiece of ORourkes campaign against Abbott. Of course, [ORourke] was unsuccessful. But after that campaign was over, they stayed involved, pressing for change at the Texas Capitol. Advertisement Sometimes you would see families from Uvalde rallying outside the governors mansion at 5 in the morning, screaming on bullhorns: We cant sleep because our children are dead, so you shouldnt be able to sleep either. What policy changes were the families asking for? Are they all on the same page? Advertisement They testified in hearings at the legislature, pressing mainly for legislation that would raise the age for legal purchase of certain firearms. The families are pretty united that raising the age would make a difference. It would have, in their estimation, prevented what happened to their children. And I think when you look at what they are asking for, and what Democrats in the legislature have asked forthese are not gun confiscation programs. This is not a mandatory buyback program. Theyre pushing for raising the age, red flag laws, and things like that, which are the bare minimum when it comes to gun restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Within the group of families who were directly affected, its pretty close to consensus; Within the community of Uvalde, thats not true. Uvalde and Uvalde County are very conservative and went heavily for President Trump in the last presidential election. Beto ORourke was trying to make the massacre in Uvalde one of the centerpieces of his campaign, and Abbott still trounced ORourke in Uvalde County. Texas has not passed any of those gun control measures. Why is it that the lawmakers wont budge? In this state, the election of consequence is the primary in March. The Republican primary decides who will run Texas, and it dictates what policies the people in charge will support. Weve seen the voter turnout increase in general elections, but Democrats still arent at the point where they can truly make them competitive. And so the March primaries are still the only thing that matters. And Republicans in the legislature are fearful that voters would punish them for supporting anything that might look like gun control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That fear might be unfounded. Its completely untested: They have never voted for anything that could be called gun control in this state. In Florida, when Rick Scott was governor, the Republican-led legislature passed a slate of gun restrictions that was signed into law by the very conservative Gov. Rick Scott after mass shootings there. And in the following primary, none of the Republicans who voted for those gun laws lost their primary. So its unfortunate that [Texans] Republican office-holders are so afraid of taking a stand on this. But Texas is ruled by fear of primary voters when it comes to gun legislation. And as of now, there is no incentive for the Republican leadership to change anything about the way the primary system works. Advertisement Advertisement Do you think the families are making a difference at all? Theyre moving the needle. The conversation is different. Its not just that were talking about them a year later; its that were still talking about them a year later. We never stopped. And thats never happened previously with a mass shooting in the state. That didnt happen with the El Paso shooting at the Walmart. That didnt happen after the Santa Fe shooting or Sutherland Springs. I dont think thats going to happen with the shooting in Allen, Texas. But Texans have never stopped talking about Uvalde. Advertisement I was listening to one of the mothers testifying before a Texas House committee, and she had driven all the way from Uvalde to Austin, which is three hours at least, to show up for a hearing at the Capitol at 8 a.m. She didnt get to testify until 13 hours later. These families have been jerked around by the legislative process in a way thats pretty shameful. But when she was testifying, she compared having to wait at the Capitol to testify to waiting to have the death of her daughter confirmed at the makeshift morgue in Uvalde. And she said, Did you think we would go home? There was silence in the room. These folks have changed the discussion in a way that is remarkable. On that committee, two suburban Republicans voted yes for the bill to raise the age. And without the voices of those families, Im here to tell you that would not have happened. On May 23, 2022, I could not have imagined that any Republican lawmaker would vote to raise the age in the state. And now two have. Does that pass the law? No. Does that move the needle in the right direction? It does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know people in the state government who have seen all the evidence, and they say to me, I cant sleep at night because of what I saw. And my response to them is to say, right, if everyone could see it, no one could sleep until we change things. I get that there has to be a sensitivity to what the families want. Some of the families dont want for the evidence to be released and published everywhere. But for some of the families, they would like it to be an Emmett Till moment. So they could say, look what they did to my baby. Did you know all Texas lawmakers were offered a deal by the state police force to sign a nondisclosure agreement so that they could view all of the evidence that [the Texas Department of Public Safety] has about the shooting? Advertisement I did not know that. Have they taken the police up on the offer? The vast majority of lawmakers have not. The state senator for the area, Roland Gutierrez, signed the NDA. He has seen the evidence. Ive known Roland since he was a member of the Texas House [from 2008 to 2021]. Gutierrez is a changed man. He gave a speech last week on the floor of the Texas Senate in which he said, You havent seen what Ive seen. I would encourage all of you to sign the NDA and take a look at whats there. The videos, the picturesyoull hear the sounds of the police throwing up as they enter the room and see what they see. He said, youve never seen so much blood. Advertisement Advertisement Another lawmaker who saw all of the evidence, Rep. Joe Moody from El Paso, shared in a legislative hearing earlier this year that the killer scooped up some of the blood from the children and wrote the letters LOL on a whiteboard in the classroom. How could you see those things and not be changed? Advertisement And Sen. Gutierrez was speaking last week. To me, he looked like he would collapse under the weight of PTSD. And at the end of his speech, he apologized to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and to the other senators because the lieutenant governor has, on more than one occasion, asked him to stop mentioning guns and gun violence and Uvalde in the Texas Senate. At one point, Lt. Gov. Patrick told Gutierrez earlier this session that he would not be recognized to speak on the floor of the Senate if he kept doing that. When Gutierrez apologized, it was as if he was having to say he was sorry for being traumatized. Ive been doing this a long time. Ive never seen anything like that. Advertisement Do you think anything could change the political reality of the situation? You know, the electorate in Texas is changing. Leaders such as Lt. Gov. Patrick want to portray this state as a rural state at heart. By the numbers, were not. For years we have had big cities that are basically Democratic: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin. The suburbs around those cities were pretty traditionally and reliably Republican until the last couple of election cycles. One thousand to 1,200 people are moving to Texas every day, and those folks bring their politics with them. Most of them are moving to those suburban communities. You have folks who arent necessarily Democratic voters, but theyre more open to voting for either party. So thats where you have real swing areas of the state. And those are not small places. Those areas represent millions of votes in Texas. So with the right candidate and message and money, something could change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, when Wendy Davis ran against Greg Abbott, about 4 million people voted in that election, and Abbott beat her by 21 points. Four years later, in 2018, more than 8 million voted, and Beto ORourke came within 3 points of beating Ted Cruz. So I think the electorate has been fundamentally remade. Advertisement And there is a recognition among Republican leadership that they need to move in at least some ways toward the center. But they have created a monster in the Republican primaries. If you look at the kind of legislation that theyre passing this session, its a red meat buffet for those primary voters. But these things happen generationally. Ten, 20 years from now, this state will not be what it was. What about more immediately? Is there a chance for quicker change? One thing that would be terrible for Republican candidates in this upcoming election is if former President Trump is the Republican nominee. Suburban Republican officeholders will tell you that thats their worst nightmare. They would have to run that much harder in their races to be able to beat Democrats in suburban areas. Republicans in the state have drawn political districts in such a way that theyve put up fortresses around themselves, but for the governors race or the Senate, statewide races, you cant redistrict. And so if you get another competitive election, like you had in 2018, all bets are off. I think just like those Uvalde families, they hold out hope. One of the old hands around the Capitol says: Things never change in Texas politics until they do. A federal grand jury has indicted a San Diego man for allegedly impersonating a federal agent and using that fake position to defraud more than 25 Orange County victims who sought immigration assistance, including "green cards" and United States citizenship, the Justice Department announced today. Davyd George Brand Jimenez, 52, of San Ysidro, was named in a 25-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury Wednesday afternoon. Brand Jimenez is currently being sought by federal authorities. The indictment charges Brand Jimenez with 10 counts of false impersonation of a federal officer or employee, three counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, seven counts of fraudulent possession and use of U.S. government seals, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of misusing a United States passport. READ NEXT: Florida Woman Convicted After Eight-Day Trial For The Voluntary Manslaughter of Her Girlfriend According to the indictment, Brand Jimenez pretended to be a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and used that false title to scam victims. Brand Jimenez has never been employed by ICE. Brand Jimenez primarily targeted undocumented members of the Latino community, telling victims he could help them obtain work permits, legal United States residency, and U.S. citizenship, according to the indictment. Brand Jimenez falsely claimed to be an ICE agent, including by showing a fake ICE badge. Under that assumed persona, he promised that he could help his victims - most of whom were illegally present in the United States - to obtain legal residency (also known as a "green card"), work permits, or U.S. citizenship. According to the indictment, from April 2019 to November 2020, Brand Jimenez charged each victim between $10,000 and $20,000. In addition to falsely claiming to be an ICE federal agent or a federal "Homeland Security" official, Brand Jimenez allegedly sometimes told victims that he was a "G-18" federal official, which is a non-existent position. Brand Jimenez failed to file immigration paperwork for his victims, and he never obtained any immigration benefits for them, according to the indictment. Because he was not providing any immigration benefits for his victims, Brand Jimenez allegedly fabricated immigration documents with the victims' names that fraudulently displaying the emblem of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Brand Jimenez also allegedly fabricated a stay of deportation order and provided it to one of his victims as alleged proof that the victim would not be deported, which was not true. In another instance, Brand Jimenez allegedly provided a victim with a valid Social Security card, a U.S. passport card, and a California Identification Card, and he directed that victim to use those documents under the name of a different person as proof of authorization to reside and work in the United States. Brand Jimenez is considered to be a fugitive after failing to appear for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty in an unrelated narcotics case in San Diego federal court. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Brand Jimenez would face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each mail fraud and wire fraud count, 10 years in federal prison for each count of misusing of a passport, five years in federal prison for each count of wrongful use of a government seal, three years in federal prison for each count of impersonating a federal officer, and a mandatory two-year prison sentence for each aggravated identity theft count. The FBI Orange County Resident Office investigated the case and received assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department. Anyone with information regarding Jimenez's current whereabouts should take no action themselves but should immediately call the FBI's toll-free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov/ or contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED-2. Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case. 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. Elizabeth Holmes convinced investors and patients that she had a prototype of a microsampling machine that could run a wide range of relatively accurate tests using a fraction of the volume of blood usually required. She lied; the Edison and miniLab devices didnt work. Worse still, the company was aware they didnt work, but continued to give patients inaccurate information about their health, including telling healthy pregnant women that they were having miscarriages and producing false positives on cancer and HIV screenings. Advertisement But Holmes, who has to report to prison by May 30, was convicted of defrauding investors; she wasnt convicted of defrauding patients. This is because the principles of ethics for disclosure to investors, and the legal mechanisms used to take action against fraudsters like Holmes, are well developed. They are not always well enforced, but the laws are on the books. In medical devices, things are murkierin encouraging innovation, the legal standards give a wide berth to people trying to develop technologies, with the understanding that sometimes even people trying their best will screw up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were seeing a similar dynamic play out with the current debate over A.I. regulation. Lawmakers are grasping at straws over what to do, while doomsday predictions clash with breathless sales pitches for how A.I. tech will change everything. Either the future will be a panacea of algorithmically created bliss and students will never be forced to write another term paper, or well all be reduced to radioactive rubble. (In which case, students still wouldnt have to write term papers.) The problem is that new technologies without ethical and legal regulation can do a lot of damageand often, as was the case for Theranos patients, we dont have good way for people to recoup their losses. At the same time, because of its fast-moving nature, tech is particularly hard to regulate, with loose standards and more opportunity for fraud and abuse, whether through flashy startups like Holmes or sketchy cryptocurrency and NFT schemes. Advertisement Holmes is a useful case to think about in developing ethical standards in A.I. because she built a literal opaque box and claimed people couldnt look at or report what was inside. Doing so, she said, would violate her intellectual property, even as the technology told healthy patients they were dying. Were seeing many of these same dynamics play out in the conversation around developing ethical standards and regulation for artificial intelligence. Advertisement Developing ethical standards to form the basis of A.I. regulation is a new challenge. But its a challenge we have the tools to tackleand we can apply the lessons weve learned from failures to manage other tech. Like Theranos devices, artificial intelligence technologies are little boxes generally understood by their designers (at least as well as anyone) but often not subject to scrutiny from the outside. Algorithmic accountability requires some degree of transparency; if a black box makes a decision that causes harm or has a discriminatory impact, we have to open it up to figure out if these mistakes are attributable to an occasional blind spot, a systematic error in design, or (as in the Holmes case) an outright fraud. This transparency matters in order to both prevent future harms and determine accountability and liability for existing harms. Advertisement Advertisement There is a lot of urgency around A.I. regulation. Big A.I. firms and researchers alike are pushing lawmakers to act quickly, and while the proposals vary, they consistently include some transparency requirements. To prevent systemic problems and fraud, even intellectual property law should not insulate big A.I. companies from showing how their technology works. Sam Altmans recent congressional testimony on OpenAI and ChatGPT included discussion of how the technology operates, but it only scratched the surface. While Altman looks eager to craft regulation, hes also threatening to withdraw from the European Union based on proposed A.I. regulations before the European parliament. Advertisement Advertisement In early May, the Biden administration announced developments in its proposal for addressing artificial intelligence; the most significant was a commitment from major A.I. companies (Alphabet, Microsoft, and OpenAI, among others) to opt in to public assessment, which will subject their tech to independent testing and evaluate potential impact. The assessment is not exactly public in the way Altmans congressional testimony was; experts from outside of the company would be given access to assess the technologies on the publics behalf. If companies live up to these commitments, then experts will be able to catch problems before products are widely implemented and used, hopefully protecting the public from dangerous consequences. This is an early-stage proposal, because we do not know who these experts are or what powers they will have, and companies may not want to play by the rules, even when they helped craft them. Still, its a step forward in establishing the terms for greater scrutiny of private tech. Advertisement The Biden administrations broader proposal, the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, identifies a range of areas where we already know A.I. technologies cause harmsfacial recognition algorithms misidentifying Black people; social media algorithms pushing violent and sexual contentand adopts (in broad strokes) ethical principles for addressing those issues, which can then be codified into law and made enforceable. Among these principles are nondiscrimination, safety, the right to be informed about data gathered by the systems, and the right to refuse an algorithmic service (and have access to a human alternative). Advertisement Advertisement The horror stories that make the case for these principles are widespread. Researchers including Joy Buolamwini have extensively documented problems with racial bias in algorithmic systems. Facial recognition software and autonomous driving systems trained overwhelmingly on data sets of white subjects fail to recognize or differentiate Black subjects. This poses obvious dangers, from a person being wrongly identified as a criminal suspect based on faulty facial recognition to someone being hit by an autonomous car that cant see Black people at night. People shouldnt be subject to discrimination (or hit by cars) because of biased algorithms. The Biden administrations proposal holds that designers have an obligation to engage in predeployment testing. Advertisement This obligation is critical. Lots of technologies have error and failure rates; for example, COVID tests have a false positive rate and a range of complicated variablesbut thats why its important that technologies are tested to evaluate and disclose those failure rates. Theres a difference between the false positive from an antigen test and the machine hawked by Holmes, which simply didnt work. Responsibility and liability for designers should be responsive to what the designer did. If the designers adhered to best practices, then they shouldnt be liable; if they were grossly negligent, then they should be. This is a principle in engineering and design ethics across fields, from medical tests to algorithms to oil wells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a long road between proposing an obligation and implementing a legal framework, but in an ideal world, the potential for discrimination can be addressed during the testing phase, with companies submitting their algorithms for independent auditing before bringing them to market. As work like Buolamwinis becomes part of the standard for developing and evaluating these technologies, companies that dont test for bias in their algorithms would be acting negligently. These testing standards should have legal implications and help establish when consumers injured by a product can recover damages from the companythis is what was missing in the case of the Theranos fraud and is still missing from standards around medical testing and devices in startups. Advertisement Advertisement Companies, for their part, should support clear, well-founded standards for A.I. like those outlined in the Biden administrations proposal, because doing so provides grounds for public trust. That grounding isnt absolute; if we find out the toothpaste is tainted, then were going to look sideways at the toothpaste companybut knowing that theres foundational regulatory control does help establish that products we use on a regular basis are safe. Most of us feel safer because our doctors and lawyers have a code of ethics and because the engineers who build bridges and tunnels have professional standards. A.I. products are embedded in our lives already, from recommendation algorithms to scheduling systems to voice and image recognition systems. Ensuring that these things dont have severe, inappropriate biases is a bare minimum. Algorithms, like medical tests, provide us with information we need to make decisions. We need regulatory oversight of algorithms for the same reason we needed it for Holmes boxes: If the information were getting is produced by machines that make systematic errors (or worse, dont work at all), then they can and will endanger people who use them. If we know what the errors are, then we can work to prevent or mitigate the harms. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. -- After decades on the run, the most wanted fugitive in the 1994 Rwandan genocide was captured in Paarlo, South Africa. He is accused of having organized the massacre of more than 2,000 Tutsi refugees women, men, children and the elderly during the genocide in the Nyange Catholic Church. He had been on the run since 2001. Fulgence Kayishema, the most wanted fugitive involved in the Rwandan genocide, was captured in a joint operation by South African authorities and United Nations investigators. When he was arrested, Kayishema initially denied his identity. By evening, however, he is said to have told the United Nations that he had been waiting a long time for his arrest. Fulgence Kayishema PHOTO: AP Investigators told CNN that Kayishema used multiple identities and forged documents to avoid arrest. The arrest was the culmination of an intensive, thorough and rigorous investigation, said a senior official at the prosecutors office involved in the case. Family members and his known associates were thoroughly investigated. This ultimately led to the identification of the correct location for the investigation. Fulgence Kayishema has been on the run for over 20 years. His arrest ensures he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes, said the chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz from the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts (IRMCT). Genocide is the worst crime known to mankind. The international community is committed to ensuring that its perpetrators are prosecuted and punished. This arrest is tangible evidence that this commitment is unwavering and that justice will be served, no matter how long it takes. will last, Brammertz said. At the end of the genocide in July 1994, Kayishema fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his wife, children and brother-in-law. After moving to other African countries, he moved to the Republic of South Africa in 1999 and applied for asylum in Cape Town under a false name. According to prosecutors, after arriving in South Africa, he relied on the close support of his network, which included former members of the Rwandan army. Photos of some of the dead are on display at an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. PHOTO: AP In recent years, the IRMCT prosecutor has complained about the lack of cooperation from the South African authorities, with Kayishema having come close to being caught several times. However, Brammertz on Thursday praised the cooperation and support of the South African government. In 1994, ethnic Hutu extremists killed an estimated 800,000 people in just 100 days in Rwanda. Their target was members of the Tutsi minority community and their political opponents, regardless of their ethnic origin. The court alleges that Kayishema was directly involved in the planning and execution of this massacre. The indictment states that he bought and distributed gasoline to set the church on fire while refugees were inside. Kayishema and others are also accused of bulldozing the church after the fire while the refugees were still inside. A former priest in the church Athanase Seromba was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the massacre in 2006, which was increased to life imprisonment on appeal. Kayishema is due to be arraigned in a Cape Town court on Friday. The US War Criminals Program has offered a reward of up to $5,000,000 for information on Kayishema and other fugitives wanted for the Rwandan genocide. To view content from social networks, enable social network cookies. Enable cookies Following Kayishemas arrest, the UN is still searching for three major suspects. In 2020, another fugitive was caught in a Paris suburb after more than 20 years on the run. Felicien Kabugaone of the worlds most wanted fugitives and an alleged ringleader in the genocide, has been arrested in a joint operation with French authorities. In the Rwandan genocide, Hutu militias and civilians killed large numbers of members of the Tutsi ethnic minority: men, women and children who were their neighbors before the conflict began. The massacres ended 100 days later when Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) troops under the Paul Kagame defeated the Hutu rebels and took control of the country. Rwanda Genocide: 100 Days of Deadly Massacre About 85 percent of Rwandans are Hutu, but the country has long been dominated by the Tutsi minority. In 1959, the Hutus overthrew the Tutsi monarchy and tens of thousands of Tutsis fled to neighboring countries, including Uganda. A group of Tutsi exiles formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which invaded Rwanda in 1990, and fighting continued until the conclusion of a peace agreement in 1993. On the night of April 6, 1994, the plane carrying the then- the president Juvenal Habyarimana and his colleague Cyprien Ntaryamira from Burundi both Hutus killing all on board. Hutu extremists blamed the RPF for this and immediately launched a well-organized campaign of killings. The RPF claimed that the plane was shot down by Hutus to provide an excuse for genocide. The latter was meticulously organized. Lists of opponents of the government were distributed among the militias, who then killed them along with their entire families. Neighbors killed neighbors, and some husbands even killed their Tutsi wives. At the time, ID cards listed peoples ethnic groups, so militias set up roadblocks where they killed Tutsis, often with machetes that most Rwandans kept at home. Thousands of Tutsi women were taken away and treated as sex slaves. Hutu extremists founded the RTLM radio station and newspapers that spread hate propaganda and called on people to remove cockroaches, so they are killing Tutsis. The names of prominent people who were to be killed were read over the radio. Even priests and nuns were convicted of killing people. In front of the Saint Jean Catholic Church stands a memorial to the 11,400 people killed during the 1994 genocide. PHOTO: Shutterstock The United Nations and Belgium had forces in Rwanda, but the UN mission was not given a mandate to stop the killing. A year after American soldiers were killed in Somalia, the United States was determined not to get involved in another African conflict. The Belgians and most of the UN peacekeepers withdrew after 10 Belgian soldiers were killed. The French, who were allies of the Hutu government, sent special forces to evacuate their citizens and later set up a supposed safe zone, but were accused of not doing enough to stop the killing in the area. The well-organized RPF, supported by the Ugandan army, gradually captured more territory until its forces marched into the capital, Kigali, on July 4, 1994. About two million Hutus civilians and some involved in the genocide fled across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo, then called Zaire, fearing reprisal attacks. Others went to neighboring Tanzania and Burundi. Human rights groups claim that RPF fighters killed thousands of Hutu civilians when they took power, and that even more were killed when they went to DR Congo to chase the rest. The RPF denies this. South Korea and the US military have begun large-scale drills near the border with North Korea, although Pyongyang has warned it will not allow drills to take place on its doorstep. The drills, the first of five to be held until mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of a military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has traditionally responded to such South Korean-American exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has test-fired more than 100 missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. They claim that these tests are a response to the expanded military exercises between the US and South Korea, but experts say that North Koreas goal is to accelerate the development of weapons. US-South Korean exercises called combined firepower destruction exercises, are the largest such exercises. According to the South Korean Ministry of Defense, the exercises have been held 11 times since the beginning in 1977. The exercises involved 2,500 troops and 610 weapon systems such as fighter jets, helicopter gunships, drones, tanks and artillery from South Korea and the United States, South Koreas defense ministry said. The last exercises in 2017 involved approximately 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons from both countries. The drills simulated artillery and air strikes on North Korean front-line military facilities in response to the attack. The troops later practiced precision-guided strikes on simulated targets in the rear to completely destroy North Koreas military threats, the ministry said in a statement. South Korea is working to establish peace to counter North Korean threats, they also stated. At the beginning of the year, the South Korean and US militaries conducted the largest exercises on the ground in the past five years. The US also sent the USS Nimitz nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers to joint exercises with South Korea. Moon Seong Mookan analyst at the Seoul-based Korea National Strategy Research Institute, said North Korea could use the South Korean-US drills as an excuse to continue its offensive activities. North Korea cant help but be worried about joint exercises between South Korea and the US, Moon said. READ MORE Kim Jong Uns sister on the senile Biden and his agreement with South Korea American president Joe Biden and the South Korean president Jun Suk Jeol At a meeting last month, the two announced new measures to strengthen their capabilities, such as regular moorings of US nuclear submarines in South Korea, enhanced joint exercises and the creation of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also starkly warned that any North Korean nuclear attack would be on the United States or its allies caused the end of any regimewhich will perform such an action. Kim Jo Jongthe influential sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Unsaid the agreement between Biden and Jun is revealing the most hostile and aggressive will of both countries to act against North Korea. She threatened to further strengthen her countrys nuclear doctrine, saying: The unrealized dreams of the US and South Korea will henceforth face a stronger power entity. Concerns about North Koreas nuclear program have grown since North Korea passed a law last year allowing for the preemptive use of nuclear weapons. However, many foreign experts say that North Korea does not yet have operational missiles with nuclear weapons. Photo: Pixabay The result of the tests is a powerful, experimental antibiotic abaucinwhich will have to be further tested before general use in medicine, reports the BBC. As is known, antibiotics destroy bacteria, but scientists have not developed new drugs for decades. Bacteria are therefore increasingly difficult to overcome, as they have become resistant to the antibiotics that medicine has at its disposal. According to experts, more than a million people die each year from infections with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic treatment. In this research, the researchers focused on one of the most problematic types of bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, which can infect wounds and cause pneumonia. It is one of the three superbugs designated by the World Health Organization (WHO). critical a threat. The bacterium is often resistant to multiple antibiotics and is a major problem in hospitals and nursing homes as it is persistent and can survive on surfaces and medical equipment. UI coming to the rescue? Researchers in Canada and the US say artificial intelligence can greatly speed up the development of new drugs. For the aforementioned research, they first had to train the artificial intelligence and teach it what chemicals/substances might be effective. So, thousands of drugs whose exact chemical structure is known were first manually tested on said bacteria to see which would slow or kill it. This data was then fed into an artificial intelligence program to learn the chemical characteristics of drugs that might attack the problematic bacteria. In the next phase, artificial intelligence examined 6,600 ingredients, the effectiveness of which is currently unknown to scientists. It only took the program an hour and a half to work its way through the list and the result was a shorter list of potential agents. The researchers then tested 240 chemicals from this list in the laboratory and discovered nine potential new antibiotics among them. One of them is incredibly powerful abaucinwhich lab experiments have shown to heal infected wounds in mice and kill the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii. Refinement and clinical trials follow The next step is to perfect the drug in the laboratory, followed by clinical trials. The first antibiotics developed with the help of artificial intelligence are expected to be available in 2030. Interestingly, the mentioned experimental antibiotic only worked against the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, but had no effect on other species. It is this precision of abaucin that could mean that resistance to it will be more difficult to develop, and there could also be fewer side effects of the treatment. Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who became the face of the Qatari corruption scandal, plans to return to the European Parliament next week after being released from house arrest and awaiting trial, her lawyer said. Eva Kaili PHOTO: AP Next week, Eva Kaili will be present in the European Parliament, where she will perform her duties, is for Greek TV Skai TV her lawyer said Mihalis Dimitrakopoulos. She will also ask the parliament to find out whether her rights as a member of the European Parliament were violated during the surveillance, arrest and detention, he added. On Thursday, prosecutors approved the removal of the electronic tracking device on the 44-year-old former journalists ankle and released her from house arrest pending trial. Kailivi denies all the accusations against her. READ MORE Corruption in the Kaili family: Evas sister is also said to be involved in suspicious transactions Eva Kaila, who became the face of the Qatari corruption scandal, was stripped of her position as vice-president of the European Parliament due to her involvement in the scandal, and was also expelled from her political group of socialists and democrats. The Qatari affair has been rocking Brussels since last December. The suspects allegedly received large sums of money from Qatar and Morocco to influence political statements and decisions in parliament in favor of both countries. The prosecution accuses them of corruption, money laundering and membership in a criminal group. READ MORE Kaili confessed? She allegedly ordered her father to hide the cash In addition to Kaili, a parliamentary assistant and her partner are also involved in the affair Francesco Giorgiformer MEP Antonio PanzeriMEP from Italy Andrea Cozzolinohead of the NGO No Peace Without Justice Niccolo Figo-Talamanca and a Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella. In connection with the Katargate affair, investigators conducted raids and searches at several addresses, including homes and offices in Belgium, Italy and Greece. They seized 1.5 million euros in cash, computers and mobile phones. READ MORE Kailis partner admitted that he was responsible for managing the cash Dimitrakopoulos said today that Panzeri was the main leader of the operation and that Eva Kailas fingerprints were not found on the money seized by police. I believe she will be acquitted if the case even comes to court, he added. Queen Elizabeth II. while arriving in San Diego in 1983. Photo: AP After the Queens death last September, the FBI released a collection of documents about her travels to the United States. The documents outline how the FBI, which helped ensure the monarchs security during her visits, dealt with threats from the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which opposed British rule in Northern Ireland. The document, summarized by the British BBC, shows that the assassination threat was revealed by a police officer who frequented an Irish pub in San Francisco. The officer alerted federal agents to a call from a man he met at the bar. He told him that he wanted revenge for his daughter, who was killed by a rubber bullet in Northern Ireland. The man made the threat about a month before Queen Elizabeth IIs visit. and her prince husband Philip in California. He is said to have attempted to harm Queen Elizabeth by throwing an object from the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia as it sailed below, or by attempting to kill Queen Elizabeth while she was visiting Yosemite National Park, it says in the document. In response to the threat, the Secret Service planned to close the crossings of the Golden Gate Bridge as the yacht approached. It is not clear what measures were taken at Yosemite Park, but the visit continued. The FBI has not released any details about the arrests. Several assassination attempts The queen, who died at the age of 96, was said to have been the target of other assassinations before. In 1970, suspected IRA sympathizers unsuccessfully attempted to derail her train west of Sydney, and in 1981, the IRA attempted to bomb her while visiting Shetland, off the north-east coast of Scotland. That same year, a mentally challenged teenager fired a shot at the Queens car during a visit to New Zealand. Another teenager fired six blank rounds in her direction during a parade in central London. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. The right commercial microwave for your food business optimizes efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction. By understanding the different types of microwaves, their features, and their functions and considering factors like maintenance, safety, and compliance, you can make an informed decision that best meets your businesss needs. Additionally, conducting thorough research and comparing brands, models, and prices will ensure a smart investment that provides long-term value and performance. Introduction A. Importance of commercial microwaves in the food industry Commercial microwaves have become a staple in the food industry due to their efficiency, versatility, and convenience. They allow quick heating and cooking, making them perfect for busy kitchens, catering services, and other food establishments. B. Different types of commercial microwaves Three main types of commercial microwaves are light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty. Each type is designed to cater to different usage levels and demands, making it important to choose the right one for your business. C. Benefits of using commercial microwaves Commercial microwaves offer numerous advantages, such as faster cooking times, energy efficiency, and reduced labor costs. They also help maintain food quality and safety, improving customer satisfaction. D. Key considerations when purchasing a commercial microwave Before purchasing a commercial microwave, consider factors like wattage, cooking modes, design, maintenance, safety features, and compliance with industry standards. E. Understanding the latest technological advancements Stay updated with the latest advancements in commercial microwave technology to ensure you invest in a device that can accommodate your businesss growing demands and deliver consistent results. The Top Commercial Microwaves Panasonic Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven Top Pick: The Panasonic Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven is a solid addition to any small business, office, hotel, or dorm room. With a heavy-duty commercial-grade build, this microwave is designed to handle high-volume usage and will provide fast and efficient heating results every time. Features: Bottom energy feed system for fast cooking results No-hassle grab & go handle for easy use Touch-control keypad with braille for easy operation Compact and space-saving design for easy placement on any countertop or table Programmable and manual operation with 10 programmable memory pads and 20-memory capability Pros: Heavy-duty commercial grade build for high-volume usage Fast cooking results with bottom energy feed system Easy to use with grab & go handle and touch-control keypad Space-saving design for easy placement Programmable and manual operation for added convenience Cons: May be too large for some smaller kitchens Not suitable for non-commercial use Higher wattage may lead to higher energy costs May be more expensive than other options The Panasonic Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven is a reliable and efficient option for any small business or high-volume usage situation. With a bottom energy feed system, grab & go handle, and touch-control keypad, this microwave offers convenience and ease of use. However, its larger size and higher wattage may not suit all kitchens, and its commercial-grade build may have a higher price tag. Panasonic Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven Runner Up: The Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven is a versatile and reliable option for any small business or commercial setting. It has a classic dial timer and spacious interior, this microwave is simple to operate and can accommodate a variety of food items. Features: Classic dial timer with LED indicators for easy monitoring 1.0 cu. ft. capacity for versatile use Auto-cancel timer to save energy and increase magnetron life Stainless steel exterior and interior for easy cleaning and a professional look Heating time guide for added convenience Pros: Simple to operate with classic dial timer Spacious interior can accommodate a variety of food items Energy-saving auto-cancel timer Easy to clean with stainless steel exterior and interior Heating time guide for added convenience Cons: Limited programmability compared to some other commercial microwaves May be too large for some smaller kitchens Higher wattage may lead to higher energy costs May be more expensive than other options The Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven is a reliable and convenient option for any small business or commercial setting. However, its limited programmability and larger size may not suit all kitchens, and its commercial-grade build may come with a higher price tag. Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven See Also: How to Get Listed on Food Truck Finders Buy on Amazon AmazonCommercial Microwave Oven Best Value: The Amazon Commercial Microwave Oven is a commercial-grade kitchen appliance with a stainless-steel construction for long-lasting strength and a professional appearance. Features: Choose from 5 power levels and 10 preset cook times to achieve the desired results Programmable multi-stage cooking with up to 100 custom programs USB function for easy uploading of custom programs Compact size with a 0.6-cubic-foot interior for a space-saving footprint Durable construction with stainless steel inside and out for long-lasting strength Touchscreen human interface input Removable filter for easy cleaning Pros: Multi-stage cooking allows for more precise cooking Compact size makes it ideal for smaller commercial kitchens Programmable feature allows for easy customization Durable construction ensures long-lasting use Simple care with easy cleaning Cons: The interior space may be too small for some larger dishes The touch screen interface may take some time to get used to The price point may be higher than other commercial microwaves on the market It may not have as many features as some higher-end models This AmazonCommercial Microwave Oven is a solid choice for restaurant kitchens or other commercial settings where efficiency and durability are key. AmazonCommercial Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Amana Commercial Heavy-Duty Microwave Oven The Amana Commercial HDC12A2 Heavy-Duty Microwave Oven is a high-performance commercial-grade kitchen appliance designed for busy food service establishments. With a 0.6 cubic feet capacity, this microwave oven is right for heating and cooking a variety of foods quickly and efficiently. Features: Made for commercial use with a durable stainless steel construction Easy to clean with a sealed ceramic interior shelf Spacious interior accommodates 6 deep, 1/2 size food pans or large take-out containers Full-color LED HD screen with programming software that supports 24 languages and smart USB connectivity 100 programmable menu items and four stage cooking option with one-touch programming Maximum cook time of 60 minutes Pros: Made for commercial use with a durable stainless steel construction Full-color LED HD screen and programming software support 24 languages Spacious interior accommodates a variety of food sizes and types Four stage cooking option with one-touch programming reduces prep time, labor, and food waste Maximum cook time of 60 minutes beats competitors models Cons: The price point may be higher than other commercial microwaves on the market Limited capacity may not be suitable for larger food service establishments Only 100 programmable menu items available May not have as many features as some higher-end models Overall, the Amana Commercial HDC12A2 Heavy-Duty Microwave Oven is a good choice for any commercial kitchen that requires a durable, high-performance microwave oven. With its spacious interior, versatile controls, and easy-to-clean design, this microwave oven is sure to meet the demands of any busy food service establishment. Amana Commercial Heavy-Duty Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Midea Equipment Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven The Midea Equipment 1034N1A Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven is a high-performance kitchen appliance designed for use in commercial settings. With a large capacity of 1.2 cubic feet and the ability to accommodate a 14 platter, this microwave oven works for cooking and heating food in restaurants, cafes, and other food service establishments. Features: Stainless steel cabinet and oven cavity for durability 1000 watts of cooking power distributed by a single magnetron with a bottom rotating antenna Five power levels and three cooking stages for versatility 60-minute maximum cooking time and 100 auto programs User-friendly touch control pads with braille navigation for easy operation EZ Grabn Go door handle for reliable use Pros: Large capacity can accommodate a 14 platter Durable construction with stainless steel cabinet and oven cavity User-friendly touch control pads with braille navigation are great for self-service locations and ADA compliant 100 auto programs provide easy customization Bottom rotating antenna ensures even cooking Cons: The price point may be higher than other commercial microwaves on the market The large size may not be suitable for smaller commercial kitchens Limited to a maximum cooking time of 60 minutes Only 5 power levels available Overall, the Midea Equipment 1034N1A Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven is a good choice for a commercial kitchen that requires a durable, high-performance microwave oven. With its large capacity, user-friendly touch control pads, and even cooking, this microwave oven is sure to meet the demands of any busy food service establishment. Midea Equipment Countertop Commercial Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Waring Commercial Medium Duty Microwave Oven The Waring Commercial Medium Duty Microwave Oven is well suited for food service operations looking for a reliable and durable microwave oven. With a .9 cubic foot capacity, this model (WMO90) has a heavy-duty stainless steel interior and exterior thats easy to clean and maintain. Features: Heavy-duty stainless steel interior and exterior for durability and easy cleaning Touch control panel for easy operation Programmable memory function for frequently used cooking times 3 stage cooking option and a defrost function Built-in timer for precise cooking times Pros: Heavy-duty stainless steel construction ensures the oven can withstand frequent use and is easy to clean Touch control panel is easy to use and allows for precise cooking times Programmable memory function saves time in busy foodservice operations 3 stage cooking option and defrost function provide versatility in cooking Built-in timer ensures precise cooking times and reduces the risk of overcooking Cons: .9 cubic foot capacity may be too small for some foodservice operations Limited features compared to higher-end models Price point may be higher than other commercial microwaves on the market No digital display for easy visibility of cooking times Overall, the Waring Commercial Medium Duty Microwave Oven is a reliable and durable choice for food service operations. With its heavy-duty stainless steel construction, touch control panel, and programmable memory function; this microwave oven meets the demands of any busy foodservice establishment. Waring Commercial Medium Duty Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Sharp RCD2200M TwinTouch Commercial Microwave Oven The Sharp RCD2200M TwinTouch Commercial Microwave Oven is capable for businesses with high-volume microwave needs. With 2,200 watts of power and a compact design, it can quickly cook various items while saving valuable counter space. The Twin-Touch dual controls make it easy for staff of any height, whether placed on a high or low shelf. Features: 2,200 watts of power Twin-Touch dual controls for improved accessibility Compact design takes up less space on countertop Larger interior capacity fits one 1/2-size pan in either direction or two 1/3-size pans Child lock and timer function available Pros: High wattage for quick cooking and high-volume needs Dual controls make it easy to use for staff of any height Compact design saves valuable counter space Larger interior capacity can accommodate various sizes of cookware Child lock and timer function for added safety and convenience Cons: Commercial grade may not be necessary for smaller businesses Relatively heavy at 78 pounds Voltage of 208 volts may require special electrical installation May not have as many features as other commercial microwaves The Sharp RCD2200M TwinTouch Commercial Microwave Oven has dual controls and a compact design, making it easy to use and save valuable counter space. Although it may not have as many features as other commercial microwaves, it is built for durability and easy maintenance, making it a cost-effective investment for commercial kitchens. Sharp R-CD2200M Commercial Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Panasonic Commercial Microwave Oven The Panasonic Commercial Microwave Oven has 1700 watts of power and 15 power levels. It can quickly and efficiently cook a wide range of items in its 0.6 cubic feet capacity and 16.63 wide design, making it a space-saving solution for commercial kitchens. Features: 1700 watts of power 0.6 cubic feet capacity and 16.63 wide design 90 programmable memory pads 15 power levels 3-stage cooking All stainless steel construction Child lock available Pros: High wattage for quick cooking and high-volume needs Space-saving design Programmable memory pads allow for up to 90 custom settings 3-stage cooking function for customized cooking All stainless steel construction for durability and easy cleaning Cons: Over-the-range installation may not be suitable for all kitchens Voltage of 240 volts may require special electrical installation Relatively heavy at 69.5 pounds May not have as many features as other commercial microwaves One of the standout features of this microwave is its programmable memory pads, which allow for up to 90 custom settings to be saved. The 3-stage cooking function adds versatility, allowing for customized cooking times and power levels. And its all-stainless steel construction makes it durable and easy to clean. Although its over-the-range installation and voltage requirements may not suit all kitchens, it is a cost-effective investment for commercial kitchens needing a heavy-duty microwave. Commercial Microwave Heavy Duty, High Wattage 1700 Watts Buy on Amazon Magic Chef Countertop Microwave Oven The Magic Chef MCM1611ST 1100W Oven has 1.6 cubic feet of capacity and 11 power levels. This microwave has six pre-programmed 1-touch cooking menus, allowing quick and easy cooking at the touch of a button. Its auto defrost modes by weight and time further adds to its convenience. Features: 1.6 cubic feet capacity and 1100 watts of power 11 power levels Stainless steel front and black cabinet 6 pre-programmed 1-touch cooking menus Auto defrost modes by weight and time Built-in child safety lock Included components: microwave, glass turntable, hub, roller guide, user manual Material type: 18-8 steel Pros: Stylish design with stainless steel front and black cabinet 6 pre-programmed 1-touch cooking menus for quick and easy cooking Auto defrost modes by weight and time for added convenience Built-in child safety lock for added safety Large capacity for handling a variety of foods Cons: Wattage of 1050 watts may be lower than some other countertop microwaves Manual special feature may not be as convenient as other options Recommended uses for product are limited to residential settings No sensor cooking options Although the wattage of the Magic Chef MCM1611ST oven may be lower than some other countertop microwaves, it is a cost-effective and reliable option. Magic Chef MCM1611ST 1100W Oven Buy on Amazon Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven Upgrade your commercial kitchen with the Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven. This stainless-steel microwave is designed to provide efficiency and durability for small businesses. The compact size and reliable performance make it an ideal choice for busy kitchens. Features: Stainless steel exterior, interior, and door Touch controls with 20 memory settings (10 pre-programmed) Express defrost for quick and easy defrosting 1000 watts of power, suitable for medium-duty commercial use Dimensions: 20.5W x 12.17H x 18.03D Pros: Durable stainless steel construction Easy-to-use touch controls 20 memory settings for customized cooking Compact size, perfect for small kitchens Efficient 1000-watt power output Cons: Not suitable for heavy-duty commercial use Limited to 1.0 cu ft capacity Requires 120V power source 60 cord length may be short for some setups The Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven is a dependable, space-saving solution with stainless-steel construction and touch controls that ensure durability. With 20 memory settings, programmable features, and 1000 watts of power, it is suited for medium-duty commercial applications. Sharp Medium-Duty Commercial Microwave Oven Buy on Amazon Types of Commercial Microwaves A. Light-duty commercial microwaves 1. Best for low-volume usage Light-duty commercial microwaves are ideal for small food establishments with low-volume usage, such as coffee shops and convenience stores. 2. Common applications These microwaves are suitable for reheating and defrosting small portions of food, such as sandwiches and pastries. 3. Typical wattage and size Light-duty microwaves typically have a wattage between 1000 and 1200 watts and smaller interior capacities. 4. Pros and cons Pros: affordable, compact design, and energy-efficient. Cons: limited cooking options, not suitable for high-volume usage. 5. Top light-duty commercial microwave brands Sharp, Amana, and Panasonic are popular light-duty commercial microwave brands. Medium-duty commercial microwaves 1. Best for moderate-volume usage Medium-duty commercial microwaves are suitable for businesses with moderate-volume usage, like small restaurants and catering services. 2. Common applications They handle tasks like reheating, defrosting, and cooking moderately-sized portions of food. 3. Typical wattage and size Medium-duty microwaves have a wattage range of 1200 to 1800 watts and a medium-sized interior capacity. 4. Pros and cons Pros: more power and cooking options, durable construction. Cons: higher price, larger footprint. 5. Top medium-duty commercial microwave brands Popular medium-duty commercial microwave brands include TurboChef, Amana, and Midea. Heavy-duty commercial microwaves 1. Best for high-volume usage Heavy-duty commercial microwaves are designed for businesses with high-volume usage, like large restaurants and institutional kitchens. 2. Common applications These microwaves can handle tasks like cooking, reheating, and defrosting large portions of food quickly and efficiently. 3. Typical wattage and size Heavy-duty microwaves typically offer wattage above 1800 watts and a large interior capacity. 4. Pros and cons Pros: powerful, high-speed cooking, durable construction, and advanced features. Cons: higher price, increased energy consumption, and larger footprint. 5. Top heavy-duty commercial microwave brands Well-known heavy-duty commercial microwave brands include Merrychef, Amana, and Panasonic. Features and Functions of Commercial Microwaves Wattage and cooking power 1. Importance of wattage Wattage determines the cooking power of a commercial microwave, impacting cooking speed and efficiency. Higher wattage microwaves can cook food faster and more evenly. 2. Cooking power differences Light-duty microwaves have lower wattage, suitable for simple tasks, while heavy-duty microwaves have higher wattage for faster and more consistent cooking. 3. Matching wattage to your needs Choose a microwave with the appropriate wattage based on your businesss volume and cooking needs, ensuring optimal performance and energy efficiency. 4. Energy efficiency Microwaves with higher wattage consume more energy, but they cook faster, potentially offsetting energy consumption. Look for Energy Star-rated appliances for improved efficiency. 5. Comparing wattage between brands Compare wattage and cooking power between different microwave brands and models to find the best option for your business. Cooking modes and settings 1. Preset cooking programs Preset cooking programs allow for consistent results by automatically adjusting time and power settings based on specific food items. 2. Multi-stage cooking Multi-stage cooking enables the microwave to change power levels during the cooking process, ideal for dishes requiring different cooking methods. 3. Defrost settings Defrost settings allow for even and safe thawing of frozen food items without cooking them. 4. Express cooking options Express cooking options enable quick heating or cooking by pressing a single button, reducing cooking time for busy kitchens. 5. Customizable settings Customizable settings allow users to create and save their preferred cooking programs, ensuring consistent results across various dishes. Design and capacity 1. Size and space considerations Choose a microwave with a suitable size and footprint to fit your kitchens available space without compromising cooking capacity. 2. Door styles Commercial microwaves come with different door styles, like pull-down or push-button doors, designed to accommodate varying kitchen layouts and user preferences. 3. Cavity size and construction Select a microwave with a cavity size that can accommodate your most common dishes and is made of durable, easy-to-clean materials like stainless steel. 4. Stackability Some commercial microwaves can be stacked to save counter space, a valuable feature for small kitchens or businesses with multiple microwaves. 5. Turntable or fixed shelf options Choose between a turntable, which rotates food for even cooking, or a fixed shelf, which can hold multiple dishes simultaneously, based on your cooking needs. Maintenance and Cleaning Cleaning best practices 1. Daily cleaning routines Clean the microwaves interior and exterior surfaces daily to remove food particles and prevent odors. 2. Deep cleaning frequency Perform deep cleaning periodically to remove stubborn stains and built-up residue, ensuring optimal performance and hygiene. 3. Cleaning materials to use Use non-abrasive cleaning agents and soft cloths to prevent damage to the microwaves surfaces. 4. Areas that need special attention Pay special attention to the door seals, hinges, and control panel during cleaning to ensure proper functioning and prevent damage. 5. Preventing odors and bacteria buildup Regular cleaning and proper ventilation help prevent odors and bacteria buildup, maintaining a safe and healthy kitchen environment. Maintenance tips 1. Regular inspection of components Inspect components like the door seal, hinges, and control panel regularly for signs of wear or damage, addressing issues promptly. 2. Addressing common issues Consult the user manual or contact a professional for guidance on troubleshooting and resolving common issues like uneven cooking, faulty door seals, or malfunctioning control panels. 3. When to call a professional Call a professional for repairs or maintenance if you encounter issues beyond your expertise or if the microwave is under warranty to avoid voiding it. 4. Warranty information Understand the terms and conditions of your microwaves warranty, including coverage duration and included services, to ensure proper support when needed. 5. Maximizing the lifespan of your commercial microwave Regular cleaning, maintenance, and prompt resolution of issues can help extend the lifespan of your commercial microwave, providing long-term value for your investment. Safety and Compliance Safety features 1. Interlock systems Interlock systems prevent the microwave from operating when the door is open, reducing the risk of accidents and radiation exposure. 2. Cool-touch exteriors Cool-touch exteriors help prevent burns by ensuring the microwaves exterior remains safe to touch even during operation. 3. Auto shutoff Auto shutoff features automatically turn off the microwave when the cooking cycle is complete or if an issue is detected, enhancing safety and energy efficiency. 4. Safety guidelines for users Follow manufacturer guidelines and industry best practices when using a commercial microwave to ensure safe and efficient operation. 5. Proper placement and installation Install and position your commercial microwave according to the manufacturers instructions and local regulations, ensuring proper ventilation and accessibility. Compliance and certifications 1. NSF certification NSF certification ensures the microwave meets sanitation and food safety standards, making it suitable for use in commercial food establishments. 2. UL listing UL listing verifies that the microwave has been tested for safety and meets industry requirements. 3. Energy Star rating Energy Star-rated microwaves are more energy-efficient, helping reduce operating costs and environmental impact. 4. ADA compliance ADA-compliant microwaves accommodate users with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in your business. 5. Local regulations and guidelines Comply with local regulations and guidelines regarding microwave usage, installation, and maintenance to ensure a safe and legally compliant operation. Purchasing Considerations Budget and cost factors 1. Purchase price range Commercial microwaves vary in price based on factors like wattage, features, and brand. Determine your budget and prioritize features most important to your business. 2. Energy efficiency and operating costs Consider the microwaves energy efficiency and its impact on operating costs, weighing short-term savings against long-term expenses. 3. Maintenance and repair expenses Factor in maintenance and repair costs when selecting a microwave, including the availability of replacement parts and professional services. 4. Warranty and service plans Evaluate the warranty and service plans offered by the manufacturer, ensuring comprehensive coverage and support for your investment. 5. Assessing long-term value Consider the microwaves durability, performance, and long-term value when making a purchase decision, not just its initial cost. Selecting the right brand and model 1. Reputation and reviews Research the reputation and reviews of different microwave brands and models to gain insights into their performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction. 2. Comparing features and functions Compare the features and functions of various microwaves, weighing their relevance and usefulness for your businesss specific needs. 3. Availability of replacement parts Ensure replacement parts are readily available for your chosen microwave, facilitating easier maintenance and repairs. 4. After-sales support Choose a brand with strong after-sales support, including customer service, technical assistance, and warranty services. 5. Return policy and guarantees Understand the return policy and any guarantees offered by the seller or manufacturer, ensuring a smooth purchasing experience and support in case of any issues or dissatisfaction. Where to buy commercial microwaves 1. Online retailers Online retailers like Amazon, WebstaurantStore, and KaTom offer a wide selection of commercial microwaves, allowing for easy comparison of features, prices, and customer reviews. 2. Local appliance stores Local appliance stores and showrooms give you the opportunity to view and compare microwaves in person, allowing for a better assessment of size, design, and build quality. 3. Authorized dealers Purchasing from authorized dealers ensures that you receive genuine products with valid warranties and support from the manufacturer. 4. Industry-specific suppliers Industry-specific suppliers cater to the unique needs of food service businesses and may offer specialized products, services, and support. 5. Manufacturer websites Some microwave manufacturers sell their products directly through their websites, providing detailed product information, support, and the latest promotions. FAQs How do I choose the right commercial microwave for my business? Consider factors like wattage, cooking capacity, size, features, and budget when selecting a commercial microwave. Assess your businesss specific needs and prioritize features accordingly. Research brands and models to ensure a reliable, high-performing appliance. What are the differences between light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty commercial microwaves? Light-duty microwaves have lower wattage and are best for low-volume usage. Medium-duty microwaves have higher wattage and are suitable for moderate-volume usage. Heavy-duty microwaves offer the highest wattage and are designed for high-volume usage. Choose based on your businesss volume and cooking requirements. How can I improve the energy efficiency of my commercial microwave? Look for Energy Star-rated microwaves and choose a model with appropriate wattage for your needs. Utilize energy-saving features like auto shutoff and efficient cooking modes, and follow proper maintenance routines to ensure optimal performance. Are there any specific safety guidelines I need to follow when using a commercial microwave? Follow manufacturer guidelines and industry best practices for safe microwave usage. Ensure proper installation, ventilation, and accessibility. Train employees on safe operation and maintenance procedures. How often should I clean and maintain my commercial microwave? Clean your microwaves interior and exterior daily, and perform deep cleaning periodically to remove stubborn stains and residue. Regularly inspect components for signs of wear or damage and address issues promptly. Consult the user manual or a professional for maintenance and repair guidance. What certifications should I look for when purchasing a commercial microwave? Look for certifications like NSF (sanitation and food safety), UL listing (safety), Energy Star (energy efficiency), and ADA compliance (accessibility) to ensure your microwave meets industry standards and guidelines. How do I troubleshoot common issues with my commercial microwave? Consult the user manual or contact a professional for guidance on resolving common issues like uneven cooking, faulty door seals, or malfunctioning control panels. Regular maintenance and prompt resolution of problems can help prevent more serious issues and extend the microwaves lifespan. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Keeping employees engaged is in the best interest of every small business owner. But often, thats easier said than done. Figuring out what employees want is vital to keeping them happy. Lets look at some fascinating employment engagement statistics that can help you improve employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The Importance of Employee Engagement It pays to ensure your employees are happy and engaged. Otherwise, you risk the loss of revenue, poor productivity, and bad customer reviews. It can also mean you lose your talent to competition, which is especially hard in the current business climate. When motivated, employees go the extra mile for your business and help you gain more customers. At a time when employee attrition is on the rise, it is particularly important for you to focus on boosting employee engagement. Here are some employee engagement statistics that prove how a lack of engagement leads to a decline in performance. The Connection Between Engagement and Performance Recognizing the efforts of your employees goes a long way in boosting their morale and productivity. And there are some simple things you can try to show them you value their contributions. A note of appreciation and a thoughtful gesture can help you boost employee engagement. According to a recent study, businesses with highly engaged employees were more profitable. Its not difficult to understand why. When employees are happy, they go out of their way to contribute towards company growth. Data shows engaged employees outperform their colleagues. So from a profitability perspective, it makes sense to keep employees engaged. Employee Retention and Turnover Rates Most employees today want a job that excites them and aligns with their expectations and values. An absence of both means employees feel like they are working in a boring company. Most employees would quit their boring jobs and find something more meaningful and fulfilling. When it comes to their job, money is not the biggest reason to look out for another opportunity. Most employees will happily stay in a company with a positive work culture. For millennials and Gen Zs in particular, other factors play a much bigger role. This is a great insight for small businesses that do not have the budget to retain engaged employees. By focusing on other relevant aspects, they can boost employee engagement. And thats crucial in the current market landscape, where employees quickly leave jobs when they are unhappy. Training and onboarding new employees is challenging for small businesses. Thats why its way more profitable to minimize employee turnover. The average cost of losing an employee is thousands of dollars. This doesnt even cover the time to find the suitable replacement. Employee Engagement Statistics: Measuring Engagement Levels So, whats influencing employee engagement? Theres not just one factor. Employees weigh all aspects of working in a company. Whats the company culture? Whats their role in the company? Who are their co-workers? These are all important factors for employees. Lack of engagement at work is influencing people to start looking outside. The engagement statistics clearly show that productive employees feeling demoralized at work do not want to wait in the wings for things to fall into place. They would rather find another job. Engaged, Disengaged, and Actively Disengaged Employees Shockingly enough, employee disengagement is a prevalent theme across industries. 85% of disengaged employees are either unengaged or actively disengaged. Companies are not looking at employee engagement statistics and creating a solid strategy to boost employee morale. Not surprisingly, therefore, companies are losing a lot of money every year. Demotivated or unengaged employees often stay under the radar and if their concerns are not addressed, they tend to take part in quiet quitting. Actively disengaged employees are bad news for any organization. Such employees are disloyal and disgruntled because most their expectations are not met. In recent years, the number of actively disengaged employees has risen sharply. When companies monitor employee engagement, looking for such employees and finding ways to address their concerns is essential. Factors Influencing Employee Engagement For most millennial and young employees, good company culture is essential. They look for positive aspects of a healthy work environment thats good for their mental well-being. A growing number of employees today understand the importance of drawing a line between their job and personal life. So options such as work from home and flexible work hours have come to be expected from employers. For many employees, not finding a clear career path is a challenge. This is particularly true for those working in flat organizations. Engaged employees know where their careers are headed in the same organization. And thats a key factor that keeps them motivated. As an employer, you should consider creating more opportunities for growth to retain talent. See Also: The Single Best Employee Benefit Your Small Business Can Offer Best Practices for Fostering Highly Engaged Employees Creating a solid company culture that focuses on employee engagement as part of its business strategy is not as difficult as it may sound. A growing number of businesses are devising new policies that can improve employee satisfaction. Lets look at some of the best practices to boost employee engagement rates. Effective Communication and Collaboration Collaboration and teamwork play a crucial part in creating the right company culture. An absence of collaborative teamwork can lead to employees feeling disengaged from the rest of the company. When employees dont get the information they need or find it difficult to voice their opinions, they start losing confidence in the company. Lack of communication between employees and their bosses is another aspect that needs to be addressed. When managers communicate openly, it makes things easier for the employees. Interestingly employee engagement statistics show effective communication is not only great for lifting an employees performance, but also in improving the overall teams productivity. Thats because when a team communicates often and clearly, it achieves faster results and gains solutions to problems. Employee Recognition and Feedback Every employee wants to feel valued. So recognizing and appreciating their work is crucial to building employee morale. Recognition can take many different forms. For example, you may assign more important tasks to the employees who continuously outperform to prove their competence. Creating a truly open work environment necessitates clear communication. And that involves breaking down silos and answering questions. The whole idea is to make the employees feel comfortable when they have questions for the higher ups. Challenges in Boosting Employee Engagement Of course, boosting employee engagement is no walk in the park, especially in post-pandemic work where everyone prefers flexible work opportunities. On top of that, businesses today must adapt themselves to meet the expectations of a diverse workforce that has different set of priorities. Lets explore in more detail. Generational Differences in Employee Engagement Sticking to a bad job just because its new doesnt resonate with most millennial employees. They would rather quit and find another job that meets their expectations. The key to engaging these young employees is creating an open and happy workplace that focuses on mental wellbeing. To attract Gen Z employees, creating an informal workplace where things are more easygoing is important. Doing away with strict rules about collaboration, for example, can be a great idea. Contrast this with millennials and Gen Z employees who see flexible work hours as the most efficient way to boost productivity. For an organization focused on employee retention, its not always easy to find the middle ground that works for everyone. If engagement statistics are to go by, organizations need to listen to every employee and create a more holistic work environment that meets everyones expectations. Remote Work and Employee Engagement This is especially true when you have team meetings and connectivity is not that great. Moreover, in large meetings many employees may not feel comfortable sharing their opinions. Reaching out to such employees and ensuring they feel comfortable is important. From managers perspective, remote work has made monitoring employees and their engagement at work more challenging. Another challenge of managing remote workers is networking and gaining visibility in the organization. This is becoming even more challenging as companies start adopting the hybrid model. Remote employees who are never in office will find it difficult to gain visibility, which may impact their ability to find future job opportunities in the organization. The Future of Employee Engagement With the world rapidly evolving, employee engagement too is going through its own share of changes. And thats a good thing. Businesses and employees cannot expect processes and company cultures to stay the same when employees and their realities are shifting. Lets look at some of the potential trends that will have an impact on employee engagement in the future. Emerging Employee Engagement Trends With the majority of employees being positive about wellness programs in their companies, more employees are likely to introduce these programs to encourage work life balance. For most employees today, flexibility equals work life balance. It is in fact, one of the key factors that determines where they work. So, more companies will have to find a way to provide flexibility to their employees. During the pandemic, employees and businesses saw that working remotely is not a crazy idea to maintain productivity. Given that the cost of living is continuing to rise, more employees would want to work remotely to manage expenses. Cloud technology had already made it possible to work remotely from anywhere in the world. Since remote work seems like its here to stay, cloud adoption will only increase. This is useful for human resources professionals, in particular, as they continue to support a number of remote employees. The Role of Innovation in Employee Engagement Considering professional growth is a key priority for employees, a number of online tools and innovative platforms have emerged in the market. Take e-learning for example. Many companies are getting employees enrolled in programs that can help them progress in their careers. Through these innovative tools, businesses will continue improving employee engagement. Many businesses are offering work from home packages to employees to help them work smoothly. Some are also reimbursing workers for internet so they can work easily from their own homes. FAQ: Employee Engagement Statistics Why is employee engagement important for businesses? According to stats, employee engagement boosts productivity by 14%, customer ratings by 10% and sales by 18%. At a time when businesses are trying to recover from the pandemic, losing valuable employees is not an option. This is particularly true because replacing them takes a lot of time and costs money. What factors influence employee engagement levels? Some of the key factors that influence employee engagement levels include job satisfaction level, company culture, work environment and career development opportunities. Data suggests 37% of employees prioritize recognition as a key factor determining their engagement level. What are the best practices for fostering highly engaged employees? To increase the number of engaged employees, employers must first review their corporate culture. A key factor behind employee disengagement is the feeling of not being heard. In highly engaged business units, transparency, open discussions and collaboration are greatly valued. What challenges do organizations face in boosting employee engagement? Typically, organizations find it difficult to balance their act while catering to the expectations of various employees at different levels and age groups. For example, what works for a millennial may not work too well for a Gen X employee. Another challenge is the rapidly changing work environment. To improve employee retention, organizations must adapt. What is the future of employee engagement and its potential impact on the workplace? In the future, employee engagement will continue to focus on maintaining work life balance. Thanks to new technology, working remotely will become even more easier. But this will also present some new challenges as you work toward building a successful small business team. The question is are companies truly ready to embrace the flexible work model? In many cases, this is pretty straightforward. In other industries, this may require a mindset shift. A city in Missouri passed a resolution to provide a sanctuary for gender-affirming care, and a trans oral history project began in Washington, D.C. City Passes Resolution To Become A Sanctuary For Gender-Affirming Care According to the Associated Press, Kansas City approved a resolution on May 10 to proclaim it a sanctuary for those receiving or providing gender-affirming care. This move is in contrast with the state government, after Missouris Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced a rule last month requiring 18 months of therapy before receiving gender-affirming care. The resolution states that the city will not take legal action against anyone receiving or providing gender-affirming care. It also states that if the state passes a law asking for legal action, the city will make enforcing that law their lowest priority. This resolution is an entrance into a conversation and shows a commitment where trans peoples presence in Kansas City is valued, said Merrique Jenson, a transgender woman and founder of Transformations KC. It would minimize the legal violence toward trans people in accessing gender-affirming care. Transgender Oral History Project Begins Courtesy photo. According to the Washington Blade, Cooper Joslin, who is nonbinary, is starting a D.C. Transgender Oral History project. Joslin told the Washington Blade that their project is supported by a grant from Humanities D.C and will be in association with the D.C. Oral History Collaborative. These interviews will eventually end up with the D.C. Public Library, but they will also be featured on a website called the DC Trans Guide, which will feature both oral histories and resources on changing your name, accessing gender affirming care, and finding support groups in the area, Joslin said in a statement. A top court in Namibia recognizes same-sex marriages formed elsewhere, and trans people will appeal to a court ruling against a law that protects them in Pakistan. Top Court Recognizes Same-sex Marriages Formed Elsewhere Although same-sex marriage is illegal in Namibia, the countrys Supreme Court ruled that the government must recognize the unions of same-sex couples who get married in countries where it was legal to do so. The case that ended in this ruling originated from residency applications of a German woman who married a Namibian woman in Germany and of a South African man who married a Namibian man in South Africa. The Namibian government refused to give the non-Namibian spouses residency rights in the country on the grounds that their marriages could not be recognized in Namibia. This prompted the couples to take legal action. "Today's verdict and outcome clearly indicates that Namibia is moving towards recognizing diversity in this country irrespective of people's political or social positioning," said gay rights activist Linda Baumann. The ruling was met with mixed reactions since the country is considered socially conservative. Trans Activists to Appeal Court Ruling Against Law That Protects Them SFGN file photo. The Federal Shariat Court in Pakistan struck down several provisions of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, terming them un-Islamic. The act, passed in 2018, is meant to secure the fundamental rights of transgender Pakistanis, ensure access to legal gender recognition, and more. But now, its in jeopardy. Transgender activists in Pakistan plan to appeal to the highest court in the land leading to protests in the southern port city of Karachi. We absolutely intend to appeal the courts findings to the Supreme Court, and we will prevail, said Nayyab Ali, the executive director of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan. According to the regional governor, a medical clinic in Dnipro, Ukraine, was hit by a missile, resulting in the death of two individuals and injuries to 23 others. Out of the 23 people who were hurt, 21 are currently admitted to the hospital, and three are in a critical state. The governor, Serhiy Lysak, mentioned that two young boys, aged three and six, were also among those who were injured. The attacks by Russia on Ukraine have become more frequent in the past few weeks as Ukraine is preparing for a counterattack. The president of Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky, shared a video of a damaged clinic on social media, which displayed firefighters trying to control the fire and smoke emerging from the building, as reported by BBC. He stated that the Russian terrorists have once again shown that they are opposing anything that is ethical and truthful. Previously, Mr. Lysak had mentioned that the region was subjected to an immense attack with missiles and drones on Thursday night, resulting in a challenging and noisy night, and Dnipro has been affected. The Ukrainian government reported that they successfully intercepted and destroyed 17 missiles and 31 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) that were fired from Russia during the night. Some of the drones and missiles hit specific locations in Dnipro and Kharkiv, including an oil storage facility. Drone Attacks Officials reported that the city of Kyiv, which is the capital of Ukraine, was also attacked by drones. They stated that parts of the drones that were intercepted fell on the roof of a shopping center and that home and multiple vehicles were harmed as well. On Friday morning, a residential and office building in the southern city of Krasnodar, Russia, was damaged by an explosion. The governor of the region, Veniamin Kondratyev, has claimed that the damage was caused by two drones from Ukraine. Thankfully, there were no casualties, and critical infrastructure remained intact. Although there was damage to some buildings, it was not severe. Read also: Russia-Ukraine War: Death Toll of Dnipro Missile Strike, Revealed Ukraine's Response The recent attacks from Russian terrorists on Ukraine have caused widespread destruction and chaos in the affected regions. The Ukrainian government has reported that they are taking all necessary measures to defend their country against these malicious acts of aggression. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons / Amaury Laporte) Protests Against War in Ukraine 097 - Love Not War - Help Ukraine In response to the missile and drone attacks, Ukrainian authorities have heightened security measures across major cities and strategic locations throughout the country. They have also called for international support to condemn Russia's actions and provide assistance where needed. Citizens of Ukraine are understandably concerned about their safety as tensions continue to rise between Russia and its neighboring countries. Many fear that this is just the beginning of a larger conflict that could escalate into something much more dangerous if left unchecked. Despite all this, Ukrainians remain steadfast in their determination to protect their homeland from foreign aggressors. They know firsthand what it means to fight for independence, having already endured years of conflict with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014. As such, there is no doubt that they will do whatever it takes - even at great personal cost -to safeguard themselves against any further threats or incursions by hostile forces determined to destabilize or annex parts of Ukraine through military force or covert operations like cyberattacks aimed at compromising critical infrastructure systems such as power grids, etc., which can cause significant disruption not only within but beyond borders too! Related article: Russia Reports 2 Commanders Dead in Eastern Ukraine Combat @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Some have been forced to return to Ukraine. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Ukrainian refugees living in Slovakia because their country is at war are being forced to return to Ukraine in order to obtain safe abortions. Many of them also face difficulty accessing reproductive health products via the public health care system. Among the Ukrainian refugees are many who have survived sexual assault and rape by Russian soldiers, attacks that threatened their lives. Despite this, Ukrainians have to face intimidation, racism, and language and financial barriers to health care, news website Euractiv reports, citing a new study by the Center for Reproductive Rights that examines the situation in Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. A group of women with a great trauma came to us," said Zuzana Juranekova of IPcko, an organisation that helps people with mental health issues, and which operates mental health-care refuges. "A lot of them were sexually assaulted by Russian soldiers that threatened them with death. They needed somebody to help them with their trauma, but the [public health] system's response was to send them back to their temporary housing. Slovakia lacks the option of an abortion pill and women seeking an abortion are, in most circumstances, required to wait 48 hours before being granted the procedure. Doctors, and sometimes entire hospitals, can use their right to conscientious objection i.e. to refuse to perform abortions on moral grounds something that Ukrainian refugees are not used to. The study found that hospitals offer reproductive health care in a limited way. The European Union has published guidelines on care for Ukrainian refugees, but member states interpret these in their own way. Financial stress also negatively affects Ukrainian refugees, many of whom struggle to afford menstrual health products. Sanitary products [provided by charities] ... went like hot cakes, said Juranekova. LGBT+ Ukrainian refugees also face obstacles obtaining safe and accessible healthcare in Slovakia, said Robert Furiel of Saplinq, a LGBT+ activist organisation: Were telling transgender people to not stay in Slovakia, but instead to travel to Prague. Encouragement for President Zuzana Caputova in her stand against Robert Fico, swans threatened by poppy addiction, Old City Days in Zilina. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good afternoon. Here is the Friday, May 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Refugees forced to make long journeys to obtain abortions Ukrainian refugees seeking abortions in Slovakia are facing multiple obstacles, reproductive health-care charities report. Most are unfamiliar with the right to conscientious objection that allows Slovak doctors and sometime entire hospitals to refuse to perform abortions. As a result, some are being forced to travel back to Ukraine, a war zone, to get care. Many of the refugees in question are already victims of sexual assault by Russian soldiers. Refugees in general also commonly struggle to afford reproductive health and sanitary products. When it comes to health care for LGBT+ Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia, activists are simply advising them to leave the country and head west. Ukrainian refugees are often unfamiliar with the rules affecting abortion in Slovak health care. (Illustrative photo). (Source: Jan Kroslak, SME) More from The Slovak Spectator website Nature : Scores of swans that have become hooked on poppy sprouts in southern Slovakia are at risk of dying. : Scores of swans that have become hooked on poppy sprouts in southern Slovakia are at risk of dying. Bratislava : A Depeche Mode concert, a street food festival and an event for collectors days are just a few of the highlights of our Top 10 tips for foreigners in Bratislava. : A Depeche Mode concert, a street food festival and an event for collectors days are just a few of the highlights of our Top 10 tips for foreigners in Bratislava. Weekend: The work of famous Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha is now ready for visitors in Piestany. Heres what to do during the weekend. 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. Event for today The Zilina Old City Days are here Until Sunday, May 27, visitors and residents in Zilina will be able to enjoy a thrilling and colourful programme during the Old City Days. You can look forward to concerts from current Slovak artists, a chamber concert, orchestral music, and more. The Old City Days are centred on Namestie Andreja Hlinku and Marianske Namestie in Zilina, which is in northern Slovakia. Today's events start at 14:00 on Namestie Andreja Hlinku, wrapping up with concerts at 22:00. On Marianske Namestie, the programme starts at 16:00 with the State Chamber Orchestra of Zilina wrapping up at around 21:00 with another concert. The programme on Sunday, May 27 starts at 14:00 on Marianske Namestie, with an ecumenical prayer and wraps up with a performance by the Jan Valjean Orchestra at 21:00. We're going to need a bigger door: The key to Zilina's town gates. (Source: Daniel Stehlik, TASR) In other news On balance, people support President Zuzana Caputova in her legal steps against opposition leader Robert Fico (Smer) , a new poll suggests. Fico has recently intensified his years-long campaign of vilification against Caputova, calling her an American agent. The Ipsos polling agency conducted a survey for the Dennik N daily showing that 49 percent of people support her in her decision, while 29 percent disagree. (Dennik N) , a new poll suggests. Fico has recently intensified his years-long campaign of vilification against Caputova, calling her an American agent. The Ipsos polling agency conducted a survey for the Dennik N daily showing that 49 percent of people support her in her decision, while 29 percent disagree. (Dennik N) The allowance for Ukrainian people might change . Prime Minister Ludovit Odor wants to support working Ukrainians and single mothers, but he and his cabinet say the current short-term allowance solutions are non-motivating for Ukrainians. Slovak citizens who house Ukrainian refugees will continue to receive an allowance until the end of the year. (TASR) . Prime Minister Ludovit Odor wants to support working Ukrainians and single mothers, but he and his cabinet say the current short-term allowance solutions are non-motivating for Ukrainians. Slovak citizens who house Ukrainian refugees will continue to receive an allowance until the end of the year. (TASR) The government has withdrawn a proposal for life partnerships for LGBT+ people . The cabinet thinks the proposal is not adequate. The original suggestion on fiduciary statements would have changed inheritance management, health-care rights and rules on the protection of minors. (TASR) . The cabinet thinks the proposal is not adequate. The original suggestion on fiduciary statements would have changed inheritance management, health-care rights and rules on the protection of minors. (TASR) NOVA and OLaNO will join forces in the upcoming general election. NOVA leader Gabor Grendel said that the two parties have a shared focus on tackling corruption. (SME) Rastislav Ocenas, a maths, informatics and Slovak-language teacher, has been named as Slovakia's Teacher of the Year. (Source: Pavel Neubauer, TASR) Weather forecast The weather will be superb this weekend: sunny and warm on both Saturday and Saturday, with temperatures of 23-24C. There may be some rain on Monday in western Slovakia, with temperatures of around 22C. (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). Its a reciprocal love, New York and Denmark. Chic Americanslike the many who scrape together the money to live a New York lifestyletend to appreciate, even yearn for, the modern, clean style and soft tones of Danish design. Its a soothing counterbalance to the rat-strewn streets of our crowded boroughs. And yetfor whatever reasonthe Danes love us back. When Danish roaster La Cabra opened calmly on 2nd Avenue in 2021, it was only a matter of time before founder Esben Piper would fall in long-term love with the city (and, well, with a New York girlfriend) and move here himself. Besides its Danish roots (in Aarhus and Copenhagen), La Cabra boasts two locations in Bangkok, and this weekend opens its second NYC location in Soho. It would no longer be fair to call the NYC cafes outposts, howeverthe company will begin roasting in Bushwick, Brooklyn later this year, making a North American headquarters the new reality for La Cabra. The new space in a 100-year-old historic Soho building (boasting $5,000,000+ apartments above) aims for beautiful, comfortable exploration of design La Cabra fans are familiar with, but with a greater focus on rare and interesting coffees and lots, says Piper. The thoughtful curation of both the environment and the intended experience within go hand in hand. For me, its just when you walk into like a space that is well designed and put together, Im always lookingnot like consciouslybut I want there to be a few not necessarily mistakes, but I want there to be something that is not perfect, some things that just feel more organic and feel less designed so you can explore the space a little bit more calmly, explains Piper. Its the same thing with our coffee program. We dont want to lay out everything. We want our guests to feel they can explore themselves and get an idea of it, see what they feel when they enter that layout: they should explore the experience themselves and feel free to do so. Coffees guests will be able to explore at the stores opening this spring include filter coffee at a range of price points, espresso flights and a variety of teas from Inari Tea. Piper says that a program of focused tastings will be developed to highlight certain producing partners, along with special pastries, will be part of the cafes experience. Ive been inspired by some of our trips to Japan and Korea, whose thoughtful coffee service Piper cites as inspiration. I think theyre a bit ahead of us. The shop will naturally offer select pastriesincluding seasonal offers alongside cardamom buns and the cafes cult sourdough, which are for the time being still baked at their nearby East Village location. True La Cabra fans are here for the design deets as much as the coffee highlights, of course. The barwhich will catch your eye immediately if its not too obscured by a huge lineis part of the La Cabra signature look. The picturesque tiles come from KH Wurtz in Aarhus, which Piper and his team enlisted first for their East Village storeevery single tile is handmade and uniquethen this one as well. (And yes, there will be matching cups.) For this location here, says Piper, it feels very organic and special, and together with some very famous Nordic Scandinavian design classics and some Scandinavian art as well, were going to try and balance it out, bringing a lot of organic coziness to the field. The cafes sleek, U-shaped center bar brings together this organic coziness along with the latest in unobtrusive coffee tech. Streamlined taps for cold drinks, tea preparation, and two undercounter Mavam espresso groups line the south bar, while the north leaves plenty of space for pastry-ogling and more experiential coffee service like V60 brews. And theres bona fide seating in the shop as welltables to share bread and coffee moments with friends at, a couple of cute solo window perches. Its a veritable palace of to-stay choices compared to the E.V. shop. How this expression of the La Cabra brand will mesh into the hefty retail mix of this swath of Broadway-Lafayette Soho will be an interesting unfolding. This New York doesnt feel like a neighborhood in the traditional sense, but a retail runwayLa Cabra names among its immediate neighbors the Carhartt Work in Progress boutique, Onitsuka Tiger, and even a La Colombe just a few doors down (which should prove confusing to many first dates). Will the shoppers on this promenade soon count a boutique Aarhus brand among their favorite labels? New York coffee-watchers cant wait to see. Liz Clayton is the associate editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Liz Clayton on Sprudge. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/biting-back-at-china-over-micron-will-break-us-teeth-1110598466.html Biting Back at China Over Micron Will Break US Teeth Biting Back at China Over Micron Will Break US Teeth The news that Micron's products sold in China did not pass the network security review has caused a strong reaction in the US. This indirectly shows China's decision has touched some Americans, demonstrating its power and producing additional effects. However, the true nature of the matter cannot be covered up by the US. 2023-05-26T06:15+0000 2023-05-26T06:15+0000 2023-05-26T18:18+0000 world china us-china relations us chips joe biden global times /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/01/1100260807_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8c56868051685fe609092d64c4398afa.jpg A US Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement that this was a "raid and attack" on US companies, restrictions that "have no basis in fact" that would lead to "distortions of the memory chip market." This is Washington's consistent use of strong words to justify its actions. In fact, these words are just the phrases used to describe US actions of undermining free trade in recent years. But China is not the US, and will not learn bad behaviors from Washington.The conclusion was made after a seven-week investigation by China's General Administration of Customs and a network security review conducted by China's Cybersecurity Review Office (CRO) in accordance with the law, which can withstand scrutiny. The review found that Micron's products have serious network security risks, which pose significant security risks to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain and affect China's national security. According to laws and regulations such as the country's Cybersecurity Law, operators of critical information infrastructure in China should stop purchasing Micron's products.Besides assessing how much losses China's decision will bring to Micron, the US also shows a certain degree of unease and insecurity, feeling that the "blast radius of this matter may be much larger." This is mainly because they have done many unscrupulous things to China and are very clear about what it means for the US to attack Chinese companies under the guise of "national security." Therefore, they reflexively imagine that any action taken by China toward US companies is "retaliation."Of course, it is not a bad thing to make those who harm China's interests feel uneasy, and it is a punishment they deserve. The Micron case is indeed the first time that CRO has conducted a review of a foreign company, but Micron is not the first company to undergo a security review by the office. The so-called "targeting foreign companies" is simply not true. The only thing it shows is that with the gradual improvement of China's regulatory system, all market entities must comply with Chinese laws in their business activities. This is not about targeting specific companies. There will be no discrimination based on the different "identities" of the enterprise, neither will anyone be targeted nor given special treatment.As one of the world's largest manufacturers of semiconductor storage and imaging products, Micron's products in China have long been said to have cybersecurity risks. In addition, Micron has always been known in the industry for its "aggressive competitive tactics" and has been accused of playing an instigating role in the US' crackdown on Chinese technology, as well as being the US company that has dealt the most blows at Chinese chip enterprises. Micron itself knows clearly whether it has cooperated with Washington to export unsafe products to China, and this will undoubtedly determine its future in the Chinese market.Many foreign media outlets have included this matter in the scope of the US-China tech war, suggesting that it could lead to an escalation of the "tech war." On the surface, it may seem that way: in the past, the US always took the initiative to strike in the semiconductor field, while China was constrained and subject to others' control; now, China has taken actions against Micron, demonstrating its ability to fight back. However, it needs to be said that the reality is not so. The so-called "national security" of the US is a unilateral and anti-market suppression of China's technology, while China's security review of Micron is to effectively safeguard its own security interests. The nature of the two is completely different. Washington's accusations against China can only expose its hypocrisy and double standards.In fact, it has long been clear to the world who is engaging in unreasonable suppression and distorting the market. When China just started reviewing Micron, the White House demanded that the South Korean government prohibit South Korean chip manufacturers from filling the gap left by Micron in the Chinese market. That's how domineering it is. Over the years, facing Washington's "small yard, high fence" strategy and its push for "decoupling," China has consistently adhered to a high level of openness and supported an open and inclusive global economic order. This has to a considerable extent offset the negative impact caused by Washington and greatly stabilized the global industrial and supply chains.Take a look at US' vicious and ruthless suppression against Huawei, and its greedy and lawless attempt to forcibly acquire TikTok. It has reached an extreme in trampling on the rules of free trade and the principles of fair competition. However, a legitimate and necessary action taken by China is used by the US to turn around and bite back, which is indicative of their guilty conscience and unreasonableness. They must be kicked in the teeth and be made to weigh the consequences carefully.This article was originally published by Global Times. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/pentagon-uses-ukraine-as-testing-ground-while-prepping-for-clear-china-standoff--1109847462.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/where-does-us-import-semiconductors-from-1110583219.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/the-twilight-of-us-hegemony-1110555459.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230522/beijing-banning-micron-means-china-has-mastered-chip-making-1110523565.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, china, us-china tensions, us-china relations, chips, micron, joe biden https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/durham-report-buries-history-bidens-ukraine-options-south-african-leader-rebukes-bbc-on-russia-1110599017.html Durham Report Buries History; Biden's Ukraine Options; South African Leader Rebukes BBC on Russia Durham Report Buries History; Biden's Ukraine Options; South African Leader Rebukes BBC on Russia When questioned about his nation's support of Russia, a South African leader reminded a BBC reporter about the international crimes of the US Empire in the Middle East. 2023-05-26T04:04+0000 2023-05-26T04:04+0000 2023-05-26T10:53+0000 the critical hour radio south africa ukraine taiwan john durham iran china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/1a/1110598860_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_dde2c9228c6e0b399245f5146ef8f496.png Durham Report Buries History; Biden's Ukraine Options; South African Leader Rebukes BBC on Russia When questioned about his nation's support of Russia, a South African leader reminded a BBC reporter about the international crimes of the US Empire in the Middle East. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. The Ukrainian intelligence leader said that his nation plans to kill the president of the Russian Federation. Also, Joe Biden is facing fewer and fewer options in Ukraine.Ted Rall, co-host of the Final Countdown, joins us to discuss the John Durham report. The fact that no charges were made despite the numerous violations of law shows that the report is an attempt to bury the FBI's history of criminality.Dr. Ken Hammond, writer and professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University, joins us to discuss China. The House of Representatives has unveiled another piece of hawkish legislation aimed at China. Also, several countries are looking to buy Chinese weapons.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Africa and the Global South. When questioned about his nation's support of Russia, a South African leader reminded a BBC reporter about the international crimes of the US Empire in the Middle East. Also, the president of Peru is making it evident that the US is running the country.Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents, joins us to discuss the Black Agenda Report news. An international day of action has been set to oppose the US attack on the Uhuru movement. Also, the Democrats are set to betray the working class again.Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss Ukraine. The fact that the Ukraine conflict was provoked by the US neocon's plan for world domination is critical for finding a resolution to end the war. Also, the war is heading toward a conclusion as Ukraine runs out of men and materials.James Carey, host of The Left is Dead podcast, joins us to discuss the Middle East. US neocons argue that the Arab league can't support both Zelenskiy and Syria. Also, the ties between the US and Turkiye are unlikely to reset after an election in which Erdogan has accused the US of interfering.Dr. Margaret Flowers, activist and editor of "PopularResistance.org," joins us to discuss domestic policy. Chinese immigrants are suing Florida over a new law restricting them from buying property. Also, It's time to reject the racist Monroe Doctrine.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. south africa ukraine iran china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.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 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg the critical hour, is russiagate a hoax, what did the us do in the middle east, what war crimes did the us commit in iraq, why did the us get involved in the middle east, us war crimes, who's winning in ukraine, why does the us attack china all the time https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/erdogan-vows-to-form-cabinet-quickly-if-given-election-victory-1110595929.html Erdogan Vows to Form Cabinet Quickly if Given Election Victory Erdogan Vows to Form Cabinet Quickly if Given Election Victory ANKARA (Sputnik) - Incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that he intends to form the cabinet quickly if he wins the second round of... 26.05.2023, Sputnik International 2023-05-26T03:32+0000 2023-05-26T03:32+0000 2023-05-26T03:27+0000 world recep tayyip erdogan kemal kilicdaroglu istanbul turkiye 2023 turkish presidential election poll /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/0e/1110340165_0:0:2048:1153_1920x0_80_0_0_4e31224c10d0b2d71a6356d33582bce2.jpg "We will need to form the cabinet quickly. We will sit down and make assessments with our friends, and take steps necessary to improve the well-being of our people and the development of our country," he said in an interview. Erdogan also said that if opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, his main opponent, manages to secure the majority of votes in the second round, the winners will be "terrorist organizations and American corporations." Earlier on Thursday, Kilicdaroglu challenged Erdogan to take part in a televised debate together. The opposition leader said he could prove Erdogan negotiated and collaborated with terrorists. To that, Erdogan replied he had nothing to talk about with his opponent. "Now he's challenging me [to go] to the television. What are you going to talk to me about? He has achieved nothing. He has no vision. Do you want me to talk about the hospital of the Social Security Department in Okmeydani [a neighborhood in Istanbul]? Or should we talk about how you gave 40 seats in the parliament to those who hadn't even managed to win 1% of votes in the election?" Erdogan remarked. Over 8% of Turks Still Undecided Ahead of Presidential RunoffNew poll figures released by the Konda research center on Thursday revealed that more than 8% of Turkish citizens still haven't decided who to vote for in the second round of the presidential election."Forty-seven percent of the respondents are ready to vote for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 42.2% for Kemal Kilicdaroglu, while 8.2% are undecided," the center tweeted. Another 2.6% said they would not vote.After evenly distributing the undecided votes, the center concluded that Erdogan was supported by 52.7% of respondents and his rival by 47.3%.More than 3,600 people participated in the May 20-21 survey in 34 of Turkiye's 81 provinces, with a margin of error of 1.63%.Meanwhile, the Asal research center said that according to its survey, 53.4% of respondents supported Erdogan. The poll was conducted in 26 provinces among moreFormer Turkish presidential candidate from the ATA alliance, Sinan Ogan, announced on Monday his support for Erdogan in the second round of the presidential election. Ogan was supported by more than 5% of voters, with more than 1 million votes declared invalid. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/what-is-turkish-presidential-system-and-how-does-it-work-1110589063.html istanbul turkiye 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 recep tayyip erdogan, kemal kilicdaroglu, istanbul, turkiye, 2023 turkish presidential election, poll https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/ford-reveals-ev-drivers-will-be-able-to-access-teslas-12000-us-supercharger-stations-1110617064.html Ford Reveals EV Drivers Will Be Able to Access Teslas 12,000 US Supercharger Stations Ford Reveals EV Drivers Will Be Able to Access Teslas 12,000 US Supercharger Stations Americas second-largest automaker revealed drivers of Ford-made EVs would be able to charge their automobiles at Tesla Supercharger stations beginning next year. Teslas stations had previously been usable only by Tesla owners. 2023-05-26T19:41+0000 2023-05-26T19:41+0000 2023-05-26T19:36+0000 americas tesla ford electric vehicles supercharging us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081743975_0:100:1920:1180_1920x0_80_0_0_3429c78cc25dcfd8b5bc2b088eefcf88.jpg The agreement will see drivers of Fords Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit customers receive a Supercharger adapter and software integration, as well as activation and payment via FordPass or Ford Pro Intelligence. Beginning in 2025, Ford will also offer a built-in North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, which will allow drivers to access Supercharger stations as well.Ford CEO Jim Farley made the announcement during a Twitter Spaces appearance with Elon Musk, who owns both Twitter and Tesla.We dont have as many EV customers as you do, but we still have plenty, and for them to be able to have this benefit early next year already and not have to buy a new car is, I think, a real statement by you and the Tesla team to be really prioritizing the customers experiences, Farley told Musk.Telsas Superchargers are known for their rapid charging time and the long range of their car batteries, matched perhaps only by Tesla's major Chinese competitor Nio, which operates a novel network of battery switch-outs for its EV drivers.Building National EV NetworkThe deal has been in the making for years, with real motion coming late last year.Then in February, Musk signed a deal with the White House to open some 7,500 of its Superchargers to other users by the end of the year.The Biden administration has earmarked $7.5 billion to help establish 50,000 EV charging stations across the country as part of its bid to wean American drivers off petroleum-powered cars to stem the pollutive effects of their carbon emissions. The network is required to share common standards of reliability, identification, and payment, as well as the common NACS plug.Up & Down for TeslaShares of both companies jumped more than 7% on Friday on the heels of the announcement, which also received praise from US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.However, the news comes as Teslas brand has seriously suffered over the previous year. An Axios Harris Poll of US consumers attitudes about brand reputations showed earlier this week that the EV maker slipped by an astonishing 50 spots since last year, reaching number 62 on the list. The survey covered all US brands, not just auto makers. Ford was number 32 on the list, a nine-spot jump from 2022.Last month, Tesla investors penned a letter to Musk castigating him for jeopardizing its [Teslas] long-term value. It came after a first-quarter earnings report that revealed net income decreased more than 20% from the prior year, as well as after a SpaceX StarShip rocket exploded in mid-air; Musk also owns the space travel company.Then earlier this month, a group of seven US senators also wrote a letter to Musk urging him to to end the companys use of forced arbitration clauses in employee and customer contracts. Last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws against workplace discrimination, revealed it had found cause against Tesla in cases involving harassment of Black and female employees. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230216/ford-suspends-f-150-lightning-electric-pickup-line-for-a-few-weeks-over-battery-fire-issue-1107515440.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/musk-denounces-idiotic-subpoena-in-dumb-crook-epstein-trial-1110402782.html americas 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 ford; tesla; supercharger; ev; electric vehicle https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/kosovar-police-forcefully-enter-northern-municipality-of-leposaviq----reports-1110617674.html Kosovar Police Forcefully Enter Northern Municipality of Leposaviq - Reports Kosovar Police Forcefully Enter Northern Municipality of Leposaviq - Reports Police forces of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo forcefully occupied the building belonging to the northern municipality of Leposaviq after raids into the municipality buildings in Zvecan and Zubin Potok, media reported. 2023-05-26T19:56+0000 2023-05-26T19:56+0000 2023-05-26T19:53+0000 world aleksandar vucic kosovo serbia unrest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0b/1105359874_24:0:1416:783_1920x0_80_0_0_81881442eddb99dc557ec43d0bb708a8.jpg Local Serbs gathered in front of the buildings to prevent Kosovo Albanian security forces and officials from entering and clashes broke out, media reported. Kosovar police reportedly forced their way into the Zvecan municipal building, using tear gas and stun grenades. Telephone service was cut off in Leposavic, while alarm sirens sounded in the northern municipality of Mitrovica. During the incident, about 10 citizens who had gathered to prevent illegal entry into the municipal building were injured and later hospitalized. Earlier Friday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic placed the Serbian army on high alert in response to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija prompted by unilateral steps taken by Pristina. He also demanded that NATO "urgently stop violence against Serbs" in Kosovo and Metohija. The latest comes amid a spike in unrest in the region following back-to-back mass shootings in Serbia, which saw Vucic call for a near "complete disarmament" of the nation. Although Serbia does have the third-highest rate of gun ownership, it maintains a low firearm-related homicide occurrence.In early May, a 13-year-old shot at his classmates with a pistol and Molotov cocktails, killed eight students and a security guard. The day after, a gunman tore through two Serbian villages. He killed eight individuals and injured another 14 locals. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230513/serbian-opposition-protesting-against-recent-surge-of-violence-among-youth-1110307135.html kosovo serbia 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 police forces, kosovo, northern municipality of leposaviq, raids, zvecan, zubin potok, serbian president aleksandar vucic, serbian army, high alert, northern kosovo https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/kremlin-says-putin-ready-to-talk-with-scholz-to-protect-russias-interests-1110601582.html Kremlin Says Putin Ready to Talk With Scholz to Protect Russia's Interests Kremlin Says Putin Ready to Talk With Scholz to Protect Russia's Interests MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Dialogue is necessary, so Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to talk with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in order to protect Russia's national interests, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. 2023-05-26T10:13+0000 2023-05-26T10:13+0000 2023-05-26T10:13+0000 world ukrainian crisis germany olaf scholz /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/02/1098052528_0:0:3641:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_122308ce9bdeb79a68ba199c8ba7ab49.jpg However, the Kremlin has no information that Germany initiated a telephone conversation with the Russian president, the spokesman added.Previously German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told German media that "it has been a while since my last phone conversation [with the Russian president]. But I am planning to talk to Putin again in due course."The last time the German and Russian heads of state held bilateral negotiations was on December 2, 2022. Putin and Scholz discussed different aspects of the situation around Ukraine during their phone conversation and the Russian president explained in detail Russia's fundamental approaches to the military operation it launched in Ukraine in February of that year. The phone talks were held at the initiative of the German side.In September 2022, Scholz said that negotiations with Putin were always amicable in tone despite the leaders' widely diverging opinions. The German leader also noted the importance of maintaining dialogue with Russia, naming some of the topics addressed in talks. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230205/putin-never-threatened-me-or-germany-olaf-scholz-says-in-wake-of-boris-johnsons-missile-claims-1106988011.html germany 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's special military operation in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, olaf scholz https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/moscow-positively-assesses-vaticans-efforts-in-ending-ukraine-conflict---foreign-ministry-1110602577.html Moscow Positively Assesses Vatican's Efforts in Ending Ukraine Conflict - Foreign Ministry Moscow Positively Assesses Vatican's Efforts in Ending Ukraine Conflict - Foreign Ministry MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow is aware of the initiative of Pope Francis to send an envoy to Russia as a part of the peace initiative on the situation in Ukraine and positively assesses the Vatican's efforts, the Russian Foreign Ministry has told Sputnik. 2023-05-26T11:01+0000 2023-05-26T11:01+0000 2023-05-26T11:08+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis vatican pope francis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/12/1099737881_0:161:3066:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_c5a59176173e18366b8ed09aff34ee47.jpg Foreign media reported last week that Pope Francis was planning to send envoys to Russia and Ukraine in efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to hold talks with the pope's envoys to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, the report said. "As far as we know, on May 20, Holy See spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that Pope Francis was planning to send Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy, to Russia as part of his peace initiative," the ministry said, adding that "no practical steps have been taken by the Vatican to organize his trip to Moscow as of today." The ministry said it positively assesses the Vatican's efforts to "contribute to ending the conflict in Ukraine." The ministry recalled that "unlike Russia, which has been ready for an honest and open dialogue on the settlement in Ukraine from the very beginning, the Kiev regime has so far categorically rejected the very possibility of negotiations with Moscow and is betting on war." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/kiev-regime-gets-us-made-weapons-and-license-to-kill-russians-says-analyst-1110568747.html vatican 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 special military operation in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, vatican, holy see Fox News Digital has discovered that Target Corporation is collaborating with a K-12 education group that aims to persuade school districts to implement policies that prevent parents from being informed about their child's gender transition within the school premises. The group is distributing sexually explicit books to schools for no charge and introducing gender ideology into all areas of the public school curriculum. GLSEN is advocating for the inclusion of gender ideology in all subjects, including math. They are providing guidance to teachers on how to incorporate "they/them" pronouns in math problems to make them more welcoming for trans and non-binary individuals. GLSEN, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ education in schools, suggests that teachers should step in if students are creating graphs related to sex and gender. GLSEN recommends that teachers ensure that the graphs include a diverse range of options, including intersex and other options for biological sex and a variety of gender options, such as agender, genderfluid, female, male, nonbinary, transman, transwoman, and other. Target and GLSEN So far, the big retail company has given a minimum of $2.1 million to GLSEN, an organization that helps schools and students keep gender transitions a secret from parents. GLSEN's policy for schools states that they must protect the private information of transgender and nonbinary students, and school staff cannot tell anyone, including parents or guardians, about a student's gender identity without discussing it with the student first. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons /Brainulator9) Target exterior in Northern Virginia - November 2019 Both liberal and conservative parents are angry about school policies that conceal their child's gender transition. Some schools even deceive parents. A Christian teacher in California was fired for not following district gender policies that would have forced her to lie to parents. Several groups in the United States are advocating for the concealment of social transitions in public schools, a movement that some Democrats have started to support. The now-defunct Biden Foundation collaborated with Gender Spectrum, an organization that offers "gender support plans" to school districts, to establish a methodical system of concealment. Read also: Target Faces $9 Billion Market Value Drop Over Controversial LGBTQ Products Backlash Striking the Perfect Balance GLSEN's work to support LGBTQ+ education in schools is crucial, as it helps create a safe and inclusive environment for all students. By encouraging teachers to ensure that graphs related to sex and gender are diverse, GLSEN is promoting the idea of inclusivity from an early age. However, the issue of concealing gender transitions from parents raises valid concerns about transparency and accountability. While it may be important to protect the privacy of transgender or nonbinary students who do not feel comfortable sharing their identity with their families yet, school policies should also take into account parental rights and involvement in their child's life. It is understandable why both liberal and conservative parents would be upset if they were kept out of such an important aspect of their child's life. It could lead them to question what other information regarding their children might have been withheld by schools without consent or knowledge. Ultimately, finding a balance between protecting student privacy while still respecting parental rights will require careful consideration from educators, lawmakers,and advocacy groups alike.Inclusivity doesn't mean secrecy but rather openness that builds trust among stakeholders involved . Related article: Target To Remove Some LGBTQ Products Amid Customer Backlash: Here's Why! @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/nato-to-upgrade-ukraines-partner-status-without-offering-membership--reports-1110610315.html NATO to Upgrade Ukraines Partner Status Without Offering Membership Reports NATO to Upgrade Ukraines Partner Status Without Offering Membership Reports NATO plans to support Ukraine by creating a Ukraine-NATO Council during the July summit in Vilnius instead of giving it a concrete plan for becoming a full-fledged member, for which Kiev has repeatedly requested, the European news outlet reported on Friday, citing sources. 2023-05-26T13:50+0000 2023-05-26T13:50+0000 2023-05-26T13:50+0000 military ukrainian crisis nato russia-nato showdown us-ukraine relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/07/1097069908_0:117:2395:1464_1920x0_80_0_0_404c2bf28b0ef25f831626437dc6dc03.jpg NATO diplomats told media that the alliance will have to find the right balance between maintaining the open-door policy and supporting Kiev's aspirations without directly admitting the country to the bloc. The proposed Ukraine-NATO Council should serve this purpose. Kiev will become a "full-fledged" party to the body and will have greater opportunities to communicate with the alliance, the sources said. Ukraine will be able to engage in closer intelligence sharing, joint exercises, as well as receive more options for financial support and development of its own armed forces in accordance with NATO standards, according to the report. NATO diplomats also believe that this joint format will smooth Ukraine's future transition to membership. In addition, Eastern European NATO members are pushing the bloc to provide Kiev with a crystal-clear roadmap that will ensure its speedy post-conflict admission, while others, possibly including the most powerful nations, remain reluctant over the idea, arguing that the decisions of the 2008 Bucharest summit, which stated that Ukraine will join the alliance one day, are already quite sufficient, the report said. In early May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was clear that Ukraine would not join NATO until the conflict was over, but the country hoped to receive an invitation from its Western allies to join the alliance as soon as possible. Last month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine would eventually join the bloc as all NATO members supported its ambitions. The idea was rejected by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In September 2022, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would apply for accelerated NATO membership. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation, recalling that Kiev's orientation toward the alliance was one of the reasons for the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine last year. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/bosnian-serb-leader-reveals-what-forced-russias-hand-in-ukrainian-conflict-1110566186.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/ray-mcgovern-putin-had-no-other-options-than-military-op-in-ukraine-1110560004.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/natos-direct-involvement-in-ukraine-crisis-increasing-nuclear-war-risk--lavrov-1110554893.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, russia special military operation, russia-nato showdown https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/pepe-escobar-eurasian-heartland-rises-to-challenge-the-west-1110600622.html Pepe Escobar: Eurasian Heartland Rises to Challenge the West Pepe Escobar: Eurasian Heartland Rises to Challenge the West President Xi Jinping telling President Putin at the end of their summit last March in Moscow that were now facing great changes not seen in a century directly applies to the new spirit reigning across the Heartland. 2023-05-26T10:45+0000 2023-05-26T10:45+0000 2023-05-28T04:03+0000 analysis xi jinping vladimir putin russia-nato showdown pivot to asia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/16/1108672524_0:94:3307:1954_1920x0_80_0_0_337084faaf6665d443ecccf6c99f04ff.jpg Cue to the China-Central Asia summit last week in Xian, the former imperial capital, where Xi solidified the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from Western China in Xinjiang to its western neighbors and then all the way to Iran, Turkiye and Eastern Europe.Xi in Xian particularly stressed the complementing aspects between BRI and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), once again showing that all five Central Asian stans, acting together, should counter-act the proverbial external interference via terrorism, separatism and extremism.The message was stark: these hybrid war strategies are all integrated with the attempt by the Hegemon to continue fostering serial color revolutions. The purveyors of the rules-based international order, Xi implied, will go no holds barred to prevent ongoing Heartland integration.The usual suspects in fact are already spinning that Central Asia is falling into a potential trap, fully captured by Beijing. Yet this is something Kazakhstans multi-vector diplomacy, coined way back in the Nazarbayev years, would never allow.What Beijing is developing, instead, is an integrated approach via a C+C5 secretariat with no less than 19 separate channels of communication.The heart of the matter is to turbo-charge Heartland connectivity via the BRIs Middle Corridor.And that, crucially, includes technology transfer. As it stands, there are dozens of industrial transfer programs with Kazakhstan, a dozen in Uzbekistan, and several in discussion with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. These are extolled by Beijing as part of harmonious Silk Roads.Xi himself, as a post-modern pilgrim, detailed the connectivity in his keynote speech in Xian: The China-Kyrgystan-Uzbekistan highway that runs across the Tian shan Mountains, the China-Tajikistan expressway that defies the Pamir Plateau, and the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline that traverse the vast desert they are the present-day Silk Road.The Revival of the Heartland BeltXis China is once again mirroring lessons from History. Whats happening now brings us back to the first half of the first millennium B.C., when the Persian Achaemenid empire established itself as the largest to date, stretching from India in the east and Central Asia in the northeast to Greece in the west and Egypt in the southwest.For the first time in history, territories that spanned Asia, Africa and Europe were brought together; and that led to a boom in trade, culture and ethnic interactions (what BRI defines today as people to people exchanges).Thats how we had the Hellenistic world first getting in touch with India and Central Asia as they set up the first Greek settlements in Bactria (in todays Afghanistan).By the end of the first millennium B.C. all the way to the first millennium A.D. an immense area from the Pacific to the Atlantic encompassing the Han Chinese empire, the Kushan kingdom, the Parthians and the Roman empire, among others formed a continuous belt of civilizations, states and cultures, as Prof. Edvard Rtveladze of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan defined it.So slightly less than 2,000 years ago, that was the first time in human history that the borders of several states and kingdoms were immediately adjacent to each other along no less than 11,400 km, from east to west. No wonder the fabled Ancient Silk Road actually a maze of roads -, the first transcontinental thoroughfare, emerged at the time.That was a direct consequence of a series of political, economic and cultural whirlwinds involving the peoples of Eurasia. History, in the high acceleration 21st century, is now retracing these steps.Geography, after all, is destiny. Central Asia was traversed by countless migrations of Near Eastern, Indo-European, Indo-Iranian and Turkic peoples; was the focus of serious intercultural interaction (Iranian, Indian, Turkic, Chinese, Hellenistic cultures); and criss-crossed virtually all major religions (Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Christianity, Islam).The Organization of Turkic States, led by Turkiye, is even engaged in rebuilding the Turkic identity overtones of the Heartland a vector that will be developing in parallel to the influence of China and Russia.That Greater Eurasia PartnershipRussia is evolving its own path. A key debate was held t a recent Valdai Club session on the Greater Eurasian Partnership when it comes to the interaction between Russia and the Heartland and neighbors China, India and Iran.Moscow regards the concept of a Greater Eurasian Partnership as the key framework for achieving much desired political cohesion in the post-Soviet space under the imperative of indivisibility of regional security.This means, once again, maximum attention towards serial attempts of provoking color revolutions across the Heartland.As much as in Beijing, there are no illusions in Moscow that the collective West will take no prisoners in regimenting Central Asia to the Russophobic drive. For over a year now Washington for all practical purposes already addresses the Heartland in terms of threats of secondary sanctions and crude ultimatums.So Central Asia matters only in terms of the evolving hybrid war and otherwise against the Russia-China strategic partnership. No fabulous trade and connectivity prospects under the New Silk Roads; no Greater Eurasia Partnership; no security arrangements under the CSTO; no mechanism of economic cooperation like the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU).Either youre a partner in the sanctions dementia and/or a secondary front in the war against Russia, or there will be a price to pay.The price, set by the proverbial Straussian neocon psychos currently in charge of US foreign policy, is always the same: proxy war via terror, to be provided by ISIS-Khorasan*, whose black cells are ready to be awakened in selected backwoods of Afghanistan and the Ferghana valley.Moscow is very much aware of the high stakes. For instance, for a year and a half virtually every month a Russian delegation arrives in Tajikistan to implement, in practice, the pivot to the East, developing projects in agriculture, health care, education, science and tourism.Central Asia should have a leading role in BRICS+ expansion something supported by both BRICS leaders Russia and China. The idea of a BRICS + Central Asia is being seriously floated from Tashkent to Almaty.That would imply establishing a strategic continuum from Russia and China to Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Africa and Latin America spanning the logistics of connectivity trade, energy, manufacture production, investment, technological breakthroughs and cultural interaction.Beijing and Moscow, each in their own way, and with their own formulations, are already setting the framework for this ambitious geoeconomic project to be viable: the Heartland back in action as a protagonist in the forefront of History, just like those kingdoms, merchants and pilgrims of nearly 2,000 years ago.*ISIS-Khorasan is an affiliate of Daesh (also known and ISIS/ISIL/IS) terrorist group active in South Asia and Central Asia, it is banned in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20210615/three-reasons-why-g7s-build-back-better-world-plan-is-no-competition-for-chinas-bri--1083155176.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/growing-number-of-countries-flock-to-russo-asian-economic-political-blocs-1110582754.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.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 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg russia, china, russian-china partnership, pivot to asia, russia-nato showdown https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/reinclusion-of-russian-banks-would-facilitate-implementation-of-grain-deal-un-spokesperson-1110615380.html UN: Reinclusion of Russian Banks Would Facilitate Implementation of Grain Deal UN: Reinclusion of Russian Banks Would Facilitate Implementation of Grain Deal It is clear that the reinclusion of Russian banks involved in the trade in fertilizer and food, which are not under sanctions, would facilitate the implementation, but as you well know, that is not a decision that is with the UNs own wheelhouse, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. 2023-05-26T17:40+0000 2023-05-26T17:40+0000 2023-05-31T09:11+0000 grain grain exports russia banks the united nations (un) istanbul grain deal /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105296/92/1052969277_0:160:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_da479bc82e4cf1e1e9be2b6215c871ea.jpg It is clear that the reinclusion of Russian banks involved in the trade in fertilizer and food, which are not under sanctions, would facilitate the implementation, but as you well know, that is not a decision that is with the UNs own wheelhouse, Dujarric told reporters. The UN is trying to push things forward on different tracks, he added. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that if Rosselkhozbank would not be connected to SWIFT, and without progress on other systematic problems of blocking of Russian exports, it would be necessary to find alternatives for the grain deal. russia 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 black sea grain initiative, black sea grain deal https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/top-iranian-diplomat-urges-baghdad-to-boost-banking-cooperation-foreign-ministry-1110616542.html Top Iranian Diplomat Urges Baghdad to Boost Banking Cooperation - Foreign Ministry Top Iranian Diplomat Urges Baghdad to Boost Banking Cooperation - Foreign Ministry Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called for closer financial cooperation between Iran and Baghdad during a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, on Friday. 2023-05-26T18:29+0000 2023-05-26T18:29+0000 2023-05-26T18:29+0000 world iran iraq banks cooperation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/03/1d/1082480401_0:67:1280:787_1920x0_80_0_0_1cf95763b978796fea3ddb40f2555a55.jpg "Hossein Amirabdollahian held a phone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein ... Amirabdollahian thanked Iraq for facilitating the banking and monetary transactions related to Hajj pilgrims through Iran's financial credits, calling for closer banking cooperation between the two countries," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The top diplomats also discussed the latest development in relations between the two countries, the implementation of the bilateral security agreement, regional cooperation and other issues, as well as stressed the need for strengthening the pipeline that delivers gas from Iran to Iraq, the statement read. On March 19, Tehran and Baghdad signed a security cooperation agreement designed to mend relationship between the two countries and ensure advances in regional security. iran iraq 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 iran-iraq relations, iran iraq dialogue https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/uk-us-australia-hold-aukus-first-ai-military-tests---uk-ministry-of-defense-1110603373.html UK, US, Australia Hold AUKUS' First AI Military Tests - UK Ministry of Defense UK, US, Australia Hold AUKUS' First AI Military Tests - UK Ministry of Defense The United Kingdom, Australia and the United States have held military trials of artificial intelligence technology within the AUKUS cooperation pact for the first time to track and detect military targets in a representative environment in real time, the UK Ministry of Defense said on Friday. 2023-05-26T11:27+0000 2023-05-26T11:27+0000 2023-05-28T15:26+0000 military aukus us australia artificial intelligence (ai) united kingdom (uk) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105351/38/1053513800_0:577:3264:2413_1920x0_80_0_0_9a9c0bc2d66fbe26a320354d477d1228.jpg "The work saw the initial joint deployment of Australian, UK and US AI-enabled assets in a collaborative swarm to detect and track military targets in a representative environment in real time. Accelerating the development of these technologies will have a massive impact on coalition military capability," the defense ministry said in a statement published on the UK government's website. The military tests have been organized by the UK's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory and achieved "world firsts, including the live retraining of models in flight and the interchange of AI models between AUKUS nations," the statement read. "Autonomy and AI will transform the way Defence operates. The strategic environment is rapidly evolving, meaning we must adapt our technologies at pace if we are to maintain our operational advantage. By sharing AI - and the underpinning data to enable it - with one another, Australia, UK, and US militaries can access the best AI, reduce duplication of effort, and ensure interoperability," the document also said. The AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Pillar, also known as Pillar 2, is a trilateral program including different cutting-edge technologies and capabilities to promote security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the UKs defense ministry. AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the US and the UK signed in 2021 which envisages the US and the UK supplying, among other things, nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230514/stakes-couldnt-be-higher-unbridled-super-intelligent-ai-could-wipe-out-humanity-1110344362.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230315/aukus-dividing-asia-us-uk-australian-leaders-reveal-details-of-disputed-nuclear-submarine-deal-1108385272.html australia united kingdom (uk) 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 ausus, ai, us, australia, uk, ai weapon https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/us-china-hold-high-level-talks-in-washington-on-trade-relations-issues---commerce-dept-1110596955.html US, China Hold High-Level Talks in Washington on Trade Relations, Issues - Commerce Dept. US, China Hold High-Level Talks in Washington on Trade Relations, Issues - Commerce Dept. US Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo met with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, in the US capital to discuss trade relations between the two countries, including recent actions Beijing took against US companies operating in China 2023-05-26T04:04+0000 2023-05-26T04:04+0000 2023-05-26T03:59+0000 world us-china relations china washington beijing chinese ministry of commerce /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/12/1081799952_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9162f74d85eebf2ecaa044876a0419fe.jpg "Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Minister of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China Wang Wentao in Washington, DC," the release said on Thursday. The release noted that the meeting was part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and China. Wang, during the meeting with Raimondo, expressed concerns about the US policy on semiconductors and export control measures against China, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. "The Chinese side has expressed serious concerns about US economic and trade policies toward China, semiconductor policies, export controls and supervision of foreign investments," the statement read. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/where-does-us-import-semiconductors-from-1110583219.html china washington beijing Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us commerce secretary gina raimondo, wang wentao, us-china relations, high-level talks, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/us-may-announce-300-million-ukraine-aid-package-friday-mostly-ammunition-1110594545.html US May Announce $300 Million Ukraine Aid Package Friday, Mostly Ammunition US May Announce $300 Million Ukraine Aid Package Friday, Mostly Ammunition The United States is reportedly expected to announce a new $300 million security assistance package for Ukraine as soon as Friday. 2023-05-26T01:14+0000 2023-05-26T01:14+0000 2023-05-26T01:09+0000 world ukraine russia high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) us us military aid ammunition /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/04/1109107465_0:120:3072:1848_1920x0_80_0_0_21f3bc8f53f337ec36181a0e9497c5e3.jpg Reports detailed late Thursday that the new package would consist mostly of additional ammunition such as Guided Multiple Launch Rockets for HIMARS launchers. The United States will reportedly provide Ukraine with the military equipment from its own stockpiles through the presidential drawdown authority. The United States has provided Ukraine with some $36 billion worth of security assistance since Russia launched its special military operation in February 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230523/us-approved-military-aid-to-ukraine-will-soon-be-tapped-talk-of-more-funding-on-back-burner-1110531070.html ukraine russia 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 united states, ukraine military aid, assistance package, ukraine, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/us-presidential-race-will-desantis-sink-like-atlantis-after-glitchy-twitter-launch-1110606304.html US Presidential Race: Will DeSantis Sink Like Atlantis After Glitchy Twitter Launch? US Presidential Race: Will DeSantis Sink Like Atlantis After Glitchy Twitter Launch? Gabriel Llanes said the Florida governor offered voters a "future" while Trump was trying to re-fight the 2020 election. Clemson University political scientist Professor David Woodard said his Twitter campaign launch up-to-date. 2023-05-26T16:23+0000 2023-05-26T16:23+0000 2023-05-26T17:48+0000 americas us ron desantis donald trump elon musk republican twitter florida joe biden barack obama /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/18/1110560605_0:265:2698:1783_1920x0_80_0_0_ca00421306064812d2bbe6598e2e77e1.jpg The campaign manager for the Ron DeSantis presidential bid believes he can climb the mountain of Donald Trump's poll lead.The Florida governor announced his candidacy in the Republican primaries on Wednesday via a Twitter webcast.He has already emerged as a distant second rival to former President Donald Trump, eclipsing Mike Pence Trump's vice president and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. But the entry of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott into the race could change that.The winner of the Republican primary race will likely face President Joe Biden in the 2024 election.Gabriel Llanes told Sputnik that the widely-ridiculed technical problems with the Florida governor's campaign announcement were actually a sign of his popular support.Trump has led recent polls of Republican voters by an overwhelming margin, with over 50 percent support, while DeSantis languishes in the mid-20s at best. But the campaign organizer dismissed that as an early surge for the big-name candidate."I don't put much stake in the polls. The methodology of polls nowadays is not incredibly sound," Llanes insisted. "I'll remind people that there's 75 weeks left to the election and Ron DeSantis is already polling in the 20 percentile, meaning one fourth of the primary voters have already decided that they like Ron DeSantis when he hasn't even announced yet."He pointed out that then-Senator Barack Obama trailed Hillary Clinton by a wide margin before the first Democratic primaries in 2008. "So there's a lot of time here, a lot of runway to go," Llanes said. "I guarantee you that the polls are going to start closing in the next... two or three months."The PAC director said that, like in 2008 and 2016, voters want a real change of leadership as evidenced by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leftfield challenge to Biden in the Democratic primaries Professor David Woodard told Sputnik that he was not surprised that tech tycoon Elon Musk hosted the DeSantis campaign launch on his recently-acquired social media site."Twitter was used because it is the next communication medium, replacing television and other outlets of the mainstream media," he said. "It was not a very good launch for DeSantis, but he is trying to push the edge and that will help him in the future."But the academic said ownership of Twitter would not make Musk a political "kingmaker." The professor doubted that the Twitter boss and Tesla Motors founder had political ambitions like fellow billionaires George Soros or Charles Koch. "Musk has much to lose by associating himself with any one party or one political personality," Woodard argued. "I think he will not be in the forefront of trying to elect a president or dominate a political party. At some time in the future, DeSantis must defeat Trump in a head-to-head election that will be a turning point."He said there are many other factors than Musk's backing at play in the Florida governor's challenge to Trump for the Republican candidacy."He will need lots of endorsements, Trump will have to be defeated in places where he has been powerful and other candidates will have to drop out," Woodard said. "If things go his way, DeSantis can thank Musk."For more in-depth commentary on news events, follow our Sputnik Radio show Fault Lines. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/uss-desantis-raises-82mln-in-24-hours-after-announcing-presidential-bid---reports-1110602907.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/ron-desantis-no-match-for-trump-in-republican-presidential-primary-race-1110583864.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png 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 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png florida governor ron desantis, twitter owner elon musk, former president donald trump, republican party presidential primaries, us president joe biden The Open trotting class at MGM Northfield Park proved challenging once again on Sunday (May 21), as the co-featured event not only produced the third different winner in three weeks but, for the third week in a row, a world record was set over the "Home of the Flying Turns." Several horses left alertly when the starter gave the word "go," with favourite Eye Ofa Tiger As (Billy Davis Jr.) grabbing the lead midway around the first turn and Killer Instinct (Chris Lems) saving ground in the pocket. Into the backstretch for the first time, it appeared as if Tequila Talkin (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) would be parked the mile, but Wrenn let him out a notch, getting to the lead before the quarter in :27.2. Tequila Talkin would face no challengers, with the field remaining in straight alignment at the half in :56. Winning Ticket (Aaron Merriman) was sent to the outside with three-eighths of a mile to go and the sprint was on into the backstretch. The two talented trotters matched strides to three-quarters in 1:23.3. Duelling for much of the final quarter-mile, turning for home Tequila Talkin proved to have more left in the tank, drawing away to win by a length in a track and world record 1:51.3. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, and Weaver Bruscemi, the eight-year-old Cantab Hall gelding pushed his earnings to $426,142. The Ron Burke pupil now has 41 career victories and he also set a new lifetime mark in the process. The quick times would continue in the co-featured $20,000 Open Pace, with local Bernie (Ryan Stahl) cruising to a 1:49.4 victory. Following a solid effort in the Wizard Invitational at Miami Valley Gaming on May 6, Bernie returned home to MGM Northfield Park, finishing third in his first start back in Northeast Ohio. The son of Big Jim made his way to the winner's circle on Sunday following a perfect pocket trip. Leaving alertly from post two, Stahl quickly put Bernie into play, getting the jump on Saulsbrook Genesis (Wrenn) into the first turn. After stretching out Saulsbrook Genesis into the backstretch for the first time, Stahl released the favourite before the quarter in :26.1. Wrenn was able to work out a :28.3 breather in the second quarter, but that was short-lived as Rockn Motion (Lems) and Almanac (Davis) began their bids on the outside. However, their bid was short-lived as they stalled up the backstretch. Getting to three-quarters in 1:22.1, Wrenn tried to create separation, but Bernie continued hanging with the leader. Turning for home, Stahl was able to wear down Saulsbrook Genesis to win by a neck. The win was the 40th career victory for the gelding, who is owned by trainer Jessica Millner and the POD Stable. With the win, he pushed his earnings to $536,758. The low 14 per cent takeout Pick-6 featured each night at MGM Northfield Park went unclaimed again on Sunday. Consus Victory ($29), Dreamfair Charro ($28.20) and Power Blu ($13) all upended favourites causing a carryover of $2,905.25 into Tuesday's Pick-6. The 50-cent non-jackpot wager begins in Race 8. Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. (Northfield Park) South Africa: SA welcomes opportunity to take part in security meeting in Russia Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says South Africa has welcomed the opportunity to share its views and insights at the 11th International Meeting of High-Ranking officials responsible for security matters. On behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, we welcome the opportunity to share our views and insights on this important topic which requires both our individual and collective action, Ntshavheni said. She was speaking in Russia at the 11th International Meeting of High-Ranking officials responsible for security matters. The world we live in is changing at a very fast pace bringing with both challenges and opportunities for humanity, as individuals, countries, regions and the global society in general, Ntshavheni said. Ntshavheni said climate change, unprecedented levels of migration as a result of conflicts and wars, the pursuit of economic opportunities, and the adoption of ICTs, among others, were creating both new opportunities for development and threats against nation states. These changes are worsening the development trajectory of developing countries, particularly in Africa and South Africa to be specific. The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed to the government and people of South Africa and the African continent that if the global community were committed to the eradication of disease in Africa, concerted efforts would have been made to develop affordable vaccines for diseases such as Malaria, Ebola, Typhoid and others that continue to plague our continent and people, Ntshavheni said. Ntshavheni said despite Africa being the worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the global community were non-committal to pleas to finance, in reasonable and affordable terms, of the economic recovery and reconstruction programmes in Africa through participation in the investment initiatives of African governments including South Africa. Still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that shrunk South Africas economy to 2016 levels with severe implications for employment and the fight against poverty. South Africa has, in the last three years, annually suffered severe floods that devastated public and economic infrastructure in three Provinces and reversed the strides made with regard to improving food security, eradication of poverty and unemployment and creating an equal society, Ntshavheni said. She told the meeting that the floods were not limited to South Africa but affected other countries in Southern African, and that their impact on soil structure is forcing are design of the spatial plans. Therefore, although South Africa is able to use space technology for accurate weather prediction over alonger period of time, the need to redesign spatial plans and the extent of the mass displacements of families, the resettlement programme cannot be completed in a short time, Minister Ntshavheni said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Lancaster University hosts 3rd interdisciplinary conference on Belt & Road Initiative Xinhua) 13:54, May 26, 2023 LANCASTER, Britain, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The third Interdisciplinary Conference on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held by Britain's Lancaster University here from Wednesday to Friday. The conference, hosted by the Lancaster University Belt and Road Initiative Research Consortium (LUBRIC), featured individual speeches and panel discussions, during which academic experts focused on the initiative's development over the past decade in many parts of the world. Other related topics are finance, investment, technology, environment and international relations. Yang Zhiyu, China's deputy consul general in Manchester, United Kingdom, told Xinhua that this is the third time that the LUBRIC has held an interdisciplinary conference on the initiative, which shows the influence of the initiative in Britain. Compared with the previous two conferences, the number of participants has increased, and so has the number of countries from which they come, demonstrating the vitality of the initiative after a decade of development, Yang said. When assessing the prospects of the initiative, Andy Schofield, vice chancellor of Lancaster University, told Xinhua that all nations can do to help to mitigate the impact of climate change and to reduce any further deterioration in the climate should be done in collaboration and cooperation between countries. "The BRI therefore should be an important part of the world's resilience to that uncertain future we face," professor Schofield said. Professor Zeng Jinghan, head of the LUBRIC, told Xinhua that "the BRI is quite resilient, especially in the past three years." According to his observation, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the BRI focused on promoting physical connectivity. In the wake of COVID-19, the initiative has quickly shifted its emphasis to developing the "Digital Silk Road" and promoting virtual and digital connectivity. Liu Hong, associate vice president of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told Xinhua that the initiative impressed him most is the infrastructure construction in the Global South. There are still a large percentage of population in Africa, Southeast Asia and Central Asia that have been in lack of infrastructure such as power, roads and so on. "By investing heavily in infrastructure projects in these regions, the BRI has significantly contributed to local economic development and also the improvement of a livelihood for people in those regions and countries," said professor Liu. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) An Asiana Airlines Airbus A321-200 made an emergency landing in the South Korean city of Daegu after a passenger opened one of the plane's doors minutes before it was due to land. According to the airline's flight manifest, the plane safely landed at around 12:40 Korean time (03:40 UTC) after it had carried passengers from Jeju Island an hour earlier. The incident caused panic among the passengers aboard the flight, officials said. While there were no deaths or serious injuries reported, the Daegu Fire Department reported nine teenagers were taken to the hospital after suffering breathing issues. An unidentified passenger said the passengers next to the open door were "fainting," which prompted the cabin crew to ask whether there were any doctors on board. Another passenger shared a video inside the plane showing the moments before it landed. Authorities investigate how the plane's door was opened South Korea's transport ministry told Reuters that police had arrested the passenger who opened the door. Police said the suspect had not yet given any explanation for his actions or if he was under the influence of alcohol at the point of his arrest. Authorities were also investigating other violations of aviation safety laws and whether Asiana followed protocols to manage emergency exits. A transport ministry official said there was a possibility of opening a plane's emergency exit when the aircraft was nearing the ground as the pressure inside and outside the cabin were similar. Upon landing, pictures also showed a deployed escape slide ripped away from the plane. Sehan University aviation maintenance professor Sohn Myong-hwan said the opening of the door was "particularly dangerous" during landing and takeoff and that someone should have stopped the passenger from opening the door. Meanwhile, Asiana said the arrested passenger allegedly opened the emergency exit door about 200 meters off the ground. A representative of the airline also claimed all other passengers and crew were seated with seatbelts fastened because the plane was about to land. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The $10,000 Bruce Ranger Open Pace is the centerpiece of a fun-filled weekend (May 26 & 27) at First Tracks Cumberland, which is dedicated to one of Maines favourite sons who recently went over the 10,000 win threshold. Just the 19th driver in harness racing history to reach that lofty total, the Cumberland County native hails from a long line of harness racing legends that helped put the historic Norton Farm on the map. Opening Day (Friday) will start with a cookout in the Cumberland paddock area for local and participating horse people, which is generously sponsored by Silver Streak Starters. Fridays 11-race program features the $10,000 for 10,000 Bruce Ranger Open Pace, with six of the areas top sidewinders vying for the five-figure purse. The wagering menu includes a 50-cent trifecta in every race, as well as the usual assortment of exotic wagers with low 16 per cent takeouts. The Bird Dance N (post four, 2-1) has been installed as the morning line favourite and will be driven by Nick Graffam. Former track record holder Rocksapatriot (Dave Ingraham, post three, 4-1) is the trackmans second choice. Ranger himself has a mount in the race named in his honour and will be driving Paternity Suit A (post five, 6-1). To commemorate the distinctive weekend, a collectable colour cover program wrap has been printed and is loaded with seven pages of old and recent photos of Ranger. These special editions will only be available on track, at the regular program price of $2. Saturdays program carries 10 races and Bruce Ranger will sign autographs on the apron with fans and admirers immediately following the first race. During that time, the popular Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) will go postward in the second race. Now in its fourth week, no one not named Jason Bertolini has visited the winner's circle in any edition of the MADC this year. The series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine. Live harness racing continues at Cumberland throughout the spring and early summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend. First post is slated for 3:15 p.m. (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through Aug. 5. (First Tracks Cumberland) 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. After hearing testimony over the course of the last week, a Scotts Bluff County District Court jury convicted a Scottsbluff man in the stabbing death of a 23-year-old man Thursday. The trial of Gregory Moore, 57, began Monday and testimony concluded Thursday morning in the case. Charges against Moore stemmed from the Nov. 25, 2020, stabbing death of Fernando Camacho-McBride. The jury returned a verdict after deliberating for about an hour. The jury, comprised entirely of women, found Moore 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 the foreperson of a Scotts Bluff County District Court jury read the verdict, Camacho-McBrides mother, Semalee McBride, grasped the hand of her husband, Todd, tightly and started crying. As the jury left the courtroom, she and her husband hugged tightly, while she sobbed. Later, she hugged a detective in the case as Semalee, Todd, joined by family, gave thanks for the verdict. Semalee sat through the trial each day, mostly by herself, because her husband, Todd, had been unable to attend. Hed been subpoenaed as a defense witness for Moore, called largely because of comments that hed made to police officers investigating the case. Moores attorney, Kelly Breen focused in on those comments, questioning Todd McBride about them as the defenses only witness Thursday. The comment made in a Dec. 1, 2020, interview with police, centered around Todd McBride saying that Camacho-McBride would not back down from a fight. The basic sentiment had been that Camacho-McBride would not back down from a confrontation and would defend himself in a fight, his dad said. If someone came for Fernando, he would definitely defend himself, Todd McBride testified in reply to Breen questioning him about a statement to police that Camacho-McBride was not a stranger to a fight. He questioned Todd McBride about fights that he had previously had when he had been serving in a juvenile detention center or at treatment centers. His dad said he knew of only two significant fights that he had been in. He was asked about McBride-Camacho having fights with his siblings or his biological father, of which the man said he was not aware. That testimony lasted just 10 minutes, something Todd McBride lamented as he thought about being unable to sit next to his wife during the trial this week. Later, recounting the things that people had told the family about their son since he was killed, Todd McBride talked about how people said he would do anything for his friends and family. They remembered his laugh, his smile and other fond things about him. Everyone says he gave the best hugs, Todd McBride said, describing the large man enveloping people in big hugs. The McBrides adopted Camacho-McBride after he had been removed from his biological parents home at just 5 years old. He and his brother were fostered by the McBrides before they adopted him. The couple adopted nine other children. During closing arguments, Kelly Breen, of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, regularly referred to Camacho-McBride as a drug addict and a drug abuser. He argued that Moore had stabbed Camacho-McBride in self-defense. He made claims that Camacho-McBride had been violent, making inferences from tests taken during his autopsy that showed that he had significant quantities of methamphetamine. He pointed to statements on that report that persons with quantities of methamphetamine in their system may exhibit violent behavior to describe Camacho-McBride as having been the aggressor in a fight with Moore. 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 Generals 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 Moores claims he had attacked in self-defense, telling the jury that in Moores 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. Never once does he say, This guy threatened me. I was afraid for my life, he said. ...In his mind, hes justified because this is an illegal entry and people were looking at my inventory. Thats his motivation. Thats the reason that he gives. However, Warner pointed out, the set up of the apartment building meant that Moore had to have let Camacho-McBride into his home. Apartment residents were notified by doorbell of a visitor, and had to go into a hallway and down stairs to let visitors into the building. He would then have had to be let into the apartment. He also pointed to the injuries that Camacho-McBride had suffered, and compared them to Moore. Moore had one small cut on his hand, in the webbing of his fingers and believed to be from the paring knife that he had stabbed Camacho-McBride with. Blood throughout the apartment showed that Camacho-McBride had fought for his life, trying to get away from Moore as he repeatedly stabbed him, Warner said. A neighbor heard a commotion at about 5 a.m., and a voice saying, Stop, stop, stop, that wasnt Moores. However, he didnt alert anyone to the disturbance until around 9 a.m. Camacho-McBride suffered cuts all over his body on his arms, on his face having been sliced multiple times by the knife. Camacho-McBride died after having bled out after suffering stab wounds in his left upper arm, where the brachial artery is located. He had also been stabbed in the head, with the knife having penetrated so deeply that it hit bone and broke in half. He called Moore determined in his attack of Camacho-McBride, saying, He didnt give up. He continually went after him. On the night that he died, Camacho-McBride had apparently went to Moores home for a place to stay as he was not able to stay at his girlfriends home or his parents home when he was not sober. He had spent the months prior to his death being homeless, bouncing from friends and family members homes due to his struggles. Todd McBride testified that his son had not come to his parents home on the night of his death because he had set rules that Camacho-McBride couldnt come to the home if he was not sober. He said his concerns had stemmed from him having teenagers in his home, though Breen gestured to the McBride family during his arguments, stepping toward them, and contending that they had not been truthful about the reasons they didnt allow him to come to their home when under the influence. At times, during the trial like at that moment, Semalee bristled. She wanted to react with anger as she heard some of the questions and the claims that Breen made about her son, but tried to keep her emotions in check so she could stay in the audience during the trial. However, despite the difficulties of sitting through the trial and hearing untruths about the young man, she said, she stayed steadfast. Someone needed to stand up for Camacho-McBride, she said, and that was her way to do that, to see that he got the justice he deserved. He was just 23 years old, Semalee said, saying he didnt get a chance to right his life. At 23, you think youre invincible. Though Camacho-McBride did have his troubles, starting to struggle in his teen years, he is remembered by his friends and family as a good kid and as a young man who was trying to do the right thing and work through his problems, Semalee said. He was known for being generous and had an affable nature. Asked what she wanted people to know about Camacho-McBride, she said, He was loved. Thursdays verdict came just less than two weeks before Camacho-McBride would have marked his 26th birthday. 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 Thursdays 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. The second-degree murder charge is punishable by up to life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The weapons charge carries a penalty of one to 50 years imprisonment. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Adventure is calling through statewide programs that encourage families to stay active and enjoy great experiences across Nebraska over the summer. The Great Parks Pursuit and 2023 Nebraska Passport both kicked off at the beginning of May with components designed to get families outside. Both programs run into the fall and offer exciting sights, activities and learning opportunities, many of which can be found here in the Panhandle. The 2023 Nebraska Passport is designed to encourage travelers to discover the states hidden gems. With 70 unique stops across the state and multiple prize levels, the program encourages tourism and supporting small businesses. This years passport includes a handful of stops right here in the Panhandle, making it easy for families in western Nebraska to qualify for prizes. As part of the Passport program this year, the NEST 529 program partnered for summer exploration activities, called Creature Comforts stops. The Riverside Discovery Center is one of the seven Creature Comforts stops across the state. We are thrilled to partner with Nebraska Tourism, supporting this years Creature Comforts stops, Nebraska State Treasurer John Murante said in a press release. Summer vacation is a special time for families. We hope to inspire kids to consider their future while encouraging families to start saving funds now to support continuing education needs down the road. Some of the other stops are already popular summertime destinations like Legacy of the Plains Museum. Others might send families off the beaten path. Up north, Crawfords High Plains Homestead takes visitors back to life in the 1880s in addition to hosting a Mercantile shop filled with necessities and local consignment goods. By the South Dakota border travelers will find WhiteClay Makerspace, which connects Native American artists and crafters to their community and anyone who enjoys art. The Double L Country Store and Cafe is a local favorite in Harrisburg known for its homemade breads, cakes, pies and farm to table menu. A Collective Gathering Antiques & Flea Market in Potter is home to 2,500 square feet of eclectic shopping featuring 25 vendors offering antique and vintage items, silver coins, trains, rocks, handcrafted items, a selection of food items and many more treasures. Visitors to Sidney can stop by Boss City Brewing Co. located inside Sam & Louies to enjoy a handcrafted beer with a delicious pizza or classic pasta dish. Theres even more adventure to be found further east, with prizes available for visiting 10, 25, 50 and all 70 stops. To participate, simply request a booklet or download the Nebraska Passport app. For more information, visit nebraskapassport.com. Those looking for outdoor fun can find it by participating in the Great Parks Pursuit, which features the chance to win great prizes by visiting a variety of community, regional, state and federal parks. To participate, teams of up to 10 individuals must register online, in advance, at negpp.org. All ages may participate. Teams then follow clues from the website or Great Park Pursuit mobile app to find a program post within the park area. Once found, the team marks its visit in the app or makes a pencil impression of the post to prove its visit. Five of the participating parks can be found in the Panhandle: Bridgeport State Recreation Area, Chadron State Park, Kimball City Park, Legion Park in Sidney and Ash Hollow State Historical Park. Visiting those five impression sites is enough to enter teams into a drawing to win a GoPro camera, a 2024 State Park Entry Permit, a NEBRASKAland Subscription and a NEBRASKAland Calendar. To begin your Great Parks Pursuit, visit negpp.org to register your team and checkout a map of all 20 participating parks. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In a split decision Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed Dawes County Sheriff Karl Dailey's conviction for official misconduct for his failure to house a man arrested at his jail over an apparent turf war with the Nebraska State Patrol. The case involves the arrest of Jesse Sierra, a South Dakota man who had been arrested on sexual assault and kidnapping allegations for which he's now serving a life sentence. On July 21, 2019, multiple law enforcement officers started searching for him after his girlfriend showed up at a hospital in Chadron saying he had assaulted her at a motel in Crawford. The Chadron Police Department reached out to the State Patrol and Dawes County Sheriff's Office, but didn't directly contact Dailey. When he learned of the search, he called a State Patrol commander to convey that he "was unhappy (with) how things were unfolding." "According to the commander, Dailey believed that the NSP should have checked with him to make sure it was okay . . . to be assisting the (CPD) in Crawford, Justice Jonathan Papik wrote for the majority. At the motel in Crawford, Dailey told State Patrol troopers they could expect zero cooperation from me and my people in the future, and that, if he could arrange it, "you wont be booking prisoners in my jail anymore; you can take them all the way to Scotts Bluff from now on." In the meantime, a Chadron Police officer found Sierra with a small bruise on his face and limping. He said he'd been run over, so they took him to the hospital in Chadron where he was examined but not admitted. At trial on the misdemeanor, Dailey admitted he was "abusive" toward NSP officers because he was upset. But he said he wouldn't take Sierra because of his high-risk status and the fact that he was injured. The Box Butte County jail and Sheridan County jail also declined to take him. So the State Patrol had to take him 100 miles away to the jail in Scotts Bluff County. After, Dailey was charged with official misconduct for refusing to receive Sierra at the jail. At a bench trial, the judge found him guilty and fined him $750. Dailey appealed to the district court, which found "that Dailey was 'upset' that he was not personally involved in the search for Sierra and 'decided to flex his authority.'" He appealed again to the Supreme Court, which on Friday affirmed his conviction, rejecting Dailey's arguments that as jailer he had authority to decline to take Sierra because he'd been arrested without a warrant or other court order and "by law" sheriffs have discretion to determine who is admitted to jail. "We disagree," Papik wrote. Chief Justice Mike Heavican said, while he agreed with much of the majority's opinion, he wouldn't have affirmed Dailey's conviction because the state hadn't shown that he failed to comply with his obligations as jailer. He said the evidence is uncontroverted that the Nebraska State Patrol did not present Sierra at the Dawes County jail. Nor was evidence presented that Dawes County jail staff declined to take him after he was medically cleared. "Instead, (the State Trooper) concluded, largely based upon Daileys prior statements, that 'Dawes County was not going to take (Sierra),'" Heavican wrote. Douglas County District Judge Kimberly Miller Pankonin, who sat with the Supreme Court on the case, joined him in his dissent. Despite the conviction, Dailey ran for re-election in 2022 and was unopposed. Biggest tornadoes in Nebraska of the past decade Biggest tornadoes in Nebraska of the past decade #15. Apr. 14, 2012 #14. Jun. 12, 2017 #13. May. 26, 2021 #12. May. 27, 2013 #11. Jun. 16, 2014 #10. Jun. 25, 2015 #9. Aug. 19, 2017 #8. Oct. 4, 2013 #7. Mar. 18, 2012 #6. May. 17, 2019 #5. Jun. 17, 2014 #4. May. 11, 2014 #3. May. 11, 2014 #2. Jun. 16, 2014 #1. Oct. 4, 2013 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Centers Summer on the Square Concert Series kicks off June 3 with a free concert by Carson Peters & Iron Mountain. The band has quickly become one of the most energetic and hottest bluegrass bands in the business, making numerous trips to the Grand Ole Opry and multiple international appearances. In addition to his bluegrass career, Carson Peters is among the group of country music traditionalists making a comeback to the Nashville scene. At only 19 years old, Peters has made numerous national TV appearances, including playing the fiddle alongside Ricky Scaggs at the 52nd Country Music Awards and appearing on NBCs The Voice in 2021, where he received a four chair turn with his rendition of the Don Williams classic, Tulsa Time. The Carson Peters & Iron Mountain band consists of Carson and Jamie Peters from Piney Flat, Tennessee, a father and son duo; Ben and Eric Marshall from Mount Airy, another father and son duo; Austin Tate from Marion, Virginia; and James McDowell from Hendersonville. The band will perform on the Rotary Performance Stage at Alexander County Courthouse Park. To learn more about the band or to hear music, visit https://www.carsonandironmt.com/ or carsonpeters.com. All three Summer on the Square concerts are held in addition to the county sponsored concerts in downtown Taylorsville, 101 W. Main Ave., at 7 p.m., rain or shine, on June 3 (Carson Peters), July 22 (ShakeDown) an Aug. 26 (The Night Move Band) with food trucks available on-site. The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Centers Summer on The Square Concert Series is provided through partnership with Alexander County government, the town of Taylorsville, and the North Carolina Arts Council, with funding from the National Endowment of The Arts. For more information or to learn more about the Hiddenite Center, call 828-632-6966, email info@hiddenitearts.org, or visit hiddenitearts.org. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. New Hope Baptist Church will host Man Up Mens Conference on June 2 at 6 p.m. Rusty Thomas will be the speaker for the conference. Thomas is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College and Seminary and the Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife Nicole moved to Blue Ridge, Georgia. They have eight children. The conference will be held in the church fellowship hall, 149 New Hope Road, Statesville. To register, call Chris at 980-254-4742. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The countys school system expects to lose 115 students for next academic year. That loss will take its average daily attendance to 3,677 pupils. A decline in student population directly impacts the school systems funding. The commonwealth, which funds the highest percentage of the systems budget, allocates money based on that daily attendance average. Smyth County has experienced a steady loss of students for some time. About 20 years ago, in the 2002-03 fiscal year, the daily population came in at 5,033 students. In presenting the school systems draft budget to the county supervisors last week, Dr. Dennis Carter, superintendent, thanked them for working to address housing needs, which is hoped to help spark development and population growth. The challenge of a declining population is not the only test school officials faced as they prepared the budget for the 2023-24 year, which starts July 1. The budget challenge is real. The state is in turmoil, Carter said. The General Assembly has not adopted a state budget, which will directly impact the school systems funding, and legislative budget negotiators have advised that action shouldnt be expected until after the June 20 primaries. However, the school system and local governments are required to have their budgets in place by July 1. Of the draft Carter presented to the supervisors for their review and a public hearing later this month, the superintendent said the budget is likely not going to hold true. As now prepared, the school systems budget comes in at $66.2 million. Among the statistics presented by Carter, the county system includes 687 full-time and 39 part-time personnel. Bus drivers cover 3,219 miles each day. Through the last day of school Thursday, the schools food service staff prepared about 704,000 meals this year. Currently, according to Carter, the budget includes a 5% across the board wage increase. However, the superintendent said, the school board has instructed him that if the budget adopted by the state includes a 7% raise, hes to adjust the local numbers to meet that change. Both chambers of the General Assembly proposed a 7% increase, but the so-called skinny budget put out as placeholder only included 5%, noted Carter. The supervisors and school board have put an emphasis on improving teacher salaries for several years. At this point, Carter said, a beginning teacher earns about $40,000 a year, while one on the final of 28 career steps makes about $70,500. Carter also noted that while state legislators corrected a spreadsheet error for 2023 that would have cost the school system $261,595, they have not addressed the error for 2024, which would amount to $646,000 for Basic Aid, which is typically used for general instruction, support services, transportation, and some fringe costs, including health care. For the upcoming budget, Carter said, the school system experienced a 6.2% health insurance jump. Should the anticipated state budget include any additional funding, Carter said the school board also directed him to address the impact of that insurance increase on families. As he looked at the year ahead, Carter also reflected on the successes of this past year and reflected that Smyth County schools cant be talked about in isolation but conversations must include its partners. He hailed Smyth Promise as one of the greatest partnerships for the community. The scholarship program, launched by the countys board of supervisors, the Smyth County Community Foundation, and Virginia Highlands and Wytheville community colleges this year, ensures that tuition wont be an obstacle for local high school graduates. It will work by covering the last dollar that part of tuition not covered by other federal, state and private scholarships to attend either of the community colleges that serve the county. Carter also expressed his gratitude to the supervisors and sheriffs office for the presence of a SRO in each school. I cant thank you enough for that safety feature, he said. He also celebrated the Fentanyl Awareness effort in which students and staff were educated about overdosing and the use of Narcan to combat overdoses. The supervisors will hold a public hearing on the school systems proposed budget on Thursday, May 25, at about 5 p.m. The supervisors will also hold hearings on the countys proposed budget and a proposed 2% water and sewer rate increase that evening. Individual sign-up sheets will be available for citizens who wish to speak at the hearings. The vast Sierra Nevada snowfall has turned California's rivers into hazardous torrents, prompting danger alerts from public safety authorities ahead of Memorial Day weekend, which marks the start of summer recreation. At least seven people, including two children, have died or gone missing this spring while navigating California's fierce rivers. There have also been many rescue operations, AP News reported. Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia in Sacramento, where the American River runs, emphasized this year's unusual circumstances, including greater water levels, quicker currents, and cooler temperatures. Sacramento has already had 20 water rescues this year, almost the same as all of 2022. Swift-water rescue teams conducted drills on Tuesday at the lower American River near its junction with the Sacramento River. Thousands of visitors participate in traditional Sacramento activities like floating, swimming, and rafting on the American River during Memorial Day weekend, making it among the busiest weekends of the year. Officials highly advise avoiding river activity and even wading near the coast due to the approaching circumstances. Besides mountain thunderstorms, forecasts expect pleasant temperatures in Northern California's interior. The Governor's Office of Emergency Services issued a specific warning alert about the current circumstances in light of the increase in Californians going outside, highlighting the presence of rapidly moving water after months of severe weather. With rising river and stream flows caused by this winter's heavy snowfall, it's crucial to exercise extra caution. Don't take unnecessary risks - wait for safer conditions or consider alternative locations before engaging in water recreation. Your safety matters! pic.twitter.com/CG23ysbGaz CA State Parks (@CAStateParks) May 25, 2023 Read Also: West Virginia: 7-Year-Old Arrested for Arson After Setting Family Home on Fire Expect High Volumes of Travelers The popular tourist attraction Sequoia National Park is also mostly closed, except for the foothills region. This is due to escalating torrents and streams brought on by ongoing runoff. The unusually high water levels were not witnessed in previous years, per LA Times. Grant Grove at Kings Canyon National Park lets visitors see sequoias and snow instead of General Sherman, the world's tallest tree/ Meanwhile, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) constructed a second mobile phone waiting lot near 96th Street and Alverstone Avenue to handle the projected increase in travelers. LAX had 1.2 million travelers from Wednesday through Monday, making Thursday the most significant day since March 2020, per NBC Los Angeles. The Automobile Club of Southern California indicated that 3.3 million Southern Californians are expected to travel during the Memorial Day weekend. Californians travel and play at this time of the year. Hence, everyone is advised to observe precautions for a safe and fun holiday weekend. Related Article: Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Passenger Opened Door Mid-Flight @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT Early Tuesday morning, a small group of outdoor adventurers ascended a foot path toward Johnston Ridge Observatory, now dark, cold and desolate, to gather supplies necessary for its summer operations. Shortly after 9 p.m. May 14, a mixture of mud, rocks and water barreled over Spirit Lake Memorial Highway near Milepost 43, burying the passage and damaging its 85-foot bridge. The debris, which flowed from 2,000 feet above the road, blocks visitors only access point to the observatory. Prior to setting off Tuesday, U.S. Forest Service staff and a dozen Mount St. Helens Institute volunteers stood with empty packs soon to be filled with radios, computers and informational sheets. Some checked their headlamps, a necessity for roaming and scavenging the building, which suffered a power outage following the slide. So, I know where the stuff is, joked Kristi Cochrane, U.S. Forest Service visitor centers director. And things are kind of hiding. Their goal: Gather useful items so Johnston Ridge Observatory originally scheduled to open its doors Monday morning can function at the Coldwater Science and Learning Center, a space occupied by educational nonprofit Mount St. Helens Institute. Much remains left behind, including bulkier tech, registers and office supplies, which helicopters will eventually retrieve. Johnston Ridge Observatory sits at the end of Spirit Lake Memorial Highway in the center of Mount St. Helens blast zone, presenting a prime view of the volcano and its crater. Cochrane said visitors can still catch an equally stellar glimpse of the landscape at the Castle Lake Viewpoint Observation Site, near Milepost 40. Forest Service officials are improvising how to reorient their administrative offices at the center, though there will still be opportunities to recreate. Cochrane said staff hope to retain educational programs if possible, such as the Winds of Change Trail nature walk. A land of slides The main path between the Coldwater center and observatory, Hummocks Trail, led the response group over buried mounds of Mount St. Helens north flank that it shed after its 1980 eruption. Boots weaved through wetlands, red alders and various pockets of life, which existed decades ago as a treacherous landscape full of jagged and steep deposits of gravel, ash and shuffled rock. Ray Yurkewycz, Mount St. Helens Institute executive director, said the recent landslide is a token of the volcanos continued relevance. Youre still reminded of this level of power and control that were rarely exposed to as humans, he remarked, motioning to the terrain. But in general, its really an inspiring thing. You cant help but wonder, How did this happen? Multiple schools canceled field trips to the institute following the landslide fearing dangerous conditions, leaving dozens of children to ponder that big question in the classroom. Mount St. Helens Institute lost about 10,000 hours in revenue from the cancellations, Yurkewycz said. But, back to that question: What caused the landslide? Kurt Spicer, U.S. Geological Survey hydraulic technician at the Cascades Volcano Observatory, posited that abnormally warm temperatures likely melted the snowpack and set the landslide in motion. It was comprised of deposits created by Mount St. Helens 1980 eruption, which are more vulnerable to loosening when saturated with water. This type of material is widespread throughout the valley and experiences earth flows, with many existing in locations away from Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. (The landslide) is part of a continuing process, started in 1980, that delivers sediment into the river, he said. Its relatively rare that it impacts human structures, but its a problem elsewhere. Landslides can distribute sediment into waterways, such as the Cowlitz and North Fork Toutle rivers, which can result in flooding, fish migration and shipping channels downstream. Highway response Mount St. Helens eruptive return in 1980 wreaked havoc on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, established in 1903, after being dormant for more than a century. Washington Department of Transportation engineer Paul Harrison, now based in Clark County, started his career at the agency by designing a portion of the road that was damaged in the eruption. And his focus area happened to be on the last 7 miles of the passage, near where May 14s landslide swept through. Construction on the 23-mile stretch of new road began roughly a decade after the blow, taking shape at a higher elevation and featuring 10 major bridges. In my 33 years working with the state, this had to be one of the most exciting projects that I had ever worked on, Harrison said. The terrain, even 10 years after the mountain blew, was still devastated. Colin Newell, WSDOT engineer, did survey work during the highways initial reconstruction and is coordinating efforts to address the recent landslide. The response team, comprised of the U.S. Forest Service, Geological Survey, Army Corps of Engineers and WSDOT, will cross-reference recently collected lidar data with ground information, which will enable them to create a clearance plan and repair strategy. But it will take time. We have a high-to-moderate risk of things still happening in the slide, Newell said. And theres a high severity rate if something happens when youre standing in the middle of debris with an excavator. More information on the closure will be released next week, though there is no expected time for the highways reopening. In the meantime, Coldwater Lake, the Hummocks Trail and Johnston Ridge Observatory remain closed. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Cowlitz County Prosecutor Ryan Jurvakainen announced Thursday afternoon that he would not pursue criminal charges against a Toutle teenager in the March 8 shooting of 36-year-old Casey John Hall. In a two-page announcement, Jurvakainen provided his legal analysis for not filing criminal charges and offered new details that pieced together the circumstances that led to the shooting. According to Jurvakainen, not only would county prosecutors have to prove all elements that a murder occurred beyond a reasonable doubt, but also disprove a possible defense argument that it was a justifiable homicide because the youth was home alone when Hall trespassed on his parents rural property. The evidence presented here is insufficient for the state to meet this burden of proof, Jurvakainen wrote. The announcement disclosed that it took police a half-hour to respond to the Toutle home and that the teenager saw Hall screaming, running laps, and harassing dogs in a kennel in his yard on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. In a summary of evidence, Jurvakainen wrote that Hall began yelling and moving toward the teen, who was inside his home and was watching Hall through an open window. The teen told Hall to get off his property, as Hall proceeded, the teenager fired a warning shot with a revolver and told Hall if he crossed his driveway, he would shoot him, Jurvakainen said. Hall continued walking toward the teen in the window. Hall told the teen that the property belonged to him, to hand over his handgun, and requested a glass of water, according to the summary of evidence. The teen handed Hall a glass of water, which Hall poured onto the ground. He then ordered the juvenile to hand over the gun so he could off him. The teenager elected to shoot Hall in the chest instead and call the police, Jurvakainen said. That the teenager asked Hall to leave, fired a warning shot and offered a glass of water demonstrated an attempt of de-escalation, Jurvakainen wrote. Plus, Halls trespassing and threats made it reasonable for the 17-year-old to view Hall as an imminent danger. Because of these facts, Jurvakainen said he would not be able to disprove justifiable homicide beyond a reasonable doubt. Hope Wagoner, Halls legal representative, told The Daily News, Im really disappointed by the decision the prosecutors made with this case. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Roughly 60 students walked out of class at Monticello Middle School Thursday morning to protest what they and parents call a lack of action by school staff over bullying. Five parents joined the students on the Longview schools lawn. Shera Havens, who helped organize the walkout, said her 12-year-old daughter has been bullied since she started attending Monticello Middle School this school year and the administration has not answered her requests for intervention. Longview School District officials say recent bullying complaints have been addressed on a case-by-case basis, but could not talk about specific instances. Havens said she asked Monticello Middle School leaders to form an assembly where adults and youth could discuss bullying in the school and look for a solution, but staff said it was too late in the school year to hold one. Havens said she recently asked friends who are bikers to escort her child to the school doors as protection because she wasnt getting help from school staff. Monticello Middle School Principal Scott Merzoian didnt answer questions directly related to Havens complaints, but said the schools goal is for every student to feel safe at school and feel included. We stand with our school community against bullying and work hard each day helping students to make good choices and be respectful of others, he said in an email. Merzoian said school remained on a normal schedule Thursday despite the walkout and the vast majority of students continued learning. He said students and parents are encouraged to report bullying so the school can follow up. Havens said Mt. Solo Middle School might walk out as well on Thursday, but Longview Public Schools spokesperson Rick Parrish said there was no walkout at the school. Assistant Superintendent Tony VanderMaas said they have heard recent concerns about certain bullying incidents and have reached out to the parents and school administrators involved. District officials usually only step in on these issues if efforts to find a solution fail, he said. We want to try and solve it at the individual building level, VanderMaas said. Middle school in general is when reports of bullying usually start spiking, VanderMaas said. Teens are at a difficult phase in their lives, trying to find secure friendships and figure out who they are as people. Social media has not helped. When a student goes home, they still have several avenues to continue interacting with their peers. What happens on those platforms often affects the real-life relationship between the students. Some parents believe the school needs to step in when online communication spills over into the real world, VanderMaas said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led Senators in a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Richard Spinrad, and National Marine Fisheries Service Janet Coit, pushing for a revised proposed rule to the Seafood Import Monitoring Plan (SIMP) current proposal to tackle Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing. Joining Merkley in this letter are Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD). IUU fishing depletes marine species, destroys ocean habitats, and enables forced labor and human rights abuses around the world. Quality, safety, and health implications of fraudulent seafood not only directly undercut U.S seafood offerings, but can also have negative impacts on the reputation of lawfully-harvested fish. "As the United States is the world's largest seafood-importing country, we have both the purchasing power and the responsibility to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and human rights abuses in the fishing industry," the lawmakers wrote. "We request that NOAA issue a revised proposed rule because of the lack of interagency and stakeholder consultation, the failure to disclose the method used for additional species selection, and the failure to meet the requirements of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the National Security Memorandum on Combating IUU Fishing and Associated Labor Abuses (NSM-11)." The letter cites how 70-80 percent of U.S. seafood imports are caught outside of U.S. water and almost 55 percent of the seafood Americans consume fails to meet traceability requirements that certifies where the fish was originally caught. This reality makes the U.S. complicit in the depletion of fish and other marine species, the degradation of ocean habitats, and the enabling of labor abuses. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) bears responsibility for ensuring the U.S. has a robust seafood traceability program, and the letter urges its National Marine Fisheries Service to issue a supplemental proposed rule to protect fishers, their communities, and U.S. commerce. The Biden administration's NSM-11 directs the United States to "combat abuses and to strengthen incentives for ethical behavior in the global seafood industry, including by limiting the market for products derived from IUU fishing, labor abuses, or other abusive labor practices." NSM-11 directs agencies to collaborate with multilateral organizations, and regional fisheries management organizations to create guidelines for social responsibility in fisheries, while simultaneously recognizing the role of individual import markets to combat IUU fishing and to include additional species groups. The White House also disclosed that NOAA would issue a proposed rule to the International Fisheries Regulations to enhance its ability to address both IUU fishing and labor abuses in the seafood supply chain. The letter also shines a light on how the current proposed SIMP rule fails to suggest an integrated approach to combatting both IUU fishing and labor abuses. In order to ensure only legal, sustainable, and responsibly-harvested seafood enters the market, the letter encourages the agencies to work in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Labor, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, and other agencies to recognize and adequately address labor abuses in the seafood sector. "Quality, safety, or health implications of fraudulent seafood not only directly undercut the U.S.'s seafood offerings, but also can affect the reputation of legitimate fish and fish products, causing further indirect effects to the fish-based economic sector," the lawmakers conclude. "NMFS must strengthen and expand SIMP, which falls in line with their counter-IUU fishing efforts to help U.S. fishermen." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. More than 5,000 miles separate Deming in Whatcom County, Washington, where the Nooksack River rushes out of the North Cascades, and the Palais des Nations in Geneva, where the United Nations Human Rights Council is headquartered. But a long-running dispute over Indigenous heritage and property in this remote part of Washington has, nonetheless, captured the attention of experts assigned by the U.N. to monitor international human rights. Again. The U.N.'s special rapporteurs for adequate housing and Indigenous rights, independent experts who in early 2022 called on the United States to halt an attempt by the Deming-based Nooksack Indian Tribe to evict certain families from their homes, are now putting more pressure on the White House. It's a remarkable and possibly unprecedented step, observers say, with potential implications for the Nooksack Tribe and communities beyond. More than two dozen people are currently at risk for eviction from homes that were developed on Nooksack land with federal tax credits through a low-income rent-to-own program. The tribe says the residents can no longer use the homes because their Nooksack membership was revoked years ago in a purge of 300-plus people. The residents deny they were justly expelled and say they have property rights, regardless, insisting the tribe is abusing them while using its sovereignty as a shield. In a March 31 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.N. experts Balakrishnan Rajagopal and Jose Francisco Cali Tzay reiterated concerns about the pending evictions of people who self-identify as Nooksack, "allegedly without due process and compensation, in violation of international human rights law." Noting some of the people are elderly and vulnerable, the monitors also pushed back on the stance, taken by President Joe Biden's administration last year, that the federal government can't step in because it can't interfere with a tribe's internal affairs. "States and indigenous authorities share the responsibility for ensuring that processes and decisions by indigenous authorities accord with international human rights," particularly in the context of conflicts between indigenous individuals and their tribes, Rajagopal and Tzay wrote with Claudia Mahler, an independent expert for the U.N. on the rights of older people. They cited "information received" about the dispute, "without prejudging the accuracy" of that information, and they requested details about the rent-to-own program, which is overseen by a Washington state agency. They also asked for evidence of "measures taken" by U.S. and Nooksack authorities "to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations ... including through exploring feasible alternatives to the forced evictions." They said they were sending a separate letter to the Nooksack Tribe. The Nooksack Tribal Council says the U.N. experts are amplifying inaccurate allegations without properly investigating those claims and without speaking directly to tribal officials about the matter. In a statement this week, the council accused the U.N. monitors of breaching their own code of conduct and described the approach as "an insult to tribal sovereignty," the precious independence that Indigenous communities have strived to retain. Michelle Roberts is a leader among the people facing eviction, who are related through a common ancestor. They're represented by a Seattle attorney, Gabe Galanda, a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes who petitioned the U.N. for help in 2021. Roberts described the new letter as a source of hope and a second warning to the tribe that the world is watching. "They're asking to see something tangible," Roberts said. "This is big for us." Eric Eberhard, a University of Washington School of Law professor and an expert on Native legal issues, has never before seen U.N. experts wade into "what might be viewed as an internal tribal matter," as opposed to a disagreement between a tribe and the U.S. Not once, let alone twice, he said. "This is really unusual," because of the context and because the U.N. watchdogs have doubled down, Eberhard said, suggesting the move could boost awareness of international Indigenous law here. "They're basically saying to the United States, 'Yeah, we got your message. We understand there's a unique relationship between the tribe and the United States, but ... we want to know what you're going to do.'" Disenrollment saga The Nooksack Tribe is small, with about 2,000 members, a 1-acre reservation, some trust properties and a casino near the Canadian border. The current dispute dates back to a decade ago, when tribal leaders began trying to expel a large group of existing members. According to those leaders, the people who later became known as the "Nooksack 306" had been incorrectly enrolled in the tribe, starting in the 1980s. Nooksack members must trace their lineage to certain homesteaders or a 1942 census, according to regulations the tribe modified in 2014. The Nooksack 306 descend from a related village on the Canadian side of the border, the tribal leaders have said, citing disenrollment proceedings in 2016 and 2018. "I wish the United Nations would expand their interest in the plight of the Native Americans" to still-enrolled members who need housing, Ross Cline Sr., then-chair of the Nooksack council, said last year. "Yet the U.N. is only concerned about a few Canadian Indigenous people." The 306 have battled the effort through legal and other means, insisting they should remain Nooksack. They've built a reputation as leading foes of tribal disenrollment, a controversial practice that can involve struggles over money and power, and stir questions about culture and identity. It was the U.S. that set the stage for such conflicts, generations ago, by imposing "blood quantum" membership regulations on tribes, said Henry Cagey, a council member with the Lummi Nation, another Whatcom County tribe. Many thousands of people have been disenrolled or otherwise spurned by 80-plus tribes since the mid-1990s, when casino revenues surged, said David Wilkins, a member of the Lumbee Nation of North Carolina and University of Richmond professor who wrote a book about the phenomenon in 2017. Each instance is different, he said, with personal and political strife sometimes more important. "Nooksack isn't the only tribe doing this," said Roberts, who says her grandmother was one of the last people in the area to weave traditional cedar baskets. George Adams, who speaks and teaches the Nooksack Tribe's Lhechelesem language, isn't one of the 306 but cut official ties recently after facing retaliation from tribal leaders for objecting to the disenrollment campaign, he said. Membership shouldn't be decided by a line on a map; traditionally, people moved between villages, Adams said. The campaign is partly about dividing resources among fewer people, "because why else would anybody want a smaller tribe?" he said, describing the agony of the dispute in terms of "temixw," which can be translated as the earth or life force sacred to the Nooksack. "To be separated from that is like being separated at death," he said. Contested evictions Most of the 306 live in other communities but about 20 households live on Nooksack properties held in trust by the federal government, Galanda said. An eviction process with multiple stages began for some households years ago, with Nooksack police officers visiting their homes to serve documents. But the process has been delayed at points by federal investigations, bad weather and legal appeals, which are ongoing. It's been upsetting for Roberts to see loved ones stuck in limbo all this time, especially elders, she said. "They're starting to get dementia and short-term memory loss," Roberts said. Seven households that have received eviction notices, with 28 adults and kids, live in homes developed by the tribe and investment bank Raymond James with tax credits, Galanda said. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission approved the tax credits partly because residents were supposed to take ownership after 15 years; that time has passed, yet none of the homes has been conveyed, according to Galanda and the U.N.'s information. Those seven households sued last year in an attempt to stop the evictions and the state Supreme Court initially ordered the tribe to pause, but then cited "delicate issues of tribal sovereignty" and denied review of the case. Galanda and other attorneys who could represent the 306 have been barred from Nooksack Tribal Court, he said. State and federal officials have urged the tribe to stop but haven't taken effective steps, he said, arguing his clients should have recourse as U.S. citizens, whether enrolled as Nooksack or not. A February 2022 review by the U.S. Department of Interior determined the tribe was adhering to its own rules with its evictions, and multiple courts have declined to halt the process, the Tribal Council noted this week. "The right to convey homes ... requires multiple steps, including tenants being enrolled members of the Nooksack Indian Tribe," with no loophole for people who self-identify, said the council, now chaired by RoseMary LaClair. Rather than recognize that, the U.N. experts "continue to disregard the facts." A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State declined to comment on the new letter from the U.N. monitors except to say: "We convey letters like this to the appropriate domestic authority ... the Department of the Interior." Though the Department of the Interior found no technical problems in 2022, "we implore the Tribe's leaders to stop," Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has shared similar concerns and offered assistance to the households "should the evictions take place," a spokesperson said. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission is working with multiple tribes that are supposed to convey tax-credit homes to residents and has reported some instances of noncompliance to the Internal Revenue Service, including by the Nooksack Tribe, Executive Director Steve Walker said. "We know this is an agonizing situation," he said. "Unfortunately, the Commission has no legal authority to stop these evictions." Gov. Jay Inslee supports that position, a spokesperson said. U.N. pressure In their March 31 letter, the U.N. experts portrayed the assistance HUD has offered as insufficient compared to actual compensation, finding that the residents "have accrued security of tenure and possibly homeownership rights, which are no longer linked to their tribal membership." Though tribes are sovereign entities, the U.S. is still the "primary duty bearer" for upholding human rights everywhere in the country, the U.N. monitors added. The experts described the Biden administration's response to their 2022 letter as "only partial" and asked the administration to consider "potential interferences with the right" of the seven households to enjoy their own culture, religion and language with other members of their group. The letter is important, Galanda said, because it asks Biden and Inslee "to contend with and not dismiss these property rights," and because it tells tribes they "can't proclaim that their rights as Indigenous groups should be protected without honoring the duties that go along with that," he said. "My folks had to go all the way to Geneva to obtain justice, because the doors of justice were closed" in Deming, Olympia and Washington, D.C., he said. It's unclear whether the letter will have much effect on the ground. "I don't think the U.N. has any direct enforcement authority, but it does speak with an objective, internationally approved voice," Eberhard said. "The real power of the U.N. ... is its moral authority and ability to spotlight an issue." The Nooksack Tribal Council isn't backing down, partly because "There is a lack of housing in Washington state, and Nooksack has also been hit," the council's statement said. There are more than 209 still-enrolled members on a waiting list for homes, including elders, a spokesperson said. "All nations have the right to govern themselves and establish their own laws and membership, and sovereign Tribes are no different," the council said. "Tribes may require tribal membership for certain programs. Ignoring this fundamental right undermines Tribal self-determination and the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the United States." After extensive efforts to detect extraterrestrial intelligence, a message from outer space was picked up by three prominent Earth-based radio astronomy observatories today. The signal originated in the vicinity of Mars, and its contents remain hidden at present. However, contrary to initial excitement, the message is not of extraterrestrial origin. It was deliberately transmitted as part of a simulation to mimic an actual communication from aliens. This exercise serves as a dress rehearsal, enabling us to gauge our preparedness and response if we were to encounter a genuine extraterrestrial message. This was organised by the astronomers at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. SETI is devoted to searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence and it aims to initiate a global decryption and decoding game, allowing anyone to participate in deciphering the signal's meaning. A dedicated website called "A Sign in Space" will serve as a platform for discussions, guesses, and weekly workshops related to the message. Despite radio astronomers diligently listening for signs of alien signals over the past 50 years, no intentional or unintentional transmissions from other civilizations have been detected. The vastness of the Milky Way Galaxy, with approximately 200 billion stars is yet to be explored and it provides an expansive search area for potential life. The encoded message that will be used in this simulation was meticulously designed by a team led by Daniela de Paulis, an artist in residence at the SETI Institute and the Green Bank Observatory. Only upon deciphering the message will its contents be revealed to the eager participants. However, history has shown that decoding such signals is a formidable challenge. In 1974, Frank Drake, widely regarded as the father of SETI, crafted a message transmitted from the Arecibo radio antenna. Although the message contained images and patterns formed by zeros and ones, it remained incompletely deciphered, even by esteemed individuals like Carl Sagan. The simulation event commences with the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, a robotic explorer positioned above Mars by the European Space Agency. After the spacecraft transmits the encoded message, the signal will reach three telescopesthe SETI Institute's Allen Telescope Array in Northern California, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, and the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station near Bologna, Italy. Upon processing the signal, each observatory will share its findings on the experiment's website, inviting all Earthlings to join in the analysis. According to de Paulis, receiving a message from an extraterrestrial civilization would be a transformative experience for humanity. In the days to come, additional events centred around investigating unexplained aerial phenomena will take place. Following the Pentagon's disclosure of investigating unidentified flying objects, NASA has established a committee to apply scientific standards to the study of these phenomena, referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena or U.A.P.s. On May 31, NASA plans to host a public meeting to discuss the progress made so far. While the excitement of a potential alien encounter remains unrealized, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and exploration of unidentified phenomena continue to captivate human curiosity. OpenAI Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman's European goodwill tour devolved into a war of words with European Union regulators after he said his company could pull out of the bloc over its proposed AI Act. The details really matter, Altman, whose company kicked off the artificial intelligence boom with the release of ChatGPT last year, told reporters in London this week. We will try to comply, but if we can't comply we will cease operating. His warning comes as EU regulators are considering laws that will hold AI companies accountable for how their systems are used. EU lawmakers voted in committee in favor of additional controls earlier this month, amid fears the new technology could be used to create deepfakes or violate people's privacy. Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton responded Thursday on Twitter by accusing Altman of trying to intimidate regulators. There is no point in attempting blackmail claiming that by crafting a clear framework, Europe is holding up the rollout of generative #AI, Breton wrote. He referenced the EU's AI Pact, a new voluntary framework discussed with Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai this week, through which the EU will help companies prepare for the AI Act. A spokeswoman for OpenAI didn't respond to a request for comment. Altman is in the middle of a global tour to promote OpenAI and speak to regulators. He was in Poland earlier in the week, where he said his company was considering opening a research office in Europe, and is also visiting Munich and Paris. Altman did not stop in Brussels. The EU's AI Act is on track to be the first comprehensive legislation to address artificial intelligence. While the original proposal focused on regulating its use rather than the technology itself, the European Parliament proposed new rules that specifically target large language models after the explosion in popularity in generative AI. Altman told a US Senate committee earlier this month that the technology needs some regulatory guardrails. In London, he said regulation should be somewhere in between the traditional approach of Europe and the US. I hope we can find a middle ground, he said. You don't want to allow regulatory capture for companies like us. Brad Smith, the vice chair and president of Microsoft Corp, which invested $10 billion in OpenAI, said he's optimistic that reason will prevail in the final version of the AI Act. Asked about Altman's threat to pull OpenAI products out of Europe, Smith said it's important for the tech industry to explain how proposed regulation would work in practice. The legislative process in every democratic country inevitably has its twist and turns, Smith said Thursday in Washington after a speech on AI regulation. 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. 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: Long-duration energy storage is a likely candidate to help states meet aggressive decarbonization goals. Credit: Stephanie King / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory How can U.S. states with aggressive decarbonization goals coupled with federal decarbonization goals have energy when they need it? Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is a likely candidate. LDES systems are large energy storage installations that can store renewable energy until needed and can provide a much-needed solution for a reliable and decarbonized grid. But planning needs to start now, according to new research from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). "Defining Long Duration Energy Storage," a report by Senior Energy Analyst Jeremy Twitchell and Waterpower Advisor Kyle DeSomber from PNNL, explores how the growth of renewable energy generation will require LDES to fill the gap between variable energy generation and customer demands. The report also describes the barriers in current energy planning and procurement processes that prevent planners from recognizing those needs. "This isn't something we are going to be able to flex out of like we have in the past," said Twitchell. "Things like energy efficiency, demand response, and overbuilding generation capacity will all be part of the solution. But when you look at the sheer size of these mismatches between when energy is produced in a decarbonized grid and when it is consumed, we simply can't deploy those things at the required scale," Twitchell added. The report, published in the Journal of Energy Storage, looks at how the amount of variable energysuch as wind and solaravailable for the grid is changing, outlines new definitions for long-term energy storage, and uses an illustrative example of California's power needs to demonstrate future shortfalls. Why does this matter now? In addition to the non-binding federal goal that all electric generation will be provided from clean energy sources by 2035, many more states have adopted binding or non-binding decarbonization policieswhich means a fundamental change in how energy is produced. For example, 16 states and territories have binding requirements for 100% clean or net-zero energy (12 states at 100% clean energy, four states at net zero), and six states have non-binding goals for 100% clean or net-zero energy (three states at 100% clean energy, and three states at net zero). Why do variable energy sources and planners need long-duration energy storage? Variable energy resources are increasingly included as a central component of how grid planners meet customer demand. But variable energy is exactly thatvariable. For it to produce energy, the wind needs to blow, or the sun needs to shine. This poses a huge challenge for grid operators that must meet customer demands in real time. Even with times of surplus energy generation, California will face even deeper deficits despite additional power generated from other sources. Credit: Animation by Stephanie King / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory LDES gives electricity a shelf life so grid operators can use it more effectively and for longer terms when taking into consideration changing customer demands, climate, extreme weather events, and seasonal dependencies. Think of energy storage systems like the battery in your cell phone, which only stays charged for so long despite there being small things that can extend the battery's life. If your phone is not recharged, it will die. The same is true with long-duration energy storage. Currently, LDES is loosely defined anywhere between 10 to 100 hours. Twitchell and DeSomber propose that industry adopt two classes of LDES: one class, diurnal, lasts up to 20 hours to reconcile daily cycles of surplus and deficits in generation. The second class, seasonal, reconciles seasonal periods of surplus power generation with seasonal periods of insufficient generation. By thinking of long-duration energy in two different ways, utility and grid planners can look at historical load data and better pinpoint the length of "stop gap" energy that will be needed. California, we have a mismatch Using load and generation data from the California Independent System Operator, Twitchell and DeSomber created a model to show energy shortfalls. "Looking at our data in our illustrative example of California, the deficit is 30 gigawatts of capacity in one dayapproximately half of California's total generation in one day," said Twitchell. To make up that deficit, the state would need 15 Hoover Dams producing energy over that same period. As expected, energy consumption is highest during the morning between 5 and 8 a.m. and in the evening after 5 p.m. Throughout the day, solar resources begin producing energy, which helps offset what customers need. Demand is at its highest at 6 p.m., but solar-produced energy begins to dramatically fall from 5 to 8 p.m., which creates a shortfall. Long-duration energy storage for the future Binding clean energy targets set in 28 states and Washington, D.C. will require about 34% of electricity consumed in the United States to be from non-emitting resources by 2050, based on those states' share of electricity consumption in 2020. This means that by the year 2050, the amount of non-emitting generation on the grid will need to increase by almost 50%. Incorporating all that variable generation while keeping the lights on will be a significant undertaking. "Much of the research that has been done in this space concludes that long-duration energy storage can reduce the costs of operating a fully decarbonized power grid," said Twitchell. "These findings are important, but our paper takes the additional step to explain that long-duration energy storage is not a luxury, but a necessity. This is not an economic paradigm, it's a reliability paradigm." California uses energy from other sources, such as natural gas generators (their largest source of energy right now), lithium-ion batteries, and other states' energy surplus, to augment what is lost. However, as more energy storage assets are dedicated to this service, the duration requirements increase as the remaining peak becomes flatter and longer. Credit: Stephanie King / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Others in industry and research are collectively tackling this challenge as well. One of them is Julia Souder, the CEO for the Long Duration Energy Storage Council, a global non-profit that works to accelerate the decarbonization of the world through the acceleration of long-duration energy storage. "LDES is a necessity to effectively de-risk our clean energy future and PNNL reiterates the critical fact that the clean energy transition is not possible without it," Souder said. "As the market matures, grid planners and operators will benefit from the research here that displays how LDES provides a flexible, resilient, secure, and affordable solution to meet tomorrow's energy grid needs. And, as we look to multi-hour, multi-day, and seasonal energy storage solutions to achieve 24/7 clean energy, the planning and procurement process needs to be much more inclusive to allow LDES to fully participate in the market." Now is the time to act Twitchell, DeSomber, and Souder all agree: The time to act is now. "The motivation for this paper and research was to make the case that LDES will be an absolute necessity in a decarbonized grid," Twitchell said. "If we want it to be available when we need it, then we need to start sending clear market signals that will support research and development of LDES technologies now. These technologies take years to develop, but our energy planning and procurement processes work on short (less than three-year) cycles. By the time our processes identify LDES needs, there won't be time to develop and deploy them." More information: Jeremy Twitchell et al, Defining long duration energy storage, Journal of Energy Storage (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2022.105787 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 quantum sensor was tested within a shipping container on the XV Patrick Blackett. Credit: Thomas Angus, Imperial College London A prototype quantum sensor with potential applications in GPS-free navigation, developed at Imperial College London, has been tested in collaboration with the Royal Navy. The test marks an important step in bringing new quantum technologies out of the lab and into real-world settings. Many navigation systems today rely on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), such as GPS, which uses signals from satellites orbiting the Earth. However, GPS navigation is not always accessible, obstacles like tall buildings can easily block the satellite signals, and they are also susceptible to jamming, imitation, or denial, thereby preventing accurate navigation. It has been estimated that a single day of satellite service denial would incur a cost of 1 billion to the UK. Self-contained satellite-free navigation systems do exist; however, current technologies drift over time, meaning they lose accuracy unless regularly calibrated with satellites. The quantum sensor has the potential to remove this drift, significantly improving the accuracy over long timescales. The Imperial College London team unveiled their first 'quantum compass' prototype in 2018, and have since been refining the technology to the point where it can now be tested in the field. Real-world environments The latest Imperial quantum sensor was integrated into a Qinetiq NavyPODan interchangeable rapid prototyping platform, before setting sail to London aboard a new Royal Navy research ship the XV Patrick Blackett. The experiment is the first step towards understanding the application and exploitation of quantum-enabled navigation, which could provide significant navigational advantages when operating in satellite-denied areas. Dr. Joseph Cotter, lead scientist on the quantum sensor from the Department of Physics at Imperial, said, "Access to the Patrick Blackett provides us with a unique opportunity to take quantum sensors out of the lab and into the real-world environments, where they are needed." Commander Michael Hutchinson, Commanding Officer of XV Patrick Blackett, said, "Working with Imperial College London on this project has been an exciting and interesting opportunity for all of us. So far, the testing has gone well but the technology is still in its very early stages. It's great to be a part of Royal Navy history." An earlier prototype of the technology in the lab at Imperial College London. Credit: Thomas Angus, Imperial College London Exploiting ultracold atoms The Imperial quantum sensor is a new type of accelerometer. Accelerometers measure how an object's velocity changes over time. By combining this information with rotation measurements and the initial position of the object, the current location can be calculated. Conventional accelerometers are used in many different devices such as mobile phones and laptops. However, these sensors cannot maintain their accuracy over longer periods of time without an external reference. The quantum accelerometer uses ultracold atoms to make highly accurate measurements. When cooled to extremely low temperatures the atoms start to display their 'quantum' nature, resulting in wave-like properties. As the atoms move through the sensor, an 'optical ruler' is formed by using a series of laser pulses. This allows the acceleration of the atoms to be precisely measured. Quantum legacy These new tests build on a legacy of quantum research at Imperial. Imperial has formed the Centre for Quantum Engineering, Science and Technology (QuEST) to translate discoveries in quantum science into transformative quantum technologies. Professor Peter Haynes, Director of QuEST at Imperial, says, "The quantum accelerometer is a pioneering technology at the forefront of quantum innovation. It has the potential to transform navigation by making it more accurate and secure." "This work represents the latest advance in Imperial's long track record of world-leading research in quantum science and technology. With deep expertise in basic science, engineering and translation, we are focussed on making quantum technologiesand the benefits they holda reality." The XV Patrick Blackett ship also has another Imperial connection. The 1948 Nobel Prize winner Professor Lord Blackett was head of the Imperial College Department of Physics from 1953 to 1963 and the main building on the South Kensington campus still bears his name. 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: ICRC humanitarian aid distribution. Credit: ICRC / EPFL 2023 EPFL researchers have worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to develop a first of its kind, digital system to support humanitarian aid distribution. The design uses tokens to decentralize the storage and processing of recipients information, reducing the risk of harm, and uses advanced cryptography to enable accountability. Humanitarian organizations exist to protect and assist the victims of violence, famine and disaster. One key area of their work is the distribution of goods such as food and blankets in emergencies. Traditionally, paper-based lists have been used to support aid-distribution and, while practical, do not scale well and at times are easy to circumvent. Humanitarian organizations see digital solutions a promising way to address these issues; however, to date, these have relied on collecting significant amounts of recipient data. This may jeopardize recipient safety and can complicate the relationship of humanitarian organizations with local authorities. For example, in Yemen, the World Food Program clashed with Houthi authorities because of the disagreement over the use and control of biometric data. Ethically, it's also questionable whether gathering the personal information of vulnerable people is acceptable, given the risks that it entails for them. For more than 12-months, researchers from the Security and Privacy Engineering Laboratory (SPRING) in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC) partnered with staff in the ICRC Data Protection Office to gain a deep understanding of the humanitarian context. "The ICRC field experts brought a lot of new perspectives, giving us a realistic and detailed view of the whole aid distribution program, which was critical for us to design the system. For example, we learned about their strong accountability requirements because of the need to maintain transparency as a humanitarian organization. The information required to fulfill this requirement is in conflict with the need for privacy to preserve the safety of recipients," said Boya Wang, Doctoral Assistant in the SPRING Lab and first author on the paper outlining the work. "I've learned a lot from the collaboration with the ICRC in this project. As a junior researcher, when I read papers about privacy-preserving system design, the process seems to be linear: abstracting the problem, summarizing the requirement, then proposing a design. But the real process was different. We designed, got feedback, amended, got feedback. We really needed a lot of iterations to find a solution that took account of all the trade-offs between the different requirements," she continued. The new privacy-preserving humanitarian aid distribution system needed to address several other challenges identified with the ICRC. Most aid-distribution programs take place in crisis affected settings where there is often no last-generation hardware or internet connectivity so it had to avoid relying on these. As well, aid distribution systems are not targeted at individuals, they must permit aid allocation to households with several members, yet they must ensure that households can only request aid once per distribution round. "We created two system design alternatives, the first on a smartphone, for situations in which recipients have access to one, and the second on a smart card, for when the ICRC needs to distribute cheap tokens in the field," explained Assistant Professor Carmela Troncoso, Head of the SPRING Lab and also an author on the paper., "We also demonstrate that these two alternatives are secure, and can easily scale to cover the needs of the ICRC in the field." "In the Data Protection Office we monitor the implementation and application of the responsible use of personal data and provide recommendations on its use in ICRC operations. With this novel project, we have seen how impactful it is when solutions are designed for protecting individual privacy from the very start," said Justinas Sukaitis, Data Protection by Design Technology Adviser at the ICRC. "Nonetheless, there are some significant steps ahead for this system as, even though the theory and lab experiments hold, we need to do the feasibility study on our end as we never test on people whose lives may be affected by a last minute bug," he continued. Despite the challenges of the work, Troncoso believes the partnership shows that for computer scientists, collaboration with organizations can bring a lot of space and creativity in generating novel methods for research. "Working hand in hand with stakeholders, in this case the ICRC, is always very rewarding. Not only do we get to work on designs that can impact the life of people in need, but we also discover new scenarios that allow us to produce high-quality research." Wang has also found the experience very positive and says it has helped her to realize that science is not really at arms' length from the everyday world. "As computer scientists we may think that we are distanced from a lot of problems, but I believe we are closer than we usually think. For me, it is important to understand the real need in the context and to reflect the societal aspects of our research. I would like to keep this kind of spirit in my future work." Sukaitis was impressed with how the SPRING Lab could distill the ICRC's requirements to their core essence, a crucial but often times not evident task. "We want to adapt this type of approach for our own assessments. As an EPFL computer science alumni myself, I can say that the humanitarian field is an extremely rewarding and interesting field for engineers, and I wish more people from Computer and Data Science would join the ranks of humanitarian engineers." The paper, "Not Yet Another Digital ID: Privacy-preserving Humanitarian Aid Distribution" received a Distinguished Paper Award at the 2023 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy in San Francisco, a forum for developments in computer security and electronic privacy. It is available on the pre-print arXiv server. More information: Boya Wang et al, Not Yet Another Digital ID: Privacy-preserving Humanitarian Aid Distribution, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2303.17343 Journal information: arXiv Nearly 40 crocodiles killed a Cambodian man on Friday after he accidentally fell into their enclosure at his family's reptile farm. The 72-year-old was attempting to relocate a crocodile that had laid eggs in a cage when it seized the stick he was using and dragged him into the enclosure. The main group of reptiles attacked him and ripped his body apart, resulting in the concrete enclosure at the Siem Reap farm being covered in blood, as reported by The Straits Times. According to the police chief of Siem Reap commune, Mey Savry, a man was trying to remove a crocodile from a cage where it was laying eggs. During the process, the crocodile attacked the stick the man was using, causing him to fall into the enclosure. Other crocodiles then joined in, attacking and killing the man. His body was found with numerous bite marks, and one of his arms had been bitten off and eaten by the crocodiles. In 2019, a little girl who was only two years old was killed and consumed by crocodiles on her family's reptile farm in the same village. The police chief confirmed this incident. Several crocodile farms are present near Siem Reap, which is the entrance to the well-known ruins of Angkor Wat. Read also: Scientists Use Robots Disguised as Crocodiles to Study the Mara River Crocodiles in Cambodia Cambodia is home to two species of crocodiles, the Siamese crocodile and the saltwater crocodile. Both species are considered endangered due to habitat loss and poaching for their skins and meat. Crocodile farming has become a popular industry in Cambodia, with farmers raising them for their valuable skins and meat. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Leigh Bedford) Nile crocodile head However, incidents like the recent attack highlight the dangers inherent in working with these powerful animals. Authorities in Cambodia are calling for increased safety measures and regulations to prevent future incidents and protect both people and crocodiles. Crocodiles have been a part of Cambodia's history and culture for centuries, with depictions of the reptile appearing in ancient artwork. However, as their habitats continue to shrink due to human activity and climate change, they have become more vulnerable. In recent years, there has been increased attention on the illegal trade of crocodile products in Southeast Asia. The demand for crocodile skins remains high despite international regulations prohibiting their sale. This has led to an increase in poaching and farming practices that are not sustainable or humane. Conservation efforts are underway in Cambodia to protect both species of crocodiles native to the country. However, incidents like the recent attack underscored how important it is for those who work closely with these animals - whether farmers raising them commercially or researchers studying them -to take safety precautions seriously at all times. As visitors flock back to Angkor Wat after months-long lockdowns due Covid-19 pandemic, authorities must ensure proper measures are put up around farms near tourist places where people get close access. It will help prevent any future accidents involving dangerous wild animals while also protecting endangered species from harm by humans. Related article: Scientists Find Ancient Crocodile Species Speculated To Devour Human Ancestors in Africa Millions of Years Ago @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Indiana Medical Licensing Board decided to reprimand and fine Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Caitlin Bernard after ruling she violated patient privacy laws by publicizing about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio. The board voted to issue the abortion provider a letter of reprimand and a $3,000 fine. However, it refused a request from Indiana attorney-general Todd Rokita to have Bernard's license suspended, dismissing Rokita's allegations that the physician violated state law by not reporting the rape case to Indiana authorities. Hearing triggered by Roe v. Wade overturning The board heard the procedure for the Ohio girl was done in Indiana after the US Supreme Court overturned its ruling on Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide. Due to the reversal, Ohio passed a law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Bernard told the hearing that the girl was over six weeks pregnant by the time the law passed and had to travel to Indiana to have the procedure as the state still allowed abortions to be performed up to 20 weeks after fertilization. Rokita submitted to the state medical board a complaint against Bernard in December. State officials told the board that Bernard was an "abortion activist" who shared about the procedure with the media without requesting permission from the girl's family first. Meanwhile, Bernard and her colleague Dr. Amy Caldwell filed a lawsuit against Rokita to prevent his office from accessing the medical records of their patients and investigating abortion providers. However, a judge declined their petition, saying the matter should be deferred to Indiana's medical board. Bernard: Rokita politicized the case The matter also resulted in an investigation across the border in Ohio, where 27-year-old Gerson Fuentes was charged with the rape of the 10-year-old girl. Speaking at the board hearing, Bernard said she complied with the investigation by having her patient hospitalized to ensure the fetal remains could be collected and submitted as evidence. She also told the board she properly reported the child abuse case to Ohio authorities in line with her hospital's guidelines. She also criticized Rokita and politicians from both Indiana and Ohio for politicizing the case. "I don't think that anyone would have been looking into this story as any different than any other interview that I have ever given if it was not politicized the way that it was by public figures in our state and in Ohio," she said. Bernard emphasized the importance of understanding the real-life impacts of the laws that were passed and court rulings that were deliberated in order to prevent a similar case from happening again in the future. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. As the first member of her immediate family to attend college, Stephanie Landeros is one of eight Bryan Collegiate High School seniors named a Greater Texas Foundation Aggie Scholar. The GTF Aggie Scholars scholarship provides students with a full ride to Texas A&M University, a learning community of fellow GTF Aggie Scholars and mentorship from GTF Aggie Scholar upperclassmen. The scholarship is provided by the Bryan-based Greater Texas Foundation, an organization that helps Texas students achieve success in post-secondary education through grants, research and leadership. The foundation provides a total of 40 scholarships to graduates of early college high school programs as defined by the Texas Education Agency. With the goal of one day becoming a nurse, Landeros will study public health at Texas A&M and said helping fellow community members is her passion. Last summer, Landeros discovered her interest in the nursing field while volunteering at St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital. When I was volunteering at the postpartum [unit], I actually went into another section of nursing, where they just had the babies, she said. When they started setting up the little cribs that [the babies were] going to be in, or like the [newborn intensive care unit], it was like, Wow, this is cool. I would really enjoy doing that. Students enrolled at Bryan Collegiate are required to complete 100 hours of community service before graduation, which takes place at 7 p.m. Friday at Rudder Auditorium. Knowing she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, Landeros began volunteering at St. Joseph Hospital after her sophomore year. Ive seen how patients really needed the help, so being able to be a nurse and giving that hope to others really brought a spark to me, she said. Not a lot of the nurses knew Spanish, so I was able to speak Spanish to the patients and they grinned because not a lot of people could speak Spanish to them. Bryan Collegiate specifically recruits eighth grade students who are at risk of dropping out of high school or come from low-income families. Students begin completing college coursework as early as freshmen year to prepare them for post-secondary education following graduation. We have to make sure that were scaffolding in lots of support for those students to make sure that theyre learning all of the soft skills and all of the academic skills that theyre going to need to be successful in college level work, Bryan Collegiate principal Tommy Roberts said. Bryan Collegiate staff works hard to ensure students are set up for success and Roberts said he feels an overwhelming sense of pride for the eight students who will attend A&M on a full-ride scholarship. We continue to support them all along the journey all four years here at Bryan Collegiate, Roberts said. The hope is that once they leave Bryan Collegiate and cross the stage, and when theyre at A&M or UT or Sam Houston State University, they are ready to engage with those college level courses all on their own, because they have a lot of those soft skills and academic skills under their belt at the point that they graduate from us. Growing up in Bryan-College Station, Landeros said she has been surrounded by Aggie culture her entire life. Everyone has their A&M pride living here, and so I grew up with that, and my parents also did, since my mom is from here, she said. Shes seen that growing up, and she wasnt able to attend [A&M]. So seeing her daughter attend that is [a] dream of hers, too. Stephanies mother, Patricia, played a large role in helping her achieve that dream. My mom, she was always the one thats attending all these things, and drove me to volunteer, doing all these things, so I could do my extracurriculars, Stephanie said. So she really helped me do the things that I wanted to do. Patricia said others also supported her daughter on this journey. Our family, her friends, uncle, cousins, all of them, and everybody supports her, she said. When she needed help, we were there to help her out. In addition to the support she received from the community, Patricia said her daughter worked hard to reach her goals. I know shes a good person inside and out, Patricia said. I know she will try to achieve more in the future and I know shes really excited about her future. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. AUSTIN Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton teetered on the brink of impeachment Thursday after years of scandal, criminal charges and corruption accusations that the states 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 states 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 GOPs most prominent legal combatants, who in 2020 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Bidens 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 committees investigation came to light Tuesday, Paxton suggested it was a political attack by the Houses 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. Its 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 Paxtons 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. Final removal would require two-thirds support in the Senate, where Paxtons wifes, Angela, is a member. 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 didnt know about Paxtons 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. To Paxtons 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 Paxtons 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 what has unleashed the most serious risk to Paxton is his relationship with another wealthy donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. Several of Paxtons 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 Pauls 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 Paxtons 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 doesnt 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. Craneware plc (OTCMKTS:CRWRF Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decrease of 98.5% from the April 30th total of 6,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Craneware Stock Performance CRWRF stock remained flat at $18.75 during midday trading on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average is $16.28. Craneware has a twelve month low of $14.00 and a twelve month high of $18.75. Get Craneware alerts: About Craneware (Get Rating) Recommended Stories Craneware Plc engages in the provision of software and support services for the healthcare industry. Its services and solutions include patient engagement, charge capture and pricing, claims analysis, revenue recovery and retention, and cost analytics. The company was founded by William Gordon Craig and Keith Neilson on May 19, 1999 and is headquartered in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Craneware Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Craneware and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A regulatory change that allows states to drop Medicaid beneficiaries resulted in the loss of coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans. Early data indicate that many Medicaid participants have been eliminated owing to procedural concerns, such as failing to complete eligibility verification papers or finding individuals. Due to the significant frequency of procedural terminations, people may lose coverage while being eligible, The New York Times reported. Due to a stipulation in a 2020 coronavirus relief package, states could not remove Medicaid recipients until this spring. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this ensured that people had coverage indefinitely, which caused a spike in enrollment in Medicaid. The insurance ended on the last day of March. States have begun providing statistics on coverage reductions, highlighting the negative effect of the unwinding process on the poor and vulnerable. Sadly, many of those impacted are children. At least 19 states have begun removing Medicaid beneficiaries. In April, 73,000 Arkansas citizens, including 27,000 children under 17, lost Medicaid coverage. Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders sees the unwinding as vital to save costs and retain Medicaid's primary purpose. She argues that Arkansas' actions are motivated by a desire to maintain government reliance. Read Also: Rare Neurological Disorder Forces Celine Dion to Cancel World Tour States Taking Necessary Steps With 95 million members, Medicaid, a joint federal-state program, is vital to the American safety net, per NPR. Without Medicaid, patients may have to pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and other medical procedures. Medicaid-dependent low-income people may find the situation burdensome. Chiquita Brooks-Lasure, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), emphasizes efforts to prevent eligible individuals from losing coverage. Nonetheless, a new projection from the health research group KFF indicates up to 24 million people, including several still qualified but caught in administrative discrepancies, might be denied Medicaid. The CMS requires states to have operational strategies for unwinding. These plans must prioritize renewals, set deadlines, and minimize coverage loss during unwinding, according to KKF. States have reportedly put different plans in place to be ready for the termination of continuous enrolment laws, according to a KFF survey released in January 2023. Most states expect to finalize renewals within 12-14 months. Related Article: Neuralink Gets FDA Nod for Human Brain Implant Study @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. reduced its position in shares of Mistras Group, Inc. (NYSE:MG Get Rating) by 19.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 73,292 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 18,176 shares during the period. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. owned about 0.25% of Mistras Group worth $361,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Mistras Group by 34.7% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 27,156 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $180,000 after purchasing an additional 6,989 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Mistras Group by 9.5% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 72,166 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $477,000 after purchasing an additional 6,268 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Mistras Group by 0.9% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,400,796 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,258,000 after purchasing an additional 12,485 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Mistras Group by 3.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 996,636 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,587,000 after purchasing an additional 36,770 shares during the period. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in Mistras Group by 5.5% in the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 500,458 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $3,308,000 after purchasing an additional 26,162 shares during the period. 48.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Mistras Group alerts: Mistras Group Stock Performance MG remained flat at $7.39 during trading on Friday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 11,122 shares, compared to its average volume of 76,964. Mistras Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $3.38 and a 12 month high of $8.31. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $7.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $5.71. The company has a market capitalization of $223.92 million, a P/E ratio of 35.19 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.46. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Mistras Group ( NYSE:MG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 8th. The technology company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter. Mistras Group had a return on equity of 4.64% and a net margin of 0.99%. The company had revenue of $168.22 million for the quarter. A number of analysts have issued reports on MG shares. StockNews.com raised Mistras Group from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. TheStreet raised Mistras Group from a d+ rating to a c rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Mistras Group Profile (Get Rating) MISTRAS Group, Inc engages in the provision of technology-enabled asset protection solutions. The firm serves the oil and gas, aerospace, power, infrastructure, and manufacturing markets. It operates through the following segments: Services, International Offers Services, and Products and Systems. The Services segment provides asset protection solutions primarily in North America, consisting primarily of non-destructive testing, inspection, mechanical, and engineering services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mistras Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mistras Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC bought a new stake in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 896 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock, valued at approximately $213,000. Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 6.4% during the 4th quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,181,355 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $517,701,000 after purchasing an additional 131,444 shares during the last quarter. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP now owns 1,311,604 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $311,283,000 after purchasing an additional 105,705 shares during the last quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,279,492 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $261,976,000 after purchasing an additional 216,900 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,240,241 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $309,590,000 after purchasing an additional 27,057 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,089,844 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $272,045,000 after purchasing an additional 67,327 shares during the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes SHW has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Mizuho lifted their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $263.00 to $268.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $270.00 to $251.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Loop Capital lifted their target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $260.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Zelman & Associates cut shares of Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Sherwin-Williams from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $240.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $258.74. Sherwin-Williams Stock Performance SHW stock traded up $2.16 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $228.67. 252,735 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,520,739. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $226.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $233.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.03, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 1.00. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 52 week low of $195.24 and a 52 week high of $278.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.97 billion, a PE ratio of 28.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.07. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.84 by $0.20. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 9.41% and a return on equity of 86.29%. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.61 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 8.7 EPS for the current year. Sherwin-Williams Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.605 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.06%. Sherwin-Williamss payout ratio is 29.69%. Sherwin-Williams Company Profile (Get Rating) The Sherwin-Williams Co engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paint and coatings. It operates through the following segments: America Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coating Group. The America Group segment manages the exclusive outlets for Sherwin-Williams branded paints, stains, supplies, equipment, and floor coverings. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Sherwin-Williams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sherwin-Williams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SSE plc (LON:SSE Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday following a dividend announcement from the company. The stock traded as high as GBX 1,919 ($23.87) and last traded at GBX 1,897 ($23.59), with a volume of 355938 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,869.50 ($23.25). The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Thursday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 27th will be issued a GBX 67.70 ($0.84) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.62%. This is a positive change from SSEs previous dividend of $29.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. SSEs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9,175.26%. Get SSE alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,050 ($25.50) price objective on shares of SSE in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a GBX 2,100 ($26.12) target price on shares of SSE in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of SSE in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 1,949.88 ($24.25). SSE Price Performance Insider Buying and Selling at SSE The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 95.17. The stock has a market capitalization of 20.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,914.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.57. The companys 50 day moving average is GBX 1,823.20 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 1,749.40. In other SSE news, insider John Bason acquired 2,117 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 1,889 ($23.50) per share, for a total transaction of 39,990.13 ($49,738.97). In other news, insider John Bason purchased 2,117 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 1,889 ($23.50) per share, for a total transaction of 39,990.13 ($49,738.97). Also, insider Martin Pibworth purchased 48 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 1,757 ($21.85) per share, for a total transaction of 843.36 ($1,048.96). 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About SSE (Get Rating) SSE plc engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity. It generates electricity from water, gas, coal, oil, and multi fuel. The company distributes electricity to approximately 3.8 million homes and businesses across the north of the central belt of Scotland and central southern England; and owns, operates, and develops high voltage electricity transmission system in the north of Scotland and remote islands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for SSE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SSE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Buenos Aires archbishop Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli Friday. The Pope also appointed Rio Gallegos bishop Jorge Ignacio Garcia Cuerva as Poli's successor. In accordance with church laws, Catholic bishops are required to tender their resignation letter to the pope on their 75th birthday. Poli, who turned 75 last November, succeeded the pope as Archbishop of Buenos Aires after then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013. "Bishop of the peripheries" Garcia graduated with a civil law degree and a licentiate in canon law. He was ordained a priest in 1997 and consecrated auxiliary bishop of Lomas de Zamora in 2017 He was then appointed bishop of Rio Gallegos in southern Argentina in 2019. As a priest, he served as a prison chaplain and championed the welfare of Argentinian prisoners due to the overcrowding of the country's prison system. Garcia's ministry to prisoners was something he shared with the pope. Upon his election, Francis took with him to the Vatican his personal ministry to prisoners and detainees, such as celebrating Maundy Thursday Mass at detention facilities. It was said that Garcia took inspiration from the legacy of Argentine "slum priest" Fr. Carlos Mugica, who was part of the Movement of Priests for the Third World. Mugica was assassinated by the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance in 1974. Francis longs for home Prior to the announcement, Pope Francis expressed his intention to visit Argentina by "next year" at a students' forum in Rome. "My idea is to go next year," the pope said. "We'll see if it's possible." The pontiff has distanced himself from the affairs of his homeland ever since his election as Bishop of Rome. But a recent shift in Argentina's political life after the election of its new president last October made him reconsider his plans. Should the visit materialize, the responsibility of accommodating the wheelchair-bound pope falls upon Garcia. Pope skips meetings due to fever The Vatican announced Friday that the 86-year-old pope skipped his scheduled meetings because he was running a fever. According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pontiff was exhausted from a meet-and-greet event at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum the day before. The pope also attended multiple meetings last week, including one with the Italian bishops' conference and another with his school foundation, Scholas Occurrentes. Francis was scheduled to preside over Pentecost Mass on Sunday and conduct an official audience with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday. The pope was previously hospitalized in March after suffering from acute bronchitis. He stayed at the Gemelli hospital for three days. As a young man, the pope had a part of one of his lungs removed due to a respiratory infection. Pope Francis also had 13 inches of his colon removed in 2021, which gradually resulted in mobility issues. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake has awarded scholarships to nine local students. Six students were from Franklin County High School, two students were from Staunton River High School and one student was from Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy. The scholarships will provide $1,500 to the school account of each student as they begin their college journey. The Rotary Club has for many years awarded one-year scholarships to Staunton River and Franklin County High Schools. Beginning in 2020 the Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy was added to its list of applicants. This year the Scholarship Committee reviewed a total of 16 applications with the majority coming from Franklin County High School. Thirteen applications were received from young women and three from young men. The grade point averages ranged from 3.4 to 4.35. As a result of successful fundraising by the Rotary Club a total of nine scholarships were awarded. Each application was evaluated on the basis of overall academic achievement, career goals, high school and community activities, work experience and financial need. This years scholarship recipients will receive one-year scholarships in the amount of $1,500.00. the funds will be applied to the cost of college tuition for the students first year of enrollment. The six students from Franklin County High School are Emma Duncan who will be attending Virginia Tech, Hannah Hughes who will be attending the Virginia Tech, Madison McDonald who will be attending Virginia Tech, Olivia Newbill who will be attending Ferrum College and Grace Trelease who will be attending Syracuse University. Students from Staunton River High School are Emily Kiser who will be attending the University of Virginia and Payton Phillips who will be attending Lincoln Memorial College. The Dick Kenyon Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Gracyn Strickler who will be attending Ferrum College and the John Jones Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Jeffrey Anthony who will be attending Wingate University. The Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake meets twice a month for breakfast at Moosies Bar and Grill. For information in the club and its activities, contact Gary Doninger at 540-676-7826. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. National Safe Boating Week runs May 20th through May 26th and the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC) Navigation Committee is taking this opportunity to highlight an often overlooked aspect of boating safety. Boating safety involves many different accessories including personal floatation devices, whistles, and throw cushions. Another critical accessory is lighting. Both onboard lighting and dock lighting ensure safe boating when properly installed. Installed incorrectly, lighting can create unintended hazards. The US Coast Guard and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources clearly describe proper onboard lighting for nighttime navigation, anytime between sunset and sunrise and during period of restricted visibility. The specifications for navigation lights are straightforward. It is illegal to navigate after sundown on any power vessel that does not have a bow light and a stern light. Navigation lights enable other boaters to determine the type of boat they encounter and which direction the boat is travelling. This information helps other boaters determine right-of-way for safe passage. Sidelights on the bow (front) are required to shine from straight ahead to 112.5 degrees on their respective sides. The port side (left when facing forward) light must be red, and the starboard side (right when facing forward) must be green. The stern (back) light must be an all-around white light that is visible 360, and 1 meter (3.3 feet) above the sidelights. Please check the US Coast Guard regulations at https://uscRboatinR.orR/librarv/boatinR-safety-circulars/bscscan75a.pdf for specific regulations. When anchoring at night, the side navigation lights are to be extinguished, but the all-around white light must be illuminated. These lights are important for both your safety and for the safety of other boaters navigating after sundown. Please be certain to keep required lights unobstructed and fully visible at all times. In addition to ensuring the required lights are installed and operational on your boat, it is important not to use other lights while under power. The only lights to be used at night while under power are the side navigation lights and the all-around white light on the stern. Some boaters misunderstand the purpose of the bright docking lights in the front of vessels and mistakenly use them as headlights. Docking lights should only be used when approaching the dock where you will moor the boat. Docking lights interfere with night vision for the boat operator and for oncoming vessel operators. They are not intended to be used as headlights when operating at night. Another lighting issue for boaters is the current trend LED strip lights. When these are placed along the sides or stern of a boat, LED strip lights can be problematic for other boaters. These lights may impact the ability of other boaters to safely navigate the waterways by impeding their night vision and by making it difficult for them to see your navigation lights. Additionally, the angles illuminated, and NOT illuminated, by the side lights are critical in determining priorities between passing vessels. It is prohibited to use standard light colors for any lights other than those that are required. This is to prevent confusion for approaching boaters. Therefore white, green, and red LED strip lights are not permitted so as not to confuse other boaters of the position ofsidelights or the all-around light. Blue lights are reserved for law enforcement, and yellow lights are reserved for towing/tugs. Neither blue nor yellow lights are permitted on private vessels. In addition to the lighting on boats, dock and shoreline lighting should be carefully considered regarding their impacts on boaters. Lights along your dock are a great thing for safety. Too much dock lighting can obscure the visibility of navigation markers and the navigation lights on boats in the area. Choose lights that point downward and dont fan out over a large area. Use of red and green colored lights may obscure or be confused for channel marker lights. For this reason, red or green lights should not be installed on docks or near shorelines. Unshielded white lights can render channel markers unseeable and should be avoided as well. Two great tips to minimize safety concerns at the dock are to conduct ongoing dock maintenance and to develop and implement a boat launching and docking protocol. A well-maintained dock minimizes the risk of trips, falls and other injuries. Likewise, routine actions when docking your boat help to ensure your safety and that of your passengers. To address any mishaps as quickly as possible, store a first aid and life-saving equipment at or near the dock, including a flashlight, throw ring, and first aid kit. TLACs Navigation Committee strives to address current safety concerns on Smith Mountain and Leesville Lakes. To contact our office with questions or concerns, call (540) 721-4400, visit our website: tricountylakes.org/or email us at tlac@sml.us.com. Be safe, have fun, and always remember the impact your equipment may have on others. Security researchers have detailed the inner workings of the commercial Android spyware called Predator, which is marketed by the Israeli company Intellexa (previously Cytrox). Predator was first documented by Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) in May 2022 as part of attacks leveraging five different zero-day flaws in the Chrome web browser and Android. The spyware, which is delivered by means of another loader component known as Alien, is equipped to record audio from phone calls and VoIP-based apps as well as gather contacts and messages, including from Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Its other functionalities allow it to hide applications and prevent applications from being executed upon rebooting the handset. "A deep dive into both spyware components indicates that Alien is more than just a loader for Predator and actively sets up the low-level capabilities needed for Predator to spy on its victims," Cisco Talos said in a technical report. Spyware like Predator and NSO Group's Pegasus are carefully delivered as part of highly-targeted attacks by weaponizing what are called zero-click exploit chains that typically require no interaction from the victims and allow for code execution and privilege escalation. "Predator is an interesting piece of mercenary spyware that has been around since at least 2019, designed to be flexible so that new Python-based modules can be delivered without the need for repeated exploitation, thus making it especially versatile and dangerous," Talos explained. Both Predator and Alien are designed to get around security guardrails in Android a protection called Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) with the latter loaded into a core Android process called Zygote to download and launch other spyware modules, counting Predator, from an external server. It's currently not clear how Alien is activated on an infected device in the first place. However, it's suspected to be loaded from shellcode that's executed by taking advantage of initial-stage exploits. "Alien is not just a loader but also an executor its multiple threads will keep reading commands coming from Predator and executing them, providing the spyware with the means to bypass some of the Android framework security features," the company said. The various Python modules associated with Predator make it possible to accomplish a wide array of tasks such as information theft, surveillance, remote access, and arbitrary code execution. The spyware, which arrives as an ELF binary before setting up a Python runtime environment, can also add certificates to the store and enumerate the contents of various directories on disk if it's running on a device manufactured by Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, or Xiaomi. That said, there are still many missing pieces that could help complete the attack puzzle. This comprises a main module called tcore and a privilege escalation mechanism dubbed kmem, both of which have remained elusive to obtain thus far. Cisco Talos theorized that tcore could have implemented other features like geolocation tracking, camera access, and simulating a shutdown to covertly spy on victims. "One of the key discoveries [...] was the immense interweaving of the capabilities between Predator and Alien," Asheer Malhotra, threat researcher for Cisco Talos, told The Hacker News. "Alien is crucial to Predator's successful functioning, including the additional components loaded by Predator on demand. The relationship between Alien and Predator is extremely symbiotic, requiring them to continuously work in tandem to spy on victims." The findings come as threat actors' use of commercial spyware has witnessed a surge in recent years just as the number of cyber mercenary companies supplying these services are on an upward trajectory. While these sophisticated tools are intended for exclusive use by governments to counter serious crime and combat national security threats, they have also been abused by customers to surveil on dissidents, human rights activists, journalists, and other members of the civil society. As a case in point, digital rights group Access Now said that it uncovered evidence of Pegasus targeting a dozen people in Armenia including an NGO worker, two journalists, a United Nations official, and a human rights ombudsperson in Armenia. One of the victims was hacked at least 27 times between October 2020 and July 2021. 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! "This is the first documented evidence of the use of Pegasus spyware in an international war context," Access Now said, adding it began an investigation after Apple sent notifications to the individuals in question that they may have been a victim of state-sponsored spyware attacks in November 2021. There are no conclusive links that connect the spyware use to a specific government agency in either Armenia or Azerbaijan. It's worth noting that Armenia was outed as a customer of Intellexa by Meta in December 2021 in attacks aimed at politicians and journalists in the nation. What's more, cybersecurity company Check Point earlier this year disclosed that various Armenian entities have been infected with a Windows backdoor referred to as OxtaRAT as part of an espionage campaign aligned with Azerbaijani interests. In a more unusual turn of events, The New York Times and The Washington Post reported this week that the Mexican government may be spying on itself by using Pegasus against a senior official in charge of investigating alleged military abuses. Mexico is also the first and most prolific user of Pegasus, despite its promises to cease the illegal use of the notorious spyware. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Grand Island Senior High students have discovered period poverty has many implications, but few simple solutions. Emily Castro, who will be a junior, summed up the recently-implemented project spearheaded by GISHs superintendents student advisory council. The project in general is period poverty, to help women and girls who can't afford or don't have access to period products, Castro said. We thought of having (free) machines, since not everyone carries a quarter in their pocket. The student group worked with Grand Island Public Schools to purchase and install motion-activated tampon and pad machines in the girls main restrooms at GISH. We came up with this idea, because after some research we realized that some girls do miss school because they don't have period products or access to them, Castro explained. The project has become about more than supplies, however, said GISH senior-to-be Lauren Brown, who is on the advisory council with Castro. Were trying to make it so that it's a lot easier of a conversation to have, so that girls, if they need products, are able to ask and just feel a little bit less shame in that because they shouldn't feel that shame, Brown said. By easing that stigma, it'll be a whole lot easier for girls to be able to get products. Valerie Porto, a social worker at GIPS, has been working with the group, along with GIPS Board of Education member Lisa Albers. Porto said she has heard of students going home because they got their period. Maybe you have a leak in class, and then you have to leave school, because you don't have a product with you. Now you have to go home because you don't have a change of clothes, Porto said. The dilemma, which does not only affect young people, caught Albers' attention. She decided to do some research: What was being done at the state level? Federal? I started talking to board members, seeing if they would be interested in pursuing this, Albers said. Its obviously something that's really impacting attendance. I've talked about it to the Heartland United Way, and I've talked about it to our board I talk about it any chance I get. Thats important, Brown said. With the stigma being erased, more people will talk about it, and more people will know where it's available. Porto said many teens dont have access to or the ability to buy menstrual products. If they don't have that they're not going to come to school, she said. When students like the one Porto described have no access to products, Albers said one has to wonder, They had to go home then how many days do they continue to miss? We don't know. It honestly could save educational lives to have not missing school or not feeling embarrassed that your family can't pay for (period products), said Marissa Cornelius of YWCA Grand Island. Jason Shelton, an incoming GISH junior and member of the superintendents advisory board, said he has friends who struggle with that, which is why he got involved. I could help people that I know with this information and with the thing that they might struggle with, even if I personally don't go through it, he said. Cornelius said she has heard of people using makeshift products, including multiple pairs of underwear and toilet paper roll cardboard. Studies including one by ACLU of Nebraska have shown lacking access to menstrual products can result in medical issues like reproductive tract infections (that could lead to negative pregnancy outcomes) and increased susceptibility to HPV or toxic shock syndrome. Porto said the superintendents advisory council has had conversations about discussing menstruation with younger students. Albers said some years ago, a counselor at Walnut Middle School received a sizable donation of menstrual pads. Walnut (has) been sharing that supply with the other middle schools, she said. (Period poverty) is something that, really we've been talking about it for quite a while now. Some rather wouldnt, Cornelius can attest. Grand Island YWCA has a period product delivery program called Mission Menstruation, along with other outreach efforts. They have been met with some opposition, Cornelius said. Weve had people who call in, upset that we even have such a program. Theyll call it women's cosmetics when they don't understand that it's a necessity, she said. Weve reached out to schools and no one wants to have a period product drive. Some DoorDash delivery drivers, paid for by Heartland United Way, refused to deliver period products sent by Mission Menstruation, Cornelius said. Weve had DoorDashers, who we used to work with to deliver all of our period products, who would refuse to take them knowing that they're period product, she said. Or they would get somewhere and realize that they are period products, and then drop them off somewhere else or throw them away. Albers said, We need to take out as many roadblocks as we can. It's something that causes these young students to feel shame and embarrassment over it. It is certainly something that we need to confront. At GISH, roadblocks sometimes include getting passes to the restroom, Porto said, pointing out students are not allowed to leave the classroom during the first 10 minutes after class begins and 10 minutes before it ends. There (are) reasons for these rules, so that's a conversation that we need to continue having: understanding the rules, but also understanding when a student needs to go sometimes they really need to go and they're not just taking advantage," Porto said. Shelton said some of his friends, when they do get a pass, are questioned by teachers and hall monitors about why they have a hall pass. Albers said the goal is to take some of the shame and embarrassment away from the natural process that no young student has any control over. I'm trying to make it so that even the males in the group are able to learn and empower their friends, so that they feel more comfortable talking about this. Brown said that although the restroom dispensers at GISH have only been operating a short time, the reaction has been positive. They said they're super excited that it's available. People have posted about it . Theyre really, really excited about it. Cornelius said of the GISH group, Were building such great leaders, which makes me so happy. Albers said with the help of efforts at all ages and levels including GISH students she thinks a solution to period poverty will come. Im very hopeful, she said. I have no idea what that's going look like, just that its got to get better. 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 Ed Tech Policy 4 'Key Foundations' for AI in Education Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. The U.S Department of Education has released guidance for the education sector including potential benefits, warnings about misuses, and principles for developing guidelines at the district level. During hearings in the U.S. Congress in May 2023, AI developers and key stakeholders urged lawmakers to take seriously the need for oversight of this technology and to act now to develop policies and laws to monitor and direct the responsible use of it. Every sector is being affected by AI, including the education system. In its report, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations, released in May 2023, the Office of Educational Technology (OET) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) outlines several core messages. ED makes clear its support for ed tech, including AI, to improve teaching and learning but emphasizes that knowledge about AI needs to be shared, support given for those using it, and policies developed for its safe and responsible use. The report recognizes that the main components of AI are being increasingly embedded in all types of educational systems, shifting from capturing data to detecting patterns in data and from providing access to instructional resources to automating decisions. It expresses deep concerns about the increase in delegating responsibilities to a computer system. The report also expresses concerns about biases in pattern detection and fairness in automating decisions. The report acknowledges the opportunities AI presents: voice assistants, writing help, trip planning, and, for educators, disabled student support, multilingual learning support, finding lesson materials, and lesson creation support. But there are risks as well: security and privacy breaches, inappropriate or wrong information, enhancement of cultural or other biases, student plagiarism, and fairness. The report also acknowledges the rapid rise and the benefits and risks of generative AI-enabled chatbots, but does not focus specifically on those. During listening sessions in 2022 and 2023, attended by over 700 participants, OET recognized three main reasons to address the use of AI in education now: First, AI can help educate students at a lower cost, help them make up learning losses due to the pandemic, and customize learning to their specific culture and community. Second, risks include increased student surveillance, dangers of algorithmic discrimination against some student populations, unfair exam monitoring systems, or inaccurate information. Third, unintended or unexpected consequences may include the AI adapting its curricular learning pace for specific students based on incomplete data, poor theories, or biased assumptions about learning, thus affecting achievement rates. This can also affect the hiring of teachers. With these issues in mind, the report articulates guiding questions about what a collective vision for the use of AI in education looks like and what the timeline should be for developing guidelines to address it, based on four key foundations: Which AI technologies to use in education to keep people central in decision-making; How to advance equity and root out bias that could interfere with every student achieving success; How to ensure safety, ethics, and effectiveness in data privacy and security; How to ensure transparency and disclosure about how AI models work in terms of educational goals, as well as human control when needed. Visit this page to read and download a summary handout of the reports main points. A webinar going into more depth on this report will be held Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Signup is available by QR code at this summary handout link. The full report can be downloaded from this page. Paris, TX (75460) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. High 88F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low near 65F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A series of early morning fires Friday in Energy and Herrin has landed one suspect in jail and has a church congregation wondering about its future. According to a media release from Energy Chief of Police Shawn Ladd, firefighters from several local communities responded to a number of fires which he referred to as arson in the two communities. Most of the fires were minor and quickly extinguished, except for one which destroyed the United Methodist Church Building on West Read Street. Remains of the building continued to smolder late Friday morning and firefighters from Herrin and Energy remained on the scene. Ladds press release said that a person of interest has been detained and that representatives of the Illinois State Fire Marshals office were on the scene of the fires and conducting an investigation. Ladd said since the investigation is ongoing, no further details would be released at this time. Energy Fire Chief Andrew Barclay said his department and others moved from fire to fire throughout the early morning. The first call went out about 3 oclock, he said. We were at Caseys, wrapped up there, went to the second call and we emptied the truck on that one. As we were filling the truck up and we saw the haze over on this side of town, so we came over and noticed the church on our own. Barclay said he immediately called for assistance from other departments for the church blaze. He said crews from Herrin, Marion, Carterville and Williamson County all worked the fire at the United Methodist Church building, a structure that was more than 100 years old. There were at least five fires in the two communities. Barclay said what appeared to be plastic soft drink crates were apparently set on fire on the north side of the Caseys General Store on North Pershing Street, next to a cabinet of propane tanks. At another location, portable toilet units reportedly were set on fire. Barry Cupp, general manager of Midwest Cash located on South Park Avenue in Herrin, said when employees arrived at his store about 9:30 a.m. Friday morning, they noticed smoke but could not locate the source inside the building. They went outside and saw that someone had made a fire, kind of like a campfire, next to the outside wall of our building, he explained. Cupp said he instructed the employees to douse the fire with water, turn off the electricity to the building and call the fire department. Herrin firefighters and state fire investigators were still on the scene mid-morning. Damage to most of the affected property in the two communities was minimal and mostly cosmetic, except for the United Methodist Church Building, which is a total loss. Rev. Gary Billiot, the churchs pastor, said he received the call about the fire before 6 a.m. By the time he arrived at the church, most of the building had been destroyed. When they said the church was on fire, I thought it was probably just a little fire, in the kitchen or something like that. When I got there it was completely burnt, he said. My heart just sank and I thought about the people who have been going to that church their entire lives. Its a big part of the them. Billiot said a great deal of history was lost in the fire. Thats something that we wont be able to replace, even if we build another church in that location, he said. He said he has fielded calls from leaders of other churches offering their sanctuaries as a temporary meeting place for the congregation of about a dozen. This Sunday, however, parishioners will join together in one of the members homes. Were going to gather this Sunday and were going to talk about our future, he said. Were asking for prayers right now because weve lost everything and we dont know where this is going to lead us. Were just going to work it out somehow. We are the church the people inside that worship, not the building. We are not going to just quit worshipping; we just have to figure out how and where. 9 in 10 small businesses use tech platformshere are the most common types 9 in 10 small businesses use tech platformshere are the most common types #4. Point-of-sale tools (tie) #4. Productivity tools (tie) #3. Marketing platforms #2. Accounting software #1. Social media accounts Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CARBONDALE America is defined by the quality of life in its hometowns. Without vibrant, self-sacrificing and service-orientated groups, where would small-town America be? There is a way to recognize those groups who have made a real difference in their community. The Governor's Hometown Awards (GHTA) program was made to honor those who have played an important part in shaping small town life. The program recognizes the outstanding contributions of groups that have made an impact in their community. The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois) is currently accepting applications for the GHTA program, which formally recognizes those who have added value to their communities. Nominations for the projects must be sponsored by local government, and those groups applying must have demonstrated volunteerism and proven impact in their community. Since its inception in 1983, the Governors Hometown Awards have celebrated the local heroes in our communities who have made a difference through selfless servicefrom Decaturs youth-led Young Leaders in Action to Macon Countys volunteer-run community food drive, said Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Pritzker said he looks forward to honoring those Illinoisans who have contributed so much to their neighborhoods, cities, and state as a whole. Southern Illinois has taken home only a few of the awards in past years. In 2013, Lifeboat Alliance in Mount Vernon won the award. In 2007, Kid's Kingdom in McLeansboro earned first place honors. Last year, the O'Fallon Police Department took the award by putting on the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which benefited those with intellectual disabilities throughout the State of Illinois. Through a variety of fundraising events , the O'Fallon Police Department was able to help with the expenses of the Special Olympics Illinois, which is free to participants. An example of a past Governor's Hometown Award honorable mention is Tiny Home, which helps veterans find sustainable housing by building small, economic housing which can be handed over to veterans who qualify mortgage free, and who otherwise wouldn't have a home to call their own. VetsRoll, Inc., was also one of last year's four finalists and received an honorable mention for its efforts in supporting senior veterans through funeral escorts, repatriations escorts, landmark birthdays. The organization has served 2,000 veterans since 2010 free of charge. Another group recognized in the Governor's Hometown Award program was Volunteer Pop-Up, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and responded to meet the demand for volunteers in communities as a response to the pandemic. The Pop-Up program had great success in DuPage County, and staffed over 1,000 volunteers to assist in outdoor conservation like brush cutting, seed harvesting, prairie building, weeding, among other tasks. The group's contribution of volunteering raised almost $70,000 through over 2,000 hours of service hours. The GHTA program is in its 15th year now. If you think any township, village, city, or county projects have demonstrated service and commitment to community spirit in action from January 2022 to December 2022, applications are open now through June 16. Additional criteria and information regarding the application process can be found at www.Serve.Illinois.gov. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. While working on a non-work related project over the past couple months, Ive had the opportunity to spend hours combing through my photo library. That project has allowed me to relive some amazing moments in my life. For example: Single most spectacular sight: There are only two moments in contention stepping to the edge of the Grand Canyon and stepping up to the ridge of Crater Lake. Crater Lake gets the nod. While the grandeur of the Grand Canyon cannot be argued, it is a bit too surreal. It looks too much like a painting. Stepping above the rim of Crater Lake you are slapped in the face with a color blue you have never seen before and will never see again. The sight is so pure, so pristine. As National Park Service personnel describe it, every visitor steps to the edge of Crater Lake and has their, Oh, my God moment. Most incredible wildlife experience: Without question, it was photographing humpback whales off the coast of Nova Scotia. Scariest wildlife experience: Without question, it was photographing humpback whales off the coast of Nova Scotia. We were in a glorified bass boat, maybe a 30-footer, with these massive creatures surfacing all around us. How close were we? We could smell their breath when they exhaled through their blow holes. For the record, humpback whales have bad breath. Prettiest bird ever photographed: The painted bunting is the winner in this highly subjective category. We had taken several trips to Florida, chasing this spectacular creature. We finally caught up with it at the Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary near Naples. The bird, which looks like it has rolled through an artists palette, was every bit as stunning in real life as it was in photos. In fact, I was so nervous about taking the photos, I thought sure Id screw them up. For the record, they turned out fine. Most disappointing photo trip: Hands down, it was a puffin adventure in Nova Scotia. I LOVE puffins. I have always LOVED puffins. We saw thousands of puffins that day. But, due to inclement weather and minimal photographic equipment, the photo element of the day was pretty much a bust. It was an overcast day, raining about half the time, meaning the light was terrible. And, it was after that trip I upgraded my equipment. Id love a do-over on that day. Favorite spot to photograph wildlife: Thats a toss-up. Im not sure I can decide between the Everglades and Lake Apopka, near Orlando, Florida. Both locations have an incredible amount of wildlife per square mile. I feel the Everglades may offer a little more diversity, but the critters are so accessible at Lake Apopka. Visitors at Lake Apopka drive an 11-mile levee road that puts birds and animals within 10 yards of your vehicle, on both sides of your car. Favorite Southern Illinois spot to photograph wildlife: Hands down, Mermet Lake. (See Lake Apopka description.) Bucket list bird: American oystercatcher. I like to keep my expectations realistic. When this critter is captured in the camera, there will be plenty to take its place. The crested caracara is in the running. Local nemesis bird: The horned lark. They are everywhere. I need a good photo. Most coveted location yet to visit: Big Bend National Park, Texas. Prosecutors on Friday indicted the head of an investment consulting firm and his two aides in a large-scale stock manipulation case that has rocked the local financial markets. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office indicted Ra Deok-yeon, head of an unregistered investment consulting firm, and two others, surnamed Byun and An, on charges of breaching the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment. They were arrested earlier this month. Prosecutors suspect that the three pocketed some 730.5 billion won (US$549.9 million) in illicit profits between May 2019 and April this year by having manipulated stock prices through an "order matching" technique after taking over mobile phones and personal information from investors. They are also suspected of concealing part of the investment proceeds and evading taxes through his business entities, and running an investment consulting business without registering it with the government. Ra's firm played a central role in the recent collapse of the stock prices of nine companies, including energy firm Samchully Co. and Seoul City Gas Co. The stocks of the nine listed companies had steadily risen for years before nose-diving late last month following mass sell-offs through SG Securities Korea Co., the local branch of the Societe Generale Group of France. About 1,000 investors are said to have suffered huge losses estimated to be between 800 billion won and 1 trillion won. (Yonhap) Referenced is here made to an article headlined, CXC Exam leaked: SVG Implicated, as carried in THE VINCENTIAN of Friday 19th May, 2023. We first and foremost apologise to Dr. Cleveland Sam for having misrepresented him in the article. In fact, we admit that the inclusion of Dr. Sam as having spoken to the issue as advanced by the article was dated; dated to the extent that what was attributed to Dr. Sam by way of comments did not speak to the issue at hand but to an issue that attracted attention sometime in the past, while he worked with CXC. We now know that Dr. Sam at the time of this breach had long left (in 2018) the employ of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and therefore, it was clearly an error on our part to have used what we now know to be a dated reference by him. We apologise to Dr. Sam for misrepresenting him and for whatever discomfort or untold effect our inclusion of him in our article might have caused. To our readers, we apologise for having embellished the pivotal issue of the article (CXC Exam leaked, etc.) with dated material. This obviously was a failing on our part, occasioned by our over-zealousness and trust in our sources. For whatever misdirection we might have caused to you our treasured readers, we apologise and commit to continue to bring the real truth about issues affecting our country in particular and the world in general. BRAGSA personnel recently placed cones on the left (seaside lane of the Paget Farm road, to indicate that temporary/remedial work will commence. (Facebook Photo) "No matter how much you talk, the government, BRAGSA whoever is responsible have not done anything. So said Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Representative for the Northern Grenadines, as he weighed in on the state of the roads on Bequia. Residents of that Northern Grenadine island have been up in arms about a certain section, referred to as Bluff, of the main road stretching from Friendship to Paget Farm. There was such a panic about the potential for disaster that on May 19, mini-bus operators on the island withdrew their services. Up to Thursday, May 25, mini-buses were said to be still off the road and operators were said to be prepared to continue with the action until they got word that work on the area in Bluff would be dealt with soon. And that word might just have come. Project in the works A project to deal with the section of the Paget Farm, Bequia public road referred to as Bluff is expected to begin later this year. This is according to a civil engineer attached to the Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA), who told THE VINCENTIAN that part of the project includes the realignment of the section of road away from the sea. The civil engineer said that given some ongoing negotiations, it was difficult to make a definite determination as to when the project would commence. According to the BRAGSA official, panic set in following an incident which occurred in the area of Bluff on May 19. He explained that cracks had opened in the concrete roads surface and with water getting into the cracks, holes formed under the surface of the road and the heavy traffic that traversed the road exacerbated the cracks. Not a new issue Dr. Friday, meanwhile, in adding his concern, said that driving on the piece of road was dangerous and pointed out that the left lane, heading to Paget Farm, was leaning towards the sea. "And it frightens people who drive there, I drive there regularly, Friday told THE VINCENTIAN. He said that while returning from a funeral on Saturday, May 20, he met some BRAGSA employees placing cones, essentially closing off that lane. According to him, he was told that they were going to pour some concrete into the affected areas. The BRAGSA civil engineer told THE VINCENTIAN the work done was a temporary fix and explained that the concrete was poured to add some stability to the material below the surface, and reiterated that the issue had more to do with the surface of the road not the adjacent cliff. Only talk no action But according to the Leader of the Opposition, he has been asking for some time that something be done to address the situation at Bluff. "They (the public) have put up with a lot and the traveling public have put up with a lot with respect to the bad roads going down to Paget Farm, Dr. Friday said. While acknowledging that the section at Bluff was the worst, he stressed that the entire stretch of road down to Paget Farm beginning at Friendship was in a deplorable condition. "And no matter how much you talk, the government, BRAGSA whoever is responsible have not done anything, he said. According to Dr. Friday, every time he raises the issue in Parliament, per a sitting of the House on October 17, 2022, the government talks about its intention to fix, but nothing is done. "So, the van operators have said that they are withholding their services. They have demanded that work to repair the road be done because it is necessary for safe driving, he contended. "I hope that the authorities see this now as something that would trigger their intention to have the road repaired immediately. Its been way too long and they have been ignoring me in the Parliament for far too long. And while he highlighted that the Friendship to Paget Farm stretched of road needed urgent attention, he recognized that there were other roads throughout Bequia that warranted attention. One such area he said was known as Pretoria, just above Port Elizabeth, describing it as very bad. And while the main road system cried out for attention, the MP pointed to back walls and other minor roads which he said it appeared, the government had abandoned. Dr. Wayne Wesley, Registrar and CEO of CXC, in addressing the recent exam leak also addressed the eventuality of full electronic testing of digitised exams. Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has identified that the examination breach originated in Jamaica, allaying the fear among a certain section of residents who had held on to a nudge that it had occurred in SVG. Speaking to regional media last Friday, Registrar and CEO of CXC, Dr Wayne Wesley, confirmed the leak was confined to the 2023 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Mathematics Paper 02. Dr. Wesley also disclosed that instructions had been given that the compromised papers be removed from the centre with immediate effect. He also noted that the leak spanned across several Caribbean nations and that the information was disseminated across various social media platforms such as WhatsApp. He said further investigations were required to gather more information regarding the number of countries affected. In the meantime, students will no longer have to fear having to re-sit the examination as the CXC will use a different measure to determine their final math grades, he reassured. The final results will now be calculated using the scores from the CSEC Mathematics Paper 1 and marks from the School-Based Assessment (SBAs) or CSEC Mathematics Paper 3 (2) an alternative to the SBA research requirements. The decision which has been communicated to regional ministries of education. "The news of the security breach of the examination has caused much anxiety and concern. As a result of the breach and the compromise of the examination, as well as, consideration for the mental health and wellbeing of our candidates and timely release of results along with matriculation requirements, CXC has determined that grades for this examination will be awarded using the modified approach, Dr Wesley announced on Friday. "The modified approach entails assessment of the school-based assessment (SBA), which includes Paper 3 (2), and Paper 1 which is the multiple choice paper. This decision was communicated to the regional ministries. Going forward And the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it is aiming to get the region ready for full electronic testing of digitised exams, a move it believes would assist in eliminating the recurring leaks of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) test papers. Dr Wesley stated that the Council has been considering such a move since 2007. He went on to outline that, since the beginning of the year, CXC has had the capability of doing all multiple-choice examinations electronically but was still working on digitising paper 2 assessments a process he said he was hopeful would be completed quickly. "However, given the vast difference among the region with respect to the IT (information technology) infrastructure that is required for the administration for electronic testing, we have to be working currently with the ministries on a particular schedule that will see us over a period of time implementing fully electronic testing, Wesley told regional media. SVG supports CXC action Here in SVG, Education Minister Curtis King assured THE VINCENTIAN that his Ministry was in full support of the position taken by CXC to rule out Mathematic Paper 2 in the assessment of the candidates. He also said otherwise that in light of the recent leak, the Ministry of Education was examining their security policies. "Essentially, weve learned that we need to review our local protocols and security protocols as they relate to the collection, storage, and distribution of these examination papers so that a similar leakage does not occur here in St. Vincent, Education Minister Curtis King said. (Sources: Loop News, Jamaica Gleaner) Curtis King, Education Minister, described the move to digitize the system as transformative. SmartTerm, a pioneer in educational technology solutions, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The agreement, signed by SmartTerms CEO, Ayodele Pompey, and the Minister of Education and Chairman of the OECS Ministers of Education, Hon. Curtis King, will result in the digitization of all public and private primary, secondary, and technical educational institutions across the country. The advanced SmartTerm system will be deployed in 29 secondary schools, 66 primary schools, 4 Technical Institutes, and 16 Early Childhood Centers (ECC). Each school will be equipped with a dedicated portal including a unified Learning Management System (LMS) and a School Management System (SMS), marking the worlds first AI-powered National Education Management Information System. SmartTerms technology will revolutionize the educational landscape, reducing teacher workload and enhancing the teaching experience with features like the AI multi-model Lesson Planner, which can generate lesson plans within seconds. The system also offers functionality for parents to monitor their childs progress, for students to access differentiated instruction and assessment for a more personalized learning experience, and for principals to efficiently manage their schools. Minister Curtis King expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "The integration of SmartTerms cutting-edge technology into our national educational framework is a transformative move for our country. It promises to enhance the teaching and learning experiences dramatically, improve stakeholder engagement, and enable data-driven instructional decisions. Ayodele Pompey, CEO of SmartTerm, echoed these sentiments. "This partnership underlines our commitment to revolutionizing education through technology. We are proud to provide our comprehensive solution to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, setting a new global benchmark for digitized education systems. Google will also support SmartTerm by providing infrastructural support for the solution. The project is funded by the UWI Cave Hill - USAID Research Initiative for Supporting Education in the Caribbean (Rise Caribbean). Professor S. Joel Warrican, Director of the Caribbean Educational Research Centre (CERC) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, welcomed the development. "This represents a monumental step forward for education in the Caribbean. The utilization of AI in education management signifies the dawn of a new era in educational advancement. The typical expressions of perplexity and disbelief that masked the faces of Guyanese as the extent of the fire was confirmed. (Photo Source: Malay Mail) The world focused its attention on Guyana and then mourned with the country when it was confirmed that 19 people had perished in a fire that ripped through the dormitory of a girls boarding school, late Sunday, May 21, night. And in the aftermath of the blaze, sirens and near chaos at the main hospital in capital Georgetown, and amidst the charred remains of the building, officials in Guyana revealed that it was a student who allegedly sparked the deadly blaze. The fire, at the Mahinda Secondary School in central Guyana, was reported as one of the deadliest in recent years for the South American country, a founding member of the CARICOM. Approximately nine people remain hospitalised, many in serious condition. On Tuesday, May 23, National Security Adviser Gerald Gouveia told the Associated Press that the fire started with a teenage student who was upset at having her mobile phone confiscated, after it was first uncovered and then confirmed that she was having an affair with an older man. Gouveia, speaking on the weight of preliminary investigations by fire officials, also said that the 16-year-old student lit the fire in the bathroom area of the dormitory. Gouveia, Al Jazeera reported, disclosed that the dormitory had been locked for the night to ensure the students did not sneak out. The caretaker was asleep as the fire swiftly grew in intensity, and when she was awakened, she panicked and struggled to find the right keys to open the door, Gouveia added. Guyanas Fire and Rescue Service acknowledged that the building was completely engulfed in flames, by the time they arrived on the scene, within four minutes receiving the fire alert. Firefighters were nonetheless able to save approximately 20 students by breaking holes in the walls of the building and pulling them to safety. Leslie Ramsammy, an adviser to Guyanas health ministry, confirmed that the suspect was being treated for burns at the hospital and was due to be released into juvenile detention. Gouveia added that the man allegedly involved in a relationship with the student was expected to face charges for statutory rape. At the time of the blaze, it was reported that 56 children were staying in the dorm a concrete and wooden structure with five doors and grill windows, a police spokesperson said during a press conference. Photo credits: Raquel DaSilva, Member SVGFO. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General to the United States Rondy Luta McIntosh says the recent Vincy Day Picnic in Central Florida brought back "nostalgic feeling. "Scores of Vincentians and other well-wishers came together for a day of camaraderie, fun, food and frolic, Vincy picnic style, the New York-based McIntosh told THE VINCENTIAN. The event was organized by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Central Florida Organization (SVGCFO) and held, on Saturday, May 13, at the Bill Frederick Park in Orlando, Florida. "The feeling at the event was that of a family reunion, where long time neighbours, past students, villagers, former work colleagues, school mates and other forms of broken or distant relationships grabbed the opportunity to rekindle that long lost togetherness, added McIntosh. "The picnic gave me that nostalgic feeling, the feeling we experienced as youth growing up in close knitted communities, where we would go to the neighbours house for food, and they would always welcome us with open arms. "It was a manifestation of that type of energy and neighborly love, as people were moving around, mingling, reconnecting, exchanging pleasantries and partaking in the food brought to the picnic by those present, continued the Consul General, stating that he met many familiar and new faces, "who seemed eager to meet him in person "to express their pride and satisfaction with the work done thus far since his assumption of the position last August. McIntosh said he was given the opportunity to address the gathering and outlined some of his plans, while urging Vincentians to return home at least once a year. He also urged nationals, among other things, to "invest in our country; take advantage of the opportunities in the tourism sector; join a Vincy organization; get your Vincy passport, even if you are an American citizen; instill the values and disciplines that were instilled in us into our youths. SVGCFO 10 years of service Addressing the 6th Annual Vincy Family Day Picnic in Central Florida, Mark Lindsay, SVGCFOs president and chief executive officer, said the group was "particularly delighted to have as our guest of honour today our US Council General Mr. Rondy McIntosh and his family. "CG McIntosh, Luta, has been a friend of our organization for several years and has represented the SVGCFO as Goodwill Ambassador in SVG, as well as donating his time and talent to perform at our 2015 Annual Dinner and Dance, said Lindsay about McIntosh, who is also a soca artiste. "Now in our 10th year of operation, the SVGCFO continues to fulfill its mission of increasing public awareness of Caribbean culture through arts, music and education, and providing charity to the needy directly and in cooperation with fellow charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, food banks and similar programs, he added. Over the past 12 months, through its relationship with Marion House (SVG), Lindsay said SVGCFO shipped several large boxes of food and clothing supplies to SVG, with an estimated value of US$4,000. 00. Marion House offers general counselling sessions and "tangible support for survivors of domestic violence. Under the banner of the Judge Alban Niles Scholarship Fund, Lindsay said SVGCFO also donated US$1,850 in scholarship funds to two students in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and has supported fellow organizations in Central Florida to the tune of US$600. In January, Lindsay said SVGCFO updated its bylaws "to reflect the changing environment and circumstances of the SVGCFO, and is currently working on updating the SVGCFO.Org website, "which we expect to relaunch within the next six months. "None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of our members and Board of Directors, our sponsors, members of our community and the Caribbean Diaspora at large, Lindsay said. "So, thank you for your generosity and support, and thank you all for being here today. May we all have a joyous and blessed day, today. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A state coalition is taking the first step toward radically remaking Wyomings K-12 system, making good on the promises and work of education officials over the last two years. Gov. Mark Gordons office, the Wyoming Department of Education, State Board of Education and University of Wyoming announced Wednesday they would begin accepting school district applications for an instruction and assessment pilot project that will see the districts shift to more competency-based and student-centered instruction and learning. While the details of the pilot project and what it will look like for participating schools are not entirely clear, the end goal is. Under the new direction, school districts and students will focus on the mastery of a subject, not a test score or time spent in a classroom. Individual students will shape their instruction and learning rather than molding to how subjects have traditionally been taught. Experiences outside of the classroom will take on a new emphasis, as will assessments that ask students to better demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Essentially, you can think of it like going from a multiple-choice test to free response, students applying what they learn rather than relying on rote memorization. Wyomings Future of Learning, the official name for the state collaboration, will accept five to seven schools districts ahead of the next school year. The schools will work with the group on shaping K-12 education in four areas competency-based learning, flexible pathways, personalized learning and student choice in an effort to extend the new mode of teaching and learning, in which the individual needs of students are prioritized, to reach more kids. Applications for school districts are due June 5 and the selections will be announced in mid- to late June, according to a press release. The pilots will be multiyear endeavors, and the state group will also choose a second round of pilot school districts for the 2024 2025 school year. As a part of the initiative, the group will also extend training in competency-based learning to school districts across the state. Its exciting to be able to offer this unique opportunity to Wyoming school districts, and I hope that this innovative, student centered approach will lead to improvements in the educational experiences of Wyoming students, Gordon said in a statement. This initial pilot emerged from the recommendations provided by my Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) Advisory Group, as well as the work of the State Board and the UW College of Education. It will allow students to move at their own pace, change how student engagement occurs, and effectively prepare each student for a future in an increasingly competitive economy and rapidly changing workplace. Last month the four entities agreed to a formal partnership to transform education in Wyoming, a first that put all of the states power behind a new vision for academic success and achievement, one that values individual student progress rather than seat time. Wednesdays announcement marks their first concrete step, but the shift to more competency-based education and student-centered instruction has been years in the making. In May 2021, Gordon announced his RIDE initiative, which was tasked with reviewing and making recommendations for improving states K-12 education system amid concerns about state funding for schools and workforce changes. Gordons working group paralleled the State Board of Education, which had started public outreach of its own for its Profile of a Graduation initiative earlier in 2021. The boards Profile of a Graduate came to fruition after legislative action and a legal opinion trigged the directive to establish graduation requirements for Wyoming. Both campaigns revealed Wyomingites interest in moving toward competency-based education and away from traditional classroom learning. At the same time, the Department of Education and UWs College of Education have been involved in their own work on the competency-based learning, though theirs has largely focused on teachers. Jenna Shim, the interim dean of UWs College of Education, portrayed the change as a new frontier that will improve K-12 education for Wyomings more than 90,000 students. As we launch the Wyomings Future of Learning collaborative initiative, we embark on a transformative era in education, one that holds the promise of unlocking the full potential of our education system and our students, Shim said in a statement. By embracing student-centered learning design and focusing on competency-based learning, flexible pathways, personalized learning, and student choice, we empower educators, engage students in their own learning journeys, and foster a culture of lifelong learning. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Laramie County resident Jen Solis started going to her local districts school board meetings in July of 2021, just around the time when debates at these meetings started shifting from COVID masking to school library books. Such debates which stem from some parents fears that their kids are being exposed to explicit content in school books have cropped up across Wyoming and the country. Many of these books address LGBTQ and minority issues and characters, though proponents of restricting access or banning them usually deny that theyre trying to target certain groups of people. Though Solis, who opposes these book challenges, had watched school board meetings online before, it was the first time shed gone to one in person. By the time fall came around, shed gotten to know some of the other community members who regularly came to the meetings to speak against these book challenges. They started meeting casually outside of the school board meetings, talking over a glass of wine about books and the challenges educators today are facing in Wyoming and across the country. These informal gatherings became more organized over time. This years legislative session, during which some lawmakers tried to push bills that would have restricted access to certain books and other educational materials, further galvanized the group to take unified action. Recently, this group of Wyoming parents and educators has come together in a coalition to combat book challenges in Wyoming amid heated debates around what should be taught at public schools and increased pressure on educators across the nation. It just kind of started as simply as that, Solis said. A lot of Wyoming stuff starts just casually over shared interests and a desire to stand up for our values and our freedoms. The Wyoming Families for Freedom, a group of roughly 150 people, launched its website last week and is hosting its first town hall meeting on Tuesday. The group is concerned about efforts to ban books and vilify educators in Wyoming, its website explains. We believe students should have access to a variety of books and materials to understand the world around them and their place in it, including stories that address subject matters that are complex or difficult, the groups website says. The site includes information about targeted books, current book policy at Laramie County School District No. 1 and how librarians choose books for school libraries, among other things. Wyoming Families for Freedom member Marcie Kindred, who ran and lost as a Democratic candidate for Senate District 7 last year, said the coalition is considering creating a political action committee and registering as a lobbyist. Though Wyoming Families for Freedom is based in Laramie County right now, Kindred said she hopes it will grow across the state. The group isnt affiliated with any national organization. Solis, who has three kids in the school district, said members had considered that option but didnt find an organization that fit Wyoming. Retired librarian Suzan Skaar, who is also a member of the group, described it as a large-group of like-minded people who cant believe this is happening to our nation and to our community. Before retiring, she had worked as a librarian for more than three decades, about half of which she spent in Laramie County School District No. 1. Her decision to retire about a year ago was partly motivated by her desire to speak out against book bans something which she felt she wasnt able to do as an employee of the district. Wyoming Families for Freedom aims to inform the public about book challenges happening in Laramie County at its town hall on Tuesday. Laramie County School District No. 1 is considering adopting new library policies to quell the concerns of some community members around school library books they deem inappropriate for school-aged kids. The proposed changes are expected to be introduced at the next Laramie County School Board meeting on June 5. Kindred said group members plan to show up at the meeting in purple to represent Wyoming Families for Freedom. The coalition, she said, has organized trainings on how to give testimony and is asking people to speak at the upcoming meeting. Skaar said she feels the priority right now is to respond strongly to proposed changes to the school districts existing library policy. We have a good policy, she said. Its a professional policy, its suited us for decades. She fears that changes to the districts library policy that restrict access to books could create a domino effect with broader implications. Itll be more books, itll be curriculum, itll be a whole upending of our public education system, she said. Thats how I feel, and thats why I want to get involved. Laramie County is home to a local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a group with national origins that aims to defend parental rights, and which has pushed to restrict access to certain books in school libraries across the nation. There are also local Moms for Liberty groups registered on the organizations national website in Natrona and Sweetwater counties. Challenges to school library books have also cropped up in several Wyoming communities in recent years. The Wyoming Families for Freedoms town hall will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne from 6:30-8 p.m. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Mills was the fastest-growing Wyoming community above 2,000 people in 2022, according to a new report published by the states Economic Analysis Division. Population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate Mills gained 188 people from July 2021 to 2022, bringing its total population to 4,431. Thats an increase of 4.4%. In the report, Wyomings smaller cities and towns seemed to fare better than larger communities. Star Valley Ranch, for example, enjoyed the second-largest population increase at 3.3%. That brought the towns population from an estimated 1,965 people to 2,030. Communities like Lovell and Afton both grew by 1.8%, and Buffalo, by 1.7%. Newcastle and Douglas, meanwhile, reported population increases of about 1.2% Gillette gained the highest number of people out of all Wyoming communities, adding a net 277 residents. That took its population from 32,987 to 33,264, an increase of .8%. Sheridan was another standout, adding 195 people or about 1%. Its population went from 19,040 to 19,235. Wyomings two biggest cities, Cheyenne and Casper, both shrank slightly. Cheyenne, population 64,610 as of July 2022, lost a net 456 people compared to the year prior (a population decline of .7%.) Casper reported a population of 58,543 in July 2022 220 people fewer than the same time in 2021. That represents a loss of .4%. Jackson and Rawlins were the only communities to report population declines greater than 1%. Jacksons population fell by 1.6%, bringing its population from 10,869 in July 2021 to 10,698 in July 2022. Rawlins, meanwhile, lost 101 people over the same time period. Census Bureau figures estimated its population went from 8,298 people to 8,197, a drop of 1.2%. For context, Wyomings total population gained about 1,898 people that year a roughly 3% increase. Most of that growth was rural. Wyomings 99 municipalities only increased .1% overall in 2022. The COVID-19 virus changed domestic migration trends and patterns in recent years, Wenlin Liu, chief economist for Wyomings Economic Analysis Division, said in a May 18 announcement about the report. Many people with telework capabilities chose to relocate to less populated and lower cost areas during the pandemic. A police officer died in a crash on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, near Barataria, yesterday morning. Around 6.15 a.m., PC Triston Williams was heading east when his Nissan Tiida motor car veered off the road and broadsided a utility pole. The force of the impact split the car in two. Lee Hyo-jung, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Friday. Newsis By Nam Hyun-woo The Ministry of Unification's report on North Korean human rights is stirring controversy, as its English version included a disclaimer noting the ministry does not guarantee the government-published report's accuracy, triggering doubts over its credibility. "In the Korean version, we have provided a detailed description that there are limitations to the report because it is based on testimonies of defectors," Lee Hyo-jung, deputy spokesperson of the ministry, said Friday. "Considering the importance of legal matters in foreign cultures, the disclaimer was particularly emphasized in the English version." The ministry published the 2023 Report on North Korean Human Rights in March, and subsequently released an English version on April 26. The government has been producing the report each year since 2017 under its North Korean Human Rights Act, but this was the first time that it was revealed to the public. In a disclaimer clause of the English version, the ministry said: "The Ministry of Unification does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, reliability or timeliness of any information contained in this report, including but not limited to any data, analysis, or opinions," even though it has made reasonable efforts to ensure the information's accuracy. It continued that the ministry "is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information." A screenshot of the disclaimer in the Ministry of Unification's 2023 Report on North Korean Human Rights / Captured from Ministry of Unification website WE salute all victims of revenge porn who have chosen not to cower and hide but to bravely take the fight to their criminal abusers. We note the constitutional action filed on behalf of a group of underage girls and young women by the civil society organisation, Humanitarian Foundation for Positive Social Change (HFPSC). The group is claiming that the rights of the 25 women represented are being violated by the apparent unwillingness of the police to investigate their clients complaints, leaving them exposed to continued torment by the predators. All the parts seem to be falling into place for Tucsons latest small-rocket startup, Phantom Space Corp., which plans to launch an orbital flight by next year. At Phantoms east side factory, a row of fuel-tank sections, a finished oxygen tank, 10 qualified off-the-shelf rocket engines and an array of other components are coming together to form the companys first commercial rocket, the Daytona. The company has several successful engine tests under its belt, including a milestone hot-fire test using a single engine in November, validating the rockets first and second stage systems. It has lined up several launch sites including Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, Cape Canaveral, Florida and, most recently, a site in Australia and already has customers including NASA lined up for small-satellite launches. And Phantom recently won city rezoning approval to operate a rocket-engine test facility on a 160-acre parcel of undeveloped desert south of Tucson near South Wilmot Road, with plans to test a full first rocket stage with nine engines later this year, Phantom co-founder and CEO Jim Cantrell said. If the test goes well and the companys latest fundraising effort is successful, Cantrell said, the company hopes to launch an orbital test flight sometime in 2024, about a year later than planned for the four-year-old company. Looks like next year is the year to throw something into space, he said. It's really kind of dependent on us closing our financing. Cantrell, who was a vice president at Elon Musks SpaceX in the companys early days, says hes confident Phantoms testing program is on track. Founded in 2019, Phantom aims to become a one-stop shop for small satellites, serving as launch service, satellite designer and builder and manager of satellite farms or constellations. Phantoms approach is to use off-the-shelf components, including engines, combined with its own innovative designs to mass-produce rockets and space vehicles. Thats a departure from that of Cantrells last Tucson-based space startup, Vector, which was founded in 2016 with a mission of launching microsatellites into orbit using a proprietary rocket engine and special fuel. The company failed in 2019, after development delays and the withdrawal of a major investor. Cantrell says Phantom Space is a different animal, using production engines and a common liquid fuel mix. 3D-printed engines The engines the company is using, the Hadley model made by Colorado-based Ursa Major Technologies, already are in production with 3D-printed parts. Phantom has 10 engines on hand, mostly still in wooden crates, with 200 on order. The reusable Hadley engine named for a character in a Ray Bradbury sci-fi novel generates 5,000 pounds of thrust using a mix of liquid oxygen and kerosene-based rocket propellant. Ursa Major, founded by another SpaceX veteran, also is developing a larger engine, called Ripley, that provides 50,000 pounds of thrust. The company recently was awarded an Air Force contract to develop a small engine for hypersonic missiles, as well as a heavy-lift rocket engine called the Arroway. Phantom plans to gang together nine first-stage Hadley engines to provide enough thrust to launch a payload of up to 450 kilograms, or about 990 pounds, aboard the roughly 60-foot-long, 39,000-pound Daytona rocket. The rockets second stage uses a single, vacuum-optimized version of the Hadley to push the payload into low-Earth orbit. For the future, Phantom also is designing a larger rocket called the Laguna, to carry payloads up to 1,200 kg using Ursa Major Ripley engines. So far, the Hadley engines have worked perfectly in testing, including the November hot-fire test of a Hadley at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company is on track for hot-fire testing of all nine of the first-stage engines by this fall, and a test flight in 2024, Cantrell said, noting that Ursa Major qualifies the engines to assure they meet flight requirements before delivery. Building and testing Phantom is in the process of building its own fuel tanks and fuselage sections at its 32,000-square-foot building near East 22nd Street and South Pantano Road. The company is using a large, rotary welding jig to swiftly and accurately weld together fuel-tank sections nearly 5 feet in diameter. We just built our first flight tank two weeks ago, and we're in the process of building the rest of our flight tanks for testing, so were going to have a full-scale vehicle here, said Cantrell, who recently published a book about his adventures in the space industry. The biggest hurdle for the company now, Cantrell said, is raising millions of dollars in new capital investment to fund the final testing program. Phantom has raised more than $27 million in venture capital, including a $21 million funding round in December 2021, and Cantrell figures the company will need a total of about $50 million to reach its testing goals. The prospects of a recession and the recent bankruptcy of Virgin Orbit, a small-sat spinoff of Richard Bransons spaceplane-based launch company Virgin Galactic, have chilled the private equity market for small space startups. Private market investment in space startups dropped 58% in 2022 to $20 billion, after a record $47 billion invested in 2021, with later-stage companies most affected, according to a report by the New York-based venture-capital firm Space Capital. It's been really, really tough this year to raise money, but we're fortunate that we're so lean and mean we're gonna be one of the last companies standing after the carnage, potentially, Cantrell said. Deep talent But Phantom Space, which has 28 employees, has assembled an executive team with deep experience in commercial space. Christopher Thompson joined Phantom in October 2021 as chief technology officer after spending nearly four years as engineering head and chief engineer for advanced projects at Astra, a California-based small-rocket company that has had two successful orbital launches since 2020. Before that, Thompson was a vice president at Virgin Galactic and spent 10 years as an executive with SpaceX, where he played a key role in development of the Falcon 9 rocket. In July 2021, Phantom hired Mark Lester, former CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corp., which owns and operates the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Lester came aboard as vice president of launch operations and was named chief operating officer in March 2022. The stakes are high for Phantom as customers line up, but the Tucson startup is in good company. Customers await In January 2022, Phantom Space was among 13 companies picked by NASA to participate in its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program, which fosters development of new, small launch vehicles for NASA payloads. Among the other awardees were big launch providers SpaceX, Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, United Launch Services (Boeing-Lockheed Martin) and Northrop Grummans Chandler-based rocket division; and small-rocket startups Rocket Lab, Astra and Firefly. Last November, Phantom announced it was awarded four new NASA task orders to launch small CubeSat satellites into space as part of the VADR contract. Phantom also has signed an agreement with San Diego-based Ingenu to produce and launch a 72-satellite constellation to run a planned network linking to smart devices on Earth as part of an industrial internet of things. About the book Somehow as he worked to get Phantom Space off the ground in the last few years, Cantrell wrote a 364-page book about his experiences in the early days of the New Space industry, including the formation of Musk's SpaceX. Cantrell's book, "Breaking All The Rules: The Inside Story of the New Space Race" was released in late March and is available on Amazon.com. In the book, Cantrell traces the origins of a "second Space Race" that began at the end of the original 1960s U.S.-Soviet race to the moon and eventually led to SpaceX and the explosive growth in commercial space. PHOENIX Republicans on the House Ethics Committee sought to question a Tucson Democrat Thursday on her claim her decision to hide Bibles amounted to a joke and a peaceful protest. But Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton wasnt there, having made what she told Capitol Media Services was a decision not to attend on the advice of my excellent lawyers. That left members of the GOP-dominated panel frustrated as they consider whether to recommend some punishment of her. Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, who chairs the panel, acknowledged Stahl Hamilton was under no obligation to appear personally. He said he wont hold that against her when recommending what penalty, if any, is appropriate. But I think it would have been more effective for her if she was here to give some light to some of our questions that were directed directly at her, Chaplik said after the hearing. He said a final decision will come after lawmakers consult with attorneys to determine if her actions rise to the level of violating House ethics rules on members conduct, with a target of June 12 to make a recommendation to the full House. Stahl Hamilton already publicly stated she was trying to make a playful point about the separation of church and state when she moved the Bibles that normally are in the House members lounge, putting them at various times underneath the cushions of chairs and, at one point, in a refrigerator. She said she was trying to start a conversation about the issue, though she conceded that should have started with talking to someone and not hiding the books. Disingenuous Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, one of three Republicans on the five-member ethics panel, said during Thursdays hearing that the protest explanation doesnt ring true. I find it a little bit disingenuous, he said. How is having a Bible sitting on a table somehow a violation of church and state? Did she feel like she was being coerced to follow a certain religion? With his client not there, Diego Rodriguez, a former state lawmaker and one of Stahl Hamiltons attorneys, responded that his role was not to tell committee members what she thought at the time or what was her motivation. Instead, he referred lawmakers to her statement in response to the complaint that it was a form of peaceful protest. Chaplik said the lawyers representing Stahl Hamilton during Thursdays hearing did a fine job but their presence did not substitute for committee members being able to hear directly from her. They cant answer for her on any questions that were directed to her on her beliefs or her actions or any knowledge that she may have, he said. That would have been nice to have those answers today. The relevance of some of what GOP lawmakers wanted to ask her is less than clear. Grantham, for example, wanted to know whether Stahl Hamilton ever has stolen anything or been convicted of theft or shoplifting. He said that information would help him decide the underlying question of whether she is guilty of the ethics charge against her of disorderly behavior, saying he wanted to know if theres a pattern of it or is this something new. Was I sitting on my own sacred text? Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa, one of three Republicans who filed the complaint, acknowledged he did not witness Stahl Hamiltons actions in hiding the Bibles. The last of three incidents was caught April 10 on a hidden camera set up by House staff. But he said he was offended after the videotape became public and the issue gained national attention. Heap said he believes some action against Stahl Hamilton is appropriate. What was particularly disturbing to me is not simply that these Bibles were removed but the photos of where these Bibles were placed, in a refrigerator and under the cushions of chairs where I and other members and lobbyists sit, he told the Ethics Committee. I sit in those chairs, Heap continued. So now I have to deal with the question of, at some point while these Bibles were missing, was I sitting on my own sacred text? Rep. Jennifer Longdon of Phoenix, one of the two Democrats on the panel, asked Heap if he accepted Stahl Hamiltons public apology. I do appreciate her apology but it cant be escaped that apology came only after the actions had been known, she was informed this had been caught on video and that this became an issue of national concern, Heap said. So that does put a shadow over the sincerity of the apology, though if she is sincere I accept it, he continued. But I think that question is irrelevant to the question of was her behavior appropriate. Grantham also raised questions about what he said, using air quotes, was her apology. She didnt apologize for the action, he said. She apologized for the offense of anyone who thought that action was inappropriate. First Amendment rights Rodriguez said Stahl Hamilton meant no disrespect to the House. However, she also has the utmost respect for her First Amendment rights to engage in peaceful protest, he said. And we would describe what she did as a peaceful protest. Beyond that, Rodriguez said Stahl Hamilton has described her actions as a prank, a joke, it was done in jest. At the end of the hearing, Rep. Gail Griffin of Hereford, the third Republican on the panel, said she was not buying that argument. I dont see this as a joke, I dont see this as funny, she said. Griffin also said Stahl Hamiltons apology came up short. She didnt apologize for removing the Bible, Griffin said of Stahl Hamilton, who is an ordained Presbyterian minister. I dont understand why shes so angry about a holy book. Republicans also sought to undermine Stahl Hamiltons arguments about her desire for a separation of church and state. They played a video of a 2021 floor speech she made on Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper. She sought to make a point about attitudes about immigration and foreigners, saying people should see in them the face of Christ. In making her apology last month, Stahl Hamilton said she holds scripture very near to my heart. It is what guides me, she said. It is what shapes and informs the decisions I make. Stahl Hamilton said she has the utmost respect for people of all faiths and for those who have no religious beliefs. The Arizona Daily Star and two of its journalists did not defame a Tucson attorney, the state Court of Appeals has ruled. The ruling came in an action taken to the appeals court by the Star after Superior Court Judge Cynthia T. Kuhn had refused to dismiss a lawsuit against the Star and the journalists. The case involves a story and a column about a Tucson judges confrontation with a stalker. In February 2021, Adam Watters, then a Pima County justice of the peace, fired a gun into the ground during a confrontation with Fei Qin, a man who had been stalking Watters, and threatened to kill Qin, according to police and court documents. At Qins trial for stalking, a jury heard evidence that Watters family was distressed after several incidents in which garbage linked to Qin was left on their lawn. About the same time, the judges truck tires were slashed twice. Qin was sentenced to 1 years in state prison for stalking the judge, and the Pinal County Attorneys Office declined to prosecute Watters. Later, at a hearing before the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct, Watters agreed to a resolution forbidding him from further service as a judicial officer after his term, which expired at the end of 2022. The defamation lawsuit was filed by Watters daughter, local attorney Caitlin Watters, who was present during the confrontation with Qin, and was armed with a shotgun and in a hidden position. The suit alleged that a March 2021 news article by Star reporter Carol Ann Alaimo incorrectly implied that the Caitlin Watters quit her job as a Pima County prosecutor in connection with the incident. The lawsuit also alleged that a subsequent opinion column by Star columnist Tim Steller included false and misleading statements. The appeals court decision was authored by Judge Michael F. Kelly with the concurrence of Presiding Judge Karl C. Eppich and Judge Christopher J. ONeil, the other two members of the panel that heard the case. Kellys decision said the Court of Appeals did not find statements in the two articles to be defamatory. But Even were we to reach a contrary conclusion as to the defamatory nature of the statements in question, we would conclude the respondent judge erred in denying the motion for summary judgment based on a lack of actual malice, Kelly wrote. Actual malice is a legal standard in defamation cases applying to plaintiffs who are deemed to be public figures. Such a plaintiff must prove that a defamatory statement was made with the knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. New federal guidelines rolling back the starting age for mammogram screening and requiring providers to notify patients with dense breast tissue could help more women detect breast cancer earlier, but local experts say theres still work to be done. In 2023, more than 6,240 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Arizona and more than 920 will die of the disease, the Susan G. Komen Foundation estimates. Breast was the most common cancer diagnosed in 2019 in the state and in 2020, it was the fourth highest cause of cancer deaths in Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. The Federal Drug Administration issued new standards in March that require mammogram providers nationwide to notify women if they have dense breast tissue and to recommend they talk to a doctor about the need for additional screening. Thirty-eight states including Arizona already required that providers give women information about breast density following a mammogram. Earlier this month, on the heels of the new FDA standards, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation that the starting age for women to receive mammograms every other year move up from 50 to 40 years old. The task force is an independent panel of experts that reviews evidence of effectiveness and develops guidance for clinical preventive services. While the changes are significant, local providers say theyre far from perfect, and that annual mammograms are preferable. They all say annualThe FDA guideline for the age to start screenings has been very controversial for a long time, said Dr. Nova Foster, a breast surgical oncologist with Banner-University Medical Center Tucson. Mammograms are really our best tool for early detection of breast cancer and for a long time, breast surgery and imaging organizations have been recommending that women of average risk should start at 40 and do them annually, Foster said. But recommendations have differed from other organizations, most notably the Preventive Services Task Force, which issued a 2016 recommendation that women of average risk should start mammogram screenings at 50 and have them done every other year. This is the guideline that most primary care providers have used for the past eight years, Foster said. Its a really big deal that they have changed that start age from 50 to 40. Thats going to allow us to catch so many more early breast cancers, Foster said. But every other year is not something that the American Society of Breast Surgeons or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agree with. They all say annual. Up to 20% of breast cancers occur in women between the ages of 40 and 50, Foster said, adding that cases can be significantly more advanced if they arent diagnosed until they can be felt during an exam. Foster said that the new guideline for start date will save many lives, but she still hopes the recommendation will move to annual screenings. She encouraged all women to talk to their providers about their risk factors, including family history, and determine if every two years is appropriate or if they should be screened annually. If you have a mammogram done every two years, your interval rate of getting a breast cancer is much increased, as you would imagine, said Dr. Christopher Dillon, medical director at Northwest Womens Imaging. Interval cancer rate refers to tumors diagnosed between mammograms. With dense breast tissue your interval rate is much higher than it would be if you had just fatty breast density, Dillon said, adding that the biennial recommendation kind of flies in the face of that known fact. Breast cancer is the No. 1 cause of death for women between the ages of 35 and 54 and one-sixth of the lives lost this year will be women between the ages of 40 and 49, Dillon said. That alone should tell us that we need to take care of these people, specifically make sure we do annual screening mammograms, because that is the best way to save lives, Dillon said. Northwest, 6060 N. Fountain Plaza Drive, No. 100, offers a comprehensive breast program, so if a patient goes into the womens imaging center for a mammogram, they wont have to go anywhere else if they need treatment, unlike if they have their screening done at a standalone radiology center. Sometimes it is convenient to get your screening mammogram wherever you are but if you do have a choice, going to a dedicated womens imaging facility makes a huge difference, Dillon said. Youre more likely to get that continuity of care. Youre going to see me at your screening exam, youre going to see me at your diagnostic, your biopsy, and Ill be the one to call you with your diagnosis. Banner, 4291 N. Campbell Ave., and Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Road, also have on-site imaging centers. Dillon said that between the ages of 25 to 30, a woman should have a first conversation with their primary care provider or OB/GYN about risk factors and if early or additional screening is appropriate. There are a lot of things we can control in terms of breast cancer and there are things we cant, Dillon said. We cant control our breast density, we cant control our family history or genetics. Those are the discussions to have with your physician. Dense tissue increases risk Breast density and early screening go hand in hand, Dillon said, adding that a recent Dutch study showed annual mammogram screenings starting at age 40 can reduce the likelihood of fatal breast cancer by 40%. But for women with dense breast tissue, that number drops to 16%, said Dillon. The most recent literature suggests women with dense breast tissue have between a 1.5 and two times higher risk of developing breast cancer, he said. Breast density impacts the ability for mammograms to pick up breast cancer, since dense breasts appear whiter and most abnormalities and cancers also appear white. This means many breast cancers wont be caught by mammogram if a patient has dense breasts, Foster said. Fifty percent of women have dense breasts, especially young women, and for some women, additional screening measures might be appropriate, Foster said. But whats recommended is not necessarily going to be covered by insurance, so this creates a conundrum. Unlike for mammogram screening, there is no federal mandate requiring insurance companies to pay for additional screening methods, including MRI and ultrasound. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99% if caught early, but that rate goes down to 30% if its caught in a later stage, Dillon said. Making breast dense tissue notifications uniform across states will reduce confusion for patients, ensuring that if they move to another state, theyll continue to get the same level of care, Dillon said. But the lack of guaranteed payment still means many women wont get the screening they need, he said. State Rep. Alma Hernandez, a Democrat from Tucson, is co-sponsoring a bill that would provide coverage for women who need additional screening. The Susan G. Komen foundation estimated that 16% of people who receive annual screening mammograms get called back for diagnostic imaging. Over 60% percent (of those women) will be told that everything is normal and benign, but we do need those additional views to know that theyre normal and benign, Dillon said. Right now, that cost can be pretty significant for women. Its an out-of-pocket cost or it goes on their deductible. House Bill 2684 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for supplemental imaging when medically necessary. A study commissioned by Komen found the costs to patients range from $234 for a mammogram to more than $1,021 for a breast MRI. The legislation could have an immediate impact on thousands of people who need diagnostic or supplemental breast imaging, but arent able to afford to move forward with testing, according to a Komen news release. Local womans experience One Northwest patient was alerted to her early stage breast cancer when she noticed bloody discharge coming from her nipple last year. She asked to remain anonymous, due to privacy concerns. After visiting her doctor, she underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with Stage 0 noninvasive estrogen-related breast cancer. She had an MRI that came back clean and the growth was so minimal that she didnt require a lumpectomy, just a surgical scraping of the cancerous cells. They had to go in there to see it. It was basically just malignant cells, she said. She had previously received regular mammogram screening that always came back negative and included a notification she had dense breast tissue, but the letter included no further guidance. If my nipple hadnt bled, I probably wouldnt have detected it, she said. She said shes pleased with the federal guidance universalizing notification to patients who have dense breast tissue, but said she hopes theres some unpacking of what that means and doesnt mean, and about what the person should do next. Both Foster and Dillon said theyd like to see the two guidelines fused and the recommendation change to ensure that women get the lifesaving screening they need. The Arizona House of Representatives building. Photo by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0 A Democratic lawmaker videotaped hiding two Bibles for what she called a lighthearted protest of the state legislatures violation of church and state is facing a formal censure from Republican colleagues. In April, Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, D-Tucson, was caught on video moving Bibles in the members lounge of the state House of Representatives, after GOP leadership ordered the installation of a camera following weeks of confusion over the often displaced texts. They were once discovered underneath the seat cushions of couches in the lounge, and another time, one was found inside a refrigerator. Stahl Hamilton, a Presbyterian minister, explained that her actions were meant both as a joke and a protest of what she viewed as a violation of church and state. But Republican lawmakers were outraged and filed an ethics complaint, calling for her to be punished for disorderly conduct, theft and creating a hostile work environment. In the complaint, a trio of GOP lawmakers, including two pastors, accused Stahl Hamilton of exhibiting a flagrant disrespect for their religious beliefs and those of all Arizonans. On Thursday, formal proceedings in the investigation against Stahl Hamilton began, during which Republican legislators hotly criticized her for what they viewed as discriminatory actions and dismissed her claims of protest as nonsensical. Stahl Hamilton didnt show up to the committee meeting, and chose instead to be represented by her lawyers. Questions about the motivation behind installing a video camera in the members lounge and the majority partys unwillingness to release the full video were sharply rebuffed by committee leadership. Was there a discussion, like, Were going to figure out who did this and fire them? Rep. Jennifer Longdon, D-Phoenix, asked a member of Capitol security, before being cut off by Chairman Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, who said her questioning was irrelevant. Stahl Hamilton filed the ethics complaint earlier this year against GOP Rep. Liz Harris, which eventually led to her expulsion for allowing the dissemination of false criminal allegations against a bevy of state officials at a legislative hearing and then lying about it. Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa, one of the lawmakers who filed the complaint against Stahl Hamilton, worried that he may have inadvertently been forced to disrespect his own beliefs. I sit in those chairs, so now I have to deal with the question: At some point while these Bibles were missing, was I sitting on my own sacred text? he asked. I feel that its inappropriate for any member to do that to other members. Its a desecration of their scripture and a disrespect for their beliefs. But Stahl Hamiltons lawyers, former Democratic lawmakers Domingo DeGrazia and Diego Rodriguez, rebutted that her career as a pastor and her previous explanation of her actions refuted claims that she intended to disrespect anyones religious convictions. In an emailed statement to the committee that she also read during a full meeting of the House earlier this year, Stahl Hamilton said that her goal was never to be destructive, to never desecrate or to offend, but rather to begin a conversation about the separation of church and state doctrine. She has the utmost respect for the process and for other members of this body. However, she also has the utmost respect for her First Amendment right to engage in peaceful protest, Rodriguez said. We would further offer that and she has mentioned it before it was a prank, it was a joke, it was done in jest. But Republicans on the panel were unconvinced. Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, questioned how just the presence of a book constituted a violation of the separation of church and state doctrine. How is having a Bible sitting on a table somehow a violation of church and state? he asked. Did she feel like she was being coerced to follow a certain religion? DeGrazia and Rodriguez refused to elaborate on Stahl Hamiltons motivations, instead repeatedly pointing to her written statement in the face of continued grilling from lawmakers. Grantham quickly became frustrated with the stalemate, and compared Stahl Hamiltons behavior with that of past lawmakers expelled from the legislature, saying that the committee has a responsibility to investigate. What we judge here as members of the House is ethical versus unethical behavior. Weve expelled members, regardless of party line, for engaging in pretty ridiculous behavior. It happened this year, it happened (five) years ago, Grantham said, referencing the expulsion of then-Republican Rep. Don Shooter for sexual misconduct in 2018. Im trying to figure out what were doing here, because its not seemingly normal behavior. Rodriguez shot back that, while Grantham and other lawmakers may disapprove of Stahl Hamiltons protest or be unsatisfied with her explanation, her actions are not comparable to Shooters, and dont amount to an ethics violation. What today boils down to is that certain folks are just not comfortable with the way certain things happened, and subsequent to that, theyre not comfortable with the way things were explained, and that is unfortunately just a part of life, Rodriguez said. But it doesnt rise to the level of something that clearly insults the dignity of the body and that clearly offends people, and that clearly when people of good conscience are presented with something is a violation. Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, remained skeptical, pointing out what she perceived as a double standard for religious beliefs. What if she did this to the Quran? she asked. What would the response be? There are no copies of the Quran in the members lounge of the House, nor any other religious texts besides Bibles. A final decision from the Ethics Committee, which will recommend what action, if any, the legislative body as a whole should take isnt expected until June 12, when the legislature reconvenes after its latest recess. The committee can recommend to censure or expel Stahl Hamilton, but the latter outcome is highly unlikely without Democrats on board to make up the two-thirds supermajority vote needed to do so. Censure, meanwhile, requires only a simple majority, and Republicans currently outnumber Democrats by one. Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri blasts off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on May 25, 2023, in this photo provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Yonhap Korea's main satellite has successfully entered orbit and made multiple communications with ground stations, the science ministry said Friday. NEXTSAT-2 was deployed from Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri on Thursday evening, followed by seven microsatellites at 20 second intervals. Korea's King Sejong Station in Antarctica received the first signal from NEXTSAT-2 at 7:07 p.m. Thursday and a ground station in South Korea's central city of Daejeon also communicated with the satellite some 50 minutes later, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. NEXTSAT-2 also made two-way communications seven times with the Daejeon station and other overseas posts earlier Friday, the ministry said. PHOENIX Arizona motorists will have to keep an eye out for photo radar and red light cameras in some cities and towns, as Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill Friday that would have banned them. The Republican-led Legislature wanted to stop the use of the cameras to catch drivers ignoring posted speed limits or proceeding into intersections after lights turn red. The Democratic governor said the evidence shes seen convinces her the technology makes Arizona roads safer. Research indicates that photo radar cameras demonstrate effectiveness in changing driver behavior and decreasing fatal accidents, especially in vulnerable areas like school zones, she wrote in her veto message. Hobbs also said automating enforcement of traffic laws frees up police officers for higher priority needs. This bills ban of photo radar would eliminate an important tool for law enforcement that allows for a more efficient allocation of limited police resources, she said. The legislation was advanced by Sen. Wendy Rogers, a Flagstaff Republican who called it an intrusion on our privacy. Its insidious, Rogers said. Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, objected to having traffic laws enforced by private companies with whom communities contract for the technology. The cities and towns thus generate money from traffic fines without the costs of hiring more police, he said. Not only does the system corrupt and rot law enforcement, it further corrupts our elections and our entire political process, he charged. He was referring to the fact that 10% of every dollar generated in photo enforcement fines goes into the Citizens Clean Elections fund, which provides campaign cash for statewide and legislative candidates who agree not to take private and special interest money. But what Chaplik did not say is the same is true for citations issued by police officers: 10% of those fines, too, fund the public financing system. Legislative approval of Senate Bill 1234 came over the objections of some public safety experts. Freeman Carney, chief of the Paradise Valley Police Department, which claims to have been the first in the nation to use the technology, said his towns experience proves the speed cameras deployed along major roads work. Carney told lawmakers that in 1986, before the cameras were installed, the Phoenix suburb had more than 400 accidents. When the cameras went in, he said, the number of crashes was cut by 40% in Paradise Valley. There were 148 accidents in 2021 despite increased traffic and things that didnt exist when photo radar was introduced, such as drivers being distracted by cell phones, he said. Carney said the towns residents want it because it makes their main streets safer. Photo enforcement is not something a town does to their residents but for their residents, he said in testifying against the measure. Proponents of the ban were not convinced. Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, quoted a line by Ben Franklin: Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. At what point do we stop this? she asked Carney, noting the cameras record not just the speed of a vehicle but also the license plate and the face of the driver. By definition, it notes where the motorist was at a particular time and date. Should we start putting cameras in front of peoples homes, too, to make sure that theyre safe? Wadsack asked. I do not think we need to put cameras in front of peoples homes, the police chief responded. Others expressed different concerns. Rep. Rachel Jones, R-Tucson, called the system a huge violation of the Fourth Amendment that protects against illegal search and seizure. Every single car that passes by these cameras, there is a photo take of their license plate, she said. That information is then sent to a foreign company, foreign-owned company, which should make all of us nervous. Redflex Traffic Systems, one of the most widely used, is based in Australia. Arizona used to have more widespread use of the technology. When Democrat Janet Napolitano was governor she signed a contract with Redflex to place 100 fixed and mobile speed cameras along state roads. Napolitano used the estimated new revenues from the resulting fines to close a state budget gap. In 2010, after she became governor, Republican Jan Brewer killed the contract. Three years later Brewer signed legislation that restricted the ability of cities to set up speed and red-light cameras on state roads. That was cemented in 2016 when her successor, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, inked his approval to legislation that removed existing cameras on those state roads. One of the biggest effects was to force the town of Star Valley to remove its array of cameras along State Route 260, a major route for Arizonans making their way into vacation spots along the Mogollon Rim. The cameras initially generated nearly $1 million in tickets annually for the town of about 3,000. Local communities also have acted on their own. In 2015 voters in Tucson effectively killed photo enforcement with approval of a change to the city code that made inadmissible any evidence gathered from automatic red light or speed cameras. Sedition by any other name is still Sedition To date, nine individuals have been successfully convicted of sedition resulting from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Including at least one individual who wasnt even there. Yet, were frequently advised that it would be very hard to convict the general of this army. It wasnt hard to convict the lesser folk involved in the Jan. 6 fiasco but it would be just too hard to convict their leader. Can one of you tell me the actual reasoning here? Could it be because Trump might call people names and they might risk their jobs and/or lives in any attempt? Or could it be that a former president of the USA is just too important to be convicted in spite of the fact that No one is above the law! I personally believe that all 10 of those listed here should be convicted and if that cant be accomplished, then I believe that the first nine should be set free. Otherwise, our laws are an unfunny joke. Sue Thompson SaddleBrooke Stupidity vs intelligence Which is more important, human lives or the 2nd Amendment? What will it take to stop these outrageous massacres? Kids are afraid to go to school, adults afraid to go shopping, opening a (wrong) car door or ringing someones front doorbell late at night, could get you killed. Whats the common answer: GUNS and the refusal of our elected officials to get together and do something, and the three Ps: Power, Prestige and Perks (money from businesses and free trips). Do the words militia and arms allow us the right to weapons of war and killing a stranger, friend or family member? This should no longer be a political or selfish issue. We have had more mass killings than days in this year so far. Stop the killing now! Peter Strauss Marana Cutting taxes Recently there were two articles, one about how a hard debt ceiling would help America and the other about the GOPs cutting taxes without reducing spending. While I dont like paying taxes any more than Grover Norquist, one of the authors, what I dont want even more is to live in the Third World, to use an old term. Both articles suggestions would drive down spending on public goods, such as schools, roads and social services, in favor of citizens keeping their hard-earned money. Sounds great. But in practice means the rich get richer and the poor and middle class get left behind. Third world countries economies are set up to favor the rich at the expense of the many is that what we want in America? In my opinion government should always focus on the poor and middle classes the rich have always been able to take care of themselves as they have throughout history. Dave Bertagnoli West side A cancer advocates plea to Congress: No cuts to care, no cuts to cures As Congress and the president consider ways to address the looming debt limit, our nations progress against cancer should not be up for negotiation. Capping federal funding will lead to cuts to cancer research and impact future innovation. Cancer research cant be turned on and off like a light switch. We will lose progress, risk losing talented scientific expertise and compromise losing U.S. leadership in the cancer research space. Setting up barriers to health insurance through Medicaid will compromise access to proven cancer care and lead to later-stage cancer diagnoses, when the disease is more expensive to treat, and survival is less likely. Furthermore, the evidence is clear: work requirements dont work. Im deeply concerned about what these proposals mean in the fight against cancer. Cuts to care and cuts to cures threaten our goal to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. I urge Congress to oppose any cuts to cancer cures or cancer care in a final debt ceiling deal. Lisa Reynolds Southeast side Failed to verify Re: the May 20 article Lakes challenge heads to judge. Kari Lakes attorney claimed in court that Maricopa County failed to verify ballot signatures, allegedly casting doubt on the election that Lake lost last year. His basis? Reviewers only spent three seconds evaluating each signature. Heres a thought experiment: think back to the last time you made a retail purchase with a credit card and the clerk compared the signature on the card to the signature on the charge slip. Did you wait more than three seconds? Me neither. Mike Tully Foothills Dysfunctional Congress Much has been written about Artificial Intelligence (AI) including what jobs might be replaced by AI. One job I have not seen discussed is replacement of our dysfunctional Congress. Analysis of the data clearly shows that gun violence is closely related to the availability of guns. One of the major causes of our national debt is the large tax cuts which never yielded the increased revenue promised. To fix the problem of the national debt the revenue side of the equation must be included. There are over 1 million job openings in the USA. Hundreds of thousands of migrants are trying to get into the USA. Analysis of the data provides a pathway to help solve three major domestic problems. Maybe we should replace our Congress with AI. Artificial Intelligence is clearly better than no intelligence. Im still thinking about replacing the Supreme Court. Neil Kochenour Green Valley Access to physical therapy vital for aging Arizonans Physical therapy is a cost-effective, patient-preferred option to prevent and treat pain without medication. It is clinically proven to improve strength, function, and mobility, especially for seniors as they age. At a time when the U.S. is facing an epidemic of falls and a worsening opioid crisis, its important that access to PT is protected and expanded. Unfortunately, many seniors find it harder to access PT amid financial instability and inadequate Medicare reimbursement, particularly in rural areas with fewer providers. We must better support the PT sector to increase access as a falls prevention tool and to decrease opioid misuse. Thankfully, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and her team recognize the importance of these issues. Her constituent affairs representative recently visited our local Tucson practice to learn more about the problems were facing. I encourage Sen. Sinema to work with her colleagues in Washington to support policies that stabilize the physical therapy sector for older Arizonians who need access to this care. Jennifer Allen, Chief Clinical Officer Bodycentral Physical Therapy East side Ciscomani wants us to default The consequences of a potential federal default terrify me, and my congressmans inaction and stonewalling are incredibly frustrating to see. Representative Juan Ciscomani is playing a political game and risking the lives and livelihoods of his constituents just to score points with his MAGA base. Untold numbers of Arizonans could lose their jobs. People will be unable to buy homes, start businesses, or borrow money. The thousands of Tucson veterans relying on VA pensions may not get paid. People could end up on the streets because Ciscomani wants to default on paying the bills we owe, discrediting our government and putting the global economy in peril. As a constituent, I want Ciscomani to negotiate in good faith and come to a deal to avert this crisis. He is OUR employee, and we elected him to represent our voices and interests. We expect him to fulfill this responsibility like any employee. He needs to stop using peoples livelihoods as a bargaining chip in a partisan game. CM Whitley Northeast side Kids need our help Re: the May 20 article The real issues. As an educator, I want to say that I agree with the letter writers opinion raising concerns about what some members of Congress are proposing in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. They want to severely cut essential programs, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (commonly known as food stamps), Medicaid, education, and housing assistance. These proposed cuts are particularly troubling for my students, who already face difficulties staying focused and achieving academic success. With limited access to food assistance and increased stress levels, their ability to thrive will be further compromised. It is distressing to consider that people in Congress are contemplating actions that could cause such harm to any child. I think its time for all of us to raise our voices on behalf of the kids of America who need our support right now against those who want to see them go hungry and not have access to health care. Sarah Miller Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. 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. 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. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) A Montana woman charged with torturing and killing her 12-year-old grandson more than three years ago pleaded guilty Friday to deliberate homicide and two other felonies in an agreement with the state that calls for her to spend the rest of her life in prison. Patricia Batts was charged in the death of James Alex Hurley in February 2020 in West Yellowstone. Her trial had been scheduled to start in July, but she will now be sentenced on July 11. Under the agreement, she also pleaded guilty to felony criminal child endangerment for failing to get him medical help after he was fatally injured and witness tampering by trying to get family members to provide false statements to investigators, the Department of Justice said. This was a very tragic death of a blameless child. These cases are not easy, and our hard-working prosecutors are one step closer to achieving justice for Alexs family, Attorney General Knudsen said in a statement. I look forward to the sentencing and expect the judge will impose the life sentence we requested in the plea deal." Alex had been living with Batts and her husband, James Sasser Jr., following the death of his father, who was Batts' son. An autopsy found Alex died of blunt force trauma to the back of his head. He also had bruises and wounds all over his body, court records said. Gallatin County prosecutors alleged Alex was beaten and denied food. Investigators found videos of the boy being tortured and punished on cellphones seized from the family members. Sasser Jr. was sentenced in March 2022 to 100 years in prison for his role in Alex's death. He pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide, child endangerment and tampering with a witness. At sentencing, he acknowledged he failed to protect Alex. Two children belonging to Sasser and Batts were also charged in the case along with a family friend. Their 14-year-old son was charged in youth court and acknowledged causing the injuries that likely led to Alex's death. Youth Court Judge John Brown sentenced him to juvenile detention until he reaches age 18, followed by seven years on probation. Alex's aunt was sentenced to probation. Gallatin County prosecutors initially sought the death penalty against Batts, accusing her of systematically torturing and killing Alex. A new county attorney elected in 2022 took that sentencing option off the table after asking the state Attorney General's Prosecution Services Bureau for its recommendation. It will make this move more swiftly and secure a sentence where Ms. Batts will never see the outside of a prison cell again," County Attorney Cromwell said in January. Batts has been jailed since her arrest on Feb. 12, 2020. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) A public charter school system serving nearly 3,000 students in Little Rock has a new leader. After a nationwide search, eStem Public Charter Schools selected Cherie Labat, a career educator whose last post was with the University of Southern Mississippi, to be chief executive officer of the charter system, officials said in a news release Friday. She succeeds John Bacon, who retired late last year. Dr. Labats passion about education was clear from the outset, and her dedication to her students is unwavering, Vernard Henley, president of the eStem board of directors, said in announcing the selection. We are thrilled to welcome her to the eStem community as we embark on this new chapter of leadership. Labat most recently served as the cybersecurity coordinator for the Mississippi Cyber Defense Initiative at USM in Hattiesburg. She also served as superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District from 2018 to 2022 and was an assistant superintendent, principal and assistant principal in the Bay Waveland School District from 2006 to 2016. She has a doctorate in educational leadership and research from the University of Southern Mississippi, a masters degree in higher education and student personnel from the University of Mississippi, and a bachelors degree in business administration from Jackson State University. My lifes work is helping children reach their greatest potential, Labat said. As the daughter of two educators, I realized my calling at a very young age, and I believe that I have a moral obligation to provide opportunities for college, career, and enlistment preparation for all students. Mark Milhollen has served as eStems interim chief executive since Bacons retirement in December. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Anthony Lyn has lost count of the number of times he has seen and heard Circle of Life, the song that opens the stage musical version of Disneys The Lion King. Lyn has been involved with this adaptation of the award-winning animated film almost from the beginning of its 25-year history. He currently is the shows associate director, overseeing productions of the show all over the world, including the current touring production that comes to the Tulsa PAC on June 1. My job is to do everything the layman thinks a director does, Lyn said, speaking from Sao Paolo, Brazil, where he is rehearsing a new cast in preparation for a new production to open there in mid-July. I hold the auditions, I put together the casts, in collaboration with the shows main producers, and I direct the actors as they prepare. There is a resident creative team that then oversees the show after were finished, but we always pay the occasional maintenance visit to make sure everything has the quality it should have, Lyn said. He said the process for the Brazilian production is still in its relatively early stages, with the actors rehearsing in regular apparel, not the elaborate masks and costumes and puppets they will have on during a performance. But when they did the first rehearsal last week and sang Circle of Life without any of the visual elements that make that scene so wonderful on stage, Lyn said, I have to admit, it made me cry. It was just such a beautiful sound of those voices coming together and how that really speaks to the sense of community thats at the heart of this show. Disneys The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997 and became an instant sensation. The shows original director, Julie Taymor, who had made her reputation working in avant-garde theater and film, earned acclaim for her inventive use of puppetry and masks to bring added dimensions to the characters and the story. It has been running on Broadway continuously and currently ranks as the third-longest running show in Broadway history, eclipsed only by the recently closed The Phantom of the Opera and the still-running revival of Chicago. On May 6, the Broadway production of The Lion King celebrated its 10,000th performance. Lyn, a native of Swansea, South Wales, trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. He soon moved from the front of the stage to the back, rising to an associate director position with the theatrical company of producer Cameron Mackintosh, for whom Lyn worked on such shows as Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. I was quite happy with my job, Lyn said. But then The Lion King came to London in 98, and a friend of mine who was joining the company as a general manager encouraged me to apply. So I took a risk and ended up getting the job, he said. But it was more of a desk job, and I realized rather quickly that it wasnt the job for me. I wanted more of a creative job, and that ultimately led to what Im doing now, which is looking after all the productions of Lion King around the world. These include both the national touring production as well as the Broadway production; the West End and touring productions in Great Britain; and productions in Paris, Tokyo, Madrid, and Hamburg, Germany, as well as the soon-to-open show in Brazil. Its a cliche to say this, but Lion King is truly unlike any show Ive ever worked on, Lyn said. Its a show that has proven successful in cities that might not ordinarily be able to support such a large show and lengthy run. And now that we are returning to places where weve played before, were finding out that its even more successful than it was the first time, when the show was new. Keeping the show feeling new is one the many tasks for which Lyn is responsible. Our casts have contracts that run a single year, he said. Even so, we rarely have a big changeover when the contracts are up. Its true that for some performers, doing this show for a year is more than enough for them. But we also have some cast members in the Broadway and London productions who have been with the show for 10 to 15 years, he said. They are those rare people who have mastered the art of doing their roles every night as if it was the first time. As for Lyn himself, he said being able to work with so many different actors, from seasoned performers to those making their debuts in a professional stage show, working in different countries and languages, helps to make each individual production fresh and exciting. He also believes one reason for the longevity of The Lion King is that it tells an elemental, universal story. Ive found as I go along that different parts of the show have spoken to me at different times in my life, he said. And I dont think Im alone in that. For example, in the last 18 months, Ive lost both my parents, and so there are moments in the show that affect me in ways they may not have done before. Also, its a story that truly appeals to people of all ages and all cultures, Lyn said. It may have started out as a cartoon, but it is a story of profound humanity, that says so much about every stage of life, from birth to love to death. Thats the thing that attracted Julie Taymor to want to direct this show in the first place. Its also, Lyn said, why The Lion King is something that needs to be experienced live. Its such a visual spectacle, he said. But more importantly, in this post-COVID world, I think its even more important and necessary than ever before for people to come together and share in an experience that only live theater can provide. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Yancey Red Corn didnt hesitate with a response. Asked to rate his Cannes Film Festival experiences on a 1-to-10 scale, he immediately said, It was a 10. Cannes is where Martin Scorseses shot-in-Oklahoma film Killers of the Flower Moon made its May 20 world premiere. The film, based on David Granns best-selling book, delves into the true story of the serial murders of the oil-rich Osage in 1920s Oklahoma. Red Corn, a Norman resident, landed a part in the film as a former Osage chief. He was invited to be part of the Killers of the Flower Moon delegation at Cannes, where he attended festival-related events, walked the red carpet and saw the film. Red Corn was seated near Scorsese when the film and its star-laden cast received a nine-minute standing ovation. Among people Red Corn saw applauding: Cate Blanchett, Salma Hayek and John C. Reilly. They were staring right at me, Red Corn said. And I was just going, Wow. They were clapping for us. It was very surreal. It was also very personal. Red Corns great-grandfather was fatally poisoned during the era when the Osage were dying mysteriously. Red Corns father wrote a 2002 book (A Pipe for February) that told about the Osage Reign of Terror from the Osage perspective. Scorsese gave the book a shout-out during a Cannes news conference. The film is being hailed as a triumph, but it was, at times, hard for Red Corn to watch. He said he cried two or three times. Reading David Granns book was really hard, because you knew those people, Red Corn said. You know those families. My dad knew all of of them. Some of the people that survived told us the stories. We all knew. My family knew. My grandfather knew. They tried to get people to investigate my great-grandfathers death, and nobody would. It was just the system. Everything was against them. Red Corn said his sister, Moira, came to Cannes as his guest. He said she was overcome with emotion. Having her there and watching it, I can see how that is going to be with a lot of Osages, he said, indicating his sister was almost inconsolable. Scorsese didnt really pull any punches in bringing the Osage Reign of Terror to the big screen, according to Red Corn, who said he cant say enough about Lily Gladstones performance as Mollie Burkhart. She plays the Indigenous wife of Leonardo DiCaprios Ernest Burkhart. Red Corn credited Scorsese and his staff for doing proper research and for employing the Osage behind and in front of cameras. In Red Corns case, he went from decade-ago theater actor to having a speaking role in a film by an Academy Award-winning director. Red Corn played Chief Bromden in an OKC Theatre Company production of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest in 2012. Its the role Oklahoma actor Will Sampson gained acclaim for in an Academy Award-winning 1975 film of the same name. Red Corn auditioned for the play thinking he wouldnt have much dialogue and surprise! learned his character is more verbose in the stage version. A rookie who didnt know what stage left meant, he said he spent a hard four months memorizing his part because he knew there would be no room for error when performing live. The no-safety-net theatrical experience proved handy when the Killers of the Flower Moon opportunity arose. Red Corn said he hit the first take of his first scene because he was used to no do-overs. There were times when Scorsese urged Red Corn to say whatever was on his mind instead of sticking to the script, but Red Corn wasnt sure what he wanted to say. What did he do? He pretended like he was his great-grandfather or great-uncle or he fell back on something he recalled from his fathers book. An ad-lib speech got him a beautiful remark from Scorsese and a fist bump from DiCaprio. Funny thing about that: Immediately afterward, Red Corn couldnt recall what he had said to earn the compliment or the fist bump. I hate to be cliche, but it was like my dad was there and my great-grandfather and my great-uncle, they were all there. And my grandfather, too. Red Corn was coerced by a friend into auditioning for Killers of the Flower Moon. He figured he would, at best, be a background extra. A casting call in Tulsa led to additional readings. COVID arrived and there was no news, according to Red Corn, unless him growing his hair out during the pandemic qualifies as news. In late 2020, Red Corn got a message asking if he would be available to work from March through September of 2021. Even after Red Corn was informed he had secured the role of Chief Bonnicastle, he was still under the impression he might be a background person. Then scenes from the script were sent to him. He wanted to be a pro and have his lines memorized, so he recited his lines while looking in the mirror or when taking walks outside. Said Red Corn: People would be like Whos that crazy Indian guy walking in the street with the half-shaven face and the long hair? That guys crazy. Hes talking about tribal stuff like hes from the 18th century. Actors never know if their scenes will be destined for the cutting room floor. When Red Corn received a Cannes invitation, he took it as a positive sign that he would appear in the film. He said it was really weird seeing himself on the big screen. Is that what I really sound like? Red Corn said he has heard actors are kind of insecure about watching themselves because they wish they had done things differently. But I also knew Marty is one of the greatest directors, and he and his editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, they werent going to put anything up there that they didnt believe was good, Red Corn said. Im not going to question their ability to make and tell the story and, boy, did they tell a story. Red Corn said Apple (Killers of the Flower Moon is from Apple Original Films) did everything first class in regard to his Cannes-related travel and activities. Red Corn, who visited with DiCaprio and Jesse Plemons on set in Oklahoma, didnt get an opportunity to spend time with Robert De Niro during the making of the film. Red Corn sought out De Niro at an eve-of-premiere dinner and found De Niro to be gracious. Red Corn said his cousin, Talee Redcorn, also is in the film and made the trip to Cannes. Everyone seated at their table during a Friday night dinner had braids, so they dubbed themselves The Braided Bunch. Red Corn said he and Talee are like brothers. Their fathers would have been overjoyed to know they were in a movie like Killers of the Flower Moon. We carried them with us while we were walking down the red carpet, said Red Corn, who wore a Stetson hat (its a family tradition) and accessorized with a tribal blanket. Added Red Corn: Talee and I grew up in Pawhuska on what was called the Pawhuska Osage Indian Village, and here he and I are, riding in a limo to the red carpet together and getting out and walking together, and people are taking photos of us. I mean, what are the odds? Its just unfathomable to us. We were thinking its just two old Osage guys who lived on the rez, and here we are. Red Corn was asked what he wanted to say spoiler-free, of course about the film he saw at Cannes. He reiterated that Killers of the Flower Moon was emotional, and he again complimented Scorsese for doing necessary research. But he showed Osages as humans, Red Corn said. Lily Gladstone is going to win the Academy Award. Leo too, and so is Marty. But it was just gripping. It was just a gripping movie. Red Corn also wanted to say this: I hope when people watch it, they will recognize other Indigenous people other people all over the world are getting killed and (are victims of) genocide by other governments. The movie is about white supremacy. Its about colonialism and how they justify why theyre killing the Osages and why they deserve the land and the money. It is about white supremacy, which is making a strong resurgence right now. I hope it lets people look at themselves and know that we need to love one another. I hope it helps a little bit with that in Oklahoma. I hope people can say We can learn from history. We dont have to do that again. But, you know, we always repeat ourselves. I hope we can love one another and treat each other equally and respectfully. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The shot-in-Oklahoma film Killers of the Flower Moon made its world premiere May 20 at Cannes Film Festival. Here are 10 takeaways: Osage representation Officials from the Osage Nation were promised a film that would make the Osage proud, which figured to be a difficult trick considering the tragic source material. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film puts a personal spin on the serial murder of the oil-wealthy Osage in Oklahomas early years. 'Gripping movie': Watching 'Killers of the Flower Moon' brings Oklahoma actor to tears A Norman resident, Yancey Red Corn plays a former Osage chief in "Killers of the Flower Moon," and he traveled to Cannes Film Festival for the movie's premiere. There was Osage representation in front of and behind the camera during the making of the film. And the Osage were included when Killers of the Flower Moon made its world premiere. Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and other Osage walked the red carpet. Wait and see Now it can be said that people have seen Killers of the Flower Moon. When can you see it? The film will be released exclusively in theaters beginning Friday, Oct. 6. It will open that date on a limited basis before widespread release Friday, Oct. 20. Later, it will stream globally on Apple TV+. Because Killers of the Flower Moon was shot in Oklahoma, will there be special film-related events here? A spokeswoman for the Osage Nation said there would be an Osage viewing in July. Additional details will be shared at a later date. Speaking the language The Osage language, which is endangered, is present in the film. For a citizen outside of (the acting) world, we get preconceptions about what is involved and maybe think, well, Bob De Niro just wakes up and naturally everything comes right out, Standing Bear said at a press conference following the premiere. Standing Bear said actors worked hard alongside representatives from the Osage to tackle the language. I was sitting next to Mr. De Niro last night, and I got very excited about some of his Osage, Standing Bear said. Oscar-worthy? Jim Gray, former principal chief of the Osage Nation, shared on social media that he was fortunate to see a private screening of Killers of the Flower Moon prior to the Cannes premiere. One reason he and his siblings were allowed to see the film in advance is because he is a namesake and direct descendant of Henry Roan (James Roan), who was among Osages murdered during the Osage Reign of Terror. Posted Gray on social media: How was the movie? It was excellent. Scorsese even captured some of our humor. The performances across the board were Oscar-worthy. I mean it. Ive never seen a movie like this before no white savior, nothing needed to be made up. The violence is real and the music of the Osage language was beautifully spoken by all of the actors, especially the non-Osage actors. At some point I stopped worrying about the subtitles. But the ending. Oh man, you will not forget the ending. But youre going to have to see the film for that. My lips are sealed. The reviews Ema Sasic of USA Today tweeted this: WOW. A harrowing story that is difficult to watch given the subject matter, but you cant help but marvel at the mastery on screen. Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro are absolutely incredible. Among top tier Martin Scorsese. The Guardian gave the film a five-star review: This is an utterly absorbing film, a story that Scorsese sees as a secret history of American power, a hidden violence epidemic polluting the water table of humanity. Invitation accepted Gladstone, who plays the female lead in Killers of the Flower Moon, has accumulated ample Oklahoma acting experiences. She guest-starred in a season two episode of the shot-in-Oklahoma series Reservation Dogs and starred in Fancy Dance, a 2023 film shot on the Cherokee Nation reservation. Directed by Erica Tremblay, Fancy Dance made its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was a finalist in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. Gladstone invited Tremblay and Fancy Dance co-star Isabel Deroy-Olson to the Killers of the Flower Moon premiere at Cannes. In a social media post, Tremblay thanked Gladstone and said Im so grateful to know you and I am forever in awe of your power and beauty. Tremblay is part of the Reservation Dogs creative team. Breakout star Gladstones work in Killers of the Flower Moon has her poised to be a breakout star. On May 20, the day the film premiered at Cannes, music artist and Killers of the Flower Moon actor Jason Isbell tweeted, So excited for the world to witness the power of @lily_gladstone. He also tweeted this: I told yall that movie was gonna be good. Star-studded place At a post-premiere news conference, Scorsese was asked about the film being made during the pandemic. He said he kept working on the script during a year-and-a-half COVID pause. During filming, he and others followed COVID safety guidelines. I just have to really quickly thank the Osage Nation for vaccinating people, Gladstone said. They were thrilled to see the stars, responded Standing Bear. The Osage Tribal Health Clinic was a star-studded place to be for a minute there, Gladstone said. A Pipe for February Killers of the Flower Moon is based on a bestselling book by David Grann. While at Cannes, Scorsese gave a shout-out to another book A Pipe for February by Charles Red Corn that deals with the same subject matter. We hope to get that made into a film, too, Scorsese said. Gladstone said A Pipe for February tells more from an Osage perspective. Seek it out, she said. Its a beautiful book. Unforgettable night Apple CEO Tim Cook shared this after the Cannes premiere: We created Apple TV+ to tell stories that make a difference, and Killers of the Flower Moon does just that. Thank you to the Osage Nation, Martin Scorsese and all involved in telling this important story. And thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for an unforgettable night! The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Lawmakers on Thursday overrode Gov. Kevin 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. The vote was 42-3 in the Senate and 80-11 in the House. Despite passing the state House and Senate earlier this session by a combined margin of 135-1, the bill was vetoed by Stitt. Senate Bill 429 explicitly allows Indigenous students attending a public school, charter school or publicly funded post-secondary institution to wear traditional attire at their graduation ceremony. Along with beadwork, shoes, jewelry and clothing, the provisions also include eagle feathers and eagle plumes. In his veto message, the governor wrote that the measure would usurp local control over graduation protocols and open a proverbial Pandoras box for groups to demand special favor to wear whatever they please to a formal ceremony. If school districts want to allow students to wear tribal regalia at graduation, good on them; but if schools prefer students to wear only traditional cap and gown, the legislature shouldnt stand in their way, Stitts veto message read in part. The veto message also referenced that state law currently does not prohibit school districts from allowing students to wear tribal regalia at graduation. With more than 130,000 Indigenous students attending public schools across Oklahoma, bills with similar language have been filed in previous sessions but did not make it through both chambers. Author Kim Chakanetsa stands between Rwandan broadcaster and YouTuber Maronko Moise and interpreter Park Ji-young, during a book talk at Rainbow Theater in Seoul Seongdong Youth Center, May 20. / Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu By Bereket Alemayehu Every May 25, Africans in the continent and around the world, even in Korea, celebrate Africa Day. However, this year is a special celebration for the African Union (AU). It was officially launched in 2002 and consists of 55 member states. It is the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was formed 60 years ago on May 25, 1963. Recently, prior to Africa Day, but as part of the 60th-anniversary celebrations, the 2023 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was commemorated on May 20 at Rainbow Theater in Seoul Seongdong Youth Center. It was also organized by the locally established civic organization Africa Insight, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Africa Insight is a Seoul-based NGO with the aim of facilitating education and awareness surrounding African development, both in Korea and worldwide. Africa Insight's work encompasses a wide range of topics, including media monitoring and reporting, government advisory services and general education. Last year it organized the Seoul Africa Festival in October and a public campaign for policy recommendations targeting the 5th Korea-Africa Forum in March. According to the event's press release, the organizers aimed to enhance understanding of the continent by organizing various programs, including performances and experiences and book talks for Korean youth, young children and their parents or guardians as well. Kim Chakanetsa, a BBC journalist and author of "Africana: An encyclopedia of an amazing continent," was invited for the first time to Korea to speak at a global book concert. Kim Chakanetsa, BBC journalist and author of "Africana: An encyclopedia of an amazing continent" / Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu The award-winning journalist, broadcaster and producer from Zimbabwe who joined the BBC in 2013 after working for CNN International and Associated Press, told The Korea Times that coming here was an exciting experience. "My first impression was a very long time ago, when Korea hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1988," she said. "For young Kim It was amazing. And then I asked, 'Where is that place?' I was just very curious. Since then Korea was one of the top countries to visit on my list. It was a great chance being here, to talk about African dynamic countries and particularly on my book, which is all about an introduction of the incredible continent." Steven Sungyong Heo, director of Africa Insight, highlighted the importance of partnership with Africa and organizing such events for the public. "It's to provide awareness, and useful knowledge to Korean youth, to let them open their eyes because Africa is part of the world and the young ones are the future of global citizens," he said. "Therefore, our focus on the youth is with the purpose of informing. We need to develop an open mindset on their perspectives about Africa by educating them on how Africa has positive impacts, with huge cultural diversity and natural resources. Obviously, the discrepancies of factual information were because of the stereotypical kind of mass media reporting, portraying the continent in very negative ways. So, it's up to the youth to learn and decide by themselves. Actually, that's what our organization is striving to do." Steven Sungyong Heo, director of Africa Insight / Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu Timed with Chakanetsa's visit, Africa Insight offered a Korean translation of her book. A copy of the Korean translation of "Africana: An encyclopedia of an amazing continent" / Courtesy of Africa Insight Heo said Africa Insight is working on a book publishing project with a name translated into English as "Africa As It Is," in collaboration with Green Rain Publishing Company. "So far, we have accomplished releasing seven books covering Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Ghana, Rwanda and Nigeria by Korean authors who have lived in the continent for many years," he said. "The authors usually try their best to cover all aspects of life, cultures, peoples and politics in those countries, to write with depth and checked facts in an objective manner aside from their personal feelings." Chakanetsa's book is the first to be translated into Korean by Africa Insight. Prior to her book talk, Korean author Park Ji-sun gave a lecture titled, "We are all global citizens," based on the lessons in her book "Children's School for Global Citizenship." Then followed a unique music and dance performance by TAGG, an African dance company. The Africa dance company TAGG performs as part of a book concert, May 20. / Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu Lee Ho-eun, who recently earned a master's degree in the French language at Kyung Hee University, said it was exhilarating to attend the cultural diversity event. Lee Ho-eun / Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu Her first connection with Africa was when she landed in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, for a stopover on her way to France. She spent a day looking around, impressed by the views, the people, and above all witnessing Africans' vitality in life. That experience led her to the recent decision to move to Senegal next month, where she will work for two years at a publishing company. She hopes moving to a new environment will connect with people in order to learn more about diverse cultures and lifestyles, and help lead to personal growth. Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also a co-founder of the social initiative and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency. Visit? ?for more information. ? Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Last weeks Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence awards ceremony, at which a Sand Springs educator and nearly 20 area public school seniors were honored, will be broadcast this weekend on OETA. Five state educators and 100 top public school students, named Academic All-Staters, will be recognized during the broadcasts of the OFEs 37th Academic Awards Celebration at 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday on Channel 11, OETAs Tulsa-area public television channel. The broadcast also can be viewed at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, June 4, on the OETA World Channel. The gala celebration, which was recorded Saturday at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa, was sponsored by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, a nonprofit organization that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahomas public schools. Barbie Jackson, a STEM teacher at Sand Springs Public Schools Limestone Technology Academy for 20 years, received the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence for elementary education. She is the only Tulsa-area educator honored this year. Described as the Academy Awards of public education in Oklahoma, the awards program was emceed by foundation trustee and banquet chairman Kyden Creekpaum, a Tulsa attorney who was an Academic All-State honoree in 2000. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Academic Awards Program is Oklahomas premier awards program honoring academic achievement, innovation and leadership among students and educators in our public schools, said Elizabeth Inbody, the foundations executive director. By working together to give outstanding students and educators the recognition they deserve, we send a message that we value their accomplishments and dedication, and we inspire others to strive for excellence. The program will also feature a keynote address by Sheryl WuDunn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and business executive. WuDunn and her husband, journalist Nicholas Kristoff, are the co-authors of such best-selling books as Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope and Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women. In her keynote address, Empowering Students to Change the World, WuDunn shares ways young people can impact the lives of others in their communities and around the world. The broadcast will also feature music by the Tulsa Youth Symphony. A link to the broadcast will be available in June on the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellences website at For more information, call the foundation office at 405-236-0006. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Despite all the fun, Anastasia Cupps was not quite ready for the school year to end Thursday. I love to read and learn in class, the Hamilton Elementary School fourth-grader said. Im a little sad because Im going to miss my friends this summer, but well have summer camp here, so at least Ill get to see them a little bit. Along with Hamilton and the other sites across Tulsa Public Schools, Thursday was the last day of the spring semester for Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Coweta, Liberty, Prue and Wagoner. Friday is the last day of classes for students attending Claremore, Epic Charter Schools and Union. But classwork wasnt at the top of Thursdays agenda at Hamilton. After a morning filled with cornhole, three-legged races, egg races, Connect Four, ring toss and trips through an obstacle course, Hamiltons grades squared off in a massive game of tug-of-war as part of the schools Husky Olympics, with the winning team getting to face the teachers. In a photo finish, the schools fifth-grade students claimed a tug-of-war victory over the teachers en route to winning the Husky Olympics trophy. Im about to be a fifth-grader, so technically I won, too, Anastasia said, grinning. With the last three consecutive school years marked by interruptions brought on by COVID-19, Thursdays Husky Olympics and an afternoon visit from the Tulsa Fire Department to spray students with a hose were a welcome sight for Hamilton Principal LaKinda Houston. We have seen a lot of growth for students this year since they have had some consistency being in the classroom, Houston said, watching students play in the water and mud. It also means weve had a full, uninterrupted year in the classroom, which means were able to pause and do fun things like this at the end of year. The end of the school year also meant the end of a career for at least one Hamilton faculty member. After more than a decade as a teachers assistant at the northeast Tulsa school, Thursday was the last day before retirement for Peggy Edmondson. Its my last day, so what do I have to lose? she said with a smile, accepting wet hugs from prekindergarten and kindergarten students after they were drenched by the fire hose. Meanwhile, five miles to the west, students at TRAICE Academy celebrated the end of the school year with some slightly drier activities. A placement-based alternative site for middle and high school grades located at 2740 E. 40th St. North in the former Lindsey Elementary School building, TRAICE Academy hosted an awards assembly and a cultural presentation from TPS Indian Education Department and the Intertribal Indian Club of Tulsa, followed by a cookout. These students have accepted the challenges weve set for them when they came here, TRAICE Academy Principal Maurice Walker said to students, staff and parents at the assembly. We set the bar high to challenge these students, and we will keep doing that. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Photos: Students compete in Hamilton's Husky Olympics for last day of school Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Husky Olympics at Hamilton Elementary Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. OKLAHOMA CITY After spending much of last year on the campaign trail vowing to expand school choice options, Gov. Kevin Stitt took a victory lap Thursday by signing into law an education package that provides tax credits to families who send their children to private school. Surrounded by more than 50 young schoolchildren, including one of his sons, Stitt gave his stamp of approval to school choice legislation and a bill that increases common education funding by more than $625 million. In a signing ceremony, Stitt touted what he has dubbed the Aspire Oklahoma Plan as a first-of-its-kind school choice initiative that he said makes private schooling an option for every family in the state. School choice should not just be for the rich or for those who can afford it, he said. Now its available for every single family in the state of Oklahoma. Stitt signed House Bill 1934, which offers families refundable tax credits of up to $7,500 for each child who attends private school. The amount of the tax credit will vary based on household income. Home school families will be eligible for tax credits of $1,000 per child. In the first year of the program, the private school tax credits would be capped at $150 million, and preference will be given to lower-income families. That cap will rise to $200 million and $250 million in subsequent years. Although lawmakers have passed school choice policies in the past, this tax credit program will be Oklahomas biggest step toward state support of private schools. Stitt said expanding school choice became one of his top priorities after he first was elected. The governor said he saw injecting competition into K-12 schooling as the key to making Oklahoma a top 10 state in education. The states Catholic Archdiocese is already looking at opening new private schools as a result of this new law, Stitt said. Oklahoma ranks among the worst states for per-pupil funding. Its unclear how this new funding for common education will improve Oklahomas rankings nationally. Democrats and public school advocates have likened the tax credits to private school vouchers and said the new program will funnel state funds away from public schools that serve 95% of Oklahoma students. Instead of $700 million to subsidize private schools, we could put that money into the funding formula to provide more money going directly to the classroom to support students and to provide pay raises for support employees like our bus drivers, teachers aides and food service workers, House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said in a statement. Stitt also touted the record public education investments within the Aspire package. The plan earmarks $625 million in new, recurring revenue for common education that will be distributed through the states school funding formula and the Redbud Fund, which helps districts that receive below-average property tax dollars with construction and maintenance of school facilities. Another $160 million in one-time funds will go toward launching pilot programs on school safety and childhood literacy. In a first, the state will also offer teachers six weeks of paid maternity leave. The education package also funds pay raises of $3,000 to $6,000 for all Oklahoma teachers and certified school employees. Educators will receive pay raises commensurate with their years of experience. The average pay hike will be $4,766. All of the public school investments make it clear that Oklahomans support public education and local teachers, Stitt said. The governor said he hopes the increased public education funding will drive more people to become educators. We want you to know in the state of Oklahoma that youre valued; youre appreciated, he told teachers. Noting that the state has put a record $1.3 billion in new money toward public schools in the past five years, Stitt said common education funding will remain a top priority going forward. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 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. Related Content Lawmakers override Stitt's veto of OETA bill In an unusual move, the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives passed and sent to the governor on Thursday legislation that significantly alters state charter school laws and expands the power of the Statewide Charter School Board. Senate Bill 516, by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, reconstitutes the Statewide Charter School Board and gives it full authority over all charter schools, including virtual charter schools. The current state virtual school board will be abolished if Gov. Kevin Stitt signs SB 516. Bills are not usually voted upon by the state House and Senate on the same day, but with this years regular legislative session ending Friday, the House suspended its rules in order to expedite SB 516 and several other measures. SB 516 passed 68-27 with no discussion or debate as a handful of rural Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition. Among other things, the bill would change what entities can sponsor charter schools by removing CareerTech districts and the State Board of Education and adding the new Statewide Charter School Board and all public and private colleges and universities. It is unclear whether this would open the door for state-supported religion-affiliated schools sponsored by a private college or university. The bill also would give local school boards what amounts to the right of first refusal on charter school applications. Applications turned down by a local board could then be taken up by a college or university or the statewide board. Appointments to the new board would need to be made by Oct. 31. Unlike the State Board of Education, whose members are appointed solely by the governor with the state superintendent of public instruction an ex officio member, the Statewide Charter School Board would be made up of three gubernatorial appointees and two appointees each by the Senate president pro tem and the speaker of the House, plus the state superintendent and the state auditor and inspector or their designees. The current Statewide Virtual Charter School Board would be dissolved effective July 1, 2024, with the new board as its successor. Also Friday, the House gave final passage to Senate Joint Resolution 22, the Legislatures annual approval or disapproval of administrative rules submitted by state agencies. Of particular note, SJR 22 did not approve but did not specifically disapprove, as was the case with some others rules dealing with a statewide health information exchange and rules submitted by the Department of Education. As a result, the fate of those rules is deferred to Stitt. The House is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday for the final day of this years regular session and for the special session into which this years appropriations bills have been funneled. Final adjournment of the special session is not required Friday. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 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. Related content Oklahoma lawmakers punt on grocery tax elimination, broad income tax cuts in budget OKLAHOMA CITY As the Oklahoma Legislature adjourned its regular legislative session on Friday, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he may call lawmakers into a special session on tax cuts. Although Stitt praised roughly $70 million in tax cuts lawmakers included in their proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the governor said it was unbelievable that the Senate didnt advance more substantive tax cuts. Ive got a lot of things to consider after sine die, Stitt said, referencing the Latin term that signals the final adjournment of the legislative session. I dont believe that the Senate is going to take up the tax cuts at this point, so well maybe have to call (legislators) back in for a special session to talk about it. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the tax cuts approved this year will hold up over time and wont lead to state revenue shortfalls in bad budget years. At the start of the session, Stitt called on the Legislature to eliminate the states 4.5% tax on groceries and cut personal income and corporate income taxes. The House passed a slate of bills to make those cuts, but they were never taken up by the Senate. In a Friday news conference, Stitt said he wants the Legislature to cut personal income tax rates by 0.25 percentage points, dropping the states top tax rate to 4.5%. When we do a tax cut and we put money back in Oklahomans pockets, its not like it disappears, Stitt said. All were saying is they know how to spend their money better than the government. The Senate appears unlikely to budge on tax cuts even if the governor calls a special session. He did that last year. It didnt work out for him, Treat said. Stitt called a special session on tax cuts last June after the Legislature adjourned its 2022 regular legislative session without cutting the grocery sales tax or trimming personal income and corporate income tax rates. The Senate vowed to study tax reform and adjourned the special session without voting on any of the Houses tax cut proposals. Many GOP senators are cool to major tax cuts for fear that they could dramatically reduce tax collections and leave the state in a vulnerable financial position in the years to come. The Legislatures $12.9 billion proposed state budget includes eliminating a so-called marriage penalty for couples who file their income taxes jointly and scrapping the states franchise tax, which is levied on corporations. Stitt said the cuts, which will reduce annual tax collections by about $70 million, are a step in the right direction. Lawmakers also created a new program that will offer tax credits to families whose children attend private school. The tax credits will be capped at $150 million in the first year, but that cap will increase in subsequent years. The Senate cut taxes in a responsible and sustainable way through the school choice legislation, reducing business taxes and ensuring that married couples arent penalized when they file taxes together, Treat said. Stitt glossed over those details when he criticized the lack of other tax cuts this session, he said. Diluting revenue more this year, in a time of fiscal uncertainty nationally, would be irresponsible and unproductive, Treat said. When factoring in various new tax credits, the Legislature approved close to $240 million in tax cuts for next year, said Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. She expressed concerns about the long-term financial impact of those cuts. Were not setting up a structurally balanced budget if we continue to cut taxes, she said. The Legislature is already in a special legislative session on state budget issues. That will allow lawmakers to come back to the Capitol in mid-June if the governor vetoes parts of their proposed state budget. Stitt would have to call a separate special session if he wants to force the Legislature to tackle tax cuts. 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 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Oklahoma legislators found their way around to a reasonable budget in a session that was unusually testy for a Republican supermajority control. A $12.9 billion negotiated budget addresses some big needs, such as boosts in education, while leaving about $3.6 billion in various savings accounts. A nearly $1 billion education spending package was agreed upon last week (22% increase from last year) and added tax credits to the list of other tax-supported economic benefits to private school students. With the general budget agreement, legislators wisely stayed away from overall tax cuts. Cutting revenue too far while times are good will handcuff future lawmakers in lean times. That's a lesson from the recession and decade of revenue failures. Instead, tax reduction measures are more targeted: eliminating the franchise tax for new businesses and changing tax brackets to get rid of the so-called marriage penalty. The deal includes quite a bit to like including an additional $10 million to bring down the services waiting list for Oklahomans with disabilities, 22.5% increase in the public health budgets, $18 million for OK Pop Museum, six weeks maternity leave for state employees and three incentive programs to build affordable housing that total $215 million. Oklahoma Educational Television Authority receives the same as last year at about $2.9 million, and the Regents for Higher Education got a nearly 15% increase. Lawmakers agreed to tax credits for family members acting as full-time caregivers, up to $2,000 a year for most and $3,000 for those caring for veterans or people with dementia. It's far less than what private school parents will receive ($5,000 to $7,500) and much more worthy. A Legacy Capital Fund will be created with $600 million to provide no-interest loans to state agencies for capital improvements. Also new will be the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation to review the performance of state judges and justices within two years of being elected or appointed to the bench. Finally, lawmakers put money into a fund required by the passage of State Question 781, approved by voters in 2016. It was part of a criminal justice package that mandated savings from lowered prison populations go to county governments for prevention programs, such as mental health or drug treatment programs. Though the overdue bill is more in the range of $70 million, lawmakers agreed on $12.5 million. It's a start. Non-funding items embedded in the budget would expand the Tourism Commission from an advisory role into more governance. This is in response the scandal involving potential mismanagement made by Swadley's BBQ when operating restaurants at state parks. We encourage more governance roles return to commissions. More eyes and input on public operations means less problems long term. The agreement modifies a rule to make it easier to transport people in a mental health crisis to treatment. Also, it requires the state superintendent not turn away federal grants previously received without approval from House and Senate leadership. It's unclear whether the Legislature has the power to require this move, but it's a loud statement of the body's lack of confidence in State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Concerns are emerging that basic operations at the Oklahoma Department of Education are being ignored. Overall, the budget is a good balance that restores and rebuilds critical public services. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Canada's westernmost province of British Columbia has opened a new trade and investment office in Vietnam as part of a new international trade strategy to provide more jobs and opportunities for B.C. and Vietnamese businesses to work together. The Trade and Investment Representative Office opened in Ho Chi Minh City to assist B.C. businesses with better access to the Vietnamese market and promote B.C. origin exports. The global economy has drastically shifted over the last few years and the pandemic and global uncertainties have shown us the impacts they can have on our economies and supply chains, and the importance of strengthening our international partnerships, B.C.s Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar said at a ceremony held to announce the offices opening in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday evening. Strengthening our relationships with global partners -- like Vietnam -- is so important. B.C. and Vietnam have benefited from trade across a variety of sectors and we know there is even greater potential. This office, co-located at the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City, supports more resources and connections between B.C. and Vietnam. It creates more good trade and investment opportunities, optimizes the way that we do business, and get people the goods and services that they need. British Columbias Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar speaks at a ceremony held to announce the Trade and Investment Representative Offices opening in Ho Chi Minh City on May 25, 2023. Photo: Dong Nguyen / Tuoi Tre News According to him, Vietnam is one of the key new markets that the Canadian province has identified as highly potential and one which shares its goals and values. Information released by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation of B.C. showed that Vietnam is Canadas largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with the province having an 18.8 percent share of total Canadian exports to Vietnam in 2022. "Having a trade office in Vietnam increases support for B.C. businesses to access the Vietnamese market, creates more opportunities and well-paid jobs, and generates clean and inclusive economic growth here at home," B.C.s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation Brenda Bailey stated in a press release on Thursday. The Trade and Investment Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City is said to work alongside the Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), which promotes B.C. exports, including value-added wood sales. I had the honor of joining the B.C. government to announce the opening of the FII office in Binh Duong Province last year, which supports the strong furniture making industry, and is also a vivid example of our two-way economic relationship, said Quang Trung Nguyen, Consul General of Vietnam in Vancouver. The opening of B.C.s new Trade and Investment Representative Office in Vietnam demonstrates not only our fast-growing economic partnership, but also the B.C. governments determination to support more good jobs and opportunities for both B.C. and Vietnamese businesses. This announcement will surely help cement our great existing relationship this year, especially as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Guest try oysters from British Columbia at a ceremony held to announce the Trade and Investment Representative Offices opening in Ho Chi Minh City on May 25, 2023. Photo: Dong Nguyen / Tuoi Tre News Vietnam was the 23rd-largest destination for B.C. origin exports in 2022, according to the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation of B.C.. In 2022, fruits exported from B.C. to Vietnam accounted for 88 percent of the total Canadian export market share and was valued at CAD20.5 million (US$15 million). Agrifood and seafood made up nearly half of all Canadian exports to Vietnam, which was the third-largest destination for Canadian agrifood and seafood shipments in Southeast Asia. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Chinese vice president meets Ethiopian deputy prime minister Xinhua) 14:55, May 26, 2023 BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Beijing on Friday. Noting that China and Ethiopia are comprehensive strategic partners of cooperation, Han expressed appreciation to Ethiopia for resolutely supporting China in safeguarding core interests. China also firmly supports Ethiopia in consolidating unity and peace and realizing economic recovery, Han said, adding that China stands ready to work with Ethiopia to jointly build a Belt and Road of high quality, expand practical cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges. Demeke expressed his appreciation for China's strong support for Ethiopia in restoring peace and responding to challenges, adding that Ethiopia is willing to actively participate in the implementation of China's important initiatives. Ethiopia regards China as an important partner in achieving its independent development goals, hopes to continue to receive China's support in areas including post-war reconstruction and economic development, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Ethiopia, Demeke said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Ambassador of Georgia to Korea Tarash Papaskua speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his embassy in Yongsan District, Seoul, May 22. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kwon Mee-yoo Setting his sights on strengthening relations between Korea and Georgia, the new Ambassador of Georgia to Korea Tarash Papaskua unveiled his diplomatic priorities, which include highlighting the human rights issues of Georgian internally displaced persons and strengthening economic and cultural exchanges between the two nations. "May 26 marks Georgia's Independence Day. At the referendum of March 31, 1991, 99.08 percent of the population provided an unequivocal positive answer to one single question: 'Do you support the restoration of the independence of Georgia in accordance with the Act of Declaration of Independence of Georgia of 26 May 1918?' Based on people's strong will, the Supreme Council unanimously passed the Act of Restoration of State Independence of Georgia," the ambassador told The Korea Times during an interview at his embassy in Seoul, May 22. He recollected the tumultuous journey Georgia embarked upon post-independence, persisting despite the many obstacles, primarily from the Russian Federation's hybrid warfare and its illegal occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territory. "Herewith, using the opportunity, I would like to express deep gratitude to the Republic of Korea for its firm support of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders." Papaskua is the third resident ambassador of Georgia to Korea, who recently submitted his credentials to President Yoon Suk Yeol on May 12. He said securing Korea's support for Georgia's annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution recognizing the rights of internally displaced Georgians and highlighting the human rights crisis they face due to Russian occupation is one of his goals as the Georgian ambassador here. "One specific goal, which is both my professional as well as a personal key priority, not least considering that I am myself an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) from the occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia, is to continue close consultations with the Korean side in order to gain the support of Korea to Georgia's annual UNGA resolution on the 'Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia,'" he said. "Ever since its initiation at the UNGA by Georgia following the August 2008 war, Korea has been abstaining from supporting this purely humanitarian resolution, which recognizes the fundamental rights of the Georgian IDPs and refugees, including the right to return to the places of their origin, and importantly, draws the international community's attention to the dire human rights situation that ethnic Georgians continue to endure in the face of Russian occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions." Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 after years of aggression, Georgia has stood steadfast in supporting Ukraine. "Georgia has been providing every humanitarian assistance, every support it can afford, politically on international platforms within international organizations. We have supported and aligned with all the resolutions condemning Russia's illegal military aggression against Ukraine," Papaskua said. "We very much are in solidarity and we share the tragedy and devastation that is currently taking place in Ukraine... Ukraine and Georgia are in the same fight for our territorial integrity and sovereignty. So we are the two countries which are really bearing the brunt of continued Russian occupation and Russian aggression." He also revealed Georgia's aspiration to become a member of the European Union (EU), a priority for both domestic and foreign policy, underlining the EU-Georgia Association Agreement signed in 2014 and the visa-free regime for Georgians took effect in 2017 as indications of progress. "In March 2022, Georgia submitted an EU membership application as a concrete response to the longstanding, civilizational choice of the Georgian people. Remarkably, last year the European Council recognized the European Perspective for Georgia, which reaffirmed that my country's future lies in the EU. We are determined to swiftly advance on the EU accession path, and acquiring the candidate status at the end of this year is our next immediate milestone," the ambassador said. Courtesy of Embassy of Georgia Bridging Georgia and Korea "As like-minded states, our countries' shared commitment to common values of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law provides for a solid foundation for the development of a dynamic and close partnership," the ambassador said. "I am delighted to note that we have achieved significant progress in our cooperation with South Korea in many areas of mutual interest, including political, economic, people-to-people ties, as well as culture and tourism. However, there still is a tremendous untapped potential in deepening our bilateral ties, especially in trade-economic, cultural, education and people-to-people exchanges in the years to come." This is Papaskua's first posting in Asia, but he has a rich experience as Head of Department for Trade Development and International Economic Relations at Georgia's Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and also served as a counselor at the Georgian Embassy in Poland and after that also as a counsellor in Embassy in Austria, which doubled as Georgia's representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organizations. Papaskua's wide-ranging experience in multilateral diplomacy has equipped him with valuable insights for nurturing economic cooperation globally, including with Korea. "In my capacity as the Head of Department, I visited Seoul for the 1st meeting of the Georgia-Korea intergovernmental commission on Economic Cooperation in December 2019. This experience is of course helpful, as far as my current activities in your country are concerned," he said. Georgia values its developing economic ties with South Korea and is currently negotiating two key trade-economic agreements. "First and foremost, I wish to underline the significance of the timely conclusion of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Georgia and South Korea. The EPA would be more than a Free Trade Agreement, as in addition to a significant liberalization of trade, it envisages the enhancement of cooperation in various fields. The agreement will enable us to introduce more Georgian industrial, as well as high-quality agricultural products to the Korean market at much more competitive prices. As an example, I would just mention the high potential of the Georgian traditional Kvevri wines, which Korean consumers have come to appreciate. I am indeed happy that these quite special wines are gaining popularity in Korea," he said. Negotiations to finalize the Agreement on Promotion and Protection of Investments are also nearing completion. Georgia, known for its business-friendly environment, is keen on attracting Korean investments by offering tax breaks, subsidized loans, cashback programs and unique tax incentives for IT businesses. "Georgia could serve as the best gateway for the Korean companies in the region, taking into account its favorable geographic location and the range of interesting value propositions I mentioned. Moreover, Georgia can serve the Korean companies needs for diversification of their business operations, which is ever more important in today's challenging global environment," he said. The ambassador highlighted the Nenskra Hydro Power Plant as an exemplar of the collaborative and joint efforts between the two nations in the field of renewable and clean energy. "This major renewable energy project envisaging investments of up to $1 billion, was conceived in 2015 as a result of cooperation between the investor Korean Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and JSC Partnership Fund. The 280-megawatt hydropower plant will supply Georgia with 1,200 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, to meet the growing demand of the local market and importantly, strengthen Georgia's energy security," Papaskua said. Georgian Ambassador to South Korea Tarash Papaskua, left, poses with President Yoon Suk Yeol after presenting his credentials at the presidential office in Seoul, May 12. On the right is Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin. Yonhap Vietnam has required that China pull its survey vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10, Coast Guard vessels, and fishing ships from Vietnamese waters, Pham Thu Hang, deputy spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. Hang affirmed that survey vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10, Coast Guard vessels, and fishing ships flying Chinese flags had entered Vietnams exclusive economic zone in the East Vietnam Sea. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies have dialogued with the Chinese side many times and conducted measures in line with international and Vietnamese law to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam. Vietnam requests that relevant agencies on the Chinese side comply with the common perceptions of the two countries' leaders, immediately stop all violations, and respect Vietnamese sovereign rights and jurisdiction. The Southeast Asian country also urged the northern neighbor to strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC), maintain peace, cooperation, and development in the maritime area, and contribute to the development of relations between the two countries, the foreign ministry representative added. The deputy spokeswoman on Thursday also voiced Vietnams objection to the China Maritime Safety Administration's placement of three light buoys in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago of Vietnam. She emphasized that the installation of the light buoys on some features in Truong Sa without Vietnams permission is an infringement of the Vietnamese sovereignty over the archipelago, so the move has no legal value. Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa as well as Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos in line with international law, Hang underscored. Therefore, Vietnam demands that relevant parties not take any action that may complicate the situation but respect Vietnams sovereignty, international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the DOC, and maintain peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Vietnam Sea. The China Maritime Safety Administration under the Chinese Ministry of Transport on Wednesday announced the placement of three light buoys in Vietnams Truong Sa archipelago. The Chinese side claimed the installation of the light buoys is to ensure safety for vessels in the area. Gaven Reefs in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is under Vietnams sovereignty but it has been illegally occupied and modified by China. Photo: CSIS/AMTI Chinas act was similar to the move of the Philippines in mid-May. The Manila administration placed buoys attached with Philippine flags in Vietnams Truong Sa. In response, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at its press conference last Thursday, said Vietnam protests actions that violate Vietnamese sovereignty over the group of islands. Vietnam always keeps a close watch and has solutions appropriate to international and national law to ensure its legitimate rights and benefits. Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials delegation of Vietnam, called on countries to 'walk the talk' at the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC in the East Vietnam Sea held in northern Quang Ninh Province last Wednesday. Countries should translate political commitments on issues in the East Vietnam Sea into specific and appropriate acts, Ho noted, stressing the need to handle issues in the waterway on the basis of international law and the UNCLOS. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three siblings drowned after falling into a pond while shepherding goats in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam on Thursday. The incident happened at noon in Bao An Ward, Phan Rang - Thap Cham City, Ninh Thuan Province, the Bao An Peoples Committee said on Thursday afternoon. Witnesses said that one child accidently fell into the pond and the other two siblings died while trying to save him. The trio included a 10-year-old girl named N.T.N.Q., and two boys N.H.T.D., 9, and N.D.Y., 6. Their family is low-income, said Nguyen Minh Tuan, chairman of the Bao An Peoples Committee. The ward has called on benefactors to support the family with funeral expenses for the children, Tuan added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi has recently seen a rise in chickenpox cases, including a 32-year-old man who unfortunately succumbed to complications associated with the illness. Two weeks prior to his hospital admission, the patient, who had no previous health issues and was in good overall health, apparently acquired the illness from his son, who had been earlier diagnosed with chickenpox, according to his family. Ten days following his infection, the man developed blisters on the skin accompanied by a fever, prickling sensations, and chills. He sought medical attention at a private clinic where he was diagnosed with chickenpox and prescribed medication. Unfortunately, the medication did not seem to help. The patient was later brought to Bach Mai Hospitals emergency department exhibiting symptoms such as fever, multi-organ failure, coma, cerebral hemorrhage, lung impairment, and cardiac impairment. The ailment advanced rapidly, necessitating the patients transfer to the hospitals infectious disease center less than 24 hours after his admission to the emergency department. The patient arrived at the center the previous evening at 6:00 pm and had developed a rapid heartbeat by 4:00 am the next day, said Dr. Do Duy Cuong, director of the Center for Tropical Diseases at Bach Mai. By 9:00 am, his vital signs began to decline, prompting his family to ask to take him home. Despite doctors' diligent efforts to provide treatment, the patient was transferred to the center when it was already too late, resulting in numerous complications and ultimately leading to his untimely demise. Chickenpox is a prevalent contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus, according to Dr. Cuong. Complications may occasionally include pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and bacterial skin infections. Death occurs in about one per 60,000 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City arrested and launched legal proceedings against a 69-year-old man for his act of violence against an old woman living at the nursing home where he works. The Peoples Procuracy of District 12 authorized the arrest and prosecution of Huynh Van Gioi, a resident of the district, for the investigation of his abuse against others. A person used their cellphone to capture Gioi beating and yelling at V.T.T., 85, originally from Tan Binh District, who is one of 14 habitants at Quan Tro Trang Khuyet, a sheltered accommodation for homeless and needy old people. This person then shared the video they filmed on social media, causing public outrage and prompting police officers to look into the case. Officers determined that Gioi has been employed by Trang Khuyet Charity Fund and Social Protection One Member Co. Ltd. to manage Quan Tro Trang Khuyet, located on Ha Huy Giap Street in Thanh Loc Ward, District 12 since 2020. This video shows Huynh Van Gioi beating V.T.T. at Quan Tro Trang Khuyet in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Trang Khuyet Company was licensed for operation by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City in 2020 as a member of Tuoi Gia An Vui Nursing JSC, which is based in Tan Binh District. Giois daily task was to look after and take care of the elderly people residing at the nursing home. While providing care, Gioi physically assaulted and verbally abused T., as evidenced in the recorded video. T.s health condition is currently in a stable state. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! An 86-year-old man has just been prosecuted for raping a six-year-old girl in Hanoi in 2022. The Hanoi Peoples Procuracy has launched legal proceedings against Duong Van Toan, a current resident of Hoang Mai District in Hanoi for the rape of a child. According to the indictment, Toan lived near the victim and her family in Long Bien District, Hanoi at the time of the incident. The victim, referred to as H.P., was born in 2016. At 6:00 pm on June 30, 2022, Toan saw H.P. playing in front of her house and no one was around so he asked her to enter his house and raped her. He then dressed the girl and told her to go home. The next morning, P. told her mother what had happened. The mother immediately visited Toans house to clarify the case and was told If I did anything wrong to your daughter, I apologize and will not repeat it. P.s mother then reported the case to police in Ngoc Thuy Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi. Police in Long Bien District later examined the scene, seized exhibits, and proposed conducting a forensic examination. Toan pled guilty and was put under house arrest. The girls parents proposed imposing strict penalties on Toan in accordance with current laws. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang underscored his country's commitment to making all-out contributions for the sake of peace, cooperation, stability, and prosperous development in Asia and the world at the 28th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, according to the Vietnam News Agency. -- Vietnam demands that China withdraw its research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10, Coast Guard vessels, and fishing ships from Vietnamese waters, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Deputy Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang as saying on Thursday. Society -- The administration in Phu Quoc City off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam on Thursday issued a decision to pull down a 12-story building illegally constructed in Duong To Commune. The building will be dismantled over the course of 90 days. -- A 86-year-old man has just been prosecuted for raping a six-year-old girl in Hanoi in 2022. -- Three siblings drowned after falling into a pond when shepherding goats in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam on Thursday. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City said on Thursday that they had arrested three South Koreans for burgling a house in District 7 and stole assets worth over VND2 billion (US$85,188) on May 21. Business -- Many hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are shut down or on sale given the ongoing economic downturn, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters' observation. Lifestyle -- Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are considering sanctions against the organizer of a fashion show, New Tradition, for featuring models wearing scanty clothes. World News -- "Killer whales severely damaged a sailing boat off the coast of southern Spain, the local maritime rescue service said on Thursday, adding to dozens of orca attacks on vessels recorded so far this year on Spanish and Portuguese coasts," Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The administration of Can Tho City in southern Vietnam and Orbis, an international non-profit organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide, on Wednesday morning jointly organized a sightseeing tour of the Orbis Flying Hospital, an ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an aircraft. Orbis chose the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho as the destination for its 12th trip to Vietnam. This is also the first trip taken by Orbis to the country since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in late 2019. In its three-week sight-saving project which began on May 8 in Can Tho, Orbis experts offer training to 52 eye care professionals from various parts of Vietnam, including ophthalmologists, anesthesiologists, biomedical engineers, and nurses. The eye care professionals have taken part in training activities and developed their skills through an Orbis blended learning model which includes simulation and live surgical training, along with tailored virtual training courses conducted before the aircraft arrived in Vietnam. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital was designed as a mini-sized hospital equipped with a full suite of ophthalmic training tools including live operating rooms and a mobile simulation training center, along with other functional rooms such as a pre- and post-operative care room, an audiovisual room, and a patient care and laser room. The Orbis healthcare experts have also teamed up with two local hospitals in Can Tho to conduct vision screenings for 160 patients as well as perform eye surgeries for 51 of them. Under this project, Orbis looks to enhance the local eye care professionals capabilities to treat eye diseases common among local people such as cataract, strabismus in children, and glaucoma. Pham Kim Ngoc, country director of Orbis Vietnam, said the operations of the Flying Eye Hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft is sponsored by FedEx, an international freight service provider. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Orbis representative office in Hanoi, Ngoc said. To date, Orbis Vietnam has offered vision screenings and check-ups to almost 5.3 million people, provided eye treatment and glasses for more than one million patients, as well as performed more than 140,000 eye surgeries and offered training to some 32,000 eye care workers in the country. Inside an operating room on the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. Photo: Tuoi Tre Participants in Orbis eye care training courses can practice in a simulation training center of the Orbis Eye Flying Hospital. Photo: Tuoi Tre A five-year-old girl residing in Soc Trang Province, southern Vietnam, underwent an eyelid surgery performed in the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three South Korea nationals are in police custody after breaking into a house in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City to steal assets worth over VND2 billion (US$86,000). The burglars were identified as Wang Lee Hyang, 55, Gim Chang Duok, 72, and Heo Seong Hyun, 48. The trio were staying in a hotel on Ly Tu Trong Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City when they were arrested by police officers, the Ho Chi Minh City police department said on Thursday. The victim of the theft, N.T.T.N., 53, reported that nearly VND900 million ($38,600) in cash, some jewelry, and gold bars had been stolen from her home on May 21. Following an investigation, police were able to identify and arrest the trio. Cash and gold bars stolen by the trio. Photo: Supplied by police officers Once in custody, the gang admitted to breaking into N.s house in Tan Phu Ward, District 7 at 6:45 pm on May 19. Heo scaled the fence of the house to enter, while Wang and Gim stood guard outside. Heo used a hammer to smash a glass window and unlocked the door so that Gim could get into the house. They quickly searched for valuables and grabbed jewelry, cash, and gold bars from a lockbox after breaking the lock. The trio fled from the house to return to their hotel in Tan Phuong Ward in District 7. They then checked out and moved to a hotel on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1. They were later caught by police. Gold bars and a watch stolen by the trio. Photo: Supplied by police officers 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! The State Archives and Records Administration held a ceremony on Thursday to declare the conclusion of a project focused on conserving Nguyen Dynasty moc ban (woodblocks), a UNESCO-recognized documentary heritage item, at the National Archives Center IV in Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam. Commencing in July 2020, the project was aimed at conserving 500 deteriorated woodblock plates at the National Archives Center IV. The initiative, which received more than US$88,000 in funding from the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), has now been completed. Following the approval of the AFCP grant in July 2020, a technical team conducted a thorough study and assessment of the level of damage sustained by the degraded woodblocks. Newly-treated Nguyen Dynasty woodblock plates are conserved at the National Archives Center IV in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, May 25, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre The evaluation showed that approximately 5,000 woodblock plates had suffered damage as a result of historical factors, the natural aging process, the tropical climate, wars, floods, as well as fungal and insect activities over the centuries. From January to the end of August 2021, the team implemented conservation treatment on the decaying woodblocks, employing techniques used in developed nations such as Japan, South Korea, and France. The National Archives Center IV houses a collection of 34,555 woodblock plates engraved with Chinese characters. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) points at Nguyen Dynasty woodblock plates conserved at the National Archives Center IV in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, May 25, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre These Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks contain a vast and varied content, offering insights into all facets of Vietnamese society during that era. Primarily utilized for book printing in Vietnam from the 19th to the early 20th century, they serve as a valuable historical resource. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L, 2nd) watches Nguyen Dynasty woodblock plates conserved at the National Archives Center IV in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, May 25, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre During Thursdays ceremony, Marc Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, noted that the preservation of cultural heritage is just one aspect of the extensive cooperation between the two nations. He mentioned that the United States has provided funding for a total of 16 projects in this realm in Vietnam since 2001, amounting to a combined value surpassing $1.2 million. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Yoo Guk-hee, head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Friday, after his team's on-site inspection of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. Yonhap By Jung Min-ho A team of Korean scientists have wrapped up a four-day inspection of Japan's plan to release radioactive water into the ocean after treatment, without making a conclusive statement over whether it would be safe. Speaking to reporters upon his return to Korea, Friday, Yoo Guk-hee, head of the inspection team, said that they would need additional time to achieve an accurate safety review regarding the water from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant before reaching a conclusion. He then suggested the team will likely announce its findings after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) releases its own inspection results next month. Experts contacted by The Korea Times said that the Korean team's findings are likely to be no different from those of the IAEA. Sending a team to Japan, they added, was President Yoon Suk Yeol's political answer to a science question, which they believe will not be settled irrespective of what the recently returned scientists or the IAEA may conclude. "The issue has become too politicized. Given the limited time provided and jurisdiction issues, it was obvious from the beginning that sending the inspection team was Yoon's political answer to a science question," Lee Won-deog, an expert on Japan at Kookmin University in Seoul, said. "The Fukushima issue is now under the joint inspection of scientists from 11 countries, including Korea and China. Given the ocean currents, Russia, Canada and the United States are among those expected to be affected most by the harmful effects, if there are any, of the water release. Yet Korea is the only IAEA member country demanding to carry out its own inspection." A woman adds her signature to a campaign against Japan's decision to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean in central Seoul, Friday, as Lee Jae-myung, third from left, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and other party officials stand nearby. Yonhap The scholar said the opposition parties have framed the issue as a bilateral one between the two countries. But the truth is, he said, Japan plans to release the wastewater into "the Pacific, not the East Sea." "This is why Korea's inspection demand would be unacceptable to Japan," Lee said. "I also do not think Korea's safety approval would, as many fear, lead to imports of agricultural and marine products from the Fukushima region. The two matters are very different in nature." Following a tsunami-triggered nuclear meltdown at the power plant in 2011, authorities in Japan suspended fishing operations off the coast of neighboring prefectures. The country has since lifted restrictions gradually on fish from the area. Subsequently, many countries have eased or completely removed their import restrictions. This concerns Cho Sung-ryul, a scholar at the University of North Korean Studies and former consul general to Osaka. He said, by sending the inspectors to Japan, the administration hurt the long-held stance regarding the import of seafood from areas affected by the nuclear disaster a position backed by the World Trade Organization's ruling in 2019. "It damaged the justification of the ban, which I think will eventually lead to its lifting," Cho said. "I'm worried that, as the government tries to distance itself from the diplomatic issue, it might end up in the hands of individual importers I doubt that the inspection team will say anything controversial or different from the IAEA's conclusion." Members of a Korean inspection team check the treatment facility for the wastewater from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, May 24. Courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Company If everything goes as planned, the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company are expected to start releasing treated radioactive water this July or sooner, which they say is necessary to safely decommission the plant. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party of Korea said on Friday that it began collecting signatures as part of its campaign to oppose the Fukushima water release plan. Citing concerns about health hazards, the party has protested the plan and demanded Yoon resolve the issue through diplomacy with Tokyo. On 7NEWS Spotlight Ross Coulthart has spent six months investigating the impact vaping is having on our youth. He meets users, goes into the corridors of power in Canberra, and sits down with medical experts on the dangers of addiction. Ive investigated some terrible people and some truly evil organisations in my decades as a journalist, Coulthart said. Nothing has appalled me more than the ethics and tactics of big tobacco. I remember their claims from 30 or 40 years ago that cigarettes werent really all that bad. At the end of the day, adults can make their own minds up. But recently, this evil empire has turned its mind to recruiting customers from classrooms. The situation is bad. 7pm Sunday on Seven. Ita Buttrose has called for a return to civil debate and described social media abuse of Stan Grant as unacceptable. The ABC Chair also called on ABC management to support staff who were being subjected to abuse, but says she was not told of Grants situation until fairly late in the piece. Our audience researcher show us that 75% of people think that our content reflects the diversity of Australia. I think what management needs to do is make sure that we support the people who make that content when they are subjected to racist behaviour. Its unacceptable and Im appalled at what Stan went through. If Id known earlier, I would have spoken to him about it. But I didnt know and I dont think many of us knew until fairly late in the piece, she said. Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne today she said, I think theres been a lesson for the entire community by Stan stepping back, I think the strong public reaction has led to what I would call one of the most widespread outpourings of public commentary on public life, that weve seen for a long time. People are sick of the abusive and toxic culture that pervades our public discourse, whether its poor social issues, politics were sadly living in a time actually, when people think its okay to abuse others with whom they disagree. We cant have a proper discussion in Australia anymore. I think Australians want a return to civility in public life and I think as a community we need to reflect on the abhorrent and unacceptable behaviour that crops up on social media, and lead the way to return to civility in public debate. Buttrose told ABC Radio that many emails she had received indicated wide support for the Q+A host. We are providing Stan with as much support as we possibly can -and to his family- and we hope that he will return to our program as soon as he feels ready to return. Its up to Stan. I think hes taken eight weeks off and I understand that. But I hold Stan in high regard, like so many of our listeners do. Aderrien Murry: Boy, 11, in US is shot in the chest by police officer he had called for help Aderrien Murry spent five days in hospital ( ) An 11-year-old was shot in the chest by police in the US after he made a 911 call asking for help, his family said. Aderrien Murry spent five days in hospital with a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs after being rushed to hospital after an officer shot him in the chest early on Saturday, the familys lawyer Carlos Moore said. His mother Nakala asked him to call police at about 4am when she felt threatened when a former partner turned up at their home in Indianola, Mississippi, Mr Moore said. When two police officers arrived one kicked the front door before his mother opened it, he said. She told them the intruder had left the home but three children were inside, he added. Mr Moore said an officer shouted into the home and said anyone inside should come out with their hands up. He said Aderrien walked into the living room with nothing in his hands, and was shot in the chest. Ms Murry said: His words were: Why did he shoot me? What did I do? and he started crying. This cannot keep happening. This is not OK. The family is demanding the police officer is dismissed and charged with aggravated assault and have demanded bodycam of the incident is released. Ms Murry said her son is blessed to be alive but he does not understand why a police officer shot him. She described what had happened as the worst moment in my life, adding: I feel like nobody cares - thats my child, yall. 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 incident is the latest in a string of police shootings of unarmed black people in America. The officer who shot the boy and has been suspended from duty is black, according to reports. By Naomi Rovnick LONDON(Reuters) - Experienced tech investors are hunting for undervalued opportunities in an over-valued space. At stake is how best to invest in the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which took a leap forward in November when Microsoft-backed OpenAI released its ChatGPT bot, without buying into a bubble. Shares in Nvidia, which makes computer chips that train AI systems, have almost doubled since ChatGPT's launch. The company's stock market value at roughly $940 billion is more than double that of Europe's Nestle. Nvidia surged some 25% on Thursday alone after forecasting a sales jump. Shares in loss-making AI software company C3.AI, which grabbed the stock ticker, have risen 149% this year and Palantir Technologies, which has launched its own AI platform, is up 91% year-to-date. Investors are chasing exposure to generative AI, the technology run by ChatGPT that learns from analysing vast datasets to generate text, images and computer code. Businesses are trying to use generative AI to speed up video editing, recruitment and even legal work. Consultancy PwC sees AI-related productivity savings and investments generating $15.7 trillion worth of global economic output by 2030, almost equivalent to the gross domestic product of China. The question for investors is whether to jump on the AI train now, or exercise caution, especially given mounting concern amongst regulators about the technology's potentially disruptive impact. "There are clearly going to be winners in all this," said Niall O'Sullivan, chief investment officer of multi-asset for EMEA, at Neuberger Berman. "It's just that thats very hard to be true for the entire market." STILL EARLY Instead of backing hot start-ups or rushing into highly valued AI-themed businesses that might fail, seasoned investors are taking a lateral view to back already proven technology companies that might benefit from the longer-term trend. "It's going to be as transformative as the internet, as the mobile internet, as the mainframe computer was," said Alison Porter, a tech fund manager at Janus Henderson, whose funds have positions in Nvidia, with Microsoft as their largest holding. However, Porter also cautions that "we are still very early on the use cases for AI." She favours big tech groups like Microsoft and Alphabet because they have "strong balance sheets", that make them "able to invest in many different technology advances", including their recent focus on AI. BEWARE, THE HYPE Dizzying valuations have made some investors wary of the technology hype cycle. This concept, popularised by consultancy Gartner, starts with a trigger, such as the launch of ChatGPT, followed by inflated expectations and then disillusionment. Even if a technology moves to mass adoption, many early stage innovators can fail along the way. "There's a question about where we are in that curve with AI, where the hype is so visible," said Mark Hawtin, investment director at GAM Investments. "There are ways to get exposure to the (AI) theme without picking something that is highly valued." PICKS, SHOVELS Janus' Porter recommended backing proven companies that may be "big beneficiaries in terms of providing infrastructure," for future trends in generative AI that, as of now, are unclear. GAM's Hawtin said he has also hunted out companies that provide the "picks and shovels," necessary for enabling new AI technology. For example, AI systems require huge volumes of data to analyse and learn from, but just 1% of global data is currently being captured, stored and used, according to Bank of America. Hawtin's funds hold Seagate Technology, which makes hard drives and data storage products, and chipmaker Marvell Technology for this reason, he said. Jon Guinness, tech portfolio manager at Fidelity International, said management consultancy Accenture is in his portfolio because as businesses consider how to use AI, "I strongly think you call in the experts." STICKING TO BIG TECH Trevor Greetham, head of multi-asset at Royal London Investment Management, said he was "overweight" in dominant tech stocks in part because AI supported their valuations, but he cautioned against AI-themed stocks. "There will be an awful lot of losing lottery tickets," he said, recalling the dotcom crash of the early 2000s. Also sticking with big tech, Fidelity's Guinness said his funds hold Amazon, partly because of its efforts to make AI less expensive for businesses. Amazon's Bedrock service, for example, lets companies customise generative AI models rather than invest in developing them themselves. "The big benefits of AI," Janus' Porter said, "are going to happen over the long term." "Investors want to invest in AI now and they expect things to happen now," she added. "But we would never blindly buy into AI and we don't do things at any price." (Reporting by Naomi Rovnick; Additional reporting by Lucy Raitano. Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe and Sharon Singleton) British citizen shot and wife dies of starvation after being left in Sudan British citizen shot and wife dies of starvation after being left in Sudan The family of an 85-year-old man who lived near the UKs diplomatic mission in Sudans capital have said he was shot by snipers and his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The BBC was told by the family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, that despite asking for help, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month. The Foreign Office told the BBC the case was extremely sad. The UK began evacuating British citizens from Sudan in early May (Joe Giddens/ PA) The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help where he was shot three times by snipers, his wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. British citizen shot and wife starves to death after being stranded in Sudan The family of an 85-year-old man who lived just steps away from the UKs embassy in Sudans capital have said he was shot by snipers and his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The BBC was told by the family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, that, despite asking for help days after the conflict began, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month, even after a British military team was sent to evacuate diplomatic staff. Mr Sholgamis granddaughter, Azhaar, said the embassy was a maximum four steps away from her grandparents home. I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? Im still very disappointed in them, she said. The Foreign Office said the case was extremely sad. The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. Military personnel at Wadi Seidna airport in Khartoum, Sudan (PO Phot Arron Hoare/UK MOD Crown copyright/PA) The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said, while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help when he was shot three times by snipers. His wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Dawn Tomlinson, a Korean adoptee bojagi artist from Minnesota, poses with her Minnesota Textile Group project at The Korea Times headquarters in central Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Kwon Mee-yoo Dawn Tomlinson is a Korean adoptee who found her passion in "bojagi," or Korean wrapping cloths made with fabric strips or scraps, and she sees bojagi as a connection to her Korean heritage. The act of sewing leftover fabric fragments into bojagi resonates with her journey as a Korean adoptee rediscovering her roots, threading together the fragments of her identity. "We, mixed-race adoptees, felt like garbage... I have a friend who made himself a very accomplished man who is a mixed-race adoptee. He said when he was young, he lived in the streets and people would call him 'dust of the streets,'" Tomlinson said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Tuesday. "I don't have those memories and am really grateful that I don't, but I feel bonded and we (adoptees) are in this together as we could have been the garbage. (In bojagi-making) there is this idea that you take that and you create something beautiful out of it." Tomlinson, who is visiting Korea to take part in the 2023 Korea Bojagi Forum and exhibit her creations from May 27 through 31 at Seoul Citizens Hall, related her sentiment to "han," a Korean concept referring to internalized sorrow or grief. "I heard the word 'han' and somebody tried to explain it to me, and I don't know if that's what it means. I always wondered like, 'Is that what we're doing?' Something like moving forward," she said. "I don't know that I really understand the concept, but it comes into my head that what we're doing is that we're taking something and we're not buckling under it, but we're overcoming and turning it into something beautiful. Bojagi is about turning into something beautiful and we need to make our lives beautiful. We don't want to carry that and hand it back to our children and I think I have done that." Dawn Tomlinson with her biological mother Kang Kyung-ja around 1958 / Courtesy of Dawn Tomlinson Journey from DMZ to Minnesota Adorning her neck is a silver necklace carved with Korean characters spelling out "Sun-ja," the name she was given at birth in Korea. Born in a small village near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in 1956, following the Korean War of 1950-53, to a Korean mother and an American soldier father, Tomlinson was adopted at the age of two by another American serviceman. This soldier, stationed in Korea during his tour of duty, later took her to his home in Minnesota. "When I was a little girl, he talked to me about being in the orphanage and then coming back to America with him. His military base was not far from the orphanage and he and the guys would visit the orphanage, bringing candies for the kids and donating money. And then he called my mom and said, 'I'm going to bring one home with me,'" she said. "So just before we went to America, I actually stayed with him in the barracks. I did hear from my father that (my biological mother) came back to get me, but I had already been adopted." Her parents were advised to bring her up as an American, rather than acknowledging her Korean heritage and her Korean identity was ignored and discouraged while growing up. Despite Minnesota's nickname as the "land of 10,000 lakes and 20,000 Korean adoptees," Tomlinson remained unaware of this community until her adulthood, leading to a somewhat isolated childhood. Half a century later, her journey brought her full circle back to Korea in 2006, when her daughter's Korean dance group made a tour to Korea, and she returned to her country of birth again a few times with the group. "My father was in the army here and he brought me home to the U.S. The Korea he remembers was very poor, war-torn and poverty-stricken. And I don't think he ever got that image out of his head, so he was very worried about me when I came back. He did not keep up with the times," Tomlinson explained. During one of her visits, Tomlinson was captivated by bojagi, a form of traditional Korean fabric art, which she spotted in a shop window in Insa-dong, a tourist area in Seoul. This immediate attraction marked the beginning of her passion for bojagi. "I just thought 'What is that? It's so beautiful.' I've been doing textiles since I was four and sometimes I wonder if my Korean mother and grandmother might have used a needle and thread because the minute my mother put that in my hand, I loved it and I've always done some kind of textiles," she recalled. "So I bought a piece of tourist bojagi, because what I saw on the window was handmade and not in my budget. I just brought a very small piece and kept staring at it (wondering) 'How did they do this? How is it constructed?'" Tomlinson is drawn to bojagi for two major reasons. Firstly, she takes great pleasure in the meticulous process of hand-sewing each stitch. The transformation from a seemingly chaotic double seam into something cohesive and beautiful after a second row of stitching is like magic for her. Secondly, her connection to bojagi is deeply personal. It represents her continuous search for her biological mother, whom she refers to as "omma," a Korean word for mother. Her adoption made her question her identity from a young age as she did not physically resemble her adoptive parents. Bojagi, in a way, signifies her unceasing quest to understand her roots and establish a bond with her Korean heritage. In 2009, Tomlinson appeared in the television show "I Miss That Person" with high hopes for locating her mother Kang Kyung-ja. "My father had the pictures of me and my omma together and sent them to me the day before I went on TV, so they could be shown on TV. (I thought) maybe somebody would recognize her or me, hopefully, but I didn't find her. I must admit, I really got my hopes up and I was just so sure I would find her and I didn't. And I was pretty heartbroken," she said. As a means to cope and move forward, she decided to channel her energy into creating bojagi. "For me, instead of touching my mother, my omma, I touch the bojagi. So I believe that perhaps my mother and grandmother must have worked in sewing because I just love it so much. It has to come from someplace. Children take after their parents and it's just so much a part of who I am." Dawn Tomlinson, a Korean adoptee bojagi artist, poses with "Made in Korea," her interpretation of bojagi using scrap fabrics at The Korea Times headquarters in central Seoul, Wednesday. She wears a necklace bearing her Korean name "Sun-ja." Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Four product shots from the new GCN Pride 2023 collection. Babs Daly Adding to our fab in-house apparel lines and the hugely popular PROTEST!, were back with a bang and ready to kit out your summer closet with our new Pride 2023 collection. Whether youre looking for a powerful piece to rock during the Pride parade or something more fun and flirty for the dancefloor, this new range of incredibly queer merch featuring tees, tanks, totes and more has got you covered. The fantastic designs by GCNs favourite Dave Darcy are enough to turn heads, but a big shoutout also goes to the exceptionally talented Babs Daly and our array of stunning models for making the new line pop even more with these gorgeous product shots. As a charity organisation, proceeds from the brand new Pride 2023 collection will help raise vital funds to enable GCN to continue as a free and accessible resource for LGBTQ+ people in Ireland and around the world. And whats more, all this fabulous merch will also be available at Dublin Pride Hub at 44 Claredon Street, Dublin 2. Like how that sounds? Head straight to our online shop to grab your favourite pieces, or if you want to learn a little more about whats in store, read on to find out! GCN merch wouldnt be the same without some queer statement tees, and this time around, weve got an even more vibrant selection to choose from. Boasting slogans for the Gaylgeoirs like Cumhacht Aiteach (Queer Power) and Queer Eire, keep the Irish queer spirit alive. A model wearing queer GCN merch - a yellow t-shirt reading "Cumhacht Aiteach" With 2023 marking 50 years since the founding of the Sexual Liberation Movement in Ireland, 40 years since the Fairview March and 30 years since decriminalisation, we wanted to honour these anniversaries with some iconic protest pieces. Choose between two colours of the Out of the Closet & Into the Streets top, or wear the Stop Violence Against Gays and Women design, taken from the aforementioned 1983 Fairview March. For those who love donning historic protest messages on their chest, have a look at our designs with messages like Your heart is a muscle the size of your fist and Be Gay Do Crime. And because there has never been a more important time to stand up for our trans community, weve also got a new iteration of the incredibly popular Protect Trans Youth design as well as introducing Trans Liberation Now apparel. Challenge the cis-heteronormative social and cultural structures with Bin the Binary and Smash the Patriarchy. In addition to the new tees, for the first time ever, we also have tank tops helping to keep you cool for the summer. Whether you want to show the world that youre Out, Proud & Sound, or youd rather opt for the bolder Be Gay Do Crime slogan, these vests are must-haves this Pride season. This collection also sees the return of the cap, featuring embroidered pink Queer Eire text. Another perfect piece for the sunnier seasons! New "Queer Eire" cap from GCN merch collection. Weve also got four brand-new totes for you to choose from, including the strong Smash the Patriarchy bag. "smash the patriarchy" tote bag and t-shirt from new queer GCN merch collection. "Trans Liberation Now" tote bag from queer GCN merch collection. And wardrobe staples arent the only thing on offer! Spice up your room with a piece of queer history with a brand new print from our popular GCNs Classic Covers series. Grab our set of six slogan stickers to add a queer stamp to your favourite stationery and gadgets. Last but surely not least, with this Pride 2023 collection GCN has our first-ever notebooks in store. Start planning world domination in The Gay Agenda or keep up the good fight in our Your heart is a muscle the size of your fist notebook. As always, it was very important to us that this collection be produced sustainably, so we are proud to say that all our tees, tanks and caps are vegan, cruelty-free and sweatshop-free, while our totes are part organic cotton and part recycled materials. Everything is printed locally in Dublin and is made using the finest organic fabrics and high-quality inks, ensuring products that will stand the test of time and wear. So what are you waiting for? Head over to our online store now to view the full collection in all its colours! The post GCN launches new Pride 2023 merch collection full of stunning queer designs appeared first on GCN. Facade of SLA-managed state property at 31 Ridout Road. (PHOTO: Google Maps) SINGAPORE The recent issue over the rental of state properties by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has led to questions surrounding the procedures and conditions for renting state-owned properties. In response to social media posts questioning how the ministers could afford to pay the market rent for such a pricey property that was published by opposition politician and Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) confirmed in a statement that two state properties at 26 and 31 Ridout Road both bungalows had been tenanted to the two ministers. It also said that the rentals of the two state properties were "performed in full compliance with the relevant SLA procedures." Subsequently, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong requested for reports from the relevant agencies "setting out the facts". He also asked Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean to review the matter and to establish whether proper processes had been followed, if there was any wrongdoing, and to make the findings public in time for the upcoming Parliamentary sitting in July. As members of the public anticipate the outcome of the review, Yahoo Finance Singapore looked into the procedures and requirements for renting state properties. What is SLA? State-owned properties and assets in Singapore are managed by SLA, a statutory body under the Ministry of Law. There are two key functions of the SLA, namely to develop and regulate land resources in the country. As a regulatory body, SLA is the national land registration authority that oversees the registration of property transactions in Singapore. It is also responsible for the management and maintenance of the national land survey system. SLA also optimises the use of state land by maintaining the national land information database and managing state land through land sales, leases, acquisitions and allocations. It is also responsible for developing, maintaining, managing and marketing state properties to optimise their use for the public. Some examples of the types of state properties managed by SLA include residential units such as bungalows, semi-detached houses, terraces and apartments, as well as shops, offices, and former institutional buildings like schools and camps. These properties can be rented out for a variety of use cases such as for residential, commercial, or institutional uses subject to approval by SLA and any relevant government agencies. Leasing state property Based on information available on the SLA website, individuals or organisations looking to rent state property must go through an open tender process. The bidding entity can either be a local or foreign individual, or a local or foreign company. Once bidding is closed, a tender schedule put up on the State Property Information Online (SPIO) site will display individuals or companies who have put bids in and their respective bid amounts. For individuals, those awarded with the tender upon a successful bid are required to seek approval to incorporate a new company or use an existing company in Singapore with limited liability to execute the tenancy agreement. If approval is granted, it is subject to additional requirements, including the need to hold a controlling interest of more than 50 per cent of the shares in the new or existing company throughout the term of the tenancy. When tendering to lease state property, the highest bidder may not necessarily be the one awarded the property. In evaluating the bids submitted, SLA states that it "considers among other factors - the tendered price, concepts, proposed uses, track record and financial health of the bidders." A decision on the award of the tenders will then be made after the bids have been evaluated and publicised in the award notice found on the SPIO site. The successful tenderer will be informed via a Letter of Acceptance, while unsuccessful tenderers will also be notified via letter and their tender deposits returned. Are ministers allowed to rent state property? According to SLA, 26 Ridout Road had been vacant for more than four years since December 2013, before it was tenanted to Shanmugam in June 2018, who was the only bidder for this property. The minister renewed the tenancy for the same property in June 2021 for another three years. Less than one kilometre away is 36 Ridout Road, which SLA said had been vacant for more than six years since July 2013 before it was tenanted to Dr Balakrishnan. The minister had put in a bid in November 2018 and came out as the highest tenderer. The tenancy was granted to him in October 2019 and renewed by him in October 2022. In both cases, SLA said that both ministers had made offers that were higher than the "guide rent", which was not disclosed to them. However, SLA offered no further explanation on how "guide rent" is determined. SLA also did not indicate how much rent the two ministers were paying for the properties and added that "more details on this issue" would be provided during the next parliamentary session in July 2023. While no information is available on the SLA website with regard to rules for public officials making bids, it did state that "all interested parties, including the existing tenant, are given equal opportunities to bid for the property", in addition to stating that individuals and organisations, both local and foreign, can put in bids to lease a state property. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Company Logo Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Indonesia: Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database (excel) product covers the Indonesia data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide the following information on the colocation data centers: Detailed Analysis of 68 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 27 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Jakarta, West java, Kuningan, Banten, East java etc. 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 I. Quarter Rack (1/4) II. Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) III. Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing Key Market Highlights: Indonesia is witnessing an increase in investment with over 45%, due to investments from colocation providers such as DCI Indonesia, GDS Services, Princeton Digital Group, Indonet, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers and Telkom Indonesia. High levels of digitalization in the country, especially with 5G coming into play, will contribute to a surge in data generation and generate data traffic, and data storage and computation requirements, which will lead to a rise in demand for data centers in the country. Several cloud service providers have already developed or are planning to develop cloud regions to increase their reach in the country. Regarding geography, Jakarta, West java, and Kuningan are the most preferred locations by data center operators. These regions cover more than 70% of the white floor area in Indonesia. In terms of data center operators, NTT, Telkom Indonesia, and DCI Indonesia contribute to more 45% of the existing rack capacity in the Indonesia Data Center Market. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: EXISTING DATA CENTERS (68 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (JB1 or BD1.) 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 (27 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 Biznet, Cyber Data International, DCI Indonesia, DTP, Elitery Data Center, Graha Teknologi Nusantara (GTN), IndoKeppel Data Centres, Indonet, Indosat Ooredoo Lintasarta, Internetindo Data Centra (IDC Indonesia), Metta DC, Moratelindo Nusantara Data Center (NDC), Nex, NTT Global Data Centers, Princeton Digital Group (XL Axiata), Space DC, Telkom Indonesia, Datacomm. TARGET AUDIENCE 1. Data center Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) 2. Data center Construction Contractors 3. Data center Infrastructure Providers 4. New Entrants 5. Consultants/Consultancies/Advisory Firms 6. 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 Biznet Cyber Data International DCI Indonesia DTP Elitery Data Center Graha Teknologi Nusantara (GTN) IndoKeppel Data Centres Indonet Indosat Ooredoo Lintasarta Internetindo Data Centra (IDC Indonesia) Metta DC Moratelindo Nusantara Data Center (NDC) Nex NTT Global Data Centers Princeton Digital Group (XL Axiata) Space DC Telkom Indonesia Datacomm. For more information about this database visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tuadvp About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Man holds laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian Industry Ministry's web portal and applications were hit by a "heavy cyberattack" on Friday and were out of order, it said. Technicians were working to "mitigate the consequences" of the attack, it wrote in a statement, adding that initial checks showed no evidence of data theft. It was too early to predict when activities would be back to normal, it said. The attack began in the early morning. The ministry said it was in close contact with the National Cybersecurity Agency to reduce inconvenience for citizens and businesses. (Reporting by Alessia Pe, editing Gianluca Semeraro and Nick Macfie) NGO worker Olivier Vandecasteele freed from imprisonment in Iran and 'on his way' to Belgium Olivier Vandecasteele, the Belgian humanitarian aid worker imprisoned in Teheran since February 2022 under criminal charges widely contested, has been released from jail and is currently heading back to his home country. The news was announced by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in a press release released on Friday morning. "Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium. If everything goes as planned, he will be with us tonight. Finally free", De Croo wrote. "Oliver spent 455 days in a Teheran prison. In unbearable conditions. Innocent." His return is "a relief for his family, for his friends, for his colleague," De Croo added, later tweeting a picture of the NGO worker onboard a plane, writing "At last with us". Vandecasteele left Teheran on Thursday night and was flown to Oman to undergo a medical examination, the prime minister said. The worker was accompanied by Belgian diplomats and military officers. His release was made possible after a prisoner swap between Iran and Belgium, the Omani foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. The Belgian government had previously tabled a controversial treaty on prisoner exchanges in a bid to secure the release of the 42-year-old. Shortly after De Croo's announcement, the Iranian government confirmed the exchanged prisoner was Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian national who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in Antwerp in 2021 for plotting a failed bomb attack against an Iranian opposition group in Paris. NGO Medecins du Monde, with which Vandecasteele worked, said it learned of his release "with immense relief". "We wish him a safe journey home and a happy stay with his loved ones," it added. Who is Olivier Vandecasteele? Born in Tournai, a French-speaking city in southern Belgium, Vandecasteele spent his professional career working for several humanitarian NGOs in countries such as Afghanistan, Mali, the Sahel region and, most recently, Iran. The Belgian national returned to Iran in February 2022 to pick up his personal affairs in what was supposed to be a quick trip before definitely leaving the country. But his departure was thwarted when he was arrested on 24 February by Iranian security agents in plain clothes, who reportedly failed to show him an arrest warrant. According to a group of United Nations experts who examined his case, Vandecasteele was subjected to "multiple interrogations" and denied access to a lawyer. Vandecasteele was initially held at the Evin prison and then moved blindfolded to a windowless room in an unknown location, the experts said. He was later sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison in Tehran and a physical punishment consisting of 74 lashes. The four charges related to alleged espionage against Iran, cooperation with the United States, currency smuggling and money laundering accusations described as "arbitrary" and a "flagrant violation of international law" by the UN experts. "We believe Mr Vandecasteele has been arbitrarily deprived of his liberty and is a victim of enforced disappearance for periods of detention," the experts said in a report released in January. The UN panel received reports that indicated a weight loss of 15 kilos, "serious" health problems and a two-week hunger strike. His deteriorating health triggered protests in solidarity across Belgium and piled further pressure on the central government to achieve a diplomatic solution that could bring the NGO worker back to his home country. Relations between the West and Iran have taken a turn for the worse in recent months following the death of Mahsa Amini and growing evidence of Teheran's military assistance to Moscow amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Bloomberg) -- Global investors at the worlds largest venture capital firms including Accel and Sequoia Capital India are asking their portfolio companies the same question: How vulnerable are you to artificial intelligence? Most Read from Bloomberg The chaotic power of AI was on display earlier this month when online tutoring startup Chegg Inc. saw its stock price slump 48% because of competition from OpenAI chatbot ChatGPT. Now, venture capitalists around the world are evaluating their investments to find out whether AI tools could upend their industries. Cheggs stock plunge further accelerated such reviews. An internal team at Accel is very deeply focused on this, said Barath Shankar Subramanian, an India-based partner at the firm, discussing AIs impact to its portfolio of more than 400 startups in South and Southeast Asia. The team is spending time on the ground both in India and outside, meeting founders, he said over video. Such an exercise is also ongoing at Accels home base in Silicon Valley, he said. The reviews underscore how generative AI has grabbed the attention of investors, founders and executives, who see it both as a massive opportunity as well as disruptive force. While VC firms are trying to identify the big winners, theyre also trying to weed out the ones whose business models risk being rendered outdated by the new technology. Sequoia Capital, which similarly has invested in more than 400 startups in India and Southeast Asia, is taking the AI risk very seriously, said Anandamoy Roychowdhary, a Singapore-based partner of Sequoias Surge, an accelerator for startups in India and Southeast Asia, and the funds specialist on AI and deep tech. The firm has gone through each of its early-stage investments in the region to assess the startups preparedness. Meanwhile, more than 75% of new deals made by Sequoia India, the firms unit in the region, are related to AI, with the topic dominating its investment meetings. The AI wave is going to touch everyone, Roychowdhary said over video. In boardrooms across our portfolio and beyond, the discussion is about how to use AI as a strategic weapon. A Sequoia startup working in the legal contracts domain and another creating marketing videos will quickly bring in AI, Roychowdhary said. Dozens of portfolio startups working on software development tools will integrate code written by both humans and AI, he said. Some portfolio companies are already auto-generating 50% of their code. Its imperative that startup business models and offerings evolve with the use of AI, he said. If not, AI-native companies will come along and out-compete them. Sequoia India and Southeast Asia have a 90-minute internal huddle every weekend, called Learning Sundays, to familiarize their teams with the latest AI developments and the technologys potential impact on different industries. Recent topics have ranged from autonomous agents to open-source large language models. Beenext Pte., a Singapore-based VC firm overseeing a portfolio of more than 100 startups in India, Southeast Asia and Japan, is proceeding with caution in AI investments even as it is bombarded with pitches related to the field, Managing Partner Hero Choudhary said in an interview in Bengaluru. The question is whether the AI wave will be deflationary, Choudhary said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Disney's live action remake of the 1989 animated classic has many hidden secrets for the superfans Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid. (Disney) The Little Mermaid remake has arrived in cinemas, bringing an updated version of the Disney classic to the silver screen. Starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, the film follows the mermaid as she makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to be transformed into a human, so that she can see Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) who shed helped save and is now in love with. The catch is that Ursula has captured her voice, and so Ariel must try and get Eric to realise she is the person hes been searching for without even speaking to him. Read more: Director Rob Marshall is keen to explore Mary Poppins 3 with Emily Blunt Rob Marshalls new take on the animated classic features fun cameos and subtle Easter eggs for viewers to enjoy, here is everything you need to know. Jodi Bensons cameo Watch: Rob Marshall discuss Jodi Benson's cameo in The Little Mermaid Jodi Benson portrayed Ariel in Disneys 1990 animation, and the actor makes an appearance in the 2023 edition of the tale. She plays a resident of the island, whom Baileys Ariel meets when visiting a local market with Prince Eric. In a sweet moment, Bensons vendor tells Ariel that she needs her fork, a symbol of her passing the baton, and Ariel uses it in her hair after being incorrectly told by Scuttle that the humans use it that way rather than to eat food. Marshall tells Yahoo UK that he was keen to have Benson in the film because she is an old friend and they have worked together on Broadway for a long time. Directors John Musker and Ron Clements with Jodi Benson, voice of Ariel, during production on 1989's The Little Mermaid. (Alamy) We had this deep connection, I have known her for a long time and she's just very special, he says. She embraced the casting of Ariel with Halle immediately, which is very moving to me too, you know, because it's hers. Read more: The Little Mermaid cast says changes were made to reflect 'diversity and inclusion' But she knows that there's room for other interpretations, like a great opera or a play, you can infuse it with so many different interpretations, and so she's really special to me. Halle Bailey and Jodi Benson attend the World Premiere of Disney's live-action feature The Little Mermaid. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) It's funny she passes the fork it [had] actually already had been written but we were looking for a place for Jodi it's like almost passing the torch you know it's quite lovely. Homage to Hans Christian Anderson Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. (Disney) Copenhagen's little mermaid bronze statue. (Getty Images) The Little Mermaid is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, and in Denmark the author is paid tribute to with a statue of Ariel in Copenhagen. Read more: The Little Mermaid review - Halle Bailey is a powerhouse in captivating Disney remake In the 2023 version, similarly to the animation, Ariel is seen sitting atop a rock in the exact same position as the statue in Denmark, thus paying homage to the characters creator. Hamilton vibes A still from the new trailer for The Little Mermaid. (Disney) Lin-Manuel Miranda helped to write the lyrics for the new songs that were added to the 2023 version of the film, and one song is called The Scuttlebutt which is sung by Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs. Read more: Alan Menken discusses returning for The Little Mermaid remake soundtrack The rap song is reminiscent of Mirandas hit musical Hamilton, and this is important to note because Diggs starred in the Broadway hit in the roles of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, for which he won a Tony Award in 2016. The Little Mermaid is out in cinemas and IMAX now. A hospital in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit Friday morning in a Russian missile attack, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said. This comes as Russia held separate talks with China and Brazil on the war in Ukraine. Follow our blog to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2). This live blog is no longer being updated. For more of our coverage on the war in Ukraine, please click here. 10:25pm: Ukraine says Russia plans to simulate accident at nuclear power plant Ukraine's defence ministry on Friday said Russia was planning to simulate a major accident at a nuclear power station controlled by pro-Moscow forces to try to thwart a long-planned Ukrainian counteroffensive to retake territory occupied by Russia. The Zaporizhzhia plant, which lies in an area of Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, is Europe's biggest nuclear power station and the area has been repeatedly hit by shelling that both sides blame each other for. The defence ministry's intelligence directorate said Russian forces would soon shell the plant and then announce a radiation leak. This would force an investigation by international authorities, during which all hostilities would be stopped. 9:25pm: EU condemns Russian deal to station nuclear warheads in Belarus The European Union on Friday condemned an agreement between Russia and Belarus to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus. "This is a step which will lead to further extremely dangerous escalation," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters) Read more on FRANCE 24 English Read also: Russian tourists seek new destinations as Europe shuts its doors over Ukraine war Russia has begun moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, Lukashenko says A look at the Free Russia Legion, the pro-Ukrainian group that attacked Belgorod Revenge of the killer whales? Experts at a loss over why orcas are ramming into fishing boats Revenge of the killer whales? Experts at a loss over why orcas are ramming into fishing boats Killer whales off the Spanish coast have struck again. A group of orcas rammed into a sailing boat in the early hours of Thursday morning, piercing its hull and breaking the rudder, the local maritime rescue service reported. Their motive is still a mystery, but some experts believe that revenge might be behind the unusual behaviour, based on the traumatic experience of an orca called White Gladis. After an initial collision a couple of years ago - the theory goes - she started exhibiting defensive behaviour against vessels, which other orcas began to copy. One thing is for sure: orca-rammings off the coast of Spain and Portugal are getting more frequent. Thursdays charge on the Mustique vessel is one of at least 20 interactions between the clever cetaceans and sailors in the Strait of Gibraltar this month alone. According to the research group GTOA, which tracks populations of the Iberian orca sub-species, there were 207 reported incidents in 2022. Thats up from 197 in 2021, and 52 between July and November 2020. The highly social apex predators typically target sailboats, but dont tend to cause much damage. Only three boats are reported to have been sunk by orcas since the behaviour began in May 2020. Its estimated they only touch one in every 100 ships that sail through a location. So whats really at the root of the behaviour? Are orcas out for revenge? An orca leaps out of the water near a whale watching boat in the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands, Washington. - Elaine Thompson/AP Alfredo Lopez Fernandez, a biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal and representative of the GTOA, told Live Science that the orcas are picking out boats on purpose. We don't know the origin or the motivation, but defensive behaviour based on trauma, as the origin of all this, gains more strength for us every day, he said. Some researchers suspect that the orca known as White Gladis suffered a critical moment of agony - either being hit by a boat or becoming ensnared during illegal fishing - that flipped a behavioural switch. "That traumatised orca is the one that started this behaviour of physical contact with the boat," Lopez Fernandez added. A few commentators have gone so far as to claim that a vengeful Gladis and co are teaching young orcas to break boats rudders. But Lopez Fernandez - who co-authored a study on the marine mammals last year - thinks it's simply spreading by imitation among the animals. Or are the orca visits just social? Nobody yet knows for sure why the ramming behaviour is happening, however. My idea, or what anyone would give you, is informed speculation. It is a total mystery, unprecedented, Andrew W. Trites, professor and director of Marine Mammal Research at the University of British Columbia, told CBS News. He doesn't think the incidents are attacks; questioning why orcas would want to engage in self-destructive behaviour. Trites own theory is that its just playful behaviour that's gotten way out of hand. He recalls a whale named Luca, seen off the coast of Vancouver in Canada, who swam away from his pod and started 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." Its a funny way of making friends, perhaps. Orcas tactile side suggests another explanation too. "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," Trites told CBS. The behaviour could be putting sailors and whales at risk A bit of rough housing (if thats what it is) might seem like harmless fun to a whale. But the impact on vessels can be damaging and dangerous for sailors. And conservationists are concerned. While their deaths cannot be directly linked to the boat events, four orcas belonging to the Iberian subpopulation are known to have died since the behaviour began in 2020. There were only 39 Iberian orcas recorded in the last census in 2011, and this group is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. "If this situation continues or intensifies, it could become a real concern for the mariners' safety and a conservation issue for this endangered subpopulation of killer whales," Lopez Fernandez and his co-researchers concluded in the study last year. Meanwhile, the Spanish Transport Ministry has urged boaters to leave the area if they observe a change in an orca's direction or speed and report any interactions. Japan slams Russia-Belarus nuclear deal, slaps on sanctions Japan on Friday imposed additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, blasting the Kremlin's new deal to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. Tokoyo will freeze the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and ban exports to Russian military-related organisations, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. As the worlds only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, Japan finds Russias threats of nuclear weapons and their use absolutely impermissible, he said. Japans government demands Russia and Belarus stop actions that further escalate tensions as we continue to watch the development with strong concern. Japan is coordinating with the other G7 countries and the global community to make things better for Ukraine, Matsuno added. Wagner Group in Mali sanctioned for alleged arms trafficking The leader of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group in Mali was sanctioned by the US on Thursday for allegedly bolstering Russia's military arsenal. Washington warned Ivan Maslov could be working to buy mines, drones and other weapons systems from foreign suppliers to deliver to Russian fighters in Ukraine. US Treasury Department said there were indications the Kremlin was trying to use the West African nation as a way-station for arms shipments. The suspicions against Mali, however, are yet to be proven according to state department spokesman Matthew Miller. We have not seen, as of yet, any indications that these acquisitions have been finalized or executed, but we are monitoring the situation closely," he said earlier this week. The Wagner Group has brokered deals across the African continent, providing security to what are often autocratic national leaders, frequently in exchange for rights to mine gold and other resources. Ukraine thwarts Russian drone and missile attack overnight Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and 25 drones launched by Russia last night against Kyiv, Dnipro and eastern regions, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. The Ukrainian air force said it knocked out 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two reconnaissance drones, according to US-based news agency Reuters. Attacks continued until the early hours of Friday with several drones and missiles hitting targets in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. Officials there have not confirmed any deaths so far. It was a very difficult night," Dnipro regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram. "It was loud the enemy launched a mass attack on the region with missiles and drones. Dnipro has suffered. Lysak said several sites were damaged by the attacks, including civilian houses, cars, and companies, including a transport hub and gas station. US says allies will unite to train Ukrainians on F-16 jets European allies are developing a coordinated programme to train Ukrainian forces on the F-16 fighter jet, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday. Austin said Ukraine's allies recognise that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to sustain and maintain the aircraft, plus have enough munitions. But Pentagon leaders warned it will be a costly, complex task and won't be a magic solution to the war. "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 fighter jets, said General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Providing 10 F-16s could cost $2 billion including maintenance, according to him. Milley 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. The US's European allies have been vocal in their support for the fighter jet training in recent days. However, there are warnings it could escalate tensions with Russia. German Chancellor to talk to Putin 'in due course' The German chancellor Olaf Scholz said he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin soon on a variety of topics, including halting the war in Ukraine. Olaf also held out the prospect of resuming contact after a near-total breakdown in relations since fighting broke out in February. My last telephone call was some time ago, Scholz told the Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper in an interview published on Friday. But I plan to speak to Putin again in due course. The leaders spoke by telephone in early December, AFP reports. Scholz said Putin had to understand that the war could not be ended by making some kind of cold peace. Rather it is about a fair peace, and the prerequisite for that is the withdrawal of Russian troops, he added. Siddharth Mohandas, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, is seen speaking during a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington, in this captured image, May 25. Yonhap The United States maintains ready and capable deterrence against North Korea's evolving threats together with its key allies South Korea and Japan, ranking U.S. officials said Thursday. They also said the U.S. seeks to institutionalize trilateral defense cooperation between the three countries. "We share the widespread concern about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, certainly a concern shared by our allies in the region, notably Japan and the ROK," Siddharth Mohandas, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, said during a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. "I think what we do in response is to ensure that we, alongside our allies, are maintaining combat credible deterrence," he added, noting that North Korea has fired some 80 ballistic missiles since the start of last year. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name. Mohandas noted that U.S. deterrence against North Korean threats begins with its conventional capabilities, including some 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and that it is backed by Washington's ironclad commitment to providing extended deterrence to Seoul. Extended deterrence refers to U.S. commitment to help defense its ally, using all its military capabilities, including nuclear. President Joe Biden agreed to bolster U.S. commitment to extended deterrence last month when he and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol signed a bilateral agreement, dubbed the Washington Declaration, that calls for increased deployment and visibility of U.S. strategic assets to and around the Korean Peninsula. "We want to make clear, in as strong as possible terms, that our extended deterrence commitment to the ROK is ironclad, is backed by the full range of our capabilities, including conventional capabilities and nuclear capabilities," said Mohandas. Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, insisted that the Washington Declaration has also reaffirmed South Korea's confidence in U.S. extended deterrence. The Pentagon officials emphasized the importance of U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation, highlighting the recent thaw in the Seoul-Tokyo relations that they said was possible due to the courage and bravery of the South Korean president and his Japanese counterpart. "I think the flipside of that is that it is actually in our interest, in all three countries' interest to seek to protect military and defense cooperation from the vicissitudes of politics, and I think the way we do that is by trying to do everything we can to institutionalize trilateral cooperation going forward," Mohandas told the seminar. Ratner said the U.S. is doing everything it can to institutionalize U.S. network of alliances and partnerships in the region to be "more durable." (Yonhap) Want to meet other digital nomads? These are the most - and least - popular European countries Want to meet other digital nomads? These are the most - and least - popular European countries If you could work from anywhere, where would you go? The rise of digital nomadism has seen more and more people spread their wings; eschewing the office or WFH grind for a life of adventure. If youre turning the idea over in your mind, you might be picturing a beachside scene - typing away in a shaded cafe until youve cleared your inbox enough to soak up some rays. The day-dream version of you would be forgiven for posting a snap to Instagram. Something humble and totally non-infuriating for your friends back home, like #officefortheday. But a trawl through the social media app has found that digital nomads arent necessarily hitting the coast - many are moving to big cities. Researchers at resume.io, a CV building site, searched through thousands of posts featuring the hashtag #digitalnomad, and used geotagged locations to determine the most popular places. Its not a complete picture - not everyone is documenting their lives online, or hashtagging in English, after all - but it gives an idea of where workers with wanderlust are heading to. Where are all the digital nomads going? Based on the number of tagged posts, London and Bangkok had the largest online communities of digital nomads. - Resume.io The US is the most popular location with digital nomads, according to the resume.io team. They found over 210,000 posts with the self-identifying hashtag, more than in any other country. According to Statista, the main nationality of digital nomads worldwide is American, so it looks like many nomads are choosing to keep their travels stateside. Spain is the second most popular country for digital nomads. With an official remote work visa launched earlier this month - allowing non-EU nationals to stay for up to five years, its likely to stay high on nomads lists. Thailand came close behind in third place, followed by Mexico - though not all locals in Mexico City are happy about it - and France. Where are the most popular cities in Europe? The findings arent groundbreaking, exactly. The cities with the most Instagram-happy digital nomads are popular with people more generally. New York is the digital nomad capital of the US and North America, while London has the most vibrant digital nomad community worldwide. The UK capital has clocked up over 20,000 hashtags as of this month. Though it doesnt offer a specific digital nomad visa - and rents are sky high - the citys great culture, nightlife and restaurants are proving to be a big draw for remote workers seeking a good time. Paris ranked next, followed by Barcelona and Lisbon. Portugal has recently launched a new one-year digital nomad visa, so if youre yet to experience the city of yellow trams, gorgeous tiles and grilled sardines, this might be your ticket. Just make sure not to annoy the locals too much. London has the most vibrant digital nomad Instagram community in Europe and the world. - resume.io With the exception of Athens (in fifth place) Europes top ten digital nomad hubs are all towards the west of Europe. And with the exception of Funchal in Portugal, the team notes, all are capitals. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in tenth place, is the capital of one of Spains Canary Islands. Quieter locations for digital nomads If youre thinking about making the digital nomad leap, it might be reassuring to know that these cities all have a thriving community of like-minded travellers. But perhaps an abundance of other digital nomads isnt what youre after. So its worth knowing that the lesser-known destinations which weren't flooded with tagged posts include Madagascar, Uruguay, Ghana, Denmark, Nepal and Ireland. All of these countries had less than 10,000 posts each. Though Uruguay is likely to get a boost with its new digital nomad visa ensuring a smooth transition to South America. Alec Baldwin did not want to be a public person anymore after Rust incident Actor Alec Baldwin has revealed he wanted out of the public spotlight after he accidentally shot dead cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun in 2021. In an interview with The Times, Baldwin said he had called his wife after the incident on the filmset of the movie Rust and told her: I dont want to do this for a living any more. I dont. I dont want to be a public person. The 65-year-old actor said he still struggles with the fatal shooting, and despite a life-time of accomplishments, knows it will be what he is remembered by. Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria (Frank Franklin II/AP) Baldwin credited his wife Hilaria Baldwin with helping him survive the past 18 months as he faced criminal charges, telling the Times how she took control of his life. Charges of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin over Ms Hutchins death were formally dismissed by New Mexico prosecutors in April. Prosecutors said they were unable to proceed with the case, but the decision to dismiss the charges did not absolve Mr Baldwin of criminal culpability. The Hollywood actor had faced two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the shooting on the New Mexico movie set in October 2021. But the family of Ms Hutchins are continuing their civil lawsuit against Baldwin over her death. Alec Baldwin on the set of the movie Rust following the incident in which Halyna Hutchins was killed (Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office/PA) Legal representatives for the family said last month that Baldwin could not escape from the fact that he had a major role in a tragedy. Baldwin hopes to finish the filming of Rust this month. He has also booked another film joining the cast of Kent State, a dramatisation of the 1970 killing of four students by the National Guard protesting the Vietnam War on the Ohio college campus. Baldwin is to play Robert I White, Kent States then president, in the film written and directed by Karen Slade. British man shot and wife dies of starvation after being left in Sudan (Supplied) The family of an 85-year-old man who lived near the UKs diplomatic mission in Sudans capital have said he was shot by snipers and his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The BBC was told by the family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, that despite asking for help, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month. The Foreign Office told the BBC the case was extremely sad. The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help where he was shot three times by snipers, his wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Computer-generated image does not show Elon Musk with robot wife Social media users in Nigeria and Ethiopia claim images show tech mogul Elon Musk with a robot wife scheduled for commercial release in September 2023. But the photos are fake; the artist who originally created the images shared them on social media and clearly labelled them as computer-generated. Elon Musk and his company are on the final stages of making a Robot Wife. The supply of Robot Wives is expected to roll out in September 2023. They will reach Africa by November 2023 (sic), reads part of a Facebook post published on May 16, 2023. A screenshot of the false post, taken on May 25, 2023 The post, shared more than 13,000 times, includes photos of Musk kissing and dancing with different robot wives. They have human-like faces, but their bodies appear to be a mix of metal and other human-like features. The user also claims that Musks robot wives will run on batteries in accordance with the menstrual cycle, cost around $3,000, and will be password or fingerprint-protected. This is a depopulation strategy. Beware the new world order are very keenThis are signs of the END TIME (sic), reads one of the comments under the post. Other comments take on a distinctly misogynistic tone. Finally God has a plan for us boys! I want a deaf one, reads another comment. Similar posts were shared elsewhere on Facebook and Twitter. But the claim that Musk and his company are working on a robot wife is false. AI-generated Using a reverse image search, AFP Fact Check found the images were originally shared (archived here) by a Facebook user named Guerrero Art on May 3, 2023 on a page called AI Art Universe. The page describes itself as a place for those who share a passion for using AI in your work. Screenshot of the original post, taken on May 24 2023 AI refers to artificial intelligence, which can be used to create realistic images. Some realistic images of news events have already been mistaken for real ones and shared on social media platforms, including AI-generated images of former president Donald Trump getting arrested and the Pope wearing a stylish puffer jacket. On Guerrero Arts personal page, they refer to themselves as a digital creator and regularly post AI-generated images, including several from May 21, 2023 showing Musk with a different style robot (archived here) and a flying car. The post with the flying car includes the name of Guerrero Arts Instagram account (archived here). Screenshot of the original post highlighting the Instagram username, taken on May 24, 2023 Some of the same robot photos appear on their Instagram with hashtags such as #ai, #aiartwork, and #aicommunity. In a comment under the Instagram post, a user asks which tool was used to create the images, to which Guerrero Art responded, Midjourney. Midjourney is an AI tool that generates images based on text prompts entered by the users. This YouTube video explains how it is done. Screenshot of the original post and highlighted comment, taken on May 24, 2023 In their original Facebook post, Guerrero Art even listed the specific prompts they used to create the images along with the caption, the real reason why Elon Musk wants to regulate AI. Screenshot of the original post with highlighted Midjourney prompt, taken on May 24, 2023 Moreover, when zooming into the image, we noticed inconsistencies and defects typical of artificially-generated images. For example, the fingers on the right hand of the robot wife are distorted, with the ring finger seemingly split at the top. Screenshot of the AI-generated image and highlighted hand, taken on May 24 2023 Learn more about how to spot AI-generated images here. Tesla Bot Musk owns the tech company Tesla which is working on a humanoid robot (archived here) capable of performing unsafe, repetitive, or boring tasks, according to their website. The tech company announced on May 16, 2023 that the Tesla Bot can now walk slowly and pick up objects. But there is nothing on their site about creating a robot wife, and the robots pictured in Teslas promotional materials do not have any human facial features. WTHR/YouTube An Indiana doctor was visibly emotional as she was handed a $3,000 fine and a letter of reprimand Thursday night for going public after providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled out of state from neighboring Ohio. After an arduous, 14-hour meeting, the Indiana State Medical Licensing Board found that Dr. Caitlin Bernard violated patient privacy under HIPAA and state law in telling the girls story to the Indianapolis Star, sparking global headlines, an impassioned speech from President Joe Biden, and a national debate weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Hours after the Supreme Court ruling on June 24, 2022, an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into immediate effect. At the time, the girl was six weeks and three days pregnant. A 27-year-old Guatemalan man was subsequently charged with her rape in Columbus, Ohio. Bernard could be seen holding back tears as the board handed down its decision Thursday night. She took a tissue and held it to her face, covering her eyes. I think that its incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country, Bernard told the board earlier in the day of her decision to speak to the press, appearing emotional as she answered questions from Cory Voight, an attorney with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokitas office. I think if the attorney general, Todd Rokita, had not chosen to make this his political stunt we wouldnt be here today, 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. Rokita has continually expressed his outrage at Bernard, filing a written complaint against her in November. He had sought to have her license to practice medicine suspended. Dr. Caitlin Bernard was visibly emotional during the hearing and as the ruling was being handed down. WTHR The doctor was cleared of two other counts on reporting and fitness to practice, meaning she will still be able to practice medicine. Like we have said for a year, this case was about patient privacy and the trust between the doctor and patient that was broken, Rokita said in a statement. What if it was your child or your parent or your sibling who was going through a sensitive medical crisis, and the doctor, who you thought was on your side, ran to the press for political reasons? Its not right, and the facts we presented today made that clear. We appreciate the Medical Licensing Boards extraordinary time and consideration. My team did a great job getting the Truth out. Caitlin Bernard was found liable for violating state and federal patient privacy law on three separate counts. He added: Thanks to my amazing team, the abortion doctor got the maximum civil fine for violating three counts of privacy laws and received a public reprimand to go into a national database. Indiana AG Escalates Fact-Free War on Doc Who Performed 10-Year-Olds Abortion Bernard, through her lawyer, has consistently maintained that she took every appropriate and proper action in accordance with the law and both her medical and ethical training as a physician. On Thursday, her lawyer reiterated those words, along with her argument that no identifying details were released about the girl that would threaten her exposure and that therefore Bernard did not break or violate any privacy laws. Dr. Bernard could not have anticipated the atypical and intense scrutiny that this story received, Bernards lawyer Alice Morical said, according to Associated Press. She did not expect that politicians would say that she made the story up. Board president Dr. John Strobel argued that Bernard shouldnt have taken the story to the media at all and that the protection of patient privacy is paramount. He acknowledged that he thought Bernard didnt expect the story to go viral, but he warned that physicians should be careful. The board, according to the Associated Press, included five doctors and one attorney, all of whom were appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. The Ohio law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy that immediately took effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe stood until mid-September, when a Hamilton County judge blocked it. In March this year, the Ohio Supreme Court agreed to take up the case. For now, abortions in Ohio remain legal in the state for now, up to 20 weeks gestation. 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. 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 center's 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. (AP) Read more on FRANCE 24 English Read also: Migrants bear the brunt of rising nationalism ahead of Turkeys presidential runoff French territory of Mayotte begins demolition of vast shantytown France to try 19 suspected human smugglers over 2019 migrant lorry deaths Photo by Open Road Films Gerard Butler isnt just a meat-and-potatoes action star. Hes a cup of coffee, black and no sugar. Hes a rare T-bonehold the sauce and the sides. Hell, hes a cigarette and a shot of whisky (with a beer chaser) the morning after a long night of drinking. When it comes to rugged, thick-skinned, no-nonsense, back-to-basics ass-kicking, hes your man of few words and many, many kills. Butler is the king of modern Hollywood programmers, an A-lister who fits perfectly into frills-free genre pictures, and Kandahar (in theaters May 26) is another entry in his unabashedly gung-ho oeuvre. With a title thats as simpleif not nearly as funnyas his prior Plane, Butlers latest reteams him with his Angel Has Fallen and Greenland director Ric Roman Waugh for a saga thats more than faintly reminiscent of Guy Ritchies recent Jake Gyllenhaal war film The Covenant. What he delivers is precisely what fans are likely looking for, albeit in a package thats more politically muddled than is necessary. Tom Harris (Gerard Butler) is an MI6 lifer whos currently working on loan for the CIA, who have him undercover in Qom, Iran, as a telephone repairman so he can install a device in a junction box thatll allow the agency to corrupt the countrys nuclear reactor systems. When Toms toil results in a covert facility going kaboom, he readies himself for a trip back home to an ex-wife who isnt interested in reconciling and a teenage daughter (Olivia-Mai Barrett) who expects him to attend her graduation. The lure of the fight, however, is too strong for Tom to resist, and when hes offered a gig by his old friend Roman (Travis Fimmel) to decisively end Irans nuke programand earn enough cash to put his daughter through medical schoolhe cant resist. Moreover, Roman has a translator for Tom in Mo (Navid Negahban), an Afghan national whos been living abroad in Baltimore with his family, and whos returned to his homeland to find his wifes missing daughter. Things go haywire when journalist Luna (Nina Toussaint-White) receives leaked info from a whistleblower about the CIAs covert black-ops meddling in Iran and decides to broadcast it to the world because, as she says, itll be bigger than Snowden and Wikileaks. Shes right, although in the process, she outs the identity of Tom and his colleague Oliver (Tom Rhys Harries), leading to the latters death and the former having to go on the run. As luck would have it, the British have a transport plane leaving in 30 hours that Tom can hop aboard, thus evading death. The problem is, its located in Kandahar, hundreds of miles away from where hes currently locatedand to get there, he must contend with an assortment of foes, including Iranian forces led by Farzad (Bahador Foladi), Taliban villains commanded by Rasoul (Hakeem Jomah), and a Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence agent named Kahil (Ali Fazal) who wears black and rides a motorcycle. These opponents all want Tom for their own purposes and, furthermore, they dont get along with each other, and Kandahar is most intriguing when its illustrating the differences between these factions. In that regard, the post-U.S.-withdrawal Taliban receives the severest condemnation, most notably when Kahil warns Rasoul that his extremist compatriots shouldnt go back to pulling their crazy shit all over againchopping heads off, beating women in public, taking selfies. The world is watching, and you have to show them that youre modernizing. Mos later conversation with an Afghan woman further underscores the misogynistic horrors of life under the Taliban. Yet in most other respects, Waughs film (written by Mitchell LaFortune) sidesteps taking any genuine political stance, or at least muddies things enough to keep one guessing as to its real point of view. Gerard Butlers Plane Is Badass Fun Thats as Ludicrous as Its Silly Title Kandahar has Tom and Mo square off against a bevy of adversaries on their journey to their extraction-point destination, and Waugh keeps the energy reasonably high while staging brawny shootouts and showdowns. Of those, the highlight is a nocturnal face-off between Tom and a helicopter that ends with a clever grenade-tossing trick and a memorable slow-motion vision of man triumphing over machine. The rest of the materials aggro pleasures are of a milder variety, if muscularly helmed and executed, and theres something pleasurable about the way in which the film refrains from turning Butlers Tom into a superhero. While theres never any doubt that Tom will do the right thing and come out on top in any given skirmish, Waugh and LaFortune often have him surviving by the skin of his teeththanks, more than once, to the efforts of supporting saviors. With an unkempt beard and a complexion that suggests he hasnt seen a shower in at least a fortnight, Butlers Tom is conceived as a noble blank whos all purpose and forward motion and minimal introspection or depth. Consequently, its a credit to the actors charisma that he ably conveys his protagonists stout heart and selflessness. Arnold Schwarzenegger Fumbles With a Lipstick Vibrator in Ridiculous FUBAR Its too bad that, unlike Ritchies The Covenant, Kandahar never adequately develops Tom and Mos Westerner-translator relationship; despite a few meaningful conversations, they seem less trial by fire-bonded brothers than strangers forced to cooperate, and the fact that the script ultimately drops Mos personal quest speaks to the narratives imbalance. Nonetheless, Butler is consistently commanding, even when the film asks him to merely look robust and weathered, take lethal aim at incoming enemies, and drive furiously across the vast desert. Pointlessly heroic sacrifices, death-defying confrontations, and one amusingly miraculous deux ex machina all play a part in the slam-bang finale, which Waugh executes with a self-seriousness that almost sells it as something other than fantasy. Most amazing of all is the means by which the film manages to address a number of hot-button geopolitical topics without saying anything meaningful at alland then, in the end, to cast its story as proof that you have to return home to know what you are fighting for. Still, if Kandahar doesnt have the courage to take a legitimate stand, it furthers the case for Butlera He-Man whos all gristle, no fatas this generations most dependable B-movie star. 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. BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court has ruled that raids conducted last year at the Bavarian villa of Russian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov and other locations were unlawful, a law firm representing him said in a statement on Friday. The firm, hired by the Uzbek Embassy, said any basis for suspected money laundering by Usmanov "does not exist, has never existed, and all search measures of the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt based on this suspicion were, without exception, unlawful". The court in Frankfurt confirmed that it was handling the case but gave no details of the decision. The Munich prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In September, over 250 police officers searched an apparently abandoned lakeside villa in the upmarket Bavarian holiday town of Rottach-Egern as part of the investigation against Usmanov. Further raids were conducted on another property and a yacht registered to Usmanov, as well as an apartment belonging to another Uzbek national who was not a suspect in the money laundering investigation. The law firm hired by the Uzbek Embassy said the court's decision confirmed that the case against Usmanov was "not factually justified, but politically motivated to the exclusion of all else". Usmanov's own defence team also commented, saying in a statement the decision "reaffirmed our client's trust in Germany as a functioning constitutional state" and that it "should offer food for thought ... to everyone who contributed to creating a prejudiced view towards our client throughout Germany". (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi and Friederike Heine; editing by Mark Heinrich) Slovenia, France, Belgium and the UK are just some European countries whose parliaments have declared the Holodomor - a devastating 20th-century famine in Ukraine - a genocide. Jani Prednik, a member of the Social Democrat party of Slovenia and one of the initiators of the resolution in the country's parliament, described the Holodomor as one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes and crimes against humanity of the 20th century. Pauline Latham, the Conservative MP who tabled the motion in the UK, said the Ukrainian famine in the early 1930s was caused by the forced confiscation of peasants' crops by the Soviets. She also drew parallels with current events, where Russia seizes Ukrainian grain on occupied Ukrainian soil. 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 said. Crimes of the Soviet Union specifically targeting Ukrainians have gained an increased interest ever since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to deny ethnic Ukrainians a separate identity from Russia, scholars, journalists and politicians across the continent are beginning to consider whether previous moments in history where Ukrainians were targeted should be given more consideration. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor. The German Bundestag also recognized the Holodomor as a genocide. 30 November 2022 - Kay Nietfeld/(c) Copyright 2022, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten Parliaments versus courts However, legal experts worry that having parliaments declare something a genocide does not carry as much weight as when a court does it. Any parliament is free to, within the spirit of debate and deliberation, come up with any conclusions and statements that it wants to, explained Iva Vukusic, a historian at Utrecht University in the Netherlands whose work focuses on war crimes prosecution. The legal category of genocide did not exist until after World War II, when the world as well as the legal profession struggled to define the mass atrocities it inflicted on the continent. The Holocaust is known as the genocide of the European Jews, and is often held up as a grim benchmark for how far countries can go in the destruction of another nation. Genocide is the destruction of or the intent to destroy a community, whether in part or in whole, according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the UN Genocide Convention. While historians, writers, and lawyers may lean on each other when analysing certain events, their definition of genocide differs from that of a legal scholar. Any resolution passed by a parliament is a political and symbolic act of recognising events like the Holodomor, the Armenian Genocide and other historical injustices, said Vukusic. "They are not based on the same process and do not involve the same kind of in-depth investigation of evidence that a court would be engaging in." Why is recognising the Holodomor important? The Ukrainian name for the brutal famine that took place between 1932-1933 is derived from the word holod for hunger and moryty for death or dying. It stemmed from the Soviet Union's collectivisation of grain-producing areas Ukraine then, as now, was a leading grain producer and the application of a rationing system, leaving vast swathes of the population to starve. Today, anyone who visits the Holodomor-Genocide Museum in Kyiv can see the images of skeletal, starving Ukrainians and read the shocking testimonies of populations having to resort to cannibalism to survive. Yet, the event was barely known in the West for a long time. Its mention was technically banned in the Soviet Union until the liberalisation of the 1980s. Authorities were keen to quell Ukrainian testimonies that cast doubt on the socialist countrys grand collectivisation plans. To this day, there is a long-ranging dispute about the exact number of people who died directly as a consequence of the Holodomor, with figures ranging from 3 to 20 million. The crux of the debate today and the reason why so many parliaments, including the EUs legislative body, have passed resolutions calling it a genocide is whether the man-made famine was an attempt by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and others to silence pro-Ukrainian voices and cripple a more distinctive identity for Ukraine in the socialist state. Ukraine has historically been one of the most agriculturally fertile areas in Europe. In this archive photo, Ukrainian farmers spray crops with pesticides. 14 December 1938 - AP/AP How are genocides prosecuted? While no objective analyst would dispute the atrocities of the Holodomor, the way a historian perceives it is different from how a legal scholar analyses it. The issue of whether the Holodomor was a genocide or not has divided historians and academics for a long period of time, explained Vukusic. While there is wide agreement that the famine was deliberate, the discussion about how it took place, and whether it was a consequence of certain policies or an attempt to destroy the Ukrainian nation as such is still discussed, she continued. Due to the fact that the events occurred about a century ago, none of the perpetrators or survivors of the events will ever see the inside of the courtroom. In addition, the legal category of genocide did not exist at the time the events occurred. In law, generally speaking, there is an agreed principle that laws that were not on the books or did not exist at the time a crime was carried out can not be prosecuted, said Vukusic. Applying laws retroactively would mean that in the future, someone can come up with a law that would prosecute something you are doing today and did not know was a crime, she continued. While laws tend to usually get more progressive and inclusive over time homosexuality was illegal in the past legalists argue that in case something currently considered legal now suddenly becomes punishable, say, if a country takes an illiberal or anti-democratic turn in the future, then courts would be able to imprison people for actions they committed when they were not illegal. If anything, applying laws retroactively would make it easy for someone to defend themselves against a charge, and say that a crime was not illegal at the time it was committed. In a hypothetical situation where Stalin or any of the perpetrators of the Holodomor were still alive and could be prosecuted, this means they could claim genocide did not exist as a legal category at the time and be acquitted. They would not be acquitted of other crimes, but this still makes genocide a tricky charge - one that needs to be approached with great care. Genocide convictions are extraordinarily difficult to achieve and the prospect for justice is limited. This is why prosecuting the Holodomor, in a legal sense, is impossible and it now falls under the purview of historical crimes. Could Ukraine prosecute Russia for genocide in the future? The reason why a genocide charge is so sensitive is because it was introduced as a way to characterise human evil a malevolence that leads to millions dying due to their perceived ethnic background, religious beliefs or even political convictions. The burden of evidence required for a successful conviction needs to meet the highest legal standards. Of the estimated 46 genocides that are believed to have taken place between 1956 and 2016, only three have been legally classified as such: Rwanda in 1994, Bosnia in 1995 and Cambodia under the Pol Pot regime in the late 1970s. Some have argued that because an acquittal which in legalese only means that not enough evidence was presented to convince the court is often used by perpetrators to maintain their innocence, most courts should stay away from genocide charges altogether. However, due to Putin's rhetoric which some claim shows clear genocidal intent through the denial of the existence of a Ukrainian identity and the atrocities committed against Ukrainian civilians by the Russian military in places like Bucha and Irpin, there is talk of a possible genocide charge being launched. Russia denies targeting civilians. While Vukusic does not cast aside the possibility, there are many things Ukraine needs to consider beforehand. Of course, all of this depends on the outcome of the war. Many of the perpetrators are not going to be available to the Ukrainian prosecutors or the International Criminal Court, they will stay in Russia especially high-level indictees like Putin, she said. Putin, who is facing an indictment from the ICC, is not going to travel to Germany or any of the places where he might get arrested. Maybe in five years time or so, things get shaken up in Russia and there is an interest in sending him to the Hague even as a part of a trade-off for other international diplomatic benefits it could happen. Based on her experience and that of countless international law experts, she suggests that the top priority for Ukraine should be to collect evidence. Even wealthy countries with expansive legal systems can only handle so much at any given point, she exclaimed. According to information I have, there are over 80,000 alleged cases of war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law. Each one of those crimes needs to go through a lengthy process of investigation, but no system on earth is able to process that. There are many actors involved in evidence gathering and analysis in Ukraine besides the countrys institutions, and they feature prosecutors from ICC, investigators from several European countries such as France, Poland, and the Netherlands as well as civil society organisations. Despite the best intentions of both international and local courts, political considerations have often impeded even the evident war criminals such as Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad from seeing the inside of a courtroom. Sadly Assad, who did not lose the war and stayed in power, is being even somewhat rehabilitated and readmitted in the Arab League and other fora so that could also happen, she said. But if the facts about what is currently happening on the ground in Ukraine are well documented, denialism of those crimes will be limited as much as possible. In 30 years time, we want to have statements, information, and testimonies that people can analyse and write books about based on court records. There is going to be a need to tell the stories about what happened. Iran freed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele after almost 15 months in custody on Friday, in a prisoner exchange for Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi, who had been convicted of terrorism. Vandecasteele landed in Belgium late Friday after being repatriated in a military aircraft, according to images broadcast on television. The 42-year-old French-speaking Belgian was greeted by his parents, sister and other family members on the tarmac of the Melsbroek military base near Brussels. Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander de Croo clebrated his release, by declaring, "Free at last!" Separately, Oman's foreign ministry announced it had helped broker an "exchange deal" and that an Iranian previously held in Belgium was on his way to Tehran. Iran announced that the freed Iranian is diplomat Assadollah Assadi, who was jailed in Belgium over a 2018 plot to bomb an Iranian opposition rally outside Paris. Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, tweeted that Assadi, "the innocent diplomat of our country... is now on his way back to his homeland and will soon enter our beloved Iran." "For me, the choice has always been clear. Olivier's life has always come first. It's a responsibility that I take upon myself, that I accept. In Belgium, we do not abandon anyone." Tehran angrily protested, but his sentence was upheld in May 2021 when Assadi opted not to appeal. Read more on FRANCE 24 English Read also: Mahsa Aminis grave vandalised in Iran, family lawyer says Iranian border guards killed in southeastern province clash 'The struggle continues': Rushdie makes first public appearance since stabbing Qadar Stewart, the author of "London and Dragons," a memoir of his troubled youth, leans on a wall with his arms folded in this recent photo taken in the U.K.'s capital. Courtesy of Qadar Stewart 'London and Dragons' author calls for coordinated community-level efforts to fight school bullying, drug abuse among teens By Kang Hyun-kyung The United Kingdom has been wrestling with soaring youth violence and gangs since the global outbreak of coronavirus. In 2021, more than 20 young people were killed in the U.K. capital, making it the worst year of teenage killings since 2008. The pandemic-driven social isolation and the worsening mental health of many Britons have been pointed out by experts as some of the reasons behind the rise of youth and gang-related crimes after the pandemic. While watching and reading news about the rise of youth violence, Qadar Stewart, 42, began to reflect on his dark past. There were definitely parallels between him and the juvenile delinquents he saw on TV. Stewart was abused at home, a bully in school and a member of a prominent London gang. Like other members of the gang, he took drugs when he was a teenager. "My first experience with drug abuse was at the age of 13 when I smoked cannabis and drank alcohol along with my friends," he said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times. "It was seen as a traditional recreational drug. This behavior carried on through to my early 20s." Inside the gang he joined, he said he witnessed several other members taking LSD and severely abusing addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin. Later on, he left the gang and has since started a new life through his own efforts. "Over the years I limited my use of drugs once I had left the gang," he said. In the U.K., the definition of a gang is slightly different from how it is perceived in Korea. Gang is a catch-all word referring to a group of boys involved in minor crimes, stealing phones, selling drugs or even just neighborhood kids hanging around in the street as they had nothing to do, rather than organized crime groups that are involved in the trafficking of drugs or people. Stewart's rebellious teenage years allowed him to easily relate to the troubled teens who made the news headlines for their delinquent behavior. Stewart heard his inner voice encouraging him do to something to help the children. He was motivated to write a memoir so as to share his hard-learned lessons with teens, their parents and policymakers to raise awareness of youth violence and its deadly consequences and ultimately to steer the nation to seek effective solutions to the problem. His book, titled "London and Dragons," was published last year. "My aim was to reach a wider audience and to showcase to them that drugs and gang violence needed to be addressed by communities," he said. "My wish is that my book educates and provides a real account that teens can relate to." Cover of "London and Dragons" by Qadar Stewart Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, received the Dag Hammarskjold Medal on behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh at the UN ceremony. (Photo: VNA) The event gathered members of Vietnamese representative agencies in New York, commanders and officers of the Vietnamese army and police forces on duty at the UN peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Abyei region, and four Vietnamese peacekeeping officers on secondment at the UN headquarters.In his remarks, Giang affirmed that Vietnams active participation in peacekeeping since 2014 is an important policy and decision of the Party and State in the nations integration process, reflecting the new position and power of Vietnam in the international arena.He attributed Vietnams peacekeeping achievements to efforts and contributions of all units involved, particularly officers and soldiers on duty at UN peacekeeping missions and headquarters.The diplomat also noted that many UN leaders and international friends have highly appreciated the bravery, self-reliance, and flexible and creative approach of the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces in deploying their tasks and overcoming difficultiesOn the occasion, Giang expressed his gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh, the first Vietnamese peacekeeper to die on duty in the Central African Republic in early 2022. Participants observed a minute of silence to commemorate the more than 4,200 fallen UN peacekeepers over the past 75 years.In the morning of the same day, a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary and honouring the contributions and sacrifices of the "green beret" forces were held at UN headquarters. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presented the Dag Hammarskjold Medal for the cause of international peace to servicemen who died while on duty under the UN flag in 2022, including Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh of Vietnam./. VNA HA NOI For successful digital transformation, enterprises must understand clearly the changes associated with their business model, target, value and culture to choose suitable solutions, according to experts. Van Ngoc An, an expert of the Digital Transformation Business Support Programme under the USAID LinkSME Project, said that digital transformation solutions for enterprises have covered many fields. This development helps many enterprises have a lot of information to choose the right solution, but it also makes them unable to evaluate the efficiency of the solutions for their business as well as the ability of the solution providers, An said. A report on the readiness for digital transformation of Viet Nam's enterprises recently released has shown that 12 out of 16 surveyed economic sectors have an above-mid level of readiness. That means most of the surveyed industries have developed or are developing digitisation goals in strategic planning. Along with that, they have established management positions or separate digital transformation projects. This is a positive signal that enterprises in most industries are ready for this digital transformation. However, in measuring and managing the implementation of digital transformation at an enterprise-wide scale, according to the report, there are still many challenges that need to be solved, especially in industries relating to the production and consumption of goods or services in direct to customer methods such as agriculture, forestry, fishery, processing and manufacturing technology, wholesale and retail, repair of motor vehicles, accommodation and catering services, and construction. According to this report, digital transformation projects can affect the operation model of enterprises, specific processes and activities. They may also affect the organisational structure, personnel and culture of the enterprise, and habits and ways of working. Therefore, businesses need to be ready to make necessary and appropriate adjustments. For small and micro enterprises, this is not too big a problem. But it is a huge barrier for medium- and large-sized enterprises having a complex organisational structure with many departments, divisions and levels of management. At present, digital solutions of domestic and foreign suppliers are very diverse and abundant in the domestic market. However, determining what is a suitable solution to the conditions and needs of the enterprises is not simple, especially for medium and large-sized enterprises, which need complex technological solutions and high cost. Therefore, most enterprises decide to buy solutions through the consultancy of technology solution providers. Sometimes, the consultancy is not objective or suitable for their production and business facilities. The report has recommended that agencies and organisations are needed as an independent channel to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the technology solutions based on analysing suitability for enterprises so the enterprises will actively choose useful solutions. Regarding the challenges that businesses face in the digital transformation process, Le Thanh Tam, director of Myone Fashion Co, Ltd., said that Myone has taken many years to find a software supplier partner. Le Huu Nghia, director of Le Thanh Construction and Trading Co, Ltd., said the company once had to stop a contract on writing software with a digital transformation solution provider. This company used to work with large partners, but finally, it still had to choose a small digital transformation consulting company because it provided suitable services, Nghia said. According to An, during digital transformation, many businesses have been forced to change solution providers because the proposed solution is not suitable for the production, business, provision of service and culture of the business. inh uc Thu, head of the Corporate and Clients Department, VNPT Telecommunications Services Corporation (Vinaphone), said to implement digital transformation, business leaders need to understand this issue and the needs of digital transformation for them. Then, they must plan and choose suitable partners and consultants to deploy this digital transformation process efficiently. Thu noted that enterprises should prepare very carefully before making a request. If they cannot make a request, they must hire a consulting company to make the requirements for solution providers. Thus, the new digital transformation process is close to the actual needs. To support the enterprises in carrying out successful digital transformation, Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has built each package of solutions suitable to the scale, business model, target and value that the enterprises want to achieve. Especially, the solutions must provide a digital transformation roadmap so that businesses can know the amount of investment capital and work in each stage. VNPT has built an ecosystem of digital transformation solutions suitable for each type of enterprise, such as business household ecosystems, e-invoice solutions, remote digital signatures or platforms supporting enterprises in digital transformation. These solutions are easy to use and operate, and also very suitable for small and micro enterprises, Thu said. In addition, according to him, digital transformation must come from the leaders of the business and needs high unity in the leadership and apparatus. VNS HA NOI To meet the demand of domestic trading and import-export activities, the logistics sector is working towards professional and competitive services meeting international standards, in which smart logistics development is considered the key solution. According to Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Phan Van Chinh, local logistics firms have been increasingly aware of the need to speed up digital transformation and apply technology to their business operations, aiming to cut cost and increase competitiveness. Supply chain director at Nestle Vietnam Nguyen Tran Hoang Yen said that digitalisation has helped the firm better connect with the global market and optimise goods transport and distribution activities in the domestic market. Nestle has launched its Cargoo app to connect manufacturers, importers and shipping lines, enabling them to follow the transportation process of each order and track the goods information, book ships and manage all related documents, she said. Meanwhile, Marketing Director of the Saigon Newport Corporation Truong Tan Loc said that the firm has launched a system of e-port and e-warehouse, while applying artificial intelligence (AI) in customer services, thus improving its service quality. However, as 90 per cent of the logistic firms are small- and medium-sized enterprises, the application of smart logistics has remained limited. Pointing to major barriers hindering smart logistics development in Viet Nam, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association Le Quang Trung mentioned limitations in mindset and confusion in selecting suitable technologies as well as a shortage in financial and human resources and a lack of harmonious policies for digital transformation. Experts held that strengthening the application of IT and modernising management and operation methods as well as using logistics optimising platforms are among the effective measures to reduce logistics cost and improve service quality. Loc said that domestic logistics firms should work closely together to enhance the competitiveness of Viet Nams logistics sector by building a shared database on Viet Nam seaport system with connections with other ports in the region and the world. At the same time, the State and localities should further simplify administrative procedures, while building a joint database and processing administrative procedures online, he said, stressing the need for updating the legal system to encourage businesses to develop new services and technologies. Director of Northern Operations Division at Lazada Viet Nam Nguyen Trieu Quang Quang said that logistics businesses should standardise their processes and build a sustainable ecosystem to grasp opportunities from the booming e-commerce, while improving the delivery experience from every touchpoint. Vice Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Tran Thanh Hai underlined the need for coordination and strong linkage among not only logistics firms but also all relevant agencies in order to successfully promote the application of digital technology. VNS BA RIA-VUNG TAU Thai conglomerate SCG has partnered with social business Limloop to bring a meaningful programme to the Ba Ria-Vung Tau School for Disabled Children in a move to celebrate International Children's Day 2023. The joint campaign, titled The Green Dream of Childhood, encompasses a series of activities aimed at inspiring and empowering children to pursue their dreams and turn them into reality, SCG said in a statement. The Green Dream of Childhood is an initiative by SCG, a conglomerate in ASEAN renowned for its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, and Limloop, a social business dedicated to producing recycled fashion in support of people with disabilities. The campaign offers a range of activities, including inspirational talks by successful individuals with disabilities, on-the-job training at Limloop workshops, and a joyous celebration to reflect on the entire journey. These engaging endeavors provide not only excitement but also life-changing experiences for the participants. At SCG, we prioritise sustainable development through our ESG 4 Plus strategy, which includes a commitment to supporting communities. One of our key directions is reducing inequality by focusing on education and human development, said Praween Wirotpan, General Director of SCG Vietnam. "For the past 14 years, SCG has been supporting the Ba Ria-Vung Tau School for Disabled Children, aiming to enhance education quality and provide opportunities for children in need," he said. As part of the campaign, SCG has also handed over school equipment to support the school's facilities. Furthermore, hundreds of gift packs for students and trash bins for school have been prepared by SCG and Duy Tan, a member company of SCGP, Packaging Business of SCG to facilitate waste segregation at the school and encourage the children to a green lifestyle. VNS Prosecutors on Friday indicted Kang Rae-gu, a key figure in the bribery scandal related to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) 2021 leadership election, on charges of bribery and violations of the political party and fund laws. Kang is accused of colluding with former DPK leader Song Young-gil and Reps. Youn Kwan-suk and Lee Sung-man in distributing 84 million won ($63,400) to a number of DPK lawmakers between March and May in 2021 to help Song get elected as party leader in the party's national convention. The 58-year-old Kang, former standing auditor of Korea Water Resources Corp., is also charged with taking 3 million won in bribes from a businessman who sought business favors connected to the corporation's power plant facilities. Kang, who was put under formal arrest on May 8, became the first figure indicted in the unfolding DPK bribery scandal, into which the prosecution launched an investigation on April 12. (Yonhap) Ha Noi VinFast and BCA Europe have announced a new three-year Pan-European agreement on trade-in activities. This new partnership will create a fully digital and in-store trade-in solution to provide European customers with a convenient, seamless experience in their transition to electrified mobility. From June 2023, VinFast will integrate BCAs trade-in module into its website to offer customers an easy way to sell their trade-in vehicles effortlessly and remotely. Once customers complete the configuration of their new VinFast vehicle on the Companys website, they will access the seamless online trade-in module at the end of the ordering process. After providing standard information about their vehicle, customers receive a binding value for their trade-in vehicle. Then, they can choose to sell their trade-in instantly with just one simple click, thanks to BCAs support for backing this binding valuation. If a customer decides to go to a VinFast flagship store, BCA will also provide VinFasts product experts with the BCA mobile application MarketPrice to assist them in getting a binding price after describing the customer's trade-in vehicle in real-time. This mobile app, used in VinFast stores, and the trade-in solution available on the VinFast website are linked to a unified pricing system. This integration ensures consistency and facilitates a seamless online to offline journey for European customers. Thanks to BCA Europes IT toolkit and extensive experience in used vehicle pricing at the European level, VinFast will be able to provide a binding price in a complete online journey without requiring the customer to go to a physical location for an inspection. Once the new VinFast vehicle has been delivered to the customer, BCA will provide all the logistical solutions for the transportation and storage of the traded-in vehicle and prepare its sale on the BCA marketplace, the largest B2B used car remarketing platform in Europe with buyers from 47 countries. - VNS HA NOI Egypt and Turkey suddenly bought a large amount of pepper from Viet Nam. Statistics from the General Department of Customs show that Viet Nam exported 26,440 tonnes of pepper in April, earning US$83.47 million, up 7.3 per cent in volume but down 26.8 per cent in value year-on-year. Viet Nam's pepper exports reached 102,500 tonnes in the first four months of this year, worth $316.64 million, down 12.4 per cent in volume and down 33.8 per cent in value over the same period last year. However, regarding the market in April, exports to the US, the UAE, India, Germany, and the UK all decreased sharply. Pepper exports to Turkey and Egypt recorded a sudden growth. Specifically, by the end of April, Viet Nam exported 1,799 tonnes of "black gold" to Egypt, earning nearly $5.3 million, up 281.1 per cent in volume and 157.4 in value. Exports to Turkey also increased by 167.6 per cent in volume and 89 per cent in value over the same period last year. The massive purchases has brought Egypt and Turkey into the top 10 largest customers of Viet Nam's "black gold" in the four months of the year. VNS TOKYO Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang highlighted the significance of maintaining solidarity, cooperation, responsibility and respecting the UN Charter and international law and settling disputes by peaceful means as the best to unite countries to overcome challenges and crises. He made the statement on Thursday while delivering a speech at the 28th Future of Asia, taking place on May 25-26 in Tokyo, Japan, where delegates come together to discuss how the region can unlock and mobilise its potential to solve common issues in a multipolar world. He said the world and Asia are witnessing a profound transformation with many landmark changes with many opportunities and challenges intertwined, adding that in that context, Asia needs to be responsible and play an important role in the process of effectively exploiting opportunities and solving great difficulties and challenges of the times. The Deputy Prime Minister said Asia fully converges potentials and strengths to raise the level of contribution to solving humanity's challenges, becoming a model for peace, cooperation and development. The Vietnamese leader expressed his wish that Asian countries should jointly share and realise the vision of building an international system based on rules, with the UN Charter as the centre; persistently promote multilateral cooperation, participate in reform and improve the efficiency of global governance institutions such as WTO, IMF, WB...; as well as strengthen exchange and coordination of stances on global governance issues. He called on Asia to promote stronger and more drastic joint efforts and actions in addressing global challenges, striving for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as addressing new and non-traditional global challenges, such as energy security, cyber security, human security, health security...; advocate for a global approach to solving development challenges, encourage broader participation of businesses in development programmes and projects, facilitate institutional arrangements, and promote public-private partnership. Deputy PM Quang said countries need to cooperate more closely and effectively for rapid, inclusive and sustainable development; bring into play new growth drivers, such as digital transformation, green transformation, and innovation. Countries in the region that are more developed need to support developing countries to improve their capacity in institutions, infrastructure, human resources, technology, and governance, and cooperate in developing resilient supply chains. He also noted the cooperation for economic development on the basis of people-centred, taking good cultural values as the foundation and considering solving difficulties and challenges as motivation for cooperation to rise stronger. He suggested countries further promote people-to-people exchanges, connect young generations, and promote cooperation in the fields of culture, education and tourism. He noted that the creation and consolidation of a peaceful and stable environment is a prerequisite for development in Asia and in the world. Building strategic trust, respecting the UN Charter and international law, and settling disputes by peaceful means is a common denominator that unites countries to overcome difficulties, challenges and crises. Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue, relevant parties need to strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea/South China Sea (DOC) and move towards achieving a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea/South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). At the same time, parties need to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that complicate the situation and violate the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of relevant countries as established by UNCLOS 1982. Appreciating Japan's important role in efforts to elevate Asia's power, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that Japan takes the lead in promoting initiatives and is a key link in the economic linkage structure, regional and global value chains, is a pioneer country to promote digital transformation, green transformation, restore and ensure supply chain security, strengthen trade-investment cooperation and respond to development challenges. The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Viet Nam attaches great importance to promoting relations with partners, including the extensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan. He said he believes that Viet Nam and Japan will become a model of the partnership for development on the basis of effective implementation of frameworks, and cooperation projects in investment-trade, science and technology, labour, human resource training, climate change response, green growth, new generation ODA, strategic infrastructure, food security and energy transition. He suggested that Japanese businesses continue to contribute to making bilateral economic trade and investment relations deeper, more effective and more sustainable. Also at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Quang shared Viet Nam's development goals, orientations, viewpoints and priorities. He stressed Viet Nam persists in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification, being a good friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community. He said Viet Nam is committed to making its best contribution to peace, cooperation, stability and prosperous development in Asia and around the world. The Future of Asia, held by Nikkei every year since 1995 is an international gathering where political, economic, and academic leaders from the Asia-Pacific region offer their opinions frankly and freely on regional issues and the role of Asia in the world. With the theme Leveraging Asias power to confront global challenges, this years event attracted the participation of heads of state and leaders of many Asian countries, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Thailand, along with nearly 600 delegates who are representatives of governments, research institutions, scholars and businesses inside and outside the region. VNS HCM CITY State President Vo Van Thuong offered greetings to Buddhist dignitaries and followers on the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, while visiting Hue Nghiem and Minh ao pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday. The anniversary is celebrated by Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers in the fourth lunar month every year to not only pay tribute to Lord Buddha but also honour the fine ethical and cultural values of Buddhism in society. Talking to Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Patriarch of the Patronage Council of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) at Hue Nghiem Pagoda, President Thuong offered greetings to the Patriarch, the VBS, monks, nuns, and followers both at home and abroad. He said Buddhism is currently one of the important religions in Viet Nam and has a great influence on society. It is a patriotic religion that has accompanied the nation throughout history and made significant contributions to national development and safeguarding. The State leader hailed the VBSs unceasing development and activities for the sake of the religion and society, particularly encouraging monks, nuns, and followers to comply with the Partys guidelines and the States policies and laws, fulfill citizens obligations, and engage in poverty reduction and humanitarian campaigns, thus helping enhance the great national solidarity. He affirmed the Party and States consistent policy of respecting and ensuring peoples right to freedom of belief and religion, creating conditions for religious organisations to operate in line with the Constitution and laws, and bringing into play the fine cultural and ethical values of religions to contribute to national development. Highlighting the significance of the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang expressed his delight that under the Partys leadership, Viet Nam has been developing strongly and enjoying a growing status in the world, adding that he believes the country will obtain even greater achievements in the future to secure prosperity and happiness for all people. The dignitary also mentioned Viet Nam's successful organisation of celebrations of the United Nations Day of Vesak, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, thrice. Meeting with Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, President of the VBSs Executive Council, at Minh ao Pagoda, President Thuong expressed his hope that the VBS will uphold traditions of the Vietnamese Buddhism and continue encouraging monks, nuns, and followers to contribute more to national development in the new period. Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon highly valued the assistance from Party and State leaders, along with all-level authorities, for the VBSs activities. He also called on the State leader to keep supporting and creating favourable conditions for Buddhist followers to practice the religion and help with the national development. VNS TOKYO During his trip to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Hosoda Hiroyuki on May 26. At the meeting with the Sri Lankan leader, Deputy PM Quang affirmed Viet Nam's consistent policy of attaching importance to the development of traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Sri Lanka, aiming to bring the two countries' relations to a higher level of effectiveness based on their respective potentials and advantages, meeting the practical interests of the people of each country, contributing to global issues, and maintaining a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the region. Deputy PM Quang proposed both sides promote cooperation in various fields, including strengthening delegation exchange at all levels and people-to-people exchanges, effectively implement the existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Joint Committee chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries; signing cooperation agreements in education, culture, agriculture, boost trade cooperation, and bring the two-way trade to over US$500 million. The Vietnamese Deputy PM also wished the two countries to expand cooperation in other potential areas, study direct flight routes to attract tourism, and continue to coordinate closely at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. Sharing many positive impressions during his visit to Viet Nam as Prime Minister, the Sri Lankan leader affirmed his support for further developing the Viet Nam-Sri Lanka relationship, expressing his desire for the two countries to promote cooperation in economic, trade, investment, cultural, and tourism sectors, coordinate in responding to climate change, and strengthen cooperation mechanisms. The Sri Lankan President also shared the efforts and policies that Sri Lanka has implemented to overcome the current domestic economic difficulties, and quickly stabilise and restructure the economy. In this process, Sri Lanka wants to promote economic cooperation with ASEAN, including Viet Nam, and participate in the Comprehensive Regional Economic Partnership (RCEP). At the meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Hosoda Hiroyuki, Deputy PM Quang expressed his delight at the strong, substantive and effective development of the Viet Nam-Japan extensive strategic partnership. Quang proposed that the Japanese House of Representatives increase exchanges between delegations at all levels, including young and female parliamentarians, and convey an invitation from the Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong inh Hue to Speaker Hosoda to visit Viet Nam in 2023. Emphasising the importance of economic cooperation, Deputy PM Quang wants Japan to support the linking of the two economies, help Viet Nam effectively participate in new supply chains, support the implementation of the new generation ODA programme for Viet Nam, and encourage Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises to invest and transfer technology to Viet Nam. The Japanese House Speaker expressed his joy at the strong development of the Viet Nam-Japan ties, especially the increasingly close connection between the two countries through investment, trade, and human resources cooperation. He highly appreciated the important role and positive contribution of the nearly 500,000 Vietnamese community in Japan to the country's economic and social development. He expressed his desire to increase the number of Vietnamese people coming to Japan for study and work. Speaker Hosoda affirmed that he would arrange to lead a delegation of Japanese parliamentarians to visit Viet Nam. The same day, Deputy PM Quang also met with three co-chairmen of the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee of the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN), including Senior Advisor of Resonac Holdings Corp Ichikawa Hideo, CEO of Sumitomo Shoji Corporation Hyodo Masayuki, and CEO of Sojitz Corporation Fujimoto Masayoshi. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam always values and gives high priority to strengthening the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation with Cambodia, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday. At a reception in Ha Noi for Samdech Kittisangahapundit Men Sam An, who is Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the National Assembly - Senate Relations and Inspection of Cambodia and Chairwoman of the Cambodia - Viet Nam Friendship Association, PM Chinh congratulated the guest on being bestowed with the royal title of Samdech Kittisangahapundit by King Norodom Sihamoni. He said this recognition from the King and the Cambodian Royal Family reflects their appreciation for her contributions to the development and protection of Cambodia over the past years. He believed that under the close guidance of PM Hun Sen, the 12th ASEAN Para Games, scheduled for June, will be a success, contributing to improving the role and position of Cambodia in the region and the world as well as to building an ASEAN community of peace, stability, solidarity and prosperity. He expressed his wish that the two countries will step up their bilateral ties, especially in trade, investment, tourism, human resources training, people-to-people exchange; build a border of peace and friendship and development; and enhance transport connectivity. The host suggested the two countries relevant agencies work closely together to connect Phnom Penh Bavet expressway with HCM City Moc Bai expressway, as expected by Cambodian PM Hun Sen. He asked Men Sam An to spread the movement "Nurturing seeds of friendship" launched by the Viet Nam-Cambodia and Cambodia-Viet Nam friendship associations, promote the achievements of the Viet Nam-Cambodia, Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Year 2022, and continue raising public awareness of the importance of bilateral relationship, especially among the young generation. Additionally, there should be continued attention and support for resolving difficulties faced by the Vietnamese-origin community in Cambodia, including citizenship procedures, to help them settle down their lives. At the same time, efforts should be made to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese firms to do business in Cambodia, he said. Hailing the outcomes of talks between the guest and the Vietnamese Government Inspector General, with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding on inspection, PM Chinh said the Vietnamese Government always facilitates stronger bilateral cooperation in inspection, settlement of complaints and denunciations, and corruption fight, and stays ready to offer all possible support to the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam to hold training courses for Cambodian fellows. On the occasion, the Vietnamese PM conveyed the regards of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue and himself to King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and other Cambodian leaders. Men Sam An, for her part, thanked the Vietnamese Party and State for creating conditions for the Vietnamese and Cambodian Government Inspectorates to boost collaboration. She also extended special gratitude to Viet Nam for helping Cambodia escape from the Pol Pot genocidal regime, saying that without timely assistance of Viet Nam, Cambodia would not be what it is today. Expressing admiration for Viet Nam's socio-economic achievements as well as its role, position and reputation on the global arena, she said she will continue making every effort in her capacity to nurture bilateral relationship, particularly in economic development, responding to emerging issues and challenges, and combating hostile forces and plots against solidarity between Viet Nam and Cambodia and revolutionary achievements of each country. The guest also took the occasion to extend her regards to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue and other Vietnamese leaders. VNS HA NOI - Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong inh Hue yesterday said that addressing the aftermaths of war will be a top priority in Viet Nam-US relations. Speaking at the reception for a delegation from the US Congress led by Senator Mike Crapo on Friday, Hue highly appreciated the positive, substantial and comprehensive development of the bilateral relations in recent times between the two countries. He expressed his hope that the US would continue to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the search for Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the war, focusing on sharing information, artifacts and enhancing the capacity of Vietnamese experts in DNA analysis. Hue said he hoped the US Congress would continue to give high priority to addressing war aftermaths, increase the budget for addressing dioxin hotspots, deploy bomb and mine clearance assistance, support war-affected people with disabilities and search for and identify the remains of Vietnamese martyrs. In particular, he said, the project on dioxin contamination remediation at Bien Hoa Airport in the southern province of ong Nai as well as A So Airport in central Thua Thien Hue Province and Phu Cat Airport in central Binh inh Province should be accelerated. Hue highlighted the legislative cooperation of the two countries, which should further develop to enable US congressmen and Vietnamese National Assembly deputies to have a better understanding of each country's situation and the bilateral relations, especially among young legislators. This would also help promote the establishment of mechanisms for exchange and coordination between the two legislatures, build the specialised committees of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the US Congress and soon establish a group of US congressmen supporting Viet Nam-US relations at the US Congress. At the meeting, NA Chairman Hue also expressed Viet Nam's support for the United States' role as the APEC Chair in November 2023. He emphasised that Viet Nam was committed to promoting cooperation and connectivity for sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Among these efforts, APEC was one of the priority forums in Viet Nam's foreign policy implementation. Viet Nam has successfully hosted the APEC Summit twice in 2006 and 2017, and he said he hoped the US would support Viet Nam's hosting of APEC in 2027. Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), he highly appreciated the United States' support for Viet Nam's and ASEAN's positions on the East Sea, including ensuring freedom of navigation, overflight, and peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law (UNCLOS 1982). Senator Crapo expressed his agreement with NA Chairman Hue's views on cooperation in addressing the war aftermaths, economy, trade, investment and legislative collaboration. He pledged that the US would stand alongside Viet Nam to address the aftermaths of war. He agreed that the bilateral trade volume of $123 billion in 2022 was a significant result and urged both sides to make efforts to increase the position of the US as the seventh largest foreign investor to become the first in Viet Nam. The senator also praised Viet Nam's commitments to all four pillars of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and said multilateral and bilateral co-operation was one of the US highest priorities in relation to countries in the region, including Viet Nam. Both sides said they desired to further enhance the relationship between the two parliaments by promoting exchanges at various levels, especially among high-ranking leaders of the legislatures, fostering cooperation between the legislative bodies of both countries, and engaging in cooperative activities in various fields. On this occasion, the NA Chairman Hue extended an invitation to the delegation of US senators to attend the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians hosted by the Vietnamese National Assembly in Ha Noi in September. VNS HA NOI At an assembly held in Ha Noi yesterday, representatives exchanged insights and suggested initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance and service quality of the pioneering one-stop service centre model, specifically designed to aid women and girls affected by domestic violence. This conference was a collaborative endeavour, held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The gathering represented a key element of the UNFPA's ongoing project the development of a supportive framework for female victims of domestic violence in Viet Nam. Initiated in July of the previous year, the ambitious project is set to conclude in June. The project aims to ensure the sustainability of the one-stop service centre model, named Ngoi nha Anh Duong (Sunshine House). The one-stop service centre to support women and girls experiencing domestic violence was first established in Quang Ninh Province in April 2020 under a project funded by the KOICA with a total budget of US$2.5 million. Last year, three more Sunshine Houses were established in Thanh Hoa Province, a Nang and HCM City with financial support from the Japanese Government. Costs for operation are then covered by funding from the Australian Government. The Sunshine House provides essential services to women and girls experiencing or at risk of gender-based and domestic violence. It offers various services, including medical care, psychological support, counseling, emergency shelter, public protection, and legal and judicial services. All services are based on the principle that victims of violence are respected, and their dignity is protected. Representatives of the four Sunshine Houses said that service providers at the houses had to work very hard to meet the needs of local women and girls. The four Sunshine Houses have supported more than 1,100 people experiencing gender-based violence. The Sunshine Houses hotlines have received and handled more than 20,000 calls from people experiencing violence. Appreciating the effectiveness and necessity of this model, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said: "Viet Nam has always made great efforts to promote gender equality and prevent gender-based violence, especially violence against women and girls. Replicating the model of one-stop service centres like Sunshine House is essential and important to support people experiencing gender-based violence to access integrated services. To do this requires the participation of all levels, agencies and organisations, she said. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam, said that UNFPA wanted to ensure that all women and girls in Viet Nam, including the most vulnerable, have the right to live a life free from violence and without loss of dignity. Women and girls will not be left behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, she said. Cho Han-Deog, country director of KOICA Viet Nam said KOICA considered gender equality an integrated content in its official development programmes and projects. Speaking at the conference, the representatives all agreed that the one-stop service centre model replication was consistent with Viet Nam's laws, policies and priorities in response to gender-based violence and domestic violence. VNS BINH PHUOC The south-eastern province of Binh Phuoc plans to intercrop and breed livestock in 10,000ha of cashew orchards by 2025 to increase farmers incomes. Bu ang District will account for 8,000ha, Bu Gia Map for 1,000ha and the remaining localities for 1,000ha, according to the province Peoples Committees plan of intercropping other plants and breeding animals. The plan targets growing coffee, cacao or medicinal plants, intercropping one, two or more varieties of plants, and raising chickens, ducks or goats. Besides, it aims to increase the intercropping area to 15,000ha by 2030. In recent years this model has offered farmers higher incomes than monoculture crops, according to the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It also helps avoid the risks posed by price volatility and diseases. But the model has yet to become widespread because growing other crops needs large volumes of water for irrigation while animal breeding has to meet disease safety criteria, it said. The countrys largest cashew producing province has about 8,000ha of intercropped farms with mostly coffee, cacao, pepper, and fruits grown on them or buffalo, cows and goats raised. Most farmers who grow cacao in their cashew orchards get average annual yields of 1.3-1.5 tonnes of cacao and 2.5-3 tonnes of cashew per hectare, which fetch incomes of VN90-120 million (US$3,800-5,100). Intercropping three crops fetches VN143 million ($6,000). In contrast, growing only cashew fetches only VN40 million ($1,700). To increase cashew intercropping, the province will step up advocacy, including through the media, to encourage farmers to participate. It will organise training courses for farmers and monthly meetings for them to compare notes. After 15 years of cashew zoning plans, both the area under the nut and yields have increased, according to the province Peoples Committee. Now there is a total of 152,000ha, or more than 50 per cent of the countrys total. The average yield was 0.73 tonnes in 2017 and it doubled by 2021. Cashew is one of the provinces key crops and is grown on more than 24 per cent of its total farmlands. Linkages between farmers and companies remain limited to some concentrated growing areas. Profits from cashew are lower than from crops like coffee, pepper, cacao, and fruits. The province has more than 71,600 cashew farmers and 1,400 processors who sell domestically and export, and employ 50,000 agricultural labourers. The nut accounts for a third of the provinces export income of more than $1.5 billion a year. VNS HA NOI The Vietnam Pediatric Association (VPA) and Roche Diabetes Care Vietnam, represented by Roche Vietnam Company Limited, signed a cooperation agreement to enhance access to care for underprivileged children with Type 1 diabetes in Viet Nam on May 25. The partnership is part of a broader global collaboration between Novo Nordisk and Roche under the Changing Diabetes in Children programme, a collaborative effort led by Novo Nordisk and Roche Diabetes Care, which also involves other global and local partners. The public-private partnership programme aims to broaden access and create sustainable care structures in under-resourced countries. Moreover, it provides life-saving insulin and diabetes management supplies to children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes up to 25 years of age. Under the scope of the new collaboration, the programme aims to enhance the quality of care for children with Type 1 diabetes in Viet Nam by providing education and training for doctors and nurses, and boosting awareness about diabetes and its management among children with Type 1 diabetes and their families. The programme will also drive sustainable ways to integrate programme components into the national healthcare system. As part of the programme, VPA and Roche will provide free diabetes monitoring and management kits, including blood glucose meters, test strips, and lancets. The partnership will extend care to 2,600 children and adolescents with diabetes through the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital and other hospitals nationwide, covering urban and rural areas. Through this partnership, the VPA aims to relieve the financial and emotional burden of living with diabetes for families of children with Type 1 diabetes. I hope many more children will experience the life-changing impact of having the necessary diabetes management tools to manage their condition well, said President of the Vietnam Pediatric Association and Director of National Children's Hospital Tran Minh ien. Mihai Irimescu, Cluster Head of Asia Emerging Markets, Roche Diabetes Care, said, Pediatric health is an important investment in a nations future. All of us at Roche are committed to enabling access to essential diabetes care for children with Type 1 diabetes in the community, and helping them grow up to lead normal and healthier lives. Viet Nam is home to almost four million adults with diabetes, where 51.5 per cent of the diabetes population remains undiagnosed. Furthermore, an estimated 39,500 children and adolescents under the age of 20 are living with Type 1 diabetes in Asias emerging markets. This data highlights the urgent need for awareness, early diagnosis, and access to medication and management solutions to treat this chronic condition through building accessible and sustainable healthcare structures. VNS A man suspected of killing his girlfriend is taken to Geumcheon Police Station in Seoul on May 26, 2023. Yonhap A 33-year-old man, who had previously been reported to the police for dating violence, murdered his live-in girlfriend Monday, shortly after being released from custody for investigation, officials said. The Geumcheon Police Station in Seoul said the suspect has been placed in emergency detention on the charge of murder. He allegedly stabbed the 47-year-old woman multiple times with a weapon in the underground parking lot of a shopping mall in Geumcheon Ward, southwestern Seoul, at 7:17 a.m. After the crime, the suspect fled the scene with the unconscious woman in a rental car but was later apprehended on a hillside in Paju, some 40 kilometers northwest of Seoul, at 3:25 p.m. The police discovered the victim's body in the back seat of the vehicle. Police identified the suspect through the analysis of nearby closed-circuit TV footage, prompted by a report at 10:41 a.m. from a shopping center manager who found bloodstains in the parking lot, officials said. The suspect committed the murder about an hour after being released from police custody at 6:11 a.m. following questioning regarding alleged dating violence. The woman had filed the complaint at 5:37 a.m., according to the police. The couple began dating a year ago and resided together in the district, police said. The police said that after the woman's report, they recommended she wear a smartwatch and offered temporary accommodation to protect her from potential attacks, but she declined. The police also explained they were unable to impose a restraining order on the suspect because the reported violence was not deemed severe enough. (Yonhap) HA NOI The Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam and the Cambodian Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation (amended), as part of their talks in Ha Noi on Friday. According to Vietnamese Inspector General oan Hong Phong, since the bodies first MoU was inked in 2005, regular exchange activities and coordination in organising personnel training courses have facilitated the sides sharing of information and experience, contributing to improving the effectiveness of inspection work in each country. Phong said he is pleased that an agreement was reached for the signing of the amended MoU during the Cambodian delegations current visit to Viet Nam, describing the event as an important milestone in deepening the cooperative relationship between the two agencies, and in nurturing the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and sustainable cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection Samdech Kittisangha Men Sam An, the Cambodian delegation head, said through their talks, the sides exchanged a host of inspection and anti-corruption experiences, particularly regarding the building of the law on inspection, the prevention of and fight against negative acts, and the settlement of complaints and denunciations related to land. They also agreed on the organisation of training courses for Cambodian inspectors, with the Cambodian side expressing its belief that the two will well carry out their freshly signed cooperation agreement, helping strengthen inspection work in their respective nation. VNS According to Bamboo Airways, Mr. Nguyen Manh Quan has submitted his resignation from the position of general director. Mr. Quan has held this role since July 2022. Before that, he worked as deputy general director from July 2020 and permanent deputy general director in September 2020. Picture of Mr. Nguyen Manh Quan Under the leadership of Mr. Quan, Bamboo Airways has achieved many positive results in operation and business activities. Despite difficulties from the Covid-19 epidemic, Bamboo Airways has set high revenue milestones in the second half of 2022 thanks to its innovative business and operation plans. By the end of the first quarter of 2023, the airline's fleet efficiency reached close to 100%. Mr. Quan was replaced by Mr. Nguyen Minh Hai. Born in 1972, Mr. Hai holds a bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Management from the National Economics University. Mr. Hai has 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. He used to be the Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines (from April 2015 to January 2019), General Director of Cambodia Angkor Air. Picture of Mr. Nguyen Minh Hai In the middle of last week, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of this aviation company also said that Bamboo Airways may have drastic changes in both senior positions in the Board of Directors and the Board of Management. In the near future, Mr. Hideki Oshima, former Director of International Relations and Aviation Alliance of Japan Airlines, will join Bamboo Airways' Board of Directors and the Executive Board. Mr. Masaru Onishi, former President of Japan Airlines will hold the role of Senior Advisor in Bamboo Airways' Board of Directors. Japan Airlines is the second largest airline in Japan. At the end of 2019, Japan Airlines also asked Bamboo Airways for extensive cooperation during a meeting between leaders of the two airlines in Hanoi. Source: VnExpress A Vietnam Post bonded warehouse. Local logistics firms have been increasingly aware of the need to speed up digital transformation and apply technology to their business operations Photo courtesy of the company According to Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Phan Van Chinh, local logistics firms have been increasingly aware of the need to speed up digital transformation and apply technology to their business operations, aiming to cut cost and increase competitiveness. Supply chain director at Nestle Vietnam Nguyen Tran Hoang Yen said that digitalisation has helped the firm better connect with the global market and optimise goods transport and distribution activities in the domestic market. Nestle has launched its Cargoo app to connect manufacturers, importers and shipping lines, enabling them to follow the transportation process of each order and track the goods information, book ships and manage all related documents, she said. Meanwhile, Marketing Director of the Saigon Newport Corporation Truong Tan Loc said that the firm has launched a system of e-port and e-warehouse, while applying artificial intelligence (AI) in customer services, thus improving its service quality. However, as 90 per cent of the logistic firms are small- and medium-sized enterprises, the application of smart logistics has remained limited. Pointing to major barriers hindering smart logistics development in Viet Nam, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association Le Quang Trung mentioned limitations in mindset and confusion in selecting suitable technologies as well as a shortage in financial and human resources and a lack of harmonious policies for digital transformation. Experts held that strengthening the application of IT and modernising management and operation methods as well as using logistics optimising platforms are among the effective measures to reduce logistics cost and improve service quality. Loc said that domestic logistics firms should work closely together to enhance the competitiveness of Viet Nams logistics sector by building a shared database on Viet Nam seaport system with connections with other ports in the region and the world. At the same time, the State and localities should further simplify administrative procedures, while building a joint database and processing administrative procedures online, he said, stressing the need for updating the legal system to encourage businesses to develop new services and technologies. Director of Northern Operations Division at Lazada Viet Nam Nguyen Trieu Quang Quang said that logistics businesses should standardise their processes and build a sustainable ecosystem to grasp opportunities from the booming e-commerce, while improving the delivery experience from every touchpoint. Vice Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Tran Thanh Hai underlined the need for coordination and strong linkage among not only logistics firms but also all relevant agencies in order to successfully promote the application of digital technology. Bizhub MAUMERE, Indonesia, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To foster a more digitally proficient society, Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Informatics, in collaboration with the National Digital Literacy Movement Siberkreasi, organizes Digital Literacy Week. A thousand participants from various backgrounds in Sikka attended the one-day workshop titled "Understanding Personal Data in the Digital Space," held offline on 24 May 2023 at the Sikka Convention Center. East Nusa Tenggara (26/05) - Speakers (Yohannes De Brito Nanto, Khemal Andrias, Rini Kartini, and Fransiskus Roberto Diogo) with the workshop participants in Sikka during the Digital Literacy Week as part of the #MakinCakapDigital campaign by Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Informatics According to the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) data, Indonesia's cybersecurity index score rose from 38.96 in 2022 to 63.64 in April 2023. This increase in score has also elevated Indonesia's ranking in the cybersecurity index from 83rd to 47th out of 175 countries. Despite this significant improvement, the Ministry remains committed to ongoing literacy programs nationwide. The Regent of Sikka, Fransiskus Roberto Diogo, stated that the internet had become an integral part of people's lives in his region. However, several issues related to internet usage in the community require special attention, such as hoaxes and personal data breaches. "Workshops like this are important to raise awareness so that the people can utilize the internet optimally, as well as prevent hoaxes and hacking." Fransiskus's statement aligns with the survey conducted by the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII). The survey recorded that internet penetration in Indonesia reached 78.19% in 2023, or 215,626,156 individuals. Indonesia's internet penetration rate has increased by 1.17% this year compared to the previous period. Yohannes De Brito Nanto, Lecturer at the Institute of Philosophy and Creative Technology (IFTK) Ledalero, explained that digital transformation had turned user data into a valuable source of information. The misuse of personal data can lead to economic losses and pose a threat to the ideology of the country. Yohannes added, "By safeguarding personal data security, we also prevent criminal activities." Rini Kartini, Communication Science Lecturer at Nusa Nipa University, also emphasized a similar point. According to Rini, the public must understand the distinction between public and personal data. "Personal data protection starts from ourselves. Therefore, everyone must know and understand which data related to them that they can disclose to the public or keep private." "Digitalization is key to inclusive and sustainable economic growth if used properly," said Khemal Andrias, the CEO of Next Generation Indonesia. He also expressed the importance of safeguarding personal data security and shared some tips, such as regularly changing passwords for all accounts and refraining from carelessly accessing shared links. Numerous organizations from the region's communities, universities, and schools enthusiastically attended the event. Among them were the KAHE Community, MSME Associations, Sikka Children's Forum, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), GMNI, ANSOR, Muhammadiyah Youth, Youth Members of several Catholic churches, Student Councils from various high schools and vocational schools, as well as student associations from IFTK Ledalero and UNIPA Indonesia. At the end of the workshop, the participants enjoyed live performances from local bands. For more information and other digital literacy events, visit http://info.literasidigital.id, http://event.literasidigital.id, http://literasidigital.id and follow @Siberkreasi and @literasidigitalkominfo on social media. About the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Informatics The Ministry of Communications and Informatics of Indonesia, through Ditjen Aptika, has the primary function of spreading and developing the national digital infrastructure to accelerate Indonesia's digital transformation. The Ministry is working with National Digital Literacy Movement Siberkreasi as its partner to provide education on digital literacy to the broader public through various forms of media. This movement focuses on using digital literacy to elevate national capability and further the Indonesian people. Source: The Ministry of Communications and Informatics HCMC Vietnam and New Zealand will make efforts to bring two-way trade to US$2 billion by 2024 from last years US$1.2 billion, heard a bilateral meeting in Hanoi. The target was raised at the eighth meeting of the Vietnam-New Zealand Joint Trade and Economic Commission (JTEC) held recently in Hanoi. The event was chaired by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang and Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand Vangelis Vitalis. The officials of Vietnam and New Zealand lauded the mutual efforts to bring local agricultural produce to each others markets at the end of last year, including Vietnams pomelos and limes and New Zealands strawberries and squashes. The two countries planned to bolster the bilateral relations in a range of aspects, including agricultural supply chains, educational development initiatives, tourism investments and aviation industries. In 2022, Vietnam-New Zealand trade reached US$1.2 billion, rising by 14% year-on-year. Vietnam is New Zealands 13th biggest trading partner and fifth among the ASEAN members, with 11 investments worth US$38.4 million. New Zealand has 39 ongoing projects in Vietnam with a total pledge of US$209.75 million. HCMC Vietnamese enterprises are facing extreme hardships, according to a report sent to the prime minister by the National Private Economic Development Research Board. Of the 9,556 businesses surveyed, about 82.3% may downsize, suspend operations, or exit the market in the remaining months of 2023, said Truong Gia Binh, head of the board. Of the total, 10.9% plan to dissolve, 38.5% strongly downsize, and 20.5% slightly reduce staffing and production. Regarding companies resuming operations in 2023, 71.2% would cut employment by more than 5%, while 22.2% would shrink the workforce by more than half. In addition, 80.7% expected a 5% drop in revenue, of which 29.4% would see their revenue plunge more than 50%. Business confidence remained gloomy, with 81.4% of the respondents expressing concern over Vietnams economic prospects in the rest of the year, especially construction, medium- and small-sized companies and microenterprises. In its report, the board pointed out the four biggest challenges faced by local businesses, namely a plunge in fresh orders, difficult access to bank loans, red tape, and risk of anti-dumping lawsuits. Local government support has failed to help businesses tackle difficulties and has yet to be in line with the governments directions in propping up the economy, the report said. Indonesia, Iran ink MoU to boost Halal products cooperation (Photo: VNA) Jakarta The governments of Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Halal products assurance (JPH). The MoU was inked by Indonesian Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi and Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy Mahdi Safari on May 23 during an official visit to Indonesia by President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi. According to Sa'adi, his ministry is supporting strengthened cooperation in Halal products at the global level since Indonesia is aiming to become the No. 1 producer of Halal products in the world. To realise this goal, cooperation and product guarantee synergy are needed among all stakeholders at the global level, he said. The MoU is expected to strengthen the intended synergy so that Indonesia and Iran can become important players in the industry and global market for Halal products, he added. Sa'adi said he hopes that the cooperation would increase trade transactions for the products and support efforts to provide economic benefits and strengthen prosperity for both countries. Meanwhile, head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) Muhammad Aqil Irham said that Iran is the sixth country that has signed an MoU on Halal products assurance with Indonesia. Five other countries include Chile, Argentina, Hungary, Belarus, and Turkey. According to Muhammad Aqil Irham, Indonesia will immediately follow up on this G-to-G (government-to-government) MoU by discussing a Mutual Recognition Agreement or MRA between BPJPH and halal institutions in Iran to form a mutual acceptance of BPJPH's Halal certificates and Halal institutions in Iran on a reciprocal basis. Indonesia sets tourism revenue target of 10 bln USD Indonesia is targeting 10 billion USD from the tourism sector in 2023 from the 6 billion USD set earlier this year. Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (right) at the press conference of ASEAN Green Hydrogen Conference 2023. (Photo source: bernama.com) Kuala Lumpur Malaysian government on May 23 announced the implementation of many renewable energy research and development programmes to encourage the participation of the private sector in the field of renewable energy. Speaking at the ASEAN Green Hydro Conference 2023, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that Malaysia welcomes domestic and foreign businesses to conduct investment and trade activities in the energy sector. In early May, the Malaysian government lifted the ban on renewable energy exports. Energy demand in Malaysia is increasing due to population problems and economic growth, especially in the industrial sector. Between 2010 and 2018, energy demand increased by an average of 6% per year. The minister said that Malaysia has the potential to become a hydrogen fuel supply hub thanks to its geopolitical position at sea. The country's Sarawak state is aiming to become a global hub for green hydrogen production with large-scale commercial plans by 2027. He expressed his appreciation for the initial success in hydrogen fuel production, and highly evaluated the coordination between the state administrations and the federal government, contributing to the efforts to develop renewable energy. It is estimated that the global hydrogen economy will reach 2.5 trillion USD by 2050 with the creation of 30 million jobs. Hydrogen is a clean energy source, with almost no polluting emissions, but only water vapor, formed through the electrolysis of water. Therefore, hydrogen is an almost inexhaustible and renewable source of energy. Malaysias labour demand continues to increase in first quarter Malaysia posted a 2.7 per cent increase in the total number of jobs in the first quarter of this year to 8.81 million jobs compared to 8.57 million jobs in the same period last year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Production at Jasan Textile & Dyeing Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Hanoi The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is working on the design of incentives and measures to support new investment activities amid the upcoming application of the global minimum tax. Vietnam has been one of the countries to join the OECD global minimum tax rule, a minimum rate of tax on corporate income internationally agreed upon and accepted by inpidual jurisdictions which was introduced in 2021. Each country would be eligible to a share of revenue generated by the tax. On August 4, 2022, the Prime Minister formed a special taskforce led by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai for the studying and proposal of measures related to the OECDs deal. MPI Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said that the PM has directed the taskforce to focus on reviewing, completing the related institution and regulations and building a roadmap for the application of the rule on the basis of learning international experience and ensuring suitable application of the rule in Vietnam. Vietnam has opened its door for foreign investment for 35 years and provided many incentives for investors, she said, adding her ministry is working to adjust its investment incentive policy to ensure compatibility with the global minimum tax but with the least impact on businesses investing in Vietnam. The official said that the foreign investment attraction strategy for the 2021-2030 period aims to draw suitable markets and partners for cooperation to suit the world regional situation, repositioning investment flows and reducing dependence on risky and potentially disputed markets. At the same time, the strategy prioritises the connection of global production and supply chains, attracting green investment, high technology, supporting technology, and advanced governance methods, ensuring the balance between the interests of the investors and the interests of the State and the people during foreign investment cooperation activities in the spirit of harmonising benefits and sharing risks, she said. Experts scrutinise global minimum tax implementation in Vietnam Vietnam needs to fully and comprehensively assess the impacts of the global minimum tax on the country, said Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc on April 18. Businesses should proactively respond to GMT The global minimum tax (GMT) rate will enable Vietnam to switch businesses to preferential investment status proactively to retain large overseas investors, while also supporting the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the domestic market. FIA: Global minimum tax and currency devaluation affecting FDI Speaking at the VIR-hostedconference on May 15, Do Van Su, deputy director general of the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) said that the decrease in foreign capital coming into Vietnam has been caused by recent shifts in global tax policy and currency devaluation in certain countries, while investment relocation from China has not brought much benefit. A fake image of a hotel on Ha Long Bay, was spread on social media. (Photo from Facebook) Quang Ninh - An investigation will be launched after an image circulated on social media claiming to be a new hotel built on the side of a mountain at the World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay. Authorities said this is fake news and have asked police to conduct a probe to determine who was responsible for spreading the hoax. Deputy Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board Pham Dinh Huynh issued a statement earlier this week insisting the building, named Fantasy Ha Long Bay Hotel, did not exist. The original post claimed guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the bay thanks to the 360-degree glass door design. It also suggested there was an infinity swimming pool overlooking the bay. Local authorities warned that some companies took advantage of this fake information and images of the hotel to offer tours on the bay. This is a fraudulent behaviour, causing confusion for residents and visitors, said the authorities. The tourism industry advises people to be careful when booking trips to avoid any potential scams. Ha Long Bay, Cu Chi Tunnels among ten adventurous tourism places in Southeast Asia The travel magazine The Travel has listed Ha Long Bay in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh and Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City among the ten must-visit epic and adventurous places in Southeast Asia. Ha Long Bay a stunning seaside spot to watch sunrise, sunset US magazine Travel+Leisure has named Vietnams Ha Long Bay among the most surprisingly stunning seaside spots in Asia to watch both sunrise and sunset. Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, center, speaks at a ceremony in central Seoul to launch a signing campaign opposing Japan's planned release of radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, May 26. Yonhap The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) kicked off a signature campaign Friday to oppose Japan's planned release of radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. The party held a ceremony at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul to launch the campaign that is also seen as aimed at criticizing the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol for its handling of relations with Japan. "How can the president and the ruling party responsible for state affairs take the side of Japan and give them impunity, consent ... to dumping dangerous nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean when Korea is supposed to suffer damage from it?" DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung said at the event. "We will fight, together with the people, to keep our ocean waters clean and to ensure our fisheries industry people and fishery-related industries do not suffer damage," he said. "As a starting point, we are entering into a signature campaign." The DPK has strongly opposed the planned water release, citing concerns about health hazards. A team of Korean experts visited Fukushima earlier this week to check if the contaminated water can be treated enough to pose no health risks. The visit was agreed upon during a recent summit between President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The DPK has also opposed the team's visit, claiming it could end up giving a blessing to the planned release of contaminated water. The party has also accused Yoon of taking Japan's side at the expense of the health of his own people. The inspection team is scheduled to return later in the day. DPK floor leader Rep. Park Kwang-on said the party will mobilize all parliamentary committees to verify a report that the inspection team plans to submit on the outcome of the Fukushima visit, and consider convening a plenary National Assembly meeting for an urgent interpellation session on the issue. "We believe the People Power Party will actively join in the Democratic Party of Korea's verification process. There is no reason to avoid it," Park said, calling on the ruling party to approve the DPK's earlier proposal to adopt a parliamentary resolution opposing the Fukushima water release. He also urged the inspection team to promptly submit a report "free from government influence." Park said a recent survey by an environmental organization showed that 85 percent of Koreans are opposed to the Fukushima water release, while 72 percent said they would consume less seafood if the planned released goes ahead. (Yonhap) Selex Motors, a Vietnam-based EV startup, has launched a network of battery-swapping stations dubbed battery ATMs in multiple cities across Vietnam. The company aims to persuade Southeast Asian consumers to make the switch from conventional gasoline-powered cars to EVs by offering a convenient and economically viable solution for battery charging. According to Asia Nikkei, Selex Motors has already supplied EVs to renowned logistics companies such as Lazada, Viettel Post, and DHL, and is now pursuing international expansion opportunities. The introduction of these innovative ATMs in various Vietnamese cities marks a significant step towards sustainable transportation practices. Instead of dispensing cash, these stations provide fully charged EV batteries. Supported by the Asian Development Bank, Selex Motors ensures that their EVs are priced below $1,000 and customers are not required to make upfront payments for the batteries. Instead, a sophisticated automated locker system allows users to conveniently exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones. Nikkei Asia reported that Selex Motors has successfully catered to the needs of companies like Lazada, DHL, and other delivery service providers that have made commitments to reduce their carbon emissions. Distinguishing itself as a pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer in the region, and with a strong focus on last-mile logistics services, the startup is now expanding its reach to individual consumers. It is promoting its patented battery technology, which is compatible with approximately 70 per cent of the electric motorcycles available in the market. During a recent interview, CEO of Selex Motors Nguyen Huu Phuoc Nguyen underscored the benefits of the battery swapping infrastructure, particularly in light of global concerns surrounding the availability of resources for battery production. The system not only optimises battery lifespan but also ensures efficient disposal when batteries reach the end of their life cycle, thus addressing environmental concerns. Crunchbase reports that, currently, Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia, ADB Ventures, and Touchstone Partners are among the investors who have collectively injected $5.5 million into Selex Motors. In early 2022, Selex Motors concluded a seed funding round worth $2.1 million, led by investment firm Touchstone Partners and with the participation of two other investors, ADB Ventures and South Korea's Nextrans. Competitors in the Vietnamese electric motorcycle market, such as Dat Bike and VinFast, are also striving to accelerate the adoption of EVs. Nevertheless, Nikkei Asia noted that not all industry players share Selex Motors' approach. Tech giants have employed strategies to retain their customer base by locking users into their proprietary ecosystems, prompting regulatory intervention. In the US, Tesla was urged to open its charging stations to other vehicle brands, while in Europe, Apple was mandated to design chargers that are compatible with various phone models. When queried about whether Selex's interchangeable batteries could serve as an incentive for drivers to choose their EVs over their competitors', Nguyen emphasised the communal advantages by stating, "That is the crux of the matter. We aim for the widespread adoption and utilisation of the battery exchange network because it benefits the entire community." He harbours aspirations of achieving breakeven within a 3-year timeframe and expanding into the Indonesian and Thai markets within two years. Both countries boast larger economies than Vietnam, but also present competition from rivals like Electrum backed by Gojek. Although Selex Motors did not disclose the number of electric motorcycles sold by the company, Vietnam currently boasts an electric motorcycle fleet exceeding one million units purportedly the largest in Southeast Asia. In addition to contending with industry giants such as Honda and Piaggio in the motorcycle sector, Nguyen acknowledges the pressing race for the resources that are essential for battery production. Vietnam is ramping up its efforts to develop rare earth elements, but China leads in terms of both mining and processing these metals. In addition, the world relies heavily on Congo's cobalt and Indonesia's nickel. "This will be a long-term issue because it appears that the EV revolution is contingent upon resources and certain minerals, which are not readily available in many places. They are primarily concentrated in a few countries, and this will inevitably lead to geopolitical complications," stated Nguyen. As the competition in the electric motorcycle market intensifies, Selex Motors remains committed to innovation and addressing environmental concerns. By providing affordable EVs and establishing a widespread network of battery-swapping stations, the company strives to revolutionise transportation practices throughout Vietnam and beyond. The support from notable investors, combined with the company's ambitious expansion plans, position Selex Motors as a key player in the region's electric vehicle landscape. The successful adoption of electric motorcycles and the proliferation of battery swapping infrastructure could significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions, enhancing air quality, and promoting sustainable mobility solutions. TMT Motors partners with world leading joint venture to bring mini EVs to Vietnam TMT Automobile Joint Stock Company (TMT Motors) on February 18 announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the joint venture of General Motors (GM) and SAIC - WULING on the manufacturing, assembling and exclusively distributing of electric vehicles of GM and SAIC - WULING in Vietnam. Standard Chartered Vietnam has just announced the approval of a Transition Trade Finance facility worth $25 million to provide support for Tung Ho Steel Vietnam Corporation Limited. This ground-breaking collaboration marks a first for both Standard Chartered in Asia and Tung Ho Steel, as the working capital will facilitate the company's continued procurement of scrap steel for their environmentally friendly Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production process. Tung Ho Steel Vietnam, a subsidiary of Tung Ho Steel Enterprise Corporation, the top EAF-based steel producer in Taiwan, has been at the forefront of sustainable steel production since its establishment in 2016. Tung Ho Steel utilises scrap metal as raw material, with more than 95 of their production relying on recycled steel. By employing electric furnaces over traditional blast ones, Tung Ho Steel has significantly reduced its energy consumption and estimates it has seen a remarkable 75 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. EAFs emit only a quarter of the CO2 generated by conventual blast furnaces. Nguyen Thuy Hanh, deputy general director and head of Corporate, Commercial, and Institutional Banking at Standard Chartered, said, The credit extension for Tung Ho Steel is part of our commitment to clients that we will help raise sustainable financing and support their climate ambitions. Standard Chartered strives to be a key contributor to the sustainable development of Vietnam and continues to work closely with our clients and stakeholders to provide finance to where it matters most. Huang Bing Hua, Tung Ho Steels president, said, We aspire to become a leader in EAF steel refining. We have been conducting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories, participating in voluntary carbon reduction programmes, and proactively disclosing GHG management strategies since 2003." "We are proud that this Transition Trade Finance facility is one of the very first in the region, underscoring our strong commitment to sustainability in our manufacturing process. We look forward to working closely with Standard Chartered as we seek to accelerate sustainability practices in our organisation and industry, Hua added. The significance of Vietnam for US businesses and why they should take notice Vietnam has gone from being a frontier economy in ASEAN to a flourishing, cost-effective, and industrial nation. Firms and investors that are looking for new markets to grow, source, or manufacture their products especially in Asia should consider Vietnams long-term potential and stay updated on its opportunities. The MoIT reported that, as of May 24, 37 out of 85 renewable energy projects have submitted their dossiers to the Power Trading Company under EVN (EVNEPTC) to facilitate the arrangement of electricity prices and contracts regarding its purchase and sale. For the remaining 48 projects that have not yet submitted dossiers, EVNEPTC has requested in writing that investors submit the necessary documentation for negotiation and agreement as soon as possible. The MoIT document stated, "For power plants that have been authorised to set an interim price, EVN is requested to sign contracts regarding the buying and selling of power promptly and undergo review processes for early operation and production of electricity on the grid." After negotiating and settling on a price, investors will be compensated based on the formal price as of the date of transmission to the grid. EVN is negotiating a provisional price for the remaining power facilities with the investors, to be finalised by May 27, for submission to the MoIT. The MoIT also suggests that EVN review documents submitted by investors, reevaluate the investors' requirements for the negotiation of electricity prices, and ensure the simplification of procedures while maintaining compliance with regulations. Currently, 84 renewable energy projects (with a combined capacity of over 4,600 MW) are behind schedule for commercial operation. 34 transition projects (28 wind power projects and 6 solar power projects) with a combined capacity of roughly 2,100 MW have been completed and tested. Vietnam's power sector faces difficulties integrating renewable electricity The accelerated expansion of solar and wind energy is straining the national power grid. Temporary prices set for two transitional wind power projects Vietnam Electricity (EVN) recently approved temporary electricity prices for two wind power plants among 31 applications. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a one-time tax rebate that will give $150 to single people and $300 to married couples. Legislators agreed to a late-night compromise between different rebate amounts that had been approved in the House of Representatives and Alabama Senate. Senators voted 27-4 and representatives voted 103-0 for the compromise amount, which will cost the state an estimated $393 million. The bill now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey who will decide whether to sign the legislation into law. Ivey in March called for larger rebates of $400 for singles and $800 for married couples to return our taxpayers hard-earned dollars back to them as the state sees an unusual $2.8 billion budget surplus. Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Arthur Orr said lawmakers settled on a rebate they thought would be significant but still affordable for state education coffers. He said there was concern about the cost of the larger rebate to the education budget, particularly as lawmakers consider other significant tax cuts, such as lowering the state sales tax on food. Lawmakers are trying to make strategic choices with the surplus, but could not fulfill every tax cut and funding request because of concerns about an eventual economic downturn, he said. Were not going to raise taxes. So if we give away too much, then what happens? We start cutting and that affects the children across the state and educational delivery across this state, Orr said. The House had initially approved rebates of $210 and $420, while the Senate sought rebates half that size. However, some lawmakers argued that the money will not go to those who need it the most people who don't file tax returns because they earn too little or are living off retirement benefits. The rebates would only go to people who filed tax returns for 2021. That $420 will not make a difference in my life, 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," Rep. A.J. McCampbell, a Democrat from Livingston, said during debate on the larger amount. Republican Rep. Danny Garrett, chairman of the House education budget committee, said he understood the concerns, but called the legislation essentially a refund to people who paid state income taxes. This will cover 1.9 million tax filers in the state, so its a lot of people that will benefit from this, Garrett said. The rebate bill was approved as part of an appropriations package that also reached final passage Thursday night. Lawmakers approved a nearly $9 billion education trust fund budget, which included a 2% pay raise for public school teachers and K-12 employees and the creation of a new $300 million savings account for the education budget. Those bills also go to the governor. The House of Representatives also advanced a plan to lower the state sales tax on food from 4% to 2%. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Bellmead man died Wednesday night while in custody at McLennan County Jail, officials said. Robert Bee Dodd, 56, had been in the jails medical facilities in the days before his death late Wednesday night, said Capt. David Ives, administrative captain of the McLennan County Sheriffs Office. Jail personnel transferred Dodd to the medical facilities of the jail May 20, and he remained in medical facilities until the day he died, jail records show. Dodd was also in the jails medical facilities on April 4 and April 5. The McLennan County Sheriffs Office has requested the Texas Rangers to investigate the death, said Sgt. Ryan Howard, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which includes the Rangers. The investigation is active, Howard said in an email Friday. When the investigation is completed the information will be handed over to the sheriffs office, he said. Bellmead police booked Dodd into the jail April 3 on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault of a public servant and a state jail felony charge of terroristic threats against a peace officer. He was held on $30,000 bond until his death. At the time of his arrest, police said Dodd had gone into the police station in Bellmead on April 3, and an animal control officer heard him say he was there to kill everyone before he reached for a pistol in the waistband of his pants and Police Chief Shawn Myatt tackled him. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Waco police this week arrested the former leader of a ministry at Baylor University on charges that he allowed a sex offender he called his spiritual mentor to sexually abuse two young relatives, according to an arrest warrant. Christopher Hundl, 38, of Waco, was arrested Tuesday and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. He was released Wednesday from McLennan County Jail on $50,000 bond. Hundl stepped down early this month from his position as minister for the Baylor chapter of Chi Alpha, a worldwide Christian ministry sponsored by the Assembly of God Church, according to a statement from Baylor University. Chi Alpha is suspended and under investigation at Baylor, and a law firm representing victims has notified several other Texas universities where it believes the sex offender was involved in Chi Alpha chapters. Baylor University is aware of serious allegations of impropriety among leaders of the independent organization Chi Alpha, the Baylor statement says. Like all Chi Alpha college-based chapters, Baylors organization is led by the assigned Chi Alpha ministers and staff. These individuals are NOT Baylor employees. We are deeply disturbed and grieved by these serious allegations against Chi Alphas leaders, and we will continue to examine Baylors affiliated student organization to ensure our students have a healthy and safe co-curricular environment. The warrant names the sex offender, who has not been arrested in this case. The Tribune-Herald is withholding his name at the request of Waco police. According to the warrant, Hundl brought the two children to the Houston home of the convicted sex offender several times between summer 2021 and March 2022. Hundl and the sex offender were in a sauna with the children, who were younger than 14 when the offense occurred, when the man instructed the children to masturbate in front of them, the warrant says. The warrant says similar abuse occurred at Hundls home in Waco while the sex offender was present. According to the warrant, the sex offender also abused the two children by touching them inappropriately while Hundl was present. According to the warrant, Hundl described the man as his spiritual mentor. The warrant says Hundl told officers the two met while Hundl was in college and had a sexual relationship with one another that began soon after they met. According to the Texas sex offender registry, the man was charged in 2012 for sexual abuse of a minor, a third-degree felony. According to court documents, he committed the offense in Alaska between 1995 and 1997. Chi Alpha was founded in 1953 at Missouri State University and has over 300 chapters in the United States and abroad, its website says. The Baylor chapter of the organization was chartered in September 2019, according to an Oct. 24, 2019, Baylor Lariat article. The Lariat article describes Hundl and his wife, Hosanna, as Chi Alpha missionaries who moved to Waco to start the Baylor ministry. They formerly worked with a Chi Alpha chapter in Corpus Christi, the article states. Several Chi Alpha chapters in Texas are facing allegations relating to the sex offender named in the warrant. In April, Scheef & Stone LLP, a Frisco law firm representing victims of the sex offender, released a letter addressed to Texas A&M University, Texas State University, the University of Houston, Rice University and the University of Texas which alleges Chi Alpha leadership was aware of the mans sex offender status and continued to associate with him and direct young men to him for spiritual guidance. Baylors statement says Chi Alpha at Baylor has been suspended since early this month. Given the seriousness of the situation connected to Chi Alphas leadership, and while the University continues to investigate any impacts on Baylor students, Baylor proactively suspended all campus Chi Alpha operations in early May based on potential violations of University event planning and registration guidelines, the statement says. In response to an email from the Tribune-Herald, Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman declined to clarify further how or whether the event planning and registration issues were related to the investigations involving Hundl or the the sex offender named in Hundls arrest warrant. The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia has just received a Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk which, following a period of refurbishment, will go on display sometime next year. Although the U.S. Air Force officially retired the remaining examples of their 59 F-117As during 2008, almost all of those airframes went into long-term, Type 1000 storage within their original shelters at Tonopah Air Force Base in Nevada. These Stealth Fighters, which gained fame for their remarkable achievements during the first Gulf War in 1991, were still a strategic asset, even in retirement, and likely deemed too sensitive for public museums at the time. What we didnt know, for some while, was that the Air Force had secretly maintained a handful of the breed in operational condition (likely as test vehicles). There have been a number of confirmed F-117 sightings since that first official retirement more than a decade ago. However, until recently, the only Nighthawks on public display anywhere were the four extant F-117 prototypes at military or manufacturing facilities. That began to change in late 2019, however, with several museums receiving a formerly operational F-117A on loan. In November 2019, Lockheed Nighthawk F-117A 82-0803 went on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. This airframe reportedly flew 78 combat missions, more than any other examples of the breed. In October 2020, the Palm Springs Air Museum received F-117A 85-0833 Black Devil which, following a period of restoration, went on display during April 2022 in a specially designed exhibit at their new Jim Houston Pavilion. In December 2020, the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum welcomed F-117 Nighthawk 85-0817 Shaba to their facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In early 2021, Castle Air Museum had the good fortune to receive confirmation that they too would receive a Nighthawk; F-117A 85-0813 Toxic Avenger arrived in July 2022, and its restoration is currently well-advanced. And then in March 2021, the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska announced the assignment of F-117A 85-0831, which is reportedly the highest-time example in the fleet (2,720.7 flight hours). The latest organization to receive a Nighthawk is the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia., on display last Thursday (May 18th, 2023). As reported by Austin Kuback, F-117A 81-10794 Delta Dawn made the journey from Tonopah, Nevada within the belly of a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, arriving on May 18th. Given the aircrafts relatively small size, museum personnel towed the aircraft across the base to the museum on its own landing gear, as this was deemed a safer and simpler option than transporting it down Highway 247 in front of the base. The aircraft was placed on temporary outdoor display at the museums amphitheater in front of Hangar Two (the Century of Flight building), but will soon move to a maintenance area at the back of the museums property. From there, the aircraft will be repainted and fitted with replica pieces to replace parts of the aircrafts wing leading edges (removed prior to acquisition). The aircrafts original paint (and wing leading edges) were removed prior to its arrival in Georgia to comply with national security protocols regarding stealth technology. According to Kuback, museum personnel expect that the aircrafts refurbishment will take roughly a year to complete, following which it will go on display within Hangar Two. Austin Kuback will monitor the restoration of this Nighthawk for Vintage Aviation News, so we hope to provide regular progress reports as they arrive. In related news, the Museum of Aviation anticipates the arrival of a Boeing E-8C Joint STARS electronic surveillance and targeting aircraft for display sometime in June. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WATERLOO A Mason City delivery driver has been arrested for allegedly cashing in a lottery ticket stolen from a Waterloo convenience store in March. Authorities arrested Jamie Ray Wilson, 45, Friday on a charge of lottery theft. He was released from jail pending trial. According to police, a package of Iowa Lottery tickets had accidently been left in the cooler at the Kwik Star at 875 Fisher Drive on March 20. Wilson was a delivery driver for a vendor who had been in the cooler and the manager later discovered tickets missing from the package. Investigators with the Iowa Lottery Authority later tracked the serial numbers of the missing tickets and determined one of them was cashed at the Kwik Star at 506 W. Ninth St. on March 28. Video from the Ninth Street store shows a person matching Wilsons description cashing in the ticket, according to court records. The largest lottery jackpots in US history The largest lottery jackpots in US history #15. $587.5 million #14. $590.5 million #13. $632.6 million #12. $648 million #11. $656 million #10. $687.8 million #9. $699.8 million #8. $731.1 million #7. $758.7 million #6. $768.4 million #5. $1.1 billion #4. $1.3 billion #3. $1.5 billion #2. $1.6 billion #1. $2 billion Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WATERLOO Lindsay Heying has been named new assistant principal at Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence effective Aug. 1, pending approval by the Waterloo Schools board of directors. Heying is currently a lead support teacher in the Iowa City Community School District. She has facilitated the learning and training of district special education behavior interventionists, developed behavior intervention plans, and provided guidance and consulting to administrators and teams on special education compliance and family-school communication. We are extremely excited to have Lindsey join our Cunningham family in this leadership role, said Neldrekka Whitaker, Cunningham principal. She comes with a wealth of knowledge in special education and in literacy that will be an asset to our students, teachers, staff, and community. Heyings K-12 teaching experience spans 22 years during which she has served as a special education and literacy consultant as well as a behavior strategist and special education program lead. Heying holds her bachelors in elementary education with a reading endorsement from Wartburg College, her masters in educational leadership from Upper Iowa University, and her PK-12 administrator/special education supervisor and Iowa evaluator licensure from Viterbo University. I am looking forward to returning to the Waterloo area to be a student-centered leader who is both visible and vulnerable, said Heying. I am passionate about providing an equitable education for all students and am excited to work side-by-side with the Cunningham staff to help all students achieve at high levels. Heying replaces Mikayla Montgomery who has accepted the position of school improvement consultant with the Central Rivers Area Education Agency. Ruling People Power Party Rep. Lim Lee-ja, left, criticizes the bill for the so-called Yellow Envelope Act to the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee Chairman Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, right, during a meeting at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Yoon set to veto 'Yellow Envelope Act' By Nam Hyun-woo The legislative process in Korea is trapped in a vicious loop of the majority-holding main opposition party unilaterally tabling controversial bills and President Yoon Suk Yeol countering with his veto right. The presidential office has described the actions of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as "madness" with its unilateral tabling of a bill for the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, which limits companies from demanding compensation from labor unions that stage strikes. The DPK refuted that Yoon "does not deserve to call for cooperation" after vetoing two important laws passed by the National Assembly in recent months, triggering concerns that this stalemate will jeopardize the country's legislative functions for a while. According to the presidential office, Friday, it is now monitoring the legislative process of the controversial bill, which was presented to an Assembly plenary session Wednesday after bypassing the Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee controlled by the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Though the bill is expected to be tabled at a plenary session next month, it is widely anticipated that Yoon will exercise his right to send the bill back to the National Assembly, citing the side impacts of the act and the DPK's unilateral attempt to pass it. Rep. Yun Jae-ok, floor leader of the PPP, said Thursday that the party will ask the president to use his right to request the Assembly to reconsider it. When the president requests the Assembly to reconsider a bill, it requires the attendance of more than half of all registered lawmakers and approval by two-thirds of attending legislators for the bill to be passed again, thus becoming more difficult to get the green light. Due to this, demanding a reconsideration is widely considered as a de facto veto by the president. "When due processes end at the National Assembly, we will make a decision after listening to related ministries, the ruling party and other organizations," an official at the presidential office said Thursday. "Some media outlets focus on whether the president will use this right to have the Assembly reconsider the bill. However, this issue is described as legislative madness. I believe (the DPK's) unilateral legislation is the root cause of this problem." Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung-sik also said, "The act will turn all the efforts towards labor reform and proposed resolutions to the dual structure of the labor market into mere illusions." Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung-sik, right, leaves a briefing room at the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Thursday, after speaking about a bill for the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, which limits companies from demanding compensation from labor unions that stage strikes. Yonhap Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. NEWTON UNI ADVANCE IOWA recently announced the launch of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership, a groundbreaking initiative aimed to support and promote employee ownership in the state of Iowa. By fostering a collaboration with public and private sectors, IA-CEO serves as a hub for resources, education and guidance for businesses looking to explore employee ownership models. A news release from the University of Northern Iowa said it will build economic resiliency to keep communities thriving to the benefit of all stakeholders. Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg was on hand to announce the launch during the Employee Ownership Conference hosted by ADVANCE IOWA at the Des Moines Area Community College campus in Newton on May 11. The event brought together business leaders, experts and professionals to explore the benefits and potential of employee ownership. The conference marked a significant milestone in the advancement of employee ownership in Iowa. We are proud to support the Employee Ownership Conference and the establishment of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership, Paul Kinghorn, director of ADVANCE IOWA, said in the release. Employee ownership has a transformative effect on businesses, propelling innovation, fostering a sense of shared purpose and improving long-term sustainability. This conference exemplifies our commitment to assisting Iowa businesses to unlock their full potential to drive the Iowa economy forward. Principal was the title sponsor of the Employee Ownership Conference. IA-CEO will be located at UNI Business & Community Services, 8120 Jennings Drive, Suite 128 in Cedar Falls. For more information on employee ownership and its benefits, contact ADVANCE IOWA online at advanceiowa.com. Photos: University of Northern Iowa Friday Commencement CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! UNI Graduation 2 UNI Graduation 3 UNI Graduation 4 UNI Graduation 5 UNI Graduation 6 UNI Graduation 7 UNI Graduation 8 UNI Graduation 9 UNI Graduation 10 UNI Graduation 11 UNI Graduation 12 UNI Graduation 13 UNI Graduation 14 UNI Graduation 15 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KYIV, Ukraine Russia's southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscow's forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, more than 4 miles from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russia's southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. "We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom," resident Tatiana Safonova said. "We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on." She said described the sound beforehand "like a growling, noisy moped driving by." Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and while some buildings were damaged, essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. Ukraine's Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russia's Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russia's Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. "Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory." Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted "Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "I'm somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war so it's quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded." In Moscow, China's special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged "opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict," according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited "serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers," the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinping's government says it's neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict, but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraine's allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Putin must first withdraw his forces. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian president's office reported Friday. Late Friday, officials in the Russian-held sector of Donetsk reported two missile strikes on the city of Mariupol, where a monthslong siege early in the war left much of the city in ruins. Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed official as saying the missiles were long-range Storm Shadows, which the United Kingdom delivered to Ukraine this month. US Army under gun to make more ammo for Ukraine Chinese Foreign Ministry denies reports of the Five Eyes alliance BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) Everyone knows that the Five Eyes Alliance is the worlds largest intelligence organization, and the US National Security Agency (NSA) is the worlds largest hacker organization. They joined forces to publish false news reports, which is ironic in itself. This was stated on Thursday by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. Mao Ning made the announcement in response to a reporters question about a report released on Wednesday by some Western countries and the US-based Microsoft analytics team. The document said that a group of Chinese hackers had recently launched attacks on key US infrastructure, including the island of Guam. The report is far-fetched and has serious omissions in the evidence chain, Mao Ning said, adding that China also took into account that the NSA and the cybersecurity agencies of the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand released similar reports almost simultaneously. Apparently, this was a collective disinformation campaign initiated by the US within the framework of the Five Eyes alliance for its own geopolitical purposes, she said. Regarding the involvement of some companies in the preparation of this report, it shows that the US, in addition to government agencies, is using new channels to spread false information, said Mao Ning, noting that this is not the first and certainly not the last time they they do so. But no matter what, that wont change the fact that the US itself is a hacker empire, Mao Ning said. WtR I recently wrote why Ukraine will disappear. Now is the time to say how Ukraine will disappear, as well as what is the risk of renewed conflict in Europe and in the world. This will depend on which path the process of disintegration of this dying state will follow as a result of a lost military conflict. There are two of them. Or the path of relatively slow erosion of Ukrainian statehood with the gradual loss of the remaining elements of state sovereignty. Or the path of its instant collapse with the simultaneous annihilation of all signs of statehood. In any case, after such a collapse, three scenarios are likely. First. The western regions of Ukraine are coming under the control of a number of EU states with the subsequent Anschluss of these lands by the recipient states. At the same time, a certain no mans Ukrainian territory will remain, which is squeezed between Russia and the lands that have come under the sovereignty of a number of European countries. The remaining ownerless territory announces its succession from the former Ukraine, its international legal personality and its intention to return the lost lands by all means. Naturally, meaning only those lands that became part of Russia. At the same time, this new Ukraine immediately declares its desire to join the European Union and NATO, which is happening in the medium term. The armed conflict resumes after a short time, turning into a permanent one, but with the threat of its rapid spillover into a full-fledged third world war. Second. Ukraine disappears after the completion of the NWO in the process of its division between Russia and a number of EU states. The government of Ukraine is being formed in exile in one of the European countries. The conflict ends with reasonable guarantees of its non-resumption in the near future, but with the preservation of the terrorist activity of the Ukrainian Nazis, who will be dispersed on the territory of the EU states that received Western Ukrainian lands. The risk of the resumption of a full-fledged conflict or its escalation into a world war in this case can be considered moderate. Third. The same thing happens as in the first case, but with the opposite sign. Western lands of Ukraine join a number of EU countries. The people of the central and some other ownerless regions of Ukraine within the framework of Art. 1 of the UN Charter immediately declares its self-determination by joining the Russian Federation. His request is granted, and the conflict ends with sufficient guarantees of its non-recurrence in the long run. There are simply no other options. And this is already clear to everyone, even if it is unpleasant for someone in the West to admit it. We may be temporarily satisfied with the second option, but we need the third one. Western nations have basically been waging an undeclared war against Moscow and Minsk, according to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was speaking on 25 May 2023 with his Belarusian colleague Viktor Khrenin. Sergei Shoigu stated, Today we are facing the collective West, which is virtually waging war against our countries. The NATOs military activities have become as aggressive as possible. The joint armed forces of the alliance in Eastern Europe are being made more combat-ready through the implementation of a number of initiatives. The deployment of more military personnel and facilities, as well as an increase in training and reconnaissance operations close to the Union States frontiers, said the head of the Russian military department. He also noted that Western nations who provide Ukraine with military assistance are escalating the conflict and prolonging it. Everything is being done to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine, which is being supported militarily in every possible way, Sergei Shoigu said. Sergei Shoigu opened the discussion by saying that their meetings have recently become regular. This is especially crucial in light of the fast growing tensions, the breaking of the foundations of strategic stability, and the extraordinary rise in international confrontation. The Russian Defense Minister emphasised that Belarus has been and will be a dependable partner and a devoted ally. As Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated, the two countries are working to strengthen their shared defence area in light of the current military and political situation. We are carrying out activities to reinforce the common defence space in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus while taking into consideration the military and political environment, Sergei Shoigu stated during his meeting with Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin in Minsk. The major focus is on training the troops and improving their combat skills. According to him, the militaries of the two nations undergo combat cohesion of military units that are a part of the regional force grouping. As part of the Belarus-Russia unified regional air defence system in the Republic of Belarus, Russian aviation and air defense assets are on alert, said Sergei Shoigu. Close cooperation in the military-technical sphere and cooperation of defence industry complexes have been established, he said. In the circumstances of an extremely sharp escalation of threats and activity of NATO joint nuclear missions, we are compelled to take retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere. The deployment of Russian Federation non-strategic nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus has been planned in accordance with the decision of Supreme Commanders-in-Chief of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu stated. He emphasised that Belarus had received the Iskander-M operational and tactical missile system, which can employ missiles in both conventional and nuclear forms. Some Belarusian aircraft have been upgraded for potential nuclear weapon employment. Military personnel have received the appropriate training, Sergei Shoigu stated. Sergei Shoigu and Viktor Khrenin put their signatures on documents outlining the process for storing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special facility at the Republic of Belarus. Sergei Shoigu stressed that the actions taken by Belarus and Russia complied with all relevant international legal responsibilities. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu emphasised that Moscow retained control of all non-strategic nuclear weapons and the authority to decide when to use them. Sergei Shoigu stated that Russia is not transferring nuclear weapons to the Republic of Belarus: control over them and the decision on their use remains with the Russian side when signing the documents outlining the process for storing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special facility on the Republics territory. Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin signed the documents on behalf of his country. According to the Russian Defence Minister, more steps may be taken to safeguard the Union States security and to respond to the military and political situation. WtR 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 enemy close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In addition, actions of four sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were thwarted near Novomlynsk, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Ivanovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Rozovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised in these directions during the day. In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the enemy close to Raigorodka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 65 Ukrainian personnel, three pick-up trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been eliminated. In Donetsk direction, units, aviation, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated up to 270 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer during the day. Moreover, two ammunition depots of the 80th Air Assault and 110th Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been annihilated close to Stupochka and Avdeevka. In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok Group of Forces have hit the enemy units in the areas of Novomikhailovka, Novoselka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Malaya Tokmachka and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region). One sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been disabled close to Vladimirovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in these directions during the day. In Kherson direction, up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed over the past 24 hours. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 95 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 102 areas during the day. Russian air defence forces have intercepted eight HIMARS MLRS shells during the day. In addition, 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Chervonaya Dibrova, Kremennaya, Zhitlovka, Zatishnoye, Novokrasnyanka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Svetlodarskoye, Yevgenovka, Zelenyi Gai (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Chubarevka (Zaporozhye region), and Kairy (Kherson region). In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,321 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 anti-aircraft missile systems, 9,298 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with multiple launch rocket systems, 4,901 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,447 units of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation. WtR Briefing by Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops General Lieutenant Igor Kirillov on U.S. military-biological activity Read full text @mod_russia_en *** Briefing by Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops General Lieutenant Igor Kirillov on U.S. military-biological activity May 26, 2023 The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation continues to analyse the military and biological activities of the U.S. and its allies in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. We noted earlier that during the special military operation, documentary evidence was obtained confirming that employees of the Biosphere Reserve in Askania Nova, Kherson region, were studying the migration routes of migratory birds and selecting and transferring biological material abroad. The task force of the Russian Ministry of Defence together with officers of the Federal Security Service and Rosselkhoznadzor have confirmed the collection and certification of avian influenza virus strains with a high potential for epidemic spread and the ability to cross the species barrier, particularly the H5N8 strain, whose lethality in human transmission can reach 40%. Remember that 1% of new coronavirus infections result in death. Despite efforts by the Reserves staff to destroy the biomaterials by cutting off the power to the refrigeration units and destroying the cryopreservoir with liquid nitrogen, specialists from the 48th Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defence found traces of genetic material of highly pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease virus, and avuloviruses even in the samples that had undergone decomposition. According to the employees who remained in the Reserve, the Ukrainian side offered them a large cash reward for removing or destroying the research results. Documents seized in the Reserves veterinary laboratory confirm the involvement of the Kharkov Institute of Veterinary Medicine in the work of the American UP-8 and P-444 Projects and preparations for the Flu-Fly-Way project. Their goal was to evaluate the circumstances in which the transmission of diseases associated with economically significant infections may become uncontrollable, result in economic harm, and constitute a threat to food security. It is necessary to emphasize that once more that the U.S. Department of Defense, an organisation that has nothing to do with the research of bird migratory routes, commissioned the projects. We have already brought up the observed widespread bird mortality in the Askania Nova Nature Reserve in 2021, which experts think is infectious in nature. The experiments being undertaken and a disregard for biosecurity regulations were recognised as the causes of the single-stage bird mortality. Against this background, of particular concern is the increase in the incidence of bird flu in Russia and in European countries, where, according to the International Office of Epizootics, the disease has become a year-round disease with losses exceeding 3 billion since 2021. Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 32 outbreaks of avian influenza recorded in Russia in all federal districts. In the last week alone, the disease was detected in poultry farms in the Kirov and Yaroslavl regions. Quarantine measures for highly pathogenic avian influenza have been imposed in Moscow since 17 May 2023. At the same time, the total damage to the agricultural sector caused by the disease in the last three years has exceeded 4.5 billion roubles, and more than 10 million poultry have been eliminated. African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, which pose a serious threat to food security, have never been recorded in the U.S., despite the fact that the U.S. has seen avian influenza epizootics since 2003. At the same time, the U.S. military is actively studying these economically significant infections outside the national territory in bio-laboratories located along the borders of its geopolitical adversaries. This demonstrates once more that the U.S. is creating biological weapons components abroad, notably in Ukraine. Recall that the United States published its National Biodefense Strategy in October 2022. The doctrinal paper identifies biological risk management as a top concern for the United States. Washington intends to develop a U.S.-controlled architecture for preventing, responding to, and neutralising biothreats in U.S. national interest under the approved Strategy. One of the areas of strategic development is the improvement of individual and group biosecurity methods for U.S. military personnel in different theatres of war. The goal is also to continue the study of area-endemic pathogens of particularly dangerous infectious diseases. This is confirmed by another long-term planning document, the new U.S. DoD Biomanufacturing Strategy approved on 23 March 2023. I draw your attention to the fact that the strategy was developed specifically by the US military department. The document defines long-term goals for the development of biotechnology and the search for its military applications. The claimed goal is to ensure technological sovereignty in the field of bioproduction and to outpace strategic rivals. The amount of funding for activities within the framework of the approved strategic documents for the next five years will be about $90 billion. In addition, the U.S. intends to strengthen global control of the biological situation in the world and reserves the right to conduct dual-use research, including outside the national territory. In the post-Soviet region, the U.S. has already stepped up its military-biological activities. Pentagon contractors and civilian intermediates like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Gryphon Scientific research company have taken the position of the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and Pentagon contractors. Work is scheduled to collect and genotype samples of the pathogens of three extremely hazardous illnesses indigenous to these regionsplague, anthrax, and tularaemiaunder the cover of doing completely peaceful tasks in the states of Central Asia and Transcaucasia. The U.S. government is achieving this by employing a tried-and-true scenario of purportedly humanitarian collaboration. First, issues related to the biological situation are brought forward. Intergovernmental agreements are then finalised after securing the line ministries interest in cooperating. As a result, a bio-facility that is wired into a solitary biosurveillance system is built. The United States acquires ownership of all biological developments made in the nation, including collections of pathogens, and the laboratory infrastructure put in place is rendered ineffective without U.S. assistance. I would like to point out that the number of biolaboratories in the United States with the highest possible BSL-3-plus and BSL-4 containment levels has increased significantly over the past few years. According to a report by Kings College London, there are 25 active laboratories in the US and three under construction where research on highly dangerous viruses and bacteria is being conducted. In accordance with the document, 18 additional BSL-4 laboratories will open in the upcoming years, the most of which will be situated in Asian nations outside the legal jurisdiction of the U.S. There are concerns that these facilities will pose serious risks: they are located in densely populated areas, save on protective equipment, and lack effective biosafety regulations in the countries where they are based. Furthermore, in the US Intelligence Communitys February 2023 Global Threat Assessment, the authors emphasise that, there is no effective mechanism to control and address biorisk, and international surveillance bodies with competencies in this area are fragmented and lack authority. Despite compelling evidence from the scientific community, the U.S. government is unable to come to the correct conclusions and keeps engaging in murky biological operations globally. Washingtons professed dedication to global biosafety standards and norms really manifests as a rejection of international efforts to fortify the BWC and a blocking of the development of its verification mechanism. It should be noted that the U.S. has never clearly stated its commitment to the safety of research carried out in biolaboratories under its control. This is supported by a review of US National Institutes of Health documents that relate to safety violations. In the course of an investigation conducted by the Intersept independent company, more than five and a half thousand pages of incident reports were studied. It concluded that research carried out at universities in Washington, Minnesota, and Illinois led to in-lab contamination and created the risk of further spread of dangerous pathogens. These statistics do not take into account incidents at military-biological facilities, a key one being the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick. However, the Institute has repeatedly been the subject of investigations by U.S. federal agencies because of its non-transparent and unsafe activities. In 2009, for example, its operations were suspended due to violations of the rules governing the accounting of biomaterials, creating risks of loss, theft and illegal trafficking of pathogens. Recall that it was this institute where microbiologist Bruce Evans, the prime suspect in the bio-terrorist attacks linked to the sending of anthrax spores to the U.S. in 2001, worked. In 2019, federal regulatory agencies banned work on dangerous pathogens at Fort Detrick due to poor efficacy of effluent disinfection systems and numerous safety violations, which took almost a year to fix. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China, it was during this period that localised outbreaks of pneumonia of unknown origin were reported in several areas of the U.S. Systematic breaches of security requirements at U.S. biolabs have raised justifiable concerns in the global community. In December 2019, for example, the relocation of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit Three (NAMRU-3) from Cairo to Sicilys Sigonella Air Base has provoked an extremely negative reaction from Italian citizens. According to the Italian media, the U.S. used the pandemic to divert public attention from the fact that the biolaboratory had been relocated. As LAntidiplomatico notes, that it is highly suspicious that the opportunity to spread the word about this laboratory was not taken, if on paper its purpose is to study health threats. I would like to recall that of all European countries it was Italy that was most seriously affected by the COVID-19 virus, and the Russian Ministry of Defence, at the request of the Italian authorities, promptly provided assistance to the Italian people at the height of the epidemic. However, not a single source mentions the activities of NAMRU-3 to protect Italian citizens, although the level of equipment of the facility allowed and allows for the full range of research with the new coronavirus agent. Clearly, the redeployment of NAMRU-3 under the pretext of providing assistance was not intended to protect Italians, and the role of the biolab in the spread of COVID-19 has yet to be assessed. No wonder that the decision by the Pesaro city authorities to construct a national biolaboratory sparked a wave of local protests and widespread pleas to state authorities given the deployment of a U.S. military biological facility in Italy. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported on the Pentagons establishment of the Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS). Equipping bioweapons facilities on the territory of other countries with such systems provides the U.S. with an opportunity not only to ensure the security of its military contingents at their deployment sites, but also to remotely monitor the activities of biolaboratories outside national jurisdictions. The surveillance system includes U.S. Army and Navy laboratories as well as verification points located at U.S. military bases in different regions of the world. The core part of this network, which has been forming since 1997, is the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. I would like to describe its activities in more detail. Documents obtained during the special military operation show that for several years the Institute has been involved in training Ukrainian personnel as part of the Biological Threat Reduction Programme. Robert Lipnik, head of the epidemiology department, and his subordinates were involved in the training of Ukrainian specialists. Representatives of the institute supervised military and biological projects UP-1 and UP-2, organised by DTRA, during which active collection of biomaterials of Ukrainian population was carried out. In the UP-1 project alone, more than 800 blood samples were collected under the pretext of studying the spread of tick-borne infections. According to the documents in our possession, the Walter Reed Institute was actively involved in the 20142020 conflict in Donbas in studying the antibiotic resistance of microbes isolated from military troops of the AFU. As part of this project, 813 microorganisms obtained from 162 patients were studied in four Ukrainian military hospitals located in different parts of the country and full-genome sequencing of 52 isolates was carried out. It is understandable to wonder why the U.S. Army Institute would research the antibiotic resistance of microbes found in Donbass land. This provides more proof that the U.S. considered Ukraines territory to be a base for the entry of NATO military forces. The Russian Defence Ministry shall keep tracking the operations of the agencies subordinate to the U.S. Department of Defense that are involved in creating bioweapon components. Images for above text Oh my, the Russians have so much data on the illegal activity of the USA in Bio War intentions I have it all on this website WtR About the demarche to the US Embassy in connection with the provocative statements of American officials On May 26, senior diplomats of the American diplomatic mission in Moscow were summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry and strongly protested against the unacceptable statements of US Presidential National Security Adviser John Sullivan, who actually approved the strikes by the armed formations of the regime in Kiev on Russian territory, including the Republic of Crimea and the Belgorod region. It is emphasized that the assurances of American officials that the United States does not encourage such attacks on Russia are hypocritical and false , given the direct material evidence of the use of weapons and equipment supplied by the Pentagon for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the preparation and implementation of terrorist acts by Ukrainian militants. On the Russian side, it was emphasized that the hostile actions of the United States, which had long since become a party to the conflict, plunged Russian-American relations into a deep and dangerous crisis, fraught with unpredictable consequences. It is time for Washington to learn that any form of aggression against Russia will continue to meet the most resolute rebuff. WtR Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A recently completed merger between two of the countrys top-tier rail lines will send more trains along the upper Mississippi River and in some areas, thousands more carloads of hazardous materials. The combination of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern was approved by the Surface Transportation Board in March. The new company will combine 20,350 miles of rail lines, including about 8,600 in the United States, and create for the first time a single rail carrier that stretches from Canada to Mexico. The three biggest categories of carloads the merger is expected to siphon away from other rail lines include cars and car parts; energy, chemicals and plastics; and grain. The river is already a de facto rail corridor with track on both sides in some areas, some 1,100miles of rail in total from Minneapolis to the confluence with the Ohio River, according to the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA). But the combination also adds more pressure on planners and emergency responders who react to derailments and cargo spills, particularly along the Mississippi, at a time when national attention to rail disasters has risen sharply. A February derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, sent a plume of chemically-laden gas over the small community after a train carrying vinyl chloride came off the tracks and responders decided to burn the cargo to avoid an explosion. More recently, a BNSF train derailed along the Mississippi River on April 27, near De Soto, Wisconsin. Two cars floated down the river, but no material spilled from them and the cleanup on land finished a few days later, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. The merger will bring tens of thousands more carloads per year of hazardous materials along the river as it flows between Minnesota and Wisconsin, where cleaning up contaminants before they flow downstream presents an additional challenge. According to projections in environmental review documents for the combination of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, carloads will increase by 41,014 on one rail segment between the Twin Cities and the bank opposite of La Crosse, Wisconsin. A spokesman for the combined rail line wrote in an email that he could not describe exactly what hazardous material would be in the additional carloads. The company is a common carrier, meaning it cant refuse to transport materials if it receives a reasonable request. The newly formed Canadian Pacific Kansas City creates a direct connection between Canadian oil producers and refiners along the Gulf of Mexico. The environmental review for the acquisition notes that Canadian Pacific already transports crude oil, the oil product bitumen and liquefied petroleum gas into the United States from Alberta, Canada; Kansas Citys lines are connected to chemical companies along the Gulf. Theres particular concern for the routes that hug the upper Mississippi, roughly 360 miles from Minneapolis to Muscatine, Iowa, according to UMBRA, which helps coordinate planning for hazardous spills. The challenges along the river are more complex, as a springtime flood could quickly whisk contaminants to a broad area and where responders have to act quickly to protect human infrastructure like drinking water intakes and natural resources like mussel beds. Mark Ellis, who directs a hazardous spills planning group for UMBRA, said the merger and increased traffic is concerning simply because of the increased hazards that come with more trains. Canadian Pacific and BNSF, the other main owner of rail lines along the upper river, have both done a lot to train and equip local responders in recent years, but derailments tend to be large releases that quickly outpace local capabilities, Ellis added. Along some parts of the river, Canadian Pacifics lines could see 14 more trains per day, once the two companies integration is complete in 2027. On the rail lines along the river in Minnesota, it estimated between three and six more freight trains a day, depending on the segment. Ryan Ricci, the emergency readiness manager for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said there are 66 caches of equipment like booms, boats and absorbent pads stashed along the river in Minnesota in case of emergency. The rail companies respond to their own spills, and often lead spill remediation, Ricci said. He added that the lines respond very effectively with a very robust network of contractors who are extremely qualified. But he acknowledged that more trains overall raises the possibility of more derailments. In its environmental review of the project, the Surface Transportation Board projected that on lines where more hazardous material would be shipped, 12.88 releases would occur per year under the Proposed Acquisition, compared to 10.36 releases without a merger. It also predicts that majority of releases that would occur would be minor and would not have the potential to result in environmental impacts, injuries or fatalities. Canadian Pacific had the lowest accident rate among top-tier Class 1 rail companies in the United States. According to statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration, it had eight accidents in 2022, or a rate of just under one accident per million miles. It is not totally without accidents, however; in March, one of the companys trains derailed in rural North Dakota, 60 miles southwest of Fargo, and spilled asphalt and ethylene glycol, a chemical used in antifreeze, the Associated Press reported. Nobody was injured. Kansas City Southern, whose routes spread from Kansas City south to the Gulf and into Mexico, had 24 accidents, or a rate of 2.25 per million miles. Merger documents tout that the merger will remove some 64,000 trucks from the road in North America, and save carbon emissions in the process. There are fewer train derailments including hazardous materials every year in the US than truck accidents; just 20 rail accidents released hazardous materials across the country in 2020 according to the Federal Railroad Administration. There were 525 comparable large truck crashes with releases in 2020, including releases of gasoline or motor oil, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. But Ricci said that in his experience in Minnesota, rail spills may be rarer, but they can be more severe. One of the worst in recent memory, he said, happened in Albert Lea in south-central Minnesota in 2021, when 40,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid spilled. As to whether rail or trucks are safer for hazardous cargo, I dont know that we would even begin to speak to that, Ricci said. I think the sensitivity around rail is at an all-time high. This story is a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an editorially independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri School of Journalism in partnership with Report For America and funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Photos: Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. When I was in the first grade, a red-haired girl in my class called me a name. I cant remember now what it was, but it had to do with me being skinny. Id been called toothpick a few times on the bus. But somehow that didnt bother me because I knew the kids and knew they werent being mean. Still, for many years after that, I didnt have much respect for red-headed people. In other words, I was prejudiced. The Oxford Dictionary defines prejudice as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Though my feeling was based on only one experience, it carried over for many years. I obviously got over it since I married a red-headed man when I was in my 20s. But not everyone gets over their prejudices and, even if they are good people overall, they may still judge others by those pre-judgments. I saw that in the 60s in the state of Virginia while my husband was stationed there in the army. We rented a lovely apartment over a three-car garage near Yorktown. Down a slope beyond the back door was a dock on a creek that flowed into Chesapeake Bay where I often caught fish and crabs while my husband was on base. Our landlords were extremely nice people. The wife and I developed a close friendship and often went shopping together. One day we were walking down a street when she looked into a cafe and said, I still cant get used to it. I asked her what she meant, and she pointed to the cafe where white and Black people were sitting at the counter. I cant get used to them in the same restaurants that we use. Since I was from the north, which had been integrated for years, and since she was one of the nicest people I knew, I was shocked. How could someone so kind be so prejudiced? I asked her if she knew any Black people, and she said she didnt. I was about to judge her, but then realized I hadnt known any until I went to college and met several Black girls who lived on my hallway in the dorm. They were just the same as all the white girls I knew, and we all often partied together. But until then, the only Black people Id known were the cleaning ladies wed had. I also remembered that mom always washed their silverware separately. So I guess my mother was also prejudiced, though she always treated them well. After she died, they told me how much theyd loved her. But I suddenly wondered if theyd ever noticed that shed washed their utensils after shed washed ours. Unfortunately, our experiences and backgrounds have a big influence on our opinions. If we were raised to hate, fear, avoid or sneer at a certain group, theres a good chance that will determine our feelings about those groups even if theres no evidence to support those feelings. Once we get to know them on an individual basis, our feelings about an entire group will probably change. Unfortunately, we still see prejudices against certain groups which often leads to fear, hatred and violence. Jewish people experienced that in Germany back in the 30s and 40s, and millions of them lost their lives in concentration camps. Gypsies were also murdered because they were different. And in many different places today, Christians, Muslims and other groups are tortured, jailed or exterminated because one or a few of them committed crimes against a person or persons who happened to be in the majority. Many of mans prejudices are based on hearsay, or on one experience with a person from a group thats different than our own. In todays world, that often means political differences. Those differences can negatively affect relations between friends, relatives or neighbors. But only if we let them. We can agree to disagree and leave politics out of every communication with friends or relatives who differ with our political beliefs. We can dwell on what we have in common, what we enjoy together, and happily reminisce about the past as we enjoy mutual activities in the present. Or we can bring up the touchy subject and destroy what was a great relationship. As always, its up to us. Water from the Hagatna River floods the Bank of Guam parking lot in Hagatna, Guam, in the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar, May 25. AP-Yonhap About 3,000 Korean tourists were left stranded in Guam as the island's international airport remained shut down due to damage caused by the powerful Typhoon Mawar, according to diplomatic officials Thursday. According to Korean diplomats in Guam, the number of affected Korean tourists is estimated to be at around 3,200, with most of them currently staying in local hotels. Officials said they could remain stuck in the United States' Pacific island territory for some time, as local authorities expect international flights to resume no earlier than June 1. "When the typhoon landed, everyone stayed indoors in accordance with the government's alert, so there have been no reports of casualties among tourists," said an official at the Korean diplomatic office in Guam's capital of Hagatna. The official, however, pointed out that there have been widespread inconveniences due to water shortages and power outages in hotels and other facilities. He added that full resumption of international flights "could possibly take more time" as local authorities "need to drain the rainwater that has flooded the international airport and assess the safety of the airport landing strip." According to the official, Korean diplomatic authorities are discussing ways to offer support to the tourists with the local government. Anecdotes shared by stranded tourists on online travel communities showed that some hotels in Guam have refused to extend the stays of tourists, prompting them to sleep in the lobby or banquet hall areas. (Yonhap) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Activists and supporters of the group 'Letzte Generation' Last Generation demonstrate in Stuttgart, Friday May 26, 2023. A German government spokesperson on Friday rejected the notion that comments by Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticizing climate activists might have prompted raids against them this week. Living in the Bay Area means that our average, everyday views are some of the best in the world. Here are five of our favorite short hikes with spectacular vistas along the way. Hike San Francisco's Lands End Trail Been talking about doing this one for a while and still haven't made it out to the northwest corner of San Francisco? Bite the bullet and head to Lands End this weekend, where four miles of beautiful, well-maintained trails will give you views of China Beach, Sutro Baths, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The hike isn't strenuous at all, so it's a good place to bring family. Learn more. Inside Tip: While you're on the Coastal Trail, look for a turnoff to Mile Rock Beach. Take in Epic Coastal Views in Marin It takes no time at all to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Beach, and the sunset views that await you at the Muir Beach Overlook make the jaunt worth your while. The overlook is set a mile north of the main beach; park in the nearby lot, walk five minutes, and you're there. So, definitely more view than hike on this one. On a clear day, you'll be able to see miles up and down the coastline and all the way to the Farallon Islands. This overlook also provides a pretty spectacular spot to take in the sunset, but be sure to bring layers; it quickly gets chilly when the sun goes down. Learn more. Inside Tip: From December through spring, thousands of gray whales migrate from their Arctic feeding grounds down to Baja, Californiaand they hug the California coastline the entire way. Head to the overlook and there's a good chance you'll see some passing by. Hike to the Peak of Angel Island The largest island in the Bay, Angel Island is a short ferry ride away and full of hiking trails and campsites not to mention spectacular views of San Francisco. Hike the five-mile perimeter loop, which gets you a 360-degree look around the bay and takes you to the top of Mt. Livermore, the highest point on Angel Island. Learn more. Inside Tip: Enjoying island life? Reserve a campsite and stay overnight to see San Francisco all lit up. Hike and Picnic at Tank Hill Want the views of Twin Peaks without the crowds of tourists? Then Tank Hill is for you. Tucked away in Cole Valley, Tank Hill is something of a hidden gem it's hard to find unless you know it's there. Drive to the eastern dead end of Belgrave Avenue and follow the small path up to the 650-foot summit, where you'll get views spanning from the Marin Headlands to the southern end of the East Bay. Learn more. Inside Tip: There's only one bench up there, but more than enough space to spread out a picnic blanket. Grab supplies at the market on Cole Street and lunch alfresco. Climb the East Bay's Tallest Peak We might have said these were short hikes, but the climb up Mt. Diablo is a bit more than that. At 3,849 feet tall, this is the East Bay's highest peak, and the trail leading up to its summit is 6.8 miles long which, of course, leaves another 6.8 miles for you on the way down. Bring hiking boots, lots of water, and snacks, and know that your effort will be rewarded with spectacular Bay views once you get to the top. Learn more. Inside Tip: Grab beers to go at Walnut Creek's L Beercafe & Bottle Shop(1541 Giammona Dr.). Getty Images SUNSCREEN BASICS 5. Understand the difference between UVA and UVB rays The sun produces three types of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVC rays are blocked by the hemisphere, so we dont have to worry about those. UVA rays are the most powerful and are present during daylight hours. These rays reach the epidermis of our skin (top layer) and into the dermis (the middle layer of our skin) and cause wrinkles and fine lines. UVB rays cause damage to the epidermis and are the chief culprit behind skin reddening and sunburn. Too much exposure to UVA and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer, which is why its imperative to use a sunscreen that is labeled broad-spectrum meaning that it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Most active ingredients in sunscreen shield against UVB, but far fewer have UVA coverage, so look at the bottle carefully. 6. Decipher SPF ratings SPF stands for sun protection factor. It refers to how much solar energy (UV radiation) it takes to result in a sunburn on your skin with sunscreen applied, relative to skin with no sunscreen applied. For example, SPF 15 blocks about 94 percent of rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 blocks about 98 percent. As a base, use at least SPF 30, which is what most dermatologists recommend. No sunscreen can offer 100 percent protection, but higher SPF numbers allow you to be protected out in the sun longer. 7. Dont rely on high SPF only Higher SPF doesnt always mean better protection, says board certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. At minimum you should be using a broad spectrum SPF 30, and even going up to SPF 50 can add an additional layer of protection. According to Hartman, once you go above 50, the higher SPF ratings only offer marginal improvements in sun protection. Its more important to apply sunscreen properly and reapply often. 8. Choose between mineral or chemical sunscreen There are two main types of sunscreen mineral-based (physical) and chemical-based. Both shield your skin from the harmful effects of the suns UV rays, but they work in different ways. Mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin and physically prevent UV rays from penetrating. They contain ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and they tend to be thicker than their chemical sunscreen counterparts. Mineral sunscreens are also less irritating for sensitive skin. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays. They use ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone and octisalate to attract UV rays like sponges and then turn them into heat thats released from the skin. Dermatologist Geeta Yadav, M.D., of Facet Dermatology in Toronto, Canada, says they work by creating a chemical reaction that absorbs energy from the sun [to] protect the skin. There are several benefits to chemical sunscreens: They go on transparent, work for a range of skin tones, are more lightweight and tend to be more breathable. The downside to chemical sunscreens is that they can cause skin irritation and inflammation for some, especially those with sensitive skin. In this case, a mineral sunscreen may be best. 9. Look for reef-safe ingredients Youve probably seen reef-safe or reef-friendly labels on sunscreens. Although the phrases arent regulated, this typically means the sunscreen doesnt contain oxybenzone or octinoxate both of which protect against the harmful effects of UV rays but have been found to cause damage to coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. When you swim or shower, this chemical can enter our waterways. Some beaches such as those in Hawaii, Palau and the U.S. Virgin Islands have even moved to ban oxybenzone-containing sunscreens. 10. Plan for sun exposure Chemical sunscreens are lighter but take time to absorb into your skin before they offer protection. Mineral-based sunscreens offer immediate protection no waiting needed. In the past, mineral sunscreens could leave a white cast or residue on your skin, but more recent iterations are easier to blend in. If youre wearing a physical sunscreen that contains actives like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, you are protected as soon as youve completed your application, says Melissa Urban, a licensed aesthetician at the SkinForYou spa in Colorado. If youre wearing a chemical sunscreen that contains oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone or homosalate, you should wait [at least] 15 minutes before sun exposure. Because chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the suns energy, this extra time is necessary to ensure your skin absorbs the formula before its exposed to the sun. No matter which one you choose, its always best to apply to dry skin before you get to your destination. You can use a mirror and/or get a friend to help with those hard-to-reach spots. 11. Reapply SPF after two hours SPF only provides protection for roughly two hours when outdoors. This means that reapplication is just as necessary as and perhaps more crucial than your initial application. And this is the case whether youre using a chemical or mineral SPF. The rule of thumb is to reapply SPF every two hours when youre outside as well as after swimming or sweating, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Karen Fernandez, a lead aesthetician at the SkinSpirit spa in California, says mineral SPF relies on the physical barrier of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide coverage. But after two-plus hours, its likely that the product has been wiped off or is no longer evenly applied, she says, noting that sweat even the slightest amount can also diminish a formulas efficacy. Its slightly different when it comes to chemical sunscreens, but the timing remains the same. With a chemical sunscreen, the [active ingredients] have literally been used up after two hours, Fernandez adds. 12. Rely on water-resistant formulas If you know youll be spending time in or around water (or expect to sweat), always choose a water-resistant sunscreen. This is not to be confused with waterproof. You should always still reapply sunscreen every two hours or more often if youre swimming or sweating. Still, the benefit of water-resistant sunscreens is that theyre designed to keep your skin protected even while wet. With physical SPF, the active ingredients will be the same as non-water-resistant versions, but the base will be different. It will be much thicker and oil-dense, which takes longer to dissolve in water, Fernandez says. 13. Choose based on skin type If your skin is on the drier side, look for creamy textures thatll nourish the skin as it protects. Yadav recommends hydrating ingredients that help quench dryness (like hyaluronic acid) as well as ceramides, which prevent moisture loss, and moisturizing emollients like jojoba oil, shea butter and squalane. If you have oily skin, avoid formulas that contain heavy oils and plant butters (like coconut oil, shea butter or cocoa butter), and stick with a mineral (physical) sunscreen, which is less likely to irritate. If you have sensitive skin, Yadav recommends formulas that contain soothing ingredients to help quell any existing irritation or redness, such as aloe, chamomile, green tea and niacinamide. 14. Choose based on skin tone The idea that only lighter skin tones are more susceptible to UV damage is not only inaccurate, but its also dangerous and can lead those with melanated skin and darker complexions to believe that they do not need to protect their skin. The myth comes from an estimation that those with a darker complexion have a natural SPF of 13.4, whereas those with lighter skin have a natural SPF of about 3.4. This may lead many to skip sun protection which can lead to a higher rate of death from skin cancer for people of color, due to a delay in detection or presentation. While its true that people with fair skin tones are more susceptible to skin cancer because they have less melanin in their skin, that doesnt mean those with deeper complexions are not at risk, Yadav says. Though its less common, darker complexions are still at risk of developing melanoma skin cancer as well as nonmelanoma skin cancer. 15. Apply the correct amount Most adults need about an ounce of sunscreen enough to fill a shot glass to fully cover their entire body, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). For your face and front of the neck, Jamal says youll need about a quarter-teaspoon for maximum coverage. Its important to note that its the incidental, short, unprotected exposures to the sun that will cause serious damage over time. There doesnt need to be a burn in order for damage and the breakdown of healthy cells to occur, Fernandez adds. What this means for you: Its crucial to wear the right level of protection, apply (and reapply) the correct amount of product and always look for broad-spectrum products. 16. Protect your skin year-round Apply sunscreen every day. There is no correlation between UV levels and temperature, so even in cooler weather, apply SPF sunscreen. Just like sand or water at the beach or pool reflects the UV rays, snow does so as well, increasing your sun exposure. 17. Dont forget often-missed spots Fernandez says that the ears are a common area of your body that gets a ton of sun exposure. But because your ears contain fewer nerve endings, they wont always alert you when a burn is happening so its important to apply sunscreen heavily to this area. And while youre putting sunscreen on your ears, dab some along your hairline and part as well, unless youre wearing a hat. Dont forget to apply SPF lip balm, too. Finally, your hands receive constant sun exposure and may not feel the burn or heat as the damage is occurring, Fernandez warns. Be sure to always add as needed to the tops of your hands. 18. Try a stick sunscreen Stick sunscreens arent just for kids, theyre an easy way to quickly apply sunscreen when out and about. There are many stick forms that offer broad-spectrum protection that are easy to apply. The trick with stick sunscreens is to do at least three to four passes per body part, and rub the sunscreen all over the skin. Dont rely on just the passes from the stick to fully protect, otherwise youll end up with a striped sunburn, Hartman says. When I was a kid in the 1960s, my family lived just a couple of blocks away from McKinley Park in Tacoma, Washington. My brothers used to take me there, and I was just amazed at the beauty of it. Its 22 acres of nature south of downtown, with streams, trails and a reflecting pond. Wed go sledding there in the winter and slide down hills on cardboard in the summer. But then my parents divorced, and we moved to a different part of town. I graduated from high school and got odd jobs, then worked in the beer industry. And as soon as I could, I bought my own place, back near McKinley Park. But I had a problem with alcohol. Ive fought it my whole life. For many years I was sober, but over seven years in my late 40s, I lost almost everything, including the gal and the job. The park was going downhill, too overgrown and dirty. A cancer diagnosis and sobriety And then in 2010, doctors told me I had prostate cancer. They said to try to quit drinking. After my cancer surgery, I knew I had to do something to keep myself occupied so I wouldnt drink. I was just barely hanging on. One day, I grabbed a bucket, went outside and started picking up garbage on the street. I ran into my neighbor Larry, who asked, Why dont you help me in the park? So I started volunteering with Larry, who was working to beautify McKinley Park. The work gave me purpose and relieved my depression. Between that and a 12-step program, Ive been able to stay sober, and my prostate cancer hasnt come back. I volunteered with Larry until he became ill and passed away. Now I continue what he started. When I began at the park, I used to count the used hypodermic needles I was picking up. After I had collected over 5,000 needles, I stopped counting. There are a lot fewer of them now, though. The homeless encampments that used to be all over the park are gone. Whenever I meet someone homeless at the park, I try to find services for them, a place where they can go. I never talk down to them, because Ive been there. Since I retired in 2013, Ive put 1,200 hours a year into the park. People say I saved the park, but the way I look at it, the park saved me. To me, its a magical place. I never knew that taking care of the park would change my life, but it did one day at a time. 6th CIIE to attract more Kiwi exporters Xinhua) 16:36, May 26, 2023 AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 26, (Xinhua) -- More than 20 Kiwi exporters have signed up for the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand said Friday. More Kiwi exporters are welcome to join this year's CIIE, said Ning Feng, President of the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center during a roadshow for the event. Chen Zhiyang, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, highlighted the resilience and recovery of China's economy. He said, "Our government at all levels put economic stability and growth the top priority. The recovery of China's economy has injected more confidence into the global economy, and to further the development of China-New Zealand trade and investment cooperation." In a recent survey released by New Zealand Trade and Enterprises (NZTE), 64 percent of urban, middle-class consumers in China recognize the premium quality of New Zealand products, the highest rate among all the surveyed markets. Jane Liu, Market Manager for Greater China NZTE confidently anticipated that more Kiwi companies would travel to the market for the CIIE this year, with the aim of building engagement with customers, channel partners, and consumers. This was echoed by Justine Arroll, Trade Strategy Manager of Fonterra. She said CIIE is now the seminal event on Fonterra's calendar in China. "Fonterra has been involved from the inception of CIIE from 2018 and over that time, we have grown the footprint of our booth from 50 square meters to 260 square meters in 2023." Arroll added. She also revealed that Fonterra is going to launch a brand-new high-protein UHT milk during the upcoming CIIE in Shanghai. Another dairy company, Milk New Zealand Dairy is also a beneficiary of CIIE. Managing Director of Milk New Zealand Dairy Terry Lee said, "Participating in the CIIE brings great benefits to Milk New Zealand Dairy. We consider the CIIE as a platform for launching new products, gaining media attention, expanding distribution channels, and engaging in exchanges and learning with our peers." The event is co-organized by the New Zealand China Chamber of Commerce and the China International Import Expo Bureau. Representatives from Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, New Zealand China Council, New Zealand China Trade Association, New Zealand Trade and Enterprises, as well as around 200 government and business figures attended the roadshow. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Second Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kang Kyung-sung, right, shakes hands with Yolyn Ang, vice president of Google's Asia-Pacific Global Partnerships, at the World Climate Industry Expo (WCE) in BEXCO, Busan, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy By Lee Kyung-min Surbhi Singhvi, energy transformations manager at World Business Council for Sustainable Development / Courtesy of the World Climate Industry Expo Businesses practicing carbon neutrality around-the-clock are likely to fully disclose environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) data, and meet emission reduction targets, a source of stable and greater access to financial capital in the years to come, according to energy transition experts, Friday. In addition, the roles of firms in Asia are critical, and will continue to strengthen, mostly because of their expanded presence in the global supply chain, Surbhi Singhvi, energy transformations manager at World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said. WBCSD is the global, CEO-led community of the world's leading sustainable businesses working collectively to accelerate the system transformations needed for a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable future. The notion of the green drive being commercially unviable due to high cost is, in her view, too broad an argument lacking context, and short-sighted judgments will only lead to delays in innovation and growth. "Stakeholders are asking for more disclosure and more importantly carbon neutrality means increased and more access to capital," she said during a keynote speech "24/7 carbon free power: a new frontier in power procurement" at the World Climate Industry Expo (WCE) held from May 25 to 27, alongside Yolyn Ang, Vice President of Google's Asia-Pacific Global Partnerships. The Google representative's theme was "Building technology that helps people do more for the planet." The international event was organized to paint a picture of how Korea is willing and able to host World Expo 2030. Among the attendees were world-renowned scholars and opinion leaders, as well as 500 local and foreign firms and organizations. Yolyn Ang, vice president of Google's Asia-Pacific Global Partnerships / Courtesy of the World Climate Industry Expo A$200M Placement to Speed Quebec Lithium Production Brisbane, May 26, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - North American lithium producer Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( DML:FRA ) ( SYAXF:OTCMKTS ) has secured additional funding to speed development of its Quebec lithium resources, with the launch of a fully underwritten A$200 million two tranche placement (Placement) at A$0.18 per share (Offer Price) to professional and sophisticated investors. The Placement bookbuild will be conducted today, closing at 5pm (Sydney time) for the Southern Hemisphere and 9am (Sydney time) tomorrow for the Northern Hemisphere. Refer to the investor presentation lodged today with the ASX for further information. Petra Capital is acting as sole lead manager, sole bookrunner and sole underwriter to the Placement. Desjardins Capital Markets acted as Co-Managers to the Placement. The Placement funding will expedite the development of Sayona's emerging northern Quebec lithium hub, centred on its Moblan Lithium Project, where a 60,000m drilling campaign is currently underway. A resource upgrade is anticipated following completion of the drilling, with feasibility studies continuing on a new mining operation located near established infrastructure and with potential for downstream processing. Sayona's flagship NAL operation is continuing its production ramp-up, with the new funding to support expedited mine development studies, assessment of downstream options including lithium carbonate production, and associated infrastructure planning. Additional spending is also anticipated on project infrastructure, with NAL forming the centre of Sayona's Abitibi lithium hub. Additional funding will be allocated towards drilling and assessment of the Company's lithium and gold exploration portfolio in Western Australia's highly prospective Pilbara region, including maiden drilling at the Mt Dove Gold Project, the closest Sayona lease to the Hemi discovery, and at the Tabba Tabba Lithium Project. The remaining funds will be used for working capital purposes, including corporate development and transaction costs. Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch commented: "This funding will bolster Sayona's balance sheet strength and accelerate the development of already North America's leading hard rock lithium resource base, currently its only significant source of spodumene (lithium) production. "The focus of the investment will be on fast-tracking feasibility work to commence spodumene (lithium) production at our Moblan Lithium Project in 2027, also targeting the establishment of integrated downstream production facilities in Quebec. "The funding will also accelerate the ramp-up of production and capacity at NAL, with further investment into planned lithium carbonate production, supporting Quebec's ambitions to become an integrated producer of battery materials. "Our Western Australian gold and lithium assets also have great potential and we look forward to the results of exploration activity in 2023. "Long-term industry investors are clearly confident to support our growth strategy and I thank them for their support. This capital raise is designed at maximising speed of bringing tonnes to market over the coming years, critical to securing our position as North America's leading lithium supplier." Placement Details A fully underwritten two tranche Placement, to professional or sophisticated investors, of approximately 1,111 million shares, at A$0.18 per share, to raise A$200 million. The Offer Price of A$0.18 per share represents: - 14.3 % discount to the last closing price (at 25 May 2023) of A$0.21. - 18.8% discount to the 5 trading day volume weighted average trading price to 25 May 2023 of A$0.222; and - 16.2% discount to the 15 trading day volume weighted average trading price to 25 May 2023 of A$0.215. Under the Placement, Sayona will issue 940,384,891 shares, raising approximately A$169 million, under its remaining placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1. In addition, 170,726,221 shares will be issued, raising a further A$31 million, subject to shareholder approval at a general meeting of the Company to be held on or around 14 July 2023. The settlement date of tranche one of the Placement is 5 June 2023, with tranche one Placement shares expected to be allotted on 6 June 2023. Tranche two placement shares are expected to settle on 19 July 2023 and allot on 20 July 2023, subject to shareholder approval. To view further details, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/LWT73MJM To view the Investor Presentation, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/YE639N6B About Sayona Mining Limited Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia. Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au The Albuquerque Police Department has identified a man who was shot and killed by officers last week at an apartment near the ABQ BioPark. APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said 42-year-old David Gaylor was wielding a makeshift spear when he was fatally shot by at least two officers on May 19. He said a relative initially called seeking help for Gaylor, who was reportedly threatening to kill himself. Gallegos said police responded because the relative said Gaylor had also threatened her. On Facebook, people mourned the loss of Gaylor, describing him as the most gentle and kindest person ever. One man wrote the relative called a non-emergency number for mental health help and instead of helping him the police arrived, escalated the situation, and wrongfully took his life. Gallegos previously said around 3 p.m. officers went to Gaylors apartment at The Beach, a complex at Central and Tingley. He said Gaylor refused to come out and police were about to leave when he emerged with a homemade spear. Gallegos said Gaylor threatened officers repeatedly and police tried to use a Taser on him twice but neither attempt was successful. He said two officers shot Gaylor when he backed them up against a balcony. Gallegos said, during the ordeal, officers requested a Mobile Crisis Team which includes a behavioral health clinician but one wasnt available. The shooting was the second time Albuquerque police shot someone in less than a week and the fourth time this year. In 2022, Albuquerque police tallied a record-high 18 police shootings, with 10 being fatal. Several of those shootings involved people in the midst of a mental health crisis, often threatening to kill themselves. The Albuquerque International Sunport is preparing for a big Memorial Day weekend and summer season and it is asking travelers to be prepared as well. So how does one prepare? Sunport officials say by arriving at least two hours ahead of scheduled departure times, keeping up-to-date with flight information and taking advantage of self-service kiosks, airline apps and TSA pre-check. Sunport officials anticipate about 108,000 total passengers to make their way through the airport through Tuesday a projected 15% increase from last May. The busiest day of the extended holiday weekend will be Monday, with an estimated 20,000 total passengers. Diana Lopez Rabadan, a Sunport spokeswoman, said the Sunport doesnt have projections further out but expects a very strong summer travel season. Based on national trends, theres a good chance we will be at or above the summer travel numbers from 2019/pre-pandemic, she said in an email to the Journal. The Sunports anticipated high-volume travel season, kicking off with the Memorial Day weekend, comes as the airport is working through an $87 million update that will include a new food hall and increase TSAs footprint by 50%, among other changes. Travel at the Sunport also comes as the airport has beefed up the number of nonstop flights out of the airport. The number this year stands at 29, up from 24 last year and the most since 2012 when the airport had 30 nonstop flights. A new, daily nonstop flight offered by Southwest Airlines between Albuquerque and Long Beach, California is set to take off Sept. 5. After more than a decade of heated debates, the Sandoval County Commission seemingly put an end to the issue of wild horses in Placitas by voting in favor of two measures setting new rules for who can feed the horses. An ordinance making it illegal for residents to feed the horses and a resolution that established a permitting process for third parties to feed the horses safely, with only nonprofit organizations eligible for the permit, each passed by a vote of 4-1 Wednesday night. The commissioners voted 3-2 against the ordinance at the March 22 meeting. Commissioner Jay Block was the lone vote against the ordinance and the resolution at the Wednesday meeting. Commission Chairman Dave Heil and Commissioner Michael Meek each flipped their vote from the March 22 meeting. The feeding of horses has been a longstanding issue for people in the community. Many things have been tried to control the horse population in Placitas, including the use of porcine zona pellucida. PZP is a fertility-control vaccine given to female horses through an injection via remote darting. Another issue that has been raised has been the danger concerns for motorists and horses on N.M. 165 near mile marker 4, where horses have been hit by vehicles and fed by people in that area. At the April 12 meeting, Deputy County Manager John Garcia and Sandoval County Sheriffs Office Deputy Chief Allen Mills presented a motion to approve the publication of an ordinance to ban the general public from feeding certain wildlife within the Sandoval County Area. The revised ordinance would establish a permitting process for third parties to feed the horses safely. The bottom line: Why are we doing this? It is for public safety, Garcia said. We as a government know that theres a risk and have a responsibility to address the risk. Theres a concern for general safety in the community. The situation does require a solution both short and long term. Our only thing were doing in the short term today is an ordinance to stop the bleeding. But we do need to think of a long-term situation. The short-term solution is the ordinance and the resolution. The permits would be issued for one year at a time and could be renewed at least 90 days before its expiration. No permit shall be issued for an area adjacent to any public road. Only nonprofit organizations that qualify for 501(c)(3) status and have demonstrated experience and knowledge in the care of horse management and protection would be eligible. The penalty for unlawful feeding of free-roaming horses would be up to 90 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $300, or both. Read the full story at rrobserver.com. For Kristina Martinez, getting the special education services her son needs has been a long road. Martinezs son, Boyd, is a freshman at Rio Rancho High School who has severe autism. The familys come a long way since he was first diagnosed, but Martinez says that to this day, she still struggles to get her son everything he needs even down to getting him included on the school choir. Its been a fight since the beginning, she said. But an executive order signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday, Martinez said, will help. It gives us a voice, a seat at the table, where there wasnt one, she said. The executive order, the governor said at a Thursday news conference, will help families navigate the states special education system by creating a specialized office under the Public Education Department. Among other things, the office is tasked with helping to expand special education services, train and recruit more educators and track the states progress. We must do better, Lujan Grisham said, lifting her pen to sign the executive order. Today signals that we will. A big part of the effort to make special education more accessible, Lujan Grisham said, is bringing on more special education teachers and other licensed educators who help with those students. In October 2022, New Mexico State University found that special education teachers made up the largest share of the states teacher vacancies with 193. There were also significant vacancies among other educators, including speech language pathologists and counselors. There are some real gaps, and I dont want to minimize those for anybody here, Lujan Grisham said. We need more folks. The new office will also collect statewide special education data, enforce the states compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and work with other state agencies on This isnt the first time this year that lawmakers have tried to create a special education office. House Bill 285, introduced during this years legislative session and dubbed the Special Education Act, would have also created an office with the hopes of making special education services more accessible statewide. But despite making its way through two House committees, the bill stalled on the House floor. So the governor, a staunch supporter of the bill during the session, said she had to take matters into her own hands. Someone, Im sure, is going to ask me, Well, are you mad at the Legislature? Always, Lujan Grisham joked. (But) Im not waiting one more minute to get the services and the supports and the education that every student in New Mexico needs. There didnt seem to be any hard feelings, though at least, not from the bills lead sponsor, Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Albuquerque. This is a jumping off point, she said. We cant wait. So waiting until the next legislative session doesnt work for me or for families. During the session, some questioned how HB 285 which would have created a similar special education office within the PED would have expanded on whats already being done by the state. The new special education office, according to the executive order, will take over the reins from the PEDs existing special education division, but now with its own director who would report directly to the public education secretary. It doesnt necessarily expand on the duties of the division, but as a more self-contained body, the office does aim to jump start special education in the state, a spokesperson for the Office of the Governor said. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden said a deal to resolve the governments debt ceiling crisis seemed very close late Friday, even as the deadline for a potentially catastrophic default was pushed back to June 5 and seemed likely to drag negotiations between the White House and Republicans into another frustrating week. The later X-date, laid out in a letter from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, set the risk of a devastating default four days beyond an earlier estimate. It came as Americans and the world uneasily watched the negotiating brinkmanship that could throw the U.S. economy into chaos and sap world confidence in the nations leadership. Yet Biden was upbeat as he left for the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, declaring, Its very close, and Im optimistic. With Republicans at the Capitol talking with Bidens team at the White House, the president said: Theres a negotiation going on. Im hopeful well know by tonight whether were going to be able to have a deal. But a deal had not come together by the time Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy left the Capitol late Friday. In a blunt warning, Yellen said failure to act by the new date would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests. Anxious retirees and others were already making contingency plans for missed checks, with the next Social Security payments due next week. Biden and McCarthy seemed to be narrowing on a two-year budget-slashing deal that would also extend the debt limit into 2025 past the next presidential election. After frustrating rounds of closed-door talks, a compromise had appeared to be nearing on Friday. Republicans have made some headway in their drive for steep spending cuts that Democrats oppose. However, the sides are particularly divided over McCarthys demands for tougher work requirements on government food stamp recipients that Democrats say is a nonstarter. Earlier Friday, McCarthy said his Republican debt negotiators and the White House had hit crunch time, straining to wrap up an agreement. Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress. Failure to lift the borrowing limit, now $31 trillion, to pay the nations incurred bills, would send shockwaves through the U.S. and global economy. But many of the hard-right Trump-aligned Republicans in Congress have long been skeptical of Treasurys projections, and they are pressing McCarthy to hold out. As talks pushed into another late night, one of the negotiators, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., called Bidens comments a hopeful sign. But he also cautioned that theres still sticky points impeding a final agreement. While the contours of the deal have been taking shape to cut spending for 2024 and impose a 1% cap on spending growth for 2025, the two sides remain stuck on various provisions. A person familiar with the talks said the two sides were dug in on whether or not to agree to Republican demands to impose stiffer work requirements on people who receive government food stamps, cash assistance and health care aid. House Democrats have called such requirements for health care and food aid a nonstarter. Asked if Republicans would relent on work requirements, Republican negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana fumed, Hell no, not a chance. House Republicans displayed risky political bravado in leaving town for the holiday. Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, but now their return date is uncertain. The world is watching, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said after meeting Friday with Yellen. Lets remember we are now in the 12th hour. Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the countrys full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities. We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point, said McCarthy. One idea is to set the topline budget numbers but then add a snap-back provision to enforce cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals. On work requirements for aid recipients, the White House is particularly resisting measures that could drive more people into poverty or take their health care, said the person familiar with the talks, who was granted anonymity to describe behind-closed-door discussions. Over the Republican demand to rescind money for the Internal Revenue Service, its still an open issue whether the sides will compromise by allowing the funding to be pushed into other domestic programs, the person said. In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending beyond what Biden had proposed in his budget, instead offering to keep it at his proposed levels, according to another person familiar with the talks. The teams are also eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., to facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid. 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. Meanwhile, McCarthy is feeling pressure from the Houses right flank not to give in to any deal, even if it means blowing past the Treasury deadline. McCarthy said Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, told him, Make sure you get a good agreement. Watchful Democrats, though, are also pressing Biden. The top three House Democratic leaders, led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, spoke late Thursday with the White House. McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting. The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Bidens desk. 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 as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table. 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. ___ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and videojournalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this report. 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. Bernards 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 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. 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. 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. Foreign tourists order a bowl of patjuk, or Korean adzuki-bean gruel, at Gwangjang Market in downtown Seoul, Dec. 21, 2022. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun Thai tourist Rob Gorman, 34, visited Mangwon Market in Mapo District, western Seoul, three weeks ago when he came to Korea. "I saw my friend post a picture of this Korean tradition market on social media before and I wanted to go there so bad," Gorman said. "When I visited Mangwon Market earlier this month, I enjoyed so many foods there and I especially liked the vibe, which was very unique Korean style that I cannot experience anywhere else." Taiwanese office worker En En Vorachit, 33, also picked Gwangjang Market in downtown Seoul as his most memorable experience in Korea during his visit two months ago. "There was so much variety of Korean foods that I never knew before, although I come to Korea often and I have tried many of them already. I really liked bindaetteok (Korean mung-bean pancake) and yukhoe (Korean-style raw beer tartare) in particular. The food prices at Gwangjang Market were also very cheap. I am willing to revisit one day," Vorachit said. High school students walk through Mangwon Market in western Seoul's Mapo District, March 9. Korea Times file Traditional markets in Korea are gaining popularity among foreign tourists who want unique travel and authentic Korean food experiences. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has also introduced 15 representative traditional markets across the country on Google including Mangwon Market, Gwangjang Market, Tongin Market and Namdaemun Market. "Traditional markets show various unique scenes. There are also energy, food smells and interesting items that (tourists) can't experience anywhere else," a KTO official said. Many of the stores at traditional markets adopt English menus with food pictures to help foreign tourists understand and order what they want. Visitors can also pay with credit cards and online payments. Young local consumers are also finding traditional markets attractive too. Yesan Market in South Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongdong Market in Seoul are the two most popular places. The number of visitors to Yesan Market has been increasing since January after the market was remodeled in collaboration with local food firm The Born Korea, led by Korean celebrity chef Paik Jong-won. According to Yesan City, 5,000 visitors from all over the country visit the market on weekdays and more than 10,000 on Saturdays and Sundays. The U.S. Supreme Court has stripped federal agencies of authority over millions of acres of wetlands, weakening a bedrock environmental law enacted a half-century ago to cleanse the countrys badly polluted waters. In a ruling that could impact New Mexico, a 5-4 majority significantly expanded the ability of farmers, homebuilders and other developers to dig up or fill wetlands near rivers, lakes and streams, finding the government had long overreached in limiting such activities. The ruling may nullify key parts of a rule the Biden administration imposed in December, which two federal judges already had blocked from being enforced in 26 states. Its the latest turn in a decades-old struggle by courts and regulators to determine which waters are subject to protection under the Clean Water Act. Some experts say the battle over wetlands now may shift to states, with red and blue states writing laws that take dramatically different approaches. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, said Friday she is directing her administration to identify regulatory gaps that can be filled at the state level. In an arid state like ours and because of a drying climate, she said in a statement, all of our states precious water resources must be afforded robust legal protections. In addition, state Environment Secretary James Kenney described the Supreme Courts ruling as cultural appropriation for state residents and tribal members who could be affected. While this decision is devastating to water-starved western states, we will not be deterred from our mission to protect water for current and future generations, Kenney said. However, Larry Behrens of Power the Future, an advocacy group that supports the fossil fuel industries, noted that part of the court decision was unanimous, proving the governor has no clue that her position is so extreme. The high courts decision follows one in 2022 curtailing federal power to reduce carbon emissions from power plants and indicates a willingness by the courts emboldened conservatives to limit environmental laws and agency powers. This is one of the saddest chapters in the 50-year history of the Clean Water Act, said Jim Murphy, an attorney with the National Wildlife Federation. Industry and farm groups praised the ruling. Were absolutely thrilled with the results, said Travis Cushman, deputy general counsel for the American Farm Bureau Federation. This is the exact answer that weve been asking for for a long time. Case background The courts majority sided with 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 wetland requiring them to get a permit before filling it with rocks and soil. Now that the case is finally over theyll be able to make reasonable use of their property, said Damien Schiff of the Pacific Legal Foundation, which represented the couple. While all nine justices agreed the Sacketts property was not covered by the law, they disagreed over the definition of waters of the United States and which wetlands it includes. The majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, echoed a 2006 opinion by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. It said federally protected wetlands must be directly adjacent to a relatively permanent waterway connected to traditional interstate navigable waters such as a river or ocean. They also must have a continuous surface connection with that water, making it difficult to determine where the water ends and the wetland begins, Alito wrote. The court jettisoned a 17-year-old opinion by their former colleague, Anthony Kennedy, describing covered wetlands as having a significant nexus to larger bodies of water. It 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. Justice Elena Kagan, one of three liberals on the court, said the majority rewrote the law to reach the political decision it wanted by coming up with new ways to curtail environmental protection powers Congress gave the Environmental Protection Agency. The court will not allow the Clean (Water) Act to work as Congress instructed, Kagan wrote. The court, rather than Congress, will decide how much regulation is too much. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the decision erodes longstanding clean water protections and the agency was considering its options. The Biden administration regulations replaced a Trump-era rule that federal courts had thrown out and environmentalists said left waterways vulnerable to pollution. Even after the latest court ruling, some experts said ambiguities remain and likely will persist as the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers craft yet more regulations tailored to the courts edicts. Landowners wishing to develop property near waterways will still need to hire consultants, walk the land and figure out whether youre in or out of federal reach, Boston real estate attorney Peter Alpert said. Theres still going to be a lot of doubt about whats in the gray area. Impact The ruling could scuttle protections for at least 45 million acres of wetlands, an area roughly the size of Florida, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center. They just put huge swaths of wetlands at risk, said Kelly Moser, an attorney with the center. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the majority likely stripped protections from wetlands that were long considered regulated, including those behind levees along the flood-prone Mississippi River. Despite their vital role in blocking flood waters and filtering out pollutants, those wetlands may lose protection because they arent directly connected to the river, he said in an opinion that concurred on the Sackett case but disagreed significantly with the majority on the broader issues. The ruling will have a big impact in the arid Southwest, where some rivers and streams dry up between infrequent rainstorms, experts said. The court majority said the Clean Water Act protects only wetlands connected to rivers and streams that are relatively permanent or continuous. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said the courts ruling would cause real damage to New Mexico waterways and the clean water sources communities rely on. Our states surface waters and watersheds are already scarce and threatened, Heinrich said in a statement. We cannot afford to lose protections of those waters. Reporters Mark Sherman and Jessica Gresko in Washington contributed to this story. Dan McKay of the Journal Capitol Bureau also contributed. Instagram Celebrity The Poosh founder, who is already mother to Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and Reign, 8, with her ex-partner Scott Disick, previously blamed the medication for putting her into menopause. May 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Kourtney Kardashian is "officially done with IVF." The Poosh founder, who had been attempting to get pregnant via In vitro fertilization, explained why she decided to stop the attempt in the Thursday, May 25 episode of "The Kardashians". The 44-year-old made the revelation when speaking to her sister Khloe Kardashian. "We would love a baby more than anything," she said. "Whatever's meant to be. We have a full, blessed life." "It took a toll on me physically. My health is still impacted because it's hormones and also mentally, it definitely took a toll," Kourtney, who wed Travis Barker in May last year, continued. "I think being happy is most important and being a good parent to my kids. We are just embracing whatever is meant to be will be." Kourtney is already mother to Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and Reign, 8, with her ex-partner Scott Disick. Travis, meanwhile, has Landon, 19, and 17-year-old Alabama with ex-wife Shanna Moakler. Kourtney previously divulged that she decided to postpone her IVF journey after eight months. "We took a break and wanted to try things naturally. The doctors had told us that we still have some really good-looking follicles and that it was the best they've seen," she said on her family's show last year. Earlier in 2022, Kourtney claimed that the medication put her into "menopause." She shared, "It hasn't been the most amazing experience... The medication that they've been giving me, they put me into menopause." "Literally into menopause," Kourtney stressed. Her mom, Kris Jenner, who seemed shocked by the confession, asked, "Based off of what? A drug?" to which her eldest daughter replied, "Yes." Kourtney also told Kris some of the social media backlash she's gotten amid her IVF treatment, including how she's "gained so much weight." The TV personality told the momager, "I'm, like, it's so rude to comment on people when you have no idea what they're going through." You can share this post! CBS Music The lead vocalist of the 'Everlong' band gets emotional when delivering single 'My Hero' to remember their late bandmate as they kick off tour with replacement Josh Freese. May 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Dave Grohl broke down in tears while performing "My Hero" in honour of late drummer Taylor Hawkins at Foo Fighters' first concert with his replacement Josh Freese. The Grammy-winning rockers began their tour at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Wednesday night, May 24, where they welcomed their new sticksman to the band and thanked him for "saving" the group following the tragic loss of Taylor - who was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia, in March 2022, aged 50. "Would you please welcome the man behind the drums Josh Freese, who has helped save the band. We would not be here tonight if it weren't for Josh, so everybody give Josh a big f***ing round of applause please," frontman Dave, 54, said to the crowd. During the emotional performance of "My Hero", a hawk lit up the stage in Taylor's memory, and Dave struggled to hold back the tears. Later in the show, Dave's daughter Violet, 17, joined the group to perform "Shame Shame" from their 2021 LP "Medicine at Midnight". Before their first proper concert, Josh was unveiled as their new drummer at their "Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts" livestream on Sunday, May 21. Josh is known for playing for the likes of Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, and Paramore. He was among several drummers to pay tribute to Taylor at a pair of tribute concerts in Los Angeles and London. The Foos have dedicated their upcoming album to Taylor and Dave's late mother Virginia Hanlon Grohl. The "Walk" rockers will release "But Here We Are" on June 2, and they've shared that the record is in honour of their beloved bandmate, and the frontman's parent, who passed away the same year. Sharing the minimalist white cassette and album cover for the LP, which is designed by Morning Breath INC, the Grammy winning-group tweeted the album dedication, "For Virginia and Taylor." The follow-up to 2021's 'Medicine at Midnight' is described as, "A brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters endured over the last year." In a letter to fans, the 'Best of You' hitmakers vowed to be "a different band going forward" following the devastating loss of Taylor. They wrote, "As we say goodbye to the most difficult and tragic year that our band has ever known, we are reminded of how thankful we are for the people that we love and cherish most, and for the loved ones who are no longer with us." "Foo Fighters were formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life. And for the past 27 years our fans have built a worldwide community, a devoted support system that has helped us all get through the darkest of times together." "A place to share our joy and our pain, our hopes and fears, and to join in a chorus of life together through music. Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were - and without Taylor, we know that we're going to be a different band going forward." "We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you and we know that when we see you again - and we will soon - he'll be there in spirit with all of us every night." You can share this post! Celebrity Despite getting fired by WWE before being reinstated later due to racist past, the 69-year-old wrestling champion insists the 'main thing' that really worried him was his health issue. May 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Hulk Hogan has referred to his racism scandal as a "speed bump." The WWE legend was kicked out by the company and removed from the Hall of Fame with all references to him scrubbed from their website and the WWE Network in 2015 after past racist comments were leaked during his sex tape trial, while he was reinstated three years later and has apologised. "There was a temporary situation with the surgeries and some of the racial stuff that went down. It was a speed bump, but that's not who I was, and everybody knew that," he told host Ariel Helwani when appearing on "The MMA Hour". Hogan - whose real name is Terry Bollea - has appeared for WWE a number of times since 2018, first returning at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia that year and later hosting "WrestleMania 37" with Titus O'Neil in 2021. Despite the scandal, he insisted the "main thing" that affected him were the surgeries he has had over the past decade after suffering many injuries over his career. He added, "So it was a tough time, but the main thing that really got me were the surgeries over the last 10 years." "That was the thing that was in question. When you come out of a back surgery and someone tells you you're never gonna walk again, that will really screw your head up. The rest of this stuff, I had a bunch of people on my side, I had a huge support system. People that knew me stuck with me, and it's just been amazing to see how the fans have stayed with me." Hogan admitted he did wonder about the impact his comments could have on his "legacy." He explained, "There was a temporary situation where I thought, 'Okay, where's this going to end up at? Where's this gonna wind down? Where's the legacy, where's this, that.' " "At the end of the day, there had been so much goodwill with the Hulk Hogan brand, and people knew me so well, I mean I've been around over 40 years. People know me so well, from Mike Tyson to Brutus Beefcake to Vince McMahon to Verne Gagne to Bret Hart, everybody knows me so well that they knew that I would come back and I would become the person that I was." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Patrick Xavier Clark, who is alleged to have fired shots that fatally hit the Migos star during an altercation in November 2022, is indicted on murder charges by a grand jury in Texas. May 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - A man arrested in the shooting death of Takeoff has been officially charged with murder. On Thursday, May 25, a Texas grand jury indicted Patrick Xavier Clark on murder charges, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Following the indictment, Patrick's attorney Carl Moore says that it's "not unexpected" due to a "minimal standard of proof" required. She believes that her client will be proven innocent throughout the course of a trial. "Today's action by the grand jury is not unexpected. We would ask people to remember that getting an indictment requires meeting a very, very minimal standard of proof," the attorney says in a statement. "When we get inside a courtroom and in front of a jury, where we will be able to put on our evidence and cross-examine the state's witnesses - where the standard of proof is guilt beyond reasonable doubt - we expect the jury will come back with a verdict of not guilty." Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, was shot and killed during an altercation outside a bowling alley in Houston, Texas on November 1, 2022. His fellow Migos member and uncle Quavo was also there during the incident. The coroner's report said Takeoff was shot in the head and the torso. In a statement, the 28-year-old rapper's record label said that he was killed by a "stray bullet," and Houston police chief Troy Finner said that he did not believe Takeoff to be the intended target. He was laid to rest following a private commemoration on November 10 and "Celebration of Life" at the State Farm Arena on the next day. Patrick was arrested in December, one month after the shooting. He asked a judge for $5,000 to hire a private investigator to properly prepare his defense, claiming he's financially unable to cover the costs of hiring a P.I. on his own. In January of this year, however, he was released from the Harris County Jail after posting $1 million bond. He was initially held on a $2 million bond. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity After he was reported to have proposed to the Emmy Award-winning journalist in Spain, the Amazon founder is said to be preparing his 10-acre Beverly Hills home for the two of them. May 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jeff Bezos has resumed construction on his love nest. After he was reported to have gotten engaged to Lauren Sanchez in mid-May, the Amazon founder was alleged to have been preparing a new $175M home for him and his Emmy Award-winning journalist girlfriend. On Thursday, May 25, the 59-year-old magnate was reported by the DailyMail to have kicked start the construction of his Beverly Hills, California home once again. A number of photos obtained by the outlet showed that men were back at work in the lavish mansion. Jeff bought his 10-acre house, which was previously owned by Warner Bros. President Jack Warner, in 2020. His property originally features a main house, a guest house, a gym, a pavilion and a guard house for security. The American entrepreneur was said to be adding a new "game court fence with lighting," a new pool house, powder room as well as retaining walls once his application was accepted. The expansion, however, was put to a stop in April. Days before activities were spotted at his mansion, Jeff made news headlines over claims of his engagement to Lauren. Reports have come out that he had popped the question in private after he and his partner arrived in either Ibiza or Mallorca to enjoy their Spain getaway. About Jeff and Lauren's Spain vacation, a source told PEOPLE, "They have been in a great mood and are obviously enjoying their trip. When they first arrived in Spain, Lauren especially seemed giddy with excitement as they toured the yacht." "Lauren keeps enjoying the tanning deck. They stopped for lunch in Ibiza mid-week before continuing on to France, where they spent the weekend," the source added, before revealing further that the perfect pair "are usually hand-in-hand" and "look very happy." "Her engagement ring is beyond stunning. And huge! She keeps playing with it and looking at it. You can tell she loves it. He proposed last week. They're on cloud nine - so happy and madly in love," the source additionally shared. You can share this post! Adani Wilmar, one of India's largest food FMCG companies, has today announced its entry into the whole wheat category with its brand Fortune. Adani Wilmar will be the only national player in this highly fragmented and commoditized category with its guarantee to provide unparalleled access to the purest wheat seed of the most premium wheat varieties in the country viz., Sharbati, Poorna 1544, Lokwan, and MP Grade 1. Fortune will set the gold standard for whole wheat in India and stand out for its exceptional sourcing from the best growing regions such as Sehore in Madhya Pradesh, renowned for the unmatched Sharbati variant. It is the unique agro-climatic conditions and farming know-how that produces high-quality wheats which are golden amber in colour, hard on bite and heavy on the palm to give unbeatable qualities of softness, sweetness and taste in the roti. These varieties meet stringent AWL specifications to ensure purity of variety. Talking about the product launch, Mr. Vineeth Viswambharan, Associate Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Adani Wilmar said, Traditional wheat connoisseur households in the West & North of the country are very selective about their preferred wheat varieties which they get ground under their supervision in neighbourhood chakki stores. The range of Fortune Whole Wheat varieties will give them just what they are looking for and will stand out for their clearly superior quality and variety assurance. There is a pressing need for genuine and unadulterated whole wheat options in the market. Our products will deliver a wholesome and unadulterated whole wheat experience to consumers across the country. The brand Fortune is built on the pillars of trust, purity and premium-ness, aiming to widen its product portfolio and catering to the brands patrons with niche preferences. The company aims to consistently increase its market share and expand its presence into high-value metro markets such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Surat and Ahmedabad. India's number one full home personalised interior design brand continues to further strengthen their design leadership team. The bespoke home decor and interior design solutions has appointed Jenis Makwana as the Head of Design, I-Labs and R&D. His vast expertise and leadership skills, will be instrumental in transforming modern day interiors through innovation. In his new role, Jenis will work directly with Amit Parsuramka, CEO Bonito Designs and will lead the innovation lab team. A highly scalable and exponentially growing interior design brand, Bonito Designs is driven by a technology and design led approach. A perfect combination of personalization and innovation, Bonito Designs home decor is best visualized through 3D designs and its experience centers, located in Mumbai and Bangalore. In the last four years, Bonito Designs has become the third largest interior design company in the country. It aims to be the number one brand in the organized retail segment in the Bangalore and Mumbai markets by March 2024 and is well on track to touch an ARR of USD 100 mn & an annual EBITDA of 100 crores. Prior to joining Bonito Designs, Jenis worked as a Design Consultant for Stanley Lifestyles, where he led numerous high-profile projects and helped the company achieve significant growth. An accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in the interior design industry, Jenis strength lies in consumer focus, with a proven record of achievement of converting client ideas into stunning, functional spaces, especially in the retail and hospitality industry. Commenting on the start of his new journey, Jenis Makwana Head of Design & Innovation, Bonito Designs said, Commenting on the start of his new journey, Jenis Makwana Head of Design & Innovation, Bonito Designs said, I am very happy to have joined the extremely talented, creative & innovative team at Bonito Designs. The brand has done some great work so far and I am really looking forward to bringing my expertise and leadership to the table that will enable us to achieve new heights in design and innovation. On the new addition to the leadership team, Amit Parsuramka Chief Executive Officer, Bonito Designs said, We at Bonito Designs are very excited to have Jenis Makwana on board with us as the Head of Design and Innovation. An extremely accomplished professional, Jenis brings with him over 25 years of experience in the interior design industry, with a proven record of transforming client ideas into stunning functional spaces. We are certain that his impressive background and professional skills will contribute immensely to the growth and success of Bonito Designs. With Jenis joining and spearheading the design team at Bonito Designs, the brand will further strengthen its position in the interior design industry as experts offering per Indias number one full home personalised interior design brand continues to further strengthen their design leadership team. The bespoke home decor and interior design solutions has appointed Jenis Makwana as the Head of Design, I-Labs and R&D. His vast expertise and leadership skills, will be instrumental in transforming modern day interiors through innovation. In his new role, Jenis will work directly with Amit Parsuramka, CEO Bonito Designs and will lead the innovation lab team. A highly scalable and exponentially growing interior design brand, Bonito Designs is driven by a technology and design led approach. A perfect combination of personalization and innovation, Bonito Designs home decor is best visualized through 3D designs and its experience centers, located in Mumbai and Bangalore. In the last four years, Bonito Designs has become the third largest interior design company in the country. It aims to be the number one brand in the organized retail segment in the Bangalore and Mumbai markets by March 2024 and is well on track to touch an ARR of USD 100 mn & an annual EBITDA of 100 crores. Prior to joining Bonito Designs, Jenis worked as a Design Consultant for Stanley Lifestyles, where he led numerous high-profile projects and helped the company achieve significant growth. An accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in the interior design industry, Jenis strength lies in consumer focus, with a proven record of achievement of converting client ideas into stunning, functional spaces, especially in the retail and hospitality industry. Commenting on the start of his new journey, Jenis Makwana Head of Design & Innovation, Bonito Designs said, Commenting on the start of his new journey, Jenis Makwana Head of Design & Innovation, Bonito Designs said, I am very happy to have joined the extremely talented, creative & innovative team at Bonito Designs. The brand has done some great work so far and I am really looking forward to bringing my expertise and leadership to the table that will enable us to achieve new heights in design and innovation. On the new addition to the leadership team, Amit Parsuramka Chief Executive Officer, Bonito Designs said, We at Bonito Designs are very excited to have Jenis Makwana on board with us as the Head of Design and Innovation. An extremely accomplished professional, Jenis brings with him over 25 years of experience in the interior design industry, with a proven record of transforming client ideas into stunning functional spaces. We are certain that his impressive background and professional skills will contribute immensely to the growth and success of Bonito Designs. With Jenis joining and spearheading the design team at Bonito Designs, the brand will further strengthen its position in the interior design industry as experts offering personalised solutions to its consumers. His leadership skills will enable the brand to achieve new heights in design and innovation. The walls of this boarding school echo lies and conspiracies - Disney+ Hotstar drops the trailer of their upcoming mystery drama, School of Lies. Wrapped in the intense mystery of a missing child, this gritty thriller is headlined by Nimrat Kaur, Aamir Bashir, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Sonali Kulkarni and Jitendra Joshi. Inspired by true events and produced by BBC Studios, School of Lies is created by Ishani Banerjee and Avinash Arun Dhaware, directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and will begin streaming on Disney+ Hotstar starting 2nd June 2023. At RISE - the boarding school, when 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. Will they unravel the mystery? Will they be able to find Shakti? School of Lies also stars Varin Roopani, Divyansh Dwivedi, Aryan Singh Ahlawat, Hemant Kher, Parthiv Shetty, Adrija Sinha and Aalekh Kapoor in pivotal roles. Tune in to Disney+ Hotstar to know more. Sameer Gogate, General Manager, Production, BBC Studios India, said, The School of Lies is an enthralling mystery inspired from a set of true events. The Show is set in a boarding school that is plagued by the disappearance of a young boy and exposes the systemic failures and the plight to unravel the truth, while showcasing the myriad of emotions and situations children face every day as they brace life. It brings to light the intricate lives of young students as they grow up, their families and the boarding school ecosystem. We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with Disney+ Hotstar and super excited about this association with Avinash & Nimrat and the cast and crew who have been pivotal to this show. Nimrat Kaur, playing the character of Nandita Mehra, the school counselor in Disney+ Hotstar's School of Lies 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 bogglingly unpredictable occurrences behind the closed gates of a fictional boarding school. Playing the highly complex role of a guidance counselor 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 thatll forever be close to my heart. Creator and Director Avinash Arun Bhaware, 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. School of Lies is a drama thriller set in the fictional Dalton Town, surrounded by hills where a young 12-year-old boy goes missing from a private boarding school RISE, and the subsequent domino effect it causes as the truth is only as complex, as simple. A tale of shame, anger and grief, the narrative explores various stakeholders as the mystery unfolds- young boys on the cusp of adulthood, an aging teacher with a terrible secret, a distant counselor with a moral conflict and a panicking mother in denial. School of Lies is also the story of two young explorers as they discover life and magic. It all collides over 8 episodes to reveal a stunning secret. ~ Join the search for Shakti and get buckled up for the skeletons in the closet of RISE with School of Lies, streaming exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar from 2nd June 2023 onwards ~ *This programme is a work of fiction inspired by true events and is meant for entertainment purposes only. All characters, names of characters, places, and events depicted in this programme are purely fictitious. Mobavenues success can be attributed to the passion, dedication and commitment of two entrepreneurial minds: Kunal Kothari, Founder and Chief Growth Officer and Tejas Rathod, Founder and Chief Operating Officer. Starting their entrepreneurial journey at the age of just 17, the duo has been able to build Mobavenue - a successful bootstrapped MarTech and AdTech company. Recently, their efforts have been rewarded as they were honoured by Forbes (Asia) in their list of 30 Under 30 - Class of 2023, in Media, Marketing and Advertising. Kunal and Tejas met each other during their college days. Deciding to go bootstrapped, the duo set out to disrupt the advertising industry with a $100 cheque from Google Adsense, which they earned through freelancing and started a digital marketing company in 2014. Both believed there was a better way to deliver ads while keeping a privacy-first approach - as they used to see ads based on their online activity, eventually founding Mobavenue in 2017. Mobavenue 2.0 is a growth and tech platform that empowers brands, agencies, and media publishers with Madtech (MarTech and AdTech) solutions to drive growth, engagement, and monetisation. The company's product suites are purpose-built to drive brand performance and help brands throughout their consumer journey with a privacy-first approach. The company also helps brands with Digital Transformation to deliver an unparalleled brand experience to their consumers. Mobavenue, which started in a small office with just a few people, has become a thriving global enterprise with over 120 employees in 10 different locations - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Sydney, London, and New York. The company has partnered with 300+ brands across various industries like banks and NBFCs, fintech, B2B, D2C, retailers, e-commerce, gaming, and OTT brands. "Building and scaling Mobavenue to what it is today wasn't an overnight success and tested our entrepreneurial will. It took 12 years of dedication, coupled with challenges and setbacks, for us to reach on high grounds we stand today," said Kothari. With a bootstrapped budget, the pair invested all their time and energy into building Mobavenue from the ground up. It was no easy feat, but they managed to make it work despite all the odds. "Over the years, the right talents became a part of us, contributing to the shared vision that moved us forward," Kothari adds. The duo have also been honoured with the Businessworld 30 under 30 Award. They have steered their company to win other notable awards, such as the "Most Promising Agency of the Year 2022" and the "Performance Agency of the Year 2023. Being recognised as an honouree in the 30 Under 30 Forbes Asia list is a remarkable achievement for us. This honour is the high point of consistent hard work, relentless nights and the unwavering support of my team, colleagues, and associates. I am excited to leverage this recognition to inspire and empower other aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passion," said Rathod. Rathod and Kothari are also angel investors in the Indian startup ecosystem, with 50 investments in tech, AI, and new media companies. The company is now working towards contextual advertising, cookie-less solutions, and other relevant growth and martech solutions for businesses and publishers. In this photo released by Roscongress Foundation, 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, Wednesday, May 24. AP-Yonhap 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, Russia's foreign ministry announced a visit to Moscow by China's special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui Beijing's latest effort to broker an end to the fighting. Li's visit to the Russian capital, where he is expected to meet foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, comes after he met with Ukraine's 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 Russia's 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 Russia's 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. U.S. bombers intercepted Adding to the global worries, Russia said Thursday that it had sent fighter jets to stop two U.S. 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, Tokyo's military also said it deployed fighter jets against Russian planes travelling along parts of its coastline. Ahead of the visit by China's 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 Beijing's 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. An aerial view shows destructions in the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released on May 21. Reuters-Yonhap The concluding Knowledge Seminar of Goafest 2023 on Day 3 was presented by Rajasthan Patrika. The session, titled Future of Indian Cinema: Exploring Artistic Freedom and Challenging Conventions, brought together two very popular actors Tabu and Rana Daggubati who were in conversation with Rajeev Masand, former Critic, COO of Dharma Cornerstone Agency. This session served as a platform to explore the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema, where the boundaries of creativity are pushed because of technology today, and conventional norms are challenged. Tabu stated, The challenge for any creative field is to create something they havent seen and/or experienced before. Likewise for me, I tap into that part of my belief. Tabu and Rana also discussed components of cinema, including technology, distribution, infrastructure, language, global representation, future and more. The two panellists shared their learnings and experiences with the crowd, which also gave us an insiders view. Lastly, the conversation focused on the transformative power of artistic freedom with the force of technology today, hoping to build a cinematic realm that dares to defy expectations and captivate hearts, as always. The One Club for Creativity has opened the call for entries for Young Guns 21, celebrating international creative professionals age 30 or younger. Young Guns is the industrys only global, cross-disciplinary, portfolio-based awards competition that identifies and celebrates todays vanguard of young creatives. The program is open to creatives age 30 and under who have been working for at least two years, full-time or freelance. Eligible entrants can submit a combination of professional and personal work. The online entry system is open, with the reduced-fee early deadline of June 29, 2023, regular deadline July 13, 2023, and final deadline July 27, 2023. Winners will be announced in the fall. The renowned competitions regularly attract entries from upwards of 45 countries, with more than half coming from outside the US. Winners will be selected by a jury made up of past Young Guns winners and other creative leaders, to be announced shortly. In a year when two of the Oscars Best Picture nominations were directed by past Young Guns winners, it really shows how much of a springboard this honour can be, said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club, referring to Top Gun: Maverick director and YG4 winner Joseph Kosinski, and Everything, Everywhere, All At Once directors and YG14 winners The Daniels. Levine/ Leavitt YG Assistance Program New this year is the Levine/ Leavitt Young Guns Assistance Program, open to illustrators and photographers who qualify for YG21 but may not have the means to enter with ease. Successful applicants receive free entry into the competition courtesy of Levine/ Leavitt. Deadline for the new program is June 30, 2023. Levine/ Leavitt is a long-time YG partner, also offering its Artists-in-Residence Award in which the artist rep firm provides one YG winner with a full year of artist and career management representation. Creativity knows no bounds, and neither should opportunity, said Jeff Levine, Co-founder, Levine/ Leavitt. With this program, we aim to remove the financial hurdles that young, ambitious creatives may face. We hope this initiative will inspire and empower a new generation of artists to aim for the stars, and take their shot at Young Guns glory. Colorful jury, Sunday Afternoon mentorship program announced The submission deadline for COLORFUL, a separate YG grant program to help young BIPOC creatives around the world advance their careers, has been extended to May 31, 2023. There is no fee to apply, and the grant is open globally to BIPOC creatives who qualify for YG21. This years COLORFUL jury has just been announced: Rich Tu, designer, artist, ECD, partner, Sunday Afternoon, New York, and COLORFUL cofounder Andre Bato, director, New York Lousia Bertman, digital illustrator, Cambridge MA (US) Kervin Brisseaux, artist, creative director, Brooklyn Fernanda Cozzi, type designer, Buenos Aires Eric Hart Jr., photographer, artist, New York Jump Jirakaweekul, graphic designer, New York Xinmei Liu, illustrator, Harrison, NY Beatriz Lozano, design director, Brooklyn Osborne Macharia, photographer, Vancouver Monique Ortman, designer, Harrah, OK (US) Jamaal Parham, director, writer, Brooklyn Audrie Poole, executive director, artist manager, partner, Sunday Afternoon, Burlington VT (US) Arsh Raziuddin, designer, Brooklyn Tre Seals, type designer, founder, Vocal Type, Washington DC Danica Tan-Lijun, animation director, Los Angeles Kwame Taylor-Hayford, creative executive, cofounder, Kin, Brooklyn Sunday Afternoon, a female and minority-owned creative studio that created this years COLORFUL branding and contributed to the grant funding, will also offer one COLORFUL applicant 12 months of mentorship from the studios leadership team. The lucky recipient will connect with the Sunday Afternoon team to help support their creative growth and goals. Program branding and design of the YG Cube award itself is reimagined each year by a past Young Gun winner. This years YG21 branding was created by Zuzanna Rogatty (YG18), senior designer at COLLINS New York. All Young Guns winners receive a unique version of the iconic Young Guns Cube, designed exclusively for this years incoming class, and have their permanent profile page added to the Young Guns website. Winners also receive a complimentary one-year One Club for Creativity membership, permanent membership in the Young Guns network, a chance to be featured in Young Guns events and an assortment of career-boosting opportunities from Young Guns sponsors. Past Young Guns include rising stars who went on to become leaders in their chosen fields, including graphic designers James Victore (YG1), Stefan Sagmeister (YG1), Natasha Jen (YG4) and Jessica Walsh (YG8); artist/designer Rich Tu (YG8); ad creatives Rei Inamoto (YG4) and Menno Kluin (YG6); illustrators Christoph Niemann (YG2) and Deanne Cheuk (YG4); fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond (YG14); artist/ filmmaker Calmatic (YG16); director/ photographer India Saleem (YG17); photographer Ryan McGuinness (YG2); typographers Alex Trochut (YG6) and Gemma OBrien (YG13); film and video director Mike Mills (YG1), animation artist Todd St. John (YG1), and others. Festival de Cannes is an annual celebration of the best of international cinema and previews new films of all genres, including documentaries. This year, the invitation-only festival's lineup spotlights a diverse collection of new works from auteurs such as Todd Haynes, Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Catherine Breillat, Wim Wenders and Kore-eda Hirokazu. Two Indian films, 'Agra' and 'Kennedy' will also premiere at the 76th edition of this prestigious festival and we present a glimpse of the august company they will be a part of. Kennedy The Anurag Kashyap directorial, Kennedy has been selected at the Cannes Film Festival for a Midnight Screening. The noir thriller revolves around Rahul Bhatt, an ex-cop who has been presumed dead but is secretly fighting against a corrupt system. Produced by Zee Studios and Good Bad Films, Kennedy also features Sunny Leone, Megha Burman and Benedict Garrett and is expected to release in May. Kennedy is a ghost in the system looking for redemption, is how Anurag describes the plot and nothing more has been revealed. Agra Yoodlee Films' passion project is helmed by award-winning filmmaker Kanu Behl and will premiere at the Directors Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival. The film bravely portrays how sexual repression and constrained spaces affect each other. It narrates the dilemma of the protagonist Guru who wants to get married and build a new room to live with his wife on the terrace but every member of his family tries to jeopardise this quest for privacy. What follows next is unexpected and revelatory. The social drama 'Agra' stars Rahul Roy, Mohit Agarwal , Priyanka Bose, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha, and Aanchal Goswami. Riddle Of Fire Helmed by feature film debutant Weston Razooli, 'Riddle of Fire' will premiere in the Director's Fortnight section at the festival. This action and adventure English comedy in a neo-fairy setting follows the story of three mischievous children who decide to go on a woodland odyssey when their mother sends them on an errand. Produced by FullDawa Films, Riddle of Fire stars Lio Tipton, Charles Halford, Charlie Stover, Skyler Peters, and Weston Razooli and will be released in May. Omar La Fraise Omar La Fraise, the debut French feature film by director Elias Belkeddar will premiere in the Midnight Screening section at the festival. It is based on a gangster named Omar who was sentenced for over 20 years of imprisonment by the French authorities. Once he rejoins the world, even though he tries to lead a normal life, abstaining from any criminal activities, circumstances force him to get involved in petty scams. The movie also explores themes of friendship and the search for redemption. Jointly produced by Iconoclast Films and Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, the emotional thriller stars Meriem Amiar, Reda Kateb, and Benoit Magimel and will have a theatrical release on May 24. While WhatsApp calls might seem one of the most convenient options for many, receiving voice/ video calls or messages from unknown international numbers might land one in trouble. There has been a massive increase in the number of fraudulent calls/ messages received via WhatsApp. People started complaining on Twitter that they are getting calls from countries like Ethiopia (+251), Malaysia (+60), Indonesia (+62), Kenya (+254), Vietnam (+84). Observing the sudden increase in cybercrime, the Zee Business team decided to release an informative video to help citizens avoid falling into the trap of fraudulent WhatsApp calls or messages. With an aim to let WhatsApp users in India understand the mechanism of fraudulent WhatsApp calls/ messages? Deepika Singh, Social Media Expert & CEO of, DeepCytes presented facts mentioning that specific data sets are sold to hackers. She also mentioned interesting facts on how automation using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) becomes a convenient option for hackers as compared to cellular numbers. There is a high possibility that these WhatsApp calls have been automated for mass calling. Sachin Dedhia, Ethical Hackers also stated that there are also high chances that hackers might try to hack your phone through missed call on an experimental basis. As this issue was responsibly raised by Zee Business, WhatsApp further carried out certain measures to block calls from international numbers. The rise of online scams has prompted tech companies to invest heavily in developing innovative solutions that can identify and prevent fraudulent activities in real time. DoT asked the company to take action, by making SIM card mandatory. WhatsApp will soon make SIM cards mandatory to use the app on the phone. WhatsApp has also started intensifying its efforts toward deploying Artificial Intelligence to combat this menace. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Telecom Minister, further stated, The government has discussed the issue of fraudulent calls/messages with WhatsApp. In response to the same, WhatsApp has assured continuous commitment to user safety in India. The Telecom Minister also launched the Sanchar Sathi portal on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day This portal aims at helping users track their lost and stolen phones as well. Highlighting the relevance of timely reportage on Cyber Crime, Anil Singhvi, Managing Editor, Zee Business said, Zee Business has been consistent in reporting issues that can heavily impact the daily lives of citizens. We hope the informative videos and regular news updates on the ongoing fraudulent calls / messages have been an eye-opener for WhatsApp users to not answer / reply to calls or messages and report it immediately to the concerned authorities. Zee Media Corporation Ltd, one of India's leading media companies, has a strong presence in the news and regional genres, with 13 news channels in seven different languages, reaching more than 528+ million viewers through its linear and digital properties. According to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, there is no proof that Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajagopalachari, or Jawaharlal Nehru ever referred to the Sengol as a sign of the British handing over authority to India. He further said that Tamil Nadus ceremonial sceptre is being used for political purposes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his drumbeaters. The Sengol will be installed close to the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker after the new Parliament building is inaugurated by Modi on May 28, an event 20 Opposition parties, including the Congress, are boycotting. On Thursday, the BJP had alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred Sengol a golden stick gifted to Indias first prime minister Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. The vesting of the sacred Sengol with Nehru, on the eve of Indias Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India, BJP leader Amit Malviya had said. On Twitter, Ramesh said, The sceptre is now being used by the PM (prime minister) and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament. He claimed that a majestic sceptre conceived of by a religious establishment in the Madras province and crafted in Madras city (now Chennai) was indeed presented to Nehru in August 1947. There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple bodgus, he said. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise, the Congress general secretary communications said. While announcing the boycott, the Opposition parties had said the prime ministers 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. Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from WhatsApp University? The BJP-RSS distorians stand exposed yet again with maximum claims, minimum evidence, Congress general secretary communications Ramesh said in his tweet. He said the sceptre presented to Nehru was later kept for display at the Allahabad Museum. What Nehru said there on December 14, 1947 is a matter of public record despite whatever labels may say, Ramesh said. Image: Representative Purpose Russia signed an agreement with the Belarus government on Thursday to formalise the deployment of tactical nuclear missiles on the latter countrys territory, according to TASS, a Russian-based news agency. The Defence ministers of Russia and Belarus, Sergey Shoigu and Viktor Khrenin, respectively signed the documents on Thursday defining the procedures for storing Russian nuclear weapons at a special facility on Belarusian territory, the Belarusian Defense Ministry reported. During the meeting, documents determining the procedure for keeping Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special storage facility on the territory of the Republic of Belarus were signed, the ministrys press service said. The measures taken by Russia and Belarus comply with all existing international legal obligations, Shoigu stressed. The defence ministers discussed the current military and political situation and issues of military and technical cooperation between the two countries. Earlier, on March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the Rossiya-24 news channel that at the request of the Belarusian side, it will deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, just as the United States has been doing on the territories of its allies, according to TASS. Even out of the context of these events, this statement (about the possible supply of depleted uranium shells by the UK to Ukraine TASS), Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko has long raised the issue of deploying Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, Putin said. He stressed that there is nothing unusual about this. He claimed that the US has been doing the same for decades. The US placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territories of their allied countries, NATO countries, in Europe a long time ago, Putin said. He further stated that in six states, the Federal Republic of Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Greece, there arent any tactical nuclear weapons for now, but there is a storage facility. And we agreed [with Belarus] that we will do the same. Without violating I want to emphasize this our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, the Russian President stressed. In March, he also talked about the crew training and storage. We have already helped our Belarusian colleagues to reequip their planes. Ten planes are ready to apply this type of weapon. We have handed over to Belarus our well-known and very effective Iskander system that can carry [nuclear weapons]. On April 3, we will start training the crew and on July 1 we will complete the construction of a special storage for tactical nuclear weapons on the Belarusian territory, Putin said. Thus, everything the President of Belarus asked about, all the issues he raised in this regard, they are being implemented, and all our agreements will be reached in the very near future, the Russian leader further said But he stressed that Russia does not transfer such weapons to Belarus, just as the United States does not transfer them to its allies, reported TASS. Earlier, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, in response to the UKs plans to supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, said that Russia would supply Belarus ammunition with real uranium. As the Russian leader indicated, the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons will be completed in Belarus by July 1. Moscow has already provided Minsk with Iskander tactical missile systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons and has helped Minsk to re-equip its military aircraft to carry specialized weapons. Also, Belarusian missile crews and pilots have undergone training in Russia. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao speaks at a news conference in Beijing, China March 2. Reuters-Yonhap 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. (Reuters) U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks in Brasilia, March 8. Reuters-Yonhap Design Review By Rebecca Dobrinski Twice a month, the city of Birminghams Design Review Committee convenes to discuss plans to make alterations to structures that fall within one of the citys many historic and commercial revitalization districts. This column summarizes recent DRC activity with projects grouped by type and location. This edition of Design Review recaps the DRC meetings from April 26, 2023 and May 10, 2023. Decisions of the DRC, and applicants are responsible to carry out the plans as presented and approved. Any deviations from the approved plans cannot be undertaken without a return to the committee for approval. Design Review approval does not exempt projects from needing approval from other departments such as, but not limited to, zoning or transportation. The Birmingham, AL Design Review Committee approved exterior construction at the Marshall, a building in a historic district downtown.City of Birmingham April 26 meeting Samantha Weinstein, a Canadian-born actress who began working in television at the age of 6, has died of cancer, her family said. She was 28 years old. Weinstein, who was best known for her work in the 2013 remake of Carrie and the 2017 Netflix series Alias Grace, died early last week surrounded by her loved ones at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, according to an Instagram post shared on her personal account. 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, the May 15 post read. Weinstein opened up about her diagnosis in April 2021, writing on social media that she had been battling a rare form of ovarian cancer for the past three months. She had previously undergone surgery to remove a massive cyst that swallowed one of [her] ovaries. In an Instagram post shared on April 26, the then-25-year-old thanked the medical staff at the Toronto hospital for the incredible level of care she was receiving. She added she was going to start documenting her progress as she got ready to start three rounds of chemotherapy, which she called her toughest journey yet. Last July, in a lengthy essay reflecting on the 18 months since she was first diagnosed, Weinstein spoke candidly about receiving the devastating news, falling in love with her soon-to-be-husband Michael Knutson, and coming out as nonbinary. Getting cancer is the worst thing thats ever happened to me, but in the strangest of ways, it has also been the best thing, she wrote. I have more love in my life and for myself than I ever could have imagined, and I see every day as a gift, Weinstein added. There are still days where I cant stop crying Im in pain, or my thoughts get the better of me but Im learning to let my loved ones help carry the load. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A Lauderdale County man died this morning from injuries he received in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night. Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the crash happened at about 10:38 p.m. Thursday on U.S. 72 near the 49 mile marker, about one mile west of Elgin. Douglas Burchell, 78, of Rogersville, was critically injured when the 1996 Chevrolet C-1500 pickup he was driving was struck in the rear by a 2013 Honda Odyssey, driven by David A. Bailey, 33, of Anderson. After the initial impact, the Honda left the roadway and struck a ditch. Burchell was transported by helicopter to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Emily A. Bailey, 34, of Anderson, a passenger in the Honda, was injured and transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Three juvenile passengers in the Honda, a 6-year-old, a 7-year-old and a 13-year-old, all of Anderson, were also injured and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Burchell died of his injuries today at the hospital. Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate. NASA launched Skylab, Americas first space station, into space 50 years ago in May 1973, and it would make space history in ways its builders wanted and ways they would have gladly missed. From the start of planning, engineers and scientists saw Skylab as the place to answer questions about long-term missions in space. Also anticipated - and achieved - were much better views of the Earth, the Solar System and the Sun once Skylabs cameras moved outside the Earths atmosphere. NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville was a big part of the Skylab team from the beginning. Astronauts and engineers spent a total of 171 days practicing how to work in zero gravity in Marshalls giant water tank. And after NASA headquarters approved the project, the center worked closely with McDonnell Douglas, the prime contractor for the workshop unit, to convert a Saturn IB stage into a habitable module containing living quarters and support systems as well as experiment areas, Marshalls official history says. Marshall engineers also worked on the labs zero-gravity showers, toilets, sleeping bags, exercise gear and kitchen facilities. Based on those NASA history accounts, here are 10 things to know about the mission, the spacecraft, the memorable moments and the challenges. Its a list that could easily contain another 10 events and 10 more after that: 1. What was Skylab actually? Skylabs core was built from an empty rocket fuel tank that weighed 170,000 pounds, the heaviest spacecraft at that time. From the start, it was a design and technical challenge. Up and down dont exist in space, a fact that everything inside must deal with. The life support system had to work over months not days or weeks as in earlier flights. The habitat needed a supply of energy it eventually found in solar arrays and it needed places to store everything humans might need for a long stay. Astronauts and engineers would spend a total of 171 days there over three missions. 2. How big was Skylab? Skylab was also an assembly of modules. The command and service module built by Rockwell International got astronauts to space and back to Earth and was 34 feet long and 13 feet wide. The docking adapter built by Martin Marietta was 17 feet long and 10 feet in diameter. The solar observatory built by Marshall was 13 feet long and 11 feet in diameter. The airlock was almost 18 feet long and 22 feet wide at its greatest diameter. And the workshop built by MDAC-Western as the primary living and working area was 48 feet long and 22 feet wide. 3. When exactly did Skylab launch and what went wrong almost immediately? The Skylab space station, as NASA calls it, launched from NASAs Kennedy Space Center May 14, 1973. Sixty-three minutes after liftoff, its meteoroid shield designed also to shade the workshop in orbit, deployed inadvertently in NASAs words and exposed the laboratory to the Suns rays. 4. What were the 10 days of trial? The meteor shield failure was the beginning of a 10-day period in which Skylab was beset with problems that had to be fixed, NASA says. Engineers, managers and other astronauts worked around the clock at NASA Marshall and Johnson Space Center to lower the temperature and design and deploy arrays that eventually blocked the Sun and allowed the missions to proceed. 5. Who flew in Skylab? Nine astronauts flew in Skylab and six more were backup crew. NASAs history notes the commander and pilot of each crew were trained spacecraft and aircraft pilots with strong engineering backgrounds. NASA astronaut Owen Garriott is shown here aboard the Skylab 3 mission. The nine astronauts who lived and worked in Skylab were Charles Conrad, Jr., Paul Weitz, Joseph Kerwin, Alan Bean, Jack Lousma, Owen Garriott, Gerald Carr, William Pogue and Edward Gibson. Garriott, who lived in Huntsville, died at Huntsville Hospital in 2019 when he was 88. He was the science-pilot for Skylab 3, the second crewed Skylab mission, and was in orbit from July 28 to Sept. 25, 1973. His crewmates were Commander Alan Bean and Pilot Jack Lousma. The crew accomplished more than its mission goals while completing 858 revolutions of the Earth and traveling some 24.5 million miles. This NASA spacesuit was worn by astronaut Owen Garriott on his flight to the Skylab space station. Garriott stayed on Skylab from July 28 to Sept. 25, 1973. The suit is on display with other Skylab artifacts at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center) 6. What did Skylab accomplish? First and arguably most important, Skylab was proof to any skeptical experts that human beings could design and launch spacecraft that would allow them survive and work in space. 7. What were some important research findings? Astronauts did solar research and studied the Comet Kohoutek with clarity impossible from Earth. The three crews looked at the Sun in detail not seen before and got the same detailed look at Earth and its resources. They conducted 270 experiments in everything from biomedical sciences to solar astronomy. 8. How did Skylab end? In late 1978, NASA engineers discovered that Skylabs orbit was eroding or coming closer to Earth. Skylab had become a 77-ton loose cannon, the website history.com said in its account. NASA had planned to use its new space shuttle to boost the lab into an orbit for another five years. But the shuttle was delayed and Skylab was coming down in July, 1979. NASA fired its boosters aiming for the Indian Ocean and its large pieces did land there. Other pieces fell in western Australia, but no one was injured. 9: Where can I learn more? Facts, stories and images about Skylab are as close as your computer. Heres a link to NASAs official Skylab history. If youre in or passing through Alabama, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is the Marshall Space Flight Centers official welcome center and custodian of a collection of Americas early space history. Its exhibits include a same-size training model of the Skylab laboratory, the largest piece of recovered Skylab debris, and docents who worked on the project and volunteer at the center to talk with visitors. The rocket center has events celebrating the 50th anniversary this summer including: Future events at the rocket center include: The Science of Skylab, Sunday, June 18, at 2 p.m. in Discover Theater This discussion focuses on the range of experiments done during Skylabs three missions and how NASA first engaged students across the country to contribute their ideas for scientific research. Lessons on Living in Space: Skylab, Sunday, July 2, 2 p.m. in Discover Theater Skylabs missions were a key step in learning the effects of microgravity on humans and equipment during long-duration stays in space. Lessons from Skylab helped drive the design and function of todays International Space Station. Saving Skylab Documentary and Panel Discussion, Thursday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. - National Geographic Theater in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. This documentary and discussion will show the heroic efforts to repair the solar arrays on the Skylab orbiter after they were badly damaged in liftoff. Without those repairs, Skylab would have been virtually powerless and useless. (An early version of this story said Skylab was the worlds first space station. On April 19, 1971, the Soviet Union placed in orbit Salyut, which was the worlds first space station. (Also updated to remove a reference to an unauthorized day off reportedly taken by members of the Skylab 4 crew after long days of hard work in space. This incident did not occur, according to NASA historians.) UPDATE: A temporary restraining was granted Friday evening. A full hearing is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday in Wetumpka. EARLIER: An Alabama district attorney is asking for an injunction to prevent the placement of a violent sexual predator at a facility in one of his counties. C.J. Robinson, the district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit which covers Autauga, Chilton and Elmore counties, filed the paperwork on Friday. He wants to stop 54-year-old Tyrone Bennett from being housed in Cararstar Health Facility in Prattville. Robinson said housing Bennett at the facility does not comply with the minimum standards of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. This is an extreme measure, Robinson said, but one that is required to try and keep our community safe. Bennett is a registered sex offender with eight prior felonies in Jefferson County, including rape, sodomy, and sex abuse of a under the age of 12. Court records show he also has multiple convictions for failing to comply with the registration and notifications of the SORNA Act. Earlier this month, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kandice Pickett ordered Bennett to be housed at the Cararstar facility at 425 Pratt Street in Prattville. This address is within hundreds of feet of schools, parks, churches, daycares, playgrounds, the city pool, the splash pad, and numerous other things SORNA exists to protect from lurking sex offenders, Robinson said. This is a target-rich environment of children, and I will do everything within my power to protect them, Robinson said. Efforts to reach Pickett for comment were not immediately available. Robinson also said prison reform in Alabama and the nations immigration policy have resulted in children being sexually assaulted in the 19th Circuit. I have watched our failed Alabama policies, like prison reform and early release, result in two Autauga teenagers kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a man who should have been in prison (in October 2022), Robinson said. I have watched our failed federal immigration policy result in an illegal alien with a criminal history be briefly detained at the border, only to then be allowed to enter our country, come to Autauga County, and sexually assault a teenager in the bathroom of a local restaurant (in May 2023), he said. Bennett was previously in the custody of the Alabama Department of Mental Health after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a SORNA charge. He was ordered released in 2017 to a Carastar facility after having been deemed to have received the necessary treatment, and no longer posing a threat, court records show. In March of this year, mental health officials sought a modification for Bennett, asking that he be placed to a different Carastar facility, where he would still receive care and oversight. Pickett last week, after several previous orders, issued a second amended order for release with conditions for Bennett, not that on May 16, the court was made aware of concerns from law enforcement in Autauga about the defendants residency at a Carastar facility that was within 2000 feet of a school and/or a childcare facility. The judge issued an order that Bennet must comply with the SORNA Act, and said that it has been determined that Bennett no longer poses a real and present threat of substantial harm to himself or others if released with 14 conditions that include him being placed in the Prattville facility with no unsupervised access to the public. Robinson said thats not good enough. I refuse to sit back and allow a judge from Birmingham to enter an order that is contrary to Alabama law and put more Autauga County children at risk, he said. If that is a result of her individual wishes, or the result of a recommendation of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, I dont know, and I dont care. He said he is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent Bennetts release to the Prattville facility until there can be a hearing. He said he is confident he can show the facility is not SORNA compliant and should be ineligible to house any sex offender ever again. I love the 19th Circuit, Robinson said, and thank God in Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore Counties we still have judges who honor the rule of law and who still care about the public safety of our communities. A convicted sex offender was sentenced Friday to federal prison after investigators found more than 50 child porn videos on his cell phone just two years after his release from prison in a previous case. U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced 40-year-old Michael Lee Haynes, of Anniston, to 20 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime supervised release, according to Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger. Haynes was also ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the victim. According to court documents, in May 2022, Anniston police received a report that Haynes had exposed himself at a local park as a woman walked a track nearby. A review of Haynes phone yielded more than fifty videos of child pornography involving minor children. Haynes was on supervised release at this time. Haynes pleaded guilty possession of child pornography in January. In 2013, Haynes pleaded guilty in federal court in Birmingham child pornography crimes and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. According to the plea agreement in the 2013 case, Haynes sent an undercover agent child pornography and sent and received emails attaching images and videos of child pornography depicting young children. He was released from prison in that case in December 2020. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin today said he could not be more disappointed in comments by Sen. Tommy Tuberville about inner city teachers. The hard working, committed teachers in our community - including my mom and step mom - give all of themselves to our students, and often serve as more than just educators, Woodfin said in a statement posted on social media. Woodfin was responding to comments Tuberville made Thursday on Donald Trump Jr.s Triggered streaming program, saying that the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the influence of teacher unions, have resulted in widespread failures in public education. The COVID really brought it out how bad our schools are and how bad our teachers are, in the inner city. Most of them in the inner city, I dont know how they got degrees, Tuberville said. I dont know whether they can read and write. And they want a raise. They want less time to work, less time in school. Its just, weve ruined work ethic in this country. We dont work at it anymore. We push an easy life. Efforts to contact Tubervilles office for clarification were not immediately successful. Woodfin said inner city teachers are friends, cheerleaders and, frankly, they are family. Next week, I will have the honor of shaking hands with hundreds of Birmingham students as they graduate high school, Woodfin wrote. Sure, we have challenges. What community doesnt? We are working furiously to solve them. And we have never been more proud of the people working so hard for solutions. Our teachers are at the forefront of these efforts. They deserve praise and support - not ridicule - from all of us - including an elected official who previously made millions off the backs of the black students our teachers have produced. Dear Alabama Senator @TTuberville stop dog whistling. Its beneath the office you hold. a thread. Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) May 26, 2023 In a similar thread on Twitter, Woodfin ended his message with: A new true crime podcast called Blind Plea tells the story of Deven Grey, an Alabama woman who was prosecuted for murder despite arguing that she shot and killed her boyfriend in self defense after enduring years of abuse. Grey is now serving a 15-year sentence in Alabamas Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. Prosecutors initially charged her with murder for shooting and killing John Henry Vance at their home in Calera in Shelby County in 2017. But in 2020, she agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter. Grey took a blind plea, meaning she pleaded guilty to the reduced charge but did not have a prearranged deal with prosecutors for what sentence she would serve. Her fate was left to Shelby County Judge William Bostick, who handed down the 15-year sentence. The 10-part podcast series examines Alabamas Stand Your Ground self-defense law, while exploring Greys tumultuous relationship with Vance, his family history that surrounds the Calera home he brought Grey to and ultimately died in, and the limited options she faced navigating the criminal justice system as a Black woman. Blind Plea is produced and created by Lemonada Media and hosted by Elizabeth Flock, an author and independent investigative journalist. After the first two episodes released May 17, the podcast reached the top spot overall on Apple Podcasts. Devens story just struck a chord with us, said Jessica Cordova Kramer, CEO of Lemonada Media. It was a story that exemplified, in particular, Black women in the justice system, criminalized survival, coercive control, but also generational trauma. Deven Grey, an Alabama woman who claimed self-defense in shooting and killing her boyfriend in 2017, is the subject of a new podcast, "Blind Plea." Flock is no stranger to reporting on gender and criminal justice in Alabama. She came across Greys case while working on her 2020 New Yorker feature, How Far Can Abused Women Go to Protect Themselves? That story which was also the basis for the 2022 Netflix documentary State of Alabama vs. Brittany Smith highlighted the case of Brittany Smith, an Alabama woman was prosecuted for murder after killing a man whom she said raped her. Theres no way of knowing how many women in the criminal justice system are there for defending themselves against an abusive partner. Its a really hard number to nail down, Flock said. So I just tried to start understanding cases one by one. Cordova Kramer said that her team first reached out to Flock over Twitter about collaborating. The podcast networks mission is to highlight stories that make life suck less. Helping podcast listeners gain more understanding of stories about women trapped in the justice system became part of that mission, she said. Flock said Greys story stands about because she took a blind plea, rather than a traditional plea bargain that comes with a prearranged sentence agreement. Even though the overwhelming majority of criminal cases in the U.S. end in pleas, blind pleas seemed to be something that had many legal experts stumped, Flock told AL.com. Investigative journalist and author Liz Flock is the creator of the "Blind Plea" podcast. For blind pleas, I think that there just hasnt been really focused research on it, she said. What we did find is that blind pleas happen in about half of all states. We found them a lot more in the South and in the Midwest. A lot of attorneys in Alabama are familiar with them. Blind pleas are not unheard of in Alabama and the Birmingham metro area. Last December, a Bessemer man received a 25-year sentence through a blind plea, which reduced his charge from capital murder to murder for shooting and killing a man in 2018. In 2016, a Birmingham man got a 15-year split sentence that would send him to prison for three years through a blind plea for a reckless manslaughter charge from a car crash in 2014. Flock said that some attorneys in Alabama told her team that they dont like their clients to take blind pleas because it means they are throwing themselves at the mercy of the court. Some lawyers said, We do it only in really serious cases where we feel like our defendant is going to be in big trouble going before a prosecutor or jury because the crime looks bad, Flock said. Other attorneys said that, I only do it for low level crimes, because (in more serious cases) I get scared about what the outcome is going to be. An inmate who escaped an Alabama prison was taken back into custody Friday morning in Montgomery. Tandion Markeeice Stoudemire, 21, made his escape about 2 a.m. Thursday from the medium-security lockup Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore County. Authorities have not said how he made his getaway. He is serving a 23-year prison sentence for a 2022 attempted murder conviction out of Montgomery. Alabama Department of Corrections officials said prison investigators, the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force and Central Alabama Crime Stoppers took Stoudemire into custody about 8 am. Friday. He was recaptured in the 2900 block of Woodley Road in Montgomery. Stoudemire was returned to Kilby Correctional Facility for processing. A woman Acacia Laraea Stallworth was arrested Thursday on a charge of first-degree facilitating escape. She has since been released on bond. Court records show Stallworth and Stoudemire have a 2-year-old child together. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be added. A suspect is behind bars on several felony charges in connection with the shooting last weekend outside Tin Roof in Birminghams Lakeview District. Deandre Duran Moore, 35, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records made public Friday. Moore was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Wednesday and remains held on bonds totaling $750,000. The gunfire erupted about 12:45 a.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of Seventh Avenue South. An off-duty Birmingham police officer was working inside Tin Roof when someone ran into the bar and told him there had been a shooting outside. More officers, as well as Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, rushed to the scene. First responders arrived to find a male shot and a female grazed by a bullet outside Tin Roof. The two were together that night, and both were transported to UAB Hospital. The male victim remains hospitalized but is now expected to recover. Police said gunshots were exchanged during a dispute in the parking lot. Gunfire erupted in the parking lot outside Tin Roof in Birmingham's Lakeview District early Sunday, May 21, 2023, sending four people to the hospital. Two men were found wounded in an SUV blocks away. One of them has been charged so far. (Carol Robinson) An SUV fled the scene after the shooting. That vehicle was stopped on 21st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Inside the SUV were two males, both seriously injured. They, too, were taken to UAB Hospital. Authorities said Moore was one of the two men found wounded in the SUV. Court records show Moore pleaded guilty in 2010 to first-degree robbery. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. More arrests are expected in the Lakeview shooting. A horrific 2021 crash on an Alabama interstate that killed one adult and nine children likely resulted from unsafe speeds of multiple vehicles on wet roadways, federal investigators have found. The National Transportation Safety Board this week released its completed report on the Saturday, June 19, 2021, crash on Interstate 65 in Butler County. More than one dozen vehicles were involved in a series of crashes, including an Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches van. Four of the fatality victims all teen girls who attended Reeltown High School - were residents at the ranch. Only two of them have been publicly identified - 17-year-old Dana Marie Norman who was from Madison County and Haley Marie Logan, 15, of Tuscaloosa County. The other two ranch residents have been identified only as Makenzie, 16, and Tia, 14. Van driver Candice Gulleys two children Isabella Gulley, 16, and Ben Gulley, 3, were also killed, as well as her two nephews Josiah Adam Dunnavant, 12, and Nicholas Paul Dunnavant, 8. Killed in a separate vehicle were Cody Fox, 29, and his 9-month-old daughter, Ariana, of Tennessee. According to the NTSB report, a series of crashes happened in the northbound lanes of I-65 about 2:21 p.m. This investigation focuses on one multi-vehicle crash sequence involving 10 passenger vehicles and two commercial trucks. Several passenger vehicles were slowing or had stopped due to earlier crashes, creating a traffic queue at the northern end of the bridge that crosses Pigeon Creek. The NTSB has released its finding on a 2021 crash on an Alabama interstate that killed 10 people. (NTSB) A 2020 Ford Explorer collided with a vehicle at the end of the traffic queue. A 2020 Volvo truck-tractor with a Cottrell trailer for transporting automobiles collided with the Ford Explorer, initiating a series of additional collisions in both travel lanes. A 2005 Freightliner truck-tractor/2009 Wabash dry trailer combination vehicle that was following behind the Volvo auto-transporter combination vehicle collided with several vehicles and continued into the median. The two commercial trucks and four passenger vehicles, including the 2017 youth ranch transit van, came to rest in the center median. A post-crash fire ensued and destroyed the vehicles in the median. Ten vehicle occupants died, and 19 others sustained injuries. At the time of the crash, there was light rain, and the roadway was wet. The posted speed limit was 70 mph, according to the report. We determined that the probable cause of the Greenville, Alabama, crash was the unsafe speeds of multiple vehicles during rain, low visibility, and wet road conditions, the report states. Contributing to the fatal injuries of the transit van passengers was the post-crash fire. Under a heading entitled Lessons Learned, the NTSB report said driving at speeds above the speed limit or too fast for conditions can have serious consequences, including a loss of vehicle control, increased crash severity, and more severe injuries. Drivers should be knowledgeable about driving in inclement weather and the need to reduce their vehicle speed in response to conditions, according to the report. The NTSB has identified a need for increased public awareness about the dangers of speeding and driving too fast for inclement weather. The NTSB also has previously issued safety recommendations for highway and vehicle technologies addressing speeding that may prevent or reduce the severity of crashes, the report states. The agency also noted that fuel tanks on commercial trucks involved in crashes are susceptible to high impact forces, resulting in ruptures, post-crash fuel spillage, and fire. The NTSB has previously recommended that federal regulators work to improve vehicle safety standards to improve the crashworthiness of side-mounted fuel tanks on truck-tractors. The secretary of the Air Force, authorized with making the final decision on the permanent home for Space Command headquarters, is investigating changes made in the commands mission of which the secretary was not aware. Thats according to a letter released Thursday by Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers, who announced a probe looking into those changes as well by the House Armed Services Committee that he chairs. The Armed Services Committee has oversight of the armed forces. Related: Were at the end of our rope: Will Space Command move to Alabama? Senator wants answers. Related: Alabama lawmakers cross party lines to rally for Space Command HQ Its the first indication that changes have been made to the evaluation process and goes beyond the stepped-up rhetoric in recent months from Alabamas representatives in Washington as well as Montgomery. Gov. Kay Ivey said last week that Alabama would not take no for an answer on Space Command. Those changes, Rogers letter said, could alter the requirements previously outlined for the Space Command headquarters. A series of federal reviews determined Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal was the best site for the permanent home of Space Command. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the revelation of changes to the selection criteria breaks our trust in the selection process. An NBC News report earlier this month said that the Biden administration was looking to keep Space Command at its startup location in Colorado Springs, Colo. The rationalization, the report said, focused on Alabamas restrictive laws on abortion. Rogers, a Republican from Saks, reiterated months-long concerns from Alabamas congressional delegation that the decision-making process is skewing toward political influence rather than merit based. Today, I launched an investigation into the continued delays in the SPACECOM Headquarters basing decision, Rogers said in a statement. The fact is, the Air Force already made the correct decision well over two years ago. That decision was affirmed by the GAO and the DoD Inspector General over a year ago. This decision was based on multiple factors, and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama was the clear winner in the Evaluation and Selection phase. I am deeply concerned that the continued delays in making this move final are politically motivated and damaging to our national security. Rogers sent his letter from the Armed Services Committee to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Space Command Commander James Dickinson. Kendall said in March that additional analysis was ongoing relating to the Space Command decision. During our meeting, Secretary Kendall said that he did not direct SPACECOM to make fundamental changes to SPACECOMs mission and headquarters requirements and was unaware of anyone else in the Department of Defense having done so, Rogers letter said. Yet such changes have occurred. These apparently sweeping unilateral changes to policies and posture seem to have been made with zero civilian oversight at the Department of Defense. Secretary Kendall also stated that he was unaware who, if anyone, at the Department of Defense approved expenditures of taxpayer funds to unilaterally change the mission or headquarters requirements of SPACECOM. The letter went on to say, Secretary Kendall informed the delegation that he launched his own investigation into these irregularities. The Committee on Armed Services will also undertake its own investigation into this matter. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, in social media posts, echoed the concerns expressed by Rogers. Secretary Kendall told Alabamas bipartisan delegation this week that fundamental changes were being made to Space Commands basing requirements yet he isnt the one making the changes, and hes unaware of who is making the changes, Britt said. Whats clear is that this basing decision is being stolen from the Air Force behind the American peoples backs. We deserve answers and were going to keep fighting until we have them. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama applauded Rogers efforts. Appreciate the leadership of (Rogers) to hold leaders accountable and find out why this decision is not being followed through, Tuberville said in a message posted on Twitter. The district of Congressman Dale Strong, a Republican from Monrovia, includes Redstone Arsenal. Strong is also a member of the Armed Services Committee. After a delegation meeting with the Secretary of the Air Force, I had no choice but to request that House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Mike Rogers, open a formal investigation into the Biden administrations failure to announce a permanent location for U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) headquarters, Strong said in a statement Thursday. Battle read a statement regarding Space Command at Thursdays city council meeting. In the search for a home for US Space Command, this community went through a lengthy selection process that allowed us to showcase the greatness of Huntsville not just once or twice and even three times, Battle said. Media reports that the results of the selection process has been changed and our No. 1 ranking may even be invalidated. The selection process should not allow the changing of the rules after the competition ends. The results should not be guided by anyone. Its clear Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal won the competition. We were chosen because we could best provide for the long term good of the American military and for the safety of the American public and our allies. It now appears some are trying to change results and give this selection to another community. This breaks our trust in the selection process and the agencies administering the competition. Im saddened that the integrity of this process has come to the point that an investigation is necessary. In a Twitter post, Battle described the apparent changes as shadowy. I fully support an investigation into what appears to be a shadowy attempt to undermine the ethical and objective selection process that identified Huntsville as the permanent home for Space Command, Battle said. Its been almost 2 years since the Air Force announced that Redstone Arsenal was the preferred location for Space Command. Still, no decision on a permanent home has been announced. Redstone Arsenal was chosen as the preferred location after a years-long process, Strong said in his statement. The decision was later confirmed not just once, but twice with the results of the Government Accountability Office and Department of Defense Inspector General investigations. It is plain and simple: Redstone Arsenal is the best possible location to host U.S. Space Command headquarters. The Air Forces basing process established this, and it was confirmed. Rogers, who last week asked officials involved in the decision-making process to preserve all documentation related to that decision, called on Space Command in his letter to cease and desist from any action that implicates taxpayer funds in a scheme to alter the mission or headquarters requirements of SPACECOM without civilian order or oversight. Rogers also asked for an array of documentations and communications related to the decision-making process to be delivered no later than June 16. Updated today, May 25, 2023, at 6:18 p.m. with additional comments from elected officials. Updated today, May 25, 2023, at 6:42 p.m. with comments from Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. Alabama lawmakers are sending a historic $8.8 billion education budget and $2.8 billion supplemental allocation to Gov. Kay Ivey after working past midnight Thursday and starting a new legislative day at 12:01 a.m. Friday to pass the spending bills. The fiscal year 2024 education budget approved by lawmakers is $537 million, or 6.5%, higher than the current budget. The supplemental appropriation, which will be distributed during the current budget year, is more than twice last years $1.3 billion. The education budget will send K-12 education $6 billion, a $363 million or 4.4% increase. Higher education will receive $2.3 billion, a $140 million or 1.7% increase. Spending on other education-related items in the education budget increased by $34 million, less than half a percent, to $552 million. The budget will fund 2% pay increases for K-12 teachers, a minimum pay scale for school support staff, and a $1,000 bonus for special education teachers. It will also fund 100 additional teachers in the middle grades and big pay raises for school nurses. Lawmakers put an additional $50 million into math and science initiatives and an additional $30 million into child care and after school resources. Read more: Less than half of Alabama school COVID relief money has been spent Alabamas three statewide K-12 specialty schools will receive between a 5% and 10% increase in funding. A plan to build a fourth K-12 specialty school in Demopolis focused on healthcare professions was scrapped by lawmakers. Alabamas colleges and universities will see increases ranging from 6% to 11%. While the House and Senate versions of the budget didnt differ much, the two chambers had different priorities for the supplemental bill. Lawmakers stressed the need to use the historic $2.8 billion surplus for one-time expenditures like capital costs rather than recurring expenditures like adding employees or giving raises. The Senate focused on stashing half a billion dollars in a new savings account and funding a capital grant program for K-12 schools while lowering promised tax rebates. The House wanted more for tax rebates, less on the grant program and less in savings. The differences were rectified by a conference committee, with lawmakers deciding to spend $393 million on tax rebates and put $344 million into a newly created savings account, the Educational Opportunities Reserve Fund. They will give $360 million to K-12 schools to help with soaring construction costs and put $180 million into a grant program administered by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth. The majority of supplemental spending on higher education - a full 33% of the $2.8 billion allocation - is focused on maintaining, renovating and adding new buildings. Alabama lawmakers gave final approval to a tax rebate for Alabama taxpayers Thursday, passing a bill that will provide $150 for individuals and $300 for couples filing jointly. The fallout continued Friday from the revelation Thursday that the criteria for determining the best site for Space Command has apparently changed. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon released a joint statement criticizing the developments brought to light by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall in a meeting earlier this week with the states congressional members. Related: Gov. Kay Ivey on Space Command: Not taking no for an answer Kendall, who has been tasked with making the final decision on the permanent home for Space Command, said he was aware changes had been made in the search criteria but was unaware of how those changes were made, according to a letter released Thursday by Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers. A blatant attempt to skew independent findings and use highly questionable tactics to award SPACECOM headquarters to a 5th place nominee should be an affront to the DOD and U.S. Air Force, the statement said in part. It is not in the best interest of our military, the safety and security of our warfighter, our country, and our allies. It breaks our trust in everything we know to be right and true. The letter said that Kendall had started his own investigation and Rogers, as chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said the committee would launch its own investigation as well. The committee has oversight of the armed forces. Battle gave a sharply-worded statement objecting to the changes at Thursdays city council meeting and those sentiments were reiterated in the joint statement Friday with Finley and McCutcheon. The changes, of course, could be a prelude to undoing Huntsville as the preferred site for Space Command a conclusion since supported by multiple federal evaluations. A report from NBC News last week said that President Joe Biden was looking to keep Space Command at its startup location in Colorado Springs, Colo. The report cited Alabamas restrictive laws on abortion as a catalyst for the decision. In the 2020 presidential election, of course, Colorados electoral votes went to Biden while Alabama supported former President Donald Trump. The full statement from Battle, Finley and McCutcheon: As one of the nations leading military communities, we are gravely concerned about revelations regarding the post-site selection process for U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) headquarters, as outlined in an investigation announced by the House Committee on Armed Services. Conversations between Alabamas bipartisan congressional delegation and the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force further illuminate a shadowy attempt to undermine an objective process that identified Huntsville-Redstone as the best location for SPACECOM headquarters. Changing the rules in this critical decision-making process, seemingly day to day without any civilian oversight, shakes the foundational pillars of trust between the American public and the Department of Defense (DOD). A blatant attempt to skew independent findings and use highly questionable tactics to award SPACECOM headquarters to a 5th place nominee should be an affront to the DOD and U.S. Air Force. It is not in the best interest of our military, the safety and security of our warfighter, our country, and our allies. It breaks our trust in everything we know to be right and true. Huntsville-Redstone met the objective criteria related to the needs of our national defense following an exhaustive multi-year selection process. We were chosen because we could best provide for the missions vital, long-term strategic interests. To have this process dishonored, dismissed, and invalidated is highly alarming. The promise of SPACECOM has sadly been politicized and highjacked by unseen individuals who would seemingly and selfishly rather jeopardize national security than do the right thing. Now, the integrity of the DOD and future success of this mission is at stake. A swift, thorough, and transparent investigation will help to restore credibility in SPACECOM and our military partners. We commend the House Committee on Armed Services for beginning this effort. The City of Huntsville, City of Madison, and Madison County stand ready to step up and support our chosen role in providing the critical infrastructure and needs for SPACECOM headquarters. Alabama lawmakers met past midnight Thursday and into Friday morning to reach an agreement on a record $3 billion General Fund budget, a plan that would increase spending for prisons, Medicaid, public health, mental health, law enforcement, and other non-education state agencies. The Legislature gave final approval after a conference committee worked out differences between the House and Senate versions. The plan is for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and calls for a 6% increase in spending over this year. Separate from the budget, lawmakers approved a bill to another $207 million from the General Fund this year on state and local projects and programs. The House had approved the budget a month ago. The Senate approved it today, with changes. After that, it took hours for the conference committee of three senators and three representatives to develop a compromise version of the budget and the supplemental spending bill. Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, chair of the House General Fund budget committee, urged the House to concur with the conference committee versions of both the budget and the supplemental bill. The vote on both was 103-0. That sent the budget to the Senate, which began discussing it about 1 a.m. Senate General Fund budget chairman Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, explained the changes made in the conference committee. He said the negotiations were tense at times. I dont think any one of us were happy, Albritton said. But this is the best that we could do with the conditions that weve got. One key point of contention was funding for the Maxwell Gateway project in Montgomery, a project that includes a whitewater park along the Alabama River near Maxwell Air Force Base. Gov. Kay Ivey had proposed $25 million for the project as part of an education spending bill. Lawmakers removed that appropriation from the education bill. Sens. Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, and Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, objected strongly Thursday that the Maxwell Gateway project remained unfunded in the General Fund bill. But as part of the negotiations tonight, the conference committee added $5 million for the project. We didnt get a whole loaf, Barfoot said. We didnt even get half a loaf. But we did get something. We got a slice. And I would just say, were appreciative of that. Albritton said all the negotiations resulted in a final product that was not perfect but was beneficial for the state. This is not the best that there ever has been, Albritton said. But its the best that we can get to this evening. I think we have done a very good job in moving forward Alabama and moving forward all of Alabama in the way that we have been able to spread resources that we have throughout the state in a much more fair way. But Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said his district in west Alabama was shortchanged in the budget. Singleton said he was told there was no money left when he asked about funding for his district. But all of a sudden, Montgomery can come up and get $5 million at the end of the night, Singleton said. Poorest region of the state. Not one whole million dollars went to west Alabama. Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, told Albritton she did not understand how a section of the state could be left out of the budget and was disappointed to hear that. Shortly after 2 a.m., the Senate passed the budget on a vote of 28-3, sending it to Gov. Kay Ivey, who can sign it into law. The budget includes money for a 2% cost of living adjustment for state employees. Legislators will return next Wednesday. Three days remain in the session. Authorities have released the name of a man fatally shot in Birminghams Inglenook community. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victim as Deunte Jurrell Winston. He was 23. The shooting happened about 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the 4300 block of 44th Avenue North in Inglenook. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said officers arrived in the neighborhood and found Winston unresponsive on a front porch. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:21 a.m. An arrest has not yet been announced, but authorities said the two men knew each other and the dispute was personal in nature. Watson is Birminghams 51st homicide this year. Of those, one was an officer-involved shooting by an outside law enforcement agency and two others have been ruled justifiable. In all of Jefferson County this year, there have been 63 homicides, including the 51 in Birmingham. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. A Friday-morning search for a suspect in Hueytown ended when he was found hiding in the laundry room of a home. The ordeal began about 7:30 a.m. when a Hueytown police detective spotted a vehicle driving recklessly and almost hitting the detective head-on in the area of Allison-Bonnet Memorial Drive and Townhouse Lane, police said. The detective tried to pull over the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop. Initially, police lost sight of the suspect, but began checking the area and located it on 26th Avenue near Arcadia Circle. The vehicle, police said, had crashed into a pole and the suspect had fled the scene. An Alabama Department of Corrections tracking dog from William Donaldson Correctional Facility was brought in, as well as the Jefferson County sheriffs office. A perimeter was established. Hueytown 911 then received a call that the suspect was hiding in the laundry room of a residence on King Street. It was not his home, police said. The suspect, who has not been identified pending formal charges , was taken into custody without further incident. Police said they determined the vehicle driven by the suspect had been stolen out of Birmingham. We would like to thank our citizens who provided crucial information in assisting us in apprehending the suspect, police said in a statement. This is another example of someone who does not live in our city coming to our city to commit crimes. A Mississippi police officer who shot and wounded an unarmed 11-year-old Black boy in the childs home should be fired, an attorney for the childs 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 was the worst moment in my life and I feel like nobody cares. Thats my child, yall, 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. 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. A Morgan County man is being held on $10,000 bond in the Colbert County Jail after authorities say he called in a bomb threat to Tuscumbias Tennessee Valley Art Center. Tuscumbia Police say Trevor Charles Kiddy, 25, was taken into custody without incident Thursday afternoon by the Morgan County Sheriffs office at his residence. He has been charged with making a terrorist threat. According to police, Kiddy made 911 phone calls from his residence, threatening to bomb the Tennessee Valley Art Center, on North Water Street. Police say the calls caused the lock down of a daycare located nearby and other public access businesses. The Florence Police Department Hazardous Devices Unit responded and cleared the building of any threats. Most people were already aware of the 5,000-mile long sargassum bloom making its way toward Florida -- and possibly Alabama -- beaches, but thanks to a new study, theres more to be concerned about than just the stench which accompanies the bloom. Florida Atlantic University has released a study which found that sargassum bloom contains both the Vibrio bacteria and plastic marine debris, creating what the studys authors called a perfect pathogen storm with significant health risks to both humans and marine life. The Vibrio bacteria, frequently referred to as the flesh-eating bacteria, can cause life-threatening illnesses from seafood consumption, as well as disease and death from open wound infections, according to the report. Not only can the Vibrio bacteria live within the sargassum, however, it also appears to be able to attach itself to plastic marine debris. Plastic is a new element thats been introduced into marine environments and has only been around for about 50 years, said Dr. Tracy Mincer, corresponding lead author and an assistant professor of biology at FAUs Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. Our lab work showed that these Vibrio are extremely aggressive and can seek out and stick to plastic within minutes, Mincer said. We also found that there are attachment factors that microbes use to stick to plastics, and it is the same kind of mechanism that pathogens use. The 5,000-mile wide, 11-ton bloom -- the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt -- is expected to impact Floridas eastern coast, with some of it making its way into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Its the second-largest sargassum bloom ever recorded, according to FAU researcher Brian LaPointe. Its incredible, LaPointe said in mid-March. What were seeing in the satellite imagery does not bode well for a clean beach year. The new dangers found in the FAU study add to the risks already associated with sargassum, chiefly the risk to people with respiratory problems stemming from the release of hydrogen sulfide, which gives the sargassum its unpleasant odor. If or how much the sargassum bloom will impact the Alabama coast remains to be seen. Mendel Graeber at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab told AL.com in March that major storm, currents and other factors will impact the sargassum as it moves into the Gulf. Theres a chance that some of it will end up washing up on our beaches, but at this point, we cant really predict that, Graeber said. Meanwhile, in an interview with WEAR, Mincer said the sargassum becomes more of a threat as it dries after reaching the shore, with the Vibrio bacteria growth increasing. If you handle this seaweed, its a good idea to wash your hands, Mincer said, and if youre going to be doing a lot of it, wear gloves, and if you have an open cut or something stay away from it. Mincer also noted that the Vibrio bacteria is easily treated with antibiotics. Theyve (the vibrio bacteria) never seen antibiotics before, he said, and so they have hardly any antibiotic resistance genes at all. So, they havent adapted to that at all, A Shelby County man is going to federal prison after pleading guilty to child pornography charges. Shawn Michael Hughes, 38, of Chelsea, admitted to being a member of a dark web chat board dedicated to discussing and exchanging images of child sexual abuse. Authorities said he posted links to child sex abuse material on that site. U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Hughes to 15 years in prison, said Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples. After Hughes completes his prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for the rest of life. He is also required to register as a convicted sex offender. Federal officials said Hughes had amassed a vast collection of images of child sexual abuse on his electronic devices seized from his residence. Todays sentencing sends a resounding message to those who would use the shadows of the Dark Web to commit such heinous crimes, Escalona said. We will continue to relentlessly pursue justice for every child impacted by these heinous acts. FBI Birminghams Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Shelby County Sheriffs Office. Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Departments Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White of the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying the suspect in a Butler County shooting over the weekend. Sheriffs deputies were dispatched Saturday night to the Greenville Hospital emergency room on a report of a person shot. The victim was leaving Floyds Ol Skool Bar and Lounge on Alabama Highway 106 in Georgiana when, about midnight, the suspect backed into an empty parking space Bennetts Bargains. As the victim left, the suspect followed. Once the victim arrived home on Stinson Road, the suspect fired a shot, injuring the victim. The unknown suspect faces an attempted murder charge, which is a Class A felony. Investigators are asking for help locating the suspect vehicle and identifying the driver of the vehicle. A cash reward is offered. Anyone with information is asked to call Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP. Tips can also be submitted through the agencys P3-tips app. Saying the U.S. protect(s) the world with missile defense from Huntsville, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Huntsville should remain the choice for Space Command headquarters. Tuberville made the comments on Donald Trump Jr.s Triggered streaming show Thursday. During a 90-minute interview, Tuberville made other comments about a wide range of topics including public education, saying of inner city teachers that he didnt know whether they can read and write. You name it, space-wise, its in Huntsville, Tuberville said. They looked at 60 places, Huntsville won it - hands down. Tuberville is the latest Alabama official to make the case in support of Huntsville in the aftermath of an NBC News report earlier this week that the Biden administration is looking to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., as its permanent headquarters. The Air Force in 2021 identified Huntsville as its preferred choice and multiple government assessments have agreed that Redstone Arsenal in the Rocket City is the best site. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon released a joint statement today criticizing the developments, and Gov. Kay Ivey made her own pitch. Alabama officials said they believe the Biden Administration is making a decision on Space Command based on politics such as Colorados support for Biden in the 2020 election, and Alabamas abortion laws. Thats an excuse, because you do have military bases in Florida where your abortion laws are just like ours, same thing in Texas, Tuberville told Trump. Listen, Im an American, and if I wasnt a senator from Alabama, and I truly thought the best place for us to save our world would be to move Space Command and have it in Colorado - hey, lets go do it. But its not. We did it the right way. Noting that Huntsville is home to Redstone Arsenal, as well as centers for NASA, ULA, Space X, Blue Origin, defense contractors, and the FBI, Tuberville said Space Command is needed as Russia, China and Iran are gearing up their capabilities to shoot down satellites. Tuberville said he has invited Biden to Huntsville. I dont know if hes been there or not, he said. Ive looked at all the reviews, and its hands down. But its gotten political. Thats what this administration has done. Its made it all political. Two Anniston Army Depot police officers and a third man have been federally charged with allegedly conspiring to steal military equipment from the facility as part of an ongoing investigation that ensnared six others so far, prosecutors said Thursday. The officers -- 53-year-old Anniston resident Kelvin Battle and Shane Farthing, 41, of Gadsden -- allegedly stole military property from the depot, including night vision equipment. The alleged middleman of the scheme, 62-year-old Goodwater resident Steve Bonner, sold the stolen goods to buyers and delivered the items to the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga, according to Prim Escalona, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. The equipment was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide users with the ability to use the weapons at night or improve their ability to acquire a target, prosecutors said. The three men were each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal United States property while Battle and Bonner were also charged with a count related to specific instances of stealing or selling stolen property from the depot, according to prosecutors. Battle was also charged with two counts of wire fraud in connection with false statements made to obtain emergency loans and a loan guarantee from the U.S. Small Business Administration under programs designed to provide support to small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Farthing has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy to steal United States property. The agreement includes restitution and a requirement that Farthing return the stolen items. Two civilian workers at the depot earlier pleaded guilty to stealing night vision equipment from the facility. Four others have also pleaded guilty or have agreed to plead guilty in connection with the scheme. The men face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. The maximum penalty for the theft of government property charge is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, while the maximum punishment for the wire fraud charge is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case is also being investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General. English News China-Central Asia Summit to draw new blueprint for China-Central Asia relations Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 23 Mai 2023 As an ancient Chinese adage goes, With one heart and one mind, we can accomplish everything we aspire for. To promote the well-being of the people of the six countries, the China-Central Asia Summit will surely make new contributions to a brighter future for the relations between China and Central Asian countries and building a community with a shared future for mankind. By He Yin, People's Daily The China-Central Asia Summit will be held on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province. It will be chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping and attended by heads of state of five Central Asian countries. It will be the first major diplomatic event that China hosts this year and the first in-person summit among the heads of state of the six countries over the 31 years since China established diplomatic relations with these countries. It is of milestone significance in the history of the relations between China and Central Asian countries. This Summit will help draw a new blueprint for China-Central Asia relations and open up a new era for cooperation between the two sides. It will inject new impetus into building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future and contribute positive energy to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. "No matter how the international landscape may evolve or how developed China may grow, China will always remain a good neighbor, a good partner, a good friend, and a good brother that Central Asian countries can trust and count on," said Xi when chairing the Virtual Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Central Asian Countries in January last year. Over the past 10 years, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, cooperation between China and Central Asia has achieved a series of historic and groundbreaking outcomes. Last year, the heads of state of the six countries jointly announced the building of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, and the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism came into being. Today, China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships and signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with all the five Central Asian countries. Bilateral strategic mutual trust has reached a new level; mutually beneficial cooperation has gained new impetus; friendly exchanges have entered a new stage; and China-Central Asia relations and regional development have shown unprecedented vitality. The key to the successful cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries lies in their abiding commitment to mutual respect, good-neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times, and mutual benefit. These four principles are a political guarantee for the steady and sustained growth of China's relations with Central Asian countries and a source of inspiration for China and Central Asian countries to further advance friendly exchanges. China and the five countries firmly support each other in following development paths that suit their own national conditions, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, actively work for the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, work together to combat the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking and transborder organized crime, and resolutely oppose external interference or attempts to instigate color revolutions. China and the five countries share the same or similar positions on major international and regional issues, and will keep close collaboration within multilateral institutions and frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, practice true multilateralism, and make contribution to promoting the reform of the global governance system and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Central Asian countries have actively responded to and firmly supported the major initiatives proposed by China, such as the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. Facing the complicated and volatile international landscape, China and the five Central Asian countries will always magnify the exemplary role of good-neighborly friendship, build a cooperation belt for high-quality development, strengthen the shield for defending peace, build a family with diverse interactions, and protect the global village that enjoys peace and development. Central Asia is where the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was firstly proposed, as well as one of the regions that have reaped the early fruits of the initiative. Over the past 10 years since the BRI was proposed, China and the five Central Asian countries have actively synergized their development strategies and achieved fruitful results in the high-quality construction of the BRI. A series of major projects have been completed, including the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway, and the China-Tajikistan highway. The China-Europe Railway Express which runs through Central Asia has seen rapid growth. China and Central Asia have jointly built an all-round and multi-dimensional connectivity network that covers roads, railways, air routes and oil and gas pipelines, which not only contributes to the upgrading of industries, connectivity and livelihood in Central Asian countries, but also lays a solid foundation for safeguarding industrial and supply chains in Eurasia. The China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, characterized by openness and transparency, mutual benefit, equality, reciprocity and real results, is a new format of cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. China believes that efforts shall be focused on promoting cooperation in priority areas such as transportation, economy, trade, investment, industry, agriculture, energy, customs, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to build an all-round, multi-tiered and multi-dimensional sub-regional cooperation pattern. This conforms to the demands of Central Asian countries and the trend of regional integration, and has been widely responded by relevant parties. The foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries said the Central Asia-China cooperation has played an important role in consolidating strategic mutual trust, accelerating their respective development, promoting connectivity and safeguarding common security, and has set an example of mutually beneficial cooperation among countries. They believe the China-Central Asia Summit will open a new chapter of Central Asia-China relations and provide new opportunities for Central Asian countries' transformation and promote the region's influence. As an ancient Chinese adage goes, With one heart and one mind, we can accomplish everything we aspire for. To promote the well-being of the people of the six countries, the China-Central Asia Summit will surely make new contributions to a brighter future for the relations between China and Central Asian countries and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Dans la meme rubrique : < > WHA rejects Taiwan-related proposal again, a legitimate move wins public support China builds a complete red line system to strengthen ecological conversation Mines on Ningxia's Helan Mountain turn green, contribute to better ecology Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Digital twin technology builds "smarter" cities Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 24 Mai 2023 "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Dans la meme rubrique : < > WHA rejects Taiwan-related proposal again, a legitimate move wins public support China builds a complete red line system to strengthen ecological conversation Mines on Ningxia's Helan Mountain turn green, contribute to better ecology Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News G7 will hurt itself being accomplice of economic coercion Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 22 Mai 2023 A big country should act like a big country. As a club of rich countries, the G7 is being cruel and has triggered dissatisfaction around the world. Every summit it has hosted faced strong opposition. Last year, a poster showed a distorted Earth fitted in a letter G, which suggested that the world is becoming distorted under the interference of the G7. This exactly mirrored the destructive role played by the group. By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily To pressure China is reportedly to be one of the core topics of the Group of Seven (G7) summit to be held in Japan's Hiroshima. The summit is likely to attack and smear China in the name of "obeying the rules" and "taking responsible actions." Blinded and instigated by the United States and a few other G7 members, the organization has again and again grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs and arrogantly pointed fingers at China, which reflects deep-rooted Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices. It's an open strategy of the United States to contain and oppress China, which it takes as an "imaginary enemy," and rope in its allies to encircle China. In June last year, despite China's stern position and firm opposition, the G7 mentioned China 14 times in a leaders' communique, making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, human rights, the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, grossly interfering in China's domestic affairs and peddling its false narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism," to incite confrontational sentiments. As the G7 presidency, Japan uses the misguided China policy of the United States to speculate and seek private interests, which has provided convenience for the U.S. in jamming the topics of containing China into the agenda of the G7. A recent G7 foreign ministers' meeting hyped China-related issues, grossly interfering in China's domestic affairs and maliciously slandering and smearing China. A G7 trade ministers' meeting also sent a signal of countering China. With a decreasing influence, the G7 has been reduced to a servant of the U.S. hegemony, which could only prove its presence by hyping China topics. Claiming to safeguard the so-called "rules-based international order," the G7 is blatantly challenging the core of the postwar order. It's known around the world that Taiwan's return to China is an important component of the post-war international order, which is written in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. Any country that's sincerely committed to safeguarding the international order should follow the one-China principle and oppose all acts supporting and emboldening "Taiwan independence." With a total disregard for the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, the G7 said China's opposition to "Taiwan independence" is "changing the status quo of the Taiwan Strait." This obviously condones "Taiwan independence" and challenges the post-war international order recognized by the international community. It fully proves that the G7's efforts to safeguard the so-called international order are hypocritical and the G7 itself is a saboteur of the international order. Claiming to jointly cope with "economic coercion," the G7 is turning a blind eye to the economic coercion of the United States around the world. For a long time, the United States, relying on its economic strength and financial hegemony, has abused illegal unilateral sanctions. According to media reports, U.S. government sanctions designations soared by 933 percent between 2000 and 2021. More than 9,400 sanctions designations had come into effect in the United States by fiscal year 2021. The United States has slapped unilateral economic sanctions on nearly 40 countries, affecting nearly half of the world's population. Not even G7 members have been spared from U.S. economic coercion and bullying. Companies such as Toshiba from Japan, Siemens from Germany and Alstom from France, were all victims of U.S. suppression. China is a victim of U.S. economic coercion. It has been firmly opposed to economic coercion by any country in the world. If the G7 summit is to discuss response to economic coercion, perhaps it should first discuss and condemn what the U.S. has done, rather than being an accomplice. Claiming to discuss the so-called "economic security," the G7 tolerates and even assists the "decoupling and severing ties" of the United States, which creates risks for global economic recovery. During a G7 finance ministers' meeting, the United States said it was considering further restriction on American enterprises' investment in China and would discuss the issue with its allies and partners. This just revealed the country's intention to upgrade its economic hegemony. Over the recent years, the United States has overstretched the concept of national security and abused export control measures, restricted American enterprises' normal economic and trade cooperation with China, impeded the decision making of enterprises, and instigated and even forced its allies to follow its practices, which has damaged the international economic and trade order and disturbed the stability of global industrial and supply chains. If the G7 green-lights the economic bullying practices of the United States to hinder the economic development of other countries, it will not only become a destructive player in global development, but also hurt its own economic recovery. A big country should act like a big country. As a club of rich countries, the G7 is being cruel and has triggered dissatisfaction around the world. Every summit it has hosted faced strong opposition. Last year, a poster showed a distorted Earth fitted in a letter G, which suggested that the world is becoming distorted under the interference of the G7. This exactly mirrored the destructive role played by the group. The G7 should understand that being a servant of U.S. hegemony, establishing exclusive cliques, containing other countries and provoking bloc confrontation are against the trend of the times. Those who play fire will only get themselves burned. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) Dans la meme rubrique : < > WHA rejects Taiwan-related proposal again, a legitimate move wins public support China builds a complete red line system to strengthen ecological conversation Mines on Ningxia's Helan Mountain turn green, contribute to better ecology Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Japan undermines regional interests by provoking bloc confrontation Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 22 Mai 2023 The Japanese government should listen carefully to the voices of justice from its people. They don't want Hiroshima, a city once took an atomic bomb, to be utilized politically, and don't want Japan to be an accomplice of war. By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily To hype the so-called "China threat" is a "script" written by Japan, the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven (G7), for the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Recently, the leader of Japan once again made irresponsible remarks during an interview, saying China is seeking unilateral changes to the status quo by force. Making use of the G7 Hiroshima summit, the Japanese side has repeatedly fanned up the so-called "China threat" to demonstrate its "leadership" and the "solidarity" of the G7, which is indeed facing a number of problems. Such practice of instigating bloc confrontation for private interests will only make Japan's neighboring countries in Asia more vigilant and further reveal to the international community the disgraceful role played by Japan. Taiwan's return to China is a component of the post-war international order. It is written in black and white in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. Japan, as a country whose militarists once launched wars of aggression, should have exercised caution in its words and deeds. However, for some time, some forces in Japan have vigorously advocated that "Any contingency for Taiwan is a contingency for Japan," and even erroneously identified Taiwan as "important for Japan's security and the stability of the international community," trying to make the Taiwan question an international issue. By provoking China on issues concerning the country's core interests, Japan has grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs and blatantly challenged the post-war international order. Despite the remarks by the leader of a European country that Europe should not get involved in the Taiwan question, Japan is trying to kidnap all other members of the G7 with the Taiwan question, which is a disrespect to them. By hyping the so-called "China threat," Japan hopes to find excuses to break free from the military restrictions imposed on it over crimes of aggression committed by Japanese militarism in history. Its written in the Potsdam Proclamation released in 1945 that Japan will eliminate militarism and establish a peaceful government. Following the exclusively defense-oriented strategy, the ban on the right to collective self-defense and giving up the right to launch wars are promises made by Japan to the rest of the world. However, the country has been revising its defense strategy over the recent years to break free from the Peace Constitution. In December last year, Japan updated three security and defense-related documents including the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program, declaring that it has acquired the "counterstrike capability," or "enemy base strike capabilities." This meant that Japan abandoned the "exclusively defense-oriented" strategy and deviated from the Peace Constitution. By taking China as an "unprecedented strategic challenge" and fanning up the so-called "China threat," Japan is trying to get rid of the restrictions from the Peace Constitution and find excuses to expand its military strength. As an Asian country, Japan is passionate about being a "pioneer" in protecting American hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region, which seriously threatens regional peace and stability. The United States announced that it will "shape the strategic environment in which China operates," and Japan just fell into line with the United States and did the United States' bidding. Japan has completely forgot the humiliation of being forced to accept the Plaza Accord and turned a deaf ear to the rational voices in the country to oppose the constitutional revision and military build-up. Japan intends to spearhead NATO's foray into the Asia-Pacific. Last year, the country took part in a NATO summit for the first time, and now it is planning to open an NATO office in Tokyo, which clearly reveals its intention to introduce the alliance to the Asia-Pacific. Asia is one of the most peaceful and stable regions in the world and a promising land for cooperation and development. It's not an arena for geopolitical contest. Japan's remarks and practices have alerted the international community, especially countries in the Asia-Pacific. Japan has ulterior motives by roping in other G7 members. It is eager to shake off the institutional restrictions formed after the World War II and become a "normal" country. Hosting the G7 summit is considered an opportunity for the country to demonstrate its "big-country ambition." However, as a Japanese media outlet analyzed, the global influence of the G7 today is not as big as it used to be. It's ill-conceived for Japan to embolden itself by roping in other G7 members. If Japan really wants to become a responsible member of the international society as it has claimed, it should take concrete actions to win trust from its neighboring countries in Asia and the rest of the international community, rather than giving empty slogans. Japan also has the intension to have other G7 members endorse its plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. During a press conference of the G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment held last month, the Japanese side claimed that the steady decommissioning progress including the release of treated water into the ocean "will be welcomed." However, Steffi Lemke, Germany's Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, slammed the claim, saying she "cannot welcome the release of the treated water." The Japanese plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea violates the international obligations of Japan. The country will only make itself more distrusted if it keeps asking for endorsement from other countries. In history, Hiroshima once shouldered huge trauma as a result of the war of aggression waged by Japanese militarists. Today, Japan is turning a blind eye to history and playing dangerous geopolitical games when the world is facing challenges, which is extremely irresponsible for the Japanese people and the international community. The Japanese government should listen carefully to the voices of justice from its people. They don't want Hiroshima, a city once took an atomic bomb, to be utilized politically, and don't want Japan to be an accomplice of war. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) Dans la meme rubrique : < > WHA rejects Taiwan-related proposal again, a legitimate move wins public support China builds a complete red line system to strengthen ecological conversation Mines on Ningxia's Helan Mountain turn green, contribute to better ecology Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Joe Bidens decline into incompetence is more than a personal journey towards lifes end, it is an allegory for the likely collapse of the Progressive Left and the Democrat Party now under its rule. As Joe Bidens mind closes in on itself and his body struggles with infirmity, the Second Law of Thermodynamics is at work. The Second Law holds that the more energy systems (think a person or an organization) become self-absorbed and isolated from the larger eco-systems surrounding them, the less productive work they can accomplish. Caricature by Donkey Hotey CC BY 2.0 license This is the law of entropy where, as entropy increases, useful work decreases because the energies in closed systems become random and uncoordinated in seeking practical outcomes. The system just gets more and more chaotic, losing rhyme and reason. Notice Joe Bidens use of words -- his mind works randomly and cant stay on topic. He even has trouble being coherent when reading what his staff has written for him to say. When he walks or greets people, he seems out of touch with his surroundings. This is chaotic randomness working right before our eyes. Now, with Biden his randomness comes from aging -- his mind and body are no longer capable of intersecting with reality as they once were. The effects of aging slowly but surely close down our internal biological and physical systems. At the end we can do no work at all as our mind and body slip away into that final rest. The Progressive Left and its instruments -- large bureaucracies including the Democrat Party, educational institutions from universities to the teachers unions running our public schools, major public corporations, and the legacy media -- are also suffering from the effects of increased entropy. Their ability to mobilize their internal energies for productive work is in decline. The Progressive Left in the culture and the Democrat Party in politics have sought to close our system in on itself by imposing on the culture narratives of selfishness and entitlements. Most insidiously, this intolerant drive to unify our minds behind only one way of thinking uses racist and gender discourses as tools to eradicate freedoms and impose conformity of thinking and behaving. The culture as a whole is to become uniform and the individuals within it are to restrict their own self-systems to living within that meta-singularity of belief. The result is, on both cultural and individual levels, the Second Law of Thermodynamics is at work and we are more and more subject to entropy, the increase of chaos in our lives, and the dissipation of energies randomly without good purpose. Perhaps the most conspicuous dissipation of productive energy has occurred in education. As resources from its large national ecosystem have increased dramatically over the past 30 years, student outcomes have declined. Todays graduates of elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities are less competent in all regards than those of my generation, the Baby Boomers. Younger students are accomplishing less in reading, writing, mathematics, their facility with history, civics, and reasoning skills. College graduates are narrow cast into disciplinary silos without having acquired much wisdom for all the money spent (and debt incurred) to become so educated. Using racism for privileging only some in admissions to institutions of higher learning leads to misallocation of human capital assets, which is an act of random prejudice, generating chaos in the culture, which in turn, lowers moral and economic outcomes for all. The entropy-engendering prejudice of racism did not serve the Slave State elites very well in the end. As major corporations have become woke, DEI discriminations dissipate the energy of employees by awarding privilege and wealth according to irrational (random, prejudiced) criteria not focused on real-world accomplishment. The rise of randomness is also startling in our military. Searching for White supremacists and training in anti-whiteness are not mission critical for the defense of our nation against the Putin-Xi axis of national populist powers. The FBIs dedicated pursuit of Donald Trump with the fabrication of false narratives as documented in the Durham Report was random abuse of the Rule of Law. Similar efforts by Democratic prosecutors in the Department of Justice and New York City are also evidence of entropy at work in our institutions of law enforcement. Democrat impeachments of Trump were of the same misbegotten, self-referential, prejudicial ilk. And, speaking of law enforcement, is not the metastasizing of crime in many of our large cities -- say in the subways of New York City -- another example of chaotic social conditions? Crime is a diversion of energy away from work towards useless, and harmful disorder. Allowing millions of illegal persons to swarm into the country and draw on our resources without any citizenship obligation to promote the common good is, prima facie, irrational, generating chaotic conditions in many communities. This is another example of the Second Law of Thermodynamics at work in our federal government. The personal narcissism treasured by the Progressive Left increases entropy. The narcissistic personality is a one cut off from all others, without ethics or morality, having only the self as ones God. The narcissistic personality is an isolated energy system. That closing-off of such a personality from reality necessarily triggers a rapid shift of psychic energy from work to random searching for fleeting moments of personal happiness. No leadership can be expected from such risk-averse individuals. As managers they are like dogs chasing their own tails. Nor do they have a reliable work ethic or the ability to stand up to daunting challenges. Ironically, the narcissist is other-directed looking to influencers for direction on to how to live. Not having core values or perspective, the fearful narcissist twists and turns to find acceptance and a safe-space provided by others in which to be themselves. Virtue-signaling by those in positional authority, triggered by fear of falling short in the opinion of significant others, may be another example of energy diffusion away from productive work towards protecting the isolated self in an act generating more randomness in the culture. Such a personality is easily traumatized and fearful, demanding special privileges adverse to the needs and interests of others, just as spoiled aristocrats did in bygone times. Statistics on the recent growing levels of anxiety, self-doubt, and self-destructive behaviors among girls are alarming. Social media, making money off narcissistic and other-directed personalities, thus contributes to the intensification of chaotic randomness in our culture. The Surgeon General has just warned the nation about this harmful impact of social media, a negative externality, economists would say, of producing and marketing a private good. Is there any order to the Twitterverse or postings on Tik-Tok? Who remembers a Tweet from one month ago? As the entropy set off by the beliefs and social interventions of the Progressive Left grows apace among us, the random energy flows so released will end up negating each other and lead us towards systemic collapse. By learning from the Second Law of Thermodynamics, we can unclose our minds, come together as a benign community, and together reject the narcissism of the Progressive Left and the Democrat Partys leadership. Then, Americans can fully and with confidence embrace that wider nourishing reality in which we live and breathe. Recovering such wisdom -- the human instinct for having meaning in our lives, for believing in ourselves and the moral worth of our respective journeys -- will confront the growing chaos instigated by the Progressive Left. Then Americans will reassert their individual and collective destinies by keeping in touch with reality, turning their backs on narcissism, and once again working for the fact-based improvement of humanity. We have a Democrat president who will nominate anybody who will further his agenda and a Democrat-controlled Senate that places ideology and vote-buying ahead of country and will approve any cabinet member or judge that a Democrat president nominates. We all know what a doddering old fool the current occupant of the Oval Office is, so there's no need to document his latest gaffes. Let's examine instead four of his nominees, starting with Secretary of State Tony Blinken and his connection with George Soros. Blinken's father, Donald Blinken, and his wife Vera funded the Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives at Soros' Central European University (CEU). In one Soros Foundations Network report from 2002, Blinken was listed on the Board of Trustees of CEU after Soros and Aryeh Neier (who served as the president of the Open Society Institute from 1993 to 2012). Like father, like son. Blinken, in May 2021, wrote, "Former President of Albania Sali Berisha's corrupt acts undermined democracy in Albania. I am publicly designating Berisha and his immediate family members as ineligible for entry into the United States." Why? Berisha had denounced Blinken's action as the work of George Soros. When confronted by Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-1), Blinken said, "I don't have anything to share." He provided only platitudes but no evidence. Let's examine Blinken's "accomplishments" without Soros. Blinken said in remarks in April 2021, "As Secretary of State, my job is to make sure our foreign policy delivers for the American people -- by taking on the biggest challenges they face and seizing the biggest opportunities that can improve their lives. No challenge more clearly captures the two sides of this coin than climate." Blinken then doubled down, trying in September to justify his concern for climate change by blaming it for worsening conflicts around world. "Look at almost every place where you see threats to international peace and security today -- and you'll find that climate change is making things less peaceful, less secure, and rendering our response even more challenging." About Blinken's confrontation with the Chinese delegation in Alaska, former CIA analyst and National Security Council chief of staff Fred Fleitz said, "It was one of the most incompetent displays I've ever seen by an American diplomat. I think they were just virtue signaling before the lapdog American media. It was a serious mistake and it set back our policies and it made them look inept because they weren't ready for the counterattack by Chinese officials." In July 2021, Blinken waived sanctions on Iran's oil trade to allow Japan and Korea to infuse billions of dollars into Iran's failing economy. Then in February 2022, Blinken signed several sanction waivers related to Iran's civilian nuclear activities in a move, he said, was designed to "entice Iran to return to compliance with the 2015 deal that it has been violating since former president Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and re-imposed US sanctions." Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security who keeps insisting the southern border is secure, intervened to help obtain a sentence commutation for the son of a major Democrat Party donor. The son was a convicted drug dealer. Then U.S. attorney Mayorkas approached the White House in 2000 on behalf of Carlos Vignali, a convicted drug trafficker whom prosecutors said was a leading figure in a drug ring with nearly three dozen members that stretched from California to Minnesota. Vignali's father was a wealthy real-estate developer and a substantial donor to California Democrats. He persuaded more than nine important Democrat politicians to approach Bill Clinton on his son's behalf. He increased his political donations as his son's trial began, then donated ever-increasing amounts to the Democratic National Committee during their convention in Los Angeles. The Vignali family also contributed to Xavier Becerra's political campaigns prior to his advocacy for Carlos. Becerra is currently the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Andrew Dunne, an assistant U.S. attorney in Minneapolis who prosecuted Vignali's case, said, "There was a lot of influence, oh yes." Clinton, on his last day in office, freed Vignali after he had served less than six years of a more than fourteen-year sentence. Further, an Obama-era inspector general report asserted that Mayorkas had assisted foreign investors in the EB-5 visa program who were connected to top Democrats. "Mayorkas 'pressured staff' to expedite the review of a Las Vegas hotel and casino investment at the request of then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid," and made "...an 'unprecedented' intervention to help GTA, a company chaired by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe." A third intervention for former Democratic Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell resulted in the overturning of another EB-5 refusal. If not for Mayorkas' intervention, all the cases would have been decided differently. As if Ketanji Brown Jackson, who can't (or wouldn't) define what a woman is, wasn't bad enough, we now have Nancy Gbana Abudu, Biden's nominee for the 11th Circuit Court. Biden said Abudu's nomination was part of his "...promise to ensure that the nation's courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country -- both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds." Her nomination came as the administration and congressional Democrats emphasized voting rights and alleged voter suppression in Republican-led states such as Georgia, where Abudu serves. She is late of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). While at the ACLU, she boasted, "95 percent of my work is in voting rights." She has compared the ban on felons voting to slavery and proof of citizenship to voter suppression. "When you add laws that prohibit people with a criminal conviction from voting, it's practically the same system as during slavery -- Black people who have lost their freedom and cannot vote." I guess she thinks non-Blacks never lose their right to vote. Last August Abudu urged the Senate to pass HR 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. She said, "As HR 4 moves to the Senate, some senators have already committed to doing everything in their power to oppose the bill -- up to and including leveraging a legislative tool popular with pro-Jim Crow senators of the past -- to prevent its passage and to further erode the fundamental right to vote." I don't think Abudu ever read HR 4. If she had, she would know HR 4 restores preclearance, which requires states to prove that the proposed [voting] law would have neither the purpose nor the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. This concept was struck down by SCOTUS in 2013. Blinken and Mayorkas the men will pass, but the damage they've done will be with us for a long time. As will Abudu and her legacy. Image: White House Ten plagues were needed to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. We need ten miracles to deliver us from the immoral trash that is being heaped upon us every day! We are faced with a sea of troubles besetting the USA. We need a path to open in that sea of troubles so we may pass through in a new moral direction. Like the Israelites following the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, we must draw closer to moral righteousness and truth every day of our lives. We need to be delivered from the bondage of immorality, lies, and unconscionable greed. As I ran down the stairs to the subway platform this past week, I saw before me an electric advertising sign. It read, "We Love Vaginas." The words were posted above a photo of a woman's lower half, wearing black panties, knees raised and separated. The new lewdness is the new normal. At one point, there was a deep preoccupation with determining the point where true art could become or be considered obscenity. This concern was supposedly resolved by the SCOTUS in the 1973 Miller decision (Miller v. California) to the effect that "applying contemporary community standards, would find the work appeals on the whole to prurient interests; describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and lacks any serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value." The Miller criteria for assessing obscenity were updated and re-stated as recently as December 2021 by the U.S. Justice Department, which published a statement to that effect and noted, "The Supreme Court has ruled that "transmitting obscenity and child pornography, whether via the Internet or other means, is ... illegal under federal law for both adults and juveniles" (Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 [1998]). But of course, so much revolves around what the "community" considers "prurient." That is an escape hatch that muddies the waters around enforcement and prosecution. We find that pornographic materials are flooding our society. Tens of millions are ogling and masturbating before this flood of obscenity. Parents are attending school board meetings and are complaining incessantly about the presence of obscene material found in school libraries. We see those complaints here, here, here, and here. Millions of people casually visit porn sites on their cell phones and look upon pornography as a pleasant diversion. There is no hue and cry from the churches, mosques, or synagogues that obscenity is polluting the culture and weakening the psyches of the people. No longer is obscenity just a matter of asking if Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence is suitable for assignment for high school students to read or to be found in libraries. Rather, all forms of perversion and titillating scenarios are described vividly in children's books and accessible with some minimal "safe search" (sic) protections on some search engines. Where are the protests? The Ten Commandments forbid adultery. Christianity teaches that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." William Wilberforce, the preacher and polemicist who is best known for leading the fight to end slavery in the British Empire, which came about in 1833, also founded the less well known Society for the Suppression of Vice (SSV) in 1802. The Society was authorized by King George III, the very same monarch whom we rejected as "immoral" in our War for Independence. History is full of ironies like this, but we shall not dwell on that issue here. The SSV had a long list of offending vices that needed to be expunged from British society, including "profanation of the Lord's Day (Sunday), profane swearing, publication of blasphemous, licentious and obscene books, selling by false weights and measures, keeping of disorderly public houses, brothels, and gaming houses, illegal lotteries, cruelty to animals." Wilberforce was concerned about "licentious and obscene books." However, it should be noted that this vice was only one of many vices that he saw as having overtaken society. Thus, we are not surprised to learn that the district attorneys of many cities, including New York, do not prosecute prostitution any longer, but treat it as a form of maladjustment to be treated therapeutically, not punished as a legal and moral wrong. Lotteries today have invaded millions of bodegas and grocery stores. Casinos are no longer just to be found in Nevada, as was the case in the 1950s and 1960s, but exist in states throughout the nation. Swearing is common in corporate offices and boardrooms. The F-word has become commonplace; when this writer worked in a corporate division of industrial engineers even in the 1990s, it was the expletive of choice. In our era, instead of cruelty to animals, as existed in the early 19th century, we see the destruction of millions of babies, many of whom are dissected while alive in order to retrieve their body parts and sell them. Although David Daleiden, of the anti-abortion organization the Center for Medical Progress, lost his case in California and is appealing to the SCOTUS, the case did reveal that Planned Parenthood's baby parts buyer sold the beating hearts and fully intact heads of innocent children killed in potentially illegal abortions. As extensive as pornography has become despite the claimed "illegality" of obscenity (are we the biggest liars and hypocrites of all time?), it is distinctly part of a moral collapse so extensive that this writer would call the USA degenerate, not merely vice-ridden. In a degenerate society, it is no longer sufficient, as Wilberforce did, to create a group to fight vice. A type of deliverance is needed. We are now held in bondage by the extent and intensity of our vice-ridden ways. Just as the Israelites were held in a socio-economic bondage and needed a miraculous intervention to save them, we in the USA need more than personal resolve and more than what Christians sometimes call "a revival" to save us from the vice that penetrates our culture. Will such a miraculous event come? What will it look like? How will it manifest? Image via Picryl. Sai Vashti Kandula must know someone or something. On Monday evening, Kandula drove his rented U-Haul into a barrier a few hundred feet from the White House, backed up, and rammed the barrier again. Upon being apprehended, Kandula reportedly said he wanted to "kill the president." On Tuesday, based on statements he made at the scene, Kandula was charged with "threatening to kill, kidnap, inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member." If that were not enough, he was also charged with "assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and trespassing." The fact that he carried a Nazi flag in his backpack had to ramp up the threat level. In an interview after the arrest, Kandula told investigators that "Nazis have a great history." He reportedly admires their "authoritarian nature, eugenics, and their one world order." To make for a better photo op, authorities obligingly spread the flag out on the ground beside the truck. YouTube screen grab. Given the sentence handed out to the Oath Keepers for their participation in the January 6 brouhaha, Kandula knew he was risking serious jail time. Indeed, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in federal lock-up. Although he never entered the Capitol and none of his followers was armed, Rhodes was charged with "seditious conspiracy." Said defense attorney Ed Tarpley, "This case was all about the weaponization of speech by the Department of Justice." Given Rhodes's sentence, federal authorities would seem to take threats on the elected officials seriously even if just rhetoric. Yes and no. On Wednesday, CNN was reporting that Kandula "has been charged in federal court with one count of depredation of property of the United States in excess of $1,000." Just one. CNN, like the rest of the media, either ignored or slighted the shift to this single, relatively minor count. Kandula's immigration status seems as murky as everything else about the case. On Wednesday, NBC cited a "federal prosecutor" as saying that "Kandula is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident." Later that same day, however, a DOJ official "clarified" that Kandula does hold a green card. If Kandula proved to be here illegally, that would have been reason enough in Biden's Washington to deep-six this story. Curious, too, is that authorities took no precautions before searching the truck. The last time a U-Haul was involved in an attack on federal property, 168 people were killed. Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice blew up the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City with 2,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate. As it happens, a rail car carrying 60,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate left a Wyoming plant on April 12 and showed up empty when it arrived in California 1,000 miles away. Authorities are still clueless as to what happened to the ammonium nitrate en route. Just a week before Kandula's assault on the White House, President Joe Biden called white supremacy America's "most dangerous terrorist threat" in a commencement address at Howard University. Federal judge Amit Mehta would seem to agree. "You sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the republic and the very fabric of our democracy," he said to Rhodes, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and Yale Law School graduate. Given the "ongoing threat," the missing ammonium nitrate, and the deliberate attack on the White House by a Nazi sympathizer in a U-Haul, one would have expected a good deal more caution from the federal authorities. At the very least, if they believed the guff that Biden and Mehta have been spouting, they should have cleared the immediate area before opening up the truck. But they didn't. The events of the last three years can make a conspiracy theorist out of the most rational among us. At the very least, these two cases illustrate the perverse disparity in sentencing between those who fit Biden's "white supremacy" profile and those who don't. Had Kandula looked like Rhodes, his face would be all over the evening news. Fortunately for Kandula, he looks more like Mehta, both having been born in India. Those in the media who argue that Kandula's likely mental health problems argue for clemency offered no such solace to Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman. Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison for wandering amiably through the Capitol, chatting up the police. In the age of Biden, nothing is as it appears to be. The only crimes that count are those that fit the narrative. The confusion around the arrest and charging of Kandula suggest that someone had wandered off script. Jack Cashill's newest book, Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from America's Cities, is available for pre-order in all formats. I have an idea about how to pay California Blacks the reparations they claim to rightly deserve for the horrific treatment exhibited against them by all whose complexions do not match their own: pay the reparations in Confederate currency. There likely is not $800 billion (the amount of reparation funds calculated to be necessary for these payments) in old Confederate currency lying around in California, or anywhere else for that matter, but what are printing presses and copying machines for? The Fed is surely more than willing to give tips on the printing of large quantities of limited-value currency (AKA the Biden dollars sent to every American to help cope with the COVID pandemic) or totally worthless currency, at least until now (any existing or newly printed Confederate currency). There would be poetic justice in these payments being made with the currency of the old seceded South; it was the Confederate states, after all, that fought in the Civil War to maintain slavery in our country. We can talk all we like about the war between the states being about states' rights, but we know it was really about slavery. I would submit that the Union side of the conflict has paid more than its fair share of reparations in the form of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of young men men who died to make slaves free. While the Confederacy lost equal totals of its own young men, they were fighting to preserve the institution of slavery. If a debt remains unpaid to the descendants of those slaves whom the South wished to remain enslaved, then the Confederacy should pay it. And what better way than by reviving their old currency? Recipients of these reparations would be free to spend their money with anyone who chooses to recognize their value. Any individual or business choosing not to accept that currency as legal tender would not be obliged to accept it in payment of any debt. As many Blacks seem to be encouraging a new segregation in our society, they would have a currency unique to their portion of society. Since no one would be obliged to accept it, it would be no harm, no foul for those choosing not to do so. While many people might think this suggestion is made entirely in jest, I think an added payment would quell those concerns. Let's throw in a case of Bud Light for each reparee. Anheuser-Busch seems to have a substantial quantity of unsold beverages and would likely donate them to such a woke cause. So let the light-beer fueled celebration begin. While the recipients of the Confederate largess sort out who will or will not accept this form of payment, the rest of us can go on with our lives, knowing that reparation has been made and we need lose no more sleep over how we could afford it. Bill Hansmann is a dentist and dental educator with over fifty years in the profession. He continues to teach and write political blogs and semi-mediocre novels while living with his wife and cats in Florida. Image: Amscheip. In a May 11, 2023 article, we explored the axiom that all cultures are created equal or, in Pope Francis's words, "never again can the Christian community allow itself to be infected by the idea that one culture is superior to others." Two days later, that claim was put to the test right here in the USA, when bedlam broke loose in Minneapolis. On May 13, 2023: A riot erupted in Minnesota during Democrat nominations for Minneapolis City Council on Saturday, which led to no candidate being chosen in Ward 10 after officials were forced to shut down the event over safety concerns. Somalian supporters of city council candidate Nasri Warsame turned to political violence and reportedly assaulted Minneapolis city council member Aisha Chughtai and her supporters when she took the stage to speak at the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's endorsing convention, the Star Tribune reports. Video [here] shows Warsame supporters forcefully jumping on stage, banging on tables, waving signs, and shouting over both Chughtai and her supporters. Unable to contain the disruption, convention chairman Sam Doten was forced to adjourn the meeting without a candidate being chosen citing safety reasons, and called the situation a great "embarrassment", the outlet reports. Such a scene may be "embarrassing" for the American landscape, but it is also part and parcel of Somali culture. Violence and chaos are precisely how "politics" is done in Somalia, one of the most lawless, war-torn, and tribal nations in the world. That Somalis felt comfortable enough to enact their culture here in America is connected to the unwavering Rule of Numbers: the more non-Westerners, especially Muslims, grow in the West, the more phenomena endemic to their nations in this case, a breakdown of law and a rise in thuggery grow with them. As such and considering that Somalis make up nearly 20% of the population of Minneapolis, the deplorable display at that recent city council, while embarrassing, should certainly not be surprising. Somalia, incidentally, is also one of the world's most radical Muslim nations. When it comes to the persecution of Christians always a litmus test concerning the "extremism" of any given country Somalia is considered the second-worst nation in the world (following North Korea), and the worst Muslim nation in the world (which is saying much, since 39 of the 50 worst persecuting nations are Islamic). According to Open Doors, in Somalia, [i]mams in mosques and madrassas state publicly that there is no room for Christianity, Christians or churches. The violent insurgent group al-Shabaab has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. Christians from Muslim backgrounds are regarded as high-value targets and may be killed on the spot if discovered. Al Shabaab "the youth" in Arabic, a vile organization pledged to the Islamic State is very popular in Somalia. As such, one wonders how many Somalis living in America share in Al Shabaab's worldview its culture. By his very appearance specifically his Salafi beard the Somali behind all the recent political violence, "city council candidate" Nasri Warsame, certainly seems reminiscent of Somalia's radical "youths." While few Americans understand this, and likely "cringe" at the very suggestion that how one wears his hair or beard is suggestive of anything internal, every Muslim knows that Muslim men who wear mustacheless beards are signaling themselves as what are called "radical Muslims." At any rate, here is what America is not only importing, but implicitly approving of in the name of "multiculturalism." After all, and despite the videotaped evidence of violence and the fact that some people were hurt and hospitalized, "no arrests were made." Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Image: AMISOM Public Information. Gavin Newsom, the Democrat governor of the People's Republic of California, lambasted Brian Cornell, the CEO of Target, after the latter appeared to back off on promoting products touting the LGBT agenda. Newsom denounced the retail giant's decision to move LGBT products to the back of some stores subsequent to outrage from some conservatives and Christians at the retailer's embrace of a radical line of apparel and accessories, including some aimed at children. Target, long one of the "wokest" companies on earth, sells "chest binders" and "tuck friendly" swimsuits, and recently added several items designed by an avowed Satanist. Nonetheless, Newsom recently tweeted: "CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage. This isn't just a couple stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country." He added, "Wake up America. This doesn't stop here. You're black? You're Asian? You're Jewish? You're a woman? You're 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 First of all, there is not a "systematic attack on the gay community" across the ever-more fruited plain. Quite the opposite. Heterosexual Christians are routinely mocked and canceled, but gays are celebrated. We are, in fact, on the cusp of PRIDE! Month, a virtually mandatory four-plus-week celebration of all things gay and queer. America couldn't be more woke if every man, woman, and child chugged three "Jolt Colas," snorted a line of coke, and pledged allegiance to the pride flag. Secondly, I don't recall Target ever dedicating a section of its stores to "Jewish Pride" apparel and accessories. Nor have I ever heard anyone complain about Target selling Black or Asian apparel and accessories. This could be because 1) Target doesn't sell Black or Asian apparel and accessories, or 2) there is no difference between Black and Asian apparel and accessories and anyone else's. As for Newsom's assertion that women could be "next," Target wouldn't exist without women. Its apparel, accessories, pharmacies, housewares, groceries and weekly ads are targeted at women. Ergo, at first blush, Governor French Laundry's statement would appear to be either the dumbest thing ever tweeted...or the most insane. In reality, however, it is pure evil ironically disguised as virtue-signaling. That there apparently is a viable audience for this preposterous and vile drivel speaks volumes about the state of the Union. The governor of a state that has legalized recreational marijuana use, encourages abortion and the mutilation of minors' genitals, and yet is about to ban the sale of Skittles and other candies as being detrimental to children's health, has no credibility as being anything other than a crazed ideologue. Newsom apparently believes that those who are not comfortable with transgender apparel for toddlers sporting sayings such as, "Too Queer for Here" are extremists. Further, he appears to think those who oppose Satanists, or products made by the Baphomet-loving, are extremists. Wow. That is above and beyond extreme. It is repugnant, deranged, and dangerous. Governor Gavin "Slick" Newsom is a lunatic. Or perhaps he is just a member in good standing of the "trans-sane" community. The U.S. General Fund, also called the Treasury General Account (TGA), pays the expenses and expenditures of all federal entities. The payments are cash transfers made by the New York Fed at the direction of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service in the Department of Treasury. In 2020 (according to the U.S. Fiscal Calendar), the TGA reported paying out twenty-one trillion eight hundred billion dollars, which is greater than the Gross Domestic Product for the year, and more than three times the total assets of the Federal Reserve at the end of this period. Total government outlays were reported as six trillion six hundred billion dollars, a fraction of the above, and of which, shockingly, almost half was deficit spending. On its face, the inferiority of government spending to TGA payments is not unexpected, as the major activity of the TGA results from the borrowing and partial repayment of debt. The Fiscal Service in the Treasury is required to publish an annual report on the financial condition of the General Fund audited by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). This audit has failed repeatedly. When the outcome of an audit is a disclaimer of opinion by the accountants, that means that the account presented has failed its audit. By way of translation from accountancy-speak to plain English, receipts have not been made available to the accounting team to substantiate the claims made in the report. Since at least 2018, the accountants have been working patiently and courteously with the Fiscal Service to explain what needs to be done to make their financial report at least auditable. In view of the magnitude, complexity, and importance of the task, that is a positive, constructive, good thing. However, it is unlikely to escape anyone's notice that an audit failure by a corporation, small business, family, or individual receives quite different treatment. A corporation, absent demonstrable egregious fraud, may use accounting and legal resources and political influence to come to an agreement. A small business, family, or individual faces harsh financial penalties and possibly prosecution. Because of growing governmental weaponization, the risks are even greater if an individual is viewed as a political opponent. The audit of the report on the General Fund for 2022 was recently published. No surprise: failure. Again. The auditors concluded that the financial information in the report on the General Fund may not be relied on. A bit of historical context may assist in understanding the present. In the 22 years from 1986 through 2007, the General Fund's daily balance averaged $5.8 billion, and its maximum daily average during a single week was $32.9 billion. This period is taken as the baseline of comparison. In the period from 2008 through 2016, the daily average was multiplied more than 22 times, and the maximum average for a single week was multiplied 13 times. From 2017 through 2022 the daily average was multiplied more than 88 times, and the maximum was multiplied more than 55 times. It is apparent that in the years after 2007, the U.S. government underwent a phase transition. In the language of thermodynamics, that event was irreversible. A consequence of this is that there will be no return to an economy before 2008. There is an insurmountable barrier between now and then. The first article of the Constitution mandates that federal payments are permitted only for appropriations made by law with statement and account of both receipts and expenditures, and the Supreme Court has added that an act of Congress is indispensable. It is undeniable that the government is in breach of this obligation and has been for years. Such mismanagement brings heavy consequences. Without access to reliable facts of its own financial activity, officials of the Executive making policy decisions are themselves at risk of grave errors. Congressional oversight is impossible, and Congress is left to act on supposition without the relevant facts being made available. The noted accountant Jerry Seinfeld once pointed out that taking a reservation has two parts: first to take it, then to hold it until at least the scheduled arrival of the client. Similarly, in the absence of knowing what has been spent and for what purpose, Congress has the power to appropriate, but not the capability of determining what happened to the appropriation. In these circumstances, talk of the power of the purse is rhetorical and the figment of an overactive imagination. And, not least, there is no rational basis for confidence that the General Fund is something other than the Leviathan of slush funds. Image: Dept. of the Treasury. After the wretched specter of the beloved Los Angeles Dodgers "re-inviting" the anti-Catholic bigot group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to their community event in June to honor them as "community heroes" you'd think the ugly incident, which earned the condemnation of multiple Catholic bishops and plenty of Latinos, would be one and done, a faux pas never to be spoken of again. Seems that may not be the case. According to GOP state Sen. Melissa Melendez, of right-leaning Lake Elsinore, California, the legislators themselves now want to "honor" the mockers of Catholicism. The California State Senate will honor the group of men who call themselves the sisters of perpetual indulgence on June 5th in a ceremony on the senate floor. A blasphemous anti-Christian hate group like this should be condemned, not honored. Senator Melissa Melendez (@senatormelendez) May 26, 2023 Melendez is there on the scene and doesn't have a reputation as a bomb thrower or a person who says wild things, so odds are good she knows what she's talking about. Which is pretty creepy stuff, given that the honorees are bigots of the most naked sort. The so-called "sisters," who are mostly gay men dressing up like nuns, in nun-face, are no community heroes doing charity work as normal people know it. They actually mock the idea of "charity work" such as is practiced by the holy nuns who devote their lives to helping others. Their idea of charity is stunts such as their "condom ministry" to encourage young gay men to continue promiscuous sexual practices, supposedly without getting AIDS, which of course, is not an effective method, since condoms frequently break, meaning that those who put their trust in them operate under a false sense of security. That's not charity. That's promoting risky, and potentially lethal, activity, walking away from the consequences and getting before the cameras to say they are 'saving lives.' And they mock Catholicism again, by insisting that this trash is their heavenly vocation and they're no different from real nuns. Most of us Catholics can handle parody and humor, and movies that satirically touch on Catholic themes like Monty Python's Life of Brian or Whoopi Goldberg's Sister Act don't bother us. Those things are cute and we can see what the artists are doing. We can also see what the freaks of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are doing, and know very well what their message is. They are depicted as charity workers who just happen to be drag queens but their real aim is political power. What they say for the cameras about being all in for love and inclusion, and what they actually do, are two different things. The Catholic League has a list of their bigoted activities here: The Catholic League put together a good report on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence They've been mocking the Catholic faith in grotesque fashion for decades pic.twitter.com/y8rSixPrkP Mairead Elordi (@JohnsonHildy) May 24, 2023 And even that doesn't get to the half of it. How does holding an annual "Hunky Jesus" contest on Christianity's holiest feast day, Easter, with near-naked perverts pole dancing at an actor playing Jesus crucified on the cross sound? Boycott Los Angeles Dodgers. This group will be special guests for the Dodgers gay pride event. They have learned nothing from Bud Light and Target. Enough is enough.pic.twitter.com/3Av1ekmG1V Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 24, 2023 I know I have a lot of serious @dodgers fans I interact with here on Twitter. I don't give AF what a lot of people think about the org re-inviting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and awarding them the Community Hero award. I want to hear from YOU. https://t.co/h6lBBybRzM Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) May 23, 2023 That was their latest instance of anti-Christian bigotry, presented to us last Easter in Golden Gate Park. YouTube got rid of the pole-dancing video in the past day on the sudden grounds of 'nudity,' even though it's been up awhile, most likely because it was really bad public relations for the bigots which showed what they actually do. Here is one that is still up: That's kind of indicative of what's going on here, too. In their frenzied dance group around the cross, they kind of look demonic. A little buried detail at the bottom of a KRON local news story out of San Francisco about the controversy tells us that this is all about political muscle: The Los Angeles LGBT Center pulled out of Pride Night and asked the Dodgers to either reinvite the group or cancel the event. The Los Angeles County Delegation, which includes 39 members of the California State Senate and State Assembly, also condemned the team. Anaheims mayor even invited the Sisters to participate in the L.A. Angels Pride Night on June 7, which the group was considering before Mondays apology. The California state senate, eh? They got involved and suddenly Los Doyers reinvited the disinvited bigot group with lots of apologies. It may well be that on the legislative side, the Dodgers were told that was a nice team they had there, be a shame if anything happened to it. Those are the kinds of game playing in one-party blue state California. The same would go for the idiot mayor of Anaheim who invited the bigots in for some sort of honor. Net winner? The bigots, proud of their political muscle and intolerant and Catholic-hating as ever. That many Catholic bishops (still waiting for you, Cardinal Robert McElroy!), including the normally timid Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles objected, tells us just how outrageous and political this was -- and that we can probably expect to see more of this garbage from the state senate in the future. Already their contingent, led by Sen. Scott Wiener of the East Bay, is all about promoting the worst elements of the gay agenda, such as decriminalizing the intentional spread of AIDS, excusing those convicted of having sex with children in some circumstances from having to register as sex offenders, and promoting the prostitute's lobby position on ending loitering laws. He is said to be the most powerful pol in the statehouse by some accounts. According to a Los Angeles Times profile: "Would you trust this guy within 500 yards of a child?" [Fox News host Tucker] Carlson said in one segment, while onscreen flashed a photo of Wiener at the Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco's famous leather festival. "Probably not." So it's no surprise that some pol like Wiener, or perhaps some ally of his, is looking to promote the bigot group and is willing to muscle the Dodgers into doing it. That's quite a long road for the group, whose creepiness goes way back. The group tried to insinuate themselves into Catholic institutions, as far back as 1980 at the Jesuit University of San Francisco, amid controversy. They mock the sacraments, they mock nuns and their selfless vocations, they mock the statements of Jesus in the Bible with their twists on it such as as "Go forth and sin some more" (Ooh, campy) and they mock everything else about Christianity they know they can get away with, particularly the aspects of traditional and Latino Catholicism, as well as women in general. That puts them squarely in the same league as the FBI, which has pegged traditional Catholics who attend Latin mass as potential terrorists. Politics can make some pretty amazing bedfellows. But mocking the taxpayers's religion and coddling a group that infuses itself in anti-Catholic bigotry has, up until now, not been part of it. Image: Twitter screen shot Pictures are worth a thousand words. If you want a visual of what Big Tech thinks of white people, black people, or any people, do an image search on your preferred engine of the following terms. You will be unsurprised at the results. I don't like to promote companies that hate me, so I will just say that the search engine I used rhymes with "luck, luck, no." First, I typed "shoplifter." The image search shows white people stealing white hands stuffing things into purses, a white thug in a hoodie looking shady in a store aisle, old white people stealing medicine, young white people stealing makeup. It took quite a bit of scrolling to find a non-white person shoplifting...then it was an Asian woman. Next I typed "rioter." Apparently there has been only one riot ever in all of human history. You know which one. If you are really dedicated to scrolling down, eventually, you will find a picture of a peaceful but fiery protest...but it takes some dedication, and don't blink, because you might miss it. Then I typed "white people." I was surprised that the images shown didn't include white robes with hoods. But over half the images were of black people, either with white people or alone. I followed up that search with "black people." No white people appeared at all on that one. If you type "gay people," you get a lot of images of white, male liberals acting like circus freaks. It takes quite a bit of scrolling to find an image of black gay people, or female gay people, or straight-looking gay people. "Gay Republicans" was the third search that had absolutely no black people (in the first hundred or so images). "Shoplifter" was the first, "rioter" the second...this search result could pass for a Les Nessman (WKRP's news guy) lookalike contest, right down to the bow tie. "Republican voters" has images of black people in the top three, and about a quarter of the images thereafter. Perhaps the most telling is "Democratic voters," which shows a bunch of regular black folks (looking concerned) and a bunch of white candidates...and Stacey Abrams. By far the saddest image search for me was "Patriot," which yielded a bunch of missile systems, FBI agents provocateurs, and a Jeep product. "Patriotic people" gives a much better result. If you want to know what a "racist" looks like, you are out of luck. Ironically, most of the top ranked pics in this category are BLM protesters. If you scroll down, eventually, there's a picture of Mitch McConnell. I will give "luck, luck, no" credit for resisting the urge to plaster Donald Trump's image all over the top results, although it did eventually come up not long after Mitch. I don't think for a second that these search results are "organic" (the actual top result). It is obviously manipulated. If they weren't manipulated, and January 6 were actually the only riot in history, QAnon Shaman would be the actual top result for "rioter." He isn't. Not even close. Big Tech is using manipulated results to warp our perceptions. Think it's had to prove? A quick image search of common everyday terms should show expected results. When they don't, it is evidence that the hidden hand is up to no good. Typing image via Pexels. In the old part of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, at the center of a roundabout surrounded by a concrete fence stands an enormous Cotton Tree (Ceiba pentandra). The tree is Freetowns historic symbol and the citys most famous landmark. Nobody is sure how old the tree is, but it is known to have existed in 1787 when the first settlers arrived. According to some sources, the Cotton Tree is 500 years old. It is believed that when a group of former African American slaves, who had gained their freedom by fighting for the British during the American War of Independence, landed in Freetown, they apparently rested and prayed underneath the shade of the tree. Photo credit: unknown The first group of settlers from Britain, made up of mostly former slaves, arrived in 1787 and established themselves on the peninsula. These Black Loyalist settlers, called "Nova Scotians" or "Navitians", founded Freetown on March 11th 1792. According to tradition, they landed on the shoreline and walked up to a giant tree just above the bay and held a thanksgiving service there, gathering around the tree in a large group and praying and singing hymns to thank God for their deliverance to a free land. Sierra Leonians believe that this very tree was where the Nova Scotian settlers prayed more than two hundreds years ago. Today, the Cotton Tree is seen as historical symbol of not only Freetown, but Sierra Leone as a whole. Sierra Leonians still pray and make offerings to the ancestors for peace and prosperity beneath the great ancestry Cotton Tree. Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Wikipedia / Wondermodo Does the word world represent the earth in its spherical sense, or the surface of the sphere where all living and non-living entities live on? If you chose the former, than the center lies in an incredibly dense, hot core thousands of kilometres below the planets surface. If you chose the later, than any place on the surface can logically be the center. At least, this is what many towns, especially around North America, believe in. One of the serious contender to the title of the Center of the World is Felicity, a small town in Imperial County, in California. Its hard to refute the claim, especially when Californias Imperial County and the French government both recognize the site as the official center of the world. To prevent you from further questioning the claim, the towns founder and mayor, Jacques-Andre Istel, had a 21-foot tall pyramid build on the exact spot marked by a bronze disk set into the pyramid's floor. A visit to the place and standing on the spot will earn you a certificate signed by Mayor Istel himself. The pyramid that houses the official center point. Photo credit The town was founded in 1986 based on a children's book entitled Coe, the Good Dragon at the Center of the World written by Mr Istel, and named after his wife, Felicia. Felicity has a population of two - Mr and Mrs Istel, and a number of attraction besides the pyramid that reflect the eclectic tastes of the Istels. This include a three-dimensional bronze sculpture of Michelangelo's Arm of God painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling that acts as a sundial. The arm points to another attraction - the Hill of Prayer, a small mound built by moving 150,000 tons of earth and crowned by a church. Jacques-Andre Istel also managed to salvage a 25 feet high section of the original stairway of the Eiffel Tower and installed it near the parking lot. The section weighs 3,000 kg and was bought at an auction in 1989. A Sun Dial Featuring Michelangelo's Arm Of God. Photo credit The most unique attraction of Felicity is the Museum of History in Granite consisting of eighteen granite monuments, each 100 feet long, dedicated to various subjects that include the History of Humanity, the History of Arizona, the Marine Corps Korean War Memorial, the History of French Aviation, and the History of the French Foreign Legion, among many others. There is also a Wall for Ages where visitors can have their names engraved for $300. The Museum of History in Granite is alone worth visiting. Finally, the Istels have their own post office established in 1987, at a time when thousands of small post offices were being eliminated as an economy measure. The day the post office was officially opened over 2,300 letters were mailed. It was a big ceremony presided over by Consul Zhou of the Peoples Republic of China who traveled 600 miles for the occasion. Jacques-Andre Istel plans to eventually have one hundred monuments stretching over a third of a mile. The Master Plan shows that the walls will form a fish-shaped outline that encloses the Church and extends beyond, with its tail at the Pyramid and its nose way, way out toward the distant hills. Aerial view of Felicitys monuments. Photo credit A section of the original staircase of the Eiffel Tower. Photo credit The church on Hill of Prayer. Photo credit Jacques-Andre Istels wife Felica stands in front of one of the giant granite slabs in the Museum of History in Granite. The Hill of Prayer is seen behind. Photo credit The Museum of History in Granite. The walls are engineered to last 4,000 years. Photo credit The Museum of History in Granite. Photo credit Details on two granite panels in the Museum of History in Granite. Photo credit Details on two granite panels in the Museum of History in Granite. Photo credit Jacques-Andre Istel and his wife Felicia. Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Wikipedia / www.felicity.us / Roadside America Its not just the smartphone industry feeling the heat of ongoing economic challenges. Sales of smartwatches are down too. According to research firm Counterpoint, smartwatch shipments were down 1.5 percent in Q1 2023, the second consecutive quarter of decline. All regions except India witnessed a YoY (year-on-year) decline in shipments in the first three months of the year. The global smartwatch market has been experiencing steep growth for the past few years. This growth was driven by the arrival of new players with low-cost offerings. Emerging markets like India saw a mass adoption of smart wrist wearables, allowing little-known domestic brands such as Noise and Fire Boltt to climb up in global charts. India saw a staggering 151 percent annual growth in smartwatch shipments last year. However, the year-ending quarter of 2022 wasnt the best for the industry. The growing economic downturn forced a first YoY quarterly drop in shipments after seven consecutive quarters of growth in the post-coronavirus era. The market didnt return to growth in the first three months of 2023. Thanks to a 121% percent growth in India, the global decline was minimal, but its still a decline nonetheless. Advertisement An Indian smartwatch brand leapfrogged Samsung to the second spot in Q1 2023 Premium smartwatches, primarily made by Apple and Samsung, found fewer takers in Q1 2023 than in Q1 2022. The market share of such models, which Counterpoint categorizes as high-price and high-performance HLOS (high-level OS) smartwatches, dropped from 60 percent to 53 percent. As such, both Apple and Samsung suffered a decline too. The formers market share dropped from 32 percent to 26 percent, while the latters dropped from ten percent to nine percent. This was the first time in three years that Apples Q1 smartwatch shipments fell below ten million units. Meanwhile, low-cost offerings from Indian brands have led to substantial growth in shipments of basic smartwatches, which are wrist wearables running on a lighter OS that doesnt allow you to install third-party apps. Their market share grew from 23 percent in Q1 2022 to 34 percent in Q1 2023. This growth helped Indian brand Fire-Boltt surpass Samsung to become the second-largest smartwatch company globally, only behind Apple. This is the first time Fire-Boltt has shipped more smartwatches in a quarter than Samsung. Other local Indian brands such as Noise and boAt are also on the rise. Thanks to this overwhelming demand for low-cost smartwatches in the country, India has surpassed North America as the biggest smartwatch region with a 27 percent share of the global market. North America saw a nine percent YoY decline in shipments this past quarter. China also suffered a steep 28 percent drop in smartwatch shipments in Q1 2023. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra launched over a month ago in China. The phone managed to get a lot of attention, and prior to its launch, Xiaomi confirmed that its coming to global markets. Well, now the global price of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has been tipped, and it reveals that the phone will be quite expensive. The global Xiaomi 13 Ultra variant will be a lot more expensive than the one in China To put things into perspective, the most affordable Xiaomi 13 Ultra model in China comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The most expensive one includes 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Those two models are priced at CNY5,999 ($850/792) and CNY7,299 ($1,034/963, respectively. Well, now, Ishan Agarwal, a well-known tipster, has revealed the phones price in the EU. He says that the 12GB RAM variant with 512GB of storage will cost 1,499 (CNY11,356). Needless to say, this is very high. This 12GB RAM + 512GB storage model will be almost 500 more expensive than a variant with more RAM and storage in China. We did expect a higher price tag in Europe, but not by this much. Advertisement This is quite a high price tag, even for top-of-the-line flagships in Europe Having said that, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the most powerful smartphone Xiaomi ever announced, and one of the most powerful in general. Still, this is higher than Samsung is asking for the Galaxy S23 Ultra in Europe, for example. It will be interesting to see if this info is accurate, and how well will the phone sell despite this price tag. I wonder if consumers in the EU shifted their state of mind, if they see Xiaomi as a premium brand now. It became well-known as a budget brand, and that has changed over the years. Also, its not clear whether this will be the most affordable variant of the phone. Xiaomi could end up offering a 12GB RAM model with 256GB of storage, which could end up being a bit more affordable. We still dont know when will the device launch in Europe, however. Xiaomi did not reveal that info, and neither did the tipster. Google seems to have suddenly realized that the Play Store can contribute a lot more to its ad business than it currently does. The company has been aggressively pushing ads on its app store lately. The latest move sees ads getting more prominence under the Suggested for you section of app listings. You may be aware that the Google Play Store adds a row of suggested apps below the install button as soon as you start downloading a new app. The apps shown in this row are ads that Google selectively pushes to you based on which app you just downloaded. Until recently, this section showed three apps on the screen at a time, you can swipe to see more. These listings featured simple app icons with the name and Play Store rating. This row of ads essentially appeared the same as the rows for Similar apps/games and Related to this app. However, some users have noticed that the Suggested for you section has grown a lot bigger recently. Google has made two big changes here. Firstly, instead of a single row of ads disguised as recommendations, Play Store now shows two rows (via Android Police). Moreover, the listings now come with a banner. So along with the app icon, name, and rating, you see a wider banner as well. Since the banner is wide, you now only see two items at a time. But two rows means that Google is pushing four ads to your screen at once. This aggressive push covers more screen space with ads than before. Google Play Store is showing ads in places you least imagine For a company that makes the vast majority of its money by selling ads, its understandable that it would want to show users as many ads as possible. But Google may be getting a little too aggressive with ads in the Play Store. Its showing ads in places you least imagine, including in search suggestions. Advertisement Ads in Play Store search suggestions first started appearing for some users in November last year. Back then, the company said it was an organic discovery feature that proactively recommends apps to users as they are about to search for something. The apps that appear in suggestions arent paid ads, but instead, they may have major updates, ongoing events, or offers that you may be interested in. However, last month, Google replaced those proactive recommendations with paid ads. Users reported seeing multiple ads in search suggestions in the Play Store. Now, the company giving more prominence to ads under app listings as well. Neither of these changes is rolling out widely yet. But Google may not take much longer to bring this ad-laden Play Store to everyone. Ever since the release of ChatGPT and its subsequent integration into various Microsoft services, every tech giant has been trying to develop something similar. Now, TikTok is reportedly conducting tests on a new AI chatbot named Tako, which will not only recommend videos to users based on their queries but also allow them to ask various questions about a video using natural language processing. The folks over at Watchful.ai first discovered the AI chatbot, and based on the screenshots, TikTok will position Tako above the profile icon to the right of a video. And when a user taps on the icon, Tako will open up a chat screen where the chatbot interacts with users and responds to various queries. Additionally, the chatbot will also suggest prompts to initiate conversations. For example, while watching a video of King Charles coronation, Tako might suggest asking, What is the significance of King Charles IIIs coronation? However, it is important to note that TikTok has not yet confirmed the exact type of model powering its new chatbot. Zachary Kizer, a TikTok spokesperson, confirmed the reports, stating, Being at the forefront of innovation is core to building the TikTok experience, and were always exploring new technologies that add value to our community. Additionally, he clarified that the company is testing Tako in a limited capacity in the Philippines and that it is not available to users in North America or Europe. Moreover, the company has also ensured that the chatbot will not be available to underage users. Advertisement TikTok is already preparing to launch Although TikTok clarified that it is currently only testing the chatbot, the company has filed a trademark application for chatbot software under the name Tako, suggesting an imminent launch. However, this race to build an advanced AI chatbot has sparked debates about potential threats, including abuse, manipulative language, and lies. As a result, the White House and other government entities are already exploring ways to monitor AI development, and companies like Google and Microsoft also need to implement measures to ensure the responsible development of these AI systems. The Xiaomi 14 Pro specifications have already leaked. Theyve been shared by Digital Chat Station, one of the most prominent tipsters out there. He shared the info via Weibo. The Xiaomi 14 Pro specifications have leaked already That being said, he did not share a full spec sheet, only some details. Based on this info, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will fuel the device, as expected. That is Qualcomms upcoming SoC which is expected to launch in Q4 this year. The phone will also include a 5,000mAh battery, and supports 120W wired charging. 50W wireless charging will also be supported. The tipster did mention 90W wired charging too, thats probably reserved for the vanilla model, or perhaps the Pro model in some markets. That is basically all the information that we have at the moment. It will be interesting to see what is Xiaomi planning camera-wise. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra packs in outstanding camera specs, and offers great camera performance. So thatll be difficult to beat. Advertisement The phone is expected to arrive in December Now, the Xiaomi 13 series launched in China last December. Chances are that the Xiaomi 14 series will arrive around the same time this year. Were once again expecting two models, the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro. This leak does come early, so take it with a grain of salt, even though its from a trusted source, and the shared specs do make all the sense in the world. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra did not even launch globally, and were already talking about the Xiaomi 14 Pro specifications. Speaking of which, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is expected to arrive to global markets soon. Its global price tag surfaced quite recently, and the phone will be a lot more expensive than it is in China. That handset is extremely powerful, and offers outstanding camera performance. If youd like to know more about it, weve reviewed it quite recently. (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - A group of ten EU member states launched a fresh drive to reform the bloc's approach to decision-making on foreign and security policy after years of infighting over the issue. While the reform would favour France and Germany, the EU's two most populous nations, previous attempts to change the system have proved divisive. Overhaul. At the beginning of May, a so-called Group of Friends, led by Germany and also including Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain issued an appeal to overhaul voting on the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Romania joined the group this week. Instead of unanimity on key foreign and security policy questions, the group called for a system called qualified majority voting. Such voting requires 15 of the 27 countries being in agreement - as long as they represent more than 65 percent of the EU's total population of roughly 450 million. "The goal is to improve effectiveness and speed of our foreign-policy decision-making. Against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the growing international challenges the EU is facing, the members of the Group are convinced that EU foreign policy needs adapted processes and procedures in order to strengthen the EU as a foreign policy actor," the Group of Friends stated in a document. In opposition, however, a coalition of countries has formed in favour of maintaining unanimity. According to reports, it includes, among others, Poland and Hungary. Changing geopolitical situation calls for more speed. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that the group was not proposing a revolution, but an assessment of what could be done within the existing EU treaties to make the Union's foreign and security policy more effective. The existing treaties, under the so-called "passerelle clauses", allow for a shift from unanimity to qualified majority decision-making in certain areas, including sanctions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz considers changes to the voting procedures of the European Union inevitable. It should not be possible for one individual member state to stop everything, Scholz told German media. In a speech in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Scholz also spoke about reform needs within the European Union, including changes necessary to admit more countries to the now 27-strong union. More decisions would have to be taken by majority rather than unanimity vote, he stated. Meanwhile, insisting on democratic principles and the rule of law was "indispensable," he added. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke along the same lines during the institutional celebration of Europe Day on 9 May. "We have to opt decisively for qualified majority voting and, therefore, we have to be consistent. If we are moving towards an EU of more than 30 countries, we will have to change the way we decide the policies we implement," Sanchez said. On board, but treading carefully. For now, Slovenia is part of the Group of Friends "to keep an eye on what is going on," Slovenian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Samuel Zbogar said on Monday. "As a small country, we want to state what our problems might be and make it clear that we need certain assurances that our interests will be taken into consideration," he added. "A more efficient decision-making process, through the use of qualified majority voting, would give the EU the ability to act quickly and have an impact," said Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. He too brought to mind that, at the same time, it remained important for Romania to ensure the necessary mechanisms to protect and safeguard national interests. Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani personally is "in favour of qualified majority voting (in foreign policy, ed.), but this is not the time to deal with this issue," he said. "If anything," he added, the issue could be taken up again "after the end of the Ukrainian crisis and after we have concluded the enlargement to the Balkans." When it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Secretary General of the European Movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haris Plakalo, believes that changing the voting rules will not affect this country as much, because Bosnia and Herzegovina received the status of a candidate country for EU membership in December of last year, although it did not fulfil the set priorities. "We do not need to be worried, nor can we, when it comes to changing the approach to decision-making on foreign policy in the EU Council, because the expansion of the EU to the Western Balkans is defined and determined by many documents, strategies and outlined as one of the important tasks of the EU," he added. Preserving the veto. The Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau told Polish media that "there is a strong tendency on the part of the German neighbours () that those matters which, according to the current state of the law, are subject to unanimous voting, such as tax issues and, most importantly for us, those concerning security and foreign policy, should be decided by a majority vote. We, as Poland, cannot agree to that," he said. Bulgaria is so far upholding the unanimity rule, acting Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov noted. He stated that in his opinion this should not be changed, but added that the next government in Sofia should take it from there. Bulgaria is expected to have a new rotating government soon, co-chaired by former European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. Sofia has used its veto once since joining the EU in 2007, in relation to the start of enlargement negotiations with North Macedonia last year. Sofia and Skopje have differences, with Bulgaria and the EU insisting that, in order to open the first negotiating chapters, North Macedonia's constitution be amended to include the local Bulgarian minority as one of the minorities in the former Yugoslav republic. Nemanja Todorovic Stiplija of European Western Balkans, an independent think tank based in Belgrade that focuses on the Western Balkan countries, said that the debate about unanimity "has been going on for years, but there is no sign that it will be resolved in the near future. It is true that it is related to the topic of enlargement (), but its greater importance is for the situations we are currently witnessing - Hungary's opposition to certain decisions in the domain of the Common Foreign and Security Policy." Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto expressed "concern about the debate on qualified majority voting in EU foreign policy, noting the importance of maintaining the unanimity requirement to protect national interests." At a press conference, Szijjarto reported that there was a meeting at ambassador level for those member states who wanted to keep the possibility to defend their own interest in the decision-making process in Brussels. When asked if Croatia participated in this meeting, Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman said that he was not aware of this initiative. Grlic Radman said that Croatia did not support the proposal to replace decision-making by consensus with a qualified majority voting in some areas of the EU's foreign policy, as unanimity was the only mechanism that guaranteed the equality of smaller states. However, he emphasised, "that does not mean that Croatia is not in favour of EU unity. On the contrary, until now we have never blocked any decision and we have always been a constructive collaborator." Strength in diversity? Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he was against centralism and for diversity in the EU, and thus against more EU majority decisions. The struggle for consensus was difficult in the EU, he said, but this ensured democracy and diversity. The Austrian Foreign Ministry also expressed scepticism about the proposal, saying that qualified majority voting was not a panacea. "Only political will is the key to success, the struggle for compromise is the essence of the EU. And once agreements are reached, they are supported by all. That is a special value, especially in volatile times like now." In the past, however, top Austrian politicians had spoken out in favour of majority decisions. The Group of Friends said it aimed to coordinate with EU institutions and work closely with all member states, inviting other countries to join its reform drive. Should a simple majority of EU countries - 14 out of 27 member states - vote to launch a process to reform the EU treaties, negotiations could begin. The content is based on news by agencies participating in the enr, on this occasion ANSA, AFP, Agerpres, APA, BTA, dpa, EFE, FENA, HINA, STA and Tanjug. (ANSA). Actor Alec Baldwin has revealed he wanted out of the public spotlight after he accidentally shot dead cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun in 2021. In an interview with The Times, Baldwin said he had called his wife after the incident on the filmset of the movie Rust and told her: I dont want to do this for a living any more. I dont. I dont want to be a public person. The 65-year-old actor said he still struggles with the fatal shooting, and despite a life-time of accomplishments, knows it will be what he is remembered by. Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria (Frank Franklin II/AP) Baldwin credited his wife Hilaria Baldwin with helping him survive the past 18 months as he faced criminal charges, telling the Times how she took control of his life. Charges of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin over Ms Hutchins death were formally dismissed by New Mexico prosecutors in April. Prosecutors said they were unable to proceed with the case, but the decision to dismiss the charges did not absolve Mr Baldwin of criminal culpability. The Hollywood actor had faced two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the shooting on the New Mexico movie set in October 2021. But the family of Ms Hutchins are continuing their civil lawsuit against Baldwin over her death. Alec Baldwin on the set of the movie Rust following the incident in which Halyna Hutchins was killed (Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office/PA) Legal representatives for the family said last month that Baldwin could not escape from the fact that he had a major role in a tragedy. Baldwin hopes to finish the filming of Rust this month. He has also booked another film joining the cast of Kent State, a dramatisation of the 1970 killing of four students by the National Guard protesting the Vietnam War on the Ohio college campus. Baldwin is to play Robert I White, Kent States then president, in the film written and directed by Karen Slade. The family of an 85-year-old man who lived near the UKs diplomatic mission in Sudans capital have said he was shot by snipers and his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The BBC was told by the family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, that despite asking for help, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month. The Foreign Office told the BBC the case was extremely sad. The UK began evacuating British citizens from Sudan in early May (Joe Giddens/ PA) The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help where he was shot three times by snipers, his wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The family of an 85-year-old man who lived just steps away from the UKs embassy in Sudans capital have said he was shot by snipers and his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The BBC was told by the family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, that, despite asking for help days after the conflict began, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month, even after a British military team was sent to evacuate diplomatic staff. Mr Sholgamis granddaughter, Azhaar, said the embassy was a maximum four steps away from her grandparents home. I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? Im still very disappointed in them, she said. The Foreign Office said the case was extremely sad. The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. Military personnel at Wadi Seidna airport in Khartoum, Sudan (PO Phot Arron Hoare/UK MOD Crown copyright/PA) The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said, while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help when he was shot three times by snipers. His wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Boris Johnson has branded suggestions he may have taken part in further rule-breaking during the pandemic a load of absolute nonsense. The former prime minister would not say who he believes is trying to stitch him up, having previously claimed he appears to be the victim of a politically motivated plot. But he insisted that the Cabinet Office decision to hand over entries from his official diary during the pandemic to police without first querying them with him was ridiculous. No 10 and the Cabinet Office are adamant that ministers were not involved when Whitehall officials passed concerns to the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police. Former prime minister Boris Johnson leaves his home in London (Kirsty OConnor/PA) The entries revealed visits by Mr Johnsons friends to Chequers the prime ministers country estate and events in Downing Street during the pandemic, according to The Times, which broke the story. The new information is said to have come to light during a review by taxpayer-funded lawyers ahead of the Covid public inquiry. Mr Johnson appeared flustered when he was approached by a Sky News journalist asking about the revelations at an airport in Washington DC on Friday during his trip to the US, where he is speaking about the war in Ukraine. You want my honest view, I think this whole thing is completely nonsensical, he said. Asked what the entries show, he replied: They merely record events in my day. Mr Johnson was previously fined for attending a gathering in Downing Street to mark his birthday in June 2020 one of a series of political crises that ultimately led to the end of his premiership. 'I can assure you and the public that they are all completely innocent and within the rules.' Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells @jamesmatthewsky further allegations he broke lockdown rules are "absolute nonsense". Latest: https://t.co/LmHrSHaFch Sky 501, YouTube pic.twitter.com/jeyuFmGwex Sky News (@SkyNews) May 26, 2023 This whole thing is a load of nonsense from beginning to end I think its ridiculous that elements in my diary should be cherry-picked and handed over to the police, to the Privileges Committee without even anybody having the basic common sense to ask me what these entries referred to, he said. Asked whether he believes Mr Sunak is trying to stitch him up, he said: I just think its totally nonsensical and bizarre. There are tens of thousands of entries in the prime ministerial diary None of them constitute a breach of the rules during Covid. Mr Johnson suggested none of the entries in question relate to periods when the country was in lockdown, but times when other restrictions were in place. He added: For reasons that somebody, somewhere, thinks its sensible to do this I dont. The Privileges Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into whether Mr Johnson lied to Parliament about the partygate scandal, has also been informed of the new information. The fallout adds to the problems confronting Mr Sunak, who was handed a fixed penalty alongside Mr Johnson over the June 2020 event and now faces unrest from the former prime ministers allies. Mr Sunak definitely did not go to the grace-and-favour retreat in contravention of coronavirus rules when he was chancellor during the pandemic, his press secretary said. The Prime Minister has not discussed the controversy with his predecessor, the spokeswoman said. Mr Johnson, in a letter to the chair of the Covid inquiry, indicated he was severing ties with taxpayer-funded lawyers representing him. It is understood he lost confidence in the Cabinet Office. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said earlier on Friday the public was fed up to the back teeth with stories about the former prime minister. These are deeply personal things and increasing revelations about Boris Johnson, I think, just add to that sense of hurt and people are fed up with it, he said. I do think there are questions now about why have these allegations not come out before, all these allegations. A former Metropolitan Police officer who has been banned from policing over her handling of two incidents of flashing by Wayne Couzens says she has received hundreds of hate messages. Samantha Lee, 29, did not make the correct investigative inquiries over two incidents where the killer exposed himself to female staff members at a McDonalds restaurant in Swanley, Kent, days before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, a disciplinary panel found. She also lied about her actions when questioned. Her behaviour was found to have amounted to gross misconduct and she is now banned from serving in any police force again. The tribunal heard she attended the restaurant on March 3 and interviewed manager Sam Taylor hours before 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard was kidnapped by the former firearms officer in Clapham, south-west London. She claimed she believed CCTV at the restaurant was deleted automatically so there would be no footage of Couzens or the offence. In his evidence, Mr Taylor said that he had shown Ms Lee CCTV footage and told her it could be downloaded on to a USB stick. He also said that he explained to her that Couzens registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident. For her part, Ms Lee denied that this was the case, saying that he had told her that there was no CCTV. Wayne Couzens (Met Police) Ms Lee told BBC Newsnight some of the abusive messages say she should have been the one kidnapped and murdered and that she felt she was being blamed completely for the killing. Some of them have been reported to police. She told the broadcaster: I think Im seen as this horrendous, awful person that has let an absolutely heinous crime take place. And Im being looked at as if Im just as guilty as what Couzens is. But literally, there was nothing that I could have done that would have changed the outcome. I dont want any sympathy at all. All I want is people just to understand that there is nothing that I could have done. Its been a case of lets go in at the bottom rather than going up higher at the top. The only person that should be blamed for that awful, awful, horrendous crime should be Wayne Couzens. After the ruling she said she had been made a scapegoat and says she feels she has been thrown under the bus. She said at the time: I am a young female Pc and I am the only person who has faced any disciplinary action in relation to this. There is only one person who is responsible for everything that happened and that is Wayne Couzens. I have never lied. In March, Couzens was sentenced to 19 months in prison after admitting three counts of indecent exposure, including flashing at the McDonalds restaurant on February 14 and 27 2021. He was already serving life behind bars for kidnapping Ms Everard as she walked home through Clapham, south London, on March 3 2021 and then murdering her. The third indecent exposure incident related to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020. The case of Finley Boden shone a spotlight on the often hidden world of Family Court hearings. The order giving the baby back to his parents sparked a sequence of events that culminated in his murder at their hands, despite concerns being raised about their drug use and parenting abilities by social services. His case has raised questions over how and why he came to be back in Shannon Marsden and Stephen Bodens care just over a month before he died on Christmas Day 2020. But now a leading family barrister has explained the process and steps that are being taken to improve transparency in the system. Lucy Reed KC is a family barrister specialising in children for 22 years, based in Bristol and London. She explained that Family Courts become involved when social services have child protection concerns, but need the courts input to manage this, such as when it feels a need to safeguard a child by removing them from their parents without their agreement. Ms Reed said that due to the individual nature of every case, each can progress very differently. Finley Boden was removed from his parents care two days after he was born in February 2020 (Derbyshire Police/PA) She said: Things can evolve and run in different ways, but the very general structure is that the local authority will often, but not always, come to court saying things are so serious that we want to remove this child from the care of their parents whilst we work out what the longer term plan is. The court will have to make that decision quite early on, and then there will usually be a process of assessment and gathering of evidence. The parents will be able to see all of that evidence and respond to it at an appropriate time, and either matters will be resolved by agreement once all of that evidence is in or the court will, if its not agreed, list a hearing at which all of that evidence can be tested. That will make a decision to resolve the dispute about what should happen to the child in the longer term. The court has a wide menu of options on safeguarding a child, Ms Reed said, and children can either stay or be returned to their parents, be cared for by other relatives or placed in foster care, or be adopted. A case management hearing first outlines a plan, including how much evidence will need to be gathered and by when, and decides whether the child needs to be removed while proceedings are ongoing. Parents are represented through legal aid at these hearings, and the child will also be represented, usually by a social worker employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass). In child protection cases, guardians are appointed automatically and will represent the child through their own lawyer at Family Court hearings, as in Finleys case. Once all parties have submitted evidence on how they think the case should conclude, a second hearing, called an Issues Resolution Hearing, is arranged. If all parties agree on a solution, the case may end by agreement, but if not, a trial is scheduled so evidence can be heard. Final rulings are then made by lay magistrates, who are untrained volunteers who are assisted by a trained legal adviser, or district judges, who are trained and can perform the role full-time. In Finleys hearing on October 1 2020, a representative for Derbyshire County Council said all parties agreed that he should be returned to his parents, but there was disagreement over the length of the transition and the need for Boden and Marsden to be subject to drug testing. While the council wanted a four-month transition, the Cafcass guardian and parents advocated an eight-week plan with supervision to follow, with two lay magistrates ordering the latter and stopping short of ordering further drug testing. Following Finleys death, Cafcass said that no one could have predicted that Boden and Marsden were capable of such cruelty given what was known at the time, and Ms Reed said the views of Cafcass guardians are influential in Family Courts. She said: If a Cafcass officer makes a recommendation, the court has to have a good reason for departing from it and they cant just say we dont like that, they would have to give reasons for departing from that view. When predicting risk, sometimes guardians get it right, sometimes they dont, the same as social workers, but the view of Cafcass would be generally well-respected and influential. Finley Boden (Derbyshire Police/PA) She added: The guardian was advocating for quicker rehabilitation, based on what they thought was necessary and proportionate, in terms of the risks that had been identified and proved. Cases are meant to conclude within 26 weeks, and while Ms Reed says that this doesnt always happen due to a number of factors, including backlogs exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, cases can be extended by eight weeks at a time if justified by their circumstances. Ms Reed is also chairwoman of the Transparency Project, aimed at providing access and insight to the Family Courts after decades of calls to show how justice is done. While she believes that the process must retain some degree of privacy due to the vulnerability of children and adults involved in it, she said greater openness could be achieved in a sensible way. She said: The family court, whether its magistrates, or district judges, circuit judges, High Court judges, theyre making really serious decisions. Magistrates, who are not lawyers, have the power to remove peoples children, and to have them placed for adoption. Those are really big, important decisions and the public are entitled to understand how those decisions are made. I think lots of people whose lives have been touched by the family court or by social services, maybe even those that havent, are frightened of and suspicious of the process. The more we can bring information into the public domain and understand a bit more about where things might be going wrong, the better our chances are as a system of identifying the problems and then taking steps to improve things. The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister has hailed as significant talk of the additional funding that will be needed for Stormont. The Northern Ireland Assembly has been effectively collapsed for more than a year amid DUP protest action over the Brexit Protocol. The Stormont parties have said they will need at least 1 billion of extra funding from the British government to manage budget pressures in a future Executive. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris responded saying any Treasury package to accompany the return of Stormont devolution would be dependent on the local parties agreeing a proper plan for government. Speaking in Cavan on Friday Micheal Martin described the talk as significant. While he said any potential timeline for the return of devolution in Northern Ireland is unclear, he said it is interesting that parties are talking about it. I never want to pre-empt what others may do, he said during a visit to St Clares National School in Ballyjamesduff. Ive always been consistent in the view that its obviously in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland that the mandate they gave their political representatives would be fulfilled and the Assembly would be restored, he said. I have engaged with all the political parties in Northern Ireland on this. I had a more substantive meeting over the last fortnight with Chris Heaton-Harris. The exact timeline for this is not at all clear, and I think other parties are still deliberating on issues. I think it is significant and it is interesting that people are discussing funding issues and the financial frameworks that will govern the role of the Executive and the Assembly over the next number of years. Asked if he believes it is moving in the right direction, the Tanaiste said: I think it is early days in terms of coming to that conclusion. Various timelines have been offered, there has been a lot of speculation. I hope to meet the northern parties over the next number of weeks also. Well be in a further position to assess it then. Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy criticised Mr Heaton-Harris claiming he had an obligation to call an election in the absence of a functioning Assembly, but instead kicked it way down the road. He said that he and his partys vice president Michelle ONeill pressed Mr Heaton-Harris for urgency of restoring Stormont when they met him on Wednesday. The electorate have spoken twice in the course of a year, a clear strong view right across the electorate that they want to see the Executive and the Assembly up and working again, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster. All we got were some vague assurances about he might be meeting with the DUP the week after next to discover what it is they may want in terms of some legislative cover. That to us doesnt smack of any urgency. Services are suffering every single day as we wait for the Secretary of State and the DUP to continue this dance which is leaving the rest of us all in limbo. British Airways has apologised after an IT issue caused the cancellations of domestic and European flights on Thursday, as Britain heads into the Bank Holiday weekend. There were more than 50 cancelled British Airways flights departing Heathrow on Thursday with the airline urging passengers to check their flight status before going to the airport on Friday. There were more than 20 flights that had been cancelled or still currently delayed that were meant to land at Heathrow on Thursday. Some flights that are due to depart Friday evening have been notified their flights are delayed, adding to the stress for customers. It comes as the airline had to cancel flights just before Christmas due to IT issues, and in 2017 when hundreds of flights from Heathrow and Gatwick airports were cancelled due to an IT failure. Attention 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. Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) May 25, 2023 A statement from British Airways released just before 10pm on Thursday said were aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix. Due to high call volumes please only contact us if youre due to travel in the next 48 hours. A tweet from British Airways at 11:27pm on Thursday said their systems are back up and running but there might still be intermittent issues. A spokesperson from Heathrow Airport said the cancellations are not due to airport strikes. 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. The airline said they are working hard to fix an IT issue that has caused the cancellation of dozens of flights (Steve Parsons/PA) Customers can receive refunds, re-book or if they have to stay overnight they will be offered meals and hotel accommodation. One Twitter user, who was at the airport at around 7pm, said: Almost all BA flights from LHR T5 cancelled tonight. No info. About 4 people on BA desks trying to deal with the chaos. Come on BA you can do better than this. You are supposed to be the UKs flagship. The delays and cancellations are expected to continue on Friday. It comes as security guards at Heathrow Airport launched 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. A spokesperson for ITV said the broadcaster was deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made by Phillip Schofield after the presenter admitted to an affair with a young This Morning colleague. The veteran TV presenter, 61, said that the affair began while he was still with his wife Stephanie, adding he was very, very sorry for having been unfaithful to her. It comes after he announced he was stepping down from presenting the ITV talk show with immediate effect last weekend, while co-presenter Holly Willoughby will remain on the programme. Schofield, who also co-hosted Dancing On Ice with Willoughby, said he would also step down from presenting the British Soap Awards, his last public commitment. Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield (Jonathan Brady/PA) The statement from ITV said that the broadcaster feels badly let down. We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield, the spokesperson said. The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Phillip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down. We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated. In a statement released through the Daily Mail on Friday, the presenter apologised for lying about the relationship. The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them (the Daily Mail), and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning, he said. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. He added that contrary to speculation the relationship was not illegal. He said: Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over. He denied that a superinjunction had been issued by him, or on his behalf, regarding the relationship. When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing, he said. Nobody forced me out. Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague, he was never moved on or sacked by or because of me. In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I havent been truthful about the relationship. But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now. The presenter added: I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public, and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife. Phillip Schofield and Stephanie Lowe attending the Brit Awards in 2018 (PA) Talent agency YMU said it has parted company with Schofield with immediate effect. Mary Bekhait, chief executive of the YMU Group, said: Honesty and integrity are core values for YMUs whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust. This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him. As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect. The revelations come after Schofield faced months of controversy including reports of a rift with his long-time co-host Willoughby, his brothers sex abuse trial and a furore over his visit to the late Queens lying-in-state. Schofield married Stephanie Lowe in 1993 and they have two grown-up daughters together, Ruby and Molly. After he came out in February 2020, in an emotional on-air chat with Willoughby, his wife told The Sun she supported his brave step and always will love him. She also said: Our family has also been so supportive and will help us going forward. A Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court charged with rape. Pc Sam McGregor, 31, of the Central North Command Unit, was reported by a woman he knew following an alleged incident on May 11 2021. He was arrested the day after the allegations emerged in June that year and was suspended from the force. McGregor, of Alice Close, Barnet, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday morning and spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. He was released on conditional bail until the next hearing at Inner London Crown Court on June 23. Fast fashion firm Asos has raised 75 million to support its turnaround plan. The group revealed plans on Thursday evening to raise funds in order to strengthen its balance sheet. The online retail business confirmed on Friday that it has completed a share placing, with 17.9 million shares at 418.1p each to secure the cash injection. It comes after Asos earlier this month revealed losses of more than 290 million for the half-year to February, as it booked costs from restructuring efforts and lower sales as customer spending comes under pressure. Asos said the fresh funding will be used for its turnaround plan, which will include shaking up the companys approach to buying and merchandising, and giving the firm more financial headroom. Asos told investors it has entered into a 200 million senior term loan and a 75 million revolving facility with specialist lender Bantry Bay Capital through to April 2026. The new credit lines will replace its existing 350 million facility which was due to expire next year. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: The fast fashion online retailer hopes this can create a solid base for the companys recovery. However, with the company paying high rates of interest on its newly agreed debt, much of the money raised from shareholders will almost immediately be going out the door on servicing its borrowings. The danger is Asos hasnt raised enough this time round, either through choice or necessity, and it will have to dig out the begging bowl again before too long. Shares initially opened higher after the update but swung lower after analysts digested the update. Feature: Grappling with rare disease, French girl realizes her "panda dream" in China Xinhua) 16:41, May 26, 2023 BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- "There are many more pandas here than in France!" exclaimed Ninon Vernay, a little French girl, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, delighted to see the lively and cute giant pandas in their native country. The 10-year-old has been suffering from cystic fibrosis since birth, a genetic disease that mainly affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems and usually results in chronic obstructive lung damage. Grappling with the disease, Vernay volunteered to become an "ambassador for cystic fibrosis" of France and has developed a love for nature and animals, especially pandas. "It's my favorite animal since I was a little girl ... It looks like stuffed animals," said Vernay, who has long dreamed of visiting the homeland of this cute animal. In fact, Vernay has been to Beauval Zoo, France, with her parents to see the giant pandas, including the first one born in France, Yuan Meng. Unfortunately, she had to watch from a distance over a huge crowd. After the birth of Yuan Meng's twin sisters, the Zoo held a naming ceremony for them and Vernay was invited to the event. She still remembers the names of the twins: Huan Lili and Yuan Dudu. Last weekend, with the help of institutions and people in China and France, Vernay was finally able to fulfill her dream on a journey to the panda's home province in southwest China with her parents. Vernay said that she would bring to school her panda doll, a welcome present for her family from a staff member at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. She has many friends who are also quite taken with pandas and she has made many presentations about pandas to her classmates. Vernay is keen to share her experience in China with her classmates and friends and the charities she works with once she returns home. "It was all very memorable," Vernay's father said of her trip to China, also the first long trip the little girl has made. He said the whole family was impressed by the hospitality of the Chinese friends and believed that the trip would help awaken Vernay's curiosity about the world. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Security contractor Serco has been fined more than 2 million for health and safety failings that led to a mentally-ill prisoner kicking a custody officer to death. Humphrey Burke, 29, attacked 54-year-old Lorraine Barwell as she tried to escort him from his cell in Blackfriars Crown Court in central London in June 2015. Burke admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and was handed an indefinite hospital order at the Old Bailey in January last year. Ms Barwells employer, Serco which is contracted by the Ministry of Justice to provide security services in courts, pleaded guilty last April to failure to discharge general health, safety and welfare duty from January 2014 to March 2017. Lorraine Barwell (Handout/PA) The prosecution claimed that two attacks on custody officers Ms Barwell and Bernadette Cawley within that period demonstrated what can happen if the right health and safety steps are not taken. Ms Cawley, who survived the attack, was strangled and rammed up against a wall in the dock in an annex court at Woolwich Crown Court in June 2016, but no other custody staff were nearby to help when she pressed the alarm. However, Serco had admitted two limited breaches in relation to the two incidents at Blackfriars and Woolwich, but denied they were causative of the harm to the women. But the prosecution had alleged there were wider failings, with areas including risk assessment, staffing levels, training and monitoring. On Friday, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker fined Serco 2,250,000 and ordered the firm to pay the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) costs of 433,596. In his sentencing, the senior judge found Sercos level of culpability for the offence was high. Among the failings, he said there was insufficient availability of court custody officers, an issue that had been raised with management on numerous occasions. Mr Justice Baker said there had been an obvious and avoidable risk that Burke would kick out forcibly to Ms Barwell, enabling her to be fatally injured. He highlighted inadequate communication of the risk Burke posed and insufficient regard as to the manner in which he should be safely handled as those involved just got on with the task, rather than having proper regard for their safety, leading to the unsafe manner in which Mr Burke was handled on this occasion. He concluded: I am satisfied that had it not been for Sercos breach of duty towards its employees, Lorraine Barwell would not have died in the circumstances in which she did at Blackfriars Crown Court on June 29 2015. The judge said the impact of Ms Barwells death was all too evident from reading a statement from her family. In a victim impact statement, Ms Barwells daughter Louise Grennan said: Our mum was a wonderful loving supportive mother to myself, my brother and her two granddaughters whom she adored and loved, and they adored her. She too was a friend to many and loved by many. To lose her has left a huge void in everyones hearts. Mum was my best friend and she helped me care for my daughter. We spoke about plans to move abroad to live in the sun once mum had retired from work. That has all gone now. HSE inspector Helen Donnelly said: Serco drastically failed in their duties to protect both Lorraine Barwell and other staff over a sustained period. It is not common to have a case covering such an extended period, but it appeared that Serco Limited were not learning from their mistakes. Lorraine Barwell and her colleagues were just doing their job and should have been protected from harm. Had Serco carried out their legal duties, these incidents could have been prevented. While this investigation has been long and complex, we hope Lorraines friends and family will find some comfort in todays sentence and see that justice has now been served. No matter what work environment you are in, health and safety regulation is designed to protect people at work. We will not hesitate to act against those who fail to protect their workers. Anthony Kirby, Serco chief executive UK & Europe, said: Everyone in Serco was deeply shocked and saddened when Lorraine was fatally assaulted by Humphrey Burke in 2015 and we continue to send our deepest condolences to her family and friends. Lorraine was a brave and experienced prisoner custody officer who was a popular and highly respected member of our team and had worked for Serco for over 10 years. She is still sorely missed by her colleagues and everyone across Serco. The safety and wellbeing of colleagues is our highest priority and, as recognised by the court, we have improved our safety processes. We continuously strive to seek to ensure such an incident can never happen again. Following the sentencing, Ms Grennan said: We welcome the judgment handed down today. We have had to endure an agonising and unnecessary eight-year wait for Serco to be brought to some account for what happened to our mother. Today the court recognised that the way that Serco ran its business in the cells caused mums death. Our mum went to work for Serco every day for over 10 years, working long days, but she was forced into a position where she wasnt safe. She wasnt given suitable information, training or equipment that she needed to do her job safely. The cells were not managed safely. She was helping out in the court cells due to understaffing when her life was cruelly taken away by a violent and unpredictable prisoner who attacked her. My mum did not know about the risks that she was dealing with. She had no warning. She went to work one day and didnt come home, Mums death has had a shocking and traumatic impact on our family. She was our best friend, a wonderful and supporting mother, daughter, grandmother and sister. Her death has left an incredible void. We worry that another family will go through what we have done. According to evidence that was given in court, we have no confidence that the problems with the staffing and management have been fixed, or that this will not happen again. We thank the Health and Safety Executive for all of their hard work in bringing this prosecution and bringing Serco to account. Kate Maynard, partner at Hickman and Rose, said: The findings of the court today, to the criminal standard, that Serco caused Lorraine Barwells death, are a vindication of the familys fight for accountability over the years. Lorraine Barwells death was avoidable. Rishi Sunak has met with Googles chief executive to discuss striking the right balance between artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and innovation, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister spoke to Sundar Pichai, also head of Googles parent company Alphabet, about the importance of ensuring the right guard rails are in place to ensure tech safety, No 10 said. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai (Dominic Lipinski/PA) It follows a similar meeting between Mr Sunak and leading figures in AI about the need for regulation to protect against potential dangers, ranging from disinformation and national security to existential threats. A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister met with Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet the parent company of Google at the Governments Darlington Economic Campus. The Prime Minister thanked Mr Pichai for Googles role at the heart of the UKs technology ecosystem, and they spoke about opportunities for growth in the industry. On artificial intelligence, they spoke about striking the right balance to ensure the right regulatory guardrails are in place, whilst driving forward innovation. They discussed possible opportunities for industry and international collaboration on safe and responsible AI development and agreed to remain in touch on this issue. Mr Sunak has advocated the technologys benefits for national security and the economy, but growing concerns have been raised with the increasing prominence of the ChatGPT bot. As well as the issues discussed by Mr Sunak and tech figures, jobs are also being put at risk by the rapidly evolving technology. Last week BT Group said it will cut up to 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade amid plans to shift to AI and automated services. Former Government chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has warned that AI could have an impact on jobs comparable to the Industrial Revolution. Earlier this month, Geoffrey Hinton, the man widely seen as the godfather of AI, warned some of the dangers of AI chatbots are quite scary as he quit his job at Google. Mr Sunak has been hardening his tone towards AI. The Governments policy paper on the technology published less than two months ago was titled: A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation. Footage of the 14-year-old being held around the neck by a security guard has gone viral. (BBC) The mother of a 14-year-old girl whose altercation with a doorman has gone viral said the incident had left her daughter frightened to leave the house. A video of the girl being ejected from a teen disco at Rainton Arena in Sunderland shows the security guard with his hands around her neck. It has been viewed millions of times online and has sparked a police investigation, while the venue said the member of staff in question had been sacked by the security company he was employed by. Speaking to the BBC, the girl said she thought she was going to die during the altercation, which she said was sparked after she got into an argument with door staff when they refused to let her re-enter the venue. She said two door staff tried to calm the situation, but a third "started screaming and shoving". In the footage, the girl can be seen being dragged out of the venue, with one bouncer with his hands around her neck as people shout "get off her". The incident happened at Rainton Arena on 19 May. (Google Maps) Her mother Gemma told BBC Newsbeat that her daughter, who sleeps in a loft bedroom at their home, often calls her in the night because she can't sleep after the incident. She claimed the situation escalated when her daughter got upset at being pushed, saying that while she "got a bit mouthy", she wasn't "any kind of threat to anybody" and the reaction by door staff was over the top. She also dismissed criticism of her daughter and speculation that she was drunk, saying: "It's just ridiculous that people are actually trying to find some kind of blame. "She's had posts saying she deserved it because of the way that she was dressed, which is just absolutely outrageous." Read more: Mum 'living worst nightmare' after dad abducts son and takes him to Saudi Arabia Her daughter told the BBC that the experience had left her fearful of being in crowded places, adding: "Things that I found funny just aren't funny any more." Rainton Arena said in a post on Facebook that it had referred the incident, which happened on 19 May, to Northumbria Police. It said: "The incident has been raised to Northumbria Police, as the venue will not accept this type of behaviour towards anyone. This is not how anyone should be made to feel at any event. "Staff and event organisers are all parents, and we are not happy with the actions of the individual. "The Childs Parents have been contacted and shown all CCTV as we will be fully cooperating with the parents and police. "The Security Company which were hired for the event have also terminated the employment of the individual involved. They have also contacted the police and made them aware they will be fully cooperating." A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "We received a report of assault which is alleged to have taken place at about 9.30pm on Friday at Rainton Meadows Arena, on Mercantile Road, Houghton-le-Spring. "No-one is believed to have been seriously injured. Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information should use the Tell us Something page of our website, or call 101 quoting NP-20230520-0288." What can and can't door staff do? Like other citizens, doorman can only use force if it is used against them. They can ask people to leave venues, check ID, refuse entry, issue verbal warnings, break up rights, and protect innocent bystanders from violence. They are allowed to respond with force that is reasonable and proportionate to defend themselves or others, or to protect property or prevent crime, but cannot use unreasonable force. An independent review of the violence which broke out in Leicester last year has been commissioned by Michael Gove. In September 2022, tensions between the British Pakistani Muslim and Indian Hindu communities spilled over into widespread violence and vandalism. The Secretary of State for communities announced on Friday that a review would establish the causes of the unrest. A panel of experts, led by Lord Ian Austin, will provide recommendations to improve relations between the Muslim and Hindu communities. Michael Gove (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Gove said: Leicester has a proud history of community cohesion, which makes last years disorder all the more shocking and upsetting. This review will build a thorough understanding of the specific events that took place and what can be learned from them. I have spoken to both the Home Secretary and the Mayor of Leicester to underline the importance of protecting all parts of the community in Leicester and we will not tolerate attempts to foster division or violence among people or between religious groups. The Mayor of Leicester Sir Peter Soulsby (Joe Giddens/PA) Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he welcomed the decision, adding: I would want Leicester and other cities to be able to learn from its findings and to understand what needs to be done to ensure that our community cohesion is never again threatened in this way. Lord Austin said: Acceptance of each others background and beliefs is at the heart of our national identity. Cities such as Leicester have proud histories of tolerance and diversity. This makes the scenes we witnessed last year all the more worrying and it is therefore so important that we listen to people in Leicester to get to the bottom of what happened and why. (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin told his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in call on Friday that Russia was open to dialogue over Ukraine, the Kremlin said, shortly after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed a Chinese peace envoy to Moscow. Russia has repeatedly said it was open to resuming peace talks with Kyiv, which stalled a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine early last year, and has welcomed mediation efforts from both Brazil and China. But it has insisted that any negotiations must be based on "new realities", meaning its declared annexation of four Ukrainian provinces that it largely or partly controls - a condition unacceptable to Kyiv. China for its part signed a "no limits" partnership with Russia less than three weeks before the invasion, and has not only refrained from criticising Moscow but also dramatically expanded its Russian energy imports since the start of the war. It has put forward a 12-point plan for peace in Ukraine that involves declaring a ceasefire but does not stipulate that Russia should withdraw from any of the territory it has seized. In his meeting with Li, Lavrov expressed gratitude for China's "balanced position" and willingness to play a positive role, his ministry said. The Chinese proposal has drawn scepticism from the West, with NATO saying Beijing - whose president, Xi Jinping, made a high-profile state visit to Moscow in March - lacked credibility as a mediator. Lula has also pitched himself as a peace broker and proposed, in line with Brazil's tradition of non-intervention and neutrality, that a group of nations not involved in the war should engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. "I reiterated Brazil's willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in pursuit of peace," he tweeted. Lula has condemned the invasion but he irritated Washington - and pleased Moscow - last month when he suggested the West had been "encouraging" war by arming Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not meet Lula when both men attended a Group of Seven summit in Japan last weekend, despite finding time to speak to an array of other national leaders. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, a hawkish senior ally of Putin's, was quoted on Friday as saying Russia could not trust any truce with Ukraine, and would therefore have to destroy the "very nature" of power in Kyiv. (Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Alex Richardson) A school was evacuated after historic ordnance found on a beach was taken into the building. Emergency services were called to the scene after the item was taken into Scalloway Primary School on Shetland on Friday morning. Everyone was evacuated as a precaution and a cordon has been put in place around the area. A bomb disposal team has been called to the scene. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Police and emergency services are currently at a primary school in Scalloway, Shetland, after an historic ordnance was found at a local beach and taken to the school around 11.45am on Friday. A cordon has been put in place around the area and the school has been evacuated as a precaution. Shetland Coastguard and Shetland Council are assisting. Explosive Ordnance Disposal have been made aware and will attend. Inquiries are continuing. Shetland Islands Council thanked the emergency services for their response. A council spokesman said: We can confirm an incident at Scalloway Primary School this morning involving historic ordnance. Staff and pupils have now left the building and the school is now closed. Were grateful to Police Scotland and HM Coastguard for their prompt response. A senior police officer has described the investigation into the death of 15-month-old Jacob Lennon as distressing and emotional and the saddest of his 30-year career. Jacob suffered a catalogue of cruel and sadistic injuries over a period of three weeks at the hands of his mothers boyfriend Jake Drummond. Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said the fatal head wound was the equivalent of being dropped from a first floor building. Throughout the abuse, Drummond and Jacobs mother Louise Lennon had trivialised the little boys suffering in messages to each other. The despicable couple, from Wandsworth, south London, even included laughing emojis as they joked about a torture room and Jacob looking like a little mad man. Following a trial, drug addict Drummond, 33, was found guilty of murder and wounding Jacob with intent. Lennon, 32, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child having admitted child cruelty. On Friday, Drummond was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years and Lennon was sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Speaking afterwards, Mr Jolley, from the Mets specialist crime unit, said the case was by far, the most difficult, the most sad of his 30-year career. He told the PA news agency: This was a very emotional and distressing case over a three-year period, and to bring those responsible, Drummond and Lennon, to justice for Jacob means everything to us. Jake Drummond was found guilty of killing his girlfriends young son (Metropolitan Police/PA) This is extremely unusual. In my 30 years of service, this was a really distressing and emotional case for all of those involved. This is a horrific case in which Jacob, who was a 15-month-old baby, was subjected to some horrific injuries that are truly awful and cruel. There were over 20 individual injuries to his body at the time of his death. One of the most significant injuries was the injury to his genitalia, which was cruel and sadistic in its own right. Jacobs eventual cause of death was a significant head injury. He had been subjected to assaults over a three-week period by Drummond, and Louise Lennon would have been fully aware, as mother of that child, that these injuries were significant and required medical assistance. Jacobs injuries were so bad that when he was eventually seen in hospital, medical professionals described him as having panda eyes. After Jacobs death on August 27 2019, Mr Jolley said the defendants spun a web of lies and produced a truly deceitful account of what had happened. Drummond has basically tried to convince people that Jacob had fallen out of his cot on several occasions and on the morning of the 27th that he had heard a squeal and got into the the bedroom to find Jacob on the floor, he said. Clearly this was not correct because the pathologist indicated that Jacob had clearly been dead for at least a couple of hours. So between him and Lennon, they concocted a story before phoning for the London Ambulance Service. However, messages exchanged between Drummond and Lennon told a very different story. Mr Jolley said: The investigation team uncovered several messages between Drummond and Lennon around the injuries that Jacob suffered. They sought to trivialise the injuries, they described putting Jacob into the torture chamber. They described him looking like a little madman. And these were all messages sent with laughing emojis attached to him. The individuals Drummond and Lennon were quite despicable in their actions. Louise Lennon (Metropolitan Police/PA) During the investigation, the defendants kept changing their stories and even tried to blame another child for the injuries to Jacobs genitals, saying they could have been inflicted with a plastic toy knife. Mr Jolley went on: Louise Lennon had initially said that it was just a minor injury. To any mother, it would have been identifiably a serious injury that would have needed medical assistance and she neglected to do that. She prioritised her relationship with Drummond. Even though Jacob was known to social services, Lennon deceived social workers and friends about what was going on. Mr Jolley said: Louise Lennon indicated that she had already sought medical assistance on several occasions, and even deceiving social workers by saying that she was away on holiday in order to avoid meeting with a social worker who would clearly have noticed the injuries and would have taken action on him. On whether there were any missed opportunities to save Jacob, Mr Jolley said: The biggest opportunity would have been from Louise Lennon herself. She was the mother of a child, he was vulnerable and it would have been obvious to any mother that that child Jacob needed medical assistance. Jacob Lennon suffered a catalogue of cruel and sadistic injuries (Metropolitan Police/PA) Even though Jacobs father was not around in his short life, his maternal grandmother had attended every day of the Old Bailey trial. Mr Jolley said: She heard what her daughter had allowed to happen to her grandchild and it must have been really difficult for her to hear that. As for Drummond, Drummond was a coercive individual. He took resentment towards Jacob, and caused those horrific injuries and caused his death, which was described as the equivalent of being dropped from a first floor building. Mr Jolley added: I would like to thank my investigation team, all the professionals who supported the prosecution, in bringing those responsible Drummond and Lennon to account for the terrible injuries that Jacob received and caused his death. A police officer involved in the arrest of Sheku Bayoh has denied ever wanting to join the BNP. The pre-recorded testimony of Alan Paton, who has since retired from Police Scotland, was played to the inquiry into the death of Mr Bayoh, which occurred in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in 2015 while he was being detained by police. During the 20-minute recording, Mr Paton denied claims he wanted to join the BNP as a teenager, and he also denied making racist remarks to an Asian family who lived near him and using other racist language. Mr Paton described the claims, made by his sister Karen Swan, as not true in its entirety and an entire lot of made-up nonsense. The former police officer also told the inquiry that father-of-two Mr Bayoh uttered not one word while he was being restrained in Hayfield Road. Lawyer Aamer Anwar with members of Sheku Bayohs family arriving at the inquiry on Friday (Dan Barker/PA) Mr Paton said: From my initial engagement with him to the conclusion of my involvement, he remained silent. The only screams I heard was that of (police officer) Nicole Short. He was read the witness statement of Ashley Wise, who saw the arrest, which said she saw a man going down to the ground with about six police officers around him and that the man kept making roaring noises and shouting something similar to get off me'. Mr Paton said she was mistaken and that Mr Bayoh did not make the noise. Mr Bayoh, 31, died after he was restrained on the ground by multiple officers. The inquiry into his death is examining whether race was a factor. Mr Paton and fellow officer Craig Walker were first on the scene after reports Mr Bayoh had been carrying a knife and attacking vehicles. The inquiry has previously heard that when they arrived, they rapidly deployed their incapacitant sprays on unarmed Mr Bayoh, and Pc Walker said the gas engineer was clearly in some sort of rage or zombie stare. The Sheku Bayoh inquiry is examining whether race played a factor in the circumstances around his death (PA) In the recording played to the inquiry on Friday, Angela Grahame KC read out a statement from Ms Swan which said: I would like to go back to when Alan was a teenager. My mum told me at the time that Alan has said he wanted to join the BNP and she had told him she would disown him if he did. Alan used to make racist remarks to the Asian family that lived round the corner. He was never violent towards them but he was quite vocal. If they passed by him he would make racist comments towards them. I dont know anything else about him joining the BNP. Mr Paton denied the claims, and said: The entire paragraphs not true. Ive got nothing further to add than what I have in my statement that was submitted a few days ago. Challenged by inquiry chair Lord Bracadale if he joined the far-right BNP, Mr Paton told him No. A statement from Mr Patons brother-in-law Barry Swan was also read to the inquiry. He said his wife had told him Mr Paton had wanted to join the BNP when he was 16. The inquiry was told Mr Swan said: There was a few comments, or off-the-cuff remarks, made by Alan over the early years which I took to be jovial and humorous. He said there was no malice or vindictiveness surrounding these comments. Mr Paton denied making such remarks. The hearing on Friday came a day after Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone admitted the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory, which the Bayoh familys solicitor Aamer Anwar said was a significant moment for them. Mr Anwar said: Fighting for a robust investigation, nevermind achieving justice, has involved the Bayohs in enormous challenges and obstacles at great personal cost to the emotional and physical health of their family, young and old. As this chapter of evidence concludes, no-one should forget that Sheku Bayoh lost his life, his two boys are growing up without their father, his partner Collette was left devastated by his loss, a heartbroken mother had to bury her son, and his sisters are left without their baby brother. Shekus loved ones will never give up the search for truth, no matter what obstacles are placed in their path. This inquiry still has a long way to go, and it would be inappropriate to comment further. The inquiry continues. A six-year-old who went viral for attempting to climb 12 of the highest mountains in the UK to help poorly children to go on holiday is to take on his final hike. Oscar Burrow from Lancaster plans to summit Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, on May 29, alongside family members and his friend Ollie Perkins which marks the 70th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Over the course of nine months starting from October 2022 Oscar has reached the top of mountains including Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, and Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. Oscar Burrow is to tackle Ben Nevis on May 29 (Matt Burrow/PA) He drew inspiration from a video he saw of Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mount Everest at school, which prompted him to say: I want to be the youngest person to climb Mount Everest. In a bid to satisfy his sons ambition, Mr Burrow, 38, a project manager in the NHS, thought: Why dont we start Oscar on this journey by picking 12 UK mountains that if you added them all up from where you start to where you finish on every mountain would be of a similar height to that of Everest? Oscar has gone on to raise more than 30,000 for Derian House Childrens Hospice, in Chorley, and as he prepares to ascend Ben Nevis, he said he is most looking forward to camping from Saturday to Wednesday, as a newbie to the activity. (from left to right) Matt and Oscar Burrow (Matt Burrow/PA) I want to make a fire using rocks, he told the PA news agency. Its my first time in a tent and I get to be sleeping outdoors. He added: Its the biggest mountain in the UK and there might be snow on the top. The youngster has visited the Chorley-based hospice several times and due to his heroic efforts, Oscar was given a gold badge by staff, which he proudly showed to PA. I got a very special badge and I want to take it to school, he added. Derian House has been at the forefront of his mind while on the climbs, prompted by his desire for poorly children to have a holiday, with the hospice allowing those who are sick to spend valuable time with their families at its lodges. (back row left to right) Kim, Matt and Mark Burrow, (front left to right) Ada and Oscar Burrow (Matt Burrow/PA) I want poorly children to go swimming on their holiday, Oscar added. Mr Burrow explained that when Oscar first visited Derian House, he was shown its facilities, including a swimming pool which has been heated to a specific temperature to make the children more comfortable and kept super clean to reduce the chance of infection. As a keen swimmer himself, the six-year-old wanted others to be able to swim. The money from this phase of the challenge will go towards helping the staff there run the swimming pool, equipment and also paying for children to have lessons and adolescents to stay at the hospice, Mr Burrow added. Mr Burrow said that at the start, instead of looking at the fundraising figures as money, Oscar views each thousand pounds raised as being a holiday for a child in need, with 30,000 equating to 30 children being able to go on holiday. Oscar and Matt Burrow (Matt Burrow/PA) The fundraising target stands at 60,000, and has been raised several times throughout the challenge, which Mr Burrow said has been something he did not expect. But if you can keep raising the target and do more for the hospice, why wouldnt you? Especially if you have the time. Oscars mountaineering journey has been filled with humorous, enjoyable and challenging moments, including a time when he thought he might get blown away. Oscar Burrow (centre), with his father Matt Burrow (left) and his grandfather Mark Burrow (Matt Burrow/PA) (When I did Helvellyn in the Lake District), I almost blew off and grandad and daddy had to hold onto me, he said. He liked climbing Glyder Fawr, in Snowdonia, because it was really steep and you have to climb up sections with your hands. He added that he found climbing Cairn Gorm, in Scotland, the hardest because of the deep snow. We made a giant snowball bigger than me and rolled it down the hill, Oscar added. Oscar has even met prolific fundraiser Speedo Mick. We met in Lancaster and he gave Oscar a special Speedo Mick key ring, then we met him a few weeks later on Snowdon, Mr Burrow said. Speedo Mick, Oscar Burrow (centre) and Ollie Perkins (Matt Burrow/PA) Mr Burrow added that support from the public leaving comments on both the JustGiving page and Oscars Facebook page, which has been tracking his journey, has been amazing. Some people have even said they might join us on Ben Nevis and weve had people send us gifts for Oscar, Ollie and Ada (Oscars younger sister), so its just fantastic. Seeing people continually follow his journey is lovely. Oscar has no plans to stop taking on fundraising challenges. I want to do the national three peaks with my grandad. Pascale Harvie, president and general manager at JustGiving, added: Oscar is a superstar and we have been completely blown away by what he has done and how much he has raised to help poorly children. What hes achieved at just six years old is extraordinary and as a result of Oscars efforts hes been recognised by the public and nominated for a JustGiving Award. Oscars JustGiving page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oscar-burrow1?fbclid=IwAR2XJQg2J2-8zvOyc5XN5hKkenlpZ-G7tbiswedRgxZv3-OKuCFdCGFv4pA Oscars journey can be followed along via his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088803157394 ANOTHER University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student has been charged with criminal nuisance and malicious damage to property. He is alleged to have been part of a group which went on a spree around the Harare CBD spray painting political statements on government buildings. Darlington Upenyu Chigwena was not asked to plead when he appeared in court this Wednesday. He will be back in court today for bail considerations. Chigwenas accomplices Emmanuel Sitima, Comfort Mpofu, Tawanda Watadza and Lionel Madamombe appeared in court last week and are in custody pending bail considerations. Allegations are that between 14 and 15 May, at night, the group of students, and others who are still at large, went to the Parliament of Zimbabwe with red and black spray paint cans. They evaded security details on duty and allegedly spray painted on, and defaced the southern wall of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Building, along Nelson Mandela Avenue. Their message was calling for the release of Job Sikhala, who is in remand prison. Using the red paint, they allegedly wrote the words, Free Wiwa, Free Job Sikhala. From there, they proceeded to the High Court, Methodist Church, Harare Magistrates Civil Court and Karigamombe Building, inscribing the same statements. H Metro Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she did not know who the Secretary of State for Scotland was when she first met him. Ms Sturgeon told an audience at the Aye Write book festival in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on Friday evening she did not know who Alister Jack was after he had been appointed by Boris Johnson. The revelation came as part of an in conversation event with comedian Janey Godley to discuss her new novel. Ms Sturgeon and Godley discussed one of the now infamous voiceover clips Godley became known for where she pretended to be Nicola Sturgeon when Boris Johnson attempted to usher her into Bute House in 2019 when he became Prime Minister. Ms Sturgeon said she did not know who Mr Jack was and she first met him on the steps of Bute House. Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has admitted she did not know who Alister Jack was when she first met him (Victoria Jones/PA) She said: I hadnt met him before. I literally had no idea who he was. I just thought: Who are you? That was also the time Boris left by the back door. Ms Sturgeon also revealed they had kind of kidnapped Mr Jack on his first visit to Bute House in 2019. She said: In between him (Boris Johnson) arriving and him leaving, we kind of kidnapped Alister Jack. But thats another story for another time, she joked. Ill leave that one for the memoir. Ms Sturgeon, who is facing questions over her partys financial management while she was leader and first minister, said the event was the best therapy she had had in a long time. Fridays event ended with Godley performing a special voiceover which acknowledged the stress Ms Sturgeon had been under in recent weeks as a result of the police investigation into the SNPs finances and the arrest of her husband, ex-SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell. A blue plaque honouring a suffragette Indian princess has been unveiled at her former London home. Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, daughter of the last ruler of the Sikh empire, goddaughter to Queen Victoria and a campaigner for female enfranchisement, was commemorated by English Heritage at Faraday House, Hampton Court. As a member of the Womens Social and Political Union (WSPU), the militant group led by Emmeline Pankhurst, she used her status and wealth as a member of the Punjabi royal family to support the cause for gender equality. Film director Gurinder Chadha, actress Meera Syal, Professor Helen Pankhurst and Lord Singh were among the guests who attended the ceremony. Anita Anand, author of Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary, told the PA news agency: We owe Sophia such a debt of gratitude because without her courage and the courage of women like her you cant take it for granted that we would have the right to vote in this country. The blue plaque was unveiled at Faraday House (Christopher Ison/English Heritage/PA) She was one of those bloody-minded women who never do what they are supposed to do. Ms Anand added: Womens history falls through the cracks and women of colour plummet through them. Her fortitude is something that should not be forgotten, and it is only right that we should see it in a plaque so that young girls when they walk past might ask, who was she?. Sophia lived in Faraday House, a grace and favour apartment granted to her by Victoria in 1896, with her sisters Bamba and Catherine. Her early childhood in Suffolk was turbulent, with her father, Maharaja Duleep Singh abandoning his young family to live in Paris, and her mother Bamba Muller suffering with alcoholism. In their parents absence the sisters grew up in Folkestone and Brighton with their guardian Arthur Craigie Oliphant and his family, before moving to Faraday House as adults. WSPU member Una Dugdale persuaded Sophia to join the union in 1908, and from 1909 onwards she was active in the Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames district branches of the suffragette organisation. Writer Anita Anand speaking at the unveiling of the blue plaque (Christopher Ison/English Heritage/PA) Sophia would sell copies of The Suffragette newspaper at her pitch outside Hampton Court Palace, and once threw a suffragette poster reading Give women the vote! at Herbert Asquiths car at the state opening of Parliament in 1911. As a member of the Womens Tax Reform League (WTRL), a movement which refused to pay various taxes, insurances and licence fees under the motto No Vote , No Tax, Sophia was summoned to court several times and fined for abstaining from personal licences on jewellery, dogs and a carriage. Sophia attended Black Friday on November 18 1910, when more than 300 suffragettes marched from Caxton Hall to Parliament Square and demanded to see the prime minister. The demonstration descended into violence when the prime minister refused to see the suffragettes, and police assaulted the women who refused to leave. Alongside Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Ms Pankhurst, Sophia resisted the police during the fighting, even rescuing one woman from an officer. Beyond her campaigning for womens enfranchisement, she also supported the Indian Womens Education Association in London. She volunteered during both world wars, nursing Indian soldiers in in the First World War and housing evacuees in the Second World War. In 1915 she was one of 10,000 women who took part in the Womens War Work Procession led by Ms Pankhurst. At her death in 1948 she was outlived by her goddaughter, Drovna, whom she made solemnly promise to always vote as an adult. A film partly based on her life, Lioness, premiered at Cannes Film Festival this week. A supercar tycoon is alleged to have withheld information from a fraud investigation into a car leasing company which collapsed with debts of 28 million. Millionaire Tom Hartley, who has appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List, is described on his website as the ultimate name in luxury, performance, and classic cars. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a requirement of the director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is investigating Raedex Consortium. Raedex, which owned companies including Buy2Let Cars, PayGo Cars, Wheels4Sure and Rent2Own Cars, has been under investigation since 2021 after it went into administration. Thousands of investors lost their savings after the company is alleged to have used their money to lease cars to people with low credit scores. The SFO said Hartley is suspected of holding information related to a suspect in the case and had been asked to provide this four times by investigators. Hartley, 61, who runs his company Tom Hartley Cars in Overseal, south Derbyshire, will go on trial at City of London Magistrates Court in October. An 11-year-old US cancer patient diagnosed with lymphoma was overwhelmed with tears when he met the British stem cell donor who saved his life three years ago. James Benzel and his mother Karen Benzel, from Alliance, Nebraska, hugged and cried with South Yorkshire Police constable Luke Bugdol, from Rotherham, at DKMSs annual London gala at the Natural History Museum on Thursday. DKMS (the German Bone Marrow Donor Centre) is an international charity that aims to help those fighting blood cancers and blood disorders. James Benzel with his parents Karen and Jeremy (PA) The schoolboy is now in remission and told the PA news agency he was overwhelmed when he met Mr Bugdol. Mrs Benzel, 40, a business executive director, said: I was just grateful to meet the man that saved my sons life and graciously gave a gift to give him the second chance of life. Its just amazing. Mr Bugdol, said: It really hit home because its the fact that it was for James. James, out of all of this, is a hero because James went through it all. Walking up to the stage I knew straight away that Id probably struggle to talk because the emotion was there and just actually meeting him was really overwhelming. The 11-year-old was diagnosed in May 2018 with severe aplastic anaemia, described by the NHS as a serious condition where bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells. Mrs Benzel, James and Mr Bugdol cried and hugged each other when they met (DKMS UK/PA) James then developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer that affects the bodys lymphatic system. Mrs Benzel said her family was completely shocked when her son was diagnosed. He went from being a completely healthy child who just finished his first year in school, and then all of a sudden had these tremendous medical issues, she said. We are sitting in a childrens hospital, didnt know what to do, what to turn to, where to go. Its a very helpless feeling that you cant physically change places with your child or help them in a different way. Doctors told the Benzel family James needed a stem cell transplant but none of his five siblings was a genetic match. Mr Bugdol donated his stem cells on February 4 2019 and they were shipped to the US where James started the transplant process the next day. James and his mother flew from Alliance, Nebraska to meet Mr Bugdol (DKMS UK/PA) Doctors first had to destroy any trace of his own stem cells to ensure Jamess body was receptive to the transplant. The leading-up portion isnt too horrible, its the side effects you get after, the typical chemo and radiation side effects, he was very ill, Mrs Benzel said. James was declared in remission in May 2021 and now only visits a doctor once a year, with his mother saying it was great to see him do normal kid activities again. The family had to wait for two years before they were allowed to contact the donor, as per DKMSs rules, and said Mr Bugdol graciously responded to a letter. Mr Bugdol said he joined the DKMS stem cell register in 2015 after a police colleague died with cancer. The pair now share the same DNA due to the transplant (DKMS UK/PA) In 2018, he was told he was a potential match for a cancer patient and donated his stem cells the next year via his bone marrow. They screw some big needles into your back into the pelvic bone, and they draw the stem cells directly from your bone marrow, the police constable said, adding: It was easy, all they did was screw two needles in. Because James was young and required a significant amount of stem cells, the only option was to extract them all from Mr Bugdols bone marrow, rather than from a general blood extraction. Mr Bugdol said: For me it was never about meeting the person, it was just a case of doing what needed to be done. For more information on DKMS, visit: www.dkms.org.uk/register-now. Balloons, fireworks and flares have been released to remember two teenagers whose deaths in a road accident sparked rioting amid rumours police were pursuing them shortly before they died. Over 1,500 people gathered at the spot in Ely, Cardiff where Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed as they rode a Sur-Ron electric bike on Monday evening. CCTV footage of a marked South Wales Police van following the teenagers quickly spread on social media leading to violent clashes and disorder in Ely. The rioting saw nine people arrested and left 15 police officers being injured. People release balloons during a vigil for the victims of a road traffic collision on Snowden Road in Ely, Cardiff (Jacob King/PA) The claims of a pursuit were later denied by Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, but the force has since confirmed a van was following Kyrees and Harvey. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the circumstances. Since Monday, hundreds floral tributes and messages have been left at the scene of the accident in Snowden Road and on Friday evening they gathered to pay tribute to the teenagers. Many of those gathered held blue balloons and wore white T-shirts adorned with pictures of Kyrees and Harvey, while others stood silently in tears. A moment of silence was held before the crowd broke out in applause. It was understood the police had been asked not to attend. People wore T-shirts with the faces of the two teenagers (Jacob King/PA) Speaking at the vigil, one of Harveys uncles said: Were all tarred with the same brush here, especially given what happened on Monday. But this is the true Ely. Look how many people have turned out to pay their respects. The only difference between Monday and today is that the police arent here. John ODriscoll, Harveys great uncle, said: What happened on Monday with the riot, that was wrong, the boys were wrong. But it was out of frustration. It was because a lot of the boys get abused by the police around here and so thats why things kicked off. Harvey was my great nephew, we have a big family and were all close. They were just young boys. Everyone rides bikes and scooters around here. Yes, we find them annoying but thats just what they do. But as soon as those coppers saw they had no helmets they shouldve stopped. Balloons are released during the vigil in Snowden Road (Jacob King/PA) Earlier, the IOPC appealed for witnesses who may have seen the moments before the crash. It said the investigation was examining the nature of the police interaction with Kyrees and Harvey and the appropriateness of the officers decisions and actions. The watchdog is also considering whether the police officers actions in the van constituted a pursuit, and whether the interaction between the officers and the boys was reported appropriately by the officers prior to and following the collision. IOPC director David Ford: Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Kyrees and Harvey, as well as all those affected by the loss of two young lives in such a close-knit community as Ely. Our investigators have been conducting inquiries and securing evidence in the immediate vicinity of where the events took place, speaking to local residents, distributing leaflets and gathering as much relevant information as possible. I am truly grateful for the co-operation and assistance we have received from people within the local community. We are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of what took place in the period leading up to the collision. I would like to reassure everyone in the community that our work will be thorough, impartial, and independent of the police. Politicians and community leaders met to discuss the aftermath of Mondays tragedy. First Minister Mark Drakeford said: This week, two families are grieving for their sons and the people of Ely have experienced a collective trauma. My thoughts are with the families and friends of Harvey and Kyrees. Representatives of the local community and public agencies, including Action in Caerau and Ely, the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council today met in Ely. We have agreed to jointly sponsor a grassroots-led initiative to create a community plan for Ely, to respond to the long-term needs of residents. It will be focused on actions and outcomes for people in Ely. The Cadbury 99 flake is too flakey, ice cream sellers have warned. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The Cadbury 99 flake is too flakey, ice cream sellers have warned. Ice cream vendors have insisted the quality of the flake has deteriorated since production was moved to Egypt. Owner of C&M Creamery Ices John Taylor told the BBC the product breaks easily. You cant give someone a 99 with a broken flake. Its embarrassing for an ice-cream man, he said. He added: Theyre crumbly by nature but they should be able to stand up to a bit of moving around. Theyre charging top money for them, but they arrive as though they have been bounced off a cliff. If youre buying five boxes of Flake for an event and you discover a lot of them are broken your day is ruined. Meanwhile, Lawrence Glauser, owner of Lorenzos Ices in East Yorkshire said: Often at least a quarter of a box are unusable. I now serve trays of ice cream and sprinkle bits of Flake on top. I shouldnt have to do that. Im fed up of the wastage. Glauser said he sometimes uses a German alternative to the flake 99 which are a lot denser and dont seem to fall apart as easily. Katy Alston, who operates a van in Bognor Regis and is also president of the Ice Cream Alliance said she will no longer be using the flake 99 this year after she said she had to throw half away in some cases. Weve thrown away 70 in a single box before because theyve all been broken, she said. For the first time, I wont be using Cadbury flake this year. It feels a different product. Cadbury owners MondelAz said they have been making the flake 99 in Egypt since 2020 and the recipe has not changed. A MondelAz spokesperson said: Cadbury Flake 99 is a naturally delicate and crumbly product, and we have processes in place within our supply chain to avoid any breakage as much as possible. We are aware that recently some customers have received product which does not meet our usual high standards. This has been addressed following recent improvements to our production processes although some prior stock may remain in circulation. We are in the process of liaising with our customers (wholesalers) to support those potentially impacted. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. The company added it takes the quality of its product very seriously. The family of Gabby Petito, a van life influencer murdered by her fiance Brian Laundrie in 2021, now have their hands on a burn after reading letter in which Laundries mother wrote that she would bring a shovel and help him dispose of a body. In the undated letter, which the Laundries fought to block the court from releasing, Roberta Laundrie vowed to always love her son and alluded to possibly assisting in the cover up of Petitos murder. The message, released to the Petito family Wednesday, was found when investigators located Brian Laundries body in October 2021. Petitos family sued Laundries parents and their attorney Steven Bertolino in March 2022 for emotional distress a case making its way through Sarasota County courts as the two year anniversary of Petitos death approaches. If youre in jail I will bake a cake with a file in it, Roberta Laundrie wrote in the letter. If you need to dispose of a body I will bring 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. A photo of the outside of the letter Brian Laundries mother Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son after the murder of Gaby Petito. Lawyer Patrick Reilly She even quoted the Bible in her note, writing: Nothing can separate us; not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not threats, not even sin, not the thinkable or unthinkable can get between us. Attorney Patrick Reilly shared the familys statement, in which they commend Judge Danielle Brewer for releasing the letter, with the Miami Herald on Thursday. ...While Roberta Laundrie has suggested it was written before Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito left on their trip, ...[it] is evidence that the Laundries and Attorney Bertolino were aware of Gabby Petitos demise... Laundrie, 23, murdered Petito, 22, during a cross-country road trip she posted about on social media. Millions around the world followed the case, speculating about Petitos disappearance and grieving her death when the young womans body was found in a Wyoming national park in September 2021. Days before Petitos death, Moab, Utah police responded to a domestic dispute between Petito and Laundrie. The officers ultimately allowed the couple to reunite despite warning signs of domestic violence. The case concluded a month later, when Laundries remains were found in a Sarasota County nature preserve. Police say Laundrie died by suicide and left a note confessing to Petitos murder. In November, the Petitos settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Laundries parents for $3 million. The money from the settlement, which was signed by Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll, will benefit the Gabby Petito Foundation, founded to stop domestic violence and search for missing persons. READ MORE: Gabby Petitos family settles wrongful death suit for $3 million a year after her murder That same month, the Petitos filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Moab, Utah police. The lawsuit names the police department, three of its officers and 10 other defendants for their negligent failure in investigating the fight. Read the letter for yourself Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Thursday appeared to criticize Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for saying hell consider pardoning Jan. 6 defendants if elected president, arguing that anyone with such plans is not qualified for the White House. Any candidate who says they will pardon Jan. 6 defendants is not qualified to be President, Cheney wrote on Twitter. DeSantis, who launched his 2024 campaign Wednesday, said Thursday that if elected, he would consider on day one pardoning defendants connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at 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 in issuing pardons, DeSantis said on the The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show podcast when asked about whether hell consider pardoning the defendants, including Trump. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Trump is currently facing a federal investigation into the transfer of power in the 2020 election. Cheneys remarks, which followed DeSantiss comments earlier in the day, also applied to the former president; Trump has said hed consider pardons for Jan. 6 defendants if he gets another term. The former Wyoming congresswoman was on the House select committee probing Jan. 6, which criminally referred Trump to the Justice Department (DOJ) for inciting an insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement and obstruction of an official proceeding. The DOJ has said its made more than 1,000 arrests in connection with Jan. 6, and nearly 500 people have been sentenced due to criminal activity that day. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida lobbyists who work with the Sunshine State government have been left aghast by demands that they donate to Governor Ron DeSantis newly launched presidential campaign, according to a report from NBC News. The reason for the alarm about the donation requests is that they have come directly from persons employed by the Executive Office of the Governor in Tallahassee, as well as other executive agencies. The involvement of state employees in soliciting funds for the governors campaign may run afoul of Sunshine State ethics laws and appears to be a breach of traditional norms that aim to separate the work of governing from campaigning for elected office. A group of 10 lobbyists contacted by the news network all said they could not ever recall being openly solicited for donations by state officials. One lobbyist told NBC that the DeSantis administration appears to be keeping tabs on who is giving, and are doing it using state staff and said they felt trapped in a prisoners dilemma because Mr DeSantis will remain in office through 2026 unless he successfully wins the presidency next year. Mr DeSantis office did not comment when asked by the network, but in a text message, an administration official confirmed that they and other Florida state employees personally donated to his campaign. The Independent has contacted the governors campaign for comment. A Florida election law attorney told NBC that the solicitations raise ethical questions, even if they occur outside working hours. At a minimum, even if they are sitting in their home at 9 p.m. using their personal phone and contacting lobbyists that they somehow magically met in their personal capacity and not through their role in the governors office, it still smells yucky, the attorney said. Theres a misuse of public position issue here that is obvious to anyone paying attention. Another lobbyist who spoke to NBC said they felt pressured to give funds because Mr DeSantis is still working through the state budget with a line-item veto a power some state governors can use to slash individual funding requests and they feel they cannot risk the governors ire by not giving. What the f*** am I supposed to do? one lobbyist said. I have a lot of business in front of the DeSantis administration. The news of the solicitations by state officials comes just days after Mr DeSantis launched his 2024 campaign in a glitch-filled appearance on Twitters Spaces feature alongside the sites owner, Elon Musk. Mr DeSantis campaign said it raised a massive $8.2m in the first 24 hours after his announcement. Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R) announced Thursday night he will not run for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, allowing Republicans to breathe easy and opening a clear path for David McCormick to take on Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) next year. Mastriano made the news official during a Facebook Live event mere months after he lost the states gubernatorial contest to Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) by nearly 15 points. At this time, we have decided not to run for the U.S. Senate, but to continue to serve in Harrisburg, Mastriano said. I know for some that will be disappointing. For others, it wont be disappointing because youre like, Whos going to fill his seat? Whos going to be our voice in Harrisburg?' We need to beat [Casey]. While I have decided not to run, someone else will decide to run, and someone else will win the primary next year and be the nominee. Whoever is that nominee, I will support them, he continued. We hope you will too because I dont want any other Republican candidate to go through what we went through last year when our own party betrayed us. A bid by Mastriano, a hard-line conservative who won former President Trumps endorsement in 2022, would not have been greeted kindly by many top Republicans, who believe that in losing the governors mansion, he hurt the party in congressional contests and in state legislature races, including the GOPs loss of the state House. Mastrianos decision means the road is wide open for McCormick, who narrowly lost the states GOP Senate primary last year to Mehmet Oz, to nab the partys nomination to take on Casey. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage McCormick has yet to decide on whether to launch a second straight Senate bid, but he is expected to do so later this summer or in the fall as establishment GOP forces line up behind him. I thank Doug for his years of military and public service and his dedication to Pennsylvania, McCormick said in a statement. I am seriously considering a run for the U.S. Senate because Bob Casey has consistently made life worse for Pennsylvania families over the past 18 years, and our state deserves better. We need a Republican nominee who can build a broad coalition of Pennsylvanians to defeat Bob Casey and improve the lives of Pennsylvania families, he added. The potential candidate-in-waiting has remained in the news throughout the year with the rollout of a book and an ongoing book tour. He has also kept up meetings across the state with party leaders, including at the county level. Among those pushing for him to run is Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who has made clear he believes McCormick is the type of candidate who can win a primary and a general election matchup against the three-term Senate Democrat with a legendary name in Pennsylvania politics. [McCormick] would be a candidate that I think unites Republicans in Pennsylvania and hed be a very strong candidate in the primary and the general, Daines said in March. In addition, the Senate Leadership Fund, which is run by allies of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), has also signaled its backing of the former Bridgewater Associates CEO. The Pennsylvania Senate contest is widely expected to be one of the most expensive on the 2024 map, with sources telling The Hill the nominee is expected to need at least $100 million for the potential brawl. McCormick could dip into his own bank account to help fund his efforts, though he is not expected to do so after he dropped $14 million into last years primary contest in only five months. Casey won his seat in 2006 by defeating then-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). He has also handily won reelection twice, having most recently defeated then-Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) by a 13-point margin. Democrats had been salivating at the possibility of Mastriano entering the race. Shapiros team last year spent $3 million to boost Mastriano in a seven-candidate field and ensure he would be their general election opponent. Tonight Mastriano threatened that he and his supporters will continue looming over Republicans in Pennsylvania, which will make their Senate Primary dynamics in even messier and guarantee whichever candidate emerges will be badly damaged and out of step with the voters who will decide the general election, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said in a statement. Mastrianos performance last year also seemed to turn off former President Trump, who reportedly was opposed to him entering the race and did not plan to endorse him in a potential Senate bid. Trump, of course, spoke harshly of McCormick during his Senate bid last year, likening him to former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who voted to convict the president in his second impeachment trial over his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and called him a liberal Wall Street Republican. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. THE Master of the High Court has backed the application by the Communications and Allied Workers Union (CAWUZ) seeking to place the cellular services company, Telecel Zimbabwe, under corporate rescue, a local form of bankruptcy protection. In the process of filing for corporate rescue, the Master of the High Court is served with the papers because he is required to provide a report, in support or against the application, but the judge reserves the ultimate authority to make the determination. In October 2022, CAWUZ applied to have the countrys third-largest mobile telecommunication company placed under corporate rescue to avert potential liquidation. CAWUZ represents the workers who are owed large sums of money in unpaid salaries. CAWUZ itself is owed some money in unpaid subscriptions, making it a creditor. The basis for the application is that the company is financially distressed because it has failed to pay its debts. It is submitted that, in spite of the apparent financial challenges, the company still enjoys some real prospects of being rescued from imminent collapse. CAWUZ further submits that to save the company from liquidation, it must be placed under the supervision and management of a corporate rescue practitioner who must draw up a rescue plan to turn around its business. Mr Knowledge Hofisi of Aurifin Capital has been nominated as the corporate rescue practitioner. CAWUZ contends Telecel has been on the brink of collapse for a long time now. It has demonstrated the companys liabilities exceed its assets, an indication of insolvency. But its financial woes are not insurmountable judging from the performance of the companys competitors in the market. Telecel, CAWUZ argues, despite insolvency, still enjoys some realistic prospects of recovery if accorded an opportunity to do so. CAWUZ has also explored the inexhaustible business opportunities in the telecommunications sector and has used this to demonstrate that the company has reasonable prospects of being rescued and of being a successful concern again. Telecel, however, opposed the application and challenged, among other things, the CAWUZ locus standi to take the application to the High Court. It contends that CAWUZ has no legal standing to bring the application as it is not an affected person in terms of the law. While Telecel denied it was in financial distress, V Gapara, Master of The High Court (Additional Master)-Insolvency and Minors said it did not seem to disprove the fact that the company had been failing to pay its debts when they fell due and that it was still in debt. Mr Gapara contended that it was clear from the founding papers, including the recent financial records, that the company was financially distressed. The records show a company whose liabilities exceed its assets, said Mr Gapara. It is thus, from a balance sheet standpoint, insolvent. This much does not seem to have been disproved by the company whichseems to suggest that the true value of its assets can only be ascertained after a firm of chartered accountants it engaged completes its asset revaluation exercise. There is no indication that the exercise has been completed and that the report has been released, Mr Gapare added. He argued corporate rescue was the only viable option for saving the company. He argued that while Telecel was in financial distress, it enjoyed reasonable prospects of being rescued. Should the court decide, in the circumstances; that corporate rescue proceedings are the most appropriate remedy to cure the companys financial distress, enabling it to pay off its creditors and steering it back to a state of commercial viability, the Master has no objections against the appointment of Mr Knowledge Hofisi to the position of corporate rescue practitioner for Telecel. Herald OPINION: Janelle Monaes new video for Lipstick Lover is about freedom, Black beauty, LGBTQ pride, body positivity, sex positivity and love. Editors note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the authors own. Read more opinions on theGrio. Janelle Monaes hot new video Lipstick Lover gives us an explosion of Black beauty. Shes at a pool party filled with Black women. Its a lush, outdoor scene that takes place at a gorgeous compound in, maybe, California or Jamaica or Belize or somewhere thats tropical and dreamy. Everyone in the video seems free and in love with being themselves. The vibes of the video are all about body positivity and sex positivity and Black love. Monae and her friends are dancing suggestively and flaunting their bodies and kissing. To see Black women loving on other women so publicly is powerful and liberating, but hey, liberation is a central message from Monaes career. The song Lipstick Lover is as much of an overtly lesbian statement as any pop song has ever made. Monae herself is nonbinary, but the song and the video are all about beautiful Black women dancing and kissing and being together. Monae sings, I like lipstick on my neck as an artful way of praising and normalizing lesbian love and affection. Its a song that could fit on pop radio and in gay clubs. That means it can serve both a lesbian community that craves her music and the validation it brings as well as a straight, pop music-loving world where Monae can help further normalize queerness. This video also represents a new chapter in Monaes stylistic journey. Shes always been very thoughtful about her sartorial approach. She started out wearing black and white all the time which stood out in a world where pop stars are always in color. But more importantly, she was in black and white so consistently that it felt like a uniform, which was the point. The choice was meant to be symbolic of the uniforms that Black people wore as domestics and a reminder of where Monae herself had come from. In 2012, at the Black Girls Rock! ceremony, she told the crowd, When I started my musical career I was a maid. I used to clean houses. My parents my mother was a proud janitor, my stepfather, who raised me like his very own, worked at the post office and my father was a trash man. They all wore uniforms. And thats why I stand here today in my black and white and I wear my uniform to honor them. In her black and white uniform, Monae evoked the maid or the butler, and she symbolically lifted up all the Black workers who came before us all those Black people whose shoulders we stand on so that today we can be whatever we want. Janelle Monae attends the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Now, in her Lipstick Lover era, Monae is on a different journey. In the video, shes in tight a T-shirt and short shorts. The look is natural and free. She seems liberated. And yes, Monae has always seemed like she was liberated, but this feels like a step further into that. Last year, Monae told the LGBTQ&A podcast Im laughing more, Im partying with my friends more, Im really more relaxed as an artist and so I think that my music is probably going to be, without giving too much away, less heady and less about fighting against opposition. So shes fighting less overtly, but Monae is someone whose whole life is a political statement. Shes a queer Black woman whos living her truth and doing what she wants and being successful at a time when being Black, female and queer can be difficult. Even if Monae is not speaking directly about oppression now, shes proof that we can fight against it in the way we live our lives. We can live in a way that pushes back against the boundaries that oppression would set. The notion of the personal is political says that marginalized people can make political statements through the way they live their lives. When marginalized people make the choices they want to make and break barriers and live in happiness, that is revolutionary in a world meant to suppress marginalized people. Through our personal lives, we can make political statements; we can say women or Black people or trans people can live happy, successful lives on our own terms. Monaes new natural phase feels very personal is political. Shes presenting herself as natural and authentic in a world where shes super successful without having to sacrifice who she really is. For a Black queer woman to have massive success while out of the closet and living completely on her own terms is a powerful political statement that speaks volumes. I love Janelle Monae not just for the music and the movies. I love to see the way she lives her life. Shes a political activist without even trying. Toure, theGrio.com Toure is a host and Creative Director at theGrio. He is the host of the podcast Toure Show and the podcast docuseries Who Was Prince? He is also the author of seven books including the Prince biography Nothing Compares 2 U and the ebook The Ivy League Counterfeiter. Look out for his upcoming podcast Being Black In the 80s. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Janelle Monae is the inspiring, queer Black female superstar we need appeared first on TheGrio. Updated May 26, 2023 at 5:47 AM Update: Police said late Thursday night that Selena Tolosa was found safe. Kansas City police were asking the public for help Thursday to find a missing 15-year-old last seen in the citys Parkview neighborhood. Around 4:15 p.m., police said Selena Tolosa was seen walking near 660 Brooklyn Avenue. Police said she needed urgent medical care. Tolosa stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs about 280 pounds, police said. She was wearing a blue shirt with long sleeves and gray shoes when she was last seen. Kansas City police were asking anyone who locates Tolosa to call 911. The Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he couldnt stay in the United Methodist Church anymore but the congregation he attended was staying. Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC but his congregation was leaving it. Each has found new church homes, and theyre not alone. Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nations largest denominations amid intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people. There are stark differences over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy. But the dividing line isnt just running between congregations. Its running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together. Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether to stay or go. The splintering often grievous and tense has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating Lighthouse congregations ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. Other conferences use different names, such as Beacon or Oasis, but the idea is the same. "The pain is real, and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church, said the Rev. Lynda Ferguson, the great-grandchild of a circuit-riding Methodist pastor. Her North Carolina church, First United Methodist Asheboro, became a Lighthouse congregation. That assures newcomers that its committed to staying United Methodist, so they wont have to worry about another disaffiliation vote. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina. Ferguson said she can personally relate to those from departing congregations. Her childhood church the one that shaped her faith and where at age 12 she felt the call to ministry also voted to leave. "Part of the Lighthouse mission is to let people know the United Methodist Church is still here and still welcoming, said the Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church in Stokesdale, North Carolina, which also became a Lighthouse congregation. Michael Hahn and his family are among a group of newcomers who have begun participating in Stokesdale after their previous congregations left the denomination. Hahn, whose family has been Methodist for generations, said he couldnt imagine leaving the denomination, which he values for blending faith and rationality: Its a place where I dont have to check my logic and reason at the door and blindly accept things. Hahn said he, his wife and daughters have found a very warm and welcoming environment in the Stokesdale congregation, with people saying, "Were glad to have you here, we want to walk through this period with you. Many of the departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year. Others are going independent or joining different denominations. While the Global Methodist Church doesnt have a program like the Lighthouse initiative, it has begun launching or adopting congregations that can become homes for those who want to leave the United Methodist Church but whose congregations are staying. That was the case with the founders of Grace Methodist Church. They launched the church in January in Homosassa, Florida, after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC. The new church immediately affiliated with the Global Methodist Church. Grace Methodist has been renting a former lodge hall for its services and has already started Bible studies and community outreaches, while also working to attract attendees from their neighborhood. Were not there just to go to church on Sunday for an hour; were there to help the community," said member Neil Kline. The enthusiasm of participants is evident, he said: They cant wait to get to church, and they dont want to leave. Farmer came out of retirement to serve as the church's pastor. The group's previous congregation was a good church, Farmer said, and he wished it well. But my struggle was with the United Methodist structure, whats going on in the United States, particularly." The ongoing schism has been long in the making. The United Methodist Church with about 6.5 million members in the United States and at least that many abroad has long debated its bans on same-sex marriages and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy. The denomination has repeatedly upheld the bans, largely through the voting strength of the growing, more conservative churches abroad. But conservatives chose to form a new denomination amid growing defiance of the bans in U.S. churches. More than 3,500 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences permission to disaffiliate from the UMC, according to United Methodist News Service. With conference season underway, disaffiliations are closing in on 4,000 and could rise even more by the end of the year, said the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group advocating for departing congregations. Thats a fraction of the United Methodists 30,000 U.S. churches, though several of the departing congregations are among the largest in their states. Therrell said he had no problem with the Lighthouse concept but renewed his call to allow churches to disaffiliate on reasonable terms. I want everyone to be in the theological home that is the best fit, Therrell said. Certainly, the United Methodist Church is welcome to try to create churches to do that. I hope they would respect traditionalists and allow us to get to the place where we need to be. In the Arkansas Conference, more than 100 churches out of roughly 600 total have received permission to disaffiliate. That leaves parts of the state with few or no remaining United Methodist congregations, said the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of the conferences new Restart Initiative, which is hoping to enlist congregations to be Beacon churches. Such churches would invite self-described exiles, refugees, nomads to worship services, help them start home groups or develop other ways to keep them connected. Were just really simply inviting churches to consider how they can provide this kind of hospitality, Roberts said. I love the word hospitality because the word hospital comes from that word. It is about providing healing." In the Western Pennsylvania Conference, 17 congregations officially became Lighthouse congregations as of May 1. About a third of the estimated 800 churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference a sprawling 23-county region are seeking to have their disaffiliations approved at the conference's June annual meeting, according to Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi. There have been very few votes where it was unanimous, she said. For those on the short end of those votes sometimes described as pilgrims the Lighthouse congregations offer places where they can join or just find temporary harbor until they figure out next steps. But Lighthouse churches arent places to settle into old routines, she said. This has been an opportunity to really think about folks who are unchurched, and how this nucleus of people looking for a church home might help us discern needs in the community and create faith communities to reach people in new ways. Added B.T. Gilligan, senior pastor at Nixon United Methodist Church, a Lighthouse congregation in Butler, Pennsylvania: I really hope this extends and goes far beyond the disaffiliation, but allows for people who have been hurt by churches for all different kinds of reasons. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albanian police on Friday said they have arrested six migrant traffickers for allegedly organizing an illegal border crossing for people from Arab countries and opening fire on border police. No injures were reported. A police statement said that the traffickers were operating late Thursday in Morine village, close to the Kosovo border, 165 kilometers (around 100 miles) north of the capital, Tirana, where they were conducting criminal activity assisting emigrants from third countries to cross the border illegally in exchange for financial compensation. The traffickers responded with gunfire when they were asked to stop, police said. Following hours of pursuit in coordination with neighboring Kosovo counterparts, five Syrians and one Algerian were arrested early Friday, police said, adding that another Algerian suspect is still at large. They are accused of assisting migrants from Arab or Asian countries to illegally cross from Greece to Albania, Kosovo and Serbia, who then try to make their way to a Western European country. They also face charges of attempted murder for opening fire on border agents and illegal weapons possession. If convicted on all charges, they face up to life in prison. Albania isn't a preferred route for migrants, but some try to use the tiny Western Balkan country to move toward Western Europe. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Belgium and Iran exchanged prisoners on Friday in a controversial move that saw an Iranian diplomat convicted of attempting to bomb exiles in France returning to Tehran bedecked in flowers while a visibly gaunt aid worker headed back to Brussels. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement that the aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, had been freed and said that for him, the choice was always clear: Olivier's life was always the most important." He said Vandecasteele had been unjustly held in Iran for 455 days and added that in Belgium, we abandon no one. Not least someone who is innocent, whatever the legal and diplomatic consequences. Iranian state television later showed the diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, being welcomed at the airport by Iran's judiciary chief and the secretary of human rights council Kazem Gharibabadi. Assadi had a floral wreath placed around his neck and held a bouquet of flowers a hero's welcome in Iran. Despite the contentious optics, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said he would do it again, anytime. There is a moral compass. If you have the choice between freeing someone innocent or keeping one, or 10 guilty in prison, then you always have to choose the fate of the innocent, he told VRT network. He compared the exchange to last December's U.S.-Russian prisoner swap between WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges in Moscow. The United States did it too," Van Quickenborne said, adding that it is his "absolute duty to help every innocent Belgian. The swap took place in Oman, long an interlocutor for the West with Iran. Its foreign ministry said and added that "the sultanate of Oman appreciated the high positive spirit that prevailed in the talks in Muscat between the Iranian and Belgian sides, and their keenness to settle this humanitarian issue. Muscat is Oman's capital. In January, Iran sentenced Vandecasteele to a lengthy prison term and 74 lashes after convicting him of espionage in a closed-door trial. He was also fined $1 million. Vandecasteele was arrested in Iran in February 2022 while packing up his belongings, after working with the Norwegian Refugee Council and Relief International in the Islamic Republic from 2015 to 2021, according to Amnesty International. His family and the Belgian government strongly denied Iran's claims, made without offering evidence, that he was a spy. In 2021, Belgium convicted Assadi of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors tied Assadi to a couple, stopped by the Belgian police and found with 550 grams (1.21 pounds) of TATP explosives and a detonator in 2018. They had been trying to target a meeting in Villepinte, France, of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, an exiled Iranian opposition group known as the MEK. Among dozens of prominent guests at the rally in Villepinte that day were then-President Donald Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; Newt Gingrich, former conservative speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Assadi was arrested a day later in Germany and transferred to Belgium. Belgian intelligence identified him as an officer of Irans intelligence and security ministry who operated undercover at the Iranian Embassy in Austria. Iran denied Assadi's involvement. Iran has carried out abductions and other plots against dissidents abroad in the past. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian referred to Assadi as an innocent diplomat in a tweet after his release on Friday. Iranian state television called the case against him bogus accusations. In a statement, the MEK condemned Assadi's release, calling it a shameful ransom to terrorism and hostage-taking. This will embolden the religious fascism ruling Iran to continue its crimes in Iran through repression and regional and international terrorism, the group said. Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them following secretive trials in which rights groups say they have been denied due process. Critics have repeatedly accused Iran of using such prisoners as bargaining chips with the West. Iran, facing Western sanctions over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, has faced protests in recent months and economic strain. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was already scheduled to visit Tehran this weekend before the announced prisoner swap. ___ Casert reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. SAO PAULO (AP) Brazils government announced Friday that a U.N. Latin America regional group has endorsed a Brazilian city in the Amazon region to host the 2025 U.N. climate change conference, though the world body has not yet publicly confirmed the venue. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially said Brazil will hold the conference, known as COP 30, in the city of Belem, state of Para, in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest, reflecting his intention to bring attention to the Amazon. A statement from the Brazilian government later clarified that the region's support was merely a step in the selection process. The support for the Brazilian candidacy demonstrates the regions confidence in Brazils capacity to advance the agenda in the fight against climate change, the statement read. The latest U.N. climate conference was hosted by Egypt in Sharm el-Sheikh, and this years will take place in Dubai. The U.N. has not yet announced the 2024 venue, let alone the 2025 one, but the locations tend to rotate among regions, and the Brazilian government statement Friday indicated that a Latin American working group was choosing the 2025 venue, and had endorsed Belem. The final decision won't be made until COP 29 next year. It will be a honor for Brazil to welcome representatives from all over the world in a state in our Amazon, Lula said in a video posted on his social media channels. I went to COPs in Egypt, in Paris, in Copenhagen, and all people talk about is the Amazon. So I said, Why dont we go there so you see what the Amazon is like?' Brazil's foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, says in the video that the decision was made at the U.N. on May 18. The U.N. has yet to confirm the venue. Brazil's announcement comes in a week that Lula's administration's environmental governance has faced headwinds from Brazil's congress. Lawmakers by a large majority approved a measure that eroded the environment ministry's authority over construction in forested and coastal areas, as well as other development. Also this week, the congress is debating whether the state-run oil giant should be allowed to drill off the coast in the Amazon states of Amapa and Para. With distant family members looking on, Connecticut senators voted Thursday to absolve the 12 women and men convicted of witchcraft -- 11 of whom were executed more than 370 years ago and apologize for the miscarriage of justice that occurred over a dark 15-year-period of the state's colonial history. The Senate voted 33-1 in favor of a resolution that officially proclaimed their innocence. It marked the culmination of years of effort by a group called the CT Witch Trial Exoneration Project, made up of history buffs and descendants. Some of the descendants recently learned through genealogy testing that they were related to the accused witches and have since lobbied the state's General Assembly to officially clear their names. People can say were wasting our time this afternoon, maybe we could be doing other things, said Republican state Sen. John Kissel, acknowledging early criticism of the legislative effort. But I think its a small step to acknowledge our history and move forward together, Democrat, Republican, men and women into a brighter future. The resolution, which lists the nine women and two men who were executed and the one woman who was convicted and given a reprieve, already passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 121-30. Because it's a resolution, it does not require the governor's signature. Republican state Sen. Rob Sampson cast the lone no vote on Thursday. He said it was wrong and childlike to suggest somehow we have a right to dictate what was right or wrong about periods in the past that we have no knowledge of. I dont want to see bills that rightfully or wrongfully attempt to paint America as a bad place with a bad history, Sampson added. I want us to focus on where were going, which is a brighter and better future. And I dont want to see anyone try and put a stain on the country that I love. Advocates of the resolution argued it's important to raise public awareness about the witch trials in Connecticut, which occurred decades before the infamous Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. Its important to right the wrongs of the past so we learn from them and move on and not repeat those mistakes, said Joshua Hutchinson, of Prescott Valley, Arizona, who traced his ancestry to accused witches in Salem and is the host of the Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast. Sen. Saud Anwar, a Democrat who advocated for the resolution on behalf of a constituent who learned he was a descendant of a witch accuser, said lawmakers heard testimony during the public hearing process about witch trials still happening around the world, including in African countries, and the need to draw attention to the problem. It's relevant, even to this time as well, he said. Alse Young, who was killed at the gallows in Connecticut, was the first person on record to be executed in the American colonies for witchcraft. The Windsor town clerk registered the death on May 26, 1647, in a diary entry that read: Alse Young was hanged. The courts in the early British colonies of Connecticut and New Haven ultimately indicted at least 34 women and men for the crimes of witchcraft and familiarities with the devil. Other states and countries have attempted to atone for a history of persecuting people as witches. Last year, Scotlands prime minister issued a formal apology to the estimated 4,000 Scots, mostly women, who were accused of witchcraft up until 1736. Of the 4,000, about 2,500 were killed. A Scottish member of parliament last year called for posthumously pardoning them. In 2022, Massachusetts lawmakers formally exonerated Elizabeth Johnson Jr., who was convicted of witchcraft in 1693 and sentenced to death at the height of the Salem Witch Trials. Johnson is believed to be the last accused Salem witch to have her conviction set aside by legislators. Many historians believe fear and anxiety among the religiously strict English settlers led to the witch trials, noting how life was very difficult, given epidemics, floods, cold winters and starvation. Often, accusations started as a quarrel, or the death of a child or a cow, or even butter that couldnt be churned. Many of the people executed as witches were poor, single mothers. Google has just been hit with a $32.5 million penalty for infringing on a patent held by Sonos. According to Law360, a California federal jury ordered the fine after determining that Google infringed on a patent Sonos holds relating to grouping speakers so they can play audio at the same time, something the company has been doing for years. US District Judge William Alsup had already determined that early version of products like the Chromecast Audio and Google Home infringed on Sonos' patent; the question was whether more recent, revamped products were also infringing on the patent. The jury found in favor of Sonos, but decided a second patent one that relates to controlling devices via a smartphone or other device wasn't violated. They said that Sonos hadn't convincingly shown that the Google Home app infringed on that particular patent. Still, it feels like a big win for Sonos, who originally filed suit against Google all the way back in January of 2020. Specifically, Sonos claimed that Google gained knowledge of the patent through prior collaboration between the two companies, back they collaborated to allow for integration between Sonos's speakers and Google Play Music. Since then, Google counter-sued Sonos, claiming that Sonos had in fact infringed its own patents around smart speakers. As with any good legal battle, Sonos then expanded its own lawsuit a few months later. More recently, Google sued Sonos in 2022, saying that its new voice assistant infringed on seven patents relating to the Google Assistant. Whether today's decision will slow the legal battle between the two companies remains to be seen, though we'd expect the bickering to continue full-throttle in the months to come. There are plenty of suits out there between the companies that aren't yet resolved, and we'd expect Google to appeal this decision as well. We've reached out to both Sonos and Google and will update this story with anything we hear. For years, technical problems with Tesla's Autopilot system have been blamed for causing crashes. This Model S crashed into a firetruck on a Texas highway in 2018. (Associated Press) How bad is Tesla Autopilots safety problem? According to thousands of complaints allegedly fromTesla customers in the U.S. and around the world, pretty bad. A huge data dump based on a whistleblower's leak of internal Tesla documents shows that problems with Tesla's automated driving technology may be far more common than media reports and regulators have let on, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, which published an article about it Thursday. The reportedly leaked files add to the troubling anecdotes that have appeared in the media and on social media over the years about Teslas Autopilot and the experimental technology it has branded as Full Self-Driving. They spotlight Teslas attempts to keep safety complaints secret and what appears to be a strategy to limit customer communications that might end up in lawsuits. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk did not respond to a request from The Times for comment. Here are four of the biggest takeaways from the article about the leak. 1. The files include thousands of complaints and descriptions of crashes allegedly from customers. In an article titled 'My autopilot almost killed me,' Handelsblatt said it received 100 gigabytes of data and 23,000 files including 3,000 entries about customers' safety concerns and descriptions of more than 1,000 crashes. The complaints cover Teslas manufactured from 2015 to March 2022, the article said. The files contain more than 2,400 complaints about sudden acceleration and more than 1,500 complaints about braking problems, including unintentional emergency braking and so-called phantom stops, when the car suddenly brakes for no apparent reason, according to the article. Customer phone numbers were included in the files, the article said. Handelsblatt said it contacted dozens of customers, who confirmed the complaints were legitimate. A Michigan man reported that his Tesla suddenly braked hard, as hard as you can imagine. I was pushed into the seat belt and the car almost came to a stop. Then another car hit me from behind. Beyond verifying complaints with customers, Handelsblatt showed the files to the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology, which concluded there is no reason to believe "the data set does not come from IT systems belonging to or in the environment of Tesla." 2. Tesla systematically avoids communicating with customers in writing. The files, according to Handelsblatt, include precise guidelines for communicating with customers. Employees are instructed that unless lawyers are involved, they should not send written versions of their reviews but pass it on VERBALLY to the customer. "Do not copy and paste the report below into an email, text message, or leave it in a voicemail to the customer," the guidelines say, according to the article. "They never sent emails, everything was always verbal," the article quoted a California doctor, who said her Tesla accelerated on its own in the fall of 2021 and crashed into two concrete pillars. Some customers did receive written responses, including one who complained about phantom braking and was told the Autopilot system was behaving absolutely normally and that he should reread the manual, according to the article. Tesla has a long history of trying to cover up customer complaints about safety problems. As far back as 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had to announce that customers were allowed to publicize safety issues after reports that Tesla was requiring customers to sign nondisclosure agreements to qualify for warranty repairs on problematic Model S suspension systems. 3. Tesla threatened legal action over the leak. When confronted about the leak and the safety concerns, Handelsblatt says, Tesla lawyers demanded the news organization send the company a copy of the data and delete all other copies, and said that Tesla planned to take legal action for the theft of confidential and personal data. 4. These are the data that could force regulators to step up. The alleged files will probably play a role in existing wrongful death lawsuits against Tesla alleging fundamental safety problems with its technology and could prompt state and federal regulators to finally take action. In 2021, NHTSA dismissed similar customer complaints about unintended acceleration and blamed driver error. Several of the U.S. safety regulator's investigations into Tesla have been continuing for years, including an inquiry into an apparent tendency for Tesla cars to crash into firetrucks, ambulances and police cars parked on highways with their lights flashing. The California Department of Motor Vehicles is investigating whether the name of Teslas $15,000 Full Self-Driving option violates state law and its own regulations against marketing vehicles as autonomous when they are not. The DMV will not say why that investigation has been going on for more than two years without resolution. In China, regulators are already taking action. Just two weeks ago, Tesla was forced to issue an urgent software update on almost every vehicle it has sold in China to address problems with unintended sudden acceleration. Musk has been promising actual full self driving since 2016 but has yet to deliver. The Handelsblatt article is available behind a paywall, with an English translation via Google Translate. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TOKYO (AP) Japan on Friday approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to Russian military-related organizations. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the Cabinet approval shows Japan is in step with the rest of the Group of Seven countries that agreed during their summit in Hiroshima last week to maintain and strengthen sanctions against Russia. He said Japan is committed to working with other G7 countries and the broader international community to improve the situation for Ukraine. Matsuno also sharply criticized the signing of a deal between Russia and Belarus on Thursday formalizing the deployment of Moscows tactical nuclear weapons in its allys territory as a move that further escalate tensions. As the worlds only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, Japan finds Russias threats of nuclear weapons and their use absolutely impermissible, Matsuno said. Japans government demands Russia and Belarus stop actions that further escalate tensions as we continue to watch the development with strong concern. Japans additional sanctions and export restrictions reflect the G7's aim to prevent the evasion of sanctions by third countries and include a ban on exporting materials that would help strengthen Russia's industrial base, Matsuno said. According to a statement jointly issued by the foreign, trade and finance ministries, 24 individuals and 78 organizations were added to a list of those subject to asset freezes, including those who allegedly helped to divert and evade sanctions. Japan also imposed an export ban on 80 Russian military-related organizations, including machinery makers. The provision of construction, engineering and other services for Russia will also be banned. Japan has been closely cooperating with the G7 to impose sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine amid growing concern about the conflict's impact in Asia, where China has been expanding its military presence and threatening to use force to exert its control over self-governed Taiwan. WASHINGTON (AP) Jill Biden will promote empowerment for women and young people, and attend Jordan's royal wedding, during an upcoming trip to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. The first lady was scheduled to depart Wednesday on a six-day trip that will also take her to Egypt, Morocco and Portugal. Her office shared some details first with The Associated Press. It will be Biden's first Middle East visit as first lady. She traveled to Namibia and Kenya in February. The first lady believes that supporting youth across the world is critical to our common future, with education, health, and empowerment at the heart of it, said Vanessa Valdivia, her spokesperson. With her visit to the Middle East and North Africa, the first lady will continue to build on her work to empower young people, and reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our partnerships and advance our shared priorities in the region, Valdivia said in an email. In Amman, the capital of Jordan, Biden will attend the June 1 wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, heir to the throne, and Rajwa Khalid Alseif, an architect. President Joe Biden and the first lady have a deep and longstanding friendship with the crown prince's parents, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. When Joe Biden was vice president, he and King Abdullah often met over breakfast when the king traveled to Washington to visit his son, then a student at Georgetown University. Abdullah also visited Biden at his home in Delaware after Biden returned to private life. The two have met at least three times since Biden became president, twice at the White House and once in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In Egypt and Morocco, Jill Biden will connect with women and young people while focusing on U.S. investments that help support education programs and efforts to increase economic opportunity. In Portugal, the first lady will help the U.S. State Department celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Art in Embassies program, highlighting the role the arts can play in diplomacy. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state. State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press Friday that he stands by his decision. But state Attorney General Jeff Landry who is a GOP gubernatorial candidate and the Republican Party of Louisiana are pressing lawmakers to resurrect the bill and pass it. Mills decisive vote Wednesday poises Louisiana to be one of the few southeastern states that hasnt enacted a ban or restrictions on gender-affirming care. Proposals are pending in North Carolina and South Carolinas legislatures, and federal judges have temporarily blocked bans in Arkansas and Alabama. While the topic of transgender rights is immensely complicated and socially polarizing, the bill before me was not, Mills, a pharmacist, said in a written statement Friday. Mills is also the chairman of the Senates Health and Welfare Committee, where the bill was debated for nearly three hours. He added that he relied on science and data and not political or societal pressure. With Mills vote, the bill which would have prohibited hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for transgender minors in Louisiana was deferred, 5-4. In the hours after, backlash mounted with anti-transgender activists taking to social media, including conservative political commentator Matt Walsh, who tweeted to his nearly 2 million followers that Mills would regret his decision and that it is the biggest mistake of his political career. In recent years, Republicans who blocked proposed transgender care bans have faced political fallout. In Arkansas, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson angered fellow Republicans in 2021 when he vetoed a similar ban. The GOP-led Legislature moved quickly to override Hutchinsons veto and enact the ban, which has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. At the time, former President Donald Trump criticized Hutchinson over the veto, calling him a RINO, or Republican in Name Only. Hutchinson, who signed into law other restrictions on transgender youth, argued the medical ban went too far. The Republican said he would have supported a prohibition that focused only on surgery. The deferral of Louisianas proposed ban marked a rare victory for LGBTQ+ advocates this legislative session, who continue to fight against multiple bills from a bill critics call Dont Say Gay," to mandates regarding pronoun usage, to restrictions on access to library books deemed sexually explicit, which advocates fear would target the queer community. But, with two weeks left in the session, conservatives are hastily seeking and pursing ways to revive the legislation. I dont think you are going to see the last of it, Mills said Friday. Already, House lawmakers added a poison pill amendment to Mills own bill related to telehealth that would bar that legislation from becoming law unless the ban on gender-affirming care also becomes law. Additionally, lawmakers can opt to discharge the failed bill from committee, meaning it can receive a vote on the GOP-controlled Senate floor despite failing in committee. This tactic is uncommon and rarely succeeds, but there is growing pressure from political forces outside of the Legislature to do so. As attorney general for 8 years I have worked hard to protect our children. I urge the full Senate to take up and pass HB 648, Landry tweeted Friday. As governor, I would immediately sign this bill into law. Pediatric sex changes should have no place in our society. In a press release, the Republican Party of Louisiana also urged the Senate to override the committee vote and debate it on the floor where all senators will have the chance to weigh in on this pivotal piece of legislation. The bill had already been passed in the House, mainly along party lines, 71-24. Proponents of the legislation argue the proposed bans would protect children from life-altering medical procedures until they are mature enough to make such serious decisions. Additionally, they fear the state could draw minors from surrounding states where there are bans seeking gender-affirming health care. Opponents of Louisianas bill argue that gender-affirming care, which is supported by every major medical organization, can be lifesaving for someone with gender dysphoria distress over gender identity that doesnt match a persons assigned sex. Research suggests transgender children and adults are prone to stress, depression and suicidal thoughts, and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community fear that without the care, transgender children could face especially heightened risks. So far, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, and all three of Louisianas bordering states have enacted bans or are poised to. Associated Press writer Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, contributed to this report. 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. SEATTLE (AP) A man convicted of murder in the death of a 16-year-old girl at her Washington high school over 30 years ago will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. King County Superior Court Judge Josephine Wiggs on Thursday sentenced Patrick Nicholas to nearly 46 years in prison for the killing of Sarah Yarborough, who was found fatally strangled on the Federal Way High School campus in 1991, The Seattle Times reported. A jury found Nicholas, 59, guilty of first-degree murder and returned a special verdict that Yarboroughs killing was sexually motivated, which allowed for a longer prison sentence. Defense attorney David Montes urged the mandatory minimum 20-year sentence, saying Nicholas didnt commit crimes in the decades since. Wiggs, who had presided over Nicholas trial, determined more than 45 years was appropriate because of the facts of the case and his history of sexual violence. During the trial, prosecutors said Yarborough was an honor student and member of her schools drill team when she drove to school on Dec. 14, 1991, thinking she was late to meet teammates for a competition. She was an hour early, prosecutors said. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Mary Barbosa wrote in the states sentencing memo that while they will never know how their interaction began, Nicholas in other attacks had approached women with knives, forcing them to walk to secluded areas. Two boys, ages 12 and 13, who were walking through the school campus that day found Yarborough's body after they saw a man pop up on an embankment and walk away quickly, prosecutors said. Yarborough's injuries and male DNA found under her fingernails was proof she fought for her life before she was strangled, according to the evidence presented at trial. Detectives after the killing sent DNA samples from dozens of men to the state crime lab to be tested against the unknown male DNA, but none matched. The DNA was afterward periodically but without success run through the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, an FBI database of DNA profiles from people convicted of felonies. In 2019, a genetic genealogist identified two King County brothers who were sex offenders as possible suspects. The older brother, whose DNA was already in CODIS, was eliminated, leading detectives to focus on Nicholas. Detectives following him collected cigarette butts discarded by Nicholas near a laundromat in the Seattle suburb of Kent. That DNA matched DNA from the crime scene, and he was arrested, prosecutors said. Years before, Nicholas at age 19 tried to rape a woman at knifepoint at a park in the eastern Washington city of Richland, but she escaped by jumping into the Columbia River, the states sentencing memo says. He was sentenced in that case to 10 years in prison in 1983 but was released after serving over 3 years and was in sex offender treatment and on parole when Yarborough was killed. He had previously been sentenced to juvenile custody after raping two King County women at knifepoint, the state's memo said. Members of Yarboroughs family testified at the hearing about the impact of her murder, KING-TV reported. When we lost her, our family was irrevocably changed, said Yarboroughs mother, Lori. A Michigan man charged with the 2000 rape of a Penn State student at a golf course in Happy Valley was named Thursday in a lawsuit brought by his accuser. A 42-year-old southeastern Pennsylvania woman identified only by her initials accused Kurt A. Rillema, 51, of false imprisonment, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Victims of rape and sexual assault often suffer for life, attorney Conor Lamb said in a statement. Cases like this one are important to show that victims should never lose hope that it is possible to achieve justice for these crimes, whether through criminal or civil law, or both. The 10-page lawsuit spelled out many of the details first released when Rillema was arrested in April. Hes facing felony charges after DNA from a coffee cup linked him to two rapes in different states more than two decades ago. A Centre County prosecutor that announced plans to charge Rillema said the Penn State police investigation was aided by advancements in investigative genetic genealogy. The first rape Rillema is accused of was reported in 1999 at a golf course about 30 miles north of Detroit. Investigators collected DNA, but did not have a suspect, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said during a press conference. The second was reported in 2000 by a 19-year-old Penn State student who said she was raped at knifepoint near the 18th hole of the universitys Blue Course. She reported the attack the night its alleged to have occurred. Investigators worked for years to develop a suspect. DNA samples submitted to a national database got a match, turning the attention of investigators as early as 2004 toward looking for one man. A DNA technology company that can help police find suspects by searching for relatives in public databases and building family trees concluded it was likely one of three brothers who were responsible for the rapes, Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Sean McGraw said in April. Investigators honed in on Rillema and trailed him in January, collecting a Styrofoam coffee cup he discarded. The DNA taken from the cup matched the DNA collected as part of the rape investigation, McGraw said. Rillema worked as a managing member of a national mechanical contractor until his arrest. Investigators have also described him as an avid golfer who played throughout the country. Bouchard urged others who were sexually abused at a golf course to contact their local police department. Rillema is incarcerated at the Oakland County Jail without bond. Defense lawyer Deanna Kelley wrote in a text message Friday that she appealed the decision to deny him bond, arguing it is a violation of his due process rights. A decision has not yet been handed down. Kelley, who only represents Rillema in the criminal charges filed against him, plans to mount constitutional challenges to the evidence. The outcome of this case depends largely on the outcome of that challenge, she wrote. Rillemas accuser, of Montgomery County, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. It is not known if he has an attorney who represents him in the lawsuit. CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) The mother of the man who killed Gabby Petito told her son in an undated letter that she would dispose of a body if needed because she loved him so much, according to copies of the note shared publicly for the first time this week by attorneys for Petito's parents. The handwritten note by Roberta Laundrie that says burn after reading on the envelope was released after a Florida judge ruled on Wednesday that the letter could be used as evidence in a lawsuit. The Petitos sued Brian Laundrie's parents, accusing them of knowing that their son had murdered Gabby Petito and helping him with the coverup for nearly a month before her body was found in western Wyoming in September 2021, causing mental anguish, pain and suffering. The letter reads in part: 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. Whether the letter was written before or after Brian Laundrie strangled Petito is in dispute between the parents. Roberta Laundrie claims in a sworn statement in the Florida case that she gave it to her son just before he and Petito left on a cross-country van trip in early June 2021. Roberta Laundrie and her son were having difficulties in their relationship at the time, three months before Brian Laundrie, 23, killed Petito, 22, the court-filed statement said. I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home," the statement said. I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him. The Petito family expressed doubt about Roberta Laundries claimed timing of her letter, suggesting it was in fact written after Petitos death. A reasonable inference may be made from the letter that Roberta Laundrie knew of Petitos demise when the Laundries issued a statement Sept. 14, 2021 five days before her body was found saying they hoped she would be reunited with her family, the Petito family said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written, the statement reads. A search for Brian Laundrie ended with his suicide and discovery of his body in a Florida nature preserve in October 2021. The letter may appear to be unfortunately worded, but that was never its intention, the Laundries' attorney, Matthew Luka, wrote in a March motion trying to persuade the judge not to allow the letter to be used in the case. Along with the statements about disposing of a body and a cake with a file in it, Roberta Laundrie's letter tells her son she would get new guts if he said he hated hers, and watch the skies for his return if he ever flew to the moon, Luka pointed out in an emailed statement Friday. The statements were written before the van trip and demonstrably not intended to be serious because they are not events that would realistically occur, Luka said. Roberta Laundrie added Friday in a statement through her attorney: Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby. Brian Laundrie and Petito were engaged and traveled by van across the U.S. in the summer of 2021, visiting scenic places in Colorado and Utah before heading north. They documented their trip in detail, in real time, on social media. Police in Moab, Utah, pulled over the van after it was seen speeding and hitting a curb at the entrance to Arches National Park in August 2021. Petito told police she and Laundrie had been fighting. Officers separated the couple for the night and didn't pursue charges. Searchers found Petito's body Sept. 19, 2021, near a campground on the edge of Wyomings Grand Teton National Park. A coroner determined shed been strangled a few weeks earlier. ___ Associated Press writer Terry Spencer in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. ROME (AP) A day after searching a stretch of the Mediterranean Sea, an Italian humanitarian group said Friday that its rescue vessel found no trace of a boat said to be in distress and carrying 500 migrants, including a newborn. The vessel Life Support found no wreckage of any shipwreck, and the 500 persons didn't disembark in Italy,'' the nongovernmental organization Emergency said in a written statement from Milan. It's hard to believe that no coastal authority knows where those 500 persons are." Emergency raised the possibility that the migrants were brought back to Libya, the launching point for many of the smugglers unseaworthy boats that aim to bring migrants to Italys shores. The group's statement said that Libyan authorities so far were denying it brought the passengers back to Libya, where many migrants spend months in inhumane conditions in detention camps, often enduring beatings or rape, until they or families back in their homelands can pay smugglers for the sea journey toward Italy. On Tuesday, another NGO, Alarm Phone, which receives calls from migrant boats in distress, said a boat filled with 500 migrants needed help. Emergency said that Life Support sailed for 32 hours to reach the area where the distressed ship was believed to be and searched for 24 hours on Thursday in international waters that are part of Malta's search-and-rescue area. But the group said on Thursday evening that worsening weather was forcing it to end the search. Believed to be aboard the boat are 45 women, some of them pregnant, and 56 children, including a baby apparently born during the journey. There was no immediate statement by Libyan authorities about Emergency's hypothesis that the migrants were taken back to Libya. On Thursday, the Italian coast guard said one of its vessels, in two separate operations, rescued nearly 1,100 migrants from two fishing boats in distress in its search-and-rescue area. The Italian coast guard denied any role involving a third boat in difficulty, with 27 migrants aboard. It said merchant ships were involved in aiding that boat, and although initially contacted by the Italian rescue center, they (the cargo ships) then received instructions directly from the Libyan authorities, as part of an event occurring inside the area of responsibility of Libya. The Libyans legitimately took on the coordination of the rescue, the Italian coast guard said in a statement on Thursday that denied involvement in any pushing back of the migrants to Libya. ___ Follow APs coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Thursday following a seditious conspiracy conviction in connection to the Jan. 6 riot. This is the first sentence handed down to any defendant convicted of seditious conspiracy related to Jan. 6 and represents the longest sentence given to any Jan. 6 defendant so far. Government prosecutors had been seeking a sentence of 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 Washington, D.C., if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed. Before handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta addressed Rhodes directly. 4 OATHKEEPERS CONVICTED OF SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY FOR ROLES IN JAN. 6 RIOT "Mr. Rhodes, you have been convicted of seditious conspiracy. Youre a lawyer. You understand what that means," the federal judge said. "Among the most serious crimes an individual American can commit an offense against the people of our country." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years. "And what was the motive? You didnt like the new guy," Mehta said, noting that "just because someone supported the former president doesnt mean theyre a White nationalist." "Your only regret was you thought you should have brought the weapons, and if you had, you would have hung Nancy Pelosi from a lamppost," Mehta said. The judge said 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," Mehta said. "What we absolutely cannot have is a group of citizens prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution, and thats what you did," the judge continued. ARKANSAS MAN WHO PROPPED HIS FEET ON NANCY PELOSI'S DESK FOUND GUILTY FOR ROLE IN CAPITOL PROTEST "You asked them to prepare for war," Mehta said, referring to Rhodes' commands to fellow Oath Keepers. In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noting 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. Stewart Rhodes is shown on a screen during the seventh hearing held by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol on July 12, 2022, in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. In a first for a Jan. 6 case, 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. "Youre not a political prisoner, youre here for that conduct," Mehta said. "That was a jury of your peers, make no mistake about it." "I dare say we all now hold our collective breaths, every time an election is approaching," the judge said. Mehta applauded law enforcement who responded to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. "The heroism of those who were protecting democracy as we know it. They laid their bodies on the line. There is nobody more emblematic of keeping oaths than those police officers," the judge said. "You, sir, present an ongoing threat to the safety of this country." Edward Tarpley, seen outside D.C. federal court in October 2022, was part of a team of attorneys defending members of the Oath Keepers, including Stewart Rhodes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy had pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeatedly alleging 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. A lawyer for Rhodes, who plans to appeal his conviction, said prosecutors are unfairly trying to make Rhodes "the face" of Jan. 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, 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. 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 leader will be sentenced in August and September. A proposed state law could mean that the Supreme Courts decision this week to roll back Clean Water Act protections for many wetlands has significant impact for North Carolina, according to environmental advocates. In Sackett v. EPA, the Supreme Court ruled that in order to be considered a water of the United States, and thus to receive protection, a wetland needs to be indistinguishable from a larger body of water. That means many seasonal wetlands would no longer be protected, even if they neighbor larger waterways. A provision in the N.C. Farm Act currently being considered by the General Assembly would remove protections from wetlands using the standards set forth in the Sackett case. That proposed law would require North Carolinas wetlands protections to match the federal governments, and not go any further. Environmental advocates warned that provision along with the Supreme Courts ruling could imperil fragile wetlands in North Carolina, opening them up to development and increasing flood risks for low-lying communities throughout the state. The only thing now protecting many North Carolina communities from being flooded in the coming years is the states existing ban on paving over wetlands without a permit. The N.C. General Assembly should not remove that protection it is literally protecting lives and property, Grady McCallie, the N.C. Conservation Networks policy director, wrote in a statement. Each session, the General Assembly passes a Farm Act, a collection of laws and provisions meant to aid the states agricultural sector. This years version, Senate Bill 582, requires the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to redefine wetlands in a manner consistent with federal laws. Those laws were fundamentally altered and limited by the Supreme Courts decision in Sackett v. EPA. Steve Troxler, North Carolinas agriculture commissioner, said in a statement that the Sackett decision represents a reasonable definition of waters that need to be protected under the Clean Water Act. This ruling favors farmers and is welcome news to the agriculture community, Troxler said. But Kelly Moser, a Southern Environmental Law Center senior attorney, said that means wetlands like Carolina bays and pocosins would no longer be protected. It requires the state definition of wetlands to match the federal definition, which would obviously harm North Carolinas ability to preserve the flood resilience benefits of our wetlands for downstream communities, Moser said. North Carolinas existing wetland laws protect bog and basin wetlands, while a temporary law passed during the Trump Administration requires anyone impacting more than half an acre of wetlands to ask DEQ for authorization and to try to mitigate the damage. By changing the definition of a wetland to meet the criteria set out in Sackett, the Farm Act would effectively remove many wetlands from those protections. The Farm Act has passed the Senate and is set for a vote next week by the House Agriculture Committee. It must pass through two more committees before a full vote by the House, at which point the Senate would need to approve any changes before the bill could be sent to Gov. Roy Cooper. A Southern Environmental Law Center analysis found that a Trump administration definition of waters of the United States would lift protections on 526,996 acres of wetlands in the Cape Fear River basin and 364,586 acres in the Neuse River basin. The Sackett decision is likely, Moser said, to lead to a stricter definition than that proposed by the Trump administration. It could be really drastic for our state, Moser said. The case was filed by a couple who purchased property in Idaho and started filling it with dirt to prepare the site for construction of a home. The EPA informed them that the property was defined as waters of the United States because it featured a ditch that led to a creek that led to a nearby lake. Both the U.S. District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of the EPA using a long-established test that a wetland is protected if it has a significant nexus to a nearby waterway. The Supreme Court reversed their decision. For our floodplain wetlands that are not right next to a large waterway or a protected stream, those wetlands are not indistinguishable from a larger water body and they would be left without any protections, Moser said. Some celebrated Thursdays decision, saying it brings clarity to a long-standing legal question and rolls back often-confusing regulations that resulted in overreach. U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, a Wilmington Republican, praised the ruling in a statement and said it shows the Biden administration should have waited for the decision before releasing Waters of the United States rules it published earlier this year. The Supreme Court rightly recognizes that the significant nexus test, which underpinned the Biden rule, is an improper reading of the Clean Water Act. The only reasonable step for the Administration to take now is to withdraw its ill-advised rule, said Rouzer, who chairs the U.S. House of Representatives Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. This story was produced with financial support from 1Earth Fund, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. 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. MOSCOW (Reuters) - A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin on Friday talked up the prospects of a nuclear war and said the conflict in Ukraine could last for decades. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, a former president, said negotiations with Ukraine were impossible as long as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in power. Russia's 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. Hundreds of thousands of people have died and many more have been seriously injured in the conflict, whose roots date to 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan popular uprising, Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula and Russian-backed separatists seized swathes of eastern Ukraine. "This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably. This is a new reality," Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably. This is a new reality.Dmitry Medvedev He said Russia could not trust any truce with the current rulers of Kyiv as the conflict would simply erupt again and so the very nature of the current government of Ukraine would have to be destroyed. Negotiations, he said, with "the clown Zelenskiy" were impossible. "Everything always ends in negotiations, and this is inevitable, but as long as these people are in power, the situation for Russia will not change in terms of negotiations." Dmitry Medvedev, right, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Sputnik/Dmitry Astakhov/Pool via Reuters) Medvedev, who cast himself as a liberal moderniser when he was president from 2008-2012, 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. Medvedev also warned 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. Russia, which has the world's largest nuclear arsenal, has repeatedly accused the West of waging a proxy war with Russia over Ukraine that could mushroom 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.Dmitry Medvedev "There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike," Medvedev said. Allowing Ukraine nuclear weapons - a step no Western state has publicly proposed - would mean "a missile with a nuclear charge coming to them", Medvedev was quoted as saying. "The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realise this and believe that it will not come to this. It will under certain conditions." The West says it wants to help Ukraine win its conflict with Russia, and Western powers have supplied large amounts of modern arms and ammunition to Kyiv. But U.S. President Joe Biden has cautioned that a direct confrontation between the U.S.-backed NATO alliance and Russia would result in World War Three. Russia says Washington would never allow it 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 break-up 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. A Kansas City area songwriter can now boast that one of his creations made Katy Perry swoon. On his way to being crowned the new American Idol this past week, high school student Iam Tongi went home to Hawaii and sang for a hometown crowd. Judges Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan went, too. Tongi performed Dont Let Go, written by Independence songwriter/musician Anapogi Fau, who performs what he calls island hip-hop as Spawnbreezie. The song begins with this bittersweet plea: Take my hand and dont let go. Im addicted to your lovin. But if you should know, how my love goes., baby stay close. Tongi barely got the first two lines out when Richie smiled, clapped and let out a whoop. Dreamy-eyed Perry, sitting next to him, looked like she was falling in love. I just love it! Richie shouted. When Tongi reached the chorus, all three judges jumped to their feet. Fau posted a video for the song, from third solo album Dear Billy, on YouTube in 2012. It became a favorite with his fans. New ones have found it over the last few weeks thanks to American Idol, where Tongi performed it last month in that episode in Hawaii and again to celebrate his win. As of Friday afternoon the video had close to 15 million page views. (The Star couldnt catch up with the busy musician this week.) Independence musician Anapogi Fau, who performs as Spawnbreezie, wrote Dont Let Go, performed by American Idol winner Iam Tongi. The name Spawnbreezie popped up in reports from CNN and NBCs Today show to British tabloids that credited him as the songwriter. Fau is well known in Kansas Citys Samoan/Polynesian community, which hosts the 21st annual Island Fest from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at 114 W. Maple Ave. in Independence. After more than 15 years as a solo artist, his fan base stretches around the world; so do his tour dates. Fans who followed Tongi on American Idol appreciated that he performed songs by other Pacific Islander artists when, as one noted on Facebook, it might have been safer to perform more mainstream music. But he chose to bring his community with him, wrote a fan named Kalani Tonga. This is what it looks like to embody the idea that when one of us wins, we all win. What a good dude. Fau posted a video on Facebook congratulating the young American Idol champ and thanking him for what you do for us all. Very much well-deserved, Fau said. It was incredible to watch and witness this part of your musical adventure. Im extremely humbled and honored, but more so proud to have seen you, not only take a particular record, but represented our people on such a major platform as you have. Updated May 27, 2023 at 11:31 AM Though Boise has settled into summer temperatures in recent weeks, it wasnt long ago that Idaho was experiencing an unusually cold, wet spring. In the mountains where temperatures are still about 20 degrees cooler than in the Treasure Valley that meant inches upon inches of snow into late April. Snowpack data shows snow levels are still above average in the mountains surrounding Boise. In the Boise basin, the snow water equivalent is 126% of normal, while in the McCall area it is about 108% of normal. In the Sawtooths, snow levels are between 146% and 193% of normal. With Memorial Day weekend just days away, camping season is here. Dozens of campgrounds are open, but some some remain inaccessible due to snow including several campsites that in past years have been open by Memorial Day weekend. U.S. Forest Service officials recommend calling ahead to the ranger district in charge of a campsite if you have questions about access. Heres what to expect: BOISE NATIONAL FOREST Emmett Ranger District All campgrounds are open. Hot Springs, Tie Creek, Trail Creek, Hardscrabble, Boiling Springs, Big Eddy, Canyon Creek, Antelope Annex, Cartwright Ridge and Hollywood do not require reservations. The Hot Springs group campsite doesnt open until Saturday, May 27. It requires reservations, as do Rattlesnake, Peace Valley, Swinging Bridge, Cold Springs, Silver Creek, Antelope, Sage Hen Creek and Antelope campgrounds. Cascade Ranger District, 208-382-7400 All campgrounds in the Cascade Ranger District are open with the exception of Amanita Campground. Rainbow, French Creek, Picnic Point, Warm Lake and Shoreline (single and group) campgrounds take reservations. South Fork Salmon River, Penny Springs, Summit Lake, Penn Basin, Buck Mountain, Trout Creek, Ice Hole, Golden Gate and Yellow Pine campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Idaho City Ranger District, 208-392-6681 Edna Creek Campground is closed for the season for renovations. Power Plant Campground is expected to open Friday but will close July 1 for renovations. All other campgrounds are slated to open Friday. Bad Bear, Hayfork, Grayback, Ten Mile and Black Rock campgrounds require reservations. Officials noted that Black Rock may be delayed in opening due to snow. Whoop-um-up, Riverside, Queens River and Willow Creek campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Lowman Ranger District, 208-259-3361 Pine Flats, Mountain View, Park Creek, Helende and Bonneville campgrounds are open and require reservations. Little Deadwood Campground is the only open site that does not require reservations. Bull Trout, Deer Flat, Bear Valley, Fir Creek, Barneys, Cozy Cove, Howers and Riverside are expected to open June 19. Kirkham Hot Springs is now a day-use only site, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mountain Home Ranger District, 208-587-7961 Curlew Creek, Pine, Castle Creek, Evans Creek, Spillway, Elks Flat, Dog Creek, Tailwaters, Cottonwood, Willow Creek, Badger Creek and Troutdale campgrounds are open. Only Dog Creek requires a reservation. Shafer Butte should open June 15, and Big Trinity Lake, Little Roaring River Lake and Big Roaring River Lake sites are scheduled to open July 15. Payette National Forest Big Flat, Brownlee, Buckhorn Bar, Cabin Creek, Camp Creek, Cold Springs, Deadman Bar, Evergreen, Four Mile, Huckleberry, Kennally Creek, Lafferty, Lake Fork, Last Chance, Mann Creek, Ponderosa, Poverty Flat, Secesh and Spring Creek campgrounds are open. Some sites at Cold Springs, Evergreen, Mann Creek and Spring Creek require reservations. Big Creek, Burgdorf, Chinook, Jeanette, Grouse, Hazard and Upper Payette Lake campgrounds are not yet open. The Payette National Forest did not say when those sites are expected to open. The popular Upper Payette Lake camping spot is 16 miles north of McCall. Its one of a handful of campgrounds in the Payette National Forest that wont be open for Memorial Day weekend. Idaho Statesman file Sawtooth National Forest Reservation information wasnt immediately available for the Sawtooth area. Contact the ranger district or check recreation.gov for details on individual campgrounds. Fairfield Ranger District Abbott, Bowns and Hunter Creek Transfer campsites are closed. Chaparral, Bird Creek, Willow Creek, Willow Creek Transfer, Baumgartner, Canyon, Bear Creek Transfer and Five Points campgrounds are open. Sites 3-5 at Pioneer Campground are open. Ketchum Ranger District Federal Gulch, Sawmill and Boundary campgrounds are open. Copper Creek/Garfield Campground is inaccessible due to snow. Dispersed camping (without campsite amenities) is available in parts of Trail Creek, Corral Creek, Deer Creek, Baker Creek and Lake Creek drainages. Minidoka Ranger District Albion Division Independence Lakes Campground is open. Bennett Springs, Lake Cleveland (east and west sides), Thompson Flat and Twin Lakes campgrounds are inaccessible due to snow. Forest officials noted the gate beyond Pomerelle ski area is locked. Cassia Division Bear Gulch, Bostetter, Diamondfield Jack, Father and Sons, Lower Penstemon, Pettit, Porcupine Springs, Schipper, Third Fork and Upper Penstemon campgrounds are all open. Raft River Division Clear Creek Campground is open. Sublett Division Mill Flat and Sublett campgrounds are open Sawtooth National Recreation Area Alturas Lake and Pettit Lake Areas Alturas Inlet, Chemeketan and Yellowbelly Lake campgrounds are closed and inaccessible due to snow. North Shore, Perkins Lake and Smokey Bear campgrounds are closed and inaccessible due to a rock slide. Pettit Lake Campground is open. Sites are first-come, first-served. Redfish Lake Recreation Complex Chinook Bay, Glacier View, Mountain View, Mt. Heyburn, Outlet, Point, Sockeye and Sunny Gulch campgrounds are all open. Mountain View is without running water. Redfish Inlet Campground is open if the Redfish Boat Shuttle is operating. Salmon River Area Casino Creek, Holman Creek, Lower and Upper OBrien, Mormon Bend, Salmon River and Whiskey Flats campgrounds are open. Riverside Campground is closed. Stanley Lake and Idaho 21 Elk Creek, Grandjean, Sheep Trail, Stanley Lake and Trap Creek campgrounds are open. Iron Creek Campground is inaccessible due to snow. Wood River Valley Area Caribou and Murdock campgrounds are fully open. Easley Campground is open, but some sites are closed due to flooding. Sites 1-19 at North Fork Campground are also closed due to flooding. The front loop of Wood River Campground is open. Three guys and their wine: Anajak chef and co-owner Justin Pichetrungsi, center, with John Cerasulo, left, and new wine director Ian Krupp. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Wine, wine everywhere: bottles stacked on bottles, crowding every spare surface space, taking every inch of unclaimed countertop, packed like sardines between the tables, layered like a phalanx three soldiers deep atop the bar. Thats more or less the scene at Anajak Thai, the lauded second-generation Sherman Oaks Thai restaurant that has become one of the premier destinations for drinking wine in Southern California the same way people fall in love: first in drips and drabs, and then all at once. Chef-owner Justin Pichetrungsi, grilling prawns in the alley for his tasting menu, straddles tradition and innovation at Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Chef Justin Pichetrungsis Ventura Boulevard dining room the L.A. Times 2022 Restaurant of the Year effortlessly twins traditional Thai dishes with wild-eyed innovation, subverting norms and inventing new forms (Thai Taco Tuesdays, Thai omakase and so forth). Pichetrungsi is also a James Beard finalist for the 2023 awards. Less told is the story of the wine program, which has grown to the point of bursting, a cascading, antediluvian overflow of wine wine wine, which dominates the restaurants interior tableau as a sort of none-too-subtle vinous call to arms. Diners at Anajak come for the haw mok fish curry custard, the crab fried rice and the Wagyu with jaew gastrique, but once seated quickly find themselves wondering: Whats with all the wine? Its almost like weve become more wine than restaurant, laughs sommelier John Cerasulo, the driving force behind the restaurants wine program. I think some people might wonder, you know, Do you have a storage problem? Is there something wrong? But other people take one look and say, 'Wow this is the place for me.' The wine menu, with some teeny-tiny font, lists hundreds of bottles from groundbreaking natural wines to big-name traditional vintages to relative unknowns at Anajak Thai. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) The experience only deepens when handed the wine list, a kaleidoscopic magic-eye puzzle of a document in teeny 4-point font. The list at Anajak veers with easy verve from boundary-breaking naturalists (Frederic Cossard, Clos Saron, Le Coste) to benchmark traditionalist winemakers (Raveneau, Rostaing, Keller) to relative unknowns in the American market (Hermann Ludes, Emrich Schonleber, Theo Dancer), drawing on a deep bench of wines from Burgundy, Germany, the Loire Valley and beyond. It is at once both a natural wine list and a traditional wine list, fusing the two seemingly opposed schools of drinking together in a way that exposes that kind of binary as silly in the first place. I want us to be a place that rewards knowledge, says Cerasulo, and I also want to be crowd-pleasing, and traditional, and kind of on the natty side too, but with wines that are made correctly while feeling alive and fresh. Perhaps best of all, the wines of Anajak are priced to sell, with only a portion of the markup one might encounter in other dining rooms across the city. To hear Pichetrungsi tell it, there would be no modern version of Anajak without the wine. Our beverage program was the first semblance of me having some form of control, he tells me. Pichetrungsi took over after his father had a stroke in 2019, leaving a promising career as a Disney Imagineer to helm the family business, and in those early days there was little to no beverage program to speak of at Anajak. I remember we had those little faux-leather, cardboard-bound mini A-frame menus that sit on the table, Pichetrungsi recalls; by-the-glass offerings included Coppola Pinot, Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and imported plum wine filled to the top of the glass (the Van Nuys pour, we called it.) "I want us to be a place that rewards knowledge," says sommelier John Cerasulo, "and I also want to be crowd-pleasing, and traditional, and kind of on the natty side too, but with wines that are made correctly while feeling alive and fresh." (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Pichetrungsi learned how to cook from his dad but fell into wine of his own volition, hanging around wine shops like Everson Royce in Pasadena and avidly consuming wine books. I started learning about wine for me, he recalls, but eventually I think about wine as being a potential entry point for how I might be able to influence Anajak. My dad was always the cook he was always the one in charge but no one could say anything about the beverage program because it didnt exist, you know? Pichetrungsi started attending wine fairs and trade tastings, making friends in the wine industry, and dreaming of how his love of wine might someday influence Anajak. He also found a ready set of comparisons to his own life in the stories of the vignerons whose bottles he loved. So many stories in the wine world involve children taking over from their parents, he tells me, and sometimes it will be like, the 7th or 8th generation to do so. These stories reflect the food here, because Im second career, Im second generation. The wine and food are like a mirror. At Anajak Thai, wine, wine everywhere, lots of drops to drink. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) When Pichetrungsi took over, he immediately began growing the wine program. Enter Cerasulo, an art-world refugee with a serious wine habit who moved to L.A. from New York right before the pandemic hit. Theres something special about how Justin thinks about wine, says Cerasulo. Its like he eats it he ingests it. Cerasulos timing was fortuitous, as buzz around the revitalized Anajak began growing louder and louder. Coming out of pandemic anxieties, or maybe because of them, the city was ready to drink wine in a meaningful way, and L.A.s wine scene embraced Anajak as a destination. The press started coming in, says Cerasulo, and all the accolades started rolling in, and Justin said, Hey, go for it start buying wine. Suddenly 50 bottles becomes 70 becomes 90 until we ran out of space. Now theres a huge wine island, and the bar is inundated. (I trust his palate implicitly, says Pichetrungsi of his partner. I give him a blank check.) Diners fill the alleyway tables, where L.A.'s wine lovers have embraced Anajak as a destination. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) In the earliest days it was Cerasulo hand-selling bottles of $60 wine in the alley, but now the restaurants wine program is supported by a growing team of opinionated sommeliers who help diners navigate the experience, overseen by Ian Krupp (formerly of Scopa and the Rose), Anajak's newly appointed wine director. Cerasulo now splits time between Anajak and a wine sales position at Thatcher's Wine, an influential wine importer and distributor; Anajaks growing prestige as a wine destination has allowed the restaurant to secure coveted allocations of rare bottles from cult producers. The wine part of what we do has grown so much, says Pichetrungsi, that its almost its whole own thing outside of the food. Its no longer even about, you know, what pairs well with what dish we dont even really answer that question anymore. Who the f cares, you know? Were stoked about the food and were stoked about the wine. My hope is that people will just kind of submit to the whole thing, our whole approach to wine and food, says Pichetrungsi, and make a discovery along the way." Anajak serves the "Jurassique" Savagnin from French winemaker Theo Dancer, who has been shaking up the world of Burgundy. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Anajak has become a destination not just for wine drinkers but also for winemakers the restaurant recently hosted Tomoko Kuriyama and Guillaume Bott, the duo behind the widely revered Burgundy micro-negociant label Domaine Chantereves. Meeting his winemaker heroes has further served as proof of concept for Pichetrungsi, echoing something deeper in his connection to wine as it relates to his life and the story of Anajak. So many of these winemakers will go off to their own careers, as winemaker children do, but slowly youll see them come back and help the family business. They find themselves wanting to come back. And I cant help but think, 'Oh my God, is that me?' he says, laughing inside the bottle-stuffed dining room at Anajak, once his fathers restaurant and now very much his own. These choices we make in our lives its like theyre communicated by the wine itself. New wine director Ian Krupp, left, sommelier John Cerasulo and chef and co-owner Justin Pichetrungsi collaborate on Anajak's wine menu. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Five Wines to Try From Anajaks Remarkable List The wine list at Anajak is a marvel. Its as though the dream of a little country restaurant with an overflowing wine list in the hills of Tuscany or on some lonely rue Bourgogne has somehow been planted along Ventura Boulevard, and paired with Thai fried chicken. Maybe youre already familiar with the exquisite pairing of Thai food and Riesling, as pioneered in the late 20th century by influential restaurants like Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. But the world of Thai food and wine does not begin or end there; this menu rewards exploration and knowledge. You should also feel free to put yourself in the hands of Anajaks wine team, which might even include chef Justin Pichetrungsi himself (hes been known to pick up a somm shift or two). And when in doubt, order a bottle Wed always rather see you with a bottle here than a glass, says sommelier John Cerasulo. Because thats the way the winemaker would want it. Frederic Savart 1er Cru Extra Brut LOuverture Champagne NV Champagne cruises alongside nearly every food imaginable, but this taut, sharp expression of sparkling Pinot Noir seems ready-made for Anajaks rightly famous Thai fried chicken (maybe even better with the caviar supplement). The wine menu at Anajak Thai a vast array of options in a teeny, tiny font, so to be safe, bring a pair of reading glasses. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Stein Weihwasser Mosel Riesling 2020 Yes, Riesling tastes phenomenal with Thai food, and it makes a ready foil for dishes like panang beef with snap peas and makrut lime, or Pichetrungsis pitch-perfect rendition of his fathers drunken noodles. This bottle of Stein, from Germanys hallowed Mosel region, tastes utterly alive, clean and cool like licking a wet rock after a rainstorm and just a touch sweet without being overwhelming or veering into dessert territory. Chateau Le Puy Emilien Bordeaux 2018 For a restaurant and wine list that upends expectations, reach for this definitional natural Bordeaux the same family has owned the estate for 400 years, and they've never used chemical pesticides from a region whose pleasures have been more or less skipped over by many younger wine drinkers who find themselves allergic to anything Robert Parker once liked. Le Puy is famously ethereal, light as a feather and vividly elegant. "Burgundy-like" is sometimes thrown around in reference to this wine; that isn't quite right, but nor are comparisons to the estate's famous Right Bank Bordeaux neighbors, including Petrus and Cheval-Blanc. Instead Le Puy is some other third thing, occupying a particularly edgy place on a modern wine list like Anajak's, where Bordeaux for natural wine lovers makes a certain cheeky sense. This would drink effortlessly with the entire menu on Thai Taco Tuesday (in particular the uni tostada). Emrich Schonleber Fruhlingsplatzchen Grosses Gewachs Nahe 2020 Wine programs like Anajak's offer difficult-to-find bottles, often obtained via allocation, a system whereby favorite clients like restaurants and bars can obtain sought-after wines from importers and distributors. Emrich Schonlebers Rieslings are as expressive as they are rare, like drinking a peach-pear LaCroix filtered through limestone. To see a bottle like this just hanging out on a wine list in the Valley is downright subversive. Theo Dancer Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy 2021 Another tough-to-find bottle, at Anajak its being offered at a fraction of the price youd expect to see on a list in New York or London. Clean and lovely white Burgundy from one of the regions most buzzed-about young winemakers, who recently took over the domaine from his father, like the story of Anajak in Chardonnay form. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Then-President Trump listens as Sean Hannity from Fox News speaks at a campaign rally on the eve of the U.S. mid-term elections in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 2018. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) Former President Trump is set to join Sean Hannity for a town hall event on Fox News next month, the network announced on Thursday. The event is set to be pre-taped in Iowa on June 1 and air at 9 p.m. Eastern the same day, according to a release. Hannity will reportedly take questions from the audience. Trump attended a CNN-hosted town hall in New Hampshire earlier this month, which aired live. The live CNN event drew criticism after the former president repeated his debunked claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 race, refused to commit to accepting the 2024 results and lobbed insults at host Kaitlan Collins and writer E. Jean Carroll. A jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll in a federal lawsuit earlier in the week. The former president also appeared on Hannitys prime-time program earlier this year amid tensions between the former president and the network hed favored during his previous presidential runs. He railed against the network earlier this month claiming they put too much attention on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who announced his 2024 presidential bid on Wednesday. They are desperately pushing DeSanctimonious who, regardless, is dropping like a rock, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Fox News has become the DeSanctimonious Network, but it will never work because he doesnt have the goods. The GOP presidential race has become crowded in recent days with the addition of DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Several others including former Vice President Mike Pence, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are expected to soon make a decision on possible bids as well. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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) Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic kills two and wounds 30, Kyiv says 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A Russian missile hit a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, killing two people and wounding 30 in an attack that President Volodymyr Zelensky called a crime against humanity. 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. A covered corpse lay in the road nearby. Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. He said a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic had been hit, and added: Only an evil state can fight against clinics. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure Russian terror. Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said a 69-year-old man had been killed as he passed the clinic and another mans body had been pulled from the rubble. He said 30 people had been wounded, including two children, and contact had not yet been made with three people thought to have been in the building when it was hit. Ukraines Defence Ministry called the attack a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Russias Defence Ministry said it had carried out an overnight strike on Ukrainian ammunition depots. The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit, the RIA news agency quoted it as saying. Moscow has dismissed allegations that its soldiers have committed war crimes and denies deliberately targeting civilians although it has bombarded cities across Ukraine since invading 15 months ago. (EPA) Which companies are leaving Russia and which are staying? Here's a look 14:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain 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: Which companies are leaving Russia and which are staying? Here's a look Swedish foreign minister says ambition is to join NATO by July 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Sweden still hopes to be a member of NATO by the time of the alliances summit in Vilnius in July, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Friday. Russias invasion of Ukraine convinced Sweden and Finland last year to ditch long-held policies of military non-alignment and seek security of NATOs collective defence commitment. Finland joined NATO last month, but Swedens membership has been held up by objections from Turkey and Hungary. There isnt going to be any plan B or anything like that. Plan B is plan A - that is full membership in NATO and that is what I and the government are going to work for all the way to Vilnius, he told reporters. Turks vote in the second round of a tight presidential election on Sunday, with incumbent Tayyip Erdogan leading after the first ballot. Billstrom said he hoped Turkeys parliament would begin the ratification process after the dust has settled. It is time for Turkey to start its ratification process and uphold its part of the bargain, Billstrom said. Sweden and Finland struck a three-way deal in Madrid in June last year aimed at addressing Turkeys security worries. But Ankara has continued to drag its heels over Sweden, saying Stockholm harbours members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. Hungary has also objected to Swedens application citing grievances over Swedish criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orbans record on democracy and the rule of law. Billstrom said it was unclear what objections Budapest had to Swedens membership. Hungary gave its support at the summit in Madrid last year for Sweden to be given invitee status without any conditions, he said. It is our firm opinion that they should start ratification. Watch: Zelensky receives standing ovation after speech to Johns Hopkins University graduates 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia says it carried out overnight strike on Ukrainian ammo depots 13:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Defence Ministry said on Friday that it carried out an overnight strike on Ukrainian ammunition depots, the RIA news agency reported. The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit, the defence ministry was quoted as saying. Map shows the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 13:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The UK ministry of defence has published a map which shows the latest Russian attacks and troop locations in the Ukraine war. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 26 May 2023. Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/Qw6Mi1k2iJ #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/rBD6oYB2is Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 26, 2023 Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over 12:39 , 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. Our foreign editor Chris Stevenson reports: Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Blast in Russia's Krasnodar was caused by drones, governor says 12:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A blast that damaged a residential and office building in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, east of Crimea, on Friday was caused by two drones, the regions governor said. There is some damage to buildings, but critical infrastructure was not damaged. And most importantly, there were no casualties, governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram. The Russians out for revenge on Putin 11:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion were formed in Ukraine in the wake of Moscows invasion. Now, the militias are taking the fight to the Kremlin and aiming to topple the president. Kim Sengupta reports: The Russians out for revenge on Putin 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. 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. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Independence Day. The congratulatory message addressed to the President of Georgia reads as follows, "Your Excellency, I warmly congratulate you and the fraternal Georgian people on the occasion of the national holiday of Georgia, the Independence Day. In order to build a state anchored on democratic values, the Georgian people took a decisive step on this day more than a century ago towards the restoration of independence and today they continue their path with steady steps. I would like to emphasize that the deepening of mutually beneficial and neighborly relations with Georgia is among the priorities of our government's foreign policy, and I am full of hope that thanks to our joint efforts, the relations between Armenia and Georgia will continue to develop in all directions of mutual interest for the benefit of our countries and peoples. Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and productive work, and peace and development to the friendly people of Georgia." The message addressed to the Prime Minister of Georgia reads as follows, "Your Excellency, I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday of Georgia, the 105th anniversary of the restoration of state independence. The road to statehood has not always been smooth, but the Armenian and Georgian peoples have proven their right to have an independent state thanks to their consistent struggle, and today, remaining committed to their aspirations, they continue to closely cooperate in state building. I am sure that the existing potential for cooperation and the determination of the two friendly countries to deepen the partnership will further contribute and give a new impetus to the development of the fraternal relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the Armenian and Georgian peoples. Commending the achievements of friendly Georgia, I assure you that Armenia is a reliable friend and neighboring state for Georgia and will remain so. Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and productive work, and peace and development to the friendly people of Georgia." YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, commenting on Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, noted that in case of reconciliation between the two sides, Ankara will be ready to take positive steps in its relations with Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports, the Turkish milliyet.com.tr reports. "We positively assess Yerevan's latest statement. We support it," Cavusoglu said. "Ankara is ready to take positive steps in relations with Yerevan in case of reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he added. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. The information spread in the Azerbaijani media that the Armenian side made a subversive infiltration attempt in the southeastern part of the border zone is an absolute lie and does not correspond to reality, ARMENPRESS was informed from MoD Armenia. At the moment, Pakistan has ceased to be that enemy which ideological fanatics so desperately need External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has of late been duelling with the European Union over its insistence that India should condemn Russia over the war in Ukraine and not have any trade links with Moscow, and at other times he has been reiterating that India-China relations cannot be normal unless China switches off its aggressive stance at the undefined Line of Actual Control (LAC). But he has been relatively quiet over Pakistan, except in passing as when he would refer indirectly to Pakistan and its support for anti-India terror groups based there. The recent clash between India and Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Goa was an indirect one, and visiting Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari got the proverbial cold shoulder. Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement that Pakistan should create conducive conditions for resuming talks in his interview to Nikkei Asia as he flew to Japan to attend the G-7 summit in Hiroshima as a special guest was the mildest that one has heard from Mr Modi, who was quite aggressive in his statements against Pakistan at an earlier time. The benign negligence of Pakistan by the Modi government began after reading down of the temporary special status provision granted in Article 370 to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, its demotion from a state to a Union territory soon after the BJP won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with an impressive majority. Pakistan in response had closed rail and road links, and downgraded the foreign missions in each others country, and the diplomatic impasse still remains. But it was impossible to maintain total silence. Pakistan offered to send ventilators to India during the catastrophic second wave of Covid-19 in the summer of 2021. India politely turned that away. Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences to Pakistan as an unprecedented monsoon fury killed more than a thousand people and affected 33 million people in Sindh and Balochistan in 2022, and there was offer of help from the Indian side but it was Pakistans turn to remain silent. There was a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party government and the party were keeping Pakistan in the news in India. Pakistan served on many an occasion as the punching bag for the Hindutva advocates. But with the countrys economy growing in size, and the world, especially the rich democracies of the G-7 looking to India as a foil to powerful China in Asia, the BJP politicians in the government and in the party and the pro-government chattering classes are not talking about Pakistan any more. The love jihad issues are not being traced back to terrorist groups in Pakistan, and the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir have been reduced to local incidents. The foreign office and the armed forces must be keeping a constant watch over the current happenings in Pakistan, but the pro-Modi intelligentsia is speaking more about how the world is looking to India rather than the existential threat that Pakistan poses to Hindu India. Many would say that this is a positive development, and that the fading away of Hindu Rights angst and anxiety over Muslim Pakistan should make for a more peaceful South Asia. There is a slight twist in the tale here. Until now, the Hindu Right had sought to portray Pakistan as a threat to Indias security and it used to pretend that the barbs armed against Pakistan should not be misconstrued as attacking the Muslims in India. But with the disappearance of Pakistan from the dark horizon of Hindutva imagination, the majoritarian right-wingers are now ready to be belligerent against Muslims within the country. There is a greater demand that Muslims in India should fall in line with the countrys so-called Hindu civilisation. In the past, Hindu conservatives believed in the Hindu glory of Indian civilisation, but did not see the Islamic component of Indian history as a cultural threat. But then the Hindutva brigade operates at the infra-intellectual end of the spectrum, and it is always on the search for an enemy in India and outside. At the moment, Pakistan has ceased to be that enemy which ideological fanatics so desperately need. And it is the Muslims in the country, the largest religious minority, who are considered a cultural threat. The BJP and its ideologues within the Sangh Parivar and outside found it useful to target Pakistan in their arguments while the government followed a well-established pragmatic line. But with the shift in focus to China as the main rival, the Hindutva cohorts, including the intellectual camp followers who style themselves as national security experts, are at a loss. It was easy to berate a brittle Pakistan and even set it up as the straw man to showcase Indias need to step up its military preparedness. But this is not an easy thing to do with China on the radar. In terms of the economy, the Indian right-wingers are painfully aware that China is far ahead of India, and that in military terms India can only think in terms of defending itself but not to overwhelm China. That India is the most populous country in the world, overtaking China, is not much of a solace. So, the rant against China is rather faint in the Hindutva groups, and with Pakistan not on the radar, there is a strange quiet on the ideological front. The Hindutva brigade does derive huge satisfaction from the fact that the United States and Europe are now looking to India rather than to Pakistan as the strategic lynchpin of their anti-totalitarian stance. Though the Narendra Modi government is only too glad to be part of big boys club of the West, there is also the recognition that India cannot cut itself away from Russia, the old ally. The fact that Russia is not any more Communist appeals to the Hindu right-wing. The Modi government is thus forced to adopt Indias default position of non-alignment, that was identified with Jawaharlal Nehru, the bete noir of the Hindu Right. Unlike Western countries, which despite their flawed democracies, can take a clear stance against the authoritarianism in Moscow and Beijing, the Hindu Right in India, with its own dark dreams of totalitarianism, is quite half-hearted in opposing the anti-liberal democracy of Russia and China. Mr Modi and his supporters are in an ideological no-mans land. by Santosh Digal Founded in 1998 by Fr Matthieu Dauchez from France, the NGO has been active in slums helping disadvantaged kids at risk of falling victim to drugs and violence. An estimated 830,000 children are in this situation in the Philippines. The first step is to reconnect with their families. Manila (AsiaNews) Anak-TNK, a Manila-based non-profit organisation (NGO) started by Fr Matthieu Dauchez, 47, a French priest incardinated in the Archdiocese of Manila, has assisted more than 70,00 disadvantaged kids in 25 years of activity in the Philippine capital and other cities in the country. Anak means child while TNK stands for "Tulay Ng Kabataan" or bridge to kids in Tagalog, the countrys main language. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers, the NGO helps neglected and abandoned kids. An estimated 830,000 Philippine children are in this situation, exposed to violence and drugs, many forced to beg, steal or sell sex to survive. Since it was founded in 1998, Anak-TNK has rescued thousands of children from Manila's streets, slums and landfills, where children are often abandoned. The organisation is committed to act as a bridge" between the children and their families, to help them reconnect. But the bridge also symbolises the work done in city slums providing young people new opportunities. The NGOs focus is on health, protection and nutrition, as well as psychological support, since young people are not only neglected by society, but often rejected by their own families because of something they did. We provide the opportunity to see what they could become with proper guidance, health, and education, Fr Dauchez explained. Thus, they can return to their families, and become part of mainstream society. To achieve this, the organisation's first offer is to establish trust with them and accept them for who they are, the clergyman added. Over time, the heart's scars must mend, and inner confidence must grow with proper guidance. Currently Anak-TNK runs 21 centres housing 305 street children, 55 with disabilities. Four other facilities offer hospitality to another 800 young people who scavenge for materials in landfills. Seven centres are located slums where they can directly help local communities, providing a home for more than 1,300 young people. All the work is done by 190 full-time employees, 60 volunteer slum mothers, and 125 foreign volunteers who come to the Philippines from all over the world to help. The educational aspect is one of the most important. In the Philippines, one in three children do not attend school. "We help each child throughout their academic career, which we adjust to meet their needs, said assistant director Gloria Recio. Health is the second important aspect. In cities, more than 40 per cent of the people reside in incredibly filthy and unhygienic conditions, lacking proper food and medication. One in three kids has stunted growth. During his trip to the Philippines in 2015, Pope Francis met with some of the children helped by the NGO. The organisation is now present in Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, but its greatest achievement has been the children who turned their life around. Nico has lived at one of Anak-TNKs centres since 2016. Now the young man has turned his passion for music into a band that plays at all Anak-TNK events. It hasnt always been easy for me. I come from a broken family, he explained. They abandoned me on the street when I was eight, but Music has always helped me to never give up, especially guitar, piano, drums and singing. Today he has left his difficult past behind, like all the members of the band, and many other young people that the NGO continues to help. As of February 2021, the relationship between the generals in Myanmar and the ayatollahs on military cooperation has been strengthened. For Tehran, "new market spaces" have opened up. The three trips of a Qeshm Fars Air Boeing 747 between January and April 2022 and the arrival of a delegation linked to the Pasdaran. Tehran (AsiaNews) - Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, which led to the overthrow of the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, now under arrest, relations between Tehran and Naypyidaw in the area of weapons have become increasingly closer: in particular, missiles and drones that the dictatorship uses to strike rebel groups and annihilate its own people, without sparing women, children and civilian targets such as schools. A report in the Burmese daily The Irrawaddy reveals the links between the two countries and the 'new market spaces' that have opened up in the last two years for the ayatollahs, who do not disdain deepening ties with the generals. Last year, between January and April, a Boeing 747 cargo plane belonging to Qeshm Fars Air (subject to US sanctions for supplies to pro-Tehran militias active in the Syrian conflict) from Mashhad landed three times in the capital and in Yangon. According to information, on one occasion it was carrying at least 21 boxes containing drones and engines for military vehicles. A second transport, which landed in Naypyidaw, reportedly supplied the military junta with more powerful and sophisticated Iranian-made weapons, including tele-guided missiles. Burmese newspaper sources also report that an Iranian delegation arrived in Myanmar on 13 January 2022, composed of people linked to the Guardians of the Revolution (Pasdaran). These would include Gholamreza Ghasemi, a former commander and pilot who was arrested in Argentina last year on suspicion of smuggling weapons on board the 747 he was travelling on. He is also a member of the board of directors of Qeshm Fars Air, and is said to have personally piloted the aircraft that flew to Myanmar. Similarly, ties between Myanmar and Russia have intensified considerably since the coup, with the junta purchasing fighter jets, helicopters and other military hardware from Moscow. According to a recent UN report, the Myanmar junta has imported at least billion in weapons and military equipment since February 2021, largely from Russia and China. Returning to the relationship between the ayatollahs and generals, in 2016-17 the Myanmar military had sent a team of military engineers to Iran to learn the techniques of refurbishing old training aircraft, also in view of Tehran's capabilities to perfect the technology. Following Western sanctions in response to the coup and popular repression, the Burmese regime then strengthened trade with Russia, China, India, Belarus and Iran. Finally, the junta uses military hardware to fuel its air and ground campaign against resistance forces and rebel groups Karen, Kachin, Kayah and Mon and in the regions of Sagaing and Bago. Before the military takeover, relations between Naypyidaw and Tehran were distant and sporadic, but since February 2021, positions have changed and the junta - unlike the democratic government - has increasingly relied on Iran for supplies, starting with drones and guided missiles. This is confirmed by former Burmese pilots and military personnel who have left the army in recent years so as not to be complicit in the military's violence against the civilian population. The MD550 drone engine is manufactured by an Iranian company called Mado (Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar), which has been on the US sanctions list since October 2021. by Alessandra De Poli Like with Ukraine, India is taking the middle road in the Pacific region, between the US and China. For Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, India is a leader of the Global South". On the plus side, India can provide affordable technology and rely on local Indian communities, but militarily, the West remains dominant. Delhi (AsiaNews) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been quite busy in the last two weeks, in Japan for the G7 summit, followed by the meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). This week, Mr. Modi and his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, signed a series of agreements in Australia, while back home, in the disputed region of Kashmir, India hosted a G20 summit on tourism. The Indian leader also travelled to Papua New Guinea (PNG), the first by an Indian prime minister, for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands cooperation(FIPIC). US President Joe Biden was supposed attend but flew home instead to deal with the debt limit crisis. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood in his place at the helm of the US delegation present at the forum. All this suggests that the Pacific region has become a major theatre to measure the US-China rivalry. For India, the meeting in Papua New Guinea with the regions 14 countries is part of a slow rapprochement that began in 2014. Those places are very strategic if you want to make a naval base or a friendly port or friendly airstrip and they also have vast ocean resources, said Admiral Arun Prakash, retired Indian navy chief. India can also help Papua New Guinea and the United States find common ground, especially after the Solomon Islands signed a military agreement with China that set off alarm bells in the West. PNG Prime Minister James Marape welcomed his Indian counterpart as the "leader of the Global South", describing India as the "third big voice" in global politics which "must emerge." For Marape, the Pacific will "rally behind" India While India is staking out a middle ground in the Ukraine War, its position is closer to that of non-Western countries, willing to provide economic support against climate change, which is the top concern for Pacific countries that risk being swallowed up by rising sea levels. One of the important challenges that Papua New Guinea faces is climate change and adaptation. These are areas where India can play an important role by offering affordable partnerships in areas like solar energy, said Swati Prabhu, an associate fellow at the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy in New Delhi. Mr Modi agrees. We are willing to share our capabilities and experiences in digital technology, space technology, health security, food security, climate change and environment protection," he said. For its part, the United States signed a US$ 45 million deal with Papua New Guinea to boost economic and security cooperation. The two countries also inked a separate agreement on increasing surveillance of PNG's exclusive economic zone through US Coast Guard patrols, so as to protect it from illegal fishing. After university students protested against the defence agreement, Marape said that, "there is nothing for us to be fearful about" since the deal "has nothing to do with China, which remains an important trading partner. Given this background, India appears as a safe power in the region, where it can count on an important migrant presence. Some 3,000 Indian nationals live in Papua New Guinea, a country of 9.5 million people, while Fiji is home to a large community of Indian origin, 38 per cent of the population, who arrived at the time of British colonial rule. According to Indias Ministry of External Affairs, 320,00o Indians live in the country, a bridgehead used in the past to promote trade and who can play the same role in the future. The territory covered by the countries of the Pacific region spans 40 million square kilometres with the economic zones of some countries larger than Indias. India's influence in the Pacific is limited though. New Delhi currently does not have the military capabilities of Western countries and cannot match Beijings reach. If you call yourself an Indo-Pacific power and are part of the Quad grouping, you must make some outreach to the Pacific also, Admiral Prakash said. But whether it is within our capabilities to sustain ourselves that far out in the Pacific is a question mark. We dont have such deep pockets and our navy is also relatively small. Yet, perhaps in coordination with Japan, Australia and [the] United States, we can render assistance. INDIAN MANDALA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO INDIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY FRIDAY IN YOUR E-MAIL? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE by Vladimir Rozanskij Opposition in revolt after PM Nikol Pasinyan's statements on the recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over the disputed territory as part of the ongoing negotiations. Socialists call for street protests against 'capitulation'. The government: 'We will protect the real interests of Armedia'. The next round of official negotiations will take place in Granada in October. Yerevan (AsiaNews) - Following Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan's statements on the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory, the leader of the Armenian Socialist Federation "Dasnaktsutyun", Iskhan Sagatelyan, said that the oppositions "will begin a new phase of struggle, with the aim of replacing the current government". "We have five to six months to stop the process of selling off our country," he said, before agreements are finalised in October, when the next round of official negotiations is scheduled to take place in Granada, Spain. Sagatelyan recalled the series of meetings over the past year in Moscow, Chisinau and Brussels, pointing out how Pasinyan has been increasingly vocal about the 'cession' of Artsakh (Karabakh), using maps and time charts of territorial transfers. In his opinion, the oppositions must also 'formulate in precise ways the steps and actions of the struggle, in Armenia and Artsakh, with protests aimed at demonstrating that all documents signed in negotiations with the enemy are without any validity'. The socialists intend to 'ensure maximum national unity in order to avoid a new capitulation', openly speaking of a 'struggle in the streets', but without for the moment indicating explicit dates for the protests. The government in general is deemed 'illegitimate', and any initiative to get rid of it 'has the value of a revolt, of a gesture of disobedience, because this power leaves us no choice: either surrender, or fight for the fatherland'. The socialist leader says he does not want to 'foment violent actions', but to 'defend the sacred right of the people to rebel against the slavery to which they are forced'. Also agreeing with Sagatelyan is another representative of the oppositions, the head of the republican 'I have honour' party, Ajk Mamidzanyan, who says that 'every second lost brings new damage to the two Armenian states', namely Yerevan and Stepanakert. He trusts that the government will 'eventually resign under pressure from the Armenians'. Already last year, the oppositions had formed the coordination known as 'Disobedience', which organised several marches and street demonstrations, without succeeding in getting Pasinyan to step down. Today, they want to return to the fray in a more organised and effective manner, although majority MP Artur Ovannisyan commented that 'given the precedents, we can assume that the oppositions have exhausted their resources'. Ovannisyan adds that 'no one will prevent anyone's free expression: we only ask these circles not to create obstacles with their actions for the achievement of the true interests of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh'. Otherwise,' he adds, the protests will be stopped by the government 'firmly and within the limits of the law'. He confirms that members of the parties supporting the government, starting with the Civil Accord party, also believe that Azerbaijani President Aliev is an 'untrustworthy criminal'. But with international support, 'a long-term peace agreement must be reached as soon as possible'. The Stepanakert parliament is also lobbying against Pasinyan, demanding sovereignty status over Azerbaijan, as the Civil Accord also promised in its election campaigns. Ovannisyan notes, however, that 'the situation has changed a lot, and we are constantly informing the population. First,' he adds, 'the recognition of the sovereignty 'of the 29,800 square kilometres of the whole of Armenia, with measures for the security and rights of all those who live in Artsakh' must be guaranteed. The government assures that it 'will be honest with the people', and no secret documents will be signed. There will be new meetings in Moscow in the next few days, although the peace agreement has yet to be finalised, hoping that the internal confrontation in Armenia will not degenerate in the meantime. Photo: Flickr / Clay Gilliland by Chiara Zappa A fidei donum from the Diocese of Daejeon, he died suddenly today at the age of 55 after serving Mongolias small Catholic community for the past 20 years. Cardinal Marengo appointed him as the apostolic prefectures vicar general. He lived for some years in the steppes among nomadic shepherds. A few days ago he talked to AsiaNews about the challenges of his mission today among the young people of the capital. Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews) Mongolias Catholic Church is small and waiting for the visit of Pope Francis in September, but today, it is mourning the passing of Fr Kim Stephano Seong Hyeon, a fidei donum priest and the vicar general of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar. The 55-year-old South Korean clergyman died this from a heart attack at his parish church, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar. Fr Kim arrived in Mongolia in 2002 from the Diocese of Daejeon (South Korea). In the capital, Ulaanbaatar, he created the Parish of Holy Mother Mary in Khan-Uul district. From there, he moved to Erdenesant, a district in the steppes 200 km from Ulaanbaatar, where he lived in a ger, a typical Mongolian tent, alongside nomadic shepherds, who are still numerous in the country, travelling on horseback. In 2020, the newly appointed apostolic prefect, Bishop Giorgio Marengo,[*] a Consolata missionary, brought him to the capital to serve as his vicar. Since then, Father Kim has provided pastoral care to the faithful at the cathedral parish (350 baptised Catholics) and spiritual assistance to the Korean community as well as performed his duties at the Apostolic Prefecture. Fr Kim spoke to AsiaNews a few days ago about his first years of mission in Ulaanbaatar, noting that "we opened the doors of our ger-like church not knowing whom we were going to welcome. He also talked about current challenges, namely the changing youth, who are less tied to traditions and strongly influenced by the new means of communication". This afternoon, many Mongolian Catholics attended the memorial service led by Card Marengo at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Joining the missionaries and their pastor, people came, stunned and distraught, to pay tribute to and thank Fr Stephano Kim for the years he dedicated with passion to his small flock in the Asian country. After the funeral, which will be celebrated in the coming days, the missionary will be laid to rest in Ulaanbaatar, near Mongolias first Catholic bishop, Scheut missionary[] Wencenslao Padilla from the Philippines. The Mongolian Catholic Church was founded in 1992 following the end of 70 years of communist rule. Today it has about 1,300 members. Some 77 missionaries are present in the country, including priests, nuns and lay people. Buddhism is Mongolias majority religion, but after decades of state atheism, more than 30 per cent of the population is non-religious. Pope Francis will visit this remote part of the Church community during a pastoral visit next September, as he has said on several occasions. [*] Pope Francis elevated the bishop to the rank of cardinal in August 2022. [] Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Bob Peirgo and Palmer Hood of the Roaring Fork Valley Veterans Honor Guard undertake the Presentation of Colors at Aspens Memorial Day Observation in 2018. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The new long-range missile is undetectable to anti-missile systems. Iran's IRNA news agency reported that the new missile, called Khiber, is the latest model of Khorramshahr missile, noting that the missile has a range of 2,000 kilometres with a 1,500-kilogram warhead, making it the heaviest warhead among Iranian missiles, being able to carry more than a tonne of ammunition. In 2017, Iran unveiled the Khorramshahr-1 missile and in 2019 the Khorramshahr-2", both of which can reach targets 2,000 kilometres away and are 13 metres long and 1.5 metres in diameter. The second generation of these missiles is characterised by the "guided destructive warhead" (MIRV), which is a payload of different warheads, each of which can hit a different target. In addition, this year, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force (IRGC), Amir Ali Hajizadeh, reported a new long-range cruise missile, called Paveh, which can reach up to 1,650 kilometres. It is also undetectable to anti-missile systems, according to Hajizadeh, as it is activated only 300 kilometres from the target and has a speed of 16,052 kilometres per hour. AP/VAHID SALEMI - A Khaibar-buster missile is carried next to a portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Tehran has said it will continue to develop its missile programme despite criticism from the West and Israel. "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," Iranian Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said of the Khiber missile. The unveiling of this new long-range missile that would have the capability to reach Israel increases tensions between Iran and Israel. Since Donald Trump decided to terminate the nuclear deal with Iran five years ago, relations between the United States, Israel and Iran have been deteriorating steadily. Talks have been stalled since last year on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal that placed restrictions on Iran's uranium development. Israel is increasingly concerned about growing tensions with Iran over the nuclear programme and a senior Israeli military official said on Tuesday that "action" against Iran could be considered. According to reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at its Fordow nuclear plant, Iran has enriched uranium to around 80%, or almost 20 times more than the 3.67% defined by the 2015 deal. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, "one thing is certain: at this point they have accumulated enough nuclear material for several nuclear weapons, not one". PHOTO/AFP/HO/IRANIAN ARMY OFFICE - A Sayad missile fired from the Talash missile system during an air defence drill at an undisclosed location in Iran With the arrival of President Joe Biden in the White House, the 2015 nuclear deal was expected to be revived, but after negotiations, no agreement has yet been reached. In September 2022, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, presented a comprehensive document for an agreement, which the United States accepted, but Iran did not. Tehran presented preconditions for acceptance of the deal, asking Washington to lift sanctions against Iran's Revolutionary Guard and suspend all other sanctions as well, to which Joe Biden has not yielded. The harsh crackdown on protests in Iran following the death of young Mahsa Amini, who was arrested in September by the country's Morality Police, led to more than 500 deaths, as well as mass incarcerations of protesters, death sentences and torture of detainees, according to Amnesty International. Iran has increased its budget for the army, police and Revolutionary Guards by more than 20% in 2023. Moreover, the alliance between Russia and Iran, which has grown closer in recent years, and the fact that the Middle Eastern country is selling Russia drones for use in the war in Ukraine, has further distanced the West from the Islamic Republic. For its part, Iran continues to deny developing nuclear weapons. But in the past, the sheer variety of Chevy models was staggering if we think about heroes like Bel Air, Impala, Nomad, Nova, Caprice, Lumina, and more. Speaking of the latter, maybe few people will remember that it replaced not just the Celebrity but also the long-running Monte Carlo back in 1989. That is not surprising, considering the Monte Carlo was already old and the maker's first personal luxury car. Born in 1969 as a two-door coupe deriving its name from the European city of Monaco, the model line was manufactured across six generations throughout the 2007 model year after it was previously placed on hiatus between 1989 and 1994.Naturally, most diehard Chevy aficionados will instead remember what Monte Carlo was like during the 1970s rather than the 1990s and 2000s when the styling was quirkier than the norm. And that is not only valid across the real world but also in the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, as it turns out. No worries, there is no need to take our word for granted, as we have an eloquent example.When not busy showcasing the latest rendering-to-reality project, Emmanuel Brito, the virtual artist better known as personalizatuauto on social media, is always ready to take us on a novel CGI journey of discovery. Recent projects always include much stuff from General Motors, even more so than Ford and Chrysler combined judging by the latest ideas. But the 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo quickly stands out in any crowd not only because it is a first-generation example but also due to its apparent ability to mix the old and the new in a way that neatly combines both past and present.Even better, the green menace is offered to the audience in two CGI guises with lots of classic, chromed touches or a darker and more menacing allure that sees many body parts colored in the same green hue while other details are treated in matte black style. Note that the green Monte Carlo is far from a vintage affair, even though the cockpit looks like a tan leather enthusiast's dream ride. Instead, the Chevy rides slammed with the larger aftermarket wheels and tires neatly tucked under the wheel arches while the brake package hints that something mighty is amiss under the hood.As for what hides inside the engine bay, we can only speculate if the artist would keep the flagship 454 ci V8 based on the Monte Carlo SS reference or if he opted for one of those modern V8 swaps. Well, it is all wishful thinking, so we can also take a wild guess and dream about it sporting the most potent big-block crate engine available from Chevrolet. Frankly, the ZZ632 would look bonkers paired with this Monte Carlo and churning out over 1,000 ponies to burn those rear tires to a crisp before even leaving the parking space! Now, if only we could convince the author to also imagine this Chevy in full widebody attire it would be something for the restomod ages, right? SUV The official presentation has been set for June 8 and will take place in Austin, Texas. The model promises new everything, from the construction and exterior design to the cockpit, technology, comfort, and safety features.On the visual front, the latest teaser released by the automaker shows the three-quarter rear design, revealing more of that full-width light bar that links the new taillights, with the Lexus lettering sitting above it, in the middle of the tailgate. It has broad shoulders, muscular wheel arches with boxy styling, and a beefed-up hood design. Sporting integrated DRLs, the new headlights flank the brand's typical spindle grille that is presented in black on the picturedWe have not seen images of the cockpit yet, but logic tells us it will come with a big infotainment screen in the middle of the new dashboard panel. Drivers will be looking at the digital dials through the redesigned steering wheel, and elsewhere, we expect it to be offered with a selection of tech and safety equipment. The top-of-the-line models will get high-end leather upholstery, and some amount of ambient lighting will probably find its way inside, making night driving more pleasant for the occupants.Lexus hasn't said anything about the underpinnings of the new-gen 2024 GX, but certain outlets speak of a shorter version of the TNGA-F platform. If correct, then the SUV will boast a body-on-frame construction, which will turn it into a true off-roader, especially with a set of fat tires wrapped around the wheels to aid traction. Do you know what else uses the TNGA-F? The new generation Toyota Tacoma, for one, which was unveiled recently. The Tundra, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser 300 are based on the same architecture, and so is the Lexus LX.By being built on the TNGA-F, the new 2024 Lexus GX will have access to various powertrains, but we still have to learn about the firepower, as it remains a well-preserved secret. Nonetheless, with the unveiling date being set for early next month, at least we won't have to wait that long to learn all the juicy details about it. We don't expect Lexus to announce the pricing for our market during the grand presentation of the body-on-frame SUV with a premium touch on June 8, as the order books will probably open later this summer. Nevertheless, a small bump over the $59,275 MSRP of its predecessor is expected. SUV So, that rare breed of Bentayga Bentley the Sheepdog, was actually a redesigned Bentayga S plug-in hybrid version fitted with a unique wrap to properly represent the ultra-luxury British automaker at the event that included some excellent rounds of sheep-rounding (pun intended). We do not know about its bark or bite, but the 'special coat' was undoubtedly designed to celebrate the exclusive automotive partnership for Goodwood's 'Goodwoof'.According to Bentley, the wrap was designed by Rich Morris and included fur and the traditional dog tag, and all the work on the project was done in just four days. Now, let us return to more serious Bentley affairs and some that probably took a lot more time to develop, even though they are not as obvious as a dog-inspired Bentayga S. Because Bentley has opened the tap on event participation, they are not missing out on the Savile Row Concours, either. Two unique limited editions will debut there, with the Savile Row Concours being an event that celebrates bespoke cars and fine tailoring in the same place.Designed and handcrafted by Mulliner, the posh Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Azure and a high-performance Continental GT Convertible Speed were treated to the Huntsman Editions in honor of Bentley's oldest retailer Jack Barclay. In addition, the bespoke models also focus on Huntsman, a legendary Savile Row tailor. Each car will be available with a made-to-measure bespoke Huntsman jacket for the upcoming owner, all curated by Huntsman in one of the house's exclusive cloths. But that is not all, of course.The Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Azure and Continental GTC Huntsman Editions will feature unique interior treatments paying homage to "the sartorial heritage of the renowned Savile Row tailoring house." Naturally, Huntsman Head Cutter and Creative Director Campbell Carey was on point to assist Jack Barclay and the Mulliner team to project Huntsman's "174 years of bespoke heritage" into the interior of theand high-performance convertible.The Bentayga EWB Azure Huntsman Edition's highlights include a metallic Burgundy exterior, lots of chrome, an Azure grille, ten-spoke 22-inch machined and color-matched wheels, plus a discrete Huntsman Edition badge on the back pillar. Inside, Huntsman tweed mixes with Damson and Portland leather, but there are also Huntsman tweed details, Piano Damson veneer, Huntsman embroidery, and Huntsman tweed micro-piping. Last but not least, the bespoke SUV is also equipped with the "most wellbeing-focused automotive seat in the world" Bentley's Airline Seat Specification.Moving on to the summer dweller, the Huntsman Edition Continental GTC Speed is subtler with a light grey satin exterior shade contrasted by the Blackline Specification, gloss black 22-inch wheels, and a black Huntsman logo. In the cockpit, Beluga and Porpoise hide meet Huntsman tweed, plus a two-tone Piano Porpoise over Galaxy Stone veneer finish. All of this has no impact on performance, though, as the GTC Speed retains its W12 engine with 650 hp and remains capable of a sprint to 60 mph (96 kph) in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of no less than 208 mph (335 kph)! Well, that is one way of sending craftsmanship out into the world as fast as possible. And, frankly, it's way better than acting like a dog that can hear sheep CDI Having reached out to Purpose Built Moto (PBM) in 2018, Luke wanted Tom Gilroys specialists to perform some minor fabrication work and give his 1980 Honda CX500 a new seat. The bike made its way back to him once these mods had been performed, but it ended up returning to PBM in the exact same format 18 months later.Judging by what the Australian shop came up with, their client Luke must be very glad to have made that decision! Without further ado, lets see how this Brat-style transformation unfolded from start to finish. First things first, Tom and his crew began by reworking the CX500s subframe to tighten up its rear-end geometry.A discreet electronics tray was then placed in between the modified tubes and ultimately topped with a stunning bench seat. The burgundy leather upholstery comes courtesy of Timeless Auto Trim, and were particularly keen on the pattern used for the stitching. A subtle pair of dual-function LED lighting units flank the saddle, while the rearmost portion of the looped subframe holds a bare-bones license plate bracket.All this equipment is supported by modern Gazi shock absorbers, with a tiny swingarm-mounted fender keeping road debris away from the air filters. Aftermarket rearsets complete the modifications in that area. Up north, PBM lowered the forks in order to give the CX500 a tougher stance, subsequently installing a new top clamp, clip-on handlebars, and a 5.75-inch LED headlight.Moreover, the cockpit is outfitted with minimalistic switchgear, as well as a small Daytona speedo, Adelin control levers, and underslung bar-end mirrors. The Aussies added discreet LED blinkers on each side of the headlamp, then they trimmed up the front fender to reduce visual mass. To keep the donors silhouette as clean as possible, its fuel tank was treated to a flush-mounted filler cap.Tom Gilroys bike-modding doctors went to town in the powertrain department, as well, replacing the stock carbs with fresh TM34s from Mikuni and topping them off with a set of DNA pod filters. Exhaust gases are channeled via handmade stainless-steel pipework fashioned in a two-into-two configuration, with dual reverse megaphone mufflers at the tips.Ingitech supplied a premiumignition module, and theres also a brand-new regulator/rectifier from Ricks Electrics. This classic brat-style Honda features an Antigravity battery, too, with its juice running through youthful wiring and a Black Box control unit from Purpose Built Motos very own aftermarket catalog. For the paintwork, the guys went with a glossy black base and silver tank details, finally completing this build in early 2020. EV SUV The Bavarian automaker has succeeded in keeping the headlines with most of their latest introductions as a long line of creations is now more than a little prone to controversy. Think of the flagship iX, Minecraft-like second-gen M2, all the 4 Series and M3 plus M4 depictions, or the top roster of X7 LCI, 7 Series plus i7, as well as the hideous BMW XM crossover super-. But, of course, we are not finished.After all, BMW just revealed the modern-day clown shoe car aka the Z4-based Concept Touring Coupe at Villa d'Este- and the latest iteration (G60) BMW 5 Series, the eighth by its name. Additionally, we are also looking in awe and wonder at the first-ever BMW i5 versions designed to fight the EV battle dance with the Mercedes EQE and Tesla Model S. For now, the focus is on the one-motor RWD i5 eDrive40 with 335 hp while the top performer is the dual-motor i5 M60 xDrive with 590 horsepower and a sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) in just 3.8 seconds.Naturally, everyone is entitled to an opinion about the new i5 . Some are probably preparing to run amok, crying their outrage yet again. Others are more practical even if also a little dreamy. Such is the case with the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, who quickly jumped at the opportunity to fiddle with the latest BMWs. Sure, some of them probably also went into overdrive as they were not content with a minor tuning redesign, like others.For example, the virtual automotive designer better known as a.c.g_design on social media, has tried to envision the arrival of the first-ever BMW i5 Touring. Of course, the digital project was based on the fast i5 M60 xDrive to potentially complement or make the real world's M3 Touring utterly jealous. Anyway, this one is another case of blocky wishful thinking, so this station wagon looks more like a commercial van with tinted windows than anything else. However, that plucky geometry would also make it a great grocery-getter and people-hauler!Secondly, we have an example that draws parallels to the Z4-based Concept Touring Coupe as the (infamous) London-based Al Yasid laughed hard at the fact that his recent Z3 clown shoe ideas made some people uncomfortable. As such, his social media reel is now riddled with Shooting Brake craziness, including two variants of a potential Toyota Supra Z4 Shooting Brake one dressed like it's ready to visit Batman's cave and another flaunting a stealthy demeanor of slammed widebody greatness. And even though I have a big family that needs something like the i5 Touring, my heart goes with the three-door Supra on this occasion! That's because of two reasons. The first is that, despite a failed launch from the UK at the beginning of the year due to a mechanical issue, the company still seemed on track to continue operations, and had a number of orders lined up. The second reason is that the move is the first bankruptcy of a major space startup since the entire boom in this industry began.The initial plan the company had was to stay under Chapter 11 protection until Virgin Orbit could be sold as a whole, and continue operations. Back in April, we were even told there were quite a few interested parties.Instead, we got word earlier this week that Virgin Orbit will not sell to live on, after all, but is completely shutting down. That's not some possible outcome, but a fact, as the company sold its assets, in pieces, to other players in the space industry, namely Rocket Lab, Stratolaunch, and Vast.It's the Stratolaunch deal we're interested in now. As you know, this company is in the business of enabling "reusable and routine hypersonic testing through world-class aerospace vehicles and in-flight test capabilities."The way it does that is by using a carrier airplane called Roc to release hypersonic vehicles at set altitudes. Roc is a twin-fuselage machine that by all accounts has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in the world, at 385 feet (117 meters).Coincidentally, that's how Virgin Orbit used to launch payloads for its customers into orbit. It used a Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl for the task. Modified to be able to carry an orbital launcher under its wing, like some sort of missile, it performed flawlessly during the few missions Virgin Orbit ended up facilitating.It's this plane Stratolaunch got its hands on this week. It's an important new asset for the growing company, which only had the Roc to rely on for its missions.The Cosmic Girl will not be left in the Virgin Orbit configuration, but it will be modified and repurposed to become the launch platform for the Talon-A autonomous test bed. That's a missile-like drone that can be used to test various payloads, at hypersonic speeds, for paying customers. The Cosmic Girl, probably wearing another name after the overhaul, is expected to fly in Stratolaunch's service sometime next year.The sale of the plane is not yet concluded, pending some closing conditions, but all of them should be clear by July 31. The price of the Cosmic Girl was $17 million. We are excited to share that we have received the FDAs approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study! This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our Neuralink (@neuralink) May 25, 2023 Neuralink developed a brain-computer interface that could one day help disabled patients move and communicate again. Despite its huge ambitions, the company has been more famous for animal welfare controversies. That's because Neuralink does a lot of tests on animals before it can move to human trials. Last year, the US Department of Agriculture's Inspector General opened an investigation into Neuralink at a federal prosecutor's request. The federal probe was triggered by internal staff complaints that the animal testing was being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths.We have no idea how the investigation is going, but the company was in a rush to start human trials of its brain implant. This was something that Neuralink wanted to do for a long time, with deadlines announced for 2020 and then 2022. According to Reuters, Neuralink first submitted paperwork to the FDA in early 2022, but the agency rejected the application. The FDA was concerned about the device's lithium battery and the possibility of the implant's wires migrating within the brain. Another issue was extracting the device without damaging the brain tissue.During last year's Show and Tell event, Elon Musk promised again that human trials would start in six months . Although no one thought the company's brain implant would be ready for human testing in 2023, Neuralink confirmed it's got the FDA's approval. The startup announced the breakthrough on Twitter as an essential first step that will one day allow the technology to help many people.Those who want a chip implanted into their brains as soon as possible would have to wait a little longer, though. Neuralink has not yet started recruitment for the first clinical trials but will make an announcement on this "soon." So far, the extent of Neuralink's first-in-human clinical trial is unknown, but we expect it to be very limited.Neuralink is developing a system that it calls "Link," a small circular implant that deciphers brain signals and translates them into commands for use with external devices. The Link comprises a series of thin, flexible threads inserted directly into the brain tissue, where they detect neural signals. A robotic system is used to implant the threads into the brain during a 15-minute operation. This requires the utmost precision, and the process needs to be repeated 64 times in a reasonable amount of time.Although several companies are active in this field, Neuralink is the first to get FDA approval for human trials. This is a significant step for the company, especially after repeated investigations and controversies. Elon Musk has such high confidence in his company's technology that he plans to receive one of Neuralink's implants himself. kW German designer and mechanical engineer Albert Ebenbichler has the answer. He designed and built an electric scooter with a total of 70 liters of storage capacity. It is called Fat Albert and has a storage compartment the size of an airplane carry-on bag. Actually, the entire two-wheeler is built around the storage compartment, and some might even say it looks like a trunk on wheels with an electric motor.Albert Ebenbichler is self-employed, running a company named Albert Ebenbichler Innovations and a scooter aficionado. He created the Fat Albert in his garage in Esslingen near Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg. He had the support of specialized motorcycle sidecar builders and TUV Sud, a global technical services provider with experience in the field of energy certification. He designed the e-scooter with practicality and the "joy of transport" in mind. Here is also where its name comes from - FAT is short for Freude am Transport in German.The e-scooter is built around its large luggage compartment that can fit not one but two suitcases or even a crate of beer. However, to make the design feasible, some compromises had to be made. The additional storage space comes at the expense of some accessibility. In order to ride Fat Albert, you would have to slide one leg over its body frame, like you would do on a conventional motorcycle, as the scooter loses its step-through frame design.Boasting a tubular steel chassis, Fat Albert has a robust appearance with telescopic forks at the front and two preloadable spring struts at the rear. It has a low enough seat height to be suitable for users of all heights and rides on a set of steel disc wheels with wide tires.Fat Albert tips the scale at 95 kilograms (209 pounds) with two battery packs and has a total permissible weight of 210 kilograms (463 pounds). So, depending on the rider's weight, you can carry more or less stuff in the luggage compartment. Besides the 70-liter central storage compartment, the e-scooter also has a classic luggage rack on the rear frame.In terms of performance, the garage-built e-scooter is equipped with a 3,000 watts or 3(4 hp) electric wheel hub motor integrated into the rear wheel. It should allow the two-wheeler to reach a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph), which means it can be driven by Class B car driving license holders.It comes with two battery packs of 60 volts and 20 Ah capacity each, which are said to provide a range of up to 75 miles (120 km) and fully recharge in about 4 hours using a standard household outlet.Albert Ebenbichler plans to release four variants of the Fat Albert e-scooter , three of them featuring reverse gear for easy maneuverability within cities. The base model will retail for 4,970 Euros ($5,371), with deliveries set to start in June 2023, while the top-of-the-range model will be available for 6,590 Euros ($7,070). The model has a muscular hood decorated by the corporate logo, teardrop-shaped headlights with integrated daytime running lights, what we suspect to be a large grille incorporated into the front bumper, a full-width light bar at the other end, and wide shoulders. The black trim on the wheel arches that could be found on the lower parts of the bumpers and the side skirts will give it a slightly rugged look.But don't confuse the Lexus LBX with an off-roader because if the reports about it are airtight, then it will be the company's new entry-level crossover. Toyota's premium car brand secured the nameplate nearly two years ago, and we expect it to feature better quality materials in the cabin, alongside a new infotainment system. Lexus could give it additional stuff to further separate it from the Toyota Yaris Cross, and everything will be detailed early next month when the model is due.In theory, we will have to wait for the grand unveiling scheduled for June 5 at 2:00 AM EST (8:00 AM CET / 7:00 AM BST) to find out more about it, but in practice, we can speculate that it is based on the GA-B platform. The architecture is the same one used on the Yaris Cross and Aygo and underpins the Mazda2 Hybrid. As a result, the LBX will have access to various powertrains, and the most plausible scenario sees it launching with gasoline and partially electrified assemblies.Unless Lexus decides to drop more revealing teasers in the coming days, we will see it fully uncovered in a little over a week from today. But the wraps have unofficially come off due to our friends at Kolesa. The renderings shared above show a realistic design language, with the overall shape of the Toyota Yaris Cross and the typical Lexus design inspired by the teasers released a few days ago.We can see a new interpretation of the brand's grille up front, flanked by vents that appear to sport additional LED lights with a vertical styling. The car has black plastic cladding on the lower parts, a two-tone design with black roof, pillars, and side mirror caps, and a slightly cleaner back end compared to the Toyota. We will find out if they have nailed the design when the vehicle premieres on June 5, and that is also when we should find out if there are plans to launch it in North America. But would you want a Lexus LBX of your own if it applies for a US visa? Photo: via GreenTheOnly EV Photo: California Highway Patrol via The Intercept Photo: California Highway Patrol via The Intercept BEV Photo: Tesla Photo: Tesla This 100-Gb document collection includes "1,388 PDF documents, 1,015 Excel spreadsheets, and 213 Powerpoint presentations as well as numerous images, videos, audio files, and emails." Handelsblatt obtained them from several whistleblowers who were just fed up with reporting privacy and safety issues to Tesla and seeing nothing change.The German newspaper has been working on these documents for the past six months, having assigned them to twelve of its finest reporters to investigate, check, and contact the people who were included in the data leak. And there are so many people involved that Handelsblatt developed a free search tool for any Tesla customer and employee to check if their data was compromised. The ones who get a positive reply to their inquiry need to contact the German newspaper through an email address provided on the same page. Unlike Tesla, Handelsblatt will carefully protect the data it obtained.The Americanmaker does not have a press department, but at least the German newspaper got it to talk to the press through its lawyers. In a rare reply to the publication, Joseph Alm , Tesla's managing counsel for litigation, urged Handelsblatt to send them "a copy of this information, immediately delete all other copies," and confirm they had done so. In a threatening tone, Alm wrote that "use of illegally obtained data for media reporting is not allowed absent exceptional circumstances. The possession of such data itself without a proper justification breaches, among other things, data protection law. And mishandling this information subjects recipients, such as Handelsblatt, to liability for violation of trade secrets, data protection law, and handling stolen data, among other things."Sebastian Matthes, the German newspaper's editor-in-chief, explained why Handelsblatt decided to ignore the threats and move forward. Apart from analyzing the documents, it also interviewed dozens of customers and employees. In other words, it confirmed the stories these documents told were true.One example comes from Switzerland, where Thomas Karl endured several phantom braking events from January to October 2021. He probably faced even more such circumstances after that. All we have is his email message to Tesla, complaining about the situation. He wrote on July 26, 2021: "Good day, gentlemen, do you believe me that I'm slowly losing my nerves?" His Tesla had recently stopped on the Swiss A3 "after overtaking a vehicle." Handelsblatt published his report after talking to him.Another case came from Manfred Schon, a former Bosch employee. When driving to a meeting in Michigan on June 1, 2019, on the M14 highway, his Tesla "suddenly braked hard, as hard as one can imagine." He told the German newspaper that he "was pressed into the seatbelt, and the car nearly came to a halt." That was when his car was hit from behind. Luckily, he was able to tell the story himself. Many were not as lucky.Handelsblatt talked to some of the people who are suing Tesla for fatal crashes involving Autopilot. One of them killed David and Sheila Brown on August 12, 202. David was driving his Model 3 in Saratoga, California, when it accelerated to 183 kph (113.7 mph), ran a red light, and crashed against a Toyota Tundra. This case also seems to involve SUA . The German newspaper did not mention if data from this collision was included in the Tesla files.Matthes and his team sent the Americanmaker several questions, and the only reply they got back was Alm's threatening letter. Handelblatt's editor-in-chief stated that he prefers to report on successful innovations and bold entrepreneurial visions, but journalists do not get to write about what they like the most. There are things that need to be shared with the public, such as "how conscientiously Tesla handles data."As Matthes puts it, "the informants were apparently able to access the files without major restrictions, even though the information went far beyond their area of responsibility." The Tesla Files contain "the salaries of 100,000 employees, bank details of customers, secret production details," and "even Tesla CEO Elon Musk's putative vehicle number and social security number." Not even the company's most prominent executive is protected from how badly Tesla deals with its data.This is why the German newspaper decided to expose the story. Since Elon Musk "seems to be involved in the smallest things," as if he was running a startup, it was time to let authorities know about it and hope someone would show the company how to properly deal with personal data.This is not the first time the company has been caught red-handed with this subject. In April, former Tesla employees confessed they shared customers' private videos on Mattermost, Tesla's internal messaging system. On May 3, 2020, the white-hat hacker GreenTheOnly helped me break the news about how Tesla dealt with old computers it replaced in its car: throwing them in garbage cans with lots of information from previous owners untouched.As Matthes frames it, "if Musk's leadership shortcomings mean that the rights of his employees and the lives of his customers are at risk, then it's time to tighten the limits of his power." Let's wait for European, Asian, and American authorities to tell us what they will do about this mess. Journalism has done its part. Bravo, Handelsblatt! Full Self-Driving FSD Tesla'ssoftware has been harshly criticized not as much for its performance but mostly for its name. Many argue that self-driving means the car drives itself, and adding "full" to its name is basically a guarantee that you don't need to bother anymore. Taking theBeta's name too literally caused many crashes, some with tragic consequences.For its part, Tesla makes it very clear that the system is not meant to be used without human supervision. Starting from the moment you enroll in the program, you have to agree to draconic terms of use, which are there to ensure Tesla is off the hook if something bad happens while the software is thought to be in control. Not only that, but Tesla changed the wording on its website to say that FSD Beta is a Level 2 driver-assist system, nothing more. Still, this didn't stop people from showing off their car's newly acquired superpower, essentially putting their and others' lives in the hands of God.This would only worsen as Tesla opened the program to new owners in North America with the latest software update. For a long time, the FSD Beta program was only offered to select technology geeks with irreproachable conduct behind the wheel, proved by the high Safety Score . This has made the FSD Beta software appear relatively safe because most people using it were responsible drivers. Things change when folks from all walks of life are given the same privilege.This happened last November, the first time Elon Musk announced that the FSD Beta program is open to everyone who bought the option. The same day, a new FSD Beta tester experienced a phantom braking event while driving on the I-80 east of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The car abruptly slowed to 7 mph (11 kph), surprising the driver, who couldn't override the braking by accelerating. Others driving behind were just as surprised. Eight vehicles were involved in the crash, injuring nine people, including a two-year-old child. The investigation confirmed that the FSD Beta was engaged at the time of the crash.On May 22, Tesla released the 2023.12.10 update to all its vehicles in North America, which also included the FSD Beta V11.3.6. This marked the moment the FSD Beta program was again open to everyone who bought the option or paid for the $199 monthly subscription. And with this, a new wave of inexperienced FSD testers got to test the controversial software. And, as you'd expected, things didn't always go as expected.User u/throwaway64705413 shared on Reddit their story, which fortunately only resulted in damage to the car. Based on their words, the first time they used FSD Beta, the software drove the car into a U-turn lane but failed to slow down as necessary. The car hit the curb hard, ruining the tires and rims and, undoubtedly, causing more damage to the suspension. Since the video was downloaded from the Tesla Dashcam, it's impossible to verify their story or whether the car was even driving on FSD Beta at the time. It wouldn't be for the first time a Tesla owner thought they activated FSD Beta when they only used driver-assist features instead. The video generated a heated debate on who's to blame for the accident. Naturally, being shared in the RealTesla subreddit, many criticized Tesla and the unfinished software. Others pointed out the disclaimers, which clearly tell that the driver should always be in control. We're curious to know your opinion on this, based on the video linked below. Photo: MayorCars/Bring a Trailer Photo: MayorCars/Bring a Trailer Photo: MayorCars/Bring a Trailer Before getting to the monster itself, we should quickly examine how the Mustang came to be. The Mustang story begins with the legendary Lee Iaccoca. He wanted a lightweight, affordable car for the American masses and he wanted it in record time, one and a half years. They used the Ford Falcon's chassis to save money on the design. The long hood and the short rear end came courtesy of inspiration from European cars of the time, and even the Chevy Corvair contributed to specific design queues on the interior.The result debuted at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, and on the very same day, dealerships opened up their doors to reveal the new beauty in on their showroom floor. That day, Ford sold 22,000 Mustangs, thanks to a brilliant marketing strategy a campaign directed to the young baby boomers.At first, it came in two different configurations, a two-door hardtop and a convertible. But, in September of 1964, the best body style would be released as an option the two-plus-two fastback. This history of coolness peaked in 1969. All other American manufacturers were taking swings at the Mustang, so Ford decided to hit right back with the sledgehammer that is the Mach 1. It had a 428 ci (7.0-liter) V8 called the Cobra Jet, making it the street racing, tire-slaying go-to.Following that, the Mustang took a big hit, as every other American car did the gas crisis and emissions regulations. This new generation didn't hinder sales, but the Mustang wasn't the same low horsepower and grandpa-ish looks don't measure up to the savage power of the previous models. Things would change in the '80s with the release of the Foxbody Mustang. The performance was back, and nowadays, they make great project cars. The '90s Mustang also saw performance improvements, but, just as in the previous generation, one thing was missing the looks.The retro throwback looks came with the S197 generation released in 2005. It also got a redesign on the outside in 2010, and the engine options were revised the following year and today, we are talking about a Mustang from this iteration, specifically, 2012. But there is more to this car than a plain-old Mustang it has the Shelby name all over it.Mister Carroll Shelby has been tuning Mustangs since 1965, with the GT350 being the first. What followed is a long list of super-fast Mustangs, but the one we have here today tops them all. It's called the Ford Mustang Shelby 1000 S/C, and it was born as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra and that makes it rare, one of 18, to be exact.Now, let's get to the car. On the outside, the already mean-looking stance is taken a step further. The Ingot Silver Metallic paint hides a carbon fiber hood, rear valance, front and rear spoiler, and rocker panels. Contrasting the color are 20-inch forged Shelby wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport rubber wrapped around them. Behind the girthy wheels, you'll find Shelby-branded Wilwood calipers, with six pistons in the front and four in the rear serious stopping power, and you'll see why in a second.Moving on to the inside, you'll be greeted by Sparco seats upholstered in black leather with the Shelby 1000 logos. The black leather theme continues to the steering wheel, which fronts a 160 mph (260 kph) speedometer, a tachometer with a 6,250 rpm redline, and a boost gauge, alongside a few other ones. If those aren't enough gauges for you, there are also additional ones mounted on the A-pillar, among which is another boost gauge - because, maybe, you forget the massive amount of air pumped into the engine.Speaking of the engine, it measures 5.4 liters (330 ci) with eight cylinders. On top of what seems to be an already potent engine, you'll find a Whipple supercharger that measures 4.0 liters (244 ci) - that is more displacement on a supercharger than any car I see out the window has on its engine. It's absolutely wild, and what's even crazier is the power output. Alongside the supercharger, the engine is revised with more substantial parts to handle the (and brace yourselves) 1,100 hp (1,115 ps) output. That is Bugatti Veyron territory in a Mustang.All that oomph is sent to the rear wheels via a Tremec six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. With this insane package, you also get an aluminum driveshaft and a twin-disc clutch. But that only makes the car handle the power; keeping it going straight is up to you.If you find yourself brave enough to get behind this rear-wheel drive horror, you must dig pretty deep. This Mustang Shelby 1000 S/C is up at auction in Miami, Florida. It currently sits at 133,000 dollars with two days left on the auction. It comes with the manufacturer's certificate of origin in the selling dealer's name, a window sticker, and Shelby invoices. Also, it has only 225 miles (362 kilometers) on the odometer, so it's safe to say that it scared the life out of someone, and it has remained dormant since then. ICE EV Sure, there are a few bike makers who have dedicated themselves to making two-wheelers in this fashion, and even some of the industry's biggest names have also launched electric models (the most famous being Harley's LiveWire ), but that's not nearly comparable with what's happening in the auto industry.With that in mind, common sense tells us the crews in charge of making custom motorcycles are not that keen to go electric either, so the number of modified electric bikes is still very small, and so are conversions. As it stands, electric drivetrains in bikes are almost non-existent. So imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon what's described as the "world's first electric custom bagger."That's right, a bagger just like all other baggers, only not powered by. A thing that holds in its frame a battery and an electric motor, built not starting from an existing model, but from scratch.The bike is called Togetherness, and was shown for the first time back in 2019. It is the work of Fred Kodlin , the first non-American to be inducted into the International Master Bike Builders Association (IMBBA) Hall of Fame (that happened in 2007).The bike was put together for a Swiss fashion brand called Birds of Love. Its skeleton is a custom frame made by Kodlin himself, tailored to house the components of the electric drive. Sadly, we're not told exactly what this drive is all about in terms of specs and performance, but the feat remains impressive nonetheless.Despite this non-conventional approach to such a custom build, the bike still has all the elements that make a custom bagger stand out. Up front, a massive 26-inch wheel steals all the attention, while the one at the back is completely invisible, hidden from sight by a shroud of bodywork that forms the rear, hard bags included.The bike was propped on an air ride suspension system and, being electric, lacks any hint of an exhaust system. That makes it, visually, quite a strange appearance, but not something that can immediately be disliked.Other shops we know of from the custom motorcycle industry have contributed to the build as well. For instance, Performance Machine is responsible for the grips and motogadget supplied the mirrors. The paint job, mostly white, is the work of Kodlin, and makes the Togetherness impossible to ignore.It's not clear what happened to the bike in the four years that have passed since it was first shown, and its current whereabouts are not known. Given howtech has progressed greatly since, we thought another look at the thing might inspire crews out there to go for such an approach. After all, we certainly wouldn't mind seeing more such builds. The mission was the 25th the company has ever flown since the spaceship was ready, and, aside for Unity's two pilots, Mike Masucci and CJ Sturckow, had four more people on board for the ride, all of them Virgin Galactic employees: Virgin's chief astronaut instructor Beth Mosses, former NASA astronaut trainer Luke Mays, Christopher Huie, and Jamila Gilbert.The four did not take the short trip past the Karman line just for fun, or as some sort of corporate reward, but because Virgin needed to test, one last time, how actual, paying customers would find the space-bound experience. We're not given the specifics of their findings, but they all seem to have been pleased enough to give commercial operations a big thumbs up.The flight took place in the usual Virgin Galactic fashion. Strapped to a double-fuselage carrier plane called VMS Eve, the Unity was transported to an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,500 meters), where it was released. Using its own rocket engine, the ship then accelerated to a top speed of almost Mach 3 and reached an altitude of over 54 miles (87 km) before heading back down.Just like it will happen with all commercial flights, the test run lasted only briefly. Since the takeoff of the VMS Eve and the landing of the Unity just under one hour and a half passed. That's a very short (but probably extremely intense) experience, one for which customers will have to pay a total of $450,000.That's the price of a ticket up there according to Virgin. True, it does include much more than the actual trip to the edge of space, meaning stuff like multi-day training and preparation retreat at Spaceport America (not only for the flying customers, but also their family and friends), bespoke flight wear, astronaut insignia, and, of course, photographs and videos of the entire thing.There is still some work to be done after the Unity 25 flight, including a final assessment of the mission's objectives and the evaluation of the end-to-end customer experience, but the company does feel confident enough to claim the first true commercial flight up, called Galactic 01, should happen as soon as next month.We do not know yet the names of the people that have signed up for this historic moment, but we're told it's going to be a "commercial research mission." It's likely most details about it will be announced closer to the launch. 26 May 2023 13:36 (UTC+04:00) With the support of the Azerbaijan Bank Training Center (ABTC), Azerbaijan Banks (ABA) and Kazakhstan Banks Association, credit, risk and digitization managers of Azerbaijan's banks visited Almaty for the purpose of experience exchange and training, Azernews reports. ABA said that during the visit "Halyk Bank", "Bank Center Credit", "Jusan Bank", "Freedom Finance", "VTB Bank" (Kazakhstan), "Home Credit Bank", "Eurasian Bank" , "Bereke Bank", "Otbas Bank" and "DAMU" Foundation, which is a business development support fund, discussed the process of transition to "Agile" management, retail banking and retail lending, sales methods in business loans, credit risk management, agricultural loans, the experience of the banking sector of Kazakhstan regarding new products, analysis process and mechanism of loan issuance, business loans in online banking and other issues were reported. In addition, the Kazakhstan Association of Banks held a seminar on "General information about Kazakhstan's banking system, distribution of loan portfolio, level of digitalization of the market". A delegation of 41 people represented the banking sector of Azerbaijan at the meetings. It should be noted that the Azerbaijan Bank Training Center (ABTC) was established by the European Union in 2000 and is a subsidiary of the Azerbaijan Banks Association. Until now, ABTC has organized about 2500 training courses for more than 36 thousand listeners on about 240 training topics. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 10:21 (UTC+04:00) The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Swiss Confederation has hosted a reception, dedicated to the Independence Day of Azerbaijan, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Switzerland Fuad Isgandarov wrote on his Twitter page, Azernews reports. "Embassy was happy to host a reception, dedicated to the Day of Independence of Azerbaijan. Welcoming remarks of honorable quest of event Minister of Health of Azerbaijan H.E.Teymur Musayev and my speech were followed by amazing performance, presented by young dancers of Azerbaijan, Switzerland, and refuges from Ukraine", he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Lyubov Makarenko's brand Sayya (Ukraine) has been presented on the second day of Azerbaijan Fashion Week 2023, Azernews reports. Titled "Maria", her spring/summer 2023 collection was inspired by the beauty of nature. In her fashion collection, the designer brilliantly mixed different textures and complex silhouettes: tulip skirts, crop tops with loose sleeves, comfortable pajamas, silk sets with minis and blouses that easily turned into a dress. The collection also included stylish denim looks from denim, including embroidered bomber jacket,a miniskirt and a top studded with sparkling Swarovski flowers. Note that Kazakh designer Lariya is the founder of her own fashion school. Her students delighted the audience with their collections. The brand "Alliya" consisted of romantic looks: frills and lace inserts, floral wreaths and lace gloves. Meanwhile, Ma Ali brand was inspired by the culture of the Indians and other peoples of America. Azerbaijani brand Ny Gyul, created by Gulnaz Yusupova and her daughter Nigar Yusupova, demonstrated a bright collection consisting of denim sets with corsets and floral prints. This was followed by all kinds of jewelry used by the brand - ruffles and frills, fringe, pieces of mirrors and voluminous flowers with feathers. Two brands from the Kazakh city of Atyrau, Erkesylkym and Elza Art, followed each other with collections made in a similar style, in which they combine evening dresses with elements of the national Kazakh costume. Further on the podium was presented a collective show of Ukrainian designers, organized by the Tbilisi showroom Ne.Klassika. As part of the show, selected images of such famous designers and brands from Ukraine as Poustovit, Less Less, Omelia, Nadya Dzyak and Moon Lingerie were demonstrated. Every season, the general producer of Azerbaijan Fashion Week and Kazakhstan Fashion Week Sayat Dossybayev organizes collaborations with various brands whose style and visual images are similar to his vision of fashion. This season, his collaboration with designer Aliya Yusupova resulted in the Atelier Artisan by Youniq show. The result of this creative union is a modern, bold collection consisting of hoodies and transformable sweatshirts. The evening continued with another collective show, this time with the participation of the finalists of the New Generation-Open Way Kazakhstan contest, held under the auspices of Kazakhstan Fashion Week. As part of the show, AUGUST by Saltanat Bektabanova, SADAKR by Akram Sadykzhanov and Green Dot Atelier by Kseniya Volkova presented their capsule collections. The evening ended with perhaps the most spectacular show from the Almaty clothing and accessories designer Almaz Asqari. "Kazakhstani Paco Rabanne" presented to the public a collection of outfits inspired by ancient Egypt, with elements made of hand-forged metal. The evening ended with an after-party at Dine Hall, where the guests of the fashion show were thrilled 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 26 May 2023 15:16 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Miss & Mister Azerbaijan 2023 final will take place at Ay Isg restaurant on May 28. The evening is timed to Azerbaijan Independence Day, Azernews reports. Speaking about the beauty contest, the main project coordinator Ayla Mais said that the participants of Miss & Mister Azerbaijan 2023 join the competition to demonstrate their abilities and prove to themselves and others that they can win. They start to evaluate themselves from a new angle, overcome difficulties and open up new life prospects. "True beauty is not just a beautiful appearance, but also good self-presentation, intellectual and creative abilities. I wish success to all the finalists!," said Ayla Mais. Miss & Mister Azerbaijan 2023 program includes musical program, a defile from the contestants in three rounds, awarding ceremony and an after party. The national beauty contest Miss & Mister Azerbaijan has been held annually since 1996. The organizer and founder of the Miss & Mister Azerbaijan 2023 contest is Anelya Ordukhanova. For tickets and reservations: 0558977183, 055 767 88 37. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 12:53 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili on the occasion of Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Madame President, I cordially congratulate you and convey best wishes on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Independence Day on May 26. It is gratifying to see todays level of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia nurturing from the will of our peoples living in the conditions of centuries long friendship, good neighborhood and harmony. Mutual support and confidence, close collaboration, and large regional projects we implement jointly are fundamental factors defining our strategic partnership and alliance. Today, there are good opportunities to further develop our mutually beneficial cooperation and enriching it with new contents, and elevating our partnership to the higher level that would serve to the prosperity of our countries and thriving of our region. I am confident that we will succeed to further foster traditional friendly ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia, and expand our mutually beneficial interaction both bilaterally and multilaterally by our joint efforts in line with interests of our peoples. On such remarkable holiday, I wish you good health, happiness, success in your activities, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Georgia. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 14:00 (UTC+04:00) Russian peacekeepers continue to protect the military transport of illegal Armenian armed groups, Azernews reports. In the footage, it is clear that, accompanied by the armored vehicles of the peacekeepers, the military transports to the combat positions of the illegal Armenian armed forces are being carried out again through the Khankendi-Karkijahan-Khalfali road. Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 14:28 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent an appeal to the participants of the international conference on "Combating the mine threat - the path to sustainable development", Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear delegates! I sincerely welcome you on the occasion of the opening of the international conference themed Mine Action The Path to Reaching Sustainable Development Goals. The theme of todays conference is of particular relevance for Azerbaijan and humanity in general. Azerbaijan ranks among the countries with the most mine and unexploded ordinance contamination worldwide due to the deliberate policy pursued by Armenia. In 2020, Azerbaijan put an end to Armenias occupation of its lands, and our country secured a historic victory as an outcome of a 44-day Patriotic War. In the aftermath of Armenias 30 years-long aggression, over 1 million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their native lands and subjected to ethnic cleansing. While our cities and villages were razed to the ground and our people's historical, cultural and religious heritage deliberately annihilated. According to initial estimates, Armenia had not stopped there and planted over 1.5 million mines across our lands throughout the occupation. Since the Second Karabakh War ended, 302 Azerbaijani citizens fell victim to the mine explosions, 57 of whom died, and 245 were severely injured. Overall, since Armenias launch of military aggression against Azerbaijan, nearly 3400 of our fellow citizens suffered from mines, with 587 losing their lives. 358 mine victims were children, and 30 were women. Armenia planted mines along the roads behind the former line of contact, cemeteries, and other civilian installations, adding to the daily rise in mine explosion victims. The mine threat Azerbaijan faces is comparable to the horror of weapons of mass destruction. The large-scale development work has immediately begun in our liberated territories to ensure a voluntary, secure and dignified return of our fellow citizens expelled from their homes. As we speak, the entire infrastructure destroyed during occupation is being rebuilt, and cities and villages are constructed in Karabakh and East Zangezur, declared green energy zone. Some of our completed work is evident; you have witnessed it firsthand during your visit to Azerbaijan. Regrettably, Armenia continued to plant mines across Azerbaijans territory after the conflict ended, using the Lachin road. Over 2700 anti-personnel mines produced in Armenia in 2021 were discovered in our territories. Along with delaying the restoration and reconstruction work carried out there, a mass mine contamination of our lands gravely jeopardizes the lives and well-being of our people. It impedes realizing the rights of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons who have longed to return to their homes for so many years. Humanitarian demining is among Azerbaijans primary state priorities. The foundation of that policy was laid by the National Leader of the people of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, whose 100th anniversary we celebrate this year. Thanks to the Great Leaders strategic vision, foresight and wise policies, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action ANAMA, was established 25 years ago. Presently, ANAMA is the leading agency conducting humanitarian demining in the country. Despite the magnitude and complexity of the mine problem we face and the long way ahead, our country has mobilized all its resources to overcome this task as soon as possible. Today, demining efforts in Azerbaijan are conducted using the most modern and advanced technology available worldwide. Consistent work is underway to boost our national demining potential, and our capabilities have grown significantly in that direction in the past two years. I should note that over 90 percent of our demining activities are funded through our national resources. In the meantime, we cooperate productively with our foreign partners in that sphere and are grateful to the countries and international organizations that support us. Regrettably, given the general picture, the extent of foreign support is still mediocre. Azerbaijan views demining efforts as directly related to sustainable and lasting development, considering the enormous impact of demined territories on the welfare and progress of our people and their significance in a broader perspective for our countrys development. That is why humanitarian demining is officially declared the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal in Azerbaijan. As Azerbaijan addresses its demining problem, it contributes globally to the humanitarian demining process. Since the consequences of wars and mines are growing worldwide, we have proposed establishing humanitarian demining as the UNs 18th SDG. The work is underway also within the Non-Aligned Movement, where we hold chairmanship, to form a Likeminded Group of Mine-Affected Countries. Todays conference is a favorable opportunity to address challenges and possibilities related to mine problems in the global agenda and exchange leading expertise in this sphere. I believe the discussions at this conference will lead to mobilizing joint efforts in demining and formulating new ideas and initiatives for the sake of humanitys prosperity and leaving a legacy of a Mine Free World for future generations. I extend my best wishes and wish the conference every success. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 21:30 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Historically, Iran is considered the cradle of Turkish culture, which has been standing for thousands of years. Isfahan, Rey and other cities were the central parts of the ancient Turkish Seljuk state. It is no secret that a large number of Turkmens (known as Oghuz Turks) still live in the areas around the Caspian Sea, more precisely, from the city of Rasht to the borders of Turkmenistan and in southwestern Iran. There are currently more than 50,000 nationalities of Turkish origin in Iran, and about 30,000 of them are Azerbaijani Turks. However, today those peoples of Turkic origin are under great pressure to speak their mother tongue. It is interesting that the Iranian regime opens special schools in the Armenian language in Iran for approximately 60,000 Armenian minorities. However, 30 million Azerbaijani Turks are forbidden to speak their mother tongue and even give their children their national names. Elyar Kamrani, a political analyst from South Azerbaijan, while making a statement for Azernews, noted that the Turkophobia in Iran is not only related to the regime, this fear has a centuries-old history. The Turkish language has been banned in Iran for over 100 years. There are languages that, despite the ban, are not fined or prosecuted. But when our activists in Iran speak in Azerbaijani language, they are imprisoned for years or expelled from the country. This law has been in force since the time of Mohammad Rza Pahlavi. In Iran, regardless of era and government, the nation has suffered oppression due to the use of the Azerbaijani language. The use of this language is prohibited not only in schools, but also in shops and in food names. Otherwise, this person is either arrested or pays a large fine. Even the use of Turkish names is prohibited, he said Kamrani said that not only under the "mullah" regime but also in the Shah's period before the revolution, there was hatred towards the Azerbaijani Turks. The reason for Iran's fear of the Turkish language and the Turkish nation is that Iran's 100-year-old policy of assimilation may fail. Pointing the reasons, the expert said that Azerbaijani Turks are the most numerous nation living in Iran. Thousands of people were expelled from their country and family because they did not know the Persian (Farsi) language, they were not allowed into schools. Despite the fact that it was impossible before, but now Azerbaijanis and Turks are expressing their protest in schools, squares, and offices, fearing no one, with slogan saying "Turkic-speaking madrasah - for everyone." This is our national right. Not only Iran, no one has the right to ban and ignore it. I believe that as much it is important for a person to breathe, is as much important to defend their national rights, the expert said. According to him, the only request of the Azerbaijani Turks is that the Azerbaijani language is equally respected with Persian. The opportunity must be created for everyone to make their own choice and be educated in the language of their choice. Although there are currently around 60,000 Armenians living in Iran, there are over 30 million of us - the Turks. However, no matter how much the Turks suffer in the country, the Armenians are given the exact opposite - full comfort. In Iran, Armenians speak the language they want, go to school, and mix up in society. Not only the language, they even promote their religion as they want, Elyar Kamrani said. He also spoke about the projects by the mullah regime, which turned out to be unsuccessful. Those were which the Azerbaijani language should be taught in high schools, institutes or universities, but not in secondary schools. However, the Turks opposed this project and it was not implemented. The only requirement of the Azerbaijani Turks is that the teaching of the Persian language and even the Armenian language, as well as the teaching of our language, be allowed and legalized in the same way. Later there was such a project that although in some schools it is allowed to speak Azerbaijani, the writing must also be translated into Persian. Of course, the Azerbaijani Turks oppose this and continue to demand their wishes. The Persians use all methods to completely eliminate the Azerbaijani language in the country. But by no means will this happen. As always, we will continue our protests and not allow the fall of our language and nation in the country, the expert concluded. --- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 18:00 (UTC+04:00) President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Arif Alvi has 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: To His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, It gives me great pleasure to convey my best wishes on the occasion of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan. Over the last thirty years the fraternal bonds between our two countries have strengthened based on our deepening multi-sectoral cooperation particularly in economy and trade, culture, education as well as defense. Pakistan proudly stood by Azerbaijan during testing times and will continue to offer its steadfast support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. I would also like to congratulate the people of Azerbaijan as they commemorate the Year of Heydar Aliyev paying tribute to the extraordinary legacy of the National Leader of Azerbaijan, whose vision and hard work put Azerbaijan on the path of success and prosperity. I look forward to working with you to further expand our bilateral cooperation for the betterment of the people of two countries. I pray for your personal health and happiness, and for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Azerbaijan. Please, accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Arif Alvi President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 18:03 (UTC+04:00) President of China, Xi Jinping 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, It is my honor to extend to you and through you to the friendly people of Azerbaijan my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the your countrys Independence Day. I am pleased to see the effective implementation of agreements reached during our meeting in Samarkand in September of last year and the dynamic pace of development of relations between our countries in all areas. Mr. President, you have repeatedly emphasized the strategic significance of China-Azerbaijan relations, and expressed your intention to strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries. I highly appreciate this. I am looking forward to make joint efforts with you to contribute to the healthy and stable development of bilateral friendly relations and cooperation. I wish you robust health, success in your endeavors, progress, strength and power to friendly Azerbaijan, and happiness and tranquility to the people of Azerbaijan. Sincerely, Xi Jinping President of the Peoples Republic of China --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 18:41 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili on the occasion of Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Mr. Prime Minister, I wholeheartedly congratulate you and your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the National Holiday of Georgia- the Independence Day. Declaring their independence at about the same time 105 years ago, Azerbaijan and Georgia nurture their ties from the will of our peoples that have been historically living in the friendship and good neighborhood. We are pleased that our interstate relations built on such solid foundations have reached the current high level by being developed dramatically and comprehensively. Georgia is the important partner, ally and friendly country for us. We attach a particular importance to strengthen and further deepen our ties based on mutual trust and support in all areas. I am confident that large scale energy and transportation projects we implement successfully, and our collaboration enriched by new contents on daily basis will continue to significantly contribute to the prosperity of our peoples, thriving of our countries, and to the security and progress of our region. On this remarkable day, I wish you strong health, success in your endeavors and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Georgia. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 19:02 (UTC+04:00) King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa has 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 Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in my name and in the name of the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain, I am pleased to present to Your Excellency our sincere congratulations and best wishes of good health and happiness. We pray to God Almighty to grant your Excellency abundant health and happiness, and to bless the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan with further progress and prosperity. I willingly assure Your Excellency of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 19:11 (UTC+04:00) King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein has 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 Your Excellency, On behalf of the people and government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, I would like to extend to Your Excellency, and the great people of Azerbaijan, our sincere congratulations on the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I avail myself of this opportunity to wish your Excellency good health and happiness, and to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan continued progress and prosperity. Sincerely, Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein King of Jordan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that Russia had begun moving nuclear weapons to its western neighbor and ally, after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to transfer them in March, Azernews reports citing Al Arabiya. There were no new comments from Russia on bringing the nuclear weapons to Belarus. The transfer of nuclear munitions has begun, Lukashenko said 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 Russias Ukraine offensive. In March, Putin announced he would station tactical -- or short-range -- nuclear weapons to the territory of Belarus, drawing condemnation from the West. Lukashenko said Putin had informed him on Wednesday that he had signed a decree on the transfer. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Thursday said the move would not only endanger the lives of Belarusians but also create a new threat against Ukraine and all of Europe. It will make Belarusians hostages to Russian imperial ambitions, Tikhanovskaya added. Tactical nuclear arms are battlefield weapons that, while devastating, have a smaller yield compared to long-range strategic weapons. Putins announcement had spurred fears of nuclear conflict, but experts and governments said it was unlikely that the move would change the course of the conflict. Belarusian troops began training on nuclear-capable Russian missile systems in April. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 11:07 (UTC+04:00) The grand reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Islamabad, marking Azerbaijans upcoming Independence Day on May 28, 2023. The event, held at Sheesh Mahal, Serena Hotel, was attended by foreign ambassadors to Pakistan, Representatives of the Pakistani government, public, cultural, and business circles, high-ranking officers, media representatives, as well as Azerbaijanis living in Pakistan, Azernews informs with reference to Embassy. Rana Tanveer, the Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training in the Government of Pakistan, graced the event as the chief guest. Alongside other esteemed guests, he participated in the cake-cutting ceremony, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the occasion. Ambassador Farhadov began his speech by expressing gratitude to the attendees for joining in the celebration of Azerbaijans Independence Day. Speech by Ambassador Ambassador emphasized the significance of May 28, commemorating the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 as the first democratic secular republic in the Muslim East. Recalling the achievements of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic during its 3 decades existence, Ambassador Farhadov highlighted the formation of the first Parliament and Government, the determination of borders, and the adoption of national symbols, such as the flag, anthem, and coat of arms. Notably, recognizing equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of ethnicity and religion, and granting women the right to vote were remarkable milestones. However, the Ambassador acknowledged the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Bolsheviks in 1920, leading to the demise of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. It was only after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that the people of Azerbaijan reestablished their independent state, building upon the traditions of their earlier republic. Ambassador Farhadov expressed gratitude to the late National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, who assumed power in 1993 during a crisis and played a vital role in strengthening the nations independence. The Ambassador highlighted the ongoing celebrations of Heydar Aliyevs 100th birth anniversary in Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and other friendly countries. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan continues to flourish, with notable successes in various areas of national life. The Ambassador emphasized the recent victory in the Patriotic War 2020, during which the Azerbaijani Army liberated territories from Armenian occupation within 44 days. Subsequently, the government initiated extensive restoration and reconstruction efforts, facilitating the return of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees to their ancestral lands. Emphasis on Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations The deep-rooted friendship, brotherhood, and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan were highlighted as significant pillars of bilateral relations. Ambassador Farhadov expressed gratitude to Pakistan for being among the first countries to recognize Azerbaijans independence in 1991. He underscored the mutual support between the two nations, both bilaterally and within international organizations. The Ambassador further emphasized the strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, which have seen growth in various fields. Direct flights between the two countries, initiated in 2022, have facilitated increased tourism, with 50,000 Pakistani visitors to Azerbaijan in the same year. The introduction of the online ASAN visa system for Pakistani citizens has also enhanced people-to-people connectivity. In recognition of the close ties, Azerbaijan exempted rice from import customs duty for rice originating from Pakistan, contributing to a nearly tripled trade turnover between the two nations. Ambassador Farhadov expressed gratitude to all attendees for joining the celebration of Azerbaijans Independence Day and emphasized the continued growth of relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 May 2023 21:40 (UTC+04:00) Saudi Arabia and the United States said on Friday that Sudan's warring sides were complying better with a ceasefire despite reports of sporadic fighting from Khartoum residents and of clashes elsewhere in the country, Azernews reports citing Al Arabiya. The pair are monitoring a seven-day truce between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that began on Monday, aimed at allowing access to aid and basic services. Though fighting appears to have calmed, there has been no full pause in hostilities with reports throughout the week of clashes, artillery and airstrikes. Although there was observed use of military aircraft and isolated gunfire in Khartoum, the situation improved from May 24 when the ceasefire monitoring mechanism detected significant breaches of the agreement, a Saudi-US statement said. Saudi and US representatives cautioned the parties against further violations and implored them to improve respect for the ceasefire on May 25, which they did," it added. Some 1.3 million people have fled the fighting, which stems from a power struggle between the military rivals, seeking refuge within Sudan or neighboring states. The health ministry has said that at least 730 people have been killed, though the true figure is likely much higher. Those who remain in Khartoum suffer from electricity and water outages, a breakdown in healthcare services and reduced communications. Many homes, particularly in well-off areas of the capital, have been raided and looted. When I heard it happened to us I wasnt that surprised, said Taysir Abdelrahim, who had left Sudan and found out her home was looted two days ago. Even if we were in Sudan theres nothing you can do about it, she said. Its all part of the chaos of this war. Food stores, flour mills and other essential facilities have been looted as well. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Cloudy early, becoming mostly sunny this afternoon. High 83F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. By Sunita Sohrabji May 19, 2023 Dalit activist Prem Pariyar says his family was brutally attacked in Nepal for being untouchables. He fled to the U.S., but finds caste discrimination persists here as well. California state Senator Aisha Wahab (center) has proposed a bill banning caste discrimination in California. (Twitter photo) In 2014, Prem Pariyars father, who lives in Kathmandu, rented a truck for a day at a cost of 50 Nepali rupees. He asked the owner of the truck to come back the following day to get the payment, the equivalent of 38 cents in the U.S. Pariyars family are Dalits, sometimes derisively referred to as untouchables. Caste oppression and discrimination are currently on the front burner in California: on May 11, the state Senate overwhelmingly passed SB 403, which would make discrimination on the basis of caste illegal in the state. The bill was sponsored by Democrat Sen. Aisha Wahab, the first South Asian American woman in the California state Legislature. Brutal Attack If the bill passes through the Assembly and is signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, California would become the first state to explicitly ban caste-based discrimination. Opponents of the measure say protection for Dalits already exists in California state law. The Seattle, Washington City Council passed a similar resolution in February. Dalit activist Prem Pariyar. (photo courtesy of Prem Pariyar) Pariyar told Ethnic Media Services the truck driver was very angry. He said: oh, you untouchables. How you dare to say that? Do I have to come again just to receive Rs 50? Okay, wait, I will show you your label. The truck owner came back with 25 men, who broke through the door of the Pariyars home and tore the place apart, according to Prem Pariyar. He was not home, but his mother, father, sister, wife, and little son were all inside. Pariyar alleged that the higher caste truck owner and his gang started to attack his sister and father, viciously beating them while chanting anti-Dalit vitriol. My dad fainted, he fell to the ground. Brain Bleed and Nightmares Pariyars wife called Prem, who returned immediately and called police. The family was taken to the hospital. Pariyars father sustained a slow brain bleed, which lasted about six months. His mother and sister suffered extensive bruising throughout their bodies. The family remains traumatized to this day, often suffering nightmares of the horrific event, he said. Pariyar said he tried to file a report with police, but allegedly got nowhere. He fled to the U.S. in 2015, using caste oppression as the basis for his asylum claim, which was approved by the State Department, according to him. State Dept. Criticizes India and Nepal At press time May 19, the State Department had not responded to a request for comment on Pariyars case or whether caste oppression is a valid criteria for asylum cases. But in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices the Human Rights Report, the agency noted that while caste-based discrimination is illegal in Nepal, the practice still continues and is often violent. The report cited Dalit activists as saying discrimination laws were too general and did not explicitly protect Dalits. Most cases go unreported, and those that are reported rarely result in official action, according to the State Department report. Asylum in the US The State Department cited similar conditions in India. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs immediately denounced the report as motivated and biased commentary and added that such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding. Pariyars case is an acknowledgement that the State Department recognizes that caste oppression is a valid condition upon which to approve an asylum claim, said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, founder of the Oakland, California-based Equality Labs, the largest Dalit organization in the U.S. Caste discrimination is a known reason for asylum; we have seen cases across multiple states, she told EMS. Discrimination Continues Immigration case law is one of the robust bodies of US law where caste discrimination is recognized, said Soundararajan. (photo courtesy of Prem Pariyar) After fleeing to the US, Pariyar attended college at CSU East Bay; discrimination against him persisted by other South Asian Americans. People used to ask my name. When I said Im Prem Pariyar, their body language changed immediately. Silence descended. They could tell by my surname that I was Dalit. So many people in my community have changed their surnames to hide their caste identity. But I have never hidden who I am, said Pariyar. Polluted Food The associate mental health clinician, who is currently practicing at the Portia Bell Hume Behavioral Health and Training Center, said that shortly after arriving in the US, he went to a house party. When it was time to have food together, I was stopped many times. They didnt want me to touch the food because I would pollute it. They have a fear of polluting their food. A similar incident occurred at a contract worksite, during a birthday celebration of a Nepali co-worker. Everyone at the office was invited, so Pariyar went. But when he went to get his food, he was stopped. The hostess immediately stopped me. Excuse me, Prem, can you stop? Please dont touch that food. I will prepare a plate for you. This happened in front of my fellow co-workers. I was feeling like I was not a human being at that time, said Pariyar. I was so embarrassed. But nobody stood up and told the hostess this is wrong, which made me feel even more bad. Casteism Still Alive Spurred on by Pariyars activism, in January 2022, the California State University system added caste as a protected category to its system-wide anti-discrimination policies. I used to think the United States, this is the dream land for everyone. Because here people can have all kinds of freedom. This is the land of human rights. But the truth is, casteism is still alive and well today in California. Dalits are suffering daily from the effects of historic and modern casteism, said Pariyar. Howard Straker, PA-C, EdD, Susan LeLacheur, DrPH, PA-C, faculty members in the department of physician assistant studies at Washington, D.C.-based George Washington University, and Kara Caruthers, PA-C, associate professor at Nashville, Tenn.-based Meharry Medical College, recently sat down with Becker's to discuss how race is used in clinical algorithms and how that can impact patient care for people of color, and to offer some insight on how to remove racial elements from clinical medicine. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: In your experiences, how has race come up in clinical algorithms, and how is it affecting people of color? Kara Caruthers: We have to acknowledge that racism in medicine exists. It truly is entrenched, baked in and really constructed in everything we do even how we learn about things. [One example is] our kidneys and kidney function. There is a particular calculation that all clinicians do, that allows us to know if someone's kidney is functioning at an optimal level. Based on that calculation it kind of depends on what medications we give, the strength and concentration of the medication, how much we give and if we need to refer to a specialist to do some additional treatment. What is unfortunate what has really been built into medical practice is for that calculation, there's the non-Black calculation, which is everybody else, white, Asian, Hispanic, etc. Then there's the Black calculation. There's actually a difference in how the calculation factors, which put Black people specifically not other people of color, but Black people specifically in harm's way, meaning we don't treat them as fast when they have kidney disease or they're not eligible to be on the kidney transplant list [as an example.] We used this race-based calculation for decades until late 2021 when the National Kidney Foundation and other organizations called for the use of a race-neutral calculation. The race-based calculation caused us to miss a group of patients whose kidneys were not functioning at optimal levels. And since there is no gene for race, why on earth would we have a medical calculation for kidney function that harms, delays treatment for Black people and their kidneys? Dr. Susan LeLacheur: With lung function, there was until last summer a calculation that is built into most spirometers that we still use today that requires you to put in the patient's race when you're doing the test. At a lower functional level, a Black person will be called normal, whereas a white person will not. Now think about the effect of that during COVID. [Additionally], there's a test we use all the time called a pulse oximeter that tests your oxygen level. Next time you're in a public restroom, watch Black people and white people go to the sink with those automatic faucets and try and turn them on. How does that system work? It's shining a light, it's testing the light. It picks up [white] skin just fine. Same thing happens with the pulse oximeter. It is calculated to work for people with white skin, not for people with darker skin. So, just like that automatic faucet, it's giving an abnormal or wrong reading and it gets increasingly wrong as the level of lung function decreases. Dr. Howard Straker: Race is a social concept. If it's a social function, then how do we have biological parameters tied into this? How do they connect? I began realizing that all these objective measures where we put race into them are playing a social role, that we're adding into something that's supposed to be a biological objective function, as we see with the kidneys or with the lungs. Those objective measures as we looked back through history are based on biases and opinions that people had. Any kind of algorithm is really based on some kind of functioning, and a lot of our algorithms are built on bias and built into the system. Historically people were starting to use the word structural racism. For us in medicine, one of the ways of structural racism is these biases are built into these objective measures. If you ask anybody, they will say, "Well, I get their creatinine level, and I get their [estimated glomerular filtration rate.] That's objective, I can't mess with that." Now, we realize it does make a difference. People have made decisions about who gets a hospital bed, based on systems. They come in with acute heart failure, and there's a system: Do they go to the ICU? Do they go to a cardiac unit? Do they go to the regular floor based on this calculation? And then the calculation asks, 'Are they Black?' No. And they put that in there. How does that social [function] suddenly become biological? Now, the truth is that one of the major social functions of race is discrimination, and one of the reasons we actually pay attention to race in this country is because of a historical system of discrimination. It's every day. So the federal government at one point really started classifying people by race so they could see if people were getting the same treatment, whether it was an education, or whatever else. That allows us now to see how we don't get the same treatment. Q: What should healthcare organizations consider in respect to clinical guidelines? HS: At the end of last year, the Biden administration put forth, through the Department of Health and Human Services, this intention to combat algorithms that have discrimination baked into them. It hasn't happened. They've put it out for public review and it hasn't happened yet. But one piece of it was going to put a level of responsibility on clinicians. KC: This is bigger than each of us individually. But each of us individually [can be] more intentional and mindful about how we use these clinical shortcuts, because that's what they are. [Clinicians] can ask: If I use this race modification, is it going to harm my patient? Is it delaying care, not giving care? If people were to think, "Well, why do we do this?" and "Wait a minute, that's not right, because I just had a patient that was white yesterday that had the same thing, and I admitted them to the hospital or to the ICU, because they need more care." Instead of, "This patient, because they're Black, they're just going to go to the floor to a nursing staff that has six to eight patients, versus going to ICU where they may have one or two." So, how do we get people to use our critical thinking skills and to think and pause before you subscribe it as absolute truth? I think what some of us forget, in both medicine and science in general, it's a lot of theories, which means as we get more information we also have to be willing to adapt. What we're doing is we're offering additional information, to encourage our colleagues to adapt, to petition, to advocate for patients. I tell students and potential students all the time PA stands for patient advocate. And if you cannot advocate for your patient, I don't want you to be a PA. SL: One of the things that we want to push [organizations] a little [more] on is how do you fix the damage already done. It's not just not using race anymore in the algorithm. What about all those people who came last year before we change this? What about all those people who are on the transplant list, but way down, because their kidney function was miscalculated? What about all those people whose lung function requires a different level of care at this point? How do we fix the damage already done? Q: What are the three questions providers should ask themselves when considering race-based algorithms? HS: The three questions that we have, actually, come from a New England Journal of Medicine article. One is, if there's a need for race-based correction, that's what we call our race-based modification, is it based on robust evidence? We are taught in evidence-based medicine to look at the internal/external validity, bias and what kind of confounders are present. One of the reasons this is a difficult thing is that it forces you to have to go read medical literature and go back into that stuff. So, it's correct, but it's difficult. The second question is, is there a mechanism that will make sense of this? If we're saying this is a social function, and we're applying it biologically, what's the biological mechanism that makes this work? And clinicians can start thinking that through. Now, if you believe that Black people have more muscle mass than white people, then you're going to accept that idea for EGFR, right? So we want you to then also double check your own biases. There are people who believe that Black people have thicker skin and don't feel pain, right? And if you have that bias already, then the mechanism is already there for you to believe that you shouldn't give more pain medicine. The third one, which is the easiest one to kind of look at is, if you implement race-based modification, does it exacerbate problems? Does it make them worse? And in what way? I want to emphasize what Susan was talking about, which is, in essence, we have three official questions that are based in the literature, but we actually have four questions. The fourth being, how can we take care of the harm that we've already done? Here are 11 cardiology updates Becker's has reported on in May: Springfield, Ore.-based PeaceHealth Medical Center at RiverBend plans to permanently close its pediatric cardiology clinic on July 21. Philip Blair, CEO of Surgery Center Services of America, spoke with Becker's about ASC companies' biggest growth focus and why cardiology is so important for ASCs. Although the mean annual wage among all cardiologists is $421,330, that can vary based on factors including experience and practice setting. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has received a multimillion dollar gift from the Topolewski family to advance pediatric heart valve research through the Topolewski Pediatric Heart Valve Center and establish an endowed chair in pediatric cardiology. Cardiology procedures are continuing to migrate to the ASC setting. US Heart and Vascular has partnered with Memorial Katy Cardiology Associates, a Houston-based cardiovascular physician practice. HonorHealth broke ground on a cardiovascular ASC in Scottsdale, Ariz., as part of a $60 million expansion project at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center. Individuals in their 20s and 30s with mental disorders face a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. As the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and illness continues to grow in the U.S., so does the demand for cardiovascular care. It is estimated that the U.S. cardiovascular market size sits around $50 billion. US Heart & Vascular partnered with Nashville, Tenn.-based healthcare investment firm Rubicon Founders to expand USHV's capabilities. Cardiology is the fastest-growing ASC specialty. Philip Blair, CEO of Surgery Center Services of America, spoke with Becker's about ASC companies' biggest growth focus and why cardiology is so important for ASCs. Question: What is Surgery Center Services of America's biggest growth focus in the next five years? Editor's note: This response was edited lightly for brevity and clarity. Philip Blair: Given that reimbursements have been increasing in general, some procedures have a more profitable facility fee setting in an ASC. Obviously, cardio and orthopedics are a big deal. We've seen a huge push especially in the last couple years during COVID-19 ASCs with catheterization labs and with office-based lab hybrid models. That's a huge push. A lot of cardiologists are out there trying to protect their practice, their referral patterns, and make sure that everything stays in house and picking up procedures out of the hospital or maybe other ASCs. That's a huge deal. So I would say my big focus is cardiology. Some states unfortunately still don't allow ASCs with catheterizations to be owned by a physician California is one of them, Ohio is one of them, New York is another. Pennsylvania made a huge clinical executive ruling recently. The governor made an executive review that took a look at all the procedures being done in an outpatient setting and, essentially, anything that's been done around the country that can be done in an outpatient setting, you know, they are refocusing and allowing it to happen to Pennsylvania. Now there's a huge push I'm calling the gold rush. A lot of cardiology groups are just rushing to get their projects done in Pennsylvania. We're doing our first cardiology project up in Pennsylvania, and it's going to just completely go crazy. So our big focus is really tackling the catheterization model. Geneva, Ala.-based Wiregrass Medical Center is the least expensive hospital to receive a colonoscopy, according to information from data analytics company Hospital Pricing Specialists. Hospital Pricing Specialists created an annual pricing survey that analyzed more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals by examining hospital machine-readable files and public claims. The goal of the survey was to analyze the effects of the price transparency law on CMS-defined shoppable codes, according to a May 25 email to Becker's from the company. Here is the pricing data for CMS shoppable code, CPT 45380-Colonoscopy, at the 10 least expensive hospitals to have the procedure done: 1. $250 Wiregrass Medical Center (Geneva, Ala.) 2. $263 Emory Hillandale Hospital [Lithonia, Ga.) 3. $319 Saint Cloud (Minn.) Hospital 4. $331 Mid Coast Hospital (Brunswick, Maine) 5. $399 East Liverpool (Ohio) City Hospital 6. $447 Bellevue (Neb.) Medical Center 7. $447 The Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha) 8. $467 Brandywine Hospital (Coatesville, Pa.) 9. $500 Jackson County Hospital District (Edna, Texas) 10. $521 Lexington Medical Center (West Columbia, S.C.) Cleveland, Texas-based Texas Emergency Hospital is the most expensive hospital to receive a colonoscopy, according to information from data analytics company Hospital Pricing Specialists. Hospital Pricing Specialists created an annual pricing survey that analyzed more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals by examining hospital machine-readable files and public claims. The goal of the survey was to analyze the effects of the price transparency law on CMS-defined shoppable codes, according to a May 25 email to Becker's from the company. Here is the pricing data for CMS shoppable code, CPT 45380-Colonoscopy, at the 10 most expensive hospitals to have the procedure done: 1. $64,433 Texas Emergency Hospital (Cleveland, Texas) 2. $46,483 The Woodlands (Texas) Specialty Hospital 3. $35,298 Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican San Martin Campus (Las Vegas) 4. $32,682 Pontiac (Mich.) General Hospital 5. $26,870 Alta Vista Regional Hospital (Las Vegas, N.M.) 6. $25,163 Altus Houston Hospital 7. $24,286 Rio Grande Regional Hospital (McAllen, Texas) 8. $23,964 HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital (Brooksville) 9. $23,532 Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Siena Campus (Henderson, Nev.) 10. $23,226 Barstow Community Hospital (Barstow, Calif.) Melissa Hermanson, DNP, RN, administrator of Vineland, N.J.-based Ambulatory Care Center, is Becker's ASC Administrator of the Week. Dr. Hermanson has held the role of administrator at Ambulatory Care Center for more than 12 years, according to her Linkedin page. She also serves as a board member of the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, a position she has held since October 2021, and as a surveyor for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care for more than one year. Dr. Hermanson recently joined Becker's to discuss how publicly insured patients are affecting ASCs and how to navigate the threat declining reimbursement poses to independent facilities. "It's frustrating that the restraint is on the part of the payer and what they're willing to reimburse," Dr. Hermanson told Becker's. "Why are we advocating so hard for the patients when the payers aren't trying to protect them at the same time? That's what's really frustrating, especially because so many of our patients are kids and we really want them to get the care that they need. But if you're not savvy to how the contract negotiations go and I think that a lot of people really aren't, because I think there's a misconception that you can't negotiate with Medicaid payers that you're kind of stuck with what you get. But the reality is that you do have some leverage there." The two highest-paying executives of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, saw base salary drops from 2021 to 2022 but overall compensation increases. Here is what the three highest-paid Tenet executives earned since 2018, pulled from proxy statements filed in 2020 and 2023. Ron Rittenmeyer, former executive chair Mr. Rittenmeyer was named executive chair of Tenet in 2017. He retired in October 2022 and died 10 days later. 2022: $24.3 million, including a base salary of $1.2 million 2021: $18.7 million including a base salary of $1.5 million 2020: $16.7 million, including a base salary of $1.44 million 2019: $24.3 million, including a base salary of $1.2 million 2018: $15 million, including a base salary of $1.5 million Note: Mr. Rittenmeyer did not take home his entire base salary in 2020. To help company employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated his salary earned from April through June to the Tenet Care Fund. Saum Sutaria, MD, CEO and executive chair Dr. Sutaria joined Tenet in 2019 and became CEO in 2021. He was promoted to executive chair in October following the death of Mr. Rittenmeyer. 2022: $24.3 million, including a base salary of $1.4 million 2021: $18.7 million, including a base salary of $1.15 million 2020: $8.58 million, including a base salary of $1 million 2019: $8.6 million, including a base salary of $961,539 Dan Cancelmi, CFO and executive vice president 2022: $3.6 million, including a base salary of $750,000 2021: $9.4 million, including a base salary of $686,575 2020: $7.2 million, including a base salary of $641,385 2019: $5.1 million, including a base salary of $618,000 2018: $3 million, including a base salary of $618,000 A Tennessee patient who was upset she could not get refunded for her dental treatment was charged with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly firing gunshots at a home with people inside, Fox13 Memphis reported May 26. Debria Coble, 23, allegedly fired gunshots into the home while driving a car, a witness told the Memphis Police Department. Ten people were inside the house, including a person who allegedly performed dental work on Ms. Coble. No injuries were reported. The police were told the shooting was over Ms. Coble's inability to get a refund for the dental work she received. Ms. Coble is facing 10 charges of attempted first-degree murder, vandalism and employment of a firearm with intent to commit a felony. From reimbursement challenges to declining patient volumes and spiraling labor costs, many factors lead hospitals to shut down or enter bankruptcy. Below are eight hospitals that filed for bankruptcy, closed or announced plans to close this year: 1. Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport, N.Y., will close June 17 after years of financial turbulence. In November 2019, the hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and signed a management agreement with Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health. The system has been planning to close Eastern Niagara Hospital once its replacement hospital opens. The closure will affect 337 employees. 2. Havre de Grace, Md.-based Harford Memorial Hospital, part of the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, announced plans to close in late 2023 or early 2024. The hospital closure is dependent on the opening of a new bed tower at the health system's Bel Air campus. Once the tower opens, Harford Memorial will begin to be decommissioned. 3. San Benito Health Care District, the board overseeing Hollister, Calif.-based Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, voted May 22 to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The hospital said it will remain open and operational "while leadership looks for a strategic partner or buyer." 4. McLaren St. Luke's in Maumee, Ohio, closed May 8 and ceased all outpatient services. Cincinnati-based Mercy Health is acquiring the hospital campus which includes 12 buildings from Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care. Mercy is working with WellCare Physicians Group practices through the transition to maintain the continuity of patient care. Changes will begin after Mercy officially takes over June 1. 5. San Antonio-based Texas Vista Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, closed May 1. The 325-bed hospital provided healthcare to predominantly lower income residents in San Antonio and South Texas for almost 40 years and had been struggling financially. The closure resulted in 827 layoffs. 6. Montebello, Calif.-based Beverly Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 19. The hospital secured $13 million in financing to keep operating as it looked for a buyer. Hospital officials said rising costs outpacing government reimbursement rates were to blame for the situation. Beverly has unsuccessfully attempted to merge with three health systems. 7. Madera (Calif.) Community Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 10. The hospital officially closed at midnight Dec. 30, after Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health's plan to buy the hospital fell through. Trinity already owns and operates Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, Calif. Madera Community leaders had hoped to avoid bankruptcy and explored a number of options, including looking for another organization to take over operations. But without a buyer lined up, the hospital proceeded with the bankruptcy filing. 8. St. Margaret's Health-Peru (Ill.) closed Jan. 28 after the system's CEO and chair of the board detailed plans to temporarily shutter the hospital and reopen it once a rural emergency hospital designation is finalized. However, the hospital will need to reopen before it can qualify for the designation. Mississippi lawmakers set up a more than $100 million grant program to support the state's struggling hospitals, but healthcare officials said the program is not helping as intended, NBC affiliate WLBT reported May 25. The program was designed to distribute $103 million to hospitals through a hybrid funding model using American Rescue Plan Act funds. Winston Medical Center's CEO Paul Black told the news outlet that by funding the program with ARPA dollars, it turns it into a reimbursement program. Mr. Black said the issue for many hospitals in the state is they've already claimed those expenses on ARPA funds they've received throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and can't claim them again under this program. He said they were supposed to get about $922,000 but will end up with nothing because they don't qualify. "I don't think they understood the magnitude of what those restrictions are on the ARPA money as far as it goes to hospitals," Mr. Black told the outlet. "I just don't think they understood." Mark Horne, MD, chief medical officer and interim CEO of Laurel-based South Central Regional Medical Center, said he thinks they'll qualify for at least some of the funds, but not in the format they first expected, according to the report. Dr. Horne said that instead of having the money quickly available for a broad use of immediate needs, the funds will go through a slower process with a "tremendous amount of approval and reporting and uncertainty." Walgreens Boots Alliance is laying off about 10 percent of its corporate workforce, or 504 employees, the Chicago Sun-Times reported May 25. Most of the layoffs are at the company's headquarters in Deerfield, Ill., or its Chicago office. Jobs in Walgreens stores, microfulfillment centers or call centers are not affected, a Walgreens spokesperson told the Sun-Times. In a message to employees, obtained by the Sun-Times, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer said the layoffs are among a series of steps the company is taking "to drive sustainable cost savings to help fuel investments for future growth." Ms. Brewer cited "consolidating our Deerfield building office space, reducing consultant and contractor spending, eliminating non-essential projects, minimizing travel and canceling some events" as other cost-saving measures the company has taken. Leigh Sewell stepped down as president of two hospitals belonging to Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health on May 12. Ms. Sewell left her dual-role as president of Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville, Va., and Rappahannock General Hospital in Kilmarnock, Va., to "pursue other opportunities outside the health system," a representative for Bon Secours Mercy Health told Becker's. She served Bon Secours Richmond (Va.) for 17 years Eric Young chief operating officer of Memorial Regional Medical Center will serve as interim president for both facilities until a permanent replacement is named. Shareholders are increasingly requesting that companies take a stance on environmental and social issues, The Wall Street Journal reported May 23. Proposals questioning companies' stances on such issues increased to 74 for annual meetings held before May 31, up from 43 last year, according to data from ISS Corporate Solutions. The pressures come from advocacy groups and shareholders on both sides of the political aisle. Eli Lilly was asked to report on the risks of supporting abortion after openly opposing Indiana's abortion ban last year; Mastercard was asked to address gun violence by implementing separate tracking merchant codes for gun stores. As proxy season wears on, companies can no longer avoid these "partisan fights," Heidi Welsh, executive director of the Sustainable Investments Institute, told the Journal. Hospitals and health systems are also susceptible to shareholder pressures. Corporate shareholders recently asked Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare to clarify their stances on emergency abortions particularly for their physicians practicing in states with strict abortion laws. Not all proposals pertain directly to the company's mission, however, which some leaders worry will divert attention from governance and long-term success. "They're in the business of doing business. Most companies would probably rather stay out of the political discourse," Michael Littenberg, a partner at law firm Ropes & Gray who advises companies on environmental, social and governance issues, told the Journal. "There's an increasing amount of proposal fatigue. The more proposals that companies get, the more proposals they have to spend time thinking about at the board level." The Indiana state medical board gave an Indiana physician a reprimand and fine after she spoke about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio, NPR reported May 26. Caitlin Bernard, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist, came under scrutiny when she told the media about the case, disclosing the victim's age and state of residence. The attorney's office said in its complaint to the board that Dr. Bernard violated privacy laws by sharing that information and that she failed to immediately report the abuse to Indiana authorities. The board rejected one count that she violated patient privacy laws and another that she was unfit to practice medicine. However, the majority of the board found Dr. Bernard had violated privacy laws by speaking about the case and voted to fine her $3,000 in addition to a reprimand. Phoenix Children's and the University of Arizona have partnered to accelerate research efforts for devastating pediatric conditions, according to a May 25 news release. To support these efforts, the two have announced the creation of The Phoenix Children's Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, which will allow for formalized research and collaboration efforts between the two entities. The institute will be led by Vlad Kalinichenko, MD, PhD, who will be the director for the Phoenix Children's Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a professor of child health; as well as by Stewart Goldman, MD, senior vice president of research for Phoenix Children's and chair of the Department of Child Health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Multiple culinary workers at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas were arrested for a planned act of civil disobedience following a May 19 picket. The workers are part of the Culinary Union, which represents about 90 housekeepers, cooks, cashiers, kitchen workers and stewards at the hospital. Around 20 workers were arrested for sitting in the street outside the hospital following a picket. They did not block entrances or close the street where ambulances enter, a representative for the union told Becker's. The hospital and union are currently in contract negotiations, and have agreed on healthcare and pension benefits, according to a May 19 news release from the union. However, the hospital wants to subcontract out union jobs without limitations and replace union workers with temporary workers over time, the union alleges. "Valley Hospital is union busting and is proposing to eliminate jobs and bring in unlimited subcontracted workers we do not agree to unlimited subcontracting," Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the union, said in the release. "Valley Hospital employees have been unionized for over 40 years and they are essential workers who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity." The union recently voted to postpone its strike date until June 19. Becker's has reached out to Valley Hospital for comment and will update this article if more information becomes available. A Pennsylvania physician was sentenced to six months in prison and one year of supervised release for his involvement in an opioid fraud scheme. Brian Gullet, DO, admitted to unlawfully prescribing opioids to patients while practicing at a West Virginia pain management clinic, according to a May 25 Justice Department news release. Dr. Gullet admitted to signing multiple prescriptions for 120 pills of 30 milligrams each and 30 pills of 15 milligrams each to a customer in 2013 who failed multiple drug screenings, reported being addicted to pain medication, bought pills on the street and sold pills obtained from the clinic. Dr. Gullet admitted that the customer's medical chart did not support prescriptions and that the prescriptions were outside of the usual course of professional medical practice. Dr. Gullett surrendered his medical license and his DEA certificate of registration and agreed not to apply for re-registration to dispense Schedule II controlled substances. In addition to prison and supervised time, he was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. From November 2010 to June 2015, practitioners at the clinic prescribed thousands of oxycodone- and morphine-based pills to customers. Some prescriptions provided customers with an average of four to seven pills per day. Many of the clinic's locations averaged 65 or more customers a day with only one practitioner working, according to the release. In 2018, Dr. Gullett, along with owners, managers and other physicians at the clinic, were indicted. Five other physicians have pleaded guilty and the rest of the defendants await trial. A former physician at Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health has been found not guilty of manslaughter in a case involving a patient's fatal overdose, the Rochester Beacon reported May 26. Sudipt Deshmukh, MD, was charged with manslaughter, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and six counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance prescription in 2021. Prosecutors alleged that Dr. Deshmukh prescribed a lethal mix of opioids and other controlled substances that resulted in the patient's fatal overdose. State Supreme Court Justice Vincent Dinolfo acquitted Dr. Deshmukh of all charges May 26, saying prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt during a two-week trial. Dr. Deshmukh is the second physician in New York to face manslaughter or murder charges for allegedly prescribing excessive controlled substances. The first physician is George Blatti, MD, who is facing manslaughter charges in the deaths of five patients. A verdict has yet to be reached in his case, according to the Rochester Beacon. Hospitals and systems across the country are opening and expanding their oncology services, and many more are working to add, consolidate or expand their cancer services to meet demand. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 38 hospitals have opened or expanded their oncology services. Toms River, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and Paterson, N.J.-based St. Joseph's Health recently opened their second of three cancer centers in New Jersey after a five-year planning process. "We knew we had to get stronger in cancer care five years ago," Kevin Slavin, president and CEO of St. Joseph's Health, told Becker's on May 25. "So we selected the right partner." Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, agreed that starting with the right partner is an important step to opening a cancer center. "That would be my best advice," Mr. Garrett told Becker's. "When you partner with a like-minded organization, you can really provide even better care, you can provide more technology and you can design a center based on the learnings of both organizations." That is exactly what St. Joseph's and Hackensack Meridian did. Not only did they partner to build three cancer centers, but they collaborated with regional systems such as New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering, Washington, D.C-based Georgetown University and Columbia, Md.-based MedStar Health, Mr. Garrett said. "[Those partnerships] mean we're focused on research and finding cures for new cancers. That wouldn't have happened without partnerships. So my best advice to other organizations that are thinking about providing cancer services: Wherever possible, partner. Bring the best of what each organization offers to the table, and I think the winners will be the patients." Actor Hugh Grants claim against the publisher of The Sun over alleged unlawful information gathering will go ahead to a trial. Mr Grant, 62, is bringing legal action alleging he was targeted by journalists and private investigators against News Group Newspapers (NGN) in relation to The Sun only, having previously settled a claim with the publisher in 2012 relating to the News Of The World. NGN, which denies any unlawful activity took place at The Sun, brought a bid to have both Mr Grants claim and a similar claim by the Duke of Sussex thrown out at a hearing in London last month, arguing that both men had left it too late to file their claims. But, in a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt concluded Mr Grants claim could proceed to trial, except for any allegations relating to phone hacking. The judge found that Mr Grant could have brought a claim for phone hacking sooner, as he had knowledge of it, but that his other allegations will have to be tried. He said: It was only on seeing invoices disclosed in NGNs generic disclosure in 2021 that Mr Grant believed that private investigators (PIs) had been instructed by The Sun to target him in various ways, particularly in 2011. Although Mr Grant was aware prior to March 2016 of general allegations about use of PIs to obtain information, there is in my judgment a realistic chance that Mr Grant may establish at trial that, although he was aware of general allegations and was suspicious, he could not reasonably have believed with sufficient confidence that he may have been targeted by PIs instructed by The Sun in some of the relevant ways. Sufficient knowledge or belief that NGNs denials of phone-hacking were false does not necessarily mean that Mr Grant believed at that time that NGN had used different methods of UIG targeted at him. That issue will have to be tried. A ruling on whether Harrys claim can go ahead will be published later in the year, following a July hearing on whether his case can be amended to include his allegations there was a secret agreement between the royal family and senior executives working for NGN proprietor Rupert Murdoch. The Duke of Sussex (PA) Mr Grant, who attended court for some of last months hearing, alleges among other things that he was targeted using burglaries to order. In a witness statement, the Love Actually star said: My claim concerns unlawful acts committed by The Sun, including burglaries to order, the breaking and entering of private property in order to obtain private information through bugging, landline tapping, phone hacking, and the use of private investigators to do all these and other illegal things against me. He referred in the statement to evidence he gave to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards and ethics in 2011, in which he spoke about a break-in at his London flat, where the front door was forced off its hinges and a story appeared shortly afterwards in The Sun that detailed the interior. He said: I had no evidence that this burglary was carried out or commissioned on the instruction of the press, let alone The Sun. The actor added that he had been told by a private investigator in early 2022, which prompted him to launch his claim. In his statement, the actor says he brought his recent claim after being passed information which showed, for the first time, evidence that The Sun had targeted unlawful activity at me and my associates directly. He said the information included private investigator invoices and payments, and that they included the period during which the Leveson Inquiry into press standards and ethics was taking place. NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone-hacking scandal broke in relation to The News Of The World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. A spokesperson for NGN said: News Group Newspapers [NGN] is pleased that, following our application, the High Court has ruled that Mr Grant is statute barred from bringing a phone hacking claim against The Sun. The remainder of his claim, which has been brought following a statement made by Mr Gavin Burrows in 2021, has been allowed to proceed to trial. NGN strongly denies the various historical allegations of unlawful information gathering contained in what remains of Mr Grants claim. In a statement issued by his lawyers at law firm Gunnercooke, Mr Grant said: I am pleased that my case will be allowed to go to trial, which is what I have always wanted because it is necessary that the truth comes out about the activities of The Sun. As my case makes clear, the allegations go far wider and deeper than voicemail interception. The trial is due to take place in January next year. A Northern Irish comedian has offered a reward of 80 teabags to anyone who can get him to London on time for his show. Shane Todds popular Tea With Me podcast is currently on tour with a date lined up at the SSE Arena in Belfast on September 23. First up is London and the small matter of making it on time. Were in Belfast International about to fly to Luton for Tea With Me live tonight, he tweeted. Flight just delayed until 16:45. We need to get to London before that. Basically, who has a jet? Theres 80 bags of Punjana in it for you. Fellow comedian Ciaran Bartlett responded: This makes for grim reading. I'm already at the hotel hahahaha With Todd then advising, get a nap in sweet prince. One commenter said he was looking forward to the show having travelled all the way from Austin Texas, to the surprise of the Holywood stand-up who responded youre joking. The Twitter user was indeed: Aye I am tbf. I am going though so just do a late night one. 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 NI man has supported world-famous comedians Kevin Hart and Bill Burr on tour. On the latest episode of his Tea With Me podcast, Shane informed listeners that hell be performing in London at Islington Assembly Hall alongside guests Ciaran Bartlett and William Thompson on May 26. Laughing, Ciaran says thank God they had the chat because he was headed for Leicester Square Theatre. Phillip Schofield graduated from presenting on CBBCs Broom Cupboard to enjoy one of the most enduring careers in television. The 61-year-old, who made his name alongside sidekick Gordon The Gopher on the BBC childrens television show, came to be seen as the king of daytime TV. On Friday, he announced he had quit ITV after admitting to an affair with a much younger male colleague at This Morning. Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby at the National Television Awards (Ian West/PA) He had fronted the popular daytime show for more than 20 years, enjoying a longer small-screen shelf-life than many other presenters, thanks in part to his chemistry with Holly Willoughby. As well as co-hosting This Morning, the pair also fronted Dancing On Ice. Schofield always knew he wanted to be on TV, spending many years writing letters to the BBC. I never had a thought about pursuing another career, he is quoted as saying. At 17, he got a job as a bookings clerk at the BBC but later moved with his family to New Zealand, where he landed TV and radio work. When he returned to Britain, he presented links with puppet Gordon The Gopher in 1985, on the first afternoon of what was then called Childrens BBC. If you can introduce Newsround with a fluffy gopher squeaking next to you, you can handle anything, he later said. Phillip Schofield with Gordon the Gopher (BBC) His words were proved right in February viewers of This Morning watched as an alpaca started spitting in Schofields face. The Oldham-born star moved on to Saturday morning show Going Live in 1987. In 1996, he signed an exclusive contract to present a series of shows including Talking Telephone Numbers, Schofields Quest and Schofields TV Gold. He also notched up success on stage, as the lead in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2002, Schofield was given the plum job on This Morning after John Leslie was sacked. He shared the sofa with Fern Britton, who later quit, and Willoughby became Schofields on-screen wife. In February 2020, just before the Covid lockdown, Schofield came out as gay in an emotional on-air chat with Willoughby. His wife Stephanie Lowe later told The Sun she supported Schofields brave step and always will love him. Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie (Ian West/PA) She also said: Our family has also been so supportive and will help us going forward. The co-hosts faced criticism in September last year over claims they skipped the queue for the Queens lying in state while attending as members of the media to film a segment for This Morning. A month later, Schofield thanked viewers after the chat show took home the daytime prize at the National Television Awards, saying: This means so much to us every year, especially this year. In April, the presenter returned to the show after taking pre-planned leave around his brothers sex abuse trial at Exeter Crown Court last month. His younger brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child. Timothy Schofield (Avon and Somerset Police) Willoughby, 42, was ill and also took time off This Morning. In May, he announced his departure from This Morning, amid reports of a rift with Willoughby. Days later, he resigned from ITV completely, after admitting he lied about a relationship he had with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Schofield said that the affair began while he was still married, adding he was very, very sorry for having been unfaithful. Schofield married Stephanie Lowe in Scotland in 1993 and the couple have two grown-up daughters together, Ruby and Molly. In 2018, the couple marked their silver wedding anniversary. The first male domestic abuse conference to be held in Belfast Psychological and emotional forms of abuse tend to cause a more negative impact and greater feelings of fear than physical aggression. That has been the finding of many studies, and it was a key theme at Northern Irelands first conference focusing on male victims of domestic abuse. Dr Elizabeth Bates, a psychology lecturer at the University of Cumbria, told guests that female perpetrators used coercive control and gaslighting more often than outright violence, though it should be noted that many men have also been physically and sexually abused by female and male partners. While most of the guests at the summit were women possibly because they make up three-quarters of Northern Irelands community and voluntary workforce male victims were also in attendance. One man who did not wish to be named described how his former partner, who he was with for a decade, took control of his finances, sleep, food and, essentially, his entire life. I didnt know what to do or where to go. I was on the edge of going over the edge, he told this newspaper. I didnt know there was this support for men suffering domestic abuse. To be honest, I didnt even know if I was in an abusive situation because a lot of people think its [just] about physical abuse. Call me naive, but I had accepted a lot of things as being normal, and they werent. He began working 10 to 12-hour shifts, sometimes seven days a week, because he feared going home. My job became my safe place. I was getting to the point where I was just going and sleeping in the car because she would come and wake me up, start arguments and tell me I would be getting no sleep that night, he said. That drained me. It was hard. The person I had loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life with was treating me this way, and I just didnt understand it. When the man eventually sought help in 2018, he found support was not as readily available as he had expected. He went to his GP but found they were not a lot of help. After that, he contacted Womens Aid, which referred him to the Mens Advisory Project NI (MAP), the agency that organised yesterdays conference. Clare Corkey and Rhonda Lusty from the Men's Advisory Project NI Read more NIs first conference on male victims of domestic abuse takes place in Belfast Through MAP, he was referred for free counselling sessions that he attended for 11 months. It was like a weight off my shoulders, just being able to talk to somebody who listened and wasnt judgemental, he said. Coercive control is when a person behaves in a way which makes you feel dependent, isolated or scared. Gaslighting is a term used to describe when someone manipulates another person, using psychological methods to make them question their sanity or powers of reasoning. Dr Bates said many male victims of domestic abuse she interviewed had experiences with these kinds of techniques, particularly around their relationship with their children. She was unable to control me physically so instead controlled me using our son and my access to him, one man said. Legal systems and social norms can also be manipulated to this end. One father said: She [his former partner] regularly disobeys court orders over contact and her and her partner make regular threats to my safety in front of the children. The police do nothing and the court orders are not enforced by social services. The PSNI received 118 reports of coercive or controlling behaviour In 2021/22. It became illegal following the passing of the Domestic Abuse Act (NI), which came into force in February 2022. That same year, 1,297 men reported to police that they had been victims of harassment. In many cases, a victims personal characteristics, such as their age, sexuality or mental capacity, will be targeted by abusive partners. One elderly man said: She [his former partner] convinced me I had Alzheimers and tried to force me to sign a legal paper to declare me incompetent. Outing where a perpetrator threatens to reveal a victims sexuality to others, or suggests they will disclose their HIV status is a common form of abuse in same-sex relationships. MAP reported that 49% of gay and bisexual men have experienced at least one incident of domestic abuse since the age of 16. Some 70% of the men the charity supports are heterosexual and have faced abuse from an intimate partner. You can contact the Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline (0808 802 1414), the PSNI or the Housing Executive for 24-hour support Belfast Magistrates Court heard the woman and her children were targeted on January 30 this year after they had been out for a meal A Belfast man who knocked his ex-partner unconscious and punched her teenage daughter in the face has been jailed for eight months. Prosecutors said he kicked the woman after shoving another of her children across the room during a drink-fuelled attack at his home. The 47-year-old defendant also trailed her down a flight of stairs in a separate outburst of violence. He is not being named to protect the identities of the younger victims. Belfast Magistrates Court heard the woman and her children were targeted on January 30 this year after they had been out for a meal. The man started drinking and became agitated when they went back to his property, pushing the boy when he asked him to stop shouting. The 16-year-old daughter tried to calm him down but she was punched to the face, a Crown lawyer said. The defendant then turned on their mother when she intervened. As she tried to leave he kicked her to the face, causing her to lose consciousness, the prosecutor added. She sustained facial swelling and bruising in the assault. He also attacked the woman during a previous argument on December 28 last year. The defendant pulled her down the stairs and punched her on the nose, causing it to bleed, the lawyer submitted. There was a further allegation that he pulled a necklace from her neck, causing it to break. The man pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, three counts of common assault, and breach of a non-molestation order. A defence solicitor told the court his client is genuinely sorry for what happened and bitterly regrets that the relationship has now ended. He understands that he is now identified as a domestic violence perpetrator and no doubt will be monitored very closely when released, the solicitor submitted. Sentencing the man to eight months imprisonment, District Judge George Conner also imposed a two-year restraining order against any further harassment of his ex-partner. Based on time already served in custody on remand, the defendant is expected to be released within days. A Hungarian man subject to six extradition warrants over alleged criminal activity in his own country has appeared in court after an 11-year-old told police he was trying to sell her for sex. At Omagh Magistrates Court today, it also emerged Zoltan Marko (54), with an address at Glen Road, Drumquin, had been illegally slaughtering pigs on a farm and selling the meat, an offence for which he has been previously convicted. Marko has been charged with child sexual communication on dates between January and March this year after allegedly encouraging the girl to respond to his advances in a sexual manner for his own gratification. He is also accused of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife, on May 22, as well as having ammunition in suspicious circumstances and without a firearm certificate. A detective constable told the court all the charges could be connected to the accused. They explained that Marko is currently subject to extradition bail while legal proceedings are underway in respect of the six Hungarian warrants. On March 10, a report was made to the PSNI that he was offering the 11-year-old for sex in return for money. Officers also became aware of an alleged inappropriate relationship between him and the child. When seven co-accused men were made aware of the investigation they fled the country, leaving their employment without notice. Objecting to bail, the detective said Marko had breached his current bail by not residing at the required address registered with the extradition unit. He also has convictions in Hungary for armed robbery, assault and weapon possession, but absconded before these could be dealt with. The detective constable told the court: Police also believe he is likely to interfere with witnesses. He has been in contact with the child since she disclosed her allegations, despite being under safeguarding measures and told he was not permitted any communication with her. They added: There is a risk of reoffending given further alleged offences while awaiting extradition to Hungary. He also confirmed to police that he has been slaughtering pigs at a farm and selling the meat against environmental health standards. He has previously been convicted of this and dealt with, but has continued on with this activity. A defence solicitor said Marko vehemently denies the sexual communication charge, and while it is accepted he has not resided at the required address, he has signed bail with police three times a week. The correct address was a property he resided in with his previous partner, and when that relationship ended, he moved in with another woman. District Judge Bernie Kelly said: Its not often I get a defendant who has managed to tick every single objection box for bail. [That] has been managed in this instance. Six extradition warrants shows a history of failing to attend courts to answer for alleged criminal activity. He has a history of breaching bail and there are allegations of further offences being committed while on bail. He has made contact with the injured party. Marko said: I didnt do anything like that. Judge Kelly responded: Didnt breach bail? Of course you did. Marko accepted moving from his registered address but insisted he had notified his solicitor and asked them to tell the police. But Judge Kelly said: Thats not how it works. On top of all that, he made contact with the child after the investigation had commenced. It will come as no surprise I am refusing this application for bail. Marko was remanded into custody to appear again by video-link on June 20. The Crown Court judge recommended the woman be deported when she finishes serving her custodial sentence. A Paraguayan woman who was ruthlessly exploited, trafficked and acted as a drugs mule has been handed a three-year sentence. Ramona Cibils, a mum-of-three, was arrested in October 2021 after she passed through her system 37 plastic wraps containing cocaine in a Belfast hotel room after being "abandoned" for days. She was approached by others in her native country then travelled to Brazil, London and Dublin before being transported to the hotel. At Belfast Crown Court today, the 42-year-old, of no fixed abode, wept as Judge Paul Ramsey imposed a three-year sentence, which he divided equally between prison and licence. However, due to time already served in custody, Cibils is to be released from custody imminently, prompting Judge Ramsey to issue a deportation order for when she is freed. The judge was told by Crown barrister Gareth Purvis that police were called to the Ibis Hotel in Belfast's Castle Street on October 9, 2021. Staff reported there had been an incident involving Cibils, who had been staying at the hotel. When officers arrived, they noticed her room had been damaged. Mr Purvis outlined that the bed had been overturned, the room was "in a state of upheaval", and when searched, police found a bag containing 37 plastic wraps in the bathroom. When examined, the wraps contained 363 grams of high purity cocaine. The prosecutor said Cibils was a Paraguayan national who has been in custody since her arrest. He added she was a "drugs courier who was in the hotel under instruction to hand over these drugs to persons unknown". Mr Purvis said that after these unknown individuals failed to contact her, and following several days in the hotel, Cibils was in a "state of extreme distress" and caused damage to the room. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply. Defence barrister Sean O'Hare told Judge Ramsey his client had been "exploited by others not before the court". Revealing that she ran a shop in her home country, Mr O'Hare said Cibils faced "financial pressures" with her business due to the pandemic. He said that after being approached by others in Paraguay, she "willingly took part" in the operation which "required her to consume 37 individual packages" containing cocaine. Mr O'Hare noted that after Cibils passed the packages, she went "stir-crazy" in her hotel room after being "abandoned" by "schemers who preyed upon her". This drew the attention of staff and police which led to her arrest and 19-month detention. Mr O'Hare added Cibils was promised between 2,000 and 3,000 for her role in the operation, which she didn't receive. After listening to submissions, Judge Ramsey said: "This is a very sad case where someone has been ruthlessly exploited and trafficked here by other people more sinister and not before the court." After handing down the sentence, he recommended she be deported and ordered the destruction of the drugs. A Newry parent has warned speeding drivers using a residential road like a race track will soon injure or kill a child if safety measures are not introduced. The Barley Lane area of the city is bookended by two local schools in the city with a childrens play park located in-between. The risk to childrens safety has previously been highlighted in the community with slow down warning posters in the street, though people in the neighbourhood say drivers are ignoring the signs and speeding. Concerned father, Ryan McAllister said: Ive been looking for speed ramps up by Barley Lane on Courtney Hill for some time now. Its like a race track with cars, lorries and vans speeding past and children playing in the park along that road, they are going to seriously injure or kill a child playing there. The slow down signs on the lampposts are no good, the people driving dont even look at them they just keep flying on. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in an email to a local rep, has refused to consider new road safety measures at the location of reasonable safety. However, the newly elected Newry, Mourne and Down District Council member is now demanding an on-site report by the road authority. Newry SDLP councillor, Doire Finn said: I have had concerns about the road raised with me by constituents while I was out on the doors as well as through my facebook page. I had contacted the DfI to raise the dangers of speeding in the area. I will now be asking for DfI to make a site visit to the area. I would also recommend that residents report any incidents of concern to the PSNIs 101 number. A response from DfI to Cllr Finn read: I can advise that this area has a reasonable safety record and there are no plans to consider any measures to further improve road safety at this time. Regarding concerns about driver behaviour such as speeding, or parking which causes an obstruction to other road (and footway) users, or other inconsiderate behaviour should be directed to the police who have the powers of enforcement in that regard. UUP leader Doug Beattie has said Northern Ireland risks losing unionist friends if it is given 1billion without drawing up a detailed plan on how it will be spent. It has been suggested that a financial package north of 1billion will be needed to stabilise NI amid extreme cuts to services. However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted that he wants to see Stormont restored on a stable and sustainable basis which means addressing issues related to the Protocol. Speaking on the BBCs Nolan Show, Stephen Farry said there will be no seismic change to the Windsor Framework as it is a negotiated agreement which cant be unpicked. If there is continued stalemate, he recommended reform of the institutions as NI cant simply sit back and allow this train wreck to continue. He added that the budget crisis dwarfs the Windsor Framework conversation. Mr Beattie, the UUP leader, said the overspend this year is 600 million and that doesnt take into account 500 million in pay increases for the likes of nurses and teachers, nor an overspend of 298 million last year. In his view, the Treasury will want to see what NIs plan is to transform services before approving funding. Mr Beattie said the DUP is looking for some sort of statutory instrument or legislative change that will comfort them slightly - but it will not change the Windsor Framework. Back in 2019, he said, the UUP put forward a proposal that legislation be brought forward to put a duty on business to make sure they provide goods and services throughout the whole of the UK to stop major firms saying, were not going to provide to Northern Ireland because its too difficult. The last time he spoke to NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Mr Beattie said, he was told the UK Government had received no submission for changes to the Framework from the DUP. Mr Farry also said he does not know what specific changes the DUP want and doesnt believe the UK Government has been made aware either. The NI government has been accused of squandering money in the past by failing to bring about much-needed reforms. Asked if the UK Government can be seen to give NI 1billion to Northern Ireland, Mr Beattie said: When we got that 1billion for the confidence and supply, which was great for Northern Ireland, Im not disputing that, we lost friends. Unionist friends in Scotland, Wales and in England. And if we do this again we will lose more friends within the Union. This is why I am saying, and I think all the parties are saying this if Im really honest with you, what we want is an investment to transform our services. What were saying is, we need to put something down, a plan - black and white, these are the parameters and they will then invest for us to achieve that, and that in the long-term will save money. It shouldnt come as a bung, but may come over a number of years to help us change. A meeting between public officials and community representatives after the deaths of two best friends in Cardiff sparked a riot has begun with a moment of reflection for the teenagers. Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, is chairing the meeting between local politicians, agencies, and community groups, including Ace (Action in Caerau and Ely). He is being joined by Welsh Government Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt, as well as Kevin Brennan MP, who represents the Ely area, South Wales police and crime commissioner Alun Michael, ward councillor Russell Goodway, council leader Huw Thomas and council chief executive Paul Orders. The meeting is being held following the deaths of Harvey Evans, 15, and best friend Kyrees Sullivan, 16, who died when the Sur-Ron bike they were riding crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff just after 6pm on Monday. Harvey Evans, left, and Kyrees Sullivan (Family handouts/PA) A Welsh Government spokesman said: The meeting started with everyone marking a moment of reflection for the family and friends of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans. Their deaths sparked several hours of violence and disorder after word spread on social media that a marked police van had been pursuing the pair minutes before the crash. Nine people between the ages of 15 and 21 were arrested following the disorder. CCTV from the area has since confirmed police were following the teenagers despite Mr Michael dismissing it the following day as rumour. Hundreds of floral tributes and balloons have been left in Snowden Road (Bronwen Weatherby/PA) On Friday evening a vigil and balloon release has been planned to pay tribute to the boys. In a Facebook post, a friend of the families said: We know tensions are still high right now. But we ask if for the balloon release people can keep their anger inside. The mums asked if no Sur-Rons can be seen around out of respect and let us all come together for the love and life that they had here with us. Police said they are continuing to investigate both the crash and the riot which followed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into any interaction between the South Wales force and the teenagers prior to the crash. The funeral of RAF Sergeant Peter Brown at St Clement Danes Church, in London, one of the last black RAF pilots to have fought in the Second World War Hundreds of mourners gathered at a historic church in central London yesterday for the funeral of one of the last black RAF pilots to have fought in the Second World War. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died aged 96 at his home in the citys Maida Vale area 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 mourners. Mr Brown had appeared destined for a low-key funeral at a 140-person capacity chapel. In March, however, a council appeal to trace his family was picked up on. Relative Brooke Alexander travelled more than 4,000 miles from the Jamaican capital, Kingston, to attend the funeral. Representatives from Caribbean community organisations, and those who helped trace Mr Browns relatives, were also in attendance, as well as celebrities including Batman Begins and Outlander actor Colin McFarlane and 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. Around 6,000 Caribbeans joined in the war effort. In a situation where every little bit helps, Peter (left) made a big contribution. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943. He 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. Hemlock Water Dropwort found near the shores of Lough Neagh Large quantities of a plant described as the most poisonous in Britain and Ireland have been found in Co Antrim, close to the shores of Lough Neagh. Hemlock Water Dropwort was discovered near an area where a dog died after being taken for a walk a week ago. A highly poisonous algae was also found. A number of other dogs died close to the area last year. An investigation carried out by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council found no evidence the deaths were linked to contact with the water. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said Hemlock Water Dropwort was highly toxic to both humans and animals. After it was contacted about the death of the dog on May 19, it sent an official to the area. The NIEA said: A water quality inspector visited the area following the report to investigate if there was evidence of an algal bloom in the water. No visual evidence of an algal bloom, dead fish or any other signs of water pollution, including sewage, were detected. During a site inspection on May 23, a large amount of toxic but fairly common Hemlock Water Dropwort was also observed growing in the wooded area along Reas Wood. Hemlock Water Dropwort is perhaps the most poisonous indigenous plan. This is a native plant, not an invasive species, and it grows mostly in wet meadows along river courses and lakes. It is highly toxic to humans and domesticated animals if ingested. The roots are more toxic than the above-ground parts. The results have been shared with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, which has erected signage warning the public of the presence of blue-green algae and Hemlock Water Dropwort in the area. Dog owners should be aware of the dangers posed by all poisonous plants and algae growing in the environment, but especially along riverbanks and in wet grassland or the edges of lakes. The assessment also confirmed the presence of a blue-green algae known as Microcystis in the vicinity of Reas Wood. As a precautionary measure, a water sample was taken for algal analyses, the NIEA said. No blue-green algae was found in the sample. Further samples were collected at Reas wood, and analysis confirmed the presence of an algae called Microcystis, in small amounts, the NIEA said Microcystis is a blue-green algae which can produce toxins that are highly poisonous and often fatal to pets. Hemlock Water Dropwort is common in shallow water and wet ground. Its roots, which are sometimes mistaken for parsnips, are the most toxic part of the plant and are often exposed on river banks or washed up after floods. Larne Borough Council cleared 15 kilos of root from the beach at Drains Bay after the death of a dog in the area in 2014. It is believed flooding may have disturbed the riverbank and swept Hemlock Water Dropwort downstream to the beach. The German Shepherd died five days after picking up the poisonous plant on the shore. Chesterfield Justice Centre, where the Family Court hearing was heard that gave Finley Boden back to his parents (Joe Giddens/PA) The case of Finley Boden shone a spotlight on the often hidden world of Family Court hearings. The order giving the baby back to his parents sparked a sequence of events that culminated in his murder at their hands, despite concerns being raised about their drug use and parenting abilities by social services. His case has raised questions over how and why he came to be back in Shannon Marsden and Stephen Bodens care just over a month before he died on Christmas Day 2020. But now a leading family barrister has explained the process and steps that are being taken to improve transparency in the system. Lucy Reed KC is a family barrister specialising in children for 22 years, based in Bristol and London. She explained that Family Courts become involved when social services have child protection concerns, but need the courts input to manage this, such as when it feels a need to safeguard a child by removing them from their parents without their agreement. Ms Reed said that due to the individual nature of every case, each can progress very differently. Finley Boden was removed from his parents care two days after he was born in February 2020 (Derbyshire Police/PA) She said: Things can evolve and run in different ways, but the very general structure is that the local authority will often, but not always, come to court saying things are so serious that we want to remove this child from the care of their parents whilst we work out what the longer term plan is. The court will have to make that decision quite early on, and then there will usually be a process of assessment and gathering of evidence. The parents will be able to see all of that evidence and respond to it at an appropriate time, and either matters will be resolved by agreement once all of that evidence is in or the court will, if its not agreed, list a hearing at which all of that evidence can be tested. That will make a decision to resolve the dispute about what should happen to the child in the longer term. The court has a wide menu of options on safeguarding a child, Ms Reed said, and children can either stay or be returned to their parents, be cared for by other relatives or placed in foster care, or be adopted. A case management hearing first outlines a plan, including how much evidence will need to be gathered and by when, and decides whether the child needs to be removed while proceedings are ongoing. Parents are represented through legal aid at these hearings, and the child will also be represented, usually by a social worker employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass). In child protection cases, guardians are appointed automatically and will represent the child through their own lawyer at Family Court hearings, as in Finleys case. Once all parties have submitted evidence on how they think the case should conclude, a second hearing, called an Issues Resolution Hearing, is arranged. If all parties agree on a solution, the case may end by agreement, but if not, a trial is scheduled so evidence can be heard. Final rulings are then made by lay magistrates, who are untrained volunteers who are assisted by a trained legal adviser, or district judges, who are trained and can perform the role full-time. In Finleys hearing on October 1 2020, a representative for Derbyshire County Council said all parties agreed that he should be returned to his parents, but there was disagreement over the length of the transition and the need for Boden and Marsden to be subject to drug testing. While the council wanted a four-month transition, the Cafcass guardian and parents advocated an eight-week plan with supervision to follow, with two lay magistrates ordering the latter and stopping short of ordering further drug testing. Following Finleys death, Cafcass said that no one could have predicted that Boden and Marsden were capable of such cruelty given what was known at the time, and Ms Reed said the views of Cafcass guardians are influential in Family Courts. She said: If a Cafcass officer makes a recommendation, the court has to have a good reason for departing from it and they cant just say we dont like that, they would have to give reasons for departing from that view. When predicting risk, sometimes guardians get it right, sometimes they dont, the same as social workers, but the view of Cafcass would be generally well-respected and influential. Finley Boden (Derbyshire Police/PA) She added: The guardian was advocating for quicker rehabilitation, based on what they thought was necessary and proportionate, in terms of the risks that had been identified and proved. Cases are meant to conclude within 26 weeks, and while Ms Reed says that this doesnt always happen due to a number of factors, including backlogs exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, cases can be extended by eight weeks at a time if justified by their circumstances. Ms Reed is also chairwoman of the Transparency Project, aimed at providing access and insight to the Family Courts after decades of calls to show how justice is done. While she believes that the process must retain some degree of privacy due to the vulnerability of children and adults involved in it, she said greater openness could be achieved in a sensible way. She said: The family court, whether its magistrates, or district judges, circuit judges, High Court judges, theyre making really serious decisions. Magistrates, who are not lawyers, have the power to remove peoples children, and to have them placed for adoption. Those are really big, important decisions and the public are entitled to understand how those decisions are made. I think lots of people whose lives have been touched by the family court or by social services, maybe even those that havent, are frightened of and suspicious of the process. The more we can bring information into the public domain and understand a bit more about where things might be going wrong, the better our chances are as a system of identifying the problems and then taking steps to improve things. Police 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 160sq 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 yesterday, 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 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. The Sun reported that investigators previously found photos and video of Brueckner at the reservoir. He has reportedly denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance. Thousands attend a rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic in front of the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP/PA) Tens of thousands of people converged on the Serbian capital on Friday for a major rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, who is facing a revolt against his autocratic rule following two mass shootings. The event was overshadowed by a new crisis in Serbias former province of Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police on Friday and Mr Vucic ordered Serbian troops to be put on a higher state of alert. Mr Vucic also said that he ordered an urgent movement of Serbian troops to the border with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Answering Mr Vucics appeal for what he called the largest rally in the history of Serbia, his supporters, many wearing identical T-shirts with his portrait, came to Belgrade from all over the Balkan country as well as neighbouring Kosovo and Bosnia. Thousands joined a rain-soaked rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP/PA) The organisers said hundreds of thousands of participants attended the gathering in front of Serbias National Assembly amid a thunderstorm. Those working in state firms and institutions were told to take a day off from work to attend the rally in front of the parliament building. Some said that they were warned that they could lose their jobs if they did not show up on the buses which started arriving hours before the gathering was to start. Serbian officials said the rally promotes unity and hope for Serbia. At three large anti-government protests held earlier this month in the capital, demonstrators demanded Mr Vucics ousting as well as the resignation of two senior security officials. They also demanded the withdrawal of broadcasting licences for two pro-Vucic television stations that promote violence and often host convicted war criminals and other crime figures. Opposition protesters blame Mr Vucic for creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and division in the country that they say indirectly led to the May 3 and May 4 mass shootings that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them schoolchildren who were gunned down by a 13-year-old schoolmate. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (Darko Vojinovic/AP/PA) Mr Vucic has vehemently denied any responsibility for the shootings, calling organisers of the opposition protests vultures and hyenas who want to use the tragedies to try to come to power by force and without an election. They are not against violence, they want my head, he said. Analysts believe that by staging the mass rally, Mr Vucic who has ruled the country for more than a decade with a firm grip on power, is trying to overshadow the opposition protests with the sheer number of participants. For the first time, Mr Vucic has a problem, said political analyst Zoran Gavrilovic. His problem is not so much the opposition, but Serbian society that has woken up. During the rally, Mr Vucic was expected to announce that he is stepping down from the helm of his Serbian Progressive Party and forming a movement that will unite all patriotic forces in the country. Mr Vucic, a former pro-Russia ultranationalist who now says that he wants to take the country into the European Union, has alleged that foreign intelligence services are behind the opposition protests. He said that he received the tip from sisterly spy agencies from the east thought to mean Russia. There are widespread fears that violence could erupt during the rally on Friday that could then be used as a pretext for a crackdown on future opposition protests, including one that is scheduled in Belgrade on Saturday. Similar big rallies were held in Serbia in the early 1990s when Slobodan Milosevic delivered fiery speeches that heralded the violent breakup of Yugoslavia and rallied the masses for the wars that followed. Earth viewed from from Virgin Galactics rocket plane as it reaches an altitude of more than 54 miles during a test flight (Virgin Galactic via AP) Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight on 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 mothership to carry the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet where it was released and fired its rocket motor to make the final push. Successful boost, We have reached space! Virgin Galactic tweeted. Mission specialist Christopher Huie, left, instructor Luke Mays, centre, and mission specialist Jamila Gilbert during the test flight (Virgin Galactic via AP) It reached an altitude of 54.2 miles 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. Mission specialist Jamila Gilbert, centre, looks out one of the portal windows as she experiences weightlessness during the flight (Virgin Galactic via AP) 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 Mr 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. Mr 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 Mr 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 analyse 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 US dollars each. Tickets now cost 450,000 dollars 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 neighbouring Arizona. Shutterstock.com Would you trust an attractive stranger in a business suit carrying a briefcase, believing that he or she was intelligent and trustworthy? According to research, not only would you trust them, you would probably even lend them money if they asked. Why? Because as much as we know we shouldnt, we judge books by their covers. This subconscious tendency causes us to assume well-dressed, attractive strangers are respectable and credible. Some of them are; but not everyone. As I have learned the hard way through decades of prosecuting good-looking, well-dressed manipulators, people are easily fooled. Appearances cause us to jump to conclusions about someone without knowing anything else. Consider three primary ways that looks can be deceiving: by causing us to jump to conclusions, to assume clothing conveys character, and by fueling favoritism. 1. Judge a Book by More than Its Cover Judging by appearances is not a new phenomenon. When Samuel visited Jesse of Bethlehem, because the Lord had chosen one of Jesses sons to be the next king, he viewed the first son and thought he was the one, perhaps believing he looks like a king. However, God spoke to Samuel, saying, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him, explaining that people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Although the Bible clearly recognizes physical beauty, attractiveness does not always equate with righteousness: Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor (Ezekiel 28:17). Consider the physical description of Absalom, who revolted against his father King David: In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him (2 Samuel 14:25). Compare that to the prophetic description of Jesus: He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2). When the view is good, we look but dont listen or learn. Big mistake. Appreciating the tendency to jump to conclusions based on what we see should cause us to move slower and actually open the book, resisting the urge to judge based on the cover. 2. Clothing Does Not Convey Character If a defendant is charged with being a sexual predator, jurors expect to see a creepy-looking ice cream truck driver in a trench coat with pockets full of candy. Instead, they see a handsome man dressed to impress in a pin-striped business suit with a monogrammed briefcase. Some of the most dangerous men I have prosecuted were also the best dressed, looking like they should be trading on Wall Street rather than testifying on a witness stand. Just as we are warned to Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Matthew 7:15), wolves in sharp clothing in the courtroom are dressed for deception; that is how they got away with their crimes. Sure enough, speaking with my jurors after trial, some admit that their verdicts were based not on evidence but appearance. He didnt look like a criminal, so we decided he was not guilty. Apparently although Lady Justice is blind, jurors are not. Criminals who dress for success sometimes succeed, unless we stop and consider the character behind the clothes. 3. Fueling Favoritism We must resist the tendency to treat people differently based on what they wear. The book of James cautions readers not to bestow special attention through offering premium seating to a man wearing fine clothes and a gold ring over a poor man wearing old, filthy clothes (see James 2:24). Although we are reminded that the body is about more than clothes (see Matthew 6:25), we instinctively tend to respond positively to individuals in attractive attire. Yet when we judge disposition through designer wear, we are often wrong. Credibility can be a costume; our goal is to perceive the character behind the clothes, because anyone can dress the part. And remember Peters advice to women, reminding us not to pursue flash over substance: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight (1 Peter 3:34). To make wise choices when evaluating the trustworthiness and credibility of someone else, consider more than attire. Being aware of the ways in which looks can be deceiving will allow you to more accurately perceive the person behind the polished persona, and respond accordingly. 2023 Wendy Patrick, PhD author of Why Bad Looks Good: Biblical Wisdom to Make Smart Choices in Life, Love, and Friendship (BroadStreet Publishing) Wendy Patrick, PhD is a career prosecutor and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, a law degree, a master of divinity, and a doctorate in theology. She teaches at Trinity Law School, Veritas University, University of San Diego, and San Diego State University. Dr. Patrick is the author of Why Bad Looks Good (BroadStreet Publishing), Red Flags (St. Martins Press) and co-author of The New York Times bestseller Reading People. To learn more about Wendy, visit her web site www.wendypatrickphd.com or find her on Twitter @WendyPatrickPhD. Schools of fish swim over a coral reef during the past Pristine Seas expedition in October 2021. Updated at 11:45 a.m. ET on 2023-05-26 National Geographic said it has launched a five-year Pacific Ocean expedition to investigate marine life and ecosystems, find new species and identify potential protected areas in some of the Earths most remote seas. The expedition aboard the ship E/V Argo embarked from Tahiti on Thursday. It is equipped with a three-seater submersible vehicle that can descend to 300 meters (984 feet) and drop cameras that travel six km. (3.7 miles) below the surface to film for hours. Theres also a remote-controlled robot. Ultimately, they hope to support the establishment of new marine protected areas, each with sustainable management and financing plans, National Geographic said in a statement, noting that was crucial to the survival of Pacific island nations. Researchers said they want to learn more about climate change impact amid biodiversity loss, food insecurity, plastics pollution and overfishing. The health of the tropical Pacific is an essential need for the people who live there and really to everyone on the planet because the ocean is a key part of our life support system, said Enric Sala, National Geographic explorer in residence and the founder of the Pristine Seas expedition. Their expedition coverage region is three times the size of the United States. The first phase will cover 6,400 km. (3,977 miles) in 2023 alone. The expedition will be completed in 2028. National Geographic said previous Pristine Seas expeditions generated more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific studies, which ultimately helped establish 26 marine protected areas worldwide. Never explored before The Pristine Seas expedition will tour Kiribatis southern line islands, the Cook islands, Niue, Palau, the Marshall islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Were always looking for new species, said Alan Friedlander, the chief scientist for the expedition. A lot of the Deep Sea has never been explored in many of these places. Sea turtles swim during the past Pristine Seas expedition in October 2021. [Manu San Felix via National Geographic] An Indigenous Kiribati ocean researcher said the expedition will help understand his ocean country better as custodians of these unique ecosystems. As an Indigenous and marine scientist who grew up in a low-lying developing island state that is the front line of climate change, I have spent most of my life in the ocean, experiencing and witnessing the radical changes in the surrounding marine and ocean ecosystem, Evii Tong was quoted as saying in the statement. Its an existential threat to our nation, people, and culture because the ocean is our identity as I-kiribati. In the Southern Line islands, part of Kiribati, the crew will study coral reefs decimated in 2015-16 caused by one of the strongest ocean warming events recorded in the tropical Pacific. Protected areas with fishing bans around five islands have recovered rapidly, while the unprotected reefs remain severely damaged. The rebirth underway in the protected zones stands out for, so dramatically and convincingly demonstrating the link between protections and resilience, the National Geographic said. Their findings also showed that in protected areas, where fishing is prohibited, fish stocks have rapidly increased by 500% or more within five to 10 years, triggering a cascade of ecological benefits from ecosystem recovery to a boost in ecotourism. Blacktip Reef Sharks swim past a coral reef during the past Pristine Seas expedition to Kiribatis Southern Line Islands in October 2021. [Manu San Felix via National Geographic] Another notable previous finding is the fact that sharks and other apex predators are essential to reef survival, as their voracious appetite helps in a constant turnover of life, which keeps reefs resilient to global warming stresses like coral bleaching. Previous scientific studies missed the vital role of sharks because the work was done in easily accessible areas that had been degraded or overfished, according to Friedlander. We removed this bias by going to very remote regions and showing how a truly pristine, healthy ocean environment functions, he said. Also, for the first time, the expedition showed the amount of carbon released every year because of seafloor net dragging, or bottom trawling, a fishing practice, equals the amount generated by the aviation industry. Deep-sea mining The expedition will investigate deep-sea mining, a contentious issue in the region that has divided the Pacific Islands countries into two opposite camps. Sala, the explorer in residence at National Geographic, said specialized cameras will capture detailed depictions of the underwater ecosystems in some of the proposed areas for deep-sea mining, which is a serious threat to that rich and fragile marine life of the depths. We believe that we should know more; the world should not rush to mine the deep sea until we know enough about this part of the world, the last frontier, he said. Steven Victor Palaus Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment minister, said the expedition would provide a glimpse into the ocean depth that we often have very little appreciation for because we dont know whats there. We are an ocean people and culture. ... We as Pacific Islanders have taken responsibility to take care of the ocean and we call on the rest of the world to share that responsibility with us, he said. Last week, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. told Radio Free Asia, a new service affiliated with BenarNews, that his government has asked for a deep-sea mining moratorium, at least until 2030. As a Pacific Islander whose islands are going under, why would you go scrape the bottom of the ocean and release carbon, which were trying to stop? So thats being hypocritical, he said. Ultimately, one mans gain can be the demise of the other and thats why I said lets not let greed lead. Update: This story was updated to add when the expedition departed. Villagers secure their catch and boats in preparation for Super Typhoon Mawar in Navotas city, Metro Manila, May 26, 2023. The northern Philippines was bracing on Friday for the arrival of Super Typhoon Mawar, which was on track to sweep through Luzon island after wreaking havoc in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. The Philippine state weather bureau said that the years first typhoon, known locally as Betty, was expected to sustain winds of up 215 kph (133 mph) near its center and gusts of up to 260 kph (161 mph) the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. Mawar was expected to arrive in the country on Friday night or early Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. Torrential rains, landslides and gale-force winds are expected to pound the northern region of Luzon, the countrys heavily populated main island. It also was expected to exacerbate monsoon rains across the Southeast Asian nation, which experiences at least 20 storms a year, some of them deadly. On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government was in constant communication with local officials whose communities lie in the projected path of the typhoon, adding they were told to stock up on food, water and emergency supplies. So, what we are doing is we leave it to the local government units right now to make the call on their specific steps, Marcos told reporters in Manila. But the national government will be there to assist. We are preparing for its effect not just in the northern part of the country, but also in all other areas that may be affected, Marcos said. Adequate manpower, relief assistance, and humanitarian supplies were in place in anticipation of potential evacuations, said Diego Mariano, an official with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. We are not discounting its strength. We continue preparing for whatever may happen. Our rescuers, responders and disaster workers are on alert and on standby, he said. Men clear the remains of a large tree knocked over by Super Typhoon Mawar in Mongmong-Toto-Maite, Guam, May 25, 2023. [Grace Garces Bordallo/AP] Mawar ravaged Guam on Tuesday, generating hurricane-force winds and knocking out power on the island territory in the western Pacific Ocean. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said volunteers and assets had been mobilized. We prepared relief goods for people who may be displaced by the typhoon, he said. Rexlon Gachalian, the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, said staffers had prepositioned food packs and non-food items for families expected to be in the path of the storm. In Basco, the capital of Batanes, a province at Luzons northern tip, the Philippine Air Force airlifted boxes of relief goods on Thursday. Relief operations require data and we thank all the agencies for giving us these to help us deliver accurate services to our stakeholders, Gachalian said. Last September, Super Typhoon Noru, the most powerful storm to strike the Philippines in 2022, left at least five people dead in massive flooding that forced the evacuation of thousands. In November 2013, more than 6,500 people died or went missing after Super Typhoon Haiyan wallopped the central Philippines and spawned massive storm surges that inundated coastal communities. Basilio Sepe and Gerard Carreon in Manila, Jeoffrey Maitem and Mark Navales in Davao city, Philippines, contributed to this report. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. GREAT BARRINGTON What do mermaids and flagmakers have in common? In the cinematic universe, the answer is Academy Award-winning documentary, commercial and fiction director Cynthia Wade, who is bringing the first part of her four-part Netflix docuseries, MerPeople and her latest documentary short, The Flagmakers to the Berkshire International Film Festival. Sign up for the In The Berkshires This Week newsletter Sign up If You Go Celebrating Excellence in Film Through the Lens of Berkshire Female Filmmakers What: Berkshire International Film Festival Tea Talk Who: Cynthia Wade, Karen Allen and Barbara Kopple in conversation with Diane Pearlman Where: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington When: 12:30-2 p.m., June 3 Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org If You Go Fins and Flags What: Screenings of "MerPeople" episode one and "The Flagmakers" followed by a Q&A with director Cynthia Wade When: 9:45-11:45 a.m. June 3 Where: Triplex Cinema, 70 Railroad St., Great Barrington Tickets: Free, but reservations required Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org Wade is also one of three women filmmakers participating in BIFFs 12:30 p.m. Tea Talk, Celebrating Excellence in Film Through the Lens of Berkshire Female Filmmakers. The talk, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, moderated by Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative Executive Director Diane Pearlman, includes Wade, Karen Allen and Barbara Kopple. Fins and Flags, which features the series and the documentary, will screen back-to-back, from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. June 3 at The Triplex. A Q&A with Wade follows. The Saturday morning screening is free, but registration is required. MerPeople, which debuted on Netflix on May 23, takes a look at the fascinating world of underwater performers who have turned their love for mystical sea creatures into real-world careers. The Flagmakers, now streaming on Disney+, asks the question: who is the American flag for? To find the answer, Wade and co-director Sharon Liese, went inside the employee-owned Eder Flag in Oak Creek, Wisc., which sews and ships 5 million flags a year. Here, the employees are a mix of citizens, refugees and immigrants with varying political beliefs, stories and experiences. Youll get to see episode one of MerPeople which really sets the stage, the stakes, the world of these fabulous merpeople who are really unexpected, Wade said. Its not who you think; its super unexpected and thats what I love about this series. Then, well shift and see The Flagmakers. Its a little bit of mermaids and a little bit of flag making. And while the two might seem like disparate topics, Wade says both the film and docuseries are connected on a deeper level. It's really about identity and belonging, she said. The Flagmakers, is about identity and belonging because a lot of them are immigrants and refugees working on the American flag. With MerPeople, its really about like, if your life feels either too overwhelming or uncomfortable or you know, you've been told, the world has told you that it doesn't want you on land which has been the life experience of some of my mermaids in the water, they feel whole and they feel beautiful. Its calming and nothing else above the surface matters. Theyre just down there, being their true authentic selves. In some ways, there is a lot of similarity between the two films, thematically, even though on the surface it wouldnt look like that. Wade, who won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2008 for Freehold, was also nominated in the same category in 2013 for Mondays at Racine. Among her myriad accolades are a Prime Time Emmy in 2011 for Outstanding Writing in a Childrens Series for Sesame Street: Growing Hope Against Hunger and a Clio Image Award for Selfie, the Dove Real Beauty Campaign spot, she filmed over a two-week period at Monument Mountain Regional High School. Editor's note: Ahead of the June 3 BIFF Tea Talk, Wade, a former Berkshires resident, answered a few of our questions about being a woman filmmaker, the film industry and her Berkshires experience. Her answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Q: How do you get involved with a project? How did MerPeople come about? CYNTHIA WADE: My projects come in a combination of ways. Sometimes I come up with an idea and I do it the really, really hard way, which is I can see it, but nobody else around me can see it, so its years and years of fundraising and trying to get grants, foundation grants, maybe doing fundraises and maybe having high net worth people come on board and they give a deductible contribution, etc. I've done that a lot and actually one of the pieces that I'm showing at BIFF this year was that model. The Flagmakers was an independent film before eventually, National Geographic picked it up and then bumped it up to Disney+. That was a way that was a three-year labor of love and mostly shot during the pandemic, and just tough. That was tough. Then on the flip side, I have agents. I lived in the Berkshires full-time for nine years, but at the end of 2019, it became really clear that my husband and I, we both freelance in the business we had one kid finishing eighth grade in the Berkshires and one kid finishing Monument Mountain Regional High School that it was really a time to shift and to move to Los Angeles. So we left and of course, the giant pandemic hit like four months after we moved. But, it really allowed us to just kind of establish here and it through just being here I got some new agents. They were putting me up for different interviews and I was the seventh or eighth director that Netflix interviewed for the MerPeople thing and then got the job. It had been researched pretty heavily by an independent photographer who's actually going to be at BIFF. Shes going to be at the screening, which is awesome. She's amazing. She's really good at really figuring out subcultures that have been that are unknown or underrepresented. So she had been photographing mermaids and she'd actually partnered with the producers of Queer Eye, and they are the ones who sold it to Netflix. Netflix said 'you need to find and book the director before we're gonna say go on this.' So, while the initial research had been done, Im the one that was there to figure out the stories and the structure and kind of weave them together because the episodes are not episodic. They really are a braided narrative. Q: Has living in the Berkshires informed or benefited your filmmaking career in any way? CYNTHIA WADE: In 2008, I won an Academy Award for Freehold And my life and you know, it's always short-lived went on hyperspeed. I was being invited to all kinds of things showing up at all kinds of black-tie events, presenting awards, being presented awards, being flown to different countries, and getting offers to do documentaries with funding attached, which was new for me, all while I was getting into commercial work. My husband had given up a lot, a full-time job in New York, but was working at the time in tech and advertising and it became very clear that somebody was going to need to be with our kids; take care of our kids because at that point when I won, one daughter was seven and one daughter was two. It began to feel like a runaway train. It felt very uncomfortable to me. It never felt like it was about the destination, that it was always about the journey. It becomes this type of thing where everything you do as a documentary filmmaker goes out the window and it becomes this sort of Teflon existence. It burns hot and celebrity-like, but in the end you have to come back to the work. It wasnt a grounding experience. A bunch of things happened and we had an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and I made a decision. I said, Lets go to the Berkshires. My sister and her husband live there. Shes a writer. We have girls the same age as their girls ... It was a way of grounding ourselves and a way of slowing down our childrens childhood. I think I bought back one possibly two years of their childhood back that I just wouldnt have if we had gone to Los Angeles at that point. Living in the Berkshires really forced us into a different rhythm. Q: What are you working on next? CYNTHIA WADE: I worked as a volunteer docent at Hancock Shaker Village for a short while, but an intense while, and became really obsessed with the Shakers, Shaker history and in particular, the Hancock Shakers. I started doing history research and connected through a screenwriters group I was part of in the Berkshires, with a local writer, Nanina Gilder. She wrote the film, Sproutland, which I directed and was at BIFF [in 2021]. We worked really well together and we worked through the pandemic, on and off, from then until now. We wrote this script [about the Shakers] and applied to this screenwriting retreat in Italy and we got in. Somebody from the Berkshires wrote a grant to help us get there and the day after BIFF ends, Im going to Italy to meet up with Nannina and were going to write this Shaker screenplay for a month. I want to come back and direct a fiction film based on a true event that happened in 1871 at Hancock Shaker Village. IF YOU GO Fins and Flags What: Screenings of "MerPeople" episode one and "The Flagmakers" followed by a Q&A with director Cynthia Wade When: 9:45-11:45 a.m. June 3 Where: Triplex Cinema, 70 Railroad St., Great Barrington Tickets: Free, but reservations required Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org What: Berkshire International Film Festival Tea Talk Who: Cynthia Wade, Karen Allen and Barbara Kopple in conversation with Diane Pearlman Where: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington When: 12:30-2 p.m., June 3 Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org GREAT BARRINGTON Karen Allen is a force to be reckoned with. Shes comfortable taking direction, as well as giving it. Allen added filmmaker to her resume in 2016, when she went behind the camera to direct the short film, A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud. But, directing was nothing new for the actor and fiber artist. Shes been directing actors on stage for decades. Sign up for the In The Berkshires This Week newsletter Sign up She first began directing while an adjunct professor at Bard College at Simons Rock, where she directed Joan Ackermans The Batting Cage in 2008. Its a play shell be directing this winter, at the Berkshire Theatre Group, and hopefully, as a feature film shell direct in the near future. If You Go 'Hit Man: Secrets Of Lies' What: Short film starring Karen Allen, Peter Reigert, Richard Kind and William Sadler. Screens as part of the Narrative Shorts showcase. When: 2:30 p.m., June 2, Triplex Cinema, 70 Railroad St., Great Barrington When: 11:30 a.m. June 3, Lenox Town Hall, 13-33 Walker St. Lenox Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org 'A Stage of Twilight' What: Narrative film starring Karen Allen and William Sadler Where: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington When: 4 p.m., June 2 Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org If You Go Celebrating Excellence in Film Through the Lens of Berkshire Female Filmmakers What: Berkshire International Film Festival Tea Talk Who: Cynthia Wade, Karen Allen and Barbara Kopple in conversation with Diane Pearlman Where: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington When: 12:30-2 p.m., June 3 Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org We have a ways to go with it. Well see, Allen said of the film during a recent phone interview with The Eagle. The screenplay is still being written and of course, we still have to raise the money to do it. Thats the hope. Its Joan Ackerman, who lives here in the Berkshires, a wonderful playwright and screenwriter. When I directed it as a play before, at Simons Rock, where the two women who played the main characters were 20 years younger than the characters. They were wonderful in spite of their age. This time, Ill direct it with actors who are the right age for the roles. Before she appears in the world premiere of Donald Margulies Lunar Eclipse with Reed Birney at Shakespeare & Company in September, Allen is returning to the Berkshire International Film Festival with two new projects, Hit Man: Secrets of Lies, screening 2:30 p.m. June 2 at the Triplex Cinema and 11:30 a.m. June 3 at Lenox Town Hall, and A Stage of Twilight, showing 4 p.m. June 2 at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Allen is also one of three women filmmakers participating in BIFFs 12:30 p.m. Tea Talk, Celebrating Excellence in Film Through the Lens of Berkshire Female Filmmakers. The talk, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, moderated by Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative Executive Director Diane Pearlman, includes Allen, Barbara Kopple and Cynthia Wade. Im in a little film that was done as a pilot for a possible television series, Hit Man, which is in the short films showing, she said. Its got Peter Reigert in it, whos on our jury and very often part of the BIFF. Bill Sadler, who is also in A Stage of Twilight with me, is also part of it. Richard Kind is the hitman. And of course, BIFF is also showing White Irish Drinker [as part of a tribute to this years honoree Stephen Lang]. Its the first time Ive ever had three films at the festival. In A Stage of Twilight, Allen and Sadler (Cora and Barry) are a happily retired couple enjoying life in their 70s until Barry is diagnosed with terminal heart disease. Barry makes the decision to rent a trailer in the middle of the woods and die alone. Editor's note: Ahead of the June 3 BIFF Tea Talk, Allen answered a few of our questions about being a woman filmmaker, the film industry and her Berkshires experience. Her answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Q: How long have you been directing? KAREN ALLEN: Ive been directing theater for maybe 15 years now. I love doing it. The last play I directed was the summer before COVID. I was meant to direct another play the following year, but of course, that didnt happen. Q: Are there major differences between directions for stage and directing a film? KAREN ALLEN: From my perspective, so far, when I direct in the theater its pretty ideal because I have a wonderful relationship with the Berkshire Theatre Group and Kate Maguire. Often, I will bring her plays that I think would be good there, and that I want to direct, and we talk about them. When I direct in the theater, Im under a theater auspice. I dont really have to worry about raising money for the play, I dont have to really worry about anything from the production aspect and Im working with a fairly small group of people. I have a stage manager, a lighting designer, someone who is doing the music, a costume designer and my actors. Its a very small, very contained group of people. We rehearse for a month and then a play goes up and is in front of the audience and the actors take over at that point. Once the play opens, the director really steps to the side. I give notes through the previews, but then the play really becomes the actors' play. For film, its very, very different. For each film project, youre trying to figure out how to raise the money to do it, it's a much larger group of people and a much, much longer period of time of your life. For A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud., I spent three years working on it a year to raise the money, a year to do the preproduction, to shoot it and all the press production and then a year taking it out into the world and getting it in front of audiences through film festivals. Its a big commitment. Im already working on the film [The Batting Cage]. Were going to shoot it in St. Augustine, Fla., and Ive already been down there, scouting locations. Were probably a year away from that, at least. Q: How do you decide what projects you are going to work on? KAREN ALLEN: I just try to find things that I just absolutely love, stories that I think are important to tell or are worth telling or really intrigue me and hold my interest over a period of years. I mean A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud. was a story I knew for over 40 years. I read it when I was maybe 17 or 18 and it was a story that I had always wanted to share with people. I often read it to people. I also just had this desire, at one point I wanted to make it into a short play. So it was a natural choice for me for my first film. It made sense to me to make a short film because I was just in a learning curve. I had never directed a film by myself before, although I had certainly been involved with observing other directors direct films. The Batting Cage is like that too. Its a play I've known for 20 to 25 years. Its a beautiful story, that will be very appealing. Joan, her writing is so delicious and she has such a wonderful sense of humor, It excites me to make it into a film and to do it as a play. If you are going to commit yourself to something for three years, you better be pretty passionate about it. You want it to be something that has an enduring pull on your heart. Q: Has living in the Berkshires influenced your work? KAREN ALLEN: Certainly, it has influenced my work, because the one film I shot, I did in the Berkshires. I found a way to put it together, which is really special. Just to be able to find a location here and to be able to get up in the morning and to drive 20 minutes and be at work is pretty fabulous. And to be able to entice and put together a crew of the level we were able to many of those people being people who live and work here and are extraordinary in their fields was amazing. And of course, the next film I want to do is by a playwright who has lived here for many, many years and has her own little mixed company here. IF YOU GO 'Hit Man: Secrets Of Lies' What: Short film starring Karen Allen, Peter Reigert, Richard Kind and William Sadler. Screens as part of the Narrative Shorts showcase. When: 2:30 p.m., June 2, Triplex Cinema, 70 Railroad St., Great Barrington When: 11:30 a.m. June 3, Lenox Town Hall, 13-33 Walker St. Lenox Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org 'A Stage of Twilight' What: Narrative film starring Karen Allen and William Sadler Where: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington When: 4 p.m., June 2 Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org What: Berkshire International Film Festival Tea Talk Who: Cynthia Wade, Karen Allen and Barbara Kopple in conversation with Diane Pearlman Where: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington When: 12:30-2 p.m., June 3 Tickets: $15 Information and reservations: 413-528-8030, biffma.org Reasoning that cellphones are interfering with students' learning and social life, some Berkshire County schools have cracked down on their use, even outlawing them altogether during school hours. Quote I believe that given the distractions, dangers, and what we're learning about the developmental impact, many districts will be moving towards new policies and practices." Jake Eberwein, interim superintendent, Lenox Public Schools Other county school officials from Sheffield to Pittsfield and beyond are discussing the possibility of tightening those rules. But that decision, in the future, could be made by the state. The effect of cellphone use on children and teenagers has long worried parents and educators. Now the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the agency that oversees the state's public schools, is stepping in. At its Tuesday board meeting, DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said the agency might move towards its own requirement to stop cellphone use in the state's public schools. He also said the agency is certainly interested in developing a matching grant program, seeded with up to $1 million, for district pilot programs that put those restrictions into practice. Im not sure we as a board have ever taken up this issue in a way that needs to be addressed, Riley said, before introducing school leaders, staff members and students from several state schools who spoke of the various policies that include outright bans or restrictions, and how those have worked. Riley also said cellphones are just another spoke on the wheel of technology that affects education and that the board will reckon with. He included the implications of artificial intelligence, which the board plans to discuss in the fall. The board's cellphone discussion came one day before the Lenox Public Schools Wellness Committee also planned to discuss the issue, said Superintendent Jake Eberwein, explaining it has been an ongoing conversation among administrators and faculty members. I suspect that cellphones, use of electronics, internet/digital safety are top of mind in many districts and among many educators, Eberwein said. Current policy outlaws phones at the elementary and middle schools altogether, and from use during class in the high school. I believe that given the distractions, dangers, and what we're learning about the developmental impact, many districts will be moving towards new policies and practices." The DESE board discussion Tuesday also came, coincidentally, on the same day that U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued what The New York Times called an extraordinary public warning and a 19-page advisory about the unknown and likely harmful effects of social media on children and adolescents. Memorandum about cellphone use from the Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education There is growing evidence of the negative impact of the use of electronic communication devices such as cell phones during class time and during the school day. In addition to the distraction from teaching, learning, and student engagement, research shows that cell phone use and social media have contributed negatively to mental health and poor sleep habits in teens. This has been exacerbated by the unprecedented growth in cellphone and social media use during the pandemic. Massachusetts public schools and districts have taken a variety of approaches to cell phone use. For example, some have instituted policies requiring students to turn in their phone at the beginning of the school day and students retrieve it at the end of the day; or have students place their cell phone in a magnetically-sealed pouch upon arriving at school and unlock it at the end of the school day; or encourage teachers to adopt classroom rules and practices where students are required to place their cell phone in a cell phone hotel during the class but can access it between classes and during the lunch period. At the meeting on May 23, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hear from representatives of several schools and districts about the approaches they have taken on this issue. They will provide reflections on their experience implementing these practices and the results in their school communities. There are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents, Murthy said, also acknowledging that the full effect is unknown, and that it can be beneficial to some. Even before the pandemic lockdowns hit and schools closed, schools were trying to manage student cellphone use. Then came a deeper reliance on electronic devices and social media developed by students craving social interaction during those lockdowns. Once they reopened for in-person classes, schools had to crack down in varying degrees. Apart from the effect on learning, the problem is also the shutting out of real human connection, one Boston educator told the DESE board. There is a need for a sense of belonging, said Traci Griffith Walker, principal of The Eliot K-8 Innovation School in Boston, which has outlawed phone use during school hours. How does that happen? It does not happen by engaging on Instagram and TikTok. It happens when you feel connected to your school community. The Eliot school stores student phones in magnetically sealed pouches that only staff members can open, and will do so in an emergency, Griffith Walker said. In the Berkshires, McCann Technical School in North Adams uses that same system, made by a company called Yondr. Every student is issued a pouch at the beginning of the year, and the phone is locked inside it each morning, before the 7:50 bell, until 2:45 p.m., according to the McCann cellphone policy. The interpersonal social skills of students are of critical importance as is full engagement in their education, the McCann policy reads. While cell phones certainly have a place and use in our society, the benefits of a [cellphone-free] school environment for students outweigh the convenience of electronic devices. Pittsfield Public Schools officials also are reviewing cellphone policy and conducting research. The schools Social Emotional Learning and School Safety subcommittee discussed the issue last month. Berkshire Hills Regional School Districts three Great Barrington schools also are weighing the matter, said Superintendent Peter Dillon. We see the research on the negative impact of devices," Dillon said, "and we are starting discussions around gathering feedback for potential shifts in our approach and policies." Monument Mountain Regional High School, for instance, allows cellphone use during the lunch period, and depending on the classroom situation, they can be used as a research or study tool during study halls and at teacher direction. Teachers can also require that phones be put away during class. The school has a firm policy of forbidding students to take pictures of other students or adults on school grounds. Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School does not allow electronic devices at all unless there is special permission. Southern Berkshire Regional School District schools have had to experiment. At the Secondary Level we have been trying different things such as collecting the phones at the start of the day and returning them at the end, cubbies in the classrooms as they enter and exit, said Superintendent Beth Regulbuto, in an email. We, as a District, also have concerns about screen time, student distraction, the social emotional impacts of social media, etc. Cellphones and smart watches also are forbidden to elementary students in all the district's schools, Regulbuto added, and said there are ongoing discussions about possibly tightening rules. GREAT BARRINGTON U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the high-profile progressive Democratic congressman, is this years guest speaker at Berkshire Community Colleges 15th annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture today. The 5 p.m. event at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, which is sold out, is a return engagement for Raskin, who was last years speaker at the series organized by BCCs Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Hes subbing for MSNBC legal correspondent Ari Melber, who had to cancel but will appear briefly by video. Raskins chosen topic is Our Beleaguered Social Contract: Democracy, Gun Violence and the Perils of Insurrectionism. He served on the Select Committee in Congress investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. During an interview with The Eagle on Friday afternoon while en route to the Berkshires from Maryland, Raskin said he was looking forward to his return visit. Its a part of our country that has always been fertile soil for movements for democracy and freedom, he said. Im thrilled to reconnect with the people in your part of New England. Raskin is considering a run for the U.S. Senate from Maryland next year and expects to make a decision in early June. Hes in his fourth term representing part of Montgomery County and is the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. In the House, he was the lead manager during the impeachment trial of former President Trump for his role in the attempted insurrection. (Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Feb. 13, 2021, although majority of senators voted 57-43 to convict him, including seven Republicans. But two-thirds, or 67 votes, were needed to convict. It was the second time Trump was acquitted on impeachment charges.) Raskin, 60, has recently recovered from grueling but successful chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. The cancer is now in remission. Excerpts from the interview follow, lightly edited for length: Q: Whats your view on the very delicate negotiations to avert a default if the debt ceiling is not raised before the U.S. Treasury can no longer pay its bills? A: We have had indication that there has been real progress towards a framework for a resolution. Theres a plan for a two-year extension of the debt ceiling but we havent seen the details. There is a general unease about making any deal with the MAGA right, which had no problem with Donald Trumps adding [$8 trillion) to the nations debt, one-quarter of everything we owe, and then turn around and use the debt ceiling as a bludgeon in order to dismantle social spending on health care, veterans, education and the environment. Nobody on the Democratic side is happy about the situation were in. We understand that President Biden has been put into a difficult position by the Republicans being driven by the MAGA right. So, theres real unhappiness over the whole evolution of this controversy. Q: How are you feeling following your battle with chemotherapy, which youve described as a best friend and worst enemy because it had such a debilitating impact A: Im feeling great now because the doctors say the cancer is in remission and they see no signs of cancer cells left, so thats a remarkably good feeling to have. But having rung the bell more than three weeks ago, I also feel great because the side effects of chemotherapy have abated. So I dont feel neuropathy or nausea, my sense of taste is mostly restored, food is really good! I dont have a 100 percent of my energy back, but I have 80 percent. There were days during chemotherapy when I probably had only 5 percent of my energy. Q: What can you share about your current thinking about a possible run for the U.S. Senate? A: Its an odd position for me because I have only run for two offices before, the Maryland state senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Im learning to live with some political and personal uncertainty here. Its a very tough choice but a great choice. Ive been elected to be the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. If the Democrats take back the house, Id be in a position to become the chairman, with agenda-setting authority and to be involved in the defense of democracy and freedom in the country. At the same time, lots of people have been encouraging me to run for the Senate and Im talking to some senators to identify what I might be able to do in the Senate that are not available to me in the House one of them is the vetting of federal judges and U.S. Supreme Court justices. I just have to weigh these two very good options in the context of the 2024 campaign, because its far more important than my own individual career ambitions is whether or not the Democrats will recapture the House, hold the Senate and defend the presidency against Trump and his authoritarian movement. The overarching question Im asking myself is where my experiences and talents, such as they are will be best deployed in 2024 and through this period in our history. Q: On your speech topic, Our Beleaguered Social Contract: Democracy, Gun Violence and the Perils of Insurrectionism, do you have anything hopeful to share? A: The good news is that the forces of democracy and freedom are a significant majority in the country, whether its peoples feelings about insurrection, gun violence or safety, reproductive freedom or voting rights and democratic institutions. The vast majority of the American people are on the side of democratic progress and in my mind, that means the Democratic Party. The other side has a bag of tricks voter intimidation, manipulation of legislative districts and of every antiquated nook and cranny within the Electoral College system to overthrow the popular vote, including the filibuster. As [philosopher and education reformer] John Dewey said, the only solution to the ills of democracy is more democracy. What were suffering from today is the impediments to it and the limitations on it. The five-town Housatonic Rest of River Municipal Committee voted 4-1 on Thursday to spend up to $15,000 for legal counsel to participate in oral arguments at the June 6 federal court hearing in Boston on the EPA-GE PCB cleanup work permit. The committee had been ordered by the state Attorney Generals Office to take a new vote within 14 days of the AGs Open Meeting Law violation ruling issued May 19. Lee resident Joshua Bloom had filed the complaint. He contended that the posting of a March 27 agenda item on the funding vote taken that day was too vague. The five-town group is an intervenor at the U.S. First District Court of Appeals to support the GE work permit issued by the EPA to remove likely cancer-causing PCBs from the Housatonic from southeast Pittsfield downstream to Sheffield. The Housatonic River Initiative based in Lee and the Housatonic Environmental Action League in Cornwall Bridge, Conn., filed an appeal with the court seeking to overturn the work permit. Committee member Channing Gibson of Lenox explained his vote in support for funding the committees participation in the court hearing. The [Lenox Select Board] believes that delaying the cleanup and thereby allowing the Housatonic River to remain an uncontrolled toxic waste dump for the unforeseen future would be detrimental to the town, he told The Eagle after the meeting. The flashpoint for many Lee residents and town officials is the creation of a landfill near Woods Pond to dispose of low-level PCB concentrations of sediment and soil to be removed from the river. The Lee Select Board on Wednesday voted 2-0 to appoint Bloom as a nonvoting committee member. Bloom is teaming up with Lee Select Board Chairman Bob Jones to represent the town. Each of the towns on the committee, also including Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield, can have a second, nonvoting member. Josh Bloom has really done his homework, Jones told The Eagle after the meeting. I will have the vote, but I will be conferring closely with Josh because of his expertise regarding this proposed dump and the Rest of River agreement. The town is delighted to have him on board. Bloom also has filed multiple complaints over the lack of public comment on the agenda during several recent meetings of the committee. According to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which runs the sessions, public comments were on the agenda for 24 meetings from September 2020 through March 2023. Four meetings since September 2020 did not list public comments, but three were purely administrative. Before the Thursday vote to fund legal representation at the federal court hearing, Jones pointed out that the town of Lee is seeking mediation to resolve whether we should be filing an intervenor brief at all. We fully believe the Rest of River Committee should stay out of the court case. This is between HRI, EPA and GE and let the chips fall where they may. Jones asserted that the committee was supposed to be five towns working together to help each other make the best of a really bad situation. But his motion to delay a vote on the funding issue pending mediation failed due to lack of a second. Committee member Rene Wood of Sheffield pointed out that the attorney generals perfectly correct finding that the committee violated the posting requirements now requires an immediate new vote by the committee. That vote to fund legal representation at the court hearing was then approved 4-1, with Jones dissenting. The committee also voted 4-1, with Lenox representative Channing Gibson opposed, in favor of Joness motion to allow public comment at Thursdays meeting. Lee resident Anne Langlais offered thanks for finally allowing public comments, months and months weve been waiting to have a voice at your meetings. She blasted the committee for its decision to go to court against the town of Lee and interject yourself into a court case that is ongoing. It is baffling to me that you want to be represented going down in history of going against your neighbors. She also decried the rejection by leaders of the four towns of an invitation from the Lee Select Board for a joint meeting. Just to have that discussion would be a very large showing that you actually do care about your neighbors, Langlais said. Another Lee resident, Janice Braim, accused the Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield representatives of lacking empathy. If this dump was in your backyard, it would be a different story, she said. If it was in your backyard, Id be fighting for you. So, start sticking up for us and being good neighbors. Addressing Thomas Matuszko, executive director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission who chairs the Rest of River Committee meetings, Bloom demanded greater transparency and public engagement, and that he stop trying to hide information fr om the public and stop trying to limit public participation. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is flanked by aides as she returns to the Senate Judiciary Committee May 11 following a more than two-month absence as she was being treated for a case of shingles. Feinsteins office said May 18 that she is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a complication from the shingles virus that can paralyze part of the face, and that she contracted encephalitis while recovering from the virus earlier this year. I dont drink, cuss, smoke, chew, or run around with women who do. Growing up in the local church, we used to say this line all the time, especially in Sunday School class as a teen, trying to help us kids say no to the culture that would tempt us with such things. As narrow and somewhat legalistic as those statements might have been, they werent necessarily wrong or bad. I was offered various substances by friends throughout high school. Fortunately for me, my church community was also loving and encouraging, and that combination helped me to be friends with others while rejecting some of their recreational activities. And I definitely tried to stay away from the girls who did that stuff. I learned that avoiding certain things didnt keep me from having fun, probably the opposite, and kept me out of more trouble than I already got into. The Bible doesnt say anything about smoking or chewing. Of course, there are mentions of talking and having honorable speech and whole Proverbs passages about staying away from certain kinds of women. But what about alcohol? Wine was a staple in the ancient world. Therefore, we get several occasions where the drinking of alcohol is addressed. How does the Bible speak of wine and alcohol? Important for the discussion is the example of Jesus. Wine shows up several times in the Gospel narratives. Did Jesus drink wine? Photo credit: Unsplash/kmellis Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants founded with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Through this agreement, both organisations agree to work together to provide accounting and finance professionals with the skills they need to succeed, ensure the continued relevancy of the profession, and promote the value that it brings to organisations in South Africa through a range of member engagement activities, events, and advocacy initiatives. Tariro Mutizwa, ACMA, CGMA, regional vice president Africa, at AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, said: AICPA & CIMA are pleased to partner with ABASA, one of South Africas leading empowerment and transformation organisations in accounting and finance. I believe this collaboration will play a key role in providing accounting and finance graduates with professional options, recognition of the management accounting profession in South Africa and offer current and future accounting, finance, and business professionals, a unique opportunity to strengthen their skillsets and enhance employability. Linda Maqoma, president at ABASA, said: As ABASA continues to drive inclusivity in the accountancy profession, this collaboration with AICPA & CIMA not only aims to strengthen the ecosystem of accounting professionals but also respond to the unemployment challenges in our country. We also look forward to raising better awareness through this collaboration around the different career options within the profession. What if there were a way to infuse more energy and joy into the classroom? What if there were a (pedagogical) vehicle that could serve as an impetus for student collaboration and critical thinking, while addressing a significant portion of all those pesky standards? Photo by Vanessa Loring via /www.pexels.com Innovations such as DBE-E3, the Department of Basic Education's flagship programme, on Project Based Learning (PBL) is an attempt to change South Africa's education crisis. While most academic curriculums focus on the core academic subjects, which still remain important, many learners aren't gaining the skill sets required to seamlessly integrate into the business environment. PBL often gets dismissed because its perceived as yet another thing on the educators already overfilled plates. However it is about reorganizing the plate. But what does it look like to reorganize your plate in a way that might help alleviate some of the seemingly insurmountable challenges you face daily? PBL is often seen as too time-consuming to plan or implement. Who has time for that? It sounds exhausting before even getting started. What if you collaborated with a colleague (lets say you teach math, and they teach English language arts) to create a project that focused on using your specific content areas to impact or promote change locally? DBE-E3 s programme in South Africa, seeks to equip educators to prepare learner to be solution-seeking active participants in the world after school. We live in a project-based world. Think about it. Whether youre planning a virtual field trip or creating the perfect work-from-home space, youre working on a project. In fact, many of us organise our tasks by projects and work collaboratively with other teams and colleagues to solve problems. DBE-E3 aims to bring authentic learning into the classroom so that learning has real-life applications and thus real meaning to learners. Not only could collaborating help lighten each of the lesson planning and grading loads, but also it could empower students by highlighting just how real learning can be. Imagine the rewards youll gain from collaborating on a projects creation, coordination, and presentation with colleagues. When classroom norms and expectations are understoodin most cases cocreated with studentsit promotes both clarity and buy-in from the beginning. When students work in collaborative groups, a structure that provides additional support when clarification is required, they experience individual and team accountability through creating shared products. Choosing the right school shoes for your child can be daunting, but it's an essential decision to ensure their comfort and support throughout the school year. As children spend most of their weekdays in their shoes, it's vital to get them comfortable, hard-wearing and school-approved footwear. Bata South Africa knows this well. The company produces over four million pairs of school shoes annually, including Toughees, South Africa's most trusted school shoe since 1954, and BFirst, an affordable range for budget-conscious buyers. Follow these tips from Bata when choosing your child's school shoes: Know when new is needed A child needs new school shoes if their toes are touching the end of their shoes, the heels are worn out, there are holes in the toes, the treads are worn and slippery, or the shoes are worn on the sides. Check the school's guidelines Before making a purchase, check the school's guidelines, as many will specify which school shoe styles your child can and cannot wear. Michael Sithambaram, manager of Batas Schools Division, says: These guidelines will typically include sticking to smart black or brown shades. Schools may also have a policy on style, for example, no T-bars and only lace-ups, so double-check with them before you buy. Consider your child's needs and preferences When school rules are not too strict, children can choose their own comfortable and appropriate shoes, and for those who love fashion, Toughees or BFirst have a range of trendy styles such as lace-ups, Mary Janes, T-Bars, or chunky soles to match different ages and personalities. For less formal schools, black or white Toughees Sneakers that comply with uniform regulations can be a perfect transition shoe from class to PE, break and extracurricular activities. What to look for when buying school shoes When choosing shoes for children, those designed for physical activity and active lifestyles come out tops. Ensure they have an appropriate fit in terms of length and width, a sturdy heel counter, secure fastenings, and a supportive sole with a cushioned heel for shock absorption. For younger children, consider shoes with Velcro fastenings or buckles, to avoid the hassle of little fingers tying shoelaces. Select shoes that promote foot hygiene. Toughees school shoes have genuine leather uppers, which are durable, breathable, and have antifungal and antibacterial properties to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, reducing the risk of infections, odours, and skin conditions such as athletes foot. A good school shoe is important for any school going child, as it provides comfort, support, and protection, allowing children to focus on their studies and physical activities without distractions. By choosing Toughees or BFirst, you can rest assured that your childs feet are well taken care of throughout the school year. All Toughees school shoes are manufactured to the highest standards and are crafted locally at the Bata factory in Loskop, KwaZulu-Natal at the base of the Drakensberg mountains. Toughees are available online, at Toughees.co.za, instore, or online at major retailers including Ackermans, PEP, Jet, Edgars, MrP, NuShop and Shoe City, wholesale distributors Bhanas Wholesalers, Express Stores, Gem Schoolwear and Jumbo, as well as online at Zando, Superbalist and Takealot. Find BFirst shoes at Ackermans. Out of home media - specifically digital out of home (DOOH) media - has seen thousands of screens across the country go dark when load shedding kicks in. In response, one of South Africa's leading media owners, Tractor Outdoor, has designed a new power-backed solution to keep screens on, meeting the needs of its advertisers. Mali Motsumi-Garrido, sales director at Tractor Outdoor, explains that Tractor is rolling out this solution in a two-phased approach, commencing at the end of June. Our first step is to deliver full battery-powered back-up of the network so that our screens can still operate when load shedding strikes. This solution is solar-ready, enabling solar technologies to be integrated in phase two. Motsumi-Garrido, says that the second phase will entail the full-scale roll-out of solar-powered solutions, integrated into key sites. These will be connected to solar energy as well as other alternative energy sources where available. Not only will this allow us to continue to deliver our clients campaigns without interruption, but it will also take us one step closer to our sustainability goals, she explains, adding that Tractor aims to become net zero in the near future. We know that this is an audacious task, but weve never been content with maintaining the status quo. Our vision has always been to push boundaries in our quest to drive fundamental change for good, and we view load shedding not as a problem, but as a catalyst for change. South Africas ongoing energy crisis has impacted all types of electronic media, and the media industry has once again had to pivot that pandemic buzzword to retain audiences. Television, as a medium, has seen viewers drop off at the speed of ahem light. In June 2022, when load shedding first started to escalate, TV audiences shrank by 34% in the first week of July 2022 compared to that same period the previous year. Digital media has also been dealt a blow; online channels have seen reduced audiences due to people either not having battery power, trying to save up on their power or loss of connectivity during load shedding windows. Rather than think outside the box, media owners, buyers, planners and strategists have had to think off the grid, and digital out of home (DOOH) media is no exception. However, Motsumi-Garrido says that DOOH is different from other electronic channels in that it is not necessarily losing audiences. Unlike during 2020s lockdown, outdoor audiences are still out and about and, in many cases, these audiences are held captive even longer as a direct result of load shedding (think of commuters stuck in traffic exacerbated by traffic lights going off). Where DOOH is affected is in its loop-based campaigns: Advertisers purchase a specific number of ad plays, and when the power goes off, an ad cannot be served, and media owners generally build in a buffer to provide for this. Motsumi-Garrido adds that Tractors power-backed solutions are but one way the media owner is tackling the matter of load shedding it also offers buyers optimised packages, which provide guaranteed impression-based buying. This means that we can commit to delivering a certain number of impressions to clients, based on their campaign objectives and location requirements. Moreover, clients can define the criteria for when they want their campaigns to run for example, during rush hour, or when temperature drops or soars (ideal for seasonal goods such as ice cream or hot chocolate). Our optimised packages are billed based on impressions (the number of people exposed to the screens), which means that when they dont play, clients wont pay. In addition, our programmatic capabilities allow for in-depth reporting, allowing us to be completely transparent with our clients in showing them exactly when their ads were served. In this way, we can continue to show impact and return on investment. Motsumi-Garrido concludes by saying that OOH has always been resilient and swift to adapt to environmental conditions. The issue of load shedding is something that we set out to tackle, and were extremely excited to introduce our power-backed solutions to the market. Weve always invested ahead of the curve, integrating world-class systems and technologies into the operations of our business so that we can continue to deliver great value to our clients. Despite optimism with the progress of AfCFTA and other initiative to drive African initiatives, African brands regressed 20% from a 10-year high of 17% to 14% share of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa Stalwart African brand MTN dropped out of the Top 10, while all African brands lost ground, except Zambias Trade Kings, the highest African mover and new at #38. This was the finding of the Brand Africa release of the 13th list of the most admired brands in Africa. Europe, led by Adidas at #2, has grown its share of the most admired brands in Africa to 37%, ahead of North America at 32% led by Nike, the #1 brand for the 5th consecutive year, and Asia which retains its 17% share led by Samsung, the #3 brand for the 3rd consecutive year. It is concerning that despite the momentum in operationalising the AfCFTA, rising internal pride in continent albeit against global economic challenges, that African consumers have reverted to their trusted, mostly non-Africa brands, rather than give African brands a chance, says Thebe Ikalafeng, the founder and chairman of Brand Africa. Nonetheless, this is the state of brands in Africa, and an urgent need to build trust in Made in African brands. The survey and rankings, conducted by Geopoll, Kantar and Brand Leadership, is across 32 African countries that account for more than 85% of the continents GDP and population. Karin Du Chenne, chief growth officer Africa Middle East for Kantar, which has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010 says, despite the increased countries and sample sizes which have invariably grown the volumes of brands analysed, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of the leading brands in the continent, albeit not yet to Africas advantage. Nike most admitted brand The most admired brand in Africa is Nike, retaining its number one spot for the fifth consecutive year. Unicef is the #1 NGO, Coca Cola the #1 non-African brand and MTN the #1 African brands recognised for doing good for society. MTN and Dangote remain the most admired African brands, with Standard Bank surgeing to the #1 most admired financial services brand while DSTV retains ranking as the most admired media brand. Highlights of the report In a new category of brands that are doing good for people, society and the environment, inspired by business shifting from profit to purpose, Unicef emerged as the #1 NGO, Coca Cola the #1 non-African brand and MTN the #1 African brands. In a category specific ranking of the Top 25 financial services brands, Africas oldest banking group, Standard Bank surged to the #1 most admired brand in Africa, displacing GTBank, which had led the rankings for the past 3 years, but is reeling from recent UK regulatory issues, service challenges and a tough competitive environment. The category is dominated by South African (6) and Nigerian (6) brands which account for 48% of the rankings, with the US (4), led by VISA, at 16% percent, making up 64% of the Top 25 brands. In a category specific ranking of the Top 25 media brands, DStv, the consumer brand of the Multichoice Group, retains its dominant ranking ahead of BBC and CNN as the most admired media brand in Africa. Consistent with previous rankings, non-African media dominate the continent, accounting for 76% of the Top 25 brands. MTN is the #1 most admired African brand in the Top 100 brands recalled spontaneously, while Dangote has retaken the lead as the #1 most admired brand when respondents are prompted to recall an African brand specifically. Fifteen percent of the Top 100 brands are new entrants, led by USs Oral B the highest mover at #34, Zambias Trade Kings at #38 and the USs Jordan at #42. The Brand Africa 100 | Africas Best Brands research took place between February and and covered 32 countries across all economic regions in the continent. The 2023/24 research is once again being conducted by Brand Africa partners, Geopoll covered sub-Sahara Africa, Analysis, a Kantar affiliate in Mauritius covered the sub-Sahara Islands, and Moroccos Integrate, an affiliate of Kantar covered North Africa. Kantar and Brand Leadership produced the rankings, while the Brand Africa Scientific Committee convened to review, analyse and validate the results. As Africa Month draws to a close, we chat with the founder of the Nigerian fashion brand Design for Love (DFL) Oluwunmni Funbi-Olufeko. Oluwunmni Funbi-Olufeko | image supplied Apart from tackling fabric waste which is a global problem. Funbi-Olufeko's DFL also assist low-income women by incorporating them into its supply chain by creating more jobs, thus assisting them in becoming financially independent, and this is how DFL plays a role in poverty alleviation in Nigeria. The aims of the business are to: educate, empower and possibly employ young women in low-income communities in Nigeria who may not have the opportunity to further their education after high school. Can you tell us more about your journey as a social entrepreneur and what inspired you to start Design for Love (DFL)? I launched a fashion design and manufacturing company in 2006 in Nigeria. We used locally sourced materials, and one of the challenges we faced was disposing of our fabric waste, we therefore decided to recycle most of the waste fabrics from production by turning them into unique handcrafted patchwork accessories. Our manufacturing facility embraced sustainability and made a commitment to zero waste. This initiative was called the Bisola project and today, we have more than 20 unique products from fabric waste. The project has been sustained for 10 years within the business. How does Design for Love contribute to reducing poverty and addressing community-based problems in Nigeria? Apart from tackling fabric waste which is a global problem. We also assist low-income women by incorporating them into our supply chain by creating more jobs thus assisting them in becoming financially independent and this is how we play a role in poverty alleviation in Nigeria. The aims of the business are to: educate, empower and possibly employ young women in low-income communities in Nigeria who may not have the opportunity to further their education after high school. Could you share some examples of the positive impact your business has had on the lives of the youths and women you employ? We often see young girls who stopped attending school and became breadwinners for their families. We work with them and empower them with sewing skills enabling them to earn money. Some of the girls return to school to complete their education and we give them flexible working hours so that that dream of going to school is fulfilled. Could you explain how your products contribute to the preservation of Nigerian heritage and culture? We use hand-dyed batik prints, the dyeing techniques used for these fabrics are age-long techniques that have been passed from generation to generation in these communities. In recent modern times, adire was seen as boring and wasnt getting the attention this beautiful fabric deserved. We have had to incorporate more contemporary designs to make the outfits we produce so as to appeal to a larger audience and I would say we have been successful in doing this as people are now readily wearing adire to work, play or party. Can you give us some insights into the significance of Adire and Aso-oke fabrics in Nigerian culture and why you chose to use them in your products? They say build a woman, you build a nation. When we train and empower these women, we give them the ability to make strategic decisions within their family especially as regards their children, education helps them to build self-confidence. Ensuring their children can also get educated thereby ensuring we have a happier and healthier society that works. Comment on the importance of supporting local communities, particularly in the African context They say build a woman, you build a nation . When we train and empower these women, we give them the ability to make strategic decisions within their family especially as regards their children, education helps them to build self-confidence. Ensuring their children can also get educated thereby ensuring we have a happier and healthier society that works. How do you ensure the sustainability and scalability of your business model while maintaining its social impact? People make the difference, we ensure that the people we work with within our supply chain understand our purpose and that is what drives the system. With the production of over 1000 bags per month, how do you manage the operations and ensure the quality of your products? By hiring people with a passion for our industry and skilled in business management, we work as a team to maintain our quality standards, customer service, delivery and business growth. For every step we want to grow, we sit with the team and plan for growth, but working in Nigeria. What are your future plans for Design for Love? Are there any new initiatives or collaborations you are working on? We plan to increase our customer base in Africa, as we receive a lot of requests for our products from other African countries such as Ivory Coast which shows our brand is loved and appreciated and it is evidence of business opportunities. The United Nations received pledges of $2.4bn on Wednesday to help fund aid operations for some 32 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, but the donations fell short of what the UN was seeking as it warned against a possible "catastrophe". File Photo: The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, 1 March 2022. Reuters/Carlo Allegri The UN has appealed for more than $7bn for the three countries, but prior to Wednesday's pledging conference Somalia was just 25% funded, Ethiopia 22% and Kenya just 21%. The United Nations describes the Horn of Africa as the epicentre of one of the world's worst climate emergencies. "People in the Horn of Africa are paying an unconscionable price for a climate crisis they did nothing to cause," Guterres told the pledging event in New York on Wednesday. "Crisis atop of crisis is threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions across the Horn of Africa: The longest drought on record. Mass displacement after years of conflict and insecurity. Skyrocketing food prices," he said. According to the World Health Organization and Unicef, some 40,000 died during a drought in Somalia last year; half were children under the age of five, Guterres said. The United States made the top pledge - an additional $524m, taking its total for fiscal 2023 to some $1.4bn. The European Commission pledged $185m, Germany $163m, Britain $120m and the Netherlands $92m. "This is a global problem that requires all of us," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the pledging event. "We must adapt to the impacts of climate change and build more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems around the world. And we must support humanitarian workers and NGOs that dedicate their lives to saving lives," she said. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examined independent journalist Matt Taibbis 2018 tax returns on December 24, 2022, which was a Saturday and Christmas Eve. It was soon after Taibbi published the first batch of Twitter Files, internal Twitter documents exposing how federal government agencies pressured Twitter to censor content. The timing raised eyebrows and many believed it to be an act of retaliation for sounding the alarm on government-backed censorship. The House Judiciary Committee obtained the details after the IRS was criticized for visiting Taibbis home in March about the tax filing, on the same day the journalist testified before Congress about the Twitter Files. In a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, chair of the Judiciary Committee Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said the documents the agency provided raise more questions than they answer. The IRS defended the review by saying it was trying to determine that Taibbi was not the victim of identity fraud. It further claimed that in 2019, it wrote to Taibbi to explain that there was a discrepancy in his 2018 tax return. However, the documents obtained by the committee show that the IRS opened a review of the tax return on Christmas Eve last year. Additionally, Taibbi did not owe the IRS. In fact, he was owed a refund, according to the documents obtained by the Committee. The IRS asserted to the Committee that it sent a letter to Mr. Taibbi on October 24, 2019 nine days after Mr. Taibbi filed his 2018 tax return asking Mr. Taibbi to verify his return because it met identity theft criteria and could not be processed until he confirmed, Jordan wrote. The IRS alleged that it sent a second letter to Mr. Taibbi on March 23, 2020. 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 return that is until the IRS conducted a field visit at Mr. Taibbis home three years later. The IRS also failed to produce these purported letters to the Committee. Jordan added: The IRSs production shows that the IRS opened its examination of Mr. Taibbis 2018 tax return on December 24, 2022. 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. In March, Taibbi said that an IRS agent visited his home in New Jersey and left a note telling him to contact the agency. Water supply has been restored to large parts of Dublin following a mains burst on Thursday. Uisce Eireann is advising customers to run their taps to flush out any discolouration in water following the repair of a pipe in Dublin 8 overnight. Operations manager Margaret Attridge told Newstalk radio that supply had been restored to 42,000 households and businesses, but that water pressure might remain low on Friday. She said the fitting on top of a pipe laid 40 years ago had sheered off, with such incidents happening about once a year on average. Uisce Eireann and @DubCityCouncil have successfully completed emergency repairs following a major burst to a high pressure watermain serving Dublin City. It may take several hours for normal water supply to return to all customers. Visit https://t.co/fNz6ALIozo for more details. Advertisement Uisce Eireann - Irish Water (@IrishWater) May 26, 2023 There is no boil notice in place and the water is drinkable, she said, although it would not be pleasant. Her advice was to "run your tap. It's not that it's not safe to drink, but it's not very pleasant to drink. So you run your tap and that should clear it. It should be very localised." If there were further issues she said customers should call the helpline 1800 278278. The outage extended from Dolphins Barn through Kilmainham, across the river Liffey through Clontarf and Raheny because the affected pipe was high pressure. Although there were over 40,000 premises impacted by the incident, many did not lose supply but just experienced low water pressure, said Ms Attridge. Ireland Simon Harris genuinely worried about far right Read More Supply to reserve tanks in hospitals in the affected area was topped up overnight where necessary with support from the fire service. Water tanks were also on hand to assist if necessary to ensure supply continued for essential services, she said. Ms Attridge acknowledged that the citys network was old and that incidents like this could happen once a year, but that Uisce Eireann crews carefully monitored the system for leaks and weaknesses all the time through pressure graphs. "What we're trying to do is build up that resilience in our network so we can have that alternative route where we can feed water to different areas. "We are investing over a quarter of a billion every year in our leakage reduction programme and replacing pipes. And we have seen leakage reduced in the Dublin area significantly over the last three or four years because of the efforts in that area." One of the top officials in Europes leading human rights body has expressed concern about the severe lack of accommodation faced by people seeking international protection in Ireland and fears it was adding to anti-refugee sentiment". The Council of Europes Commissioner for Human Rights Duna Mijatovic has written to the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to raise concern about the challenges faced in providing adequate reception and accommodation for asylum seekers arriving in the Republic. In a letter that was also addressed to the Minister for Integration, Roderic OGorman, and the Minister for Housing, Darragh OBrien, Ms Mijatovic said the situation given the wider housing crisis in Ireland could contribute to a growing anti-refugee sentiment which had already led to several worrying incidents. Ms Mijatovic noted that over 900 international protection applicants have been left in a situation of street homelessness over recent months. Advertisement In addition, the commissioner observed that families with children were often housed for extended periods in inadequate and overcrowded temporary accommodation. Ms Mijatovic has called on the Irish authorities to comprehensively review and address structural shortcomings of the international protection system. The commissioner also said Ireland should develop a sustainable approach towards the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers within its broader housing policy. 'Whole-of-government approach' The scale and complexity of the prevailing reception crisis calls for a whole-of-government approach, she added. Ms Mijatovic said she highly appreciated the generous welcome that had been extended by Ireland to almost 80,000 refugees from Ukraine, of which some 60,000 had been provided with different forms of accommodation. However, she said housing for international protection applicants had been inadequate since last summer with some being turned away due to a shortfall in accommodation. Ms Mijatovic said she was worried by the reported differences in the treatment of people fleeing war in Ukraine and those fleeing war and atrocities in other countries. The commissioner said she was also concerned at the decision taken at the start of 2023 to only offer emergency accommodation to applicants with children which had resulted in over 900 refugees, including some who could be minors, left in a situation of street homelessness. Advertisement While I am aware that this decision was taken in exceptional circumstances and with the intention of offering shelter to all applicants as soon as it became available, the exposure of often traumatised and vulnerable individuals to cold, rain, hunger and distress has serious consequences for their human rights, notably the right to health, the commissioner said. She claimed the treatment of such applicants could fall short of the minimum standards under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Ms Mijatovic also noted a recent High Court decision that the failure to provide accommodation for an applicant from Afghanistan was unlawful and that efforts by the authorities to secure accommodation did not absolve the Government of its obligations. She said giving the individual a voucher and a referral to private charities was not an adequate response. In reply, the Taoiseach said Russias full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine had resulted in an unprecedented number of people arriving in Ireland seeking international protection. Mr Varadkar said temporary protection had been granted to 83,000 individuals from Ukraine which amounted to 1.6 per cent of the countrys population. He said 20,500 other refugees were being accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service in May this year compared to 8,000 just 15 months ago. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Russia's invasion of Ukraine had resulted in an unprecedented number of people arriving in Ireland seeking international protection. Photo: PA Images Mr Varadkar said additional resources and new processes and structures had been put in place to deal with the issues that were arising in what is an extremely challenging situation". The Taoiseach said there had been particular difficulties in sourcing sufficient amounts of accommodation to meet the increased demand given the pre-existing housing shortage in Ireland. However, he said a working group was focused on maximising the scale and pace of delivering accommodation for new applicants for international protection. Mr Varadkar said the Government recognised that the current situation falls short of what is required and is working tirelessly to deal with the problem". While over 5,880 beds had been procured so far this year, the Taoiseach said it also had to find alternative accommodation for another 2,543 individuals who had been staying in hotels due to the start of the tourist season. Despite such intensive efforts, he said demand had consistently outstripped supply with the IPAS being unable to offer accommodation to 199 people as of this week. The actions of a minority do not speak for the majority of Irish citizens. Mr Varadkar admitted the substantial number of new refugees arriving in Ireland had also had the unavoidable effect of delaying the Governments plans to end the system of direct provision. The Taoiseach stressed that communities across Ireland had demonstrated great solidarity with refugees over the past year and insisted it was only a small minority who sought to create division and engage in intimidation. The actions of a minority do not speak for the majority of Irish citizens, he added. However, he acknowledged that the Government needed to listen and communicate with local communities as new accommodation centres were opened. Mr Varadkar said the Government was working to develop a more effective method of sharing the necessary information. As a long-time Love Island fan, make-up artist Letitia Sophia was thrilled when Maya Jama was appointed host of the reality show and the pair jetted off to South Africa in January for the presenters first series. Flying into villa on a weekly basis, the 29-year-old was part of the glam squad that got Jama camera-ready, and she was shocked by what she saw behind the scenes. You know when you watch an episode and theres all this drama and it literally happens in, like, five minutes? When were actually filming it were there for hours, she says. They want to capture all different angles and reactions it does make sense, but I just never would have guessed that wed be filming something that you see on telly for two minutes that could take up to two hours. Advertisement The celebrity make-up artist who started out working on department store beauty counters while studying international business at university before taking on clients for shoots and weddings couldnt be happier for Jama, who was appointed global brand ambassador by Rimmel in April. She deserves it so much and shes just such a pleasure to work with shes literally one of my best friends now, says Sophia, who first connected with the presenter on Snapchat nearly a decade ago. Other celebrities shes worked with include Alesha Dixon, Winnie Harlow and Rochelle Humes. Soon, the BFFs will be heading to Spain for the summer season of Love Island and Sophia will be working her make-up magic once more. Ahead of the new series, we asked the make-up artist to talk through how to create a radiant, Maya Jama-inspired summer beauty look Skin prep View this post on Instagram A post shared by @mijmasks I always like to prep the skin first, says Sophia, who uses masks from Jamas own brand, MIJ Masks. Well either start with an eye mask or face mask, and she has a rose quartz gua sha. I love doing that to get the blood circulation going and to start to sculpt the face. Advertisement Then she applies a priming moisturiser: I think sometimes people get it wrong where they think you shouldnt have a super-nourishing base because youll be oily, but you should, because you want your make-up to be even and to last long. (MIJ Masks/PA) MIJ Masks Hydrogel Eye Patch 003 Soothing and Balancing, Beauty Bay (MIJ Masks/PA) MIJ Masks Rose Quartz Face Tool (Bobbi Brown/PA) Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, Look Fantastic Base Maya Jama attending the Brit Awards 2023 (Ian West/PA) With her naturally stunning complexion, Jama doesnt need full-coverage foundation, even when appearing on camera, Sophia says: I dont always use a foundation especially if its during the day. Ill mix some concealers together to achieve the right dimension in the summer she tans really easily so I feel like Im constantly mixing colours. If you do want a bit more coverage, she has two top foundation recommendations: I love the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk thats just always been like a really amazing glowy foundation. Ive also been loving Pat McGrath Skin Fetish, because its so lightweight. I feel like in the summer, you always want something light on the skin. And if you want to set your base without mattifying it, she says: Huda Beauty Easy Bake I absolutely love. Ive tried it on so many different people, so many different skin types and its just never failed me. Advertisement (Giorgio Armani Beauty/PA) Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Boots (Pat McGrath Labs/PA) Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation (Huda Beauty/PA) Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder, Cult Beauty Cheeks Swap powder products for cream versions to achieve a dewy glow, Sophia says: I just feel like cream products on the skin, thats how you get the radiance thats perfect for summer. For the upcoming series of Love Island shell be focusing on sunset shades: Im definitely going to do a lot of the pinky and orangey tones, just because its just that summer sun vibe. And Maya loves that, she literally loves to just look glowy and bronzy. The last skin-enhacing step is highlighter. Sophia loves the Rimmel range and likes to swap between different products: With highlighters theres so many I dont feel like you can just use one. On the last Love Island I was literally trying every type of highlighter. (Charlotte Tilbury/PA) Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer in Tan (Rimmel London/PA) Rimmel London Glow Stick in Bubbly Eyes Maya Jama attending the National Television Awards 2022 (Ian West/PA) A signature that we always love is to do a feline, cat-eye wing, Sophia says, and Jama is a pro at applying the sharp black liner herself. Rimmel Scandaleyes liquid eyeliner, shes obsessed with that. Literally, she constantly has one in her bag. Advertisement Thats followed with a couple of coats of black mascara: She does her own mascara. I feel like mascara is quite personal, actually, because you can really get in there [with the brush]. (Rimmel London/PA) Rimmel London Scandaleyes Micro Eyeliner, Boots Lips In terms of lips I love going for a nude-brown lip, Sophia says. Like many make-up artists, she combines lip liner to create definition and gloss to plump Jamas pout. I like to use a brown lip liner and Im super into gloss. Im super into nude tones on her. (Rimmel London/PA) Rimmel London Lasting Finish 8Hr Lip Liner, Boots Britain's former prime minister, Boris Johnson and former US president Donald Trump discussed Ukraine and "the vital importance of Ukrainian victory" on Thursday, Mr Johnson's spokesperson said on Friday. Since being ousted as Britain's prime minister last year, Mr Johnson has been keen to forge a profile as one of Ukraine's most ardent backers in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion and has been visiting the United States this week to speak to politicians about maintaining support for Kyiv. A spokesperson for Mr Johnson, who was once dubbed "Britain Trump" by the former president, said Mr Johnson met Mr Trump on Thursday "to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukrainian victory". There were no further details. Advertisement A senior ally of president Vladimir Putin said on Friday the conflict in Ukraine could last for decades and that negotiations with Ukraine were impossible as long as Ukraine's Western-backed president Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in power. Russia's 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. Hundreds of thousands of people have died and many more have been seriously injured in the conflict, whose roots date to 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan popular uprising, Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula and Russian-backed separatists seized swathes of eastern Ukraine. This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably. "This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably. This is a new reality," Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Advertisement He said Russia could not trust any truce with the current rulers of Kyiv as the conflict would simply erupt again and so the very nature of the current government of Ukraine would have to be destroyed. Negotiations, he said, with "the clown Zelenskiy" were impossible. "Everything always ends in negotiations, and this is inevitable, but as long as these people are in power, the situation for Russia will not change in terms of negotiations." Medvedev, who cast himself as a liberal moderniser when he was president from 2008-2012, 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. Nuclear War Medvedev also warned 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. Russia, which has the world's largest nuclear arsenal, has repeatedly accused the West of waging a proxy war with Russia over Ukraine that could mushroom 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," Medvedev said. Allowing Ukraine nuclear weapons - a step no Western state has publicly proposed - would mean "a missile with a nuclear charge coming to them", Medvedev was quoted as saying. "The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realise this and believe that it will not come to this. It will under certain conditions." War in Ukraine Kremlin says Russia's security services 'know thei... Read More The West says it wants to help Ukraine win its conflict with Russia, and Western powers have supplied large amounts of modern arms and ammunition to Kyiv. But US president Joe Biden has cautioned that a direct confrontation between the US-backed Nato alliance and Russia would result in World War Three. Russia says Washington would never allow it 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 break-up 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. British Airways has apologised after an IT issue caused the cancellations of domestic and European flights on Thursday, as Britain heads into a bank holiday weekend. There were more than 50 cancelled British Airways flights departing Heathrow on Thursday with the airline urging passengers to check their flight status before going to the airport on Friday. There were more than 20 flights that had been cancelled or still currently delayed that were meant to land at Heathrow on Thursday. Some flights that are due to depart Friday evening have been notified their flights are delayed, adding to the stress for customers. It comes as the airline had to cancel flights just before Christmas due to IT issues, and in 2017 when hundreds of flights from Heathrow and Gatwick airports were cancelled due to an IT failure. Advertisement Attention 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. Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) May 25, 2023 A statement from British Airways released just before 10pm on Thursday said were aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix. Due to high call volumes please only contact us if youre due to travel in the next 48 hours. A tweet from British Airways at 11.27pm on Thursday said their systems are back up and running but there might still be intermittent issues. A spokesperson from Heathrow Airport said the cancellations are not due to airport strikes. 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. The airline said they are working hard to fix an IT issue that has caused the cancellation of dozens of flights (Steve Parsons/PA) Customers can receive refunds, re-book or if they have to stay overnight they will be offered meals and hotel accommodation. One Twitter user, who was at the airport at around 7pm, said: Almost all BA flights from LHR T5 cancelled tonight. No info. About 4 people on BA desks trying to deal with the chaos. Advertisement Come on BA you can do better than this. You are supposed to be the UKs flagship. The delays and cancellations are expected to continue on Friday. It comes as security guards at Heathrow Airport launched 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. A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday said she will dismiss a lawsuit that the stars of 1968s Romeo and Juliet filed over the films nude scene, which they said involved them being subjected to fraud, and sexual abuse and harassment when they were in their teens. Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie ruled in favour of a motion from defendant Paramount Pictures to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet at age 15 and is now 72, and Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo at 16 and is also 72. Judge Mackenzie determined that the scene did not amount to child pornography and was protected by the First Amendment, finding that the actors have not put forth any authority showing the film here can be deemed to be sufficiently sexually suggestive as a matter of law to be held to be conclusively illegal. Advertisement In her written decision, she also found that the suit did not fall within the bounds of a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, and that a February re-release of the film did not change that. The actors attorney denounced the decision and said they plan to file another version of the suit in federal court. We firmly believe that the exploitation and sexualisation of minors in the film industry must be confronted and legally addressed to protect vulnerable individuals from harm and ensure the enforcement of existing laws, lawyer Solomon Gresen said in a statement. The film and its theme song were major hits at the time, and despite the nude scene that briefly shows Whitings bare buttocks and Husseys bare breasts it was played for generations of high school students studying Shakespeares tragedy. Director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019 at age 96, initially told the two that they would wear flesh-coloured undergarments in the bedroom scene that comes late in the movie and was shot on the final days of filming, the suit alleged. But on the morning of the shoot, Zeffirelli told Whiting and Hussey that they would wear only body make-up, while still assuring them the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity, according to the suit. Advertisement Despite those assurances, they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge, in violation of California and federal laws against indecency and the exploitation of children, the suit alleged. Zeffirelli told them they must act in the nude or the picture would fail and their careers would be hurt, the suit said. The actors said that the opposite occurred, that neither had the career the films success suggested, and that each suffered emotional damage and mental anguish for decades. They had sought more than 500 million US dollars ($05 million) in damages. The judge, though, found that the plaintiffs cherry-picked from the law and failed to provide legal authority for why it should apply to purported works of artistic merit, such as the award-winning film at issue here. She quoted from an appeals court precedent that said child pornography is particularly repulsive, but not all images of nude children are pornographic. The ruling relied on California law that is meant to protect the free speech of defendants from being restricted by lawsuits, and is often the first line of defence when lawsuits are filed. An attorney for Paramount declined to comment about the ruling. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, which Hussey and Whiting did. A Palestinian man was shot and killed on Friday in the occupied West Bank after sneaking into a Jewish settlement and trying to stab a resident there, the Israeli army said. In a statement, the military said the man attempted to stab a resident in the Tene Omarim settlement and was shot by an armed civilian. It said the incident had set off an alarm and soldiers were scanning the area. The Palestinian Health ministry confirmed the death and identified the dead man as Alaa Qissaya, 28. Security camera footage from the site shows a Palestinian male crawling in under a gate and walking into the settlement while holding a knife. The video does not show the alleged stabbing attempt or the man being shot. The settlement is located near Hebron, a flashpoint city in the southern West Bank, which is a frequent site of friction between Palestinian residents and Jewish settlers. Advertisement A Palestinian child inspects a burned car, which farmers say was set on fire by Israeli settlers, in the village of al-Mughayyir near the West Bank city of Ramallah (Majdi Mohammed/AP/PA) Meanwhile, Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and torched five vehicles at the village of al-Mughayyir near the city of Ramallah, the official Palestinian news agency reported. It said five farmers were beaten and injured by the settlers. Israeli media reported that Israeli forces were sent in to bring the situation under control. There was no immediate comment from the military. The incidents occurred as Jews were celebrating Shavuot, a festival marking the day that Jews believe the Torah was given to Moses on Mount Sinai in Egypt. It was the latest in more than a year-long spate of violence in the West Bank. During that time, Israel has expanded near-nightly military raids throughout the area in response to an increase in Palestinian attacks. Tens of thousands of people converged on the Serbian capital on Friday for a major rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, who is facing a revolt against his autocratic rule following two mass shootings. The event was overshadowed by a new crisis in Serbias former province of Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police on Friday and Mr Vucic ordered Serbian troops to be put on a higher state of alert. Mr Vucic also said that he ordered an urgent movement of Serbian troops to the border with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Answering Mr Vucics appeal for what he called the largest rally in the history of Serbia, his supporters, many wearing identical T-shirts with his portrait, came to Belgrade from all over the Balkan country as well as neighbouring Kosovo and Bosnia. Advertisement Thousands joined a rain-soaked rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP/PA) The organisers said hundreds of thousands of participants attended the gathering in front of Serbias National Assembly amid a thunderstorm. Those working in state firms and institutions were told to take a day off from work to attend the rally in front of the parliament building. Some said that they were warned that they could lose their jobs if they did not show up on the buses which started arriving hours before the gathering was to start. Serbian officials said the rally promotes unity and hope for Serbia. At three large anti-government protests held earlier this month in the capital, demonstrators demanded Mr Vucics ousting as well as the resignation of two senior security officials. They also demanded the withdrawal of broadcasting licences for two pro-Vucic television stations that promote violence and often host convicted war criminals and other crime figures. Opposition protesters blame Mr Vucic for creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and division in the country that they say indirectly led to the May 3 and May 4 mass shootings that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them schoolchildren who were gunned down by a 13-year-old schoolmate. Advertisement Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (Darko Vojinovic/AP/PA) Mr Vucic has vehemently denied any responsibility for the shootings, calling organisers of the opposition protests vultures and hyenas who want to use the tragedies to try to come to power by force and without an election. They are not against violence, they want my head, he said. Analysts believe that by staging the mass rally, Mr Vucic who has ruled the country for more than a decade with a firm grip on power, is trying to overshadow the opposition protests with the sheer number of participants. For the first time, Mr Vucic has a problem, said political analyst Zoran Gavrilovic. His problem is not so much the opposition, but Serbian society that has woken up. During the rally, Mr Vucic was expected to announce that he is stepping down from the helm of his Serbian Progressive Party and forming a movement that will unite all patriotic forces in the country. Mr Vucic, a former pro-Russia ultranationalist who now says that he wants to take the country into the European Union, has alleged that foreign intelligence services are behind the opposition protests. He said that he received the tip from sisterly spy agencies from the east thought to mean Russia. Advertisement There are widespread fears that violence could erupt during the rally on Friday that could then be used as a pretext for a crackdown on future opposition protests, including one that is scheduled in Belgrade on Saturday. Similar big rallies were held in Serbia in the early 1990s when Slobodan Milosevic delivered fiery speeches that heralded the violent breakup of Yugoslavia and rallied the masses for the wars that followed. Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine has come under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire, authorities said, hours after at least one night-time blast rocked a Russian city in a region next to the annexed Crimea peninsula. The Kremlins forces, meanwhile, struck a clinic in Dnipro in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding another 23, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Also, a Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, placing nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. The Belgorod town of Graivoron, some 4.5 miles from the Ukrainian border, was under fire for several hours, with four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line damaged, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Ukrainian soldiers on a tank ride along the road towards their positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region (AP) Closer to the border, a recreation centre, a shop and an uninhabited house sustained damage in the village of Glotovo. There were no casualties, according to Mr Gladkov. Advertisement The Belgorod region was earlier this week the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky, as Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unconfirmed local reports said Fridays explosion in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, was caused by drones. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged but there were no casualties. Damaged armoured military vehicles are seen after fighting in Russias western Belgorod region (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP) Drone attacks against Russian regions on the border with Ukraine have been a regular occurrence since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with attacks stepping up last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two consecutive days. In another apparent incident of Kyivs forces harassing Russia, Ukraines defence ministry published footage on Thursday that appeared to show an unmanned drone boat attacking Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. Advertisement The video did not show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed claims by Russias ministry of defence on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three boats attacked and destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released footage allegedly showing the destruction of one of the uncrewed boats. At least two civilians were killed and three wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported on Friday. US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen has said the projected debt ceiling deadline is extended to June 5th, four days later than previously estimated. Ms Yellen renewed her warning in a letter to the US congress that inaction on raising the borrowing limit would cause severe hardship. Ms Yellens latest letter to legislators on the X-date came as Congress broke for the long Memorial Day weekend. She said that the Treasury department had deployed an extraordinary measure not used since 2015 to get the US financial position to this point. US speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy talks to reporters about the debt limit negotiations as he arrives at the US capitol in Washington (J Scott Applewhite/AP/PA) The X-date arrives when the government no longer has enough of a financial cushion to pay all its bills, having exhausted the measures it has been using since January to stretch existing funds. Earlier on Friday, US house speaker Kevin McCarthy said his Republican debt negotiators and the White House had hit crunch time, straining to wrap up an agreement with US president Joe Biden to curb federal spending and lift the nations borrowing limit ahead of the fast-approaching deadline. Advertisement They had hoped to end weeks of frustrating talks and strike a deal by this weekend. The Treasury now says the US government could start running out of money as soon as a week on Monday, sending the US into a potentially catastrophic default with economic spillover around the world. Anxious pensioners and social service groups were among those making default contingency plans as politicians left town for the long holiday weekend. The next batch of social security payments are due to go out next week. The world is watching, said International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva after meeting on Friday with Ms Yellen. Lets remember we are now in the 12th hour. Democrat Mr Biden and the Republican speaker were narrowing differences, labouring to lock in details on a two-year agreement that would restrain federal spending and lift the legal borrowing limit past next years presidential election. Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress. We know its a crunch, Mr McCarthy said as he arrived at the Capitol, acknowledging more progress needed to be made. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters about debt limit negotiations on Capitol Hill in Washington (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/PA) While the contours of the deal have been taking shape to cut spending for 2024 and impose a 1 per cent cap on spending growth for 2025, the two sides remain stuck on various provisions. The debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, would be lifted for two years to pay the nations incurred bills. Advertisement A person familiar with the talks said the two sides were dug in on whether to agree to Republican demands to impose stiffer work requirements on people who receive government food stamps, cash assistance and healthcare aid. House Democrats have called such requirements for healthcare and food aid a nonstarter. Politicians are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from the June 1st X-date when Ms Yellen has said the US could face default. Mr Biden will also be away this weekend, departing on Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will return after Memorial Day. Each time there is forward progress, the issues that remain become more difficult and more challenging, said negotiator Rep Patrick McHenry on Friday. Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with Mr McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the countrys full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities. We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point, said Mr McCarthy. Advertisement One idea is to set the topline budget numbers but then add a snap-back provision to enforce cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals. On work requirements for aid recipients, the White House is particularly resisting measures that could drive more people into poverty or take their healthcare, said the person familiar with the talks, who was granted anonymity to describe behind-closed-door discussions. Over the Republican demand to rescind money for the Internal Revenue Service, it is still an open issue whether the sides will compromise by allowing the funding to be pushed into other domestic programmes, the person said. In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defence spending beyond what Mr Biden had proposed in his budget, instead offering to keep it at his proposed levels, according to another person familiar with the talks. Mr McCarthy said Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, told him, Make sure you get a good agreement. Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, Mr McCarthy has promised he will abide by the rule to post any Bill for 72 hours before voting now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. Advertisement The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Mr Bidens desk, right before next Thursdays possible deadline. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States AAA credit on ratings watch negative, warning of a possible downgrade. LIN D Anything | drea Los Angeles, CA Today, Swedish group LIN D made up of Dennis, Emmy and Ella Lindeh, are announcing they have signed to DREAM Label Groups DREAM Records division. Their new song Anything is available on all digital service providers today. The track was produced and co-written by Rob Ellmore (Selena Gomez, Kygo, Walk The Moon) as well as co-written by Mia Fields, Dennis, Emmy and Ella Lindeh. Were super excited and very thankful to take this new step on our journey. We have a burning desire to reach this generation with a message of faith and hope for the future. This deal will open up new doors and new markets for us and will help us reach more people." - LIN D When I was introduced to the team, I just loved their hearts for God, their family life and their desire to do great things for the Kingdom. Their first single Anything is a perfect introduction to who they are as creators and as believers and we look forward to what the future holds. - Lance Brown, DREAM Label Group Anything was recently sent to Christian Hot AC and Hot CHR radio and will debut their add date on June 12th. Connect with LIN D: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok ### ABOUT LIN D: This Swedish sibling trio are blending infectious Swedish pop melodies and uplifting lyrics to create a unique and unforgettable sound. Dennis, Emmy and Ella Lindeh have been touring and recording music together all of their lives. In spite of their young age the group have already played over 300 live shows in several countries. Their message is clear, they want to bring faith and hope for the future to this generation. ABOUT DREAM RECORDS: DREAM provides artists with a genuine approach to how real artist development should be done. By allowing for a partnership as a business model, DREAM artists empower themselves to develop and carry out a real vision for their lives as they affect other peoples lives with their music and message. Incorporating social media, press, radio and touring, DREAM is helping its artists grow together as a family. DREAM was founded in 2008 and has grown into multiple labels and a publishing company. Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has prevailed over mining tycoon Andrew Twiggy Forrest in a months-long contest to acquire the collapsed Sun Cable mega-project in northern Australia from administrators. Cannon-Brookes and Forrest two of Australias richest men and formerly the biggest investors in the unbuilt $35 billion Sun Cable project had been vying for control of the collapsed entity and its plans to build the worlds largest solar and battery farm in a closed-doors sale process conducted by administrators FTI Consulting. Friction between Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest led Sun Cable into administration. Credit: Bloomberg, Trevor Collens In a statement on Friday afternoon, FTI confirmed Sun Cable had entered into an asset sale agreement with Helietta Holdings, an entity linked to Cannon-Brookes privately owned Grok Ventures, which would acquire all of Sun Cables assets. Cannon-Brookes described the deal as a big step in the right direction for Sun Cable. The Holocaust remains firmly embedded in many peoples minds, particularly survivors who are now in their 80s and 90s and those who lost family members. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered more than six million Jews across German-occupied Europe about two-thirds of Europes Jewish population. The Melbourne Holocaust Museum on Selwyn Street, Elsternwick is light and ethereal. Credit: Leo Showell The world must never forget. That is why Melbournes Holocaust Museum, redesigned by one of Australias leading architects, Kerstin Thompson, is so important. In contrast to many similar museums around the world, including Daniel Libeskinds Jewish Museum in Berlin, which has a more foreboding presence, the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, on Selwyn Street, Elsternwick, is light and ethereal. But Australian Ski Areas Association chief executive officer Colin Hackworth said the future for snow resorts had never been brighter. Australian ski resorts are more reliable than they have ever been, he said. Hackworth credits snowmaking, snow grooming and a range of other technology in helping ensure there is enough snow. While he said climate change was a challenge, existing technology had helped reduce snow depth variability. Snowmaking is just one method that snow resorts are drawing on to create the white stuff that coats the hills. The machines work by compressing water and forming a light mist. If its fine enough, this will linger in the cool air to crystallise and turn into snow. But its a costly process that draws on a lot of electricity and water. Since 2007, Perisher has spent over $22 million on improving and expanding the resorts snowmaking system. Investment in snowmaking technology continues to improve. Its reducing its energy consumption, water consumption and can make snow at higher temperatures, Hackworth said. The number of operating days has never ever been higher than it is now. In the snow industry, before snowmaking, snow wasnt a guarantee. Victorian Mt Buller ski resort spokeswoman Rhylla Morgan said the facility had invested in snowmaking infrastructure for decades because reliable snow underpinned most of the winter business on the mountain. Mt Buller led the way introducing Australias first snow-factory in 2017 with several resorts immediately following suit, Morgan said She added the facility, along with many others, relied on a range of technology to provide predictable snow cover in an increasingly less predictable climate. Australian alpine areas are keenly focused on the challenges of climate change and are adapting all aspects of operations to reduce emissions and carefully manage resources to ensure we can continue to welcome guests to enjoy winter alpine experiences for many years to come, Morgan said. But as climate change worsened, the window to make snow would become narrower, said Climate Council research director Dr Martin Rice. In NSW, a report prepared by the government in 2019 found lower elevation locations might not be suitable for making snow in the future as there could be a more than 20 per cent reduction of suitable snowmaking conditions for 2020 to 2039 relative to 1990 to 2009. By 2060 to 2079, this could hit 60 per cent relative to 1990 to 2009. Essentially, climate change is making it increasingly hard for ski resorts to function at their best. Resorts cant just rely on [natural] snow, Rice, also a keen skier said. He said water availability would also become an issue for ski resorts. Declining resources combined with higher temperatures would create complications about how water was shared among the agriculture industry and conservation and fire protection efforts. Rice said the cost of making artificial snow would only become more expensive as climate change worsened. In many cases, resorts had begun to diversify and adapt their tourism to focus on year-round activities such as mountain biking and hiking trails in warmer weather. If we are going to protect our winter sports, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Failure to do so could end the run for the beloved ski season, Rice said. What are we likely to see this season? While snow conditions are expected to vary from year to year and some seasons, Australia could see a fairly snowless season this year if current weather patterns in the Pacific and Indian oceans continue. As ocean temperatures warm in these regions, they will drive warmer and drier conditions over the mainland this winter. Below-medium rainfall is very likely for Australia between June and August. Its not good news for snow resorts. Weatherzone said the average snow depth at the official Snowy Hydro measuring station at Spencers Creek was about 198cm, but this average dropped by about 36 centimetres when an El Nino occurs, and there was a slightly greater loss when El Nino and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole occurred together. The combination of both these weather patterns has happened just eight times since 1960, but it could occur again this year. As we look forward, snow seasons in NSW and the ACT will be warmer. The number of cool nights in the area is expected to decline as well. Less snow will also affect the suitable habitat for small mammal species in NSW and Victoria. Foxes have become more common at higher altitudes as the climate has warmed. And as snow cover declines, native animals are becoming easier for foxes to find. In Victoria, snow cover has diminished by about 50 per cent since the 1960s. Under a high-emission scenario, Victorian alpine areas are also projected to have a 35 to 75 per cent decline in snowfall by the 2050s, data from the state government shows. There are concerns that as snow depths decline, so will the number of visitors which would greatly affect the local economy. Advertisement Eating outJust open A top chef is slinging special rice-wrapped burgers for less than $20 as Senpai Burger opens in Chatswood and Burwood The nori-roll-hamburger comes in fried chicken, salmon, tuna and vegan options, all for less than $20. Scott Bolles 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 The best bars, pubs and restaurants to visit in Sydney this month. See all stories . Fans of Sokyo chef Chase Kojimas bunless rice burgers will be queuing on Thursday, June 1, when Senpai Burger opens in Chatswood and Burwood. Kojimas obsession with rice-wrapped burgers (a nori-roll-hamburger hybrid) has hit new heights, says Howin Chui, Kojimas business partner at Senpai: Chase has developed new fried chicken and plant-based Impossible burgers, to go with salmon, tuna and normal [beef] burgers. Theyll all be under $20. Fried chicken sushi burgers are on the menu at Chase Kojimas latest pop-up. Kera Wong The opening of the Senpai Burger pop-up is part of a major realignment of Chui and Kojimas business. It slides into the venues where the duos Senpai Ramen Chatswood and Senpai Ramen Burwood traded. Advertisement We want people to be able to try Chases quality food in an affordable way, Chui says. Ramen and steak will also be on the new menu. Kera Wong There will still be a few ramen dishes on the new burger menu, but the plan is to give Kojimas signatures different times to shine. Chui explains a Senpai Ramen focused pop-up might make a mid-winter return, or we might focus on sushi, or Japanese-style tacos. He points to the successful multi-national food chains, which maintain a pruned list of signatures while pushing a new product centre stage. Advertisement In mid-July both the Chatswood and Burwood spaces will be given makeovers to bring them into line with Senpai Concepts new orange and white palette. It isnt entirely a shift to the mid-market for the brand. Later this year theyll open a 10-seat Senpai Omakase next door to the existing Chatswood shop. The plant-based Impossible burger. Kera Wong For now, Chui and Kojima are focused on burgers, including plans for takeaway containers resembling video games and sneaker boxes. Theyve also researched how a Senpai burger can best travel and be eaten at home. A couple of minutes in an air-fryer and you still get that crispiness of the rice, Chui says. Advertisement Senpai Burger pop-up opens Thursday, June 1 14/27 Belmore Street, Burwood and 5/88 Archer Street, Chatswood, instagram.com/senpaiconcept Advertisement Eating outJust open The Blue Mountains finally gets its first wine bar and bottle shop (and it was worth the wait) New Blackheath bar Frankie & Mos features the widest selection of natural wines, beers, and spirits in the Blue Mountains (plus a vegie-forward menu of share plates). Bianca Hrovat 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 The best bars, pubs and restaurants to visit in Sydney this month. See all stories . The Blue Mountains area has welcomed its first natural wine bar and bottle shop with the opening of Frankie & Mos in Blackheath this week. Father and son winemaking duo Bob and Tom Colman worked for upwards of a year to open the intimate, 25-seat venue in a heritage shop, across the road from hatted restaurant Ates. New wine bar and bottle shop Frankie & Mos has opened in Blackheath. Phillip Sage Tom Colman tells Good Food its a warm, inviting venue where the wine-curious can try hard-to-find drops at affordable prices, while snacking on share plates fromformer Golden Gully chef Em Evans. Nothing like this exists up here, Colman says, explaining how he was influenced by the wine bars of Europe where by-the-glass menus change daily, often at the whims of curious customers. Advertisement We can see theres a demand now. The demographic has changed in the mountains, and lots of Sydney people have moved here. Between us, Ates, and [Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar] Zoes, were creating a little [dining] precinct in Blackheath, a destination. The all-natural selection of wine at Frankie & Mos. Phillip Sage The brick building, formerly an art gallery, contains three small rooms filled with sunlight, plants and vintage furniture. Evans sources local produce for her tight, vegetable-focused menu. Lighter dishes include a plant-based carrot lox blini with cashew cream cheese ($12) and swordfish crudo with cucumber saffron vinaigrette ($18). On the heartier side, theres wild mushroom gnocchi ($24) and a rack of lamb with parsnip puree and chimichurri ($27). Advertisement Frankie & Mos will exclusively stock organic and biodynamic wines, beers, spirits and non-alcoholic adult beverages. During the day, it will also function as the cellar door for Bob and Toms natural wine label Frankly, a wine made by Bob. A vegetable-forward menu from a former Golden Gully chef. Phillip Sage We want to create a safe space for people to explore wines they probably wouldnt have a chance to elsewhere, Colman says. He hopes the purchasing process will be friendlier and more conversational than people may be accustomed to at city wine bars. The wine list will be forever changing and exciting. Customers will be able to buy a bottle for takeaway, then drink it at the bar for just $25 corkage. Advertisement Were trying to keep the wine as affordable as possible, says Colman. In a normal restaurant youre looking at paying around four times the price of what the restaurant is buying it at, which makes many of these sorts of wines unreachable for the average person. Bob and Tom Colman want to bring a friendly approach to natural wine at Frankie and Mos. Phillip Sage Colman, who studied winemaking in Adelaide before returning to the Blue Mountains, is a passionate advocate for natural wine: wild fermented, hand harvested and no filtering or refining. We feel like [natural wine] actually shows the personality of the winemakers and [gives] a sense of place, or terroir, Colman says. Advertisement Its the future. Frankie & Mo's Cellar door Fri-Sun 10am-5pm Bottle shop Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 12-late, Sat-Sun 10am-late Bar and restaurant Thu-Fri 5pm-late, Sat-Sun 10am-late 44 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath; instagram.com/frankieandmos/ Ready to roll. Paul Ioannou and Doris, Credit: Darrian Traynor Georgia and Lewis were called in to search for the bracelet. They were assigned 1.6 hectares of heavily treed land dotted with running tracks where the tamper GPS on the bracelet had been activated. When local police and Georgia found nothing, Lewis decided to broaden the search area and allowed the dog to roam. As the sun began to set Georgia stopped at a giant tree trunk, circled and began to dig. She had found the bracelet that was later downloaded as part of the double homicide investigation. Such was her success that the program was rapidly expanded to 13 dogs around Australia. The initial funding came from assets of crime, which means the crooks paid for the dogs that would catch them. When the program was expanded, funds came from $31.6 million provided to the AFP for child protection investigations. Sadly, that makes up a depressingly large part of their work, as the offenders try to conceal evidence on external memory platforms. But they are also used in cases such as cybercrime, counterterrorism and transnational serious and organised crime. Like the rest of us, crooks are reliant on technology, which always leaves a footprint. Senior Constable Paul Ioannou is a cop with an engaging smile, a salt and pepper beard and a love of his job. He has worked in many areas of policing, but you feel he will be with the dogs for the rest of his career. Handler Senior Constable Paul Ioannou with Doris. Credit: Darrian Traynor He has Bondi a drug, firearms and cash specialist and Doris, a specialist tech-detector. Among the 100 federal dogs there are also specialist explosive hunters. It stands to reason they are the most laid-back, as you dont want an excited dog jumping on a bomb. For just over 12 months he and his Victorian-based blonde Labrador Doris have been on the hunt for hidden data devices often missed by human searches. These are the top-end dogs and are used on federal jobs and increasingly to support state police operations. Ioannou explains that dogs process smells differently to us: Think of a pizza with the lot. We smell the pizza and a dog identifies every topping. An example was Doris finding a USB hidden in a plastic sleeve buried among a mass of stamp collection albums. Ioannou says child porn offenders are often hobby collectors, which can make searches more difficult. Team leader Sergeant Craig Kersten says dogs on the trail sniff between five and 10 times a second, inhaling through one nostril and exhaling through the other. Their smell processing capacity is 40 times stronger, and they can find a scent as faint as one part per million. Dogs smell on a molecular level, processing individual scents, he says. Puppy training, from eight to 14 weeks, is the critical development period, he says, to tap into instinctive urges. It allows them to fulfil their biological potential to hunt. Loading The tech dogs have to reach another level, as the scent of electronic memory devices is tiny. If there is time and the handlers are briefed before a raid, the dog can have a quick refresher on the exact scent of the devices that need to be found. The dogs begin full-time training aged around 12 months and retire to their handlers homes or a foster family at six to eight years. In training, they are sent to recently vacated public housing to replicate the hundreds of scents that would be picked up in a real search. The role of dogs in policing is expanding. There are dogs that can bring down suspects, fly in helicopters, find evidence, lead raids, support victims giving evidence, lift morale in offices or care for officers suffering from PTSD. We are pushing the limit [of what dogs can do] and havent found it yet, Kersten says. Dogs and handlers are matched through personality traits, with Kersten saying the best advice is for the humans to get out of the way and let the dogs do their thing. He says human searches miss items because of preconceptions. We see a coffee machine, smell coffee and believe it is what it seems. A trained dog sees a potential hiding space. Dogs dont lie, says Kersten. (Although they can cheat. A dogs handler cant be used to plant an object to be found in training, as the dog short-cuts the process by following the familiar human scent to the hiding spot. They can also read their handlers body language, which can hint at an outcome.) For the dog, success doesnt result in a kill but a reward. Some dogs love hugs, others a ball or a game of tug of war, says Ioannou. Loading The dogs are housed at the AFP kennel in outer Melbourne, clearly a Club-Med for pups. There is a creche for 12 puppies that includes chew toys and play units. Down the back is a pool, an exercise track and an obstacle course. They will be sent to foster families before returning to the program. About half will make it through the selection and training process. If a dog slips out, they can usually be found near their favourite activity, hanging around the pool or the exercise track. They are not encouraged to play together, as they wear each other out, and they need all their energy for work. The mature dogs have individual runs, sleeping quarters and meals professionally planned and measured to the gram. When the dogs see handlers walk by, they bark and run - a pick me, pick me routine, as each wants to be selected for the next job. Clearly they also love their work. Doris and Ioannou, who have trained together for a year, arrive at a building that can be configured as different styles of house for training drills. As soon as the dog is dressed in an AFP harness she knows it is time to go to work. Both handler and dog are full of energy and enthusiasm. Doris is sniffing walls and furniture, tail wagging furiously, then she sits at a spot, satisfied she has done her job. A quick search finds a mobile phone hidden in a shoe. Ioannou praises Doris and they join in boisterous play with a ball on a rope as a reward, then it is back to work. Former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle, second from left. Bear the dog found the evidence that led to his conviction. Credit: Reuters She finds a USB in a heater and a micro SD card in a cupboard. They are then told they are on call for a raid search expected to be carried out in the next 24 hours. The AFP started the tech-dog program in 2019 after seeing its successes in the United States. Seven years ago, Connecticut police started experimenting with the use of dogs to find electronic storage devices and eventually the FBI became involved. According to the Australian Police Journal, one of the early dogs, Bear, was used to search Subway frontman Jared Fogles home, finding a flash drive filled with child pornography images. Fogle was later sentenced to 15 years jail. There can be no greater example of how traditional sniffer dogs assist in the high-tech world than Operation Ironside, the police sting that saw them intercept 27 million organised crime messages from an encrypted app. The dogs were sent to 12 Ironside targets in Australia and recovered 80 mobile phones, USBs, SIM cards and SD cards. A former commissioner at the NSW police watchdog says the agency should be able to intervene in investigations already under way when someone is injured or killed while dealing with police. The limits of internal investigations were this week exposed as the states police charged one of its own officers over the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland after an alleged Tasering in the southern NSW town of Cooma. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) is charged with overseeing the NSW Police and usually can intervene during investigations of alleged misconduct. Clare Nowland, 95, died after she was allegedly Tasered by police. However, it can only monitor critical incident investigations the term used for probes in which a person dies or is seriously injured during an interaction. This restricts them to only attending scenes, talking to internal investigators and reviewing documents. A 15-year-old boy accused of opening fire at a Two Rocks school will remain in Banksia Hill Detention Centre until at least Tuesday amid fears for his mental health. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sat idle as he appeared in Perth Childrens Court via video link on Friday, confirming only that he understood the string of charges he was facing, including discharging a firearm in a manner to cause fear and possessing a prohibited weapon. WA Police body-worn camera footage shows the 15-year-old alleged Atlantis Beach Baptist College shooter being arrested. Credit: WA Police Magistrate Alana Padmanabham ordered the matter be adjourned, and a bail application hearing be held on Tuesday, at which time the court is expected to review a mental health assessment and a report on the appropriateness of the boys parents home for bail. While acknowledging the finite resources of police and the tight time frame, Padmanabham said the matter was one of urgency, particularly given the boys age. Australias peak medical lobby group is set to lose its veto power over who runs a key regulator as part of efforts to restore public confidence in the integrity of Medicare following a landmark review of non-compliance and fraud in the $38 billion system. The federal government introduced legislation in parliament this week that would strip the Australian Medical Association a union that represents about a third of the countrys doctors of its say over who is appointed as director of the Professional Services Review (PSR). Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney said the AMAs veto power was inconsistent with public expectations and undermined confidence in the regulators independence. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The PSR is responsible for reviewing the Medicare billing practices of 150,000 health professionals. However, it examines only about 100 cases of fraud and inappropriate billing every 12 months just shy of 0.07 per cent of those it monitors. When introducing the bill, Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney said the AMAs veto power was inconsistent with public expectations and undermined confidence in the regulators independence. Theres a phrase you need to know, in Spanish (because thats easier than the local Basque tongue). Its simply: Cual es su especialidad? What is your specialty? Those four words are your ticket to good dining in the Basque Country of Spain. Spanish pintxos on the counter of the tapas bar in the gastronimical capital of Spain - San Sebastian. Credit: iStock Every bar in this semi-autonomous region will have a dish it is most famous for, or most proud of, and there is no trick to divining what it is. You dont need extensive research, or local knowledge. There is no secret code. You just have to ask the person behind the bar. What is your specialty? And he or she will tell you, straight up. Its this. Order this. Latest News Mortgage broker market share cracks March quarter record But total loan values written fell year-on-year Ending cashbacks supports sustainable broking Banks and clients leaving brokers out of pocket, says brokerage owner Its the night that all the leading players in the mortgage and finance industry make sure they circle on their calendar the Australian Mortgage Awards. Recognised as the industrys most prestigious titles, nominations for the 2023 awards are now open. After a hugely successful return as a live event in 2022 with more than 700 people in attendance, this years black tie gala dinner will be held on Friday, October 13, at The Star Event Centre in Sydney. Run by Key Media, the Australian Mortgage Awards are now in their 22nd year and are supported by Australian Broker and Mortgage Professional Australia. Once again the AMAs is proud to have the support of Westpac as the event partner, with the major bank now in its 14th year of backing the event. Australians trust and value the independent service mortgage brokers provide, said Westpac Group head of mortgage broker distribution Warren Shaw (pictured below). We support and celebrate this as we come together to recognise an industry of hard-working and high-achieving professionals at this years AMAs. The AMAs 2023 will feature awards across 27 categories, honouring the best brokers, brokerages, aggregators, business development managers and lenders in Australia. The lender awards include the fintech lender of the year, as well as bank and non-bank of the year. In the broker categories, awards will be handed out to the creme de la creme of commercial and residential brokers, and the nations best regional broker. Awards will also go to the best broker in specialist lending and productivity. Brokerage awards will recognise the best small, medium and large brokerages as well as the top new brokerage, best brokerage for diversification and the best regional brokerage. From the winners of the broker and brokerage awards the judges will also choose the Westpac Australian Broker of the Year and the Liberty Australian Brokerage of the Year. Among the other awards are best aggregator of the year and boutique aggregator of the year, while the best BDMs for major banks, non-major banks and non-banks will also be honoured. Rounding out the awards are mortgage manager of the year, best industry service, best customer service from an individual office and best marketing campaign. As well as event partner Westpac, 19 other organisations have shown their support for this years awards, including premium partner NAB and award sponsors Liberty, La Trobe Financial, Pepper Money, MFAA, FBAA, Bankwest, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Mortgage Choice, OnDeck Australia, Adelaide Bank, Equity-One, Firstmac, Gateway Bank, Resimac. PRPTY360 is the champagne sponsor, while Fifo Capital is sponsoring the photo booth. The social media sponsor is Maxiron Capital and FINSTREET is the VIP post awards event sponsor. Popular comedian and radio and TV presenter Merrick Watts, who was one of three contestants to complete Chanel 7s gruelling SAS: Australia challenge in 2020, will be the master of ceremonies for the 2023 Australian Mortgage Awards. Nominate now for the 2023 Australian Mortgage Awards. Nominations close June 30. Westpac has announced it will be ending its $3,500 cashback offer on home loan refinances on 30 June, joining two other big banks this month who have scrapped large cash handouts to new customers. Following moves from CBA and NAB to end their cashback offers on 31 May and 30 June respectively, cashbacks will be removed from Westpac loans at financial years end. However according to RateCity.com.au, cashback offers from Westpac subsidiaries St.George Bank, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA and RAMS are yet to be cancelled. Westpac has also hiked the rate on its basic home loan by 0.10 percentage points for new customers. RateCity.com.au research director, Sally Tindall, said that Westpac was the latest big four bank to pull out of the race for new customers. Westpac has today announced its taking its cashback offer off the table, along with rate hikes for select new customers, Tindall said. As a result, new customers taking out a basic loan with Westpac will find they have to pay 0.20 percentage points more than someone who took out the exact same loan seven weeks ago. The big banks are falling over themselves to see who can flee the scene the fastest. Theyre done with chasing new customers, even if that means growing their home loan books at a slower pace. Big four bank current cashback offers for refinancers Westpac increased rates for new customers for its Flexi First loan for the second time in the last seven weeks, in addition to the standard RBA hikes. The lowest advertised variable rate for new customers taking out Westpacs basic home loan has risen by 0.70 percentage points since 1 March 2023. Tindall said the rising cost of funding had put pressure on bank profit margins. The big banks want the churn in the market to end and theyre doing everything in their power to curb it, she said. While CBA, Westpac and NAB have each said the chase for new customers is unsustainable, theyre madly hoping the rest of the market will follow. When it comes to cashback, ANZ is the last big bank standing but the $4,000 question remains for how long? ANZ has said its willing to stay in the fight for new business. If it can keep its competitive edge, its likely to attract some customers that might have otherwise gone to its big bank rivals. Tindall said that it was not game over for borrowers who had yet to refinance. There are still plenty of lenders willing to offer sharp rates to people looking to switch. In some cases theyll even throw in cold hard cash, she said. Last week, Westpac announced it would lower the stress test on select refinance applications to help borrowers stuck in mortgage prison. campus news Social Work students inspired by seeing politics in action Social work students saw how they could advocate for policy change during a press conference in the State Capitol building. Photo: LEAD. Politics is so contentious, but social workers can see the whole picture. We have the ability to heal and change our communities. Kayliee Bertrand-Henretta, UB MSW student This spring, School of Social Work student Kayliee Bertrand-Henretta was in the New York State Assembly Chamber when Assembly Member Chantel Jackson introduced a resolution celebrating Social Work Month across the state. A social worker herself, Jackson listed each of the professions values and thanked the students assembled in the Capitol that day. We are the healers of the world. This is our month. We come here and do this work tirelessly, thanklessly, and I say thank you today for being here, Jackson said before advocating for increased pay for social workers. For Bertrand-Henretta, a UB MSW student, it was a powerful moment that solidified her desire to follow Jackson and other social workers into politics. Social work is inherently political, she says. It's right in there in our Code of Ethics we have to advocate for eradicating injustice and removing oppression and look critically at those systemic barriers that are preventing so many people from achieving their true potential. Throughout the spring semester, School of Social Work students had multiple opportunities to see the political process firsthand and consider how roles in politics and government or macro practice more broadly fit within their career goals. Getting schooled UB students Kayliee Bertrand-Henretta (left) and Jessica Mencia completed the Campaign School for Social Workers in spring 2023. In February, Bertrand-Henretta and PhD student Jessica Mencia traveled to the University of Connecticut for the Campaign School for Social Workers. The two-day workshop teaches social work students how to become politically active as candidates, staffers, volunteers or advocates for social change. In one exercise, students were assigned roles on a fictional campaign from campaign manager and treasurer to the candidate themselves to learn how a campaign operates. Mencia enjoyed connecting with students from across the country and hearing from a panel of elected officials about how their expertise helps them to serve their communities better. I know I want to go into a non-academic sector, which is not as common for people who are getting their PhD, Mencia says. Meeting people at the Campaign School showed me that there are so many directions I can go in. Thats really exciting to know that a social work degree is so versatile that I bring a lot of valuable skills to a lot of different sectors. Mencia, too, is a strong proponent for the role of social work in politics. Before coming to the UB for the dual MSW/PhD program, Mencia earned her bachelors in public policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she did advocacy work to help undocumented students and increase abortion access. While at UB, she has continued to be active as a volunteer with the New York Birth Control Access Project. Policy is really at the heart of what social work is, Mencia says. Even if you are working at the micro level, the people youre working with are heavily influenced by policy and the way policy shapes society, whether thats in a good way or in a way thats making them suffer. UB MSW students Syd Snyder and Kayliee Bertrand-Henretta (standing, far right) and students from other New York universities meet with Sen. Julia Salazar's staff during Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) in Albany. Photo: LEAD. Taking the LEAD Edtech unicorn Physics Wallah plans to invest Rs 120 crore in the next two-three years to boost its technology skilling platforms, the company said on Friday. PW Skills plans to invest the corpus in development of technology and the platform, content including vernacular courses, onboarding industry experts and bolstering the ecosystem to provide jobs. PW co-founder Prateek Maheshwari said PW Skills aims to address the prevalent issue of inaccessibility and steep pricing of most technology and upskilling courses. He said that the courses often lack a focus on practical training and the teaching of basics, emphasising jargon instead. "There is a significant gap in training availability in vernacular languages. PW Skills is committed to bridging these gaps by investing Rs 120 crore in the next 2-3 years to bolster our offerings by providing quality content, taught from the basics by industry professionals, at highly competitive prices," Maheshwari said. The company is also planning to expand into joint certification courses with top colleges, diploma courses, and technology courses in vernacular languages. Also Read Not looking to raise funds right now, says Physics Wallah co-founder BARC Director A K Mohanty appointed as new Atomic Energy Commission cheif Physics Wallah plans to hire 2,500 employees across verticals by March Unacademy gives pink slips to 380 employees in another round of layoffs Physics Wallah to invest Rs 100 cr in a bid to boost UPSC test preparation Insurance, MF ventures to list in 15-18 months: Canara Bank MD & CEO Biocon IPO after integration of Viatris market: MD & CEO Shreehas Tambe IBM expanding in tier-2, tier-3 locations in the country: IBM India MD Indian market offers opportunity of innovation for Nescafe: Nestle official Brokerage industry undergoing big transformation: IIFL Securities chairman PW Skills at present offers hybrid courses in data science, Java, C++, full-stack web development, and other tech courses at disruptive pricing for Rs 3,500 onwards. PW Skills CEO Sudhanshu Kumar said that the company will further explore blockchain, cybersecurity, and AR/VR-focused courses to strengthen India's talent pipeline. "Our goal is to prepare 10 lakh skilled tech workforce within the next 3 years," Kumar said. PW Skills claims to be the largest online platform for teaching tech skills to 1.5 lakh learners, offering courses in Hindi, English, and in mix of Hindi and English. Out of the total, 50,000 learners are enrolled in paid batches, while the remaining are in the free courses offered by PW Skills. Around 30,000 learners of PW Skills hail from the hindi speaking belt such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh etc. Currently, Air India works on segment-based RM system that forecasts demand and sets ticket prices for each leg of a passenger's journey. On the other hand, the network-based RM forecasts demand and optimises ticket prices keeping in mind the entire journey of the passenger. Air India will move to a better ticket pricing or the revenue management (RM) system in a few months to achieve profitability, said Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer and managing director of the airline, on Friday. The airlines will move to a network-based RM system, bringing it on par with the other top airlines of the world. "Hearty congratulations to our RM and IT colleagues for the successful cutover of the Altea RM System. This, together with transformative projects underway in loyalty, pricing, sales and distribution and cargo, is a very significant step toward achieving our revenue and profitability ambitions," Wilson told employees in a message, which has been reviewed by Business Standard. For example, if a passenger has to travel from New York to Lucknow via Delhi, then the network-based RM system will calculate the demand forecast and optimise ticket prices, keeping in mind the entire journey (New York-Delhi and then Delhi-Lucknow). Therefore, the network-based RM system is used by large airlines as it suits their hub-and-spoke model. Air India, which was handed to the Tata Group in January last year, posted a loss of nearly Rs 7,000 crore in 2021-22. The company is yet to declare its 2022-23 results. "The cutover of this segment-based RM system is a precursor to a further upgrade to network-based RM in a few months time, at which point Air Indias pricing and revenue management capabilities will be on par with that of other tier-1 airlines," he added. Also Read Taxi to Take Off: Air India says Phase 1 of its transformation complete Air India to get fresh brand identity: CEO Campbell Wilson tells staff Air India ground staff pay hike after Vistara merger: CEO Campbell Wilson Air India's order for 470 aircraft will be worth $70 billion: CEO Wilson One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been Voltas to build new air conditioner manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu Air India relaxes privilege leave norm for staff approaching retirement NCC posts 21% fall in Q4 PAT to Rs 191 cr, operational revenue up 42.3% Engineers India Ltd expects more orders from Middle East: Chairperson 'No fungus contamination in lassi': Amul terms viral video 'fake' "Well be sharing details on what is being worked on, seeking your thoughts, suggestions and help to take our mission forward, and provide updates on what is happening in the company. These will help ensure we all share the same direction, purpose and energy," he mentioned. Wilson said that the company is now in the take off phase of its transformation project "Vihaan". Therefore, Wilson, senior executives, and project teams will be traveling to cities around the country to meet employees from June. Food FMCG company Adani Wilmar on Friday said it has entered into the whole wheat category with its brand Fortune. With this pure whole wheat variants of Sharbati, Poorna 1544, Lokwan and MP Grade 1 will be available in Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan under Fortune brand, Adani Wilmar said in a regulatory filing. Adani Wilmar will be the only national player in this highly fragmented and commoditised category to provide an access to the purest wheat seed of the most premium wheat varieties in the country. "Traditional wheat connoisseur households in the west and north of the country are very selective about their preferred wheat varieties which they get ground under their supervision in neighbourhood chakki stores. The range of Fortune Whole Wheat varieties will give them just what they are looking for and will stand out for their clearly superior quality and variety assurance," Adani Wilmar Associate Vice President - Marketing and Sales Vineeth Viswambharan said. According to Viswambharan, there is a pressing need for genuine and unadulterated whole wheat options in the market. "Our products will deliver a wholesome and unadulterated whole wheat experience to consumers across the country," he said. Also Read Adani Wilmar enters whole wheat market in India under its brand Fortune Adani Wilmar reports 60% fall in net profit in Q4FY23, revenue up 7% Adani Wilmar bucks weak trend in group companies; surges 5% post Q3 results Wheat acreage surges 25% from last year; but weather remains a concern Singapore's Wilmar quarterly profit falls 24% on Adani JV stake dilution Finding discussions are on with banks, other sources: Vi CEO Moondra Air India will move to better ticket pricing system in a few mths: MD & CEO Voltas to build new air conditioner manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu Air India relaxes privilege leave norm for staff approaching retirement NCC posts 21% fall in Q4 PAT to Rs 191 cr, operational revenue up 42.3% JKC was earlier 150 days from, 16 to May 15, to pay the dues. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday granted the Jalan-Kalrock consortium (JKC), the successful bidder for bankrupt Jet Airways, a three-month extension (97 days) to pay a guarantee of Rs 150 core to the State Bank of India (SBI). Jet's air operator certificate (AOP)-- revalidated by Indias aviation regulator on May 20 last year--expired on Friday, indicating that the airline is unlikely to start commercial flights anytime soon. By May last year, JKC had deposited Rs 150 crore with lenders as a performance bank guarantee (PBG). NCLAT gave the order on JKCs application to stop SBI from invoking the guarantee. The public sector lender told the tribunal in the earlier hearing that JKC had not paid dues that had a deadline of May 15. As per the resolution plan, JKC was required to deposit with lenders a PBG of Rs 150 crore in two tranches: the first of Rs 47.5 crore when a committee of creditors (lenders) approves the resolution plan and the second tranche of Rs 102.5 crore on "effective date" when all CPs (conditions precedent) were fulfilled. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) last December asked lenders to hand over Jet Airways to the consortium. It asked the consortium to submit Rs 185 croreas decided under the insolvency resolution planwith lenders by May 14 this year so that ownership transfer can begin. The lenders have not received this amount as yet. Also Read Jet Airways looks into abyss as JKC fails to renew its flying permit Jet Airways revival: NCLAT to rule on consortium plea against SBI on May 30 Jet Airways revival hits new snag as more employees quit amid uncertainty Grounded Jet Airways' cabin crew association moves NCLT for liquidation Jalan-Kalrock consortium looks to move SC over Jet Airways staffers' dues Go First extends flight cancellations till May 28, promises full refund NCLAT sets aside NCLT order on Zee Entertainment-Sony India merger How Nvidia is leading other chipmakers amid the emergence of ChatGPT Tesla whistleblower leaks data on customers' Full Self-Driving complaints Adani Wilmar enters whole wheat market in India under its brand Fortune A refundable earnest deposit of Rs 15 crore was made to the lenders in July 2020 when JKC submitted its resolution plan to lenders. The first performance bank guarantee tranche of Rs 47.5 crore was deposited in October 2020 when the committee of creditors approved the resolution plan. The remaining amount of Rs 87.5 crore was deposited in the second PBG tranche on May 20 last yearcalled the "effective date"when all CPs were fulfilled. Mahindra & Mahindra on Friday said it has revised upward the capital expenditure (capex) outlay for the three years cycle of FY22-FY24 to Rs 15,900 crore from Rs 15,075 crore. An additional Rs 1,600 crore will go into the conventional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles for the anticipated regulatory changes and capacity expansion, the company said. Of the Rs 15,900 crore revised capex for FY22-FY24 cycle, an additional Rs 1,600 crore will go into the ICE vehicles for the anticipated regulatory changes and capacity expansion while an additional Rs 1,125 crore for the electric vehicle segment to produce vehicles with changing requirements, the automaker said in a presentation. Another Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for auto and farm investments, said the Mumbai-based company which on Friday reported an 18 per cent jump in its consolidated profit at Rs 2,637 crore in the March 2023 quarter and highest-ever annual profit of Rs 10,282 crore in FY23. The company continued to focus on value creation through capital allocation, partnerships and monetization, M&M said. The company also said that the automotive business led the way last fiscal with 62 per cent growth, driven by strong execution of launches and an improvement in supply chain related issues. Also Read New phase of capex cycle to start soon, say analysts. Top stocks to bet on Capital expenditure by CPSEs touches 76% of Rs 6.6-trillion target Q3 results preview: Strong tender activity to aid capital goods firms States given capital expenditure targets tied to interest-free loans Capital expenditure of states shows improvement as year comes to a close Not chasing sales, focus on solid customer experience: McLaren India Delhi High Court provides relief to Ola, Rapido; stays taxi ban order Info Edge slips into red in Q4, writes off investment in Bizcrum Infotech Voltas Tamil Nadu facility plan on track, to invest Rs 500 cr for room ACs Tencent Cloud Europe offloads 2 pc stake in PB Fintech for Rs 562 cr M&M Executive Director & CEO (Auto and Farm Sector) Rajesh Jejurikar said the company remained excited about the market momentum in both the auto and farm equipment segments and about crossing the milestone of 1.1 million vehicles in FY23. About the chip shortage, the company said it is going to be a "wait and watch" for the next few quarters. Jejurikar said that the waiting period for the company's vehicle models was expected to come down substantially in the next six months with the capacity to be scaled up to 49,000 from 39,000 per month. According to him, there was a production loss of up to 12,000 units during the March quarter due to the semiconductor shortage. He said that there were no plans to launch any new product this year, which will be more about consolidation, and added the 5-door Thar will be launched in 2024, which earlier was being speculated for this year. About the new emission norms, Jejurikar said that the company is "not working on the development of BS-VIII version immediately" as long as further clarification on the issue comes from the government. Moody's Investors Service on Friday said it has upgraded its rating outlook on Tata Motors to positive from stable. Moody's has also affirmed the company's B1 corporate family rating (CFR) and its B1 senior unsecured ratings. "The rating affirmation and outlook change to positive reflect our expectation that the substantial improvement in Tata Motor's credit profile over the past few quarters will sustain over the next 12-18 months," Moody's Senior Vice President Kaustubh Chaubal said in a statement. Steadily growing volumes and profitability will support the company's earnings and free cash flow expansion, enabling debt reduction even as its capital expenditure stays elevated, he added. Tata Motors is pursuing a net-zero automotive debt target by March 2025. Moody's said it estimates that the auto major will reduce its gross debt by almost 40 per cent by March 2024 from March 2022 levels, having already reduced debt by a quarter at March-end 2023. Also Read Tata Motors Q3 preview: What to expect from auto major's quarterly results? Tata Motors: Solid volumes, ASP may aid Q4 profit, margin expansion CNG cars could account for 25% of industry by end of decade: Tata Motors MD Tata launches Nexon EV MAX XM at Rs 16.49 lakh; to hit market by April 2023 Tata Motors domestic sales fall 4% in April, passenger vehicle sales up 13% FMCG firm Adani Wilmar enters whole wheat category with Fortune brand Finding discussions are on with banks, other sources: Vi CEO Moondra Air India will move to better ticket pricing system in a few mths: MD & CEO Voltas to build new air conditioner manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu Air India relaxes privilege leave norm for staff approaching retirement Moody's said it expects a sustained improvement in the company's overall automotive operations. While JLR accounted for a quarter of the company's global volumes for the year ended March 31 2023, its revenue and EBITDA contribution were around 70 per cent each, it stated. As such, JLR's credit profile is a key driver of Tata Motor's consolidated metrics, it added. "Meanwhile, demand prospects remain bright for Tata Motors India's operations. India's favourable demographics comprising its rising per capita and disposable incomes and growing working age population will lift demand for PVs, while for CVs, a cyclical recovery and the government's large push towards infrastructure investments will drive demand," Moody's said. A slew of new models and variants across different price points and a persistent focus on branding and customer satisfaction will, in Moody's view, help the company's domestic CV and PV businesses achieve volume growth of 8 -10 per cent during fiscal 2024. A division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna also directed the Transport Department to refrain from taking any coercive measures against Rapido and other ride-sharing platforms until a comprehensive policy is formulated. In a major relief for ride-hailing firms Uber, Ola and Rapido, the Delhi High Court on Friday put a stay on government notice banning bike taxi services in Delhi. We welcome the Honble High Courts order to give Uber protection from coercive action on bike taxis in Delhi, said an Uber spokesperson. This will bring relief to drivers on our platform whose livelihood had been impacted by the ban as also to the hundreds and thousands of riders who choose to ride on Moto for affordability and last mile connectivity. We are committed to serving the city and being the platform of choice for riders and drivers alike. In February this year, the Delhi Transport Department asked mobility players such as Uber, Ola and Rapido to stop plying their bike taxi services. The Delhi Transport Department on February 20 issued a public notice and directed such platforms to immediately stop operations to avoid prosecution and penalty. It has been brought to notice that two-wheelers having non-transport (private) registration mark/numbers are being used to carry passengers on hire, which is a purely commercial operation and a violation of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the transport department had said in the notice. It is a resounding victory and powerful testament to the immense impact bike taxis have on millions of people in our national capital, said a Rapido spokesperson. Bike taxis represent a transformative innovation for a thriving metropolis and a progressive nation like India, addressing the crippling challenges of traffic congestion, unemployment, affordability, last-mile connectivity, and environmental pollution head-on. Rapido also welcomed the Delhi High Court's order. The firm said the court declared that 'no coercive measures shall be taken against bike taxi operators and its riders by the concerned authorities in the Delhi NCT until the government notifies the necessary regulations to govern bike taxi operations.' Also Read After Bombay HC rap, Rapido shuts down bike taxi services in Maharashtra Big blow to Rapido, Ola and Uber as Delhi govt bars bike services Ola, Uber may book ride to court over ban on bike service in Delhi 'What ban?' Uber, Ola bike riders clueless about Delhi govt order Top headlines: Airfares high on Holi, Uber to go to court over bike taxi Info Edge slips into red in Q4, writes off investment in Bizcrum Infotech Voltas Tamil Nadu facility plan on track, to invest Rs 500 cr for room ACs Tencent Cloud Europe offloads 2 pc stake in PB Fintech for Rs 562 cr Varun Beverages becomes 4th largest FMCG by market capitalisation, briefly Reliance Consumer Products adds crunch to snacks market with Alan's Bugles A Bain & Co report in December 2022 estimated that 35 per cent to 40 per cent of all vehicles sold in India will be electric by 2030, meaning the average annual sale of some 16 million new electric vehicles (EVs). Such predictions have prompted automakers to offer cleaner vehicles. Tata Motors will launch an exclusive EV showroom in March. Approximately one in three passenger vehicles Tata Motors sells in the near-to-mid-term will either be gas- be electric-powered, as the automaker reduces reliance on fossil fuel-based technologies. March 2023 saw sales of CNG vehicles reach 30,000 units, triple the number from March 2021, according to data from the state-run Vahan dashboard. Tata Motors having sold 6,516 EV vehicles in April 2023, the highest number of EV sales recorded by the company. According to a report in the Economic Times (ET), Tata Motors is set to introduce the Altroz iCNG, equipped with the company's patented "integrated mounting system for a vehicle". The company plans to launch another electric model in FY24. These developments are expected to drive the share of gas-powered models and battery-electric vehicles within Tata Motors' passenger vehicle portfolio to 15 per cent each, up from the current 8 per cent and 9 per cent respectively, within three to four years. Tata Motors, like its competitors Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor, sees great potential in the compressed natural gas (CNG) segment. Demand for CNG models is increasing due to improved availability of fuel, the launch of new models, and lower running costs. Customers are increasingly choosing alternate fuel options with the intent of economical as well as eco-friendly drive. CNG as a fuel with its wide availability and accessibility has gained lot of acceptance." He added, "Today, we are delighted to launch the Altroz iCNG, an industry first offering which will redefine the CNG market by addressing the major concern on boot space. The Altroz iCNG is a testament to our deep understanding of the customers need and our engineering prowess. With the breakthrough of the twin-cylinder CNG technology and advance features we are expecting more personal segment buyers to strongly consider this option. Our multi-powertrain strategy in the Altroz portfolio today offers petrol, diesel, iturbo and iCNG, providing an array of options for the customers to choose from. The Altroz iCNG will bolster our expansive New Forever range and continue to sustain our growth momentum in passenger cars. Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, stated in a release on Monday, Also Read NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts Investments in green energy now 70% higher than in fossil fuels: IEA Passenger vehicle dispatches jumped 13% to 331,278 units in April: SIAM PV dispatches highest ever in April, grow 13% YoY, shows SIAM data We have set a target of 60GW of renewable by 2032: NTPC Green's Bhargava Ford EV owners to get access to Tesla Supercharger network next spring PhonePe links 2 lakh Rupay credit cards to UPI, says it is first to do it Bikano eyes Rs 200-crore sales through export market, expects 40% growth Emami Q4 net profit falls 59.42% to Rs 144.43 crore, revenue up 8.8% BMW launches its 2023 Z4 Roadster at Rs 89.30 lakh for Indian market By placing twin cylinders under the luggage area, Tata Motors ensures that the cylinders are concealed, providing a boot space comparable to fossil-fuel cars. The twin-cylinder technology will be incorporated into all upcoming CNG models from the company. Despite the practicality and cost-effectiveness of CNG models, they often lack aspirational appeal due to their limited features and compromised performance and boot space. Tata Motors aims to address these concerns with the introduction of its iCNG technology, offering high-end features in the Tiago and Tigor models. The company aims to redefine the CNG market by focusing on the major concern of boot space. In addition to its CNG initiatives, Tata Motors plans to solidify its leadership in the electric car market by introducing an electrified version of another Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) model during the current fiscal year. This is likely to be the electrified version of the Punch, the company's micro-SUV, although this has not been confirmed. The construction of the new manufacturing facility is spread over 150 acres. The Company has planned to invest over Rs 500 crores in this factory, for Room Air Conditioners (RACs) manufacturing, over the next couple of years. Voltas, leading player in cooling products and the largest AC brand, from the house of Tatas, laid the groundwork and performed Bhoomi Pujan at Madharapakkam in Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, for its new Air Conditioner factory. Chairman of Voltas, Noel Tata and Managing Director and CEO of Voltas, Pradeep Bakshi, along with other senior dignitaries were present for the event. This facility will ensure that all the products manufactured in this facility are competitive on a global scale. This facility will initially manufacture Room Air Conditioners (RACs) and is an extension to the existing RAC facility in Pantnagar. This facility will be fully operational within this fiscal year. Furthermore, the facility will benefit the local communities in and around its vicinity, as is expected to create employment for approximately 1500 workers. This new facility will play a significant role in augmenting our capacity in catering to the growing consumer demand across India; and will help expand our presence and footprint especially in South India," Bakshi said. The government's rice procurement has reached 52.06 million tonnes so far in the ongoing 2022-23 marketing season, benefitting 1.12 crore farmers with MSP of Rs 1.6 lakh crore, the food ministry said on Friday. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) along with state agencies undertakes procurement of paddy under price support scheme. The Centre has set a target to buy 62.60 million tonnes of rice in the 2022-23 marketing season (October-September). The FCI had procured 57.58 million tonnes of rice during the 2021-22 marketing season. According to the food ministry, a total of 52.06 million tonnes of rice was procured up to May 22 of the current kharif marketing season. As many as 1.12 crore farmers have benefited from the procurement operation. About Rs 1,59,659.59 crore has been paid as minimum support price (MSP) to them, it said in a statement. The government has fixed MSP of 'common' grade paddy at Rs 2,040 per quintal, while 'A' grade paddy at Rs 2,060 per quintal for the current year. Also Read FY24 procurement target through GeM likely to set at Rs 2.5 trillion Tamil Nadu Governor returns bill on prohibition of online gambling US FDA recalls Covid-19 at-home tests by SD Biosensor over bacteria risks Relax paddy procurement norms to help farmers in Cauvery delta: Stalin Wheat export ban to continue as govt falls short on procurement targets Exports to Germany may get impacted as it enters recession: Traders On the job: India's poorer states progress in creating employment India witnessing snowball effect; set to see exponential growth: WEF prez India's 'mini-demonetisation' may have political motivations: Chris Wood Workers stuck in vicious cycle of coal, heat to keep power grid standing According to the third estimate of the agriculture ministry, 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. The ministry said paddy brought to the purchase centres which are within the prescribed quality specifications are purchased at the fixed MSP. If the farmers get prices better than the support price from other buyers such as traders/millers etc., they are free to sell their produce to them. FCI and the state government/agencies ensure that the farmers are not compelled to sell their produce below support price, it said. FCI and most of the state governments have developed their own online procurement system through which farmers get latest/updated information regarding MSP declared, nearest purchase centre, date of procurement etc., it added. Delhi University has urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to sanction more than 3,000 additional teaching and non-teaching posts across 46 colleges to maintain the student-teacher ratio, officials said on Friday. The student-teacher ratio has been impacted due to the implementation of the 10 per cent reservation for the EWS category in admissions, they said. The varsity has also requested the Delhi government's Department of Higher Education to sanction hundreds of teaching and non-teaching posts across 12 colleges funded by the government, a senior varsity official told PTI. Letters were sent to the UGC and the Delhi government on Thursday with the list of colleges that need additional teaching and non-teaching posts to maintain the student-teacher ratio, the senior official said. The varsity has also demanded grants from the government and the UGC in this regard. The principals have prepared a proposal of their respective colleges for additional number of teaching posts based on the appropriate teacher-student ratio. Also Read UGC NET 2023: NTA starts registration process, other details inside UGC NET result for Dec 2022 cycle expected to be released this week NET Result to be announced tomorrow on ugcnet.nta.nic.in, says UGC chief NTA declared UGC NET result 2023: Here's how to download UGC NET scorecard UGC 4-year undergraduate honours degree to help students go abroad: Experts Manipur NEET-UG to be held between June 3-5; CUET-UG from June 5-8 PSEB 10th results 2023 announced: Here's how to check and download Slipping on numbers? Experts suggest how to get over maths phobia UK to disallow some international students from bringing families UBSE announced UK Board 10th, 12th Result 2023, here's how to check In the letter sent to the UGC, the DU mentioned 46 colleges, including Ramjas College, Kirori Mal College, Hans Raj College and Miranda House, where additional teaching and non-teaching posts are needed. A copy of the letter is with PTI. The list mentions the need for 3,035 teaching and non-teaching posts in 46 colleges. The sanctioning of the maximum number of additional posts of teachers is required at Hansraj College (92), followed by Gargi College (91). The three colleges that need 80 or more teachers are Deshbandhu College (80), Dyal Singh College (81), and University College of Medical Sciences (80). Similarly, the Hindu College and University College of Medical Sciences require the maximum number of non-teaching officials (75). The university last year sought information from its colleges on the number of additional teaching and non-teaching staff members required to deal with the additional pressure created due to the implementation of the 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker section (EWS) category in admissions. "The Principals/Directors of the Colleges/Institutions have prepared the proposal for an additional number of teaching posts based on appropriate teacher-student ratio," the letter to UGC said. "Also, proper justifications for additional teaching and non-teaching posts have been given in the proposals...for consideration of sanction of additional posts and grant to the Colleges of the University of Delhi. An early approval in the matter is requested," the letter added. In a similar letter to the Delhi government, the varsity sends a list of 12 colleges along with the number of teaching and non-teaching faculty required there. As per the list, 804 posts need to be sanctioned across 12 colleges which include both teaching (435) and non-teaching (369) posts. In the colleges funded by the Delhi government, Acharya Narendra Dev College requires the maximum number of teaching (72) and non-teaching (81) additional staff. The 10 per cent quota for the EWS category has led to an increase in the number of seats for students, the DU official said. However, the number of teachers and non-teaching staff has remained the same, the official said. Reservation for EWS category for admission to all colleges and universities was implemented in 2019. This analysis excludes fund commitments. Sovereign wealth funds such as Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, GIC, Qatar Investment Authority, Kuwait Investment Authority, Norway Government Pension Fund Global, and others continue to allocate capital directly into India based on SWFI transaction data. In a sign of rising interest by global sovereign wealth funds in India, the country has seen a 56 per cent rise in investments by sovereign wealth funds in 2022 to $6.714 billion, compared to $4.3 billion in 2021, said an analysis shared by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) on Friday. SWFI has announced a Global Wealth Conference (GWC), taking place in London on May 31 and June 1 in London. The conference will be attended by 40 sovereign wealth funds, over 50 family offices from around the world, over 30 pension and public funds, over 50 institutional global asset managers, and over 30 prominent personalities from royal families to policymakers. From India, law firm Nishith Desai Associates, SUN Group, Jindal Steel and Power, and a few others will attend the conference. Global Wealth Conference presents an exceptional platform for GCC countries and prominent business entities to highlight and exchange a multitude of business opportunities with institutional investors, fostering capital inflow and forging strategic partnerships. According to SWFI research, India is a desired destination for SWF capital, and having Indian entities participate can directly drive more capital into the country, said Lakshmi Narayanan, Chairman of the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. India's remarkable ascent as a global powerhouse is indisputably bolstered by the invaluable contributions of sovereign wealth funds and pension capital, as extensively validated by our comprehensive research data. A key catalyst behind this success lies in the government's commendable efforts to facilitate seamless access to lucrative opportunities for foreign investors. Thus, the significance of eminent gatherings like the Global Wealth Conference (GWC) becomes paramount, serving as an influential platform where asset owners, governments, and astute fund managers converge to forge fruitful alliances, said Michael Maduell, President of SWFI. North-west India includes the grain bowls of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, however, how much will be the impact of low rains on agriculture production remains to be seen as much of northwest India is irrigated. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its second stage forecast released today said that region-wise the June-to-September monsoon rains this year is expected to be below normal over most parts of northwest India, but it could be 'normal' over all remaining parts of India, including the main rain-fed zones. The forecast is with a model error of plus and minus four percent. The LPA of June to September rains for the period 1971-2020 is 87 centimeters. The IMD reiterated its April forecast of overall monsoon rains being normal at 96 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA). The probability of below-normal and deficient rainfall is 25 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. IMD also upped the probability of normal rainfall during the June-to-September period to 43 per cent, while that of above-normal rainfall is 11 per cent. In its April forecast, the met department had said that the forecast probability of normal rains was 35 per cent. Also Read IMD disagrees with Skymet, says India will have a normal monsoon this year As mercury soars, Centre issues guidelines for workers during hot summers El Nino likely to keep monsoon rains below normal, says Skymet North India may face above-normal maximum temperature for next 3 days: IMD Various parts of country to continue getting on-off rains till Apr 12: IMD Alwar lynching case: District court convicts 4 out of 5; sentences to 7 yrs India challenges WTO panel ruling on ICT import duties at appellate body Journey of the old Parliament building since its inauguration in 1927 Gyanvapi row: Allahabad court to hear petition filed by waqf board today Travel to India proved productive for Pakistan: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari This should come as a relief to policy makers and agriculturists as the region grows bulk of pulses and oilseeds during the kharif season. The IMD also said that southwest monsoon over the 'monsoon convergence zone', or the rainfed-regions of India, is expected to be normal at 96-106 per cent of the LPA. "Normal to above normal rainfall is likely over the most areas of south peninsular India, some areas of east central India and many areas of northeast and extreme north India. However, normal to below normal rainfall is likely over many areas of northwest India and adjoining west central India, northern parts of the peninsular India and along the foothills of Himalayas," DS Pai, Scientist at the IMD said in a press conference. For June, the IMD said that rainfall across the country will be 'below normal' at 92 per cent of the LPA. The LPA of June month rainfallthe average of rains between 1971 and 2020is 165.44 millimeters. The met department said that there is a 90 per cent chance of the El Nino weather pattern developing in the 2023 monsoon season. The IMD said that conditions are becoming favorable for progress of southwest monsoon over the Arabian Sea and it is hopeful that the onset could be as forecasted earlier. The June rains will be below normal over most parts of the country and above normal in southern India and extreme north India and North-west India. As many as 300 passengers of a VietJet flight to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam were stranded at the city airport for around 10 hours due to a glitch in the aircraft, according to a passenger. The passenger, on the condition of anonymity, alleged that the airline did not provide hotel accommodation or food for passengers despite the long delay. Under DGCA rules, passengers are to be provided accommodation as well as food by the airline concerned if a flight is delayed beyond a stipulated time. "The flight VJ-884 (operating on Mumbai-Ho Chi Minh City route) was to depart at 11.30 pm on Thursday. We boarded the flight at 11 pm. "However, when it did not take off for an hour, we asked for the reason. We were told there is some glitch in the aircraft and it will take some time for departure," said the passenger who was to travel to Bali via Vietnam on the flight. "Between 11.30 pm and 5 am, till the time they brought us back to the immigration area, no food or water was provided to the stranded passengers," he said, adding that there is still no clarity about an alternative flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Also Read Vietnam's economic hub Ho Chi Minh city to revive manufacturing sector Vietnam Airline to connect Mumbai with Ho Chi Minh City from May 20 PM Modi, Vietnamese PM discuss expanding cooperation in trade, technology Thailand targets 2 million Indian tourists in 2023, same as pre-Covid India's airline sector on to a smooth flight despite air pocketsr Delhi woman kidnapped in 2006 found after 17 years, details inside Mukesh Ambani joins global business leaders in COP28 Advisory Committee SECR to revamp Chhattisgarh rly stations under Amrit Bharat Station scheme Delhi ordinance row: Kejriwal seeks time to meet Cong chief Kharge, Rahul Passengers create ruckus at Patna airport as SpiceJet flight gets delayed The passengers were deplaned and brought back to the immigration area at around 7 am, he said. Vietjet, later in a statement said that "on May 26, flight VJ884 from Mumbai (India) to Ho Chi Minh City which was initially planned to depart at 01:00 local time had to reschedule to 20:30 local time due to operational reasons." This rescheduling has impacted some flights, the airline said, adding that "passengers on affected flights are being supported under the carrier's policy, including hotels, foods, drinks, and other supports subject to individual passenger requests. An Air India plane en route to Vancouver returned to Delhi shortly after take off on Friday due to a technical issue, according to the airline. The Boeing 777 aircraft operating flight AI185 landed back safely in the national capital. "Air India flight AI185 Delhi to Vancouver dated May 26, 2023, operated by B777 aircraft has air returned to Delhi following a technical issue shortly after take off," it said in a statement. The airline also said it is making alternate arrangements for the passengers while providing all support. Details about the number of passengers onboard the plane could not be immediately ascertained. Also Read Jet Airways looks into abyss as JKC fails to renew its flying permit India's airline sector on to a smooth flight despite air pocketsr Jet airways revival hits new snag as banks push back on funding Jet Airways revival hits new snag as more employees quit amid uncertainty Urination incident: Air India amends existing in-flight liquor policy Shivakumar approaches HC, seeks quashing of Covid rules violation cases Goa to host Clean Energy Ministerial, Mission Innovation meetings in July Water released from HP's Pandoh Dam after increase in level due to rain Delhi woman kidnapped in 2006 found after 17 years, details inside Mukesh Ambani joins global business leaders in COP28 Advisory Committee Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said that air services from Kanpur to Delhi will begin soon. Speaking at the inauguration of the new terminal building of Kanpur Airport, the Union minister said, "We have announced 59 new routes and 122 new routes will be announced in the future. We have the vision to connect Kanpur with Pantnagar, Aligarh, Moradabad and Shravasti." There are currently 11 airports operating in the state, and 11 more airports will be started over the next three years. Uttar Pradesh will get 22 new airports altogether. Be it Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Jhansi, Ghazipur, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Saharanpur or Shravasti, airport facilities will be provided at all these places, Scinidia said. The terminal building will be 16 times bigger than the existing terminal at a project cost of Rs 150 crore and is equipped to handle 400 passengers during peak hours, as compared to 50 passengers earlier. The facade of the new terminal will depict the temple architecture of the famous JK Temple of Kanpur, Scindia said further. "The existing air terminal in Kanpur, which previously handled just 3,000 passengers, will soon be able to handle 10 lakh passengers every year. This facility will not only benefit Kanpur but also impact 8 surrounding districts," he added. He also said that a new airport will be built in Ayodhya in the next 1.5 years, and the facility coming at Jewar will compete with airports in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. In 2013-14, there were 652 airplane arrivals per week in Uttar Pradesh, he said, adding that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath, today the state sees 1,595 airplane arrivals a week, which is 145 per cent higher. Also Read Scindia inaugurates Air India's direct flight between Mumbai-San Francisco Govt working on last-mile air connectivity to Tier-III cities: Scindia IIT Kanpur to launch new eMasters program on sustainable construction IIT Kanpur licenses gene therapy technology to Reliance Life Sciences Aviation ministry lists five-point action plan to decongest Delhi airport Mumbai sees seven fresh Covid-19 cases, no death, active tally at 108 Amit Shah to inaugurate day-long conclave on 9 years of Modi government Railways fined 36 million ticketless passengers, earned Rs 2,200 crore Ex-bureaucrats condemn Oppn for boycotting new Parliament inauguration FM reviews progress on Finance Track deliverables for 2023 under G20 The BJP will lodge a complaint with Delhi Police in connection with the alleged "stealing" of files from the office of special secretary (vigilance) YVVJ Rajasekhar at Secretariat building, party MP Manoj Tiwari said on Friday. In a joint press conference with the leader of the opposition in Delhi assembly Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, Tiwari said that if needed, BJP will also approach the court in the matter. A purported CCTV footage showing some people moving around carrying files outside Rajasekhar's office on the intervening night of May 15-16 was also screened at the press conference. "This CCTV exposes the Kejriwal government. The files from Rajasekhar's office were stolen and photocopied in a nearby room because the officer was probing corruption cases against them," Tiwari alleged. He also questioned if opposition leaders like Mamta Banerjee and Sharad Pawar supported such action of the AAP government in Delhi whose party supremo Arvind Kejriwal met them seeking their support against the Centre's ordinance on services matter. Questioning Kejriwal's silence on this matter, Bidhuri said a delegation of BJP leaders led by Delhi state president Virendra Sachdeva will soon meet the Delhi police commissioner and demand for registration of an FIR in the matter. Also Read Govt forms cabinet secretary-led panel to monitor Mission Karmayogi 19 Opposition parties to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building Veteran Samajwadi Party leader Hari Shankar Tiwari passes away at 90 Journey of the old Parliament building since its inauguration in 1927 Patna police may fine Baba Bageshwar, Manoj Tiwari for traffic violation Ex-CM Kumaraswamy calls Cong 'hypocrite' for boycotting Parliament opening Parliament inauguration a national event, not a political programme: Raut MotoGP team conducts recce of Buddh Circuit ahead of inaugural race How did Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto Express get their names? Know here All unauthorised colonies to be legalised: Madhya Pradesh CM Chouhan Rajasekhar sent a report to his superiors regarding the opening of his office at the Secretariat on the intervening night of May 15-16 and the removal of "sensitive files" kept there for photocopying. He suspected in his report that the files may have been "tampered" with during the incident. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni will be on his maiden state visit to India from May 29 to 31 and his trip would mark the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. At a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East), Saurabh Kumar, said the Cambodian King would be accompanied by a 27-member high-level delegation, including the minister of the royal palace, vice president of the Vietnamese senate, minister of foreign affairs and other senior officials. The state visit marks the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia, which were established in 1952, the MEA said in statement. The forthcoming visit of King Sihamoni will further strengthen and deepen the civilisational relations between India and Cambodia, it said. This visit by the King of Cambodia is taking place after almost six decades, with the last being that of the current King's father in 1963. The King will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 30 and President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet in the honour of the visiting dignitary the same evening. Also Read India restoring Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, says EAM Jaishankar MEA's budget insufficient despite India's ambitions for influence: Rpt Fire at Cambodia hotel casino still rages after 12 hrs, kills at least 11 Renewable energy accounts for over 62% of Cambodia's energy supply: PM India, Azerbaijan hold 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations: MEA Bollywood rediscovering J&K, G20 will promote tourism: Union Tourism Secy Mumbai sees seven fresh Covid-19 cases, no death, active tally at 108 Amit Shah to inaugurate day-long conclave on 9 years of Modi government Air services from Kanpur to Delhi will begin soon: Jyotiraditya Scindia Railways fined 36 million ticketless passengers, earned Rs 2,200 crore The King will also have bilateral meetings with the president and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on the Cambodian King. The King will also pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, the MEA said. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties, it said. The multi-faceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence and security and convergence on regional and global issues, the statement said. India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development through training slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and scholarships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. India has also extended grants and concessional loans for developmental projects. Conservation and restoration of the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Preah Vihar are also being carried out under the Indian government funding. India has extended a grant of USD 1.5 million for purchase of de-mining equipment and offered a line of credit worth USD 50 million for procurement of defence equipment from it, the MEA said. Trade between the two countries for FY 2023-23 stood at USD 366 million and is growing. Indian investments in Cambodia are estimated around USD 115 million primarily in pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mining. The duos historic ascent of the Mount Everest, 70 years on, remains path-breaking and inspiring for generations. But the feat itself has been rendered routine by the sheer scale of statistics. Consider this: According to the latest available data, as of January, 6,338 individuals have summitted the Everest. On May 29, 1953, at 11.30 am, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal and Kiwi mountaineer Edmund Hilary scaled the highest peak on Earth and spent 15 minutes atop. Mine Islar, senior lecturer at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies in Sweden and a researcher on the Himalayas, said in a paper this year that it would be possible for local communities and tourists to scale the Everest for another 70 years, but not in the same way that is through the ice. In the present and immediate future, due to glacial melting the route could become unstable and alternative routes might have to be arranged. As the mountaineering community prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Norgay and Hilarys summit, there is growing concern about rising temperatures, melting glaciers and snow, and a more fickle yet harsher weather on the worlds tallest mountain. A study in the Nature Portfolio Journal Climate and Atmospheric Science in 2022 said that ice formed on the South Col Glacier one of the highest glaciers on Mount Everest over a period of 2,000 years melted in about 25 years. Tourism, livelihoods, infrastructure, energy and water supply are under threat as climate change accelerates glacial retreat, Islar said. Also Read Game of thrones in Nepal: The great game in the Himalayas Difficult terrain, loose regulations: What makes Nepal so risky to fly Nepal's destiny Third force: The tightrope walk that awaits Prachanda, Nepal's new PM Plane carrying 72 people, including 5 Indians, crashes in Nepal's Pokhara 2 judges elevated as HC chief justices; one is due to retire on May 30 Mass marriages strengthen feeling of social harmony: Rajasthan CM Gehlot Expansion of Maharashtra cabinet soon, says Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis Cambodian King to visit India from May 29 to 31; MEA says will deepen ties Bollywood rediscovering J&K, G20 will promote tourism: Union Tourism Secy A rise in temperature and permafrost degradation can potentially increase the chances of avalanches in the regions, experts say. Researchers have also found evidence of microplastic pollution at the top of Mount Everest, according to a study published in the One Earth journal. The pace of melting is also worrying for Himalayan dwellers, who are worried about the possible changes in the next 70 years. Romala Butalia, a resident of Uttarakhand, tweeted on Friday: 70 years since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay scaled Everest. Rising global temperatures have put the Himalaya in danger. In the next 70 years, two-thirds of glaciers on the regions mountains will disappear if we do not take urgent action to #SaveOurSnow (sic). The highest concentration of microplastics was found in samples collected from around Base Camp, where hikers and trekkers spend the bulk of their time. However, the team of researchers also found microplastics in samples as high as 8,440 metres above sea level, just below the summit (8,849 m). The evidence was found based on an analysis of the snow and stream samples from the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition in 2019. The rising presence of private operators, evacuation facilities and, most importantly, government push are also motivating the climbers to attempt the fabled conquest. Because of the higher number of tourists, the authorities in Nepal have also considered relocating the base camp of Everest over environmental concerns, according to recent media reports. Not just the number of tourists, but the number of casualties on Everest is also increasing. The latest climbing season is set to become one of the deadliest ever. So far, eight people have died and five are missing, according to the Nepal tourism department figures reported by the media. Adding to the concerns is the rising number of visitors to the base camp, where people stay for months during the climbing season enjoying relatively luxurious accommodations that include hot showers, Wi-Fi and catered meals. The deadliest year for climbers in Everests history was 2014, when at least 17 locals were killed, mostly in an avalanche, according to data tracked by US-based non-profit organisation The Himalayan Database. The number of fatalities this year threatens to surpass the 11 deaths recorded in 2019, when images of massive traffic jams at the summit went viral worldwide. Climb at a cost The dark side of Everest wont, however, dim the spirits of climbers. Come May 29, the Nepal government and its unstoppable community of mountaineers plan to celebrate Everest Day with a parade around the capital of Kathmandu and a ceremony honouring climbers and veteran Sherpa guides. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, who completed a year in office on Friday, listed the works done by the administration under him and claimed the national capital has not seen so much done in the last decade. Addressing the IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre attending a workshop on capacity building of civil servants for effective service delivery, the L-G exhorted them to work hard and honestly without bowing to pressure. "Work hard and honestly without bowing to pressure and no one can touch you. No harm will come your way," he said and asserted that this was an assurance from him. A row has erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi and the BJP-ruled Centre after the latter promulgated an ordinance effectively bringing the control of the state bureaucracy into the hands of its representative the L-G. The ordinance 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. Citing various works supervised by him in Delhi, Saxena said, "We have delivered so much in the last one year with your cooperation that could not have been done perhaps even in 10 years." In the last one year, permanent jobs were given to 17,000 people in Delhi. There has been a perceptible change in the heavily polluted Yamuna and hopefully, the river will be restored to its previous glory, he said. Also Read Abolition of Odisha Administrative Tribunal constitutionally valid: SC NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts BJP 'welcomes' Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi Delhi CSB meeting delayed due to chief secretary's 'busy schedule' LG Saxena sets June 30 deadline to clean Yamuna in National Capital BJP to file FIR against stealing of files from special secretary's office Medical device's environmental impact can challenge innovation: Report Ex-CM Kumaraswamy calls Cong 'hypocrite' for boycotting Parliament opening Parliament inauguration a national event, not a political programme: Raut MotoGP team conducts recce of Buddh Circuit ahead of inaugural race The L-G said that cleaning of the river was monitored by the Supreme Court for 28 years and then by the National Green Tribunal for eight years but the result was "zero". After the January 8 order by NGT that led to the setting up of a high-level committee headed by the L-G for Yamuna cleaning, there has been a marked difference in the work done by the same officers who were engaged in the project earlier also, Saxena said. Saxena cited the example of a Delhi Jal Board assistant engineer who despite the death of his brother returned to duty after a day's leave to complete the task at hand. "In the face of such passion and dedication, no task is difficult," he said. The LG said that the work to remove the three garbage dump yards in the city which were like "blots" on the Delhi landscape, has picked up pace in the last one year. "The work by the officers of MCD in the last one year is incredible. The height of these dumps has been reduced up to 30 metres." It is hoped that the garbage mounds at the three landfills will be cleared in the next one year and efforts are being made to enhance disposal of dumped garbage from 20,000 tonnes daily currently to 30,000 tonnes per day, he said. Saxena told the IAS officers of the Delhi government that bureaucracy is a value system with compassion, hard work and a positive attitude ingrained in it. He suggested that the officers interact with people to increase the delivery of services. the L-G also advised them not to let the power of being a civil servant affect their work. "The system collapses when bureaucrats start maintaining distance from the public. There is a need to change the mindset where bureaucrats instead of serving people become bosses," Saxena said. He said unless the bureaucrats go to the field and understand the ground realities, the decisions made by them sitting in their chambers are prone to be wrong. The LG lauded chief secretary Naresh Kumar present in the workshop, terming him as a "Karmyogi" who was ready to work round the clock. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) on Friday awarded Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Ltd the contract for operation and maintenance of Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro's line 3, the city's first fully underground corridor. The MMRC in a release said the contract was awarded for a period of 10 years, after an international competitive bidding process, in which the DMRC emerged as the lowest successful bidder. The DMRC will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the metro line, including management of operation control centre, depot control centre, stations, running trains, maintenance of trains and all metro systems infrastructure, and ensuring the safety of passengers, the release said. They will be governed by key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure clean, efficient and hustle-free services to Mumbaikars, it stated. Awarding the operation and maintenance contract was a significant milestone for the MMRC in making the line operations", the release said. The DMRC is a pioneer in the metro rail sector in India, having successfully operated and maintained the Delhi metro for over two decades, it said. Also Read Signs of recovery: Delhi Metro regains 90% of pre-pandemic ridership levels After SC rap, DMRC launches Rs 7,100 crore rights issue for RInfra dues Widening scope, aim to be a key player in urban infra space: DMRC MD Delhi HC fixes Feb 13 for next hearing in DMRC-DAMEPL case, may pass order DMRC 'lowest bidder' to operate, maintain Mumbai Metro's Line 3: Officials No West Bengal representative at Niti Aayog meeting in Delhi on Saturday Georgian billionaire wins $926 million from Credit Suisse after fraud UPSC mulls criminal action against two candidates for claiming selection Encroachments in name of 'land jihad' will not be allowed in U'khand: Dhami Sengol history a fabrication? Cong and BJP shared conflicting views External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday arrived in Vadodara as part of his two-day Gujarat visit, during which he is scheduled to go to some villages that he has adopted under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, officials said. After his arrival at the Vadodara airport, Jaishankar, a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, left for Rajpipla town in the tribal-dominated Narmada district near here. During the day, he will visit four villages in the district that he has adopted under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, said a release by the Narmada district authorities. Jaishankar would first visit Vyadhar village of Tilakwada taluka and Amdala village of Garudeshwar taluka in Narmada to understand the issues faced by people and progress made till date on various parameters, it said. After taking a break in the afternoon, he would then visit Bhadod village in Sagbara and Malsamot village in Dediapada taluka of the district. On Saturday, Jaishankar will inspect an under-construction gymnastics hall at a college in Rajpipla town. Later in the day, he is scheduled to deliver a lecture on "Modi's India: A Rising Power" at Anant National University in Ahmedabad. Also Read PM Modi to unveil projects worth Rs 6,800 cr in Meghalaya, Tripura today CES 2023: LG Gram laptops with 13th Gen Intel Core processors unveiled S Jaishankar reaches Guyana on 3-day visit, receives warm welcome Jaishankar's 4-nation visit to Central and Latin America begins today Relations with Indian diaspora bolstered due to Sushma Swaraj: Jaishankar Gala dinner showcases spirituality, pilgrimage & heritage at G20 ACWG meet Top headlines: Meta layoffs, angel tax exemption, new Parliament & more Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to travel to India ahead of Modi's US visit Centre to launch Rs 75 coin to mark the opening of new Parliament building LIVE: IT searches underway at premises linked to TN Minister Senthil Balaji Encroachments in the name of "land jihad" will not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday, amid an ongoing statewide drive to remove illegally built structures from government land. Addressing the concluding session of the two-day meeting of the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal here, Dhami said, "Uttarakhand shares its borders with two countries (China and Nepal). A particular community had illegally encroached land and raised structures in the border areas of the state which are being removed as part of a drive. "Illegal encroachments in the name of land jihad will not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in Uttarakhand", Dhami said. He said the state government has already appealed to encroachers to remove such structures on their own or the administration will demolish them. Last month, Dhami warned occupiers of illegally built mazars (tombs) to remove those on their own and reiterated that his government would not allow land jihad in the state. Under a conspiracy, thousands of shrines have been built illegally on public and forest land without permission, he had said. Also Read Uttarakhand: CM Dhami to visit sinking Joshimath, promises necessary action Special attention to be paid to hilly areas: CM Dhami instructs officials Nation will boycott Congress: Dhami on skipping Parliament inauguration Departments should aim to get maximum revenue: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami Budget's provisions for development of clean energy to benefit U'khand: CM Sengol history a fabrication? Cong and BJP shared conflicting views New Parliament building inauguration: Check date, schedule of ceremony Murder of Ex-Andhra minister: SC stays HC order granting bail to accused Delhi HC dismisses Gandhis' pleas against I-T assessment transfer Darjeeling may join 6 other non-attainment cities in Bengal in 2024: Report "Not a single illegally built religious structure will be allowed to remain standing in the state. All illegal structures will be completely demolished," Dhami said on Friday. He said Uttarakhand will be the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). "The committee constituted to prepare a draft of the UCC has done 90 per cent of its job and will submit its report to the state government by June 30," he said. The UCC will be implemented after being examined, he said, adding that it will apply to people of all religions and communities. Uttarakhand's UCC will become a model for the entire country, Dhami said. The two-day meeting debated a range of issues including conversion, land jihad, same-sex marriages and live-in relationships. Dhami took the blessings of over 250 seers participating in the meeting. During the meeting, the VHP decided that, shortly before Diwali, it will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign against illegal religious conversion. Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri welcomed the state government's action against illegal encroachments but appealed to the chief minister not to demolish temples which are more than 50 years old even if they have encroached upon government land. They should be given on lease to the trust managing the temples while areas reserved for Bairagi seers should also be given on lease to Bairagi Akharas, Puri suggested. Swami Yatindra Nand Giri, who was present at the meeting, demanded stern action against a man who was arrested for running a dhaba in Har ki Pairi area allegedly after assuming a fake Hindu identity. European Union's climate policy chief Frans Timmermans on Friday said the bloc's proposed carbon tax will not have any negative effect on its trade relationship with India and that it would do nothing that is in violation of World Trade Organisation rules. The EU plans to implement a carbon import tax of 25 to 30 per cent on high carbon goods such as steel, cement, aluminum, iron, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. This has led to concerns about the impact on developing nations heavily reliant on carbon-intensive industries. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CABM), expected to be introduced in its transitional phase from October, is part of the EU's larger climate strategy which focuses on incentivising member countries to reduce their carbon emissions and adopt greener practices. "If India fulfills all its ambitions in terms of greening the economy and reducing the carbon footprint and creating comparable footprints to the EU, there is no worry that CBAM will have a negative effect on our trade relationship," Timmermans, who is on a two-day crucial diplomatic mission to India to discuss developments on emission reductions and clean energy transition ahead of COP28 in Dubai later this year, said at a press briefing here. According to media reports, India is likely to challenge the EU's proposed carbon tax at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Timmermans said one of the reasons why India is considering emissions trading systems is to avoid getting hit by the EU's CBAM. Also Read European Commission's climate policy chief on two-day mission to India India's G-20 presidency: Opportunity for developing world's climate agenda India set to announce compliance details of carbon trading market in June What is climate finance? Centre asks industry to be ready for EU carbon tax, vows smooth transition Delhi L-G completes one year, asks bureaucrats not to bow to pressure BJP to file FIR against stealing of files from special secretary's office Medical device's environmental impact can challenge innovation: Report Ex-CM Kumaraswamy calls Cong 'hypocrite' for boycotting Parliament opening Parliament inauguration a national event, not a political programme: Raut CBAM has only one goal and that is to avoid carbon leakage, the executive vice president of the European Commission said. Carbon leakage can arise when producers shift base to jurisdictions with less stringent climate policies. "And if India makes progress, as it is doing now, into the direction of having a carbon footprint that is comparable to that of EU producers in these five areas, then India will be under CBAM, but it will not face any penalties. It is the comparability of carbon footprint that counts," Timmermans said. "Secondly, we will have this trial period (October 2023 to December 2025) that will allow us to see whether there are undesired effects, then we can correct it... And we will be in very close contact with India to see what the effects are. Let's not make any assumptions on levies and cost for Indian businesses. It's much too early to say that. Let's use the instrument we have now, the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, to have a constant dialogue about this and to at least have enough early warning signals," he said. The EU's does not intend to create a situation that would be perceived as protectionist and it will do nothing that will be violation of the WTO rules, the executive vice president of the European Commission said. Asked whether the EU and India will take forward the proposal to phase-down all fossil fuels at COP28, Timmermans said parties should focus on the reduction of all unabated fossil fuels. "It is not our intention to single out coal. Our intention is to address all fossil fuels. Obviously, some are more polluted than the others, and some are already phasing out in some parts of the world... So, to reach consensus, the best place is what India has proposed -- target all unabated fossil fuels," he said. The expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet will take place soon, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday. He was replying to media queries on cabinet expansion of the state government, which took charge on June 30 with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis being sworn in. On August 9 last year, 18 ministers were inducted, while as per rules the council of ministers in the state can have a maximum of 43 members. "Cabinet expansion till take place soon," Fadnavis told reporters. He also dubbed Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole and Shive Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, both bitter critics of the Shinde government, as "bol ghevda", a Marathi term to describe chatterboxes prating endlessly. Also Read Ignore orders of 'unconstitutional' Maharashtra govt: Raut to officials Extortion calls made investor drop Rs 6,000 cr Maha plan last yr: Fadnavis Sena says no need to take Maha BJP chief seriously on Fadnavis as 2024 CM Maha govt will teach lesson to those who want unstable state: Fadnavis Fadnavis-Ajit alliance in 2019 was to teach lesson to Uddhav: Maha BJP Cambodian King to visit India from May 29 to 31; MEA says will deepen ties Bollywood rediscovering J&K, G20 will promote tourism: Union Tourism Secy Mumbai sees seven fresh Covid-19 cases, no death, active tally at 108 Amit Shah to inaugurate day-long conclave on 9 years of Modi government Air services from Kanpur to Delhi will begin soon: Jyotiraditya Scindia Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday reviewed the progress on Finance Track deliverables for 2023 under India's G20 Presidency. This is in run-up to the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (FMCBG) scheduled on July 17-18 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The finance minister was also briefed on various events planned on the sidelines of FMCBG meeting, which will see the participation of G20 ministers, governors, invitee countries and heads of various international organisations. "During the interaction, FM provided guidance on the ongoing work in various #FinanceTrack workstreams and underscored the importance of reflecting on the perspectives of developing countries & making the global economic system resilient & prepared for future," the finance ministry said in a tweet. Under the theme of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the finance minister provided guidance for G20 India deliverables to facilitate coordinated action for shared global prosperity. "During the review, FM Smt.@nsitharaman was apprised progress of #G20 deliverables on the macroeconomic impact of food & #EnergyInsecurity #MDBReforms, #DebtVulnerabilities #CBDCs #financing #CitiesofTomorrow, among others," another tweet said. Also Read Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know Three-day G20 Finance Track led by India kicks off in Bengaluru on Tuesday G20 nations adopt 'chair summary' after Russia, China opposition Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet Post-pandemic development requirements becoming lot more focussed: FM NIA moves HC seeking death penalty for Yasin Malik in terror funding case SC stays imposition of Rs 25 lakh on Abhishek Banerjee by Calcutta HC AFPS giving wings to dreams of underprivileged children, says Atishi No bar to performance of havans at Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar, says NGT More research activities needed in Himalayas: Kiren Rijiju at NCPOR Goa India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022. The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union (EU). The theme of India's presidency is 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' which shows its commitment to 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family). Singapore's International Commercial Court said a unit of Credit Suisse had not acted in good faith and neglected to keep the assets of Bidzina Ivanishvili safe, in the latest blow to the troubled bank, which is being taken over by UBS. Credit Suisse was ordered to pay $926 million to Georgia's former prime minister on Friday for losing part of his fortune, in a Singapore court ruling that represents one of the biggest legal awards made against the bank. Billionaire businessman Ivanishvili, who was Georgia's prime minister in 2012 to 2013, had placed $1.1 billion under the custodianship of Credit Suisse Trust in 2005, the court heard. Credit Suisse immediately said it would appeal the decision. In its judgment published on Friday, the court said the bank had failed to safeguard Ivanishvili's assets by preventing Patrice Lescaudron, an adviser at Credit Suisse Trust in Singapore, having access to them. Ivanishvili's lawyers Cavinder Bull and Woo Shu Yan from the law firm Drew & Napier said Credit Suisse Trust's failings had led to fraudulent mismanagement and substantial losses. Also Read After Credit Suisse wipeout, AT1 bonds make a return in the global market UBS takes over Credit Suisse: Everything you need to know about the crisis Credit Suisse reports loss for fifth straight quarter, shares slump 10% UBS in talks to buy embattled Swiss rival Credit Suisse, says report Who are the owners of the risky, worthless Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds? UPSC mulls criminal action against two candidates for claiming selection Encroachments in name of 'land jihad' will not be allowed in U'khand: Dhami Sengol history a fabrication? Cong and BJP shared conflicting views New Parliament building inauguration: Check date, schedule of ceremony Murder of Ex-Andhra minister: SC stays HC order granting bail to accused "It is not accepted that the defendant's conduct was reasonable," Judge Patricia Bergin said in a written judgment. Lescaudron was convicted by a Swiss court in 2018 of forging signatures of former clients, including Ivanishvili, over an eight year period. He admitted falsifying trades and hiding losses in a scheme that made him tens of millions of Swiss francs. He was released in 2019 and killed himself in 2020. Credit Suisse knew Lescaudron had breached regulations designed to prevent fraud and had waited for up to two years for a response from him when questioned, Bergin said. "It preferred the importance of Mr Lescaudron in retaining the big client, the plaintiff, with the Credit Suisse organisation to the compliance with its core obligation of keeping the Trust assets safe." Appeal "Its tolerance of these flagrant breaches was not in good faith and was unreasonable," Bergin added. "The judgment published today is wrong and poses very significant legal issues," Credit Suisse said in a statement. The $926 million to be paid by Credit Suisse will be reduced by $79 million it had already paid in December. The bank is also appealing against another judgment related to its management of Ivanishvili's assets. "Credit Suisse Trust Limited intends to vigorously pursue an appeal," it added. The final sum due from Credit Suisse should be further reduced to prevent an overlap with the Bermuda case and prevent a so-called double recovery, the court said. Credit Suisse is currently appealing the Bermuda decision. A Bermuda court ruled in March 2022 that Ivanishvili and his family are due damages of around $600 million from Credit Suisse's local life insurance arm. In the Singapore case, the bank will appeal on the basis that the compensation related to money lost due to bad investment decisions rather than just fraud. A person familiar with the matter said the overlap is estimated to be about $300 million and that Credit Suisse has already taken provisions for part of the total compensation. "Despite the judgment in Bermuda last year and the admission of breach of duty during the Singapore trial, Credit Suisse has continued to frustrate our clients' efforts to seek redress for the crimes committed by its employees," the spokesperson said. A spokesman for Ivanishvili welcomed the Singapore decision. "We expect Credit Suisse to fully comply with the judgment and finally accept responsibility for its failures." (Editing by Alexander Smith) The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), an ally of the BJP in Haryana, on Friday said it will contest the assembly elections in Rajasthan in alliance with the saffron party. JJP president Ajay Singh Chautala said Prithvi Meel has been appointed the party's Rajasthan unit chief and BJP leader Subhash Maharia's nephew Prateek Maharia its youth front president. Addressing a press conference here, Chautala said talks were underway with BJP national president J P Nadda. "We will contest on those seats in Rajasthan where the BJP is weak," he said. Chautala said the Congress government in Rajasthan has failed on every front and people were looking for an alternative. "Whenever we contested elections, people have reposed faith in us," he said, adding the JJP will contest elections on many seats, including Fatehpur, Suratgarh, Kotputli, Nohar, Bhadra and Lunkaransar. The Rajasthan assembly polls are scheduled to be held later this year. Also Read Rajasthan farmers to get Rs 500 cr in FY24 to build greenhouses, shade nets Rajasthan Right to Health Act: The provisions and why doctors protested Rajasthan govt implements new rural tourism scheme, promises jobs Cong high command asks party MLAs to take back resignations in Rajasthan Tiger Global to invest in Rajasthan Royals at a likely valuation of $650 mn Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda to visit India from May 31 to June 3 Unhealthy practices done in name of religion are to be prevented: Kerala HC Climbers to celebrate Mount Everest 70th anniversary amid melting glaciers 2 judges elevated as HC chief justices; one is due to retire on May 30 Mass marriages strengthen feeling of social harmony: Rajasthan CM Gehlot The old Parliament building, an architectural splendour and a historic landmark that guided the destiny of India for nearly a century and whose illustrious legacy will now be consigned to the pages of history, was inaugurated on January 18, 1927 by the then Viceroy Lord Irwin. On May 28, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building and dedicate it to the nation, the old Sansad Bhavan will also hand over its position as the country's hallowed legislature, a privilege it enjoyed for over 96 years. Revered today as India's temple of democracy, the old Parliament House has for these nine-and-a-half decades witnessed the imperial rule of the British and its chamber has heard the echoes of bombs hurled by revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt in a bid to attain freedom. The building has seen the dawn of Independence and its halls have reverberated with the historic 'Tryst with Destiny' speech delivered by first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on August 15, 1947. An architectural marvel with its charming circular design and an impressive colonnade of 144 creamy sandstone on the first floor, the old building was opened amid much fanfare at a time when the new imperial capital of the British Raj - New Delhi - was being built at a site in Raisina Hill area. According to archival documents and rare old images, a grand ceremony was held on January 18, 1927 to mark the opening of the majestic building, then called as the Council House. Also Read Danish Crown Prince Frederik Andr Henrik Christian in India for 4-day visit European Commission's climate policy chief on two-day mission to India Russell Domingo resigns as Bangladesh head coach without completing tenure Wrestlers threaten to return medals, awards after scuffle with Delhi Police Charles to be crowned King in thousand-year-old Coronation ceremony Gyanvapi row: Allahabad court to hear petition filed by waqf board today Travel to India proved productive for Pakistan: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain granted bail by SC till July 11 Uttar Pradesh fire dept to get water drones to reach inaccessible areas EAM S Jaishankar arrives in Vadodara on two-day visit to Gujarat Over a century ago, when the nation was still in the making and Independence 26 years away, Britain's Duke of Connaught had laid the foundation stone of Parliament House on February 12, 1921, and said it would stand "as the symbol of India's rebirth to yet higher destinies". The building, with a diameter of 560 ft and circumference of one-third of a mile, was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, who along with Sir Edwin Lutyens was chosen to design the new imperial capital in Delhi. According to the book "New Delhi - Making of a Capital", Lord Irwin had arrived in his viceregal carriage at a pavilion set up at the Great Place (now Vijay Chowk), and then "proceeded to open the door of the Council House with a golden key, handed to him by Sir Herbert Baker". The sprawling edifice covering an area of nearly six acres and its creamy sandstone colonnade, is one of the most distinctive parliament buildings anywhere in the world, and one of the most defining and widely-recognised structures. The opening of the Parliament House building was much talked about then in both domestic and foreign press, as the new building, built in its vicinity, is being talked about in media now, ahead of its inauguration. However, the scheduled inauguration of the new complex, whose foundation was laid in December 2020 by Modi, has run into a controversy. Twenty opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, have come together and announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new building by the prime minister, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Congress and other opposition parties have questioned as to why President Droupadi Murmu, who is the constitutional head of the country, has not been invited to inaugurate the new Parliament building. The new complex will also have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space. The last legislative sitting in it before the inauguration was the Budget session of Parliament which concluded in April. Over the decades, as India evolved into the nation it is today, Parliament House has been witness to many a moment in history from cerebral debates to high-decibel, raucous discussions and the passing of legislations -- some landmark and others controversial. The multi-chequered history of the old Parliament building will now be frozen in time. The odyssey of the old Parliament building is also the journey of the new capital of India built under the rule of the then monarch King George V, later christened New Delhi by him in 1926, less than a month before the inauguration of the circular landmark. It was conceived by the British in 1920s after the imperial capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. Lutyens and Baker gave shape to the new imperial capital, with the Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) and the North Block and South Block as the centrepiece of 'New Delhi'. Lord Irwin inaugurated the Parliament building in 1927, and for years later led the inauguration ceremony of 'New Delhi' which started on February 10 and lasted about a week. A viceroy in India was the representative of the British Crown in the country, and Lord Irwin was the first to occupy the Viceroy's House built atop the Raisina Hill. After India turned a Republic in 1950, it became known as the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the abode of the President of India. Till the Council House or Parliament House as it is known today, was built, the legislature was housed in the iconic Old Secretariat building of the government, which today is home to the Delhi Assembly. Once the new Parliament building, part of the redevelopment of Central Vista, is inaugurated, India will in many ways, turn a page, since the opening of the old Parliament in 1927. "Today, you meet for the first time in your new and permanent home in Delhi," Viceroy Lord Irwin had said, addressing the first session of the third legislative assembly on January 24, 1927. "In this chamber, the assembly has been provided with a setting worthy of its dignity and importance, and I can pay its designer no higher compliment than by expressing the wish with that the temper, in which the public affairs of India will be here conducted, may reflect the harmony of his conception," he said. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote a letter to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri urging him for better management of accommodation to government employees in his New Delhi Assembly constituency. Kejriwal cited various concerns raised by the Karamchari Aawas Kalyan Samiti about houses in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area. In his letter to Puri, Kerjriwal said "75 per cent residences in Sector-4 Raja Bazaar are lying vacant, because of which criminal activities are on the rise". He also demanded urgent repair of the houses that are in bad shape in the DIZ area where allotment was stopped in 2018. Highlighting the "pressing" concerns raised by the Karamchari Aawas Kalyan Samiti about the New Delhi region, Kejriwal stressed the need for immediate attention to these issues to ensure the well-being and safety of the residents. According to the letter, one of the critical issues addressed in it related to the "alarming" number of vacant residences in Sector-4 Raja Bazaar, which allegedly led to a surge in "criminal activities". Also Read Puri releases guidelines for ranking cities based on financial performance Will have International Biofuel Alliance before G20 summit: Hardeep Puri PM prioritising energy sector in northeast: Union minister Hardeep Puri Along with freedom comes responsibility: Hardeep Puri slams Rahul Gandhi Cities should rethink traditional planning models to deliver outcomes: Puri Cheetah deaths: Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, MP CM to meet on May 29 Kerala FM lashes out at Centre for cutting state's borrowing limit by half NGOs urge govt not to join trade pillar of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Delhi police issues advisory for inauguration of new Parliament on Sunday Tokyo Olympics champion Kawai comes out in support of protesting wrestlers Kejriwal suggested a "potential solution" for the scattered allottees in the NDMC areas. He recommended relocation of allottees to specific blocks, enabling them to live in closer proximity to one another. Drawing attention to the deteriorating condition of houses in the DIZ area, where allotment was halted in 2018, the CM stressed the immediate requirement for urgent repairs. He also said that if the area is to be redeveloped from scratch, before undertaking any major redevelopment activities, the allottees should be relocated to a nearby area, ensuring their convenience and safety. Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Friday hit out at the BJP-led union government for cutting down the borrowing limit of the southern state by half and accused the Centre of "targetting" it. The minister said the state was expecting Rs 32,442 crores when the Centre had cut down the borrowing limit from 3.5 percent to 3 percent. But a recent letter from the central government has put the borrowing limit to Rs 15,390 crores, which is half of what Kerala is entitled to borrow, he alleged. "The move is part of the union government's political vendetta," Balagopal said. The Centre is denying the federal rights of a state, he further said and added that no reason was given for cutting down the borrowing limit by half. Expressing concern over whether the development would affect the budget plans of the southern state, he said people are going to suffer as the Centre is denting Kerala's rightful share. Also Read Borrowing limit: Kerala FM says Centre has adopted "wrong policy" The Kerala Story gets 'A' certificate from censor board, 10 scenes deleted States' interest cost inches up as borrowing grows 8%: Icra Ratings Intend to limit buffer zones within forests; may launch survey: Kerala govt Several insurance companies exceed limit on expenses in FY22: Irdai report NGOs urge govt not to join trade pillar of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Delhi police issues advisory for inauguration of new Parliament on Sunday Tokyo Olympics champion Kawai comes out in support of protesting wrestlers CICA countries organises workshop to deliberate on misuse of internet Modi-Biden talks to revolve around peace, people during visits: US Envoy The union government has been cutting down funds to Kerala while providing upto 55 percent to some other states, the minister alleged. Kerala is spending about 60 percent of its revenue expenditure through its own resources, he said. However, the state is confident of not letting people suffer due to the "forced financial crunch" created by the union government. He also urged people to protest against the Centre for "targeting" Kerala. In a Facebook post later, the Finance Minister said he was registering strong protest against the Centre's action slashing down the borrowing limit of the state. He alleged that the central government has been deliberately denying or cutting down the grants and loans of the state for some time. He termed the Centre's action as a challenge against the people of the state and charged that the political motive behind the move was to disrupt the welfare and development programmes of Kerala. In the FB post, the minister also urged people, cutting across politics, to stand together to protest this and to protect the interest of the state. The head priest of Madurai Adheenam, Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal who will be presenting the 'Sengol' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the new parliament building, has said Narendra Modi should return as the PM again in 2024. The sceptre 'Sengol' will be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 by the 293rd head priest of Madurai Adheenam, the ANI reported. A total of 106 Ukrainian soldiers taken captive in the Bakhmut direction have been released following a prisoner exchange with Russia, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak has said. The released troops include eight officers and 98 soldiers, Yermak wrote in a Telegram post. : The discussions during the upcoming state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and American President Joe Biden's trip to India will revolve around four Ps- Peace, Prosperity, Planet, and People, said a top diplomat of the US here on Friday. U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti who was in the city, told reporters that the entire planet is counting on the friendship between India and US and the deepening ties. In four months, our leaders will meet thrice face-to-face, and probably as I said it feels natural I think as I said those four Ps- peace, prosperity, work on our planet, and connecting our people will be what you see when Prime Minister (Modi) comes to Washington and you'll see a further reflection and deepening that when the president (Biden) comes here to India.. I hope that he (Biden) will have a chance not just visit the capital Delhi but maybe go someplace else in the country as well, the envoy said when asked about the main agenda of the leaders' visit. PM Modi will embark on his first official state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, in the third week of June. The American President is expected to travel to India in September to attend the G20 Leaders Summit. He said companies belonging to the US are investing in Hyderabad creating 100,000 jobs here and similarly Indian business houses are also investing in the North American country. Also Read Fact check: Did Asle Toje call PM Modi biggest contender for Nobel Prize? NASA mission spots 2nd Earth-size world within 'habitable zone' of its star President Biden offers $450 mn for clean energy projects at coal mines Centre successful in establishing peace, prosperity in North East: Shah India-US agree on restoring peace in Ukraine: Biden administration Delhi prisons order batons, pepper spray to control brawls between inmates Umesh Pal murder case: Charge sheet filed against accused Sadakat Khan Gyanvapi row: HC to again hear mosque committee's plea on July 14 Jannayak Janata Party to contest Raj assembly polls in alliance with BJP Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda to visit India from May 31 to June 3 Commenting on the relations with India, he said the militaries of both countries train together while the largest military exercises India does are with the US. We are working towards an Indo-Pacific that is safe, secure and prosperous, he said. On the number of visas to be issued to Indians this year, Garcetti said the USA is on track to process one million visas this year. Meanwhile, the Ambassador visited a clinic operated by the transgender community here. I was moved & proud to visit the Mitr Clinic, a groundbreaking initiative supported by @USAID in Hyderabad. The clinic is led & operated by transgender people & is making a positive impact by strengthening stigma-free health services for the transgender community. he said in a tweet. He also visited the Indian School of Business ( ISB) and T-Hub here. Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said there was a need to conduct more research in the Himalayas as we are yet to get to the position where we deserve to be. Speaking during a visit to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) at Vasco in Goa, he also batted for "scientific approach" to life, and said the scientific community will guide us in the coming years. The former law minister who recently took charge of the Earth Sciences ministry also interacted with the Indian researchers stationed at Bharati Station in Antarctica. Himalayas belong to India. Himalayas belong to us and we don't have that level of activities in Himalayas, Rijiju said. Pointing out that he hails from a Himalayan region, he said that in his own state of Arunachal Pradesh, which covers the largest area of Indian Himalayas, not much (research) activities have happened. We are yet to get to the position where we deserve to be. So Himalayas is another very-very interesting area, he said. Geological features of higher reaches of the Himalayas resemble ocean beds, the minister said. All the sand, stones everything. I see just the way I see in the pictures of rock bottom of the ocean, he said. The Union minister also said that he has seen changes in the Himalayas in his own lifetime. In a lifespan of 50 years, if you see so much of changes, you can imagine the level of changes in next one thousand years, he said. Scientists are the ones who will guide how we should progress, how should the nation look forward and how our lifestyle should be, the minister said. I always believed that our approach should be scientific. Unscientific approach in life is unsustainable. That is why we have to understand that we must have rational thinking when we look at life, he added. Also Read Law minister Rijiju reviews performance of matters on railway litigations Cabinet reshuffle: Arjun Meghwal replaces Kiren Rijiju as new law minister Failed law minister: Opposition hits out after Kiren Rijiju steps down Rahul Gandhi's remarks harm Congress, party sinking: Kiren Rijiju Prioritise regional languages in court activities, says Law Minister Rijiju When does India declare drought? IMD drops the word from its terminology HC closes PIL alleging gender bias in IAF, says there's no discrimination Centre constitutes a high-level steering committee of 'Project Cheetah' WB school jobs scam: SC stays HC order imposing Rs 25 lakh cost on TMC MP Need to correct compliance burdens for business, reduce litigations: Kamath Acknowledging the NCPOR's contribution to scientific advancement, the minister lauded the successful expedition of the team currently stationed in Antarctica and said he looked forward to interacting with them upon return. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries, has been appointed as the member of Advisory Committee to the President of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Mukesh Ambani joined other important global leaders on the COP28 Advisory Council such as Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Olafur Grimsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle (Former President of Iceland), Laurent Fabius, President of COP21 / Paris Agreement, Former Prime Minister of France, Francesco La Camera, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Bob Dudley, Chair of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), former CEO of BP. Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian, other than Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, on the Advisory Committee to the President of COP28. The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee brings together the climate expertise of thought leaders from countries across six continents. Representing policy, industry, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action, the 31 members of the Committee, of which 65 per cent are from the Global South, will provide guidance and counsel to the COP Presidency in the run up to COP28 and beyond. The UNFCCC Secretariat announced in January 2023 appointed Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, as COP 28 President-Designate. UAE has been chosen to host the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) from November 30, 2023 to December 12, 2023. It will be held at Dubai Expo City. Also Read IndianOil, Adani-Total, Shell lap up Reliance's KG-D6 gas; IOC top bidder Kirit Parikh panel may recommend price caps to help moderate CNG rates Mukesh Ambani completes 20 years at helm of Reliance Industries India's G-20 presidency: Opportunity for developing world's climate agenda CNG, piped gas prices to be cut but no clarity on deregulation: Analysts SECR to revamp Chhattisgarh rly stations under Amrit Bharat Station scheme Delhi ordinance row: Kejriwal seeks time to meet Cong chief Kharge, Rahul Passengers create ruckus at Patna airport as SpiceJet flight gets delayed Delhi HC dismisses Gandhis' pleas against income tax assessment transfer Delhi court grants NOC to Rahul Gandhi to get passport for 3 years --IANS san/dpb The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a part of the Telangana High Court order asking a trial court to enlarge on bail on July 1 a man accused of involvement in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy. A vacation bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha, which posted the matter for further hearing on July 14, said it was staying the part of the high court's April 27 order directing the trial court to enlarge accused T Gangi Reddy alias Yerra Gangi Reddy on bail. The bench was hearing two petitions, including the one filed by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Suneetha Narreddy, challenging the high court order granting conditional bail to T Gangi Reddy, while allowing a plea for its cancellation. The other petition was filed by T Gangi Reddy challenging the high court's order cancelling the bail. "Re-list on July 14. Till the next date, the following part of the order dated April 27 passed by the high court shall remain stayed...," the bench said. In its April 27 order, the high court had said, "Accused No.1 (T Gangi Reddy) is directed to surrender on or before May 05, 2023. On his surrender, he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, 2023 which is the outer limit fixed by the Supreme Court for completion of investigation by CBI." "In case, the accused ... fails to surrender before the court concerned on or before the said date, CBI is at liberty to take him into custody as provided under law and produce him before the court of Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Hyderabad, it had said. Also Read Telangana polls are a do-or-die battle for a demoralised, divided Congress Viveka murder case: CBI issues fresh notice to Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy Rs 6,000 aid for farmers by Maharashtra govt insufficient: Telangana CM Polavaram project is synonymous with Y S Rajasekhar Reddy: Andhra CM President Droupadi Murmu visits Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu Long COVID symptoms acquire firmer definition, threshold for diagnosis How much gold can you legally buy in cash without any ID proof in India? EU's proposed carbon tax won't affect trade relation with India: Timmermans Delhi L-G completes one year, asks bureaucrats not to bow to pressure BJP to file FIR against stealing of files from special secretary's office "The Court is directed to enlarge the petitioner on bail on July 01, 2023, on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs one lakh with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the said court," the high court had ordered. During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Suneetha, told the bench that the CBI has filed its counter affidavit on her plea. He said the CBI has said in its counter that the high court order is a "bad precedent". "We will take it up after vacation. The last portion (of the high court order), we will stay that," the bench said. During the hearing on May 24, the CBI had termed as "inherently contradictory" the high court order granting bail to the accused and told the bench that it supports Suneetha's plea challenging this verdict. "We have never heard of it that the order which cancels the bail allows the bail. How is it possible? Inherently contradictory," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the CBI, had told the bench. On May 18, the top court had issued notices to the CBI and the accused on the plea challenging the high court order. Earlier, the top court had transferred the pleas seeking cancellation of Gangi Reddy's bail to Telangana High Court for fresh adjudication. The CBI had initially moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking the cancellation of bail. The high court held there were no legal grounds to cancel it. The probe agency had then moved the top court which, on January 16, transferred the matter to the Telangana High Court to consider it afresh on merits. The CBI is also probing the role of YSR Congress Party Lok Sabha member Y S Avinash Reddy in the case. Avinash Reddy is a nephew of Y S Vivekananda Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's cousin. Vivekananda Reddy, one of the brothers of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, weeks before the Assembly elections in the state. The murder case was initially probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state CID but was handed over to the CBI in July 2020. The CBI had filed a charge sheet in the murder case on October 26, 2021 and followed it up with a supplementary charge sheet on January 31, 2022. The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have released the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at INS Garuda in Kochi, officials said on Friday. The document outlines the training plan for recovery of the crew module of the Gaganyaan mission. The training document was jointly released on May 24 by Vice Admiral Atul Anand, Director General of Naval Operations; Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) and Umamaheshwaran R, Director, Human Space Flight Centre of ISRO, the navy officials said. The document defines overall requirements with respect to training of various teams participating in recovery operations including divers, MARCOs (marine commandos), medical specialists, communicators, technicians and naval aviators, a senior official said. The recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned recovery training in harbour and open sea conditions. The recovery operations are being led by the Indian Navy in co-ordination with other government agencies, the officials said. The Crew Module Recovery Model was also formally handed over to the Indian Navy at its state-of-the-art Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi. The mass and shape simulated mock-up will be used for familiarisation and training of Gaganyaan recovery teams, they said. Also Read Isro launches 36 satellites for OneWeb; everything you need to know US-France competition heats up for fighter jets to deck INS Vikrant Navy to open all branches for women from next year: Chief of Naval Staff ISRO carries out controlled re-entry experiment of decommissioned satellite President Murmu to witness Navy's Operational Demonstration in Vizag DMRC to operate Mumbai Metro's Line 3, city's first underground corridor No West Bengal representative at Niti Aayog meeting in Delhi on Saturday Georgian billionaire wins $926 million from Credit Suisse after fraud UPSC mulls criminal action against two candidates for claiming selection Encroachments in name of 'land jihad' will not be allowed in U'khand: Dhami The Navy will also assist the ISRO by undertaking a series of trials to fine tune the standard operating procedures for training the crew and recovery teams of Gaganyaan, the officials said. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" will embark on a four-day official visit to India from May 31 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Foreign Ministry sources said here on Friday. This will be Prachanda's first foreign visit after assuming the high office for the third time in December last year. Foreign Ministry sources here said the visit will take place from May 31 to June 3 and the Ministry will make a formal announcement on Saturday. The foreign ministry will make a formal announcement of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's official visit to India on Saturday. The visit will take place from May 31 to June 3 and he will hold high-profile meetings, including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on bilateral ties," the official, who is an aide to Foreign Minister N P Saud, said. "The preparations for the visit have reached its final stage. Foreign Minister Saud last week held consultations with former foreign ministers and foreign Secretaries to discuss various issues related to the visit," the official said. Meanwhile, Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma called on Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar in New Delhi this week and discussed Prime Minister Prachanda's upcoming visit. Also Read Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda set to take oath as Nepal's new PM today Nepal PM 'Prachanda' expands cabinet to 23 with 6 women in ministry Nepal PM to visit India soon; Prachanda's first foreign trip after polls Nepal's PM to expand cabinet, Congress to get key ministerial portfolios Prachanda set to become Nepal's next PM with support from Oli-led CPN-UML Unhealthy practices done in name of religion are to be prevented: Kerala HC Climbers to celebrate Mount Everest 70th anniversary amid melting glaciers 2 judges elevated as HC chief justices; one is due to retire on May 30 Mass marriages strengthen feeling of social harmony: Rajasthan CM Gehlot Expansion of Maharashtra cabinet soon, says Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis Matters related to energy cooperation, water resources, trade, commerce, transit and infrastructure would mainly figure during the bilateral talks in Delhi between the two leaders, according to foreign ministry sources. The first phase is expected to end by 9:30 am and the second phase will start after a break around 12 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building on Sunday, May 28. The ceremony will be conducted in two phases, as reported by ANI. PM Modi, Speaker Om Birla, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Hariwansh, and other senior ministers are expected to be part of this phase and inspect the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers in the new building after the rituals. According to the report released on Friday, the first phase will commence in the morning with rituals held in a canopy near the Gandhi statue in Parliament. A prayer ceremony will also take place on the premises of the new parliament building, concluding the first phase. The sacred 'Sengol', that has been the cause of some controversy regarding its documentation, will be installed in the Lok Sabha chamber, in a glass case, next to the Speaker's chair. This will be accompanied by rituals conducted by priests from Tamil Nadu. Also Read From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol 19 Opposition parties to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building Political spin to Parliament building inauguration as Oppn plans boycott Top headlines: Meta layoffs, angel tax exemption, new Parliament & more This is how India's new Parliament building will look like: Pics inside Murder of Ex-Andhra minister: SC stays HC order granting bail to accused Delhi HC dismisses Gandhis' pleas against I-T assessment transfer Darjeeling may join 6 other non-attainment cities in Bengal in 2024: Report Long COVID symptoms acquire firmer definition, threshold for diagnosis How much gold can you legally buy in cash without any ID proof in India? The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Hariwansh will deliver a speech during this phase and read a congratulatory message on behalf of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar. A written message from President Droupadi Murmu will also be read out. The second phase of the ceremony will commence at noon in the Lok Sabha chamber, with the singing of the national anthem in the presence of all dignitaries. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also address the gathering. A slot has been kept for the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, although it is unlikely that Mallikarjun Kharge will attend due to the Opposition's boycott. Additionally, short audio-video films highlighting the construction process and the significance of the new parliament building will be showcased. Despite the opposition's boycott, a confirmed list of 25 political parties, including some outside the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), have confirmed their participation in the inauguration. Several NDA parties, neutral parties, as well as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP), and Janata Dal-Secular from the Opposition, are expected to attend. PM Modi will release a coin and stamp to commemorate the occasion and deliver a speech. The Secretary-General of Lok Sabha will then deliver the Vote of Thanks, marking the conclusion of the ceremony. The new parliament building is meant to represent the spirit of a self-reliant India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) and address the space and functional requirements that were lacking in the previous building. Invitations for the ceremony have been extended to sitting Members of Parliament, former Lok Sabha Speakers and Rajya Sabha Chairmen, chief ministers, government ministry secretaries, the chief architect of the new building Bimal Patel, and industrialist Ratan Tata, among others. It will accommodate 888 members in the Lok Sabha, an increase from the current provision of 543 members, and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha. The construction of the new building has been completed, incorporating facilities to enhance the efficiency of parliamentary functions and uphold democratic traditions and constitutional values. As many as 32 civil society organisations and NGOs on Friday urged the government not to join in the talks of the trade pillar of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for Prosperity, stating that it can impact India's policy space to develop critical economic sectors. They also claimed that India has joined IPEF talks without due consideration and parliamentary scrutiny in terms of IPEF's implications for India's economic and development policy space. In a letter to the commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, these organisations said that the US has strategically pitched the IPEF as 'not the usual' trade agreement as it does not include market access commitments such as import duty cuts. "This strategy has misled the Indian government into believing that the IPEF will only involve cooperation and no commitment to open up imports. On the contrary, the IPEF is actually more intrusive than Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) as it targets national policies and regulations across member countries and will therefore make deep inroads into India's regulatory policy space," the letter said. It added that the IPEF is likely to push US interests not through direct market access channels, but through changing regulations and standards, which will then indirectly lead to market access in the second stage. The IPEF's four pillars (Trade, Supply Chains, Clean economy and Fair economy) will include provisions, and therefore create a wide ranging impact, on multiple sectors including agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and services, as well as on constituencies such as farmers, fishers, workers and women, it said. Also Read Google, Amazon lobbyists helped US shape new Indo-Pacific trade framework What is the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework? Indo-Pacific economic framework for prosperity to deepen development: Govt Quad committed to supporting Pacific Island countries: Joint statement To join 'trade' pillar under IPEF or not? Govt's final call soon Delhi police issues advisory for inauguration of new Parliament on Sunday Tokyo Olympics champion Kawai comes out in support of protesting wrestlers CICA countries organises workshop to deliberate on misuse of internet Modi-Biden talks to revolve around peace, people during visits: US Envoy Delhi prisons order batons, pepper spray to control brawls between inmates In particular, the IPEF will also impact policies related to the digital economy, environment and sustainability, taxation and finance among other issues, it added. "We urge India to not join the trade pillar citing geopolitical considerations and without analysing the full implications of the agreement. India will pay a huge cost by sacrificing its economic and social interests and therefore, the signatories to this letter call upon the Indian government to begin a process of exiting from the IPEF as it had done prudently in the past with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019," it said. The signatories of the letter include Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA - Kisan Swaraj); All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN); All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS); All India Peoples Science Network; Association of Healthcare Workers and Technicians; Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU); Campaign for Access to Medicines, Diagnostics and Devices, India; and National Working Group on Patent Laws and WTO; and Kerala Coconut Farmers Association. The IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23 in Tokyo. The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP and 28 per cent of global goods and services trade. The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy (issues like tax and anti-corruption). India has joined all the pillars except the trade one. Talks of IPEF officials are currently going on in the US. The 14 countries include the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, India, Fiji, and seven ASEAN countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking death penalty for separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was awarded life term by a trial court here in a terror funding case. The plea by the agency has been listed for hearing on May 29 before a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh. On May 24, 2022, a trial court here had awarded life imprisonment to Malik, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, after holding him guilty for various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the IPC. The trial court, which had rejected the NIA's plea for capital punishment, had said the crimes committed by Malik struck at the "heart of the idea of India" and were intended to forcefully secede Jammu and Kashmir from Union of India. These crimes were intended to strike at the heart of the idea of India and intended to forcefully secede J&K from UOI. The crime becomes more serious as it was committed with the assistance of foreign powers and designated terrorists. The seriousness of crime is further increased by the fact that it was committed behind the smokescreen of an alleged peaceful political movement, the trial court had said. It had noted that the case was not the rarest of rare, warranting death penalty. Also Read Congress slams PM Modi after sexual harassment accusations on WFI chief Main conspirator in 2021 Ludhiana court bomb blast arrested in Delhi NIA to probe protest, vandalism attempt at Indian High Commission in London Centre notifies appointment of Chief Justices for four high courts Wrestlers stage protest against WFI president, vow to fight till end SC stays imposition of Rs 25 lakh on Abhishek Banerjee by Calcutta HC AFPS giving wings to dreams of underprivileged children, says Atishi No bar to performance of havans at Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar, says NGT More research activities needed in Himalayas: Kiren Rijiju at NCPOR Goa When does India declare drought? IMD drops the word from its terminology The maximum punishment for such an offence is death penalty. The life term was awarded for two offences - section 121 (waging war against government of India) of IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA. According to the Supreme Court, life imprisonment means incarceration till the last breath, unless the sentence is commuted by the authorities. The court had awarded Malik 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being member of terror organisation) of UAPA. It had also awarded five-year jail term each under sections 13 (unlawful act), 38 (offence related to membership of terrorism) and 39 (support given to terrorism) of UAPA. Malik had on May 10 last year told the Delhi court he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included acts of terrorism and sedition. The court had framed the charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor. A charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both of whom have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case and are living in Pakistan. Jailed AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who is undergoing treatment at a city government-run hospital here, had suffered a blood clot due to a head injury, though his condition is stable, sources said on Friday. A four-member medical board has been constituted for the treatment of Jain, who was admitted to an ICU of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Thursday, they said. The board members include senior physicians from LNJP Hospital, neurologists from GB Pant Hospital, besides specialists in critical care, they said. Earlier in the day, sources at the hospital said Jain's medical condition was being investigated. His condition is stable now. He had suffered a blood clot due to a head injury and is currently undergoing treatment. Several tests, including an MRI, were done on him the report of which is awaited, they said. Jain is currently being put on intravenous fluids. Also Read Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain granted bail by SC till July 11 Hospitals across India hold mock drills to verify Covid readiness Centre releases Rs 22.20 cr for treatment of patients with rare diseases Concerned over Satyendar Jain's health condition, Kejriwal attacks Centre As mercury plummets, increase in patients with respiratory problems Meghalaya board declares class 10 results, only 51.93% students successful K'taka cabinet expansion: 24 legislators to be sworn in as ministers on Sat Teachers meets DU VC, highlights difficulties faced by students due to CUET Rights of consumers to safe internet can not be compromised: Chandrasekhar CM Sukhu announces zoological park worth Rs 300 cr in Kangra district Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday granted Jain interim bail for six weeks on medical grounds, saying a citizen has a right to receive treatment of his choice in a private hospital at his own expense. The relief came a day after Jain collapsed in Tihar Jail due to dizziness and was admitted to the ICU of a government hospital. Photos showed the AAP leader on oxygen support. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday targeted the Centre over Jain's deteriorating health. The former Delhi minister was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital and later shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems. Sources in the AAP had said that Jain was shifted to the ICU of the LNJP Hospital and he was "critically ill". "His medical condition is being investigated," a hospital source said and added that doctors are constantly monitoring his condition. This is the second time in a week that the former minister has been taken to a hospital. Jain has been in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. The LNJP Hospital is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. Jain was brought to the emergency department of the LNJP Hospital and doctors examined him, a senior doctor at the hospital had said on Thursday. "Jain has some spinal issues. In the past too he was brought to LNJP Hospital to undergo treatment for it," he had said. The former minister collapsed in a bathroom of the Tihar Jail due to dizziness. Earlier too, Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury, the AAP said. Some other important cases heard by the apex court today are: The Supreme Court on Friday heard some crucial cases during which it stayed the imposition of Rs 25 lakh on TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee by the Calcutta High Court which had dismissed his plea for recall of its previous order that CBI and ED could interrogate him in the West Bengal school jobs scam cases. - It refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for the inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu. - The court gave jailed former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain six weeks interim bail on medical grounds, the relief coming a day after he collapsed in Tihar Jail due to dizziness and was admitted to the ICU of a government hospital. Important cases heard by the Delhi High Court today: - The apex court stayed a part of the Telangana High Court order asking a trial court to enlarge bail on July 1 for a man accused of involvement in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy. Also Read Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain granted bail by SC till July 11 Rahul Gandhi takes a late-night truck ride to speak to drivers; see video Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far Rahul Gandhi to appeal against his conviction today; all you need to know Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha one day after conviction AFPS giving wings to dreams of underprivileged children, says Atishi No bar to performance of havans at Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar, says NGT More research activities needed in Himalayas: Kiren Rijiju at NCPOR Goa When does India declare drought? IMD drops the word from its terminology HC closes PIL alleging gender bias in IAF, says there's no discrimination - The withdrawal of Rs 2000 denomination banknotes from circulation was a currency management exercise and a matter of economic policy, the RBI informed the HC. - The high court dismissed petitions by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra against the Income Tax department's decision to transfer their assessments to the Central Circle, which is mandated to check tax evasion, instead of an ordinary assessment in a matter related to fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. - Several aircraft lessors of Go First pitched before the HC for the deregistration of their planes by aviation regulator DGCA so they could take them back from the crisis-hit airline. - The court has started a hybrid e-Sewa Kendra on all working days enabling litigants, lawyers, and the general public to seek information about their cases and other services from anywhere. - The court has closed the proceedings in a PIL alleging gender bias and discrimination in the Indian Air Force (IAF) against women who were not employed as 'airmen' in the technical and non-technical grades in any of its departments, noting that pursuant to recruitment under the Agnipath scheme there is no gender discrimination now. - It asked the city police as to what action it has taken against a Twitter user for his alleged offensive tweet about fact-checking website Alt-News co-founder Mohammad Zubair. - It has refused to interfere with the recommendation of TRAI to impose a penalty of Rs 1050 crore on Vodafone for allegedly denying interconnectivity to Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) under an Interconnection Agreement executed between them. Coal may provide a potential new way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain, according to a study. Hydrogen is a clean burning fuel and shows promise for use in the most energy intensive sectors of the economytransportation, electricity generation and manufacturing, the researchers said. However, much work remains to build a hydrogen infrastructure and make it an affordable and reliable energy source, they said. This includes developing a way to store hydrogen, which is currently expensive and inefficient. "We found that coal can be this geological hydrogen battery," said Shimin Liu, associate professor of energy and mineral engineering at Penn State, US. "You could inject and store the hydrogen energy and have it there when you need to use it," Liu said. Geologic formations are an intriguing option, the scientists said, because they can store large amounts of hydrogen to meet the peaks and valleys as energy demand changes daily or seasonally. Also Read NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts Green Hydrogen Mission to help India meet net-zero targets: Experts Reliance showcases hydrogen-run truck at India Energy Week in Bengaluru President Biden offers $450 mn for clean energy projects at coal mines India's economy already 10% more energy efficient than G20 average: IEA Progress in reducing plastic pollution painfully slow: Scientists Quantum jump in space sector in last 9 years of Modi govt: Jitendra Singh New Parliament building will make every Indian proud, says PM Modi UP CM unveils statue of ex-Union minister Madhavrao Scindia in Mainpuri Navy, ISRO release Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan INS Garuda in Kochi "Coal is well-studied, and we have been commercially producing gas from coal for almost a half century. We understand it. We have the infrastructure. I think coal would be the logical place to do geological hydrogen storage," Liu said. The study, published in the journal Applied Energy, analysed eight types of coals from coalfields across the US to better understand their sorption and diffusion potential, or how much hydrogen they can hold. Sorption is a phenomenon of capture of a gas or a vapour (sorbate) by a substance in condensed state (solid or liquid) called sorbent. All eight coals showed considerable sorption properties, with low-volatile bituminous coal from eastern Virgina and anthracite coal from eastern Pennsylvania performing the best in tests, the researchers said. "I think it's highly possible that coal could be the very top selection for geological storage from a scientific perspective," said Liu. "We find that coal outperforms other formations because it can hold more, it has existing infrastructure and is widely available," he added. Depleted coalbed methane reservoirs may be the best candidates. These contain unconventional natural gas like methane and have become an important source of fossil fuel energy over the last several decades, the researchers said. The methane sticks to the surface of the coal, in a process called adsorption, they said. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who became the first Pakistani Foreign Minister to travel to India since 2011 for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting earlier this month, said the trip "proved productive and positive" for Islamabad. In a briefing to a Senate panel on Thursday, the Minister said: "As far as the Kashmir issue, bilateral issues between Pakistan and India and the responsibilities of multilateralism are concerned, my conclusion after the trip is that it is productive and positive decision to participate in the event," reports Dawn news. Bilawal had attended the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting on May 5 in Goa. The two-day event was hosted by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as India is currently holding the SCO Presidency. "We thought, we should project Pakistan's case and point of view in front of not only Indian but the other participant countries," the Minister said at the briefing, adding that positive and productive meetings with all the Foreign Ministers of the members countries were held on the sideline of the event. Bilawal also said that Pakistan would host the SCO conference in 2026-2027 and "there was hope" his Indian counterpart would attend the meeting. During the Goa meeting, Bilawal and Jaishankar did not hold any bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the event. Also Read Bilawal must give answer on atrocities on minorities in Pak: AISC Chair Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in India in May: Pak's Foreign Office "Should not be seen as a bilateral...," Pak FM Bhutto on SCO meet in Goa Pak FM Bilawal visits PoK ahead of G20 Tourism Working Group meet in J-K Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto launches vituperative personal tirade against PM Modi Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain granted bail by SC till July 11 Uttar Pradesh fire dept to get water drones to reach inaccessible areas EAM S Jaishankar arrives in Vadodara on two-day visit to Gujarat Gala dinner showcases spirituality, pilgrimage & heritage at G20 ACWG meet Top headlines: Meta layoffs, angel tax exemption, new Parliament & more The last time a Foreign Minister of Pakistan came to India was in July 2011 when the then-Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited for peace talks. Established in June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, the SCO originally comprised Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became members subsequently. --IANS ksk/ UP fire services will soon include water drones in its 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. Mangesh Kumar, chief fire officer (CFO), Lucknow, said, "The department plans to purchase water drones. A company gave a demonstration of the gadget at Hazratganj fire station last week. The drone apparently seemed to be effective, but needed some modifications keeping in mind real-life crisis situations." 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," explained Kumar. The CFO said the hydraulic ladder of the fire department can reach up to 42 metres, but now buildings are over 100 metres in height and these drones could be effective in cases of fire at such heights. Also Read Akhilesh Yadav shown black flags during Maa Pitambra 108 Mahayagya in UP 41 trains to remain cancelled till Mar 3 in Lucknow Division, says official Unhinged by FIR, SP leader Maurya stands ground on Ramcharitmanas remarks Tata Motors reducing discounts on trucks to improve margins: Report Battery vs hydrogen trucks: Race to clean up emissions is just starting EAM S Jaishankar arrives in Vadodara on two-day visit to Gujarat Gala dinner showcases spirituality, pilgrimage & heritage at G20 ACWG meet Top headlines: Meta layoffs, angel tax exemption, new Parliament & more Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to travel to India ahead of Modi's US visit Centre to launch Rs 75 coin to mark the opening of new Parliament building "Water drones could also be helpful reaching out to buildings having narrow passagea where fire tenders can't reach," he emphasised. Kumar, however, added that the department's technical panel would not clear the purchase order till it is satisfied with the modifications in water drones. He said initially these water drones are planned to be used in select cities. --IANS amita/dpb Here are edited excerpts from the interview in Mumbai. Automakers must be "really agile" and have enough money to keep up with changes in the industry, says Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Motors. He spoke to Pavan Lall about new launches, industry trends and strategy. In the midst of what is Indias EV auto push you have launched a CNG hatchback variant. Why? In the last three, four years, CNG cars are becoming more and more popular. In the personal segment, we had considered CNG as an aftermarket fitment but it has gained a lot of traction for two key reasons. One (is) that there are more models: about 17-18 models in different body types, different price points across OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). Second, an increasing number of CNG stations across the country. So three years back, it would have been 1,500 or so, even less than that, and today, it is about 5,500 CNG stations and very strong in certain states in the country like Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra. These are the key centres where CNG cars are more popular and penetration is quite deep in these states. Do you see CNG penetration increasing? Last year the market saw 4 lakh CNG cars sold, of which we would have sold around 50,000. Now the Altroz is, which we have launched, is absolutely a no-compromise car with twin-cylinder technology that allows for more boot space and comes with more aspirational features--the sunroof, the wireless charger and so on. The other car we may go CNG with is the Punch. Also Read Stepping on the gas: CNG fuel of choice in green mobility quest Tata Motors Q3 preview: What to expect from auto major's quarterly results? Tata Altroz CNG launched at a starting price of Rs 7.55 lakh; check details Tata Motors: Solid volumes, ASP may aid Q4 profit, margin expansion Drivers of change: More women buy luxury cars in post-pandemic shift Ford EV owners to get access to Tesla Supercharger network next spring BMW launches its 2023 Z4 Roadster at Rs 89.30 lakh for Indian market Made-in-India Harley-Davidson X 440 unveiled, launch in July this year Tata Motors inaugurates Guj's largest automobile showroom Pragati Vehicle Lexus India rolls out new LC 500H Luxury Coupe starts at Rs 2.39 cr Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is moving fast with its EV plans: do you see Tata Motors following? Today, CNG penetration in the industry is about 10 per cent to 12 per cent. It should start shifting more towards like 20-25 per cent by the end of this decade. So, CNG as a percentage is going to increase because it is eco-friendly. The industry's OEMs also have the pressure of meeting the CAFE, Corporate Average Fuel Economy norms. I eventually see by 2030 a mix of 20-25 per cent CNG and 25-30 per cent electric (vehicles) and the rest would be, you know, petrol, mixed fuels and so on. What are your plans for the sedan segment? JLR has its independent plans for the markets that it serves. We explore potential synergies in areas where we see synergy. As far as our plan is concerned for EVs, Generation one, Generation two and Generation three is the approach we are working on, and Gen three is when we start with pure EVs. That is when we have an opportunity for some collaboration with JLR. So, we are actively exploring that part. So, there will be some overlap, potential overlap, which is still under finalisation or an electrical architecture area, you know, given that connectivity, ADAS and all that, pretty much a reality for all and JLR is working on technology, so, that can be another area of synergy. So, these are the two potential opportunities for synergy. Are you saying customers are skipping the sedan phase after the hatch? The general trend has declined from a percentage share perspective for sedans. Then 70 per cent of the sedan is in the compact sedans, which are smaller, less-than four-metre cars which are mostly say Tigor, Dzire, these kinds of vehicles. So, real sedans you know are really even a small part of that because the growth of SUVs is so steep it overshadows both hatch and sedan. The future launch action of all players is SUVs. So, therefore, that is definitely going to grow much faster than any other segment. While everyone is talking EV, what happens if hydrogen or some alternate power-train suddenly emerges as the call of choice? Yes, thats where I mean--the growth for SUVs has picked up their share. The sedan was the first where it started taking its market share from. So within no time the sedan segment has gone down from 21-22 per cent to 10 per cent. What happens after 10 years down the line is something we'll have to continuously scan and see. Lithium dependence on a certain geography is a reality, which might be even true for ICE today, a lot of dependence. But if you talk (about) cobalt, then it becomes even more geopoliticalso I assume that the world will not remain static but our point of viewis no doubt lithium Ion is going to be the lead. We always plan in terms of seven years, okay. Strategy cycles are also seven years. And you develop a point of view of these technologies how they are going to be, maybe dominant in this space. Because beyond seven years, you can always respond, because you have time. As far as Tata Motors is concerned, we are safely hedged because commercial vehicles are already working on hydrogen fuel technology. At this stage and the foreseeable future, the separation of hydrogen fuel technology and BEVs in which segments it will be dominant, is clear. In long commercial applications, hydrogen fuels will make sense or even ICE-hydrogen, for here it is clearlybut we are safe from a technology preparation perspective. What new launches do you have lined up? Two new nameplates, which have already shown, are Curvv and Sierra in the 4.3-metre SUV segment. That's the one which is going to grow very fast. So in 2024 (it) will be Curvv and in 2025 will be Sierra. We have a portfolio of seven products right now, and you will start seeing the mid cycle enhancement of all these products in the next 18 months to 24 months. So that's going to boost the sales. We'll have one more electric vehicle that we are going to launch this financial year. So that's going to come CNG is expanding. The committee will be chaired by former Sebi executive director S Ravindran who in his assignment with the markets regulator handled the charge of Corporation Finance Department. He had also headed departments related to investment management, and foreign institutional investors and custodians. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has constituted an Intermediary Advisory Committee to advise the markets regulator on changes in legal framework and increasing transparency in the functioning of market intermediaries like stock exchanges, depository participants, clearing corporations, among others. Exactly why this arrangement is being kept such a closely guarded secret is a mystery. It is a perfectly normal power-sharing formula followed all over the world: In Israel, Malaysia, and even the fount of democracy, Britain, where in 1994, the unexpected death of John Smith, then leader of the Labour Party, led to a meeting between the two acknowledged bosses of the party: Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The two men agreed (it is thought, over dinner at a restaurant called Granita in Londons Islington, which is why the pact came to be known as the Granita Agreement) that Mr Brown would not stand in the Labour leadership elections to afford Mr Blair an easier victory As the curtain came down on the leadership struggle in the Congress in Karnataka, culminating in Siddaramaiah becoming chief minister, there is still no clarity about whether he and his closest rival, D K Shivakumar, have actually agreed on a rotational deal over chief ministership. What may also go down as one of the hallmarks of the Modi government is its proposed privacy law. The reworked Digital Personal Data Protection Bill is likely to be tabled in the Monsoon session of Parliament. Meanwhile, in Europe, Facebook owner Meta Platforms has been slapped with a record $1.3 billion fine for failing to protect users personal information from the US security services. It has been told to stop transferring users data to the US. So how will this action by the European Union privacy regulator influence Indias plans to regulate big techs? Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed nine years in office. Between bowing down at the steps of Parliament to stepping into a new Parliament building, these nine years were marked with several challenges-- including the once-in-a-century pandemic. But how do we judge the performance of any government? One of the ways is to find out how the predecessor performed. We analyse how the governments led by Narendra Modi and Manmohan Singh performed on select economic and social indicators across applicable periods. Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Friday challenged the Congress government in Karnataka to impose a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal. Alleging that the Congress was pursuing 'politics of vengeance', he said those who ever tried to ban RSS were sent home packing. Bommai was reacting to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge's purported statement that the government will not hesitate to ban RSS and Bajrang Dal if they disturb peace in the state. Keeping aside all its promises, the Congress has started pursuing the politics of vengeance. It appears that politics of vengeance is more on the agenda than the development of the state, the former CM told reporters here. They are talking about banning RSS and Bajrang Dal. Whom are they telling this? Please try it. I am challenging them. They don't have powers to ban any organisation. It's the prerogative of the Centre, which does it after seeking the opinion of all the states, Bommai pointed out. On the one hand, the Congress ministers were giving such statements to please a section of its voters, while on the other, they were trying to threaten those who believed in this ideology, he alleged. Also Read Congress Prez Kharge summoned by district court for Bajrang Dal remarks As tur dal prices bite, traders want consumers to try other dal varieties Karnataka elections: What is Bajrang Dal, the outfit Congress plans to ban? Karnataka polls: CM Bommai seeks fourth consecutive term from Shiggaon How will the markets interpret the outcome of Karnataka Assembly polls? Cong to hold events in 35 cities to highlight Modi govt 'failures' in 9 yrs India under PM Modi witnessing all-round development: BJP on 9 yrs of govt Cooperative federalism being turned into joke: Kejriwal wrote to PM Modi Govts of same ideology in Centre, state have benefitted Maha: CM Shinde '9 saal, 9 sawaal': Congress asks questions as Modi govt completes 9 years Bommai charged the Congress with 'misleading' those it was trying to appease and said it does not have power to do so. I ask Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to spell out your intention clearly with regard to banning RSS or Bajrang Dal. Will you support your cabinet colleagues or disagree with them? You must tell the people of the state clearly, he said. According to the BJP MLA, RSS is an organisation which built the nation. It has put out in public its policies and principles and preparing youth for it for the past 75 years. Nobody can ban RSS. All such attempts in the past failed. Those who dared to ban it were sent home, he claimed. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending his wishes for inauguration of the new Parliament building and condemned opposition parties for announcing boycott of the event. "I and my party - LJP (Ram Vilas) - condemns the decision by 19 opposition parties to boycott the inauguration of new Parliament building... The decision by opposition parties to boycott this historic moment is an attack on the democratic values and constitutional institutions," Paswan said in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi. Paswan said opposition parties have disrupted Parliament proceedings repeatedly over the last nine years. He said his party, while being in the ruling alliance and after quitting it, has supported government's decisions take in public interest. "I and my party support you and urge the Opposition to reconsider their stand," he added. As many as 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together on Wednesday and announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Also Read People in Bihar upset with the old political leadership: Chirag Paswan LJP (RamVilas) planning for nationwide expansion, says Chirag Paswan Budget has taken care of every section of society, says Chirag Paswan BJP seeks to take on Grand Alliance in Bihar with 'rare' social coalition Big fish cannot ignore political stature of Manjhi, Chirag Paswan Robust LIC, SBI results exposed Congress conspiracy to weaken them: BJP Seat-sharing formula will be same as that in 2019, says Shinde-led Sena Delhi services ordinance row: Kejriwal to meet Telangana CM on Saturday No LS seat-sharing talks between BJP, CM Shinde-led Sena yet: Mungantiwar Modi govt adopted rejected design for new Parliament building: JD(U) MLC AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has also said he will not attend the inauguration. BSP supremo Mayawati has said she will not be able to attend the event due to party work, but has also condemned the boycott of the event by opposition parties. Around 25 political parties have confirmed their participation, mostly from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), LJP (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are among the non-NDA parties attending the event. Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In a veiled attack on his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said his demand for compensation to candidates affected by an exam paper leak reflects "intellectual bankruptcy". Gehlot also said the opposition has started talking about the paper leak as it does not have any issue to target the Congress government in Rajasthan. "Since the opposition does not have any issue, it has started talking about the paper leak and is saying give compensation to them (the candidates). Give compensation to the 26 lakh people who took the exam? The papers got leaked, so they should get compensation?" the chief minister asked during in his address after inaugurating a newly-constructed state-of-the-art bus terminal at the Jaipur Central Bus Stand, Sindhi Camp in the evening. "Such a demand is made that the papers got leaked, so they (candidates) should get compensation. What would you call this? Would this not be called intellectual bankruptcy?" he asked the gathering. Gehlot's comments were in reference to Pilot's demand for compensation to the affected candidates, which were later endorsed by some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. The other demands of Pilot are reconstituting the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) by disbanding it and forming a high-level committee to investigate corruption during the previous BJP rule in the desert state. Also Read Explained: Why is Sachin Pilot holding a day-long protest in Rajasthan Rajasthan recruitment paper leak: Accused handled social media accounts India's airlines: Both Go First and bankruptcy laws need a rescue West Bengal govt orders CID probe into DElEd question paper leak case Those responsible for Udaipur paper leak won't be spared: Ashok Gehlot POCSO Act being misused, we'll force govt to change law: Brij Bhushan NIA team visits Nitin Gadkari's Nagpur office after threat call to minister 25 ministers to take oath on Saturday in Siddaramaiah's cabinet: Report Around 25 parties expected to join new Parliament building inauguration Sitharaman appeals oppn to rethink boycott of parliament innaugration Gehlot said, "In the history of the world, has anyone ever demanded that since papers got leaked, the children who could not take the exam should be given compensation? Can the government give it?" He said in the paper leak case, his government has enacted a law and put the accused in jail, which no other state has done. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao in Hyderabad on Saturday to seek the Bharat Rashtra Samithi's support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. Kejriwal, who is also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, has been reaching out to leaders of non-BJP parties to garner their support against the ordinance so that the Centre's bid to replace it through a bill is defeated when it is brought in Parliament. "Meeting Hon'ble CM of Telangana tomorrow in Hyderabad to seek support against unconstitutional and undemocratic ordinance passed by BJP government against the orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court," Kejriwal tweeted. Earlier this week, he met West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar seeking their support in the matter. Kejriwal has also sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi for their support in the matter. The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. Also Read BRS gets office in Delhi; Cong says 'it won't succeed in national politics' BRS for India, journey of million km begins with single step: KCR CM KCR announces Rs 10,000 per acre assistance for crop loss for farmers Liquor policy case: SC offers no relief to Kavitha against ED summons Delhi excise scam: SC to hear K Kavitha's plea on ED summons on March 24 No LS seat-sharing talks between BJP, CM Shinde-led Sena yet: Mungantiwar Modi govt adopted rejected design for new Parliament building: JD(U) MLC Oppn boycott: Jaishankar says there should be a limit to doing politics Punjab CM to skip NITI Aayog meet amid AAP's ongoing tussle with Centre There is no documented evidence: Congress on 'Sengol' claims of Centre The ordinance 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. It seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the 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 top court's May 11 verdict. After Aam Aadmi Party colleague Satyendar Jain was injured in Tihar Jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said "God is watching all." "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. God is watching all, He will do justice to all," Delhi CM tweeted in Hindi. "I pray to God for Satyendra ji's speedy recovery. May God give them the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances," he tweeted. Jain has been hospitalised after he fell in the bathroom at Delhi's Tihar Jail, jail officials said on Thursday. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Jain on May 30 last year under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 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. Also Read Scared of Kejriwal's growing popularity: AAP leader Atishi attacks Centre Will answer all questions, says Kejriwal as he appears before CBI Delhi prisons department transfers 19 DSPs, over 30 ASPs, 3 head warders Anti-national forces put Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in jail: Delhi CM Kejriwal Concerned over Satyendar Jain's health condition, Kejriwal attacks Centre Modi should return as PM in 2024, says Madurai Adheenam head priest Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi Compensation demand in paper leak reflects intellectual bankruptcy: Gehlot POCSO Act being misused, we'll force govt to change law: Brij Bhushan NIA team visits Nitin Gadkari's Nagpur office after threat call to minister Governments of the same ideology are working in the Centre and state, because of which people of Maharashtra were getting benefits of various schemes, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said here on Friday. Criticising the Opposition parties' stand of boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Shinde claimed that they were doing so to deny credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his work. Shinde was speaking at the inauguration of a 'Shasan Aplya Dari' event in Kannad area of Aurangabad, during which funds were disbursed to 1.49 lakh beneficiaries under various schemes. "Both the state and Centre have governments of the same ideology. Hence, people of Maharashtra are getting benefits of various schemes. The Centre has sanctioned proposals for urban development, roads and railways. Basic facilities have been sanctioned by the Centre without curtailing a single rupee," the chief minister said. He further expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also sanction Marathwada water grid scheme. The state government has also increased funds for side businesses which will provide extra income to farmers, he said. Also Read Maharashtra legislature: Oppn members accuse Shinde govt of corruption Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to visit Ayodhya with Shiv Sena leaders today Ignore orders of 'unconstitutional' Maharashtra govt: Raut to officials Vehicles bought under Nirbhaya Fund diverted for security to Shinde faction No LS seat-sharing talks between BJP, CM Shinde-led Sena yet: Mungantiwar '9 saal, 9 sawaal': Congress asks questions as Modi govt completes 9 years Congress' questions to govt bundle of lies, mountain of deception: BJP Cong asks PM to apologise to nation for betrayal as he completes 9 years Chirag Paswan condemns Oppn move to boycott new Parl building inauguration Robust LIC, SBI results exposed Congress conspiracy to weaken them: BJP "We have implemented game-changer projects such as the Samruddhi Expressway. To take such projects further, we need the Centre's support," Shinde said. The chief minister came down heavily on the opposition parties for their stand of boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building at the hands of PM Modi contending that it is President Droupadi Murmu who should do the honours. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw a dream of this building and completed it in less time. The Opposition is taking a stand to oppose this inauguration so that Modi does not get credit for this work," Shinde said. He also criticised the meeting of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. "Kejriwal met a few people. One is going to the doorstep of the other. But our government is going to people's doorsteps to give them something. This is happening because they are afraid of Modi's work," the chief minister said. The BJP on Friday highlighted the achievements of nine years of the NDA government and said the country has witnessed "all-round development and inclusive growth" under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nine years of the Modi government were dedicated to bring about development, which is "inclusive, progressive and sustainable", the party said. Addressing the media at an event organised here to mark the ninth anniversary of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, BJP president J P Nadda said India has seen "all-round development and inclusive growth" under Modi. Nadda cited the prime minister's speech that he delivered on his return from a three-nation tour on Thursday to assert that his government has not only strengthened India's roots, but has also paid equal attention to its growth and development. The event was attended by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and several Union ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani. "These nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government have been dedicated to bring about development which is inclusive, progressive and sustainable," the party said in a booklet released at the event. Also Read Indian-origin Leo Varadkar elected as Ireland's new prime minister PM Narendra Modi arrives in Ahmedabad to bid adieu to his mother PM Modi performs last rites of his mother Heeraben in Gandhinagar Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Jan 19 visit to Hyderabad postponed Fact check: Did Asle Toje call PM Modi biggest contender for Nobel Prize? Cooperative federalism being turned into joke: Kejriwal wrote to PM Modi Govts of same ideology in Centre, state have benefitted Maha: CM Shinde '9 saal, 9 sawaal': Congress asks questions as Modi govt completes 9 years Congress' questions to govt bundle of lies, mountain of deception: BJP Cong asks PM to apologise to nation for betrayal as he completes 9 years "In stark contrast to the earlier piece-meal approach to development, the Modi government has brought in a culture of holistic development that leaves no one behind," it said. The government has been "steadfast" in its commitment towards creating equity and opportunity for all citizens, it added. In the last nine years, there has been a paradigm shift in public service delivery and implementation of government schemes using the "JAM" trinity -- Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile -- the party said. The Modi government has effectively deployed technology and digital tools to ensure transparency and plug leakages in governance, it added. The BJP said the introduction of direct benefit transfer (DBT) and Aadhaar authentication in various welfare schemes has led to the elimination of "lakhs of ghost beneficiaries" and enormous savings for the government, besides a timely delivery of benefits to people. "Between 2015 and 2022, the government saved more than Rs 2.73 lakh crore due to the distribution of benefits through DBT," it added. The Government-e-Marketplace (GeM) portal is successfully eliminating corruption and streamlining public procurement in the country, the party said. Listing the welfare schemes launched by the Modi government, it said their implementation has empowered "every Indian". The results of such "irreversible empowerment" can be seen in programmes like MUDRA Yojana and Stand-Up India, which are creating a large pool of young entrepreneurs from marginalised groups, it said. "More than half of the 40 crore loans under Mudra have been given to SC, ST, OBC entrepreneurs. This is ushering empowerment of not just individuals, but is also a means to empower the traditionally neglected communities," it said. The Modi government's "historic" decision to provide reservation to economically weaker sections of the society has provided a "much-needed support to the poor households", the party added. The BJP listed the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, the Mahakaal Lok projects in Ujjain, the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and various other projects to underscore the government's commitment towards ensuring that India's civilisational history and culture get due recognition. "Ensuring that India's rich civilisational history and its culture gets its due recognition has been a priority area for Prime Minister Narendra Modi," it said. Since assuming office in 2014, Modi has remained firm in his resolve of keeping "India first" in every policy formulation, the party said. "This resolve is evident in the government's handling of both external and internal security, economic management, empowerment schemes for marginalised groups, efforts at cultural conservation and so on," it added. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday visited the Nagpur office of Union minister Nitin Gadkari in connection with the case of a threat call which was allegedly made by a murder convict to the minister's office. However, as of now, the NIA has not issued any official statement in this connection. Earlier on May 9, an NIA team had visited Gadkari's office in Nagpur. Sources said that Jayesh Pujari, a murder convict, was behind the threat call. He was subsequently arrested from the Belgavi jail in Karnataka. The Nagpur Police had lodged a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against him. Sensing the gravity of the matter, the NIA has also launched a probe into the case. A call was received on the landline number at the official residence of Gadkari in Nagpur around two weeks back. A staff of Gadkari, who answered the call, was threatened by the caller. The caller said he wanted to speak to Gadkari and wanted to threaten him. Earlier on January 14, Pujari had made a call to Gadkari's office and demanded Rs 100 crore. Pujari informed the office personnel that he was working for underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Gadkari's office received a second call on March 21, during which the caller demanded Rs 10 crore. Now, in May, he made a third call to Gadkari's office. Also Read Threat calls to Gadkari: Nagpur cops take custody of suspected caller Threat calls to Gadkari: Accused remanded in police custody till Apr 24 PM Modi to inaugurate 1st phase of Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway on Sunday Sri Lanka, Bangladesh keen to import ethanol from India: Nitin Gadkari Union Minister Nitin Gadkari gets death threats, security tightened 25 ministers to take oath on Saturday in Siddaramaiah's cabinet: Report Around 25 parties expected to join new Parliament building inauguration Sitharaman appeals oppn to rethink boycott of parliament innaugration Parties which ruled many years couldn't get out of dynastic politics: PM Opposition's boycott of Parliament inauguration insult to country: Guj CM Gadkari's Delhi office had also received a threat call and consequently Delhi Police were informed. The police told IANS that they have initiated a probe. The police didn't divulge more information and only said that the case is still under investigation. --IANS atk/arm The Congress on Friday hit out at the BJP for spreading "false narrative" on 'Sengol' saying that there is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru describing this "as a symbol of transfer of British power to India" and all claims to this effect are plain and simply "bogus". In a tweet, Congress General secretary communication in-charge Jairam Samesh said, "Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from the WhatsApp University? The BJP/RSS Distorians stand exposed yet again with Maximum Claims, Minimum Evidence." Ramesh said that a majestic spectre conceived of by a religious establishment in then Madras province and crafted in Madras city was indeed presented to Nehru in August 1947. "There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji & Nehru describing this spectre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple - bogus. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," he said. The Congress Rajya Sabha MP said the spectre was later kept for display at the Allahabad Museum. "What Nehru said there on December 14, 1947 is a matter of public record despite whatever labels may say," he said. Also Read Cong tucked away sacred 'Sengol' in museum, called it 'golden stick': BJP TN BJP alleges security lapse in PM Modi's visit to Chennai, urges inquiry From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol What's the shame in using Nehru surname: PM Modi takes dig at Gandhi family Real 'anti-nationals' are those misusing power to divide Indians: Sonia 1 child killed, 28 injured in bus-truck collision in Uttar Pradesh's Noida I-T searches underway at premises linked to TN Minister Senthil Balaji God is watching, says Arvind Kejriwal after Satyendar Jain hospitalised Modi should return as PM in 2024, says Madurai Adheenam head priest Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi "The spectre is now being used by the Prime Minister and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament?" he said. He also attached a news report and the remarks of Pandit Nehru at Allahabad Museum. PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new four storey Parliament building on May 28. The issue snowballed into a major controversy, with the opposition parties arguing that President Murmu (head of the state) and not PM Modi (head of the government), should perform the inauguration. --IANS aks/dpb 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 USD 2 billion, including maintenance. "The Russians have a thousand fourth and fifth-generation fighters, so if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're 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 that's 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. Also Read Stealthy, speedy, precise: What are fifth-generation fighter jets? No evidence of fraud so far in weapons to Ukraine, says Pentagon IG Kim Jong-un wants North Korea to make more nuclear material for bombs Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets from Airbus and Boeing China to have 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, up from current 400: Pentagon LIVE: Modi should return as PM in 2024, says Madurai Adheenam Head Priest Iran unveils latest version of ballistic missile amid wider tensions Covid pill Paxlovid gets full FDA approval after a year of emergency use Sri Lanka has no security arrangements with China: Wickremesinghe Ukrainian President delivers surprise commencement speech to Johns Hopkins 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 it's underway. We're going to have to dig deeper, and we're 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 Ukraine's self-defense. European allies have been vocal in their support for the fighter jet training in recent days. Josep Borrell, the European Union's 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 we're 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 Russia's 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. As the mountaineering community prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, there is growing concern about temperatures rising, glaciers and snow melting, and weather getting harsh and unpredictable on the world's tallest mountain. Since the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) mountain peak was first scaled by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay in 1953, thousands of climbers have reached the peak and hundreds of lost their lives. The deteriorating conditions on Everest are raising concerns for the mountaineering community and the people whose livelihoods depend on the flow of visitors. The Sherpa community, who grew up on the foothills of the snow-covered mountain they worship as the mother of the world, is the most startled. The effects of climate change are hitting not just the fishes of Antarctica, the whales or the penguins, but it's having a direct impact on the Himalayan mountains and the people there, said Ang Tshering, a prominent Sherpa who has been campaigning for years to save the Himalayan peaks and surrounding areas from the effects of global warming. Almost every year, he and his Asian Trekking agency organise a cleaning expedition in which clients and guides alike bring down garbage left by previous Everest climbing parties. Also Read Majority of Himalayan glaciers analysed are melting or retreating: Govt Most of Himalayan glaciers analysed are retreating at varying rates: Govt 500 climbers scaled Everest during current expedition season: Nepal tourism Two-thirds of glaciers to disappear by 2100 amid faster melting: Study Nepal's Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mount Everest for record 28th time Pope Francis taps successor as archbishop of Buenos Aires: Vatican DGCA required to deregister aircrafts: Go First lessors to Delhi HC Strong earthquake shakes eastern Japan; no tsunami warning issued Embraer executives sees no sales hit from Pratt & Whitney engine woes As US credit risk looms, ex-S&P officials see 2011 downgrade as vindicated The effects of climate change and global warming have been severe in the high Himalayan area, Ang Tshering said. The rising temperature of the Himalayan area is more than the global average, so the snow and ice is melting fast and the mountain is turning black, the glaciers are melting and lakes are drying up. Growing up on the foothills of the mountain, Ang Tshering said he remembers sliding on the glacier near his village. But that's gone now. Other Sherpas also said they have seen the changes in the Khumbu Glacier at the foot of Everest, near the base camp. We don't really need to wait for the future; we are seeing the impact already, said Phurba Tenjing, a Sherpa guide who recently scaled the peak for the 16th time guiding foreign clients to the summit. Phurba Tenjing has been climbing Everest since he was 17. He said both the snow and ice have melted and the trek that used to take five or six hours over the icy path now only takes half an hour because the glaciers have melted and bare rocks are exposed. Before, the building-like ice chunks of the Khumbu Glacier used to come all the way up to the base camp. But now we don't see it near the base camp, Phurba Tenjing said. Recent research found that Mount Everest's glaciers have lost 2,000 years of ice in just the past 30 years. Researchers found that the highest glacier on the mountain, the South Col Glacier, has lost more than 54 metres (177 feet) of thickness in the past 25 years. A team of 10 scientists visited the glacier and installed two weather monitoring stations the world's highest and extracted samples from a 10-meter-long (33-foot) ice core. The glacier, which sits around 7,900 metres (26,000 feet) above sea level, was found to be thinning 80 times faster than it first took the ice to form on the surface, according to research published in 2022. The glaciers are losing ice at rates that likely have no historic precedent, said Duncan Quincey, a glaciologist at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The change is happening extremely rapidly he said. It's causing challenges for everybody within that region and, of course, for the millions of people who are living downstream," since much of Southern Asia depends on rivers that originate in the Himalayas for agriculture and drinking water. Both floods and droughts are likely to become more extreme, he said. There's a huge amount of unpredictability within these systems now, and it makes it very difficult for people who require water at a particular time of year to know that they're going to have that water available, he said. Nepal's government and mountaineering community plan to celebrate Everest Day on May 29 with a parade around Kathmandu and a ceremony honouring the climbers and veteran Sherpa guides. Pfizer received full approval on Thursday for its COVID-19 pill Paxlovid that's been the go-to treatment against the coronavirus. More than 11 million prescriptions for Paxlovid have been dispensed since the Food and Drug Administration allowed emergency use in late 2021. The emergency status was based on early studies and was intended to be temporary pending follow-up research. The FDA granted full approval for adults with COVID-19 who face high risks of severe disease, which can lead to hospitalization or death. That group typically includes older adults and those with common medical conditions like diabetes, asthma and obesity. The decision allows Pfizer's drug to remain on the market indefinitely and to be marketed similarly to other drugs. The pill is still available for children ages 12 to 17 under a separate emergency authorisation. The US government has stockpiled millions of doses of Paxlovid and patients will continue to receive it at no charge, the FDA said in a statement. More than 14,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported each week last month, although most US cases are no longer reported to health authorities. Also Read Pfizer CEO rules out talk with China on generic Covid drug Paxlovid license China, Pfizer hit deadlock over Paxlovid's price amid Covid-19 surge UK phones to get emergency alert system to warn of life-threatening events Hyderabad-based drug major Hetero prices Paxlovid generic at $60 per course Analysts turn cautious on Cipla as US FDA action delays key US launches Sri Lanka has no security arrangements with China: Wickremesinghe Ukrainian President delivers surprise commencement speech to Johns Hopkins German airline Lufthansa signs deal to buy stake in Italy's ITA Airways Felt like 'home': Migration to UK at record high, Indians dominate Nvidia Corp's blowout forecast sparks almost $260 billion AI rally Paxlovid is the fourth drug for COVID-19 to receive full FDA approval and the first one that is a pill. The previously approved therapies are IV or injectable drugs, typically given at clinics or hospitals. Pfizer originally studied Paxlovid in the highest-risk COVID-19 patients: unvaccinated adults with other health problems and no evidence of prior coronavirus infection. In that group, the FDA said the drug lowered the risk of hospitalization or death by 86 per cent when given shortly after symptoms emerged. But that doesn't reflect the US population today, where more than 95 per cent of people have protection from at least one vaccine dose, a prior infection or both. In more recent studies of people who have had COVID-19, Paxlovid still significantly decreased the chance of hospitalization or death by more than 85 per cent. As Paxlovid became widely used in 2021, doctors and patients reported cases of COVID-19 symptoms returning several days after treatment with the drug. But the FDA said Thursday there is not a clear association, between Pfizer's drug and rebound cases. That conclusion was backed by an independent panel of FDA advisers, who voted to recommend the drug's full approval at a meeting earlier this year. Japan on Friday announced its mid-term economic policy framework, featuring Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's "new capitalism" priorities, such as efforts to stem a declining birthrate with increases in childcare spending. By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Yoshifumi Takemoto The draft policy outline - the barebones of a wish list on a single sheet of paper - also focused on economic security, urging private-public sector joint investment to strengthen supply chains and investment in products including chips amid trade frictions between the United States and China. The outline, which will serve as a backbone for the government's economic policy set to be finalised in June, made no mention of how to fund such spending - a sticking point before a snap election Kishida may call in the coming months. In Japan, fiscal reform is an urgent task for the industrial world's most heavily indebted government, with public debt at more than 250% of its gross domestic product (GDP). It also called for achieving structural wage hikes and reinforcing investment in human resources as well as encouraging climate friendly innovation and digitalisation. Also Read COP15: Japan commits 1 billion yen to make sustainable use of nature Heavy snow in northern Japan, other regions kills 17, over 90 injured N Korea fires missile toward East Sea, Japan says taking all precautions Japan's economy struggles to eke out growth, shows fragile recovery Global Surfaces makes stellar debut; zooms 23% over issue price US manufactured capital goods demand unexpectedly rebound in April Visit to India to attend SCO meet was 'productive': Pak's Bilawal Bhutto Climbers celebrate Mt Everest 70th anniversary amid melting glaciers Pope Francis taps successor as archbishop of Buenos Aires: Vatican DGCA required to deregister aircraft: Go First lessors to Delhi HC Kishida has ruled out raising the consumption tax to fund the cost of new childcare. Some ruling party lawmakers have called for issuing bonds, though the government says no decision has been made. Still, rounds of heavy anti-COVID stimulus spending made its budget-balancing target, excluding new bond sales and debt servicing costs, by the fiscal 2025 year end even more elusive. The government is struggling to secure stable sources of permanent funding for measures aimed at reversing Japan's declining birthrate. In addition, speculation lingers that the premier may call snap general elections by the June 21 end of the current parliament session, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Of the 3 trillion yen ($22.21 billion) needed each of the coming three years to boost childcare, roughly 1 trillion yen would need be funded by issuing bridging bonds, which will be repaid in future by means such as tax hikes, although details remain undecided. ($1 = 135.0500 yen) Such moves could cause a delay to a decision on funding sources for childcare, even though a mid-year policy roadmap is tentatively set for approval around mid-June, one of the sources said. If Kishida decides to call a general election, his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) would shift focus on an election campaigning platform, leaving issues of funding in the backseat. (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Yoshifumi Takemoto; Editing by Leika Kihara and Louise Heavens) With a net worth of $5.2 billion, he was ranked 511 on the Forbes' 37th annual world billionaires list earlier this year. Dubai-based billionaire businessman Micky Jagtiani, who founded retail giant Landmark Group, has passed away, Khaleej Times reported on Friday. The chairman and owner of the group was 70 years old. Currently, his wife Renuka runs the Landmark Group as chairman and chief executive officer (CEO). Jagtiani was originally from India and started the business in 1973 with one store in Bahrain. He then expanded the business across the west Asia, Africa and India. According to Forbes, Jagtiani drove a taxi in London before moving to Bahrain and starting a baby products shop. The Landmark Group also entered India in 1999 and has a range of retail brands like Lifestyle and Max for clothes and Home Center for furniture and home furnishings. His three children are directors in the group, overseeing different aspects of the business. Also Read With purchases worth Rs 35K crore, Indians emerge top home buyers in Dubai Landmark Cars hits new high after weak debut; surges 17% in two days Abans Holdings, Landmark Cars IPOs get lukewarm response from investors Stocks to Watch: Aban Holdings, Landmark Cars, RIL, Lupin, Gail, JK Cement How to set up a family office abroad? More wealthy Indians want to know British Airways cancels flights over glitch ahead of busy holiday weekend South Korean Asiana Airlines flight flies with open door, lands safely Tesla whistleblower leaks data on customers' Full Self-Driving complaints Germany enters recession: What went wrong with Europe's largest economy? Former Pak PM Imran Khan revokes party membership of all PTI defectors Russia's southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones Friday, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in a region next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. The Kremlin's forces, meanwhile, struck a clinic in Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding another 23, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Also, a Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk province, placing nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. The Belgorod town of Graivoron, about seven kilometres from the Ukrainian border, was under fire for several hours, with four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line damaged, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the border, a recreation centre, a shop and an uninhabited house sustained damage in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when the nearby village of Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, according to Gladkov. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russia's southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said that two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. Also Read Ukraine needs more than a $30 billion arsenal for counterstrike on Russia Russian shelling cuts off power again in liberated Ukrainian city Ukraine races to rescue people from Russian missile strike on Dnipro Russia launches 20 missiles, 2 drones at Ukraine, attack kills 16 people Ukraine's infrastructure targeted in another Russian missile barrage Japan unveils policy blueprint featuring childcare, no mention of funding US manufactured capital goods demand unexpectedly rebound in April Visit to India to attend SCO meet was 'productive': Pak's Bilawal Bhutto Climbers celebrate Mt Everest 70th anniversary amid melting glaciers Pope Francis taps successor as archbishop of Buenos Aires: Vatican The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of a building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong terrible boom, resident Tatiana Safonova said. We ran outside, there were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said there was a specific sound beforehand, like a growling noisy moped driving by. There is damage to buildings, but essential infrastructure was not damaged. And most importantly, there were no casualties, Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged, but there were no casualties. Drone attacks against Russian regions on the border with Ukraine have been a regular occurrence since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with attacks stepping up last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two consecutive days. In another apparent incident of Kyiv's forces harassing Russia, Ukraine's defence ministry on Thursday published footage that appeared to show an unmanned drone boat attacking Russia's Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russia's Ministry of Defense on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three boats attacked and destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released footage allegedly showing the destruction of one of the uncrewed boats. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian president's office reported Friday. Firdous Ashiq Awan resigned from Imran Khan's party on Friday over the recent violent and "terrorist activities and said the former prime minister and Pakistan cannot go together, becoming the latest senior leader to quit the opposition party. Awan, 53, served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting from 2019 to 2020. 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. Also Read SL Prez Wickremesinghe calls for unity, to continue with his decisions IMF facility debunks Sri Lanka's bankrupt status: President Wickremesinghe Indian delegation calls on Wickremesinghe for alliance in energy sector Tight security arrangements put in place for MCD elections on Sunday Debt restructuring talks with India, China successful, says Sri Lanka prez Ukrainian President delivers surprise commencement speech to Johns Hopkins German airline Lufthansa signs deal to buy stake in Italy's ITA Airways 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 "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. --IANS sfl/vd The United Kingdom's official immigration data was released on Thursday, which revealed that net migration in 2022 reached a record high of 606,000. The data also revealed that Indians bagged the top spot on the skilled worker tally along with the student visas issued over last year. A day before the official data was released, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government announced new rules for international students. The UK Home Office in its order stated that it will disallow international students from bringing their dependants along to the UK. The government only decided to allow PhD students to bring their dependents along. The new visa rules are expected to come into place in January 2024. Home Secretary Suella Braverman also announced that the government is mulling removing the ability for international students to switch to work visas before finishing their courses. 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 Talking about the new policy changes, Braverman later tweeted, "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." According to a LiveMint report, Yash Dubal, director of A Y & J Solicitors, said that the decision to disallow students is a political one as many politicians in the UK are of the opinion that the current migration in the country is too high. He also added the ruling Conservative party pledged to bring the numbers down, and general elections will take place in the UK next year. Speaking to LiveMint, Ajay Sharma, Founder and President Abhinav Immigration Services said that the proposed policy cannot be considered a blanket ban. Further adding that visas for dependents may be issued to students of top universities or high-value courses. In the year ending March 2023, a total of 138,532 sponsored study visa grants to Indian nationals. which was an increase of 63 per cent as compared to the last year. VFS Global News Summary Two alert security personnel at the VFS Global, visa application centre (VAC) in Delhi nabbed a group of seven applicants carrying a forged document to apply for Italy visas. The incident took place at the Delhi VAC on 24 May 2023. The visa appointment letters produced by the applicants while entering the facility raised suspicion in the mind of the security personnel and on cross-checking with the applicants manifesto the documents were found to be forged. 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 Companys 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, cancers 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 peoples 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 Mercks 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/ 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 Following complaints, Anna University overturned its intention to halt civil and mechanical engineering programmes in the Tamil language in its 11 constituent institutions on Thursday, May 25, 2023. On Thursday, a circular addressed to constituent colleges to close the Tamil programmes in BE Civil and BE Mechanical from 2023-24 sparked outrage, with some arguing that the State language was being neglected. Following reports, R Velraj, the vice-chancellor of Anna University, notified journalists that the decision was rescinded on the recommendation of Tamil Nadu's higher education minister, K Ponmudy. "The Tamil medium BE courses in civil and mechanical will continue as usual this year," Velraj said after meeting with the minister on Thursday. "We had begun civil and mechanical engineering courses in Tamil. It appears like the university is ignoring the mother tongue. That is not correct. Candidates are demonstrating an interest in subjects other than mathematics. We intended to introduce subjects that students today want, such as computer science and engineering. Last year, we translated study materials for 50 disciplines, and another 500 are currently being translated," Velraj told The Hindu. BE Mechanical and Civil programmes in Tamil medium have been cancelled in constituent institutions, also known as University College of Engineering (UCEs) in Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Ariyalur, Panruti, Pattukottai, Thirukkuvalai, Nagercoil, and Thoothukudi, according to the circular. In Arni and Villupuram UCEs, just the BE Mechanical programme in Tamil medium was suspended; in Tindivanam UCE, only the BE Civil course in Tamil medium was suspended. BE (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) courses in English medium have also been suspended at Thirukkuvalai UCE, and civil and mechanical BE programmes in English medium have been discontinued at Ariyalur and Pattukottai UCEs. Mr. Ponmudy stated that the V-C stated that the reason for the cancellation of the Tamil medium courses was due to low enrollment in these courses. The V-C quickly overturned the decision after consulting with the government, he added, adding that the government had nothing to do with the development. The Minister also expressed optimism that Vice Chancellors would change their methods in the future. Kentucky Author Jen Jeffrey Billington, a former Chattanoogan.com writer and 30-year resident of Chattanooga, will be at Barnes & Noble at Hamilton Place for a book signing of her memoir, "Breadcrumbs - Finding True Love's Trail. Ms. Billington's book chronicles her personal journey in Chattanooga, from painful moments to finding true love. Her story offers key insights for anyone seeking love. The book signing will be Saturday, May 27, from 2-4 p.m. In addition to "Breadcrumbs, Ms. Billington has authored two other books, "Faith Blossoms" and "12 Doors". She is currently co-authoring a book with CEO Chad Cartledge of Running 4 Heroes nonprofit, which supports families of fallen first responders. Chattanoogas best assets are free, Bob Corker told the Rotary Club Thursday. The mountains, the creeks and the river can be opened to their full potential with little expense and a little more vision, he said. But the former Chattanooga mayor and former U.S. senator took aim at the riverfront. Honestly it looks pretty tired to me. You got to keep improving, he said. We are at second base, Mr. Corker said. He said Administrator of Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Scott Martin has that vision and support to bring Chattanooga home. He predicted that Chattanoogas Ironman race is on track to surpass the popular Cambridge, Md., triathlon in the next two years and become the biggest in the country. We have more blue sky today than I ever, ever remember, he said. Mr. Corker served as mayor from 2001 to 2005. He served two terms as a senator, from 2007 to 2019. Weve got a lot more that we can do here, he said. Mr. Corker said the big growth in Hamilton County is recognized in his international circles. Were now on the map, he said, but will Chattanooga engage on its new playing field? he asked. Mr. Corker said the big growth has caused local problems in workforce development and affordable housing. He urged calm and even disinterest as June 1 approaches and national debt ceiling talks reach a fever pitch. I think itd be better if we all just yawned and went on to something else, he said. Mr. Corker said that federal default if the debt ceiling is not raised is so unlikely. It just will not happen in my humble opinion, he said. He predicted a slow grind down of government operations, with closure of national parks among the first casualties. But because Americans and their government representatives do not yet have the will, he said, a fiscal overhaul is liable to take a crisis, he said. Entitlements must be dealt with first, he said, with Social Security and Medicare at the top of the list. Sixty-five percent of what we spend is on autopilot, he said. The graduate of City High School said that serving in the Senate was the greatest privilege of his life, but those were not the best years of his life. Today Im in the community in a way that I get to relish, he said. I try to enhance the lives of people around me, said the former senator, who said hes returned to Washington, D.C., only once in four years and four months. Mr. Corker serves on the board of Rise Partners commercial real estate developers and One-to-One Health, clinics for self-insured employers. He is a special advisor to Jefferies Group investment bank. A woman at the Midtown Ridge Apartments on McBrien Road told police a couple in the apartment below her consistently makes noise by arguing and keeps her awake. She said this had been an ongoing issue, and she wanted to make a police report. That night, the woman tried to quiet down the couple by banging on the floor, but instead, the man came to her door and started an argument with her. As she was about to close her door, the woman came upstairs and tried to prevent the woman from closing the door and began to argue with her. The woman told police she took a video of the incident. Police told her to take the police report and the video to her landlord and see if they would assist her. The officer also told the woman to no longer confront the occupants of the other apartment. The officer then spoke to the other half of the disorder. Both were waiting in the hallway for the officer. Both of them said the woman is the issue and that she is constantly hitting on the floor. The officer told them not to return to the womans door anymore and keep the peace with each other. The officer also told them they should take up this issue with the landlord. When the officer asked the couple to identify themselves because of the police report of the incident, they both refused and entered their apartment and closed the door, effectively ending the conversation. * * * A man at the Chatt Inn at 2000 E 23rd St. told police his friend began to become disorderly in their shared hotel room. The man said his friend began to break her own property and then fled. The man said he was not the victim of any crime, nor did he commit a crime against his friend. The man said he wanted to make a report about his friends actions to "protect himself." The friend was not interviewed because she left before police arrived. * * * A woman called police claiming to have evidence to support that she didnt harass anyone. Another person had claimed the woman called at 10:27 a.m., and then called from an unknown number at 10:27, 10:28, 10:28 and 10:29 a.m. An officer met with the woman in person in order to see the evidence she wanted to provide. She said she knew the victim called police because the victim had posted on social media about jail time. The woman believed these posts were about herself. The woman showed the officer her phone call history which did not have any phone calls around 10:15-10:45 a.m. to the victim. She said she knew phone history could be deleted, so she logged into her AT&T account to show the officer her call logs online which she said were not able to be edited. The online call logs indicated that no calls were made in the time surrounding 10:14-10:45 a.m. The woman showed the officer her call logs from both her phones, and due to the evidence provided, no warrants will be sought for her arrest until the evidence can be further verified. * * * A man at Super 8 at 7024 McCutcheon Road told police he was being kicked out of the motel and they would not give him the money back for the room. The man said a church had paid for the room and he needed the money to get another room. Police informed the man that the church who paid for his room would have to call the Super 8's corporate office to see if they can get their money back. The man then called corporate to try to get the church's money back. Police informed the man they could no longer help him. The man responded by calling 911 for the second time for a non-emergency reason saying that officers on scene were being "smart" with him and he wanted another officer. Police then met with the man again and informed him that the money that is tied up is not his and that he was not entitled to it and that the police on scene were going to be the one's responding when he calls. Police informed him that police were also wearing BWC that captured the first and current interaction with him. Police also told the man that if he called 911 for a non-emergency reason again, he would be going to jail. The man had nothing further to say. * * * A man was causing a disorder at the Chatt Foundation at 727 E 11th St. and refusing to leave. Police asked the man to leave and he did voluntarily. * * * Police were called to Tiger Mart at 5010 Hunter Road where it was reported there was an intoxicated man sitting in a vehicle. Police arrived and spoke to the man who was very cooperative and answered all of the officers questions. The man didnt appear intoxicated in any way. * * * A woman on Grove Street flagged down an officer and said another woman keeps riding by her house taunting her. She said the other woman is dating her ex-girlfriend. The woman said the other woman continues to ride by her house calling out her name. * * * Police were dispatched to Regions Bank at 601 Market St. for a possible intoxicated woman. They met a woman who appeared to have been drinking but was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She requested a ride to Frazier and was taken there without incident. * * * Police responded to Walmart at 3550 Cummings Hwy. after receiving multiple 911 calls, where a female said she didn't know where she was, disconnected, then called back, each time, sounding out of breath and "scared" (per CPD Dispatch). Police checked the area thoroughly but were unable to locate the woman. The woman called back in, at later times, from further south on Cummings Highway. Again, police responded, but were unable to find her. * * * An employee of Sephora at Hamilton Place told police a black female and black male entered the business, selected and concealed $1,100 worth of men's cologne and women's perfume. The two then walked out of the business without paying for the items. The incident was caught on video surveillance. The first reading of the budget and setting the tax rate for East Ridge for fiscal year 2023-3024 is scheduled to be on the agenda of the next council meeting on June 8. At the Thursday night council meeting, City Manager Scott Miller gave a preview for what it contains. He said the citys revenue picture is healthy. The budget plans for several new employees, which includes six additional firefighters and a training officer for the fire department and a recreation director for the parks and recreation department. The millage rate will be the same as it currently is and the level of services remains the same, he said. Mayor Brian Williams emphasized that there will be no tax increase. The second and final reading to adopt the new budget will be June 22. The citys rainy day fund, which is meant to be sufficient for covering four months of expenses, was reduced to $4 million during the COVID pandemic. Councilman Jacky Cagle, seeing that amount as deficient, suggested raising it to $6 million or $7 million. The city manager said the expenses are going up substantially so raising the fund to $6 million or $7 million would be in order. At the next meeting the council will consider a resolution for the increase. Two resolutions were passed at the meeting. The mayor was authorized to sign a contract with TDOT to provide mowing services for the I-75 Exit 1 interchange during 2023-2024. The state will pay East Ridge $9,800 for mowing six times, although the city does it more than that. The work is done on a reimbursement basis. Another resolution to purchase a generator for the computer server room was approved for the amount of $81,892. The cost includes associated equipment and installation. This will allow the citys 10 servers to be relocated to a more secure location. The generator will be capable of powering the servers, the IT room, lights and a mini-split AC unit for the room, which will provide continued operations in the event of a power outage. The city managers report included a reminder that The Last Call for Alcohol, that was implemented during the pandemic, will expire July 1. This allowed customers to buy alcohol to go at restaurants. He also reported on the progress of the multi-modal work on Ringgold Road. It is still moving forward, he said. The sub-contractor for Chattanooga Gas, which is laying new gas lines at the site as the other work is being done, will soon be finished after which Tally Construction can continue its construction. Mayor Brian Williams said the next clean-up day in East Ridge will be on June 24. The deadline for volunteers to sign up will be June 2. Forms can be found on the citys website. He also said that the citys annual Memorial Day ceremony along with the American Legion will be at 1 p.m. in front of Pioneer Frontier Park. Bridgett Raper, communications strategist for the Small Cities Coalition of Hamilton County, gave the council an update on bills passed or proposed during the last legislative session. Some of importance to small cities in Tennessee include a de-annexation bill. The small cities coalition drafted a position statement sharing concerns about the bill. She said that those recommendations and suggested solutions were included in the final bill that was passed. There has been a proposal to eliminate business taxes that she said would be detrimental to the small cities because local government resources would be reduced. And there is also a proposal to put a cap on property tax increases. She said this is gaining traction. And a freeze was put on real property tax for those earning $60,000 or less or people 65 and older who meet certain conditions. There are also caps being put on county property taxes for the same segment of people. Prince Harry has made several trips to the United Kingdom without his wife, Meghan Markle, over the past several months. Although the Duke of Sussex is primarily based in California, where the couple moved in March 2020, his extended family remains across the pond. Therefore a former royal butler believes in time, Harry may buy a UK home without Meghan Markle to stay close to his royal family heritage. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved to the United States in March of 2020 | Chris Jackson Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry may add a second home across the pond to his portfolio After being asked to leave their Frogmore Cottage home by King Charles, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left without a legal residence in the United Kingdom. The couple were asked to leave the premises, the couples global press secretary said. We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage, Ashley Hansen said in a statement in March 2023. The home is a 10-bedroom property given to the couple by the late queen, was initially intended to be their primary residence, and was renovated for them. The Duke of Sussex told Anderson Cooper, They [the media] drove me from my country, in January 2023, Harry remained stateside. The couple settled in Montecito, CA. But, a former royal butler believes Harry will eventually purchase another home in the UK. However, Meghan Markle may not join him. Id never say never, said former royal butler Grant Harrold. Harrold told The New York Post, Its always possible that one day he might want to come home. Its possible that he might buy [a property] here if he wanted to come over [more], and Meghan didnt want to come over. Meghan doesnt really have any family here as such. All her family is in the States. Thats where Harry has decided he wants to set up his home, he continued. Its very possible they could come back to the UK. At this moment, they seem happy in the States, and thats where they want to be, he told The Post. Harry may want to keep his fingers in that pie, says former royal butler Prince Harry smiles as he leaves the coronation of King Charles III | Dan Charity WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harrys ties to the United Kingdom are strong. So much so that he may want to keep his fingers in that pie, Harrold said on behalf of Oddspedia. He claims Harry will always have an association with the UK. Hell want to have that association with Britain just in case one day he does want to come back. I dont think Harry will want to sever ties, Harrold continued. Harry felt exiled from the UK because of leaks planted by the royal family in the press Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the UK in March 2020. However, he told Anderson Cooper in a January 2023 interview one of the main reasons he and his wife relocated was due to leaks planted by several royal family members to the media at large. The ball is very much in their court. But Meghan and I continued to say that we would openly apologize for anything we did wrong. But every time we ask that question, no ones telling us the specifics or anything, Harry said of conversations with Prince William and King Charles. He continued, There needs to be a constructive conversation that can happen in private that doesnt get leaked. This all started with them briefing, daily, against my wife. With lies to the point where my wife and I had to run away from my country. Harry believes that without the British Press, they would probably still be a fairly dysfunctional family like many are. But at the heart of it, there is a family, without question. Frogmore Cottage is scheduled to be inhabited by Prince Andrew. He was asked to leave his home of 20 years, the royal lodge, by his brother King Charles. However, Andrew has no plans to move house because he has a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge, reported The Telegraph. A study led by researchers from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) has managed to explain the essential aspects of superconductivity (the ability of certain materials to conduct electric current without energy loss) in spun graphene trilayers, which are achieved by rotating three layers of graphene at a very precise angle. The results, published in the journal Nature Communications, lay the groundwork for understanding how certain unconventional superconductors, which are still beyond the understanding of the scientific community, work. Five years ago, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) led by Valencian physicist Pablo Jarillo-Herrero discovered that it was possible to change the electronic properties of graphene by altering the angle of rotation between two of its layers in a very precise, almost magical way. Graphene, a material composed of a grouping of carbon atoms that are positioned hexagonally, thus became a superconductor, capable of transporting electricity without dissipating energy, very peculiar. "Superconductivity, a usual phenomenon in metals such as mercury, lithium or titanium when subjected to low temperatures, can be understood by the pairing of electrons (in pairs called Cooper pairs) due to the interaction of electrons with the vibrations or phonons of the atomic lattice. However, in spun graphene layers, there is evidence that superconductivity cannot be supported by such a conventional mechanism, which has so far hampered theoretical efforts to find an explanation," explains Jose Gonzalez Carmona, CSIC researcher at the Institute for the Structure of Matter (IEM-CSIC). Now, Gonzalez Carmona and Tobias Stauber, from the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), propose a theoretical construction that includes an unconventional mechanism of superconductivity, based on the electron-electron interaction itself, which is dominant in carbon materials such as graphene. This type of electron-electron pairing confers great stability, as it prevents Cooper pairs from being destroyed by certain magnetic fields, something that can occur with conventional superconductivity. "The idea we propose is groundbreaking for these carbon materials, and leads to superconductivity with a special character, called Ising type in similar two-dimensional systems," Gonzalez Carmona emphasizes. The scientists, who have used the resources of the Centro de Supercomputacion de Galicia (CESGA) and the Drago supercomputing cluster, installed at the CSIC central campus in Madrid, have used computational tools to design this method with high reliability and capable of describing the total number of atoms (around 8,000 in the unit cell of the spun trilayers). "The model with which we have treated the spun graphene layers, which allowed us to capture the details at the atomic level, has been instrumental in finding the key to the new superconductivity mechanism that we propose," Stauber points out. Toward room-temperature superconductors As soon as Jarillo-Herrero's finding became known, the scientific community observed similarities between the superconductivity in the spun graphene layers and the behavior of another type of material: high-temperature superconducting copper oxides. "These materials have been defying a convincing theoretical explanation for more than 30 years. In both this case and graphene, we are talking about materials that involve new physics, so it is important to find the way to a new paradigm to encompass a set of systems where it is the electron-electron interaction that dictates the properties, rather than the electron-phonon interaction," says Stauber. Currently, superconducting materials are still far from easily accessible temperatures, a condition that makes it difficult for them to fully reach the market. That is why condensed matter physicists are still looking to achieve superconductivity at room temperature. "Our theoretical construction - Gonzalez Carmona points out - may eventually pave the way towards understanding a new mechanism of superconductivity, which escapes conventional description. This new physics is demanded by copper oxides, which were once seen as a possibility to achieve superconductivity at room temperature. This remains a very attractive goal within condensed matter physics, which may require new paradigms such as the one we propose with our research." You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Ive heard many crazy stories about people who dont like their best friends partners for petty reasons. But this womans story is anything but petty. One woman is in a heinous situation with her best friend and roommate after having her boyfriend arrested for stealing her expensive figurines. Shes 21 and has been best friends with Alice for ten years. Theyre the same age and went to the same schools. They also went on a study-abroad trip to Canada together. She moved to Canada a few years ago into a house her parents paid for. Four months ago, she invited Alice to live in the house with her. Alice didnt sign a lease, but she does pay her rent. Things were going great for them as roommates until Alice got a boyfriend named Kevin. She is head over heels for him, she said. She constantly invited him to my house without permission. He came and stayed for at least six days a week, sometimes overnight. She tried telling Alice she had a problem with Kevin staying over so often, but Alice would usually brush it off and tell her that Kevin was helping her adjust to her new life abroad. Alice would tell her he was the only person she had for emotional support besides her. Despite it all, she still had suspicions when it came to Kevin. Those suspicions were confirmed when she would catch Kevin lurking around her house in the middle of the night, peeking into her bedroom and her figurine room, where she keeps expensive figurines. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Wikimedia Commons/Joe Mabel Due to the ongoing conflicts over same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy, the United Methodist Church's Iowa Annual Conference has lost 83 parishes. This represents around 11% of the 750 conference churches that are dispersed throughout the state and all of which plan to either form their own independent denomination or combine with a more conservative one. Tuesday night's special session was hosted via Zoom by Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai and other conference leaders. More than 500 laypeople and clergypeople participated in this gathering, and the majority of them endorsed the disaffiliation agreements for the departing congregations electronically. Differing Views on LGBTQ Issues Lead to Split in Iowa's United Methodist Church According to the Des Moines Register, these settlements are a part of the disaffiliation or exit plan for the United Methodist Church, which was approved by the 2019 General Conference. They provide plans for churches to pay for two years' worth of apportionments and unfunded pension payments for retiring clergy. Since then, religious and sexual conflicts have led conservative congregations all throughout the United States to leave the United Methodist Church. Several congregations in the United States have decided to openly flout the denomination's prohibitions on same-sex weddings and gay clergy notwithstanding these rules. In a historic decision last year, the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church approved a new vision that paves the way for LGBT clergy to serve without fear of being accused by the church and enables Methodist ministers to conduct same-sex weddings. Last year, the new Global Methodist Church, a church that will continue to forbid discussions of LGBTQ-related concerns, was founded. This new organization now includes the majority of the 3,755 nationally disaffiliated churches. According to the story that was shared in Yahoo! News, the disaffiliation plan, according to Bill Poland, Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai's interim assistant, is principally the result of ongoing conversations about human sexuality, particularly with regard to the inclusion of the LGBTQ community. He categorically rejected any suggestions of changing their religion or doctrine, and he attributed any such suggestions to misconceptions or inaccurate information. Poland emphasized that none of their teaching, doctrinal standards, theological obligations, or articles of religion are going to be changed because these are all fundamental components of their belief system. However, John Lomperis, an Indiana delegate to the General Conference, asserted that more significant problems than only sexuality are fueling the rift. He noted that there was disagreement even on fundamental issues like the identity of Jesus Christ. Lomperis went on to say that many churches are opting to split apart because they feel the conference is not upholding their own convictions, implying that there are more issues at stake in this split than just the one of LGBTQ inclusivity. Also Read:Judge Allows North Georgia United Methodist Churches to Continue Disaffiliation Process Recent Decisions Regarding Some Disaffiliation Processes That Had Conflicts After a halt and a lawsuit, more than 180 churches in North Georgia are finally permitted to proceed with their disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. The recent story here in Christianity Daily states that the denomination's North Georgia Conference had halted operations due to what they claimed was misinformation, but Judge Steven Schuster of Cobb County Superior Court overruled that decision. The court's ruling opens the door for formal congregational votes on the denomination's dissolution. This choice was made in response to a long-running dispute over the church's LGBTQ stance, a contentious issue that caused many theologically conservative parishes to consider quitting the denomination. Related Article: Multiple Florida Churches Sever Connections with United Methodist Church Over LGBTQ+ Clergy Ordination Pixabay/ briannad26 Church leaders in Malawi call on the country's High Court in Blantyre to rule against same-sex unions. The High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on Tuesday, May 23. Malawi Church Leaders Seek High Court Ruling The head of the ruling, officials of the Catholic Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), and the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) are asking the people of God in the Southern African nation to sit peacefully outside the High Court in Blantyre "silently praying to the God of heaven that Malawi, as a nation, shall seek to live by God's righteousness and not depart from His divine laws governing our morality." According to ACI Africa, on Sunday, May 21, officials of the Christian Mother Bodies in Malawi say, "The judiciary should not change this fundamental law without consultation of all Malawians." The Christian leaders add that having three judges changing the Malawian law that criminalizes homosexuality "would be tantamount to an infringement of people's rights, values, and interests." They also said legalizing same-sex relationships in the country would infringe on religious liberties as faith leaders would be obliged to officiate the marriage of homosexual couples in churches. Moreover, the Christian leaders in Malawi add that legalizing same-sex unions would promote moral decay in society. Children and young people in schools and colleges, including mission Schools, will openly be taught homosexuality as normal, which is reportedly "unacceptable behavior." They further say that homosexuality is a sin, and normalizing it would threaten the natural family unit, which is the core of a strong society. The leaders drawn from the central Christian bodies in the country call upon Malawians to unite against homosexuality. The church leaders also ask human rights groups advocating for homosexuality "to seriously reflect on their actions and not be used to cause the nation to sin against God." Furthermore, Maravi Post reported that the case follows an application by Jana Gonani, a transgender woman, who was convicted in December 2021 by the Mangochi Senior Magistrate Court on the charge of unnatural offenses contrary to Section 153 (c) of the Penal Code. Also Read: Support for Same-Sex Marriage Rises to New High of 71% Debate over Redefining Same-Sex Marriage The ongoing debate surrounding the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples has become a prominent ethical issue in the Western world. While numerous countries have already legalized same-sex marriage, the pressure for recognition and acceptance continues to grow. An article from Christian Today explores the objections raised by Christian groups against same-sex marriage. The debate often becomes emotionally charged, leading to personal attacks and accusations of homophobia and bigotry. Arguments at the surface level focus on supporting or opposing same-sex marriage, such as the right to marry regardless of sexual orientation or concerns about the traditional definition of marriage. However, beneath these surface arguments lie deeper assumptions about morality, the reality and design of marriage, and individual worldviews. Supporters of same-sex marriage may hold various worldviews, ranging from disagreement with religious interpretations to postmodernist relativism. Conversely, Christian objectors generally base their opposition on the belief in objective truth, the existence of God, and the authority of the Bible. It is crucial to recognize the complexity of this disagreement, as it encompasses personal emotions, deeply held beliefs, and complex ethical considerations. When discussing same-sex marriage, it is essential to approach the topic with sensitivity, gentleness, and respect for differing perspectives. Related Article: Anglican Church in Singapore Expressed Dismay Over Church of England's Blessing of Same-Sex Marriage Unsplash/ Karl Fredrickson Columbus' Catholic Diocese has recently announced the closing of the doors of more than a dozen churches in Ohio, which is considered a big milestone. This was announced last Thursday in the morning and it shocked most of the community. The diocese recently disclosed the final findings of its ambitious effort, "Real Presence Real Future," and this was started three years ago lead by former Bishop Robert Brennan. Bishop Earl Fernandes announced this decision. The project sought community input on ways to increase church attendance and presence by reviewing the diocese's organizational structure. The indept investagion which was carried out for about three long years carefully looked at all elements of the diocese while taking into account the helpful suggestions provided by parishioners and priests. Closure of Over a Dozen Churches in Central Ohio According to the article in 10 WNBS, nine churches and one school in Franklin County are included on the list of the 15 churches impacted by this decision. The closures will have an effect on Corpus Christi, St. Ladislas, the Community of Holy Rosary and St. John the Evangelist, St. Anthony School, St. Bernard, Church of the Atonement, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Francis de Sales, St. Mark, St. Mary, St. Philip the Apostle Church, St. Mary, Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Parroquia Santa Cruz, and St. Matthias. The information that St. Anthony and Ss. Peter & Paul will shut down at the end of the current academic year. Since taking on the position, Bishop Fernandes has spent his first year carefully reviewing early drafts and integrating suggestions to make sure that the needs of both parishioners and clergy are satisfied. According to the story shared in The Columbus Dispatch, due to a shortage of priests and declining attendance, the Catholic diocese is eliminating parishes. Bishop Fernandes acknowledges the difficulty of the decision to close these parishes and the emotional tie people have to the places of worship where they have celebrated important life milestones. He clarifies, nevertheless, that occasionally pruning is required in order for new development to take place. Over the past 50 years, an observance has been made that the Catholic population has grown, but the number of Catholic priests has declined by 42%. At the same time, a big decline of churchgoers were also observed. In order to overcome the priest shortfall, the Columbus diocese has been hiring foreign priests from nations with less severe shortages; as a result, 21% of the clergy are non-American. Due to objections from parishioners, the planned merger of the dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville was temporarily put on hold. Also Read: Christian School in Kansas City That Promotes Inclusivity of LGBTQ Individuals is Closing Perception Gap: Catholics Divided on Church's Handling of Sexual Abuse Crisis There is a gap between parishioners and religious authorities in the Catholic Church, according to population statistics, particularly when it comes to how sexual abuse is handled. According to NBC4 WCMH-TV, approximately 1 in 4 Catholics attended mass less frequently in 2019 as a result of the church's sexual abuse problem, which received global notice in 2012. Not all responses, though, are unfavorable; in the midst of allegations of wrongdoing, 1 in 5 Catholics expressed support for their priests. 24% of the Catholics thinks that the case of sexual abuses were a thing of the past, as well as 9% of non-Catholics also thinks the same, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center study. The Columbus Diocese has taken action to address sexual abuse, including publishing a list of clergy who have been credibly accused of wrongdoing, changing policies, and providing staff training. While conceding the impossibility of changing the past or current tendencies, Bishop Fernandes highlighted the significance of embracing the future. Related Article:Faithfuls Express Sorrow After St. John the Evangelist Announced Its Church Closure Pexels/Kelly Tennessee is about to face a lawsuit from two women, Gerda Zinner and Story VanNess, over its public employee health insurance plans which explicitly exclude coverage for gender-affirming care. After their insurance claims for operations meant to cure gender dysphoria were denied, Zinner and VanNess learned of a coverage gap. In a news conference on Thursday, VanNess highlighted the significant effects of gender dysphoria by discussing the difficulty they've had in locating healthcare that gives them adequate access. Tennessee and Others to Face Lawsuit Accusing Them of Discrimination According to the source, Commercial Appeal, the plaintiffs contend that the state's health insurance regulations are both discriminatory and illegal in that they restrict procedures that would normally be covered, with the exception of those "for, or related to, sex transformations." VanNess, who taught special education at a Knox County public school from 2016 to 2022, and Zinner, a university adviser in Chattanooga, both used the state of Tennessee's public employee health benefits program as a result of their employment. To secure proper healthcare for transgender public employees, they are currently advocating for a change in policy. The two women named the defendants, which include the state of Tennessee itslef, also the University of Tennessee, the Knox County Board of Education, and several Tennessee insurance committees. The lawsuit claims discrimination because public employee health insurance plans do not cover gender-affirming care. The Attorney General's office was represented by Elizabeth Lane, who expressed interest in reviewing the pending lawsuit and vehemently defending the state's position. The University of Tennessee System, in contrast, made the decision to remain silent regarding the ongoing lawsuit. However, they insisted that its staff members are given the chance to enroll in the state's health insurance programs. In August 2022, both women submitted sex discrimination complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Also Read:Nebraska Lawmakers Pass Bill Limiting Abortion and Transgender Healthcare Access for Minors Transgender Rights Lawsuits Challenge State Discrimination and Healthcare Exclusions In the article in Advocate, it stated that the Equal Protection Clause of the United States was allegedly violated by Tennessee officials, according to the lawsuit. By participating in illegal discrimination based on sex and transgender status in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to Darren Teshima, a partner at Covington & Burling LLP, which is representing the lawsuit alongside TLDEF and other attorneys, federal laws protect transgender people from sex-based workplace discrimination. The lawsuit aims to stop the State of Tennessee and its affiliates from improperly excluding transition-related treatment from employee health care plans. They expressed their happiness and dedication in working together to help their clients. Other Republican-dominated states with anti-transgender laws in place are also facing challenges. According to the shared article in Yahoo! News, some of these states have advanced anti-transgender laws over time. A trial court in North Carolina mandated that the state provide "medically necessary services," such as hormone therapy and certain operations, for transgender workers and their offspring. An appeal has been made to the Fourth U.S. The case has been consolidated with a related dispute in West Virginia by the Circuit Court of Appeals. No decision were still made as of the moment. Related Article:Nebraska Conservatives Take Risk by Merging Abortion, Trans Health Bans in Legislation Pixabay/Joshua Tee Protestant churches in Hong Kong are under increasing pressure to "Sinicize" in order to fulfill Beijing's goal of transforming churches into tools of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In terms used by the Chinese government, "Sinicization" describes both the adaptation of churches to Chinese culture and their submission to CCP control. Hong Kong is now under the sway of the state-controlled Three-Self Church of Protestantism from the Chinese mainland. On May 1819, at the YMCA Hotel in Hong Kong, its chairman, Pastor Xu Xiaohong, presided over a "Seminar on the Sinicization of Christianity." He was accompanied by Pastor Wu Wei, the leader of the China Christian Council, the governing body for the Chinese Protestant churches, as well as other clergy and five academics who studied the Three-Self. Hong Kong's Protestant Churches Under Pressure to 'Sinicize' According to the article on the Anglican website, there were about 120 Protestant leaders from Hong Kong. Archbishop Andrew Chan, the head of the Hong Kong Anglican Church, was one of them, and he blessed the attendees. Pastor Wu Wei made it clear that the "Sinicization" of Christianity, as envisioned by Chinese President Xi Jinping, involves more than just swapping out Western iconography for Chinese. It entails a complete adaptation to the CCP Central Committee-led political system in China. Pastor Xu Xiaohong echoed this sentiment when he said that "Sinicization" refers to the process of assimilating Christianity into the existing Chinese society. Since China is a socialist country, it is expected that Hong Kong's churches will also conform to socialism. In the shared article in Bitter Winter, Pastor Shan Weixiang, vice president of the China Christian Council, stressed the importance of "Sinicizing" churches in his final remarks. He claimed that genuine Hong Kong Christian patriots are those who adjust their churches in accordance with the model used in mainland China, referring to the current period as "the time of the patriots." Shan emphasized the enormous significance of this seminar, expressing his belief in its historical significance. Also Read:Chinese Christian Church Members Detained in Thailand; Fear Persecution in China 'Sinicization of Christianity' and Its Potential Impact on Global Churches Rev. Xu recounted the history of the promotion of Christianity in China, arguing that the sinicization of Christianity was both necessary and optional for the growth of the faith in that country. According to China Christian Daily, he made it clear that the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China were not intended to alter Christian ideas but rather to highlight the necessity of Chinese features for Christianity. The chairman added that the church should function better inside a socialist society, and theological thought should be sinicized in order to honor God and help society. He argued that these concepts may serve as a guide for the growth of worldwide churches, particularly in developing nations. The seminar covered research on key figures in the history of Christianity in China, case studies on pastoral practice and theological education in China, and theoretical discussions based on comparative religion. The symposium also hosted 14 pastors and scholars from mainland China and Hong Kong who engaged in discussions around three sub-themes: "Mission and Pastoral Care," "Theological Education," and "Church History." Related Article: Chinese Bishop Calls for Unity Urging Catholics to Embrace Official Church, Leave 'Underground' Behind Wikimedia Commons/Long Thien During his Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis expressed his prayers and support for the Church in China. He prayed that those in need might find comfort and inspiration in the unity and support of the entire Church. He showed particular sympathy for the suffering. In addition to being the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, which Pope Benedict XVI instituted in 2007, this speech was delivered on May 24. Every year, it coincides with the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, which is celebrated at the shrine to Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai. Pope Francis Advocates for the Church in China During General Audience According to Vatican News, Pope Francis urged all Christians to pray for the Church in China during his speech. He fervently pleaded with everyone to focus their prayers on the goal of spreading the Gospel of Christ, as it is revealed in His crucifixion and resurrection. The importance of this for the Catholic Church and larger Chinese society was emphasized by the Pope. Several chaplains who serve the Chinese Catholic population throughout Italy were present in St. Peter's Square. In the article shared in Independent Catholic News, the Pope ended his speech by reciting a prayer that Pope Benedict XVI wrote in 2008, calling on Our Lady of Sheshan to be the "Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross." The prayer asks Our Lady to watch over and lead the Chinese people, pleading with her to make Catholics trustworthy witnesses of the love and to keep them holding to the cornerstone of Peter, on which the Church is founded. Also Read:Pope Francis Honors 21 Coptic Martyrs Slain by ISIS, Includes Them in Catholic Calendar Urging to Freely Share the Gospel in China In the article shared in the ACIA Africa, the Pope expressed his support for Chinese Catholics, acknowledging that he shared their pleasures and aspirations. He encouraged the faithful to find comfort and inspiration through the solidarity and unity of the entire Church and expressed particular sympathy for those who were suffering. In addition, Pope Francis urged people to pray for the complete, beautiful, and liberating proclamation of the gospel of the sacrificing and ever loving lord, which would benefit both the Catholic Church and Chinese society at large. The event, named The World Day of Prayer for the Church in China was established by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 to be in line with the celebration of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is considered as the country's patroness. Inviting Catholics to pray for the direction and safety of the People of God in China at this time, Benedict XVI urged them to travel the pathways of love and truth, fostering peaceful coexistence among all residents. The prayer considers the Virgin Mary's significant contribution to the tale of redemption, from her obedient acceptance of God's will in Nazareth through her participation in the work of redemption to her vigil at Calvary by the side of her dying Son. Related Article:Pope Francis Offers Compassion and Support in the Aftermath of Devastating Northern Italy Floods Pexels/MART PRODUCTION Wippell & Co, a well-known producer of clerical robes and church furnishings, is slated to shut its doors by the end of the year because of financial issues made worse by the pandemic. The company started in Devon in 1789 and has been in business for nearly two centuries, making handmade cassocks, vestments, and altar frontals. Wippell & Co has been a long-standing supplier to the Anglican Church, Church of Scotland, United Reform Church, Episcopal Church, and Methodist Church in the UK. The company's clients included denominations established in the US, Australia, Sweden, and other countries. The company not only manufactures clerical clothing but also academic gowns and mortarboards. Shut Down Amid Pandemic Woes and Overseas Competition According to the article in Christian Today, the pandemic caused an economic slowdown for the corporation, and the cancellation of university commencement exercises and other in-person events resulted in significant financial losses. Despite a history spanning over 220 years, the challenging circumstances have compelled the company to cease operations by the year's end. They also need help competing with less expensive, machine-made foreign alternatives. The business, which has been in operation for more than 220 years, specializes in making altar frontals, vestments, and cassocks by hand. In the article shared in Business Live, Robin Richardson, chairman, and director, expressed his sorrow over the developing situation and his intention to aid everyone involved during the difficult times. Richardson expressed his gratitude to the highly skilled cutters, tailors, and embroidery artists on his long-standing staff for their dedication and talents. Despite the impending closure, Richardson insisted that the business would carry on as usual in the upcoming months in order to service and complete graduation ceremonies for 2023. Customers have been assured that the high standards of the business will be upheld during this time. Richardson stated that despite the impending closure, the business would carry on as usual in the coming months, honoring all agreements to service and complete graduation ceremonies for 2023. Customers have been assured that the high standards of the business will be preserved throughout this time. Also Read:Church Founded In 1848 Closing Due To COVID: The Pandemic Killed Us Church Robes Manufacturer Wippell & Co, a Supplier to HBO and Madame Tussauds According to the story shared in MSN, Wippell & Co, which started out as a grocery store and tea distributor, quickly added tailoring, funeral planning, and church decorating to its offerings. The business has had a wide range of clients over the course of its history, including the Anglican Church, Church of Scotland, United Reform Church, Episcopal Church, and Methodist Church. Wippell & Co. produced and supplied military gear, such as parachutes and torpedo mechanisms, during the World Wars, aiding in the war effort. The business has been supplying a wide range of clients in recent years, including HBO for historical dramas, British television programs like Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as well as Madame Tussauds and theater productions like the musical Sister Act. World-famous cathedrals and archbishops are also on its distinguished clientele list. In acknowledging the difficult few years endured as a result of the pandemic and increased competition from lower quality machine-made overseas clothing, director Christine Morrish expressed her regret over the challenges brought on by the changing times. Despite these hurdles, she reaffirmed the company's dedication to its employees and promised to ensure the completion of customer orders in the upcoming months. Related Article:Christian School in Kansas City That Promotes Inclusivity of LGBTQ Individuals is Closing On a sunny March afternoon in 2014, I found myself jumping on the L train from Manhattan to Williamsburg to interview a young, urban pastor named Carl Lentz in his luxury waterfront apartment. A trendy evangelical magazine wanted me to profile him. With its nightclub venues and award-winning worship music, his Hillsong church was attracting thousands of diverse young people from around New York City. Lentz is now featured in an FX documentary, The Secrets of Hillsong, which examines his string of affairs and the embattled church he left behind. The four-episode expose features a solemn and emotional Lentz sharing that he was sexually abused as a child, admitting to moral failings (from sexual indiscretions to drug abuse), and describing the conflict among Hillsong leadership and staff. The documentary dropped the same day that another New York City pastor made headlines: Redeemer Presbyterian Churchs founder, Tim Keller, died of cancer on May 19. In the mid-2000s, both Redeemer and Hillsong drew flocks of spiritually curious New Yorkers, and both brought in around 5,000 attendees weekly across several services. For two years during college, I attended both churches simultaneously. After growing up as a homeschooled pastors kid in New England, I moved to New York City for undergrad. But it wasnt just the star-studded Manhattan sidewalks that grabbed my attention; it was also the churches led by rapidly rising evangelical stars, including Keller and Lentz. Since then, the evangelical church has been waking up to the pitfalls of platforming and creating celebrity pastors. Weve watched many of them fall hard into sin after they were groomed for leadership at a young age and given too much power too fast. By contrast, celebrity pastors like Tim Keller, who finish their race faithfully if imperfectly, seem anomalous. But a decade ago, many, like me, didnt know better. I didnt understand that my unreflective consumerism and curiosity contributed in part to the creation of celebrity pastors. I hardly understood the theological distinctives between a strongly Presbyterian church and a loosely Pentecostal one. I also didnt get how leadership structures and accountability systems can make or break a church and its leader. Despite my naivete, it was hard to miss the stark differences between both churches and their leaders: One formed me. The other entertained me. Redeemer Presbyterians services were marked by hymns, thoughtful and lengthy sermons often delivered by campus pastors rather than Keller (who rotated between campuses), and after-service coffee hour. One campus hosted a jazz-themed worship service on Sunday evenings. I was drawn to the family-friendly environment and the feeling of being biblically and morally challenged each week. Article continues below But Hillsongs vibe was exhilarating. Doors would open minutes before service, catching the attention of passers-by with lines around the block on a Sunday morning. Many described their visit as an experience. And it wasthe dark room, neon stage lights, thumping worship music, and hyped-up message felt like a concert. Sometimes a small moshpit formed near the stage. During announcements or a meet-and-greet, ushers passed out cups of candy and water. Hillsong successfully drew many people who might not step in the doors of a traditional church: they claimed tens of thousands of converts since its inception. Even if I knew I wasnt being theologically fed in the same way as Redeemer, I couldnt stay away. Like their churches, the two pastors couldnt have been more different. Keller started in humble beginnings. He cut his teeth at a small, rural church in Virginia and initially resisted the call to New York. He loved the intellectual side of the faith, acquiring multiple theological degrees, writing dozens of books, and even quitting his first pastorate to become a seminary professor. Keller had many famous friends but didnt flaunt those relationships. Many features of his ministry made him the anti-celebrity pastor , even while he had significant influence and reach, wrote Katelyn Beaty in the wake of his death. Keller valued substance over style. As several people pointed out after his death, Keller waited until he was in his late 50s to publish his first book. Lentz published a memoir at 39. Kellers church only ballooned to its current size in the wake of 9/11. Lentz, on the other hand, was poised to be an influential Hillsong leader in his early 20s, as a close friend of the founding family, Brian and Bobbie Houston. Though he didnt excel at or love school before Bible college, most of Lentzs formation came from Hillsong College. And once he became a pastor, Lentz claims, Brian Houston pushed him at a pace he didnt feel he could handle, at times preaching seven times on a Sunday. We can barely handle what we have right now, Lentz recalls in the documentary. We dont have enough leaders; our structure is not strong enough Before you know it, youre so far in over your head that its a matter of time. Article continues below The idea of writing about a celebrity pastor having an affair, to be honest, felt pretty pedestrian to me, Vanity Fair writer Alex French says in the documentary. There was something else larger that was happening at this church. These deeper, foundational issues are only briefly touched on in the film: the platforming of celebrity pastors, the consumer mindset of many attendees, and the emaciated ecclesiology and discipleship of such churches. The nefarious truth is that we, too, are often responsible for creating celebrity pastors. In college, was I hungry for Scripture and gospel-centered community? Yes. Was I also willing to be emotionally titillated, spiritually distracted and even entertained, and looking for a place to belong? Also, yes. Regardless of their similarities or differences, I was not looking to become a family member of either church or a caring Christian sister of either pastor, joining in the work of the saints and the partnership in the gospel (Eph. 4:12, Phil. 1:5). I was consuming them, looking to check a box on Sunday mornings at the most entertaining or attractive one-hour experience I could find. Ultimately, I ended my time in New York at a small church plant where I served as a member of that community. Jesus triumphed over sin not by taking up power but by serving sacrificially. He won through losing everything. This is a complete reversal of the worlds way of thinking, which values power, recognition, wealth, and status, wrote Keller in his book Center Church. The gospel, then, creates a new kind of servant community, with people who live out an entirely alternate way of being human. Today, Lentz has found a home at Michael Todds Transformation Church, a predominately Black nondenominational megachurch in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Back in 2014, Lentz told me that he thought Christians should avoid things that made them vulnerable to sin, and that his priority was to the Great Commission. Balance is a funny word, he said in the interview, My calling is not to Hillsong New York City, my calling is to serve Jesus and be a good husband and father. If I do that right, the church ends up being fine. Kara Bettis Carvalho is an associate editor at Christianity Today. Hundreds of millions of people have used ChatGPT since its arrival last November to plan vacation itineraries, help them code better, create pop-culture sonnet mashups, and learn the finer details of their beliefs. For years, Christians have Googled their theological questions to find articles written by humans answering questions about God and God's Word. Now, people can take these questions to AI chatbots. How will natural language-processing tools like ChatGPT change how we interpret the Bible? Eight AI experts from around the world and Chat GPT itself weighed in. Pablo A. Ruz Salmones, CEO, X eleva Group, Mexico City, Mexico As John 17:17 says, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (ESV). Thus, interpreting the Bible is, to a great extent, the search for Truth. Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT dont have, by definition, a source of truth; its simply not in the modelhence why sometimes they make things up and extrapolate. They are incapable of finding truth, so that even when they do stumble across it, they are unable to recognize it as such. Thus, when reading an output of an LLM regarding the Bible, we must understand that said output does not come from its search for truth within His Word but rather from a mixed regurgitation and extrapolationa.k.a. algorithmsof what others have said. As a result, ChatGPT cannot offer a new interpretation of the Bible by itself; rather, a person querying ChatGPT may find in the chatbots answer a new way to interpret the Bible, just as they may find it in an answer offered by a parrot. Because it copies others, the parrot ends up speaking truth, even if it has no idea it has done so. Suman Kumar Polepaka, founder of BibleMate, now based in Munich, Germany Generative text AI models, like ChatGPT, are transforming how we seek answers to theological queries. Gone are the days of Googling and scrolling through endless articles. Instead, AI chatbots offer instant, clear, and authoritative responses, compiled from a vast array of texts, books, and articles. Their convenience, speed, and interactive nature make them a go-to resource. They can even enhance personal Bible study by providing instant, diverse interpretations and context for any passage. But here's the catch: ChatGPT, being a general-purpose model, may lack theological or biblical accuracy. Its goal isn't to foster personal relationships with God or nurture spiritual growth. Article continues below This led me to create BibleMate.org, a ChatGPT-based alternative. BibleMate's mission is to provide biblically accurate answers and guide users on their faith journey. It's about ensuring AI doesn't just offer information but contributes meaningfully to spiritual growth. This project is still in its early stages, and I'm excited to see how it evolves. Ang Wie Hay, IT practitioner and preacher, Singapore ChatGPTs speed in collecting and filtering information, integrating and sorting data, and providing summaries in numerous languages gives it an intelligence not possessed by any normal human. This technology means that Christians looking for biblical advice may ask ChatGPT to apply Scripture passages to various contexts. ChatGPTs various language capabilities may make it easier for us to perform exegetical studies of Bible verses from the original language of the Bible to various local languages. ChatGPT is not a human who is able to distinguish the will of God or determine the truth of the Bible. So a persons own biblical insight is paramount in deciding whether the answer from ChatGPT is in accordance with his or her faith. As a preacher, Im grateful that ChatGPT will greatly help to speed up the preparation of sermon manuscripts. And at the same time, the pastor still needs an intimate relationship with God, so that the preacher is sensitive in capturing the wisdom and guidance from God. My hope is that with ChatGPT's speed in responding to our requests, the pastor can spend more time cultivating an intimate relationship with God. Sharath Chandra Kogila, product line manager working on AI initiatives at Dell Technologies, Bangalore, India We need to address information overload immediately. Due to the amount of information that we are exposed to, our cognition gets impaired and our ability to summarize, understand, and extract value out of information is challenged. From this generation forward, we will rely on AI systems like ChatGPT, which are based on large language models, to interpret and summarize information for us. The problem I see here is that models can be trained to reflect a specific worldview or ideology when reading information (including the Bible). This would especially affect someone new to the faith looking for resources and information. Any type of content, including voice, may be produced and made to look real using GPT systems. That's a serious risk, since we can't tell the difference between truth and counterfeiting or engineered from original content. Furthermore, with such systems, information cannot be traced back to a sourceunlike accessing information via the web, where information must be linked to a website and its authenticity can be more easily verified. In such instances, either all information must be trusted or none at all. When such methodologies are used, the AI systems either have a neutral point of view or a politically prejudiced point of view, both of which are undesirable when interpreting situations from a biblical perspective. Article continues below Batseba Kassahun, HR consultant who has previously supported digital health, e-learning, and telecommunication companies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Too often the global church values Western culture, regardless of whether this culture has any historic Christian connection. While we currently don't have ChatGPT available in Ethiopia, I fear it will just become another tool that leads Christians to further glorify Western culture. I also worry that its answers and application to us Ethiopians would be limited, as ChatGPT is designed to work for a very different context. Christians who do have access to ChatGPT have to wrestle with the fact that this AI generates well-developed sermons and teaching. If it can do this, how much more can it imitate our personal Bible study? Our personal transformation happens through our own digging and studying the Bible. What will happen if we are only fed summaries and conclusions? An IT professional and AI thought leader, whose public sector job has not authorized him to make public comments due to the nature of job assignment, India When interacting with a user, natural language processing tools like ChatGPT use a process known as word embeddings. Each word embedding has its own internal mathematical rules for associating different words together to construct a sentence in order to reply to a query. Each word in a next-possible word list to construct a sentence is assigned a probability, and a final word is chosen based on maximum probability or the result of preference (bias) introduced through reinforcement learning with human feedback. As a result, any query that ChatGPT answers depends upon the training data used in pretraining and human feedback provided when fine-tuning the model. The internet training data used by ChatGPT has both pro-Christian [writing collections] as well as critical or anti-Christian [collections]. Article continues below Further, chatbots like ChatGPT can be deliberately poisoned by fake or synthetic data and can hallucinate answers (i.e., create convincing but fake answers). Hence, any response from ChatGPT would need critical evaluation for its theological validity and historical accuracy. Even with these serious limitations, ChatGPT is great tool for studying the Word of God, as it readily provides concise and free reference to a vast amount of premium Bible teachings through countless blogs, discussions, discourses, commentaries, maps, charts, handbooks, systematic theology books, general Christian books and study Bibles. For Indian Christians who want to use ChatGPT, for better or worse, this vast amount of knowledge is available mostly in English, and there is not much in local Indian languages like Hindi or 21 other official languages. Marcelo Cabral, editorial and education manager at ABC2 or Associacao Brasileira de Cristaos na Ciencia (Brazilian Association of Christians in Science), Sao Paulo Brazil On the one hand, ChatGPT can provide a framework, suggestions of interpreters, and accessible summaries of theological traditions that may greatly improve Christians (both lay and ordained) in their practices of reading and designing Bible studies. On the other hand, ChatGPT will become one more obstacle (along with social media) in Christians pursuing deep reflection of biblical texts. It discourages Christians from reading the biblical text for themselves and allowing the biblical text to read the reader in return. This intellectual and spiritual work may be super-automatized, thus atrophying minds and hearts in the formative process of thinking and creating. Benjamin Bimanywaruhanga, AI practitioner, Uganda Ugandans are spiritual and would like to learn what teachings there are in the Bible that relate to their real-life situations. Many would use ChatGPT if it was built with them in mind. However, whereas the developed world has benefited from the internet as a source of knowledge, it has eluded the majority of the population in developing countries. Most people do not speak the international languages offered by the internet, so only the elite have previously utilized it as a source of information. With increasing internet penetration and a growing number of chat-based internet applications that use [specialized communication] pathways, theres an opportunity for many in the developed world to turn to these places for knowledge. However, this depends on tools like ChatGPT operating in local languages. When that occurs, we will see an adoption of ChatGPT-like applications that supersede the number of users in the West, similar to this part of the world leapfrogging the developed world in the mobile money revolution. Article continues below ChatGPT Natural language-processing tools like ChatGPT will change how we interpret the Bible by increasing accessibility to biblical interpretations and explanations, providing diverse perspectives, enabling contextual understanding, and offering personalized guidance. They allow immediate access to theological information, making it more inclusive. ChatGPT can process a wide range of sources, promoting a nuanced understanding of the Bible. It can analyze context, historical background, and cultural references, aiding in accurate interpretations. The tool engages in conversational interactions, helping users navigate complex concepts and apply teachings to personal circumstances. However, AI chatbots are tools, not substitutes for human interpretation. The Bible's complexity requires expertise, discernment, and theological understanding. While AI chatbots provide valuable insights, engaging with trained theologians and scholars remains essential for comprehensive Bible interpretation. He never treated New York as this hostile Sodom and Gomorrah, says New York Times columnist David Brooks in this weeks special edition of The Bulletin. Instead, pastor Timothy Keller saw New Yorkers like Jesus saw them as sheep without a Shepherd, as yearning and finding their yearnings unmet. This week, Tim Keller died at the age of 72 after a three year struggle with pancreatic cancer. In this episode of The Bulletin, hosts Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore talk with friends who knew and loved Tim. Biographer Collin Hansen shares about Kellers origins as a pastor, from his seminary experience to his back-up job prospects as a mail carrier. CTs Nicole Martin and David Brooks talk about Kellers commitment to city ministry and the evangelistic passion that spread because of his witness and work. Finally, artist Makoto Fujimura joins the episode to reflect on Kellers generous care for his vocational work as a painter. If you, like Russell Moore, are already missing Tim Kellers voice, youll find comfort, encouragement and hope remembering him in this episode. Joining us this week: Collin Hansen serves as vice president for content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, as well as executive director of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He hosts the Gospelbound podcast and has written and contributed to many books, most recently Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation and Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential. He has published with the New York Times and the Washington Post and offered commentary for CNN, Fox News, NPR, BBC, ABC News, and PBS NewsHour. He edited Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor and The New City Catechism Devotional, among other books. He is a member of Iron City Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and he is an adjunct professor at Beeson Divinity School, where he also co-chairs the advisory board. Nicole Martin serves Christianity Today as chief impact officer after serving on its board of directors. Nicole oversees three major strategic initiatives that are shaping the future of CT including The Global Initiative, the Big Tent Initiative, and the Next Gen Initiative. David Brooks's column on the Op-Ed page of The New York Times started in September 2003. He has been a senior editor at The Weekly Standard, a contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly, and he is currently a commentator on "The Newshour with Jim Lehrer." He is the author of Bobos In Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There and On Paradise Drive : How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense, both published by Simon & Schuster. He is also a frequent analyst on NPRs "All Things Considered" and the "Diane Rehm Show." His articles have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, the Washington Post, and many other magazines. He is editor of the anthology Backward and Upward: The New Conservative Writing (Vintage Books). Article continues below Makoto Fujimura is one of the most unique and significant artists of our time, a painter whose work explores a combination of contemporary American abstract expressionism and traditional Japanese art of Nihonga. Born in the U.S. and educated both in Japan and in the U.S., he has had over one hundred and forty exhibits in New York , Japan, Santa Fe and around the world. He formed the International Arts Movement and in 2003 was appointed by the President to the National Council on the Arts. Resources Referenced: Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formationby Collin Hansen Tim Keller Taught Me About Joy by David Brooks The Road to Character by David Brooks I Already Miss Tim Kellers Wise Voice by Russell Moore The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks Jude 3 Project The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? by Timothy Keller Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura The Bulletin is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Hosts: Mike Cosper and Russell Moore Producer: Matt Stevens Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Music: Dan Phelps Graphic Design: Bryan Todd Additional Design: Amy Jones Social Media: Kate Lucky Welcome back! After a two-week break, Viral Jesus is back and ready to serve you in a variety of ways this summer. We are kicking off our first pod-class of summer today with the first episode of our new two-part series I Think I Need a Therapist. You will have plenty to chew on after listening to this episode. In the midst of what many are calling a national mental health crisis, young people are hurting, families are hurting, pastors and churches are hurting. Even some who once pooh-poohed therapists and psychology are recognizing their need for help. Today Heather sits down with critically acclaimed author and therapist Aundi Kolber to discuss strength, trauma, survival, and the slow miracle of being aligned with the Spirit of God. Also, for this weeks Social Toolkit, Brady Shearer is back to give us the Three Ss of meaningful social media posts. Guest Bio Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and author of the critically acclaimed Try Softer. Her latest book is Strong Like Water: Finding the Freedom, Safety, and Compassion to Move Through Hard Thingsand Experience True Flourishing. Aundi has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Aundi regularly speaks at local and national events, and she has appeared on podcasts such as The Lazy Genius with Kendra Adachi, Typology, Go and Tell Gals, and The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including Ill See You Tomorrow and Its Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Producer: Loren Joseph Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Mix Engineer: Alex Carter Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper North Dakota Christian school donates over 1,500 pounds of food to local charity A North Dakota Christian school has collected nearly 1,500 pounds of donated nonperishable food items and over $650 in funds during an event to benefit a local food pantry. Hope Christian Academy in Dickinson held the fundraiser spearheaded by Wendy Timmerman's second-grade class on May 19. As the school year came to a close, Timmerman's second-grade class decided to fulfill a service project for the community. Following prayers about what they should embark on as a class, students picked the carnival fundraiser which they held in the schools gymnasium to raise funds and gather food donations. The gymnasium was transformed into a carnival theme and featured games, craft stations and baked goods. The class decided to invite Pre-K through 12th-grade students to join in donating nonperishable foods for the fundraiser. The food and funds raised by the event will go to the Dickinson-based Association To Meet Emergency Needs Inc., also known as the AMEN Food Pantry. For more than 35 years, the pantry has served those in need within the community. Hope Christian partnered with the local Evangelical Bible Church congregation and area residents to receive more donations. After three weeks of gathering donations, the second graders delivered the 1,469 pounds of food to the AMEN Food Pantry. I have been so blessed to witness the childlike faith of these young people. They sincerely believe in the power of prayer, Timmerman said, referring to the students, in an interview with The Dickinson Press. Timmerman noted that the effort wouldn't have been a success if it werent for the faith and innocence of the students. I have learned so much from their innocent examples of complete trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to answer prayer, she added. Hope Christians website identifies itself as a school that teaches the Lord Jesus Christ is preeminent in every aspect of life, including education [and] this comprehensive principle underlies every aspect of academic study, each activity, and all of school life. Students attending Hope Christian Academy are educated based on the foundation of Gods unchanging word, equipping them for a Christian life of service and leadership, stated the academy. "Even though the facts of knowledge are identical for both, Hope Christian Academy teaches that no subject can be taught in the totality of its truth when the Creator is denied or ignored." Israels future? Earlier this month the state of Israel celebrated her 75th birthday. In 1948 the Jewish population in British-governed Palestine swollen greatly in number by the immigration of Jewish survivors of the European Holocaust declared their independence and the establishment of the state of Israel. They were badly outnumbered and faced immediate attacks by the modern armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and other neighboring Arab countries. Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the Israelis won their war of independence. They were able to maintain their freedom in spite of the intense and unrelenting hostility of the Arab populations that surrounded them. In 1967, facing an imminent attack by Egypt from the South, Jordan from the East, and Syria from the North, Israel executed a lightning military strike and won an overwhelming victory in the aptly titled Six-Day War. They followed that up with yet another stunning victory over Egypt and Syria in 1973. In spite of these displays of admirable military prowess, Israel still lives in a very dangerous neighborhood. The Israelis face the daily threat of terrorist attacks, coupled with the growing strength of an Iranian regime sworn to the destruction of Israel and hell-bent on acquiring their own nuclear weaponry. The mullahs who run the Islamic State of Iran have openly speculated that they could do with one nuclear bomb exploded in Tel Aviv, what Hitler failed to doeliminate the majority of the worlds Jews. It is difficult to imagine a more realistic or lethal existential threat to a nations continued existence. At the same time, there has been open speculation both in Israel and in the United States about the future of Americas relationship with Israel. With the potential decline of the Middle East as a foreign policy priority of the United States, both Israelis and Americans are asking, What then? There will be pressure from isolationists on the American right and progressives on the American left, which will both have significant numbers of their ranks questioning whether American resources should continue to be used to buttress the defense capabilities of the state of Israel. These potential developments caused Walter Russell Mead to write a column in The Wall Street Journal entitled, Israel at 75 is Threatened but Strong. Meads main point is that while many may question Israels future in such circumstances, in reality, Israel today is orders of magnitude stronger, wealthier, and more influential than it was in 1948. History offers no guarantees and problems remain, but the citizens of this extraordinary state have every reason to look forward with hope! I always enjoy reading Meads columns, but I must confess my immediate reaction to this conclusion was that he hadnt gotten it quite right. Like tens of millions of other Evangelicals in North America and beyond, I believe that Israels future is certain and fixed. While significant parts of American Protestantism have embraced so-called Replacement Theology, which means that Gods promises to His people Israel in the Old Testament have been replaced with Gods promises to the people of God in the New Testament (the church), there are tens of millions of Protestant Evangelicals who believe that Gods promises to the Jews were unconditional and were never abrogated. We believe that God led the Jews back to the Holy Land that He had promised them forever as far back as the twelfth chapter of the biblical book of Genesis: Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy fathers house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless them and make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Gen. 12: 1-3). This passage of Holy Scripture introduces the Abrahamic Covenant, which includes these unconditional commitments by God: (1) Abraham will have unlimited, divine blessing (2) Abraham will be protected and his blessing is extended to his progeny, seed (3) God is giving them the land of Canaan forever. So, for tens of millions of Evangelical Christians (including myself), God has never abrogated His promises to the Jews which include first, the land of Canaan forever, and second, He blesses those who bless the Jews and curses those who curse the Jews. When I hear people ask, What does the future of Israel look like?, my answer is It looks guaranteed by God! Several years ago, George Stephanopoulos asked me, I understand you support Israel, but what happens when the national interests of the United States and Israel diverge/ My answer was, George, that is a trick question. If you believe what I believe, when we bless Israel, God blesses us, and when we dont He doesnt! Then I said, George, look at the 20th-century history of the arguably most anti-Semitic countries, German, Poland, and Russia compared to the 20th-century history of the two least anti-Semitic countries in the West Great Britain and the United States. Which 20th century would you like to have had? God blesses those who bless the Jews and God curses those who curse the Jews. So, when I am asked about Israels future I reply that Israel has an iron-clad promise from a far more powerful protector than the United States of America He is called the Lion of Judah. Gods promises to Israel are unconditional. Gods promises to America are conditional. God blesses us when we bless the Jews, if and when we dont, His blessings are no longer guaranteed. So, Israels future looks very bright and unconditionally guaranteed. Americas future is far more conditional and will to a significant degree, be determined by our support for Israel, or lack thereof. Actor Kirk Cameron releases new childrens book teaching humility while others celebrate 'pride' Actor Kirk Cameron will release a new childrens book in June, at the beginning of what LGBT activists call "pride month." The book is designed to teach children lessons on how they can live humble lives and avoid being prideful. In an interview with The Christian Post, Cameron summarized his book, Pride Comes Before The Fall, as an exciting new childrens book that features two main animal characters, an elephant named Kevin and a zebra-like cat creature named Valor. Valor and Kevin are partnered together to compete in a canoeing race against other breeds of animals who formed groups of their own as they seek to reach the finish line. At the start of the story, Valor is upset because he didn't want to be paired with Kevin to compete in the canoeing race. All the other animals had teamed up with one another before Valor could try to partner with another animal besides Kevin. Valor is filled with pride throughout the book because he judges Kevin by viewing himself as far more talented and capable of winning the race without Kevins help. Valor also sees Kevin as not talented enough at canoeing to win any race. Throughout the book, Valor learns that humility is key in life and he humbles himself and works together with Kevin to finish the race. I wrote this book to teach kids the importance of humility, Cameron told The Christian Post. It's so exciting to see the kids react as strongly as they did a couple of weekends ago at the Billy Graham Library. We previewed the book and the kids got so excited because the story has lots of adventure and lots of danger. And the parents loved it because it underscores the importance of humility during a time when children are being taught to celebrate the opposite, which is pride. And pride, we know from experience and we know from the Bible is dangerous. The Bible says that pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall and that its better to have a humble spirit with the lowly than to share plunder with the crowd, he added. Kids deserve to know the truth and they deserve to know whats going to lead to their blessing. Nobody likes a proud person. Everybody loves a humble person. Think of your own life. Do you want a husband who is proud and full of himself? Or do you want someone who is going to put his wife and children before himself and be the servant of all? Thats humility. And thats what my book teaches kids. Cameron insisted that it was no accident that his book is being released on June 1, which is the start of the month recognized by LGBT activists as pride month. In popular culture, the month of June once known as the height of wedding season is now celebrated by corporations as pride month by displaying rainbow colors affiliated with LGBT activism on their social media profiles as well as offering special editions of products that pay homage to LGBT ideology. I think my book couldnt be coming out at a better time for a couple of reasons. No. 1, Im thrilled that this book is out just in time for kids and their summer reading programs. Kids are getting out of school in June. And parents and teachers are making lists for kids to read over the summer to get them off of television and away from their phones and social media, Cameron said. No. 2, this is a book that will teach kids the importance of character, especially humility. And the other reason is, this book is the first of a series of books Im writing on the seven deadly sins and the deadliest of them all is pride, he continued. Its grieving to me and to millions of Americans that we have an entire month that is being devoted to celebrating a very dangerous vice. And I think that its great that children are being attracted to the virtue of humility, not just this month in June but in every month of the year. Cameron described writing this book as a humbling experience for him because he struggled with pride in his past: I think that pride leads us to compare ourselves to other people. And thats not limited to church people. Its often in church where people learn the importance of remembering. So that's why Im so grateful. I had a problem with pride when I was a kid and it was in church that I learned about humility. Christians and people of faith ought to be leading our children and the nation to be known for our humility, not for our pride. Pride causes us to compare ourselves to one another, to try to have these one-up contests to see who can be bigger, who can be better, who can be faster, who can be more famous, and that doesnt lead anywhere, he added. Cameron noted that pride is the worst of all sins, according to Scripture: Pride; when it comes to self-focus, is the worst of all sins. Its the mother sin that gives birth to greed, to lust, to envy, to sloth, to gluttony and all the other things you dont want for your children. What we ought to be doing is humbling ourselves, considering others needs before ourselves and helping each other. And thats what God says in the Bible. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. Trent Talbot serves as CEO of Brave Publishing Co., the conservative publishing company that published Camerons book. He told CP in an interview that he was pleased to work with Cameron on his new book because he admires the messages and lessons the book will teach children: I struggle with pride. We all struggle with pride and especially children. And it makes that struggle even more difficult when kids see pride being celebrated for an entire month and it can make us and children think that theres nothing wrong with pride. But the Bible clearly states that its not just a sin. Its the most deadly of sins. Its a very important topic that we all need to be reminded of and especially kids, Talbot asserted. Christian school fires staff accused of potential 'multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme' A Utah-based Christian K-12 academy fired four top administrators for their alleged involvement in what is potentially a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme involving tuition funds. The Layton Christian Academy has filed a lawsuit in an effort to recoup some of the losses and prevent the accused individuals from accessing the financial records. On Tuesday, the academy held an open discussion with parents at the Children's Center Auditorium to discuss concerns about a lack of transparency and communication. As KSL-TV reported Monday, the four terminated individuals are Greg Miller, head of the school; Karen Miller, an administrator; Jared Miller, secondary education principal; and Lexie Miller, a student life advisor. The fired administrators are all members of the same family. In a Monday letter to the academy's community, Rev. Myke Crowder, founder of Layton Christian Academy and senior pastor at the Christian Life Center in Layton, stated that he "had no choice but to terminate" the four administrators. "They are immediately terminated from all employment and representation of Christian Life Center Church or Layton Christian Academy, Eagle Elite Sports, or any other programs related to CLC or LCA," Crowder wrote. Due to pending legal proceedings, the academy founder stated in the same letter that the school could not release further details related to the administrators' termination. In a separate letter, Crowder promised to address parents' concerns about a lack of communication from school administrators and vowed that new administrative staff would be "open and transparent." "We recognize the lack of communication that has been happening over the past months has been difficult for many of you. It has been difficult for me to watch as the founder of Layton Christian Academy and the pastor of CLC for over 35 years," Crowder stated. The Layton Christian Academy did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. In a separate Monday KSL-TV report, the outlet analyzed court documents related to the lawsuit filed by the Christian Life Center, which owns and operates the academy. The church was founded as the First Assembly of God in 1952. Crowder was elected pastor in 1986, and the academy opened in 1993. The lawsuit alleges that the school administrators were behind a "massive fraud and potentially multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme." "If the Millers are not stopped, they could financially destroy Christian Life Center as a whole," the document claims. The legal filings allege the Millers diverted tuition money to support their business ventures. An internal investigation into the scandal began after Myke Crowder's son, Chris Crowder, became suspicious late last year after an $88,000 invoice was discovered. "We did an internal investigation, and that investigation got to the point where we felt like we needed to turn it over to proper authorities," Crowder said. "Regardless of how many controls you have on transactions, seems like there is always something you can get around." Last February, a Catholic nun was sentenced to a year in jail after she was convicted of stealing over $825,000 from a California Catholic school where she served as principal. Court documents allege that Mary Margaret Kreuper diverted funds from St. James Catholic School in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance "to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges." Church restoring hundreds of enslaved people's graves found on its property: 'Work of justice' Dozens of community members, assisted by Catholic University of America students, worked on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to identify the final resting places for hundreds of enslaved African Americans behind a chapel in Maryland. Community members used rakes and chainsaws to remove overgrowth, searching the brush behind the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bowie, a Washington suburb, for potential grave markers. Once the graves are identified, the church plans to work with the slaves' descendants to determine the best way to honor the individuals buried at the site. In a Wednesday statement to The Christian Post, Father Michael Russo, the church's parochial vicar, wrote that around 100 people, including Catholic University students, came to help with the effort on Monday. Many students were also Sacred Heart parishioners, and some were descendants of people buried on the property, according to the vicar. Other volunteers came from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to work on the project. "Six roll-off dumpsters were filled with brush and trash, and many, many possible gravesites were marked for evaluation by [anthropology professor] Dr. Laura Masur from Catholic University and her graduate students," Russo stated. "The parish community has rallied around this effort since we asked them to help in this important work of justice," he continued. "Parishioners came out in force to help by offering hospitality to our guests, by providing tools and other supplies, and by praying for those buried here." "Much work remains, and the parish, the archdiocese, Catholic University and the community of descendants of those buried here will work together in figuring out the next steps." As WTOP reported Monday, the enslaved African Americans lived and worked on the church's land. The professor told the outlet that while most are used to seeing graves marked with traditional headstones, the burial sites for enslaved people were usually marked with rocks or other objects. She also noted that the area where the slaves are buried is not an uncommon resting place for enslaved individuals. "Hillsides, sloped areas, places in the woods, places where, honestly, white people didn't want to bury their dead," Masur said. During the search, community members were careful when coming across objects suspected of being potential grave markers. Masur believes that more than 500 graves could be uncovered around the church, as the use of ground-penetrating radar has already discovered more than 150. "We're doing, I think, a good work, a good work of mercy and a good work of justice," Russo said. Toni Moore-Duggan, a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Baltimore, was one of the first volunteers to find an unmarked stone, possibly a grave. "These are lives, and we are related, and these people came over here against their will. And I want their lives to have meaning, to know that all this that we are doing today is because of them, and it matters. They matter, and their work was not in vain," Moore-Duggan said. In a statement last week to WTOP, Masur said she expects mapping out the cemetery, stretching out to a collapsing hillside, to continue throughout much of 2023. The church has considered building a memorial to honor the slaves buried on its property and those sold in a massive slave trade to bolster Georgetown University in 1828, according to WTOP. "One of the things that really came out of that discussion was a desire to have family stories told," Masur said. "It's trying to bring out those stories. We're never going to be able to identify specific individuals in every grave. But what we can do is to identify that they're somewhere and tell their stories." According to Russo, the church knew there were people buried in the woods, finding hundreds of what appeared to be potential grave sites in multiple directions. The church had confirmed close to 180 grave sites on its property earlier this month and decided to continue the search on Monday. As The Christian Post reported, archaeologists began excavating suspected graves at the Historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Virginia in July. The church is believed to have been the site of secret meetings held by slaves and ex-slaves in the 1770s at Green Spring Plantation, near Williamsburg. The congregation became an official church in 1781, led by Gowan Pamphlet, an enslaved man and the first African American to be ordained as a Baptist preacher. Archaeologists discovered in October 2021 what is believed to be the first permanent structure for the congregation, which had been built in 1818. Last March, the church's congregation approved a proposal to excavate a few potential grave shafts discovered at the site. The excavation began in July after congregation members and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation conducted an "ancestral blessing" ceremony. Jack Gary, director of archaeology at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, told CP at the time that he considered the event "a moving ceremony in honor of those whose names are known only to God." "After discussing next steps and answering questions about our work, we began the excavation process of the first of three burial sites after the ceremony. We expect the work on these three burial sites to be completed in about two months," he said. County council reverses decision not to give $750K to Christian charity due to religious views A county in Washington state has voted to give $750,000 to a Christian charity that's building a homeless shelter, reversing an earlier decision denying the funds due to the group's religious opposition to same-sex marriage. Whatcom County Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to allocate $750,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds, reversing its initial decision denying the funds to Lighthouse Mission Ministries for an industrial kitchen in its new shelter that will provide beds for as many as 300 people, according to Cascadia Daily News. The countys decision to allocate the funds was a reversal of its initial decision, as the council had voted 41 on May 9 against giving the money to Lighthouse Mission Ministries. Council member Carol Frazey had urged the council to oppose giving the Christian organization funding because of its requirement that employees not engage in sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage. CEO Hans Erchinger-Davis said in an op-ed piece published by the Cascadia Daily News on Wednesday that "we serve people from all walks of life without any faith requirements," noting that the earlier decision against funding "hurt." "The countys offer to purchase kitchen equipment would have supported our shared cause of feeding the hungry while not limiting our voluntary religious activities a win-win," wrote Erchinger-Davis. "This arbitrary decision by the county council feels biased against those who, like the mission, live out their faith every day. Since the mission serves roughly half of the homeless and at-risk population of Whatcom County, and is poised with our new facility to significantly increase this capacity, it also feels like bad governance too." The councils decision to provide the funds was made following a closed-door meeting earlier this week involving a county attorney. Although council members declined to provide further details to local media on what the conversation that ensued entailed, typically sessions of that nature are made to discuss potential litigation. Erchinger-Davis told Cascadia Daily News that while Lighthouse did not make any indication that it planned to sue over the councils original decision to refuse funding, any possible lawsuit would have likely been an open and shut case. We saw their decision from a couple of weeks ago as illegal, Erchinger-Davis said. You cant discriminate against religious groups, like they were doing with that decision." Frankly, its a win not just for Christians but for Muslims and Sikhs and Jews, and anyone of faith that wants to partner in the community to get projects done. Council member Kathy Kershner started the discussion about funding Lighthouse Missions kitchen during the May 23 meeting, reported Cascadia Daily News. Theyre actually one of the agencies thats successful with our homeless population and has a good track record of picking people up off the streets, literally, and helping them move through all the issues affecting them, said Kershner. Kershner voted for the $750,000 grant to Lighthouse along with council members Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd and Ben Elenbaas. Frazey was the only member to vote no. With the county funds, Lighthouse Mission has raised $18.5 million for its new $25 million shelter, scheduled to be finished in 2024. 'Working against us': Matt Walsh suggests boycott of Fox News over LGBT policies Popular conservative commentator Matt Walsh is suggesting a boycott of Fox News after a report revealed that the news organization allows trans-identified staff to use restrooms that match their chosen gender identity instead of their biological sex. In a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday, Walsh addressed a Daily Signal report published Monday that found Fox News allows employees to enter opposite-sex bathrooms and requires staff to respect workers' "preferred pronouns." Fox pretends to object to the invasion of womens spaces by men, but its own policies tell a very different story, Walsh noted in the video excerpt from his Daily Wire talk show The Matt Walsh Show. Fox News' betrayal is far worse than Bud Light's. Bud Light never pretended to be anything but piss water. Fox pretends to have much higher pretensions, yet they produce something quite similar to Bud Light: something watered down, empty, and foul. pic.twitter.com/OXlelqF4iX The Matt Walsh Show (@MattWalshShow) May 23, 2023 After explaining how the employee handbook grants employees at Fox News the right to use whatever bathroom aligns with their gender identity and it guarantees that theyll be addressed according to their preferred pronouns, Walsh read directly from the handbook as it was quoted by the Daily Signal. Employees who are transitioning their gender have the right to be open about their transition if they so choose, and to work in an environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, and without fear of consequences or transphobia for living openly, the handbook states. Walsh cited the companys policies as evidence that there is absolutely no difference between Fox and any of the woke corporations that it pretends to criticize. He also noted that Fox News has made the editorial decision to refer to trans-identified males as she and trans-identified females as he. Walsh lamented that even in articles and in commentary ostensibly critical of men who invade womens spaces, still, its journalists and commentators refer to those men as women, thereby kneecapping their own argument." He insisted that Fox News policies should come as no surprise in light of the infamous puff piece profiling a trans-identified teenager that it aired during Dana Perino's show last year. The profile piece outraged Fox viewers for its praise of parents who started transitioning their daughter to identify as a boy at age 5. Walsh also detailed how Fox News blacklisted him due to his frank condemnation of trans ideology before contending that the cable channel had lost its ability to claim itself as a member of the American political right. By embracing gender ideology, not just embracing it but promoting it, enforcing it, banning from the airwaves anyone who seriously opposes it, Fox News has staked out a position that is as far to the left as you can get," Walsh said. Referring to the backlash beer brand Bud Light received for partnering with trans-identified influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Walsh concluded that Foxs betrayal was far worse than Bud Lights because the news company is pretending to be something that it isnt. Bud Light never pretended to be anything but piss water. Thats what it always was. Thats what it will remain," he continued. "Fox pretends to have much higher pretensions, yet what it actually produces is something quite similar to Bud Light: something watered down and empty and foul and yet for its consumers, apparently strangely intoxicating. He proceeded to ask, What should Fox News get? suggesting at the end of his monologue that the network was working against us, not for us, adding that it was "time to realize whose team theyre on and treat them like it. Walsh urged frequent Fox News guests to speak out against the companys embrace of LGBT ideology even if doing so leads to retaliation from the influential media empire. If you have anything interesting to say, you can more than make up for it by going around the cable news gatekeepers and speaking directly to a much larger, and not to mention younger, audience, he assured them. The Daily Signals description of the Fox News handbook outlined the presence of a glossary featuring a slew of LGBTQ terms, including cisgender, gender expression, gender-fluid, gender identity, gender non-conforming, gender transition, LGBTQ, non-binary, and transgender. Fox Corporation, the parent company of Fox News, touted its designation of Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the LGBT advocacy organization Human Rights Campaign in January 2022. Both Walsh and The Daily Signal identified compliance with New York City Human Rights Law as a possible justification for the company policies. The law requires that trans-identified employees be permitted to use single-gender facilities, such as restrooms or locker rooms, and to participate in single-gender programs, that most closely align with their gender, regardless of their gender expression, sex assigned at birth, anatomy, medical history, or the sex or gender indicated on their identification. Additionally, the law declares that refusal to use a transgender employees name, pronouns, or title may constitute unlawful gender-based harassment. Walsh, however, pushed back on the idea that Fox News policies are the result of city and state law, arguing that the news company's "advocacy for trans ideology goes far, far beyond anything that is required by law. More Americans say they want to grow spiritually amid growing openness to other faiths: study Despite a growing rejection of organized religion, with fewer than 50% of Americans holding formal church membership, spiritual openness is on the rise, with a majority of U.S. adults saying they believe in God or a higher power and want to grow spiritually, new data from the Barna Group suggests. The data comes from a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted in October 2022 by the Evangelical polling organization. It shows that 77% of respondents expressed belief in a higher power, and 74% said they want to grow spiritually. Less than half of the survey sample, 44%, said they are more open to God than before the pandemic. Some 80% of respondents said they are certain or think there is a spiritual or supernatural dimension to the world. Another 11% said even though it could be possible, they don't believe the spiritual world exists, while 9% expressed no belief in the spiritual world. The findings are similar to Pew Research data published in 2018, which showed that although 80% of Americans say they believe in God, only a slim majority of the nation's approximately 327 million people were found to believe in God as described in the Bible. Barna CEO David Kinnaman noted that "our new data give Christian leaders cause for hope." "Though religious affiliation and church attendance continue to decline, spiritual openness and curiosity are on the rise. Across every generation, in fact, we see an unprecedented desire to grow spiritually, a belief in a spiritual/supernatural dimension and a belief in God or a higher power," Kinnaman noted. The Barna CEO said one of the most inspiring features of the open generation for him is based on findings from The Open Generation study, which show that "young people may be fueling this rise in spiritual hunger." "Overwhelmingly, Christian teens today say that Jesus still matters to them; 76 percent say 'Jesus speaks to me in a way that is relevant to my life,'" Kinnaman said. "In a culture that has generally downgraded the reputation of Christians and relegated Sunday worship and other church-related activities to the sidelines of society, teens remain refreshingly open to Jesus as an influence in their lives." However, the challenge for Christians witnessing to teenagers today is that the faith market is competition from other faiths. "They are open to different faiths, including Christianity, and they're open to friends, causes, and ideas," Kinnaman said. "Though parents, educators, and others who mentor young people have a tall task to provide wise guidance to emerging adults, today's teens are confronting the church with something that I think we haven't seen before a kind of blank slate; a chance to imagine a different future." Beyond appealing to teenagers, the rising spiritual openness could also be a challenge for traditional Christian ministries. "Our data on the rising spiritual openness in America, coupled with The Open Generation research, reveal a tremendous opportunity for faith leaders. The majority of Americans has signaled that they're willing to consider exploring spirituality. They are open to more that truly satisfies," Kinnaman noted. "The challenge facing the Church and parachurch ministries is whether they are ready and able to meet the spiritually open where they are, as they are," he added. "Our data show the Church has real work to do to bridge the trust gap for people who are spiritual but not religious." Most Americans don't like Christian celebrity culture, megachurches: study While a majority of Americans have a positive view of Jesus, most, including Christians, also have a negative opinion of celebrity Christian culture, celebrity pastors, Evangelicals, megachurches and famous worship bands, a new study from Barna Group shows. And the situation is among a number of drivers inching the nation toward a post-Christian era. The data for the study, conducted online from Dec. 1322, 2022, via a consumer research panel, was based on a survey of 2,005 U.S. adults and teenagers called the Spiritually Open project. Gloo and He Gets Us partnered with Barna for the research. When we asked Americans whether they have a positive or negative opinion of Jesus, seven in 10 (71%) say they view him positively. Of all U.S. teens and adults, 63 percent say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today, Barna researchers said. This is actually most common among millennials, of whom 70 percent say their commitment to Jesus is still important to them. When asked if they have a positive opinion of certain aspects of Christian culture like megachurches, the study shows that just a minority of both Christians and non-Christians approve. Overall, only 16% of U.S. teens and adults have a positive view of megachurches, and among Christians, it doesnt get much better. Only 17% view them positively. For people of other faiths, 21% said they have a positive view of megachurches, while just 9% of people with no faith said the same. For celebrity pastors, only 19% of Christians and people of other faiths had a positive view of those ministers, while just 17% of respondents overall said the same. Famous people or celebrities who are Christian are also not seen positively. Only 26% of respondents overall in the survey and 30% of Christians approve. Twenty-six percent of respondents in the study overall also had a positive view of famous or well-known worship bands. Among Christians, just 30% view these bands positively, along with 29% of people from other faiths and 12% of people who profess no faith at all. Evangelicals are also not well-liked. Only 26% of respondents overall have a positive view of the group. Among Christians, that view increases to 31% but falls to 24% among people of other faiths. While some 56% of Christians in the survey said they had a positive view of Christian pastors or priests, less than half (44%) of the respondents in the study overall reported the same. Only 47% of respondents overall had a positive view of churches in their community, while 58% of Christians did. Majorities of overall respondents viewed Jesus Christ (71%), Christianity (57%), the Bible (63%) and spirituality (65%) favorably. Larger majorities of Christians also expressed positive views regarding Jesus Christ (84%), Christianity (74%), the Bible (78%) and spirituality (75%). On the other hand, Christianity is not viewed positively by people of other faiths, just 36% of whom have warm feelings toward the religion. Beyond Jesus, when it comes to views of other Christian groups or entities, positive opinions wane. People of no faith are neutral or leaning negative and for celebrity, mega or famous representatives of the faith, opinions are decidedly negative, researchers said. The top reason given by people of no faith and other faiths for doubting Christianity is the hypocrisy of religious people, while among Christians it is human suffering. The work of Christians is to embody Jesus full of truth and grace and reflect his image in all they say and do, Barna Group CEO David Kinnaman said in a statement. The data shows they too often fall short. Tributes recall model example pastor, wife who died trying to save son from beach drowning SAO PAULO, Brazil Tributes are flowing in for a Brazilian evangelist and his wife who died trying to save their young teen son from drowning at the beach. After the death of Pastor Felisberto Sampaio, 43, and his wife, Inalda Sampaio, 42, the Convention of Ministers of the Evangelical Church Assembly of God in Campina Grande/Paraiba State (COMEAD-CGPB) published a statement expressing its condolences. "The couple had served the Lord for about 17 years and were loved by the entire church. We express our sincere condolences and ask for the prayers of the church for the entire bereaved family, so that the Holy Spirit may comfort their hearts at this time," the Assembly of God convention shared on Instagram. The pastor and his wife were trying to save their 13-year-old son, Ian Sampaio, who was struggling in the water of Camacari beach, in Lucena, in the Metropolitan Region of Joao Pessoa, in the state of Paraiba, on Jan. 10. The parents died before reaching their son, but their child Ian was rescued by a fisherman and another family member, according to Brazilian news outlet Universo Online. READ: Church mourns pastor, wife who died trying to save son from drowning at the beach According to COMEAD-CGPB, the evangelist was a leader in the Quixaba congregation for 12 years and was at the time the coordinator and professor of the EBD (Sunday Biblical School), treasurer, and secretary of the Assembly of God Church in Quixaba. His wife, Inalda Ribeiro Sampaio, was the second coordinator of the field and women's group leader. The General Convention of the Assemblies of God in Brazil (CGADB) also published a message of condolence: "In this moment of pain and separation, the Board of Directors of CGADB sympathizes with family and friends, asking the Holy Spirit of God to console, comfort and strengthen them. 'Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalms 116.15'". In social media posts, church members and friends expressed sadness and offered sympathy for the family. On Instagram, user isaias885345, who describes the evangelist as a big friend, expressed, "May the God of consolation console all family and friends[.] [S]peechless friend". And user m.a.t.e.u.s.23 writes: "I cannot describe the size of the shock that I had[.] [M]y feelings to the friend[']s brothers from all over the field of Catole de Boa Vist[.] Sister lnalda and brother Beto left their legacy as Christians, a model example of Christian[.] I have no words to express such grief and anguish that I feel at this moment, the entire church of Quixaba is in mourning." On the COMEAD-CGPB Instagram page, user jocelitodantas commented that the evangelist and his wife are examples of men and women of God. "An example of a man of God, a devoted father, and an exemplary husband[.] [S]ister Inalda, a holy woman of God[.] [M]ay the Lord Jesus Christ console all her family and friends. [I] had the honor of shepherding this family for 3 years[.] [R]est in peace, Ev. Beto and sister Inalda. The president of the Assembly of God MadureiraCampo Feira de Santana, Pastor Enivaldo Moreira, wrote, "May the good God console all family, church and friends." Some commenters brought up the beach policy banning swimming on busy beaches that may have contributed to the couple's tragic deaths, with user dariovianaa saying, "I'm sorry for my sincerity, but it's not the fault of the parents or the teenager[.] [I]t's the system that prohibits bathing on very busy beaches[.] [T]hen the system says look for deserted places[.] [T]he result is no lifeguards, no people around to help. [R]evolting. God help this teenager." Others commented to honor the parents' attitude in trying to save their son. Instagram user josefaernestorego wrote, "A great proof of love. [T]hey are in glory with their father." The devoted parents are survived by their two sons, Ian and his older brother Issac. Church leaders pray for King Charles during Northern Ireland visit The King and Queen have attended a service at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh during a surprise visit to Northern Ireland. They were greeted by the Dean of Armagh, the Very Rev Shane Forster, as the Cathedral Choir sang the words of 'St Patrick's Breastplate'. The King and Queen met members of the Church Leaders Group, which comprises the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Primates of All Ireland, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, and the President of the Irish Council of Churches. The King received prayers and "words of encouragement" from the Church leaders and heard about the work that the Churches are doing. Presbyterian Moderator, the Rt Rev Dr John Kirkpatrick, said of the visit, "This was a quiet moment filled with symbolism. A monarch bowed in prayer in a place alive with precious Christian history, the reverent silence of waiting before God, then entering once again the vibrant world of people." Dr Kirkpatrick continued, "Having expressed his commitment to uphold the Christian faith at his Coronation, our gathering in the business of his day, also spoke to me of the significance and value that the King placed on that commitment. "Having come to pray, and be prayed for, in the peace of that moment, I think that should encourage people of faith. The visit also gave the King an opportunity to meet a number of people from different aspects of Church life." Rev Forster said, "In this coronation year it was a great honour to welcome His Majesty the King to the cathedral and have the opportunity to share something of the story of this ancient holy site and place of pilgrimage with him before all present joined in prayer with the King and for the King." The service in Armagh was part of the King and Queen's two-day visit to Northern Ireland. Other engagements included a visit to the Robinson Library where the Queen met local children. Church of Scotland to be 'impartial' on Scottish independence The Church of Scotland has announced that it will not be taking an official corporate position on Scottish independence or the question of whether another referendum should be held. The last time a referendum was held on Scottish independence was in 2014 when Scots voted to remain in the Union by 55% to 45%. A ruling by the UK Supreme Court currently prevents the Scottish government from holding an independence referendum without the consent of Westminster, but the question of a second referendum continues to be widely debated and is a key commitment of the ruling SNP. The Church of Scotland General Assembly, meeting in Edinburgh this week, has backed a recommendation by the Faith Impact Forum that it refrain from taking sides. The Kirk has instead reaffirmed the policy position it adopted 10 years ago to remain "impartial" on both independence and another referendum. The report from the Faith Impact Forum to the General Assembly notes the wide variety of opinion among Kirk members. The report stated: "The Forum believes it would be unwise for the Church to take a corporate position for or against independence at this time. "If the Church were to express an opinion on the highly politicised and controversial debate about whether or how there should be a referendum, or if the next UK Parliament election should or should not be considered a de facto referendum, there is a real risk of alienating a large section of society and impairing the mission of the Church. "It is also likely to severely impede our role as an institution that builds bridges across the constitutional and party-political divides and our role in society as a safe space that puts the highest interests of the people above the political rifts of the day." Rev Karen Hendry, convener of the Faith Impact Forum, said the decision to remain impartial reflected the fact that members and ministers in the Kirk "hold contrary views on this question". "The Church has an important civic role to play in the debate about Scotland's future in terms of helping the nation think about its values, hopes and vision," she said. "Impartiality does not mean neutrality or non-interest; on the contrary we seek to provide spaces for constructive dialogue and to help people recognise that we have more in common than that which divides us. "In line with the position taken by the General Assembly 10 years ago, we have reaffirmed our position of impartiality on the question of whether Scotland should become an independent country "This allows us to build bridges and hold honest conversations with political movements on both sides of this divide, to remind them that despite their differences they must always seek the highest interests of the people." Recent polls suggest growing support for independence. A YouGov poll in March found support for Scottish independence to be at 39%, but in a May poll carried out by Survation for strategic advisory firm True North, support rose to 48%. Fears of civil war in Manipur after violent attacks on Christians There are fears that weeks of violence against the Christian community in north-eastern India will lead to civil war. The attacks in the state of Manipur have left at least 70 people dead and forced another 10,000 Christians from their homes. The destruction has been widespread, with at least 300 churches burned or demolished and 1,000 Christian homes destroyed, Open Doors reports. Such is the level of concern that the charity has launched an emergency appeal to support the beleaguered Christian community. Its partners on the ground are already providing food aid and medical care but warn that conditions for those who have fled are "grim", with little support from the local government. It is reported that Hindu nationalists are seeking out Christians to kill or forcibly convert to Hinduism. One Open Doors partner in India, who cannot be named for security reasons, said that the Supreme Court has ordered the military to maintain peace and order in the region. The Hindu nationalist local government, however, has done nothing to stop the violence. "If the situation continues civil war is inevitable," he said. "If there is a civil war the situation will only become more gruesome, more lives lost, properties destroyed and further open persecution of religious minorities." Henrietta Blyth, Chief Executive of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said that Hindu extremists have used the communal violence "as a platform to further attack the Christian community". "Churches from both the Meitei and Kuki sides were burned and demolished. Christians were beaten up and chased out of their homes. "The minority tribes are hiding in IDP camps, protected by the military. They're fearing for their lives and rightly so. "Hindu supremacist group Arambai Tenggol is forcibly re-converting Christians and reportedly seeking out church leaders to kill." Christians who have fled are struggling to survive, with no access to ATMs, and food and fuel prices soaring. "People don't have food or shelter and are still facing threats of physical violence," said Blyth. "Food supply and military trucks were burned, and many people have suffered from mental and physical loss and are deeply traumatised." She added, "If the worst happened and Manipur descends into civil war further down the line, the human suffering it would cause, on both sides, would be immeasurable." Another local Open Doors partner said that people are "living in fear and are sceptical of what the future holds". "We need your help in raising a voice against the injustice and atrocities faced by the Christians." Pro-life group loses NI abortion legal challenge The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has lost a legal challenge against a directive rolling out radical abortion laws across Northern Ireland. Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, was granted new powers last year enabling him to commission an expansion of abortion provision without the approval of Northern Ireland ministers. SPUC argued that the regulations granting him the powers undermined the devolution settlement and exceeded the NI Secretary of State's lawful authority. The pro-life group's lawyers also argued that the new powers fundamentally changed the balance between the devolved institutions and central government in London. The Court of Appeal dismissed SPUC's legal challenge on Thursday. Responding to the court's decision, Liam Gibson, SPUC's Belfast-based Policy and Legal Officer, said it was an "unjust" outcome for Northern Ireland. Gibson said that Westminster had "effectively seized control over abortion policy by stripping locally elected Ministers of any say on the matter". "Northern Ireland's policy on abortion is a devolved matter yet the Secretary of State, who is not accountable to the people of Northern Ireland, now has complete control over this matter and a range of other highly contentious issues," he said. "The same law that introduced abortion also calls for compulsory sex education and this judgement could be used to expose children to pornography or promote the 'trans' agenda in Northern Ireland schools. "There isn't even an obligation to carry out a public consultation. This sets a very dangerous precedent and will further undermine confidence in the devolved institutions." A 2019 poll by pro-life group Both Lives Matter found that a majority of people in Northern Ireland did not support Westminster's changes to the province's abortion laws. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A still life by Anne Vallayer-Coster that was lost to scholars for two centuries: The work she considered her finest One of the most sought-after artists of her day, Vallayer-Coster was a favourite of Marie Antoinette yet somehow survived the French Revolution, and later sold two of her greatly admired flower paintings to the Empress Josephine When the artist Anne Vallayer married the lawyer Jean-Pierre Silvestre Coster in 1781, the ceremony was attended by no less a figure than the Queen of France. It took place at the Palace of Versailles, and Marie Antoinette even signed the marriage contract as a witness. Vallayer was in her mid-thirties at the time and contributed a dowry of 34,000 livres: a considerable sum, testament to the commercial success of her paintings. A year before the wedding, the queen had granted the artist the privilege of a studio and lodgings at the Louvre (then a royal residence). Vallayer simultaneously became a painter to the court of Marie Antoinette and received an annual stipend. She is remembered today chiefly for her stunning floral still lifes, but she led a life every bit as interesting as her paintings. In surviving the French Revolution, for example, during which the queen was guillotined in 1793, she showed no little political acumen. On 15 June 2023, her still life Nature morte au vase dalbatre rempli de fleurs avec sur une table plusieurs especes de fruits, comme ananas, peches et raisins will form part of the Maitres Anciens: Peintures Sculptures sale at Christies in Paris. It is the painting that the artist herself thought was her best. Vallayer was born in Paris in 1744, the second of four daughters born to a goldsmith (father) and a miniature painter (mother). She received minimal training, in the form of casual studies in drawing with the botanical artist Madeleine Basseporte, and in painting with the landscapist Claude-Joseph Vernet. In 1770, aged 26, she presented herself for membership at the Academie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, the most august institution in French art. She submitted two allegorical paintings Instruments de musique (illustrated below) and Les attributs de la peinture, de la sculpture et de larchitecture, both now in the Louvre and, rather against the odds, was accepted. Since the academys founding more than a century earlier, it had seen barely a handful of female members. Membership gave artists access to the biennial Salon exhibition, which served as a platform for exposure and the sale of their work. Vallayer (or Vallayer-Coster as she was known after her marriage) would go on to show at every Salon until the Revolution, usually to reviews as positive as that penned by the esteemed critic Denis Diderot on her debut. She astonishes us as much as she enchants us, wrote Diderot in 1771. Open a larger version of this image Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744-1818), Instruments de musique, 1770. Oil on canvas. 88 x 116 cm. Musee du Louvre, Paris. Photo: Peter Willi / Bridgeman Images The positive notices soon brought Vallayer to the attention of Marie Antoinette, who became queen upon her husband Louis XVIs accession to the throne in 1774. Unfortunately, almost all of the portraits she painted of the royal duo are now lost. Over time, Marie Antoinette would come to count another female painter, Elisabeth-Louise Vigee Le Brun, as her favourite portraitist. Vallayer-Coster continued to be a painter in demand, however, especially in the genre of still life and especially among other members of the royal court. Regular patrons included the Prince of Conti, the Comte de Merle, and the Marquis de Veri. The opulence of flower paintings such as the one coming to Christies appealed directly to aristocrats looking to decorate their lavish homes. Vallayer-Coster has sometimes been compared to her compatriot Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin, perhaps the most famous still-life painter of the 18th century. (As an old man, he had been among the members who approved her entry to the Academie Royale.) In her early years, Vallayer-Coster certainly seems to have courted such comparisons, with her still-life pictures of kitchen utensils and dead game. From 1775, however, the year she exhibited her first flower paintings, she made a definitive break from her seniors influence particularly his subdued and earthy palette, which she replaced with much brighter and more varied colours. (Chardin painted just one surviving floral still life across his career.) Open a larger version of this image A glorious bouquet bursting with flowers of seemingly every variety: detail of Nature morte au vase dalbatre Vallayer-Coster produced Nature morte au vase dalbatre at the peak of her powers and exhibited it in public for its one and only time at the 1783 Salon. It depicts an elaborately carved mahogany table with a marble top, on which sits an alabaster vase containing a glorious bouquet bursting with flowers of seemingly every variety. To the left of the vase is a bunch of white grapes; to the right, a pineapple and three peaches. The vase is ornamented with French gilt-bronze mounts of a child satyr holding up a swag of flora and fruits. The bouquet is composed of meticulously studied, exquisitely rendered roses, irises, lilacs, carnations, hollyhocks, dahlias, bluebells and hydrangeas and makes for a rainbow of brilliant colours, set off by the chocolate-brown scumbling of the wall behind them. The painting displays Vallayer-Costers skill at reproducing with verisimilitude the cool, hard polish of marble and alabaster; the glittering surface of cast bronze; the moist firmness of grapes; the spiky body and leaves of a pineapple; the soft downy skin of peaches; and the delicate perishability of flower petals. Open a larger version of this image So beautiful, so perfect and so true: detail of the marble-topped table, from Nature morte au vase dalbatre The work received universal praise from critics. One reviewer said he was tempted to pick the artists flowers in order to crown her with them. Tellingly, Vallayer-Coster chose never to part with this painting. Not much is recorded about her life during the Revolution, but her connections with the royal family must suddenly have turned from an advantage into a liability. She is known, however, to have sold two flower paintings to Empress Josephine for the latters chateau at Malmaison in 1804 suggesting that she deftly found a way to negotiate those turbulent times. Vallayer-Coster would never again achieve the success of the 1770s and 1780s, but its worth mentioning one further painting, which she exhibited at the Salon of 1817: Nature morte au homard (now in the Louvre, illustrated below). As well as the titular lobster, it features a stem of lilies: an allusion to the recent restoration of the French monarchy, lilies being a well-known symbol for the House of Bourbon. The artist gave the work to King Louis XVIII proof that her political antennae remained sensitive to the end. Open a larger version of this image Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744-1818), Nature morte au homard, 1817. Oil on canvas. 116 x 178 cm. Musee du Louvre, Paris. Photo: akg-images / Erich Lessing She died in 1818, aged 73. Upon her husband Jean-Pierres death six years later, their art collection was put up for sale, including more than 100 pictures by Vallayer-Coster herself. Charles Paillet, the dealer at the auction, hailed her floral still lifes in particular as so beautiful, so perfect and so true. He also explained why the artist had retained Nature morte au vase dalbatre throughout her life: She steadfastly refused the repeated demands of those illustrious figures and distinguished art lovers who so ardently wished to possess it, for she had no desire to relinquish the work that she considered her finest. The painting was purchased at the 1824 sale by somebody with the surname of Coster, presumably a member of Jean-Pierres family. It was then lost to scholars for two centuries until its consignment for this springs sale (we now know that it was bought by the father of the current owner in the late 1940s). Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe There was a feeling of newness everywhere: how the Casablanca Art School helped to transform post-independence Morocco Morad Montazami, curator of a new exhibition at Tate St Ives in Cornwall, explains how a trio of artist-professors drew on Arab and Berber heritage to overturn colonial convention and usher in an era of avant-garde artistic expression in the 1960s Shortly after joining the teaching staff of the Casablanca Art School in 1964, Mohamed Melehi insisted that all the Greco-Roman busts be removed from the studios and all the plaster casts of classical sculptures, too. These were to be replaced by a selection of rugs made by Berber women. On the face of it, this might seem an unremarkable act. However, it represented the entire ethos of a school that promoted the native over the imported a school nowadays considered a vital example of 20th-century modernism. The first ever exhibition in the UK devoted to the Casablanca Art School opens on 27 May 2023 at Tate St Ives. Its a moment described by its curator, Morad Montazami, as one of rehabilitation. He means that it shows how avant-garde art wasnt produced solely in Europe and North America despite traditional, Western accounts of art history long suggesting that it was. The exhibition covers the schools heyday, from 1962 to 1987, but to understand what made it special, some historical context is called for. Open a larger version of this image Mohamed Melehi (left) at his studio in Casablanca with Mohammed Chabaa. Photo: M. Melehi archives/estate During the course of the 19th century, France exerted an ever-growing colonial influence in Morocco. In 1912, the country became a French protectorate. The Casablanca Art School was founded in Moroccos biggest city the following decade. It adopted an Ecole des Beaux-Arts model, where classes typically involved easel painting and working from life models or statues. After the Second World War, a nationalist movement in Morocco grew, culminating in independence from France in 1956. Artistic change took longer to happen, though, than political change, says Montazami. Colonialism doesnt stop affecting a culture the minute a country is independent. It lasts until such a time as a local ecosystem incubates and emerges to subvert it. In the case of the Casablanca Art School, the incubation began in 1962, with the appointment of Farid Belkahia as its director. He soon asked his compatriots Mohamed Melehi and Mohammed Chabaa to join him, and the teachings of this trio of artist-professors (all in their mid-twenties) ushered in a generation of progressive practice. Open a larger version of this image Farid Belkahia (1934-2014), Cuba Si, 1961. Fondation Farid Belkahia This wasnt simply an aesthetic revolution, but a pedagogic one, says Montazami. Students were encouraged to look beyond Western academic traditions and focus on local ones instead. They investigated Arab and Berber heritage, and made excursions across Morocco to visit calligraphers, potters, tanners, weavers and jewellers. The aim was to assimilate into their work the methods, techniques and styles of these artisans. There was no longer to be any distinction, as there had been in the schools early years, between fine and applied arts. Belkahia became renowned for painting with dyes on animal skins. Chabaa, in his role as professor of graphic design, repurposed Arabic calligraphy for use in signage and posters. Open a larger version of this image Mohammed Chabaa (1935-2013), Untitled, 1977. Acrylic on canvas. Tate collection. Photo: Fouad Mazouz Melehi, as professor of painting, encouraged students to reinterpret the geometric patterns of traditional Berber carpets and Islamic decoration. As a support, he favoured wood over canvas; he also oversaw the execution of many murals. The term Casablanca Art School refers to anyone connected to the institution, students and teachers alike. It wasnt long into the Belkahia era that they were being dubbed artistes contestataires (protest artists) by the national press. Open a larger version of this image Malika Agueznay working on Symbole feminin, 1968, at the Casablanca Art School. Photo: Courtesy of the artist Open a larger version of this image Malika Agueznay (b. 1938), Composition, 1968. Courtesy the artist In many cases, the schools projects were of a public and collaborative nature. This included occasional work with the architecture studio Faraoui & de Mazieres in designing interiors for buildings such as Casablancas National Bank for Economic Development and National Tourist Office. Its true that the school had conventional exhibitions in conventional galleries, but Belkahia was always looking for new horizons. In 1969, he and his colleagues took art to the streets, with a now-legendary outdoor exhibition known as Presence Plastique, held first in Marrakechs main square, the Jemaa el-Fnaa, and then in Casablancas 16 November Square. (Both iterations lasted a fortnight.) Open a larger version of this image View of Presence Plastique, the exhibition held by Farid Belkahia and his colleagues in Casablanca (and previously in Marrakech) in 1969. Photo M. Melehi. M. Melehi archives/estate The idea was to make art an everyday part of Moroccan life, in contrast to state-organised exhibitions such as the Salon du Printemps, which were attended predominantly by a social elite. As the six exhibiting artists explained in a joint statement in Souffles, a journal affiliated with the school, they wished to awaken the average persons curiosity, his critical spirit, to stimulate him so that he integrates new plastic expressions into the rhythm of his life, into his daily space. Inspired by the success of Presence Plastique, in 1978 Melehi co-founded the International Cultural Moussem of Asilah, an annual arts festival held across civic spaces in his home town of Asilah in northern Morocco. It ranks as an enduring legacy of the Casablanca Schools cultural activism and is still held today. Open a larger version of this image Mohamed Melehi (1936-2020), Untitled, 1983. Cellulosic paint on wood. 150 x 200 cm. Mohamed Melehi Estate Its worth stressing that the schools outlook and activities werent entirely without Western influence. Belkahia, Melehi and Chabaa had all studied in Europe and/or North America before taking up their teaching posts back home (Belkahia chiefly in Prague, Chabaa in Rome, Melehi in Rome and New York). They openly acknowledged the Casablanca Schools debt to its German predecessor, the Bauhaus specifically the interdisciplinary approach whereby art, craft and design were all taught under the one roof. The trio were also aware of the experiments in abstraction being carried out in the West, some of which were ostensibly not dissimilar to their own. Melehis work, in particular, shows an affinity with hard-edge painting, which was popular in the US in the 1960s, exemplified by the likes of Frank Stella and Ellsworth Kelly. Open a larger version of this image Mohamed Melehi (1936-2020), Composition, 1970. Acrylic paint on cardboard. 120 x 100 cm. Courtesy of the artist, MACAAL and Fondation Alliances The tantalising question is how much, and how consciously, Casablanca artists were influenced by their Western counterparts. (The staging of the current exhibition in St Ives seems apt, given the Cornish towns association with its own generation of innovative abstractionists active in the post-war years.) Belkahia left his role as the schools director in the mid-1970s, by which time his achievements had also included significantly increasing the number of female students, Malika Agueznay probably being the most prominent among them. Open a larger version of this image Mohamed Melehi (in chair) at the Casablanca Art School with a group of teachers (including Mohammed Chabaa and Farid Belkahia) and students (among them, on the far right, Malika Agueznay). Photograph by Toni Maraini. Photo: Courtesy of Malika Agueznay The school still exists today, but Tates exhibition focuses only on the period up to 1987, as that was the year in which Belkahia, Melehi and two of the artists they had mentored, Mohammed Kacimi and Fouad Bellamine, were asked to represent Morocco at the Sao Paulo Biennial. In other words, that was the year the school received what might be deemed official recognition. Although most of the major Casablanca Art School works are today found in Morocco and the Middle East, Western institutions such as Tate, MoMA and the Centre Pompidou have also acquired examples in recent years. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe 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 It has been a busy couple of years for Laura Kyrke-Smith, executive director of International Rescue Committee (IRC) UK. Her promotion in January 2020, after four years as director of communications, coincided with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK while IRC continued to respond to the worlds toughest humanitarian crises in countries such as Syria, Libya and Yemen. More recently, IRC UK has been campaigning against the governments illegal migration bill as it describes it which aims to stop small migrant boats crossing the Channel. Kyrke-Smith says that campaigning is a core part of the charitys mission. For the clients we serve, refugees and displaced people, we feel a strong responsibility to say what it is that we hear from them about the needs and the challenges they face and the solutions they need in place, she says. Through advocating for policy change, we can make a difference to their lives. First programme in the UK IRC was founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein to assist Germans suffering under Hitler and now operates in more than 40 crisis-affected countries. IRC UK was established as an independent charity in 1997, becoming the European headquarters of IRC. In 2021, IRC launched its first programme in the UK to provide integration support to 200 resettled refugees in the south of England and help them rebuild their lives. That year also saw IRC UK become the 15th member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). DECs Afghanistan, Ukraine and Pakistan appeals resulted in more than 17m allocated to IRCs humanitarian responses last year. Kyrke-Smith, who joined DECs board when her charity became a member, says that joining the group has enabled IRC UK to be a more impactful organisation. She says that IRC also aims to respond to disasters quickly, giving the example of it transferring $500,000 to partners in northwest Syria within 36 hours of its campaign launching. Government funding cuts IRC UK joined DEC at the same time as its funding from central government was cut. In 2021, UK aid spending declined by 21% compared with the previous year, reflecting the governments decision to reduce it from 0.7% to 0.5% of Gross National Income. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has long funded IRC UK to deliver programmes. However, FCDO provided 29m in funding to the charity last year, just over half of the 57m given in 2021. One of the charitys FCDO-funded programmes is Saving Lives, which aims to build Sierra Leones healthcare system to support pregnant women, those giving birth and kids under five. The five-year programme began in 2008 and has seen IRC UK work with 14 district hospitals and nearly 100 community health centres in Sierra Leone to ensure they have the right infrastructure, blood supplies or sufficient electricity supplies to perform surgical operations. Kyrke-Smith says: When we started that project across those hospitals, on any given day only 33% of them would have spare blood supplies, which when one of the leading causes of death for women in childbirth is haemorrhaging is crucial. Thanks to that project, now 84% of those hospitals have sufficient blood supplies on any given day. But over the past few months, IRC UK has had to navigate a 50% cut to that programme because of FCDO funding reduction. Kyrke-Smith fears that the progress achieved there will start to slide backwards again. She says that the government should stop its knee-jerk reaction to disasters, change its funding model to think in the long-term for international development aid and help groups rebuild social and economic systems. Despite the tricky funding environment, Kyrke-Smith says the charity is financially secure. Given the diversity of our income sources overall, we hope to be able to keep balancing [reductions in FCDO funding] with funding from other sources. The public are facing tough choices about where to spend increasingly limited funding. But I feel that were secure enough. The challenge for us is that the needs were trying to meet across the world just keep growing. We need more funding to meet them. The answers come from lots of different places. Sometimes thats funding, sometimes thats diplomacy and sometimes thats partnership with the private sector. So, we need to think in a rounded way about the different partners that can help us achieve the change we want to see for our clients. Preventing abuse The IRC was named alongside several other charities in 2018 reports of historical allegations of aid workers who were alleged to be in sexually exploitative relationships with refugee children. Following the International Safeguarding Summit in London in 2018 , IRC UK and seven charities including Save the Children UK and Oxfam GB set out concrete actions to do better. These included listening to survivors, communities and staff, preventing abuse from taking place, responding rapidly to all concerns and learning from past mistakes and keep getting better. Kyrke-Smith comments: To me, the focus around that summit was very much on the respond part. If an incident occurs, making sure that survivors or others that may witness it feel empowered to speak up and trust that it will be dealt with effectively. We have made a lot of progress there, partly through resourcing and building up our investigations unit and internal communications. Weve had this raise concerns campaign thats gone out to staff across the world in 14 different languages, which is to encourage people to report if they see something that feels wrong. The charity also has a code of conduct called the IRC Way, centred on four values of integrity, accountability, service and equality, which involves mandatory training that all staff do once a year. This year included dedicated sessions on safeguarding, covering the expectations the charity has of its staff and case studies allowing them to understand what they mean in practice. That training component is a really important part of prevention, she says. Weve put a heavy emphasis on that and were seeing great feedback from staff. Were also seeing the benefit of this campaign to encourage people to raise concerns. Theres more coming to our investigations unit for them to consider. Addressing inherent biases and power imbalances IRC UK previously admitted that there were inherent biases and power imbalances in its organisation, which in turn reflect long-standing historical and colonial injustices . We also recognise the need to confront and stop the harmful practices that result from racism and discrimination at the IRC, it added. Last year, the charity published an updated gender, diversity, equality and inclusion (GEDI) strategy setting out how it can be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work by 2024. As part of this, it committed to implementing 75 targeted actions such as offering regular staff-wide unconscious bias training and driving up the number of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) staff recruited, especially at senior levels. Kyrke-Smith says: Were just over six months into that strategy and 28 of those actions are completed. Weve made some important headway like committing to a DEI review of all of our EHR policies and thats happened. Weve had expert advice from the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion on those policies and we now have a programme in place to make the amendments that we think we need to make. There are some great changes were starting to make but theres lots more in there thats still in progress. There are 18 actions that we havent started yet, not because were not committed to them but because they were scheduled for delivery a bit later in that two-year strategy. And theres a group in the middle that is underway. Kyrke-Smith says that the board has also changed significantly and developed its own updated GEDI action plan. When she became IRC UKs executive director, there were just a handful of women on the board and it had not thought much about diversity beyond that, she says. Now, the 13-person board includes six women and seven men, with four trustees identifying as people of colour and three with lived experience of conflict and displacement. Its fantastic being able to work with a diverse board that thinks differently from the previous board. Credit to our chair Titilola Banjoko for driving that change forward, Kyrke-Smith says. On recognising biases and power imbalances, she admits that IRC received feedback from its staff around the world who shared experiences of harmful practices. Theres a staff group here called the global majority network that has given me a lot of inspiration in terms of the work we need to do as an organisation. I had some great conversations with them coming into the role. We wanted to start on a journey of change, which was one of my priorities. That conversation certainly intensified after the murder of George Floyd and we learned a lot more from our staff. Ultimately, its our staff and clients who are the judges of whether our DEI work is having the impact it needs to have. Staff feedback really matters to me and until Im hearing from staff that theyre experiencing IRC as a diverse, inclusive and equitable place to work, then we have to keep pushing for change. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Greetings reader to the end of another week. What are the biggest stories that occurred, you may ask? Well, Big Ben froze for roughly thirty minutes on Wednesday and didnt chime, which Diary believes is a sign hes ready for another bank holiday (arent we all?) Luckily, the famous clock shouldnt have to worry about finding its replacement. Diary thinks the little girl who offered to replace Big Bens bongs in 2016 would be overjoyed to step in during this trying time. As a wise little girl once said: bing bong, bing bong, bing bong. I cannot file my accounts because I dont have internet access [sent by email] In a deep dive into the past, Diary stumbled upon a 2015 article by the Charity Commission that published a sample of excuses they received from charities who failed to send in their financial accounts. I cannot file my accounts because I dont have internet access [sent by email] was a personal favourite of this columnist, who has definitely never made the same mistake. Others seemed to have a direct aversion to computers, with one charity citing I dont believe in computers and another affirming computers are satanic. One charity said thieves broke in and made off with its documents while another filed its incomplete accounts to the regulator with bite marks in it. This article was published in 2015 by the regulator, so Diary feels the sector is due an update. Mr Blobby In other news, charity Refugee Action subjected refugees to watching clips of our (incredibly strange) British culture for the first time this week. Classics like Mr Blobby, Come Dine with Me, Doctor Who and more were perused for the new Britons viewing pleasure and probably so they could see what theyve signed themselves up for. Trying to explain the concept of Mr Blobby was a particular highlight for Diary. Comedian Milo Edwards, who hosted the watch-along, said: I cant explain Blobby to you. You just need to experience Blobby. The refugees looked on in horror as Noel Edmonds was tortured by a giant pink man who repeatedly jumped on a suitcase while shouting his own name. What are you packing for? Edmonds asks. Mr Blobby helpfully replies: BLOBBY BLOBBY BLOBBY. Alisa from Ukraine told the host she struggled to understand Blobbys pronunciation. But, you know, when I first came to the UK, probably I sound like him, she said. Money (thats what I want) One Fab Four fan failed to show prudence this week by buying a rare copy of the Beatles White Album from the British Heart Foundation last week, paying 2,350, which you could say is rather dear. The 1968 vinyl included a misprint that can only be found in the first 10,000 copies of the record. It was reportedly in good condition despite being over 50 years old (which is a description Diary could use for many people it knows). BHF started an eBay listing of the item at 999.99 but multiple collectors bids raised it to over 2,000. Needless to say, fundraisers were probably skipping down Penny Lane after the outcome. But one can only assume the original owner is gently weeping. Last week, Donna Deegan, a Democrat, was elected mayor of Jacksonville, Florida. Various news outlets characterized her victory as an upsetthe city has been led by a Republican for twenty-six of the past thirty yearsbut some local observers didnt find it so surprising. Steve Schale, a longtime political operative in the state, pointed out, first, that the Jacksonville area is more Democratic than many people think. He also argued that Deegan had unusually broad appeal as a candidate, and was able to withstand right-wing attack ads, due to her background as a longtime anchor on local TV news, which made her a trusted voice at the hub of civic life. Her brand isnt as a Republican or Democratic candidate, Schale wrote, rather, she is Donna Deegan. In an interview on MSNBC after her victory, Deegan herself seemed to echo that assessment, telling Chris Hayes that people have known me in this city for a very long time. Deegan is not the only Florida politico in the news right now to have come up through local TV in Jacksonville; so did Casey DeSantis, the states First Lady, who worked as a reporter and anchor at WJXT and hosted a talk show on First Coast News (where Deegan also worked). Her TV background has been highlighted in recent profiles in major national outlets that have situated her as the key adviser to her husband, Governor Ron DeSantis, a hard-right Republican. A former spokesperson for Ron told the New York Times that Casey is keenly aware of public-facing events, the news cycle, optics. (She reportedly once gave her husband lessons on WJXTs teleprompter.) According to Politicos Michael Kruse, Caseys local visibility was an important asset when Ron first ran for a US House seat south of Jacksonville, in 2012. A former aide told Kruse that Ron even used to joke, they used to go door to door, and people recognized her. I mean, she was on TV there in Jacksonville, and so Ron used to always laugh. People probably think theyre voting for Casey. John Delaney, himself a former mayor of Jacksonville, told Kruse that she was who impressed people really more than him. Profiles of Casey DeSantis are surfacing now because Ron DeSantis is courting a much bigger job: president of the United States. After months spent running-without-really-running, he formally launched his campaign this week, in a live Twitter conversation with Elon Musk, the platforms owner, that started late due to technical bugs and was widely derided by political reporters and pundits as a failure to launch. DeSantiss choice of Twitter over a more conventional, real-world launch venue unleashed a slew of takesnot least, on the media side of things, about what it means for Twitters hard-right shift under Musk, and whether the platform might be displacing Fox News at the center of the conservative media universe. These are intriguing questions, even if, at least on the latter front, the answer isnt clear yet. (For now, Id just note that no one has ever lost money betting on the resiliency of Fox News, and that any pretender to its audiovisual dominance will probably first need to work out how to host an audio-only livestream.) Perhaps more immediately, the event also raised questions about DeSantiss media strategy as he runs for president. There are obvious political differences between Deegan running for municipal office off the back of her local TV-news careerand even Casey DeSantis once leveraging hers to help boost her husbands local ambitionsand Ron DeSantis running in a national-level presidential primary. Nonetheless, taken together, these Florida-politics stories at least gesture toward a useful study in media contrasts: the difference between cultivating mainstream visibility and catering to an already energized section of the base. The difference, in other words, between broadcasting and narrowcasting. As DeSantis ran for reelection in Florida last year and geared up for a presidential campaign, much ink was spilled on his tendency to shun mainstream news organizations, preferring instead to engage with (sometimes fringy) right-wing outlets, both locally and nationally. (One apparent architect of this strategy: Casey DeSantis, described last year by the Times Magazine as a careful student of the conservative media who encouraged her husband to appear regularly with the Fox hosts Mark Levin and Sean Hannity.) DeSantis and his staff havent just refused to talk with mainstream outlets; they have slow-walked public-records requests, shut reporters out from press conferences, and aggressively gone after them on social media. Similarly to Donald Trump, DeSantis has cultivated a performed antagonism toward the mainstream press. In fact, he has gone even further than Trump, who constantly dishes to reporters from mainstream outlets even as he decries their employers as Fake news! Antagonism does still constitute a form of relationship with the mainstream press, which has afforded DeSantis huge national-level coverage despite his aggression. His decision to launch on Twitter can be read, at least in part, as an extension of this dynamic: many reporters remain hooked on the platform and treat it as an outsize story in its own right, driving greater buzz around a presidential launch that, in a more conventional forum, might more quickly have been forgotten as a formality. Mainstream-media mockery of the event is unlikely to dent DeSantis among Republican primary voters; indeed, he can point to it as proof of his anti-media case. Still, the technical glitches were embarrassing. And the direct audience for the eventwhile too big, evidently, for Twitter to handlewas small by traditional-media standards. As various observers have noted, when DeSantis eventually started talking, his message was duly narrowcouched not in the sweeping rhetoric of a unifying vision, but in a language of terminally-online grievance politics understood only by the sort of people likely to have tuned in. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Some observers have expressed skepticism that DeSantis, or any other Republican candidate for that matter, will be able to avoid more traditional engagement with the mainstream media if they want to be president. Given how naked DeSantis seems to be about political calculations, its not hard to imagine that he might, if successful in the primary, seek to soften his edges and broaden his outreach, including through more conventional media sit-downs. (Semafor reported last weekend on some tentative early steps in such a direction, with his staff quietly starting the traditional campaign work of providing access for reporters and input for their stories.) Still, as I wrote last year, any such strategy will face self-imposed limitations: DeSantis has made contempt for the mainstream press so central to his persona that hell likely find it hard to back off, even if he wants to. For now, he seems happy to stay in his silo: since his Twitter launch, he has hopped from friendly interviewer to friendly interviewer across the right-wing media pond. Local TV newswhich often flies under the radar of national media-watchersis sometimes portrayed as the polar opposite of this sort of silo: inclusive, apolitical, reliant on high levels of broad-based community trust in an otherwise polarized media environment. This, of course, is an over-generalization. As an anchor in Jacksonville, Casey DeSantis would openly flaunt her right-wing politics; according to a profile in Vanity Fair, when the arts editor of a local alt-weekly came on her show to talk about a metal band, she ripped up his paper on air in protest of a headline about the GOP. When I last wrote about local TV news in this newsletter, it was in the context of the Arizona gubernatorial bid of Kari Lake, a hard-line election denier whose politics had started to lurch to the right while she was still working as an anchor on a Phoenix TV station. (Like Casey DeSantis, Lake once expressed distaste for the local alt-weekly scene.) When I wrote about Lake, it was to show how a local news anchor might easily leverage the visibility and trust that comes with the role into a political careerand, if so inclined, subvert that trust into an anti-media message built on big lies. Ron DeSantis, of course, was never a news anchoreven if he was once adjacent to that world, and drew some political advantages from it himselfand, again, he is now not only running for national-level office, but must first navigate a primary whose dynamics will be determined by committed partisans. Still, there is a common lesson lurking here about who you need to talk to, and through what type of medium, to succeed in politics at any level, whatever your message. Deegan clearly understood it in Jacksonville; Trump, too, understands it, albeit with extremely different results. Its not clear that DeSantis does. People may see a lot of him in the mainstream media. But do they really know him? Other notable stories: ICYMI: The Messenger is a news startup, but it feels like a blast from the past Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. A report by the New York State Inspector General alleges egregious abuse of a workers compensation loss wage benefit provision by state corrections and institution safety officers. The report blames a 2016 labor agreement with the states correction agencys Security Services Unit (SSU) for creating incentives for employees to stay out of work and collect wages, which in turn has contributed to staffing shortages, overtime work for other employees. and morale problems. Inspector General Lucy Lang said the report was previously given to the Governors Office of Employee Relations (OER) as it details egregious workers compensation abuse by corrections facilities security staff that was arguably incentivized by existing contract terms. Lang urged the OER to use the workers compensation report as it negotiates the terms of a new labor agreement covering correction officers. The SSU is represented by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. SSU is part of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). Lang said her office has received hundreds of complaints alleging that correction officers are abusing their lost wage benefits. The report says these complaints have been echoed by staff at many of the 44 correctional facilities visited by her office over the past year, and have resulted in a daily struggle to simultaneously ensure safety while maintaining the delivery of critical services in the face of significant workers compensation-driven staffing shortages. Unlike the most employees covered by the workers compensation law, SSU employees are entitled to up to six months of full pay from their employer after an occupational injury or disease, without having to choose between using their accrued leave time or receiving less than their full pay through the New York State Insurance Fund (SIF), the states workers compensation insurance carrier. According to the report, during fiscal year 2020-2021, DOCCS had to cover nearly 1.8 million hours of staff time as a result of workers compensation absences, a nine percent increase from the year prior, and a 61 percent increase over the prior decade. At the same time, the report continues, about two out of three workers compensation claims filed by correction officers were for injuries unrelated to physical contact with incarcerated individuals. From 2015 to 2021, the Inspector Generals team said they observed that at approximately 10% of correctional facilities, on average, one in three correction officers filed a workers compensation claim. One a single day December 26, 2022, eight facilities had 10% or greater of their entire security staff out on workers compensation leave, with three facilities topping 17%. The report also cites an absence of restrictions on employees activities during time spent on leave, which the report says appears to have created a strong motivation for fraud as well as a perverse incentive for correction officers to not return to work before those six months have been exhausted, regardless of their ability to do so. It alleges instances of employees receiving compensation benefits while simultaneously working second jobs and submissions of falsified medical reports. It also cites one case of a married couple, working as correction officers in the same facility, who were allegedly out on workers compensation leave at the same time for 241 days. A spokesman for the union that represents the states corrections officers New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said the union was still reviewing the report and had no comment at this time. The union has complained about a spike in attacks on officers since the implementation in April of a law that limits their ability to place inmates deemed violent in special confinement areas separated from the general population. TOKYO (AP) A nuclear watchdog has asked the operator of Japans 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 plants Unit 1 primary containment chamber found that its pedestal the main supporting structure directly under its core was 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 plants 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 foundation a 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 reactors 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 Koreas 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 reactors 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. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. HAGATNA, Guam (AP) Many residents of Guam remained without power and utilities Thursday after Typhoon Mawar tore through the remote U.S. Pacific territory the night before and ripped roofs off homes, flipped vehicles and shredded trees. There were no immediate reports of deaths and injuries but the central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The islands 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, said Landon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Most of Guam is dealing with a major mess thats gonna 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. The scope of the damage was difficult to ascertain early on, with power and internet failures making communication on the far-flung island difficult. Guam Gov. Lou 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, Leon Guerrero said, adding that the worst has gone by. As the typhoon crept slowly over the island, it sent solar panels flying and crumbled part of a hotels 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 Bazas mothers 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 northeastern 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 familys 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. In a sign of how much help Guam might need, 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. By Thursday afternoon, Mawar was centered 135 miles (217 kilometers) northwest of Guam and 150 miles (241 kilometers) west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 7 mph (11 kph). Power was also knocked out for all of Rota, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. said late Wednesday. The island has about 2,500 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The storm strengthened to 155 mph (249 kph) winds Thursday and regained its status as a super typhoon, according to the weather service. Mawar, a Malaysian word that means rose, was forecast to maintain this intensity for the next two days. After moving away from Guam, the storm is expected to track generally northwest over a large, empty of expanse of ocean for days, and it could threaten Taiwan next week. 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. 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. About the photo: A building is flooded in Hagatna, Guam, Thursday, May 25, 2023, after Typhoon Mawar went through the area. (AP Photo/Grace Garces Bordallo) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A New Orleans television station broadcast an audio recording of a founding partner of the McClenny Moseley & Associates law firm admitting that his law firm used a roofing company and a marketing firm to sign on clients. 4WWLs Eyewitness News reported Wednesday that it obtained secretly recorded comments made by John Zachary Moseley during a March 6 staff meeting. In the recording, Moseley acknowledged that his Houston-headquartered law firm filed more hurricane-damage lawsuits that it was able to handle and also admitted making misrepresentations to insurers. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, who fined MMA and its partners $2 million for what he called an insurance fraud scheme, told Eyewitness News that Moseleys brazenness is unimaginable. Thats the most egregious example of misrepresentation I can imagine, Donelon said during an on-camera interview. Moseley did not respond to an email from the Claims Journal requesting comment. In the recording, Moseley tells his staff that he is working on a plan to have San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts, with the Watts Guerra Law Firm, take over MMAs cases, with MMA working in the background. Watts told the television station that he looked into it, but was not able to reach an agreement with Moseley. US District Court Judge James D. Cain Jr. called MMA into his courtroom last October after discovering that the law firm had filed 1,641 lawsuits in the Western District of Louisiana over the course of several days, often naming the wrong insurer as a defendant or attributing damage to the wrong hurricane. Cain issued stays barring MMA from working on the lawsuits it filed. Judges in the Eastern and Middle Louisiana districts issued their own stays after finding similar errors. The Louisiana State Bar has indefinitely suspended the law license of MMAs former managing partner in New Orleans, William R. Huye III. The US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, has indefinitely suspended Moseley from practicing within its jurisdiction. MMA lawyers acknowledged during court hearings that the firm paid a marketing company called Velawcity $13.9 million for prescreened client leads. During the March staff meeting, Moseley acknowledged that Velawcity generated leads and converted leads into signed contracts. He also admitted using Apex Roofing Co. to sign up clients and offered his staff an explanation: If we tell the insurance company we represent the roofing company, they are going to tell us to fk off and they are not going to negotiate with us, Moseley says in the recording. But since we have the rights of the homeowner, lets tell the insurance company we are the homeowner and thats going to be, you know, they will negotiate with us quicker. Moseley took a defiant tone during the staff meeting. Im a Houston guy, he said. I came into New Orleans big and bad. I told everyone to fk off. I didnt want any help from any New Orleans attorneys. And then they all turned their backs on me, and theyre trying to get me in trouble. So, thats what happened here. MMA admitted during court hearings 856 instances where the law firm told insurers that it represented homeowners but actually represented Apex Roofing or another restoration contractor. New Orleans Insurance defense attorney Matthew Monson posted a link to the 4WWL story on his LinkedIn page Thursday and suggested that Moseley shut down his law firm while the state bars in Louisiana and Texas finish their investigations. Monson said he is proud that his law firm exposed MMAs improper schemes by filing complaints with the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel and Department of Insurance. Dallas insurance defense attorney Steve Badger, a partner with the Zelle law firm, offered this advice to the young Mr. Moseley in a LinkedIn post. Always assume everything you are saying in public even amongst just your employees is being recorded, he wrote. CLEVELAND, Ohio - An affiliate of Sunoco LP has bought industrial properties along the Cuyahoga River in Clevelands Tremont neighborhood. Sunoco Midstream LLC bought a couple of parcels at 250 Mahoning Ave. and 2213 W. 3rd St. from Zenith Energy Terminals Holdings LLC. A 25,000-square-foot storage warehouse, 13,000-square-foot storage warehouse, 4,000-square-foot commercial service garage, and 4,000-square-foot office building were sold to Sunoco Midstream for about $4.9 million, Cuyahoga County records show. The properties are valued at about $2.1 million by Cuyahoga County. Read the full story on cleveland.coms sister site, Cleveland Business Journal. Get the best in local business news sent straight to your inbox with the Cleveland Business Journal. Free to sign up. BEREA, Ohio -- A Parma Heights man, 39, was arrested at about 8 p.m. May 19 after police recognized him and knew that warrants had been issued for his arrest. The man was in the drivers seat of a Chevrolet Malibu parked at Shell, 827 Front St. The car belonged to his childrens mother, who worked at the gas station. Police entered the mans name into their computer and confirmed that he was wanted in Parma Heights and by the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office. His drivers license also had been suspended. CLEVELAND, Ohio An Ohio bartender was ordered Friday to spend 8 years in prison for leading a band of militia members into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehtas sentence of Jessica Watkins was less than half of what federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., had requested. A jury convicted Watkins and other members of the Oath Keepers in November. She was acquitted of seditious conspiracy, the most serious charge in the case. On Thursday, Mehta sentenced Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, to 18 years, the longest term doled out in the attack. Prosecutors originally sought 25 years for Rhodes. Prosecutors alleged that Watkins was a key planner in the attack on the Capitol, a siege that took place as members of Congress sought to verify the election results that put President Joseph Biden in the White House. Prosecutors had recommended 18 years for Watkins, who owned the Jolly Roger in the village of Woodstock in Champaign County, west of Columbus. They claimed that Watkins had recruited members of the conspiracy, trained them and led them into the Capitol. She was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, civil disorder and tampering. cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Jonathan Crisp, Watkins attorney, seeking comment. Watkins has admitted that what she did was wrong, according to court documents. During her trial in November, Watkins testified that what she did was really stupid, according to the Associated Press. These defendants were prepared to fight, prosecutors said in a sentencing document filed earlier this month. Not for their country, but against it. Prosecutors said Watkins reveled in what happened at the Capitol. Watkins, rather than disavowing the actions that took place, which would be consistent with her claim on the stand that she was swept up in the moment, delighted in what had occurredand what she had helped accomplish, prosecutors wrote in the document. Crisp said in court documents that Watkins has dealt with mental health and substance abuse issues for much of her life. She is a transgender woman, who struggled in her transition and faced harassment because of it, Crisp wrote in documents. CLEVELAND, Ohio The West Pierhead Light in Cleveland Harbor is one of four lighthouses the federal government hopes to sell at auction and one of 10 it is looking to dispose of this year. The move is part of a program run by the General Services Administration that aims to preserve the lighthouses. Properties are given away to qualifying entities or sold at auction to the public. NAPA VALLEY, Calif. An overdue library book was returned this month after being checked out for more than 96 years. The book, A History of the United States by Benson Lossing, was returned earlier this month to St. Helena Public Library in Napa Valley, California, by local resident Jim Perry. The book, originally published in 1892, had been in Perrys family for generations since first being checked out in 1927, Perry said. Perry, 75, said he found the book while decluttering his home and unpacking old boxes that belonged to him and his late wife, Sandra, who died in 2015. I was just cleaning house and moving stuff out the door that wasnt being used, Perry said. This box of books had been in a nice cool place in our house where we kept books. Fortunately for Perry, St. Helena Public Library in 2019 eliminated its previous nickel-per-day fines, allowing him to avoid nearly $1,800 in late fees, according to the St. Helena Star. As you might imagine, the librarys staff was surprised to see the 131-year-old book finally returned nearly 100 years after it was first checked out. One of my staff members brought it, (they) came up and said, Oh, somebody had returned that book, and, they thought it was really cool, said Chris Kreiden, director of St. Helena Public Library, according to KSBW8 in Salinas, California. It was a really old book and we didnt realize quite how old it was. The book is showing its age, too. It no longer has a spine and is falling apart, according to Kreiden. This is the oldest one Ive ever seen, definitely, Kreiden said, per The Washington Post. I mean weve had things (checked out for) two or three years, maybe five, but never anything quite this long. Its never too late to return your library book, she added. COLUMBUS, Ohio Like other Ohio Democrats these days, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is heading into an election year while finding himself in the increasingly tough position of relying on a Republican-leaning electorate to let him continue his political career. The dynamic could make Browns latest reelection bid the toughest campaign of his decades-long career. Brown, a stalwart progressive whos also a shrewd politician, is showing signs of how he plans to tackle the problem. Ohio has drifted much further to the right than when Brown was first elected in 2006 as part of the last statewide Democratic wave in Ohio. Today, he finds himself among the countrys most vulnerable Democratic Senators seeking reelection, with Republican challengers lining up for the chance to knock him off. Already, the GOP field has two wealthy candidates who can self-fund their own campaigns, and at least a couple others weighing whether to get in to the race. In recent weeks, Brown has thrown his support behind several bills that could appeal to people who voted for former President Donald Trump, whose supporters Brown will need to win another term. The most striking example is one calling for a two-year extension of Title 42, a Trump-era border-security policy whose creation Brown opposed, and which Democratic President Joe Biden plans to let expire. But other examples include trying to roll back a Biden-era tax policy thats a popular punching bag for Republicans, opposing the Biden Administrations move to lift tariffs on solar panels with Chinese components and even sponsoring a rail safety bill that landed an endorsement from Trump himself. Brown also joined other Democrats recently in voting for a Republican House resolution overturning a crime bill imposed by the Washington, D.C., city government. Browns quandary is familiar to Ohio Democrats, according to Kyle Kondik, an Ohio native who is a political analyst at the University of Virginia. Ohios undergone a dramatic political change in the past 20 years, shifting from the consummate swing state to one that now tracks to the right of the rest of the country. Ohio Democrats, as a result, have to work harder to distance themselves from their national leaders, including President Joe Biden, whose approval rating here consistently has tracked somewhere in the mid-30% range. If you look at his party loyalty, its not like hes Joe Manchin, Kondik said of Brown, referencing the West Virginia centrist whose term expires at the end of next year. Its not like hes a big roadblock to his own party on certain things. But in the style of other old-line liberal Democrats from Ohio, Brown has found a formula for political success, Kondik said. I think he has found success on the trade issue is, which is where hes known most for bucking the establishment of his own party, Kondik said. Brown and his team reject the notion that Ohios changing political environment require him to do anything differently. They emphasized Browns record of bipartisanship and say his populist approach pre-dates the Trump era thats seen once reliably blue parts of the state shift sharply in favor of Republicans. In an interview, Brown said hes won the state consistently by focusing on workers and having a consistent message no matter where he appears in the state. Voters understand that, said Brown, speaking with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer following an event in Columbus where he touted a bipartisan bill targeting the money flowing to international drug cartels. They see what happens with these big banks. Theyve seen what happens with East Palestine, the whole Wall Street model of laying off workers, jacking up your stock price, taking stock buybacks as executives do, 80% of the country doesnt like that at least A lot of those people vote for me because I show up for those interests and I show up in communities where people dont see elected officials very often. Brown also said he has a track record to emphasize, including pushing for the CHIPS Act that enticed Intel to build a massive new computer-chip factory near Columbus and the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will help pay to replace the Cleveland RTAs rail fleet and build a companion bridge for the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati. When you have a record of accomplishments, elections take care of themselves, Brown said. National Republicans, who have made Brown a top target as they try to re-take the U.S. Senate, meanwhile are accusing Brown of flip-flopping and pandering for Republican votes. Sherrod Brown voted for open borders, 87,000 new IRS agents to monitor $600 Venmo transactions, and defended defunding police departments, said Phil Letsou, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. His bizarre election year flip-flops wont fool anyone. Some of the stances Brown has taken recently mirror those used by other Ohio Democrats who ran in 2022 while conspicuously trying to distance themselves from the Biden administration. Like Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who ran commercials on the issue during her surprisingly easy reelection campaign last year, Brown has has split with the Biden administration over its plan to lift Trump-era tariffs on imported solar panels. The move, which the White House says is meant to promote solar adoption in the U.S., has upset U.S. solar manufacturers, including First Solar, a major employer near Toledo. The Democratic-held Senate earlier this month rejected the proposal in a 56-41 vote, with Brown and Ohios other senator, Republican JD Vance, both voting no. The position is in political character for Brown, who has opposed international free-trade deals for decades. He also supported the tariffs when they were imposed. Brown made his support for some Trump trade policies including his support for Robert Lighthizer, an Ashtabula native who served as Trumps trade representative a cornerstone of his 2018 campaign when he was reelected by 6 percentage points in a statewide election that Ohio Republicans otherwise dominated. Another issue Democrats seized on last year to distance themselves from the White House was Title 42, the border policy the Trump administration imposed during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Tim Ryan, a congressman from Youngstown who was last years Democratic Senate nominee, commonly cited Title 42 as something he disagreed with the Biden administration over. Title 42, imposed by Trump in March 2020, allows border guards to expel migrants on public health grounds. Biden announced in January he will allow the policy to lapse as the White House lifts other coronavirus pandemic policies as the public-health emergency has ended. The move is expected to generate a surge of migrants at the border, and has led House Republicans to pursue a border security bill. Brown announced in March that he opposed Bidens move to end Title 42. Instead, Brown co-sponsored bipartisan Senate immigration bill that would extend the policy for two years. We need more resources at the border, Brown told reporters at the time. That means everything from military people at the border, police at the border, inspectors at the border, mental health professionals at the border to deal with this situation. Its troubling. And as I said, I dont think Presidents of either party have really stepped up on this. The move was eyebrow-raising for two reasons. For one, Browns co-sponsors included two other vulnerable Democratic senators running for reelection next year: Manchin and Sen. Jon Tester of Montana. The bills lead sponsors are Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a centrist independent who recently renounced her Democratic Party affiliation, and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. But Browns support for extending Title 42 also is an evolution from a position he took in June 2020, when he joined other Democrats in signing a letter calling on the Trump administration to immediately end the policy, among other immigration-related moves. The letter says Title 42 was based on specious justifications, saying it appears designed to further an ongoing agenda to exclude asylum seekers, in violation of Congress plain word and intent. Brown said Thursday that conditions have changed compared to three years ago. I dont want Title 42 to go on forever. But weve got to get more resources to the border, he said. And that means more doctors, that means more judges, that means more law enforcement. Then, Title 42 can go away. But until then, weve got to make sure that were doing things right. I think circumstances have changed enough in the years since that implemented that that speaks loudly that we should do that. Brown also is tackling another issue thats a popular talking point for Republicans: tax changes contained in the American Rescue Plan Act, the signature coronavirus relief bill that Biden signed in early 2021. Brown recently found a Republican, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, to co-sponsor a bill revising a part of ARPA that significantly toughened tax-reporting requirements for online transactions. The provision in ARPA requires anyone who gets more than $600 from an online source fill out a 1099 IRS form, compared to the previous $20,000 reporting trigger. Republicans have been outraged by the policy, framing it as financial surveillance by an expanding IRS, although the IRS itself has delayed implementing the policy while hinting the agency wouldnt mind if it were allowed to lapse. Browns bill would set the reporting minimum at $10,000. Brown has said hes heard from small businesses in Ohio that find the reporting requirements to be stifling. His new bill, The Red Tape Reduction Act, mirrors a vote Brown touted in 2011 that opposed a similar 1099 reporting requirement contained in the Affordable Care Act, another popular Republican punching bag. One bill Brown is likely to talk about on the campaign trail is the Railway Safety Act, a bill he co-sponsored with Vance that imposes greater safety restrictions on the railroad industry in the aftermath of the February train derailment in East Palestine. The bill, which cleared a Senate committee earlier earlier this month, helped Brown land an endorsement from Trump, albeit indirectly. Trump praised the bill recently, while referencing Vance in a social media post: JDs terrific bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement!!! Brown said he and Vance have talked to the same people about the issues underlying the East Palestine derailment, which led them to collaborate on the bill. Asked about the endorsement, Brown said: Anyone endorsing the railroad bill I think is helpful. Asked if hed changed his view on Brown after working with him, Vance said he and Brown still disagree on most issues. I obviously want to elect a Republican and replace Sherrod Brown in 2024. But we also get things done for the people of Ohio when we have to, Vance said. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer COLUMBUS, Ohio A voting rights group has sent a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose asking to meet with him so he can clarify his plans after he decided in March to have the state withdraw from a multi-state voter information database. There is currently no viable alternative to (the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC), and previous efforts to create an interstate matching program, such as Crosscheck, failed and resulted in thousands of voters being wrongly identified for removal from voter rolls, All Voting is Local Ohio writes to LaRose. No other system that currently exists aggregates as much data from so many states and so many government agencies in one place. Auckland, New Zealand, 26 May 2023 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited today announced its results for the full year ended 31 March 2023. Total operating revenue for the 2023 financial year was $1.58 billion, down 6% or 9% in constant currency from the 2022 financial year. Net profit after tax was $250.3 million, a 34% decline from the 2022 financial year, or a 39% decline in constant currency. For the second half, operating revenue grew 14% to $890.5 million, or 12% growth in constant currency from the second half of 2022, driven by strong growth in Hospital new applications consumables and OSA masks revenue. Managing Director and CEO Lewis Gradon said, We are coming out of three financial years that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and our people, suppliers and customers have worked tirelessly to meet global demand surges. The second half result was encouraging as market conditions progressed towards more of a normal state and both our Hospital and Homecare product groups delivered good growth. Hospital product group revenue for the full year was $1.02 billion, a 15% decrease compared to the previous year and an 18% decrease in constant currency. Hospital hardware sales were down 53% in constant currency compared to the 2022 financial year, a year that was more heavily impacted by global COVID-19 surges. During the 2023 financial year, hardware sales in countries or regions that did not experience COVID-19 surges were tracking somewhat close to pre-pandemic patterns. Hospital new applications consumables revenue for the full year was down 6% from the prior year in constant currency, as hospital customers worked through their excess inventory. This trend abated throughout the year, and new applications consumables revenue for the second half of 2023 was up 13% in constant currency over the second half of 2022. Homecare product group revenue for the full year was a record $553.8 million, 18% higher than the previous year, and 13% higher in constant currency. The company saw strong growth in masks and accessories revenue, which in constant currency was up 17% for the full year, and up 24% for the second half. Our Evora Full mask for OSA launched in the United States in May 2022 and contributed significantly to the strong OSA masks revenue. Its one of the most positive new mask launches we have ever experienced based on customer feedback and initial sales performance in the regions where it is available, said Mr Gradon. Gross margin for the year was 59.4%, a 369 basis point decrease in constant currency. Margin was impacted by continued elevated freight costs and manufacturing inefficiencies as the company rebalanced demand fluctuations with manufacturing throughput during the year. Dividend and dividend reinvestment plan Fisher & Paykel Healthcares board of directors approved a final dividend of 23.0 cents per share for the second half of the year. This brings the total dividend for the 2023 financial year to 40.5 cents per share, an increase of 3% over the 2022 financial year. The final dividend, carrying full New Zealand imputation credit, will be paid on 7 July 2023 with a record date of 27 June 2023. The dividend reinvestment plan, under which eligible shareholders can elect to reinvest all or part of their cash dividends in additional shares, will again be made available in respect of the 2023 final dividend. A 3% discount will be applied when determining the price per share in respect of the 2023 final dividend. Product focus New product launches remain a core part of Fisher & Paykel Healthcares growth strategy. During the 2023 financial year the company invested $174.3 million into research and development to progress its new products in the pipeline. In May last year we announced our new Airvo 3 device for delivering nasal high flow, and we have been pleased to see a very positive reception. We recently received 510(k) approval for the Airvo 3, which clears the way for its sale into the United States in the coming months, said Mr Gradon. During the 2023 financial year, the company continued to add people to the global sales team, particularly in Anesthesia, reflecting the companys aspiration to accelerate the Anesthesia business into a substantial contributor to overall revenue growth. Infrastructure During the 2023 financial year, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare announced the acquisition of 105 hectares of land in Karaka, Auckland for a second New Zealand campus. A 10% deposit of the $275 million purchase price was paid in September 2022, and a payment of $189.5 million occurred on 11 May 2023. A further $43 million will be paid in January 2026, and the final instalment of $15 million will be paid in December 2026. In the meantime, earthworks are continuing on the companys existing East Tamaki campus to prepare for the construction of a fifth facility, which will complete the site. Outlook for the 2024 financial year At current exchange rates*, guidance assumptions for the 2024 financial year include no significant respiratory disease events, and result in full year operating revenue of approximately $1.70 billion, with approximately similar revenue growth rates for both Hospital and Homecare product groups. Capital expenditure for the 2024 financial year is expected to be approximately $450 million as the company progresses its land and building programmes, and interest expense is expected to be approximately $16 million. Operating expense growth is anticipated to be approximately 12% at current exchange rates, reflecting the companys investment in R&D and sales people during the 2023 financial year. Prior to the pandemic, we had a track record of incremental improvements in gross margin. During the last three years, our responsibility was to get as much product as possible into the hands of our customers. Now, as every team in our business turns back to efficiency gains, we are confident in our ability to return to our long-term target of 65% within three to four years. For the 2024 financial year, we anticipate a gross margin improvement of approximately 200 basis points in constant currency, or an improvement of approximately 100 basis points at current exchange rates, said Mr Gradon. It has been very positive to see our people, our clinical partners and our suppliers spend more time face-to-face over the past year. We look forward to this continuing in the year ahead. Connection is at the core of our business the quality of our relationships and our interactions is a major determinant of our success, concluded Mr Gradon. *At May 2023 exchange rates of NZD:USD 0.63, NZD:EUR 0.58, NZD:MXN 12.00. Overview of key results for the second half of the 2023 financial year 14% growth in operating revenue to $890.5 million, 12% growth in constant currency. Net profit after tax of $154.4 million, a decline of 0.5% or 3% in constant currency. 9% growth in Hospital operating revenue to $584.8 million, 7% growth in constant currency. 13% constant currency revenue growth for new applications consumables; i.e. products used in noninvasive ventilation, Optiflow nasal high flow therapy and surgical applications, accounting for 72% of Hospital consumables revenue. 25% growth in Homecare operating revenue to $303.9 million, 22% growth in constant currency. 28% growth in OSA masks revenue, or 24% growth in constant currency. Overview of key results for the 2023 financial year 34% decline in net profit after tax to $250.3 million, 39% decline in constant currency. 6% decline in operating revenue to $1.58 billion, 9% decline in constant currency. 15% decline in Hospital operating revenue to $1.02 billion, 18% decline in constant currency. 6% constant currency revenue decline for new applications consumables. 18% growth in Homecare operating revenue to $553.8 million, 13% growth in constant currency. Investment in R&D was 11% of revenue, or $174.3 million. 2% increase in final dividend to 23.0 cps (2022: 22.5 cps). 3% increase in total dividends for the financial year to 40.5 cps (2022: 39.5 cps). About Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Fisher & Paykel Healthcare is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and systems for use in acute and chronic respiratory care, surgery and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The companys products are sold in over 120 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, visit our website www.fphcare.com. 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. 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Vornado Realty Trust: "The management there is so strong, but the tug of war against New York is so bad I'm not going to recommend Vornado." watch now Neuralink logo displayed on a phone screen, a silhouette of a paper in shape of a human face and a binary code displayed on a screen are seen in this multiple exposure illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on December 10, 2021. Neuralink, the neurotech startup co-founded by Elon Musk, announced Thursday it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to conduct its first in-human clinical study. Neuralink is building a brain implant called the Link, which aims to help patients with severe paralysis control external technologies using only neural signals. This means patients with severe degenerative diseases like ALS could eventually regain their ability to communicate with loved ones by moving cursors and typing with their minds. "This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people," the company wrote in a tweet. The FDA and Neuralink did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The extent of the approved trial is not known. Neuralink said in a tweet that patient recruitment for its clinical trial is not open yet. Neuralink is part of the emerging brain-computer interface, or BCI, industry. A BCI is a system that deciphers brain signals and translates them into commands for external technologies. Neuralink is perhaps the best-known name in the space thanks to the high profile of Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter. Scientists have been studying BCI technology for decades, and several companies have developed promising systems that they hope to bring to market. But receiving FDA approval for a commercial medical device is no small task it requires companies to successfully conduct several extremely thorough rounds of testing and data safety collection. No BCI company has managed to clinch the FDA's final seal of approval. But by receiving the go-ahead for a study with human patients, Neuralink is one step closer to market. Neuralink's BCI will require patients to undergo invasive brain surgery. Its system centers around the Link, a small circular implant that processes and translates neural signals. The Link is connected to a series of thin, flexible threads inserted directly into the brain tissue where they detect neural signals. Patients with Neuralink devices will learn to control it using the Neuralink app. Patients will then be able to control external mice and keyboards through a Bluetooth connection, according to the company's website. The FDA's approval for an in-human study is a significant win for Neuralink after a series of recent hurdles at the company. In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation confirmed to CNBC that it had opened an investigation into Neuralink for allegedly packaging and transporting contaminated hardware in an unsafe manner. Reuters reported in March that the FDA had rejected Neuralink's application for human trials, and reportedly outlined "dozens" of issues the company needed to address. Neuralink has also come under fire from activist groups for its alleged treatment of animals. The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, which advocates against animal testing, has repeatedly called on Musk to release details about experiments on monkeys that had resulted in internal bleeding, paralysis, chronic infections, seizures, declining psychological health and death. A representative for PCRM did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. In addition to helping patients with paralysis, experts believe BCIs could someday help treat maladies like blindness and mental illness. Musk has expressed his intent for Neuralink to explore these future use cases, as well as potential applications for healthy people. At a "show and tell" recruitment event late last year, Musk even claimed he plans to someday receive one of Neuralink's implants himself. "You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldn't even know," Musk said at the time. "In fact, in one of these demos, I will." Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario's husband had been a captain with Hong Kong airline Cathay Dragon for 14 years when he lost his job in October 2020, she said. Cathay Pacific cut thousands of jobs and shuttered its regional airline during the pandemic. The news was crushing, Lisa said. The family decided to leave Hong Kong to return to the Netherlands, where her husband, Jeroen, is from, she said. But they didn't stay long. Lisa's husband is an adept sailor, and life at sea "seemed to be the best place to be," especially since the family hoped to avoid Covid, she said. So the couple sold their home in the Netherlands and bought a secondhand monohull boat to "live and travel the world." Lisa's husband, Jeroen Slot, harnessed to the deck in full gear. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario The family first sailed to France, then to Spain and Portugal, before reaching Sardinia, she said. They wintered in Sicily before sailing to Greece, she added. They sailed from June 2021 to the summer of 2022 when their travels were cut short by engine failure. Lisa and her family. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario Sailing full time didn't mean the family's boat was constantly moving. "Sailing is a matter of short hops," said Lisa. About 85% of their time was spent on anchor or in a marina, so the family was able to explore many European towns, she said. Homeschooling on a boat Lisa's children were homeschooled with home, of course, being a 52-foot Swedish-built boat. Lisa liaised with a school in the U.K., which provided monthly assignments and report cards. But she did the teaching, she said. Lisa's sons, Micah and Sasha. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario Unlike traditional classrooms, where children are "vying for the teacher's attention," homeschooling let her focus on concepts her children did not understand, Lisa said. Homeschooling is also less time-consuming than traditional schooling, she said. Schools add filler activities between lessons so students' attention spans don't wane, she said. But with homeschooling: "You don't need that many hours in a day to study ... You're done within two to three hours." No longer vegans Sailing means cutting out rent, electricity and water bills from monthly spending, Lisa said. While living at sea, her family used a water maker to turn seawater into drinking water, she said. They also used a wind generator and stored solar energy with lithium batteries, she said. The family's Forgus 52 boat at the dock. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario Lisa said they reduced costs further by buying food that was readily available. They stopped being vegan since the small coastal towns they visited often lacked fresh vegetables, she said. "In order to be sustainable, we had to actually eat locally and shop locally," she said. The family also switched to foods that were easy to store, such as dry goods like pasta, rice and sauces, she said. Challenges of full-time sailing Lisa worried she would feel lonely while at sea, especially without an internet connection, she said. But her family learned to embrace the peace and quiet, she said. "You could just sit above deck and look at the water and before you knew it, eight to 10 hours had passed." Sunset over the Mediterranean sea. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario Exercise was a bigger challenge, she said. The ceiling of the boat was too low to do yoga, and she could swim in the ocean only so many times, she explained. Lifting free weights on the front deck required good weather as the boat had to be still, she added. In fact, everything on board was subject to the weather, she said. The family checked weather forecasts often but, Lisa said, they still encountered situations they were not prepared for. Benagil Cave on the coast of Portugal. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario On one occasion, the boat experienced "almost three-meter swells" that had not been predicted, said Lisa. Although the family was seasick, the 25-ton boat wasn't damaged, she said. "It actually taught us not only to have respect for the ocean but also mad respect for the boat we're in," she said. Life lessons "The best part of sailing is just when you can't see any land anywhere," said Lisa. Sunsets, starry night skies and waves lit up with bioluminescence were frequent sights, she said. The family also had a "spectacular" journey through Portugal, exploring places like Porto and the Algarve, she said. The view of the family's boat from inside Benagil Cave. Lisa Terauchi-D'Rozario The recent sell-off in American Express shares has been "overdone," according to Morgan Stanley. With the stock trading at its cheapest levels in years, the firm thinks now is a good entry point for investors. Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating on American Express shares, calling them a top pick. Its price target of $188 implies shares rallying 24.4% in the coming months. "Amex hasn't traded this cheaply on P/E since 2019, with a 12x P/E pricing in a sharper slowdown in growth. Yes, discretionary spend is slowing, but this is already baked into consensus estimates," analyst Betsy Graseck wrote in a Friday note. "From here, AXP offers 1) highest revenue growth, 2) strong operating leverage, 3) better credit quality," she added. American Express shares have struggled this quarter, losing 8%. Year to date, they're up 2.3%. Graseck said while revenue growth is slowing from its post-Covid boom, it will remain more resilient than feared. She noted the stock's valuation is now pricing in too much slowing, implying just about 7% growth over the next two years. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley estimates about a 13% compound annual growth rate. She added while loan growth is very strong, Amex's loans and receivables balance is still low relative to its pre-Covid levels. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. German authorities have serious indications of possible data protection violations by Tesla , Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Thursday, citing the data protection office in the state where the carmaker has its European gigafactory. Handelsblatt's report said the U.S. electric car manufacturer has failed to adequately protect data from customers, employees and business partners, citing 100 gigabytes of confidential data leaked to the newspaper by a whistleblower. The data protection supervisory authority in the Netherlands, where Tesla's European headquarters is located, has been informed of the case, the newspaper said, adding that Tesla also filed a preliminary report to the Dutch authorities on the matter. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, stipulates that companies are obliged to do so if they fear personal data may have been leaked. The Brandenburg data protection office was not immediately available for comment. Tesla was not immediately available for comment on the report. DETROIT A surprise deal between Ford Motor and Tesla on electric vehicle charging technology and infrastructure could put new pressure on other automakers' EV strategies. The tie-up between the two rivals will give Ford owners access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada, starting early next year. More importantly, Ford's next generation of EVs expected by mid-decade will use Tesla's charging plug, allowing owners of Ford vehicles to charge at Tesla Superchargers without an adapter. The agreement will make Ford among the first automakers to explicitly tie into the network. Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the deal Thursday during a live audio discussion on Twitter Spaces. On Friday morning, Farley acknowledged the tie-up would create challenges for Ford's rivals. "I think GM and others are going to have a big choice to make," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Farley's comments referenced which EV plug should be standard for charging in the U.S. A charger known as CCS is the industry norm now. Tesla vehicles and its Supercharger network use what's known as NACS. Other vehicles can use both, but they need an adapter. "The CCS is a great standard, but it was pretty much done by kind of a committee, and I think GM and others are going to have a big choice to make," Farley told CNBC. "Do they want to have fast charging for customers? Or do they want to stick to their standard and have less charging? Ford's stock rose by 6.2% Friday, closing at $12.09 per share. Tesla's shares also climbed 4.7% Friday, ending the week at $193.17. Andrew Mok, 34, has heard his share of racist slights. At workplaces early in his career, for instance, he'd hear, "Oh, you and that other Asian coworker, I can't tell you guys apart. You all look the same," he says. In the moment he'd laugh it off but looking back, he realizes, "that made me feel kind of small." Mok's parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan in the '70s and he grew up in the Bay Area in California and attended the University of California, Berkeley, before pursuing a career in the startup world. Mok's been working at Turo, the Airbnb of car rentals, since 2012, now serving as its chief marketing officer. Mok has spent the last few years reflecting on what it means for him to be Asian American both at work and at large. Here's how his attitude about his identity has changed over time and why he thinks Asian Americans should be more vocal about their experience. 'We just need to keep our head down' Growing up, Mok felt he had to hide his Asian identity. "Asian American culture is really to not talk about being Asian," he says, adding that, "we just need to keep our head down. We just need to work hard." As a kid, for example, his mom would pack him Chinese food for lunch "and the kids would be like, 'Oh, that's smelly,' or, 'Oh, that looks gross,'" he says. He went home and told his mom, "I don't want Chinese food anymore. I want only American food." So she started packing him Campbell's chicken noodle soup to take to school instead. Even as an adult, "I would go out of my way previously to almost ignore the fact that I was Asian," he says. But especially in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, his attitude has changed. He's realized it's important to celebrate uniqueness and highlight difference. "We need to realize that it's a special experience growing up as a first generation Asian American," he says. "It's something to be proud of and it's something to educate people about." 'It goes a long way when people demonstrate a genuine curiosity' Talk about Asia's travel recovery is still largely focused on the return of Chinese travelers. But it's Indians travelers who are searching for international trips faster than travelers in any other market in the world, Agoda's CEO, Omri Morgenshtern, told CNBC Travel. "The entire thing is booming," he said. "India outbound [travel] is growing much faster than any other." Company data showed that while outbound travel searches from most Asia-Pacific countries increased between 30% and 60% from 2019, searches from travelers in India jumped by 225%. "India's travel industry has recovered strongly on the back of economic growth in the country," said Lalitya Dhavala, valuations consultant at travel analytics firm Cirium. "The data shows a strong recovery of both domestic and international traffic as compared to 2019 with ... positive growth in scheduled capacity in the next quarter," said. Where are they traveling? Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia are top picks for Indian travelers. From January 2019 to mid-May this year, hotel and flight searches by Indian travelers to Indonesia increased by 256%, 215% to Singapore, and 147% to Thailand, Agoda data showed. But searches to Vietnam a country long overlooked by Indian travelers grew even more. Agoda's data showed a 390% rise from 2019. "Vietnam is within the top five destinations and it was never there in 2019," Morgenshtern said. Before 2019, there were no direct flights from India to Vietnam, so connectivity between the two countries is now better, said Vishal Suri, managing director of SOTC Travel. "Vietnam is a destination that isn't very far away from India and still in the ASEAN region. It's just a four- or five-hour flight out of most parts of the country," Suri said. watch now Southeast Asian destinations remain popular among Indian travelers, but Agoda data suggests their interest in East Asian ones has waned, Agoda's Morgenshtern said. Hotel and flight searches to Japan and Taiwan have dropped from 2019, according to Agoda's data. But searches for South Korea have risen since before the pandemic. "Travel to Southeast Asia is completely exploding, but East Asian countries are much more expensive destinations," Morgenshtern said. But Morgenshtern expects travel interest in East Asia to rise soon. He also noted two other expensive markets that are popular among Indians the United States and the United Kingdom. "I don't see why an Indian customer that would go to Europe won't have a lot of fun going to Japan or Taiwan." More spending power Whether it's a short getaway in Asia or a long holiday in Europe, Indians are spending money. And they're spending big. "There's this perception that the Indian traveler's economic power is very low. It may be true domestically, but when it comes to outbound, I actually think it's on par with the Chinese when they visit other Asian countries," Agoda's Morgenshtern said. Last year, Indian travelers spent about 30% more on accommodations for their international travels than before the pandemic, and 20% more than the average Chinese customer, according to Agoda's data. watch now JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon talks to reporters as he leaves the U.S. Capitol after an unannounced meeting with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer that was reportedly about the possibility of the U.S. defaulting on its debt, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, May 17, 2023. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon testified at a deposition in New York on Friday that he had no involvement in the accounts of longtime customer Jeffrey Epstein, the bank said. Dimon was being deposed for lawsuits accusing JPMorgan of facilitating and profiting from Epstein's sex trafficking of young women, which he financed with money he had on deposit there. "Our CEO reaffirmed after his deposition that, as he has previously said, that he never met with him, never emailed him, does not recall ever discussing his accounts internally, and was not involved in any decisions about his account," said a bank spokeswoman. "There are millions and millions of emails and other documents that have been produced in this case and not one comes close to even suggesting that he had any role in decisions about Epstein's accounts." The spokeswoman added: "As we have said, we now know that Epstein's behavior was monstrous, and his victims deserve justice. In hindsight, any association with him was a mistake and we regret it, but these suits are misdirected as we did not help him commit his heinous crimes." Dimon gave his deposition at JPMorgan's headquarters in Manhattan. The bank earlier lost an effort to dismiss the suits by the plaintiffs the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and an anonymous Epstein accuser. The suits claim that JPMorgan, the biggest bank in the United States, kept Epstein as a customer even after learning he was being investigated for sexually abusing underage girls in Florida and after he pleaded guilty in a state charge there in 2008 to paying for sex from a minor. The bank is accused in the complaints in U.S. District Court in Manhattan of doing so in order to keep Epstein, who kept tens of millions of dollars in accounts there, despite internal concerns about his slimy reputation. The Virgin Islands says Epstein used frequent cash withdrawals he made from those accounts to pay for young women to travel to the American territory so that he and others could abuse them at his residence on a private island he owned. "Human trafficking was the [principal] business of the accounts Epstein maintained at JPMorgan," the Virgin Islands' suit says. Dimon's deposition was taken in private. The questions he was asked and the answers he gave would only become public if they are used in court filings and proceedings, or if they are leaked. Also on Friday afternoon, Judge Jed Rakoff held a hearing on a request by lawyers for the accuser to certify her lawsuit as a class action complaint, which could add dozens of potential accusers as plaintiffs. JPMorgan opposes that request. Rakoff is expected to rule by late June on that issue. As a growing number of Americans feel priced out of a college education, tuition assistance may be the most valuable incentive companies are using to attract and keep workers. In the last few years, more businesses have added or expanded benefit offerings of free college programs. Not only does free or discounted higher education improve recruitment and retention, it also cuts down on student debt while advancing the long-term well-being of employees, experts say. Big corporate names including Walmart , McDonald's , T-Mobile , Amazon , Home Depot , Target , UPS , FedEx , Chipotle and Starbucks have programs that help cover the cost of going back to school. Waste Management will not only pay for college degrees and professional certificates for employees, but also offers this same benefit to their spouses and children. More from Personal Finance: 98% of workers support pay transparency Companies are slashing parental leave benefits Here are the 'most employable' college degrees Of course, employers paying for their employees to get a degree is not new. For decades, businesses have picked up the tab for white-collar workers' graduate studies and MBAs. However, many companies are now extending this benefit to front-line workers, such as drivers, cashiers and hourly employees, as well as heavily promoting the offering more than they have before. Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, these types of benefits play a big part in the competition for workers and more companies are now offering opportunities to develop new skills, according to the Society for Human Resource Management's 2022 employee benefits survey. To that point, 48% of employers said they offer undergraduate or graduate tuition assistance as a benefit, according to the SHRM survey. A separate survey from Willis Towers Watson in 2021 found 80% of large employers offer tuition reimbursement. Oil prices ticked up on Friday as U.S. officials appeared close to striking a debt ceiling deal, and as the market weighed conflicting messages on supply from Russia and Saudi Arabia ahead of the next OPEC+ policy meeting. Brent crude settled 69 cents, or 0.9%, higher at $76.95 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate closed up 84 cents, or 1.2%, to $72.67 a barrel. On a weekly basis, both benchmarks posted a second week of gains with Brent climbing 1.7%, while WTI rose 1.6%. Still, markets remained cautious as debt talks may drag on and there are fresh worries about a Federal Reserve interest rate hike next month that would curb demand after strong US consumer spending data and inflation readings. While it is possible negotiators will reach a deal on Friday to raise the U.S. government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, talks could easily spill over into the weekend, a Biden administration official said. Benchmarks had settled more than $2 per barrel lower on Thursday after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak played down the prospect of further OPEC+ production cuts at its meeting in Vienna on June 4. Russia was leaning towards leaving oil production volumes unchanged because Moscow is content with current prices and output, three sources with knowledge of current Russian thinking told Reuters. That contrasted with earlier hints of possible output cuts from Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, de-facto leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), who warned short sellers to "watch out". Bets on falling oil prices have risen. "I think we all are on guard here ahead of next week's OPEC meeting," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital. Meanwhile, U.S. demand for gasoline is expected to remain strong with motorist group AAA predicting the May 27-29 Memorial Day holiday weekend will be the third-busiest for auto travel since 2000. On the supply side, U.S. oil rigs fell five to 570 this week, according to a report from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co. In May, the oil count fell by 21 rigs, which was the biggest monthly drop since June 2020. However, slowing economic growth and sticky inflation in Europe has capped price gains, with the Dutch Central Bank chief Klaas Knot saying the European Central Bank needs at least two more 25-basis-point interest rate hikes. Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator, pauses during the New Work Summit in Half Moon Bay, California, U.S., on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. In just two days, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seemed to do a 180 on his public views of European artificial intelligence regulation first threatening to cease operations in Europe if regulation crossed a line, then reversing his claims and now saying the firm has "no plans to leave." On Wednesday, Altman spoke to reporters in London and detailed his concerns about the European Union's AI Act, which is set to be finalized in 2024, the Financial Times reported. "The details really matter," Altman reportedly said. "We will try to comply, but if we can't comply we will cease operating." Initially, the legislation which could be the first of its kind as far as AI governance was drafted for "high-risk" uses of AI, such as in medical equipment, hiring and loan decisions. Now, during the generative AI boom, lawmakers have proposed expanded rules: Makers of large machine learning systems and tools like large language models, the kind that power chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard and more, would need to disclose AI-generated content and publish summaries of any copyrighted information used as training data for their systems. OpenAI drew criticism for not disclosing methods or training data for GPT-4, one of the models behind ChatGPT, after its release. "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 Wednesday in London, according to Reuters. "They are still talking about it." Lawmakers told Reuters the draft wasn't up for debate, and Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament, said he does "not see any dilution happening anytime soon." Less than 48 hours after his initial comments about potentially ceasing operations, Altman tweeted about a "very productive week of conversations in Europe about how to best regulate AI," adding that the OpenAI team is "excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave." The more recent proposal for the EU's AI Act will be negotiated among the European Commission and member states over the coming year, the FT reported. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. What's the best age for kids to start using social media? Parents have struggled to answer this question for years and it's taking on a renewed urgency after this week's warning from the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy that social media presents a "profound risk" for the mental health of adolescents and teens. The message from the surgeon general is clear: Regular social media use can dangerously alter kids' brain development, even children who meet most platforms' minimum age requirement of 13. "I certainly don't think anyone under 13 should be using it," Dr. Mitch Prinstein, a clinical psychologist who serves as the American Psychological Association's chief science officer, tells CNBC Make It. "Unfettered access, without any screen controls or [parental] monitoring, that should probably be delayed for as long as possible certainly, until at least 16." Murphy's warning, which came with recommendations for how the tech industry can revamp social media platforms to make them safer, follows a similar health advisory issued by the APA earlier this month. Prinstein and the APA are adamant that it's difficult to pin down an exact age when regular social media use is safe, because every child matures at different rates. But when it comes to the idea of simply handing your child a smartphone and allowing them full access to social media, most experts urge caution. That's easier said than done, especially when all your kids' friends have social media accounts. Here's what you need to know. Why social media is dangerous for kids' brains Children aren't simply smaller adults, Murphy's report noted their brains function differently, and can be vulnerable during the developmental phase of adolescence. Sleep deprivation can be more dangerous for adolescents than adults, for example. So can disruptions that keep kids from doing their schoolwork or engaging in real-world social interactions. Social media is practically built for those types of disruptions: Most platforms' algorithms are built to drive maximum engagement, and 50% of teens report at least one sign of clinical dependency on social media, recent research shows. That means "they can't quit even when they try, or they're going to extreme measures just to make sure they'll have continued access," Prinstein says. That's not to mention the prevalence of cyberbullying, discrimination, hate speech and posts promoting self-harm that teens could regularly interact with, according to the APA. Such content is harmful to both its intended targets and "anyone who is witnessing those posts, as well," says Prinstein. But the solution may not be a complete removal of adolescents and young teens from social media. Adolescents can use those platforms to help their social development, engage in civic activism and experience forms of representation by following or befriending people who share an "underrepresented identity," Prinstein says. Don't give into peer pressure from other parents If you're on the fence about whether your child is ready to be on social media, Prinstein has some simple advice: "Wait as long as you can." "The science suggests there's more risk to adolescent brains than there is benefit to their social lives," he says. Don't let what other parents let their kids do factor into your decision, either. You might fear that your child will be ostracized or left behind if they're the only one who isn't on TikTok or Instagram but that fear is overblown, says Prinstein. Giving into that form of peer pressure could create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where more and more parents allow their children on social media because everyone else is doing it. "We have no psychological science demonstrating that kids will suffer for not being on social media," Prinstein says. "Everyone's afraid they'll be the only one [keeping their child off social media], which is creating a situation where everyone is on." Have an ongoing conversation with your children Once your child is on social media, have an open and honest conversation with them about how to use it healthily, says Prinstein. Then, check in regularly with them over time. Topics for that conversation can include: Social media is not real life "Likes" can be misleading, especially when users like their friends' posts reflexively Misinformation and disinformation are everywhere, so learn to fact-check Don't waste your day passively scrolling Use social media to engage with friends in real conversation Avoid unhealthy comparisons to other people online Recognize and critique examples of online discrimination and hate speech It's also important to talk to your child about why social media exists in the first place, Prinstein says: Yes, it's an amazing, free tool that lets you connect with people and get access to information. It's also run by a tech company collecting data to turn a profit, while using algorithms that push specific content in front of you. "That really helps adolescents take a much more critical eye of saying, 'Wait a minute, am I doing this for me? Or am I doing this because someone else made me do it?'" Prinstein says. Monitor the amount of time kids spend on social media A merchant sells crystal ornaments via a live TikTok broadcast. CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images TikTok Shop is a rising threat to major e-commerce players such as Shopee and Lazada in Southeast Asia. It comes as its parent ByteDance pushes the short video app in markets outside the U.S. and India to create alternative revenue streams. TikTok Shop is the e-commerce marketplace of short video app TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. The shopping app enables merchants, brands and creators to showcase and sell their goods to users. In 2022, TikTok Shop expanded to six Southeast Asian countries Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. "TikTok continues to grow rapidly in Southeast Asian countries. We estimate that TikTok's 2023 [gross merchandise value] will reach 20%~ of Shopee, which we suggest prompted Shopee to defensively increase sales and marketing since April," said Shawn Yang, analyst at Blue Lotus Research Institute, in a recent report on Sea Group, the owner of Shopee. TikTok did not want to comment or reveal numbers. TikTok Shop's GMV, or total value of goods sold, skyrocketed more than four times to $4.4 billion in Southeast Asia in 2022, according to internal data obtained by tech media outlet The Information. TikTok Shop is reportedly aiming for a GMV target of $12 billion by 2023. Impulse buying from watching content is an advantage TikTok has. Sachin Mittal Head of telecom & internet sector research, DBS Bank To be clear, TikTok Shop's current GMV is only a fraction of Shopee and Lazada's. Shopee netted $73.5 billion in GMV in 2022 while Lazada's GMV was $21 billion for the year through September 2021, according to available public figures. Rising threat A TikTok spokesperson told CNBC that TikTok Shop "continues to grow rapidly" as both large and small users use the platform to reach new customers. TikTok is "focused on the continued development of TikTok Shop in Southeast Asia," said the spokesperson. As of May, the number of TikTok users in Southeast Asia alone is 135 million, according to market research company Insider Intelligence. Indonesia has the second largest population of TikTok users after the U.S., according to Statista. Indonesia is Southeast Asia's most populous country, where 52% are young people and it has around 113 million TikTok users. "Impulse buying from watching content is an advantage TikTok has," Sachin Mittal, head of telecom & internet sector research at DBS Bank, told CNBC. Sea Group is banking on its e-commerce arm Shopee to lift the group's balance sheet as its gaming arm Garena continues to see revenue decline, given the lack of a strong games pipeline and the continued ban of its flagship game Free Fire in India due to national security threats. Shopee is expanding its footprint in Malaysia and continues to build up its Brazil operations after exiting several European and Latin American markets. TikTok is spending an incredible amount of money right now on incentives to onboard buyers and sellers, which may not be sustainable. Jonathan Woo Senior analyst, Phillip Securities Research A survey conducted by online retail insights company Cube Asia revealed that consumers spending on TikTok Shop are reducing their spending on Shopee (-51%), Lazada (-45%), Offline (-38%) in Indonesia, Thailand, and Philippines. Shopee and Lazada declined to comment on competition from TikTok Shop. Data from web analytics firm Similarweb revealed that Shopee is currently the largest online marketplace in Southeast Asia, holding 30% to 50% traffic share across the region in the last three months, while Lazada holds the second spot with 10% to 30% traffic share. Scrutiny on TikTok TikTok Shop's push comes as the app is being scrutinized in its largest market, the U.S., amid rising geopolitical tensions and tech rivalry between China and the U.S. Last week, the U.S. state of Montana banned TikTok, which could spark other states to suit. TikTok disputed Montana's allegations that the Chinese government "could access data about TikTok users, and that TikTok exposes minors to harmful online content" in a lawsuit filed Monday to try and reverse the ban. watch now TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before Congress in March did not ease lawmakers' worries about the app's connections to China or the adequacy of Project Texas, its contingency plan to store U.S. data on American soil. TikTok has also been banned in India since 2020, alongside other apps said to have Chinese origin. It is not accessible in China, though its Chinese version Douyin is widely used by over 750 million daily active users. Not sustainable But TikTok is burning cash to grow, a tested strategy to win market share. "TikTok is spending an incredible amount of money right now on incentives to onboard buyers and sellers, which may not be sustainable," said Jonathan Woo, senior analyst at Phillip Securities Research. Woo said he estimates the incentives to be between $600 million and $800 million a year, or 6% to 8% of a $10 billion GMV in 2023. To incentivize sellers to join the platform, TikTok Shop waived commission fees when it launched in Singapore in August. Merchants were only required to pay a 1% payment fee. Data from Apptopia, an app analytics company, showed that TikTok Shop Seller Center app has been attracting an increasing number of downloads in Indonesia over the past one year. Meanwhile, Shopee charges more than 5% on commission, transaction and service fees. A CNBC check revealed that four-ply toilet paper from Nomieo was selling on TikTok at 5.80 Singapore dollars for twenty-seven rolls. In comparison, the same goods are selling at around SG$16.80 on Shopee. Woo noted that TikTok Shop is "still very young" and in the "burn-cash-to-grow phase which may not bode well in today's market given higher cost of funding." TikTok Shop is also "just a platform with no end-to-end capabilities" unlike Shopee and Lazada which have been investing heavily in improving logistics for faster deliveries and returns, increasing overall user experience and trust for sellers and buyers, he said. Overall, I think TikTok Shop has the potential to be as big as Shopee or Lazada, though this might take quite a number of years. Jonathan Woo Senior analyst, Phillip Securities Research Protesters outside the Salle Pleyel venue in Paris could be heard chanting "all we want is to knock down Total" and "one, two, three degrees, we have Total to thank." French riot police on Friday fired tear gas at hundreds of climate activists trying to prevent the annual general meeting of oil giant TotalEnergies from taking place. Activists from campaign groups including 350.org, Friends of the Earth France and Scientists in Rebellion had pledged to try to stop the AGM from taking place to denounce TotalEnergies' fossil fuel expansion. Protesters outside the Salle Pleyel venue in Paris could be heard chanting "all we want is to knock down Total" and "one, two, three degrees, we have Total to thank," according to the AFP news agency. It comes amid a sense of palpable frustration among climate activists during the proxy voting season, with demonstrations also taking place at British oil majors BP and Shell in recent weeks after an extraordinary run of record profits. Clashes broke out between protesters and the police shortly before the start of the shareholder meeting, where investors ultimately rejected an activist resolution calling on the company to align its climate targets with the landmark Paris Agreement and commit to absolute carbon emission cuts by 2030. The entrance of the "PMC Wagner Centre," associated with Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, during the official opening of the office block on National Unity Day, in St. Petersburg, on Nov. 4, 2022. The head of Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, said his fighters are beginning to withdraw from Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin said that the Wagner Group had fully captured Bakhmut in the heavily contested Donetsk region last weekend, adding that it would hand the town over to the regular Russian army units around May 25. "PMC 'Wagner' began the withdrawal of units from Bakhmut," a message posted on Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's Concord Group Telegram channel said. "We're withdrawing our units from Bakhmut today, now it's 5am, 25 May, "Prigozhin said, although NBC was unable to verify if the footage had been filmed in Bakhmut. "Before June 1, most of the units are rebasing to rear camps, handing over to the military, ammunitions, positions, everything, including dry rations," Prigozhin added, according to an NBC translation. He said his forces would have a "new objective" after having a rest following prolonged fighting in Bakhmut. Ukraine has denied it has lost Bakhmut, with defense officials saying their forces still control a southwestern part of the town and have made progress in their bid to take back control of the flanks of the town to the north and south. Holly Ellyatt Iparraguirre Recio | Moment | Getty Images 44% of plans offer a 'rare' advantage Companies use different timelines, or vesting schedules, to determine how long it takes for savers to fully own the employer contributions. In some cases, they must work at a company at least six years before the funds are theirs. They risk forfeiting some of the money, and investment earnings, if they walk away early. A worker retains complete ownership of their match when it is 100% vested. One important note: An employee always fully owns their own contributions. watch now More than 44% of 401(k) plans offer immediate full vesting of a company match, according to the PSCA survey. This means the worker owns the whole match right away, which is the best outcome for savers. That share is up from 40.6% in 2012. For the rest, vesting timelines may vary The rest, 56% of 401(k) plans, use either a "cliff" or "graded" schedule to determine the timeline. Cliff vesting grants ownership in full after a specific point. For example, a saver whose 401(k) uses a three-year cliff vesting fully owns the company match after three years of service. However, they get nothing before then. Graded schedules phase in ownership gradually, at set intervals. A saver with a five-year graded schedule owns 20% after year one, 40% after year two and so on until reaching 100% after the fifth year. For example, someone who gets 40% of a $5,000 match can walk away with $2,000 plus 40% of any investment earnings on the match. Federal rules require full vesting within six years. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged owners of ABS-CBN to absorb TeleRadyo staff to their surviving broadcast-related businesses or in joint ventures with other companies. "We are anxious about the continued employment of the radio station staff, many of whom have worked for ABS-CBN for many years," Rodriguez said on Thursday. "We are as well concerned about the welfare of their families," added the lawmaker who was among the supporters of the broadcast giant in its failed bid for franchise renewal in 2020. On Tuesday, ABS-CBN announced it would cease the operations of TeleRadyo by June 30 as it "has been incurring financial losses since 2020." TeleRadyo is a pay television channel by ABS-CBN Corp. under its News and Current Affairs brand. It was launched in 2007 and was then called DZMM Teleradyo. "The network's owners should find ways to accommodate the staff in cable television channel ANC and their residual businesses," Rodriguez said. "They could also be absorbed in their joint ventures with other media companies," he added. In its disclosure, the media network also said it would form a joint venture with Prime Media Holdings, Inc., a listed company led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez Jr. ABS-CBN's broadcasting franchise expired in May 2020, forcing it off the air during the Duterte administration. Congress refused to grant the network a fresh 25-year franchise. It continues to operate ANC, a cable news channel. CNN Philippines has sought comment from ABS-CBN Corp. on the lawmaker's appeal. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called for the resumption of the long-standing talks on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the European Union (EU). "I believe that we can all agree that the timing and conditions are now quite ripe for us to solidify the long-standing and historically beneficial trade relations: through a bilateral Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement," he said Thursday. Exploratory talks for the proposed PH-EU FTA started in 2013. Formal negotiations for the trade deal officially began in May 2016. The second and final round of negotiations then took place last February 2017 in Cebu. READ: Amid snarled global supply chain, European expats want PH-EU free trade talks revived "I take this opportunity to call up on our friends from the EU-ABC (EU-ASEAN Business Council) and the ECCP (European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines) to actively advocate for the resumption of negotiations for this purpose as well as to strive for fair treatment and more beneficial reciprocity," Marcos continued. The president said such a deal was "a win-win strategy for both Philippines and the EU," as it would aid the two parties in achieving mutually beneficial economic goals "while maintaining the EUs core ideals of sustainable development and environment protection as well as with the EUs Indo-Pacific strategy." "If and when that happens, it could very well be the capstone of all efforts to strengthen Philippine and EU relations over the course of the next decades," he added. Marcos, during his trip to Brussels, Belgium for the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit last December, pushed for the resumption of Philippines-EU FTA negotiations. The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said that an FTA between the Philippines and the EU would secure additional duty-free market access on top of access covered by the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus scheme, and that it would improve foreign investments from EU countries. 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. 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Friday revoked the Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) of Gentle Hands Inc. (GHI), a Quezon City orphanage, after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ordered its closure. The DSWD issued a cease-and-desist order against GHI last Monday after Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited the orphanage and claimed it put children in "imminent danger." It directed the BFP to conduct a fire safety inspection of the building. READ: DSWD orders QC orphanage closure "GHI was found to have violated pertinent provisions of the revised implementing rules and regulations of R.A. (Republic Act) 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines during said inspection resulting to the revocation of its FSIC," BFP Quezon City district marshal SSupt. Aristotle Banaga said in a report to the DSWD dated May 25. Some violations noted by the BFP included obstructed hallways, narrow aisles and corridors, blocked fire exits, no automatic fire detection and alarm systems, no approved automatic sprinklers, insufficient emergency lighting, and no emergency evacuation plan. Banaga said the BFP is monitoring GHI to see if it had rectified the violations. However, GHI questioned the BFP's revocation of their fire safety certificate. "I don't understand how suddenly we have violations, where we didn't have violations ever in the past. We always have updated certificates and we've always complied," GHI Executive Director Charity Graff told CNN Philippines, in response to the revocation. Graff further said GHI did not receive any warning on the supposed violations. "We've been in this building and been licensed as a child caring agency under the DSWD since 2004should we have been given a request, we would have done it immediately," she said. She added that GHI would address the violations so that 149 children who were sent to other orphanages in Alabang, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City could be returned to the facility. The DSWD earlier said it is investigating three cases of children under GHI's temporary custody who have allegedly displayed disruptive behavior. On Friday, GHI returned a one-year-old child to its mother, who claimed that her request to regain custody of her child was earlier denied by GHI. "The parenting capability is already available so di ko po malaman [I don't know] what's the reason for holding my baby," Melanie Marzan, the childs mother, said. In a press conference, the DSWD said Marzan had passed the agencys assessment. However, Graff maintained that GHI had followed protocol to ensure parents are mentally fit to take care of their children. "We don't keep children when there is a safe place for them to beWe didn't feel that it was time and we didn't feel that she [Marzan] complied," Graff said. CNN Philippines correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) Preparations are underway in Cagayan to brace for the impact of Super Typhoon Mawar, which is forecast to enter the countrys weather monitoring area by Friday night or early Saturday morning. Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source on Friday, Ruelie Rapsing, head of the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said local authorities have already identified coastal communities in the northern part of the province as "areas of concern" or at risk of landslides and floods. These include Sta. Ana, Gonzaga, Sta. Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, and Claveria, and the island municipality of Calayan, he noted. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has warned that Mawar, which will be locally called Betty, will bring heavy rains over Cagayan Valley from Sunday until Tuesday next week. Rapsing said 70% of Cagayan is highly susceptible to flash floods and rain-induced landslides. While there are areas of concern, he said they are also monitoring areas near the Cagayan River which will be also affected if Mawar will dump more rains in the area. Local authorities have pre-deployed floating assets like aluminum, rubber and fiberglass boats across the seven quick response stations in the province, he said. Each station also has an ambulance, a rescue vehicle, and a search and rescue vehicle which is night-capable, he added. Rapsing said the PDRRMO also has three trucks for pre-emptive evacuation, as well as ambulance trucks. A recommendation from their disaster response officials will soon be made on pre-emptive evacuation, but implementation will still depend on the local chief executive, he noted. In another interview, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Raffy Alejandro said pre-emptive evacuation will surely be implemented, especially once storm signals are raised. Specifically in Batanes, around six municipalities will be covered, affecting at least 18,000 individuals, he noted. For now, NDRRMC is focusing on Cagayan and Batanes, Alejandro said. Regional units were advised to prepare as Mawar is seen to intensify the southwest monsoon, or habagat, he added. We are focusing our efforts in augmenting our resources in Cagayan, in Batanes, making sure that the alternative or standby communication system will be established, Alejandro said, adding that all of the agencys response assets are on standby including those from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police. The Department of Budget and Management said a calamity fund worth around 18.3 billion is ready to be tapped to help those who will be affected by the onslaught of Mawar and for other relief operations. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said it hopes to encourage more Filipino voters overseas to participate in the 2025 midterm polls through online voting. Perhaps, with the use of internet voting in 2025, more of our fellowmen overseas will be able to vote. Maybe perhaps we could increase up to 80%, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco told CNN Philippines The Source. In the 2022 polls, Laudiangco noted that only around 38% of the 1.7 million registered voters, or around 600,000 Filipinos overseas, cast their votes. The Comelec approved on May 17 the implementation of internet voting for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the national and local elections in May 2025. This was approved based on The Overseas Voting Act of 2013, which allows Comelec to explore other modes or systems using automated election system, and The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003. To prepare for its implementation, Comelec said it will release in a few weeks the draft rules for the conduct of online voting for the 2025 midterm elections. The number one priority in internet voting is the safety and security. We will make sure we have enough encryption, we have enough firewalls, and defenses against hacking, Laudiangco said. Aside from this, he said the poll body will also implement a transparency audit. This system of voting will be auditable, all the votes will be accounted and we will make sure that voters overseas will be receiving a confirmation that their votes were cast, Laudiangco noted. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) The Philippines will work with all its partners to ensure peace, stability and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said, amid Manila's territorial row with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea. "The Philippines remains committed to collaborating with all our partners to ensure that the rules-based order, which has served as the bedrock of international peace and stability for decades, is upheld," Manalo said in his opening remarks during his meeting with the diplomatic press corps on Thursday. He said it is "imperative to acknowledge" the rules-based order as the bedrock of stability amid a multitude of existing and emerging challenges faced by the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific region. "The Philippines has actively engaged with the international community, advocating for increased collaboration in building a prosperous, peaceful, equitable future," Manalo said. In his recent visit to Tokyo, the DFA chief said the repeated infringements and incursions in the West Philippine Sea prompted the Philippines to move closer to its allies and enhance its defense capabilities. "Nevertheless, repeated infringements on our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and other destabilizing actions that go against international law necessitate the enhancement of our defense capabilities," Manalo said in a separate speech. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier stressed that disengagement with China is not an option amid conflicts in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos said on May 5 that the Philippine government will continue to engage with China and will continue to keep communication lines open. RELATED: Marcos on PH-China relations: 'Disengagement not an option' As of April, the Philippine government has filed 87 diplomatic protests against Beijing under the Marcos administration. China remains consistent in its position not to recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling which debunked its nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. Both Manila and Beijing however emphasized that maritime issues are not the "sum total" of the two countries' bilateral ties. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) The Saudi government has already earmarked funds for unpaid wages of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) formerly employed by companies that went bankrupt, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Friday. "Malinaw at damang dama namin 'yung commitment ng Saudi Arabia. Significant progress na ang nakamit namin," DMW Secretary Susan Ople assured claimants during a press conference. [Translation: We clearly and deeply felt the commitment of Saudi Arabia. We have achieved significant progress.] Ople said they no longer asked about the total amount but Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, who heads the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, confirmed to them that it now rests with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance The funds are sufficient to pay all outstanding claims including those of their own people, the secretary added. "The payment will be made. The payment is now allocated, 'yun pong full amount (the full amount) is already allocated and with the Ministry of Finance," DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia also said. In 2022, the government of Saudi Arabia committed to shoulder the unpaid salaries of around 10,000 displaced OFWs from companies that went bankrupt in 2015 to 2016, during a the slowdown in the Kingdom's construction sector. READ: DMW expects to fully resolve issue of unpaid OFWs in Saudi Arabia this year The processing of claims has been slow because the Saudi government had to wait for the liquidation of assets of bankrupt companies, Olalia explained. Meanwhile, during their meeting, Ople said the Saudi government requested for more time before releasing the claims to validate the names with their employment records. READ: DMW receives over 7.5K emails from unpaid Saudi OFW claimants "Hiling lang nila ay konti pang oras para matiyak nila na nasa tamang proseso at legalidad ang pagkuha ng claims," the secretary added. [Translation: They just asked for a little more time so that they can make sure that the right and legal process is followed]. Ople said the Saudi government vowed to update them in the coming months regarding the status of the unpaid claims. "They said that by next month, which is June, they may be able to give us more details. If not June, at least in the coming months," she added. 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. Clayton Vickers is a graduate student at the University of Missouri Journalism School, and through his education there he aspires to become a public-affairs journalist of great renown. Clayton is working in Jefferson City to cover the ongoings of the state legislature and the stories within the community that matter to Missourians. He hopes to utilize his political science background to step into government-accountability reporting that places power into the hands of constituents (at any scale). Clayton will graduate with his master's degree in Spring of 2024 after completing an internship with a reputable publication. 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 Days after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company might have to cease operations in Europe if the EUs AI Act regulations passed in their current form, he has has seemingly rolled back on his comments. Despite recently telling US lawmakers he was in favor of regulating AI, when speaking to reporters in the UK earlier this week, Altman said he had many concerns about the EUs AI Act and even accused the bloc of over-regulating. OpenAI is the Microsoft-backed firm that has developed the groundbreaking but somewhat controversial ChatGPT generative AI system. We will try to comply, but if we cant comply we will cease operating, said Altman, according to a report from The Financial Times. The act is currently being debated by representatives of the EU's Parliament, Council and Commission, and is due to be finalized next year. However, in a Tweet posted on Friday morning, Altman appeared to dial down the rhetoric, writing: 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. His earlier comments had angered lawmakers in Europe, with a number of politicians arguing that the level of regulation being proposed by the EU was necessary in order to deal with the concerns around generative AI. "Let's be clear, our rules are put in place for the security and well-being of our citizens and this cannot be bargained," EU Commissioner Thierry Breton told Reuters. "Europe has been ahead of the curve designing a solid and balanced regulatory framework for AI which tackles risks related to fundamental rights or safety, but also enables innovation for Europe to become a frontrunner in trustworthy AI," he said. Altman believes regulating AI would be 'wise' Speaking at Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology, and the law earlier this month, Altman told US lawmakers that regulation would be wise because people need to know if theyre talking to an AI system or looking at content images, videos or documents generated by a chatbot. When asked during the hearing whether citizens should be concernedC that elections could be gamed by large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4 and its chatbot application ChatGPT, Altman said that it was one his areas of greatest concern. The more general ability of these models to manipulate, persuade, to provide one-on-one interactive disinformation given were going to face an election next year and these models are getting better, I think this is a significant area of concern, he said. I think well also need rules and guidelines about what is expected in terms of disclosure from a company providing a model that could have these sorts of abilities were talking about. So, Im nervous about it. Microsoft is seeking the formation of a new US agency to govern AI while expressing its concerns over the safety and security aspects of the latest technology and laying out a blueprint for public governance of AI. We would benefit from a new agency. That is how we will ensure that humanity remains in control of technology, Microsoft President Brad Smith said while delivering an address in Washington, according to Bloomberg Smiths call to build an agency whose sole purpose would be to look at governing AI and AI-based tools comes days after OpenAIs CEO Sam Altman voiced his opinion over setting up an agency that would set ground rules for AI implementation. OpenAI is the company behind generative AI such as ChatGPT and DALL.E 2. During his address, Smith also expressed concerns over the content that will be generated by AI and said false content that looked realistic or deep fakes could be a major issue. 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 said, according to Reuters. In a separate blog post, Smith laid out a five-step blueprint that would help in public governance of AI that includes implementing government-led AI safety frameworks and a mechanism to identify the content that is being generated by AI. Expanding his thoughts on AI safety frameworks, Smith said companies need to build their next AI tools based on government-led regulations and added that the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is part of the Department of Commerce, has already launched a new AI Risk Management Framework. This framework can be used in conjunction with other steps to ensure that responsible AI tools are implemented, Smith said. Listing out the other steps, Smith said there was a requirement for effective safety brakes for AI systems that control critical infrastructure, such as the electrical grid, water system, and city traffic flows. 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. 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, Smith said in the blog post. Another important step listed by Smith puts focus on creating a broad legal and regulatory framework based on the technology architecture for AI. In short, the law will need to place various regulatory responsibilities upon different actors based upon their role in managing different aspects of AI technology, Smith said, adding that laws for AI models and AI infrastructure operators have to be developed separately. These laws could effectively lead to the customer knowing which content has been generated by AI, Smith said. The other steps listed by Smith include opening up AI for research purposes and forging public-private partnerships to address societal challenges arising out of the new technology. OpenAI shipped its ChatGPT app for iPads and iPhones just a week ago, but it has already become one of the most popular applications in the last two years, with over half a million downloads in the first six days. Thats a real achievement, but also a challenge thats half a million potential data vulnerabilities. Not to rest on its laurels, this years favorite smart assistant (so far) is now also available in 41 additional nations. Theres little doubt that this has been one of the most successful software/service introductions of all time, but that doesnt change the inherent risk of these technologies. Keep the red flag flying The popularity of the app should wave a red flag for IT leaders, who must redouble efforts to warn staff not to input valuable personal or corporate data into the service. The danger in doing so is that data gathered by OpenAI has already been attacked once, and its only a matter of time until someone gets at that information. After all, digital security today isnt about if an incident happens, but when. To coin a phrase from Apples playbook, the best way to protect data online is not to put the information there in the first place. Thats why iPhones and other products from Cupertino (via China, India, and Vietnam) work on the principle of data minimization, reducing the quantity of information collected and taking pains to reduce the need to send it to servers for processing. Thats a great approach, not just because it reduces the quantity of information that can slip out but because it also reduces the opportunity for humans to make mistakes in the first place. The humans are coming We dont have that protection with ChatGPT apps. Beyond a wholesale ban on using the service and application on managed devices, IT admins are almost completely reliant on trust when it comes to ensuring their staff dont share confidential data with the bot. Still, humans are humans, so it's inevitable that no matter how stern the exhortations against such use we can be certain some people will accidentally share confidential data through the app. They may not even realize they are doing it, simply seeing it as the equivalent of searching the web. Its a similar threat to that of shadow IT, with humans accidentally sharing confidential information in exchange for what seems to be convenience. Private dancer IT must consider the App Privacy label OpenAI has attached to its product at the App Store. That label makes it clear that when using the app, the following data is linked to the user: Contact info email, name, phone number. User content other user content. Identifiers User ID. Usage data Product interaction. Diagnostics Crash, Performance, Other diagnostic data. Available online, OpenAIs own Privacy Policy should also be explored, although the company has not disclosed the training data it uses for its latest bots. The challenge here is that IT must consider the limitations of the latter alongside the inevitability of human nature. Regulators are already concerned about the privacy implications. In Canada, privacy regulators are investigating the companys privacy practices, with similar activity taking place in Europe. (OpenAI seems pretty concerned about these investigations and has warned that it may or may not shut shop in Europe if the law is too rigorous.) Purple haze The deluge of activity around generative AI in general, and ChatGPT in particular ,should not mask the sweeping repercussions of these technologies, which offer vast productivity benefits, but threaten job security at a mass scale. In the short term at least, IT admins should do their utmost to ensure these consumer-simple products dont threaten confidential business data. And for that to happen, users must be warned not to share data with these services until ratified under company security and privacy policy. Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. The Blueprint The second annual POCA Fashion Show, hosted by Conns People of Color Alliance, took place in April. People have always told Patricia Berrouet 24 that she should model, and she finally got her chance at the second annual POCA Fashion Show, hosted by Conns People of Color Alliance student group in the College Center at Crozier-Williams in April. I wanted to try something new and get out of my comfort zone, said Berrouet, a psychology major from Cambridge, Massachusetts, who took to the runway in a grunge-and-schoolwear-inspired ensemble designed by Linet Mercedes 24. Themed The Blueprint, this years show featured more than three dozen models wearing outfits of their own choice or designed by student stylists. Leron Dugan 24, a film studies and self-designed media, culture and social difference double major from Dobbs Ferry, New York, said he enjoyed the opportunity to create styles for fellow students at the intersection of formalwear and streetwear. I got to experiment in a way I hadnt before as a creative student, he said. During the event, Thoa Nguyen 25 modeled a floor-length traditional Vietnamese dress that belonged to her mother and was altered for her by her father. Claudia Marmelo 23 found pieces on Amazon to recreate a white-and-red Cuban outfit based on a photo from a family member who used to lead tours to Cuba, and Iman Shaikh 26 wore a shalwar kameez, a combination dress worn in regions of south and central Asia. POCA Founder, Vice President and fashion show co-director Lyndon Inglis 24 said the event is designed to give students the opportunity to show the Conn community where they are from and who they are. It was such a beautiful sight to see the models walk out to a crowd of cheering people. It gave me a lot of hope for the future of our community, he said. I feel so ecstatic that everything fell into place and so many people were able to see the hard work that myself and the entire fashion show team put into creating the show. Inglis, a government major and African studies minor from Brooklyn, New York, said he hopes the audience was awed by the beauty and culture of BIPOC communities. We hold so much power, influence, richness and beauty in all that we are, and I hope that everyone was left with an understanding of just how beautiful that influence is. Reading the Rainbow A Conn education class expands local K-8 classroom libraries. Who decides what information is available in a library? According to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, not the governmentand that includes local school boards. And yet, in many school districts across the United States, books are being pulled off the shelves. The American Library Association recently reported 1,269 demands to censor 2,571 unique titles in 2022, up from 729 demands to censor 1,858 unique titles in 2021, and a record since it began tracking data more than 20 years ago. Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color, and 58% of the reported challenges targeted books and materials in schools. In New London, Visiting Assistant Professor of Education Karen Pezzetti and the students in her EDU 313: Children, Books and Culture class are bucking that trend. They are working with partners in local elementary and middle schools to add more diverse offerings to classroom libraries. Pezzettis class received a $2,000 grant from Eversource to support the project in February, and another $1,000 in March from Lydia Morris 88, who made the donation after reading about the project on Conns website. The $3,000 was divided evenly across their 12 partner classrooms, resulting in a $250 budget for each. Morris, who works on the business side of K-12 public school education, told Pezzetti she was glad to see action toward supporting kids by expandingand not restrictingwhat they read. This semester was Pezzettis first time attempting the project, which involves her 26 students working in pairs with five local schools: Nathan Hale Arts Magnet Elementary School, Harbor Elementary School, Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, and the Regional Multicultural Magnet School, all in New London, and Charles Barnum Elementary in Groton. Most of the partner schools have some form of a school library or media center, but they are often understaffed and have limited hours for students, Pezzetti explained. Thats where classroom libraries can fill a need. All kids should have access to great books that reflect their own lives, open doors to other worlds and inspire a love for reading, Pezzetti said. We read a chapter of a book called Teaching with Childrens Literature: Theory to Practice in which the authors contend that elementary classroom libraries need at least 1,500 appealing, well-organized books to support the reading of a whole class over the course of a school year. When my students did inventories in their partner classrooms, we learned that more than half of the classrooms we worked with had fewer than 100 books, and one only had eight. To prepare for the initiative, Pezzettis students interviewed Alison Mitchell 95, the Youth Services Librarian at Somerville Public Library, West Branch, in Massachusetts. Some students worked to develop their expertise in certain types of childrens literature, while others volunteered once a week in the partner classrooms to get a sense of what books that particular cohort of students would benefit from most. During class meetings, the students read a wide range of childrens books, including those that are contentious and sparking debates. Some have even been banned in some schools and libraries, Pezzetti explained. For example, we read books with trans and nonbinary protagonists. We also read books that cover hard history, like one about the Tulsa Race Massacre in Oklahoma in 1921. The students were working on developing their judgment about what books are appropriate for which contexts. On a sunny morning in late April, Joseph Pimlott 24, Ben Ramos 23 and their classmates were sorting books into piles to prepare for their distribution at the beginning of May. Pimlott and Ramos, who were assigned to a fifth-grade classroom at Charles Barnum Elementary, stacked their books into the categories of Black Voices, LGBTQIA+, Latinx Voices, Native American and Indigenous Voices, Asian-American and Pacific Islander Voices, and Characters with Disabilities. The teacher had been trying to diversify her library, and we tried to identify some big hitting points she was missing, Ramos said. We also did a survey of some of the students and asked them, What do you wish you saw in the library? Do you feel like the library represents you? Based on those answers, we tried to fill in some gaps. Pimlott added that some of the books they chose are ones they read in class, including When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. Ellen Paul 07, executive director of the Connecticut Library Consortium, points out that there are three important legal differences between school libraries and individual classroom libraries, especially regarding attempts to ban books. She named two court cases that enforced the precedent, Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982) and Case v. Unified School District No. 233 (1995). In the first case, a group of parents asked a Long Island school district to remove nine books from its school libraries, including Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut and Best Short Stories by Negro Writers edited by Langston Hughes. The group argued that the books were anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic and just plain filthy. The district complied and five students sued, alleging that the removal of those books violated their First Amendment rights. The teacher had been trying to diversify her library, and we tried to identify some big hitting points she was missing. Ben Ramos 23 When the case reached the Supreme Court, the justices sided with the students, arguing the First Amendment imposes limitations upon a local school boards exercise of its discretion to remove books from high school and junior high school libraries, and that freedom of speech meant that school officials may not remove books from school libraries for the purpose of restricting access to the political ideas or social perspectives discussed in the books when that action is motivated simply by the officials disapproval of the ideas involved. Paul says, What was really interesting about this decision is the differentiation between the classroom and the school librarya Board of Education may rightfully claim absolute discretion over curriculum in the compulsory environment of the classroom, but a school library is a place of voluntary inquiry. That difference between voluntary and compulsory is what matters, she says. Students have the right to receive information, and the school board cant just remove a book from the school library, a voluntary institution, because they dont like the ideas contained in that book. Books in classroom libraries, however, are generally considered to be curriculum materials and can be removed far more easily by local school boards. About a decade later, the issue reached the national level again when the Olathe, Kansas, school district rejected two books with LGBTQ themes for its school libraries. Several parents and students sued, and a federal district court found that the books were incorrectly removed because the Board of Education disapproved of the books ideology. It also found the school board had violated its own material selection and reconsideration policies. As for those policies, every library has threea collection development or selection policy that governs what is collected in the library; a maintenance policy that governs what is kept in the library and what is removed to make space; and a materials reconsideration request policy that outlines what to do if a community member requests that material be removed. Those policies do not exist within a classroom library, Paul points out. Neither does the same level of privacy. Privacy is a core tenet of the field of librarianship, Paul says. Librarians believe that all people possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use, and the American Library Association and its affiliates, including the American Association of School Librarians, recognize that children have the same rights to privacy as adults. So, a student can be confident when going to their school librarian or checking out a book from their school library that that information will not be shared with others. She adds, That right to privacy is really important, as maybe a child is exploring a book with LGBTQ themes and maybe is not ready to talk about that with others. One common argument made by book challengers is that parents should have the right to decide what their children read. On that, Paul says, Parents absolutely should be having conversations with their children about what they are reading, and that is why we encourage parental involvementbut just because something is not right for your family doesnt mean that it isnt right for someone elses family, and thats the rub. Though she acknowledges that classroom libraries lack the same legal protections as school libraries, Paul says they play an important role and she applauds the work by Pezzetti and her students. The proximity classroom libraries provide to books is definitely advantageous for children, she said. More books are always better. Russia hits back as Ukraine official says Putin 'number one on Kyiv's kill list' The Kremlin has hit back after a top Ukrainian intelligence official said President Vladimir Putin was number one on Kyiv's kill list. "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. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@ANI Russia also moved ahead with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move, in the Kremlin's first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. 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, "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 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 had reported that US intelligence agencies believed the drone attack was likely orchestrated by Ukrainian spies or military intelligence, however. Russia deploying nuclear arsenal in Belarus, says Lukashenko The plan for the nuclear deployment was announced by Vladimir Putin in an interview with state television on March 25. Photo courtesy: Twitte/@AfricaUnitNow Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that tactical nuclear weapons were already on the move after he said Vladimir Putin had signed an order, though there was no confirmation of that from the Kremlin itself. The plan for the nuclear deployment was announced by Vladimir Putin in an interview with state television on March 25. President Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia, which has more nuclear weapons than any other country, will use all means to defend itself, and he has cast the Ukraine war as a battle for the survival of Russia against an aggressive West. The United States and its allies say they want Ukraine to defeat Russian forces on the battlefield but deny that they want to destroy Russia - and deny that the Ukraine war is in any way linked to post-Soviet enlargement of NATO. It is still unclear exactly when the Russian tactical nuclear weapons will be deployed in Belarus, which has borders with three NATO members - Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Russia will remain in control of the weapons. Russia has a huge numerical superiority over the United States and the NATO military alliance when it comes to tactical nuclear weapons: the United States believes Russia has around 2,000 such working tactical warheads. The United States has said the world faces the gravest nuclear danger since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis because of remarks by Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine conflict, but Moscow says its position has been misinterpreted. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed by the Soviet Union, says that no nuclear power can transfer nuclear weapons or technology to a non-nuclear power, but it does allow for the weapons to be deployed outside its borders but under its control. Singapore investors sign six MoUs with Tamil Nadu; CM Stalin proposes monument to Lee Kuan Yew The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has very close cultural connections with Singapore, and the states Chief Minister MK Stalin sought to extend this into trade ties with a visit to Singapore that has resulted in six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin made Singapore his first port of call before a trip to Japan. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mkstalin During his first ever visit to the island nation this week, Stalin reportedly proposed a monument to Singapores founding father Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) in the Indian state. He met the representatives of major industrial and financial institutions, and two Singapore ministers of Indian origin. MK Stalin spoke at the Investors First Port of Call in Singapore, addressing a huge gathering at the event organised to mark his visit to the island nation. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mkstalin Stalin, 68, came to power in Tamil Nadu just over two years ago, in May 2021. This week, he has undertaken a two-nation tour of Singapore and Japan. This trip is intended to connect with investors from Singapore and Japan and invite them to a Global Investors Meet in Chennai, scheduled for January 2024. While in Singapore, Stalin spoke at the Investors First Port of Call, addressing a huge gathering at the event organised to mark his visit. Thiru S Iswaran, Singapore Minister of Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mkstalin Stalin has invited Iswaran to the Global Investors Meet in Chennai, scheduled for January 2024. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mkstalin He met with Singapore ministers Thiru S Iswaran, Minister of Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations; and K Shanmugham, Minister of Home Affairs and Law. Stalin tweeted that it was a pleasure to meet his long-time friend Iswaran, and that he had given the Singapore minister his warm invitation to the Global Investors Meet in Chennai. He also posted about his fruitful meeting with Shanmugham, with whom he discussed a wide range of issues like cybersecurity, strengthening of procurement systems, and skilling of youth seeking employment. The home affairs minister was also invited to the global event in Chennai next year. K Shanmugham, Singapore Minister of Home Affairs and Law, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The minister has been invited to the Global Investors Meet in Chennai next year. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mkstalin The MoUs signed during Stalins visit include a proposed investment of INR312 crore by Singapore-based Hi-P International to make electronic components in Tamil Nadu, a venture that could create 700 jobs. Stalin said at the Singapore investors meet, In order to play a vital role in shaping the economy of India, we in Tamil Nadu have set ourselves the target of becoming a one-trillion dollar economy by the year 2030. We are making all efforts to achieve our target. He urged Singapore investors to come to Tamil Nadu and invest in mutually beneficial ventures. While the signature Jerry look on Seinfeld was a reflection of the style at the time (read: the 1990s), it was also thoughtfully crafted work done by the shows wardrobe department. This hard work has been preserved by Stephanie Kennedy, who was the costume supervisor from Seasons Five through Nine, on her Seinfeld Backstage Instagram account, where she shares the behind-the-scenes history of the shows most memorable fits. Fits such as The costume department added 10 bags of polyester filler to Georges puffer in The Dinner Party. Kramers sweater in The Sniffing Accountant is an accidental repeat offender that made an appearance on another character in an earlier season. Advertisement Styling cues for Jackie Chiles came from real-life lawyer Johnnie Cochran, which made it easy to dress the beloved character brought to life by Phil Morris. Advertisement Seinfelds directive for styling Seinfeld was to keep timeless, not trendy so that the attention was on the performer and not what they were wearing. Advertisement Kramers wardrobe was primarily sourced through vintage pieces that caused some anxiety in The Calzone, an episode that called for his jacket and shirt to be heated in the oven, and a pair of cargo pants with enough room to carry hundreds of pennies. Advertisement Advertisement The English Patient was inspired by a real-life interaction between Seinfeld and Kennedy, when Kennedy urged Jerry to see the movie and he couldnt help but wonder what if he hated it. Advertisement Seinfeld treated his crew like family and went as far to take the 12-year-old car-obsessed, Hot Wheels-collecting son of one of the shows boom ops for a joy ride in his brand new Boxster. Advertisement Advertisement The Seinfeld crew worked with the American Humane Association to ensure that any animals on the show were safe and protected. Writer and producer Peter Mehlmans morning routine consisted of a cherry danish, coffee with half and half and one sugar, and he always made sure to leave crafty for the rest of the crew. The J. Peterman storyline allowed Kennedy to take bigger risks with wardrobe, with the urban sombrero debacle proving one of the more stressful styling choices in The Foundation. Advertisement Around the same time that he made his views on the Kennedy assassination known, Sahls club invitations dried up. and he faced virtual banishment from television for nearly 20 years. According to Sahl, his earnings dropped from $1 million a year to about nothing. Roger Ebert once wrote about how he went to a comedy show, and his friend actually got up and left when Sahl came on stage, purely because of his belief that the CIA assassinated John Kennedy, and that Clay Shaw was up to no good down there in New Orleans. This wasnt just a matter of Sahls private politics affecting his celebrity. He made his JFK theories a part of his act, reading aloud and deriding excerpts from the Warren Commission Report on Kennedys death to confused audience members and staging sketches quoting government testimony. Advertisement Sahl also told Playboy magazine that he believed that the government had a secret assassination bureau and used his connections with The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson to secure Jim Garrison a guest spot after which Carson never listened to Sahl again. As The New York Times stated: Sahl went strange after the assassination of John Kennedy the talk shows stopped wanting to hear him go on about the grassy knoll, the two autopsies, the washed-out limousine, Lee Harvey Oswalds marksmanship, Jack Rubys friends. He wasnt funny. To be fair, Sahl had a bit of a comeback following the Watergate scandal when a dark view of American leadership better matched the national mood. Also, presumably, because the idea of criminal government dickery didnt seem quite so far-fetched. Later, the popularity of Oliver Stones JFK brought Sahls views into the mainstream, which he capitalized on in his act. Play Advertisement Although this was, arguably, material more successfully mined by Jerry Seinfeld Play You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). 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. Placing greater emphasis on attracting foreign investment and maintaining the foundation of foreign trade and investment has been a key focus in Anhui. This year, Anhui provincial government has continued to launch the "Anhui Goes Global" campaign to attract foreign investment and invite more foreign companies to settle in Anhui. From January to April, Anhui's actual use of foreign investment reached $710 million, an increase of 39.8%, which was higher than the national average growth rate. From May 5th to 12th, a small investment promotion team from Anqing City went to the United Arab Emirates and Italy to engage in investment promotion, participate in exhibitions, and other exchange activities. During its visit to the UAE, the team focused on investment promotion in the international logistics field for the Qianshan Public-Type Bonded Warehouse and signed a framework cooperation agreement with Dubai Cititrans Express International Logistics Group. Adhering to the principle of "government guidance, enterprise-led, market-oriented", this year, Anhui province has used both centralized and decentralized, group and individual methods to expand foreign trade, seize orders, and attract foreign investment. At the same time, we have issued a 2023 special incentive fund policy for foreign investment, to continuously enhance the confidence of foreign investors in investing and developing in Anhui. At present, more than 130 countries and regions have invested in Anhui, and more than 4,600 foreign-funded enterprises have settled in Anhui. There are 89 Fortune 500 companies that have invested in Anhui, with a total of 180 investment projects. During the China International Consumer Products Expo 2023, the Anhui delegation held the "Year of Investing in Anhui" promotion event in Haikou, Hainan Province, inviting domestic and foreign business associations, multinational companies, representatives of central enterprises stationed in Hainan Province, and Anhui business representatives to build platforms and channels to attract more foreign investment projects to settle in Anhui. This year, during key exhibitions such as the Consumer Products Expo, International Import Expo, International Fair for Investment and Trade, and World Manufacturing Conference, the provincial government has held "Invest in Anhui" promotion events. At the same time, they have increased the promotion efforts of industrial park investment, with each national-level economic development zone holding more than one foreign investment promotion activity and each international cooperation industrial park holding one multinational company docking activity every quarter, striving to achieve a growth rate of over 15% in actual use of foreign investment and 12% in imports and exports in national-level economic development zones. Reported by Peng Yuanyuan Edited and translted by Zheng Chen 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. A Belfast student has called for Of Mice and Men to be removed from a English Literature GCSE course after raising concerns about the use of racial slurs in the book. The novel - written by Nobel-Prize winning American author John Steinbeck in 1937 - chronicles the lives of fictional characters George Milton and Lennie Small - displaced migrant ranch workers on the hunt for jobs in California. It also features a character named Crooks, a stable-hand who befriends Lennie and faces discrimination because he is black. Speaking to BBC News NI, student Angel Mbondiya said she didn't find Of Mice and Men 'appropriate for schools and how that impacts young black people, and young white people'. She believes the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) should remove the novel from its GCSE English literature programme. It is one of seven books that schools in Northern Ireland can choose from for pupils studying the course. A Belfast student (pictured) has called for Of Mice and Men to be removed from a English Literature GCSE course after raising concerns about the use of racial slurs in the book Angel said: '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. The impact that it's had is that it just makes you feel weak, really. It doesn't sit right.' Angel's mother Apolonia Mbondiya agrees with her daughter, who despite loving English, didn't pick to study it as an A-level because of Of Mice and Men. Apolonia insisted schools 'need to move on' to 'protect the mental health of our young people, whether black or white'. The character of Crooks is often regarded as Steinbeck's attempt to highlight discrimination in 1930s America. The novel (pictured) was written by Nobel-Prize winning American author John Steinbeck in 1937 But the book, which contains racial slurs and disparaging references to Crooks' skin colour, has faced regular criticism for its use of language. It even featured on the American Library Association's list of the Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century. The book - enjoyed by Prince Harry during his time at Eton - was once a key part of the English GCSE curriculum. But it was replaced in 2014 by novels by British authors at the insistences of then Education Secretary Michael Gove. It is, however, still taught and features as part of curriculums in some schools. In a statement to MailOnline, a spokesperson for CCEA said: 'CCEA is 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. '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. '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 todays society. Speaking to BBC News NI, student Angel Mbondiya said she didn't find Of Mice and Men 'appropriate for schools and how that impacts young black people, and young white people'. Pictured, the 1992 film version of Of Mice and Men 'For any future revision of CCEAs GCSE English Literature qualification, we will welcome the opportunity to review and refresh the literature offered to students and teachers to ensure it continues to provide thought-provoking works that resonate with the reader and as far as possible represents the range of diverse voices in our society.' It is not the first time Of Mice and Men has faced criticism over its use of racial slurs. In 2021, secondary school teachers were urged not to use racial slurs when reading from Of Mice and Men and another classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. More than 100 academics, campaigners and parents signed a letter sent challenging the reading out of racial slurs used in the books. Campaigners said reading the slurs from the books 'adds nothing to the lesson'. The open letter, organised by anti-racist educator Marsha Garratt, asked all the schools to stop teachers reading the racist slurs out loud. It followed reports that pupils at two Teesside schools challenged the use of the word during lessons on the two books. Ms Garrat said the two young pupils, both of African heritage, challenged teachers saying the word was racist. She told the BBC: 'In both cases the teachers said it wasn't racist because they were using it from a text and because of the situation. 'The teachers continued to use the word in their defence of using that word, which just exacerbated things massively. Me and fellow campaigners are saying this word is a violent word and it adds nothing to the lesson by saying it out loud. 'We're not targeting particular schools, we're asking all schools not to say the word out loud in a lesson.' Neither Ms Garrat nor the BBC named the two Teesside schools in order to protect the identity of the pupils. A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: 'Pupils should be taught about different communities and how different groups of people have contributed to society. 'We have given schools the freedom and flexibility to decide how to do that, and choose their own resources for the national curriculum. 'Any sensitive issues regarding the materials should be handled by the school and in consultation with parents. 'If there are concerns with books and how they are taught, as with other schooling matters, people should follow the school's complaints procedure in place.' The DfE added that teachers have the 'flexibility to choose the books they use as part of English teaching', and the English National Curriculum is 'designed to ensure that all pupils appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage through a wide range of texts'. Earlier this year, I played judge in the battle of High Street heavyweights Marks & Spencer and John Lewis. Choosing a selection of clothing and homeware from these veteran rivals for middle-class affection, I ranked them against each other on such criteria as quality, affordability, stylishness and wearability. Having been a shopper at both stores, I was surprised how often the M&S versions trumped John Lewis's when it came to clothes. The pieces were more flattering, and more appealing. Considering their broad demographic, it seemed to me that M&S could finally be getting back on track. Now the figures bear me out. M&S has just delivered a far-better-than-predicted sales report, with revenue up 9.2 per cent and much of that from clothing. Having been a shopper at both stores, I was surprised how often the M&S versions trumped John Lewis's when it came to clothes While John Lewis continues to flag, shares in M&S were up sharply this week as it cemented its position as the best-performing retail stock in the UK 23,000 sold. The side-stripe, wide-leg, drawstring trousers, 29.50. Me+Em's iconic side-stripe trousers would set you back nearly 200, but you can get the look for much less at your local M&S. This eye-catching pink pair has a contrasting white stripe. In what the City will interpret as a confidence-inspiring turnaround, clothing and homeware are now the main contributors to M&S profits at 52 per cent, overtaking food profits (40 per cent). Read more: Our edit of what hit the stores this WEEK Advertisement While John Lewis continues to flag, shares in M&S were up sharply this week as it cemented its position as the best-performing retail stock in the UK. This is excellent news for both the company and the rest of us. Because there is nowhere we like to rely on more than M&S for providing the range, quality and value it offers when it does get it right. I believe M&S succeeds when it delivers the staples we want, while making sure they are updated. Despite the fact floral midis were meant to be heading for the graveyard slot, for example, M&S has had the confidence to carry on stocking them, knowing that no matter what the fashion police might say their customers find them perfect for summer. The store's 'magic' denim has proved hugely successful, too, with its comfortable stretch. Building on that popularity, the team have expanded their denim range to offer every shape and style, unafraid to include the current high-waisted wide leg. It might have been tempting to think that lovers of M&S's traditional straight-leg style wouldn't shift out of their comfort zone but the style has proven to be a bestseller. 190,000 sold. The pure linen shirt, 35. A chambray linen shirt is the versatile update every summer wardrobe could do with and M&S has been selling 19 of its version every hour. I've got mine! With a wide, relaxed fit, it's easy to pull on over dresses, tuck into jeans or use as a cover-up with swimwear when the summer holiday season finally arrives. 91,000 sold. The wide-leg jeans, 35. Wide leg jeans are the style to be seen in this season and they don't come any better than the M&S Collection design (I live in mine!). Made from responsibly sourced cotton, they're an insanely flattering fit 21,000 sold. The leather ankle strap flat sandals, 45. Functional read 'ugly'; you know, black, clunky, multi-strap sandals are seriously fashionable this summer and this leather gladiator-style design is only 45. In true M&S style, the shoes come with chunky outsoles for extra height and comfort and antibacterial padding to 'help shoes stay fresh all day long'. 224,000 sold. The tummy-control square-neck black swimsuit, 29.50. What's more flattering than a black one-piece? A black one-piece with 'Magic 360 Tummy Control' to sculpt your shape, that's what! And the bonus is 38,000 sold. The double-breasted trench coat, 69. Burberry eat your heart out! A classic trench is top of every fashion editor's wish list so it's no surprise this design is a bestseller. With its belted waist, shoulder epaulettes and storm flaps, it looks much more expensive than 69. M&S's strength lies not in tapping into the latest trend on TikTok, but in being hyper-aware that its average customer is upwards of a size 10 (I believe their average is a size 16) and certainly older than 30. While we all dream of being younger and slimmer, M&S fashion is at its most popular when it acknowledges the reality of the customer, and when it nudges them into a slightly new direction without patronising them. After all, we don't usually want to buy exactly what we already have, but especially in these belt-tightening times metaphorically, but not literally we want something we feel confident of being able to wear. Not necessarily an old friend, but an interesting acquaintance. There are no doubt logistical reasons for the fact M&S food no longer accounts for the lion's share of profits. But clothing has undoubtedly benefited from our post-Covid return to actual bricks-and-mortar shops. The M&S shopper in particular will feel more confident buying clothes they can see and feel. There is also evidence that when times are tough we focus more on our appearance because that at least is something which is under our own control. We may be cutting back on astronomically expensive extra virgin olive oil, but a new pair of keenly priced, vivid pink, drawstring trousers or any of the other M&S bestsellers shown here can go a long way to cheering us up. A lecturer who was raised by heroin addict parents and lived in deep poverty with five siblings has revealed how a primary school teacher taught her how to clean herself after she arrived to school every day unwashed. In her critically-acclaimed new memoir Poor, Dr Katriona O'Sullivan, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University in Dublin, describes how her early childhood in the 1980s growing up in the Hillfields area of Coventry was troubled, with her Irish parents both fighting drug addiction. Her own teenage years saw her lost to petty crime; she was arrested for stealing, fighting and taking drugs before falling pregnant at just 15. She ended up homeless before finally getting her life back on track and gaining a degree at Trinity College, Dublin - with her parents Tony and Tilly by her side. Speaking about the complexities of addiction and childhood poverty, she told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour this week how a kind primary school teacher spotted when she was just five that she was being neglected at home and taught her how to wash herself. Dr Katriona OSullivan, who teaches at Maynooth University in Dublin, grew up with drug addict parents in the West Midlands. Her new memoir Poor has been widely praised for recounting the complexities of growing up in poverty Describing how her chaotic childhood impacted her early years at school, she said: 'We weren't taught how to wash, we didn't have toothbrushes or towels in the house. We often didn't have sheets on the bed'. The mother-of-three explained that she quickly became the child that her peers didn't want to sit next to, saying she often had nits and was the 'smelly kid' who they would call 'horrible names'. She explained to BBC presenter Nuala Mcgovern how she would roll out of bed, and run to school having not washed or changed her underwear. Revealing the kind approach of her nursery and reception teacher, Miss Arkinson, she said she 'never, ever shamed me', telling the programme that instead she gave her a packet of clean underwear, and taught her how to wash. Earlier this week, mother-of-three Dr O'Sullivan appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour to discuss how the kindness of a reception teacher was 'transformative' for her The academic pictured as a teenager; she was arrested for stealing and taking drugs - and fell pregnant at 15 - before turning her life around with education Dr O'Sullivan explains: 'This particular day, I remember she took me into the bathroom, her and another assistant. I was convinced I'd something wrong because I was always in trouble.' She continues: 'This lovely teacher, I remember crouching down, looking me in the eye and saying "It's okay" and pulling out a packet of underwear...and taught me how to wash myself.' The academic said her teacher would then leave a fresh flannel and towel behind her desk and every morning the young girl would come in before her classmates and wash in the school bathrooms. Dr Katriona O'Sullivan's memoir Poor She told the show: 'I was really ashamed in that moment because I knew that they knew that I was this smelly girl - because I was well aware of that - but I also felt so seen and cared for.' Later, another teacher, Mr Pickering, would encourage her to take her GCSEs, spotting her academic talent. Dr O'Sullivan told BBC presenter Nuala that the poorest in society are often limited by people's low expectations of what they can achieve, saying there's a 'generic judgement' of those in poverty. In her memoir, the academic also describes how a student at the university she now teaches at once recognised her as her former dinner lady. In the book, she describes the student as a 'poshie' and reveals how she said to her: 'Oh my God, wait! It's you, isn't it? You were my dinner lady!... But what are you doing here?' To which she replied: 'Ah, come on. Did you not know dinner ladies have brains?' She told BBC West Midlands: 'I think that people in privileged positions need to really understand, like, how far reaching poverty is. And how it can affect your whole life.' Poor by Dr Katriona O'Sullivan, published by Penguin Ireland, is out now This is the amusing moment a Naked Attraction contestant shows off her risque party trick - only for presenter Anna Richardson to cheekily tell her to rearrange her trousers afterwards. On Thursday's episode of the Channel 4 programme - which sees single men and women try to find their perfect match based initially just on physical attraction - Skyla featured on the show. The professional cleaner, 34, from Kent, was set to pick one lucky man to go on a date with her after seeing them completely naked. But during the episode, presenter Anna stole the limelight with a cheeky remark to the contestant after Skyla performed her 'party trick', in which she tries to pick up a piece of rolling paper using only her mouth. One viewer insisted the host 'makes the show' following the amusing comment - in which Anna told Skyla to 'pull those trousers out of her m****'. This is the amusing moment a Naked Attraction contestant shows off her risque party trick - only for presenter Anna Richardson to cheekily tell her to rearrange her trousers afterwards After narrowing down her eligible bachelors to just three, Skyla showcased her impressive party trick. Anna said: 'Fellas, Skyla has got a party trick that she would like to show you, off you go Skyla. 'This is called the Rizla trick,' explained the contestant, who was dressed in a stunning red crop top and trouser co-ord. 'She's got a handy packet of Rizla's in her pants and the shoes are off,' commented the presenter. Skyla then showed off her flexibility by trying to pick up the paper from the floor using only her mouth. However, unfortunately, the contestant seemed to fall at the final hurdle as she appeared to slip while picking up the paper. Perhaps in an effort to brush over the seemingly awkward moment, Anna bluntly told the contestant to 'pull those trousers out of your m****' following the trick. Skyla laughed the comment off before reducing her suitors down to three individuals - before finally picking Aaron to go on a date with. The pair enjoyed some drinks together - however, when reunited two weeks later, they explained that they wouldn't continue dating. It comes after the TV star revealed she was branded a 'paedophile' as she received the 'worst online abuse of her career' after new show Naked Education came under-fire. During Thursday's episode, presenter Anna Richardson (pictured) stole the limelight with a cheeky remark to the contestant after Skyla performed her 'party trick', in which she tries to pick up a piece of rolling paper using only her mouth The presenter detailed the 'unacceptable' comments which said her and her fellow presenters should be arrested, on Vicky Pattison's podcast The Secret To. The Channel 4 show hosted by Anna, Yinka Bokinni and Dr Alex George attracted over Ofcom 1,200 complaints after it showed nudity to 14 to 16-year-olds with the presenter explaining that 'every single protocol' was followed. The series brought people from across Britain together to discuss their bodies, addressing topics including body dysmorphia, cosmetic surgery and disabilities. Speaking to host Vicky, Anna said: 'I've had so much abuse online from Naked Education. I am so shocked.' She continued: 'I've personally been subjected to abuse online which I have never had before in my career - and it's totally unacceptable. 'The abuse that I've been receiving, and also the other presenters and the producers of the show, is that people are calling us paedophiles, that we are paedophiles, that I'm a paedophile, that I should be arrested, that we should all be arrested. 'I mean absolutely disgraceful. 'There's a small strand within the show where Yinka and a doctor are in a classroom sitting with a group of teenagers and they are teaching these teens about the naked human body and we have naked people in there. Reaction: One viewer insisted the host 'makes the show' following the amusing comment - in which Anna told Skyla to 'pull those trousers out of her m****'. 'This has been done with all the checks and balances. It's been done with the full consent of the parents. Every single health and safety measure and every single protocol has been put in place and followed. 'For some reason certain people on social media have become hysterical about this moment on Naked Education. 'What's interesting to me is that I did a very, very similar show about ten, twelves years ago called the Sex Education show, where we literally went round secondary schools teaching teenagers about sex education using naked adult bodies. Nobody batted an eyelid.' Naked Education has become one of the most complained about programmes of the year after another explicit episode saw participants take part in a naked bicycle ride. The Mali military government hoped that hiring Russian Wagner Group mercenaries would enable Mali to maintain control of northern and central Mali. These two regions have been under growing attack by Islamic terror groups and Russians made it worse. The Mali military government is running out of people to blame for the mess they got themselves into. The problems began when the military government ordered the independent French Barkhane counterterrorism force out of Mali by the end of 2021. Since then, Mali has been threatening to force the 15,000 UN peacekeepers out of the country unless the UN agrees to give the Mali military government control over what the peacekeepers can do. The UN and AU nations supplying the peacekeepers refuse. The government is particularly angry at the way the peacekeepers report on atrocities committed by Mali security forces as well as the Russian Wagner Group military contractors. Brutality and incompetence by the military is what triggered a 2011 rebellion in the north and it was France that restored government control in the north and that Mali held elections and restored democratic government. The new reform government quickly proved to be as corrupt as previous ones and there followed two more military governments. The current one staged a coup against a military government. That is another example of how dysfunctional Mali governments are. The government forced the French and G5 peacekeepers out by the end of 2021. Mali wanted to keep the 13,500 UN peacekeepers that maintains government control over the rebellious north. These peacekeepers are supplied by AU (African Union) nations and some of the African nations supplying these peacekeepers are withdrawing that support. A few percent of the peacekeeping force consists of troops from NATO nations that supply specialized services, especially transport helicopters and other services. There was growing opposition among UN members for maintaining the expensive peacekeeper force, which is the most dangerous the UN is currently involved with. The Mali peacekeeping operation costs about half a billion dollars a month and that is about the only foreign aid Mali gets now that the military government is in control. Most foreign aid was halted because the government was stealing so much of the aid. It is difficult to steal any of the money spent on peacekeepers but the government seems to be trying to do just that. Once the UN voted to maintain the Mali peacekeeping force for another year the military government began harassing the peacekeepers and threatening to expel all of them. The peacekeepers serve on contracts (with the UN) for varying periods usually between two and six months. While the military government feuds with the UN, the Islamic terror groups continue advancing south towards the capital, which is near the southern border and Guinea, which provides access to the sea. In the southwest is Burkina Faso, which also has a military government and growing problems with Islamic terrorists. Without the French-led counterterrorism effort in Mali, the Islamic terrorists are expanding the territory they control while also terrorizing civilians and killing soldiers and peacekeepers. The Islamic terrorists are also fighting each other. The larger Islamic terror group, an al Qaeda coalition called JNIM (Jamaah Nusrah al Islam wal Muslimin, or Group for the support of Islam and Moslems), is gaining control over more of Mali and even making more frequent attacks near the capital Bamako down south. In the north, ISGS (Islamic States in Greater Sahara) Islamic terrorists near the Niger border have taken advantage of the departure of French counterterrorism forces in 2021 by seizing and holding territory in Mali. This began with more attacks on the Niger border. The departing French and G5 counter-terrorism forces had kept the Islamic terrorists out of Mali. The Mali army and a small number of Russian (Wagner Group) military contractors have been unable, or unwilling, to carry on with that effort or prevent the Islamic terror groups from crossing the border and advancing into Mali. ISGS is one of the two ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) groups in the region. When they showed up in 2018, ISGS operated mainly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, especially the area where the three borders meet. Since late 2022 ISGS have been working to take control of the border between Mali and Niger. Mali responded with soldiers and a handful of Wagner Group mercenaries but that was unsuccessful. After that Mali did nothing about the situation as its security forces and the UN peacekeepers were needed elsewhere. The Niger government was also unable to respond and sought to negotiate a deal with ISGS. Appearing in 2015 as an affiliate of ISIL and part of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) that changed in 2021 when ISGS declared itself separate from ISWAP and declared northern Mali and some areas in Niger and Burkina Faso its future caliphate. The ISIL affiliated Islamic terrorists are far more violent than the more numerous al Qaeda. This also means casualties for the 12,000 UN peacekeepers. ISGS violence involves attacks on Islamic terror groups that refuse to take orders from ISIL. The tri-border (Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso) area has been a terrorist hotspot since 2018 because Islamic terror groups can just cross the border to escape any effective counterterrorism efforts. For that reason, this area has been called the Menaka Region. Previously this area was just part of the larger Gao Region, centered on one of the few cities in the north. The area being fought over is near where the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. Menaka has become ungovernable because so many Islamic terrorists and bandits now operate here. The French counterterrorism forces regularly searched for and attacked specific Islamic terrorist targets. The Mali government underestimated how important the French forces, with their airmobile troops, UAV surveillance and ground attack aircraft were in keeping the Islamic terrorists from establishing themselves inside Mali. The current Mali military government has no clear plan for dealing with this situation and are withdrawing their counterterrorism forces south, to protect the capital and the more prosperous and populous south. The neighbors see the reliance on Wagner Group as the main cause for more Islamic terrorists operating in Mali and spreading to neighboring countries. This includes Algeria, which has been largely Islamic terrorism free for over a decade. Now Algeria is seeing a return of Islamic terrorist activity because of the growing number of active Islamic terrorists across the border in northern Mali. Despite this, Mali does not want the French back because that makes it easier for foreigners to document the growing corruption of the military government. These corruption reports lead to more countries imposing individual sanctions on officers running the military government and profiting from the corruption. So far the strategy of the Mali military officers running the government is to abandon northern, and portions of central Mali to the Islamic terror groups. Complaints from the neighbors are ignored even though that means less foreign aid for Mali. The source of all these problems is corruption and Mali is the most corrupt and ineptly governed nation in the region. Because of that the French and AU counter-terrorism forces expelled from Mali have regrouped in neighboring countries that want protection from the growing Islamic terrorist activity in Mali. In the midst of all this, ambitious Mali politicians continue to blame all the problems on African and non-African foreigners as well as neighboring countries that cooperate with these evil foreigners and their schemes to destroy Mali. Russia is seen as a friend of Mali because Russia is one of the few countries with a veto power in the UN. This is not the same as control of the UN but does allow Russia to disrupt some UN efforts to interfere in Mali, especially criticism of the military government or publicizing the corruption and brutality of the Mali generals. Mali has become a dangerous place for foreign journalists and local journalists that criticize the government or the Russian presence. The Islamic terrorists continue advancing south towards the capital Bamako and the nearby gold mines. Bamako contains about twelve percent of the national population and an even larger proportion of the national GDP. For over a year there has been growing Islamic terrorist activity near Bamako. Most of this is attacks on police checkpoints or ambushing police or soldiers. Some of the attackers were later discovered to be locals who were recruited by Islamic terror groups and put to work. Most (95 percent) Malians are Moslem. May 25, 2023: The United States imposed sanctions on Ivan Maslov, the commander of Wagner Group forces in Mali and responsible for the recent effort to break the weapons import sanctions imposed on Russia via arms deals in the name of the Mali government. May 21, 2023: In the north (outside Kidal) four peacekeepers were wounded when a roadside bomb was used to attack their vehicle. The peacekeepers were guarding a supply convoy. A search of the area revealed another roadside bomb, which was disposed of. May 18, 2023: The Mali military government use of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries has not proved very effective for Mali but has provided Russian with an opportunity to get past the sanctions imposed on Russia and obtain needed weapons for Russian forces in Ukraine. Wagner arms buyers representing Wagner needs in Mali have been able to purchase large quantities of weapons and military equipment that is diverted to Russian forces in Ukraine. American intelligence efforts revealed the true destination of the weapons and equipment purchased for operations in Mali. Wagner was hired by the Mali military government in 2021 to train Mali troops, especially in the use of weapons purchased from Russia. The supply of Russian weapons, and Wagner mercenaries was disrupted in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine and heavy sanctions were imposed on Russia by NATO countries. African countries didnt care what Russia was doing in Ukraine but did care about their disrupted weapons supply line from Russia. There are about a thousand Wagner personnel in Mali and the Mali military government has no problem paying the mercenaries or for weapons purchased from Russia. Mali is a major producer of gold and the Russians will take payment in gold. Russia maintains a huge gold stockpile (about 2,300 tons), the fifth largest in the world. May 12, 2023: The UN released its report on the March 2022 massacre of civilians in central Mali by Russian mercenaries and Mali soldiers. The UN investigators interviewed 157 civilians who were there and survived and collected compelling and ample evidence of the lawless behavior. The UN investigators also used satellite photos taken at the time of the incident that documented the many dead (about 500). Russia and the Mali government insist those dead bodies were Islamic terrorists but offer no evidence nor an explanation why the soldiers and Russians withdrew when armed Islamic terrorists did advance. The UN report did not specify what country the foreign mercenaries came from. April 22, 2023: In central Mali, three suicide bombers were used to attack a town. The explosions destroyed twenty buildings, killing nine people and wounding over sixty. The army claimed that the explosions were caused by the Mali military using missile armed UAVs to destroy three vehicles carrying explosives. Sophie also met with PM of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masrour Barzani More details have emerged from the Duchess of Edinburgh's secret trip to Iraq. Sophie, 58, was requested to visit the Kurdistan Region of Iraq this week by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Buckingham Palace announced. The unannounced trip was kept a secret for security reasons. This was in support of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS), and to continue the Duchess' work to champion the survivors of conflict related sexual violence. She visited the capital Baghdad for two days where she heard about the challenges facing Iraqi women and girls and the ongoing work to protect and promote their rights. Pictures of Prince Edward's wife show her sat on the floor with children at at the Qadia Camp in Duhok in a white linen dress The Duchess then travelled to Erbil where she spoke with civil society organisations working to address the impact of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and to promote the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace processes. While in Erbil, the Duchess heard a Yazidi survivors experience of being separated from her children born of rape and her efforts to be reunited with them. Sophie was received by the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masrour Barzani. She wore a long-sleeved white dress with black polka-dot pattern and pink and red roses, which featured pearl detailing, as she was pictured listening intently to Barzani. She also met the Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani and visited the Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO-designated world heritage site (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). This is a specialised agency of the United Nations which is aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. During this visit, Sophie donned a sapphire blue short-sleeved dress which she paired with a brown belt and a patterned bag. In another snap taken from inside the camp, she is holding a rolling pin, as she is being taught how to bake a dish During a visit to the Erbil Citadel, Sophie donned a sapphire blue short-sleeved dress which she paired with a brown belt and a patterned bag She spent time with Yazidi survivors of conflict related sexual violence at Qadia Camp in Duhok, which is home to over 13,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The survivors spoke to the Duchess about the difficulties and the stigma they face. She witnessed the skills that survivors and other IDPs at the camp can use to support their families and to secure employment, facilitated by UN International Organization for Migration. While in Duhok, The Duchess also met female Shabak and Turkman survivors of CRSV. Pictures of Prince Edward's wife show her sat on the floor with children at at the Qadia Camp in Duhok in a white linen dress. In another snap taken from inside the camp, she is holding a rolling pin, as she is being taught how to bake a dish. The Duchess was also photographed listening attentively to an International Organization for Migration worker outside the camp, wearing a pair of sunglasses on her head. She wore a long-sleeved white dress with black polka-dot pattern as she was pictured listening intently to Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masrour Barzani The Duchess was also photographed listening attentively to an International Organization for Migration worker outside the camp, wearing a pair of sunglasses on her head On Tuesday, it was reported that Sophie visited a high school for girls, and spoke to students and teachers about education for young women in the country, and their hopes for the future. As part of her surprise visit, she also toured a family planning centre, where she heard about the work being carried out to support the reproductive health and wellbeing of Iraqi women. She also met female business leaders to discuss the importance of womens economic empowerment. During her time in Bagdad, Duchess Sophie also delivered a message of greeting from the King to the Iraqi president, Abdul Latif Rashid, and the First Lady during a special audience. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to the majority of provinces in Iraq, amid the threat of violent protests in and around the International Zone in Baghdad. Charles, as the Prince of Wales, travelled to country in 2004 when he visited military personnel in Basra during the Iraq War. In 2006, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, made a surprise trip to see British troops in Basra when he was 85. A content creator has given viewers a sneak peek at the McDonald's global menu items after she went to the chain headquarters and taste-tested various products from around the world. Nicole Ludwig, 21, from Chicago, frequently shares food reviews with her 174,000 followers on TikTok. Most recently, the food vlogger indulged in items off of the global menu of McDonald's. In a series of viral videos, Nicole shared footage of herself ordering food from the McDonald's Spain, China, and India menu, and even reviewed them. Nicole Ludwig, 21, from Chicago, has given viewers a sneak peek at the McDonald's global menu items after she went to the chain headquarters and taste-tested various In a series of viral videos, Nicole shared footage of herself ordering food from the McDonald's Spain, China, and India menu, and even reviewed them The food vlogger indulged in items off of the global menu of McDonald's - including waffle fries from China She also indulged in four white chocolate donuts called McPops from Spain, which she called her favorite things 'If you have never been to McDonald's headquarters in Chicago, you need to because they have global menu items that you can only get at this location,' she said at the beginning of the clip that amassed over 3.7 million views. In the clip, she showed off some of the menu options - including a McAloo Tiki Burger from India ($4.99), Garlic Pepper CrisCut Fries from China ($3.49), and a Double Bulgoli Burger from South Korea ($5.49). She also indulged in four white chocolate donuts called McPops from Spain. In the second clip, she shared footage of herself trying out the McAloo TikTi Burger. 'I believe it's a potato patty with tomato mayonnaise, tomato, and onions,' she said before taking a bite. She added: 'This isn't bad, I just don't really like the patty, the tomato mayo, the red onion, and the tomato itself are a good combination, and the red onion is really strong. 'I would give this a five out of 10, I would eat it again, but I wouldn't choose to.' Next, Nicole tried the Bulgoli Burger, which is made with two pork patties and bulgoli sauce. Nicole tried the Bulgoli Burger, which is made with two pork patties and bulgoli sauce She shared footage of herself trying out the McAloo TikTi Burger. 'I believe it's a potato patty with tomato mayonnaise, tomato, and onions,' she said before taking a bite Nicole said the waffle fries were 'much better than Chick-fil-A's waffle fires' The 21-year-old content creator gave this burger an eight out of 10, adding that it's 'really good.' 'I like the sauce and it reminds me of their breakfast sausage patties. This one I actually may order again like if it was on the actual menu,' she added. Next, Nicole tried the Garlic Pepper CrisCut Fries from China. 'This is much better than Chick-fil-A's waffle fires, these are crunchy and the flavor. 'McDonald's did really well with this, I would give it like a nine out of 10,' Nicole explained. Lastly, the content creator tried out the McPops from Spain, which she called the one of her 'favorite things of all time.' 'The donut itself is so soft, which I was not expecting from McDonald's,' she explained. Nicole added that the dessert was 'so creamy' and delicious that she got 'three orders.' Viewers rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts, claiming that they had no idea but had to make a trip to the headquarters Viewers rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts, claiming that they had no idea but had to make a trip to the headquarters. One person wrote: 'I would cry.' 'Ok I'm going,' commented another person. 'My dream,' said someone else. However, other viewers said people shouldn't get their hopes up as items tend to be sold out. One person commented: 'Every time I go to Chicago I go here and everything is always sold out, its always so disappointing.' 'They are also always out of stock of everything so be prepared to be sad lol,' wrote another user. A makeup-free Jenna Bush Hager looked wholesome and cozy in a TikTok shared earlier this week in which she opened up about her nighttime routine. Taking cues from the viral 'Get Ready With Me' or 'GRWM' trend, the Today show co-host, 41, detailed her evening regimen from her bed, keeping it casual in a grey tee-shirt, a messy bun and clear-framed eyeglasses. 'My sacred nighttime routine! How do you prep for tomorrow? #grwm #booktok #nightroutine,' she captioned the post, which offered broader insight into how the former first daughter runs her home. 'So, I, in the evening, probably the same way many of you do, I clean the house, the kids' bags are ready for school, my bags are laid out, my clothes are laid out -- because I don't want to wake up Henry in the morning,' she began. Jenna Bush Hager posted a TikTok earlier this week in which she detailed her evening routine First on the list: cleaning! Jenna launched #ReadWithJenna, a monthly book-club column, through Today in 2019 Speaking of hubby Henry Chase Hager, 45, Jenna appeared to be wearing a tee borrowed from him, with 'Saints' emblazoned in red lettering nodding to the mascot of Henry's high-school alma mater, St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia. 'I've read to my kids, which is my favorite part of the day,' Jenna continued. 'And now I'm reading for me! 'And every once in a while I have a little bit of company,' she added. The camera then panned to her right to reveal daughter Mila, 10, reclining next to her on the bed, a copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in hand. Jenna re-trained the camera back on herself, smiling with pride at her eldest accompanying her in pre-bedtime reading. Back in 2019, the U of Texas at Austin alum launched #ReadWithJenna, a monthly book-club column, through Today. Her followers, who are 125,000 strong on the platform, pored into the comments to praise her sensible late-night lifestyle habits -- as well as her dedication to reading. 'You are so awesome and down to earth!! Watch you every single morning!! Sweet dreams!' one gushed, to which Jenna responded 'Thank you for watching,' tacking on several heart-flanked smiling emojis. In the last seconds of the TikTok, Jenna panned to the right to reveal her daughter Mila reading by her side Jenna smiled with pride at her eldest daughter's dedication to bedtime reading 'My Dad would always say...organization is the key to success!' another chimed in. 'My kids are grown now but I have always been and am still now a read in bed at night reader!!!' one fellow bookworm shared. 'How early do you need to go to sleep and awake in the morning?' one queried, adding 'Thanks for SOOOO MANY great book recommendations!' (To inquiring minds, the morning-show TV personality has previously shared on Today that she wakes up around 6:30 a.m.) Jenna and husband Henry (pictured at far right) tied the knot in 2008 after meeting as staffers on her dad's reelection campaign in 2004 Fans pored into the comments, heaping praise on the former first daughter Besides Mila, Jenna shares daughter Poppy Louise, 7, and son Hal, 3, with businessman Henry. The journalist tied the knot with the former George W. Bush White House advisor back in 2008 after meeting him in 2004, amid the pair both working as staffers for her dad's reelection campaign. Jenna has long been forthcoming about her parenting strategies. Back in 2022, she opened up about feeling conflicted between being a 'very strict mother' and secretly wanting her kids to feel free and 'feral.' Emma Weymouth looked classy in a plaid red dress as she stepped out on the streets of Cannes today. The Marchioness of Bath, 37, looked elegant in a playful gingham buttoned-down red and white dress, which featured lace detailing at the cuffs. The gown was maxi-length and had frill detailing with a deep neckline, which showed off her pronounced collarbone. She beamed as she was on the phone to someone during her walk around the streets of Cannes, near the Martinez Hotel. She is in the French city to attend the Cannes Film Festival, where she has been snapped on red carpets and attending glamorous events over the last few days. Emma looked elegant in a classic chequered buttoned-down red and white dress, with lace detailing at the cuffs Emma's frock also had a flattering slit on the front which went up to her thigh. The socialite paired this look with an oversized tan straw hat and a rattan beach bag which sat on her shoulder. The Marchioness opted for comfortable footwear, as she donned black ballerina pumps with bow detailing. Emma wore her shiny black locks in a sleek low bun and sported oversized round sunglasses which covered most of her face. Yesterday, Emma continued her Cannes Film Festival experience in a in a shimmering sheer gown which left 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. Adding even more glitz to her dazzling look, the mother-of-two sported an eye-catching diamond necklace and matching drop earrings. Emma wore her shiny black locks in a sleek low bun and sported oversized round sunglasses which covered most of her face Emma paired her dress with an oversized tan straw hat and a rattan beach bag which sat on her shoulder She completed her blue carpet moment with a smattering of glamorous makeup, while styling her tresses sleek and straight. Meanwhile on Tuesday, Emma was snapped 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. And on Monday, Emma dazzled on the cream carpet in Cannes in a scarlet Chopard gown encrusted with gems as she attended an exclusive event. 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 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. Asked what the secret to a long and happy life is, a 102-year-old woman answered honestly: good sex. Joyce Jackman, from Essex, who turned 102 on May 9, shared her secret to living for over a century. The former RAF chef told staff at her care home that she credits 'good sex and good sherry' as the key to her satisfying life. Joyce celebrated her birthday at Care UK's Silversprings, Thorrington, where staff surprised her with a cake. Her family came to visit to celebrate her birthday with her, and the 102-year-old said she 'didn't want the day to end'. Joyce Jackman, who turned 102 on May 9, told the staff at her care home that the secret to living for over a century was good sex Staff at Care UK's Silversprings surprised Joyce with a birthday cake. She joked that all the chocolate she eats must have also played a role in her reaching 102 years of age Joyce said: 'I had such a lovely day. 'I can't believe I'm 102 it must be all the chocolate I eat that's helped!' In her early life, Joyce worked in a sweet shop, before joining the RAF as a chef during World War Two. Joyce, now widowed, married her childhood sweetheart, Terence Jackman, in 1945 the year the war ended. While they never had children, Joyce loved to help out looking after the children in her neighbourhood, as well as enjoying baking with her mother and going out with her friends. Now, Joyce enjoys keeping her mind busy at Silversprings with regular crossword puzzles and staying up-to-date with the daily newspaper as well as enjoying plenty of chocolate. Joanne Rix, Home Manager at Silversprings, added: 'Joyce is a much-loved resident at the home - she's always making us laugh with her fantastic sense of humour and outlook on life. 'It was wonderful to be part of her special day. 'Here at Silversprings, we work hard to support residents to lead fulfilling lives, and celebrating special occasions and birthdays plays a huge part in this. 'We were honoured to raise a glass of sherry to Joyce's incredible life so far and are privileged to have her as part of our Silversprings family.' It comes after a 102-year-old doctor shared her tips for living a long and fulfilling life as she continues to focus on the future with her 10-year plan. Dr. Gladys McGarey, from Scottsdale, Arizona, is known as the mother of holistic medicine, a form of healing that takes the patient's mind, body, and spirit into account during treatment. She co-founded the American Board of Holistic Medicine and had a family practice for more than 60 years. The mother of six continues to work as a consulting doctor and writer. McGarey was 100 when she started penning her new book, The Well-Lived Life: A 102-Year-Old Doctors Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age, which was published last week. She makes an effort to move daily, including reaching her daily step count and riding her tricycle. In her free time, she knits, listens to audiobooks, and talks with friends. As she lifts the lid on her keys to longevity while promoting her latest book, FEMAIL has highlighted her best advice below. When it comes to style, we are all inspired by what we see; whether it be a well-dressed celebrity, a blow-your-mind catwalk presentation or even a fashionable passerby. As fashion editors, we're moved by all of the above, and then some. We're exposed to under-the-radar labels; we get a first-hand look at collections months before they hit stores; we attend VIP events; we're tapped into brands with chic-yet-cheap offerings and we shop a lot. To share our knowledge, FEMAIL brings you Style Swoon, a weekly series of the latest, greatest and on the verge. We hope this Friday series will serve as a buying guide and point of inspiration for all. This week's edition focuses on the most fashionable industry events. On May 22 the BOSS brand and Daniel Grieder, HUGO BOSS CEO, hosted an exclusive dinner for Naomi Campbell's birthday Attendees were dressed sharply in BOSS Fashion model party On May 22 the BOSS brand and Daniel Grieder, HUGO BOSS CEO, hosted an exclusive dinner for Naomi Campbell's birthday. The event was followed by an after-party at Villa Julia in Cannes, France. 'Naomi is a true boss and a role model for so many. Apart from being a fashion icon, she is a champion of diversity, inclusivity, and a renowned philanthropist,' said Daniel. 'Therefore, she perfectly embodies the values of our BOSS brand. It is a great honor for us to host Naomis birthday celebration in Cannes.' Designer Daphne Guinness was a vision in an all white look with feather details Naomi wowed when she first arrived at the party in a gold-toned, floor-length gown, hand-embroidered with impeccable beading on a nude-colored tulle base with feathers It was a very fashionable crowd that included the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio, Julia Garner, Travis Scott, Future, Daphne Guinness, Fan Bingbing, Colin Kaepernick, Alton Mason, Alpha Dia, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson. Fellow models Irina Shayk, Helena Christensen, Stella Maxwell, Eva Herzigova, Ashley Graham, Neelam Gill, and Jordan Barrett were also in attendance. The birthday girl appeared in two stunning outfits for the festivities. She wowed when she first arrived at the party in a gold-toned, floor-length gown, hand-embroidered with impeccable beading on a nude-colored tulle base with feathers. The V-neck gown was accented by a train with a feather degrade beginning at the upper leg, becoming increasingly dense toward the hem. Naomi then changed into a white, floor-length, backless, bias-cut dress with bold cutouts at the waist and an exquisite train, plus attached, floor-skimming, asymmetric scarf finished with a lovely fringe detail. Glamhive, the online destination for virtual styling from A-list celebrity stylists to emerging stylists, hosted an all day summit to connect the community and bring in their network and success stories to share with the whole community. Pictured: Stephanie Sprangers and Stephanie Jenkins of Glamhive Wardrobe stylist summit This weekend LAs stylist community gathered to discuss business, personal growth, and (of course) style! Glamhive, the online destination for virtual styling from A-list celebrity stylists to emerging stylists, hosted an all day summit to connect the community and bring in their network and success stories to share with the whole community. The energy was amazing as what felt like every stylist in LA gathered together to mingle, learn, and get inspired. Glamhive LIVE kicked off with a cocktail party for the events VIPs, speakers and glamorous friends of the company at Albright Fashion Library Albright Fashion Library is where A-listers and stylists in-the-know (like Nicole Allowitz, pictured left) go to rent designer pieces Glamhive LIVE kicked off with a cocktail party for the events VIPs, speakers and glamorous friends of the company at Albright Fashion Library in Beverly Hills. The library is a wonderland of garments and accessories from the personal collection of former stylist and founder Irene Albright. It is where A-listers and stylists in-the-know (like Pat Field) go to rent designer pieces. Drinks were served by BTL SVC as guests mingled and and viewed Albrights extensive designer fashion collection. 'I gather all my favorite speakers and everyone who inspires me and get to share them with everyone who attends,' said Stephanie Sprangers, Founder of Glamhive. Pictured left with wardrobe stylist Janie Bryant Daily Mail's US Style Director Pandora Amoratis moderated a panel with Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant and celeb stylist Avigail Collins on Building Iconic Style Saks Off 5th had an interactive buildout for attendees to experience the brand and speak to brand representatives Saturday the main event was held at Hudson Loft in downtown LA where over 250 guests gathered to hear from Glamhives network of celebrity stylists, personal stylists, makeup artists, and business builders. Notable speakers included celebrity stylists Andrew Weitz, Avigail Collins, Nicole Chavez, Gaelle Paul, Quentin Thrash, makeup artist Tamah Krinsky, and legendary costume designers Janie Bryant and Mandi Line. Also brand builders Ripley Radar, Jonathan Frydman, Kristan Perry, Lauren Messiah and personal stylists Chellie Carlson and Kim Apodaca who also runs the Global Style Academy in collaboration with Glamhive. Moderators included Glamhive founder Stephanie Sprangers, Creative Director Jack Eustace and Daily Mail's US Style Director Pandora Amoratis. Event sponsors included Initio Parfums Prives who did a presentation on building your fragrance wardrobe with the brands national sales director Derek Miller, Saks Off 5th whos Chief Merchant Molly Taylor did an on stage presentation and Parfumes de Marly. All three brands had interactive buildouts throughout the space for attendees to experience the brand and speak to brand representatives. There was coffee service all day provided by Caffe Luxxe, a beautiful lunch spread from Fork, Knife + Spoon Catering and happy hour served by BTL SVC. 'Our summits are an amazing day filled with energy and excitement from our community. I gather all my favorite speakers and everyone who inspires me and get to share them with everyone who attends,' said Stephanie Sprangers, Founder of Glamhive. Celebrity stylist and menswear influencer Quentin Thrash was dressed to perfection from head-to-toe Founder of Style Boss Academy Lauren Messiah and personal stylist Chellie Carlson spoke about building their personal brands Acclaimed celebrity stylist Nicole Chavez shared her knowledge on the fashion industry with the 200+ crowd Contemporary fashion label Ciao Lucia celebrated their first shoe collaboration in partnership with French footwear brand K. Jacques Charlotte McKinney showed her support for Lucy Atkin and her collab Based in St. Tropez, K. Jacques - founded in 1933 - is known for their sleek sandals designed from top quality materials and expert craftsmanship Ready-to-wear launch event Contemporary fashion label Ciao Lucia celebrated their first shoe collaboration in partnership with French footwear brand K. Jacques. Based in St. Tropez, K. Jacques - founded in 1933 - is known for their sleek sandals designed from top quality materials and expert craftsmanship. Founded in 2017 by Lucy Akin, LA-based brand Ciao Lucia focuses on timeless and classic silhouettes, inspired by nostalgia for travel. Their pieces are wardrobe essentials for celebrities and tastemakers, including Kaia Gerber, Kendall Jenner, Margot Robbie, and Gigi Hadid. The party was held at Ron Herman located on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles, California. Guests - including Charlotte McKinney and Tallulah Willis - enjoyed drinks by Lalo Tequila and Ghia, while being treated to custom Ciao Lucia gift bags including product from skin care brand Tata Harper and Supergoop. A MasterChef judge has revealed the best bakeries in Australia - and you've probably never heard of them. Pastry expert Andy Bowdy, who runs Saga Enmore in Sydney, has revealed the pastry cafe and bakeries across the country he thinks are best. Ahead of the Cancer Council's annual Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, Andy has teamed up with De'Longhi to share his thoughts on the best bakeries across the country. He told Daily Mail Australia that Tasmania, Alice Springs and Fremantle are home to some of the country's best bakeries - alongside Sydney and Melbourne. In Melbourne, many are familiar with the world-famous Lune Patisserie, but Andy recommends checking out Smith's Cakes and Aquilana Pasticceria. Pastry expert Andy Bowdy, who runs Saga Enmore in Sydney, has revealed the pastry cafe and bakeries across the country he thinks are best The Sicilian bakery, in Fitzroy, offers cannoli, gelato and biscuits. Elsewhere, Sydneysiders should head to Penny Fours for the best pastries in the city. The Balmain bakery offers quirky and savoury croissants, including, tahini custard, roasted eggplant, parsley and lemon croissants, poached pear, ricotta custard & walnuts croissant and freshly baked bread. For those in Northern Territory, Alice Spring's Alice Bakery is one of the best in the country, according to Andy. Sydneysiders should head to Penny Fours for the best pastries in the city. The Balmain bakery offers quirky and savoury croissants, including, tahini custard, roasted eggplant, parsley and lemon croissants, poached pear, ricotta custard & walnuts croissant (pictured) and freshly baked bread The bakery offers 'pastry made from real butter, doughnuts with hand crafted fillings, creative pies made fresh from top quality, locally sourced meats and vegetables,' according to its website. Locals also love the cafe's gourmet sandwiches on freshly baked sourdough and artisan breads. The Ross Village Bakery and Inn is the best in Tasmania - according to Andy. The bakery has been operating on the site for more than 100 years. Meanwhile, Western Australians will have to head to Fremantle to enjoy the best pastries in the country. Family-run sandwich shop Eat Peggys sells the likes of kimchi and cheese tin loaf, BLT on fresh focaccia and schnitty in a sub The best bakeries in Australia Melbourne: Smith's Cakes & Aquilana Pasticceria Sydney: Penny Fours Alice Springs: Alice Bakery Tasmania: Ross Village Bakery Fremantle, WA: Eat Peggys Advertisement Every day they heat the over to 700F where they bake pies, pastries, breads, buns and cakes. Meanwhile, Western Australians will have to head to Fremantle to enjoy the best pastries in the country. Family-run sandwich shop Eat Peggys sells the likes of kimchi and cheese tin loaf, BLT on fresh focaccia and schnitty in a sub. Australia's Biggest Morning Tea is a community event that raises vital funds to make a big difference for those impacted by cancer. Australians can host a morning tea and participate throughout the remainder of May and the entirety of June. A controversial foodie has slammed McDonald's new birthday cake latte, claiming it tastes like a regular coffee with vanilla syrup added. Russ, a chemical engineer by trade, recently reviewed the menu item - which has only recently been released to celebrate McCafe's 30th birthday in Australia. The foodie claimed he was unable to rate the dish because of the sheer lack of 'birthday cake' flavour in the drink. 'It's slightly sweet, but I can't taste the syrup,' he said. 'There's either fuck all on there or they have completely forgotten it. I can't even review it - it's p*ss.' Russ documented his whole journey to acquiring the birthday cake late - and the first sign of mediocrity should have been when the Macca's drive-thru employee couldn't describe its taste. 'No one knew what it was supposed to taste like,' Russ said. '[The drive-thru employee] couldn't stop giggling, she had no f***ing idea about the flavour.' The foodie assumed the drink would contain notes of jam, cream, and cake - but his disappointment upon taking a sip of the hot drink was clear. 'I feel like they've completely forgotten the syrup,' he said. 'It's sweet but I can't taste anything else.' Russ also purchased the iced version of the drink to get the full experience. He was immediately disappointed that it came in a paper cup instead of the plastic like its advertisement. Some McDonald's fans have been left bitterly disappointed by the fast food joint's brand new birthday cake latte, claiming that it tastes no different than a regular coffee with vanilla syrup Poll Do you like the birthday cake latte? Yes - I loved it No - it was disappointing I haven't tried it yet Do you like the birthday cake latte? Yes - I loved it 2 votes No - it was disappointing 6 votes I haven't tried it yet 21 votes Now share your opinion 'The paper cup lid has completely squashed the cream and syrup,' he said. The foodie took a sip of the drink, waited for a few seconds, and said: 'Nah.' 'This is the first time in history where I cannot give a rating, and of course it's Macca's,' he said. Russ also spoke directly to the fast food chain and said that he was putting the drinks in his fridge so that they could test if the employees had actually forgotten to add the birthday cake syrup. 'It's either the weakest syrup in history, there's f**k all syrup in it, or they've forgotten it all together,' he claimed. He added, 'Absolute fucking dogs**t - one of the worst birthdays ever.' Russ, a chemical engineer by trade, has won the hearts of millions with his hilarious, and often scathing, food reviews Several Macca's fans were quick to disagree with Russ's assessment. 'No way, that's my favourite flavour,' a man said. 'You got ripped off, I really liked them,' another added. 'It tastes like fresh cookies.' A woman shared, 'I got a cold one yesterday, and it tasted like a liquid Monte Carlo biscuit! The raspberry sauce is amazing.' But others similarly disliked the new flavour. 'I had the same issue with my latte twice - it only tasted like coffee,' a man said. A second wrote: 'Definitely wont be wasting my time with it again, I didnt enjoy it at all!' 'Their special flavours always let me down,' another said. Career experts have revealed the 'easiest' most effective way to score a pay rise is not to negotiate for a raise or even gun for a promotion but to find a new job. Rather than go into negotiations with your boss, Seek senior economist Matt Cowgill recommended looking for another job altogether. He said salaries advertised on job listings have increased and are growing faster than overall wages. Speaking with host Kate Campbell on the Rask Australian Finance Podcast, Matt said there is a 'range of research' to support the idea jumping companies is the most effective way to increase your income. The economist also revealed wages have boomed for 'blue collar' jobs like those in manufacturing while jobs in government, healthcare and education have seen a 'sluggish' rise in incomes. Scroll down for video Finance expert Kate Campbell (left) and Seek senior economist Matt Cowgill (right) say getting a new job is a more effective way to get a pay rise over asking for a raise or promotion 'There's a range of research that shows that's the case people who do switch jobs tend to get bigger wages rises than people who stay put. We see it in our data as well,' Matt explained. 'At the moment the advertised salaries so salaries for jobs advertised on Seek are growing faster than overall wages and salaries so it is consistent with that idea that the best way to get a pay rise is to get a new job.' Poll Have you been given a wage increase after switching jobs? Yes No Have you been given a wage increase after switching jobs? Yes 7 votes No 2 votes Now share your opinion Matt said there a 'decent gap' between the Seek advertised salary index which has seen an increase of 4.7 per cent and overall wages which rose by only 3.3 per cent. Listeners said they too have felt switching jobs is a more effective way to get more pay than being promoted with one saying their wage increases by 'at least' $10,000 or $15,000 every time they move roles. 'I jumped ship and doubled my salary, it made no sense why my previous employer wouldnt pay me more to stay. My replace got more,' one woman said. 'I swapped jobs and got 20 per cent uplift. Then four months in got the annual pay rise of five per cent. Could not believe my luck,' another wrote. Matt also said 'blue collar job in 'manufacturing, transport and logistics have 'lead the field' in the past 12 months for increased wages. According to Seek, yearly pay for delivery drivers and operations supervisors last year jumped to 10 per cent higher than that in 2019. Listeners said they have felt switching jobs is a effective way to get more pay with one saying their wage increases by 'at least' $10,000 or $15,000 every time they move roles However, while they were still rising, government jobs like those in offices, health care and education as well a law and consulting positions have seen a 'sluggish' salary rise. Greg Allen, director of recruitment agency Michael Page Australia, told Seek the trends are an after-effect of the Covid pandemic. 'Border closures have played a key role, but weve also seen a number of people doing online courses during COVID with a view of changing career,' he said. 'More people are also prioritising job security, and employers are offering more money as encouragement to make a move.' Online shopping saw a huge growth during lockdowns driving more demand for jobs like those in logistics, warehousing and delivery drivers. 'Not only are there fewer candidates in the marketplace, but some companies have more budget because they are doing quite well,' Allen said. 'However, we are seeing increases offered more in the casual, part time and fixed-term space. The permanent side is generally within the range that we saw before COVID.' Allen recommended those looking to find a job with a higher pay rate than what they're on research salary trends and discuss wage expectations at the beginning of the interview process. 'Transparency is absolutely key when it comes to talking about salary. Explain why you are worth a higher salary and that you understand your market worth based on your experience,' he advised. 'Keep in mind that employers place a higher value on honest salary discussion as the start of the hiring process. You're more likely to get the salary you want if you are clear at the start, rather than trying to negotiate at the end.' For those looking for career change to earn more cash, employment expert Rolf Bax, CMO from resume.io, revealed the six things you should never include on your resume. An employment expert revealed the six things to never put on your resume when applying for a job, including overuse of the term 'I' and irrelevant information (stock image) Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Rof, who has read thousands of CVs, said that cover letters are as import as resumes, and that you should always avoid bad-mouthing former employers. 'Your resume is the make-or-break asset for getting the job you want. Make it, and you will be, memorable for the right reasons,' he said. 'Remember that the person reading your resume may well be reading plenty of others. Keep your resume concise so that the important parts don't get lost in a muddle of detail and arrange your resume without long paragraphs for readability,' 'While your cover letter is likely to be the first 'conversation' you have with a prospective employer, your resume will determine whether that conversation continues to an interview or stops dead,' he said. 'It's where you need to make an impression'. The six things to NEVER put on your resume 1. White lies 2. Cliched overused phrases or jargon 3. Irrelevant information 4. Negative comments about previous employers 5. Spelling and grammatical errors 6. Using 'I did this' too much Advertisement White lies Firstly, Rolf says to 'never embellish or exaggerate your skills or your previous titles'. 'Of course you want to put your best foot forward,' Rolf says, 'but stick to reality. Embellishments tend to show and even if you get a lucky escape there, few interviews progress to a job offer without someone doing homework about you.' Cliched or overused phrases, or jargon 'These make you sound robotic and suggest that you don't think creatively. 'Keep your sentence structure simple and pare details down to only important information. 'Focus on skills and duties that make you a good candidate for the job, and past roles that underline the rightness for the job or show your length of experience,' Rolf advises. Irrelevant personal information 'A resume is a professional document. It doesn't matter if you like to cook, unless you are applying for a job in a kitchen. 'Personal information is irrelevant, including photos. Don't put one in'. Rolf says to 'never embellish or exaggerate your skills or your previous titles' (stock image) Negative comments about employers or colleagues 'No one wants to work with someone who is carps, criticises or complains, so keep your information positive. Spelling and grammatical errors 'Yes, you will be judged', Rolf warns. 'Use a spelling and grammar checker and proofread your resume at least three times, preferably 24 hours after you write it so that you read what is on the page, not what is in your head. Saying 'I did this, I did that' 'Watch that every sentence doesn't begin with 'I',' Rolf says. 'And don't focus on your own goals and achievements without mentioning how they align with the company's needs. As any parent will tell you, there's times that there's no getting through to unruly children who never seem to listen - no matter what age they are. And even in the digital age, some sassy mothers and fathers resort to a good old-fashioned note to get their point across - as bananalanguage.com has collated some of the best to inspire any frustrated parents out there. One mother from the US decided to give their offspring a fright by writing 'We need to talk' on the inside of their packet of rolling papers, which no doubt had them reconsidering their smoking habits pretty quickly. Elsewhere, a mother who had run out of napkins left a note in their child's packed lunch with a blunt message explaining herself. Don't mess with the Messiah! A sarcastic dad was quick to make a joke about their child's spelling mistake with a reference to German-British composer Handel You can't eat that! A US mother tried to make up for the lack of snacks in their child's lunch, but it's likely that it didn't go down too well Trying to be helpful, an individual left a sticky note on the microwave warning that the 'handel' was broken. Noticing the spelling mistake, their sarcastic father responded with a picture of the 18th century German composer. And let's hope that another dad was joking when he left a note alongside his daughter's thrush cream to say the 'toothpaste' didn't taste very good. Holy smoke! This teenager from the US was no doubt horrified to see this warning from their mother in a packet of rolling papers Dental disaster! Hopefully the US dad who apparently used this thrush cream as toothpaste saw the funny side afterwards Hunger horror! One father used an unorthodox approach to encourage their child to eat their sandwich Loo-roll laughs! These parents definitely took a more creative approach to asking their kids to replace the toilet paper Yikes! One mother from the US showed she wasn't messing around as she left a hilariously threatening note for her children after cleaning up Lunchbox laughs! This mother from the US definitely knows that sometimes notes rom parents can be a little embarrassing Movie menace! One parent channelled Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson with a very theatrical note about tidying up More than 60 per cent of patients at the busiest hospitals have waited at least 18 weeks for routine procedures, MailOnline can reveal today. This is five times longer than at the quietest hospitals, our analysis found. Under the NHS's own rulebook, anyone referred for treatment by their GP has the legal right to be seen within that timeframe. But not a single trust is meeting the target of ensuring 92 per cent of patients are seen within 18 weeks. Nationally, hospitals in England haven't met this target in seven years. Politicians and experts today said the figures crunched into a handy search tool for MailOnline readers lay bare the 'shocking postcode lottery' which millions of patients are forced to endure. They also urged the Government to 'get a grip' on the 'scandalous' delays, with the backlog for hip replacements, cataract surgery and other elective procedures now standing at a record 7.33million. Covid-induced delays, a huge staffing crisis and a winter of devastating strikes and extraordinary pressure have fuelled the problem. Queues at the worst trust, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, saw just four in ten (39.6 per cent) of patients in under 18 weeks. Similarly low levels were seen at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, with 43.7 per cent of patients seen in the same time period. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust followed with 45.8 per cent, while the figures at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust were 46.4 per cent and 46.6 per cent respectively. The Government this week vowed to stamp out the ever-growing delays by offering thousands of waiting patients the chance to 'shop around' to be seen quicker. Eligible patients will be offered faster treatment hundreds of miles from home in a bid to beat the queues. They will be able to search details such as distance and current waiting times using the NHS app before deciding where they want to be referred. NHS stats show that, across England in March, 58.6 per cent of patients referred for treatment had been waiting fewer than 18 weeks. But that means slightly more than 3million had waited longer than the 18-week target. MailOnline analysis of trust data found queues were worst at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Only 39.6 per cent of patients on its waiting list had yet to breach the threshold. It means the other 60.4 per cent, or 200,000, had been waiting at least four months to be seen. Similarly low levels were seen at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (43.7 per cent). Other trusts that dipped below the 50 per cent mark included: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (45.8 per cent) Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (46.4 per cent) Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (46.6 per cent) University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (46.8 per cent) Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (47.3 per cent) York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (48.1 per cent) Stockport NHS Foundation Trust (48.3 per cent) Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (48.4 per cent) Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (49.1 per cent) East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (49.8 per cent) Figures showed 7.33million patients were waiting for operations such as as hip and knee replacements at the end of March. The backlog is up from 7.22million in February and marks the highest total since NHS records began in August 2007. Almost 360,000 patients have been forced to endure year-long waits for their routine treatment, often while in serious pain Before the pandemic hit in February 2020, 4.4million patients were on waiting lists. Just 1,600 of those had been stuck in the system for over a year. But the number of year-long waits has since spiralled 200-fold to almost 360,000. Hospitals in England carried out over 310,000 procedures in March. The pre-pandemic average was around 305,000 per month For comparison, the same figure stood at 87.2 per cent at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. This means just 13 per cent of patients had been waiting 18 weeks or longe for treatment. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust came second, with 80 per cent of patients treated within the four-month period. Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats' health spokesman, told MailOnline: 'These figures reveal a shocking postcode lottery. 'Under the Conservatives, far too many patients are having to wait in pain for months or even years for treatment. READ MORE: Now choose a hospital where waiting lists are shorter... Patients to be offered faster treatment hundreds of miles away in bid to slash record waiting times Advertisement 'Ministers need to get a grip on these scandalous delays. That means coming up with a proper plan to recruit the extra NHS staff we need and give patients the care they deserve.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Patients across the country are waiting far too long for the care they need. 'Steve Barclay and Rishi Sunak have no plan to fix this mess of their own making, which means the longer the Conservatives are in power, the longer patients will wait. 'Labour would cut waiting times and build an NHS that is fit for the future with one of the biggest expansions of the NHS workforce in history, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status.' Meanwhile Dennis Reed, of senior citizens' group Silver Voices, said: 'These missed targets are symptomatic of an NHS no longer delivering world class health services. 'People who are very ill and in pain are being forced to wait months for treatment which is needed urgently. 'This is bonkers health economics because delay usually means more costs in the end.' Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, said: 'Trust leaders' number one priority is delivering timely, high-quality care to patients. 'The NHS's elective recovery plan prioritised tackling the longest waits first, and trusts have made remarkable progress on this. 'They have reduced 78-week waits by over 90 per cent despite recent challenges including strikes and winter pressures.' She added: 'Trust leaders are working extremely hard to tackle waits through better waiting list management, diagnostic and outpatient transformation, the use of community diagnostic hubs and surgical hubs, as well as working with the independent sector. NHS data shows almost 200,000 hospital appointments and procedures in England were cancelled during junior doctor strikes in April. It took the total number of appointments and procedures cancelled since NHS strike action began in December to above 500,000 'It's equally important that we see progress in addressing delays in mental health and community services. 'However, to tackle these challenges, we need to plug the 124,000 staffing gaps across the NHS and ensure adequate capital funding. The Government's long-term workforce plan can't come soon enough.' MailOnline's analysis ruled out specialist NHS trusts, such as ones for cancer, children, women, and orthopaedics. The data looks at routine operations and does not include cancer patients who need to be seen quicker. Before the pandemic hit in February 2020, 4.4million patients were on waiting lists. Just 1,600 of those had been stuck in the system for over a year. But the number of year-long waits has since spiralled 200-fold to almost 360,000. Waiting lists rocketed after the response to coronavirus forced hospitals to cancel tens of thousands of routine operations and turn over entire wards to patients with the disease. Read more: Number of Brits paying for medical treatment has risen by a THIRD since Covid as NHS drafts in private firms to help clear mammoth backlog Advertisement Social distancing and other precautions also made it difficult to chip away at the backlog. Under guidelines announced by Rishi Sunak this week, patients who have waited 40 weeks or longer for treatment will be asked if they want to be referred elsewhere, with hopes to eventually extend this to patients waiting 18 weeks or longer. As well as allowing patients to switch to hospitals with shorter lists, NHS officials are using virtual wards and 'one stop shops' community diagnostic centres across the country to help tackle the backlog. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer this week unveiled his plans to reform the NHS, which includes a similar pledge to give patients more choice on where they are treated. It comes after the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) revealed that the number of Brits paying for private medical treatment has risen by more than a third since Covid began. Some 272,000 patients forked out for operations such as hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery in 2022. Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: 'There's been significant progress, with two-year waits near on eliminated and waits of more than 18 months down to under 11,000, from a high of almost 125,000. 'Staff have worked incredibly hard in some of the most difficult circumstances the NHS has ever faced.' But he said for the 18-week target to be met, 'there will need to be an increase in surgical capacity', including operating theatres, beds and staff. He added: 'Alongside a fully-funded NHS Workforce Plan, we'd like to see surgical hubs established in every area of the country, allowing patients access to operations sooner in their own areas.' An NHS spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The average wait for treatment is currently 14 weeks, down five weeks from its peak, with over one million people treated within 18 weeks last month alone and nationally the NHS is working with the most challenged trusts to ensure patients continue to see reductions in waiting times right across the country. 'In line with the NHS elective recovery plan, the priority is treating those patients who have been waiting the longest.' Meanwhile, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The NHS is making strong progress to tackle the backlog and has reduced the number of patients waiting for more than 18 months by over 91 per cent since the September 2021 peak and virtually eliminated two-year waits for treatment. 'NHS trusts are using innovative surgical hubs and surgical robotic systems to help drive up the number of operations and improve outcomes for patients. 'We have also opened 106 community diagnostic centres, with over 3.9million tests, checks and scans carried out since July 2021.' A spokesperson for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust told MailOnline: 'Colleagues and teams across the whole hospital are working tirelessly to bring all of our appointments forward where possible, with patients being seen and treated in order of clinical priority.' Recurrent dreams about your ex may seem like a nightmare. But these visions can offer an insight into how you really feel, according to a sleep expert. One reason your ex is appearing in your dreams is because you still have feelings for them, even if you don't want to get back together, says Dr Daisy Mae. Whether someone cheated, was unsupportive or a couple simply grew apart, it does not mean you stop caring for your ex overnight. Dr Mae, who worked as a doctor in the NHS for 30 years, said: 'This is the answer that most people don't want to hear. Data shows that Dreaming about ex is the 6th most popular dream in the UK (stock image) 'But often, your ex appears in your dream as you feel you're unsettled with the way things ended. 'This doesn't necessarily mean that you want to get back together, but you may just be unhappy that this person isn't in your life anymore, as a friend, or that you never had the closure that you needed. 'Once you've stopped dreaming about your ex, it's a sign you've moved on.' Dr Mae, based in Hampshire, advises people recognise the loss and mourn that their ex is no longer in their life. An ex popping up in your dream could also signal you're worried the break-up is impacting a new relationship either because you're concerned it will also end badly or that you'll get hurt again. Statisically, the odds aren't in your favour. Around four in 10 married couples in the UK and US get divorced. READ MORE: Seven foods that will help you get better sleep, according to experts Advertisement Dr Mae, working with online retailer Get Laid Beds, said: 'If your ex was in last night's dream, then you might be thinking about ways to resolve whatever happened to you that meant that you guys broke up. 'You might be worried about these situations happening in future relationships, so just have a think on what you could've done differently and think about how you can prevent it with your new lover.' She added: 'Every break-up is hard, and sadly they're something you take through life with you. 'By reflecting on your ex in your dream, you might be worried that you are going to get hurt again. 'Perhaps your new relationship is showing signs of going down the same route, which is why you're starting to dream about past ways that you've been hurt.' Dreaming about a former partner may also be a sign that you miss intimacy, rather than the person, says Dr Mae. Couples tend to spend lots of there time together. When that disappears, many miss not having another person to cuddle or make a cup of tea for. Dr Mae said: 'Dreaming about your ex doesn't mean you still love them - it can be a sign you are feeling lonely. 'Try and build close relationships with friends and family to improve your level of emotional intimacy. 'However, this doesn't necessarily mean the sex side of things, it may be emotional intimacy from a friendship group, a family member or a current partner.' An outspoken junior doctor booted out of his union after claiming we live in a 'white supremacist patriarchy' has been quietly accepted back. Dr Kayode Oki was suspended from the British Medical Association's ruling council last month, hours after sparking fury with a string of outrageous tweets including one that said white women 'scare me'. The self-professed 'troublemaker' also attacked members of his own profession for their 'willingness to prop up white supremacist rhetorics'. The union, which has brought the NHS to a standstill with a series of strikes, removed Dr Oki from his position 'with immediate effect' and revealed he was under investigation following a complaint. Officials did not confirm what prompted their decision, saying the details were confidential. Dr Kayode Oki was last month removed from the British Medical Association's ruling council after sparking fury with a string of outrageous tweets including one that said white women 'scare me' The self-professed 'troublemaker' also attacked members of his own profession for their 'willingness to prop up white supremacist rhetorics' Dr Oki, right at a junior doctors' strike rally in London on March 13, has also said he refuses to 'listen to podcasts or read books by white men', that 'racism is a rite of passage for white teens' and that 'we are existing under' a 'cis-het white patriarchy' Yet it happened shortly after Dr Oki's old tweets resurfaced and the resulting outrage, which saw one MP decry his comments as 'total nonsense'. Now, it can be revealed that he was allowed back into the fold just 11 days later after it was ruled that he had not damaged the BMA's reputation. A spokesperson said: 'The panel carefully considered the relevant information and concluded suspension was no longer required in this instance and therefore Dr Oki was able to return to BMA business with immediate effect.' Yet the full investigation into the complaint made about Dr Oki is ongoing. MailOnline understands that could see him still booted off the ruling council, if the investigation rules that tougher sanctions are needed. Tory MP Paul Bristow, a member of the Commons' Health and Social Care Committee, told MailOnline: 'How are people like this reaching positions of authority within the BMA? 'They seem be pushing proponents of critical race theory and worse. 'This man clearly shouldnt be anywhere need a senior position in the BMA. They need to get their house in order quick.' Young medics were furious at Dr Oki's original suspension, starting a petition to reverse the decision which was signed by thousands. Dr Oki, who studied at the University of Dundee, previously stood as deputy chair of the BMA medical students committee He also attacked fellow doctors for their 'willingness to prop up white supremacist rhetoric on Twitter Dr Oki claimed those from Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds 'are sometimes the biggest purporters of white supremacy' In tweets from 2021, Dr Oki said white women 'scare' him His comments have provoked fury among Conservative MPs who slammed the 'divisive' BMA for promoting Mr Oki's 'radical comments' The junior doctor has also appeared as a panellist on the British Medical Journals podcast Sharp Scratch for medical students and junior doctors Unearthed tweets of Dr Oki's also showed he once told his followers that he refused to 'listen to podcasts or read books by white men'. He also described racism as a 'rite of passage for white teens' and claimed we exist under a 'cis-het white patriarchy'. Cis-het refers to a person who is heterosexual and identifies with their birth gender. Regarding the lifting of his suspension, Dr Oki told the British Medical Journal: 'I am glad to be back.' He admitted he was 'touched by the outpouring of public support', which saw media reports of his claims branded 'racist'. Dr Oki, a foundation year one doctor, added: 'There's a lot of learning and work to be done on racial literacy in the UK and in particular the medical community.' He vowed to 'play a part' in such changes. He did not respond to MailOnline's request for comment, made through the BMA. Before his suspension, he told The Sun that he was 'disappointed' his personal views were 'taken without the context such complex subject areas deserve'. Dr Oki, who studied at the University of Dundee, tweeted days later: 'I was elected on a platform of being a "troublemaker" and happy to speak truth to power. 'These tweets got me elected. They are not new. The context of these tweets regard me standing up for other people. There is a lot of learning to do regarding race and sexism.' Scientists have developed artificial intelligence which can predict if a patients breast cancer will spread. The technology measures the immune response of lymph nodes, pea-sized lumps of tissue which help the body to fight infection. Tests on the lymph nodes of people with triple negative breast cancer - an aggressive disease which is one of the most likely to spread or return - found it could predict if it was likely to metastasize. Experts said the breakthrough could lead to more tailored treatment based on a womans individual risk profile, stopping the disease before it becomes incurable. Researchers from Kings College London developed an AI model which they tested on more than 5,000 lymph nodes, donated by 345 patients. Scientists have developed artificial intelligence which can predict if a patients breast cancer will spread (stock image) Breast cancer cells typically first spread to lymph nodes in the armpit, or axilla, which are closest to the tumour. When this happens, patients are usually given more intensive treatment to try and stop it developing elsewhere. But scientists discovered that even when the breast cancer cells had not spread to the lymph nodes, their immune responses made it possible to predict the likelihood of the cancer spreading elsewhere. They used a computer program to carry out image analysis of lymph nodes in cancer patients, which were then cross-referenced against the patient records and whether their breast cancer had spread. Dr Anita Grigoriadis, who led the research at the Breast Cancer Now Unit at Kings College London, said: Using our AI, we looked at lots of lymph node pictures and we homed in on specific patterns. What we have seen is that when we look at many lymph nodes from many patients, we saw that when we find these features, they seem to be a sign that the patient somehow has the ability to hold off developing cancers in other organs for longer than in these patients which we have not found these features in the lymph nodes. She added: 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. About 15 per cent of breast cancers are triple negative and there are currently few targeted treatments. It is more common in women who have inherited an altered BRCA gene - made famous by Angelina Jolie - as well as black women, pre-menopausal and women aged under 40. Publishing their findings in the Journal of Pathology, they hope to test the AI model in clinical trials. 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. New powers could potentially plunge Britain, the US and Australia into lockdown measures at the whim of the World Health Organization, it was claimed today. The UN agency heavily criticised for how it handled Covid is considering 300 amendments to its legally-binding rulebook. One measure floated, MPs and campaigners fear, opens the door for member states to be made to comply with any advice issued during future pandemics, such as enforcing vaccine passports and border closures. It states that countries vow to 'undertake to follow WHO's recommendations in their international public health response'. Critics today described the proposal which still has to be voted on before ever cropping up in real-world policy as an 'unprecedented land grab'. The UN health agency, led by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, could order the Government to impose quarantine rules, vaccine passports and close the borders, if a draft update to its powers is approved. A letter from six Tory MPs, led by MP for Tatton Esther McVey, calls for a vote in the Commons on the draft before it is signed Member states would also have to use 5 per cent of health budgets on preparing for another pandemic if controversial proposals are given the go ahead. Six Tory MPs have now written to the Foreign Office, demanding it blocks any new powers that could see the WHO dictate policy and budgets in the UK. Ex-Cabinet minister Esther McVey warned the powers would see the organisation, described as China's puppet by critics, move from a 'member-led advisory body to a health authority with powers of compulsion'. In response to the fears, the Government insisted it 'would never agree to anything that crosses our points of principle on sovereignty'. Molly Kingsley, founder of UsForThem, which campaigned against school closures and masks in classrooms during the pandemic, said: 'The Government have come back and said, well actually we're quite worried too. 'And they're right to be because this is a really, really unprecedented land grab by the WHO.' READ MORE: Prepare for a disease even deadlier than Covid, WHO chief warns In 2018, the WHO identified nine priority diseases (listed) that pose the biggest risk to public health. They were deemed to be most risky due to a lack of treatments or their ability to cause a pandemic Advertisement She told Talk TV: 'What the proposals do is change what is currently guidance that the WHO gives to binding recommendations. 'And that includes binding recommendations over things like lockdown, mandatory vaccination, quarantine, isolation and restrictions on travel.' Ms Kingsley added: 'You have to ask, who is the WHO to be granting themselves powers?' The powers are being considered as part of an update to the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, which sets out obligations for its 194 member states to prepare for and respond to outbreaks and other public health risks. Among the 308 suggested changes are proposals to create a 'legally binding' response to public health emergencies, The Telegraph reported. This amendment, suggested by African nations, states that the current wording of the IHR is 'weak'. The exact wording is in relation to getting the WHO to coordinate sharing drugs, tests, PPE and vaccines across the planet. Yet the wording of another amendment proposes that: 'Parties recognize WHO as the guidance and coordinating authority of international public health response during public health Emergency of International Concern and undertake to follow WHO's recommendations in their international public health response.' Ms Kingsley said this would effectively amount to making any WHO recommendations legally-binding. In parallel, the agency is also working on a pandemic preparedness treaty. WHO chiefs say both instruments will make the world safer from health threats, with another crisis feared to be lurking around the corner. Bosses of the organisation are whittling down the suggested amendments, before a vote next spring decides whether they will come into force. At a four-day meeting last month, the WHO discussed a third of the proposed amendments while being 'mindful' of each nation's 'equity, sovereignty and solidarity'. The IHR working group is set to meet again in July, October and December and will agree on an amendments package to present to the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May next year, where a majority vote among member states decides whether they should be adopted. The updated IHR would then come into force within a year for all member states, unless a country files a rejection. And a meeting about the 'complimentary' pandemic treaty will take place in July, which sets out that all nations are expected to devote no less than 5 per cent of their budget to improve their pandemic preparedness. Molly Kingsley, founder of UsForThem, which campaigned against school closures and masks in classrooms during the pandemic, said: 'The Government have come back and said, well actually we're quite worried too. 'And they're right to be because this is a really, really unprecedented land grab by the WHO' However, a letter from Tory MPs, led by Ms McVey, calls for a vote in the Commons on the draft before it is signed. The letter, seen by The Telegraph, states that there is 'growing concern' about both the IHR and the treaty. Ms McVey said: 'The plans represent a significant shift for the organisation, from a member-led advisory body to a health authority with powers of compulsion. 'This is particularly worrying when you consider the WHO's poor track record on providing consistent, clear and scientifically sound advice for managing international disease outbreaks.' The WHO repeatedly came under fire during the pandemic for its stalwart defence of China. This included parroting Beijing's dismissal that the virus could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In the earliest days of the outbreak, WHO director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus even went as far as to praise Beijing's 'commitment to transparency' which he called 'beyond words'. At around the same time, China's Communist Party began censoring public information about the spread of the virus and its potential origins, at one point suggesting that US troops could have been the initial carriers. Ms McVey's letter was co-signed by Tory MPs Sir John Redwood, David Davis, Philip Davies, Sir Christopher Chope and Danny Kruger, The Telegraph reported. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office minister Andrew Mitchell said: 'The UK is supportive of the pandemic treaty currently being negotiated by national governments, which could speed up the sharing of data on new pandemic threats so we are able to respond quickly in the event of future pandemics. 'We're clear that we would never agree to anything that crosses our points of principle on sovereignty or prevents the UK from taking decisive action against future pandemics.' A WHO spokesperson said: 'Just as with negotiation on pandemic accord this is a process led by sovereign states and the WHO secretariat is facilitating the negotiations. 'As with all international instruments, any amendments to IHR, if and when agreed by member states, would be determined by governments themselves, who would take any action while considering their own national laws and regulations.' Lung cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. It kills around 34,800 people in the UK every year and more than 120,000 in the US. Yet many people are not aware of all the symptoms. A persistent cough is just one tell-tale sign of the disease, but it can also cause lesser-known ailments such as swollen fingers and nails. Following TV legend Esther Rantzen's announcement today that she has stage four lung cancer, MailOnline reveals the warning signs to look out for. A persistent cough, breathlessness and passing out can all be symptoms of lung cancer, according to Cancer Research Dame Esther Rantzen, 82, has revealed her diagnosis with lung cancer, which she announced in January, is stage four Getting out of breath Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. But many people eventually develop a persistent cough that won't go away and feel breathless, the NHS says. Feeling out of puff while doing the things that usually wouldn't be a problem is a sign to visit the GP. This symptom may also be coupled with coughing up blood and a pain in the shoulder or chest when coughing. Lung cancer is rare in people under the age of 40 and more than four in ten people diagnosed in the UK are 75 and older, according to the NHS. It adds that smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Swollen fingers and nails Changes in the shape of your fingernails and swelling can also be a sign of lung cancer. This symptom is called clubbing. The nails can appear to 'float' instead of being attached to the nailbed and form a sharper angle with the cuticle. Clubbing can also cause the end of the finger to appear large and red and the nail to curve downwards, so it looks like the round part of an upside-down spoon. The symptoms are caused by hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA) a condition that causes inflammation in the bones and joints and affects some people with cancer. However, not everyone who has lung cancer will develop this symptom and it is more common among those with non-small cell lung cancer, says Cancer Research. Seizures or passing out Dizziness when standing up and passing out can be signs of cancer. Although rare, some lung cancer patients develop a condition alongside their cancer called paraneoplastic syndrome. It is triggered by tumours releasing hormones into the bloodstream that cause the body's organs and body systems to behave abnormally. This can lead to symptoms that don't seem related to lung cancer. These include headaches, vomiting, confusion, feeling tired, muscle weakness, seizures, passing out, dizziness and constipation. Paraneoplastic syndrome is rare but more common among those with small cell lung cancer. Drooping of one eyelid A rare type of lung cancer that grows at the top of the organ can cause one eyelid to droop, experts say. Pancoast tumours, which account for less than 5 per cent of lung cancer cases, can also cause one pupil to go small. And it may stop sweating on one side of the face, according to Cancer Research. Shoulder pain or pain that travels up and down the arm, neck and head are more common symptoms of this form of cancer, according to Cancer Research. Losing weight About 60 per cent of people with lung cancer have significant weight loss at the time of their diagnosis, Cancer Research says. This can be because lung cancer causes a loss of appetite. However, some people lose weight even when they are eating normally. This is called cachexia, where your body doesn't absorb all the fat, protein and carbohydrate from your food and burns calories faster than normal. Scientists say cancer releases chemicals into the blood that contribute to the fat and muscle loss. Millions of Brits given a free flu jab last year won't be eligible this autumn, officials have announced. Invites won't be dished out to everyone aged 50 to 64, marking a U-turn on rollouts carried out during Covid. Experts today called the move short-sighted and warned it could see the NHS overwhelmed in the event of a major flu outbreak. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses previously said the rollout, which kicks off in September, would revert back to pre-pandemic recommendations. Officials have ruled that offering jabs to the extra age group thought to cover around 12million people wouldn't be cost-effective. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that over-65s will be eligible for the vaccine from September 1 Under this year's flu vaccination drive, the blanket cut-off age will be 65. Younger Brits with underlying medical conditions that leave them at risk of getting seriously ill are still eligible, however. Pregnant women, care home residents, NHS and social care workers and any close contacts of immunocompromised people are also still on the list. Children aged two or three and primary pupils can get jabbed, while health chiefs are considering whether secondary school students should be eligible after they were offered the jab in recent rollouts. Britons ineligible for a free flu vaccine, or unable to get one, will still be able to pay for one from a pharmacy. The list of those eligible was confirmed in a letter from Dr Thomas Waite, England's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UKHSA and Steve Russell, NHS England's director for vaccinations. WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE FLU JABS THIS AUTUMN? The below groups will be eligible for a flu vaccine from 1 September 2023: those aged 65 years and over those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups pregnant women all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) those in long-stay residential care homes carers in receipt of carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person close contacts of immunocompromised individuals frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants Advertisement Since the pandemic began, flu jab rollouts have been 'ambitious and challenging' as the jab was offered to 'as many eligible people as possible', the letter stated. It said the programme will protect those most at risk of severe complications due to flu, such as older people, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions. The parameters of the flu jab rollout are guided by advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). In their statement on the rollout, the JCVI noted that it is bound by the Government's requirement for it to consider the health benefits of jabbing those aged 50 to 64 'on the basis of cost effectiveness'. It said it supported temporarily offering jabs to this cohort during the pandemic due to the risk of co-infection with Covid to alleviate pressure on the NHS. While there would be a 'clear health benefit' in vaccinating low risk 50 to 64-year-olds this year, it is unclear whether doing so would meet 'strict cost-effectiveness requirements'. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, told MailOnline: 'I think that this is very short-term thinking that will inevitably result in more people getting sick increasing the burden on the NHS. 'If anything, the Covid pandemic has reinforced the need for improved public health measures such as vaccination to protect against infectious disease. 'The current situation with limiting access to Covid jabs to those over-75 and the most clinically vulnerable raises similar concerns. 'It appears that these decisions on restricting free access to vaccinations is more about cost cutting than protecting people's health.' Professor Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, told MailOnline there are 'clear health benefits' to offering the flu jab to the over-50s. He said: 'We have a new virus continuing to circulate, generating multiple waves every year, one of which is highly likely to coincide again with the arrival of influenza later this year. 'This has obvious implications for our already struggling NHS.' Data from NHS England shows that 82.3 per cent of over-65s had a flu jab in winter 2020/21 Professor Griffin said the JCVI relied on analysis from 2012 where the cost-effectiveness for the age group was uncertain. 'I fail to see how the 2012 analysis can be seen as relevant nowadays, making the likely explanation for this decision predominantly a financial one,' he said. 'This seems to be following a worrying trend where the availability of vaccination is becoming increasingly limited.' Health chiefs decided last year to limit the flu vaccine rollout to the over-65s, despite warning that it was 'reckless' and would leave millions unprotected. But it U-turned and offered the jab to all over-50s amid fears about a 'twindemic' of Covid and flu that could cripple the health service. Professor Paul Hunter, a public health expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline said cutting off the under-65s seems 'reasonable'. He said the costs of the rollout includes possible harms, as well as the expense. And many 50 to 64-year-olds will be offered the jab, as some will have health risks, work in the NHS or be a close contact of an immunocompromised person, Professor Hunter noted. He said flu jabs don't do a 'huge amount' in controlling the spread of the virus, so the aim of the injection is to reduce the risk of severe disease in those at greater risk. 'There is always a debate about people in the borderline groups, but we have to set a point somewhere and I think the 65th birthday is a reasonable point at which to make the cut,' Professor Hunter added. Americans are being warned not to confuse 'poppers' with energy drinks when they go to gas stations. The Food and Drug Administration warned people were accidentally drinking the sexual stimulants sold in similar small and brightly-colored bottles. They said people were dying or facing hospitalization after drinking poppers, which are sold as 'solvents' and not meant for human consumption. It comes after the FDA warned people over the dangers in 2021, saying drinking poppers can lead to seizures, comas and death. The Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to confuse poppers (right) for energy shots. They say the mistake could be fatal 'Poppers' are sold at gas stations across the US and are popular in party culture and certain communities including the LGBT group. People inhale poppers which contain alkyl nitrites that are quickly absorbed through the lungs into the blood stream and pass to the brain. This can cause a rush of blood to the head, a surge in heart rate and feelings of relxation and euphoria They are often deployed as sexual stimulants or at raves where people inhale them to enhance their experience. But they are also sold in small 10 to 30-milliliter bottles with bright colors that closely resemble those for shots of energy drinks, which can lead to mistaken purchases. The FDA said in its warning: 'A single mistake can prove fatal. 'We continue to receive reports of people dying or being severely injured after consuming poppers that resemble, and [are] often mistaken for, popular energy shots.' They add: 'Drinking or inhaling poppers seriously jeopardizes your health.' Poppers are considered not to be dangerous when inhaled because people generally receive a low dose. But when they are ingested, the chemicals in them cause a sudden widening of blood vessels across the body. This can trigger a sudden drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and even death. The chemicals can also corrode parts of the digestive system causing serious damage and leading to inflammation, ulceration and damage to the lining of the stomach and small intestine. People who have previously died from drinking poppers include a 22-year-old Australian man, with his case reported in 2017. The individual drank poppers while attending the five-day Rainbow Serpent dance festival, outside Melbourne, and went into cardiac arrest before dying. In another incident reported from the UK in 2020, a woman died the same day that she drank an entire bottle of a popper. The FDA does not release estimates for how many people die after drinking poppers every year in the US. Poppers are not regulated in the US because they are sold as 'cleaners' or 'solvents' with labels indicating they are not intended for human consumption. They have never been approved for consumption by humans. Dr Judy McMeekin, a pharmacist at the FDA, said in 2021: 'Make no mistake, ingesting or inhaling poppers seriously jeopardizes your health. 'These chemicals can be caustic and damage the skin or other tissues they come in contact with, cause difficulty breathing, extreme drops in blood pressure, decreases in blood oxygen levels, seizures, heart arrhythmia, coma, and death. Do not ingest or inhale under any circumstances.' Have you gone out to eat in a restaurant anywhere in the US over the past year and been disappointed by slow service or scatterbrained staff? There is a one in 12 chance your server was stoned on the job, figures suggest. A recent analysis of over six million urine tests from Quest Diagnostics, the world's largest network of diagnostic labs, showed that in 2022 over eight percent of restaurant staff use cannabis either in their free time or during work. The rate of urine tests among food service workers coming back positive for marijuana has more than doubled since 2018 - amid a wave of legalizations of the drug. The food service industry led the way in workers who use marijuana with a 43 percent increase in positivity, having risen from about 5 percent in 2018 to seven percent in 2022 There has been a steady upward slope across all major industries, most drastically among food service and hospitality workers, followed by retail workers, drivers and warehouse workers, realtors, and wholesale traders The above shows cannabis use across American states. Twenty-one states and DC have legalized it for recreational use in addition to medicinal use, while nearly all now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes. The rapidly rising rates of marijuana use across all industries from retail to warehousing reflect growing society-wide acceptance of the drug, which is now legal for recreational use in 21 states and the District of Columbia and nearly all now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes. The marked increase in cannabis use among restaurant workers from 2018 tracks with that years wave of measures to loosen prohibition on the drug. For example, in 2018, Vermont became the first state in the nation to enact legalization by an act of lawmakers instead of through a ballot initiative and was signed by a Republican governor. Also in 2018, voters in three deep red states Missouri, Oklahoma, and Utah overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis via ballot measures while at the same time electing Republicans to federal office or nominating conservative candidates for statewide office. While these and subsequent legislative moves have represented major wins for marijuana legalization activists, many everyday Americans are less than thrilled about their impacts on the service industry. Steve Cuozzo, the New York Posts restaurant critic, said: Am I the only one who thinks most NYC service workers are stoned? Starbucks, fast food, Duane Reade, waiters etc? Cant make change, lose track of what theyre doing? Another frustrated netizen said: I find it funny most of time, but I just had a restaurant server lose my credit card. Yep, gone never to be seen again. My best guess is that it went into the trash by accident. Rates at which people use marijuana have spiked 54 percent across industries over the past five years, from a rate of 2.8 percent of workers testing positive for the drug in 2018 to 4.3 percent in 2022, the largest marijuana positivity rate since 1997. Accommodation and Food Services led the way with a 43 percent increase in positivity, having risen from about 5 percent in 2018 to seven percent in 2022. The states where marijuana is legal for recreational use saw the steepest increases in test positivity rates. In states with legal recreational weed, positivity rates increased nearly 12 percent from 2021 to 2022. In states where the drug is only legal for medical purposes, the increase was slighter at about eight percent. The latest positivity data was gleaned from more than 6.3 million urine tests conducted in the workforce and analyzed by Quest Diagnostics. After the food service industry, the retail industry had the largest share of workers using marijuana. Keith Ward, General Manager and Vice President for Employer Solutions at Quest Diagnostics said: This historic rise seems to correspond with sharp increases in positivity for marijuana in both pre-employment and post-accident drug tests, suggesting that changing societal attitudes about marijuana may be impacting workplace behaviors and putting colleagues at risk. Still, these staggering increases do not necessarily mean the server is high on the job, just that they use the drug in general. THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, is fat-soluble, meaning it binds to fat molecules in the body which means it can linger for days or even weeks, depending on the frequency of use. So a person who used the drug on a Saturday could test positive on Tuesday. But the steady upward slope across all major industries, which has coincided with a wave of legalization efforts over the past decade, suggests that more people are using the drug in general which could include the workplace. And with rising overall use increasing by the year Many people may choose to smoke, vape, or take an edible before work to boost their mood or creativity, though there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that the drug offers no creative benefit. Health officials in Maine reported the first death this year of an untreatable tick-borne illness, putting Americans on alert as outdoor warm-weather activities kick off. Robert J. Weymouth, a 58-year-old from Topsham, Maine passed away due to complications from the Powassan virus, which caused severe neurological problems, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is extremely rare with about 25 cases reported each year since 2015, but it is also untreatable and can lead to severe health problems including infection of the brain, called encephalitis, or of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, known as meningitis. Many people who become infected with the virus do not develop symptoms, but those that do typically notice them up to a month after being bitten by an infected tick, which could include flu-like symptoms, seizures, brain swelling, and, in up to 15 percent of cases, death. Weymouth's death marks the third Powassan death in Maine since 2015, and, as winters become warmer and shorter, the world becomes a more hospitable place for disease-causing ticks. Robert Weymouth passed away after about two weeks in the hospital. His medical team only found out too late that swelling in his brain was caused by the Powassan virus The tick that is the primary spreader of Powassan is Ixodes scapularis, also known as the black-legged tick or deer tick as it appears on deer In the US, Powassan disease has mainly been found in northeastern states and the Great Lakes region Maine officials are warning residents to be wary of ticks when they go outdoors, especially in wooded, leafy, and shrubby areas. Deer ticks, which carry the Powassan virus thrive in temperatures above 45F and in areas with at least 85-percent humidity. Shorter winters are expected to extend the period when ticks are active each year, increasing the time that humans could be exposed to diseases such as Powassan and Lyme. Powassan virus typically kills about one in 10 people who get infected, but the virus can be far more dangerous in seniors and people with weak immune systems. Powassan virus is rarely diagnosed just a few dozen cases are detected each year because the majority of people who contract the virus are asymptomatic. Annemarie Weymouth, Roberts widow, told a local Maine news affiliate that her husband was immunocompromised and had rheumatoid arthritis. He did not go to the hospital initially for Powassan symptoms. Mr Weymouth went to Maine Medical Center when he noticed swelling in his arm as well as a knee problem that required surgery. But then, he lost all feeling on the right side of his body. An MRI scan soon after revealed that Mr Weymouth had severe brain swelling, indicating that the virus had reached an advanced stage. A spinal tap confirmed that the culprit was the tick-borne virus. Because many people infected with Powassan virus will exhibit no symptoms, oftentimes doctors are not able to zero in on that as a possible diagnosis until they have conducted comprehensive blood or spinal fluid tests. Mr Weymouths widow said she was frustrated at how little the doctors around her husband seemed to know about the illness. He was in the hospital for weeks before the medical team determined he had the virus. By the time they had determined Mr Weymouth was positive for Powassan, it was too late. His widow said: Even if they had known from day one that it was Powassan, there is no known treatment for that. She added: I think if we knew that this disease was out there, we would have been more diligent. We do tick checks, but we would have used more spray and been extra careful. Maps showing the spread of Powassan virus in northeastern America The tick that is the primary spreader of Powassan is Ixodes scapularis, also known as the black-legged tick or deer tick as it appears on deer. The hard-bodied black-legged tick lives in the eastern and northern Midwest of the US as well as in southeastern Canada, and is also a carrier for Lyme disease. The ticks are most common in wooded areas, of which Maine has many. Currently, there are no vaccines or medicines against the disease, with treatment instead focusing on easing symptoms, including trouble breathing and swelling of the brain. There are two types of Powassan virus: lineage 1 and lineage 2. Only lineage 2 is carried by the black-legged tick. Cases generally crop up when ticks are most active in the late spring, early summer and mid-fall, mainly in northeastern states and the Great Lakes region. Most of us have a cupboard or attic crammed with stuff that we should have sorted out long ago. Jarvis Cocker, who founded the band Pulp, has one MUST READS GOOD POP BAD POP by Jarvis Cocker (Vintage 12.99, 368pp) Most of us have a cupboard or attic crammed with stuff that we should have sorted out long ago. Jarvis Cocker, who founded the band Pulp, has one: a cramped loft filled with a jumble of objects, some dating back to childhood. Now the day of reckoning has come, and he has to clear it out. Buried among the junk is a kind of life story but how to decide what to keep and what to throw out (or 'cob', as they say in Sheffield, where Cocker grew up)? There is only one way for him to decide: look at every single thing. Beginning with a 20-year-old stick of chewing-gum and ending with a letter offering him a place at St Martin's School of Art in London, this evocative memoir weaves the memories triggered by random objects into a brilliantly original meditation on the making of a musician. Gary Thorn is as ordinary a bloke as you could hope to meet THE SATSUMA COMPLEX by Bob Mortimer (Gallery 8.99, 320pp) Gary Thorn is as ordinary a bloke as you could hope to meet. Thirty, medium height, he lives in a flat in London, and works as a legal assistant at a solicitors five minutes walk from his home. As he puts it, 'To describe me as anonymous would be unfair, but to notice me other than in passing would be a rarity.' One night, he goes to the pub with his friend Brendan. After he leaves, Gary chats to a pretty, woman who is reading a novel called The Satsuma Complex. The following morning, when the police arrive at his flat with the news that Brendan is dead, Gary's ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn. Fans of Mortimer's whimsical humour will delight in this gloriously eccentric tale of murder, corruption, a talking squirrel and the quest for lost love. In his home town of Southend in Essex, Mitchelson's father was something of a celebrity DON'T ASK ME ABOUT MY DAD by Tom Mitchelson (HarperCollins 8.99, 304pp) In his home town of Southend in Essex, Mitchelson's father was something of a celebrity. A journalist on the local radio station, he even turned up as a guest of honour at an event at his son's school. But at home, it was a different story. Mitchelson's parents married when his mother fell pregnant. His father began coming home late and drunk; bills went unpaid, and brutal violence began. As a teen, Tom developed a protective carapace: watchful, jokey, charming. He found a mentor in his teacher but he was not mentoring him, he was grooming him. This stark memoir of a child hurt by those who should have kept him safe ends on a redemptive note: in telling the secrets of the past, Tom finds freedom. After more than two decades, the immensely talented Billingham has come up with a new detective hero to sit alongside DI Tom Thorne, the star of his 18 best-sellers that began in 2001 CRIME THE LAST DANCE by Mark Billingham (Sphere 22, 400pp) After more than two decades, the immensely talented Billingham has come up with a new detective hero to sit alongside DI Tom Thorne, the star of his 18 best-sellers that began in 2001. DI Declan Miller is eccentric, to say the least, a man who loves ballroom dancing and keeps two pet rats named Fred and Ginger at his Blackpool home. But Miller is also coping with intense grief, as his detective wife has been murdered recently. So he returns to work to ease the pain and finds himself investigating the case of two men, apparently unconnected, killed in adjoining hotel rooms in a local seaside hotel. Who could have done it and why? Teamed up with new arrival DS Sara Xiu, Miller discovers that one is the infamous son of a local gangster. Could his death be part of a gang feud? And so begins a superb story packed with Millers iconoclastic wit and disrespect for authority. It is an unmitigated joy from the very first page to last and reminds the world just why Billingham is one of Britains greatest crime writers. This is the third outing for Ramans cerebral retired Indian detective Harith Athreya, and it proves just what a fascinating character he has become PRAYING MANTIS by R. V. Raman (Pushkin Vertigo 9.99, 304pp) This is the third outing for Ramans cerebral retired Indian detective Harith Athreya, and it proves just what a fascinating character he has become. Languid, intuitive and never aggressive, Athreya is born of the golden age of crime fiction, all charm and good temper, though working in modern day India. Here he is invited to a boutique hotel founded in a castle in the foothills of the Himalayas and owned by an old police colleague, who fears there is a conspiracy afoot among the guests. Then bloody handprints start to appear on the hotel walls, shortly before a young guest falls to her death from the ramparts. On the surface it is a classic locked-room mystery, but one executed with such grace and style that it never seems old-fashioned or forced. Athreya is a detective to cherish. In the wake of her grisly but compelling debut, The Echo Man, last year, Holland returns with another serial killer thriller that makes the blood run cold THE TWENTY by Sam Holland (HarperCollins 16.99, 464pp) In the wake of her grisly but compelling debut, The Echo Man, last year, Holland returns with another serial killer thriller that makes the blood run cold. Not for the faint-hearted, it is nevertheless riveting reading with an overlap to the authors debut, in that the detectives involved know each other, and know the toll this kind of gruesome case can take. It opens with the discovery of five murder victims on a construction site near the river, each given a number in Roman numerals, which slowly reveals the killer is counting down his murder victims intent on reaching a total of 20 in all. DCI Adam Bishop has never seen anything like it. But then his ex-wife, Dr Romilly Cole, turns up to remind of him of a case that had a traumatic effect on her in the past which involved her serial killer father. Could they be connected, and if so, how? Packed with suspense, it is a story that horrifies and hypnotises at the same time. A Bentley which competed at the first ever 24 Hours of Le Mans race a century ago has sold for an astonishing 3million. The Bentley 3 Litre was driven by First World War veteran Captain John Duff and Bentley test driver Frank Clement at the race in the town of the same name in France in 1923, where it finished fourth. The car set what was then a lap record of 66.69mph, even though it only had rear brakes and had run low on fuel after stones punctured the tank. It sparked off the British firm's early streak of success in the intense competition, which it one five times out of eight starts in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. The 1923 Bentley, named Chassis 141, went on to be used by another owner, an upper-class woman, to transport her St Bernard dogs to shows in the late 1940s. The car was then forgotten and did not resurface again until the 1980s, when the owner of the Donington Car Museum, Tom Wheatcroft, received a call from a 97-year-old lady offering him two old cars in her Leicestershire barn, a Bentley and a Voisin. A Bentley which competed at the first ever 24 Hours of Le Mans race a century ago has sold for an astonishing 3million The Bentley 3 Litre was driven by First World War veteran Captain John Duff and Bentley test driver Frank Clement at the race in the town of the same name in France in 1923, where it finished fourth. Above: The Bentley is seen during the race He bought both with no idea of the Bentley's history, until it was identified by a motoring journalist as being the long lost one which had raced at Le Mans. A deal was eventually reached with Australian collector Peter Briggs, whose Brabham Formula 1 car was on loan to the Donington Museum. The Brabham stayed at Donington and the Bentley headed to Australia to be restored and eventually become the centrepiece of Briggs' York Motor Museum near Perth. Its recent return to Britain brings its history full circle. The car has been bought by a British motoring enthusiast, after the sale was managed by Kidston SA, a company founded by the nephew of racing driver Glen Kidston, who won Le Mans 24 hours in 1930. Chassis 141 represents the beginning of the Bentley legend and the start of the exploits of the so-called 'Bentley Boys' - the group of wealthy motorists who burnished the fledgling firm's reputation. As well as Captain Duff, Clement and Kidston they included Sir Tim Birkin and Dr Dudley Benjafield. Bentley founder Walter Owen Bentley said of them: 'The public liked to imagine them living in Mayfair flats. 'Drinking Champagne in nightclubs, playing the horses and the Stock Exchange, and beating furiously around the racing tracks at the weekend. 'Of several of them, this was not such an inaccurate picture.' The car was forgotten for decades and did not resurface again until the 1980s, when the owner of the Donington Car Museum, Tom Wheatcroft, received a call from a 97-year-old lady offering him two old cars in her Leicestershire barn, a Bentley and a Voisin. Above: The Bentley before it was restored Chassis 141 represents the beginning of the Bentley legend and the start of the exploits of the so-called 'Bentley Boys'. Above: The interior of the car The car boasts a beautifully restored 3-litre engine and has just been sold for 3million Commenting on the sale, Simon Kidston, director of Kidston SA, said: 'This Bentley isn't just an old car, it's a turning point in motor racing history and a cornerstone of the Bentley legend The car is competing at the Le Mans 100th anniversary race for vintage cars next month The beautiful car now has a proud new owner and is set to compete again later this year Chassis 141 was initially driven by Captain Duff at the Double 12 Hour Record at Brooklands, covering 2,082 miles at 86.79mph and setting 38 international records. Twenty-four-hour racing was banned at the circuit so locals could sleep, but there was no such impediment in France. Although WO Bentley thought the idea of the car competing at Le Mans was crazy, he Captain Duff go ahead and let factory test driver Clement go with him. The year after finishing fourth, the pair won the race. And then from 1927 to 1930 Bentley won Le Mans four times in succession. The victories mark one of the most dominant runs in the history of the race. The victories did much for Bentley's popularity too. It sold 700 vehicles in two years after the 1924 victory. This was just three years on from when the company had delivered its first ever car. Before being bought by the lady owner who used it to ferry her dogs around, Chassis 141 was used as a tow vehicle and then its rear bodywork was altered to what is known as a shooting brake by an undertaker. Chassis 141 is seen painted with the number 8 as it competes at Le Mans in 1923 Captain Duff is seen tending to the engine on day of 24 hours of Le Mans in 1924 Commenting on the sale, Simon Kidston, director of Kidston SA, said: 'This week the most famous motor race in the world celebrates its 100th birthday and its pioneering early competitors remain as intriguing as ever. 'This Bentley isn't just an old car, it's a turning point in motor racing history and a cornerstone of the Bentley legend. 'And personally, having inherited a family passion for cars which was accelerated by my 'Bentley Boy' uncle, helping to bring this Bentley home feels really satisfying. 'It won't be leading a quiet life: it'll be lining up on the grid of the Le Mans 100th anniversary race for vintage cars next month. 'I hope its original drivers will be looking down and smiling.' Revolution Beauty's co-founder has stepped down as the troubled online retailer unveiled results 'significantly below' forecasts after an auditing probe found it had cooked the books. Tom Allsworth, who was found to have made undisclosed loans, has resigned with immediate effect from his position as non-executive chairman and been replaced by the company's senior non-executive director, Derek Zissman. The board change was announced alongside the company's results for the year to the end of February 2022, which were severely delayed after auditor BDO flagged 'serious concerns' with its accounts. Revolution Beauty overstated profit by around 23m and revenues by 9.6m, its results show The results show Revolution Beauty overstated profit by around 23million and revenues by 9.6million. The group, whose shares remain suspended, made an adjusted loss before 'nasties' (Ebitda) of around 800,000, instead of the 22million profit it forecast before the account irregularities were unveiled. Revenues rose by 17 per cent to 184.6million, though they're below the 194milion previously reported by the group. Zissman told shareholders: 'Whilst these results are significantly below that forecast by the previous management team to the market, they nevertheless reflect a robust business with a strong brand, loyal following, and significant potential in terms of both sales and profitability.' He now expects the company to return to 'normalised trading' and were making 'significant' progress to resolve the issues raised in the investigation. 'We continue to take action to ensure we have the right processes and governance in place across our business,' he added. The probe launched in September, which is now closed, had identified 'a number of serious issues' with the running of the business under previous management. These include loans from former chief executive Adam Minto and Tom Allsworth, founder of Medichem - which was acquired by Revolution Beauty in 2021 - to an employee and some distributors. None of these loans, worth around 1million in total, had been disclosed to the board. Chief executive, Bob Holt, said: 'Integrity and honesty in every aspect of our business is paramount. 'This has been the focus of the new leadership team as we reset internal controls and processes to ensure that we are in a position to achieve consistent operational excellence at a global scale, and in line with the standards of a UK plc.' Revolution Beauty said it would publish a current trading update alongside its interim results within the next couple of weeks and its 2023 results by the end of August. It will also update investors about its shares, which have been suspended since September last year. A couple claim they have been given lifetime bans by Ryanair after they became embroiled in an extraordinary row with a stewardess who bumped into them before refusing to apologise. Carl Davey and fiancee Anna-Leena Nordman say they have been left 'humiliated, upset and angry' at being kicked off the Stansted airport to Helsinki flight on May 9. The couple were travelling to Finland for Ms Nordman to undergo a cancer scan but as they walked through the airport to board the plane they say a stewardess in uniform bumped into her, causing her to cry out in pain, then refused to apologise. Mr Davey, 49, followed and asked the stewardess for her name so he could complain but claims she covered the badge and walked off, refusing to identify herself. He admits he then followed and swore at the flight attendant but assumed things were at an end when she walked off. But when they boarded the plane they discovered the stewardess was on the same flight and the couple were ordered out of their seats and off the plane by the captain. Carl Davey and fiancee Anna-Leena Nordman say they have been left 'humiliated, upset and angry' at being kicked off the Stansted airport to Helsinki flight on May 9 Ryanair refutes the couple's claims and say they were removed from the flight due to their aggressive behaviour towards the crew on board The couple have been in a long distance relationship for 18 months during which time they have taken 20 Ryanair flights between them at a cost of around 2,000. Mr Davey said: 'We were treated like criminals. It left us humiliated, upset and angry that they treat their customers this way. 'The stupid thing is all we wanted was an apology, British people are renowned for apologising even if they don't think they're in the wrong but she was so dismissive she just said she hadn't meant to and walked off. 'I know swearing was the wrong thing to do but we spoke to the stewardess when we boarded and she said she was fine for us to fly. 'When they told us we were getting kicked off I went to the front of the plane and tried to speak to the captain but they just said they would call the police if we didn't get off now.' To make matters worse, the pair claim they were hit with lifetime bans but Ryanair denies this. Mr Davey's ban allegedly relates to swearing while Ms Nordman, 52, claims she was told she was banned for making sexually inappropriate remarks to a member of airport staff, something the couple strongly deny. Mr Davey added: 'We were stressed already because my partner needed this cancer scan the next day but I know swearing was wrong so if they want to ban me fine, I wouldn't want to fly with Ryanair again anyway. 'But my partner did nothing other than be upset about the whole incident - the allegation she made sexual comments to staff is such a blatant lie, it's just so insulting. 'I have complained about bad service from Ryanair before so it feels like they are using that against me.' To ensure they made the appointment the couple spent another 600 on flights with another airline on top of the 200 they already spent and flew out from Heathrow later that day. Footage emerged in September of a separate incident which led to the removal of a 'rude' and 'intoxicated' man being removed from a Ryanair flight from Girona to Bournemouth Mr Davey runs an online record shop from his home in Exmouth, Devon, while his wife-to-be, lives in Helsinki but plans to move to the UK when they marry next year. They have been in a long distance relationship for 18 months during which time they have taken 20 Ryanair flights between them at a cost of around 2,000. The couple claim that they attempted to book another flight with the budget airline before being told by officials they would not be allowed to board it, leading them to believe they had been banned for life. However, Ryanair refutes the couple's claims, saying in a statement: 'Mr Davey and Ms Nordman are not "banned for life from Ryanair". These passengers were offloaded from this flight from Stansted to Helsinki (9 May) due to their aggressive behaviour towards the crew on board.' In September footage emerged of separate incident of a 'rude' and 'intoxicated' man being removed from a Ryanair flight from Girona to Bournemouth by police after insulting the cabin crew. The passenger apparently repeatedly told a female flight attendant to 'f*** off' after she refused to serve him more alcohol. Poachers beware! The country is now equipped with a facility that can distinguish between poached game and goat meat using a sample of its fur or meat. On top of this, it will be able to identify the specific animal. And no more months of waiting for forensic results from neighbouring South Africa (SA) at great expense. Excellent! All thanks to the new animal laboratory that is set to use DNA forensics to enhance investigations and submission of evidence to court for poaching related cases among other animal related issues. The animal laboratory that was launched on Wednesday marks yet another significant milestone for the country, coming soon after the launch of the countrys oxygen manufacturing plants a month ago. These plants added to a health forensic laboratory that was set up in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has empowered our health system to conduct preliminary tests that previously had to join the queue in neighbouring SA that was serving the region and take forever to get back. Incidentally, on the same day the Finance Minister, Neil Rijkenberg, was launching another technological step forward for the country with the electronic advance ruling tool, which will assist import and export traders submit requests and receive rulings on product origin, classification and valuation, prior to their movement. This is another huge development that has the potential to save costs and improve trade across borders, in addition to enhancing the ease of doing business in the country. We are also told we are the first in Africa to launch this online facility. Kudos to government. Back to the animal lab. The project was initiated in April 2022 by Dr Sara Padidar, a Molecular Biologist from the Department of Biological Sciences at UNESWA. They highlighted that the EWILD Laboratory had cutting edge molecular capacity that would be critical to UNESWA, wildlife law enforcers and the general public.The EWILD Laboratory, which was established under the leadership of Professor Thembalilahlwa Mahlaba, is housed at the Department of Biological Sciences at UNESWA. Contribution We must thank USAID for their E2.7 million contribution, as well as AllOut Africa Foundation, towards the EWILD laboratory. The investment couldnt have come sooner, given the growing wildlife sector in the country ,as well as the plans to merge the big five game reserves project to boost tourism. The country is also highly susceptible to stock theft with thousands of livestock farmers falling prey to cattle rustlers. However, convictions dont match the high rate of this crime. We look forward to the laboratory playing a significant role in this regard, applying standard international best practices. The services will be extended to other sectors such as ecological research and livestock management, which is good. Dr Padidar explained that this level of expert molecular identification was previously unavailable in Eswatini and had to be done in neighbouring SA, sometimes taking up to six months to get the results. Also, she said this had financial implications. The statistics involving wildlife crime make for depressing reading. Information availed at the launch by EWILD reveal that between 2017 and 2019 over 230 incidents of wildlife crime were reported and 20 species were affected. This has to stop. While doing some reading on the subject of animal DNA, I came across a research paper titled Poaching forensics: Animal victims in the courtrooms by Cindy Harper of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa, which cited cases involving this technology that underscore its significance. Role She highlighted how animal hair, particularly that of domestic pets, has also played a critical role in the conviction of offenders in human criminal cases due to the ease with which these hairs adhere to clothing and can be transferred. She cited one case of how the hair of a domestic cat named Snowball found on a suspects jacket linked him to a victim in a homicide case in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Harper further emphasises the point that the success of forensic scientists developing systems to support prosecution and investigation of wildlife and animal crime must, in turn, be supported by legislators developing frameworks and effective legal tools with which to enforce laws and improve prosecution. Training of prosecutors and magistrates in wildlife forensic techniques and their application to prosecuting wildlife crime, are essential to ensure that results are effectively and correctly introduced into court proceedings and well understood. In some instances, dedicated courts and prosecutors are required to deal with increased poaching and case loads. The rate of detection of trafficked animal products remains low compared to the numbers of animals being poached, and the sentences of perpetrators along the value chain, if convicted, have been relatively light in many jurisdictions, she recommends.With the launch of the EWILD animal lab, Eswatini is surely demonstrating a commitment to playing a part to curbing this global challenge. Now it is up to the rest of us to ensure this milestone makes a positive impact for this sector. Cash App founder Bob Lee's accused killer appeared in court on Wednesday for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing to decide whether the case will go to trial. During the hearing, nine new surveillance images were released showing suspected killer Nima Momeni, 38, and Lee together shortly before the tech titan was stabbed to death in San Francisco. The new images put together the timeline of events leading up to Lee's alleged murder last month. They show the father-of-two and his alleged killer at the Millennium Tower, where Momeni's 37-year-old sister Khazar Elyassnia, lives. Lee and Elyassnia, who is married to a prominent local plastic surgeon, were reportedly having an affair and had been partying together the night of his murder. The first image in the timeline, obtained by NBC Bay Area, shows Lee, 42, arriving at Elyassnia's building - entering the lobby at at 12:39am. New images released on Wednesday show the timeline of events leading to Cash App founder Bob Lee's alleged murder last month Lee, 42, is seen arriving at Elyassnia's building, the Millennium Tower, at 12:39am Lee and murder suspect Nima Momemi are seen inside an elevator in the building about an hour and a half later after Lee arrived at the Millennium Tower The pair are then seen exiting the building and approaching a white BMW convertible Lee and Momeni are then seen getting into the car at 2:00am. Lee called 911 at 2:30am A second image shows Lee and Momemi inside an elevator in the building about an hour and a half later, before a third image depicts the pair exiting the elevator in the tower's garage and walking to a white BMW convertible. Lee and Momeni are then seen getting into the car in a fourth surveillance image. In the next surveillance image, Lee appears alone walking up main street, near where police say the murder happened. The final image shows Lee near a white Toyota Sedan he had reportedly tried to flag down before he collapsed. During Wednesday's court appearance, Momemi disagreed with his own attorney Paula Canny about the date for his preliminary hearing, with the suspect wanting the earliest possible date, as reported by NBC Bay Area journalist Sergio Quintana. Prosecutors are expected to release new details of their investigation during the preliminary hearing, set for May 30, when a judge will decide if there is enough evidence for the murder case to go to trial. Momemi's lawyer revealed in court last week that he is not a U.S. citizen and was at risk of being deported back to Iran. Lee's stabbing death on April 4 was originally thought to have been the result of random violence in the crime-ridden city of San Francisco. But as a web of connections between Lee, Momemi, his sister and alleged attendance at underground sex and drug parties emerged, other theories of the crime have been floated. In the next surveillance image released by prosecutors, Lee appears alone walking up main street, near where police say the murder happened The last photo shows Lee near a white Toyota Sedan, which he had reportedly tried to flag down Accused killer Momeni was in court on Wednesday for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing Lee, a father-of-two,had moved from San Francisco to Miami but was visiting the Bay Area when he was killed Lee and Momeni's sister Khazar Elyassnia had reportedly been partying together the night of his murder. She is pictured with her husband Dr Dino Elyassnia Nima Momeni (left) vowed to 'came down way hard' on Lee hours before the stabbing. Prosecutors say it was a planned attack in which he used a kitchen knife to stab Lee in the heart Prosecutors believe Momeni stabbed Lee in the heart after vowing to 'come down hard on him' over his relationship with his married sister, with whom the Cash App founder exchanged intimate text messages. Hours before his murder, Momeni had allegedly grilled Lee about his relationship with Elyassnia, who is married to Dr Dino Elyassnia. According to prosecutors, he demanded to know whether she'd been 'doing drugs' or anything 'inappropriate' while spending time with Lee. According to a witness, Lee told Momeni that nothing inappropriate had happened. Authorities say Momeni and Lee met up again later that night at Elyassnia's luxury apartment in Millennium Tower. Momeni then allegedly took Lee to a shady downtown street, where he stabbed him three times including once in the heart, prosecutors say. Momemi then allegedly left Lee to bleed out in the middle of the street. A coroner's report reveals in graphic detail how Lee was found slumped outside an apartment block with no pulse before paramedics rushed him to hospital, where knife wounds were found on his heart and a lung. The autopsy also revealed traces of cocaethylene, which is produced when alcohol and cocaine are consumed, and the allergy medication antihistamine levocetirizine. An unnamed witness who said he'd been friends with Lee for ten years told police he believed Lee and Elyassnia were having an intimate relationship and that her marriage might have been in 'jeopardy.' The glamorous sister of Lee's accused killer, who allegedly attended drug-fueled sex parties with him, is seen arriving to court to support her brother for his arraignment Lee was seen on surveillance footage near the apartment building clutching his wound Police sources say that on the day of his murder, Lee and Elyassnia visited the home of a man who has a criminal record for dealing drugs. It's unclear if they purchased any from him that day. A previously-filed court motion says the trio were 'drinking' at his home. The apparent connection to drugs ties into an earlier claim that Lee argued with Momeni about Khazar hours before the stabbing. In a text message to Lee earlier in the day, she had gushed: 'Just wanted to make sure your doing OK because I know Nima came wayyy down hard on you and thank you for being such a classy man handling it with class. 'Love you Selfish pr***s.' Elyassnia has refused to co-operate with investigators, according to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. In a court filing last week, Momeni's defense attorney Paula Canny said the narrative created by law enforcement against her client was built on faulty foundations and does not prove he killed Lee in the early hours. According to the San Francisco Standard, Canny argues police spent eight days after the killing creating a compilation video made up of fuzzy surveillance footage. She said the case relies too heavily on this footage and that it is too blurry to ID either Momeni or Lee. Canny previously suggested police had arrested he wrong person. 'Clearly they seem to think they have enough to make an arrest, but I haven't seen it. 'So, until I see it and analyze it, I'm gonna say they've made a mistake. There isn't enough [to hold him]. 'My client is a super nice person, his family loves him and supports him.' 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 has been sentenced 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. 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 Pelosi's 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'. Richard 'Bigo' Barnett provided one the most memorable images of the Jan 6. riot, when he was photographed in Nancy Pelosi's office with his feet on her desk Pictured: Richard Barnettarrives at federal court in Washington, on January 10, 2023 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 day for everyone, not just law enforcement,' he said. He has vowed to appeal his conviction. He testified at the trial that he was swept along with the crowd into the Capitol, and was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Pelosi's office and encountered two news photographers. Cooper, though, said he did not believe Barnett played such a passive role. READ MORE: Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes jailed for 18 years over Capitol riot Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the January 6 riots Advertisement It was established at the 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 Pelosi's 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, that's 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. Cooper's 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. Pictured: Barnett arriving for his trial earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty on all eight charges, leaving him facing up to 20 years in prison Attorneys for Barnett (left) say he wrote 'biatch' not 'b****h' in a note left on Pelosi's desk (right) 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. They also say he yelled to officers: 'Take a look around. We are going to take our Capitol back.' 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. Smith wrote: 'This case has already turned Morss's life upside down. The government's suggestion that these heavy blows are insufficient to deter the one-time, situational crimes Morss committed is nonsense.' An Australian soldier turned nursing home boss has been called out after sending a brutal message to her aged care staff about the untidy state of the facility. Eva Ballai, director of nursing at Fairfield Aged Care Home in western Sydney, wrote a blistering note to staff members on Thursday. The message scolded the workers for the 'awfully dirty' communal kitchen, referenced their mothers and took a dig at the fact many of the workers had come from overseas claiming the standard of cleanliness was much higher in Australia. 'Cockroaches are crawling everywhere on the floor and in the sink and they attract food poisoning and other outbreaks,' Ms Ballai wrote. 'You MUST clean up after yourself because YOUR MOTHER DOES NOT WORK HERE! Eva Ballai (pictured), director of nursing at Fairfield Aged Care Home in western Sydney, berated staff members for not keeping their kitchen clean, telling them: 'YOUR MOTHER DOES NOT WORK HERE!' The message sent to Fairfield Aged Care Home staff by Eva Ballai, the director of nursing (DON), which was leaked to Daily Mail Australia 'The standard of cleanliness is higher in Australia than anywhere else, so because you live in Australia now and NOT overseas so you MUST adhere to this standard.' It is believed that the majority of staff members are Nepalese. Some of the 50-odd employees at the nursing home are understood to be appalled at the brutal message. One, who asked to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Ballai regularly spoke to staff in that manner. 'I found it very disturbing,' they said. 'The letters in bold are cruel and condescending.' 'We live in a multicultural country and comments like that should not be tolerated.' Poll Do you think the nursing home boss went too far with the text? Yes - it was very rude No - the staff should clean up Do you think the nursing home boss went too far with the text? Yes - it was very rude 125 votes No - the staff should clean up 1139 votes Now share your opinion The employee added: 'Staff work so hard there and she doesn't show any respect. We don't appreciate it.' Ms Ballai, who has worked there for around four years, is also alleged to have banned staff from speaking in their own language in the kitchen during their breaks. Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Ballai for comment. Fairfield Aged Care Home is run by Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group, which owns and operates 33 care homes across Western Australia and New South Wales. A spokesperson for Hall & Prior admitted the text message sent to all staff today at Fairfield Aged Care Home did not meet the usual standard of the organisation's communications. 'We apologise for this message unreservedly and any offence it may have caused,' the statement said. 'We take this matter very seriously and are immediately undertaking a thorough review.' Ms Ballai has served served as a Commissioned Nursing Officer with the 8th Combat Service Support Battalion the Australian Defence Force Fairfield Aged Care Home is one of 33 nursing homes run by the Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group across New South Wales and Western Australia Ms Ballai has had a decorated nursing career and has served in the Australian army. She reportedly fled war-torn Yugoslavia for the Gold Coast in 1992 aged 25 with just two suitcases, one filled with clothes, the other with nursing books. But her nursing qualifications were not recognised in Australia. The political refugee improved her English at TAFE and soon found a job as a nursing assistant in a local aged care home. From there she completed a degree in nursing, which led to many years working in acute care settings at the Gold Coast Hospital, Pindara Private Hospital and Allamanda Private Hospital. When I was working at Gold Coast Hospital I was the only non-English speaking nurse at the time, she told Griffith News in 2017. Society has come a long way since then. Ms Ballai then completed a Masters of Business Administration Advanced (Health Care Services Management and Marketing), which paved the way for a successful career running care homes across Queensland and New South Wales. She also served as a Commissioned Nursing Officer with the 8th Combat Service Support Battalion the Australian Defence Force. I know it sounds cheesy and Id like to say joining the Australian Army at 40 was a mid-life crisis, but it wasnt, she said. I think I was ready to give back and I just wanted to say thank you to Australia for giving me a second chance in life. Nursing is my life and its my character I just like helping people. Hundreds of Aussie households will see their energy bills rise by up to $500 a year, swallowing up new energy rebates set up by federal and state governments. Customers in NSW, South Australia and southeast Queensland can expect an increase of between 19 and 25 per cent from July 1, depending on their locations, under a new default market offer set by the energy regulator. NSW customers on the default offer can expect to see prices rise by between $440 and $594 annually, depending on their region, while relevant households in southeast Queensland could pay an extra $402. In South Australia, residential customers can expect prices to increase by about $512. These increases in the power prices are set to completely consume energy rebates announced by the Albanese government in the budget earlier this month. The rebate will come into effect on July 1, which is the exact same day the new energy prices kick in. More than 5 million eligible households in NSW, Queensland and South Australia will receive a $500 energy rebate on their power bill. In addition, small businesses will save $650. The Albanese government's energy rebate will almost be entirely negligible for struggling households in NSW, QLD and South Australia following the news that power prices will spike from July The Australian Energy Regulator revealed that power prices would rise by between 21 and 24 per cent from July 1 upon releasing its final determination on Thursday It will not be paid directly into eligible people's bank accounts, with the rebate applied directly to power bills. 'This will be automatic and customers do not have to do anything,' a Services Australia document says. Aussies eligible for the energy rebate include those with a pensioner concession card, a care card, a DVA gold card, a seniors card, get a family tax benefit or a carer's allowance. Opposition leader Peter Dutton is now calling for more gas to be put into the grid to reduce energy costs amid the surge in bills. 'We want to see more gas in the system because what the government's doing here is turning off the old system before the new one is ready, and that's what's driving up prices,' he told Nine's Today program on Friday. 'The government's completely underestimated how much families and small businesses are hurting.' But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused the opposition of working against measures to provide energy bill relief. 'They can't on the one hand say they care about energy prices while they're voting against a reduction in those costs,' he told Cairns radio station 4CA. 'There is pressure on the system, but we're having to deal with it in a real way going forward. We know that renewables are the cheapest form of energy.' Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said work was well under way to reduce power costs, including a larger investment in renewables. He said interventions into the energy market had seen prices lower than they would have been otherwise. 'We get that power prices going up are a real pressure on households and on businesses, that's why we've been acting from day one in relation to this,' Mr Marles said. 'At the end of last year, the energy price regulator was expecting power prices to go up by 50 per cent. 'This year, that's not what's happened - it's much less than that.' The energy regulator said high wholesale costs continued to drive up retail electricity prices. Australian Energy Regulator chair Clare Savage said the agency considered the cost-of-living pressures faced by households and businesses when making its decision, as well as the need for retailers to recover their costs. There are understandable reasons why King Charles might want his younger brother to move out of 30-room Royal Lodge, the Queen Mother's former mansion on the Windsor estate. Theres the need to reduce expenditure, for example. The King has correctly identified the cost of the monarchy as a major political issue and a potentially dangerous one which is why he has cut the 250,000 annual grant that Andrew received from their late mother every year. Is it appropriate for a disgraced prince to live in quite such style? Not everyone would think so. Andrew's children are grown-up, moreover, so it's not as if he needs the space. Is sibling rivalry a factor in the ongoing row between King Charles and Prince Andrew?Pictured: Prince Andrew and Prince Charles celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at St Paul's Cathedral on June 5, 2012 Royal Lodge, a 30m mansion on the Windsor Estate (pictured) where Andrew has lived for 20 years, is now a major bone of contention between Charles and Andrew The late Queen had a very soft spot for Prince Andrew, her second son, and found it difficult to say no to him. The two are pictured in April 1980 And then there is the question of where Prince William, heir to the throne, should be living with his young family. For the moment, the Waleses are at nearby Adelaide Cottage, but few doubt that Royal Lodge is a more appropriate home for a future King. Yet I believe there are other, still more personal, reasons that might be colouring Charless determination to move his younger brother out of Royal Lodge. Reasons that are rooted in their own family history and are perhaps related to one extraordinary episode in particular. The first point is that their mother, the late Queen had a soft spot for Prince Andrew, her second son, and found it difficult to say no to him. Prince Philip, meanwhile, was proud of Andrews macho demeanour and delighted that he followed him into the Navy. Perhaps its not surprising, then, that Andrew became rather bumptious, or that the personality differences between the two princes led to comparisons which were not always favourable to Charles. For all the love that existed between Prince Philip and his thoughtful eldest son, it is also thought that the Duke of Edinburgh found Charles to be something of a puzzle. Charles and Andrew are very different people - and it is worth remembering that fact when it comes to the continuing row about the future of 30m Royal Lodge. While Charles wants Andrew to downsize to the nearby five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage, which is no longer in use by Harry and Meghan, it would be wholly understandable if the younger man felt there were a personal dimension to the demand. Queen Elizabeth with Prince Philip and their three sons, Andrew, Charles and Edward on holiday in Balmoral in 1979 The Queen, Prince Andrew, the late Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne on board an Aircraft Carrier in 2001 after Andrew's return from the Falkland Islands. Philip was proud that Andrew had followed him into the Navy Andrew came to believe that he would make a better king than his brother - and, according to author Angela Levin, he tried to persuade Queen Elizabeth to remove Charles from the line of succession King Charles wants Prince Andrew to downsize to the nearby five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage which is no longer in use by Harry and Meghan As revealed by The Mail on Sunday, Andrew remains determined not to move. His children including heavily pregnant Eugenie are frequent visitors and former wife, Sarah Ferguson, spends much of her time living there. How long can he hang on? It is hard to tell. Andrew has signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate, not the late Queen, and that lease still has a long way to run. At the same time, though, he is contractually obliged to keep the mansion in good condition and, unless a generous benefactor steps forward, it is unlikely he can afford to do so. Even this battle over bricks and mortar is, in the wider scheme of things, no more than a spat. The brothers, with very different personalities, values and approaches to life, have been antagonists for some time. Andrew, like Harry, was the spare, second in line to the throne until Prince William was born in 1982 and replaced him in the succession. Angela Levin believes that Andrew, Fergie and Princess Diana plotted to push Prince Charles aside so that Prince Andrew could become Regent to Prince William, who was then still a teenager. Pictured: Princess Diana talking with Sara and Prince Andrew in 1987 Andrew tried hard to get the late Queen to agree to their plan so that when she died William, not Charles, would be King with Andrew as Regent until William was old enough to take the throne And he became convinced that he would do a better job than his more sensitive older brother. Ive been told by a royal insider that there were discussions between Andrew, Fergie and Princess Diana as to how Prince Charles might be pushed aside. This would have left Andrew as Regent to Prince William, who was then still a teenager, effectively putting the Duke of York on the throne. As I explain in my book, Camilla, From Outcast to Queen Consort, Andrew went so far as to try and persuade the late Queen to agree to their plan And that he tried hard to block Charles from marrying Camilla too. His behaviour became very, very negative and extremely unpleasant on not getting his way , said my source. Around that time - and amid much discussion of the propriety of Charles marrying Camilla - Queen Elizabeth held serious discussions behind closed doors with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George (now Lord) Carey. Queen Elizabeth leaves St Georges Chapel with the Archbishop of Canterbury after a service to mark her Golden Jubilee Andrew apparently claimed that Camilla was insufficiently aristocratic and that she was not to be trusted. But he did not persuade Queen Elizabeth these things were true When I was writing Camillas biography last year, Lord Carey told me that he had spoken positively to the Queen about Charles marrying Camilla, the woman he loved. Nonetheless, I understand The Queen found herself continuing to discuss the matter with Prince Andrew. The insider told me Andrew that had been quite poisonous, mean, unhelpful and very nasty about Camilla. Andrew had apparently taken the view that she was insufficiently aristocratic and was not to be trusted. If he had often seemed persuasive with the Queen, however, this time it didnt work. As a result, Im told, that Andrew remained so hostile about Camillas acceptance that its doubtful it has ever been forgiven. The West will unite to train Ukrainian pilots on using F-16 fighter jets against Putin's forces, the Pentagon said, but warned that the warplanes aren't 'magic' weapons. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said yesterday 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 will not be a magic solution to end the war. Austin said the allies recognise that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to sustain and maintain the aircraft and have enough munitions. He added that air defence systems are still the weapons that Ukraine needs most in the broader effort to control the airspace. 'There are no magic weapons,' said Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke alongside Austin at a Pentagon press conference. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said yesterday that European allies are developing a coordinated program to train Ukrainian forces on the F-16 fighter jet (pictured), but Pentagon leaders warned that it will be a costly and complex task and will not be a magic solution to end the war Austin said the allies recognise that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to sustain and maintain the aircraft and have enough munitions (pictured left to right: Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley) General Milley 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 that's the size and scope and scale that would be necessary' He said providing 10 F-16s could cost 1.6billion, including maintenance. He continued: 'The Russians have a thousand fourth and fifth-generation fighters, so if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're 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. General Milley 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 that's the size and scope and scale that would be necessary.' Austin said the Dutch and Danish defense ministers are working with the US 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 said earlier that he hopes that training for Ukrainian pilots on 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. Austin (pictured) said the Dutch and Danish defense ministers are working with the US on the effort, and that Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to the training 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 it is underway. 'We're going to have to dig deeper, and we're 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 American-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 Ukraine's self-defense.' European allies have been vocal in their support for the fighter jet training in recent days. 'There are no magic weapons,' said Army General Mark Milley (pictured), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke alongside Austin at a Pentagon press conference Josep Borrell, the European Union's 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 we're 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 Russia's 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. US 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. Realizing his life was in imminent danger, Batista fled across country, going southwest to slip into neighboring Paraguay, and from there he moved north, first Bolivia, then Peru, Ecuador and Colombia Batista is one of some 8,000 migrants who have arrived in Chicago in recent weeks after the end of Trump-era Covid border restriction known as Title 42 Brazilian police officer Carlos Batista embarked on a long, treacherous journey to the US after being targeted by the cartel which put a US$2,000 bounty on his head Advertisement For more than four years Carlos Batista was a respected narcotics cop in Brazil but that ended when he started investigating the wrong people. Now, after fleeing for his life, Batista is back in a police station, this time in Chicago, one of dozens of migrants who have ended up in the Windy City. In between was a 7,000-mile trek, in which he found love with a fellow migrant from Venezuela and desperately had to hide his police tattoos a skull with wings knowing the human smugglers would kill him if they discovered who he really was. 'I had to wear a long-sleeve shirt all the way,' Portuguese-speaker Batista, 23, told DailyMail.com in broken Spanish. 'If the cartel saw my tattoos, they would have killed me. I have no doubt about that.' Carlos Batista spent the last four years as a respected narcotics police officer in the north-east Brazilian city of Joao Pessoa The 23-year-old was forced to flee his home country by embarking on a treacherous journey through South and Central America to the US, keeping his police tattoo concealed in the process to avoid being killed. He is now crashing at the Chicago Police Department's 20th District station, where other migrants have turned up amid a housing shortage. After Batista learned from corrupt cops that the cartel put a $2,000 bounty on his head and realized his life was in imminent danger, he fled across country, going southwest to slip into neighboring Paraguay. From there he moved north, first Bolivia, then Peru, Ecuador and Colombia Batista is one of some 8,000 migrants who have arrived in Chicago in recent weeks. Due to a lack of shelters, some have turned to police stations for a safe place to sleep. Videos and photos have shown hallways at precincts littered with mattresses and personal belongings with migrants camped out on them, while cops and visitors try their best to go about their daily business. The migrant-housing crisis follows the May 11 ending to the Trump-era Covid border restriction known as Title 42, which allowed U.S. authorities to send migrants back to Mexico without giving them a chance to seek asylum. Tens of thousands of people hurried to cross the border before President Joe Biden implemented a strict new asylum policy to replace it. Batista's downfall started in the north-eastern Brazilian coastal city of Joao Pessoa, where he had been transferred after working four months in Rio de Janeiro. He said he was building up evidence in a drug and gun running case and took his findings to his superiors for them to sign off on a deeper investigation. 'When I showed my bosses what I find out, they refused to sign off on it, instead they told me to stop doing what I was doing,' he said in an exclusive interview at his temporary home Chicago's 20th District station in the Lincoln area of the city. He tried a second time with a different superior and was told the same thing. Batista (third from left) spent four months in Rio De Janeiro before being transferred to Joao Pessoa, where trouble began after he started working on a drug and gun investigation While on the run, the young fugitive had to remember to keep his tattoo, which proves his association with law enforcement, concealed from the cartel to protect his life Batista even found love on the way, with fellow migrant, Ivana Suarez (pictured together at Lake Michigan) a 20-year-old Venezuelan national who had fled her corruption-wracked nation Days later, Batista noticed he was being followed by several different people wherever he went. 'My bosses had told the drug cartel everything about me my address, my phone number, everything.' Batista stressed that not all cops in Brazil are corrupt. 'It's mostly the highly ranking officers who are on the take with the cartel and local mafia gangs,' he said. But in Joao Pessoa things were getting ever more dangerous for him. Batista has finally found time to get his first haircut in two months at a Chicago Supercuts He received a call from a fellow police officer he trusted who told him the police were already at his apartment, ransacking it, and that the cartel has put a US$2,000 bounty on his head. Realizing his life was in imminent danger, Batista fled across country, going southwest to slip into neighboring Paraguay through the border town of Ponta Pora. From there he moved north, first through Bolivia, then Peru, Ecuador and eventually Colombia. Then there was the infamous Darien Gap the mountainous 70-mile jungle strip of land that divides South and Central America. The lawless area is controlled by local gangs who often extort and rob the migrants and regularly rape girls and women trying to cross. While waiting to cross, Batista met 20-year-old Venezuelan Ivana Suarez, who had fled her corruption-wracked nation, just as some 25% of its population has in the past decade. Suarez, an esthetician, had traveled west from Puerto Cabello on Venezuela's Caribbean coast also hoping to make the long trip to the United States. 'I left Venezuela with my mother, step-father and nine-year-old brother,' Suarez told DailyMail.com. 'Economically we just couldn't survive. 'I was making the equivalent of US$15 a month in a beauty salon. My mother's business didn't survive the Covid pandemic. We barely had enough money to eat.' Batista, being a former special forces police officer, said the physicality of the Gap wasn't that bad. But the drug cartels who run the area charge up to $250 USD a day per person to cross. Batista and Suarez are just two of dozens of migrants now being housed temporarily in police stations DailyMail.com visited the precinct where the hallways were littered with mattresses and personal belongings with migrants camped out on them Jonathan Monasterio, an immigrant from Venezuela, cleans a sidewalk outside the Chicago Police Department's 16th District station, where he is temporarily staying It was another kind of nightmare for his girlfriend, who couldn't get the images of several dead babies, whose bodies were abandoned by their desperate parents, out of her mind. Once through, there was the journey through the Central American isthmus, but they were running out of money. They stopped for three months in Panama City, where Batista worked construction, and Suarez got a job in a beauty salon to earn enough to allow them to continue. Once they got to Mexico Batista was jailed for around a month in the southern city of Tapachula. The conditions were terrible, the food was cold and inedible, immigration officers stole my phone, he recalled. Jose Vargas, 34, from Venezuela told DailyMail.com he brought his family to the US in search of a better life 'When I look back Mexico was the worst part of the whole journey. Everyone is corrupt there.' His main fear during his entire trip is that the cartels and other drug gangs would see his police tattoo and kill him. 'There were days I was dying because of the heat and the humidity but I couldn't remove my long sleeve shirt for fear the gangs would see the tattoo and kill me and anyone else who was around me.' 'I took buses from Brazil to the United States, never once using my real name for fear that the cartels and corrupt members of the Brazilian police would find me,' he said. Once at the border in El Paso, Suarez and her family got separated. She wondered if she would ever see them again. She has now learned that they found their way to a shelter in Chicago and she hopes for a reunion within weeks. The story of Batista and Suarez is just one of hundreds from the migrants now housed temporarily in police stations. Jose Vargas, 34, from Venezuela, told DailyMail.com he brought his wife and three children 'to give them a better life'. But why Chicago? 'I heard there is plenty of work here and a good place to raise my family,' Vargas said. Jose Vargas, his wife Yanna, and their three children, Daemar, Michelle, and Abdiel Tens of thousands of people hurried to cross the border before President Joe Biden implemented a strict new asylum policy to replace the Trump-era border restriction, Title 42 The city has seen almost 10,000 migrants since last summer, mostly from Haiti, Venezuela and Colombia, and are struggling to find proper shelters for them Chicago has seen almost 10,000 migrants since last summer, mostly from Haiti, Venezuela and Colombia. The city is having a hard time housing them, and not all residents are happy with the self-proclaimed Sanctuary City's plan on welcoming and housing migrants. Cops are taking the influx in their stride. One officer who didn't want to be named because they weren't given permission to speak with reporters told DailyMail.com: 'The migrants started showing up at the station a few months ago. 'At first they were being dropped off by rideshare vehicles, then the airport brought some, now the city picks them up from bus stations and the airport and drops them off to most of the Chicago Police districts throughout the city.' 'It's a sad situation. You just can't let them suffer. They are human beings who just want a better life. 'It's unfortunate for us, that they are being dropped out at our station, but we have an obligation to help them out if we can.' Another officer said: 'So far there haven't been any major criminal issues with the migrants. But with more and more coming in, there are bound to be some people who are coming in with criminal intentions.' Batista said it took him eight months from the day he started his trek across his native Brazil until he arrived in Chicago. Even once he had been detained for eight days at the border, he faced two seemingly interminable bus trips, first to Denver, then finally to Chicago. The second one alone took 30 hours. He said he was robbed, detained, jailed and beaten at various points along the way. But he believes it was all worth it now that he's in the United States. And now he is looking to the future, perhaps joining the people who are temporarily giving him shelter. 'I'd like to be a police officer in the United States once I can speak and understand English,' he said. Dame Esther Rantzen was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, it has been revealed today, as she spoke out about her treatment for the first time. The 82-year-old broadcaster, long-time activist and founder of charities Childline and The Silver Line revealed she had cancer in January, simply saying it had 'since spread'. The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-five said at the time she had decided to announce the news because she found 'it difficult to skulk around various hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise.' She is currently being treated with a new cancer medication and is due to have a scan 'soon' which will show whether or not the treatment is working. Dame Esther became a household name as she blazed a path for female broadcasters, most famously as presenter of That's Life! from 1973 to 1994. Dame Esther Rantzen, 82, has revealed her diagnosis with lung cancer, which she announced in January, was assessed as Stage 4 She is currently being treated with a new cancer medication and is due to have a scan 'soon' which will show whether or not the treatment is working Speaking for the first time about her cancer treatment, she told The Mirror: 'I'm on one of the new medications, and nobody knows if it's working or not. 'But I will have a scan fairly soon which will reveal one way or another.' She added that her stage four diagnosis has made her realise 'how very lucky I've been in my life'. She continued: 'I'm not good at regrets. What I treasure most are the fantastic friendships I have made thanks to That's Life! during the last 50 years, the people I met, and the team who worked so hard, and laughed so hard, together for so long.' At the time of her diagnosis, Dame Esther said: 'In the last few weeks I have discovered that I am suffering from lung cancer which has now spread. 'At the moment I am undergoing various tests, to assess the best treatment. 'I have decided not to keep this secret any more because I find it difficult to skulk around various hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise, and because I would rather you heard the facts from me. 'At the age of 82, this diagnosis has prompted me to look back over the years, and I want to express my profound thanks to everyone who has made my life so joyful, filled with fun, and with inspiration. 'First and foremost my family. My three children Miriam, Rebecca and Joshua have been the most wonderful support, company, and source of love and laughter and I am deeply grateful to them. 'My friends have been amazing and have created memories which sustain me and give me strength. 'My colleagues with whom I have worked, and continue to work with in broadcasting, journalism, the voluntary sector, and in many other organisations have been a constant pleasure, and have amazed me with their tolerance of my wild ideas and awful jokes. In 2021 Dame Esther received the lifetime achievement award at the Women of the Year Awards for her charity work (pictured, left, alongside the Queen when she was the Duchess of Cornwall) 'I have been continuously inspired by the courageous children, older people and viewers who have trusted me with their life stories. I have always tried to live up to that trust. 'As I am sure you will understand, while I am awaiting the results of the tests, I am unable to answer questions. Thanks to the extraordinary skills of the medical profession there are wonderful new treatments, so I am remaining optimistic.' As well as her work as a journalist and presenter, Dame Esther is also known for setting up Childline in 1986, a charity which offers support for young people up until the age of 19. It became part of the The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in 2006. Following the news of Dame Esther's cancer diagnosis, NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless said: 'I speak on behalf of Childline's volunteers, staff and supporters in sending love and best wishes to Dame Esther Rantzen and her family. 'Esther's tireless commitment to Childline and the wider NSPCC over the years is truly inspiring and the positive impact that's she had on children's live is unimaginable. 'No matter what, she has always been here for children and young people and likewise, we are here to support her during this challenging time.' Dame Esther also set up The Silver Line in 2013, a charity which supports elderly people in the UK who are battling loneliness. In 2021 Dame Esther received the lifetime achievement award at the Women of the Year Awards for her charity work. She was made a DBE in 2015 for services to children and older people through ChildLine and The Silver Line. About three shootings have occurred in Boston since the start of the week Two gunmen were caught on camera opening fire on a Boston sidewalk in broad daylight, sending children running for cover in terror. The chaotic scene broke out on a Roxbury sidewalk where bystanders were going about their day until an unidentified man in a red hoodie and black pants opened fire on Wednesday around 6.45pm. A group of people were seen scrambling from the pathway of bullets, including a little girl, as another unidentified gunman in a brown hoodie returned fire. About 20 rounds of bullets were fired on the sidewalk that houses several businesses, according to Boston 25 News. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made. Horrific footage showed the moment two gunmen exchanged fire on a busy Boston sidewalk on Wednesday around 6.45pm The shooting was one of several in the city that shook locals. Another gunman opened fire on Tuesday while in the middle of an intersection near Gallivan Boulevard, according to the news outlet. But, the violence started on Monday when Haverhill pastor Danny Mayers, 33, was shot to death outside of Frederick Middle School. It's unclear whether Mayers was targeted but police found him shot in a car. The open investigations led to Boston police commissioner Michael Cox addressing the rapid rise in crime on Thursday. 'Were here and we care,' Cox said, according to WHDH. 'From our perspective, people need to understand this is a safe city. We can be safer with the publics help.' Officials on Thursday also claimed shootings this year have been down in the city but the number of victims have increased, according to NBC Boston. To combat the rising numbers of shootings, officials plan to dedicate $19million to stir people away from crime by offering summer jobs and plotting against illegal activities, such as illegal ATVs. Several people, including a little girl, were seen scrambling for coverage as the bullets were fired About 20 rounds of bullets were fired on the sidewalk that houses several businesses Aside from fighting crime, Cox has strategically worked over the past year to reform the police department. According to the police department website, reforms focus on community engagement, trust, transparency and improving all aspects of policing. Cox has emphasized proactive outreach and worked toward providing safety resources for the LGBTQ+ community when facing threats. Other reforms to the police department include diversifying staff by hiring more black, Indigenous and people of color. While the rate of shooting victims appears to be rising in Boston, other US cities are experiencing an uptick in homicides. Memphis, New Orleans, and Richmond rank as America's homicide hotspots, with scholars linking their rising murder rates to soft-on-crime Democratic leadership and low police morale. A study by WalletHub found that murder rates jumped by a tenth in the country's biggest cities between the first quarter of 2001 and the same period this year and they're still heading up. Researchers said murder rates started going up in the Covid-19 pandemic, and found that Democratic-led cities were suffering faster rising rates than their Republican counterparts. WalletHub researchers found that murder rates jumped by a tenth in the country's biggest cities between the first quarter of 2001 and the same period this year The number of child gunshot deaths grew from 1,732 to 2,590 the highest number since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started counting deaths in 1999 Researchers ranked cities by totting up their homicide rates in the first three months of 2023, and comparing those numbers against the same periods in 2021 and 2022. Memphis, New Orleans, Richmond, Washington DC, Detroit, Durham, Dallas. Milwaukee, Las Vegas and Kansas City ranked as America's worst homicide hotspots. New York came 36th and Los Angeles at 38th. Norfolk, Omaha, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and Raleigh ranked at the bottom of the list of the worst-affected big cities. Cities with Democratic mayors had faster rising murder rates than those with a Republican leader, researchers found. Cop seen kicking Indigenous boy in face in western Sydney Shocking footage of a senior NSW Police officer booting an Indigenous boy in the head and then spitting on him has been released. Senior Constable Christopher Borg, 42, was in regular clothes as he carried out surveillance in western Sydney. According to police facts, Borg and his undercover colleagues saw three males walking towards an Audi that was stolen on September 13. After a short chase, a 16-year-old Indigenous male was arrested, handcuffed and led back to the stolen car, where he was made to sit on the gutter. The footage begins with Borg walking over to the teen with his hands in his pockets before kicking him in the face causing the Indigenous boy to fall backwards. Borg then walks away only to return to spit on the boy. Disturbing footage has emerged of senior NSW Police Constable Christopher Borg kicking an Indigenous teen in the face in western Sydney Constable Christopher Borg (pictured leaving court) is filmed kicking the Indigenous teen and spitting on the boy before walking away after arresting the teen in connection to a stolen Audi The footage was released by the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Thursday. Borg pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault. At his sentencing, NSW Local Court Magistrate Susan Horan said it was an unprovoked attack on a boy in a vulnerable position. 'There is a significant and overwhelming public interest in these matters and in preventing, deterring, and punishing police violence,' she said. Borg avoided jail time, sentenced to a 10-month intensive correction order. He has since appealed the sentence. The appeal is set down for a hearing at Downing Centre District Court on July 15. Borg served as a police officer for 11 years but is no longer employed by NSW Police. MBABANE Members of Parliament (MPs) want women to have the power to say no to polygamous marriage in the kuteka custom. The kuteka custom entails that a man can have more than one wife but they have an obligation to report to the first wife about their intentions. However, the reporting does not mean the man must get consent from the wife. It is courtesy that the man makes his first wife aware of is intentions. However, the legislators, particularly the female MPs, want it to be incorporated in the Marriages Bill, 2022 that the woman, during consultation with her husband on marrying a second wife, should have the power to put her foot down and deny the husband marrying another wife. Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee Chairman MP Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini moved for the adoption of the report of the committee on the Marriages Bill, 2022 and he was seconded by Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze. Shiselweni Region MP Nokuthula Dlamini submitted that there was no better time for the Bill to be enacted into law because many people were miserable in their marriages but there was no way out. She even enquired from the committee chairman on why the Bill took long as people were enduring very toxic marriages and said the legislation was a ray of hope. I am very pleased about this law; it will restore peace, respect and dignity in many marriages. The fact that the Bill gives women many grounds of divorce, even in the traditional wedding, is something to celebrate, she said. Voice Manzini Region MP Busisiwe Mavimbela echoed MP Nokuthula on her submissions, stating that it was giving her a lot of joy to see the committee putting so much effort into a legislation that sought to give women a voice in marriages. Women have the right to say no to a second wife and the law should also incorporate that. If the couple does not reach a consensus that favours the woman, that should be ground for divorce and she should be allowed to leave that marriage, she submitted. Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku was one of the legislators who supported the Bill and he also touched on the issue of the right of the woman to decline a request from his husband to marry a second wife. Is there room for the woman to say yes or no when consulted by the husband on his intentions to marry a second wife? Does the legislation give her power to come out of that marriage if her opinion is not considered as far as being in a polygamous marriage is concerned? he asked. However, most of the MPs were against the proposed amendment giving women power to deny their husbands marrying another wife. Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, enquired if it would not be in conflict with the traditions and customs of the country if women were given that power. The minister said the proposed legislation had many conflicts with the customs of the country and if given the green light, it could stain them heavily. Danger MP Prince Mfanawemakhosi said the danger in this proposed provision was that many would land in hospital after a beating from their wives as they consult to have a second wife. He said as much as it was a norm to alert the wife on ones intention to have a second wife, it was improper to get consent because chances of getting a positive response were next to zero. It should be noted that the Bill was withdrawn by the chairperson of the committee after MPs complained that it had too many gaps. 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. The high court upheld 42-year-old Justin Ross 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. 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. Justin Ross Harris (pictured), 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 Harris 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. Cooper was almost two years old when he died in his father's hot car 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.' Cooper's mother, Leanna Taylor, always insisted that Cooper's death was an accident. Taylor last year said the court had made the right decision, calling it 'big news for Ross and his family.' She added: 'I know they are grateful for this turn of events.' Justin Ross Harris, 41, is pictured in court in July 2014 - one month after Cooper's death Cooper, 22-months-old, was left in the backseat of Harris' car for more than seven hours in June 2014 Harris was described by his ex-wife, Cooper's mother, as a dedicated and loving father The ex-wife, whose divorce from Harris was finalized in March 2016, said: 'It would be my wish that this would help to change the way that Cooper was remembered.' Now living in Alabama, Taylor said that she felt vindicated by the Supreme Court's decision. 'While this will not change anything about my day to day life, I do hope that it shows people what those closest to the case have been saying since the beginning: Ross was a loving and proud father to Cooper. 'At the same time, Ross was being a terrible husband. 'These two things can and did exist at the same time.' 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. Happier times: Harris is pictured with his son and then-wife Leanna Taylor Harris is seen in court in October 2015. His murder trial began in September 2016 Taylor testifies during the murder trial after being subpoenaed to give evidence 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. 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. She broke down in court while giving evidence, as her son's photo was held up On the morning of June, 18, 2014, Harris reportedly told police he forgot to drop his soon off at day care before driving to his job at Home Depot in Atlanta 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. Ron DeSantis used Twitter to announce his 2024 campaign but suffered glitches Elon Musk looked stress-free as he touched down in Los Angeles with his son X a day after the disastrous Ron DeSantis presidential campaign launch on Twitter. The Tesla CEO, 51, cut a casual figure as he stepped off a private jet at LAX before jumping into a maroon Tesla. A nanny was seen carrying his son X A-12 down the steps and a few men followed. The former Twitter CEO seemed unbothered despite last night's glitches when the Florida governor used Twitter to announce his 2024 presidential campaign. DeSantis tried claiming that he 'broke the internet' during his chaotic Twitter presidential campaign launch - but did so without breaking a smile - as he later tried to downplay the issues that caused a 30-minute delay in the announcement. Elon Musk looked stress-free as he touched down in Los Angeles with his son X after the disastrous Ron DeSantis presidential campaign launch on Twitter The Tesla CEO, 51, cut a casual figure as he stepped off a private jet at LAX. He opted for a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans, paired with a personalized blue bomber jacket that featured his last name on the chest A nanny was seen carrying Musk son off the plane as they walked toward a maroon Tesla Musk opted for a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans, paired with a personalized blue bomber jacket that featured his last name on the chest as he exited the plane. The jacket is from his SpaceX company, which hopes to hold another launch this weekend. There was no word on if Musk was in Los Angeles for business or pleasure but he shot a thumbs up as he got into the car after arriving in Los Angeles. X A-12 is three years old and one of two children Musk has with Canadian singer Grimes. The 'X' in the child's name stands for the 'unknown variable' and is shorthand for artificial intelligence. Musk has 10 children and last year Nick Cannon saluted him for helping end 'underpopulation crisis' after he welcomed his newest set of twins. The nanny's name has not been released and its unclear how long she has been watching over Musk's children. It's unclear if Musk was in Los Angeles for business or a personal trip as he, his nanny, his child and another exited the plane Musk was seen getting into a Tesla with others after his plane landed at the airport in Los Angeles The nanny helped X, whom Musk had with singer Grimes, into the back of the Tesla before the family left the area Musk shot a thumbs up as he made a face and got into the car after arriving in Los Angeles In addition to SpaceX, Musk is also the head of the Tesla auto company and purchased social-media giant Twitter for $44billion late last year. It was on Twitter where Musk joined with Ron DeSantis as the Florida Governor announced he was running for the Republican nomination for president in 2024. 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. 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. 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. While Musk blamed the servers, another theory was that Musk's 140 million Twitter followers caused issues with him hosting the Twitter Spaces event. Others blamed the face Musk has slashed thousands from the staff since taking ownership of the company in October. Twitter owner Musk's trip to Los Angeles came a day after glitches caused problems with Florida Govnernor Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign kickoff on the platforn DeSantis' announcement was one of several high-profile moments for Twitter since Musk took ownership. Earlier this month, Musk confirmed NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino has been appointed as the CEO of Twitter - and hinted the platform will be rebranded as 'X, the everything app.' Musk made the announcement on May 12 morning with a tweet which said: 'Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app.' He said Yaccarino 'will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology.' Earlier this month, Musk confirmed NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino has been appointed as the CEO of Twitter - and hinted the platform will be rebranded as 'X, the everything app' He said Yaccarino 'will focus primarily on business operations, while he focuses on product design & new technology' Yaccarino had resigned as NBC's head of advertising earlier in the day - following growing speculation she'd be chosen for the Twitter role. Musk said in December that he'd step down as CEO once he'd found someone 'foolish enough' to replace him. Before taking on the role of Twitter's CEO, Yaccarino served 11 years as chairman of global advertising at NBC Universal. And her commitment to free speech over catering to advertiser wishes was brought into question as footage of her interviewing Musk a month before her appointment came to light. The media executive encouraged Musk to facilitate the return of an 'influence council', which would allow advertisers to hold more sway over the content on Twitter. The 'evil, vile, hateful' abuse levelled at Stan Grant after he appeared on an ABC TV panel criticising the monarchy during the King Charles III Coronation 'would not have happened' if he were white, he claims. The Indigenous ABC star appeared at the Sydney Writer's Festival on Friday afternoon where he issued a withering assessment of Australia's media landscape, after he stepped down indefinitely from Q+A on Monday. He was later spotted enjoyed a late lunch with a colleague at a nearby Chinese cafe in Sydney's inner-west after his appearance at the writers' festival at Carriageworks in Chippendale. Grant last week described copping relentless racial abuse after joining a panel discussion ahead of the coronation, and blasted bosses at the ABC for showing him 'no' support. Now, he has opened up about the weeks before he pulled the plug on Q+A and the impact the abuse had on himself and his family. Grant said that during the May 6 panel discussion 'no one shouted over anyone, no one abused anyone' and that it had been a healthy, respectful and constructive debate about the history of the monarchy. 'If a white person had been on air... if they talked about invasion of the land, they just would not have been abused in the way that I was,' he said. 'If a white person had been on air... if they talked about invasion of the land, they just would not have been abused in the way that I was,' Stan Grant said (pictured on Friday after appearing on a panel at Sydney Writers Festival) Grant (pictured in Sydney's inner-west on Friday after panel appearance at Sydney Writers' Festival) described copping relentless racial abuse after joining a panel discussion ahead of the coronation , and blasted bosses at the ABC for showing him 'no' support The Indigenous ABC star issued a withering assessment of the modern media landscape in Australia, noting he is 'complicit' in an industry which 'is far too often the poison in the bloodstream' The 'evil, vile, hateful' abuse levelled at Stan Grant after he appeared on an ABC TV panel criticising the monarchy during the King Charles III Coronation 'would not have happened' if he were white, he claims 'It wasn't just what I was saying, it was the fact I was saying (it). The racial abuse and attacks began before I had even uttered a word.' That revelation was met with gasps in the sold-out crowd. 'To hear day after day that it was a hateful hour of television, that it was awful, that I hated Australians... to see people depict me in that way was such a cultural violation.' Grant revealed he and his family were bombarded with 'the most evil, vile, hateful abuse', which culminated in death threats. On Wednesday night police arrested a 41-year-old man in Fairfield Heights, western Sydney, and charged him with using a carriage service to make threats against Grant. Grant said: 'My kids have deserved nothing of what has happened to me and to them.' Grant revealed his youngest son, Jesse, wrote his father a heartfelt letter in the days after he announced his decision to step away from the media. Stan Grant (pictured) revealed he and his family were bombarded with 'the most evil, vile, hateful abuse', which culminated in death threats Stan Grant (pictured) revealed his youngest son, Jesse, wrote his father a heartfelt letter in the days after he announced his decision to step away from the media On Friday, Stan Grant (pictured) doubled down on his decision to apologise to the people who have caused him so much hurt, and explained what prompted that decision Grant was there promoting his new book, The Queen is Dead The note was left on Grant's bed for him to find. In part, it read: 'Dear dad, since the moment I was born, I have looked to you for strength and purpose, you've been like a superhero to me. 'You've fought every day for yourself, for us and for this country. It hurts me to see how the world and even us at times have abused your strength. 'You won't have to fight much longer. I will begin fighting. I'll start providing more and allow you to finally find peace. 'Thank you for showing me how to be a man of purpose.' Grant himself fought back tears and tried to maintain his composure as he read his son's heartfelt letter. There were no such qualms in the crowd. Tissues were passed from one guest to another as dozens of people bowed their heads and wiped away tears. During his final evening on Q+A, Grant apologised to his haters listening on from home. He said: 'To those who have abused me and my family, I would just say - if your aim was to hurt me, well, you've succeeded. '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.' On Friday, Grant doubled down on his decision to apologise to the people who have caused him so much hurt, and explained what prompted that decision. He said the hate, trolling and abuse were symptoms of a broader problem with humanity, one that he himself feels 'complicit' in. 'I know that by working in the media I am complicit... I'm sorry that I am part of a media that has utterly failed,' he said. 'We cannot just be responsible for ourselves. We are responsible for the worst others do as well because we've created a world where that is possible.' The 'evil, vile, hateful' abuse levelled at Stan Grant after he appeared on a panel criticising the monarchy during the King's coronation 'would not have happened' if he were white, he claims Grant said he would continue to fight hate with love, and trust in 'God's grand plan'. He spoke in depth about his faith, his relationship with religion and that Christianity's message of forgiveness 'always stays' with him. The media personality was a guest at the festival to promote his new book, The Queen Is Dead, which grapples with the monarchy and institution and his relationship to it. But, he stressed, his challenging relationship is not with the late Queen herself as a woman, a mother or a grandmother. 'I met the Queen,' he said. 'When she died, something broke open in me. Not her as an individual, but what that crown represented. 'That we would mourn the crown more than we mourn our own people; the most unloved people in the country.' He encouraged the crowd to be angry for the mistreatment of First Nations peoples. 'If you're not angry,' he said, 'then you don't have a soul'. The media personality was a guest at the festival to promote his new book, The Queen Is Dead, which grapples with the monarchy and institution and his relationship to it There were whispers among the crowd, who had been hanging onto his every word for almost an hour. One woman looked to the woman on her right. 'He's such an intellectual,' she said. 'He has this ability to break down the most complex of subjects in a way everyone understands.' The woman to her right, a stranger with whom she'd connected over their shared admiration for Grant, nodded. 'He's a gem. A shining light for this country. I'm embarrassed by how we've treated him.' When Grant had walked into the room, another woman shouted 'we love you Stan' over the deafening sound of applause. He nodded graciously, thanking her. Grant said during his speech: 'There is no such thing as race. 'There are peoples. I belong broadly to First Nations peoples. My grandma was a white person, but she lived with us, she had Aboriginal children, she was rejected by white society. 'Whiteness is the way of ordering and separating, but it is not white people. [My people] have never talked about race, we talk about peoples.' When Grant had walked into the room, another woman shouted 'we love you Stan' over the deafening sound of applause. He nodded graciously, thanking her Grant asked: 'What have we done to be the most impoverished and imprisoned people in this country? What have we done to be locked out of the best? To die 10 years younger than everyone else?' He wrapped up the panel with another short reading from his book, and then looked up to the crowd to realise he'd been met with a standing ovation. There were more tears, more tissues, more questions about how he was made to feel 'so isolated', and if his employer could have done more. When announcing his break, the 59-year-old accused the ABC of 'institutional failure', claiming no-one in senior management had offered him public support. Grant said the racial abuse levelled against him had ramped up since he appeared on the ABC's coverage of King Charles' coronation on May 6. The ABC received more than 1800 complaints about it's coverage of the King's Coronation but more than a million people tuned in 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. 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. 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.' Grant ended his final night on Q+A by thanking his family, speaking a few words in his native Wiradjuri language and then said a simple 'Goodnight.' Loved ones are mourning a young woman who had dreams of travelling the world after she suddenly died while playing cards with her parents at a family dinner. Brisbane woman Daniella Jade Duchatel, 26, went into cardiac arrest at her parents' home on Sunday night. Her frantic mother, Kay attempted to give her daughter CPR after she collapsed, but was sadly unable to revive the young government worker. The 26-year-old's shock death came just one month after she tripped and broke her leg, tearing some ligaments, while walking home from meeting friends. Daniella Jade Duchatel, 26, went into cardiac arrest just hours after enjoying dinner and a card game at her parent's Brisbane home on Sunday night She had a plate inserted into her leg during emergency surgery and had been recovering at her parent's house when she entered cardiac arrest. Doctors have theorised that after the surgery a blood clot formed and travelled up to the 26-year-old's lung and caused a pulmonary embolism. The family are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm. Mrs Duchatel announced her daughter's tragic passing on Facebook on Tuesday. 'It is with the greatest sadness that I inform you all that our daughter Daniella Jade Duchatel passed away peacefully last night,' she wrote. 'We will update you all with funeral details in the coming days. Please give us some time to come to terms with our loss.' Her frantic mother Kay tried to give her daughter CPR after she collapsed, but was unable to revive the young government worker (mother and daughter are pictured) Friend Janis Michel posted a heartfelt tribute to Ms Duchatel on Instagram, saying she was struggling to 'comprehend the pain and sadness'. She told her friend, who had had dreams of travelling the world, that she would go 'galavanting' in her memory. 'Your love and kindness was so pure and being around you made me want to be a better person,' she wrote. 'The time spent with you have been some of my happiest moments of my life, from falling asleep on the sofas watching friends to fighting off frogs in the rainforest I cherish it all and will forever remember our amazing memories and time together. 'I love you my sweet angel. Rest easy, and I will see you again. For now like you told me I will go galavanting the world for the both of us. I miss you so much my sister.' Just months before her shock death, Ms Duchatel announced she had finally saved enough money to purchase her own unit in Brisbane. Just months before her shock death, Ms Duchatel announced she had finally saved enough money to purchase her own unit in Brisbane 'After months of stress and excitement and confusion I am finally a home owner!' she wrote on Facebook on January 24. 'Settlement of my very own apartment has been completed and I am so excited and nervous to start this new chapter!' Friend of the family Chantelle Lay, who has known Ms Duchatel for 10 years, has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family. 'Her family would appreciate your financial support at this time,' she wrote. 'It allows them to be home, to take the time to mourn the loss of their daughter and to help pay for costs associated with Dani's funeral.' The campaign has raised over $15,000 of its $20,000 target. A high society thief from a prominent Sydney family has narrowly avoided jail after being caught red-handing stealing luxury face creams and designer clothing from a Westfield shopping centre. Elisha Dalah, 35, the elder sibling of Fishbowl restaurateur Nathan Dalah and sister-in-law to Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler, was lambasted by Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge as she pleaded not to be sent to jail despite her her lengthy history of shoplifting and drug abuse. Dalah's parents are ex-rag trader and former Elizabeth Bay Marina co-owner Michael Dalah and his wife Michelle. As well as Nathan, she has a designer brother Jordan and actor sister Sophie. Waverley Local Court heard the mum-of-one used a 'de-tagger' to steal a $249 Tommy Hilfiger jumper and a $170 'Youth Lift' face cream from Sephora at Westfield Bondi Junction on July 14. Elisha (pictured) is the eldest child to Eastern suburbs Dalah family Elisha Dalah - the older sister of Fishbowl restaurateur Nathan Dalah (pictured) and sister-in-law to New Zealand model Georgia Fowler (pictured) Plain clothes police observed her leaving Tommy Hilfiger and stealing the face cream before arresting her and charging her with shoplifting and breaching her ban on entering the shopping centre. Dalah had only recently finished a parole term for other shoplifting offenses when she was arrested. 'I'm sorry, I have a problem, can I pay for the items now I don't know why I steal, I don't need to steal, I work, I just can't help myself',' she told police, according to The Daily Telegraph. Dalah's troubles started when she began using drugs at 14 and had shot up heroin after learning of her former partner's cancer diagnosis before the thefts. The court heard she had been sober for eight months, attended rehab twice, and continues to engage in substance abuse and psychological counselling and had not offended since being charged. Elisha and her son reside at her family's Point Piper bolthole Family matriach Michelle Dalah (pictured left) with Georgia Fowler and actor Sophie Dalah Red-carpet regular Georgia Fowler seen at Cannes film festival one day before her sister-in-law fronted Waverley court Dalah is believed to be working as a barista at her family-owned business 'Laissez-Faire Catering' in Sydney's Alexandria. She has been living with her son at her parents' palatial waterfront mansion in exclusive Point Piper. Magistrate Milledge said in a brutally frank sentencing: 'Everything I've read suggests you see yourself as a victim you are not a victim'. 'You've said 'I'm a kleptomaniac, I act on impulse' you are calculating and manipulative and deceitful, and your family knows that because they have been dealing with that side of you for years and years and years.' Dalah was sentenced to a 20-month intensive correction order as well as serve 200 hours of community service. Dalah was also ordered to pay a $500 fine entering Westfield Bondi Junction while banned. These days, adults in their twenties dont seem half as keen as previous generations to get married, become parents and settle down. But it seems the one thing they are willing to commit to is fur babies thats cats and dogs to the rest of us. The boss of a leading pet care company says adults in the Gen Z group, comprising those born from 1997 to 2012, are also buying pets in place of homes. This could be because animals are relatively cheap compared with the increasingly unaffordable traditional milestones. Lyssa McGowan, chief executive of Pets At Home, said: Gen Z are getting pets earlier than previous generations, maybe as they are delaying child rearing, marriage or getting their own flat. Adults in their twenties are more willing to commit to fur babies thats cats and dogs to the rest of us - than buying a house Lyssa McGowan, chief executive of Pets At Home, said Gen Z are getting pets earlier than previous generations They are taking all that time and energy and attention and putting it into fur babies, especially in urban areas. She even suggested that owning a dog gives you more pleasure than getting hitched or having a baby anyway. Lockdown and increased working-from-home caused a huge boom in pet ownership, according to Pets At Home. It says the pet population has increased by 10 per cent since Covid hit. But it is not just a Covid boom, Ms McGowan added. It hasnt gone away. Were still seeing high numbers of puppies and kittens and [lots of] owners have taken on second pets. She said: The reasons for that are largely related to working from home, you can reliably be at home to let the dog out at lunchtime. One in five 16 to 24-year-olds have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to trade body UK Pet Food. The figure is nearly the same for 25 to 34-year-olds. But marriage rates have slipped in recent decades, with the 2021 census showing the biggest drop came from those aged 25 and 35. Britons are also investing more in outfits for their pets. Ms McGowan said she was considering buying her own dog a Doggy Parton denim jacket from Dolly Partons pet clothing range. An Indianapolis doctor who spoke publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim could face disciplinary action as state lawyers ripped her during a Thursday hearing that could change her future as a physician. The doctor, Caitlin Bernard, has been accused by Indiana's Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita of not reporting the child abuse to state authorities. 'No physician has been as brazen in pursuit of their own agenda,' state attorneys told the board about Bernard. Bernard is also accused of breaking federal patient privacy laws by telling a member of the media about her treatment of the child, who was from Ohio. The doctor has defended her actions from the start, and told the state Medical Licensing Board - the panel that will ultimately determine her fate - that she abided by Indiana's reporting requirements by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse. The board heard arguments from both sides on whether Bernard should face punishment, including revoking her license, but took no action. Dr. Caitlin Bernard has been accused by Indiana's Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita of not reporting the child abuse to state authorities Bernard spoke publicly about an abortion case involving a 10-year-old rape victim Rokita filed the complaint against Bernard last summer after she went to the press about the case and on Thursday she faced a disciplinary board Bernard told the panel that Ohio was already investigating the rape of the child, and that privacy laws were not broken because she didn't release any identifying information. Indiana's Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight said that 'there's been no case like this before the board.' 'No physician has been as brazen in pursuit of their own agenda.' Voight argued that the panel must address what he labeled an 'egregious violation' of patient privacy, in addition to her alleged failure to notify Indiana's Department of Child Services and law enforcement about the rape. Bernard's attorney, Alice Morical, told the board that her client has reported instances of abuse of patients many times a year. Voight asked Bernard why she told a reporter about the Ohio girl's case, and then discussed the case further in other interviews with the media. 'I think that its incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion,' replied Bernard '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.' The Indianapolis Star's story about the girl's case sparked a national political uproar last summer in the weeks following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which subsequently put into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after the six week mark of pregnancy. As a result of the article, some news outlets and GOP politicians falsely suggested that Bernard made up the story, until such a time that a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Tracey Wilkinson, left, a pediatric doctor with IU School of Medicine, and Dr. Caroline E. Rouse, a maternal fetal medicine doctor with IU School of Medicine, line up outside of a conference room to support of Dr. Caitlin Bernard on Thursday Dr. Caitlin Bernard, left, sits between attorneys John Hoover and Alice Morical for the disciplinary hearing The Indianapolis Star's story about the girl's case sparked a national political uproar last summer in the weeks following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Rokita's complaint asked the licensing board impose 'appropriate disciplinary action' but is not seeking a specific punishment. The board took no action during the hearing. Last summer, amid the exploding wave of attention the case was receiving, Rokita, who is pro-life, called Bernard an 'abortion activist.' Bernard fought back against Rokita's bevy of accusations, saying: 'I think if the attorney general, Todd Rokita, had not chosen to make this his political stunt we wouldnt be here today.' The Indiana board, in front of whom this case is being tried, is comprised of six doctors and one attorney who was appointed GOP Governor Eric Holcomb. The panel will vote whether to impose any penalties following several hours of testimony. Indiana state law gives the the board the authority to issue a letter of reprimand, or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctor's medical license. Bernard was previously unsuccessful in her attempt to block Rokita's investigation. Despite the failure, an Indiana judge wrote that the attorney general had made 'clearly unlawful breaches of state confidentiality laws with his public comments about investigating the medical professional. Only one per cent of asylum applications made by small boat migrants in the last year have been decided by the Home Office. Data showed there were 44,797 migrants who arrived across the Channel in the 12 months to March - but only 504 cases have led to an 'initial decision' by government caseworkers. The asylum backlog - which PM Rishi Sunak has vowed to slash - jumped to 172,758 by the end of March, including dependants, from less than 115,000 a year earlier. Mr Sunak pledged in December that 92,000 'legacy' applications, lodged before July last year, would be 'abolished' by the end of this year. However, with 78,954 legacy cases in the system at the end of March, asylum caseworkers will have to get through about 9,000 claims a month between April and December to ensure the pledge is fulfilled. Only one per cent of asylum applications made by small boat migrants in the last year have been decided by the Home Office Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged in December that 92,000 'legacy' applications, lodged before July last year, would be 'abolished' by the end of this year Further new data showed a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of asylum applications to 75,492 in the 12 months to March. It covered 91,047 people including dependants. The same period saw 45,000 migrants reach Britain by small boat, of whom 87 per cent were male. Albanians made up the largest nationality at 28 per cent, followed by Afghans at 20 per cent. However, the Home Office data showed the number of Albanian arrivals dropped off significantly over winter, making up just one per cent of small boat arrivals in the first three months of the year. At the end of March there were 112,294 asylum seekers receiving taxpayer-funded support, including many who get free accommodation. It was up from 85,007 a year earlier. Initial results are expected next week, but complete analysis could take months Authorities say the search resulted in 'collection of some material' for analysis Madeleine McCann's parents face months of agony as they wait for the results of forensic testing after a 'relevant clue' was reportedly found during a three-day search operation in Portugal. Investigators cleared a large area of woodland at the Algarve reservoir and dug eight deep holes to collect samples, which have been sent for forensic and DNA testing in Germany. Scientists are expected to have initial results next week, sources say, but it is feared it could take months for a full analysis to be completed. The Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha said a 'relevant clue' was found during the search on Thursday, leading police to focus on a specific area of the secluded beauty spot. Several items were removed from the site, which may or may not be of relevance to the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, the publication said. They include a bra strap, pieces of clothing and plastic items. The development came after MailOnline told yesterday how investigators had 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. 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) may be behind her disappearance Investigators cleared a large area of woodland at the Algarve reservoir and dug eight deep holes to collect samples, which have been sent for forensic and DNA testing in Germany Scientists are expected to have initial results next week but it is feared it could take months for a full analysis to be completed. Pictured: Investigators at the Algarve on Thursday Portuguese police have confirmed the three-day search resulted in 'the collection of some material that will be subject to expertise analysis'. Pictured: Officials at the scene on Thursday 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. READ MORE: Who is Christian Brueckner? The German Madeleine McCann suspect and sex offender Advertisement 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 country's investigative force, the BKA, are based. Axel Peterman, a criminal profiler and former German detective, told The Mirror that the 'evidence will be examined and evaluated by experts' within days at an 'accredited DNA laboratory'. He argued that the examination of the land may identify the form of a 'ditch or dug-out hole' that could lead to 'clothing or hidden objects' tying the suspect to the area. However, former Met Detective Chief Inspector Peter Kirkham claimed the search was carried out 'more in hope than expectation' due to the amount of time that has passed since Madeline went missing in May 2007. Portuguese police have confirmed that the three-day search resulted in 'the collection of some material that will be subject to expertise analysis' but, according to The Telegraph, it could be weeks or months to analyse all the samples. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters has said a statement would be released soon if investigators find nothing of significance. But if the samples prove relevant, the statement would be delayed. 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 on Thursday police lifted the cordon and allowed media through to the site that had been searched the last three days. Police were 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 Foral where Brueckner lived, a few miles from the reservoir at Silves on Portugal's Algarve, the focus of the latest police search. 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 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 It is thought the soil removed was taken away by German officials for closer analysis at a lab in Wiesbaden where the country's investigative force, the BKA, are based There were also other holes dug into the foreshore close to the waterline and the path close to the edge of the reservoir had been cleared by the rotovator 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 Thursday at the 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 pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Germans Seyferth and Busching, who tipped off the police, were living in 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 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. '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 they 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. 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. In a statement issued after the end of the search, the Portuguese Judicial Police said: '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' 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, Mr 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 on Thursday there was a noticeable increase in activity as machinery and equipment brought to the search site was driven away. Shameless Portuguese former detective Goncalo Amaral has slammed the current search for Madeleine 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 (pictured in 2017) were responsible for their daughter's disappearance Detectives pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close 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 are 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 Madeleine 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'. 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 A police watches as a man cuts the bushes in the area being searched for remains Investigators hold spades and forks as the searches continue around the reservoir on Thursday Investigators search the undergrowth near the reservoir on Thursday Kate and Gerry McCann hold pyjamas similar to those of their daughter's during a press conference in Berlin on June 6, 2007 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. Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve on Thursday Authorities gather at a Judiciary Police makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area on Thursday during their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann German search teams arrive at the reservoir on Thursday for the third day of the search Investigators 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 Investigators at Barragem do Arade reservoir as searches continue as part of the investigation 'In conclusion 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. 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. 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 Luz 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 for more evidence Investigators take pictures as they continue their search for Madeleine McCann Portuguese authorities conduct a new search operation at Arade dam area on Thursday Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 while her parents were out for dinner 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. 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 probe this week was first major search for the toddler in nine years and 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 Madeleine. 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 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. 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. =Brueckner referred to the site as a 'little piece of paradise' Search teams arrive at the site as the search of the reservoir entered its third and final day A group of detectives arrive at the reservoir on Thursday 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 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 elderly woman 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. 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 Police tents pitched up next to the reservoir on Thursday Investigators searching the area around the reservoir People cut down trees and shrubbery as they search for clues 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 ten-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 south-west of the Serra 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 scaffolder who was tackled in the street by police after he attempted to clear eco-protesters out of the road has said officers might as well have been making demonstrators 'a cup of tea'. Louis Grieves, 21, was already an hour late for work when he came across the protesters on Blackfriars Bridge in London on Tuesday. Frustrated that they were holding up his van, the self-employed construction worker jumped out of his vehicle to intervene. Video shows him ripping banners from the hands of Just Stop Oil supporters and pulling protesters out of the road before he is aggressively tackled by police officers. Mr Grieves, from Bromley, said the officers had not apologised to him for the 'heavy-handed' treatment. He was held on suspicion of breach of the peace but was later told that he faced no further action. Louis Grieves, 21, was already an hour late for work when he came across the protesters on Blackfriars Bridge in London on Tuesday Louis Grieves, 21, was seen ripping banners from the hands of Just Stop Oil protesters on Blackfriars Bridge on Tuesday morning Just Stop Oil said 'tensions have been high' as Louis Grieves, 21, tried to throw a supporter on to the ground and was later handcuffed He told The Sun that the police officers might as well have been making the protesters a cup of tea. 'I was trying to bring peace, if anything, by getting them out of the way. People were at the end of their tether and I had to step in. 'They didn't even say sorry. I think they should apologise to the whole of London for not doing their jobs. 'I don't see how we can trust the police to protect us when they can't stop 20 angry sign-holding vegans from stopping traffic.' Footage of the protest shows workers from a waste management firm blowing their van's horn in frustration with the 45 protesters, who are walking very slowly across the bridge. Mr Grieves can then be seen clambering out of his van to confront the demonstrators. He hauls one out of the road onto the pavement, where the protester falls to the floor, before he tackles another taller man. But before he can push the second demonstrator out of the street, two police officers swoop in and grapple him into traffic on the other side of the road. During the struggle, the officer says: 'You are f*****g assaulting people'. He is then handcuffed as workers in the waste management van shout at police to, 'Get off my van!' A taxi driver across the road says it's 'absolutely disgusting'. The refuse truck then continues to inch closer and closer to the demonstrators as the workers try to get to work. The police have urged people not to get involved in the demonstrations and to wait for officers to act. Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: 'We absolutely understand why those who are caught up in traffic delays will be frustrated. Police grapple with the commuter who was seen trying to remove Just Stop Oil activists from the road The man was then handcuffed by police with the Met saying this was done to stop 'further Breach of the Peace' The protest descended into chaos when angry commuter Mr Grieves took matters into his own hands - and police swooped in and detained him 'I would urge the public not to intervene or take matters into their own hands but to call the police, let us know where the incident is and we will get there quickly.' The Met previously insisted that the reaction of their officers at the scene was proportionate. In a statement released on May 23, a senior officer from the Met defended the actions of the cops involved. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: 'I completely understand the frustration and anger of London's communities when protesters walk slowly in the roads and must wonder why we do not just arrest them. 'Police have legal obligations connected with our response to protest and we must police peaceful protest in a proportionate manner. Any interventions must be necessary and in discharge of a policing power and balance the rights of the protesters against the rights of the wider public. 'We have the power to impose conditions to prevent serious disruption to the public, which we have done on several occasions. Where conditions are not complied with we will move to arrest within a legal framework. In most cases the conditions have been complied with but where they haven't we have made over 30 arrests. 'Therefore, I urge people not to intervene and to let police deal with the situation. 'The incident on Blackfriars Bridge, in which a member of the public assaulted two protesters, was unacceptable and we will deal with anyone who behaves in this way. 'Officers on scene responded proportionately. They detained the man in handcuffs to prevent further Breach of the Peace. They took his details, will review evidence and interview the male - who was not arrested - with a view to further police action as necessary.' MBABANE A 70-year-old well-known Mbabane businessman was in the wee hours of Wednesday robbed of E120 000 in cash, while at his place of abode. The incident reportedly happened at Dalriach East, Mbabane at about 1:10am, when seven armed men attacked the businessman at his home. It was reported that the men were armed with handguns. Dalriach East is situated near Eveni and Thembelihle. Apart from the cash, the gunmen further robbed the businessman of various items amounting to E10 000, making the total value of the cash and items E130 000. The name of the businessman, who is in the construction industry, is known to this publication, but has been withheld pending police investigation. Confirmed Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident, stating that police were still investigating.Superintendent Vilakati said so far, no one had been arrested. Over the past months, there has been a number of armed robberies, especially along the Mbabane-Ezulwini corridor, where businesspeople were targeted. However, police made a breakthrough in these cases as there have been arrests reported. A week ago, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) issued a wanted person notice requesting members of the public to assist in locating one Nonhlanhla Nontsikelelo Manana of Ngonini in Ezulwini, who is wanted for a string of armed robberies committed around Goje and Mantenga, in Ezulwini. Vilakati told this publication yesterday that Manana was still at large and police were looking for her. She urged the public to assist in locating her. In a live video posted on Tuesday on the REPS official Facebook page, Vilakati lauded the public for assistance in locating suspects. She mentioned that through the publics assistance, police had been able to make a number of arrests, which included the arrest of two suspects, who were allegedly involved in a string of armed robberies. Suspects She mentioned that the two suspects were arrested on Monday while in Matsapha. She highlighted that the duo was allegedly involved in a string of armed robberies committed in the Hhohho Region. Vilakati said the duo would often attack homesteads and robbed members of the public of their properties, which included cash, dagga, amongst other things. The police spokesperson noted that the suspects were further linked to a series of crimes around Piggs Peak, which included the robbery at the residence of Acting Piggs Peak Mayor, Counsellor Absalom Ndlovu. This is where they allegedly stole nine of his guns, comprising pistols and pump action rifles. On Wednesday, the duo appeared in court facing multiple charges related to robbery and theft of items valued at about E1.4 million. Boy Boy Mayibongwe Mlotsa (28) of Nginamadvolo and Siyabonga Ganja Mpanza (30) of Nsangwini were charged with 14 counts, which include armed robbery, theft and illegal possession of a firearm. Australia Post customers are being warned of a sneaky trick where scammers are posing as the delivery company to steal personal information and money. Australian social media star Tups issued the alert to Australia Post customers after he almost fell victim to the phishing attack. The scammers impersonate the postal service with a text message to potential victims, that states: 'AusPost: Delivery attempted on 22/5; track your package at www.auspost-shipment.life to reschedule. If the recipient clicks on the link, they're taken to a phishing page, almost an exact replica of the Australia Post tracking site. The fake Australia Post website then prompts victims to provide their credit details in order to receive their package. Tups says he would have fallen victim to the scam if he didn't have the time to call and check with Australia Post. A few telling clues will help you spot the scam. Firstly, Australia Post says it will never request payments or personal information over the phone, through text or by email. Secondly, the formatting of the email is not quite as clean as you would expect from Australia Post and doesn't use any branding except for the red that you typically see in its logo. Thirdly, the website URL is different to Australia Post's official website - which is www.auspost.com.au. An Aussie bloke has warned of a new scam that poses as the company's tracking page to steal personal information and money 'It is so easy to fall for,' Tups csaid. 'The crazy thing is all the links go to the Australia Post's official page, Facebook. 'When I rang (Australia Post) the chick she told me that she had already received several phone calls about it. 'If I didn't have the day off to check I would literally have an empty bank account. 'Stay vigilant guys, they are getting smart. Question everything.' He showed that the email has all the drop-down menus and tick boxes that mimic the tracking site. 'Hats off to them, it's on the money,' he said. 'They really nailed this one 10/10'. Social media star Tups has exposed an Australia Post scam Email security organisation MailGuard says: 'The email itself heavily uses Australia Post's branding, and aside from a few grammatical errors in the text, it is hard to distinguish it from a genuine email'. The scam works by a victim receiving an email from an account impersonating the delivery giant's customer service team claiming the package is 'on hold' and the customer must pay a small fee (pictured) Alongside the text message, some Aussies are receiving a similar email from scammers pretending to be Australia Post. 'The email itself heavily uses Australia Post's branding, and aside from a few grammatical errors in the text, it is hard to distinguish it from a genuine email,' cybersecurity software provider MailGuard said. The email claims the customer's package is on hold and they need to pay a $3 fee to redirect it to their address. If the recipient clicks on the pay the fee button, they're taken to a phishing page. MailGuard warns that other than some grammatical errors in fine print and the site is very advanced and the errors would often be overlooked. The user is asked to verify their address and supply personal information which would then be harvested, including the credit card details entered to make the payment. The victim would then be instructed to enter a one-time code sent to their mobile, a seemingly harmless move but something that would allow cybercriminals to verify the authenticity of the card details which they have stolen. In 2022, Australia Post delivered 2.7 billion items, making it one of the biggest delivery services in the country. More than 50 peers have accused Channel 4 of delivering an 'unbalanced and prejudiced' news report covering allegations against the equalities watchdog's embattled chairman. The parliamentarians strongly 'condemned' the programme for launching an 'irresponsible attack' against Baroness Kishwer Falkner and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). In a scathing letter to Ofcom and Channel 4, they accused the programme this week of being 'complicit' in an attempt by staff to oust the chairman and undermine the board. 'In our opinion, viewers were fed a piece so unbalanced as to potentially reach the point of prejudice,' they said. The peers also slammed Channel 4 for 'relaying a stream of emotive, one-sided and unsubstantiated statements' against Baroness Falkner who is the subject of an ongoing investigation. The parliamentarians strongly 'condemned' the programme for launching an 'irresponsible attack' against Baroness Kishwer Falkner (pictured) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) A spokesperson for Channel 4 News last night said it 'stands by' its reporting. It comes just days after the Mail revealed that the chair was facing a KC-led probe prompted by a dossier of more than 40 complaints alleging discrimination, transphobia and bullying. Staff are accused of taking aim at Baroness Falkner over her stance on trans issues after she backed legal reforms guarding the rights of biological women in single sex-spaces and sports. Critics have already accused Channel 4 of Left-wing bias over Tuesday's reporting on what it said was evidence of a toxic culture at the EHRC and the 'consternation' at Baroness Falkner's leadership. It used actors and silhouettes to quote a number of anonymous current and former staff with one saying the situation was 'heart-breaking' and another saying staff were often left in tears. The programme also quoted from documents saying that the chairman's 'unacceptable behaviour' had 'become normalised' while staff were bullied. Critics have already accused Channel 4 of Left-wing bias over Tuesday's reporting on what it said was evidence of a toxic culture at the EHRC and the 'consternation' at Baroness Falkner's leadership Now, a group of 54 peers has made a formal complaint to Ofcom claiming Channel 4 News failed to properly represent any 'opposing views' as no one supportive of the cross-bench peer was featured. In the damning letter, the parliamentarians said: 'As a cross party group of peers we write in the strongest terms to condemn the piece. 'In the context of an ongoing investigation, Channel 4's intervention breached both Section 5 of the Broadcasting Code (Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy) and Section 7 (Fairness). The letter recognised that the current situation at EHRC was likely to be 'toxic' due to the sensitive debate regarding women's rights, sex and gender. But it continued that given the 'fiercely held views', a national broadcaster should 'at least attempt to provide both sides of the argument'. 'Instead, in our opinion, viewers were fed a piece so unbalanced as to potentially reach the point of prejudice. 'Channel 4 will no doubt try and defend themselves by saying that they spoke to more than 20 former and current members of staff; yet this means little when all these members of staff appeared to hold exactly the same opinions,' it said. The programme, which has previously been accused of Left-wing bias, also featured trans quiz show contestant Emma Laslett and liberal Tory MP Caroline Nokes who both took aim at the chairman. Miss Laslett described an allegation that the chair referred to her as a 'bloke in lipstick' during a board meeting and suggested Baroness Falkner was 'not fit for the job'. However, the programme failed to mention that insiders insist that the remark was taken out of context and the chair was simply highlighting the abuse trans people face on social media. The letter also pointed out that the peers had learnt that none of the EHRC Commissioners were approached for comment. It said Channel 4 failed to provide 'any proper representation of opposing points of view on either the issues more generally or the very serious allegations made against Baroness Falkner'. The peers added that the programme glossed over the 'immense amount of abuse' the baroness has been subjected to over the contentious issue. It said examples of her ordeal - include her being called a Nazi and scum online - are in the public domain and 'could have been reported to provide some balance.' They also cited protests by masked trans activist who left urine outside the EHRC building. 'To make no mention of this, while relaying a stream of emotive, one-sided and unsubstantiated statements amounts to nothing more than an irresponsible attack on an organisation that is seeking to uphold the rights of all in our society, not just the rights of one special interest group,' they wrote. The letter concluded that rather than contributing to a sensible on the issues the piece 'was complicit in promulgating the views of a small group of staff who are clearly seeking to undermine the board and the Chair who has our full support.' Numerous campaign groups are also believed to have complained to Ofcom including LGB Alliance, who said the allegations went unchallenged. In a letter LGB Alliance complained that a high LGBT staff turnover was presented without explaining 'that those who 'identify' as LGBT+ do not represent all gays and lesbians'. LGB Alliance's letter to Ofcom reportedly said: 'No one from any of the various LGB, lesbian, or gay men's groups was asked to comment. The item seemed more like a deliberate hit job than serious news coverage.' The letter was signed by a number of cross-party peers many of whom said they were horrified at the targeting of Baroness Falkner. Former equalities minister, Baroness Stedman Scott said: 'I know at first-hand how Baroness Falkner was always fair, balanced and professional. 'She is a woman of utmost integrity and many people, including House of Lords colleagues, are outraged by the way she is being singled out in this way..' While Lord Shinkwin said he was 'saddened by the concerted character assassination' against her. Lord Strasberger added that the chairman was targeted for 'shaking up the EHRC' and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne said she was being subjected 'a witch hunt' for speaking up for women. A spokesperson for Channel 4 News said: 'We stand by our reporting of the independent investigation into Lady Falkner and the culture at the EHRC. 'Lady Falkner was given the opportunity to appear on the programme and that invitation remains open.' Said Cassar 'had all the power' until a knife 'was brought into the equation' An employment activist has described a Centrelink worker who was allegedly stabbed in the back by an enraged client as being the person in 'power'. Phoebe Autumn, a disabled trans activist against Centrelink and an Australian Unemployed Workers Union (AUWU) supporter, has tweeted about the almost fatal stabbing of 55-year-old Joeanne Cassar in a Melbourne job centre. Elijah Chase, 34, allegedly stabbed Ms Cassar after he was told to leave Centrelink's Melbourne Airport West Westfield branch on Tuesday around 1.30pm. Ms Cassar was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and Mr Chase was charged with intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury, reckless conduct endangering life, common law assault and use and possession of controlled weapon. The stabbing has since prompted a safety review of Centrelink offices across the country. Phoebe Autumn, of Perth who describes herself as a 'survivor of abuse, bi, anarchist' posted on Twitter after Ms Cassar's hospitalisation: 'This is Anthony Albanese's preferred welfare system. He's had a whole year to change it.' Unemployment activist Phoebe Autumn (above) appeared to blame the alleged victim of the Melbourne Centrelink stabbing, tweeting that Joeanne Cassar 'had all the power ... until a weapon was brought in to the equation' Phoebe Autumn's tweet blamed the Centrelink officer, who was stabbed multiple times allegedly by an enraged welfare recipient who had been banned for violence to staff Police leave Melbourne's Airport West Westfield after Centrelink worker Joeanne Cassar was stabbed multiple times in her torso in an attack which narrowly missed her spine and kidneys 'The Centrelink officer had all the power in that situation until a weapon was brought into the equation.' In contrast, Ms Autumn's fellow AUWU member Jeremy Poxon tweeted about the stabbing: 'A few things on this: 1) it's awful. hope the worker is ok. '2) Services Aus isn't doing its job to keep ppl safe. The attacker had been banned from the site, but was allowed to enter 3) Given how awful conditions are, incidents like this will continue.' Ms Autumn, whose Linkedin profile says 'I'm an unemployed queer activist looking for accommodating and fulfilling work that utilises my unique skillset', regularly tweets about unemployment and Centrelink. She wrote a paper sourced by the AUWU about people 'in the welfare system ... being neglected', and tweeted about it a day after her Twitter post about Ms Cassar. Unemployment and trans activist Phoebe Autumn (left) said in her Tweet that Centrelink worker Joeanne Cassar (right) 'had all the power' before the knife she was allegedly repeatedly stabbed with 'was brought into the equation' In contrast, fellow unemployed union member Jeremy Poxon tweeted 'it's awful. I hope the worker is ok' 'As a disabled, unemployed trans woman, I am heavily discouraged to go back, especially because I can't afford help', Ms Autumn posted on Wednesday under @desvenlafaxines on Twitter. On Friday, Radio 2GB questioned Ms Autumn's post and also the apparent large winnings of the unemployed union's National Secretary, Daniel Levy. Both Ms Autumn and Mr Levy are allies of Jez Heywood, the AUWU president recently making headlines with his plea to '#RaisetheRate' of Jobseeker welfare payment increases. Daniel Levy, whose Twitter handle @DJLevy4821 says he is 'recovering from lifelong undiagnosed and untreated ADHD' is a successful poker player, historically at least according to several card game sites. The site cardplayer.com records his poker earnings at $120,740 between 2013 and 2016, while poker-in.com records his winnings in the same time frame at $US180,857. Australian Unemployed Workers' Union national secretary Daniel Levy (above) was a poker playing whiz in the mid-2010s, earning $US180,000 in winnings according to poker sites Mr Levy currently tweets about housing, unemployment and poverty. Ms Cassar, who is still recovering from the wounds she sustained when a knife narrowly missed her spine and kidney, may not return to Centrelink, or to work at all, her husband Andrew Giusti has said. Police will allege her accused attacker was banned from the branch because of previous violent behaviour towards staff, and that a Centrelink senior manager overruled team leader Ms Cassar's decision to close the front doors. Her family are seeking worker's compensation and considering further legal action against Services Australia, the Federal Government department which runs Centrelink, claiming the alleged incident should have never happened. Edwin Castro, the man who won $2billion in the Powerball lottery, was served with a lawsuit clamming that his winning ticket was stolen. Castro, 30, was at his new $25million mansion in California Thursday when he was served with the lawsuit. The winning Powerball ticket was sold at Joe's Service Center in Altadena, California, for the November drawing that captivated the nation. Castro claimed the winning ticket and California lottery officials say he is the rightful owner of the $2billion prize. But that hasn't stopped Jose Rivera from filing a lawsuit claiming the winning ticket was his. Edwin Castro was served with a lawsuit that alleges his $2billion winning Powerball lottery ticket was stolen Castro was served at his new $25million California home, despite lottery officials saying he is the rightful winner Rivera claims a man named 'Reggie' stole the ticket and refused to return it, saying it was a dud. Reggie also reportedly said if it did turn out to be a winner, that he would give up half the winnings. Rivera said he refused to be blackmailed and reported the alleged theft to police and lottery officials. Both Castro and Reggie were named as co-defendants in the suit, according to a U.S. Sun report. The winning ticket - 10, 33, 41, 47, 56, and Powerball 10 - was sold at the Altadena store, which also saw a $1million payout for the historic win. Workers at the Service Center told DailyMail.com that there was little evidence to support claims the ticket was stolen. 'California Lottery have strict regulations about how they choose a winner, this guy is crazy, he came in here with his attorney yelling about it and there's nothing we can do,' a worker said. The employee added lottery officials obtained surveillance video and went through it frame by frame for the vetted winner. 'When it comes to the vetting process for big winners, California Lottery has the utmost confidence in its process for doing so,' the California lottery said in a statement to DailyMail.com. 'California Lottery remains confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04billion prize stemming from the Powerball drawing in November of 2022.' Castro has been spotted leaving a bank in a vintage Porsche and purchased two California homes for $29million since taking home nearly $1billion after taxes from his lottery win At the time of the win, lottery director Alva Johnson said Castro wanted to remain private and had declined an invitation from lottery officials to attend the press conference. In a prepared statement Castro said: 'As much as I am shocked and ecstatic to have won the Powerball drawing, the real winner is the California public school system.' Public schools in California act as a beneficiary to the state's lottery. It means the education system received over $156 million as a result of the record-breaking win. After winning, Castro took the lump sum payment that totaled $997.6million after taxes. Workers at the center that sold the winning ticket were not as private as they celebrated their $1million windfall. Joe Chahayed, won $1million for selling the record-breaking $2.04billion Powerball ticket. At the time, Chahayed said he would share the winnings with his entire family. Chahayed - the father-in-law of former NFL player Domata Peko - held up a huge check outside his gas station alongside family wearing a 'millionaire made here' shirt. 'We are excited,' he said at a press conference with California Lottery in November last year. 'I'll share it with family, with whatever is needed, with my kids, my grandchildren. I have 11 grandchildren and I'll share with them.' His son, who was at the press conference, said 'no one else deserves it more than this man.' Castro has been living large since his winning, buying two separate California mansions for a total of $29 million Castro's new $4million in Altadena, California, comes with its own home theater and expensive artwork Castro has also bought a $25million home just 20 miles from his $4million property in California The sprawling 13,578-square-foot hillside estate, which comes complete with a full outdoor kitchen, gym, wine cellar and infinity pool Castro has been living large since his winning, buying two separate California mansions for a total of $29 million. He was also seen driving away from a bank in a vintage Porsche. One of his new homes is a $4million mansion in the Los Angeles area. The home comes with its own home theater, private office and expensive artwork, which is sure to be improved given Castro's hefty new bank balance. The Altadena home is only a short drive from where Castro grew up. If Castro tires of the $4 million estate, he is only around 20 miles from his second California complex, which he bought for $25 million just eight days prior. The sprawling 13,578-square-foot hillside estate, which comes complete with a full outdoor kitchen, gym, wine cellar and infinity pool. Castro was served with the lawsuit while at his new $25million mansion, according to reports. Husband 'had some awareness' of her whereabouts Missing conwoman Melissa Caddick's husband has hit back after a coroner described his evidence about her disappearance as 'riddled with inconsistencies' and 'simply untrue'. Anthony Koletti was visibly furious after NSW Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan found he was likely aware of his some of his wife's movements after she vanished but failed to disclose what he knew. 'It's disgraceful,' Mr Koletti told Daily Mail Australia on Friday. Ms Ryan took aim at Mr Koletti on Thursday when she handed down her final findings into Caddick's sudden disappearance two-and-a-half years ago. The fraudster went missing after ripping off $23million from investors, many of whom were immediate family and close friends. 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. Conwoman Melissa Caddick's husband Anthony Koletti (above) has slammed a coroner's findings he was likely aware of some of her movements in the days after she vanished but failed to disclose what he knew Mr Koletti reported his wife missing on November 13, some 30 hours after she was believed to have been last seen. In her findings Ms Ryan said Mr Koletti had not given '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 shoved 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort as he stormed towards his car outside the court complex at Lidcombe in Sydney's west. The hairdresser's brother-in-law, Adam Grimley, was in the driver's seat and loudly honked his horn as Mr Koletti barged his way inside. 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 Ms 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,' Ms Ryan 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.' Ms Ryan, who accepted Caddick was dead, found Mr Koletti had given multiple differing 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,' she 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.' NSW Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan concluded that Melissa Caddick had died, but it was still unclear how or when she lost her life Ms Ryan's findings covered several aspects of Caddick's disappearance, including theories as to how she died, the police investigation and her husband's response. Caddick's foot was found washed up on Bournda Beach, 400km south of Sydney, in an ASICS shoe, in February 2021. Ms 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. Caddick's foot was found washed up on Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast three months after she vanished 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 was still unclear. The coroner found there was not enough evidence to prove Caddick took her own life by jumping off the cliffs down the road from her home. Ms 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 Caddick took her own life by jumping off the cliff at Rodney Reserve, approximately 500m from her home, on the morning of November 12. Ms Ryan could not make a finding with any certainty whether Caddick 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,' she said. 'Her disappearance from her family in traumatic circumstances must be a source of deep and ongoing sadness for them.' For 24/7 support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. A college friend of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh is facing up to five years in prison after he pled guilty to helping him steal nearly $4 million in insurance intended for the sons of Murdaugh's late housekeeper. Cory Fleming, a 54-year-old criminal defense lawyer, appeared in court in Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday. Presiding over the proceedings, federal Judge Richard Gergel noted that it was highly unusual to have such an eminent local personality stood before him. Fleming and Murdaugh, also 54, studied together at the University of South Carolina School of Law and remained close friends. Murdaugh in March was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul in June 2021. Fleming admitted that he helped Murdaugh steal the cash intended for the sons of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died at Murduagh's house in February 2018, age 57. Cory Fleming is pictured on Thursday arriving in court in Charleston with his wife Eve Alex Murdaugh, also 54, is seen on March 3 leaving court after being sentenced to life for killing his wife and son in June 2021 Gloria Satterfield died in February 2018, age 57. Her sons were entitled to an insurance payout, but Murdaugh stole it, with the assistance of Fleming The Murdaughs said their housekeeper of over 30 years tripped over their dogs and died in the fall - although Alex Murdaugh has recently changed his story, to say he is not responsible. Nautilus is suing Murdaugh for $3.8 million - the amount they say should have gone to the Satterfields, but didn't because it was stolen. The Satterfield family received some money last year they were owed from six parties, not including Alex Murdaugh. On Thursday, Fleming admitted to helping Murdaugh steal the life insurance cash from Satterfield's sons, Tony and Brian, who were not told that they were entitled to any payout. Fleming and Murdaugh concocted a complex plan, which saw Murdaugh persuade Tony and Brian Satterfield to hire Fleming to represent them and submit a claim against Murdaugh to collect from his homeowner's insurance policy. Murdaugh had insurance on his property through Lloyd's of London and Nautilus Insurance Group. The pair then set up a series of fake accounts and siphoned off the payout, and then produced fake distribution sheets to get the payout approved by a judge. Tony Satterfield, one of Gloria Satterfield's two sons, never knew he was entitled to the money Tony Satterfield is seen with his mother, Gloria. The Murdaughs initially said she died after tripping over their dogs: now Alex Murdaugh denies they were to blame for her death Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot dead in June 2021. Gloria Satterfield died at the house in February 2018 The embezzlement of Satterfield's estate was first revealed in the early fall of 2021 in a lawsuit brought by attorneys Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, who represented Satterfield's sons. Fleming had no knowledge of Murdaugh's numerous other criminal schemes to defraud others, the case said. 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 received payouts in personal injury cases. Murdaugh on Wednesday was charged in a sweeping federal fraud indictment, which encompassed both the swindling of the insurance settlement and also allegations he defrauded his partners and other clients for 16 years. Murdaugh has been charged in a sweeping federal indictment outlining three separate schemes the disgraced South Carolina attorney allegedly used to steal money and property from his personal injury clients The 22-count indictment unsealed on Wednesday outlines three separate schemes the disgraced South Carolina attorney allegedly used to steal money and property from his personal injury clients. If convicted on all counts in the new indictment, which includes charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, Murdaugh would face a total of up to 480 years in prison and fines of up to nearly $13 million. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Murdaugh's attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin said their client 'has been cooperating with the United States Attorneys' Office and federal agencies in their investigation of a broad range of activities.' 'We anticipate that the charges brought today will be quickly resolved without a trial,' the lawyers added, suggesting a plea deal in the case is imminent. Prosecutors said he stole millions of dollars from clients and partners, and found himself teetering on financial disaster, which led him to fatally shoot his 22-year-old son, Paul, and 52-year-old wife, Maggie, at their Colleton County hunting lodge. 'Trust in our legal system begins with trust in its lawyers,' said US Attorney Adair F. Boroughs in a statement. 'South Carolinians turn to lawyers when they are at their most vulnerable, and in our state, those who abuse the public's trust and enrich themselves by fraud, theft, and self-dealing will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' he added. A woman has begged thieves to think twice before breaking into her car and instead steal from someone who 'looks like they can afford it'. The car owner stuck a large note in her driver's seat window in a bizarre attempt to discourage thieves from robbing her. A photo of the note, was shared on the Facebook page WA Incident alets. She explained in her impassioned plea that a string of break-ins had left her in debt and that she couldn't afford another robbery. 'Please leave my car alone,' the note read. 'There is nothing worth value here. I'm already in debt from break-ins where nothing was stolen. If you want to steal, look for a car that looks like it can afford it. 'PLEASE, and hopefully thank you.' Western Australians were infuriated with the woman's message in the note. One said: 'Lost me at "If you want to steal, look for a car that looks like they can afford it". A second added: 'They steal because they can and mostly without fear of any repercussions. Most of what they steal will be dumped, so it's not out of need or want.' A third declared: 'I would break in just to take that note. It's the principal.' A woman has begged thieves to think twice before breaking into her car and instead steal from someone who 'looks like they can afford it' Another wrote: 'Not sure telling them to break into someone else's car is good CARma. 'I get that you are pretty annoyed, and I don't blame you, however, you have a lot of growing up to do encouraging them to break into better cars, a fourth said. 'You haven't lived long enough to realise that most of us have worked extremely hard to have better cars and most of us don't even own them we are paying them off. 'Unfortunately, I do this every time I go to The Empire in Burswood for a night out, since my car was victim too,' one woman said. Another commented: 'First night in Hedland last week, passenger window smashed in. Welcome to Hedland.' Another woman said she had thought about leaving thieves a 'thank you' note. 'We keep having our cars broken into but nothing taken, even when there were expensive items in the car,' she said. 'We wrote a thank you note and left $10.. But then realised that was a bad idea and would only inviting more trouble. So we took it back out again.' Many reminisced on the days when cars would be left unlocked and untouched. 'My mum just used to leave the car unlocked when she lived in Hedland,' one said. Another commented: 'Growing up in Hedland, my dad would just leave the windows open and ashtray out.' A Texas girl, who was born in prison, will be attending Harvard after graduating third in her class. Sky Castner, 18, of Montgomery County, was born in Galveston County Jail, as her mother was incarcerated at the time of her birth. Her father would pick her up from the county jail and raised her as a single dad. 'I was born in prison,' reads the first line of her Harvard application letter, which she worked with a professor at Boston University to write. 'He helped me to tell my story in the best way possible,' she told the Houston Chronicle. Despite her rough beginnings, Castner will graduate third in her class from Conroe High School - north of Houston - and will attend Harvard in the fall to study law. Sky Castner, 18, of Montgomery County, was born in Galveston County Jail, as her mother was incarcerated at the time of her birth. Her father would pick her up from the county jail and raised her as a single dad 'I was born in prison,' reads the first line of her Harvard application letter Despite her rough beginnings, Castner will graduate third in her class from Conroe High School - north of Houston Castner's mentor Hamby regularly shares images of the teen on her social media accounts - celebrating her many successes, including the day the high schooler paid off her car (seen) The young teen credits her mentor Mona Hamby, who is unrelated to the school, for her success. Castner and Hamby met when the graduate was in elementary school at Reaves Elementary school. The young girl was an enthusiastic reader and staff thought she'd benefit from CISDs Project Mentor program, where children in need of a little love get paired with an adult to help care and mentor with them. 'I was given a paper about her. Her hero was Rosa Parks, her favorite food was tacos from Dairy Queen and she loved to read. I thought this sounds like a bright little girl,' Hamby told the Houston Chronicle. 'I still have that paper today. 'She told me: "I've been to jail." I said: "No, that cant be right," the mentor continued. 'I knew that I cant just go eat lunch with this kid once a week, she needed more.' Castner appears several times on Hamby's Facebook page and the mentor often gushed about the teen and how proud she was. According to a post shared on Hamby's Instagram in April, Castner not only succeeded in gaining a place at Harvard - but she will also be attending the prestigious Ivy League school on a full scholarship. 'Girl set a goal to go to Harvard in elementary school despite being born in poverty. Received full scholarship to attend Harvard in 2023,' Hamby wrote while sharing an image of her mentee. Hamby was there the first time Castner got glasses and needed a haircut, and even took her to tour Harvard's campus. The young girl was a voracious reader and staff thought she'd benefit from CISDs Project Mentor program, where children in need of a little love get paired with an adult to help care and mentor with them Castner was born in the Galveston County jail as her mom was held behind bars The young teen credits her mentor Mona Hamby for her success. Castner and Hamby met when the graduate was in elementary school at Reaves Elementary school 'After that trip, I saw her love for the school intensify,' she told the Chronicle. Others in the community helped her experience things like summer camp. 'It was a very different environment than I grew up in and thats not a bad thing,' the 2023 graduate told the Chronicle. 'Everything that Mona taught me was very valuable in the same way that everything that I went through before Mona was very valuable.' According to the Houston Chronicle, Castner has only spoken to her birth mother on one occasion, when she was 14 years old. A post shared on the Conroe ISD Education Foundation's Facebook page also revealed that Castner's father - who raised her alone - suffers from bipolar disorder, meaning that the support of Hamby and others in their local community was all the more important for the youngster throughout her childhood. Castner worked hard to achieve all A's and enrolled in the Academy for Health and Science Professions at Conroe High School to prepare to eventually go to the prestigious university. Castner graduated from Conroe High School on Thursday. A motorcyclist wants taxpayers to foot $7million in medical bills after he was set on fire and nearly died at the hands of a Florida sheriff's deputy's taser. Osceola County Sheriff's deputy David Crawford was on Thursday formally charged by prosecutors with culpable negligence more than a year after tasering Jean Barretto Baerga as he pumped gas. Barretto Baerga, 26, had been pursued by deputies after fleeing law enforcement who had responded to a report of a group of motorcyclists riding recklessly. The fire, which was caused by Crawford's stun gun, left Barretto Baerga seriously burned on nearly three-quarters of his body. Crawford was also badly burned in the blaze and is still on leave more than a year after the incident in February 2022. 'They're going to cost the taxpayers in Osceola County millions,' Barretto Baerga's lawyer Mark NeJame said. 'There should be consequences, because how else do we stop this type of activity from happening again?' Jean Barretto Baergo last February in the hospital following the tasing incident that caused a fire, which left burns on 75 percent of his body Deputy David Crawford has been formally charged with culpable negligence more than a full year after tasing Barretto Baergo NeJame said his client had burns everywhere but his face because of a mask, his hands because he wore gloves and his feet because of his shoes, according to Fox 35. The second- and third-degree burns have caused $7million in medical costs. 'He barely survived,' NeJame said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. 'His life will always be in jeopardy because of the massive amount of scar tissue and damage that happened to his body. He's doing his best to get through his life with these cards that have been dealt to him.' Body camera footage of the 2022 incident showed Crawford tackling Barretto Baerga at the gas pump without first announcing himself. A second deputy, Christopher Koffinas, used his stun gun on the victim, at which point Crawford shouted at the back-up officers to turn off the gas pump. Several seconds later, as Barretto Baerga lay in a pool of gasoline, Crawford pointed his taser and said: 'You're gonna get Tased again, dude,' and then fired. The blaze was instantly ignited and flames engulfed the biker. Koffinas received a 40-hour unpaid suspension for firing his stun gun first, but is not facing any criminal charges. NeJame, an attorney for Barretto Baerga's, commended the charging decision from the State Attorney's Office. He praised the office's 'ongoing professionalism and diligence on this matter.' The charges were first announced by Sheriff Marcos Lopez, but prosecutors have now formally charged the deputy. Crawford was placed on leave after the incident and has not been fired, even a year later. 'We feel its appropriate to let the criminal justice system determine if Deputy Crawford did a criminal act that could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,' sheriff's officials said after the formal charges. Crawford on fire following the tase. In horrifying bodycam footage, he is seen shouting and rolling on the ground attempting to put out the blaze on his legs The charge against Crawford matches the one announced last year by Sheriff Marcos Lopez (pictured). In the wake of the fire, Lopez said at a town hall that he was not considering changing the tactics his force uses for similar future arrests In the wake of the fire, Lopez said at a town hall that he was not considering changing the tactics his force uses for similar future arrests. When charging recommendations against Crawford were announced last May, Lopez said deputies believed Barretto Baerga fit a description of a man on a dirt bike who allegedly pointed a gun at a driver. A weapon was not found on Barretto Baerga, though Lopez claimed the victim may have 'tossed' the gun. NeJame called on both the US Department of Justice and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the Sheriff's Office - neither took on the case. Attacking the protocols of the Sheriff's Office, NeJame said: 'If he (his client) was driving recklessly, charge him with reckless driving, but you don't almost kill somebody and set them on fire.' 'You cannot have law enforcement running amok. They're supposed to be our protectors, not our ignitors.' Dozens of students have been urgently evacuated after their school received a 'threatening email' as police scramble to find the mystery sender. Children attending Our Lady of the Rosary in Fairfield, western Sydney, were evacuated to the nearby Patrician Brothers Fairfield College on Friday morning. Principal Jackie Vella informed parents just after 11am that a 'threatening email' had been received by the school but that their children were safe. 'This morning our school received a threatening email and as a result we have evacuated staff and students to Patrician Brothers Fairfield,' she said. Dozens of children attending Our Lady of the Rosary in Fairfield, western Sydney, were evacuated to the nearby Patrician Brothers Fairfield College on Friday morning 'This is just a precaution while police are on site and attend to the email. 'There is no cause for alarm, your children are safe and being looked after. If you would like to pick them up you are welcome to do so from the Patrician Brothers' College, however this is not necessary and there is no need to rush.' Several hours after the first notice, parents received an update from the principal. Ms Vella thanked the parents who had picked their children up from the college and confirmed students were safe with their teachers. Parents were advised that children would be taken back to school grounds and dismissed with after school care to go ahead as usual. Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police and Sydney Catholic Schools in relation to the incident. Our Lady of the Rosary is a primary school in Sydney's western suburbs that caters to students aged 5 to 12-years-old. MBABANE - Government has been taken to court over the legislation that prevents women, whose children are fathered by foreigners, from transferring citizenship to their children through birth. It is argued that depriving Eswatini women the right to pass citizenship by birth increases the risk of statelessness and offends against the Constitution. The applicant in this matter is Mandisa Ziphelele Machakata (born Zwane) and she is married to a Zimbabwean national, Norman Farai, who is a resident of Eswatini. They got married 16 years ago and three children were born of the marriage. The children were born in Eswatini. However, according to Machakata, the children are not eligible for citizenship by birth in Eswatini, because their father is not a liSwati. Urgent Machakata has since filed an urgent application at the High Court. She is seeking an order declaring Section 5 (2) and Section 7 of the Eswatini Citizen Act 14 of 1992 to be constitutionally void and being inconsistent with, among others, Section 20 and 28(1) of the Constitution of Eswatini. She also wants the court to declare that, notwithstanding Section 43(1), 43(2) and 43(3) of the Constitution, women and mothers who, after the commencement of the Constitution, were Eswatini citizens, may confer citizenship by birth to their children in view of Sections 20 and 28(1) of Constitution. She argued in her application that depriving Eswatini women the right to pass citizenship to their children by birth increased the risk of statelessness. Respondents in the matter are the deputy prime minister, minister of Home Affairs, Eswatini Citizenship Board, minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration, Speaker in the House of Assembly and the attorney general (AG). Commencement The applicant is further praying for an order declaring that women or mothers who, after the commencement of the Constitution, were Eswatini citizens may confer citizenship by birth onto their children. Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act provides that: A person born in Swaziland (Eswatini) after the commencement of this Act is a citizen of Swaziland by birth if at the time of his birth his father was a citizen of Swaziland. It was her contention that citizenship in Eswatini was entrenched in the Constitution and in statute (Eswatini Citizenship Act 14 of 1992). Section 5(2) of the Eswatini Citizenship Act (the Act) provides: A person shall be a citizen of Swaziland if his father is or, but for his death before the commencement of this Act, would have been a citizen of Swaziland by virtue of Subsection (1). In Section 7(1), the Act provides that: A person born in Swaziland after the commencement of this Act is a citizen of Swaziland by birth, if at the time of his birth his father was a citizen of Swaziland, under this Act. (2) A person born outside of Swaziland after the commencement of this Act is a citizen of Swaziland by descent if at the time of his birth his father was a citizen of Swaziland. (3) A person born outside Swaziland who becomes a citizen by virtue of Subsection (2) shall cease to be a citizen if his father was also born outside Swaziland; unless, within one year after he attains the age of majority (or within such extended time as the minister may allow) he notifies the minister in writing that he desires to retain his citizenship. (4) Where a child born outside of marriage is not claimed by his father in accordance with customary law and his mother is a citizen of Swaziland, the child shall be a citizen of Swaziland by birth. Machakata stated that the abovementioned provisions, and others, made it clear that citizenship was conferred by birth only when the father was a liSwati. She pointed out that citizenship was not conferred by the mother unless she and the father were unmarried and the father, per Swazi Law and Custom, had not claimed the child. I wish to state that the above captioned constitutional provisions are discriminatory against women, in so far as they limit passing of citizenship to children, to men. As a result, women have problems regarding passing on of their citizenship to their children born in or out of marriage with foreign men, she argued. The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. The respondents are yet to file their answering papers. Experienced Machakata informed the court that Eswatini women and their children born in or outside marriage with foreign men experienced a lot of frustration in accessing certain State resources and rights, which were meant for all citizens. She said local women were also unable to pass their citizenship to their foreign husbands, who were given the same status as any other foreigner. Most notable, according to Machakata, was the fact that it was only the father who could confer citizenship on his children. A Swazi mother cannot confer citizenship on her children unless a Swazi citizen fathers them, she added. She further informed the court that the Act also discriminated against Eswatini women on the basis of marital status. According to the applicant, local mothers married to foreign fathers may not pass their Eswatini citizenship to their children at birth, but unmarried local mothers, whose child was not claimed by the father, according to customary law, may pass their citizenship to their children at birth. Machakata submitted that the challenged provisions also appeared to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity to the extent that being an ethnically liSwati and being a liSwati were frequently aligned. Citizenship can and should be based on a variety of connections or links to Eswatini, but under the current law, a mothers connection or link to Eswatini is insufficient to pass citizenship at birth. This discrimination under Chapter IV is clearly in conflict with the Bill of Rights (Chapter III), hence the application that the provisos be hereby harmonised. The applicant argued that Section 28(1), read together with Section 14(f) of the Constitution, prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex and gender in the political, economic and social spheres and create legal equality for the first time between men and women. She said Section 20 guaranteed equality before the law, ensuring that a person shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender... ethnic origin, tribe, birth... or social... standing. Section 44 of the Constitution, however, restricts the right of emaSwati to pass citizenship depending on whether the liSwati parent is the mother or the father. Section 44 of the Constitution makes no reference to the status of the mother, except in Subsection 4 where her Eswatini citizenship only becomes relevant to the child should the unmarried father fail to adopt or claim the child under Swazi Law and Custom. She told the court that through her application, she implored it to ensure that her children and subsequently all other children in Eswatini, could derive nationality not only from the father, but also from the mother. The applicant said this was the spirit and tenor of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Eswatini. The applicant submitted that Section 20 of the Constitution protects and guarantees equality before the law. Machakata is represented by Human Rights Lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi. The matter will be heard by Judge Ticheme Dlamini today. Beloved pets, much-needed medication and even a wedding dress were saved by firefighters and police officers from unit blocks after a huge fire tore through a nearby building. Residents living in surrounding apartments of a seven-storey heritage-listed building on the corner of Randle St and Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, near Sydney's Central Station, were evacuated on Thursday afternoon after it went up in flames. The building burst into flames about 4pm and much of it, including the roof, had collapsed by 6pm. With nearby apartment blocks under threat, residents had to flee their homes as 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. Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said a number of pets including cats, dogs and rabbits were rescued. One resident who lived in a unit block near the building that caught on fire in Surry Hills thanked emergency services for rescuing his cat The building near Sydney's Central Station burst into flames about 4pm and much of it, including the roof, had collapsed by 6pm 'As people were evacuated last night we did start to get information from people who needed medication, who needed pets and so forth to be retrieved,' he said. 'We even had one lady who was due to have a wedding in Hobart and firefighters were able to go retrieve her wedding dress. 'So that's a very happy bride, I would imagine.' One owner is seen clinging onto her cat after they were evacuated from their unit block Bunnies and cats were rescued from unit blocks after a fire ripped through a nearby building One man who lived in a nearby apartment had his beloved cat rescued after the blaze took hold. He'd been teaching at Sydney University when he saw the news and raced home. 'The guy who went in is a very good man,' the resident told 10 News First outside his unit block on Thursday night while cuddling his pet who was visibly distressed by the ordeal. 'We've been here for a few hours now and we're happy to be going somewhere else. Commuters and workers are seen watching on in horror as a fire tore through the unoccupied building in Surry Hills 'He's a bit terrified of the noise I think, but he's going to be OK.' Many of the residents evacuated have been offered temporary accommodation or are staying with friends and family. It comes as police confirmed two 13-year-old boys handed themselves in on Thursday evening. 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 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. 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. A federal police commander wrote a diary note about a meeting with one of his subordinates about Brittany Higgins' rape allegations, where he recorded being told: 'Brittany maintains sexual assault but everything else, doctor... etc was made up'. The document came to light during a hearing of a Board of Inquiry which is investigating the police and the prosecution's handling of the case against Bruce Lehrmann, after Ms Higgins accused him of sexual assault. Australian Federal Police Commander Michael Chew was questioned by Erin Longbottom, the counsel assisting the inquiry, on Friday afternoon. The inquiry was shown a file note Commander Chew wrote on May 26, 2021, following a meeting with Superintendent Scott Moller about the investigation into Mr Lehrmann. The diary entry featured handwritten scribblings under Superintendent Moller's name - apparently his opinion about part of Ms Higgins' allegations. It provided an insight into what some officers thought about the investigation into Mr Lehrmann. A Federal police commander wrote a diary note about a meeting with one of his subordinates about Brittany Higgins' rape allegations, where he recorded being told: 'Brittany maintains sexual assault but everything else, doctor... etc was made up'. Ms Higgins is pictured Australian Federal Police Commander Michael Chew made a note of Superintendent Scott Moller's apparent opinion of Ms Higgins's allegations (above) Ms Longbottom read a portion of the entry to the inquiry: 'The note says, "Ms Higgins maintains allegations of sexual assault", but then goes on to characterise things to go against her credit.' She did not read the rest of the note aloud, but the entry was shown to the inquiry. It read: 'Brittany maintains sexual assault but everything else, doctor... etc, was made up'. Commander Chew was then asked why 'so what' was written in large letters in the middle of the page. He could only recall that it was in relation to KPIs - corporate jargon for key performance indicators - and had no relation to Supt Moller's opinions. Twist in 'Zoom call' Earlier at the inquiry, a Channel 10 lawyer who sat with Lisa Wilkinson during her pre-Logies meeting with top prosecutor Shane Drumgold told the inquiry she did not put a Microsoft Teams conversation between the two parties on mute. Tasha Smithies appeared confident on Friday when she told the inquiry that she did not recall having a private conversation with Wilkinson during their online meeting with the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions on June 15, 2022. Commander Michael Chew (above) was asked why 'so what' was written in large letters in the middle of his file note. He could only recall it was in relation to KPIs - and had no relation to Superintendent Moller's opinions The meeting was held within the same week as the TV Logie awards. Wilkinson was nominated for her interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project, during which the former parliamentary staffer first aired her rape allegations against Bruce Lehrmann. Mr Lehrmann has continually denied the allegations. On Friday, Ms Longbottom asked Ms Smithies: 'During the conference, did you press mute on the Microsoft Teams meeting so you could have a private conversation? Ms Smithies replied: 'No, I did not.' Mr Drumgold's lawyer Mark Tedeschi later asked: 'Was there a short period of time during the meeting where you and Ms Wilkinson had a private mute conversation so that Mr Drumgold could not see you or could not hear you?' Ms Smithies replied: 'I don't accept that.' Brittany Higgins accused her former workmate Bruce Lehrmann (above) or raping her in Parliament House. Mr Lehrmann has always denied the allegations The 'muted' conversation formed the basis of Mr Drumgold's view that he had sufficiently warned Wilkinson against mentioning Ms Higgins' name in her Logies acceptance speech due to fears it could bias a jury in the impending criminal trial. 'I was confident they knew she couldn't make that speech,' Mr Drumgold told the inquiry during cross-examination by Wilkinson's lawyer, Sue Chrysanthou on May 12. Ms Chrysanthou asked: 'Did you read their lips?' Mr Drumgold replied: 'No.' Ms Chrysanthou said: 'Then how could you have possibly made that conclusion?' Mr Drumgold responded: 'Because an experienced journalist sitting next to a lawyer would have come to that conclusion.' Ms Chrysanthou eventually said: 'The answer you just gave is illogical and irrational and contrary to human experience.' The inquiry previously heard Wilkinson started reading to Mr Drumgold during the meeting on June 115, but he cut her off and said 'I'm not a speech writer'. Channel 10 lawyer Tasha Smithies (above) sat with Lisa Wilkinson during her pre-Logies meeting with top prosecutor Shane Drumgold. She gave evidence before the Board of Inquiry on Friday During her Logies acceptance speech, which was broadcast nationally, Wilkinson appeared to side with Ms Higgins - essentially saying she believed her allegations. She did not mention the trial, Mr Lehrmann, any criminal charge or Parliament House in her speech. Chief Justice McCallum, who was presiding over the ACT Supreme Court rape trial, moved the hearing from June to October amid fears Wilkinson's comments would bias a jury. At the time, the Chief Justice said Wilkinson was warned against making public comments about the impending hearing. The public backlash was so severe Wilkinson left her job as host of The Project. Justice McCallum slammed Wilkinson for failing to heed Mr Drumgold's warning that she shouldn't give the Logies speech. Mr Drumgold later admitted failing to correct a file note he wrote following a meeting with Wilkinson and her Channel 10 lawyer in the lead-up to the TV awards last June. The inquiry continues. First Lady Jill Biden, 71, spoke at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education when she suffered the gaffe as she talked about uniting both sides of the political aisle Jill Biden was left in the quiet and begging for a reaction after a tough crowd failed to respond as the First Lady hoped. Biden, 71, spoke at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education Thursday when she suffered the gaffe while talking about uniting the right and left. 'Ive visited red states and blue states and Ive found that the common values that unite us are deeper than our divisions,' she said, which was followed by silence. A flash of confusion crossed the First Lady's face before she took the awkward silence with stride and joked: 'And, um, I thought you might clap for that.' This wasn't the first time Biden has suffered from an awkward pause during her speech. In 2019, the professor's 'applause line' fell short in Iowa after she promised her husband would stand up to the NRA. First Lady Jill Biden, 71, spoke at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education when she suffered the gaffe while talking about similarities between the right and left A flash of confusion crossed the First Lady's face before she took the awkward silence with stride and joked: 'And, um, I thought you might clap for that' 'Finally someone is standing up to the NRA and keeping our children and our schools safe,' she said at the time of her husband. She was met with blank stares and a silent audience before she threw her arms out and said: 'That's my applause line, come on.' The audience immediately lit up, laughing alongside Biden as she continued her speech. Biden suffered a similar gaffe in 2019 (pictured) when her 'applause line' fell flat while on her husband's campaign trail Her two gaffes were reminiscent of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush's awkward moment in 2016 when he begged the audience to 'please clap.' As he laid out what he believed America needed in a president - including a 'quieter' one - the audience appeared to have mistaken what he meant as no one moved to clap during the pause in his speech. As Bush crowded out the cornerstone of speech, telling the audience he was 'getting back into the business of creating a more peaceful world,' the audience didn't respond. Unlike Biden, who laughed off the moment, Bush appeared more irritated and sternly requested the audience to applaud him. Biden, a Northern Virginia Community College English teacher, attended the RISE conference, which hosts educators from across the country. This year's conference focused examined 'Americas recovery and resilience,' according to the Reagan Foundation. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and educator Sal Khan, among others - including congress members and secretaries of education - have participated in the event over the years. Biden had previously participated in the event in 2018 while she was the Second Lady. The First Lady thanked the Reagan Institute on Twitter for allowing her to speak, despite her gaffe, writing: 'Thank you to the @ReaganInstitute for bringing together leaders from across the country to talk about the future of education. Creating pathways to good paying jobs isnt a red issue or blue issue its an American issue that we can all unite around.' Award-winning ABC journalist Bridget Rollason is struggling after a major operation on her nose. Ms Rollason, who is the Victorian state political reporter for the national broadcaster, said she had a functional rhino septoplasty to improve her breathing earlier this week. However, three days after the surgery, she spoke out about her regret as she recovered with a swollen face and purple cheeks. In a post to Twitter on Friday, Ms Rollason asked followers for advice post-surgery. 'Has anyone on here had a functional rhino septoplasty to improve breathing, and did it change your life?' she asked. 'Three days post-surgery, and I'm regretting my life choices.' Award-winning ABC journalist Bridget Rollason is struggling to recover in hospital after a major nose operation as she questions three days post-surgery if it was even worth it Ms Rollason (left) had a functional rhino septoplasty to improve her breathing earlier this week but three days later with a swollen face and purple cheeks, she isn't sure if it was the best move Aussies responded on Twitter to soothe the television reporter's concerns by sharing their success stories after going under the knife. 'Had it done in 2015, a massive sinus cleanout. One of the best things I've ever done, health-wise. Recovery was rough though, hang in there,' one person said. 'I had one, the first week is rough and my face felt hot but it really helps, felt like I was getting an extra 50 per cent oxygen,' another wrote. 'It really did. Hang in there!' a third added,' However, not all comments were positive with some sharing that the surgery doesn't always work. 'I have and it didn't work. When I went back to my surgeon a month later and told him it didn't work he informed me that there was about a 70 per cent success rate,' one said. 'Never told me that before the operation. This was 20 years ago.' ABC journalist Bridget Rollason is pictured above (pictured) WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL RHINO SEPTOPLASTY? A functional rhino septoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to correct structural problems within the nose to improve its function. The primary goal of the operation is to improve nasal airflow, alleviate breathing difficulties, and correct any obstruction caused by a deviated septum. The procedure can help relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion, snoring, sleep apnea, and chronic sinusitis. It's important to note that a functional rhinoplasty primarily focuses on improving nasal function, while a cosmetic rhinoplasty addresses aesthetic concerns of the nose. In some cases, both functional and cosmetic aspects can be addressed simultaneously if required. General anesthesia is commonly used for rhino septoplasty procedures. It allows for a painless and controlled surgery while ensuring the patient is comfortable and unaware of the procedure. Advertisement Late last year, the ABC jumped to the defence of Rollason, accusing the Australian Financial Review of 'trivialising her'. What got the ABC so riled up was an article by Aaron Patrick referring to 'the ABC's television reporter Bridget Rollason, who has shot TikTok videos to catchy music of herself going to a gym, eating breakfast and having her makeup applied'. The ABC said it had issued a complaint to the AFR, describing the reference as 'irrelevant, incorrect and trivialising'. The description also came under fire from many on social media, who described it as 'sexist'. Seven reporter Jayde Vincent tweeted the AFR could have described Ms Rollason as an award-winning journalist, 'but chose sexism and bizarre, inaccurate attempts to smear them instead'. Following complaints from the ABC, the AFR said the the publication had deleted the descriptions of the pair, but stood by the story as a whole. 'The claims about the journalists contained in Aaron Patrick's report have been deleted from the online story,' AFR editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury said. 'The claims detracted from what was an otherwise well-written piece.' A Queensland businessman who was approached by a woman on his LinkedIn account was conned out of $300,000 in an elaborate romance scam. Paul Reed, 54, is speaking out to warn others - saying that he only found out he was really speaking to Nigerian fraudsters when police on a money laundering investigation told him. 'It sort of grew into a friendship and then it started getting a bit heavier,' Mr Reed told 9News. 'They get you when you're vulnerable. And when they find out what you've got, they'll try and take everything, every single dollar.' After establishing a friendship, the woman said she needed help from someone overseas to access millions of dollars in a bank account that was rightfully hers. Paul Reed was scammed out of $300,000 by Nigerian conmen in an elaborate romance scam and is speaking out to warn others Mr Reed said he was suspicious immediately but the woman video called him and provided fake documents to back up the tale. He eventually agreed and the scammers were able to access is bank account, which they used to launder money. 'He was under the impression that the female he had been talking with on LinkedIn was in fact real until he was actually shown pictures of the potential suspects based in Nigeria,' Ian Wells from Queensland Police said. Mr Reed said though he was embarrassed he was speaking out so that others don't fall into the trap. 'If you're looking for love try and find it the old fashioned way,' Mr Reed said. He's not alone with Australians losing a record three billion dollars to scammers last year, with the average victim forking out $20,000 for every con recorded by authorities. Scammers pocketed at least $3.1b in 2022 according to the latest Targeting Scams report, an 80 per cent increase on total losses recorded from the year before. 'Australians lost more money to scams than ever before in 2022, but the true cost of scams is much more than a dollar figure as they also cause emotional distress to victims, their families and businesses,' Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair Catriona Lowe said. He said he was approached on LinkedIn and the messages were in the form of a friendship that 'turned heavy' The report used data reported to the ACCC's Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange, IDCARE and other government agencies. Scamwatch received 239,237 scam reports last year with financial losses totalling more than $569 million, a 76 per cent increase compared to losses reported in the previous year. Average losses experienced by victims in 2022 rose by more than 50 per cent to almost $20,000. The rise is due in part to scammers using increasingly sophisticated technology and techniques to lure and deceive victims. 'We have seen alarming new tactics emerge which make scams incredibly difficult to detect,' Ms Lowe said. 'This includes everything from impersonating official phone numbers, email addresses and websites of legitimate organisations to scam texts that appear in the same conversation thread as genuine messages.' A man who filmed himself raping a woman has been jailed for at least five years after his ex-wife found the tape. Boghos Parizian, 58, filmed an hour and 54 seconds of the assault on a VHS tape in the 1990s. More than 15 years later, he insisted on getting into his estranged wife's place, where locks had been changed after he was kicked out in 2009. She then found the tape, labelled 'big mama', among his belongings in the garage. It was copied to a DVD and handed to police in 2015. Boghos Parizian, 58, was convicted of 11 counts of sexual intercourse without consent in the NSW District Court Detectives found the woman, who watched the footage in March 2016, the same month Parizian was charged. Parizian's barrister Chris Watson argued at trial the footage was confronting but the acts depicted were part of a consensual role-play. The jury rejected that argument and found Parizian guilty on 11 counts of sexual intercourse without consent in February. Judge Jane Culver said Parizian still denied the crimes and had shown no contrition or remorse, sentencing him in the NSW District Court on Friday to seven-and-a-half years in prison, with an non-parole period of five years. The footage was the only way to truly understand the gravity of his offending and showed she was clearly not in a fit state to consent, the judge said. 'She was obviously and apparently affected by something, that's not to say it was the offender who spiked her drink to give rise to that appearance,' the judge said after prosecutors withdrew a submission urging her to find Parizian had spiked her drink. Sometime between October 1991 and March 1993, the woman had dinner with Parizian to tell him to leave her alone. He had been calling incessantly after their brief relationship ended, while she was trying to reunite with her husband. She began to feel 'out of sorts' and 'not herself' after drinking orange juice at dinner. He drove her to his unit at Liverpool in Sydney's southwest, saying his father was ill. She remembers finding a mattress on the floor of his bedroom, angled differently to face towards the wardrobe, with the doors slightly ajar. She does not remember what happened next, when Parizian repeatedly raped and threatened her throughout the hour-long assault. 'You can't stop me,' he told her after she repeatedly protested and asked to leave, the court heard. The victim was told 'you can't stop me,' after she repeatedly protested and asked to leave, the court heard 'I want everything my way today don't try to stop me from anything,' the judge quoted, reading excerpts of the footage establishing Parizian knew she was not consenting. Parizian later called the woman and threatened to show the video to other people but she did not believe the footage existed. The woman said she attempted to take her own life after learning the footage did exist, telling Parizian he 'destroyed my life as a young woman'. In the footage, she sees the camera, and Parizian lies to her that it is broken and not filming, increasing his crime's seriousness, the judge said. Some in the public gallery left the court while Judge Culver detailed the graphic offending depicted in the footage. Parizian is eligible for release on February 26, 2028. A teenager in east Texas was arrested on capital murder charges after fatally shooting his parents, sister, and brother, all of whom he claimed were cannibals with plans to eat him. According to a probable cause affidavit, Cesar Olalde, 18, told others that he 'had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him.' Police responded to family's home in Nash, Texas, after a report that a person harmed his family and threatened to harm himself. Officers arrived and spoke with Olalde, who told them he 'had pulled the trigger and shot his family,' according to the affidavit. Authorities got the teen to surrender, and inside the home they found the murdered bodies of four family members. Cesar Olalde, 18, was arrested on capital murder charges after allegedly fatally shooting his parents, sister and brother Authorities in Nash, Texas found the bodies of Reuben Olalde (upper left), Aida Garcia (right), Lisbet Olalde (center), and Oliver Olalde (lower left) After persuading the suspect to surrender, authorities found the bodies of his parents, Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, as well as Lisbet Olalde, his sister, and Oliver Olalde, his younger brother. The affidavit read that 'it appeared as if the victims had been shot at various places in the residence and drug to the bathroom.' Cartridge cases were found around the house and blood spatter was found on multiple surfaces. According to the document, a coworker of Lisbet's had gone to the family home when she failed to show up at work and forced his way inside, where he was confronted by Cesar Olalde, who pointed a gun at him. Police responded and detained him at the scene. Olalde is currently being held on a $10million bond. Nash is a town of fewer than 4,000 people that is located on the western edge of Texarkana near the border with Arkansas. The Olalde's house in Nash, Texas, where four bodies were found Authorities eventually persuaded Cesar to surrender after he allegedly admitted to pulling the trigger on his family members Suspected killer Cesar Olalde is being held on a $10million bond on the capital murder charge Robert Ward, a neighbor of the family in the small community, described the victims to local station KTBS as a 'beautiful family' comprised of 'hardworking' and 'extremely nice' people. He said Lisbet had recently graduated from college and was planning to become a teacher, and that Cesar, whom he described as 'a good kid,' was making plans to become a plumber. Ward knew the family for 12 years before the horrifying crime took place. 'What surprised me the most about it is who done it. He was such a good kid,' he said. A Wisconsin bride-to-be has died after becoming trapped in a house fire on her wedding day just hours before she was due to tie the knot. Paige Ruddy, 19, was asleep on the second story of a Reedsburg home located at the 200 block of W. 2nd Street when it became engulfed in flames on Tuesday around 4am. The home didn't have smoke alarms to warn of the blaze, giving Ruddy no warning or time to escape. She lived in the home with her fiance and his grandparents, but it's unclear if they were the three others inside the home who escaped unharmed. When firefighters arrived, they broke a window on the second floor to get to Ruddy, who would die in the hospital a day later from a brain hemorrhage caused by smoke inhalation. Heartbroken family members remembered the teenager as a 'presence you couldnt explain that you always needed in your life.' 'She was just a precious human,' her aunt Holly said, according to 13 News. 'There was nothing about her that you couldnt like.' Paige Ruddy, 19, was asleep in her Reedsburg, Wisconsin home when it became engulfed in flames on Tuesday around 4am. Ruddy was set to be married to her fiance Logan Mitchell-Carter, who is now planning her funeral. Pictured: Paige Ruddy and her fiance Logan Mitchell-Carter The home didn't have smoke alarms to warn of the blaze, giving Ruddy no warning or time to escape. Three others were also inside the home but were unharmed. The cause of the fire is under investigation but police suspect no foul play was involved. The bride-to-be was hours away from marrying the love of her life Logan Mitchell-Carter before the tragic incident. According to Holly, the love birds privately exchanged their vows on Monday hours before the fire. They were set to tie the knot on Tuesday surrounded by close family at the Sauk County Courthouse. A GoFundMe dedicated to cover Ruddy's medical and funeral expenses mourned the late teenager as her family now prepares to lay her to rest. 'Monday night the Ruddy family in Reedsburg, Wisconsin went to sleep excited to attend Paige Ruddy and Logan Mitchell-Carters small wedding ceremony,' fundraiser organizer Brea Behn wrote. 'Instead, they were woken by police to be informed that there was a fire.' Ruddy was remembered as selfless and 'full of life' since the day she was born. 'She was kind, fun, and according to her family had lots of spunk. Paige always worked hard at everything she did. 'All the normal things a kid does, but also extra things to help her grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends. Everything from helping grandma with drywall to helping her parents with the day-to-day work as the oldest sibling of three.' Heartbroken family members remembered the teenager as a 'presence you couldnt explain that you always needed in your life.' Pictured: Ruddy The cause of the fire is under investigation but police suspect no foul play was involved Ruddy planned on attending Madison Area Technical College in fall to be a vet tech Lily Markgraf remembered the fun she had with her friend since seventh grade, and grieved for the life she won't be able to experience. 'I'll never forget all the fun we had between lunches, classes together and all the projects we've worked together on,' Markgraf wrote on Facebook. 'I'll never forget the pinterest board weddings weve planned, all the advice given back and forth, your awesome sense of humor.' Markgraf continued, 'You deserved to be able to get married. . You deserved an opportunity to be able to start a family of your own one day. Life really isnt fair.' Another person who appeared to be close to Ruddy and her fiance Mitchell-Carter wrote a heartbreaking tribute to the teenager while recalling her future plans. 'These two adorable kids were set to become husband and wife. Very much in love, they were planning a beautiful future together,' Sarah Fry wrote on Facebook. They were saving to buy a home.' Ruddy and her fiance planned on moving out of the family home and purchasing their own property. Ruddy planned on attending Madison Area Technical College in fall to be a vet tech. 'We have let not only our student-led yearbook staff down but our community as a whole,' wrote the Head of School and Board Chair A private prep school in Las Vegas was forced to recall its yearbook after administrators discovered a quotation used by a senior was originally said by the founder of the American Nazi Party. The Meadows School in Summerlin, where tuition runs families $31,000 per-child, per-year, requested students return their 2022-2023 yearbooks due to a quotation on a senior page attributed to George Lincoln Rockwell, the founder of the American Nazi Party. The Las Vegas Journal-Review reported the page showed a picture of the student alongside the quotation: 'Being prepared to die is one of the great secrets of living.' The student who used the quotation has not been named and it's unclear if they will be allowed to participate in graduation. Las Vegas prep school The Meadows School was forced to recall its yearbook after finding that a student had inserted a quotation by the founder of the American Nazi Party George Lincoln Rockwell was an infamous Hitler sympathizer and founder of the American Nazi Party The student submitted the saying with an anonymous attribution, but it actually comes from a 1966 interview of Rockwell conducted by 'Roots' author Alex Haley, Rockwell was a famous Holocaust denier and unabashed promoter of the work of Adolf Hitler. He was head of the American Nazi Party from its founding in 1959 through the end of his life in 1967. On the page, the student, whose identity remains unknown, also answered the question 'How can I influence others?' with 'Take over the country.' The student also listed their interests as politics, history and human biology. It is unclear whether the student will be allowed to participate in graduation from the Meadows School, which was founded in 1984 by current Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman. Tony Huang, the father of another Meadows senior, told Scripps News Las Vegas this week 'the school needs to do a better job monitoring what they put on the yearbook.' He added he still supports the private school's community and said: 'Everybody makes mistakes from time to time. And as long as they learn from this lesson, it is all good.' The Summerlin school, founded by current Mayor of Las Vegas Carolyn Goodman, charges $31,000 per-year per-child The school's Interim Head of School Claude Grubair and Board Chair Matthew Chilton issued a groveling statement apologizing for the oversight and for failing to 'help our students navigate what is morally right and wrong' A spokeswoman for the school, Lauren Walker, said the school is investigating the incident. 'We are collecting our yearbooks due to a quote that was included with an anonymous attribution that runs counter to our schools core values. We are taking this very seriously, and cannot provide further details until our investigation is complete,' she wrote in a statement Thursday. Last week, the school's Interim Head of School Claude Grubair and Board Chair Matthew Chilton issued a statement informing the community that the school was consulting with multiple groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, in the wake of the incident. 'It is our job to help our students navigate what is morally right and wrong, and we have let not only our student-led yearbook staff down but our community as a whole,' the pair wrote. Working Australians have revealed why they have no plans to kick their expensive cocaine habit, even as the cost of living and housing affordability worsens. Australians consume five and a half tonnes of the illegal drug each year and are the highest per capita users in the world. Cocaine use in Australia is at record levels having doubled since 2010 and quadrupled since 2004, according to studies by the National Institute of Health. The studies have also revealed employed Aussies were more likely to use the illegal drug. The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission found an average of 910mg of cocaine is consumed every day by every one in 1,000 Sydneysiders, the highest amount in the country. Aussies consume five and a half tonnes of the illegal drug each year. Pictured are crowds in Sydney The ongoing price for a gram of cocaine is an estimated $350 after hitting a record $420 a gram during the party season last December. 'I don't even try to justify the cost anymore I just do it because I enjoy it,' one Sydney man told news.com.au. 'I like to live a hedonistic lifestyle, and I'll never be able to afford a house. Another man added: 'There's no justification other than a good time and I think my mates have a f**k it mentality when it comes to buying bags.' One woman admitted she's stopped using cocaine because of the cost while another said she no longer buys the drug and instead 'sponges' off friends. The ongoing price for a gram of cocaine is an estimated $350 (stock image) A National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre study in 2021 revealed an increase in cocaine availability, prevalence of use and hospitalisations in Australia while calling for a need to promote harm reduction strategies. 'We have also observed increases in cocaine use among samples of people who regularly use ecstasy and other stimulants, with these individuals reporting that cocaine is more easy to access,' the lead author said. High doses of cocaine can make drug users feel extremely agitated, paranoid and aggressive, according to the Victorian Department of Health. Other health effects include dizziness, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting, tremors and headaches and heart issues. Long-term use can lead to depression, psychosis and cardiac problems. An 85-year-old British man was shot by snipers before his disabled wife died of starvation after being 'left behind' in conflict-ridden Sudan, their family has claimed. Relatives of Abdalla Sholgami and his wife Alaweya Rishwan, 80, have accused the British embassy in Khartoum of not doing enough to rescue the couple, who lived 'a maximum four steps' away from the government building. The family told the BBC that despite pleading for help, the elderly couple were told to travel 25 miles across a warzone to reach an evacuation flight. Their granddaughter Azhaar, who grew up in Khartoum, said: 'I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? I'm still very disappointed in them.' The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline but claimed the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month. Relatives of Abdalla Sholgami (left) and his wife Alaweya Rishwan (right), 80, have accused the British embassy in Khartoum of not doing enough to rescue the couple, who lived 'a maximum four steps' away from the government building. (Pictured centre: Mr Sholgami's granddaughter Azhaar) Mr Sholgami's granddaughter Azhaar (pictured with her grandmother), who grew up in Khartoum, said: 'I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? I'm still very disappointed in them.' Azhaar added: 'What happened to my grandparents was a crime against humanity, not only by the RSF, not only by the [Sudanese army], but by the British embassy, because they were the only ones that could have prevented this from happening to my grandparents.' The Foreign Office said the case was 'extremely sad', but that its ability to provide consular assistance is 'extremely limited' and it cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help. It was then that he was shot three times by snipers, they said, meaning his wife was left alone inside the property, which was surrounded by the gunmen, where she died. Mr Sholgami has since escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt, where he is receiving medical treatment. His injuries were initially operated on by his son, who is a doctor, without any anaesthetic. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'The final UK evacuation flight departed on May 3, concluding the longest and largest evacuation of any Western nation. 'The successful operation has evacuated more than 2450 people on 30 flights, the vast majority of them being British nationals and their dependents. 'The Sholgamis' case is extremely sad. The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. 'Our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and we cannot provide in-person support within Sudan. 'The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. We have coordinated with key international partners on the global response to the crisis, including pressing for access for humanitarian agencies to ensure communities can reach the essential services they need.' More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April (Pictured: moke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, on May 1) The fighting between Sudan's military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The charred remains of a wine merchants' office impacted by fire-ravaged buildings has shown the devastating effect of the worst fire in a city's living memory. Vision from inside the Laithwaites Australia office opposite the heritage-listed building that caught fire in Surry Hills in Sydney's CBD was filmed by Fire Rescue NSW on Friday. It comes after a blaze tore through the seven-storey heritage-listed building on the corner of Randle St and Elizabeth Street near Central Station on Thursday. The extreme heat from the fire across the road 'fractured' the wine firm's second-story office windows - while smashing bottles and melting blinds - leaving debris and glass in its wake. A FRNSW officer filming the devastation praised emergency services for extinguishing the fire that began to ignite the building - which Woolworths also uses. The extreme heat from the fire across the road 'fractured' the wine firm's second-story office windows (pictured) Vision inside the Laithwaites Australia office opposite the heritage-listed building that caught fire in Surry Hills in Sydney's CBD was captured by Fire Rescue NSW on Friday (pictured) A blaze tore through the seven-storey heritage-listed building on the corner of Randle St and Elizabeth Street (pictured, the charred remains) near Central Station on Thursday He said if fire crews hadn't contained the blaze it would have 'made this significant event much much bigger'. 'The extreme and intense heat has caused these windows to fracture and you can see ignition had started to occur,' he said in the video. 'Fortunately the operations of firefighters, their magnificent effort of containing this fire [has saved this building].' More footage showed glass-panelled cubicles in the office had remained intact, along with rows of unaffected wine bottles as much of the devastation was located at the window area. A worker at Laithwaites told Daily Mail Australia employees evacuated as soon as flames started to engulf their building. A quick-thinking staff member ordered everyone outside immediately after spotting the flames engulfing the building on the other side of the road, just moments after some staff were taking pictures of the billowing smoke. 'The extreme and intense heat has caused these windows to fracture,' the FRNSW officer said in the video (pictured, broken bottles and the busted windows) The wine merchant employees have no idea when they can go back to collect their belongings, let alone return to work (pictured, the day-after carnage in Sydney's CBD) She said many of her colleagues left their belongings and laptops behind as they dashed out of the building. Once outside they were hit with the 'intense heat from the flames' which had already blown out windows on the top two floors. She said the flames leapt across the street to their second-story building windows just as they had evacuated. The wine merchant employees have no idea when they can go back to collect their belongings, let alone return to work. Meanwhile, two 13-year-olds handed themselves into police on Thursday night at two separate police stations, Paddington and Kings Cross. 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 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. 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 (pictured, the aftermath) Charges have not been laid and the arson squad are leading the investigation (pictured, the left-over carnage) 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 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. Mr Tang, who'd stepped out to get some takeaway pizza, earlier said the group of children he saw 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.' Meanwhile, 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 (pictured), 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 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. Rolf Harris's death from neck cancer aged 93 was hidden for almost a fortnight with the help his ultra-loyal PA, allowing his daughter Bindi to grieve and secretly lay him to rest, MailOnline can reveal today. Lisa Ratcliff, 53, supported the disgraced star for more than a decade and helped campaign for him while he was in jail and after his release, claiming all the sex offences he was convicted of were miscarriages of justice. His wife Alwen, 91, a jeweller and sculptor, is in a wheelchair and seriously ill because of Alzheimers disease but the couple, who married in 1958, lived together until his death with Lisa in charge of their carers and taking Rolf to appointments. Lisa will also have been central to keeping Harris' death a secret for almost a fortnight, allowing his family to mourn and have a private cremation. One insider told MailOnline today that it is not out of the question that Ms Ratcliff could benefit from Harris' will and inherit some of his estimated 15million fortune. The pair are said to have bonded over their love of dogs and her unstinting support, especially following his fall from grace. Rolf was said to always reward loyalty over his 60-plus years in the limelight, the source said: 'Rolf was wealthy - and Bindi will expect to get everything. But her father was also generous and it's possible he could leave money, art or possessions to Lisa in recognition of what she did for him'. Lisa Ratcliff after registering the death of her boss and friend Rolf Harris at Maidenhead Town Hall this week - almost two weeks after his passing Harris was last pictured in public in April 2022, with Ms Ratcliff pushing him in his wheelchair as he was treated for neck cancer Former television entertainer Rolf Harris leaves Southwark Crown Court in 2017, followed by Ms Ratcliff, his loyal aide Rolf Harris' death certificate revealed his cause of death. He died at home on May 10. Lisa Ratcliff was the person who registered it Harris poses with his didgeridoo in one of the last ever photos taken of the disgraced former TV host in January Lisa maintained that Rolf was innocent, sharing and signing this petition The insider claimed that his PA was also his confidante after his release from prison, with a treasure trove of notes that would make a best-selling memoir following his death. 'Rolf was known to furiously dictate to her. There is only one person who has those notes and that is Lisa. A lot has been written down that has never released and that is a bestselling book right there', the source said. 'He also had art worth between 11million and 13million but these paintings became virtually worthless after he was convicted. But there is a view that could change now he has died. Lisa handled everything for Rolf'. MailOnline has approached Ms Ratcliff to comment. The Harris family declined to comment via their lawyer Daniel Berke. The certificate formally confirming Harriss death was registered at the Windsor and Maidenhead registry office on Tuesday morning by Ms Ratcliff herself - described as his 'runaround girl' for many years. She stayed for more than an hour before coming out and rushing to her waiting car without answering questions from the media. Minutes later his death - 13 days earlier - was confirmed to the world. There was mystery over why Ms Ratcliff waited almost two weeks to formally register the death. Deaths should normally be registered within five days, though there can be exceptions. Kent-born grammar schoolgirl Ms Ratcliff worked herself up from a secretary to Rolf's most trusted aide over the course of around a decade. Rolf Harris and his wife Alwen (right) were recluses and rarely left their home in Berkshire. Their daughter Bindi (left) is said to have relied on Lisa Ratcliff to support her parents A private ambulance at the home of Rolf Harris on the day after he died The 5million Berkshire home where Harris spent his final days as a virtual recluse His daughter Bindi, who lives in the West Country, was happy for her to organise his round the clock care as he battled neck cancer and old age since walking free from prison in 2017. Neighbours said she was the only regular visitor to the riverside house in Bray as Rolf lived as a near recluse after many of his friends abandoned him. 'Rolf has taken over Lisa's life. She's seen what Rolf has suffered and others around him and is totally invested', the insider said. 'After he was released from jail she had got into a position of great strength, because Bindi relied on her. Bindi had very little to do with Rolf's affairs and had her own life and lives in the country away from her parents'. Bindi lives with her husband Craig Nicholls in Somerset and was rumoured to have changed her name and cut ties with her parents. However she supported her father throughout his trials for sexual assaults in 2014. 'Bindi made up with her dad but had her own life. That allowed Lisa to start dictating who Rolf could see and what he could do', the source said. 'Lisa did a great job with the carers - but she was not good with PR and business affairs. But Bindi thinks she is doing a brilliant job. 'She's been asked to do more - because there was no one else - Rolf didn't have many people left around him after what happened. The family friend said: 'Rolf's death was not registered for almost two weeks - Lisa would have handled that. Bindi would be too upset to do it. Lisa is the strong one. Bindi would leave it to Lisa. Bindi is a lovely person, gentle and easily stressed, just like her mum. It's no surprise that Lisa registered Rolfs death. Bindi wouldn't be able to do it'. The circumstances of Harris death had been shrouded in secrecy - partly due to him having totally withdrawn from public life ever since his conviction for sexual assault on underage girls in 2014. Rumours of his death began on May 10 when a grey van thought to be a private ambulance, was pictured outside the 5million Thameside mansion he shared with wheelchair-bound, Alzheimers-suffering wife Alwen Hughes. He was known to have been suffering with neck cancer since at least October last year, struggling to eat and talk, and both he and his wife required 24-hour private care. Rolf was known to have been suffering with cancer since at least October last year, struggling to eat and talk, and both he and his wife required 24-hour private care. Alwen beaming as Harris puts his arm around her while holding the paw of their family dog at home in January After getting neck cancer, Harris could no longer talk or eat and required round the clock care A new ITVX documentary recently unearthed disturbing footage of Rolf Harris joking with Jimmy Savile about leaving a little girl 'safely in his arms' Rolf Harris (performing in the early 1970s) was a much-loved entertainer in Australia and the UK until his arrest in 2013 Harris with a dog at the RSPCA Animal Hospital in Putney, west London A court sketch of Harris in the dock. He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison and released on parole in 2017 after serving three years. He never apologised to his victims William Merritt, a private investigator and author, said previously that when he saw Harris in late 2022 he was obviously very sick. No one came forward to confirm the death until reporters were able to obtain a copy of the death certificate. Even neighbours and friends were not certain whether Harris had died. A statement from the family said on May 23: 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. Harris began his career with hits including Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport and Jake the Peg and became a TV personality during the 1960s and 70s, later presenting shows such as Animal Hospital. In 2005 he painted the 80th birthday portrait of the late Queen. But his career came crashing down in 2014 after he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on four girls between 1968 and 1986 including one victim aged just seven or eight. He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison and was released on parole in 2017 after serving three years. He never apologised to his victims. At his sentencing the court heard he was a sinister pervert who used his fame to get close to young women. One of the convictions, relating to an allegation that he indecently assaulted an eight-year-old was overturned on appeal in November 2017. But Court of Appeal judges dismissed his application to challenge the other 11 convictions. In light of his offending, Harris had his 2012 Bafta fellowship removed and was stripped of his CBE. He also had Australian honours taken away. Brits are flocking to the beach today to soak up the sunshine ahead of a toasty Bank Holiday weekend - and things are set to get even hotter over the next few weeks. According to the Met Office, the country is finally set to enjoy a long overdue spell of warm weather in June, with temperatures expected to reach above average. Meanwhile, an area of high pressure which has brought good weather across the UK over the last few days will continue into this weekend and next week. Temperatures look set to hit 22C in parts of the country today, Saturday and Sunday - and hundreds of sunseekers have wasted no time in heading to the sea. Couples, surfers and children were pictured going for a dip off the shores of Bournemouth on Friday, which enjoyed some of the warmest weather in the UK. People enjoying the warm weather on Bournemouth beach as the UK could see the hottest day of the year so far this bank holiday weekend People enjoying the warm weather in Scarborough on Friday A couple lounge in their sunchairs while enjoying Scarborough beach on Friday Meanwhile in Scarborough, families were seen sprawled out on beach towels as they worked on topping up their tans, while couples lounged in their sun chairs. It comes as the Met's forecast from May 30 to June 8 predicts high pressure resulting in most of the country being predominantly dry and sunny. More unsettled conditions are likely to take over southern areas by the end of the period, but with temperatures staying above average for a lot of the country. Their long range forecast from June 9 - June 23 says temperatures are likely to be above average for the time of year, though conditions in eastern coastal areas could be closer to normal. Met Office Chief Forecaster Paul Gundersen said: 'The jet stream sitting to the north of the UK is holding unsettled weather systems at bay and allowing high pressure to dominate bringing fine weather to the vast majority of the UK. A couple sitting in deckchairs enjoying the warm weather in Scarborough People enjoying the warm weather and building sand castles in Scarborough on Friday Children build sandcastles on the beaches of Scarborough on Friday 'The current position of the high pressure means we will see a westerly air flow over the UK, a cooler direction than if air was being brought up from the south, and areas such as Spain or Africa. 'Therefore, we are not likely to reach heatwave conditions, but temperatures will still be warm reaching the low 20s for many, particularly in the South West and southern Wales.' Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates added: 'Next week is half term week for much of the country and there is a strong signal the high pressure will continue to dominate our weather. 'Its exact position over the UK will dictate the temperature, wind direction and weather patterns, however indications are that the dry, bright weather is likely to continue for most with little in the way of rain throughout next week.' As the weather warms up and many plan to be out and about over the bank holiday, travel experts are warning of busy roads. A cyclist out amongst the greenery on a warm morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire The sun rises over the Oxfordshire countryside on May 26 ahead of what is set to be a warm and sunny bank holiday A horse grazes in the field in Dunsden early in the morning as the weather warms up The Met Office says the area of high pressure which has brought good weather across the UK over the last few days is forecast to continue into the bank holiday weekend and into next week RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: 'We fully expect families to make the most of the largely fine weather over the coming days which is why we're forecasting the busiest late May bank holiday since before the pandemic. 'Into next week and half term for many parts of the UK, day trips will also be a big feature with popular routes to the coasts and countryside becoming busy. 'Getting away early in the morning or delaying trips until the evening are the best way to avoid the inevitable delays. 'No one wants a breakdown to get in the way of them and time with family and friends, yet so many of the jobs our patrols will go out to are completely avoidable if drivers complete a few checks before they get out onto the open road. 'Ensuring oil and coolant levels are where they should be is a must, as is checking tyres are free of damage and are properly inflated.' Sadiq Khan's controversial plans to extend ULEZ have been slammed on BBC Question Time amid claims night workers face being forced to pay the 12.50 levy twice per shift. The Mayor of London is pushing on with plans to extend the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ), which currently covers areas within the North and South Circular roads, taking in most of Greater London by August 2023. The plans, which aim to improve London's air quality, have proved divisive with some resorting to stealing and defacing enforcement cameras in protest. Opponents say the outer London expansion 'penalises' hard-working Britons during a cost-of-living crisis, including night time shift workers who may be forced to pay the twice. One audience member on last night's BBC Question Time, hosted in Gravesend, Kent, said it felt like 'an added tax on people who can't afford it'. The ULEZ expansion, set to come in on August 29, will cover most of Greater London Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion plans have been met with wide-ranging opposition - but they are also supported by clean air campaigners When debating whether the way ULEZ expansion plans were being rolled out was democratic, one woman said: 'It it does feel like you're being penalised for wanting to go to work. 'My father is a shift worker so he would be charged going in the night and coming back in the morning, so twice a day sometimes. 'It's unaffordable. The ordinary citizen is already asked to sacrifice so much. It feels like an added tax on people who can't afford it.' What is ULEZ? Your key questions answered ULEZ is expanding across all London boroughs from August 29, 2023. Here are 12 key questions about the scheme: - What vehicles are affected? It depends how much nitrogen dioxide it emits, which is usually linked to its age. For diesel cars, most compliant vehicles were registered after September 2015, while petrol cars are typically registered after 2005. - How can I check the status of my vehicle? TfL urges motorists to use its online checker by visiting www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle. - What is the charge for non-compliant vehicles? The daily fee is 12.50 for cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3.5 tons. Heavier vehicles are charged 100. - When do charges apply? All day, every day of the year except Christmas Day. - What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)? An area in London where older, more polluting vehicles are charged a daily fee. - What has changed since it first came in? Previously only covered parts of central London, but in October it became 18 times larger. - What are the boundaries? ULEZ was extended to include all areas within the North and South Circular roads. - Who has done this and why? London Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced it to improve air quality. - How quickly do I have to pay? Until midnight on the 3rd day after a journey. - How do I do it? You can pay online through TfL's website, using the Pay to Drive in London app, or by phone. Drivers also have the option to set up automatic billing. - What happens if I do not pay? You could be handed a 160 fine, reduced to 80 if paid within a fortnight. -Where does the money go? TfL says the cash it receives from the ULEZ is reinvested into improving London's transport network and to improve air quality. It insists 'we don't make a profit' from the scheme. Advertisement Host Fiona Bruce then put it to the panel, who were all united in their desire for cleaner air in London but were divided over the plans. Former Dragons Den star and businessman Theo Paphitis accused Mr Khan of doing a 'botched job', saying: 'I think it's been dealt with incredibly badly'. Loose Women panelist and MailOnline columnist Janet Street Porter said: 'We want cleaner air, but I also agree that this isn't a very democratic policy. It should have gone to a vote.' Pensions minister Laura Trott said it was 'an absolute outrage', adding: 'It penalises pensioners going to the doctors, it penalises people going to work, it's got to be stopped. ' While Labour MP Peter Kyle said he supported taking action on air pollution, he conceded that ULEZ was 'clearly divisive'. He told the audience: 'We have to move forward, but we have to move forward in a way that takes people with us. 'I accept that some people are finding this really difficult.' Mr Khan faces wide-ranging opposition for his ULEZ expansion plans which are set to force Londoners in all boroughs to pay 12.50-a-day to drive in the capital from August 29, if their cars don't meet certain environmental standards. However, they are also supported by clean air campaigners. Since taking on the role of London Mayor in 2016, Mr Khan has made tackling the capital's air quality one of his top priorities. Data released last month by the Mayor's office showed major improvements in London's air pollution since 2016. Outer London ULEZ expansion is set to improve air quality for five million more Londoners, it is claimed. Defending his plans, Mr Khan said: 'This new data shows that we have every reason to be hopeful about the future of our city if we continue to take bold action. 'The impressive rate of reductions in harmful pollution since 2016 highlights that world-leading policies, like ULEZ, are helping us to deliver a greener, safer, cleaner London. 'But the data also makes clear we have some way to go. 'I'm determined to build on the progress made and deliver the bold action needed to ensure all Londoners are able to breathe clean air, starting with the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide this August.' However ULEZ has proved controversial, with the Mayor's own report finding expansion plans will have a 'disproportionate negative impact' on people with restricted mobility including parents with young children and care workers. It also identified that there would be a 'negative impact' on women taking their children to school and travelling alone late at night. Campaigners from The Women's Equality Party warned the expansion would mean many women living in outer London would have 'their access to transport restricted in the middle of a cost of living crisis'. An audience member blasted ULEZ for being 'unaffordable' and an 'added tax' on people who cannot afford it Sadiq Khan's controversial ULEZ expansion plans were debated on BBC Question Time last night A report into the Ulez expansion scheme warned it would have a disproportionate 'negative impact' on women living in London. Pictured are Ulez protesters on April 15 Pictured: An information sign at Tower Hill in central London for the Ultra Low Emission Zone The scheme has triggered such outrage that furious Londoners have resorted to stealing and defacing dozens of Ulez cameras in protest. Last week, police charged a second man with smashing up ULEZ cameras after officers launched a 'proactive operation' following 96 reported incidents of criminal damage across the capital. Mr Khan himself has also been targeted by anti-ULEZ protesters, who heckled the London Mayor as he promoted his new book about climate change at the Royal Festival Hall this week. 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 the 12.50 daily charge. Janet Street Porter, Munira Wilson and Peter Kyle debated whether ULEZ expansion plans were 'democratic' 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. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told MailOnline: 'The Mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution. 'Around 4000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. 'The ULEZ is a very targeted scheme nine out of ten cars driving in outer London are already ULEZ compliant and will not have to pay the charge,' the spokesperson added. 'The Mayor has introduced a 110m scrappage scheme to help eligible Londoners, including those on low incomes, to replace their old polluting vehicles.' A 72-year-old farmer was killed by 'about 40 crocodiles' this morning after falling into their enclosure on the family's reptile farm. Luan Nam was trying to move a crocodile out of its cage in Cambodia where it had laid eggs when it grabbed the stick he was using as a goad and pulled him in. A group of reptiles swarmed him, tearing his body to pieces and leaving the enclosure in Siem Reap awash with blood. The body was pictured, recovered, after the incident, but police said the man's arm was torn off and swallowed by the crocodiles. Farmers in Cambodia often breed and sell crocodiles to buyers in China, Thailand and Vietnam where their skin can be made into leather and other products. Photos taken after the body appears to have been recovered shows a large pool of blood The farm was reportedly home to 'about 40 crocodiles', which swarmed on Luan Nam, 72 Luan Nam, a 72-year-old farmer who died after falling into a crocodile enclosure at the farm Mey Savry, police chief of Siem Reap commune, told AFP: 'While he was chasing a crocodile out of an egg-laying cage, the crocodile attacked the stick, causing him to fall into the enclosure.' 'Then other crocodiles pounced, attacking him until he was dead,' he said. He added that the remains of the man's body were covered with bite marks. Images after the attack showed the huge beasts still paddling in the pool after the body was recovered. Local news reported that the victim was from Po Banteay Chey village within the Siem Reap commune, outside of the city. Siem Reap is the second largest city in Cambodia, home to the Angkor Wat Buddhist temple complex. Angkor Wat is considered the world's largest religious structure. Nam was also named as the president of the country's Crocodile Association. He was said to have died at around 5am on May 26 2023. The crocodiles were seen in the enclosure after the accident with blood still on the ground Large crocodiles are pictured sitting together in the enclosure in Siem Reap, Cambodia The body was covered after the attack, with the farmer losing an arm in the attack Luan Nam (pictured right) walks through the enclosure in Siem Reap, a city in Cambodia A two-year-old girl was killed and eaten by crocodiles in 2019 when she wandered into her family's reptile farm in the same village, the police chief said. There are a number of crocodile farms around Siem Reap, the gateway city to the famed ruins of Angkor Wat. The reptiles are kept for their eggs, skins and meat as well as the trade in their young. Crocodile farmers have also increasingly worked with conservationists in Cambodia in recent years. The customer claims Bunnings worker yelled at his wife The man was at Bunnings in Broadmeadows, Melbourne Frightened onlookers have captured the moment an unruly man unleashes a tirade of abuse at a Bunnings staff member who allegedly yelled at his wife. The confrontation was captured inside a Bunnings at Broadmeadows, 15 km north of Melbourne's CBD, and shared to social media on Wednesday. A man, wearing a half yellow jumper and blue beanie, is seen approaching the Bunnings staff member manning the counter at the tool shop section of the warehouse. The man accuses the worker of yelling at his wife before aggressively pushing items off the counter and hurling abusive insults at him in Arabic. 'Why you yelling at my wife?' the man begins his tirade. The aggressive customer was filmed hurling a tirade of abuse at a Bunnings staff member in Broadmeadows, Melbourne (pictured) 'F*** you, f*** your sister the sl**,' the man yells. The shocked Bunnings worker holds both his hands up and does not engage with the customer. Another Bunnings worker approaches the man and is heard telling the irate customer to 'get out'. 'Don't f***ing yell, motherf***er,' the man continues his tirade before another customer intervenes. The man slams his hand on the tool shop counter and turns to leave before the video ends. A TikTok user known is 'Rizz Almosawe' claimed to be the man in the video. He alleged the Bunnings worker had been yelling at his wife before he confronted him. 'He was shouting at my wife for no reason and the customers they protect my wife and call me,' he wrote. The man pushes items off the counter and yells at the staff member in English and Arabic (pictured) Another TikTok user known as 'Towie' defended the man's actions claiming he was protecting his wife. 'We protect our woman no matter what and to let you know there were witnesses,' Towie commented. 'We protect our woman no matter what and to let you know there were witnesses who told the story and that the employer got sacked for his actions 'If its okay with you when someone disrespects your wife or sister/mother for absolutely no reason its different with us.' 'If you shout and swear at our woman for no reason then this happens and the devils come out.' Daily Mail Australia understands the confrontation occurred when the Bunnings team member called out to a customer after they had forgotten their receipt and were walking away. Bunnings General Manager of Operations Matt Tyler told Daily Mail Australia he was aware of the incident and labelled the customer's actions as 'disrespectful'. 'We are aware of an incident that recently took place at our Broadmeadows store,' Mr Tyler said. 'Theres nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our team and customers. 'Its not OK for anyone to experience abuse in our stores and we will always take steps to protect our team from disrespectful behaviour.' The customer claimed the Bunnings worker was yelling at his wife before he confronted him (pictured, Bunnings in Broadmeadows, Melbourne) However some social media users saw the lighter side of the frightening incident. TikTok commenters joked the man reacted aggressively because he wasn't given a discount or was upset because the famous Bunnings sausage sizzle was unavailable. 'When they dont beat it by 10 per cent,' one person commented. 'His power pass for Bunnings account was low,' a second person wrote. 'When you find out theres no sausage sizzle on,' a third added. A fourth person joked:'when you wait in line and the guy in front gets the last snag.' Former President Medvedev warned that the Ukraine war could last for 'decades' Russia will launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike if the West provides Ukraine with nukes, one of Vladimir Putin's closest aides has said in a sinister warning. Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev said the West is failing to grasp Putin's willingness to bring about a nuclear Armageddon. A ranting Medvedev also warned that the Ukraine war could last for 'decades', with long periods of fighting interspersed by truces. Medvedev - now deputy head of Putin's security council - warned that the war has escalated further with Ukraine receiving warplanes, such as US F-16s, and 'maybe even nuclear weapons'. 'There are some irreversible rules of war,' he said on a trip to Vietnam. 'If it comes to [deliveries of] nuclear weapons [to Ukraine], a preemptive strike will have to be carried out.' Russia will launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike if the West provides Ukraine with nukes, one of Vladimir Putin's closest closest aides said in a sinister warning. Pictured: The launch of a Sarmat nuclear missile in April 2022 Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev (pictured in Vietnam on May 23) said the West is failing to grasp Putin's willingness to bring about a nuclear Armageddon The West still fails to grasp this and wrongly believes that Putin will not pull the nuclear trigger, said Medvedev. 'It will mean that a missile with a nuclear warhead will come flying to them,' he threatened. Medvedev is the only other man alive - apart from Putin - who has had his finger on the Russian nuclear button. Putin is often seen with a functionary nearby evidently clasping his nuclear briefcase. Meanwhile, Medvedev said the Kremlin feared 'a guy with dementia' being elected the the White House, apparently referring to a second term for Joe Biden He said: 'The only thing that matters is that a guy with dementia is not elected. But this is possible.' For Russia, 'historically it was always easier for us to work with the Republicans,' he said. However he said Republican favourite Donald Trump was 'a nice guy, but a bit of a coward.' A ranting Medvedev also warned that the Ukraine war could last for 'decades', with long periods of fighting interspersed by truces. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers on a tank ride along the road towards their positions near Bakhmut on Tuesday Meanwhile, Medvedev said the conflict in Ukraine could last for decades with long periods of fighting. 'This conflict will last a very long time, most likely decades,' he said. 'As long as there is such a power in place [in Kyiv], there will be, say, three years of truce, two years of conflict, and everything will be repeated.' This is why 'it is necessary to destroy the very nature of the Nazi power in Kyiv', he claimed. Medvedev often makes hard line comments and last month described Ukrainian authorities as an infection. The former president - despite Russian setbacks in the war and his prediction it could drag on for years - insisted that Ukraine would collapse. 'It will depend on which way the process of disintegration of this dying state will take as a consequence of a lost military conflict,' he said. 'Either it will be a way of relatively slow erosion of Ukrainian statehood with gradual loss of remaining elements of state sovereignty. 'Or instant collapse with simultaneous annihilation of all hallmarks of statehood.' Medvedev was Russian president from 2008 to 2012 and was the country's longest-serving prime minister since the collapse of communism. North Korea has sentenced a two-year-old to life in a prison camp after the toddler's parents were found with a Bible. The plight of the child, whose entire family was also jailed, was revealed in the International Religious Freedom Report from the US State Department. The publication also exposed multiple cases of North Koreans being killed for their Christianity, such as the execution by firing squad of a Christian woman and her grandchild in 2011. In another case, a member of the ruling party was executed in front of an audience of 3,000 at Hyesan airfield after they were found in possession of a Bible. Other believers faced pigeon torture, whereby they were suspended with their hands tied behind their backs, unable to sit or stand for days on end. Worshippers at the Chilgol Protestant Church in Pyongyang. A US report has found North Koreans are being killed for their Chrisitianity The report cites one estimate that up to 70,000 Christians are imprisoned for their faith under Kim Jong-Un's regime, out of a possible population of 400,000 'It was the most painful of all tortures,' one victim recalled. 'It was so painful that I felt it was better to die.' Others were tortured with sleep deprivation. One Christian woman in solitary confinement was driven to suicide in 2020 after prison guards refused to let her sleep, according to the report. Other horrors endured by Christians include starvation, dehydration, tainted food, beatings, and forced adoption of agonising positions for prolonged periods. The report which summarises the findings of various non-governmental organisations, human rights groups, and the UN paints a disturbing picture of Christian life in North Korea. It cites one estimate that up to 70,000 Christians are imprisoned for their faith under Kim Jong-Un's regime, out of a possible population of 400,000. Ostensibly, North Korea guarantees its people religious freedom in its constitution and the regime highlights the churches it has built in Pyongyang as proof. But the publication said these churches operate only as 'showpieces for foreigners'. It cited the testimony of one defector, who said people could be arrested for lingering too long outside the churches and listening to music from within, or even consistently driving past them. Choristers at the Pyongyang church. American Ray Cunningham visited the church and said: 'I came away wondering just how real this is' Chilgol Protestant Church in Pyongyang. North Korea highlights the churches it has built in Pyongyang as 'proof' of its religious tolerance Ray Cunningham, from the US state of Illinois, visited Chilgol Protestant Church in Pyongyang during a service. He said: 'I came away wondering just how real this is. 'Are the services regular? The church seems maintained but is it a regular event? In the society you see no evidence of religious activity except for Buddhism. 'It feels real but like many things indeed it may be somewhat a show for tourists. In this case it might be a mixture of showmanship and a few elderly Christians in the area.' He also noted something that was highlighted in the report no children attend the services. 'The congregation was made up of older men all seemingly over 65 and women over 40,' he said. 'What you did not see were children or young working-age people.' The US State Department's publication said many North Korean Christians hide their faith from their children. It cited the finding of one NGO, Open Doors USA, which said: 'A Christian is never safe. 'Children are encouraged to tell their teachers about any sign of faith in their parents' home.' Another NGO, Korea Future, said children were taught in school about the 'evil deeds' of Christian missionaries, including 'rape, blood sucking, organ harvesting, murder, and espionage'. The report said: 'One defector told Korea Future that the government published graphic novels in which Christians coaxed children into churches and took them to the basement to draw their blood.' And while most of the cases of religious persecution documented by Korea Future targeted those pracitising shamanism, it was Christians who normally received the harshest punishments. This is because they are perceived as a 'hostile class' and a 'serious threat to loyalty to the state', the report said. For followers of shamanism, punishments range from six months in a forced labour camp to three or more years in a re-education facility. Christians, meanwhile, can be executed, or face anything from 15 years to life in a prison camp, imposed on up to three generations of the immediate family of the person found guilty. The report repeated the conclusion reached by Open Doors USA, that 'life for Christians is a constant cauldron of pressure; capture or death is only a mistake away'. In place of religion, the Kim family demands worship for itself and its ideology of Juche meaning national self-reliance, the publication said. These offered a 'form of state-sponsored theology', it said. The report explains: 'Although the ideology makes no explicit claim that the leaders are gods, they are described as "extraordinary beings" capable of supernatural feats.' One defector described being taught that bullets would change course rather than hit Kim Il-Sung, the country's founder and Kim Jong-Un's grandfather. Leading sustainability experts took part in the first of the Decarbonisation Roundtable Series held today (May 23) in Bahrain as part of the Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME). The roundtable - Carbon Markets - Accelerating and Funding the Road to Net-Zero - was aimed at helping regional audiences build a better understanding of carbon markets regionally and around the world, said the organisers. The one-day event saw more than 100 leaders from the public and private sector come together for an in-depth look at the growth and practical workings of carbon markets globally and in the region and assess the benefits they can provide as another tool and pathway for helping businesses and countries in the Mena region to achieve their net-zero ambitions. The high-level gathering of senior climate, finance and sustainability leaders was held under the patronage of Bahrains Supreme Council for Environment where they discussed the tools and pathways to support regional net-zero goals. On this occasion, the Supreme Council for Environment asserted the importance of the national partnership between the public and private sectors in any country seeking to achieve sustainable development goals and reach net-zero. The SCE praised the national role of the private sector in the kingdom and its close cooperation with various public and private trade and industry sectors and other fields related to climate change and clean energy transformation. The Council also applauded the success achieved by the first session of the roundtable at the Forum, wishing all participants success in achieving the targeted objectives. It lauded the speakers efforts to find innovative solutions and ambitious sustainable economic visions that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing the national efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. The event kicked off with opening remarks from Majed Al Khan, the CEO of Infracorp, a leading sustainable infrastructure developer working across global markets. This was followed by an introduction on carbon markets by the events moderator, Ms. Jessica Robinson, Mena Sustainable Finance Leader, EY-Parthenon. The high-profile speakers at the event were officials representing regional governments including Layla Sabeel, Head of Planning, Climate Change & Sustainable Development, Supreme Council for Environment, Kingdom of Bahrain and Okan Ugurlu, Climate Change Expert, Directorate of Climate Change, Department of Carbon Pricing, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Republic of Turkiye. They provided views on the approach of their jurisdictions and others to carbon markets. Reporting on the development of local carbon markets was Riham AlGizy, CEO of Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC), a joint venture between Saudi wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund) and the kingdom's bourse Tadawul. In October last year it had organised the worlds largest carbon credits auction where more than 1.4 million tonnes of carbon credits were purchased by leading regional industrial companies and banks. AlGizy said: "We need to use every tool at our disposal to address the threat posed by climate change to our region, and the world. Voluntary carbon markets complement direct emissions reductions by enabling organisations to compensate for their carbon emissions." "At RVCMC we are creating a credible voluntary carbon market at speed and at scale, with integrity at its core. Our focus is on channelling climate finance and improving livelihoods in the Global South. This carbon markets roundtable was a valuable opportunity to meet with peers and partners to discuss how, collectively, we can work together to drive climate action across the region." Other high level speakers addressed a range of important related issues. This included the role of financial institutions and asset managers in supporting the development of carbon markets, investor interest and appetite from the GCC and beyond and how carbon markets can create new revenue streams and help fund sustainability projects including renewables. Contributing to the discussion were Venetia Bell, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Gulf International Bank, Dr Wael Albeniyan, Director, AcwaPower Portfolio Management Essam Albakr, CEO of Riyadh-based Ejada Capital, Abdulrahim Ahmed, Senior Representative, Sustainability Committee, National Bank of Bahrain and Abdulaziz Tawfeeqi, Director, Project Development at Infracorp. These experts addressed the key industry challenges including views from some climate advocates asserting carbon markets slow down decarbonisation in real terms, carbon pricing, how to build the right level of transparency and recent issues surrounding verification, all precursors for effectively scaling carbon markets in the region. On the major issues, Bell said: "Carbon markets are a valuable tool to support the needed transition to net zero in the Middle East, but to fulfil their potential we need to see an increase in the supply of high-quality carbon credits, improved market infrastructure and supportive policy and regulatory frameworks." "Todays roundtable provides a regional multi-stakeholder forum to find ways to overcome these challenges and realize the opportunities, whilst still prioritizing the primary goal of emissions reductions," she added.-TradeArabia News Service An Australian tradie arrested for an alleged drunken rampage in Indonesia has avoided jail after reaching a 250million rupiah settlement with an injured fisherman. Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, attended a reconciliation meeting on Friday with the fisherman who was assaulted during the April incident and agreed to pay him compensation worth about AU$25,000, the ABC reported on Friday. The Queensland surfer had faced up to five years in jail after he was accused of emerging naked from his surf resort hotel room on the island of Simeulue, off the coast of Sumatra. He reportedly chased and struck people in the streets of the island which is in the strongly Muslim and conservative Aceh province. The fisherman required dozens of stitches in his leg, leaving locals outraged. Police alleged just after midnight on April 27 Mr Risby-Jones left his hotel in a drunken state, punched a security guard in the neck and knocked Mr Ron off his motorbike The fisherman Edi Ron (pictured) is nursing a range of injuries including broken bones, 50 stiches and painful nerve damage after the alleged attack On Friday Mr Risby-Jones said in an interview broadcast on ABC TV it had taken a long time to find a peaceful resolution but it was good to finally get there. 'Staying in an Indonesian cell for a month is hard for the body and for mental (wellbeing) ... but considering everything, I think my health is doing good,' he said, while handcuffed and flanked by police. At the meeting he apologised to the fisherman and his wife and reportedly handed over brown bags full of cash as part of the settlement. He also apologised to Indonesians, saying he was 'very, very sorry for the grief I've caused'. Local authorities in Aceh said the amount agreed on was 250 million rupiah ($A25,000), the ABC reported. The fisherman's family had originally sought around $A60,000. The fisherman Edi Ron is nursing a range of injuries including broken bones, 50 stiches and painful nerve damage and his wife Eri Saljuna said he may need his right foot amputated after it was broken and became infected. Mr Risby-Jones is expected to remain in custody until authorities sign off on the deal, allowing him to return home to Australia next month. Mr Risby-Jones was on a three-week surfing holiday off the coast of Sumatra last month, when he allegedly drank vodka in Aceh province - which is forbidden. Police alleged just after midnight on April 27 he left his hotel in a drunken state, punched a security guard in the neck and knocked Mr Ron off his motorbike. Officers arrested him later that day and he has been in detention since. Footage of Mr Risby-Jones' appearance at a press conference showed him being marched by police to a stage in handcuffs while wearing an orange jumpsuit and a black balaclava. When asked if he knew alcohol was outlawed in Aceh, the Queenslander said: 'I was not aware, no, I was not aware. I understand now' 'I'm very sorry for my actions and the embarrassment I've caused and the embarrassment that I've caused for us Aussies overseas, especially Indonesia,' he told the conference. 'I'm very sorry and yeah, I wish what I did never happened. I really, really want to come home.' When asked if he knew alcohol was outlawed in Aceh, the Queenslander said: 'I was not aware, no, I was not aware. I understand now. 'It was at duty free in the airport. It was cheap and my friends actually purchased it. 'I actually don't usually drink that much at home. If I do drink though it would be beer usually.' Tributes have been paid to one of the last surviving members of the original wartime SAS after his death aged 98. Lance Corporal Alec Borrie passed away at his home in Dagenham, East London, earlier this month after suffering from pneumonia. He had been bedbound for several months after recovering from coronavirus. Referred to by comrades as 'Boy' because he was just 18 when he signed up, he served under legendary SAS commander Paddy Mayne, who asked him when he joined the unit in 1944 if he liked 'killing people'. Lance Corporal Borrie was among members of the SAS who were ordered by Winston Churchill to 'cause a nuisance' by conducting guerilla operations against the Nazis during the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the summer of 1944. He later carried out 'Nazi hunting' operations inside Germany in April and May 1945 under Mayne's command before he was badly injured a few weeks before VE Day when his Jeep was blown up by a mine. Tributes have been paid to one of the last surviving members of the original wartime SAS after his death aged 98. Lance Corporal Alec Borrie (pictured above in front of his Jeep bearing the SAS's famous winged dagger badge) passed away at his home in Dagenham, East London, earlier this month after being bedbound for several months following a coronavirus diagnosis Lance Corporal is seen in his bed at his home in Dagenham holding a specially commissioned oil painting of Commander Paddy Mayne. The painting was hung above his bed, prompting him to say, 'thank God I've got my commander watching over me again' Lance Corporal Borrie's death means that Mike Sadler, 102, is the only surviving member of the original SAS, which was formed in 1941 by Lieutenant-Colonel David Stirling. Paying an emotional tribute to him, historian Damien Lewis, who interviewed Lance Corporal Borrie just a few weeks before his death, said he was the 'bravest of the brave' - a reference to a moving line in a poem by Irishman James Clarence Mangan. The full verse reads: 'Twas there I first beheld, drawn up in file and line, the brilliant Irish hosts; they came, the bravest of the brave.' Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Lewis, the author of SAS Great Escapes, said: 'Alec was lovely. He was a typical SAS guy. He was irreverent. He was sparky. 'He was a maverick. He was very single minded. He had that leftfield way of thinking that you need to have in that unit. 'I can see why he was such a golden member of the unit when he served in it. He was absolutely of type. 'Even in his last years, you could tell that Alec would have been a fearsome warrior when he needed to be. He still had that steeliness.' Born in Soho Square in London in 1924, Lance Corporal Borrie was making bomb boxes for engineering firm Vickers when he signed up to the British Army in 1942. He initially joined the Gordon Highlanders but was then transferred to the Highland Light Infantry and then posted to the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland. In an interview with History of War Magazine, he told how he volunteered for the Special Air Service because he 'wanted to get off the Orkney Islands', which were 'like the Arctic'. Lance Corporal Borrie is seen with fellow SAS members (from left to right) Joe Craig, Chris Tilling, Arthur Smith and Woody Woodford in France in 1944 Lance Corporal Borrie (centre) is seen with comrades alongside a car bearing the SAS insignia Lance Corporal Borrie (right) is seen with comrades Joe Craig (left) and Arthur Middleton in Brussels Lance Corporal Borrie is seen with SAS comrades posing beneath a sign pointing towards Brussels He added that he did not know what the SAS was when he signed up with two others, both of whom also survived the war. During a ten-minute interview, Mayne asked him how he 'felt about killing people', prompting Lance Corporal Borrie to say: 'I haven't done it but I think it will be ok.' Lance Corporal Borrie initially underwent a period of intensive training on the Scottish moors, where he and other recruits carried out parachute jumps. The SAS's task was to slow down the advance of German reinforcements towards Normany, which was invaded by the Allies on June 6, 1944, better known as D-Day. The guerilla tactics carried out by Lance Corporal Borrie and others were made especially dangerous by Adolf Hitler's infamous 'Commando Order', which stated that Allied commandos should be killed immediately on capture. With casualty rates pushing 50 per cent, the risks involved for Lance Corporal Borrie were immense. He was among the men who were initially dropped behind enemy lines between Lyon and Dijon. After arriving, they 'shot up' a German armoured convoy before driving around the French countryside in Jeeps, looking for targets to attack. The men were heavily armed, carrying weapons including a Vickers K machine gun, reams of ammunition and explosives. The SAS were also tasked with training and supplying members of the French resistance during their two months in France. They then moved to liberated Belgium before being posted north to the Netherlands. Lance Corporal Borrie was then sent back to Britain for what was meant to be a month of leave, but within two weeks the men were ordered to head back to Europe ahead of the Allied invasion of Germany. It was while in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, that Lance Corporal Borrie witnessed an incredible act of bravery by Mayne, which saw him recommended for the Victoria Cross. With Lance Corporal Borrie and others pinned down following an ambush, Mayne single-handedly 'wiped out' a pillbox and killed German snipers before saving two injured SAS members. Mayne's VC was later downgraded to a third bar on his Distinguished Service Order, much to Lance Corporal Borrie's dismay. As members of 1st SAS advanced through Germany, they encountered surrendering German troops as the Allies neared victory. However, just three weeks before VE Day, Lance Corporal Borrie's own war came to an end when the Jeep he was in was driven over a land mine. One man died whilst Lance Corporal Borrie and another man were badly injured. The pair were sent home to Manchester before being transferred to Dartford in Kent. He recovered from his injuries but had little time to celebrate when he was told the SAS were being sent to the Far East to fight Japan, which was yet to surrender. But after the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese commanders finally conceded defeat and so the SAS remained at home. Lance Corporal Borrie left the SAS when it was controversially disbanded shortly after the war. Lance Corporal Borrie (left) is seen with former comrades PJ Cabut and Jack Man, at Sennecey-le-Grand in 2019 Lance Corporal Borrie poses at the wheel of a Jeep with former SAS comrades during a reunion Mr Lewis, who visited Lance Corporal Borrie at his home in January, said: 'Alec said to me three months ago with real vehemence, "they couldn't wait to get rid of us". "We were deeply unpopular because we did what was right, not what was political or what we were ordered to do." 'Paddy Mayne in particular was greatly disliked because he abhorred chair born warriors who had never earned their spurs in battle. 'He believed they had no right to be in a position of respect.' He kept talking abut what it was like going into battle with Mayne as their commander. 'H wanted to put back on the record what an amazing commander Mayne was. He was never a bully. 'Alec never saw that for one moment. He was loved by those he commanded. 'If Mayne ordered you to go into the jaws of hell, you somehow felt that under him you had the best possible chance of coming out alive. 'He led from the front so inspired others to follow him.' Mr Lewis had a portrait of Mayne commissioned which was hung above Lance Corporal Borrie's bed at his home. 'He said with real emotion "thank god Ive got my commander watching over me again", Mr Lewis recalled. 'He knew was pretty much on the end run in terms of his life. 'There he had Paddy Mayne watching over his bed and it really made him feel that sense of safety and certainty. 'It was really a very emotional moment.' Lance Corporal Borrie, who spent most of his life in Dartford and then Slade Green in south-east London, left the Army in 1947 and worked as a carpenter until his retirement. He met nurse Jean Spurgeon, his future wife, on New Year's Eve in 1949. She had served in the Red Cross during the war. The couple met at a dance, where a glass chandelier collapsed and hit Lance Corporal Borrie on the head. Jean nursed him as he recovered from his injuries, although he later admitted: 'I had not been hurt at all but I took full advantage of the fact everybody thought I had...' By 1952, he had saved enough money to get married and the pair tied the knot in Bexleyheath, south-east London, in June that year. Lance Corporal Borrie looks through an old photo album while in bed at his home in Dagenham Author Damien Lewis poses with Lance Corporal Borrie at his home in Dagenham earlier this year Lance Corporal Borrie met nurse Jean Spurgeon (above), his future wife, on New Year's Eve in 1949. She had served in the Red Cross during the war As well as his exploits in the SAS, Mayne (pictured above) also played professional rugby and was capped for Ireland and the British Lions Their son Edmund was born in July 1958. Jean passed away in January 2000. Lance Corporal Borrie is survived by his son. Mayne and Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling were portrayed in recent hit BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes. As well as his exploits in the SAS, Mayne also played professional rugby and was capped for Ireland and the British Lions. He was also an amateur boxer and worked as a lawyer. The SAS was reconstituted as a corps in 1950 and famously came to public attention in the 1980 siege of the Iranian embassy, when soldiers rescued 24 hostages as millions watched on the television news. WARNING: Contains details of child abuse which readers may find upsetting Finley Boden had 130 separate injuries at time of his death in December 2020 Two drug addict parents who murdered their 10-month-old son after waging a 'savage and brutal' campaign of abuse during lockdown have been jailed for a combined total of 56 years. Finley Boden had 130 injuries including a fractured thigh and broken pelvis, burn marks and bruises all over his tiny body, when he died on Christmas Day in 2020. The once 'smiley and chuckling' baby was subjected to 'unimaginable cruelty' by his parents Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden, who were jailed for 27 and 29 years respectively. In October that year, a family court ruled that Marsden and Boden did not pose an 'unmanageable risk' to their son, allowing them to subject him to 'the most horrific abuse' at their home in Old Whittington, Derbyshire. By the time of his death he was 'plainly dying' and could no longer sit up and play with his toys, feed himself or breathe properly, having been back in his parents' care for just 39 days. Finley Boden had 130 separate injuries at time of his death in December 2020 Finley's mother and father Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden Previous court sketch of Boden and Marsden on March 1 Sentencing them at Derby Crown Court, Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples told the pair: 'Neither of you have shown any remorse for what you have done.' Following what has been a harrowing trial, a juror pointed to the sky as the sentences were passed, while another wept and others smiled. The couple had denied murdering their son but were convicted in April after a trial at Derby Crown Court. Timeline of Finley's short life and contact with social services September 20, 2019: Marsden informs social care she is 20 weeks pregnant with Finley October 2019: Social care begin court proceedings in relation to the unborn child January 16, 2020: Social worker visits the couple's address, finding holes in a bedroom door January 21, 2020: Unborn Finley is made subject of a child protection plan February 15, 2020: Finley is born February 18, 2020: Finley leaves hospital and is removed from the couple's care February 25, 2020: Boden and Marsden tell social care they want Finley back October 1, 2020: Family court directs Finley should be returned to care of his parents under an eight-week plan including unsupervised visits and overnight stays of varying durations November 17, 2020: Finley is allowed to live permanently with his parents November 19, 2020: New social worker visits home address November 20, 2020: Health visitor visits the address November 26, 2020: Health visitor tries to call Marsden but there is no answer November 27, 2020: Social worker makes unannounced visit to the home November 29, 2020: Boden and Marsden record video and pictures of Finley on their phone December 23, 2020: Social worker visits the property but is unable to go inside December 24, 2020: Finley is seen alive for the last time as he is taken out by his parents in Chesterfield December 25, 2020: Finley is murdered Advertisement Marsden, 22, and Boden, 30, showed no emotion and remained silent during sentencing on Friday, while family members wept in the public gallery as Mrs Justice Tipples detailed the horrific abuse they inflicted on Finley. Social services had become involved during Marsden's pregnancy after concerns were raised over cannabis use, domestic violence and the state of the family home. Finley was removed from Marsden and Boden's care immediately after he was born on February 17, 2020, but returned to them on November 17 that year. He was once a 'smiley, happy baby', his relatives said, but the callous abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents means he will never get to grow up. Prosecutor Mary Prior KC said the couple subjected Finley to a 'savage and prolonged' murder that had a 'sadistic motivation'. He endured 'vicious and repeated assaults' over three weeks - at the same time both Boden and Marsden were smoking a lot of cannabis, both in their back garden and bedroom of their home. Cannabis was even found in Finley's blood at the time he died. A neighbour heard Finley cry once in the early hours of Christmas eve. To avoid arousing the suspicion of neighbours, the pair worked together to hurt Finley, with one holding a hand over his mouth while the other abused the youngster. Boden and Marsden also hid their abuse from social workers and family members. The couple would be out of the house for hours at a time, making it difficult for social workers to drop by unexpectedly. They even plotted to hide their tracks by pretending Finley had coronavirus, ordering him a test and playing on wider health concerns at the time to stop social workers from entering their home. 'It was an excuse that worked, because you are both persuasive and accomplished liars,' Mrs Justice Tipples told the pair of callous killers. She said: 'You both knew that Finley was very seriously ill and dying... yet you deliberately failed to seek any medical help for him and you made sure that he was not seen by anyone that could have rescued him and taken him away from your care. 'He was subject to repeated abuse on multiple occasions. Once the injuries had been inflicted, Finley's daily experience was one of considerable pain, distress and suffering. 'It was obvious to both of you by December 16 that Finley was very seriously injured, and he was utterly miserable. 'He was no longer able to sit up and play with his toys. He was unable to feed himself.' She added: 'By the evening of December 23 he was plainly dying. There was nothing subtle about this at all. It was plainly obvious to both of you.' The trial heard of chilling text messages sent from the parents' joint mobile phone, including just two days before his murder which said: 'Little one f****** kept me up all night. I want to bounce him off the walls. Haha.' Marsden with her son Finley Boden Boden holding Finley, six weeks before the child's death on Christmas Day 2020 The day before his murder, CCTV footage shows Finley being pushed in a buggy around Chesterfield market 'as though nothing was wrong'. The haunting images show a seemingly happy family on a festive outing. However, in reality Finley was in horrific pain and lay there dying. Hours later, Finley collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest. Paramedics were called at 2.27am on Christmas Day 2020. His parents - who had described Finley as as their 'cuddly, chunky munchkin' to care workers - delayed calling the ambulance. Mrs Justice Tipples said 'they both knew he was dead when they dialled 999 on Christmas Day.' He died of septicemia, endocarditis and pneumonia. The paramedic who arrived saw that Finley was 'unkempt and dirty' with 'obvious marks and wounds' around his mouth and noise. He was rushed to hospital with Marsden but nothing could be done and he was pronounced dead at 3.45am. Doctors noticed the marks and bruises on his body, but were told 'various lies' by Marsden. Boden arrived at the hospital at 4.20am and also lied to the doctors about the final hours and days of Finley's life. The pair had agreed a timeline to explain how Finley was and their movements on the day of his death. Finley's body was examined by medical experts who identified his cause of death, revealing non-accidental injuries to his body. He had 46 rib fractures, 12 other bone fractures including his pelvis, both legs and both collar bones. Overall, he had more than 150 injuries. His broken pelvis is thought to be caused by sustained 'kicking or stamping' and well as burns on his hand, one from a 'hot, flat surface' and another from 'a cigarette flame'. Mock up image of text messages the court heard were sent from the couple's phone The inside of his mouth was 'torn', caused by a dummy or bottle being excessively forced into his mouth. He also had a 'spiral' break to the thigh, while a shin bone break was 'consistent with being held by the ankle and gripped and twisted'. How Finley endured a short life of squalor after being returned to the care of his parents by social services Images released by police today show the grim conditions Finley endured in his short life with his parents. Clutter is seen throughout the home, with unwashed pots and pans piled up in the kitchen, toys and bags carelessly thrown into the bathtub and a bedside table littered with dirty cigarette butts and empty cans of energy drink. Meanwhile, a feeding bottle appears to have mould growing on the inside and a number of stains are visible on bedsheets. Medics discovered Boden trying to resuscitate Finley on the kitchen floor but also noticed that the youngster's clothing was dirty, had dirty hands and fingernails, and he had new and raw scrapes and abrasions on his nose and linings of his nostrils. Advertisement The injuries inflicted on him were so severe they were likened to a multi-storey fall. All his injuries are believed to have been sustained between December 4 and 22, causing him severe pain and suffering. By December 19, Finley was 'really, really ill' and wanted to sleep all day. As pneumonia set into his lungs 'you could hear his chest all day rattling and wheezing,' said Mrs Justice Tipples. Two days later, Boden cancelled an appointment with a health visitor by saying he suspected Finley had Covid and needed to get a test. During this time, the pair continued to pick up drugs from their dealer. By Christmas Day 2020, he was unable to eat and lay dying. The multiple fractures meant he could not breathe properly and he contracted pneumonia in his lungs, developing into a number of infections - including sepsis and endocarditis - which killed him. When police searched the property they found Finley's clothes and bedding stained with saliva, vomit, blood and faeces, along with drug paraphernalia. Other bedding which had been removed from his cot was also covered in blood and vomit, which Boden and Marsden were aware of - having slept next to him in their own bed. The police recovered empty bottles of Calpol, around a month's worth, which Boden had given to Finley - but provided little relief for his injuries. Boden later claimed to a relative the family dog may have 'jumped on' Finley, causing multiple broken ribs, while allegedly blaming marks on Finley's mouth on his son hitting himself 'with a rattle'. Following his death, Boden was heard mentioning how he would sell Finley's pram on eBay and the pair were later seen laughing together in a taxi. It was also suggested that Finley's injuries could have been caused by rocking him too hard, and said that the pram comment was made in an attempt to 'lighten the mood'. When visiting Finley's body in a hospital chapel of rest, Marsden allegedly said: 'His dad's battered him to death. I didn't protect him.' After Boden and Marsden were convicted, one detective inspector said Finley's injuries were 'amongst the worst I've seen in my 27-year policing career'. Boden was 28 years old and Marsden was 20 at the time of his murder. Boden, a petty criminal, had 22 previous convictions for 33 offences, including theft, criminal damage and failing to apply with court orders, while Marsden had no previous convictions. Finley Boden died on Christmas Day 2020 - just over a month after being placed back into his parents' care A baby bottle containing gone-off milk and cannabis found by police in the bedroom at the time of the death Finley's parents' bedroom had been cleaned up when social workers visited. Pictured is the room before Finley's arrival Photo issued by Derbyshire Police of their filthy bathroom at the time Finley was killed, with dirty clothes left in the bath Boden had smoked cannabis since he was nine years old, and left home aged 18. Marsden started drinking age from the age of nine and smoking cannabis aged 10. She was bullied at school and was 'happiest when away from home', the court heard. Their relationship began in the summer of 2017, with the pair quickly becoming 'inseparable' as they were 'drawn together' by their drug use and the 'unhappiness' both felt in their lives at the time. Child safeguarding review launched after Finley was sent back to live with killer parents A child safeguarding review into the circumstances surrounding Finley's death is currently under way. Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, demanded a child safeguarding practice review, 'to provide answers as soon as possible.' He said the suffering of Finley, 'inflicted by the very people who should have been caring for him' was 'harrowing and difficult to comprehend'. 'The death of a child in such brutal circumstances leaves many of us asking questions and we await the child safeguarding practice review to provide answers as soon as possible,' he added. 'Finley was one of 36 children who died in England following abuse and maltreatment at home in 2020 alone.' He said: 'So that children who are most at risk are protected, it is vital the Government takes forward the changes recommended by previous reviews and experts to transform the child protection system and ensure the different agencies involved are able to work together effectively to focus on children and babies like Finley.' Finley was returned to the couple's care over eight weeks by a court order in October 2020, despite social workers asking for a longer transition. A report by the family's social worker had recommended a six-month transition, three times longer than the eight-week period which was ordered at a court hearing concerning the child's care, in October 2020. The first contact with social services came in September 2019, when Marsden told professionals she was 20 weeks pregnant with Finley. Court proceedings then began the following month and in January, following a visit to the couple's home, where a worker found cluttered conditions and holes punched through doors, the unborn Finley was made the subject of a child protection plan. Three days after he was born on February 15, 2020, Finley left hospital and was removed from the care of Marsden and Boden. After demanding their son back, a family court directed in October that Finley should be returned to their care under an eight-week plan, which included unsupervised visits and overnight stays of varying durations. On November 17, Finley was allowed to live permanently with Marsden and Boden. A number of social workers and health workers then visited the home address, but on more than one occasion, were unable to enter the property. On Christmas Eve, Finley was seen alive for the first time as he was out with his parents in Chesterfield, before he was killed on Christmas Day - just 39 days after he was returned to their care. Advertisement They had regular arguments, with Boden having 'a temper' but Marsden 'capable' of standing her own ground. Marsden's barrister tried to portray her as a 'victim' who was 'in the thrall' of her abusive partner. Andrew Vout KC urged the court to find her a 'secondary party' to the murder, stating: 'Miss Marsden's feelings for Mr Boden ultimately overrode all else. 'She was covering for Mr Boden because she was in his thrall. 'She was ill-equipped to deal with motherhood with an abusive partner. 'She was young, immature and had mental health difficulties of her own, and she was utterly incapable and unwilling to recognise the help and assistance that was being offered by social services.' He added: 'She was a victim herself of Mr Boden's abuse. It did not provide her with a defence but it is inescapable that that was her situation at the material time.' But Mrs Justice Tipples said the extent of the abuse by Boden towards Marsden was 'considerably exaggerated' during their trial, and did not affect her decision-making when it came to Finley. In victim impact statements from the defendants' relatives, read by the proseceutor, they said: 'He had all of his life ahead of him. 'When Finley died, part of us died as well. Our lives were ripped apart and will never be the same again.' The family added that the death of Finley had had a 'profoundly negative' impact on them, adding 'it will always haunt us'. 'Finley will always be remembered and will always be loved,' they said. Mrs Prior said the defendants had 'no ability' to 'provide any account as to what they did to Finley or why they did it', meaning their families would never know the reason behind Finley's murder. Another relative said that Finley had suffered 'the most horrific abuse' and labelled his parents as 'monsters'. They said: 'I thought they had both changed. I was obviously wrong and they only showed us what they wanted us to see. 'They acted together to inflict all his injuries and then hide him away and allow him to die in such an awful way.' They added: 'Neither of you have shown any remorse. We as a family have grieved, but you haven't needed to, as you are both responsible for his death. 'We will never forget, or forgive, you both, and we will never forget Finley. While we will never forget Finley, I promise, we will forget you both. 'I can only describe you both as monsters for what you have done.' Finley's case also raises questions for social services who handed Finley back into the care of Boden and Marsden. A child safeguarding review is currently underway into the circumstances surrounding the tot's murder - as social workers raised concerns before he was even born into the state of the family home and his parents' drug use. A transcript of a Family Court hearing, held over the phone during the pandemic, shows that despite attempts by the local council for Finley to be gradually placed back into the care of Marsden and Boden over a four-month period, the court ordered he could be returned to them within eight weeks - without any drugs tests. The habitual drug users even tidied their squalid home in a bid to convince social workers they could care for their son full-time. As part of submissions to a Family Court, the pair, described as 'attentive and loving parents' by a carer, said their son was 'perfect' and a 'cuddly, chunky munchkin', weeks before they inflicted 150 injuries on him including burns, bruises and broken bones. Finley Boden was only ten months old when he died at the hands of his parents Finley Boden died on Christmas Day after suffering prolonged abuse at the hands of his parents New pictures show how the family home was tidied by Marsden and Boden as they attempted to convince social workers they could care for their son full-time. Pictured is the kitchen Clutter is seen throughout the home, with unwashed pots and pans piled up in the kitchen A guardian from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), who observed Finley just before the court hearing, also said he 'loves to be held but is also very eager to explore and play', describing him as a 'smiler' who 'likes to shout and blow 'raspberries''. They, like many, came to believe that Boden and Marsden were making positive steps big enough to be able to care for their son, with a Family Court hearing on October 1, 2020 handing care of Finley to them on a full-time basis within eight weeks. 'Shannon and I have worked really hard to make changes,' Boden said in a submission to the Family Court. He said they had been 'totally focused' on having him returned to their care. 'It is very important that we are well supported to give us every chance for the rehabilitation to succeed.' Marsden added that she loved Finley and the prospect of him returning to her care 'has made me incredibly happy, although I understand what I must achieve to enable this to happen'. One Derbyshire County Council document shows that concerns were raised over the state of the property on February 17, 2020 - two days after Finley was born. Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, described the 10-month-old's death as 'shocking' but 'unsurprising' due to 'failures across the system' in social services and the courts. Mr Perkins said the parents were able to 'constantly outwit' the court and social services in order to win him back. Finley's bedroom was also cleaned by his drug-taking parents as part of their efforts to hoodwink social workers A feeding bottle found at the home had mould growing on the inside Finley's clothes and bedding were stained with saliva, vomit, blood and faeces, along with drug paraphernalia When police searched Boden and Marsden's property they discovered an 'unclean' home 'I don't think anyone could have prepared us for it': Policeman reveals horror at Finley's injuries Detective Inspector Steve Shaw, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said that Finley's bones were 'crushed and twisted' during the campaign of abuse. Discussing the case, DI Shaw said: 'The appearance of Finley [at the time of his death] was generally showing signs that he had been neglected. 'Officers went to the house on Holland Road where they lived and they found squalid living conditions, filthy bedding, filthy clothing, rotting food in the kitchen, no environment to bring a child up in, and there were signs of cannabis abuse scattered around the house. 'But I don't think that prepared us for the level of injury that we discovered when the post-mortem took place. 'The majority of Finley's bones were fractured in some way and as the investigation progressed, the evidence from some of the experts around the levels of force that had to be used - Finley's bones had to be crushed and twisted with quite some force - eliminated any accidental cause of these injuries.' Finley suffered 57 fractures to his bones - including 45 rib fractures - several burns and 71 bruises in the weeks prior to his death, on Christmas Day 2020. The injuries inflicted included a broken shoulder, broken arm, broken shinbone, a thigh bone broken in four places, and a pelvis broken in two places. He had also developed pneumonia, endocarditis - inflammation of the lining of the heart - and sepsis. Advertisement A social worker said that she found a broken glass mirror in the bathroom sink, expressing worry over the couple's 'lack of engagement and reluctance to work with professionals' and a frequent and strong smell of cannabis in the house. The document said: 'Their home has been described as very unclean and at times hazardous with faeces on the floor. 'At times the home smells of urine, there are flies in the property and detritus on the floor. 'The bathroom sink is unusable as items are stored in it.' It concluded that Finley was at 'significant risk of harm' if he stayed with his parents, with social services dismissing the option of Finley returning to his parents' full-time care as late as June of that year. But by September, social workers, while acknowledging that a gradual transition to full-time care would be needed, said that Boden and Marsden 'have shown their ability to begin to make changes'. The couple attended all 16 contact sessions they had with Finley at the height of the pandemic and cuddled and kissed him as social workers said they had 'no concerns' over the couple's ability to love their son. But at the same time, the local authority recommended that Finley 'should be returned to the parents in a planned and gradual way', raising concerns over continued, albeit decreased, drug use, and the impact of caring for a child full time. A social worker warned Finley was 'at risk of suffering from neglect, physical and emotional harm' if his parents were 'unable to continue to make and sustain positive changes around home conditions', including substance misuse and ensuring his care needs were met consistently. But the council's plea for a four-month transition period, and the request for Boden and Marsden to undergo regular drug testing, were both rejected by magistrates in a hearing carried out over the phone in just under two hours, with four months deemed too long for both the parents and the child. The results of a review of Finley's case will be released later this year. The court heard that Boden tried to give Finley Calpol to ease his pain - but the extent of his injuries were so horrific that they did nothing Drug paraphernalia and cigarette butts were found in the bedroom where Finley's cot was Following the sentencing in the Finley Boden case, an NSPCC spokesperson said: 'The cruelty and abuse inflicted on Finley leading up to his tragic death was appalling and heart-breaking. READ MORE: Social services launch review into case of murdered Finley Boden who was beaten to death by his drug addict parents just 39 days after he was placed back into their care Advertisement 'The death of a child in such brutal circumstances leaves many of us asking questions and we await the Child Safeguarding Practice Review to establish exactly what happened and any ways in which Finley could have been better protected, in order to help prevent future tragedies. 'We know that babies and our youngest children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and completely reliant on the adults around them for care and protection. 'Nationally, the Government must take forward the changes recommended by previous reviews and experts to transform the child protection system and ensure the different agencies involved are able to work together effectively to focus on children and babies like Finley. 'It's also crucial that everyone does all they can to prevent child abuse. 'Anyone who has concerns for a child's safety should contact the local authorities, the police or the NSPCC helpline.' Finley was one of 36 children who died in England following abuse and maltreatment at home in 2020 alone. Shocking pictures show some of the terrifying weapons taken off London's streets - including a medieval flail and ninja blades taken from children's bedrooms. Ryan Biddiss, 28, is on a mission to clean up the capital after brutal murders near his home in Woolwich. The ex-youth worker is running an amnesty - Protect Our Children - to encourage people to hand over their weapons. And he has shared images of some of the items he has received - which range from kitchen knives to horrifying blades. Mr Biddiss, who lives in the south-east London district, said: 'All the weapons I've collected are powerful and frightening. Pictured is a medieval flail - - which has two spiked metal balls on a wooden pole - handed in by a London resident Pictured is a double-handed 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' blade handed in by a resident Ryan Biddiss (pictured), 28, is on a mission to clean up the capital after brutal murders near his home in Woolwich 'Some of the stuff is really shocking, and the weight of them is very scary. Parents call me up after they've found weapons in kids' play parks. 'Sometimes grandparents or parents who have found them hidden in kids' bedrooms; sometimes it's young people handing them in. 'People are scared, and people handing them in are frightened of repercussions. 'But I'm careful to protect them, because I want to encourage more people to hand weapons over.' Mr Biddiss, who is starting a career in security, said zombie knives - inspired by sci-fi films - are among the scariest weapons he's handled. He has also been handed a medieval flail - which has two spiked metal balls on a wooden pole - and double-handed 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' blades. Zombie knives and machetes can easily be bought online with no checks. In March this year it was revealed that ministers were considering a change to weapon legislation to stop gangs exploiting legal loopholes. Policing minister Chris Philp is set to rewrite laws to make it an offence to sell the huge blades online or in high street shops and to possess them in the home. Pictured is a sword taken off London's streets as part of Mr Biddiss's weapon amnesty drive Pictured are swords handed in to Mr Biddiss by a London resident Pictured are a collection of weapons handed in. Some have been found in children's bedrooms and playgrounds Mr Biddiss said he is running his weapon amnesty are in memory of those who have fallen victim to horrific murders in the area. Fusilier Lee Rigby, 25, was savagely murdered in broad daylight by two jihadi extremists as he walked back to Woolwich Barracks in south east London on May 22, 2013, where he was based. Tamim Ian Habimana, 15, was also murdered in the area. He was stabbed in the heart by a 16-year-old in a revenge attack in Vincent Road, Woolwich, on July 5 2021. Mr Biddiss also lost his dad to cancer three years ago, inspiring him to take action and make a difference. He said: 'My dad dying just broke me. And I'll never forget the day Lee Rigby was killed. It was awful. 'I saw Tamim Ian Habimana's mum. That brought me to tears. I knew I needed to do something. 'I meet families bereaved because of knife crime as part of my work promotion. 'It's really powerful when they hug you - you feel all that emotion and you know the work is extremely important.' Pictured: A large blade and a machete handed in by a London resident Kitchen knives were among the weapons handed into Mr Biddiss Ryan set up accounts on social media - such as @pocpatrol21 on Instagram - two years ago. He now has more than 3,000 followers and is working with the Metropolitan Police to encourage people with weapons to message or call him, he said. He then asks for pictures of the items so he can plan how to keep safe at the hand over, and how to carry them safely. Ryan lets police know the rough area he is collecting from so he has backup if needed, and so they know what he's carrying and where. But he keeps all the details of the address and the person to himself. Sometimes the police meet Ryan to collect weapons from him, he said. But if there's going to be a wait, he carries weapons to the nearest station. Ryan estimated he has recovered over 30 weapons from the streets so far, including three this month. He said: 'I really want to be a part of making London safer. It is potentially dangerous for me - it could go wrong. 'The police know what I'm carrying and they give me a special number. 'I have to take the shortest route from where I am to the police station.' The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment. A group of migrants hoping to reach Britain attacked French security forces who were patrolling a beach near Calais, pelting their vehicle with rocks until it overturned and then descending on the officers trapped inside. Three members of the gendarmerie were injured in Oye-Plage outside Calais on France's northern coast, prosecutors said yesterday. Following the incident, 38 migrants were detained who had been seeking to cross the Channel on a small boat to Britain. The gendarmes had been patrolling the beach in all-terrain vehicles when the migrants threw stones at them. Three members of the gendarmerie were injured in Oye-Plage outside Calais on France's northern coast, prosecutors said yesterday. Pictured: Officers patrol the beach near Calais in 2019 The windshield of one of their buggies shattered before the vehicle swerved into soft sands 'causing it to roll over', prosecutors said. The migrants continued their attack on the three officers stuck in the buggy 'before a rapid intervention by their colleagues to free them'. The officers sustained wounds including to the head but have not been hospitalised. Westminster has repeatedly accused Paris of not doing enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, while French officials insist they seek to stop them on shore. Rishi Sunak's government has made stopping the small boat crossings a priority but people are continuing to undertake the journey on an almost daily basis. In November 2021, 27 migrants died when their boat capsized in the Channel. Yesterday, French authorities charged five military personnel over failing to come to their aid. French police stand nearby as more than 40 migrants run with an inflatable dinghy to leave the coast of northern France and cross the English Channel in 2021 The soldiers failed to go to the migrants' rescue, despite them making 15 emergency calls and begging French coastguards for assistance. Many of those killed were Iraqi Kurds aged between seven and 46, in what became the worst such disaster in recent times. Just two people survived. 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.' Trading officers have seized 4,000 worth of illegal 'super vapes' that give more than four times the amount of puffs as legal ones as fears grow that Britain's schoolchildren may be being exposed to dangerous substances sold loosely in shops. Around 348 of the vapes were found in a shop on Notting Hill's Portobello Road. Each vape carried up to 3,500 puffs, whilst indicating a legal tank size of 2ml, exceeding the limit of 600 to 800 puffs per vape. Each illegal vape was being sold for 12, giving the shop a profit of around 2,700, ripping off honest customers. The total retail value was around 4,000. Kensington and Chelsea Council are now working with the business to ensure these dangerous products are not sold again. This year the team have seized around 1,100 illegal vapes, taking the total up to about 4,000 since 2021. Around 348 illegal vapes have been seized in a shop on Notting Hill's Portobello Road Each vape carried up to 3,500 puffs, indicating a tank size of 2ml, exceeding the legal limit of 600 to 800 puffs per vape Each illegal vape was being sold for 12, giving the shop a profit of around 2,700 A vape tank cannot exceed over 2ml and should not provide more than 600-800 puffs. They also can't go over the nicotine strength of two per cent and the nicotine liquid should not contain any additives or ingredients such as caffeine or taurine. All vape products containing nicotine should have a health warning that covers 30 per cent of the front and back of the packet. This must read: 'This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.' Officers are continuing to educate retailers and spread awareness amongst young people in the borough. Cllr Josh Rendall, lead member for local economy and employment, said: 'We are seeing an increase in the sale of Illegal vapes in London with many businesses displaying and selling vapes exceeding the legal limit. 'Portobello Road is a world-famous shopping destination, attracting tourists who are unaware that they are buying fake vapes. 'Our officers are protecting young people and visitors to the borough, by making them aware of the risks and cracking down on rogue traders to ensure our amazing spaces in the borough are safe and fair.' Brightly-coloured 'highlighter vapes', sold in child-friendly flavours like bubble gum and strawberry, contained 12 micrograms of lead per gram. This is 2.4-times the stipulated safe exposure level. The gadgets, which can cost as little as 5 and are sold in shops across the country, were also over 9.6 times the safe level of nickel and 6.6 times the safe level of chromium 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 The use of e-cigs has continually been criticised due to the abundance of chemicals that could be hiding in knock-off or illegal products. This week, a shock investigation revealed the toxic metals lurking in cheap vapes puffed by schoolkids with tests showing some 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. One expert claimed the results of the probe, carried out on e-cigs collected from students at a college in Worcestershire, were the 'worst I've ever seen'. It comes amid spiralling vaping rates in teens, in a trend that has prompted warnings that Britain is 'sleepwalking into an existential crisis for children'. Although widely accepted as safer than smoking, the long-term effects remain a mystery and doctors fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age. David Lawson, co-founder of Inter Scientific the lab that analysed 18 different e-cigs said: 'In 15 years of testing, I have never seen lead in a device. 'None of these should be on the market they break all the rules on permitted levels of metal. They are the worst set of results I've ever seen.' He was speaking to BBC News, which was given the full results of the investigation at Baxter College in Kidderminster. Advertisement The extraordinary list of police chiefs, journalists and political heavyweights who became caught up in a catastrophic child sex abuse probe into innocent VIPs is today revealed in a graphic. Operation Midland, launched in 2014, saw homes ransacked and reputations trashed on the bogus testimony of paedophile fantasist Carl Beech, who falsely claimed he was raped and abused by famous Westminster figures. But while he is now serving an 18-year sentence for his lies, almost every detective who believed and acted on his accounts - despite their apparent inconsistencies - has avoided being charged over their alleged failures. Former Met deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse, however, who led Operation Midland, will soon face gross misconduct proceedings over the bungled inquiry. But fury erupted yesterday when it emerged he would not be suspended from his current 200,000-a-year job as deputy head at the National Crime Agency (NCA). The nexus of Nick: Our graphic lays bare the extraordinary police, media and political links in the still unravelling story 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 Among those falsely accused by Beech - initially referred to as 'Nick' to protect his identity - were Normandy veteran Field Marshal Lord Bramall, who has since died aged 95, the late Lord Brittan and former Tory MP Harvey Proctor. Those he named as supposed 'abusers' also included former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, late Labour MP Greville Janner, disgraced TV star Jimmy Savile, and security chiefs Sir Michael Hanley and Sir Maurice Oldfield, who were the heads of MI5 and MI6 respectively. Beech also met with two top BBC journalists before the broadcaster ran his story as headline news, while former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson publicly supported Beech, including by making baseless claims about a VIP sex abuse ring in the House of Commons. Operation Midland was launched in 2014, a year after Sir Keir Starmer, as Director of Public Prosecutions, authorised policy changes for dealing with sexual abuse cases which placed more emphasis on believing those making complaints. The changes were designed to avoid missed opportunities to prosecute sex offenders in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. As police investigated innocent Westminster grandees based on 'Nick's' bogus testimony, Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald infamously described their star witness' outlandish claims as 'credible and true'. 'Nick' was later unmasked as paedophile Carl Beech and jailed for 18 years in 2019. It comes as victims of Operation Midland and former police chiefs have united to condemn the decision to keep Mr Rodhouse in position as head of operations at the NCA - dubbed Britain's FBI - where he is at the forefront of the fight against international organised crime. Their comments this week have piled pressure on 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. Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, Lord Bramall, and late ex-home secretary Lord Brittan (left to right) had their homes raided during Operation Midland 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 The Met has repeatedly defended the conduct of Mr Rodhouse 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 Operation 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 the investigation, widely regarded as Scotland Yard's worst 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 'Nick', 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 ordeal. 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 Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said she was 'deeply sorry for the mistakes that were made' during the force's investigations into false claims of sexual abuse in 2019 A godson of former prime minister Sir Edward 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 Operation 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 the investigation. 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. Notting Hill fans have been left fuming over the graffitied state of the famous blue door from the hit 1999 film. Thousands of tourists make the trip each year to see the iconic door in London which featured in the film starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. But locals say it has regularly been the subject of vandalism with tags scrawled across it - ruining the picture for visitors. Dozens of moaning comments have been left on Google Reviews, where the site has been given a score of 3.6 out of 5 thanks to its sorry appearance. One visitor wrote: 'William Thacker needs to take more pride in his house.' Six months ago visitor Jonathan Lau posted an image of the famous portal covered in graffiti, saying it 'has seen some better days.' Thousands visit the iconic door each year which appears in the film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts Locals say it has regularly been the subject of vandalism with tags scrawled across it - ruining the picture for visitors Its most famous appearance was perhaps when William's hapless flatmate Spike - played by Rhys Ifans - appeared to paparazzi waiting outside it in his pants Hugh Grant is seen filming at the blue door in London made famous in the film Notting Hill 'It is now heavily graffitied,' he added. 'Obviously the hooligans responsible aren't fans of the movie.' Valentino Odasso said: 'It should be restored and bring back the conditions for a proper door. 'If you're thinking to come only for the door, not worth it.' Adriana Couto said those visiting the door would find it a 'disappointment', adding: 'It is possibly the dullest house on the street, now bearing the stamp of some brand that uses it for free advertising. 'I saw more people taking photos next door than in the 'official' one.' Others described the vandalism as 'heartbreaking.' Hannah Lightfoot said: 'I know it's just a door but as someone who loves the film, it was heartbreaking to see the graffiti. It's not hard to repaint it. Wish I saw these reviews before I went there.' Emerson Loureiro added: 'The door is badly kept and has graffiti all over.' A still from the 1999 film Notting Hill showing the famous blue door A visitor pictured next to the door which has been grafitied White paint is seen on the door - the picture shows one fan looking up at the well-known site Hugh Grant stood at the famous blue door of his character William Thacker's flat Another, named John, said: 'It's a bit shocking how badly taken care of this door is,' while Noemi Elizabeth added: 'Not very special as the door is not well maintained with lots of graffiti and very different to film.' And Frederick Gunning said: 'Pretty cool, however it is heavily graffitied and unrecognisable. If you're a fan it's good to see but be warned, you may be disappointed.' Meanwhile Max on Instagram discovered the door daubed in white paint - and even photographed an empty paint pot lying nearby. He said: 'Every couple has their own romantic film. Me and my wife also have it, it is Notting Hill. 'A number of scenes of the film were filmed in the house of the protagonist William Thacker, which was located in Notting Hill in London and had a wonderful blue door. 'Me and my wife always wanted to look at the places where our favourite movie was filmed, but when we got to the location, we found this. 'The vandals did their best, staining the blue door with white paint. 'I don't know who did it and why, but it was a shame, especially watching the disappointment of the couples who came to this iconic place.' The rom com became the highest grossing British film of all time on its release in 1999. One Instagram user posted an image of an empty paint pot lying nearby It stars Julia Roberts as American megastar Anna Scott and Hugh Grant as floppy haired book seller William Thacker, alongside Rhys Ifans, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnerny, Gina McKee, and Hugh Bonneville. One day Anna happens to walk into William's book store in London's Notting Hill where she buys a book, and later he bumps into her on the street, spilling his orange juice on her. They then strike up an unlikely romance, much of it carried out behind the famous blue door of William Thacker's flat. Legend has it that the door was chosen because at the time Richard Curtis, who wrote the screenplay, lived in the flat behind it in Westbourne Park Road. Its most famous appearance was perhaps when William's hapless flatmate Spike - played by Rhys Ifans - appeared to paparazzi waiting outside it in his pants. According to records, the church conversion behind it was last sold in June 2014 for 4,575,000. The film has since gained something of a cult following with hundreds of people posting images with the famous door on Instagram every year. At one point it was painted black - presumably to put off picture hunters - but it was soon repainted in its famous blue again. People have been complaining about the state of the door on Google Reviews It appears the last spate of graffiti - which occurred earlier this year - has now been painted over Jakub Nowacki, assistant manager of the Royal Trinity Hospice nearby, said the door had often been subject to graffiti attacks. He said: ' Sometimes it's graffitied and they paint over it, then it gets graffitied again. 'Honestly people get pictures with it regardless. They care a little bit for the pictures, but people still get pictures all the time.' It appears the last spate of graffiti - which occurred earlier this year - has now been painted over. A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Spokesperson said: 'We are determined to ensure that we maintain the amazing spaces we have in Kensington and Chelsea. 'Our crews work hard to remove graffiti and fly posting and we have invested significant resources to tackle the problem where it occurs, including in Portobello and Notting Hill. 'We take a zero tolerance approach to graffiti and littering.' He added that the homeowner would be contacted if it happened again so the council could help them clean it off. Rishi Sunak has tasked officials with 'levelling up' the honours system in a move that could see more gongs handed to those from the North. The Prime Minister wants to ensure the 'length and breadth' of the UK are represented in the dishing out of MBEs, OBEs, CBEs and knighthoods, a new report has revealed. He is also keen on rewarding civil servants who have saved taxpayers' cash as a priority of the honours system, when traditionally Whitehall officials have been recognised for their length of service. In a foreword to a Cabinet Office report on the operation of the honours system, Deputy PM Oliver Dowden revealed Mr Sunak's plans for a shake-up. The Prime Minister wants to ensure the 'length and breadth' of the UK are represented in the dishing out of MBEs, OBEs, CBEs and knighthoods, a new report has revealed In this year's New Year's honours list, Londoners received one in five (21 per cent) of honours, such as OBEs, despite the capital making it up 13 per cent of the UK population. The Angel of the North in the North East - a region that received only 2.8 per cent of honours in the New Year's list despite having a 4 per cent population share 'Looking ahead, the PM is determined to make sure our honours represent the length and breadth of the country,' Mr Dowden, who is also the Cabinet Office minister, wrote. 'He has tasked us with "levelling up" the system so that it captures every corner of the UK - particularly regions that have too often been underrepresented. 'He has also set a key - and often overlooked - priority when rewarding public servants, to recognise those who have saved the taxpayer money. 'The Government is here to serve the British people; it is our duty to make sure we are delivering value for money on their behalf wherever we can.' Mr Sunak was also said by Mr Dowden to want future awards 'to be targeted at those who are helping tackle today's biggest challenges'. 'He has asked the honours system to prioritise those who provide high-quality healthcare and education; who tackle crime; who support families to contribute to society and help children achieve their potential; and to recognise our most inspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and philanthropists,' he added. The Cabinet Office report acknowledged that 'regional diversity remains challenging' in the awarding of gongs, with some parts of the UK 'consistently better represented in honours lists than others'. Both London and Northern Ireland tended to have 'greater number of recipients than would be expected from their share of the population', while 'the north east and north west of England, east of England and East Midlands are all less well represented relative to their population sizes', it was found. In this year's New Year's honours list, Londoners received one in five (21 per cent) of honours - despite the capital making it up 13 per cent of the UK population. Northern Ireland got 6.5 per cent of honours with a 2.8 per cent population share. By contrast, the East Midlands had 2.3 per cent of recipients despite having a 7.2 per cent population share. The North East received 2.8 per cent of honours, with a 4 per cent population share; and the North West received 8.7 per cent of honours, with an 11 per cent population share. Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters is being investigated by German police for incitement to hatred after he dressed up as a Nazi during a performance in Berlin. Waters, 79, wore a long, black trench coat decorated with red armbands and metal insignia on his collar reminiscent of an SS officer while on stage at the Mercedes-Benz arena last week. During the performance, Third Reich-style banners also hung from the stage while an inflatable pig emblazoned with the Star of David floated above the audience. And now, Berlin police have said they are investigating Waters over his choice of dress as it 'could be used to glorify Nazi rule'. 'We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to public hatred because the clothing on stage could be used to glorify or justify Nazi rule, thereby disturbing the public peace,' police spokesman Martin Halweg said. 'The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer,' Halweg added. Waters is a well-known pro-Palestinian activist who has been accused of holding anti-Jewish views. He has floated an inflatable pig emblazoned with the Star of David at his concerts in recent weeks as part of his 'This is Not a Drill' tour. Roger Waters dressed up as a Nazi SS officer when he performed in Berlin last week. German police today said they are investigating him over the costume An inflatable pig was emblazoned with the logo of an Israeli armaments firm and Jewish stars during the concert in Berlin last week 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 During the concert last week, a screen behind Waters 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 has called 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. And some city officials have tried, unsuccessfully, to ban Waters from performing in Germany due to his controversial views. Throughout his performance last week, 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 of David. At one point, he 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. Waters is due to play his final German concert in the western city of Frankfurt on Sunday evening, and protesters are planning to demonstrate outside the venue. Frankfurt city authorities sought to stop the concert but a court ruled against them, 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 condemned by Jewish leaders and even several world governments. Uwe Becker, the anti-Semitism commissioner for the regional state of Hesse, told the Frankfurter Rundschau daily that Waters was promoting 'hatred and incitement against Israel' with his shows. 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 everyone 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 (centre) 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.' BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, which opened on Thursday in Beijing. As a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation continues to evolve, mankind needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever in order to address common development problems, Xi said. Committed to a win-win strategy of opening-up, China is ready to join hands with other countries to promote sci-tech innovation and make science and technologies better serve people of all countries, he said. Xi stressed that Beijing should fully leverage its strengths in education, science, technologies and talent, coordinate sci-tech and institutional innovation, continue to promote pilot reforms in Zhongguancun, further accelerate the construction of a world-leading sci-tech park, and strive to take the lead in the innovation of cutting-edge technologies and the development of advanced and sophisticated industries. 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. Blinken to visit Sweden on May 30 Washington, May 26 (UNI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Sweden on May 30 on an official visit, during which he will meet with the countrys leadership, the Swedish government announced on Friday. "On Tuesday 30 May, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Sweden. On the first day of the visit, he will meet with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom at Lulea air base, Norrbotten Wing (F 21)," the government announcement said. Blinken and the Swedish leaders will hold a press conference after the meeting, according to the statement. Parts of Russia were hit by missile strikes overnight, with explosions heard in the centre of Krasnodar and Rostov. Berdiansk, a city in occupied south-eastern Ukraine, was also hit by devastating explosions as missiles rained fire over the port bordering the Sea of Azov. It was claimed a Russian store of S-300 air defence missiles was struck, but there was no immediate confirmation. The attacks from a distance sparked discussion on local social media over whether the new British-supplied long-range Storm Shadow missiles was used. An unnamed Russian official in Zaporizhzhia verified the attack in Berdiansk, saying the city was 'under the Kyiv regime's fire. Explosions were heard on the outskirts [of the city]. First responders were working at the scene'. MailOnline was unable to immediately verify whether British missiles had been used in Russia or Ukraine. Explosions overnight in the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine An interrupted attack on Russia's Morozovsk military airfield in the Rostov region overnight The aftermath of explosions in Krasnodar, south of Russia, in the early hours of this morning In Krasnodar the local crisis centre denied any casualties. 'At 04:17am Moscow time, an explosion was heard near a building on Morskaya Street [...] first responders were sent to the area. 'According to preliminary information, no one was injured. 'The building's roof and windows were damaged, but no fire followed.' Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a health clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro earlier today, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said. He denounced the attack as a crime against humanity as the Ukrainian defence ministry called it a serious war crime under the Geneva Convention. Video footage showed a devastated building with smoke pouring out of it and rescue workers looking on. Russia has denied repeated accusations that its soldiers have committed war crimes in Ukraine. It did not immediately comment on the reported air strikes. The supply of Storm Streak missiles to Ukraine was confirmed by the UK government - which holds an estimated 700 to 1,000 - this month. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed the missiles had been used by Ukraine on 18 May - but declined to give further details. He said the missiles gave the Ukrainians the ability to strike Russian command and control centres which had been moved further behind the front line to keep them out of range of the rocket artillery systems the West had supplied to Kyiv. Ukraine is the only country to be publicly supplied with these missiles by the UK. Britain also became the first country to provide long-range precision missiles to Ukraine with the delivery. The 2.2million-per-unit missiles will allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory. They were suspected to have ben used this month when Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky sustained injuries after an attack on May 15. The Storm Shadow missile was first developed in 1994, but was first used by the French Ministry of Defence before being used by Britain. The missile weighs approximately 1,300 kilograms (2,900lb), with a conventional warhead weighing 450 kilograms (990lb). The 'fire-and-forget' missiles are pre-programmed before a mission and speed off at up to 621mph, reaching targets up to 350 miles away. The missiles were used for the first time operationally by UK forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where they were tested by the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron. The RAF and the French Air Force have used them against Isis. Britain also used them against Syrian forces in 2018. Last year, the US sent Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Ukraine to beef up offensive power. The missiles are also capable of striking targets on land. At around 1million-a-missile, they are significantly cheaper than the Storm Shadow missiles from Britain - but have a range capped at 150 miles and reach speeds of up to 537mph. Both are 'subsonic' missiles, travelling below the speed of sound. Defence analyst Dr James Bosbotinis said the Storm Shadow's range allows it to hit 'high-value hardened targets' that 'the adversary does not want to have attacked' such as bunkers, as reported by Forces.net. Ukraine also has its HIMARS rocket systems for defence, but these have a range of only 50 miles. Russian forces have adapted by pulling their munitions out of range during clashes. Image appears to show a missile in the area over Rostov region, Russia, overnight Smoke rising after a missile strike overnight in Krasnodar, south of Russia Some of the aftermath of early May 26 missile strikes in Krasnodar, southern Russia Britain recently sent a shipment of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv's forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory The exact number of Storm Shadow missiles sent to Ukraine has not been disclosed. Most of the UK's stocks have to be reserved in case of any direct conflict involving British forces. Strategic analyst Howard Wheeldon indicated the UK could not afford to send jets as its current fleet is too small to defend the British Isles. He told the Mail: 'All credit to the UK government for its fast response and actions, but the sad fact is that after providing an unquantified number of probably time-expired Storm Shadow missiles, the UK has little else it can give.' Shocking footage shows the moment a mother and her child are swept away as she tries to push a buggy through raging floodwaters that have swallowed a street in Spain. Roads in parts of the country have been turned into rivers, after record hot weather on the Iberian peninsula moved to the UK, replaced by torrential rains, breaking a prolonged drought. The floods have hit areas along the Mediterranean coast the hardest, with as much as 40 litres of rain per square metre falling in one hour in parts of Murcia yesterday. Homes and businesses in tourist areas like Alicante have been flooded and cars swept away, with stranded people and dogs needing to be rescued. The Emergency Coordination Center of Murcia described it as the worst weather front in history for the area, with storms wreaking havoc there as well as in Valenica and Andalusia in recent days. Videos from Molina de Segura, a town in Murcia, show a little boy being flipped out of his pram and almost dragged away by floodwater and a car being swept away A shocking video has shown the moment a man driving a red saloon car tries to get it across fast-moving floodwater The red car, which appears to be a BMW 1 Series, is then hit by a wall of water, and is unable to resist the force of the oncoming flood Disbelieving bystanders watched on as a mother decided to try and push her pram through the floodwaters A quick-thinking onlooker rushed to the rescue of the little boy, whose buggy was almost dragged away by the fast-moving water Unbelievable social media footage out of Molina de Segura, a town in Murcia, shows a little boy being flipped out of his pram by the floodwater. He is almost dragged away by the rapids as his mother tries to get them across a flooded street. Thankfully, the boy was grabbed by a bystander and they were both pulled to safety. Despite the danger they were just in, another family member appears to reattempt the crossing with the boy in the buggy. People can be heard screaming at her to stop, and a passersby intervenes and jumps in front of the woman, and she decides against trying their luck a second time. In the same town, more footage showed a man attempting to drive his saloon car across rising flood waters. The driver appears to hesitate as he approaches a junction, before launching his vehicle into the floodwaters. The red car, which appears to be a BMW 1 Series, is then hit by a wall of water, and is unable to resist the force of the oncoming flood. The driver and his car are then swept away by the rapids, disappearing into the distance - about 50 metres down the street. Bystanders appeared to warn the mother about the dangers of the floodwater after she was almost swept away by it along with her child Footage has shown cars ploughing through inches of floodwater in the region of Castellon, near Valencia Record rainfall was also reported in Cartagena, where cars were pictured swamped by floods, on Tuesday Motorists were seen trying their luck on the waterlogged roads. Many were no match for the walls of water Pictures have shown huge hailstones the size of marbles piling up on a person's terrace, undoubtedly causing people to seek shelter The Emergency Coordination Center of the Region of Murcia reported that the worst rainfall in Molina de Segura and its surrounding areas occurred last night. Record rainfall was also reported in Cartagena, where cars were pictured swamped by floods, on Tuesday. There were severe thunderstorms yesterday, with seven Spanish regions put on alert, including Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia and Navarre. Pictures have shown huge hailstones the size of marbles piling up on a person's terrace, undoubtedly causing people to seek shelter. Torrential rainfall has also hit central Spain and in and around the capital Madrid as part of the weather front. Earlier in the week, Spanish authorities shut down schools, universities and day-care centres as a precaution after rains left behind flooded basements and submerged cars. Cartagena City Council shared pictures of floods caused by heavy rain in the south of Spain While the rain has caused chaos and economic damage, they have also been welcomed by many in Spain, which had been on track to register the driest spring since records began in 1961, according to state weather agency AEMET. Rainfall in Spain between October 1 and May 23 was 27 per cent below average for the period, according to AEMET. Heavy rain is expected to continue today. The AEMET warned of accumulated rain of 12 centimeters (5 inches) over 12 hours on Friday in the province of Castellon in the southeastern Valencia region. Fire services in Castellon said the worst-affected areas were the towns of Benicassim, Oropesa del Mar and Cabanes. They said they had carried out three rescues and provided pumping services on 27 occasions. Flooding in northern Italy earlier this month killed at least 13 people and left about 23,000 homeless while causing billions of euros worth of damage A flooded area caused by heavy rains across Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region The flooded Park of the Saltern of Cervia The compliance manager resigned without notice in 2021 following her claim A black manager at HS2 sued for discrimination after claiming her boss was being racist when using the phrase 'whiter than white'. Sharon Goodison complained that her boss's use of the common expression was offensive because it implied 'white is good, black is bad'. She told an employment tribunal the phrase - dating back to Shakespearean times - has had 'racial connotations throughout my life'. Mrs Goodison even warned manager Laura Day that a police officer had been disciplined for saying it, leading to her apologising for any offence caused. The tribunal has now dismissed the discrimination claim, ruling that Ms Day's use of the expression was not related to race but was an 'apposite' comment about the HS2 company's behaviour. Sharon Goodison is suing for discrimination saying her boss was being racist when she used the phrase 'whiter than white' The HS2 site in West Hyde near Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire 'Whiter than white': The origins of the phrase There are two theories as to where the phrase 'whiter than white' came from. Theory one: It is a modified phrase coined by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's 1593 poem Venus and Adonis tells the story of Venus, a goddess of love, and her seduction of Adonis. The poem reads: 'Who sees this true love in her naked bed / Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white / But, when his glutton eye so full hath fed / His other agents aim like delight?' In this context, the phrase seems to refer to someone being pure and honest but note that the phrase has been modified slightly with time. Theory two: It is what it says on the tin - the colour is whiter than the colour white. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that the phrase became a popular term following the 1920s advertising slogan for Persil washing powder. In this context, the phrase literally means that clothes or linen washed using the powder come out pristine and 'whiter than white'. Advertisement However, the company was found to have forced her out of her job by taking too long to investigate her complaints. 'Whiter than white' is believed to originate from Shakespeare's poem Venus and Adonis and over time has become defined as being pure or honest. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that it became a popular term following the 1920s advertising slogan for Persil washing powder. The tribunal in central London was told that compliance manager Mrs Goodison worked for the high speed rail company from April 2017 until August 2021. However, she was unhappy in her role, comparing it to being with 'an abusive boyfriend' who had 'bullied, disrespected, racially discriminated, disrespected, and disempowered me'. The tribunal heard that in July 2021, Ms Day used the phrase 'HS2 aren't whiter than white here' in relation to how the company was not abiding by the terms of a contract. In a one-to-one meeting with Ms Day, Mrs Goodison said that, while she understood the point Ms Day was making, the 'not whiter than white' phrase had racial connotations and had impacted her. Mrs Goodison told the tribunal: 'White is good, black is bad. '[The phrase] has had racial connotations for me throughout my life. I said she had to be very careful. A police officer was brought up on misconduct charges.' The tribunal heard Mrs Goodison asked if there was a possibility Ms Day was unconsciously biased, and Ms Day said: 'I don't know. I was talking about HS2 not complying with a contract. It had nothing to do with race.' In another incident, Ms Day told Mrs Goodison she had used a 'hostile' tone with her during a meeting. At the tribunal Mrs Goodison described this as a 'microaggression' as she felt Ms Day was calling her an 'aggressive black woman'. The hearing was told the compliance manager submitted grievances about her alleged mistreatment at work, but the investigation dragged on for nine months. She said this led to 'high levels of anxiety, weight loss and trouble sleeping'. Mrs Goodison resigned without notice in August 2021. In her letter of resignation, she said: 'You should be aware that I am resigning in response to a repudiatory breach of contract by HS2 detailed in the informal and formal grievances I have raised. I therefore consider myself constructively dismissed.' Mrs Goodison took HS2 to the tribunal claiming race discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as constructive unfair dismissal. The panel rejected the race claim, finding that she was 'overly critical' of Ms Day. Of the 'whiter than white' complaint, Employment Judge Jillian Brown said: 'Ms Day used the phrase "white than white" when describing the [company's] performance of its contract. 'The phrase did not relate to [Mrs Goodison], nor to anyone's race, but the [company's] failure to fulfil its contractual obligations. 'While [Mrs Goodison] contended that the phrase reflected "white is good, and black is bad", the Tribunal considered that "black" was not mentioned, nor implied, by Ms Day. 'The Tribunal decided that Ms Day's phrase was apposite to describe the [company's] contractual performance, in that she was saying the [company] was not, itself, without blemish or fault.' The tribunal also dismissed her complaint that Ms Day's description of her as 'hostile' was discrimination. However, it ruled HS2 had taken too long to complete the grievance process and awarded her 7,647 in compensation for constructive unfair dismissal. The sum far exceeds the amount raised by President Biden over the same period Ron DeSantis has raised $8.2million in the first 24 hours as a presidential candidate, his campaign said Thursday, despite his disastrous campaign lunch on Twitter. The total dwarfs the $6.3million that Joe Biden raised within 24 hours of announcing his candidacy in 2019. The Florida Governor is also on track to beat the early figures of his Republican rival Donald Trump who raised $9.5million in the six weeks after announcing his 2024 campaign in November. DeSantis formally launched his campaign Wednesday night in a shambolic interview with Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces - the app's live audio streaming feature. The online stream suffered repeated delays and crashes, making it difficult for most users to hear the announcement in real time. However, it appears this has not slowed his presidential run down or dampened supporters' enthusiasm as they said donors raised $1 million in just a single hour. Ron DeSantis formally kicked off his campaign Wednesday night in a shambolic announcement over Twitter. The Florida Governor is seen speaking in Orlando, May 20, 2023 DeSantis' stream was delayed and crashed repeatedly, making it difficult for most users to hear the announcement in real time DeSantis kicked off his campaign in a shambolic announcement over Twitter when the Florida Governor joined Elon Musk (pictured) on Spaces - the app's live audio streaming feature DeSantis' colossal total includes online donations and those collected through Ron-O-Rama, a meeting of major Republican donors at the Four Seasons in Miami. It does not include financing secured by pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down. The funding from the super PAC can be directly transferred to DeSantis's campaign. It is unknown how much money is in the super PAC. The influx of funding will now finance a demanding political schedule as DeSantis flies across the country to raise his profile. The Republican governor on Thursday announced plans for a three-state blitz next week featuring at least a dozen stops. DeSantis is scheduled to campaign Tuesday and Wednesday in Iowa before a trip to New Hampshire on Thursday and South Carolina on Friday. 'We are laser-focused on taking Gov. DeSantis' forward-thinking message for restoring America to every potential voter in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina,' campaign manager Generra Peck said. 'Our campaign is committed to putting in the time to win these early nominating states. No one will work harder than Gov. DeSantis to share his vision with the country - he has only begun to fight.' DeSantis is casting himself as the only legitimate Republican rival in the GOP's crowded primary to former President Donald Trump, who holds a big lead in early polls along with a firm grip on a significant portion of the GOP's passionate base. In a short video posted on Wednesday after the announcement on Twitter, DeSantis joked with a straight face that he 'broke the internet' DeSantis is seen as the main competitor for Trump. Pictured: Trump shakes hands with DeSantis as Florida first lady Casey DeSantis looks, Estero, Florida on October 31, 2018 DeSantis poses with his family, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis and their three children, Madison, 5, Mason, 4, and Mamie, 2 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces he is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in this screen grab from a social media video posted May 24, 2023 The news comes despite a shambolic start to his campaign over Twitter. The Florida governor shrugged off the chaotic start in a follow-up video clip after the Twitter event, saying he 'broke the internet.' While the delivery was a joke and appeared to make light of the haywire announcement, DeSantis did not crack a smile - although he did manage a brief grimace as he ended his speech. During his conversation with Musk, DeSantis touted his record dealing with COVID, taking veiled swipes at Donald Trump and promising to reverse 'everything' President Biden was doing at the border. He also attacked Disney, the NAACP travel ban to Florida and the GOP's 'culture of losing' in a campaign launched with Elon Musk plagued by glitches on Twitter Spaces. 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. 'I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback,' DeSantis said. 'But we know our country's going in the wrong direction. We see it with our own eyes. And we feel it in our bones.' Today Mrs Justice Yip ruled in favour of defendants and struck out all claims Drugs, used for tests from 1950s until late 1970s, allegedly harmed children Damages claims by more than 170 people who say they were affected by hormone pregnancy test drugs have been thrown out by a High Court judge. The drugs, including Primodos, were given to women to test for pregnancy from the 1950s until the late 1970s and are alleged to have been responsible for serious birth defects. A group of 172 claimants, including children of women who took the drugs, brought legal action against Bayer Pharma, Schering Health Care, Aventis Pharma and the Government in a bid for compensation. Among them was Marie Lyon, 76, of the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests, who said women and children had already 'died waiting for justice'. Her daughter Sarah was born with a partially formed arm, which she believes was the result of taking the pills. Marie Lyon with her daughter Sarah in 1971. Sarah was born with a partially formed arm, which Ms Lyon believes was the result of taking Primodos Marie Lyon, 76, of the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests Today, Mrs Justice Yip ruled in favour of the defendants and struck out all the claims. Lawyers for the drug companies and the Department for Health brought a bid to have the claims struck out at a hearing this month, arguing the claimants have 'no real prospect of success' at a trial. The defendants argued there is no evidence of a 'causal association' between the hormone pregnancy tests (HPTs) and the harm suffered by the claimants. The judge said one of the claimants was barred from bringing legal action by a 1982 ruling by then-Mr Justice Bingham in previous litigation over HPTs. She decided that none of the claims could continue. She said in her ruling: 'Although I have not treated the order of Bingham J as applying to the other claimants, the history of the previous litigation provides the context in which I have considered the defendants' application to strike their claims out as an abuse of process. 'This litigation is an attempt to relitigate the issues that were considered in the earlier litigation which failed because a causal association could not be established between HPTs and foetal harm. 'Having carefully considered the material placed before me, I conclude that the position has not materially changed in the claimants' favour. 'It would be manifestly unfair to the defendants to require them to incur further substantial costs in defending this action. 'Further, it is not in the interests of the claimants to maintain the litigation in circumstances where there is no viable plan to progress the claims and no real prospect of success. 'I am driven to the conclusion that the proceedings are an abuse of process and that the only appropriate response is to strike out the claims. 'It follows that the proceedings as a whole will be struck out.' Claimants outside the High Court this month. The judge decided their case should not continue An advert for Primodos in 1961. Before this, pregnancy tests were slow. One method relied on a woman's urine being injected into a live toad, which would produce eggs if the woman was pregnant Lawyers for the claimants said in court documents for the earlier hearing that the defendants' evidence was 'unconvincing'. The claimants contended they had evidence, were gathering further evidence from experts, and that the process was ongoing. Primodos became available in the UK in 1959, with a woman taking a pill on two consecutive days. If she had a 'withdrawal bleed' a few days later this meant she was not pregnant. It was withdrawn from the market in 1978 after concern that it may have been responsible for congenital malformations, miscarriages and stillbirth in some cases, the court was previously told. Reacting to the judgement today Ms Lyon told MailOnline: 'I am profoundly disappointed with the judgement, but the result was not unexpected, after witnessing the aggressive defence by the Government's and manufacturers' legal teams. 'During the four-day hearing we observed the defendants placing Justice Yip under considerable pressure to strike out our claim. 'We do not accept the defendant's claim that there is not sufficient scientific evidence to prove the link to adverse effects. Additional scientific papers will be published shortly which will support the evidence contained in our skeleton argument. 'It is another bump in the long road to justice, but it won't derail our journey, just delay it. 'My first priority is to reassure our families that the battle continues and to remember that justice will be served, just not today. 'I will be speaking with our legal advisors to discuss next steps to ensure we are able to expose the evidence of harm caused by these synthetic hormones.' Speaking outside court this month, Ms Lyon also said: 'We want acknowledgment and acceptance that they were able to prevent this from happening and that's more important to us than anything to stop it happening again. 'The second reason we want it is to get rid of guilt. Every one of our mums, including me, feel guilt that we took the tablets, that we didn't ask and we didn't question. 'As first-time mums, as many of us were, we never dreamed of questioning our GP. That guilt will never go away for all of us. 'The third reason we need to be heard is redress. We've lost three of our children in their late 40s, early 50s, who have died from the effects and that was in the last three months. 'We know that their health is deteriorating. We need to know that they have got security in the future.' In 2017, revelations about the drug were broadcast in the documentary Primodos: The Secret Drugs Scandal following a lengthy Sky News investigation. In the documentary, campaigners claimed they were used as 'guinea pigs'. Claimant Karl Murphy - who spoke on the programme - was born with multiple deformities he believes were caused by Primodos. He had a cleft palate rectified as a baby but has been left without some fingers, others that stop at the knuckle, and no toes on his left foot. Mr Murphy, from Liverpool, reformed a campaign group for families disbanded following the failure of the 1982 legal case after finding boxes of documents on Primodos in his mother's attic in 2011. The founder of a campaign against the expanded Ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) has warned 'it's going to get messy' as organised groups allegedly sabotage cameras being installed around London. London mayor Sadiq Khan's controversial scheme will charge people 12.50 a day to drive in Greater London from August 29 if their cars don't meet certain environmental standards. A new group, UK Unites, is warning the government to expect civil disobedience on a 'huge scale' if there is no change in approach. Founder of the group Phil Elliott appeared on Talk TV this afternoon where he hit out at the scheme, saying: 'If you don't listen to the people, the people will get angry. 'We have warned government you have to listen to the people otherwise it's going to get messy.' Phil Elliot, right, the founder of UK Unites - a new campaign group against Ulez - on Talk TV Campaigners against the ultra-low emissions zone in the capital are urging for a reversal of what they believe is a 'war on motorists'. Mr Elliott accused Mr Khan of 'ignoring the people saying we don't want this'. 'Despite all of that he has gone ahead and installed the cameras in London and further afield,' he said. Discussing anti-Ulez activists destroying cameras, he said: 'Desperate times and desperate measures, I'm afraid.' Mr Elliott said: 'They are putting the cameras up as we speak despite the fact that there's a judicial review. 'People are being forced into jumping into buying expensive vehicles they can't afford.' UK Unites claims to unite campaigns supported by more than 2.5million people in the country. Mr Elliott, 59, the founder behind the initiative, earlier told The Times: 'People aren't bluffing. There are just so many things wrong across the country affecting so many people and stressing them out, how could there not be civil disobedience?' He added: 'People just can't afford new cars or the charges - people like carers who are on c**p wages. They're desperate.' The campaigner said the Ulez expansion could prompt protests similar to those seen in France and Holland. A social media advert has been posted for an anti ULEZ 'demo/awareness day' around London Bridge tomorrow. This comes after it emerged last month that a secret activist army is vandalising and stealing Sadiq Khan's Ulez cameras. Dubbed the 'Blade Runners', the covert group has been attacking ANPR cameras that catch out drivers using high-polluting vehicles across the capital. A secret army is vandalising and stealing Sadiq Khan's Ulez cameras. Two of the 'Blade Runners' showed MailOnline some of the cameras they had taken down People have taken to putting bags over the controversial cameras in an effort to stop them working One of the secretive Blade Runners, who met with MailOnline, vowed: 'We are going to take down every single [camera] no matter what.' Dressed in a balaclava to protect his identity, the father in his mid-forties revealed he had stolen 34 Ulez cameras himself but his group and others like them have taken down hundreds. Some Londoners have told MailOnline they have already had to shell out huge sums to buy new cars that are Ulez-compliant, and they fear they are being priced out of the capital. In some areas of the city, the Ulez will force parents who can't afford to buy new motors to pay the 12.50 charge to drive their children to school, while pensioners fear being left stranded and unable to see their GP located inside the penalty zone. Neighbours living just yards apart on opposite sides of the clean air zone face starkly different fates, with some saying they will be slapped with a charge for simply leaving their homes, while those living a stone's throw away are unaffected. Sadiq Khan's scheme is set to charge Londoners in all boroughs 12.50 a day to drive in the capital from August 29 if their cars don't meet certain environmental standards The Mayor of London says the decision to expand the Ulez zone was 'necessary' A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said this week: 'The mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution. 'Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. 'We know that councils are keen to do the right thing and ensure their vehicle fleets are as clean as possible. TfL will continue to engage with outer London boroughs and ensure they are prepared for the London-wide expansion of the Ulez this August.' Separately, a spokesperson for Mr Khan told MailOnline: 'Causing criminal damage is never acceptable. The Met are actively investigating incidences of Ulez camera vandalism and arrests have already been made. 'People are of course entitled to show their opposition to policies peacefully and lawfully.' A Italian vet accused of stabbing a mother-of-two to death at her seaside home has appeared in court charged with murder. Dr Alberto Fioletti, 31, allegedly knifed veterinary nurse Stephanie Hodgkinson, 34, at her ground floor flat in a quiet cul-de-sac in Alum Chine, Bournemouth, Dorset on May 12 this year. Police were called to her home by the ambulance service at 12.19pm but she was found to be dead at the scene. Dressed in a grey jumper and trousers, Fioletti today appeared at Winchester Crown Court and spoke only to confirm his name. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at court again on September 15 for a plea and trial preparation hearing. Stephanie Hodgkinson suffered a single fatal stab wound to the chest in the incident Dr Alberto Fioletti has been charged with murder over the incident earlier this month Floral tributes and candles were left outside the property following Mrs Hodgkinson's death, which shocked the local community. 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. Police found the 34-year-old dead at her home after they were called by ambulance services A spokesperson for SCVS 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 (MCIT), 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.' Ron DeSantis is finally going all-in against Donald Trump in the days after formally entering the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. For months the Florida governor avoided taking swipes at the ex-president despite a barrage of attacks levied against him from the Trump side. But now, DeSantis has made some of his most pointed remarks against the man whose endorsement he once sought. Speaking with Tennessee conservative radio host Matt Murphy, DeSantis claimed that Trump 'is a different guy today' than when he was running for president in 2016. He also insisted that Trump's campaign continues to show more signs of leaning left-ward rather than sticking to conservative values something he promises not to do as a candidate or as president. Following the governor's delayed and glitch-filled Twitter Spaces announcement with Elon Musk, DeSantis has taken to more traditional media sources as part of his post-campaign launch media glitz, like radio. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is finally unloading attacks against Donald Trump following months of avoiding criticism of the former president and now his No. 1 Republican presidential primary rival In the 24 hours after announcing his bid, DeSantis' campaign raised $8.2 million dwarfing the $6.3 million Joe Biden raised within 24 hours of announcing his candidacy in 2019. Donald Trump raised $9.5 million in the six weeks after announcing in mid-November his 2024 campaign, which DeSantis is well on track to beating. '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 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.' 'I don't 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 he's going with his campaign is the wrong direction,' DeSantis said. He also said in a separate interview that Trump's early-day COVID-19 policies 'destroyed millions of people's lives.' '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. On Fox News, DeSantis said that among his Day One priorities as president would be to fire Trump's handpicked FBI director Christopher Wray. In a Newsmax interview on Thursday, DeSantis even alleged that Trump is leaning left when it comes to immigration despite many critics claiming the former president was too hard on illegal immigrants. 'I think that some of the things he's been attacking me on I've been a little surprised that because he's attacking me from the left, and that really wasn't the Donald Trump from 2015 and 2016,' DeSantis told Eric Bolling. 'He was a hard charger, leaning-in on all the issues, very edgy on conservative issues and it was part of the reason he did so well,' the governor added. 'He's also hitting me against voting against immigration amnesty,' DeSantis lamented. 'There was the Goodlatte to bill in 2018 and he said that that is akin to voting against the wall. But that bill was a 2 million-person amnesty for illegal aliens, very little money for any border security. All conservatives opposed it. He did support it as president, which a lot of us were upset about.' 'But to hit me for taking the America First position, I just think is a little strange. I'm not sure what his strategy is, but I think he's taking positions that are a little bit different than then four or five years ago.' Notably, the Florida governor is making the case that he will better deliver on the promises that Trump made and failed to see through in his single presidential term. 'At the end of the day,' DeSantis told Murphy when speaking about Trump, 'he is going left on a lot of the fiscal, he's going left on culture, he's even sided with Disney against me.' Following his official entry into the 2024 race for the White House, DeSantis is hitting the road next week on a campaign swing to three early primary contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. It is unclear whether his wife and Florida's first lady Casey DeSantis will join him for the swing. Casey, a former broadcast reporter, cancer survivor and mother of three, is largely seen as the driving force behind her husband's rise on the national political scene. Mother-of-three Casey DeSantis, 42, has taken center stage with her dazzling outfits, and is largely seen as the driving force behind her husband's rise on the national political stage Despite unloading on Trump Thursday, DeSantis also implied that, as president, he would consider pardoning Trump if he is charged with a crime related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. '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,' DeSantis told The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show when asked about pardoning individuals charged in relation to the January 6 storming. '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 was then asked if he also would consider pardoning Trump if he's charged. '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,' he responded. The mother of a seven-week-old baby who was horrifically killed by her father has cried tears of joy after her former partner died in a fiery crash. Rick Cataldo, 35, died after crashing a car into an electrical pole at about 10:40pm on May 15 in Thornlands, Brisbane's east. Cataldo pled guilty to manslaughter in 2017 for the May 2012 death of his daughter Lily Rain after brutally bashing the seven-week-old and crushing her skull. He was sentenced to eight years' jail but only served 3 years and 9 months for manslaughter because he had already spent almost four years in jail while awaiting trial. Lily's mother, Michelle Leask said she was happy when she found out her former partner had died. Michelle Leask (pictured) said she cried with 'absolute happiness' after she found out her former partner, Rick Cataldo, who had killed their seven-week old baby had died in a car accident 'I cried with absolute happiness,' Leask told The Courier Mail. 'I received the text message while I was sitting at my desk at work and had dropped my phone in complete shock when I read and re-read what I had just received. 'I was shaking and in disbelief that he was finally out of our life, forever.' Cataldo faced Redcliffe Magistrates Court a little more than a month before his death on April 4 for driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and using plates that were stolen, lost or damaged in November 2022. After representing himself in court, Cataldo was fined $1,200 and given 28 days to pay. Leask, who shares a 13-year-old son to Cataldo, said her former partner was going to take her to court to vary the domestic violence order she has against him and try to gain visitation to see their son. She added Cataldo would have tried to find out where they live and would have harassed their son the moment he turned 18. Although she wasn't present when her daughter suffered the horrific injuries that led to her death, Leask had seen Catadalo strike the two-month old numerous times and failed to give her the care she needed to stay alive. Leask noticed her baby girl had become harder to feed and would cry more in the days leading up to her death. She attempted to call an ambulance but Catadalo urged her not to in case cannabis plants in his possession were found. She said in hindsight she should have not stopped at anything to get her baby the treatment she needed. Rick Cataldo, 35, (pictured) plead guilty to manslaughter in 2017 after his two-month-old daughter died from injuries from injuries sustained after Cataldo struck her Cataldo died after crashing a car into an electrical pole on May 15 in Thornlands, Brisbane's east (pictured) Upon finding her daughter pale and unresponsive, Leask took her daughter to Brisbane's Redcliffe Hospital where she died despite desperate attempts to revive her. Lily's condition deteriorated before she died on May 8, 2012. While at the hospital, Cataldo lied to police about how his daughter received the injuries he had inflicted upon her. He told them 'I dropped Lily and she hit her head', and urged Leask to tell hospital staff that their daughter's bruises came from 'you (Leask) getting her tangled up in the seatbelt getting out of the car and you accidentally dropping her'. The young mum, who lives at The Gap with her son and a two-year-old daughter to her new fiance, said her diagnosis of autism and the mental and physical abuse she received from Cataldo contributed to her not taking Lily to the hospital. 'It's a life sentence of guilt that I'll never forgive myself for, I hate myself every day for it, I know I failed her,' Leask said. Leask was given a five-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter and agreeing to wear a wire while working with police to convict Cataldo. Police visited Leask at her mother's house and hatched a plan to catch Cataldo talking about the days leading up to their daughter's death. Leask had to 'casually' ask questions about why Cataldo did not allow her to take Lily to the hospital when she was crying a lot and why he was searching the process of an autopsy on Google. She said Cataldo was drunk and answered the questions truthfully which inevitably led to his conviction. A post-mortem revealed Lily had six fractures to her skull on both sides and the back of her heard, an injury to her brain stem and spinal cord. Her injuries almost reached the degree of force found in 'baby shaking' cases while her rib fractures and a twisted arm was likely caused by 'crushing' or 'compression to the chest'. During a court hearing, Leask was described by a judge as 'profoundly remorseful' for her daughter's death. Leask said she lives with a life sentence of guilt for not getting Lily the treatment she needed. The young mum was given a five-year suspended sentence for manslaughter after agreeing to wear a wire and help police convict Cataldo (pictured, Leask with daughter Lily) Leask said she feels grief, anger, frustration and happiness when she reflects on the last 15 years. 'Grief on what got taken from me and I worked with everything in my power to get back,' she told The Courier Mail. 'Grief that I don't have an 11-year-old Lily here with me about to start high school next year. 'Anger that the situation I was in with Rick affected my future... happy that I got out when I did, because with how violent Rick was at the end of our relationship, I know I could've possibly been killed by him.' British ice cream sellers are complaining that Cadbury Flakes are 'too crumbly'. Millions of the 99 Ice cream product are set to be sold over the bank holiday weekend as vendors say they have noticed the quality of the chocolate staple taking a hit since parent company Mondelez International moved its production to Egypt in 2020. Some are turning to German alternatives as a result. They have revealed their frustration at having to pay 'top money' for a box of Flakes which then arrives as a collection of shards - with some sellers resorting to 'sprinkling bits' of the shattered confectionary over their products. John Taylor, owner of C&M Creamery Ices, told the BBC: 'You can't give someone a 99 with a broken Flake. It's embarrassing for an ice cream man.' Ice cream sellers have noticed that the quality of the flakes have taken a substantial hit since the company moved its production to Egypt Another vendor, Lawrence Glauser, owner of Lorenzo's Ices in East Yorkshire said that he has often had to dump at least a quarter of box as they cannot be used. Mr Glauser said: 'They're charging top money for them, but they arrive as though they have been bounced off a cliff. 'If you're buying five boxes of Flake for an event and you discover a lot of them are broken your day is ruined.' Katy Alison, owner of a van in Bognor Regis, said that she had to throw away just under half (70) Flakes in a single box, because they were all broken. A typical box contains 144 Flake 99s. A Mondelez International Spokesperson said: 'We care about our loyal customer base and take quality issues very seriously. Cadbury Flake 99 is a naturally delicate and crumbly product, and we have processes in place within our supply chain to avoid any breakage as much as possible. 'We are aware that, recently, some customers have received product which does not meet our usual high standards. This has been addressed following improvements to our production processes, although some prior stock may remain in circulation. 'We are in the process of liaising with our customers (wholesalers) to support those potentially impacted. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.' Tokyo, May 26 (UNI) Japan has included 17 Russian individuals and 78 companies in a new sanctions package over the Ukraine conflict, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's documents showed early on Friday. Assets of the sanctioned individuals and companies will be frozen if they are found in Japan. Japan also introduced individual sanctions against seven individuals from Russia's news regions, who were "considered to be directly involved in the 'annexation' of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol or the destabilization of Eastern Part of Ukraine, as well as individuals of eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, who are considered to be directly involved in the purported 'incorporation' by Russia," including from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. The list also includes prosecutors from the regions. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry specified in its bulletin that export bans against Russian companies will go into effect on June 2. The ministry added that the provision of construction and engineering services to Russia, as well as exports of a number of goods that contribute to the strengthening of Russia's industrial base, have been banned. The details of these bans, including a detailed list of goods subject to export restrictions, will be determined later, the ministry said. Japan also included the Russian National Wealth Fund and Foundation for the Protection of National Values to the sanctions list, according to foreign ministry. The organizations bank accounts will be frozen if they are found in Japan. Moreover, any financial activities with these entities will be prohibited. A total of 700 individuals, including 311 individuals from Russia's new regions, and 207 companies have been sanctioned by Japan since the beginning of Russia's military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Export restrictions within the framework of Japan's all sanctions packages have affected a total of 437 Russian organizations. A total of 987 people from Russia, including 304 people from the new regions and Crimea, 129 organizations and 12 banks, have had their assets frozen in Japan. Exports restrictions have been imposed on 357 organizations, companies and institutions associated with Russia's defense industry. UNI/SPUTNIK XC AKS SY ARN This is the bizarre moment a cowboy joined cops to chase down and wrangle a runaway cow rampaging down the middle of a busy highway. Ricky Littlejohn and his trusty steed Bucky took to the Interstate-75 outside of Detroit, Michigan, in a real-life John Wayne moment to rescue the loose bovine. The incredible moment was captured on a dashcam from a car behind as officers on four wheels - assisted by local cowboys - followed in pursuit of the rogue animal. Riding Bucky, Littlejohn - who galloped down to the scene after hearing about the unfolding chaos on social media - swung his lasso above his head to try to rope in the charging animal. The cow was rescued as police joked that 'the bovine was not charged and is back in the pasture with a story to tell all the other livestock.' Yee-haw! Ricky Littlejohn and his trusty steed Bucky took to the Interstate-75 outside of Detroit to rescue the charging cow The real-life John Wayne galloped up to the bovine to try and real the animal in as it made its way down the road The bovine veered into the road, dodging and diving the passing traffic along the freeway 'A team of wranglers comprised of men and women comparable to the cast of Yellowstone' had already been deployed to rescue the bovine from a gravel pit on a nearby road before the animal fled the cops, Michigan State Police said in a statement on Twitter explaining the incredible moment. The runaway cow had escaped down a grassy verge along the highway, before it veered into the road, dodging and diving the passing traffic. Spotting that the animal might make a dash for it, police had already been stationed along the highway as a precaution. 'The wranglers were on the shoulder of I-75 with horses and four wheelers when they attempted to capture the suspect bovine but were unsuccessful in their attempts,' the state police said. 'The cow managed to outsmart its advisories, and entered the northbound lanes of I-75. '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. Eventually Littlejohn and Bucky took their chance and reeled in the rampaging cow. The rope flew over the bovine's neck as Littlejohn slowed down. An officer on quadbike then rode up alongside the animal and cut it off onto the safety of a grassy lane. The runaway cow had escaped down a grassy verge along the highway Bucky galloped along and Littlejohn swung his lasso above his head to try to rope in the charging animal The rampaging cow was eventually reeled in an returned back to its owner following its adventurous excursion Eventually Littlejohn and Bucky took their chance and reeled in the rampaging cow The rope flew over the bovine's neck as Littlejohn slowed down. An officer on quadbike then rode up alongside the animal and cut it off The animal was diverted onto the safety of a grassy lane as the freeway was reopened Officers were then able to reopen the freeway and things quickly got back to normal. After the bizarre event, Littlejohn told Fox News how proud he was of Bucky. '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.' The cowboy added: '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.' Mormon cult leader Samuel Bateman has been accused of taking children as young as nine to be his wives - as 11 members of his sect are charged with 51 felonies over child sex trafficking. An updated indictment released this week shines new light on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), led by Bateman. In total, 11 members of his sect now face 51 felony counts for transporting children across state lines to facilitate sexual activity, recording it, destroying evidence and witness tampering. Bateman was arrested last year by the FBI who said at the time he had more than 20 wives, with some revealed to be as young as nine years old. Bateman and three women followers of his are scheduled to appear for their arraignment in federal court on Friday. His arrest came after authorities found three underage girls locked inside a trailer he was towing near Flagstaff, Arizona. Samuel Bateman (pictured) was arrested last year by the FBI who said at the time he had more than 20 wives, with some revealed to be as young as nine years old. Bateman was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of Mormonism that practices polygamy Pictured: FBI agents raid the home of Samuel Bateman in Colorado City, Arizona, in September 2022 Cops opened the squalid trailer to find underage girls inside, which was furnished with a couch and a bucket for a toilet. The trooper that pulled him over saw 'children's small fingers moving in the gap of the rear trailer door' as he pulled up behind the trailer, according to a police statement. The religious leader was snared after a subsequent raid of his two properties found evidence of child sex trafficking, incest, and group sex with both adults and minors. The cult-fanatic claimed it was God's will for him to engage in depraved sexual acts with his 'wives', the FBI said. Following the raid of his properties, several of Bateman's underage 'wives' were rescued by the Arizona Department of Child Services, while others were saved after they were discovered in an AirBnB in Washington state in December. According to an FBI affidavit, Bateman gave his daughter 'slobbery' kisses which she referred to as 'nasty.' He then discussed in graphic detail having a child with her. Bateman later disclosed to his wife that he wanted to marry their daughter, which prompted his wife to leave with the child. Underage girls were found being driven around by Bateman inside a trailer, with just a bucket for a toilet Pictured: Three girls embrace before they are removed from the home of Samuel Bateman, following his arrest in Colorado City, Arizona, on Wednesday, Sept 2022 Bateman was previously a follower of infamous FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, whose crimes were detailed in Netflix docuseries 'Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey'. He allegedly told followers the convicted child-rapist was dead, and that he 'spoke through' Bateman as the new prophet. Former followers of the FLDS told the Salt Lake City Tribune last December that following Jeffs' conviction in 2011, Bateman seized upon the power vacuum and became the group's leader. Warren Jeffs during an extradition hearing at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in August, 2006 He convinced them that Jeffs was dead, 'or translated,' a Mormon phrase for God transitioning a person's body from mortal to immortal. Bateman said that Jeffs could only speak through him and that members should reward him with money and new wives. After he was arrested, U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles ordered that Bateman remain behind bars while the case goes through the courts, with a trial set to take place next year. Last year, more than 150 people were killed across America during Memorial Day weekend with Chicago, Philadelphia and Maryland seeing the worst This will serve as a test for newly inaugurated Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson who has committed to addressing crime through intelligent, holistic approaches Chicago is bracing for Memorial Day chaos by deploying 'peacekeepers' across the city - after 52 people were shot and nine killed over the holiday last year. Historically, Memorial Day weekend has been marked by an increase in violent incidents in Chicago, making it one of the most challenging periods for public safety in the city. Governor JB Pritzker announced on Thursday the establishment of the Citywide Crisis Prevention & Response unit, which will collaborate with community-based organizations to deploy over 30 trained neighborhood 'peacekeepers.' It was described as a highly mobile team that is specifically designed to prevent violence and address conflict and crises in the City of Chicago by providing essential assistance in de-escalation, conflict resolution, and crisis support across the Windy City. This coordinated response effort will serve as a crucial test for newly inaugurated Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who assumed office this month with a commitment to addressing public safety through 'intelligent and holistic approaches' rather than relying solely on toughness. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced on Thursday the establishment of the Citywide Crisis Prevention & Response unit This week, Chicago experienced an increase in nearly all areas of crime as compared to the same time last year Chicago is bracing for Memorial Day chaos by deploying 'peacekeepers' across the city Governor Pritzker emphasized the paramount importance of ensuring community safety. 'The most important work we do is keeping our communities safe,' Pritzker said. 'This is another important step towards addressing violence and conflict through research-based, community-focused approaches.' 'Our primary focus lies in safeguarding our neighborhoods. This initiative represents a significant stride towards tackling violence and resolving conflicts by implementing research-based strategies and placing a strong emphasis on community engagement,' he said. Inspired by the success of two preexisting organizations within the city, Gov. JB Pritzker has implemented a program that mirrors their efforts. The Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, a coalition of private and public organizations, pledged $2.5 million to fund 253 grassroots groups working across 24 communities in the South and West sides, the areas of Chicago that have struggled economically, Johnson said in a press conference. Crime incidents in Chicago soared by 41 percent last year from 2021, and another 42 percent so far in 2023. A mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on the Fourth of July last year left seven people dead and more than 40 injured. 'My administration's top priority is building a city where every single resident feels safe, and in order to do that, we need everyone at the table,' Johnson said. The new unit has focused on mobility to enable the 'peacekeepers' to respond to various incidents and carry out duties in different areas. This expanded training equips violence prevention coordinators to operate beyond their familiar neighborhoods to address other areas potential conflict or crisis, such as recent large teen gatherings in downtown Chicago or mass casualty events, according to the press release. This flexibility ensures an agile and efficient approach to conflict and crisis management. IDHS has coordinated closely with providers to ensure that the CPRU operational Memorial Day Weekend and will expand throughout the summer, historically a time of increased violence in Chicago. 52 people were shot and nine killed in Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend in 2022 Chicago experienced it's most bloody Memorial Day weekend in five years last year More than 150 people killed in total across the United States over Memorial Day Weekend last in 2022 Last year, Chicago experienced it's most violent Memorial Day weekend in five years, with over 50 people shot. Among the 52 people shot, nine were killed, including three juvenile victims. The violence in 2022 was despite a stay at home order meant to keep people inside during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chicago police Superintendent David Brown, said it was 'unacceptable level of violence. 'The violence throughout the city on Memorial Day weekend was nothing short of alarming,' he said last year. This week, Chicago experienced an increase in nearly all areas of crime as compared to the same time last year. Homicide, robbery and aggravated battery are up 9 percent, burglary is up 18 percent, theft is up 11 percent and motor vehicle theft is up a whopping 158 percent. Violence seems to already be in the air in Chicago. On Monday, a massive brawl broke out in baggage claim at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Governor JB Pritzker announced the establishment of the Citywide Crisis Prevention & Response unit' This will serve as a test for newly inaugurated Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson who has committed to addressing crime through intelligent, holistic approaches The dispute is said to have happened while deplaning and then spilled into the lower levels of Terminal 3. Chicago Police said they had arrested a 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman with battery following the incident. Last year, more than 150 people were killed across America during Memorial Day weekend with Chicago, Philadelphia and Maryland seeing the worst of the shootings. This year, police in Philadelphia are also preparing in anticipation of a violent holiday weekend. Crime and ATV's are of special concern to cops. The department released a statement this week saying: 'It is prepared to respond to calls for service throughout the entire city. individuals can expect to see an increased police presence where crowds are expected.' State Representative Amen Brown has been working with lawmakers in Harrisburg on legislation to confiscate bikes from riders who are breaking traffic laws. 'I get that riding these ATVs and dirt bikes is part of Philadelphia culture, but there's a time and place for it,' he said. 'The weather is getting nice. That's why all branches of government and law enforcement we need to work together to get heavy-handed on this issue.' Two paedophile hunters could become the first in the UK to be locked up for their vigilante activities after they humiliated a father live on Facebook for 14 minutes with false allegations that he was trying to sext a child. Sam Miller and James Moss' target was forced to the ground, had a light shone in his eyes, accused of having sex chat with a child and publicly 'berated and humiliated' during the live stream video. Newcastle Crown Court heard Miller and Moss were part of the paedophile hunter group Child Online Safety Team, whose videos can attract over 1,000 viewers, and wrongly believed the man they confronted that day was already a convicted rapist. Prosecutor Gavin Doig said the livestreaming of the 'sting' showed the groups' motivation was 'publicity and grandstanding, not the detection of offenders' and added: 'The livestreaming and telling him it was being viewed by a large number of people increased the impact and the trauma suffered.' In the shocking video, which was played to the jury on day two of the trial, the man can be seen being restrained on the pavement and being berated by members of the group. James Moss could become one the first paedophile hunters in the UK to be locked up for vigilante activities At one point, a voice said to be Miller's is heard screaming: 'You are a danger to kids. You are one of the most dangerous people I've caught.' The court heard after the group called the police to the scene the man was questioned and held in custody for 17 hours before he was released without charge. He was left with suicidal thoughts, wore a scarf or mask in public, said his family were affected and called what happened to him 'cyber bullying'. He told police: 'Fair enough if I was convicted and jailed but innocent until proven guilty, not in their eyes, you are guilty full stop.' Miller, 29, of Stanley, County Durham and Moss, 58, of Blyth, Northumberland, were convicted of false imprisonment after a trial, where they insisted their activities were to protect the public. Together with Sam Miller (above) the pair humiliated a dad live on the internet for 'publicity and grandstanding', Newcastle Crown Court has heard The pair were due to be sentenced today but Judge Julie Clemitson adjourned the case until June 23. The judge told the men: 'All options are very much on the table.' Mr Doig told the court during the trial the group was more concerned about 'Facebook likes' than upholding the law and tracked down and detained internet users because they cared 'about notoriety, about bullying others and about acting as pretend policemen'. He said 'amateur groups' have sprung up across the country and started hunting for internet offenders, without the proper technology or training the police have. The groups pose as children online and set up sting operations to catch predators. The court heard it was on February 6, 2020, that Miller approached the police and told them an internet user, who he wrongly claimed was a convicted rapist, had communicated with a decoy profile he was running. The court heard Miller told police the man had not committed an offence during the online conversation but went to his house that night regardless. Mr Doig said: 'At 9.15pm Mr Miller called the police and told them not only had he decided to detain the man, he had already done it. The defendant Moss was with Miller at that time. 'They didn't take time to call the police before they acted but made time to live stream the events on Facebook, so we can see some of what went on. 'The man said he was forced to the ground and held there and had a torch shone in his eyes while being questioned. Only after this process was Miller to call the police.' The court heard the man was interviewed by the police but it was determined he had not committed any crime. Miller arriving at Newcastle Crown Court today where his sentencing was adjourned Miller has previous convictions for impersonating a police officer, violent disorder and witness intimidation. Moss has never been in trouble before. Mr Doig said Miller appeared to be the 'self-appointed leader' of the Child Online Safety team and received a letter from North Yorkshire Police in April 2020. This advised him to cease his activities as inviting potential paedophiles to public places created a risk, could hinder police investigations and result in him falling foul of the law himself, but he appeared to ignore the correspondence. Gordon Carse, defending Miller, who handed in character references, said: 'He believed what he did was right.' Mr Carse said Miller, who has family responsibilities, is no longer part of COST and added: 'He has stepped back from it and there are no plans to go back into it. 'Prison will punish him but is unlikely to address the underlying causes of his offending.' Peter Eguae, defending Moss, told the court: 'To act outside the protection of the law certainly was not his intention. 'He will not be a vigilante again. He has learned a sad, long and valuable lesson.' Mr Eguae said Moss is described in his character references as a 'gentle giant'. Pope Francis has been forced to clear his schedule after suffering with a fever, the Vatican has said. The pope's agenda was not made public this morning, as it usually is on a Friday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: 'Due to a feverish state, Pope Francis did not receive an audience this morning.' Francis spent five days in a Rome hospital at the end of March for bronchitis. Pope Francis during a meeting in Rome with students from international catholic schools yesterday Pope Francis participates in an event on 'eco-educational cities', bringing together 50 mayors from Latin America and Europe, in Vatican City yesterday Pope Francis recovered quickly from the illness after taking antibiotics and was able to go on a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April. But the Pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was forced to miss the 'Way of the Cross' procession on Good Friday due to cold weather. He instead attended an indoor Good Friday service in St Peter's Basilica. It was the first time the Pope did not preside at the 'Via Crucis' service since he was elected in 2013. He did manage to take part in Maundy Thursday duties, gathering with dozens of cardinals and bishops, and some 1,880 priests, in St Peter's Basilica. The Pope later travelled to the jail of Casal del Marmo on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus' humility towards his apostles on the night before his death. He seemed, at the time, to have recovered from bronchitis. Francis, who became pope ten years ago, is missing part of one lung. It was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina. None of the Pope's scheduled events have been cancelled and he is due to preside at a Mass marking Pentacost on Sunday in St Peter's Square. A TikTok influencer with over 1.5 million followers cannot remember her fame after she was thrown from a horse on the Arizona ranch where she had been working earlier this month. Emmie Sperandeo, 27, documents her life on social media, showing her move from Florida to Arizona, where she relocated in order to work with animals. On May 15, Sperandeo was moving cattle at the ranch when the horse she was riding on 'spun and fell on top of her,' her sister said on a GoFundMe page that has been set up to help her family to pay for her medical bills. 'She was holding on to the horse and was whip lashed by the horse as it fell sideways. That caused her head to hit the floor,' her father, Mariano, told AZ Family. At the time of the fall she was still recovering from a concussion after being bucked from a horse last month - and had also broken a finger in the incident. Mariano said due to the most recent accident, his daughter has no memory of her fame and that she can only recall things that happened between seven and 14 years ago. According to the GoFundMe page, Sperandeo fractured her skull in two places and was bleeding from her ears. TikTok influencer Emmie Sperandeo, 27, documents her life working with animals on ranches in Arizona Sperandeo in her ICU bed surrounded by her family, she was moved out of intensive care on May 23 'It hit hard enough that people from 100 yards away could hear the impact of her head on the ground... She's a tough kid but she's got a long road ahead of her,' Mariano told the station. The GoFundMe page says that Sperandeo had stabilized on May 19, regaining consciousness for periods. Her sister, Natalie, said on the crowdfunding page that Sperandeo has no memory of the accident, or her career and that she doesn't know why people are writing to her. Natalie said that as of Sunday, Sperandeo was still leaking brain fluid and was hooked to an IV and required to stay upright. She has already begun to receive speech and physical therapy. On May 23, she left the ICU, her family said in a TikTok post. 'Keep on keepin' on our sweet cowgirl,' the post said. 'Although Emmie is not out of the woods yet, at this time it sounds like her condition is stable enough to move her from the ICU into the neurological ward where shell go through both speech and physical therapy,' her family added. Mariano told AZ Family that his daughter is no longer on his work-related health insurance due to her age. He said he didn't know if she had obtained personal insurance. 'Pretty much all of her income is derived from social media efforts,' he said. He explained that Sperandeo is currently documenting her trips between Arizona and Montana as a cattle rancher. A screengrab from the TikTok video that Sperandeo posted on May 15, the day of her accident In April, Sperandeo suffered an accident on a horse which resulted in a broken finger and concussion Sperandeo goes by @Emogoatmom on Instagram and @SteadyRein on TikTok Her father, Mariano, said in an interview that he doesn't know if his daughter has health insurance, he also said that she has a long road to recovery Sperandeo goes by @Emogoatmom on Instagram and @SteadyRein on TikTok. Mariano went on to say that she keeps several animals as pets, including a bison, they're trying to move them to Florida where Sperandeo is being treated. Her bison will be taken to Montana. On her official website, Sperandeo said that her love of making videos began when she was 13 and she got her first video camera, that led to her pursuing a college degree in production at the University of Florida. She has been riding horses since the age of four. 'I now travel full-time in my truck and travel trailer with a dog as my sidekick. I've gone coast to coast in the U.S. multiple times. I let my curiosity and wanderlust lead the inspiration behind my work,' she writes. In February, Sperandeo spoke about one of her adventures in the African nation of Namibia where she worked on a ranch in 2022 in an interview with Outside Magazine. She explained that she was given the task of training a wild horse. 'I dont consider myself a horse trainer, but Ive trained horses. And Im always nervous for that first ride, just because you can prepare them as best as you can, but its also a really unpredictable situation. Its frankly dangerous,' she said. During one ride, Sperandeo said that she patted the horse, Kibo, on his neck which caused the horse to buck and send her flying, breaking her tailbone. She said that the day before she flew back home, she made sure she had another ride on Kibo, which went off without a hitch. 'I got on him again the day before I flew out because I didnt want my last ride on him to be me getting hurt. It was one of those lessons that taught me that I can do really hard things,' she said. Verizon has revealed the most common scam texts to look out for - including ones that claim you have won a contest you did not enter. The telecoms giant urged users to pay close attention to so-called 'smishing' attacks, which a scam message is sent via SMS or text. Fraudsters typically send messages that appear to come from reputed organizations to try and dupe unsuspecting victims into handing over personal information such as bank details, credit card information or even a social security number. A smishing attack might also involve a spam text which tries to get you to click on a link to a fraudulent website. The wireless provider shared some red flags to look out for if you receive something suspicious in your inbox - and the messages you should always ignore. Verizon warned customers to pay close attention to 'smishing' scams via text message Scammers will typically send messages that appear to come from reputed organizations According to the FBI, Americans lost $10.3 billion to internet fraud last year. Phishing scams were the most common crimes, with 300,497 victims reporting having over $52 million stolen in 2022. The first sign that a message is a scam is if it has no relevance to you or any activity you have undertaken, Verizon said. Often, scammers will try and lure you in by saying you've won a contest or cash prize. Messages may also 'purport that you have an issue with a package', the telecoms company warned consumers. If you haven't placed an online order recently, it is most likely a scam message. But if you have, take a moment and do not respond in a hurry. Carefully check the source of the message to verify if its legitimate. Attackers will often try to play with your mind by asking you to take immediate action, Verizon warned. If a message is asking you to do something urgently, its likely to be a con. Verizon warned attackers will often play with your mind and ask you to take immediate action Warning sign: Verizon warns to never answer texts which include suspicious links or emails Scammers often pretend to be your bank or a Government agency. They may say your credit card has been blocked or there appears to have been a fraudulent transaction - and ask you to provide information to unblock or reverse the payment. Remember that that your bank will never message you to ask for sensitive information such as your banking password or PIN. Attackers can only victimize people who respond to these messages. Always ignore a message if it is written poorly. 'Real text messages from legitimate businesses will use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling,' Verizon said. Typically, smishing scams contain links or email addresses that redirect you to websites run by attackers. A red flag is if these links are lengthy or contain random numbers. 'Do not click on the link or follow prompts from these fake text messages,' Verizon said. Some fraudsters will also pretend to be someone you know - like a friend, family member or colleague - and say they are using a new number and are in urgent need of money. If you think you have fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank or credit card company as soon as you can to try and stop the transaction. It is also important to report any scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A Brazilian soap actor who was found stuffed inside a trunk was killed by conmen who promised him lucrative TV work while stealing his money, his mother claims. Jefferson Machado was discovered buried beneath the floor of an outhouse in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The 44-year-old, known for his roles on Brazilian TV, had been missing since January. His distraught mother, Maria das Dores, has claimed that her son was hoodwinked by conmen who promised him acting success at a top network while taking his money. The Rio de Janeiro State Civil Police suggested that Machado was killed after he learned he was the victim of an embezzlement. Das Dores says the pair killed Machado - who was found with a wire around his throat - so that they could take his car, house and funds from a lawsuit he had recently won. 'He believed in these false friends who led him to believe he was going to make it, even taking money (him),' das Dores told local outlet G1. 'He was deceived, totally deceived, he died thinking he was going to join Globo.' 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 The trunk was removed from under the floor by Civil Police agents in Rio de Janeiro on Monday Machado last acting gig came in 2022 when he had a role in Record TV's soap opera, 'Reis,' and was expecting join the cast of a TV Globo soap that was going to begging recording in February, the same month he was official ruled missing by police after he disappeared in January. However, his mother had the impression that they were stringing him all along. 'It was a complete deception. I said: 'My son, this is not going to work, they can't do it, who is this guy to do it?' das Dores said in the interview. 'He would answer me that they had friends and that they would make it, thinking that someone from inside would help.' Family lawyer, Jairo Magalhaes, told DailyMail.com on Friday that Rio de Janeiro were close to closing the investigation and were awaiting for a warrant to arrest dos suspects. 'The police are hearing from two people today,' he said in a text message. 'They are very close to finding the perpetrators of this barbaric crime and arresting them.' Two individuals answered to subpoenas Friday morning, but declined to provided their names to reporters, G1 reported. Brazilian actor Jefferson Machado was an avid animal lover and owned eight dogs 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 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 person who was living in the outhouse was still missing as of Wednesday Machado's family learned of his disappearance after a non-governmental agency found that he had abandoned his dogs at his Rio de Janeiro residence in the west side neighborhood of Campo Grande on January 27. Das Dores communicated with her son a few days later and learned that he had traveled to Sao Paulo for a job interview, but was suspicious of the conversation because it was via text instead of video after he claimed that he had dropped his cellphone in the toilet. Doubts grew even more in February when Machado's cloud's password was changed and his location was deactivated. After months of investigations, the Rio de Janeiro State Civil Police was able to track down Machado's whereabouts to an outhouse in Campo Grande. Brazilian soap opera actor Jefferson Machado disappeared from his home in January and was officially declared missing in February 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 On Monday, cops entered the property and broke the outhouse's concrete floor, where they found a trunk belonging to Machado with his body stuffed inside. His hands and feet were tied. G1 had access to an autopsy report released Thursday which indicated that he had a piece of cloth in his mouth and a telephone wire wrapped around his neck. While the autopsy was unable to produce his cause of death because of the advanced composition of Machado's body. Police believe that Machado was killed at his home and then brought over to the outhouse before he was buried in the trunk six feet below the ground. A woman who was murdered and callously dumped near campsites on the Pacific Crest Trail in California nearly 40 years ago has finally been identified by police using DNA testing. Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers' decaying remains were found near the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs on February 16, 1986. Genetic genealogy, which is the practice of entering a DNA profile into a public database to find relatives, was used to identify Powers - the results sparking renewed efforts to find her killer. Powers was born in Michigan in January 1962 and lived with her husband in Washington state in the early 1980s before she left him and moved to San Diego in 1983 or 1984, her family said. She was last seen in September 1984 after her father died. Police say its believed she'd been living in the San Diego area until around February 1986. Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers (pictured) was identified by San Diego Sheriff's office 37 years after her body was found by a campsite near California's Pacific Crest Trail While Powers' has been identified, her killer remains at large, according to the San Diego Sheriff's office who has asked anyone with information to come forward. Sergeant Tim Chantler told KFMB-TV that detectives are furiously working to put together a timeline of Powers' life before her death to try and zero-in on a suspect. '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' younger sister Laura Freese has also pleaded for anyone with information to come forward convinced 'somebody knows something.' 'It's been really hard on our family,' Freese said. '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.' Powers' decaying remains were found near the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs on Feb 16, 1986 Powers was found next to a second body who is yet to be identified. It remains unclear if the cases are connected DNA was first used to help investigate a criminal case in 1986 and since then, hundreds of cases have been solved thanks to genealogy research advances. In this case, a DNA profile obtained from a sample of Powers' hair was compared to available profiles on commercial websites. Detectives were able to use this - as well as census records and other public information - to build family trees and 'track down an individual believed to be a relative of Claudette.' Powers' younger sister Laura Freese has also pleaded for anyone with information to come forward convinced 'somebody knows something' Genetic genealogy, which is the practice of entering a DNA profile into a public database to find relatives, has emerged as a powerful tool for identifying suspects who leave DNA behind at a crime scene The method allowed detectives to eventually connect investigators with Powers' daughters, sister, and mother. DNA samples collected returned a positive match and helped identify Powers. Police said that this is the seventh time the department's homicide unit has used investigative genetic genealogy to solve such a case. Powers was found next to a second body who is yet to be identified. It remains unclear if the cases are connected. TikTok tearaway Mizzys sidekick was once Britains youngest CEO - and set up an internet shopping empire when he was eight, MailOnline can reveal. Mizzy, 18, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro has become notorious for his TikTok antics, which have featured him storm into strangers homes uninvited with a group of other men, trash shops and steal an elderly womans dog, which left her visibly distressed. He is accompanied in some of his videos by his best friend Harle Jordean, 19, who was on his way to becoming a millionaire while he was still at school and dreamed of becoming the next Sir Alan Sugar after starting his own marble business, which became a global success. Harle lives in a first floor flat in Stoke Newington, North London with his mother Christina Jordean, 63, who is one of the founders of the UKs Black Lives Matter Movement. She was appointed to the post in January 2021 and is described a social entrepreneur and social justice activist. Ms Jordean is well known in the local area for her community work, helping to establish childrens playgrounds and other projects aimed at young people. Harle Jordean (pictured), 19, is the sidekick of TikTok tearaway Mizzy, 18, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro Harle appeared in a video with the social media menace where he said: 'We're not trying to harm anyone, we're not trying to do nothing, you lot keep hating, you're helping us.' But as a boy Harle, was on his way to becoming a millionaire after setting up his own marble business, which became a global success. Harle is pictured as a youngster with his marbles When MailOnline visited the family home she refused to speak in any detail about her sons social media pranks. She said: I havent seen Harle for a few days. I dont know what hes been up to and whats going on with him. I dont expect him to be back anytime soon. Last year, Ms Jordean slammed a panel created to appoint a new Metropolitan Police Chief because it was all white. She said: Purposely designed [the recruitment process] and maintained that way. The Met Police has never taken fully into account, notice of Lord Scarman & MacPherson report around racism, STILL DENY heart of report that matters most. Racism, white supremacy, control of Black bodies is vicious, brutal. Black Lives Matter. OGarro, who appeared in court earlier this week, was issued with a criminal behaviour order and fined hundreds of pounds after entering a home as part of a TikTok 'prank' video. But hours after a court hearing on Wednesday, footage posted on Twitter showed him bragging about his antics - as Harle vowed the pranks will not stop. Harle boasts: 'Everyone who's calling for the Metropolitan Police to get involved, you're just bugging, all of you Karens bro, we're gonna be outside, we're gonna be doing what we're doing. We're not trying to harm anyone, we're not trying to do nothing, you lot keep hating, you're helping us.' OGarro proclaims: 'You guys are on social media giving me what I want, you're commenting on these videos, you're engaging, you're posting me more, sharing me everywhere.' Harle is well known in the area where he lives with Christina and two older brothers. Harle lives in a first floor flat in Stoke Newington, North London, with his mother Christina Jordean, 63, who is one of the founders of the UKs Black Lives Matter Movement Before becoming obsessed with becoming a social media star, Harle was hailed as the ideal kid and for his stunning business acumen, with many dubbing him the tiny tycoon Before becoming obsessed with becoming a social media star, Harle was hailed as the ideal kid and for his stunning business acumen, with many dubbing him the tiny tycoon after establishing Marble King, which sold marbles across the world. The young tycoon ran the thriving marbleking.co.uk website for almost five years, selling anything from tubs of marbles to 599 limited edition Duke of York solitaire tables. The company no longer operates. Harle came up with the idea while still at primary school and at one stage, was employing Christina and his two brothers, turning over thousands of pounds each year. Now, in addition to his Tik Tok videos, he is also a self-styled rapper and You Tuber who goes by the name SK1tz and on his Soundcloud profile boasts that I make songs on my iphone so Im posting a song every single day. Marcia Campbell, 32 a friend of the family said: Ive known Harle and his family all my life. He was a really good kid, the sort any mother would want but things started going wrong when he became a teenager and got into social media. The social media sidekick has previously had run-ins with the authorities. He is pictured with a police officer Harle attended Stoke Newington School, where he is believed to have met Mizzy. He is pictured being detained by police Harle's pal Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, was filmed this morning being arrested by a plain-clothed officer You always see him and Mizzy around the area and theyre always getting up to no good. I know Harles mum is a bit fed up with it all because theres not much she can do to stop him. There was a time when he was on the right track, but not now. Local resident Mehmet Yilmaz said: Harle and Mizzy and the rest of their pals are always together. Theyre usually on bikes around this area, making their silly videos and getting up to no good. Theyre a pain and a lot of us have had enough of them. Harle was a really good kid once, we really thought he was going to make something of his life but clearly, things have gone wrong for him. Harle attended Stoke Newington School, where he is believed to have met Mizzy and other friends who wanted to be social media personalities. But prior to that, Harle revealed in an interview when aged 10 that he wanted to be like Sir Alan Sugar and that he dreamed of having a chain of marble stores. He said: 'My dream is to have a chain of stores like Hamleys - it will be one of the biggest toy stores in the world but selling all sorts of marbles. In one photo Harle appears to flash some cash as he wears a provocative shirt with a bare chested woman on Harle started his business when he innocently began trading marbles with friends in the playground. Harle is pictured posing on a flight of stairs 'My friends love that I have my own business. At first some of them didn't believe me - but they do now. They are some of my best customers. 'I love marbles and I love having my own marbles company.' The astute businessman also revealed that the key to success is delegation. He added: 'I like being the boss, but I like to get others to do some of the work so that if something goes wrong it is not all my fault. Harle started his business when he innocently began trading marbles with friends in the playground. But when some older kids took all his stock, Harle turned to his mum to buy him some more on the net. After they struggled to find anywhere dedicated to selling Harles favourite toy, he begged his mother to let him start his own website. Within months of launching, Christina was shocked to see orders flooding in - with Harle handling them all on his own. Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, posted a 'prank' video where he entered a private home without permission. He has previously been pictured with Harle She revealed in a 2011 interview: 'Harle has been obsessed with marbles ever since he was six. 'He used to sleep with them under his pillow. The last thing he talks about before going to bed is marbles and they are the first things he mentions in the morning. 'His obsession became so big we started calling him the Marble King - so when he wanted to set up a website it was the natural name for it. She added: 'My thinking was it would be a good way to teach Harle some great life skills and show him responsibility. 'I never thought it would become so popular - we are struggling to cope with the number of orders at times.' New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Supreme Court in its order on Friday refused to entertain a PIL filed by a lawyer seeking a direction to the Central Government to invite President Droupadi Murmu to the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. After the Supreme Court's two-judge vacation bench, headed by Justice J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha, refused to entertain the plea of the lawyer-cum-petitioner, C R Jaya Sukin and he then withdrew his plea from the Top Court. "We are not not inclined to entertain the PIL," the bench of the Supreme Court said in its order. The Apex Court, during the course of the hearing, on Friday sought Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta's view on the issue. He told the Apex Court that these matters are not justiciable. "The petitioner (C R Jaya Sukin) should be restrained from moving the HCs by withdrawing the PIL from SC," Mehta told the Supreme Court, after which, the SC refused to entertain the PIL filed by Sukin. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court by Sukin yesterday seeking a direction that the New Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India, and not by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The petitioner, a practising lawyer, C R Jaya Sukin, had filed the petition in the Indian Top Court and said the Lok Sabha Secretariat violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for the inauguration. "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 is an arbitrary manner without proper perusal of the records and without proper application of mind," the petitioner, Sukin, claimed in his plea, filed before the Supreme Court, said. The petitioner said the Respondents, Central government and Lok Sabha Secretariat, have violated the Indian Constitution and it is not being respected. "The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Indian Parliament comprises the President and the two Houses - Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha," the petition filed by Sukin before the Supreme Court said. UNI SM KK ARN The 5.4metre croc had its jaws around his waist An Aussie teenager has relived the terrifying moment he was trapped in the jaws of a 5.4 metre crocodile but managed to save himself from certain death by poking it in the eye to escape. The man-eating beast was later tracked down and identified by the fingerprint in its eye before it was killed by rangers. Zefha Butcher, 19, was fishing in waters near Malkala Outstation Beach, Northern Territory, with his 10-year-old brother and adult cousin Travis at about 8pm when he was attacked. The trio were wading through the murky water when the 19-year-old sensed the presence of a crocodile after fish they were trying to catch suddenly disappeared. Zefha Butcher, 19, (right) was fishing in waters near Malkala Outstation Beach, Northern Territory, when a crocodile clamped its jaws around his waist 'When we were first walking in the water I saw a couple of fish swimming, then there were lots of fish everywhere, then they disappeared,' Zefha told NT News. The Groote Eylandt teenager said he felt a 'bump' on the back of his leg before the crocodile clamped its jaws around his waist and tried perform a death-roll. 'It was hard, like being hit by a car. Then it grabbed me at the top of my waist between my hip bone and thigh and tried to lift me out of the water then fling me into the water in a death-roll,' Zefha said. Zefha said the crocodile tried to roll with him between its jaws but could not lift him because he was too big. However, the crocodile would not let go and kept trying to drag Zefha down into the water. Zefha's brother and cousin rushed to the safety of the bank and ran for help as Zefha continued his fight with the mammoth reptile. The quick-thinking teenager twisted his body between the crocodile's jaws and positioned himself so he could pole the reptile in the eye. 'It took a couple of tries but I was able to get with my thumb first and it didn't let go then I got it an eye with my finger and it opened its mouth,' Zefha said. Zehfa was bleeding from bite marks to his legs, thighs and hand and made it to shore where his father rushed him 200km to Gove Hospital in his LandCruiser. Zefha was able to twist his body and position himself between the croc's jaws so that he could poke the reptile in the eye. The 5.4metre crocodile was later caught and killed after rangers identified its damaged eye (pictured) The teen's treatment was mainly wound sterilisation and he was sent home after several days in hospital earlier this month. Rangers captured and killed the 5.4metre crocodile near Milkala Beach just days after the attacked - having identified the croc by the white finger mark in its eye. 'He (the crocodile) had been killing dogs who came to the water and was big,' Zefha said. Relatives and locals have hailed the young man a hero after he put the welfare of his cousin and brother before himself and in the process showed his resolve to survive. The IRS whistleblower who accused Department of Justice officials of slow-walking a probe into Hunter Biden's taxes testified before the GOP-led Ways and Means Committee for six hours on Friday. 'Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley testified for about six hours today to Democrat and Republican staff of the House Ways and Means Committee. Both sides had equal opportunity to ask whatever questions they wanted, and Special Agent Shapley answered all of their questions,' a member of Shapley's legal team told DailyMail.com. Shapley was also supposed to appear before the Senate Finance Committee, but that meeting fell through. In the House, Ways and Means has oversight jurisdiction of the IRS. In the Senate, Finance has the same authority. Ways and Means declined to comment on details of the testimony due to the sensitivity of whistleblower allegations - even as Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS agent, has already revealed himself. Shapley said previously 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. The Finance Committee claimed Shapley canceled his appearance with them - while Shapley's legal team said they had dragged their feet in locking in a date and they had invited the Finance Committee to participate in the Ways and Means hearing. The committee said they stand ready 'to arrange a meeting on terms that comply with laws protecting taxpayer data and ensure a fair and rigorous investigation,' a committee spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com. 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 'This is a job, and my oath of office is to treat everybody fairly that we investigate,' Shapley told CBS News this week. '[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.' 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.' NBC News reported 'growing frustration' within the FBI over the fact Weiss has not yet brought charges. The investigation began in 2018 and Hunter Biden confirmed DOJ was probing his tax affairs in 2020 shortly after his father won the election. He borrowed $2 million to pay off back taxes. 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. 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. IRS chief Danny Werfel promised no retaliation for any whistleblowers in response to questioning from Ways and Means last month. 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.' Britain's equalities watchdog has suspended its 120,000 probe into its embattled boss after trans activists hounded her for publicly defending female-only spaces. Baroness Falkner of Margravine, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), had been subjected to 'vile abuse', having been the target of a slew of complaints from officials alleging 'bullying', 'transphobia' and 'harassment'. It comes after the 68-year-old called for a change in the law to defend women-only spaces, urging ministers to update the definition of 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act to make clear it refers to biological sex rather than gender self-identification. Her plea led to trans activists launching a 'witch-hunt' against her, bombarding the EHRC with complaints, with the watchdog shelling out 120,000 of taxpayer's cash to pay for an independent barrister to investigate the claims. But the probe plunged the watchdog into crisis, opening a rift between its leaders and the officials tasked with implementing their decisions to uphold equality law, and sparked outcry across the political spectrum since it emerged on Tuesday. Amid a mounting backlash, the EHRC today said: 'This investigation has been paused. This is while we seek legal advice on the impact of leaked confidential information. We must ensure its integrity and that it is fair to all parties concerned.' The parliamentarians strongly 'condemned' the programme for launching an 'irresponsible attack' against Baroness Kishwer Falkner (pictured) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) A friend close to the baroness last night said: She respects the decision and does not know what will come next. But she remains ready to strongly rebut any allegations and she is confident she will be exonerated. The move comes hours after 54 cross-party peers including Lord Frost, Baron Roberts and Baroness Jenkin backed the EHRC chief, saying she had been 'irresponsibly attacked'. Lord Strasberger added she had been targeted for 'shaking up the EHRC' and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne said she was being subjected 'a witch hunt' for speaking up for women. Separately, a spokesperson for the EHRC said: 'The Board has full confidence in the CEO, Marcial Boo, and are working closely with him and the executive leadership team to manage this sensitive and fast-moving situation.' Heather Binning of the Womens Rights Network said: 'We are delighted the investigation into Baroness Falkner has been suspended. It had all the hallmarks of an ideologically driven witch hunt. The baroness was attacked because she said what so many of us believe that sex means biological sex, and not a gender identity built on ridiculous stereotypes. Helen Joyce of the Sex Matters campaign group added: What brought down the wrath of the trans lobby on Kishwer Falkners head was her support for Sex Matters proposal to clarify that sex in the Equality Act really means sex: male or female. 'This is essential to ensure the law protects women against sex discrimination. We are delighted this politically motivated, vexatious investigation has been suspended. The Mail revealed that employees have compiled a dossier of more than 40 vague complaints against her, alleging transphobia, bullying and harassment. The dossier bemoaned 'a lack of psychological safety, i.e. the fear of who will be attacked next' and workers were 'worried that the commission is becoming an unsafe place to work'. But Baroness Falkner (pictured) has reportedly been forced to use 'tens of thousands of pounds' from her savings and pension to defend herself against the 'witch-hunt'. In a personal statement, Baroness Falkner said she was hugely grateful to the public for the support and encouragement over the past week, including offers to help fund legal costs. She added that parliament decreed in the Equality Act 2010 that the EHRC board had the responsibility to take all strategic policy decisions after advice from executives. We are strong, united and clear-eyed in our attempt to balance rights across the spectrum of our work, sometimes in highly contested areas of policy, she insisted. I regret that, during that process, we have not managed to carry everyone within our organisation with us, but to decide is to choose carefully, about what our decisions mean for those affected. She added: I have relished public service all my life and continue to do so with vigour and determination. Other complainants were said to have taken offence with someone rolling their eyes. While another alleged Baroness Falkner had described Emma Laslett, a trans quiz contestant was at the centre of a BBC Radio 4 row for being included in an 'all-women final', as a 'bloke in lipstick'. But sources said the 'ideologically-motivated' moans failed to follow correct procedures, instead compiling one 'super complaint' hundreds of pages long. The move saw top barrister Gavin Mansfield KC drafted in to investigate, costing taxpayers over 120,000, while the chairman has been left to fend for herself. But Baroness Falkner has reportedly been forced to use 'tens of thousands of pounds' from her savings and pension to defend herself against the 'witch-hunt', with the equalities chief already more than 30,000 out of pocket. More than 50 members of the House of Lords (pictured) from across the political spectrum are believed to have signed a letter about a recent report by Channel 4 into the probe the baroness had been facing An EHRC insider said: 'She is getting no financial support on her side whereas the organisation has appointed at huge cost a KC that is money that could be spent on protecting people against discrimination.' One source close the baroness said she has had to dip into her savings and pension to cover legal bills. The source added friends fear for the baroness's health, saying: 'The impact has been devastating. It is taking up all her energy and is causing an untold amount of stress. 'We are all worried sick about how much weight she has lost and how often we see her upset and tearful.' Since news of the allegations against the baroness broke, she has seen a groundswell of support. This week more than 50 peers accused Channel 4 of delivering an 'unbalanced and prejudiced' news report covering allegations against Baroness Falkner The parliamentarians strongly 'condemned' the programme for launching an 'irresponsible attack' against Baroness Kishwer Falkner and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). In a scathing letter to Ofcom and Channel 4, they accused the programme this week of being 'complicit' in an attempt by staff to oust the chairman and undermine the board. Critics have already accused Channel 4 of Left-wing bias over Tuesday's reporting on what it said was evidence of a toxic culture at the EHRC and the 'consternation' at Baroness Falkner's leadership Critics have already accused Channel 4 of Left-wing bias over Tuesday's reporting on what it said was evidence of a toxic culture at the EHRC and the 'consternation' at Baroness Falkner's leadership. It used actors and silhouettes to quote a number of anonymous current and former staff with one saying the situation was 'heart-breaking' and another saying staff were often left in tears. The programme also quoted from documents saying that the chairman's 'unacceptable behaviour' had 'become normalised' while staff were bullied. In the damning letter, the parliamentarians said: 'As a cross party group of peers we write in the strongest terms to condemn the piece. 'In the context of an ongoing investigation, Channel 4's intervention breached both Section 5 of the Broadcasting Code (Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy) and Section 7 (Fairness).' The letter recognised that the current situation at EHRC was likely to be 'toxic' due to the sensitive debate regarding women's rights, sex and gender. But it continued that given the 'fiercely held views', a national broadcaster should 'at least attempt to provide both sides of the argument'. 'Instead, in our opinion, viewers were fed a piece so unbalanced as to potentially reach the point of prejudice. 'Channel 4 will no doubt try and defend themselves by saying that they spoke to more than 20 former and current members of staff; yet this means little when all these members of staff appeared to hold exactly the same opinions,' it said. A spokesperson for Channel 4 News said: 'We stand by our reporting of the independent investigation into Lady Falkner and the culture at the EHRC. 'Lady Falkner was given the opportunity to appear on the programme and that invitation remains open.' A 'despicable' mother has been jailed for trying to take the blame for her son's evil stalking campaign that saw his love rival driven to the brink of suicide. Tonia Bricka, 63, informed police she was the stalker who had harassed a young couple in a year-long campaign of hate, but later admitted it was in fact her son Beaumont Bricka. Stable hand Beaumont tried to frame his love rival in a warped bid to seduce a doctor's daughter - with a judge blasting him for 'dropping poisoned breadcrumbs' like a 'malevolent Hansel and Gretel'. Bricka was condemned as 'devious and clever' by a judge for his stalking plot which was so 'corrosive' it led to his love rival Tim Dobson writing a suicide note to his parents and being arrested. As part of his 'campaign of terror', Bricka, 26, bombarded Mr Dobson's then-girlfriend Eve Taylor with 'the most appalling' messages from fake accounts he set up telling her to kill herself. Today at Portsmouth Crown Court, Bricka was branded a 'coward' as he was jailed for seven years and eight months alongside his 'despicable' mother Mrs Bricka, who was jailed for two years and eight months. Tonia Bricka was described as 'despicable' as she was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail for perverting the course of justice by pretending to be behind her son's evil stalking campaign Beaumont Bricka, 26, was condemned as 'devious and clever' by a judge who jailed him for seven years and eight months for his stalking campaign against his love rival Tim Dobson and his then-girlfriend Eve Taylor A court heard international showjumping stable hand Bricka was 'obsessed and fixated' on Miss Taylor, 24, and successfully forced the make-up artist to break up with plumber Mr Taylor. 'Deceptive and manipulative' stalker Bricka convinced Miss Taylor that innocent Mr Dobson was behind the stream of abuse she received. Bricka made multiple fake accounts with girls names on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and WhatsApp, set up at least 34 different phone numbers, six email addresses, and used three mobile phones. Using the accounts, he contacted Miss Taylor and her family and friends to wrongly claim her plumber boyfriend Mr Dobson was cheating on her, telling her 'can you leave my boyfriend alone you ugly little freak'. Bricka spread lies about her, claiming she had sexually transmitted diseases, posting adverts claiming she was an escort, and branding her a 'cheating witch' and 'disgusting hoe'. He even sent himself death threats so it looked like he was also a 'victim' so Miss Taylor grew close to him. Nine other people connected to 24 year old Miss Taylor were targeted - including her father Dr Tim Taylor, an NHS Trust's medical director who Bricka claimed was a paedophile. When 'lonely' Bricka - who had never had a girlfriend - was finally caught by detectives at home in the West Sussex countryside, his mother Mrs Bricka stepped forward to claim she was in fact the stalker. However, Portsmouth Crown Court, Hants, was told it was just a false confession made by the 63-year-old to try to shoulder the blame for the year-long campaign from 2019 to 2020. Following a trial in March this year, jurors convicted Bricka of eight counts of stalking, two counts of sending malicious communications, perverting the course of justice, and Mrs Bricka was convicted of perverting the course of justice. A court heard international showjumping stable hand Bricka was 'obsessed and fixated' on Eve Taylor (pictured previously outside court), 24, and successfully forced the make-up artist to break up with plumber Mr Taylor Jailing Bricka, Judge Richard Shepherd said: 'For a prolonged period spanning many months you pursued a campaign of terror against Eve Taylor. 'You became fixated, obsessed, and your actions have caused untold damage not only to her but to those associated to her. 'You sent her the most appalling messages, images of the most graphic nature, disturbing images that once seen cannot be forgotten. 'They are of the gravest sort... Dismembered bodies of people who had been involved in the most appalling accidents. 'Your threats of violence and suicide amplified these images. 'The drip-drip effect of so many messages would have a corrosive effect. The sheer volume of messages and their content makes this among the most serious of cases. 'You caused a young woman who should have been enjoying her life to become a recluse, to become depressed, to become distrustful. 'You have caused long-term significant harm to that brave young woman.' Regarding him framing Mr Dobson, Judge Shepherd said: '[He made] a suicide note to his parents, it's heartbreaking to read. 'You caused that. 'It was only through luck that he didn't go through with it. 'It went further in relation to him; like a malevolent Hansel and Gretel, you dropped poisoned breadcrumbs leading to the door of Mr Dobson. 'It led police to suspect him and he was arrested, interviewed, and then bailed. They were significant restrictions on his liberty. 'You were devious and clever in framing Mr Dobson.' Judge Shepherd also told Bricka: 'You are a coward. 'Whatever pressure your mother put you under, you have allowed your mother to try to take the blame for your offending. 'It has all the hallmarks of cowardice.' Today at Portsmouth Crown Court, Bricka was jailed for seven years and eight months and Mrs Bricka was jailed for two years and eight months Jailing Mrs Bricka, Judge Shepherd said: 'It was cold and calculated that you studied the material and made a false confession to police. 'This was deliberate and devious. 'You knew full-well what you were doing and the effect it would have, and you knew full-well what your son had done and the harm he caused to his victims. 'It was a despicable thing to do, without a care for the victims in this case - one of whom, Julie, was your friend.' Judge Shepherd also told her: 'If you had not made a false confession and not maintained that position your son would have pleaded guilty. 'He would have received a significantly shorter sentence. 'So your actions have caused him to serve a much longer sentence... You will have to live with that.' Bricka and Mrs Bricka were both given 10 year restraining orders, preventing them from having any contact with the victims. Bricka, who lived with his mum in a 530,000 cottage in the village of Aldingbourne, West Sussex, met Miss Taylor at the stables by his home. In a statement read to court today, Miss Taylor said: 'The act of stalking against me has had a profound and negative impact on me. 'I have [developed] serious mental health problems such as an eating disorder and depression... I am not expected to be able to return to work for some months.' Mr Dobson said: 'I feel like during the last three years my head has been a mess, I have felt worthless. 'I have lost trust in women.' He said he has moved to Australia. 'I felt like I had to get away, I may apply for a work visa. I'm trying to find a reason to live.' Miss Taylor's mother also said she has developed an eating disorder. In mitigation, barrister Paul Walker said Bricka's upbringing has caused him mental health issues. He was home-schooled and socially isolated. Mr Walker said: 'He was brought up in an environment where mental health issues were normalised. They were deep-rooted, he was isolated. 'He never had a relationship with a member of the of the opposite sex. He was all at sea when he began to feel emotions for Eve.' Barrister John Hunter, for Mrs Bricka, said she claimed she was the stalker because she realised she was responsible for the problems Bricka has today. More than $150,000 has been raised for the family of a father-of-two who died ushering a family of ducklings across a busy road. Casey Rivara, 41, was hit by a teenage driver at the intersection of Park Drive and Stanford Ranch Boulevard in Rocklin, California on Friday evening of last week. He had been driving his two children home from swim practice when he pulled over after spotting the stranded mother duck with her family of ducklings. After getting out to help the flock waddle across the busy road to safety, Mr Rivara was struck and killed by a 17-year-old female driver as his helpless children, Sophia and James, aged 11 and six, watched on from the family car. Now a GoFundMe page has been set up in his memory to raise money to support Mr Rivara's devastated widow Ngating Chow and their two children. The father's heroic act was caught on camera by 12-year-old William Wimsatt just moments before he was killed by a teen driver on a California highway last week Casey Rivara is remembered as a loving husband and father by his heartbroken family. A GoFundMe page has been set up in his memory to raise money for the family Mr Rivara's aunt Tracy Rivara set the page up earlier this week in memory of her nephew. So far over $150,000 has been raised for the bereaved family, vastly eclipsing the initial target of $30,000. 'Casey was the kindest, most amazing husband and father. Even his last act in this world was a sign of his compassion,' Ms Rivara wrote. 'The family is trying to figure out how to recover and keep going after this immense loss. If you would like to express your love and support for Angel and her family, we ask that you please contribute here in lieu of flowers, meals, and other acts of kindness.' Ms Rivara described how Mr Rivara met the love of his life, Angel, in high school when they were just 17, 'They quickly fell madly in love and remained inseparable partners for the past 23 years,' she wrote. The couple shared two children who attended Maria Montessori Charter Academy where their father was also an employee. 'His family was Caseys world, and to remain even closer to them he had recently started working at their children's school' his aunt added. 'He loved working at the school as he was able to positively impact other children.' Rubber ducks have been left at a temporary memorial to Casey Rivara in tribute to his last act of kindness Left to Right: Casey Rivara is pictured with his wife, the 'love of his life', Angel, and their two children James, six, and Sophia, 11 Following the outpouring of financial support for Mr Rivara's family, his aunt thanked those who had donated to the page. 'Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of support. 'Since this terrible tragedy, we have received so many messages and gestures of support and are deeply touched by everyones kindness and generosity. 'It means so much to us to know that Casey touched so many lives, and his memory will live on. It gives us some solace to know that in this tragedy so many people can find a message of love and compassion. Keep being kind!' The teen driver who struck Mr Rivara down remained at the scene of the accident and is cooperating with the police investigation. However, a spokesperson for the local Placer County Sheriff's Office told NBC News that the 17-year-old would likely not be charged over the death. A number of other individuals were present at the scene of the incident. William Wimsatt, 12, the child of another driver, captured Rivara's act of kindness in helping the ducks across the road. The 12-year-old told 3KCRA: 'He got out of the car, he was shooing the ducks everyone was clapping because he was being really nice.' 'He helped them get up on the curb because the baby duckies were having trouble.' Casey Rivara, 41, (left) was hit and killed by a teen driver as his children Sophia, 11, (second right) and James, six, (second left) watched on from their car. They are pictured with widow Angel (right) Casey Rivara, 41, was hit by a teenage driver at the intersection of Park Drive and Stanford Ranch Boulevard in Rocklin, California on Friday evening of last week The Wimsatt family thanked Mr Rivara for his good deed, but moments later a car struck and killed the Good Samaritan. 'All I remember is the sound and then him flying across the intersection,' William added, 'his shoes and one of his socks were right in front of our car.' 'He was the only person to get out of the car and try and help them and probably the nicest person in the entire area. Its not fair.' After the devastating incident William's mother got out of her car and comforted Mr Rivara's children who were sitting in the parked car and witnessed the collision. A temporary memorial has since been created at the site of the crash. Locals have been leaving the traditional flowers, as well as rubber ducks in tribute to Mr Rivara's last act of kindness. A four-month-old migrant girl has tragically died inside a Manhattan hotel after being discovered unconscious, police said. Officers rushed to the scene at the Stewart Hotel in Midtown after responding to calls of an infant not breathing at around 7:30am Thursday. The hotel is one of numerous establishments used by city officials to house migrants as the US continues to grapple with a large influx of people pouring into the nation. The child arrived in the US from Ecuador in January with her family. The tragedy unfolded at the Stewart Hotel in Midtown Manhattan at 7:30am Thursday Numerous Manhattan hotels are being used to house migrants as the US continues to grapple with a large influx of people pouring into the nation The girl's cause of death has not been revealed, however police say they do not suspect foul play and say there were no obvious signs of trauma. The FDNY said the child was in cardiac arrest when first responders arrived on the scene, before she was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital soon after. An investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made, with an autopsy set to be conducted Friday. The Stewart Hotel has been contacted for comment on the incident. The death comes as New York officials struggle to handle a large influx of migrants bussed up to the East Coast metro in recent weeks. New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned in a recent radio appearance that up to 550 migrants are arriving in the city every day, costing billions. To ease pressure on the city's resources, Adams has opted to send buses of migrants to upstate hotels, leading one establishment to cancel the wedding bookings for an engaged couple just weeks before their nuptials. Asylum seekers board a bus en route to a shelter at Port Authority Bus Terminal on May 18, 2023, in New York City Migrants pictured arriving at the Roosevelt Hotel, another New York City hotel housing asylum seekers, on May 19, 2023 New York is one of several major cities to be faced with a sharp uptick in asylum seekers after the expiration of controversial immigration policy Title 42 earlier this month. The pandemic-era order allowed authorities to use a public health law to rapidly expel migrants crossing over the border, denying them the right to seek asylum. When it came to an end on May 11, a record number of migrants flooded over the border, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) holding up to 28,000 migrants at its facilities as the order expired, far beyond its stated capacity. As the fallout from the expiration of the order continues, DailyMail.com obtained new photos showing dozens of migrants being apprehended by Border Patrol as they illegally cross into the US. German investigators have reportedly uncovered clues that could suggest the Nord Stream Pipeline was sabotaged by Ukraine, including emails used to hire a yacht suspected of being used in the attack. The blasts in September last year caused major damage to three of the four gas pipelines running between Russia and Germany, severing the key energy supply to western Europe. A yacht, which investigators suspect was used in the attack, has been linked to Ukraine through the supposed shell company which hired it, Spiegel weekly reported. German investigators also identified a Ukrainian man in his mid-twenties with ties to the military who they believe may have been part of the six-person team manning the yacht, according to the joint report. The new claims could indicate that Moscow was not to blame for the incident, despite Russian naval activity in the area just days before the unexplained explosions. German investigators are pursuing leads that Ukraine were responsible for carrying out the mysterious Nord Stream pipeline blasts last September. Pictured: A gas leak at Nord Stream 2 The president of the presumed shell company through which the 'Andromeda' yacht was hired lives in Kyiv, according to research by investigative reporters Metadata from the emails used to rent a sailboat suspected to have been used in the attack tie the senders to Ukraine, Spiegel weekly reported Friday. The president of the presumed shell company through which the 'Andromeda' yacht was hired also lives in Kyiv, according to research by investigative reporters. The links to Ukraine corresponded with assessments by multiple intelligence services, according to Spiegel. The agencies were reportedly examining whether the attack could have been carried out by an independent Ukrainian commando group or if a government-backed unit was more likely. Andromeda is said to have docked in the marina of Christianso, a tiny Danish island northeast of Bornholm and in close proximity to where the three bombs went off, in the days leading up to the sabotage. The yacht was found with traces of 'military-grade and underwater-deployable' explosives. The blasts knocked out three of the four strands of the pipelines, essentially destroying the main energy link between Russia and the West The theory suggests that five men and a woman arrived in Germany using fake Bulgarian and Romanian passports before using the yacht as a base to deploy trained divers to plant the bombs around 70m below sea level. READ MORE: UKRAINE carried out Nord Stream pipe blast, German police suspect The yacht (pictured) was found with traces of 'military-grade and underwater-deployable' explosives Advertisement German investigators argue the attacks would have required aid from state security services and claim to have found evidence that could implicate Ukraine, according to the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. The complex trail is said to lead to a shell company, a travel bureau, which was created by two Ukrainians in Warsaw. Despite this theory, security analysts have raised doubts over how such a complex operation could have been carried out by a group on a small yacht without a submarine. A potential false flag operation, used by the Russians to pin the blame on someone else, has also not been completely ruled out. Separate reports have pointed out that a Russian navy vessel specialised in submarine operations was photographed near the sabotaged Nord Stream gas pipelines just prior to the mysterious blasts in September. The pipelines had been at the centre of geopolitical tensions as Russia dwindled gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation to sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Western countries were quick to blame the explosions under the Baltic Sea on Russia following the incident, while the Kremlin has accused the West of sabotage. German, Swedish and Danish authorities have been investigating the blasts that sparked the leaks. It comes as Moscow summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Denmark and Sweden yesterday to protest a 'complete lack of results' in a joint investigation into the explosions last year. Russia's Foreign Ministry in a statement accused all three of deliberately dragging their feet in the investigation and trying to conceal who was behind the blasts. Moscow said it was unhappy about what it called the opaque nature of the investigation and its refusal to engage with Russia. Blame has been pinned on the US, Russia, the Ukrainian secret services and an unnamed businessman in Ukraine. All three countries have vehemently denied responsibility. A millionaire supercar tycoon is alleged to have withheld information from a fraud investigation into a car leasing company which collapsed with debts of 28 million. Tom Hartley, 61, who has appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List, is described on his website as the 'ultimate name in luxury, performance, and classic cars'. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a requirement of the director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is investigating Raedex Consortium. Raedex, which owned companies including Buy2Let Cars, PayGo Cars, Wheels4Sure and Rent2Own Cars, has been under investigation since 2021 after it went into administration. Tom Hartley, 61, is alleged to have withheld information from a fraud investigation into a car leasing company which collapsed with debts of 28 million The millionaire supercar tycoon, who has appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List, is described on his website as the 'ultimate name in luxury, performance, and classic cars' He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a requirement of the director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is investigating Raedex Consortium Thousands of investors lost their savings after the company is alleged to have used their money to lease cars to people with low credit scores. The SFO said Hartley is suspected of holding information related to a suspect in the case and had been asked to provide this four times by investigators. Hartley, who runs his company Tom Hartley Cars in Overseal, south Derbyshire, will go on trial at City of London Magistrates' Court in October. The SFO said Hartley is suspected of holding information related to a suspect in the Raedex case and had been asked to provide this four times by investigators Hartley is the founder of his company Tom Hartley Cars based in Overseal, south Derbyshire Comedian Jim Davidson has persuaded a judge to cut his 12 month driving ban in half for being caught speeding after representing himself in court. The comic, 69, was caught travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone in his Mercedes in March last year on Maybray King Way, in Southampton, by one of the busiest speed cameras in the country. Davidson, who lives in the Hampshire market town of Stockbridge, was handed a 12-month driving ban and three penalty points alongside a 333 fine at Aldershot Magistrates' Court earlier this year. But, today at Southampton Crown Court, with his barrister otherwise engaged, Davidson represented himself at an appeal hearing - resulting in his driving ban halved. He later joked he had to leave his car outside the court and walk two miles in the 'blistering heat' to the pub, where he celebrated by 'downing three pints of lager'. Comedian Jim Davidson (pictured outside Southampton Crown Court) has persuaded a judge to cut his 12 month driving ban A note appeared on Mr Davidson's website celebrating the decision - adding he is 'now downing his third pint of lager' The speed camera situated on Maybray King Way in Southampton - one of the busiest speed cameras in the country A celebratory statement on his website after the legal victory said: 'Jim represented himself in court as his barrister was stuck in another trial and the court refused to adjourn the hearing. 'Judge Peter Henry praised Jim for his presentation and accepted that there was some exceptional hardship but not enough to overturn the ban completely. 'Following the decision, Jim had to leave his car outside the court and walk two miles in blistering heatand is now downing his third pint of lager.' Mr Davidson was clocked by a speed camera on Maybray King Way, thought to be one of the country's busiest after it was triggered an average of 70 times a day from 2015 to 2017. Jim Davidson is a celebrated British stand-up comedian who has made appearances on game shows including the Generation Game and Big Break. The father-of-five has also starred in the sitcoms Up The Elephant And Around The Castle and Home James as well as having his own one-man show on ITV, Stand Up Jim Davidson. Ron DeSantis is contrasting his education-related policies in Florida with those of other jurisdictions, saying liberal enclaves have more crime than educational excellence. The Florida governor, in his first remarks since announcing his 2024 presidential campaign, said children are more likely to be shot than receive a good education in Chicago and went all-in against 'injecting gender ideology in elementary school. He also slammed critics that claim he has enacted a book ban in Florida, saying it is a 'hoax' made up by liberals. The 2024 candidate lauded his policies that allow curriculum transparency so parents can challenge what is being taught or distributed to their children at Florida public schools. 'Part of Parents Rights means you have a right as a parent to curriculum transparency, you have a right to know what is being taught in your kids school,' DeSantis said. 'And if there are materials that are inappropriate because of age or they violate Florida standards, you have the right to blow the whistle on that now.' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spent his first post-announcement remarks lauding his policies surrounding education and the excellence that has led to in Florida schools and students DeSantis railed against those who want to keep what he claims are 'pornographic' books in schools where children might be able to view content inappropriate for their age. He also praised his policies ending lockdowns and resuming in-person classes earlier than other states, attributing that to education excellence in Florida compared to more liberal states. 'Nobody wants to admit that they wanted to lock kids out of school for a year and a half because you've seen the results,' DeSantis said to an audience of parents that homeschool their children. 'From 2020 to 2022, people have just totally vanished from some of these urban school districts across the country.' 'Chicago 25,000 fewer students than in 2020; Los Angeles 43,000 fewer students than in 2020; New York 50,000 fewer students than in 2020. In Florida, our school enrollment is up.' 'You think of a place like Chicago, these kids you're more likely to get shot than to get a world class education in some of these places,' he added. DeSantis is engaging in more pointed rhetoric now that he is a presidential candidate and is finally going all-in against Donald Trump in the days after formally entering the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. For months the Florida governor avoided taking swipes at the ex-president despite a barrage of attacks levied against him from the Trump side, but is no longer holding back. most pointed remarks against the man whose endorsement he once sought. Speaking with Tennessee conservative radio host Matt Murphy, DeSantis claimed that Trump 'is a different guy today' than when he was running for president in 2016. He also insisted that Trump's campaign continues to show more signs of leaning left-ward rather than sticking to conservative values something he promises not to do as a candidate or as president. Following the governor's delayed and glitch-filled Twitter Spaces announcement with Elon Musk, DeSantis has taken to more traditional media sources as part of his post-campaign launch media glitz, like radio. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, while lauding his wins as governor, is also finally unloading attacks against Donald Trump following months of avoiding criticism of the former president and now his No. 1 Republican presidential primary rival In the 24 hours after announcing his bid, DeSantis' campaign raised $8.2 million dwarfing the $6.3 million Joe Biden raised within 24 hours of announcing his candidacy in 2019. Donald Trump raised $9.5 million in the six weeks after announcing in mid-November his 2024 campaign, which DeSantis is well on track to beating. '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 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.' 'I don't 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 he's going with his campaign is the wrong direction,' DeSantis said. He also said in a separate interview that Trump's early-day COVID-19 policies 'destroyed millions of people's lives.' '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. On Fox News, DeSantis said that among his Day One priorities as president would be to fire Trump's handpicked FBI director Christopher Wray. In a Newsmax interview on Thursday, DeSantis even alleged that Trump is leaning left when it comes to immigration despite many critics claiming the former president was too hard on illegal immigrants. 'I think that some of the things he's been attacking me on I've been a little surprised that because he's attacking me from the left, and that really wasn't the Donald Trump from 2015 and 2016,' DeSantis told Eric Bolling. 'He was a hard charger, leaning-in on all the issues, very edgy on conservative issues and it was part of the reason he did so well,' the governor added. 'He's also hitting me against voting against immigration amnesty,' DeSantis lamented. 'There was the Goodlatte to bill in 2018 and he said that that is akin to voting against the wall. But that bill was a 2 million-person amnesty for illegal aliens, very little money for any border security. All conservatives opposed it. He did support it as president, which a lot of us were upset about.' 'But to hit me for taking the America First position, I just think is a little strange. I'm not sure what his strategy is, but I think he's taking positions that are a little bit different than then four or five years ago.' Notably, the Florida governor is making the case that he will better deliver on the promises that Trump made and failed to see through in his single presidential term. 'At the end of the day,' DeSantis told Murphy when speaking about Trump, 'he is going left on a lot of the fiscal, he's going left on culture, he's even sided with Disney against me.' Following his official entry into the 2024 race for the White House, DeSantis is hitting the road next week on a campaign swing to three early primary contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. It is unclear whether his wife and Florida's first lady Casey DeSantis will join him for the swing. Casey, a former broadcast reporter, cancer survivor and mother of three, is largely seen as the driving force behind her husband's rise on the national political scene. Mother-of-three Casey DeSantis, 42, has taken center stage with her dazzling outfits, and is largely seen as the driving force behind her husband's rise on the national political stage Despite unloading on Trump Thursday, DeSantis also implied that, as president, he would consider pardoning Trump if he is charged with a crime related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. '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,' DeSantis told The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show when asked about pardoning individuals charged in relation to the January 6 storming. '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 was then asked if he also would consider pardoning Trump if he's charged. '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,' he responded. New Delhi/Washington, May 26 (UNI) US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin will be visiting India next week, for talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during which both sides will seek to enhance new defence innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives as well as expand operational cooperation between the militaries of the two nations. The US Secretary of Defence will also be travelling to Japan, Singapore, and France. In a tweet, the US Defence Secretary said: I look forward to traveling to Japan, Singapore, India and France next week. Weve made groundbreaking progress over the past year alongside our allies and partners toward advancing our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. This trip will be my seventh to the Indo-Pacific region and it will showcase some of our major achievements and highlight our enduring relationships with Allies and partners. A Pentagon readout said: As part of his seventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region, Secretary Austin will travel to Tokyo to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders and visit U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Secretary Austin's visit comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize Alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan 2+2 Ministerial meeting earlier this year. From there, Secretary Austin will travel to Singapore where he will deliver plenary remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. On the margins of the Dialogue, the Secretary will meet with key leaders to advance U.S. defense partnerships across the region in support of our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in ASEAN centrality. After Singapore, Secretary Austin will visit New Delhi to meet with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernize the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership. This visit provides an opportunity to accelerate new defense innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and drive ongoing efforts to expand operational cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries. Secretary Austin will conclude his trip in France to participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day, and meet with French and United Kingdom defense leaders. UNI RN Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he believed 'progress' was made in debt talks overnight, though the two sides still remain hung up on the biggest part: spending levels. 'I thought we made progress last night. We got to make more progress now,' McCarthy told reporters on his way into the Capitol. He said he'd met with his top negotiating deputy, Rep. Garret Graves, for a morning bike ride. 'It's about spending. The Democrats never want to stop,' McCarthy said. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he believed 'progress' was made in debt talks overnight, though the two sides still remain hung up on the biggest part: spending levels Graves and fellow top negotiator Rep. Patrick McHenry were seen entering the speaker's office again mid-morning on Friday. The two sides still have not come to an agreement on a top line number for increasing the nation's borrowing limit. McHenry told reporters on his way into the speaker's office that there were no in-person meetings scheduled between House GOP negotiators and White House negotiators Steve Ricchetti and Shalanda Young for Friday. President Biden is headed to Camp David Friday before he plans to spend the weekend at his home in Delaware. The White House insists he can negotiate from anywhere via phone. 'We are here night after night after night. The pressure is more, the consequences are greater. We recognize that. The White House should recognize that,' McHenry, N.C., said. Bloomberg reports the two sides are closing in on a deal that would increase the debt limit for two years and would cap spending for the same amount of time - and the deal would claw back $10billion from the $80billion increase in IRS funding Democrats passed last Congress. But a source familiar with the talks told DailyMail.com the two sides have not agreed to a top line and have not agreed on whether to extend borrowing for one or two years. Republicans want only one year, Democrats want to push the extension through the next election. The two sides are also going into Friday hung up on defense spending. Reporters huddle around the speaker desperate for updates on the impending deal that could stave off a catastrophic default Republicans wanted a large increase to the defense budget, even as they want to cut spending overall, while Democrats wanted spending cuts Republicans wanted a large increase to the defense budget, even as they want to cut spending overall, while Democrats wanted spending cuts. The two sides could come to agreement with a small increase - in line with President Biden's $886.3billion budget request. In 2011, the country was in a similar crisis under former President Barack Obama who also faced a Republican House opposed to raising the ceiling. While the ceiling was raised, the threat of default was enough to plunge the U.S. financial markets into turmoil and the country's rating downgraded from AAA to AA+ as a result. RAF chiefs have housed a child rapist on a military family estate despite his guilty pleas to a series of sickening offences. Air chiefs claim red tape stops them instantly kicking out disgraced serviceman Glenn Poyner. Instead the 35-year-old paedophile has been given a property near a primary school at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. He was apparently moved to the estate from a block housing unattached male colleagues because of threats made against him. Terrified parents living at the base fear for their youngsters, who had been able to play outside in safety. 35-year-old paedophile Glenn Poyner (pictured outside court in January) has been given a property near a primary school at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire Terrified parents living at RAF Benson (pictured) fear for their youngsters, who had been able to play outside in safety Poyner admitted multiple counts of raping a 13-year-old among other child sex crimes at a court hearing earlier this month. Among his victims was the relative of a colleague. He is not due to be sentenced until August and senior officers have not yet discharged him from the forces. Families expected him to be kicked out on the day of his guilty pleas but the officers have only just started to fill in the paperwork. Until all the red tape has been cleared, the plan is for Poyner to be housed at the base, the Mail has learned. Furious Benson residents accuse RAF chiefs of prioritising the paedophile's welfare over the safety of their children. Poyner holds the rank of air specialist a gender-neutral title recently introduced by top brass. He will be paid by the RAF until the discharge process is completed. One mother said: 'I am petrified that this monster will use his last months of freedom to strike again. 'Where's the protection? There are children everywhere here, playing happily outside. I can't rest for a second. Poyner (pictured in service) admitted multiple counts of raping a 13-year-old among other child sex crimes at a court hearing earlier this month 'He should be behind bars. It is a disgrace the air chiefs still haven't kicked him out of the RAF.' At Telford Magistrates' Court on May 12 Poyner admitted four counts of rape, an indecent assault and other sexual activities with children between 2018 and 2021. He was stationed at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, a UK centre for pilot training. He later moved to RAF Benson. At the hearing, prosecutor Mark Connor told the judge: 'The defendant has entered guilty pleas which adequately reflect the offending behaviour over a number of years. 'The prosecution accepts those pleas with regard to the court's overall sentencing powers.' Judge Peter Barrie granted Poyner bail ahead of a sentencing hearing scheduled for August 11, when he is expected to be jailed. The judge also ordered a psychiatric assessment to consider the sex offender's threat to the public. While Poyner was given a curfew and must wear a tracking tag, service families insist they should be spared the worry of him living nearby. His property is being monitored by RAF Police, who have stepped up patrols of the estate following complaints from parents. RAF Benson, near Wallingford, is a support helicopter main operating base. The failure by chiefs to manage Poyner's case and to prioritise the concerns of service families is the latest in a string of embarrassing failures by RAF bosses. It follows the shocking treatment of female personnel by pilots, including multiple claims of sexual assault, in the Red Arrows display team. The head of the RAF, Sir Mike Wigston, has also faced criticism over a chronic shortage of frontline pilots and a recruitment policy that appeared to discriminate against white male applicants. The RAF said: 'We are aware that a service person residing at RAF Benson pleaded guilty to a number of serious sexual offences. 'The RAF is unable to comment on individual cases, not offer comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.' The grieving mother of an officer cadet found hanged at Sandhurst has accused Army chiefs of covering up the circumstances of her death. Weeping Louise Townsend revealed the family's 'fight for justice' following the death of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks, who killed herself after senior officers failed to provide adequate welfare support. Concluding a three-week inquest, the coroner also criticised 'missed opportunities' by officers at the world-famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to intervene as Ms Perks spiralled out of control. In the months after her death, top brass tried to claim the February 2019 tragedy could not have been stopped. They also insisted RMAS staff conducted themselves appropriately towards Ms Perks. But Ms Townsend was convinced her daughter's death could have been prevented. So she hired investigators to dig into the circumstances. 21-year-old Officer Cadet Olivia Perks (pictured) killed herself after senior officers failed to provide adequate welfare support They found an older male instructor, Staff Sergeant Mark Easingwood, indulged in a physical relationship with Ms Perks, in breach of strict rules banning any close contact between staff and cadets. Sgt Easingwood was eventually sacked by the Army. So too was Colour Sergeant Lee Griffith who spent a night with Ms Perks, another breach of Sandhurst rules. The family also learned that incidents of Ms Perks self-harming were not recognised as mental health episodes and hence she did not receive the attention she required. A previous attempt by Ms Perks to end her life was also dismissed as an isolated incident. Following the inquest today, RMAS Commandant Major General Zac Stenning acknowledged the 'systemic and individual failings with led to the tragic death'. For Ms Townsend, from Kingswinford, West Midlands, the complete picture only emerged as a result of enquiries by her daughter's friends and relatives. Her lawyer read out a statement which said: 'The maternal family of Olivia welcome the findings of the inquest into her tragic and unnecessary death. 'We have been fighting for the truth of what really happened since she passed. The story we were presented with at the start of this process by the Ministry of Defence was very different to the conclusion that has been reached by the coroner. A previous attempt by Ms Perks to end her life was also dismissed as an isolated incident Following Ms Perks' death, Sandhurst overhauled its welfare and mental health provisions to cadets 'We felt secure in the knowledge she would be safe for 44 weeks at this prestigious academy. Sadly, this was not the case. For the memory of Olivia, we truly hope the lessons learned from her death will foster change in the culture of the British Army and across the Armed Forces. 'The last four years have been the hardest and most difficult journey we could have embarked upon, to lose our wonderful, vivacious and captivating girl, in circumstances we now know were avoidable.' Following Ms Perks' death, Sandhurst overhauled its welfare and mental health provisions to cadets. Speaking outside the inquest in Reading, Maj Gen Stenning said: 'Much more could and should have been done to support her. As an organisation we should have been better. 'Olivia was a young woman full of sparkling promise, with so much life to give and we cannot begin to understand the unimaginable loss Olivia's family have endured. 'We are committed to being better and will consider the coroner's findings to ensure we learn any further lessons to provide the best care for our trainees. This includes zero tolerance of the utterly unacceptable behaviours exposed by the service inquiry and the inquest.' After barricading himself in the property, cops had to send in a negotiator to talk him into surrendering to police A Texas teenager allegedly shot dead his parents and two siblings because he thought they were 'cannibals' and 'planned to eat him', according to an affidavit. Cesar Olalde, 18, faces charges of capital murder for the deaths of both of his parents, his older sister and younger brother during an incident at their family home in Nash, Texas, on Tuesday. According to an affidavit filed on Wednesday, Olalde is said to have killed his parents Reuben and Aida, as well as his older sister Lisbet and brother Oliver. The documents state that Olalde shot all four and then dragged their bodies to a bathroom in the property before barricading himself in the house. It is also claimed that Cesar made statements at the time of the incident that he had killed his family because they were cannibals and they were going to eat him. Picture: Cesar Olalde who was booked into Bi-State Detention Center in Texarkana, Texas Pictured: Dad Reuben and mom Aida with their daughter Lisbet and youngest son Oliver Joseph Flieder is believed to have told cops Olalde had said he'd killed his family, after Flieder stopped by their home to check on his co-worker Lisbet, who had failed to show for work. Flieder told police that other friends and family of the Olaldes had called their local church looking for information as to her whereabouts. Flieder said that when he and his wife went to the residence they got no answer at the door and another Olalde family member arrived on the scene. The two decided they would force entry to the property to check on the family and were confronted by Olalde as they entered, who was allegedly brandishing a firearm. After getting his wife out the home, Flieder told police Cesar made statements that he killed his family because they were cannibals and had plans to eat him. It is also claimed Olalde frequently pointed a firearm at Flieder throughout the exchange and brandished a knife at him also. Flieder managed to escape before Olalde was taken into custody after cops arrived on the scene and surrounded the property. Inside the residence, authorities said they found each of the victims shot multiple times and deceased inside a bathroom. The family home in Nash, Texas, where the horrific killings happened Documents state that Olalde (pictured) shot all four and then dragged their bodies to a bathroom in the property before barricading himself in the house. Pictured: Joseph Flieder who arrived at the home and said he was confronted by Cesar armed with a gun Law enforcement agents can be seen outside the Olalde family home in Nash, Texas, following the killings Investigators said that it looked like the victims were shot in other parts of the residence and dragged into the bathroom. Responding police said there was 'blood spatter on multiple surfaces' and 'multiple spent cartridge casing on the floor.' Bowie County Sheriff's Department said a negotiator had been sent to the house after a standoff with police and negotiated Cesar's surrender. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the Olalde family organize a funeral service for the family by Cesar's older sister Diana. She said: 'On 5/23/2023 my world changed. My whole family my father who was a hard working man, my mother who was a caring and loving person, my sister who was full of life, happiness, and dreams, and my little brother who was an amazing, funny, and cheerful kid passed in a tragic turn events that even in my worst nightmare I couldn't have dreamed. 'If these people ever touched your life in anyway please help and donate. Prayers would be much appreciated as well.' So far, Diana's fundraiser has raised over $50,000 to help with funeral costs Bowie County Sheriff's Department said a negotiator had been sent to the house after a standoff with police and negotiated Cesar's surrender In a statement, Bowie County Sheriff's Department said: 'On May 23, 2023, at approximately 10:48 am Nash Texas Police Department responded to 563 Lemon Acres in reference to an unknown issue. 'Witnesses on scene made officers aware of an individual armed and barricaded inside the residence. 'Law enforcement also received information that multiple lives had already been taken inside the home. 'A negotiator from the Bowie County Sheriff's Department established contact with the barricaded individual and successfully negotiated the surrender of the suspect, 18-year-old Cesar Olalde. 'Officers then entered the residence and located four deceased individuals. Olalde was booked into the Bi-State Jail in Texarkana, Texas for Capital Murder of Multiple Persons.' Bail has been set at $10 million for Olalde. The FBI has opened an investigation into a potential criminal hacking of Fox News computers, which may have resulted in the theft of documents and footage later leaked to other media outlets, DailyMail.com can confirm. In a May 25 letter obtained by DailyMail.com, a federal prosecutor in Tampa, Florida alerted Fox News to the criminal probe into stolen material, including unaired video of Tucker Carlson, who was fired in April. The letter says the investigation relates to unaired footage of Carlson's interview with Kanye West published by Vice News, and a series of leaked videos published by Media Matters for America, a left-leaning media watchdog. The letter specifically notes that Vice News and Media Matters are not accused of any wrongdoing in the case, either directly or indirectly. 'Instead, the criminal conduct under investigation concerns the initial unauthorized computer intrusions and interceptions of electronic communications by other subjects,' the letter states, adding that those subjects 'are neither employees of nor affiliated with Fox.' As part of the investigation, the FBI earlier this month searched the home of media consultant Tim Burke and his wife, Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak, the Tampa Bay Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the probe. The FBI has reportedly opened an investigation into a potential criminal hacking of Fox News computers and alleged theft of unaired footage of former host Tucker Carlson As part of the investigation, the FBI earlier this month searched the home of media consultant Tim Burke and his wife, Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak, seen together above Assistant US Attorney Jay G. Trezevant of the Middle District of Florida signed the letter to Fox News, asking the network to preserve information and records that might assist the investigation. The letter refers to the network as 'a potential victim-witness of the criminal conduct' under investigation in the probe. In October, Vice published an article titled 'Watch the Disturbing Kanye Interview Clips That Tucker Carlson Didn't Put on Air' containing multiple clips of the former Fox News host's sit-down with the rapper. The clips include West making a number of anti-semitic statements, as well as strange ramblings about 'fake children' he claimed were planted in his house. The interview aired several weeks before West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, was banned from Twitter and widely denounced over a rant professing his 'love' of Nazis and admiration for Adolf Hitler. Separately, Media Matters has published a series of behind-the-scenes clips of Carlson following his firing earlier this month, under the title FOXLEAKS. In one clip, Carlson joked about 'post-menopausal fans' and makes a comment about someone's girlfriend being 'yummy'. In another, he calls a lawyer for Dominion a 'slimy little motherf***er'. 'Reporting on newsworthy leaked material is a cornerstone of journalism,' Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said in a statement to DailyMail.com on Friday. In October, Vice published an article containing multiple clips of the former Fox News host Carlson's sit-down with the rapper Kanye West, seen above 'Over the years, Media Matters has reported on leaked materials exposing Fox's misinformation, malevolence, and malfeasance,' added Carusone. 'We're going to continue doing just that. Like any respectable media outlet, we won't discuss confidential sourcing of any of our materials,' he said. Fox News and the Justice Department declined to comment. Vice did not immediately respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com. According to the Times, the FBI's probe led investigators to the Tampa home shared by the media consultant Burke and his city councilor wife. Agents executed a search on the home on May 8. Burke, 44, has not been accused of any wrongdoing or criminally charged. He declined to comment to the Times and could not be reached for comment by DailyMail.com. The search warrant application for Burke's home has not been made public. Investigators typically have to demonstrate probable cause to a judge to obtain a search warrant, but a warrant authorization does not always result in criminal charges. In a prior statement, Burke's wife Hurtak said the FBI search appeared to be solely related to her husband's work as a journalist. Burke is a prominent consultant in the media world, and runs Burke Communications, a media and political consulting company. He also has worked as a journalist for news websites including Deadspin and the Daily Beast. The website for Burke's consulting company has been offline since the FBI search of his home, the Times reported. In a legal letter to Media Matters earlier this month , Fox News asked the group to stop publishing unaired footage in the FOXLEAKS series Carlson and his wife Susan Andrews are seen soon after his dismissal from Fox in late April In a legal letter to Media Matters earlier this month, Fox News asked the group to stop publishing unaired footage in the FOXLEAKS series. The letter does not address how the footage may have leaked, but says that the network 'did not consent to its distribution or publication,' according to a copy of the letter obtained by DailyMail.com. 'This proprietary material was given to you without FOX's authorization,' the letter added. At the time, Media Matters publicly rejected Fox's legal demand, insisting that it had the right to cover newsworthy leaked materials and saying it would continue to do so. New details have emerged in the bitter divorce battle between the chefs of a popular Los Angeles restaurant - as they continue to accuse each other of horrific acts including animal abuse. Elizabeth Johnson, 32, and Will Aghajanian, 31, the chefs behind the celebrity hotspot Horses, caught national attention earlier this month after she claimed he tortured and killed their cat in a divorce filing. In documents filed last November, Johnson stated she had been emotionally and physically abused by Aghajanian, and asked for a domestic violence restraining order, claiming she feared both of her safety and that of the couple's dogs because she knew of 'up to 14 animals' he had abused. Johnson claimed she did not realize Aghajanian was abusing and killing the animals because she had been psychologically abused and believed his explanations for the deaths. Now, a fuller picture of their relationship has emerged, with New York magazine's Grub Street reporting additional disturbing details of the pair's history, which is filled with accusations of abuse and animal cruelty. Elizabeth Johnson and Will Aghajanian, the chefs behind the celebrity hotspot Horses, are going through a bitter divorce The couple's restaurant Horses opened in September 2021, received rave reviews and was an instant celebrity favorite Aghajanian has blamed Johnson for the pet deaths, and claims he is the one who was abused, claiming in a court filing that Johnson bragged about her father catching squirrels to drown them. Along with the court filing, Aghajanian filed screenshots of texts with Johnson, including one where she threatened to kill their dog Pancho. In a text from 2018, Johnson wrote: 'If I get famous will anyone ever find out about pancskes [sic] or the cats.' 'No. Love you,' Aghajanian replied. The shocking report includes testimonies from sources who claimed to have witnessed Aghajanian's alleged taste for animal cruelty and history of racist comments. People who worked with Aghajanian at Per Se restaurant in New York told Grub Street Aghajanian insisted on buying live turtles and butchering them himself. Former colleagues at the Nashville restaurant Catbird claimed he once brought in a case of frozen rabbits and instructed his staff to hack into the animal's skulls and take their brains out as part of a 'project.' When one employee said he was done with the project, Aghajanian allegedly said he just wanted to know 'how long everyone would do this for.' At the same restaurant, he allegedly told staff that the only allergies that exist are shellfish and nuts and to ignore all others allergies. Aghajanian is also accused of saying Hitler had some pretty good ideas' during his time at Catbird. The couple was fired from Catbird after complaints that they would fight in the kitchen and that Aghajanian was abusive both to Johnson and to staff. During their time at Mimi restaurant in New York, Aghajanian regularly verbally abused Johnson, with one former co-worker saying she witnessed him burning Johnson with a pair of hot tongs. A shocking report includes testimonies from sources who claimed to have witnessed Aghajanian's alleged taste for animal cruelty and history of racist comments The couple have accused each other of killing and torturing animals In his divorce filing, Aghajanian claimed it was Johnson who burned him intentionally after becoming enraged over overcooked chicken, leaving a scar. A source close to Johnson denied the claim. Aside from the abuse allegations, former co-workers of the couple also said their cats always seemed to die mysteriously. While working at Mimi, three cats died with no explanation. 'I remember telling them like, "This is getting weird. Maybe you shouldnt keep trying to get cats,"' one former colleague told Grub Street. The couple also had one cat die while they worked at Nashville's Catbird. Former co-workers told the outlet they thought it was strange they had gotten a cat because Aghajanian was open about his disdain for the animals. Aghajanian has denied any wrongdoing mentioned in the Grub Street expose. Johnson and Aghajanian met as interns at the restaurant Noma in Copenhagen before getting engaged in 2013 and moving to New York. Aghajanian remains on Horse's payroll but has stepped away from daily operations, as Johnson has taken control. Johnson has also requested that Aghajanian remain 100 yards away from their dogs, Pancho, Javi and Spud, according to the filing. In her November divorce filings, Johnson said Aghajanian alleged that in 2019, Aghajanian dragged her by the legs across the floor while she screamed and attempted to resist. The filing alleged that Aghajanian has been responsible for the deaths of both of their cats. 'Will and I have had cats that mysteriously ended up dying, including one in 2017 who I took to a shelter when she became seriously wounded overnight. The shelter told me she had been seriously abused, but Will denied it.' 'I believed him. Then, last month, we were given another kitten,' she wrote detailing how it wasn't long before that kitten was dead too, after he had said he didn't like it. Johnson and Aghajanian's restaurant Horses opened in September 2021, received rave reviews and was an instant celebrity favorite. It was on Eater LA's 'heatmap' of 'hottest new restaurants' for months and the Los Angeles Times called it 'a new modern L.A. institution' and 'the city's most exhilarating new dining experience in the last year.' A Mississippi police officer accused of shooting an 11-year-old boy in the chest after he dialed 911 for help has been suspended without pay. Aderrien Murry 'came within an inch of losing his life' on Saturday morning when he was allegedly shot in the chest by Sergeant Greg Capers. He suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver from the shooting and was placed on a ventilator at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. The wounded boy, who is now recovering at home after being released from hospital on Wednesday, asked his mother Nakala Murry: 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do? Capers has been suspended pending an investigation, a source for Indianola Police Department told Dailymail.com Mississippi police officer Greg Capers, accused of a shooting an 11-year-old boy in the chest after he dialed 911 for help, has been suspended without pay Aderrien Murry 'came within an inch of losing his life' on Saturday morning when he was shot in the chest He suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver from the shooting and was placed on a ventilator at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson Aderrien 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) which is investigating the shooting. He was concerned about his mother's safety when the 'irate' father of his half sister arrived at their home at 4am Saturday. 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 tried to help render first aid and put his hand over hers to try to stop Aderriens bleeding. The family's attorney 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. The wounded boy, who is now recovering at home after being released from hospital on Wednesday, asked his mother Nakala Murry: 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do? Moore, pictured with Aderrien, claimed Capers was suspended without pay as an investigation over the shooting takes place and shared a picture of the officer on social media His mother Nakala Murry has been calling for the officer to be fired over the shooting 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'. She has been calling for the officer to be fired over the shooting. 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.' Moore said Capers was suspended without pay as an investigation over the shooting takes place and shared a picture of the officer on social media. He said: 'Meet Sgt. Greg Capers of the Indianola Police Department. Hes the cop that shot 11 year old unarmed Aderrien Murry after the boy called 911 for help for his mom. 'To this day, neither the officer nor city has given the family any explanation why.' Aderrien called the police for help and an officer arrived to deal with the domestic disturbance call, according to his mother Nakala claimed the officer had his gun drawn at the front door and shot her son as he walked around the corner of a hallway Moore previously said: 'We believe that the city and the officer should be liable to Aderrien Murray, for the damages they have caused.' The attorney's 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 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. The family of a Louisiana Arby's manager who froze to to death in a walk-in freezer is now suing the fast food giant over claims that employees had complained the latch was broken on the door. Nguyet Le, 63, was alone in the restaurant around 9am on May 11 preparing for the store's opening when she became trapped inside the food cooler. Her son, who also works at the Arby's, made the horrifying discovery. New Iberia Police said there were blood stains on the doors which showed that she was trying to escape, but eventually collapsed into a fetal position. A preliminary report from the coroner's office confirmed the mother-of-four died of hypothermia. Attorney Paul Skrabanek, who is representing the family, is calling for a formal investigation into the restaurant's alleged freezer malfunctions. A former employee told him that the latch on the cooler was not working properly since August, and that the problem was known and ignored by management. He said the family is suing, in part, because his inquiries to Arby's would have gone unanswered. The family is seeking more than $1millon in damages. Nguyet Le, 63, a general manager at an Arby's in New Iberia Louisiana froze to death on May 11, 2023 after becoming trapped in the restaurant's walk in freezer while performing opening tasks The inside of the freezer at Arby's and location where Le, a mother of four and grandmother, was trapped inside and eventually died from hypothermia, according to a preliminary coroner's report Nguyet Le is pictured with her son, who also worked at Arby's in New Iberia, and the person who discovered his mother's body A former male employee, who did not want to be identified, told KATC News that multiple work orders were submitted to fix the broken latch. He had also taken photos inside the the freezer from prior complaints. 'They've known about it,' he said. 'Workers have complained.' It is unclear what the temperature was the day Le was trapped inside and the length of time she was fighting to survive. The freezer is supposed to be negative 10 degrees by Arby's standards, as per the former employee, but said the temperature is kept lower than that. 'I believe she got stuck in freezer door and no one was there to help her out,' he said. According to the lawsuit, employees were using a screwdriver to help open and close the latch to the walk-in cooler, as per a former Arby's employee. The suit also alleges that employees were in the habit of propping open the door with a box of oil because they didn't want it to close all the way. The site of the New Iberia Arby's location where general manager Le was trapped inside the walk-in cooler on May 11 The lawsuit filed against Turbo Restaurants, LLC, under the Arby's Restaurant Group umbrella The family is seeking more than $1 million in damages Le, who worked as a general manager with Arby's in Houston, Skrabanek, was asked by the franchise's corporate office, to go to New Iberia to help run that location. She had been near the end of her temporary assignment, after being there for nearly a month to six weeks. DailyMail.com has contacted Arby's for comment. Phillip Schofield has admitted to having a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning, and later lying about it. In a bombshell statement to the Daily Mail, the veteran TV presenter admitted that he and the man began a relationship that was more than a friendship. The ex-TV presenter describes this as 'unwise but not illegal'. Schofield further confessed that he lied to his employer ITV, to his colleagues, his friends and his agents at the management firm YMU. He also lied to The Mail on Sunday, the Daily Mail's sister paper, which first exclusively described his relationship with the younger man earlier this month. In his grovelling apology, Schofield said: 'I am making this statement via the Daily Mail, to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story [sic] which they wanted to write about me a few days ago. Phillip Schofield has sensationally admitted to having a relationship with a much younger man who worked as a colleague for him on This Morning (pictured with co-host Holly Willoughby) Phillip Schofield, 61 shares emotional walk with mum Pat in the West Country after his brother Timothy was jailed for 12 years (pictured on May 19 after stepping down from This Morning) 'The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Read more: Phillip Schofield apologises to wife Stephanie Lowe after admitting to having affair with young male This Morning colleague while he was still married to her Advertisement 'Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than a just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over... 'I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife... 'I am resigning from ITV with immediate effect, expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. 'I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.' The Mail is aware of the younger man's identity, but has chosen not to name him. Schofield's extraordinary statement concludes weeks of increasingly fevered speculation in both the TV industry and the wider country about the future of his career, following his sudden departure from the This Morning sofa earlier this month. His exit from ITV apparently scotches plans for the 'prime time' show he was allegedly offered by the network as consolation for leaving This Morning after more than 20 years on the show. Phillip Schofield apologises to wife Stephanie Lowe (left) who stood by him as he reveals affair with This Morning co-worker Schofield's extraordinary statement concludes weeks of increasingly fevered speculation (pictured with wife Stephanie Lowe in 2021) The presenter included a public apology to his wife and their two daughters in the statement he provided to the Mail Schofield said: 'I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family' (pictured with his wife and daughters, Molly and Ruby, in 2018) Schofield had been due to present the prestigious British Soap Awards next week - a role he had performed since 2006. His statement confirms he will no longer do so. Even before his bombshell statement last night, TV sources were furious at the prospect of him presenting the Awards. One of his critics called the decision 'unbelievable'. Another said: 'We do not want him, thank you,' while a third exclaimed: 'Are you freaking kidding me?!' Hours before Schofield's statement last night, I had received a phone call telling me that the entertainer had been unceremoniously dumped by YMU, the fearsome agency that had represented him for more than 25 years. Without these slick PR professionals behind him, and in the aftermath of this new statement, the chances of him returning to the small screen any time soon look bleak (pictured in January on Dancing On Ice with Holly Willoughby) In a bombshell statement to the Daily Mail, the veteran TV presenter admitted that he and the man began a relationship that was more than a friendship, while he was married to Stephanie Lowe (left, pictured in 2020) All this week, Schofield's spinners had done their best to rescue him, optimistically trying to claim that he retained a bright future in TV (with Stephanie Lowe in 2012) 'It was time to end the partnership,' said my source. YMU counts Ant and Dec, Claudia Winkleman and Davina McCall among its clients and is often described as the real power behind ITV. Without these slick PR professionals behind him, and in the aftermath of this new statement, the chances of him returning to the small screen any time soon look bleak. So: is his career finished? All this week, Schofield's spinners had done their best to rescue him, optimistically trying to claim that he retained a bright future in TV. A comfortable berth could even be found for him soon at the BBC, they claimed. The national broadcaster, claimed Team Phil, had Schofield 'in [its] sights' as a contestant on the ever-popular dance show Strictly. Phillip Schofields statement in full as he admits affair with young This Morning colleague: I am making this statement via the Daily Mail, to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story [sic] which they wanted to write about me a few days ago. The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than a just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over... I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife... I am resigning from ITV with immediate effect, expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it. Advertisement They added that he was the bookies' favourite to replace Rylan Clark on the Strictly spin-off, It Takes Two. Auntie, 'would love to have him on board,' said sources close to the presenter. 'Phil has been asked before, but this time the offer was more aggressive.' Those claims seem frankly absurd in light of Schofield's new and shocking revelations. No sooner did these outlandish boasts emerge than the BBC moved to rubbish them. One report quoted a Corporation figure saying there is 'more chance of Gordon the Gopher appearing on the dancefloor' a caustic reference to the glove-puppet that served as Schofield's mascot on children's TV in the Eighties and Nineties. Another senior BBC insider told me: 'The suggestion that Phillip could join the BBC is laughable. It's complete fantasy. At no point has Schofield's name been mentioned by anyone at the Corporation. 'With the exception of popping up as a talking head in some anniversary shows relating to children's programming, Schofield has not appeared on the BBC for many years in a presenting capacity and that is not about to change,' they said. This week, I discussed Schofield's career prospects with multiple high-powered figures in the TV industry. Not a single one was optimistic about his future - even before Schofield admitted his 'bad judgement' in embarking on an on-off relationship with a much younger man. As a reportedly capricious and occasionally rather petulant presenter, Schofield, 61, has made a number enemies over the years. He spent four decades working in TV, and many former runners and junior members of production teams are now senior executives on major networks, responsible for commissioning programmes and hiring staff. 'People have long memories in this game,' one source told me this week. 'He was pretty difficult to work with back then and now we are in charge, we haven't forgotten.' Another TV executive said: 'It's a perfect example of that old saying: 'Be nice to people on the way up, because you'll need them on the way down.' 'If only Phil had treated people better in his career, things might not be looking so tricky for him right now.' None of Schofield's enemies, perhaps, is more powerful than Holly Willoughby, his co-host on This Morning for 14 years. Willoughby remains furious with Schofield, I'm told not least over his failure to tell her the full details of his paedophile brother's appalling activities, or even to warn her about the scandal of his trial as it approached. Last week, Timothy Schofield, 54, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a litany of sex crimes against an underage boy. A rapprochement between Holly and Phil is currently unthinkable. Even if Schofield did dream of joining the BBC, Willoughby's husband, TV producer Dan Baldwin described as 'very, very powerful' in the industry works closely with the Corporation and is unlikely to butter up the BBC's bosses on Shofield's behalf. One Corporation source tells me: 'Major programmes such as Michael McIntyre's Big Show, The Wheel and the highly anticipated Gladiators reboot are all under the stewardship of Hungry Bear, Dan's production company. Plus Holly was invited by BBC telly chief Charlotte Moore to accompany her to the Variety Club awards in November last year and present on various shows. It's clear where the BBC's loyalties lie.' Schofield also revealed that he has quit ITV altogether despite the channel saying they had given him a prime time show to present (pictured with Holly Willoughby) Schofield came out as gay in a moving This Morning programme in 2020 (pictured with wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe in 2019) Schofield apologised to his wife, Stephanie Lowe (pictured with the presenter in 2022) for being unfaithful during their marriage It is, all told, a lamentable change in fortunes for Schofield, who began his career in 1985 as a CBBC presenter in a tiny studio known as the Broom Cupboard, and later moved to presenting Saturday-morning magazine show Going Live! in 1987. He then quit for ITV where he moved into hosting adult-orientated programmes such as Schofield's Quest, Schofield's TV Gold, Ten Ball and Talking Telephone Numbers. He was paid about 730,000 a year to present This Morning, according to reports, while his 'golden handcuffs' deal tying him to ITV was said to be worth another 5 million. And while senior ITV executive Kevin Lygo had warm words for Schofield in a statement released to announce his departure, words, as they say, are cheap. Lygo described the presenter as 'hands-down, one of the best broadcasters of his generation' and gushingly thanked him for 'two decades worth of absolutely terrific television on the This Morning sofa'. Schofield said he was 'painfully conscious' that he had lied to his employers and to his family (pictured with his family at the Lilo And Stich premiere in 2002) The pair both commented on Schofield's departure from the show, with Holly Willoughby saying: 'The sofa won't be the same without him' The relationship between Holly and Phil is said to have been tense for months. They were both accused of queue-jumping at the Queen's lying-in-state last year, which they denied, saying they were working Lygo also promised a 'brand-new, peak-time series' for the star. Yet following last night's statement, that now seems all-but-impossible. There is also speculation that the purported 'show' was merely a negotiated clause in Schofield's exit package, which sources tell me 'got complicated' amid much wrangling over the details, not least the financial settlement. One ITV source tells me: 'You've got to wonder if this 'show' even exists. It is very 'Kevin Lygo' to do something like that: offer a sweetener to get a deal done.' And while Lygo has, until now, remained publicly loyal to Schofield unlike some other ITV executives who lost their patience with the star even he is said to have grown tired of his recent behaviour. An insider said: 'Phil didn't exactly move with the times. It's 2023.' Channel 4 has yet to comment on whether it would take him on but, frankly, that too now seems highly unlikely. As for Channel 5, I'm again told that bosses have 'absolutely no interest' in working with him. And that, unfortunately for the broadcaster, seems to be an all-too common theme. Mary Bekhait, the Group CEO of YMU Group, said: 'Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU's whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust. Former close friends Schofield and Willoughby, pictured together on Dancing on Ice in 2006, had increasingly grown apart in recent months Gino D'Acampo is pictured honouring his promise that he would cook naked on This Morning if they won at the NTA Awards 'This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. 'These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him. 'As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect.' An ITV Spokesperson said on Friday night: 'We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield. 'The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down. 'We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated.' Hugh Grant has been refused permission to sue The Sun newspaper for allegedly hacking his phone. The actor, a key supporter of anti-tabloid press campaign group Hacked Off, had launched a legal action, claiming Sun journalists accessed voice messages on his mobile phone. But a High Court judge ruled yesterday that Grant's claim was launched too long after he became aware of potentially unlawful hacking activity and could not be considered. Mr Justice Fancourt did allow the 62-year-old actor to continue with legal claims against The Sun over other allegations of 'unlawful information gathering'. Grant claims the paper's journalists hired private investigators to seek information about him through activities including 'landline tapping, bugging, blagging', and says three burglaries were committed in an illegal search for stories. Hugh Grant has been refused permission to sue The Sun newspaper for allegedly hacking his phone News Group Newspapers (NGN), which owns The Sun, denies the claims. NGN has settled several claims since the phone-hacking scandal broke in relation to the News of the World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. One of the NGN settlements over the News of the World was with Grant. Also at the High Court yesterday, Fawlty Towers star John Cleese turned up at Prince Harry's hacking case against the publishers of the Daily Mirror. Cleese, 83, arrived at the court in London at the same time as Graham Johnson, a convicted phone hacker. The actor, who is not involved in the case, smiled to photographers as he walked into the building saying: 'Hello, hello, hello.' He watched proceedings from the public gallery as Harry's barrister David Sherborne tried to convince the judge to let him introduce three late witnesses. John Cleese (right) , 83, arrived at the court in London at the same time as Graham Johnson (left), a convicted phone hacker Mr Justice Fancourt rejected the application, saying it would not be 'in the interest of fairness of the trial as a whole'. Monty Python star Cleese is a vehement opponent of the tabloid Press, once threatening to leave Britain partly because of his 'beef' with newspapers. He has been meeting Prince Harry's witnesses, including Mr Johnson, a former journalist who was given a suspended sentence for hacking phones and is now working with Harry's lawyers. The Mirror denies the claims against it. A video shows Barone stopping short of landing, ascending quickly and then veering the plane to the left before he flew around the city and landed The plane was flown from Miami to Buenos Aires by Leonardo Barone, the director of the president's logistic unit, when he aborted landing at Jorge Newbery Airport Argentina's new presidential airplane was involved in an 'illogical' stunt on Thursday A high-ranking member of Argentina's presidential staff wanted to test their latest toy and he may now be in some hot water. Leonardo Barone's only job was to fly the new presidential plane from Miami to Bueno Aires when he had a change of plans and pulled off a dangerous stunt at Jorge Newbery Airport on Thursday. Video footage captured the moment Barone was approximately 147 feet above the runway and about to land the $20 million Boeing 737-256 aircraft when he started to ascend and continued forward. Barone, who is the director of presidential logistics, then tilted the white and sky blue plane to the left side for a few seconds before he straightened it as he headed towards the La Plata River. Still image from a cellphone video captured the shocking moment a government official pulled off a dangerous stunt and aborted landing the new presidential plane before returning the aircraft to the airport He flew over the Plaza de Mayo, the oldest public square in the city, and Casa Rosada, the president's mansion, before landing safely at Jorge Newbery Airport. Aeronautics consultant Carlos Rinzelli slammed Barone's daring stunt. 'The maneuver was quite illogical,' Rinzelli told Argentine news network TN. 'The plane should have landed with a normal approach in an airport that is congested and a day when the weather conditions are not the best.' An Armed Forces source told the network that Barone had advised the control towers of his plans to fly low over the runway before returning to land the airplane. 'They finally passed by and veered too low dangerously,' the source said. Argentina's presidential Boeing 373 veers to the left during a daring stunt performed by the director of the president's logistic unit Online news portal Infobae revealed that Barone also ignored instructions from the control tower and he was told to keep the airplane at 3,000 feet above ground while they worked to clear another aircraft at the airport. Barone was heard telling the air traffic controller: 'Ah, I understood that it was free descent. We are maintaining it 2300 feet.' The control tower worker then snapped, telling him that he had never been approved do so. Barone then apologized and informed the traffic controller that he had ascended to 3,000 feet. President Alberto Fernandez has not commented on the incident. A New Hamptons restaurant has been destroyed by a fire just days before its planned Memorial Day weekend opening. Maison Close Montauk was slated to open ready for the holiday weekend and due to start serving customers Friday. But on Thursday night, just hours before opening, the restaurant caught fire and burned to the ground. Images taken at the scene show the building completely engulfed in flames as crews fight to battle it. The local fire department also said that the venue had patrons inside when it went up, but they all escaped safely. Eddie Ecker, captain for the Montauk Fire Department told the East Hampton Star: 'When our first responders arrived, the building was fully engulfed. Firefighters said when the arrived on the scene the full restaurant had been completely engulfed in flames The local fire department also said that the venue had patrons inside when it went up, but they all escaped safely. Firefighters said they deployed two water tankers alongside a tower ladder to battle the blaze 'We responded with multiple apparatus: two pumpers, two water tankers, our tower ladder, and a couple of ambulances. There were patrons in there, but everybody was safely removed.' Captain Ecker also told the news site that the building was damaged irreparably and that twice on Friday morning the fire had managed to rekindle. Chief Fire Marshal for East Hampton David Browne told DailyMail.com the cause of the fire was still under investigation. The restaurant brand launched in New York City's SoHo in July 2022 and was 'inspired by the distinct dining culture inherent to France and its celebration of shared spaces'. In a statement, the restaurant said: 'We are heartbroken to share that last night a fire devastated the Maison Close Montauk property. 'Thankfully no one was hurt and we are grateful for the Montauk Fire Department for their assistance. 'We also want to thank our friends and the community for their support during this time. 'We were looking forward to bring the unique Maison Close experience to Montauk. We will be back.' The smoke from the fire could be seen from some distance away in the late hours of Thursday Images of the fire also surfaced on social media, showing the blaze completely taking over the new restaurant The popular New York based hotel was due to open its newest location today The Montauk restaurant was to be the second instalment by the restaurant brand after they opened in New York City's SoHo in July 2022. In a release on their website, they said their restaurant was 'inspired by the distinct dining culture inherent to France and its celebration of shared spaces'. Distributors have suffered after a boycott over Bud's partnership with Dylan Mulvaney caused sales to plummet Some truck drivers who deliver the beer have been subject to homophobic abuse A former Anheuser-Busch executive said 'the biggest losers' in the boycott of Bud Light are independent distributors of the beer across America Truckers who distribute Bud Light across America have faced abuse including homophobic slurs following the backlash to the beer's Dylan Mulvaney partnership. Details of the incidents were reported as a former executive at Anheuser-Busch said independent distributors are the 'biggest losers' amid the ongoing furor. Several have reported that a decline in sales of Bud Light has hurt business. Many are family-run businesses which are independent from Anheuser-Busch and were blindsided by the Mulvaney tie-up and subsequent backlash. Some said their drivers had middle fingers aimed at them and have even been called 'gay beer salesmen', according to ABC News. Anheuser-Busch is now desperately trying to win back customers who've boycotted its products, which also include Budweiser and Michelob. Bud Light distributors have been abused over the beer's partnership with Dylan Mulvaney, it is claimed. A former Anheuser-Busch executive said the independent distributors have been the 'biggest losers' in the debacle Anheuser-Busch is now desperately trying to win back customers who've boycotted its products, which also include Budweiser and Michelob Anson Frericks, who departed his executive role at Anheuser-Busch last year, said: 'The biggest losers here are the 500 independent businesses in the U.S. that distribute Anheuser-Busch products. Those are the people really hurting.' The president at one distributor said wholesalers and their staff are in a 'really bad spot' and lamented the 'frustrating' situation. Some of the distributors are considering topping up paychecks of workers who rely on commission after revenue and sales took a hit following the ongoing boycott. Pestinger Distribution Company in Kansas told ABC that Bud Light sales have fallen around 30 percent in recent weeks. Owner Matt Pestinger said: 'We're stressed some because you never want to see red numbers.' He said he's still got faith in the leadership at Anheuser-Busch and '[respects] the way they've been handling it'. Another company chief said workers were 'feeling it'. A third added: 'In the end, the people hurt the most are the local small business retailers and wholesalers in your community.' Anheuser-Busch, the company which owns Budweiser and Bud Light, has lost $15 billion in value since the tie-up was announced. Budweiser recently teamed up with Harley-Davidson for a macho commercial that includes beer cans emblazoned with the motorcycle-maker's logo - as company executives try to win back customers. Bud Light's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney has led to a decline in sales The commercial features a gray-haired, male mechanic working on a Harley bike before three men are shown drinking the beer. Speaking over a rock instrumental, a male narrator says: 'The greatest legacies are built with grit and resilience, one detail at a time. Limited edition Budweiser Harley-Davidson cans - for those who give everything to their craft. This Bud's for you.' The masculine tone is in stark contrast to Bud Light's ill-fated partnership with Mulvaney, 26, which saw the trans influencer receive a can of beer with her face on it to celebrate 365 days of 'womanhood'. And as Anheuser-Busch has lost value, competitors have added $3.2billion in market value to their brands. 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. 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 Sales of Bud Light are down more than 23 percent as of the week ending May 6, according to JPMorgan beverage analyst Jared Dinges. 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.' As Americans recover from the shock of revelations that the FBI opened a full blown, counter-intelligence investigation into Donald Trump's presidential campaign for no good reason the IRS chimes in to say, 'hold my beer.' On Friday morning, Gary Shapely, a 14 year-veteran of the Internal Revenue Service testified behind closed doors to Congress. He alleges that a sensitive political probe he was managing was impeded and interfered with by his superiors and, ultimately, the Department of Justice itself. What case you ask? It is reportedly none other than the five year-long probe into the shady finances of President Biden's star-crossed son, Hunter. Given its duration this must be the most complicated tax case in history, or maybe, just maybe, something else is afoot? Here is what Shapely, who is still employed by the IRS, told CBS News: 'There were multiple steps that were slow-walked were just completely not done at the direction of the Department of Justice'. 'When I took control of this particular investigation,' he added, 'I immediately saw deviations from the normal process. It was way outside the norm of what I've experienced in the past.' Are we honestly supposed to believe it's just a big coincidence that in a career spanning more than a decade the first time Shapely every witnessed this kind of special treatment is in a case against Hunter Biden? What are the odds? Why in the world would such an inquiry be 'slow walked'? On Friday morning, Gary Shapely, (above, left) a 14 year-veteran of the Internal Revenue Service testified behind closed doors to Congress. Shapley alleges that a sensitive political probe he was managing was impeded and interfered with by his superiors and, ultimately, the Department of Justice itself. We know that the tax-collecting leviathan can move quickly when it wants to. Just ask independent journalist Matt Taibbi. Taibbi was just now revealed that on Christmas Eve 2022, a Saturday no less, a dubious IRS case was opened against him. It just so happened that this was the exact same day that Taibbi released his ninth edition of The Twitter Files a deeply reported dive into Twitter's internal coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies and left-wing politicians and organizations to censor the speech of ordinary Americans. Must have been a coincidence. Though do you think you'd be able to get someone on the phone at the IRS on Christmas Eve? And these strokes of serendipity don't end there. Guess who ominously appeared on Taibbi's doorstep, just a few months later in March, on the same day that he was testifying before Congress about the federal government's game of footsie with the social media giant. An IRS agent. You'd assume that Matt was in deep trouble. But no, in the end we learned that it was the government who owed Taibbi money, not the other way around. Even Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin, who oversees the FBI, found that a bit odd. 'I'm not aware that IRS agents do that except in cases where there's an investigation for law breaking that's underway,' she told a House committee in March. This isn't even subtle; semaphore flags couldn't send the message more clearly. If you dare speak the truth, if you dare impugn government agencies there will be a target placed squarely on your back. But if you're one of them well, kid gloves for you. Of course, this is not new. But what is incredibly troubling to the point of being existentially terrifying is that the federal government seems completely unwilling or unable to do anything about it. We all recall the targeting of conservatives and right-leaning organizations by the IRS during the Obama administration. The IRS said it was just a mistake (another darn coincidence) that any organization applying for tax exempt status that had 'Tea Party' or 'patriots' in their titles were selected for extra scrutiny. Director of Exempt Organizations Lois Lerner took the fall and after that we we're told it would be all cleared up. Taibbi (above) was just now revealed that on Christmas Eve 2022, a Saturday no less, a dubious IRS case was opened against him. It is reportedly none other than the five year-long probe into the shady finances of President Biden's star-crossed son, Hunter. How's that working for Matt Taibbi? For their part, the FBI has also promised Americans that they made changes after a DOJ Inspector General's report revealed that government lawyers lied and mislead the powerful, secret FISA courts to obtain permission to spy on Trump campaign associates. And after Special Counsel John Durham released his damning report into the FBI's slapdash handling of the bogus Russian collusion investigation, the FBI said there's nothing to see here. 'Leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time,' their statement claimed. But if that's the case, then why did we just learn that the agency improperly spied on Americans more than 278,000 times in 2021 alone? All of this is still happening in plain sight. The claims of reform are clearly a laughable attempt to pat the American people on the head, as if we're good little children. Just believe what you're told, they say. But we don't. Increasingly, Americans are waking up to this corruption of our alphabet of agencies that somehow only seem to harm those on the right and help those on the left. We want it fixed permanently. But not only do Biden and the Democrats have no interest in addressing corruption at the IRS, they want to spend $80 billion more to hire 87,000 tax agents. Is it any wonder why Biden is flashing cash at the very organization that's alleged to be protecting his own son? In no sane world would we give an agency with such a long history of malign bias so much as an extra dull penny, let alone tens of billions of dollars. That is until and unless the rot at the core is cut out. Is it any wonder why Biden is flashing cash at the very organization that's alleged to be protecting his own son? This is why House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is right to demand that this ludicrous IRS windfall be clawed back in the debt ceiling negotiations. This is not a swamp, but an ocean of corruption and McCarthy and Republicans know that the ship of state - and Americans' trust in it - is taking on water like the Titanic. There can be no more important issue to the country's future than getting these agencies, be it the IRS, the DOJ, the FBI or a host of others, cleaned up from the top down. This is not just a few bad apples, it's a system of inequity. It's a culture of bias. Every GOP candidate for president should put this at the top of their agenda, as Ron DeSantis did by promising to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray. Every candidate should lay out specific plans to restore basic fairness to a federal bureaucracy that in recent history has answered to nobody and nothing. No more slow walking the cases of powerful Democrats, no more IRS agents knocking on the doors of political dissidents, no more raids on Mar-a-Lago, no more Catholics targeted in their churches by the DOJ, no more parents' license plates being recorded at school board meetings. All of it has to stop now. Because honestly, if it doesn't it won't matter who we vote for, it won't matter what courts determine is or isn't legal, left unabated this tyranny of the unelected will destroy America. There is still time to fix this. The sun has not yet set on a federal government that treats its citizens equally regardless of politics. But it's getting pretty dark, and the time for action is upon us. A Virgin Atlantic flight with more than 250 passengers on board traveling from London to Los Angeles was forced to divert to Canada after a technical issue with its engine. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed at Goose Bay Airport, a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. It was diverted as a precautionary measure once the engine fault was discovered. A concerned twitter user questioned the airliner for a status on flight VS141. Virgin Atlantic responded: 'All impacted passengers have been notified of their reprotection options and can also be viewed when they log into 'My booking' on our website.' A Virgin Atlantic flight with more than 250 passengers on board traveling from London to Los Angeles has been forced to divert to Canada It was diverted as a precautionary measure once the engine fault was discovered The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner left from Heathrow Airport in London and was forced to land at Goose Bay Airport, a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Happy Valley-Goose Bay The user asked whether they landed in Canada, with the company confirming: 'We can confirm that the VS141 has landed in Goose Bay Airport in Canada.' A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'As a precautionary measure, the VS141 from London Heathrow to Los Angeles has diverted to Goose Bay in Canada due to a technical issue. 'The safety and security of our customers and crew always remains our highest priority and wasn't compromised at any point. 'We will be sending a recovery flight to collect all customers from Goose Bay which will transport them to New York JFK, where customers will be provided with accommodation and our teams will help with their onward journey to Los Angeles. We'd like to sincerely apologize for the delay and any inconvenience caused.' The aircraft, which took off from Heathrow airport at 1.25pm, was diverted to Canada as a precautionary measure after an engine fault was discovered. It was supposed to land at Los Angeles airport at 3.55pm before it was diverted. Customers will flown to New York and provided with accommodation before they make their onward journey to Los Angeles. DailyMail.com has contacted Goose Bay Airport for comment. This is a developing story. A man has been caught on camera deliberately ramming his car into a $300,000 sculpture in Florida. Derek Alan Modrok, 49, drove his car into artist Hunt Slonem's blue 'Thunderbunny' sculpture on Sunday morning, barely a week after it arrived in Wilton Manors. Surveillance footage of the collision shows Modrok driving his red car off the road, onto the grass verge and straight into the 13ft artwork which is on loan to the city. After being arrested Modrok admitted to multiple acts of vandalism around the city, which cops say were carried out to spite the city's former mayor. Surveillance footage of the collision shows Modrok driving his red car straight into the artwork In the footage the bunny sculpture, which is covered in a mosaic of blue glass, is left shaking on its plinth before the vandal pulls his car over and checks for damage. Modrok walks round to the front of his car, assesses the damage on the bonnet before refitting his bumper that fell off in the collision and fleeing the scene. Police responded to a vandalism call at Justin Flippen Park on Wilton Drive around 11:15 am on Sunday and quickly found the vehicle and arrested the driver. Modrok admitted to multiple acts of vandalism across the city, including against a sign at Justin Flippen Park on May 16 and a popsicle statue at Rachel Richardson Park on May 18, police said. The motive, police explained, appeared to be a grudge against former Wilton Manors Mayor Justin Flippen, who the park is named after. Modrok told police he vandalized the statue because Flippen was responsible for the birds that we hear. He has previously served three years for selling cocaine, the Daily Beast reported. 'It's very disappointing and shocking,' sculptor Hunt Slonem told NBC. 'The point of the sculpture is to make people joyous and celebrate life.' The motive appeared to be a grudge against former Wilton Manors Mayor Justin Flippen Modrok admitted to multiple acts of vandalism across the city Adding: 'Really pretty strange that someone would want to do this, it's just a lot of effort that is tragically wasted, it can probably be repaired to some degree, but it's a metal base and will never be the same.' Officials are now considering how the sculpture will be repaired. Brian Laundrie's mother wrote him a letter which promised to help him bury a body and escape from jail before he set off on his fateful road trip with his fiancee Gabby Petito. Roberta Laundrie claims she wrote it prior to the start of the June 2021 road trip the couple was taking across the country that would end in Petito's death two months later. It sparked fury from Petito's parents, who say it is evidence she had helped plot with her son to cover up their daughter's brutal murder. The undated letter, which Roberta instructed her son to 'burn after reading', revealed she offered to bake her son a cake with a file in it if he was sent to prison. Petito, 22, was strangled by Brian in Wyoming and her remains were found in Grand Teton National Park on September 19 after her boyfriend killed her on or around August 28 before he took his life out of guilt. Roberta Laundrie (pictured) claims she wrote her son Brian Laundrie a letter which promised to help him bury a body before his fateful road trip Gabby Petito 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 offered to help her son dispose of a corpse as evidence of her love for him in the letter She also said she would bake her son a cake with a file in it if he was sent to prison Roberta also offered to help her son dispose of a corpse as evidence of her love for him. A judge has not yet ruled on whether the letter could be admissible in a civil trial brought by Petito's family against the Laundries over her death. '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,' Roberta wrote in the letter. '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 bring show up with a shovel and garbage bags.' The word 'bring' was crossed out in the sentence. She added: '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. It's not a thing, its not words it is actions. Watch people's actions to know if they love you not their words. 'Therefore I am certain that neither death nor Life, nor angels nor the ruling spirits, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers from above, nor powers from below, nothing in the entire created world can separate our love. 'Neither hostile powers nor messengers of heaven nor monarchs of earth. Nothing has the power to separate us...' Roberta also wrote: 'Romans 8:38 (extended version!) (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 recently made public following a hearing in the civil suit brought by the Petitos against the Laundries. But Roberta claimed the letter was written before her son's trip with Petito and her attorney released a statement to say it was 'in no way related to Gabby'. '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,' she said. She instructed Brian to burn the letter after reading it on the envelope Roberta claimed the letter was written before her son's trip with Petito and her attorney released a statement to say it was 'in no way related to Gabby' Roberta said in March that she wrote to her son using 'quirky' references from books they loved in an attempt to repair their 'strained' relationship '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 was killed by her fiance Brian in Wyoming while they were on a road trip in the summer of 2021. Investigators determined she died by manual strangulation and had been dead for three to four weeks and her death was ruled a homicide. Brian killed Gabby after she injured herself on their trip and believed she wanted to die, according to his notebook which was obtained by authorities. He later killed himself out of guilt and his skeletal remains were found in October 2021 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. His notebook was found along with Roberta Laundrie's suspicious letter. Roberta said in March that she wrote to her son using 'quirky' references from books they loved in an attempt to repair their 'strained' relationship. She claimed it had nothing to do with Gabby's murder and said 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 her statement to the court, Roberta admitted her letter did contain references that some would think were about her son and Gabby, but she maintained there is 'no connection' between her letter and the 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. Laundrie later killed himself out of guilt and his skeletal remains were found in October 2021 in a Florida park Roberta and her husband Chris Laundrie in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on the morning authorities found their son's skeletal remains '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.' It comes after Petito's parents filed a civil suit against Laundries' parents late last year and were awarded $3million. Two top House committees will be hearing directly from Special Counsel John Durham following the release of his scathing report last week that found the Department of Justice and the FBI had no basis to launch the Trump-Russia probe, known as Crossfire Hurricane, and 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law.' Durham was appointed by then-Attorney General Bill Barr in 2019 to look into misconduct related to Crossfire Hurricane, and concluded four years later that the FBI opened the flawed probe 'based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence.' The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) led by Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, announced this week it will hold a hearing with Special Counsel John Durham on Tuesday, June 20. The House Judiciary Committee will host Durham the following day on Wednesday, June 21. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had confirmed to DailyMail.com that he would be requesting Durham appear before his committee. He wrote a letter last week to the Department of Justice regarding his demand and DOJ reportedly agreed to not stand in the way of Durham coming to Capitol Hill. Durham - who was appointed by then-Attorney General Bill Barr in 2019 to look into misconduct related to Crossfire Hurricane - concluded that the FBI opened the probe 'based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence.' Republican senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley are also pressing Durham to provide answers about why top FBI officials - including former Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe - refused to cooperate with his investigation into the agency's opening of the Trump-Russia collusion probe. Durham issued 2,800 subpoenas, executed 500 search warrants and conducted hundreds of interviews with key officials including Hillary Clinton and her campaign associates, Trump campaign officials and hundreds of involved FBI officials - but notably a few of the FBI's top brass at the time refused to cooperate with Durham's probe. Durham did not interview James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strozk, Bill Preistap, Kevin Clinesmith - who was convicted by Durham for illegally altering an email - and Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS, which the Republican senators call 'odd.' 'As we continue to review the report, we noticed that several high-level former government officials directly involved in Crossfire Hurricane either declined or partially declined to cooperate with your investigation,' Johnson, R-Wis., and Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote to Durham in a letter Tuesday. The senators point to a footnote in the report that stated 'some personnel' in the FBI's Counterintelligence Division 'refused to cooperate' with the investigation. FBI leadership intervened to 'urge those individuals to agree to be interviewed,' the report also notes. 'It seems odd that individuals would be allowed to avoid fully cooperating with your office, particularly given your authority to compel testimony and records,' they write. The Republicans are pressing Durham to provide information on whether Durham issued subpoenas to those specific individuals and whether DOJ 'impeded' any of his office's investigative practices. On Tuesday, June 20, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a hearing with Special Counsel John Durham. House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntel) May 23, 2023 Durham is set to testify before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on June 20 Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had confirmed to DailyMail.com that he would be requesting Durham appear before his committee Although Durham's report does not recommend any 'wholesale changes' in guidelines or policies of the Department of Justice, it says there is a 'continuing need' for the agencies to recognize the lack of 'analytical rigor' and apparent 'confirmation bias.' The FBI responded to the report in a statement to DailyMail.com saying that there are 'corrective actions' in place now that would have prevented 'missteps in 2016.' 'The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time,' the FBI told DailyMail.com. 'Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect.' The ex-wife of imprisoned Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes was ecstatic to hear the news that her husband will be locked up for the next 18 years. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, marking the harshest sentence handed down thus far to a January 6 defendant. Tasha Adams, 49, joined CNN Primetime Thursday night to react to her former husband's sentencing: 'I am very happy about it. It's been a great week for us, really, as a family, we're happy to feel safe. We're happy he's in a place where he can't hurt us, he can't hurt anybody else,' she said. 'You know, of course, there's that dark cloud sort of looming of pardon depending on who gets in office next or even, you know, beyond that, the next election. So there's some, you know, reason for concern,' she continued. 'But other than that, it's, you know, it's been great to feel safe, really. And it's been my divorce was finalized this week after five and a half years of trying to deal with that. So it's been a lot at once.' Rhodes is pictured testifying before US District Judge Amit Mehta in court in November Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the January 6 riots His estranged wife also criticized former President Donald Trump in light of his statement about considering pardons for defendants connected to the event. Tasha filed for divorce in 2018 after accusing Rhodes of abusing her physically and emotionally. During the episode, host Abby Phillip asked Adams for her reaction to Trump and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida expressing openness to pardoning the individuals involved in the Capitol riot. Adams expressed her belief that trying to persuade Trump and DeSantis against pardons would be fruitless, as she believes they are both on the same page as Rhodes and see no issue with his actions. When asked what she would want Trump to understand about who the Oath Keepers are, Adams slammed the former president. 'I'm not sure anything I would say would make any difference because I think they fully understand what he is and what he tried to do, and they fully support it. He is a person who plotted war for over a decade.' District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled on Thursday that Rhodes' actions on January 6 amounted to domestic terrorism Adams persisted in bashing Trump and Desantis: 'All he ever thought about was creating chaos, creating violence, violence in the home, violence, you know, in the country, anything that could put himself on top, and any way he could make that happen. And I think, you know, Trump fully understands, DeSantis fully understands, they know what Stewart's about, and they agree with him.' Adams warned how dangerous her estranged husband still is and was confident that pardoning him could risk another potential January 6. 'Are you worried at all that if Rhodes were pardoned that there would be a risk of another potential January 6th?' Adams replied: Oh, absolutely. This is Stewart's life's work. This is what he does. He's incredibly brilliant. He's completely manipulative. He's good at what he does. And he will just regroup immediately. I guarantee he already has plans in the works for as soon as he's out. He will regroup and he will do this again. And he will do this again until he creates the kind of chaos that he wants to create. 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. Attorney General Merrick Garland said 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.' Rhodes, who wears an eye patch after accidentally shooting himself in the face with his own gun, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. He is pictured in a parking garage in Washington DC on January 5, 2021 Some of the Oath Keepers breached the Capitol clad in paramilitary gear. Others at a suburban hotel staged a 'quick reaction force' prosecutors said was equipped with firearms that could be quickly transported into Washington Rhodes remained outside as other members of the group stormed the Capitol building The judge agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes' actions should be punished as 'terrorism,' which is the reason for the extreme sentence. There is question whether this sentence will 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. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta described a defiant Rhodes as a continued threat to the United States and democracy ahead of sentencing. The judge said because of his actions, American's 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, 58, is pictured outside the Capitol on January 6. Prosecutors argued he was the architect of a plot to prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results Rhodes is pictured testing out 'escape' tunnels in his backyard. His estranged wife Tasha Adams disclosed the images online which led to a judge denying him bail in January 2022 Instead of expressing remorse or appealing for leniency, Rhodes claimed to be a 'political prisoner,' and criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration attempting to play down his role on January 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. 'You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes,' the judge responded. The ruling only extends to misdemeanors and some non-violent felonies, anyone who reoffends while out because of the policy will be held under cash bail A Los Angeles judge has ruled that holding inmates to cash bail when they can't afford to pay is a violation of their constitutional rights. LA County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff ruled on Wednesday in favor of a group of six activists who brought a lawsuit against the county, alleging that the previous system favored the affluent. All of the plaintiffs say that they have suffered under the cash bail system. They testified that because they could not afford their bail, they missed work, causing their families to suffer. Being jailed for even short periods of time may cause them to lose their jobs, their housing, or custody of their children. They suffer all the harms of confinement in a jail cell even though a large portion of them will never be formally charged with any crime, let alone convicted,' one section of the suit reads. Judge Riff said in his decision that he felt that it was unconstitutional to keep people behind bars purely for the reason that they are in poverty is not a legal form of punishment. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County removed cash bail to aid overcrowding issues. The current ruling will remain in place for 60 days during which time the city and county must develop as 'constitutionally sound, effective, concrete' plan to handle those arrested for minor offenses. DA Gascon soft-on-crime approach is under fire as violent crimes rise in LA Those who commit a second crime while awaiting trial on other charges will be subjected to cash bail when they're rearrested. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department acknowledged the judge's ruling and that it was adhere to the guidelines. The ruling means that those arrested for misdemeanor and non-violent 'would be released on their recognizance or subject to non-monetary conditions,' according to the department. They department will allow those arrested for crimes such as theft, shoplifting, drug use, vandalism and battery to go free, reports Fox Los Angeles. Those arrested for crimes such as sexual offenses, domestic violence and weapons violations are exempt from the new policy. LA Deputy DA John McKinney told the channel that the judge invited law enforcement officials to come forward and argue against his ruling. McKinney said that Riff was surprised when nobody came forward. While former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told Fox that he would have spoke up against the ruling. ''The biggest impact actually is not going to be on the sheriff's department, LAPD. It's going to be on the other 45 municipalities that have their own police departments, because now they carry the burden of having to deliver their own inmates to court until the arraignment before they can go into the custody of the sheriff. That's going to be the biggest impact,' he said. Riff said that the plaintiffs had shown 'a vast amount of evidence' showing the damage caused by the cash bail system. They also demonstrated that cash bail had little to no impact on overall crime figures. A report on the success or failure of the new system will be made on May 5th. Gascon has been accused of letting 10,000 cases pile up and driving scores of prosecutors to quit The ruling came just as Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon was accused of letting up to 10,000 cases to pile up and causing numerous prosecutors to quit. Described as an 'authoritarian' and 'toxic' manager, Gascon is said to have driven talent away, demoted top lawyers and fought anyone with opposing views, multiple sources who have worked with the DA told the New York Post. Gascon's 'woke' policies have caused public distrust, according to a former LA prosecutor - who said generous plea deals are allowing criminals to get out of jail without serving hard time or crimes are not being prosecuted at all. 'In my career as a prosecutor, I've never had victims' families actually hate us until I came into this office,' a former deputy DA told The Post. 'We are hated by all the victims because of lack of prosecution and low sentences because of his policies.' 'Gascon is so focused on justice for black and brown defendants, but the victims and their families are also black and brown. Where is the justice for them? We are making them victims of the criminal justice system yet again.' Eric Siddall, LA County Association of Deputy District Attorneys vice president, said the reputation of the office has been destroyed. 'People know he's hostile to his employees,' he said. 'He has an authoritarian management style, and engages in retaliatory acts against employees who don't share his ideology,' he told The Post. There are reportedly over 200 open positions in the District Attorney's office, with not enough candidates willing to fill them, sources told The Post. The lack of staff has led to a backlog of up to 10,000 cases. The DA's Office contested this claim, insisting they only have 139 open positions, and blamed the lack of staff on 'retirement and a previous hiring freeze' - but did not mention the 10,000 cases that have yet to be filed. 'During the hiring freeze, our office sought permission from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to fill positions but that request was denied,' A source from the LA County DA's office said. 'During this administration some prosecutors have left for other jurisdictions, while others have been hired by our office from other jurisdictions.' The office argued that there are many reasons why a case is not filed immediately, including the need for further investigation. 'A delay in filing a case does not preclude the prosecutor from filing a case at a later date as long as it is within the statute of limitations,' according to the DA's office. Former Los Angeles County DA Steve Cooley, who ran the office from 2000 to 2012, told The Post that from a historical standpoint, recruitment had not previously been an issue until Gascon took office. But the lack of talent does not come as a shock to Cooley. 'I'm not surprised because some of the people he's brought in are just odious people. Who would want to come and work here under such conditions?' Cooley said. John Allan, one of the country's most prominent business leaders, is a mild-mannered man; cool in a crisis, not prone to effusive outbursts of emotion. Long-married and a devoted grandfather, he has a comfortable air of dependability: you could not imagine feeling threatened by his brand of measured geniality. Yet next month he steps down prematurely as chair of Tesco a role he has held, with distinction, for eight years because the supermarket chain has insisted he leave his post early after four women made allegations about his personal conduct. On Tuesday housebuilder Barratt followed suit, announcing Mr Allan's early departure as its chair and arguing that his alleged behaviour could be 'disruptive' to the company. Why such a clamour to be rid of the talented Mr Allan? Barratt and Tesco's decisions are based on three anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations all of which he vehemently denies that, according to the supermarket, 'risk becoming a distraction'. Next month John Allan steps down prematurely as chair of Tesco a role he has held, with distinction, for eight years Tesco has insisted he leave his post early after four women made allegations about his personal conduct Mr Allan does admit to a 'misjudged' comment. At a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in 2019, when he was president of the lobbying group, he complimented a female colleague on her appearance. He has apologised wholeheartedly for the offence caused. 'This is the only allegation that has any truth in it,' he says, speaking to the Mail. 'I saw the woman; she'd been working really hard and looked a bit down in the mouth, and I intended to cheer her up. 'I remarked that her dress, 'really suits your figure'. I think she took exception to the reference to her figure, which, with the benefit of hindsight, I accept.' The woman did not say anything to him on the spot, although she was apparently so upset she went home for the rest of the day. She complained to a senior manager, who told Carolyn Fairbairn (then the CBI's director-general.) Ms Fairbairn viewed the remark as not sexualised but rather as a 'clumsy and insensitive attempt at a compliment by a man from an older generation'. 'I agreed to meet the woman and apologised unreservedly within 24 hours,' says Mr Allan. 'The woman said she was entirely satisfied with my apology. She was perfectly within her rights to raise the complaint. Yet now, four years after the event, it is still being resurrected and you might question 'why?' 'It is very easy to get paranoid. Some people have suggested there is a conspiracy to bring down the CBI and I am collateral damage.' The lobby group that represents 190,000 British businesses has currently suspended all public engagements after a slew of complaints against senior members and hired a law firm to investigate. At a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in 2019, when he was president of the lobbying group, Mr Allan complimented a female colleague on her appearance 'Other friends have suggested someone is out to get me, but I have no evidence that either is the case. I don't tend to think everything is a result of a conspiracy.' Aside from that single ill-judged compliment, Mr Allan categorically refutes all three other allegations. One is that, at a CBI event in 2019, he touched a woman's bottom. He says: 'I was hosting Philip Hammond, who was Chancellor at the time, and I was pretty occupied looking after him. 'I'm not someone who lingers for drinks I hardly drink at all. I tend to get home promptly. I absolutely deny that I did anything I shouldn't have done.' He goes on: 'Fast forward to 2021 and another CBI event where apparently I said something to a woman who was mortally offended by it and it was overheard by another woman.' The allegation is that he remarked of a woman's dress that it was, 'making it hard to concentrate on anything else'. But Mr Allan insists he could not possibly have made the comment, as he wasn't even there. 'I asked my PA to examine my computerised diary for 2021 and I didn't attend a single CBI event that year, so that just cannot be true. We can stand that one up.' The allegation is that Mr Allan remarked of a woman's dress that it was, 'making it hard to concentrate on anything else' The final event was the Tesco AGM in June 2022, at which it was alleged Mr Allan 'patted a woman on the bottom'. 'Tesco has made exhaustive inquiries about this,' he says. 'They have contacted every woman including past employees who attended and examined CCTV footage. No one has complained openly and an anonymous whistleblowing line has not produced a dicky bird. I am innocent of that and I think Tesco can prove it.' Even so, the supermarket and Barratt are treating Mr Allan like a pariah. 'I think both companies felt under a lot of pressure to do something. You have to be seen to be taking action. I suggested to Tesco: why not investigate all the allegations and I'll step aside temporarily while you do? 'But Tesco said they would investigate the specific complaint that related to them and asked me to stand down in June and not put myself up for re-election at the next AGM. 'I was not happy but I had no alternative. I like to think if I had been conducting discussions about another member of the board we might have come to a different conclusion.' The final event was the Tesco AGM in June 2022, at which it was alleged Mr Allan 'patted a woman on the bottom' The presumption of innocence unless proven guilty the cornerstone of British justice does not, it seems, apply in his case. 'I do think it would be good if businesses were a little bit more robust with 'innocent until proven guilty',' he says, without rancour. 'We have to find a solution as to what happens when people make these kinds of allegations. 'You will form your own view of whether it was actually necessary for me to step down early from Barratt given that I have never been accused of doing anything untoward there. 'My performance has been highly rated every time we've had an internal or external evaluation.' He first heard about the allegations when the Guardian newspaper the witch-finder in chief of the chilling cancel culture sweeping Britain emailed him this month, announcing at short notice that they intended to run a story about complaints against him. The 74-year-old is also accused of 'grabbing' a woman at the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) annual dinner in May 2019 when he was its president. He's pictured with former PM Boris Johnson at a CBI conference that same year This followed the firing of Tony Danker from his post as the CBI's director-general for 'conduct that fell short of that expected'. Mr Danker said that many of the charges against him had been distorted but apologised for making colleagues feel uncomfortable. When Mr Allan found himself embroiled in the furore he was 'flabbergasted'. 'My first reaction was, 'Where on earth have they got this from? It doesn't bear any relation to reality or the truth. Surely they can't be serious.' There has been collective outrage on his behalf: his entire family has rallied behind him; friends and colleagues, many of them women, have deluged him with more than 100 supportive emails. 'Typically they've said, 'My heart goes out to you. In all the years we've known each other you have never been anything but respectful, supportive and kind.' Indeed, Karen Guerra, a non-executive director at British American Tobacco, wrote to a Sunday newspaper to condemn his 'character assassination', saying: 'I have known John Allan for 45 years, since I was the age of 22 and working in the sexist and often misogynistic era of the early Eighties. 'While other males were chatting up, touching up or putting down women, John never said or did anything inappropriate. He was at all times the most polite, respectful and equal-minded man I ever had the privilege of working with.' Mr Allan first heard about the allegations when the Guardian newspaper emailed him this month, announcing at short notice that they intended to run a story about the complaints Invariably his supporters have sent love to Carole, 77, his second wife, to whom, on November 13, he will have been married for 24 years. They have two children each from previous marriages and six grandchildren between them. 'We make no differentiation between them. They're all ours and they're terrific,' he says. 'Grandchildren are one of the joys of later life.' He beams. Carole, he says, 'is angry on my behalf; actually angrier than me. And she's perfectly entitled to be so. 'She doesn't believe a word of this. She feels there hasn't been due process and there hasn't been a fair measure of support. My elder daughter is furious. She wants to tell the world about how outrageous these allegations are, while the youngest is concerned about quietly supporting me.' His first wife, Polish-born Ewa, whom he married in 1970, straight out of Edinburgh University where he studied mathematical sciences, is also supportive. 'She has said she is willing to speak up for me. We are still very good friends. She's had one or two calls from journalists and she's told them in a very forthright way there is no substance to these allegations.' For himself, he is typically phlegmatic: 'You don't survive for 53 years in business without being pretty resilient. Frances Hardy (pictured) spoke to Tesco boss John Allan in an exclusive interview for the Daily Mail 'I'd be inhuman if I didn't feel hard done by on occasions but most of the time I'm focused on getting on with my life, clearing my name, supporting the rest of my family. I'm determined not to be overwhelmed by it. 'It's not very gracious, not very fair, but I won't be depressed by it. And one of the things I will try to do is help come up with solutions; not for myself, but for those who might be wrongly imputed in the future.' He is considering suing the Guardian. 'I'm determined, as far as I possibly can, to prove my innocence but I'm conscious that if you don't know what it is precisely you're being accused of, it's very hard to disprove.' Ironically, he is a champion of women's rights: 'It's a bit galling, because anyone who knows me knows that I've spent a fair chunk of my working life actually trying to ensure there are opportunities for women. I've definitely been on the side of the angels. 'At Barratt we had three women on the board; two from ethnic minorities, and my successor will be a woman. 'Gender diversity has improved materially in the companies I've been involved with but all this risks turning the clock back. 'If I want to put the frighteners on a male friend in a senior business role, I just have to say: 'Look what happened to me. It could be you next.' And they go a whiter shade of pale. 'It would be ironic if men ended up with male chaperones because they felt they couldn't have a conversation with a woman without having someone with them who could testify that nothing untoward had happened. Mr Allan is considering suing the Guardian and is determined to prove his innocence 'And it isn't just those at the top. The guy in the branch office in Darlington could just as easily be put in the same position. Every man is potentially exposed. 'Now we're getting to a stage where men's rights also need to be protected. It's not just in business it could be the Archbishop of Canterbury. People from any walk of life could be falsely accused. 'I don't think men have always behaved well towards women in the past. Patently they haven't and the world is a much better place than it was 20 or 30 years ago. 'It's vital that women's rights are protected, but we have to do so in a sensible way so men are protected, too. One of the good things about how our society has advanced is that there are much better opportunities for women now and I've never found it difficult to find really talented, capable and experienced women to sit on boards of companies. So if that were driven into reverse I think it would be absolutely dreadful. 'Younger male CEOs are now saying: 'Be careful about getting in a lift with so-and-so in case an allegation is made.' And this is really unhelpful to women.' Mr Allanis a champion of women's rights and spent a 'fair chunk' of his working life 'actually trying to ensure there are opportunities for women' There is much to like about the calm common sense of his rationale: I cannot imagine him raising his voice, let alone table-thumping or ranting. I wonder if he worries about his eldest grandson now 19 negotiating the minefield of dating etiquette and he replies: 'I think you have to worry about your grandsons and granddaughters. 'There are hazards for young women like having their drinks spiked. I don't think it's one-sided. My stepdaughter is very sensible and she has educated her daughter on the hazards to watch out for but she's also told her son, 'Be very careful about complimenting young women.' Isn't the world poorer for such strictures? 'I agree, but I paid a compliment and it was taken badly. Lesson learnt.' He is an understated man; impeccably suited but not remotely flashy. And considering his means he earned 690,000 per annum as chair of Tesco alone his tastes are modest. He and Carole, a semi-retired art dealer, live in a flat in South-West London. Mr Allan earned 690,000 per annum as chair of Tesco alone but he e and Carole, a semi-retired art dealer, live in a flat in South-West London It is their only property and providence, inherited from his Scottish forbears, is ingrained. The only child of a former chief petty officer in the Royal Navy, he says: 'I was always told: 'Put a few bawbees [Scottish sixpences] away for the future'.' He tells me he has 200 unread books on his Kindle, some of which he'll read on his pending holiday to Spain. Why accumulate so many? 'They were all 99p!' he laughs. 'I'm very mean although a couple of days ago I splashed out 7.99 on Aasmah Mir's autobiography about growing up in Glasgow.' 'You'll be telling me you drive a ten-year-old Ford Focus next,' I joke. 'I've introduced Carole to the joy of bus passes,' he says. 'I took her along to Snappy Snaps so we could get our photos for them. Quite often we just get the bus. 'I find it amusing when some investment banker phones me and I'll say, 'I'm sitting on No 22.' London is wonderfully served with public transport.' (For the record he also drives an electric BMW.) He is quietly philanthropic. There is nothing ostentatious about the charities he discreetly supports: IntoUniversity and Debate Mate, which help young people from deprived backgrounds gain access to higher education and hone their leadership and public speaking skills. 'These are frankly awesome charities that operate on a shoestring. I give a bit of money to them. I'm actually involved, too, in judging debates and sometimes taking part in them.' I remark that it would be an awful loss if they, too, dispensed with his services. 'They might well decide, 'We are dealing with young people and we don't want you anywhere near us.' But I've had no such reaction so far. But after 53 years of work and a few weeks of trauma, at the moment I just fancy chilling out and relaxing for a while.' He reflects: 'I'm in the twilight of my career and very close to retirement. If I'd been 54 this could have been a real career-stopper. There are no other public companies to show me the door but I do not intend to be overwhelmed by this. 'I'm determined to get on with my life and find positive things to do and try to make a difference, particularly to the lives of underprivileged young people.' Things are heating up as we enter vacation season and the etiquette regarding beach towels on sunbeds remains a hot topic, as one holidaymaker's recent Reddit thread proves. Redditor @konijn12 revealed how on a trip to an all inclusive resort she found it impossible to find any free sun loungers by the beach or sea, as 'most of the spots were taken by towels.' To her frustration, she found many of the chairs stayed reserved 'almost the whole day' or 'never got used' and when she tried to take some towels off two loungers a couple showed up four hours later and 'kick[ed] us off with help from an attendant.' In an effort to combat the chair hogging, she decided to 'take the towels off of every unattended lounger after breakfast.' Redditor @konijn12 revealed says she found it impossible to find any free sun loungers by the beach or sea, as 'most spots were taken by towels' - so she removed them (stock image) Poll Do YOU think she was right to remove the towels? Yes No Do YOU think she was right to remove the towels? Yes 1468 votes No 74 votes Now share your opinion She then went to 'watch the chaos' from her balcony. She said as a result of her antics, 'many people complained and by the end of the week there was a sign that unattended towels would be removed.' 'Success!' she exclaimed. The Redditor's vacation story quickly sparked a furious debate, with it accruing more than 900 comments. One commenter applauded her actions, writing: 'I'm British and I endorse your petty revenge. Splendidly orchestrated might I say.' A less supportive Redditor advised @konijn12 to pay some money and rent a cabana as this gives you 'the freedom to leave it unoccupied for periods, rent a cabana.' Many commenters shared their own sunbed hogging horror stories. One said: 'I live in Aruba and watch this insanity go on all winter. People get up at 4am to put towels on chairs and stand in line to reserve a palapa.' Many Reddit commenters shared their own sunbed hogging horror stories (stock image) Another holidaymaker reminisced: 'Stayed at a hotel in Tenerife a few years ago and it was hotel policy for staff to remove towels/belongings from sun loungers after 30 minutes of obvious non-use. 'We had great fun every morning watching from our balcony as irate guests stomped over to a staff member to report their missing items only to be told what had actually happened!' Offering a possible solution to sunbed hogging, one Redditor detailed a policy they witnessed at a hotel in Cyprus. They explained: 'The hotel did the lounge chair assignments every morning - two per room, and they rotated the "best" spots. 'No reserving them with towels, you literally had to go to the concierge desk and ask which two chairs were yours for the day. 'You might end up on the beach, or right next to the pool, or squished in next to a rock or the toilets. But you can't complain because you'll have different chairs tomorrow. Such a good policy!' One traveler said they had never seen this 'all-day towel dibs custom,' with resorts in Mexico and Hawaii having a more civalized and relaxed approach. However, they said that a friend showed them YouTube videos of 'Europeans doing this and it was crazy.' They concluded: 'I guess the hotels have a no dibs policy until 7am, and there's a line of people waiting to claim a lounger. As soon as the clock strikes 7, there's a bum rush and within seconds, every chair is spoken for. It's wild!' This week on Coronation Street, Gemma and Chesney's big day is approaching CORONATION STREET So, the big day is finally upon us. Or, should I say, the great Jaffa festival. Yes, Gemma and Chesney are finally getting hitched (or shackled, in Chesney's case). Short of visiting Valencia for their annual orange-tree shaking, you're unlikely to see so much of that colour gathered in one place at the same time. It's not so much a case of Gemma wearing the dress, but it wearing her. Jaw-dropping doesn't begin to describe it. Let's just say that if the killer shark Jaws had seen it, no one would have been eaten alive. Yes, it's that jaw-dropping. Gemma and Chesney with their quads and Chesney's son Joseph o this weeks' Coronation Street. Seemingly, all's well that ends well, when the couple share their first dance, and Paul drags his sister up for a duet, determined to grab happiness while he can Topped off with a hairdo that would do Marie Antoinette proud, at least Gemma gets to have one day when she doesn't look not only like something the cat's dragged in, but dragged in, mauled, chewed and spat out. Inevitably, there's a hitch, with Paul becoming emotional as he battles his Motor Neurone Disease symptoms. And when Bernie finds out that Linda secretly funded the wedding, is Gemma's big day going to be ruined? No worries. At least she has a monsoon of a dress she can hide in. BIG DAY, BIG DRESS! Gemma's wedding dress stretches the length of several church pews. A huge glittering affair, it was designed by drag queen Liquorice Black in conjunction with Corrie's costume designer, Alex Hatzar. Advertisement Seemingly, all's well that ends well, when the couple share their first dance, and Paul drags his sister up for a duet, determined to grab happiness while he can. If only it were that easy for viewers, because the other depressing plotline gathers pace when Justin's trial begins. It doesn't go well from the start, when the defence barrister suggests to Ryan that he's in love with Daisy and that the pair plotted the acid attack themselves. Blimey, mate. Remind me not to phone you as my one call from the nick. You sound like a fantastical lunatic. Should you not be depressed enough already, Roy goes in for his operation, but there's light at the end of the Weatherfield tunnel when Evelyn finds a letter in which Roy declares what she means to him. Ready to reciprocate, she heads to the hospital, only to find Yasmeen there. That woman pulls any guy with the promise of a lentil daal. EMMERDALE Her passion rekindled, Chloe goes in for a kiss Once Mack and Chloe shared their concerns over their son's health, it was inevitable there would be some kind of renewed bonding. With Reuben now being given the all clear, Chloe's passion for the Scotsman is reignited and she leans in for a kiss well, more of a slobbering of Scott's porridge oats. Will he reciprocate, or is he intent on saving his marriage? Enjoying time at the playground with Moses and Mack, Charity relishes being a family unit again and starts to think about including Mack in Moses's birthday plans. Really? Has she taken a forgiveness pill? In Emmerdale, with Reuben now being given the all clear, Chloe's passion for the Scotsman is reignited and she leans in for a kiss This is like Jesus shaking hands with Judas and shrugging off the whole betrayal with a 'What's a mere 30 pieces of silver between mates?' kind of attitude. I'm still holding out for her reaching out to Cain for comfort. Come on! They're soul mates! And surely Cain must be ready for a break from Moira's incessant wittering and whining. There's more of that to come, too, when Nicola ups her feud against her, and Moira discovers Isaac is being bullied over her culpability for Angel's accident. When Moira threatens to take legal action, will this help thaw relations between the women, or will it be more handbags at dawn? There's romance in the air for Tom and Belle when she opens up about her struggles with mental health and he kisses her. You just never know what'll turn a guy on. EASTENDERS There's a very difficult time ahead for Billy as he prepares to say goodbye to Lola. Thank goodness he has Honey by his side, a veritable Mother Teresa in Walford in times of anyone's trouble. But pushed to breaking point, Billy has a run-in with Nish, who winds him up. What's Billy's reaction? Have a pint? Good grief, no; he smashes the Minute Mart window and has to be restrained by Martin, Honey and Phil. Seriously? A Chihuahua on an overdose of kibble could bring Billy down. And now here's Jack to the rescue, trying to diffuse the situation, but there's yet more aggro before Billy is arrested. On Eastenders, Billy prepares to say goodbye to Lola - but thankfully has Honey by his side. But pushed to breaking point, Billy has a run-in with Nish, who winds him up It's always exciting when a new fairm-ly arrives, so welcome George Knight (Colin Salmon) and daughters Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry). It transpires that George is Elaine's fiance who's come with his girls to join her at the Vic, something Elaine had conveniently forgotten to tell Linda when buying into the pub. Some locals recognise George as a former boxer, so Nish might regret instantly taking him on. All George wants, apparently, is to build a great life with Elaine and his girls. Quite why he's swapped Marbella for Walford in order to do this is anybody's guess. The end draws nigh for Lola Kleenex at the ready for an emotional week in EastEnders as Lola starts saying her goodbyes. 'It's clear Lola is in the final few days of life,' says Danielle Harold, who plays her. 'She starts to feel her decline quite quickly during her palliative care and her symptoms are getting worse. She's becoming more forgetful and she's having more seizures, so she's aware her time is coming to an end now.' Kim and Denise arrive to try to lift her spirits. That pair? Hasten the end, more like. Charithra Chandran has opened up about the difficulties of soaring to overnight fame on Bridgerton and spoke about how she stays 'sane' amid the attention. The actress, 26, quickly became a household name after starring as Edwina Sharma in the second series of the smash hit Netflix period drama, which aired last year. Now, she has spoken about how she coped with the overnight fame that came with the show, admitting she felt 'vulnerable' in a candid chat with Cosmopolitan UK. Appearing as the magazine's June/July cover star, Charithra said she was told by her Bridgerton co-stars to get a therapist to help her deal with the 'crazy' attention. She said: 'I think when anyone is first exposed to this [fame] on the level that I was, they read the comments, they google themselves. Fame: Charithra Chandran has opened up about the difficulties of soaring to overnight fame on Bridgerton and spoke about how she stays 'sane' amid the attention 'And when you read the really aggressive ones - I know this sounds dramatic - but you feel really vulnerable.' Charithra admitted she felt scared at the thought of a 'deranged' fan 'hunting her down' for a few months before she adjusted to her new life in the public eye. She said her everyday life now feels very 'normal' and admitted the one thing that keeps her sane is not having any close friends her own age in the industry. Charithra told how she has instead befriended her co-stars Golda Rosheuvel, 53, and Shelley Conn, 46, who starred as her mother on the show. She said: 'My life just feels so normal? I think it comes from not having close friends my age in the industry, that is the number one thing that has left me feeling sane.' Charithra said she spends a lot of time with Golda, who plays Queen Charlotte, and the pair often go to shows or have dinner together. She also told how both Golda and Shelley have given her advice about how to 'hold' herself in the industry and gushed that she relies on their words of wisdom. Looking to the future, Charithra said she wants to take on roles that start important conversations, but admitted she doesn't want to only portray characters where the storyline is all about their Indian heritage. Adjustment: Appearing as Cosmopolitan's June/July cover star, Charithra said she was told by her Bridgerton co-stars to get a therapist to help her deal with the 'crazy' attention Success: The actress, 26, quickly became a household name after starring as Edwina Sharma in the second series of the smash hit Netflix period drama, which aired last year Struggles: She candidly spoke about how she coped with the overnight fame that came with Bridgerton, admitting she felt 'vulnerable' at one point Friends: She said her life now feels very 'normal' and said the one thing that keeps her sane is not having close friends her own age in the industry Mentors: Charithra told how she has instead befriended her co-stars Golda Rosheuvel (pictured as Queen Charlotte), 53, and Shelley Conn, 46, who starred as her mother She told how she has rejected roles before for enforcing 'bad or lazy' stereotypes about Indian culture as she spoke about what is important to her in her career. She said: 'I love representing my culture and I love playing characters that are culturally specific to me, but on the flip side, I also enjoy playing a normal person where the story isn't just about her being Indian. 'That is what I want for my career as well: I want to do things about race that start important conversations, and things about love and friendship: I don't want to be a one trick pony. 'The times that I've said no [to a role] is if it perpetuates bad or lazy stereotypes, if it's a character I've already seen before.' Charithra has previously spoken about how she put pressure on herself on the set of Bridgerton because she feared 'messing things up for future Indian actors'. She told how 'there are so few opportunities available when you are brown' and said she went through 'an extreme thought process' while filming her breakthrough part. She told Grazia of her character: 'Her life circumstance is one that, as an Indian, I can say many Indian women also face which is being brought up to be the perfect daughter, mother, wife, sister. Career: Charithra said she wants to take on acting roles that start conversations, but said she doesn't want to only portray characters where the storyline is all about their Indian heritage Stereotypes: She told how she has rejected roles before for enforcing 'bad or lazy' stereotypes about Indian culture as she spoke about what is important to her in her career Praised: Bridgerton has been lauded for its representation and its introduction of the Sharma family, with the sisters played by Charithra and Sex Education star Simone Ashley 'All of those things are, of course, so important, family is always number one. But, often, that means there's very little room for the self, for one's own desires. 'When you are brown, there are so few opportunities available that's changing rapidly but I was stressed that if I didn't do a good job what if I messed it up for future Indian actors?' Bridgerton has been lauded for its representation and its introduction of the Sharma family, with the sisters played by Charithra and Sex Education star Simone Ashley. The full Charithra Chandran interview can be read in the June/July issue of Cosmopolitan UK, on sale from 30th May. Advertisement Helena Christensen, Alessandra Ambrosio and Jourdan Dunn proved they were supermodel material on Thursday evening as they led a very fashionable runway at the amfAR gala at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival. Former Victoria's Secret Angel Helena, 54, donned a very impressive white gown with a massive flowing cape that overflowed the width of the runway. Her very low-cut bodice clung tightly to her slender figure as she placed her hands on her hips while strutting her stuff as she walked. She looked as youthful as ever in an age-defying display as her cape hung effortlessly over her arms, while her brunette locks were given stylish bangs and soft black eyeliner emphasised her piercing eyes. The runway was by no means short of model material, as Alessandra Ambrosio, 42, put on a startling display in a unique grey ensemble. Supermodel quality: Helena Christensen, Alessandra Ambrosio and Jourdan Dunn proved they were supermodel material on Thursday evening as they led a very fashionable runway at the amfAR gala at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival Vision in white: Helena, 54, donned a very impressive white gown with a massive flowing cape that overflowed the width of the runway Her look consisted of a high neck sparkling dress with a cut-out by the chest and long sleeves. She added wooden planks around the shoulders which gave a skeletal effect while also giving the impression of angel wings in a very eye-catching display. To make sure all the focus was on her dress, Alessandra kept her hair and make-up relatively simple, sweeping her blonde locks into a side-parting and adding a sweep of black eyeliner for make-up. British model Jourdan Dunn, 32, was typically gorgeous as she opted to wear all-black, with a futuristic knitted dress. The top half was embellished with silver strands, while the tops of her arms were placed underneath cut-outs in the fabric. Meanwhile she flashed glimpses of her flawless skin through holes in her skirt, while a peak of her underwear was revealed in a racy gesture by the gaps in the fabric. Jourdan's raven tresses were shining as she too opted to swoop them into a side parting, while her enviable facial structure was accentuated by carefully thought-out make-up. Continuing the sensual monochromatic colour palette of the evening was Stella Maxwell, 33, another former Victoria's Secret Angel. She put on a very racy impression in a see through shirt, with only two delicately-placed pockets covering her sensational assets and leaving very little to the imagination. Stunning: The runway was by no means short of model material, as Alessandra Ambrosio, 42, put on a startling display in a unique grey ensemble Sensational: Her look consisted of a high neck sparkling dress with a cut-out by the chest and long sleeves In her stride: British model Jourdan Dunn, 32, was typically gorgeous as she opted to wear all-black, with a futuristic knitted dress Sultry: Meanwhile she flashed glimpses of her flawless skin through holes in her skirt, while a peak of her underwear was revealed in a racy gesture by the gaps in the fabric Faultless: Helena looked as youthful as ever in an age-defying display as her brunette locks were given stylish bangs and soft black eyeliner emphasised her piercing eyes Confidence: Russian model Natasha Poly wowed in a sultry black number as safety pins were used to hold her skirt together, giving a relaxed and unfinished impression The lower half was no different, as a transparent skirt revealed her slender and toned legs, with only two ruffles at the bottom for cover. Russian model Natasha Poly wowed in a sultry black number as safety pins were used to hold her skirt together, giving a relaxed and unfinished impression. She too exposed her gorgeous pins while black heels added inches to her incredible height, and a chunky gold necklace and bracelets. However Isabeli Fontana, 39, was on hand to add a spot of colour to the faultless display in a vibrant blue dress with extravagant waves decorating her shoulder and the side of the dress. 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. Smooth moves: Continuing the sensual monochromatic colour palette of the evening was Stella Maxwell, 33, another former Victoria's Secret Angel Star-studded: Stella Maxwell, Helena Christensen, Isabeli Fontana and Alessandra Ambrosio walk the runway at the amfAR gala Bright: However Isabeli Fontana, 39, was on hand to add a spot of colour to the faultless display in a vibrant blue dress with extravagant waves decorating her shoulder and the side of the dress 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. 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. Amelia Gray Hamlin put on a leggy display in a chic white mini dress as she walked the runway during the amfAR gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Thursday. The model, 21, looked incredible in the long sleeved number which boasted an eye catching skirt and matching ruffled collar. The youngest daughter of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin added a pair of coordinated heels as she made her way down the runway at the star studded event. Amelia styled her long dark tresses poker straight as they cascaded down her back from a centre parting. The actress completed her glamorous ensemble by applying a flawless palette of makeup including black eye liner and pink lipstick. Incredible: Amelia Gray Hamlin put on a leggy display in a chic white mini dress as she walked the runway during the amfAR gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Thursday Leggy display: The model, 21, looked incredible in the long sleeved number which boasted an eye catching skirt and matching ruffled collar Earlier in the evening Amelia looked stunning in a dazzling pink backless gown which boasted feather detailing around the bottom as she arrived at the gala. She added inches to her frame in a pair of coordinated heels and accessorised with a large silver necklace and clutch. 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. Chic: The youngest daughter of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin added a pair of coordinated heels as she made her way down the runway at the star studded event Looking good: Amelia styled her long dark tresses poker straight as they cascaded down her back from a centre parting (pictured with Stella Maxwell and Helena Christensen) 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. Glamorous: Earlier in the evening Amelia looked stunning in a dazzling pink backless gown which boasted feather detailing around the bottom 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. Kyle Sandilands shocked fans on Friday when he tasted a bizarre McDonalds breakfast combination. The off-menu item consisted of McFlurry ice cream compressed between two hash browns. The 'McFlurry hash brown sandwich' has recently become a viral TikTok sensation - and Sandilands was game to try the concoction. 'I do love the hash brown and I love the McFlurry, so how bad could it be?' 'I dig it,' exclaimed the 51-year-old after trying the sandwich in the KIIS FM car park. Kyle Sandilands (pictured) shocked fans on Friday when he tasted a bizarre McDonalds breakfast combination 'It reminds me of when I was in my twenties,' he added. The taste test comes after Kyle reacted to the prospect of an altogether less savoury meal: the Australian native ibis. On Thursday, Sandilands and radio co-host Jackie O Henderson discussed a report about a man being released on bail after allegedly killing an ibis and preparing to eat it. Tom Quach is alleged to have stuffed the bird in his bag before riding a stolen bike to his Maroubra home, in Sydney's east, and decapitating it. The off-menu item consisted of McFlurry ice cream compressed between two hash browns The Vietnamese national is then said to have hung the native bird up in his shower in preparation to eat it. 'This poor Vietnamese man just trying to make ends meet,' Kyle joked on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O show on Thursday. Jackie O then revealed: 'I think the ibis is actually really smart because in Kings Cross there is this pedestrian crossing and they know when they walk across the road on the pedestrian crossing we stop for them.' Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson (pictured) have reacted to an alleged ibis thief who tied rope around bird and prepared to eat it 'I can't tell you how many times an ibis has walked across in this straight line on the pedestrian crossing. I have seen it several times.' Kyle then laughed at his co-host, arguing that if the bird were truly smart it would simply fly over the road. Quach, 60, 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 his client was confused about the ibis' protective status in NSW, as he had caught and eaten the animal while living in Queensland. Quach was arrested earlier this year after a video of him trying to put the distressed bird in his wheeled shopping bag went viral online. Police received calls regarding a man who had allegedly captured an ibis outside Eastwood train station. Officers were told the man allegedly tied a rope around the bird's feet and neck, and was trying to place the bird into a wheeled red trolley bag. Tom Quach allegedly stuffed the bird in his bag before riding a stolen bike to his Maroubra home, in Sydney's east, and decapitating it Several members of the public intervened and managed to take the bird from the man, who left the area 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 arrived. Quach was granted conditional bail to return to his Maroubra home, but will be barred from approaching or possessing any birds. No more than three times per week, Quach's home will also be subject to a police search looking for any birds - dead or alive. The court previously heard Quach had 'lashed out' at the ibis because other birds had been 'chasing and attacking' him. 'This poor Vietnamese man just trying to make ends meet,' Kyle joked on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O show Quach also faces a single charge each of having a prohibited drug and possessing goods suspected of being stolen. The court heard that Quach suffers from PTSD and bipolar disorder and had spent weeks at a mental health institute only to reoffend 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. 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. She is a busy working mum with two children under three - daughter Baby-Rae, two and son Glorious, one. And supermodel Jessica Hart enjoyed some solo time on Wednesday. The 37-year-old was spotted running errands in her hometown Los Angeles. The Aussie beauty showed off her incredible figure in a pair of grey skintight leggings teamed with a white T-shirt and a denim jacket as she hopped into her Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. She accessorised with a green Bottega Veneta handbag and wore a matching pair of Adidas sneakers on her feet. Jessica Hart showed off her incredible figure in skintight leggings as she ran errands in Los Angeles on Wednesday The mother-of-two was glowing makeup free and had her hair in a cute half-up half-down style. Jessica welcomed her second child, - son Glorious Hart - with her NASCAR driver fiance James Kirkham in February last year. Jessica posted a tribute to her baby boy on Instagram last month. She accessorised with a green Bottega Veneta handbag and wore a matching pair of Adidas sneakers on her feet Alongside some precious snaps of her bub she wrote: 'Here he is . Our main man, Glorious! 'He came into our lives on 2.2.22 and has completed our family. He is the happiest most chill baby and his big sisters adore him.' The former Victoria's Secret model announced she was expecting her second child in June last year, confirming she was six weeks pregnant. Her happy announcement came just seven months after she and James, 37, welcomed daughter Baby. Ariana Madix was spotted showing off her toned physique as she enjoyed an outdoor photo shoot in the scenic Hollywood Hills on Thursday. The Vanderpump Rules star, 37, who confronted her ex Tom Sandoval over his illicit affair with Raquel Leviss on Wednesday's season 10 reunion, was seen stepping out of a sleek, black vehicle upon arriving at the destination. She sported a pair of classic blue jeans along with a fitted white tank top to complete her modest ensemble. The TV personality layered the outfit with a hooded navy sweatshirt, which she later removed when shooting commenced in the grassy hills. Madix slipped into a pair of cream-colored loafers to add some class and comfort while posing. Striking a pose! Ariana Madix, 37, was spotted showing off her toned physique as she enjoyed an outdoor photo shoot in the scenic Hollywood Hills on Thursday Keeping it classic: She sported a pair of classic blue jeans along with a fitted white tank top to complete her simple ensemble Her blonde locks were parted in the middle and slicked back into a low up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. Upon arriving at the shooting location, Ariana was seen holding a large iced coffee in her hand and was soon joined by others that were involved with the small production. The star's makeup was classically done, and comprised a layer of mascara to her lashes, along with a light, smoky shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to better accentuate her cheekbones, while she put a pink tint on her lips for a finishing touch. The TV personality showed off a few of her favorite poses as she stood amid the tall grassy landscape near a Hollywood Hills hiking trail. Although details of the shoot are currently unknown, Ariana appeared to be having a blast and also showed off a funny pose towards the camera at one point. Earlier in the day, the blonde beauty was spotted preparing to head to the destination while wearing the same ensemble. Madix's outing comes shortly after she appeared in part one of the explosive, Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion that aired on Wednesday. Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss had a months-long affair that came to light earlier this year in March after Ariana found an intimate FaceTime video on his phone, promptly ending their nine-year relationship. Madix stunned in a sultry red 'revenge' dress as she joined host Andy Cohen and her fellow VPR castmates, including Tom. The reunion had separate interviews for the first time '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.' Andy told him, 'Kind of feels like you're the most hated man on television right now.' Ready for the camera: The TV personality showed off a few of her favorite poses as she stood amidst the tall grassy landscape near a Hollywood Hills hiking trail Chic: Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and slicked back into a low up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face Having a blast! Although details of the shoot are currently unknown, Ariana appeared to be having a blast and also showed off a funny pose towards the camera at one point Layering up: The TV personality layered the outfit with a dark navy, hooded sweatshirt which she later removed when the photo shoot commenced in the grassy hills Staying positive: Earlier in the day, the blonde beauty was spotted preparing to head to the destination while wearing the same ensemble Recent reunion: Madix's outing comes shortly after she appeared in part one of the explosive, Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion that aired on Wednesday 'Yeah, yeah,' Sandoval, 40, admitted. Andy next spoke with Ariana 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. 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. During the heated discussions, Raquel was watching the conversations take place from a trailer due to her restraining order placed against Scheana Shay at the time. Opening up: Ariana revealed that it took 48 hours for Raquel to text that she was sorry about having affair with her boyfriend of nine years Getting heated: Throughout part one of the reunion, Tom became tearful while discussing the cheating scandal which prompted a few of his co-stars to lash out at him, such as Lala Kent and James Kennedy More to come: The second part of the Bravo show's season 10 reunion will premiere later this month on May 31, with part three airing on June 7 '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. However, she later told Andy that she was caught more off-guard by Raquel betraying her than Sandoval. Throughout part one of the reunion, Tom became tearful while discussing the cheating scandal which prompted a few of his co-stars to lash out at him, such as Lala Kent and James Kennedy. Ariana claimed that the TomTom founder was 'victim blaming 100 percent of the way.' As the episode wound down, Madix revealed that she has capitalized on the affair, stating she has made $200,000 in merchandise sales after the scandal broke. The second part of the Bravo show's season 10 reunion will premiere later this month on May 31, with part three airing on June 7. The Last Duel star Jodie Comer stood out in a colorful ensemble as she hit the red carpet at the Outer Critics Circle Awards in New York this Thursday. Also attending the event was Will & Grace star Sean Hayes. The 52-year-old, who achieved national fame on the sitcom as the flamboyant goofball Jack McFarland, cut an elegant figure at the glittering affair. The Outer Critics Circle Awards celebrate the 2022-2023 theatrical season in New York, and unlike the Tonys they honor off-Broadway as well as Broadway. Jodie broke out with the Phoebe Waller-Bridgecreated series Killing Eve and has only increased her profile since then. She was fashion forward at the awards show, which she attended in a pale yellow top left half-open to reveal her high-waisted matching slacks. There she is: The Last Duel star Jodie Comer led a claque of celebrities who hit the red carpet at the Outer Critics Circle Awards in New York this Thursday Will & Grace star: Also making a splash on the red carpet was the TV star Sean Hayes Letting her blonde hair tumble over her shoulders in soft waves, Jodie sharpened her screen siren features with makeup including a slick of dark lipstick. She was on hand to get Outstanding Solo Performance for Prima Facie, in a role she originated in London before bringing it to Broadway. Jodie won an Olivier Award in the UK for the one-woman show, and is now nominated for a Tony Award for the same part. Sean opted for classic chic in a charcoal suit worn over an immaculate white dress shirt and a silver and royal purple tie. The TV star, who has been married to Will & Grace composer Scott Icenogle since 2014, attended the fete stag at the New York Public Library's Bruno Walter Auditorium. Sean is being garlanded with Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play for his work in Good Night, Oscar. Written by the Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright, the play stars Sean as the celebrated 20th century American pianist, actor and wit Oscar Levant. Oscar became as famous for his acerbic talk-show appearances as his musical career, and the new play follows a 1958 episode of The Jack Paar Show that he appeared on. On the town: Musical theater actress Bonnie Milligan, whose work also includes the sitcom Search Party starring Alia Shawkat, made her presence felt in a summery floral frock Musical theater actress Bonnie Milligan, whose work also includes the sitcom Search Party starring Alia Shawkat, made her presence felt in a summery floral frock. At the moment she is up for a Tony Award for best featured actress in a musical via Kimberly Akimbo, a show adapted from a play of the same name. Honorees at the Outer Critics Circle Awards include Jonathan Groff, whose Broadway bona fides include the original casts of Spring Awakening and Hamilton. This Thursday he is getting Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical for a revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along. Mark Hamill has hit the promotional trail for the new action comedy film The Machine, which drops in theaters on Friday, May 26. And while the actor has played dozens of roles dating back to the 1970s, the conversation almost inevitably always turns to the character he will forever be known for to fans, Luke Skywalker, in the iconic Star Wars franchise. On this day, while out pushing his new project in a new interview for Esquire, Hamill dished about The Machine, confessing he had 'never read anything like it', his home life as a family man, and his complicated relationship with his father. But ultimately he couldn't help reflect back on the role that put him on the Hollywood map, Star Wars, where he stands with the franchise now, and his relationships with late co-star Carrie Fisher, as well as Harrison Ford. 'I have to tell you, we had a tumultuous relationship,' the 71-year-old actor says of Fisher, who died in December 2016 at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack. Star Wars dish: Mark Hamill, 71, shared about his relationship with late Star Wars co-star Carrie Fisher, calling their relationship 'tumultuous', but also a 'special' connection, in a new interview while promoting his new comedy film The Machine While confessing he and Fisher had a 'tumultuous relationship' over their five-decades as colleagues and friends, Hamill was quick to add that they always reconnected after a disagreement like nothing had ever happened between them. 'We could be as loving and supportive as possible, then we could have big arguments and say, "Well, I never want to speak to you again," and not speak for six months,' the actor revealed. He added, 'But every time you came back, you picked up right where you left off. We had a connection that is special.' The two actors first came together for the original Star Wars (1977), also now known as Episode IV A New Hope, with his Luke Skywalker opposite of Fisher as Princess Leia Organa. The epic space-western would become an instant classic, sending all the main characters into the orbit of celebrity, including Fisher and Hamill. The two sequels would follow: The Empire Strikes Back [Star Wars: Episode V] (1980) and Return Of The Jedi [Star Wars: Episode VI] (1983), adding to their already soaring celebrity. After years of seeing each other at the many conventions for meet-and-greets with fans, Hamill and Fisher would reprise their roles again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2019), albeit posthumously for Fisher with archival footage. With that kind of history, it was only fitting that Hamill was present at Fisher's recent Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony alongside her daughter Billie Lourd, where he described her as 'wise beyond her years' from the moment they first met during his speech. Iconic: Fisher, who passed away in 2016 following a heart attack, and Hamill will forever be known for their roles as Princess Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars (1977), also now known as Episode IV A New Hope 'Special': After revealing he and Fisher had a 'tumultuous relationship', Hamill also described their relationship as 'a connection that is special', in a new interview with Esquire Fisher star: It was only fitting that Hamill was present at Fisher's recent Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony alongside her daughter Billie Lourd, where he described her as 'wise beyond her years' from the moment they first met during his speech While somewhat somber over the fact that his friend was not there to receive the honor herself, Hamill would show off his comedic side, which was how Fisher would have wanted it, he confessed. 'Her daughter, Billie [Lourde] is there. Billie's father, Bryan, is there,' he recalled of the May 4 ceremony. 'And I thought it so trivializes the reality to try and put it into words. But what else can you do? I didn't want it to be sad, because I knew she wouldn't want people to be sad.' He continued, 'But it would've been so perfect had she been there. Not only to see how much people loved her, but because she would've made everything much funnier. She lived to make others laugh. And it was always a point of satisfaction for me to be able to make her laugh.' Hamill, himself, had his moment in the spotlight on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, receiving his star in 2018, with both Harrison Ford and Star Wars creator George Lucas in attendance. 'I was so touched that Harrison and George Lucas would both be there, because obviously they didnt have to be,' the Oakland, California native admitted. 'I guess I don't see it that way because I don't have that audience perspective. I don't see it the way other people see it.' Hamill's place in the Star Wars universe was further cemented when he appeared in The Mandelorian (2020) and The Book Of Boba Fett (2022), compliments of IRL performances from Hamill and his younger doppelganger, Graham Hamilton, de-aging technology, and AI voice wizardry, which pulled lines from earlier films for the new performance. Legendary: Hamill also shared how he was 'so touched that Harrison and George Lucas would both be there' at his Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony in 2018; the three Star Wars icons are pictured in the original 1977 film that set off the phenomenon New role: In his new comedy action film, Hamill stars opposite of comedian Bert Kreischer in The Machine that premieres in theaters May 26 When asked if fans can expect to see him reprise his role once again, now that Disney has announced three new Star Wars films, one of which will pick up 15 years after The Rise Of Skywalker, Hamill gives a generic answer, that isn't quite a yes or a no. 'One thing you learn working for Lucasfilm: everything is confidential. Everything is confidential,' he says. 'So, if I were involved, I wouldn't be able to tell you. And if I were not involved, I wouldn't be able to tell you. So, I don't know. We'll all find out together, I guess.' For The Machine, an action-comedy in which standup Bert Kreischer stars as a fictionalized version of himself, Hamill plays Albert, Kreischer's uptight father. Directed by Peter Atencio, and inspired by the 2016 stand-up routine of the same name created by Bert Kreischer, the film also stars Jimmy Tatro, Iva Babic, Stephanie Kurtzuba and Jessica Gabor. The Machine premieres in theaters across the U.S. on May 26. LElisir dAmore (Glyndebourne Festival Opera) Verdict: Bravo to a startling new tenor Rating: Booked for the last four performances of LElisir dAmore, in the key role of Nemorino, Sardinian tenor Matteo Desole ended up having to sing all 14 and scored a triumph on the first night. It was a double debut: his first time on the Glyndebourne stage, and his first crack at Nemorino, one of my dream roles come true, as he writes on Facebook. He gave a thoroughly likeable portrayal until the time came for his great Act 2 aria, Una furtiva lagrima. Matteo Desole in the key role of Nemorino in LElisir dAmore As the opening bassoon solo ended, he took charge of the semi-darkened stage, singing with perfect legato, serene poise and beautiful tone. If it was not quite Caruso, it was up there with Pavarotti and the rest. With British soprano Nardus Williams as a sassy Adina, Biagio Pizzuti as a swaggering Sergeant Belcore, Renato Girolami as quack Dr Dulcamara and Maxime Nourissat miming hilariously as his assistant, Annabel Ardens 2007 production seems ageless. Ben Gernon, in charge of the LPO, does most things well but should guard against crushing the life and lift out of faster passages by rushing them. Don Giovanni (Glyndebourne Festival Opera) Verdict: Don goes downmarket Rating: The new Don Giovanni finds the talented Mariame Clement all at sea in a welter of non-sequiturs and even vulgarities had a male producer perpetrated the serried ranks of boob-shots from anonymous women in Act 1, imagine the feminist outcries. I am losing count of Don Giovanni sets with multiple doors or staircases thanks to Julia Hansen, this one has both. The updating is unhelpful, the masqueraders have no masks, the cemetery scene looks like a funfair and too often the cast have to cope with distracting onstage fidgeting while they are trying to sing. Andrey Zhilikhovsky is a louche Don, reminding me irresistibly of one of those Russian oligarchs and lacking aristocratic vocal finesse it is rare to have a Leporello (the excellent Mikhail Timoshenko) who sounds more refined than his master. For me, the vocal honours go to Victoria Randem as Zerlina, the only one to attempt stylish decorations, cadanzas and graces, although Venera Gimadieva is formidable as Donna Anna and Ruzan Mantashyan is a fine Elvira. Jerzy Butryn (Commendatore), Oleksiy Palchykov (Ottavio) and Michael Mofidian (Masetto) have their moments. In the pit, Evan Rogister handles the period Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with skill. The Glyndebourne Chorus is superb in both operas. Strike: Inside The Unions Rating: * Great British Dog Walks Rating: **** Until October 1997, BBC1 used to end each days broadcasts with the national anthem. The tradition was axed, a few months after Tony Blair came to power. Such a patriotic gesture seems unthinkable now. Anyone who proposed it would be derided by Aunties outraged Lefties as a swivel-eyed Little Englander. If the BBC has an anthem today, it is the Red Flag, the marching song of the international socialists and, of course, the Labour party. Never has that been made more clear than by the two-part documentary Strike: Inside The Unions (BBC2). A disclaimer declared that government departments and companies hit by the current wave of strikes, affecting everything from transport to healthcare, had declined to comment. This was a pallid excuse for bias, in a programme that amounted to a celebration of the union organisers who are trying to hold the country to ransom. Cameras followed RMT chief Mick Lynch and his lackeys as though they were latter-day incarnations of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, leading a peasants revolution instead of the bunch of smug, well-off, boastful, callous, self-righteous, swaggering bullies that they really are. If the BBC has an anthem today, it is the Red Flag, the marching song of the international socialists and, of course, the Labour party. Never has that been made more clear than by the two-part documentary Strike: Inside The Unions (BBC2) A disclaimer declared that government departments and companies hit by the current wave of strikes, affecting everything from transport to healthcare, had declined to comment Lynchs deputy, cloth-capped Eddie Dempsey, harked back fondly to the 1960s when union thugs could go beating up strike-breakers. Bit more tasty back then, he chortled. We met Kath, a nurse who says she hasnt had a wage rise in ten years a claim that was not challenged. She has to sell her old clothes online to make ends meet, she says. She gave her interview, huddled in an anorak in her house and clutching a cup of tea as though she was in imminent danger of freezing to death. Patient care was paramount, said Kath, though she didnt explain who was going to look after her patients while she was on strike. If the BBC cared about balance, director Jo Prichard could have found the other side of the story, by talking to some of those patients. Strikes by the nurses, and the doctors too, have condemned countless thousands to longer delays and broken appointments for vital medical care. Though they are ignored by the BBC, their lives and their stories matter. Aggressive pickets and political activists are now prevented from unleashing violence on those who oppose them, however much the likes of Dempsey are itching for a punch-up. But for nurses to walk off hospital wards and gather at the entrance chanting intimidatory slogans is a different sort of violence, one this documentary condones. Im Public Enemy No 1, me, smirked Lynch. Thats a title usually reserved for gangsters but unions are the real mafia now. Getting away from the headlines, Phil Spencer had his smartphone switched off for the first of his Great British Dog Walks (More4). With his dog Luna, a ten-month-old short-haired German pointer, he was setting out to hike coast-to-coast, from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood Bay on the North Sea. Fans of Go With Noakes will remember Blue Peters cheerful daredevil doing something similar, yonks ago. Getting away from the headlines, Phil Spencer had his smartphone switched off for the first of his Great British Dog Walks (More4) With his dog Luna, a ten-month-old short-haired German pointer, he was setting out to hike coast-to-coast, from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood Bay on the North Sea Along the way, Phil met former special forces trooper and presenter of Channel 4s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Mark Billy Billingham. Billy had brought his bulldog Alf, whose name is an acronym for the soldiers motto, Always a Little Further. The two men swapped doggy stories. Billy described how sniffer dogs can be strapped into a parachutists harness and dropped by air into combat zones which seems to be taking walkies a bit far, if you ask me. Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose made a rare appearance together as they celebrated their 10-year-old son Sebastian completing the fourth grade while showing off their co-parenting skills on Thursday. Wiz wore a white hoody over his signature twisted braids as he posed behind his son, Sebastian, who looked handsome in a grey suit with the same black and white Air Jordans as his father. The 10-time Grammy nominee wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, Aimee Aguilar's shoulder. Aimee, 28, wore her hair up in a bun with a glamorous makeup palette and silver hoop earrings. Blended family: Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose made a rare appearance together as they celebrated their 10-year-old son Sebastian completing the fourth grade while showing off their co-parenting skills on Thursday Joining his dad on stage: Wiz showed he is every bit the doting-dad in 2021 when he invited his son Sebastian to join him on stage in Colorado. Amber shared pictures of their son's excitement on Instagram She wore a $4500 Chanel Tibet Fur bag over a black long-sleeve top paired with black workout pants and sneakers. Wiz's ex-wife, Amber, carried a $4200 Saint Laurent Sac De Jour tote bag and wore a long sleeve black and white turtleneck dress. The buzzcut biracial blonde donned silver earrings and black-rimmed glasses and opted for light makeup with a nude matte lip. Amber's mother, Dorothy Rose, is of Cape Verdean African and Scottish descent, while her father, Michael Levonchuck, is of Irish and Italian descent. The amicable exes were married for 14 months, from July 2013 until September 2014, and share 50/50 joint custody of their 10-year-old son Sebastian 'Bash' Taylor Thomaz. After their split, Amber dated music executive Alexander 'A.E' Edwards from 2018 to 2021. The couple share a two-and-a-half-year-old son Slash. Edwards, 35, recently ended his romance with Cher, 76. In the family photo, Slash wore a black long-sleeve top over a red shirt with red shorts and black and red Nike Jordans. As a tribute to their blended family and their sons' names, Rose and her baby daddy got matching 'Bash Slash' tattoos on their foreheads in 2019. Father and son: Both father and son sang along to the track, as Wiz motioned for Sebastian to join him at the front of the stage Give it up: 'Give it up for my son,' Wiz said as the crowd cheered loudly for a smiling Sebastian, who waved to the crowd Excited: 'Are you excited?' Rose asked her son, as he looked at the camera and said, 'Why wouldn't I?' as he could hardly contain his joy The 35-year-old rapper captioned his Twitter post, 'On our way to 5th grade.' Sebastian takes after his father and is very into music. In September 2021, Sebastian was seen joining his father on stage at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Both father and son sang along to the track as Wiz motioned for Sebastian to join him at the front of the stage. Amber shared a video of them on Instagram and panned to show the packed crowd at Red Rocks before the song came to an end. 'Give it up for my son,' Wiz said as the crowd cheered loudly for a smiling Sebastian, who waved to the crowd. Wiz knelt down and gave his son a hug and a kiss on the forehead before they both walked backstage to a cheering Amber as the video came to a close. These days, the buzzcut blonde is content with 'being by myself' and 'very happy to not be in my bed with anyone.' Fans can catch Rose's upcoming catfight with Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta alum Joseline Hernandez in the Alabama-set second season of College Hill: Celebrity Edition, which airs Thursdays on BET+. Earlier this week: Wiz Khalifa brought out his son Sebastian and girlfriend Aimee Aguilar to the Los Angeles Lakers game on Monday Exes: After their split, Amber dated music executive Alexander 'A.E' Edwards from 2018 to 2021. The couple share a two-and-a-half-year-old son Slash. Edwards, 35, recently ended his romance with Cher, 76 Split: A source told DailyMail.com on Saturday: 'Cher is mercurial. And she changes her mind every minute. She actually really cares about A.E., and now that she's closer to her kids, she wants more stability in her life. Although it's off for now, no one in her close circle would be surprised to see them back together' 'Amber definitely won': Fans can catch Amber's upcoming catfight with Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta alum Joseline Hernandez (L) in the Alabama-set second season of College Hill: Celebrity Edition, which airs Thursdays on BET+ Rose tussled with the 36-year-old 'Puerto Rican Princess' (L) after she told her: 'Your problem is that you really don't want to be black' Despite the catfight, the Intervention guest star - who boasts 27.3M Instagram/Twitter followers - still wrote on April 26 that it was 'one of the best experiences of my life' The Intervention guest star tussled with the 36-year-old 'Puerto Rican Princess' after she told her: 'Your problem is that you really don't want to be black.' Earlier this week, Wiz was spotted in downtown Los Angeles taking his son Sebastian and girlfriend Aimee Aguilar to the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Meanwhile, Wiz has a new studio album, summer tour, and new movie in the can. He appears to have been enjoying a bit of downtime while regularly posting videos and pictures online, exercising, and partaking in a few of his favorite past times. After back-to-back films where she put her multi-tasking skills to the test as writer, director, producer and star, Katie Holmes appears to be in between projects at the moment. Taking advantage of some downtime on her hands, the Toledo, Ohio, native appeared to be on an errand run, while checking out the many storefront setups along the artsy Soho neighborhood in Downtown Manhattan. The former Dawson's Creek star, 44, made her way along the bustling streets in blue jeans and a half tucked white dress shirt and black Adidas sneakers. While the temperature had risen to the upper 60s Fahrenheit for a high, it began dipping down to the low 50s, which could explain why Holmes had her arms firmly wrapped around her mid-section to warm up. Rounding out her casual ensemble, the actress-turned-director and writer wore stylish black sunglasses while carrying a matching handbag over her right shoulder during her stroll. On the go: Katie Holmes, 44, appeared to be on an errand run in the Soho neighborhood of Downtown New York City on Thursday Holmes just returned from her visit to France where she attended the Cannes Film Festival to promote the mentoring of young female filmmakers in Saudi Arabia. 'Its important to hear perspectives from all over the world, but especially from Saudi Arabia,' she told WWD. 'These women, theyre finally getting their freedoms, and this is one of them.' The main goal of the program is to get filmmakers from the region into international festivals to give them more visibility on the world stage, which Holmes thinks is also vital for people in the West to see and hear. During the conversation, she shared about her transition to writing and directing, and how it was more of an instinctive move than a grand plan to redefine herself. 'I just felt like it was something that was another step of creativity,' she says. 'I've never really been that focused on the exterior.' That recent transition over the last few years has made her quadruple threat of sorts, which began with Alone Together (2022), a romantic drama that she wrote, directed, produced and starred in. Inspired to tell a tale with the COVID-19 pandemic as the backdrop, the Batman Begins actress began writing early on in the pandemic about two strangers who are sharing an Airbnb in New York during the lockdown. Produced by her new production company, Lafayette Picture, she would ultimately helm the project, which eventually made its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in July 2022. Along with Holmes, the cast also includes Jim Sturgess, Derek Luke, Melissa Leo, Zosia Mamet and Becky Ann Baker. Making a difference: In between film projects, Holmes recently attended the Cannes Film Festival, where she promoted the mentoring of young female filmmakers in Saudi Arabia Motivation: 'Its important to hear perspectives from all over the world, but especially from Saudi Arabia,' Holmes told WWD while at the Cannes Film Festival in May. 'These women, theyre finally getting their freedoms, and this is one of them' Multi-tasking: Holmes has been a quadruple threat as writer, director, producer and star with her last two films, including Rare Objects (2023) and Alone Together (2022) Holmes followed up as co-writing, director, producer and star of the drama film Rare Objects (2023) Sharing the writing credit with Phaedon A. Papadopoulos and Kathleen TessaroIt, the story centers on a young woman who seeks to rebuild her life when she takes work at an antique store. She regains her confidence from the kind souls who own the shop, until those from her traumatic past begin to resurface, according to IMDb. The cast includes Perva Bedi, Candy Buckley, Alan Cumming, Aerial East, David Alexander Flinn, Olivia Gilliatt and Holmes, among many others, Rare Objects would make its premiere in April, which likely means Holmes will be looking out for her new film production. Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Saturday Night Live personality Bowen Yang has shared a story about Succession star Jeremy Strong and his famous commitment to staying in character. The Brisbane, Australia-born entertainer, 32, opened up about seeing the 44-year-old actor, who plays Kendall Roy on the HBO hit, as he walked onto the set of the series Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens while remaining in character as the morose billionaire media heir. The Saturday Night Live personality spoke about the encounter on his podcast Las Culturistas Wednesday, saying that Strong wandered onto the set of the show and into its production office, asking for directions to the restroom. 'The most recent season of Nora From Queens shot at the same studio as this season of Succession,' Yang, who plays the role of Edmund on the comedy. 'The Nora From Queens production office was pretty close to the Succession stages and their production office, and as we famously know, Jeremy Strong is a Method actor.' Yang said 'at one point,' Strong made his way into the office 'and says, "Excuse me, do you know where the bathroom is?"' The latest: Saturday Night Live personality Bowen Yang, 32, has shared a story about Succession star Jeremy Strong, 44, and his famous commitment to staying in character 'And then someone in the office is like, "Yeah, it's just down the hall to the left." He goes, "Thank you so much" and he leaves.' Yang said that Strong subsequently left and 10 minutes later, a Succession production assistant entered the office and asked about the actor's whereabouts. The PA 'goes, "Hi, was Jeremy just in here?"' Yang said. 'And they were like, "Yeah he was. He went to the bathroom." And then this PA goes, "Did he ask where it was? Did he come here to ask you where the bathroom was?" 'They were like, "Yeah, why?" and the PA says, "He has a scene today where he has to ask someone where the bathroom is."' Yang said of the actor's commitment to his roles: 'I think that is Method to such a ridiculous degree that he must be in on the joke,' adding that he subscribes to 'the idea that Jeremy Strong has a sense of play and irony.' Strong's hyperfocused commitment to his craft has been well documented amid his success on the HBO drama the past five years. In a key scene in the first season of Succession in which his character is involved in a late night car wreck, in which the vehicle he was in careened into a lake he had assistants drench him with ice water to amplify the reality of the morose situation. The show's executive producer/director Mark Mylod told IndieWire in 2018 that Strong had ice water bucked dumped atop his head during the already-grueling shoot. 'I guess the great thing about a physical obstacle is that what you really have to do is put yourself in that situation, in those given circumstances, and then deal,' Strong told the outlet. The actor, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2020, continued: 'So I had to get in a lake that was close to freezing cold temperatures in the middle of the winter and it is horrible as it would be. 'Those things in a sense actually are easier than the, for lack of a better word, emotional work.' Strong has portrayed the role of morose billionaire media heir Kendall Roy for four seasons Strong won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2020 for his efforts on the HBO series, which comes to a conclusion Sunday He described the physical impact of the routine, saying, 'Your head is burning and your limbs are numb, so you don't have to act that basically. 'That was very scary, just letting the air run out in my own lungs to the point where I felt just enough in jeopardy and in danger so that I was really in the situation and then trying to extract myself from it.' Strong's focus to his craft has occasionally garnered scrutiny from his costars on the HBO hit from creator Jesse Armstrong. Brian Cox, who plays the role of media magnate Logan Roy on the series, dubbed Strong's techniques as 'f***ing annoying' while speaking with Town & Country this past February. 'Dont get me going on it,' Cox said, adding of the craft, 'Its just there and is accessible. Its not a big f***ing religious experience.' Cox made clear that he feels Strong has top notch acting skills, and doesn't need to put himself through the ringer to achieve onscreen authenticity. 'Hes still that guy, because he feels if he went somewhere else hed lose it. But he wont!' Cox said. 'Strong is talented. Hes f***ing gifted. When youve got the gift, celebrate the gift. Go back to your trailer and have a hit of marijuana, you know?' In a publicized piece from The New Yorker that was published in December of 2021, Cox said he was concerned about how Strong's dedication impacted him personally. 'I just worry about what he does to himself,' Cox said. 'I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.' Brian Cox, who plays the role of media magnate Logan Roy on the series, dubbed Strong's techniques as 'f***ing annoying' in an interview earlier this year Kieran Culkin said of Strong, who plays his older brother on the show: 'It's hard for me to actually describe his process, because I don't really see it. He puts himself in a bubble' In the piece, Kieran Culkin said of Strong, who plays his older brother on the show: 'It's hard for me to actually describe his process, because I don't really see it. He puts himself in a bubble. 'The way Jeremy put it to me is that, like, you get in the ring, you do the scene, and at the end each actor goes to their corner. I'm like, "This isn't a battle. This is a dance."' Culkin, who has been feted for his portrayal of Roman Roy on the series, added, 'That might be something that helps him. I can tell you that it doesn't help me.' The series finale of Succession airs Sunday on HBO/Max. Kevin Hart and his wife Eniko both rocked casual-chic ensembles as they celebrated a special day for his daughter Heaven. The 43-year-old comedian and his 38-year-old wife were cozy in sweater ensembles as they celebrated his 18-year-old daughter, from his previous marriage to ex-wife Torrei Hart, following her high school graduation. The married couple also brought along their youngest daughter Kaori as they arrived at Soho House in Malibu for an upscale celebratory meal in his eldest's honor. Kevin covered up his muscular torso in a fuzzy pale gray sweater with widely spaced ribs. He complemented it with darker gray trousers that were crisply pressed, and he carried a lighter gray jacket on his arm and wore a similarly toned cap on his head. The graduate: Kevin Hart and his wife Eniko both rocked casual-chic ensembles as they celebrated a special day for his daughter Heaven Proud dad: The 43-year-old comedian and his 38-year-old wife were cozy in sweater ensembles as they celebrated his 18-year-old daughter, from his previous marriage to ex-wife Torrei Hart, following her high school graduation Lots to celebrate: The married couple also brought along their youngest daughter Kaori as they arrived at Soho House in Malibu for an upscale celebratory meal in his eldest's honor The funnyman completed his look with blue suede Adidas shoes, dark sunglasses and a luxury wristwatch with a black leather band. Eniko covered up her curves in a tan cropped cardigan that revealed a hint of her trim midriff. She paired the long-sleeve look with matching high-waisted pants in the same pattern, and she elevated her stature with beige open-toe heels. The raven-haired beauty wore a stylish blunt-cut bob with a middle part, and she added more luxury to her ensemble with a tangerine-colored. Heaven looked absolutely beautiful in a white dress with gold strappy sandals and coordinating necklaces. As she walked back to her car, she carried a bouquet of flowers from one of her loved ones. Last year, Hart that Heaven was considering going to college out of state, to his dismay. 'I've been trying to manipulate her like, 'Maybe you need a place here in L.A. 'cause the schools here are just better,'' he recalled on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Handsome: Kevin covered up his muscular torso in a fuzzy pale gray sweater with widely spaced ribs Fashionable: Heaven looked absolutely beautiful in a white dress with gold strappy sandals and coordinating necklaces Turning heads: Eniko covered up her curves in a tan cropped cardigan that revealed a hint of her trim midriff Beloved: As she walked back to her car, she carried a bouquet of flowers from one of her loved ones Big move? Last year, Hart that Heaven was considering going to college out of state, to his dismay Just like her dad: He previously told People that his teenager has dreams of becoming a comedian and makes him 'laugh daily' He continued: 'She's talking about New York.' Still, the star went on to say: 'I love that she's growing up, that's my best friend, my heart. And it's a little emotional. I see myself realizing that that time is coming for her to leave the house and I don't like it.' He previously told People that his teenager has dreams of becoming a comedian, just like him and makes him 'laugh daily.' 'My daughter wants to be an entertainer so bad, I'm just holding her back til she's 18,' he gushed to the outlet in 2020. 'I made a daddy decision to hold her back til she's of age and then we can pursue whatever dream we want.' Marco Pierre White is in Sydney for his kitchen show in Sydney and the world-renowned British chef has brought along his stunning daughter Mirabelle. The 61-year-old was spotted leaving Sydney's State Theatre and heading back to his hotel with Mirabelle by his side. The 21-year-old, who was trained as a ballerina, beamed as she chatted to her father while carrying a copy of a book and a number of water bottles. Mirabelle, who is known to be very close to her father and frequently shares photos of the pair together to her social media, boats 14,000 Instagram followers. The beauty often posts bikini selfies, showing off her incredible figure, as well as her adventures travelling around the world. Marco Pierre White is in Sydney for his kitchen show in Sydney and the world-renowned British chef has brought along his stunning daughter Mirabelle. Both pictured The 61-year-old was spotted leaving Sydney's State Theatre and heading back to his hotel with Mirabelle by his side Marco shares Mirabelle - who trained at the Royal Ballet School - with Matilde Conejero. The former couple were married between 2000 and 2012 and had three children, sons Marco White Jr. and Luciano, and daughter Mirabelle. It was reported last year that Mirabelle is shelving her ambitions to become a dancer, and would joining the family business. Fiery chef Marco in November told Richard Eden that the young star owns a hotel in Bath that would open in two years. The 21-year-old was trained as a ballerina and boats 14,000 Instagram followers Mirabelle is known to be very close to her father and frequently shares photos of the pair together to her social media The beauty often posts bikini selfies, showing off her incredible figure, as well as her adventures travelling around the world It was reported last year that Mirabelle is shelving her ambitions to become a dancer, and would joining the family business 'I told her to enjoy the staff but don't get too close to them because they take advantage,' he had said. It comes after Michelin-star chef White paid tribute to the late Jock Zonfrillo after receiving criticism online for his silence following the MasterChef star's death. Zonfrillo was found dead by Victoria Police at an address in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton on 30 April. The death is not being treated as suspicious. He previously attributed British chef White with saving his life, after he gave him a job and accommodation when he was a homeless heroin addict in London in the 1990s. Marco strolled through the lobby after enjoying the show The famed British chef was dressed in black pants, a white T-shirt and a simple black vest The British foodie was hard to miss in his signature circle-lens spectacles The Michelin star chef stopped to talk to somebody outside of the theatre before getting in his car Speaking on The Project, White reflected: 'Jock came to me when he was 17 years old. His enthusiasm was greater than his knowledge. 'But it was that enthusiasm which drove him, maybe fuelled by his fears of failure, by his insecurities - which I could relate to.' 'Very few chefs have an inquisitive mind, an intellectual mind and a creative mind. That's what makes him special, that's what makes him rare.' He added: 'He'll be greatly missed... he was a star in the true sense and that's why he has my vote to be one of the great cooks of the 21st century. He was special. He was rare.' READ MORE: Dick and Angel Strawbridge hit back by sharing positive reviews of Escape To The Chateau Escape To The Chateau star Angel Strawbridge has broken her silence after a shocking audio was leaked recording her launching into a foul-mouthed rant at show producers. In the 2021 recording obtained by Deadline, the star can be heard telling one producer she's 'angry' with them before branding them a 'f***ed up little c***'. Mere hours after the recording came to light, Angel and Dick took to Instagram to thank fans for supporting the show, insisting the move to end it was a 'family decision.' It comes just days after she and husband Dick were axed by Channel 4 'following a review' into their conduct. During the altercation Angel can be heard questioning producers about a delay to her schedule, before accusing someone of posting images on Instagram of a man who had a likeness to her husband, Dick. Speaking out: Escape To The Chateau star Angel Strawbridge has broken her silence after a shocking audio was leaked recording her launching into a foul-mouthed rant at producers She said: 'Who is that inspired by when you're f*****g working at the chateau? Just tell me that and then you can f*****g leave and this is me f*****g angry because I think you're a f****d up little c**t. 'Do not work in this chateau and then post dark, weird pictures that I find quite insulting, and do not smirk. You know what, you can just f**k off.' The clip was recorded during one of the first four series of Escape To The Chateau. Earlier in the audio, Angel can be heard saying her husband Dick talked to people like 's**t,' to which a producer replied: 'And I don't like that either.' After the audio emerged, Angel and Dick took to Instagram to pay tribute to fans of the show, adding their future 'truly could not look more exciting' despite severing ties with Channel 4. They wrote: 'Thank you for inviting us into your living rooms. You have watched our children grow up and shared our adventures. 'It was a Strawbridge Family decision early last year to conclude Escape to the Chateau, but we have loved every moment and, despite the many challenges, we refused to give up on our dream, and in doing so have filled the chateau with love and laughter, and, most importantly, have created the most wonderful home for our family. 'There are two sides to every story and from the incredible support we have received, most of you know that. Drama: In a shocking 2021 recording obtained by Deadline , the star can be telling one producer she's 'angry' with them before branding them a 'f***ed up little c***' Speaking out: Mere hours after the recording came to light, Angel and Dick took to Instagram to thank fans for supporting the show, insisting the move to end it was a 'family decision' Speaking out: They added their future 'truly could not look more exciting' despite severing ties with Channel 4 'We are proud of who we are, and we feel we must do what we believe to be correct, that is in fact what kept Escape to the Chateau unique, and whilst we have indeed parted ways with Channel 4, we are hugely grateful to them and their teams for their support and creativity over the years. 'The future truly could not look more exciting and we thank you for your continued love and support.' A representative for Angel and Dick Strawbridge declined to comment further to MailOnline. A representative for Channel 4 said: 'Channel 4 is taking an active role in challenging unacceptable behaviour in our industry. 'Following a review of our processes in 2021 we have made it easier to raise complaints both formally and informally. 'We require all our production partners to follow our Supplier Code of Conduct and when concerns are raised with us, they will be taken seriously and action will happen to ensure they are investigated and addressed appropriately. 'There is always more to do and alongside our suppliers we are committed to building safe, inclusive and professional working environments.' Recent weeks have seen Angel and Dick branded 'spiky', 'volatile' and 'a nightmare to work with' amid their feud with Channel 4, after the network confirmed they'd cut ties with the couple. Sources close to the couple told MailOnline that their behaviour on set was nothing like their 'gorgeous' on-screen personas. Insiders added that they couldn't hide their 'real characters' to crew members who spent weeks with them filming the popular show in north-west France . It's also been mooted Channel 4's culling of the hit show was 'convenient' given the series - which has been on screen for seven years and sparked numerous spin-offs - had run its course. A source said: 'Dick and Angel come across on screen as the most gorgeous and lovely couple, literally like butter wouldn't melt, but they're not like that off screen. 'It's a full-on show, production is with them at the chateau for weeks so they can't hide their real characters - they can't turn it on for two hours of recording and then not go back to their real persona. 'They're just spiky and volatile people and, as you can imagine, that's a nightmare to work with.' The couple, who wed in 2015 and have two children, have now put their 38,000-a-time wedding service on hold. Also on the backburner is their Chateau Under the Stars experience where guests sleep in a glass dome for 350 a night and a 75 Working Garden Day. Their website says: 'We are currently on a two-year wedding 'catch up'. We will reopen enquiries as soon as we can!' Angel is reportedly now looking to increase her profile with a TV gig on Strictly or I'm A Celeb, with a source telling The Sun: 'Now she is no longer attached to Escape to the Chateau she is considering all options. 'She would be sure to ruffle feathers in the jungle and is not afraid of speaking her mind.' Channel 4 launched an independent inquiry after production company Two Rivers Media raised concerns about the Strawbridges and announced it would no longer work with them. A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'Following a review, we have taken the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future.' The series turned the couple into household names as 2.5million viewers regularly turned in to see the renovation of their 19th-century Chateau de la Motte-Husson in Martigne-sur-Mayenne, France. The series was previously made by production firm Spark Media Partners, who oversaw the first four seasons from 2016 to 2018. But it also allegedly cut ties with the Strawbridges due to a feud. Sources claim that, in the current climate, Channel 4 could no longer be associated with them. Axe: Angel and Dick were branded 'spiky', 'volatile' and 'a nightmare to work with' amid their feud with Channel 4, after the network confirmed they'd cut ties with the couple They said: 'After the first fallout, Dick and Angel had significant leverage with Channel 4, so they were able to replace [the production company]. It was less woke times then. 'But because we now live in much more woke times, Channel 4 can't be seen to be connected to that type of behaviour. It just doesn't wash now. 'And there's a feeling, also, that the series had run out of steam anyway - there's virtually nothing left to do on that chateau, so they had a convenient end game.' The exact nature of the allegations is not known, but Hollywood website Deadline reported that three of the Strawbridges' former colleagues alleged the couple have clashed with producers. He has been spotted shooting the upcoming series of The Tourist. And Jamie Dornan was again throwing himself into his work on Thursday as he was seen in Bray, County Wicklow filming the wildly popular show. The 50 Shades Of Grey star, 41, was spotted in the same ensemble as days before for continuity reasons while shooting the thriller. The first season of the Stan Original series - released last year - focused on Dornan's character Elliot as he gets stuck in the outback after a car tries to run him off the road. He wakes up in hospital with no idea what happened. The new season follows the action to Dublin, a year after Elliott left the outback, as he comes face to face with his past. The Tourist has been renewed for a second season and will be available only on Stan. Out and about: Jamie Dornan was again throwing himself into his work on Thursday as he was seen in Bray, County Wicklow filming the wildly popular show Meanwhile, Helen (Danielle Macdonald), an outback cop, travels to Ireland with Dornan's troubled character, only to be dragged into the mystery of his past life. Conor MacNeill, Olwen Fouere and Vikings actor, Diarmaid Murtagh, have also been cast in season two. Speaking about his role, Jamie said last year: 'I've never had to approach a character before who doesn't know who he is, so it was almost like a total opposite process for me of not allowing yourself a backstory... Out and about: The 50 Shades Of Grey star, 41, was spotted in the same ensemble as days before for continuity reasons while shooting the thriller Starring role: The first season of the Stan Original series - released last year - focused on Dornan's character Elliot as he gets stuck in the outback after a car tries to run him off the road. He wakes up in hospital with no idea what happened 'I was accepting every single discovery he has as something new. I often tried to consider myself in my most vulnerable moments, where I've felt lost or afraid, and draw on those.' Following the first series, BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore said: 'In its first 30 days, 12 million people watched that's twice as big as the largest show, Stay Close on Netflix. 'The power that the BBC has to reach millions of people is far greater than we perhaps realise.' She rose to fame thanks to her brief stint on Coronation Street. And actress Arianna Ajtar was proudly flaunting her incredible figure as she enjoyed a luxurious yacht day with pals Clarisse Juliette and Alara Taneri in Ibiza. The former soap star, 27, showed off her figure in a skimpy black string bikini as she enjoyed a celebration on the boat, which was decorated with balloons. The trio appeared to be having a whale of time basking in the warm Spanish sunshine, with Love Island 2021 star Clarisse striking a slew of sexy poses. Arianna showed off her figure in the revealing black string bikini, teamed with casual blue shorts. Wow! Coronation Street star Arianna Ajtar proudly flaunted her incredible figure as she enjoyed a luxurious yacht day in Ibiza Having fun? She was joined by a group of female pals on the fun-filled outing, including Love Island 2021 star Clarisse Juliette Wow! Dated And Related star Alara Taneri showed off her curves in a cream cut-out swimsuit The soap star later bundled up in an oversized blue hoodie to enjoy a vape on the beach after the yacht day. Meanwhile Clarisse, who rose to fame by appearing on Love Island in 2021, put on a busty display in a racy black bikini. Showing off her curves, the reality star playfully posed for a series of snaps atop a jet ski with her glossy tresses tumbling down her back. Alara Taneri, who previously starred on the show Dated And Related, opted for a daring cream cut-out swimsuit for the sunny yacht day. Arianna originally starred on Corrie as model Olivia from 2018 to 2019, and since then has been living a jet-setting lifestyle. Among some of the hotspots she's visited in the past year are Cannes, Dubai, Crete and Paris, after setting up her own clothing brand Mars The Label. During her Corrie stint, unknowing Olivia became a drugs mule after arriving on the cobbles to pose for an Underworld fashion shoot. Taken under the wing of Rosie Webster, she realised Olivia was being used to move drugs into Weatherfield by Antoine, with her unaware of the contents of the suitcase she'd been given. Sunning herself! Arianna showed off her taut figure in a skimpy black string bikini and comfy blue shorts as she soaked up the sunshine Drink up! As she and her friends topped up their tans, Arianna sipped on an ice cold beverage Simple: She teamed the revealing black bikini with relaxed blue shorts and swept her raven tresses into a sleek topknot Revealing! She slipped into the barely-there black string two-piece for the lavish yacht day Casual: As they headed to the yacht, Arianna donned an electric blue tracksuit Sizzling! Meanwhile Clarisse, who rose to fame by appearing on Love Island in 2021, put on a busty display in a racy black bikini Flawless! Showing off her curves, the reality star playfully posed for a series of snaps atop a jet ski with her glossy tresses tumbling down her back What's the occasion? The group were enjoying some form of celebration on the boat which was decorated with balloons Hard to miss! Alara Taneri, who previously starred on the show Dated And Related, opted for a daring cream cut-out swimsuit for the sunny yacht day Screen star: Arianna originally starred on Corrie as model Olivia from 2018 to 2019, and since then has been living a jet-setting lifestyle Globetrotter! Among some of the hotspots she's visited in the past year are Cannes, Dubai, Crete and Paris, after setting up her own clothing brand Mars The Label First and only: Coronation Street remains Arianna's only acting credit The pair then foiled Antoine's dodgy scheme by replacing the drugs with icing sugar. Later, fans learned more of Olivia's past, when it was revealed her mother May had faked her death so she could claim the life insurance payment. Her father Duncan went onto steal charity money framed Sally Webster for the crime, and May's 'death'. Sally's husband Tim, and her daughter Rosie, vowed to prove Sally's innocence, and under the ruse of booking a gig for Olivia, gleamed information from her about May's whereabouts. Duncan's plot soon fell apart and he went onto confess his crimes to the police. Olivia made her last appearance on Corrie in January 2019, when Duncan was involved in a shocking accident, but hasn't appeared on the soap since. Coronation Street remains Arianna's only acting credit. Danniella Westbrook slipped into a plunging black swimsuit to enjoy a sunny beach day in Portugal on Thursday. The former EastEnders star, 49, enjoyed a stroll alongside the ocean after jetting abroad for reconstruction surgery. Danniella was in good spirits as she swept her blonde tresses into a sleek topknot while enjoying her relaxing beach break. Despite undergoing another procedure in Turkey in a bid to save her collapsing face, Danniella has since admitted she hates her new face. Danniella had a thread lift, liposuction in her cheeks and lips, fat grafting on her chin and her jawline etched after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002. Enjoying the sun? Danniella Westbrook, 49, slipped into a plunging black swimsuit to enjoy a sunny beach day in Portugal on Thursday Relaxed: The former EastEnders star enjoyed a stroll alongside the ocean after jetting abroad for reconstruction surgery Enjoying the sun? Danniella was in good spirits as she swept her blonde tresses into a sleek topknot while enjoying her relaxing beach break Taking to Instagram, the actress shared a photo of herself taken before the surgery and said she couldn't believe what had been done to her. She wrote: 'Three months ago I looked like this and thought I looked awful. I'd give my world to look like this again... 'I can't believe what's been done to me with this surgery.' Since her procedure, Danniella had been wearing thick bandages around her head and nose, but took them off earlier this month. The television personality has been shaken after a health scare saw her back in hospital, hours after landing in Portugal. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, she penned: 'Only I could land back in Portugal after surgery only to end up in hospital. 'The pain I've experienced is unreal, most frightening few days. Need it like a hole in the head, literally.' When Danniella first woke up after the lengthy procedure, she said she looked 'like she had done 10 rounds with Tyson Fury'. More surgery? Despite undergoing another procedure in Turkey in a bid to save her collapsing face, Danniella has since admitted she hates her new face New look: Danniella had a thread lift, liposuction in her cheeks and lips, fat grafting on her chin and her jawline etched after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002 What happened? Taking to Instagram, the actress shared a photo of herself taken before the surgery and said she couldn't believe what had been done to her Shocked: She wrote: 'Three months ago I looked like this and thought I looked awful. I'd give my world to look like this again...' Unveiled: Since her procedure, Danniella had been wearing thick bandages around her head and nose, but took them off earlier this month Worrying: The television personality has been shaken after a health scare saw her back in hospital, hours after landing in Portugal She has wanted the reconstruction for the last seven years, but was unable to find a surgeon who would operate because her septum had completely collapsed. She told The Sun: 'I was very fearful. My mum and my son Kai were on the phone constantly - I wrote up a will before I left and my son is the executor of that. 'But luckily I'm still here and I've come through the other side. Someone is looking over me. I looked like I'd gone 10 rounds with Tyson Fury. 'But the swelling has actually gone down really quickly. I'm already happy with the results.' Danniella says she paid for the surgery herself despite being offered freebies from clinics all over the world, after a health scare last year left her in intensive care because she struggled to breathe through her nose. While in the recovery stage, Danniella has to just stick to ibuprofen and paracetamol, because any pain killer stronger could be a trigger for her past cocaine addiction. Danniella previously revealed she needed five operations to correct her 'collapsing' face due to a previous cocaine addiction and osteoporosis, and was planning to have it done on the NHS. She told The Sun: 'I've spent the last seven years trying to get somebody to do it, but they said no in case it failed and they got struck off. 'Plastic surgeons wanted 500,000 to change my face, so I thought I was never going to get it done. It was only because I went into intensive care before Christmas. 'I couldn't breathe because I had a cold. There was a build up of fluid and after I fell asleep I couldn't wake up properly and ended up in ICU. Ouch! When Danniella first woke up after the lengthy procedure, she said she looked 'like she had done 10 rounds with Tyson Fury' Tough: She has wanted the reconstruction for the last seven years, but was unable to find a surgeon who would operate because her septum had completely collapsed Big money: Danniella says she paid for the surgery herself despite being offered freebies from clinics all over the world 'I was sent over to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool and it's only because I was put in front of the right doctors, or else I'd still be waiting now to find someone. 'They're doing it for me under the NHS now.' Danniella previously underwent a rib insertion procedure in 2018, after osteoporosis rotted away her cheekbones and gums and, after spending the last year getting lip filler and Botox, in addition to surgery on her face, she is hoping to get back to her best. The actress' battle with drugs has been well-publicised, and she famously had her nose reconstructed after her septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use in 2002. At the height of her use it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to 250,000 on the drug. Hailey Bieber showed off her toned and taut abs in Barcelona this week. The Rhode Beauty founder, 26, is in Spain to shoot a commercial for Victoria's Secret. She looked chic in a cropped white sweater and low rise jeans. She added an oversized black coat to her ensemble. Justin Bieber's wife wore her brunette bob slicked back. She had a big smile on her face as the pics were snapped. Black sunglasses and large headphones completed her casual and fun look. Beauty: Hailey Bieber showed off her toned and taut abs in Barcelona this week The model launched her Rhode Beauty brand in the U.K. this week. She is one of several celebs with her own skincare line. 'I went into this knowing how fatigued people are by celebrity brands, and by new beauty brands in general,' she told the Evening Standard. 'It kind of feels like there's something new coming out all the time.' What sets Hailey's skincare brand apart from other celebrity brands from the likes of Kim Kardashian, Pharrell and Kylie Jenner is the fact that Rhode Beauty is gender neutral. 'I went into this knowing how fatigued people are by celebrity brands, and by new beauty brands in general,' she said. 'It kind of feels like there's something new coming out all the time.' 'I'm married, obviously, so share a lot of my skincare with my husband,' she explained. Hailey has also been open about her struggles with her mental health, saying: 'I always have fragile moments. It's an up and down cycle that comes and goes. 'Everybody experiences those emotions and I would rather be outward about it than try to hide anything, it's more freeing that way,' she added. And she's been very candid about her health struggles as well. Spain: The Rhode Beauty founder , 26, is in Spain to shoot a commercial for Victoria's Secret Model: She looked chic in a cropped white sweater and low rise jeans. She added an oversized black coat to her ensemble 'Obviously, I live a very public life and I appreciate my privacy when I get it but I have no problem sharing those things,' she said. 'Ive been very vocal about having ovarian cysts and perioral dermatitis. I was very open about having a stroke,' she explained. 'I can speak up and that can help people, because theyre struggling with something similar, or the same thing. 'Its comforting to know youre not alone in going through whatever that thing is,' she concluded. Her first big screen appearance came in the widely-panned 1997 musical comedy Spice World: The Movie, alongside her Spice Girls co-stars. And despite the tepid reaction, Geri Horner, nee Halliwell, was given a chance at movie stardom once more with her appearance in Gran Turismo. The former pop star, 50, attended a photocall for the new movie, which follows the true story of a young video game prodigy who turned into a real race car driver. She was joined by her co-star Orlando Bloom, who was looking smart in a white suit with green and blue spray marks down both sides with no top underneath. Geri, who is married to Formula One boss Christian Horner, was sporting her trademark white clothes - comprising tight trousers and a sleeveless blouse. Happy days: Geri Horner, nee Halliwell, was given a chance at movie stardom once more with her appearance in Gran Turismo as she attended the photocall for the movie on Friday Having a laugh: The former pop star, 50, attended a photocall for the new movie, which follows the true story of a young video game prodigy who turned into a real race car driver Way back when: Her first big screen appearance came in the widely-panned 1997 musical comedy Spice World: The Movie, alongside her Spice Girls co-stars Geri looked stunning in her white ensemble comprising the tight jeans and blouse with a thin black ribbon at the neck. Her appearance in the film - in which she plays the lead character's mother - is poignant thanks to her connection with car racing, through her husband Christian, who is the Team Principle of the Red Bull Formula One team. Other acting credits for Geri also include her appearance as Samantha's friend Phoebe in season six, in which her English accent was mocked. The film tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, who in 2011 became the third winner of the GT Academy, and the youngest ever to do so at just 19 years of age. Despite never sitting in an actual race car, he beat out 90,000 contestants to win GT Academy, winning a chance to race at the Dubai 24 Hour race. Archie Madekwe plays Jann Mardenborough, with Djimon Hounsou playing his father, Geri, his mother, Orlando Bloom as Danny Moore, a character based on real GT Academy founder Darren Cox and David Harbour as Jann's trainer, Jack Salter. Wow! Other acting credits for Geri also include her appearance as Samantha's friend Phoebe in season six, in which her English accent was mocked Off she goes: She looked sensational in the elegant look A vision: She was joined by her co-star Orlando Bloom, who was looking smart in a white suit with green and blue spray marks down both sides with no top underneath Hunky: Orlando was smouldering as he looked at the cameras Here they are: Pictured L-R Neill Blomkamp, Maximilian Mundt, Geri Halliwell Horner, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe and Asad Qizilbash True story: The Sony Pictures film tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, who in 2011 became the third winner of the GT Academy, and the youngest ever to do so at just 19 years of age True story: The true story of a young video game prodigy who turned into a real race car driver hits the big screen with a new trailer for Gran Turismo The film hails from director Neill Blomkamp (District 9), who works from a script by Zach Baylin (Creed III), Will Dunn (Ms. Marvel) and Jason Hall (American Sniper), in theaters August 11. In 1997, the Gran Turismo video game was released in Japan by Polyphony and Yamauchi. The creators revolutionized the racing game genre by creating an incredibly authentic driving simulation game. The company released their latest and best game Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 during last spring. The film will be officially released and shown in theaters on August 11, 2023. Stunner: Orlando was showing off his beefed-up physique Posing up a storm: He looked every inch the superstar in his suit Rebel Wilson and her glamorous fiance Ramona Agruma looked sensational as they attended the Limitless x Powna Sake Cannes Dinner on Thursday. The Pitch Perfect star, 43, showed off her slimmed-down frame in a dazzling green gown while the Lemon Ve Limon founder, 42, sported a cropped pyjama-style top at the bash in the midst of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Ensuring all eyes were on them, the power couple posed together at the table of the idyllic setting where a host of other stars were also dining. Rebel announced in June last year that she had started a romance with Ramona, 42, who is the owner of sustainable clothing brand Lemon Ve Limon. The lovebirds were initially introduced to one another by a mutual friend in late 2021. Sparkling sensation: Rebel Wilson and her glamorous fiance Ramona Agruma looked sensational as they attended the Limitless x Powna Sake Cannes Dinner on Thursday Stunner: Rebel announced in June last year that she had started a romance with Ramona, 42, who is the owner of sustainable clothing brand Lemon Ve Limon Stunners: The Pitch Perfect star, 43, showed off her slimmed-down frame in a dazzling green gown while the Lemon Ve Limon founder, 42, sported a cropped pyjama-style top at the bash in the midst of the 76th Cannes Film Festival Rebel previously spoke to People and recalled how the couple had made an effort to establish a genuine connection prior to their first date. The pair had already been dating for several months before the Australian actress announced the relationship and came out of the closet. 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince... but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,' Rebel wrote on social media at the time. She announced the couple's engagement in February, posting photos to Instagram of the precious moment she proposed at Disneyland. Stunner: Rebel was shining bright in her dazzling ensemble A vision: She was posing up a storm with the fellow guests and her beloved The sweet snaps showed her getting down on one knee with a Tiffany & Co. ring for her future wife. Months later, Rebel surprised fans when she announced the birth of her daughter Royce Lillian, born via a surrogate. The outing comes after Rebel and Ramona celebrated their first Mothers Day sharing never before seen photos of their baby daughter. Despite being one of Hollywoods most recognised actresses, the Aussie star let her followers know she is just like everybody else and captioned the sweet pic of Royce in pink: 'Happy Mothers Day! (Just woke up at 5:30am and changed a big (poo emoji how about you?)' Glam it up: Adam Lambert was looking glam in sequins Kimberley Garner exhibited her toned physique as she was spotted leaving Cannes in a cropped vest top and split thigh skirt on Friday. The white skirt was long in length and flashed some leg as she headed out, with three corsages holding it in place. The swimwear designer, 32, gave off the perfect summer vibes while sporting minimal makeup and a Chanel handbag. She opted to wear a pair of two-tone Chanel heels for the journey back home. Checking out of the glamorous Hotel Martinez, the former Made In Chelsea star made sure to turn heads in her monochromatic ensemble. Here she is: Kimberley Garner exhibited her toned physique as she was spotted leaving Cannes in a cropped vest and thigh-split skirt on Friday Those summer vibes: The swimwear designer, 32, gave off the perfect summer vibes sporting minimal makeup and a 90's style handbag The outing comes after the former actress showed off her girly side in a cropped yellow cardigan and matching mini skirt, a couple of days ago. Kimberley recently spoke about how she used to pretend to be an intern when she first started the business as nobody took her seriously. She told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business.' 'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. 'It became very successful overnight.' She explained: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice. 'No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the Intern! 'I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company. When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.' Fisher Stevens, who plays slimy PR man Hugo in Succession, was the sensation of last week's episode when he responded to Kendall Roy's offer to be his 'dog' with: 'Woof woof.' The actor was in Cannes this week to promote the stylish Wes Anderson film Asteroid City. Surprisingly, he is also the producer and director of the upcoming David Beckham documentary for Netflix. Even more surprisingly, he got the job after long-term pal Leonardo DiCaprio recommended him personally to Beckham. Stevens said: 'The story I was told was that David was hanging out with Leo, and asked him who he should get.' Unusual connection: Fisher Stevens (left) is the producer and director of the upcoming David Beckham documentary for Netflix and got the job after Leonardo DiCaprio recommended him Woof: Fisher Stevens, who plays slimy PR man Hugo in Succession, was the sensation of last week's episode when he responded to Kendall Roy's offer to be his 'dog' with 'Woof woof' He continued: 'I also feel like they wanted an American, because we didn't have so many preconceived ideas about him.' Stevens, from Chicago, won a Best Documentary Oscar in 2010, for The Cove, which exposed the Japanese practice of hunting and killing dolphins. Meanwhile, on Succession the fate of Stevens' character Hugo hangs in the balance as it's yet to be seen if the tension-fraught merger with GoJo will go ahead. 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 renzy, with many flooding social media with their reactions. Sunday's much-anticipated series finale will finally bring an answer to the burning question: Who will land Logan's vast fortune? Look who it is! Succession fans descended into a frenzy after learning that Sunday's episode featured a surprise cameo from Brian Cox's real wife as one of Logan Roy's mistresses Anyone with a serious interest in film will be entertained (and amazed) by a gorgeous four-part documentary 100 Years Of Warner Bros: from Bette Davis bursting in on Jack Warner on the loo, to Oliver Stone getting death threats over JFK. The doc was made by Oscar-nominee Leslie Iwerks, whose grandfather drew Mickey Mouse for Walt Disney. In Cannes this week where the picture is being shown she told me she interviewed around 60 film icons for her project, including George Clooney, Baz Luhrmann and Oprah Winfrey. Meanwhile the company's CEO David Zaslav threw an epic party at the Hotel Du Cap for a chosen few. Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter was the co-host and arranged for a Perspex sheet to be placed just under the surface of the hotel's infinity pool, so scenes from great WB films of the past 100 years could be projected onto it. Wow: Anyone with a serious interest in film will be entertained (and amazed) by a gorgeous four-part documentary 100 Years Of Warner Bros: from Bette Davis (left) bursting in on Jack Warner (right) on the loo, to Oliver Stone getting death threats over JFK The lavish event had its critics, given that the company is in the middle of global lay-offs, not to mention the financial pains of the writers strike. Channelling his inner Marie Antoinette, Carter said: 'If there is a writer who is here, striking outside the gates, and they're well dressed, I will invite them in. 'This party is a celebration of their work, so I hope there are no incidents.' Among celebrity guests were Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sting and Tom Hanks with his wife Rita Wilson. On April 4, 1923, Warner Bros was founded and today, it stands as one of the world's biggest movie production companies with some of its top hits including The Dark Knight Trilogy and the Harry Potter franchise. The brainchild of the four Warner brothers - Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack - the company started out at 5842 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood before moving to a sprawling site in Burbank, California, where it remains to this day. The siblings - who were four of 12 children and whose parents emigrated from Poland - pursued their love of film while living in Youngstown, Ohio. They toured throughout the state and neighboring Pennsylvania showing movies, before purchasing several theatres and moving into film distribution. After establishing their eponymous brand, Harry served as the company's president working out of New York City, while Albert kept track of the finances and the Sam and Jack oversaw the studio side of things. Actor Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler on the TV series Yellowstone, is a philanthropist in addition to an actor. The 48-year-old star is involved with Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a charity that provides scholarships to children whose parents have died in the military. Speaking with CBS, Hauser said, 'I'm a big fan of second chances. You know, for kids when they lose a family member, it's a huge loss for them.' The father-of-three, who shares Ryland, Colt, and Steely with wife Cynthia Daniel, noted, 'Maybe it's just my way of serving. You know, this country, the soldiers, their families.' Hauser started working with the organization 20 years ago and in that time more than 1,100 scholarships have been distributed. Giving back: Actor Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler on the TV series Yellowstone, is a philanthropist in addition to his acting career - he's worked with Special Operations Warrior Foundation for 20 years Conversation: The 48-year-old star spoke with CBS about his involvement with the charity, which provides scholarships to children whose parents have died in the military In addition to making financial contributions, the 2 Fast 2 Furious actor also participated in a United Service Organizations tour in Afghanistan. He made private visits to Walter Reed Medical Center as well, building personal relationships with gravely injured service members. Hauser described forming a friendship with a triple amputee. 'I walked in and I [said], "God, you look like a rat's ass," but it got him to smile, you know? 'And then we would start talking and it was just, you know, it broke the ice,' Hauser shared. Cole is on the charity's board of directors and has worked alongside Clay Hutmacher, the foundation president, to also establish scholarships for families who lose a non-military parent. 'When they're calculating what they're going to do in the future, funding of their children's education is not part of that equation. We got that,' Hutmacher told the outlet. Hauser feels called to perpetuate the legacy of his grandfather Milton Sperling, who was a World War II Marine and Hollywood producer and screenwriter. 'I think it's as good as it gets as a human, like just the human element of wanting to help. Just to see somebody go through that moment of like, grace,' he explained. His belief: Speaking with CBS, Hauser said, 'I'm a big fan of second chances. You know, for kids when they lose a family member, it's a huge loss for them' Stat: More than 1,100 scholarships have been distributed to kids since Cole began working with the foundation Family man: Cole and wife Cynthia Daniel share two sons, Ryland, 18, and Colt, 14, and a 10-year-old daughter, Steely Rose Last month the actor and his wife Cynthia were seen with their three children in Italy. They posed side by side as they bicycled their way through the Tuscany region. He used social media to share shots of his sons and daughter as they enjoyed the rural countryside. 'Cruisin through Tuscany,' wrote Cole in a caption to his 1.6 million followers. The happy couple has two sons, Ryland, 18, and Colt, 14, and a 10-year-old daughter, Steely Rose. Earlier this month it was announced by Paramount Network that Yellowstone will officially end with the final episodes of the fifth season launching in November. The show has been a monster hit for the network, and tells the story of the Dutton family, and their battles over their gigantic Montana ranch. In character: Hauser plays Rip Wheeler on the Paramount+ show. Seen with Kelly Reilly who plays Beth Dutton Fans of Yellowstone will likely be soothed by news that a sequel has already been given a full-series order. Matthew McConaughey has been tipped as its possible star, although producers have yet to confirm any members of its new cast. A Paramount spokesman told the publication that 'McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we'd love to partner.' The new show will start on Paramount Network and then stream exclusively on Paramount+. Brett Christophers in The Guardian: Coming up with economic policy is a difficult, unforgiving task. To make the best of it, it helps to work with an accurate model of how the economy works. If you use a misleading model and act on it, you cant reasonably expect good outcomes: in that scenario, we end up, as JM Keynes warned in the 1930s, with madmen in authority, acting according to the precepts of some defunct economist. But thats exactly where we are. One of the most deeply held and frequently heard propositions about capitalism is that it revolves around private companies and individuals taking risks. When, earlier this year, the US government arranged a rescue package for Silicon Valley Bank, for instance, among the many objections to it was the claim that the rescue contravened capitalisms risk norms. More here. Linda Evangelista remembered her fellow model and friend Tatjana Patitz on what would have been her 57th birthday on Thursday. The supermodel, 58, who is currently working on a book, created a sweet post in honor of the the late cover girl, who died in January from breast cancer. 'Happy birthday Tatjana,' she wrote. 'I know your sweet soul is with the angels. I still have not come to terms with your passing. You will be forever loved, forever missed and forever in my heart.' Photographer Bruce Weber shared his own message of grief in the comments. Birthday remembrance: Linda Evangelista, 58, remembered her fellow model and friend Tatjana Patitz on what would have been her 57th birthday Thursday. 'Happy birthday Tatjana,' she wrote. 'I know your sweet soul is with the angels' Book: The book Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel, a retrospective of some of their most iconic work, is expected to be released in September 'Miss her constantly and loved her beyond a doubt.' Actress Amber Valetta wrote, 'Always a beautiful angel soul Tatjana.' Dozens of others left heart and angel wing emojis. Linda and Tatjana were at the height of their careers when they, along with Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell were featured in George Michael's Freedom music video. She also took part in PETA's controversial 'I'd rather go naked than wear Fur,' campaign, posing with Naomi and other models wearing only a banner. In her later years, Tatjana continued modeling, but also turned her attention toward raising her son, protecting the environment and saving wildlife. In an interview with Kendall Conrad four years ago, she revealed, 'I have been very passionate about African wildlife these past few years. Elephants especially.' 'I am the proud foster parent of 8 elephant babies at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, she continued. 'They are such an amazing organization and Im in absolute awe of all the incredible work they do. My dream is to go and spend time there.' Forever loved: Linda wrote her late friend would be 'forever loved, forever missed and forever in my heart.' Photographer Bruce Weber said he would 'Miss her constantly and loved her beyond a doubt.' Actress Amber Valetta wrote, 'Always a beautiful angel soul Tatjana' Naked: Linda and Tatjana were in George Michael's Freedom music video. Tatjana also took part in PETA's controversial 'I'd rather go naked than wear Fur,' campaign, posing with Naomi Campbell and other models wearing only a banner Environmental activist: In her later years, Tatjana continued modeling, but also turned her attention toward raising her son, protecting the environment and saving wildlife. She worked to save wolves and wild mustangs from slaughter and fostered elephants in Africa The 5'11" beauty also spoke out publicly against plans in Montana to extend its wolf hunting season and okay to trap and kill wolves via snares made of stainless steel wires. The snare slowly strangles the animal as it struggles to get free. She was also a defender of wild mustangs and worked to protect them from slaughter. 'People don't know that horses are bonded for life,' she told La Revista de Mileno in July 2021. 'The biggest problem is that the human being tries to interfere with nature and its natural balance, that is why everything is out of control.' Of her son Jonah, 19, whom she shared with her ex-husband Jason Johnson, Tatjana told Kendall Conrad, 'Its very important to me to support him in his passions, to help him navigate when needed, and to help him grow into the person he is to become with an open heart.' Ryan Gosling is everywhere right now thanks to his role as Ken in the upcoming Barbie movie. But the La La Land actor is a family man at heart with his longtime partner Eva Mendes and their two daughters Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, six. The two stars are supportive of each other's careers - even if they don't talk about their partner publicly. 'She's his No. 1 fan and loves when he gets to do big movies, like Barbie,' a source told Us Weekly. 'Ryan also supports Eva in all her endeavors and just adores her.' The source also said that Ryan and Eva are 'as in love today as the first year they were together.' Long time loves: Ryan Gosling is everywhere right now thanks to his role as Ken in the upcoming Barbie movie Family man: But the La La Land actor is a family man at heart with his longtime partner Eva Mendes and their two daughters Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, six Ryan and Eva started dating in 2011 after sparking romance while shooting The Place Beyond the Pines. Last month, they celebrated 10 years together and the Hitch actress marked the occasion with throwback photos of the two of them from the film that brought them together. 'Luke & Romina. Mi socia @scondito just sent me this telling me it's been 10 years since this film came out. Feels like lifetimes ago,' she captioned the post. In another post commemorating their anniversary, she wrote: 'Magic is Real. We did not meet on set. The magic started way before but here's a little magic captured on camera. Gracias to the incredible director Derek Cianfrance.' Despite their long relationship, the two stars rarely walk the red carpet together - even though fans have been clamoring for them to do so. And the two stars have opted to keep their relationship and their daughters out of the limelight. 'I don't talk about Ryan and all the wonderful things he does as a father because I keep that part private,' the Training Day star wrote on social media in April 2020. 'I feel it's best that I continue to disclose what I'm comfortable with but not involve him or my kids too much. It's not about being cagey or weird, it's just about staying private in a public space. Does that make sense? Hope so. Because this is my honest answer.' Parents: 'She's his No. 1 fan and loves when he gets to do big movies, like Barbie,' a source told Us Weekly. 'Ryan also supports Eva in all her endeavors and just adores her' Fierce: The source also said that Ryan and Eva are 'as in love today as the first year they were together' Think pink: Ryan as Ken with Margot Robbie as Barbie And The Notebook star offered fans a rare glimpse inside of his family life and what it was like during the COVID-19 lockdowns. 'Our kids are young, so it was a tough time for them to be separated from other kids and not being able to see family and whatnot,' the Gray Man actor said in an interview with GQ. 'So, we did our best to entertain them. I think Eva and I did more acting in quarantine than we have in our whole careers,' he said, adding that they did really dramatic interpretation of bedtime stories. Ryan and Eva have never confirmed that they are married but she has a tattoo on her wrist that says 'de Gosling' and referred to him as her husband during an interview on Today Australia. Bella Thorne will soon be walking down the aisle. The 25-year-old actress said 'yes' to entrepreneur and Bad Vegan producer Mark Emms. The couple met last year on the beach in Ibiza at Cara Delevigne's birthday party. 'It was love at first sight as the sun rose,' the American Horror Stories star told Vogue Weddings. The Imagen Foundation Award winner and her fiance posed together in a sweet photo announcing the news on social media. Engaged! Bella Thorne will soon be walking down the aisle. The 25-year-old actress said 'yes' to entrepreneur and Bad Vegan producer Mark Emms. Bella showed off her multi-carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring prominently in a photo accompanying the announcement Bella made sure to included the 10-plus carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring prominently in the photo. The couple have been keeping the secret for a while. Mark, who also owns the New York City hotspot The Mulberry, actually popped the questions at Bella's house in California on Mother's Day. Bella and her intended both wore white T-shirts, and the Game of Love actress donned a bikini bottom and a multi-colored sarong for a selfie shot on her patio. The smiling groom-to-be looked comfortable in his T-shirt and a pair of black pants. The Divinity star told the publication she'd like to have the wedding at a country manor in the United Kingdom, but has not announced a wedding date. The bride-to-be did reveal that she is looking for more than one look for the big day, with an eye toward vintage Schiaparelli or Dior. 'Every bride does not need one gown,' she said hinting at multiple wardrobe changes, 'but four!' The couple have been keeping the secret for a while. Mark, who also owns the New York City hotspot The Mulberry, actually popped the questions at Bella's house in California on Mother's Daye Meeting: The couple met last year on the beach in Ibiza at Cara Delevigne's birthday party Instant attraction: 'It was love at first sight as the sun rose,' the American Horror Stories star told Vogue Weddings Country wedding: Bella said she would like to have the wedding at a country manor in the United Kingdom. The bride-to-be revealed she is thinking of vintage Schiaparelli or Dior. 'Every bride does not need one gown, but four!' Staying busy: Bella and Mark have not announced their wedding date. The actress has a slate of projects scheduled Host: Bella is set to host a night of short film debuts at the upcoming Taormina Film Festival. Her film, Paint Her Red, will debut. She shared photos from the set on social media writing, This is a true labor of love as I wrote, directed and starred in this big little bloody gem' The busy actress has a slate of projects on her roster, including the upcoming Saint Clare. The horror-comedy focuses on a quiet college student with a 'divine vocation for killing,' according to the movie's description on IMDB. Bella, and perhaps Mark, will make a trip to Italy to the re-launched Taormina Film Festival. The highlight of event scheduled for June 24- July 1 will feature a showing of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Bella will host a night of short films, including one of her own making. The actress and director shared a couple of shots covered in what appeared to blood from the film on social media May 16 writing, 'PAINT HER RED will be showing next month at the 2023 Taormina Film Festival. This is a true labor of love as I wrote, directed and starred in this big little bloody gem.' Others debuting their work at the festival include actresses Nina Dobrev, Jacqueline Fernandes and actor Khaby Lame. Anna Vakili looked sensational as she posed in SHEIN's VIP area at music festival Creamfields South in Chelmsford, Essex on Friday. The former Love Island star, 32, bared her midriff in a cropped top with cut away panels and crossover strings. She wore a pair of skintight pleather leggings which accentuated her hourglass figure for the event. Reality star Anna completed her look by wearing a pair of black lace-up boots and wore lashings of make-up for the afternoon. She was joined by Marnie Simpson who showcased her summer style in a blue babydoll dress with a white floral pattern and a pleated skirt. All stars: Anna Vakili and Marnie Simpson looked sensational as they posed in SHEIN's VIP area at music festival Creamfields South in Chelmsford, Essex on Friday Looking good The former Love Island star, 32, bared her midriff in a cropped top with cut away panels and crossover strings Festival ready: Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Marnie decorated her face with some blue and white face paint The Geordie Shore star, 31, wore a blue denim jacket and a matching cowgirl hat while she opted for a pair of white knee-high boots. Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Marnie decorated her face with some blue and white face paint. They were joined by former The Valleys star Lateysha Grace who put on a very busty display in a turquoise cropped top with a plunging neckline. The former Big Brother contestant, 30, wore a matching mini-skirt, with the reality personality giving a glimpse at her midriff in the two piece ensemble. She got into the festival by wearing a pair of golden cowgirl boots for her outing. TV star Lateysha accessorised with some silver bangles and wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features. Elsewhere, Love Islander Shaughna Phillips looked stylish in a nude two-piece outfit consisting of a shirt which she wore open over a white top and a pair of loose fitting trousers. The media personality, 29, wore a multi-coloured silk bandanna on her head and had a bumbag strapped around her waist. In style: They were joined by former The Valleys star Lateysha Grace who put on a very busty display in a turquoise cropped top with a plunging neckline Pals: Elsewhere, Love Islander Shaughna Phillips (left) looked stylish in a nude two-piece outfit consisting of a shirt which she wore open over a white top and a pair of loose fitting trousers Out and about: She posed alongside Chloe Patton (left) who posed in a cream mini mini dress with a plunging neckline and flared sleeves Stepping out: Meanwhile, Anna took to her Instagram page to give her followers a glimpse at her time at the festival Strike a pose: She posed in front of the main stage of the festival as she enjoyed the glorious spring sunshine She posed alongside Chloe Patton who posed in a cream mini mini dress with a plunging neckline and flared sleeves. The former Teen Mom UK star also wore a pair of cowgirl boots and carried a Louis Vuitton purse with her. Meanwhile, Anna took to her Instagram page to give her followers a glimpse at her time at the festival. She posed in front of the main stage of the festival as she enjoyed the glorious spring sunshine. Emily Ratajkowski was seen taking her dog Colombo for a walk in New York City on Friday morning. The 31-year-old model opted for a colorful clothing ensemble while giving her precious pooch a bit of exercise during the outing. The model, who has recently fallen out with her former friend Olivia Wilde, wore a knitted button-up shirt that showcased her toned midsection as she stepped out. Ratajkowski also donned a matching pair of sweat pants that clung tightly to her curvy hips and chiseled thighs. The influencer opted for a pair of green sandals and accessorized with dark sunglasses and several necklaces. Getting a bit of fresh air: Emily Ratajkowski was pictured while taking her dog Colombo for a walk in New York City on Friday morning Showing off: The model wore a knitted button-up shirt that showcased her toned midsection as she stepped out Her beautiful brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders and contrasted well with the colorful tones of her clothing. Ratajkowski recently promoted her swimwear brand Inamorata's new collaboration with Mirror Palais by sharing several images to her Instagram account. The entrepreneur's new line includes several bikinis, as well as various t-shirts and shorts. In the shots, the fashion industry personality wore a collection of form-revealing outfits during a visit to Rio De Janeiro. The model also posed for a photo with Mirror Palais' owner, Marcelo Gaia, as they paid a visit to one of the getaway destination's scenic beaches. Ratajkowski penned a short message in her post's caption to express that she felt as if she was in a 'dream' while collaborating with the designer. Gaia also spoke about working with the model in the caption of a post that was shared on his Instagram account earlier this month. He wrote: 'I have a deep admiration and respect for Emily and am so honored to share a piece of this beautiful culture with her, and her first caipirinha de maracuja.' Keeping it consistent: Ratajkowski also donned a matching pair of sweat pants that clung tightly to her curvy hips and chiseled thighs Fun in the sun: Ratajkowski recently promoted her swimwear brand Inamorata's new collaboration with Mirror Palais by sharing several images to her Instagram account Entrepreneur: The social media powerhouse previously launched Inamorata in 2017, and her company started out by focusing on swimwear The designer added: 'I hope you guys love this collection we designed together as much as we do. Thank you to both the Mirror Palais and Inamorata teams for bringing our vision to life.' The social media powerhouse launched Inamorata in 2017, and her company started out by focusing on swimwear. The runway regular's brand has since branched out to include various shirts, accessories and footwear offerings. She has also taken a hands-on approach to promoting her company and often appears in its promotional materials. Ray Liotta's fiancee Jacy Nittolo took to Instagram on Friday to acknowledge the one year anniversary of the actor's death. The Goodfellas star died May 26, 2022 of acute heart failure and fluid in his lungs while working on a film in the Dominican Republic. It was reported that he passed away in his sleep. On Friday the 48-year-old former hairstylist shared a slew of outtakes along with a lengthy, heartfelt caption. Nittolo described the past 12 months as she said, 'Its been a heavy year of pain, heartache, healing, growing and accepting what is.' Grieving: Ray Liotta's fiancee Jacy Nittolo took to Instagram on Friday to acknowledge the one year anniversary of the actor's death Tribute: On Friday the 48-year-old former hairstylist shared a slew of outtakes along with a lengthy, heartfelt caption She began the note, 'A year ago today I was on a flight home from the Dominican Republic by myself in shock.' The mother-of-four, who has kids from a previous relationship, continued, 'My entire world unexpectedly turned upside down. 'Ill never forget the beautiful woman, a complete stranger, who sat next to me and didnt say a word. She gently grabbed and held my hand the entire flight as I cried and looked out the window. 'When we landed she looked at me and said everything is going to be ok. You're going to be ok.' Engaging her 14,000 followers, Jacy continued to recall what happened that day. 'I walked off the plane and met Ray's sister for a connecting flight to LA and I dont know what I would have done without Linda that night,' she remembered. She added that she has been 'learning to smile at what was. 'It supposedly gets easier with time. No time will change a loss so great. You just learn to live with it and keep going, trusting that all will be ok,' the California native went on. Heartfelt: She began the note, 'A year ago today I was on a flight home from the Dominican Republic by myself in shock' She mentioned Ray's daughter, as well as her own children, as she wrote: 'Karsen, Dax, Chazz, Jade and Joey. You keep me going every single day.' Karsen, 24, was Ray's only child, who he shared with ex-wife Michelle Grace. May 26 is also the day Jacy's grandmother died, which she shared in her poignant post. '20 years ago today of all days my grandmother passed away. She helped raise me. She was the other love of my life and one of my favorites of all time. Both on 5/26,' she finished the caption. Earlier this month it was revealed that Ray died from what is medically known as a pulmonary edema while he also suffered with atherosclerosis, is a narrowing of the arteries. In documents obtained by TMZ, doctors categorized the manner of death as natural and nonviolent respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema and acute heart failure. At the time, it was announced that he had died in his sleep at Casas del XVI in Zona Colonial hotel in the Dominican Republic, where he had been filming Dangerous Waters. An emergency service team rushed to the building but he could not be saved, and his body was transferred to the forensic institute of Santo Domingo. Sweet moment: Jacy shared a black and white image of a passionate moment with Ray In December Nittolo took to Instagram to mark what would have been the actor's 68th birthday. She posted a slideshow of family photos with the Black Bird star set to the tune of In My Life by The Beatles. She captioned the post with a quote from writer Chuck Palahniuk that read, 'The goal isnt to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.' Nittolo said, 'Today Ray would have been 68. I believe he created a lot for everyone that will live on forever, especially in the hearts of Rays sister Linda, his daughter Karsen and myself.' She wrapped up the post in saying, 'Today we celebrate you.' Love story: Liotta proposed to Nittolo on Christmas 2020, after his daughter Karsen introduced them Liotta proposed to Nittolo on Christmas 2020, after his daughter Karsen introduced them. Jacy was hesitant to go out with an actor, and The Marriage Story star admitted he wasn't crazy about her having a young son. 'The buzzkill for me was she also had a 10-year-old, and when you're in your 60s, the last thing that you want is a 10-year-old,' the doting step-dad said during a 2021 appearance on Live With Kelly And Ryan. He added, 'Luckily, this kid is very cool.' TV presenter Phillip Schofield has apologised to his wife, who stood by him after he came out as gay in 2020, after sensationally confessing to an affair with a young male This Morning colleague. The 'unwise' romance took place during the couple's nearly 30-year marriage and Schofield said he was 'so very sorry' for being unfaithful. Stephanie Lowe, 59, who shares two children, Ruby, 27, and Molly, 29, with Schofield, issued a statement when her husband came out as gay in a moving This Morning segment in 2020. The presenter stepped down from his This Morning hosting duties last weekend after more than 20 years on the airwaves before confirming the affair in a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday. He has also resigned from ITV and will not host the British Soap Awards. He has also been dropped by his agents at YMU 'with immediate effect'. Stephanie Lowe, 59, who shares two children, Ruby and Molly with Schofield, issued a statement when her then husband came out as gay in 2020 The 'unwise' romance took place during the couple's 30-year marriage and Schofield has said he was 'so very sorry' (pictured with their two children, Ruby and Molly) In a groveling statement, the former ITV presenter said: 'I am making this statement via the Daily Mail, to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story [sic] which they wanted to write about me a few days ago. 'The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. 'I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. 'Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than a just a friendship. 'That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over... 'I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife... 'I am resigning from ITV with immediate effect, expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. 'I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.' An ITV Spokesperson said on Friday evening: 'We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield. 'The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down. 'We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated.' The couple married in March 1993 after meeting when Schofield worked in children's television and she was a BBC production assistant. They held their wedding in Scotland's Ackergill Tower in 1993 and celebrated their silver anniversary in 2018 - just two years before Schofield came out as gay. In February 2020, the presenter told his Instagram followers about his sexuality, saying he had the support of his wife and daughters. 'You never know whats going on in someone's seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their wellbeing and so you won't know what has been consuming me for the last few years. 'With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.' In a follow-up post, he spoke about how Stephanie had continued to support him after he came out. 'Steph has been incredible I love her so very much. She is the kindest soul I have ever met. My girls have been astonishing in their love, hugs and encouraging words of comfort. 'Both mine and Steph's entire families have stunned me with their love, instant acceptance and support. Of course, they are worried about Steph, but I know they will scoop us both up.' At the time, Ms Lowe issued a heartfelt statement in support of her husband and said she would support him in taking the 'brave step'. 'We have had to face the most emotionally painful time in our 27 years of marriage. Phillip Schofield has sensationally admitted to having a relationship with a much younger man who worked as a colleague for him on This Morning (pictured with co-host Holly Willoughby) Former close friends Schofield and Willoughby, pictured together on Dancing on Ice in 2006, had increasingly grown apart in recent months 'I love Phillip, as much today as I ever have, and always will.' She told The Sun in 2020 that: 'Weve been awestruck by the strength and love of our precious girls, even as theyve been trying to make sense of it all for themselves. 'Our family have also been so supportive and will help us going forward.' She added: 'Although this is difficult for us all, I support Phillip in taking this brave step.' Schofield is still often seen wearing his wedding ring and told Chris Evans' podcast in October 2020 that: 'It is not in my nature to hurt people and so I have to reconcile myself with the fact that I have done that. 'Indeed I have done that and I tried very hard not to. I also say, is it possible to come out and not hurt your wife? 'No of course it isn't. My greatest concern is that she is okay.' He said on the podcast that the couple had not discussed divorce. The Mirror has since reported that Ms Lowe said she would stand by him until he was 'settled and happy in a new relationship' and then they would discuss an 'amicable split'. The presenter spent much of the coronavirus lockdown with his family, including Stephanie Lowe, at their 2million home in Henley. Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein has been accused of pushing and verbally assaulting her estranged husband Lenny Hochstein in an altercation at their home. The plastic surgeon, 56, claims the Bravo star went on a violent tirade against him on May 10 after he entered the bedroom they used to share in their $10million Star Island mansion. Lisa, 40, allegedly ran out of her combined bathroom and closet after Lenny entered the bedroom to pick up his mail where she usually leaves it, according to new documents filed by Lenny and seen by Page Six. After running out of the bathroom, Lisa 'surprised [Lenny] by engaging in a verbal tirade demanding to know why he had entered the master bedroom,' per the legal filing. Lenny stated that he retreated after Lisa began pushing him, but that the reality star 'continued to pursue and follow him while yelling at him.' Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein, 40, has been accused of pushing and verbally assaulting her estranged husband Lenny Hochstein The plastic surgeon, 56, claims the Bravo star went on a violent tired against him on May 10 after he entered the bedroom they used to share He claims Lisa could have closed the bedroom door after he left the room but instead chose to escalate the situation by calling 911 and portraying him as the 'aggressor.' Officers with the Miami Beach Police Department answered the call but decided there was not enough probable cause to make a domestic violence arrest. Responding to the new allegations, Lisa told Page Six 'there is a long history of me having to call the police because of Lennys behavior.' She claims Lenny entered the bedroom without her consent while she was not fully dressed and refused to leave, calling her names and taunting her in front of the children. Lenny has requested an emergency motion to be granted temporary full custody of the former couples two children. Earlier this month, the surgeon, who has been called Miami's 'boob God,' claimed Lisa is 'bleeding him dry financially' amid their contentious divorce. He said Lisa 'has embarked on a course of conduct aimed at bleeding out [Lenny] from a financial standpoint' and has 'charged in excess of $10,000 to [Lennys account].' Lenny also claims in the documents that Lisa 'shockingly' spent $4000 in the course of a 'week and a half', says her spending 'constitutes marital waste' and requests for the court to sanction her for her 'cash grab.' In a separate filing, Lisa alleges Lenny 'turned off' her access to grocery outlets Instacart, Uber and Uber Eats, which she says is in violation of a previous order. She also alleges that Lenny has made her feel 'threatened' by making 'unannounced visits' to their former marital home - and claims he once showed up with his mother and called her a 'felon' and 'verbally berated her' in front of their children. Lisa is now fighting for exclusive use of their Miami home, in spite of a prenup which states she must move out Lenny, who has been called Miami's 'boob God,' is dating model Katharina Mazepa, 27 She further claims Lenny told her she 'would soon be going to jail' and their kids 'would soon be having a better mother' - Lenny is currently dating model Katharina Mazepa, 27. Lisa is now fighting for exclusive use of their Miami home, in spite of a prenup which states she must move out. The pair are warring over their prenup, with Lisa wanting the agreement overturned while Lenny wants it kept in place. Lisa for months has been pursuing the court to award temporary support, telling the court that she was unable to purchase essential items such as food and diapers when he deactivated her credit cards. Lenny denied the claims, saying Lisa could have bought both with an Insta-Cart app he has linked to his bank account, while calling her financial demands 'excessive.' Lenny - who wed Lisa in October 2009 and filed to divorce last May - began dating the Austrian model Mazepa in the wake of the parting. Late last year, he claimed in court docs that Lisa was out of control with her spending, running up a $9,000 tab for designer clothes in a single week. On the Real Housewives of Miami fifth season reunion that aired in March, Lisa conceded that her spending habits were a factor in her split from Lenny. Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden are in for another pricey round of globe-trotting spy games since Amazon has officially renewed their show Citadel for a second season. The first season reportedly cost $300 million, becoming the second most expensive show ever produced in Hollywood history. But that astounding price tag failed to buy stellar reviews, as critics have largely given the flashy new spy thriller a major thumbs down. 'Citadel is a $300 Million Disaster for Amazon,' trumpeted Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall, who blasted the series as 'bland.' The Daily Beast branded Citadel as 'garbage TV,' while Variety proclaimed that it was 'a business plan in search of a show.' Round two: Priyanka Chopra, 40, and Richard Madden, 36, are in for another pricey round of globe-trotting spy games since Amazon has officially renewed their show Citadel for a second season Breaking the bank: The first season reportedly cost $300 million, becoming the second most expensive show ever produced in Hollywood history; Chopra and Madden pictured at the world premiere of Citadel in London last month Amazon and MGM Studios boss Jennifer Salke sounds like she would definitely disagree with those assessments, since she praised the show as 'global phenomenon' in her renewal announcement. 'Citadel is a truly global phenomenon,' she proclaimed. 'Our goal was always to create a new franchise rooted in original IP that would grow Prime Videos international audience. 'This show has drawn an outsize number of new international customers to Prime Video. Its massive worldwide debut audience is a testament to Joe and Anthony Russos remarkable vision, the incredible talents of Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lesley Manville and Stanley Tucci, and the tireless work of the creative teams, cast, and crew.' Concluding her statement, Salke referenced how Amazon is making the first episode of season one available for free through Amazon Freevee, starting on Friday. 'Given the overwhelming number of our customers who have embraced this show, we are not only thrilled to share the premiere episode of Citadel globally without membership, but also confirm that the series will return for a second season.' The series is reportedly a big passion project for Salke, and that passion paid for a six-episode first season that would break the bank at most studios. But Amazon is in the business of making costly TV, as they currently hold the number one when slot when it comes to most-expensive programming Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power cost a whopping $58 million per episode. Through their production company AGBO, the Russo Brothers serve as the creative force behind Citadel and they seconded Salke's enthusiasm with their own effusive statement. Lackluster: The show's astounding price tag failed to buy stellar reviews, as critics have largely given the flashy new spy thriller a major thumbs down. 'Citadel is a $300 Million Disaster for Amazon,' trumpeted Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall, who blasted the series as 'bland' Yikes: The Daily Beast branded Citadel as 'garbage TV,' while Variety proclaimed that it was 'a business plan in search of a show' More to come: Amazon is looking to expand Citadel into a franchise with spin-offs, building a bingeable universe around the tentpole series The filmmakers said: 'AGBO is thrilled to embark on this next phase of the spy-verse with Jen, [head of television] Vernon [Sanders], and the entire team at Amazon. The innovative storytelling of Citadel has paved the way for an incredible, worldwide collaboration with creatives in front of and behind the camera.' Amazon is looking to expand Citadel which includes some steamy sex scenes between Chopra and Madden into a franchise with spin-offs, building a bingeable universe around the tentpole series. Citadel's renewal comes one day before the finale for season one drops on Amazon. The official synopsis for season one reads: 'The global spy agency Citadel has fallen and the memory of its agents has been erased. Now, the powerful Manticore crime syndicate is filling the power vacuum. Citadel agents must remember their past and find the strength to fight back.' BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- It's widely known that the Five Eyes is the world's biggest intelligence association, and the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) is the world's biggest hacking group. It is ironic that the Five Eyes jointly released a report filled with disinformation, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. Spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing when asked for comment on a report released by some Western countries and the analytics team of the U.S.-based Microsoft on Wednesday, which said that a Chinese hacking group recently launched attacks against U.S. key infrastructure, including in Guam. It is a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence, Mao said, adding that the Chinese side also noted that the NSA and the cybersecurity agencies of Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, almost simultaneously issued similar reports. "Apparently, this has been a collective disinformation campaign launched by the United States through the Five Eyes to serve its geopolitical agenda," she said. Mao pointed out that it is widely known that the Five Eyes is the world's biggest intelligence association and the NSA is the world's biggest hacking group. "It is ironic that the Five Eyes jointly released a report filled with disinformation." The involvement of certain companies in the reports indicates that the United States is using additional channels to spread disinformation other than through government agencies, Mao said, noting that 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 United States is the champion of hacking, Mao said. She mentioned that last September, details were revealed about NSA's attacks on China's Northwestern Polytechnical University in a report issued by Chinese institutions. "The United States should explain immediately about its cyber-attacks and should not spread disinformation and detract attention from what it had done," said the spokesperson. Rob Stein on NPR: Researchers are inching closer to mass-producing eggs and sperm in the lab from ordinary human cells. The technique could provide new ways to treat infertility but also open a Pandoras box. ROB STEIN, BYLINE: Its a Wednesday morning at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in downtown Washington, D.C. ELI ADASHI: Welcome, everybody, to the National Academy of Medicine workshop. STEIN: Dr. Eli Adashi from Brown University opens the Academys first gathering to explore the latest scientific developments and complicated social implications of something known as in vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, which involves making human eggs and sperm in the laboratory from any cell in a persons body. ADASHI: It is on the precipice of materialization, and IVF will probably never be the same. STEIN: Japanese scientists describe how theyve already done this in mice, coaxing cells from the tails of adult mice to become whats known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPS cells, and then coaxing those cells to become mouse sperm and eggs. Theyve even used those sperm and eggs to make embryos and implanted the embryos into the wombs of female mice, which gave birth to apparently healthy mouse pups. Mitinori Saitou joins the workshop via Zoom from Kyoto University. More here. Petra Nemcova stunned in a show-stopping ensemble as she was joined by husband Benjamin Larretche for the amfAR Gala on Thursday amid the 76th Cannes Film Festival. The Czech model, 43, commanded attention as she put on a very leggy display in an eccentric but glamorous number, which boasted a maxi train skirt. The TV host looked nothing short of sensational as she slipped into a strapless red gown, featuring a stunning a chiffon embellishment on her bust. The eye-catching number displayed a midi dress underneath with a racy thigh-high split and diamond embellishments on the side - which perfectly hugged her toned physique. Petra truly made a fashion statement as she showed off the maxi skirt attached to the back of the dress. Loved-up: Petra Nemcova stunned in a show-stopping ensemble as she was joined by husband Benjamin Larretche for the amfAR Gala on Thursday amid the 76th Cannes Film Festival Red is her colour: The Czech model, 43, commanded attention as she put on a very leggy display in an eccentric but glamorous number, which boasted a maxi train skirt The model and philanthropist dazzled while the long chiffon fabric flowed behind her - as she played around with it while posing up a storm for the cameras. Petra showed off a big smile as she displayed her long and toned legs in the glamorous number - and appeared to be in her highest spirits. She gave herself some extra inches with silver strappy heels and added further glam to her look with heart-shaped drop diamond earrings. The Czech beauty finished off her impeccable look with a matching red clutch bag. Petra displayed her natural features as she donned a subtle make up palette and pouted her lips with a touch of nude gloss. The model kept her blonde tresses straight loose with a centre parting. The Happy Hearts Fund co-founder looked glowing as she posed up next to her husband and entrepreneur Benjamin. Benjamin looked dapper as he donned a total black suit look with bow-tie. 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. Physique: The TV host looked nothing short of sensational as she slipped into a strapless red gown Stylish: The eye-catching number displayed a midi dress underneath with a racy thigh-high split and diamond embellishments on the side - which perfectly hugged her toned physique Oozing glamour: Petra truly made a fashion statement as she showed off the maxi skirt attached to the back of the dress Fashionista: The model and philanthropist dazzled while the long chiffon fabric flowed behind her Strike a pose: The stunner played around with the maxi skirt while posing up a storm for the cameras Playful: Petra showed off a big smile as she displayed her long and toned legs in the glamorous number - and appeared to be in her highest spirits More glam: She gave herself some extra inches with silver strappy heels and added further glam to her look with heart-shaped drop diamond earrings Matching: The Czech beauty finished off her impeccable look with a matching red clutch bag Looking great: The Happy Hearts Fund co-founder looked glowing as she posed up next to her husband and entrepreneur Benjamin Elegant: Benjamin looked dapper as he donned a total black suit look with bow-tie 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. 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 Kerala Story has been making waves ever since it opened in theatres but its content is far from reality, it is a fantasy at best The central theme of the film revolves around three girls who fell victim to manipulative conversion to Islam that practically destroyed their lives. The main protagonist is Shalini Unnikrishnan, a convert to Islam. She narrates her ordeal from her prison in Afghanistan, of how she once wanted to become a nurse but was brainwashed and manipulated by religious vanguards, turned into an ISIS terrorist and sent on her way to Syria. It is loosely based on the accounts of three women from Kerala who converted to Islam and travelled with their husbands to join ISIS in Afghanistan between 2016 and 2018, along with two other women and their husbands. Their husbands were killed in the fighting and these women remain in an Afghan prison. Incidentally, only one of these women, Nimisha Nair alias Fathima Isa, was Hindu and married to a Christian, who subsequently converted to Islam as well. The other two women were Christians before their conversion. The Government of India has refused to repatriate them as they remain hardcore adherents of ISIS philosophy, unlike what has been depicted in the movie. While it has been alleged there are many more such people in prison in Afghanistan, official records only point to four. The film-makers have also suggested that there are many girls who have been manipulated into converting to Islam and in support quote then Chief Minister of Kerala, V S Achuthanandan, who, in 2010, said that fundamentalist Muslim organisations were using money and marriages to make Kerala a Muslim majority state. In that context, the issue of manipulative conversion, commonly termed love jihad, is concerning and cannot be wished away. Not because of the conversion itself, our Constitution allows us the freedom to practice as we wish, but because of the motive and the manner such conversions are undertaken. It must be added that such allegations of fraudulent conversions have been made against some Christian denominations as well. Such actions damage the secular fabric of our society, which is why we have stringent laws against it. One estimate suggests about 7000 girls from the State converted to other religions over the last decade and the total number of Indians who joined ISIS was not more than 250, with about 20% from Kerala. Critics agree that the movie is watchable as a work of fiction, but what detracts and gives weight to allegations that it is nothing more than a propaganda film, is its adverse depiction of all Muslims in general and repeated assertions that there are over 32000 such cases. This is untrue and a Bench of the Supreme Court has reproached the producers of the film for distortion of facts, directing them to add a disclaimer to that effect. However, this is a theme that resonates greatly with the Hindutva lobby, as we saw from the Prime Ministers exhortations to the public to see the movie, during his election rallies in Karnataka. Recently, Mr Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT Cell, wrote on Twitter that love Jihad is real and dangerous. Our girls are being lured away and used as cannon fodder for radical terror organisations. We can bury our heads in the sand, like an ostrich, at our own peril. It will engulf the rest of us sooner than we think. The Kerala Story is a grim reminder of what lies ahead if we dont act now. Taken at face value this may seem truly scary, but the truth is it has no basis in fact and is aimed at spreading fear and consolidating votes. Comparison of census data from 2001 and 2011 shows that the Hindu population in Kerala, for example, declined from 56.16% to 54.73%, or 1.43%, while the Muslim population increased from 24.70% to 26.56% or 1.86%. A simple interpolation, at existing growth rates, suggests that the Muslim population would equal that of the Hindu population only by the last decade of this century. Unlikely, as growth rates overall are on the decline. If anything, in the coming years Keralas problems will not be about religion, but managing migrants from other states that keep its economy ticking! Similarly, Mamata Banerjees ban on the film presently stayed by the Supreme Court, and its voluntary non-screening in Tamil Nadu by movie theatres, is over the top and only feeds the long-standing narrative of minority appeasement. We must acknowledge that to be truly secular, breaking the stranglehold of those who benefit by dividing us through religion is inescapable. An essential step in this direction can be the introduction of the long overdue Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which would codify and apply a set of uniform laws related to personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, and inheritance to all citizens, regardless of their religion. (The author, a military veteran is a Visiting Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation and Senior Visiting Fellow with the Peninsula Foundation, Chennai) A multilateral world would be to Indias advantage. It would also be welcome by the Global South which looks up to India for direction and leadership There is a shift underway in the international system. The ongoing Ukraine conflict, the emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a centre for global politics, and the relentless rise of China have all resulted in a move away from a unipolar or bipolar world order to a multipolar one. This move is also one which suits India very well. As India positions itself globally as the leader of the Global South and a rising power, multipolarity assures India a position as one of the centres of power. This thought was very evident in the address made by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at the recently held EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum in Sweden where he pointed out that, The more European Union and Indo-Pacific deal with each other, the stronger will be their respective appreciation of multi-polarity. A multipolar world is feasible only by a multipolar Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modis rather busy calendar is another indication in this direction. The G7 Summit in Tokyo which also saw a Quad Summit on the sidelines, a visit to Papua New Guinea and then Australia all tie in to this thought. The PMs much-anticipated visit to the United States next month, which is only the third State visit by a foreign leader in US President Joe Bidens tenure, will further cement not only Indias growing stature on the world stage but also be a timely pointer towards multipolarity. It is a shift India well understands and is cautiously working towards. The Ukraine crisis has hastened this change. While the US and its Western allies have and continue to routinely condemn Russia over its actions, India has stuck to its guns and played it according to her interests. There was much pressure on India during the first few weeks of the conflict to censure Russian actions but the fact that India did not do so and eventually it also brought about a change in Western attitudes has been a fine diplomatic victory for India. In March last year Biden had termed Indias response to the Ukraine conflict as somewhat shaky. But with time the messaging out of Washington changed with a gradual acceptance of Indias position. India has consistently abstained from the United Nations at resolutions brought in by the Western world against Russia. This has helped India retain an old friend. About half of Indias military supplies come from Russia. Courtesy of the Ukraine conflict, Indias trade with Russia is at a record high. Despite the never-ending critique, India continues to buy oil from Russia. It is also worth remembering here that Russia used its veto power in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) many times when resolutions on Kashmir were tabled. The fact that India has done this fine balancing act, of maintaining and strengthening ties with both the US and Russia, makes it a unique power centre in itself. Another point in the study is, of course, the Quad (a grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia). It would not be an overstatement to say that the Quad today is one of the most influential groupings in the world of geopolitics. It is also essentially a forum to check China. As the politics of the Indo-Pacific take centre stage in the world, India becomes an even more valuable ally not just to the US, but to the entire Western world. For India, China remains the biggest worry. Chinas aggressive behaviour at the border and its expansionist agenda in the South China Sea have almost every world leader worried. The Ukraine conflict has also seen another related development and that is the tightening of embrace between China and Russia. And that is unlikely to make India comfortable. That somewhere again takes us back to the argument that for India, censuring Russia over the Ukraine conflict would only result in a closer China-Russia nexus. Both Russia and China are wary of the West and critical of a world they feel is dominated by Western ideals and nations. The US-China trade wars and the sanctions against Russia by the Western powers have helped consolidate that feeling and what one sees is the beginning of an anti-West Block. A multilateral world would be to Indias advantage and would also be welcome by the Global South. One of the end games of course would be a much-needed change in the structure of the UNSC and a permanent seat for India. That would also be more representative of the present world. The beginnings have been made but it's still quite a long road ahead. (The author, a Delhi-based journalist and foreign affairs analyst, holds a Masters in International Relations from the US University) The world is reeling under the shadow of terrorism. Middle East and North Africa were worst hit in 2022, write Sunil Goyal & Dimple Khokhar Since the turn of the millennium, few topics have shaped the global discourse as much as terrorism. Following the 9/11 attacks in New York, on September 20, 2001, the U.S. president at the time, George W. Bush, declared a War on Terror and sent America to war with Al-Qaeda. The USA first invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to evict the Taliban regime and to chase Osama Bin Laden. Then, two years later, the country invaded Iraq due to highly disputed claims about the regime of Saddam Hussein positing weapons of mass destruction. Many commentators argue that, rather than solve the problem, the War on Terror served only to validate the use of terrorist tactics, and that it threw these countries into further chaos.The Global Terrorism Index is an annual ranking produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace. As even the definition of terrorism is hotly debated, it is essential to highlight that the methodologies used to measure terrorism are also contested. The Global Terrorism Index ranks 163 countries on four indicators weighted over five years. These four factors are the number of terrorist incidents per year, the number of fatalities caused by terrorists per year, the number of injuries caused by terrorists per year, and the total property damage caused by terrorism per year. The global terrorism index systematically ranks countries of the world according to their terrorist activity. As per the data released by Statistica, in 2022, Afghanistan ranked first on the global terrorism index with a score of 8.82 points, making it the country most affected by terrorism on Earth. The ranking also shows that Afghanistan suffered from the highest number of terrorist attacks and the highest number of fatalities from terrorist attacks. Although terrorism is a worldwide problem, its victims are highly concentrated in certain areas of the world. The area that saw the highest number of terrorist attacks in 2022 was the Middle East and North Africa. According to Institute for Economics and Peace, the terrorism Index in India decreased to 7.43 in 2021 from 7.67 in 2020. Terrorism Index in India averaged 7.65 Points from 2002 until 2021, reaching an all-time high of 8.12 Points in 2011 and a record low of 7.22 Points in 2004. India Terrorism Index - values, historical data and charts - was last updated in May of 2023. A report based on the Global Terrorism Index noted India has a number of low-level conflicts in some of the border areas but the vast majority of the countrys population lives outside of these India was among the 25 worst terror-hit countries but also among 56 of the 120 nations surveyed with no respondents selecting war and terror as the biggest threat to their daily safety, according to the 10th edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI).The international community holds a collective view that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned. There cannot be any exception or any justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of the motivations behind such acts. We also recognize that the menace of terrorism cannot be and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group. However, in spite of the progress we have made to tighten the legal, security, financing and other frameworks to combat terrorism, terrorists are constantly finding newer ways of motivating, resourcing and executing acts of terror. Unfortunately, there are also some countries that seek to undermine or subvert our collective resolve to fight terrorism. That cannot be allowed to pass. (Prof. Sunil is Dean and Chairman of the Board of Studies at Dr BR Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, Ambedkar Nagar and Dimple Khokhar is a research scholar) Political parties don't want freebies to go. It is their much-cherished tool to harness votes. And they know it works like a charm In the just concluded assembly elections in Karnataka, the grand old party (GOP) Congress had promised five guarantees viz. Gruha Jyoti, Gruha Lakshmi, Sakhi programme, Yuva Nidhi, and Anna Bhagyain in its manifesto. Having got a decisive mandate to form the government, Congress pledged to approve all the five guarantees in the very first meeting of the Cabinet. The big question is: is it worth spending so much of taxpayers money? The guarantees are intended to be a welfare scheme. Under it, the government should ensure that (i) the assistance goes to a person who is desperately in need (one who is poor or very poor); (ii) it should be given for a limited period after which she should stand on her own and (iii) the scheme should be funded in a manner such that it doesnt destabilize the budgetary position. Under Gruha Jyoti, the GOP promises to provide 200 units of free electricity a month for every single household (HH) in the state. The very idea is abhorrent. It presumes that every HH is so poor that it cant afford to pay even Rs 1000 a month being the cost of 200 units of electricity @ Rs 5 per unit. Further, in the absence of any mention of for how long, it is assumed that free supply will continue for the full term of this government i.e. 5 years. The scheme will impose a needless burden on the state exchequer for that long. It will also strain the finances of power distribution companies which will have to supply zero tariff power to all HHs on behalf of the state government and wont get paid by the latter in time or paid less or not paid at all as is the case in many states who are already supplying power free or at concessional tariff. Under Gruha Lakshmi, Every Woman head of a house will get two thousand rupees a month. This again is bizarre! Going by the manifesto, even a billionaire woman is eligible. Distributing money in this manner is a sheer waste of scarce resources. The GOP says We are keeping the money in the hands of women to ensure that they're in control and in charge of their own life. The idea of empowering the woman is fine. But, we must not forget the context. For schemes like PM Awas Yojna where houses are built for the poor and the ownership is vested with the woman head, this makes eminent sense. But, to give money to all and sundry and then trumpet about women's empowerment looks ridiculous. The Sakhi programme under which free bus tickets for all women to travel in Karnataka are provided too suffers from the same absurdity. Under Yuva Nidhi, the government will provide support to the Youth of Karnataka for two years by paying Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders every month. Prima facie, this may be in sync with the principle of extending support to a person who needs it. But, it cant be divorced from the economic status of the family she belongs to. If an unemployed youth belongs to a rich family which can take care of her during the difficult period i.e. when she remains without a job, there is no need for state support. State support should be given only if the unemployed youth is from a poor HH. That apart, while choosing the beneficiary, the government must ensure that she is not self-employed. The manifesto doesnt talk of any of these riders. Finally, under Anna Bhagyain, the GOP has promised to give 10 kgs of rice per person per month to BPL families. Such families are already getting 7 kg of food per person per month under the National Food Security Act or NFSA (2013). Redeeming these guarantees will cost around Rs 62,000 crore a year which is even higher than the States fiscal deficit or FD (excess of expenditure over receipts) of Rs 60,500 crore during 2022-23. Unless there is a cut in expenditure under some head or an increase in receipt for an equivalent amount, the FD would be Rs 122,500 crore. Expressed as a share of the state gross domestic product (SGDP) this would go beyond 5 percent against the 3 percent ceiling fixed under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. The guarantees dont follow the cardinal principles of a welfare scheme. These are neither directed to the needy nor have any terminal date and will have a destabilizing effect on the budget. These benefits distributed by Congress using public money for garnering votes are known in common parlance as freebies. The menace has gripped most of the political parties that use freebies as the key to winning elections. Emboldened by its victory in Karnataka, the GOP will use freebies even more brazenly in state elections slated towards the end of 2023 as also during general elections in 2024. This will force others including the ruling BJP to offer similar or even more tempting allurements (already, BJP top brass has started galvanizing its thought process in that direction). This rat race will have devastating implications for the finances of both states and the Centre. Is there any way this menace could be reined in? To get an answer, let us look at a judgment of the Supreme Court (SC) in S Subramaniam Balaji vs the Government of Tamil Nadu & Ors delivered way back in July 2013. It has been observed that the distribution of freebies of any kind influences all people. It shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree. This would have led any logical person to believe that the SC would give a strict direction to stem the rot. But, what followed was a lame-duck order. The SC had held that promises in the election manifesto cannot be construed as corrupt practice under the Representation of People Act (RPA), or any other prevailing law and, hence, distribution of freebies cant be stopped when the ruling party uses public funds for this purpose through the passage of Appropriation Acts in the state Assembly. In the same order, it directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to frame guidelines that could govern the contents of the election manifesto of all the recognized political parties as when it had acted while framing guidelines for general conduct of the candidates, meetings, processions, polling day, etc. Further this can also be included in the model code of conduct - under a separate head for guidelines for election manifesto - for guidance of political parties and candidates. The ECI never came out with any such guidelines. After a long hiatus, hearing a PIL seeking directions against freebies on January 25, 2022, the SC observed this is no doubt a serious issue. Budget for freebies is going above the regular Budget. This disturbs the level playing field. Its concern this time was more intense than it was in 2013. But, what about the action? On August 3, 2022, the SC asked the parliamentarians to enact a law on curbing freebies but only after a committee set up by it examines all pros and cons. But, the majority of political parties dont want freebies to go away. It seems, India will have to live with this menace eternally. (The writer is a policy analyst) Superstar Salman Khan said working on the third part of his popular spy franchise Tiger has been "hectic" yet fun. "Tiger 3" will see Khan and Katrina Kaif return as spy agents Tiger and Zoya. The 57-year-old star said he has recently wrapped filming for the action-thriller movie, which will arrive in theatres around Diwali. It is produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF). I have been here (Abu Dhabi) lots of times. I shot for Race 3', Partner', Tiger'. I have completed shooting for Tiger 3' now. You will get to see it on Diwali. It was a very hectic shoot. It was good though, Khan said at the IIFA press conference on Thursday evening. The first movie in the spy franchise, Ek Tha Tiger (2012), directed by Kabir Khan, chronicled the story of an Indian spy (RAW) code-named Tiger (Khan) who falls in love with a Pakistani spy (Kaif) during an investigation. The Ali Abbas Zafar-helmed sequel, Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), saw Tiger and Zoya go on a mission to save a group of hostages held by a militant terrorist organization in Iraq. The film was said to be inspired by the 2014 abduction of Indian nurses by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). The third part of the much-awaited movie is directed by Maneesh Sharma of Fan and Band Baaja Baaraat fame. It also features Emraan Hashmi. Khan, who has been in the movie industry for over three decades, also expressed his gratitude to fans for their unending love and support. I am thankful for all the love and respect. I appreciate it. I don't know the reason behind the respect and fan following but it is there and I am thankful to God, he added. The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards will take place in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on Friday and Saturday. The IIFA Rocks event will be emceed by Farah Khan and Rajkummar Rao, while the main awards will be hosted by Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal. Khan will be performing on the main awards night. Other film personalities set to perform at the event are Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he used every moment during his six-day visit across three countries for Indias good and his tour was not about his glory but Indias strength as BJP workers and supporters accorded him a rousing welcome on his return from Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Addressing people who had gathered to welcome him outside the Palam airport here, he pointed-out that not only Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and that countrys ruling party functionaries but a former prime minister and opposition members were present as well during the Indian communitys programme in Sydney where he had spoken. This was the atmosphere of democracy that everyone joined in the Indian communitys programme, Modi said, lauding this show of democratic soul and strength. Everyone accorded respect to the Indian representative, and it was not about Modis glory but about Indias strength, he said. The Prime Ministers comment came against the backdrop of opposition parties, including the Congress and many of those in power in several states, announcing their boycott of the new Parliament buildings inauguration by him on Sunday saying the President of India draupadi Murmu should be invited to open the Parliament. Modi 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. India, he said, 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, the Prime Minister said, exuding confidence in front of a cheering crowd that his government will succeed in meeting these expectations in time. Global expectations from the country have been rising, he said, adding that 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. Taking a swipe at his critics, the Prime Minister said they questioned him for sending the vaccines. 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, he said. He also asserted that the world is keen to listen to Indias story and said Indians should never suffer from a slave mentality while speaking about their great culture and traditions and instead speak with courage. The Prime Minister added that the world agrees with him when he says any attack on our countrys pilgrimage sites is not acceptable. Modi had on Wednesday strongly raised with his Australian counterpart Albanese Indias concerns over incidents of attacks on temples in Australia. He lauded the strength of India-Australia relationship. Indias reception of G20 delegates in over 150 meetings held across the country have impressed the world a lot, he said. All the leaders and other people I met 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. Indias ambitious cheetah population revival programme faced a setback as two more India-born cheetah cubs have died at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, a forest official said on Thursday. With this, the number of cheetah cubs that have died at the KNP rose to three, while three of the 20 adult cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia have also died at the park. A cubs death had been reported in the park on May 23. The two other cubs also died on the same day, on Tuesday afternoon, but their deaths were reported only on Thursday. The official did not disclose the reason behind not informing about the deaths of these two cubs on the same day. 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 departments 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 Korea 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. In a major relief for the BJP-led NDA Government, seven more parties have accepted the invitation to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building, raising the number of parties scheduled to attend the launch ceremony to 25, even as the Congress-lead Opposition parties have intensified their attack on the Prime Minister and the Union Government. The Congress accused the Prime Minister of being megalomaniac and the Government of being arrogant. These seven non-NDA parties BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP account for 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha, and therefore their participation will help the NDA blunt the Oppositions charge that the inauguration of new Parliament building is just a government event. As the political row over the opening of the building on May 28 escalated, the BJP hit back alleging the Opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration just because it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. However, the BJP appealed to the Opposition parties to attend the historic day of its inauguration by showing big heart. Nineteen Opposition parties, including Congress, Left, TMC, SP, AAP, have come together to jointly announce the boycott of the inauguration ceremony, saying they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out. 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. 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 too said he would attend the inauguration. Congress lashed out at the ruling BJD and its president, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for abiding with Modi on all occasions, including the new Parliament building inauguration. The BJD hit back accusing the Congress of doing politics over a non-issue and raised questions over its role during the presidential election. 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. All 18 NDA members BJP, Shiv Sena, National Peoples Party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Jannayak Janata Party, AIDMK, IMKMK, AJSU, RPI, Mizo National Front, Tamil Maanila Congress, ITFT (Tripura), Bodo Peoples Party, Pattali Makkal Kacchi, MGP, Apna Dal and AGP are the other attendees. Jailed AAP leader and former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has been put on oxygen support and shifted to the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems on Thursday. He was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital after he collapsed in a bathroom of the Tihar Jail due to dizziness around 6 am on Thursday. Earlier too Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury, the AAP said. Jain, lodged in connection with a money-laundering case in May last year, will undergo all necessary tests as a precautionary measure. According to AAP sources, Jain has been shifted to an ICU at the LNJP Hospital and he was 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. Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, hours after his colleague Jain was collapsed in Tihar Jail saying a dictator is bent on killing that good person. The dictator is hell bent on killing the man who was working day and night to provide good treatment and good health to the public. The dictator has only one principle - he wants to finish everyone, he believes only in his own ego. He cannot see beyond himself, Kejriwal tweeted. The Chief Minister further wrote God is watching all of this, he will do justice when time comes. I pray to God for Jains speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances. In a statement, the AAP said Jains condition had deteriorated after a debilitating injury from a fall in the jail washroom last week, which resulted in a spinal injury leaving him in excruciating pain. The gravity of the situation demands an immediate spinal surgery, as recommended by his attending doctors. A closer examination of Jains 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, it said. The AAP claimed that Jain has become extremely weak and finds it difficult to walk. Due to his religious beliefs, Jain has been living only on fruits and raw vegetables in jail. Suffering from severe muscular loss. Jain has lost 35 kgs while in prison, the party said. Suffering from sleep apnea, he sleeps at night with the assistance of a BiPAP machine which continuously pushes air into his lungs, the party added. A senior jail official said around 6 am on Thursday, under-trial prisoner Jain slipped in the bathroom of the 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. 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. 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 Assams 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 bandh 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. 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 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. 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 Parliament. Indian people have given Modi the mandate to speak. Not respecting the PM is like insulting the peoples 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 peoples sons and daughters are getting jobs on the basis of their merit and talent. There is no favouritism or nepotism now, he added. 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. State government officials have suspected that the deaths of the cubs were a case of dehydration and weakness. Madhya Pradesh Chief Conservation of Forest (MPCCF) JS Chouhan said that 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. 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. 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, said another official. 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. The TT Nagar police arrested the absconding accused in the case of NSA, extortion, loot, accused was absconding for past 10 months and carrying a reward of Rs 10,000. The accused Sachin Pawar alias Sachin Bacha alias Ankit Pawar was absconding in the NSA warrant of Kamla Nagar police and is a watch list criminal of Kamal Nagar police. On November 5 last year Rahul Kushwaha lodged complaint against Ajju Shooter and Sachin Bachha of Ambedkar Nagar EWS building along with their other aides took him to the terrace, abused and kicked several times and transferred Rs. 5,000 through UPI from mobile phone. Made indecent videos and threatened that provide Rs 10,000 or they will make the video viral. In the case, the accused Sachin Bachha absconded after committing the crime and remained absconding, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Bhopal announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 for providing details of Sachin. During the investigation, the accused was arrested. The accused and his accomplices are habitual of committing serious crimes like rioting, vandalism, rioting and robbery and have been booked for 31 criminal cases have been registered against this in TT Nagar police station and other police stations. Meanwhile, Jehangirabad police station arrested a vehicle thief and recovered a stolen scooter from his possession on Wednesday. Suraj Mesram had gone to Aishbagh to play drums and parked vehicle at Ayush Bhawan Barkhedi Road and it was missing when he returned at 9 in the evening. He lodged complaint and based on the complaint vehicle lifter Zaid Mansoori alias Bhaiya was arrested and scooter bearing registration number MP04SZ9382 was recovered. The district administration of Hazaribag conducted Janata Darbar in naxal affected Bhaghar panchayat on the Jharkhand Bihar border, which is 26 kilometre far from Choparan block headquarters. All the officers along with deputy commissioner Nancy Sahay and deputy development commissioner Prerna Dixit listened to the problems of villagers and tried to find out solutions then and there. Both the officers offered financial help to the villagers to purchase assets for their livelihood. On this occasion the DC said that Bhaghar village panchayat has a different geographical structure. She said that the district administration has decided to construct all village roads, which will be connected with the main road. This is the only way to connect the villagers to block and district headquarters. She appealed to the villagers to cooperate in the implementation of government schemes in the villages. She assured the villagers that all the officers will listen to their problems and find solutions. Hazaribag SP Manoj Kumar Chothey said that the police department will act immediately on the complaint of the villagers. He said that the district police will work with them like a friend. He further said that in order to maintain law and order in the village panchayat, the police department will establish a police picket in the villages, so that they can get relief from the activities of the naxal organisation. Barhi MLA Uma Shankar Yadav Akela said that holding a janata darbar in remote naxal affected areas shows how sensitive the government is towards the problems of the villagers. He said that as a public representative he always tries to listen to the problems of the villagers and forward them to the district administration for solution. The district administration handed over the sanction letter of Ambedkar Awas yojana and two to enter in the newly constructed houses, which were constructed in Ambedkar yojana. Under the Phulo Jhano Yojana two get the financial help of 50 thousand each. As many as 15 persons received the green card, 31 for pension yojana and three physical handicap persons tricycles in the janata darbar. Under the Government of India's RGSA scheme to promote traditional small-scale skill industries, Jharkhand Government's Panchayati Raj Director, Nesha Oraon inspected the Bamboo Art Center located in Sisai block of Gumla constructed with the aim of promoting the traditional arts of the district and increasing the income of the artisans. She assured every possible technical financial help to the artisans. With the initiative of Gumla Deputy Commissioner (DC), Sushant Gaurav, the district administration is constantly working to give recognition to the bamboo artisans, who were out of the mainstream of the district. While on one hand Bamboo Art Center has been constructed for bamboo artisans, on the other hand bamboo tool kits are also being distributed as well as training is being given for their skill development. During her visit Oraon met the bamboo craftsmen and the facilities provided by the district administration. She heard the story from the mouth of the bamboo craftsmen. Seeing the happiness and satisfaction on the faces of all the bamboo craftsmen, she expressed immense joy and also appreciated the products made by the craftsmen. She said that Gumla is the first district of Jharkhand where such work is being done at grass root level for bamboo craftsmen. The Director said that in the light of the instructions received from the Government of India, the Jharkhand Government will identify the traditional crafts of different districts and prepare plans for their upliftment. In this regard, in the course of the Gumla tour, the Bamboo Art Center made for bamboo craftsmen in Sisai was inspected and the ground situation was seen after meeting the craftsmen. She said that the initiative of Gumla DC for the upliftment of the craftsmen is commendable. Impressed by the work being done by the district administration, Oraon assured cooperation to the district administration for the upliftment of bamboo artisans. She said that financial and technical assistance will be provided by the Government to take the initiative of the district administration one step further. Bamboo artisans gifted bamboo products to the Director. Accepting the gift, she also purchased bamboo items and assured bamboo artisans to cooperate in their economic development by connecting them with a large marketing area. Apart from this, the Director has also asked the Panchayati Raj Officer to give consent soon for the construction work of Basia Brass Crafts Development Center, Mandar Crafts Development Center for Cultural Identity of Jharkhand, Clay Art Center for Mati Craftsmen in Toto, proposed by the District Administration was assured. With the initiative of Deputy Commissioner Sushant Gaurav, several works are being done to strengthen the sources of income of bamboo artisans. Marking the main places of bamboo craftsmen of the district, 8 bamboo art centers have been constructed in Sisai, Basia, Ghaghra, Chainpur, Palkot, Bharno, Raidih and Kamdara blocks. Bamboo tool kits are being distributed among 1600 bamboo artisans identified in the entire district. So far, bamboo tool kits have been distributed among more than 1200 bamboo artisans. Apart from this, according to the changing times, bamboo artisans are also given technical training from time to time by the coordinators of the Chief Minister's Small and Cottage Industries Development Board, in which training is also being given to make decorative materials and furniture. Rural folks are peeved with the limit of exchange of 2k denomination banknotes by the bank correspondents called BCs in the bank lingo. The RBI has permitted bank correspondents to exchange 2k denomination banknotes for only two notes per day that is 4000 rupees only. Again bank correspondents will swap the 2k denomination banknotes for only their account holders. It meant no person having no bank account can get his 2k denomination bank notes exchanged by the bank correspondents. There is a branch of the SBI at Ramgarh in Palamu. It only accepts deposit, allows no withdrawal. The customers turn to either bank correspondents or to the customer service point. The limitation of just exchanging 2k denomination banknotes in two numbers only per day and also to the account holder has worried the migrant workers and their families here most. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday accused the Modi government and state BJP leaders of trying to shield Ganapati and Ramanna, who he said conspired to kill his party's leadership at the Jheeram Valley. Ganapati and Ramanna are the nom de guerre of two of the most wanted leaders of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) who have been leading a Maoist insurgency in central India for decades. Baghel told reporters that the BJP was trying to hamper the state governments efforts to unearth the conspiracy behind the Jheeram attack and questioned why the names of Ganapati and Ramanna were removed from the report of the NIA. He said the day a Congress government is formed at the Centre, "we will clear the hindrance in the probe into the conspiracy angle of the incident. We will make clear 'Doodh Ka Doodh and Pani ka Pani', he said. He said this while paying homage at the memorial built in the memory of those killed in a brutal Naxalite attack in Jheeram valley in Bastar district in 2013. On May 25 that year, Maoists attacked a convoy of Congress leaders ahead of Assembly elections, killing 32 people, including then state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, former leader of opposition Mahendra Karma and former Union minister Vidya Charan Shukla. The memorial, named Jheeram Ghati Shaheed Smarak, has been built in Lalbagh area of Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district, where statues of politicians and security personnel killed in the attack have been installed. In the last 10 years, we tried our best to bring the facts to light. As you all know, it was a political and criminal conspiracy. But they (BJP) kept on trying to stall our efforts and moved the judiciary to get a stay, the chief minister said. The National Investigation Agencys probe into the incident was not satisfactory. When we started a fresh police investigation and demanded the case back from the NIA, the BJP-led government at the Centre denied it. The NIA moved the high court against the fresh police probe, he said. He claimed that BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh have also been trying to pose hindrances in the proceedings of the two-member judicial commission probing the attack. Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik recently moved the high court against the judicial panel probe, the chief minister said. Baghel said one needed to know who were behind this mass killings and why all these hindrances were being created. During his visit, the Chief Minister interacted with the families of some of those who were killed. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday lashed out at the leadership of Congress Delhi unit accusing them of doing politics of convenience on the issue of the Centres ordinance on the Delhi services matter. Addressing a Press conference, Bharadwaj said that while the Delhi Congress is refusing to extend any support to the 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. Responding to Bharadwajs claim, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ajay Maken said that he never claimed that Sheila Dikshit didnt seek full Statehood or expanded authority. He asserted that that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wants to gain a unique privilege previously denied to Chief Ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj. 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 dont 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 while addressing a press conference. He explained that this indicates that only during the first tenure of Sheila Dikshit did she have trouble with the BJP Government at the Centre. But 2004 onwards, once the Manmohan Singh-led Government was sworn in at the Centre in 2004 and till the end of Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi Governments tenure in 2013, she was consulted by the Centre on matters of land, public order and police, as well. Drawing attention to the evolving position of Congress leaders, he pointed out that Maken, a prominent Congress leader, had previously acknowledged the powers of the Delhi Chief Minister to be on par with those of any other states Chief Minister. However, Bharadwaj expressed his disappointment with the current conduct of Maken, accusing him of misleading the people of Delhi and aligning himself with the BJP. Reading out another part of the 2002 resolution, he said, The legislative assembly takes cognizance of the fact that constitutionally the LG is entrusted with three, and only three subjects and powers with respect to Entry 1, 2 and 18 of the State List. Over here, it once again becomes very clear that if the LG has any powers in Delhi it is only related to land, public order and police. This is said by the Congress party in 2002 in their own resolution. Please note that there is no mention of the services department. Recently, the Congress leaders have been going around saying that the services was always with the Central Government. This untruth of theirs has also been exposed today, he said. Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken responded to Bharadwajs charges and said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wants to gain a unique privilege previously denied to Chief Ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj. Never claimed that Sheila Dikshit Ji didnt seek full Statehood or expanded authority. My assertion was that Kejriwal wants to gain an unique privilege previously denied to Chief Ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj, Maken said in a Twitter post. Maken further said that the AAP should retract their demand, if they comprehend the essence of National Capital Territory. Not being given full powers to Delhi. There must be a reason. The reason being that Delhi represents the National Capital and belongs to the entire country. Hence, the principle of cooperative federalism doesnt apply here. As such, the constitution refers to Delhi not merely as Delhi, but as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. If AAP followers comprehend the essence of National Capital Territory, they should respectfully retract their demands, Maken tweeted. He said that the AAP should focus on improving the city instead of seeking more authority to mask inefficiency. Patel, Nehru, Shastri, Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, to Manmohan Singh till 2014, none were granted what AAP is currently demanding from Modi, the Congress leader said. Earlier, Maken had strongly opposed extending any support to 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. Earlier, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit had also said that AAPs allegations that it is not being allowed to work in Delhi is merely an excuse and a reflection of its uselessness. 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 Kumars support during their meeting earlier this week. The Congress remained unrepresented in the meeting of political parties convened by the expert committee on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Thursday. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara said that an invitation was extended to him by the expert committee and after that the party had requested the committee to provide some information regarding the background of the UCC. He said that no draft was provided by the committee to the Congress party despite reminders in this regard. Mahara said that whenever any suggestions are sought on any issue, a note about its background and draft is also provided. He said that the party would have submitted its inputs to the committee if the draft was provided to it. Mahara claimed that correspondence was done with the expert committee twice but no information was provided. The PCC president said that in absence of any information provided, the Congress party has decided that it would submit its suggestions only after studying the draft prepared by the committee so no representation was sent by the party in the all party meeting convened by the expert committee on Thursday. Delegates held discussions on gender and corruption in the G20 anti-corruption working group meeting held in Narendranagar on Thursday. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Union minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi said that a good government is defined by how it ensures welfare works for the last person and women in society. She spoke about various steps of the Central government including the Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra scheme, Ayushman Bharat and DBT which are proving to be instrumental in eradicating corruption and empowering women. She said that women are the most affected by corruption. The minister further stated that women should get free of cost public services, health and education facilities, financial assistance and facilities to look after their children. Delegates from Africa, Indonesia and other nations expressed their views on corruption, women empowerment and related issues during the meeting. Operator of a womens self help group based in Narendranagar, Rajni Rawat talked about the success of self help groups in the State. Women are becoming empowered economically and self reliant in the rural areas through self help groups, she added. Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was brought to Delhis Mandoli Prison from a Gujarat jail in the early hours of Thursday, officials said. A senior jail official said Bishnoi has been lodged in the Mandoli jail due to security reasons. On May 2, jailed gangster Tillu Tajpuriya was stabbed to death with improvised weapons allegedly by four members of the Gogi gang inside the high-security prison. Last month, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) got Bishnois custody in connection with a case of cross-border smuggling of drugs. The ATS wanted to question the gangster about his possible links in connection with the seizure 40 kg heroin worth more than Rs 200 crore from a Pakistani fishing boat in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast in September last year. The Delhi Police Special Cell has also arrested an alleged member of the Bishnoi gang here on Monday. Under the chairmanship of District President of Bharatiya Janata Party Backward Caste Front, Lohardaga, Sanjay Chaudhary, a one-day protest program was organized against the policies of the Jharkhand government on making the reservation of OBC community people in Lohardaga district zero on Thursday. BJP State Working Committee member Omprakash Singh, former Mati Kala Board President Chandra Prajapati, District Incharge Sanjay Chaurasia were present on the occasion. District in-charge Sanjay Chaurasia said that today the coalition government of Jharkhand is playing with the constitutional rights of people on the basis of its appeasement policy. Along with Jharkhand, there are districts including Lohardaga, where about 40 percent of the total population is under the OBC caste based on educational and economic criteria, which should get 27 percent reservation rights, which according to today's constitutional rules, the state government itself does not have the power to decide reservation and is violating the rights and rights of people by dividing equal people in one state under vote bank politics. Singh said that 27 per cent reservation is the right of the people included in the OBC category to help the society to overcome the backwardness of the society, which the Jharkhand government has misused its power in 6 other districts including Lohardaga district. has been deprived of it. Chand Prajapati said that we the people of OBC society need to protest unitedly from road to house against the wrong policies decided by the present Jharkhand government. 27 percent reservation is linked to our future. Today, due to these mistakes, migration and unemployment of our society has increased in Jharkhand. Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today laid the foundation stone of new campus and hostel of Narmadanchal Vidyapeeth at Bargaon in Dindori district. They dedicated the new ghat and stair construction work on the Silgi river and also inspected the gau-shala, under-construction school premises and hostel. Construction work of Narmadanchal Vidyapeeth School and Hostel is being done in Bargaon from the CSR head of South East Cold Field Limited Bilaspur at a cost of about Rs. 18 crore. Governor Shri Patel and Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also inaugurated the Divyang Aids Distribution Camp and Health Camp and distributed motorized tricycles and aids to the Divyangs. The Governor and the Chief Minister offered prayers at the Siddha Maharaj temple and wished for the well being of the people of state. Governor Shri Patel said that the Tribal Welfare Centre Mahakaushal Bargaon is continuously working for the development of the society. Remarkable work is being done here in various other fields besides education, health, environmental protection. For this, all the members associated with the organisation deserve congratulations. The Governor appreciated the academic quality and management of Narmadanchal Vidyapeeth. Mentioning the sickle cell eradication programme run by the state government, he motivated the present tribal brothers to compulsorily get themselves and their family members checked for sickle cell and others also to be checked. Governor Shri Patel appealed to ensure their participation in the complete eradication of TB by the year 2025 and sickle cell by 2047, as per the target of the Central Government. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has said that he had come to Bargaon in the year 2006, since then till now there has been a lot of change in the form of this tribal welfare centre. During that time Sudarshan ji and Pujya Swami Satyamitranand Giri ji were present with him. He said that during his visit to the gau-shala today, he saw that Peepal trees have been planted in the premises for environmental protection, which are working as oxygen banks. The objective of Tribal Welfare Centre, Bargaon is to provide quality education to the students, develop them physically, mentally and intellectually and build on ideal leadership and make youths self-reliant with moral and human values, so that they can become responsible citizens and serve the society and the nation. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the work of women empowerment and eradication of social evils can be done only through social service. This centre is fulfilling these responsibilities very well. The Chief Minister also mentioned the ancient and dignified culture of India. He said that this project is doing the work of connecting with the ancient culture of India. The sense of service to man, service to Narayan is reflected in this centre. He appealed to all the people present to give their participation in this noble work and make the society better. CM Shri Chouhan instructed to get the estimate prepared for the construction of boundary wall of Tribal Welfare Centre. He said that all possible cooperation will be provided by the government to further improve the system of the centre. Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Chairman Tribal Welfare Centre Shri Manohar Lal Sahu, Secretary Shri Digvijay Singh, Advocate General Shri Prashant Singh, General Manager of SECL Shri Pradeep Kumar, Commissioner Disabled Welfare Shri Sandeep Rajak and public representatives and centre members were present. Under the aegis of the Tribal Pradesh Congress Committee, a meeting was held today at Congress Bhavan Ranchi at 11:00 a.m. under the chairmanship of the Committee's Chairman Josai Mardi regarding the empowerment of the organization. Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee President Rajesh Thakur, state general secretary cum office in-charge Amulya Neeraj Khalkho, Sanjay Marandi, Anoop Lakda, Wilson Topno were mainly present on this occasion. On this occasion, JPCC chief, Rajesh Thakur said that the Congress party in the state is walking shoulder to shoulder with the tribals and is working vocally on the public problems of the tribals. The Tribal Congress Committee was formed so that we go together for the respect and culture of the tribals. The state president appealed to the tribal leaders present that politics is a service work, so strengthen the tribal Congress and serve the tribal society. The Congress party has always stood with the tribals. There is a need that the Tribal Congress should do the work of connecting tribals with the organization from block to panchayat. He said that the faith of the tribals has always been firm towards the Congress party. We have to identify good leaders from various tribal communities and link them to the party organization. The state president said that under the leadership development mission, the National Congress is campaigning across the country to connect good leaders mainly from tribals, Dalits, minorities and backward communities with the organization. By ensuring regular meetings of the Tribal Congress organization in Jharkhand, work to strengthen the Tribal Congress at the district and block level without delay. State Congress general secretary cum office in-charge Amulya Neeraj Khalkho said that tribals need to work for the betterment of the society as leaders of the organization and not just for electoral politics. The Congress party has separately given the platform of Tribal Congress for tribals so that we can organize through tribal Congress and protect the rights and rights of the society. State Chairman of Tribal Congress Committee, Josai Mardi said that the public problems of tribals of the state were discussed with the state president. The Congress party will solve all the public problems of the tribals. Tribals have always fought on issues like water, jungle and land and will fight further. It was decided in the meeting that on June 16, 2023, a state level conference will be organized by the Tribal Congress in Ranchi. The District Tribal Congress will be formed in all the districts by the end of June. After that district level tribal congress conference will be organized in all the districts. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at two locations in Uttar Pradesh in the Bhopal terror funding case involving the proscribed organisation Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The raids, conducted on Wednesday, were aimed at exposing further the links and conspiracies of the 10 already arrested accused who have been charge-sheeted in the case by the NIA court. Six of the arrested accused are Bangladeshi nationals and are active JMB cadre, the NIA said, adding that they had entered India illegally without any valid document, and had acquired false and forged Indian identity documents with the help of their sympathisers in India. Wednesdays searches at 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 suspicious transactions related to the transfer of funds by the accused, the NIA said. The NIA investigations have revealed that all the 10 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 and endorsing, justifying and glorifying the terrorist acts of the various banned terrorist organisations, including JMB, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the anti-terror agency said. They were conspiring to align with terrorist organisations to achieve their ultimate goal of establishing a Sharia-based Islamic rule in India through the pursuit of violent jihad, the NIA said, adding that 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 NIA registered the case on April 5 last year under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act of 1946. It was initially registered on March 14 last year by Bhopal Police in the wake of the arrest of six active cadres of JMB from their rented house in the city. A cache of jihadi literature, digital devices, printer, paper cutting and bookbinding machines and other material were also seized from the house, the agency said. Given the ramifications of the case and developments for national security, the NIA had subsequently taken over the investigation and arrested four more accused. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off Uttarakhands first Vande Bharat Express connecting Dehradun with Delhi on Thursday. The Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami were also present at the inaugural ceremony of the train in Dehradun. The PM said in his address that Vande Bharat will start a new era of comfortable travel experiences, especially for tourists travelling to the State, with world-class amenities. He said that travelling 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. He also emphasised the importance of connectivity in a mountain state where people from the villages migrate due to a lack of connectivity and added that the government wants to prevent that suffering for the coming generations. Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express will ensure ease of travel as well as greater comfort for the citizens. The country is not going to stop now, the country has now caught its pace. The whole country is moving ahead at the speed of Vande Bharat and will continue to move ahead, said Modi. He said, Railways is on a quest to completely electrify rail routes in the country and more than 90 per cent of the country's railway network has been electrified. In Uttarakhand, 100 per cent electrification of the entire rail network has been achieved. He also informed that work on Tanakpur- Bageshwar rail line would start soon. He said that the country is being watched with great hope and the world wants to come and see it. "The world wants to come to India to see India and to understand the essence of India. In such a situation, there are excellent opportunities for states like Uttarakhand. Vande Bharat train is also going to help Uttarakhand to take full advantage of this opportunity". Vaishnaw said on the launch that Railways used to receive a budget of only Rs 187 crore a decade ago for the development of Railways in Uttarakhand but the location rose under pm Modi upto Rs 5,000 crore for development. He said that the PM has an emotional connection with the State. He said that Railways is carrying out various big projects in the State under the PMs guidance. He said that work is underway on the 5G facility, expansion of fibre connectivity and the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line which has 104 kilometre long tunnel out of 125 kilometres of total line. Dhami also expressed his gratitude to the PM and Vaishnaw for giving Vande Bharat to the people of Uttarakhand. According to the Railways, Vande Bharat is equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology that will cover the distance between Dehradun to Delhi in 4.5 hours. It is scheduled to depart from Dehradun at 7 AM and will reach Delhi's Anand Vihar terminal at 11:45 AM. It will depart from Anand Vihar at 05:50 PM and arrive at Dehradun by 10:35 PM, as per railways officials. A section of students and teachers of the Delhi University have opposed the process of replacing the B.El.Ed course with the Centres Integrated Teacher Education Programme, claiming that the move would lead to a deep dilution of the standards required to prepare school teachers. The university is planning to slowly scrap the in-house unique Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.) programme. The Delhi University was the only varsity to have its own integrated four-year programme. Three colleges of the Delhi University will adopt the Centres four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) for the upcoming academic year. A section of teachers and students alike has opposed the scrapping of the course. Student group SFI said scrapping a well-reputed programme such as the BElEd is not only illegal, but also academically and professionally irrational. The university should come clear on why it is coercing colleges into replacing the BElEd with ITEP? the SFI said in a statement. Chhattisgarh Police on Thursday arrested three men in Rajnandgaon district while they were headed in a truck packed with 41 cattle which were to be slaughtered in Maharashtra. Acting on a tip, the truck (MH-40, CD-9430) was intercepted near Kallubanjari forest check post, Rajnandgaon Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told The Pioneer. The three men were identified as driver Tilak Borkar, Abdul Shoaib and Sanjay Panse, all from Maharashtra. The cattle included 15 cows, five bulls and 21 calves. The accused told the police that the cattle were to be slaughtered. Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the silver jubilee celebrations and Womens Convention of Dindori district on Thursday. On completion of 25 years of the establishment of the district, they dedicated the development works and performed bhoomi-pujan, giving many gifts of development. In the function, rights letters of residential land under the Mukhya Mantri Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana and benefits under various public welfare schemes were distributed to the beneficiaries. The Governor and the Chief Minister also released the booklet "Vision Document" focusing on the vision of the development of Dindori district and also unveiled the website of Dindori Narmada Yatra. Governor Patel and Chief Minister Chouhan extended best wishes to the people of the district on the silver jubilee of the establishment of Dindori district. Patel said that with the Mukhya Mantri Ladli Behna Yojana, the sisters of the state will become financially more empowered and self-dependent. Sisters will now be able to put forward their views more firmly. The Governor called upon that good health and education of children is important for progress. In this direction, all the parents should fulfill their responsibility in the efforts of the government. It is a matter of pleasure that the state government is working with full dedication for the development of all classes, youths, women, deprived sections and tribals. The state government has implemented the PESA Act in 20 tribal-dominated districts to strengthen the traditional rights of the tribal society on water, forest and land. He appreciated the government's decision to give priority to women's small, micro and medium enterprises in government procurement. Also congratulated the state government for being first in the implementation of Matru Vandana Yojana. Patel said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to eradicate sickle cell anaemia and TB from India. To make this public welfare resolution successful, we all have to make united efforts. Especially in 20 tribal-dominated districts, which are most affected by this disease, its investigation has been started, all citizens must get themselves tested. The Central government has set a target of 2047 for genetic sickle cell anaemia and 2025 for TB eradication. The Governor said that TB disease should not be concealed, in case of symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. Chouhan said that the resolution of the state government is to remove the poverty of the sisters and take them forward and include them in the Lakhpati club. In the Livelihood Mission, the work of connecting the sisters of self-help groups with employment-oriented works and boosting their income will be given the form of a movement. Many schemes of the state government are yielding positive results for the welfare and respect of daughters in the state. The recently launched Mukhya Mantri Ladli Bahna Yojana will change the lives of poor sisters, they will move towards self-reliance with dignity. The Chief Minister said that the people of Dindori are praiseworthy. More daughters than sons are born in the district. This is not a simple matter. Here the number of daughters is 1104 in the ratio of 1000 sons. Dindori district knows how to respect mothers and sisters. Here the sisters are progressive, they are doing the work of conservation of advanced seeds of millets like Kodo-Kutki. They have done the important work of preserving the fertility of the soil by saving a lot of agricultural land of Dindori from the use of chemical fertilisers. The state government is with the farmer sisters in their efforts to improve and develop agriculture in the state. Lashing out at the opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for May 28, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the opposition parties statements were extremely sad, irresponsible, and were going to weaken democracy. The chief minister said that May 28 was going to be recorded as a glorious moment in the history of independent India. Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister 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 occasion, the kind of irresponsible statements issued by the opposition parties are sad and are going to weaken democracy, he added. The chief minister said that being the largest democracy of the world, India was referred to as the mother of democracy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new identity to Indias image and the whole country is watching the attempt of the opposition to denigrate his efforts and will never accept it, he said. Speaking of the new Parliament building, the chief minister said that it complies with present-day demands. It was built with a vision for the next 100 years and was a fusion of tradition and modernity. It had been built with a visionary approach, ensuring that every parliamentarian had adequate space and access to all amenities. This Parliament was giving an opportunity to set a standard for the world because it would serve as a significant forum for hearing the voice of the common man. However, this opposition rhetoric was extremely upsetting. I appeal to the people to witness and participate in this glorious moment with a call to strengthen Indias democracy, he concluded. Encroachments in the name of "land jihad" will not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday, amid an ongoing statewide drive to remove illegally built structures from government land. Addressing the concluding session of the two-day meeting of the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal here, Dhami said, "Uttarakhand shares its borders with two countries (China and Nepal). A particular community had illegally encroached land and raised structures in the border areas of the state which are being removed as part of a drive. "Illegal encroachments in the name of land jihad will not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in Uttarakhand", Dhami said. He said the state government has already appealed to encroachers to remove such structures on their own or the administration will demolish them. Last month, Dhami warned occupiers of illegally built mazars (tombs) to remove those on their own and reiterated that his government would not allow land jihad in the state. Under a conspiracy, thousands of shrines have been built illegally on public and forest land without permission, he had said. "Not a single illegally built religious structure will be allowed to remain standing in the state. All illegal structures will be completely demolished," Dhami said on Friday. He said Uttarakhand will be the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). "The committee constituted to prepare a draft of the UCC has done 90 per cent of its job and will submit its report to the state government by June 30," he said. The UCC will be implemented after being examined, he said, adding that it will apply to people of all religions and communities. Uttarakhand's UCC will become a model for the entire country, Dhami said. The two-day meeting debated a range of issues including conversion, land jihad, same-sex marriages and live-in relationships. Dhami took the blessings of over 250 seers participating in the meeting. During the meeting, the VHP decided that, shortly before Diwali, it will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign against illegal religious conversion. Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri welcomed the state government's action against illegal encroachments but appealed to the chief minister not to demolish temples which are more than 50 years old even if they have encroached upon government land. They should be given on lease to the trust managing the temples while areas reserved for Bairagi seers should also be given on lease to Bairagi Akharas, Puri suggested. Swami Yatindra Nand Giri, who was present at the meeting, demanded stern action against a man who was arrested for running a dhaba in Har ki Pairi area allegedly after assuming a fake Hindu identity. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Congress parliamentary party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi at their residence here. Siddaramaiah is in the national capital to discuss matters related to the expansion of his Cabinet and this is his first meeting with Sonia Gandhi after the Congress formed government in the southern state. The Karnataka chief minister is learnt to have assured the CPP chairperson of good governance in the state and also thank her for her guidance and campaigning during the assembly elections. Top Congress leaders on Thursday had held discussions with Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar over expansion of the state Cabinet. The leaders had met Congress general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, party general secretary organisation K C Venugopal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Sources had said around 20 more ministers are likely to be inducted in the Karnataka Cabinet and added that another round of discussions will be held before the it is finalised. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were sworn in as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively along with eight cabinet ministers on May 20. The Congress high command had approved the first list of eight ministers against the earlier plan of inducting a much higher number of around 28 legislators into the Cabinet. Karnataka can have a maximum of 34 ministers and the Congress will find it difficult to accommodate all the aspirants. Sources said the names of only those MLAs were cleared who represented all sections and were senior-most, and there were no objections from any side over the choice. Differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are emerging over names of probable ministers with both pushing the case of MLAs close to them. 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, Egypts 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 metres (625 feet) by 32 metres (105 feet), had set off for Suez from the Saudi Red Sea port of Duba. Later in the day on Thursday, it was at sea about 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) south of the canal, according to Marine Traffic, a vessel tracking firm. Thursdays 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 kilometre (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. China Youzan Limited (OTCMKTS:CHNVF Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,368,000 shares, an increase of 181.4% from the April 30th total of 1,552,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,985.5 days. China Youzan Price Performance China Youzan stock remained flat at C$0.01 during mid-day trading on Thursday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.02. China Youzan has a twelve month low of C$0.01 and a twelve month high of C$0.04. Get China Youzan alerts: China Youzan Company Profile (Get Rating) Recommended Stories China Youzan Limited, an investment holding company, provides online and offline e-commerce solutions in the People's Republic of China, Japan, and Canada. The company operates through five segments: General Trading, Third Party Payment Services, Onecomm, Merchant Services, and Others. It trades in watches and other good; sells integrated smart point of sales devices; and offers third party payment and related consultancy services, as well as third party payment management services. Receive News & Ratings for China Youzan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Youzan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Societe Generale upgraded shares of CTP (OTCMKTS:CTPVF Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Separately, Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on CTP in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Get CTP alerts: CTP Stock Performance Shares of CTPVF stock opened at C$15.00 on Tuesday. CTP has a 1-year low of C$15.00 and a 1-year high of C$15.00. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$15.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$14.30. About CTP CTP N.V. engages in the ownership, development, management, and leasing of logistics and industrial real estate properties in Central and Eastern Europe. Its properties are used primarily for production and warehousing, third-party logistics and distribution, offices, and others. The company also operates 3 hotels under the Courtyard by Marriott brand in the Czech Republic under management agreements with third party. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CTP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CTP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Emera Incorporated (TSE:EMA Get Rating)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$54.40 and traded as high as C$57.31. Emera shares last traded at C$56.66, with a volume of 792,831 shares. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades EMA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Emera from C$65.00 to C$62.00 in a report on Monday, March 6th. TD Securities raised their price objective on Emera from C$64.00 to C$65.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. CIBC boosted their target price on Emera from C$56.00 to C$58.00 in a research report on Friday, April 21st. National Bankshares increased their price target on Emera from C$53.00 to C$55.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Emera from C$61.00 to C$62.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Emera currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$61.00. Get Emera alerts: Emera Trading Down 1.1 % The stock has a market capitalization of C$15.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.94, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.23. The stocks fifty day moving average price is C$57.18 and its 200 day moving average price is C$54.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 167.00, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Emera Announces Dividend Emera ( TSE:EMA Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported C$0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.70 by C$0.23. The company had revenue of C$2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.83 billion. Research analysts forecast that Emera Incorporated will post 3.1684269 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were paid a $0.69 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 28th. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.93%. Emeras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 77.75%. Emera Company Profile (Get Rating) Emera Incorporated, an energy and services company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to various customers. The company operates through Florida Electric Utility, Canadian Electric Utilities, Other Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Other segments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Emera Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emera and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of GasLog Partners (NYSE:GLOP Get Rating) in a research note released on Monday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the shipping companys stock. Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of GasLog Partners from a c rating to a b- rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Get GasLog Partners alerts: GasLog Partners Stock Up 0.4 % GLOP stock opened at $8.54 on Monday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $8.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $450.91 million, a PE ratio of 4.82 and a beta of 2.40. GasLog Partners has a 12 month low of $4.70 and a 12 month high of $9.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.98. GasLog Partners Announces Dividend GasLog Partners ( NYSE:GLOP Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The shipping company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $99.07 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $88.76 million. GasLog Partners had a net margin of 29.49% and a return on equity of 21.63%. Equities analysts expect that GasLog Partners will post 2.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Investors of record on Monday, May 8th were given a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 5th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.47%. GasLog Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 2.26%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On GasLog Partners A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of GasLog Partners in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Dorsey Wright & Associates purchased a new position in shares of GasLog Partners in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new position in shares of GasLog Partners in the 1st quarter valued at $38,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of GasLog Partners by 165.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 7,977 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 4,977 shares during the period. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in shares of GasLog Partners in the 1st quarter valued at $58,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.32% of the companys stock. About GasLog Partners (Get Rating) GasLog Partners LP engages in the operation and acquisition of liquefied natural gas carriers. It owns bareboat fleet of LNG carriers including tri-fuel diesel electric engine propulsion and stream vessels, and ships which operates under long-term time charters. The company was founded on January 23, 2014 and is headquartered in Piraeus, Greece. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for GasLog Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GasLog Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mizuho downgraded shares of Mitsubishi Electric (OTCMKTS:MIELY Get Rating) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report issued on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Mitsubishi Electric from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Mitsubishi Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup raised Mitsubishi Electric from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Get Mitsubishi Electric alerts: Mitsubishi Electric Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:MIELY opened at $25.60 on Monday. The companys fifty day moving average is $24.45 and its 200-day moving average is $22.14. Mitsubishi Electric has a 52 week low of $17.23 and a 52 week high of $26.61. About Mitsubishi Electric Mitsubishi Electric Corp. engages in the manufacture, development, and sale of electric and electronic equipment. It operates in the following business segments: Energy and Electric Systems, Industrial Automation Systems, Information and Communication Systems, Electronic Devices, Home Appliances, and Others. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of NIPPON STL & SU/S (OTCMKTS:NSSMY Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $6.65 and last traded at $6.85, with a volume of 224733 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $6.83. NIPPON STL & SU/S Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market cap of $6.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 1.35. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $7.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.46. NIPPON STL & SU/S Company Profile (Get Rating) Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation engages in steelmaking and steel fabrication businesses worldwide. It operates in five segments: Steelmaking and Steel Fabrication, Engineering and Construction, Chemicals, New materials, and System Solutions. The company offers steel plates; hot- and cold-rolled steel sheets and coils, coated steel sheets, color coated steel sheets, electrolytic tin plates, and electrical steel sheets; bar and rod materials; and structural steel products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PSGTF Get Rating) from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Price Performance Shares of PSGTF stock opened at $0.41 on Tuesday. PT Semen Indonesia has a 1-year low of $0.41 and a 1-year high of $0.41. Get PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk alerts: Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (NYSE:XIN Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 77,900 shares, an increase of 1,136.5% from the April 30th total of 6,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 138,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.6 days. Currently, 1.5% of the companys shares are sold short. Institutional Inflows and Outflows An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Xinyuan Real Estate stock. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (NYSE:XIN Get Rating) in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 478,629 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $536,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. owned 0.90% of Xinyuan Real Estate as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Institutional investors own 27.91% of the companys stock. Get Xinyuan Real Estate alerts: Xinyuan Real Estate Stock Down 7.4 % XIN stock traded down $0.29 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $3.62. The company had a trading volume of 18,153 shares, compared to its average volume of 94,163. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.41. Xinyuan Real Estate has a 52 week low of $2.95 and a 52 week high of $10.20. Analysts Set New Price Targets About Xinyuan Real Estate Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Xinyuan Real Estate in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. (Get Rating) Xinyuan Real Estate Co Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the acquisition, investment, and development of real estate properties. It operates through the following geographical segments: Henan Province, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Sichuan Province, Beijing, Hainan Province, Hunan Province, Shaanxi Province, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Zhuhai, and United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Xinyuan Real Estate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xinyuan Real Estate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 283,814 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,852 shares during the period. Amalgamated Banks holdings in Southern were worth $20,267,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of SO. Bell Investment Advisors Inc raised its holdings in Southern by 127.6% in the 4th quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 421 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 236 shares during the period. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN purchased a new stake in Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 192.0% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 511 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 336 shares during the period. Finally, Miller Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 66.7% in the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 500 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.78% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 847,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total transaction of $359,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 146,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 91,917 shares of company stock worth $6,889,527. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Southern Price Performance Southern stock traded down $0.62 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $69.20. The stock had a trading volume of 919,762 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,159,201. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $75.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.52, a PEG ratio of 4.91 and a beta of 0.51. The Southern Company has a 1-year low of $58.85 and a 1-year high of $80.57. The stocks fifty day moving average is $71.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $68.97. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 11.53%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.97 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southern Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. This is an increase from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.05%. Southerns dividend payout ratio is 90.32%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on SO shares. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, April 28th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Southern from $73.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on Southern from $77.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Southern currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.07. Southern Company Profile (Get Rating) The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AXQ Capital LP bought a new stake in TD SYNNEX Co. (NYSE:SNX Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 3,693 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $350,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in SNX. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of TD SYNNEX by 31.5% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 20,197 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,085,000 after acquiring an additional 4,841 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its position in TD SYNNEX by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 7,213 shares of the business services providers stock worth $745,000 after purchasing an additional 747 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in TD SYNNEX by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 9,614 shares of the business services providers stock worth $992,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its position in TD SYNNEX by 202.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 53,183 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,569,000 after purchasing an additional 35,593 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new stake in TD SYNNEX during the 1st quarter worth about $1,065,000. 84.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get TD SYNNEX alerts: TD SYNNEX Price Performance NYSE:SNX opened at $90.15 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.51 billion, a PE ratio of 12.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.63. TD SYNNEX Co. has a 52 week low of $78.86 and a 52 week high of $111.57. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $90.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $96.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. TD SYNNEX Dividend Announcement TD SYNNEX ( NYSE:SNX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 28th. The business services provider reported $2.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.74 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $15.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.74 billion. TD SYNNEX had a net margin of 1.11% and a return on equity of 13.80%. As a group, equities analysts expect that TD SYNNEX Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th were paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 13th. TD SYNNEXs dividend payout ratio is presently 19.55%. Insider Activity at TD SYNNEX In related news, insider Dennis Polk sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.13, for a total value of $777,040.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 132,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,860,206.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other TD SYNNEX news, insider Simon Leung sold 10,174 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.47, for a total value of $900,093.78. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 32,931 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,913,405.57. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Dennis Polk sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.13, for a total transaction of $777,040.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 132,402 shares in the company, valued at $12,860,206.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 36,998 shares of company stock valued at $3,439,588. 1.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have weighed in on SNX. Raymond James cut their price target on TD SYNNEX from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Cfra reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $100.00 price target (down from $120.00) on shares of TD SYNNEX in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Barclays cut their price target on TD SYNNEX from $109.00 to $103.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on TD SYNNEX in a research report on Monday, May 1st. They set a buy rating and a $101.00 price target on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on TD SYNNEX from $125.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, TD SYNNEX presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $113.91. TD SYNNEX Company Profile (Get Rating) TD SYNNEX Corp. engages in the distribution and aggregation of solutions in the information technology ecosystem. It operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and Japan. The firm offers IT hardware, software, and systems including personal computing devices and peripherals, mobile phones and accessories, printers, server and datacenter infrastructure, hybrid cloud, security, networking, communications and storage solutions, and system components. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TD SYNNEX Co. (NYSE:SNX Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for TD SYNNEX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TD SYNNEX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bollard Group LLC decreased its position in shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Get Rating) by 50.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,676 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 2,701 shares during the quarter. Bollard Group LLCs holdings in Black Hills were worth $188,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Black Hills by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,969,058 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $472,015,000 after acquiring an additional 151,038 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Black Hills by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,678,201 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $452,315,000 after buying an additional 178,522 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. lifted its stake in Black Hills by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,600,777 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $176,177,000 after buying an additional 98,568 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in Black Hills by 26.8% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,293,169 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $90,962,000 after buying an additional 273,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in Black Hills by 22.2% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,069,450 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $75,226,000 after buying an additional 194,063 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.96% of the companys stock. Get Black Hills alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on BKH shares. Sidoti lowered Black Hills from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $67.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Black Hills from $71.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Bank of America lowered Black Hills from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $79.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered Black Hills from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $81.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Black Hills from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $67.29. Insider Buying and Selling Black Hills Trading Down 0.3 % In other Black Hills news, CFO Richard Kinzley sold 10,033 shares of Black Hills stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.49, for a total value of $657,061.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,576 shares in the company, valued at $2,395,362.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. Shares of BKH stock traded down $0.21 on Friday, reaching $60.47. 44,598 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 449,418. The stock has a market cap of $4.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.55 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $63.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $66.51. Black Hills Co. has a 1-year low of $58.81 and a 1-year high of $79.78. Black Hills (NYSE:BKH Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $921.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $754.70 million. Black Hills had a return on equity of 8.33% and a net margin of 9.62%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.82 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Black Hills Co. will post 3.73 EPS for the current year. Black Hills Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a $0.625 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $2.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.13%. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.10%. Black Hills Company Profile (Get Rating) Black Hills Corp. is a diversified energy company. It operates through the following segments: Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities, and Corporate and Other. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The Gas Utilities segment provides natural gas in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HSBC upgraded shares of Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. HSBC currently has $189.00 target price on the oil and gas companys stock. A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James lowered their target price on Chevron from $212.00 to $208.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 14th. BNP Paribas upgraded Chevron from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $200.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Chevron from $195.00 to $192.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Scotiabank raised Chevron from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $195.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Chevron in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Chevron currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $194.12. Get Chevron alerts: Chevron Price Performance Shares of CVX opened at $154.56 on Tuesday. Chevron has a 1 year low of $132.54 and a 1 year high of $189.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $292.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.16. The business has a 50-day moving average of $162.23 and a 200-day moving average of $169.69. Chevron Dividend Announcement Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.41 by $0.14. Chevron had a return on equity of 23.15% and a net margin of 14.74%. The company had revenue of $50.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.49 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.36 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Chevron will post 14.23 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be paid a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.91%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.61%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 92,113 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $16,533,000 after acquiring an additional 1,453 shares during the period. M&R Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,580 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,361,000 after acquiring an additional 674 shares during the period. Cypress Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Cypress Capital Management LLC now owns 46,934 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $6,743,000 after acquiring an additional 293 shares during the period. Albion Financial Group UT grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 17,553 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,151,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 19,920 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,575,000 after acquiring an additional 965 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 69.37% of the companys stock. Chevron Company Profile (Get Rating) Chevron Corp. engages in the provision of administrative, financial management, and technology support for energy and chemical operations. It operates through the Upstream and Downstream segments. The Upstream segment consists of the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas, the liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas, the transporting of crude oil by major international oil export pipelines, the processing, transporting, storage, and marketing of natural gas, and a gas-to-liquids plant. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. lessened its holdings in Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund, Inc. (NYSE:CAF Get Rating) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,515,604 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 96,245 shares during the quarter. Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund accounts for approximately 7.4% of City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund were worth $92,424,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund by 13.0% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,561,663 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $64,776,000 after purchasing an additional 524,982 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC lifted its position in Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 30,530 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $434,000 after buying an additional 3,969 shares in the last quarter. Karpus Management Inc. lifted its position in Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund by 178.2% during the 3rd quarter. Karpus Management Inc. now owns 30,515 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $412,000 after buying an additional 19,545 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $214,000. Finally, Lincoln National Corp acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $160,000. Get Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund alerts: Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE CAF traded up $0.07 on Friday, hitting $13.13. 3,845 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 26,856. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $13.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.32. Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund, Inc. has a 1-year low of $12.16 and a 1-year high of $17.01. Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund Profile Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund, Inc is a closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to seek capital growth. The firm invests its assets in A-shares of Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, either by investing directly in A-shares through a licensed qualified foreign institutional investor or by gaining exposure to the A-share market through the use of derivatives. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund, Inc. (NYSE:CAF Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sanchez Energy (OTCMKTS:SNEC Get Rating) and Alvopetro Energy (OTCMKTS:ALVOF Get Rating) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, risk, dividends and analyst recommendations. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Sanchez Energy and Alvopetro Energys revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Sanchez Energy alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Sanchez Energy $1.06 billion 0.00 $85.21 million N/A N/A Alvopetro Energy $63.51 million 3.76 $31.73 million $0.89 7.38 Sanchez Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Alvopetro Energy. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sanchez Energy 0 0 0 0 N/A Alvopetro Energy 0 0 0 0 N/A This is a summary of current recommendations for Sanchez Energy and Alvopetro Energy, as provided by MarketBeat. Profitability This table compares Sanchez Energy and Alvopetro Energys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sanchez Energy 2.22% -18.15% 3.09% Alvopetro Energy 48.48% 47.58% 36.50% Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.6% of Sanchez Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 11.1% of Sanchez Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Risk and Volatility Sanchez Energy has a beta of 1.71, indicating that its share price is 71% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Alvopetro Energy has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its share price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Sanchez Energy beats Alvopetro Energy on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Sanchez Energy (Get Rating) Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources in the United States. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2018, the company had assembled approximately 271,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 34,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. About Alvopetro Energy (Get Rating) Alvopetro Energy Ltd. engages in the exploration, acquisition, development, and production of hydrocarbons in Brazil. Its natural gas projects include Cabure and Gomol. The company was founded on September 25, 2013 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Sanchez Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sanchez Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Western Trust Bank lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 39,028 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 273 shares during the quarter. First Western Trust Banks holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,808,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BMY. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at $332,000. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $150,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,075,000 after purchasing an additional 57,444 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter worth about $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $24,725,000 after purchasing an additional 68,018 shares in the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently commented on BMY. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven 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 $79.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Down 1.3 % Shares of NYSE BMY traded down $0.82 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $63.74. The stock had a trading volume of 3,467,529 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,018,155. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.42. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $63.72 and a 1 year high of $81.43. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $68.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $71.82. The firm has a market cap of $133.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.44. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.96 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.58%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.47%. Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New York Life Investment Management LLC lowered its stake in General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 189,316 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 1,231 shares during the quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $15,863,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in General Electric by 10.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 305,384 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $27,925,000 after acquiring an additional 27,682 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in General Electric in the first quarter worth about $1,518,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in General Electric by 2.9% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 11,748 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,075,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in General Electric in the first quarter worth about $388,000. Finally, West Family Investments Inc. bought a new stake in General Electric in the first quarter worth about $230,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.12% of the companys stock. Get General Electric alerts: General Electric Stock Performance Shares of GE stock traded up $1.91 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $103.43. 671,894 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,166,165. General Electric has a fifty-two week low of $46.55 and a fifty-two week high of $105.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $112.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.24, a P/E/G ratio of 7.11 and a beta of 1.27. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $97.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $88.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth General Electric ( NYSE:GE Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $14.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.46 billion. General Electric had a return on equity of 9.45% and a net margin of 11.85%. General Electrics revenue was up 14.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.24 earnings per share. Analysts predict that General Electric will post 2.03 EPS for the current fiscal year. GE has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on General Electric from $97.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on General Electric from $90.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. TheStreet upgraded General Electric from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on General Electric from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on General Electric from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $103.20. Insider Activity at General Electric In other General Electric news, SVP Scott Strazik sold 173,873 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.56, for a total transaction of $17,310,795.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,049 shares in the company, valued at $5,580,238.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other General Electric news, SVP Scott Strazik sold 173,873 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.56, for a total transaction of $17,310,795.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,049 shares in the company, valued at $5,580,238.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 58,292 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.68, for a total value of $6,102,006.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 70,537 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,383,813.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 239,419 shares of company stock worth $24,144,151. 0.67% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About General Electric (Get Rating) General Electric Co engages in the provision of commercial and military aircraft engines and systems, wind, and other renewable energy generation equipment and grid solutions, and gas, steam, nuclear, and other power generation equipment. It operates through the following segments: Aviation, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, and Power. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guess (NYSE:GES Get Rating) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.28) by $0.21, Briefing.com reports. Guess had a net margin of 4.87% and a return on equity of 29.09%. The company had revenue of $569.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $555.63 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.24 earnings per share. Guesss quarterly revenue was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Guess updated its Q2 guidance to $0.35-0.42 EPS and its FY24 guidance to $2.60-2.90 EPS. Guess Trading Up 8.2 % GES stock opened at $18.80 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.95 and a beta of 1.93. Guess has a twelve month low of $14.27 and a twelve month high of $24.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $18.72 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.29. Get Guess' alerts: Guess Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be given a dividend of $0.30 per share. This is a boost from Guesss previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 6th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.38%. Guesss payout ratio is 47.62%. Analyst Ratings Changes Institutional Trading of Guess Several brokerages recently weighed in on GES. Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and issued a $23.00 price target on shares of Guess in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. TheStreet cut shares of Guess from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday. Small Cap Consu reiterated a buy rating on shares of Guess in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Guess from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $26.00. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. PEAK6 Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Guess during the first quarter valued at $213,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in Guess in the third quarter worth about $204,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Guess in the first quarter worth about $201,000. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Guess in the second quarter worth about $199,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky purchased a new stake in Guess in the third quarter worth about $164,000. 58.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Guess (Get Rating) Guess?, Inc engages in designing, marketing, distributing and licensing contemporary apparel and accessories for men, women and children that reflect the American lifestyle and European fashion sensibilities. It operates through the following segments: Americas Retail, Americas Wholesale, Europe, Asia, and Licensing. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Guess' Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guess' 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 compare to its peers? We will compare Banco Itau Chile to similar businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation and analyst recommendations. Risk and Volatility Banco Itau Chile has a beta of 0.98, suggesting that its share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Banco Itau Chiles peers have a beta of 0.94, suggesting that their average share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Banco Itau Chile alerts: Dividends Banco Itau Chile pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.7%. Banco Itau Chile pays out 22.9% 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. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Itau Chile $1,518.51 billion $487.62 million 4.84 Banco Itau Chile Competitors $88.79 billion $3.07 billion 9.14 This table compares Banco Itau Chile and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Banco Itau Chile has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. 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. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Banco Itau Chile and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Itau Chile 0 0 0 0 N/A Banco Itau Chile Competitors 630 2238 2270 60 2.34 As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies have a potential upside of 85.96%. Given Banco Itau Chiles peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Banco Itau Chile has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. 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 18.94% 11.99% 0.98% Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.2% of Banco Itau Chile shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.6% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are owned by institutional investors. 8.0% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Banco Itau Chile peers beat Banco Itau Chile on 7 of the 12 factors compared. Banco Itau Chile Company Profile (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. Intrust Bank NA raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Get Rating) by 11.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 8,600 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 912 shares during the quarter. Intrust Bank NAs holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $542,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,035,799 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $285,732,000 after purchasing an additional 118,928 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 32.8% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 3,494,359 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $214,728,000 after purchasing an additional 862,354 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,381,730 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $213,011,000 after purchasing an additional 102,903 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 117.2% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 2,424,556 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $148,989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,308,043 shares during the period. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System raised its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,879,723 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $115,509,000 after purchasing an additional 265,658 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.45% of the companys stock. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com cut Occidental Petroleum from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Raymond James increased their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $79.00 to $67.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. TD Cowen raised Occidental Petroleum from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $63.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered Occidental Petroleum from an in-line rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $70.94. Insider Activity Occidental Petroleum Stock Performance In other Occidental Petroleum news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 614,020 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of $58.66 per share, for a total transaction of $36,018,413.20. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 216,112,188 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,677,140,948.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Insiders acquired 14,781,466 shares of company stock worth $875,880,626 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. OXY opened at $58.81 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $52.44 billion, a PE ratio of 6.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $63.31. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a fifty-two week low of $54.30 and a fifty-two week high of $77.13. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.30 by ($0.21). The company had revenue of $7.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.37 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 45.10% and a net margin of 27.06%. The businesss revenue was down 15.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.12 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 5.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Occidental Petroleum Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.22%. Occidental Petroleums payout ratio is currently 8.25%. About Occidental Petroleum (Get Rating) Occidental Petroleum Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OXY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank reissued their buy rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. Berenberg Bank currently has a GBX 6,600 ($82.09) target price on the stock. A number of other research analysts have also commented on RIO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,110 ($63.56) to GBX 5,250 ($65.30) in a report on Friday, April 28th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,100 ($63.43) to GBX 5,000 ($62.19) in a report on Friday, April 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a report on Friday, March 17th. UBS Group set a GBX 5,000 ($62.19) price target on Rio Tinto Group in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a GBX 7,500 ($93.28) price target on Rio Tinto Group in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Rio Tinto Group has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 6,134.62 ($76.30). Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Stock Performance Shares of LON:RIO traded up GBX 171.50 ($2.13) on Thursday, hitting GBX 4,929.50 ($61.31). The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,349,562 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,796,198. The company has a market capitalization of 61.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 805.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.47, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.63. Rio Tinto Group has a 12 month low of GBX 4,424.50 ($55.03) and a 12 month high of GBX 6,406 ($79.68). The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 5,176.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 5,592.43. Insiders Place Their Bets About Rio Tinto Group In other news, insider Peter Cunningham sold 5 shares of Rio Tinto Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 5,586 ($69.48), for a total transaction of 279.30 ($347.39). In other news, insider Ngaire Woods purchased 410 shares of Rio Tinto Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 5,338 ($66.39) per share, for a total transaction of 21,885.80 ($27,221.14). Also, insider Peter Cunningham sold 5 shares of Rio Tinto Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,586 ($69.48), for a total value of 279.30 ($347.39). In the last ninety days, insiders acquired 1,910 shares of company stock worth $9,916,080. 14.67% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. (Get Rating) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company offers aluminum, copper, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, iron ore, and lithium. It also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, mills, refineries, smelters, power stations, and research and service facilities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO Get Rating) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $65.19, but opened at $67.27. Southern Copper shares last traded at $66.81, with a volume of 178,908 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Southern Copper from a neutral rating to a sell rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $65.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. UBS Group increased their target price on Southern Copper from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Southern Copper from $55.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Morgan Stanley lowered Southern Copper from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Southern Copper in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $62.29. Get Southern Copper alerts: Southern Copper Trading Up 2.7 % The businesss 50-day moving average price is $74.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.91. The company has a market capitalization of $51.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.90, a PEG ratio of 13.36 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 4.17 and a quick ratio of 3.38. Southern Copper Cuts Dividend Insider Activity at Southern Copper The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th were paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 8th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.68%. Southern Coppers dividend payout ratio is presently 115.94%. In other Southern Copper news, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.97, for a total value of $39,485.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,514 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $514,410.58. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Southern Copper Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Southern Copper by 10.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,797,970 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $594,595,000 after acquiring an additional 756,555 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 3.5% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,325,160 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $193,942,000 after buying an additional 145,261 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Southern Copper by 43.3% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,763,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $209,759,000 after purchasing an additional 835,044 shares in the last quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Southern Copper by 761.9% during the first quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,756,533 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $210,186,000 after purchasing an additional 2,436,727 shares in the last quarter. Finally, abrdn plc increased its holdings in Southern Copper by 134.8% during the first quarter. abrdn plc now owns 2,702,309 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $206,051,000 after buying an additional 1,551,189 shares during the last quarter. 7.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Southern Copper (Get Rating) Southern Copper Corp. engages in the development, production, and exploration of copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. It operates through the following segments: Peruvian Operations, Mexican Open-Pit Operations, and Mexican Underground Mining Operations. The Peruvian Operations segment focuses on the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad, and port facilities that service both mines. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Southern Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fortuna Silver Mines (NYSE:FSM Get Rating) (TSE:FVI) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Wednesday. Several other analysts have also recently commented on FSM. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Fortuna Silver Mines from C$6.50 to C$6.25 in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. CIBC boosted their price target on Fortuna Silver Mines from C$5.85 to C$6.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. National Bank Financial boosted their price target on Fortuna Silver Mines from C$7.00 to C$7.25 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Finally, TheStreet cut Fortuna Silver Mines from a c rating to a d rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Get Fortuna Silver Mines alerts: Fortuna Silver Mines Stock Down 0.6 % Fortuna Silver Mines stock opened at $3.24 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $942.45 million, a PE ratio of -6.75 and a beta of 1.32. Fortuna Silver Mines has a 12 month low of $2.05 and a 12 month high of $4.20. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.26. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fortuna Silver Mines Fortuna Silver Mines ( NYSE:FSM Get Rating ) (TSE:FVI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 15th. The basic materials company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.02. The business had revenue of $164.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $152.00 million. Fortuna Silver Mines had a positive return on equity of 1.81% and a negative net margin of 22.37%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.10 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Fortuna Silver Mines will post 0.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FSM. First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new position in Fortuna Silver Mines during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Northern Trust Corp purchased a new stake in Fortuna Silver Mines during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Bluefin Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Fortuna Silver Mines during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Fortuna Silver Mines during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Fortuna Silver Mines by 27.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,530 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 2,955 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.79% of the companys stock. About Fortuna Silver Mines (Get Rating) Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc engages in the exploration, extraction and processing of precious and base metal in Latin America. It operates through the following segments: Minera Bateas SAC (Bateas), Compania Minera Cuzcatlan SA de C.V. (Cuzcatian), Mansfield Minera SA (Mansfield), and Corporate. The Beates segment operates the Caylloma silver, lead, and zinc mine. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortuna Silver Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortuna Silver Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New York Life Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 80,172 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,408 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLCs holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group were worth $12,662,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in PNC. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 138.3% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 38,671 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,778,000 after buying an additional 22,440 shares during the last quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co grew its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 54.5% during the 3rd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co now owns 4,376 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $654,000 after buying an additional 1,544 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in The PNC Financial Services Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $958,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 5,725 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $904,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cooper Financial Group grew its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Cooper Financial Group now owns 3,301 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $521,000 after buying an additional 351 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.05% of the companys stock. Get The PNC Financial Services Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently issued reports on PNC. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $198.00 to $186.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $125.00 to $120.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $163.00 to $137.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $150.00 to $164.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $165.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $162.30. The PNC Financial Services Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE PNC traded down $0.35 during trading on Friday, reaching $118.64. The company had a trading volume of 274,424 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,673,762. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $110.31 and a twelve month high of $176.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.35 billion, a PE ratio of 8.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $121.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $144.95. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $3.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.60 by $0.38. The PNC Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 13.41% and a net margin of 23.95%. The company had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.61 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.29 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 19.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 13.96 earnings per share for the current year. The PNC Financial Services Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 18th were given a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.06%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 17th. The PNC Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 41.04%. Insider Activity In other The PNC Financial Services Group news, Director Joseph Alvarado acquired 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $123.89 per share, with a total value of $123,890.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,100 shares in the company, valued at $136,279. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock. The PNC Financial Services Group Profile (Get Rating) The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Asset Management Group, and Other. The Retail Banking segment offers deposit, lending, brokerage, investment management, and cash management products and services to consumer and small business customers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PNC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for The PNC Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The PNC Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC boosted its stake in Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Get Rating) by 31.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 3,224,514 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 768,123 shares during the period. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLCs holdings in Koninklijke Philips were worth $48,336,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 22.9% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 165,136 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,473,000 after buying an additional 30,779 shares in the last quarter. Skba Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 414.7% in the 4th quarter. Skba Capital Management LLC now owns 732,556 shares of the technology companys stock worth $10,981,000 after purchasing an additional 590,240 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 65,674 shares of the technology companys stock worth $984,000 after purchasing an additional 1,674 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 192,735 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,889,000 after purchasing an additional 7,480 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rehmann Capital Advisory Group lifted its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 56.7% in the 4th quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 17,319 shares of the technology companys stock worth $260,000 after purchasing an additional 6,267 shares in the last quarter. 10.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Koninklijke Philips alerts: Koninklijke Philips Price Performance NYSE:PHG traded up $0.32 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $19.45. The stock had a trading volume of 505,474 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,788,598. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.29. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $19.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $16.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.30 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.81 and a beta of 0.91. Koninklijke Philips has a one year low of $11.75 and a one year high of $26.05. Koninklijke Philips Cuts Dividend Koninklijke Philips ( NYSE:PHG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The technology company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $4.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.99 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a positive return on equity of 6.29% and a negative net margin of 11.63%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.32 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.1 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a dividend of $0.9387 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.7%. Koninklijke Philipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -37.96%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently commented on PHG. Societe Generale raised Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on Koninklijke Philips in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Koninklijke Philips in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.79. About Koninklijke Philips (Get Rating) Koninklijke Philips NV is a technology company, which engages in the healthcare, lighting, and consumer well-being markets. It operates through the following segments: Diagnosis and Treatment businesses; Connected Care businesses; Personal Health businesses; and Other. The Diagnosis and Treatment businesses segment consists systems, smart devices, software and services, powered by AI-enabled informatics-that support precision diagnoses and minimally invasive procedures in therapeutic areas such as cardiology, peripheral vascular, neurology, surgery, and oncology. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PHG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Koninklijke Philips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koninklijke Philips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE:TWO Get Rating) General Counsel Rebecca B. Sandberg sold 4,175 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.33, for a total transaction of $51,477.75. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 93,691 shares in the company, valued at $1,155,210.03. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Two Harbors Investment Trading Down 2.2 % Two Harbors Investment stock opened at $11.77 on Friday. Two Harbors Investment Corp. has a one year low of $11.57 and a one year high of $21.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The business has a fifty day moving average of $13.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $15.35. Get Two Harbors Investment alerts: Two Harbors Investment Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 4th were issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 20.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 3rd. Two Harbors Investments dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -72.51%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Institutional Investors Weigh In On Two Harbors Investment Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Maxim Group raised Two Harbors Investment from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $19.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, February 10th. JMP Securities decreased their price target on Two Harbors Investment from $18.00 to $14.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Barclays decreased their price target on Two Harbors Investment from $16.00 to $14.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Two Harbors Investment in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating for the company. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Two Harbors Investment from $17.25 to $17.50 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Two Harbors Investment currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.38. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Two Harbors Investment by 18.2% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 62,766 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $347,000 after buying an additional 9,682 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Two Harbors Investment during the 1st quarter worth $68,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its stake 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 worth $899,000 after buying an additional 44,348 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake 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 worth $5,388,000 after buying an additional 11,111 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake 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 worth $1,640,000 after buying an additional 36,555 shares during the last quarter. 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. Further Reading 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. StockNews.com cut shares of United States Cellular (NYSE:USM Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report report published on Monday. Separately, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of United States Cellular from $37.00 to $24.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $22.67. Get United States Cellular alerts: United States Cellular Stock Performance Shares of NYSE USM opened at $14.56 on Monday. United States Cellular has a 52-week low of $14.12 and a 52-week high of $32.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a P/E ratio of -181.98 and a beta of 0.66. The firms 50-day moving average price is $19.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.12. Insider Buying and Selling at United States Cellular United States Cellular ( NYSE:USM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $986.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.02 billion. United States Cellular had a negative return on equity of 0.13% and a negative net margin of 0.14%. The firms revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.57 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that United States Cellular will post 0.11 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, EVP Michael Irizarry sold 18,826 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.15, for a total value of $416,995.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 18,825 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $416,973.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On United States Cellular Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of USM. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in shares of United States Cellular by 157.4% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,058 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 647 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its stake in shares of United States Cellular by 85.1% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,146 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 527 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in United States Cellular during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in United States Cellular in the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of United States Cellular during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. 15.89% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About United States Cellular (Get Rating) United States Cellular Corp. engages in the provision of wireless telecommunication services. Its products include smartphones, tablets, vehicle routers, and accessories. It offers Internet plans, prepaid and postpaid plans, and roaming services. The company was founded by Leroy T. Carlson in 1983 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for United States Cellular Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United States Cellular and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wade G W & Inc. lowered its stake in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T Get Rating) by 9.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 147,296 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 14,764 shares during the quarter. Wade G W & Inc.s holdings in AT&T were worth $2,712,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of T. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of AT&T by 12.2% during the 1st quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 17,888 shares of the technology companys stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 1,941 shares during the period. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of AT&T by 62.3% during the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 24,628 shares of the technology companys stock worth $582,000 after purchasing an additional 9,450 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of AT&T by 23.1% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,099,843 shares of the technology companys stock worth $25,983,000 after purchasing an additional 206,434 shares during the period. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its stake in shares of AT&T by 5.5% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 476,601 shares of the technology companys stock worth $11,262,000 after purchasing an additional 25,028 shares during the period. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its stake in shares of AT&T by 1,191.3% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 12,706 shares of the technology companys stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 11,722 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.86% of the companys stock. Get AT&T alerts: AT&T Price Performance Shares of NYSE T traded up $0.37 during trading on Friday, hitting $15.52. 21,268,982 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 34,690,137. AT&T Inc. has a 1 year low of $14.46 and a 1 year high of $21.47. The firms fifty day moving average price is $18.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 0.51 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The company has a market cap of $110.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.93, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.66. AT&T Announces Dividend AT&T ( NYSE:T Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The technology company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $30.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $30.22 billion. AT&T had a negative net margin of 7.52% and a positive return on equity of 15.47%. The companys revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.77 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that AT&T Inc. will post 2.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th were given a $0.2775 dividend. This represents a $1.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 6th. AT&Ts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -87.40%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently weighed in on T shares. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of AT&T from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of AT&T from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of AT&T from $19.00 to $18.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. HSBC raised shares of AT&T from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $21.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on shares of AT&T from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.89. AT&T Company Profile (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. Wade G W & Inc. trimmed its stake in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Get Rating) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 109,291 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,108 shares during the period. Wade G W & Inc. owned approximately 0.08% of Extra Space Storage worth $16,085,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 960.0% in the 4th quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 41,500 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $6,108,000 after acquiring an additional 37,585 shares during the last quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. now owns 7,456 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,097,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 9.4% during the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 1,310 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $193,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 147,269 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $21,675,000 after acquiring an additional 15,907 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tredje AP fonden lifted its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Tredje AP fonden now owns 27,071 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,984,000 after acquiring an additional 572 shares during the last quarter. 95.32% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Insider Activity at Extra Space Storage In related news, COO Matthew T. Herrington sold 650 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.75, for a total value of $107,737.50. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 6,405 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,061,628.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, COO Matthew T. Herrington sold 650 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.75, for a total transaction of $107,737.50. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 6,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,061,628.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Gwyn Goodson Mcneal sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total transaction of $246,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 32,290 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,295,560. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 13,440 shares of company stock valued at $2,172,313 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.55% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Extra Space Storage Stock Up 0.1 % A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America initiated coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research note on Monday, May 8th. They set a buy rating for the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Extra Space Storage in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. KeyCorp decreased their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $190.00 to $172.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Raymond James raised Extra Space Storage from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $185.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $170.56. Shares of EXR traded up $0.13 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $145.52. 146,468 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,242,601. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a 1-year low of $139.97 and a 1-year high of $216.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82. The company has a market capitalization of $19.65 billion, a PE ratio of 22.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.01 and a beta of 0.54. The business has a 50 day moving average of $154.21 and a 200 day moving average of $155.25. Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.08 by ($0.56). Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 43.79% and a return on equity of 21.62%. The firm had revenue of $506.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $433.39 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.91 earnings per share. Extra Space Storages revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Extra Space Storage Inc. will post 8.51 EPS for the current year. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Get Rating) Extra Space Storage, Inc is a real estate investment trust. It operates through the following segments: Self-Storage Operations and Tenant Reinsurance. The Self-Storage Operations segment includes rental operations of wholly-owned stores. The Tenant Reinsurance segment includes reinsurance of risks relating to the loss of goods stored by tenants in stores. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kings Island prides itself on providing world-class thrills, fun and entertainment for guests of all ages. The 364-acre amusement and water park is also proud of the brave men and women who serve in the U.S. military. May 26 - May 29, 2023 Join us as we say thank you to U.S. military members and veterans this Memorial Day Weekend! All active and retired members, including National Guard, reserves, and veterans, will receive a free ticket to Kings Island valid for a single day Friday, May 26 through Monday, May 29, 2023. The following receive free admission: Active U.S. Military Retired U.S. Military Veterans Reserves National Guard In addition, military members can save up to $45 online when purchasing tickets for up to six friends or family members. This is our small way to say thank you for your service! We cant wait to see you at Kings Island! How to enter Kings Island on Memorial Day Weekend: Present valid U.S. Military ID for free admission at the front gate turnstiles any one day 5/26 - 5/29. Additional tickets for friends and family must be purchased online in advance. Verification required. The new boundaries will include most of downtown Dayton and are expected to go into effect early this summer. The City of Dayton has voted to approve a new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in Dayton. The new Downtown Dayton DORA includes a broader footprint of downtown Dayton and will incorporate the previously established Oregon District DORA into the new boundaries. Pending approval at the State level, the newly defined boundaries are expected to go into effect in mid-June of this year. DORA was originally introduced in Dayton in 2020, centering in the Oregon District. Since that time, the program and its expansion has become a top priority to support businesses strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After extensive research and community outreach, and with the support of the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) and other downtown businesses and organizations, the Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) submitted an application for an expanded DORA in early 2023. Our primary goal with DORA and its expansion is to support our community of independent, small businesses that continue to struggle from COVID-19s effects, said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. The expansion of DORA has remained a top priority for downtown Daytons recovery from the pandemic and we are grateful we have been able to work closely with our constituents and city leaders to allow so much more of downtown to be included in the program. A DORA is a space that allows patrons 21 years and older to purchase alcoholic beverages in a designated cup from a permitted establishment and then carry those beverages outside within the defined boundary. Alcohol obtained from sources other than participating businesses is not permitted inside the DORA boundary. Guests are encouraged to carry drinks served in designated DORA cups throughout the boundary, but all beverages must be finished or disposed of before entering another participating DORA establishment. The Downtown Dayton DORA will be roughly bounded by Wilkinson Street to the west (with Main Street as the boundary south of Sixth Street), RiverScape MetroPark and the Great Miami River to the north (with First Street as the boundary east of Webster Street), Keowee Street to the east (with Webster Street as the boundary north of First Street), and Sixth Street to the south (with some areas stretching as far south as Washington Street and Jones/Bainbridge Street.) All boundaries will be marked with metal signs signaling when guests enter and exit the DORA. DORA will operate seven days a week from noon until midnight. Daytons City Manager will have the ability to suspend the DORA in specific situations such as emergencies or threats to public safety. DORA may also be suspended in full or in specific areas when petitioned by the DDP, the Water Street District, or the ODBA. Other organizations wishing to request a suspension may work with the DDP to submit a formal request. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti along with Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan inaugurates the US Consulate General in Hyderabad, along with Consul General Jennifer Larson and the MEA's Dr Ausaf Sayeed. DC HYDERABAD: Eric Garcetti, Ambassador of the United States of America to India, while officially inaugurating the US Consulate General in Hyderabad on Friday evening at a gala celebration, said this was a great phase for the further strengthening of the Indo-US strategic friendship. "Ours is not a transactional relationship. It covers all areas planet, people, prosperity and peace," he said, sharing stage with Telangana state Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, US Consul General Jennifer Larson and Dr Ausaf Sayeed of the ministry of external affairs. The evening, in which several prominent people of the city joined to also celebrate the 247th anniversary of American Independence, had Ambassador Garcetti, on his first official visit to Hyderabad since assuming his duties as the top US diplomat in India, meeting and greeting all guests in person. "President Joe Biden is fond of saying dont tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I will tell you how much you value it," he said. "By that standard, it should be clear to all of us how deeply the United States values Hyderabad and this region. We opened this $340 million facility because Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are writing one of the most important chapters of the US-India Strategic Partnership." Speaking on the occasion, Governor Soundararajan said, "the US is opening this wonderful new facilty, with such great architecture and such a warm cordial place, which feels like a second home. If this amazing facility is being inaugurated in May (and we Indians hold griha pravesh as very auspicious and significant), Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US on a state-visit in June and there is American Independence in July. The three reasons to celebrate form a triad, a shakti, which will further empower our relationship." US Consul General Jennifer Larson, who described herself as one of the biggest champions and supporters of the Indo-US relationship, said the US accorded highest importance to the partnership with India, which includes people-to-people contacts. "We will accord highest importance to giving students and other visas. We have more desks than people so we will grow further." Dr Ausaf Sayeed of the MEA, jocularly said that while extending the good wishes from the minister of external affairs Dr S. Jaishankar to the US for their new facility, with capability to process more visas, India had already given more than 10 million additional new passports. On a more serious note, he pointed out that as a Hyderabadi, he was delighted that the US state of Illinois had a sister state partnership with Telangana. "We often read history, learn about history. But today, we are witnessing history in this inaugural. We are adding a crucial chapter to a larger story of the India, America friendship," he said to great cheer from the audience. Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Ambassador Eric Garcetti said the US-India strategic partnership had strengthened since 2014 and that new avenues were opening up to further strengthen the ties between both the countries. Garcetti, who is on a three day visit to Hyderabad, addressed the media at T-Hub, where he spoke about culture, trade, education, emerging technologies in India and how the world was looking ahead to the India-US friendship. "The US-India strategic partnership has grown deeper and stronger. Today the US is the largest trading partner of India. Last year, India and the US had a bilateral trade of $191 billion bilateral trade. With the four Ps of Peace, Prosperity, Planet, and People we owe it together so that people can be safe, our planet be protected, prosperity be pursued and peace can be ensured. The entire globe is counting on the India-US friendship. This is the moment to dream big, think big, and act big. Lets move forward and lets move ahead", said the US ambassador. Garcetti said that slots will be increased for students for the I-20 process for going to the US universities, in June, July and August and that the US had processed more than five lakh visa applications in all the categories till date this year and the target was to achieve one million target by the end of the year. The ambassador recalled his first visit to India in 1985 and said that so much had changed in the country but the warmth of the people had remained the same. He also went on to say that Indians knew the US and the people there very well and that now it was time that Americans got to know more about India and to bring more Americans to India, as he appreciated the creative power and the entrepreneurial spirit of India. Garcetti spoke about the rich culture of the country as well as the Telangana region and appreciated the work of the Tollywood industry to take India to a global face by creating songs like Naatu, Naatu; which brought accolades to the country through creative and cultural work. Garcetti stressed the need to address the climate change issue, citing his meeting with a woman construction labourer in Ahmedabad as he said that climate change was a crisis of today and tomorrow and that it was important to take steps towards a better present for the sake of the future of the next generations. Ambassador Garcetti began his trip to Hyderabad with a visit to the historic Chowmahalla Palace, toured the US-supported Mitr Transgender Clinic, met with students, had lunch at the Indian School of Business and visited T-Hub. He will wrap up his trip with visits to iconic cultural sites, including Charminar and Paigah tombs, where the US government is providing a quarter of a million dollars to support conservation and restoration of six tombs as part of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. The event saw the rendition of the National Anthems of both countries. File photo of Union home minister Amit Shah. (Photo: PTI) NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress of reducing the ceremonial sceptre Sengol to a "walking stick". He was responding to the Opposition attack on the BJP over the Parliament inauguration. The sceptre will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building. Shah said the Congress must "reflect" on its behaviour as he denounced the party's claim that there was no evidence of the Sengol being a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India in 1947. "Why does the Congress hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," the home minister tweeted. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenam's history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," he said. Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh had alleged that there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the Sengol as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India. The party has also alleged that the sceptre is being used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. "Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from WhatsApp University? The BJP-RSS distorians stand exposed yet again with maximum claims, minimum evidence," Jairam said in his tweet. He said the sceptre presented to Nehru was later kept for display at the Allahabad Museum. What Nehru said there on December 14, 1947 is a matter of public record despite whatever labels may say, Jairam added. Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, then the state BJP chief, launched a series of agitations for Telangana statehood. DC- Image HYDERABAD: It is a well-documented fact but that got buried in the heated atmosphere of the hurly burly of statehood politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party was among the foremost to formally ask for a separate Telangana and pass a political resolution to that effect. But, unlike the then Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which was born specifically out of this demand, and with a single-point agenda, made better use of its position than the BJP as it reaped political benefits from Telangana achieving statehood. It was way back in 1997 that the BJP, in a resolution passed at its AP state units annual meeting in Kakinada made a promise of one vote two states and ran with the slogan in the 1998 elections which saw it win four Lok Sabha seats, two Rajahmundry and Kakinada from what is now Andhra Pradesh and Secunderabad and Karimnagar from the Telangana region. Though the BJP was first off the block on this front, the struggle for the party even as it made its intention clear about statehood for Telangana and that too before the formation of the TRS was that its national leadership was wary of putting its weight behind it. The high command was that it would open the floodgate on demands from its other large state units for smaller states. Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, who was the BJP state president in undivided Andhra Pradesh at the time of the state bifurcation, admits: "The question of exploiting it for political gains was never a part of our plan as ours is a national party. It was different for the then TRS party. Its entire reason for existence was the formation of Telangana and it claimed credit. But the fact remains that it is the BJP which was the first national party to seek Telangana state." The struggle for the BJP, even as it made its intention clear about statehood for Telangana, before the formation of the TRS, was that its national leadership was wary of putting its weight behind its then AP unit worried that it would open a floodgate of demands from its other large state units for smaller states. It was only after the present defence minister Rajnath Singhs tenure as the party president between 2005 and 2009 that the BJP agreed to fully back Telangana but it also had to contend even as this decision was not welcomed in Andhra region. But with its national leadership's backing, the BJP then dived hard into the statehood movement becoming the only national party to become part of the Joint Action Committee steering the struggle. The BJP leaders, and its cadre, along with the partys associated wings, led their own programmes, marches and padayatras and protests, including a few at Jantar Mantar in Delhi but things really began coming to a head after the UPA II government announced on December 9, 2009 that it would start the process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. But in the hiatus that followed till 2014, a key moment that forced the then Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was the 2012 February byelection victory of the BJP from Mahbubnagar Assembly constituency. That bypoll was necessitated by the passing away of N. Rajeshwar Reddy, who had won the seat in 2009. "That was also the time when the TRS was running a vilification campaign against the BJP and other parties saying they are not for statehood in a bid to gain monopoly over the issue," says Yennam Srinivas Reddy, who won the seat on a BJP ticket. Though it took some more time before the Bill for reorganising the state was introduced and passed in Parliament, the bypoll outcome had the Congress wondering if time was running out for it in the region. It was after this win that the BJP made an unequivocal promise that it will grant statehood within 100 days of coming to power in the Centre left the Congress with no option but to hasten the process. These developments left Congress, which feared a strong BJP in the state, with no option but to finally put the wheels of reorganization into motion. "Everything we did," recalls Kishan Reddy, "we did with full commitment. The Telangana Poru Yatra from the Krishna river in Mahbubnagar to Godavari river in Khammam tilted the scales in our favour. Many said Telangana will never happen but we never gave up." In some ways, the people of Mahbubnagar were instrumental in things getting expedited towards Telangana formation. And 10 years down the line from June 2, 2014, the BJP leaders across the party say that their partys role may not have made headlines but it was they, who were the force behind the realisation of Telanganas statehood. The market valuation of Nvidia, a US firm which specializes in chips coveted in the artificial intelligence boom, neared one trillion dollars on Thursday after the company blew past quarterly earnings expectations. Nvidia shares surged as much as 27 per cent, putting them on course for a record performance with a market cap above $900 billion. Also Read: India to reopen process for $10 bn in chip incentives If Nvidia hits the one-trillion mark, it will join a club of only five companies -- all US tech giants except Saudi Aramco, the oil behemoth. Nvidia's chips are a central ingredient to the generative AI revolution, capable of delivering the computing heft needed to churn out complex content in just seconds from data centers around the world. The company stunned the markets on Thursday with revenue guidance for this coming quarter of $11 billion, which was more than 50 per cent higher than most forecasts. "This is a game changer and will have a major ripple impact across the tech space," said a note from Wedbush securities. Before the major move on Thursday, shares in Nvidia had already doubled in 2023 amid the frenzy over AI chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. Founded thirty years ago by American-Taiwanese engineer Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang, this little-known company was initially a star in the video game world. Also Read: China's response to US chip move limited by economic reality The Silicon Valley-based company has long been known for graphics processing units (GPUs), which ramp up image quality and vanquish response lag time for gamers. The ability of GPUs to deftly handle complex tasks simultaneously make them superior to conventional computer chips when it comes to graphics, as well as the kind of processing involved with artificial intelligence. "Nvidia has become kind of synonymous with AI," independent tech analyst Rob Enderle told AFP. The company "has been investing in the AI boom for almost two decades. They saw an opportunity, and now everybody else is chasing it," he added. Some of the GPUs used in data centers cost tens of thousands of dollars apiece, bringing in huge returns to Nvidia, while also raising concern that the future of AI innovation will be out of reach to smaller companies. Uncomfortable with their dependence on outside providers such as Nvidia, the US tech giants are investing heavily to develop their own chips and bring the technology in house. Nvidia's share price take-off contrasts with that of other chipmakers, who are predicting a slowdown in the market this year, mainly due to lower demand for personal computers. This trend has led to a sharp drop in Nvidia's video game revenues, but growth in the AI-driven data center activity compensated for this slowdown. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis raised $8.2 million in his first 24 hours as a presidential candidate, his campaign said Thursday, a huge sum that cements his standing as the leading Republican rival to former President Donald Trump. DeSantis campaign began Wednesday evening with a glitch-filled kickoff on Twitter, but that apparently did not slow donor enthusiasm. The campaign said Wednesday that it had raised $1 million during a single hour. The $8.2 million figure is more than the $6.3 million that Joe Biden raised in his first 24 hours as a candidate in 2019, or the $6.1 million raised by former Rep. Beto ORourke that same year. Also read | Ron DeSantis White House launch derailed by glitches The haul will immediately infuse his campaign with the money needed to finance a growing political operation and aggressive travel schedule that will take the governor to 12 cities across three states next week. The sum is roughly double the $4 million that Trumps campaign said it had raised in the 24 hours after his criminal indictment earlier this year, though most of that money was raised organically online. The DeSantis sum includes both online contributions and donations secured by bundlers who had gathered Thursday at the grand ballroom in the Four Seasons in Miami for what was called a Ron-O-Rama to make fundraising calls for the campaign. Bryan Griffin, a DeSantis spokesperson, said the campaign was raising both primary and general election funds. The campaign can raise $3,300 per donor for both the primary and general election. He declined to say how money was earmarked for use only in the general election, should DeSantis become the nominee. A donor making calls in the room first disclosed that the campaign had raised $8.2 million, and Griffin confirmed the figure. All the funds are so-called hard dollars that the campaign can use. The sum does not include any of the funds that the pro-DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down, has raised in recent months into a Draft DeSantis account that can be directly transferred to the campaign, according to Griffin. It is unclear how much money is in that account. It was not immediately clear how many donors contributed in the first 24 hours. At the Four Seasons in Miami, Lou Barletta, a former congressman from Pennsylvania and one-time Trump ally, said he spent 7 1/2 hours calling contacts for donations to DeSantis campaign, only breaking to use the bathroom and grab a buffet lunch. There was so much enthusiasm in that room, Barletta said. I had very, very few people say no to me on those calls. DeSantis helped make calls for parts of the day, according to several donors in attendance, and on Thursday evening, he and his wife, Casey, were scheduled to meet with donors in what was billed as a special celebration. The super PAC supporting DeSantis is planning for a $200 million budget, but campaign funds are far harder to raise because they face a strict donation cap. The $8.2 million brought in by DeSantis far outpaces how Trump began his 2024 fundraising in late 2022. Trump had raised about $9.5 million in the six weeks after he announced his campaign in mid-November. Newly released FBI files being reported by UK media show the US security authorities were concerned about "ever-present" threats to the late Queen Elizabeth II by the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA) during visits to America. A memo warning US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in Boston and New York to remain "alert for any threats" ahead of a 1989 visit to the east coast of the country was among 102 pages of records released about the Queen who passed away aged 96 last September. Other details include a police tip-off about a threat from an IRA sympathiser who wanted revenge for the death of his daughter. Also Read | Queen Elizabeth II's funeral cost UK government $200 million According to Sky News, the officer who provided the information claimed that a month before then-US President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan hosted the Queen and husband Prince Philip in 1983, he received a phone call from a man he knew from an Irish pub. According to the memo, the man said his daughter was killed by a rubber bullet in Northern Ireland. "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 confidential file states. The documents show FBI agents routinely shared intelligence and preparations with the US Secret Service about the IRA and its sympathisers during royal visits. The FBI's concerns about potential IRA violence against members of the royal family were not unfounded. In 1979, Queen Elizabeth II's second cousin, Lord "Dickie" Mountbatten the last viceroy of India, was killed in an IRA bombing in Ireland. The records on threats to the late British monarch's life were released following a freedom of information request submitted after Queen Elizabeth II's death. An Indian national has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for allegedly making illegal payments of over SGD 5.1 million (a bit over Rs 31 crore) from a construction company where he worked to firms linked to him. Hussain Naina Mohamed (47) on Thursday pleaded guilty to nine counts of cheating involving more than SGD 2.5 million and one count of moving a portion of his ill-gotten gains out of Singapore. Sixteen other charges, including those involving the remaining amount, were considered during sentencing, The Straits Times reported. He later told investigators that he had sent the money to India to help cover his parents household expenses. Mohamed admitted that he had set up the firm solely to earn some cash from Utracon Corp. He was also the only one making all business decisions for Aret while his sister was the face of the firm, said the prosecution. Also Read | Tamil Nadu CM Stalin meets top Singapore CEOs; invites them to invest in the state This was because he knew that he could not be seen by Utracon to be involved in Al Rahman Enterprises & Trading (Aret) in which he was a partner. The illegal payments took place between 2009 and 2019, causing at least SGD 5,00,000 in losses to Utracon, according to the Singapore daily report. Mohamed worked for the construction firm Utracon Structural Systems, which is part of the Utracon Corporation, until January 2019. As an assistant shipping manager, his responsibilities included making vendor recommendations to his superiors. He also helped Utracon Overseas, which is also part of the Utracon Corporation, with similar tasks. Among other things, Mohamed failed to inform his employer that he was a partner at Aret. Instead, he recommended Aret to be his employers vendor for marine insurance as well as freight-forwarding services. Mohamed also recommended to his superiors his fathers firm, SM Enterprises (SME), as a vendor to supply plastic components. The prosecution said Utracon would not have awarded jobs to these firms had it known about the blatant conflict of interest with regard to Mohamed. As the companies linked to Mohamed did provide services to Utracon as its vendors, Utracons financial loss amounted to at least SGD 5,00,000 as a result of the cheating. This loss included the illicit profit Hussain made from the offences. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Jingxi said the accused and his sister were partners at Aret, which was registered in June 2009 and provided marine insurance as well as freight-forwarding services. As a result of his dishonest concealment, Utracon was induced to award jobs to Aret and paid it more than SGD 7,05,000. In May 2011, Hussain approached Utracons director of Singapore operations and offered to source for an alternative supplier of plastic components that would purportedly offer better rates than its supplier at that time. He then liaised with an Indian company called Vijay Industries to fabricate the plastic parts that Utracon required, and arranged for his fathers firm, the India-registered Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), to export these plastic parts to Utracon. Mohamed did not tell the director that the SME belonged to his father and that the plastic components were actually manufactured by Vijay Industries, with SME only marking up the prices. As a result of his dishonest concealment of facts, Utracon was induced to award jobs to SME and paid it more than SGD 1.4 million. Mohamed also worked with a director of a firm called Indus Global Line (IGL) to cheat Utracon. In 2011, the pair entered into an illicit agreement for IGL to submit inflated quotations to Utracon for freight-forwarding services, with Mohamed determining the quantum of each mark-up, the media report said. Mohamed then validated all the inflated quotations before submitting them for Utracons approval. As a result, Utracon paid IGL nearly SGD 3,75,000. On six occasions between May 2014 and November 2017, Mohamed removed from Singapore nearly SGD 1,42,000 of his ill-gotten gains by methods that included engaging the services of local remittance agents. An 11-year-old boy was killed and 27 other passengers were injured after a bus collided with a truck in the Greater Noida area here in the early hours of Friday, police said. The accident took place when the Bihar-bound bus crashed into the Haryana-registered truck on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway near Ladpura village in Kasna area, they added. Also Read | Delhi: Teen dies in an accident as lack of signal inside tunnel delays SOS Of all the passengers on the bus, which had started from Punjab, 28 were hurt and were admitted to a hospital, where the boy succumbed to his injuries, a senior police officer said. The body of the deceased, who hailed from Bhojpur in Bihar, has been sent for post-mortem, the officer said. The other 27 passengers are undergoing treatment, the police said, adding that further probe is underway. The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain till July 11 on medical grounds in a money laundering case. A vacation bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha ordered the AAP leader not to talk to press or media during this period or influence the witnesses. The court turned down a request by the Enforcement Directorate for an independent evaluation of his health conditions by AIIMS, Delhi and RML Hospital here. The bench, however, directed all his health records to be produced before the court on July 10. Jain is currently admitted to G B Pant hospital. Also read | Satyendar Jain's condition being investigated: Hospital sources His counsel, senior advocate A M Singhvi, submitted that Jain has lost 35 kgs weight and suffered from muscular atrophy, apart from other diseases. He also pointed out that the petitioner has been in jail for about one year. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, on behalf of the ED, opposed the plea, contending he had earlier pretended illness to get himself admitted to a hospital. His medical conditions should be independently evaluated by AIIMS, Raju said, adding the agency was not opposed to medical bail if his conditions required so. "All his medical reports must be examined not just a pinch of salt, but a large amount of salt. He pretends illness and gets himself admitted to hospital. There should be independent assessment, no prejudice would be caused to him. He is Jain and believed on fasting. Let him be evaluated," he said. The court, however, said it was granting him interim bail on medical grounds and would examine his medical reports on July 10. The court further directed Jain to not influence any of the witnesses or leave Delhi without permission. Jain, arrested on May 30, 2022, has been lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail. A trial court had, on November 17, 2022, dismissed the leader's bail application. According to the trial court, it has prima facie come on record that Jain was "actually involved" in hiding the proceeds of crime by paying cash to entry operators based in Kolkata and then bringing the money into three companies against the sale of shares to demonstrate that their revenues were clean. The court had also pointed out that it had prima facie come on record that Jain was actually involved in concealing the proceeds of crime by giving cash to the Kolkata based entry operators and thereafter, bringing the cash into three companies namely, M/s Manglayatan Developers/Projects Pvt Ltd, M/s Akinchan Developers Pvt Ltd and M/s Paryas Infosolutions Pvt Ltd against the sale of shares to show that income of these companies was untainted one. There is no messing about on the river for the enthusiastic duo behind Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours, John Glackin and Reggie Downey. Based at the Foyle Port Marina, situated just below the Peace Bridge, Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours is intent on capitalising on the as yet unrealised tourist potential of the beautiful River Foyle. John and Reggie have just launched their new vessel, The Rachel, and are offering visitors and locals unforgettable boat tours and parties on the river. Speaking to Derry Now, just before Mayor of Derry City and Strabane, Sandra Duffy, took to the water for the official inaugural trip of The Rachel, Reggie said Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours would enable people to explore the breathtaking beauty and rich history of the River Foyle. He added: Our expert guides will lead you on an unforgettable journey, unveiling the rivers most iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and captivating stories. Our diverse range of services caters to visitors, locals, nature enthusiasts, and party groups, ensuring a memorable experience for all. Mayor Sandra Duffy on board The Rachel of Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours. Donning her life jacket, Mayor Duffy said she was really excited to be taking a trip on The Rachel. She added: I think that our River Foyle is a beautiful asset that we have and to see it being used more and more for tourism is just fantastic. I am really looking forward to getting a wee run out on the boat this morning. It looks like it is going to be great craic. We will be offering guided tours for tourists coming into the city. We are also offering birthday parties, stag parties, hen parties and corporate team building days out for any businesses or companies in the city or coming into the city, said Reggie, who is going to be the driver of The Rachel. The boat will leave from the Foyle Port Marina. We can go down as far as Culmore Point for guided tours, which will cover all of the history of the Foyle. We will then go back up to the Peace Bridge and the Craigavon Bridge and then back into the Marina. For the birthday parties, stag parties, hen parties, it will be up to the Craigavon Bridge, doing a few twirls on the Foyle, a few waves, a bit of excitement for the passengers and then back into the Marina. I think it is a great asset to the city to have Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours available not only to tourists but to local people, enabling them to go out on the Foyle and see the banks of the Foyle from the water and turn what may have been a negative for a few years into a positive. I love this job. It is great getting out onto the Foyle and getting a bit of fresh air, said Reggie with a smile before adding that people taking trips on The Rachel might also catch glimpses of the Foyles unique wildlife. If you go down through the Foyle Bridge and the tide is out, you might be lucky enough to see the seals lying there on the Otterbank as well as otters. This is a fantastic opportunity to get out on the water, especially for tourists coming into the city. There are a lot more tourists coming into Derry over the last few years and I dont think there has been a facility where they could actually go out onto the water and spend time on the water, especially going down as far as Culmore Point and taking in the history of the U-Boats and Boomhall. I think that will appeal to a lot of tourists and locals alike, said Reggie. Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours is open: Monday to Monday, from 10am to 7pm. Prices start from 10 for children, up to 20 for adults. There are different prices for groups and tours, depending on their duration. Students from Thornhill College enjoying a Foyle Adventures and Boat Trip day out. According to Reggie, a 30 minute trip will take passengers around Derrys three bridges. An hour trip will take passengers down to Culmore Point and back, he added. We got a fantastic video done by local fella, Kieran McKinney, which is up on our new website: https://foyle adventuresandboat tours.co.uk. This will give anyone who is interested in a trip an idea of what a fantastic experience it will be. But dont take my word for it, one of our recent reviews said: I recently booked a 60-minute guided tour with Foyle Adventures for my family visiting from Belfast. The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, sharing fascinating stories about the local history and pointing out hidden gems along the River Foyle. The rib boat was comfortable and safe, and the stunning views made it a day to remember. We all had a fantastic time, and I'll definitely be recommending Foyle Adventures to my friends and colleagues in Derry. Foyle Adventures and Boat Tours can be contacted via Facebook (Foyle Adventures & Boat Tours), online: foyleadventuresandboattours.co.uk and telephone: 028 7187 6111. SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has urged British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to deliver a public service rescue package linked to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. The Foyle MP was speaking during Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, where he called on the UK Government to send a message to the DUP that it is now time to get back to work. Colum Eastwood MP said: There are 500,000 people in Northern Ireland waiting for a hospital appointment right now. That means that we all know friends, family and colleagues living in pain or with worry that their condition is getting worse every day without treatment. If it happened anywhere else on these islands, it would be treated as a national emergency because it represents the collapse of basic public services. Instead of getting to work to do something about it, Stormont is on an enforced go-slow by the DUP. The choice theyre making every day is to let people get sicker rather than working with the rest of us to fix our health service. The same goes for our schools, youth services, our transport infrastructure, street lights and every other public service. It is time to get back to work. Fixing the services we rely on wont be easy. It will require a public service rescue fund to frontload resource into health service transformation, ending wage stagnation and injustice and getting the basics back on track. "It will also require political leaders to work together like never before. The message from people across the North was clear last week change cant wait. Its time the DUP and the British Government heard it loud and clear. View Colum Eastwood's question HERE. A man has been given a Enhanced Combination Order at Derry Magistrate's Court today for possessing cannabis with intent to supply. James Liam McNally (35) of Moyola Drive in Derry appeared charged with possessing the drugs with intent to supply and possessing them on September 20 last year. The court heard that police were attending an address and the defendant was not present initially. While police were there he arrived at the property and told police there were drugs on the premises. He gave police a carrier bag containing 195mgs of cannabis divided up into small packages. At interview he made admissions to possessing the drugs but denied supply. He said it was divided into the smaller packages to help him control his usage. Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said that it was obvious this police operation was part of a pre-planned operation. He said that McNally had no chance to hide or dispose of the drugs. Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer said that possessing drugs with intent to supply made some 'more culpable' than simple possession. He said probation considered the defendant had a problem with cannabis. The judge said he would give one last chance. He imposed an Enhanced Combination Order with 100 hours community service and 12 months probation. A coroner has asked the police to produce a warts and all account of its funding problems to ensure Stormont politicians are fully aware of the pressures facing the organisation. Mr Justice McAlinden said it was important the situation was exposed to public gaze so political leaders could potentially take action to address it. The coroner was commenting after a barrister representing the PSNI conceded it could be several years before it was able to security-vet sensitive police files that are required for a legacy inquest into the deaths of eight IRA men and a civilian shot dead by soldiers in Co Armagh in 1987. The nine men were shot by the SAS in Loughgall as an IRA unit carried out an attack on a police station. Eight had been among the IRA unit, while civilian Anthony Hughes, who was travelling through the village in a car, was also shot dead. At a preliminary hearing in Belfast, Mark Robinson KC, representing the PSNI, told the coroner that as the Loughgall case was not among those included in a three-year schedule for legacy inquests to proceed through the courts, the PSNI was not able to free up any resources to undertake the disclosure work. Expressing concern at the inability of the police to provide any sort of indicative timeline for disclosure, Justice McAlinden told Mr Robinson to compile a written explanation setting out the resourcing challenges faced by the PSNI. He asked the same of the Ministry of Defence, which is also required to disclose sensitive files held in its records. Earlier this month, PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne warned that his organisation was facing a potentially impossible financial situation. He said the force was looking at a funding gap of 141 million and that this could result in a total recruitment freeze, cuts to overtime, closing police stations and inquiry offices and grounding some of the police fleet. The police are facing cutbacks as a result of a Stormont budget set by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris in the absence of devolved ministers at Stormont. Justice McAlinden said he was acutely aware of the obligation to hold a human rights-compliant investigation into the Loughgall shootings. But he said he also had to acknowledge the real world. I know how much the PSNI budget is actually basically under-resourced this year, he said. The coroner said there were background discussions going on between the Stormont parties and the Secretary of State in relation to the budget. In essence, we have a situation in this country whereby all the essential services are crying out for funding, he said. The justice sector which includes prisons, probation, court service, civil and criminal legal aid, and the inquest process, are all seriously under-resourced at present. The under-resourcing in the PSNI obviously has a bearing in relation to the prioritisation of frontline police services and the investigation of historic wrongs and legacy inquest process. All these issues are presently burning and very concerning issues. Justice McAlinden said he wanted a chapter and verse explanation from the PSNI and MoD on the resourcing issues that are preventing swifter disclosure in the case. I want a warts and all explanation. It shouldnt be a simple glib description of resourcing issues, he said. The coroner added: When this detailed explanation is exposed to public gaze, and it will be, it will be for those that are in positions of power, those that are potentially in positions of power, moving back into the Assembly, to make the case for further resourcing for the various state agents to enable them to carry out their roles. All I can do at this stage is to ensure that the issues are fully ventilated and fully explored. So that those that are in a position to make changes and to provide resources for projects, to provide resources for tasks that need to be done, actually see the problem and actually do something about the problem. There is a limit to what the court can do at present other than expose the issues so that the public representatives can address those issues, if they see fit. Barrister for some of the bereaved relatives, Des Fahey KC, who was appearing on instruction from Phoenix Law solicitors, expressed concern at the prospect of lengthy hold-ups before the inquest is able to begin. It is cold comfort to those who I represent to be told that the resources that are available are being used in terms of the preparation of other inquests, rather than for their inquest, he said. BCG sees the world at the brink of an AI industrial revolution, even disrupting chip design The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)'s recent announcement of a strategic collaboration with Intel to deliver "enterprise-grade, secure AI" is an example of how industry leaders have been energized by the rise of generative AI to learn how this new technology can be used across businesses. DIGITIMES Asia recently spoke with BCG Henderson Institute Global Director Francois Candelon about the objectives behind this collaboration, and about the transformative potential of generative AI more broadly. Q: Why is BCG building its proprietary generative AI system with Intel? To address the world's most important challenges and opportunities, we're collaborating with the world's leading experts in AI. Together, we are bringing fully custom and proprietary generative AI solutions to enterprise clients across industries, while keeping private data isolated in trusted environments. Because generative AI is an emerging and dynamic space, it's critical that organizations pick the right technology provider to power their generative AI journeys. Today's popular, pre-built large language models (LLMs) rely on a public cloud or non-customer-controlled infrastructure and can take three to six months to go from data ingestion to a fully trained custom model that's ready to deploy. Intel's unique combination of Xeon Scalable Processors, AI optimized hardware (Habana Gaudi), and an optimized software stack creates an unmatched ability to develop and deploy fully customizable enterprise scale generative AI solution for a variety of businesses across different market sectors. The built-in flexibility of Intel's solutions was a perfect complement to BCG's AI and engineering services to design and deploy enterprise grade generative AI solutions, while expertly navigating the people/process/policy changes that come with powerful organizational change. Finally, Intel was able to meet our information security and data privacy requirements, which are among the most rigorous in the world. As a result of this partnership, we expect to be able to enable generative AI solutions for enterprise clients at scale in weeks rather than months or years. Q: Do you customize the generative AI system for each corporate customer? Is it deployed on the cloud or at the edge? BCG customizes solutions for each client. In fact, we have partnerships and collaborations with several generative AI providers such as Google, Intel, and OpenAI, because these transformative solutions need to be tailored to the specific needs and capabilities of each companyand even tailored to each use case. LLM providers should be selected by balancing the requirements of a given use case, for example, accuracy, data security, and cost. BCG's approach to customization includes determining whether they should build in the cloud, on premise, at the edge, or through a hybrid approach. Q: How many domains of knowledge does your LLM system cover? Are banking and customer service best suited for B2B applications? Customer service is an exciting application of generative AI and banks are often early adopters of such technologies, so it is not surprising that these sectors are garnering the most attention. However, every company can find significant value with generative AI, no matter their industry. And every domain has several use cases spanning productivity and innovation. In fact, selecting the optimal sources of data for unique use cases is also something that we tailor to our clients' unique business needs. We support companies in using their own proprietary data with generative AI to be able to innovate and grow their business while making sure that their data is safe and secure. Because the type of data used to train the model defines the functionality that the model can provide, a company's unique data is its source of competitive advantage with generative AI. Consider a materials company. Its unique data is its chemical data. By training the generative AI model with chemical data and material properties, it can create an application for inverse design. This is where you write a prompt asking for specific material properties and the model generates the material that has those propertieseven if the material has never been designed before. Let's say the company wants to create an ultra-light weight bulk material that is superconducting at room temperature. This type of material is illusive today, but generative AI could make it possible. Another example is manufacturing companies; they can train a generative AI model with their unique computer assisted design data and create a model for generative design. Future designs can then be automatically generated by simply having a conversation with the computer on the parameters they're looking for: say they want a new car to be 15% lighter, but also made from 15% stronger materials, and designed with 20% fewer parts, and so on. The generative application could then design the new product based on the companies' historical design data. As a knowledge-based company, BCG is also building our internal generative AI applications using our own knowledge assets, such as our full repository of slides and reports. In the future, our case teams can use this when supporting our clients. For example, let's say our client is an oil and gas company that wants to identify areas of growth. Today our teams need to pull disparate data sources and find various experts in our ecosystem. In the future, all our rich expertise and information could be available to the case team with the right prompts of our generative AI application. To summarize, we work with each of our clients to think beyond the obvious and use generative AI for its competitive advantage. This technology has huge potential to be disruptive across industries. It's not just about productivity or customer service. It's about creativity! Q: Considering the powerful nature of generative AI, how will it disrupt the labor force and impact competition among companies? There is a famous quote that I like to cite on this topic: "Humans won't get replaced by AI, humans will get replaced by humans using AI." In the labor force, specifically, companies will compete on how effectively their employees use AI tools. I think this is especially true for generative AI, where human interaction with the tools is critical because there is no truth function. Generative AI gives you the most statistically likely answer based on its training data. For example, when you ask ChatGPT, "What is two plus two?" the most statistically likely answer from the web-based data it is trained on is fourso it will tell you that the answer is four. But there are contexts for which the training data is less robust, which means human supervision of the output is vitally important to ensure quality. As a result, you need to train your people to use and supervise generative AI effectively. Otherwise, your employees could be a source of risk from "shadow AI." For example, generative AI has the power to "democratize" AI and make employees believe they can do new things, such as code in python when they have no programming background. But when people use generative AI outside of their expertise, it can cause unintended problemssuch as publishing vulnerable code or leaking proprietary information. At BCG, we provide our clients with robust guidelines, AI governance principles, and best-in-class Responsible AI frameworks to help them mitigate these risks. In the short term, companies will need to carefully govern how generative AI is used in their organizations, but over time everyone in the company will be using these tools. This will create a meritocracy, wherein some people are better at working with the tools than others. The impact of generative AI on productivity is so high that employees who are effective at using the tools will far out-shine employees who are slower to adopt them. And some current human capabilities will become less important, like the ability to analyze data, create summaries of long documents, or develop personalized content. The situation today is very similar to that of the late 19th centurybefore we had widespread use of electricity. AI's impact is of this magnitude and, in my opinion, is much more important than the rise of the Internet. Q: Given that generative AI requires substantial energy and computing power, is the world generating enough energy to support its rapid expansion? Today the energy consumption of generative AI is a key risk. But the industry is evolving rapidly. I think that in a few years, many generative AI applications will use smaller models that require much less computation, such as models that can run on a laptop with one GPU. There will eventually be many of such models. The key question, as you said, is: Will the progress of producing computing power match the pace of the specific demands created by generative AI? I believe this is a significant opportunity space for Taiwan because hardware is a determining factor in how this will evolve. Taiwan needs to be making the right chips for AI, specifically TPUs and GPUs, and should be actively involved in optimizing their design. I like to quote Michael Porter, a professor of strategy at Harvard Business School, who said that competitiveness of a country depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade. Taiwan should therefore not only be in the business of manufacturing. Taiwanese companies also need to innovate and upgrade existing chip designs, otherwise they will be disrupted. I also believe a significant number of new jobs will be focused on innovative chip design going forward. This could offset job losses from other generative AI applications. Francois Candelon bio: Francois Candelon is the Global Director of the BCG Henderson Institute, Boston Consulting Group's think tank dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. He is also a leader of BCG GAMMA's AI@Scale effort for technology, media, and telecommunications companies. GAMMA is BCG's data science and advanced analytics unit. BCG Henderson Institute Global Director Francois Candelon in its Taipei office. Photo: BCG Tata reportedly scouting land for third plant for EMS and OSAT business Tata Electronics is reportedly looking for land to set up a new factory in southern India as the electronics venture by Tata Group slowly forays into the handsets and semiconductor manufacturing business. The Economic Times quoted sources saying that Tata is scouting for another location in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, potentially planning to set up the third plant in the state. Sources also told The Economic Times that Tata might expand its electronics business into component manufacturing or assembly and OSAT business besides iPhone manufacturing. Following setting up Tata Electronics, the greenfield venture of Tata Group in the electronics business, in April 2020, Tata first announced its ambition in the semiconductor manufacturing business in August 2021. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekharan said in May 2022 that the group planned to invest US$90 billion in new industries such as mobile components, semiconductors, EVs, batteries, renewables, and e-commerce by 2027. In the second half of 2022, rumors surfaced that Tata had been talking with Wistron about the iPhone manufacturing business. Wistron's talk with Tata was reportedly underway. According to Trendforce, Tata has received 5% of orders of iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, which is expected to be launched later in the year. In the semiconductor business, Tata announced that Randhir Thakur, former head of Intel Foundry Services, joined Tata Electronics as the company is looking to foray into the OSAT business. An unnamed Indian government official told The Economic Times that Tata is expected to proceed cautiously and gain a thorough understanding of the market before making any major moves. Tata has signed an MoU with the government of Tamil Nadu to set up a manufacturing facility and is taking over Wistron's plant in Karnataka, which means the Coimbatore facility, if set up, will be Tata's third plant for its electronics business. Despite being a major conglomerate in India, Tata is inexperienced in electronics manufacturing. Financial Times reported earlier that the yield of iPhone cases that Tata made was only about 50%. The Economic Times also reported that iPhones and iPhone parts had to be re-exported and re-imported several times for Tata to assemble before sending them back to China for final assembly. 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. A total of 12,259 people accessed emergency homeless accommodation during the last week of April, the highest level ever recorded by the Department of Housing. The overall figure includes 3,594 children across a total of 1,733 families. Separately, the Dublin rough-sleeper count for spring was carried out over a week in early March. It reported a reduction in rough sleeping since winter with outreach teams engaging 83 individuals, down from 91. The total figure is an increase of 271 on March and a 22% increase on April of last year, Charities called on Government to intensify efforts to tackle homelessness. Focus said it showed the first impacts of the ending of the temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions. June 2022 - 10,492 July 2022 - 10,568 August 2022 - 10,805 September 2022 - 10,975 October 2022 - 11,397 November 2022 - 11,542 December 2022 - 11,632 January 2023 - 11,754 February 2023 - 11,742 March 2023 - 11,988 April 2023 - 12,259 Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said the most deeply worrying trend is the further increase in the number of homeless children. This crisis is affecting not only the most vulnerable but individuals and families of all ages from different backgrounds. Their lives are put on hold as they anxiously navigate a broken housing system with supply never lower and rents that exclude those on lower incomes. As a nation we have failed all of those who call Ireland their home and numerous governments over the last 10 years have not listened to Focus Irelands advice. The Simon Communities said the figures represent an unprecedented number of people experiencing the trauma of homelessness. Wayne Stanley, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: Sadly, we are not surprised to see the number of people in homeless emergency accommodation rise to over 12,000 this month but we have to be shocked that the situation has been allowed to get to this point. He said the recent announcement of projected surpluses show that Budget 2024 will be an opportunity for the Government to reprioritise addressing the homeless and housing crisis through the effective use of available resources. Its an opportunity that cannot be missed and requires focus, planning and an all of Government response. Sinn Fein housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin called on Government to immediately reinstate the ban on no-fault evictions. This is a very significant increase in homelessness in the first month since the ending of the ban on no-fault evictions. He said Government did not have emergency measures in place to deal with the ending of the ban. The tenant-in-situ scheme is still moving too slowly. The output of social and affordable homes is too slow. No additional supply of social housing using emergency planning and procurement powers has even been initiated. He said Government must change its approach to this ever deepening homeless crisis before things get even worse. Louth County Council today welcomed a 75,000 funding boost, following an allocation of funding from Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton, under the Healthy Ireland Fund (HIF) Round 4. The fund was awarded following an extensive public consultation to identify the key priority areas and the at risk groups, and will be allocated by Louth County Council to initiatives that support both positive mental health and increase levels of physical activity across the target groups. It will support initiatives targeted at all age groups, with a particular focus on adolescents and young people, disadvantaged families including one parent families, people affected by homelessness or people at risk of homelessness and people with mental health issues. In addition the Healthy Ireland County Coordinator, with the support of key partners, will deliver a number of health promotion awareness campaigns that will target the wider general population. Louth County Councils Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator, Paula Keenan explained: Healthy Louth recognise that locally-led initiatives are key to enhancing wellbeing among the population. "This funding continues a long-standing partnership that Louth County Council have with Healthy Ireland and will enable Louth County Council to continue to build on the great work we are already doing to support the physical, mental and social wellbeing of everyone living in Louth. Louth Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) provides an important role for promoting health and wellbeing in the county. Since its establishment in 2014, 19 key stakeholders have worked in partnership to promote and support economic, local and community development through greater integration in the planning and delivery of local and community development services and interventions. Announcing the funding, Minister Naughton said: "Healthy Ireland has a long-standing partnership with our Local Authority partners, where we work collaboratively to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Ireland. "I am delighted to announce the allocation of over 2.3 million in 2023 under the HIF Round 4 for projects that will have a real impact on the health and wellbeing of the communities across the 31 Local Authority areas. Each project is linked to an outcome in the Healthy Ireland Framework and it is particularly heartening to see such a variety of projects, illustrating that the design has been tailored locally to meet the needs of the local areas." Pupils and teachers at Faughart Community National School had a special reason to celebrate recently as they joined millions of Europeans in marking Europe Day. This year's celebration was particularly meaningful for Faughart CNS as the school approaches the end of its fifth year since it opened. The day was a great opportunity to invite the school community into the classrooms to experience the wonderful learning that has taken place this year. Blue Star Programme Throughout this year the school has been participating in the Blue Star programme, which aims to instill a sense of EU citizenship and foster a better understanding and appreciation of the benefits of the EU among the next generation of Irish citizens. The Blue Star Programme in Ireland is organised by the European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) and is supported in its efforts by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, and the European Commission Representation in Ireland. As part of the Goodness Me! Goodness You! curriculum that is covered in the multidenominational community national school, a range of engaging activities were completed to help the young learners from junior infants to 6th class understand and appreciate the rich diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions that make up the European Union. Ar nAmhran/Our Anthem EU50 As part of this unit of work, the school also participated in the Our Anthem EU50 project. This EU50 programme (a partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education and the Royal Irish Academy of Music) celebrated Irelands membership of the European Union over the last 50 years and invited schools to learn, rehearse and perform our EU Anthem. Europe Day Celebrations All pupils had the opportunity to interview Minister for European Affairs and Defence, Peter Burke, about his work in Europe. He visited Faughart CNS with Senator John McGahon and Councillor John Reilly on Thursday 4th May. The children performed the EU Anthem Ode to Joy while Minister Burke raised the European Flag in celebration of Irelands 50th anniversary as a member of the European Union. Friends and families enjoyed an afternoon in the school learning about European countries, landmarks, food and culture from pupils in all the classes. A wonderful five years of Faughart CNS The Europe Day celebration was a wonderful way to mark five years of Faughart CNS, a school spokesperson said. The only Community National School in Louth has experienced a steady increase in pupil numbers since it opened its doors in August 2018 and continues to lead the way particularly in the area of STEM, she continued. Faughart CNS was one of only three schools in Louth to receive Science Foundation Ireland Badge of STEM Excellence last year and is on target to receive the SFI Platinum Award this year. Four 5th class pupils received the Runner Up award in Maynooth at the Intel Mini-Scientist National Competition, achieving second prize out of 6300 pupils nationally, for their project involving coding microbits, electronics and coding in scratch. Open Afternoon Faughart CNS are hosting an open afternoon for parents and pupils interesting in enrolling in September on Wednesday 31st May from 12 4pm. Call 0867807512 for more information. 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. 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. Slaine Walsh Hayes runs Slaines Homebakes and supplies different retail outlets. She also has market stalls at Cornmarket Street on Saturdays and Blackrock Village on Sundays Tell us a little bit about yourself: Im originally from Fermoy but my family moved to Cork City in the 90s. I left Cork for Dublin then in 1997 to work as cabin crew with Aer Lingus. I met my husband Jim in 2005 shortly after he had moved home, having lived 12 years abroad. We lived together in Dublin until moving to Zurich in 2011. We moved to Cork three years later when our eldest, Amelia was eight months. My son, Kaspar came along early in 2017 to complete our family. I started gifting friends and neighbours cakes and cookies during the Covid lockdowns and many of them suggested I sell them. It made sense to start up a small business that I could work around my kids and that is how Slaines Homebakes began. Ideal way to spend Friday nights? Ideally with friends and family, socialising with food and drink and catching up with everyone. In reality, Im prepping for Cornmarket Street Farmers Market, making cookie dough etc to bake off early the next morning. Lie ins or up with the park? Mostly up before the lark, my weekend mornings start between 3 and 4 am, scones/cookies/muffins/cupcakes have to be baked, cakes iced and cut, car loaded up for markets. Slaine Walsh Hayes of Slaines Homebakes. Does work creep in to your weekend? Work takes over my weekend. My market days are Saturday and Sunday, Im up very early to bake and not home again before 3pm. If its dry, Ill take the kids out for a walk or a scoot, then back home to prep for the following day. My husband usually cooks on weekends and I go to bed while the kids watch the Saturday movie with their dad. Where to go on weekend city break if money no object? Who would you bring? Somewhere European as I dont fancy long haul flights for a short trip. Possibly Reykjavik, Ive always wanted to visit? I dont know a lot about Icelandic culture, history, food etc so it would be an adventure. Id bring my husband Jim, he works weekdays, I work weekends, sometimes were ships in the night, a weekend spent together sounds great! Closer to home, where do you go to recharge your batteries? Ive been visiting Rosscarbery since I was a teenager and absolutely love it. Driving over the causeway I can feel the stress lifting from my shoulders. I try to walk around the lagoon each morning to clear away the cobwebs and the Warren Beach is beautiful no matter what season. I love to visit the Warren on New Years Day, to welcome in the new year with fresh air and sea salt. Do I catch up with family and friends at weekends? I actually do catch up with both because of my work. Old friends, college buddies and family regularly show up in Cornmarket Street on Saturdays for catch up chats and cakes. My lovely cousin Patricia travels from Dunmanway most Saturdays and its lovely that we can keep in touch in spite of our busy lives. I work at Blackrock Village Sunday Market also, its near where I live so I regularly meet neighbours, family and friends. Do you indulge in any hobbies? I love to sing and a few of my neighbours and I meet in each others houses every month for wine and song. Pre-covid we organised carol singing around the neighbourhood for different local charities and it was always well received with many of the neighbours joining in. Favourite places to eat in Cork: If Im meeting some of my friends we tend to do so on school nights so stay relatively local - pizza and wine in the Leaping Salmon. I had a significant birthday recently and had a party in Il Padrino, great Italian food and a lovely atmosphere. Sophies at the Dean is always a good bet and I love Jacobs on the Mall. What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday? 6.45am... a flurry of school lunches, finding uniforms, cajoling a 9.5 and six year old out of their cosy beds. Anything else youre up to? Considering doing a bread making course and purchasing a bread oven. I am always toying with the idea of a premises/kiosk. SEEKING STALL HOLDERS Cork City Council is seeking expressions of interest from people who would like to trade at the historic Coal Quay Market on Cornmarket Street and Kyle Street. Application forms are available online at www.corkcity.ie, by emailing property@corkcity.ie, or by contacting the councils property section on 021 492 4258. Acceptance of any application does not guarantee the granting of a licence. TWO Cork-based projects were presented with awards at the .IE Digital Town Awards held at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone on Wednesday. Corks OpenLitterMap secured second place in the digital sustainability category at the awards, winning a prize fund of 4,000, for its work in mapping dumping and littering around Ireland. A Skibbereen digital project aimed at supporting women returning to the workplace achieved highly commended in the education category. The awards were created by .IE, Irelands national registry for .ie domain names, in 2021 as part of a broader four-year 1m investment in the IE Digital Town Programme, which encourages the use of digital technology for businesses, citizens, and communities. The awards recognise and reward digitally inspired projects run by towns and local community groups. Each year, the awards offer a prize fund of 100,000 which is split across several categories. Corks OpenLitterMap aims to reduce littering by showing the positive impact of litter-picking. Tidy towns teams use an app, which allows them to tag litter into over 130 categories. Researchers can then identify the greatest causes of litter, including those by corporate brands. It provides a digital tool that can visualise litter problems within the wider community, and helps interested companies fulfil their environmental commitments, such as allowing staff time off to engage in litter-picking. The tool uses artificial intelligence to make data collection easier and artificial reality, similar to Pokemon Go, for visualisation. Meanwhile, Skibbereens training programme prepares workforce returnees, usually women who have taken career leave for family reasons, to re-enter local and remote employment. The key focus is on IT and digital literacy as well as networking, communications, and team-building. Training is delivered in workshops and content is available through a learning management system. THE Catholic bishop of Cork and Ross, Bishop Fintan Gavin, has announced a revised route for the citys historic Eucharistic procession, which returns next month for the first time since before the covid-19 pandemic. The 2023 procession was officially launched on Tuesday evening by the Lord Mayor of Cork city, councillor Deirdre Forde, and by Bishop Gavin, at the visitor centre of the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne. The Eucharistic procession, which dates back almost a century in Cork, will take place on the feast of Corpus Christi, on Sunday, June 11, gathering for prayers at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Shandon at 2.30pm. At 3pm, the procession will then travel down Upper St Johns St , onto Mulgrave Rd and over Christy Ring Bridge, turning right onto Lavitts Quay, then left onto Half Moon St, up Academy Street and on to Patrick Street before arriving at St Peters and St Pauls, where the procession will conclude with Benediction and prayers. Bishop Gavin told The Echo that much consultation with An Garda Siochana, St Johns Ambulance, residents, and other stakeholders had occurred in deciding the route for the procession. The route that we have now takes us down through the city and we will have the final Benediction and homily in St Peters and Pauls, and it will be video-linked with big screens outside so that people who might not be able to do the full walk will be able to be seated and be a part of it and pray along with us, he said. I think the route that we have honours the 97 years of the history of the procession, and at the same time it works to have the procession both respectful and respected. At a time when the culture surrounding us may prefer if people kept their faith to themselves, the procession reminds us that to be authentically Christian involves giving witness in the public square, he added. The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is central to our Catholic faith. We proclaim it without judging anyone elses faith or philosophy. We bring our faith onto the streets on the Feast of Corpus Christi to humbly ask Gods blessing on our city and its people. Noting the processions origins in Cork in the days after the Civil War, Bishop Gavin said the Eucharistic procession was an initiative of reconciliation to bring people together unified around the Eucharist in the person of Jesus. As we relaunch the Eucharistic procession, we are bringing people together, people from all the different parishes here in the city and beyond, and we are inviting all the new faith communities who have made their home here in Cork to join us, the Indian Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Brazilian, African, Polish, Croatian, Ukrainian, and so many other communities, like Catholic Girl Guides, the Guides and Scouts Europe, Youth 2000, Neo-catechumenate, parish eucharistic devotion groups throughout the diocese, and so many others. Music is a big part of the procession, with choirs and groups from parishes in the city and beyond invited to participate, with the procession being led by the Butter Exchange Band. A schools programme, explaining what a Eucharistic procession is and how it fits into the history of the city, has been sent to schools, the bishop said. This is accompanied by a video presentation of the resources which I recorded in the Scoil Mhuire Fatima, North Mon, Bishop Gavin explained. The pack of resources includes a template invitation which students will be invited to complete in order to invite their parents, grandparents, together with the school community, to the procession. There is a particular invitation to those young people who have received the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Describing the Eucharistic procession as an important milestone in terms of religious and community life for the city, Bishop Gavin said he was pleased to see it return. This will be the 97th celebration of the Cork Eucharistic Procession as we look forward to its 100th anniversary in 2026, he stated. Preparations have been underway for several months and we hope to reach out to as many people, parishes, and faith groups to welcome them to celebrate. Speaking to the people of Cork, Bishop Gavin said: I invite you to join the Procession on Sunday, June 11 to walk in faith as people and families from different parishes, age-groups, communities, and countries. Together, we look forward to a memorable and prayerful procession this year. THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said overcrowding in Cork hospitals has created a hostile environment where frontline workers are left to deal with patient frustrations. The organisation has welcomed moves by the Government to increase the maximum penalty for assaulting nurses, midwives, and other frontline workers. The Government has agreed to increase the maximum sentence for those convicted of assault on hospital staff, prison officers, members of the fire brigade, ambulance workers, and members of the Defence Forces. The changes will see such incidents carry a maximum sentence of 12 years, increasing from seven years. The INMOs assistant director of human relations in Cork and Kerry, Colm Porter, said: The level of overcrowding thats currently in the acute hospitals across Cork, we saw record-breaking numbers of people on trolleys only a number of weeks ago, all of this has created a hostile environment. Unfortunately, it is the nurses and midwives who are the ones that tend to get the brunt of that frustration from patients but in saying that, theres no excuse to ever assault a nurse or midwife, but the environment that theyre working in creates that. The proposal brought forward by Justice Minister Simon Harris will amend the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, covering incidents where gardai and emergency workers are assaulted or obstructed on duty. Mr Porter said: Youre seeing over 10 nurses endure some kind of assault be that physical, verbal or sexual assault every day, so the fact that this legislation has come in to increase the sentencing for any kind of assault against frontline workers is absolutely welcome by the union. He added that there should be a zero-tolerance approach to any assault, regardless of the nature of the assault, against nurses or midwives. We also need to see hospital management locally realise those powers and supporting staff to make complaints to gardai, he told The Echo. He said the number one priority for nurses and midwives is to provide safe, high-quality care and that unfortunately, the environment theyre currently working in is having an impact on that. People should be very cognisant of that and that although they have frustrations with the system, its completely unacceptable to take that out on nurses and midwives who are doing their very best to deliver the highest possible care regardless of the situation, Mr Porter said. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha said that while the INMO welcomes this latest move by Minister Harris, that legislative protection by itself is not enough. The Health and Safety Authority needs to play an enhanced role in tackling assaults of nurses. There must be more inspections, prosecutions of employers who fail to keep staff safe. There must be a dedicated division established within the HSA to deal directly with the health service. This is an ask the INMO has put directly to government and the Authority itself. Hospitals are not just places of care, they are workplaces. We need to know what measures are being put in place to protect a largely female workforce, she said. Essential oils company doTERRA has today officially opened its 12m manufacturing facility at Blarney Business Park the companys first manufacturing facility of its kind to be developed outside of the United States. The facility serves as doTERRAs European manufacturing headquarters, distributing products to the European marketplace and increasing capacity for other international markets including the Middle East and Africa. The facility currently employs 65 staff and produces 10 million bottles of essential oils each year. Essential oils company doTERRA has today officially opened its 12m manufacturing facility at Blarney Business Park. Pictured is Greg Cook chair of doTERRAs board; Finance Minister Michael McGrath TD and Donal Travers, head of technology, consumer and business services at IDA Ireland. Picture: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision As production increases, the company says it will grow its staff in quality control, supply chain management, finance, legal, and HR, with the ability to increase to 100 team members over time. The state-of-the-art 95,000 sq ft facility consists of cleanrooms, bottling rooms, office space, testing laboratories, cold storage and warehousing. Finance Minister Michael McGrath was among those in attendance to officially open the facility. I am delighted to be here in Blarney this morning to officially open this fantastic new manufacturing facility for doTERRA. By investing over 12m in this facility in Cork, it shows a real vote of confidence by doTERRA in Ireland as the location for its European manufacturing headquarters. Foreign Direct Investment is a very important element of the Irish economy, and through the work of IDA Ireland, we continue to win investment and jobs across all regions of the country," he said. I want to thank doTERRA for choosing Ireland and wish them every success as they expand further into Europe. Finance Minister Michael McGrath was among those in attendance to officially open the facility. Picture: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde said the facility will be a great benefit to Cork and the wider Southwest region. Greg Cook, doTERRA co-founder and board chair, said the new facility demonstrates doTERRAs long-term vision and commitment to supporting its growing customer base throughout Europe and surrounding markets. Our presence in Ireland has created employment opportunities for skilled workers, improved our ability to respond to our customers needs, and dramatically reduced our environmental impact, he added. CEO of IDA Ireland, Michael Lohan said Irelands geographic location combined with local resources and a skilled workforce makes it a strategic entry point to Europe. doTERRA s presence in Cork shows the confidence business leaders have in a region that is known for its adaptability and agility. IDA Ireland looks forward to a continued partnership with doTERRA and wish them every success, he added. Meanwhile, Kirk Jowers, head of Government affairs at doTERRA, told The Echo that the decision to locate the companys European manufacturing headquarters in Cork was an easy one. Cork has an amazing workforce and a port that can handle whatever we throw at it, so it was a pretty easy choice to come to Cork and weve been beyond delighted with the workforce and with the ease of business. Its just truly been an incredible experience, he said. UPDATE: Tallaght Garda Station has now reopened to the public and all road closures have been lifted. The Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team have completed their examination of the bag and contents. The bag and contents have been removed and will now be subject to further technical and forensic examination. A male in his 30s has been arrested and detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a South Dublin Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing. EARLIER: Tallaght Garda Station has been evacuated and is currently closed to the public. Members of An Garda Siochana on active patrol in the Tallaght area this evening, arrested a male. On arrival back at Tallaght Garda station an initial inspection of a bag in possession of the male has indicated contents of concern. As a precaution the Garda Station has been evacuated and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested. Some road closures in the vicinity of the Garda station are currently in place. By Rebecca Black, PA 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. 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. By Cillian Sherlock, PA 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 Television, 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 travelling 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. The remains of a camp in Sandwith Street, Dublin, following a protest on where it was dismantled and later set alight (PA/Niall Carson) 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. Bales used to blockade the entrance to asylum seeker accommodation at the Magowna House hotel in Inch, Co Clare (PA/Niall Carson) 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. Sean McCarthaigh One of the countrys main childrens hospitals has admitted changing how it carries out a biopsy and the related aftercare of patients after a baby boy suffered a fatal bleeding in his liver following such a procedure. Legal representatives of Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin issued an apology to the parents of the two-month-old baby at a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court on Friday about the failings in its care of the infant. The baby, Mason Taaffe, died at the hospital on January 15th, 2019 just 24 hours after undergoing a liver biopsy at the hospital. A post-mortem revealed he had suffered catastrophic bleeding as a result of the procedure. Counsel for CHI Crumlin, Conor Halpin SC, apologised for the pain, distress and loss suffered by the babys parents, Maria Roche and Jamie Taaffe, during their sons five-day admission to the hospital. Mr Halpin told the inquest that the hospital had introduced several changes as a result of a review of the babys death which were designed to improve safety for all patients. Evidence The inquest also heard a conflict of evidence between hospital staff over whether Masons care had been escalated following a deterioration in his condition at around 3am on January 15th, 2019. A staff nurse, Rejitha Revi, said she had bleeped a senior house officer three times over a period of around 90 minutes to review baby Mason as she had growing concern about his condition. In a statement, however, the SHO, Siobhan Pennycook, maintained she had been given no indication that there was any urgency with the situation. Dr Pennycook said she was busy attending other patients including another urgent case and said she would review Mason as soon as possible. The inquest heard that the little boy had been born three-months prematurely at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin on November 20th 2019. His mother told the hearing that her son had a number of health complications resulting from his premature birth and needed to be on a ventilator. Ms Roche, who comes from Killinarden, Tallaght, explained her son had been transferred to CHI for a biopsy because of concerns about the functioning of his liver. She outlined several concerns about the care provided to her son during his short stay in Crumlin including being left without oxygen for over an hour and a half and having a rash on his face because it was not cleaned. Ms Roche also claimed she had seen her sons blood pressure only being checked once after the biopsy was carried out on January 14th 2019, although it was meant to be checked at regular intervals. She said she was also worried when Mason started to scream in pain several hours after the procedure which she knew was unusual, although a nurse had tried to reassure her there was nothing to be concerned about. Ms Roche said she and her partner were called back to the hospital and were informed that their sons heartbeat had recovered after it had stopped first for 7 minutes and then again for 36 minutes. However, she said his face was blue and swollen and his condition continued to deteriorate until he was pronounced dead at 12.51pm. Premature babies A consultant paediatric gastroenterologist, Billy Bourke, informed the inquest that the baby did not have the suspected biliary atresia a blockage of the bile ducts around the liver for which the biopsy was ordered to confirm. While there was no particular risk of bleeding with the procedure, Prof Bourke said the risk would always be somewhat elevated with premature babies. He said it was the first time in his professional career that he had experienced a baby dying from a liver biopsy. However, Prof Bourke said it was unlikely that a major blood vessel had been ruptured by the needle used to perform the biopsy as it would have been detected almost immediately. The consultant said all biopsies were now carried out using ultrasound by radiologists rather than anatomically as it had been in baby Masons case. Prof Bourke admitted that the reason they had not been carried out by ultrasound beforehand was due to resources. He also accepted that post-operative monitoring guidelines for the patient had been followed initially but not after six hours after which the babys condition deteriorated. The inquest heard post-operative observations of patients who undergo a biopsy are now carried out at greater frequencies. A consultant neonatologist, Eleanor Molloy, told the coroner, Crona Gallagher, that medical staff were definitely more aware about the complications of a biopsy following baby Masons death. Returning a verdict of medical misadventure, Dr Gallagher said she was not required to resolve the conflict of evidence that had emerged during the hearing. The coroner said the verdict reflected the fact that baby Masons death was the unintended consequence of an action and/or omission but did not imply any blame or exoneration of any party. Dr Gallagher said she also endorsed the changes already introduced at CHI Crumlin following the babys death. While she had considered making a recommendation about staffing levels at the hospital, the coroner said the evidence did not indicate having any extra nurses or doctors would have prevented his death. Offering her condolences to the babys parents, Dr Gallagher said they had suffered a great loss during a deeply traumatic experience. There is no tragedy greater than the loss of a child, she remarked. THE Lough is a disgrace, a dumping ground with typhoid present, according to Cork Corporation, the Echo reported 100 years ago today, on Saturday, May 26, 1923. The damning statement came up in a discussion about the use of charitable funds. The Corporation was asked to compile information on how the White Cross (charitable) funds had been disbursed in Cork. Mr Mahony said accusations had been made that some individuals, including himself, had misappropriated the funds to the extent of building houses for themselves. The Chairman said the Corporation had nothing to do with the White Cross funds. Mr Byrne supported Mr Mahonys request, and said the sum of 4,000 in White Cross money was applied to the Lough and a mess had been made of it. Certain gentlemen had got together and decided to use the funds on work there without presenting plans or gaining any permission from the Corporation. Their work of destruction meant the Corporation had to add 1,500 more under the City Engineer in an attempt to redeem matters. As it was, the Lough was still a disgrace: a dumping ground with typhoid present. The City Engineer said 1,500 was an infinitesimal part of what would be required to complete the work satisfactorily. Meanwhile, paying orders amounting to 21,898 were submitted at Cork Corporations meeting. Mr Horgan said he hoped they were all in order. The Town Clerk said he did not know what view the auditor would take on the expenses incurred in connection with the funeral of Liam Lynch amounting to 45 but felt it his duty to call attention to it. Chairman Egan said he hoped when it came under the notice of the auditor, they would all be on such friendly terms as to let bygones be bygones. The accounts were passed. The Fine Long Evenings SIR, I for one consider this summer a boon to city workers, and with refreshing thoughts of pure air and nature in bloom, I sallied forth to a favourite spot of my youth. For Gurranabrahers heights I sighed and took my children with me to show them the wonders of the country. We left the city smoke and smells and, lo!, a gate through which we saw a field of sheep and lambs, then another with cows and the ever-dreaded bull. But suddenly, a throng of boys and men appeared shouting clear off the road! There was a score on, a game of bowls. Over the fence, through wire and briar, I had to pull my children and face the dreaded bull! I thought we could walk the road in peace once they had passed. But no. Another gang with the same cry came lofting a corner and up and down in a ploughed field we had to wait until someone gained a bowl of odds. All this kept us late, and farther up we could not go. At Churchfield Cross, we had a narrow escape when two gangs met fact to face. I was thinking what chance would an ambulance have of turning in such a narrow road when, to our great relief, a bowl was lost and we were allowed to pass. It was safer to come home through Collins Lane and down Fair Hill and I reached it a sad and angry man, to think such a dangerous game is allowed so near the city on such narrow roads. A shame that women and children have to stay at home in smells and smoke, prevented from enjoying a mouthful of fresh air these fine long evenings. Signed, A DUSTY MILLER Fords and Stray Horses A letter from Henry Ford & Son was read at the Corporation meeting complaining that horses were being brought down the new Centre Park Road by unscrupulous individuals and left to graze on Fords ground. Some were getting trapped in drainage dykes and dying and the company had to bury them. Something needed to be done on humanitarian grounds. Mr Barry observed that he saw a carcass himself in a drain and understood it to have been there for ten days. Mr Horgan said he had received complaints that stray horses were getting on to the Marina and were a menace to women and children walking. Fords were spending thousands in Cork every week. Prosecution of owners should be sought. It was decided to refer the matter to the Public Health Committee. Bank Holidays in Mallow SIR, I am now three years in Mallow and never yet was there a Bank Holiday observed in the town, nor even a Holiday of Obligation. Cork, Killarney, Bandon etc. close down readily. Who is responsible for this state of affairs in Mallow? Do the workers and employees think twice about forfeiting a days wages? I think not. Are employers to blame? Is it not time for some Bolshie or Red Flagger to adjust the principle of all work and no play. AN entrepreneur who combined her experience in structural engineering with her love of knitting will represent Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cork City at the National Enterprise Awards, 2023. Independent knitwear designer Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches will be up against LEO representatives from all over the country at the prestigious awards ceremony in The Mansion House, Dublin, in June. Carols designs are a mix of contemporary and traditional and shes taught an incredible 250,000 knitters through in-person workshops and retreats and online video classes. Increasingly, her company is focused on full experience clubs and subscriptions, where knitters have all they need tools, instruction, inspiration, and community to fully enjoy and take pride in both the creative process and their finished knit. Carol, who lives near Innishannon, remembers learning how to knit in primary school at the age of six or seven. In fact, Ive still got a pair of lemon yellow fingerless gloves (half finished) floating around somewhere in my parents house! I did began designing very early, admittedly it was usually for Cindy dolls rather than myself! she said. Shes always looked for a way to combine the creative and technical sides of her personality in her work. When I left school, I first did a foundation course in Art & Design (textile design), before doing a degree in Civil Engineering at UCC. "I worked as a structural engineer in the late 1990s, and then started and ran an online company focused on ecological and natural parenting products in the early 2000s. It wasnt until I rediscovered knitting, in 2008, that I was able to see a way to combine my varied interests and skills to form a viable, sustainable, and personally satisfying business, she said. That reconnection with knitting happened when her kids were small. I wanted something that was just for me. So much of my day was taken over by minding other people, I wanted something that was mine. The other benefits became more obvious as I started knitting; the act of knitting was very relaxing and enjoyable in its own right and it gave me a creative outlet that I could combine with my love of numbers! said the mum-of-four. Stolen Stitches grew very slowly and organically, with each new activity being added as the opportunity arose. Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches. Picture: Colm Lougheed. It started when I took knitting up again in 2008, and begin working from home writing patterns for magazines and books. I then began self-publishing patterns and selling them online. Shortly after this (as the kids grew older and I had more time), my activities as a designer expanded to include teaching. I began travelling internationally to teach at yarn festivals and related events, and I was commissioned to create a series of online video workshops for a company in the US called Craftsy. My books with Wily Publishing and Potter Craft (imprint of Random House), and the classes I published on Craftsy (which attracted over 250,000 learners) all provided a very strong foundation for my catalogue of digital patterns, which continued to grow. When her youngest went to secondary school, she began a yarn line and moved out of the house into a studio in Cork city and now works out of the Tramore Commercial Park. Since then, its been steadily growing, and Im discovering the process of growing a business can be as creative as knitting! said Carol. Stolen Stitches essentially seeks to be a one-stop-shop for its community of knitters, enabling them to expand their skills in a way that suits their lifestyle. We provide knitting patterns, yarn (both Stolen Stitches brand and other lines), online video classes and in-person learning material (all produced in-house), and an online community platform for knitters. We have over 350 patterns and 10 books that we have produced and many of the samples are available for knitters to try on in store in our Tramore Commercial Park. We have over 70 pre-recorded video classes available to get people started with knitting, work through a project, and to improve their skills. These include both free and paid content. For knitters that want a more immersive experience, we do clubs that combine yarn, patterns, workshops, craft goodies and online community forums for a very complete experiences, said Carol. Along with her team (three full-time and four part time), shes delighted and honoured to be nominated by Cork City LEO. The whole process of the application and presentation to the judges is a great opportunity to clarify the Stolen Stitches message and share our amazing community with a wider audience. I also look forward to connecting with the other nominees - I know we all have a lot to learn from each other. Not surprisingly, she whole-heartedly recommends knitting for everyone. Its still the best part of my day, I get to sit and watch a couple of hours of TV in the evening while relaxing and still produce something that I love. If you have difficulty de-escalating at the end of a day it makes a huge difference. She would also like to see the skill being taught in school: Its where I learned to knit, and then it was reinforced at home by my mother. Ive worked with a group in Ireland, Wool In Schools, to offer online video support for knitters in schools. And her best business tip? Theres no finish line, enjoy the process. No casting off for Carol then! 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. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on Thursday will further limit the regulatory reach of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by implementing a strict new test for the declaration of wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case involved a couple, Chantell and Michael Sacket, who had purchased property in Idaho with plans to build a home there. When they began to refill an excavated hole on their land with dirt in preparation to build their home, they were told by the EPA that backfilling their lot was prohibited under the CWA because the property contained wetlands. At dispute was the extent to which a property needs to be connected with a U.S. waterway in order to require a permit under the CWA. The EPA ordered the couple to restore their property in order to avoid any discharging of pollutants into the waters of the United States. The Sacketts petitioned, saying their property, which was near a ditch feeding into a creek that flowed into the navigable, intrastate Priest Lake, did not fit the criteria of waters of the United States. After the federal district court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found for the EPA, the Supreme Courts ruling narrowed the categorization of wetlands as waters of the United States, thus limiting their jurisdiction under the CWA. 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 in the ruling. The wetlands on the Sacketts property are distinguishable from any possibly covered waters. The ruling will result in the removal of protections from nearly 90 million acres of the countrys sensitive wetlands ecosystems, which improve water quality, help keep coastal erosion in check and offer vital flood protection and carbon storage, reported Reuters. The Supreme Courts disappointing decision in Sackett v. EPA will take our country backwards. It puts our Nations wetlands 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, President Biden said in a statement, according to a press release from The White House. Though the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of the couple, four of the justices the three liberal members of the court and conservative justice Brett Kavanaugh disagreed with the Courts new continuous surface connection test to determine if wetlands qualify as waters of the United States, saying it could threaten flood control and water quality in the country, Reuters reported. Biden said the ruling overturns decades of regulations used to keep U.S. waters healthy. Todays decision upends the legal framework that has protected Americas waters for decades. It also 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, Biden said in the press release. The Supreme Court ruling was the most recent example of the Court ruling in favor of a challenge to limit the ability of the EPA to implement environmental protections, reported Reuters. In June of 2022, the Court limited the EPAs ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing gas and coal plants under the Clean Air Act. Environmental advocates rally as the Supreme Court reviews the Sackett case in Washington, DC on Oct. 3, 2022. Paul Morigi / Getty Images for Protect our Waters The CWA prohibits the discharge of pollutants including sand and rocks into the waters of the United States, which encompasses marshes, swamps, berms and other types of wetlands adjacent to navigable waters. Since the Clean Water Act was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress in 1972, it has been used by Republican and Democratic administrations alike to help ensure Americans in every state have clean water. It is the reason why today Americas lakes are swimmable, why we can fish in our streams and rivers, and why clean water comes out of our taps, Biden said in the press release. Nonprofit environmental advocacy group Earthjustice said half of wetlands in the contiguous U.S. will lose their CWA protections as a result of the ruling, The Guardian reported. The decision of the Court undoes a half-century of progress generated by the Clean Water Act, Earthjustice said, as reported by Reuters. Director of Legal Advocacy for the National Wildlife Federation Jim Murphy also expressed disappointment with the ruling. The courts ruling removes these vital protections from important streams and wetlands in every state. We call on both Congress and state governments to step in, plug the gap, and protect our threatened waters and the people that depend on them, Murphy said, as The Guardian reported. Alltech ONE World Tour begins in Budapest, Hungary Central Europe's agriculture producers will play a major role in addressing climate and food-supply challenges around the world. The region's agri-food leaders discussed collaborative solutions and strategies for success on May 23 in Budapest, Hungary, at the first stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE). The event starts a series of international events that bring the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world. Discussions explored collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the "4 Cs" the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs. The ONE Budapest keynote presentation from Dr. Mark Lyons, president and chief executive officer of Alltech, welcomed delegates to Budapest and challenged them to think about what comes next for the agri-food industry. "In times of uncertainty, it is crucial for businesses like ours to adapt and innovate," Lyons said. "The Alltech ONE Conference is no exception. While our annual symposium has had its roots in Kentucky, USA, for four decades, we felt it was important to adapt and engage with our customers on their home ground. Thus, it is only fitting that we launch the Alltech ONE World Tour in Budapest, Hungary, which is at the center of both change and opportunity." ONE Budapest attendees heard from industry experts on various topics, including insights from the dairy industry, data for profitable and sustainable agriculture and mycotoxin management. They also attended focus track sessions on dairy, pigs and poultry. Robert Walker, European growth officer at Alltech, moderated a panel discussion featuring the species focus track speakers, who discussed how to remain profitable amid uncertainty and how the lessons from the day's sessions can be applied to individual operations. "By sharing data and insights, we empower advisors to solve agri-food-system challenges and drive the transfer of value, from the consumer to the processor to the farmer," said Walker. The final session of the day featured a discussion between Tara McCarthy, global vice president for ESG at Alltech, and Lyons on the path forward toward a sustainable future. "As an industry, we have the responsibility to frame the role of agri-food in the context of the four Cs of climate, conflict, cost and consumer," McCarthy said. "We will need to use our insights (from data), our skills and our scale to achieve impact, but most importantly, we will need to adapt and partner across the value chain." "The theme of our ONE Budapest stop "Thriving Through Turbulence: Rising to the Challenges of Climate, Conflict, Consumers and Costs in Agriculture" perfectly encapsulates the unique hurdles we encounter in this region," Lyons said. "With increasing geopolitical tensions and rising input costs, producers will need to make well-informed decisions to enhance their efficiency and adapt to the modern challenges faced by many in this area." The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with stops in Dublin, Ireland, on June 1920 and Calgary, Canada, on July 34, then on to the United States, Asia, South America and the Middle East. - Alltech Aquaculture operation off coast of New England, US, proposed Blue Water Fisheries, based in US state New Hampshire, is proposing a new offshore aquaculture operation in the waters off the coast of New England, the United States. The company has proposed installing 40 submersible fish pens in two mooring grids that would occupy 250 acres of open water roughly seven miles off the coast of Newburyport, Massachusetts. The company hopes to grow salmon and steelhead trout at the farm, along with lumpfish for a research study, using technology from Innovasea. The company submitted plans for the project to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) in 2020, originally seeking a location off the coast of either Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts. The council helped narrow down potential sites to ones with consistent depth and low vessel traffic, ultimately arriving at the currently proposed site. In June 2021, the US Army Corps of Engineers issued a public comment period for the work, which included further details that the project would require a fleet of six vessels to tend to the fish farm at full buildout. According to a report by the Associated Press, the farm would produce up to 25.6 million pounds, or over 11,500 tonnes, of fish each year. A recent decision by the New England Fishery Management Council will make it easier for Blue Water Fisheries to farm Atlantic salmon in federal waters. The council signed off on an adjustment to its Atlantic Salmon Fishery Management Plan that allows industry members that get authorisation from NOAA fisheries to posses farm-raised Atlantic salmon in federal waters. "The council's original [plan] prohibits directed fishing and possession of Atlantic salmon in the US exclusive economic zone," the NEFMC said in a press release. "However, the [plan] also gives the council the ability to develop a framework action to authorise salmon aquaculture in federal waters if it chooses to do so." - SeafoodSource Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka Prof. Holger Hanselka will be the 11th president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft unanimously elected the current president of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) at its meeting in Dresden. Hanselka succeeds Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, who resigned from his post by mutual agreement on 25 May 2023 after almost eleven years at the helm of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. 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. Its a bigger than usual AI week for Microsoft, thanks to its Build developer conference. This week, we chat with Panos Panay, Microsofts Chief Product Officer, about Windows Copilot, a new AI assistant headed to Windows 11. Is this just a smarter Clippy, or will AI actually transform the way we use Windows? Also, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss whats up with Apples Mixed Reality headset as we gear up for WWDC in a few weeks. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Topics Microsoft announces AI in just about everything at Build 2023 1:42 Devindras interview with Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay 11:28 Processing the interview with Panos and other headlines from Build 33:57 Bloomberg report on Apples AR headset reveals significant divisions within the company 45:55 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces his Presidential bid in a glitch-filled Twitter Space with Elon Musk 56:00 Amazons Fire Max 11 looks read to do actual work 1:03:22 What were working on 1:08:01 Pop culture picks 1:09:59 Livestream Credits Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos Graphic artist: Luke Brooks and Joel Chokkattu All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. Microsoft appeals for a new US agency to regulate AI Vice chair and president Brad Smith also equated AI's importance to that of the printing press. Microsoft has called for the US federal government to create a new agency specifically focused on regulating AI, Bloomberg reports. At a speech in Washington, DC attended by some members of Congress and non-governmental organizations, Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith remarked that "the rule of law and a commitment to democracy has kept technology in its proper place" and should do so again with AI. Another part of Microsoft's "blueprint" for regulating AI involves mandating redundant AI circuit breakers, a fail-safe that would allow algorithms to be shut down quickly. Smith also strongly suggested that President Biden create and sign an executive order necessitating that the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) risk management framework be followed by any federal agencies engaging with AI tools. He added that Microsoft would also adhere to the NIST's guidelines and publish a yearly AI report for transparency. Microsoft's calls for regulation follow similar remarks from OpenAI and Google. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified before Congress that a "new entity" is needed to regulate AI and recommended "independent audits" of models. Yet, Altman previously suggested pulling OpenAI from the European Union if the company doesn't agree with new policies. Kent Walker, CEO president of global affairs for Google and Alphabet, recently released a statement calling for "broad-based efforts across government, companies, universities, and more to help translate technological breakthroughs into widespread benefits, while mitigating risks." Concerns about AI have also led to people walking away from its development. Former Google VP and engineering fellow Geoffrey Hinton, commonly referred to as "The Godfather of AI," notably resigned in April to openly warn about AI's risks. Alongside voicing his concerns, Smith's hour-long speech also served as an opportunity for him to laud recent AI advancements. He compared its significance to that of the printing press or electricity. In an accompanying blog post that echoed his speech, Smith went so far as to say, "AI offers perhaps even more potential for the good of humanity than any invention that has preceded it." The German-language newspaper Handelsblatt said it received 100GB of data from "several informants" within Tesla, showing how the company received thousands of complaints about its Autopilot features over the past years. According to Jalopnik, the collection contained 23,000 internal files, with complaints from as far back as 2015 and as recent as March 2022. Within that time period, the automaker reportedly received 2,400 reports about self-acceleration issues and 1,500 cases about braking function problems. The latter included 139 complaints about unintentional emergency braking and 383 about phantom stops from false collision warnings. Further, the files reportedly included more than 1,000 crash reports and a table of 3,000 incidents wherein drivers expressed safety concerns about Tesla's driver assistance system. While most of the reported incidents happened in the US, some of the complaints came from owners in Europe and Asia. Handelsblatt said it contacted dozens of customers from the files to confirm their reports, and some were even able to share videos with the publication. Aside from containing details on thousands of safety complaints, the files reportedly included instructions for employees on how to communicate with customers. Apparently, they're told not to copy and paste incident reports on email or text messages and not to leave the information as voicemail recording. They can only verbally pass on the information to customers. In a letter explaining why the publication decided to publish information from the Tesla files, Handelsblatt editor-in-chief Sebastian Matthes said a 12-person team sifted through and evaluated the files over six months. "The data paints the picture of an electric car pioneer who seems to have far greater technological problems than previously known. With its Autopilot, for example. The Tesla files contain thousands of reports about complications with the driver assistance systems. Complaints of Tesla vehicles suddenly braking at full speed. Or accelerate suddenly," he wrote. He said his team sent Tesla a comprehensive list of questions, but the automaker chose not to answer them. Instead, Joseph Alm, Tesla's Managing Counsel for Litigation, told the publication that the data was stolen and that media reporting of illegally obtained information is not allowed absent exceptional circumstances. Alm also said in his response (via Electrek) to the publication that the company believes a "disgruntled ex-employee" used his access as a service technician to "exfiltrate information in violation of his signed non-disclosure agreement" before he left the company. Tesla intends to sue that ex-employee for his "theft of Tesla confidential information and employees' personal data." Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. High around 75F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Montana Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Russell argues on behalf of the state in the Held v. State of Montana case on May 12, 2023, in Lewis and Clark District County Court. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge this week denied the states request for summary judgment in the Montana youth climate change lawsuit, meaning the case is effectively guaranteed to proceed to the trial scheduled to start June 12 in Helena. Judge Kathy Seeley wrote in her Tuesday order in the Held et al v. State of Montana et al case that the state did not establish any undisputed facts that would lead her to grant summary judgment in the case, as the state had requested earlier this month. Further, she wrote that the issues involving Montanans right to a clean and healthful environment and whether the state is violating their constitutional rights will be determined after trial. Whether climate change and the [Montana Environmental Policy Act] Limitation impact youth disproportionately is a material fact to be proven at trial, Seeley wrote in her order. She said the MEPA limitation, or exception, as the parties have called it, hamstrings state agencies and officials and appears to conflict with the purpose of MEPA on its face. The limitation is a portion of Montana law that originally said most environmental reviews cannot include impacts beyond Montana unless required by a federal agency or required by law, but which was changed by the legislature this year in response to a Yellowstone County judges decision regarding the greenhouse gas emissions of a NorthWestern Energy plant in Laurel. The Republican supermajority legislature suspended the rules to introduce and pass House Bill 971 in April in response to the judges ruling, which changed the language of the MEPA limitation to say that an environmental review cannot evaluate greenhouse gas emissions or their impacts to the climate anywhere. The new language also said a review could be done if Congress amends the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. It was also added in to Senate Bill 557, which Gianforte signed last week. The MEPA Limitation clearly implicates Plaintiffs fundamental right to a clean and healthful environment. A statute may only infringe a fundamental right if it is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest, Judge Seeley wrote in her order. The state had asked Seeley last week to dismiss the remaining parts of the lawsuit following a May 12 hearing after Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill amending the limitation. The state had also asked Seeley to dismiss the claims tied to the state energy policy, which the legislature also repealed this year. Seeley in her order agreed to dismiss the parts of the suit revolving around the energy policy because the legislature had already done away with that part of state statute. Emily Flower, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Justice, declined to comment on the judges order to the Daily Montanan on Thursday, but rather pointed to a statement she provided the Associated Press in which she said the case was nothing more than a publicity stunt spearheaded by an out-of-state interest group that she said was exploiting Montana children to achieve its goal of shutting down responsible energy development. Multiple times in her order, Seeley cites a 1999 Montana Supreme Court decision in the MEIC I case in which the court decided Montanas 1972 Constitutional framers did not intend to merely prohibit that degree of environmental degradation which can be conclusively linked to ill health or physical endangerment. She cited multiple framers who said they believed defending a healthful environment both meant there should be no future degradation of it beyond 1972 and that citizens should not need to show their health was hurt to find relief from potential damages. In fact, the Court has repeatedly found that the Framers intended the state constitution contain the strongest environmental protection provision found in any state constitution, she wrote. She wrote that there was nothing preventing her court from deciding whether the MEPA limitation is constitutional and that the facts of the case so far show the 16 plaintiffs, ages 5 to 22, could have a point that Montanas policies are affecting the climate and their health. Based on the pleadings and discovery, there appears to be a reasonably close causal relationship between the States permitting of fossil fuel activities under MEPA, GHG emissions. Climate change, and Plaintiffs alleged injuries, Seeley wrote. Further, she said, the state has pointed to statute governing specific mining and drilling activities that she says clearly regulate fossil fuel activities and that the state could alleviate the environmental effects of climate change if they were allowed to consider GHG emissions and climate impacts during MEPA review. 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, Seeley wrote. This Court cannot force the State to conduct that analysis, but it can strike down a statute prohibiting it. Seeley said the states argument that finding a stable climate system to be part of the constitutions right to a clean and healthful environment and an environmental life-support system would lead to absurd results and open the floodgates to more litigation did not hold weight and that it falls flat. She said that the state law that limits MEPA reviews affects MEPA procedure the same way every timeit blocks an entire line of inquiry. Two narrow exceptions, exceptions that merely allow the agencies to conduct the analysis Plaintiffs want them to do, and only when required by Federal law, cannot shield the statutes main text from constitutional review, Seeley wrote. The intent of the Framers was not to lag behind the Federal government in environmental protections, it was to have the strongest constitutional environmental protections in the country. She said whether that limitation and climate change affect the plaintiffs disproportionately is a material fact to be proven at trial. The trial, which would be the first of its kind from the environmental group Our Childrens Trust to reach that stage, is set to start on June 12. The post Judge allows Montana youth climate change lawsuit to proceed to trial appeared first on Daily Montanan. The Target 2023 Pride collection on display at the store in Helena, Montana on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan) A transgender Missoula couple was told to enjoy it while you can while shopping Thursday in the LGBTQ+ section in Target by a man who went on to throw merchandise from the section onto the floor. The man was later escorted by a Target employee out of the section, which includes clothing with rainbow colors, for example. Octavia Jimenez and her non-binary partner, April Dean, said they were rattled by the experience. I think that those are temporary feelings that are going to pass, Dean said. Both said the opposition to Targets merchandise is profoundly silly. Jimenez added people are just living their lives and want recognition for who they are. He does look very pathetic, just kind of like throwing a temper tantrum, Jimenez said. Both students at the University of Montana, Jimenez and Dean said they were approached by the man as they were shopping on Thursday. This guy just kind of comes up to us while were looking at the stuff and just says, Enjoy it while you can, and hes got this weird look in his eyes, Jimenez said. He kind of just starts throwing the merchandise on the floor. Jimenez sent a video of the end of the altercation to activist Paul Kim, who posted it to Twitter. It shows the man being escorted out of the LGBTQ+ section by a Target employee. Target press responded to a voicemail from the Daily Montanan with an email confirming an incident took place at the store on Thursday. The retail company did not respond to an email with follow up questions from the Daily Montanan. Jimenez said she would like to see the man at least banned from the store. Target recently made the decision to remove some of its LGBTQ+ merchandise from stores across the country citing backlash that included threats to worker safety, as reported by the Washington Post. Dean said they hope Target doesnt bow to the pressure from anti-LGBTQ+ groups, wishing they would continue to support people who are very much heartened by these kinds of public displays. Jimenez said the display was right up at the front of the store and that placement was nice. Missoula resident Chris Foster said he didnt notice any commotion in the Target on Thursday, but that when he returned to his car he found a flyer under his windshield that said in all capital letters that Target was partnering with satanists to bring transgender clothing and propaganda to their stores. Foster said in a direct message on Twitter to the Daily Montanan he saw a woman putting what he assumed were identical copies on other cars in the parking lot. Missoula voters sent the first two transgender lawmakers to the legislature for the 2023 session. However, the session brought with it a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and Democrat Rep. Zooey Zephyr, one of the transgender representatives from Missoula, was censured by Republicans in the House for language she used as she spoke in opposition to one such bill. Zephyr tweeted in response to the online video that the hate displayed in Target isnt welcome in Missoula and that queer people are ingrained in the community. Were part of Missoula, & if you can let go of the hate in your heart, youd see that, Zephyr tweeted. My heart goes out to the trans woman & her nonbinary partner who were harassed. While the man may have said enjoy it while you can, I hope the couple knows there are people across this state working towards creating a Montana where they can always enjoy their lives in peace. Missoula held a large rally supporting Zephyr after her censure, one Dean attended at which they got to meet Zephyr, an experience they looked back on fondly, noting how much Zephyrs representation meant to them. Dean said they saw this action as a natural consequence from the rhetoric from the statehouse. This kind of attitude towards trans people gets extended into the public sphere as people see this harassment being done by their elected officials, they said. It sends a message that this kind of thing is OK. Jimenez said she didnt file a police report and just wants to move on, adding that shes not a big believer in criminal stuff, anyway. Eddie McLean with the Missoula Police Department said authorities have not seen a noticeable uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the area and the office monitors for any potential concerns especially around upcoming events like the Pride parade. Jimenez said shes always felt safe in town, speaking to the number of openly queer and trans people and support from businesses throughout, but said theres been a lot of demonization lately from rhetoric both nationally and from the statehouse. Dean said it was important to flag that this can take place even in areas that wed like to call more liberal, like Missoula. Its a beautiful state and theres a lot of good people here, which makes this type of thing hurt all the more, Dean said. The two moved as a couple from Texas to Montana. Shawn Reagor of the Montana Human Rights Network said in a statement that the organization predicted anti-LGBTQ+ legislation would lead to an increase in violence and threats, especially against the LGBTQ+ and particularly trans, nonbinary, and Two Spirit community. Hate filled rhetoric and actions started in the Capitol this session and (have) flooded this state, Reagor said. The post Trans couple rattled after harassment in Target, LGBTQ+ merchandise thrown on floor appeared first on Daily Montanan. (The Center Square) A bipartisan bill to allow 100-year leases on federal land could increase housing construction in the West's rural areas, the legislation's backers say. Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., introduced the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act to address the housing shortage in rural and mountain areas, especially for Forest Service workers. The bill would strengthen the U.S. Forest Services authority to lease underutilized administrative sites so local governments and organizations could construct affordable housing. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, secured a hearing earlier this week on the bill. The ability to provide affordable housing options for our Forest Service workers, wildland firefighters and first responders is very important, Neguse said during the hearing. I think this bill is a commonsense way to accomplish that and a way for Congress, on a bipartisan basis, to support those efforts at the local level. Increasing leases to 100 years would provide developers with greater leverage when seeking financing for projects. It would modify the 2018 Farm Bill giving the Forest Service the ability to lease administrative sites for local needs, including building affordable housing. The Forest Service manages dozens of administrative sites in Colorado that are vacant, underutilized and neglected, Jonathan Godes, a member of the Glenwood Springs City Council, said during testimony. They need a significant capital improvement for the purposes of employee housing. Godes provided examples where affordable housing is being developed on federal lands. Projects like this are critical to our ability to address the severe shortage of labor that threatens the profitability of our small businesses and large ski industry partners alike, Godes said. They would furthermore provide sorely needed housing options for the U.S. Forest Service where unfilled positions hinder important work related to wildfire mitigation, natural resource protection and the administration of recreational permits by private businesses. Summit County, Grand County, Eagle County, Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) and Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) all support the legislation. Montana is experiencing similar housing challenges. As our state continues to grow, housing is becoming more expensive and harder to find, especially in our rural and gateway communities, Daines said in a statement. This bipartisan bill will help Montana communities partner with the Forest Service to create affordable housing and help ensure hardworking Montanans are able to live where they work. The 2018 Farm Bill allowed local governments to lease underused administrative parcels and other areas located mostly outside of forest boundaries. The governments provided in-kind contributions, including housing construction and improvement or maintenance of federal facilities. When Colorados teachers, firefighters, police, and nurses can no longer afford to live where they work, we need to use every tool we can to fix this problem, Bennet said in a statement. This bill will build on our efforts in the 2018 Farm Bill to help communities and the Forest Service work together to build more affordable housing. Does artificial intelligence threaten to conquer humanity? In recent months, the question has leaped from the pages of science fiction novels to the forefront of media and government attention. Its unclear, however, how many of the discussants understand the implication of that leap. In the public mind, the threat either focuses narrowly on the inherent confusion of ever-better deep fakes and its consequences for the job market, or points in directions that would make a great movie: What if AI systems decide that theyre superior to humans, seize control, and put genocidal plans into practice? That latter focus is obviously the more compelling of the two. While such a nightmare may be possible in theory, its remote. The clear and present danger that AI poses will destroy us long before our rebellious automated servants declare themselves our exterminationist overlords. Two critical words summarize the threat: values and authority. Take values first. For all their sophistication and mystery, AI systems are basically pattern detectors. Nearly all human behaviorand an even larger share of non-human occurrencesfollows predictable patterns. Increasingly sophisticated recording mechanisms provide AI systems with a growing body of past data in which to find patterns. Increasingly sophisticated algorithms provide AI systems with rapidly improving capabilities to find the patterns in those data. AI becomes interesting, however, only when it projects those patterns into the future. Few care, for example, that AI can find patterns in Shakespeare, though many will be fascinated when AI composes a Shakespearean tragedy set in the American Civil War using language, style, idiom, and skills previously considered unique to the Bard. Projection and prediction are where values come into play. Every decision embodies some assessment of values. In most of the mechanized control settings currently subject to AI guidance, basic values are so uncontroversial that they escape notice. Few people (other than perhaps suicide bombers or munitions makers) would argue with the propositions that its bad for motors to overheat, boilers to explode, or vehicles to crash. Theres nothing natural about such beliefsa meteor is indifferent as to whether its hurtling through space or crashing into a planetbut they are so inherently human that they transcend differences of culture and time. Such near-universal consensus fades, however, when humans enter the picture. Consider Dylan Mulvaney, the transgender social media influencer who recently helped rebrand Bud Light. (Well, sort of.) Under the contemporary woke belief system, Mulvaney is a woman who had the misfortune of being born into a male body. Under any other belief system that has ever existed, Mulvaney is a man who has chosen to live as a woman. How should an AI refer to Mulvaney as he or she? The answer demonstrates a preference for one set of beliefs and values over another. How might the AI have derived that preference? Two paths are possible: it could have trained itself upon copious volumes of ethical thought drawn from the thousands of belief systems that have arisen throughout world history and concluded that one specific system is the finestor it could have adopted the value preferences of its human designers and trainers. Perhaps someday, some AI system will take the former route. Today, no one doubts that the woke leanings of AI systems like ChatGPT reflect the woke leanings of the tech professionals who developed them. What that means to most users is that the AIs upon which they may soon rely to make value-laden judgments and recommendations dont share their own values. That recognition brings authority into play. The genuine imminent danger of AI arises from the potential incorporation of AI systems into the cult of expertise. In many areas, we have chosen to show near-total deference to credentialed experts. During Covid, for example, it was considered almost heretical to question the recommendations of Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, the CDC, or the FDA. Even then, however, it was still (barely) possible to note that those experts might have been unduly dismissive of the negative economic consequences of their public health recommendations. Imagine the next epidemic, when the policy advisor is an AI that has considered hundreds of thousands of variables to evaluate quadrillions of scenarios. Such an outcome is the true nightmarish future: effective dictatorship by an AI that does not share your basic beliefs or values. Long before an exterminationist AI seizes global control in its own name, our governments and fellow citizens will grant an AI system the authority to declare emergencies, dispense with civil liberties, and control our lives. Until we redevelop the governmental mechanisms we need to preserve our freedom against the onslaught of experts, we will never be safe from the potential privations of AI governance. AI itself may be containable. The combination of AI, slavish devotion, and widespread enforcement will not be. We must rein in our collective belief in the infallibility of an expert class, or AI advisors may well end our civilization. Bruce Abramson, PhD, JD, is president of the strategic consultancy Informationism, Inc. and a director of the American Center for Education and Knowledge. He pioneered the use of large-scale simulations and statistical analysis in AI systems. He has written five books, including The New Civil War: Exposing Elites, Fighting Utopian Leftism, and Restoring America, (RealClear Publishing, 2021). YOUNGSTOWN Simply Slavic has announced it is seeking applicants for its 2023 round of academic scholarships for students attending Youngstown State University. YSU students who have completed their freshman year and are currently enrolled at the undergraduate or graduate level are encouraged to apply. All applicants must submit a 500-word narrative on how Slavic culture has influenced their lives. Funds can be used for tuition and student expenses such as books, lodging, and study abroad programs. The scholarship is supported through a unique partnership with local brewer Modern Methods Brewing Co. In 2018, a collaboration between Simply Slavic and Modern Methods launched Rodina, a traditional Czech Amber Lager (polotmave pivo) showcasing spicy Czech Saaz noble hops, lager yeast, and caramel Bohemian malt. It was aptly named after the word family in many Slavic languages. Its meaning was explained by Simply Slavic Board President John Slanina as follows: When our Slavic ancestors immigrated to America from Eastern Europe, they vowed to retain certain beliefs and cultural traditions. The core value was the significance of family, whether it was the family they left behind or the family they started here in Youngstown. Today we express that sentiment more broadly when we claim as a family, not just our relatives, but the people we choose to celebrate life. Our beer commemorates the enduring strength of this joyous belief in the family as strong today as it was for our ancestors. Hence, we are family; we are Rodina! The group believes so strongly in the product and the meaning behind its name that they created a living mascot to travel the festival and embody the spirit on site. As the official beer of Simply Slavic, Rodina Lager will be available after a ceremonial firkin tapping on Friday night at the festival in downtown Youngstown, in the Modern Methods Taproom in downtown Warren, and on draft or in take-home cans at locations throughout the Mahoning Valley and beyond. Sales have raised thousands of dollars in years past and will provide the foundation for the scholarship offerings again this year. Were thrilled to contribute to the scholarship and be a part of the festival, exclaimed Adam Keck, Founder/Brewer at Modern Methods. We get to brew a traditional Czech Lager unique in the craft beer world while supporting a great cause with our friends at Simply Slavic. As a bonus, we love seeing our customers eagerly anticipate June each year for Rodina, an idea that came to us while sharing a beer years ago. We feel our scholarship program is one way to give back and support Youngstown State University and the amazing students attending this local institution, shared Slanina. Most of our Simply Slavic board are alumni of YSU and are thankful for the educational and leadership opportunities we received while in school. We want to pay it forward and help advance the next generation of leaders passionate about ethnic heritage and local history. The Simply Slavic scholarship committee panel will select the winners after reviewing their essays and academic achievements. The deadline for scholarship applicants is July 31, 2023. The winners will be announced in mid-August. Applications are available at SimplySlavic.org under the tab FORMS. For more information, call (330) 333-1441 or email info@simplyslavic.org. ELYRIA, Ohio It all started with a sentence for Rachel Gonzales, I want to grow food. Gonzales, co-owner and manager of Fifth Acres Farms, located in Vermilion, Ohio, added, And I dont want anyone to experience food insecurity. Gonzales is referring to her relationship with the free refrigerator, or Freedge, in Elyria. Its the first of its kind in the region, and her produce goes directly to people in need. The Freedge aims to reduce food insecurity and food waste in communities all over the world. The movement promotes equal access to healthy food through public refrigerators that are used to share fresh food, fruits and vegetables. Worldwide. The movement is relatively new with the first community fridges appearing in 2016 in Europe. It became a worldwide effort, according to Julie Piazza-King, who oversees the Elyria Freedge. The movement has grown rapidly in recent years because of the pandemic, with over 1,000 community fridges operating in Europe, Canada and the United States. Community fridges are located in public spaces, such as parks, libraries and community centers. Most of the food has been donated by individuals, businesses and restaurants, and anyone can take food from a community fridge, regardless of their income or social status. There is no bureaucratic process involved. The Freedge movements intention is to reduce food waste and promote sustainability. Gonzales says Fifth Acre Farms is in its first year of operation and is committed to delivering 30 pounds of fresh produce a week. She believes the Freedge movement is innovative and is likely to continue to play a role in addressing food issues in the years to come. Gonzales grew up in abject poverty and hopes to have some community impact with her commitment. She acknowledges that the Freedge doesnt solve food insecurity or food waste, but every little bit helps. First in Ohio. The Lorain community Freedge, called the Pioneer Freedge, was the first one in Ohio, Piazza-King said. It started out as a community service project and has grown into a major source of assistance. The Pioneer Freedge is located in the South Branch of the Elyria Public Library, and anyone can drop off or take food during normal library hours six days a week. One initiative of the Freedge movement is to start your own. The international organization will walk you through the process and list the Freedge on their website. The organization suggests you find a location with high community activity and electricity, then find a commercial refrigerator with glass doors so people can see what is inside. If the Freedge is outside, a shelter must cover it and bolt it down. According to the Freedge website, this investment for the community shouldnt cost more than $1,000. The Freedge will need to be checked daily to keep it clean and maintain it. There is a food safety guide as well as possible funding through the nonprofit ChangeX (changex.org/us/communityfridge). The Pioneer Freedge found funding through crowdfunding from In Our Own Backyard, or ioby.org for short. Giving food. Piazza-King points out that the Freedge doesnt require a large staff, while volunteers can drop off food donations at their own convenience, and since the fridge operates 24/7, there are typically no long lines of people. Everyone in the community can get involved, from local food retailers and supermarkets to community groups or charities that cook meals. She is excited to have Fifth Acre Farms as a local contributor and wants to continue to receive referrals. Food insecurity in south Elyria is very high, Piazza-King said, and many residents dont have reliable transportation, so grocery shopping is difficult; however, people are able to walk to the library. Gonzales believes that in a truly sustainable system, organically grown food must be accessible to everyone, not just those that can afford to pay an inflated sticker price. Gonzalez views it as a partnership and an opportunity to get produce to the dinner tables of Elyria families who might not otherwise have access. (Reporter Nella Citino can be reached at nella@farmanddairy.com or 323-643-2353.) BUTLER, Pa. The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization selected the Community Agricultural Partnership at Summit (CAPS) Elementary School, in Pennsylvanias Butler Area School District, as the recipient of its 2023 Partnership in Agricultural Literacy Award. CAPS was selected for its innovative effort to use an agricultural focus to expand student learning and meet the needs of the whole child, according to a release from the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, which nominated the program for the award. CAPS is committed to cultivating lifelong learners and informed citizens with respect and appreciation for conservation, agriculture, and the outdoor environment. The Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau celebrated CAPS on May 25 in the schools outdoor classroom. Summit has created an environment of agricultural literacy by providing opportunities for students and occasionally their families to be immersed in agriculture throughout the year by incorporating it into the students learning throughout the day, said Chris Hoffman, foundation chairman. Hoffman is a Juniata County hog farmer and president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. With the support of community partners, the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, and many others including the county 4-H Extension Educator, Audubon Society, conservation district members, CAPS uses agricultural concepts as a pathway to learning. Donated resources, educational presentations and hands-on experiences such as the Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab have helped provide the means for students, teachers, staff and families to immerse themselves in a world of agriculture, both during the school day and at home. In order to accomplish this goal, CAPS has taken an aggressive approach to curriculum development and professional learning, offering staff an opportunity to participate in the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundations Educators Ag Institute, both virtually and in person. Angela Eyth, a fourth grade math teacher at Summit, was recognized as Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus 2020 Teacher of the Year. The award is presented annually to a teacher who has participated in the Pennsylvania Friends of Agricultures Educators Ag Institute. In addition, building staff have been working to design lessons for their classrooms centered around National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes, utilizing resources and materials made available from NAITCO. These resources have been piloted at the Summit building and will be shared with the other six elementary buildings in the Butler Area School District to ensure all students are introduced to vital agricultural concepts. Grade-level teachers have worked together to develop ag kits for use within the established curriculum, allowing for an agricultural overlay for classroom instruction. CAPS is committed to cultivating lifelong learners by providing engaging lessons for students in all content areas. Students are excelling academically and achieving social emotional growth while also developing respect and appreciation for conservations, agriculture and the outdoor environment through the different agricultural components we have available on our campus. said Chad Broman, the schools principal. They will be honored at the 2023 NAITCO Conference Beyond the Beaches taking place June 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. YOUNGSTOWN The Youngstown Press Club will award $2,000 scholarships to college juniors or seniors from the Mahoning or Shenango valleys who are studying journalism or a related field. One of these awards will go to a journalism major and the other to a student of public relations, marketing, broadcasting or another communications-related field. Applicants must: * Submit proof of a 3.0 or higher grade point average. * Be entering their junior or senior year of college. * Submit at least two writing or broadcast samples. * Meet the June 30 application deadline. * Reside in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer or Lawrence counties, but they may be attending college elsewhere. Applicants should provide examples of community involvement. The application form is at yopressclub.com/scholarship.html. After completing that form, applicants should download it to their computers and e-mail the form and all attachments to youngstownpressclub@gmail.com. Scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend the Youngstown Press Clubs Sept. 7 Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at Stambaugh Auditorium. The Youngstown Press Club was re-established in 2018 to promote journalism and other communication-related professions in the Mahoning Valley. The government's pledge to end live exports which was a key part of its Action Plan for Animal Welfare has been effectively scrapped. Farming minister Mark Spencer has announced in the House of Commons that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals Bill) will be dropped. Instead, key aspects of the bill will be introduced separately as individual measures. The bill was set to legislate to end all live exports from Britain of cattle, sheep and pigs for fattening and slaughter a manifesto commitment of the government. Legislation on important welfare issues like sheep worrying will also be delayed. In 2021, Defra said it was 'committed' to improving the UK's 'already world-leading standards' by delivering animal health and welfare reforms. On live exports, the department said the practice caused farm animals to experience 'distress and injury' due to 'excessively long journeys during export'. "We will become the first European country to end this practice," Defra explained in June 2021, when the bill was unveiled. "EU rules prevented any changes to these journeys, but the UK government is now free to pursue plans which would see a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening." But farming groups warned that any significant regulatory changes could potentially have a major impact on the UK food supply chain. The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has frequently said that a live export ban could 'cut off an essential lifeline' for sheep producers. According to Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) whose members represent the breadth of the supply chain a ban on live exports must be rooted in science while safeguarding the welfare of animals. But animal welfare campaigners have responded to the bill being dropped as "extremely disappointing". Nick Palmer, head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: This cruel and outdated trade has been a stain on British farm animal welfare standards for far too long. "The Kept Animals Bill would have finally consigned it to the history books. But sadly, the government have let this opportunity slide." Andd Emma Slawinski, director of polic at the RSPCA said: We have been waiting for almost two years for the Kept Animals Bill to improve the lives of billions of animals and now its effectively been scrapped. We are frustrated and disappointed that, despite overwhelming public support, the government has delayed and delayed and has now broken up the bill, leading to yet more uncertainty and lost time." Japanese importers and buyers have visited the UK to explore further opportunities to enhance trade in beef, lamb and pork. This week, red meat exporters from the UK met with key buyers from Japan to explore trade opportunities. Five Japanese importers joined the AHDB on a five-day mission to learn about sustainable beef, lamb and pork production. The mission the first inward mission from Asia since the pandemic included a number of farm visits in the north of England and a tour of an abattoir and meat processing site. The trip culminated on 25 May with a networking dinner at Butchers' Hall in London, where the delegation met leading beef, lamb and pork exporters from the UK and explored new business opportunities. Last year, UK red meat exports hit record levels, with a value of 1.7 billion. This included beef exports to Japan, which saw an increase in value of 68% to 16.3m. Japan has been identified as a key target market for the UKs red meat sector, with the country being one of the worlds largest beef importers. Japan opened its doors to imports of UK beef in January 2019 following its 1996 bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) ban. A series of visits and negotiations between UK and Japanese officials culminated in an inspection of beef production systems in 2018 hosted by Defra and the wider industry. Jonathan Eckley, AHDB head of international trade development, said Japan was an important and growing market for British red meat exporters. "We want to maximise the opportunities that are presented there, with a particular interest from Japanese consumers in high-welfare and environmentally sustainable food production, which the UK is in a strong position to fulfil. The visit provided an ideal platform for us to showcase our sustainable, high production standards throughout the supply chain, as well as organising key meetings between Japanese buyers and UK exporters to potentially capitalise on opportunities in this valuable market. Export development is one of AHDBs key strategic objectives, working collaboratively with industry and the government, to cultivate further opportunities for our red meat and dairy sectors." Opportunities in Japan and other markets will be in the spotlight on 22 June at the AHDB Export Conference in London. Performance recording is accelerating genetic progress and output in a Welsh hill flock, with gains being made at the top end filtering through the entire flock of pedigree and commercial animals. Edward Williams and his parents, Glyn and Lynne, have made big strides in increasing the genetic merit of their Wenallt Welsh Mountain ewes since they started recording in 2010. The pure-bred Welsh flock is now largely made up of ewes with an Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) in the top 25% for their breed on performance. Improvements in milk production and early lamb growth rates have led to an increase in eight-week weight - an early indicator of lamb performance linked to both lamb survival and eventual lamb sale weights. In the past seven years, there has been a 3.2kg increase in eight-week-old lamb weights, a 2.9mm increase in muscle depth at scanning and a 5.9kg increase in scanning weights. While there are often year on year fluctuations, as with any hill farm, the rolling averages show a significant increase in the weight of both single and twin reared lambs. These increases have seen eight-week weights for single-producing ewes rise to 22.8kg and total lamb weight produced for ewes rearing twins rise to 35.9kg/ewe. Scan weight output per ewe taken at 20 weeks had increased by 2021 to 33.6kg for singles and 58.9kg for twins, from ewes with a 48kg mature weight. Single ewes are weaning 70% of their mature bodyweight and twins 122% without creep and only minimal concentrates for twin bearing ewes. The Williams farm Upper Wenall extends to 220-acres, rising from 750 feet to 1,160 feet above Talybont-on-Usk. The flock maximises what it can from grass and 12 acres of swedes are grown annually as feed for pregnant ewes and single rearing ewes after lambing. The family recognised performance recording as an important tool for genetic progress long before the Hill Ram Scheme was established in 2018. We started recording eight years before then, we could see it was the way forward," recalls Edward, who joined his parents in the business in 2005 after graduating from Harper Adams University. Having EBVs, which indicate exactly where an animal ranks within the breed for specific traits of economic importance, play an important role in flock profitability, he says. Having those figures allows the Williams family to make better breeding decisions, both within their own flock and when breeding rams for their commercial and pedigree customers. The Williams farm Upper Wenall extends to 220-acres, rising from 750 feet to 1,160 feet above Talybont-on-Usk EBVs show customers how rams compare with the rest of the breed, and which rams and females will be the most profitable on their farms. It is a much more reliable way to assess the potential of sheep than visual appearance alone, although they still need to tick the boxes for type and structural correctness, says Edward. If we wanted to get to the very top, I didnt want to have to pump an animal with feed, I decided that performance recording was a more genuine way to achieve that and commercially the most viable, and that probably is the case. Although our rams are not making thousands and thousands like some do in the traditional sales, we have a solid average and with the fixed pricing structure were not selling any rams below the cost of production." He performance records 100 Welsh ewes, placing great importance on maternal ability and eight-week growth rate but taking special care not to increase mature ewe size. He says: When numbers come back from Signet the first thing I look at is the overall index, this is important as this is what we sell the rams on. "And in terms of individual attributes, the maternal ability and milkiness of ewes is vital, so I look to eight-week weigh. It is all very well to have a lamb that can grow X kilogrammes more than the one standing by its side but if the mother is not milky and maternal enough to allow it to reach its potential then it never will. In my opinion, if a lamb has a good start to life, it never looks back." Early finishing is where the flock has seen gains, he says. In recent years he has been concentrating on muscle depth and positive fat depth. For me, the speed at which the lambs leave the farm is important and a good fat cover is key to that," he explains. It is no good to me having a 40kg lamb that is not fit to go to slaughter and needs to be fed on concentrates for a month to finish, I prefer a 36kg lamb that is fit and ready to go to free up grazing for stock left on farm." Recording is lifting performance across the whole flock, with high index rams used on the crossbred ewes. Recording has taken out the bottom performers, says Edward. We have very few smaller poorer performing lambs these days because we no longer have those poor performing ewes that consistently produce poor lambs. The recording system flags those ewes very quickly." There are 370 ewes in total, including 80 pedigree Black Welsh Mountains. Lambing gets underway from the end of February for four weeks, with only twin-bearing ewes receiving cake. These are housed three weeks before lambing and fed 120g, rising to 250g, of 18% protein cake. Welsh ewes start lambing from 8 March. Lambs from the crossbreds are sold from the end of May at Talybont-on-Usk or Raglan livestock markets at 30-36kg liveweight before trade starts to drop," says Edward. We find from June you tend to gain weight and lose money due to simple supply and demand, so we find get them off the ground at lighter weights freeing up grazing for the pure breds works well for us." Although the progeny from the Welsh ewes could be sold earlier, that doesnt happen until mid-September as this allows the Williams family to scan all the lambs for muscle and backfat at the end of August to give a complete flock picture. The first draw is taken following this. Data accuracy in the flock is very high because it has been recorded for 13 years. He says: We can look back six generations, in some probably more because we bought rams that had been recording for six years before us. There is quite a depth of breeding and reliability in there now." He is now also recording his pure flock of 40 Charmoise Hill ewes. That flock was established in 2020 with the foundation stock sourced from Warwickshire breeder David Eglin, who performance records 300 ewes. With a mature size very similar to the Welsh, Edward saw benefits in introducing those genetics to his crossbreds. He says: The Charmoise is a very useful little sheep, not quite a hill sheep in the same regard as the Welsh Mountain but with a similar mature size which suits our farm and improved conformation." The breed is recognised as one with good commercial value going forward, he says: A lot of farmers use them on ewe lambs but there is big merit in using them on yearlings too, to give the yearling an easy lambing and rearing that doesnt draw too hard on her. The lambs are a small, quick growing and have good conformation, and are vigorous and up and sucking quickly at birth." Edward is now applying to join Tier 2 new Welsh Sheep Genetics Programme with the Charmoise Hill flock. Eleven Welsh and five Charmoise yearling tups have been retained to sell as breeding stock this year. All 11 Welsh rams sit in the top 10% of the breed and all are positive for their maternal ability and muscle and fat depth. These are the three traits we have always concentrated on, I am very pleased that all the replacements we have got to sell are positive on these very important traits," says Edward. Some sales are directly from the farm but the majority are through the annual Prohill sale at Aberystwyth. The 10 tups sold last year averaged just over 950 a head. Although the Williams family have been recording the Welsh Mountains for many years they have been very keen to preserve type and correctness. Its important to like the look of the females retained as flock replacements, says Edward. Short, broad teeth is something were very keen on as well because grazing ewes on roots every winter soon whittles out the ones with poor teeth. We want to breed lambs with wide shoulders that will carry meat, an animal that is thick, squat, a proper hill type that is easy finishing and cheap to keep. Performance recording greatly aids this." The sheep sector is stepping up efforts to help inform farmers of the requirement to obtain a signed declaration to allow the future sale of animals destined for export. The veterinary declaration will form a statutory health attestation and will be required from 13 December 2023 to certify any exports of Products of Animal Origin (POAO) to the EU. All non-assured keepers of sheep and other livestock consigning animals for slaughter should obtain a valid health attestation, the sector has said, as some parts of all animals slaughtered in the UK are exported to the EU. A veterinary attestation template is available for use and should be completed and signed by farmers vets. Farmers and vets must keep a copy of this declaration for their records and provide a copy to their livestock auction market or meat processor if asked. The system for this information flowing through the supply chain as of 13 December is not yet clear. However, the National Sheep Association (NSA), in collaboration with other industry groups, are seeking to inform farmers as details become available. Obtaining a signed veterinary attestation must be done at least once in a 12-month period and can be combined with any other routine veterinary visit. This can include government supported initiatives such as the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway in England or those carried out as part of certain farm assurance schemes. The purpose is to comply with export requirements to verify the absence of notifiable diseases and provide general advice on farm biosecurity. Traders and processors exporting products of animal origin to the EU or Northern Ireland must follow the requirements set out in EU Export Health Certificates. The current system of farmer declarations can continue to be used as a source of evidence for the certification of the regular vet visit until 13 December 2023. After this date, independent attestations will be needed either via membership of a qualifying farm assurance scheme or from a valid veterinary declaration. NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker said this rule change was likely to impact all sheep farmers regardless of whether sales are limited to breeding or store lambs. He said: "The attestation will give evidence that at the time of the visit the farm was free from a number of stated notifiable diseases, and that there is a good standard of disease control and biosecurity. A standard form is available for vets to use. NSA is urging sheep farmers across the country to speak directly with their vets and keep an open conversation to ensure they are compliant for animals destined for export. "In the period between now and December farmers are advised to ask their vet to provide this attestation when they are out on farm conducting any routine visit. "It is strongly advised not to leave this until December," he added, "It has not yet been agreed how the attestation will follow stock through markets or collection centres. "But its most important that farms have the attestation in advance of December or when they first start selling after that date. The Kremlin has played down Ukraine's threat to assassinate Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin isn't concerned about Ukraine's threats to kill Putin Vadym Skibitisky, the deputy head of Kyiv's military intelligence service, has revealed that the nation is trying to kill Putin as "he coordinates and decides what happens" in the war but the tyrant's mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov has hit back at the message from Ukraine. He told Russian state television: "Believe me, our security services know their job and know what they are doing." Peskov claimed that Skibitsky's comments prove that Russia was right to launch its "special military operation" last year despite hostility from the West. He said: "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." Skibitsky revealed that Putin topped a hit list that includes other powerful Russians such as Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and defence chief Sergei Shoigu. The spy boss suggested that Putin was a hard target to reach as he is "holed up" a lot of the time but is now beginning to appear in public more often. He told the German newspaper Die Welt: "In the end, everyone will have to answer for their actions. "Putin is noticing that we are getting closer and closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people." Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has warned of another Russian revolution if the country's leadership does not start handling the war better. Yevgeny Prigozhin has hinted at another Russian revolution Prigozhin has revealed that 20,000 Wagner fighters have been killed in the battle for the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and suggested that the social disparity underlined by the war could lead to a similar revolution to the one that changed the face of the country in 1917. In an interview posted on his Telegram channel, the warlord said: "The children of the elite shut their traps at best, and some allow themselves a public, fat, carefree life. "This divide can end as in 1917 with a revolution. First the soldiers will stand up, and after that - their loved ones will rise up. There are already tens of thousands of them - relatives of these killed. And there will probably be hundreds of thousands - we cannot avoid that." Prigozhin stressed that Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine had backfired spectacularly on Moscow and called for totalitarian policies to be adopted by the Kremlin. He said: "We are in a situation where we can simply lose Russia. We must introduce martial law. We unfortunately... must announce new waves of mobilisation; we must put everyone who is capable to work on increasing the production of ammunition. "Russia needs to live like North Korea for a few years, so to say, close the borders... and work hard." Jenifer Lewis has hailed Tina Turner as "one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived". Tina Turner died aged 83 The Grammy-winning star passed away on Wednesday (24.05.23), aged 83, and Jenifer has paid a glowing tribute to her, revealing that she was reduced to tears after hearing the news. The actress - who played her mother, Zelma Bullock, in the 1993 biopic 'What's Love Got to Do with It' - told PEOPLE: "I tried not to cry because I'm 66 and at some point, we all have to learn how to mourn and not fall apart. But I had to allow myself to cry, because she was one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived." Jenifer felt inspired by Turner during her younger years and she also studied her artistry. She said: "I feel like a mother, a sister, a friend, a teacher has passed this plane, and I'm grateful to Tina for being who she was. I got so much from her - my sass, my moves, everything." Turner passed away peacefully at her home in Switzerland after battling "a long illness". Her spokesperson said in a statement: "Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. "With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model." The news was also announced on Turner's Instagram account. A statement read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly." Tom Hanks was presented with a volleyball in tribute to his 'Castaway' co-star Wilson as he accepted an honorary degree from Harvard University. Tom Hanks was honoured with a special degree from Harvard University The Hollywood actor gave a keynote speech to more than 9,000 Harvard graduates at the institution's 372nd commencement ceremony on Thursday (25.05.23) as he picked up an honorary doctor of arts degree - and he was introduced to the stage by outgoing Harvard President Lawrence Bacow who handed the movie star a Wilson ball similar to the one featured in his 2000 survival film. Hanks held the ball aloft before launching into his speech, during which he poked fun at his own lack of academic credentials and referenced the fictional Harvard professor Robert Langdon he played in three movies based on Dan Browns novels. The actor told the audience: "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. Its the way of the world, kids." Hanks also touched on the subject of truth and disinformation in his speech to the graduates, warning them of the dangers out there in the world. He said: "For the truth to some is no longer empirical. Its no longer based on data, nor common sense, nor even common decency. 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. "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." China remains the top apparel supplier to the US in the first quarter (Q1) of the current year, despite a steep decline in imports. Of the total import worth $19.522 billion, China's share accounted for 18.11 per cent, equating to approximately $3.53 billion. The remaining leading suppliers include Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia, collectively accounting for more than 56 per cent of the total apparel imports into the US. According to the most recent trade data available on Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro, the US saw a 34.27 per cent year-on-year decrease in apparel imports from China in the first quarter of 2023. Imports from China totalled $5.377 billion in Q1 2022, $4.122 billion in Q1 2021, $3.406 billion in Q1 2020, $5.846 billion in Q1 2019, and $5.860 billion in Q1 2018. Despite a significant decline, China remains the top apparel supplier to the US in Q1 of the current year, contributing 18.11 per cent of the total imports. Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia are also major suppliers. The first quarter of 2023 saw a 34.27 per cent year-on-year decrease in US apparel imports from China, according to TexPro data. The US imported $3.288 billion worth of apparel from Vietnam in the first quarter of this year, which accounted for 16.84 per cent of total imports. Bangladesh followed with $2 billion (10.25 per cent), India with $1.339 billion (6.86 per cent), and Indonesia with $1.197 billion (6.13 per cent). Other major suppliers include Mexico (3.83 per cent), Cambodia (3.81 per cent), Honduras (3.02 per cent), Italy (2.81 per cent), and Nicaragua (2.74 per cent). US apparel import values have been decreasing on a quarterly basis. In Q3 2022, imports were valued at $29.389 billion, dropping to $21.146 billion in Q4 2022, and further to $19.525 billion in Q1 2023. This downward trend was also evident in Q1 2022, with imports totalling $24.368 billion, as per TexPro. The US placed restrictions on garments made from cotton produced in China's Xinjiang region in June 2022. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Ashish Vidyarthi Wedding: Actor Ashish Vidyarthi is one of the most renowned actors in Indian cinema and has given some impactful performances over the years. The iconic actor took the internet by storm on May 25 after pictures of his second marriage went viral. The actor married an Assam-based fashion entrepreneur, Rupali Barua, in Kolkata in an intimate ceremony, and since then everybody has been talking about their marriage. Meanwhile, on Friday, Vidyarthi took to social media, where he not only talked about his second wedding but also clarified his age. Further, breaking his silence in a 3-minute-long video, Ashish Vidyarthi stated that everybody deserves happiness and revealed that when he and his first wife, Piloo, got separated amicably. ASHISH VIDYARTHI OPENS UP ON HIS SECOND MARRIAGE WITH RUPALI BARUA On social media, Ashish Vidyarthi opened up about how he met Rupali Barua and clarified that he is 57 and not 60 years old. Further, he also urged people to respect how 'people are living their lives'. Did Ashish Vidyarthi's First Wife Rajoshi REACT To His Wedding With Rupali Barua? Her Cryptic Posts Go Viral Expressing that he wanted to have a partner after separation from his first wife, Piloo, Ashish shared, "I had a firm belief that I want to get married. Because I want to travel with somebody. So I literally let the word out in the universe. I literally let the word out in the universe." He further added, "I was at that point 55, maybe, and I said I want somebody to get married to. That's how I met Rupali Barua and we got chatting then we met. Then we discovered something interesting about one another and we thought that we could be walking together as husband and wife." Clarifying his age, the actor stated, "Therefore, Rupali and I got married. She is 50 and I'm 57, not 60. But age doesn't matter my friend. Each one of us can be happy. Whatever be our age, right? So, just wanted to let you let's keep moving. Let's respect how people are living their lives." Check out Ashish Vidyarthi's video statement here:- ASHISH VIDYARTHI ABOUT HIS SEPARATION FROM FIRST WIFE PILOO In the same video, the Rana Naidu actor revealed he married Piloo Vidyarthi 22 years ago and had a beautiful journey together. "A few years back, Piloo and I discovered that after that beautiful innings, that we played together, we felt that how we saw the future was slightly different from one another," he added. Who Is Rupali Barua, Fashion Entrepreneur, Now 2nd Wife Of Veteran Actor Ashish Vidyarthi He then said, "Yes, we tried our best. If we can sort out the differences, we discovered that the differences can be sorted out, but one has to impose on the other. And that will take away the happiness." Meanwhile, speaking to Hindustan Times, on Friday, Ashish Vidyarthi's first wife, Piloo Vidyarthi, talked about her husband's second marriage and said, "He needs a partner. We cannot hang a man because of his needs. He has found someone, and that's a good thing." IIFA Rocks 2023: Kriti To Esha- Best Dressed Celebs Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram The prestigious 22nd IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Awards) is set to take place on May 27 in Abu Dhabi's Yas Islands and it is expected to be a starry affair. As Bollywood A-listers are already preparing for the big night, the IIFA celebrations began with IIFA Rocks tonight, the event was indeed a gala night. To note, the big event was hosted by Farah Khan and Rajkummar Rao. Several celebs were seen making an appearance on the green carpet and making heads turn with their impressive style statements. And while it was a glitzy night, the pics from the night are going viral on social media. So who are the best dressed celebs of IIFA Rocks 2023? While every celeb was seen making an attempt to slay at the green carpet, there were some celebs who managed to impress the fashion police. Celebs like Kriti Sanon, Radhika Madan, Esha Gupta etc have managed to make it to the best dressed celebs list from IIFA Rocks 2023. Take a look: Kriti Sanon Kriti Sanon At IIFA Rocks 2023 Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram Kriti Sanon has been on a roll on the professional front. The diva, who is gearing up for the release of Adipurush with Prabhas, made heads turn with black coloured shoulderless ruffled top and black gown with white floral embroidery. Kriti completed the look with a high bun with a small centre partition in the front and her minimum jewellery added to her panache. Radhika Madan Radhika Madan At IIFA Rocks 2023 Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram Radhika, who has impressed the audience with her impressive active skills on screen, won hearts with her panache as she walked the green carpet at IIFA Rocks 2023. The diva was seen wearing a white dress with a plunging neckline and the one-sided dramatic sleeves just added a little drama to the look. Esha Gupta Esha Gupta At IIFA Rocks 2023 Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram The stunning actress wore a shimmery metallic silver gown by Stella McCartney with spaghetti straps and a plunging neckline. She had tied half of her hair in a back bun and left the rest open. Esha had her make up game on point and opted for minimal jewellery. Urvashi Rautela Urvashi Rautela At IIFA Rocks 2023 Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram After making heads turn with her fashion statements at Cannes 2023, Urvashi Rautela was seen making heads turn in her all feather gown. She was seen wearing shimmery gloves to amp up her look. The former beauty queen had tied her hair in a high bun and had her make up game on point. Vicky Kaushal Vicky Kaushal At IIFA Rocks 2023 Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram Vicky took over the green carpet with his impeccable style and made everyone go weak in the knees as he opted for a black suit with a black coat with white print. To note, Vicky Kaushal will be seen hosting IIFA 2023 this year along with Abhishek Bachchan Salman Khan Salman Khan At IIFA Rocks 2023 Photo Credit: IIFA Instagram Salman Khan, who has grabbed the eyeballs with his new French beard look at the IIFA 2023 events, chose to keep it simple and classy at IIFA Rocks 2023. The Dabangg star was seen slaying in a black suit and his swag was undoubtedly unmatched Reunion Of Khans: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan, the three iconic actors in Indian cinema, are renowned for their success and superstardom for decades now. All three of them are counted among the most successful stars in the history of Indian cinema and fans still are crazy about them. Recently, the trio reportedly had a memorable gathering at Salman Khan's Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai, partying until the early hours of the morning. According to a report from Pinkvilla, around May 16, the three Khans enjoyed a mini get-together at Salman's residence. Aamir Khan was the first to arrive, while Salman and Shah Rukh joined the festivities directly from the sets of Tiger 3. During the gathering, the Khans engaged in discussions about their respective careers. Revealing the details about the reunion, the report states that Aamir Khan arrived promptly, allowing time for the other two Khans to join in after their commitments on the set of Tiger 3. As the trio reunited, the atmosphere transformed into a vibrant and animated celebration. SRK-SALMAN MOTIVATED AAMIR TO CUT SHORT HIS ACTING BREAK Engrossed in deep conversations, they delved into their respective careers, exchanging tales of both triumphs and setbacks. The room resonated with laughter as they recounted amusing anecdotes and nostalgic memories, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared experiences. Talking to the portal , a source disclosed that the trio thoroughly enjoyed catching up after a considerable period of time. At the party, Salman and Shah Rukh even motivated Aamir to shorten his break and return to the film sets. "Salman and SRK encouraged Aamir to cut short his break and resume working on films as soon as possible. They also shared light-hearted jokes and laughter, teasing Aamir about his break from acting. Aamir acknowledged it and mentioned that he is reading numerous scripts." Interestingly, Aamir has reportedly invited Salman and Shah Rukh to join him on a vacation to Europe or the US, suggesting that it is time for them to relax and avoid burdening themselves with excessive work. KHAN TRIO ALSO DISCUSSED ABOUT THEIR UPCOMING PROJECTS Additionally, the three actors engaged in a conversation about the significance of choosing the right projects in the current era, recognizing audiences' huge expectations for their films. Understanding the ever-increasing demands of the industry, they emphasized the need to carefully curate their filmography, ensuring that each project aligns with their artistic vision and resonates with the audience. The gathering of these legendary actors not only brought about cherished moments of camaraderie but also highlighted the significance of balancing work, rejuvenation, and making wise choices in an industry driven by soaring audience expectations. Keep watching this space for more updates! Cannes Film Festival: The ongoing 76th Cannes Film Festival, which began on May 16, will commence tomorrow. The prestigious event that honours cinema and filmmaking around the globe is also synonymous with glamour and glitz. While everyone eagerly awaits to witness some of the most stunning red carpet looks of their favourite celebs from the event, it has also seen some protests over the years that affect the world. For the unversed, the first protest on the Cannes red carpet took place in 1968, and the festival had to be cancelled after a week because of the protests led by Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard in solidarity with the student protest that rocked France that year. Let's check out four protests that took place on the Cannes red carpet and how individuals have utilised this platform to convey their messages. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN In 2022, members of the feminist group Les Colleuses staged a protest with a banner that highlighted violence against women in the country. The banner also had the names of those 129 women who died because of domestic violence or were murdered by men. The group ignited smoke flares and raised their fists while displaying a banner. Yesterday, ahead of the screening of "Riposte feministe" by Marie Perennes & Simon Depardon, the collective group "Les Colleuses" lit black smoke on the red steps in tribute to the 129 victims of femicide since the last Festival de Cannes #Cannes2022 pic.twitter.com/RobTlhcPdY Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 23, 2022 STOP RAPPING US A naked woman barged on the Canne red carpet in 2022, protesting against the alleged sexual violence committed by the Russian soldiers against Ukrainian women. Her chest was painted with Ukraine's flag, with "stop raping us" written on her torso area. Une activiste SCUM s'introduit sur le tapis rouge du festival de #Cannes2022 pour denoncer les violences sexuelles infligees aux ukrainiennes dans le contexte de la guerre.#cannes2022redcarpet pic.twitter.com/cGEJDghD2k SCUM (@scum_officiel) May 20, 2022 Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan Director Atlee & Wife Priya Make Graceful Appearance At The Red Carpet Of Cannes GENDER GAP PROTEST During the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, around 82 women marched together to demonstrate gender inequality in the film industry. Several celebrities, like Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Salma Hayek, Patty Jenkins, and others, participated in the protest to highlight the gender discrimination prevalent within the industry. Taking part in the protest, actress Cate Blanchett said, "Women are not a minority in the world, yet the current state of our industry says otherwise." 3 Women take over the #Cannes2018 red carpet to demand equality in the film industry. pic.twitter.com/gUXAo8zJiR Reuters (@Reuters) May 14, 2018 BAREFOOT WALK ON THE RED CARPET In 2018, actress Kristen Stewart, who attended the premiere of Spike Lee's Blackkklansman in silver Chanel Couture, hogged all the headlines as she walked the red carpet barefoot. #Cannes2018 juror #KristenStewart took off her heels to protest the festival's 'no flats' policy. Receives rousing response from netizens! She was attending the premiere of #SpikeLee's #BlacKKKlansman. pic.twitter.com/WRXZxp8ca7 Surendhar MK (@SurendharMK) May 15, 2018 She removed her heels and climbed the red carpet steps with her footwear in her hands while photographers continued to click her. She did that as a protest against the festival's only heels rule. Julia Fox Goes TOPLESS; Leaves Nothing To Imagination As She Poses On Cannes Red Carpet In A See-Through Top 'Got humbled by Mohan Lal Sir': Stand-up comedian Zakir Khan shared his experience of seeing Superstar Mohanlal at the Mumbai airport. Zakir, a fan of Mohanlal, also shared a picture taken when he met his favourite actor at the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Zakir met Mohanlal while travelling to Nagpur. Zakir Khan has written about the moment he met and talked to Mohanlal in the form of a chat. Zakir started the note by saying that he met him at the Mumbai airport lounge and spoke to the superstar as a fan. Live Movie Twitter Review: Mamta, Soubin, Shine Tom Chacko's Film Deals With The Theme Of 'Fake News' When he said that he was going to Nagpur and that he was a stand-up comedian, Mohanlal asked if he had done any programmes in Kerala. Then Zakir said that 'next week there is a programme in Kochi. I can't remember the name of the place clearly,' but Zakir said it was one of the latest and hi-tech in India. Mohanlal's response to this was that he knew that place and that he had set up that auditorium. Shine Tom Chacko Bursts Out To The Media; Responds On Drug Abuse In Industry: Why Blame Filmmakers? After the conversation, Mohanlal also gave his phone number to Zakir. Zakir comes to Tripunithura JT Performing Arts, owned by Mohanlal. This is what Mohanlal mentioned during the conversation. Zakir's show is on May 27. Zakir Khan's Instagram Note: Got humbled by Mohan Lal Sir. I met him at mumbai airport lounge, I walked up to him as a fan, to which he responded with a small chat. ML: Where are you travelling? Me: I am going to Nagpur. ML: What do you do? Me: Sir actually I am a standup comedian so I am travelling for shows these days. ML: Nice to know that you are also an artist. Me: Sir do you live in mumbai now? ML: No no I live in kochi and Chennai. Have you performed in kochi? Me: No never, but I am about do a show next week for the first time. ML:(got excited)where??? Me: I don't remember the name of the auditorium but it is supposed to be the most latest and high-tech in the country. ML: I think I know this place. Me: ohh nice ML: ya, because I founded that space. Take my number, if need any help call me. Me:(I was like "bhai bhai bhai" in my head) yes sir thank you so much. Bala Speaks About His Liver Donor Jacob Joseph: Actor Bala has spoken warmly about the risk taken by Jacob Joseph who donated his liver. Bala also mentioned that his survival was a medical miracle. Director Siruthi Siva's younger brother Bala fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. The doctors told him that he had liver damage and needed a liver transplant immediately. Bala's health condition worsened after he was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi, Kerala. The doctor said that it is difficult for him to survive. After that Bala miraculously recovered to the amazement of the doctor. Miracles Do Happen Talking about what happened to him, Bala said, "It's a miracle that I survived. The doctor said it was all over. As far as doctors are concerned, my chapter was over. My family was in a position to decide what to do. Let him die in peace said the doctor. A miracle happened in the next 6 hours. After that they decided to do the surgery", he said. Bala added, "It was Jacob Joseph who donated his liver to me. I have to talk about him. The doctor told Jacob that if you donate a liver, you will also have a problem. The doctor also warned him that there will be trouble if anything happens in between. He also told the doctor that I am taking this risk for Bala. Jacob Joseph And His Family Took Risk For Bala Not only Jacob but his entire family was willing to take a risk for me. Jacob and his family have said that there is no change in the decision to donate the liver. They have seen the alms and dharma that I do. I never dreamed that he would donate. I came to know all this after the surgery. I have started going to the gym as my health has improved. Everyone is asking 'the surgery is just happened and you are going to gym?' When I went to the doctor he asked the same thing. 'It's only been 40 days and usually takes six months to completely heal. What are you eating?' the doctor asked. The doctor also said 'You are a miracle for the medical world Bala'. I will not say that I have no enemies. Some have given me trouble. When I was in the hospital someone wrote a letter like mine and went to my house and tried to steal my jewelry. The person did that thinking that I will not come back." Atlee and Wife Priya Attends Cannes Film Fest: Shah Rukh Khan's 'Jawan' director Atlee marked his presence at the red carpet of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It was his debut appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. Dressed in a black and white three-piece suit, Atlee was accompanied by his wife Priya, who chose a black sheer and studded saree. Atlee is achieving phenomenal feats one after the other and making all the right noise with his projects one after another. Adding another feather to his cap, Atlee made a global impact with his debut appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. Having earlier helmed blockbuster successes like Theri, Mersal, and Bigil, amongst others, Atlee is currently gearing up for one of the most anticipated and exciting films of the year, Jawan. Starring superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara, Jawan has piqued the expectations and excitement of cinephiles across the globe. Shah Rukh Khan's 'Jawan' Releases In September The eagerly awaited film will finally be released in theatres on September 7, 2023, in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. Originally, the movie was supposed to come out in June. Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh Khan's producer wife, and both of them posted a teaser for the movie on their individual Instagram accounts to reveal the movie's release date. "#Jawan #7thSeptember2023," the caption stated. A movie poster was also released by Shah Rukh. The most recent statement from SRK is nothing short of a treat for his fans, who have been impatiently awaiting the release of "Jawan." Superstar Nayanthara will make her Hindi film debut in this movie. Additionally, there are rumours circulating that Shah Rukh may play double roles in the movie. Key characters in the movie are also played by Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Sunil Grover, Riddhi Dogra, and Sanya Malhotra. 'Jawan' was shot across Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Rajasthan, and Aurangabad. Kadhal Sugumar Balmes Vadivelu & Vivek: Actor Kadhal Sugumar said in a recent exclusive interview to FilmiBeat that actors sometimes behave like politicians. He blamed Vadivelu and Vivek who didn't let him grow in his acting career. Sugumar Paranthaman gained widespread attention with the film Kadhal, followed by Kamal Haasan's Virumandi and Vasoolraja MBBS. Kamal Haasan Said 'Don't Tell Everyone That You Know Gymnastics' "Apart from acting in the film Virumandi, I also sang the chorus in the song 'Kombula Poova Suthi'. Also, when they wanted people to dive in the shooting of that song, I dived myself. But I won't be there in that scene. Then, Kamal sir, said, 'Don't tell everyone that you know gymnastics. If you say that then they will ask you to dive in all the films.' Also, I got the name 'Small Screen Vadivelu' because I mimicked actor Vaigai Puyal Vadivelu in many stage shows. Then, Kamal Haasan sir advised me that if you want to be a good actor, you should not try to mimic anyone. Only then I stopped mimicking. Kadhal Sugumar Says 'Vadivelu & Vivek Didn't Let Me Live' There were two teams in cinema. One side actor Vadivelu team and on the other side actor Vivek team. I can't go to this side, I can't go to that side either, I have returned back to home from the shooting spot after committing to films like Aaru, Sachin, Englishman. Both of them didn't let me live, actors sometimes behave like politicians." says Kadhal Sugumar. Kadhal Sukumar gave a heartbroken interview saying that if this is the situation in cinema for men, the situation of women who become heroines is very bad. It has been reported that he is going to direct a new film with his friend Santhanam and the official announcement about the film will be released soon. So far the two films released under the direction of Kadhal Sugumar have not been talked about much, but his upcoming film with Santhanam is expected to be a breakthrough for him. 2018 Telugu Movie Twitter Review Photo Credit: Gallery Superhit Malayalam survival thriller 2018 Everyone Is A Hero, also called 2018, hit the screens in Telugu on May 26 in the two Telugu-speaking states. The movie co-written and directed by Jude Anthany Joseph is close to reaching the Pulimurugan's all-time collection. The movie stars an ensemble cast and is a multistarrer that depicts the life and struggles of people from various walks of life during the epic Kerala floods in 2018. 2018 Story The movie depicts the crisis and situations that arise in the lives of Noora, Anoop, Bhasi, Manju, Rameshan, Mathachan, and his son Winston among others as their situation gets worse with the state being hit by floods. 2018 Twitter Review After the dubbed version hit the screens, the movie lovers who have watched the movie in the screens ahead of the rest, have taken to their social media handles to share their opinion. Below are some of their tweets. An incredible Masterpiece. What a film. #2018Movie is breathtaking especially the 2nd half. It effectively evokes emotions with terrific technical work. Impactful & heart-wrenching moments resonate, top notch performances#BunnyVas @ttovino #KunchakoBoban #JudeAnthanyJoseph pic.twitter.com/ZMZQVuCk5v Vaishnavi_Chaitanya (@iamvaishnavi04) May 25, 2023 #2018Movie Amazing Film Experience... Justified title tagline 'EVERYONE IS A HERO' Humanity - Positivity - Emotionally Well Connected Tamil version tomorrow releasing in theatres... pic.twitter.com/bluwCXU7Jy Karthik Ravivarma (@Karthikravivarm) May 25, 2023 #2018Movie Amazing Film Experience... Justified title tagline 'EVERYONE IS A HERO' Humanity - Positivity - Emotionally Well Connected Tamil version tomorrow releasing in theatres... pic.twitter.com/bluwCXU7Jy Karthik Ravivarma (@Karthikravivarm) May 25, 2023 2018 Cast The movie stars an ensemble cast including Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Lal, Narain, Sudheesh, Aju Varghese, Kalaiyarasan, Harikrishnan, Aparna Balamurali, Tanvi Ram, Sshivada, Janardhan, Renji Panicker, Jaffar Idukki, and Vinitha Koshy among others in key roles. 2018 Crew Jude Anthany Joseph, who directed the movie co-wrote the script with Akhil P Dharmajan. The movie is produced by Venu Kunnappilly and CK Padma Kumar along with Anto Joseph under the Kavya Film Company and PK Prime Production banners. The music of the film and background score is composed by Nobin Paul. Akhil George and Chaman Chakko worked as the film's Cinematography and Editor of the film, respectively. The movie so far collected Rs 137 Crore at the Malayalam box office. Malli Pelli Twitter Review Photo Credit: Gallery Malli Pelli Twitter Review: Veteran actor Vijaya Krishna Naresh aka VK Naresh has hit the screens with his real-life partner Pavitra Lokesh-starrer 'Malli Pelli.' The controversial movie written and directed by producer-turned-director MS Raju, was released all over the two Telugu states on May 26. The movie is based on the true events that happened in the life of VK Naresh, his estranged third wife Ramya Raghupathi, and now live-in partner Pavitra Lokesh. The actor himself went to MS Raju and conceptualized the story and screenplay. Ahead of the film's release, Ramya Raghupathi slapped notices to Naresh as he is the film's producer, seeking a stay on the release. Malli Pelli Story The movie is almost based on the real-life incidents that took place in VK Naresh's life. His previous marriages, his love with Pavitra Lokesh, and his impending marriage are discussed in the movie, under the backdrop of love in old age. Narendra (VK Naresh) is a famous actor from an influential and big family. He is already married thrice before and falls in love with his co-actor, Parvathi (Pavitra) who is also a married woman. All hell breaks loose as he has to face the complexities of life. Malli Pelli Cast The film stars several notable actors along with VK Naresh and Pavitra Lokesh. Artists like Ananya Nagalla, Vanitha Vijayumar, Jayasudha, and Annapurnamma among others in key roles. Not only that but veteran south-Indian actor Sarath Babu, who died two days ago, will be seen in the movie playing a crucial role. This was his last onscreen presence. Malli Pelli Twitter Review Check out some of the tweets put out by netizens and enthusiastic film buffs who had already watched the film. They shared their opinion on the film through their Twitter handles. Songs And Story Plot Nachi Vacha Naresh and Pabitra Garu Acting First Nunde Super Don't Miss It #MalliPelli pic.twitter.com/UlvCnD6qZm RC Indhu (@HereIndhu) May 26, 2023 #MalliPelli feels like a real life adaptation. Both #Naresh & #Pavitra's previous relationships and what lead to their current! (@KodelaDeepak) May 26, 2023 Malli pelli cinema concept wise fantastic ga teesaru, enjoyed totally.#MalliPelli (@sreekanth9826) May 26, 2023 Malli Pelli Crew The movie is produced by VK Naresh under his Vijaya Krishna Movies banner. The film marks a special occasion for the actor-cum-producer, who celebrates 50 years in the industry. The film's music and background score is composed by Suresh Bobbili while the lyrics of the songs were penned by Ananth Sriram. Bal Reddy cranked the camera and Junaid Siddique worked as its editor. Bhaskar Mudavat worked as Malli Pelli's Production Design head. PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE:JEQ) announced that effective May 25, 2023, Mr. P. Gerald Malone resigned as a Director from the Board of Directors. Also, the Fund held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") on May 25, 2023. At the Meeting, stockholders of the Fund voted to re-elect one Class III Director to the Board of Directors. As of the record date, April 10, 2023, there were 13,599,990 outstanding shares of the Fund. 85.25% of outstanding common stock were voted at the Meeting representing a quorum. The description of the proposal and number of shares voted at the Meeting are as follows: To re-elect one Class III Director to the Board of Directors to serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until such Director's successor is duly elected and qualified: Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstained Anthony S. Clark 10,805,706 750,117 39,292 Important Information 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. http://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter# # # # For More Information Contact: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds Investor Relations 800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757421/abrdn-Japan-Equity-Fund-Inc-Announces-Results-of-Annual-Meeting-of-Stockholders Toronto, Ontario, and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQX: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform, is pleased announce its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. To view the Company's financial results please go to our Comapny filings on SEDAR or go to https://sekurprivatedata.com. Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data said: "We are pleased to show our shareholders that our plan to increase sales while reducing expenses is materializing. Sales were up 50% Q1 2023 vs Q1 2022, expenses were down by 55% in Q1 2023 vs Q1 2022 and we finished Q1 2023 with a solid balance sheet. We intend to continue to follow our plan for 2023, which is to improve our solutions, reduce our Customer Acquisition Cost ("CAC") and increase in proportion our digital marketing budgets, as the CAC goes down. Our CAC is going down as per our recent news, release issued on May 9, 2023, and we are continuing to work to reduce it further. We have achieved great results so far, lowering in some campaigns our CAC as low as US$28. The plan is to increase digital marketing as we lower our CAC and scale up from there. We are expecting increased sales for 2023 vs 2022, thanks to a lower CAC and the launch of new solutions and various improvements to our existing ones. We also want to thank all our shareholders for their support, and we look forward to presenting even better financial results for 2023." On April 7th 2023, the Company launched its privacy VPN solution called SekurVPN available through https://www.sekurvpn.com, or through https://www.sekur.com, and started commercial sales of its highly anticipated SekurVPN privacy and security VPN solution. SekurVPN is priced at US$ 7/month/user and US$ 70/year/user for the service. The solution is also offered in USD, CAD, NZD, AUD, SGD, CHF, EUR and GPB. The Company plans to launch SekurVPN in the coming weeks to existing shareholders and Sekur users with a special offer, and move to a larger audience of 1,000,000 people in the USA, through several digital and email marketing campaigns. SekurVPN is especially meant for privacy enthousiasts and users wanting to mask their IP address from hackers. An example would be users going to their e-banking or shopping online, using their emails, using messaging applications and wanting to have full privacy and protection from hackers hijacking their location and signal. The service guarantees not to use Big Tech or Hyperscalers for its functioning or hosting, it guarantees that there are no third party bundles sold with it, so no data is leaked or sold to third parties, it guarantees no traffic pulling or monitoring, and no phone number required to register to the service. According to a study and publication on forbes.com, 66% use a VPN to help protect personal data, 80% use a VPN for increased security and 33% use a VPN to mask their internet activity. More statistics can be found on this VPN Statistics And Trends In 2023 article. Private: SekurVPN uses its own proprietary infrastructure and does not use any Hyperscaler or Big Tech hosting providers, unlike most other VPNs. It offers Swiss IPs only, and this guarantees that it is using only SekurVPN's own servers and routing. Other VPNs offer 100s of locations and are using Big Tech providers, compromising users' privacy. SekurVPN never monitors users' activity and never shares any data with third party service providers. By being a pure VPN, without bundled outside services, such as anti-virus, and ad-blockers, SekurVPN keeps users' information private without sharing their data with third party service providers. With SekurVPN, users do not register their phone number on the App or the web, rendering users invisible from hackers or snoopers. No phone number to register, anonymous Swiss IPs only, no data mining or traffic sharing with anyone. Secure: SekurVPN's secure VPN routes all your Internet traffic through SekurVPN's privately owned servers, in multiple locations in Switzerland only, and using the highest encryption industry standards, combined with its proprietary HeliX technology for added security. Encryption keys are not stored on devices and are unique at every connection. Users' passwords, confidential data and Internet surfing stay encrypted even over public untrusted internet connections. Easy to use: SekurVPN is extremely easy to setup and deploy. There is no country list and our interface is simplified, just tap or click the connection button. SekurVPN's no-frills but highly secure and private service gives users peace of mind without thinking about geo-locations. Currently SekurVPN is available to use with iOS and Android devices. A MacOS version and a Windows version are planned to be launched in the coming weeks. In addition to SekurVPN, the company offers a bundled Sekur plan, which includes SekurMessenger and SekurMail, as a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one application, and includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving. Recent data breaches in messaging applications have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications from cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices. SekurMessenger comes with a proprietary feature and technology called "Chat-By-Invite". This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite via email or SMS, a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, finance, insurance, medical, government, energy, manufacturing, trade and pharmaceutical sectors. SekurMessenger also eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a Sekur number. The Sekur number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other Sekur users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including Sekur's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers. Sekur's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner. Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved. About Sekur Private Data Ltd. Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers, and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website at https://www.sekur.com, and approved distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide. On behalf of Management SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD. Alain Ghiai President and Chief Executive Officer +1.416.644.8690 corporate@sekurprivatedata.com For more information, please contact Sekur Private Data at corporate@sekurprivatedata.com or visit us at https://www.sekurprivatedata.com For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com or https://www.sekurvpn.com Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167593 Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - BluMetric Environmental Inc. (TSXV: BLM) ("BluMetric" or "the Company"), a full-service environmental consulting and engineering cleantech firm, announces its financial results for the second quarter ended March 31, 2023. Revenue and gross profit for the second quarter remained relatively consistent with the prior year second quarter, with a slight decrease in gross margin attributable to the Company's project mix in 2023 compared to 2022. "Throughout the second quarter, we remained focused on building a strong backlog, recruiting key business development personnel, and building partnerships to enhance and expand our business," said Scott MacFabe, CEO of BluMetric. To this end, on May 24, 2023, the Company signed a 3-year, $11.7 million cleantech contract with Rheinmetall Canada to provide self-contained water purification systems to the Canadian Armed Forces. (See press release "BluMetric and Rheinmetall Canada to Deliver Self-Contained Water Purification Systems to Canadian Armed Forces" dated May 25, 2023.) Revenue in the Commercial and Government markets were relatively consistent with the revenues from the same quarter last year. Revenue from the Mining market increased approximately 50% for both the quarter and year to date, when compared to similar periods in the prior year. This growth was primarily driven by a contract for a water treatment system at a mine site. Revenue from the Military market decreased due to the completion of contracts, and a longer sales and procurement cycle required for new contracts in this market. Financial Highlights Revenue for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was $7.4 million and $17.9 million respectively, compared to $8.2 million and $16.0 million in 2022. for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was $7.4 million and $17.9 million respectively, compared to $8.2 million and $16.0 million in 2022. Gross margin for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was 21% and 22% respectively, compared to 22% and 24% in 2022. for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was 21% and 22% respectively, compared to 22% and 24% in 2022. EBITDA (see definition below) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was $317,000 and $1.2 million respectively, compared to $469,000 and $1.4 million in 2022. (see definition below) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was $317,000 and $1.2 million respectively, compared to $469,000 and $1.4 million in 2022. Net cash (see definition below) as at March 31, 2023 was $2.4 million, compared to net cash of $2.7 million at March 31, 2022. Business Outlook BluMetric's strategic initiatives and business development continue to support a solid project pipeline across all four key client markets. As noted above, BluMetric has just signed a 3-year, $11.7 million contract with Rheinmetall Canada, who is the prime contractor, to develop and deliver small, self-contained water purification systems as part of a contract awarded by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This product, named the Advanced Sub-Unit Water Purification System (ASUWPS), will enhance the CAF's ability to support missions by enabling water purification at the sub-unit level. The Company has expanded its production facility and has commenced work on developing a prototype in preparation for this contract and future prospects. BluMetric is also in the process of developing an additional prototype for a mobile wastewater treatment system, which will be showcased at the Department of National Defence's Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Pop-Up-City Competition. The event is scheduled to take place in August 2023 at CFB Suffield in Alberta. This competition will allow visitors to witness the real-time operation of BluMetric's state-of-the-art mobile wastewater treatment system. The Company made strategic hires in business development roles for the Commercial and Industrial market, and the Military market. These positions are key for driving growth in these markets. As we enter the field work season, BluMetric will continue to build upon its success servicing clients in Canada's North and will leverage its Inuit-owned joint venture arrangement to support projects based in Nunavut. Financial Table Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Six Months Ended March 31, 2023 Six Months Ended March 31, 2022 ($000) ($000) ($000) ($000) Revenue 7,414 8,214 17,892 16,030 Gross profit 1,544 1,802 3,873 3,847 Gross margin 21% 22% 22% 24% Operating expenses 1,388 1,454 2,941 2,719 Operating profit 156 348 932 1,128 Finance costs 21 24 43 57 Earnings before provision for income tax 135 324 889 1,071 Income tax expense 55 60 354 254 Net earnings 80 264 536 817 Earnings per share - basic and diluted 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 EBITDA1 317 469 1,237 1,382 Free cash flow2 (51) 289 715 972 Net cash3 2,355 2,687 Note 1: EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated as net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Note 2: Free cash flow is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated as cash flow from operating activities excluding changes in working capital balances less net capital expenditures and net payment of lease obligations. Note 3: Net cash is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated as cash less total debt excluding lease liabilities. The full results are available at www.sedar.com. Investor Conference Call on Friday, March 26, 2023 BluMetric will host a conference call on Friday, March 26 at 10:00 am Eastern time to discuss the results. To join the conference call without operator assistance, you may register and enter your phone number at https://emportal.ink/3It9AHU to receive an instant automated call back. You can also dial direct to be entered to the call by an Operator. Please dial 1-888-664-6392 (Toll-Free North America). About BluMetric Environmental Inc. BluMetric Environmental Inc. is a publicly traded environmental consulting and engineering company with expertise across professional and trade disciplines and technologies that allow for the design, fabrication and delivery of sustainable solutions to environmental and water challenges. BluMetric has more than 160 employees operating in ten offices and over 40 years of expertise. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, BluMetric's team of industry experts serves Commercial and Industrial, Military, Mining and Government clients in Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.blumetric.ca or please contact: Scott MacFabe, CEO BluMetric Environmental Inc. Tel: 1-877-487-8436 Email: smacfabe@blumetric.ca Vivian Karaiskos, CFO BluMetric Environmental Inc. Tel: 1-877-487-8436 Email: vkaraiskos@blumetric.ca Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release, including those relating to the Company's quarterly and annual results, future products, opportunities and cost initiatives, strategies, and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167595 Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - BluMetric Environmental Inc. (TSXV: BLM) ("BluMetric" or "the Company"), a full-service environmental consulting and engineering cleantech firm is pleased to announce the award of a 3-year $11.7 million contract from Rheinmetall Canada. BluMetric is teaming with Rheinmetall Canada, who is the prime contractor and an internationally recognized systems integrator, to develop and deliver small, self-contained water purification systems as part of a contract awarded by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This product, named the Advanced Sub-Unit Water Purification System (ASUWPS), will enhance the ability of the CAF to support missions by providing the capacity to purify water at the sub-unit level - providing potable water for 125-250 personnel. The ASUWPS are a smaller, lighter system than BluMetric's Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU), which BluMetric has been building and supporting for the CAF for the last ten years. "We are proud to partner with Rheinmetall Canada to support the CAF," said Scott MacFabe, BluMetric CEO. "Together, we're bringing proven Canadian innovation and experience to provide mission-ready water in a world of uncertainty." BluMetric expanded its cleantech production footprint in Ottawa, and the increased capacity will allow the Company to deliver on this contract and future programs to design and build water and wastewater treatment systems. Work on this contract will begin immediately, with final delivery of the water purification systems expected by 2025. About BluMetric Environmental Inc. BluMetric Environmental Inc. is a publicly traded environmental consulting and engineering company with expertise across professional and trade disciplines and technologies that allow for the design, fabrication and delivery of sustainable solutions to environmental and water challenges. BluMetric has more than 160 employees operating in ten offices and over 40 years of expertise. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, BluMetric's team of industry experts serves Commercial and Industrial, Military, Mining and Government clients in Canada and the United States. About Rheinmetall Canada Rheinmetall Canada is the Canadian arm of Germany's Rheinmetall Group, Europe's largest supplier of systems and equipment for armed forces and security services. With employees at locations in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Ottawa, and other offices throughout the world, Rheinmetall Canada has accumulated over 35 years of expertise in innovative solutions for system integration, real-time command and control software development, and communication solutions. For more information, visit www.blumetric.ca or please contact: Scott MacFabe, CEO BluMetric Environmental Inc. Tel: 1-877-487-8436 Email: smacfabe@blumetric.ca Vivian Karaiskos, CFO BluMetric Environmental Inc. Tel: 1-877-487-8436 Email: vkaraiskos@blumetric.ca Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release, including those relating to the Company's quarterly and annual results, future products, opportunities and cost initiatives, strategies, and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167596 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Force Business System, a business community that helps owners of small, medium, and large businesses from Eastern Europe to develop and scale businesses in the US, has announced that the 2023 Grand Business Event will be held in New York City. The event will take place from May 26-28 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Normally held bi-annually, the upcoming GBE meeting will consist of over 300 entrepreneurs with a total business capitalization of $70 billion+. More than 20 influential businessmen and experts in various US and Eastern European fields will speak at GBE'23, with topics ranging from cryptocurrency and investments to e-commerce and industry. Among the speakers are Keith Ferrazzi, an American entrepreneur, author of the bestseller Never Eat Alone , and CEO of the international consulting company Ferrazzi Greenlight; and Peter Mebert, a serial entrepreneur and international expert on organizational and personal transformation. GBE'23 is being organized by Igor and Daria Lon, the founders of Force Business System. "GBE is the largest gathering of Eastern European entrepreneurs in the US," states Igor Lon. "Every year since 2022, several hundred businessmen and over two dozen influential speakers participate. The goal of the project is to help entrepreneurs find like-minded people, such as partners and investors, to expand their business in a new country." Presenters and speakers at GBE'23 will include prominent American businessmen as well as businessmen who started their careers in Eastern Europe before launching businesses in the US. "Stories like theirs are growing more common," says Lon. "Many entrepreneurs from Eastern Europe continue to work in the United States in their usual niche, but there are also those who start a business from scratch." He adds that GBE'23 aims to inform and encourage entrepreneurs on each step of this journey. The number of entrepreneurs migrating to the United States is steadily increasing due to both the growth of the high-tech industry and global politics. According to statistics, 15% more niche specialists emigrated to America between 1995-2020 than to any European country. In addition, according to New American Economy, immigrant entrepreneurs are an important part of American economic development. "Nearly one out of every two of the most prominent US companies is founded by immigrants or their children," Lon points out. "Among these entrepreneurs are many notable Eastern Europeans. The personal ambitions of these great immigrants and businessmen led to the success of American business." The goal of GBE'23 is to help Eastern European entrepreneurs start off on the right foot in order to ensure the future prosperity of their businesses. "The lack of information about drafting contracts, paying taxes and much more lead to mistakes," says Lon. "That is why now, more than ever, it is important to help aspiring entrepreneurs quickly launch and develop a business, as well as find partners." GBE'23 will focus on building community among participants, encouraging networking and creating new connections and friendships. "At GBE we not only showcase knowledge, but also create a special friendly atmosphere," Lon explains. "This includes joint yoga, jogging, boat trips, and other activities that unite participants. They get useful contacts, establish connections, find partners, and grow as individuals and businessmen. This is how GBE changes people's lives." This community growth is especially important due to the growing number of entrepreneurs who have recently moved to the United States due to the military actions in Ukraine. "These entrepreneurs need assistance and support," Daria Lon emphasizes. "With our help, they find not only business partners, but also friends. This is extremely important in such a difficult time for Ukraine." The main topics of the presentations at GBE'23 will include the use of artificial intelligence technologies in business, the scaling of business in services, trade and production, methods for attracting investments, and current trends in the field of cryptocurrency as well as blockchain and NFT. About Force Business System Force Business System is a business community that helps aspiring entrepreneurs from Eastern Europe to develop and scale businesses in the US. Website: https://force-us.com Event website: https://force-gbe.com Contact Igor Lon at +16462443711 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167592 Value Creation Cycle of Sustainability = Business Model TOKYO, May 26, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today published the "Fujitsu Technology and Service Vision 2023," outlining its outlook and bold proposals for the future of business and society. The report charts a course for businesses to realize "sustainability transformation" through digital innovation, echoing and expanding upon a theme first introduced in last year's Vision.Issues like climate change, geopolitical tensions, and financial market turmoil pose ongoing challenges to businesses as well as people's livelihoods and well-being. While many seek to resolve these issues through a growing commitment to sustainability, these solutions also offer many opportunities for new business. As the social and business benefits of shifting toward this new paradigm grow increasingly apparent, Fujitsu's report highlights the urgent need for companies to transform to create new value for the environment and society. The "Fujitsu Technology and Service Vision 2023" provides concrete recommendations on how to integrate sustainability and business, the impact of the evolution of technology on business and society, and what actions companies should take to ensure a more sustainable future for humanity.'Sustainability Transformation': Where business growth and societal issues convergeMany of the greatest challenges facing the world today are complexly interrelated, with developments emerging in specific regions often bearing unforeseen consequences that can resonate throughout the entire world. To ensure their survival, companies facing these realities have an undeniable need to commit to achieving sustainable growth while providing value to the environment and society by reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), energy consumption, and waste. Fujitsu's report recommends how to integrate the resolution of societal issues with the achievement of business objectives, illustrating in concrete terms the role technology can play in reaching these goals. The report explores this with the following themes:1. Sustainability = BusinessWhile various external environments have a significant impact on management, many companies perceive the resolution of issues related to sustainability as a business opportunity and consider the transformation of their business into one that brings value to the environment and society as an important management issue. However, compared to digital transformation initiatives, which have already progressed in many businesses, the concept of sustainability transformation, which is transformation to create value for the environment and society, still remains in its infancy. Under these circumstances, leader companies which implement sustainability strategies and produce results are promoting initiatives to integrate sustainability with business. Specifically, they are building a cycle in which their efforts to create environmental and social value resonate with people and create financial value such as improved sales and profitability.2. Technology visionDigital innovation plays an important role in enabling corporate sustainability transformation. In the context of digital-driven sustainability transformation, approximately 80% of sustainability leaders see the five areas of automation, experience, innovation, resilience, and trust as critical. Fujitsu is focusing its resources on R&D of five key technologies (AI, networking, computing, converging technologies, data & security) and working to realize technology innovation in each area.(1) Automation: Collaborate with trusted AI to improve creativity and performance(2) Experience: Integrate network with AI to improve network quality and maximize potential in a world unrestrained by physical limitations(3) Innovation: Computing and AI enable total innovation in the digital space(4) Resilience: Redesign the future with human behavioral traits and converging technologies that combines multiple digital twins(5) Trust: Connecting everything under security with distributed trust technology3. Business transformation for a regenerative societyFujitsu aims to contribute to the realization of a sustainable, regenerative society in which the environment, people, and the economy are interconnected in alignment with its purpose: "Make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation." As a partner in sustainability transformation, Fujitsu will work with customers to solve environmental problems, improve people's well-being, and transform business toward the realization of sustainable economic growth, with Fujitsu Uvance playing a central role in realizing a sustainable world.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.7 trillion yen (US$28 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.Press ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiries (bit.ly/3rrQ4mB)Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Release of Results of Activities for the Three Kao Commitments, Analysis of the Relationship between Kao's Business and Biodiversity, and Progress on Targets Based on the Findings of an Employee Engagement Survey Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452), a Japan-based Group whose brand portfolio includes Attack, Biore, Goldwell, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanebo, Laurier, Merries, and Molton Brown, released progress reports on its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy-the Kirei Lifestyle Plan. Details of its progress is released in the Kao Sustainability Report 2023. In addition to the results of its activities in 2022, Kao also released information on the results of its activities for the three Kao commitments in the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, an analysis of the relationship between Kao's business and biodiversity and progress on targets based on the findings of an employee engagement survey. The following is a report of the results of 2022 activities for Kao's key leadership action themes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005003/en/ Kao's ESG Commitments and Actions (Graphic: Business Wire) For over 130 years, Kao has worked to help consumers lead fulfilling lifestyles. In April 2019, Kao established the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which is an ESG strategy that includes 19 leadership action themes to achieve a sustainable and desirable way of living. The Japanese word 'kirei' describes something that is both clean and beautiful. For Kao, Kirei not only encapsulates appearance, but also attitude-to create beauty for oneself, other people, and for the world around us. Since its start in 2021, the Kao Group Mid-term Plan 2025 (K25) has proclaimed "protecting future lives" and promoting "sustainability as the only path" as its vision. The Kao Group will continue to integrate its ESG strategy into its management practices. It will also develop its business, provide better products and services for consumers and society, and work toward its purpose "to realize a Kirei world in which all life lives in harmony." The Director, Managing Executive Officer in charge of Kao's ESG Division, Dave Muenz, delivered this message regarding the announcement of progress of the Kirei Lifestyle Plan: "The global landscape continues to evolve rapidly, becoming more complex and presenting new challenges. Therefore, it is increasingly important that we drive forward our ESG strategy the Kirei Lifestyle Plan to realize a truly sustainable society while enhancing our business and minimizing risks. In 2022, we accelerated efforts towards our mid-term business strategy-K25-with the visions of 'saving future lives' and 'sustainability as the only path.' In the Kao Sustainability Report 2023, we share our progress on the three commitments of the Kirei Lifestyle Plan looking towards the year 2030. Some of our progress includes the launch of Biore GUARD Mos Block Serum to save future lives in Thailand through our unique technology and key partnerships. We analyzed the relationship between our business and biodiversity using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)'s*1 LEAP*2 approach to identify material issues in order to ultimately diminish adverse impacts on nature and regenerate biodiversity loss. Our efforts in the palm oil supply chain saw the launch of the grievance mechanism for smallholders in Indonesia, aiming to provide a voice for rightsholders in higher risk environments. We will continue to evolve our efforts towards creating a Kirei Life for all, together with our partners and communities." *1 The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures officially launched in 2021 in order to build a corporate risk management and disclosure framework related to the resources of nature. *2 The analytical approach proposed by TNFD, which stands for Locate (identify priority areas), Evaluate (understand dependencies and impacts), Assess (identify and evaluate risks and opportunities) and Prepare (strategy, goal setting, evaluation and reporting). These efforts have been recognized by the CDP, a leading international nonprofit organization, which included Kao in its prestigious 'A List' in all surveys across the three categories of climate change, forests and water security for three years in a row. Kao is one of only 12 companies out of more than 10,000 evaluated that were selected for inclusion in the top-rated A List across the three categories. In addition, the Ethisphere Institute, a leading US think-tank, has named Kao one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 17 consecutive years. New Initiatives to Promote a Kirei Lifestyle Release of Results of 2022 Activities for the Three Kao Commitments The ESG strategy the Kirei Lifestyle Plan consists of the vision, the Kao commitments and 19 leadership action themes (Kao Actions) to realize a Kirei Lifestyle. The three Kao commitments with a target year of 2030 are "Making my everyday more beautiful," "Making thoughtful choices for society" and "Making the world healthier cleaner." The results for each target have been released for the first time in the Kao Sustainability Report 2023. Kao aims to empower people to enjoy more beautiful lives by achieving the three Kao commitments. 2022 Results Kao Commitment by 2030 Indicator Mid-to long-term targets Target value Mid-to long-term targets Year 2022 Results Making my everyday more beautiful The number of people empowered to enjoy more beautiful lives-greater cleanliness, easier aging, better health and confidence in self-expression 1 billion 2030 0.49 billion Making thoughtful choices for society of Kao brands that make it easy for people to make small but meaningful choices that, together, shape a more resilient and compassionate society 100% 2030 63% Making the world healthier cleaner of Kao products that leave a full lifecycle environmental footprint that science says our natural world can safely absorb 100% 2030 12% Analysis of the Relationship between Kao's Business and Biodiversity Based on TNFD's LEAP Approach Kao operates by benefiting from many biological resources such as palm oil, paper and pulp. In 2011, Kao formed the Basic Policy on Biodiversity and has been working to realize sustainable raw material procurement and develop new technologies that contribute to biodiversity conservation. Kao revised the basic policy last year with the goal of shifting from biodiversity loss to biodiversity regeneration by reducing its dependency and adverse impacts on nature and biodiversity, and increasing actions that have positive impacts. In order to promptly respond to developments regarding information disclosure, Kao has participated in TNFD Forum since April 2022 and is collecting information and providing feedback on the information disclosure framework currently under development. In the Kao Sustainability Report 2023, Kao releases the results of its analysis of the relationship between its business and biodiversity related to detergents, one of its leading product categories, based on TNFD's LEAP approach. Kao identified material issues in each of the areas of upstream supply chain, direct operations and downstream supply chain as well as the risks and opportunities, and examined what actions to take accordingly. In addition to specifying the relationship between Kao's business and biodiversity in collaboration with Accenture Japan Ltd., Kao examined scenarios taking into account future natural and economic conditions and changes in the consumer products market. The details of the analysis were released in a report titled "Business Risk and Opportunity on Biodiversity TNFD case study with location analysis -" in April 2023. Release of 2022 Progress on Targets Based on the Findings of an Employee Engagement Survey In the ESG strategy the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which aims for the realization of a Kirei Lifestyle, "Walking the right path" is the foundation that supports actions for the three Kao commitments of "Making my everyday more beautiful," "Making thoughtful choices for society" and "Making the world healthier cleaner." Kao has established seven key leadership action themes to promote walking the right path. Kao aims to empower people around the world to live more beautiful lives by having all employees conduct fair and honest business activities at all times. Of the seven key leadership action themes, Kao has set the response rate for "Inclusive diverse workplaces," "Employee wellbeing and safety" and "Human capital development" in the employee engagement survey as mid- to long-term target indicators. In 2022, Kao conducted its first employee engagement survey in four years for Kao Group companies in Japan. People are Kao's greatest asset, and "maximizing the power and potential of employees" is one of Kao's strategic approaches in its Mid-term Plan 2025 (K25). To this end, Kao has redesigned the survey content and added new items in the Kao focus areas of tackling challenges, collaboration, dialogue and job satisfaction. While utilizing the new survey, Kao will strive to improve its human capital development measures and workplace environments as well as increase employee engagement. For the Key Leadership Action Themes: 2021 Activity Results, click here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005003/en/ Contacts: Media inquiries should be directed to: Public Relations Kao Corporation corporate_pr@kao.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Origen Resources Inc. (CSE: ORGN) (FSE: 4VXA) (the "Company" or "Origen") is pleased to announce it has closed a further tranche of its private placement. The Company issued 1,064,000 units under this most recent tranche, at a price of $0.25 per unit, for gross proceeds of $266,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, with each full warrant being exercisable for a period of 18 months at 40 cents. All securities issued under the private placement are subject to a hold period of four months and a day from the date of issuance. A company controlled by a director of Origen participated in the private placement. This participation by an insider in the offering constitutes a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. However, the Company considers such participation would be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the units subscribed for by the insider, and the consideration for the unit paid by such insider, does not exceed 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization. The Company also announces that it has retained the services of Toronto-based Proconsul Capital Ltd. an investor relations and marketing consulting services company. Proconsul, and its principal Andreas Curkovic, provides investor relations services to Canadian publicly listed companies. Proconsul will focus on broadening Origen's relationships in the investment community. Under the terms of the agreement, Proconsul will receive $5,000 per month and will be eligible to receive incentive stock options in accordance with the terms of the Company's stock option plan and CSE policies. About Origen Origen is fully focused on its 100% interest in the Los Sapitos Lithium project in Argentina and its 100% interest in the 33,000 ha Newfoundland Lithium projects, and also holds a property portfolio of four 100% owned precious and base metal projects in southern British Columbia, a 100% interest in the 26,771 ha LGM project in the mineral rich Golden Triangle of British Columbia, and a portfolio of investments from prior property joint ventures and sales. On behalf of Origen, Thomas Hawkins Managing Director For further information, please contact Gary Schellenberg, Chief Executive Officer, at 604-681-0221. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information." In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167625 Abstract highlights biomarker with ability to predict clinical responses of glioblastoma patients to NOX-A12-based therapies Patients with high biomarker score show superior clinical efficacy when treated with NOX-A12-based therapies Beyond the relevance of therapeutic choice for patients, having a predictive biomarker is very positive and potentially decisive for successful clinical development, partnering and commercialization 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 the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has published an abstract disclosing new predictive biomarker data from the GLORIA Phase 1/2 clinical trial of NOX-A12 in brain cancer (glioblastoma). The data will be presented in a poster presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting by Dr. Frank A. Giordano, the lead investigator of the GLORIA trial, on Saturday June 3, 2023, starting at 01:15 p.m. CST (08:15 p.m. CEST) in Chicago, Illinois, US. The abstract highlights biomarker analyses of 10 glioblastoma patients from the GLORIA trial treated with radiotherapy (RT) and NOX-A12. The patients with higher biomarker scores at baseline had a significantly longer PFS than those with lower scores (6.0 vs. 3.0 months; p 0.031) and a trend towards prolonged OS (15.8 vs. 11.1 months; p 0.075). In contrast, these correlations were not seen in the reference cohort patients treated with standard of care (PFS: 4.6 vs. 6.0 months; p 0.502; OS: 9.6 vs. 10.0 months; p 0.243). The fact that there is a correlation to clinical outcomes when NOX-A12 is used but not with standard of care means that this biomarker specifically predicts response to NOX-A12. These data show superior clinical efficacy of the NOX-A12 and RT treatment in patients with a high biomarker score, suggesting the score can be used as a novel predictive biomarker for CXCL12-directed therapies, like NOX-A12, in glioblastoma. "We are thrilled to announce these groundbreaking new data from the GLORIA trial, which identify a new biomarker that can predict the clinical responses of brain cancer patients to NOX-A12-based therapies," said Aram Mangasarian, CEO of TME Pharma. Beyond the relevance of the therapeutic choice for the patient, having a predictive biomarker is very positive and could be decisive on several levels if validated in future studies. First, having the ability to select patients who will benefit most from NOX-A12 will increase our chances of achieving regulatory approval and commercial success, while at the same time substantially de-risking the clinical development of NOX-A12, which is important for investors and pharma partners in difficult to treat indications like the brain cancer, glioblastoma. Further, in the future, it would give NOX-A12 a significantly improved position for pricing and reimbursement discussions with payers, since we could say with high likelihood that our therapy will benefit patients. Sharing our latest development from GLORIA at ASCO, one of the most renowned cancer conferences in the world, further highlights the significance of the results emerging from this trial and the progress TME Pharma is making in the treatment of this very complicated and debilitating disease." The biomarker is calculated by analyzing the frequency of expression of the target of NOX-A12 (CXCL12, or "12") on two types of cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME): 1) blood vessels (endothelial or "E") cells and 2) cancer (glioma or "G") cells. Combining CXCL12 expression on these two key cell types in the TME give the EG12 score, essentially the fraction of endothelial and glioma cells expressing CXCL12. This EG12 score is significantly correlated with PFS (r 0.87; p 0.005) in patients treated with NOX-A12 and RT. This correlation was not seen in a reference cohort of 15 glioblastoma patients treated with standard of care (SOC) (r -0.10; p 0.724). Details of the poster presentation at ASCO are as follows: Title: Potential predictive biomarker for response to radiotherapy and CXCL12-inhibition in glioblastoma in the phase 1/2 GLORIA trial (abstract #2048) Abstract: view on the ASCO website Presenter: Dr. Frank A. Giordano, Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Mannheim, Germany, and the lead investigator of the GLORIA trial. Session Type: Poster Session Session Title: Central Nervous System Tumors Session Date and Time: June 3, 2023, 01:15-04:15pm CST The poster will be made available on the TME Pharma website on June 03, 2023. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005849/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 Initial judgment of $570m damages vacated Paris, France - May 26, 2023- On May 25, 2023, the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a decision by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, as part of Syntel's ongoing litigation with Cognizant and its subsidiary TriZetto, finding Syntel, now part of Atos, liable for damages due to Syntel's alleged trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement. The case began in 2015, before Syntel's acquisition by Atos in 2018. In its decision, the Second Circuit held that the use of the avoided development costs methodology, underlying the initial $570m damages, was contrary to the law. The Second Circuit remanded the case to the District Court for further consideration if any amount of damages are still appropriate. Atos maintains its assessment, as previously communicated, that the maximum amount of damages legally available to TriZetto is approximately $8.5m. This favorable decision considerably removes uncertainty for Atos and its stakeholders. *** About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees and annual revenue of c. 11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris. The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space. Contacts Investor relations: Thomas Guillois | thomas.guillois@atos.net| +33 (0)6 21 34 36 62 Media: Martin Bovo |martin.bovo@atos.net| +33 (0)6 14 46 79 94 Attachment SCHAFFHAUSEN, CH / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Occlutech Holding AG Occlutech Holding AG (Occlutech) is a leading specialist provider of minimally invasive structural heart implants. The company sells and markets its products in around 85 countries and the global addressable market for congenital and structural heart devices provides a significant growth opportunity. Sabine Bois, CEO, comments on Q1 report 2023: I am pleased to report that we continued to see a positive growth trend in Q1 2023, with significant growth in our direct markets. We are also steadily progressing in our transformation processes as we implement robustness in our organization. Growth momentum and good conditions Revenue for Q1 2023 increased by 10.3 percent, totaling EUR 8,949 thousand (8,114). We saw strong growth in our main markets, especially Europe, which grew by 10.9 percent. Distributor markets were partly impacted by the war in Ukraine and related trade restrictions, but our direct sales showed positive momentum as they increased by 20.9 percent in the quarter compared to last year. I am also glad to say that March was the strongest month in Occlutech's history, further indicating this trend. At the end of the quarter, we secured a long-term financing agreement with a subscription commitment of bonds at an aggregated amount of EUR 40 million under a total framework of EUR 75 million. This will allow us to pursue our important studies, start preparing to enter the large US market, and accelerate our growth in our main markets. Clinical studies moving forward Occlutech is continuing to invest in clinical studies and R&D, while reviewing and implementing regulatory and clinical strategies for all our products. During the quarter, Dr. Morwan Choli joined Occlutech's Executive Management Team as VP of Regulatory Affairs & Quality. With his experience in device testing, certification processes and collaboration with Notified Bodies, he will contribute to our product and marketing strategies as we advance. In order to support the clinical studies additional resources have been joining the clinical team. One of our most important studies, the US pivotal study of the Atrial Flow Regulator (AFR) device, FROST-HF (heart failure), enrolled the first patient in March. It is a significant milestone for Occlutech and we are now engaging in substantial work around the clinical strategy for the AFR and how to progress successfully. During the quarter, we also enrolled our first patient in Europe in our US study OCCLUFLEX, investigating the safety and efficiency of the Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Occluder. The first patients in the US and Canada were enrolled in Q2, 2022. Regarding the Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Occluder, we are continuing our work for a Premarket Approval (PMA) in the US. However, we will likely see a delay due to the adaption of processes to FDA standards. Nevertheless, as soon as we receive a PMA, we will be ready to launch commercially with our US partner B. Braun Interventional Systems Inc. The US is still a prioritized market in our strategic planning going forward, and we are eager to expand our presence there. The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) preparation is progressing according to plan. Though, we are experiencing a slightly longer response time from Notified Bodies, which strains the certification process for some of our accessories. As we are continuously implementing more robust processes with supporting functions, including SAP, we are streamlining our operations to be more effective. Sales, marketing and innovation We are increasing our work and hires in sales and marketing to ramp up growth as we see signs of improved market conditions in front of us. For example, we are currently setting up advisory boards in our three main market segments to enhance business development and innovation around each of our product areas. In January, we had our annual kick-off meeting in Barcelona, where a review of 2022 and looking at 2023 and beyond were our main topics. We are now seeing positive salesforce engagement in the company as we are creating a stronger alignment between our sales and marketing teams to ensure clear responsibilities and deliverables. Future outlook As we have had a positive start in 2023, Occlutech is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. We are looking forward to increasing our sales and growth, exploring new product initiatives, and discovering new advantageous partnerships. But most importantly, we will continue our dedicated work to deliver innovative solutions that improve the quality of life for people around the world. With these efforts, I am confident that Occlutech will continue its journey towards becoming a leader in medical technology and improving lives around the world. Lars Nordenskjold CFO E-post: lars.nordenskjold@occlutech.com Telefon: +46 763 20 04 34 Sabine Bois CEO Email: sabine.bois@occlutech.com About Occlutech Occlutech is a leading specialist provider of minimally invasive structural heart implants, with a mission to improve the quality of life for people with heart conditions. The vision is to become a leading global specialist in cardiac implants, addressing congenital heart defects, stroke prevention and heart failure. Since 2003, the company has developed, manufactured, and commercialized occluders and interatrial shunt products. Occlutech has a broad and proven portfolio, based on proprietary technology, and over 200 patents with more than 155,000 products sold. The company markets and sells its products in around 85 countries. The company has around 290 employees and is a public limited liability company registered in Switzerland. For more information: www.occlutech.com. Attachments Occlutech Q1 2023 - Growth momentum with increased sales and marketing activities SOURCE: Occlutech Holding AG View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757513/Occlutech-Q1-2023--Growth-Momentum-with-Increased-Sales-and-Marketing-Activities BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE (PBSFF.PK) reported Friday that its first-quarter adjusted loss was 15 million euros, compared to previous year's profit of 38 million euros. Adjusted EBITDA decreased to 53 million euros from prior year's 112 million euros. Group revenues were down 13% to 816 million euros from 941 million euros last year, still impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment. Looking ahead, the company said it currently expects adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter to be in the mid to high double-digit million EUR range. Bert Habets, Group CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, said, 'As expected, the macroeconomic environment continued to directly impact our advertising business in the first quarter of 2023. This is expected to continue in the second quarter, although somewhat less pronounced. We are already seeing significant improvements in advertising bookings in June compared to the previous months.' For fiscal 2023, ProSiebenSat.1 continues to expect slight organic revenue growth to around 4.10 billion euros with a variance of plus/minus 150 million euros, and adjusted EBITDA of around 600 million euros with a variance of plus/minus 50 million euros. Last year, Group revenues were 4.02 billion euros, and adjusted EBITDA was 623 million euros. The company further expects a significant recovery of very profitable advertising business in the second half of the year, in parallel with the forecast economic upturn. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. EQS-News: Aroundtown SA / Key word(s): AGM/EGM Aroundtown announces publication of convening notice for the 2023 Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting 26.05.2023 / 09:02 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS AROUNDTOWN ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF CONVENING NOTICE FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 26 May 2023. Aroundtown SA ("Aroundtown") announces today the publication of the convening notice and related materials for the annual general meeting of shareholders of Aroundtown ("AGM") followed by an extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") both to be held on 28 June 2023. Further information regarding the AGM and the EGM is available at https://www.aroundtown.de/investor-relations/general-meeting/agm-egm-2023/ . About the Company Aroundtown SA (symbol: AT1), trading on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, is the largest listed and highest rated (BBB+ by S&P) German commercial real estate company. Aroundtown invests in income generating quality properties with value-add potential in central locations in top tier European cities mainly in Germany/NL. Aroundtown SA (ISIN: LU1673108939) is a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) established under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes, Luxembourg) under number B217868, having its registered office at 37, Boulevard Joseph II, L-1840 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Contact Timothy Wright T: +352 288 313 E: info@aroundtown.de www.aroundtown.de DISCLAIMER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES MENTIONED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DIRECTED AT AND IS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO (I) PERSONS WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE ORDER), (II) HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49 OF THE ORDER, AND (III) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS RELEVANT PERSONS). THIS COMMUNICATION MUST NOT BE READ, ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA) AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER IF MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IS DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS AMENDED (THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION) (QUALIFIED INVESTORS). ANY PERSON IN THE EEA OR THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO ACQUIRES THE SECURITIES IN ANY OFFER (AN INVESTOR) OR TO WHOM ANY OFFER OF THE SECURITIES IS MADE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. ANY INVESTOR WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT ANY SECURITIES ACQUIRED BY IT IN THE OFFER HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF PERSONS IN THE EEA OR THE UNITED KINGDOM OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS, NOR HAVE THE SECURITIES BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR OFFER OR RESALE IN THE EEA OR THE UNITED KINGDOM TO PERSONS WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION BY AROUNDTOWN OR ANY OF THE MANAGERS OF A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY CONTAIN PROJECTIONS OR ESTIMATES RELATING TO PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES, FUTURE FINANCIAL RESULTS, OR ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING OR RELATING TO ANY SUCH STATEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH CONSTITUTES A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF AROUNDTOWN SA. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY, DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. 26.05.2023 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 ScottHall.co, a New York-based software and content marketing consultancy, has introduced a new AI-driven chatbot designed to help business owners looking to claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) get answers to their questions about the credit. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - ScottHall.co has released the chatbot to help business owners understand the purpose and the requirements of the ERTC, a tax credit introduced during the pandemic to assist small businesses in retaining their employees. The credit refunds the payroll costs employers have already spent on their employees, and employers are not restricted as to how they use their rebates. The application can be accessed at https://ertcquiz.com/chatbox/. ScottHall.co Announces AI-Enabled Chatbot That Answers Questions About The ERTC To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/167629_cec22375644a99e7_001full.jpg According to the company, its chatbot is as robust as more popular AI tools available today, capable of answering both common and complex questions about the refund. It added that this level of sophistication makes the application ideal for those who want to save time and avoid wading through numerous search engine results. "Any business with fewer than 500 full-time W-2 employees could qualify for the ERTC, including non-profits and start-ups. Even businesses that have already received loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, may qualify," explained Scott Hall, founder of ScottHall.co. "When ERTC legislation was originally passed in 2020, PPP borrowers did not qualify, but the legislation has been amended since then." In March of 2021, the American Rescue Act changed IRS regulations, making millions of businesses eligible for both the PPP and ERTC. Thus, potential claimants who are PPP borrowers are still eligible to qualify and possibly receive up to $26,000 per employee in rebates. Since 2021, ScottHall.co has been assisting hundreds of business owners understand the ERTC claims process. Prior to the release of the chatbot, the company had partnered with tax accountants specializing in ERTC forms processing. As of this writing, this service is still available for business owners and non-profits who want to claim their ERTC refund retroactively . "Business owners who haven't yet applied for the ERTC may be leaving money on the table," said Mr. Hall. "The application process is complex, but our team of tax specialists will do all the paperwork for you. All you have to do to get started is answer a few proprietary questions." Interested parties can take learn more about ScottHall.co's services at https://ertcquiz.com/. Contact Info: Name: Scott Hall Email: scott@scotthall.co Organization: ScottHall.co Address: 60 West 23rd St. Suite 638, New York, NY 10010, United States Website: https://scotthall.co To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167629 Shenzhen, China--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Kexing Biopharm, a leading pharmaceutical company, has successfully concluded its participation at the renowned Kazakhstan International Healthcare Exhibition (KIHE) 2023, held at the Atakent International Exhibition Centre. With a sprawling exhibition area of 4551 square meters, KIHE attracted over 200 prominent pharmaceutical enterprises, solidifying its status as one of Kazakhstan's premier exhibitions. KIHE serves as a vital platform that annually brings together physicians, pharmacists, government officials, and industry professionals from around the world. Alongside the exhibition, engaging forums are conducted, facilitating discussions on emerging trends in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. The KIHE project has reportedly received official support from the local government and various prestigious associations. During the exhibition, Kexing Biopharm showcased a range of its innovative export products, including EPOSINO (human erythropoietin), WHITE-C (human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor), ARKETIN (bevacizumab), Reminton (infliximab), albumin-bound paclitaxel, Ahrasin (adalimumab), and Liraglutide etc. The exhibition booth attracted numerous international clients who sought consultations and insights. Over 50 leading pharmaceutical enterprises engaged in fruitful discussions with Kexing Biopharm. The face-to-face interactions served as a catalyst, fostering greater confidence and strengthening partnerships with Kexing Biopharm within the international pharmaceutical supply chain system. Kexing Biopharm Booth Kexing Biopharm's success at KIHE aligns with its strategic focus on "innovation + internationalization." While consolidating its presence in the domestic market, the company has been proactively expanding its global footprint. It has secured commercialization rights for groundbreaking products, further augmenting its robust pipeline in critical areas such as anti-tumor treatments and immunotherapy. With an established presence in nearly 40 countries, including Brazil, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Kexing Biopharm continues to propel its mission of delivering precise products, predictable effects and health protection. By upholding unwavering commitment to quality, the company aims to serve as a trusted healthcare partner for patients worldwide. Haiyan Zheng Kexing Biopharm Co., Ltd. T:+86-755-86180000 E:kexingbiopharm@kexing.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167647 Oakbrook Terrace-based Goldstone Financial Group has expanded its retirement planning services for high-net-worth individuals, now available across its full network of Chicago offices. Villa Park, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Goldstone Financial Group has announced an expansion of its retirement planning services to help more clients in Illinois and Tennessee. The revised solutions focus on diversification of income and tax efficiency, and can be tailored to the needs and circumstances of each client. More details can be found at https://goldstonefinancialgroup.com/. Goldstone Financial Group Expands Retirement Planning For HNWI Chicago Clients To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/167259_e6839a11a48e9bbd_001full.jpg The expanded retirement planning service from Goldstone Financial Group takes a multi-stage approach to tackle this dilemma. An online quiz is also now available, offering a customized report that highlights potential retirement gaps. Goldstone Financial Group is also offering some of the latest wealth management, asset protection, and estate planning strategies, with the goal of securing the long-term financial health of its clients. The firm operates seven offices in the wider Chicagoland region, including Oakbrook Terrace, Northbrook, and Lake Forest, with three new Tennessee offices having recently opened in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood. Interested parties can find more information by visiting https://goldstonefinancialgroup.com/contact-us/. Contact Info: Name: Anthony Pellegrino Email: RHernandez@goldstonefinancialgroup.com Phone: 630-620-9300 Organization: Goldstone Financial Group Address: 18W140 Butterfield Road Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, IL 60181, United States Website: https://goldstonefinancialgroup.com/contact-us/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167259 Lily Cole, renowned author, supermodel, activist and entrepreneur, will be dazzling the audience at Money20/20 Europe with her innovative ideas and passion for change Among this year's rockstar speakers are top executives from HSBC, GoCardless, The European Banking Authority, Google, IBM, Spotify, and Booking.com Money20/20, the world's leading fintech show, regarded as the place where money does business, unveils this year's biggest and boldest names taking the stages at the European show at RAI Amsterdam on 6-8 June. Money20/20 Europe is set to host over 300 industry-leading speakers, including visionary executives from global banks like HSBC, Barclays, and J.P. Morgan; trailblazing fintechs such as GoCardless, Stripe, and Plum, and representatives from both national and supranational European governments. The diverse roster of speakers is set to dissect the myriad of challenges confronting players within the money ecosystem, ranging from reverberations of the crypto crackdown to the new frontiers of generative AI, forthcoming European regulations and their first-hand experience leading their companies through the turbulent last 12 months. "We are thrilled to unveil such an extraordinary lineup of speakers for Money20/20 Europe," said Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy Growth Officer at Money20/20. "Our agenda and speaker lineup has been carefully curated to offer the industry's boldest and brightest voices a platform to share their unique expertise and thought leadership, ensuring our audience will gain invaluable insights to take on the challenges lying ahead full on." Taking on the Encore Stage on Tuesday, 6 June at 10:40 CET, will be the iconic Lily Cole, renowned author, supermodel, activist and entrepreneur in an exclusive, sit-down interview with Money20/20 President, Tracey Davies. Lily, known for her podcast and book "Who Cares Wins", will outline the importance of new, care-led strategic approaches, in a world faced with accelerating climate risks, financial inequality and the increasing global complexity of money. Waze Co-Founder and author of "Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution A Handbook for Entrepreneurs", Uri Levine, will follow on the Encore Stage on Tuesday, 6 June at 11:05 CET to share his first-hand experience founding Waze and Moovit, which were acquired by Google and Intel respectively, and share must-see top tips for startups and entrepreneurs. "I am happy to participate at Money20/20 Europe where I will share my insights and advice on building successful startups based on my personal journey building two unicorns Waze and Moovit and more than a dozen additional startups. The key to a startup's success is solving a problem. A big problem that affects a large number of people. In today's economic climate, it's also crucial to have access to experienced mentors who can provide shortcuts to growth and improve the chances of succeeding. I am honoured to be on stage and provide my "cookbook" for startup success, also reflected in my book. My talk will cover the challenges of the startup journey, including both success and failure, the importance of understanding users, and how to make the hard decisions in building the right team and company DNA." Uri Levine. Hiroki Takeuchi, Co-founder and CEO of GoCardless is also among Money20/20's high-profile speakers. He will take the stage on Wednesday, 7 June at 10:15 for a session with NatWest Groups' Chief Payments Officer, Mark Brant, to discuss their recent partnership and what's next in payments. "I'm excited to speak at Money2020. I hope my session on the future of payments will encourage everyone to seize the once-in-a-generation opportunities in front of us and push innovations like open banking to their full potential, helping businesses and consumers everywhere," said Hiroki Takeuchi. Victor Trokoudes, CEO Co-Founder of Plum, will speak on the Fusion Stage on Wednesday, 7 June at 12:10 CET on how Plum achieved sustainable growth despite tough economic conditions, and return to debate the next era for wealthtech with Ruth Handcock, CEO of Octopus Investments on the Elements Stage at 16:05 CET. "I'm very excited about speaking at Money20/20. It's an honour to be presenting alongside such a range of industry leaders. I look forward to addressing how Plum has grown across multiple markets in Europe and the importance of culture and finding the right employees. I remember attending Money20/20 when I was building Plum and found it so inspirational learning from other expert speakers. Being asked to appear at such a marquee, prestigious event is a reflection of Plum's expansion which is truly the result of our employees dedication and hard work" Victor Trokoudes Further highlights from the exceptional speaker lineup include: Rumman Chowdhury, Harvard University: mitigating bias in AI systems Ian Stuart, HSBC: HSBC's acquisition of SVB Kirsteen Harrison, Zumo Enterprise nurturing a climate-conscious crypto sector Philip Belamant, Zilch: regulation as a catalyst for innovation Vishal Sacheendran, Binance: making sense of MiCA Nan Ransohoff, Stripe the race to remove carbon from the atmosphere Marilin Pikaro, European Banking Authority: finding DORA Dr Florian Toncar, German Federal Ministry of Finance Germany's blockchain adoption plans Sandra Alzetta, Spotify Shahrokh Moinian, J.P. Morgan: TechMate, The Payments and Tech Gameshow Alexander Ermakovich, Booking.com: when customer experience and customer protection collide Rik Goslinga, PayPal Alessandra Grendele, Carrefour: insights into consumer life David Grunwald, NatWest Group: the power of partnerships for innovation Alexandra Maniati, European Banking Federation Brent Phillips, Deutsche Bank: European cloud policy Martin Runow, Barclays: what makes a successful ISO 20022 implementation Sam Everington, Engine by Starling: a UK export success story Mandy Lamb, Visa; Kenneth Hart, Snowdrop Solutions Nicola Dalmazzo, Google Maps Platform: how their recent partnership can map, scale and provide compelling consumer experiences Ray Harishankar Mary Ann Francis, IBM: the impact of quantum computing on banking, payments and financial services The Money20/20 Europe agenda of confirmed speakers can be found here. Media can register for a complimentary press pass here. ENDS About Money20/20 Founded in 2011, Money20/20 creates destination shows where the most innovative people in payments, fintech and the broader financial services industry connect. Famed for their high-impact networking, the Europe edition, held in Amsterdam (6-8 June 2023) and the USA edition, held in Las Vegas (22-25 October 2023), are regarded as the place where money does business by financial services professionals. Money20/20 today officially launched an Asia edition in Bangkok on 23-25 April 2024. Money20/20 is the space where the industry's smartest visionaries and innovators come together to create the future of money. Visit Money20/20's Asia site here. Money20/20 is an Ascential show. Follow Money20/20 on Twitter and LinkedIn for show developments and updates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005119/en/ Contacts: Tina Loncaric Global Head of Public Relations Money20/20 E: tina@money2020.com M: +1 469 288 5556 SINGAPORE and DUBAI, UAE, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore'sMarano Furniture unveils two of its latest collections titled "Vienna" and "Lumi", comprising 14 statement pieces inspired by the architecture of 1890s Vienna Secessionists and the elegant fusion of ethereal hues and futuristic designs to create home living spaces beyond imagination. Taking Marano's hallmark avant-garde, show-stopping designs to the next level, the new collections bring to life the blend of organic shapes and modern silhouettes along with central themes that characterise the defiance of the Austrian Secession era. Meticulously handcrafted by a team of young underrepresented designers, each statement piece adheres to Marano Furniture's hallmark innovative design principle to create an otherworldly charm of aesthetic functionality. Established in 2019, Marano Furniture aims to revolutionise the conventions of furniture design by bringing together young designers across Asia to create innovative thematic pieces made with quality craftsmanship, while showcasing their works on a global platform. The Vienna Collection The new Vienna collection emulates the sentiments of the Vienna Secession era using contrasting hues of black, grey and amber to create distinctive styles that celebrate the cusp of heritage and modernity in the 1890s - a period of time when artists broke away from traditional artistic styles in Austrian modern art. Through the use of geometric designs and simple clean lines, each statement piece amalgamates timeless aesthetics with practicality, incorporating art into the functions of everyday life. "It started with a visit to a small town in Italy where I chanced upon a local market auctioning off Secession chairs. It left an indelible impression on me - a delicate and simple piece of furniture that still retains its rich heritage and character. Beyond incorporating the design principles of its era, the collection showcases the complexity of making classic designs sophisticated through bold colours and simple contours. This unique style mirrors Marano's vision of pushing the boundaries of design while retaining practical features to create showpieces for inspired living," shares Christopher Lim, Managing Director of Marano Furniture. More notably, the iconic LUDO Console and BERINI Sideboard of the collection pay homage to renowned artist Gustav Klimt - one of the leaders of the Vienna Secession movement. Contrasting the spectacular display of square and clean lines of the BERINI Sideboard inspired by Klimt's portrait "Adele Bloch-Bauer I", the LUDO Console is a bold statement piece that features an opulent upholstery, adorned with slender contours as observed in Gustav Klimt's masterpiece - "The Kiss". The vibrant amber colour contrasts with the obsidian black, evoking the sense of polarity amongst Vienna's cultural elites at the time with a subtle artistic flair. (For more information about the Vienna Collection pieces, kindly refer to the Annex here: http://bitly.ws/Fu53) The Lumi Collection Jimmy Yin, Chief Designer of Marano Furniture adds, "The Lumi Collection is Marano's first exploration beyond its signature line-up of bold artistic pieces. Inspired by the organic harmony of the natural environment, the collection encapsulates the essence of an ethereal and cosy sanctuary through the use of luscious curves and textures, with brighter colour tones to imbue the living space with energy. This shift in design also beckons to our brand's intent to offer more home-friendly pieces that align with contemporary lifestyles." From the splendour of walnut wood textures to the incorporation of organic chenille yarn fabric, the captivating allure of the Lumi Collection is inspired by elements of nature. The soft contours and velvety textures of LUMI's statement pieces come together to create a cosy sanctuary, with warm neutral palettes that exude a natural whimsy for the contemporary connoisseur. The GIRONDO sideboard, ORSIN armchair, and LORMA coffee table come together to create a haven for relaxation and tranquility. The ORSIN Armchair features irregularly textured boucle fabric intertwined with polyester in an uneven texture of loops and curls, resulting in an exceptionally soft material, matched with warm hues to add a touch of liveliness to the warm wooden ensemble. The combination of natural design elements in these distinctive pieces captures the lush landscapes of nature to create a living, breathing sanctuary of beauty. (For more information about the Lumi Collection pieces, kindly refer to the Annex here: http://bitly.ws/Fu3s) In Marano Furniture's effort towards a more sustainable future, all pieces across its collections are also handcrafted with E0 graded materials which are one of the highest Formaldehyde Emission standards to be used in interior environments. Both the Vienna and Lumi Collections will be available for purchase online at maranofurniture.com from 25 May 2023. About Marano Furniture At MARANO, we transform cherished homes Into fascinating mindscapes, redefining interior spaces to evoke your inner nobility. Every piece of furniture we create is an expression of our artists' heart and mind, a showcase of talent and mastery, from conception to outcome. Our designers draw inspiration from the world around us, and our artisan craftsmen lend a meticulous touch in their every skilful stitch and finish. We breathe life into designs we love, creating beautiful furnishing that lasts. Adept at creating high-quality retail furniture for renowned international luxury brands since inception, MARANO materialised our own collections of luxury furnishing of exquisite craftsmanship, and are poised to seek out and inspire more talented Asian furniture designers and artisans, bringing imagination and refinery to life. Marano - Redefine Your Mindscape. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085545/Image_Marano_Furniture.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085546/Marano_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bring-to-life-1890s-vienna--elegant-functionalism-in-your-own-home---singapores-marano-furniture-launches-two-new-collections-inspired-by-the-past-and-future-301835535.html XI'AN, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from GLOBAL TIMES ONLINE: Chairman Qian Zhimin of State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, who was attending the China-Central Asia Summit and paying a state visit to China, joined a Kazakh-Chinese investment roundtable in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. They exchanged views on the implementation of renewable energy projects and the cooperation on green hydrogen generation and signed a memorandum of understanding on building a large-scale wind power and energy storage plant with a capacity of 1 GW in Kazakhstan. On the same day, a meeting between the President of Kyrgyzstan and the Chinese business world was held, during which SPIC signed an agreement with Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy on the major terms of a 1000MW solar farm project in Issy-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. SPIC, actively responding to the Belt and Road Initiative and engaging in close cooperation with enterprises in Central Asia, has built a series of new energy projects in the region, including the Zhanatas Wind-Power Project in Kazakhstan and the 1000MW solar farm project in Issy-Kul. These projects mirror SPIC's advantages in clean energy development, contribute to local power supply and promote local energy restructuring. SPIC will further strengthening energy cooperation with Belt and Road countries, so as to power local economic and livelihood development, and help these countries achieve energy security, independence and stability. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spic-inks-multiple-cooperation-agreements-during-china-central-asia-summit-301835548.html GOTHENBURG, Sweden, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tridentify, an international provider of cold-chain monitoring solutions, has announced the launch of its latest innovation - a real-time cold chain monitoring system that includes a ground-breaking feature for continuously monitoring the stability and remaining shelf-life of shipped products in the cold-chain. The new system will transform the way companies monitor their operations and manage their stability budgets by providing a comprehensive view of the stability and the remaining shelf-life of the pharmaceutical products in real time. The new system provides an accurate and real-time overview of shipment stability, allowing the company to make data-driven decisions with confidence. By implementing this system, businesses can ensure they are working within their budget and can also identify areas of inefficiency and make proactive changes to optimise their operations. With the launch of this new monitoring system, Tridentify is revolutionising the industry by enabling companies to monitor their operations and the stability of their shipments in real time. The new system provides an accurate and real-time overview of a shipment's stability and remaining lifespan, allowing companies to make data-driven decisions with confidence. By implementing this system, companies can ensure they are working within their given framework and can also identify areas of inefficiency and make proactive changes to optimise their operations and supply chain. - We are excited to announce the launch of our new real-time monitoring system with stability budget monitoring. This new system will revolutionise the way businesses monitor their operations and manage their shipments, providing a comprehensive view of product stability in real-time, says Johan Stormlund, CEO of Tridentify. The stability budget monitoring feature is one of the most impressive aspects of this new system. It allows companies to set the parameters for each shipment and monitor it in real-time. The system integrates seamlessly into manufacturing workflows, enabling real-time quality assurance checks to ensure products meet the highest standards of quality. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, including advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms, the monitoring system empowers manufacturers to optimise their quality control processes and streamline production. - Tridentify's new real-time monitoring system and stability budget monitoring feature are designed to provide businesses with the tools they need to operate efficiently, make informed decisions, and stay within their framework. This new system represents a significant advancement in quality assurance technology, empowering manufacturers to maintain the highest quality standards while increasing productivity and profitability, says Johan Stormlund, CEO at Tridentify. For further information, please contact: Johan Stormlund, CEO Tridentify +46 734 122 668 johan.stormlund@tridentify.com The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/tridentify-ab/i/tridentify-cold-chain-monitoring-system,c3182899 Tridentify Cold Chain Monitoring System View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tridentify-launches-a-unique-real-time-monitoring-and-decision-support-system-for-the-cold-chain-301835568.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Legend Power Systems Inc. (TSXV: LPS) (OTCQB: LPSIF) ("Legend Power" or the "Company"), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, reports its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 ("Q2 F2023"). The Company has also scheduled a conference call to provide a business update to discuss its Q2 F2023 financial results today at 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) (details below). The call will be hosted by Randy Buchamer, President & Chief Executive Officer. A complete set of Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis has been filed at www.sedar.com. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars. Q2 F2023 Highlights Revenue of $74 thousand versus $344 thousand in Q2 F2022 Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.04 million versus a $1.32 million loss in Q1 F2022 Net loss of $1.19 million versus a $1.48 million loss in Q2 F2022 Cash of $1.5 million, no debt, and $3.15 million in working capital at March 31, 2023 Subsequent Events Green Proving Ground program for the United States General Services Administration, which operates approximately 1,800 federally owned buildings is proceeding well. The deployment and evaluation schedule is well under way, with plans to build and ship the first system in September 2023, followed by a second system shortly after. The Company published performance results of the first round of Gen3 SmartGATE platforms. These results included a 20% increase in energy savings performance over prior generations as well as elimination of over 99% of incoming grid fluctuations. Several customers have reported that the maintenance and repair savings are outpacing energy savings in many cases resulting in $2 of maintenance savings for every $1 of energy savings. "Many new large opportunities continued to advance in our sales funnel, and we continue to believe we will hit our target bookings this year," said Randy Buchamer, Legend Power Systems CEO. "These include deals with ESCOs, commercial real estate companies, government agencies and electrical distribution companies. It is now evident that our sales and power analysis process is enabling us to speak directly to C-suite executives about the benefits of Active Power Management and Legend's solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save electricity, and most importantly improve the overall functionality of the entire building." Q2 F2023 Operational Highlights Sales activity is continuing at a strong pace and customers are engaging with deep and wide interest. We currently have new late stage large deals with very strong financial viability. The new late-stage deals are in commercial office, multifamily residential and with ESCOs. The strength in viability is driven mainly by customers articulating power quality concerns and higher visible costs. These handful of deals could bring over $10 million in new potential bookings. Partner sales efforts also continue to grow in volume, dollars and strength. SmartGATE is deployed in several key Commercial Real Estate verticals such as Multi-family Residential, Hospitality, Big Box Retail and Commercial Office, accounting for roughly 50% of installed SmartGATE's. Additionally, Legend Power Systems is engaged in active sales processes with several of the top firms in the Commercial Real Estate space, with over 110 buildings in active sales cycles for 300 plus potential SmartGATE's. This quarter the Company's channel sales team has grown reseller and ESCO relationships, furthering adoption of both Insights, Power Impact Reports and SmartGATE solutions. Target markets and reseller channels continue to respond positively to Legend's solutions and combined opportunities. The Company is engaged with over 50 organizations interested in becoming Legend selling partners in the U.S. and Canada. The channel sales team continued development of partner support tools for the partner portal including marketing support, sales support, technical support, and deal registration. The Company continues to focus on onboarding, training, and streamlining of operations and procedures. Our sales order process has evolved to improve on-time delivery and lead time performance with the addition of tighter controls and implementation of key performance indicators. Initial results show improvement in on-time delivery and dramatically reduced sales order turn-around times, meaning cash sooner. Significant improvements have been realized in material requirements planning, inventory management and production planning tools and processes. The Company is evaluating an application to improve business intelligence and procurement decision-making, including supplier managed inventories and safety stock requirements. Across all areas, KPI targets have been set and progress continues toward our operational goals. Direct sales efforts continue to grow with system bookings and new sales opportunities pipeline. The current sales booking pipeline is healthy and in-line to support booking target expectations. Continued progress on installation of Gen3 SmartGATE and positive Measurement and Verification Reports are expected to enable booking growth to expand in fiscal 2023. Planning for increased capacity is well underway, both organically and abroad. A multi-phased approach includes a doubling of capacity in our current location through increased utilization of existing equipment and cross-training new operators in areas of constraint. In parallel, all our basic sub-assemblies are being quoted by several local assemblers to offload a significant manual operation. Candidates include our current provider plus another who is also quoting on our system level assembly and test. This candidate will form part of a dual-source arrangement with a near- or off-shore provider, discussions which have already begun. As we see growing strength in our forecast, Legend is addressing capacity and resource to match, while balancing the need to place orders for long lead time components. Although supply chains are improving somewhat, as opposed to capacity, they will ultimately gate deliveries for the near future. Q2 F2023 Financial Highlights Financial summary for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 Three months ended March 31, Six months ended March 31, (Cdn$, unless noted otherwise) 2023 2022 Change 2023 2022 Change Revenue 74,006 343,573 (78)% 476,669 512,793 (7)% Cost of sales 78,865 286,012 (72)% 380,817 417,984 (9)% Gross margin1 (4,859 ) 57,561 (108)% 95,852 94,809 1% Gross margin %1 (7)% 17% (139)% 20% 18% 9% Operating expenses 1,188,409 1,536,477 (23)% 2,301,405 2,855,953 (19)% Adjusted EBITDA2 (1,035,944 ) (1,317,640 ) (21)% (1,885,520 ) (2,323,414 ) (19)% Net loss (1,188,091 ) (1,479,789 ) (20)% (2,193,605 ) (2,709,750 ) (19)% 1 Gross margin is based on a blend of both equipment and installation revenue. 2 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. See EBDITA Reconciliation for details. Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $74,006 compared with $343,573 in the same quarter of fiscal 2022. The lower revenue during Q2 of fiscal 2023 was primarily due to a timing issue. Supply chain challenges, resulted in delayed product deliveries to customers, which has pushed the deliveries into the next quarter. Gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 was negative 7%, compared with 17% in same quarter of fiscal 2022. The decrease in gross margin experienced during Q2 of fiscal 2023 was due to inventory count adjustments as well as additional costs incurred to replace and repair a unit damaged in-transit, which the Company expects to recover the majority of. Target gross margin remains in the 40%-45% range going forward. The Company's operating expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 were $1,188,409, down from $1,536,477 in the same quarter of fiscal 2022. The primary cause for the decrease was lower salaries and consulting costs as a result of internal cost-cutting measures. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 was negative $1,035,944, compared with negative $1,317,640 in same quarter of fiscal 2022. Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 was $1,188,091, compared with a net loss of $1,479,789 in the same quarter of fiscal 2022. A decreased operating expense in Q2 of fiscal 2023 compared with the same quarter of fiscal 2022 resulted in a lower net loss. Cash at the end of the quarter was $1.5 million. The Company has no debt and had working capital of $3.15 million. The Company took cost cutting measures last year and continues to manage cash and working capital while working to meet sales and growth targets. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS: DATE: Friday, May 26, 2023 TIME: 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) DIAL-IN NUMBERS: North America Toll Free Dial-in Number (888) 886-8658 ONLINE LISTENING Register for Webcast Participation CONFERENCE ID: 24837575 REPLAY: Available at: www.legendpower.com About Legend Power Systems Inc. Legend Power Systems Inc. (www.legendpower.com) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend Power's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. The proprietary and patented system reduces total energy consumption and power costs, while also maximizing the life of electrical equipment. Legend Power's unique solution is also a key contributor to both corporate sustainability efforts and the meeting of utility energy efficiency targets. For further information, please contact: Sean Peasgood, Investor Relations + 1 647 503 1054 sean@sophiccapital.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This Press 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 and operating performance 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 or performance 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. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements other than as may be required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167412 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce its financial results and corporate update for the three months ended March 31st, 2023. Financial Highlights For the first time the company has recorded a profitable quarter for both the QSR division and the CPG division, on a cash-item basis omitting non-cash items. This is a pivotal point in Happy Belly's development as we march towards company-wide profitability. Q1 2023 represents the second consecutive quarter the company achieved over $1 million in total income, recording a healthy $1,038,876 in product sales compared to $324,682 in Q1 2022, an increase of $714,194 (+220%) in revenue year over year (YoY). the company achieved over $1 million in total income, recording a healthy $1,038,876 in product sales compared to $324,682 in Q1 2022, an increase of $714,194 (+220%) in revenue year over year (YoY). Q1 2023 was the fourth consecutive record quarter for the company delivering $1,038,876 in product sales vs $995,178 in Q4 2022, an increase of $43,698 (+4%) in product sales quarter over quarter (QoQ). for the company delivering $1,038,876 in product sales vs $995,178 in Q4 2022, an increase of $43,698 (+4%) in product sales quarter over quarter (QoQ). Q1 2023 represents the sixth consecutive quarter of quarter over quarter growth (QoQ). of quarter over quarter growth (QoQ). Cash flow from operations on Q1 2023 revenues of $1,038,876 was ($235,537) vs ($289,834) on Q4 2022 revenues of $1,000,167, a decrease of net losses by 18.7% while increasing revenue by 3.9% QoQ. In comparison, cash flow from operations in Q1 2023 vs Q1 2022 operations also resulted in a decrease of net losses by 43.7% YoY Gross Margin: Happy Belly increased its gross margin to 47% compared to 45% in Q4 2022. This is a true reflection of the team's focus on operations as we improve business models and manage rising labour and ingredient costs throughout the various subsidiary companies. Happy Belly increased its gross margin to 47% compared to 45% in Q4 2022. This is a true reflection of the team's focus on operations as we improve business models and manage rising labour and ingredient costs throughout the various subsidiary companies. Happy Belly Food Group maintains a healthy cash balance with +$1,780,000 in cash as of March 31st 2023. "With our 6th consecutive quarter of QoQ growth, and 4th consecutive record setting quarter in revenue, you can see our continued commitment to shareholders as we continue to execute our plans and improve company wide performance", said Shawn Moniz, CEO of Happy Belly. "It is a testament to our people's expertise and experience that during the slowest quarter of both the restaurant and consumer product goods cycle our company increased its gross margin to 47% while at the same time delivered a quarter of record revenue and growth with decreased expenses. We are witnessing a significant indication that Happy Belly is on a solid path to profitability through our consistent execution. I'm extremely proud of the positive progress that our management team, alongside our brand partners, have been able to achieve in Q1." "Our sales-driven organization has focused on the bottom line while delivering on our organic and inorganic growth plan. Since then, each quarter has resulted in significant quarter-over-quarter growth while continuing to improve operations within our businesses and deliver consistent record quarters." "With the recent closing of our PIRHO Fresh Greek Grill transaction, we not only welcome this latest addition to the Happy Belly family but look forward to accelerating its franchising program across Canada. Franchising revenue for all our QSR brands is a key component to our future quarters of growth. Happy Belly's finances will continue to improve as we maintain disciplined organic growth and we continue to close the gap towards company-wide profitability. We have a great team with the patience and experience to continue building our stable of emerging brands, and the funding to continue accelerating growth organically and through accretive M&A opportunities. We look forward to continuing to set record quarter growth for many quarters to come." Q1 Corporate Highlights On January 20th, 2023, the company expanded Distribution of Holy Crap Oatmeal at 90 Federated Co-op Locations On February 3rd, 2023, the company expanded Distribution of Holy Crap Cereals & Oatmeal at Thrifty Foods, Whole Foods, and Faire On February 24th, 2023, the company Signs Lead Order for Above-Market Convertible Note On March 9th, 2023, the company Signs 20 Unit Area Development Agreement for Lettuce Love Restaurants in Ontario On March 17th, 2023, the company Signs Definitive Franchise Acquisition Agreement with PIRHO Food Grill On March 23rd, 2023, the company Signs 30 Unit Area Development Agreement for PIRHO Food Grill in Ontario On March 31st, 2023, the company Announces PIRHO Fresh Greek Grill Signs 30 Unit Area Development Agreement in Alberta About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands. For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com. Happy Belly Food Group Shawn Moniz Chief Executive Officer FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: www: www.happybellyfg.com or email hello@happybellyfg.com If you wish to contact us please call: (604) 737-2303 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include the future performance of LumberHeads Food Co. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167646 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Fabled Copper Corp. ("Fabled" or the "Company") (CSE:FABL)(FSE:XZ7) is pleased to announce that it has completed an initial closing of the non-brokered private placements (the "Offerings") announced in its press release dated April 12, 2023. The Company issued (i) 3,255,000 conventional units (the "Conventional Units") at a price of $0.08 per Conventional Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $260,400 and (ii) 350,000 flow-through units (the " Flow-Through Units") at a price of $0.10 per Flow-Through Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $35,000. Each Conventional Unit is comprised of 1 common share of the Company ("Common Share") and 1 Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Conventional Warrant"). Each Conventional Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire 1 additional Common Share at a price of CAD$0.12 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Each Flow-Through Unit is comprised of: (i) 1 Common Share designated as a "flow-through share" (each, a " Flow-Through Share") under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Act")); and (ii) 1 Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Flow-Through Warrant"). Each Flow-Through Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire 1 additional Common Share at a price of CAD$0.15 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. The Flow-Through Warrants and Conventional Warrants are each subject to an acceleration right exercisable by the Company which will force their exercise should the Company's Common Shares trade at or above a volume-weighted average price of $0.20 on the TSXV for any 20 consecutive trading days following the closing date. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Conventional Units will be used for general working capital purposes and expenses. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Flow-Through Units will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" within the meaning of the Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the Flow-Through Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of Flow-Through Units. In connection with the closing of this tranche of the Offerings, the Company paid finder's fee commissions in the aggregate amount of $17,724 and issued 120,000 broker warrants (each, a "Broker Warrant"). The Broker Warrants have the same terms as the Conventional Warrants. The Offerings are subject to the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the final acceptance and approval of the CSE. All securities issued pursuant to this tranche of the Offerings are subject to the statutory hold period that expires four months and one day from their issuance, being September 26, 2023. The Company wishes to announce that the Offerings will, subject to the approval of the CSE, remain open for an additional 45 days from the date of this press release, being July 10, 2023. Resignation of Director The Company also reports the resignation of David W. Smalley as Chairman and Director of the Company effective May 19, 2023. Mr. Smalley resigned due to constraints on his personal time and in order to concentrate on other opportunities. About Fabled Copper Fabled is a junior mining exploration company. Its current focus is to creating value for stakeholders through the exploration and development of its existing drill ready copper properties located in northern British Columbia. The Company's current property package consists of the Muskwa Project and the Bronson Property and comprises approximately 16,219 hectares in three non-contiguous blocks and located in the Liard Mining Division of British Columbia. The Company is seeking to broaden and diversify its portfolio. To this end it has added two lithium claims (the VOLT 2 Property) in Miquelon, Quebec to its land package and is seeking to add both the OHM Property and the VOLT 1 Property, each lithium properties, located in the Val D'Or and Miquelon areas of Quebec respectively. The Company is also seeking to add an additional high grade gold and silver property, the TJ Ridge Property in British Columbia for which it has entered into a letter of intent. Mr. Peter J. Hawley, President and C.E.O. Fabled Copper Corp. Phone: (819) 316-0919 peter@fabledcopper.org For further information please contact: info@fabledcopper.org This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition, development plans and business plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains any required regulatory approvals. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the failure of the shareholders of the Company to approve the Consolidation Proposal, impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; inability to obtain drilling permits; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; volatility in market prices for commodities; liabilities inherent in mining operations; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry; as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE: Fabled Copper Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757430/Fabled-Copper-Announces-Closing-of-First-Tranche-of-Non-Brokered-Private-Placements-and-Resignation-of-Director Company was part of delegation led by German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck to Kyiv this week Bayer underscores commitment to Ukraine and to help rebuild the economy Investment adds to earlier 200 million euro spending for seed production and multiple efforts to support Ukraine LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Bayer has revealed an investment of overall 60 million euros from 2023 onwards in its corn seed production facility Pochuiky, Ukraine. With this the life sciences company emphasizes its commitment to Ukraine and strengthens its Crop Science business in the country, contributing to rebuilding the economy. This investment includes a new seed dryer, state-of-the-art agricultural field equipment, storage facilities and the construction of two bomb shelters to ensure the safety of the Ukrainian colleagues who have been operating the facility and executing this investment project under very difficult circumstances. "We stand with Ukraine. That was the case before the war broke out - and it's even more so since then. Bayer has been active in Ukraine for many years and is committed to the country, its people and farming communities," said Bayer's Head of Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability Matthias Berninger. "Our investment underscores our commitment which is in full alignment with our vision of 'Health for all, hunger for none' and reflects the critical importance of the country in the global food supply chain. We will do our part to support the rebuilding plan for Ukraine and protecting food security for the region and for the world." Berninger attended a small business delegation on a visit to Ukraine led by Robert Habeck, German Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The delegation which also included Oliver Gierlichs, Managing Director of Bayer Ukraine, discussed Germany's commitment to the country and its people as well as the possibilities of an economic partnership. It was the first business delegation of the German government in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Prior to the war, the company made a significant investment of close to 200 million euros to establish corn seed production through a network of skilled Ukrainian farmers and the greenfield seed processing site in Pochuiky. The plant was inaugurated in 2018 and operates with around 100 on-site employees and about 250 to 300 seasonal workers. Bayer, with its plant, is one of the biggest investors in the region. Its taxes comprise about 25% of the local community budget. Bayer is actively involved in solving social issues of the local community in the Pochuiky village by investing in the construction of a new road and the local hospital, as well as continuously supporting the local school, kindergarten and library. Pochuiky site investment in line with overall efforts of Bayer to support Ukraine Bayer has been ramping up its efforts to support employess, customers and the Ukrainian people since the beginning of the Russian invasion. This included the donation of more than 40,000 bags of corn and vegetable seeds as well as healthcare product donations to help more than 30,000 patients, including Xarelto supplies, antibiotics, oncology therapeutics, and vitamins. Through a Bayer donation of 825,000 euros, the NGO Fondation Suisse de Deminage (FSD) purchased a large-size mechanical mine clearance machine (MV10 machine) which is able to process large areas of land such as farmland. Additionally, Bayer purchased six ambulances and 44 defibrillators for the Red Cross Ukraine. Throughout the war, Bayer has continued to pay employees their full salary and supports them with additional benefits such as monetary support, relocation, and sheltering. "We are very proud of what our colleagues in Ukraine have accomplished in these unprecedented times to contribute not only to the country's food supply and resistance, but also to defending the universal values of freedom and democracy. We will continue to support them and the country going forward," said Oliver Gierlichs. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2022, the Group employed around 101,000 people and had sales of 50.7 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com. Follow us on twitter.com/bayer Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. View original content here. Bayer corn seed production facility in Pochuiky, Ukraine View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bayer on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Bayer Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bayer Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Bayer View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757530/Bayer-To-Invest-a-Total-of-60-Million-Euros-in-Its-Ukrainian-Seed-Production-Site NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Alison Lewis, Kimberly-Clark's chief growth officer, was a recent guest on the Purpose 360 Podcast with Carol Cone. In this episode, Alison shared more about Kimberly-Clark's purpose-led, performance-driven culture, its commitment to activating brand purpose to challenge period stigma and uplift women and girls, why it's critical to view purpose as multidimensional, how purpose can inspire innovation, and more. "Being purpose-led means going back to your roots and tapping into the founding vision - at Kimberly-Clark, purpose is in our DNA. For more than 150 years, we've created products that solve real consumer problems. Our purpose of Better Care for a Better World is a deep commitment to making lives better for millions of people around the globe, with the smallest environmental footprint possible," said Alison. Listen to the full episode here. About the Purpose 360 Podcast Business is an unlikely hero: a force for good working to solve society's most pressing challenges, while boosting bottom line. This is purpose at work, and it's a dynamic journey. Purpose 360 is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Host Carol Cone illuminates the impacts of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Kimberly-Clark Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Kimberly-Clark Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/kimberly-clark-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Kimberly-Clark Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757527/Go-Back-to-Your-Roots-Alison-Lewis-on-Why-Purpose-is-in-Kimberly-Clarks-DNA HIGHLIGHTS The field crews are on track to complete the Phase 1 fully funded exploration program before August including prospecting, mapping, and sampling of all 64 properties in Ontario (Fig. 1). Since the beginning of the Phase 1 exploration program, three teams have covered a total of 15 properties including six properties in the Dryden Mavis Lake area, three properties in the McKenzie Bay area, three properties in the Mountairy and Hill Top Lake areas, and three properties in the Escape Lake area (Fig. 2). Exploration teams have now begin prospecting six properties in the Georgia Lake area around Rock Tech Lithium's Georgia Lake deposit and Imagine Lithium Inc. and two properties in the Hearts area. A fourth team will be deployed in early June to the Case Lake area to prospect three properties around Power Metals' Case Lake property. Historical drill core of three properties that intercepted pegmatites will be relogged and sampled by a senior geologist in June with results expected in July. The LiDAR survey on the Wisa property is anticipated to start in early June and the final report is expected to be delivered in July. Beyond has submitted 73 samples to a lab in Red Lake, Ontario for analysis with an additional 66 collected samples to be submitted for analysis shortly. (Fig. 3) The average turnaround time is expected to be about four weeks. Veteran geologist, Graeme Evans has been appointed as Technical Advisor. Winnipeg, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Beyond Lithium Inc. (CSE: BY) (OTCQB: BYDMF) (the "Company" or "Beyond Lithium") is pleased to announce that its fully funded 2023 Phase 1 exploration program is progressing on schedule and on budget with prospecting and sampling surveys now completed at multiple properties, and ongoing sampling to continue in the weeks ahead over several additional properties across Ontario. Samples are being submitted to an accredited laboratory for analysis and additional sample submissions will follow as the Company's programs continue. In addition, the Company announces that it has further strengthened its technical team by appointing veteran geologist, Graeme Evans as Technical Advisor. Allan Frame, President and CEO of Beyond Lithium commented: "I am glad to report that our technical team, under the leadership of our VP Exploration, Lawrence Tsang, is proceeding on schedule and on budget with our fully funded 2023 exploration program. I am also pleased to announce the appointment of accomplished geologist Graeme Evans as Technical Advisor. Both Lawrence and I have had the opportunity to work closely with Graeme on other exploration projects and feel his addition to our existing technical team will increase our ability to explore our entire portfolio comprehensively and effectively with a view to identifying and prioritizing drilling targets." Graeme Evans graduated from the University of British Columbia Sc. Geology and has worked for more than 40 years in mineral exploration throughout North America. Graeme's experience includes grassroots to advanced feasibility programs exploring for porphyries, sedex, VMS, skarns, and mesothermal and epithermal gold systems for a number of senior mining companies including Hudson Bay Mining, B.P. Selco, Inmet, and more recently, Teck Resources between 1991 and 2009. With Teck, Graeme worked for several years on generative programs focused on gold and nickel projects in Ontario. Since 2009, Graeme has consulted for various junior companies including Ascot Resources from 2009 to 2018. Graeme is a registered Professional Geologist (P.Geo) in British Columbia and Ontario. Phase 1 Exploration Program Update The Phase 1 exploration program is designed to sample, map and assess over 500 mapped pegmatites across all 64 Beyond Lithium properties totalling over 150,000 hectares. Most of the properties are accessible via highways and logging roads which allow the field crews to prospect the properties efficiently. The field crews commenced the Phase 1 exploration program in southern Ontario and, as the melting snow conditions permit, are moving progressively north, towards the Pak & Spark deposit owned by Frontier Lithium and the McKenzie Bay area near Green Technology Metals' McCombe Deposit. Figure 1: Locations of Beyond Lithium properties in Ontario in relation to Railway, Hydro Lines, and proximity to towns and communities To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8620/167609_ced8e844741abb46_004full.jpg The 64 Beyond Lithium properties located in Ontario (Fig. 1) are exploration properties that historically have not been prospected or explored specifically for Lithium or Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum pegmatites. Beyond Lithium has reviewed the historical and regional data available of all the properties and geo-referenced most of the mapped pegmatite outcrops. The main focus of the Phase 1 exploration program is to assess and systematically sample these mapped pegmatite outcrops, identify new pegmatite showings, and locate prospective regional or terrane structures. Beyond Lithium commenced the Phase 1 exploration program with three crews prospecting around the Dryden-Mavis Lake district. Shortly after, two teams moved up to prospect three properties in the McKenzie Bay area and the third crew moved south to prospect in the Mountairy and Hill Top areas, as well as the Escape Lake area near Thunder Bay. Over the last two weeks, the three prospecting crews have covered a total of 15 properties (Fig. 2). The three teams will now begin prospecting in the Georgia Lake area and the Hearts area, while a fourth crew will be deployed to the Case Lake area to prospect three properties in early June. Figure 2: Beyond Lithium Phase 1 prospected properties To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8620/167609_ced8e844741abb46_005full.jpg Around the Dryden-Mavis Lake area, white pegmatites measuring up to 5 metres in width have been mapped and sampled. Some pegmatites were also noted with green micas and minor garnet, showing encouraging signs that fertile granites may be nearby. Field notes from the other areas are being compiled and the first batch of 73 samples have been submitted to the lab with results expected in the coming weeks. The geochemical database will be compiled and updated as results become available. Ongoing analysis of the expanding database will assist in target delineation, and the prioritizing of properties for the Phase 2 program. The re-examination and sampling of core from the historical pegmatite drill intercepts from three properties are expected to be completed in June of 2023 and could provide critical guidance for follow up drill targeting. Results are expected in July. The LiDAR survey for the Wisa Lake property is anticipated to be conducted in early June of 2023 and the final report should be delivered by July. The LiDAR survey will provide a detailed digital elevation model (DEM) of the area which can be useful in identifying and prioritizing areas within the property evidencing the highly prospective combination of outcrop and structure. Figure 3: Locations of grab samples of pegmatites in the Dryden-Mavis Lake area from the Phase 1 exploration program (assays pending) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8620/167609_ced8e844741abb46_006full.jpg The Company has granted 50,000 incentive stock options (the "Options"), 1,450,000 stock appreciation rights (the "SARs"), and 535,000 restricted share units (the "RSUs") to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company subject to certain vesting requirements. Each Option is exercisable into one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") at a price of $0.33 per share upon vesting, for a period of one year from the date of grant. Upon vesting, each SAR entitles the holder to receive Common Shares in an amount equal to the difference in the fair market value of the Common Shares on the date of grant (i.e., $0.33 per share) and the market price of the Common Shares on the settlement date, for a period of one year from the date of grant. Each vested RSU entitles the holder to receive one Common Share. All grants of Options, SARs, and RSUs are subject to the Company's omnibus equity incentive plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan"), which was approved by shareholders at the Company's annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on May 15, 2023 (the "Meeting"). A copy of the Equity Incentive Plan is included in the Company's management information circular in respect of the Meeting dated April 10, 2023 available via the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Qualified Person and Third-Party Data The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lawrence Tsang, P.Geo., VP Exploration of the Company. Lawrence Tsang is a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Beyond Lithium Inc. Beyond Lithium Inc. is the largest greenfield lithium exploration player in Ontario with 64 high potential greenfield lithium properties totalling over 150,000 hectares. The Company has adopted the project generator business model to maximize funds available for exploration projects, while minimizing shareholder dilution. Beyond Lithium is advancing certain of its projects with its exploration team and will seek to option other properties to joint venture partners. Partnering on various projects will provide a source of non-dilutive working capital, partner-funded exploration, and long-term residual exposure to exploration success. Please follow @BeyondLithium on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. For more information, please refer to the Company's website at www.beyondLithium.ca. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future capital expenditures, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, resources and/or reserves on the Company's projects and mineral properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In stating the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration of the Company's properties, the availability of financing on suitable terms, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements of forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, the proposed expenditures for exploration work on its properties, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 23, 2022 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release except as otherwise required by law. For further information, please contact: Alan Frame President and CEO Tel: 403-470-8450 Email: allan.frame@beyondLithium.ca Jason Frame Manager of Communications Tel: 587-225-2599 Email: jason.frame@beyondLithium.ca 18.0 Mt at 1.07% Li2O Maiden Mineral Resource at Mavis Lake, See Critical Resources (ASX: CRR) announcement released 4 May 2023 2See Green Technology Metals (ASX: GT1) Wisa Project Qualified Person and Third-Party Data To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167609 MUMBAI, India, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Custodian, a leading international publication covering securities services, conferred Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE with 'Lifetime Achievement Award - Leaders in Custody Awards for Asia Pacific' held in Singapore on May 25th, 2023. This prestigious award recognizes Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan as a visionary business leader, with an outstanding contribution in the Indian securities market, who has been at the helm of both the Indian stock exchanges. He was a founding team member of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and is currently the MD & CEO of NSE. This award ceremony for 'Leaders in Custody Awards for Asia Pacific', honor the achievements of securities services, infrastructure and technology providers across the Asia Pacific region, along with 'Editors' Choice awards', 'Innovation awards' and coveted individual awards including 'GC Legend' and 'Industry Person of the Year'. Lifetime achievement award is given to a single individual with a track record of huge contribution over a period of many decades. Global Custodian is known for its editorial views of the global securities services industry spanning over the past three decades. Global Custodian publishes quality editorial and its series of annual surveys have become benchmarks for the industry. About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE): National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is the world's largest derivatives exchange by trading volume (contracts) as per the statistics maintained by Futures Industry Association (FIA) for calendar year 2022. NSE is ranked 3rd in the world in the cash equities by number of trades as per the statistics maintained by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) for calendar year 2022. NSE was the first exchange in India to implement electronic or screen-based trading. It began operations in 1994 and is ranked as the largest stock exchange in India in terms of total and average daily turnover for equity shares every year since 1995, based on SEBI data. NSE has a fully integrated business model comprising exchange listings, trading services, clearing and settlement services, indices, market data feeds, technology solutions and financial education offerings. NSE also oversees compliance by trading, clearing members and listed companies with the rules and regulations of SEBI and the exchange. NSE is a pioneer in technology and ensures the reliability and performance of its systems through a culture of innovation and investment in technology. For more information, please visit: www.nseindia.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086487/NSE_Global_Custodian.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/shri-ashishkumar-chauhan-md--ceo-nse-honored-with-lifetime-achievement-award-by-global-custodian-in-singapore-301835649.html MUNICH, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei unveiled the OlympusMons Challenges 2023 and the winners of the OlympusMons Awards 2022 at the Innovative Data Infrastructure Forum (IDI Forum) 2023, with the aim of inspiring global scientists to tackle technical problems in data storage. Technological innovation requires theoretical breakthroughs, as well as technological inventions, prototypes, and applications, all of which depend on collaboration across industry, academic communities, and research institutes. Huawei has announced OlympusMons Challenges for four consecutive years, helping guide the direction of research in the global data storage field. By overcoming key technical challenges, Huawei intends to put high-level scientific research into practice, and lead to a win-win collaboration. Professor Onur Mutlu's team at ETH Zurich, which won the OlympusMons Awards 2022, researched data-centric converged storage and computing network systems, developing innovative adaptive optimization algorithms that accelerate the upgrade of the storage architecture. At this summit, Huawei announced two major challenges for the OlympusMons Awards 2023: Storage with Ultimate Per-Bit Cost Efficiency, and Data Resilience and Services Oriented towards Multi-Cloud Environments. Huawei hopes to work with the academic community to build high-quality data storage systems that are characterized by data-centric storage architecture, efficient data use and governance technologies for new applications, data resilience, and proactive safeguards. Joan Serra-Sagrista, Professor from the Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Autonomous University of Barcelona, introduced the third Global Data Compression Competition (GDCC), which is co-hosted by the university and Huawei, inviting software engineers, researchers, students and enthusiasts to take part. The competition will encompass eight major challenges dedicated to lossless compression algorithm, with 171,000 euros in total prize money having been set aside. Individuals and teams who achieve the highest compression rates and performance will be declared winners. Dr. Cheng Zhuo, Chief Technical Research Expert of Huawei Data Storage, delivered a keynote speech at the event, entitled "Innovations Towards Next-Generation Storage Architecture", noting that as enterprises achieve digitalization on an accelerated timeline, data storage innovation will proceed in six key areas: capacity, performance, and reliability, efficiency, resilience, and a multi-cloud ecosystem. The development of the data storage industry requires widespread collaboration, and Huawei Data Storage will continue to work with industry and academic to develop smart, digital, and sustainable solutions of tomorrow. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086528/image_5011010_38450846.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huawei-resolves-to-revolutionize-global-data-storage-with-olympusmons-challenge-2023-announcements-301835652.html HOKITIKA, New Zealand, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 23, Yili's subsidiary Westland Milk Products held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its NZD 70 million (USD 42.58 million) lactoferrin plant at Hokitika, New Zealand. The ceremony was attended by New Zealand's Trade, Export and Agriculture Minister and MP for West-Coast Tasman, Damien O'Connor; Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries, Ray Smith; Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiao Long; and Chinese Consul-General in Christchurch, He Ying. Westland CEO Richard Wyeth welcomed guests and provided them with an overview of the background of the lactoferrin project. Yili Westland's Resident Director, Zhiqiang Li, spoke about the global market advantage that both Westland and Yili would gain from Yili's investment in the new lactoferrin plant. The investment will enable Yili to rank amongst the top three leading global companies in the lactoferrin category, with a market share of approximately 10 per cent. "Today's launch of the lactoferrin program will secure Westland as one of the world's leading producers of highly prized bioactive ingredients," Li told invited guests. "The investment also signals Yili's commitment to take the global lead in the high-value bioactive dairy ingredients sector." "We were one of the first to market with this highly specialised protein ingredient, and over the past 20 years have established a reputation as a manufacturer of a product of exceptional quality," Wyeth said. "Our bioactive ingredients innovation pipeline is well advanced, and we're excited to be a step closer to bringing these concepts to commercialisation." Lactoferrin, a multifunctional natural protein, offers immune benefits as well as antibacterial and antioxidant functions and is now widely used in food, pharmaceutical products and in other industries. As a consumer-oriented enterprise, Yili has anticipated consumers' needs for products such as lactoferrin and is determined to bring more nutritious and healthy products to global markets. The company has invested considerable resources in R&D to tackle lactoferrin extraction challenges. Over the years, Yili has successfully developed its own directional lactoferrin extraction and protection technology, which can significantly enhance the quality of protein ingredients and increase extraction efficiency. According to analysts, lactoferrin is a crucial and scarce resource for the dairy industry. This project is therefore a significant step in Yili's efforts at overcoming core technological barriers, strengthening its global influence, and developing its long-term strategic layout. The groundbreaking event was also attended by other notable guests, including: Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, Chen Zhiyang; First Secretary at the Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, Pan Jiansheng; Consul at the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, Xu Li; Vice-Consul at the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, Li Muqing; Director of Industry and Stakeholder Management at MPI, Steve Cunningham; Mayor of Buller, Jamie Cleine; Development West Coast CEO, Heath Milne; and Westland Deputy Mayor, Ashley Cassin. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086530/00C2DD5A_D346_4645_9314_D6CB7E0F1F21.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086531/9F14838A_E044_4F78_B971_C5373040EE21.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/yilis-subsidiary-westland-milk-products-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-lactoferrin-plant-in-new-zealand-301835660.html Positive data support the potential of plixorafenib to induce deep and durable benefit for patients with BRAF-mutated (V600+) cancers In the V600+ population benefit was observed in both MAPK-inhibitor (MAPKi) naive and pre-treated patients, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 37.5% and 16.7% and median duration of response (mDOR) of 32.3 months and 12.9 months, respectively Plixorafenib demonstrated evidence of durable activity with median progression free survival (mPFS) of more than 2 years in MAPKi-naive V600+patients With a favorable benefit/risk profile and measurable clinical responses, 900 mg once daily of plixorafenib with cobicistat has been selected as the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) FORE Biotherapeutics today announced new clinical data from the Phase 1/2a clinical trial for plixorafenib (FORE8394), a novel, investigational, small-molecule, next-generation, orally available selective inhibitor of BRAF alterations. The results demonstrate promising single-agent activity against BRAF-altered tumors, including primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and will be featured in presentations at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, being held June 2-6, 2023, in Chicago, IL. "The updated data from our Phase 1/2a study further reinforces plixorafenib's differentiated clinical profile," said Stacie Shepherd, MD, PhD, and Chief Medical Officer of FORE. "Plixorafenib has demonstrated both promising antitumor activity with durable responses and favorable tolerability as a single agent in patients with advanced BRAF-altered tumors. Notably, plixorafenib has a striking safety profile as compared to the currently approved BRAF/MEK and investigational pan-raf inhibitors." "In addition, our results demonstrate that targeted efficacious exposures are achieved at the recommended Phase 2 dose of 900mg a day with cobicistat in patients greater than 10 years of age, and that this dose provides the most favorable efficacy and safety profile," continued Shepherd. "We look forward to advancing plixorafenib in our ongoing, global FORTE Phase 2 clinical basket study in patients with V600E-mutated primary recurrent CNS malignancies and in patients with advanced solid and CNS tumors with non-V600 alterations." Updated safety and efficacy data from the Phase 1/2a study will be highlighted during an oral presentation, with dose optimization results presented in a poster session. As of the data cutoff date of March 31, 2023, 113 adults and children have received =1 dose of plixorafenib under continuous dosing and fasting conditions on 28-day cycles until disease progression and are included in the safety population. Forty-two adults (=18 years) met the criteria for the V600+ efficacy analysis with an ORR of 28.6%, based upon confirmed responses, and a mDOR of 17.8 months. An additional analysis was conducted in the MAPKi-naive subset (N=24). Both analyses excluded patients with colorectal cancer, due to known intrinsic resistance pathways. A wide range of doses (900-3600 mg/d) and schedules with and without cobicistat, a novel CYP3A inhibitor, were explored. Key Findings from the Ongoing Phase 1/2a Study Efficacy Highlights: MAPKi-naive adult V600+ population (N=24, excluding CRC): Confirmed and durable responses and disease control were seen across multiple tumor types. Clinical activity observed in this population includes nine confirmed partial responses (PR) for a 37.5% ORR, mDOR was 32.2 months and mPFS was 28.6 months. In primary CNS tumors, six of ten efficacy-evaluable patients experienced a PR, with durable responses in both high grade and low grade glioma Patients experienced long term benefit and tolerability: Three V600+ patients with papillary thyroid cancer are ongoing after more than six years of treatment Four of the ten with primary CNS tumor have remained on treatment for over a year, including a patient with glioblastoma on treatment for 34 months MAPKi pre-treated adult V600+ population (N=18, excluding CRC): Clinical activity observed in this population includes three confirmed PRs for a 16.7% ORR, mDOR was 12.9 months Responses were observed in two of two patients with V600+ ovarian cancer, both of whom had prior MAPKi treatment and one with multiple regimens and documented progression of disease (PD) BRAF fusion population (N=14): Clinical activity continued to be observed in patients with tumors harboring BRAF non-V600 alterations, including a patient with metastatic melanoma with complete response who continues on plixorafenib after five years of treatment with a DOR of 55+ months Eight patients experienced stable disease (up to 9.2+ months) Four patients are ongoing with plixorafenib treatment Safety and Tolerability Highlights Plixorafenib demonstrated a favorable safety profile with a low frequency and grade of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) that are frequently seen with MAPKi therapies, including approved BRAF/MEK inhibitor combinations Only one participant discontinued treatment due to treatment-related adverse event Symptomatic adverse events (AEs) were predominantly low grade (Grade 1 or 2) and included fatigue, nausea, diarrhea vomiting No secondary cutaneous skin malignancies occurred, in contrast to the early single agent data with the approved BRAF inhibitors "These results demonstrate that plixorafenib has promising activity against V600 non-V600 BRAF mutant tumors, and in particular, primary CNS tumors," shared Macarena de la Fuente, MD, Associate Professor and Chief of Neuro-oncology at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. "With no signs of paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway and plixorafenib's long term tolerability, this investigational agent is ideally suited for continued investigation in recurrent primary CNS tumors harboring BRAF V600E mutations and unresectable, locally advanced/metastatic solid tumors/primary CNS tumors harboring BRAF fusions." Dose Optimization Results Twelve patients (10.6%) are still on treatment as of the data cutoff; overall experience with plixorafenib represents 80 patient-years of exposure, including patients with over seven years of treatment. The most common reasons for discontinuation are progressive disease (n=65 [57.5%]) and clinical progression (n=18 [15.9%]); one discontinuation due to plixorafenib treatment-related AE occurred with 3600 mg/day cobicistat. Measurable clinical responses were observed across all doses, with a wide therapeutic window ORR was greatest with total daily doses of plixorafenib 900 mg cobicistat, with three of four V600+ MAPKi-naive patients having confirmed PR at this dose once daily; no increase in efficacy was observed at higher doses or exposures This dose provided favorable tolerability, maximizing dose intensity, with pharmacodynamically active exposures. As such plixorafenib 900 mg QD cobicistat was declared the optimal dose and RP2D for further development "The plixorafenib Phase 1/2a trial results demonstrate that the 900mg QD with cobicistat is the optimal monotherapy dose and schedule for this novel inhibitor of mutated BRAF," added Eric Sherman, MD, Associate Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "With responses observed in both MAP-kinase naive treated and previously treated patients and its depth of durable remissions, plixorafenib has shown both promising tolerability as a single agent and has achieved durable responses and long-term benefit across a variety of patients harboring both V600 and nonV600 alterations. I look forward to the further study of plixorafenib to address patients where high unmet needs remain." Plixorafenib was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2023 for the treatment of primary CNS malignancies. In September 2022, the Agency granted plixorafenib Fast Track Designation for the treatment of patients with cancers harboring BRAF Class 1 (V600) and Class 2 alterations (including fusions) who have exhausted prior therapies. Details for the ASCO 2023 presentations are as follows: Oral Presentation Title: Safety and efficacy of the novel BRAF inhibitor FORE8394 in patients with advanced solid and CNS tumors: Results from a phase 1/2a study Presenter: Macarena de la Fuente, MD, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology Presentation Date and Time: Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00a.m. 11:00 a.m. CDT Abstract Number: 3006 Poster Presentation Title: Dose optimization of novel BRAF inhibitor FORE8394 based on PK and efficacy results Presenter: Eric Sherman, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology Presentation Date and Time: Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 8:00a.m. 11:00 a.m. CDT Abstract Number: 3106 About Plixorafenib (FORE8394) Plixorafenib is an investigational, novel, small-molecule, next-generation, orally available selective inhibitor of mutated BRAF. It was designed to target a wide range of BRAF mutations while sparing wild-type forms of RAF. Preclinical studies and clinical trials have shown that its unique mechanism of action effectively inhibits not only the constitutively active BRAFV600 monomers targeted by first-generation RAF inhibitors but also disrupts constitutively active dimeric BRAF class 2 mutants, fusions, splice variants and others. Unlike first-generation RAF inhibitors, plixorafenib does not induce paradoxical activation of the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. As a "paradox breaker," plixorafenib could therefore treat acquired resistance to current RAF inhibitors and, more generally, yield improved safety and more durable efficacy than first-generation RAF inhibitors. About FORE Biotherapeutics FORE Bio is a precision oncology company dedicated to developing innovative treatments that provide a better outcome for cancer patients. Its lead asset plixorafenib is a Class 1/V600 and 2 BRAF inhibitor with demonstrated clinical safety and early efficacy signals in an ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial. Leveraging a proprietary functional genomics platform that can screen a wide range of known mutations for cancer-driving genes, the Fore R&D team is optimizing drug development by identifying existing compounds with known clinical profiles and a clear path through clinical development to advance new medicines for patients without treatment options. For more information, please visit www.fore.bio or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005057/en/ Contacts: Investors and Media: Argot Partners 212.600.1902 ForeBio@argotpartners.com HONG KONG / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / In the dynamic realm of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, maintaining trust and transparency is paramount. With the rise of intransparent activities, the need for a reliable solution to verify the legitimacy of crypto and blockchain companies has become more pressing than ever. WikiBit, a pioneering platform in the crypto world, has introduced an innovative feature called "Field Survey." This groundbreaking initiative involves personnel surveys conducted by WikiBit experts, who visit the offline offices of crypto and blockchain companies worldwide to verify their legitimacy. In addition, WikiBit actively participates in global events like the Web3 Exhibition to gather new insights and share them with its audience. Let's delve into the details of these exciting developments. Enhancing Trust and Legitimacy: The Power of Field Surveys WikiBit's Field Survey represents a significant leap forward in bolstering the legitimacy and trustworthiness of the crypto and blockchain industry. By offering personnel surveys, WikiBit takes a proactive approach to verify the authenticity of companies and their operations. The Field Survey teams visit the physical offices listed on a company's website, thoroughly examining their infrastructure, workforce, and day-to-day activities. This meticulous scrutiny ensures that the companies are genuine and align with their stated objectives. Through the Field Survey feature, WikiBit brings credibility to the forefront, enabling investors, enthusiasts, and stakeholders to make well-informed decisions. By fostering a secure and reliable environment, WikiBit plays a pivotal role in building trust within the crypto community and advancing the industry as a whole. The Power of In-Person Verification: Unmatched Assurance What sets WikiBit's Field Survey apart is its commitment to in-person verification. While online information can be misleading, physical visits to a company's office provide invaluable insights. WikiBit's experts engage with the company's team members, evaluate their qualifications and expertise, and assess their dedication to the project's goals. By delving into the office environment, work culture, and operational processes, WikiBit gains a comprehensive understanding of a company's legitimacy and potential. The Field Survey's in-person verification instills confidence in users, who can rely on verified information to assess a company's credibility. With WikiBit's unwavering commitment to a thorough investigation, the platform equips the crypto community with a reliable source of information to navigate the industry's intricacies with confidence. Global Insights: WikiBit at the Web3 Exhibition In its pursuit of offering the most up-to-date information to its audience, WikiBit actively participates in global events, with the prominent Web3 Exhibition being a highlight. This internationally acclaimed exhibition brings together thought leaders, blockchain enthusiasts, and technological innovators from across the globe. By attending such events, WikiBit gains access to cutting-edge trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory advancements within the Web3 ecosystem. Participation in the Web3 Exhibition enables WikiBit to collect new insights and share them with its audience. It acts as a conduit for the latest knowledge and expertise, enhancing the platform's ability to provide accurate and relevant information through its Field Survey feature. WikiBit's presence at global events demonstrates its dedication to staying at the forefront of industry advancements, ultimately contributing to the growth and maturation of the crypto and blockchain sector. WikiBit Field Survey Special Event WikiBit's Field Survey initiative represents a significant stride towards establishing credibility and trusts in the crypto and blockchain industry. By conducting on-site visits to companies' physical offices, the Field Survey teams thoroughly examine their infrastructure, workforce, and day-to-day operations, ensuring authenticity and alignment with stated objectives. This meticulous scrutiny enhances transparency and enables investors, enthusiasts, and stakeholders to make informed decisions. WikiBit's role in fostering a secure and reliable environment is pivotal in building trust within the crypto community and advancing the industry as a whole. In an exciting opportunity, WikiBit invites wikipeeps to join their field survey teams, with rewards for submitting pictures or vlogs that meet the requirements for listing on the official website. Together, this event aim to create a genuine investment world for crypto. WikiBit's Field Survey feature is a game-changer in the crypto and blockchain industry, revolutionizing the verification process for legitimacy. By conducting in-depth personnel surveys through physical visits to companies' offices, WikiBit ensures trust and transparency. This approach, coupled with the platform's active participation in global events like the Web3 Exhibition, positions WikiBit as a reliable and credible source of information. WikiBit aims to protect crypto beginners and young investors by ensuring trust and transparency in the industry. In a scenario where a project deceives investors by using a fake address to gain their trust, the consequences can be disastrous, leading to significant fraud. Even seemingly reputable companies like FTX may have impressive offices worldwide but still engage in deceptive practices when they are on the verge of bankruptcy. This is where WikiBit's Field Survey comes into play. By conducting in-depth personnel surveys and physically visiting the offices of crypto and blockchain companies, WikiBit provides an extra layer of protection for investors. However, it is important to gather more information and details from WikiBit's official website to fully understand the significance of Field Survey and how it can safeguard investors in the crypto space. Investors can easily visit WikiBit for more information on this groundbreaking initiative. About WikiBit WikiBit is an inquiry platform for company profiles. It, established by the company in Shanghai, China, mainly provides basic information inquiry, regulatory license inquiry, credit evaluation for the listed BlockChain projects, platform identification, and other services. Based on public data released by the government, combined with advanced sniffing systems and scientific computer algorithms, WikiBit offers a prime big data solution that integrates data collection, screening, aggregation, modeling, and productization. It also provides both quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the supervision level and risk level of the listed projects from multiple dimensions for traders, institutions, and government departments. Media Contact Organization: WikiBit Contact Person: WIKIBIT CO. LTD Website: https://www.wikibit.com/en Email: azel@wikiglobal.com Address: 16/F ONE CAPITAL PLACE, RE WAN CHAI - HK City: Victoria State: Re Wan Chai Country: Hong Kong S.A.R. SOURCE: WIKIBIT CO. LTD View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757537/WikiBits-Field-Survey-Elevating-Legitimacy-Verification-in-the-Crypto-Industry NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / The KeyBank Foundation has made a $175,000 investment to help Lacasa Inc. empower people to make positive financial decisions and provide access to inclusive, mainstream financial products and services. This grant is part of KeyBank's commitment to invest in the communities it serves. "All of us at KeyBank are incredibly proud to support Lacasa and the work they do to educate and empower individuals within the community to make good financial decisions," said Seth Keirns, KeyBank Northern Indiana Market President. "This funding will have a transformative effect on the adults Lacasa serves and provide them with resources and information that will help put them and their families on a path to self-sufficiency and success." Lacasa, a nonprofit housing agency, has several programs and services to help clients achieve financial stability. For more than 50 years the agency has been a cornerstone in Northern Indiana creating opportunities for personal empowerment, family stability and neighborhood vitality. "Over the past few years, Lacasa has seen a significant increase in both interest and necessity for our financial education classes. Thanks to KeyBank's continued support and generosity, Lacasa will be able to grow its reach and client base which equates to a stronger and healthier financial climate throughout Elkhart County," said Lacasa's Director of Client Empowerment, Ashley Bowen. Using the funding from Key, over three years, Lacasa is aiming to expand their financial education course participation and more than double the significant financial milestones reached by working adults. They plan to create new employer partnerships to bring financial empowerment tools to the workplace to support workforce stability. Since 2017, KeyBank has made community investments supporting low to moderate income individuals and neighborhoods totaling more than $93 million in Northern Indiana. This involves lending for affordable housing, small businesses, mortgage and home improvements as well as transformative philanthropy. Read more about KeyBank's support of Lacasa: Lacasa awarded $175K grant to expand financial education programs | WNDU-TV KeyBank grant boosts Lacasa's financial education effort | Elkhart Truth Photo: KeyBank Foundation Awards Lacasa $175,000 to Expand Financial Education in Elkhart County. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757538/KeyBank-Foundation-Awards-Lacasa-175000-to-Expand-Financial-Education-in-Elkhart-County Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) ("Austral" or "the Company") announces the retirement of Mr. Wayne Hubert, effective at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 May 2023. Under the Company's constitution and subject to his re-election at the Company's 2023 AGM, the Board has resolved to appoint Mr. Eduardo Elsztain (Vice Chair) as Non-Executive Chair. Mr. Hubert joined the Board in 2011 and has provided an invaluable dedication during his over twelve years as a Board member and three years as Executive Chair of the Company. Mr. Elsztain, Vice Chair of the Company's Board of Directors stated: "Wayne has made notable and meaningful contributions to the Company, leaving a positive and lasting impression. I express my gratitude for Wayne's dedicated service and extend my best wishes for his future endeavors." The Board has resolved to withdraw the following resolutions from the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of shareholders scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 May 2023: Resolution 2; and Resolution 9. The withdrawal of Resolutions 2 and 9 will not affect the validity of the proxy form attached to the Notice of Annual General Meeting nor any proxy votes already submitted in respect of the remaining resolutions to be put to shareholders for approval. Release approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Austral Gold, Stabro Kasaneva. For additional information please contact: Jose Bordogna Chief Financial Officer Austral Gold Limited jose.bordogna@australgold.com +61 466 892 307 Gareth Quinn Media and Investor Relations Republic PR gareth@republicpr.com.au +61 417 711 108 Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include the Annual General Meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 May 2023 and under the Company's constitution and subject to his re-election at the Company's 2023 AGM, the Board has resolved to appoint Mr. Eduardo Elsztain (Vice Chair) as Non-Executive Chair. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, uncertainty of exploration programs, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets especially in light of the effects of the novel coronavirus" uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability 2ttarct and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on the ASX and on SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. About Austral Gold Austral Gold is a growing gold and silver mining producer building a portfolio of quality assets in the Americas. Austral continues to lay the foundation for its growth strategy by advancing its attractive portfolio of producing and exploration assets. OPERATIONS Guanaco and Amancaya mines, Antofagasta Province, Chile (100% interest) Open pit and underground. 2023 Forecast: 34,000-38,000 gold equivalent ounces Casposo/Manantiales Mine Complex, San Juan Province, Argentina (100% interest) Gold and silver mine currently in care and maintenance. Strategy is to restart profitable mining operations. EXPLORATION CHILE Paleocene Belt, Chile Guanaco District Amancaya District Las Pampa District ARGENTINA Triassic Choiyoi Belt Indio Belt Deseado Massif EQUITY INVESTMENTS Unico Silver Limited, an ASX listed company Pampa Metals Corp, a CSE listed company Ensign Minerals Inc., private vehicle, Utah, USA Rawhide Mine, private vehicle, Fallon, Nevada, USA To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167666 The "Italy Data Center Market Investment Analysis Growth Opportunities 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Italy data center market is expected to reach a value of $3.65 billion by 2028 from $3.01 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 3.29% during 2022 to 2028. Italy is one of the fastest-growing data center markets in Western Europe. The demand for data centers in the country is increasing due to the huge demand from Italian enterprises. This report analyses the Italy data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. There is growth in the Italian economy, and it made a rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy grew by around 3.9% in the year 2022. Around USD 14 billion as investments are planned under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) for the digitalization of Italian public administration and businesses by 2026, USD 7 billion. The usage of AI, big data IoT, increasing submarine cable deployments, and adoption of cloud services make the country favorable for data center investments. The government of Italy is investing over USD 900 million to develop a national cloud for migrating its sensitive data-carrying workloads to the cloud. Italy is working immensely to decrease its carbon footprint by reducing energy imports and investing in renewable energy projects, energy grids, and sustainable transport. The country is taking steps to reform its national energy systems and transition from fossil fuels. Italian cities such as Milan, Bologna, Rome, Turin, Florence, Padua, Prato, Bergamo, and Parma have been selected by the European Union to make them smart and carbon-neutral by 2030. WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH? Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Italy colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Italy by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across states in the country. A detailed study of the existing Italy data center market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Italy Facilities Covered (Existing): 55 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 07 Coverage: 16+ Locations Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Italy Market Revenue Forecast (2022-2028) Retail Colocation Pricing The Italy market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry. VENDOR LANDSCAPE Some key investors in the Italy data center market include Aruba, Telecom Italia, Equinix, DATA4 Group, and Irideos. The market has witnessed investments from new entrants, such as STACK Infrastructure, Vantage Data Centers, CloudHQ, and Compass Datacenters. Major Vendors IT Infrastructure Providers Atos Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies IBM Lenovo NetApp Nutanix Oracle Pure Storage Data Center Construction Contractors Sub-Contractors AECOM Ariatta Eiffage EDITEL DBA PRO Future-tech ISG In-Site NORMA Engineering Starching Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Alfa Laval Caterpillar Climaventa Climate Technologies Cummins Emicon Legrand HiRef Honeywell International Piller Power Systems Munters Mitsubishi Electric Pramac Rittal Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec STULZ Trane Vertiv Data Center Investors Amazon Web Services Aruba Equinix Microsoft Telecom Italia IRIDEOS SUPERNAP Italia New Entrants Geoveda Compass Datacenters Google STACK Infrastructure Vantage Data Centers EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) Milan Other Cities (Ancona, Arezzo, Bologna, Frosinone, Massarosa, Padua, Palermo, Pavia, Perugia, Piacenza, Pisa, Rome, Treviso, Turin, and Venice) List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) REPORT COVERAGE: The segmentation includes: IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers Dry Coolers Economizers Evaporative Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Core Shell Development Installation Commissioning Services Engineering Building Design Fire Detection Suppression Systems Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Standard Tier I Tier II Tier III Tier IV Geography Milan Other Cities For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/edu290 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005207/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Biotechnology company Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) announced Friday that Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373) has been recommended for full Marketing Authorization (MA) for use as a primary series in individuals aged 12 and older and as a booster in individuals aged 18 and older for the prevention of COVID-19 in the European Union (EU). This authorization is based on a positive opinion issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency. The European Commission will review the CHMP recommendation and is expected to make a final decision on the MA. Novavax has demonstrated the efficacy and safety of Nuvaxovid as a primary series, and the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine as a booster in individuals aged 12 and older in the Phase 3 PREVENT-19 trial, Phase 2 trials and in real-world evidence. Novavax's COVID vaccine is authorized for use in more than 40 markets around the world. In the EU, Nuvaxovid has been conditionally authorized as a two-dose primary series in adults and adolescents, and as a booster dose in adults. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden has vetoed a Republican-led congressional disapproval resolution that would have nullified crucial police reforms enacted in the District of Columbia. Biden used his veto power on House Resolution 42, a measure passed by both chambers of the U.S. Congress, that would have repealed the Comprehensive Policing And Justice Reform Amendment Act, which the D.C. Council passed in 2020 after the death of George Floyd. The police discipline and accountability bill bans chokeholds, sets important restrictions on use of force and deadly force, improves access to body-worn camera recordings, and requires officer training on de-escalation and use of force. Biden vetoed the Bill on the third anniversary of Floyd's death. During an arrest made on May 25, 2020, Floyd was choked to death by a police officer in Minneapolis who knelt on his neck and back, which caused a lack of oxygen. After his murder, protests against police brutality, especially towards black people, quickly spread across the United States. His dying words, 'I can't breathe', became a rallying slogan. President Biden urged Congress to pass meaningful reform legislation, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed a Bill that will ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy into law. South Carolina is the latest among a number of Republican-led states like Florida and North Carolina that significantly curtail abortion rights in the past year. The Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately, according to Republican governor McMaster. Under the law, women would only be allowed to obtain an abortion past the earliest stages of pregnancy under very few circumstances, including, in the event of a serious risk of substantial, irreversible impairment of a major bodily function to the pregnant person, or if performed to prevent their death; In the case of a diagnosis of a fatal fetal anomaly; and in certain cases of sexual assault or incest only up to the twelfth week of pregnancy and only if the doctor reports the assault to the sheriff in the county where the abortion is provided, potentially against the wishes of the patient. 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 women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than the average U.S. woman, says Planned Parenthood. 'South Carolina lawmakers are playing politics with people's lives, blocking access to essential health care while ignoring soaring rates of maternal and infant mortality in our state,' said Jenny Black, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. A new report from ANSIRH shows how health care providers have been unable to provide the standard of care in states with abortion bans since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, leading to harm and negative health outcomes for patients. The White House condemned the legislation, saying, Republican officials are dismantling women's rights across the South, putting their health and lives in jeopardy. 'South Carolina's ban will cut off access to abortion for women in the state and those across the entire region for whom South Carolina is their closest option for care,' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / South Pole The aviation industry is very much in the public eye. Responsible for approx. 2-3% of the world's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is understandably the subject of substantial criticism. Yet aviation is also one of the most difficult-to-decarbonise industries, and sustainable solutions are limited. These span sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplies; more efficient wide-body aircraft for long-haul routes; deploying either hydrogen, electric or hybrid aircraft for short-haul routes; and improving operations both on the ground and in airspace. What does this mean for net zero targets given the ongoing increase in air travel demand? According to the World Economic Forum, by mid-century the aviation sector's GHG emissions could increase upwards of 300% compared to 2005 levels "if no drastic measures are taken to reduce them". Given the industry's responsibility for such a large share of global emissions, the consequences of the sector failing to deliver on climate action would be significant. Aviation numbers among the seven sectors that form part of the "Mission Possible" partnership between the "We mean business coalition", the Energy Transitions Commission, the RMI and the World Economic Forum. The energy intensity of the industry, in combination with the limited decarbonisation levers available, mean that the whole sector will need to transform if it is to meet net zero. This is why the majority of the aviation players are working hard, despite ongoing post-pandemic recovery, to focus on sustainable growth and achieving industry targets: to reduce emissions by 50% by 2050 compared to the reference year 2005 and to become net zero by 2050 (set at the 77th IATA Annual General Meeting). The sector is constantly appraising innovative solutions and supporting the development of new technologies, which includes sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This blog reviews the benefits and limitations of the new fuel in answer to the question of whether SAF can secure a green future for the aviation industry. What exactly is SAF? Paraffin is currently the main component in aircraft engine fuel. SAF is a drop-in fuel that can be used as a direct substitute for paraffin without requiring any changes to the engine, aircraft structure or airport infrastructure. In practice, there are two types of SAF: biofuels and e-fuels. Aviation biofuel, also known as BAF (bio-aviation fuel), is a fuel produced from biomass, such as vegetable oils (e.g. palm oil or soybean oil), animal fats, sugar, starch, and certain algae. A study by the European Parliament estimates that 80% of SAF needs in the near future could be met by biofuel, produced from vegetable oils, used cooking oils, tallow, etc using HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology . E-fuel is generated by extracting hydrogen from water with low-carbon electricity and then combining the hydrogen with CO2 and converting it into a liquid energy carrier. In Norway, a production facility called Norsk e-fuel is under development which will this year produce aviation fuel from renewable electricity, water and CO2. The plant is expected to supply 100 million litres of fuel per year from 2029. Yet not all SAFs are equal when it comes to their associated GHG emissions. Production methods differ, and one study estimates that the biofuel made from palm oil produced in Indonesia would have 24 times the impact of SAF produced from grass in the United States, due to the deforestation associated with palm cultivation. Can SAF replace fossil fuels? SAF has several advantages: SAF is "drop-in" fuel, compatible with current engines (which is not the case with hydrogen, for example) which can be blended with up to 50% conventional jet fuel (for commercial aviation). SAF can be renewable when made from renewable electricity and water, or waste-derived when made from biomass. SAF emits significantly less GHGs over its life cycles than paraffin. Depending on the type of SAF, GHG emissions can be reduced by 15% to 80%. In addition to this reduction, SAF has a lower sulphur content (SOx) and emits less particulate matter (PM) which is important for aviation's impact on local air quality. The technologies behind SAF are no longer new, and are beginning to be implemented more widely in the aviation industry. Already, more than 450,000 flights have been made using aircraft powered by this type of fuel. As of 2021, more than 100 million litres of SAF had been produced. Despite these developments, the amount of SAF being used is, at present, still marginal. Of the 360 billion litres of fuel used by the aviation industry in 2019, less than 0.1% was SAF. But several countries wishing to accelerate the transition of the aviation sector have committed to go further. One striking example is France: as of 1st January 2022, 1% of all refuelling carried out in France must consist of SAF, with the amount rising to 2% by 2025 and 5% by 2030. The European Parliament has also recently adopted a bill requiring the integration of 37% sustainable fuels (including SAF but also electric and hydrogen aircraft) for EU airlines and airports by 2030 and 85% by 2050. What are the limitations of using these new fuels? The big challenge with SAF is producing these fuels in large quantities and at an affordable price: the current costs of SAF are 3 to 10 times higher than those of paraffin. In the drive to develop more sustainable solutions, some players in the sector are already requesting financial support from governments. Beyond the issue of cost, the biggest limitation is the space and resource consumption required to produce these new fuels. Indeed, some biofuels are in direct competition with food crops. A study by the World Resources Institute estimates that the development of plant-based biofuel production would not be compatible with the food production needs of the human population by 2050. The study concludes that "the quest for bioenergy on a significant scale is both unrealistic and unsustainable." For this reason, it is possible that waste-based biofuels will be favoured in the future. For e-fuels, the problem of large-scale production is the same: all the world's renewable electricity would not be sufficient to produce the amount of fuel used by aviation today. The Norsk e-fuel plant mentioned above could eventually produce 100 million litres of fuel per year, but it would take dozens of similar plants to supply Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris alone. And this only captures the energy demand of the aviation sector, not to mention the needs of the transport sector in general. Finally, because of SAF's high development and operating costs, it is not clear whether the investments required to deploy these solutions on a large scale would be profitable. The passenger also faces a significant increase in cost from the use of even just a small proportion of SAF in the aircraft's tank. And lastly, let's not forget that the climate impact of the sector is not limited to its paraffin consumption. The manufacture of aircraft and airport infrastructure has a significant impact on local air quality and noise pollution, as do the non-CO2 impacts of the contrails. Overall, there is more to be done than just waiting for SAF to become broadly available. The way forward The "Flying in 2050" report produced by The Shift Project and the Aero Decarbo association concludes that even if technological progress does have a significant positive impact on the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, it will still be necessary to take sobering measures such as: making cabins denser, eliminating air travel when a rail alternative exists, improving public transport and intermodality, regulating private aviation traffic, reducing single-use plastic consumption, being more considerate about food and overall waste, abolishing the "frequent flyer miles" systems or allowing for earned airmiles to be used towards SAF. What's more, meeting net zero targets will need to go beyond the responsibility of airlines alone. As discussed, the ongoing development of SAF fuels is promising for the transition within the aviation sector, but this must be accompanied by behavioural change. Travellers need to be prepared to pay more for their flights if they wish to fly on SAF, and both individual travellers and their employers will need to prioritise emissions-saving measures such as replacing short-haul flights with train journeys and business travel with videoconferencing. Many companies already analyse their corporate travel emissions (Scope 3), and split them according to mode of transport. It can be a real eye-opener to learn that one business-class return journey from London to New York can emit as much carbon as a world average person's activities in a whole year - this all stacks up in the running total of a company's overall carbon footprint, and it's a footprint which companies are increasingly being held accountable for. It may represent something of a paradox, but if the aviation industry is to meet its targets and deliver on climate action, the sector should focus on getting customers to rethink how they relate to air travel, which mainly means: flying less. Here are just a few examples of what that can look like: Passengers should be encouraged to fly directly rather than indirectly, since the biggest fuel burn rate happens during the take-off and landing. Public transportation at the final destination needs to be enabled, so that passengers don't rely on taxis and private cars. The environmental advantages of flying economy class need to be promoted. As much as we all love a bit of luxury, especially when on a longer flight, everyone should be made aware that a long-haul business and first class travel can be three to four times more carbon-intensive than economy class. Travellers should be offered the option of compensating for their emissions, whether via voluntary carbon compensation schemes or including compensation transparently in the air fare. It really costs a fraction of a ticket price to contribute to global climate action with high-quality carbon credits. AND last but not least: light travel should be promoted, too. Pack less, pollute less: the heavier the load, the more fuel we need. The conclusion? While SAF is a remarkable technology and has great potential to help the aviation sector meet its emission reduction targets, if companies want to meet their net zero targets, one of the best ways may be to review their business travel policy by redefining their priorities and favouring rail travel where possible. Our resources are limited and it takes a global effort on an individual level to implement smart travel. South Pole is a pioneer in the fight against climate change and the world's largest provider of climate solutions and carbon project developers, advising and assisting companies and institutions around the world with defining and implementing ambitious, integrated sustainability strategies that meet the climate challenge. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from South Pole on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: South Pole Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/south-pole Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: South Pole View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757553/Green-Fuels-A-Solution-for-More-Sustainable-Air-Travel 26 May 2023 Rightmove plc Share buy-back programme Rightmove plc - transactions in own shares Rightmove plc ("Rightmove"), announces that today it purchased 115,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 524.194p. The highest price paid per share was 530.400p and the lowest price paid per share was 518.600p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch. The number of shares purchased represented 0.0141% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled. Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 488,676,932 ordinary shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 818,325,914. Rightmove holds 12,051,234 shares in treasury. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme. -Ends- Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions EQS-News: Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (Publ) / Key word(s): AGM/EGM Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (Publ): Annual general meeting in Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (publ) has been held today 26.05.2023 / 18:20 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Press release 26 May 2023 Annual general meeting in Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (publ) has been held today Adoption of the income statements and the balance sheets and resolutions on dividend and discharge from liability The annual general meeting resolved to adopt the income statement, the balance sheet, the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet for the financial year 2022 and resolved, in accordance with the proposal from the board of directors, not to pay any dividends for the financial year 2022. The board of directors and the CEO were discharged from liability for the financial year 2022. Determination of the number of members of the board of directors and auditors, as well as election of the members of the board of directors and auditor The annual general meeting resolved that six board members should be elected with one deputy member and to re-elect Halvar Jonzon (chairman), Hasse Johansson, Hans Wikse, Christina Hallin and Henri Peltomaki as ordinary members of the board of directors and new election of Jan Palmqvist as ordinary member of the board of directors and Kenneth Christensen as deputy member of the board of directors. Jan Palmqvist was elected as ordinary member of the board of directors in accordance with a nomination by a committee consisting of certain major holders of the Company's outstanding bonds 2018/2023 with ISIN SE0011167600 in accordance with a representation agreement entered into between certain bondholders and Procuritas. Ole-Christian Hillestad was appointed as board observer in accordance with the same agreement. For further information concerning the agreement, please see the company's press release dated 13 April 2023. The annual general meeting resolved to re-elect the registered accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers AB as auditor. Martin Johansson will continue to be the auditor in charge. Determination of the fees to be paid to the board of directors and fees to be paid to the auditor The annual general meeting resolved that remuneration to the members of the board of directors shall amount to in total SEK 800,000, with SEK 200,000 to each of Halvar Jonzon, Christina Hallin, Hasse Johansson and Jan Palmqvist. The annual general meeting resolved that the fees to the auditor shall be paid against approved account. For further information, please contact the Company: Halvar Jonzon, Chairman of the board halvar.jonzon@telia.com +46 70 663 65 67 This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com . 26.05.2023 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 Capital increase of approximately 7.0 million, which could be increased to 7.6 million should the Over-Allotment Option be exercised in full Market capitalisation of approximately 35 million Settlement-delivery expected on May 30, 2023 Start of trading on Euronext GrowthParis scheduled for May 31, 2023 Regulatory News: Mon Courtier Energie Groupe, a B2B energy brokerage company, announces the success of its Initial Public Offering on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (ISIN: FR001400H3A0 Ticker: ALMCE) Charlie Evrard, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mon Courtier Energie Groupe, said: "Mon Courtier Energie Groupe is pleased to announce that its IPO became effective today. We are proud and delighted to join the ranks of companies listed on the Paris stock exchange. The members of the team join me in thanking Eiffel Investment Group and all the investors both institutional and individual who decided to join our entrepreneurial journey by taking part in this fundraising, as well as all the members of staff who, since 2017, have enabled Mon Courtier Energie to grow year after year. These resources will allow the Group to accelerate its development and reach ambitious new milestones regarding its three objectives: our development in France, our international development and the ramping up of our offers concerning companies' energy transition. Mon Courtier Energie's Initial Public Offering will also help increase the Group's brand awareness in a fragmented and fast-growing market Reminder of the purpose of the Offer: accelerate the profitable growth strategy The estimated net proceeds of the Offer, totalling 6 million (excluding the Over-Allotment Option), will be allocated to financing the following strategic objectives: Approximately 50% will be devoted to accelerating the commercial network in France and strengthening the Bordeaux head-office teams for the development of brokerage and energy contract management support activities. These funds will be used to develop the Group's brand awareness, open new branches to expand the network to more than 40 branches by end-2025, and recruit new staff; Approximately 30% will be devoted to developing international business, and notably to continuing its development in Spain (10%) and launching an activity in Italy (20%); Approximately 20% will be devoted to developing the activity related to supporting companies with their energy transition, and notably to strengthening the newly created team, seeking partnerships, developing offers and marketing. Results and allocation of the Offer As announced by the Group at the time of the Offer's launch, on May 5, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors set the Offer Price at 9.65 per share. The Initial Public Offering has enabled the Company to carry out a capital increase of 7.0 million via the issuance of 725,388 new ordinary shares (excluding the potential exercise of the Over-Allotment Option). Within the framework of the Offer, 786,604 shares offered were allocated as follows: Global Placement: 584,176 shares allocated to institutional investors (or 74% of the total number of shares offered); Fixed Price Offering ("FPO"): 202,428 shares allocated to the public (or 26% of the total number of shares offered). Within the framework of the FPO, A1 orders (from 1 share up to 250 shares included) and A2 orders (above 250 shares) will be allocated at 100%. The total demand received in the FPO has been served in full. Based on the IPO Offer Price of 9.65 per share and the 3,625,388 existing shares following the transaction, Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's market capitalisation will be approximately 35 million. The Settlement-delivery of the FPO and the Global Placement is expected to take place on May 30, 2023, and trading in Mon Courtier Energie Groupe shares on Euronext Growth Paris should begin on May 31, 2023 under ISIN code FR001400H3A0 and ticker ALMCE. Reminder of subscription commitments The Company received a subscription commitment from Eiffel Investment Group for an amount of 3.8 million, representing approximately 54% of the Initial Offering (excluding exercise of the Extension Clause and Over-Allotment Option). Lock-up commitments Lock-up commitment by the Company: 180 days from the Settlement-Delivery of the Offer, subject of the Note d'Operation Lock-up commitment by shareholders: 360 days from the Settlement-Delivery of the Offer, subject to certain customary exceptions such as divestments to a third party approved beforehand by the Global Coordinator, Lead Manager and Bookrunner that must be accompanied by the commitment of the transferee over the remaining term of the initial commitment, the contribution to a public tender or exchange offer for the Company's shares, or the transfer to a controlled entity. Over-Allotment Option For stabilisation operation needs and in order to cover possible over-allotments, the Company could grant to the Investment Services Provider an option allowing the issuance of a number of shares representing a maximum total of 8.44% of the number of Initial New Shares, i.e. a maximum of 61,216 Supplementary New Shares, on the basis of the Offer Price. This Over-Allotment Option, which will enable any over-allotments to be covered, may be exercised, in whole or in part, at the Offer Price, in one go and at any time by the Investment Services Provider, for thirty calendar days from the start of trading in the Company's shares on Euronext Growth Paris, i.e. according to the indicate timetable from May 31 to June 30, 2023 (inclusive). Breakdown of the Company's capital and voting rights Following the IPO, Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's share capital will break down as follows: Shareholders Before the Offer After the Offer (100%) After the Offer (100% Over-Allotment Option) Number of shares of share capital and voting rights Number of shares of share capital and voting rights Number of shares of share capital and voting rights UNI Holding (Romain Cassagnaud Matthieu Boffo) 878,787 30.30% 878,787 24.24% 878,787 23.84% Bambalouni Invest (Samy Djebaly Karim Louhichi) 878,787 30.30% 878,787 24.24% 878,787 23.84% Titun Consulting (Charlie Evrard) 659,099 22.73% 659,099 18.18% 659,099 17.88% Gadaca (Guillaume Rouaud) 263,639 9.09% 263,639 7.27% 263,639 7.15% Jinerjy (Jean-Christophe Cayol) 219,688 7.58% 219,688 6.06% 219,688 5.96% Free float 725,388 20.01% 786,604 21.34% Total 2,900,000 100.00% 3,625,388 100.00% 3,686,604 100.00% Free float The free float will represent approximately 20.1% of the Company's share capital post-Offer, which could increase to approximately 21.34% of the Company's share capital should the Over-Allotment Option be fully exercised. Next steps May 30, 2023 Settlement-Delivery of the FPO and the Global Placement May 31, 2023 Registering and trading of the Company's shares on Euronext Growth Paris begins Start of the stabilisation period, if any June 30, 2023 Deadline for the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option End of the stabilisation period, if any Identification codes of Mon Courtier Energie Groupe shares Name: MON COURTIER ENERG ISIN code: FR001400H3A0 Ticker: ALMCE Market: Euronext Growth Paris ICB Classification Industry sector: 50205020 Professional Business Support Services LEI Code: 96950004ATVK481LKN90 Financial intermediaries and advisors Aldebaran Global Advisors Advisor and Listing Sponsor TP ICAP Investment Services Provider fieldfisher Deal counsel EY Statutory Auditors mazars Chartered Accountants NewCap Financial Communication Access additional information on the website devoted to Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's IPO project: www.mce-finance.com Availability of the Prospectus A Prospectus, comprising (i) the Registration Document approved by the AMF under number I.23-011 on April 18, 2023, (ii) the Supplement to the Registration Document approved by the AMF under number I. 23 026, on May 9, 2023, and (iii) a Securities Note (Note d'Operation) including a summary of the Prospectus, was approved by the AMF on May 9, 2023 under number 23-143. This Prospectus is available free of charge upon request from the Company's head offices as well as on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org) and the Company's website (www.mce-finance.com). Investors' attention is drawn to the risk factors detailed in the Prospectus. The approval of this Prospectus should not be taken as a favourable opinion on the securities offered. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe would like to draw the public's attention to Chapter 3 "Risk Factors" of the Registration Document and the Supplement to the Registration Document as well as to Chapter 3 "Market Risk Factors that may materially affect the securities offered" of the Securities Note. The occurrence of one or more of these risks could have a significant adverse impact on the Group's business, reputation, financial situation, results or prospects, as well as Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's share price. About Mon Courtier Energie Groupe: Founded in Bordeaux in 2017, in just a few years Mon Courtier Energie Groupe has become the leading French energy broker on the B2B market. The Group's mission is to help companies with the global management of their energy budget in order to reduce or optimise their gas and/or electricity bill. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's service offer comprises brokerage and advice regarding energy purchasing, the management and optimisation of contracts and energy transition guidance. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe draws on the expertise of more than 130 people at its head offices and in "licenced" branches around the country. For further information, please go to www.moncourtierenergie.com. Disclaimer This press release and the information it contains are not an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe the shares of Mon Courtier Energie Groupe in any country. This press release constitutes promotional material and is not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). This press release does not constitute and shall not be deemed to constitute a public offer, an offer to purchase or subscribe or to solicit the public interest in a transaction by way of a public offer. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States. The shares or any other securities of Mon Courtier Energie Groupe may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to a registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirement. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States or to make a public offer in the United States. In the United Kingdom, this press release is directed only at persons who (i) are investment professionals within the meaning of section 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as currently in force, the "Financial Promotion Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order or (iii) are outside the United Kingdom (all such persons being together referred to as the "Authorized Persons"). This press release is addressed only to Authorized Persons and may not be used by any person other than an Authorized Person. Certain information contained in this press release are forward looking statements, not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data stated will occur. These forward-looking statements are based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by Mon Courtier Energie Groupe. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe operates in a competitive and rapidly evolving environment. It is therefore not in a position to anticipate all risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of a risk or combination of risks could lead to results that differ significantly from those mentioned in any forward-looking statement. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe draws your attention to the fact that forward looking statements are in no way a guarantee of its future performance and that its actual financial position, results and cash flows and the development of the sector in which Mon Courtier Energie Groupe operates may differ significantly from those proposed or suggested by the forward--looking statements contained in this document. In addition, even if Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's financial position, results, cash flows and developments in the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this document, such results or developments may not be a reliable indication of Mon Courtier Energie Groupe's future results or developments. This information is given only as of the date of this press release. Mon Courtier Energie Groupe makes no commitment to publish updates to this information or on the assumptions on which it is based, except in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation applicable to it. The distribution of this press release may, in certain countries, be subject to specific regulations. Consequently, persons physically present in these countries and in which the press release is disseminated, published or distributed must inform themselves and comply with these laws and regulations. This press release shall not be published, distributed or disseminated, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia, Canada or Japan. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005278/en/ Contacts: Mon Courtier Energie Groupe Charlie Evrard Founder and CEO investisseurs@moncourtierenergie.com NewCap Mathilde Bohin Dusan Oresansky Investor Relations mce@newcap.eu Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations mce@newcap.eu Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 GUIGANG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Guangxi Guigang Fushuai Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. and PT. DFU INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA signed the first batch of directional purchase contracts for 20,000 new energy electric vehicles in Jakarta, Indonesia. Crystal Huang, CEO of PT. DFU INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA, said that driven by the global green development wave, new energy electric vehicles from Gangbei District of Guigang City would make positive contributions to residents' travel and global green and low-carbon development. With the opening of overseas exhibition tour of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo this year, new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District appeared in Singapore, the Philippines, Laos and other countries, and automobile enterprises exchanged and negotiated face-to-face with local enterprises and residents, entering a period of comprehensive market expansion. Behind the emergence in the ASEAN market is the industrial competitiveness promoted by Gangbei District for many years, according to the Publicity Department of Gangbei District, Guigang Municipality. In 2015, Gangbei District planned to build China-ASEAN New Energy Electric Vehicle Production Base. At present, the base has introduced more than 100 well-known domestic finished automobile enterprises such as Emma, Luyuan, Tailg, Lima, Zuboo and OPAI, as well as supporting enterprises such as Haopai and Feineng. More than 50 enterprises have been completed and put into production, forming an annual production capacity of 5 million two-wheeled electric vehicles, 500,000 three-wheeled electric vehicles and 5 million electric vehicle parts, with a local matching rate of 80%. Brand concentration, matching rate of parts and intelligence level rank among the top in the country. Electric vehicle enterprises in Gangbei District have a complete range of products with excellent quality, including more than 100 models such as electric bicycles, electric mopeds and electric high-speed motorcycles, leading the industry in terms of battery life, safety, intelligence and energy conservation. The testing level of Guangxi New Energy Electric Vehicle Products Quality Testing Center within its jurisdiction ranks among the top in the country. In 2022, the output value of new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District increased by 99.3%, and the total output value of the whole industrial chain exceeded 21 billion Chinese yuan. In 2022, with high quality and low price products and taking advantage of opportunities of RCEP, China-ASEAN and other trade agreements, the export trade volume of China-ASEAN New Energy Electric Vehicle Production Base reached more than USD 8.7 million. Guangxi is the only province in China connected with ASEAN by land and sea, and it is the most convenient access to the sea in Southwest China. Guigang is located in the southeast of Guangxi, with smooth high-speed railways, expressways and high-grade waterways, and more than 100 high-speed trains transiting through Guigang every day. Xijiang Golden Waterway runs through the whole territory, and 3,000-ton ships can be navigable all the year round and can directly reach Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao within 30 hours. Guigang Port within its jurisdiction is the first inland river port of 100 million tons in the Pearl River system, and it is one of the most convenient channels for exporting materials from Southwest China to Hong Kong, Macao and ASEAN countries. At present, new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District have been exported to India, Thailand, the Netherlands, Nepal, Peru, Costa Rica and Madagascar. Image Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440964 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086779/NEV.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-energy-electric-vehicles-in-gangbei-district-of-guigang-city-enters-the-asean-blue-ocean-market-301835875.html LIAOCHENG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 20, at the site of the project with an annual output capacity of 5 million high-strength-steel auto wheels, a project constructed with a total investment of 1.125 billion yuan by Shandong Zhenyuan Auto Wheel Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Company) in the Liaocheng High-tech Zone of Shandong, China, the first batch of key equipment from the US and Germany were officially in place. As workers opened the packages, installed and debugged the equipment, the project entered the countdown before the commencement of its operation, which is expected to be officially put into operation by the end of this June. The Company is a national high-tech enterprise specialized in the design, R&D, production and sales of lightweight auto wheels in the Liaocheng High-tech Zone, accounting for 40% of the market share of lightweight auto wheels and securing the first place in the domestic industry. In recent years, the Company has focused on the development trend of the industry, continually stepped up its R&D efforts. In 2021, it managed to develop the globally lightest 28-kg Cyclone 3.0 lightweight auto wheel, with the weight of a single wheel reduced by 18 kg. In 2023, it managed to develop integrated lightweight, high-bearing and inner wheel-free wheel. A single wheel of this kind can bear a weight of 10 tons, which has addressed the problems of existing wheels in today's market in terms of safety, reliability, bearing capacity and replacement frequency. During January - April of 2023, the Company's orders had doubled, with a sales amount exceeding 150 million yuan, up 200% year on year. The development path of the Company can be considered as an epitome of the Liaocheng High-tech Zone's efforts in implementing new development concepts, fostering the characteristic industry of high-end equipment and promoting the green, low-carbon and high-quality development. According to the Administration Committee of the Liaocheng High-tech Zone, in recent years, the Liaocheng High-tech Zone has focused on its functional positioning with an aim to accelerate the construction of a strong zone of manufacture and highlight the development advantages and characteristics of the High-tech Zone's manufacturing industry. It has focused on the segmented industrial chains such as textile machinery, automobile and basic parts and components industries so as to improve the development quality and level, promote the development of the high-end equipment industry towards intelligence and greenness, and foster an industrial cluster of special equipment manufacturing, with an aim to achi eve a bu siness revenue of 7 billion yuan by 2025. Image Links: Image1: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440949 Image2: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440953 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086771/1_Workshop.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086770/2_Wheel.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/liaocheng-high-tech-zone-promotes-the-development-of-high-end-equipment-industry-towards-intelligence-and-greenness-301835878.html WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Many entrepreneurs have been inspired to start their business to create "the next big idea". This has led to the creation of more than 33 million small businesses nationwide. Acting on an idea is easy, but turning it into a sustainable company is far more difficult in execution. This is why 20% of businesses fail in their first year. It takes a combination of drive, hard work, knowledge, and a "stick-to-it-tiveness". James Radford, CEO and founder of Trust Consulting Services, knows this very well. He weathered a number of personal and professional storms to bring Trust to life and turn it into the successful business that it is today. The story behind Trust Consulting Services is a long one. The company was built off the back of Radford's experience working in Acquisitions and Procurement, or "Contracting" as it's commonly known. After having to medically retire from the Air Force, Radford put the knowledge and experience he had gained there to pursue independent consulting work with the Coast Guard, Washington Headquarter Services, and Homeland Security. This added more definition to what he knew about the logistics of government contracting. Radford connected deeply with business consulting, and while he knew how to help current businesses streamline their established processes, he wanted to know more about how a business worked from the ground up. Everything aligned when he partnered with a small business to help redirect their course. Now that he was with a smaller operation, he was able to gain a better understanding of important business practices and duties, such as running payroll, day-to-day business management, marketing, and more. "I had learned so much from the U.S. Government (USG) organizations, but this small business really taught me about what it takes to really get started and what goes into daily management," says Radford. "Just as I got comfortable and started toying with my idea of making my own company-bam! The business started going under. At that point, I knew: I had to get a move on. The door was wide open." Trust Consulting Services started its operations in 2015, and its first client was the Department of Transportation. By the end of its partnership with the DoT, Trust's team grew to 20 employees strong. The company had a chance to prove itself during COVID when the state of Maryland asked for Trust's assistance staffing temporary hospitals with 250 employees. The company rallied enough applicants to form a queue that wrapped around the block and fulfilled the quota in a matter of days. This cemented Trust's capabilities in both the clients' eyes and in James'. "I made a lot of sacrifices to get where I am now. Being forced to medically retire left me in a precarious position, and even though I found a temporary fix, I wasn't sure what I was going to do or how I was going to go on," says Radford. "But in 2015, I took a leap of faith, and business has been amazing. I've reconnected with my family and secured our futures. I wish I could go back and tell my past self, 'Just hang in there, man, 'cuz we made it.'" Today, Trust Consulting Services works on more than twenty federal contracts, has employed over 400 employees, secured over $40 million in revenue, and created over 700 jobs in the state of Maryland. The company estimates that its revenue will reach $100 million within the next five years. Trust is currently developing new ways to maximize its service offerings, and is continuously researching investing in new, cutting edge technology to optimize its operations. About Trust Consulting Services Trust Consulting Services, founded in 2015 by CEO James W. Radford, is a veterans' first business consulting firm. The company provides cost-effective, customer-focused, and scalable solutions to a wide range of commercial, local, state and federal government entities. Trust's services include acquisition management, program management, financial management, facilities management, and IT systems and networking. Outside of being Trust's CEO, Radford is a retired Air Force Contracting Officer, motivational speaker, author, certified public speaker, and proud father of four. To learn more, visit the company at trustconsultingservices.com or contact: James Radford +1 (202) 800-8217 info@trustconsultingservices.com Twitter: @1trustconsult_ Facebook: trust.consulting.services LinkedIn: Trust Consulting Services Inc. YouTube: @trustconsultingservices SOURCE: Trust Consulting Services View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757572/Trust-Consulting-Services-Grows-to-Over-400-Employees-40-Million-in-Revenue WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast is reportedly recalling all of the first batch of vehicles it shipped to the US last year to fix a software issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 999 of VinFast's VF 8 vehicles suffered a software error in the dashboard display that prevented critical safety information from being shown and 'may increase the risk of a crash'. VinFast is recalling certain 2023 VF8 vehicles. A software error may cause the multifunction head unit (MHU) display to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, 'Control and Displays.' The company will release an over-the-air software update beginning May 25, 2023, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 29, 2023. More than 700 of the 999 units are still in VinFast's hands and have not been delivered to customers or fleet services, the NHTSA estimated. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Victory Battery Metals (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR6)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered Unit Private placement (the "Unit Financing"). The Corporation raised proceeds of $300,000 through the sale of 6,000,000 Units. Pursuant to the terms of the Unit Financing, each Unit is offered at a subscription price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.07 for a two year period, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate expiry upon 30 days' notice if the common shares trade at $0.20 or higher for a period of 10 days, including days where there is no trading. There were no finder's fees paid and no insiders participated in the Unit Financing. The Company intends to use net proceeds for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. For further information, please contact: Mark Ireton, President Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653) E-mail: info@victorybatterymetals.com About Victory Battery Metals VICTORY BATTERY METALS (CSE:VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The Company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Victory Battery Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757605/Victory-Battery-Metals-Corp-Announces-Closing-of-300000-Unit-Financing Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - MTB Metals Corp. (TSXV: MTB) (OTCQB: MBYMF) (FSE: E8H) ("MTB" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has closed the first tranche of the non-brokered private placements for Flow Through and Non-Flow Through Units, as announced on May 4th. The funds will be used primarily for exploration on Mountain Boy's Telegraph property in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Lawrence Roulston, CEO, stated: "These new funds, added to the existing working capital, puts MTB in a strong position to continue exploration on our Telegraph copper-gold porphyry project. Field work will begin in early June with drilling scheduled to begin in August." Flow Through Offering MTB raised gross proceeds of $1,199,889.40 from the sale 9,229,918 flow through units (the "FT Units"). Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "FT Warrant"). The price of each FT Unit is $0.13. Each FT Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.18 for a period of 24 months, expiring on May 26, 2025. Non-Flow through Offering In addition, MTB also closed a non-brokered private placement of 3,088,350 units ("Units") at $0.12 per Unit for gross proceeds of $370,602. Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.18 for a period of 36 months, expiring on May 26, 2026. Finder's fees of 7% cash and 7% in finder's warrants were paid to eligible parties. Each finder's warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.12 for a period of 36 months, expiring on May 26, 2026. All securities are subject to a four month hold period expiring on September 27, 2023. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur resource exploration expenses which will constitute "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction. About MTB MTB has six active projects spanning 670 square kilometres (67,587 hectares) in the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia. With the focus on the Telegraph project, discussions are now underway leading to joint ventures and/or spinouts of other projects. Telegraph is located in the vicinity of 4 world-class porphyry deposits being advanced by major mining companies: Galore (Teck / Newmont), Schaft (Teck), Saddle (Newmont) and the operating Red Chris copper-gold mine (Newcrest / Imperial Metals). Field work by MTB on its 310 square kilometre property, together with earlier results, provides compelling evidence for the presence of one or more porphyrys similar to others in the area. The American Creek project is centered on the historic Mountain Boy silver mine. The project is road accessible and 20 km from the deep-water port of Stewart. There are multiple silver, gold and copper occurrences on the property, including a 2006 drill hole that encountered 5 kgs of silver over 5 metres. Red Cliff is a past producing gold and copper mine in which the Company holds a 35% interest. On the BA property, 182 drill holes have outlined a substantial zone of silver-lead-zinc mineralization located 4 km from the highway. Several targets with high-grade silver potential remain to be tested. Surprise Creek, to the north, hosts the same prospective stratigraphy. On the Theia project, work by MTB and previous explorers has outlined a silver bearing mineralized trend 500 metres long, highlighted by a 2020 grab sample that returned 39 kg per tonne silver (1,100 ounces per ton). Two other zones on the property produced copper values over 5%. Southmore is in the midst of some of the largest deposits in the Golden Triangle. It was explored in the 1980s through the early 1990s and was overlooked until MTB consolidated the property and carried out airborne geophysics and field work which confirmed several zones of gold and copper, with values up to 20% copper and 35 g/t gold. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Lawrence Roulston President & CEO For further information, contact: Caroline Klukowski info@mountainboyminerals.ca NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements 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 statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167735 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM) (FRA:1XMA) (OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that it has closed the private placement previously announced on May 3, 2023, for gross proceeds of $600,000. The private placement consisted of 6 million units at a price of $0.10 per unit. Each Unit consists of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase, for a period of 60 months from the date of issue, one additional common share of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.15 per share. All securities issued in connection with the placement closing will be subject to a hold period expiring on September 20, 2023. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for exploration expenses on the Company's British Columbia mineral properties and general working capital. The closing of the private placement financing is subject to final TSX-V approval. The Company also announces that it is proceeding with a shares-for-debt filing to pay outstanding debts of $248,256.48 to an arms length party. Approximately 1,655,043 shares in the capital stock of the Company will be issued to pay these outstanding payables. The shares-for-debt agreement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance and, if issued, will be subject to the customary four-month hold period. 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 a 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. This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, 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 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 exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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 SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757620/Ximen-Mining-Closes-Financing The European Investment Fund (EIF) is committing 60m in equity to Alpine Space Ventures, a Munich, Germany-based venture capital fund focusing on the NewSpace sector. The funding is backed by InvestEU and the CASSINI investing facility of the European Space programme, as well as by the European Recovery Programme (ERP) of the German government. With this investment, ASVs committed capital surpasses the 100m mark, bringing the fund closer to its target size of 160m, which is expected to be achieved later this year. Founded by Bulent Altan and Joram Voelklein, Alpine Space Ventures specializes in investments in NewSpace technologies. NewSpace technologies generally refer to technologies that are developed for satellite communications, earth observation, or other space-related applications. The firm focuses on businesses in space-borne connectivity and data covering the entire satellite value chain including cutting-edge innovations in areas such as propulsion, advanced materials, remote sensing payloads such as synthetic aperture radar or radio occultation or data fusion, analytics and insights. To date, ASV has already invested in four companies: small satellite manufacturer Reflex Aerospace, electric propulsion company Morpheus Space, carbon composites expert Blackwave and Source Energy, a provider of integrated energy solutions for space vehicles. FinSMEs 26/05/2023 Plenty, a San Francisco, CA-based fintech startup, raised $2.75M in Pre-Seed funding. Backers included Phenomenal Ventures, 35V, Adam Nash, and Inovia Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and development efforts. Founded in 2022 by Emily Luk and Channing Allen, Plenty provides a platform, which automates the financial forecasting and investment processes for couples. The solution enables couple to establish their goals, invest via personalized portfolios recommended for each goal and connect all their finances to monitor how they are working. FinSMEs 26/05/2023 Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW), a Bozeman, Montana-based data cloud company, is to acquire Neeva, a search company founded to make search more intelligent at scale. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The acquisition aims to enable Snowflake to leverage Neevas tech innovations to bring search and conversation across its Data Cloud to the benefit of its customers, partners and developers. Led by Sridhar Ramaswamy and Vivek Raghunathan, Neeva created a search experience that leverages generative AI and other innovations to allow users to query and discover data in new ways. Neeva.com is shutting down June 2, 2023. FinSMEs 26/05/2023 The finance ministry recently hiked the tax exemption limit for leave encashment upon retirement for non-govt 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), said that 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, reported PTI. 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 1 April, 2023. The CBDT said, according to PTI, 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. 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. 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 consumer forum in Delhi has instructed SBI Cards & Payments Services Pvt. Ltd. to compensate a person with Rs 2 lakh, as reported by news agency PTI. The forum came up with this decision because SBI Cards & Payments Services repeatedly sent the customer bills despite the expiry of his card and subsequently blacklisting him due to non-payment of charges. The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, consisting of President Monika A Srivastava and members Kiran Kausal and Umesh Kumar Tyagi, has ruled in favour of MJ Anthony, a former journalist, and directed the company to compensate him for deficiency in providing services. On 20 May, the forum issued the order in response to Anthonys complaint seeking compensation. As reported by PTI, he asserted that he had made a request to the company in April 2016, prior to the cards expiration, asking them not to renew it and to cancel it instead. He stated that he ceased using the card for any transactions after 9 April 2016, and followed the necessary procedures to destroy the card in accordance with the rules. In September, he received a letter from the company confirming the cancellation of his card. However, despite his protest emails, the company continued to send him bills associated with the card. He further mentioned that the accumulated bills amounted to Rs 2,946 by 18 May 2017, including late payment charges and penalties. He mentioned in the letter that the company had advised him to settle the bill, or else it would negatively affect his credit history recorded by the credit bureau and could hinder his ability to obtain credit in the future. The company added his name to the CIBIL system, which keeps track of wilful defaulters as per Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) records, resulting in difficulties for him in obtaining loans or credit cards. The company, however, refuted the accusations during the dispute. The consumer forum observed that the company had placed Anthonys name on the wilful defaulters list in the CIBIL system. This action led to the denial of his credit card applications at another bank, despite maintaining regular accounts there for almost 20 years. The forum said that SBI Cards & Payments Services Pvt. Ltd. has exhibited a deficiency in providing services to the complainant. It added that although the monetary value of the damage caused to the complainants credit rating cannot be accurately assessed, the imposition of punitive damages against the opposite party is warranted. Therefore, the forum stated that the opposite party is instructed to compensate the complainant by paying a sum of Rs 2 lakh as compensation within two months from the date of this order. Failure to comply with this directive will result in an increased amount of Rs 3 lakh payable, as clarified by the forum. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle lost their police protection when they ceased to be working members of the royal family in 2020. According to abc news reports A judge ruled Tuesday that Harry cannot bring a second case against the U.K. Home Office, querying their stance that Metropolitan Police protection could not be bought. Harry, the fifth in line to the throne, has been fighting back against a 2020 decision by the government that denied his family automatic police protection while in Britain after he and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped down from their roles as senior working royals. At the time, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, made a decision that security for the Sussexes would be granted on a case-by-case basis. According to abc new, Harry, who now lives in California with Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet, has said he wants police protection for his family while on British soil and is willing to pay for the cost himself, but the Home Office denied that request. The judge ruled Tuesday that Harry could not seek to challenge that decision. Harry is still involved in a separate, ongoing case with the Home Office as to whether he should still be entitled to Met Police security while he is in the U.K. Harry has only returned to the U.K. a handful of times since moving in 2020. Rumours of Harry and Meghans divorce On the other hand, there are rumours about Harry Meghans separation. According to GeoTv report, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be heading in different directions five years after their marriage, according to an article published on the fifth wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In fact, according to sources, Prince Harry has a separate room to get away from Meghan Markle. As per reports a royal commentators believe all is not well in the Sussexs marriage. Eagle-eyed observers say the couple did not release a family photograph on Christmas and Harry was seen promoting his book Spare without Meghan by his side earlier this year. They think no acknowledgment of their five-year wedding anniversary, Harrys solo appearance at the coronation of King Charles and Meghans solo brand relaunch with WME are enough of evidence to corroborate their claims that the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is on the rocks. When we take a look at the changes in Harry and Meghans lives since the beginning of their relationship, Meghan has become a global figure and one of the most recognisable people in the world. While this may have caused issues for other couples, Harry and Meghan appear to be stronger than ever. The fact they have managed to overcome certain challenges and show genuine emotion proves they are clearly meant to be. I definitely believe they are in it for the long haul. I do think they will last the course of time, Darren Stanton said. Harry and Meghan have had to overcome a number of hurdles and Meghan was very much like Princess Diana as she was new on the scene and had to get to know the Royal Family, the expert said. Meghans half sister confirmed that the couple is heading for a divorce According to the Daily Mail report, Meghan Markles estranged half-sister has launched another blistering attack on the Duchess of Sussex by claiming that her marriage to Prince Harry will end in divorce unless they get extensive counselling. Samantha Markle suggested the Duke may already be questioning the marriage and predicted it could get nasty until he starts dissenting or pulling back from her. The 56-year-old American also called on the Sussexes to go on an apology tour after the couple made accusations of racism within the Royal Family during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. (With added 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. Indias reintroduction of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa has hit a roadblock. After three adult cheetahs have died since their relocation in September last year, now three cubs have died, all within a span of three days. Whats worse is that a South African wildlife expert said the reintroduction project is going to see even higher mortality in the next few months. Vincent van der Merwe, who is closely involved with the project, told news agency PTI that the cheetah deaths have been within the acceptable range and more are expected to die, raising concerns about the reintroduction programme as well as whether Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the ideal spot for the big cats. We take a closer look at what happened to the cheetahs why they have died, why more are expected to perish, what can be done to save them and what this means for the programme? Deaths of six cheetahs In September 2022, eight Namibian cheetahs arrived in India amid much fanfare, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing them into a small fenced enclosure near the national park on his 72nd birthday. Another 12 African cheetahs have since been flown over and the plan is to release a total of 50 over the next five to 10 years. Also read: The eight cheetahs coming to India from Namibia The celebrations turned into shock when one Namibian cheetah, known as Sasha, died of kidney complications on 27 March. Sasha was believed to have contracted the kidney ailment during its captivity in Namibia and had been unwell since arriving in Kuno. In April, Uday, another cheetah that was brought to Kuno from South Africa died during treatment after being found sick. Female Daksha from South Africa died on 9 May, killed in a violent interaction with an adult male coalition which included Vayu and Agni, also known as the White Walkers. Amid this news, there was a ray of hope when Jwala, one of the cheetahs from Namibia, gave birth to four cubs. Congratulations A momentous event in our wildlife conservation history during Amrit Kaal! I am delighted to share that four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India on 17th September 2022, under the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji. pic.twitter.com/a1YXqi7kTt Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) March 29, 2023 However, on Tuesday (23 May) one of Jwalas cubs passed away owing to immense weakness and on Thursday (25 May) two others died due to extreme weather conditions and dehydration, as per forest department officials. The forest officials said the intense heat in the area it was reported to be 46 degrees Celsius yesterday caused all the cubs to be weak and dehydrated. They were quickly rushed to a rescue centre due to the intense heat where the last surviving cub remains critical. The deaths add up to being six in total all within a two-month time frame, raising concerns with even the Supreme Court questioning the safety of the big cats and suggesting of shifting them to other sanctuaries. More deaths to follow South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe, who is the manager of the Cheetah Metapopulation Project in South Africa, reacting to the deaths of the cubs said that this was normal. However, he added that there would be even more deaths in the future. Speaking to news agency PTI, he said: Very unfortunate, but not unusual for first-time mothers to lose their first litter, adding, Cheetahs naturally have high mortality rates. And we observed these same mortality rates in Africa when we reintroduced them into unfenced systems. He further 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. Also read: A guide on how not to confuse cheetahs with the leopard South Africas Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment also agreed with van der Merwes opinion on the deaths, saying it wasnt a reason to worry. In a statement, it said, Large carnivore reintroductions are extremely complex and inherently risky operations. This is a critical phase of the project, with cheetahs being released into larger environments where there is increasingly less control over their day-to-day wellbeing. The risks for injury and mortality will be increasing and these risks are factored into the reintroduction plan. The department added that it expects a few of the founder population to be lost within the first year after they are released. Many of the released cheetahs will escape the boundaries of Kuno National Park and may have to go through short-term stress during the recapture process, it added. Once the cheetahs have established home ranges, the situation will stabilise. When asked what could be done to protect the cheetahs, with van der Merwe recommended fencing the cheetah habitat so as to protect the wild cats from any outside threat as well as protect the prey base from anthropogenic pressures such as poaching. He also suggested moving at least three or four cheetahs to Mukundra Hills in Rajasthan, and let them breed 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 youll 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 was quoted as saying to news agency PTI. Explaining why he believes that India will see more deaths, van der Merwe said that cheetahs will continue to establish territories and fight with each other and kill each other for territories and for access to females. Theyre going to encounter leopards. There are now tigers moving around in Kuno. The worst mortalities are still to come. He, however, noted that this doesnt mean that the project is failing and in fact, the deaths were within the normal parameters. Voices of concern grow However, even as van der Merwe said that the deaths were normal, there are other wildlife experts who are questioning the programme and its success. Earlier, Ravi Chellam, coordinator of Biodiversity Collaborative, was quoted as telling The Guardian that the programme was a vanity project and said it was at best creating a glorified safari park that had little to do with conservation and could have a negative effect on the health of the animals and on wider conservation efforts in India. Other conservationists have also flagged the long quarantine periods that the cheetahs are being placed under before being released into the wild. Anish Andheria, CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Trust said to Hindustan Times, The enclosure should be big enough, and away from human presence. Small enclosure will increase the stress burden. According to international norms, the wild animals should be kept in the enclosure for only one month because scientifically its not good to keep animal in the enclosure for longer time. Longer time in the enclosure will reduce the survival rate of the cheetahs in the wild during reintroduction. Veteran conservationist Valmik Thapar has in the past also questioned the relocation of the wild cat in India. Speaking earlier to The Quint, he had said: The effort to introduce African Cheetahs is a high risk venture which India does not need. Furthermore, he pointed out that India doesnt have a natural habitat for free ranging and no prey base for a proper food cycle. He also told India Today on 25 May, India is not the natural habitat of the cheetah. India doesnt have the terrain the cheetah needs, the food it needs. Also, the cheetah will not be able to deal with the hot Indian summer. Also read: From extinction to reintroduction: A brief history of Indias tryst with the cheetah The issue even prompted the Supreme Court to urge the Centre to explore the possibility of relocating the cheetahs to Rajasthan. A bench comprising justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol highlighted that the reports from experts and media articles indicate that the Kuno National Park may not be adequate to accommodate such a large number of cheetahs. They suggested that the Union government should consider shifting them to other sanctuaries. Three deaths (of cheetahs) in less than two months is a matter of serious concern. There are opinions of experts and articles in the media. It appears that Kuno is not sufficient for so many cheetahs. There is too much concentration of cheetahs at one place. Why don't 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 bench had then said. It is left to be seen if the cheetahs, who were declared extinct in India in 1952, can survive in India and whether they will make the jungles of the country their home again. 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. Pakistan has slapped a travel ban on its former prime minister Imran Khan. Imran on 23 May was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan in eight cases related to violence that erupted at the Judicial Complex in March. Imran, who was earlier in May arrested by Pakistani rangers and detained, was released after the Supreme Court called his arrest invalid and unlawful. Lets take a look at the travel ban, how Imran responded and what happens next: What happened? Al Jazeera quoted dpa news agency as saying that Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has placed Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi on the no-fly list. More than 500 members of Imrans Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have also been placed on the no-fly list by the agency which handles immigration and border control. It is a standard practice in every case. All those who face court cases are barred from leaving the country, one of the officials told dpa. Samaa News channel on Thursday said that the Pakistan government had barred Imran, his wife and at least 80 people from leaving the country. 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 report stated. Imran responded by tweeting: I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country. If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 26, 2023 According to Outlook, it is the interior ministry that handles the exit-control list. The list curbs the freedom of individuals from leaving the country over pending court cases or other reasons. Ironically, Imrans government when it was in power from 2018 to 2022 also levied such bans on Opposition leaders, according to The Wire. What next? The news comes just days after a key aide of Imran announced he was quitting politics in a further blow to the embattled ex-premiers party as a standoff with the military intensified. Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhrys resignation is the latest, and highest profile, in a string of departures from Imrans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which the civilian government on Wednesday threatened to ban. I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from party position and parting ways from Imran Khan, Chaudhry said in a post on Twitter. Some are saying Imran is facing the fate of his predecessors. Ayesha Siddiqa, a senior fellow at Kings College London and expert on Pakistans military, told Bloomberg this is the end of the road for Imran Khan for now. The question is will they be able to take away his support base? Outlook quoted recent reports as saying that Imran might look to America for political asylum. A Pakistan Peoples Party minister claimed that Imran would do so shortly. Madiha Afzal, a fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington told Bloomberg the moves against Imran were straight from the militarys playbook. If this is history repeating itself with the militarys assertiveness, Afzal said. its not looking good for Imran, his party, or for Pakistans democracy. But others like Tim Willasey-Wilsey, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London, said every step against Imran will only burnish his credentials. Willasey-Wilsey added, It could also lead to divisions amongst the Corps Commanders who will be anxious about alienating the army from the people the army will doubtless contemplate intervention options short of a coup, including delaying elections. Imran says the corruption allegations were fabricated and that his associates are being forced out under duress from the government and the military in a manoeuvre to dismantle his party before elections scheduled later this year. He has been embroiled in a tussle with the military since he was removed from power last year in a parliamentary vote which he says was orchestrated by the countrys top generals. The military denies this. Imran is Pakistans most popular leader according to local polls, while the military is its most powerful institution, having ruled directly or overseen governments throughout Pakistans 75-year history. On Tuesday, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari announced she was leaving politics, citing health concerns, after spending 12 days in detention. Most of the top leaders of the PTI have been taken into custody. A number of former parliamentarians and mid-tier leaders have quit the party or politics entirely over the last few days. Another key aide, former Finance Minister Asad Umar also announced on Wednesday, hours after he was released from detention, that he was resigning from his party position of secretary general. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters on Wednesday that the government is considering banning the PTI for attacking the very basis of state and this could not be tolerated. A ban would be likely to further enrage Imrans supporters and exacerbate the confrontation with the military establishment. PTI party lawyer Ali Zafar said any such step would be challenged in court. He said an entire party cannot be blamed for acts committed by individuals. Imran, 70, became prime minister in 2018 with the tacit support of the military, though both sides denied it at the time. But he later fell out with the generals after being seen as having tried to interfere in key promotions in the security sphere. After being removed from power last year, Imran has been campaigning for a snap general elections, rallying supporters across the country. But the prime minister who replaced him, Shahbaz Sharif, has rejected calls for a poll ahead of the due date late this year. Imran has said the corruption charges were made up to banish him from politics. He was detained on 9 May but was later freed on bail. In an address on Wednesday, Imran said he would form a negotiating committee that will offer to talk with state authorities to seek a way out of the impasse. He said if that committee was convinced the matter could be resolved by him stepping aside from politics or from not holding snap elections, he would comply. 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. Microchips in the brain was an idea that we thought wouldnt come true. However, Elon Musks brain-implant company, Neuralink, has received a green light from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to kickstart its first in-human clinical study. The Elon Musk-led company hailed the FDAs decision and said the human trials would be a important first step for its technology, which is intended to let brains interface directly with computers. We are excited to share that we have received the FDAs approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study, Neuralink said in a post on Musk-run Twitter. Musks plans for Neuralink, which he launched in 2016, is allowing the brain to control complex electronic devices via a chip, letting people with paralysis regain motor function, restoring vision, and treating brain diseases such as Parkinsons, dementia and Alzheimers. Lets take a closer look at what exactly Neuralink is and how would it potentially work? What is it? In essence, Neuralink wants to put coin-sized brain implants into human beings. According to The Business Times, the product comprising a tiny device and electrode-laced wires is meant to be implanted into the brain alongside a robot that carves out a piece of a persons skull. The aim of the brain-computer interface, known as a BCI, is initially to allow a person with a debilitating condition such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or the aftereffects of a stroke to communicate via their thoughts. The Neuralink device would translate the neuronal activity into data that could be interpreted by a computer, as per the report. Musk has also spoken of melding the brain with Artificial Intelligence. As per Business Insider, Musk in 2019 told Artificial Intelligence podcast host Lex Fridman that Neuralink was intended to address the existential risk associated with digital superintelligence. We will not be able to be smarter than a digital supercomputer, so, therefore, if you cannot beat em, join em, Musk added. The company is developing brain chip interfaces that it says could enable disabled patients to move and communicate again, with Musk adding on Wednesday that it will also target restoring vision. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, Texas, Neuralink has in recent years been conducting tests on animals as it seeks approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin clinical trials in people. We want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device into a human, Musk had said earlier during a much-awaited public update on the device. Speaking to a crowd of select invitees in a presentation at Neuralink headquarters in December last year, Musk had emphasised the speed at which the company is developing its device. The progress at first, particularly as it applies to humans, will seem perhaps agonizingly slow, but we are doing all of the things to bring it to scale in parallel, he added. So, in theory, progress should be exponential. The first two human applications targeted by the Neuralink device will be in restoring vision and enabling movement of muscles in people who cannot do so, Musk had said. Even if someone has never had vision, ever, like they were born blind, we believe we can still restore vision, he said. Repeated delays The FDA approval on Thursday is a big step for Neuralink, which has had a history of running behind schedule. Musk had said in a 2019 presentation he was aiming to receive regulatory approval by the end of 2020. He then said at a conference in late 2021 that he hoped to start human trials in 2022. Neuralink has repeatedly missed internal deadlines to gain FDA approval to start human trials, current and former employees have said. Musk approached competitor Synchron earlier in 2022 about a potential investment after he expressed frustration to Neuralink employees about their slow progress, Reuters reported in August 2022. Synchron crossed a major milestone in July by implanting its device in a patient in the United States for the first time. It received US regulatory clearance for human trials in 2021 and has completed studies in four people in Australia. Controversies regarding experiments There have also been controversies regarding Neuralinks experiments on monkeys. Neuralinks last public presentation involved a monkey with a brain chip that played a computer game by thinking alone. However, one physicians group says that doesnt tell the full story. As per Yahoo Finance, Physicians Committee for ResponsibleMedicine, sued the University of California, Davis, which partnered with Neuralink, to get the details. Public records obtained showed sloppy experiments on animals that caused chronic infections, seizures, paralysis, internal bleeding, and declining psychological health before they were killed. In two separate incidents, experimenters filled holes in monkeys skulls with an unapproved adhesive, which seeped through to the animals brains. In one monkey, the adhesive caused bleeding in her brain, and she vomited so much from the resulting side effects that she developed open sores in her oesophagus, the records showed. Animal 11, a 10-year-old female macaque, underwent a six-hour surgery in which holes were drilled in her skull and electrodes implanted in her brain. Records show that the implants became infected almost immediately, the skin was eroded, and she was scratching at left implant. The skin on her head was soon pierced by the metal implant and there was dark dried blood around it. While staff attempted to clean the discharge and wound, they could not remove all of it. A week later, Animal 11 died after another invasive procedure. When it comes to Neuralink, Elon Musk is just a modern-day PT Barnum, says Ryan Merkley, director of research advocacy with the Physicians Committee. Hes a showman who makes big promises while hiding the grisly details from the public. Were pulling back the curtain on him. What do experts say? Experts remain sceptical, particularly about Musks more outlandish claims such as Neuralink allowing people to read other peoples thoughts, saving and replaying memories, and summoning their cars via thoughts which sound more like science fiction than actual science. Neuroscientist professor Andrew Jackson of the University of Newcastle told Business Insider in 2020: Not to say that that wont happen, but I think that the underlying neuroscience is much more shaky. We understand much less about how those processes work in the brain, and just because you can predict the position of the pigs leg when its walking on a treadmill, that doesnt then automatically mean youll be able to read thoughts. Another professor, Andrew Hires, told Insider Musks claims about merging with AI is where he goes off into aspirational fantasy land. 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. Norway is warning its residents to stay away from a spy whale. The whale known as Hvaldimir first gained fame in 2019 when it was spotted off the coast of Norway. Some researchers at the time speculated that the beluga whale was likely trained by the Russian military. Lets take a closer look at the spy whale: What do we know about Hvaldimir? According to UPI, Hvaldimir was spotted in the Barents Sea coast in April 2019 wearing a harness that appeared to have mounts for cameras. As per New York Post, fisherman Joar Hesten discovered the whale after Hvaldimir began rubbing his body against a boat. Experts at the time told CNN the whale was trained and there was some proof that it was from Russia. CNN quoted marine biologist Jorgen Ree Wiig as saying the harness was seemingly specially made. The harness also had Equipment St. Petersburg on it fuelling speculation that the whale was from Russias Murmansk and was trained by the Russian navy. Wiig said the Russian navy has been known to train belugas to conduct military operations before. Martin Biuw, a marine mammal researcher at Norways Institute of Marine Research, told CNN there was no doubt the whale was trained. Its quite clear that the whale is searching out the boat, and that its used to being around boats. The whale is coming up with its head above the water, opening its mouth, which suggests that its expecting to be fed fish as a reward. Wiig at the time added such training is not conducted by researchers or anyone in Norway or Greenland. Researchers there do not use harnesses. Wigg said whales were trained to guard naval bases, help divers, and find lost equipment. The whale was nicknamed Hvaldimir by a public poll in Norway, as per UPI. This, because Hvaldimir is close to the Russian name Vladimir. The whale was ultimately freed from its harness after which it swam away. It was the best feeling ever, Wiig told CNN. What has Hvaldimir been up to? CNN quoted the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries as saying Hvaldimir, a protected species in Norway, has been travelling along the Norwegian coast since 2019. The beluga whale tends to stay at farms where it has been able to catch fish, grazing on surplus feed, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has said. It added that Hvaldimir also follows boats and plays with passengers. The whale now lives in inner Oslofjord, as per CNN. NDTV quoted fisheries director Frank Bakke-Jensen as saying, So far, there have only been minor incidents where the whale has suffered minor injuries, primarily from contact with boats. When it has now reached the inner Oslofjord, where the population density is much greater and where there are far more recreational boats gathered in a small area, the risk of injury or, in the worst case, death is much greater. 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, Bakke-Jensen added, as per UPI. No reason to capture it While some groups have urged the directorate of fisheries to take Hvaldimir into their possession, that doesnt seem to be on the cards. 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 when it is now in a more vulnerable area and access to food may be limited, we will consider different measures. But it is too early to say anything concrete about that yet, Bakke-Jensen added. We hope it will turn around when it reaches the end of the Oslofjord, Bakke-Jensen was quoted as saying by UPI. 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. No pain, no gain, they say. But a British woman has experienced no pain in her life. Wonder how. Jo Cameron, 75, has a rare mutation, which prevents her from ever experiencing fear or anxiety. But how exactly is this possible? Lets understand. Also read: Will humans be able to grow young again after study makes reverse ageing possible in mice? A woman lives a pain-free life Jo Cameron, a Scottish woman, is able to avoid feeling pain thanks to mutations in the FAAH-OUT gene, according to researchers at University College London (UCL). The same biological mechanisms are thought to speed up wound healing. The findings, which were reported in the journal Brain, according to the researchers, pave the way for future studies on new medications for the treatment of pain and wound healing. I think these findings will have important implications for areas of research such as wound healing, depression and more, Dr Andrei Okorokov, of UCL Medicine, a senior author of the study said. The mum-of-two, a Highlands resident who lives close to Loch Ness, made news in 2019 when UCL researchers revealed that she had mutations in the FAAH-OUT gene, a gene that had not been previously known to cause pain, stress, or anxiety. Also read: Genetic testing for cancer: Why it makes sense How is this possible? Professor James Cox of UCL Medicine, who is also a senior author of the study, stated, By understanding precisely what is happening at a molecular level, we can start to understand the biology involved and that opens up possibilities for drug discovery that could one day have far-reaching positive impacts for patients. The condition was first discovered when the former teacher was 65. According to The Sun, she says, I knew that I was happy-go-lucky, but it didnt dawn on me that I was different. I thought it was just me. I didnt know anything strange was going on until I was 65. She told BBC in an interview in 2019, We had banter before theatre when I guaranteed I wouldnt need painkillers. When he found I hadnt had any, he checked my medical history and found I had never asked for painkillers. She recalled that she had not even experienced pain during labour, describing the experience as quite enjoyable. Although she had not felt any pain, she was seeking treatment for a hip problem at the time, which turned out to involve serious joint degeneration. Months later, she underwent hand surgery at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, and she reported no pain afterwards, despite the fact that the procedure is typically excruciating. On the basis of their research, the scientists discovered that the FAAH-OUT mutation turns down the expression of the FAAH gene, which is linked to pain, mood, and memory. The scientists found that Camerons case had significantly lower enzyme activity levels in the FAAH gene. Additionally, they examined tissue samples to investigate how mutations in the FAAH gene affected other molecular pathways. They discovered increased activity in the WNT16 gene, which has previously been connected to bone formation. The researchers also discovered changes in the BDNF and ACKR3 genes, which they think may be responsible for Camerons lack of anxiety, fear, and sensation of pain. The FAAH-OUT gene is just one small portion of a massive continent that this study has started to map, according to senior author Dr Okorokov. As well as the molecular basis for painlessness, these explorations have identified molecular pathways affecting wound healing and mood, all influenced by the FAAH-OUT mutation. As scientists, it is our duty to explore and I think these findings will have important implications for areas of research such as wound healing, depression and more, he said, according to Independent. Cameron leads a comfortable existence free of painful circumstances and adrenaline rushes, yet she views pain as a warning sign that she is missing something. Pain is there for a reason, it warns you you hear alarm bells and it would be nice to have warning when somethings wrong, The Sun quoted her as saying. There are only two known carriers of the mutant gene in the world, including Cameron. 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 Supreme Court granted six weeks interim bail to former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain on medical grounds on Friday (26 May). He has been in prison since last May following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case. During his interim bail period, the top court has directed the AAP leader not to speak to the media, influence witnesses, tamper with evidence or leave Delhi. The apex court will hear the matter next on 10 July. But what happened to Satyendar Jain that led to this ruling? Lets find out. What is going on? The interim bail comes a day after Jain was admitted to the ICU of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. Jain collapsed inside a bathroom in Tihar jail around 6 am on Thursday (25 May). As per an Indian Express report, the former Delhi health minister was first referred to Deendayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital in West Delhi, from where he was later shifted to LNJP in central Delhi. The AAP-led Delhi government shared a picture showing Jain lying on a bed at Lok Nayak Hospital with oxygen support. 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 A Tihar Jail spokesperson said that Jain fell in the bathroom of the MI room of the hospital of central jail number-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness, reported PTI. He was referred to the DDU as he complained of pain in the back, left leg and shoulder, the senior jail official added. A senior doctor at the Delhi government-run LNJP told PTI on 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. Reacting to the news, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal prayed for Jains speedy recovery. 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 God is watching all, he will do justice to all. I pray to God for Satyendar jis speedy recovery. May God give them the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances, he wrote in a tweet. - , , , https://t.co/I4UYn9xP9r Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 25, 2023 This was the second time in a week that the former minister required medical attention. On Monday, he was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital after he complained of extreme back pain due to the spinal injury he sustained from a fall inside the prison last year, as per Indian Express. AAP says Jains doctor has suggested immediate spinal surgery. According to a party official, Jain has acute lumbar pain, causing vertigo and chronic lower back pain due to a slipped disc. Jains MRI has also shown degeneration in all intervertebral discs, leading doctors to advise urgent spinal/vertebral surgery and proper post-operative care. However, he has been placed as No. 416 on a waiting list by jail authorities, and is expected to be able to undergo surgery only after a further five months, the AAP official was quoted as saying by Indian Express. ALSO READ: The case against Delhi minister Satyendar Jain and the war of words between AAP and BJP What happened in Supreme Court? Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Jain, said his clients medical reports attest that his client needs immediate medical attention. He told the apex court that he was seeking bail only on medical grounds and not on merits. The man has developed muscular atrophy. He has become a skeleton. Has lost 35 kgs, Singhvi told the top court, as per Live Law. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who represented the ED, retorted that the AAP leader, who belongs to the Jain community, has lost weight as he was not eating. As far as weight is considered, he is a Jain and I am told that he is not taking food in jail and he is fasting, LiveLaw quoted Raju as saying. ASG Raju also argued that LNJPs medical reports could be falsified as Jain has served as Delhis health minister. He was the health minister. He was also the jail minister. So, he knows doctors and officials in jail. All these reports could be fudged and cannot be relied upon. Let him be examined by a panel of doctors from AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) or another hospital that is not under the Delhi government, Raju told the vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha, according to HT. The ASG further pointed out that Jain had withdrawn a similar bail plea on medical grounds last year when ED called for his examination by a panel of doctors at AIIMS which is run by the Central government. ASG Raju also urged the Supreme Court to get Jain examined by an independent medical team at AIIMS during his interim bail. To this, the bench replied, as per HT: We can consider independent evaluation after going through the reports that he will submit on the next date. The top court gave interim bail to Jain till 11 July so he can avail treatment in a private hospital of his choice. Jain has been accused of laundering money to the tune of nearly Rs 16.5 crore over two periods in 2010-12 and 2015-16 through companies allegedly linked to him. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a case against the AAP leader in 2017. He was arrested by the ED last year following the CBI case. Last year, the central agency attached assets worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to these companies in the alleged money laundering case. The former Delhi minister has denied all the charges and his party has called the case a political vendetta against him by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre. 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. As the opening of the new Parliament building comes closer, the rift between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition party Congress seems to be flaring up. A new row has emerged over the sceptre or sengol that is to be installed in the new Parliament complex which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (28 May). The Congress, along with 19 other Opposition parties, has already decided to boycott the event. What has led to this new controversy over the sengol? Lets take a closer look. What Centre said Addressing a press conference on 24 May, Union home minister Amit Shah said sengol, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, will be placed close to the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker in the new Parliament building. Shah claimed that the sceptre was given by the British to Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru as a symbol of the transfer of power. He also said that the handing over of the sengol to denote the transfer of power from one king to other dates back to the Chola dynasty in Tamil Nadu. It was a special occasion on the night of 14 August 1947, celebrating Indias independence. On this night, Jawaharlal Nehru received the sengol from the Adheenams (Priests) of the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam (Mutt) 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. What we are celebrating as independence is actually marked by the very moment of handing over the sengol, the Union home minister told reporters, as per Mint. A day after Shahs conference, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told journalists in Chennai that the sengol installation in Parliament was a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu. She reiterated that the handing of sceptre to Nehru on the eve of Independence symbolised and sanctified the transfer of power, reported The Hindu. As per the Central government, Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, asked Nehru if there was a ritual to mark the transfer of power. The Congress leader in turn consulted with C Rajagopalachari who recommended following the Chola dynasty practice of handing over a sceptre from one ruler to another to signify the transfer of power. Rajagopalachari, commonly called Rajaji, then directed the pontiffs of Tamil Nadu-based Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam mutt to arrange for the sceptre, following which it was flown to New Delhi. It was first handed over to Mountbatten and eventually given to Nehru, The Wire reported citing the government. Since then, the sengol has been kept in the Allahabad Museum. So, what is the row about? The Grand Old Party is saying there is no documented evidence of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing the sengol as a symbol of the transfer of power between the British and India. In a tweet today (26 May), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, All claims to this effect are plain and simple BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. He alleged that the sceptre is being used by prime minister Modi and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament? the Congress MP asked. Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from the WhatsApp University? The BJP/RSS Distorians stand exposed yet again with Maximum Claims, Minimum Evidence. 1. A majestic sceptre conceived of by a religious establishment in pic.twitter.com/UXoqUB5OkC Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 26, 2023 Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav mocked the BJP, saying the use of sengol meant that the saffron party has accepted defeat, referring to the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (The) Sengol is a symbol of the transfer of power (from one hand to another) BJP seems to have accepted that the time has come to hand over power, Yadav said in a tweet amid the row over the sceptre. The SP is also among the Opposition parties that have decided to stay away from the inauguration. (- ) pic.twitter.com/wLPeIYvljC Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 26, 2023 Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam objected to the Congress bogus remark, calling it sad and unfortunate. ALSO READ: Sengol, the historic sceptre, to be placed in new Parliament and its link to Nehru How has the BJP responded? In a sharp attack on the Congress, the Union home minister asked why the party hates Indian traditions and culture so much. A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 In another tweet, an apparent reference to Rameshs remarks, Shah said: Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour. Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 Union minister Smriti Irani also hit out at the Congress, claiming that sengol which is a symbol of our freedom was kept in a dark corner of a museum as a stick of Nehruji by the Gandhi family. #WATCH | Sengol which is a symbol of our freedom was kept in a dark corner of a museum as a stick of Nehruji by the Gandhi family: Smriti Irani, BJP pic.twitter.com/YHeIjTHgWg ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Earlier on Thursday, the BJP alleged the Congress showed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred sengol a golden stick gifted to Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. 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. China and the United States seem to be perpetually squabbling. One of Washingtons biggest grouses is that the Asian giant is always snooping. (Beijing has similar complaints). Chinese secret police stations in the US and the surveillance balloons have been the latest examples. And now Chinese hacking teams are the centre of the latest spying allegations. Western intelligence agencies and cybersecurity companies have blamed Chinese hacking teams for global digital incursion campaigns that have targeted everything from government and military organisations to corporations and media organisations. Cybersecurity firms believe many of those groups are backed by Chinas government. US-based cybersecurity firm Mandiant has said some Chinese hacking groups are operated by units of Chinas army. In the most recent development, Microsoft on Wednesday said that Chinese state-sponsored hackers had compromised critical US cyber infrastructure across numerous industries with a focus on gathering intelligence. The attack is apparently ongoing. In an advisory, Microsoft urged impacted customers to close or change credentials for all compromised accounts. 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. Infrastructure in nearly every critical sector has been impacted, Microsoft said, including the communications, transport and maritime industries. Government organisations were also targeted. 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 an invasion of Taiwan. Chinas authorities have consistently denied any form of state-sponsored hacking, saying China itself is a frequent target of cyberattacks. It has dubbed the US National Security Agency (NSA) as the worlds largest hacker organisation. Some of the biggest Chinese hacking teams identified by intelligence agencies and cybersecurity groups are: Volt Typhoon Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft said on 24 May that Volt Typhoon, a group they described as state-sponsored, had been spying on a range of US critical infrastructure organisations, from telecommunications to transportation hubs. Microsoft stated in a statement that the Chinese hacker squad, codenamed Volt Typhoon, had been active since mid-2021. According to CNBC, the organisation is attempting to damage critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia. The NSA put out a bulletin Wednesday, detailing how the hack works and how cybersecurity teams should respond. Volt Typhoon is able to infiltrate organisations 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. Also Read: US-China trade barbs on disinformation cyberscape The state-sponsored hackers arent looking to create disruption yet, Microsoft said. Rather, the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible. While China and the United States routinely spy on each other, analysts say this is one of the largest known Chinese cyber-espionage campaigns against American critical infrastructure. Chinas foreign ministry described the reports as part of a US disinformation campaign. BackdoorDiplomacy BackdoorDiplomacy is a cyber espionage threat group that has been active since at least 2017. It has targeted foreign ministries and telecommunications businesses in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Palo Alto Networks, a US cybersecurity firm, says its research showed BackdoorDiplomacy has links to the Chinese state and is part of the APT15 hacking group. A Reuters report in May identified BackdoorDiplomacy as being behind a widespread series of digital intrusions over several years against key Kenyan ministries and state institutions. The Chinese authorities said it was not aware of such hacking and described the accusations as baseless. APT 41 Chinese hacking team APT 41, which is also known as Wintti, Double Dragon and Amoeba, has conducted a mix of government-backed cyber intrusions and financially motivated data breaches, according to US-based cybersecurity firms FireEye and Mandiant, reports Reuters. The US secret service said the team had stolen US COVID relief benefits worth tens of millions of dollars between 2020-2022. Taiwan-based cybersecurity firm TeamT5 said the group had targeted government, telecoms, and media victims in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, the United States and Hong Kong. APT 41 was named by the US justice department in September 2020 in relation to charges brought against seven hackers for allegedly compromising more than 100 companies around the world. The Chinese authorities have described such reports as groundless accusations. APT 27 Western intelligence agencies and cybersecurity researchers say the Chinese hacking team APT 27 is sponsored by the state and has launched multiple attacks on Western and Taiwanese government agencies, according to Reuters. APT 27 claimed responsibility for cyber attacks against Taiwan in 2022 during a visit by then-US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying it acted as a protest because Pelosi defied Chinas warnings not to visit. Cybersecurity firm Mandiant said last year the group compromised the computer networks of at least six US state governments between May 2021 and February 2022, while the German authorities named blamed it for attacks against German pharmaceuticals, technology and other companies. 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. It is a historic day for India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new Parliament building. The occasion was marked as he installed the historic sengol next to the Lok Sabha Speakers seat. The ceremonial sceptre has led to a political slugfest between the government and the Opposition, but it day of immense pride for the Vummidi Bangaru family from Chennai. The well-known jewellers, are the makers of the sengol meaning full of wealth that was handed to the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of Independence. Now decades later, they will be felicitated at the inauguration ceremony of the new building. Ironically, the new generation of jewellers didnt know about the familys connection to the sengol until 2018 when a magazine article mentioned it. Vummidi Balaji, the great-grandson of jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty said: It 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. We take a closer look at who exactly is the Vummidi Bangaru family and its rich connect with the sengol. Who are the Vummidi Bangaru family? Today, the Vummidi Bangaru family is one of the most well-known jewellers in Chennai. However, their beginnings are humble, to say the least. The business was started in 1900 by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty in erstwhile Madras. He hailed from Gudiyatham in the Vellore district and started making jewellery in his hometown Pallikonda. Reports say that Vummidi would make the jewellery himself and carry it around in a box to sell them. According to a report in The Hindu, the family established their first jewellery store at Govindappa Naicken Street, situated in George Town, Chennai. It was from there that Vummidi using his business acumen spread the brand across the city and today, the family has operations all across Chennai as well as Bengaluru. A moment that will make every Indian proud of our culture, heritage and vibrant democracy!#MyParliamentMyPride pic.twitter.com/rt9I6uN94g BJP (@BJP4India) May 28, 2023 How did they come about making the sengol? The connection between the Vummidi Bangaru Chetty family and the sengol is an interesting one. When Lord Mountbatten asked Jawaharlal Nehru about the ceremony to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India, the latter reached out to politician and freedom fighter C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji). According to Rajajis great-grandson, CR Kesavan, it was the freedom fighters idea to have the sceptre as they did in the times of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. CR Kesavan was quoted as telling The Print, When Rajaji was asked, the first thing that came to his mind was how the transfer of power happened centuries ago in southern India, like in the dynasties of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas with the ritual of the sceptre. After the idea was accepted, Rajaji reached out to Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, a Shaivite mutt in present-day Tamil Nadu. It was the seer who commissioned the Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers with the task of making the sceptre. According to information provided by the government, Vummidi Ethirajulu and his brother Vummidi Sudhakar made the sengol in 1947. Ethirajulu, according to a video made, said that the sengol is made of silver and plated with gold. The embossing on the sceptre was done by a different set of goldsmiths and it took 10-15 days just for that to be completed. Amarendran Vummidi, a fourth-generation member of the family, and who runs the operations with his brother Jithendra, says that the sengol in todays age would have cost around Rs 70-75 lakh. The sceptre would have then taken at least 30 days and about five to eight people to work on it. There are several fine details like a Nandi (divine bull) at the top of the sceptre and several lines written in Tamil on the sceptre, he told The Print. All the coverage on the inauguration of new Parliament building New Parliament building and the many controversies surrounding the structure Parliament building row: Who is attending, who is boycotting? New Parliament Building Inauguration: Centre to launch Rs 75 coin to mark the occasion Interestingly, the younger generation of the family didnt know that it was they who had made this historic sceptre owing to the loss of records. But they learnt about it in 2018 through a magazine article. In 2019, the jewellers marketing head, Arun Kumar, made the discovery of the sengol at the Allahabad Museum. According to an Economic Times report, Arun Kumar immediately recognised the features of the sceptre, such as the presence of Goddess Lakshmi encircled by flowers on the orb and a sacred bull, known as a rishabha, positioned atop it, and informed the family of it. #WATCH | "Today after 75 years, Sengol is being remembered. Govt is recreating the entire event that happened in 1947. Very nostalgic and a beautiful feeling for us that our forefathers were part of history and now were also going to witness the recreation of that event": pic.twitter.com/5uzNFYn1s2 ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 The family then decided to organise a press conference with museum officials to share the finding. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the press conference could not take place as planned. So they decided to create a video, which eventually caught the attention of Prime Minister Modi and as they say, the rest is history. What role did the sengol play in the inauguration? Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed the golden sceptre near the Speakers seat. A puja and a multi-faith prayer were held on the occasion. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Adheenam seers were present at the event. The seers handed over the the sceptre to PM Modi who walked into the new Parliament building and installed it. Speaking about it earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the sceptre is a significant historical symbol of Independence; it was handed over to Nehru to mark the transfer of power from the British to India. However, Congress has contested this and has a different story to tell. This sengol has huge significance. When PM Modi got to know about this, he asked to get more info on this On 14 August 1945, around 10:45 pm, Nehru accepted this sengol from the people of Tamil Nadu. It is a sign of a shift of power from Britishers to the people of this country. The sengol has since assumed importance as the sceptre of righteousness. It is a reminder of Indias diversity and the birth of a great nation. And with its installation in the new Parliament building, another chapter has been added to its rich history. 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. He committed seditious conspiracy crimes against democracy. He led a plot to keep then-United States president Donald Trump in power even after he lost the 2020 election. The result was the US Capitol attack on 6 January 2021. Now Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. To Rhodes, his conviction for leading the far-right militia in the assault on the US Capitol made him Americas premier political prisoner the equivalent of Russian dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. But for Judge Amit Mehta, who sentenced the Yale Law graduate to prison, Rhodes is a self-obsessed criminal who took up arms against the US government in a brazen conspiracy of sedition, threatening terror on the US Congress. A peril to democracy Rhodes, 57, was defiant to the end of his trial, refusing any fault or error in the Oath Keepers campaign to keep Donald Trump in the White House and prevent Joe Biden from becoming president by violent means if necessary. Im a political prisoner, he told the court. My only crime is opposing those destroying our country. Prior to his sentence, Rhodes delivered a fascist rant in which he attacked the charges against him and vowed his devotion to Donald Trump. He told the judge that he was a political prisoner and like Trump, his only crime was opposing those who are destroying our country, reports CNN. Rhodes said that every person charged with crimes related to 6 January is a political prisoner. All are being grossly overcharged. Judge Mehta stated that Rhodes has shown no remorse and continues to be a threat. 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. A seditious conspiracy, when you take those two concepts and put it together, is among the most serious crimes an American can commit, the judge added. It is an offence against the government to use force. It is an offense against the people of our country. I dare say we all now hold our collective breaths when an election is approaching. Will we have another 6 January again? That remains to be seen. Anti-government militia The sentencing appeared to be the final blow to Rhodes, who created the Oath Keepers in 2009 after years of preparing to do battle with a government he views as increasingly repressive. With a pirate-like black patch over his left eye and a Yale law school graduates ability to impress followers with a mastery of constitutional law, Rhodes constructed a band of like-minded supporters largely from the ex-military and ex-police community around the country. Rhodes grew up in the southwestern United States and joined the army after finishing high school. But he was discharged early due to an injury in a parachuting exercise. His former wife Tasha Adams Rhodes, with whom he had six children, said they met as he was working as a parking valet, and she was teaching dance in Las Vegas. Rhodes also worked as a firearms instructor and lost one eye when he dropped a gun and it fired, hitting him. In 1998, he graduated from a local university and was accepted at Yale Law, one of the countrys most elite institutions. After Yale, he set up a law practice in Montana, a breeding ground for militia and activists suspicious of any authority and enamoured by guns and military gear. It was there Rhodes developed the idea for the Oath Keepers, on the premise that the federal government was increasingly encroaching on citizens rights, including restricting gun ownership. Followers must be willing to fight the government, he would say, tapping into the rise of social media to gather supporters from around the United States. Protecting Trump supporters Rhodes struck a nerve among many white men with military and police backgrounds. As the group grew, Rhodes farmed out armed, combat-suited Oath Keepers for security at Republican rallies and during social disturbances, like the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 after police shot a Black man. He claimed they were basically a peacekeeping force. As Trump gained political influence, Oath Keepers volunteered as security at events held by his supporters. Rhodes told the court they were protecting Trump supporters from attacks by extreme leftists known as Antifa. But increasingly the group appeared as a somewhat disciplined armed force and he became their general, as prosecutors labelled him. His ex-wife called him a narcissistic sociopath who mythologises his own future as the next George Washington. The 6 January attack All that came together in the 6 January uprising, when Rhodes brought several dozen members of his group to Washington with a cache of weapons, determined to block Congresss official certification of Biden as the winner over Trump in the November 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors showed text messages and recorded conversations that depicted Rhodes building up steam for a possible violent insurrection. The patriots are taking matters into their own hands, he wrote other Oath Keepers. In Thursdays sentencing, Mehta said Rhodes knew exactly what he was doing, preparing his followers with weaponry for an all-out confrontation. What was the motive? You didnt like the new guy, said Mehta, referring to Bidens victory. What we absolutely cannot have is a group of citizens (who), because they did not like the outcome of an election are then prepared to take up arms to foment a revolution, he said. You are a lawyer. You know what that means. But Rhodes called himself a political prisoner. He gave the orders Mehta noted that Rhodes was the mastermind behind the Oath Keepers attack on the Capitol, claiming the group would not have tried to interfere with Congress certification of the 2020 presidential election if not for him. Oath Keepers wouldnt have been there but for Stewart Rhodes, and I dont think anyone contends otherwise, Mehta said. He was the one who gave the order to go, and they went. On 6 January 2021, a mob of supporters of Trump attacked the Capitol building in Washington, DC. The attack disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the results of the presidential election of 2020, which Trump had lost to his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden Earlier on Thursday, Mehta ruled that Rhodes actions amounted to domestic terrorism. Of those that Rhodes led, 22 have already been convicted of various federal crimes by a jury or guilty plea. Eight, including Rhodes codefendants Meggs, were convicted of seditious conspiracy. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A noodle vendor in Vietnam has been jailed for five and a half years for acting against the state. Bui Tuan Lam is accused of making fun of a high-ranking government official by imitating the famous chef Salt Bae. The conviction is the latest in what rights groups say is the governments wide-ranging attempt to silence voices critical of the ruling Vietnamese Communist Party. Lets take a closer look. Also read: Vietnams ingenious plan to stop online scams is to make social media users verify their profiles Noodle vendor sent to jail 39-year-old Bui Tuan Lam was sentenced to five and a half years in prison on Thursday, police said, after a court in Da Nang found him guilty of anti-state propaganda. In 2021, Bui Tuan Lam posted a parody video impersonating Salt Bae Nusret Gokce, a Turkish chef who parlayed his meme stardom into high-end eateries by sprinkling herbs on noodle soup and calling himself Green Onion Bae, according to AFP. But his video came after a clip of a high-ranking Vietnamese official in London tucking into a steak at Gokces Knightsbridge venue went viral in Vietnam. Lam was in trouble within days of uploading his video and filmed a police visit to his home in the central city of Da Nang. 5 nam 6 thang tu va 4 nam quan che cho Thanh Rac Hanh (Bui Tuan Lam). Luat phap nhu ccc !!! pic.twitter.com/sQO5lh3Pen Nguyen Duy Tai (@NguyenDuyTai18) May 25, 2023 They charged the defendant based on posts and video clips Lam had on his accounts on social media platforms, lawyer Le Dinh Viet told AFP. There was nothing about the Salt Bae clip, he added. He was convicted of making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, and items against the state, the Danang police department said after a one-day trial. Lam denied the charges and said he had only expressed his personal viewpoint and exercised his right to freedom of speech. He was also sentenced to four years on probation. His publishing of 19 videos on Facebook and 25 videos on YouTube, according to the indictment, affected the peoples confidence in the leadership of the state. As a result of his nearly ten years of political activism, Bui Tuan Lam was compelled to leave his work in Ho Chi Minh City and take a job selling noodles in his hometown of Danang, reported BBC. Since 2014, he has been unable to leave Vietnam because his passport was seized. However, this is the first time the police have brought charges against him. Also read: Tech companies continue to abandon China. Heres why its good news for India, Mexico and Vietnam Vietnam Ministers luxury meal Days before Tuan Lams video, Vietnams minister of public security To Lam whose agency monitors dissent and surveils activists was caught on camera at the Turkish chef Gokces luxury Nusr-Et Steakhouse restaurant in London. The restaurant serves up steaks wrapped in edible 24-carat gold leaf, reportedly costing more than $1,000 or Rs 82,725, and the video sparked anger over the decadence on display while Vietnam struggled through the Covid pandemic. Since the southeast Asian nation is still recovering from decades of war, a large portion of its people lives below the poverty line, raising questions about the ministers pricey supper, as per Independent. According to a 2021 assessment by the Asian Development Bank, 4.4 per cent of Vietnams population is considered to be living in poverty. During the same trip to London, Lam also visited the grave of Karl Marx, the ideological father of communism. Lam, a member of the countrys 16-strong politburo, has been public security minister since 2016 and has taken a hard line on human rights movements in the communist nation. Also read: Vietnam reported 8 per cent economic growth, but upward trend may not sustain Similar incident Vietnam has strict curbs on freedom of expression and the government moves swiftly to stamp out dissent and arrest critics, especially those who find an audience online. Independent media are banned. In April, Vietnam imprisoned Nguyen Lan Thang, a prominent journalist who documented protests and human rights violations, for six years. A year earlier, high-profile dissident journalist Pham Doan Trang was given nine years behind bars. They were jailed on the same anti-state charge. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that he wont attend the Niti Aayog meeting over the Centres recent ordinance on control of services in the national capital. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal said that he wont be able to attend the Niti Aayog meeting. People are asking, if the PM doesnt abide by the SC, then where will people go for justice? Whats the point of attending the NITI Ayog meeting when cooperative federalism is a joke, he said. Also Read: Services row: Arvind Kejriwal seeks meeting with Rahul Gandhi amid battle with Centre over ordinance. The ordinance brought recently by the BJP-led central government has taken back the elected Delhi governments executive control over a bureaucracy that was earlier given to it by the Supreme Court through its verdict on May 11. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to boycott NITI Ayog meeting, writes a letter to PM Narendra Modi saying "People are asking, if the PM doesn't abide by the SC then where will people go for justice? What's the point of attending NITI Ayog meeting when cooperative federalism is a joke" pic.twitter.com/CPIQJaF9oH ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 The ordinance comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in the national capital to the Delhi government. It states that there shall be an authority to be known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the functions assigned to it. The authority shall comprise the chief minister of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi as its chairperson, along with the chief secretary and the principal home secretary, who shall be the member secretary to the authority. The chief minister of AAP-ruled Punjab, Bhagawant Mann, has also declared to boycott the Niti Aayog meeting on Saturday. 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. Ever felt shocked by the high price of Uber rides? In an incident that many commuters would relate to, a Twitter user tried booking a trip from Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City. Much to his dismay, the Uber apps high prices were nearly as much as his flight fare. Uber fare to Bangalore Airport from E-City. Cost of cab fare is dangerously close to what I paid for the flight ticket, according to the caption posted with the screenshot. The image shows Uber Premium costs over 2,500, and UberXL somewhere near 4,100. In a reply to a user, the man confirmed there was a 50 km distance between the airport and the destination. Check out the post: Approximately 85,000 people have viewed the post since it was posted on 23 May. It has received more than 700 likes, as well as various comments. How Twitter users reacted: Several people responded to the tweet, with some suggesting alternate modes of transport while others expressing shock at the prices. Exactly. Not just rate but travel time too is mostly equal if flying domestic, a user wrote. To which the man replied, Thats always been the case for Bangalore but these fares are ridiculous. Thats always been the case for Bangalore but these fares are ridiculous Badass Dad (@Badass_Superdad) May 23, 2023 Isse acha wapas flight pakad ke ghar chale jaao, suggested another user jokingly. One of accounts cringed at the citys packed and difficult traffic trails. Uff! Bangalore commute..always a nightmare!, she wrote in the comments. Isse acha wapas flight pakad ke ghar chale jaao Minty Sharma (@MintOminty) May 23, 2023 In the past, the CEO of The Ken Web, Rohin Dharmakumar, also took to Twitter to slam the extremely high prices of a cab ride to Bengaluru airport. 1 hour Uber to Bengaluru airport costs 60-130% the price of a 1.5-hour flight to Mumbai, Dharmakumar wrote while sharing screenshots to prove his point. A ~1 hour Uber to Bengaluru airport costs 60-130% the price of a ~1.5 hour flight to Mumbai pic.twitter.com/zl5kFaCuNa Rohin Dharmakumar (@r0h1n) September 12, 2022 The post was shared by his on 12 September, 2022. The incident sparked a social media debate about commuter issues in the city. Many internet users agreed that the airports location which is one hour and a half away from the city is a hassle. Others, however, simply pointed to alternatives. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As violence in Manipur rages on, forcing several people to displace from their homes and seek temporary rehabilitation in the neighboring state of Mizoram, the government of Mizoram has assured that children from the violence-hit state can continue their schooling there. Sub-divisional educational officers and principals of state-run higher secondary schools said in a letter sent to all district and school authorities to allow the displaced students to be enrolled in state-run 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 cant be provided for the children if and when they solicit admission to schools, the letter written by education department director Lalsangliana said. Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the states apex student body, has held talks with the government and is monitoring the situation closely. 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 the Kolasib district near the Assam border, while 2,610 people have taken shelter in the Aizawl district and 2,229 in the Saitual district, he said. He said the remaining 345 people took shelter in Champhai, Khawzawl, Serchhip, Mamit, Lunglei and Hnahthial districts. The internally displaced people are lodged at temporary relief camps, while their relatives have also been given many shelters. 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. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Modi should return as the Prime Minister in 2024, said the head priest of Madurai Adheenam who will present the Sengol to him for installing in the new Parliament building on 28 May. On the day of the inauguration of the new Parliament building (28 May), Modi will be presented with the Sengol by the 293rd head priest of Madurai Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal. PM Modi is a leader who got global appreciation. He is doing good things for people. Again in 2024 he has to become PM and should guide people. We are all so proud as world leaders are appreciating our PM Modi, he told ANI. He added, I will be meeting PM Modi and presenting the Sengol to him on the inauguration of the new Parliament building. History of the Sengol Sengol derives its name from the Tamil word semmai which means righteousness. In 1947, the Sengol was handed over to Indias 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 the shift of power from the British to the people of our country, Shah said on Wednesday. The Union Home Minister also said that the Sengol has been necessary 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. Shah also said that it was inappropriate to keep this sacred Sengol in a museum. Ahead of Indias 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 to him that it could mark Indias freedom from British Raj. Rajagopalachari was then asked to arrange a Sengol for the historic moment of Indias independence. He contacted Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam, a prominent mutt in present-day Tamil Nadu. 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 had 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. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking death penalty for separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was awarded life term by a trial court here in a terror funding case. The plea by the agency has been listed for hearing on May 29 before a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh. On May 24, 2022, a trial court here had awarded life imprisonment to Malik, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, after holding him guilty for various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the IPC. The trial court, which had rejected the NIAs plea for capital punishment, had said the crimes committed by Malik struck at the heart of the idea of India and were intended to forcefully secede Jammu and Kashmir from Union of India. These crimes were intended to strike at the heart of the idea of India and intended to forcefully secede J&K from UOI. The crime becomes more serious as it was committed with the assistance of foreign powers and designated terrorists. The seriousness of crime is further increased by the fact that it was committed behind the smokescreen of an alleged peaceful political movement, the trial court had said. It had noted that the case was not the rarest of rare, warranting death penalty. The maximum punishment for such an offence is death penalty. The life term was awarded for two offences section 121 (waging war against government of India) of IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA. According to the Supreme Court, life imprisonment means incarceration till the last breath, unless the sentence is commuted by the authorities. The court had awarded Malik 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being member of terror organisation) of UAPA. It had also awarded five-year jail term each under sections 13 (unlawful act), 38 (offence related to membership of terrorism) and 39 (support given to terrorism) of UAPA. Malik had on May 10 last year told the Delhi court he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included acts of terrorism and sedition. The court had framed the charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor. A charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both of whom have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case and are living in Pakistan. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Once again Congress has been caught on the wrong foot. Having derided Sengols history as bogus has invited the ire of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, the math that gave Rahul Gandhis great grandfather the sacred symbol of Indian Independence from the British Raj. The math, in its official release, has lambasted the party, though without taking any names, and said that they would reveal the true history of the Sengol and Nehru from the time of Indias Independence and Transfer of Power at a presser Friday evening. Calling the Congress diatribe against Sengol, sad and unfortunate, the release said the history of Sengol had been documented by multiple sources as well as well preserved in their own records. It has been well documented by multiple sources, including our own records, that we were invited to conduct a ritual to symbolise transfer of power, the release said. Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam honoured the invited of C Rajagopalachari and we got a Sengol made. The release further said, the Sengol was given to Lord Mountbatten, got it back from him and presented it to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in an elaborate ritual. The Swami who presented the Sengol to Nehru also made it clear that it is a symbol of self-rule, the mutt added. Saying that such events are bogus or false, trying to raise question marks about our credibility, and trying to reduce the importance of the use of the Sengol as a symbol of the transfer of power for the sake of politics is very sad and unfortunate, the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam said in its release. Earlier in the day, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh claimed that there is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji & Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media, he alleged. The sceptre is now being used by the Prime Minister and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives, claimed Jairam Ramesh. Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from the WhatsApp University? The BJP/RSS Distorians stand exposed yet again with Maximum Claims, Minimum Evidence. 1. A majestic sceptre conceived of by a religious establishment in pic.twitter.com/UXoqUB5OkC Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 26, 2023 Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress for terming stories behind Sengol "bogus". Shah asked why the Congress party "hate Indian traditions and culture so much?" "A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick," Shah said. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," Shah said. Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 A Sengol will be reintroduced in the new Parliament building which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 28 May. PM Modi will install the golden sceptre near the Speakers seat. Traditionally called the Sengol, it has roots in Tamil culture. The word Sengol means righteousness. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Supreme Court has declined the PIL seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on 28th May. A bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha told petitioner in-person advocate Jaya Sukin that the court understands why and how this petition was filed and it is not inclined to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. Sukin said under Article 79, the president is the executive head of the country and she should have been invited. He, however, said if the court does not wish to entertain the petition, he be allowed to withdraw it. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said if the petition is allowed to be withdrawn, then it will be filed in the high court. The bench then dismissed the petition as withdrawn. The petition said the respondents the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Union of India are humiliating the president by not inviting her for the inauguration. The petition by an apex court lawyer was filed amid a controversy over the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Twenty Opposition parties have decided to boycott the ceremony to protest the sidelining of the president. In a joint statement on Wednesday, 19 political parties said, When the soul of democracy has been sucked out of Parliament, we find no value in a new building. The BJP-led NDA shot back, condemning the contemptuous decision. This act is not merely disrespectful; it is a blatant affront to the democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation, parties belonging to the ruling NDA said in a statement on Wednesday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had recently met the prime minister and invited him to inaugurate the new building. Modi had also laid the foundation stone for the building in 2020 and most opposition parties had stayed away from the event even then. 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 Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendra Jain on medical grounds. The former cabinet minister has been in custody since May 2022 over his alleged involvement in a money laundering case. The order was passed by a vacation bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice PS Narasimha. Jain has been granted interim bail for six weeks to seek treatment in a private hospital. The apex court also ordered the ex-minister to make any statement to the media on the issue. Meanwhile, the bench also rejected the Enforcement Directorates (ED) objection that the AIIMS Delhi should independently evaluate him. Satyendra Jain was hospitalized on Thursday after he collapsed in Tihar jail. The ex-minister was first taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital before he was shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) owing to breathing problems. Satyendar Jain has been admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (DDU). 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 in a statement. A senior prison official said that Jain slipped in the central jail hospital of Tihar on Thursday morning. He was initially examined by doctors who find his vitals to be normal. However, he later complained of pain in his back, leg and shoulder following which he was referred to DDU. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Lord Mountbatten received the Sengol and then it presented to Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 to symbolise the transfer of power from the British, Ambalavana Desiga Paramachariya Swamigal of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu said on Friday. Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India. Addressing a press conference, Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam, Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swami said the Sengol that was away from the gaze of people would now be prominently displayed in Parliament for the world to see. Notably, this was his first response following the political controversy that erupted over the Sengol. To a question on proof for handing over the Sengol, the pontiff said there was evidence including photographs and reports that appeared in newspapers and magazines in 1947. To claim that Sengol was not given is wrong information. Answering a query, the pontiff said dissemination of wrong information (by some people) in respect of Sengol caused sadness. He also displayed a math publication that had photographs of the handover of Sengol in 1947. It is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu that Sengol has gone from the Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam located in the Chola country (region ruled by the Cholas). The sceptre signified righteousness for a just and fair regime and there are references to the Sengol in Tamil literature including the classic didactic work Tirukkural, the pontiff noted. On the Hindu religious motif on the Sengol, he said: In keeping with the traditions followed during the reign of the Chola empire, the Sengol was made and the Rishaba (Nandi, the Bull) symbol was placed on it. The spiritual leader said, Sengol is a sign of Dharma, the Nandi is a symbol of Dharma; it symbolised protection of Dharma for all the times to come. He also cited a Tamil Shaivite hymn to underscore the importance of Nandi symbolising Dharma. About 2 months ago, the Centre had hinted at placing Sengol inside the new Parliament building. The Union government has invited them to the inaugural event. We are happy, the Sengol that was confined to a museum will be placed in the new Parliament building; we are invited by Delhi and we will be going and the Sengol will be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. The pontiff said Rajaji and other leaders reached out to the Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam over the question of symbolising the transfer of power from the British. In 1947, the math was headed by Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swami and it was decided to make a Sengol in sync with tradition to symbolise independence and power transfer. An order was placed with Chennai-based Vummudi Bangaru Jewellers to make a five-foot long Sengol and it was done accordingly by the firm. The math delegation, which included Sadai Swami alias Kumaraswamy Thambiran, Manicka Oduvar and nagaswaram maestro T N Rajarathinam Pillai reached Delhi. It was the Thambiran Swami who handed over the Sengol to Lord Mountbatten who presented it back to the Swami and it was taken out in a procession to the residence of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi to the accompaniment of traditional music. Eventually, the Sengol was presented by the Thambiran Swami to Nehru symbolising power transfer. It was handed over to the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru following recitation of Thevaram (Shaivite) hymns, he said. In Tamil, the word Aadeenam denoted both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such a mutt. Thevaram is a collection of revered Tamil Shaivite devotional hymns. 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. Amid the controversy Centres ordinance on the transfer of bureaucrats in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to get the partys support in the Delhi services ordinance issue. Kejriwal said that he sought time today to meet Congress president and Rahul Gandhi to seek Cong support in the Parliament against an undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by the BJP-ruled centre. Kejriwal tweeted: Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic n unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation. The central government promulgated an ordinance last week to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. The ordinance comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in the national capital to the Delhi government. The ordinance states that there shall be an authority to be known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the functions assigned to it. The authority shall comprise the chief minister of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi as its chairperson, along with the chief secretary and the principal home secretary, who shall be the member secretary to the authority. 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 an ongoing statewide drive to remove illegal structures on government land, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday said that illegal encroachments will not be allowed in the name of land jihad in the state. Uttarakhand shares its borders with two countries (China and Nepal). A particular community had illegally encroached land and raised structures in the border areas of the state which are being removed as part of a drive, Dhami said while addressing a meeting of the Vishva Hindu Parishads (VHP) Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal. He said the state government has already appealed to encroachers to remove such structures on their own or the administration will demolish them. Last month, Dhami warned occupiers of illegally built mazars (tombs) to remove those on their own and reiterated that his government would not allow land jihad in the state. Under a conspiracy, thousands of shrines have been built illegally on public and forest land without permission, he had said. Not a single illegally built religious structure will be allowed to remain standing in the state. All illegal structures will be completely demolished, Dhami said on Friday. He said Uttarakhand will be the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The committee constituted to prepare a draft of the UCC has done 90 per cent of its job and will submit its report to the state government by June 30, he said. The UCC will be implemented after being examined, he said, adding that it will apply to people of all religions and communities. Uttarakhands UCC will become a model for the entire country, Dhami said. The VHPs central Margadarshak Mandal is holding a two-day meeting here to debate a range of issues including conversion, land jihad, same-sex marriages and live-in relationships. 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 row over the inauguration of the new Parliament building is gaining momentum with Union Home Minister Amit Shah accusing Congress of reducing the Sengol to a walking stick. On the day of the inauguration of the new Parliament building (28 May), Modi will be presented with the Sengol by the 293rd head priest of Madurai Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal. Amid the war of words between the ruling and opposition parties over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Shah said the Congress needs to reflect on its behaviour as he denounced the partys claim that there was no evidence of the Sengol being a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India in 1947. In a tweet, Shah said, Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom, he added. Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that there is no evidence that Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the ceremonial Sengol as a symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India during independence. The Sengol, which has created a lot of stir lately, will be placed near the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new Parliament building on Sunday. The Sengol will be presented to Modi by the head priest of Madurai Adheenam Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal. 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. In Malayalam, the terms are kireedom and chenkol, that is, crown and sceptre, signifying the powerful symbols of the State. He or she who holds these is deemed to be the ruler, ruling with the full authority of the office, and the full approval of the subjects. The words chenkol in Malayalam and sengol in Tamil are cognate, eg. Chenkotta (red fort) in Malayalam is Sengottai in Tamil. The sceptre is an important marker of kingship, so much so that during imperial times, Britain was referred to as the sceptrd isle, that is, the unquestioned ruler of its far-flung empire. There is of course the third symbol, the throne, or simhasanam. During the recent investiture of the British king, I am sure all three of these were on full display. For some reason, the throne seems less important in Indian lore than the other two, but in a wicked pun, the great fabulist OV Vijayan in his savage satire The Saga of Dharmapuri equated the throne with a European toilet, in a slang American expression for the erstwhile thunder box. The Chola sengol from Tamil Nadu was a sacred symbol included in a vesting ceremony accompanied by a recital of 11 verses from the Thevaram text invoking the blessings of Shiva for the ruler in 1947, according to S Gurumurthy in How the Sengol embodied Indias freedom and why it was forgotten and lost on republicworld.com. Not only was the sengol forgotten, the Cholas, and their great maritime empire that extended all the way to Indonesia, were erased. In fact, all of South Indian history, including the fabled Vijayanagar Empire, the samurai-like kalaripayat warriors of Malabar, Telugu patriots like Alluri Sitarama Raju, Travancores Marthanda Varma who defeated the Dutch at Colachel in 1749, and Travancores Chempakaraman Pillai of the INA who coined the term Jai Hind, were erased from the pages of textbooks. In their place, a weird pabulum of make-believe was installed. The sacred sengol denoting virtuous and ethical rule as per Gurumurthy was deemed to be a personal gift, a gold walking stick given to Jawaharlal Nehru, which once again shows how a personality cult was relentlessly built up that would make Mao and Kim Il Sung green with envy. Letat, cest moi (The State, it is I), said Louis XIV, the Sun King of France. Well, we know what happened to his descendants: the guillotine. Indians, being more gentle, have not quite done the same thing. Or at least done so only metaphorically. Which reminds me, why is/was Nehru called Pandit Nehru? Who certified him? His sister was Vijayalakshmi Pandit. Same question for her too. I dont see other Kashmiri Hindus calling themselves Pandit: they use their family names, so whats unique about these people? Oh well, I guess I answered my own question. According to the personality cult, Nehrus were the hereditary rulers of India, and so it was only natural that the kingship would pass from the British to Nehru. There is only one slight problem. Again according to OV Vijayan in The Path of the Prophet, the Nehrus were ferrymen on the river Neher, they who came from somewhere, and had taken the name of the river as their surname. Jawaharlals grandfather was a kothwal in a Delhi police station. A Ghosh had some more startling information about this man, who was photographed in a full Pathan outfit, but I shall let that pass. I made an attempt at deconstructing the Nehru myth in my 1999 Rediff.com essay Let us now praise famous men wherein I quote at length the relevant passage from Vijayan. In my considered opinion, Nehru was an almost unmitigated disaster for India: he thought India was his personal fiefdom, and he was entitled to dispense imperial largesse. He gave away all sorts of things (that didnt belong to him in the first place): Treaty rights in Tibet inherited from the British were given away in exchange for nothing The right of independent Tibet to exist, as he colluded with Chinese road-building on the Indo-Tibetan border, and the Chinese troops were eating Indian rice! Pakistan occupied Kashmir given away by taking the issue to the hostile UN instead of allowing the Indian Army to cleanse the area of invading Pakistani tribals UN Security Council seat, offered by both the US and Russia (yes, I can quote chapter and verse on this from Nehrus collected writings), to China Coco Islands was given away to Burma, which is now allowing China to build a naval base there After all these years of living dangerously, India is now inching ahead. It is time to decisively throw off the shibboleths of the immediate post-Independence period. The Chola-style sengol should be restored to its rightful place as a symbol of the resurgent Indian State, as it was intended to be in the first place, not, absurdly, some guys walking stick. The writer has been a conservative columnist for over 25 years. His academic interest is innovation. 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. On Friday, Al Shabaab rebels attacked a military camp housing Ugandan personnel from the African Union peacekeeping operation in Somalia, according to a Somali captain, with both sides suffering serious fatalities. The militants assaulted the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) post in Bulamarer, 130 kilometres (80 miles) southwest of Mogadishu. There was an attack this morning at our base by elements of al Shabaab but we are waiting for official communication from ATMIS headquarters, said Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) deputy spokesman Deo Akiiki. ATMIS has been aiding the federal government of Somalia in its fight against the Islamist organisation. The mission was examining the security situation, according to a tweet from the organisation. In a statement, Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 137 troops. There was no immediate official confirmation of the casualties, and the groups estimates sometimes differ from those released by authorities. The terrorists assaulted an ATMIS base and a nearby Somali military base, a Somali military commander named Abdullahi told Reuters from the Lower Shabelle region. That prompted a fierce battle for hours. All groups including al Shabaab suffered heavy casualties, he said. Residents of the town said they woke up to the sound of huge explosions and heavy weapons. Now we see al Shabaab in the town. We cannot know how many died. We are not hearing any shots from ATMIS and government now, local resident Rukia Farah said. Since 2006, the militant group has been fighting to topple the government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic law. A government pushback since last year has seen the groups control erode over vast swathes of land. But it is still capable of launching significant attacks on government, commercial and military targets. 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 Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Thursday that European allies are putting together a coordinated plan to train Ukrainian forces to fly the F-16 fighter jet, but Pentagon officials cautioned that it will be a costly and difficult task and wont be a quick fix to the conflict. In addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to support and maintain the aircraft and have enough munitions, according to Austin, who said that the allies are aware of this. Furthermore, he asserted that in the broader fight to maintain airspace control, air defence systems remain the weaponry Ukraine most urgently requires. 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 Ukraines air capabilities, but its 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 Kyivs 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 administrations 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. US 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. 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. Following some significant layoffs, probably in the history of tech businesses, Amazon has now delayed the joining dates of several people hired from prestigious Indian institutes, such as IITs and IMs, reveals a report by Business Today. The company recently let go of nearly 9,000 employees, adding to the 18,000 previously dismissed this year. Also read: Indian IT sector to reduce college hiring by 40%, will prioritise last years offers first Amazon has been addressing overhiring concerns and is now focusing on cost reduction and revenue growth. In response to the deferrals, Amazon issued a statement explaining that start dates for some college hires will be postponed by up to six months due to challenging economic conditions. In light of the challenging economic conditions, were delaying the start dates for some of our college hires by up to six months. Were offering assistance to help address any financial impact. Amazon remains committed to university recruiting and developing the next generation of leaders and builders. The company also assured assistance to mitigate any financial impact. Amazon reiterates its commitment to university recruiting and nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators. Also read: Amazon begins its largest-ever layoffs, 18,000 people to be hit An IIT Bombay graduate shared his experience, stating that he was originally hired as a Software Development Engineer (SDE-1) with a salary of around Rs 30 LPA. However, he received an email from HR informing him that his offer had been deferred until January. He noted that this situation extended across IITs, with many of his fellow interns also facing deferred offer letters. The IIT graduate expressed concerns about being without a job for such a lengthy period and mentioned his intention to explore alternative opportunities. He emphasized the potential negative impact on his professional profile and disclosed that he had already begun networking with alumni and seeking other job prospects. Also read: Tech Layoffs: Amazon starts terminating more people, this time from HR and Amazon Web Services Similarly, individuals from NITs informed the publication that their offer letters had been deferred, and some had even been revoked, according to a placement cell coordinator from an NIT. Last week, Amazon conducted another round of layoffs affecting approximately 500 employees across various departments in India. This downsizing initiative aligns with the broader workforce reduction plans announced by CEO Andy Jassy in March, which impacted around 9,000 individuals. Notably, Amazon joins other prominent tech companies like Meta and Google in streamlining their employee numbers in recent times. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Privacy regulators in Canada are initiating a collaborative investigation into OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, to examine its data collection and usage practices. This action follows a growing trend of governments scrutinising the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The federal privacy regulator, in conjunction with authorities in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, will specifically investigate whether OpenAI has obtained appropriate consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information from Canadian residents through ChatGPT. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada announced this on Thursday. The introduction of the popular chatbot, ChatGPT, has intensified the competition among tech giants like Alphabet Inc and Meta, prompting governments to grapple with the development of laws to govern the utilisation of this revolutionary technology. ChatGPT has the capability to generate various forms of content, including articles, essays, jokes, and poetry, based on user prompts. OpenAI, a privately held company with support from Microsoft Corp, released ChatGPT to the public free of charge in late November. In addition to consent-related matters, the Canadian investigation will assess OpenAIs compliance with obligations concerning transparency, accessibility, accuracy, and accountability. The commissioners office stated that due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further details are currently available. The findings of the investigation will be made public once concluded. 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 decades of challenging the United States (US) in the Indo-Pacific region, China is now aiming to gobble up the international arms market of the worlds sole superpower. In a significant step towards its goal of barging into weapons markets hitherto ruled by the US, China is reportedly undergoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt for massive arms deals. The development comes even as Saudi Arabia and Egypt look to diversify their sources of weapons and defence equipment and tone down their dependence on the United States (US) and Russia their traditional main arms suppliers specially in the backdrop of the Ukraine war. The Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Chinas North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco), a Chinese state-owned defence company, are currently in negotiations to buy weapons ranging from air defence systems to reconnaissance drones, according to Tactical Report, a Middle East-focused intelligence service based in Beirut. The Sky Saker FX80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the CR500 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV, the Cruise Dragon 5 and 10 loitering munitions, also known as suicide drones and the HQ-17AE short-range air defense (SHORAD) system are some of the weapons that may become part of the potential deal. The Golden Eagle CR500 VTOL UAV, in particular has evoked much interest among the armed forces of Saudi Arabia for their role against Russia during the ongoing Ukraine war. China has established itself as a major player in the West Asia region in recent. It has managed to broker a historic deal by persuading Saudi Arabia and Iran to forget their rivalry and shake hands across the acrimonious Shia-Sunni divide. If the weapons deal with Saudi Arabia and Egypt goes through, it will be another achievement by China in a region which, until very recently, was firmly within the US sphere of influence. 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 US again seem to be at loggerheads. The Chinese spy balloon controversy continues to be simmering, America has now has accused Beijing for either rejecting or not responding to its requests. Assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs in the department of defence (DOD), Ely Ratner, said the US is keen on maintaining open lines of communication with China to avoid misperceptions both during peace and crisis. According to a report by Hindustan Times, during an interaction at a Washington think tank event, Ratner revealed that the American strategy for the Indo-Pacific was that of discouragement aimed at making costs of conflict in the Taiwan straits too high for China, while ensuring activities that were aimed at the deterrence did not increase to an escalation and were within the scope and needs and preferences of US allies and partners. As per Ratner, this strategy across the Taiwan straits was neither certain nor impending as or the costs for Beijing were too high to bear at the moment. And our job is to keep it that way, Ratner said. The US has been persistently vocal about its wish to have open lines of communication with China. In November last year, President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, during a meeting in Bali, agreed to do so. A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing was also announced. Blinken was scheduled to depart for China in February, but days ahead of his visit, the US discovered the alleged spy balloon over the city of Billings in Montana. The incident led to public outrage and cancellation of the visit. However, recently, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met senior Chinese Communist Party foreign policy figure Wang Yi in Vienna, giving hopes of possible renewal of sustained high-level US-China engagement. As per Ratner, US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, had stressed upon the importance of these lines of communication, but unfortunately, we have had a lot of difficulty when we have proposed phone calls, meetings, dialogue. Ratner further said Americas requests have been rejected or not answered on several occasions including at the level of Secretary Austin, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mike Milley, Indo-Pacific command (INDOPACOM) commander Admiral John C Aquilino, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China Michael Chase, or other civilian or uniformed engagements. The US and DOD have had an outstretched hand on this question of military to military engagement but we have yet to have consistently willing partners, Ratner said. Ratner further said lines of communication were crucial both during peace time and during a crisis to prevent misperception and miscalculation and to prevent crises from spinning out of control. The aim of these mechanisms was to discuss how both sides thought about emerging domains and how they were conceiving their strategy in domains which may have high escalatory potential. 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 Pentagon on Thursday announced that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit New Delhi the next week to meet with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. The visit precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modis official state visit to White House next month. The Pentagon said on Thursday that Austin will visit New Delhi to meet with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernise the US-India Major Defence Partnership. The defence secretary is also scheduled to visit Japan, Singapore and France next week, it added. This visit provides an opportunity to accelerate new defense innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and drive ongoing efforts to expand operational cooperation between the US and Indian militaries, the Pentagon said. Austin will begin his trip from Japan, as part of his seventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region. In Tokyo, he plans to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders and also visit the US troops stationed in Japan, it said. The visit also comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernise alliance capabilities, optimise US force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic US-Japan 2+2 ministerial meeting earlier this year, the Pentagon said. From there, Austin will travel to Singapore where he will deliver plenary remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue. On the margins of the Dialogue, the secretary will meet with key leaders to advance US defense partnerships across the region in support of the shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in ASEAN centrality. After Singapore, Austin will visit New Delhi and then conclude his trip in France to participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day, and meet with French and the United Kingdom defense leaders, it added. 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. Elon Musks startup Neuralink said on Thursday that it had received authorisation from US regulators to test its brain implants on humans. Neuralink said authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its first-in-human clinical research is an important first step for its technology, which is meant to allow brains to communicate directly with computers. We are excited to share that we have received the FDAs approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study, Neuralink said in a post on Musk-run Twitter. According to Neuralink, clinical trial recruitment is not yet open. Musk stated during a start-up presentation in December that the goal of Neuralink implants is to allow human brains to interface directly with computers. Weve been working hard to be ready for our first human (implant), and obviously we want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device in a human, he said at the time. Neuralink prototypes the size of a penny have been implanted in the skulls of monkeys, according to startup demos. During a demonstration, Neuralink demonstrated many monkeys playing simple video games or manipulating a cursor on a screen via their Neuralink implant. Pigs have also been used to test the technique. An early presentation showed a surgical robot replacing a section of the skull with a Neuralink disc and selectively inserting its wispy wires into the brain. According to Musk, the disc monitors nerve activity and transmits it through a conventional Bluetooth wireless signal to a device such as a smartphone. It actually fits quite nicely in your skull, Musk said during a prior presentation. It could be under your hair and you wouldnt know. Uploading memories? Musk said the company would try to use the implants to restore vision and mobility in humans who had lost such abilities. We would initially enable someone who has almost no ability to operate their muscles and enable them to operate their phone faster than someone who has working hands, he said. As miraculous as it may sound, we are confident that it is possible to restore full body functionality to someone who has a severed spinal cord, he said. Beyond the potential to treat neurological diseases, Musks ultimate goal is to ensure that humans are not intellectually overwhelmed by artificial intelligence (AI), he said. Other companies working on similar systems include Synchron, which announced in July that it had implanted the first human-brain-machine interface in the United States. Members of the Neuralink team have shared a wish list that ranged from technology returning mobility to the paralyzed and sight to the blind, to enabling telepathy and the uploading of memories for later reference or perhaps to be downloaded into replacement bodies. Meanwhile, Musk recently established a business devoted to developing sophisticated AI. The boss of Tesla has also predicted that autonomous driving technology at the electric car maker is heading for a breakthrough. Musk has contended that synching minds with machines are vital if people are going to avoid being so outpaced by AI that, under the best of circumstances, humans would be akin to house cats. Experts and academics remain cautious about his vision of symbiotically merging minds with super-powered computing. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. France may see a big jump in its defence budget with President Emmanuel Macron pushing for a substantial surge of 30 percent in military spending. This heightened defence budget, which is to be implemented within the next seven years, will see Frances military spending climb to $450 billion. The Loi de programmation militaire (LPM) the French military budget bill was tabled in Frances Assemblee Nationale on May 22 after months of deliberation and several delays. The Loi de programmation militaire (LPM) covers the period 2024 to 2030. It is expected to be put through two weeks of intense discussions and deliberations. The bill proposes the allocation of around 413 billion to the defence budget of France until 2030 amid a rise in global geopolitical tension amid the Ukraine war. The government of France has urged the French parliament to implement an accelerated process in order to expedite the Loi de programmation militaire (LPM). If the military is put though an expedited process, it will see just one reading in the lower and upper houses of the French parliament. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly wants to see the military bill being passed before Frances national day celebrations on July 14. The bill also calls for the modernization of the French military and places special emphasis on improving nuclear deterrence abilities. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As it stands today, the Tata Group is one of the largest and most diverse business conglomerates in India. Often described by business scribes as a salt-to-steel company, the Tata Group has a considerable hold over the steel, petroleum vehicles and software businesses in India. Now the industrial giant is in the process of expanding beyond its traditional businesses, rapidly. Tata is aggressively expanding its existing portfolio of businesses and plans to make some major moves in the electronics, EV, and semiconductor industries. From your iPhones and other personal devices to the EVs that you drive, heres how Tata is making headways in electronics, EVs and the silicon business, and planning to be at the centre of it all. TATA ELECTRONICS From Assembling iPhones to making components for Apple Tata is the only Indian company that is actually involved in the manufacturing process of iPhones in India. At the time of writing this piece, Tata Electronics is in the process of completing its takeover of Wistrons iPhone manufacturing plant in Kolar. With this, Tata will become the first Indian company to have an assembly line dedicated to iPhones. But thats not where the story ends. Tata may also be in the process of setting up their own assembly lines, not just for iPhones but other Apple devices as well. Apples shift away from China to India, has coincides with the time when Tata is showcasing its manufacturing, supply chain management, and technological prowess, all at the same time. While Tata, for now, is limited to assembling iPhones for Apple, they may soon be roped in to manufacture basic components for Apple as well. This will include, but will not be limited to displays, camera units, microchips, and networking solutions. In 2021, Tata Electronics entered into a memorandum of understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu. The purpose of this agreement was to establish a facility for manufacturing phone components, involving an investment of Rs 4,684 crore. This initiative is projected to create employment opportunities for over 18,000 individuals at the plant. Other manufacturing partnerships are possibly on the way According to people from Foxconn, Wistron and several other manufacturers to whom Apple has outsourced manufacturing its components to, Apple is one of the most demanding companies to work with. As a result, the QC or quality control on the devices is exceptionally well, something that a lot of other manufacturers are actively looking for. With the Tata Group already working for Apples iPhones, it is also possible that other device manufacturers turn to Tata Electronics, to manufacture or assemble devices for them. From what has been said publicly and off the record by people in key positions at Tata, it seems that the industrial giant is looking to become a major turnkey solution provider to device manufacturers across the world. TATA IN EVS $2 billion investment, and a new EV every two years When it comes to India, no other vehicle manufacturers in taking EVs as seriously as they and it shows. For instance, by 2050, Tata plans to launch a number of long-range EVs in India. Furthermore, by 2026, Tata wants to transition from being a PV or petroleum vehicle giant into an EV giant and anticipated launching at least 10 new EVs in India. Tata has set aside about $2 billion for the development and deployment of its EVs in India. As a result, the plan to launch a new EV model, every two years. Electrifying Range Rovers and Jaguars Tata has already made great efforts to electrify cars from Range Rover and Jaguar. Their portfolio of EVs in India clearly is the most expansive among all brands making cars for the Indian market. Tata, apparently, has dedicated $1.2 billion to the process of transitioning JLR from ICEs to EVs completely. Manufacturing batteries Recent reports have suggested that Tata is planning to set up an EV cell manufacturing plant for EV batteries. The industry giant is already in the process of setting up a plant in the UK, in partnership with Envision, one of the largest EV battery manufacturing companies in the world. For this factory, Tata is looking for options in the UK where it can set up its own manufacturing plants. Once the plant in the UK is up and running, and has been proven to a be viable venture, Tata will also set up its own EV battery factories in India. Moreover, reports suggest that Tata is planning to set up a network of EV chargers across the country, much like Tesla has in the US. This will go a long way in helping EV adoption in India, by completely eliminating range anxiety, one of the biggest factors that have held back EVs penetration in India. TATA IN SEMICONDUCTORS Designing chips in India The recent pandemic and the subsequent fiasco with shipping channels and the global semiconductor industry proved to the world why it is important for countries to be self-reliant, and why counting on China and Taiwan for semiconductors isnt a wise idea. Taking their cue from the supply chain shortages that almost every industry faced during the pandemic, Tata now wants to be a major player in the end-to-end semiconductor and electronics industry. Tata is currently scouting for land near its electronics manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadus Krishnagiri district and is planning to set up an outsourced semiconductor assembly & test (OSAT) unit. Tata plans to start designing and making their own silicon soon, mainly to be used for their own EVs and to be a designing partner for global chip makers. The first stage of this process is to set up an OSAT unit, which is also referred to as assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) units. This will allow them to assemble, test, mark, and package silicon chips, which are the basic tenets of engineering a chip. Following the governments India Semiconductor Mission offering financial support of Rs 76,000 crore to make India a semiconductor hub, over half a dozen companies have shown interest in putting up ATMP units in India. Setting up fabrication units Tata also aims to set up its own fab and fabrication unit and has expressed the companys intention to venture into advanced chip manufacturing. A fabrication unit is a factory that does the actual manufacturing, slicing and stacking of silicon chips to make them into processors. Although Tata Sons chairman Chandrasekaran has expressed the companys intention to venture into advanced chip manufacturing or fabs, there is currently no available information regarding the specific technology or nodes that the company intends to invest in. Whats really driving Tatas commitment to making India into a semiconductor manufacturing hub in India, is the fact that they plan to invest $90 billion in the next 5 years. Turnkey solution provider to global industries When Tata sets up their own silicon processing fab in India, they will not only be making their own processors but will also be manufacturing chips for others as well. To that end, Tata is already partnering up with global chip makers and fabricators. For example, in June of this year, Renesas Electronics Corporation, a renowned Japanese semiconductor manufacturer specialising in advanced semiconductor solutions, formed a strategic partnership with two companies from the Tata Group, Tata Motors Ltd and Tejas Networks Ltd. The primary objective of this partnership is to collaborate on the development of semiconductor solutions for various technologies in the automotive, IoT, and 5G systems sectors. Additionally, Renesas and Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) will establish a Joint System Solution Development Center in Bangalore. This centre will focus on creating comprehensive system solutions for the IoT, Infrastructure, Industrial, and Automotive segments, utilizing Renesas semiconductor solutions and TCS extensive industry experience. HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER By entering into the semiconductor, EV technologies and electronics manufacturing industries, the Tata Group stands to benefit from its global market presence. Once the group achieves success in semiconductor assembly and testing, distribution is expected to be facilitated by its existing global supply chains in other businesses. Moreover, venturing into semiconductor chip development will greatly support the groups EV initiative, as semiconductors play a crucial role in EVs. Then, of course, is their upcoming battery manufacturing ventures. If a sister concern within the group manufactures the chips as well as the batteries, Tata Motors will reap the advantages by eliminating concerns about any sort of shortages. Furthermore, a proven electronics manufacturing arm will be a great addition in making the Tata Group a 360-degree solution provider by allowing them to leverage these benefits, reduced costs and delivery times. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in due course, restoring communication after a near-complete collapse in relations since the Ukraine crisis. My last telephone call was some time ago, Scholz told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper in an interview published Friday. But I plan to speak to Putin again in due course. The leaders last communicated via phone in early December. Scholz asked Putin to remove Moscows soldiers from Ukraine during the hour-long talk, while the Russian leader accused the West of adopting destructive policies. Since then, tensions between Moscow and Berlin have only grown, notably following Scholzs governments decision in January to allow German-made heavy combat tanks to be supplied to Ukraine. Scholz stated in the interview that his goal was to actively support Ukraine but at the same to prevent a direct conflict between NATO and Russia And never to act alone, but in close coordination with our friends and allies, he said. Asked about the prospect of halting the conflict through negotiations, Scholz said that Putin had to understand that the war could not be ended by making some kind of cold peace. For instance, by turning the current front line into the new border between Russia and Ukraine, he said. Rather it is about a fair peace, and the prerequisite for that is the withdrawal of Russian troops, he added. After Moscow pushed troops into Ukraine in February of last year, relations between Russia and Germany froze. The invasion, as well as Moscows decision to reduce gas supplies to Europe, affected Germany especially hard since the country had grown to rely on cheap Russian energy to fuel its economy. Germany has abandoned its usual pacifist attitude in response to the war, providing a barrage of weapons to assist Kyiv in its struggle against Moscow. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Germany called on China to use its influence on Russia to help end the war in Ukraine during a visit by special envoy Li Hui this week, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Li, seeking to promote Beijing-led negotiations to resolve the conflict, visited Germany on Wednesday as part of a tour of European capitals after a two-day trip to Kyiv. He is expected in Moscow on Friday. A German foreign ministry spokesman said Li had held an intensive discussion with State Secretary Andreas Michaelis in Berlin. The German side appealed to China to influence Russia to stop the war of aggression immediately and completely withdraw from Ukraine, he said. Germany also told Li it wants China to refrain from supporting Russia with weapons and to help prevent a nuclear escalation of the conflict, the spokesman said. Both sides agreed to continue their professional exchange on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, he said. Russia and China have close relations, with Xi visiting Moscow in March and saying ties were entering a new era. While China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine war, it has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for the invasion. EU politicians have reacted with scepticism to a vague list of proposals published by China that Beijing says are aimed at helping secure peace in Ukraine. Li has received coordinated messages from Kyiv and its European backers that they want Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to end the war by withdrawing its invading army from Ukraine. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. An Israeli civilian shot dead a suspected Palestinian assailant Friday following an attempted knife assault in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli army. The Palestinian health ministry stated a Palestinian had been killed by occupation (Israeli) fire in the southern West Bank, but did not name the victim. The army reported an infiltration in the Teneh Omarim community south of Hebron in a terse statement, saying a terrorist attempted to stab a civilian before being neutralised. According to the IDF, there were no Israeli injuries. According to an army official, the alleged attacker was shot by a civilian. It was unclear if that person was the intended victim of the purported stabbing incident. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, it is home to some three million Palestinians. About 490,000 Israelis live in the occupied territory in settlements deemed illegal under international law. Since the start of the year, at least 154 Palestinians, 20 Israelis, a Ukrainian and an Italian have been killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources from both sides. They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants and civilians, and on the Israeli side mostly civilians and three members of the Arab minority. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Japan announced fresh export restrictions on 80 Russian companies on Friday over its invasion of Ukraine, targeting its military as well as the construction and engineering sectors. Russia was hit with a wave of sanctions after it sent forces into Ukraine in February last year, but calls have grown from Kyiv and its allies for tougher action against Moscow. Among the sanctions-hit companies are Russian mobile phone operator MegaFon, the Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation, the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects in the Defense Industry, NPO Lavochkin design bureau, Kamaz truck maker, the Skolkovo Foundation and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Russian news agency TASS reported. The new Japanese sanctions include an asset freeze of Russian individuals and groups, a ban on the export of goods to Russias military-related organisations, and a ban on the export of construction and engineering services to Russia, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. The asset freeze targets 17 individuals and 78 groups, including high-level military officials, while the 80 organisations hit with export restrictions include the Russian mobile phone operator MegaFon, according to the Japanese government. Matsuno also condemned plans to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that Moscow had begun moving nukes to its territory. Matsuno said this will further escalate the situation. As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, Japan can never tolerate Russias threat of nuclear weapons, not to mention their use. Recently, the U.S. and Japan imposed sanctions on hundreds of people and organizations connected to Russias war on Ukraine as the Group of Seven reiterated its determination to raise the costs of Moscows invasion. The United States had announced sanctions on more than 300 targets as Group of Seven leaders met in Japan, aiming to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and intensifying one of the harshest sanctions efforts ever implemented. Japan stepped up its sanctions in February, freezing assets of Russians and Russian companies and suspending visas for some. It froze the assets of some financial institutions and banned exports of items that can be used for military purposes, dual-use goods, some commodities and semiconductors. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On Friday, Japanese police apprehended a man who had holed up in a building after reportedly killing four people in a gun and knife attack, including two police officers. The guy was apprehended outside a farm in Nakano, Nagano area, with police confirming a fourth casualty overnight: an elderly woman who was found wounded at the site and subsequently declared dead. Another lady and two police officers were already reported deceased in the incident. Police told AFP that the 31-year-old suspect was apprehended at about 4:30 a.m. (1930 GMT Thursday) and was subsequently formally arrested on suspicion of murder with a suspected hunting rifle. The rampage in a rural area of the western region was a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the worlds toughest gun laws. No motive has yet emerged in the killings, nor has the suspect been formally identified, though several local media reported he is the son of the speaker of Nakanos city assembly. We pray for the souls of the deceased and express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. Police are investigating to uncover the whole picture of the incident, including how the crime developed and its background. Because I wanted to The attack started on Thursday afternoon, when a local man working on a farm saw a woman running from the road saying, help me, he told national broadcaster NHK. Behind her came a man wearing camouflage and carrying a large knife, who stabbed her in the back, the 72-year-old witness said. He said he called emergency services while neighbours tried to resuscitate the woman. The attacker announced: I killed her because I wanted to, according to an eyewitness cited by Kyodo news. Local media said he then fired what has been described as a hunting gun at police officers who arrived at the scene. The officers were inside a patrol car and the attacker placed the weapon against a window of the vehicle and fired twice, NHK reported. The slain officers were identified as Yoshiki Tamai, 46, and Takuo Ikeuchi, 61. Local media said the man then barricaded himself inside his fathers home, where he remained most of the night, with occasional gunshots heard. Two women, including the suspects mother, escaped the house, one at around 8:35 pm and the other soon after midnight. The suspect was finally detained. A woman was found at the scene with injuries and later pronounced dead. Japan was left reeling in July last year when former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in broad daylight with an apparently homemade gun. Abes accused assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, reportedly targeted the politician over his links to the Unification Church. And last month, a man was arrested for allegedly hurling a pipe bomb-like explosive towards Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as he campaigned in the western city of Wakayama. Kishida was unharmed and a man arrested on the scene will undergo a three-month psychiatric examination, a regional court said this week. The suspect has reportedly remained tight-lipped about his motive for that failed attack. 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 members of the Oath Keepers, who stormed the US Capitol in a military-style formation on 6 January 2021, will be sentenced on Friday, a day after the far-right extremist groups founder was sentenced to 18 years in jail for seditious conspiracy and other crimes in the incident. After giving Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes the heaviest jail term in more than 1,000 criminal counts initiated in the 6 January 2021 Capitol Riot, US District Judge Amit Mehta will sentence Army veterans Jessica Watkins and Kenneth Harrelson. In the trial that finished in November, Watkins and Harrelson were cleared of seditious conspiracy but convicted of obstructing Congress with Rhodes and other members of the gang. One of their co-defendants, Florida chapter head Kelly Meggs, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday. Harrelson was the Oath Keepers ground team lead when the mob stormed the Capitol on 6 January 2021 and disrupted the joint session of Congress confirming President Joe Bidens election win. Watkins established and led a separate militia in Ohio. Harrelson and Watkins marched towards the Capitol in stack formations with other Oath Keepers members. Rhodes, 58, of Granbury, Texas, was the first 6 January Capitol Riot defendant to be convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced for what prosecutors described as a weeks-long scheme to physically impede the transition of power from former President Donald Trump to Biden. Four more Oath Keepers who were convicted of sedition after a retrial in January will be sentenced next week. Prosecutors from the Justice Department are requesting an 18-year jail term for Watkins of Woodstock, Ohio, and a 15-year prison sentence for Harrelson of Titusville, Florida. Mehta cancelled a sentencing hearing set for this week for another defendant, Thomas Caldwell of Berryville, Virginia, as the judge considers whether to reverse the jurys guilty decision for obstruction and tampering with evidence. Lawyers for Oath Keepers argued there was no plan to attack the Capitol and insisted they never intended to interfere with Congress certification of the election. Watkins testified at the trial that storming the Capitol was a really stupid decision, saying she got swept up in what seemed to be a very American moment. Harrelson didnt take the witness stand. During his sentencing Thursday, Rhodes defiantly claimed to be a political prisoner, criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration and tried to play down his actions on 6 January. The judge described Rhodes as a continued threat to the United States who clearly wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence. The judge in Rhodes case agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes actions should be punished as terrorism, which increases the recommended sentence under federal guidelines. Judges had previously rejected such requests in other 6 January cases. The Oath Keepers sentences this week could serve as a guide for prosecutors in a separate 6 January case against leaders of the Proud Boys extremist group. Earlier this month, a different jury convicted former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and three other group leaders of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors said was another plot to keep Trump in the White House. Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years and two months 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. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated on Friday that the company has no intentions to leave Europe, reversing a warning made earlier this week to leave the continent if it becomes too difficult to comply with forthcoming artificial intelligence rules. The EU is working on what may be the worlds first set of laws governing AI, and Altman warned on Wednesday that the present draught of the EU AI Act is over-regulating. We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave, Altman said in a tweet on Friday. His threat of quitting Europe had drawn criticism from EU industry chief Thierry Breton and a host of other lawmakers. Altman has spent the past week crisscrossing Europe, meeting top politicians in France, Spain, Poland, Germany and Britain to discuss the future of AI and the progress of ChatGPT. He called his tour a "very productive week of conversations in Europe about how to best regulate AI!" OpenAI had faced criticism for not disclosing training data for its latest AI model GPT-4. The company had cited a "competitive landscape and safety implications" for not disclosing the details. While debating the AI Act draft, EU lawmakers added new proposals that would force any company using generative tools, like ChatGPT, to disclose copyrighted material used to train its systems. "These provisions relate mainly to transparency, which ensures the AI and the company building it are trustworthy," Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament who is leading the drafting of EU proposals, told Reuters on Thursday. "I don't see a reason why any company would shy away from transparency." Clash with regulators 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 later this year. AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT, backed by Microsoft, has created new possibilities around AI and fears around its potential have provoked excitement and alarm and brought it into conflict with regulators. 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. OpenAI on Thursday said it will award 10 equal grants from a fund of $1 million for experiments to determine how AI software should be governed and Altman called those grants "how to democratically decide on the behaviour of AI systems". Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders announced their resignation from Imran Khans party on Thursday. Following the May 9 riots, a large number of leaders left the party, according to Geo News. I condemn the events that occurred on May 9, Maleeka Bokhari stated at a news conference in Islamabad. For every Pakistani, the events that took place on May 9 are very painful. Bokhari announced her dissociation from the party, saying she was not under pressure and that no one forced me to make this decision. As a lawyer, I want to play a positive role in Pakistan. I also want to spend time with my family, she said, according to Geo News. Bokhari quit the party hours after her release from Adiala Jail, where she was sent after being arrested under Section 4 of the Maintenance of Public Order. Bokhari in a presser, backed the authorities decision to investigate the May 9 events and said the people behind the violent events should be punished. When a red line has been crossed, then action should be taken in line with the law, she added. Cheema in a separate press conference, said he and his wife could not continue with the Khan-led party due to the violence that ensued after the PTI chiefs arrest. I was there at the Corps Commander House myself. It saddened me to see what was happening there. The people who were involved in it should be punished, he said. He said it is a partys failure if its workers are violent. This career [..] is in our blood it was not an easy decision to leave politics. You serve the nation in politics, but not at the cost of armed forces not at the cost of people who protect the country, Cheema added, according to Geo News. Former Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar has stepped down as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)s Secretary General. The announcement by Umar came shortly after he was released from the Adiala Jail, Pakistan based The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Umar announced his decision during a press conference at National Press Club in Islamabad on Wednesday. Not possible for me to lead the party under these circumstances. I am resigning as Secretary General and core committee member of PTI, he said while addressing the press conference. 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 pushed through with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus on Thursday, whose leader stated the warheads were already on their way, in the Kremlins first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the Soviet Unions demise in 1991. The US State Department condemned the deployment plan but stated that Washington had no intention of changing its stance on strategic nuclear weapons and had seen no indications that Russia was prepared to use a nuclear bomb. After sending soldiers into Ukraine 15 months ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the US and its allies are conducting an escalating proxy war against Russia. The plan for the nuclear deployment was announced by Putin in an interview with state television on 25 March. The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries, Putins defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, according to Russias defence ministry. The West, Shoigu said, was doing all it could to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that tactical nuclear weapons were already on the move in accordance with an order signed by Putin, though there was no confirmation of that from the Kremlin itself. The movement of the nuclear weapons has already begun, Lukashenko told reporters in Moscow, where he was attending talks with other leaders of ex-Soviet states. Asked if the weapons were already in Belarus, he said: Possibly. When I get back I will check. Storing nuclear weapons Shoigu said the documents he was signing in Minsk concerned the process of storing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. In Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described the plans as the latest example of irresponsible behaviour that we have seen from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over a year ago. Miller repeated Washingtons warning that the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in the conflict would be met with severe consequences, without specifying those consequences. I will just add we have seen no reason to adjust our strategic nuclear posture or any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon, Miller told reporters. Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia, which has more nuclear weapons than any other country, will use all means to defend itself, and he has cast the Ukraine war as a battle for the survival of Russia against an aggressive West. The United States and its allies say they want Ukraine to defeat Russian forces on the battlefield, but deny that they want to destroy Russia and deny that the Ukraine war is in any way linked to post-Soviet enlargement of NATO. Belarus has borders with three NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Russia will remain in control of the weapons. Russias tactical nuclear arms superiority Tactical nuclear weapons are used for tactical gains on the battlefield and are usually smaller in yield than the strategic nuclear weapons designed to destroy U.S. or Russian cities. Russia has a huge numerical superiority over the United States and the NATO military alliance when it comes to tactical nuclear weapons: the United States believes Russia has around 2,000 such working tactical warheads. The United States has around 200 tactical nuclear weapons, half of which are at bases in Europe. Shoigu said 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, Shoigu was quoted as saying by his ministry. The United States has said the world faces the gravest nuclear danger since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis because of remarks by Putin during the Ukraine conflict, but Moscow says its position has been misinterpreted. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed by the Soviet Union, says that no nuclear power can transfer nuclear weapons or technology to a non-nuclear power, but it does allow for the weapons to be deployed outside its borders but under its control. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. South Korea announced Thursday that it has successfully launched its domestic Nuri rocket and sent operational satellites into orbit, praising the achievement as a significant step forward for the countrys developing space programme. It was the third launch of the Nuri, which successfully orbited test satellites last year following a disastrous 2021 effort in which the rockets third-stage engine burned out prematurely. The three-stage rocket, which was more than 47 metres (155 feet) long and weighed 200 tonnes, took off from the Naro Space Centre in South Koreas southern coastal area at 6:24 p.m. (0924 GMT), leaving a massive trail of white smoke in its wake. 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 Koreas 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 Nuris launch, saying it will give the country a competitive edge in the global space race. The success of Nuris 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! Lets 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 Souths 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). 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 the discovery that a Chinese hacker cell had been eavesdropping on important American infrastructure, including oil and gas pipelines and rail systems, the US State Department issued a warning that China is capable of launching cyberattacks against such targets. Earlier this week, a multination alert revealed a Chinese cyberespionage campaign had been aimed at military and government targets in the US. The US intelligence community assesses that China almost certainly is capable of launching cyberattacks that could disrupt critical infrastructure services within the United States, including against oil and gas pipelines and rail systems, a Reuters report quoted State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller as saying at a press briefing on Thursday. Its vital for government and network defenders in the public to stay vigilant, he added. The espionage group dubbed Volt Typhoon by Microsoft was the subject of an alert issued by cybersecurity and intelligence agencies in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom known as the Five Eyes on Wednesday. Microsoft researchers said Volt Typhoon was developing capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises a nod to the escalating tensions between China and the US over Taiwan and other issues. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) separately said it was working to understand the breadth of potential intrusions and associated impacts. That would help the agency provide assistance where needed, and more effectively understand the tactics undertaken by this adversary, CISAs executive assistant director, Eric Goldstein, told the Reuters news agency. China dismisses cyberespionage charge The Chinese government has rejected assertions that its spies are going after Western targets, calling the joint warning issued by the United States and its allies a collective disinformation campaign. Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that the Five Eyes alerts were intended to promote their intelligence alliance and that it was Washington that was guilty of hacking. This is an extremely unprofessional report with a missing chain of evidence. This is just scissors-and-paste work, Al Jazeera report quoted Mao as saying. The United States is the empire of hacking, she said. 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. On the fourth day of a tenuous truce mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia, fighting between forces loyal to Sudans competing generals shook the western area of Darfur, according to witnesses. The one-week truce, the latest in a string of accords that have all been routinely broken, was violated only minutes after it went into effect on Monday night. Further violations of the truce, which is intended to allow much-needed humanitarian relief to reach war-torn areas of the nation, have occurred since, with both warring parties blaming one other. Residents in El Fasher, North Darfurs capital, described battles with all types of weapons six weeks into a fight between the regular army, commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since it erupted on 15 April, the fighting has killed more than 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. The United Nations says more than a million Sudanese have been displaced, in addition to 300,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries. Even before the conflict began, one-third of Sudans 45 million people faced famine, and about 25 million people were now in need of humanitarian aid, the UN said. While the current ceasefire agreement has allowed for a lull in fighting, no humanitarian corridors have been opened to allow civilians to leave or aid to reach the affected areas. The United States said on Thursday observers had detected the use of artillery, drones and military aircraft as well as fighting both in Khartoum and in Darfur. We retain our sanctions authority and if appropriate we will not hesitate to use that authority, said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. Conditions have been particularly alarming in Darfur, already ravaged by a conflict that erupted in 2003 and saw then-president Omar al-Bashir unleash the feared Janjaweed militia to crush a rebellion among ethnic minority groups. The RSF, which is led by Burhans former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, traces its origins to the Janjaweed. Burhan and Daglo had in 2021 staged a coup that unseated a civilian transitional government but later fell out in a bitter power struggle. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There seems to be a growing demand for a US nuclear umbrella in Taiwan amid increasing belligerence by China in the Asia Pacific region. The desire for such a nuclear umbrella against a potential invasion by China which is already provided to Japan and South Korea by the United States (US) has reportedly received support from defence experts in Taiwan. The US nuclear umbrella will not see the deployment of atomic weapons in Taiwan, but will see the worlds sole superpower respond in kind to a nuclear attack by China during an invasion of the island nation. Taipei and Washington are engaged in talks on the matter, Taiwans Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, was quoted as saying in the Legislative Yuan. Taiwanese defence expert Su Tzu-yun was quoted as saying by The Taipei Times that the national security doctrine of Taiwan does not permit the development of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons despite the possibility of such weapons being used against it, especially by China. The extension of an allys nuclear umbrella over Taiwan would significantly benefit Taiwans security, he said. Taiwans armed forces already provide conventional deterrence; obtaining a nuclear deterrence would reduce its susceptibility to nuclear coercion, he 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. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said Ukraines leadership has again proven its terrorist nature by threatening to assassinate President Vladimir Putin even as he assured that the Russian leader was well protected. According to a Russia Today report, citing the Rossiya 24 broadcaster, Peskov on Thursday, referring to the Ukraine government, said that a terrorist regime talks about its terrorist aspirations. Peskov was reacting to an acknowledgement by Vadim Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraines Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), who told the German outlet Die Welt in an interview on Wednesday 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 Ukraines kill list. But in the end, everyone will have to answer for their actions, Skibitsky was quoted as saying. Skibitsky said Putin is noticing that we are getting closer and closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people. 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. Skibitsky went on to name other Russians, including Wagner 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. Russia justifies invasion The statement gave Peskov the chance to justify Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Such statements show that the military operation, launched by Russia in Ukraine in February 2022, was more than justified, more than necessary and that it must be completed, the Russia Today report quoted Peskov as saying. To a question whether Russian presidents security has been beefed up after the threat from Kyiv, Peskov replied, Trust me, our security services know their job and know what theyre doing. Drone attack on Putins residence In early May, two small drones were disabled by air defences, while trying to strike Putins Kremlin residence in Moscow. The Russian leader was not there at the time of the failed attack, and no one was hurt. Despite the Ukrainian authorities denying any involvement, Moscow called the incident a a pre-planned terrorist act and an attempt on Putins life perpetrated by Kiev. The Kremlin vowed that Russia would retaliate to the raid anywhere and anytime it deems necessary, while senior lawmaker Vyacheslav Volodin called for the use of weapons capable of stopping and destroying the Kiev terrorist regime. 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. According to Ukrainian officials, Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and over 20 drones fired by Russia in nocturnal strikes on the capital Kyiv, the city of Dnipro, and the eastern provinces. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office, a fire broke out on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Kharkiv after oil storage was hit twice, and pumping equipment for oil products was destroyed. This month, Russia has increased missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, mostly targeting logistical and infrastructure installations ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. During the overnight strikes, the Ukrainian air force said it shot down 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones, and two surveillance drones. It said a total of 17 missiles and 31 drones had been launched in 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. 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. A worker at the gas station was hurt. 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. 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 (US) is reportedly considering the possibility of creating a new military unit to fight cyberattacks by rival nations such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Strategy makers in the United States (US), including lawmakers, have been mulling over the issue with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea showing both intent and ability in launching cyberattacks against US interests. A couple of recent cyberattacks have added more urgency to calls for a new US cyber force. Operators with the US Cyber Command have reported that they were forced to carry out an online defensive operation in Albania in order to ward off cyberattacks against the local government last year. That cyberattack had shut down Albanias online public services and websites. There have been allegations that Iran had carried out the cyberattack against the NATO member nation. Albanias refusal to prosecute the Mojahedin-e-Khalq a group opposed to the Iranian government which has a presence in Albania was reportedly the reason for the Iranian cyberattack. The second incident took place in February this year when a ransomware attack took place against the US Marshals Service. This cyberattack compromised data on law enforcement operations, high-security people, and fugitives. These cyberattacks have forced the US Congress to call for an assessment of the costs, benefits, and values of establishing a uniform service to safeguard American interests in cyberspace. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People often troll celebrities and wealthy kids for their privileges. This increases manifolds when they start showcasing their wealth on social media platforms. In one such incident, Linda Andrade, 23, who associates herself as a self-proclaimed Original Dubai Housewife was accused of complaining about her acute problems as big in a Tiktok video. While some users called her a privileged wife, her extravagant lifestyle after marrying a millionaire man made her a common feature in the media as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linda Andrade (@lionlindaa) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linda Andrade (@lionlindaa) Andrades wife privilege In a Tiktok video that has been viewed over a million times, Andrade revealed the worst things about being married to a millionaire. Looking 10/10, having too much food and always flying first class are among the hardships mentioned by her. But instead of giving in to her issues, people accuse her of bellyaching about problems that others could only dream of. According to Baltimore Post-Examiner, 23-year-old Jordanian-born Linda Andrade married Dubai-based Forex and Crypto trader Ricky Andrade at 19. A social media sensation Linda shares videos of her life under Original Dubai Housewife with nearly 530,000 followers on TikTok. On Instagram, she enjoys 1.4 lakh followers. One of Andrades recent videos, Worst things about being with a millionaire, revealed the dark side of marriage to a Middle Eastern millionaire. The downsides of this extravagant lifestyle include never driving, flying first class and never being on a budget. Her clips show her engaging in rich people pursuits with her partner. [He] only buys 24K gold (and every time we fight), she captioned the video, flaunting an elaborate gold necklace. In addition to that, her upper-crust husband also buys her too much stuff and feeds her too much food. The accompanying video showed lavish seafood towers, sushi and other delicacies fit for a Four Seasons buffet. In the next caption, she complains about being tired from all the traveling, while a clip shows her husband enjoying a Jet Ski ride. Some TikTokers even offered to trade places with Andrade with one commenting, If you dont want this life anymore, Im here honey. Wow I wish I had those problems at least you all dont gotta work so hard because you all are millionaires, wrote another. A complete role-reversal For Andrade, who grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in the US with six other family members, this opulent lifestyle marked a complete change of fate. Although the luxuries come with their marked worries, her constant fear is getting robbed or having other women steal her soulmate. On the work front, an entrepreneur since 16, Andrade has started multiple businesses and currently owns a fat freezing spa. In addition to being a successful event planner, she also planned parties for celebrities such as Common and Steve Wozniak. 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 Pakistani man in a viral video can be seen standing in front of the Harbor bridge in Australia. In the video he gives a special message to the Pakistan government, which thinks that they stand equal to the stature of India. He said, Look at the flag you see behind me. This Indian flag has been built on their most famous place, the Harbor Bridge in the city of Sydney, Australia. This is the same flag of India with which we compare ourselves. You look at your position and see where India is. Think for God, not for yourself, think for the country, both the parties, he added. The Pakistani man later talked about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis Australia trip, and said that the Australian PM Anthony Albanese referred to him as The Boss while addressing the gathering of the Indian diaspora. #WATCH | The last time I saw someone on this stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the boss, says Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the community event in Sydney pic.twitter.com/3nwrmjvDaR ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023 He then mentioned Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, and said, Now you think what words are used for you in the whole world. People were happy to hear the comments from the Pakistani man. One user wrote, Proud moment for every Indian. Another said, Im sure a lot of Pakistanis agree with 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. A passenger in South Korea opened an emergency exit door during a flight on Friday, causing air to gust inside the cabin before the plane landed safely, according to the officials. Some people aboard the Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft tried to stop the person from opening the door, but it was eventually opened partially. The plane with 194 people was heading to the southeastern city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju. The flight is normally about an hour, and details of the incident, including how long the door was open, were under investigation, according to Asiana Airlines, reported The Associated Press. The footage from inside the plane shows wind ripping through the open door in mid-air, with fabric seat-backs and passengers hair flapping wildly as some shout in surprise. Police detained the man who opened the door, and stated that he confessed to opening the door, but would not say why he did it, reported CNN. Geoffrey Thomas, an aviation expert told CNN that the incident was very bizarre. He said that technically its not possible to open those doors in flight. It seems implausible that the door could be opened in the first place and then against the airstream technically impossible, but somehow or another it has happened, Thomas said. South Koreas Yonhap News Agency reported that nine people were hospitalised. The passengers included teenage athletes who plan to attend track and field competitions in Ulsan, another southeastern city. 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. Lawyers for Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia on spying accusations, have filed an appeal against the latest prolongation of his detention, Russian news media reported Friday. Gershkovich, who continued to report from Russia after the Kremlin started its massive push in Ukraine, became the first Western journalist detained and charged with spying since the Soviet period. He was seized on 29 March while on a reporting trip in the Urals and has been detained since. The US citizens defence team has challenged a recent order to hold him in jail until 30 August, according to the website of Moscows Lefortovo Court, where Gershkovich has been before court officials. Earlier this week the same court extended his arrest by three months in a hearing behind closed doors. The United States has called for his immediate release and his case has been seen as a serious breach of media freedoms. Gershkovich is held in Moscows notorious Lefortovo Prison, which is known for keeping detainees in near-total solitude. US Ambassador Lynne Tracy visited Gershkovich in mid-April and said the reporter was in good health. Russian authorities have since denied two consular visits to Gershkovich as part of a visa disagreement with the United States involving Russian journalists. 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 has been relying on its home-grown vaccines to fight the deadly Covid which has once again been infecting its population. However, Xi Jinping and his administration have been on denial that the jabs made in the country are less effective. Covid-19 cases in China are expected to peak in June and as many as 65 million people are expected to be infected by the virus, Washington Post report said. This comes barely within six months after China dismantled its Zero Covid restrictions, allowing the virus to spread rapidly among the countrys 1.4 billion residents. Less effective vaccines + Covid spike = More hospitalisation With more people getting infected by Covid, there is a possibility that hospitals in the country may see a similar fate as January when wards were full of patients, people lying on corridors due to shortage of beds, and morgues seeing long queues with people waiting with bodies of their loved ones to perform last rites. According to a report by Global Times, several Chinese citizens have said that they were infected with Covid-19 for a second time in recent days. A report quoted head of Third Peoples Hospital of Shenzhen saying that 60 per cent of COVID-19 patients treated in the past two weeks were infected for the first time, and 40 per cent were reinfected with symptoms mostly like fever, sore throat and other respiratory symptoms. But the symptoms for reinfected people are relatively mild, and the period of developing symptoms is relatively shorter. Chinese scientists call for better vaccines Leading scientists in China Zhong Nanshan said, It is very important to develop a vaccine with better protection against the XBB variant. He said that there are currently two vaccines against XBB that have been preliminarily approved, and three or four more will be approved soon. At a biotech conference in Guangzhou, Zhong Nanshan said as per his estimates, the latest wave of infections will be more muted compared to the previous wave that hit China late last year and into January. Variant leading to spike in Covid cases in China As per Zhong omicron variant, XBB, has been fuelling a resurgence in Covid cases across China. In the wake of this pivot to living with the virus, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped updating its weekly statistics earlier this month, leaving many questions about the true impact of Covid-19 in China unanswered. 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. During its recent I/O event, Google provided us with a sneak peek into its preliminary endeavors in the field of Search. These explorations delve into the realm of generative AI, and you now have the opportunity to explore these innovative features through Search Labs. Google Search Labs Today, the company has unveiled the availability of Search Labs, a program that grants access to its early experiments. Once youre available for trying out the Search Labs, youll experience a new and powerful Search with generative AI capabilities that make your searching easier. It helps you grasp complex topics faster, discover fresh perspectives and insights, and streamline your tasks. Instead of sifting through a series of questions and assembling information yourself, Search does the heavy lifting for you. Here are three ways the new generative AI can simplify your next search: Quickly understand new or intricate subjects: Lets say youre comparing the ukulele and guitar to make a decision. Search provides an AI-powered snapshot that outlines the factors you should consider. For example, if youre interested in starting your own business, searching for Benefits of incorporating your business before freelancing will give you a quick overview and links to explore further. Find instant tips for specific questions: Sometimes, you have a precise question in mind and need diverse content from the web. If you discover an old wool sweater with a coffee stain, search for How to get an old coffee stain out of a wool sweater? For example, if you have an upcoming international trip and your passport needs to be renewed soon, search for How can I renew my passport quickly? Youll get useful tips or different choices to help you further. Explore products and considerations while shopping: Lets say you want removable wallpaper for your rental kitchen. Search for Peel and stick wallpaper for kitchen to learn about important factors like ease of removal and discover stylish options with prices, customer ratings, and purchase links. Similarly, searching for a Bluetooth speaker for a pool party will provide considerations such as water resistance and battery life, along with numerous options to choose from. You can also ask follow-up questions or select suggested next steps for more information. Availability If youve joined the waitlist at labs.google.com/search, youll receive an email notification when you can begin testing Labs experiments such as SGE (Search Generative Experience), Code Tips, and Add to Sheets in the United States. To participate in these experiments, just tap the Labs icon in the latest version of the Google app (available on Android and iOS) or on Chrome desktop to sign up. You can also visit the Labs website to check the status of your waitlist. Speaking on the announcement, Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Product Lead and Srinivasan (Cheenu) Venkatachary, Engineering Lead, said: SEATTLE May 26, 2023 At the 2023 American Society for Clinical Oncology Annual Meetingto be held June 2-6 in Chicago, IllinoisFred Hutchinson Cancer Center experts will present research spanning survivorship, advances in treatments and clinical trials, how access to cancer care affects outcomes, integrative medicine and more. Featured Fred Hutch presentations and poster sessions are listed below; for a full list of Fred Hutch research at ASCO and the dates and times of presentations, please visit our website. For media inquiries at ASCO, please contact Claire Hudson at crhudson@fredhutch.org. You can follow our researchers on Twitter #ASCO23 and visit us at booth #4023. Equitable access to cancer care Dr. Hiba Khan will present an oral abstract assessing the impact of financial distress on cancer survival rates. Researchers in Fred Hutchs Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, or HICOR, found that patients with cancer who experienced severe adverse financial events, such as third-party collections, delinquent mortgage payments, tax liens, foreclosures or repossessions within two years of diagnosis were at higher risk for mortality after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Additional research on health equity and access includes: An analysis showing that adverse financial events resulted in increased health care utilization and greater per-patient costs at end of life, in a poster session from led by Dr. Chipo Kwendakwema of HICOR. Dr. Scott Ramsey and the HICOR team followed cancer patients using smartwatches and apps to monitor symptoms and biometric data during treatment. In a poster session, they share that compared to commercially-insured cancer patients, financially fragile and Medicaid-insured patients had significantly higher average heart rates, unique symptoms and repeat symptoms. A study revealing health disparities in access to molecular testing that inform the use of targeted therapies in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer. In a poster session led by Dr. Lauren Shih, HICOR researchers found testing rates were lowest among Hispanic patients, older patients, males and people with Medicaid insurance. A poster session, led by Qin Sun of HICOR, in which researchers found underuse of germline testing in patients with prostate, pancreas and ovarian cancers, despite guideline recommendations. Lack of germline testing not only can affect treatment, its also a missed opportunity to identify genetic risk factors in family members. Clinical trials and treatment advances Dr. Noam Kopmar and colleagues sought to understand the potential benefit of adding an antibody drug conjugate to frontline therapy to treat patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma. In an oral presentation, Dr. Kopmar will explain findings that adding the antibody drug was not only safe, but response rates in patients were among the highest reported to date and many patients were able to proceed to bone marrow transplant. In a SWOG Cancer Research Network analysis, presented in an oral abstract by Dr. Megan Othus, a research team found that a common system for measuring tumor progression in clinical trials didnt adequately correspond to outcomes in patients with rare cancers treated with checkpoint inhibitors in the S1609 DART trial. These findings are consistent with similar studies of the use of this measuring system in patients treated with chemotherapy. In an oral presentation, Dr. Shailender Bhatia will present findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma patients that assessed nivolumab monotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination in two non-randomized cohorts respectively. The results do not suggest additional benefit from nivolumab plus ipilimumab in this patient population, contrary to a recent publication that had reported 100% response rate with combination therapy. Experts will share more from the following treatment studies: A five-year follow up study combining standard of care plus a checkpoint inhibitor in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, supporting potential inclusion of checkpoint inhibitors in first line DLBCL therapy and exploring the role of PD-L1 as a predictive biomarker in a poster session led by Dr. Carrie Ho. How combining hypofractionated radiation with checkpoint inhibitors may benefit patients with metastatic salivary gland cancers, in a poster session led by Dr. Cristina Rodriguez. Results from a Phase 1 study testing the combination of anti-CD73 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies to treat metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma that found the regimen was safe and indicated a trend toward improved outcomes, led by Dr. Andrew Coveler in a poster session. Dr. Laura Samples and collaborators characterized the challenges in using CAR T-cell therapy to treat patients with relapsed or refractory Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and highly aggressive B-cell lymphoma, in a poster session. Results from a survey conducted by an American Society of Clinical Oncology and Friends of Cancer Research task force, chaired by Dr. Joseph Unger, showed that strategies such as remote distribution of oral therapy, remote consenting and remote symptom monitoring were commonly adopted by major cancer clinical trial sponsors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings will be presented in a poster session. Led by Dr. Bart Scott, in a poster session, researchers found that overall survival rates for patients with acute myeloid leukemia were not impacted during the pandemic, but that increased COVID-19 rates in the U.S. correlated with fewer transfusions, in-person visits and assessments for stem cell transplant. Factors associated with durable response from a five-year follow up in patients who received CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, in a poster session led by Dr. Emily Liang. Survivorship Pediatric cancer patients who receive certain therapies are at an increased risk of heart disease later in life. Dr. Eric Chow will present an oral abstract of a Childrens Oncology Group study that found a better method to predict which pediatric cancer patients will develop heart disease years after treatment. Prediction models that incorporate conventional heart measurements may be able to accurately identify childhood cancer patients at high risk of developing heart disease within 2-5 years, giving care teams a potential window of opportunity to provide treatments that can slow or stop heart disease progression. Precision oncology Dr. Manoj Menon will share insights in a poster session from a study that conducted molecular testing on breast cancer tumors from patients at the Uganda Cancer Institute. The research team found a diverse range of mutations and prevalence of BRCA1, BRCA2 and PIK3CA mutations that were considerably higher than in other documented populations. This data could inform wider use of targeted therapies in sub-Saharan Africa, where breast cancer is the most common cancer, and make the case for including targeted cancer therapies in the World Health Organizations Model List of Essential Medicines. Dr. Ruben Raychaudhuri and collaborators investigated targeted therapies for people with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with DNA damage repair alterations in two studies. One poster session will explore how mutations in DNA damage repair genes may affect PSMA expression and response to PSMA targeted radioligand therapy. A second poster session will detail two-year follow up results from a single arm pilot study also focused on patients with DNA damage repair alterations. In this study, researchers found that the addition of the DNA damaging agent carboplatin to standard of care docetaxel significantly improved response rates. Integrative medicine In patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, researchers tested the feasibility and efficacy of in-office acupuncture to reduce pain and urinary symptoms during induction intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). In a poster session, led by Dr. Sarah Psutka, researchers observed improvements in urinary symptoms and a suggestion of a reduction in pain scores over successive treatments in the patients who received acupuncture. # # # Media Contact: Claire Hudson 206-919-8300 crhudson@fredhutch.org Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center unites individualized care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options while accelerating discoveries that prevent, treat and cure cancer and infectious diseases worldwide. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is an independent, nonprofit organization and the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. We have earned a global reputation for our track record of discoveries in cancer, infectious disease and basic research, including important advances in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy, HIV/AIDS prevention and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services and has network affiliations with hospitals in four states. Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicines cancer program. Category: Internships Seattle, WA, US Job ID: 121183 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the worlds leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the worlds deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality. At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. These values are grounded in and expressed through the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, anti-racism and inclusion. The Fred Hutch Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC) seeks qualified candidates for its two-year Immunotherapy Physician Scientist Program. A successful applicant will be an MD or MD/PhD who is committed to pioneering major advances in medical practice through research. Applicants should be interested in an aspect of immuno-oncology relevant to the IIRC, as well as the development of therapies that modulate the immune system. Immunotherapy Physician Scientists will advance their academic careers by performing immuno-oncology research with access to state-of-the-art facilities and working with expert faculty mentors who are members in the Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center. Click here to view IIRC Faculty. The IIRC will support the incumbents salary and lab expenses for two years of translational research training. However, the Physician Scientist is strongly encouraged to work with their mentor to apply for outside funding during their first year. External candidates may wish to identify a mentor and potential research projects prior to arriving at Fred Hutch. The Physician Scientist will develop a research project under the guidance of the mentor. Projects may be predominantly clinical, correlative or laboratory-based, but must be focused on the development and/or improvement of cancer immunotherapy. Candidates may identify projects that require guidance from more than one mentor, as long as one mentor is a Physician Scientist faculty member of the IIRC. The Physician Scientist will participate in outpatient (immunotherapy clinic) and/or inpatient (transplantation) service at Fred Hutch Cancer Center under the supervision of an attending physician either under observation status through the Medical Directors Office or under their WA state medical license. Candidates need to meet minimum requirements for clinical activity, which will likely happen in Year 2. Typically, clinical activity is 2-4 months, based on the candidates license status and goals, and the need of the service. Fred Hutch is a world leader in immunotherapy. An exceptionally strong history of research in immunotherapy (FH immunotherapy) and bone marrow transplantation (FH transplantation) informs and guides progress towards the development of the next generation of curative treatments. Available resources include outstanding staff, facilities and the infrastructure necessary to support translational immunotherapy research: Details WHEN: Monday - Friday, July 31st - August 25th, 2023 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm PT. The first half of the program will have small-group and individual activities to learn the coding language and some cancer biology. The second half of the program will be focused on each students' research project. WHERE: 100% virtual, but participating students will be invited to campus once it's safe. WHY: Youll have fun, learn a coding language, do hands-on activities, and meet great people! HOW: Submit an application online. A letter of recommendation is not necessary however, we will ask for you to provide a reference that we may contact in case we have any additional questions. We recommend students look over the Application Preview PDF before starting the application. Please do not fill out the Application Preview PDF, it will not count as an application submission. Issue Date: 25th May 2023 Gardai are continuing to investigate a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision involving a motorcycle that occurred at approximately 2:20am on Wednesday 24th May 2023 in the Kilmartins Roundabout area on the Dublin Road in Athlone, County Westmeath. The motorcyclist, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The road was closed for a time in order for a technical examination to be conducted by Forensic Collision Investigators but has since reopened. Gardai are continuing to appeal for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the R446 between Athlone and Moate on Wednesday 24th May 2023 between 1:45am and 2:30am as well as in the area of the Kilmartins Roundabout are asked to make this footage available to Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Athlone Garda Station on 090 649 2600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. We're bringing our signature sell-out rave to Christchurch for the FIRST TIME EVER! Google Play Games for PC Coming to Europe and New Zealand News lekhaka -Anu Joy Google Play Games for PC brings popular Android games to PCs, and the beta version of the app saw a successful launch in a few regions. The service later made its way to Japan, and is now expanding to Europe and New Zealand as part of a wider rollout. The Google Play Games beta arrived in 42 new countries on Wednesday, bringing the total count up to 56. Previously, this service was only available to users in countries including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Google Play Games to Reach More Gamers Google Play Games makes it possible to play popular mobile games on PCs, allowing users to game on smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Currently, the service offers over 100 Android games, including Asphalt 9, Homescapes, Last Fortress, Blade Idle, Cookie Run: Kingdom, and 1945: Air Force. Google plans to add more games in the future in an effort to expand its portfolio. Last November, Google stated that it is preparing for a full release and will continue to add more features to the service. "We're thrilled to expand our platform to more markets for players to enjoy their favorite games on Google Play. As we move towards a full release, we will continue to add new features and evaluate developer and player feedback," Google said in a statement. Google Play Games PC Requirements To run the gaming service on your PC, all you will need is a computer with Windows 10 or newer, an Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU, a 4-core CPU, at least 8GB RAM, and an SSD. You'll also require admin access for Windows and enable hardware virtualization. For the best gaming experience, Google recommends a gaming GPU such as Nvidia's GeForce MX450 and newer. If the Google Play Games for PC hasn't reached your country yet, there are always other ways to enjoy Android games on Windows. For instance, Amazon's store offers a variety of Android games to play on your PC. Via 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 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Launch Soon: Galaxy S23 Series Sales Forcing Earlier Release Of Premium Smartphone? News oi -Alap Naik Desai Samsung Galaxy S23 series smartphones launched a few ago, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE wasn't a part of the event. A new tip suggests Samsung will launch the FE edition soon owing to the sales patterns and estimated volumes of the recently launched premium smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE will arrive before the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5, claims a new leak. The hurried launch of the smartphone is reportedly due to the less-than-stellar performance of the Galaxy S23 series smartphones in the international markets. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Launch To Take Place In July 2023? Samsung has reportedly observed a concerning slowdown in the sales of its flagship Samsung Galaxy S23 series smartphones. Simply put, smartphone buyers aren't lining up in hordes to purchase the S23 series smartphones. The sales figures are indeed strange because the devices garnered a very positive response initially during their launch. However, after just a few days of euphoria, the Galaxy S23 series sales began to decline. Due to the sluggish sales of the S series, there are predictions that Samsung Electronics will release the 'Galaxy S23 FE' in certain regions before the launch of the new foldable phone. In this case, the Galaxy S23 FE is expected to be released around July or August. https://t.co/pxlXiNybq5 Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) May 24, 2023 Some market analysts claim sales of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series smartphones may drop by 20 percent more in the second quarter. If these predicted patterns turn out to be true, Samsung will be forced to launch the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE edition sooner than its usual time period. The FE editions of the Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones are usually more affordable iterations. This is because Samsung makes some strategic compromises while retaining the core performance and features. Simply put, the Galaxy S23 FE may launch sometime in July or August, and before the Samsung foldables arrive. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Rumored Specifications, Features Samsung should retain the external chassis, camera layout, and display technology of the Galaxy S23 series smartphones for the Galaxy S23 FE. This means the upcoming FE edition should have a 6.5-inch AMOLED display. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is rumored to be powered by the Samsung Exynos 2200 chipset. Samsung may sell the Exynos-powered FE edition in all the markets. The chipset could be paired with 6GB RAM or 8GB RAM. Buyers could choose between 128GB and 256GB of internal storage. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone is expected to feature a triple rear camera setup, headlined by a 50MP primary camera, which would be accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. There should be a 32MP front-facing camera for selfies, video calls, and face unlock. Samsung is expected to use the same battery technology and capacity that's used in the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones. The battery inside the Galaxy S23 FE edition should support 25W wired fast charging. Best Mobiles in India Global Smartwatch Shipments Decline 1.5% in Q1 2023; India's Growth Soars by 121% News oi -Kabir Jain The global smartwatch market witnessed a decline in shipments during Q1 2023, as reported by the latest Global Smartwatch Model Tracker from Counterpoint Research. This marks the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year decrease, primarily driven by reduced demand for leading players like Apple and Samsung. India Emerged as a Positive Outlier in the Smartwatch Market However, India emerged as a positive outlier in the smartwatch market, with a remarkable 121% year-over-year growth in shipments. This growth was fueled by a high demand for entry-level smartwatches. Counterpoint estimates that basic smartwatches without a dedicated operating system now account for about 34% of all smartwatch shipments. Furthermore, approximately 40% of smartwatches shipped in India during Q1 were priced below 2,000 ($25). Growth Factors The growth in India's smartwatch market can be attributed to affordability, increasing customer demand, and a wide range of options available in the budget segment. Indian consumers are drawn to the value proposition offered by smartwatches in terms of features and functionality. Entry-level Smartwatches in Demand Counterpoint Research estimates that basic smartwatches without a dedicated operating system now account for approximately 34% of all smartwatch shipments. In Q1 2023, nearly 40% of smartwatches shipped in India were priced below 2,000 ($25), catering to the demand for entry-level devices. The affordability of these smartwatches made them accessible to a wider consumer base, driving impressive growth in shipments. Key Market Highlights Apple experienced a 20% decline in smartwatch shipment volume compared to the previous year's Q1, marking the first time in three years that quarterly shipments fell below 10 million units. Market share dropped from 32% to 26% due to the ongoing macroeconomic crisis and less accessibility of higher-priced Apple Watches. Fire-Boltt, an Indian brand, surpassed Samsung and secured second position in the global smartwatch market. Shipments increased threefold compared to the previous year, reflecting the rapid expansion of the Indian market and the success of local brands like Noise and boAt. Samsung witnessed a 15% increase in shipments in North America but faced a decline in other major markets, resulting in a 15% global decline compared to the previous year and a 21% decline compared to the previous quarter. Huawei experienced a 14% decline in shipments in the crucial Chinese market. However, increased shipments in India, Latin America, and the MEA region mitigated the global decline to 9%. Huawei's strategy involved re-launching previously released models for the Chinese market in the international market. India Leads Global Smartwatch Shipments In terms of regional markets, India surpassed North America and regained its position as the top region, accounting for 27% of global smartwatch shipments in Q1 2023. Anshika Jain, a Senior Analyst, attributes India's smartwatch market growth to affordability, increasing customer demand, and a wide range of options available in the budget segment. The market dynamics in India indicate that over 90% of the market share was captured by India-based players for the first time. Their ability to quickly upgrade their portfolios and adapt to customer needs at reasonable prices played a significant role in achieving this milestone. China's Contraction in Smartwatch Market China's smartwatch market experienced a significant contraction of 28% compared to the previous year. This decline is primarily due to the country's slower-than-anticipated economic recovery. The contraction in China's smartwatch market represents the most substantial decline among major regional markets and the lowest quarterly shipments since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Q1 2020. 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. 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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 Accusing China of spying on US infrastructure a US-initiated 'disinformation campaign': Chinese FM Global Times By Global Times Published: May 25, 2023 07:36 PM Updated: May 26, 2023 12:14 AM It is obviously a collective disinformation campaign launched by the US through the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to serve its geopolitical agenda, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday as some Western countries and Microsoft alleged on Wednesday that a Chinese hacking group is "spying on a wide range of US critical infrastructure organizations." According to Reuters, Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft said on Wednesday that a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group is alleged to have been "spying on a wide range of US critical infrastructure organizations, from telecommunications to transportation hubs." Microsoft claimed in its report that the espionage has also targeted the US island territory of Guam, home to strategically important American military bases, adding that "mitigating this attack could be challenging." In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a Thursday press briefing that this is an 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," Mao said. It's widely known that the Five Eyes is the world's biggest intelligence association and the NSA the world's biggest hacking group. It is ironic that the Five Eyes jointly released a report filled with disinformation, Mao noted. The involvement of certain company in the report 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. In September 2022, relevant Chinese institutions released a report detailing the actions of NSA's attacks on China's Northwestern Polytechnical University. The US should explain immediately about its cyber attacks and should not spread disinformation and detract attention from what it had done, Mao added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Probe Reveals Dozens Targeted By Pegasus Spyware In Armenia, Including Two RFE/RL Journalists By RFE/RL's Armenian Service May 25, 2023 A joint investigation involving researchers from several Internet watchdogs and rights groups has revealed that at least a dozen public figures in Armenia, including two Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists based in Yerevan, as well as hundreds of phone numbers in Azerbaijan, were targeted with Pegasus spyware. 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 May 25, said evidence points to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh 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." "This investigation highlights the grave nature of spyware threats rippling across civil societies in Armenia and Azerbaijan," said Donncha O Cearbhaill, head of Amnesty International's Security Lab. "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. 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 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 Aslanyan and Astghik Bedevyan of RFE/RL's Armenian service were among those targeted in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Others targeted included human rights defenders, journalists, and officials. "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." Fighting in the six-week war in 2020 -- 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. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are meeting in Moscow on May 25 as they try to work out a final peace agreement. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-rferl-journalists- argeted-pegasus-spyware/32427466.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 Washington Guard Prepares for Hanuman Guardian 23 By Joseph Siemandel, Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National GuardMay 24, 2023 TACOMA, Wash. -- This summer, more than 500 Washington National Guard members will take part in Hanuman Guardian 23, an annual, bilateral exercise hosted by the Royal Thai Army at the Cavalry Center in Saraburi, Thailand. Before they arrive, their large equipment needs to get to Thailand. "We have to get more than 100 vehicles and large pieces of equipment to the Kingdom of Thailand," said Sarrah McCrary, defense movement coordinator. "Usually, we have to take the vehicles to Texas to do this, so it's different doing it right here." That is where the logistical professionals of the Washington National Guard and the employees at the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command at the Port of Tacoma can assist. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command provides integrated and synchronized global deployment and distribution capabilities to the point of need, delivering transportation solutions. The team at the Port of Tacoma will inspect, clear, tag, load and prepare all equipment and vehicles for the journey across the Pacific Ocean. "The unit was one of the better ones that have come through here," said Maj. Justin Rhodes, operations officer with the 833rd Transportation Battalion. "Your paperwork was perfect and everything was squared away. That makes it so much easier." The 833d Transportation Battalion is the unit responsible for the operations at the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command at the Port. Once shipped, the equipment, mostly from the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, will be offloaded and positioned for Guard members to pick up for the nearly two-week exercise. Hanuman Guardian is designed to improve humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and enhance mission readiness and interoperability between the two armies while improving the quality of life in rural areas. The Washington National Guard and the Kingdom of Thailand have been partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2002. The SPP is celebrating its 30th year and now has 88 partnerships with 100 nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 28th ECAB Participates in Extreme Weather Exercise By Brad Rhen, and Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard May 24, 2023 FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. -- Aircrews from the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade trained with specialty rescue teams May 18 as part of an extreme weather exercise. The exercise was coordinated by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to test emergency support during a hurricane. The 28th ECAB trained at Fort Indiantown Gap's Muir Army Airfield and at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown. At Muir, members of the Montgomery County Urban Search and Rescue Team practiced loading and unloading inflatable boats and equipment into a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from Bravo Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion. The helicopter transported the team to a landing zone near Selinsgrove, where the team practiced unloading and loading. At Johnstown, an aircrew from Charlie Company, 2-104th GSAB, conducted hoist training with the Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, a partnership between the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, PEMA and credentialed civilian rescue technicians. Col. Tim Zerbe, state Army aviation officer, said the exercise was critical to the Pennsylvania National Guard's domestic operational support to the commonwealth. "We need to practice coordination, communication and integration of Pennsylvania Army National aviation assets in exercises like this so when we are called upon to assist the commonwealth, we can react quickly, efficiently and effectively to provide a positive outcome in saving citizens," Zerbe said. Zerbe said every opportunity to participate in mission-essential-task training increases proficiency for a real emergency. "By participating in this exercise, Pennsylvania Army National Guard aviation was able to practice individual and collective training that directly relates to our aviation mission essential tasks and perform the necessary repetitions required to form cohesive teams, both militarily and with our civilian partners," Zerbe said. The Montgomery County Urban Search and Rescue Team is based in Montgomery County but may be deployed throughout Pennsylvania. The team brought 14 people, known as a "mission-ready package," to this exercise - a small contingency of specialized personnel and equipment that would be lowered into an affected area where normal transportation can't deploy the team's boats. It was the team's first time working with the National Guard, said Joe Dishler, task force leader. "This is the kind of training that ups everyone's game," Dishler said. "We don't usually get access to this. This is the most safe environment we can learn in and from the best people in the world." Other agencies involved in the exercise included the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Civil Air Patrol, the Pennsylvania State Police, PennDOT and FEMA. The primary objectives for the exercise included: Activating and operating a commonwealth response coordination center. Exercising the air operations cell and search and rescue. PEMA communications exercise. Continuity of operations. Documenting the activation, response and recovery processes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 'Iran not recognize incumbent ruling body in Afghanistan' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 25, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says Iran does not recognize the incumbent ruling body in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to form an inclusive government. Amirabdollahian made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting between Foreign Ministry officials and Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Imam Khomeini, at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic. "We do not recognize the incumbent ruling body of Afghanistan and we emphasize the necessity of forming an inclusive government in the country because the Taliban is one part of the reality of Afghanistan, not all of it," he said. He also explained that Tehran has held talks with Afghan authorities regarding Iran's share of water from the Hirmand River, saying Iran believes that the issue must be resolved according to the 1973 treaty. "We have told Afghan authorities that the issue of [Iran's] share of water cannot be resolved through a mere political statement and should be pursued within the framework of legal measures," he added. The Helmand Treaty signed between Iran and Afghanistan, dated February 20, 1973 has clearly and unambiguously specified the Iranian side's water rights from the Helmand River, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported. This is a legal, objective and definite right, and Afghanistan is committed to providing the aforementioned right and not taking any action, which fully or partly strips Iran of its water rights, under Article 5 of the Treaty, the source added. **7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met in the Kremlin. May 25, 2023 20:05 The Kremlin, Moscow Earlier, Ilham Aliyev attended an expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: President Aliyev, colleagues. First of all, I would like to welcome you all once again and thank the President of Azerbaijan for his decision to join our work today within the EAEU. As I have already said, formally he attended as a guest, but, indeed, Mr Aliyev is right, it is a very conventional title, because Azerbaijan and all EAEU member countries boast serious and profound relations. Trade and economic relations are developing steadily, for the benefit of all our peoples. I would like this to continue, especially since there is great potential for regional cooperation. In general, Russian-Azerbaijani relations, if we talk about bilateral relations, are at a high level, also developing steadily, based on equality and consideration for each other's interests and in accordance with the Declaration on Allied Interaction signed in February 2022. We are all very happy about that. This year marks the 100th birthday of the late Heydar Aliyev. You know our attitude towards this political leader both in the Soviet Union and in independent Azerbaijan. He was an outstanding politician and a uniting figure in the history of our countries. It is also well known - we celebrated his birthday in Russia in a worthy manner. We had dedicated exhibitions in both the State Duma and the Federation Council, and showed documentaries on television. Many events were held in the regions of the Russian Federation, not only in the capital, but also in Kazan, Astrakhan, Dagestan, on the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM), where Heydar Aliyev is highly respected and remembered, including the ceremonial trip of the Moscow-Tynda train and events at Angoya station, where the station building bears the name of Heydar Aliyev, who supervised the construction of the BAM as the First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers. This prominent project for the whole Soviet Union is associated with Aliyev's name. This is what I would like to say for starters, and we will speak on other matters after the press has left. Please. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much, President Putin. First of all, I express my gratitude once again for the invitation to attend the EAEU summit. As was mentioned today, this is the first time I have attended the summit of this organisation, although, as we have already exchanged views with our colleagues, we work regularly in the CIS and other international organisations and, of course, in the bilateral format. I would like to express my gratitude for such respect for the memory of Heydar Aliyev. We very much appreciate it; everybody in Azerbaijan knows this very well. As you noted, special events were held in Moscow, at governmental institutions and in the regions. I should say that Heydar Aliyev and you, Mr President, have laid the foundation for today's relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. It was after your visit to Azerbaijan in 2001 that relations reached a completely new level. Today we describe these relations as allied, not only de facto, but also de jure. As you noted, at the beginning of last year, we signed a Declaration on Allied Interaction, which we implement and which is the most important political document reflecting the spirit and nature of our relations and the aspiration of our countries for even closer interaction. Of course, today we will also talk about regional issues. I would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude for Russia's efforts to normalise relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We very much appreciate those efforts, and the fact that you will participate in the trilateral meeting today also shows that the Russian Federation attaches great importance to Azerbaijan and Armenia finally reaching a peace agreement. I think that after the Armenian leadership's recent statements on the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, as well as the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan with specific figures for the area of the Republic of Azerbaijan, it will be much easier to agree on other points of the peace treaty, because that was the main factor on which we could not come to terms. So once again, Mr President, I expect that today in the trilateral format we will also take another step towards the normalisation of relations between the two countries. As for the bilateral agenda, it is broad enough. We will go through it in detail. Thank you again for the invitation. Vladimir Putin: Thank you. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan's week-long ceasefire threatened by intensified fighting Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 7:17 PM Fighting has intensified between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the past hours. It risks crumbling a week-long truce in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere across the country. Eyewitnesses and local residents said clashes broke out again on Thursday in Khartoum and Omdurman as well as the strategic city of El Obeid to the southwest. The health ministry says well over 700 people have been killed in the conflict in Sudan over the past several weeks. More than 5,400 people have also been injured. UN Darfur coordinator Toby Harward said the militia were also besieging Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State. Telecommunications have been cut off and gangs roaming the city on motorcycles have attacked hospitals, government and aid offices, banks and homes, he said. In statements late on Wednesday, the army and RSF accused each other of violating the truce. RSF said it was forced to defend itself against land, artillery and air strikes by the army. The army has accused RSF of attacks on Sudan's air bases and several cities west of the capital. The army, led by career officer General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, relies on air power while RSF, commanded by former militia leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, has spread out and taken cover in Khartoum's streets. The ceasefire was reached after five weeks of warfare in Khartoum and outbursts of fighting in other parts of Sudan, including the long volatile western region of Darfur. The truce was agreed to on Saturday following talks in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. Saudi Arabia and the United States were the mediators. Previous ceasefire announcements have failed to stop the fighting. The fighting has worsened a humanitarian crisis, forced more than 1.3 million people to flee and threatened to destabilize a fragile region. The International Organization for Migration says roughly 319,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries. World Food Programme Executive-Director Cindy McCain said people were fleeing Khartoum and heading west towards Darfur. UN humanitarian agency OCHA has said agencies were ready to deliver aid to more than four million people, but security issues were hampering distribution. Out of the 168 trucks ready to deliver assistance, only a small number were on the move from Port Sudan to Gadaref, Kassala and Al Gezira, an aid official said. The International Committee of the Red Cross said anesthesia and antibiotics and other medical supplies it had donated were now being distributed to seven hospitals in Khartoum. "Only 20% of health facilities in Khartoum are still functioning, a true collapse of the system right when it's needed the most," said its Sudan head Alfonso Verdu Perez in a statement. "Hospitals also urgently need water, electricity and a safe environment for their patients and staff. We appeal to the parties to respect the work of medical personnel. Lives depend on it." Many residents are struggling to survive as they face prolonged water and power cuts, a collapse of health services and widespread lawlessness and looting. The conflict erupted in mid-April as plans for a political transition under a civilian government were set to be finalized. In 2021, Burhan and Dagalo jointly staged a coup that derailed a fragile transition to civilian rule put in place after the 2019 overthrow of then President Omar al-Bashir. The two later fell out over a number of issues, including the integration of RSF into the regular army. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM: Iran does not recognize Taliban, wants inclusive govt. in Kabul Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 5:55 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has reiterated the necessity of establishing an inclusive government in Afghanistan while clarifying that Tehran does not recognize the ruling faction in Kabul. "We insist on the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan because the Taliban are just part of and the entire reality in Afghanistan," he told Iranian diplomats at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini Thursday during an event renewing allegiance to the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also expressed Tehran's displeasure over the Taliban's move to deprive Afghan women and girls from pursuing studies and getting education. "We regard such measures as contrary to the teachings of Islam's prophet," Amir-Abdollahian said. Hirmand River water rights must follow legal channel The Iranian top diplomat further pointed to Iran's water rights from Afghanistan's part of the Hirmand River according to the 1973 bilateral accord between the neighboring countries and underlined the need to abide by legal path of the agreement. "We have mentioned to Afghan officials that the issues relating to water rights will not be resolved through political statements and that they must be followed through via a legal framework," Amir-Abdollahian added. Iran and Afghanistan have been locked in a long-running dispute over their shared water resources. At the heart of the dispute is the Hirmand River, which flows 700 miles (1,126 kilometers) south before flowing into Hamoun wetlands, located in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Following more than a century of rifts over Hirmand's water supply, Iran and Afghanistan signed a treaty in 1973 to establish a means of regulating each country's use of the river. Iran should receive an annual share of 820 million cubic meters from Hirmand under the accord, which Afghanistan has grossly violated in letter and spirit, endangering the lives of many Iranians who rely on Hamoun wetlands for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing. Afghanistan has also built dams on the Hirmand which have constricted the water flow into Iran. Iran desires peaceful, secure Afghanistan Amir-Abdollahian further expressed concerns over sporadic border clashes in the past months along Afghanistan's long border with Iran but reiterated the significance of a secure and stable Afghanistan for the Islamic Republic and stressed that there is no way to resolve existing issues other than "interactions between the two nations." The Iranian foreign minister then went on to express Tehran's desire to help Afghan authorities establish peace and security across Afghanistan. "We don't want the repeat of the bitter incident in Mazar-i-Sharif," he said, referring to the 1998 killing of eight Iranian diplomats in Iran's consulate in the city after Taliban militants ran it over. 'Intelligent interaction' Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that the foreign policy doctrine set by the current administration is based on "dynamic diplomacy" and "intelligent interaction". The administration follows "a doctrine based on a balanced foreign policy, which means interaction with all parts of the world", he added. The minister said strengthening ties with neighboring countries and Asian nations is Iran's tops priority. Removal of sanctions The foreign minister touched on the stalemated talks to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying the agreement remains an international document despite its weaknesses and strengths, but Iran's top objective is the removal of the US-led sanctions. "We have made good progress" towards the removal of the illegitimate sanctions, he said. Talks between Tehran and other parties to the JCPOA resumed in Vienna in April 2021 aimed at bringing the US back into the accord and enforcing an end to Washington's brutal "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. The discussions, however, have remained at a standstill since August 2022 due to the Biden administration's insistence on not lifting all of the anti-Iran bans and its refusal to provide essential guarantees that it would not again abandon the agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU envoy calls on Israel to reconsider illegal settlement plans in West Bank Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 6:13 AM A European Union representative has condemned the Israeli regime's plans for the construction of nearly 600 new illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank, calling on Tel Aviv to reconsider the decision. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, the EU's ambassador to Palestine, made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday, during a visit by a delegation of 20 European ambassadors and consuls to the historical town of Sebastia, north of Nablus. The EU diplomat said Sebastia is an occupied territory, adding that any action by the Israeli regime in this area is a violation of international law. He also expressed the EU's solidarity with the residents of Sebastia, emphasizing that it is the right of Palestinians to stay and live there. Israel has approved a proposal to invest 29 million Israeli shekels ($8 million) to develop the Sebastia site to allow more settlers to reach the area and to decrease Palestinians access there. Last week, the chief of the Israeli military's Central Command also signed an order that allows Israelis to enter the illegal Homesh outpost in the northern part of the West Bank, paving the way for a formal settlement to be built there. Elsewhere in his remarks, Von Burgsdorff denounced the occupying regime's support for Israeli settlers to return to evacuated settlements in the northern West Bank. "Legalizing the return of settlers to evacuated outposts in the northern West Bank is contrary to the decisions" of Israel's so-called supreme court as well as the international law, he said, asserting that "all forms of settlements are illegal." The EU official further called on Israel to stop its acts of violence, prevent settler attacks, and protect Palestinians against those attacks. Incidents of sabotage and violence by settlers against Palestinians and their property have become a daily occurrence throughout the occupied territories, particularly in the West Bank. However, Israeli authorities rarely prosecute settlers and the vast majority of the files are closed due to deliberate police failure to investigate them properly. The United Nations has already warned of a surge in Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, mostly in the areas of al-Khalil, al-Quds, Nablus and Ramallah. Israel occupied the West Bank, including the western part of the holy city of al-Quds, in 1967. It later annexed East al-Quds, which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state. More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds. All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on occupied land. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel's settlement activities in the occupied territories in several resolutions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US to launch multiple construction projects at Philippine military bases Manila agreed to permit access amid tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan. BenarNews staff 2023.05.25 -- 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, it's 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. 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 Report: Asia's 10 major river systems at risk due to climate change Electricity generation will be impacted across the region, the study says. By Subel Rai Bhandari for RFA 2023.05.25 -- Asia's 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 "Asia's 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 continent's cradles of civilization, they are also responsible for almost three quarters of global rice production. 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 report's 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 Laos's 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 Cambodia's national installed capacity as hydropower sits in the Mekong river basin. In Myanmar, the Ayeyarwady, Salween, and Mekong provide 35% of the country's 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 China's 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 lion's share in the Yangtze and Yellow river basins. 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. Asia's 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, CWR's geospatial risk lead and coauthor of the report. 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 Taliban Effort To Resurrect Afghan Air Force Runs Into Turbulence By Abubakar Siddique May 25, 2023 Afghanistan's hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers are keen on showcasing their government's military prowess by frequently displaying repaired helicopters and planes from the country's inventory of aging aircraft. But the once ragtag militant group that relied on small arms, rocket launchers, roadside bombs, and suicide bombers to wage war for a quarter century is struggling to get its dreams of building a modern air force off the ground. On May 21, two pilots were killed after their U.S.-made helicopter crashed in the northern province of Samangan. The MD-530 multi-mission military aircraft was on patrol when it plunged to the ground after hitting an electricity pylon, according to the Taliban. It was the latest of at least five verified military aviation accidents recorded since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. All involved helicopters from the previous government's patchwork fleet of mostly U.S.- and Russian-built aircraft, with pilot error considered the likely causes. While the Taliban has shown it can make use of helicopters and some leftover planes in response to humanitarian disasters or for show, it is seen as being far from re-creating a functional air force capable of securing the skies in the event of foreign incursions or domestic insurgencies. "I don't see the Taliban air force as something to worry about," said Amin Tarzi, director of Middle East Studies at the U.S. Marine Corps University. "If anything, it can become more symbolic." Tarzi, an Afghanistan expert, says that the Taliban would need to conduct a significant amount of training for pilots and develop strategies for communication and coordination with ground forces, to build a viable air force. "Despite the Taliban propaganda, this air force won't become a major threat to anyone in the region," he said. "For whatever reason, they think the air force makes you a more formidable or formal force." In November, Taliban military officials claimed to have repaired some 70 helicopters and military planes. Taliban officials said their amnesty scheme for former Afghan military pilots and ground crews attracted more than 40 pilots and technicians to return and work for the Taliban's Defense Ministry. The Taliban inherited more than 100 aircraft, most of which were inoperable, when it returned to power. The Western-backed Afghan republic had 162 aircraft. Of these, 131 were airworthy just before the government's collapse in August 2021, according to the U.S. Special Inspector-General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. Some 25 percent of the aircraft were flown to neighboring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as Taliban fighters advanced on Kabul. Dozens more were rendered inoperable as Western forces headed for a final exit. Fearing Taliban reprisals, hundreds of former pilots and ground crew fled Afghanistan. Tarzi says that even before the United States indicated it wanted to withdraw from Afghanistan by signing a peace agreement with the Taliban in February 2020, the Afghan Air Force was an anemic institution. He pointed out as critical deficiencies its overreliance on Western support, a lack of discipline, and an incapability to operate independently. "The idea that the Afghan Air Force was intact and operational was erroneous," he said. Afghanistan's first modern air force emerged under King Zahir Shah in the 1960s with Soviet aircraft. During the Soviet occupation, the pro-Moscow socialist government established a formidable air force with hundreds of Soviet jets, cargo planes, and helicopters. But the air force split into several rival aviation units controlled by warring warlords. During the Taliban's first stint in power in the 1990s, its air force possessed some jets and helicopters operated by Afghan pilots and technicians who had defected to the group. Author Lukas Muller's book, Wings Over The Hindu Kush, documents the history of the Afghan air force between 1989 and 2001. He says that currently only a small number of Taliban fighters serve in the air force, which is mainly manned by pilots and technicians trained by the United States and its allies. Some were even trained during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. The Taliban is attempting to train new pilots but has not released figures showing the number of pilots and technicians it has, suggesting a shortage of qualified personnel. Muller says that, based on photos and videos, the Taliban now has approximately 50 operational planes and helicopters. "They consider their air force a crucial part of their military strength and openly boast about their accomplishments in repairing additional aircraft," he said. The Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopter, in several subtypes, is the most widely used Taliban helicopter. The group also has a small fleet of airworthy U.S.-made Black Hawk multi-mission helicopters, as well as U.S.-made MD-530s. Some A-29 attack fighters, a turboprop plane provided by the United States to the former Afghan government for air support and training, are believed to be serviceable. And the Taliban also possesses Russian Antonov transport planes and U.S. C-208 and AC-208 cargo aircraft. Muller said that while the Taliban has utilized its planes and helicopters for transporting troops, military and humanitarian cargo, and regime officials, the actual deployment of combat aircraft remains unverified. He says that the Taliban has not deployed its combat helicopters, such as the MD-530s or Russian-made Mi-35s, to actively engage opposition forces in the northern province of Panjshir, which has been a hotbed of anti-Taliban armed resistance. "In essence, the Taliban's air force has yet to prove itself in combat," he said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-air- force-aircraft-helicopters-training/32427528.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 Armenian, Azerbaijani Leaders Mix Optimistic Talk With Angry Discourse In Moscow By RFE/RL May 25, 2023 The leaders of bitter Caucasus rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan mixed words of conciliation and with angry disagreements 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan-karabakh- talks/32428053.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 Putin: Nagorno-Karabakh Situation Developing Towards Conflict Resolution Sputnik News 20230525 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is developing towards conflict resolution, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Moscow. "In general, in my opinion, despite any difficulties and problems, which are still enough, the situation is still developing towards a settlement. One of these areas is work on transport communications," Putin said. The Russian president also stated that both Aliyev and Pashinyan agreed issues "can be resolved." "For the most part, they [problems] don't exist, Putin said. "These are purely technical issues." The trilateral meeting, which saw Putin hold earlier separate talks with the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, came to a close after about 20 minutes. Not long after, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk detailed that the vice-premiers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will discuss the border crossing procedure during a meeting next week in Moscow. "Specifically, we will just talk about what the order of crossing will be and what procedures will be," Overchuk told reporters. The official added that the leaders will decide if they need to meet again after talks of deputy prime ministers. The latest comes after the Armenian government revealed it was willing to recognize the disputed territory as Azerbaijani grounds if its neighbor guaranteed ethnic Armenians in the area have their rights and safety respected. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Peru Declares Mexican President Persona Non Grata Over Stance on Boluarte Government Sputnik News 20230525 MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - The Peruvian Congress declared on Thursday Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador persona non grata. "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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Czech Republic to Buy Nearly 250 Combat Vehicles From Sweden in Huge Deal Sputnik News 20230525 Igor Kuznetsov Contrary to its self-professed image as a "humanitarian superpower," Sweden is one of the world's largest arms exporters with an outsized defense industry that churns out a surprising list of arms for a relatively small country of 10 million. The Czech military will buy 246 Stridsfordon 90 Swedish combat vehicles (outside Sweden also known as CV90) in a a new deal approved by the Eastern European country. According to the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), the deal with the BAE Systems Hagglunds, based in the city of Ornskoldsvik, will have a value of SEK 22 billion (over $2 billion). The agreement will also involve intergovernmental cooperation and integrate parts of the Czech industry into the manufacturing process of the vehicles. "We welcome another member of the successful CV90 User Group collaboration. When several countries use and develop a system together, it provides great benefits for all users such as increased capabilities, increased availability, increased opportunities for operational cooperation - and all at lower costs," Joakim Wallin, head of of FMV Export Operations said in statement. The Czech Republic will become the ninth country to operate the Stridsfordon 90. The vehicle is currently available in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland. Sweden has also donated 50 vehicles of this type to Kiev in the ongoing conflict as part of its massive arms package that involved self-propelled artillery systems, missiles and ammunition. What is CV90? The Stridsfordon 90 is a family of Swedish tracked armored combat vehicles designed by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, alongside the companies Hagglunds and Bofors in the mid-1980s to early 1990s. They entered service in Sweden in the mid-1990s and have undergone numerous technological advances due to changing battle requirements. Developed specifically for the Nordic subarctic climate, the vehicle is touted as featuring good mobility in snow and wetlands while carrying and supporting between six and eight fully equipped soldiers. Other variants include forward artillery observation, command and control, anti-aircraft, armored recovery vehicle, electronic warfare versions and others. Currently, 1,280 vehicles in 15 variants are in service across the eight user states. Despite historic non-alignment and a pacifist image as a "humanitarian superpower", Sweden is one of the world's largest arms exporters with an expanding defense industry that produces a surprising array of arms for a relatively small country of 10 million, ranging from artillery and to aircraft and even submarines. In recent decades, Sweden has consistently ranked among the largest weapons exporters per capita. The NATO application is therefore often seen as a tool of further expansion for the Nordic nation's outsized defense industry. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuses and Violations in Moura, Mali US Department of State Press Statement Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson May 25, 2023 In March 2022, elements of the Malian Armed Forces with the support of members of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group - a transnational criminal organization - conducted a military operation in Moura, Mali, which killed more than 500 people according to the UN Human Rights Office. Today, the Department of State is imposing visa restrictions on two Malian military commanders under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for their involvement in gross violations of human rights. Col. Moustaph Sangare, then-Commander of the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment, and Maj. Lassine Togola, Acting Commander of the Autonomous Special Forces Battalion (BAFS), were responsible for elements of the Malian Armed Forces that conducted the operation in Moura. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is imposing sanctions on Ivan Aleksandrovich Maslov, who serves as the leader of the Wagner Group in Mali, for his involvement in the actions of the Wagner Group in Mali. We will continue to promote justice and accountability for human rights violations and abuses in Mali. We remain committed to supporting the people of Mali and call for the protection of and respect for human rights and a return to civilian-led democratic governance. Mali's ongoing partnership with the Wagner Group is worsening its security situation and prolonging human suffering. Wagner's reported use of Mali as an intermediary to provide weapons to its fighters in Ukraine further shows the extent to which the group will pursue it broader financial and political aims. Treasury's sanctions action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 14024 . For more information on Treasury's action, see Treasury's press release . NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions the Head of the Wagner Group in Mali U.S. Department of the Treasury May 25, 2023 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Ivan Aleksandrovich Maslov (Maslov), the head of Russian Private Military Company 'Wagner' (Wagner Group) paramilitary units and its principal administrator based in Mali. The Wagner Group and its leader, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, are sanctioned under multiple authorities, including for support of Russia's war against Ukraine. The Wagner Group may be attempting to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, including by working through Mali and other countries where it has a foothold. The United States opposes efforts by any country to assist Russia through the Wagner Group. "Treasury's sanctions against the most senior Wagner Group representative in Mali identify and disrupt a key operative supporting the group's global activities," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The Wagner Group's presence on the African continent is a destabilizing force for any country that allows for the deployment of the group's resources into their sovereign territory." IVAN ALEKSANDROVICH MASLOV Maslov, a Russian national, is a Wagner Group senior security official who was tasked by Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin and Dmitriy Valeryevich Utkin (Utkin) to lead the Wagner Group's mercenary units in Mali. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada previously sanctioned Prigozhin and Utkin. Maslov has worked in close coordination with Malian government officials to execute the Wagner Group's deployment in Mali. In his role as the Wagner Group's principal administrator, Maslov has secured living accommodations for the Wagner Group's incoming forces deployed to Mali. Maslov arranges meetings between Prigozhin and government officials from several African nations. Maslov has worked to carry out the Wagner Group's interests in the extractive sector. OFAC designated Maslov pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Wagner Group. THE WAGNER GROUP The United States has sanctioned numerous entities and individuals, across multiple continents, that support the Wagner Group's destabilizing activity. The Wagner Group has meddled in and destabilized countries in Africa, committing widespread human rights abuses and appropriating natural resources. The Wagner Group has also been involved in Kremlin-backed combat operations around the world and is a key player in support of Putin's war on Ukraine. As Russia's military has struggled on the battlefield, Putin has resorted to relying on the Wagner Group to continue his war of choice. Most recently in Sudan, the Wagner Group has been supplying Sudan's Rapid Support Forces with surface-to-air missiles to fight against Sudan's army, contributing to a prolonged armed conflict that only results in further chaos in the region. The Wagner Group may be seeking to transit material acquisitions for Ukraine through Mali, and is willing to use false paperwork for these transactions. There are indications that the Wagner Group has been attempting to purchase military systems from foreign suppliers and to route these weapons through Mali as a third party. For example, the Wagner Group employees may have been attempting to work through Mali to acquire warfighting equipment such as mines, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, radar, and counterbattery systems for use in Ukraine. On June 20, 2017, OFAC designated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 13660 for being responsible for or complicit in, or for having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, and on November 15, 2022, the Department of State redesignated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. The Wagner Group has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. On January 26, 2023, OFAC redesignated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 13581, as amended by E.O. 13863, for being a foreign person that constitutes a significant transnational criminal organization. Wagner Group personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass executions, rape, child abductions, and physical abuse in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali. On the same day, OFAC designated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 13667 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, the targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence, or abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law in relation to the CAR. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated person 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. 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. For more information on the individual designated today, click here. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The changing nature of conflict in Africa requires adaptation to respond to evolving peace and security challenges: UK statement at the Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Africa. 25 May 2023 Thank you, President, for convening this morning's debate. As we mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, let me begin by paying tribute to all those who have contributed to UN peacekeeping over the past 75 years, in particular those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of peace and stability. I would also like to congratulate all of our colleagues of African descent on this Africa Day. We welcome the Secretary-General's 28 April report. I would also like to thank USG DiCarlo, African Union Commissioner Bankole and Ms Tadesse for their statements. President, the changing nature of conflict in Africa requires both the UN and the AU to adapt their different capabilities to prevent, mitigate and respond to evolving peace and security challenges. A key one of those challenges at hand is how to address funding gaps and capability shortfalls that have affected performance. Council members have returned to the issue of using UN-assessed contributions to fund AU-led operations a number of times in recent years. The United Kingdom supported the framework set out in resolution 2320, but we recognise that this has not translated into practical support. So how can we make progress? I have three suggestions. First, since financing for each operation will need to be determined on a case-by-case basis, we must ensure the UN Secretariat supports work to determine options for future operations and that the Security Council has an early role in determining the scope of joint UN-AU assessment and planning. Second, the AU has made significant progress to determine its compliance framework for international humanitarian law, human rights, conduct and discipline. It must now be applied to new operations effectively. We encourage continued development of these essential compliance frameworks. Third, we should establish openly and clearly how we intend to share the financial burden between the United Nations and the African Union. Any scope for misinterpretation will cause new initiatives to stall. President, while the international community has predominantly relied on UN peacekeeping to date, we acknowledge the comparative advantage that AU and other Africa-led peace support operations can offer, with an ability to deploy more rapidly and respond more robustly to certain emerging threats. Threats for which UN peacekeeping operations are not always the appropriate response. In conclusion, the United Kingdom is committed to working with all countries, particularly our African partners, to develop a working financial mechanism that enables predictable and sustainable support. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK and Czechia strengthen defence export prospects The UK and Czechia discuss future defence export prospects, building on the PM's priority to grow the UK economy. 25 May 2023 The UK and Czechia have strengthened defence export prospects as new Defence Minister James Cartlidge visited the International Defence and Securities Technologies Fair (IDET) in Brno today [Thursday 25 May]. Visiting stalls from some of the UK's key Defence companies, including SUPACAT, Marshall Land Systems and BAE Systems, Cartlidge discussed how the UK defence industry can further support the Czech Armed Forces through defence exports and government-to-government support. Meeting with senior government officials, Cartlidge outlined how the UK would continue to support Czechia, building on a long-standing defence and security partnership between the two nations. Czechia is about to complete negotiations to sign a contract with UK-based defence company, SUPACAT, for 24 High Mobility Transport (HMT) vehicles for their Armed Forces, known in the British Army as the JACKAL series of reconnaissance and long range patrol vehicles. The UK has been producing these vehicles for more than ten years, with contracts delivering on the Prime Minister's priorities to grow the economy and support UK jobs. Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said: We have a strong defence relationship with our Czech counterparts, standing firm together against Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, as part of NATO. Building on this existing partnership, we remain committed to ensuring we continue to work together, offering the best of British industry to support the military capabilities of our close NATO Ally. The strong defence partnership between the UK and Czechia is showcased by the British Military Assistance Training Team (Czechia), in place for 23 years and jointly delivering UK thought leadership and career and tactical training courses to 15 countries across the region, including Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. Czech and British soldiers have served alongside each other for more than 20 years in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as (under EU and UN mandates) Mali and elsewhere in Africa. Czechia is very much a central European standard-bearer for Ukraine, proportionally ahead of many larger European nations in having providing over 1.5 billion in lethal and non-lethal aid since the conflict begun. Earlier this year, Czechia and UK were both part of a group of European nations that signed The Tallinn Pledge, committing to collectively pursue delivery of an unprecedented set of donations including main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defence, ammunition, and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine's defence against Russia's illegal invasion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kingsley Field to host F-35A Formal Training Unit Published May 25, 2023 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Department of the Air Force plans to convert the F-15C Eagle Formal Training Unit at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, into a third F-35A Lightning II FTU, providing additional training capacity to the fifth-generation aircraft. The decision comes after the release of the Fiscal Year 2024 Presidential Budget request, which outlines the divestiture of the aging F-15C fleet. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, is expected to start hosting basic F-15 aircrew training in early 2026, after which, the aircrew will undergo training for their specific F-15 model at their first unit. Kingsley Field will receive 20 F-35As to replace its 27 F-15Cs once the environmental impact analysis is completed, which is expected in 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Truxtun Returns from Deployment US Navy 25 May 2023 From Ensign Helena Blaisdell-Black, Unit Public Affairs Representative, USS Truxtun (DDG 103) NORFOLK, Va. -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, May 25, 2023, following an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, George H.W. Bush CSG, to the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation. "Truxtun's crew represents the absolute best of America," said Cmdr. Adam Miller, commanding officer of Truxtun. "They demonstrated exemplary conduct ashore in foreign ports and sustained superior performance operating at sea. From deterring illicit activity in the Red and Arabian Seas to sailing alongside our NATO Allies in the Mediterranean, our crew excelled at every mission tasked to us." Following completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise, Truxtun deployed in August 2022 alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut (DDG 99) and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55). Truxtun entered U.S. 5th Fleet in December 2022. While in the Middle East, Truxtun participated in Exercise AMAN, a series of multilateral naval exercises hosted by the Pakistani Navy, and International Maritime Exercise 2023, a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) hosted naval training exercise that was combined with the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa-led exercise Cutlass Express 2023, which involved more than 50 partner nations and international organizations operating in the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and East African coastal regions. In January 2023, Truxtun participated in exercise Juniper Oak 23-2, the largest bi-lateral U.S.-Israeli exercise in history. Led by U.S. Central Command and the Israeli Defense Force, Juniper Oak 23-2 was designed to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Israeli militaries. Juniper Oak 23-2 joined the long-standing "Juniper" series that the U.S. and Israel have conducted for more than 20 years. In April 2023, Truxtun operated off the coast of Sudan in support of Department of State's evacuation efforts. Throughout the deployment, the crew conducted scheduled port visits to Split, Croatia; Souda Bay, Crete, Greece; Toulon, France; Aqaba, Jordan; Eilat and Haifa, Israel; and Duqm, Oman. Additionally, the crew hosted key leaders, including Rear Adm. Michael Sciretta, commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, strengthening U.S.-partner relationships across the theaters. "Truxtun is a warship ready for tasking, and that is possible thanks to the talent and dedication of our crew," Miller said. "I am so proud of every one of our Sailors and thankful for the work they've invested to bring us home safely." George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and Leyte Gulf. The ships of DESRON-26 completing deployment within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), Truxtun, and Delbert D. Black. The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the "Sidewinders" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the "Jolly Rogers" of VFA-103, the "Knighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Pukin Dogs" of VFA-143, the "Bluetails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the "Grandmasters" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Allies Maintain, Sustain in the North Atlantic and High North US Navy 25 May 2023 From Lt.Cmdr. Tyler Barker ATLANTIC OCEAN -- "An Army marches on its stomach." Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with this oft-quoted aphorism of the importance of logistics in military operations. While armies may indeed march on their stomachs, navies sail on their stomachs, their fuel reserves, and their critical parts. While operating at sea, sometimes hundreds of nautical miles from the nearest land, and sometimes in challenging environmental conditions like those of the High North, ships require food, fuel, and parts from replenishment vessels. During exercise Formidable Shield 2023, these replenishment vessels came in the form of RFA Tidesurge and Spanish oiler Patino. Together, the ships conducted more than 20 replenishments-at-sea, delivering 5 million liters of diesel fuel marine (DFM) and 48 pallets of spare parts and stores to the NATO Allied ships taking part in the exercise. This sustainment allowed the ships to remain in the exercise "fight." "Patino has had a very busy schedule during Formidable Shield 2023 as we have continued to replenish the multinational maritime force, allowing them to complete the work they need to do while underway," said Spanish Navy LT Ignacio Gonzalez-Tablas, Patino's operations officer. "NATO interoperability shines through in everything our Allies do, and that includes working together to keep our units on station and on mission." While Patino and Tidesurge delivered parts and fuel at sea, the multinational commander, task group (CTG) integrated air and missile defense (IAMD), embarked aboard the Spanish frigate ESPS Blas De Lezo (F 103), and the logistics team at Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) headquarters, monitored the status of logistics throughout the force, directing these sustainment initiatives to keep the force topped up and in the action. It was not just replenishment ships who kept the fleet in fighting shape, though. From ground-based resupply in the Andya phase of the exercise, to big-wing air tanking in support of Allied fighter aircraft, and Allied helicopters conducting personnel transfers and delivering parts and supplies via vertical onboard delivery (VOD) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP), logistics is a true all hands effort. "Our Allied helicopter crews delivered time critical components to several vessels throughout the exercise, underscoring their utility and our combined capacity to sustain ships underway," said U.S. Navy Lt. Dylan Kelly, Formidable Shield's Helicopter Element Commander (HEC). "Flight crews regularly demonstrated their ability to safely and effectively conduct multinational crossdeck operations, assisting the force to meet their logistical demands in the challenging and fast-paced maritime environment." As Formidable Shield draws to a close, participating ships and aircraft will leave this multinational force and carry on other national and Alliance tasking. Regardless of where they operate, however, there will be a team of logisticians standing at the ready to keep them marching. Formidable Shield is a biennial integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) exercise involving a series of live-fire events against subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic targets, incorporating multiple Allied ships, ground forces, and aviation forces working across battlespaces to deliver effects. Formidable Shield demonstrates Alliance cohesion, cutting-edge capacity and capability, and NATO Allies' combined commitment to the deterrence and defense of NATO territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norfolk Naval Shipyard Partners with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences to Showcase Cutting Edge Shipbuilding Technology US Navy 25 May 2023 From Susanne Greene NORFOLK, Va -- Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) co-hosted its first Technology Showcase for contractors and civilians from May 10-11 with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS). The two-day event hosted more than 60 vendors and provided an opportunity for waterfront workers to see the most innovative technologies in their trades and for shipyard production management teams to collaborate with industry partners on discussing prospective solutions specific to NNSY. "Becoming the 21st century shipyard our Navy needs requires that effective combination of efficient planning and execution, upgraded facilities, and cutting-edge technology and equipment that can be smartly leveraged into our day-to-day work," said Shipyard Commander Captain Dianna Wolfson at the event's kickoff. "The next two days offer an exciting glimpse into our future, with prospects of using more advanced technology to meet our vision." Planning for the Technology Showcase started back in 2019 and culminated into a successful event at America's Shipyard. Dan Adams, Shipyard Command Innovation Program Manager stated, "The Innovation Program leadership was focused on identifying and transitioning proven technologies into the shipyard that would help the command meet the mission of maintaining, modernizing, and repairing the Navy's nuclear fleet in a more efficient manner." Vendor focus areas included: coatings and corrosion prevention; energy, environmental, health and safety; business technology and analytics; advanced additive manufacturing; training, and enhanced inspection systems. "This interaction is key for those doing the work to communicate their current challenges and stress the solutions offered by the vendors against their real world experiences," stated Thomas Staskin, Shipyard Business Process Consultant Lead. "We feel these dialogues will guide the vendors to focus their efforts in areas that will truly make a difference to our shipyard in the future, as well as identify those technologies that seem to be ready for implementation right now." "The reality is that this gives us the chance to close the gap between what the government has available for us versus what the outside industry can offer," said Jason Wills, Code 926 Shipyard Group Superintendent. "This is the first step in driving that to completion and we are very excited about it." Nick Buie, Code 982 Shipyard Utilities Engineer attended with other members of his team and plan to visit future Technology Showcases at NNSY. "It's nice to be at the Technology Showcase and engage with vendors that are very much on the front edge of shipbuilding technology," said Buie. "It's refreshing to see the various perspectives on the products and services that are available to our industry." The vendors enjoyed engaging with NNSY employees and sharing the latest shipbuilding technologies. "I spent the first day going vendor to vendor listening and taking notes of all the innovative technologies," stated Laura Herrin, Code 900, Shipyard Program Manager for Process Improvement. "For someone who has been in the shipyard for over 35 years and has worked in multiple codes, I was excited to see all the new technology that will help our workforce to do their jobs safer and faster." Herrin further stated, "Overall, I believe there was value added to this technology showcase and as with everything we should do as NNSY, it will continuously improve." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Isolated Taliban Find Active Diplomacy With China By Akmal Dawi May 25, 2023 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 Taliban's 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 d'affaires. Short of a formal recognition, Beijing has practically treated the Taliban regime as not only Afghanistan's 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 China's 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 Afghanistan's 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 Afghanistan's 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. "China's 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 group's control a commitment U.S. officials say the Taliban broke by hosting former al-Qaida leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri in downtown Kabul. "[The] Taliban's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 25 May 2023 - Day 456 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 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. AIS is used to track vessels, including to ensure their safety. 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 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. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that that day, at night, the Russian Federation launched another massive attack on the territory of Ukraine, using Iranian strike UAVs "Shahed-136/131". 36x of 36x were destroyed by Ukrainian Armed Forces. During the day of May 25th, Russian forces conducted 2x missile strikes using air defense systemsS-300 on the civil infrastructure of the Tsyrkuny in Khirkiv Oblast, some private house was damaged. In addition, Russian forces carried out 48x airstrikes and launched about 10x MLRS attacks. 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, 17x 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. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain enhanced military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. Russian forces shelled the settlements of Hai, Kam'ians'ka Sloboda, Chernihiv Oblast; Khodine, Volodymyrivka, Oleksandrivka, Velika Pisarivka in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Strelecha, Krasne, Cherkassy Tyshki, Lukyantsi, Neskuchne, Ternova, Vovchans'k, Chugunivka, Hatne in the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: russian invaders do not stop trying to improve the tactical position. They carried out airstrikes in the area of the settlements of Chaykivka and Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast. The Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Masyutivka. The settlements of Topoli, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Zapadne, Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivs'ke, Stelmakhivka of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery and mortars. Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in near Bilohorivka. They carried out airstrikes at Belogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Ivano-Daryivka in the Donetsk Oblast. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Belohorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Ivanivka, Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'ians'ke and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire. Bakhmut axis: Russian troops continue to conduct offensives. Vasyukivka, Privillia, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Stupochki, Predtechine, Kostyantynivka, Bila Hora, North of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled. Avdiivka axis: the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Krasnohorivka. Airstrikes at the Avdiivka area. Conducted artillery shelling of Avdiivka, Pervomaiskyi and Karlivka in the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. Russian forces carried out airstrikes near the Maryinka area. At the same time, the settlements of Mar'inka and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast were subjected to Russian shelling. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces shelled Vugledar and Prechistivka. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes in the districts of Olhivskyi, Hulyaipole, Novodanilivka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Novoberyslav in the Kherson Oblast. Shelled the settlements of Zelene Pole, Olhivske, Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipil's'ke, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Shcherbaki, Stepove, Kam'ians'ke, and Stepnohirsk of the Zaporizhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Novooleksandrivka, Havrylivka, Vesele, Kozatske, Lviv, Vysuntsi, Bilozerka, Antonivka, Veletens'ke of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson. Russian occupying forces militarized the island of Dzharylgach, which was connected by them to the temporarily captured mainland part of the Kherson Oblast near Lazurne on May 19th. In particular, the Russian occupiers placed about 300x Russian servicemen and 15x foreign-made boats on the island, which were stolen from the local population. Ukrainian Air Force carried out 4x strikes on manpower and military equipment concentration areas, and missile and artillery units hit 2x areas of concentration of Russian manpower, 1x ammunition depot, 1x radar station and an artillery unit at firing positions. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the enemy close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). In addition, actions of four sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were thwarted near Novomlynsk, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Ivanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Rozovka (Lugansk People's Republic). Up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised in these directions during the day. In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the enemy close to Raigorodka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 65 Ukrainian personnel, three pick-up trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been eliminated. In Donetsk direction, units, aviation, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated up to 270 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer during the day. Moreover, two ammunition depots of the 80th Air Assault and 110th Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been annihilated close to Stupochka and Avdeevka. In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok Group of Forces have hit the enemy units in the areas of Novomikhailovka, Novoselka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malaya Tokmachka and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region). One sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been disabled close to Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in these directions during the day. In Kherson direction, up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed over the past 24 hours. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 95 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 102 areas during the day. Russian air defence forces have intercepted eight HIMARS MLRS shells during the day. In addition, 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Chervonaya Dibrova, Kremennaya, Zhitlovka, Zatishnoye, Novokrasnyanka (Lugansk People's Republic), Svetlodarskoye, Yevgenovka, Zelenyi Gai (Donetsk People's Republic), Chubarevka (Zaporozhye region), and Kairy (Kherson region). In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,321 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 anti-aircraft missile systems, 9,298 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with multiple launch rocket systems, 4,901 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,447 units of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Court Sentences Two Oath Keepers Leaders on Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 25, 2023 Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 58, of Granbury, Texas, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, and Kelly Meggs, 54, of Dunnellon, Florida, the leader of the Florida chapter of the organization, were sentenced today for seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. His is the longest sentence, to date, related to the assault on law enforcement and the U.S. Capitol Building. Meggs was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. "Today's sentences reflect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "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." "Today's sentencings reflect the FBI's commitment to do our part 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," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "We will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who violated our laws in connection with the siege on the U.S. Capitol." "There have been few instances in our nation's history when our fellow citizens have engaged in a seditious conspiracy a a conspiracy to use force to oppose the functioning of our government," said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. "More people were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the siege of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, 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." Rhodes and Meggs were found guilty on Nov. 29, 2022, following an eight-week trial and three days of deliberations. In addition to the seditious conspiracy charge, Rhodes was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents and proceedings. Meggs was also found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. According to the government's evidence, the Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. Following the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election, Rhodes, Meggs, and others began plotting to oppose, by force, the lawful transfer of presidential power. Beginning in late December 2020, via encrypted and private communications applications, Rhodes, Meggs, and others coordinated and planned to travel to Washington, D.C., on or around Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the certification of the electoral college vote. The defendants also, collectively, employed a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates; organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons, and supplies - including knives, batons, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection, and radio equipment - to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power, and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with each other and others. On Jan. 6, 2021, a large crowd began to gather outside the Capitol perimeter as the Joint Session of Congress got under way at 1 p.m. Crowd members eventually forced their way through, up, and over U.S. Capitol Police barricades and advanced to the building's exterior faAade. Shortly after 2 p.m., crowd members forced entry into the Capitol by breaking windows, ramming open doors, and assaulting Capitol police and other law enforcement officers. At about this time, according to the government's evidence, Rhodes entered the restricted area of the Capitol grounds and directed his followers to meet him at the Capitol. At approximately 2:30 p.m., according to the government's evidence, Meggs, along with other Oath Keepers and affiliates - many wearing paramilitary clothing and patches with the Oath Keepers name, logo, and insignia - marched in a "stack" formation up the east steps of the Capitol, joined a mob, and made their way into the Capitol. Rhodes remained outside, coordinating activities. While certain Oath Keepers members and affiliates breached the Capitol grounds and building, others remained stationed just outside of the city in quick reaction force (QRF) teams. According to the government's evidence, the QRF teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power. Rhodes was arrested on Jan. 13, 2022, in Texas. Meggs was arrested on Feb. 17, 2021, in Florida. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department's National Security and Criminal Divisions are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by numerous U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country. The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance provided by numerous FBI offices throughout the country, including the Dallas, Cincinnati, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Richmond Field Offices. 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. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. Topic(s): Domestic Terrorism National Security Component(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - District of Columbia Press Release Number: 23-605 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COVID-19 ranks as most prevalent virus in Beijing for four weeks: CDC report Global Times By Global Times Published: May 25, 2023 02:42 PM COVID-19 infections have ranked as the most prevalent virus in Beijing for four weeks after overtaking the city's influenza cases in late April, according to the COVID-19 weekly reports released by the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Wednesday. According to the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the number of cases involving 16 kinds of notifiable infectious diseases across Beijing has risen to 25,544 from May 15 to May 21, a four-fold increase compared with the number from April 24 to April 30. Respiratory infectious diseases accounted for 96.5 percent of the 25,544 cases. The Health Times affiliated to People's Daily reported that Beijing's influenza cases had topped COVID-19 ones since February 6, but were then overtaken by COVID-19 infections from April 24. Influenza cases were overtaken by infectious diarrhea ones and have dropped to the third place from May 15 to May 21. China's top respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan said on Monday at the 2023 Greater Bay Area Science Forum that a new COVID-19 infection wave in 2023 will likely peak in late June at about 65 million cases per week. According to Zhong, a small wave of COVID-19 infections at the end of April and early May was "anticipated." Projections showed that a small peak of infections is likely at the end of May, with the number of infections peaking at about 40 million per week. By the end of June, the epidemic is expected to peak at about 65 million infections a week. Experts warned earlier in May that the more times an individual is infected with COVID-19, the higher the risk of sequelae occurring. Gao Fu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said the long-lasting effects of COVID-19 infections are a basic fact and people have no need to be shy away from it. Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, said that another major COVID-19 epidemic is "unlikely" to occur in China this year, but the individual infections will continue, stressing the current top priority of developing vaccines against XBB strain as soon as possible, especially for the elderly and tumor patients soon. China has approved two COVID-19 vaccines to counter the country's current dominant XBB variant and the new vaccines will soon be released to the market, Zhong revealed on Monday at the forum. He said that three or four more will likely be approved soon. "On developing more effective vaccines, we are running ahead of other countries." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NW China's Shaanxi education authority warns schools over rising COVID-19 infection rates Global Times By Global Times Published: May 25, 2023 12:57 PM The education department under the Shaanxi provincial government in Northwest China has listed COVID-19 infection as a special attention event, warning all schools to strengthen COVID-19 monitoring and take precautionary measures as the positive rate of nucleic acid testing has recently begun to rise. The epidemic situation in Shaanxi remains at a low level, and monitoring data shows infections were on an upward trend, provincial education authorities said in an early warning for school public health emergency released on Wednesday. The epidemic prevention and control on campus is facing new challenges as the college and high school entrance examinations approach, along with rising temperatures and other factors. The early warning advises all schools within the province to implement epidemic prevention and control strictly under the national plan for COVID-19 prevention and control in kindergartens, primary and middle schools and higher education institutions. It also called for educational institutions to strengthen monitoring, promptly responding to any negative developments and formulate targeted prevention and control measures, as well as enhance personal protection awareness. The early warning requested all schools to focus on events such as brucellosis and hemorrhagic fever. Hand, foot and mouth disease, foodborne disease, mumps and possible rabies also feature on a watchlist. Since December 9, 2022, the positive rate of COVID-19 nucleic acid tests in China had increased before fallen, according to the latest report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on April 29. The number of COVID-19 cases dropped to 2,661 on April 20, and climbed in the week from April 21 to April 27, to 6,752 on April 27, the China CDC said. From April 1 to April 30, more than 2.1 million infectious disease cases and 2,217 deaths were reported across the Chinese mainland, according to a report released by the Chinese CDC on Thursday. In addition to COVID-19 infections, a total of 291,128 infected cases and 2,185 deaths were reported from a further 21 different class B infectious diseases. The top five reported diseases including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis, accounting for 96 percent of total reported class B infectious disease cases, the report noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US critical infrastructure hacked, Chinese government-backed group blamed Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 6:24 AM The United States and its cybersecurity allies blame a Chinese government-backed hacking group for spying on critical US infrastructure organizations, including the one in the island territory of Guam, which is home to strategic military bases. Microsoft and Western intelligence agencies said in separate reports on Wednesday that hackers had managed to insert a computer code that blended into Microsoft Windows systems, and evaded detection while maintaining access and gathering information. In a separate statement, Microsoft said a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group, dubbed 'Volt Typhoon', had carried out the hack. The group, it said, targeted organizations from telecommunications to transportation hubs, Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft itself, as well as the crucial US military outpost of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. Guam is a major communications hub connecting Asia and Australia to the United States by multiple submarine cables. "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 tech company said. It added, "Observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible." Microsoft analysts said they had "moderate confidence" this group was developing capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region in any possible future crises. "It means they are preparing for that possibility," added John Hultquist, who heads threat analysis at Google's Mandiant Intelligence. Hultquist said the Chinese activity is unique and worrying as well because analysts don't yet have enough visibility on what this group might be capable of. "There is greater interest in this actor because of the geopolitical situation," he noted. Security analysts warned that the hackers could target US military networks and other critical infrastructure if China attacks Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). It was not immediately clear how many organizations were affected, or what information may have been gleaned. The cyberattack approach is called "living off the land," and sees hackers using "built-in network tools to evade our defenses and leaving no trace behind," said Rob Joyce, NSA cybersecurity director. Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand warned they could be targeted by the hackers too. Canada's cybersecurity agency, however, said separately that it had had no reports of Canadian victims of the hacking as yet. "However, Western economies are deeply interconnected," it added. The UK similarly warned the techniques used by the Chinese hackers on US networks could be applied worldwide. China has yet to respond to the allegations. Meanwhile, China has already branded the US as the "biggest threat to global cybersecurity," saying that Washington "knowingly abuses technology" for spying and a range of other purposes. The United States is seeking to preserve "hegemony in cyberspace" under the false pretext of "national security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters back in April, urging the US to "stop its global hacking operations." The rivalry between the US and China has intensified in recent years, with Beijing's growing international clout and rapid economic progress emerging as a viable counter-weight to the US. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China braces for second COVID wave amid public doubts over homegrown vaccines Experts don't expect a return to the stringent restrictions of the zero-COVID policy. By Jing Wei for RFA Mandarin 2023.05.25 -- 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 country's 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. 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. 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 People's 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. "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. 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 Oath Keepers Leader Sentenced to 18 Years for Role in January 6 Attack By Masood Farivar May 25, 2023 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" a an "American Solzhenitsyn" a 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 a "many of them in your truck" a 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 a 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) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 25, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News U.S. Partnership With U.K., Australia Enhances Security In September 2021, the U.S., Australia and the U.K. announced a new partnership, AUKUS, meant to strengthen alliances and security, especially in the Indo-Pacific. In March, plans for moving forward on the first pillar of that new partnership were announced. This involves delivering a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability to Australia. On Capitol Hill yesterday, Mara Karlin, assistant secretary of defense for strategies, plans, and capabilities, discussed further implications of AUKUS a including its second pillar, which involves enhancing joint capabilities and interoperability. On the Hill, Karlin touched on how AUKUS fits into the National Defense Strategy; how the Defense Department is seizing what Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called the "generational opportunity" AUKUS presents; and why the U.S. must work to expand defense cooperation with its closest allies and partners. The 2022 National Defense Strategy describes China as the United States' most consequential strategic competitor, Karlin said. "The National Defense Strategy describes integrated deterrence as a holistic response to the strategies that our competitors are pursuing and directs the use of campaigning to gain military advantage," Karlin said. "It calls on the Department of Defense to build enduring advantages across the defense ecosystem to shore up our foundations for integrated deterrence and campaigning." Karlin told lawmakers that the strategy describes allies and partners as a "center of gravity" for its implementation. "What is needed now more than ever before is an approach that enhances our AUKUS partner's conventional military capabilities, opens support to a more integrated defense industrial base, increases information sharing, and implements cooperative policies that reflect the concepts laid out in the national security strategy," Karlin said. "What cannot be overstated is this: We cannot do this alone, and our AUKUS partners stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States, as they have for many decades." Development of new technologies, Karlin said, are critical to U.S. defense and to the defense of AUKUS partners. The AUKUS partnership will create opportunities for cooperation that will advance the development and availability of those new technologies. "As President [Joe] Biden and Secretary Austin have said, AUKUS is a generational opportunity," Karlin said. "Together with our AUKUS partners, we have identified several advanced capability opportunities in areas that range from artificial intelligence and quantum to hypersonics. Over time, the work we do will advance our own capabilities, as well as our partners', and will enable us to address the challenges that we will collectively face. Today more than ever, she said, there is a not only a benefit, but an imperative to expand defense technology-sharing practices, and AUKUS will be a part of that. The AUKUS partnership, Karlin said, also provides an opportunity to streamline defense cooperation and to identify sticking points that make information or technology sharing a challenge. "We need to widen the aperture; foster collaborative defense innovation; advance military interoperability with our allies and partners; and leverage our collective strengths as a force multiplier," Karlin said. "AUKUS has provided a lens into not only what military capabilities our closest allies need, but also what barriers exist that hamper pursuit of our integrated national security strategy and how we need to adapt our approach to meet our national security objectives." The administration, Karlin told lawmakers, plans to consult with Congress on legislative changes that will allow increased exemptions to licensing requirements for AUKUS partners and make easier the transfer of both unclassified and classified defense articles and services. "This bold approach is critical to ensuring the AUKUS partnership continues to innovate and to progress to meet the challenges of the global security environment," she said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 25, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 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. What's 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 China's 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 U.S.-based Microsoft said on Wednesday that a Chinese hacking group recently launched attacks against U.S. key infrastructure, including in Guam. What's the foreign ministry's comment? Mao Ning: We noted this extremely unprofessional report - a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence. We also noted that the U.S. 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 U.S. through the Five Eyes to serve its geopolitical agenda. It's widely known that the Five Eyes is the world's biggest intelligence association and the NSA the world's 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 U.S. 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 U.S. is the champion of hacking.a I remember that last September, details were revealed about NSA's attacks on China's Northwestern Polytechnical University in a report issued by Chinese institutions. The U.S. 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 China's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's new ambassador to Washington starts work amid moribund bilateral ties Xie Yang takes up his post with scant sign of a return to the 'guardrails' envisaged under President Joe Biden. By Sun Cheng for RFA Mandarin, Fong Tak Ho for RFA Cantonese 2023.05.25 -- China's new ambassador to the United States, Xie Yang, started his tenure by stating baldly that he is there to look after his country's 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 China's "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 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. 'Wolf warrior' reputation Xie's 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 ministry's envoy to Hong Kong during the 2019 protest movement, Xie blamed the protests against the loss of the city's 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 People's Liberation Army around the island. 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-wen's 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 China's most senior diplomat, Wang Yi. The two last met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 18. "There's 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 Sullivan's May 11 meeting with Wang Yi in Vienna as another attempt to find "guardrails" following recent tensions. "We've had a very difficult several months and as President Biden mentioned ... he's, of course, hoping that there'll be a moment for thaw in the relationship in what's 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, Xie's 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 Xie's 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 don't think [Xie's appointment] should be regarded as some kind of political signal." Wang said even China's more moderate diplomats will be under pressure to demonstrate their "wolf warrior" credentials under Xi. "We've 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 Xie's 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. 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 Chinese War Simulation Finds Top US Carrier Group Could Be 'Destroyed With Certainty' Sputnik News 20230525 Wyatt Reed War games conducted by Chinese researchers found the US military's most prized aircraft carrier could be reliably sunk with relative ease in the event of a hot war in the South China Sea. A volley of hypersonic missiles could reliably sink the US military's 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 People's 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." A major Hong Kong-based newspaper reported that the military planners "selected vessels deemed the US Navy's most superior - the CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by a CG56 Ticonderoga-class cruiser the San Jacinto, and four DDG-103 Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyers." Led by Cao Hongsong from the North University of China, the researchers found that virtually every US surface vessel was ravaged by the attack and eventually sank. 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 fleet's 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 team's 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 China's military, the Honk Kong outlet noted. But it's 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 China's 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." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese, US commerce ministers hold talks in Washington Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: May 26, 2023 08:21 AM China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo held talks in Washington on Thursday, engaging in "frank, professional and constructive exchanges" on China-US economic and trade relations as well as issues of common concern, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a statement on its website on Friday morning. The Chinese side expressed deep concerns over the US' economic and trade policy toward China, its policy on semiconductors and export controls, as well as its outbound investment review policy, according to MOFCOM. The meeting between the two ministers, on top of the recent resumption of high-level engagements between Beijing and Washington, is one of the most important meetings between the two countries since the cancellation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China in February after an incident surrounding a Chinese weather balloon. China and the US agreed to set up communication channels to maintain and strengthen exchanges on specific economic and trade issues in addition to areas of cooperation, said MOFCOM in a notice. Earlier this week, MOFCOM strongly criticized the US for engaging in so-called "trade initiative" talks with the island of Taiwan, asserting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and the one-China principle is the prerequisite for China's Taiwan region to participate in external economic cooperation. Prior to his departure, on Monday, Wang reassured US companies that China continues to welcome US companies to develop in China and achieve win-win results based on mutual respect and benefit at a business symposium in Shanghai. Representatives from several US companies including Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell attended the event. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Korean Peninsula Does Not Welcome European Gentlemen Inciting Confrontation and Hostility Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- Pak Myong Chol, an international affairs analyst of the DPRK, released the following article titled "Korean Peninsula does not welcome European gentlemen inciting confrontation and hostility" on May 25: The president of the European Council and the chairperson of the European Commission visited south Korea recently. At a confrontational inter-bloc confab held in Hiroshima of Japan, they were treated as observers. It is needless to pay heed to the reason why they flied to south Korea, but their thoughtless behavior during the junket makes us reconsider the status of the European Union allegedly representing a pole. No sooner had they set their feet on south Korea than they visited the demilitarized zone, during which they carried on Twitter such awful words "North Korea's nuclear weaponization is a threat to regional peace." At talks and joint press conferences, they said "European Union will not accept north Korea's possession of nuclear weapons as a normal thing as it does not tolerate Russia's invasion of Ukraine," not content with blaming Russia and China to copy what the U.S. does. This only adds to the impression that today's European Union is just a passionate observer that is only good at copying others without its own way of thinking and principle. As for the DPRK's status of a nuclear weapons state cited by them, we have never asked EU to recognize something about it as we don't feel the need to do so. As we are accustomed to witnessing the present plight of EU becoming more and more divisive and dependent on the U.S. as days go by, EU had better get used to the status of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state now. This time the European rulers unreasonably pulled up the DPRK, saying that its bolstering of self-defence capabilities poses threat to the regional peace. This is just the most typical revelation of the present plight of EU which has lost its strategic independence almost completely as a result of its pursuance of the divisive U.S. pro-alliance policy. They are keen on gaining the favor of the south Korean puppets, desperately turning a blind eye to the joint military exercises of aggressive nature still going on near the military demarcation line, let alone such threatening rhetoric against the DPRK daringly touted by the U.S. and its vassal forces as "end of regime", "beheading operation" and "occupation of Pyongyang." Such behavior highlights their hypocritical colors and wretched plight. The EU, getting exposed to security crisis after the outbreak of the Ukrainian event while pressurizing Russia at the U.S. beck and call, is now extending their begging hand even to south Korea completely subordinated to the U.S. militarily and taking very unfair and prejudiced stand on the Korean Peninsula issue at the end of its desperate efforts for winning military support for Ukraine. However, EU is seriously mistaken in its calculation to meet its interests by intermingling the issue of the Korean Peninsula with the issue of Ukraine and sharing security with the south Korean puppets. It is not hard to imagine what would happen if the EU, which has its one leg already plunged into the Ukrainian slough, ties another leg to the U.S. war chariot dashing to the Korean Peninsula across the ocean. EU had once been appreciated as an "impartial mediator" for maintaining objectivity and impartiality over the Korean Peninsula issue. Now, EU has turned into a hanger-on neither recognized nor welcomed by anyone, for it has pursued utterly unbalanced Korean Peninsula policy. EU seemingly seeks to defuse the present security crisis, brought by its blind pursuance of the U.S. policy of pressurizing Russia, by taking advantage of the hostile policy toward the DPRK. But EU should awake from such foolish dream. The Korean Peninsula never welcomes the European gentlemen who incite confrontation and hostility. EU should awake to the fact that if it blindly follows the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK as now, it will be held accountable for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula together with the U.S. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Has Developed Almost Entire Set of Ballistic, Cruise Missiles - Russian Envoy Sputnik News 20230525 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea has developed almost an entire set of ballistic and cruise missiles, but Pyongyang is not planning to attack the United States, Japan or South Korea, Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora has said in an interview with Sputnik. "One should admit that the North Korean military-industrial complex has achieved impressive results in the last 10 years," the ambassador said. "It has developed an almost complete set of ballistic and cruise missiles and conducted dozens of test launches." He said Pyongyang's development of new ballistic missiles and its successive tests were a direct result of Washington's hostile policy toward North Korea, adding that the North Korean leadership would have no reason to develop and implement large-scale nuclear missile programs if there were no "aggression, increasing military, political and economic pressure, attempts to interfere in domestic affairs, and direct threats to eliminate the socio-political system there." "North Koreans, of course, are not planning to attack the US, Japan or South Korea, neither invade these countries nor change their political order," he underscored. Matsegora further pointed out that none of North Korea's test missile launches have created any threat to Russia's Far Eastern regions. "The Korean side has repeatedly stated that it strictly follows this principle. We have no reason not to trust it," the Russian diplomat said. In mid-April, North Korea test-fired a new Hwansong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which was launched toward the Sea of Japan, having flown about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The drill marked the ninth launch of ballistic missiles in 2023 and the 12th launch along with cruise missiles. In 2022, North Korea test-fired 37 ballistic missiles. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese company to build Iran-Russia road for new energy facilities IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 24, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Shenzhen-listed Jilin Jinguan Electric Co Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a road between Iran and Russia for the construction of new energy facilities, it said on Wednesday. The company plans to build 70 optical storage and charging stations worth 1.4 billion yuan and 3,400 charging facilities worth 68 billion yuan ($9.8 billion), according to a filing on Shenzhen stock exchange, Reuters reported. The total planned length of the road is 3,500 kilometres, the company said after signing the MoU with Russian's Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Middle East (CCI). 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photos: Iran Unveils Advanced Kheibar Medium-Range Ballistic Missile Sputnik News 20230525 Fantine Gardinier The Iranian military announced the introduction of a new and improved medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) on Thursday, described as one of the most advanced missiles Iran has ever produced. The missile is the latest version of the Khoramshahr series of MRBMs, dubbed the Khoramshahr-4 or Kheibar missile. Kheibar ("Fortress" in Farsi) is one of the most advanced missiles designed by the experts of the Ministry of Defense's Aerospace Industries Organization. It is a liquid-fueled missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers and a warhead weighing 1,500 kilograms with impressive strategic and tactical capabilities. Like other Khorramshahr-class missiles, the Kheibar also has the ability to adjust its trajectory in mid-flight, during which the reentry vehicle is in space - a rare capability on ballistic-style missiles. Upon re-entering the atmosphere, the missile can deactivate its guidance system, rendering it impervious to electronic warfare attacks that might try to disrupt its trajectory during the terminal phase. It should not be confused with the similarly-named Kheibar Shekan ("Fortress Breaker") missile, another MRBM that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled last year. The missile also has an incredibly short launch time of just 12 minutes, and reaches a speed of Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 inside the atmosphere. Despite its speed, the Kheibar is not considered a hypersonic weapon, since it uses that speed to climb vertically and its warhead follows a ballistic trajectory. Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani oversaw the unveiling, which was part of a ceremony marking the 41st anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr in 1982. "We are taking steps to equip the armed forces in various areas of missiles, drones, air defense, and so on, and the unveilings will definitely continue in the future," he said. Khoramshahr had been essentially annihilated by the Iraqis two years earlier, during the open stages of the invasion that began the Iran-Iraq War. The city was doggedly defended by Iranian troops and civilians, which delayed the Iraqi invasion forces enough to allow the Iranian Army to regroup and form defensive lines deeper inside Khuzestan. The missile is also being unveiled at a time that Iran is facing increasing threats from Israel and its tensions with the United States remain high. Earlier this week, Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi boasted of the IDF's purported ability to carry out airstrikes against facilities used by Iran's nuclear program. The US and Iran have still failed to reach a deal to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, meaning US sanctions against Iranian industries remain in place, and US politicians wanting to posture as strong on foreign policy have begun pushing new sanctions on Iran as well. The Kheibar is not the only new missile developed by Iran, either: earlier this month, the IRGC announced a new long-range cruise missile with precision strike capabilities and a longer range than the United States' Tomahawk missile. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Court in Myanmar's Mandalay imprisons 3 monks for funding terrorism They were accused of supporting People's Defense Force members sheltering in a monastery. By RFA Burmese 2023.05.25 -- A court in Myanmar's central Mandalay region has handed down 22-year sentences to three Buddhist monks accused of supporting anti-junta People's Defense forces, a local resident told RFA Thursday. Tuesday's 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 didn't 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 People's 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 Mandalay's 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 Mandalay's Obo Prison following the hearing in Mandalay city's 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. 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 South Korea, US launch 'largest' live-fire drills near North borders Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 8:16 AM South Korean and US forces have begun live-fire exercises in what they said were the biggest such drills. Howitzers pounded into a mountainside in Pocheon near the fortified border with North Korea Thursday, while battle tanks maneuvered and fired their guns at targets, sending smoke, dust and shockwaves across the valley, Reuters reported. South Korea's defense ministry said 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. US and South Korean forces have been carrying out various training exercises in recent months, including air and sea drills involving US B-1B bombers. North Korea says the drills are a preparation by US and South Korean forces for an invasion. The joint drills began in 1977 and have so far been held 11 times, with the current ones featuring unmanned and other high-tech assets in live-fire and field training exercises. According to the South Korean defense ministry, this year's joint drills will involve advanced stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, multiple rocket launch systems and other weapons from South Korea and the US. In an earlier statement, the South Korean defense ministry said that the drills were meant to boost the allies' combined operational performance capabilities, and that Washington and Seoul would seek to establish "the overwhelming deterrence and response capabilities" to cope with what it called North Korean nuclear and missile threats. Pyongyang typically reacts to such major South Korean-US military exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Last Friday, North Korea's state media - KCNA - called the drills "a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal," stressing that Pyongyang cannot but take a more serious note of the fact that the drills would be held in an area a few kilometers from its frontier. It also said that the US and South Korea would face unspecified "corresponding responses" over what it called their large-scale, provocative drills. North Korea, which declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, is seeking to diversify delivery mechanisms for its nuclear weapons. Its military conducted a firing drill late last month, simulating a nuclear attack using tactical ballistic missiles. The North's leader, Kim Jong-un, has called on the military to be ready for war. North Korea has been under harsh sanctions by the US and the United Nations Security Council for years over its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs. It has launched an unprecedented number of missiles -- more than 100 -- since the beginning of 2022, including its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile ever. Last month, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol traveled to Washington for a six-day visit to celebrate his country's 70th year of bilateral relations with the US with a request for extended nuclear protection. One of the main issues on the table was the US commitment to provide "extended deterrence," or the use of US military assets, including nuclear weapons. The two sides issued the "Washington Declaration," charting out measures that would strengthen their alliance. Over 28,500 American troops are based in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which concluded in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, meaning that the two neighbors are still technically at war. Over 28,500 American troops are based in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which concluded in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, meaning that the two neighbors are still technically at war. Rattled by increased test launches by the North, South Korea has been trying to boost its military alliance with the US and deepen cooperation with Japan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea Seeks to Join Efforts to Counter China's Economic Coercion By Christy Lee May 25, 2023 Even though China is South Korea's top trading partner, Seoul's tightening ties with the U.S. and other wealthy democratic countries reveal its interest in countering Beijing's economic coercion, experts say. After a monthlong diplomacy effort that included summits with the U.S. and G-7 leaders, "reducing our reliance on China" and "diversifying our trading partners will help our economy," South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said Wednesday at a hearing in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol held a Cabinet meeting on Monday after the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, and said he "secured the basis of cooperation" with G-7 countries including Canada, Australia and Germany on "safeguarding supply chain networks" in critical minerals and semiconductors. South Korea was invited by Japan to the May 19-21 summit as a nonmember of the G-7, which consists of the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. At the summit on Saturday, the members a seven of the world's wealthiest countries a announced in a joint communique that they would "foster economic resilience" and counter Beijing's "economic coercion" and "malign practices" by "de-risking and diversifying" their trade away from China. In a separate statement released on the same day, they said countries making "attempts to weaponize economic dependencies" will "face consequences," without naming any countries. Experts said Yoon's participation at the summit where the G-7 countries unified against China's economic coercion, in addition to his close alignment with Washington, implies Seoul has joined their efforts. "The Yoon government seeks to join Washington and other allies in addressing supply chain and other economic security issues," said Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution. "This may entail Seoul joining Washington to some degree in countering Chinese economic coercion, but the Yoon government will still move cautiously on how it navigates issues like export controls directed against China," Yeo continued. VOA's Korean Service contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington for comment on the G-7's efforts to counter economic coercion and South Korea's participation at the G-7 summit and was referred to comments made at a Chinese Foreign Ministry news briefing. At the briefing, Wang Wenbin, a ministry spokesperson, accused the U.S. of being "the very origin of coercive diplomacy." Economic coercion As the world's second-largest economy after the U.S., China has been accused of using its economic standing for political and military purposes. According to the Mercator Institute for China Studies, based in Berlin, China engaged in 123 cases of economic coercion worldwide between February 2010 and March 2022. The Cyberspace Administration of China on Sunday said products from the U.S. company Micron Technology presented security risks. It gave no details as China banned Micron's high-end semiconductors from computers that handle sensitive information. China banned Australian coal and slapped tariffs on wine, lobsters, timber and barley in 2020 when then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 virus first found in humans in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Beijing relaxed the coal ban this January. When U.S. missile defense system THAAD was deployed to South Korea in 2017, Beijing banned its tourists from traveling to South Korea and canceled K-pop concerts in China. "The Yoon administration, not just by going to the G-7 and participating in discussions of economic coercion but a range of other actions, most notably the summit in Washington a few weeks ago, has signaled clearly that it's aligning itself with the United States more completely, more firmly and is willing to go along with many of the approaches that the U.S. is proposing, including an economic coercion," said Matthew Goodman, senior vice president for economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Yoon made a state visit to Washington in April. Restricting high-end chips Experts said one of the major expectations Washington holds for Seoul is for it to restrict exports of high-end chips to China. South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix are top global chip producers. "The administration has been very clear to South Korea that semiconductors used in Chinese supercomputers that can help the Chinese military develop very sophisticated weapons is an area that the United States wants to see restricted," said Dennis Wilder, who was senior director for East Asia affairs at the White House's National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. "China's building its military" and "I'm not prepared to trade certain items with China," President Joe Biden said at a news conference after wrapping up the summit on Sunday. He continued, "When I was asked by [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] why, I said, 'Because you're using them to build nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.'" Biden added, "We've now got commitment from all of our allies they're not going to either provide that kind of material that allows them to do that." Experts said Micron chips, although advanced, are not the kind of high-tech semiconductors that Washington wants to prevent Beijing from accessing for its military. Reducing dependence on China Troy Stangarone, senior director at Korea Economic Institute, said, "The most important role that Korea can play is reducing its dependence on China by diversifying its imports." Out of 3,941 kinds of products that South Korea imports, 1,850 are imported from China, Stangarone said, citing a study by the Korea International Trade Association. Before the G-7 summit, Seoul made an agreement on May 17 to import critical minerals from Canada. "Canada has the world's sixth-largest reserves of lithium, seventh-largest reserves of nickel and cobalt, all minerals used in the production of EV batteries," Stangarone said. "[South] Korea is currently highly dependent on China for these inputs and the agreement with Canada will help in diversifying their supply chains." Experts said although Seoul has a strong interest in minimizing China's economic leverage over it so as not to repeat the THADD experience with China restricting travel, it has to take a cautious approach in selectively reducing dependence on Beijing. South Korea is "one of the countries most affected by Chinese economic coercion," said Wilder. "It's difficult for South Korea because of its geographic location and other factors to wean itself from the Chinese market." He added, "The administration is not trying to get South Korea to stop buying from China or selling to China. It's just in certain very targeted categories." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on the Russian decision to expel Swedish diplomats and close Consulates-General Government Offices of Sweden 25 May 2023 The Swedish Ambassador in Moscow has today attended a meeting at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the meeting, Russian officials announced the expulsion of five Swedish diplomats. According to Russia, this decision is in response to Sweden's decision on 25 April to expel five Russian Embassy officials. Russia also announced that it has decided that the Swedish Consulate-General in St Petersburg must close by 1 September, and that Russia will close its Consulate-General in Gothenburg. Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias BillstrAm: "Russia's decision is highly regrettable. Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who have acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and engaged in normal diplomatic activities in Russia." "We also deeply regret the Russian decision concerning the Consulate-General in St Petersburg. The Consulate-General has been an engine for bilateral international cooperation between Russia and Sweden in a broad sense. Today's decision is therefore further confirmation of the negative political developments in Russia and the country's international isolation." The Russian Embassy officials were expelled in April for having conducted activities that were inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Foreign Minister: Employment of citizens of the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe's institutions is unacceptable Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25.05.2023 On 25 May 2023, in Riga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, met with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Martinus Josephus Maria (Tiny) Kox, and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, to reaffirm the preparedness of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers for close cooperation with PACE on the strengthening of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and the Presidency's commitment to working on the implementation of decisions taken at the CoE Summit in Reykjavik. During the meeting, Edgars Rinkevics pledged determination by the Latvian Presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers to turn the decisions of the Reykjavik Summit into actions. Support for Ukraine and Russia's accountability will remain an important item on the agenda of the Council of Europe. The Minister pointed out that Latvia was among the founding members that initiated the establishment of the Register of Damage to record evidence and claims on damage and loss resulting from the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. At this point in time, efforts must be made to bring the Register of Damage into play, emphasized Edgars Rinkevics. The Foreign Minister stated that the Presidency of Latvia of the CoE Committee of Ministers was open to dialogue on all the agenda points. The Latvian Foreign Minister reiterated a position that the situation with the citizens of the Russian Federation still being employed in the CoE's institutions was unacceptable in view of the fact that the Russian Federation had been excluded from the Council of Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia closes Swedish consulate, expels diplomats in retaliatory move Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 4:47 PM In diplomatic countermeasures, the Kremlin says it will shutter its consulate in Sweden and informed Stockholm that it will also close Swedish consulate in Russia, declaring five Swedish diplomats persona non grata. In a statement on Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Swedish Ambassador Malena Mard had been summoned earlier in the day and informed that "given Sweden's conformational course toward the Russian Federation, it was decided to suspend the activity of the Russian Consulate General in Gothenburg." The ministry said the head of the Swedish Consulate-General in St Petersburg was informed that Moscow was "revoking its consent for the activity" of consulate "from September 1, 2023." Both closures will take place at the same time. According to the statement, Stockholm had expelled five Russian diplomats on April 15, in what has been regarded by Moscow as "an openly hostile measure" by the Swedish government, which declared the Russian diplomats persona non grata on accusations of 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," the ministry said. In a retaliatory move, Russia said it would expel five Swedish diplomats. "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 attachA at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. They were instructed to leave the Russian Federation within the same time period that was given to Russia's employees by the Swedish authorities," the ministry stated. 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, deploring the closures. Sweden hopes to join NATO before the military bloc's next summit in Lithuania in July. Russia summons Germany, Denmark, Sweden envoys over Nord Stream probe In another development on Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Denmark and Sweden to protest over the "complete lack of results" in a probe to identify who was behind a bomb attack against the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year. "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," the ministry said in a statement. Two of the pipelines, known collectively as Nord Stream 1, had been providing Germany and much of Western Europe with cheap Russian natural gas for more than a decade. A second pair of pipelines, known as Nord Stream 2, had been built but were not yet operational. In September last year, three huge gas leaks, preceded by a series of blasts, occurred on the pipelines. The powerful explosions, according to Moscow, knocked out three of the four strings of the Nord Stream network off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm. The 1,200-kilometer pipelines, operated by Russian gas giant Gazprom, are not currently in operation, but they both still contain gas under pressure. Following the blasts, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden conducted investigations into the blasts. The preliminary results of a joint probe by Sweden and Denmark showed the blasts had been "intentional sabotage," but the responsibility was not assigned to any party. Moscow has been blaming the West ever since the explosions. In February, veteran American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, in a detailed report published on his blog, claimed the bombing had been directly ordered by US President Joe Biden and carried out by the CIA with the help of the US Navy. The White House swiftly rejected the report as "utterly false and complete fiction." The CIA and the US State Department also rejected the report. "It is no coincidence that 'leaked' improbable versions (of what happened) are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, stressing that Moscow would keep trying to ensure that Germany, Denmark and Sweden conducted what it called an objective investigation with Russia participating too. Wagner says handing Bakhmut to Russian army Separately on Thursday, the head of Russia's private security company Wagner said his forces had began transferring their positions in the flashpoint eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut to Russian troops. "We are withdrawing units from Bakhmut today. We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything," said Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of mercenaries of the Wagner group. He said some Wagner forces could remain if regular Russian troops faced difficulties. Bakhmut and its surrounding towns have been the focal point of attacks by Russia, which launched the war with Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The now-ruined salt mining town has been the subject of one of the most protracted battles in the ongoing war between the two neighbors. Kiev denies the full capture of the town by Russian forces. 106 Ukrainian soldiers released in prisoner swap with Russia In a statement on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff said 106 soldiers, including eight officers, captured fighting in Bakhmut frontline had been released. "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," said Andriy Yermak. There is no information available as to the number of Russian soldiers freed in exchange. Ukraine's military intelligence claims 2,430 Ukrainians have so far been released in prisoner exchanges, including 139 civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow, Minsk Sign Documents On Placing Russian Tactical Nuclear Weapons In Belarus By RFE/RL's Russian Service May 25, 2023 Russia and Belarus have signed documents allowing for the placement of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, a move that has increased already strained tensions between the Kremlin and the West. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said after the signing in Minsk on May 25 that Moscow will maintain control of the weapons while on Belarusian soil. Russian President Vladimir Putin in March raised the prospect of Moscow deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus -- which borders Ukraine and three NATO nations -- by July, a move the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, has agreed to. The announcement sparked immediate criticism from governments around the world, while NATO called it "dangerous and irresponsible." The United States condemned the move, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller calling it "the latest example of irresponsible behavior that we have seen from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over a year ago." He added, though, that "we have seen no reason to adjust our strategic nuclear posture or any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon." Shoigu said on May 25 that the decision was made "in the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus. Lukashenka, meanwhile, on May 25 told journalists in Moscow -- where he is attending a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union -- that "the transfer of the nuclear weapons [from Russia to Belarus] had started." However, when a journalist asked if any of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons were already in Belarus, Lukashenka said: "Probably. I will see when I go back." Since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, Russia has used Belarus -- with Lukashenka's approval -- as a staging area for the unprovoked attack. Belarus has welcomed closer relations with Moscow since a wave of crushing sanctions were imposed on it by the West after a sometimes deadly government crackdown on massive protests following a disputed 2020 presidential election handed Lukashenka a sixth term. Tactical nuclear weapons are lower-yield weapons that are designed to be used on the battlefield instead of wiping out entire cities. Russia has not disclosed how many tactical nuclear weapons it has. No details of the agreement with Belarus on the number of weapons to be deployed were revealed. Shoigu said the agreements cover procedures for the establishment of a "special" storage facility for the weapons. Last month, the Russian ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, said the plan to place Russian tactical nuclear weapons close to the NATO member states was made "to increase the possibilities of guaranteeing security" of the Russia-Belarus Union State, a project of deeper integration between the two nations. Moscow and Minsk signed a Union State treaty in 1999 and have been negotiating it sporadically since then. Russian authorities have repeatedly raised the specter of the potential use of nuclear weapons since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the frequency of the warnings increasing as Moscow's aggression against Ukraine continues. With reporting by BelTA and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-belarus-tactical- nuclear-weapons-agreement-signed/32427691.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 Georgian Airways Announces Controversial Plan For Transit Flights For Russians Via Tbilisi By RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus May 25, 2023 Georgian Airways plans to launch transit flights for Russians via Tbilisi to several destinations in Europe, a move likely to raise the ire of Washington and Brussels, which have banned Russian airlines from entering their airspace as they look to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The airline's founder, Tamaz Gaiashvili, told Russian media outlet RTVI television on May 25 that flights from Moscow to five European destinations -- Milan, Paris, Vienna, Larnaca, and Thessaloniki -- via Tbilisi will start in mid-June. Flights between the Georgian capital and Russia resumed earlier this month after Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted a ban on air travel between the two countries implemented four years ago after a wave of anti-Kremlin protests in the Caucasus nation. Russians have looked to skirt the sanctions by flying through cities such as Istanbul, Dubai, Yerevan, and Belgrade to destinations they can no longer reach directly from home. Putin also signed a decree also allowing Georgian nationals to enter Russia without visas starting from May 15, unless they are coming to work in Russia for more than 90 days. The two countries have had no formal diplomatic ties since Russia routed Tbilisi's forces in a brief war in 2008 that ended with Tbilisi losing control over its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia's government has not joined international sanctions against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the country also has voted in favor of all international resolutions condemning Russia's aggression. It has also provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid and taken in thousands of war refugees. At the same time, the Black Sea country of 3.7 million has been a top destination for Russians fleeing the partial mobilization that Putin announced in September 2022 and the worsening general crackdown in Russia. The allowance of flights from Russia has sparked protests in Tbilisi, led by President Salome Zurabishvili, who has criticized the government for its warming relations with Moscow. Georgian Airways, based in Tbilisi, earlier this week said it had banned Zurabishvili from using its services because of her calls for a boycott of the airline. The EU has said it "regrets" the resumption of flights to Georgia, which "raises concerns in terms of Georgia's EU path." Gaiashvili admitted there are still issues to be ironed out over the transit of passengers through the airport given it has no proper facilities to monitor and process such an operation. He said that the number of passengers coming from Russia to Tbilisi remains small and that flights are only about 40 percent capacity. "Our expectations were different," Gaiashvili said. With reporting by RTVI Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-airways- russia-transit-flights/32427876.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 Press release on retaliatory measures against Sweden 25 May 2023 11:19 1000-25-05-2023 On May 25, the Swedish Ambassador to Russia Malena Mard was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and informed that, given Sweden's confrontational course towards the Russian Federation, 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 September 1, 2023. 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. 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. 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 attachA at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. They were instructed to leave the Russian Federation within the same time period that was given to Russia's employees by the Swedish authorities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian and Belarusian defence ministers sign on non-strategic nuclear weapons 25.05.2023 Western nations have basically been waging an undeclared war against Moscow and Minsk, according to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was speaking on 25 May 2023 with his Belarusian colleague Viktor Khrenin. Sergei Shoigu stated, 'Today we are facing the collective West, which is virtually waging war against our countries'. 'The NATO's military activities have become as aggressive as possible'. 'The joint armed forces of the alliance in Eastern Europe are being made more combat-ready through the implementation of a number of initiatives. The deployment of more military personnel and facilities, as well as an increase in training and reconnaissance operations close to the Union State's frontiers,' said the head of the Russian military department. He also noted that Western nations who provide Ukraine with military assistance are escalating the conflict and prolonging it. 'Everything is being done to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine, which is being supported militarily in every possible way,' Sergei Shoigu said. Sergei Shoigu opened the discussion by saying that their meetings 'have recently become regular'. 'This is especially crucial in light of the fast growing tensions, the breaking of the foundations of strategic stability, and the extraordinary rise in international confrontation'. The Russian Defense Minister emphasised that Belarus has been and will be a dependable partner and a devoted ally. As Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated, the two countries are working to strengthen their shared defence area in light of the current military and political situation. 'We are carrying out activities to reinforce the common defence space in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus while taking into consideration the military and political environment,' Sergei Shoigu stated during his meeting with Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin in Minsk. 'The major focus is on training the troops and improving their combat skills'. According to him, the militaries of the two nations undergo combat cohesion of military units that are a part of the regional force grouping. 'As part of the Belarus-Russia unified regional air defence system in the Republic of Belarus, Russian aviation and air defense assets are on alert,' said Sergei Shoigu. 'Close cooperation in the military-technical sphere and cooperation of defence industry complexes have been established,' he said. 'In the circumstances of an extremely sharp escalation of threats and activity of NATO joint nuclear missions, we are compelled to take retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere. The deployment of Russian Federation non-strategic nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus has been planned in accordance with the decision of Supreme Commanders-in-Chief of the Russian Federation,' Sergei Shoigu stated. He emphasised that Belarus had received the Iskander-M operational and tactical missile system, which can employ missiles in both conventional and nuclear forms. 'Some Belarusian aircraft have been upgraded for potential nuclear weapon employment. Military personnel have received the appropriate training,' Sergei Shoigu stated. Sergei Shoigu and Viktor Khrenin put their signatures on documents outlining the process for storing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special facility at the Republic of Belarus. Sergei Shoigu stressed that the actions taken by Belarus and Russia 'complied with all relevant international legal responsibilities'. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu emphasised that Moscow retained control of all non-strategic nuclear weapons and the authority to decide when to use them. Sergei Shoigu stated that 'Russia is not transferring nuclear weapons to the Republic of Belarus: control over them and the decision on their use remains with the Russian side' when signing the documents outlining the process for storing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special facility on the Republic's territory. Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin signed the documents on behalf of his country. According to the Russian Defence Minister, 'more steps may be taken to safeguard the Union State's security and to respond to the military and political situation'. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Maintains Control over Nukes Stationed in Belarus - Defense Minister Sputnik News 20230525 MINSK (Sputnik) -The control over the decision to use nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus will be carried out by Russia, the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said. "I would like to note that the whole range of events is organized strictly in accordance with existing international obligations and does not violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Shoigu stressed. The decision of Russia and Belarus on retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere was made in the context of an extremely serious escalation of threats on the western borders of the two countries, Defense Minister added. "In the context of an extremely serious escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision has been made on retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere," Shoigu said at a meeting of CSTO defense ministers in Minsk. The Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, which can use both conventional and nuclear missiles, has been transferred to the Belarus military, the minister noted. "Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centers," Shoigu said. Russian and Belarus Defense Ministers signed documents earlier in the day on "defining the procedure for finding a special storage facility for nuclear ammunition on the Belarusian territory," the minister stressed. Shoigu added that Western countries are forcing the Ukrainian authorities to demonstrate tactical gains on the battlefield, pumping the country with weapons worth more than $65 billion. "The West forces the Kiev regime to demonstrate tactical gains regardless of losses and readiness to fight 'to the last Ukrainian,' pumps it with weapons. Military-technical assistance to Kiev has already exceeded $65 billion," Shoigu emphasized. Cooperation with Armenia and Azerbaijan Russian Defense Minister said that the West is trying in every possible way to interfere in the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and discredit the Russian peacekeeping efforts in the conflict-torn region. "As for the situation in the Caucasus region, it is largely determined by the degree of settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Now security in Nagorno-Karabakh is supported by the Russian peacekeeping contingent. However, the West is trying in every possible way to intervene in the situation, increase its presence and discredit the Russian peacekeeping policy," Shoigu stressed. Defense Minister added that Armenia should part in joint military exercises within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). "Armenia is a member of our organization, our ally. We are interested in establishing peace and are doing everything possible to stabilize the situation in the Transcaucasus. At the same time, I would especially like to note the importance of the participation of the Armenian side in joint operational and combat training activities within the framework of the CSTO," Shoigu concluded. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, Belarus Define Procedure for Maintaining Non-Strategic Nuclear Arms - Minsk Sputnik News 20230525 MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and Russian Defense Minister Sergey 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. 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. "During a meeting, [the sides] signed documents defining the procedure for maintaining Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special storage facility on the territory of Belarus," the ministry wrote on Telegram. 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. "I would like to note that all the activities are organized strictly in accordance with existing international obligations and do not violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," the Russian defense chief added. 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Relocate Some Tactical Nuclear Weapons to Belarus By VOA News May 25, 2023 Russia and Belarus signed a pact Thursday allowing Moscow to relocate an undisclosed number of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as Russia's 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 Ukraine's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. to help Taiwan obtain NATO Link-22 radio system: Defense official ROC Central News Agency 05/25/2023 10:16 PM Taipei, May 25 (CNA) The United States will help Taiwan obtain the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) Link-22 secure data link system, according to a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official on Thursday. Lee Shih-chiang (), head of the MND's Department of Strategic Planning, made the statement to lawmakers during an interpellation at the Legislature following a recent local media report about the military seeking to acquire the NATO system. Link-22 is a secure digital radio system that is primarily used by military forces as a tactical data link. It is able to provide beyond line-of-sight communications that interconnects air, surface, subsurface and ground-based tactical data systems, while also facilitating the exchange of tactical data among the military units of participating nations. Lee was also asked whether NATO's secure system will be interoperable with the tactical data systems currently used by Taiwan's military. Lee said there were no problems with its own data link systems, but Link-22 enables a direct data link with the U.S. military. According to sources, Taiwan is seeking to upgrade its existing system to Link-22, with the purpose of integrating command and control systems, missiles and platforms developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. Chieh Chung (), an associate research fellow with the National Policy Foundation in Taipei, told CNA Taiwan's data link system is based on Link-16, with the latter's upgraded version being Link-22, which greatly strengthens anti-jamming capabilities and improves command efficiency, while providing faster communications transmissions. The NATO system was also designed to complement and interoperate easily with Link 16, Chieh said. In the event of an attack, Chinese People's Liberation Army would definitely attempt to jam Taiwan's communications systems through electronic warfare and Link-22 could help prevent that, he said. Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said NATO's Link-22 was designed to improve the performance of Link-11, as it adopts high frequency and ultra-high frequency bands that can operate long distances without the need for a satellite. Link-22 features an automatic grouping function that can fully map out the positions of enemy and friendly forces via common operational picture (COP), Su said. The system's long distance transmission capability would greatly improve Taiwan's combat effectiveness, while strengthening strategic, operational and tactical applications, he added. On a political level, if the U.S. agrees to help Taiwan upgrade to the Link-22 system, that also means the other NATO members have agreed to it, Chieh said. According to sources familiar with the matter, China's XS-3 and DTS-03 data link systems are already superior to Link-16, hence the U.S. assisting Taiwan upgrading to Link-22 would be of great benefit to national defense and future military cooperation. (By Matt Yu and Ko Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US F-16 Deliveries to Taiwan Delayed Due to 'Complex Developmental Challenges' Sputnik News 20230525 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US deliveries of new F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan have been delayed due to "complex developmental challenges," an Air Force official said in a statement to Sputnik on Thursday. "Taiwan's new-build F-16 Block 70 program may be delayed due in part to complex developmental challenges," the official said. According to the official, the US government, Taiwan and Lockheed Martin are actively working to mitigate the delays and to deliver the fully capable aircraft to partners as soon as possible. Earlier in May, Taiwanese officials said they expect the first two of the 66 new F-16 fighter jets to be delivered between July and September of 2024, adding that the delay is caused by software issues with the aircraft, media reported. In 2019, the United States approved a $8 billion sale of 66 new F-16 jets for Taiwan, which would grow its fleet to more than 200 such aircraft. Taiwan remains one of the main bones of contention between the US and China. Beijing considers the island (which has been governed separately from the mainland since the end of the civil war in 1949) to be a part of the country, and considers any contact other nations have with Taipei to be nothing but foreign meddling in China's affairs. Washington has no official relations with the island, following the "One China" policy, as it maintains ties with the PRC. However, the US enjoys vast trade and cooperation with Taipei, selling arms to Taiwan and buying its semiconductors. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Software Problems Delay US F-16 Deliveries, Taiwan Says By VOA News May 25, 2023 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 a which Beijing claims as its own a 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence Minister Anita Anand announces military aid for Ukraine at the twelfth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group National Defence News release May 25, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, and General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, participated via video link in the twelfth Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. During the meeting, Allies and partners discussed the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes by providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with comprehensive military assistance. Minister Anand announced that Canada is expanding its presence in Poland under Operation UNIFIER. Five additional Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) medical trainers will be deployed to Poland to join the seven CAF members already deployed on the advanced medical skills training program for Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel. These additional CAF members will double the number of potential Ukrainian graduates. The Minister also noted that under Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces and Latvian National Armed Forces began jointly delivering Junior Officer leadership development training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on May 15. This line of effort was recently announced by Minister Anand during the visit to Canada of the Minister of Defence of Latvia, Inara Murniece. Since the start of Operation UNIFIER in 2015, the CAF has trained more than 36,000 members of the Security Forces of Ukraine in battlefield tactics and advanced military skills, with more than 2,400 trained since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Minister Anand further announced that Canada is donating 43 AIM-9 missiles to Ukraine, from CAF inventory, and noted that this donation will help Ukraine to secure its skies in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. The Minister also noted that delivery of the donation packages of small arms and ammunition announced in April is on track. Machine guns, assault rifles, cleaning kits, and magazines have already been delivered to Ukraine, and 1 million rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 4,800 assault rifles are scheduled to be delivered in the coming weeks. All 21,000 small arms and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition are expected to be in Ukraine by the summer. Thanks to the ongoing work of the Royal Canadian Air Force detachment in Prestwick, Scotland, Canada has now transported over nine million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada, Allies, and partners within Europe. Canada remains committed to working closely with Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with the support it needs as it continues its brave fight against Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war. Quotes "Canada's support for Ukraine is unwavering. When I travel across Canada, I see Ukrainian flags on homes, small businesses, and cars - because Canadians understand that Ukraine's fight to defend itself is also a fight for sovereignty, freedom, and independence. At today's productive meeting, we discussed Ukraine's most pressing defence priorities, and I reaffirmed that Canada will be there to support Ukraine in the short and the long-term." The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence Quick facts The Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) was created by the United States Secretary of Defense in April 2022 to provide a strategic mechanism to identify critical equipment needs and gaps for Ukraine, allow Allies and partners to synchronize donations, consult, and coordinate military assistance to Ukraine, and build the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Convening monthly at the ministerial level, the UDCG now brings together nearly 50 countries. Since the beginning of 2022, Canada has committed over $8 billion in aid to Ukraine, including over $1 billion in military assistance. This includes eight Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and one armoured recovery vehicle, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more. More than 300 CAF members are now deployed under Op UNIFER in various roles such as the provision and coordination of training, national command support, and the facilitation and delivery of military donations to Ukraine in coordination with our Allies and partners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 25, 2023 Speech Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the 12th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered) Hello, everyone. Thanks for joining us virtually from time zones around the world. And welcome to the 12th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. It's great to see everyone again. As Ukraine advances its fight against Russia's invaders, the members of this Contact Group stand united. Since this group met last month, the United States has committed an additional $1.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. That includes a recent package of $375 million with equipment such as HIMARS ammunition, anti-tank systems, and laser-guided rockets. We are also providing key combat enablers such as heavy equipment transport and armored bridging systems. And in our latest Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, the United States funded additional air-defense systems and munitions. That package also includes equipment that will integrate Ukraine's legacy air-defense systems with air-defense launchers, missiles, and radars from members of this Contact Group. And we're also providing more 155-millimeter artillery rounds, as well as more training, maintenance, and sustainment. We are focused on contributions that make a real difference in real time. Yet the United States is also committed to standing with Ukraine for the long haul. And so are the countries that have gathered here today. We've been working in lockstep with all of you to get Ukraine's defenders what they need, when they need it. Several Contact Group members have made important announcements recently. Germany pledged to provide Ukraine with more Leopard tanks, ammunition, combat drones, and more, in a package worth nearly $3 billion. That reflects Germany's drive to meet Ukraine's near-term needs, and Germany's investment for the long haul. Denmark also announced a significant new package. It includes air defense support and combat enablers such as mine-clearing vehicles, mobile field bridges, and recovery vehicles. France also has committed more light tanks and armored vehicles. All these donations respond to Ukraine's top-priority requirements and reflect the sustained resolve of this Contact Group. Together, Contact Group members have ensured that Ukrainian soldiers have the training that they need. We've trained nine motorized and mechanized brigades, and continue to execute collective training for Ukrainian combat units. Earlier this month, 31 M1 Abrams training tanks from the United States arrived at Grafenwoehr, Germany. And last week, President Biden announced that the United States will support a joint effort with our allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation aircraft, including F-16s. We hope this training will begin in the coming weeks. 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 Ukraine's self-defense. And it again shows our shared determination to ensure that a sovereign and secure Ukraine can deter any future aggression and defend itself against future attacks. You can see that commitment in our work on the most important capability that this Contact Group is now providing: ground-based air-defense systems. Those crucial systems are protecting Ukraine's skies and civilian infrastructure from Russia's assault. And we continue to deliver much-needed ammunition. In total, the Contact Group has committed nearly $65 billion in security assistance. Now, Putin was hoping that our resolve would fade. And he was betting that our unity would crack. Instead, we remain as united as ever. And the whole world can see it. Now, everyone here knows what the Ukrainians are up against. Russia has renewed its shocking and shameful barrage of missile attacks that threaten innocent Ukrainian civilians, including hypersonic missiles aimed at Kyiv. But this Contact Group continues to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses and save innocent lives. Ukrainians now have the Patriot air-defense system on their sideaprovided by the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands. And Ukraine has been shooting down Russian missiles with precision and skill. The Patriot saves lives. And so do air-defense systems like the IRIS-T and NASAMS that this group has also delivered. We've helped Ukraine defend its skies. And we won't let up. Russia has failed to dominate Ukrainian airspace. And that's why air-defense capabilities will again be a major focus of our discussions today. Now, let me take just a moment to preview more of today's agenda. As always, we're joined by our good friend Oleksii Reznikov and his team. Oleksii, thanks for taking the time to brief us on Ukraine's priority needs for the fight ahead. Then the commanders of U.S. European Command and Security Assistance Group-Ukraine will brief us on Ukraine's near-term requirements. And we will discuss ways to further accelerate industrial production for critical systems. We're going to have to dig deeper, and we're going to have to continue to look for creative ways to boost our industrial capacity. The stakes are high. But the cause is just. And our will is strong. We will continue to stand up for Ukraine's sovereign right to live in freedom. We'll continue to stand up for an open world of rules and rights. And we will stand up for a free and sovereign Ukraine for as long as it takes. And with that, I'll pause for a moment and allow our friends in the media to depart. https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3407082/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 25, 2023 By Jim Garamone , DOD News Defense Contact Group Remains Steadfast on Ukraine Support Unity in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion remains the touchstone of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said today at the conclusion of the 12th meeting of the group. The virtual meeting brought together defense leaders from 50 countries that continue to rush security assistance to Ukraine. Austin and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed the media following the meeting. The military training and security assistance the contact group has delivered, coupled with the incredible bravery and resourcefulness of the Ukrainian people, has been decisive, so far, both men said. The group of nations has delivered air defense systems, armored vehicles and large quantities of ammunition. Contact group members have also trained thousands of Ukrainian service members in these new capabilities. "Today, we committed to doing even more to support Ukraine's fight for freedom," Austin said. "I came away from today's meeting as confident as ever in the contact group's resolve and sustained unity." Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov briefed the contact group members on the situation in Ukraine and about the follow-on requirements that Ukraine's defenders will need in the weeks and months ahead. The group also discussed critical capability gaps that Ukraine is faces, the secretary said. Many countries stepped up to close those gaps. "One of Ukraine's most urgent requirements is ground-based air defense," Austin said. "And this contact group will continue driving hard to help Ukraine defend the skies. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its sordid bombardment of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. And the Kremlin's cruelty only underscores Ukraine's need for a stronger, layered ground-based air defense architecture." The group members also discussed plans for training Ukrainian pilots on fourth generation fighter aircraft, including the American-made F-16. "Planning and executing this training will be a significant undertaking, but the coordination of this contact group will help make that possible," he said. Austin thanked Denmark and the Netherlands, which volunteered 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 training framework," he said. "Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to training, and we expect more countries to join this important initiative soon." It will take some time for Ukraine to field a viable F-16 capability. It takes time to train all those involved in flying, maintaining, arming and sustaining the aircraft. Austin said it "is an important example of our long-term commitment to Ukraine security." Milley said at the beginning of the conflict, the United States and other contact group nations put the emphasis on ground-based air defense as the best and quickest way to deny Russia air superiority over Ukraine. He noted that 10 F-16s are a billion dollars with sustainment costs of another billion. "So, you're talking about $2 billion for 10 aircraft," he said. "The Russians have thousands of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. So, if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're going to need a substantial amount of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. 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 defense to cover the battlespace and deny the Russians the airspace. And that is exactly what happened." For the future, F-16s have a role, the general said. But it is "going to take a considerable length of time to build up an air force that's the size and scope and scale that'll be necessary." The contact group also covered sustaining the fight, and the defense leaders discussed industrial base initiatives and coordinating production of critical equipment, Austin said. Contact group members will continue to work together to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine, and Austin sees something similar for F-16 capabilities. Milley said the Ukrainian leaders remain steadfast. "The bravery and the courage of the Ukrainian people is exemplary and inspires literally the world, and their courage and tactical skill in the face of extreme adversity is second to none," he said. They have succeeded in defending their land. Milley said Russian President Vladimir Putin envisioned a swift victory over Ukraine. "He could not have been more wrong," he said. "The Ukrainian people remain resolute, and their spirit is unyielding." The nations of the contact group are also steadfast, Austin said. "That's because nations of goodwill don't want to live in a world where autocrats can invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity," he said. "So, we're going to keep strengthening Ukraine's position on a battlefield. We're going to get Ukraine's defenders what they need, when they need it. And we're going to remain united. And we're going to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine: Deputy Secretary-General Enrique Mora meets Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.05.2023 EEAS Press Team Today, Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Political Director of the European External Action Service, Enrique Mora, received the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui, in Brussels. Deputy Secretary-General Mora welcomed Special Envoy Li's visit to Europe, especially to Kyiv, and China's recent engagement with Ukraine, including at Leaders' level, although it comes more than one year after the start of the illegal Russian aggression. The two sides discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and ways to promote a just and sustainable peace. Deputy Secretary-General Mora stressed Russia's full responsibility for the unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, posing a key challenge to regional and global stability, security and prosperity. He highlighted that Ukraine was exercising its right to self-defence and that the European Union was committed to supporting Ukraine in the long term. The Deputy Secretary-General stressed that restoring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law is of vital importance for the EU. He underlined that any meaningful way to end Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine must be consistent with the UN Charter in its entirety. The EU expects China, as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, to play a constructive role and to use every occasion to uphold and promote the UN Charter and international law, and to recall the necessity to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and to stop the bloodshed and indiscriminate targeting of civilians by immediately and unconditionally withdrawing all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Both sides agreed to remain in touch and to continue working towards a sustainable peace in Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Essence of Ukraine crisis is outbreak of contradictions in European security governance: Chinese FM Global Times By Global Times Published: May 25, 2023 05:09 PM The essence of the Ukraine crisis is the outbreak of contradictions in European security governance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at Thursday's press briefing when commenting on the root causes of the crisis. The crisis in Ukraine was an avoidable tragedy, but has developed to what it is today, which is a painful lesson and deserves deep reflection by all parties, said Mao. China's position on the Ukraine crisis has always been based on the merits of the issue, Mao said, adding that China stands firmly on the side of peace, dialogue and historical correctness, and is committed to promoting peace talks. Mao said that China is willing to work with the international community to continue playing a constructive role in promoting a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis. Germany speaks highly of China's positive efforts to ease the Ukraine crisis, State Secretary of the German Foreign Ministry Andreas Michaelis said on Wednesday during a meeting with the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui in Berlin, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday. Li held talks with Michaelis in the German capital on Wednesday, exchanging views on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and China-Germany relations, among other issues, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, and centers on promoting peace talks, Li said, adding that there is no panacea for defusing the crisis. All parties need to do their part to build up trust and create conditions for a ceasefire and peace talks, he said. It is very useful and necessary for Germany and China to strengthen dialogue on a series of major international and regional issues, including the Ukraine crisis. Germany is willing to work with China to enhance communication at all levels and push for a peaceful solution to the crisis, Michaelis said. China supports European countries to tackle the crisis, find ways to address both the symptoms and root causes, and make efforts for long-lasting peace and stability on the continent, Li said. China will continue to maintain close communication with Germany in this regard, implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, bringing more stability and positive energy to the world. Li was scheduled to visit Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia to communicate with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis starting from May 15. Li visited Ukraine on May 16 and 17, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine said. During his visit, Li held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials, according to Xinhua News Agency. The two sides exchanged views on a series of issues including the political settlement to the Ukraine crisis and China-Ukraine relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway is assessing how to contribute to training and education of Ukrainian personnel on fighter aircraft Government of Norway News story | Date: 25/05/2023 - Norway will consider how to contribute to the education and training of Ukrainian personnel on the F-16 fighter plane, says Norwegian minister of Defense BjArn Arild Gram. The United States and several European countries have indicated that they are positive to train Ukrainian personnel on F-16. - The Norwegian government is positive to this initiative. Together with allies and partners, Norway is now assessing how we can contribute to education and training, says Gram. Since the beginning of the war, Norway has continued to donate military material to Ukraine. The donation of military equipment is crucial to Ukraine's ability to defend itself against the Russian invasion. - The government has prioritized donations of military material and support to Ukraine with high impact in the short term. This includes NASAMS air defense systems, artillery and artillery ammunition as well as Main Battle tanks. Norway also contributes to the training and education of Ukrainian personnel, both in Norway and abroad. It is important that we continue to stand together in support of Ukraine. Norway will continue to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion forces as long as required, says Gram. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lithuania announces its next package of support to Ukraine at the Ramstein Format meeting Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2023-05-25 International cooperation On May 25 Minister of National Defence Arvydas AnuAauskas attended a distance meeting of the Ramstein Format of Ukraine's donor countries where he noted the importance of giving Ukraine the Euro-Atlantic perspective and present Lithuania's latest military assistance package. "Our support to Ukraine is really our investment in our own resilience, deterrence and defence. Ukraine's victory is the only thing that can restore peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic space," said Minister while underscoring that Lithuania will continue being a consistent supporter of Ukraine for as long as it takes until that day. A. AnuAauskas announced that the next package of assistance Lithuania would provide to Ukraine will include drone jamming equipment, ammunition, military rations, and other types of assistance. Minister also conveyed backing for the package of sanctions processed by the EU on evasion of sanctions via third countries. He also underscored the importance of training Ukrainian troops and the significant increase in the scope and number of instructors in the training assistance Lithuania provided. The assistance Lithuania has provided to Ukraine so far totals to nearly Eur 465 million. Besides the training, Lithuania hands over weaponry and equipment, ensures medical care and rehabilitation and payments to international funds in support of Ukraine this year NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 25 May. 2023 The NATO-Ukraine Commission held a virtual meeting on Thursday (25 May 2023) with Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister of Ukraine. Participants discussed Ukraine's needs and reconstruction plans, at a critical phase in Ukraine's fight against Russia's full-fledged invasion and with the NATO Summit in Vilnius in just over six weeks. The NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea GeoanA recalled the significant support provided by NATO Allies to Ukraine, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and stressed NATO's commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. He emphasised NATO's active role in assisting Ukraine for the transition from Soviet-era equipment and doctrines to NATO standards, and increasing interoperability with NATO, as well as assisting Ukraine in coping with the physical and social consequences of war. Under the Comprehensive Assistance Package agreed at the Madrid Summit last year, NATO is already active in areas such as psychological rehabilitation and the reform of the defence procurement system, as well as in humanitarian demining projects. The Deputy Secretary General stressed that today's meeting will help NATO align practical support even more closely with Ukraine's needs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia arrests two Ukrainians suspected of plotting to attack nuclear power station lines Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 11:02 AM Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has arrested two Ukrainians suspected of plotting an attack on nuclear power plants. In a statement on Thursday, the security service said that earlier this month the two Ukrainian saboteurs had planned to blow up the power lines of two nuclear power stations in an attempt to shut down the reactors on the eve of this month's Victory Day holiday. "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 with the aim of crippling the nuclear reactors at the plants, the FSB said, as citied by Russian news agencies. It added that the saboteurs had reportedly laid explosives on a total of 11 pylons of the Leningrad and Kalinin nuclear power stations with the aim of inflicting "serious economic harm" on Russia and "damage its reputation." The Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland close to St Petersburg, is Russia's biggest atomic power plant. The FSB said that the saboteurs were recruited last year by Ukraine's foreign intelligence service (FISU) and received special training at camps in Kiev and Mykolaiv region, adding that they had managed to enter Russia via Poland and Belarus. According to the security service, the attacks were scheduled to take place on the eve of the May 9 anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The statement further said that FSB forces were hunting for a third man with Ukrainian-Russian nationality, adding that 36.5 kilograms of C-4 plastic explosives, 61 detonators and 38 timers were discovered in the homes of the suspects and their suspected accomplices. "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. It further said that its forces also detained two Russian nationals who had helped the trio in their plot. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US approves $285 million sale of NASAMS air system, related equipment to Ukraine Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 9:19 AM The United States has approved a $285 million sale of an air defense system and related equipment to Ukraine to bolster Kiev's ability against Russia as the military conflict in the ex-Soviet nation enters its 15th month. The administration of President Joe Biden approved the $285 million sale of a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Kiev on Thursday. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, part of the Department of Defense, also issued a statement, saying that Kiev urgently needs to increase its capabilities against Russian missile strikes and aircraft. "Acquiring and effectively deploying this capability will enhance Ukraine's ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure," it claimed. It also noted that the sale will help Washington 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." NASAMS is manufactured as a joint venture between US-based Raytheon Technologies and Norway's Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace. It is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system, designed to shoot down drones, helicopters, cruise missiles, and crewed fixed wing aircraft Ukraine has already two such systems. The United States has committed to sending Ukraine a total of eight NASAMS systems. The US and its Western allies have been providing Keiv with military equipment worth tens of billions of dollars since Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine in February last year. Russia has repeatedly warned against flooding Ukraine with weapons, insisting the massive shipments of armaments to Kiev will only prolong the conflict. Western weapons supplied to Kiev include advanced missile systems, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems. Long-range attack drones have been also added to the list of Western weapons supplied to the Ukrainian forces fighting against Russian troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top U.S. General Says Russia Won't Win In Ukraine, But Fight Will Be Long And 'Bloody' By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 25, 2023 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." 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. 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-allies-military- aid-russia-drone-strikes-ukraine/32427040.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 Air Defense: Ukraine Parries As Russia Seeks To Slow Counteroffensive With New Surge Of Attacks By Aleksander Palikot May 25, 2023 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. "What's 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 Kyiv's 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/RL's 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. Fortifying Ukraine's air-defense capability was the major theme of the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on April 21. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that beefing up Ukraine's air-defense system was "the critical military task right now," adding that the goal is to make sure that it is robust and rigorous -- "layered from high altitude to mid-altitude to low altitude and from short range, mid-range, to long range." Meanwhile, Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence, told the news outlet RDC that recent events prove that Russia -- which used nearly 900 missiles during the fall and winter -- has managed to establish production lines to replenish their supplies, despite the sanctions, and produce up to 67 missiles per month. "Earlier, they failed to take our energy system down, and now they have completely different priorities: to disrupt our plans and preparations for active actions during the spring and summer campaign," he said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-air-defenses-russia-patriot- stinger-invasion-counteroffensive/32427847.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 Hostile Actions of Ukraine Against Russia Continue Sputnik News 20230525 Reports of thwarted terrorist attacks on Russian energy facilities indicate that hostile actions of Ukraine against Russia continue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that it had thwarted a terrorist attack on Russian nuclear facilities a power transmission towers of the Leningrad and Kalinin nuclear power plants a plotted by the Ukrainian special services on the eve of Victory Day. "These are questions for special services, for the FSB in this case. This information has become public knowledge, hostile actions of the Kiev regime against our country continue, the special military operation continues," Peskov told reporters. The responsibility lies with the terrorists, and the security forces are fighting them, the official added. Commenting on the meeting of Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Peskov said that Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will join the summit via video conference. Russian President Vladimir Putin will chair a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on Thursday, together with other leaders of the EEU member states who have arrived in Moscow, he will review the implementation of the priorities of the Russian presidency in the association in 2023. "Eurasian Economic Cooperation Day... It is important that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will take part in the meeting for the first time today as a guest. And, in addition, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will join via video conference," Peskov told a briefing. Kremlin Spokesman also said that Vladimir Putin will hold two bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday, then a trilateral meeting is expected. "Putin will have two bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani president Aliyev and Armenian prime minister Pashinyan. After that, we expect a trilateral meeting between Putin, Aliyev and Pashinyan," Peskov told reporters. Finally, Dmitry Peskov stressed that the Union state of Russia and Belarus is a more advanced integration structure than the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), this is a unique situation in the world, and it should be taken into account. On Wednesday, Kazakhstan's president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the different levels of integration within the EEU, drawing attention to the fact that Russia and Belarus "share nuclear weapons" withing the Union State. "He [Tokayev] called it a unique situation. He said precisely that this is a unique situation that requires special attention and a special conversation among the participating countries. It really is. Because in fact, within the framework of one integration, there is a more advanced integration structure. And the Union State of Russia and Belarus is a much more advanced integration structure than the EEU," Peskov told a briefing. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: US Intel Agencies Assess Ukraine Was Behind Kremlin Drone Attack Sputnik News 20230525 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US intelligence agencies assess that Ukraine was likely behind the drone attack on the Kremlin in Moscow earlier this month, US media reported Wednesday. Citing US officials with knowledge of the matter, US media indicated that the United States believes one of Ukraine's special military or intelligence units carried out the attack, but that investigators are not sure exactly which unit orchestrated the attack. US insiders stated it remains unclear for them whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was aware of the operation, although some officials believe he was not. The agencies' preliminary assessment was based on intercepted communications from both Russian officials, who pinned responsibility for the attack on Ukrainian officials, who likewise said they believed Kiev was behind the operation. The US officials' confidence in their assessment that Ukraine was behind the attack is "low" due to a lack of specific evidence identifying the involved parties, the report said, adding that the attack appears to be one of a number of operations by Ukraine that have worried American officials. US intelligence agencies reportedly believe certain Ukrainian units are able to conduct limited operations inside Russia. Earlier this month, two drones armed with explosives attempted to strike the Kremlin, which is the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia has labeled the incident an attempted terrorist attack by Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesperson, earlier remarked "Ukraine actually placed itself among state-sponsors of terrorism, not even in the legal sense, but in fact." At the time, various analysts weighed in on the incident, with former CIA officer Larry Johnson stating that it cemented signals that Washington's Ukraine policy was in complete "freefall." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine thanks UK for continued military aid during defence secretary's visit to Kyiv Ben Wallace held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, in which they discussed priorities for arming Ukraine to achieve victory against Russia 25 May 2023 Ukraine's defence minister personally thanked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for the UK's continued military support for Ukraine, during a series of meetings held this week in Kyiv. The UK Defence Secretary met his counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, during a visit to Kyiv, after the UK became the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range precision strike capability this month. The Defence Secretary's visit came after the Prime Minister hosted President Zelenskyy at Chequers last week and again met him at the G7 in Hiroshima on Sunday. During a bilateral meeting, the defence ministers discussed how long-range strike capabilities would further help the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to achieve victory against Russia. Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said: I was pleased to visit Kyiv again to meet with my good friend Oleksii Reznikov to discuss the next stages of Ukraine's fight against Russia's illegal invasion. The UK continues to offer both equipment, training and advice to Ukraine's armed forces. I also visited some of the military commanders who have been so bravely pushing back Russian forces. The ministers also discussed Ukraine's ambitions to join NATO, ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. Earlier this month, the Defence Secretary announced to the House of Commons that the UK would donate Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in direct response to Russia's continued brutality, and its continued long-range missile strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine. Storm Shadow is an advanced weapon system with the capability to strike targets at a range of over 250km with precision, and will add to the list of capabilities that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are able to deploy to defend themselves against Russian military aggression in Ukraine. The donation was the latest milestone in the UK's continued military support for Ukraine, having previously paved the way for the supply of modern Western main battle tanks with the Prime Minister's commitment to supply a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks. The UK Government provided A2.3 billion of military aid to Ukraine in 2022 and the Prime Minister has committed to match this in 2023, having already supplied more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition (with 100,000 more planned for supply in 2023), more than a hundred anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled artillery, and trained more than 15,000 AFU recruits, with support from our Allies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Peace in Ukraine must be just and lasting: UK statement to the OSCE Ambassador Neil Holland says that Ukraine must be able to secure peace on their own terms. Russian aggression cannot be rewarded. 25 May 2023 Thank you, Mr Chair. Today, I would like to talk about peace. We hear many calls for a stop to the fighting in Ukraine in the name of peace. Some of these are well-meaning. But some draw a false equivalence between Ukraine's struggle to defend itself and its territory, and Russia's unprovoked, unjustified and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia's war in Ukraine is expansionist, but for Ukraine, it is existential. Russia invaded a fellow participating State of the OSCE. Russia's actions contravene the Helsinki Final Act and trample on the foundational commitments of this organisation. Ukraine is not only defending its right to exist as a sovereign and democratic State; in doing so Ukraine is defending the right of all peoples to live in freedom and peace, without fear of aggression. The way to peace and an end to the terrible impacts of Russia's invasion begins with the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. However, Russia has continually shown that it has no genuine interest in peace. A country interested in peace does not bomb warehouses of humanitarian aid. A country interested in peace does not play havoc with the world's food supply. And a country interested in peace does not put civil nuclear facilities at risk. The path to a just and lasting peace is one rooted in the UN Charter and OSCE principles. These are principles that all of us, including Russia, have committed to uphold. Ukraine has been clear that it seeks a diplomatic end to the war, as set out in President Zelenskyy's peace formula. But a truly sustainable and just peace for Ukraine must provide for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It must ensure that those responsible for atrocities are held to account. And it must restore stability and security to Europe and the wider OSCE region. We will continue to support Ukraine to secure peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. We will also ensure that Russia is not rewarded for its aggression, and that others are not emboldened to do the same. As my Prime Minister said ahead of last week's G7 Summit, "for the sake of global peace and security, we must show that brutal violence and coercion does not reap rewards". The G7 Summit demonstrated that our international partners share our resolve; a new range of sanctions and economic measures will constrain Russia's war machine further. G7 Leaders said: "Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not tire in our commitment to mitigate the impact of Russia's illegal actions on the rest of the world". Mr Chair, through this support, we will ensure that Ukraine can secure peace on their own terms, and have the freedom to choose their own future. As G7 Leaders pledged in Hiroshima, "together with Ukraine, [we will] make every effort to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible." Thank you, Mr Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address I am certain you will continue to lead the free world, and this century will be our century, where freedom, innovation and democratic values reign - address by the President of Ukraine to the graduates of Johns Hopkins University President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 21:35 Thank you, Mrs. Applebaum, for such a generous and yet brief introduction. Mr. President Daniels, Mr. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Foster! Dear students, faculty, parents, and guests of the University on this day! First of all, graduates of Class 2023... Congratulations on reaching this honourable milestone - graduation day at one of the world's greatest universities. And if some of you are a little bit worried about whether my speech may delay your long-awaited graduation moment, I want to assure you that I will also try to be brief. Perhaps not as brief as Mrs. Applebaum was at the beginning, but anyway I will not be too long. Time is the essence. And it is the essence that I would like to talk about today. One of the most common truisms on Earth is the advice to value or at least not waste time. Why has it become so widespread? Every person eventually realizes that time is the most valuable resource on the planet. Not oil or uranium, not lithium or anything else, but time. The very flow of time convinces us of this. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late, when they lose someone or something. People cannot avoid it - this is just a matter of time. Now you can look back at the time you have spent here at the university studying. Did you get everything you needed from it? You have even more time ahead of you - a whole lifetime. These are the careers you will build. This is your parents' pride, which they have every-right-to if they raised the children who graduate from Johns Hopkins. These are your families, who - I wish you this - will bring you love. These are your children and grandchildren who will inherit a piece of your soul... Will you be able not to waste this time of your life? This topic seems trivial, but these are very, very difficult questions for every person. How you answer them - is how you live. And while it is still possible to find new deposits of oil or lithium, and if in the future humanity can start mining resources in space, it is still purely science-fiction to live longer than has been given. But why am I talking about this now? Recently I was on the frontline again, in one of the most fiercely fought areas of the frontline against the Russian occupiers. I went to personally award the best fighters and to congratulate our marines on the Day of Marines of Ukraine. And you know... The front in Ukraine consists of very different people who are fighting for freedom and independence. These are people of all ages. And among them are exactly the same folks as you are now. Some of them have already passed their graduation ceremony, others are only dreaming about it. They and you have similar hopes for life, similar expectations from life. But there is a fundamental difference that comes down to the question of time. The time of your life is under your control. The time of life of our folks on the frontline, the time of life of all Ukrainians who are forced to live through this terrible Russian aggression... unfortunately, is subject to many factors that are not all in their control. Where will the next Russian missile or another Iranian killer drone - hit, which Russia is so fond of launching at Ukraine? Will our air-defence 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? We are trying to get a grip on the time of our lives - what is happening to us. And, by the way, if anyone here is going to become a politician, remember that this is exactly what your job will be - to master time. To make the time of your people and country's life under the control of your people and country - under any circumstances. So that your people receive an answer to any question about what the time of their life will be like. There may be calm times when it is a simple task for politicians. There may be very, very restless politicians who complicate seemingly simple tasks so that they create real crises. There may be different things... And, unfortunately, there may still be wars. Of course, I do not wish anyone to feel like they are in my shoes. And it's impossible to give a manual on how to go through life, so as not to waste its time. However, one piece of advice always works - you have to know exactly why you need today, and how you want your tomorrow to look like. You have to know this when you are a politician and have to achieve a certain goal for your country. You have to know this when you are a soldier and you have to defend your position so that the whole country is protected. You have to know this when you just have to go through life. Sometimes, however, when you're young and when you're a student, you still need to waste some time. What is life without it? But only sometimes, and when no one else depends on you. I am proud that Ukraine is not losing a single day in its defence against Russian terror. Every day we do everything to become stronger, to give more protection to people, to save more lives. The United States has also not lost a single day in helping Ukraine repel the Russian aggression. President Biden, a strong bipartisan coalition in Congress and most of all the American people have, like the generations before them, risen to this occasion and are leading the free world to secure freedom in Europe. We, Ukrainians, believe a free and secure Ukraine is the final step in the struggle to liberate Europe from the evil of tyrannies - this struggle that brought your great grandparents to the shores of northern France some 80 years ago. I have no doubt you will all soon become great doctors, lawyers, engineers and titans of new technologies and new businesses. Also I am certain, a few among you will heed the call to serve and become members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and, yes, maybe President one day... Of course after President Biden and please somebody of you - we don't need surprises. I am certain, you - as your forefathers - will continue to lead the free world, and this century will be our century. A century where freedom, innovation and democratic values reign. A century where tyrannies - that repress their own and seek to enslave their neighbours - will vanish from Earth once and for all. But all of our tomorrows and the tomorrows of our children and grandchildren - depend on each of our todays. On each of our todays! Thank you, Johns Hopkins, for your attention! Thank you, America, for your support! NNN! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The more Russian prisoners of war we will take, the more of our people we will return - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 21:14 Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians! 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. 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 made this possible. Budanov, Yermak, Usov, Lubinets, Malyuk, Klymenko - everyone who prepared this exchange - did a great job! Well done! Of course, I am also grateful to each of our soldiers who ensured that we have an appropriate exchange fund. Everyone on the frontline should remember this: the more Russian prisoners of war we will take, the more of our people we will return. Today I met with the Minister of Defence of Sweden in Kyiv. I thanked him for the continued support for our country and our soldiers. The meeting focused on strengthening our defense with armored vehicles. We also discussed our aviation coalition, which we are creating with our partners. Today, Finland has sent a new package of defense support - the 16th one. The total amount of this package is over 100 million euros. Thank you for this! Today, the Council of the European Union also made an important decision for Ukraine: trade liberalization for Ukrainian products was extended 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 liberalization, 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. I thank our European partners for this decision! Anyone who wants strength and stability for the whole of Europe makes decisions like this. We have to be aware that there is a risk that some restrictions may still remain. If the pressure from individual governments on the EU continues. 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 neighboring countries, that will meet our common European interests and standards. Today I had the honor to congratulate our State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine on its professional day. I thanked them for the fact that communication in Ukraine remains stable for the state, our military, and ordinary citizens despite all the threats. This is an important result that helps us steadily and effectively counteract the Russian occupiers. There is also much to thank our National Guard warriors for, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia sector. The 15th operational brigade of the National Guard destroyed a couple of Russian Su-type aircraft. I am grateful to two of our particularly accurate warriors. By the way, one of them has already been awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and has downed not only enemy aircraft, but also a cruise missile. Thank you, guys! Well done! Donetsk direction... The 128th separate mountain assault brigade, the 18th and 137th separate marine battalions and the 74th separate reconnaissance battalion particularly distinguished themselves. Thank you to each and every warrior! Glory to all who are fighting for Ukraine! Thank you to everyone in the world who helps us! By the way, I had the opportunity to address the community of Johns Hopkins University. This is one of the leading educational institutions in the United States. Its alumni are powerful individuals, and some of them have had a significant impact on politics. I wished them to value time as much as possible. Because every day matters. The more we do today, the sooner we will end the war with our victory. And only ours. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President met with the Minister of Defence of Sweden President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 18:43 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Minister of Defence of Sweden PAl Jonson, who is on a visit to Ukraine. The Head of State emphasized that the visit is an important sign of Sweden's solidarity with Ukraine. "I thank your country, your citizens, and the entire Swedish society for the great support of our country throughout this full-scale war. For support both on the battlefield and for very important financial and humanitarian assistance," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The President of Ukraine reminded that in early May he had a productive meeting with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson in Helsinki in the framework of his official visit to Finland to participate in the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted Sweden's decision to join the international tank coalition in support of Ukraine and transfer 10 Leopard-2 tanks. Separately, the President thanked Sweden for its leadership in the formation of the CV-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Coalition, the creation and active work of which will significantly bolster the defense capabilities of Ukraine's defenders on the battlefield. The parties also 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address When cities and communities of the European Union cooperate directly with cities and communities of Ukraine, it strengthens our Europe - President's address to the EU Committee of the Regions President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 17:47 Dear Mr. President Cordeiro! Dear members of the Committee of the Regions! Dear Europeans! First of all, I would like to thank you for the fact that in this battle for the free future of Ukraine and of our whole Europe, we defend ourselves together. For many generations, Europeans have dreamed of our continent becoming united like today, when it comes to protection of our fundamental values. And now - Europe is united. And not only formally or institutionally, not only with declarations and hopes, but with real actions that save our people and our nations from Russian revanchism, which threatens not only our country, but the entire European way of life. And, in fact, now we are also united by this way of life. Like never before. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Eastern border of Ukraine, we share the same principles at the core of our social life, in governing our countries, at the core of interaction between the state and communities. Democracy and respect for the individual. Equality between people and communities. Respect for the others, and strength in the union of diversities. All of this is our Europe, all of this is us, and all of this can't be found in our common enemy. We must remember this. We are fighting now not only for the future of our country, not only for the future of the Eastern flank of Europe, but for the future of the whole Europe, the way we know it today. And the way it should remain after us, ladies and gentlemen. When the cities and communities of Europe, your cities and communities, give shelter to our people they help not only people, but support the idea of Europe - our common home, for all Europeans. And I thank you for that! When both the EU Committee of the Regions and your cities and communities directly cooperate with Ukraine, with our cities and communities, it means cooperation that strengthens not only both sides, but also our Europe itself. Thank you for this! When we implemented the decentralization reform in our country, we focused on the best European practices of governing and subsidiarity of powers - between the center and communities. Currently, 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. There are quite a lot of such examples - of our unity, of our common values, of our common rules of life. I am sure that all of them will soon give us an obvious result, which is the full-fledged accession of Ukraine to the European Union. And I thank you for supporting our country and our people on this path of integration! And I am also sure of one more thing: Ukraine will be such a part of Europe that there will remain not a single ruin. We will recover every ruin that Russia brought with its war - we will rebuild everything, we will make everything show that our strength - the strength of our Europe - is obvious. 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. I invite you to cooperate at all levels with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Ukraine. Both at the level of the entire EU Committee of the Regions and directly: your regions with our regions, your cities and communities with our cities and communities. 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. Both by soldiers and institutions. Both at the level of the central government and at the level of each community, which appreciates that we are free Europeans. Thank you for your support! Thank you, Mr. President Cordeiro, for the Committee's attention to Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Sybiha met with the heads of the embassies of the Baltic States and Northern Europe in Ukraine President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 15:14 Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha met with the heads of diplomatic missions of the Baltic States and Northern Europe in Ukraine: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden. The interlocutors exchanged views on recent major international events and discussed the results of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's talks with the heads of state and government of the respective countries that took place during the President's foreign visits. Special attention was paid to the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position on the battlefield. Andriy Sybiha noted the significant contribution of the Baltic States and Northern Europe to the victory of Ukraine and emphasized the importance of further deepening cooperation to bolster political and practical, primarily defense support for our country in the fight against Russian aggression. The parties discussed the promotion of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, in particular, the need to involve the widest possible range of participants, including the countries of the Global South, in its implementation and preparation for the Global Peace Summit. The need to increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor and the importance of coordinating efforts to counter Russian propaganda in the international arena were also emphasized. The parties also discussed the expectations of Ukraine and its partners from upcoming international events, especially the July NATO Summit. In this context, the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office emphasized the importance of providing Ukraine with effective security guarantees for the period before joining the Alliance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reliable communication connects Ukrainians and enables our soldiers and Ukraine to be effective in defense - Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the occasion of the Day of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 13:26 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the events dedicated to the Day of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine. The Head of State congratulated all communications specialists on their professional holiday and thanked them for their daily important work for the country and people. "Today, it is important, first of all, to thank you. Each and every person who provides reliable communications for our people, Ukraine, our defense - all Ukrainians. Those who protect communication lines, restore damaged communications, and protect the cyberspace of our country. All this literally connects Ukrainians, allows our soldiers, Ukraine to be effective in defense, and our people to simply understand what is happening and to hear and see their loved ones," the Head of State noted at the festivities. The attendees honored the memory of the fallen SSSCIP employees and all Ukrainians whose lives were taken by the Russian aggressor during this brutal war with a moment of silence. The President also noted the important work of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection in protecting Ukrainian cyberspace. "The work of the special communications service is complex. And it is not only communication as such. I remember your work in the first days of the full-scale invasion, aimed at preventing the enemy from affecting our cyberspace in any way. I understand for sure that you are doing everything possible in the field of electronic intelligence," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized. The Head of State also praised the project to create an army of drones. "The goal of a drone army is really ambitious. I want to thank you for your comprehensive work. And I want to wish you only victory. I think this is the most important thing," he said. The President also wished health to the families and friends of the communications specialists. On the occasion of the Day of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards: medals "For Impeccable Service" of the III degree, "For Military Service to Ukraine" and "To the Defender of the Homeland". In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy got himself acquainted with modern digital means, in particular, those designed to provide secure communication for the highest state officials in field command centers, a mobile radio monitoring complex, components of the electronic warfare system and system of countering high-precision weapons. The Head of State also observed the technical characteristics of strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles, the vast majority of which are of domestic production. Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from Yuriy Shchyhol, Head of the SSSCIP, on the prospects for the development of the service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Anders Fogh Rasmussen President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 11:39 Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is a co-coordinator of the International Expert Group to develop recommendations on security guarantees for Ukraine. The interlocutors exchanged views on the results of the G7 Summit held in Japan with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Special attention was paid to the issue of providing Ukraine with security guarantees that will be in effect until Ukraine becomes a NATO member. The International Expert Group set out its recommendations on the relevant guarantees in the draft Kyiv Security Compact. Andriy Yermak noted that the text of this document is the basis for discussing the issue of providing guarantees to our country. The parties agreed to further coordinate their joint work to ensure that Ukraine receives security guarantees and eventually becomes a NATO member. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine had a video call with the Minister of Enterprises and Production of Italy President of Ukraine 25 May 2023 - 11:05 Pursuant to the instruction of the President of Ukraine, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak held a video call with Minister of Enterprises and Production of Italy Adolfo Urso. Andriy Yermak emphasized that Adolfo Urso is a good friend of Ukraine and expressed gratitude for the assistance in organizing the recent official visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Italy. The parties discussed in detail the plans to implement the agreements reached by the Head of State and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni. The Head of the President's Office and the Italian Minister of Enterprises and Production considered ways to further coordinate efforts with the governments of the two countries to ensure the fulfillment of the priorities set by the leaders of Ukraine and Italy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: US Emphasizes It's Not at War With Russia By VOA News May 25, 2023 New developments: Russia accused Ukrainian militia of using U.S.-made armored vehicles in a cross-border incursion on Monday In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized Thursday that U.S. is not at war with Russia Army General Mark Milley said Washington asked Kyiv not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia U.S. military leaders were careful Thursday to distinguish between Washington's continued support for Ukraine's fight against Russia and its insistence that it is not itself at war with Russia. At a news conference following a virtual meeting of dozens of countries supporting Ukraine militarily, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin responded to concerns that a militia's reported use of U.S. military vehicles in an incursion into Russia on Monday could be used as a pretext by Moscow to bring the United States directly into the war. "We are not at war with Russia. This is Ukraine's fight," Austin said. "Our goal is to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to make sure Ukraine is successful." The United States has long asked Ukraine not to use U.S. weaponry inside Russian territory, Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday. "I can say that we have asked the Ukrainians not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia," Milley said. "This is a Ukrainian war. It is not a war between the United States and Russia. It's not a war between NATO and Russia." Earlier Thursday, Ukraine said its forces shot down 36 Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia used to attack areas in western Ukraine. Ukraine's 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 Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a video released 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 afterward in fierce combat with better-trained Ukrainian troops. White House officials said Prigozhin's casualty estimate was in line with their own and that Russian losses have accelerated. Russia claimed in recent days that it had captured Bakhmut, while Ukrainian officials said they had not given up the fight for the city and were trying to surround it. 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 Ukraine Urges African Nations to End Neutrality on Russia's Invasion By VOA News May 25, 2023 Ukraine's foreign minister has urged African nations to support his country and end their neutral stance on Russia's 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 a Eritrea and Mali a voted against the resolution. At a news conference at AU headquarters in Ethiopia's 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, Ukraine's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 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 Administration The 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 Administration GSA 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. English French TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Futurpreneur, an official co-founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20 YEA) , is proud to announce the 2023 Canadian G20 YEA delegation. After a rigorous selection process, 47 talented and diverse young entrepreneurs have been chosen to represent Canada at the G20 YEA Summit, hosted by Young Indians (YI) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in New Delhi, India, from July 13-16, 2023. The G20 YEA Summit, held annually ahead of the widely known G20 Leaders Summit, serves as a platform for advising its governments on matters of business and entrepreneurship policy. The Alliance is a collective of organizations across the G20 countries that represent more than 500,000 young entrepreneurs, who meet every year to affect positive policy change and champion youth entrepreneurship worldwide. The theme this year is Hum the Hindi word for We symbolizing the power of collaboration. The theme not only embraces the diverse perspectives that will be shared during the event but also underscores the continued global commitment to enhancing the participation of underrepresented groups in the international trade landscape. Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur, shares her enthusiasm, stating, As founding members of this important global community, we are thrilled to be a part of this years G20 YEA Summit in New Delhi. The Summit theme Hum, or Togetherness, resonates strongly with Futurpreneurs dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As part of our commitment, we have developed tailored offerings to empower equity-deserving young entrepreneurs, led by teams with lived experience and supported by our entire organization. We believe that Canada can achieve the inclusive prosperity we aspire to when we all come together to make it happen. The Canadian delegation, representing a rich diversity of sectors, provinces, and equity-deserving groups from across the country, embodies Futurpreneurs commitment to fostering inclusivity in the Canadian international trade landscape. The delegation consists of 40% women-led businesses and includes 59% of entrepreneurs from equity-deserving groups, including Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs. Hailing from nine provinces, the delegates represent a variety of sectors and industries such as Professional Services, Consumer products, Information and Communications technologies, and Education. The G20 YEA will open the doors to the world for you. You will meet like-minded people and have the opportunity to propose ideas that will shape the entrepreneurial world of today and tomorrow, Kathy Pellerin, VisaVie Canada (QC) and G20 YEA delegate. Futurpreneurs Canadian delegation receives valuable support through a contribution from Global Affairs CanExport Associations program. The organization has also formed strategic partnerships with esteemed organizations such as the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Organization of Women in Trade Toronto, and the Canada-India Acceleration Program. These collaborative partnerships encompass delegation briefing, thought leadership, and support for promoting inclusive trade. The Summit culminates with the delegates producing and issuing a communique on global entrepreneurship policy, which is presented to the G20 leaders during their subsequent Summit. The communique ensures the decision-makers worldwide prioritize the voices and perspectives of young entrepreneurs and keeps these recommendations at the forefront throughout the year. The G20 YEA Summit experience will be enhanced by the G20 YEA mobile app , designed to connect over 800 young entrepreneurs digitally and facilitate meaningful connections and B2B opportunities. The app, powered by two past Canadian delegates, The First Prototype and Upbio, is supported by the G20 YEA Canada team at Futurpreneur and in part by past contributions from Global Affairs Canadas CanExport Associations program. Futurpreneurs 2023 G20 YEA Canadian delegation : Alberta Ghalia Aamer, Talkmaze Reza Enaloui, Semitechnic Corp. Jordan Hanna, Linked Digital Services Chad Midnight, Aqueduct Water Systems British Columbia Alexandra Carnio, ProducKIDvity Hillina Ghulam Nabi, Kids Innovative Parmjot Gill, Kite Company Creator Bryce Watts, Forager International Manitoba Charmaine Jennings, Strategic Charm Natalie Suppes, S and S Creative Inc. New Brunswick Tosin Ajibola and Oluwaseun Adeyemo, Welkom-U Inc. Brad LeBlanc, BrainWorks (BrainWorks Marketing Services Inc.) Nova Scotia Christian Browne, Vergo Ontario Shreyansh Anand, WaiveTheWait Inc. Lachezar Arabadzhiev, SkildLabs Omowunmi Badmus, Omo Bamboo Shop Iyvan Chandran, Alpha Libertee Thomas Clark, Altrene Canada Corporation Jochebed Essel, EVERYDAY JOY Stephanie Guingane, LONCANI Justin Haines, Haines Additive Manufacturing (HAM) Alykhan Jadavji, Palette Foods Inc. - Blue Elephant Royal Thai Cuisine Canada Atifur Khan, Jada Kenya Hamza Khan, Clean Acres Rohan Kumar, The Do More Company Stephanie Loureiro and Mathew Mozaffari, Speer Technologies Saamer Mansoor, The First Prototype Tarila Morrone, Hearts of Gems Adesola Ogunsakin, The Retro Bag Aska Patel, Acuvise Consultancy Inc. Sean Ryan, Predicting Alpha Diana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou, The Dressing Room (TDR) Quebec Carl Beausejour, Zele Productions William Bolduc, Predict Expert AI Andrea Bomo, Ann & Eli Apothecary Inc Andrew D'Amours, Flytrippers (AK Ventures Inc.) Charles-Antoine Halle, Learn & Earn (Apprends & Entreprends) Mael Houck, Elite Consultation Nina Lantinga, Nets for Net Zero Kathy Pellerin, VisaVie Canada Margarettha Pierre, KnowMediQ - Home health and wellness services network Maude St-Pierre, REFORM FOODS INC ( Seva Nature ) Saskatchewan Kristy Ehman, Hyon Software Inc Jon Piett, LOTUS Sleep Products Inc. ABOUT FUTURPRENEUR Futurpreneur is a national, non-profit organization that provides collateral-free financing, mentorship and resources to diverse young entrepreneurs, aged 18-39 who are looking to start, acquire or grow their businesses in Canada. With a mandate to help young entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to life, Futurpreneur provides bilingual (English and French) support and resources to help business owners start and succeed. Founded in 1996, the organization was established to promote entrepreneurship among Canadian youth as a critical pillar for diversifying the economy, generating employment opportunities and fostering a sustainable future. Since then, Futurpreneur has helped more than 17,700 young entrepreneurs launch or acquire small and growing businesses across Canada. Futurpreneur is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance , the Canadian member of Youth Business International and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) . www.futurpreneur.ca | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube MEDIA CONTACT Liesl Barrell Head of Marketing & Communications Chef, communications et marketing E: lbarrell@futurpreneur.ca T: 438-223-9871 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/094c37aa-df5d-4a1a-9193-77695516c8ee https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b14fe78a-1107-4d96-9eeb-16b8216802ac https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb5c0b59-92a1-4254-b3f4-9078363109d3 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44c46a80-2e8a-42a5-9900-4db51af85280 Bagsvrd, Denmark, 26 May 2023 Novo Nordisk today announced that the European Medicines Agencys (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion, recommending once-weekly Sogroya (somapacitan) for replacement of endogenous growth hormone (GH) in children aged three years and above, and adolescents with growth failure due to growth hormone deficiency. Symptoms of growth hormone deficiency in children often start early in life, leading to short stature as well as other growth-related health problems.1 Current treatment for growth hormone deficiency typically requires daily injections of growth hormone.2 However, frequent injections can be burdensome, disrupting daily life, reducing adherence and thereby affecting clinical outcomes particularly in children.3 Todays positive CHMP opinion is a step forward to reducing the impact of growth hormone deficiency for children, adolescents and their families in Europe, said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk. We are hopeful that Sogroya will help improve the lives of children as young as three years old by offering a simpler treatment option with fewer injections in an easy-to-use device, whilst helping them to achieve their growth targets. The positive opinion is based on data from the phase 3 REAL4 study, which showed that once-weekly subcutaneous injection of Sogroya worked as well as daily injection of Norditropin (somatropin). This means that at the end of the trial period, prepubertal children who were treated with once-weekly Sogroya achieved similar growth as children who were treated with once-daily Norditropin.4 The European Commission (EC) will now review the CHMPs positive opinion, and a final decision on the marketing authorisation is expected in the coming months. If approved, Sogroya will be available in some European countries starting in Q4 2023. It received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2023. About the REAL4 study The REAL4 (REversible ALbumin) study (NCT03811535) is part of the ongoing REAL clinical study programme and was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sogroya (somapacitan) injection in children with growth hormone deficiency.5 REAL4 is a randomised, multi-national, open label, active-controlled parallel group phase 3 trial, comprised of a 52-week main phase followed by a three-year extension period. Two-hundred growth hormone treatment naive, prepubertal children with growth hormone deficiency were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive weekly subcutaneous injection of 0.16 mg/kg/week Sogroya (n=132) or daily subcutaneous injection of 0.034 mg/kg/day somatropin (Norditropin) (n=68).4 Results from the study showed that annualised height velocity (centimetres grown in a year) in children with growth hormone deficiency treated with once-weekly Sogroya was 11.2 cm/year, compared to 11.7 cm/year for daily Norditropin with no statistical difference between the two groups. Sogroya was well tolerated, with a similar safety and tolerability profile to the well-known profile of Norditropin.4 Growth hormone deficiency Growth hormone deficiency is a rare disease and a treatable cause of short stature. It is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 3,500 to 10,000 children.6,7 Growth hormone is essential for growth, muscle and bone strength and it helps to control sugar and fat levels in the body. Growth hormone deficiency in children is characterised by slow growth from an early age and a markedly reduced final adult height compared to that predicted.8,9 Other symptoms can include reduction of bone mineral density, slow development of facial bones and long bones, and delayed appearance of teeth.1,10 About Sogroya (somapacitan) Sogroya is a prescription human growth hormone analogue, similar to current daily growth hormone and can be used to treat adults who do not produce enough growth hormone. Sogroya was approved in the EU for the replacement of endogenous growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) in 2021.11 Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 57,100 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com , Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information Media: Ambre James-Brown +45 3079 9289 abmo@novonordisk.com Natalia Salomao Abrahao (US) +1 848 304 1027 niaa@novonordisk.com Investors: Daniel Muusmann Bohsen +45 3075 2175 dabo@novonordisk.com Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode +45 3075 5956 jrde@novonordisk.com David Heiberg Landsted +45 3077 6915 dhel@novonordisk.com Mark Joseph Root (US) +1 848 213 3219 mjhr@novonordisk.com References 1 National Organization for Rare Disorders. Growth Hormone Deficiency. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/growth-hormone-deficiency/ Accessed: May 2023. 2 Hoybye C, Christiansen JS. Growth hormone replacement in adults - current standards and new perspectives. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;29(1):115-123. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2014.09.006 3 Brod M, Hjbjerre L, Alolga SL, et al. Understanding Treatment Burden for Children Treated for Growth Hormone Deficiency. Patient. 2017;10(5):653-666. doi:10.1007/s40271-017-0237-9 4 Miller BS, Blair JC, Rasmussen MH, et al. Weekly Somapacitan is Effective and Well Tolerated in Children With GH Deficiency: The Randomized Phase 3 REAL4 Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107(12):3378-3388. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgac513 5 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Research Study in Children With a Low Level of Hormone to Grow. Treatment is Somapacitan Once a Week Compared to Norditropin Once a Day (REAL4) (NCT03811535). Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03811535?term=REAL4&draw=2&rank=1. Accessed: May 2023. 6 Stanley T. Diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in childhood. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012;19(1):47-52. doi:10.1097/MED.0b013e32834ec952 7 Tornese G. Growth hormone deficiency or rather short stature unresponsive to stimulation tests? Archives of Disease in Childhood Published Online First: 27 January 2022. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-323426 8 Growth Hormone Research Society. Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone (GH) deficiency in childhood and adolescence: summary statement of the GH Research Society. GH Research Society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85(11):3990-3993. doi:10.1210/jcem.85.11.6984 9 Grimberg A, DiVall SA, Polychronakos C, et al. Guidelines for Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Treatment in Children and Adolescents: Growth Hormone Deficiency, Idiopathic Short Stature, and Primary Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Deficiency. Horm Res Paediatr. 2016;86(6):361-397. doi:10.1159/000452150 10 Fleseriu, M. Recombinant growth hormone treatment, osteoporosis and fractures, more complicated than it seems! Endocrine 59, 463465 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-017-1519-7 Accessed: May 2023. 11 Sogroya (somapacitan) Summary of Product Characteristics. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/sogroya-epar-product-information_en.pdf Accessed: May 2023. Attachment If approved for Europe, PYLCLARI (INN: Piflufolastat ( 18 F) formerly known as [ 18 F]-DCFPyL) will offer prostate cancer patients access to a diagnostic imaging agent more sensitive than conventional imaging. (INN: Piflufolastat ( F) formerly known as [ F]-DCFPyL) will offer prostate cancer patients access to a diagnostic imaging agent more sensitive than conventional imaging. Proven track record of [18F]-DCFPyL (branded as PYLARIFY in the U.S.), with more than 100,000 prostate cancer patient scans performed in 2022 in the U.S. PARIS, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curium, a world leader in nuclear medicine, today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the approval of PYLCLARI (INN: Piflufolastat (18F) formerly known as [18F]-DCFPyL) for primary staging of patients with high-risk PCa prior to initial curative therapy and to localize recurrence of PCa in patients with a suspected recurrence based on increasing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after primary treatment with curative intent. Sakir Mutevelic, MD, MSc, Chief Medical Officer at Curium commented, This positive CHMP opinion for PYLCLARI is an important step forward in our goal of redefining the experience of cancer through our trusted legacy in nuclear medicine. We are extremely pleased with the CHMP positive opinion and recommendation to grant a marketing authorization in Europe for PYLCLARI, a diagnostic imaging medicine for the detection of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive lesions with positron emission tomography (PET) in adults with prostate cancer, based on the Phase III PYTHON clinical trial conducted in Europe and the Phase III OSPREY and CONDOR clinical trials conducted in the U.S. Benoit Woessmer, PET Europe CEO at Curium added, This CHMP positive opinion is a very important milestone for Curium, our customers, and their patients. Upon its approval, PYLCLARI will become available across Europe to help patients along their prostate cancer journey. We are very excited to bring PYLCLARI to the market and contribute to improving the set of diagnostic tools available to better diagnose and monitor prostate cancer. PSMA PET with PYLARIFY is the standard of care in the U.S. We are looking forward to answering the high expectations of the nuclear medicine community when it comes to having the right tool reliably available to address this fast-growing pathology. Curium submitted its Marketing Authorization Application for Piflufolastat (18F) to the EMA in July 2022. The CHMPs positive opinion on PYLCLARI will be referred to the European Commission, which will deliver a final decision in approximately two months. In the U.S., [18F]-DCFPyL was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2021 and is commercially available as PYLARIFY (Piflufolastat F 18 Injection) and sold by Lantheus. In 2022, more than 100,000 patient scans using PSMA PET with PYLARIFY were performed. About Curium Curium is a world leader in nuclear medicine. We develop, manufacture, and distribute world-class radiopharmaceutical products to help patients around the globe. Our proven heritage combined with a pioneering approach are the hallmarks to deliver innovation, excellence, and unparalleled service. With manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States, Curium delivers SPECT, PET and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical solutions for life-threatening diseases to over 14 million patients annually. The name Curium honors the legacy of pioneering radioactive materials researchers Marie and Pierre Curie, after whom the radioactive element curium was named and emphasizes our focus on nuclear medicine. To learn more, visit www.curiumpharma.com For more information: Ross Bethell VP, Head of Global Communications communications@curiumpharma.com Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cardiopulmonary Oxygenator Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product, Application, Type, Age Group, and End Use" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global cardiopulmonary oxygenator market is expected to grow from US$ 716.21 million in 2022 to US$ 904.15 million by 2028; it is anticipated to record a CAGR of 4.0% from 2022 to 2028. The oxygenator removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen to the blood that is pumped into the arterial system. The blood pumped back into the patient's arteries is sufficient to maintain life at even the most distant parts of the body as well as in the organs. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures require a blood-gas exchanger (oxygenator) to temporarily replace the respiratory function of the lungs. In the past, the majority of CPB procedures have been carried out with bubble oxygenators which affect gas exchange by the dispersion of bubbles into the blood. Membrane oxygenators, on the other hand, utilize a hydrophobic gas-permeable membrane between the blood and gas phases. Bubble oxygenators are being superseded by membrane types for CPB due to improvements in membrane technology and mass transfer efficiency. Increasing Surgical Procedures with Surging in Aging Population Provides Major Factor Driving the Cardiopulmonary Oxygenator Market. Surgical procedures are necessary for managing health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and lung disorders. In some medical cases, no alternative works without surgery. Per an article published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in 2020, ~310 million major surgical operations are carried out each year worldwide, of which 50-60 million are performed in the US and 20 million are performed in Europe. Cardiovascular surgeries account for more than 16% of the total surgeries worldwide, followed by respiratory surgeries with a 3% share of the total. The high demand for cardiovascular surgeries can be attributed to the increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the aging population. Further, lung transplantation may be the only helpful treatment option for patients experiencing serious lung damage and non-resolving COVID-19-associated respiratory failure. Thus, with the growing number of cardiovascular and lung transplant surgeries, the demand for cardiopulmonary oxygenators is also on the rise in the world. According to the Global Ageing 2019 survey, the global population of people aged 65 and above totaled 703 million in 2019. Furthermore, this population is expected to double to 1.5 billion by 2050. According to the WHO, the percentage of people aged 60 and above is estimated to reach 22% by 2050 from 12% in 2015. Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death among adults over the age of 65. Aging can cause changes in the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing these diseases. Therefore, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among geriatric populations is contributing to the cardiopulmonary oxygenator market growth. Asia Pacific holds a substantial share of the cardiopulmonary oxygenator market. China held the largest market share in 2021, and India is expected to register a significant CAGR in the market during the forecast period. According to the Global Burden of Diseases Study, in 2019, out of the total 18.6 million CVD deaths worldwide, 58% of them occurred in Asia. As the continent with the largest population and the greatest diversity of cultures, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and healthcare systems, Asia faces many challenges in CVD prevention and treatment. The growth of the cardiopulmonary oxygenator market is mainly attributed to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in China, the growing burden of various other heart diseases, and the rising geriatric population across the region. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 236 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $716.21 million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $904.15 million Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.0% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Drivers Rise in Incidence of Cardiopulmonary Diseases Increasing Surgical Procedures with Surging in Aging Population Restraints Lack of Skilled Professionals Opportunities Increasing Usage of Cardiopulmonary Oxygenators in Pediatric and Neonatal Patients Future Trends Use of Portable Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Lung Transplant Procedures Companies Mentioned Getinge AB LivaNova Plc Medtronic Plc Terumo Corp Eurosets SRL Nipro Medical Corp Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA MicroPort Scientific Corp Braile Biomedica Industry, Commerce and Representations Ltd Chalice Medical Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3et4y3 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 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Netherlands Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database report covers the Netherlands data center market portfolio, which will provide the following information on the colocation data centers. KEY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS: According to the Dutch Data Center Association (DDA), 20% of all Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the country is associated with data centers and cloud computing. 5G connectivity will also pace up investments in the Netherlands. As of December 2022, the population in the country was over 17 million, with an internet penetration rate of over 96%. Over 90% of which are active social media users. In terms of Geography, Amsterdam contributes to over 70% of the existing white floor area in the Netherlands Data Center market. Regarding operators, Equinix, Digital Reality (Interxion), and EdgeConnex account for more than 40% of the rack capacity in the Netherlands Data Center Market. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: Detailed Analysis of 115 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 4 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eemshaven, Groningen, Eindhoven, Oude Meer, Hengelo, Almere, Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, Nieuwegein, Apeldoorn, Woerden, Steenbergen, Utrecht, Hilversum, Dronten, Ede, Enschede, Meppel, Zwolle, s-Hertogenbosch, Roermond, Arnhem, Goes, Wormer, IJsselstein, Markelo, Waalwijk, Deventer, Hague, Leeuwarden, Alphen aan den Rijn, Hoogersmilde, Zuidbroek, Lelystad, Loon op Zand, Roosendaal, Mierlo, Ugchelen, Megen, Tjerkgaast, Maastricht, Haarlem, Ittervoort, Gemert, Middenmeer, Limburg. 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 (115 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (Wormer or ZW1) 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 (4 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 Equinix Digital Realty EdgeConneX Colt Data Centre Services CyrusOne QTS Realty Trust NorthC Global Switch NTT Global Data Centers Serverfarm Keppel Data Centres Switch DataCenters Previder Iron Mountain Interconnect Dataplace Smartdc Datacenter.com Cellnex Serverius Bytesnet Atom86 maincubes ITB2 Greenhouse Datacenters BIT Orange Business Services Lumen Technologies GTT (interoute) NIKHEF Hosting IPTP Networks Red Bee ColoHouse DataOne Cogent Communications Datacenter Groningen Gyro Centre DataCenter Fryslan Data Center Almere Global Switch Microsoft Google For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dm8rky 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. Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Spay And Neuter Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Animal Type (Dogs, Cats), By Provider (Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals), By End-use (Animal Welfare Groups, Pet Owners), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global spay and neuter market size is expected to reach USD 3.06 Billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at 4.16% CAGR from 2023 to 2030. The key factors driving the growth include a growing number of spay and neuter surgeries in key markets. Other factors such as increased expenditure on pets, increased awareness about pet population control, and increased government initiatives also remain strong growth drivers. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), companion animal expenditure reached USD 123.6 billion in the U.S. in 2021, rising from USD 103.6 billion in 2020, increasing by about 19%. This increase in animal spending has impacted all areas of pet care including spending on various surgical procedures such as spay and neutering. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant growth in the overall pet industry. The market witnessed a surge in pet ownership and increased animal spending. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns were imposed due to the pandemic in several key markets. Many veterinary healthcare providers suspended non-essential surgeries including routine neutering and spaying surgeries. According to a study published in September 2022, by the University of Florida, there was a deficit of about 2.7 million spay and neuter surgeries in the U.S. between 2019 and 2021 because of the pandemic and its control measures. The market has, however, recovered gradually during 2021 & 2022 and is expected to grow steadily during the forecast period. The growing awareness regarding pet overpopulation is expected to contribute to market growth in the coming years. According to the PETA organization, within just six years, a single female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies. As per the same source, a single female cat and its offspring can produce 370,000 kittens in seven years. This could lead to a massive surge in the population of puppies and kittens in animal shelters as there are not enough homes to house these pets. Hence, pet owners and animal welfare groups continue to opt for spay and neuter services to avoid the risk of overpopulation. This is estimated to propel the growth of the market. Furthermore, the market is positively impacted by the increasing awareness related to the several health and behavioral benefits of spay and neuter surgeries on pets. For example, pets that are spayed or neutered at a young age have a lower chance of developing ovarian, mammary, uterine, and prostate cancers and infections. Studies show that spayed/neutered pets are calmer and healthier as compared to unaltered pets. Also, timely spay/ neutering helps pet owners save on future costs as the cost of neutering or spaying is considerably lower than the cost of providing care for a litter of kittens or puppies. Spay And Neuter Market Report Highlights The spay and neuter industry was valued at USD 2.23 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at 4.16% CAGR during the forecast period Based on animal type, the dogs segment accounted for the largest revenue share of about 60% in 2022. This can be attributed to the increasing adoption of dogs as pet animals, especially in key markets such as the U.S. Based on provider, the veterinary clinics and hospitals segment held the largest share of the market in 2022 as most of the spay/ neuter surgeries are performed at these facilities Based on end-use, the animal welfare group segment, comprising shelters and rescue groups, accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022. The pet owners segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. According to the Humane Society of the U.S., there are approximately 70 million strays in the U.S. An estimated 5 million to 7 million animals end up in one of country's 3,500 shelters every year North America contributed to the largest share of about 40% of the market by region in 2022 while Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of nearly 6% during the forecast period. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 150 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $2.23 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $3.06 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.1% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Research Methodology & Scope Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Spay And Neuter Market: Market Variables Trends & Scope 3.1 Market Lineage Outlook 3.1.1 Parent Market Analysis 3.1.2 Ancillary Market Analysis 3.2 Covid-19 Impact Analysis 3.3 Market Dynamics 3.3.1 Market Driver Analysis 3.3.1.1 Growing Pet Humanization & Expenditure 3.3.1.2 Increasing Awareness Regarding The Benefits Of Spay/ Neuter Procedures 3.3.1.3 Supportive Initiatives By Public/ Private Organizations 3.3.2 Market Restraint Analysis 3.3.2.1 Risk Associated With Spay And Neuter Surgeries 3.3.2.2 Regulations/ Cultural Beliefs Against Spay And Neuter Surgeries In Some Countries 3.3.3 Market Opportunity Analysis 3.3.4 Market Challenge Analysis 3.4 Industry Analysis 3.5 Estimated Animal Population, 2018 - 2022, By Key Species & Key Countries 3.6 Regulatory Landscape 3.7 Pricing Analysis Chapter 4 Spay And Neuter Market: Animal Type Analysis 4.1 Animal Type Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030 4.2 Spay And Neuter Market: Animal Type Movement Analysis, 2018 To 2030 4.3 Dogs 4.3.1 Dogs Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.3.2 Spaying 4.3.2.1 Spaying Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.3.3 Neutering 4.3.3.1 Neutering Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.4 Cats 4.4.1 Cats Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.4.2 Spaying 4.4.2.1 Spaying Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.4.3 Neutering 4.4.3.1 Neutering Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5 Other Animal Type 4.5.1 Other Animal Type Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 5 Spay And Neuter Market: Provider Analysis 5.1 Provider Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030 5.2 Spay And Neuter Market: Provider Movement Analysis, 2018 To 2030 5.3 Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals 5.3.1 Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.4 Others 5.4.1 Others Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 6 Spay And Neuter Market: End-Use Analysis 6.1 End-Use Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030 6.2 Spay And Neuter Market: End-Use Movement Analysis, 2018 To 2030 6.3 Animal Welfare Groups 6.3.1 Animal Welfare Groups Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) 6.4 Pet Owners 6.4.1 Pet Owners Market Estimates And Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 7 Spay And Neuter Market: Regional Market Analysis, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 8 Spay And Neuter Market - Competitive Landscape For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mfqvp7 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 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. (Tbird2") has added Major General Shanna Woyak of the United States Airforce to its Board of Directors. Tbird2 is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the rich history and culture of aviation in Scottsdale, provide a tribute to our veterans, promote aviation, create unique educational opportunities to the public, provide aviation scholarships for Arizona college students, and support Dogs4Vets and other specific veteran assistance programs. ABOUT SHANNA WOYAK Shanna Woyak is a Senior Healthcare Executive having held leadership positions as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and more recently, as a Major General in the United States Air Force. She has led some of the largest transformations in military medicine history as the first Director, Small Market and Stand-Alone Military Medical Treatment Facility Organization (SSO), Defense Health Agency, San Antonio, Texas, overseeing the integration of >200 Army, Navy, and Air Force Medical Treatment Facilities covering 32 states and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Major General Woyak was past Director of the National Capital Region, Washington, DC, leading the first transition of the authority, direction, and control of Army, Navy, and Air Force Healthcare delivery under the Defense Health Agency. EDUCATION Maj Gen Woyak is a Registered Nurse with a Masters Degree in Business Administration and Healthcare Management. She has received Executive Leadership Certificates from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, and Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. NOTABLE MILITARY SERVICE & ASSIGNMENTS Spanning a 37-year career, encompassing many unique assignments, Maj Gen Woyak deployed in 2002 as the Chief Nurse assigned to the 10th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, Combined Task Force, Incirlik, Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch and in 2007 as a Staff Nurse assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group, Joint Force Theater Hospital in Balad, Iraq. Maj Gen Woyak is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal, and more. Stephen P. Ziomek, Chairman and President of Tbird2, stated, It is truly an honor and privilege to have such a valuable asset in the form of Major General Woyak, join the Tbird2 Board of Directors. She has devoted her life to serving the armed forces and veteran community. Her experiences will definitely help us as we continue to fulfill our mission of providing scholarships to our students and supporting the veteran community. Shanna Woyak commented, "It is an honor to be a new board member of this incredible organization! The unique mission set of TBIRD2 in advancing the education and training of our young aviation students combined with their support of the DOGS4VETS program, assisting disabled veterans in living more productive lives, is beyond a privilege to be a part of. I am looking forward to working with this talented team!" ABOUT THUNDERBIRD FIELD II VETERANS MEMORIAL, INC. Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2014 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. During World War II, the airfield named Thunderbird Field II was built for the sole purpose of training U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in 1942. Thunderbird Field II graduated over 5,500 men and women pilots, many of whom saw military action in Europe and the Pacific. The field and school were deactivated on October 16, 1944, sold to Arizona State Teachers College (ASU), then to the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and finally to the City of Scottsdale in 1966 and is now known as the Scottsdale Airport (KSDL). Tbird2 has a permanent Veterans Memorial at the entrance to the Scottsdale Airport, located at 15000 N. Airport Drive, Scottsdale, AZ. The centerpiece of the memorial is a 1942 Stearman biplane, and inside the business center is a historical display honoring the service of men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as POW-MIAs. ABOUT DOGS4VETS American Service Animal Society, dba Dogs4Vets, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enabling disabled veterans live a more productive life through the use of service animals. Dogs4Vets offers no-cost lifetime support and service dog training for over 100 Arizona veterans each year. Contact: Stephen P. Ziomek Chairman & President ziomek.steve@gmail.com 480.664.6604 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3145e79-9a90-4806-9cf5-cf7e1a3d965d DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quilters Quest is excited to celebrate 10 years with an event taking place from Thursday, June 1st through Saturday, June 3rd, 2023. The event will include special sales, big prize raffles, and spin-to-win games. Not only is Quilters Quest celebrating its 10th birthday, its also welcoming patrons to see their brand new location at 7305 Lemont Rd in Downers Grove, IL. From sewing machines, to notions to thousands of fabric bolts, Quilters Quest offers everything needed to ignite creativity in its customers, including multiple hands on and virtual classes. Quilters Quest also offers onsite machine repairs by certified technicians for all brands of sewing machines. Store manager, Jeanne Weseman, shared how passionate Quilters Quest is about their clientele. Its the customers that have made us successful. She continued, We get to see people being creative and seeing that has been both fulfilling and exciting. Additionally, Quilters Quest has been known for its longarm capabilities. Owner Robert Cornella, or as hes often referred to as Longarm Bob, has established a team of longarm experts to finish quilting customers pieced quilt tops. He also has two BERNINA longarm machines available for rental for customers wanting to finish their own quilts. All are welcome to visit the brand new location and join in their 10 Year Birthday Celebration. For more information on the event and to shop, visit quiltersquest.com or visit in-store. ABOUT BERNINA BERNINA is the worlds premier manufacturer of quality state-of-the-art sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, overlockers and embroidery software. Since being founded over 125 years ago, BERNINA has maintained a strong commitment to serving the creative community. This dedication threads through the Swiss precision found in every machine, the training and education available through our over 400 fully trained independent BERNINA Dealers and the endless tutorials and content shared on the BERNINA WeAllSew blog and social media channels. BERNINA products are designed for beginning to advanced sewists and priced to meet a variety of budgets, with new products being introduced every year. CONTACT: Samantha Shreve Lola Charles Communications samantha@lolacharlescommunications.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45bdff59-90ec-4748-b1f5-f1158b267e44 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90cfd648-dfa7-40f6-8ea2-fdd2ed7ac07f NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds U.S.-based investors, also called liquidity providers (LPs), in Bancor Version 3 (Bancor v3) between May 11, 2022 and May 11, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important July 14, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. The lawsuit is against BProtocol Foundation, Bancor DAO, Galia Benartzi, Guy Benartzi, Eyal Hertzog, and Yehuda Levy (together, Defendants). SO WHAT: If you invested, or provided liquidity, in Bancor v3 during the Class Period and are a U.S. resident you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Bancor v3 class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16271 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 14, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Defendants violated the federal securities laws and various state laws by offering and selling investment contracts to Bancor v3 liquidity providers, without registering under applicable federal securities laws as an exchange or broker-dealer, and without a registration statement in effect for the securities offered and sold. The lawsuit also alleges that the Defendants concealed and misrepresented material information concerning the risks associated with providing liquidity to Bancor v3. To join the Bancor v3 class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16271 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ______________________ Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com New York, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Houthi gunmen have staged a violent raid on a peaceful gathering of Bahais in Sanaa, Yemen, on 25 May, detaining and forcibly disappearing at least 17 people, including five women. The raid leaves the Yemeni Bahais reeling from the latest blow to a severely persecuted religious community in that country. The Bahai International Community (BIC) calls for the immediate release of those detained. A video of the latest attack was captured by Bahais joining the gathering via Zoom. Across the Arab region we see governments striving to work toward peace, to set aside outdated social differences, promote peaceful coexistence, and to look to the future, said Bani Dugal, the BICs Principal Representative to the United Nations. But in Sanaa the de facto Houthi authorities are headed in the opposite direction, doubling down on the persecution of religious minorities, and staging brazen armed raids against peaceful and unarmed civilians. The Houthis have violated the human rights of Bahais and many others, time and again, and it must stop. The attack came as a group of Bahais had gathered in a private home to elect the communitys national governing body. The move is a clear violation of the freedom of religion or belief and the right, under international covenants, to gather and conduct religious and community affairs. Bahais do not have clergy and annually form councils to minister to the spiritual and material needs of their communities. The Bahais in Yemen have suffered years of arrests, imprisonments, interrogations and torture, and public incitements to violence at the hands of the Houthis who have also seized Bahai-owned properties. Several Yemeni Bahais have been exiled from the country. The government has yet to dismiss a previous case against 24 Bahais. Even while talks are under way to end the war in Yemen, we see the Houthi authorities continuing to engage in violent acts of persecution against their own people, said Ms. Dugal. The international community must now use its leverage to compel the Houthis to respect the human rights of all Yemeni citizens, starting with the release of these 17 or more innocent Bahais arrested in this violent, unjustifiable raid. Yemeni Bahais want to serve their country, to help it overcome its current challenges, and work towards advancing its peace and prosperity. How tragic that, at this propitious moment, the Houthi authorities choose to act in this shameful way. For more information please contact Bani Dugal, Principal Representative, EST, bdugal@bic.org, +19143293020 (English) Nader al-Sakkaf, CET, +352661351335 (Arabic) Ruhiyyeh Thabet, CET, +352661350701 (Arabic) VANCOUVER, May 25, 2023 - Imperial Metals Corp. ("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 | 604.669.8959 Darb S. Dhillon | Chief Financial Officer | 604.488.2658 Toronto, May 25, 2023 - Baselode Energy Corp. (TSXV: FIND) (OTCQB: BSENF) ("Baselode" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). Under the second tranche, the Company sold 385,538 flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units") at a price of C$0.48 per FT Unit for gross proceeds to the Company of C$185,058.24 (the "Offering"). Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.70 at any time on or before May 24, 2025. The FT Shares and Warrant Shares will be subject to a hold period of four months expiring on September 26, 2023 in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering for exploration of the Company's projects in the Athabasca Basin. Proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act. Such proceeds will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date not later than December 31, 2023, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of FT Shares. In connection with the first tranche of the Offering, the Company paid total cash commissions of C$11,103.49 and issued 15,572 compensation warrants (each, a "Compensation Warrant"). Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.48 at any time on ore before May 24, 2025. 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction. About Baselode Energy Corp. Baselode controls 100% of approximately 250,480 hectares for exploration in the Athabasca Basin area, northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The land package is free of any option agreements or underlying royalties. The Company discovered the ACKIO near-surface, high-grade uranium deposit in September 2021. ACKIO measures greater than 375 m along strike, greater than 150 m wide, comprised of at least 5 separate zones, with mineralization starting as shallow as 28 m beneath the surface and down to approximately 300 m depth beneath the surface with the bulk of mineralization occurring in the upper 200 m. ACKIO remains open to the west, south, and along the Athabasca sandstone unconformity to the east and south. Baselode's Athabasca 2.0 exploration thesis focuses on discovering near-surface, basement-hosted, high-grade uranium orebodies outside the Athabasca Basin. The exploration thesis is further complemented by the Company's preferred use of innovative and well-understood geophysical methods to map deep structural controls to identify shallow targets for diamond drilling. For further information, please contact: Baselode Energy Corp. FIND on the TSXV info@baselode.com www.baselode.com James Sykes, CEO, President and Director jsykes@oregroup.ca 306-221-8717 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Baselode Energy Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Baselode Energy Corp. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under Baselode Energy Corp. profile at www.sedar.com. Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167576 Vancouver, 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 investors@angoldresources.com. 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, May 25, 2023 - Newrange Gold Corp. ("Newrange" or the "Company") (TSXV:NRG) (OTC:NRGOF) (Frankfurt:X6C) - is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding agreement with Mithril Resources Ltd. ("Mithril") dated May 25, 2023, for a proposed friendly business combination of the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, Newrange will acquire 100% of the issued share capital of Mithril, resulting in Newrange remaining as the surviving entity. The arm's length transaction will be classified as a Reverse Take Over under the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "RTO") and the resulting issuer will be a Tier 2 mining issuer. Highlights Newrange and Mithril (ASX: MTH) have signed a binding Scheme Implementation Deed (SID) for the implementation of a Scheme of Arrangement (Scheme) under which Newrange will acquire 100% of the issued capital of Mithril. Mithril is an exploration company listed on the ASX with a current focus on the pre-development Copalquin Gold-Silver Project in Durango State, Mexico that hosts a substantial high-grade gold-silver JORC-compliant maiden resource in just one of several targets, with significant growth potential (refer to Newrange news release of March 6, 2023 or https://mithrilresources.com.au/projects/copalquin-district-mexico/). Pursuant to the Scheme, Newrange will issue to the Mithril securityholders the following: 18.08 Newrange shares for every 1,000 Mithril shares held as at the Record Date for a total of 60,907,985 Newrange common shares at a deemed price of C$0.18 per share; and 18.08 Newrange warrants for every 1,000 Mithril options held as at the Record Date for a total of 3,164,000 Newrange warrants exercisable at C$0.77 and 3,874,286 Newrange warrants exercisable at C$0.36. implying a fully diluted equity value for Mithril of approximately C$10,963,437 (AU$11.8 million). The SID provides exclusivity for the parties to complete the transaction, with reciprocal break fees payable in certain circumstances. The Scheme is unanimously recommended by the Newrange Board of Directors and the Mithril Board of Directors in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the Independent Expert retained by Mithril opining that the Scheme is in the best interests of Mithril shareholders. The Scheme is subject to various conditions including approval by Newrange shareholders at a meeting proposed to be held in August 2023 and Mithril shareholders at a Scheme Meeting proposed to be held in August 2023. Newrange President & CEO, Robert Archer, commented: "We are very pleased to have entered into the Definitive Agreement with Mithril as this merger represents a new beginning for Newrange shareholders. Not only does the Copalquin Gold-Silver Project bring tremendous value and upside potential but the combined experience of the new management team and board will provide a strong foundation for future growth in the Americas. Exploration and development in the prolific Red Lake District of Ontario is still active and we intend to capitalize on that with further work on our Argosy Gold Mine and North Birch Projects. Having projects in two leading mining jurisdictions such as Mexico and Canada provides diversity and lowers the risk for shareholders while increasing the discovery potential. We look forward to completing the RTO process and rebranding the company for a fresh start at a time when precious metal prices are on the rise." Mithril CEO and Managing Director, John Skeet, commented: "The Scheme announced today is an important step in the process to place Mithril's high-grade Copalquin gold-silver property in a market where there is considerable experience and understanding of the globally significant Mexican minerals industry. The new Americas focussed exploration and development company resulting from the merger with TSXV listed Newrange creates highly experienced and focussed Board and management who are well positioned to take advantage of the considerable growth opportunities at the Copalquin mining district and the two Canadian Red Lake District properties. In both jurisdictions, the new company will be among numerous other Canadian listed companies active in these prolific mining regions where the properties are located. The merger and resulting financing, will provide funds to appropriately advance the properties to increase shareholder value. The Mithril Board is very pleased to be working with the Newrange Board and extremely proud of the hard work and achievements of Mithril's Mexico team and the significant progress made in advancing the Copalquin Project to its current exploration and pre-development stages across the Copalquin district." TRANSACTION SUMMARY Newrange and Mithril have executed a binding Scheme Implementation Deed ("SID") for the implementation of a Scheme under which Newrange will acquire 100% of the issued capital of Mithril. If the Scheme is implemented, Newrange will issue to each Mithril Shareholder and Mithril Optionholder the following: in the case of Mithril Shareholders, 18.08 Newrange shares for every 1,000 Mithril shares held as at the Record Date for a total of 60,907,985 Newrange common shares at a deemed price of C$0.18 per share; in the case of Mithril Optionholders, 18.08 warrants to acquire Newrange shares for every 1,000 options held as at the Record Date, for a total of 3,164,000 Newrange warrants exercisable at C$0.77 and 3,874,286 Newrange warrants exercisable at C$0.36, implying a fully diluted equity value for Mithril of approximately C$10,963,437 (AU$11.8 million).1 Assuming the Scheme is implemented, it is anticipated that: Mr. John Skeet will join the Newrange board and assume the role of President CEO; Mr. Robert Archer (current President CEO and director of Newrange) will become Executive Chairman of Newrange; Mr. Ron Schmitz and Mr. Colin Jones (current directors of Newrange) will remain on the board of Newrange; Mr. Stephen Layton and Mr. Garry Thomas (current directors of Mithril) will join the Newrange board; and David Cross will remain as CFO and Company Secretary of Newrange. A summary of the qualifications and experience of all board members is set out in Newrange's initial announcement in relation to the Scheme released on March 6, 2023. Further, it is anticipated that upon completion of the Scheme, Newrange will consolidate its shares on the basis of two (old) shares for one (new) share (Consolidation) and change its name to Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. (or such other name as is determined by the parties). NEWRANGE BOARD RECOMMENDATION Newrange has carefully reviewed the Scheme and, in the absence of a superior proposal, the Board of Newrange unanimously recommends that Newrange shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme and the Consolidation. In the absence of a superior proposal, each of the directors of Newrange has committed to vote in favour of the Scheme and the Consolidation at the Newrange shareholder meeting. MITHRIL BOARD RECOMMENDATION The Mithril Board, comprising two independent non-executive directors and one executive director, in consultation with its advisors, has carefully considered a range of matters including its view of the status of Mithril's main asset, being the pre-development Copalquin Gold-Silver Project in Mexico, compared to the certainty for shareholders of this share-for-share offer. The Board of Mithril unanimously recommends that, in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the Independent Expert opining that the Scheme is in the best interests of Mithril Shareholders and Mithril Optionholders (together, the "Mithril Securityholders"), that Mithril Securityholders vote in favour of the Scheme. In the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the favourable opinion of the Independent Expert, each of the directors of Mithril has committed to vote in favour of the Scheme in respect of the shares and options in which they have an interest.2 Details of the recommendation, commitment to vote in favour and a copy of the Independent Expert Report will be included in a Scheme Booklet expected to be provided to Mithril Securityholders in June 2023. DETAILS OF THE SCHEME IMPLEMENTATION DEED (SID) The SID will be subject to various conditions precedent, including: Each of Mithril and Newrange completing satisfactory due diligence enquiries into the records and operations of the other. Arrangements being made so that all of the existing employee options and performance rights in the capital of Mithril will either be acquired by Newrange, vest (and result in the issue of Mithril shares), lapse or otherwise be cancelled or terminated. The Independent Expert concluding that the Scheme is in the best interests of Mithril Securityholders and not changing that conclusion prior to completion. All necessary regulatory and government approvals being obtained, including approvals from both the ASX and the TSXV. The Australian Court making an order for Mithril to convene the Scheme Meeting. The requisite majority of Mithril Securityholders approving the Scheme at a duly convened Scheme Meeting. Newrange shareholders approving the Scheme and Consolidation at Newrange's shareholder meeting. The Australian Court ordering that the Scheme be implemented (assuming the Mithril Securityholders approve the Scheme at the Scheme Meeting). The TSXV approving an updated National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the Copalquin Project. Newrange completing a private placement to raise up to CA$3,600,000 (post Consolidation), to be used for further exploration and development of the Copalquin Project and working capital prior to completion of the Scheme.3 Newrange receiving approval from the TSXV to recommence trading of its securities post-completion of the Scheme. Other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. The Company notes that, until due diligence is completed, and the conditions precedent are satisfied, there is no certainty that the Scheme will proceed. EXCLUSIVITY ARRANGEMENTS The SID contains various standard "no shop", "no talk", "notification" and "matching rights" provisions. Mithril and Newrange have agreed that they will not solicit any competing proposal or participate in any discussions or negotiations in relation to any competing proposal (unless failure to do so would involve a breach of the fiduciary duties of its Directors). The SID also details circumstances under which Mithril may be required to pay a break fee to Newrange and circumstances where Newrange may be required to pay Mithril a reverse break fee, both equivalent to approximately A$110,000 and payable in certain circumstances. INDICATIVE TIMETABLE Newrange shareholders will be asked to approve the Scheme and the Consolidation at a meeting proposed to be held in August 2023 and Shareholders and Optionholders of Mithril will be asked to approve the Scheme at the Scheme Meeting which is also expected to be held in August 2023. Further details of the Scheme, transaction terms and recommendations will be provided to Newrange shareholders in an information circular for the shareholder meeting. ADVISORS Mithril has appointed HopgoodGanim as Australian legal advisor and Armstrong Simpson as Canadian legal advisor. Newrange has appointed Steinepreis Paganin as Australian legal advisor and Pacific Star Corporate Finance Law as Canadian legal advisor. ABOUT NEWRANGE Newrange is an exploration company listed on the TSXV, with a focus on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the prolific Red Lake District of north-western Ontario, Canada. The past-producing high-grade Argosy Gold Mine is open to depth, while the adjacent North Birch Project offers additional discovery potential. Further information can be found on our website at www.newrangegold.com. Signed: "Robert Archer" President & CEO For further information contact: Email: info@newrangegold.com Tel.: +1 (877) 271-5886 ext. 110 Website: www.newrangegold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Newrange Gold Corp. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. 1 Based on 3,368,804,470 fully paid, ordinary Mithril shares at a value of AU$0.0035 per share. 2 The directors of Mithril hold, in aggregate, 803,463,174 Mithril shares and 57,857,143 Mithril options, being 23.9% of Mithril (on a fully diluted basis). Mr. John Skeet, Managing Director of Mithril, holds 25,000,000 Employee Options which may be exercised and converted into shares and Mr Garry Thomas, a non-executive director of Mithril, holds 33,333,333 Performance Rights, which may be converted into shares upon upon the earlier of (a) determination by a geological consultant of an Inferred JORC Resource of 5.443 Mt at a combined Au Eq grade of not less than 4 g/t for 700 koz Au (or Au Eq) on the Copalquin Project; or (b) Mithril achieving a market capitalisation equal to or greater than A$150,000,000 for a period of 20 consecutive trading days on which the securities of Mithril traded. The ESOP Options and Performance Rights do not form part of the Scheme and will be subject to a private treaty agreement pursuant to which these securities will be cancelled for consideration equal to the Scheme consideration (less the exercise price, in the case of the ESOP Options), subject to the requisite waiver of ASX Listing Rule 23.2 being obtained. Despite any of the directors' personal interests in the outcome of the Scheme, the directors consider that given the importance of the Scheme and their obligations as directors, it is important and appropriate for them to provide a recommendation to Mithril Securityholders in relation to the Scheme. 3 The Bridge Financing referenced in Newrange's initial announcement in relation to the Scheme on March 6, 2023 has been completed (see Newrange News Release dated May 2, 2023). Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER, May 26, 2023 - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to the news release dated April 10, 2023, it has entered into an option agreement with F3 Uranium Corp. ("F3") respecting an option for SKRR to acquire up to a 70% interest in the Clearwater West Property. The Clearwater West Property is comprised of 3 contiguous mineral claims totaling 11,786 hectares. The Clearwater West Project is located ~20km outside the edge and in the south-west area of the Athabasca Basin, which is poised to become the next area for the development of major uranium mines in Saskatchewan. It is 13 km south of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit, located 7 km outside the basin edge on its PLS Property, where a Feasibility Study was recently completed, and 17 km south of NexGen's Arrow uranium deposit. Clearwater West is an early-stage exploration project prospective for hosting high-grade uranium mineralization. High grade uranium mineralization in or near the Athabasca Basin is generally associated with graphitic and sulphide bearing shear zones exhibiting hydrothermal alteration. These features often have distinctive conductive signatures which can be identified as electromagnetic (EM) conductors. A previously flown property-wide VTEM Max airborne survey flown over the property in 2014 identified numerous parallel conductive trends. Some of these still warrant ground follow up while others were previously detailed with ground Time Domain EM surveys and ground DC Resistivity surveys in 2015 and have defined prospective drill targets. SKRR cautions that past results or discoveries on proximal lands are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Clearwater West Property. F3 and SKRR are non-arm's length parties (as defined in TSXV Policy 1.1) given that they share a common officer. Term of the Option Agreement Pursuant to the Option Agreement in respect of the Clearwater West Property (the "Clearwater West Agreement", F3 has granted an option to SKRR to acquire a 50% interest in the Clearwater West Property through (i) cash payments to F3 of an aggregate of C$50,000, (ii) the issuance to F3 of an aggregate of 5,000,000 common shares of SKRR and (iii) the completion of $3,000,000 in work expenditures on the Clearwater West Property over two years. F3 will retain a 2.0% NSR royalty of which 1% may be repurchased by SKRR for $1,000,000. Upon completion of the 50% interest earn-in, F3 and SKRR will automatically enter into a joint venture and will negotiate to formalize a joint venture agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Clearwater West Agreement, SKRR will have the option to increase its interest in the Clearwater West Property to 70% by making additional cash payments totaling $50,000, and completing an additional $3,000,000 in work expenditures on the Clearwater West Property, on or before the date that is three years following the date of the Clearwater West Agreement. Senergy Capital - Digital Marketing The Company announces that it has engaged Senergy Capital to provide and oversee digital marketing for the Company. The digital marketing services include content creation, web development, advertising creative development, advertising strategy, campaign reporting and optimization. Senergy Capital will help manage and oversee the Company's social media platforms. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and approved by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. About SKRR Exploration Inc.: SKRR is a Canadian-based precious and base metal explorer with properties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan - some of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious and base metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen - although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Sherman Dahl President & CEO Tel: 250-558-8340 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters, and the Company's plans and goals. 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 metals, the ability to achieve its goals, the ability to secure equipment and personnel to carry out work programs, 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 results, the interpretation of technical and scientific data, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. There is a possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations. 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 or climate conditions, decrease in the price of metals and commodities, equipment failures or failure to obtain the necessary equipment, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. SOURCE SKRR Exploration Inc. VANCOUVER, May 26, 2023 - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of May 12, 2023, which announced the closing of the brokered portion of its previously announced financing for gross proceeds of $5-million (the "LIFE Offering"), the Company has now closed the final $11.25-million portion (the "Non-Brokered Private Placement") of its previously announced private placement offering of Common Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million (collectively, the "Offering"). The Offering, including the Non-Brokered Private Placement was first announced on May 1, 2023 and the Company further announced upsizings of the Non-Brokered Private Placement on May 3, 2023, and May 10, 2023, due to high demand. In connection with the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the Company has issued on May 26, 2023, an aggregate of 25,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company priced at $0.45 per Common Share. The Common Shares are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law, expiring September 27, 2023, being the date that is four months and one day following the date of issuance. The Offering has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million for the Company. As previously disclosed, in connection with the closing of the LIFE Offering portion of the Offering, the Company issued 11,111,111 common shares for a purchase price of $0.45 per common share. The common shares issued under the LIFE Offering were issued by way of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and are not subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). No finder's fees were applicable to the Non-Brokered Private Placement and, as previously disclosed, in connection with the LIFE Offering, Canaccord Genuity Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents that included Roth Canada Inc. (collectively the "Agents") received an aggregate cash fee equal to $250,000. The net proceeds of the Offering are intended to be used to advance Nevada King's development and exploration stage assets and for other general corporate purposes. The Offering remains subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals, including final approval of the TSX-V. The securities described herein 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 state securities laws, and 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 laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. Related Party Participation in the Non-Brokered Private Placement Certain insiders of the Company, namely Collin Kettell (CEO and Director), Paul Matysek (Executive Chairman), Craig Roberts (Director) and Bassam Moubarak (CFO), participated in the Non-Brokered Private Placement acquiring an aggregate of 5,244,444 Common Shares. The participation by insiders in the Non-Brokered Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Common Shares purchased by insiders, nor the consideration for the Common Shares paid by such insiders, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Non-Brokered Private Placement in an expeditious manner. The Offering was unanimously approved by the Company's board of directors. About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $21 million after closing of the Offering. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000s) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.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. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the TSX-V approval of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the use of proceeds with respect to the Offering, and the results of the mineral resource estimate on the project are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nevada-king-announces-closing-of-common-share-offering-to-complete-16-25-million-financing-301835998.html SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. Dr Helmut Marko has dealt a major blow to Daniel Ricciardo's hopes of a return to the very top in Formula 1. Although Australian Ricciardo, 33, will do some testing in Red Bull's 2023 car this year, Marko says he is not a candidate to actually race. "Where is Ricciardo compared to (Max) Verstappen and (Sergio) Perez in the simulator? Not at their level," he told formel1.de. The top Red Bull official, 80, refused to quantify the gap in terms of laptime. But he also seemed to dismiss any suggestion that Ricciardo was even a candidate to replace the struggling rookie Nyck de Vries at Alpha Tauri. "Alpha Tauri is Alpha Tauri and Red Bull Racing is Red Bull Racing," Marko insisted. "Whether you drive in the midfield or whether you drive at the front, that's a completely different pressure, a completely different atmosphere. "We know Daniel's qualities. Then came the Renault era. Then McLaren came along and there was a slump. It wasn't the Ricciardo we knew," the Austrian said. So he said that "for the reasons mentioned" and "also because of the statements made by himself", Ricciardo is not currently in the frame for a comeback. Marko acknowledged that Ricciardo has said he is interested in returning next year with a top team. "That was his statement," he said. "And I think this break from active sport is good for him so that he can find himself and know what he really wants to do." However, Marko does seem happy with Ricciardo in his current reserve driver role. "He does a very good job with a lot of marketing and PR activities," he said. "There are show car runs and appearances, especially in America and who is better suited than Ricciardo with his smile and his shoey," Marko added. (GMM) Monaco GP 2023 Friday Team Quotes Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Oracle Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen (1st, 1:12.462): "I felt more confident in FP2 to push a bit more, we had a difficult start but a good end. I think FP1 was quite tricky today, I wasn't happy with the ride of the car but FP2 was much better, the car was a lot more competitive. Compared to Ferrari, I think the handling is still lacking on the curbs and the drops in camber. We need to work on that ahead of tomorrow because you can see that they are still very close, we'll need more for qualifying tomorrow to stay ahead of them. I felt more confident in FP2 to push a bit more, we had a difficult start but a good end. I'm looking forward to qualifying tomorrow, let's see what we can do." Sergio Perez (7th, 1:12.991): "I will sit down with my Team and go through everything because every millisecond here is going to make a difference. It wasn't a great day today in terms of pace in the car, I think FP1 went a little bit better than FP2. After the changes we made in the car we have plenty of things to review before tomorrow's quail. I will sit down with my Team and go through everything because every millisecond here is going to make a difference. They are just little things, nothing huge is standing out at the moment, so I am not massively worried. It's going to be a real challenge heading into qualifying, it'll be an interesting session. We need to make sure we get on top of the tyres and put them in the window at the right time to get the perfect lap around here." Scuderia Ferrari Charles Leclerc (2nd, 1:12.522): "It was a bit of a difficult day as the car is not doing exactly what it is supposed to do. So we need to take a good look at the set-up on my car and then work on it to ensure I have the right feeling with it tomorrow. Here it's all about qualifying, so we didn't do any race runs, just focusing on preparing for qualifying in the best way possible." Carlos Sainz (3rd, 1:12.569): "In general, I think the day was positive. We were fast in both sessions and the car feels okay on track. There are still a couple of things I want to try tomorrow on the set-up to try and improve, but overall we are quite competitive. Obviously, it was not ideal to finish the session in that way, after a small miscalculation trying to find the limit. Sorry to the team and the mechanics for the extra work." Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Lewis Hamilton (6th, 1:12.960): "I've had an amazing day and I really enjoyed driving out there. I want to send a big thank you to everyone at the factories. To build, design and develop a car is not an easy thing. Everyone's put in so many hours of hard work to get us here. We got a lot of data today; it's not a place to ultimately test an upgrade but the car was generally feeling good. It's a shame we weren't as close as I'd hoped at the end of the last session, but I felt some improvements. We've got to keep chipping away at it and see if we can squeeze some more juice out of the car." George Russell (12th, 1:13.191): "Monaco is such a unique track so it's not an ideal place to be evaluating updates, but we knew that coming into the weekend. We're just trying to focus on improving around this circuit and qualifying is obviously the most important part of the weekend. We generally do better on Sundays and struggle more on Saturday, so we need to try and flip that here. There were positive signs to take from today's sessions but it's never easy around this place. We made a lot of changes throughout the day, and the car felt improved in FP2. We'll work hard tonight to see what we can do tomorrow." Andrew Shovlin: "We've had a busy day but ran decent programmes with both cars and managed to cram in plenty of set-up compares along the way. It's difficult to evaluate the update at this track from a lap-time point of view, but from what we can see it's all working as expected. George seemed to have a better afternoon session which is good news as he was lacking confidence in FP1. Lewis has been pretty happy with the car all day but there are a few things we may have done for the second session that cost a bit of pace. We'll look at that overnight. We've also got a good programme running in the simulator to try and find a bit more performance; hopefully we can find a step as even a tenth-of-a-second can be a big difference in qualifying here." BWT Alpine F1 Team Pierre Gasly (9th, 1:13.089): "It's always great to be here in Monaco and driving around this iconic Formula 1 circuit. It's been a reasonably solid day for us with some upgrades on the car and it was good to build up an understanding on those and, in general, ease ourselves into the weekend. The car felt much improved between Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2, so I'm happy with our work today and we're in decent shape looking ahead to the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow is Qualifying day, an exciting experience at this place, and we'll be giving it our best to be up there on the grid." Esteban Ocon (10th, 1:13.162): "Driving here in Monaco is a very special experience; there's really no place like it. On our side, I think it's been a smooth day, where we've run through our programme, tried a few different things and, importantly, did not take any unnecessary risks. I think we have a few more things to go through and test to be really up to speed and ready for Qualifying tomorrow, so I'm sure Free Practice 3, for everybody, will be important. The car feels good, and we're in a strong place looking ahead to the rest of the weekend." Matt Harman, Technical Director: "It's been good to have a smooth Practice day today where we've been able to assess some new upgrades on the car including the new sidepod, which is a very good step from the previous version. It's been equally important not to face any issues on Friday just like in Miami for us to learn and validate our new parts as well as gearing up for the rest of the weekend. Both drivers have been sharp today, bringing their speed and confidence up around this tough track in a sensible manner. We'll keep looking to make improvements on set-up to be well placed ahead of tomorrow's important Qualifying session." McLaren F1 Team Lando Norris (5th, 1:12.906): "A reasonable day it's just lovely to be back. Awesome to be back in the car here in Monaco. Feels insane, as always. Good fun out there and got comfortable very quickly, which is always important here. We made a few changes from FP1 to FP2, which were in the right direction, and we definitely got a bit more out of the car, so we'll continue to try to explore that direction, see if we can improve a little bit more into tomorrow. A decent Friday, and I'm probably feeling a little bit more comfortable than I have been the last few weeks." Oscar Piastri (18th, 1:13.673): "First day in Monaco in an F1 car. It was a bit of a tricky day, it's such a challenging circuit and I've got a bit of work to do on my side, but that's what happens when you're getting up to speed. I think I've got the best out of each corner at least once, I've just got to put them all together on a lap now. We'll keep working overnight and see what we can do. The car looks to be in a reasonable place, but the field is so tight again, so small improvements can have a big impact. We'll keep pushing and look to unlock more pace tomorrow." Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "We've had a decent first day of running in Monaco, despite a couple of issues on Lando's side which ate into his track time in FP2 and high fuel laps. That aside, we worked through our programme as planned. Lando found a good rhythm relatively soon at low fuel. Oscar, making his first visit to Monaco in an F1 car, was rightly learning more and more run after run. From here, we'll do all the usual Monaco things: keep optimising all the details with the drivers and on the car, do our best to execute our plan smoothly and put good laps together for qualifying and the race." Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Valtteri Bottas (8th, 1:13.050): "It was a good, productive day and it was what we needed to finally test our new upgrades. I could feel a difference already, a positive one, even though we will have to do some work to refine the package and extract the most from it. It's a promising sign, though, especially since the field is so tight and a small improvement can make a big difference. Overall, it was an interesting day: the track kept improving with every lap and, as always in Monaco, so did my confidence. Traffic is always an issue here but today we were able to navigate through it well. Now we need to focus on qualifying: the feeling is positive, if we can improve a little bit more overnight, we can be there or thereabout." Guanyu Zhou (13th, 1:13.354): "In general, a promising day for us. FP1 wasn't the smoothest session and it was difficult to find a rhythm, but the later session was a step up for us. The first impressions from the upgrade package are positive, although it's still early days, and I feel there is still a bit of margin, both for myself and the car, to further improve to be ready for tomorrow. We seem to be able to carry on from where we left off in Miami, and I'm looking forward to qualifying. We also looked solid in the long runs, so if we manage to translate today's work into a good qualifying position, we can fight for the points. Tomorrow will be tricky it always is here but we can be in the mix for a good result." Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative: Jan Monchaux, Technical Director: Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team Fernando Alonso (4th, 1:12.682): "We completed enough laps today and we were able to get a good understanding of our car here around Monaco. It was important to find a rhythm early this weekend and avoid any issues. In both sessions the car felt good and it's easy to drive which helps at this circuit. There are going to be lots of ups and downs for everybody this year, so we have to be ready to deliver every weekend. Some race weekends we will be quicker than our rivals and others it might be different, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow's qualifying session." Lance Stroll (11th, 1:13.185): "Every lap mattered in practice today: it's such a short lap around Monaco, it's always tricky to pull everything together, but we got some good running in today and we learned a lot. The AMR23 is working well around here it's definitely behaving itself so tonight we'll focus on tweaking a few, final things. The pack has been tight all year so getting everything right for qualifying will be essential. We'll keep working on the car tonight and see what we can do tomorrow." Haas F1 Team Kevin Magnussen (14th, 1:13.457): "It was a decent day and it looked good in FP1, we lost a little bit in FP2 I think with the changes we made to the car. It's very bumpy out there for us in the low-speed, not like the typical high-speed porpoising stuff, but just dealing with the bumps at the apex of the corners. It's Monaco and everything is tight together and you only need to find a little bit then you move up a lot, so it's still all to play for tomorrow." Nico Hulkenberg (15th, 1:13.520): "It was good fun but challenging at the same time. It's mega fast around here now and it's the first time I drive this new generation of car around Monaco, and I have to say it's probably the fastest thing I've driven around here and it's only Friday, so there's more to come. In terms of running, it wasn't ideal in FP1 with the little kiss coming out of the tunnel. FP2 was okay, we collected a lot of data, and we have some new parts on the car that we need to analyze and see what else we can find." Guenther Steiner, Team Principal: "It wasn't a perfect day, not bad, but we learned a lot. We need to get a bit further up to qualify well because that defines the race weekend here, so we still have some work in front of us, but everyone knows what we need to do and we'll try to achieve it for FP3. All in all, not a bad day except for the little incident from Nico but it wasn't bad. We need to work a little bit on the set-up of the car so that the drivers feel a bit more comfortable in it." Scuderia AlphaTauri Yuki Tsunoda (16th, 1:13.641): "I enjoyed driving around Monaco, but there is still some pace to be found for qualifying, and we have to focus on this as it's going to be really important. We have quite a few big upgrades on the car this weekend, but it's hard to say how well they work because Monaco isn't an aero-efficient track. As usual, we will put it together tonight so we can make it through to Q2 tomorrow, as Q3 seems a bit difficult, but let's see." Nyck de Vries (17th, 1:13.663): "I'm enjoying this track. I raced here in Formula 2 and Formula E, but coming here as the main series is definitely different. I think it was a solid Friday, in which we made progress throughout both of the sessions. We are slowly chipping away and getting more comfortable with the car on track, but there is still some work to do for the balance. The Monaco track isn't an aerodynamic-sensitive track, so we will need to find more performance elsewhere from the new upgrades. We'll do our homework tonight and we will need to keep it clean tomorrow when there will be a lot of cars on track during Q1, so getting a lap together will be challenging." Jonathan Eddolls, Chief Race Engineer: "Having missed the Emilia Romagna GP last week, it's been three weeks since the drivers had been on track, so coming here to a tricky track, it was a case of building up the pace lap by lap. We carried over the new aero package that was planned to be introduced in the last event, but it's always very difficult to draw conclusions at Monaco. So far, there seem to be no surprises, so both cars will retain this for the rest of the weekend. FP1 was mainly focused on the drivers and covering the most laps possible to get them used to the car at this track. The balance was quite close already from the beginning, which means it was just a case of tracking the changing track conditions throughout the day. We made a further step in improving the balance for FP2, but it's clear there is still more that we can do for tomorrow, so we will continue to work on the setup overnight to tackle the main weaknesses. Yuki's session ended prematurely after just brushing the apex barrier at Turn 10 and damaging the rims, so he missed out on his long run, but at least this won't have a big impact on his qualifying preparation for tomorrow." Williams Racing Alexander Albon (19th, 1:14.217): "It was a great job from the team to get the car ready for FP2, despite being a bit compromised in that session. We need to take a look tonight to see if we can improve the car, however it is tricky out there, but I think it's tricky for everyone. It feels like it always does around Monaco, like you're on a knife edge but that's because you're always on the limit. Ultimately, I think we need to find a few more tenths to fight for Q2 but we'll try do that." Logan Sargeant (20th, 1:14.238): "The first day here in Monaco is done and it's always a privilege to drive this track. We're not exactly where we want to be and we're missing some pace but, from a driving standpoint, I think I was driving well and that's a positive to take. We'll look to see how we can improve the car for tomorrow and we go again." Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance: "Today was a bit mixed with Alex showing some decent pace in FP1 but then damaging the car at the end of the session. Until that point, he was making steady progress and we were investigating the new parts on the car. Although his team did an excellent job to get the car ready for FP2, there wasn't enough of the session left for Alex to really understand the evening conditions and the Soft qualifying tyre. If we can recover to the pace we had in FP1 then we can still mount a useful challenge in Qualifying. However, missing much of a session in Monaco is very costly and we will need to work hard overnight and through FP3 to make up for the lost time. Logan drove well throughout the day; although he has driven here before, tackling the streets of Monte Carlo in an F1 car is a different challenge. He kept the sessions clean and progressed his learning and understanding of the setup throughout the day. His pace was a little bit off where he wanted it to be, but with a little bit more work tonight, he can have a strong day tomorrow and build on his solid start to the weekend." Driving Africas growth through AfCFTA Farihan Alhassan Opinion May - 26 - 2023 , 08:20 The Standard Bank Groups 160-year history in Africa makes it more than a financial services organisation. The Group has become a core and an indispensable member of the African community, offering not just integrated financial services and superior value, but also supporting the continent in varied and distinct ways. In all the years that the bank has been in operation, we have been guided by the creed that Africa is our beating heart, and we are committed to creating shared value for our clients, our people and society to help our continent realise its potential as part of the global economy. Vision Our vision is to become the leading financial services organisation in Africa, delivering exceptional client experiences and superior value. This has found expression in our work on the continent over the years. Through the ever-changing expectations and needs of clients and businesses on the continent, Standard Bank has remained resolute in being the bank that continuously drives Africas growth. Our obligation has been to help our clients navigate the diverse African landscape to realise their dreams through our reach, deep insight and expertise about Africa and innovative thinking. We are a critical catalyst for economic change in all countries where we operate. This lies at the core of our purpose to develop commercially sound ways to address the environmental and social challenges experienced in our countries of operation, thereby accelerating economic growth, human development and making a better life for all Africans. Our purpose for driving Africas growth also means courting the right investments that provide the continent with the impetus for growth. The bank has been consistent in working with multinationals seeking to make inroads in Africa to develop strategies, based on our expertise and experience on the continent, which makes it easier for them to operate effectively on the continent. We believe we can make a meaningful, positive impact on Africas growth by partnering with institutions that share this commitment. This years theme for the AU Day celebration, Accelerating the Implementation of the AfCFTA brings into sharp focus what we at the Standard Bank Group have always acknowledged and supported. In our 160 years of existence, the Standard Bank Group has been driven by a desire to see Africa grow. That is why we say Africa is our home and we drive her growth. In linking up the continent for trade, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement presents an opportunity to grow Africas economy. For decades, Africa has been characterised by fragmented markets that inhibit the acceleration of economic growth of countries on the continent. Market Potential Statistics show that Africa trades 85 per cent with the rest of the world and only 15 per cent within. The introduction of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a long-awaited intervention that promises to defragment the continent and boost the productivity of its economies. When fully ratified by all African countries, the AfCFTA will become the largest free trade area by membership established under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules integrating 55 African economies. The AfCFTA will establish a single continental market for goods and services, facilitated by the movement of capital and persons. Immediately, 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at $3.4 trillion (World Bank, 2020) will be connected. Beyond its ground-breaking size, the AfCFTA promises to be a paradigm shift and a deeper commitment to the integration of the continent by negotiating goods and services simultaneously. The agreement is a potential economic game-changer for Africas development, not only because of its potential to enhance intra-African trade but also to provide an opportunity for countries in the region to competitively integrate into the global economy, reduce poverty and promote inclusion. Advantages Many analysts are of the opinion that increasing trade through the AfCFTA will provide the impetus for reforms that activates productivity and job creation, thereby decreasing the incidence of poverty on the continent. Indeed, the World Bank suggests that by 2035, implementing the agreement could help to lift an additional 30 million people from extreme poverty and 68 million people from moderate poverty. It is estimated that implementing the AfCFTA will increase the volume of intra-African trade by 81 per cent by 2035, and increase the volume of total African exports by 29 per cent (World Bank, 2020). By boosting intra-African trade and fostering regional value chains and production networks, the AfCFTA is expected to drive Africas structural transformation. Under the AfCFTA, Africas people, including entrepreneurs, professionals, workers and consumers, will be able to move across the continent, allowing them and the businesses they represent to take advantage of opportunities to trade goods and services. What remains critical, however, is the agility of entrepreneurs and business people to recognise these vast opportunities and take advantage of them thereof. Positioning As the AfCFTA beckons, business people and entrepreneurs must position themselves strategically to leverage the opportunities provided by the agreement. As a starting point, entrepreneurs must arm themselves with as much information as possible about the agreement to be able to navigate through the nuances of the agreement. Beyond learning about the agreement, value addition must be a preoccupation of businesses if the AfCFTA would be of any benefit to them. Value addition comes with the capacity building that enables African businesses to progress from local players to regional players. The business community must adopt modern operations and business strategies and systems to ensure competitiveness. Stanbic and trade The bank has played a central role in the development of African economies for over a century and a half. The bank has done this by constantly aligning our presence in the marketplace with the evolving needs of the regions economies - and by delivering relevant banking and financial services. It is not mere rhetoric to say Africa is our home and we drive her growth; it is a belief by which we live and conduct our business. Stanbic Banks presence in 20 African countries and its unique value to Ghanaian and African companies planning to export to other countries on the continent, coupled with our understanding of the local markets and the banks expertise in international trade, give it the opportunity to help facilitate the operationalisation of the AfCFTA. With the marking of AU Day, Stanbic Bank reminds all Ghanaians that the dream of a Ghana with capable men and women managing the affairs of the country to achieve prosperity for all its people is still very possible. The writer is the Head, Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank Will Ken go? Mahamas GH40 vote buying Enimil Ashon Opinion May - 26 - 2023 , 12:49 On May 13, this year, John Mahama promised to provide GH40 to each of the over 300,000 delegates to support their travel to the voting centres to vote in the primaries. That is GH12,000,000! To protests by the likes of me that our democracy must not allow this kind of obtuse prodigality by one person, I can hear the rebuff in Twi: Wonni sika a wose eduro nnye. But, do we need this kind of eduro in our poverty democracy? Shouldnt we place limits on election spending? It is obscene, considering that the real big money time is in 2024. Cure As a cure, should we not amend our Constitution to place a ceiling on election spending to ensure that democracy is not for the highest bidder? But my challenge with the ex-Presidents gesture is this, that if GH5 and bentoa to voters in the 1996 and year 2000 elections were condemned as vote-buying, GH40 in 2023 is no less. Syllogistically reasoning (where A is equal to B and B is equal to C), what is the difference between the vote buying which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) spokespersons were so vocal against at last Tuesdays Kumawu by-election, and Mahamas GH40 offer which, take note, was known to the delegates ahead of voting? Remember the case of the chain smoker who was arrested by the British police and taken into custody as a suspect in a criminal case? Unable to control himself and actually going to pieces because he had not smoked in over one hour, the police offered him a cigarette. Having calmed his nerves and satisfied his appetite, he then proceeded to write his caution statement. Later in court, the mans lawyer argued that the caution statement was forced, induced by a bribe of one piece of cigarette. The judge found the argument credible and freed the suspect, arguing that a chain smoker would do anything when offered a cigarette. Now to New Patriotic Party (NPP). Unbending I do not know about you, but having witnessed Akufo-Addos now legendary unbending will, I am not one of those waiting for news of Ken Ofori-Attas sacking. To be sure, he is not the longest serving Finance Minister in Ghana. Professor Kwesi Botchwey sat at that desk for 13 years from 1982 to 1995, and became famous for IMF-invented programmes, including the Poverty Alleviation Programme, Economic Reform Programme, Structural Adjustment Programme, Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility... We adjusted so tight that in mercy, IMF gave us a Programme of Action to Mitigate the Social Costs of Adjustment (PAMSCAD). Rawlings had plans to use his trip to America to dismiss Kwesi Botchwey but someone stepped on the Ministers foot. His resignation shocked Rawlings. Contrast Contrast what happens under a democracy. On October 10, 2022, the Prime Minister of UK, Liz Truss, fired her Finance Minister, Kweku Kwarteng, after less than six weeks into the job. Same day, Kweku (a Ghanaian), knowing that neither he nor any Briton was the only one ordained by God to save Britain, wrote to the PM: "You have asked me to stand aside as your Chancellor. I have accepted". Read the Prime Ministers reply: "I deeply respect the decision you have taken today. You have put the national interest first. Admirable, isnt it? Civil. In Ghana, rumour was that Akufo-Addo, reacting to smouldering agitations within his own party to have the Finance Minister fired, called a meeting of the party top brass. He referred the NPP dissidents to Ken Ofori-Attas extraordinary act of grace, financing the partys two previous election bids from his Databank resources. Upset, the 80 MPs finally rebelled by issuing that famous ultimatum. The President later pleaded for time to allow Ken to complete negotiations with the IMF. The negotiations over, the NPP MPs have regrouped to remind the President of his promise. Question: Will everyone else, once again, be wrong again and Ken Ofori-Atta right? In the UK, did Liz Truss hate Kwarteng? Answer is no, but she loved Britain more. One UK tabloid reported that the two were seen chatting over coffee in Parliament days later. Was Kweku Kwarteng an incompetent economist? No; the peculiar brokenness of the British economy rendered his rescue plan unworkable. Is Ken Ofori-Atta incompetent generally? No. Remember his track record at Databank. He was twice (or is it thrice) voted Ghanas Most Respected CEO. Be that as it may, the peculiar brokenness of the Ghanaian economy has rendered his rescue plan unworkable. Ken did have a rescue plan, on the strength of which he said Ghana would not go to IMF. But the President rejected that plan. So Ghanaians are demanding: how do you retain a Minister to oversee a plan he does not believe in? Why must our President persist to the point where Ghanaians are now concluding that it is because Ken is family! Meanwhile, Ghana is sinking. The writer is the writer is Executive Director, Centre for Communication and Culture. Chief Justice nominee refutes claims of bias in Supreme Court rulings on political cases Kweku Zurek May - 26 - 2023 , 18:00 Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who has been nominated for the position of Chief Justice, has dismissed accusations of bias in the Supreme Court's handling of political cases. Speaking before Parliament's Appointments Committee on Friday, May 26, Justice Torkornoo explained that a unanimous decision by the highest court indicates that the ruling is based on legal grounds rather than bias. "When a unanimous decision is reached, it signifies that the law unequivocally supports the court's position, and every member of the court, in adherence to their judicial oath, cannot take a different stance. It reveals what the law truly entails. Therefore, the only appropriate response is to understand and learn from the legal principles, as it is not a matter of bias, but a matter of upholding the legal position," Justice Torkornoo clarified. Some members of the National Democratic Congress have publicly criticized the Supreme Court, claiming bias after a series of defeats in the election petition hearings. According to them, the court tends to favor the NPP (New Patriotic Party) during cases involving the two parties. In November 2021, the party described as a travesty of justice, a Supreme Court decision that gave the green light to Justice Clement Honyenuga to conduct proceedings in the case in which Dr Stephen Opuni and two others are standing trial for procurement breaches in a fertilizer deal. We and all those who seek justice will continue to pray for the accused persons in the hope that they are vindicated by the truth and the law at the end of the trial. We urge them to fight with courage and perseverance to the very end, the party said. A statement signed by Asiedu Nketia, the then General Secretary of the NDC, said there were certain features of the majoritys ruling that caused us great concern. We are at a loss as to why the Supreme Court will prohibit a High Court Judge from hearing the Kennedy Agyapong contempt case on the basis of real likelihood of bias just because the Judge had used the expression severely punished while the same Court did not see a real likelihood of bias against the accused persons from the clear prejudicial statements of the presiding Judge in the Opuni case stated above, it said. However, the Chief Justice nominee further expounded that people may lose cases due to technicalities and subsequently search for excuses to explain their losses. She emphasized the importance of individuals having a solid understanding of legal principles before passing judgments. Justice Torkornoo also defended the Supreme Court's decision to issue contempt summons to individuals who make derogatory remarks or tarnish the reputation of the apex court. She stressed that summoning individuals for contempt serves as a mechanism to uphold the dignity and reputation of Ghana's courts. "The use of contempt summons has long been employed by courts to prevent the court's reputation from being undermined. The Supreme Court is one of 400 courts, and it represents the final authority. Whenever the court takes action, whether it's the High Court, Court of Appeal, or Supreme Court, it is to safeguard the integrity of the justice system," Justice Torkornoo explained during her vetting. ECG cashless system kicks off in Volta, Oti Alberto Mario Noretti May - 26 - 2023 , 06:52 The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun implementing the cashless system for paying for power in the Volta and the Oti regions. Subsequently, offices of the company said they would no longer accept cash from customers for the payment of electricity bills and prepaid power purchases. The acting Volta Regional Manager of ECG, Michael Buabin, confirmed this to the media in Ho last week Friday. Customers with smartphones can access this cashless system by downloading the ECG PowerApp onto their cellular phones and following the prompts to pay their post-paid bills or purchase prepaid credit for smart meters. Customers without smartphones can dial *226# to access this cashless system for all transactions, he said. Mr Buabin explained that the move was part of efforts to digitalise ECGs operations to make them more efficient and convenient to customers. That will largely relieve customers of the inconvenience of shuttling between their homes and power purchasing points, he added. Mr Buabin said third-party prepaid vendors would, however, continue selling power to customers. Customers who still wish to visit ECG offices to pay their bills or buy prepaid electricity should load the money onto their mobile money wallets for access to the cashless service since the company does not accept cash any longer, the acting regional manager said. He said the company had embarked on an intensive campaign to sensitise customers to the use of the new system and its benefits to ensure they had a sound understanding of how it operated and its benefits. Mr Buabin renewed the appeal to the companys customers to settle their bills promptly since the company was set to embark on another revenue mobilisation exercise in the region, during which defaulters would be disconnected. Sanction publishers of textbook denigrating Christianity - Deputy Education Minister to NaCCA Getrude Ankah Nyavi May - 26 - 2023 , 11:10 A Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour has waded into a public debate on a history textbook recently published and said to be denigrating Christianity. In a tweet, the deputy minister and law maker described the contents of the book as "appalling and misconceived". He has therefore called on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to consider applying sanctions to the publishers of the book, apart from the directive for the book to be recalled from the market and the issues raised resolved. Parts of the book with the title History of Ghana for Basic Schools Learners Book Four, which is in circulation on social media states that Christianity is responsible for poverty and that religion has incited physical conflicts in Ghana and worldwide. It also states that religion makes people lackadaisical in their attitude toward finding practical ways to improve their undesirable living conditions. In his reaction on Twitter on Friday (May 26, 2023), Mr Ntim Fordjour, lauded NaCCAs swift action to recall the books. He condemned the publishers of the book and called for the application of sanctions. I condemn entirely the rather obnoxious content found in a textbook published by `Excellence Publications and smuggled into the market for unsuspecting learners. The content is appalling and misconceived. I support NaCCAs swift action to recall the books and apply sanctions. Ghana is most peaceful for a reason, and the important place of religion cannot be undermined, the Member of Parliament for Assin South stated in his tweet. Curriculum assessment council's reaction The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) on Wednesday (May 24, 2023) instructed the publishers to immediately recall the textbook from the market. NaCCA in a press statement, indicated that the withdrawal is to allow for further checks and ensure that the issues raised with the content are resolved. It stated that although the book published by Excellence Series, underwent the standard approval procedure, the content circulating on social media on disadvantages of Christianity does not accurately reflect the approved curriculum. GNPC Chairman Freddie Blay threatens to seek legal redress against CSOs over claims GraphicOnline May - 25 - 2023 , 17:06 The Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Freddie Blay has threatened to take legal action in response to claims made by some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that accused him of involvement in a "scandalous transaction" to offload 50% of GNPC's stake in the Deepwater Tano Contract Area (DWT). In a statement vehemently denying the claims, Mr Blay said the statement issued by some 29 civil society organisations (CSOs) working on extractives governance in Ghana were baseless and without any factual basis. He added that the claims suggesting a divestment of the State's beneficial interest were entirely false and misleading. "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," the statement said. "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". Addressing the issue of the supposed sale of GNPC shares, Mr. Blay emphasized that the transfer of shares is governed by Ghana's Companies Act 2019 (Act 992), and strict procedures are followed. He invited his accusers and the public to educate themselves on the process of share transfers in Ghana to discern the truth from falsehoods. Mr. Blay stressed that shares of a company were not commodities to be traded casually and dismissed the claims as uninformed and malicious. He also addressed the matter regarding the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA). He explained that in 2006, the Government of Ghana, represented by the Minister for Energy, GNPC, and other companies, including Anadarko Offshore Holding Company, LLC (AOHC), executed a Petroleum Agreement (PA) for the Deepwater Tano Contract Area (DWT). He said PetroSA subsequently acquired the shares of Sabre Oil and Gas Limited (Sabre) in 2012, legally assuming Sabre's equity interests in the PA. Mr. Blay pointed out that PetroSA, as a party to the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) relating to the DWT, had the right to pre-empt any divestments and acquire participating interests. He revealed ongoing discussions with PetroSA regarding the acquisition of a 7% participating interest held by Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited (JOHL), a company formed by AOHC. The proposed compromise he said involved a 50:50 split of the shares, subject to confirmation and the advice of the Minister for Energy. In light of the allegations and calls for his resignation by the CSOs, Mr. Blay expressed disappointment in the 29 CSOs for engaging in hasty actions without seeking the facts. He stressed the importance of investigating and ascertaining the truth before succumbing to misinformation. Mr. Blay further extended an invitation to all CSOs and individuals to verify the facts and welcomed open dialogue. Blay concluded by addressing the "libelous statements" made against him, stating that he reserved the right to take legal action against the organizations and individuals involved in tarnishing his reputation. JUSAG concerns being addressed - Justice Torkornoo Daniel Kenu May - 26 - 2023 , 17:34 The Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, has said the management of the Judicial Service was in talks with the striking workers to call off their strike action. She told parliament on Friday that she has been part of the team engaging the striking workers from the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) and there was nothing to be worried about. Justice Torkornoo said courts will soon be opened to the public. Indeed, although the workers were on strike, the courts were opened on the instructions of management. Answering a question from Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, MP for Odododiodio, on intimidation of workers and threats of being sacked, the nominee said there was nothing like that. She was being vetted to become the 15th Chief Justice of Ghana. Strike The Judicial Service said it was committed to resolving the matter and had agreed to meet with the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, over the issue. The Judicial Service urged JUSAG to call off the strike in order to participate in the meeting. JUSAG declared the indefinite strike last Wednesday in protest of the governments failure to implement a January 2023 agreement on salary and allowances. JUSAG strike halts justice delivery Daily Graphic May - 26 - 2023 , 06:20 The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) strike is biting hard across the country, with the various law courts nationwide being reduced to a graveyard ambience, barely 24 hours after the industrial action. A working visit to the various courts in the regions by Daily Graphic teams yesterday revealed that the entire legal system has grounded to a halt as the hitherto brisk legal hubs were deserted. The teams observed that all the court premises were locked, making it virtually impossible for lawyers, prosecutors and persons with cases pending before the courts to gain access. The entrance to the courts were locked, with red bands tied at the main gates of many of them. Some court users and litigants who were not aware of the strike action and had travelled from far and near to access the services of the courts, were frustrated because there were no officials to attend to them. Negative on economy A lawyer, George Bernard Shaw, said the government should, as a matter of urgency, resolve the issues that led to the strike for the wheel of justice to start running again, Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson reports. In an interview, he said the strike had the potential of negatively affecting the economy, especially with regard to commercial cases, as well as the human rights of individuals who had been arrested and were awaiting trial. I think the government should start taking the Judiciary seriously because it is a very important arm of government whose functions go to the core of our democracy, Mr Shaw stated. Rationale JUSAGs indefinite strike to drum home its demand for the government to review the salaries of members took effect from yesterday. The strike involves all staff of the Judicial Service, with the exception of security staff, who would provide protection for the various courts and Judicial Service installations. The association said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had been dragging his feet in implementing a report by the Judicial Council for the upward review of the salaries and conditions of service of staff of the Judicial Service. Announcing the strike action in Accra last Wednesday, the President of JUSAG, Samuel Afotey Otu, said: By this declaration of strike, all staff of the service are immediately directed not to report to work from today onwards unless, and until the President of Ghana complies with Article 149 of the Constitution by approving and paying our new salaries with all the areas from January to date. Salary review Explaining the strike, Mr Otu said per Articles 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution, the President determined the salaries of staff of the Judicial Service on a regular basis, acting on the advice of the Judicial Council. Conventionally, salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of staff of the Judicial Service are reviewed every two years pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution. The last review of salaries of staff of the service was in 2021 and implemented from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. By implication, we were due for another review to be implemented from January 1, 2023 to December 31 2024, he said. According to him, based on the constitutional provisions and the established convention in November 2022, the Judicial Council established a committee, made up of representatives from JUSAG, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Council itself. The committee, he said, completed and submitted its work to the Judicial Council in February 2023, while the report was approved by the council in March 2023, and was subsequently forwarded to the President on April 20, 2023. Upper East From Bolgatanga, Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports that courts in Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Sandema, Bongo and Zebilla were temporarily shut down. When the Daily Graphic arrived on the court premises in Bolgatanga, where two High Courts and a Circuit Court are housed, around 9:30 a.m. the entrance to the building had been padlocked and there was no security officer. The team gathered that all persons who thronged the courts to engage in various activities could not gain access to the premises and had to leave disappointed. Judge denied access The Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Charles Adjei Wilson, was not spared as he could also not access his office upon arrival on the premises around 9a.m. Subsequently, he was compelled to hang around for a while before leaving the premises. Justice Wilson told the Daily Graphic that since he was not part of the ongoing strike, he reported for work only to be stranded outside the locked court premises, adding,when I asked someone who was already in the locked premises for the key, he said it was with the head of security who was not around. Review The Regional Chairperson of JUSAG, Mrs Lawrencia Anaboyinga, indicated that members were demanding a review of their salaries including allowances for the past two years, stressing, for the past two years, our salaries have not been reviewed, a development which has brought untold hardship to us. Ironically, other workers have enjoyed 30 per cent salary increase this year and we are still receiving our old salaries. We go to the same markets with other government workers whose salaries have been adjusted upwards, she lamented. Volta Region At Ho, the main yard of the Judicial Service of Ghana was desolate and as silent as a cemetery, Alberto Mario Noretti reports. Aside from a security man who was spotted at the gate, there was no worker at the place which houses three High Courts and one Circuit Court. The courtrooms and the various offices were shut, while the usual fleet of vehicles of members of the Bar and litigants were missing. Two Magistrate Courts in other locations in the regional capital were also shut. A senior court official who came into the main yard in the morning and left within minutes told this reporter that: We are on strike and we do not know when we are coming back. Bono Region From Sunyani in the Bono Region, Biiya Mukusah Ali reports that all the court premises in the Sunyani Municipality were very quiet. There were no staff at the Sunyani High Court, the Sunyani District Court A and the Sunyani District Court B, including security personnel. When the Daily Graphic contacted the Bono Regional Chairman of the association, Alfred Ntow, who is also in charge of Bono East and Ahafo regions, he said members of the association were not ready to return to work if the government did not heed their request. He said although members of the association were unhappy to see the public go through frustrations as a result of their strike, the economic hardship had compelled them to take that course of action. Central Region The court complex in Cape Coast was also under lock and key when the Daily Graphic visited the facility, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports. There was nobody available at the complex working at the time, except for a few security men. One of the gates had a red band on it ostensibly to symbolise the displeasure of the striking workers. A worker spotted around the premises, who pleaded anonymity, said it was worrying to see many clients of the courts return unattended to because of the strike. However, the source said since the economic situation in the country was biting workers hard, it was only reasonable that workers were listened to and their grievances resolved so that they could resume work. We don't enjoy being on strike but we can't work hungry," the source said. Ashanti Region The situation was not different in Kumasi where Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports that the usually busy court complex had been reduced to a ghost town, with all the doors to the offices closed. With the exception of a security guard at the gate, there was no one around and the place looked like a cemetery, albeit serene and clean. Eastern Region Haruna Yussif Wunpini writes from Koforidua that all the courts within the New Juaben South municipality were locked up and the premises virtually deserted. For instance, the hustle and bustle mostly associated with the compound of the High Courts A & B, as well as the Circuit Courts A & B and the Commercial Courts were absent. Only the security men and members of the Legal Aid team were seen idling about due to the absence of clients. However, a security man, Maxwell Sarfo, explained that they would continue to discharge their duty to protect the court buildings and everything within them until the end of the strike. Show commitment to implementation of AfCFTA - David Ofosu-Dorte urges member countries Vincent Amenuveve May - 26 - 2023 , 07:32 Heads of state of member countries of the African Union (AU) have been urged to show more commitment towards the speedy implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative. This is because the introduction of the AfCFTA is one of the most significant milestones the AU has chalked up since its transformation on July 9, 2002. Furthermore, the speedy and successful implementation of the AfCFTA will eventually make the AU relevant to the people on the continent. It will also bring meaning to the body's transformation from what was previously known as the Organisation of African Unity( OAU)--a largely political orientation body as opposed to AU's inclination towards business integration in Africa. The Senior Partner and Founder of AB & David, Africa, a Pan African Business Law Firm, David Ofosu-Dorte, made the observation in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday on the significance of Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day). It is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the OAU on May 25, 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world. The organisation was transformed into the AU on July 9, 2002 in Durban, South Africa, but the commemoration continues to be marked on May 25 annually. We seem to have a big intention to integrate and create one big African market, but individually, we are signing bilateral agreements with various countries outside Africa and ended up undermining what we want to achieve Mr Ofosu-Dorte emphasised. Achievements, challenges He indicated that one of the significant milestones of the AU was the implementation of the AfCFTA which, he explained, came on the back of seeking to achieve the Agenda 2063. However, he noted, its implementation was slower than he thought. He attributed the situation to attitudinal issues on the part of political leaders of member states as there was low commitment on their part to raise the needed funds to speed up the AfCFTA process. I mean if you have an organisation where to the best of my understanding, more than 70 per cent of its budget is coming from outside the continent, it is definitely not the best to write home about so that means the external influences are very high," Mr Ofosu-Dorte further observed. Attitude He said political leaders on the continent needed to disabuse their minds of spending resources only to win elections to the neglect of focusing more on business integration on the continent. The founder equally entreated heads of state to rather consider funding the AU in various ways, stressing that I am sure it is one of the reasons the AfCFTA secretariat in Ghana may be slow in implementing some of the things they are doing". He said if funding the mother organisation was a challenge, then definitely that would also affect the AfCFTA secretariat. Another attitudinal problem, he explained, was the fact that integration regarding free movement of people and goods on the continent had become an issue as currently it was difficult to move around Africa. Mr Ofosu-Dorte expressed regret that efforts to get at least 15 countries on the continent to ratify an agreement on operationalising a single air transport market protocol as part of the backbones of the free trade agreement had not yet been achieved as nine countries had so far ratified the agreement. So, you cannot in one breath have over 50 countries ratify that free trade agreement. But less than 10 countries have ratified the single air transport market protocol, which will then open up air travel and make it easier for airlines to operate more routes across Africa, he stated. Mr Ofosu-Dorte said similar things could be said about the maritime sector and without movement of goods across the continent, it makes it more difficult to trade. So, again, this is one area that I expect a better attitude. Orientation Besides the well-known political orientation, where some of us used to accuse the leaders of drinking champagne at summits and not making the AU or the OAU relevant to the ordinary person, I think gradually AU has become quite relevant. he stressed. And for me, the transition to the AU from the OAU moved the scale a notch up in the sense that it introduced a bit of business orientation to the approach, Mr Ofosu-Dorte further explained. He indicated that other landmarks achieved by the AU included the implementation of its socio-economic flagship programme, the New Partnership for Africas Development and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, dedicated to facilitating continental integration in Africa through improved regional infrastructure. Stop killing sea turtles for food, they are critical to our fisheries EJF to fishing communities Zadok Kwame Gyesi May - 26 - 2023 , 15:21 Fishermen, fish processors and coastal communities have been urged to help to protect and conserve sea turtles in the country. This is because even though sea turtles are listed among endangered species in the world by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), many fishermen and coastal communities in the country still kill them for food. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), an NGO with focus on fisheries resources and coastal management, in 2019 initiated a programme, dubbed Turtle Conservation Project in Gomoa Fetteh to help protect the sea turtles in the country. The project has since been extended to Senya Breku, also a coastal community in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region of Ghana. In Ghana, sea turtles are commonly poached when coming to nest on the shore or unintentionally entangled in fishing nets. World Turtle Day Speaking at a symposium last Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region to mark this years World Turtle Day, the Communications Officer of EJF, Mr Charles Smith, said protecting sea turtles was a shared responsibility, hence encouraging all fishers and fish processors, particularly those in the fishing communities to play a part in helping to protect them. He explained that sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining healthy oceans and fisheries by grazing on seagrass, maintaining coral reefs and regulating the populations of the jellyfish which prey on fish eggs. In addition, he said, the eggs sea turtles lay on Ghanas beaches supply nutrients that support coastal ecosystems. Mr Smith, however, expressed the concern that nest destruction by dogs, coastal dwellers and killing of female turtles that come to the shores to lay eggs pose a great risk to conservation efforts. Successes This means taking action now to protect sea turtles is essential to ensure their continued survival and to maintain the significant benefits they bring to coastal communities, he said, explaining that the inception of the Turtle Conservation Project has led to the rescue and release of 39 turtles back into the ocean. "The 39 rescued turtles, he explained, were made possible through a community-led approach and that Out of the 39 safe releases achieved, 28 were caught mistakenly by fishers. "The turtles were entangled in their nets, and the fishers wanted to sell them to turtle meat processors to offset the cost of their damaged nets. However, the patrol teams were able to negotiate with the fishermen and the turtles were released back into the sea. In addition, Mr Smith explained, the remaining 11 were found by turtle poachers during the nesting period but the patrol teams successfully persuaded them to release the turtles. He, however, said not every turtle was saved, pointing out that two Leatherbacks species of the turtle were killed at Senya Breku and one Green turtle died entangled in fishing nets. He said the project has also recorded 649 nesting and that a total of 137 hatchings were released into the sea. Mr. Smith further indicated that the project has been able to screen a documentary film and animation on turtle conservation in 10 coastal communities in the Central region. Endangered species The Site Manager in charge of the Muni Pomadze Ramsar Site, Ghana Wildlife Division, Madam Vivian Aye-Addo, said protecting endangered species should be of concern to all citizens and not only the staff of the Wildlife Division. She said all endangered species are important in the environment as they contribute unique characteristics to the sustenance of the environment. They are part of the ecosystem and biodiversity and so we cannot do without them, she said, adding It is important we all contribute to protecting turtles in order to ensure their continued contributions to the environment. Madam Aye-Addo said female turtles return to the shore where they were hatched to also lay their eggs after 25 years, hence encouraging people living along the coast not to destroy turtle eggs or kill them for food. Take advantage of AfCFTA to grow businesses - President urges African nations Donald Ato Dapatem May - 26 - 2023 , 07:58 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged African nations to take advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to increase trade among themselves to ensure the prosperity of their respective countries. He said the trade area would lead to increase in intra-African trade by $35 billion and reduce external imports by $10 billion yearly. It would also create more opportunities for the growth of small businesses with the potential to lift some 30 million people out of extreme poverty. President Akufo-Addo was addressing the 7th African Leadership Forum in Accra yesterday which also coincided with the 60th anniversary celebration of the creation of the AU. The forum is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1988 by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, to help improve the quality of leadership in Africa while training the next generation of leaders for the continent. It was organised by AfCFTA and UONGOZI Institute, an NGO, on the theme: Promoting intra-Africa trade to unlock agricultural potential in Africa. Participants comprised of leaders from various organisations on the continent, including a former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn; two former Presidents of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Patron of the ALF who is also a former President of Tanzania, Dr Jakaya Kikwete. Diversified trade President Akufo-Addo said that a successful AfCFTA would mean Africas industrial exploits would be diversified from undue reliance on extractive commodities and foreign imports. He added that the continent had immense potential for prosperity through agriculture, saying with 50 per cent of the people engaged in the sector, it had the potential to increase intra-African trade, meet local demands, grow GDP and create jobs. If we are to realise this, we must first of all move away from the exportation of raw products to value addition to our produce, he added. President Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation over the increasing number of African countries transitioning from importation to exportation of finished goods which he said was a major economic boost for African women who formed the majority of the agricultural workforce. Unlocking Africa's agricultural potential will help mobilise the requisite amount of financing needed to help develop the continent, the President added. Infrastructure On infrastructural development, President Akufo-Addo said that Africa required between $130 billion and $170 billion annually to bridge the gap in the sector to generate sustainable growth of at least five per cent per year. He, however, said that AFCFTA had set the stage for Africa's industrialisation and transformation agenda and that what was required now was for the respective governments and businesses to show bold leadership. We need coherent and complementary strategic actions by governments and businesses, the right mix of policies and strategies for exports, value addition to raw commodities and a greater sense of purpose to ensure a robust intra-African trade to drive agricultural growth, economic diversification and the much-needed industrialisation of the continent, the President said. Accelerated growth The Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, also said that it was imperative to accelerate trade in agriculture because it would create job opportunities for the youth and also improve the situation of rural communities and smallholder farmers. Task force to enforce ban on noise-making Juliet Akyaa Safo May - 26 - 2023 , 06:47 A task force is to be formed under the auspices of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and the traditional authorities to enforce the observance of the ban on drumming and noise-making in Accra. The task force will comprise representatives from the local assemblies, the police within the jurisdiction, a representative of the faith-based organisations and the respective traditional councils. Meanwhile, the faith-based organisations are to confine crusades, conventions and usual forms of worship to church buildings in the interest of peace and harmony. These were agreed at an emergency meeting held yesterday under the auspices of the RCC at the seat of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs in Dodowa as tensions escalate over the observance of the ban on noise-making as desired by the traditional authorities. A communique released after the meeting said a common committee of various interest groups has been proposed to monitor and manage issues around the observance of customs, traditions, festivals and worship in the Greater Accra Region. All reports of infractions and infringements of a prescribed noise level during the period of the customary ban are to be referred to the committee, which has been given the powers of adjudication and compliance. The committee will comprise representatives of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), the Regional House of Chiefs, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), faith-based organisations and the traditional councils. The communique said the committee would exist for six months from May 25, 2023, to November 24, 2023, to present a permanent recommendation to the RCC regarding a lasting solution to matters raised by the current controversy. Public Order Act It was resolved that faith-based organisations would be guided by the Public Order Act and the bye-laws of the various assemblies in the region. Additionally, an agreement was reached for the faith-based organisations to use microphones at reduced volumes, including public address systems in auditoriums only, as well as the clapping of hands at minimum levels permissible in auditoriums only. Addressing journalists after the closed-door meeting, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, expressed the hope that the resolution would help to reach a peaceful solution to similar issues elsewhere within the region. He explained that there had been some misunderstanding between some traditional councils in the region relating to the ban on drumming and noise-making which necessitated the meeting. He, however, stressed that the mandated task force would not go into a church to forcibly take, vandalise or assault people, but would rather enforce the directive in a disciplined manner. The RCC affirms its position to serve the people of the region and ensure that there is law and order and peace. The RCC is assisting the Regional House of Chiefs in our continuous support and unbiased approach in ensuring that there is a win-win situation between the faith-based groups and the traditional councils in the performance of traditional rites and customs, he said. Renowned evangelist, Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh, speaking on behalf of faith-based organisations, expressed their respect to traditions and promised that they would abide by the agreement. The President of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs, Nene Klagbordjor Animley V, thanked all groups present for their commitment to abide by the agreement. Meeting The Regional Minister and members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) met the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and leaders of faith-based organisations to find ways to resolve the misunderstanding over the ban on drumming and noise-making. The meeting was attended by heads of the Regional House of Chiefs, the RCC, members of the REGSEC, traditional council members, paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, opinion leaders, and the security and intelligence agencies. The meeting was also to discuss how to coexist in the region while observing the customs and rites preceding the celebration of Homowo and other festivals in the Greater Accra Region. Truck with 200 bags of cocoa beans impounded Alberto Mario Noretti May - 26 - 2023 , 07:23 Personnel of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) last Sunday night intercepted a heavy-duty truck loaded with 200 maxi-backs of cocoa beans at Taviefe, near Ho, speeding towards Togo. The Mercedes Benz truck, BA 265 V, was said to have travelled from Kede, through Accra, Sogakope and Ho before Customs officers caught up with it at Taviefe. Subsequently, the driver, Felix Tetteh, 30, was arrested and handed over to the police in Ho while the truck was impounded. Briefing the Daily Graphic soon after the operation, the Director of Special Services of COCOBOD, Charles Amenyaglo, said the operation followed a tip-off and intelligence gathering. Concealment According to him, the sacks of cocoa beans were sprinkled with fishmeal and covered with wheat bran to conceal the smell of the cocoa beans on board. Mr Amenyaglo said initial investigations revealed that the same truck was involved in a cocoa smuggling case in March, this year. Apart from that, he said, the colour of the truck was changed three times between March and May this year to avoid detection by the security agencies. Further, Mr Amenyaglo said the truck, which earlier used the Accra- Ho-Hohoe route for cocoa smuggling, now operated through Sogakope to outwit the security agencies. We will get to the bottom of the matter as soon as possible and process the driver and all those involved for court, he added. The Director of Special Services of COCOBOD appealed to patriotic members of the public to readily volunteer information on the activities of cocoa smugglers in the communities to the security agencies and COCOBOD, in the national interest. He said the driver of the impounded truck was now on police enquiry bail, assisting in investigations into the matter. Supreme Court cites Prof. Kpessa-Whyte for contempt Daily Graphic Politics May - 26 - 2023 , 06:40 The Supreme Court (SC) has cited a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, for contempt and bringing the image of the court into disrepute. Prof. Kpessa-Whyte is to appear before the court on Tuesday May 30, 2023 to answer questions and to explain why he should not be cited for contempt. The summons issued to him alleged that he posted a series of tweets on May 19, 2023 which were contemptuous and scandalous. Tweets The tweets read as follows: 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. Prof. Kpessa-Whyte, who is also a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, is expected to justify why he should not be cited for contempt of Court for scandalising the SC, bringing into ridicule the dignity, respect and stature of the SC as well as inciting prejudice against the court. Attached to the summons were copies of a series of publications by various portals arising from Prof. Kpessa-Whytes tweet. Prof. Kpessa-Whytes comments were made at a time of heated public discussion regarding the SCs order to Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson from its records after it found that he had not renounced his Canadian citizenship at the time he filed his nomination forms to contest the Assin North polls in 2020. Apology Even before he appears before the court, the lecturer has explained in his statement that his tweet was not in any way related to the Assin North judgement. I have observed that Ghanaweb and other media publications sought to associate my tweet with the decision of the SC 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 SCs decision as at 9: 59a.m. when I did the tweet, he argued. I hereby retract the tweet in question; accordingly, the tweet has been deleted completely and pray for forgiveness, an apology letter signed and issued by Prof. Kpessa-Whyte stated. Asus unveiled the Zenfone 9 last July, and if the company sticks to the same timeline for its successor, we'll see the Zenfone 10 arrive in a couple of months. While Asus hasn't yet divulged the Zenfone 10's launch date, the Taiwanese brand may have mistakenly revealed its price. Asus has set up a page on its official website for blind testing the Zenfone 10's camera and collecting feedback. And those participating in the program will get a chance to win a free Zenfone 10 after the launch. According to the terms and conditions of this promotion, the Asus Zenfone 10 has an "approximate retail value at USD 749." Asus Zenfone 10's price revealed on official website Asus hasn't mentioned the memory configuration of the Zenfone 10 that will be given to the winners, so it's unclear if this approximate retail value of $749 is for the base model or another variant. That said, the Zenfone 10 was spotted on Geekbench last month with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 16GB RAM, and Android 13. The smartphone is rumored to come with a 6.3" 120Hz AMOLED screen, up to 256GB storage, and a 200MP primary camera with OIS. It will also be IP68 rated, pack a 5,000 mAh battery with 67W charging, and have three color options. We'll likely hear more about the Asus Zenfone 10 in the coming weeks. Source | Via FEMA, federal partners and territorial officials are working on additional resources needed in response to the impact of Typhoon Mawar, according to a release from the agency. FEMA continues coordination with the impacted areas and is leveraging prepositioned teams, commodities and equipment to immediately respond and help stabilize community lifelines. Federal search and rescue teams supported by the Coast Guard and the Department of Defense are activated and ready to support as needed. Federal actions and safety tips: Territorial and local authorities are leading whole community efforts, with FEMA coordinating federal support to help the people, government and communities on Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in case resources, personnel and teams can assist with lifesaving and life-sustaining activities. Guam Power Authority reported approximately 51,000 customers are without power. Additional damage assessments and power restoration work will begin, starting with critical services including hospitals, wastewater facilities and shelters. Initial restorations may be slowed by debris removal operations. FEMA deployed or pre-staged more than 150 staff in the Pacific to be able to quickly supplement territorial and local response efforts to help save lives and protect property. In total, 320 personnel are supporting the response as FEMA deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team sent to Guam before the typhoon and another team is pre-staged in Hawaii to deploy. FEMAs Distribution Center in Guam is fully stocked with about four times the amount of food and water compared to the commodity stock in place during typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. The distribution center is also connected to a network of warehouses and logistics capabilities, with another large warehouse in Hawaii. Additional commodities and supplies stand ready, if needed. U.S. Health and Human Services Operation Center pre-positioned 35 personnel, including a Health and Medical Task Force from its National Disaster Medical System, as well as an incident management team and logisticians to assist with the response. A second task force has been placed on advisory status. The Red Cross is working with local emergency management to meet the needs of the communities affected. As many as 200 trained disaster workers and emergency supplies are being deployed to the Pacific. The U.S. Geological Survey storm team activated to share Coastal Change Hazards resources. Real time data can be viewed on the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center website. FEMA mission assigned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist with temporary emergency power, temporary roofing and debris management support. USACE deployed several personnel to provide public works and engineering technical expertise. More than 60 generators are en route to the Pacific and more than 100 generators already in Guam for use. To ensure all residents affected by Typhoon Mawar have access to FEMA information, we are proactively identifying language needs and taking steps to make sure communities are informed in the language of their preference. For those seeking the status of family members or friends on the island but are having trouble connecting, the communications and electrical systems are being repaired and stabilized at this time. For real time updates, visit the following links for the latest information: Following are updates about bank hours and ATM availability, and information from the military about base access and gas availability. BANKS Bank of Guam: The Yigo branch will open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for check cashing and withdrawals, according to a bank press release. Limit is $250 per customer. Garapan, Tinian and other neighboring island branches are open 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. with limited transactions. On the bank website, ATMs and online banking are unavailable and customers are encouraged to use debit and credit cards when possible. For updates, go to its Facebook page @BankofGuam. Bank of Hawaii: According to the banks website page, which was last Thursday, branches on Guam are not open but the Gualo Rai branch on Saipan is open. ATMs on Guam are open at Agana Shopping Center, the Hagatna branch lobby, Pay-less Dededo, Outrigger, Hotel Nikko, Onward, Tsubaki, Micronesia Mall north and east, Magellan Restaurant on Anderson, and the Harmon Branch. For updates, go to its Facebook page @BankofHawaii. Coast 360 Federal Credit Union: The Maite center reopened Friday, according to the banks website, and pre-typhoon hours on Saturdays were 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Some ATMs are back online, according to its Facebook page: Maite Member Center (walk-up & drive-up), Tamuning Member Center, Shell in Upper Tumon and Yigo, Dededo 76/Circle K, Hafa Adai Mart in Yigo, Micronesia Mall food court and Pay-less, Agana Shopping Center. For updates, go to its Facebook page @Coast360FCU. Community First Guam Federal Credit Union: Tamuning and Dededo service centers will be open 9 a.m-noon, according to its Facebook page. For updates go to its Facebook page, @cfirstguam. First Hawaiian Bank: The Maite branch was open on Friday; according to its website it is closed Saturday. Dededo and Tamuning branches remain closed; Saipan branches in Gualo Rai and Oleai also reopened Friday. Customers can access their accounts online or on the app. No information was provided on the status of its ATMs; find a list of locations at locations.fhb.com/. For updates go to its Facebook page @FirstHawaiianBank. MILITARY BASES According to Joint Region Marianass Facebook page updated Friday evening @jrmguam: Andersen AFB: Access is limited to DoD CAC holders and dependents, access for Contractors is by exception. 36 SFS Pass and ID is the POC for contractor access. Stop movement for in-bound PCS personnel is still in effect; outbound PCS, and TDY personnel are authorized to depart. Returning permanent party, TDY, and leave personnel are authorized to proceed. Additionally, gas station express shoppette is open, however, no gas pumps operational yet. Naval Base Guam: Access will also be limited to DoD CAC holders and contractors. U.S. Naval Hospital and the Branch Health Clinic Apra Harbor: Pharmacies are open. Emergency room is available. Branch Health Clinic Apra Harbor is accepting walk-ins. According to Naval Base Guams Facebook page @USNavalBaseGuam: Gas pumps at the NEX Gas Station on main base will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Purchase limit is $20 and cash only transactions. Mini Mart and Naval Hospital Mini Mart will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. If youre reading this typhoon update, youre in the minority, according to the governors office. Much of the post-typhoon information released by the government is not reaching residents because of intermittent telecommunications service, and because radio and television stations were knocked off the air, according to the administration, which is trying to figure out if the government can help. Civil Defense administrator Charles Esteves and governors communications director Krystal Paco-San Agustin met with Guam media representatives Friday afternoon to find out what they needed to resume service. The biggest requests working generators and fuel so they can get back on the air. For example, K-Stereo, which is the primary radio station designated to broadcast round-the-clock information from the government during emergencies, is not broadcasting because power is out at the station and its generator isnt working. At this point, we have a Joint Information Center a fully functional team of PIOs working to push out information but we have nowhere to put it, Paco-San Agustin said. The videos arent being downloaded, depending on where you are and who your telecom provider was. Civil Defense's Estevez said they couldn't make any promises about the issues cited by media organizations. There are some things that we can potentially provide and some things that we may not." We understand that communications and having situational awareness during an event like this is very important. We do rely heavily on the media to push out all messaging, he said. Esteves said civil defense met with the islands telecommunications companies, which reported damaged cell towers among other issues. Intermittent service is the problem, Esteves said. Once they fix their problems, most of our problems are gone, Paco-San Agustin said. The Pacific Daily News has been reporting throughout its week on its digital platforms. Recovery efforts after Typhoon Mawar continue. From the Joint Information Center: Trash collection: Curbside trash collection will begin Monday. Residential transfer stations will open Tuesday. Where to get water: The designated locations for the 4,000-6,000 gallon tankers include: Santa Teresita, Mangilao Ordot-Chalan Pago Mayors Office, Chalan Pago St. Josephs Catholic Church, Inalahan Dededo Mayors Office, Dededo The water tanks listed above are accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Once the tanks are depleted, they will be refilled and returned to service at locations still without water. Residents who have water service are advised to conserve and limit use for cleaning, bathing, and cooking in order to conserve water to allow reservoir levels to increase. As a precaution, water obtained from these designated locations must be boiled for at least three minutes prior to consumption. A precautionary boil water notice remains in place due to possible bacterial contamination in the water that can occur when increased run-off enters a drinking water source following heavy rains. Critical and Essential GovGuam Employees: As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero placed the island in Condition of Readiness 4. All essential and critical Government of Guam employees are to report to the worksite to assess for damages. All others are to report to their supervisors. For agencies whose payroll is processed by the Department of Administration, payroll data was transmitted earlier this week. Traffic Control: The Guam Police Department and the Guam National Guard are being positioned at major intersections and motorists are advised to please proceed with caution. GFD Issue a No Burn Notice: The Guam Fire Department (GFD) issued a No Burn Notice for the entire community due to ongoing recovery efforts. GFD is focusing efforts on life and property preservation. GPA Update: Guam Power Authority has begun its post-typhoon power restoration process starting with restoring critical and priority facilities such as hospitals, water wells and wastewater facilities, critical infrastructure and key areas e.g. communications, schools, public safety/health and ports of entry. GPA crews will then focus on areas throughout the island. To report power outages and down lines, call (671) 648-3000 or (671) 647-5787 or report it on facebook.com/guampowerauthority. GWA Update: The Guam Waterworks Authority 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. GWA will perform assessments of its water system to be within acceptable levels as soon as possible. Boil Water Notice Tips: Waterworks authority would like to make it clear that residents should not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three minutes, and let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. GWA is working with village mayors in assessing areas with no water services. Coordination is being made to deploy water bladders to the respective villages that are in need of them. Water bladders are currently being distributed to critical care facilities. To report water outages, call (671) 647-7800. Department of Public Health and Social Services Updates: The Department of Public Health and Social Services Division of Senior Citizens resumed the following: Homebound Meals with a hot meal. Homebound Meals will continue the regular operations of providing meals Sunday through Saturday. For any questions you can contact SH Enterprises, the Elderly Nutrition Program vendor at 671-649-9716/9727. Case Management Services, In-Home Services and the National Family Caregiver Support Program The 3 Adult Day Care Centers, 12 Senior Citizens Centers, Congregate Nutrition Services, Transportation Services, and Elder Justice Legal Assistance Services will be closed today, Friday, May 26, 2023. Judiciary of Guam Remains Closed: The Judiciary of Guam remains closed until an assessment of the courts power and the generators have been completed. Essential staff will report to address the situation. All hearings and court proceedings remain canceled and will be rescheduled. Upon reopening, the Judiciary will prioritize matters that require immediate attention. Visit the following links for the latest advisory information: The Joint Information Center (JIC) will continue to provide updates as they are made available. For more information, contact the JIC at (671) 478-0208/09/10. Haiti - FLASH : American Airlines announces a new direct flight Miami / Port-Prince American Airlines announces that starting August 2nd, 2023, it will increase service to one daily flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from Miami International Airport in the United States. The American airline recalls that it currently operates 6 weekly flights to Port-au-Prince, from the terminal in Miami, United States. The airline also explained that it maintains its flight itinerary on : Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from Port-au-Prince airport to Miami. From August 2, 2023, this frequency will be available 7 days a week, i.e. Monday to Sunday, every week. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : France destroys 35,000 bottles of Cola from Brasserie La Couronne S.A. French border police destroyed nearly 35,000 bottles of a soft drink called "Couronne Fruit champagne" from the Haitian Brasserie La Couronne S.A. This drink was seized in October 2021 after customs in Le Havre (North of France) noticed the label "Couronne Fruit Champagne" French customs indicated that the bottles of the orange drink were intended for sale on the French market. In October 2022, a Paris court ruled that the bottles should be destroyed because they violated the "Appellation d'Origine Controlee" (AOC) regulations which state that only sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France can use the name Champagne. There are currently more than 121 countries following the decision on the use of the name "Champagne" according to the Professional Champagne Association. Charles Goemaere, Director General of the Champagne Committee, said that their destruction reinforces the importance of the regulations recalling "The fight against the abuse of the name of Champagne began in 1844 and has not stopped since." Before being seized for infringement on the Champagne title, the same product had been the subject of an investigation by the Department of Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention. It was also recalled due to excessive amounts of benzoic acid, a preservative commonly used in foods and beverages. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - NOTICE : Haiti Startup Talent 6th cohort, registrations open In order to support the entrepreneurial efforts of Haitian youth, the Government, the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) and the CASELI Foundation have developed the "Haiti Startup Talent" program, an incubation program for young entrepreneurs. "Haiti Startup Talent" is a completely free incubation program for young entrepreneurs with the most innovative, creative and potentially socially impactful business proposals. For 6 months, the program offers more than 300 hours of training, a fully equipped workspace, experienced speakers, mentors available, professional and institutional contacts to operate in Haiti. Selected entrepreneurs have access to fully equipped offices in Petion-ville. They benefit from training sessions provided by Haitian experts. They receive personalized advice from recognized mentors and also carry out company visits. The selected entrepreneurs agree to participate full-time in the program based in Petion-ville. Sessions for the 6th cohort will take place in the mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) during the week. Online registration form : https://form.jotform.com/211531146544044?fbclid=IwAR3KthqLlhLMQH12bgvZMQT8epKokwpHE5K84dqf6QdfKq2McoSxq5EAAnc Calendar : Deadline for registration for the competition which will select the 6th cohort of participants: June 30, 2023 at midnight The results will be released on July 12, 2023. The incubation program will start on July 17, 2023. The Incubation Program will last 6 months or 300+ hours of sessions. Participants who miss more than 50% of the sessions accumulated during the 6 months may be disqualified. To learn more, visit the "Haiti Startup Talent" website : https://haitistartuptalent.com Important : The Haiti Start Up Talent Incubation Program does not guarantee access to financing or investment. The program focuses on building the capacity of entrepreneurs and those with a business idea. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Cholera : Daily bulletin #190 May 16, 2023: (latest available data, previous Ministry bulletin May 15 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39620-haiti-cholera-daily-bulletin-189.html Data calculated since the first confirmed case (October 3, 2022) Total suspected cases: 45,188 cases +584 in 24 hours, the day before +250 in 24 hours Total confirmed cases: 2,678* cases +0, the day before +0 in 24 hours Total hospitalized cases (suspected and confirmed): 39,559 cases +570 cases in 24 hours, the day before +217 in 24 hours Total deaths: 693 deaths ((463 institutional (+3) and 230 community (+3)) +6, previous +1 *No information on the number of samples received and the number of cases confirmed by the MSPP Laboratories. Information not updated for 27 days. 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: 1,039 cases (+15) 1-4 years: 9,032 cases (+104) 5-9 years: 6,512 cases (+91) 10-14 years old: 3,242 cases (+45) 15-19 years old: 2,376 cases (+31) 20-29 years old: 5,826 cases (+85) 30-39 years old: 4,989 cases (+85) 40-49 years old: 3,680 cases (+54) 50-59 years old: 2,785 cases (+34) 60-69 years old: 1,970 cases (+24) 70-79 years old: 1,124 cases (+13) 80 years and over: 468 cases (+3) Men: 54.36% men (-); Women 45.64 (+) 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 27 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-39620-haiti-cholera-daily-bulletin-189.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 Haiti - News : Zapping... The government has never requested military intervention The government has never asked for military intervention in the country, but for robust support to help resolve the security crisis in Haiti, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said in his closing speech at the forum on security and the political dialogue on Wednesday at the Karibe hotel. 4 firearms stolen from the TPI in Port-au-Prince The registry of the prosecution near the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince was vandalized by unidentified individuals on the night of May 24, 2023. No sensitive file was taken, said the government commissioner at the court of first instance, Me Jacques Lafontant, but he informs that the individuals took away four 9 mm caliber firearms. Massacre at Bellevue La Montagne No less than 10 people were killed, from Tuesday May 23 to Wednesday May 24, 2023, in Bellevue La Montagne (Petion-ville). This killing would be the work of the "Kraze barye" gang, led by Vitelhomme Innocent. The inhabitants of the area call for the intervention of the national police. 2 influential members of the "400 Mawozo" gang arrested Jean Jude Thomas alias "Kal" and Jerry Mede AKA "Jeral", two influential members of the criminal group "400 Mawozo", were apprehended by the police in Thomazeau, when they were traveling to the Dominican Republic, informs the PNH. The transport sector satisfied with Me Arnel Remy The Haitian Land Transport Sector (STTH) congratulates the choice of Me. Arnel Remy as representative of civil society on the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) and encourages him to work for the rule of law in Haiti. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39609-haiti-justice-designation-of-the-representative-of-civil-society-at-the-cspj.html Football : The Grenadieres will face England Our Grenadieres in Group D will face England in less than two months, on July 22, 2023, at Brisbane Stadium in Australia, as part of the 9th edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup which will take place from July 20 to August 20, 2023 in two countries on the Oceanian continent, Australia and New Zealand. 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 Published on 2023/05/25 | Source New still added for the upcoming Korean movie "Romance Trip" (2023) Advertisement Directed by Park Dong-ki With Jo Woon, Jung Jong-woo, Park Dong-ki, Song Bo-eun, Lee Kyung-wook, Seol Yu-jin,... Synopsis Actors Jo-woon and Jong-woo travel to Gangwon Province with their movie director colleagues. The three men, who were staying at a pension in Bongpyeong, meet three women who came to play and join them, but one of the three women's boyfriends comes and takes them away. The three men look like a dog chasing chickens and staring at the roof. On the first day of the trip, they meet Mi-oh, a woman they met by chance on a sandy beach in Gangneung, at the pension, and have a drink at her invitation. As the night progresses after one or two drinks, the animal kingdom of three men and a woman slowly unfolds... Release date in Korea : 2023/07/27 Published on 2023/05/25 | Source New stills added for the Korean drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" (2023). Advertisement Directed by Jo Nam-hyung, Kang Sin-hyo Written by Han Woo-ri Network: tvN With Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Beom, Ryu Kyung-soo, Hwang Hee, Kim Yong-ji,... 12 episodes - Sat, Sun 21:20 Follow up to "Tale of the Nine Tailed" Synopsis The story of Lee Yeon, a gumiho who was summoned back to a chaotic 1938 after being embroiled in an unexpected incident. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2023/05/06 Published on 2023/05/25 | Source Son Sukku gave off healthy energy through a pictorial. Advertisement On the 25th, a pictorial of a new summer campaign by actor Son Sukku with an outdoor brand was released. This pictorial shows Son Sukku enjoying his freedom and the journey of climbing various paths in nature. In particular, it properly expressed Son Sukku's summer hiking in a rough but soft mood. Meanwhile, Son Sukku chose the movie "Comment Army" (tentative title) as his next work. "Comment Army" is a crime movie that takes place when a reporter Im Sang-jin who learned of the existence of the Comment Army by reporting on online public opinion manipulation, facing a huge reality in the process of covering them. Son Sukku is a newspaper reporter who seeks to return to work after writing articles accusing large companies of tyranny in the movie and plays the role of a Im Sang-jin who approaches the reality of the Comment Army by covering questionable reports. ShareBar Comments must be on-topic and civil in tone (with no name calling or personal attacks). Any promotional language or urls will be removed immediately. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length. (Hedgeweek) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued an order filing and simultaneously settling charges against Sharief Deona McDowell, of Loma Linda, California, for fraud in connection with options on commodity futures contracts by a commodity trading advisor (CTA) and for failing to register as a CTA. The order requires McDowell to pay $2,376,509.96 in restitution and a $2,376,509.96 civil monetary penalty. The CFTC also ordered McDowell to cease and desist from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations, as charged, and imposed permanent registration and trading bans. Case Background The order finds that from October 2018 through approximately March 2022, McDowell, doing business through a company she founded known as Presidential Investments LLC, engaged in a fraudulent scheme through which she solicited and accepted more than $2 million from at least 29 individuals or entities for the purported purpose of trading commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts on their behalf and then misappropriated the funds for her personal use. By claiming to engage in discretionary trading of futures and options contracts on behalf of her clients, McDowell acted as a CTA, without being registered or exempt from registration with the CFTC as required by the CEA. In addition, in telephone, text message, and email communications with prospective and existing clients, McDowell knowingly made material misrepresentations and omitted material facts about her use of client funds and the profits purportedly earned by her clients. Among other misrepresentations, McDowell told clients that she used the funds they transferred to Presidential Investments to trade options and futures contracts on their behalf. Contrary to these statements, McDowell did not conduct any trading on behalf of her clients and instead knowingly misappropriated client funds for her direct personal benefit. To conceal and perpetuate her fraudulent scheme, McDowell issued fabricated trade confirmations and updates to clients that falsely reflected profitable returns from her supposed trading activity. Parallel Criminal Action On November 30, 2022, McDowell entered a guilty plea in a related criminal case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2023. [See United States v. McDowell, 5:22-cr-00274-AB] The CFTC cautions that orders requiring payment of funds to victims may not result in the recovery of any money lost because wrongdoers may not have sufficient funds or assets. The CFTC will continue to fight vigorously for the Greenhouse gas emissions in the Helsinki metropolitan area had been declining, but according to the emission monitoring by HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services), emissions increased last year, rising nearly 10% compared to the previous year. The increase was primarily due to emissions from district heating production in all municipalities of the metropolitan area. Emissions increased in all municipalities Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) annually calculates the greenhouse gas emissions in the Helsinki metropolitan area. In 2022, the region's greenhouse gas emissions increased nearly 10% compared to the previous year, totaling approximately 4.44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq). Emissions increased in every municipality of the Helsinki metropolitan area: 11% in Helsinki, 6% in Espoo, 3% in Vantaa, and 5% in Kauniainen. The growth in emissions was attributed to the increase in emissions from district heating. Increased use of coal and oil in district heating production "The reason for the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the Helsinki metropolitan area was the increase in emissions from district heating production. Greenhouse gas emissions from district heating production increased by 22% in the Helsinki metropolitan area compared to the previous year," says Tommi Fred, CEO of HSY. The increase in emissions from heat production was a consequence of the cessation of natural gas imports from Russia when Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. The use of natural gas was replaced by coal and oil. The use of natural gas (GWh) in district heating production decreased by nearly 60% from the previous year, while the use of coal increased by 36% and oil by 46%. The use of renewable fuels also slightly decreased. The proportion of renewable fuels was 29% in 2021 and 27% last year. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in heat produced by heat pumps. The decrease in heat produced by heat pumps was mainly a result of high electricity prices. "However, the greenhouse gas emissions from district heating production are expected to decrease in the near future as energy companies implement their own carbon neutrality programs and reduce the use of fossil fuels in district heating production," says Jari Rantsi, climate expert at HSY. Slight decrease in electricity consumption Residential electricity consumption decreased by 6% last year. The electricity consumption for heating remained at a similar level as the previous year. Factors contributing to the decrease in residential electricity consumption included high electricity prices and residents' energy-saving efforts. Emissions from electric heating and consumption electricity both decreased by 5%, driven by reduced consumption and a decrease in the national electricity emission factor. HSY calculates the greenhouse gas emissions in the Helsinki metropolitan area based on local consumption. The calculations do not account for indirect emissions from consumption goods such as food or building products. Statistics from 2021 were used for calculating emissions from road traffic, and the calculations will be updated once the statistics for 2022 are available. Greenhouse gas emissions in the Helsinki metropolitan area in 2022 (change compared to the previous year): Helsinki: 2.61 million tonnes of CO2-eq (+11%) Espoo: 0.88 million tonnes of CO2-eq (+6%) Vantaa: 0.91 million tonnes of CO2-eq (+3%) Kauniainen: 0.03 million tonnes of CO2-eq (+5%). HT The Finnish Immigration Service has announced the procurement decisions for the establishment of new reception centres across various geographical areas. A total of 17 new reception centres have been procured through a competitive tendering process. These new centres encompass apartment-based reception centres, collective accommodation centres, and a transit centre. The first phase of the tendering process took place in autumn 2022, focusing on reception centres in eight regions. The second phase has now been completed and involved competitive tendering for reception centre operations in nine geographical areas: West Uusimaa; Vantaa, Kerava, Central Uusimaa, and East Uusimaa; Southwest Finland; Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia; Kymenlaakso; Satakunta; South Ostrobothnia; Kainuu; and Aland. To ensure supplier diversity and maintain high-quality services while ensuring cost-effectiveness, the Finnish Immigration Service decided to limit the number of categories won by a single supplier, allowing a company to be selected in a maximum of two categories. Fifteen suppliers submitted tenders. Elina Nurmi, the Director of the Reception Unit, explains, "Our aim was to ensure supplier diversity and as high quality of suppliers as possible without compromising cost-effectiveness. Making the market as broad and thriving as possible will help us enhance the cost-effectiveness of reception activities through competition and will ensure a better preparedness and availability of capacity in case of large-scale influxes of migrants." The Finnish Immigration Service conducted the competitive tendering process in cooperation with Hansel, the central purchasing body for the public administration in Finland. The process was carried out nationwide, utilizing a dynamic purchasing system. Suppliers meeting specific criteria can join the system throughout its validity period, which extends until December 31, 2027. The total value of the procurement is approximately EUR 250 million for the period 20222027, depending on factors such as the number of clients in reception centres and the duration of their operation. Each reception centre included in this tendering process has a capacity of 300 beds. The awarded contracts are valid until further notice. The goal is to open the new reception centres as soon as possible. However, some existing clients may need to be transferred to different reception centres due to the changes. The Finnish Immigration Service aims to transfer them to centres within the same geographical area as their current one. Clients will be informed of any changes well in advance. Currently, Finland has a total of 107 reception centres, including secondary branches and service points for clients in private accommodation, as well as 10 reception units for minors. Approximately 45,500 people are registered as clients in the reception system, with around 35% residing in private accommodation and 14% living in municipalities under the municipal model for accommodation. The majority of clients in the reception system have sought refuge in Finland from Ukraine. The Finnish Immigration Service holds responsibility for directing, planning, and supervising the operations of the reception system. While the reception centres in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno), and Oulu are maintained by the Finnish Immigration Service, other centres are operated by non-governmental organizations, Finnish municipalities, and private companies. Contracts Awarded by Category: Category 1 West Uusimaa: Luona Oy Category 2 Vantaa and Kerava, Central Uusimaa and East Uusimaa: Luona Oy Category 3 Southwest Finland: SPR Varsinais-Suomen Piiri Category 4 Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia: Pohjanmaan Maahanmuuttokeskus Oy Category 5 Kymenlaakso: Kotokunta Oy Category 6 Satakunta: SPR Satakunnan Piiri Category 7 South Ostrobothnia: Kotokunta Oy Category 8 Kainuu: Babando Oy Category 9 Aland: Babando Oy HT The visit will begin on Thursday 1 June with a meeting with President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. In their discussions, the Presidents will address as the geopolitical situation, common global challenges, topical regional questions and the bilateral relations between Finland and Brazil. President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinisto will make an official visit to Brazil on 12 June 2023. President Niinisto's programme will also include discussions with, among others, Veneziano Vital do Rego, First Vice President of the Federal Senate, and Arthur Lira, President of the Chamber of Deputies. On Friday 2 June, President Niinisto will visit Sao Paulo, where he will meet Tarcisio de Freitas, Governor of the State of Sao Paulo, and participate in a business event organised by the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo. The event will also be attended by representatives of Finnish and Brazilian business and industry. In Brazil, President Niinisto will be accompanied by a business delegation with representatives from various business sectors. President Niinisto last visited Brazil in 2016 when he attended the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The previous presidential visit from Brazil to Finland was made by President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff in 2015. HT Finland went from energy shortage to negative power prices. Heres how they did it Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week: The decline in electricity price, causing them to reach negative values was covered in an article by Daily Wire on May 25. The article explores how Finland achieved such significant drop in power prices after the recent launch of nuclear power plant. The article highlighted the importance of this development considering the previous concerns about energy shortages in the country, which arose due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As power generation has become abundant, discussions among energy producers are underway to implement measures that would reduce production and address the situation where electricity prices have entered negative territory. Last month, TVO, a power company in Finland, introduced a new reactor at the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant. This facility now accounts for nearly one-third of the countrys power generation. The electricity produced by the plant is sufficient to meet the energy needs of 5.2 million apartments or charge 3.6 million electric cars. Operators in Finland and the surrounding areas are now monitoring the situation. If hydropower cant be regulated, then it will probably be nuclear power next. Production that is not profitable at these prices is usually removed from the market, Jukka Ruusunen, Fingrid CEO said. Now there is enough electricity, and it is almost emission-free. So you can feel good about using electricity, Ruusunen added. Original story was published by Daily Wire on 25.05.2023 and can be found here. Finnish debt above EU threshold as Commission gives to-do list Finlands public debt exceeding the 60 percent limit required under European Union law was covered in an article by Euractiv on May 26. According to a report by the EU Commission, Finlands public debt exceeded 73% of its GDP last year. The article highlights that the country has consistently surpassed the 60% limit mandated by EU law since 2013, making it the only EU member state where debt has continued to grow. The report, part of the 2023 EU Spring Semester package, evaluates the measures taken by member states, focusing on future prospects. The article states that Finland's debt reduction guidelines have potentially hindered the country's economic growth. To address this issue, the report suggests several measures, including adopting a prudent fiscal policy, resolving the labor shortage problem and improving social security. The commission also recommends discontinuing energy subsidies by the end of the year and accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To tackle the countrys labour and talent shortage, Finland should invest in training, particularly for workers who switch careers and increase higher education opportunities in areas in demand on the labour market, the Commission said, as per the article. Original story was published by Euractiv on 26.05.2023 and can be found here. The Geopolitical Fallout Of Finland Joining NATO And How Russia Could Respond To It This opinion piece about geopolitical implication of Finland joining NATO on its relations with Russia was published in Outlook on May 6. The article explores how Finland's decision to join NATO and abandon its neutral status is expected to result in a strategic encirclement from Russia. The article also argues that while Finland anticipates assistance from NATO, this move may contribute to a new security dilemma and potentially worsen the security situation in Europe and Eurasia in the near future. Last month, Finland became a full member of NATO, putting an end to speculations about whether it would align with the Western security organization that originated during the Cold War. The article says that while it is a predictable geopolitical move for a European country to join NATO, concerns arise due to the timing of Finlands admission, considering its historical neutrality even during the height of the Cold War. It also raises pertinent questions saying that the admission of Finland is raising more apprehensions regarding whether Finlands move will influence the future course of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war? Secondly, it asks whether Finlands admission into this West-sponsored military bloc, will there be a confrontation between Russia and NATO? The article elaborates on historical context of relations between Russia and Finland followed by a detailed analysis of the strategic consequences of Finland joining NATO. It also looks into Indias relations with both Russia and Finland. The author Nalin Kumar Mohapatra is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Original story was published by Outlook on 06.05.2023 and can be found here. Finnish firm operating in Myanmar denies maintaining ties to sanctioned entity This article about Wartsila denying conducting business with sanctioned entities in Myanmar, despite leaked evidence suggesting a connection between the company and a firm associated with a military arms broker was published in Myanmar Now on May 22. The article provides details of the tenders secured by Wartsila in early 2022 to develop solar hybrid power stations in Myanmars Magway and Mandalay regions in collaboration with Chinese company Dongfang Electric International and Myanmar-based MCM Group. The Finnish technology and manufacturing firm Wartsila withdrew from the partnership after it was revealed that MCM had served as an arms broker for the Myanmar military, procuring weapons and equipment from Ukraine in the previous year. The EU had issued warnings to private companies in member states, including Finland, against engaging in business with arms brokers associated with the Myanmar junta following the 2021 coup. Aung Hlaing Oo, the head of MCM Group, resigned from his directorship of the MCME subsidiary in December 2021, which changed its name to Malikha Energy shortly thereafter in a possible attempt to evade sanctions. The article states that although Wartsila denies engaging with sanctioned entities in Myanmar but faces scrutiny following the emergence of a letter suggesting ongoing ties with the MCM Group. The letter describes equipment supply by Wartsila to MCM in 2022, raising questions about the company's claim of severing connections. Original story was published by Myanmar Now on 22.05.2023 and can be found here. Quantum scientists accurately measure power levels one trillion times lower than usual This article about scientists in Finland developing a nanodevice capable of measuring microwave radiation at an incredibly low power level, a trillion times lower than what is typically measured, was published in Eurekalert on May 25. The article looks into the details of the device which has significant potential for advancing microwave measurements in quantum technology. The article mentions that by improving a special type of thermometer called a bolometer, the researchers were able to enhance the accuracy of measuring heat in quantum experiments. The study, conducted in collaboration with quantum-technology companies Bluefors and IQM, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, was published in the Review of Scientific Instruments We added a heater to the bolometer, so we can apply a known heater current and measure the voltage. Since we know the precise amount of power were putting into the heater, we can calibrate the power of the input radiation against the heater power. The result is a self-calibrating bolometer working at low temperatures, which allows us to accurately measure absolute powers at cryogenic temperatures, Mikko Mottonen, associate professor of quantum technology at Aalto and VTT said. Mottonen also stated that the new bolometer could improve the performance of quantum computers. The bolometer also covers a very broad range of frequencies. Original story was published by Eurekalert on 25.05.2023 and can be found here. Ht Adventures with the tummy This weeks list of interesting reads includes a book that tries to understand India through its food culture, another that tells the story of a common man who fought the system and pulled off a great victory, and a volume that shows you how to better appreciate and respect the true origins of yoga. (HT Team) 344pp, 599; Speaking Tiger (A romp based on 30 years of trying to understand India through its food culture.) Digesting India is a wildly entertaining and informative adventure through the landscapes of Indian culinary art, as explored by Zac OYeah, a Scandinavian origin Indian novelist with a readiness to stomach anything and everything that grows or walks on earth. Well, almost. This book combines the three things that OYeah loves most about life eating, drinking and travelling in a delightful romp based on 30 years of trying to understand India through its food culture. This fast-paced story of a travellers untiring quest for new cultural and culinary experiences is as intriguing as it is profound, and you might say it captures India in a nutshell a very big, coconut-sized one. Here we learn about dishes that we may never have heard of, and food habits we never knew existed, such as when we accompany OYeah on a spareparts tour that begins in Shivajinagar, the slaughterhouse area of Bengaluru. As we follow him on a winding journey through India, he takes us through the pleasures of drinking beer in Bengaluru (slang for beer galore), toddy in Kerala, and eating boiled vegetables and masala-less curries in Sevagram, the Mahatmas ashram in Maharashtra, to prepare him for the rich red lal maas in royal Rajasthan. He discovers Goas literati culture sipping cashew fenny with Nobel laureate Orhan Pahmuk and Amitav Ghosh, finds two of his favourite foods mushrooms and cheese in Bhutans shamudatsi, and, in a delightful digression, finds out while still on earth what astronauts eat, and more importantly, drink, in outer space. Digesting India is a rollicking read a multi-course meal full of happy discoveries. Read it as vicarious fun in your armchair, carry it as an inspiring travel companion, or use it to impress your friends with thousands of interesting, surprising facts about local foods and the many places they come from.* A small crime in a small town 249pp, 399; HarperCollins (The story of a common man who fought the system and pulled off a miraculous victory) When VK Thajudheen, a middle-aged man working in Doha, returned to his hometown, Kannur, after a few years, little did he know that instead of celebrating his daughters summer wedding he would be put behind bars for stealing a gold necklace. The local police, smug at apprehending a criminal in record time, wanted a confession to lock it in. Horrified and bewildered, Thajudheen showed proof that he had been busy with the wedding at the time of the crime. But all proof he provided crumbled in the face of the CCTV footage from that day, for it showed clearly that it was Thajudheen on the scooter, riding away from the crime scene. But how could he be in two places at the same time? And so started a cat-and-mouse game between Thajudheen and the police the former trying to prove his innocence and the latter hell-bent on pinning the crime on Thajudheen. The media caught whiff of this case and the whole of Kannur was talking about it. The Stolen Necklace might seem to about a small crime in a small town, but with its incredible twists and turns, it is ultimately the story of a common man who fought the system and pulled off a miraculous victory.* The Indian mythology that inspired 50 yoga postures 309pp, 899; Leaping Hare Press (Learning more about the roots of yoga and how you can use teachings to better appreciate and respect the true origins of an ancient practice.) Discover the traditional stories and wisdom behind your favourite yoga poses in this stunningly illustrated book of Indian mythology for yogis of all levels. The author Raj Balkaran explores the unforgettable tales behind 50 key yoga poses, such as the Virabhadrasana II, the original warrior pose, the Tadasana, mountain pose, the Bhujangasana or cobra pose, the Garudasana or eagle pose the Padmasana or lotus pose, the Virasana or the, hero pose and the Savasana, or corpse pose Readers learn, through the mythology of the poses, more about the roots of this ancient practice and how you can use their teachings to better appreciate and respect yogas true origins. Enhance your practice by reading one story before or at the end of class, and incorporating the poses and their teaching into your life, as well as your yoga practice, and transform the way you view and practice this timeless art. *All copy from book flap. In Your Blood I Run is a fast-paced thriller set in British India in the 1930s about childhood friends, Lavanya and Ratan, who havent seen each other in years but whose names are linked to a high-profile murder in Simla. While the police are attempting to apprehend Ratan, who is the key suspect, the Bombay police has picked up Lavanya for questioning. Sara Davenport, the wife of a high-ranking British officer, is discovered dead on the lawns of the Governors mansion, where she had been invited to a party. Ratan, a Bombay-born law-school dropout, is Davenports employee as well as her companion and lover. As he approaches the Governors mansion to pick her up, he notices a figure dashing through the trees in the dark. He notices Sara in the bushes, and the next second she stumbles and collapses. He runs to her aid, but she dies in his arms. A picture postcard of Simla in the 1930s. (Getty Images) 330pp, 399; HarperCollins India Ratan flees as he is certain he will be framed for Saras murder. In colonial India, with few rights and limited freedoms for the native populace, no one would have believed in his innocence or spared him for killing an Englishmans wife. When Saras body is discovered the next day, police find alongside it a book of erotic stories written by Lavanya. The handwritten note she had slipped inside the book for Ratan an inside joke lands her in grave trouble. The police believe she is an accomplice. They also believe her erotic writing provoked the murderer, and that her handwritten note is a coded instruction to Ratan to carry out his sinister plan. Lavanya faces a ban on her book, unless she cooperates with the police to track down Ratan. Within days, she is in Simla attempting to clear her name and Ratans; she is certain he is innocent. She recalls their childhood as neighbours in Bombay reading out her poems that he dismissed and the times he played editor: poring over the words on the page and pronouncing some alive, some dead. Her lone ally is Noor, a former classmate who is now a prominent actor in the film industry. A friend tells Ratan to turn himself in as the brave ones who have done nothing wrong, dont run. But Ratan knows better. The kind of nonsense the entire country was fed by the so-called leaders. What brave people did and did not do. Thats why the country had jails spilling over with brave people crying for freedom and unable to do anything about it, he thinks to himself. Debut novelist Sonia Bhatnagars murder mystery has a gripping plot, which makes it unputdownable, and writing thats top-class. Her characters are well-chiselled, and it is easy to empathise with both Ratan and Lavanya, who has a strong feminist streak. She doesnt crumble under pressure and never once sheds a tear; not even in private. She shuts down her two brothers, who are embarrassed by her erotic writing, and defends her freedom to write, even in court. When the senior officer in-charge of the investigation tries to embarrass her by asking her to read out highlighted portions of an erotic story to a room full of people, she does so with confidence. If the reader is looking for real life parallels to fiction, the incident recalls Ismat Chughtais obscenity trial for Lihaaf at Lahore in 1946. Ratan too focusses on proving himself innocent. Not one to fret about being a fugitive, he is enjoying the good life in a borrowed bunglow tucked away in the hills. Outsmarting the police on most occasions, he even sends up a prayer for a young policeman assumed dead. Though Ratans character has several shades of gray, he is still endearing. Readers are unlikely to judge him; not even for the easy charm with which he wins over the ladies. The most moving part of the book has Lavanya recalling her mothers reaction after reading her best-written work, Sitaras Story. She slaps her and asks, Why must you write dirty stories? Because nobody else will, because it makes me happy, because dirt is in your mind, Ma, because you dont want me to, Lavanya replies. It does not satisfy her mother and she invites a baba to cure her daughter of her sickness. Bhatnagar draws the readers attention to what binds women across class, caste, and race. She depicts with flair the predicament faced by the wives of senior British officials, the invisible Indian women who serve them, and the likes of Lavanya. In that pre-Independence world, the women are all ruled by men who lord over and control them. Sometimes this is done subtly; at other times, its outright. In a way, they are all Sitaras from Lavanyas story. Author Sonia Bhatnagar (Courtesy the publisher) The central characters struggle is poignant. Questions were being asked about their friendship. How long had they known each other? Had they colluded together to commit this crime? Was it a crime of passion or cold-blooded revenge against an entire regime? Why had she sent him this book? What did her scribbled note to Ratan inside the book mean? Was it a secret code that only Ratan could decipher? Still, there are moments when readers will have to suspend their disbelief, such as the many times Ratan dodges cops, and the portrayal of the media in the pre-paparazzi 1930s. A tale of adultery, murder, and scandal, In Your Blood I Run is an enjoyable read. Lamat R Hasan is an independent journalist. She lives in New Delhi. I must have been 20 when I first learnt of Ruth Vanita. She was the co-editor, along with the historian Saleem Kidwai (d 2021), her hamdil, hamraaz, hamdaastaan, of the monumental Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History (2000). I dont remember precisely when I first got hold of the book but I remember its lightning strike. I remember how its cheap photocopy became one of my most precious student possessions. It was like some strangers had handed me someone then gingerly stepping into his own queerness a family heirloom. In here, my ancestors could now range from a Mughal king who became humbled and wretched and love-sick for a boy in a bazaar, to surprising friends from the Panchatantra, crocodiles and apes, crows and tortoises whose mutual embraces felt better than sandal-paste blended with chill camphor or snowflakes delightfully cool. This works quiet importance to scores of the subcontinents queer lives cannot be overstated. Vanita had gifted us a wild, varied and contested genealogy of same-sex desire in our part of the world, a euphoric and unsettling sort of home, where we could place the smallest of our feelings within the largest of canvases, where even the goosebumps on our arms had a prehistory. The magnificent Rampur Raza Library, the scene of Ruth Vanitas poem Dawn at the Rampur Library. (Deepak G Goswami / Wikimedia Commons) 78pp, 450; Copper Coin In her most recent poetry collection The Broken Rainbow, Vanita straddles both these planes that of the lyric feeling and of the historical archive seamlessly and movingly. At one point, you find her in the embrace of a lover, at another point, you see her poring over eighteenth century manuscripts in a library. She is at ease in both these dispositions, she studies someones gaze as intricately as someones line. Weeks before I read this book, a close friend Anannya Dasgupta had excitedly sent me an excerpt from it. We immediately got on a phone-call and gushed over a poem called Hourglass. I hadnt read something so tender in a long time. In it, Vanitas lines held what can be described as the promise of all persuasive lyric poetry to be able to stencil an individual moment as precisely as it was felt and experienced. Listen to its first stanza carefully: Little I call you / Too much you hold me / Little I know you / Little youve told me. / Raising your eyes, you / Pour sadness through me / Sand sleeping slowly / Hours to undo me. See how Vanita captures this small precious moment between two lovers or friends (I cannot tell), whove known each other for many years or a few hours (I cannot tell), and have shared something so moving that it will remain with the poet forever (I can, with some confidence, tell), so much so that she will rehearse it forever in her writing, where she wields the power that writers of lyric uniquely wield, that of wresting away from the irreversible passage of time, a charismatic instant, which like inverting an hourglass, you can view over and over again in a poem. What helps excavate and preserve this moment is Vanitas craft. Read those eight lines again. See how they are knit together by a deft manipulation of sound. Each of them is little, none exceeding five words. Each has exactly five syllables. And an exquisite rhyme between the you sound repeated thrice, and the me sound repeated four times (along with slowly), helps her sew together this fervid but fragile moment between two people. This deliberately repeated sound of you and me holds them together in a poem as much as they held each other in person. They will now forever be held captive in each other, knowing little yet pouring into each other everything they have, simultaneously made and undone by their touch. Compare this little terrain to another poem in the collection Dawn at the Rampur Library. Here, you are again within the limits of observable time and space distinctive to the lyric the poems begins with the sounds of the azaan, the mobile alarm and the koyal but what it is all gearing towards is the wider historical canvas of the literary archive which she has come to consult at the Rampur Raza Library. Vanita visited it thrice during the writing of her peerless academic treatise on Rekhti poetry. But her poem tells you what the academic treatise, in a sense, cannot. As she reads 18th/19th century Urdu poets Rangin, Colourful (d 1835), Insha, Elegant (d 1817) and Jurat, Daring (d 1810) in the high-ceilinged rooms of the Raza Library, she is rapturously communing with those who held and spoke of desires akin to her own. Female-female amours, Vanita states in her scholarly study, are the central organizing principle of[Rangins and Inshas] rekhti (2012:34). Here she is listening to poets at centuries remove from her but who, in another poem, she calls the few who look like me, seven seas away. In the library, she hears them speak astounding words. She turn[s] the page. She touch[es] the yellow paper of their manuscripts. This is the story of the archives seen through a lyric eye. This is the confluence of the academic and the affective where one is indistinguishable from the other. She has goosebumps on her arms as she reads. Author Ruth Vanita (Courtesy the subject) Vanitas poems and translations in The Broken Rainbow are an astounding testament to how the most intimate vocabulary for describing the closest of our affections (her poems refer to her wife, her son, her friend, her mother, her uncle) and for inhabiting the most familiar of our geographies (her poems straddle Montana, Gurgaon, Binsar, Lucknow, Delhi), may emerge not only from some vaguely defined interior, some mysterious inner well of our expression alone, but in that charismatic encounter with the canvas of the historical, the inherited, the studied. As Vanita sits down to write, I imagine Insha, Rangin and Jurat, and her most recent forebears, Elizabeth Bishop, Emily Dickinson, Ramachandra Siras, and her friend for ages, Saleem Kidwai, sitting beside her. Akhil Katyal is the author of How Many Countries Does the Indus Cross and Like Blood on the Bitten Tongue: Delhi Poems. New Delhi (India), May 26: On Women's Health Day, it serves as a poignant reminder of the crucial role women play in our lives, families, and communities. On this occasion, we shed light on an issue of paramount importance: breast cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Early detection is pivotal in improving prognosis and increasing survival rates, making it imperative for women to be aware of the early signs and symptoms. Here, we have gathered insights from multiple renowned oncologists who share their expert advice on recognizing the initial indications of cancer in a woman. Dr. Amish Vora, MBBS, MD, DNB, DM - Medical Oncology, Co-founder & Director - HOPE ONCOLOGY CLINIC, New Delhi Says as we all have heard, "In case of emergency, oxygen masks will drop down. FIRST, PUT AN OXYGEN MASK ON YOURSELF, THEN HELP OTHERS." This very much applies to women of today. Between family, in-laws, children, and careers, they tend to ignore their own health. On Womens Health Day, Dr. Amish Vora urges all women in our society to be self-aware of any change in their breasts (size, shape, discharge, lump) or untimely bleeding per vaginum. When diagnosed in an early stage, treatment not only cures you but keeps you as a whole without any organ sacrifice. Even today, in 2023, the majority of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are in stage 3 or 4. Why? Just because they have ignored the symptoms. Checkpoint: any abdominal discomfort or pain for more than 14 days (age more than 40 years); test to be done: please get USG abdomen and CA 125 (a blood test). Last but not least, vaccinate your daughters against cervical cancer. Dr. Rajesh Bollam, MBBS (Gold Medalist), DNB, DM (Medical Onco-TMH) MRCP Medical Oncology (UK) European Certified Medical Oncologist, Secunderabad Breast cancer can show different signs and symptoms in each individual. Its important to remember that these signs and symptoms are not exclusive to breast cancer and may also be caused by other health conditions. If you notice any signs, its important to consult a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and diagnosis. Lumpiness or thickening in the breast or underarm area is one of the most common signs of breast cancer. Changes in breast shape or size, Breast pain, Changes in the skin texture, such as redness, dimpling, puckering, or the appearance of an orange peel texture. Additionally, any unexplained rashes around the nipple or on the breast should be evaluated. Early detection is key to improving treatment outcomes for breast cancer. Its crucial to get a professional medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause and find out if you have breast cancer or another potential health issue. Dr. Shivakumar Uppala, MBBS, MS, MCH (Surgical Oncology), FAIS, FMAS, Consultant Surgical, Oncologist & Medical Director- Trust in Hospital and North Bangalore Hospital, Bangalore Pregnancy and childbirth are the happiest and most exciting times in a woman's life, but cancer is the most feared disease in the world. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is more aggressive than regular breast cancer and cannot be treated while the patient is pregnant. Dr. Shiva says, "Normally, we advise abortion if the PABC is discovered during the first trimester. If we wait until delivery, cancer can advance from stage 1 to stage 4". Treatment is postponed until delivery during the third trimester. During the second trimester, patients must decide between PABC treatment after delivery or the risky option of abortion. Removing the tumour mass surgically can be done safely, even if the woman is in her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy. Breastfeeding will have to be temporarily discontinued during chemotherapy sessions because the drugs used in the treatment can enter the breast milk and affect the newborn baby. Post-PABC treatment, the chances of chemotherapy affecting a woman's egg count or fertility are extremely low. Dr. Manish Sadhwani, MS MCh (Surgical Oncology), Cancer Surgeon - Airavat Cancer Care, Ahmedabad Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in India and hence needs our utmost attention on two major fronts: screening and early detection. Your screening habits of a monthly self-breast examination and yearly mammography will detect cancer at the earliest possible time. Vigilance by oneself for changes in one's breast, like any lump, nipple discharge, or skin change, is needed every hour. Such symptoms should not create fear in the patient's mind; rather, she should be proactive and consult a doctor to get them investigated. Such early detection helps effectively achieve a complete cure for the disease. The early-stage disease has options for advanced oncoplasty and breast-preserving surgeries. Dr. Pratik Patil, Consultant Oncologist, Jupiter Hospital, Pune Breast cancer is the most common cancer in India, with a diagnosis rate of 1 in every 30 females in urban India. Diagnosing it at its earliest stage makes it 100% curable. Although a few females have no symptoms until they appear on a routine mammogram, every female after the age of 40 should get a diagnostic mammogram done. A few signs and symptoms of early breast cancer include: Irritated or itchy breasts Change in breast color, increase in breast size or shape (over a short period of time), Changes in touch (which may feel hard, tender, or warm), Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin, A breast lump or thickening, Redness or pitting of the breast skin (like the skin of an orange). The right treatment at the right time by the right doctor is the only mantra for survival from breast cancer. Dr. Shreeniwas Sheelawant Raut, DM, HOD, Medical and Hematoncologist, Stem Cell Transplant Physician - Bharti Vidyapeeth and Hospital, Pune After treating thousands of patients in a decade of practice, Dr. Shreeniwas Sheelawant Raut said that "the most common early warning sign of breast cancer is a lump in your breast and/or underarm. This is often the first symptom. Your doctor can usually see a lump on a regular mammogram even before you notice it. Another sign is swelling in your armpit or near your collarbone if breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in that area. Some may feel kinked or prickly. A flat or scarred area on your breast, Breast changes such as a difference in your breast size, fluid, temperature, changes to your nipple, or A marble-like area under your skin. You need to do a biopsy and further imaging for characterization and staging. Ultimately, treatment will be surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy according to her hormonal receptor and her 2-expression status. Dr. Rohit Ranade, MS, MCh (Gynecological Oncology), Narayana Health City, Bengaluru Gynaecological cancer symptoms can be vague, but early detection is crucial. Only breast and cervical cancer can be identified through screening tests. Recognizing and discussing symptoms with a primary care doctor increases the chances of early detection when treatment is most effective. Gynaecological cancer encompasses uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and breast cancers, mostly affecting postmenopausal women but can occur before menopause. Key symptoms to watch for include abnormal uterine bleeding (e.g., heavy, prolonged, intermenstrual spotting), vaginal discharge (unless foul-smelling or blood-tinged), weight loss, reduced appetite, fatigue, ongoing abdominal pain, bloating, and cramps, abdominal distension (possibly ovarian cancer-related), changes in bowel or bladder habits (e.g., constipation, blood in stools, frequency changes), and breast changes or lumps. While these symptoms don't always indicate cancer, persistent symptoms warrant medical evaluation. Being aware of these signs empowers women to take proactive steps for their health. 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. IDAHO is a trailblazing clothing brand that celebrates the rich heritage of Indian ethnic wear. With its exceptional craftsmanship and a fusion of traditional and contemporary styles, IDAHO is redefining the landscape of ethnic fashion in India. Each garment is a testament to the brand's commitment to quality, vibrant colours, intricate detailing, and timeless appeal. The brand's creations have garnered a global following, making IDAHO a beloved name in the fashion world. Lalit & Vinita Khatri, the heart & brain of the brand IDAHO was brought to life by the dynamic duo - Lalit Khatri and Vinita Khatri. Lalit, hailing from a family of printing experts, drew inspiration from his father's legacy to embark on this fashion venture. With his expertise in technical aspects and astute marketing strategies, Lalit spearheads IDAHO's operations. Complementing him is Vinita, a talented fashion designer who infuses her creative ideas into IDAHO's designs and oversees the production team. Together, they have nurtured IDAHO into a symbol of craftsmanship, elegance, and innovation. Vision, Mission and Beliefs IDAHO's mission is not only to create exceptional ethnic wear but also to generate employment opportunities for thousands of people. With a vision to empower artisans and craftsmen across India, IDAHO is committed to preserving and promoting Indian culture through its exquisite creations. The brand strongly believes in maintaining high-quality standards and ensuring customer satisfaction, as evident from its impressive repeat-customer ratio of over 65%. Recognized by Shiprocket, India's leading logistics platform, IDAHO continues to make waves in the fashion industry, spreading the essence of Indian ethnicity worldwide. Products and USPs At IDAHO, the passion for exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail shines through in their diverse range of ethnic women's clothing. Specializing in maxi, kurta sets, lehengas, Anarkali, western tops and co-ord sets for the summer season, IDAHO offers various options to suit every taste and occasion. However, their flagship speciality lies in their FALRY garments, meticulously crafted in-house. What sets IDAHO apart is its unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. With a repeat-customer ratio of over 65%, the brand has earned a reputation for delivering garments that exceed expectations. Moreover, IDAHO's association with Shiprocket, India's top logistics platform, further demonstrates its dedication to seamless and reliable service. IDAHO is more than just an ethnic wear brand; it is a symbol of uniqueness, timelessness, and cultural resonance. With focus on generating employment opportunities, creating high-quality pieces, and paying meticulous attention to every detail, IDAHO stands as a brand that embodies artistry and enduring style. When you choose IDAHO, you're not just purchasing clothing; you're investing in a piece of wearable art that will remain timeless in your wardrobe. In a world of diverse cultures, IDAHO emerges as a pioneering brand that celebrates the beauty and elegance of Indian ethnic wear. With their commitment to quality, unique designs, and dedication to preserving cultural heritage, IDAHO is a brand that truly stands out. Experience the essence of timeless ethnic fashion with IDAHO. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. 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Namecheap, as the name suggests, has been primarily known for domain registrations and has a user-friendly domain management interface. They often run promotional offers on domain registrations. Performance and Reliability: Hostinger boasts fast loading times and good uptime. They have data centers in multiple locations worldwide to ensure better performance. Namecheap also provides reliable hosting services with a 100% uptime guarantee. Ultimately, the choice between Hostinger and Namecheap depends on your specific needs and preferences. Hostinger might be a better choice for those seeking affordable hosting plans with a user-friendly interface, while Namecheap might be preferred by those who prioritize domain. If you have any direct queries regarding Digital Marketing or Youtube Marketing visit Official Google Partner Click Now: https://www.tracepresence.in/ Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Chinmaya Vidyalaya Vasant Vihar has been making rapid strides forward with excellent performance as well as mandates for key structural changes in academic delivery. While the students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya have done the school proud with excellent results in the CBSE Board Examinations of Grade X as well as Grade XII, the school has thrown open the gates for admission to Grade XI, with emphasis on Commerce stream. The post-covid sentiment of the school management has been to empower and equip the students to face any situation and the focus has been on teaching- learning from real-time situations, while keeping the traditional fabric intact says Archana Soni, Principal of the school. We feel that encouraging students to take up entrepreneurship today is more relevant than ever. Outlining the plans for the future, Shibani Khorana, the Manager of the School and representing Central Chinmaya Education Cell, says that Policies are being drafted for admission of students from Chinmaya Vidyalayas all over the country to higher education programmes at the Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth in Kerala. The Chinmaya University too offers programmes focusing on skill development, entrepreneurship and time-relevant learning. Complementing it further is the placement assistance the University extends to its students. Shibani Khorana, Manager, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vasant Vihar Our priority is to equip the students for life, in keeping with the CVP - Chinmaya Vision Programme. Says Shibani Khorana. It is our intent to track the progress of the students even after they complete school education, identify those who can benefit from the numerous academic platforms offered by the Central Chinmaya Mission and reach out wherever necessary. Archana Soni adds This is particularly significant because Chinmaya ensures a seamless progress of its students into higher education and beyond to help them with a smooth career path, while also empowering them for the future with strong value systems and life-skills. Kavya Chitkara, Commerce Topper Sabhavat Abhiram Naik, Humanities Topper For Commerce students in particular, this works as a great incentive. Make in India and Skill Development being the major thrust of the Government of India today, opportunities have opened up like never before for self-sufficiency, and for the entrepreneurs in the making. Special admission counters have been set up at Chinmaya Vidyalaya Vasant Vihar for new admissions to Grade XI, and trained counsellors help the students with the choice of appropriate subjects, basis their aptitude and interests. Niranjan Praveen, Science Topper In tandem with its vision the school has also embarked upon a systematic restructuring plan with infra-structural changes and capacity enhancement within. A legacy of over four decades of academic excellence, and a vision embedded in the future, augur well for the students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vasant Vihar. CHINMAYA VIDYALAYA STAR PERFORMERS GRADE XII Kavya Chitkara 96.4% COMMERCE TOPPER Sabhavat Abhiram Naik 95.2% HUMANITIES TOPPER Niranjan Praveen 93.6% SCIENCE TOPPER Disclaimer: This article is a promotional feature 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): Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that powers over 1 million online stores worldwide. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Shopify has become a go-to platform for entrepreneurs looking to start their online business. However, building an online store is just the first step towards success. To make a mark in the crowded e-commerce space, you need to have a solid marketing strategy in place. This is where Shopify marketing experts come in. Shopify marketing experts are professionals who specialize in helping online businesses grow by creating and implementing effective marketing strategies. They have a deep understanding of the Shopify platform, its features, and functionalities, and they use this knowledge to develop custom marketing plans that drive traffic, increase sales, and improve ROI. Importance of Hiring a Shopify Marketing Expert Having a Shopify store is not enough to succeed in the e-commerce world. You need to invest in marketing to attract potential customers and retain existing ones. However, marketing is a complex field, and it can be challenging to know where to start. Here are a few reasons why you should consider hiring a Shopify marketing expert: Expertise and Experience Shopify marketing is a specialized field that requires expertise and experience. A Shopify marketing expert has the necessary skills and knowledge to develop and implement effective marketing strategies that drive results. They keep up-to-date with the latest marketing trends and tools, ensuring that your business stays ahead of the competition. Time and Cost Savings Marketing can be time-consuming and costly, especially if you don't know what you're doing. By hiring a Shopify marketing expert, you can save time and money by outsourcing your marketing needs to a professional. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your business while your marketing expert takes care of driving traffic and increasing sales. Increased ROI A Shopify marketing expert can help you get the most out of your marketing budget by developing targeted campaigns that are tailored to your business needs. They can help you identify your target audience, create compelling ad copy, and optimize your campaigns for better ROI. Top Shopify Marketing Experts in India If you're looking for the best Shopify marketing experts in India, you've come to the right place. In this section, we'll introduce you to some of the leading Shopify marketing experts in India who can help take your online business to the next level. Leading Shopify Marketing Experts in India SEO Discovery is a trusted global shopify developer and digital marketing service provider. This company provides full-cycle e-commerce software development services. It is possible to segment the IT services Seo Discovery currently delivers based on the skills employed. Over the past decade, they have consistently delivered measurable results. These services can be classified into three categories based on their technical components: business process services, application services, and infrastructure services, and digital marketing services. This is why they are known as the top Shopify Marketing Experts in India. Their team of full-stack developers is proficient on multiple platforms, giving them the capability to code anything from a simple marketing site to a full-fledged web application. SEO Discovery has developed a 1-on-1 consultation service to assist individuals and businesses facing challenges by allowing them to speak with the company's experts and find solutions. 2. DigiVisi DigiVisi is a Shopify marketing agency in India that offers a range of services, including SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and more. They have worked with businesses of all sizes and industries, and they have a track record of delivering results. 3. Mandy Web Design Mandy Web Design is a web design and development agency located in Mohali. Our agency offers a wide range of creative and media solutions for businesses worldwide. We specialize in creating impactful brand specifications, websites, designs, content, and other creative works to help organizations stay ahead of the curve. Our team collaborates with reputable clients to provide exceptional services that elevate brands and businesses to the highest levels. At Mandy Web Design, we have a dedicated team of satisfied creators, designers, web developers, marketers, and project managers who work together seamlessly. 4. SoftProdigy SoftProdigy is a Shopify marketing agency that offers a range of services, including SEO, PPC, social media marketing, and more. They have a team of experienced Shopify marketing experts who can help you grow your online business. 5. BrandLume BrandLume has created an online platform that offers a wide range of digital marketing, branding, and website services for businesses. The platform enables clients to access multiple services at wholesale prices without the need for multiple agencies or long-term contracts. By consolidating services in one place, clients benefit from the convenience of a one-stop shop and reduced costs. 6. Expert Village Media This company is a full-service Ecommerce Web Design and Digital Marketing Company that serves clients from the USA, Australia, and the UK. The company is accredited by leading ecommerce brands such as Shopify and Amazon and is considered one of the top ecommerce agencies in central India. 7. IMG Digital - Digital Marketing Agency IMG provides a diverse range of digital marketing plans and collaborates with clients to determine the ideal fit for their specific requirements and budget. The team possesses considerable expertise in enabling clients to leverage the immense potential of the HubSpot platform. 8. Emizen Tech Emizen Tech Private Limited is a reputable eCommerce development company established in 2013, with a team of 50 specialists in this field, based in Jaipur, India. Their expertise includes serving small to medium-sized businesses in various industries, such as consumer products, services, arts, recreation, and music. They have previously worked with a real estate company, building and customizing a Shopify website. 9. TECHNO WORLDWIDE Techno Worldwide is one of the top Shopify ecommerce development companies based in India. Automattic, the holding company for Shopify ecommerce development, has recognized them for their exceptional partnership arrangement. In anticipation of future changes, Techno Worldwide remains committed to achieving success in their business and preserving creativity. They prioritize adapting to various unknown factors in the industry to ensure their trading goals are met. 10. Aron Web Solutions Aron Web Solutions is a talented team of Shopify experts that is highly rated in India, with over 2500+ live ecommerce stores worldwide. The team comprises passionate and dynamic professionals who possess a strong understanding of the latest Shopify libraries, packages, and components. They strive to align clients' expectations with market standards to provide them with a competitive advantage in the global digital marketplace. Best Shopify Marketing Experts in India 1. Neil Patel Neil Patel is a well-known digital marketing expert who has helped numerous businesses grow their online presence. He is a Shopify marketing expert who can help you develop a custom marketing plan that drives results. His services include SEO, PPC, social media marketing, and more. 2. Brian Dean Brian Dean is a Shopify marketing consultant who specializes in SEO. He is the founder of Backlinko, a popular SEO blog, and he has helped numerous businesses increase their organic traffic. He can help you optimize your Shopify store for better search engine rankings. 3. Rand Fishkin Rand Fishkin is a Shopify marketing consultant who specializes in SEO and content marketing. He is the founder of Moz, a popular SEO tool, and he has helped numerous businesses increase their online visibility. He can help you develop a content marketing strategy that drives traffic and increases sales. Shopify Marketing Expert vs. Shopify Marketing Consultant The terms Shopify marketing expert and Shopify marketing consultant are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two. A Shopify marketing expert is a professional who specializes in Shopify marketing and has experience working with the platform. They can help you develop and implement effective marketing strategies that drive results. On the other hand, a Shopify marketing consultant is a professional who provides advice and guidance on Shopify marketing. They may not have hands-on experience working with the platform, but they have a deep understanding of marketing principles and can provide valuable insights and recommendations. Shopify SEO Consultant vs. Shopify Marketing Agency If you're looking to improve your Shopify store's search engine rankings, you may be wondering whether to hire a Shopify SEO consultant or a Shopify marketing agency. Here's a brief overview of the two options: Shopify SEO Consultant A Shopify SEO consultant is a professional who specializes in search engine optimization (SEO) and has experience working with the Shopify platform. They can help you optimize your store for better search engine rankings, which can drive more traffic and increase sales. They may also provide guidance on other aspects of Shopify marketing, such as PPC, social media, and email marketing. Shopify Marketing Agency A Shopify marketing agency is a full-service agency that offers a range of marketing services, including SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, and more. They have a team of experienced Shopify marketing experts who can help you develop and implement a custom marketing plan that drives results. Benefits of Hiring a Shopify SEO Specialist If you're looking to improve your Shopify store's search engine rankings, hiring a Shopify SEO specialist can provide numerous benefits. Here are a few of them: 1. Increased Organic Traffic A Shopify SEO specialist can help you optimize your store for better search engine rankings, which can drive more organic traffic to your site. This can lead to increased sales and revenue. 2. Better User Experience SEO is not just about optimizing for search engines; it's also about creating a better user experience for your visitors. A Shopify SEO specialist can help you improve your site's navigation, load times, and overall user experience, which can lead to higher engagement and conversions. 3. Long-Term Results SEO is a long-term strategy that can provide lasting results. By hiring a Shopify SEO specialist, you can ensure that your store is optimized for search engines and set up for long-term success. Shopify E-commerce SEO Expert and Shopify Digital Marketing Agency If you're looking for a Shopify marketing agency that specializes in SEO, you may want to consider hiring a Shopify e-commerce SEO expert. Here are a few reasons why: 1. Specialized Knowledge A Shopify e-commerce SEO expert has specialized knowledge of the Shopify platform and its SEO capabilities. They can help you optimize your store for better search engine rankings, which can drive more traffic and sales. 2. Customized Solutions A Shopify e-commerce SEO expert can provide customized solutions that are tailored to your business needs. They can help you identify your target audience, create compelling ad copy, and optimize your campaigns for better ROI. 3. Holistic Approach A Shopify e-commerce SEO expert can take a holistic approach to your Shopify marketing strategy. They can help you optimize your store for search engines, as well as provide guidance on other aspects of Shopify marketing, such as PPC, social media, and email marketing. Conclusion In conclusion, hiring a Shopify marketing expert can provide numerous benefits for your online business. Whether you're looking to improve your search engine rankings, drive more traffic, or increase sales, a Shopify marketing expert can help you achieve your goals. If you're looking for the best Shopify marketing experts in India, be sure to check out the leading agencies and consultants listed in this article. Faqs 1. What is Shopify and how does it work? Shopify is an ecommerce platform that helps small businesses start selling and accepting payments online. It allows businesses to create an online store and market their products through various channels. Shopify also handles product transactions, inventory, payments, and shipping. It is a cloud-based platform that does not require maintenance or software upgrades. It gives you the flexibility to access and manage your business from anywhere with an internet connection. 2. Why do I need Shopify for my business? Shopify is a great platform for small business owners looking to create an easy and fast online store. A well-designed store with a user-friendly interface is important for building customer loyalty and reputation. By using Shopify, you can focus on what you do best while leaving the e-commerce platform to the experts. Additionally, Shopify offers social media integration capabilities, making it easier for merchants to sell their products. 3. What are the benefits of Shopify stores ? E-commerce has changed the way businesses showcase their products online. Shopify offers visually appealing stores, fast loading speed, easy set up and use, security, mobile responsiveness, easy app installation, payment gateway, affordability, SEO and marketing tools, abandoned cart recovery, and 24/7 customer support. 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. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar on Thursday held a series of meetings in the Capital over the Karnataka cabinet expansion, people aware of the matter said, adding that more MLAs were likely to be included in the cabinet as ministers after Friday. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. (File)(HT_PRINT) The senior Karnataka leaders met Congress general secretary in-charge for state Randeep Surjewala and the partys general secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi. They then held meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge separately at his residence, those aware of the matter added. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been actively lobbying for their trusted supporters to be included in the cabinet. Kharge has cancelled his meetings for tomorrow (Friday) to finish the deliberations, a senior Congress leader said, requesting anonymity. Read: All 9 ministers in Karnataka Cabinet crorepatis, have cases: ADR report The Congress had released the initial list of eight ministers for the newly formed government on May 19, including G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, KJ George, MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy, and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan. They were sworn in alongside Siddaramaiah and DKS on May 20 but are yet to receive portfolio assignments. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he will allocate portfolios to the ministers in his cabinet soon, even as ex-CM Bommai questioned the delay over it in the state assembly. Congratulations to the chief minister and all the ministers, but it would have been appropriate if the chief minister had introduced ministers after allocating portfolios to them. Why has it not happened? It should be done at the earliest, in my opinion if it is done at the earliest it will be good, Bommai said as soon as the ministers in Siddaramaiahs cabinet were introduced. The CM assured that the portfolios will be allocated to the ministers soon, saying, We will give them the responsibility at the earliest. How long was BS Yediyurappa alone in the cabinet as the chief minister? Mr former chief minister (Bommai), you need not have any doubts, they (Ministers) will be given responsibility at the earliest. Read: No senior leaders keen for home portfolio in Karnataka Yediyurappa was alone sworn in then, so was alone, but in this case, the ministers have taken the oath. You make them minister and dont give them the responsibility, what will the people think? Bommai shot back, to which, the CM said, No one will think anything. Bommai replied that he was speaking on behalf of the ministers, and Siddaramaiah responded with a Thank you for your suggestion. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid tight security arrangements nearly 4,000 Kashmiri Pandits, the biggest-ever contingent since 1990, left Jammu on Friday morning in a fleet of government arranged buses to pay obeisance at the revered Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district. Divisional commissioner of Jammu region Ramesh Kumar flags off a convoy of 125 buses of Pandit pilgrims for Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela from Nagrota in Jammu on Friday. (HT Photo) During the visit, the devotees will visit other Hindu shrines in Kashmir. Since 1990, it is for the first time that as many as 4,000 Pandits left for Kashmir for Mata Kheer Bhawani mela and other religious places in the valley. Its been 34 years since we fled our home and hearth in Kashmir. Today, is a religious and historic day for us, said Sunil Pandita, one of the pilgrims. We pray to the deity to bring an end to 34 years long exiled to the community and take us back to our roots permanently, he added. Another pilgrim TL Raina said, It is for the first time, since 1990, that I am going back to my roots. The situation, it appears, has improved and it seems that time has probably come for us to return to Kashmir. We urge the Centre to rehabilitate us and take us back to our roots, he added. At least 95 buses left for Tulmulla in Ganderbal, 23 for Tikker in Kupwara, three for Manzgam in Kulgam, two buses for Logripora in Anantnag and two buses for Martand in Anantnag. All the devotees were provided with packed refreshments also. The devotees will visit the prominent temples in Kashmir and on May 28 on the eve of Jesth Ashtami will participate in the annual havan and mela at Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple at Tulmulla. The devotees expressed satisfaction over the arrangements put in place by the government and the coordination and monitoring of the Relief Organisation. Divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar said elaborate arrangements have been put in place for devotees en-route from Jammu to their respective destinations and to Tulmulla (Ganderbal) and back. The devotees were also provided lunch at Ramban Jammu. The administration has made elaborate arrangements for the comfortable and safe stay of the devotees with adequate lodging, boarding, medical and other allied arrangements of sanitation, and hygiene. Amid the ongoing tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP-led central government, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to skip the governing council meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to stay away from the eighth governing council meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday. The AAP and the BJP-led central government have been at loggerheads over several issues with the Centres ordinance on services in Delhi being the latest flashpoint. (HT file photo) The chief minister has decided to stay away from the eighth governing council meeting of NITI Aayog to protest against the Centre for ignoring the interests of Punjab, people familiar with the development said. Also read: Jang-e-Azadi memorial probe: Punjab VB summons Barjinder Singh Hamdard Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the meeting, themed Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role Team India, to be held in Delhi. The meeting will focus on key issues such as health, women empowerment, and infrastructure development. AAPs state chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that the CM has decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting in protest against the discrimination with Punjab. The Centre has withheld Rural Development Fund (RDF), totalling 4,000 crore, reduced RDF, stopped Mandi tax and delayed or shifted some sanctioned projects to other states, he claimed. The AAP and the BJP-led central government have been at loggerheads over several issues with the Centres ordinance on services in Delhi being the latest flashpoint. In August 2022, Mann attended the NITI Aayog meeting and raised issues related to RDF and farmers. Settling the controversy over two namesakes claiming to have cleared the 2022 civil services main examination, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday said Bihar resident Tushar Kumar (Roll Number 1521306) is the genuine candidate, who has been recommended by the UPSC at 44th rank. UPSC considers action against 2 candidates for claiming selection The UPSC said it was contemplating criminal and disciplinary action against two candidates Tushar s/o Brijmohan from Rewari and Aysha Makrani d/o Shri Salimmuddin Makrani of Madhya Pradesh for falsely claiming that they were selected in the prestigious civil services examination-2022, the result of which was declared by the UPSC on May 23. The UPSC has shared the details of four candidates, both fake and genuine. The UPSC said Tushar Kumar s/o Ashwini Kumar Singh of Bihar, bearing roll number 1521306, is a genuine candidate who secured all-India rank (AIR) 44 in the UPSC results and Ayesha Fatima, daughter of Naziruddin, is the one who has secured AIR 184. Her roll number is 7811744. Tushar of Rewari and Aysha Makrani of Madhya Pradesh were falsely claiming that they had cracked the exam. The claims of both the persons are false. They forged the documents in their favour to buttress their claims, the notice read. Rewaris Tushar was allotted 2208860 as his roll number. He had appeared in the preliminary examination and secured minus 22.89 marks in general studies paper and 44.73 marks in the civil services aptitude test (CSAT). One has to score at least 66 marks in the CSAT to qualify the examination. He failed in the preliminary stage and did not qualify for the main examinations. Even Aysha Makrani could not pass the preliminary exam, the notice added. The UPSC further stated that the commission is robust and fool proof and such errors are not possible. Both Aysha Makrani and Tushar have acted in contravention of the provisions of the rules of the civil services examination notified by the Government of India (Department of Personnel and Training). Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the examination rules, the UPSC is contemplating both criminal as well as disciplinary penal action against both the candidates for their fraudulent acts, the notice issued by the UPSC added. However, Bihars Tushar Kumar, who is working as an election commission official in Bihar, expressed happiness after the UPSCs notice. Rewari man goes missing Meanwhile, the Haryana resident is missing since Thursday morning and his family is searching for him. Rewari resident Tushars sister-in-law, Jyoti Saini, said he had left the house on Thursday to visit the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) office in Delhi, but now his mobile phone is switched off and they are searching for him. Our family was very happy after Tushar claimed that he made the cut in the UPSC but now we are saddened after getting the news that a Bihar native was the original candidate. We dont know how this controversy erupted. He was crying when I spoke to him last evening and he told me to take care of everything, she added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sought time from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and ex-MP Rahul Gandhi against the Centre's ordinance over control of administrative services in the national capital. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal interacts with media during a press conference, at Y.B. Chavan Centre in Mumbai(PTI) Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic n unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation, Kejriwal tweeted. Congress leader Alka Lamba responded to Kejriwal's tweet,"AAP should apologise to Congress, ex-Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, late ex-CM Sheila Dixit and Gandhi family. If things go forward, we Congress workers will not have any objections. We hope Congress president will consider the sentiments of party workers which were hurt by the Aam Aadmi Party". This comes day after the Aam Aadmi Party convenor met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar to garner support over the issue. Terming the Centre's ordinance an assault on parliamentary democracy, Pawar expressed support to Kejriwal and said he would reach out to other states to foster consensus among opposition parties. Prior to his meeting with Pawar, Kejriwal had also met Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree in Mumbai. The Delhi chief minister has already got West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on his side in his fight against the ordinance over the curbs on Delhi government's administrative powers. The Trinamool Congress chief assured Kejriwal that her party will oppose the bill when it is introduced in parliament. On May 20, the Centre brought an ordinance to regain control over Delhi government officers, triggering a fresh showdown with the AAP. The ordinance was moved days after the Supreme Court's constitution bench said that officers working in all departments except those related to public order, land and police fell in the the administrative and legislative control of the Delhi government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a batch of nine petitions including three by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and another by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that challenged the orders of the income tax department to transfer their tax assessment from the faceless assessment to the central circle. Former president Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had petitioned the high court against the income tax departments order (HT File Photo) A bench of justices Manmohan and Dinesh Kumar Sharma ruled that there was no fundamental or vested legal right to be assessed under the faceless assessment scheme. The writ petitions along with pending applications are dismissed without no orders as to cost, the court said. The high court was ruling on nine petitions challenging the I-T authorities decision to transfer the tax assessments of the three Congress leaders, AAP and five charitable trusts associated with the Gandhis to the central circle. The five charitable trusts are Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust, Jawahar Bhawan Trust, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Young Indian. The three Congress leaders opposed the transfer of the tax assessment to the central circle in 2021, arguing that only the rarest of cases go out of faceless assessment. During the proceedings, the Gandhis underlined that even cases that are taken out of faceless assessment are marked to the assessment officer concerned and not the central circle, which only happens in cases of search and seizure and is considered a black mark. A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited. The bench, however, underlined that it did not examine the matter on merits but decided various legal issues on the right of the assessee in such transfer cases. The faceless assessment scheme, introduced in 2019, eliminates physical contact between the taxpayer and the taxman. It provides for the random selection of tax cases through artificial intelligence and machine learning, with reduced discretion or no human interface with the tax department. The parties are free to raise their contentions before the appropriate statutory authority, the bench said, holding that the assessment was transferred in accordance with the law and for better coordination. It also underlined that the central circle was not confined only to search cases as was contended by the petitioners. The petitions by the Gandhis opposed the decision of the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax to transfer their tax assessment for the assessment year 2018-19 to the central circle for treating it along with arms dealer Sanjay Bhandaris group. The Gandhis said they have nothing to do with the Sanjay Bhandari groups cases and there has been no instance of search or seizure in their cases. Bhandari, wanted in India for corruption and money laundering charges, has been allegedly linked to Priyanka Gandhis husband, Robert Vadra, over a London-based flat. Mr Vadra has denied any business connections with the accused. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi Public Works Department minister Atishi on Friday instructed all engineers to complete repair work along all subways within a month. She issued the directions after visiting the Punjabi Bagh subway last week and said that she was shocked at its dismal condition. A subway at Lajpat Nagar. PWD minister Atishi on Friday announced measures to revamp subways in Delhi after an inspection. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) The minister instructed all officials to ensure monitoring through CCTV cameras and deployment of guards at all subways, repair of lights, pavements, walls, and other surfaces, and place convex mirrors, for the safety of women and the elderly, officials aware of the matter said. There are 59 pedestrian subways across Delhi managed by PWD, of which over 30 need major repair work including light fittings. During a recent visit to the Punjabi Bagh subway crossing, I was appalled by its deplorable condition. The situation was such that no person, especially a woman, would ever want to use that subway. It lacked proper lighting, CCTV cameras for security, and regular cleaning. Dangling wires overhead posed a safety hazard, and filth and garbage marred the entire space, said Atishi. She added that the engineers have been instructed to take up repair and maintenance of all subways and finish work by the end of June on mission mode, following which the minister will personally visit and inspect all subways from July 1. The minister also asked PWD to deploy a security guard at all subways to ensure that women, children, and the elderly feel safe while using it and can contact the guard in case of an emergency. PWD officials, however, said that it already has a contract with a private security firm that provides guards for most subways in the city. These guards can help ensure that no antisocial elements misbehave with the people using the subways. CCTV cameras also must be installed and connected to a centralised control room for surveillance, said Atishi. She has also instructed convex mirrors to be placed at all blind spots inside the subway, especially at turns, along with regular cleaning and maintenance. The minister has added that starting July 1, citizens can also visit the subways and share photos or videos on social media websites if they have any concerns and that action will be initiated against the executive engineers responsible for the particular area. Read: Delhi Metro launches drive to unclog area around stations PWD officials said that they have already started work on the repair and maintenance of the subways. There is no additional budget allocation for this work, and it will be done under routine maintenance work. We will focus on improving the lighting and maintaining cleanliness that is expected to greatly enhance safety perception, especially for women, said a PWD official, requesting anonymity. Residents from across Delhi have been complaining about the subways and have also taken to social media to highlight the poorly maintained, unhygienic condition of subways. The Bhajanpura subway is used by hundreds of people daily, but it has no lighting, no cleanliness, and needs urgent repair. Residents cannot use them to cross the roads, said Lokendra Singh, a resident of the area. Every subway in the city is poorly maintained and is a hub for antisocial elements. The newly-opened subway near Dilli Haat will also be a playing ground for illegal encroachers and vendors soon, said Kapil Kumar Singh, an advocate in south Delhi. Read: Delhi saw over 40% jump in crimes against women in 2021, most unsafe: NCRB Namita Singh, a Delhi University student, said, Subways are not meant for women at all. Most of us prefer to just cross the road navigating the traffic than feel unsafe in a dimly lit and dirty subway. Officials said that to prevent antisocial elements from camping in subways, many remain shut from 10pm to 6am. However, these are not the official timings and the department will consider not locking them once the revamp is complete. Subways are supposed to remain open 24 hours but after complaints of antisocial elements, PWD started locking them. Experts said that while the subways can be maintained and monitored, it is a concept that most cities across the world are discarding now as pedestrians find it more convenient to cross the roads at grade. Considering a user perspective, subways in our cities are one of the most under-utilised infrastructure facilities. This happens for various reasons such as convenience and comfort of access, poor security, perception of being unsafe, especially at odd hours, visual disconnect from the street, etc. This is even more challenging for people with disabilities or health conditions, the elderly, caregivers with infants, etc. Intuitively, pedestrians seek short and direct crossings that do not force them to change grade (in this case, it is going underground). However, since the infrastructure exists, some improvement measures that can be undertaken to improve user experience and encourage subway usage are adequate lighting of subways, maintaining cleanliness and mitigating flooding during monsoons, police patrolling for enabling safe passage of users, introducing vending/ shopping activities that are women-oriented, introducing child care facilities, and wherever possible, introducing visual connect with streets through appropriate design interventions, said Prerna Mehta, associate programme director, World Resources Institute India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi Universitys Academic Council (AC) on Friday cleared a number of syllabi changes, including the scrapping of poet Mohd Iqbal from the BA political science syllabus, officials aware of the matter said. Delhi Universitys Academic Council (AC) on Friday cleared a number of syllabi changes. (HT ARCHIVE) They added that the council also approved proposals to set up new centres for Partition Studies, Hindu Studies and Tribal Studies. Iqbal who wrote the popular song Sare jahan se acha Hindustan hamara is one of the most prominent Urdu and Persian poets of the Indian subcontinent. He is often referred to by the honorific Allama and was considered the brain behind the idea of Pakistan. He was also the national poet of Pakistan. DU registrar Vikas Gupta said the syllabi, and proposals on setting up various centres were passed in the council meeting on Friday. Proposals on setting up of centres for Partition, Hindu, and Tribal studies have been passed. Mohd Iqbal has been dropped from the syllabus, said Gupta. Iqbal was included in BA political sciences paper, Modern Indian political thought. Read: 'Utho Anarkali': Latest 'Mughal-e-Azam' meme after revised NCERT syllabus The proposals will require a final stamp of approval from the universitys executive council (EC), which is scheduled to meet next on June 9. In a statement, Delhi unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad welcomed the decision to scrap Iqbal from the syllabus. Delhi University academic council decided to scrap fanatic theological scholar Mohd Iqbal from DUs political science syllabus. Mohd Iqbal is called philosophical father of Pakistan. He was the key player in establishing Jinnah as leader in Muslim League. Mohd Iqbal is as responsible for Indias Partition as Mohammad Ali Jinnah is, the student outfit said in the statement. The council also discussed the syllabi for fourth and fifth and sixth semester undergraduate courses and held deliberations on the varsitys adoption of the four-year integrated teacher education programme (ITEP) from the 2023-24 session, the officials said. The AC, which has over 100 members, held day-long deliberations. At least five council members opposed the proposal on Partition Studies and said it was divisive. The proposal for the centre is meant to be divisive. Its objective states that the centre will study past invasions, suffering and slavery over 1300 years. It is offensive, communally divisive and intellectually coherent, said a statement signed by five AC members. A discussion on 1300 years will only provide an opportunity for venomous communal speeches, the statement said. Read: UP schools to adopt revised NCERT books; No lessons on Mughal courts During the zero hour, the meeting saw discussions on the displacement of ad-hoc teachers, pending EWS expansion-related teaching posts, DU notification on the opening of institutes from 8am to 8pm, maternity leave provision for ad-hoc teachers among others. The council also discussed the release of funds and grants to DU colleges. On the issue of displacement of ad-hoc teachers, dissenting teachers said that the varsity was acting as a mute spectator while teachers were being displaced. There are very serious allegations of politically motivated nepotism and unfair interview process that often borders on the farcical. Candidates have been humiliated during the interview process, mocked and have been asked questions which have no relevance to their academic discipline, said a note endorsed by eight council members. They sought an investigation into the concerns raised by them. We raised the issue of lack of weightage being given to teaching experience during recruitment of ad hoc teachers, said Maya John, a council member. John also sought clarity on the expansion of teaching posts. There is a need for an action taken report on what DU authorities are doing with respect to pursuing the pending issue of sanctioning of EWS expansion-related teaching posts, said John. Dissenting members said that the DU notification on the opening of institutes from 8am to 8pm was dictatorial. We strongly protested against the dictatorial DU notification asking institutions to be opened from 8 AM to 8 PM without any discussion in the statutory bodies of AC and EC. There are many problems with the notification ranging from inadequate infrastructure to safety concerns, said Mithuraaj Dhusiya, an AC member, who is associated with the Democratic Teachers Front. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Friday gave ex-Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain - in Tihar Jail since May last year on money laundering charges - interim bail for six weeks on medical grounds. Jain has been given bail till July 11 and has been warned against influencing witnesses, tampering evidence or leaving Delhi within that period. The court will hear this matter next on July 10, when the Aam Aadmi Party leader's latest medical reports will be submitted. Ex-Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain. (File ) Jain, 58, was rushed to Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital Thursday after collapsing in Tihar Jail's washroom. He was put on oxygen support and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Jain had first been taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and then referred to LNJP. Appearing for Jain, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi referred to reports from Delhi's GB Pant Hospital certifying the need for immediate medical attention, and said, "The bail plea is on humanitarian grounds. He (Jain) has lost 33 kg. He is on a surgery list for vertebrae." Read here: Ex-AAP minister Jain in ICU, on oxygen support at Delhi's LNJP hospital Arguing against bail for the ex-minister, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could not trust the medical reports of LNJP Hospital and requested Jain be examined by Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "On medical grounds, let him be examined by AIIMS because records of other hospitals can be fudged. Independent examination is necessary. He was the health minister... medical records of Delhi hospital cannot be correct," he was quoted by legal news website Live Law. "If the report is in his favour, I will concede." When asked why he had no confidence in medical reports of other hospitals, ASG Raju referred to an affidavit that highlighted the investigating agency's concerns that Jain had been Delhi's minister of health and prisons and this 'causes apprehension he may be misusing his position'. The ASG also pointed to an earlier bail plea (again, on medical grounds) Jain withdrew after he was asked to be examined by doctors from AIIMS. On the AAP's claims of 'unimaginable weight loss' - the ex-health minister has reportedly 35 kg since he was put in jail - the Enforcement Directorate suggested Jain's weight loss may have been due to his faith and the fasting it requires. This is also the second time in the past seven days the former Delhi minister has been hospitalised. On Monday he was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital for a spinal injury. After his Thursday visit to the hospital Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal targeted the central government and tweeted: "The person 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'." Read here: 'God is watching': Kejriwal after Jain falls in Tihar Jail, sent to hospital "God is watching all, He will do justice to all," the chief minister declared. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has reiterated his government's stance to take action against those involved in the high-profile paper leak case. He also launched a veiled attack on former deputy CM Sachin Pilot saying his demand for compensation to affected candidates reflects intellectual bankruptcy. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot(ANI) CM Gehlot made the remarks after Pilot demanded compensation for the affected candidates as well as reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC). These demands have also been backed by some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Pilot also carried out a foot march against corruption and paper leak case in a bid to voice his demands. "Such a demand is made that the papers got leaked, so they (candidates) should get compensation. What would you call this? Would this not be called intellectual bankruptcy?" Gehlot asked during his address after inaugurating a state-of-the-art bus terminal at the Jaipur central bus stand, Sindhi camp. The chief minister claimed that the opposition is dragging the paper leak case since it does not have others issues to target the Congress government in the state. "Since the opposition does not have any issue, it has started talking about the paper leak and is saying give compensation to them (the candidates). Give compensation to the 26 lakh people who took the exam? The papers got leaked, so they should get compensation?" he asked. He further claimed that his government has enacted a law and put accused in jail, which no other state has done despite several paper leak incidents there. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kolkata: Several vehicles trailing the convoy of Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee were damaged in stone pelting in the Salboni area of Bengals Jhargram district on Friday evening, district police officials said. A damaged vehicle (L) after Kurmi coomunity members allegedly attacked TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's convoy at Gar Salboni in Jhagram, Friday, The troublemakers not only pelted stones but also attacked TMC workers and policemen. People travelling on two-wheelers were beaten up. Around a dozen policemen suffered injury. The vehicle of minister Birbaha Hansda was damaged and her driver was injured, a district police officer said on condition of anonymity. Banerjee was visiting the area as part of his two-month-long Nabo Jowar (new tide) Yatra aimed at strengthening the TMC before the upcoming panchayat polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Tribal communities, such as Santhals and Lodhas, are in majority in the region. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has performed well in Jhargram and adjoining districts in almost all elections since 2018. Banerjee's convoy was passing through a road where members of the Kurmi community were holding an agitation demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and several agitators were caught on camera pelting stones. The Kurmi leaders leading the agitation cannot deny responsibility. There was an attempt to kill us, minister Hansda, a tribal community member representing the Jhargram constituency, told the media. Abhishek called up chief minister Mamata Banerjee to inform her about the incident and addressed a pre-scheduled TMC meeting around 10 pm. The chief minister is scheduled to join the Nabo Jowar Yatra for the first time on Saturday and address a rally at the same spot. Addressing party workers, Abhishek Banerjee said: I give 48 hours to the Kurmi leaders to declare in public whether their people were involved in the attack or whether the miscreants were BJP workers hiding in the crowd. I spotted some people throwing empty alcohol bottles. All miscreants have been identified. I know how to fix the BJP. If the Kurmi leaders do not make a public declaration in 48 hours, the police will start taking action. You may have demands but this is not the way to stage an agitation. Peace cannot be breached. Common people cannot be made to suffer, he added. Former state BJP president Rahul Sinha said the TMC blames his party for every incident. Whether its a court order going against TMC or an agitation by the Kurmis, the TMC always targets BJP because it has been cornered in state politics, Sinha said. Several Kurmi organisations have been intermittently blocking roads and railway tracks in the western districts of Bengal since last year demanding inclusion of the community in the ST list. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lucknow The Uttar Pradseh (U.P.) police arrested jailed gangster Abu Salems nephew Mohd Arif from Mumbai on Friday in a land-grabbing case lodged against him and two others in Azamgarh district on Thursday. UP special director general (SDG), law and order, Prashant Kumar confirmed his arrest in Mumbai and stated that Arif is being brought to Azamgarh for further proceedings. The police said the accused is the son of Abu Salems elder brother, Abdul Hakim, and allegedly involved in grabbing properties in Azamgarh by threatening people in the name of his uncle. (For Representation) He said the accused is the son of Abu Salems elder brother, Abdul Hakim, and allegedly involved in grabbing properties in Azamgarh by threatening people in the name of his uncle Abu Salem. Another police official of Azamgarh said that the accused tried to grab properties of a local traders family using forged documents in connivance with two members of the traders family. He said one Shabana Parveen, whose husband Adil Ahmad used to operate his business in the name of Eastern Distributors in Chakla Pahadapur locality of Azamgarh, is the complainant in the FIR. He said Parveen mentioned in the FIR that she was taking care of godown and transport business after the death of her husband. As per the complainant, her husbands sister, Heena and her husband, Salman, teamed up with Mohd Arif and prepared power of attorney of his husbands mother after her death with intent to grab properties. The document was later proved forged in the inquiry by sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Martinganj Tehsil of Azamgarh and he issued an order for its cancellation on November 17, 2022, he said. Mohd Arif had been issuing threats to the complainant to sell her properties to him at throwaway prices or be ready to face the consequences, he added. The cop said the police had lodged an FIR against the couple and Mohd Arif under Indian Penal Code sections 419 for cheating by impersonation, 420 for fraud, 467 for forging of documents, 468 for using forged documents for cheating purpose and 386 for extortion by putting any person in fear of death or of grievous hurt at Kotwali police station of Azamgarh. He said further probe in the matter was on. Amid the blowing of conch shells and chants of Har Har Mahadev, newly-elected Varanasi mayor Ashok Tiwari took oath of office and secrecy in Sanskrit in the presence of deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya in a ceremony organised at Rudraksha International Cooperation and Convention Centre here on Friday. New Varanasi mayor Ashok Tiwari taking oath of office on May 26. (HT photo) Varanasi divisional commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma administered the oath to Tiwari. Thereafter, the mayor administered the oath of office and secrecy to all the 100 newly elected corporators. While Tiwari and two newly elected corporators took oath in Sanskrit, four Muslim women took oath in Urdu and the remaining corporators took oath in Hindi. Maurya, who attended the ceremony as the chief guest, congratulated Tiwari and all corporators. In his speech, the deputy CM also thanked the people of Kashi to have ensured grand victory of the BJPs mayoral candidate Ashok Tiwari and full majority in Varanasi Nagar Nigam in local urban bodies election. We (BJP) won 17 Nagar Nigams in the state. But victory in Kashi also known as Varanasi is very special because Varanasi is parliamentary constituency of PM Narendra Modi and also worlds oldest cultural capital, he said. He said the PM ensured all round development of Kashi. Under his leadership, India is developing fast, said Maurya and added, All of you would remember that once the US didnt give visa to our popular leader PM Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister. But today, President of the same US walked to Modi to take his autograph, Maurya added. He said the PM had given the message of cleanliness to the whole country by cleaning Asi Ghat. Maurya made Kashi mayor take a pledge for personally participating in cleanliness drive once every month. Maurya appealed to the mayor and corporators to discharge their duties with honesty and promptness in public interest. Mayor Ashok Tiwari said the citys cleanliness will be improved. Simultaneously, lighting system will be further strengthened and steps will be taken to relieve city from traffic jams, he added. Concluding his speech, Maurya reiterated BJPs resolution to win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 general election. In the civic body polls held earlier this month, BJPs Ashok Tiwari defeated his nearest Samajwadi Party rival Omprakash Singh by a huge margin of 1,33,137 votes. As many as 64 BJP candidates also emerged victorious as corporators from different wards of Varanasi city. Enrolment of students in Class 1 in 191 government primary schools of 19 districts of the state remained very poor in the beginning of the new academic session. Hardly four or even less students took admissions in these schools. (Pic for representation) At a time when the basic education department is focusing on its School Chalo Abhiyan, the student enrolment remained poor in these schools. The issue of poor enrolment came to light recently in the survey conducted by the department under School Readiness drive to ascertain the total number of enrolments done in the schools. The department has sought clarification from the BSAs of these districts to explain why the student enrolment remained so poor. At a time when the state government is providing free textbooks, money for uniforms, shoes, etc through DBT and mid-day meal facilities to the students, there are very few takers for government schools which has left the officials unhappy. District Barabanki has a maximum of 52 schools with least number of enrolments. Meerut has 27, Lalitpur 22, Ghaziabad 12, Santkabirnagar and Jalaun has 10 each; Sultanpur 9, Auraiya and Mahoba have eight each. Baghpat, Hapur six each, Kanpur Dehat 5, Bhadhoi 4, Kushinagar 3, Shravasti 2, Bijnor, Hamirpur and Sitapur has 1 school each with poor enrolment. On being contacted, director general school education, Vijay Kiran Anand said that it is quite possible that school teachers have not taken enough interest to increase enrolment. The teachers should ensure that no children between the age group of 6 to 14 years are left out of admission. Santosh Dev, Basic Shiksha Adhikari of Barabanki, where 52 schools were identified with poor enrolment said, We have done sufficient enrolments. Maybe the teachers have not made their entry in the basic education department portal. Hence it is not reflected there. We will try to fill the data at the earliest. There is a lot of resentment among teachers against this order of basic education department where teachers have been blamed for poor enrolment. Teachers alleged that department has entrusted them with the responsibilities of admissions, engaging them in election process, immunisation and several other government works that has impacted their main task of imparting education to students in the class. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the new mayor of Sangam city took oath and then headed to his office, the day also witnessed old traditions also being kept alive. As a symbol of transfer of power, outgoing mayor Abhilasha Gupta Nandi handed over a 7kg silver mace to new mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani. The chair of Prayagrajs mayor. (HT file photo) The tradition of handing over the mace, was first witnessed in 1938 when the Nagar Palika was formed. Prior to handing the same to the new mayor, the mace is taken out from the almirah, kept at the office of the mayor and taken to a local jeweller located in old city area for cleaning and polishing. Similarly, the historical chair which is placed at the Mini Sadan (House) in the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) building is equally important in the entire process of taking over the new mayoral post in Prayagraj. The chair of the mayor is 108- years-old and was especially designed and brought from Bareilly. The chair in the historical house has remained unchanged and is the same on which former PMs Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri had occupied as chairmen of the then Allahabad Municipal Board. Around two years before the formation of Allahabad Municipality (1914), the British had constructed the Sadan (house). After the formation of the house, a joint chair and table were installed for the members to sit. At the same time, a special wooden chair was brought from Bareilly for the chairman to sit. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru sat on this chair after becoming the chairman of the Allahabad Municipal Board on April 3, 1923. After Pandit Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri also sat on this chair as the chairman, albeit for a brief period in 1925. The Municipal Corporation of Prayagraj was formed in 1959 and there were only 27 wards in the city which gradually rose to 80 and then 100 as on today. Right since direct election of mayor started in Prayagraj (then Allahabad) in 1995, all former mayors namely Rita Bahuguna Joshi, KP Srivastava, Ch Jitendra Nath Singh and Abhilasha Gupta Nandi have graced the old wooden chair. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra addressed the UP Regional Planning Conclave-2023 through video-conferencing on Friday. In his address, the chief secretary said, Without planning, there is a possibility of disturbance rather than improvement in development work. Planned development of cities will lead to economic and organised development of the state. Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra. (Ht file) He said, A GIS-based master plan is being prepared for every city with a population of more than 50,000. After this, a master plan will be prepared for all these districts so that they can be developed. The concept of living a quality life is increasing among the people and due to this the population in cities is also increasing rapidly. Therefore, regional plans will have to be prepared keeping in mind the future needs, only then better services can be provided to the citizens. He said that the Prime Minister has taken a pledge to make the country developed by the year 2047. This plan is being prepared for Amrit Kaal, so that better quality life can be given to the people coming to the city with aspirations and expectations. He said that it is seen many times, facilities are developed in the cities, but there is no coordination. For better development with coordination, we are envisaging the State Capital Region, he said. High powered committee (HPC), chairman, government of India, Keshav Verma, additional chief secretary, housing and urban planning, Nitin Ramesh Gokarn, principal secretary, planning, Alok Kumar, divisional commissioner, Lucknow, divisional commissioner, Ayodhya, and other senior officers were present in the conference. Mumbai: Two friends, travelling on a two-wheeler, died on Thursday after the drunk biker lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a divider on the Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR). HT Image The deceased identified as Ganesh Arade, 40, a resident of Santacruz East and Rupesh Pednekar, 40, a resident of Ambernath were heading towards Chembur from Santacruz to meet another friend. Arade, who used to work as a supervisor in a private firm, stayed with his wife and 13-year-old son, while Pednekar, who was the housekeeping in charge in a society, stayed with his wife and 10-year-old daughter. According to the police, they received a call around 8:30pm and were informed that two persons, who suffered severe injuries on their heads and faces, were lying unconscious on the SCLR. On reaching the spot, the police learnt that locals had rushed the duo to Rajawadi Hospital. Arade and Pednekar died while undergoing treatment, a police officer said, adding that after inspecting the accident spot, it appeared that the biker lost control and crashed into the divider and the duo was dragged along with the vehicle for 20 to 30 metres. We have recorded the statement of Arades wife, who said her husband had consumed alcohol in the evening and said that he was going to meet his friend. They argued as well when Arades wife asked him to not take his two-wheeler because he was drunk. Arade, however, took his activa and left from home, said senior inspector Sunil Kale of the Tilak Nagar Police Station. The police have registered a case against Arade due to rash and negligent driving and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act. The bodies were handed over to their respective family members on Thursday itself, said the police officer. Mumbai: The founder member and director of Gangar Enterprises Private Limited, a sister concern of Gangar Opticians, Jayantilal Bhimshi Gangar, 81, has filed a complaint against the company he founded and his two brothers alleging wrongful transfer of his shares and use of false documents causing him monetary loss. HT Image Jayantilal has filed a complaint with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) at Bhoiwada police station against Gangar Enterprises Private Limited and his brothers Jagdish Gangar and Surendra Gangar alleging wrongful transfer of his 9,280 shares using his digital signature and creating false documents, which caused him a loss to the tune of 16 to 20 crore. Jayantilal, a resident of Parsi Colony in Dadar East, is also the founder member and director of Gangar Opticians. He told the police that along with his brothers Devchand, Kishor, Champaklal Jagdish and Surendra, he had founded the Gangar Enterprises in 2007. The complainant said he is the promoter and director and held 9,280 shares (16.66%) in the company. According to the complaint, in October 2018, Jayantilals entire shareholding in Gangar Enterprises was diluted and wrongfully transferred, without his consent, in favour of Jagdish. Thus, making him the single largest majority shareholder of Gangar Enterprises. He further claimed that the transfer of shares was done without following the due process of law as there was no board meeting convened and no resolution passed to approve the said transfer of shares. Jayantilals digital signature, which was lying in the office was shared with nephew Divyesh Gangar, Jagdishs son. The complainant learnt that Divyesh and Jagdish and the others allegedly connived to misuse his digital signature, said a police officer. The family learnt through their company secretary that the transfer took place in 2017. They also learnt that due process was not followed, and the transfer was illegal. Divyesh had requested the company secretary to facilitate the said transfer. However, after she made the transfer, Divyesh did not send her the requisite documents, according to the complaint. Later, Jayantilal filed a written complaint at the Registrar of Companies (ROC) and also filed a petition before the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench, which has directed that a status quo be maintained. We have registered the case as value of the shares is between 16 to 20 crore and investigations are going on, said an officer of the EOW. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 26-year-old man was beaten to death in Mumbais Borivali East after being mistaken for a robber, police said, and added they arrested five people for the assault on Friday. Lahane fell unconscious at Kasturba Marg Police Station. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) We arrested the five...for death due to rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, assault with a weapon, rioting, etc, said deputy police commissioner (zone 12) Smita Patil. Police said that they were informed about the assault at 4am on Thursday and found Pravin Lahane injured on the ground when a team rushed to the scene. Police said that they learnt a group of men assaulted him after mistaking him for a thief. Lahane later fell unconscious at Kasturba Marg Police Station and was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. Police said Lahane was drunk when he entered a demolished building. CCTV footage from the area shows him jumping across a boundary wall due to which the people there might have mistaken him for a robber and beat him, said an officer, who did not want to be named. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: Two men have been arrested on Thursday for allegedly killing their 21-year-old colleague by stabbing him with a pair of scissors during an altercation over harassment of their female co-worker, according to Waliv police. Two kill colleague for abusing, harassing female co-worker The police officers said that the victim, Ankit Shah, who worked in the office of a building contractor located in Vasai East, had been allegedly harassing a 19-year-old female colleague over the last two months. The female employee spoke about the harassment to two of her other colleagues, who warned Shah. On Thursday, when Shah tried to harass her again, the two accused tried to intervene and it eventaully led to a fight, during which they grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed Shah three times, killing him, said the police. The accused, Immamuddin Mansuri, 34, and Naim Mansuri, 28, were produced before the court on Friday and have been remanded to police custody. The police are now investigating to find out if there was previous enmity between the accused and Shah. The police officers said that despite his female colleagues warnings, Shah, a resident of Vasai, had not stopped harassing her and used to abuse her without any reason. On Monday, the woman expressed her plight to two of her co-workers. Kailash Barwe, senior police inspector of Waliv police station said that the accused, Immamuddin and Naim, who are residents of Nalasopara, had tried to warn Shah and it escalated into a fight between the three. Seeing the three fighting, their employer intervened and asked Shah to leave the office, said Barwe. On Thursday while the woman was leaving the office at 11pm, she saw Shah approaching her. The woman tried to ignore him, but Shah began harassing and abusing her. As the woman started screaming for help, Naim and Imamuddin assaulted Shah. when Shah retaliated, the men picked up a pair of scissors from the office desk and stabbed Shah three times in his chest and stomach, said a police officer from Waliv police station. Shah was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead before admission. We have registered a case of murder and arrested the two men for the offense, said Barwe. The officers said that they are recording the statement of the woman. Mumbai: A 30-year-old woman, who wanted to help an injured bird, became the latest victim of cyber fraud and lost 99,988 after contacting a bird rescue foundation through a toll-free number, which she found on the internet. On May 17, while she was at work, she saw an injured bird and felt pity for it. She then decided to help the bird and as she didnt have any bird rescue foundations number, she searched for it on Google and contacted an NGO through a toll-free number, a police officer from Mumbai Central Government Railway Police (GRP) said. (Image for representation) Lately, several complaints were registered where it was seen that cyber frauds have changed the numbers of liquor shops, restaurants, pharmacies, grocery shops and doctors on their websites to dupe people. The woman identified as Dhwani Mehta, a resident of Malad has been working as a manager with Famous Studios, Mahalaxmi, for the last four years. On May 17, while she was at work, she saw an injured bird and felt pity for it. She then decided to help the bird and as she didnt have any bird rescue foundations number, she searched for it on Google and contacted an NGO through a toll-free number, a police officer from Mumbai Central Government Railway Police (GRP) said. The cyber frauds then sent her a link to a complaint form which she filled up and submitted, the officer said, adding that she even paid 1 for the registration of the complaint. However, no rescue team arrived at her office, added the officer. After four days, while she was on a train travelling from Malad to Churchgate, she got a message that 99,988 had been debited from her bank account. She immediately lodged a Cyber Complaint online as well as visited her bank and gave a written complaint to them as well. Later, Mehta approached the GRP and lodged a complaint of impersonation for cheating, cheating and punishment for forgery of the Indian Penal Code and under the various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000. We have written to the bank to get details about the bank account where money was transferred and even to the cell phone companies, said the officer. A Ho Chi Minh-Bali Vietjet Air flight from Mumbai was rescheduled on Friday hours after the boarding process was completed with passengers alleging that over 300 of them were not offered food or water and air conditioning (AC) also did not work for over an hour before they were deplaned. Deplaned passengers. (ANI) I was travelling with a family of four and another friends family to Bali [Indonesia] via Ho Chi Minh [Vietnam] by Vietjet Air flight [scheduled to depart] at 11.30pm on Thursday. We were boarded and they kept announcing every 30 minutes that the flight has been delayed due to some technical issue and will leave in half an hour, said Pankaj Agrawal, one of the passengers. He added they were kept seated inside the aircraft and the AC was dysfunctional for over an hour. There were senior citizens and small children. There was no food or water offered to passengers. Even passengers who had pre-booked their meals were not served [food], said Agrawal. They told us that at 4.30pm, they will organise a flight to Ho Chi Minh. But there is no clarity on how will my family travel to Bali now. Another passenger said there was no representative from the airline and passenger handling was outsourced to four to five people. News agency Press Trust of India quoted an unnamed passenger saying they were deplaned and brought back to the immigration area around 7am. In a statement, VietJet Air said the flight was rescheduled due to operational reasons. It said the flight to Ho Chi Minh City initially scheduled to depart at 1am on Friday has been rescheduled to 8:30pm on Friday. This rescheduling has impacted some flights. The statement said the passengers on affected flights were being supported. ...hotels, foods, drinks, and other supports [were being provided] subject to individual passenger requests. Although unfortunate, flight time rescheduling due to operational reasons is typical in the aviation industry to ensure safety standards for passengers in line with government standards. The airline sincerely apologizes... SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An 11-year-old boy was killed when a passenger bus, collided with a moving truck on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Greater Noida on Friday, police said. The portion of the bus which was hit by the truck during collision. (HT Photo) A further 27 passengers on the bus were injured in the accident and are currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in the vicinity. According to the police, the accident took place around 2:30 am on Friday. After receiving the information, a team from Kasna police station, accompanied by senior police officials, rushed to the scene. Out of all the passengers on the bus, 28 sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital, where one of them died said Santosh Shukla, the officer in charge of Kasna police station. The bus was carrying a total of 65 passengers, all of whom were daily wage workers from Bihar, Nepal, and West Bengal. They were employed in the fields in Punjab and resided there with their families, Shukla added. The 11-year-old deceased has been identified as Ashish, hailing from Bhojpur in Bihar. During the investigation, it was discovered that the bus, bound for Bihar and started from Khanna in Punjab, met with the accident near Ladpura village, within the jurisdiction of Kasna police station in Greater Noida. Shukla also added that the bus was hit in the middle by the truck and seemingly one of the vehicles suddenly changed the road lane on which they were travelling, resulting in the collision. The deceaseds family has taken the body back home following a post-mortem examination, while almost all the injured passengers have been discharged from the hospital and have returned home. No complaints have been received regarding the matter, said the officer. According to hospital authorities, all the injured individuals are in stable condition and out of danger. Dr. (Brig) RK Gupta, the director of the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida, said that among the 28 injured brought to the hospital, the 11-year-old was in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Ten patients sustained severe injuries, including fractures, blunt trauma, and degloving injuries, while others had minor injuries. All admitted patients are stable. We worked tirelessly as a team and effectively managed the casualties. No patients were referred to another hospital, Gupta said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Gautam Budh Nagar police on Wednesday registered an FIR against four persons and the Shiv Nadar University administration in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old woman student on the varsity campus on May 17. The spot outside the dinning hall where the woman was shot dead. (HT Photo) Those booked include the deceased student who allegedly shot the woman and later himself, the varsity administration, a university staffer, a photographer who used to visit the campus on work, and a Kanpur based man, said police. READ | Greater Noida university student kills classmate on campus, shoots self The varsity staffer, photographer, and Kanpur based man were mentioned in the video sent by the male student right before he killed himself. HT is not revealing the identities of those named in the FIR because some of the circumstances leading to the crime are yet to be ascertained. READ | What happened at Shiv Nadar University? CCTV footage reveals details On the afternoon of May 18, after shooting dead the woman student near the dining hall of the university, her male classmate ran back to the hostel and shot himself dead, police said. Both were students of third year BA Sociology. On Wednesday night, the womans father and paternal uncles reached the Dadri police station and submitted a complaint alleging that the university administration was aware of the conflict between the two students and yet did not take any action or inform the students parents. The father said the video made by the male student, and emailed to student council just before he shot himself dead, is proof that his daughters murder was a planned one. In the video, he mentioned about murdering my daughter. He also mentioned the names of a university staffer, a photographer, and a Kanpur resident. This video was sent to the university student council email ID which shows that my daughters murder was planned. No timely and effective action was taken by the administration, which is a reason for my daughters death, he said in the complaint. READ | Shiv Nadar University student kills classmate 'for refusing gift' On the basis of the complaint, an FIR has been registered against the deceased student, the varsity staffer, photographer, Kanpur based man and the university administration under sections 302 (murder), 354D (stalking) and 120b (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code at the Dadri police station. We have begun investigations after registering an FIR. The suspects will be questioned, said Sarthak Sengar, assistant commissioner of police, Greater Noida. Later, speaking to HT, the father said they got to know about an email sent by his daughter to the university administration on March 14, in which she complained about the male student. Two months ago, my daughter emailed the university alleging that he had tried to strangle her and threatened to kill her. She told them that in a span of two months, he assaulted her multiple times and she suffered several injuries. He also made death threats at her, said the father. He shared the email in which the daughter has said, I really want to get out of this without involving my parents. I hope that you will devise any possible way in which I can feel safe and happy on campus. A spokesperson of the university said after receiving the email on March 14, the varsity placed a restraining order on both students on March 16. In a separate email on March 26, 2023, the woman informed us that the male student had accessed her laptop without her knowledge and had gathered information (as he knew her password) that she did not want anyone to know. Both students had voluntarily and knowingly breached the restraining order, something that the university again confronted the students with and asked them to exercise restraint, said the spokesperson. The womans father said,Had our daughter told us about all this, we would have brought her home and would have never let her stay there, he said. Apart from not taking strict action on my daughters complaints, the universitys negligence in terms of security on also became a reason for her death. The male student managed to sneak a gun on to the campus and shot my daughter in daylight, which points to the universitys negligence, said the father, who is an advocate in Kanpur. He alleged that someone from the university leaked the video made by the male student, which has further tarnished his daughters reputation. The man demeaned my daughter in the 23-minute long video, which was sent only to the university student council. Someone from the university leaked the video on social media which is another negligence on their part, he said. The varsity spokesperson said, The university strongly urged the woman student to place a formal complaint on multiple occasions so that the university could initiate even stricter action. She did not pursue this, as she said that she did not want her family to find out. Meanwhile, the male students father refuted all allegations against his son and said, My son can never hurt anyone. It is being said that he shot himself but who will prove it? He spoke to his mother a day before the incident and told her that the university was sending him to the US and he was preparing documents for the same. He said his son never told him about any relationship. Had the university told us about it, we would have spoken to him and maybe two lives could have been saved, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After mafia Ajeet Shahi surrendered before the court here on May 18, another dreaded mafia of the district Sudheer Singh surrendered before a court in Maharajganj district on Thursday evening. At least 38 cases of loot, extortion and murder are registered against Sudheer Singh in different police stations.(Representational image) Sudheer Singh is wanted in 2003 loot case under Shyamderva police station of the district. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in 2008 in the same case but he remained absconding for the last 15 years. SP Maharajganj Dr Kaustubh confirmed that in a fresh crackdown against criminals, the district police had issued another non-bailable warrant against Sudheer Singh and others. Though police personnel were tracing his location in Nepal, they failed to anticipate the surrender of the hard-core criminal who reached before Chief judicial magistrate Saurabh Srivastavs court with his supporters in three luxury cars and surrendered himself. Mafia-turned-politician Sudheer Singh had contested assembly elections of 2022 on BSP ticket. At least 38 cases of loot, extortion and murder are registered against Sudheer Singh in different police stations. Earlier, the police had seized property worth 10 crore of Singh and also seized his two flats in the city and four luxurious cars . The district police have now tightened their grip over another mafia Vinod Upadhyay and registered a fresh case of demanding extortion from a lawyer against Vinod and his five other accomplices on Thursday. He said police had lodged FIR against Vinod Upadhyay, his brother Sanjay and driver Chotu and two others. Police have also seized the luxury car of Vinod Upadhyay. Kolkata police have served a legal notice to Mumbai-based filmmaker Sanoj Mishra for alleged communal content in the trailer of his upcoming movie The Diary of West Bengal, and has asked him to appear at the citys Amherst Street police station on May 30, officials said. Mumbai-based filmmaker Sanoj Mishra (Twitter/@ANI) Shankha Shubhra Chakrabarty, joint commissioner (crime), Kolkata police, told HT that the case against Mishra, the films writer and director, was registered based on a complaint lodged by a citizen. We will carry out an investigation. The director has been asked to appear on May 30 with all materials related to the content of the trailer, Chakrabarty said. The legal notice to Mishra was routed through Mumbais Oshiwara police station, he said. Also Read: Now a row erupts over The Diary of West Bengal film, BJP claims lived experience of many Kolkata police officials said the case against Mishra has been registered under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (vilification or attack on a religion) 501 (printing or engraving defamatory content), 504 (intentional insult to break public peace) 505 (circulating material to cause communal tension) and 295A (deliberate or malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The development comes weeks after the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) banned the screening of the film The Kerala Story directed by Sudipto Sen, saying its release could trigger communal unrest in some parts of the state. The ban order was set aside by the Supreme Court on May 18. Reviewed by HT, the trailer of the film, uploaded on YouTube a month ago, allegedly portrays West Bengal as a shelter for Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh. Some characters speak of communal riots taking place. An actor, purportedly dressed as chief minister Mamata Banerjee can be heard saying she will not allow the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be implemented in the state. Charges have also been brought under various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Cinematograph Act, 1952. Meanwhile, speaking to the news agency ANI in Mumbai, Mishra said that he worked on the movie for two years and claimed that the film is based on thorough research and evidence. He said: My film is based on research, evidence and real incidents. The social structure of Bengal has changed because of a demographic change. This has happened only because of the politics of appeasement. The IPC sections clamped against me are applicable to criminals which I am not. I have full faith in the legal system but I fear that I will be arrested by the Bengal police and die in their jail. Mishra further appealed to the prime minister and home minister to take stock of this. I appeal to the PM and the Union home minister to look into these attempts of silencing the truth. I abided by all laws while shooting which took place entirely outside Bengal. I used discretion. The charges are baseless. I have no intention of maligning any state. I worked in Bengal in the past, Mishra said. The police notice to Mishra has triggered a political row in the eastern state with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bengal unit criticising the action by Kolkata police. Samik Bhattacharya, Bengal BJP chief spokesperson said: Only the BJP has fought against this illegal infiltration since the 1980s. A silent demographic invasion has led to an increase of around 11% in voters in Bengals border districts. The people of India have the right to know the truth because it is connected to Bengals future. Mamata Banerjees vindictive government cannot honour the expression of truth. Countering BJP, TMC Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen said that a state government has every right to act if it finds communal harmony in danger because of someones actions. A global survey recently showed India holding the 162nd position among 180 countries in terms of peoples right to freedom of expression. The BJP should not speak on this subject because it has set a record in throttling the voice of the Opposition. The state government has every right to act in a situation where communal harmony faces threat, Sen said. The Muzaffarpur police have claimed to have cracked the case of at least three murders and an attempted murder in the town between April 30 to May 8, all involving private security guards as victims, with the arrest of a 32-year-old man who is allegedly a drug addict. According to police, the accused targeted private security guards on night duty to rob them of cash and mobile phones. (Picture for representation) The accused has been identified as Shivchandra Paswan. According to police, Paswan targeted private security guards on night duty to rob them of cash and mobile phones. The breakthrough in the case came after four persons, including a woman, who were involved in sale and purchase of looted mobile phones from victims, were detained. Additional director general (ADG) of police (headquarters) Jitendra Singh Gangwar told reporters on Friday that Muzaffarpur police had lodged four separate FIRs with the Ahiyapur police station against unidentified suspects in connection with murder of three night guards and a grievously injured one. On April 30, a security guard posted on night duty at a dentists farm house situated near Sangam Ghat was killed. The victim was identified as Suresh Paswan (52), a resident of Muzaffarpur. He was found lying in a pool of blood. Someone seemed to have hit his head with a sharp-edged object. Two days later, on May 2, another night guard, identified as Mustafa Ansari, a resident of East Champaran, was killed in a similar manner at Bajrang Vihar Colony while another guard, Mohammad Dulara Khalifa, was found grievously injured in Rajendra Colony, adjacent to Bajran Vihar Colony. Police said Mustafa was on duty in an under-construction house. Dulara is battling for life at the SKMCH. He had suffered brain haemorrhage after the attack. On May 8, Shankar Kumar Rai (32), a guard posted on night duty at a cowshed in Ayachi Phase-2 locality, was found dead there. He had a serious wound on his neck. During investigation, police found that the accused looted cash and mobile phones from the victim after committing the crime. All the phones were found switched off at a particular location (Kolhua-Paigambarpur), the place near the house of the accused. Later, Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rakesh Kumar constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case under the leadership of DSP (Town) Raghav Dayal. The looted mobile phones were kept on surveillance. Four days ago, one of the looted cell phones was found switched on. The SIT found that three different SIM cards were used in the cell phone. They collected details of the SIM owners and one of them was detained for interrogation. During interrogation, he confessed that he purchased the mobile from a woman Khusbu Devi, who runs a tea stall, said the SSP When detained, Khusbu revealed she had bought two cell phones from Shivchandra Paswan. Police raided Paswans house and apprehended him on Thursday. He confessed to the crime and revealed that he committed the murders between 3am and 5am after a recce of the spot in the day time, police said. The SSP told HT that Paswan earlier worked in a furniture shop. Because of his addiction to drugs, the shop owner removed him from duty. Even his wife and mother had left him because of regular assaults, said the SSP. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Design is an essential aspect of any product, be it a candy or a website. It is the design that creates a users first impression and helps establish a connection with the brand. Design for familiarity and not for innovation is the underlying thought behind such design strategies. However, many brands struggle to create products that are visually stunning, user-friendly, and effective. They often lack the expertise and resources to design and develop transformative user experiences that capture the mood of their products and communicate brand values. Jay Mistry (3rd from L) and his team. (HT PHOTO) As a result, they fail to engage their target audience and achieve their desired business outcomes. To bridge this market gap, Zazzy, a Pune-based design startup founded by Jay Mistry in July 2020, is leveraging innovative strategies in branding, UI (user interface), UX (user experience), and marketing to help brands elevate digital experiences and craft human-centered digital products people love; and establish them as forward-thinking brands. Prioritising user experience over flashy design trends, Zazzys approach involves weaving interaction design (IxD), visual design, information architecture elements, and other elements of interface design intricately to capture the mood of products and communicate brand values. Starting point Originally from a middle-class family in Gujarat, Jay studied computer science from Visvesvaraya Technological University at Hospet near Hampi. He began his career as an engineer, but his passion for design eventually led him to transition into that field. Jay has 10+ years of design experience, having previously held leadership positions at Embibe, Reliance Jio, and a Silicon Valley-based health tech startup funded by Khosla Ventures and Y Combinator. Jay said, I started Zazzy with a desire to see an Indian digital startup rise to the top five globally and solve significant problems for global brands that impact billions of people. With this strong motivation, I made the decision to start the brand and pursue the vision. I am proud of my journey and excited for what the future holds. Experimenting We are a bunch of creative weirdos who thrive on turning boring briefs into eye-popping masterpieces. Our team comprises both young and experienced individuals who constantly experiment and innovate. Comprehending user behaviour and psychology is essential in achieving business objectives and we prioritise this approach to tackle pressing business problems effectively and ensure maximum value for our clients, Jay said. We have come a long way since our inception back in August 2020. As a pandemic baby, Zazzy has faced its fair share of challenges, but we are proud to say that we have recently hit a major milestone by completing our 75th project. Our team has grown considerably over the last year and we have recently welcomed our 25th employee, he said. We have been able to optimise our processes internally while keeping our 20-person team in mind. However, we are currently facing a challenge as we expand rapidly across all departments. Currently, we are trying to figure out the right process and mechanism to work across different time zones with team members. Although we have worked across the globe in different time zones with clients, the dynamics change slightly when working with internal teams, Jay said. By the end of this financial year, we are expected to have a 50-person team, and we are optimising our internal processes with this in mind. Additionally, we are going global with offices in the US and Germany, he added. Team building, work culture Being a young startup, our business is culture oriented. It is very important to us that we maintain an open, exciting, and inclusive culture. We welcome suggestions from all members of the team. Our office does not have any cabins, partitions, etc that will create hierarchy. We firmly believe in mixing with the people we work with. We have team lunches and coffee breaks where we talk about our life and things happening outside of work. We as a business are a people-oriented company. We offer perks such as book clubs, skill growth seminars, etc. We also believe in instant recognition, where outstanding work is instantly rewarded. Additionally, our unlimited leave policy does not tie down our team in case of any emergency they have, Jay said. Our team consists of a diverse group of individuals with varying levels of experience. Our department heads bring at least eight years of relevant industry experience to the table, while our UI and UX designers range from 1 to 4 years of experience. We also have a few freshers and interns who are eager to learn and grow with our team. We are always on the lookout for talented individuals to fill in any open positions we might have to offer. Additionally, we are always exploring new opportunities, for which we tend to hire people with specific skills, he said. Zazzys hiring process is compatible with the new-age work culture. Jay said, Our hiring process consists of an alignment round where we check whether the skills match with our level of work, followed by a technical round where a task is assigned to the candidate to assess work and creativity. After cracking the technical round, an interview with the department lead is set up and the final interview and cultural round is conducted. In case of remote working, we also include a compatibility test which includes system compatibility, time compatibility, skill compatibility, and internet compatibility. Business model Zazzys business model primarily revolves around providing design services to clients. Jay said, A large portion (around 85 per cent) of our revenue comes from monthly retainers, where we work closely with clients as an extension of their design team. This enables us to build a long-term relationship with clients and provide ongoing support for their design needs. Additionally, we also take project-based work for clients (15 per cent) who require a more specific design solution. Overall, our goal is to provide high-quality design services to clients while establishing lasting partnerships that benefit both parties. Our team ensures that every brand we work with not only meets but exceeds their goals. We take pride in delivering digital solutions that captivate and engage audiences in unique and exciting ways. We take pride in the fact that, to date, we have provided value to more than 60 companies and assisted them in achieving their commercial objectives through sound design strategies. In a variety of domains, we have worked with brands in Australia, the UAE, Europe, and India. We are helping brands build and scale their products and have helped many companies to positively impact their ROI (return in investment) through strategic UX, he said. Collaboration Zazzy recently collaborated with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar to launch a new website for the agricultural and water technology startups under AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub). Jay said, Zazzys contribution has helped to create an innovative platform for these startups to grow and attract investment. We have also worked with Mapro to develop a creative direction for their many brands and products, including the popular Falero candy. Additionally, Tyke, another startup that Zazzy has worked with, has made it possible for ordinary people to invest in startups with as little as 5,000. We have accomplished all of this without a dedicated sales or marketing team until recently. We have relied mostly on referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations. But now we are expanding our sales and marketing efforts to achieve greater success, he said. Profitability Zazzy has been a profitable company since the first month, said Jay. Zazzy has worked with over 75 brands in just 2.5 years. As we look to scale our business, we are focusing on several growth levers that we believe will drive profitability. One key area of focus is expanding our customer base through targeted marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships. Additionally, we are optimising our unit economics to ensure that we are operating as efficiently as possible. This includes evaluating our pricing strategy, streamlining operations, and implementing cost-saving measures, Jay said. We track customer engagement, website traffic, conversion rates, and revenue growth, and utilise a variety of top-tier tools to track and analyse these metrics, such as Google Analytics, social media analytics, and customer surveys to make informed decisions and adjustments to our strategy to ensure that we consistently meet our goals and provide value to customers, he said. Explaining the importance of providing personalised attention to client, Jay said, We assign a dedicated account manager to work closely with clients on every project. We focus on the needs and preferences of the individual customer and tailor the services to meet the specific needs by using data analytics and customer feedback. This results in higher satisfaction rates and stronger customer loyalty. Various agency listing platforms have rated us above 4.8 stars based on direct and verified reviews. We mostly acquire customers as inbound leads through our website and referrals from past clients. Hence, we do not have a specific customer acquisition cost. Our repeat customer rate currently stands at 42 per cent. It is a testament to the quality of our work and the satisfaction of clients, claims Jay. In the earlier days of Zazzy, the conversion rate was 95 per cent plus due to all inbound and referrals. We recently started outbound by implementing sales division and current conversion rate is around 19 per cent through outbound strategies. Our current burn rate varies between 20 lakh and 24 lakh per month, including direct and indirect expenses. To ensure financial stability, we focus on cost consciousness and rely on creative methods to incur minimal cost, Jay said. Moat Jay said, We are in a market of cut-throat competition and usually try to mitigate them by delivering constant value to clients. Our method of presenting the proposal, combined with our design experience and ideas, is what makes us stand apart from our competitors. The services we offer are always in line with the ongoing trend and the combination of best platforms and software which will provide ease to the client. Commenting on data privacy, Jay said, To ensure data privacy, we have strict non-disclosure agreement (NDAs) and contract agreements for our employees and clients. Plans Sharing his future moves, Jay said, We are a bootstrap, independent agency, and have a healthy runway of next six months. Our plan is to grow Zazzy to such a level that it becomes a standard in the field of design and branding. We have not devised an exit strategy as we do not intend to leave this field. The standard of design we will create for clients will be the way to monetise our brand and company. We are in the process to disburse ESOPs (employee stock ownership plans) to employees which will entitle them to a profit sharing of the organisation. We see ourselves in top Indian agency list in the next five years with a global workforce presence across a globe with 500 people-strong team. We see us in among top global agency list in next 10 years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday urged the youth of the country to follow the Panchapran given by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi as an integral part of their life. On the occasion of this convention, Fadnavis (R) launched the educational activities organised by the G-20 meeting in Pune on Friday evening. (KALPESH NUKTE/ HT PHOTo) It is possible to create a strong nation if the youth of the country unitedly implement the five principles laid down by the honourable Prime Minister, Fadnavis said. He was speaking during a two-day state-level convention in Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) held by the National Service Scheme, Department of Higher and Technical Education and the Government of Maharashtra. The five pillars of the elixir of the era that PM Modi spoke of are a developed India, eradicating all traces of slavery, being proud of our heritage, understanding the power of unity, and the duties of citizens, Fadnavis added. These are the thoughts that will shape the future of the countrys youth. The National Service Scheme instils values in the youth generation. The recently launched Yuva Samvad Sampark Abhiyan Panchapran, as well as the ideals that guide the countrys development, will be important in instilling values among the youth, he stated. On the occasion of this convention, Fadnavis launched the educational activities organised by the G-20 meeting in Pune on Friday evening. An information booklet on G-20 written by Rajesh Pandey, a member of the State Level Advisory Committee of the National Service Scheme, was also released by Fadnavis on this occasion. Sanjay Kumar, secretary of the ministry of school education, Central Government, SPPU Vice-Chancellor Prof Karbhari Kale, principal secretary of state higher and technical education department Vikas Chandra Rastogi, National Service Scheme state liaison officer Rameshwar Kothavle and other dignitaries were present on this occasion. On this occasion, Sanjay Kumar extended his gratitude to the state government for its support of various G-20 summit events, as well as to the university for its support of educational activities in Pune. PUNE: Blood shortage has reached alarming levels at the peak of summer with several blood banks in the city reporting stocks that would last for the next four to 10 days only amid inability on the part of health authorities and voluntary organisations to organise blood donation camps to make up for the deficit. As such, citizens are urged to come forward to donate blood despite the existence of an illogical fear that donating blood during summer causes weakness. Health experts have urged citizens to come forward to donate blood despite the existence of an illogical fear that donating blood during summer causes weakness. (HT PHOTO) There are 373 blood banks registered with the State Blood Transfusion Council, 57 (public and private) out of which are from Pune district. As the blood banks are facing acute blood shortage due to the absence of blood donation camps, arranging for blood has become a challenge for hospital authorities. Some of the blood banks have already exhausted their stock of negative and AB positive blood and the response to arranging blood donation camps is also poor. Dr Nisha Teli, blood transfusion officer at the Aundh District Blood Bank, the main blood bank for all blood banks in the district run by the public health department, said, There is currently a stock of only 38 blood bags which will last for the next four days. This month, there has been a severe shortage of blood and only one blood donation camp was conducted in May. Even during that blood donation camp, only 20 to 25 donors turned up. The blood stock that we have is currently due to the mega blood donation camp conducted in the month of April. Dr Teli said that they have exhausted the stock of negative and AB positive blood. I have been trying hard to convince people and donors to arrange blood donation camps for the entire month but without success. We hope that we will succeed in arranging blood donation camps soon else the situation will be difficult in the coming days, she said. Ram Bangad, founder, NGO Raktache Nate, said, that there will be scarcity of blood in the city till the end of May after which there will be acute blood shortage in June, considering there is not a single blood donation camp scheduled in June. Colleges and educational institutes are closed and youngsters are among the frequent blood donors. With the monsoon beginning in June, vector-borne diseases will surface. After the suspected heatwave-related deaths during an event in Mumbai, conducting blood donation camps between 12 pm and 5 pm is not allowed, Bangad said. To overcome the shortage, religious organisations, social organisations, political parties and youth organisations should come together, Bangad said. According to doctors, the summer months see fewer people donating blood due to the illogical fear that donating in this season leads to weakness. Dr Somnath Khedkar, in-charge of the blood bank at Sassoon General Hospital, said that there is a shortage of blood in the entire city given the lack of blood donation camps in summer. We have a stock of 550 blood bags, thanks to the mega blood donation camp held in the month of April. The stock will last for the next 10 to 12 days and there is need for blood donation camps to be organised. We are getting requests for blood but we cannot give blood to outside patients as it will then be difficult to fulfil the requirement of Sassoon Hospital patients, Dr Khedkar said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 18-year-old student died by suicide by hanging herself in the house in Dapodi on Thursday. According to police, the deceased took the extreme step as she had failed in HSC or Class 12 exam. A case was lodged at Dapodi police chowki on Thursday and the body was sent for autopsy by the police. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The deceased student was a resident of Gulabnagar, Dapodi and was studying at Swami Vivekananda College. On Thursday afternoon, the victim had lunch with her family and left the house for school to get the results. She came back home at around 2 pm and told her father that she had failed. Her father asked her to write the exam again next year. But unable to bear the stress, the victim went to her room on the upper floor of the house and allegedly hung herself from the iron angle of the roof ceiling with a rope. Her mother who went upstairs to her room after fifteen minutes to check on her found her hanging. At the time, her mother raised an alarm after which the family members and neighbours came running to the house. The family took her to the nearest hospital but doctors proclaimed her dead on arrival. A case was lodged at Dapodi police chowki on Thursday and the body was sent for autopsy by the police. Help is a call away Pune-based NGO - Connecting - works towards providing support to those in emotional distress using the philosophy of mindfulness-based active listening, thereby preventing suicide. Helpline numbers: 1800-209-4353 (toll-free) and 9922001122 all days, 12 pm to 8 pm. Walk-in facility: 12 pm to 5 pm, Monday Saturday. Email: connectingngo@gmail.com RANCHI: Faculty members of the nine state universities in Jharkhand are up in arms against the order of the governors secretariat, directing the institutions to follow the uniform leave calendar from June 1, 2023, that curtails the summer vacation by 10 days besides decreasing the number of holidays on other counts. Faculty members of the nine state universities in Jharkhand are up in arms against the order of the governors secretariat. (HT Photo) Till now, the state universities were following the leave calendar issued in January. However, the governors secretariat issued a fresh order on May 16, directing the implementation of the new calendar, according to which summer vacations would begin from June 1, against the original plan of May 21. The decision has not gone down well with the faculty members of colleges and universities, and they have hit the streets seeking a review on it. The new order seems to be arbitrary without consulting the representative of teachers. The order was issued five days before summer vacation was to begin. The decision is said to have been taken to bring uniformity in leaves with the state government employees, which is not right. Vacations of universities and high courts have always been different from the state government. We have petitioned the concerned authorities in Raj Bhawan for an appointment with the governor. We will decide our future course accordingly, said Ashok Nag, faculty member of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (SPMU), Ranchi. The faculty members have argued that there was no need to curtail the vacation as they already have an above-par academic calendar as per the UGC guidelines. The UGC guidelines adopted by the state government mandate an academic calendar of around 18 days. Almost all state universities in the state have an academic calendar of around 220 days. And if the new order wants us to follow the calendar as done for the state government employees, then we are at a disadvantage because we work on Saturdays as well. The state government has 52 leaves because Saturday is off for them. We are also having a much lesser number of earned and casual leaves as compared to the state government. The governor should reconsider the decision, said Professor Jyoti Prakash, Ranchi University. Professor Abhay Singh, general secretary of ABRSM, SPMU, said the summer vacations should not be seen as leave for faculty members and students. It is the time when the faculty members go for some research and attend seminars and conferences. Even students use this time for internships and present reports, especially those enrolled in vocational courses, Singh said. Mukulesh Chandra Narain, OSD (judicial), Governor, who has issued the new order refused to comment on the issue stating he was not authorized to speak to the media. Principal secretary to the governor, Nitin Madan Kulkarni, said he was not aware of any representation given to Raj Bhawan over the issue. It hasnt come to me. We were busy with the Presidents visit. If anyone from the universities needs an appointment, they need to approach the ADC. The governor would take a call depending on the application, he said. Off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Pacific Ocean is a smattering of islands, which form the frontline in the battle to survive in a warming Earth, and the associated vagaries of rapid sea level rise and rash changes in climate phenomenon. Yet, these small islands sandwiched between the United States (US), China and Australia also serve another purpose, and an acutely important geostrategic one at that. This remote corner is being transformed by an evolving game of influence waged by two emerging global power blocs one led by the US and another by China. At stake is control over critical shipping lines and trade routes, establishing a military presence in a sensitive region, and possibly sway over the Indo-Pacific region. And in this game, India may hold the balance. PREMIUM Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 3rd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea (PIB) The US has always maintained a presence in the region but China made the first move last year, ramping up efforts to build closer ties with the islands. A security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands set alarm bells ringing after a leaked draft of the pact showed that Chinese warships would be allowed to dock in the islands, and China could send forces to help in maintaining social order. Despite a push by Beijing, 10 island States refused to sign on a trade and security pact that even envisaged China funding a police training academy and closer cyber-security cooperation. Since then, members of Quad the US, Japan, India and Australia have been keeping a close watch. The grouping identified critical needs a voice in international policymaking, development finance, maritime security and assistance to battle the climate crisis and moved quickly to highlight Chinas predatory lending practices and coercive diplomacy, in a bid to undercut Beijings influence. It is against this backdrop that Indias summit with 14 island States within the framework of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation is a welcome development. During Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modis visit to Papua New Guinea, the first-ever by an Indian premier, New Delhi unveiled a 12-point action plan to bolster cooperation in health, renewable energy and cyber-security. India highlighted the mantra behind its development cooperation aid is structured according to the needs of the countries and emphasised that it will not burden local economies with unnecessary debt, a growing concern after the collapse of Sri Lankas economy (in which China played a hand). The Indian plan is a good start, but only a first step in securing this strategic region from a motivated and well-financed adversary that wants to use these islands as launchpads to control the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi must consider leveraging ties with states such as Fiji that have a natural connect with India because of the presence of a diaspora, and others that have concerns about the growing clout of an assertive China. These can serve as the building blocks for cooperation with the Pacific Island States and for an Indian strategy that is coordinated and aligned with those of the other Quad members. Getting the Pacific Island States on board will help shore up Indias position at global bodies and also protect vital sea lanes. Most of all, it will prevent the Pacific region from turning into another stomping ground for Great Power contestation. West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board released WBJEE 2023 Result on May 26, 2023. Candidates who have appeared for West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination, 2023 (WBJEE 2023) can check the results on the official site of WBJEE at wbjee.nic.in. WBJEE results 2023 live. WBJEE 2023 Result released, heres how to check As per the official notice, rank cards will be available for download from 4 pm onwards. To check the results, candidates can follow the steps given below. WBJEE 2023 Result: How to check Visit the official site of WBJEE at wbjee.nic.in. Click on WBJEE 2023 Result link available on the home page. Enter the login details and click on submit. Download the page and keep a hard copy of the same for further need. WBJEE was conducted on April 30, 2023 for admission into Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Pharmacy Degree Courses in Universities / Colleges in West Bengal. The final answer key was released on May 25, 2023. Candidates who have appeared in both Paper I and Paper II are eligible for both General Merit Rank as well as Pharmacy Merit Rank. Such candidates will be considered for admission in all courses. Aditi Rao Hydari is the best-dressed Indian celeb at the Cannes Film Festival this year, so far, according to Reddit. After wowing in a blue uneven gown, which she wore for photoshoot in the French Riviera, Aditi was looked like sunshine in a pretty yellow gown as she walked the red carpet for the first time at Cannes this year. And those on social media, including Reddit, cannot praise the actor enough for her look. Also read: Aditi Rao Hydari dazzles in blue gown on return to Cannes, says 'Nice to meet you again'. See pics Aditi Rao Hydari stuns in yellow at Cannes Film Festival. (AFP) Aditi wore a strapless Michael Cinco gown for the screening of L'Ete Dernier (Last Summer). She paired the layered gown with matching gold earrings and a ring. The actor kept her makeup simple and had her hair falling on one side. As she shared a few pictures of her look on Instagram and captioned it, In full bloom, actor Nimrat Kaur even asked her in the comments section, Uff (heart emoji) how can you be so beautiful? Actor Sanya Malhotra also had a similar reaction. Reactions on Reddit As pictures of her were shared by a Reddit user on the platform, fans of the actor were convinced that she was the best-dressed among Indian celebs at the event. A Redditor wrote, This is so pretty! She looks like a star and this is what the Cannes red carpet is all about. It reminds me of Deepika Padukone's red carpet looks from around 2016-2019. Another wrote, Oh wow! Thank you for sharing!! This looks so much better than what we saw on the red carpet! One more comment read: "Sick of Cannes looks in general but she looks amazing." She looks so beautiful. I love the dress! This is how a Cannes red carpet outfit should be! read yet another comment. Aditi's Cannes debut in 2022 Aditi walked the red carpet as the brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris. She had made her Cannes debut last year with a stunning appearance in a white saree and another one in a black outfit, both by designer Sabyasachi. Aditi is currently riding high on the success of her web shows, Jubilee and Taj: Divided By Blood. She also has a cameo appearance in the second season of Taj, titled Taj: Reign of Revenge. She will now be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series, Heeramandi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Ashish Vidyarthi issued a clarification on social media regarding his personal life after tying the knot recently. He got married to Rupali Barua in Kolkata on Thursday. He posted a video explaining his divorce from his first wife Piloo Vidyarthi and also talked about meeting Rupali after their divorce. Also read: Ashish Vidyarthi's first wife Piloo breaks silence after his second wedding: He never cheated on me Ashish Vidyarthi filed for divorce from Piloo Vidyarthi last year and tied the knot with Rupali Barua on Thursday. Ashish talks about divorce for first time He said, All of us want to be happy. So, about 22 years back, Piloo and I met and we got married, and it was an amazing one. We had Arth who is now is now 22, and he's working. But, somehow, for the last two years, Piloo and I discovered that after this beautiful inning that we played together, we felt that how we saw the future was slightly different from one another. Yes, we tried our best, if we can sort out the differences, but then we discovered that the differences can be sorted out but it would be in a way that one of us will impose on the other and that would take away the happiness. Happiness is all we want, right? "So, at that point, we both sat down together and said that we will do it amicably. If we can't walk together amicably, let's walk separately but remain amicable. and, that's what we did, with grace and a degree of ease, we parted ways. But, I had a firm belief that I want to get married because I want to travel with somebody. So, I literally got the word out in the universe. Ashish on how he met Rupali I was at that point 55, when I said I want somebody to get married to. And, that's how I met Rupali Barua. We got chatting then we met a year back. We discovered something interesting about one another and we thought that we could be walking together as husband and wife. Therefore Rupali and I got married. She is 50 and I am 57, not 60 but age doesn't matter my friend. Each one of us can be happy. Whatever be our age, right? so, just wanted to let you know, let's keep moving with respect, how people are living their lives, he wrapped up his confession. Meanwhile, pictures of Ashish and Rupali from their intimate wedding have gone viral on social media. Talking about their divorce, actor Piloo Vidyarthi who is Ashish's first wife told Hindustan Times, Yes, we didnt feel the need to tell people about it. We are not into media broadcasting, PR and letting everyone know. We both are good friends and we have maintained it till now. These 22 years were the best part of my life. If you ask him, he will probably say the same thing. 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 Kangana Ranaut has reacted to a Twitter user who called out a girl for wearing short western clothes to the Baijnath Temple in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. She agreed with the tweet and called the girl a clown while slamming her for wearing night dresses like they are casuals. She shared about her own incident of being banned from entering Vatican City in shorts while reacting to a tweet. Also read: Kangana Ranaut shares moments from her Haridwar trip, fans call her beautiful. Watch Kangana Ranaut has slammed a girl for wearing short clothes to temple. Taking to Twitter, a person shared pictures of two girls standing in the premises of Baijnath Temple. A girl is seen in a crop top and shorts while another is seen in denims with a shawl wrapped around her. He wrote along with the pictures in Hindi, This is the scene of Baijnath, the famous Shiva temple of Himachal. They have reached Baijnath Temple as if they have gone to a pub or nightclub. Such people should not be allowed to enter the temple. I strongly oppose it. Seeing all this, if my thinking is called small or bad, then that is also acceptable! Reacting to the post, Kangana wrote, These are western clothes, invented and promoted by white people, I was once at the Vatican wearing shorts and T-shirt, I wasnt even allowed in the premises, I had to go back to my hotel and change. These clowns who wear night dresses like they are casuals are nothing but lazy and lame .. I dont think they are capable of having any other intention but there should be strict rules for such fools . Kangana was on a religious trip recently Kangana hails from Manali, Himachal Pradesh and often talks about her state's culture on Instagram. She recently shared glimpses from her trip to Haridwar and was seen sitting by the banks of river Ganga in a video. Kangana's upcoming films Kangana will next be seen in Emergency, which is also directed by the actor. She plays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film and her first look from the film shows her having a striking resemblance with the late powerful leader. Meanwhile, she is yet to announce the release date of Tejas, in which she plays an Indian Air Force officer. She has also announced Sita: The Incarnation and Didda: The Warrior Queen of Kashmir. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In Mary Nighy's delicately observed feature debut Alice, Darling, Anna Kendrick's titular character pulls strands of her own hair so tightly around her fingers that it breaks into little shreds. She's slowly spiralling. On the outside, it shows like Alice has got it all. A steady career, some friends and a caring boyfriend. Look a little closer and her Alice pulls you in an unshakable rhythm of erosion of her well-being. (Also read: The Little Mermaid review: Disneys most soulless, pointless live-action remake yet) Wunmi Mosaku, Anna Kendrick and Kaniehtiio Horn in Alice, Darling. The experiences of emotional abuse Written by Alanna Francis, Alice, Darling takes time to build its subtext of emotional transparency with which Alice takes on a performative realness. When she goes out for drinks with her friends Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku) and Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn), she keeps fidgeting with her phone to check messages, and later goes in the washroom to click a picture of herself to send to her boyfriend. When a suggestion for a weekend gateway appears before Alice, she lies to get out of the circle. But how long will Alice let herself be followed like a shadow? She is trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship with Simon (Charlie Carrick)- an unhappy artist who is not quite sure of his upcoming gallery show. An early scene establishes the dynamic between the two in subtle brushstrokes- his looming figure creates a tight circle of possessive blind sidedness around Alice. The contempt and tightrope of words with which Simon operates when he is around her is unsettling. Although we get to witness their proximity only in an earlier scene, the breadcrumbs of his evasive torment follows Alice like a shadow even when she's by herself, which is finely glued together by the editing work of Gareth C. Scales. The focus on a subplot Mary Nighy pulls the viewer in through a slow-burn, omnipresent lingering of a thriller. When the setting shifts to the cabin beside the river, there's a subplot of a girl who has recently gone missing. Alice can't help but look closer into this matter even when it doesn't concern her at all. Or maybe it does, as suggested in her desire to disappear from the inexcusable circle of control. Thankfully, Alice, Darling doesn't hammer into this subplot for long, and somehow diffuses the mystery around it to trace it back to our protagonist. The understated focus on the strength of female friendships that allow Alice to take control of her own agency is rightfully earned. Yet, even as the focus remains largely on Alice, the film functions with a disproportionately thin narrative that begins to make the 90 minutes of screen time feel a little stretched. There's not much going on here to keep the tension alive. Alice, Darling could have benefitted so much more if it had the ambition to pull in the characters of Sophie and Tess into the narrative, or dug out ways to channel the setting beside the river. By the time Alice, Darling reaches its well-intentioned denouement, it has become predictable in more ways than one. Anna Kendrick's best performance Yet, you stay with the crawling fear of Alice mainly because of Anna Kendrick. The actor gives a wounded, internal performance that makes Alice's tiniest shred of doubt three-dimensional in its transparency. She single-handedly provides Alice, Darling with a vibrancy and spirit that elevates the fastidious motives of the narrative till the very end. The actor has always had a natural screen presence, and here she's fascinatingly against-type, playing a woman who doesn't want to be shown the symptoms of emotional abuse. This is her best performance to date. Alice, Darling is now streaming on Lionsgate Play. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wes Andersons Asteroid City running for the Palme d'Or at the ongoing 76th Cannes Film Festival is set in the mid-1950s in the middle of American desert. The place is also known as Asteroid City, because thousands of years ago a meteorite landed there. Or so everyone believes. Presently, the city is where a US Government observatory is located. It is also the place where teens assemble to gaze at the sky. Often parents come along with them. (Also read: Cannes 2023: Jude Law wore 'smelly perfume' to play King Henry VIII in Firebrand) Scarlett Johanson in a still from Asteroid City. The plot On one such session, when the children and their parents assemble, mushroom clouds appear on the horizon as if an atomic bomb had gone off. The American President decrees that none should leave the city nor enter it. It is a frightening lockdown in a movie that has an ensemble cast of Tom Hanks, Matt Dillon, Scarlett Johansson and others. At at press conference which followed the screening, the stars turned up in their full strength. Johansson, who plays 1950s movie star Midge Campbell in the film, was full of praise for Anderson's creation. He had a unique way of work, like in a theatre, in a communal way.It is not the familiar process of being on a sound stage and going to your trailer and have all this downtime, which eats up the momentum. It feels very vibrant much like you are working in theatre, she said. Cast praises Anderson Actor Jeffrey Wright praised Andersons incredible efficiency, Every shot in his movies was carefully planned and storyboarded ahead of time, in little cartoons that Anderson produces, where the director voices all the characters himself. Actor Jason Schwartzman, who plays Augie Steinbeck, a recently widowed war photographer, felt Andersons curiosity had been the driving force of his entire career....I was 17 when we met [on 1998s Rushmore] and he was the first person that wasnt in my family that was over the age of 20 that actually asked me a question and cared what I said and was curious about what I was interested in. My feeling is thats why were all here. Because [Wes] wants to know about all of us and hes curious and he always sees things in us we do not see. US film director Wes Anderson (L) looks at US actress Scarlett Johansson speaking during a press conference for the film Asteroid City.(AFP) Bryan Cranston, who essays a Playhouse 90-type television host in a black-and-white device within the movie, explained the complex story-within-a-story-within-a-story plot. Its a movie about a television show doing a story on a theatre. And I think its Wes love letter to performance art. Hes wrapped his arms around the three major mediums we are involved in. We all live in Anderson's world. It feels like he is a conductor of an orchestra. And all of us are players of our particular instrument, said Cranston. We hyper focus on our instrument and just present it without really knowing exactly how its all going to piece together. And he conducts a little less Bryan, a little more Scarlett at this moment, or whatever, making the adjustments as he goes. Theres a part [in Asteroid City] where Augie goes in and talks to the director and says I just dont think I understand the play. And the director says Well, you dont have to, just keep telling the story. And I think that, in a nutshell, is what the film meant to me. We go through life. We dont know exactly whats going to happen, how long our lives will be, who will be in our lives, how itll all play out. We just have to keep telling the story. Just keep moving forward, and and be a storyteller. The Festival ends May 27. Badtameez Dil actor Asmita Sood has found love, we have exclusively learnt. Sood is dating businessman Siddh Mehta, who hails from Gujrat. He lives in Rajkot and keeps visiting Mumbai. He was here for one of his trips to Mumbai when we met, Sood confirms. Asmita Sood with her boyfriend The two have known each other since last July, however, it was only recently that they found solace in each other. We met for work and thats how the whole story started. We got to know each other in the process. Things are going good so far. Its quite nice (to fall in love). Both of us are very happy, its good. We like spending time with each other, the actor shares. Cupid struck the two three months ago and for now the lovebirds are taking it slow and going step by step. Its too soon to think about marriage. You should at least know each other for a bit, then decide. Obviously intent is there, that is why I am in a relationship with somebody. So lets see how things go. Fingers crossed! Im very positive. I hope things go in the right direction for us. I have no plans as of now, she says, adding that she is enjoying every moment of being in love. What made Sood fall in love with Mehta was his groundedness. He is a very grounded person, very honest. Hes also from a small town like me, so we have a similar thought process. Both of us love music. There are a lot of similarities, in the way we think. Even when we are thrown into a situation, we react the same way. There is no struggle with him. I have not found anyone like him, Sood elaborates. Pyaar kiya toh darna kya is what Sood believes. Im not shying away from all of this because celebrities often deny their relationships. But I pretty much like this guy. We are seeing each other and I would like to be quite open about it, she signs off. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The fiance of late actor Vaibhavi Upadhyaya, Jay Gandhi, said on Friday that they were wearing seat belts when the accident occurred. He also stated they were not speeding and the car was standing still. He and Vaibhavi were on holiday in Himachal Pradesh when their car fell down a valley after being hit by a truck. Vaibhavi sustained head injuries after she tried getting out of a car which fell into a gorge, said Police. She died on May 22. (Also read: Vaibhavi Upadhyaya wasn't wearing seat belt, cop reveals during investigation: Sustained a head injury) Vaibhavi Upadhyaya was best known for her role as Jasmine on Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai. Vaibhavi's funeral The late actor was best known as Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai's Jasmine. She played the girlfriend of Rosesh Sarabhai (Rajesh Kumar) on the popular family comedy. The creators and actors from the show had attended Vaibhavi's funeral. The show's producer JD Majethia had mentioned to the paparazzi at the funeral that she was not wearing a seat belt and later, a news report also shared a quote from a police officer stating the same. Fiance Jay finally speaks Vaibhavi and Jay were supposed to get married this December. He told ETimes, "There is a notion that you speed on road trips, but that was not the case. Our car was standing still and waiting for the truck to pass. I am not in a state to talk much, but I wanted to ensure that people dont assume that we were not wearing seat belts or were speeding. Brother Ankit also confirmed Jay's account Her brother Ankit Upadhyaya also backed Jay's statement. He added in the same interview, "She was always cautious and would never sit in a car without a seat belt. So, on a road trip, she would be extra cautious. The doctors also confirmed how there were seat belt marks around her neck. It is sad that we were thinking of planning her marriage, but now she is gone. He also revealed that when the truck hit their car, Vaibhavi was thrown out. Few locals tried to help her but by the time they got to the hospital, it was too late for the actor. Vaibhavi had also appeared in the films CityLights (2014) and Chhapaak (2020) and the series, Please Find Attached, CID and Adaalat. Vaibhavi was last seen in film Timir which starred Nidhi Bisht and Anjum Rajabali as well. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Be it on the professional front or in personal life, trust Kirti Kulhari to always take you by surprise with her unconventional choices. Recently, the actor created a lot of buzz when she debuted in a crew cut. And now, with a video of constructing a new house in the woods, she has left everyone guessing if she is moving away from Mumbai and acting career. (Also Read | Kirti Kulhari leaves fans shocked with brand new hairstyle, shares video of short hair: 'She looks like Ken doll') Acor Kirti Kulhari is building a home away the chaos of Mumbais city life. The actor clears the air and in an exclusive conversation tells us, I dont have to quit one thing to have something else. Im very much going to be acting and producing [films] as well. And Im also going to have a life for myself that I truly wish for. The plan is to move out of Mumbai in the next couple of years. However, the actor will think about the practicality of the situation when the right time comes, as her work will always keep me connected with Mumbai. Prod further on her decision to build a home coexisting with nature and the 37-year-old reveals that the idea sprouted around five years ago while she was on a trip to Goa. I realised I was getting a little tired of city life. Mumbai is beautiful, but this city makes life feel like a struggle. No matter which strata [of the society] you belong to, or how much you earn, the living conditions are not the most exciting and it ends up becoming more of surviving in the city. I just got quite fascinated with the idea of living outside of Mumbai, shares the actor, adding that she was introduced to this beautiful location called Vaara, situated about 100 kilometres on the Western Express Highway going towards Gujarat which she bought for the construction for her new house. No matter which strata [of the society] you belong to, or how much you earn, the living conditions are not the most exciting and it ends up becoming more of surviving in the city In the social media post she shared, the actor also shared that she would name her new abode Kantara, which she has taken from the popular Kannada film of the same name. She reasons, I was quite intrigued by what the name means -- a mystical forest. Thats beautiful. And people in that film live life in a very simple way, which is also my ideology. Ive been working on the design [for the house] for the last one and a half years and finally, Im set for the construction. For those who have been following the actors social media timeline, theyd notice most of her recent posts with the hashtag new beginnings. The Four More Shots Please actor tells us, It just seems to be the theme of my life right now and I love the idea, she quips, adding, Another new beginning was that I just shifted to a new house, a rented house in Mumbai. Do these new beginnings have got anything to do with her separation (that happened in 2021) and moving on in life? Its the new me. I am discovering myself every day. It has got nothing to do with my past, she continues, Being in the marriage was me finding my space. Not being in the marriage was me finding my space. Now finding a home is also me finding my space, so I think were all somewhere figuring it out as we go along. NEW DELHI: Around 270 prominent citizens including retired bureaucrats, ex-military officers and academics on Friday issued an open letter that sharply criticised opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. A view of the newly constructed building of Parliament which is set to get inaugurated on 28 May in New Delhi on Thursday. (HT Photo/Sanjeev Verma) Those that are boycotting the inauguration of the Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just dont get how they are the ones that are sucking the soul of democracy. They are following their own formulaic undemocratic, routine and baseless boycotts, the letter said, adding that the number of non-partisan events that had been boycotted by the opposition parties were mind-boggling. First look at Indian Parliament; Inside and outside view on camera | Watch Among those who signed the statement were former NIA director Yogesh Chander Modi, former DGPs SP Vaid, BL Vohra and Vikram Singh, former ambassadors Bhaswati Mukherjee, Niranjan Desai, Virender Gupta and JS Sapra and retired IAS officers Gopal Krishna, Deepak Singhal and CS Khairwal. It listed four events that were boycotted by the Congress and the opposition in the past and described the inauguration of the new Parliament building a proud moment for the entire country. And, it is a matter of extreme despondency in the context of Indian democracy that the Congress Party, which calls itself the oldest political party, has decided to needlessly cry foul. The nature of the present Congress Party has always been undemocratic and their hubris has always come in the way of the nations progress. But what the Congress party also does not get, along with its allies, is that the Indian people get it. If only the Congress and its allies would ponder deeper, would they get that it is not the soul of democracy that has been lost but that the oppositions popularity which has been lost, the statement said. The opposition doesnt get that resorting to its modus-operandi to hold placards and vociferous sloganeering, disrespecting the most important institutions of the country, and even using household items such as milk packets to show their protest is what is authoritarian, is what constitutes a grave insult...direct assault on our democracy, it added Over 20 political parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and others have distanced themselves from the inauguration of the new building. A statement issued by 19 parties on Wednesday described PM Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament instead of President Droupadi Murmu as an assault on democracy. To be sure, some political parties that are not part of the NDA such as the Biju Janata Dal, YSR Congress Party, and Akali Dal have distanced themselves from the Opposition move. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Thursday said it was wrong to boycott the inauguration and that the government which built the complex had the right to unveil it. The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail until July 11 to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds, turning down the Enforcement Directorates contention that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders health status must be examined first by a panel of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital. Satyendar Jain. (PTI) The reprieve for Jain in a money laundering case came a day after he was put on oxygen support and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Delhis Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH) for treatment after he fell in a bathroom in Tihar jail. Doctors at LNH, a Delhi government facility, said on Thursday that Jain was put on pain medicines for temporary relief and that they were formulating a treatment plan for him. Jain, who helmed several important portfolios as a minister, including health and prison, was arrested by ED last year. This is the first time that Jain will be released in over a year. Granting interim bail to Jain for a little over six weeks, a bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha said that the court was granting him relief only on medical grounds and that it would examine his latest medical reports on July 10 to consider further orders. While ED, through additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, claimed that LNHs medical reports could be fudged since Jain has served as Delhis health minister, the bench retorted: Its (medical reports) not something that has come overnight. It has happened over a period of time. The top court, which will hear the matter next on July 10, restrained Jain from talking to the media while granting him bail. It directed him against influencing witnesses, tampering with evidence, or leaving Delhi. During the proceedings on Friday, ED said that it cannot trust LNHs report, especially in the backdrop of Jains conduct in withdrawing a bail plea in October when the agency pressed that he should be examined by doctors at AIIMS. He was the health minister. He was also the jail minister. So, he knows doctors and officials in jail. All these reports could be fudged and cannot be relied upon. Let him be examined by a panel of doctors from AIIMS or another hospital that is not under the Delhi government, argued Raju. The ASG said that Jain chose to withdraw a similar bail plea on medical grounds last year when the agency insisted that he should be examined by a panel of doctors at AIIMS. His conduct has been such that his statement has to be taken not with a pinch of salt but a huge quantity of salt...we will concede if the report by AIIMS is in favour. But why should he be granted bail if the report is incorrect? If his health is really bad, he should not be afraid of an examination at AIIMS, Raju said. The law officer pointed out that Jain was under EDs custody on May 13 when he appeared fine but from the next day, he claimed to have developed symptoms, giving rise to suspicion regarding the authenticity of the medical reports in question. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Jain, said that his clients medical reports certified he requires immediate medical attention. Lok Nayak is the mandatory referral hospital of Tihar jail. The medical reports do not lie and cannot be refuted. Is this degree of opposition justified on his bail application filed on humanitarian grounds? Citing Jains medical records from Delhis GB Pant Hospital, Singhvi added: The bail plea is on humanitarian grounds. He can go back to jail after receiving medical attention. He is not running away. He has lost 33 kgs. He is on a surgery list for vertebrae. To this, Raju replied that Jain has lost weight since he has not been eating. He is a Jain and Jains are known for fasting. He has been fasting too, said the ASG. The bench, at this point, said that it is considering Jains plea purely on medical grounds as it proceeded to grant him interim bail for six weeks. ASG Raju then requested the bench to order Jains medical examination by a panel of doctors at AIIMS during the period of interim bail. The bench responded: We can consider independent evaluation after going through the reports that he will submit on the next date. Jain approached the top court after a trial court in November and the Delhi high court on April 6 refused to order his release on bail. Both courts emphasised that Jain is an influential person and the evidence on records was such that the grounds for granting bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) - the accused is not guilty and that he is not likely to commit an offence while on bail were not fulfilled in the present case. Jain claimed he is facing extreme health problems as he complained of facing depression, a patch on his lungs after suffering from Covid-19 last year, acute lumbar pain and associated vertigo, degeneration of intervertebral discs, and sleep apnea. Jain has been accused of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. Subsequent to the probe, ED last year attached assets worth 4.81 crore belonging to these companies. The ED probe began pursuant to a 2017 case registered against Jain by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Jain has been on bail in the CBI case. He has denied all charges, and the AAP has claimed the case is a result of political vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) following a blood clot in his brain due to a head injury, reported ANI quoting hospital officials familiar with the matter. Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH) has constituted a medical board of four doctors for his treatment, according to ANI. The report suggests that his medical condition is stable as of now and further treatment is underway. AAP leader Satyendar Jain was admitted to the ICU of LNJP Hospital in New Delhi on Thursday.(sourced) Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain's treatment is underway in ICU after he had a blood clot in his brain due to an injury on his head. His condition is stable as of now; further treatment is underway. The hospital has constituted a medical board of four doctors for his treatment, ANI quoted LNJP Hospital sources as saying. Satyendar Jain was put on oxygen support in the ICU of Lok Nayak Hospital in the national capital on Thursday after Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital referred him there. He was taken to Deen Dayal Hospital when he felt dizzy and fell in the bathroom of Tihar jail, where he was lodged in connection with a money laundering case. The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail until July 11 to Jain on medical grounds, turning down the Enforcement Directorates contention that the AAP leaders health status must be examined first by a panel of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. This is the first time that Jain will be released in over a year. Granting interim bail to Jain for a little over six weeks, a bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha said that the court was granting him relief only on medical grounds and that it would examine his latest medical reports on July 10 to consider further orders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kejriwal seeks time from Kharge & Rahul, Cong leader tells him say sorry first Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (ANI) Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sought time from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and ex-MP Rahul Gandhi against the Centre's ordinance over control of administrative services in the national capital. Read More Here is my pseudo-obligatory gratitude, Twitter's head of engineering resigns a day after DeSantis launch fiasco A day after Twitter's technical glitches marred Ron DeSantis's Presidential bid launch the platform's head of engineering, Foad Dabiri, has stepped down. Read More Alice, Darling review: Anna Kendrick delivers career-best performance as a victim of emotional abuse In Mary Nighy's delicately observed feature debut Alice, Darling, Anna Kendrick's titular character pulls strands of her own hair so tightly around her fingers that it breaks into little shreds. She's slowly spiralling. Read More Surveen Chawla brings desi touch to 2023 Cannes Film Festival in a lehenga, fans are proud of her 'Indian look' Actor Surveen Chawla is among the Indian celebrities returning to the Cannes Film Festival this year. Surveen arrived in the French Riviera town to attend the 76th edition of the prestigious festival and shared her first pictures with fans on social media. Read More Harbhajan fires warning to Rohit and MI about unplayable GT star before IPL 2023 Qualifier 2 Peaking at the right time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians (MI) are two wins away from securing their record-extending sixth crown. Read More SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A mob stormed the residence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday night, officials said today. Houses burnt in Manipur amid clashes.(ANI) According to officials, the incident took place at the residence of the union minister in Kongba under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East district at around 8:30 pm last night. Upon receiving information, the Superintendant of Police Imphal East and Inspector General of Police Themthing Ngasangva Themthing rushed to the site with additional forces to further control the situation. RAP personnel who were on duty at the spot resorted to tear gas shelling, according to sources who added that five blank rounds were fired to disperse the crowd. According to sources, earlier a mob attempted to storm the residence of Manipur Forest Minister Th Bishwajit Singh's residence at Thongju Kitna Panung. Manipur Police intervened and managed to stop the mob, police said. Three incidents of fresh violence had been reported on Wednesday in Kadangband of Imphal West district, officials said. Security was tightened in the area after the violence, the officials added. Meanwhile, curfew relaxed in East and West Manipur from 5 am to 12 noon on May 26, according to a notification of the Manipur Government The notification read that people can move out of their residences subject to the condition that they will not be allowed to gather for any purpose other than to purchase essential items including medicines and food supplies. The area where the relaxation will not be applied includes- Ayangpalli Road from Lamlong Bazar to Yonglan Leirak in the East, Imphal River from Thumbuthong to Lamlong bridge via Minuthong in the West, Lamlong Bazar in the North and Yonglan Leirak to Thumbuthong via Poop Lampak and Thangapat Mapal In the South. Manipur has seen ethnic violence with chief minister N Biren Singh stating earlier this month that around 60 people have lost their lives. Houses have also been burnt during the violence with new incidents also reported from some parts of the State. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday launched the programme to distribute house sites for construction of colonies for economically weaker section in capital Amaravati even as the farmers continued to protest against the state government. A total of 50,793 poor beneficiaries from Guntur and NTR districts will be alloted housing plots in Amaravati. (HT Photo) Earlier, the farmers of Amaravati had given away their lands for the construction of capital city. In all, 50,793 poor beneficiaries from Guntur and NTR districts would be given house site pattas (title deeds) in 25 layouts encompassing more than 1100 acres in the residential zone (R-5) spread over nine villages of Amaravati over the next one week, Reddy said while addressing a public meeting after the event at Venkatapalem village. Reddy also formally launched the programme of handing over to the beneficiaries 5,024 houses built by APTIDCO (Andhra Pradesh Township and Infrastructure Development Corporation) at a cost of 443.71 crore in the state capital during the previous government. The CM said the construction of houses in all 25 layouts will begin on July 8 coinciding with the birth anniversary of his father and former chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. In the next seven days, geo-tagging of all beneficiaries will be completed, he said. He said the government will spend 2,000 crore for the construction of houses and provide infrastructure in 25 layouts benefiting 23,762 poor women from Guntur district and 27,031 women from NTR district, who received the pattas in 14 layouts. These are not just house site pattas, they are social justice instruments too, Jagan said and described the event as historical and unprecedented. From today, Amaravati belongs to everyone, not just the rich. Our government fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court for the poor and won the case. These houses are worth 7-10 lakh and are being registered in the name of my sisters. Social justice has finally been delivered and from now on Amaravati will belong to all, he said. Jagan said the government will give three options to the beneficiaries for the construction of houses. Under the first option, the government will transfer 1.80 lakh directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries who want to construct the dwelling units on their own. Under the second option, the government will transfer the component of labour expenses into the bank accounts of beneficiaries after supplying them cement, steel and door frames. Under the third option, the government will take up the full responsibility for the entire construction. In all the above options, sand will be provided free to the beneficiaries while quality steel, cement and door frames will be supplied at subsidised rates as per the policy adopted in all Jagananna colonies across the state, he said. Jagan also promised that the government will also arrange bank loans up to 35,000 each for all beneficiaries at 25 paise interest for expediting the construction. Meanwhile, farmers of Amaravati staged protests by raising black balloons and black flags at their dharna camps at Velagapudi, Thullur, Krishnayapalem and Mandadam villages. They hoisted black flags on their houses and shops in these villages and raised slogans against the government. The police forces, who were mobilised in large numbers in these villages, prevented them from taking up any demonstrations or rallies till the CM completed his programme. The police also kept leaders of Amaravati Joint Action Committee including A Siva Reddy and P Balakotaiah under house arrest to pre-empt them from leading protest rallies. CM Reddy claimed that the government had given house sites to 30.75 lakh poor women across the state in last four years, out of which 21 lakh women were sanctioned houses, each worth 2.5 lakh. He said the worth of their properties will go up to 5-10 lakh. This amounts to creating propery worth 3 lakh crore on the whole, he said. Guntur district collector M Venugopala Reddy, municipal administration minister A. Suresh, social welfare minister Meruga Nagarjuna, housing minister Jogi Ramesh and YSRCP(Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party) Mangalagiri MLA A Ramakrishna Reddy also addressed the public meeting. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Assam has been arrested on charges of cheating people on the pretext of getting them jobs in various state government departments, police said on Friday. The Assam police said Moon Ingtipi was arrested on charges of cheating people (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Moon Ingtipi was the secretary of the BJPs kisan morcha in Karbi Anglong district. She was sacked following her arrest, party leaders said. We found adequate evidence to arrest her. Our team is investigating the matter further. The arrested person will be produced before the court and we are going to record her statement as well, additional superintendent of police (crime) of Karbi Anglong district Nayan Barman said. To her alleged victims, Moon Ingtipi claimed to be close to a range of ruling BJP leaders, right from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. A bunch of people who filed police complaints against her said that she did not deliver on her promise to get them appointment letters for the jobs that she promised. One estimate by the victims indicated that she may have cheated people of over 9 crore over the past few years. The state BJP has not commented on the charges levelled against Moon Ingtipi. . Hyderabad YSR Congress Party MP YS Avinash Reddys counsel Uma Maheshwar Rao said there was no need for taking the MP into custody as there is no evidence against him in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case. (PTI) While strongly opposing plea of YSR Congress MP from Kadapa Y S Avinash Reddy for anticipatory bail petition, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday appealed to the Telangana high court to give permission to take the MP into custody for interrogation in connection with the murder of his uncle and former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, people familiar with the matter said. The CBI, in its supplementary counter affidavit filed before the high court, said there were several issues which need to be found out by questioning Avinash Reddy. We need to know whether it was the MP who had informed his cousin and present Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy about Vivekananda Reddys murder in the early hours of March 15, 2019, the agency said. Investigation by the CBI had revealed that Jagan had come to know about the death of Vivekananda Reddy much before it was officially declared by the police. We have to question Avinash Reddy to unearth the conspiracy, but he is not cooperating with us. He has been dodging interrogation for the last two weeks on various pretexts, the CBI said. Since the Supreme Court had set a deadline of June 30 to complete the probe into the murder of Vivekananda Reddy, the CBI requested the high courts intervention in directing Avinash Reddy to appear before the agency for interrogation. So, we request the court not to give any bail to the MP so that we can take him into custody for questioning, the agency said in the affidavit. The high court deferred the arguments of the CBI to Saturday, after it heard the petitions of Avinash Reddy and Vivekananda Reddys daughter N Sunitha Reddy. Avinash Reddys counsel Uma Maheshwar Rao said there was no need for taking the MP into custody as there is no evidence against him in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case. The CBI had not mentioned him as an accused in its charge sheet nor had the confession statement of one of the accused Dastagiri had directly mentioned him as the conspirator, he said. Sunitha Reddys counsel L Ravichander said Avinash Reddy had been dodging arrest on one pretext or the other and was intimidating the CBI with the help of his followers, who had camped in Kurnool to prevent his arrest. He is a powerful leader and could influence the witnesses. Hence, he cannot be granted anticipatory bail, he argued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre has asked Bihar and Madhya Pradesh governments to take corrective measures over the low midday meal coverage in the two states last year and submit action taken reports by September, officials familiar with the matter said on Friday. The PAB advised the state to take up special measures to increase the coverage and sought an action taken report by September (Hindustan Times via Getty Images) The issue was flagged during the meetings held between the project approval board (PAB) of the PM Poshan (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, or the midday meal scheme, under the Union ministry of education, and Madhya Pradesh government on May 15 and with Bihar government on May 16, the officials said. According to minutes of the meetings held with both states, seen by HT, while the board said that the mid-day meal coverage data submitted by Madhya Pradesh for 2022-23 looks artificial, it also noted that the coverage in Bihar remained very low for the same period. Read | Chapra: 36 children fall ill after eating mid-day meal In case of Madhya Pradesh, the PAB observed that the state government covered 68.78% of the enrolled students at primary (Classes 1 to 5) and 68.86% at upper primary (Classes 6 to 8) level in 2022-23. It noticed that at least 22 districts at primary level and 21 districts at upper primary level showed the same percentage of coverage i.e 65%, the minutes stated. As per the minutes, secretary department of school education and literacy, Union ministry of education, Sanjay Kumar raised concerns over so many districts reporting the same coverage and said that it looks artificial and improbable. The PAB advised the state to take up special measures to increase the coverage and sought an action taken report by September, the minutes added. HT on Tuesday reported that the PAB termed the mid-day meal coverage figures provided by Kerala education department for 2022-23 as highly improbable and decided to send a joint team to ascertain the authenticity of coverage. In case of Bihar, PAB observed that the coverage of students at primary and upper primary level was very low at 57% and 58%, respectively, against the enrolment in 2022-23. The secretary observed that the coverage of students was less than the state average in at least seven Bihar districts, including Patna (55%), Nalanda (55%), Vaishali (46%), Siwan (49%), Nalanda (43%), Darbhanga (29%), and Kishanganj (25%), the minutes stated. Read: Centre to send team to review mid-day meal scheme implementation in West Bengal The secretary said an action taken report may be submitted by September 2023 and asked the state to put in place some system to cover more number of students against enrolment, according to the minutes. Reacting to the development, a senior officer in the Bihar education department said that the daily attendance in government schools has never been abnormally low. The average attendance in government schools has been traditionally hovering around 55% to 60%. We get allotments as per the average attendance from the Centre, said the officer, requesting anonymity. Dhananjay Pratap Singh, secretary of MP panchayat and rural development department, which deals with distribution of mid-day meals, said, The distribution took place as per the data provided by school education department so there is less chance of any irregularity but we are looking into the matter. (Inputs from Shruti Tomar and Anirban Guha Roy) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Union finance ministry on Thursday announced minting of 75 coin to commemorate the inauguration of new Parliament building. The coin will have the inscription Parliament Complex with the image of the new building. New Parliament building. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to be held on May 28 and as per details, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the new building. Finance ministry notice on 75 coin. How would the new coin look like? As per the notification, the coin will be circular in shape with a 44 millimeters diameter and 200 serrations along the edges. The metallic composition of the coin will have quaternary alloy consisting of 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% nickel and 5% zinc. The Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar along with the inscription Satyamev Jayate will be featured in the center of the coin's obverse side. The left periphery will of the coin will have Bharat inscribed in Devanagari script and India in English. The face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the center, with the legend (Satyameva Jayate) inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word (Bharat) in Devnagri script and on the right periphery the word INDIA in English, the notice said. Similarly, the upper periphery will have Sansad Sankul inscribed in Devanagari script and the lower periphery will have Parliament Complex in English. The design of the coin will be in line with the guidelines specified in the First Schedule of the Constitution. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chennai: Chief minister MK Stalin on Friday urged companies from Japan, which have so far concentrated on the manufacturing sector, to diversify their investment in Tamil Nadu into industrial infrastructure development and research and development (R&D). Chief minister MK Stalin during the signing of an MoU with Daicel Safety Systems in Osaka on Friday. (PTI) Stalin is in Osaka as part of his two-nation tour of Singapore and Japan to attract more investments to Tamil Nadu and invite leaders of firms for a global investors meet in Chennai to be held in January 2024. He arrived in Japan on Thursday night. In Osaka, Stalin signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Daicel Safety Systems for the expansion of Daicels automobile airbag inflator plant in Tamil Nadus Chengalpattu district, said a statement from the state government. On May 24 and 25, he signed six MoUs with Singapore-based companies. In the city of Osaka, Ive highlighted the longstanding ties between Tamil Nadu and Japan and the areas of opportunity to boost them further, Stalin said. Later in the day, speaking at the Investors First Port of Call in Osaka, he recalled his visit to Tokyo in 2008 to seek financial assistance from Japan. Be it Chennai Metro or the Hogenakkal Combined Water Supply Scheme, Japan has always lent support to Tamil Nadu when we needed them, the chief minister said. Economic relations between India and Japan have seen a tremendous swing in recent times. And within India, Tamil Nadu is the leading state for Japanese investments, Stalin said. The event was attended by Nikhilesh Chandra Giri, consul-general of India to Osaka, about 80 Japanese companies and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Officials of the Tamil Nadu industries department and minister TRB Rajaa spoke to Japanese industry leaders about the southern states industrial capabilities, said the statement. Stalin reiterated that his government has set a target of becoming a one-trillion dollar economy by 2030. As part of the efforts, Stalin said, he is touring Singapore and Japan to bring in more investments in the first phase. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi A 5-ft-long scepter or Sengol shot to the centre of a swirling political controversy over the inauguration of the new Parliament on Friday with the Congress questioning the governments assertion that it was used to symbolise the transfer of power at the moment of Indias Independence, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissing the criticism saying the opposition party disliked Indian culture. 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 Photo) The Sengol, the signifier of governance in Tamil kingdoms of yore, was made by Madras (now Chennai) jewellers Vummidi Bangaru Chetty. It was then displayed in the Allahabad Museum. Made of silver and gold, the sceptre was handed over to Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947 as a symbol of transfer of power from Britain to India after a suggestion from Indias last Governor-General C Rajagopalachari, the government had said earlier this week. On Sunday, it will be installed near the Speakers seat in the new Parliament, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read: Very nostalgic: Makers of 'Sengol' on its installation in new Parliament On Friday, the Congress questioned this version of history, saying while the scepter was indeed crafted in Madras and presented to Nehru in 1947, it had no connection to the freedom movement or Indias Independence. There is no documented evidence whatsoever of [Louis] Mountbatten, Rajaji (C Rajagopachari) and Nehru describing this spectre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple bogus, tweeted senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. He also said that none of the scholars who studied Rajagopacharis life and legacy had ever mentioned the sceptre. Hours later, the government hit back. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick, Union home minister Amit Shah said. His reference was to the spectres display in Allahabads Anand Bhavan museum. The opening ceremony is already mired in controversy after 21 opposition parties decided to boycott the event, arguing that President Droupadi Murmu should have presided over the event, not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government and the BJP have urged the opposition parties to rethink their decision and called it an insult to democracy. On Friday, Modi said the new Parliament will make every Indian proud, and shared a video of the complex, asking all citizens to make clips with their own voiceovers. Other than the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, seven other parties are attending the event. BJP chief JP Nadda said most Opposition parties werent practitioners of real democracy. What connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building? The answer is simple they are dynasty-run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution, he tweeted. He said the parties lack any commitment to democracy and that their sole aim was to perpetuate dynasties. These dynastic parties, particularly the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, are unable to digest the simple fact that the people of India have placed their faith in a man hailing from a humble background. Elitist mindsets of dynasts are preventing them from logical thinking, he added. But the Congress rejected this allegation, saying it was abiding by the Constitution. If the principles of the Constitution are not abided by, then we will not be a part of it. Hence, we are boycotting the event, said senior leader Pramod Tiwari. If the constitution is being killed and the dignity of the parliament is questioned, then we (Congress) would neither endorse it nor participate in it, he added. Read: What is Sengol (sceptre) to be installed by PM in new Parliament on May 28 Ramesh alleged that the symbolism around the specter was manufactured. The specter is now being used by the PM and his drumbeaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu, he added. Former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah praised the new building. Setting aside the brouhaha about the inauguration for a moment, this building is a welcome addition. The old Parliament House has served us well but as someone who has worked there for a few years, a lot of us often spoke amongst ourselves about the need for a new and improved Parliament building. Better late than never is all Ill say and this one looks pretty damn impressive, he tweeted. His party was one of the 19 signatories to a joint statement by opposition parties on Wednesday that said Modis decision to lead the opening ceremony was an assault on democracy. The Sengol was introduced by the government earlier this week in a press conference addressed by Shah. Recalling the events of August 14, 1947 , Shah said the process began when Lord Mountbatten posed a query to Nehru about a ceremonial transfer of power, following which the latter consulted C Rajagopalachari or Rajaji. Rajaji identified the Chola dynastys model where the transfer of power from one king to the other was sanctified and blessed by high priests and Sengol was a symbol of handover. Tamil Nadus Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam mutt (in Tanjore), established in 14th century, was approached by Rajaji to make a Sengol. The mutt commissioned the work... which was completed and flown to Delhi. Pandit Nehru accepted it in the presence of Dr Rajendra Prasad (Indias first President) and others, Shah had said. AAP's Satyendar Jain had blood clot in brain; treatment underway: Report Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) following a blood clot in his brain due to a head injury, reported ANI quoting hospital officialsread more. Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was taken to Safdarjung Hospital on Monday. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) Wrestlers' protest: Farmer leader's Dog of BJP remark draws Babita Phogat's ire Grappler-politician Babita Phogat on Friday denounced the participation of farm union leader Gurnam Chaduni in ongoing wrestlers' protest as shameful and unfortunate. She alleged that the agitation has beenread more. Belgian aid worker, Iranian diplomat freed in Oman-mediated prisoner swap A Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran and an Iranian diplomat imprisoned in Belgium were freed on Friday in an exchange mediated by Oman, both sides said. Aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was arrested on aread more. The Flash trailer: Barry meets Supergirl, takes advice from Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton as different Batman. Watch The final trailer for The Flash starring Ezra Miller focuses on how Barry's relentless pursuit to change the past and save his mother causes so many other repercussions for the world. The first is that he meets up withread more. 'Whether he plays next year is irrelevant. Personally, I don't think he will': CSK legend drops MS Dhoni bombshell The Chennai Super Kings entered their 10th Indian Premier League final earlier this week, when they defeated the Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier in Chennai. The CSK four-time champions will be aiming toread more. Stargazing in India: Best time, best locations and tips for first time stargazers Stargazing is a wonderful and awe-inspiring activity that allows you to observe and appreciate the beauty of the night sky but to maximise your stargazing experience, find a location away from city lights and lightread more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he won't be able to attend the Niti Aayog meeting over the Centre's recent ordinance on control of services in Delhi. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (HT Photo) The ordinance brought recently by the BJP-led central government has taken back elected Delhi government's executive control over bureaucracy that was earlier given to it by the Supreme Court through its verdict on May 11. The chief minister of AAP-ruled Punjab, Bhagawant Mann, has also declared to boycott Niti Aayog meeting on Saturday. Special traffic arrangements will be put in place in Delhi in view of the inauguration of the new Parliament building, a high-profile event in which many politicians from across the country are expected to participate. Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory outlining traffic regulations and restrictions for May 28 to ensure smooth traffic flow and enhance security measures in the national capital. Traffic on Delhis Akbar Road. (HT file photo) According to the advisory, the New Delhi district will be treated as a controlled area during the inauguration ceremony. Only specific categories of vehicles will be allowed to enter and move within this designated area. The authorized vehicles include public transport vehicles, civil service aspirants, bonafide residents, labelled vehicles, and emergency vehicles. To facilitate the implementation of the traffic regulations, the advisory provides a detailed description of the area that will be treated as a regulated zone. "The area enclosed by Mother Teresa Ceresent Road, roundabout Talkatora, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, roundabout Gol Dak Khana, Ashok Road, roundabout Patel Chowk, Ashok Road, roundabout Windsor Place, Janpath, roundabout MLNP, Akbar Road, roundabout Gol Methi, Akbar Road, roundabout GKP, Teen Murti Marg, roundabout Teen Murti and Mother Teresa Crescent Road will be treated as regulated area," the advisory said. Noting that many VVIPs and other dignitaries are likely to attend the inauguration ceremony, the Delhi traffic police urged people to plan their journey accordingly and avoid the New Delhi district from 5:30 am to 3 pm. By designating the area as a regulated zone, traffic authorities can better manage the flow of vehicles, prevent congestion, and provide a secure environment for the inauguration event. The Delhi Traffic Police has urged the general public to plan their commutes accordingly and adhere to the specified regulations. Individuals not falling within the categories mentioned in the advisory have been advised to avoid the New Delhi area during the designated time to prevent any inconvenience. Law enforcement personnel will be stationed at key checkpoints and intersections to enforce the traffic regulations. 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 Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar hit out at state rivals Janata Dal (Secular) Friday amid an ongoing row between the opposition and the government over the inauguration of the new Parliament building this weekend. Shivakumar took aim at JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, declaring he ought not to forget that when the presidential election was held last year his party boycotted the voting process. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (File) "The new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President... HD Kumaraswamy should not forget that when there was (a) presidential election, (his) party had boycotted voting for the president of the country," Shivakumar said. The comment came after Kumaraswamy launched a fierce attack on his former allies - the JDS and the Congress teamed up after the 2018 election to form a coalition government - over their criticism of JDS leader HD Deve Gowda's decision to attend the inauguration. "We are not slaves of Congress and will take our own decision. Why do we need to follow Congress?" Kumaraswamy said this morning. On Thursday Deve Gowda, a former prime minister, confirmed the JDS would attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying it had been built with taxpayers' money and not as an 'office' for the BJP. "I want to tell them (opposition parties who will boycott the proceedings) I am committed to the Constitution and will go to the inauguration..." The spat between the Congress and the JDS comes after nearly two dozen opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party that is in power in Delhi, said they would boycott the inauguration. The opposition has argued that president Droupadi Murmu is better suited for the occasion rather than prime minister Narendra Modi. The opposition has declared that having Modi launch the building is an 'insult' to the president's office. Earlier on Friday the Supreme Court junked a petition seeking direction to the centre to invite Mrumu (who has not been invited) to the inauguration of the new Parliament. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A task force overseeing Indias rights under the Indus Waters Treaty on Friday emphasised the need to complete various hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate the better utilisation of the countrys rights to river waters. The meeting took stock of progress on various hydropower projects in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. (HT photo) The second meeting of the inter-ministerial task force, formed in December 2016 to look into all the strategic aspects of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, was chaired in Srinagar by deputy national security adviser Vikram Misri. The meeting took stock of progress on various hydropower projects in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Also Read:Pak responds to Delhi plan to modify Indus Water Treaty. MEA says examining it It was noted that progress had been made on several fronts and emphasis was laid on completing the works on all the Indus Basin projects in a timely manner to enable better utilisation of Indias rights under the Indus Waters Treaty, said an official statement issued after the meeting. The meeting was held against the backdrop of India formally informing Pakistan of its intention to modify the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which sets out a mechanism for management of cross-border rivers, because of Islamabads intransigence in implementing the pact. The meeting was attended by the principal secretary of the power development department of Jammu and Kashmir and officials of agencies executing the hydropower projects. Officials from relevant union ministries and agencies, including the external affairs ministry and Indus waters commissioner from the ministry of Jal Shakti, attended the meeting. During a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Misri called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and informed him of efforts to monitor the implementation of hydropower projects in the Indus Basin under the directions of the Prime Ministers Office, the statement said. Sinha assured Misri of the full cooperation of the union territory administration for the national endeavour. The Indian side sent a notice for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty to Pakistan through the Commissioners for Indus Waters of the two sides on January 25 this year. India was forced to issue the notice as Pakistans actions had adversely impinged on provisions of the treaty and their implementation, officials had said at the said. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in September 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan and was brokered by the World Bank. It has been the most durable treaty between the two countries but has come under considerable pressure in recent years as bilateral ties plunged to an all-time low due to tensions related to terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir. Misri also met top military and security officials and was briefed on the situation in the Kashmir Valley. Misri appreciated the role of various stakeholders in the successful holding of the G20 working group meeting on tourism in Srinagar during May 22-24. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: India will roll out the red carpet for Cambodias King Norodom Sihamoni, who will be making his maiden state visit to the country next week to mark the culmination of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 30 (AP File Photo) A day after his arrival in New Delhi, the King will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 30 and President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet in his honour the same evening. The king will also have bilateral meetings with the president, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar and external affairs minister S Jaishankar. The state visit marks the culmination of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties established between India and Cambodia in 1952. The visit also comes almost six decades after a visit by the current kings father in 1963. India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties, the external affairs ministry said. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence and security and convergence on regional and global issues, it said. India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development through training slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and scholarships under Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). India has also extended grants and concessional loans to Cambodia for developmental projects. Conservation and restoration of the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Preah Vihar are being carried out under funding from the Indian government. India has extended to Cambodia a grant of $1.5 million for purchasing demining equipment and a line of credit worth $50 million for procuring defence equipment . Customised training courses are conducted for Cambodian Army personnel in India and mobile training teams of the Indian Army have been deployed to Cambodia for training Cambodian army personnel. Trade between the two countries during fiscal 2023-23 was worth $366 million and is growing. Indian investments in Cambodia are estimated at about $115 million, with the major sectors being pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mining. The forthcoming visit of King Norodom Sihamoni will further strengthen and deepen the civilisational relations between India and Cambodia, the external affairs ministry said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a democracy, the people are sovereign. But this abstract notion of popular sovereignty has a concrete manifestation. That is the Parliament of India, for it is here that, through their representatives, the citizens of India exercise their sovereignty. And with a new Parliament building on the cusp of being inaugurated, Indian citizens are about to move to a new home. The old Parliament building, a magnificent structure, has been the site where Indias politics has evolved throughout the post-Independence era (Illustration: Mohit Suneja) Indeed, it is in Parliament, over the last seven decades, that Indias citizens have expressed their political preferences. They have kept the executive in check and made it accountable through relentless questions and votes. They have framed laws. They have debated fiercely. It is in Parliament that Indias social, regional, linguistic, religious, and ethnic diversity has come alive. And it is here that the idea of the political equality of all citizens, through that extraordinarily powerful idea of universal adult franchise and one-person one-vote, has permeated through the Indian political consciousness. The scale of this achievement is stunning, because it stands so sharply in contrast with the inequalities and hierarchies that continue to be embedded in Indian society and social relations. The old Parliament building, a magnificent structure, has been the site where Indias politics has evolved in the post-Independence era. The test of the new Parliament building, beyond its aesthetics, is whether it can be as hospitable a home to the same democratic tradition and improve it further. The initial era For the first 15 years, from 1952 to 1967, Parliament reflected the legacy of the freedom struggle. The Congress, as the party that won India freedom, exercised political dominance and Jawaharlal Nehru, with his stature, oratory and command over the party, towered above all else. But Nehru also took the legislative branch seriously and recognised that the reputation and quality of Indian democracy would be made and unmade by the functioning of Parliament. It helped that while the Opposition was numerically weak, it had leaders who did not hesitate to challenge the Congress. From the communists to the socialists, from the culturally conservative Jan Sangh to the economically liberal Swatantra Party, Indias various political formations ensured that Parliament reflected the various ideological currents within Indian polity. If there was one clear weakness in this phase, it was that Indias social diversity wasnt reflected adequately and dominant social groups continued to speak disproportionately for all citizens. The next phase, from 1967 to 1980, saw both an expansion and contraction of Indian democracy and Parliament was home to both trends. The reduced Congress majority in the Lok Sabha and the changed composition of the Rajya Sabha due to election of non-Congress governments in a range of states in 1967 meant other parties and leaders, and as a corollary, newer social groups that they represented began to find a greater voice in the functioning of Parliament. The rise of the Janata Party in 1977 then led to formations which had primarily been in opposition finally getting a chance to move to the treasury benches. Democracy became messier, but it also became somewhat more representative. Read: New Parliament to feature artworks offering glimpses of Indias past, diversity But in the interregnum, Indian democracy also faced its toughest test. Elected by an overwhelming majority in 1971, within four years, Indira Gandhi assaulted the idea of parliamentary democracy in India like no one before her did, and no one since has done, by imposing an internal emergency. The Opposition was jailed. Parliament became a rubber stamp to legitimise arbitrary executive decisions, including major constitutional amendments. The press was censored. And fundamental rights lay suspended. But the Emergency lasted only two years, and citizens ensured that no one leader or party could take over what was their sacred home, Parliament, abuse it, and get away with it. It is a lesson that popular representatives ought to always remember. The tumultuous years In the third phase, between 1980 and 1989, Parliament saw the return of Congress dominance. But despite Indira Gandhis return to power, and Rajiv Gandhis overwhelming victory in 1984, the biggest victory for any party to date in the Lok Sabha elections, it was clear that Indian citizens had become more vigilant. The Opposition was weak but forceful. Regional voices began to find space. Parliamentary democracy however faced another challenge when segments of citizens decided that it was not through the democratic route, but non-democratic and violent pathways, that they would transform Indias political order. From Punjab to Assam to Kashmir, domestic insurgents, often encouraged by external powers, began challenging parliamentary supremacy. It was to the credit of Indian democracy that eventually, all these extra-constitutional methods failed. Instead, Parliament showed that it had the ability to accommodate divergent aspirations if they opted for the electoral route. From 1989 to 2014, Indias Parliament became messier but also more diverse. Regional parties, for whom power in Delhi had been a distant dream, suddenly exercised influence in shaping the composition and nature of the executive branch and the legislative agenda. Indias subaltern communities saw a rise in representation. There was a collision of ideologies as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) grew in strength. Prime Ministers understood that being the head of the executive no longer meant that the legislature could be taken for granted. If the 1990s saw a change in Indias economic direction, the first decade of the 2000s saw Parliament enact welfare legislations to ensure that economic reforms had a human face. Indian democracy matured, Parliament became more diverse, and governance had to become more accommodative and flexible of the demands expressed in both the chambers. The final phase And in the final phase, from 2014 to the present, the old Parliament building witnessed the return of one-party dominance to the extent that the biggest non-BJP party (Congress) did not have enough numerical strength to even claim the official spot of leader of opposition. Executive dominance over the legislature returned. Laws began to bear a stronger ideological imprint of the party in power. Yet, it was only in Parliament that even a strong executive had to face its toughest questions from a weaker and more diverse, but still rather assertive, Opposition over its policies and actions. It was here that the most powerful government since the early 1970s had to bow to public opinion and withdraw legislations at key moments (think of the amendment to the land acquisition act and farm laws). Read: New Parliament to house sceptre symbolising 1947 power transfer A Parliament is way more than the structure that houses it. And despite its remarkable strengths, Indias parliament suffers from significant weaknesses. Disruptions by the Opposition distract from the core task of deliberations. Bills pushed through by the government in a hurry, often without proper legislative debate and committee scrutiny, represent a betrayal of the mandate that citizens have given their representatives. Partisan speakers or chairs of the chambers erode the legitimacy of the institution. The control of party bosses over party finances and ticket distribution, the sanctity of the whip, and the use of an anti-defection law beyond its original intent has meant that individual parliamentarians have little agency and end up toeing the party line on all occasions. Key national issues are often not debated. The executive seeks to avoid giving clear and definitive responses to parliamentary questions. The number of women parliamentarians remains abysmally poor when compared to their population. The presence of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, has shrunk in the past decade. The Rajya Sabha often fails in functioning as the House of the Elders and a chamber of states, its original mandate, and ends up echoing the polarised political mood of the Lok Sabha. But despite these weaknesses, there is little doubt that the Parliament of India is Indias pride. As citizens find a new home, recognise the democratic legacy of the old home, address the infirmities that have crept up, and ensure that the new Parliament building is truly representative of all of India, in terms of its political and social diversity, and gives a voice to all, as inconvenient and uncomfortable as those voices may be for the powerful. It is only then that the new will be a worthy successor to the old. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prashant Jha Prashant Jha is the Washington DC-based US correspondent of Hindustan Times. He is also the editor of HT Premium. Jha has earlier served as editor-views and national political editor/bureau chief of the paper. He is the author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine and Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. ...view detail For most of Gulab Ranis 76 years, life has revolved around one primal, basic hunt the search for potable water. From the village of Jakhaura in Banda district, Ranis story is not uncommon to the women of Bundelkhand, a cluster of seven districts in southern Uttar Pradesh, long plagued by poverty, marginalisation, and the scarcity of water. PREMIUM Parameswaran Iyer, executive director-designate, World Bank, drinking water from a tap in a Bundelkhand village on Feb 27. (Sourced)(HT_PRINT) Every day, she would push past the pain in her arthritic knees, ignore her failing health, navigate past onrushing trains, and walk 2km one way to a decrepit well near the Mataundh railway station. Until March 2023, when under the central governments Jal Jeevan Mission, a drinking water tap was installed in her home. Outside her three-room house made of thatch that she shares with eight family members, Rani sits under the harsh sun in the scorching heat. And yet, this year, she sits with a sense of comfort. For in front of her are buckets of water, collected with little strain. Every year the situation would worsen in the summer. There were times when we had to make several trips a day to the well just to fetch water for our domestic use. This time though, we are at ease even if the temperature is high. The regular water supply has put an end to my drudgery, Rani said. Read: Jal Jeevan Mission achieves 60% of its target, says govt From the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day in 2019, four months after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed to power with a full majority for a second consecutive time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission that set the ambitious target of bringing drinking water to all households in rural India in five years. The website of the department of drinking water and sanitation under the Jal Shakti ministry says that the mission envisages safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India. The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyones priority, the official website says. There is perhaps no region in India than the 13 districts of Bundelkhand seven in Uttar Pradesh and six in Madhya Pradesh that have required such intervention more. A 2014 report of the National Institute of Disaster Management records that the Indian Famine that swept through the country in 1896 and 1897 started in Bundelkhand in early 1895, spreading to the United and Central Provinces, Bihar, Hissar, and parts of the Bombay and Madras Presidencies. More recently, Bundelkhand went through seven consecutive years of drought between 2003 and 2010, with a rainfall deficit of as high as 56% in 2007-08. The NIDM report says that deficit rainfall apart, the situation in Bundelkhand is exacerbated by water sources being varied and often seasonal, ranging from ponds, tanks, lakes and streams to open wells, bore wells and irrigation canals radiating out from large-scale dams. Read: Drive to provide clean tap water to Uttar Pradeshs rural areas expedited It is no surprise then that Bundelkhand was one of the focus areas of the Jal Jeevan Mission. As HT reported in 2021, the Bundelkhand leg of the programme comprises 467 piped drinking water schemes under 32 projects. Of these, 43 are surface water-based schemes and 424 are ground water based. Rakesh Kumar, chief engineer of the Jal Jeevan Mission for the region said, The districts of Bundelkhand, known for water scarcity, have been the top priority of both the central and state governments, and both have worked together on this mission. The central government has been monitoring the progress on a weekly basis. To facilitate water supply, an agreement has been agreed with the state government for regular supply of waters from various reservoirs whereas the state revenue department has been focusing on the removal of encroachments on government land that delay the process. The terrain is tough and there are challenges, but Bundelkhand now leads in providing tap water across Uttar Pradesh, Kumar said. Government data on the publicly available real-time dashboard for the Jal Jeevan Mission shows that while the state average for Uttar Pradesh for households with tap water connections still languishes at 43.99%, the seven districts of Bundelkhand are all significantly higher than this average, ranging from coverage of 65.08% (Hamirpur) to 87.87% (Mahoba). In fact, of the top 10 districts in the state, five of the seven districts in the Bundelkhand figure; Mahoba being ranked number one. The data also shows that these are not due to the historical prevalence of tap water connections either, but have been installed in a four-year period. The dashboard shows that in Chitrakoot, 163,169 households without water were identified in August 2019, of which 127,657 have since had tap water connections installed. As of May 24, the numbers for the other districts are 214,228 connections installed of 266,558 identified households in Banda, 205,738 of 249,782 in Jhansi, 145,563 of 211,577 in Jalaun, 111,980 of 178,367 in Hamirpur, 115,714 of 131,917 in Mahoba, and 144,077 of 179,726 in Lalitpur. In Jhansis Dhawani village, 35-year-old Sushila Devi says that the easy access to tap water in her home is freedom from bondage; from a day that revolved only around the quest for water. From the crack of dawn to the setting sun, all women did was to queue up near wells, water tanks, hand pumps and rivers nearby to collect water. Whatever time was remaining was spent in domestic chores. We simply had no time to contribute to anything else, or even to socialize, Devi said. Abhay Verma, professor of civil engineering at the Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jhansi, said that the first beneficiaries of regular water supply to households in the region have been women. They have been carrying the burden of water management in rural households for decades. This now diversifies their responsibilities in the home. This will also help narrow social divisions. Before this, the affluent that had access to handpumps, or submersible or boring pumps were not in favour of the scheme. On the other hand, it has seen great support from landless villagers, labourers and those that live below the poverty line. But now, there has been a transformation even among the rich because the quality of tap water is superior to that of pumped from deep boring wells, Verma said. Read: Jal Jeevan Mission: 52% rural households covered, tap water mission in key phase Verma, however, said that there was still work for the government to do in the efficient use of water that is a scarce commodity. Several farmers still insist on growing water-intensive crops such as rice and wheat, despite low groundwater. Often, tube wells are left open after the field is irrigated. Industries and hotels must also be included in water conservation programmes, and there is a need to identify and revive water bodies. An awareness programme needs to be run in the region on a large scale to make people water-conscious, Verma said. For now though, on a hot summer day, Sushila Devi sits in the earthen courtyard of her home, talking airily to her three children, revelling in the water that gushes from the tap in front of her. She now has time to spend with them; has time to attend to their education and their health; even time to augment her familys income. I now spend my day rearing the cattle or assisting in our dairy business. I have even involved myself in growing vegetables on our farmland to help increase our family income. I finally have time, Devi said. JODHPUR: Special judge Sunil Kumar, who sentenced four men to seven years imprisonment for killing Rakbar Khan on the suspicion that he was a cow smuggler in 2018 in Rajasthans Ramgarh, said in his verdict that the accused beat the victim with sticks, rods, kicks and punches but did not intend to kill him because they called the police and handed the injured man over to them. Rakbar Khan. 28, was killed by a group of cow vigilantes who assumed that he was a cow smuggler (File Photo) Judge Goyal, in his judgement delivered on Thursday, convicted the four men under sections of wrongful restraint and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, but acquitted them of the charges of criminal conspiracy and murder. The court, however, was critical of the role of the police and said that personnel at Rajasthans Ramgarh police station prioritized taking cows to a shelter, instead of taking the injured Rakbar to a hospital. Khans family expressed disappointment at the order on Thursday and said that they intended to appeal against it in the Rajasthan high court. 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. The leader of the mob, Nawal Kishore has also been acquitted Rakbars brother Harun Khan said soon after the special judge read out the operative portion of the judgment. A detailed copy of the verdict was made available on Friday. In his verdict, Goyal concluded that it was proven beyond doubt that the four men, Dharmendra Yadav, Paramjeet Sardar, Vijay Kumar and Naresh Kumar, accosted Rakbar Khan on the intervening night of July 20 and 21, 2018 when he was transporting two cows, because they thought he was a cow smuggler, and subjected him to a severe beating with sticks, rods, kicks, and punches, resulting in six broken ribs, fractures in his hands and legs, and a total of 13 injuries, which ultimately led to his death. The court, however, raised doubts on the prosecution story that the four men assaulted Rakbar with the intention to cause his murder, pointing out that they informed the police through Naval Kishore, and then handed him over to the police. Rakbar Khans family has maintained for five years that Naval Kishore was the prime accused and led the mob, even petitioning the court to include his name in the FIR, a case that went up to the Rajasthan high court and was only disposed of when Kishores name was included in the charge sheet. Kishore is a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and was the chief of the Ramgarh cow protection cell. Goyals judgment said that Naval Kishores inclusion in the charge sheet was based on his phone contact with the other accused. However, the deceased Rakbar did not mention Nawal Kishore as one of the persons who assaulted him in the information provided to the police, the court said. It noted that other evidence demonstrated that Kishore was informed about the incident by the other accused, that he accompanied the police to the scene of the crime where he remained until the cows were placed in a cow shed and Rakbar Khan was taken to a hospital. Naval Kishores mobile contact with the other accused does not prove his cooperation in the assault on Rakbar, the court said. The court also came down heavily on the police, and asked the DGP to take appropriate action against errant officials because they prioritized taking the cows to the shelter instead of taking Rakbar to hospital. Based on the evidence presented, the police arrived at the scene at 1:30am, and brought Rakbar to the Ramgarh police station at 2:45am. However, assistant sub-inspector Mohan Singh, despite Rakbars critical condition, prioritized taking the cows to the cow shelter instead of immediately transporting the injured Rakbar to the hospital, the court said. A week after chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and eight other ministers took oath of office, Karnataka will get a full cabinet on Saturday. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah meets former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi, on Friday. (PTI) The Congress announced the names of 24 more ministers late on Friday night, taking the strength of the cabinet to 34, the maximum allowed under the law. The ministers are scheduled to take oath on Saturday. Of the new names, six hail from the Lingayat community, four from the Vokkaliga community, three from scheduled castes, two from scheduled tribes, and five from other backward classes. The Muslim, Jain, Brahmin and Namdhari Reddy communities have one representative each in this list. Only one woman is part of the cabinet. The announcement came after four days of hectic deliberations between Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and the Congress leadership in Delhi, attempting to strike a balance between the aspirations of leaders from different castes, regions and allegiances. This was made particularly tricky given the Congresss impressive victory, the best in the state since 1989, winning 135 seats in the 224 member assembly. Read: All 9 ministers in Karnataka Cabinet crorepatis, have cases: ADR report The list of ministers to be inducted included former state Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao, and former cabinet minister HK Patil. Laxmi Hebbalkar -- who won from Belagavi despite opposition from the influential Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and sugar baron Ramesh Jarkiholi -- is set to become the only woman member. HC Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader and close confidante of Siddaramaiah, has made the list, as has Madhu Bangarappa, son of former chief minister S Bangarappa. Krishna Byregowda, a Vokkaliga leader, and Rahim Khan also made the cut. Khan will be one of two Muslim faces in the new cabinet, with B Zameer Ahmed Khan one of the 10 men who took oath last week. Significantly, former CM Jagdish Shettar, who lost his election, and former deputy CM Laxman Savadi, who won his seat, did not find a place. Both leaders had defected from the BJP to the Congress ahead of the elections. Read: No senior leaders keen for home portfolio in Karnataka Until Friday, senior Congress leaders had indicated that they would induct Shettar into the cabinet and nominate him as a member of the legislative council. On Monday, for instance, senior Congress minister MB Patil had said, The Congress party and our central leadership have discussed that we have brought him to the party and even though he has lost, we will accommodate him. Other senior leaders that did not find a place were former minister RV Deshpande and former Rajya Sabha MP BK Hariprasad. The announcement came on a day both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, with deliberations also held with party general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala. The CM also held talks with party president Mallikarjun Kharge. After a meeting with Sonia Gandhi on Friday, Shivakumar said, Everything is fine. Surjewala said that the only person authorised to decide on the cabinet was the chief minister. Siddaramaiah has informed me that he will be swearing in the additional ministers tomorrow, he added. KH Muniyappa, one of the 10 ministers who already took oath, also returned to Bengaluru from New Delhi on Friday said that the cabinet will be a mix of seniors and young people. The Congress will now confront the challenge of assigning portfolios to its cabinet ministers, but Muniyappa indicated that a decision on these is also close. By Saturday evening, portfolios have to be announced, Muniyappa added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Kolkata police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Mumbai-based filmmaker Sanoj Mishra for allegedly trying to hurt religious sentiments and fan communal tension through his upcoming movie, The Diary of West Bengal, officials said. HT Image Police have also served a legal notice to Mishra, asking him to appear at the citys Amherst Street police station on May 30 for questioning in the case. The legal notice was sent through Mumbais Oshiwara police, the officials added. The filmmaker dismissed the allegations as baseless and said the police case against him was an attempt to silence the truth. According to joint commissioner (crime) Shankha Shubhra Chakrabarty, the case was registered on May 11 on the basis of a complaint by a citizen whose identity was not disclosed by police. The notice to the filmmaker was issued on Wednesday. The complainant found the content objectionable. We will carry out an investigation. The director has been asked to appear on May 30 with all materials related to the content of the trailer, Chakrabarty told HT. The development comes weeks after the Bengal government banned the screening of The Kerala Story, saying the film contains hate speech and manipulated facts and has the potential to disrupt communal harmony and law and order in the state. The ban was later set aside by the Supreme Court. Written and directed by Mishra, and produced by Jitendra Narayan Singh, the trailer of the The Diary of West Bengal was uploaded on YouTube a month ago and the film is scheduled to hit the screens in August. The trailer portrays Bengal as a shelter for Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh. It also shows some actors speaking of communal riots in the state. One of them is heard saying that the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens will not be allowed to be implemented in the state. Police said the FIR was registered under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (vilification or attack on a religion), 501 (printing or engraving defamatory content), 504 (intentional insult to break public peace), 505 (circulating material to cause communal tension) and 295A (deliberate or malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code. Police have also booked the filmmaker under various provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Cinematograph Act, 1952. Speaking to news agency ANI in Mumbai, Mishra said his film is based on research and evidence on real incidents. The social structure of Bengal has changed because of a demographic change. This has happened only because of the politics of appeasement. The IPC sections against me are applicable to criminals and am not one of them. I have full faith in the legal system but I fear that I will be arrested by the Bengal police. I may die in their jail, he said. I appeal to the Prime Minister and Union home minister to look into these attempts of silencing the truth. The charges are baseless. I have no intention of maligning any state. I have worked in Bengal in the past, he added. The police notice to Mishra triggered a political row in the state. Only the BJP has fought against this illegal infiltration since the 1980s. A silent demographic invasion has led to an increase of around 11% voters in Bengals border districts. The people of India have the right to know the truth because it is connected to Bengals future. Mamata Banerjees vindictive government cannot honour the expression of truth, state BJP chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said. Hitting back, TMC Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen said: A global survey recently showed India holding the 162nd position among 180 countries in terms of peoples right to freedom of expression. The BJP should not speak on this subject because it has set a record in throttling the voice of the Opposition. The state government has every right to act in a situation where communal harmony faces threat. Bengali film director Subrata Sen said not everything can be portrayed in public in the name of freedom of expression. Any freedom comes with certain responsibilities. Freedom of expression does not mean one can do something that is instigating and goes against the rule of law. Also, freedom of expression cannot lead to law and order problems, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Authorities in ethnic violence-hit Manipur on Friday relaxed curfew in Imphal West and Imphal East districts for seven hours citing an improvement in the situation. A burnt building in Manipur. (PTI) Curfew was imposed in the two districts on May 3 after the eruption of the violence in the Churachandpur district and the Imphal Valley. A relaxation in curfew was announced from 5am to 4pm before it was cancelled when fresh violence was triggered on Wednesday. Round-the-clock curfew was reimposed in Imphal West, Imphal East, and Bishnupur districts on Thursday. There has been an improvement in the law-and-order situation in the district and hence the restriction on the movement of any persons outside their respective residences is hereby lifted from 5am to 12noon on Friday, Imphal West district authorities said in an order. It added people will not be allowed to gather for any purpose other than procurement of essential items and office work. Health, electricity, and public health engineering department employees have been exempted from curfew restrictions along with journalists. Imphal East district authorities in a separate order said curfew has been relaxed from 5am to 12noon except for four specific areas. Ethnic clashes triggered on May 3 have left 74 people dead and 30,000 displaced. They began in Churachandpur after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposal to grant scheduled tribe status to the majority Meitei community. The army has been deployed in the state since May 4. Thousands of security personnel have been patrolling the streets of major cities and remote villages. The Internet has been suspended for three weeks now. Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday called for peace and said he will visit the northeastern state next week to talk with all stakeholders. In Mizoram, the government has issued an order asking schools to give admission to children who have fled the ethnic violence in Manipur. Officials said 7,928 people from Manipur have sought refuge in Mizoram. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utpal Parashar Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times. ...view detail Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. New Parliament building. (Hindustan Times) Centre to mint 75 coin to mark new Parliament launch. How will it look like The Union finance ministry on Thursday announced minting of 75 coin to commemorate the inauguration of new Parliament building. The coin will have the inscription Parliament Complex with the image of the new building. Read more Resurgent Mumbai stand in Gujarat's way Ashish Nehra drives across the stretch of the vast Narendra Modi stadiums many practice facilities giving Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma a three-seater ride on his scooter. Read more Priya Samant: How an impact advisor helped The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story A techie has helped two of the most opinionated and highest-grossing Hindi films that we saw in the past two years. Priya Samant worked as an impact advisor on Vivek Agnihotri's The Kashmir Files as well as Sudipto Sen's The Kerala Story. Read more WWDC 2023: Apple may unveil its mixed reality headset. What else to expect at June 5 event? iPhone maker Apple is set to host its mega World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5-9. The annual flagship event brings developers to the tech giant's Apple Park in Cupertino to take a look at its latest products. Read more Cannes 2023: Aditi Rao Hydari turns Belle of the Ball as she walks the red carpet in a yellow gown. All pics inside Actor Aditi Rao Hydari has made her first appearance on the red carpet at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Aditi is one of the Indian celebrities attending the 76th edition of the much-anticipated annual event. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid the ongoing controversy over the new Parliament buildings inauguration, actor-turned-politician Navneet Rana on Friday trained her guns at the Opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new complex, saying they are upset because the top BJP leader accomplished what they couldn't. Calling the inauguration ceremony a moment of pride, Rana, a member of Lok Sabha, said she fails to understand the opposition's demand. Navneet Kaur Rana, independent MP from Amravati. The old Parliament was built by the British but the brain and work behind the new Parliament is of Indians and I dont understand, why the opposition is making so many issues. Theyre upset with the fact PM Modi has done what they (opposition) couldnt. They have problems with PM Modi, the Amravati MP was quoted by news agency ANI. The inauguration of the new parliament is scheduled to be held on Sunday. Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress and Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party, on Wednesday issued a joint statement announcing the boycott and called the inauguration insult to the" high office of the President". The Opposition has contended that President Droupadi Murmu, as the highest Constitutional authority, should be inaugurating the new complex. Read | Formulaic undemocratic: Open letter by ex-bureaucrats, academics skewers Oppn Following a boycott call from the opposition parties, defence minister Rajnath Singh today described the new building as a symbol of democracy and appealed to the opposition parties to reconsider their stand on the matter. 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 NEW DELHI: Cooperation in a range of areas, from transit power trade to streamlining assistance in legal matters, are expected to be on the agenda for Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals maiden visit to India beginning May 31, people familiar with the matter said. Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, is slated to be in India during May31-June 3. (REUTERS File) Some understandings and agreements in the field of energy, especially an arrangement to allow Nepal to sell power to Bangladesh via India, are expected to be finalised during the visit by Dahal, also known as Prachanda. India and Nepal are also working on a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) in criminal matters and the issue is expected to figure in the discussions, the people said. Though both sides are yet to officially announce the visit, Dahal is expected to be in India during May 31-June 3. In addition to holding talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and meeting President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on June 1, Dahal is expected to visit Indore in Madhya Pradesh to study the citys waste management system and cleanliness initiatives, the people said. Nepal and Bangladesh have pressed India to allow transit power trade in recent years. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina raised the issue of importing power from Nepal and Bhutan through India during her visit to New Delhi last September. The matter also figured during Nepal foreign minister Narayan Prakash Sauds visit to Dhaka in mid-May, when he urged Bangladeshi companies to invest in his countrys hydropower sector. India and Nepal are now close to an understanding and an agreement is expected to be finalised during the Nepalese prime ministers visit. This will help meet a long-standing demand of Nepal, which has hydropower it wants to trade, and Bangladesh, which needs additional energy, one of the people cited above said. Addressing an event in Dhaka on May 13, Saud said Nepal was encouraged by Indias recent response in facilitating energy cooperation. We are making progressive strides towards the import of power from Nepal to Bangladesh. Once materialised, even if in the form of a small volume of 40-50MW...it would be a huge milestone...for sub-regional cooperation, he said. Other agreements related to power trade and construction of transmission lines are expected to be finalised during Dahals visit. There could also be forward movement on cooperation in fertilisers, including the setting up of a factory in Nepal, the people said. Ahead of Dahals visit, the two countries held their first round of negotiations on the MLAT in criminal matters on April 13. From the Indian side, the virtual meeting was attended by representatives of the law, home and external affairs ministries and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Indian side has been pushing for MLAT, which will streamline and speed up the process for seeking assistance in criminal cases, as the existing extradition treaty is now seen as archaic since it was signed on October 1953. It is often seen that criminals from India commit crimes and then escape to the other side to avoid capture by police. India and Nepal already have great working relations when it comes to criminal matters, which can be taken forward in terms of information and intelligence-sharing about fugitives and fast-track extraditions, a person familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity. Several criminals and terrorists have been arrested by Indian security agencies in Nepal in the past. For instance, former Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was captured from near the border in Raxaul in Nepal in 2013. Similarly, Amit Kumar, a doctor involved in a multi-crore kidney racket, was caught by the CBI from Nepal in 2018. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Parliament building inauguration Live Updates: The row over the decision to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the new parliament building inauguration instead of President Droupadi Murmu has led to over 20 Opposition parties having boycotted and around 25 attending the event. Several BJP and Opposition leaders have entered a Twitter war due to the latter boycotting the event. A Supreme Court lawyer CR Jaya Sukin on Thursday petitioned to direct the central government to invite President Murmu to the inauguration, arguing that keeping her out of the event would amount to humiliating the President. The hearing in the matter will be held on Friday. The new parliament building is said to have magnificent artwork and a ceremonial sceptre Sengol among other features. Costing 971 crore, the Central Vista Redevelopment Projects website states that the new complex will be a symbol of India's progress and will be reflecting the "aspirations of the 135 crore Indians. The triangular shape of the new parliament building is meant to ensure optimum space utilisation, the website further stated. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday hit out at the opposition parties for boycotting the new Parliament building launch on May 28, saying that there should be a limit to doing politics and that the inauguration should not be made a subject of controversy. External affairs minister S Jaishankar Some people are trying to create controversy. But I believe that there should be a limit to indulging in politics. At least on such occasions, the entire country should come together and celebrate this festival, S Jaishankar said, as quoted by news agency PTI. The union minister - who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, told the media that it is unfortunate if the inauguration is being turned into a controversy. I believe that the inauguration of the new Parliament building should be taken as a festival of democracy and it should be celebrated in that spirit, he added. A war of words broke out between the BJP and opposition parties after over a dozen parties boycotted the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building contending that President Droupadi Murmu should do the honors and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a counterattack to the opposition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday asked the opposition parties to reconsider their decision, and said that 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. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a direction that the inauguration should be done by the President. A bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha told petitioner advocate Jaya Sukin that the court understands why and how this petition was filed, however, it is not inclined to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking death penalty for separatist leader and chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik, who was awarded life term by a trial court in a terror funding case. Yasin Malik was given life imprisonment on May 24 in terror funding case (File Photo) A bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh will hear the matter on May 29. On May 24, 2022, a trial court awarded life imprisonment to Malik after holding him guilty of various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code. He was convicted after pleading guilty to charges related to terror funding, spreading terrorism and secessionist activities in Kashmir in 2017. Also Read: Lawrence Bishnoi brought to Delhi from Gujarat in NIA case Even though Malik was convicted for waging war against the State, the court at the time of his conviction noted that this case does not fall under the category of rarest of rare crime, warranting death penalty. The court had also said that the issue of genocide of the Kashmiri Pandits and their exodus is not before this court and hence the court cannot be swayed into that argument. The life term was awarded for two offences section 121 (waging war against government of India) of IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA. Under section 121 (waging war against the State) of the IPC, the minimum punishment is life imprisonment while the maximum is death. Giving life term to Malik, the court had said that no doubt waging war against the state or abetting it, is a serious crime, but the death penalty should be awarded in exceptional cases where the crime by its nature shocks the collective consciousness of the society and has been committed with unmatched cruelty and in a gruesome manner. The court had also awarded Malik a 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being a member of a terror organisation) of UAPA. It had also awarded five-year jail terms each under sections 13 (unlawful act), 38 (offence related to membership of terrorism) and 39 (support given to terrorism) of UAPA. Malik had on May 10 last year told the Delhi court he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included acts of terrorism and sedition. The court had framed the charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor. Also Read: NIA declares 10 lakh reward on info leading to arrest of Khalistani terrorist According to the NIA, various terrorist organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), JKLF, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), among others with the support of the ISI of Pakistan, perpetrated violence in the Valley by attacking civilians and security forces. It was further alleged that in 1993, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference was formed to give a political front to secessionist activities. According to the NIA charge sheet submitted before the court, the central government received credible information that Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and the secessionist and separatist leaders, including members of the Hurriyat Conference, have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations like HM and LeT for raising, receiving and collecting funds domestically and abroad through various illegal channels including hawala. NIA also alleged that this was done for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and as such, they have entered into a larger conspiracy for causing disruption in the Valley by way of pelting stones at security forces, systematically burning schools, damage to public property and waging war against India. The Allahabad High Court dissolved a marriage last week as it observed that not allowing a spouse to have sexual intercourse with his or her partner for a long period of time without a proper reason was a form of mental cruelty to the spouse, LiveLaw reported. A bench comprising Justice Suneet Kumar and Justice Rajendra Kumar-IV quashed a family court's order by a Principal judge, which dismissed the divorce appeal under Section 13 Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. (File) A bench comprising justices Suneet Kumar and Rajendra Kumar quashed a family court's order by a Principal judge, which dismissed the divorce appeal under Section 13 Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Family Court had observed that the husband had submitted photocopies of documents, which are not admissible, instead of originals. The husband sought a divorce on grounds of mental cruelty, divorce agreement and long desertion. The bench said, 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 than that has ceased to in fact. The husband, filing the appeal, submitted in the court that the couple got married in May 1979. He stated that after a while, his wife's behaviour changed and she declined to live as his wife with him. Despite trying to convince her, she did not engage or establish any relationship with him. The husband added that while she lived with him for a few while, she eventually began living separately at her parents' house. According to LiveLaw. the husband stated that after the first six months of their marriage, the husband tried to convince the wife to come back to his house, fulfil the marital obligation and respect the marital bond, but she refused. In July 1994, as per the community rules, the husband sought a Panchayat meeting and the couple reached a divorce agreement after he had paid a permanent alimony to the wife of 22,000. The wife after this, had a second marriage. When the husband tried to seek a divorce, she was absent in court. The family court had said that the husband did not have any evidence to show that the wife had contracted a second marriage. The High Court observed that it had been a long time since the husband and the wife had been living separately. The court further stated that as per the husband, the wife didn't respect the marital bond between them and hence there had been a breakdown of their marriage. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The death of two more cheetah cubs in the Kuno National Park raised worries over the future of Project Cheetah in India. The mortality rate of these cheetahs amid their reintroduction will see a spike in the coming months, South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe told news agency PTI. Cheetahs Elton and Freddie popularly known as Rockstars released in the wild in Kuno National Park.(PTI) He added that there are chances that the mortality rate could shoot up to 50% in the first year. 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, he said According to him, the deaths will be higher as these big cats will try to establish territories and encounter leopards and tigers inside the national park. He further pointed out that the recent deaths were within the acceptable range, however, killing of female cheetah by males during courtship was uncalled for based on a team of experts who reviewed the project. Merwe is closely associated with the Indian government's much vaunted project to repopulate cheetahs in the country. How could India save cheetahs? The wildlife expert suggested fencing the habitats to control giving access to resources to other animals and reduce overall threat to these reintroduced cheetahs. He said that the reintroduction of cheetahs in an unfenced reserve was never successful. Africa tried it 15 times and failed. Several experts, even the Supreme Court, have expressed concerns over lack of space and logistical support in Kuno park and have suggested shifting cheetahs to other sanctuaries. Merwe recommended getting at least two to three cheetah to Mukundra Hills and let them breed 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. Death after relocation normal The wildlife expert said that the death of cheetahs after their relocation is normal. However, their deaths outside of the fenced enclosures is where the real danger lies. "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 added. He assured that the death of three adults and three cubs is completely normal and within the speculated mortality rate. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Australian leader of Opposition Peter Dutton said that his country's politicians are jealous of Prime Minister Narendra Modi - referring to the latter's recent visit which saw a massive amount of crowd at an event in Sydney. Addressing the Australian Parliament on Thursday, Dutton said that he acknowledges the work of the Indian community in hosting PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Sydney on Tuesday. (ANI) There were lots of people in attendance from both sides of politics, but I said to the Prime Minister this morning that every politician there last night was jealous of the fact that he was able to get 20,000 people chanting his surname in unison on the other side of the world, mainly at Labour Party functions, Dutton said. PM Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora crowd who chanted slogans like Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram, and Modi, Modi. Speaking on the relationship with India, Dutton said, It was quite extraordinary and productive when his government was in power." On May 23, PM Modi visited Sydney as part of the third and final leg of his three-nation visit after concluding his visit to Papua New Guinea. This was his first visit to Australia in nine years. During the mega event, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called PM Modi the boss as he compared the crowd for PM Modi to legendary rockstar Bruce Springsteen - who is incidentally known as The Boss among his fans. The last time I saw someone on this stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the boss, he said. (With inputs from ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the new parliament building in Delhi on Sunday. Though the details regarding the inauguration have not been made public by the government, it is reported that the event will be held in two phases. The ceremony will begin with rituals that are likely to be held in a pandal or canopy near the Gandhi statue in the parliament. An aerial view of newly-constructed Parliament building.(PTI) PM Modi, LS Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Hariwansh along with senior ministers are believed to take part in the rituals. In the second phase of the inauguration, the national anthem will be sung in the Lok Sabha chamber in the presence of all dignitaries. The new parliament building, which can accommodate 888 members in the chamber of the lower house, and 300 in a separate chamber for the upper house, is part of the governments plan to redevelop the Central Vista area. So far, 25 opposition parties are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony and 20 have called for a boycott. Parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and others have called for a boycott of the event whereas parties like Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Mizo National Front (MNF), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and others have said that they will attend the inauguration ceremony. (With inputs from ANI) An overnight meeting with truck drivers on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway, a chat with civil service aspirants at Delhi Universitys north campus, a meeting with slum dwellers in Shakurbasti and conversations with women on a Bangalore bus -- these seemingly impromptu meetings that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has had over the past three months are, in fact, part of a well-planned strategy, party leaders in the know said on Friday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes a truck ride from Delhi to Chandigarh on Monday. (ANI) With just a year to go for the general elections and three major states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, going to the polls later this year, Gandhi is expected to have more of these meetings to spread his message among the target audience. Read: Jan ki baat: Congress on Rahul Gandhis truck ride from Delhi to Chandigarh Gandhis team members, requesting anonymity, said that these meetings were a continuation of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the 4,000km journey on foot from Tamil Nadu to Jammu and Kashmir over four months. While there is talk of replication of the journey from the east to the west of the country, Gandhis team is wary that there simply wont be enough time to do so on foot. And thats where these group sessions come in, fulfilling the objective of meeting people and gathering clues about what the voters want. A large segment of young India gets ignored in the popular narrative, said Congress leader Pawan Khera. During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi held several interactions with gig workers. As a result, the Rajasthan govt announced a policy for this category. Our Karnataka manifesto too focused on them. So, for instance, Gandhi may have spent just six hours with a handful of truckers on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway but his team estimates that the community of truck drivers is about 30 million strong, with nearly 900,000 new drivers required every year across the country. By travelling at night and talking to them about their concerns, Gandhi hopes to forge an emotional connection with the larger trucking community. The careful curation of such meetings may be comparable to Prime Minister Narendra Modis campaign in the run-up to the 2014 polls. At the time, Modis team planned various meetings at places as diverse as Delhi Universitys Sri Ram College of Commerce and smaller chai pe charcha (discussions over tea) events. To be sure, one of Modis campaign managers from 2014, Sunil Kanugolu, is now in the Congress party. But Gandhis team dismisses any such comparisons. WATCH: Rahul Gandhi with civil services aspirants in Delhis Mukherjee Nagar Gandhi is building relationships and connections with people directly on the ground, in their spaces, said one person who is involved in the planning. He intends to build an association with these people after the interactions as well. In the coming days, more such meetings can be expected with different demographics -- teachers, mechanics, carpenters and shopkeepers -- with a special focus on women from ordinary backgrounds. Its building his image as a peoples person, said political commentator Manisha Priyam. A political leader is best formed amongst the masses. Rahul Gandhi has certainly scaled up on his peoples person image. Dont know how this can be a force multiplier, but many see this as a positive image on social media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday informed the Delhi high court that the removal of 2000 is a whole exercise under the currency management system while reiterating that it is not demonetisation. RBI had on May 19 announced the withdrawal of 2,000 currency notes from circulation (Representative/File Photo) Advocate Parag P Tripathi, for RBI, told a bench of chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma and justice Subramonium Prasad that 2000 is not being used as a currency and it is virtually kept out of circulation for some time now. He further said that over time the quality of the 2000 notes had deteriorated. Opposing a petition challenging the recent notifications on the withdrawal, the counsel said that it was an economic policy decision. The submission was made while hearing a plea by one Rajneesh Bhaskar Gupta, who had challenged the recent notifications of the RBI. RBI had on May 19 announced the withdrawal of 2,000 currency notes from circulation. The central bank has asked banks to provide deposit and exchange facilities for 2,000 notes until September 30, 2023. Also Read: What Indias removal of 2,000 Rupee notes means for the economy? The petition mentions that RBI has no independent power under the Reserve Bank of India Act to take such a decision. It also contends that the decision to withdraw the banknote only after 4-5 years of circulation within a specific deadline is unjust, arbitrary and against the public policy. Submitting that the impugned circular does not mention that the central government has taken the decision, the PIL submits that no other reason except the Clean Note Policy has been given by the RBI to take such a big arbitrary decision on the withdrawal of the banknotes from circulation without analysing the expected problems of the public at large. During the hearing, the court said that it would hear the matter on Monday after RBIs counsel told the court that the order in a similar petition has been reserved and let the judgment be delivered in that. Earlier this week, the high court had reserved its order on a plea by lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Upadhyay, who had challenged the notifications by RBI and State Bank of India, enabling the exchange of 2000 banknotes without identification proof. In the fresh petition heard on Friday, the petitioner has contended that small vendors and shopkeepers have already stopped taking 2,000 notes. RBI has not cleared so far what is the benefit to the RBI or National Economy after withdrawing the denomination of 2000 banknote from circulation, says the petition. However, the hardship faced by the citizens is very well known as seen during demonetisation of 500 and 1000 notes in 2016, it said. Also Read: Indias GDP growth in FY23 may exceed 7%: RBI governor Shaktikanta Das It is respectfully submitted that the denomination of 2000 printed in the year 2016 and later on is in very good condition with strong safety measures and need not required to be withdrawn from circulation under Clean Note Policy or otherwise. Moreover, Clean Note Policy only requires withdrawal of damaged, counterfeit, or soiled notes from circulation and not all good banknotes, the petition read. The central bank introduced the 2,000 rupee bill to top up the currency notes in circulation after Prime Minister Narendra Modis 2016 move removed 500 and 1,000 rupee notes as legal tender. Printing of the notes 2000 notes was stopped in 2018-2019 as larger volumes of other denominations were made available and there was a shift to digital transactions. Announcing the move late on May 19, the Reserve Bank of India said the 2,000 notes had reached the end of their estimated life span. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday slammed the Congress party for claiming that there is no documented evidence of "Sengol" being described as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. Slamming the Grand Old Party, Shah said that Congress banished the sceptre to a museum as a 'walking stick'. Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (Amit Shah Twitter) Read here: 'BJP has accepted defeat': Akhilesh Yadav, Congress' jibe over use of 'Sengol' in new Parliament In a series of tweets, the minsiter questioned, "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick." Follow New Parliament inauguration row LIVE UPDATES here Shah even asked the party to reflect on their behaviour. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," he tweeted. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that there is 'no documented evidence' confirming the Tamil artifact as a symbol of the transfer of power from the British to the first elected government of independent India. Read here: No proof: Jairam Ramesh's attack on Modi government over Sengol claims He further claimed that the sceptre conceived of by a religious establishment in the Madras province and crafted in Madras city (now Chennai) was indeed presented to Nehru in August 1947. He further alleged that PM Modi and his drum-beaters are using the ceremonial sceptre for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. The sceptre, which was given to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India, will now be placed in the new Parliament complex near the Lok Sabha speaker's chair after the former would be inaugurated by PM Modi on Sunday. Union home minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party boss JP Nadda hit back Friday against opposition leaders criticising the installation of the 'sengol' - a Tamil artifact the government says signifies the transfer of power between kings or rulers, and which was used when the British transferred power to India's first independent government - in the new Parliament building. Union home minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah addresses a public meeting in Karnataka ahead of an Assembly election in the state. (PTI) Shah accused the Congress - which insists there is no proof the 'sengol' was used as such when the British transferred power - of 'hating Indian traditions'. Nadda accused the Congress of 'monarchic methods (that) are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution'. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much?" READ | 'Why does Congress hate Indian culture?' Amit Shah on 'sengol' row "A sacred 'sengol' was given to Pandit (Jawaharlal) Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," the home minister tweeted. Nadda tweeted that the boycott of the new Parliament's inauguration - announced Thursday by 19 opposition parties, including the Congress - amounted to an insult to those who framed and wrote the Indian Constitution. READ | 'Soul of democracy': 19 parties to skip Parliament inauguration "What connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building? The answer is simple- they are dynasty run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution," the BJP chief tweeted. He also said the opposition is still 'unable to digest a simple fact... people of India have placed their faith in a man hailing from a humble background'. READ | What is the 'sengol' sceptre to be installed by Modi. Things to know Cong, Akhilesh Yadav target BJP in 'sengol' row Earlier Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and the Congress' Jairam Ramesh each hit out at the BJP and prime minister Narendra Modi over the 'sengol' row. Ramesh tweeted: "NO documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power..." "All claims to this effect are simpl(y) - BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp." Ex-Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party will also boycott Sunday's inauguration - took a swipe at the BJP for using the 'sengol' as a 'transfer of power' artifact, claiming it meant the party had 'accepted defeat' - the reference was to the Lok Sabha election scheduled for next year. "'Sengol' is a symbol of transfer of power (from one hand to another) BJP seems to have accepted the time has come to hand over power," Yadav tweeted. All about the 'sengol' It was a traditional for rulers of the Chola dynasty in what was Tamil Nadu for samayacharyas (spiritual leaders) to lead the coronation of kings and sanctify the transfer of power, professor S Rajavelu, formerly with the Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology of Tamil University, told PTI. "Tamil kings had this sengolwhich is a symbol of justice and good governance," he said, adding that it was the head of ancient Shaivite math Thiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam that presented it to India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 to signify the transfer of power from the British. Watch: New Parliament's historic 'sengol' The 'sengol' will be installed near the seat of the Lok Sabha Speaker after the new Parliament is inaugurated by Modi at noon on Sunday. The grand event will be attended by lawmakers from the BJP (of course) and also its National Democratic Alliance allies, as well as a handful of opposition outfits like the Biju Janata Dal, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the YSR Congress. READ | What is 'Sengol' (sceptre) to be installed by Modi in new Parliament Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party will attend too, though she will not. Opposition's joint statement on Parliament inauguration However, nearly two dozen others, including the Congress, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool and the Aam Aadmi Party that is in power in Delhi, will skip the inauguration over a row that includes having Modi dedicate the building rather than president Droupadi Murmu, who has not even been invited to the event. In a joint statement issued Thursday, 19 parties condemned the BJP for having 'completely side-lined president Murmu' and called it a 'grave insult (and) direct assault on democracy' A phalanx of BJP leaders, including union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar, have since defended the government and criticised the opposition's proposed boycott of the ceremony. Finance minister Sitharaman reminded them several had opposed Murmu's election. "I am surprised... leaders of the opposition parties spoke ill of her... but the prime minister gave her due respect. Those who ran a bitter campaign then are now suddenly speaking for her," she told reporters in Chennai. Court junks plea on Murmu's invite Meanwhile, the Supreme Court this afternoon refused a plea by a lawyer seeking direction to the centre to invite Murmu, arguing the government's failure to do so was disrespect to the office of the President of India. With input from agencies SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union minister Smriti Irani on Friday took a swipe at the Congress for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, alleging the Gandhi family had kept the 'Sengol' in the 'dark corner of a museum as Jawaharlal Nehru's walking stick' for years. Smriti Irani. (PTI file photo)(HT_PRINT) The 'Sengol' is a historic artifact from Tamil Nadu that will be installed in the new Parliament and signified, the government has said, the transfer of power from the British to the first elected head of independent India - ex-prime minister Nehru. Follow New Parliament inauguration row LIVE UPDATES here "Today, I ask every citizen of the country... calling India's evidence of religion, faith, and democracy as a 'walking stick' does it not indicate what the Gandhi family thinks about our country's history, our country's democracy?" Irani questioned. She added, "This is why it is not surprising that the Gandhi family is opposing and pushing others to oppose the new parliament launch." The 'Sengol' had been kept in the Allahabad Museum's Nehru Gallery. Earlier today, it was brought to Delhi ahead of its installation in the new Parliament building - it will be formally received by prime minister Narendra Modi and set up near the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair. A massive war of words has broken out between nearly two dozen opposition parties and the government over both the 'Sengol' and the decision to have Modi inaugurate the new Parliament rather than President Droupadi Murmu, who has not been invited to the event. Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress, issued a joint statement Thursday in which they accused an 'authoritarian prime minister' of having 'completely side-lined president Murmu', which they called a 'grave insult and direct assault on democracy'. Meanwhile, a public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court this week by lawyer Jaya Sukin seeking a direction to the centre to invite Murmu to the inauguration of the new Parliament. The top court, however, refused to entertain the plea and it was withdrawn. New Delhi At a time when 21 Opposition parties have chosen to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, six chief ministers all of states not ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party -- will not attend the Niti Aayogs 8th governing council meeting on Saturday. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday. (ANI)(HT_PRINT) The council, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the chairman of the Niti Aayog, includes all state chief ministers and lieutenant governors (LGs) of Union territories. It is expected to discuss the road map for a Viksit Bharat (developed India) around eight key themes -- MSMEs, infrastructure and investment, minimising compliances, women empowerment, health and nutrition, skill development, and social infrastructure, officials from the government think tank said. The chief ministers who will skip the meeting are Delhis Arvind Kejriwal, Punjabs Bhagwant Mann (both Aam Aadmi Party), Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal (Trinamool Congress), Nitish Kumar of Bihar (Janata Dal United), K Chandrashekar Rao of Telangana (Bharat Rashtra Samithi), and MK Stalin of Tamil Nadu (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam). Read: Niti Aayog meeting on May 27 may set the stage for Oppn talks Chief ministers from the Congress, the largest Opposition party that directly controls four states, are expected to attend. HT tried to reach out to BJP leaders for a comment, but couldnt get it immediately. In a letter to the Prime Minister on Friday, Kejriwal said that he was boycotting the meeting in protest against the undemocratic and unconstitutional May 19 ordinance that restored control over services in the national capital to the Centre under the LG, effectively nullifying a Supreme Court order that handed over control of services, barring police, public order and land, to the elected government. After an eight-year struggle, the people of Delhi won in the Supreme Court, and in just eight days, you overturned the Supreme Courts order by passing an ordinance. So, if any officer of the Delhi government fails to work, the elected government chosen by the people cannot take any action. How will such a government function? It is being made completely powerless, Kejriwal said in the letter. He wrote that the action amounted to a brazen disregard for the Constitution, and a mockery of cooperative federalism. People are saying that we should not attend tomorrows NITI Aayog meeting. Hence, it is not possible for me to attend the meeting tomorrow, the Delhi CM added. Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party colleague, Bhagwant Mann, on his part, said that he would stay away from the governing council meeting because the Union government was ignoring issues related to farmers. The Centre has withheld Rural Development Fee (RDF) amounting to 4,000 crore, reduced the RDF rate, stopped mandi tax, delayed goods and services tax (GST) compensation, and shifted some sanctioned projects to other states, AAPs Punjab chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said, justifying the move. In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress leaders said that CM Mamata Banerjee will not be at the meeting. However, they said that she proposed the names of finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and chief secretary HK Dwivedi as her representatives. But the Centre replied that only chief ministers could attend, they added. Niti Aayog is a vague organisation unlike the Planning Commission which it replaced. Can anybody remember what decisions were taken at the last Niti Aayog meeting and what was implemented? The Centre takes all its decisions without consulting the states, TMCs state vice president Jay Mazumdar said. In Patna, senior members of the Bihar cabinet said that Nitish Kumar expressed his inability to attend because of prior commitments, and said that they were yet to hear back from the Union government if someone else could take his place. The state government has written a letter to Government of India requesting to depute some senior minister in his place but we are yet to get any response, said Bihar finance minister Vijay Kumar Chowdhary. Read: Yogi to cite govts achievements at Niti Aayog meet on May 27 According to officials in the Telangana CMs office,Bharat Rashtra Samiti president and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will also not attend the meeting since he has a scheduled meeting with Kejriwal in Hyderabad on Saturday. Their meeting is part of a campaign by Kejriwal against the services ordinance for which he has been meeting leaders of Opposition parties asking for their support in blocking the ordinance when it comes in the form of a bill in Parliament. Meanwhile, officials in Tamil Nadu said chief minister MK Stalin will not be at the meeting as he is on a three-day trip to Singapore and Japan. Supporters of V Senthil Balaji, state minister for electricity, excise and prohibition, allegedly created a ruckus and even vandalised a car belonging to the Income Tax (I-T) department and manhandled officials of the department who on Friday launched coordinated searches in places across Tamil Nadu linked to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister. The Income Tax department on Friday carried out raids at around 40 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to DMK minister (Twitter/@annamalai_k) The Income Tax department on Friday carried out raids at around 40 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to Balaji. The searches were being held across several locations in Chennai, Coimbatore and his hometown in Karur district. It was also alleged that Balajis supporters gathered in Karur when officials came to search the house of his brother V Ashok and raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led union government. Also Read: BJP has accepted defeat: Akhilesh Yadav, Congress jibe over use of Sengol in new Parliament; Amit Shah responds Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai took to Twitter and shared the visuals of the incident. He also criticised the DMK for sending goons to manhandle IT officials. IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji & his brother. TN CM Thiru@mkstalinshould instruct his partymen to behave responsibly & remind them that we dont live in the 60s, Annamalai wrote on Twitter. The state BJP chief also demanded strict action against the DMK and the police for failing to provide appropriate security to the officials. I urge on behalf of@BJP4TamilNaduthat action should be taken against the DMK who has threatened the lives of the Income Tax Department and against the District Superintendent of Police who has failed to provide adequate protection to the Income Tax Department, he further wrote. Visuals from the spot showed the windshield of a car broken and a man breaking the cars side mirror while some men were seen arguing with the I-T officials. Commenting on the incident of manhandling of officials, Karur district superintendent of police (SP) E Sundaravathaman said, The I-T officials had not informed the local police before the raids as per procedure because of which security could not be deployed earlier, Officials usually inform the local police and go for searches with the security, Sundaravathaman said. However, after knowing the situation, police personnel, including some senior police officers, were deployed. The SP assured that the I-T officials will be given protection until they complete their work. The raids come a week after the Supreme Court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue their probe against Balaji in the cash-for-jobs scam--where he is accused of taking bribes when he was transport minister in 2011-2015 in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government. The DMK reacted that the BJP is using the I-T, ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since the party lost the assembly elections in Karnataka earlier this month to the Congress. Also Read: Stalin asks Shah to direct Amul to desist from procuring milk in Tamil Nadu The BJP government is dreaming that it can take revenge on opposition parties through these raids, DMKs organising secretary R S Bharathi told reporters in Chennai. They are afraid that opposition parties will come together against them in the 2024 parliamentary elections so they want to nib that unity in the bud by using I-T, ED and the CBI. Bharathi said that since the Karur SP has said that the I-T department did not inform them of the raids, it raises doubt if it was deliberate to create a law and order problem to show that their officials were attacked. He added, I spoke to Senthil Balaji this morning and informed him that nobody from the DMK should be there at the spot of the raids. The DMK is ready to punish wrongdoers. Police have already registered a case (against the vandalism). He added that this was being done since chief minister M K Stalin is away on a two-nation tour to Singapore and Japan. Bharathi also said that Balaji is being specifically targeted because of state BJP chief Annamalai. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to cancel the Calcutta high courts May 18 order allowing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the alleged irregularities in West Bengals school teacher recruitment case. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee approached the Supreme Court, saying the high court ruled against them without going into their arguments (PTI File) A vacation bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha said the high court order was balanced and fair and only stayed the portion that imposed a 25 lakh fine on the TMC member of parliament, which the bench found to be excessive. The case will be next heard in July. Banerjee petitioned the Supreme Court against the high court order that refused to recall its previous order that allowed ED to question him in the school recruitment case. On April 28, the Supreme Court ordered the chief justice of the Calcutta high court to assign Banerjees case to a fresh bench since the judge hearing the case gave a TV interview and spoke on politically sensitive cases being adjudicated by his bench. Justice Amrita Sinha, who heard Banerjees case afresh, rejected his request on May 18, leading the TMC leader to challenge the order in the top court. Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for ED, opposed Banerjees petition, underlining that it had powers to investigate individuals under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This power of the ED cannot be usurped. The petition (by Banerjee) seems to suggest that I have no independent right. My right to investigate cannot be fettered with, Raju said. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, said the state government also intended to file an appeal against the high court order. Banerjee is the nephew of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Raju appeared to take a swipe at the state rushing to the rescue of a suspect, saying it was a new trend. A new trend has started with the state coming in matters linked with the accused, the law officer said, referring to the Chhattisgarh government appearing before the top court in a case linked to the ED investigation into an alleged liquor scam. The bench noted that its order on April 28 directed the acting chief justice of the high court to assign the case to a new judge after the judge who earlier heard and decided the case on April 13 gave an interview to a news channel where he openly made a statement against Banerjee. Every point that we raised has been considered. This order (of May 18) is a balanced and fair order, the bench said. It, however, stayed the 25 lakh fine. The imposition of fine was not warranted. It is not that the high court cannot impose any cost. But it is certainly in excess. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Banerjee, contended that the high court order clearly said that it was not willing to revisit the previous order of April 13 passed by justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay. The idea behind the top court sending the matter to another judge was to have a de novo consideration of the entire issue. How does the bench hold res judicata (a legal doctrine that ordinarily bars parties from relitigating issues that were addressed in earlier proceedings). The bench responded: We passed an order to allay your apprehensions. You only wanted your matter to be considered by the high court. Except cost, we are not willing to interfere. ED argued that it was not a simple matter but a case where a former minister in the state government and his aide were found with 50 crore cash. The case relates to the recruitment of teaching staff for government schools despite not qualifying for the jobs. CBI and ED are probing alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Group C and Group D staff, as well as teachers, in government-sponsored and aided schools on the recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission in 2018. Three TMC legislators, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, have been arrested so far. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday. Twenty-one opposition parties have decided to boycott the event, alleging that the decision undermined the office of the President and violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution (AP) Not convinced by the arguments of the petitioner and advocate CR Jaya Sukin, a vacation bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha said: You tell us how the provisions of Constitution are related to inauguration of the new Parliament. As the bench was set to dismiss the petition, Sukin requested to withdraw it and the same was subsequently allowed. Sukins plea in the top court came amid an ongoing political controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to preside over Sundays ceremony. On May 18, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Modi and invited him to inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28. Read: Yogi charges at Oppn over Parliament launch boycott call: Highly irresponsible Twenty-one opposition parties have decided to boycott the event, alleging that the decision undermined the office of the President and violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The Union government has dismissed the allegations and said the boycott decision showed contempt for the essence of democracy. Appearing for the Centre in the top court, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said if the petition is allowed to be withdrawn, then it will be filed in the high court. These issues are not justiciable. It may be dismissed as withdrawal will mean that he will again approach the high court, he said. After the bench asked Sukin if a withdrawal was sought to approach the high court, he said he does not intend to file another petition in the matter. He said that he sought a withdrawal as a dismissal of the plea would mean that the action of the executive in keeping the President away from the inaugural ceremony has been held to be correct. The top court enquired from Sukin the reason behind filing such a petition. What is your interest in this matter? it asked. Sukin told the court that he believes that Article 79 makes the President the head of Parliament. I am a citizen of this country and the President is my President. The executive can certainly make any policy but how do they decide on their own (to not invite the President) when the President is the head of Parliament, he said. Article 79 provides that there shall be a Parliament which shall consist of the President and the two Houses Council of States and House of People. The bench said: We are aware why you have filed this petition. Why should we not impose a cost on you as we are not inclined to entertain the petition under Article 32? As the court allowed Sukins request to withdraw the plea, it recorded in its order that the request was made after the bench refused to entertain the same. In his PIL, Sukin said the President is the first citizen of India and head of the institution of Parliament, and the Union government and Lok Sabha secretariat have tried to humiliate Murmu by not letting her preside over the inaugural ceremony. Read: Formulaic undemocratic: Open letter by ex-bureaucrats, academics skewers Oppn He also said that the Centre and Lok Sabha secretariat have violated the Constitution which makes the President an integral part of the House. The respondents (Lok Sabha Secretariat and Union government) have violated Article 79, he said. Sukin said the President enjoys certain powers and performs a variety of ceremonial functions and by not inviting her to Sundays ceremony, the inauguration of the new Parliament Building is not according (to) law. Alleging malpractice behind the decision to keep the President away from the function, the petitioner said: The Respondents are try(ing) to humiliate the Indian President. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a portion of the Telangana high courts controversial order that granted bail to a man accused of killing former Andhra Pradesh MP YS Vivekananda Reddy. In the April 27 order, the high court cancelled default bail granted in June 2019 to murder accused T Gangi Reddy with immediate effect and then granted him bail with effect from July 1. A view of Supreme Court of India in New Delhi (HT Photo) We will post these matters in July. The last part of the order directing the special judge (CBI) to enlarge the accused on bail on July 1, 2023 shall remain stayed, a vacation bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha said on Friday on a petition filed by YS Vivekananda Reddys daughter Suneetha Narreddy. The bench, which heard Suneetha Narreddys plea on May 24 to cancel bail to the man accused of killing her father, frowned on the high court cancelling and granting bail in the same order. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which was assigned the case on the orders of the high court earlier had also supported Narreddys plea, saying it was erroneous and that it pre-judged, pre-empted and encroached upon the power or discretion of the Supreme Court under Article 142. The agency said that the high court order amounted to temporary suspension of bail for a period till July 1 and was passed without considering the grave charges against Gangi Reddy, who was found by the high court to have threatened and intimidated witnesses while on bail. In its controversial order of April 27, the high court directed Gangi Reddy to surrender on or before May 5. On his surrender, he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, 2023 which is the outer limit fixed by the Supreme Court for completion of investigation by CBI, it said. In case, the accused ... fails to surrender before the court concerned on or before the said date, CBI is at liberty to take him into custody.., it added. The high court also said that the (trial) court is directed to enlarge the petitioner on bail on July 1, 2023, on his executing a personal bond for a sum of 1 lakh with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the said court. The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a controversial portion of a Telangana high court order directing a trial court to release on bail, on July 1, an accused in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister YS Vivekananda Reddy in 2019. The accused, Gangi Reddy, has also moved the top court against the cancellation of his bail. (AP) A vacation bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimhas order came after it took note of the high courts April 27 directive that cancelled the bail of Gangi Reddy, the prime accused in the murder case, but also ordered the trial court to enlarge him on bail on July 1. We will post these matters in July. The last part of the order directing the special judge (Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI) to enlarge the accused (T Gangi Reddy) on bail on July 1, 2023 shall remain stayed, the bench said. The case pertains to the murder of former lawmaker YS Vivekananda Reddy at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh on March 15, 2019. Gangi Reddy and three remaining accused were granted default bail on June 27, 2019 after a special investigation team (SIT) of Andhra Pradesh Police, which was earlier probing the case, failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated period of 90 days. On the directions of the high court, CBI took up the investigation in 2020 and named four people (including Gangi) in its charge sheet in 2021. Andhra MP YS Avinash Reddy, who is the cousin of chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is a suspect in the case. CBI had approached the high court, seeking cancellation of bail, earlier this year. In its order on April 27, the high court directed Gangi Reddy to surrender on or before May 5. On his surrender, he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, 2023 which is the outer limit fixed by the Supreme Court for completion of investigation by CBI, it said. In case, the accused ... fails to surrender before the court concerned on or before the said date, CBI is at liberty to take him into custody.., it added. The high court also said the (trial) court is directed to enlarge the petitioner on bail on July 01, 2023, on his executing a personal bond for a sum of 1 lakh with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the said court. On Friday, the top court stayed a part of the order following an appeal by the deceased ministers daughter Suneetha Narreddy, who wondered how the high court directed bail for the accused suo moto in the absence of a bail plea by the latter. Narreddys petition was supported by CBI which said the high courts order was pre-judged, preempted and encroached upon the power or discretion of the Supreme Court under Article 142. In an affidavit, the federal agency said that the order amounted to temporary suspension of bail and that it was passed without considering the grave nature of charges against Gangi Reddy. CBI termed the high court order Eighth marvel and wondered how an order which cancelled the accuseds bail allowed him to be released later. It also criticised the total fiasco by the state police in handling the case. Appearing for the accused, senior advocate Aman Lekhi sought time to place arguments in support of his client. Gangi Reddy, who surrendered on May 5, has also moved the top court against the cancellation of his bail. It was for the second time that an order of the high court was set aside by the apex court at the instance of Narreddy. On April 24, the top court had set aside a high court order on April 18 that directed CBI to supply a written questionnaire to Avinash Reddy during his questioning. Chennai Supporters of V Senthil Balaji, Tamil Nadu minister for electricity, excise and prohibition, allegedly created a ruckus and even vandalised a car belonging to the income tax (I-T) department and manhandled officials of the department who on Friday launched coordinated searches in places across the state linked to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister. I-T officials raid the residence of TN minister Senthil Balaji, in Karur on Friday. (PTI) The I-T department on Friday carried out raids across several locations in Chennai, Coimbatore and his hometown in Karur district. It was alleged that Balajis supporters gathered in Karur when officials came to search the house of his brother V Ashok and raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led union government. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai took to Twitter and shared the visuals of the incident. He also criticised the DMK for sending goons to manhandle IT officials. IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji & his brother. TN CM Thiru@mkstalinshould instruct his partymen to behave responsibly & remind them that we dont live in the 60s, Annamalai wrote on Twitter. The state BJP chief also demanded strict action against the DMK and the police for failing to provide appropriate security to the officials. I urge on behalf of@BJP4TamilNaduthat action should be taken against the DMK who has threatened the lives of the Income Tax Department and against the District Superintendent of Police who has failed to provide adequate protection to the Income Tax Department, he further wrote. Visuals from the spot showed the windshield of a car broken and a man breaking the cars side mirror while some men were seen arguing with the I-T officials. Commenting on the incident of manhandling of officials, Karur district superintendent of police (SP) E Sundaravathaman said, The I-T officials had not informed the local police before the raids as per procedure because of which security could not be deployed earlier, Officials usually inform the local police and go for searches with the security, Sundaravathaman said. However, after knowing the situation, police personnel, including some senior police officers, were deployed. The SP assured that the I-T officials will be given protection until they complete their work. The raids come a week after the Supreme Court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue their probe against Balaji in the cash-for-jobs scam--where he is accused of taking bribes when he was transport minister in 2011-2015 in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government. The DMK reacted that the BJP is using the I-T, ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since the party lost the assembly elections in Karnataka earlier this month to the Congress. The BJP government is dreaming that it can take revenge on opposition parties through these raids, DMKs organising secretary R S Bharathi told reporters in Chennai. They are afraid that opposition parties will come together against them in the 2024 parliamentary elections so they want to nib that unity in the bud by using I-T, ED and the CBI. Bharathi said that since the Karur SP has said that the I-T department did not inform them of the raids, it raises doubt if it was deliberate to create a law and order problem to show that their officials were attacked. He added, I spoke to Senthil Balaji this morning and informed him that nobody from the DMK should be there at the spot of the raids. The DMK is ready to punish wrongdoers. Police have already registered a case (against the vandalism). He added that this was being done since chief minister M K Stalin is away on a two-nation tour to Singapore and Japan. Bharathi also said that Balaji is being specifically targeted because of state BJP chief Annamalai. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Divya Chandrababu Divya Chandrababu is an award-winning political and human rights journalist based in Chennai, India. Divya is presently Assistant Editor of the Hindustan Times where she covers Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. She started her career as a broadcast journalist at NDTV-Hindu where she anchored and wrote prime time news bulletins. Later, she covered politics, development, mental health, child and disability rights for The Times of India. Divya has been a journalism fellow for several programs including the Asia Journalism Fellowship at Singapore and the KAS Media Asia- The Caravan for narrative journalism. Divya has a master's in politics and international studies from the University of Warwick, UK. As an independent journalist Divya has written for Indian and foreign publications on domestic and international affairs. ...view detail The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal administration of muzzling freedom of speech and expression by intimidating the director and producer of a controversial film targeting the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo. Sharing a clip of the trailer of the film titled The Diary of West Bengal, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said that nothing in the trailer appears factually incorrect. Snapshot of the trailer of film 'The Diary of West Bengal'. The police issued a notice to director Sanoj Mishra under Section 41A of the CrPC for questioning on May 30 at Amherst Street police statement in West Bengal, alleging that he is trying to defame the state with this film. An FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), IT Act, and Cinematography Act. After a failed attempt to ban The Kerala Story (the film is still not in theatres because owners are being threatened with punitive action, if they do), Mamata Banerjees administration is now intimidating the director and producer of The Diary of West Bengal, a movie based on true events, on the prevailing condition in the State, Amit Malviya said in a tweet. Calling the claims made in the trailer a lived experience of many in West Bengal, Malviya further said, Mamata Banerjee should stop muzzling freedom of speech and expression. She runs a vile decrepit Govt and it is a matter of time that people of Bengal will reduce her regime to dust. In the trailer of the film, claimed to be based on true events, the narrator alleges that Bengal has become the second Kashmir for unorganised Hindus. A character claims that Mamata's love for Rohingya Muslims is forcing Hindus to leave their home. The trailer also alleges that the appeasement politics in the state has resulted in restrictions on Hindu festivals. Responding to allegations of attempting to defame the state, Mishra said, My intention is not to malign the image of the state. We have shown only facts in the film which are well-researched. Mishra said the shooting of the film is not complete and they are likely to submit it to the Central Board of Film Certification next month. The film has been written and produced by Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi, formerly Waseem Rizwi, the ex-chairman of the Shia Waqf Board in Uttar Pradesh who converted to Hinduism in December 2021. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday will dedicate the newly constructed Parliament complex to the nation with full pomp and show. The inauguration ceremony would commence early in the morning with a havan and a multi-religion prayer followed by the installation of the golden 'Sengol' near the chair of the Speaker in Lok Sabha. Padma Subrahmanyam(File) Read here: 'Sengol' brought to Delhi ahead of inauguration of the new Parliament Sengol was received by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, to mark the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India. It will now be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. How did PMO come to know about Sengol? The credit of revealing this lost gem to the nation goes to notable classical dancer Padma Subrahmanyam. The Prime Minister Office (PMO) came to know about Sengol in 2021 when Subrahmanyam wrote a letter to the prime minister, translating a Tamil article on it and emphasised that the significance of the Sengol should be widely publicised. Subrahmanyam's letter to PM Modi: "I am the one who has been writing a history of culture, I didn't know about the Sengol episode in our history because no textbook has any reference to it. I thought Sengol had to be publicised. So I translated the entire Tughlaq article into English and wrote a covering letter to the Prime Minister stating that the Sengol must be brought out. This is how the whole thing started," she told ANI. Read here: All you need to know about Sengol The Sengol, in Tamil culture, has great significance. The umbrella, the Sengol, and the throne are the three objects which actually give you the concept of the reigning power of the king. It is the symbol of power, of justice. It is also mentioned in the Tamil epic, in regards to Chera kings," she told India Today. Subrahmanyam said that she did not receive any response from the PMO, however, it came as a moment of delight to have known about the sceptre's installation in the new Parliament building. Subrahmanyam further said that she is elated to see the Sengol getting placed in the new Parliament building of "India's secular government". "I feel elated that it's not just a part of the 75th year, but it is going to be permanently placed in the building of our pride," she added. Read here: How will the new Parliament building be inaugurated? Top points The sceptre 'Sengol' will be presented to PM Modi during the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 by the 293rd head priest of Madurai Adheenam, Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal. During the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi will also release a coin and stamp and will address the gathering following which the Secretary-General Lok Sabha will deliver the Vote of Thanks to mark the closing of the ceremony. (With inputs from agencies) Udaipur superintendent of police (SP) of Friday suspended five policemen, including the station house officer of Gogunda police station in Udaipur, following the alleged death of a 25-year-old man in police custody on Thursday evening. Udaipur SP on Friday suspended five policemen, including the station house officer of Gogunda police station (Agencies) SP Vikas Sharma stated that more than five police officers have been suspended, while four others have been sent to the reserve police line due to negligence. Additionally, a letter has been written to the government requesting compensation and a government job for the victims relatives. The matter is being taken seriously, and the investigation has been assigned to deputy SP Jitendra Singh of Jhadol. Further actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, added SP Sharma. The deceased, Surendra Singh Devra, a resident of Devro ko Kheri, was detained by the police in Gujarat and taken to Gogunda police station after a case of kidnapping was filed against him by the relatives of a girl he had eloped with. He was kept at the police station for questioning when he suddenly fainted and was immediately rushed to MB Hospital. However, the doctors declared him dead, stating that he had suffered a cardiac arrest, according to SP Sharma. The body of the deceased was transferred to the mortuary, and a strong police presence was deployed in the area on Thursday night, the SP said. Meanwhile, the victims relatives staged a protest outside Gogunda police station, demanding compensation for the family. State president of Shree Rajput Karni Sena, Yogendra Singh Katar, also joined the protest and called for a case to be registered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code against the culprits. He further demanded compensation of 50 lakh for the victims family and a government job for at least one member. However, district collector Tarachand Meena and other administrative officers visited the village to assess the situation while SP Vikas Sharma engaged with the protestors and attempted to convince them to allow a postmortem examination to take place. After a lengthy discussion with the community and the deceaseds relatives, the officials persuaded them to proceed with the postmortem, assuring them that their demands would be addressed. Subsequently, the postmortem was conducted by a medical board, and the body was handed over to the relatives. Grappler-politician Babita Phogat on Friday denounced the entry of farm union leader Gurnam Chaduni in ongoing wrestlers' protest as shameful and unfortunate, alleging that the agitation has been taken over by anti-national forces and special political families. In a video shared by an India Today Group channel, Chaduni was heard giving an ultimatum to the Narendra Modi government to arrest Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment. Babita Phogat Chaduni warned that even a dog of BJP will not be able to enter Haryana if the WFI president is not arrested. Quoting the video of Chaduni, BJP leader Babita Phogat wrote in Hindi, It is very shameful and unfortunate that the movement which started from Jantar Mantar is now being led by an agitator like Gurnam Chaduni." "How can the movement, which abuses the largest political party of the world @BJP4India and the popular prime minister of India @narendramodi stand for women's rights? The movement that rose for the rights of women is being handed over to anti-national forces and political families!! she added. In the video posted on Twitter, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Gurnam Chaduni is heard targeting PM Modi and calling him out for not taking action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Chaduni played a key role in the farmers' protest against the Centre in 2020. Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Thursday sought action from the police on a complaint seeking registration of an FIR against the protesting wrestlers for allegedly levelling false allegations against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, PTI reported. The complaint claimed that the allegations made by the wrestlers against the WFI president were false and connected with direct or indirect way by any influence and personal gain. (With PTI inputs) It all began with an email inviting Sujay Sanan to a confidential briefing on new currency. PREMIUM It is definitely a life goal to leave a mark behind as an artist. I feel privileged to be able to do it in this way, says Sanan, 39. (Oliver K) He assumed there had been some kind of mistake; or worse, he thought, it might be a scam. But the message was signed by an official from South African Mint, a subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank, so he replied. After a string of follow-ups in late 2019, he found himself in the lobby of a luxury hotel in Cape Town. He was guided to a boardroom, directed to his seat. On the table before him was a folder labelled Top Secret. I felt like a secret agent, says Sanan, 39, smiling. It turned out that SA Mint had contracted an agency to compile a list of artists whose work had represented, in a significant way, the countrys natural history and conservation efforts. The Cape Town-based Indian artist has spent a decade engaging with nature and wildlife through his art, in mediums ranging from acrylic ink to watercolours, graphite and 3D artworks, so its no surprise that he was on the list. The project itself, when he realised its scale, took his breath away. An invitation like this usually means that your work might feature on a commemorative coin or a collectors edition of some sort, he says. Little did I know that this was an opportunity to have my work engraved on lakhs of circulation coins. The 5-rand coin. (Oliver K) Sanans drawing of a southern right whale and her calf was recently selected as the art for South Africas new 5-rand coin (replacing the wildebeest). The competition was open to all South African citizens and residents. Sanan is the latter. Currency forms a strong part of a countrys visual language, so it is an honour to be part of history like this, he says. The southern right whale is an endangered species that inhabits oceans south of the Equator. Every year, this countrys southern coast, from Cape Town to Mossel Bay, serves as a sanctuary for newborn calves and their mothers, who typically spend six months there, from June to December, before moving north into cold waters, and returning in June. Sanans drawing on the 5-rand coin depicts this calving phase, itself a major conservation success. Amid extensive whaling its called the right whale because it was considered the right whale to hunt, since it yielded huge amounts of oil and baleen the species saw numbers dip as low as 300 in 1920, before global protection laws were passed in 1935. These whales are still endangered, but their population now stands at an estimated 10,000, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Hopefully, more of the world will see this as a sign to conserve more of the planets natural heritage, Sanan says. It is definitely a life goal to leave a mark behind as an artist. I feel privileged to be able to do it in this way, and to be accepted as part of a country I love so much. *** Its been a long migration for Sanan, in many ways. He was born in a small village outside Mashobra in Himachal Pradesh, and spent most of his youth in the picturesque, apple-growing districts of Spiti and Kinnaur. He graduated from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, in 2006; met his partner Sophia Olivia Sanan, a cultural policy consultant from South Africa, in Delhi, in 2012. They planned a trip to SA together soon after. Love, he says. I moved here because I fell in love and Im still in love. They now have a five-year-old son Cedrus (named after the deodar trees around which the artist grew up). The topography of Cape Town tablelands, flatlands, coastal land and bay areas as well as its flora and fauna, had a profound impact on Sanans art. Living next to the Table Mountain National Park, he has access to some of the last remaining Afromontane forests in the region. The Cape Floristic Region near the southern tip of South Africa is the worlds smallest biome (or biogeographical unit), with a staggering diversity of plants and a large proportion of these endemic, found nowhere else on earth. Inks and prints on paper by him titled Cape Fox Rocklands Pass; Succulent Tortoise conophytum; and Cape Fur Seal, Kalk Bay Harbour. (Images courtesy Sujay Sanan) The ocean is this enigmatic space that connects our coastlines with those of Antarctica. I dream of the massive mammals that inhabit the cold dark waters, how they are connected to currents and upwellings. We are so tiny in comparison. The sense of scale is so dramatic. One can open ones eyes and still find oneself in a dream, Sanan says. Since 2014, Sanan has built a vibrant art practice there. In a sense, he has never lived far from the wilderness, he says, and so nature is a driving force in his work. I dont see myself as separate from nature. In animals and plants, in fact, I see the values of interdependence and symbiosis that I value in human relationships as well. His artworks have found their way into private collections in eight countries. He has been part of fundraising auctions held by NGOs such as WWF and Wavescape. His next show, he says, will reflect his engagement with Indian wildlife and ancient artistic traditions. Is his art, then, also a form of activism? What you see is my love for life as it exists and has evolved on earth, Sanan says. If there is a mission, it is to connect people with the wonders of the living planet. Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In Actor Surveen Chawla is among the Indian celebrities returning to the Cannes Film Festival this year. Surveen arrived in the French Riviera town to attend the 76th edition of the prestigious festival and shared her first pictures with fans on social media. After Sara Ali Khan, Surveen is the other desi star who chose a traditional ensemble - a sunshine yellow-coloured lehenga set styled with striking jewels and glam picks. Scroll through to see all the photos. Surveen Chawla wears a yellow lehenga in first pictures from the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. (Instagram) Surveen Chawla's Indian Look at Cannes impresses netizens Surveen posted her first pictures from the Cannes Film Festival on Instagram with the caption, "When at Cannes, shine brighter than the sun [yellow heart emoji]. Thanks to my most amazing team for making my vision come to life." The images feature Surveen glowing in the French Riviera, dressed in an embellished lehenga set from the shelves of the designer label Seema Gujral. Sukriti Grover styled Surveen's first look from Cannes. After Surveen shared the photos, the post garnered much love from her followers. A user wrote, "Uff yeh ladki [fire emojis]." Another commented, "Best Indian look." A fan remarked, "You are so gorgeous." A few others posted heart and fire emojis to praise the star's traditional look. Regarding the design details, Surveen's lehenga set features a bralette blouse with a plunging neckline, side and back cut-outs, a fitted bust, and shimmering embellishments. She styled it with a matching lehenga skirt featuring a high-rise waist, a voluminous layered silhouette, sequin and beaded adornments embroidered in a chandelier design, and a floor-grazing hem length. Surveen gave a finishing touch with a see-through tulle cape-style drape featuring billowy sleeves and a long train at the back. A layered necklace, matching floral hath phool, statement rings, and high heels rounded off the accessories with the traditional ensemble. Lastly, Surveen chose a pulled-back bun, kohl-lined eyes, mauve lip shade, mascara on the lashes, subtle smoky eye shadow, darkened brows, blushed cheekbones, dewy base, and beaming highlighter for the glam picks. On Sunday, when the national headlines are saturated by the political squabble between the Centre and the Opposition, and the new Parliament is finally inaugurated, two women who have won laurels for our nation will likely be banished to the margins. PREMIUM Protesting wrestlers Sangeeta Phogat, Sakshi Malik ,Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia pay a visit at Rajghat , New Delhi, May 18, 2023 (Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times) No matter which side of the ideological divide you are on when it comes to who should have done the honours for opening the abode of Indian democracy, there is only one side to be on when it comes to women flagging something as grave as entrenched and institutional sexual abuse. Every morning at the crack of dawn, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, world champion medallist and Olympic medallist, respectively, first head to a stadium close to the pavement in central Delhi that has been their home for the last month. There, they train for the upcoming Asian Games in September. Then they return to the protest site, cheek by jowl with workers unions, displaced Manipuri citizens, idli vendors, camera units and police. Its been over one month since their movement to demand action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian and the man who helms the Wrestling Federation of India, began. Does Singh who faced multiple criminal cases not gravely lower the dignity of the new Parliament? You can argue that the wrestlers movement has made some missteps. Allowing Opposition politicians on their stage something they refused to do the first time they protested would be top of that list. But, on the other hand, they could turn around and ask, how you expect a small group of women, no matter how strong, to sustain their cause as the media moves on to the next story, and those in power look the other way. You could also pull out a list of questions, something that always happens with women who break the silence on sexual harassment. For example, why did Sakshi Malik invite Singh to her wedding if he was an abuser? Why did the women remain quiet for so long? Why are more women not on record? But all you have to do is wait for Singh to unleash his vitriol for you to instinctively separate right from wrong, and just from unjust. It also helps you understand why it is so difficult and frightening for young women to confront Singh directly. Armed with the ownership of scores of private educational institutions and the audacity to openly criticise the powerful Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, Singh wears his clout on his kurta sleeve. Most recently, Singh likened Vinesh Phogat to Manthara from the Ramayana. Manthara, Queen Kaikeyis hunchbacked help, convinced her that the throne was rightfully that of the latters son Bharat and that stepson and crown prince Rama should be sent into exile. So, is Singh casting himself as Lord Rama? Curiously, Singh invoked Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Trump was convicted in one such case in the last fortnight and asked to pay $5 million to his accusers. Singhs analogy, therefore, would have been hilarious if it were not so tragic. In an interview with a local channel, the clips of which are now viral, Singh purportedly demands that the wrestlers return their prize money, not their medals, because the medals will sell for just 15 rupees. How does the BJP, defined by muscular nationalism, feel about such language, irrespective of its opinion on the guilt or innocence of Singh in this case? Singhs impunity is also revealing. In 2004, he was replaced as a candidate by Ghanshyam Shukla, who was killed in a road accident. Shuklas wife Nandita alleged murder in a letter to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The matter dragged on in court for years. As a result, four criminal cases are pending against Singh. The wrestlers plan to organise a womens mahapanchayat on the same day the new Parliament is officially declared open. This might be a mistake. To rally the numbers, they would again have to fall back on the network of Opposition parties, many of whom are boycotting the inauguration. Their movement will be devoured by the political clashes of the day. But as Parliament makes a new beginning, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the Sengol that Jawaharlal Nehru did in 1947, I hope he intervenes on behalf of the wrestlers. Singhs coarse attack on his female accusers sullies all that Parliament is meant to stand for. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal Many of this columns readers will be reading this edition around the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating Indias new parliament building. Lest there is any confusion, this author believes that the Central Vista project of redoing the physical infrastructure that is the seat of power of the Indian state is a much-needed upgrade. At the same time, it will be naive to believe that the current regime has not given a political undertone to the project. PREMIUM The political imagery of the prime minister inaugurating the new parliament must be seen along with various other images of him signifying a rejuvenation of the Indian state under the current governments tenur(ANI Photo/Ayush Sharma) The political imagery of the prime minister inaugurating the new parliament must be seen along with various other images of him signifying a rejuvenation of the Indian state under the current governments tenure. They include things such as the prime minister speaking to large audiences in (even if orchestrated) public events in high-income countries, flagging off of new-age infra such as Vande Bharat trains and newly built highways, and last but not the least, inaugurating overhauled and newly-built sites of Hindu pilgrimages such as the Kashi Vishwanath corridor and the reconstruction work at Kedarnath. Of course, the biggest image in the last category, Modi inaugurating the Ram temple at Ayodhya, is yet to come, and it will come before the 2024 general elections. Each of these politically motivated optics causes of a lot of heartburn to the left-liberal end of the political spectrum in India, which despite the BJPs electoral dominance, continues to be a voice to reckon with in Indias public discourse. The running refrain of this lot seems to be that such optics are aimed at either creating a hype out of nothing extraordinary (mostly for infrastructure projects) or shifting the public imagery of state power decisively towards the Hindu right (referring to the overt display of religiosity by the prime minister). While there is an element of truth to such claims, especially of the latter variety, this weeks column will try and argue that the political optics of such acts are not as important as the left-liberal critiques assume, in determining the BJPs larger political fortunes. This phenomenon is best explained by a crude paraphrasing of one of Indias most eminent historians Ranajit Guhas essay dealing with the historiography of colonial India. In Dominance without Hegemony: History and Power in Colonial India, Guha, who passed away last month, argued that the colonial state was based on dominance without hegemony, since coercion, not persuasion, was the main route through which political control was exercised. Large parts of Indias population, especially from the perspective of a parliamentary majority, do not find the BJPs political imagery selling the prime minister as a perfect amalgamation of Hindutva, Indias growing soft-power and claims of an unprecedented overhaul of Indias infrastructure prowess, as repulsive as the left-liberal voices do. Their lack of anger about such optics, perhaps even an appreciation for them, however, does not mean that they will vote for the BJP for eternity. This is what puts the BJP in a unique situation of being in a position of hegemony (for its ideological worldview and its political imagery) without political dominance (read always winning elections). At the crux of the BJPs Hindutva doctrine is the assertion that the so-called western understanding of secularism forces a wrong separation of the 'church and the state' and India being a civilizational state has every right to fuse its religious heritage into all activities of the state. While our founding fathers were successful in ensuring that India did not adopt a theocratic model of state like Pakistan, the actual debate, at least in terms of political praxis was far from settled even during the early years of independence. One of the best examples of this difference can be seen in a disagreement between Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad over the latters decision to participate in the inauguration of the newly constructed Somnath temple in Gujarat. My dear Rajendra Babu, I am greatly worried about the Somnath affair. As I feared, it is assuming a certain political importance. Indeed, references have been made to it internationally also. In criticism of our policy in regard to it, we are asked how a secular Government such as ours can associate itself with such a ceremony which is, in addition, revivalist in character. Questions are being put to me in Parliament and I am replying to them saying that Government has nothing to do with it and those persons who are connected in any way are functioning entirely in their personal capacity," Nehru wrote in a letter to Prasad on April 22, 1951, making clear that he did not approve of the constitutional head of state participating in a religious function. Prasad saw nothing wrong in his participation. One can legitimately argue that the Nehru-Prasad debate over public display of religious affiliation has been settled more in favour of Prasad than Nehru with even Nehrus great-grandchildren making it a point to visit religious places of course, they are not the only ones who do it as part of their election campaign. It is a little rich to believe that a debate that Nehru could not win will be won by a bunch of left-liberal intellectuals. To be sure, one can argue that the settlement of this debate has not happened on similar lines across the country. The fact that chief ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are, by and large, rationalists if not outright atheists suggests that refusal to partake in public display or religiosity is not a liability in the Dravidian landmass of the country as it is in other parts of India. The BJPs failure to win the recent Karnataka elections despite a shrill Hindutva campaign is yet another proof of this fact. But it is feasible for a party to win a parliamentary majority in India without winning in the south. Does a hegemonic status for India of India being inseparable from the notion of Hindutva mean that the BJP has a permanent insurance in the rest of the country? Nothing could be further from the truth. The primacy of Hindutva rhetoric in the BJPs political polemics notwithstanding, its top brass, especially the prime minister, is well aware of the fact that a hegemonic status for its cultural nationalism is not enough to win elections for the party. This is especially true for ensuring that the have-nots (to avoid technical debates on whether or not they are to be counted as the poor) continue to vote for the BJP in large numbers. It is this realisation, more than anything else, that has led to the current BJP government steering clear of investing completely in a Reagan-Thatcher-style economic policy framework, despite many pundits predicting this course when Narendra Modi won a parliamentary majority in 2014. The last edition of this column elaborated on this fact by arguing that the BJP continues to be electorally vulnerable to promises of income support programmes by opposition parties in the states. Does this mean that the BJPs sustained investment in the cultural nationalism optics is inconsequential for the larger trajectory of Indias political evolution? Not really. The best way to understand the BJPs, and its ideological parent the RSSs, cultural nationalism push in the public and intellectual realm is to see this as part of a carefully orchestrated plan to purge the old elite consensus which still has a semblance of Nehrus worldview with an idea which sees nothing wrong in redrawing constitutional contours with the brush of majoritarianism. For better or worse (depending on how one sees it) this will change the institutional construct of India as we have known it since 1947. The only point this column wants to make is that the eventual success or failure of this project will be decided by politics on the material condition of the masses rather than polemics on the cultural politics of the BJP. Old-school Marxists will agree that this is nothing but a reiteration of the primacy of economic base over superstructure argument. Every Friday, HTs data and political economy editor, Roshan Kishore, combines his commitment to data and passion for qualitative analysis in a column for HT Premium, Terms of Trade. With a focus on one big number and one big issue, he will go behind the headlines to ask a question and address political economy issues and social puzzles facing contemporary India. The views expressed are personal Apple has revealed the complete schedule for its most anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference of this year (WWDC23) including the timings of each event. The annual event, which unveils the latest announcements of the tech giant, will be held from June 5-9. The online programme will give developers an opportunity to know more about the updates and features coming to Apple products. Every year, Apple introduces a variety of hardware and software innovations at WWDC.(REUTERS) WWDC 2023 schedule: Apple Keynote - June 5, 10 am PDT (10:30 pm IST) One of the biggest events of the Cupertino-based company will kickstart with a keynote address which offers a sneak peek into the updates of 2023. This years list is expected to launch iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17. The keynote address, most likely to be hosted by CEO Tim Cook. It is available to watch on apple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, and YouTube. 2. Platforms State of the Union - June 5, 1.30 pm PDT (June 6, 2 am IST) Following the keynote, Platforms State of the Union will allow developers to have an in-depth view of the new technologies and updates coming on Apple platforms. People can livestream it on the Apple Developer app and website. 3. Apple Design Awards - June 5, 6.30 pm PDT ( June 6, 7 am IST) The Apple Developer app and website will showcase the Apple Design Awards, which will appreciate and honour the art, creativity, and technical expertise of Apples developer community. Developers can take online lab appointments with Apple experts to clear technical and design queries. WWDC 2023 will also have 175 deep dive videos while Apple engineers and designers will host discussions on Slack to help build the developer network and answer their questions. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled Jugalbandi, a new generative Artificial Intelligence-driven chatbot on mobile devices, which is here to help the people residing in villages of India have easier access to government services. The chatbot is being developed in collaboration with Microsoft Research and the government-backed AI4Bharat, an open-source language AI center based at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and OpenNyAI. A villager in Haryana using Jugalbandi AI chatbot on WhatsApp.(Microsoft/Youtube) Microsoft explained the vision behind the bot in its blog published Tuesday, saying that though business and public life in India are largely conducted in English, merely 11 per cent of the population speaks the language, while 57 per cent of the population speaks Hindi. That leaves vast numbers of the population unable to access government programs because of language barriersJugalbandi offers all Indians easy access to information in the local language through a mobile phone, the company said. What are the features of Jugalbandi? 1)People associated with Jugalbandi have hailed it as a chatbot plus plus since it's like a personalized agent. 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, said Abhigyan Raman, a project officer at AI4Bharat. 2)The bot has to be served with relevant prompts to generate answers. The new generation AI bots are hailed as more efficient due to their ability to present a consolidated answer instead of giving a long list of links to plough through, like in traditional web searches. 3)Jugalbandi in Hindi refers to a duet between two musicians in Indian classical music. The AI-driven assistant is powered by language models from AI4Bharat, a government initiative. It can be accessed through the mobile messaging system WhatsApp, which makes it easy to operate, the company said. 4)The made-in-India chatbot, currently in its nascent stage, is aimed at providing government assistance tools at the fingertips of mobile users. So far, it understands 10 of the 22 official Indian languages and covers 171 government programs. How does it work? Microsoft explained that one has to send a text or audio message to a WhatsApp number, which initiates the chatbot. The message is transcribed to text using the AI4Bharat speech recognition model, then it is translated into English by the Bhashini translation model trained by AI4Bharat. Bhashini was launched by the government in July 2022, to provide language solutions as digital public goods so that people can access the internet and digital services in their own language through emerging technologies, Microsoft explained. Its underlying technology is OpenAIs ChatGPT, therefore, based on the prompts, information on the relevant government scheme is retrieved, the answer is translated into Hindi, then it is synthesized with the AI4Bharat text-to-speech model and sent back to WhatsApp and the villagers ear, the tech giant said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a heartwarming testament to the limitless power of love, an extraordinary Indian-Swedish couple demonstrated its unyielding strength. Indian artist Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia fell in love with Swedish woman Charlotte. Later he travelled all the way from India to Sweden to reunite with her. Now, his story is viral again. Man travels from India to Sweden on cycle to reunite with his love.(Instagram/@mignonettetakespictures) Instagram user @mignonettetakespictures shared their love story on Instagram. In the post, she wrote, "Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia was a small yet brilliant artist in India. His work even reached all the way to Sweden where a 19-year-old student named Charlotte lived. In 1975 she drove for 22 days in a van to go see his artwork and get him to draw a portrait of her. As he was drawing he was possessed by her beauty and the two fell in love. They soon got married but Charlotte had to go all the way back to Sweden and Pradyumna was unable to come with her." Also Read: Man shares how gift from late grandma started his love story They further added, "In January 1977, he decided to sell all of his belongings, buy a bicycle and bike from India to Sweden. The bike ride took him 4 months and 3 weeks. He cycled for around 70km (44 miles) every day. He was eventually reunited with his love in Sweden where they had kids and continued to live the rest of their lives together." Take a look at the post here: This post was shared on May 5. Since being shared, it has been liked close to two lakh times. The share has also received several comments. Check out a few comments below: An individual wrote, "Wonderful commitment from Mahanandia. Great spirit." A second added, "You know thats pure love." A third shared, "God bless bothh." "That, that is what love can do to someone," expressed a fourth. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is always vigilant in assisting passengers in various situations. Their prompt thinking and actions have frequently saved lives. Now, another such instance where a RPF constable helped save woman's life has taken over social media. The incident took place at Ganjbasoda railway station in Madhya Pradesh. RPF constable saves life of a woman.(Instagram/@RPF_INDIA) "Constable Dhirendra Singh, posted at Ganjbasoda railway station, saved a woman passenger boarding a moving train from falling between the platform and the train. Passengers, please do not try to board or deboard a moving train, your small mistake can cause a big accident," wrote RPF as they shared the video on Twitter. Watch the video below: This video was shared just a few days ago. Since being posted, it has been viewed over 16,000 time. More than 700 people have also liked the video. Several have also shared comments on it. Check out a few reaction below: An individual wrote, "Very good work by RPF personnel. Thanks." A second shared, "Great work, proud of you." A third added, "Good work done." "Excellent," expressed a fourth. In this fast-paced modern lives, there are moments when we yearn for a respite, a chance to reconnect with nature. While vacations and short getaways offer temporary relief, maintaining a connection with nature amid our routine poses its challenges. However, an individual from Northern California embraced a remarkable transformation in his lifestyle, driven by a deep desire to safeguard nature. Man from USA left his job to live in a treehouse.(Instagram/@Robert Breton) 35-year-old Robert Breton was a supermarket cashier in Northern California reported The Metro. However, he wanted to 'preserve nature as a whole' and started living remotely in 2011. Breton travelled throughout the US in his van and finally decided to settle in Hawaii. Breton bought the land using the earnings he made through TikTok. It took him two years to build his 200-sq foot treehouse. "The tree house is my living space and I have a bedroom, kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Its definitely liveable, beautiful, and functional I collect rainwater off the roof to drink and it flows into the kitchen and bathroom. Ive also got solar panels for electricity, I use it for my kitchen and wi-fi to make TikToks I dont miss a thing from my old life really," Breton told The Metro. Breton also regularly shares videos and pictures of him from his treehouse. Take a look at one of his videos here where he shared how he lives entirely on rainwater. Watch the video below: This video was shared just a few days ago. Since being posted, it has been liked close to 20,000 times. Many have also shared comments on the post. Check out a few reactions here: An individual wrote, "Man I wish I lived like you." A second added, "We live way up in the mountains, and have a creek running through property for our water! But definitely like your setup." A third shared, "I want this life." What do you think about it? Firdous Ashiq Awan resigned from Imran Khan's party on Friday over the recent violent and "terrorist activities and said the former prime minister and Pakistan cannot go together, becoming the latest senior leader to quit the opposition party. Firdous Ashiq Awan(AFP) Awan, 53, served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting from 2019 to 2020. She is the latest politician who resigned from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Awan, the former Federal Minister for Population Welfare, said she was parting ways with the PTI over the partys violent and terrorist activities. I believe that the martyrs their love and the countrys respect are a part of our faith. Those who disrespected martyrs attacked Pakistans foundation and ideology," she said. Imran Khan and Pakistan cant go together, she was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. Her resignation came after other top PTI leaders - including the party's Secretary General Asad Umar, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry and former minister for human rights Shireen Mazari - parted ways with the main opposition party. They condemned the actions of Khan's supporters who attacked and torched sensitive defence installations across Pakistan on May 9. 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. 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. 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. British Airways was forced to cancel more of its short-haul flights from Heathrow on Friday following a computer outage that knocked out parts of its service on Thursday, just as UK travelers prepare for one of the busiest travel periods over an extended weekend. While British Airways didnt specify the number of canceled flights, disruptions reached 128 scrapped services on Thursday and another 35 on Friday.(REUTERS) 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, the airline said in a statement. While British Airways didnt specify the number of canceled flights, disruptions reached 128 scrapped services on Thursday and another 35 on Friday, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. Heathrow Airport, where British Airways is based, said on Twitter that technical problems are impacting some departing and arriving flights. The disruptions come just as travelers across Europe gear up for one of the biggest travel weekends, with many countries enjoying a public holiday on Monday. Airlines and airports have said theyre better prepared to handle the massive surge in bookings than they were a year ago, when the post-pandemic rebound overwhelmed the industry and led to thousands of canceled flights, misplaced luggage and long lines at airports from Heathrow to Amsterdam to Frankfurt. The Colorado National Guard will conduct a formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons flyovers across the state on Monday, honouring Memorial Day and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. (ALSO READ: The role of African Americans in Memorial Day's birth: Uncovering the contested origins) Colorado National Guard flyovers(Representative Image) A Century of Aviation in Colorado This year's flyovers also celebrate a significant milestone - the Colorado National Guard's 100 years of aviation in the state. From biplanes to F-16s, the Colorado Air National Guard has been a pioneer in leveraging aviation for state and national defence, continually adapting and innovating to remain "Always Ready, Always There". (ALSO READ | Memorial Day spoiler alert: Potential tropical disturbance stirs up the Atlantic ahead of 2023 hurricane season) Memorial Day Flyovers: Tradition and Training Flyovers have become a tradition during patriotic holidays, demonstrating commitment and support to the community, state, and nation, as well as showcasing the air power of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air National Guard. These flyovers are conducted at no additional cost to taxpayers, serving as training for pilots. The 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard flies and maintains the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon aircraft under the Air Combat Command, standing alert 24/7 to protect the central U.S. from airborne threats. Where to Watch The flyovers are expected to occur between 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Monday, with the F-16 Falcons visible over several locations including Denver, Boulder, Brighton, Thornton, Parker, and Monte Vista, 9news reports. Specific events approved to receive a flyover include the Bolder Boulder Memorial Day Tribute in Boulder and the Adams County Veterans Memorial Grand Opening in Brighton, among others. Looking to the Future As the Colorado Air National Guard looks to the future, there is anticipation about potential transitions from the current F-16s to F-35s or F-15EXs. The 140th Wing is considering how to continue the strong tradition of aviation in Colorado, buoyed by a robust civilian aviation industry. I was unable to find specific community reactions to the planned flyovers. However, this event is part of a wider tradition of Memorial Day observances, and typically these events are well-received as a show of respect and remembrance for those who have served their country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released a cache of files relating to late Queen Elizabeth II's travels to the US, and threats made to her during a 1983 visit to California. Queen Elizabeth II. The files showed how the FBI, which helped secure the monarch's safety during her visits, was worried about threats made by the paramilitary group called Irish Republican Army (IRA). According to the investigation agency, the threat was made to a police officer in San Francisco, who frequented an Irish pub in the city. The files revealed that the officer warned federal agents about a call from a man he had met at the venue, reported the BBC. The officer said the man told him he was seeking revenge for his daughter who "had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet". The threat came on February 4, 1983 - about a month ahead of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip's visit to California. The queen and her husband visited the west coast of the United States in February and March that year. Four years earlier in 1979, IRA paramilitaries opposed British rule in Northern Ireland and killed Louis Mountbatten, the last colonial governor of India and an uncle of Philip, in a bomb attack. The file stated that the man claimed he was going to attempt to harm the queen either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, reported South African broadcaster ENCA. In response to the threat, the Secret Service had planned to "close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge as the yacht nears". Alternatively he "would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park", they added. The 102-page cache was uploaded to the Vault, the FBI's information website, on Monday, following a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by US media outlets. A group of civil rights organizations are challenging a new Florida voting law that they claim violates the Constitution by making it harder for Blacks and Latinos to participate in the 2024 presidential election. FILE PHOTO: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during the Florida Family Policy Council Annual Dinner Gala, in Orlando, Florida, U.S., May 20, 2023. 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. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo(REUTERS) The law, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, illegally restricts the activities of third-party voter registration groups that have helped hundreds of thousands of Florida residents register since 2018, according to a pair of lawsuits filed Wednesday and Thursday in federal court in Tallahassee. The groups say the law will chill their activities by imposing harsh fines for registration applications that are returned late and barring noncitizen volunteers from handling applications. It also criminalizes routine voter information retention, according to the suits. People of color are five times more likely than White residents in Florida to register to vote with help from a third-party organization, the groups say in one of the complaints adding that there is no question which Floridians will be most affected by these efforts. DeSantis signed the statute into law on Wednesday, the same day he made official his plan to challenge Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 election. Republicans have been passing similar laws across the US purporting to prevent election fraud, while critics say theyre aimed at making it harder for Democrats to vote. The governors office didnt respond to a message seeking comment. The lawsuit names dozens of county election officials as well as Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the states attorney general, Ashley Moody. We have not been served, Kylie Mason, a spokeswoman for Moody, said in an email. Byrds office didnt respond to a request for comment. ALSO READ| | U.S. President Biden and McCarthy close to deal on debt ceiling as deadline looms The complaints, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democrat-aligned Elias Law Group LLP, claim the the law known as Senate Bill 7050 violates the First Amendment right to free speech, the right of association and the federal Voting Rights Act. The case is Florida State Conference of Branches and Youth Units of the NAACP v. Byrd, 4:23-cv-00215, US District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Tallahassee). Drones have become a ubiquitous part of the war in Ukraine. Both sides use consumer quadcopters to track the enemy and drop grenades. Russia has used Iranian Shahed-136 drones to torment Ukrainian cities. In February Russia detected Ukranian drones deep in its territory . More recently Ukraine has been converting devices designed for the sport of drone-racing into small loitering munitions . Last year its forces released a video of a racing drone diving through an open doorway into a building occupied by Russian troops and exploding. A Ukrainian military drone team called Angry Birds claims to carry out half a dozen racing-drone attacks a day. How important could these improvised weapons become? PREMIUM A Ukrainian military drone team called Angry Birds claims to carry out half a dozen racing-drone attacks a day. How important could these improvised weapons become?(HT File) Drone-racing involves flying drones around an obstacle course at high speed. The sport has existed for around a decade and now has leagues in several countries. Racing drones are faster and more agile than the consumer models used by photographers: they can reach speeds of almost 250kph. Operators wear video goggles to get a pilots-eye view. The drones are also small: most weigh no more than 500g. But they can carry a payload, such as a grenade, of a kilo or so (although a heavy load reduces their speed and flight duration). Converting a racing drone for war involves adding extra battery packs to the top and a bomb underneath. Although a range of 500 metres is sufficient for racing, with a change of radio frequency their range can be extended to a few kilometres. Unlike other bomber drones, which can attack multiple times, modified racing drones can only be used once: they are blown up when they detonate their cargo. Their usefulness comes in attacking targets that are safe from vertical bombing. This includes Russian trenches, which usually have a bunker where the occupants can shelter from artillery fire. The weakness of these bombers, as with all drones, is their reliance on radio communication. Radio signals can struggle to reach underground areas. Videos stutter as they encounter interference and they are vulnerable to jamming. But Samuel Bendett, an analyst with CNA, an American think-tank, notes that although Russia and Ukraine are adept at this kind of electronic warfare, its effect is patchy. Racing-drone bombers are still useful. Small kamikaze drones armed with explosive warheads, also known as loitering munitions, are not new. America has supplied Ukraine with several hundred Switchblade 300s, a type of loitering munition. But commercial racing drones are cheaper and easier to procure than export-controlled Switchblades, and can carry a more powerful warhead. A Ukrainian non-profit group called Black Raven, which produces drones for Ukraines armed forces, recently assembled 20 kamikaze drones from commercial components. Their model costs just $700, compared with around $75,000 for a Switchblade. A Ukrainian activist claims to be raising funds to acquire 500 first-person-view attack drones for $351 each, while the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence is supporting a drive to fund another thousand. Many more kamikaze drones, both improvised and commercial, are likely to follow. Russian forces already use their own versions, although not to the extent of the Ukranians. Mr Bendett notes that the Russian Ministry of Defence recently organised a meeting with the Russian Drone Racing Federation. Other countries are taking note too. Elbit Systems, an Israeli firm, recently unveiled a military-grade quadcopter munition for indoor operations, such as clearing an occupied building of enemy troops. Small loitering munitions may appear to be a niche tool. But, as their use in Ukraine shows, an ultra-cheap guided weapon can be useful. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Pakistani authorities have placed former premier Imran Khan, his wife and dozens of party workers on a no-fly list, barring them from leaving the country, the latest crackdown in a stand-off with the government and the powerful military. Security officers escort Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as he appeared in Islamabad High Court, Islamabad, Pakistan.(REUTERS file) The government has imposed a temporary ban that can become permanent after an investigation into the nature of cases against them, Rana Sanaullah, interior minister, told reporters on Friday in Islamabad. The South Asian nation has seen its political turmoil intensify as Khans supporters attacked army properties this month after a brief arrest of the leader. The deepening political crisis is unfolding as Pakistan grapples with its worst economic distress in decades with default risks rising amid a stalled loan program with the International Monetary Fund. Also Read: Political chaos to prevail in Pakistan till September The last few weeks have seen a sweeping crackdown by the government on Khans Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf with several top leaders now in prison and more than two dozen having quit the party. Over 10,000 supporters have been arrested across the nation, according to Khan. Pakistan is also considering to ban his political party. Pakistans military plans to try the protesters in military court with 16 individuals handed over to the army for trials on May 25. The accused can face 3-14 years in jail under the armys law, said Sanaullah. 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. Arif Patel was found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the public revenue.(Representative image) Sock manufacturer Arif Patel, 55, was found guilty last month in what Britain's tax department described as one of the countrys 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 Majestys 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. "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 todays sentencing, said Eamonn ONeill, 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 gangs 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. A Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran and an Iranian diplomat imprisoned in Belgium were freed on Friday in an exchange mediated by Oman, both sides said. People hold pictures of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele during a protest against his detention in Iran, as he was sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on charges including spying, in Brussels, Belgium.(REUTERS) Aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was arrested on a visit to Iran in February 2022 and sentenced in January to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on charges including spying. Iranian diplomat Asadollah Assadi was convicted in Belgium in 2021 in connection with a foiled bomb plot in France and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Both countries rejected the charges against their citizen as fabricated. "As I speak, Belgium's Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium. If all goes to plan, he'll be with us this evening. Free at last," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in on Friday. "Last night Olivier was flown to Oman where he was looked after by a team of Belgian soldiers and diplomats. This morning he underwent a number of medical examinations to assess his state of health and to enable him to return in the best possible conditions", De Croo added. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described Assadi in a Twitter post as "our country's innocent diplomat who was illegally arrested against international law", and said he would return to Iran soon. The exiled National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), whose rally near Paris was the bomb plot's target, said the release of Assadi 15 years before the end of his sentence encouraged terrorism. It also said his release violated the judgment of Belgium's Constitutional Court that said the government had to inform victims before the transfer so that they had a chance to take it back to court. Oman's foreign ministry said earlier an agreement had been reached under which prisoners were released and transported from Brussels and Tehran to Muscat, the Omani capital, on Friday in preparation for their repatriation. The Gulf Arab country has good relations with both Iran and Western countries and has acted before as a mediator for the two estranged sides on matters such as prisoner swaps. Belgium's justice minister said at the time of Vandecasteele's conviction that it was based on fabricated evidence and amounted to retribution for the prison term given to Assadi. A treaty took force last month under which Belgian prisoners in Iran can serve their sentences at home and vice versa. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The 11-year-old boy from the state of Mississippi, the United States, who was shot by the responding police officer, following his 911 call for help, was discharged from the hospital Wednesday. The boy, identified as Aderrien Murry, was shot in the chest by an Indianola Police Department officer Saturday police, his mother Nakala Murry and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed to CNN. 11-year-old Aderrien Murry, who was shot and wounded by an Indianola Police Department officer on Saturday.(AP) The family has expressed anger over the incident and demanded that the police officer to be dismissed and charged with aggravated assault. Aderrien came within an inch of losing his lifeIts not fine that cops exhibit such behaviour and get away with this, Murray told CNN. How the event unfolded? Addrein was shot when the police responded to the child's own domestic disturbance call at his home. Murry said she asked her son to call the police around 4 a.m on Saturday, when the irate father of another of her children came to her home. The officer who arrived to help them, had his gun drawn at the front door and asked those inside the home to come outside, CNN quoted Murry as saying. Also Read: Frequent shootings put US mass killings on record pace Speaking about how her son met the tragedy, she said once he came from around the corner, he got shot. Murry said she couldnt understand the reason when he himself asked them to come out, which her son did, and then shot him. My son kept asking why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong? she added. The incident happened within a couple minutes after the officer asked the family to come outside. Addrein was treated at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he had to get a chest tube and placed on a ventilator. He is recovering now after being released from the hospital. Investigation CNN was told that the incident which was caught on police body camera video, was not released publicly since the investigation is still going on. As per the investigation department, the officer Greg Capers was sent on paid administrative leave till the investigation is completed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Ukraine war could last for decades, with long periods of fighting interspersed by truces, Russia's RIA news agency reported on Thursday. Russia's Deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.(Reuters) Read here: Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus It said former President Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Putin's powerful security council, had spoken during a visit to Vietnam. Medvedev often makes hard line comments and last month described Ukrainian authorities as an infection. "This conflict will last a very long time, most likely decades," RIA cited Medvedev as saying. "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 Moscow's claim that Ukraine is a Nazi state. Read here: Kyiv defences repel Russian drone attack: officials In January, Medvedev said if Russia were defeated it could trigger a nuclear war. A German tourist in Indonesia's Bali was apprehended and sent for mental health treatment after she allegedly stripped naked during a dance show inside a temple. Darja Tuschinski, 28, reportedly rushed past the guards and took off her clothes on Monday after being refused a ticket to the show at the Saraswati Ubud Temple. The South Asian nation has noticed an upsurge in foreign tourists being deported for acting or making gestures that the authorities claim hurt the religious sensibilities of Balinese Hindus.(Unsplash) The video doing rounds on the internet shows the woman walking past a group of dancers on stage before she violently unlocks a big set of gilt doors. After being accosted by a local man, Tuschinski walks off the stage to kneel next to a shrine as if in prayer. The audience stared in shock as she eventually made her way back to the stage. Security staff rushed over and detained Darja for disrupting their show and handed her over to the police in the Ubud district of the popular holiday island. Police also accused Tuschinski of failing to pay bills at multiple hotels during her holiday on the popular island. The foreigner is depressed because she has no money to finance her stay in Bali, police spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu told South China Morning Post. The Indonesian police added that Tuschinski also roamed naked around the guest areas of the resort where she was staying. However, they decided not to press charges against her. The officer further revealed that Tuschinski suffers from mental health issues, and had become stressed about money during her extended trip in Indonesia. The tourist was later taken to a psychiatric hospital in the town of Bangli after she refused to board a flight home. This comes as the island is introducing stringent regulations for visitors, who are found acting inappropriately. According to the outlet, the South Asian nation has noticed an upsurge in foreign tourists being deported for acting or making gestures that the authorities claim hurt the religious sensibilities of Balinese Hindus. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after Twitter's technical glitches marred Ron DeSantis's Presidential bid launch the platform's head of engineering, Foad Dabiri, has stepped down. It is still not known whether he was asked to go by his boss Elon Musk who faced severe criticism and embarrassment due to the technical issues. FILE - A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Dec. 8, 2022. (AP) Without sharing details or reasons, Foad Dabiri announced his exit on Twitter, 'After almost four incredible years at Twitter, I decided to leave the nest yesterday. The combination of the fantastic community, the impact it has, and its limitless potential sets Twitter apart. So, here is my pseudo-obligatory gratitude thread: #LoveWhereYouWorked. In a series of discreet tweets he called out his time at Twitter as post and pre acquisition and claimed the Musk era came with its fair share of challenges, but they also shared a grand mission and a team of extraordinary individuals. What truly made Twitter exceptional was, above all else, the people. He even admitted that Musk as a boss had made work 'challenging', with plenty of 'outside noise', but put a positive spin on the situation, saying he had learned enormously from the experience. A Bloomberg report quoted, David Sacks, who moderated a discussion between Elon Musk and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Twitter will keep experimenting with its audio platform Spaces to give political candidates a chance to connect with an audience, despite the technical glitches in a high-profile event. Musk and Sacks said the problems were due to 'server strain' and 'melting the servers', claiming that it was the largest event ever hosted online - but many pointed out that far larger events had been held without a hitch. The Twitter Spaces event was intended to kick off DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign. More than 500,000 people were waiting for more than 20 minutes for the event to start, and people who were trying to join were frequently kicked out. DeSantis and Musk joked that they broke the internet. The malfunction was widely mocked online and Sacks failed to challenge DeSantis on key points such as his fight with the Walt Disney Co., or constraints on what schools teach on race or sexuality, as well as the decision to allow only supporters of the candidate to ask questions. Sacks defended the discussion, saying it went perfectly after the initial fail and that the one-hour conversation wasnt enough to cover every issue. Musk has been silent over after the technical glitches but retweeted David Sacks tweet calling the event a success, @GovRonDeSantis announced hes running for president on Twitter. 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! Dabiri posted a lengthy thread, thanking his colleagues for their work and friendship. To say it was challenging at the outset would be an understatement. The change was massive and rapid; we came through and emerged stronger, thanks to the remarkable team that held the fort. Dabiri started a health tech company Wanda and after 5 years stepped down to join Twitter in 2019. 'Twitter is a place that defies comprehension,' he wrote. (With Agency Inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States is keen to maintain open lines of communication with China in the military domain to avoid misperceptions both during peace time and crises but Beijing is either rejecting or not responding to American requests, Ely Ratner, the assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs in the department of defence (DOD), said on Thursday. PREMIUM Chinese maritime law enforcement fleet led by a patrol and rescue vessel Haixun 06 patrols during a joint patrol operation in the central and northern waters of the Taiwan Straits, in Fujian province.(Reuters) Speaking at a Washington think tank event, Ratner said the American strategy in the Indo-Pacific was one of deterrence aimed to make the costs of conflict in the Taiwan straits too high for China, while ensuring that activities aimed at deterrence did not lead to escalation and were in line with the needs and preferences of allies and partners. It was due to this strategy that the US believes that a conflict across the Taiwan straits was neither inevitable nor imminent for the costs for Beijing were too high to bear at the moment. And our job is to keep it that way, Ratner said. The US administration has consistently maintained that it wishes to have open lines of communication with China. During their meeting in Bali, President Joe Biden and Chinas president Xi Jinping agreed to do so and announced a visit by Secretary of State Antony J Blinken to Beijing. ALSO READ: Biden calls for Washington-Beijing thaw very shortly But days before Blinken was to depart for China in February, the US discovered a Chinese surveillance balloon over mainland American territory, leading to public outrage and the trips cancellation. In recent weeks, there has been a thaw in ties with US NSA Jake Sullivan meeting senior Chinese Communist Party foreign policy figure Wang Yi in Vienna, renewing the prospect of sustained high-level US-China engagement. But this hasnt translated into the military domain yet. Absence of military engagement Ratner said that Lloyd Austin, secretary of defense, had emphasised the importance of these lines of communication. But unfortunately, we have had a lot of difficulty when we have proposed phone calls, meetings, dialogues. He said whether it was at the level of Secretary Austin, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mike Milley, Indo-Pacific command (INDOPACOM) commander Admiral John C Aquilino, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China Michael Chase, or other civilian or uniformed engagements, American requests have either been rejected or not answered. The US and DOD have had an outstretched hand on this question of military to military engagement but we have yet to have consistently willing partners. Ratner said that lines of communication were important both during peace time and during a crisis to prevent misperception and miscalculation and to prevent crises from spinning out of control. The aim of these mechanisms was to discuss how both sides thought about emerging domains and how they were conceiving their strategy in domains which may have high escalatory potential. On whether Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart, General Li Shangfu, during the Shangrila dialogue in Singapore in early June, Ratner said that Austin and DOD had initiated a request to meet with Li several weeks ago. That request has not been answered one way or the other. We are aware of what PRC (Peoples Republic of China) has said about the fact that Li is under CAATSA sanctions. What is indisputable is that those sanctions have no legal or technical bearing on whether he can meet with Austin in Shangrila. Frankly the ball is in their court. While saying that the US-China relationship was not similar to the US-Soviet relationship, Ratner brought in a Cold War analogy. The Cold War was a time of military rivalry between major powers. Folks often remember the intricate military to military mechanisms that were set up to manage that. But of course that came out of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The question for PRC is that do we need a major crisis because we take it seriously. Our argument is let us do it now and not wait for that to be the context. ALSO READ: US erroneous words and deeds to blame for state of ties, says Chinese FM The Taiwan question and deterrence Responding to a question on the situation in the Taiwan straits, Ratner first said that American policy had not changed. We have maintained our consistent behaviour under the Taiwan Relations Act, one China policy. We have a clear objective to maintain status quo in the Taiwan straits. We do not support Taiwan independence. I repeat: We dont support Taiwan independence. It is a talking point for critics of ours but it is not true. We want to maintain status quo. But Ratner added that under the same Act, the US had a commitment to provide Taiwan with defensive arms to defend itself as well as maintain Americas own capacity to resist efforts at coercion. We continue to do that through revisions of our force posture, through developments of new concepts, introduction of capabilities, our work with allies and partners. Where we are confident we are today is that deterrence is real and strong. That is why, Ratner said, Pentagon leaders have maintained regularly that they dont believe that conflict across the straits was either inevitable or imminent. And the reason for that is because we have done all these activities, because we believe deterrence is real... Deterrence is strong and costs of conflict for Beijing remain not something they would be willing to bearThis will be a challenge as PRC continues to modernise. We certainly feel a sense of urgency. But deterrence is strongand our job is to keep it that way. ALSO READ: On China's military drills around Taiwan, US urges restraint; Ready to meet Twin balance Ratner said that the a key test for the strategy of deterrence was the USs ability to maintain balance in its policy in two ways. The first was as it related to allies and partners. How do we make those sustainable where PRC remains a geographic, economic, political, historical, cultural reality for every country in the region? We are not asking partners to choose between US and China. We meet them where they are in terms of their security concerns, be it sovereignty or energy. We are focused on supporting their priorities of modernisation and believe that benefits us through stability in the region. Ratner claimed that the US was not trying to build a major anti-China coalition as critics alleged, and instead was adopting a unique approach. We are moving at a very rapid pace, but alongside our allies and partners. The US, he said, wasnt dragging its partners along but racing alongside them. The second test, Ratner said, was building deterrence but not engaging in deterrence activities in a way that they would lead an escalation or crisis. Getting the gears on that correct in a way that provides deterrent value in a way that is stabilising is a huge focus of ours. Lloyd Austin, the United States (US) secretary of defence, will visit India in early June to advance discussions on bilateral defence cooperation, Ely Ratner, the assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs in the department of defense said on Thursday. Lloyd Austin is the fourth US cabinet-level secretary to visit India this year, after Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, treasury secretary Janet Yellen and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo.(Reuters) Ratner, a key architect of the administrations defence posture in the region, also said that India and the US are now more strategically aligned than ever before and there is a clear directive from the top political leadership in the American system that the defence relationship with India was top priority and could not continue in business-as-usual mode. He hinted at major announcements during Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US on June 22, and expressed categorical support for co-production and co-development of defence systems to strengthen Indias indigenous capabilities. ALSO READ: Opportunity to deepen partnerships: US State dept on PM Modi's June visit This will be Austins second trip to India and his seventh visit to the Indo-Pacific since taking office in January 2021. Austin is travelling to Tokyo and then Singapore, where he will address the Shangrila dialogue before heading to New Delhi on June 4. The secretarys visit comes in the run-up to Modis state visit, where defence cooperation is expected to figure prominently among the outcomes. Austin is the fourth US cabinet-level secretary to visit India this year. Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, treasury secretary Janet Yellen and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo visited India in February and March. Speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent Washington DC think tank, in response to a question from HT, Ratner said Austins visit comes amidst a historic period in building out, deepening, modernising, advancing the US-India major defence partnership. He referred to the launch of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET) this January which has a major component on defence industrial cooperation, a recent visit by Indian defence secretary for bilateral consultations with top Pentagon officials, Austins upcoming visit, and Modis visit, which Ratner said, will be very rich. Acknowledging that there have been fits and starts in the domain of bilateral defence industrial cooperation, Ratner said, What we are seeing is closer than ever strategic alignment including on this question of what we have as a shared priority of deepening co-development and co-production and strengthening Indias indigenous military capabilities as it is looking to strengthen its own military, as it is looking to be a net security provider in the region, and as it is looking to diversify away from Russian systems. Ratner said these were all areas that the US supported. This not only allows us to deepen our engagement from a technology and a systems perspective but also operate together and deploy these systems more than we have previously. We are very excited. Ratner said that success in this area would require not operating in a business-as-usual mode. Our leaders from the president, national security adviser (NSA) to the secretary of defence downwards have said in the case of India, it is not business-as-usual. This is a major priority. In this particular area of co-production and co-development, with ICET as the foundational institution for that, we want to see results. The White House factsheet on ICET, released at the end of the NSA-level talks in January, had said that the US would conduct an expeditious review of an application from General Electric (GE) to jointly produce jet engines that could power jet aircraft operated and produced indigenously by India. Both sides believe that a green signal to GE would be an important symbol of the deepening strategic relationship and of the US commitment to the Make in India initiative and Indias quest for self-reliance. Ratner said that work is progressing in the area. On the questions of GE engines or other type of capabilities under defence capabilities under the ICET rubric, we are spending enormous amount of time on all this. We will be discussing all of this when the Secretary is in Delhi and are aiming to make major announcements when PM comes. Watch this space and you will know in a months time whether we succeed. Ratner served as deputy NSA to Joe Biden when he was vice president during the Barack Obama administration and is an influential figure in Pentagon. He has played a key role in supporting Japans quest for military modernisation, operationalising the Australia-United Kingdom-US (AUKUS) nuclear submarine deal, and deepening US defence cooperation with South Korea, Philippines and the Pacific Island countries in the past two years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy on Thursday appeared to be nearing 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. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy of Calif., exits the West Wing to talk with reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(AP) 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. The two sides met virtually on Thursday, the White House said. Republican negotiators have backed off plans to increase military spending while cutting non-defense spending and instead backed a White House push to treat both budget items more equally, a source familiar with the talk told Reuters. Biden said they still disagreed over where the cuts should fall. "I don't believe the whole burden should fall back to middle class and working-class Americans," he told reporters. House Speaker McCarthy told reporters Thursday evening that the two sides have not reached a deal. "We knew this would not be easy," he said. It is unclear precisely how much time Congress has left to act. The Treasury Department was warned that it could be unable to cover all its obligations as soon as June 1, but on Thursday said it would sell $119 billion worth of debt that will come due on that date, suggesting to some market watchers that it was not an iron-clad deadline. "They have suggested in the past that they would not announce auctions that they did not believe they had the means to settle," Gennadiy Goldberg, senior rates strategist at TD Securities in New York. "So I do think that's a positive note." Any agreement will have to pass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Democratic-controlled Senate. That could be tricky, as some right-wing Republicans and many liberal Democrats said they were upset by the prospect of compromise. "I don't think everybody's going to be happy at the end of the day. That's not how the system works," McCarthy said. The House adjourned on Thursday afternoon for a week-long break, and the Senate is not in session. Lawmakers have been told to be ready to come back to vote if a deal is reached. The deal would only set broad spending outlines, leaving lawmakers to fill in the blanks in the weeks and months to come. It would specify the total amount of military spending, which has been a key sticking point in the talks, one of the sources said. ALSO READ| Rishi Sunak says Suella Braverman's speeding offence not in breach of rules Biden has resisted Republican proposals to stiffen work requirements for anti-poverty programs and loosen oil and gas drilling rules, according to Democratic Representative Mark Takano. Representative Kevin Hern, who leads the powerful Republican Study Committee, told Reuters a deal was likely by Friday afternoon. 'TIME'S UP' Democrats on Thursday focused their attacks on what they said would be devastating cuts in federal aid for veterans -- ranging from healthcare and food aid to housing assistance -- if Republicans got their way in the negotiations. "Time's up for all of these games around here," Democratic Representative Don Davis, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said at a press conference. A U.S. default could upend global financial markets and push the United States into recession. 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. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said concerns about the debt ceiling had pushed up the government's interest costs by $80 million so far. 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. 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. He also said he had briefly spoken about the negotiations with former President Donald Trump, who has publicly urged Republicans to allow a default if they fall short of their goals. Biden has offered to freeze spending at current levels next year and proposed several tax increases to help curb the debt. Lawmakers on the parties' right and left flanks are growing frustrated. 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. ALSO READ| US defence secretary Lloyd Austin to visit India in early June, defence cooperation on agenda Some Democrats, meanwhile, say Biden has not been vocal enough about the downsides to Republicans' proposed spending cuts, in contrast to McCarthy who has been briefing reporters multiple times per day. "I would urge the president to use the power of the bully pulpit of the presidency," said Democratic Representative Steven Horsford. (Reporting by Nandita Bose, Jarrett Renshaw, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, Trevor Hunnicutt, Douglas Gillison, Gram Slattery, Dan Burns and Karen Brettell; writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone, Mary Milliken, Alistair Bell, Rosalba O'Brien, Nick Zieminski and Deepa Babington) Jamaican owner of Rustic Mountain Living rental company, is extremely miffed by ill-treatment from her Black American guests. The woman has decided to ban their short-term stays at her property. The Barefoot Mountain Lady" shared a TikTok video and highlighted her ordeal on the internet. Image for representation(Getty Images) She highlighted how Black American guests whom she hosted, behaved disrespectfully and expected special treatment. In the video, she informed she only ever had two Black American guests who behaved mannerly. The woman also says not all Black Americans are bad. ALSO READ| 14-year-old burns down school dorm after teacher confiscates her phone , 19 dead The incident is an example of how sometimes an entire group or ethnicity has to bear the consequences of a few people's bad actions. Meanwhile, the woman's decision has sparked outrage on social media. Internet users are accusing her of being stereotypical and encouraging similar mindset about Black Americans. Some people criticised the woman for taking to social media to talk about her personal decision. Internet users also discussed her inhospitable attitude while being in the hospitality industry. One Twitter user quoted the woman's video and implied she was misguided and influenced by white supremacists. However, the Jamaican woman is unaffected by the backlash and criticism. In another video, she refused to apologise or change her decision. Im not sorry, she said. You want to unfollow me? Block me? I dont care, she added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON His home is Bungoma, a small town in western Kenya, but his workplace is the world. Kevin, who asks that his real name be withheld to protect his credibility, has written about casinos in China without ever going there. He has reviewed weightlifters barbells, headphones and home-security systems he has never seen. Africas digital workers are rewiring the old geographies of labour. Freelances on online platforms can reach clients around the world, harnessing skills from blogging to web design. Others are hired by outsourcing companies, sifting data used to train chatbots and self-driving cars. Optimists hope that online work can set Africa on the path of services-led growth trodden by countries such as India and the Philippines. Pessimists worry such work will entrench injustices. PREMIUM Africans are drawn to the work by the flexibility and pay; others because they cannot find a conventional job(AFP file photo) Some are drawn to the work by the flexibility and pay; others because they cannot find a conventional job. There are evangelists for freelancing. Baraka Mafole, a student in Tanzania, organises training events and has written a book in Swahili about navigating online platforms. Now everyone is speaking about digital jobs, he says. In Kenya the governments Ajira programme runs support centres that aim to link a million Kenyans to online platforms and make the country a digital hub. Typical tasks include transcription, data entry, online marketing, or even writing essays for indolent students. Joan Wandera is a Nairobi office worker by day, and by night a virtual assistant for American businesses. It helps you learn a lot about other countries, she says. Sometimes it is potential clients who have learning to do. Some clients assume Africans cannot speak English, she sighs. Freelances, like the wider outsourcing industry, are fighting against a reputation of Africa as somewhere where you would not expect digital work to take place, says Mohammad Amir Anwar of the University of Edinburgh, who co-wrote a book about Africas digital workforce. Some African freelances use virtual private networks and fake names to pretend they are somewhere else. Power cuts and competition for gigs from cheaper workers in Asia and beyond create other challenges. The available data suggest that it will take time for Africa to become a continent of digital freelances. In 2019 Mr Anwar and colleagues estimated that there were 120,000 African workers on Upwork, the continents most popular platformfewer than in the Philippines. Most did not seem to be making any money. Outsourcing practices have also sparked ethical questions. At a Facebook content-moderation centre in Kenya, run by Sama, an outsourcing firm, workers told Time magazine that they were mistreated and misled about the nature of their work. A former employee has taken both companies to court, accusing them of union-busting, forced labour and human-trafficking. Sama discontinued its services for Facebook this year. Meta, Facebooks parent company, says it takes seriously its responsibilities to its content moderators. Technological change ricochets in unpredictable directions. Chat GPT a new AI tool, was trained with the help of Kenyan workers, who flagged up tens of thousands of passages of obscene and violent text. Could it one day make freelances such as Kevin redundant? 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Hyatt Regency Baytown-Houston marks the city's largest and only waterfront hotel located right off the iconic Fred Hartman suspension bridge and a 20-minute drive from the energy-rich city of Houston and notable tourism destinations such as NASA's Space Center Houston and Kemah Boardwalk. The seven-story hotel offers 208 modern guestrooms with tall window views of the Houston Ship Channel, the marina, or the Fred Hartman bridge. The property offers a full-service dining option, Anchor & Hearth Woodfired Kitchen, serving classic American dishes and local favorites. Bayland Lounge, the hotel's open-concept lobby bar welcomes guests with creative cocktails and bar bites. Primed for large scale events, the hotel offers more than 18,000 square feet of versatile meeting and events space including a divisible 12,000-square-foot ballroom space featuring 20-foot ceilings and a waterfront terrace, perfect for conferences, galas or weddings. A 24-hour fitness center is also available to guests along with an outdoor pool. Hotel website Hyatt Regency Baytown Houston 100 Convention Ctr Wy Baytown, TX 77520 United States +1 281-987-1234 Hotel Website Sandpiper Lodging Trust ("SLT") is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Michael T. Helgeson as Vice President of Capital Markets. Mr. Helgeson is responsible for the education, promotion, marketing, and sales of Sandpiper Lodging Trust to Registered Investment Advisor firms across the country. Prior to his arrival at Sandpiper, Mr. Helgeson held the Regional Vice President of Capital Markets role for the AOG Institutional Diversified Fund (AOGFX). This closed-end fund focused on private real estate, private equity, and private credit/debt. Helgeson was responsible for the education and sales of this fund solely to Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms, and their employed Investment Advisor Representatives (IARs). Prior to AOGFX, Michael served as Regional Director for Duncan Advisor Resources, responsible for the sale and promotion of long-term care, disability, and life insurance to independent insurance agents, and registered representatives of Cambridge Investment Research. From 2010 through mid-2019, Helgeson held both advisor and client-facing wholesaling positions with Jackson National (Banks & Regional Broker-Dealers), Transamerica (Regional Broker-Dealers), Capitas Financial (Banks and Independent Broker-Dealers), Black Creek Capital Markets (RIAs & All Broker-Dealers), and Globe Life (Direct to Consumer), in Denver, CO. His financial services sales experience includes variable annuities, mutual funds, REITs, 1031-exchanges, and life insurance. Mr. Helgeson holds a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mr. Helgeson holds active Series 7, 6, 65, 63 licenses, in addition to his Virginia resident life, health, long-term care, and variable contracts license. A magnificent location for a boutique hotel that deserves no less. With this philosophy in mind, Melia Hotels International continues to expand its renewed vision of luxury hotels in Milan, a city renowned for its art and design, and one of the must-visit destinations in Southern Europe. Following on from the success of the avant-garde ME by Melia, and just before one of the most anticipated hotels of this season opens its doors, the extraordinary Palazzo Cordusio by Gran Melia, the company has announced its recent project by its newer brand The Melia Collection, which will open in 2024, becoming the group's fifth hotel in this 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. About Melia Hotels International Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Melia Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Melia Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Melia, ME by Melia, Melia Hotels & Resorts, The Melia Collection, INNSiDE by Melia, Sol by Melia and Falcon's Resorts by Melia, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the "Affiliated by Melia" network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (Silver Class). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal's list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of "Europe's Climate Leaders 2021" by Financial Times. Melia Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market. For more information, visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com CHICAGO As a pioneer in destination wellness spa resorts for nearly 30 years, Miraval Resorts & Spas brings its core intention of empowering people to lead their best lives to the podcast space with todays launch of Miraval Life in Balance. The first podcast from the Miraval brand aims to guide audiences to cultivate wellness, intention and inspiration from anywhere in the world. Host Lauren Scruggs Kennedy, an American lifestyle and clean-living blogger, takes listeners on a virtual journey of insight and mindfulness to Miraval Resorts & Spas, where thought leaders, brand collaborators, and guests share their personal expertise on wellbeing practices and how they foster mindfulness in their everyday lives. Miraval resorts continue to empower guests with the tools they need to re-center their body and mind, bringing mindfulness best practices home. The Life in Balance podcast, with its guest roster of wellness industry leaders, is an exciting new layer to the impact we can make in supporting balance in people's lives. Susan Santiago, head of lifestyle and Miraval operations Source: Hyatt Centered around a core pillar of mindfulness, the podcast intentionally debuts during Mental Health Awareness month, and the first six episodes focus on the connection of body, mind and spirit and how consciously exploring these connections can make life more meaningful and joyful. Guests include Lauren Landerwerlin, a Miraval Authentic Circle member and loyal guest; Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, a 2023 Miraval DEI brand collaborator and founder of BIPOC mental health nonprofit The AAKOMA Project, Dr. Gregory Scott Brown, a psychiatrist and mental health author of The Self-Healing Mind, Elise Banks, a psychotherapist, and Mental Health Ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Jennifer Pastiloff, a best-selling author of On Being Human. A previous guest of the brands flagship Miraval Arizona location, Scruggs Kennedy uses her online presence to share her expertise on healthy living, and her passions for vulnerability, style, clean beauty and nutritious recipes. She has worked with several knowledgeable individuals in the space and inspirational companies, giving her insight into the intentionality of body and soul that Miraval looks to develop through their resorts, and now through this new podcast. This audio journey is now available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, among others. About Hyatt Hotels Corporation Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2022, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,150 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 72 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Residence Club, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval, Alila, Andaz, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Centric, and Caption by Hyatt; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt, and JdV by Hyatt; and the Inclusive Collection, including Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable when made, are inherently uncertain, and are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Kiraku, Inc. or Hyatt's control, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of their initial publication and neither party undertakes an obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements as actual events unfold, except to the extent required by applicable law. If one or more forward-looking statements is updated, no inference should be drawn that any additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. I recently listened to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman talk for 45 minutes about ChatGPT and the future of AI at a conference in San Francisco. Here are my top 10 takeaways: 1). The interface is just as important as the underlying technology. Natural language allows us to convey very complex concepts, and ChatGPT gives us the ability to communicate in very complex ways directly with machines, Sam said. I think this is what is causing a lot of us to be so impressed over the last couple months with ChatGPT. It's not just the answers it gives, but the way we can interact with it. Its been a while since weve had a powerful new way to effectively communicate with technology like this, and were just starting to see the opportunities that are opening up. 2). Timing is everything. Chatbots were big in 2017 and it was right in terms of what people wanted, but the underlying technology wasn't there. 3). We need to be careful with consumer-facing applications. We are very forgiving of other humans making mistakes, but have extremely little patience for computers making mistakes. This is what I'm hearing in in conversations with people like Scott Curran at Reneson Hotels who is using technology and AI to empower his staff, but making sure that his staff are the ones that are interacting with guests. I think we're going to see that for quite some time. We want to be really careful about the customer experience in hospitality - and that means maintaining a very high bar for quality on all guest touchpoints. 4). New problems need fresh perspectives. When asked about how to operate a business in new and quickly-changing environments, Sam said, People tend to bring too many of their past experiences to new problems. We need to bring fresh eyes to new problems. This could be an opportunity for those in hospitality to recruit others from outside the industry in. 5)."The idea that people could work remotely forever was one of tech's biggest mistakes." In Sams words, That experiment is over. Over the past few years, many techology companies got a lot of attention for encouraging their staff to work in a distributed way. Maybe thats not working anymore. This is something to track, especially for those providing hospitality. I think what Sam is getting at is the importance of gathering people together, which of course is good news for those that provide spaces to enable that gathering. 6). The best opportunities in AI are in creating new interface models for existing work. Co-pilots seem like the easy win across industries. There's been a lot of talk about AI co-pilots for things like software programming, but I've also heard about this in the hospitality context for people in service centers or call centers. I believe its a big area to track. 7). Fintech remains a huge area of opportunity If you can take friction out of payments it unlocks tremendous growth in the economy. This is especially true in hospitality. Think about that frictionless experience that we all want as we travel. Our tolerance for hassle when we pay keeps dropping as time goes on and we see better ways of transacting. 8). APIs are the future Our vision for the future is based on APIs that are simple and stable and lifts up the whole internet and our collective intelligence. The last bit of that seemed a little grandiose to me, but everything I've seen over my technology career is the more connectivity we have, the better it is for everybody within the hospitality ecosystem. 9). Get started with AI now - even if your company isn't We see a huge divergence in productivity between people at companies that embrace AI and those who don't, Sam said. Whether your business is doing anything with AI or not, you can certainly figure out how it impacts your work. 10). We need to treat AI seriously We have to treat this with extreme seriousness and there is a legitimate existential risk here. [Artificial general intelligence] is just different than anything weve seen before. A remarkable statement from the CEO of one of the leading AI companies! Artificial intelligence is developing so quickly that breakthroughs are happening each week now, instead of over months or years as in previous technology innovation cycles. In order to reach our goals and maintaining thriving hospitality businesses, I encourage you to focus on learning as much as you can about this technology and how it can and should be used in your organization. Stay informed with Josiah on the Hospitality Daily Podcast. For more on AI, read AI for Hotels: A Guide to Artificial Intelligence for Hospitality Leaders and view Hospitality Nets expert viewpoints here. Cloudbeds Wins 2023 Travel Tech Titans Award for Redefining the Future of Travel and Hospitality 18 industry experts and leaders awarded the hospitality management platform in the Late Stage Titan ($50M + funding) category 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, said Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds. 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. 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, said Gaurav Tuli, Partner at F-Prime Capital. 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. 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. 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. About Travel Tech Titans 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. For more information, visit www.traveltechtitans.com. Chicago, IL (60637) Today Sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 81F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some passing clouds. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. 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. BCC's physical therapy assistant program graduated eight students on Wednesday. BCC Pins 2023 Class of Physical Therapist Assistants See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. The eight graduates of Berkshire Community College's physical therapy assistant program were told there was more meaning behind their acronym of "PTA ." Vice President of Academic Affairs Laurie Gordy riffed off the acronym as way to provide the graduates advice to take with them. P is for patience, she said, because people will be coming to them vulnerable and in a lot of pain, and may respond to treatment one day and then differently the next. So to be effective, place the patient at the center of what you do, she said. Secondly, build trust, Gordy said, not only with patients to assist in the process of healing but also with co-workers. "The more they trust you the more invested they will be in the healing process," she said. And finally, A for adaptability, because in this field you have to think on your feet, Gordy continued, so adjust and be creative when it comes to problem solving. The importance of patient care echoed throughout each of the speakers' speeches at Wednesday night's pinning ceremony in the college's Connector Space. Bonnie Curtiss, a physical therapist in the acute rehabilitation department of Berkshire Medical Center, was the guest speaker. Curtiss has been a physical therapist for 33 years said a lot has changed except for one thing -- her passion to do her best and help those in need. She was chosen to speak because she exemplifies the values of caring, compassion, and lifelong learning and excellence needed in the profession, PTA Program Coordinator Michele Darroch said. "She is a clinical leader in the rehab unit and a neurodevelopmental therapist. She's been an instructor to many of our own students, and has been described as an excellent leader, a role model, and a mentor," Darroch said. Curtiss also echoed the importance of being patient-care focused by adding that the graduates will come across patients who will try their patience. "You will find most patients who will touch your heart and they will stay with you your entire career. You will also experience difficult patients, those who try your patience and challenge you," she said. "You need to build trust with your patients and being able to provide the rationale that you've learned for your intervention will go a long way." Although this career can be trying at times it is also rewarding, she said. "There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a patient after a stroke take steps again, or a patient after a spinal cord injury be able to transfer himself to a wheelchair and regain their mobility," Curtiss said. "You will experience these joys as a new practitioner. I am always in awe of what the human body and spirit can accomplish when you give them the opportunity to heal." She reminded the graduates to have empathy and embrace their patients' differences whether it's cultural or religious because they always find a way to teach you. The graduates concluded the ceremony by honoring Darroch, who is retiring this year, with a slideshow presentation. "She has a neverending commitment to the success of her students and every single one of us are proof of that," graduate Crystal Townsend said. Graduates Hannah M. Brennan James C. Callaway Molly M. Coughlan Shelby L. Glasier Crystal Y. Harrington Dawn M. Kent Crystal L. Townsend Teri A. Woodland Clark Art Hosts Conversation on 'Outsider Art' WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. On Sunday, June 4 at 2 pm, the Clark Art Institute hosts a conversation between scholars Kaira M. Cabanas and Raphael Koenig, who address art and mental health in a global context, in conjunction with the exhibition "Portals: The Visionary Architecture of Paul Goesch." The program takes place in the Clark's auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center. Free; no registration is required. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events According to a press release: Cabanas and Koenig examine how the categories of "outsider art," patient art, and art brut relate to one another, and our understanding of the creative process. Cabanas is the associate dean of academic programs and publications for the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the University of Florida, and Raphael Koenig is the visiting assistant professor in comparative literature at the University of Toulouse II and co-author of the Portals publication. Paul Goesch (18851940) suffered chronic illness and was isolated from his classmates, retreating into himself. Still, tutored by an older student, he developed a love of art and literature, as well as architecture. At the age of twenty-four, Goesch began a session during which he experienced his first psychotic break, and entered a sanatorium for treatment. His curiosity about the world led him to theosophy and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, with their focus on the connections between the outer, natural world and the inner spiritual one. Goesch produced one of the most inventive, peculiar, and poignant bodies of work to emerge from Weimar Germany. An artist and architect, he made both fanciful figurative drawings and visionary architectural designs. The latter, which drip with eclectic ornament and resemble little made then or since, are the subject of Portals: The Visionary Architecture of Paul Goesch, the first dedicated to Goesch's work in North America. The exhibition is on view in the Clark's Eugene V. Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper through June 11, 2023. Memorial Day Fire Safety Tips STOWAs Massachusetts heads into the Memorial Day Weekend, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey reminds residents to practice fire safety this summer. "Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and we want to remind everyone to play it safe as they enjoy the warm weather," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. "Don't let a fire or serious burn ruin your summer. Practice fire safety with friends and family safely this season, and you won't have your local firefighters showing up as uninvited guests." Grilling Safety More than 75 percent of grilling fires in Massachusetts occur between May and September. In the past five years, there have been more than 400 fires involving grills, hibachis, and barbeques. These fires caused one death, 10 civilian injuries, seven fire service injuries, and $4.6 million in estimated damages. General safety tips for grilling: Always grill outdoors, never inside. Do not use a gas or charcoal grill on any porch, balcony, or fire escape. Place grills at least 10 feet away from buildings and deck railings. Make sure grills are not under eaves or overhanging branches. Gas grills can be used on first floor decks or patios only if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground, or it is at ground level. Keep all matches, lighters, and lighter fluid away from children. Create a circle of safety around grills. Keep children and pets at least three feet away on all sides. Charcoal grill safety: Only use charcoal starter fluid. Do not use gasoline or kerosene to start a fire in a grill. Never add lighter fluid to burning briquettes or hot coals. Doing so can cause a flash fire and result in serious burn injuries. Always use charcoal grills outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Burning charcoal briquettes give off carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. For proper disposal of grill ashes, allow the coals to burn out completely and then cool for 48 hours before disposal. If you must dispose of ashes before they are completely cooled, thoroughly soak them in water before putting them in a metal container. Gasoline Safety "Serious gasoline-related burns peak in the summer months, with about 40% reported from June through August," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. Gasoline vapors are highly flammable and refueling a hot motor can ignite them. Gasoline spilled onto clothing or rags can give off vapors until completely dry and be ignited by any heat source. Gasoline vapors can travel a long distance to find an ignition source, which is why gasoline must not be stored inside the house. There have been nearly 900 gasoline-related fires in Massachusetts over the past 10 years, causing nine deaths, 132 injuries, and over $19 million in damage. Gasoline safety tips: Never use gasoline to start a fire or add it to any fire. Store gasoline only outside the home, such as in a locked shed, and always in an approved container. Never store gasoline in the home or basement. Gasoline should only be used as fuel for an engine, not as a solvent. Refuel lawnmowers, leaf blowers, mopeds, and other devices only when the engine is cool. Never refill while it is hot. Keep gasoline away from all heat sources, such as smoking materials, campfires, and grills. Smoking Safety Smoking materials have been the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts for decades, and there have been many fires this spring from improperly discarded smoking materials on porches and in backyards. Smoking fires can be particularly dangerous because they may smolder undetected and then erupt into flames that grow rapidly. A fire that starts on a porch, balcony, or exterior stairway can get a strong hold before smoke alarms inside warn anyone of the danger. Mulch is especially prone to combustion caused by careless smoking. More than 200 structure fires started in mulch during the past five years, and the leading cause was careless smoking. "If you still smoke, or if you have guests who do, please do it responsibly," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. "Always use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a can with sand or water. Don't toss smoking materials into the mulch, leaves, grass, or planters, and don't stub them out on the porch railing or stairs. Remember to put it out, all the way, every time." Brush and Wildland Fire Safety Almost all outdoor fires are caused by human activity. In the warm, sunny, dry weather expected during the coming days, these fires will spread to dangerous sizes quickly and require numerous firefighting resources to contain and extinguish. And because about 40% of Massachusetts homes are in Wildland-Urban Interface or Intermix zones, outdoor fires can easily threaten people and property. Brush and Wildland Fire Safety Tips: Before setting up a campfire, be sure it is permitted by checking with the local fire department. Clear away dry leaves and sticks and overhanging low branches and shrubs. Avoid burning on windy, dry days. Keep campfires small so they are easier to control and attend to them at all times. Never use gasoline or other flammable or combustible liquids. Always have a hose, bucket of water, or shovel and dirt or sand nearby to put out the fire. Make sure your campfire is out cold before leaving. If using an ATV, dirt bike, or other off-road vehicle, be sure the spark arrestor is properly installed, as required by Massachusetts law Don't park a vehicle or power equipment such as a lawnmower on or near dry vegetation. A hot engine or exhaust can ignite dry grass, leaves, or debris, causing a fire like the ones that damaged a school in Northampton and consumed a home in Methuen last year. "If you see a fire, call 9-1-1 to report it right away," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. Fireworks Safety Massachusetts law prohibits the use, possession, or sale of fireworks in Massachusetts without a license, even if they were purchased legally elsewhere and then transported into the state. Their possession or use carries a fine of up to $100, and sale carries a fine of up to $1,000 and a year behind bars. In the past 10 years, illegal fireworks have cause nearly 1,000 serious fires and explosions in Massachusetts including a three-alarm fire in Dracut last summer that displaced nine people. Collectively, these fires and explosions caused about $2.5 million in damages and dozens of injuries to firefighters and civilians alike. "People are hurt and property is lost every single year in Massachusetts because of fires that start with illegal fireworks," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. "Many cities and towns will have permitted fireworks displays that are carefully managed and organized by licensed experts. For the safety of our friends, families, and communities, let's leave fireworks to the professionals." iciHaiti - Urban violence : 8,919 people fled their homes (April 2023) Displacement monitoring aims to collect information on large and sudden population movements, as well as security emergencies. Information is collected through interviews with key informants or direct observation. This dashboard presents information on major population displacements that occurred during the month of April 2023 in Haiti. During this month, several violent events led to massive population displacements in the West department. In total, 2,261 households comprising 8,919 individuals moved, i.e. 19% less compared to March 2023 when 11,036 people moved. These people came mainly from the communes of Cabaret (42%) and Port-au-Prince (27%). In addition, localities located in the municipalities of Arcahaie (34%) and Port-au-Prince (24%) were their main destinations. The majority of the displaced people (76%) took refuge in host communities and the rest (24%) in accommodation sites. IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - Humanitarian : France is fighting food insecurity in Haiti Vincent Hommeril, the Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Action of the Embassy of France in Haiti signed with Ms. Fanjanirina Ratsiferana, Country Director Haiti, of "Solidarites International", a Financing Agreement, for an amount of 1.2 million euros from the "Programme to strengthen food security in the metropolitan area of Port au Prince." This financing agreement is part of the 5.5 million Euros of Programmed Food Aid (PAA) that France has allocated to Haiti in the first installment for 2023. This first installment also includes funding of 2.5 million for the Program Alimentaire Mondial (WFP) for its project to "fight against chronic malnutrition and the extension of the school canteen program in Artibonite". Lastly, it includes France's contribution of 1.8 million to the National Program for School Canteens (PNCS). This first installment for 2023 is already higher than the AAP paid by France to Haiti in 2022, i.e. 5.25 million Euros, an amount itself already much higher than the amount for 2021, which was 3.7 Million. This funding from the Embassy of France in Haiti via the AAP mechanism will enable "Solidarites International" to set up, for 12 months, a project to strengthen food and nutritional security and the resilience capacities of vulnerable households in the Jalousie district in the commune of Petion-ville. Indeed, the number of people in need continues to increase and the level of food insecurity is alarming in Haiti, as demonstrated by all the studies carried out to date by "Solidarites International" and the actors working in this sector. This project targets vulnerable households and more specifically pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as malnourished children in the metropolitan area of Port au Prince. It will help improve their nutritional status through awareness-raising activities on the underlying causes of malnutrition and will also strengthen the medical care of the people targeted. A total of 9,250 people will benefit from this project with PAA funding during the period from April 2023 to March 2024. IH/ iciHaiti Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today revealed the companys collaborative design work with TOILETPAPER, the creative studio founded by artist Maurizio Cattelan and photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari. Unveiled at Fuorisalone during the 2023 Milan Design Week, the collaboration brings TOILETPAPERs unique and disruptive art style to limited-edition Samsung Bespoke refrigerator panels. Together with creative partner TOILETPAPER, Samsung offers new, limited-edition Bespoke panels that maximize bold self-expression and personalization in the kitchen Central to the Samsung Bespoke philosophy is the aim to push the boundaries of white appliance designs to introduce new modes of personal self-expression through customization. In many ways, TOILETPAPER and Samsung have a similar creative vision, which encourages self-expression and embraces experimental design concepts. For Bespoke design, this comes in the form of personalization and customization, while TOILETPAPER specializes in unconventional, avant-garde art styles that make bold statements about life. At Samsung, we are always exploring evolutions in our design language to ensure our users have fresh, new ways to express themselves through our products, said Ik Soo Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing Team of Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. We are excited to introduce our latest custom designs to Bespoke products, infusing our home appliances with TOILETPAPERs colorful, tongue-in-cheek aesthetic. "Working with Samsung on the new limited-edition Bespoke TOILETPAPER designs was an amazing opportunity for us to challenge ourselves with new mediums, said Maurizio Cattelan, co-founder of TOILETPAPER. Through our combined efforts, we were able to reimagine where images are displayed and allow people to see the extraordinary in even ordinary things. The four new Bespoke panel designs that Samsung is introducing in collaboration with TOILETPAPER are titled 'Dessert Lady, Lipsticks, Magic Mirror and Roses with Eyes. The Lipsticks and Roses with Eyes designs will be available for Bespoke Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF) models while the Magic Mirror and 'Dessert Lady designs will be available for 1-Door and 4-Door refrigerator models. These limited-edition TOILETPAPER refrigerator panel designs will be available for purchase for global markets starting in the first half of the year. Guests staying at TOILETPAPER Apartment, a newly opened hospitality facility, will also be able to see one of the new Bespoke refrigerator panel designs which will remain even after Fuorisalone has concluded. Samsung Philippines will also be launching their own collaboration with local artists for the Bespoke Artist Collection. For more news and updates, log on to Samsungs Official Facebook Page, Samsungs Official Instagram Page, or log on to www.samsung.com/ph to know more about our Bespoke Refrigerator. 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. Photographers from China were once again among the big winners as the results of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year awards for 2023 were announced in London on May 16. The competition, which has been running for 12 years and drew thousands of entries from more than 65 countries this year, is the worlds leading celebration of the art of food, photography and film. All photos are judged anonymously, so decisions are made entirely on merit. This years overall top prize went to British photographer Jon Enoch for his image The Candy Man, taken in India. Entrants from China took away 17 other awards. One photographer alone, Yang Zhonghua, won three categories. The image Anchang Sugar Dance Artist, showing a man in Zhejiang province working ski l lfully with sugar, won both the Philip Harben Award for Food in Action and the competitions specific China category. Yang also won the Moments of Joy category for the picture Hanging Up Persimmons. Another successful entrant was Liang Haikun, whose image Ancient Wine Making, showing traditional baijiu brewing techniques, came second in the China-specific class, where he also picked up two other highly commended honours, and came third in the Food in Action category. Liang also took third place in the Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration category. Other Chinese photographers among the winners included Liu Min, Yu Chunshui, Li Jianping, Cui Boqian, Zhao Xinhua and Yang Yongsheng. Among the judges at this years competition were Na Risong, art director of Inter Art Centre & Gallery in Beijing; Ella Ravilious, a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; and chef Louie Ye, known as the Godfather of Chinese pastry. Event founder Caroline Kenyon said the latest success showed the diligence and creativity of photographers in China, and the cultural importance of food in Chinese identity. Food is still so culturally important in China, maybe unlike in some other countries where theres a bit of a loss of connection between people and what they consume, she said. Its a strong home food culture, and being such a vast country its a rich and fertile place for a photographer to point their lens. French banking group BNP Paribas confidence in the Chinese market has remained undeterred by global market volatility and the COVID-19 pandemic. The groups continued investment is proof of this. It has placed 5.3 billion yuan (607.09 million) of additional equity in its China joint ventures over the past 18 months. It expects to make a further investment of 1.5 billion to 2 billion yuan (172 million - 229 million) in the next 12 months. Bruno Weill, the banks vice-chairman in China, said that in the next two months, BNP Paribas will unveil a wealth management joint venture with Agriculture Bank of China. The company has founded 11 joint ventures with Chinese partners, including State-owned enterprises, privately owned companies and financial institutions. The presence of foreign asset management companies, or financial institutions in a broad sense, is nothing new to Shanghai. At least 122 foreign asset management companies from 13 countries have set up operations in the Lujiazui financial hub in eastern Shanghai. Of the 1,736 licensed financial institutions registered in the city, 539 are foreign financial service providers. Nearly half of the foreign banks, jointly - held asset management companies and foreign insurance companies operating in China have set up regional headquarters in Shanghai. Many initial attempts to facilitate the two-way opening-up of the Chinese financial market have been made in Shanghai. Crude oil futures, Chinas first yuan-denominated futures product open to foreign investors, was launched at the Shanghai Futures Exchange in 2018. The Stock Connect programme linking the Shanghai and London bourses began in June the following year. JP Morgan, whose China headquarters are located in Shanghai, was given approval in August 2021 to set up the first wholly foreign-owned securities company in China, and in late March, Chinas national oil company CNOOC and Frances TotalEnergies settled the first yuan-denominated trade for liquefied natural gas via the Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Exchange. Shanghais role as an international financial centre has thus been consolidated. Data from the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission show the total trading value in the city reached 2,933 trillion yuan (336 trillion) last year, up from 528 trillion yuan (60.49 trillion) in 2012. The progress made in the financial sector is just one example of the numerous efforts made by Shanghai to advance its two-way opening - up. The China International Import Expo, or CIIE, which has been held annually in the city since 2018, has served as an important platform for advancing Chinas all-around opening-up. In addition to the $345.8 billion (278.52 billion) of intended deals reached at the past five expos, up to 2,000 new products, technologies and services have made their China or global debuts at CIIE. Swiss industrial conglomerate ABB has attended all five expos, globally showcasing its latest breakthroughs such as the gas leak detection technology ABB HoverGuard. ABBs China chairman Gu Chunyuan said the expo helps the company better understand market demand and the latest industry trends. A staff member operates a pilot simulator at a digital exhibition centre in Shanghai. (MA NING / XINHUA) We receive a great many government delegates and visitors from large corporations every year at CIIE, which has provided us with good opportunities to come up with innovative technologies to better address the demands of local clients, he said. Meanwhile, the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which was officially launched in 2013, serves as one of the best examples of systematic innovation. The negative list for foreign investment, first adopted by the Shanghai FTZ when it was launched, was promoted nationwide in July 2017. New energy vehicle maker Tesla has benefited from the systematic advantages in Lingang Special Area, part of the Shanghai FTZ that was officially launched in August 2019. It held the groundbreaking ceremony for its Lingang gigafactory in early January 2019, and the first car was completed at this facility 11 months later. Teslas vice-president Tao Lin said, Shanghai has provided Tesla with development opportunities in China. Chen Kele, deputy director of the intelligent manufacturing promotion division at the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatisation, said systematic innovation in Lingang has created a win-win situation. Not only has Teslas production capacity increased, Shanghais industrial growth has been boosted and the citys new energy vehicle, or NEV, ecosystem has been optimised, he said. More than 1.1 million NEVs were in use in Shanghai as of April, more than in any other city worldwide, data from the commission shows. Shanghais accumulative actual use of foreign capital exceeds $330 billion. A total of 907 multinational companies have set up regional headquarters in the city, which is also home to 538 multinationals regional research and development centres. The hundreds of taxidermy displays at the Dongting Lake biodiversity gallery in Sanyantang village, Hunan province, give a glimpse into how prosperous and diverse the natural environment of the area around Chinas second-largest freshwater lake once was. Behind these specimens is 73-year-old taxidermist Li Wenjian, a retired doctor of the Yuanjiang epidemic prevention station in Yuanjiang city, Hunan. Since 1983, Li has stuffed and preserved more than 1,400 animals, insects and plants from the lakes environs in order to enable people to understand the local flora and fauna better. Dongting Lake nurtures bountiful life, and through taxidermy, some deceased and endangered animals have been brought back to life, Li says, adding that he hopes his creations will help raise peoples awareness of the needs to protect the biodiversity of what he calls the mother lake. In his eyes, these specimens show respect for the life of the creatures and, whats more, they enable people to reflect on the relationship between people and nature. Due to the intensification of agricultural practices and re-engineering of the waterways since the 1950s, the lake had been reduced to half its size from about 2,317 square miles recorded in 1852 to fewer than 1,042 sq miles in 2003. As one of the wetlands that make up the floodplains of the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake is an important habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. The lake of my childhood memories has gradually disappeared, which has often worried me, Li says, adding that, in the 1960s, fishermen would frequently encounter finless porpoises and various other wild animals, such as barking deer and weasels. A pair of wild Chinese milu deer are among the most challenging specimens that Li has worked on. In July 2016, the pair were drowned in rising floodwaters at the lake. After salvaging the deer and carrying out a postmortem, the Yuanjiang Forestry Bureau contacted Li to preserve them. A Chinese milu deer at east Dongting Lakes rescue centre for wild animals in Yueyang, Hunan province (CHEN SIHAN / XINHUA) With the deer weighing more than 881lb in total, it took Li one and a half months to get them to stand on their feet again. He had to conquer the scorching heat of summer and pungent odour of the disinfectant, because if the corpse decayed, the taxidermy would fail. According to Li, this is a complex process. After measuring the body, the deer is skinned with its meat, skull, bones and internal organs removed. While the skin dries out, a steel-framed mannequin is prepared and after anti-corrosion treatment, it has the deer mounted on it, with its skin repositioned around the mannequin, its feet arranged and glass eyes inserted for the final touch. You cant rush any step. One mistake can ruin the whole thing, Li says. For some people, the practice of taxidermy may seem strange, or even terrifying, but preserving nature through individual lives is still valuable in scientific research and showcases the great diversity of nature to the public, he adds. Cooperating with Yuanjiang Science and Technology Association, Li has held exhibitions of his specimens on the street and on campus to raise public awareness of biodiversity and environmental protection. Last year, the Dongting Lake biodiversity gallery, covering more than 5,300 square feet, was built to display Lis creations. He is also glad to see that dramatic changes have occurred in and around Dongting Lake. In 2020, a 10-year fishing moratorium was established on the lake. The population of indicative and endangered species has increased, or has been stabilised, such as winter migratory birds, Chinese milu deer and Yangtze finless porpoises, according to the local environmental department. In February last year, a record-high 404,000 waterfowl, representing 74 species, were spotted at Dongting Lake. Walking around the lake, Li has seen Chinese mergansers, milu deer and white eels, which he says he finds thrilling, as if meeting old friends. As a chilly spring breeze lightly brushed his tanned face, Wang Lidong walked around the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying, Shandong province. He checked water conservation projects and also the water level in the wetlands part of a days work for Wang, who has been involved with protecting the reserve for three decades. The environment at the reserve has significantly improved over the years. It is now home to many birds, so all the hard work has been worthwhile, said Wang, an engineer working on the wetland restoration project at the reserve, which is situated on a large expanse of wetlands in the Yellow River Delta. The river, Chinas second longest, zigzags its way through a plateau blanketed with rich soil. It carries millions of tons of soil east every year, some of it reaching the estuary, where the waterway flows into the Bohai Sea in Dongying, forming the wetlands. In recent years, the city has spent 1.36 billion yuan (155 million) to support 17 wetland protection and restoration projects in the delta, including water supplements, cordgrass treatment, and offshore biodiversity conservation, which has helped strengthen the citys wetland ecosystem. At the reserve, a large expanse of water stretches out into the distance. Reeds sway in the wind along both sides of a wooden walkway. Aerial views show a series of connected waterways, which resemble slender veins. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, coastal erosion, seawater encroachment and drought caused the wetlands to shrink. Wang said the deltas rich wetland ecosystems were also seriously threatened by oil production, industrial waste pollution and land reclamation. The reserve, established in October 1992 to protect the wetlands, covers about 591 square miles, with the wetlands comprising most of the area. As water is crucial to maintaining the healthy ecological system in the wetlands, we have been replenishing water at the site, Wang said. He added that the abundance of water in the wetlands will significantly prevent destruction of the ecological system from the encroachment of seawater. The reserve management committee divided the wetlands into 49 areas based on the growth conditions for animals and plants, ensuring that each area receives the correct amount of water from the Yellow River. Nurtured by the waterway, the animals and plants are thriving, Wang said. The number of avian species in the Yellow River Delta has risen to 373 (LIU YUELIANG / FOR CHINA DAILY) Work is being carried out in Dongying to restore seagrass beds and native plants growing along waterways in the wetlands, such as Suaeda salsa, a type of herb. Teaming up with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, the local government has created an effective way to eradicate Spartina alterniflora, a type of marsh cordgrass found on the estuary coastline that was seriously threatening the habitats of numerous species. We cut the grass down before ploughing and flooding the area to prevent it returning, Wang said. Spartina alterniflora found on more than 33 square miles of land has been eradicated in past years, resulting in 47 miles of blocked tidal channels being cleared, the management committees data show. Wang said, Cleaning the Spartina alterniflora has provided natural growth conditions for native biological species. In late April, groups of birds were seen resting on ponds on both sides of a road leading to the reserve. Some birds skimmed across the water surface. Shan Kai, a senior engineer at the reserve, said, The environment in the delta provides good living conditions for the birds. Statistics show that the number of avian species in the delta has risen from 187 in the years after the reserve was established to 373. Last year, 470 chicks were born to Oriental storks at the reserve, while 315 red-crowned cranes were observed wintering at the wetlands. To create a good environment for the birds, we built some small islands on waterways where the Yellow River flows through the wetlands, Shan said, adding that thanks to these efforts, the delta has become a well-known home to Oriental storks and Saunderss gulls. 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 is reportedly bracing for a new Covid-19 wave that could infect nearly 65 million people weekly by the end of June. The fresh wave caused by the XBB variant comes at least six months after Chinese authorities lifted its "zero-Covid" policy that saw draconian restrictions, including lockdowns, imposed on citizens. Zhong Nanshan, a top Chinese epidemiologist, said at a conference in Guangzhou that the anticipated wave began in late April and that his modeling suggested China could be approaching 40 million infections per week. By the end of June, the weekly number of infections will peak at 65 million, he said. That two new vaccines for the XBB omicron subvariants (including XBB. 1.9.1, XBB. 1.5, and XBB. 1.16) had received initial approval, he said, adding that three to four other vaccines were set to be approved soon, The Washington Post reported. The new strain of coronavirus was a cause of concern earlier this year, spiking cases from India in Asia to the US in the West. However, the WHO earlier in May downgraded its assessment of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it no longer qualifies as a global emergency. According to the Chinese authorities, the new wave is likely to be less severe, but public health experts say that an aggressive vaccine booster programme and a ready supply of antivirals at hospitals are required to prevent a surge in deaths. The number of infections will be less. The severe cases will be certainly less, and deaths will be less, but that could still be a large number, Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kongs School of Public Health told the Post. Even when we think this is a milder wave, it could still be quite a substantial health impact on the community." At least 80 per cent of Chinas 1.4 billion people were infected during the Omicron variant wave in December and January, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That variant caused mass infections, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums across cities. In the last month, Covid overtook flu as the most common infectious disease, according to health authorities. Joey Wang, a 24-year-old student in Hebei province, told NBC News that several people were finding Covid symptoms less severe this time around. No more media coming out trying to terrify the public, no more fight the pandemic type of short videos to alert people, and no more hardcore measures like the lockdown, he said. Health officials have reassured the public that reinfections have milder symptoms and healthcare facilities wont face a challenging situation. Hospitals have advised residents to wear masks and for the elderly and immunocompromised to avoid crowded places. I feel like the impact has not been that big, said Olivia Zhang, 33, who works at an amusement park in Beijing. But they will only be out for a short time before coming back to work. No one is scared of being around them, she told the Post. So far the Chinese authorities have not reimposed the restrictions prevalent under the zero-Covid 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 }} A man has been taken into custody after four people, including two police officers, were killed in a rare mass shooting and stabbing attack in Japan. Masanori Aoki, 31, was arrested under a court warrant on suspicion of murder in Nakano, a city in Nagano prefecture, police said on Friday. Mr Aoki is believed to be the eldest son of Masamichi Aoki, the speaker of the city assembly in Nakano. A witness told NHK public television that a woman fell while being chased by the suspect, who then allegedly stabbed her with a knife and shot at two police officers as they arrived at the scene on Thursday. The man's attack on his first victim had been carried out with a 30cm long blade, witnesses said. "I killed her because I wanted to," the suspect was quoted as saying when an eyewitness asked why he stabbed her. A fourth person an older woman who sustained injuries, could not be rescued because he was near where the suspect was holed up. She was found dead early Friday, police said. Mr Aoki, wearing a camouflage uniform, a hat, sunglasses and a mask, opened fire on police officers who responded to the emergency call. The suspect later barricaded himself inside his father's home with his mother and aunt for at least 12 hours. During the standoff, TV footage showed police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying shields, with an ambulance nearby. Police sealed off a 300-metre radius around the house, and city officials urged people in the quiet farming neighbourhood to stay home or at an evacuation centre, where about 80 people reportedly took shelter. Mr Aoki was described by his neighbours as a quiet grape farmer who owned a popular gelato shop. 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 a police officer in the left chest with a hunting rifle. Mr Aoki allegedly stabbed to death the 66-year-old woman with a survival knife, the police chief said. National Public Safety Commission chair Koichi Tani said that the suspect had licenses for multiple hunting and air guns authorised by the prefectural public safety commission Authorities are investigating his gun usage records and that they plan to take necessary safety measures based on investigation results, the chair said. The suspect's mother and aunt escaped uninjured. The two slain police officers have been identified as Yoshiki Tamai, a 46-year-old inspector, and 61-year-old sergeant Takuo Ikeuchi, according to Japan Times. Violent crimes are rare in Japan due to strict gun control laws. However, in recent years, there have been some high-profile cases involving random knifings on subways and arson attacks amid growing concerns about homemade guns. 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 }} Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan says the tumultuous last six months have been difficult to handle for his two sons living in the UK with his ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith. Mr Khan survived an assassination attempt in November last year, taking three bullet-wounds to the legs from a gunman armed with an automatic pistol at a political rally. He returned to campaigning in March, calling for the government to agree to fresh elections, addressing large crowds of supporters from behind a bulletproof screen. Yet within weeks he was dramatically arrested during a scheduled appearance at the Islamabad High Court, dragged out of the court premises by paramilitary forces linked to the interior ministry, an act which the Supreme Court later declared was illegal. Mr Khan claims other attempts on his life have been made, and accuses the government and intelligence agencies of orchestrating them charges the authorities deny. Speaking earlier this week in an exclusive interview with Independent Urdu, Mr Khan was asked if his sons, who live in the UK, feared for his life. Mr Khan said: Yes. You know, its natural for all your sons to be worried. I speak to them. Theyre worried because there was an assassination attempt on me thats when they came to see me... Its obvious[ly] not just the fear of assassination [but also] being put into jail. You know, for all your sons, its quite difficult to handle. During the interview, Mr Khan reiterated his claims that the Pakistan army chief wanted to demolish his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI]. He was asked if he was ready to talk to the army chief or the prime minister to bring a resolution to Pakistans political turmoil. He responded: Then who are you going to talk to? The prime minister has nothing to do with it. These are just puppets. However, he added that he was still ready to negotiate and open a dialogue with the countrys army. Yes, politicians should be ready to negotiate with anyone at all times. Because politicians resolve differences through dialogue and not through guns. Mr Khan is facing more than 100 criminal charges including corruption and sedition, and has been granted pretection from arrest from many of these in the past two weeks. He says the charges are all politically motivated. As well as causing distress, the criminal proceedings have directly impacted his family in Pakistan. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was present during a March police raid on his house in Lahore that took place while Mr Khan was away for a court appearance. And she is also named as a defendant in corruption charges involving a trust that is in the pairs name. She was eventually granted temporary protection from arrest by a court after he predicted she will be targeted in what he describes as a government campaign to pressurise him into giving up his calls for new elections. 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 Taliban is waging a war on women and its actions in Afghanistan should be investigated as possible crimes against humanity of gender persecution, according to a new legal assessment by top international human rights bodies. Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) should include the crimes against humanity of gender persecution in the continuing investigation into the crisis in Afghanistan, the legal assessment by Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) showed. Let there be no doubt: this is a war against women banned from public life; prevented from accessing education; prohibited from working; barred from moving freely; imprisoned, disappeared and tortured including for speaking against these policies and resisting the repression, said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals secretary general. Talibans actions are international crimes and are organised, widespread and systematic, the official said. The 62-page report focusing on atrocities against women and girls in Afghanistan is a legal bridge to connect the Talibans actions with international crimes and decode them as crimes carried out in gender apartheid, researchers who worked on the analysis told The Independent. The Taliban has carried out a number of crimes against the female population such as the use of imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment. All of these are crimes against humanity of gender persecution under Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), said Dinushika Dissanayake, deputy South Asia director at Amnesty International. As per the article of the statute, the crimes against humanity need not be carried out during a war-time or linked to an armed conflict and can also occur in peacetime. The Talibans actions are in direct contention with the rights granted to the girls and women in numerous international treaties to which Afghanistan is a party. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the report by Amnesty International and ICJ said. The Taliban should be tried for the crimes in international courts as they took charge as de facto authorities of the country and the atrocities against women have happened on their watch, Ms Dissanayake said. While the international fraternity has not recognised them as the official federal administration after US and Nato-led forces left the country in August 2021, it does not stop Taliban from being accountable for the millions of girls and women barred from going to school and work, Ms Dissanayake explained. Afghan women and girls have been arbitrarily arrested by the Taliban for so-called moral crimes as a result of infringing the discriminatory mahram restrictions by the de facto authorities, and for their participation in peaceful demonstrations, said the report. Under the mahram restrictions, women in Afghanistan are not allowed to travel more than 75km without a male companion such as a husband or a father. If not accompanied, they are required to stay home, leaving several such women without any male guardian in a lurch. Since its takeover, the Taliban has turned women into second-class citizens, the legal assessment said. Women have been excluded from political positions and most public sector jobs. The Taliban have also prevented women and girls from continuing their studies, pursuing education beyond primary school, and restricting their professional opportunities through a series of measures and announcements, rendering them as second-class citizens. Amnesty International and the ICJ are also pushing other states to exercise universal jurisdiction or other lawful means to bring Taliban members suspected of responsibility for crimes under the international law. The Taliban leaders are now travelling far and wide in the world for multiple reasons and if the other states roll out universal jurisdiction, they can be arrested on foreign soil for carrying out crimes against humanity of gender persecution, Ms Dissanayake said. This should send a clear message to Taliban leaders and members that their discriminatory policies against women and girls are not, and never will be, tolerated, the report added. The magnitude, gravity, and systematic nature of the Talibans organised crimes is such that the acts and policies cumulatively formed a system of repression aiming to subjugate and marginalise women and girls in Afghanistan, secretary general of ICJ Santiago A Canton said. Our report indicates that this meets all the five criteria to qualify as a crime against humanity of gender persecution, the top ICJ official said. The report also presented a legal assessment of why women and girls fleeing persecution in Afghanistan should be presumptively considered refugees in need of international protection. Talking about the immediate steps laid out for the Taliban to reverse its gender apartheid, Ms Dissanayake said: It is simple. The Taliban should let girls attend all levels of school, colleges, let women go back to their workplaces private or government, let women have their right to protest peacefully and restore their right of movement by stripping off the requirement of having a mahram. It should also end the illegal detention and harassment of women who have voiced any dissent, she added. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate 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 Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Typhoon Mawar, an unusually intense cyclone that has struck Guam and the Philippines before heading towards Taiwan and southern Japan, shows the southeast Asian country is in a constant state of climate emergency, activists have said, demanding reparations for vulnerable nations. In a statement released on Monday, Greenpeace International demanded fossil fuel companies take responsibility for the intensifying extreme weather events seen worldwide and pay reparations for climate impacts. The typhoon left Guam flooded and without power for days and has prompted evacuations and amid extreme weather warnings in the Philippines. Mawar, known locally in the Philippines as typhoon Betty, is the strongest typhoon of the year so far and the strongest northern hemisphere cyclone ever recorded in the month of May. The Philippines is in a constant state of climate emergency, said Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Jefferson Chua. Super typhoons have become our new normal, alongside longer-term impacts such as drought, sea-level rise, and resource depletion. The Philippines, considered the most exposed country to tropical cyclones in the world, already faces an average of 20 storms annually. And while cyclones are a naturally occurring phenomenon with their formation and intensity depending on a complex mix of weather patterns, theres increasing scientific evidence that rapidly heating ocean waters due to the human-induced climate crisis is leading to more frequent and intense typhoons. Mawar, which weakened for a spell as it lashed Guam on Wednesday, reintensified into a super typhoon equivalent to a category 5 hurricane and threatened major disruption to parts of the Philippines archipelago that has been devastated by storms repeatedly in recent years. Over the past six years, the Philippines has witnessed 14 super typhoons. Climate impacts have caused estimated losses and damages of $10bn from 2010 to 2020, according to Philippine officials. Typhoon Mawar, like all other supertyphoons before it, is a stark warning and a reminder that scientists predict that things will get a lot worse. Jefferson Chua, Greenpeace Philippines While the typhoons intensity reduced as it inched closer to the country this week, thousands of people in coastal areas were evacuated, schools shut down, flights were halted and tidal warnings were issued. Villagers in the Batanes islands, the closest inhabited region to the cyclone, were strengthening their houses with the help of government officials ahead of the extreme weather warnings. All over the world, communities who are the least responsible and least able to cope are the ones who bear the brunt of the worsening climate crisis, said Mr Chua. They are burdened not only with preparing for escalating impacts, but also dealing with the anxiety of an uncertain future. Fishermen fasten the boats as Typhoon Mawar approaches to Taiwan in Yilan County (AP) But even while communities are doing their utmost so that they can ensure their own future, they are rendered disenfranchised because of the willful inaction of those that have the most responsibility to change. Typhoon Mawar, like all other supertyphoons before it, is a stark warning and a reminder that scientists predict that things will get a lot worse, he added. The organisation said that the government of the Philippines must demand reparations for losses and damages from fossil fuel companies citing a study published this month which aimed to quantify the billions of dollars of damage fossil fuel companies are responsible for. Fossil fuel companies responsible for most of the carbon emissions that have largely contributed to the climate crisis are still looking to expand their operations, further exacerbating the effects of climate change, even as they rake in huge profits from our peoples suffering, Mr Chua said. The research, published in the journal One Earth, stated that the 21 largest oil, gas, and coal companies are expected to cause $5.4 trillion in lost GDP over the 2025-2050 period, or $209bn per year, based on their emissions share from 1988-2022. The study emphasised that these companies bear substantial responsibility for the costs associated with climate harm. The world shouldnt let these climate crimes continue; culprits must be held to account and must pay reparations, Mr Chua said. Meanwhile, Guam, a remote US territory in the Pacific that serves the strategic interests of the country in the region, is still accounting for the damages it underwent when Mawar through. The waters of the Hagatna River overflows its banks and encroaches into the Bank of Guam parking lot in Hagatna, Guam, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar (AP) Island states and territories in the region are experiencing threats from multiple fronts as global temperatures rise, including sea level rise, increasing frequency and intensity of droughts and storms, ocean acidification and consequent damage to coral reefs and fisheries. Last year at the United Nations annual climate conference Cop27, held in Egypts Sharm El-Sheikh, countries agreed to set up a loss and damage fund for vulnerable countries like the Philippines and Pacific island nations. The recent storm is another warning, experts say, of the increasing threats and the urgent requirement for setting up a financing facility. Alongside efforts for a fast and fair phase out of fossil fuels, we must ensure support and funds reach communities who are bearing the brunt of these climate disasters, said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International. It is a race against time to save lives and livelihoods, and operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund this year is critical to ensure that adequate money reaches those in need." Close Sir Lewis Hamilton: From Stevenage to seven-time F1 world champion 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 }} Max Verstappen survived a rain shower and the looming threat of Fernando Alonso to secure an impressive victory at a one-sided Monaco Grand Prix. Verstappen, who beat Alonso to pole position by just 0.084 seconds, kept his cool in the slippery conditions to lead Sundays 78-lap race, which lasted nearly two hours from start to finish, as he secured his fourth win of the season. Alonso finished 27.9 seconds behind the Red Bull driver with Esteban Ocon third for Alpine, as the Frenchman claimed only the third podium of his career. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took advantage of the rain to cross the line in fourth and fifth respectively for Mercedes. Sergio Perez started last after he crashed out of qualifying and finished 16th following a terrible race for the Mexican driver which included five pit stops. Follow reaction updates from the Monaco Grand Prix with The Independent. Something must have gone wrong with the appointment of Baroness (Heather) Hallett as chair of the public inquiry into the official response to Covid-19. She is the sort of independent-minded type whos liable to cause trouble for the government, and this is one government that really doesnt need any more trouble. It is not, historically, how things are supposed to work when British governments subject themselves to judicial scrutiny. When, for example, the government of Tony Blair was obliged to launch an investigation into the Iraq war, they chose Lord Hutton for the job, a slightly unusual choice for the post. He was from Northern Ireland, and was suggested by Peter Mandelson, one of natures problem-solvers, who knew him from his time as secretary of state for Northern Ireland. Hutton was an honourable man, a fine judge and with impeccable credentials. He was never going to be soothing. But Mandelson knew, or thought, that Hutton was on the more conventional, establishment end of the spectrum of outlook. Just as bricklayers or university dons come in all flavours of temperament and opinion, so too do lawyers. They are human. Much the same might be said for other judges and quasi-judges appointed to other big inquiries that have since become, well, a bit tarnished. Lord Franks, for instance, who looked benignly on the origins of the 1982 Falklands conflict, simply got it wrong. Lord Dennings dismissal of the appeal against the conviction of the Birmingham Six in 1981 also springs to mind. History is littered with such examples of failure. Given that Andrew Lloyd Webbers back catalogue includes musicals about randy trains (Starlight Express) and a feline death cult (Cats), its kind of surprising that his weirdest ever show is about the relatively normal subject of love affairs in rural France. But with its skin-crawlingly uncomfortable age-gap romances, Aspects of Love still finds plenty of ways to disconcert an audience lured in by the star appeal of musical theatre legend Michael Ball. When it premiered in 1989, Ball played the role of smitten young soldier Alex. His big number, Love Changes Everything, made a dent in the UK singles chart and became one of his signature songs. Superficially, it makes perfect sense to revive this show now that Balls old enough to play another of the shows pivotal roles: Alexs rival in love, his rakish uncle George. Hes on wonderful form here, blending spine-tingling moments of virtuosity with the more low-key naturalness this musicals nimble score demands. But alas, the casting is pretty much the only thing that makes sense about this wild narrative of bohemian bed-hopping. The romantic chaos begins in Paris: starstruck 18-year-old American Alex (Jamie Bogyo) assails broke young actress Rose (the stellar, achingly vulnerable Laura Pitt-Pulford) with flowers and puppy dog eyes, coaxing her to his uncles villa in the Pyrenees. Lloyd Webbers gorgeous, mostly sung-through score showcases his talents at their most subtle and conversational. The jaunty notes of Parlez-vous Francais, playing on the radio in a late-night cafe, blend artfully with these lovers more fraught negotiations. But Don Black and Charles Harts trite lyrics dont match the musics subtlety. Take the shows pivotal line, Love changes everything, hands and faces, earth and sky, an unappetising word salad: by hands, do they mean an awkward lovers sweaty palms? Does love fertilise the earth so perfect red roses can bloom? 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 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. 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 }} With summer nearly here, it means Americans are celebrating the latest federal holiday, Memorial Day. On Monday May 29, those living in the US will observe Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May each year and honours the men and women who died while serving in the US military. The holiday, which was originally known as Decoration Day, originated after the Civil War, before becoming an official federal holiday in 1971. First introduced by Congress in 1885 when it was decided that federal employees should have certain days off from work, the list of US federal holidays is made up of 11 days of significance that Americans recognise - and celebrate. To ensure that these holidays are observed, certain guidelines have been put in place, with federal holidays that fall on a Saturday observed by federal employees on the previous Friday, while holidays that fall on Sunday are observed the following Monday. On these 11 days, all non-essential federal offices are closed, while banks, post offices and schools may also be closed. However, that doesnt mean that all Americans will receive a day off from work, as employees in the private sector may or may not get the day off, depending on their employer. From Memorial Day to Thanksgiving, these are the dates of the 2023 federal holidays. 2023 federal holidays: New Years Day: Sunday, January 1 (Observed Monday, January 2) Martin Luther King Jr Day: Monday, January 16 Presidents Day: Monday, February 20 Memorial Day: Monday, May 29 Juneteenth: Friday, June 16 Independence Day: Tuesday, July 4 Labor Day: Monday, September 4 Indigenous Peoples Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, October 9 Veterans Day: Saturday, November 11 (Observed Friday, November 10) Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 23 Christmas: Monday, December 25 Other important days to note: Valentines Day: Tuesday, February 14 St Patricks Day: Friday, March 17 Passover: Thursday, April 6 Good Friday: Friday, April 7 Easter: Sunday, April 9 Mothers Day: Sunday, May 14 Fathers Day: Sunday, June 18 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 }} Queen 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. 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. Queen Camilla visits Robinson Library, Armagh, Northern Ireland, as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland with King Charles III, Thursday May 25, 2023 (AP) Hamilton added: [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. 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. Queen Camilla visits Enniskillen Castle, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Thursday May 25, 2023, as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland (AP) 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. Conlon said the groups that met with the Queen highlighted the work the library is doing. Queen Camilla visits Robinson Library, Armagh, Northern Ireland, as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland with King Charles III, Thursday May 25, 2023 (AP) 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. 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 six-year-old who went viral for attempting to climb 12 of the highest mountains in the UK to help poorly children to go on holiday is to take on his final hike. Oscar Burrow from Lancaster plans to summit Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, on May 29, alongside family members and his friend Ollie Perkins which marks the 70th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Over the course of nine months starting from October 2022 Oscar has reached the top of mountains including Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, and Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. He drew inspiration from a video he saw of Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mount Everest at school, which prompted him to say: I want to be the youngest person to climb Mount Everest. In a bid to satisfy his sons ambition, Mr Burrow, 38, a project manager in the NHS, thought: Why dont we start Oscar on this journey by picking 12 UK mountains that if you added them all up from where you start to where you finish on every mountain would be of a similar height to that of Everest? Oscar has gone on to raise more than 30,000 for Derian House Childrens Hospice, in Chorley, and as he prepares to ascend Ben Nevis, he said he is most looking forward to camping from Saturday to Wednesday, as a newbie to the activity. I want to make a fire using rocks, he told the PA news agency. Its my first time in a tent and I get to be sleeping outdoors. He added: Its the biggest mountain in the UK and there might be snow on the top. The youngster has visited the Chorley-based hospice several times and due to his heroic efforts, Oscar was given a gold badge by staff, which he proudly showed to PA. I got a very special badge and I want to take it to school, he added. Derian House has been at the forefront of his mind while on the climbs, prompted by his desire for poorly children to have a holiday, with the hospice allowing those who are sick to spend valuable time with their families at its lodges. I want poorly children to go swimming on their holiday, Oscar added. Mr Burrow explained that when Oscar first visited Derian House, he was shown its facilities, including a swimming pool which has been heated to a specific temperature to make the children more comfortable and kept super clean to reduce the chance of infection. As a keen swimmer himself, the six-year-old wanted others to be able to swim. The money from this phase of the challenge will go towards helping the staff there run the swimming pool, equipment and also paying for children to have lessons and adolescents to stay at the hospice, Mr Burrow added. Mr Burrow said that at the start, instead of looking at the fundraising figures as money, Oscar views each thousand pounds raised as being a holiday for a child in need, with 30,000 equating to 30 children being able to go on holiday. The fundraising target stands at 60,000, and has been raised several times throughout the challenge, which Mr Burrow said has been something he did not expect. But if you can keep raising the target and do more for the hospice, why wouldnt you? Especially if you have the time. Oscars mountaineering journey has been filled with humorous, enjoyable and challenging moments, including a time when he thought he might get blown away. (When I did Helvellyn in the Lake District), I almost blew off and grandad and daddy had to hold onto me, he said. He liked climbing Glyder Fawr, in Snowdonia, because it was really steep and you have to climb up sections with your hands. He added that he found climbing Cairn Gorm, in Scotland, the hardest because of the deep snow. We made a giant snowball bigger than me and rolled it down the hill, Oscar added. Oscar has even met prolific fundraiser Speedo Mick. We met in Lancaster and he gave Oscar a special Speedo Mick key ring, then we met him a few weeks later on Snowdon, Mr Burrow said. Mr Burrow added that support from the public leaving comments on both the JustGiving page and Oscars Facebook page, which has been tracking his journey, has been amazing. Some people have even said they might join us on Ben Nevis and weve had people send us gifts for Oscar, Ollie and Ada (Oscars younger sister), so its just fantastic. Seeing people continually follow his journey is lovely. Oscar has no plans to stop taking on fundraising challenges. I want to do the national three peaks with my grandad. Pascale Harvie, president and general manager at JustGiving, added: Oscar is a superstar and we have been completely blown away by what he has done and how much he has raised to help poorly children. What hes achieved at just six years old is extraordinary and as a result of Oscars efforts hes been recognised by the public and nominated for a JustGiving Award. Oscars JustGiving page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oscar-burrow1?fbclid=IwAR2XJQg2J2-8zvOyc5XN5hKkenlpZ-G7tbiswedRgxZv3-OKuCFdCGFv4pA Oscars journey can be followed along via his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088803157394 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 who violently assaulted a pensioner after he thought she was trans has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Alex Bailey of Claragh, Ramelton, Co Donegal, was experiencing drug and alcohol induced psychosis when he carried out the attack on Marie MacGowan, 86, in Dublin last year. The assailant was under the delusional belief that Ms MacGowan was actually a man dressed up as a woman and a predatory paedophile. During the assault, which lasted more than 40 minutes, Bailey punched and kicked Ms MacGowan, dragged her along a path and put her head-first into a wheelie bin. The attack on Ms MacGowan, who has early-onset dementia, only ended when three students on their way home intervened. A judge said the victims quality of life and life expectancy had been affected by the assault and that she can no longer live independently. Baileys defence lawyer said his client was experiencing induced psychosis due to his level of intoxication. Ms MacGowan had been living in sheltered accommodation to be near her family. She had been out having a meal with a friend in the Ranelagh area of Dublin when she went home to go to bed on 31 August 2022. Ms MacGowan woke up some time later and decided to go to the shops, not realising it was 1am. Ms MacGowans quality of life and life expectancy have been affected by the assault, judge says (RTE) She went towards her home but walked slightly too far and encountered Bailey outside an ice cream shop. CCTV footage shows Bailey remained with Ms MacGowan for around an hour, during which time he sporadically assaulted her. Baily knocked her to the ground and punched and kicked her as she tried to escape. Three students walking on the opposite side of the road noticed the woman sitting on the side of the road and went to help her. Ms MacGowan told them Bailey had assaulted her and stolen her purse. Bailey, still at the scene, told the students to stay away from Ms MacGowan because she was dangerous before walking away. Ms McGowan was treated in hospital for a fractured nose and blood loss. Her son Jack told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she has suffered ongoing problems as a result of the attack and spent four months in a rehabilitation facility. She now lives in a nursing home. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Bailey to three years in prison but suspended the final six months to incentivise his rehabilitation from his addiction issues. 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 }} Parents who murdered their 10-month-old son just weeks after he was returned to their care have been sentenced to life in jail for his killing. Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden must serve a minimum of 27 years and 29 years respectively after they were convicted last month of the murder of Finley Boden. The couple were persuasive and accomplished liars who subjected their son to unimaginable cruelty, the judge said. (Derbyshire Police/PA) The pair, who showed no emotion as they were sentenced, lied to social workers, claiming he had Covid to prevent their seeing him, before killing their son on Christmas Day 2020 the culmination of what prosecutors said was a savage and brutal campaign of abuse. Finley was taken away from the couple at birth, but they lied about being drug-free to win him back in November that year, Derby Crown Court was told. The toddler had 130 separate injuries when he died, including 71 bruises, 57 bone breaks and fractures, and burns. He also had sepsis and endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart. Sentencing the two while family members wept in the public gallery, Mrs Justice Tipples described how the boys parents were cannabis users. Finley was a lovely baby. He was happy, smiley and chuckling, she said. She continued: The facts in relation to the last days of Finleys life are terrible to describe and extremely distressing, and added: You both knew that Finley was very seriously ill and dying yet you deliberately failed to seek any medical help for him and you made sure that he was not seen by anyone that could have rescued him and taken him away from your care. I can only describe you both as monsters Relative of one of the defendants He was subject to repeated abuse on multiple occasions. Once the injuries had been inflicted, Finleys daily experience was one of considerable pain, distress and suffering. It was obvious to both of you by December 16 that Finley was very seriously injured, and he was utterly miserable. He was no longer able to sit up and play with his toys. He was unable to feed himself. She added: By the evening of December 23 he was plainly dying. There was nothing subtle about this at all. It was plainly obvious to both of you. Finley Boden, left, and a baby bottle containing gone-off milk found by police, as well as the bathroom (Derbyshire Police/PA) Medical intervention would have saved Finleys life, the judge said, and he would have made a full recovery had it not been for the defendants deliberately delaying calling for medical help. By the time they did, nothing could be done. At their home in Holland Road, Old Whittington, Derbyshire, the pair lied to doctors about the final days and hours of Finleys life, in an attempt to explain the cause of his injuries, the judge said, which included 46 rib fractures and 12 other bone fractures. The fractures would have required considerable force and meant he could not breathe properly, eventually causing the fatal infection. Images shown to the jury depicted a house full of clutter with cannabis paraphernalia next to gone-off baby formula and items of Finleys clothing covered in his blood, saliva and faeces. Marsden, of no fixed address, and Boden, of Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, lied by saying their baby had Covid, preventing social workers seeing Finley, Mrs Justice Tipples said. The mother was picking up drugs from their dealer when a social worker made an unannounced visit days before the death, and the father lied to cover up. Shannon Marsden with her son Finley Boden, a month before the childs death on Christmas Day (PA) Im sure the injuries to Finley were inflicted in your home, she said, and one of the parents put a hand over the toddlers mouth to ensure his screams could not be heard by neighbours. After the boy died, the parents delayed calling an ambulance but when called, the paramedics smelled cannabis and noticed the filthy conditions in the house, including the cot covered in blood and vomit. The court heard that Boden smoked cannabis from the age of nine and Marsden was drinking from the same age and smoking cannabis from the age of 10. Regular arguments were a feature of that relationship from the outset, the judge said, adding that Boden had a short temper and could be uncontrollably and aggressively angry but that Marsden was quite capable of standing her own ground in the arguments. I am also sure that you were pushed and hit and verbally abused by Stephen Boden in your relationship with him, the judge told Marsden. She said: You both knew that as soon as anyone knew Finley was injured, he would be taken away from you and your family life. Having brutally assaulted Finley on at least two occasions, you continued to abuse him. Once the injuries had been inflicted, Finleys daily experience was one of considerable pain, distress and suffering Judge Mrs Justice Tipples A statement from a relative of one of the defendants, read by prosecutor Mary Prior KC before sentencing, said Finley had suffered the most horrific abuse and labelled his parents monsters. The relative said: I thought they had both changed. I was obviously wrong and they only showed us what they wanted us to see. They acted together to inflict all his injuries and then hide him away and allow him to die in such an awful way. We as a family have grieved, but you havent needed to, as you are both responsible for his death. We will never forget, or forgive, you both, and we will never forget Finley. While we will never forget Finley, I promise, we will forget you both. I can only describe you both as monsters for what you have done. Following the sentencing, an NSPCC spokesperson said: The cruelty and abuse inflicted on Finley leading up to his tragic death was appalling and heartbreaking. The death of a child in such brutal circumstances leaves many of us asking questions and we await the Child Safeguarding Practice Review to establish exactly what happened and any ways in which Finley could have been better protected, in order to help prevent future tragedies. 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 }} TikTok prankster Mizzy has been arrested on suspicion of breaching a criminal behaviour order just days after appearing in court for entering a strangers home uninvited. The 18-year-old, real name Bacari-Bronze OGarro, was detained by the Met Police on Friday morning and has been taken into custody for questioning, the force said. A video was posted to Mizzys Twitter account showing him being detained with the caption: Mizzy just got arrested. His arrest took place on the roof of a building behind an Iceland grocery shop. Mizzy went viral when he entered a stranger s house without their consent , for which he was also arrested. He posted a video of himself entering the London home as a prank two weeks ago. The clip was met with shock and anger, with many online calling for him to be arrested. Mizzy, of Manor Road, Hackney, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on Wednesday in relation to the video. He was issued a criminal behaviour order and fined hundreds of pounds. He was also told not to enter private property or post videos of people without their permission. The self-described content creator who was previously arrested over clips that appeared to show him harassing Jewish people has said the negative reaction to his videos is partly down to him being Black. In one home entry video, the 18-year-old appears with two friends, saying: Walking into random houses, lets go. He is then seen going through a front door that has been left open and startling the woman on its patio. Once inside the home he lounges on a sofa before finally being asked to leave by a man who appears in the living room, as children are heard calling daddy. Mizzy confirmed he has previously been arrested after sharing a number of videos that seemed to show him harassing Jewish people. In one, he appears to put his hands on the victims shoulders and attempts to leapfrog over him. He claimed this was a TikTok trend where you leapfrog over someone when the beat drops and he has done this to many different types of people. Other videos posted online show him pestering train passengers, entering a mans car while claiming it is his Uber taxi and asking random members of the public if they wanted to die. Mizzy told Piers Morgan it was not my fault that UK laws are weak' (TalkTV) In an interview with The Independent, Mizzy defended his actions and said he does not care about whether he is receiving love or hate, as it is all about getting engagement and its the fact that people are talking thats important. He said he began to consider content creation more seriously as a career path in year 8 or 9, after having been kicked out of school three times. He started to realise that every time he upped the ante and did wilder videos he would garner more online engagement so that is what he continued to do. The youngster appeared on TalkTVs Piers Morgan Uncensored show earlier this week where he was grilled about his pranks, which were described as abhorrent by senior politicians. Pressed on the footage in an interview by Mr Morgan in which both he and the presenter called each other idiots Mr OGarro said: I went and apologised off social media I could have recorded that apology and that would have been another viral video, whether its hate or whatever. Literally, hate brings money, hate brings likes, hate brings views. It doesnt matter love or hate, it still brings views ... Its not like I prefer to do the hateful stuff, its just easier to do the hateful stuff. Mizzy, in his interview with The Independent, said he felt sympathy and remorse for entering the familys home, which he said could have been the best or worst decision of my life. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Lawyers for three Black men wrongly convicted of murder have applied for their sentences to be reviewed, claiming they were victims of institutional racism within the courts. The families of Durrell Goodall, Reano Walters and Nathaniel Williams submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) on Friday to clear their childrens names for the 2016 murder of Abdul Hafidah, 18, in Moss Side, Manchester. The trio, who were prosecuted in 2017 under the controversial joint enterprise law, claim they were wrongly associated with a violent street gang named AO (Active Only) that allegedly pursued Mr Hafidah. The application to the CCRC argues there was no violent criminal gang by the name of AO, and that the convictions are a gross miscarriage of justice. Only one person, 19-year-old Devonte Cantrill, stabbed Mr Hafidah, however, seven were convicted of murder, three of manslaughter, and one pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The youngest defendant was aged just 14 at the time and had learning difficulties and all of the defendants were Black or mixed-race. Darrell Ennis-Gayle, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, which is acting for the families, said: The prosecution knew who murdered Abdul Hafida, however, it was allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged in bringing about a false narrative that labelled a group of Black and mixed-race boys as gang members when they were nothing of the sort. The fact that the majority of these boys had no previous convictions, had jobs and went to college was irrelevant. All that was relevant was where they lived, the music they listened to and the colour of their skin. Over the past two-and-a-half years we have revisited this case fully and with fresh evidence have shone a new light on what we truly believe is a gross miscarriage of justice. We have absolute faith that the Criminal Cases Review Commission will consider this application fully and properly. We thoroughly expect that the commission will see all that has gone wrong with this case in order that it can finally be put right. On Friday morning, the mothers of these three jailed men delivered a statement outside the CCRC in Birmingham, before hand-delivering the application for appeal on behalf of their sons. Back in 2017, from the start of the criminal trial that convicted our sons, our fear was always that our sons had been prejudged, because of the colour of their skin and because of where they are from being Black and mixed-race young people from Moss Side in Manchester, they said. In their efforts to convict all the boys of murder, the prosecution relied on the story that they are all in a gang, based on prejudice about boys and young people who live in our communities in south Manchester. We know our boys didnt take anyones life. It is the courts that have taken their lives. The legal bid is supported by Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central. Black people are 11 times more likely to serve time under joint enterprise convictions compared to their presence in the population as a whole, figures show. Research including the Macpherson report in 1999 following the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the Lammy Review in 2017, looking into the treatment of Black and minority communities accused of crimes, highlighted that these communities face bias, including overt discrimination, in parts of the justice system, and joint enterprise is applied overwhelmingly in a disproportionate manner against Black defendants. 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 }} Parliament and the prime ministers official residence are full of nooks and crannies providing politicians and staff with ample opportunity to have sex in, a former senior aide to Boris Johnson has said. Cleo Watson recently published her first racy novel, which she said was inspired by her time working for Mr Johnson and his predecessor Theresa May, and has been billed as a mixture of Fifty Shades of Grey and House of Cards. In one scene of the book, entitled Whips, Ms Watson writes about a beleaguered prime minister inviting her MPs to Chequers for a BBQ to get them away from the manic Westminster bubble. While the fictional PM is delivering a very serious speech a couple upstairs are in flagrante, Ms Watson, said of the scene. Speaking to Choppers Politics podcast, Ms Watson likened the story to when Ms May was trying to get her Brexit deal over the line in 2019, in what became known as the Chequers plan. Ms Mays Brexit plans were vehemently opposed by Mr Johnson, who resigned as foreign secretary the previous year, urging his colleagues to chuck Chequers in favour of a Super Canada-style proposal. What occurred to me is that I have been to Chequers a couple of times and MPs do get invited, Ms Watson said of the steamy she wrote about at the PMs official residence in Buckinghamshire. There is essentially ample opportunity for this kind of stuff to happen. Former senior Downing Street aides Cleo Watson and Dominic Cummings in October 2020 (Kirsty OConnor/PA) (PA Archive) Ms Watson, 34, was deputy chief of staff to Mr Johnson when he was prime minister. Mr Cummings - who brought her into government after working on the 2016 Vote Leave campaign - was Mr Johnsons chief of staff at the time. She was often pictured arriving to work with Mr Cummings, with the pair commuting to work together from their homes in north London, according to the Daily Telegraph. Ms Watson was sacked by Mr Johnson in November 2020 two weeks after Mr Cummings was shown the door following a power struggle between him and his team and Carrie Johnson, the former PMs wife. Ms Waton, speaking in July 2022 for the first time about her departure from Downing Street, compared her time there to being like the prime ministers nanny. My role at No 10 sounds fancy, but a lot of the time I was much closer to being Boriss nanny, she said in an interview with Tatler magazine. Describing her own sacking from No 10 in November 2020, Ms Watson claimed the prime minister told her in the Cabinet Room she reminded him of Mr Cummings. Its like a marriage has ended, weve divided up our things and Ive kept an ugly old lamp. But every time I look at that lamp, it reminds me of the person I was with. Youre that lamp. She added: As so many in politics know, the end comes sooner or later generally sooner, if youre employed by this prime minister (although I suppose hes had karma returned with interest recently). 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 Cadbury 99 flake is too flakey, ice cream sellers have warned. Ice cream vendors have insisted the quality of the flake has deteriorated since production was moved to Egypt. Owner of C&M Creamery Ices John Taylor told the BBC the product breaks easily. You cant give someone a 99 with a broken flake. Its embarrassing for an ice-cream man, he said. He added: Theyre crumbly by nature but they should be able to stand up to a bit of moving around. Theyre charging top money for them, but they arrive as though they have been bounced off a cliff. If youre buying five boxes of Flake for an event and you discover a lot of them are broken your day is ruined. Meanwhile, Lawrence Glauser, owner of Lorenzos Ices in East Yorkshire said: Often at least a quarter of a box are unusable. I now serve trays of ice cream and sprinkle bits of Flake on top. I shouldnt have to do that. Im fed up of the wastage. Glauser said he sometimes uses a German alternative to the flake 99 which are a lot denser and dont seem to fall apart as easily. Katy Alston, who operates a van in Bognor Regis and is also president of the Ice Cream Alliance said she will no longer be using the flake 99 this year after she said she had to throw half away in some cases. Weve thrown away 70 in a single box before because theyve all been broken, she said. For the first time, I wont be using Cadbury flake this year. It feels a different product. Cadbury owners Mondelez said they have been making the flake 99 in Egypt since 2020 and the recipe has not changed. A Mondelez spokesperson said: Cadbury Flake 99 is a naturally delicate and crumbly product, and we have processes in place within our supply chain to avoid any breakage as much as possible. We are aware that recently some customers have received product which does not meet our usual high standards. This has been addressed following recent improvements to our production processes although some prior stock may remain in circulation. We are in the process of liaising with our customers (wholesalers) to support those potentially impacted. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. The company added it takes the quality of its product very seriously. 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 great-uncle of a 15-year-old killed in a crash in Cardiff has criticised South Wales Police as a vigil was held at the spot where the boy and his best friend died. Harvey Evans was killed alongside Kyrees Sullivan, 16, when their Sur-Ron electric bike crashed in the Ely area of the city on Monday evening. John ODriscoll, Harvey Evanss great-uncle, said the police should have stopped when they saw the two teenage boys were not wearing helmets, as he attended the vigil on Friday evening. Mourners release balloons during a vigil for the victims of a road traffic collision on Snowden Road in Ely, Cardiff (PA Wire) Crowds gathered to pay their respects to the two teenagers (Jacob King/PA) What happened on Monday with the riot, that was wrong, he said, referring to violent scenes that took place in the hours after the tragedy. The boys were wrong, but it was out of frustration. It was because a lot of the boys get abused by the police around here and so thats why things kicked off. Harvey was my great nephew, we have a big family and were all close. They were just young boys. Everyone rides bikes and scooters around here. Yes we find them annoying but thats just what they do, but as soon as those coppers saw they had no helmets they shouldve stopped, he added. The deaths of the two teenagers sparked hours of violence and disorder as cars were set on fire after word spread on social media that a marked police van had been pursuing the pair minutes before the crash. Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans as younger boys (Sourced) The claims were later denied by Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, but CCTV from the area has since shown a police van was driving behind the bike at one point. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had recovered footage from the area and is reviewing initial accounts from the police officers involved. Nine people between the ages of 15 and 21 were arrested following the disorder. Around a thousand people attended the Friday evening vigil. Many of those gathered held blue balloons and wore white T-shirts adorned with pictures of the boys. Dozens of blue and orange flares were also lit and fireworks were set off. Floral tributes left to Kyrees and Harvey on Snowden Road (PA) Some in the crowd were in tears as the balloons were released into the sky and a moment of silence was held before the crowd broke out in applause. The family requested that no people on Sur-Ron bikes and no police attend the vigil. One of Harveys uncles in attendance at the vigil said: Were all tarred with the same brush here, especially given what happened on Monday. But this is the true Ely. Look how many people have turned out to pay their respects. The only difference between Monday and today is that the police arent here. It comes after the IOPC said today it was examining the nature of the police interaction with Kyrees and Harvey and the appropriateness of the officers decisions and actions. A Ford Focus set alight on Highmead Road, Ely during the disorder (PA) The watchdog is also considering whether the police officers actions in the van constituted a pursuit and whether the interaction between the officers and the boys was reported appropriately by the officers prior to and following the collision. IOPC director David Ford: Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Kyrees and Harvey, as well as all those affected by the loss of two young lives in such a close-knit community as Ely. Our investigators have been conducting inquiries and securing evidence in the immediate vicinity of where the events took place, speaking to local residents, distributing leaflets and gathering as much relevant information as possible. I am truly grateful for the co-operation and assistance we have received from people within the local community. We are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of what took place in the period leading up to the collision. I would like to reassure everyone in the community that our work will be thorough, impartial, and independent of the police. 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 perfect 10-month-old baby boy was murdered by his own parents after they used Covid to trick social services. Shannon Marsden, 22, and Stephen Boden, 30, launched a savage and brutal tirade of abuse against their son Finley Boden which left him with 130 injuries including burns and broken bones. He died on Christmas Day 2020 during lockdown. The pair were jailed on Friday, with Boden serving a minimum of 29 years and Marsden 27 years. Shannon Marsden with her son Finley Boden, a month before the childs death on Christmas Day 2020 (PA) They brutally murdered the innocent baby after convincing authorities to return him to their full-time care following a Family Court order in October 2020, having previously described him as perfect and a cuddly, chunky munchkin. The case has shone a spotlight on the often hidden world of Family Court hearings. The order giving the baby back to his parents sparked a sequence of events that culminated in his murder at their hands, despite concerns being raised about their drug use and parenting abilities by social services. Finley was taken into care in February 2020, immediately after he was born and just weeks before the UKs first lockdown of the pandemic. Social workers from Derbyshire Council originally concluded he was at serious risk of harm if he stayed with his parents. They described the couples shocking living conditions, with Finleys clothes and bedding stained with saliva, and their home described as very unclean and at times hazardous with faeces on the floor. Concerns were also raised over domestic violence, of which Boden had previously been convicted, and the couples use of cannabis. Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden were convicted of murder (Derbyshire Police/PA) Despite this in mid-November that same year, Finley was returned to Marsden and Bodens home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The parents then began what prosecutors said was a savage and brutal campaign of abuse against their son. His heartbreaking injuries also included a fractured thigh and broken pelvis, 71 bruises, as well as sepsis and endocarditis an infection of the lining of the heart. The couples terraced home appeared clean and tidy in photos sent to social workers (Derbyshire County Council/PA) Court documents reveal what took place from the time the decision was made to put Finley into care and the ruling that he should be returned to his parents - 39 days before he died. Social workers stopped routine home visits after the UK went into its first lockdown in March 2020, and Finleys mother was allowed to submit photos to show the state of their home. Images show the terraced house clean and tidy, with hoovered floors, clear kitchen counter tops and a presentable babys nursery in the couples efforts to hide their abuse from social workers and family members. The couple presented their kitchen as clean and tidy but jurors were shown photos of it overflowing with dirty plates and rubbish (Derbyshire County Council/Derbyshire Police/PA) But other photos showed to jurors told a different story with overflowing bins, cannabis paraphernalia sitting next to curdling baby formula, and baby clothes and bedding covered with spit, phlegm and blood. The judge said Marsden and Boden are both persuasive and accomplished liars who both knew Finley was really, really ill in the days before his death. She said: By December 18, you both agreed that you would lie and say that Finley was ill because he might have Covid and you had ordered a Covid test. The judge said that the pair both knew full well that Finley did not have Covid but used it as a perfect excuse to keep social workers and family from seeing the boy. Speaking after the trial, DI Paul Bullock, of Derbyshire Police, said Finleys injuries were amongst the worst Ive seen in my 27-year policing career. Following Finleys death, Boden was heard mentioning how he would sell his pram on eBay and the pair were later seen laughing together in a taxi. Other photographs shown to the jury reveal the filth and clutter in the couples house (Derbyshire Police/PA) During the trial, the dad suggested that Finleys injuries could have been caused by rocking him too hard, and said that the pram comment was made in an attempt to lighten the mood. It was also said that when visiting Finleys body in a hospital chapel of rest, Marsden was heard to say: His dads battered him to death. I didnt protect him. Use of cannabis was a key theme in the days immediately before Finleys death, with one drug deal witnessed by a social worker during an unannounced visit in December 2020. Neither of you have shown any remorse at all for what you have done, the judge said, as she handed down life sentences with minimum terms of 27 years for Marsden, and 29 years for Boden. A juror from the trial pointed to the sky as the sentences were passed, while another wept and others smiled. Old baby formula was pictured next to drug paraphernalia (Derbyshire Police/PA) Following the sentencing in the Finley Boden case, an NSPCC spokesperson said: The cruelty and abuse inflicted on Finley leading up to his tragic death was appalling and heart-breaking. The death of a child in such brutal circumstances leaves many of us asking questions and we await the Child Safeguarding Practice Review to establish exactly what happened and any ways in which Finley could have been better protected, in order to help prevent future tragedies. We know that babies and our youngest children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and completely reliant on the adults around them for care and protection. Nationally, the Government must take forward the changes recommended by previous reviews and experts to transform the child protection system and ensure the different agencies involved are able to work together effectively to focus on children and babies like Finley. Its also crucial that everyone does all they can to prevent child abuse. Anyone who has concerns for a childs safety should contact the local authorities, the police or the NSPCC helpline. If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331 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 }} 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. Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest updates 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. Madeleine McCann went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007 (PA) However, on Monday, police activity was spotted at a reservoir some 30 miles from the Praia da Luz resort, in what was soon reported to be international authorities gearing up for a major new search this week based on leads suggesting Brueckner made repeated trips to the area which he dubbed his little slice of paradise. The fresh search at the reservoir one of six in the Algarve is the first in Portugal since 2014, and comes as the Metropolitan Police were granted a further 110,000 by the Home Office to fund their search for Madeleine, who would turn 20 this month. It brings the total amount spent on the search for the Leicestershire-born girl, codenamed Operation Grange, to just shy of 13.1m since 2011, and is significantly less than the more than 300,000 approved by the Home Office the year prior. While the costs incurred by German and Portuguese authorities are unknown, Lisbons then-attorney general Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said in 2012 that the search for Madeleine had been the most expensive in the countrys history. As they began their fresh search near the Arade reservoir on Tuesday, police combed the waterways banks with the help of sniffer dogs, rakes and pickaxes, with emergency service divers spotted on a rigid-hull inflatable boat. Further along the banks of the reservoir, emergency services and officials from Portugal, Germany and the UK were seen holding briefings near blue police tents. 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. 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. Police used pickaxes and divers in their search on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images) The reservoir was previously searched in 2008, at the height of efforts to find Madeleine, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it, claiming to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleines body was there. Earlier this month, Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann posted a short statement on their Find Madeleine Campaign website to mark the anniversary of her disappearance. They said: Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction. 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. Additional reporting by PA 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. 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 hunting a remote reservoir in Portugal for evidence linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have left holes around two feet deep. The three-day search was concluded on Thursday after officers were instructed to stand down at the Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve. The remote dam is located around 31 miles from the Praia de Luz resort- the hotel where Madeleine vanished while her parents were at dinner in a tapas bar with friends around 100 yards away from their holiday apartment. Holes dug apparently for soil samples in the area around Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, after the area was reopened to media (PA) As part of this 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. Broken rocks were also scattered around the site in Portugal, after pickaxes were seen used by personnel over the course of three days. A relevant clue was found during the three-day hunt which led to police officers concentrating on a specific paper, according to the Correio de Manha newspaper. The fresh search operation began on Tuesday at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 45, kidnapped and murdered the youngster. Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007 (PA Media) Members of the media photograph holes at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal (PA) 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. Police searched the Algarve reservoir for three days in May (AP) Brueckner 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. He has denied any involvement and is currently behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same part of Portugal. 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 head of an under-fire NHS trust will publicly apologise to victims of a maternity scandal as the chair of a review into the episode said the trust has a lot of learning to do. Nick Carver, chairman of the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, will apologise on its behalf to parents who were affected by poor maternity care at its annual public meeting on 10 July, the trust said. It comes after families demanded a public apology in a closed meeting held on Tuesday, chaired by Donna Ockenden, who is leading a review into its care. Families also said that the review should be changed to automatically allow all affected families to be included, rather than asking them to reply to an invitation to share their story. Speaking on Wednesday, Ms Ockenden said that it was absolutely crucial that families came forward to ensure the trust learns in the way that it should. Following the meeting, Anthony May, the Trusts chief executive, said: We are absolutely committed to open dialogue with the families and last night we listened very carefully to all they had to say. We will now take time to reflect and make sure we can follow up all the points raised. I continue to learn a great deal from meeting women and their families and last night was an important opportunity for me to say sorry for any harm and distress caused by failings in our services. We continue to support Donna Ockendens independent review because we know how important it is for our learning and local people. We are in regular dialogue with Donnas team and we are determined to improve our services. I know this is an unsettling time for women and families using our maternity services. If anyone has concerns or questions about their care, I encourage them to speak to their midwife or consultant. Ms Ockenden said that since 1 September, at least 1,266 families have shared care concerns with the review, including Sarah and Gary Andrews, who in January saw the trust fined a record amount in court after the trust admitted criminal charges relating to the death of their daughter, Wynter, 23 minutes after she was born at the citys Queens Medical Centre in September 2019. A total of 663 staff have also made contact, with many requesting to be seen individually, which Ms Ockenden said speaks volumes about low levels of trust between staff and their employer. But Ms Ockenden, who previously led a similar review at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, raised concerns that the method that we have used to date to reach out across the communities just doesnt seem to be working, adding that there were stark differences in responses to the review between different ethnic groups. Ms Ockenden said, under the current system, only about a quarter of white women eligible to take part in the review into the NUH Trust had done so, and only about 10% of black women and about five per cent of Asian women. The NUH Trust has been responsible for finding and contacting families who could be eligible to take part in the review, meaning families have to contact the trust, which then has to contact the review. But families want this opt-in method to be changed to opt-out, which would see all affected families automatically eligible to be involved and, when used in the Shrewsbury review, this yielded a 95 per cent response rate. They will be writing to Ms Ockenden to offer their support for the change, but the final decision will be made by NHS England. Ms Ockenden said that hearing the views of women from ethnic minorities was vital and that women who had already come forward had shown that it is really, really clear that the Trust have a lot to do to build back trust with so many of their local communities. She said: I cant stress enough how absolutely vital that the ethnicity and rich diversity we see in Nottingham is represented. Its absolutely crucial. We cannot have another review where sections of our community here in Nottingham say, here we go again, another review has happened, our voices havent been heard, what we have to say has not been considered important, and the trust is improving but not with our needs in mind. We cannot allow that to happen. She added: Women feel that theyre not listened to, their needs arent met, and interpreting services are very poor. Ms Ockenden said that as recently as last month, one woman who was in labour had to ring her mother in Pakistan, who then had to contact another relative back in the UK, who then helped translate instructions from caregivers. Women tell us, because none of the trust information is available in any other language other than English, for processes such as induction of labour or any other processes that might need to happen, theyre not able to make informed consent, she said. She also acknowledged that while some issues were still active within the trust, changes were being made on a daily basis and feedback was being given to the trust in real time. The trust also has its own maternity improvement plan, which the reviews concerns are fed into, but she reiterated Mr Mays call for women to speak to health professionals if they have concerns. If local women feel that they have concerns, they must speak out, she said. I would hope that it would put womens minds at rest that changes are happening as we speak, but ultimately if women want to make a choice to go elsewhere, then that choice is theirs to make. Clinical reviews began last month, with Ms Ockenden adding that it was very likely the review would need to be extended to ensure it was of the highest standard. No date has yet been fixed for when the final report will be released. 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 }} Girls say they are being denied toilet breaks and given detention for taking too long in the loo while on their periods. Young women told The Independent they struggled to access free products in schools and were having awkward conversations with insensitive teachers about their periods. They also raised concerns about not being taught about menstruation and said they were bullied by male classmates over their periods. It comes as damning new research, carried out by a coalition of UK charities campaigning against period poverty, found six in 10 girls have found it difficult to go the toilet while on their period during lessons. It found a third of young people are skipping school due to struggles to access period products as well as the stigma around menstruation in schools. This is estimated to amount to over three million school days missed each year. The study, which Bloody Good Period, Irise, In Kind Direct, Cysters, and Freedom4Girls contributed to, found a quarter of girls said they were forced to state exactly why they need the loo. Some 44 per cent of girls struggle to access free period products at school, while the same amount said they feel too embarrassed to request period products at school, and a quarter reported feeling too humiliated to tell a teacher when they began their period. The research has been launched to coincide with a new campaign fronted by young activists backed by Girlguiding among others championing period dignity in schools called Every Period Counts. Caitlin Vaughan, an 18-year-old student who lives in Sheffield, told The Independent: Teachers can be insensitive about periods and lack sympathy and compassion. Ms Vaughan noted period products were available in both her secondary school and sixth form but it was a struggle to get them as she warned it was uncomfortable requesting a pad or a tampon in front of the class. Recommended This new campaign about period poverty wants to make you angry She added: If it was a male teacher, it would be a really awkward conversation. The whole nature is it is a taboo subject. Then the teacher would refer you to the head of year or someone who had products available in their office. It was very lengthy, complicated, and exhausting - especially if you have PMS or cramps and you are walking everywhere. We would have to trek around the school just to get a pad or a tampon. (Caitlin Vaughan) Ms Vaughan said she briefly learned about periods at primary school but had not been taught about menstruation during secondary school or sixth form other than in biology class. The lack of education meant periods felt scary to some girls, she added. Recommended We should be talking to our girls about periods earlier April Dagnall, 22, told The Independent she and her friend were given detention by a female teacher for arriving two minutes late to a lesson as her friend was in the toilet changing a period product. We did say when the class had left, we were in the toilet because she was on her period, but she didnt care, she added. She just gave us lunchtime detention. Ms Dagnall also said she was banned from going to the toilet by teachers even when she explained she was on her period. But most girls wont say as during secondary the lads will bully you over your period, she said. They make little comments like you smell. Recommended A Florida bill could ban schoolgirls under 11 learning about periods Rachel Grocott, chief executive of Bloody Good Period, told The Independent they were routinely contacted by students who have been stopped from taking toilet breaks as well as those who've been publicly interrogated by teachers as to why they need to go to the bathroom, or shamed by other students. She noted menstrual cycles were especially likely to be changeable and often hard to predict at this age. During my year 10 English Language exam, I leaked on my exam chair and went two hours sitting and not saying a word, Tilly, a 16-year-old girl from Cardiff, said. At this time, products were hidden away in the cupboards, and none were available in the exam venue. At the end of the exam, I broke down as I didnt know what to do. My school had locked the girls toilets, and we only had one unisex toilet. Researchers also found 13 per cent of girls said their school or college failed to offer free period products at all, while just over half stated they were never taught how to use them in school or college. The government announced in spring 2019 that girls would be given free sanitary items in schools from early 2020. 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 }} An 85-year-old British citizen was shot in Sudan before his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, said despite repeatedly asking the UK government for direct help, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family told the BBC they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month. The Foreign Office told the BBC the case was extremely sad. The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help where he was shot three times by snipers, his wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. Ministry of Defence handout photo of stores being unloaded at Wadi Seidna airport Khartoum, in Sudan. The British evacuation mission from the African country has seen 536 people taken to safety on six flights so far, according to the latest official figures. Issue date: Thursday April 27, 2023. (PA Media) The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. 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 }} TikTok prankster Mizzy has been arrested again on suspicion of breaching court order, after posting more videos online. Bacari Ogarro, known as Mizzy on social media, went viral when he entered a strangers house uninvited, and has defended his videos after they were described as abhorrent and criminal by politicians. He posted the video of himself entering the London home as a prank two weeks ago. It was met with shock and anger, with many online calling for him to be arrested. The self-described content creator who was previously arrested over clips that appeared to show him harassing Jewish people has said the negative reaction to his videos is partly down to him being Black. Mizzy went viral after he posted the video of him entering the London home as a prank (@secretm1zzy / TikTok) In one home entry video, the 18-year-old appears with two friends, saying: Walking into random houses, lets go. He is then seen going through a front door that has been left open and startling the woman on its patio. Once inside the home he lounges on a sofa before finally being asked to leave by a man who appears in the living room, as children are heard calling daddy. Have you appeared in Mizzys videos? If so email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk Mizzy, from Hackney in London, said he began to consider content creation more seriously as a career path in year 8 or 9, after having been kicked out of school three times. He started to realise that every time he upped the ante and did wilder videos he would garner more online engagement so that is what he continued to do. Controversy, even though its not good, is the best way to blow up on social media, he said. I always know outrage is going to happen. I know exactly what Im doing and the consequences of my actions. He added: I tell people not to reciprocate what Ive done. He told The Independent he cares less about whether he is receiving love or hate, as it is all about getting engagement and its the fact that people are talking thats important. In response to the scathing words from MPs, he said: Its wild how Ive got that mainstream. Replying to comments branding his behaviour criminal, he added: I aint got too much to say to them people just that I know myself and so do my fans. Mizzy claimed he went to the familys house the day after he posted the video and apologised. He said that while he is not the kind of person to have regrets, he does feel sympathy and remorse in this case, adding: I wouldnt do that again. He said: It could have been the best or worst decision of my life. He was more defensive when it came to other videos he has posted to his account, including one that shows him picking up an elderly womans dog as she sits on a park bench before he runs off with it, and another where he appears to approach and ask random people at Stoke Newington overground station if they want to die. He suggested the elderly woman was in on the prank, claiming: I said to her that if the dog came up to us again, having already come up to us three times, then I was going to take her dog and she laughed and said my grandson has seen you on TikTok. He has also filmed himself destroying books in a library and getting into the backs of strangers cars. He says he had staged the scene in the library and that the book he destroyed belonged to him. Paul Scully, minister for London and minister for tech and the digital economy, has intervened on Twitter (PA) The 18-year-old said because he is minority ethnic he believes people are trying to slander me, adding: Im a Black male doing these things and thats why theres such an uproar on the internet. He continued: I dont fake my pranks, but I always make sure to sort out the situation after if I feel like I went too overboard, but none of my pranks have malicious intentions behind them and most of the people in the pranks acknowledge that after I speak to them. Labours shadow DCMS minister Alex Davies-Jones has described Mizzys content as abhorrent, saying he needed to be held responsible as did the social media platforms. Met Police said they are investigating the videos. Mizzy confirmed he has previously been arrested after sharing a number of videos that seemed to show him harassing Jewish people. In one, he appears to put his hands on the victims shoulders and attempts to leapfrog over him. He claimed this was a TikTok trend where you leapfrog over someone when the beat drops and he has done this to many different types of people. Ms Davies-Jones has also described Mizzys content as upsetting and said: Yet another example of how we desperately need the Online Safety Bill to hold the social media platforms to account. Conservative Assembly member Susan Hall urged the Metropolitan Police Service to step in, tweeting: No legitimate social media platform should be hosting this thugs vile videos. @metpoliceuk please can you urgently update the public as to what is being done to locate and apprehend this criminal. A TikTok spokesperson said: Our community guidelines are clear that we prohibit content promoting criminal activity. In relation to this issue, we have banned accounts for violating these guidelines. 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 }} Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has dubbed MP Margaret Ferrier missing in action as he prepares to campaign in her seat. Ms Ferrier was found guilty of culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the risk of infection, illness and death by breaching Covid restrictions, and the Commons Standards Committee subsequently recommended a 30-day suspension from the House. A vote to approve the suspension was due to be held on Thursday, but a motion to put it to MPs was not moved by the government and it is understood there were concerns there was not the requisite number of MPs in the Commons for the vote to take place. With Westminster in recess next week, the earliest the vote can return to the order paper is 5 June. A Labour source said the government had bottled it and pulled the vote amid fears it could have been defeated. If the suspension is approved, it would spark Scotlands first recall petition, with constituents given the chance to call a by-election if 10 per cent sign the document. Labour which held the seat before it was taken by the SNP in 2019 has been active in the now-independent MPs Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, selecting teacher Michael Shanks to stand in any potential contest and deploying Scottish leader Anas Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie there to campaign in recent weeks. Sir Keir is expected to campaign and speak to members of the public in the South Lanarkshire seat on Friday. Speaking ahead of the visit, he said: For too long, the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have been failed by two bad governments and have been unrepresented by a missing-in-action MP. The people of this area are crying out for change and for a new politics that offers hope, partners with their ambition for their area, and focuses on their priorities. Only Labour can deliver the fresh start that Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs and only Labour will focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis and building a brighter future for all of Scotland. 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 }} An independent review of the violence which broke out in Leicester last year has been commissioned by Michael Gove. In September 2022, tensions between the British Pakistani Muslim and Indian Hindu communities spilled over into widespread violence and vandalism. The Secretary of State for communities announced on Friday that a review would establish the causes of the unrest. A panel of experts, led by Lord Ian Austin, will provide recommendations to improve relations between the Muslim and Hindu communities. Mr Gove said: Leicester has a proud history of community cohesion, which makes last years disorder all the more shocking and upsetting. This review will build a thorough understanding of the specific events that took place and what can be learned from them. I have spoken to both the Home Secretary and the Mayor of Leicester to underline the importance of protecting all parts of the community in Leicester and we will not tolerate attempts to foster division or violence among people or between religious groups. Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he welcomed the decision, adding: I would want Leicester and other cities to be able to learn from its findings and to understand what needs to be done to ensure that our community cohesion is never again threatened in this way. Lord Austin said: Acceptance of each others background and beliefs is at the heart of our national identity. Cities such as Leicester have proud histories of tolerance and diversity. This makes the scenes we witnessed last year all the more worrying and it is therefore so important that we listen to people in Leicester to get to the bottom of what happened and why. 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 }} An 11-year-old cancer patient diagnosed with lymphoma was overwhelmed with tears when he met the stem cell donor who saved his life three years on. James Benzel and his mother Karen Benzel, a 40-year-old business executive director from Alliance, Nebraska, USA, hugged and cried with James donor, Luke Bugdol, a 39-year-old police constable for South Yorkshire, from Rotherham, at DKMS annual London gala held at the Natural History Museum on Thursday. DKMS (the German Bone Marrow Donor Centre) is an international charity that aims to help those fighting blood cancers and blood disorders. The schoolchild, now in remission, told the PA news agency he was overwhelmed when he met Mr Bugdol. Mrs Benzel said: I was just grateful to meet the man that saved my sons life and graciously gave a gift to give him the second chance of life. Its just amazing and Im extremely grateful. The stem cell donor, Mr Bugdol, said: It really hit home because its the fact that it was for James. James out of all of this is a hero because James went through it all. Walking up to the stage I knew straight away that Id probably struggle to talk because the emotion was there. And just actually meeting him was really overwhelming. The 11-year-old was diagnosed in May 2018 with a severe case of aplastic anaemia, described by the NHS as a serious condition where bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells. James then developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer that affects the bodys lymphatic system. Mrs Benzel said her family was completely shocked when her son was diagnosed. He went from being a completely healthy child, who just finished his first year in school, and then all of a sudden had these tremendous medical issues, she said. We are sitting in a childrens hospital, didnt know what to do, what to turn to, where to go. Its a very helpless feeling that you cant physically change places with your child or help them in a different way. James said he missed two weeks of school and his siblings had to bring his homework to him while he was in hospital. After his diagnosis, doctors told the Benzel family the first step of treatment for James was a stem cell transplant. Unfortunately, none of James five siblings were a genetic match, so James needed another donor. In August 2018, James matched with a donor, but he said he was not able to celebrate properly as he was too ill. Mr Bugdol donated his stem cells on February 4 2019 they were immediately shipped to the USA and James started the transplant process the next day, on February 5. James went through conditioning where doctors destroyed any trace of his stem cells to ensure his body was receptive to the transplant. The leading-up portion isnt too horrible, its the side effects you get after, the typical chemo and radiation side effects, he was very ill, Mrs Benzel said. James was officially declared in remission in May 2021 and he now currently does not need regular health check-ups, only a visit to the doctor once a year. James said it was very good to finally be allowed to play with his friends. Mrs Benzel said it was great to get back to a normal life and to see James do normal kid activities. The family had to wait for two years before they were allowed to contact the donor, as per DKMS requirements. James mother said the family wrote a letter to the donor and Luke graciously responded. Mr Bugdol said he joined the DKMS stem cell register in 2015 after his police colleague died with cancer. In 2018, DKMS notified him that he was a potential match for a cancer patient. In 2019, he donated his stem cells using his bone marrow. They screw some big needles into your back into the pelvic bone, and they draw the stem cells directly from your bone marrow, he said. It was easy, all they did was screw two needles in. Because James was young and required a significant amount of stem cells, the sole option was to extract them from Mr Bugdols bone marrow, rather than a general blood extraction. Mr Bugdol said: For me it was never about meeting the person, it was just a case of doing what needed to be done. For more information on DKMS, visit: www.dkms.org.uk/register-now. 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 }} At about 4am on 20 May, Nakala Murry handed her cellphone to her 11-year-old son Aderrien and asked him to call 911. A former partner had showed up at her property on BB King Road in Indianola, Mississippi, in the middle of the night irate. She feared for the safety of her two young children and a nephew who were in the home. Officers arrived at about 6am with their weapons drawn, and called on everyone in the house to come out, Ms Murry has said. As Aderrien followed his mother around a hallway corner and into the family living room with his arms raised, an officer, identified as 2021 Indianola Policeman of the Year Greg Capers, shot him in the chest. Family attorney Carlos Moore told The Independent that a week later, city officials were stonewalling their attempts to find answers. Were asking what did you see and why did you shoot? Mr Moore said in an interview on Friday. I think they shot first and asked questions second. He doesnt appear to be a man or anything, hes a 410 little boy. Theres no way a trained officer should have feared for his life when an 11-year-old boy approaches with no weapon in his hands. Mr Capers has since been placed on administrative leave, but the police department is refusing to release his bodycam footage. Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone declined to provide the family with an explanation or an apology during a meeting on Thursday, Mr Moore said. Its very cruel and inhumane, he told The Independent. Hes blessed Recalling the terrifying incident at a press conference this week, Nakala Murry said she awoke to find the father of one of her children knocking on her window early last Saturday morning. She reached for her phone, woke Aderrien, and asked him to call her mother and the police. Officers arrived within a few minutes with their weapons drawn, and started kicking at the door and ordered everyone to come out, Ms Murry said. Nakala Murry speaks to Good Morning America about the police shooting of her son Aderrien (Good Morning America) As her son followed her into the living room, complying with the officers commands, he was shot once in the chest by an officer standing in the front doorway. Ms Murry said her son ran towards her and collapsed. She applied pressure to the wounds until first responders arrived, as blood seeped from his mouth. Every time I close my eyes, I see him, she said. Aderrien was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he was given a chest tube and placed on a ventilator. He had suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. Doctors would later tell the family that the bullet came within an inch of piercing vital organs. Why did he shoot me? Aderrien kept asking his mother as he lay in hospital. Family say Aderrien responded well to treatment and he was released from hospital on Wednesday. Hes blessed. I dont know how else to describe it, Ms Murry said this week. My client Aderrien Murry is blessed to be home and alive. Hes a remarkable young man and did not deserve to be shot as a 11 year old innocent child by an Indianola cop named Greg Capers. #JusticeForAderrienMurry pic.twitter.com/HzxrTRuJpW Attorney Carlos Moore (@Esquiremoore) May 25, 2023 Mr Moore said he visited the boy at home on Thursday, and he was still traumatised, in pain and was having trouble breathing. Doctors were trying to strengthen his lungs, but the longterm prognosis was encouraging. He said Aderrien was due to begin counseling on Friday. Hes doing as well as can be expected, Mr Moore told The Independent. Hes fearful of the police, and hes very disappointed the mayors not taking it seriously. Your best cop shot my baby At a heated rally outside the Indianola City Hall on Thursday, Ms Murry and Mr Moore stood beside a small group of protesters calling for justice, WLBT reported. The protesters held signs stating Your best cop shot my baby, Fire Greg Capers now, and Release bodycam footage. Ms Murry and a group of eight family members met with Indianola town leaders for about 15 minutes. They didnt answer any questions, Mr Moore told The Independent. We asked for the mayor to give his regrets or say something to the family. He didnt give anything. No answers to any of their questions. The Indianola Police Department referred media inquiries to the city attorney, who has not responded to a request for comment. Apart from a Facebook Live event the day after the shooting, Mayor Featherstone has not commented publicly on the incident. He did not respond to several requests for comment by The Independent. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) said it had opened an investigation into the shooting. In a statement, agency spokesman Bailey Martin told The Independent that a minor occupant of the residence received significant injuries and has been transported to a local hospital. MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office. Mr Moore has demanded that the police chief and the officer be fired immediately, and is planning to file a federal civil lawsuit against the city of Indianola, and individual officers involved. If hes your best, you need to clean house from top to bottom, Mr Moore said during the week. He has also and asked the Department of Justice to perform a Pattern-or-Practice Investigation of the police department to examine whether it was using excessive force, biased policing and other unconstitutional practices. Mr Capers was placed on administrative leave at a meeting the Indianola Board of Aldermen this week. Aderrien knows that the people are in his corner According to a Washington Post database, 1083 people have been fatally shot by police in the last 12 months. Many hundreds more have suffered life-threatening injuries. The latest shooting of an unarmed Black child by law enforcement has garnered headlines around the world, and attracted a groundswell of support for the family. Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis shared a visual artists impression of the shooting. Mr Moore told The Independent that the support was keenly felt by the Murry family, whose lives had been upended by the shooting. I believe the more pressure applied across the nation and the world, I believe they will have to bend at some point, he said. Aderrien knows that the people are in his corner, and hes appreciative of that. Im making sure hes aware of that. Indianola has a population of about 10,000 residents last year, a third of whom live below the poverty line, according to Census data. It lies about 100 miles north of Jackson, the state capital. 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 mother of an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police joined protesters on Thursday to demand bodycam footage of the incident released and the officer involved be fired. Nakala Murrys son Aderrien was shot in the chest after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance at their Indianola home on Saturday (20 May). He is recovering at home after suffering a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. At a heated rally outside the Indianola City Hall on Thursday, Ms Murry and her attorney Carlos Moore stood beside a small group of protesters calling for justice, WLBT reported. The protesters held signs stating Your best cop shot my baby, Fire Greg Capers now, and Release bodycam footage, according to WLBT. The Indianola Police Department confirmed to CNN that the officer involved in the shooting was Greg Capers, who was previously named the departments best officer. Ms Murry and a group of eight family members met with Indianola town leaders for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, Mr Moore told reporters that Mayor Ken Featherstone had shown the family no sympathy. Nakala Murry speaks to Good Morning America about the police shooting of her son Aderrien (Good Morning America) We asked the mayor to say something to the family and offer some sort of comment on behalf of the city and if theyre sorry, let them know theyre sorry. The mayor would not say anything, Mr Moore said, according to WLBT. The family attorney said he planned to file a federal civil lawsuit against the city of Indianola, the police chief, and Officer Capers. Aderrien Murry, 11, with family attorney Carlos Moore after he was shot by an Indianola Police Officer (Carlos Moore / CNN) Mr Featherstone has not responded to several requests for comment by The Independent. Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Bailey Martin said the agency was currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence, and would report its findings to the state Attorney Generals office upon completion of the probe. The shooting unfolded in the early hours on Saturday (20 May) after Ms Murry asked Aderrien to call police when the father of one of her other children allegedly showed up at her home at 4am in an irate mood. She told a news conference that she that an officer arrived at the house with his gun drawn, and called on everyone inside to come out. Mr Murry 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 a press conference on Monday. She applied pressure to the wounds until first responders arrived. Aderrien was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in a critical condition. He was released from hospital on Wednesday. On Thursday, Ms Murry said her son was doing well. Hes blessed. I dont know how else to describe it - how else to describe how he survived, she told reporters, according to WLBT. She said Aderrien kept asking why the officer shot him. 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 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. 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. 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. 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 }} Alex Murdaughs accomplice and friend Corey Fleming is now cooperating with the FBI over the convicted killers scheme to steal millions of dollars from his dead housekeepers family. Fleming, a longtime friend and law school classmate of the disgraced legal scion, accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors this week over his involvement in Murdaughs financial fraud schemes. He appeared in federal court in South Carolina on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. At the court hearing, Fleming confessed that he had taken part in one of Murdaughs financial schemes and admitted that he knew what he was doing when he did so. Prosecutors allege that Murdaugh orchestrated a financial fraud scheme which included stealing almost $4.3m from the estate of Gloria Satterfield and its insurance carriers. Satterfield was the Murdaughs longtime housekeeper who died in a mysterious trip and fall accident at the prominent familys 1,700-acre Moselle estate in South Carolina in 2018 the same property where Murdaugh shot dead his wife Maggie and adult son Paul three years later. Following her death, Murdaugh recommended that Satterfields sons hire his friend and fellow attorney Fleming to represent them in bringing a wrongful death claim against him, so that they could collect from his homeowners insurance policies. The insurance companies ultimately settled the estates claim for more than $4m two payments of $505,000 and $3.8m. Murdaugh and Fleming then stole the settlement money for themselves and the housekeepers sons didnt get a dime. Much of the stolen money was funneled through a fake Forge bank account which sought to imitate the legitimate and totally unrelated business Forge Consulting. In accepting the plea deal, Fleming admitted that he helped Murdaugh steal the insurance money meant for Satterfields sons and has agreed to cooperate with the FBI and US Attorneys office in the case. Corey Fleming in court on Thursday (ABCNews4) He has also agreed to submit to polygraph tests and to turn over his law licences in South Carolina and Georgia. He faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced at a later date. He was released Thursday on a $25,000 unsecured bond. He is also facing separate state charges over the Satterfield case. Ronnie Richter, an attorney representing the Satterfield family, welcomed Flemings guilty plea. This was a good day for justice because this is the first time anyone associated with the Satterfield case has pleaded guilty to anything, he said. Flemings plea deal comes the same week that Murdaugh was indicted on a slew of new charges over their scheme. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office announced on Wednesday that a federal grand jury had returned a 22-count indictment against the 54-year-old disgraced legal dynasty heir, charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The convicted killer was already awaiting trial on more than 100 financial crimes charges over a decade-long multi-million-dollar fraud scheme where Murdaugh stole millions from his law firm and legal clients a scheme he confessed to orchestrating when he took the stand at his murder trial. Alex Murdaugh appears in court for sentencing (AP) But, now he has been hit with a further 22 charges for what prosecutors describe as three separate schemes to steal money from personal injury clients he represented through his law firm. As well as the scheme with Fleming, prosecutors allege that Murdaugh ran a second scheme from at least September 2005 to September 2021, where he allegedly routed and redirected clients settlement funds into his own pocket including by directing his law firm colleagues to pay the funds directly into his personal account. In the third scheme, Murdaugh and his banker Russell Laffitte allegedly conspired from July 2011 to October 2021 to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Laffitte, who was CEO of Palmetto State Bank at the time, acted as Murdaughs personal banker and as a custodian or conservator for some of his law firm clients. Laffitte then conspired to defraud those clients, with the two men diverting the money to themselves. Laffitte was convicted in November of financial fraud charges in connection to Murdaughs alleged white collar fraud schemes. Murdaugh faces up to 30 years in prison on the highest charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the new indictment. His other financial charges already amount to more than 700 years in prison if convicted. Even without the financial charges, Murdaugh will already spend the remainder of his life in prison after he was found guilty on 2 March of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul on the familys Moselle property back on 7 June 2021. Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison the day after the verdict. Satterfield, who worked for the family for more than 20 years, was found at the bottom of the steps leading into the familys home. She never resumed consciousness and died from her injuries three weeks later on 26 February. Gloria Satterfield died in a trip and fall at the Murdaugh home in 2018 (Provided) At the time, Murdaugh claimed that she had tripped over the familys dogs and hit her head, and her death was regarded as an accidental fall. However, her death certificate cited her manner of death as natural and no autopsy was ever carried out. Questions have been swirling around Satterfields death for the past few years as the string of deaths, stolen money and corruption surrounding Murdaugh came to light. In September 2021, an investigation was reopened into her death and investigators said they planned to exhume her body. Satterfields death isnt the only mystery death tied to the South Carolina legal dynasty. A homicide investigation has also been opened into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of a road in Hampton County. The openly gay 19-year-old had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and his death was officially ruled a hit-and-run. But Smiths family have long doubted this version of events, with the Murdaugh name cropping up in several police tips and community rumours. At the time of his murder, Paul was also awaiting trial for the boat crash death of Mallory Beach. 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 sister of a mother-of-three found dead in Pennsylvania last month has spoken out about the possible connection between Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger and her sibling's disappearance. Dana Smithers, 45, was last seen alive on 28 May 2022 when she left her friends house to walk a few doors down to her own home in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Almost one year later, her remains were finally discovered last month, with her cause of death still a mystery. In a bombshell development this week, it emerged that Mr Kohbergers parents Michael and Maryann Kohberger had been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating Smithers disappearance and death in their home state of Pennsylvania. It remains unclear why the Kohbergers were called to testify in the case with the revelation coming just days after their 28-year-old son appeared in court charged with the quadruple murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in Moscow, Idaho. On Thursday, Smithers sister Stacey addressed the speculation that the two cases are connected, insisting that there is no known link and that Mr Kohberger has an alibi on the night of the disappearance. Stacey told NewsNation that authorities had informed 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. Then, following Mr Kohbergers arrest, the grand jury began investigating whether he could have been involved in her disappearance. Stacey said it quickly became clear that the cases werent connected and that the accused killer was not in the area at the time Smithers went missing. The Stroud Area Regional Police Department also released a statement on Thursday 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. Dana Smithers missing persons poster (Stroud Police) The SARPD has NO EVIDENCE that Dana Smithers disappearance, is in ANY WAY tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger. Officials have offered no explanation as to why the Kohbergers were called to testify in the grand jury probe and are unlikely to do so given grand juries operate in secret. A source told CNN that the accused killers mother had already given evidence to the grand jury while his father was expected to testify on Thursday. A lawyer for Mr Kohbergers parents had reportedly tried to fight the subpoena but was unsuccessful. The grand jury investigation remains ongoing and no findings have been revealed. On 28 May 2022, Smithers vanished without a trace from Monroe County the same county where Mr Kohberger was living at the time. Her best friend Tara Cioni told NBCs Dateline in December that Smithers had 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. Dana Smithers was found dead last month (Stacey Smithers) 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. Ring video camera captured Smithers leaving her friends house at around 11.05pm, holding her cellphone in her hand. She was never seen alive again. Smithers cellphone, wallet and daily medication were all found at her home. Smithers family grew concerned when they realised she hadnt gone home and filed a missing persons report. Stacey told Dateline at the time that they knew something must be wrong when she didnt show up for Memorial Day celebrations with her children, aged 25, 23 and 7, on 30 May. Bryan Kohberger appears in court for his arraignment (Reuters) She would not have missed Memorial Day, said Stacey. She didnt do anything that didnt involve her kids. That was her thing. I mean she was always there with the kids. In June, the Pennsylvania State Police and local police carried out searches with cadaver dogs in a heavily wooded area close to her home. The search did not turn up anything and the case went cold for months. Almost one year after she was last seen alive on 27 April Smithers remains were found in a wooded area in Stroudsburg. Her cause and manner of death is not yet known. 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. 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 teenager has been arrested for the 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. 17-year-old arrested for allegedly stabbing bus driver in Los Angeles (LAPD) 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. 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 }} A suspected carjacker shot dead a police dog before being killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers in Chicago on Wednesday, authorities say. The slain K9 officer, Hudson, was given a guard of honour by the Kane County Sheriffs Office after the fatal shooting. No details were immediately available about the person who was killed. The shooting unfolded after officers pursued the suspect through several Chicago suburbs over the course of several hours on Wednesday afternoon. Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said in a statement the man was suspected of a carjacking in the suburb of Aurora. Officers tried to pull over his stolen grey Honda Accord in South Elgin, but the man drove off. Officers eventually stopped him at an intersection several miles away in the suburb of Geneva. According to the statement, Kane County deputies deployed Hudson to try to subdue the suspect. The suspect pulled out a handgun and exchanged fire with deputies. He was struck, and taken to a nearby hospital where he died shortly afterwards. Hudson was caught in the crossfire and died, Sheriff Hain said. This is a big loss for us, but hes an absolute hero to us today, Sheriff Hain said in a video statement posted to Facebook. Hudson had been named after an officer who died in the line of duty, the sheriff added. 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 Texas teenager told authorities he killed his family because they were cannibals and they were going to eat him. Cesar Olalde, 18, was arrested in the small town of Nash, Texas, after allegedly shooting dead his parents, sister and brother. The suspect was taken into custody after barricading himself inside a home, and when investigators entered they found multiple bodies, reported the Associated Press. Cesar Olalde, 18, was arrested in the small town of Nash, Texas, after allegedly shooting dead his parents, sister and brother. (Bi-State Detention Center via AP) The victims have been named as Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, the suspects older sister Lisbet Olalde and younger brother Oliver Olalde. A probable cause affidavit stated that Mr Olade, who has been charged with capital murder, had called the police and told them that he had pulled the trigger, and shot his family. Multiple spent cartridge casings were found on the floor of the home the affidavit states, and there was blood spatter on multiple surfaces. A co-worker of Lisbet Olalde told police that he went to the home when she failed to show up to work and he was confronted by the suspect who allegedly pointed a gun at him. The co-worker told police that Mr Olalde said he had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him, the affidavit reads. The suspect is being held on a $10m bond, according to Bowie County court records. Nash has a population of 3,800 and is located near the state line with Arkansas. A GoFundMe set up by Diana Olalde has already raised more than $51,000 for her familys funeral expenses Hi, I am Diana and I am fundraising for my familys funeral services. On 5/23/2023 my world changed, she wrote. My whole family my father who was a hard working man, my mother who was a caring and loving person, my sister who was full of life, happiness, and dreams, and my little brother who was an amazing, funny, and cheerful kid passed in a tragic turn events that even in my worst nightmare I couldnt have dreamed. 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 }} Three members of a far-right anti-government extremist group who joined a mob inside the US Capitol on January 6 were sentenced to federal prison after their convictions on a range of charges connected to the attack. The hearings in US District Court in Washington DC follow the 18-year prison sentence for Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who was convicted by a jury on a treason-related charge of seditious conspiracy after a nearly two-month trial last year. His is the longest sentence, to date, related to the assault at the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Kelly Meggs, another member of the Oath Keepers who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in that same case alongside Rhodes, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on 25 May. Jessica Watkins, a US Army veteran who was convicted of several other charges in that same trial, was sentenced to eight and a half years. A jury found Watkins guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and guilty of conspiracy to obstruct. My actions and my behaviors that fateful day were wrong, and as I now understand, criminal, she told US District Judge Amit Mehta on 26 May. Violence is never the answer. Federal prosecutors argued that Watkins mobilised a group in Ohio alongside the Oath Keepers, and joined a mob in Washington DC in tactical gear to upend the results of the 2020 presidential election, fuelled by Donald Trumps false narrative that the election was stolen and rigged against him. I was just another idiot running around the Capitol, she said on 26 May. But idiots are held responsible, and today youre going to hold this idiot responsible. Prosecutors argued that she marched from the former presidents rally at the Ellipse and breached the halls of Congress in a military-style stack formation, encouraging members of the mob to push through law enforcement. Jessica Watkins, left, appears with members of the Oath Keepers on 6 January, 2021 at the US Capitol. (REUTERS) According to messages and recordings shared at trial, Watkins declared the group stormed the Capitol on a radio-like communication app on the day of the attack. Judge Mehta, noting her apologies, said that her efforts that day were more aggressive, more assaultive, more purposeful than perhaps others. And you led others to fulfill your purposes, he added And there was not in the immediate aftermath any sense of shame or contrition, just the opposite. Your comments were celebratory and lacked a real sense of the gravity of that day and your role in it. Kenneth Harrelson was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. He was sentenced to four years in prison on 26 May. Recommended Proud Boys leader and three members guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan 6 attack In his plea for leniency, Harrelson, weeping as he spoke, apologised to US Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who testified during the trial that the Oath Keepers that the group failed to support law enforcement and ignored his warnings that they were endangering officers lives. I am responsible and my foolish actions have caused immense pain to my wife and children, Harrelson told Judge Mehta on Friday. The judge noted that, in evidence from federal prosecutors, there is not a single word in a single communication that anyone would consider extremist, radicalized or encourages anyone to engage in violence. Thomas Caldwell, a fifth member of the group who was on trial alongside the other four recently sentenced Oath Keepers, will face a sentencing hearing next week. Caldwell was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents or proceedings. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the January 6 attack. Fourteen people, 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. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the sentences against Rhodes and Meggs reflect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions. 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, he said in a statement on 25 May. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the [January 6] attack on our democracy. 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 Florida man who showed up outside CIA headquarters and told officers he was armed was later arrested with an AK-47 rifle at a nearby preschool in Virginia. Eric Sandow, 32, of Gainesville, Florida, was taken into custody after allegedly approaching the Dolley Madison Preschool in Fairfax County on Tuesday, NBC Washington reported. Police say that he asked if he could go inside the school to use the bathroom, but staff refused and he wandered off. Eric Sandow (Fairfax County Police Department) He was then picked up by police and told them that he was going to talk to the CIA, which is based a mile away. Investigators say he was not armed at the time and made no threats. Officers who detained him then searched his car and found two firearms. Earlier he had shown up at the agencys headquarters and told guards, Im here and I have a gun, a law enforcement source told CNN. Sandow was charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property. Yesterday, our officers took an AK-47 off the streets after a man was trespassing at the Dolly Madison Preschool in McLean. Officers found the unarmed man who said he was making his way to the CIA. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/l3Vdo12Ks8 Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 24, 2023 He appeared in court by video link on Thursday but did not enter a plea. A judge ordered him to remain in detention and his next court appearance is set for 24 July. There are very likely mental health issues involved, said Chris Carter, a defence attorney who represented Mr Sandow at the hearing and asked for him to be released. The preschool said that police would increase patrols around the school following the incident. Were really grateful that the Fairfax County police responded quickly, and this wasnt anything more than a stressful situation, Christine Ryu-Naya, a member of Dolley Madison Preschools board of directors, said 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 }} Mississippi police officer Greg Capers has been placed on administrative leave after he shot and wounded 11-year-old Aderrien Murry in Indianola last Saturday, authorities say. The shooting of an unarmed boy in his home after he had called 911 to report a domestic disturbance has triggered calls from family and the wider community for Mr Capers to be fired, and for a thorough Department of Justice investigation into the Indianola Police Department. Aderriens mother Nakala Murry told a news conference she had asked her son to call 911 after her former partner showed up irate at the familys home on BB King Road at around 4am on 20 May. Ms Murry said that two officers arrived at around 6am and ordered everyone inside to come out. Aderrien was following his mother out of the house when he was shot in the chest by a police officer in the living room. The police department later confirmed to CNN that Mr Capers had discharged his weapon. Aderrien was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries including a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and lacerated liver. Aderrien has since been released from hospital. Family attorney Carlos Moore told The Independent that the city was stonewalling their requests for bodycam footage to be released, and had not offered an apology or an explanation. Who is Greg Capers? Greg Capers is a sergeant with the Indianola Police Department. According to a social media account, Mr Capers is from West Monroe, Louisiana, where he formerly worked as a police officer, and lives in Indianola. In 2016, he married LaShundra Fletcher-Capers. He has several children. Mr Capers regularly posts on social media about his family, his religious faith, and has shared several photos showing his skills as a police marksman. The new no trespassing sign! he wrote in 2021 next to a bullet-riddled shooting target. A phone number listed under Mr Capers went unanswered on Friday. He did not respond to several messages. Indianola police sergeant Greg Capers has been placed on administrative leave after shooting 11-year-old Aderrien Murry (Twitter / Carlos Moore) On Mr Capers Facebook page, his brother Linton Capers said in a comment that the police officer was hurting. I don't know what happened and my heart goes out to this baby. But I know we were raised to do the right things in life. I'm sure my brother is hurting and more than sorry for what he did, the brother wrote. In May 2021, he was named Policeman of the Year by the police force, according to an article in Indianolas local newspaper the Enterprise-Tocsin. They shot first and asked questions second The Policeman of the Year award has been seized on by Aderriens family and representatives as a sign of institutional problems within the department. At a news conference on Monday, Ms Murry held a sign that read Your best cop shot my baby as she described trying to staunch the flow of blood from her sons wounds. On Thursday, Ms Murry and Mr Moore joined a small group of protesters outside of the city hall buildings calling for Mr Capers to be fired. Mr Capers was placed on administrative leave at a meeting of the towns Board of Alderman on Tuesday. Aderrien Murry, 11, pictured with family attorney Carlos Moore, is recovering at home (Carlos Moore / CNN) Mr Moore told The Independent he was pressing police and city officials for answers. Were asking what did you see and why did you shoot? Mr Moore said in an interview on Friday. I think they shot first and asked questions second. He doesnt appear to be a man or anything, hes a 410 little boy. Theres no way a trained officer should have feared for his life when an 11-year-old boy approaches with no weapon in his hands. Mayor Ken Featherstone has failed to respond to several requests by The Independent for comment. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into the shooting to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. 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 }} Texas Republican-controlled House issued 20 articles of impeachment against GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton, ranging from bribery to abuse of public trust, and a vote that could remove him from office could happen as soon as Friday. The allegations include attempts to interfere in foreclosure lawsuits, improperly issuing legal opinions to benefit real estate developer Nate Paul, and firing, harassing and interfering with whistleblower staffers. Bribery charges stem from Paul allegedly employing a woman with whom Paxton had an affair in exchange for legal help and Paul allegedly paying for renovations to Paxtons home. Other charges date back to Paxtons pending 2015 felony securities fraud case, including lying to state investigators. Paxton has said the charges are based on hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims. Here's look at the 20 articles of impeachment: DISREGARD OF OFFICIAL DUTY ARTICLE 1 - Protection of charitable organization Paxton is accused of failing to act as a public protector of charitable organizations by directing his employees in the attorney general's office to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Roy F. & JoAnn Cole Mitte Foundation against entities controlled by Paul, harming the Austin charity in an effort to benefit Paul, a wealthy donor. ARTICLE 2 - Abuse of the opinion process Paxton is accused of misusing his official power to issue written legal opinions. He allegedly had employees prepare an opinion that protected some of Pauls properties from being sold in foreclosure. Paxton concealed his actions by asking a Senate committee chairperson to seek that opinion. Hes also accused of directing employees to reverse their legal conclusion to help Paul. ARTICLE 3 - Abuse of the open records process Paxton is accused of misusing his official power by allegedly interfering with his office's handling a public records request dealing with the files of a criminal investigation into Paul. ARTICLE 4 - Misuse of official information Paxton is accused of misusing his power to administer public information law by improperly obtaining previously undisclosed information held by the attorney general's office to benefit Paul. DISREGARD OF OFFICIAL DUTY ARTICLE 5 - Engagement of Cammack Paxton is accused of misusing official powers by hiring attorney Brandon Cammack to investigate a baseless complaint made by Paul. That led to Cammack issuing more than 30 grand jury subpoenas in an effort to help Paul. ARTICLE 6 - Termination of whistleblowers Paxton is accused of violating the states whistleblower law by retaliating against employees who reported his alleged unlawful acts to law enforcement, terminating them without good cause or due process. Hes also accused of engaging in a public and private campaign to impugn those employees professional reputations or prejudice their future employment. MISAPPLICATION OF PUBLIC RESOURCES ARTICLE 7 - Whistleblower investigation and report Paxton is accused of misusing public resources by directing employees to conduct a sham investigation into terminated employees' whistleblower complaints and publish a report containing false or misleading statements in Paxtons defense. DISREGARD OF OFFICIAL DUTY ARTICLE 8 - Settlement Agreement Paxton is accused of misusing his official powers by concealing his wrongful acts in connection with the whistleblowers complaints by entering into a settlement with the whistleblower s that provides for payment from public funds. The settlement halted the wrongful termination suit and delayed the discovery of facts and testimony at trial, to Paxtons advantage. That allegedly prevented voters from making an informed decision about his reelection in 2022. CONSTITUTIONAL BRIBERY ARTICLE 9 - Pauls employment of a woman with whom Paxton has acknowledged having an affair It is alleged that Paxton benefited from Paul's decision to hire the woman. In exchange, Paul allegedly received favorable legal assistance from, or specialized access to, the attorney general's office. ARTICLE 10 - Pauls providing renovations to Paxton home It is alleged that in exchange for providing the renovations, Paul received favorable legal assistance from, or specialized access to, the attorney generals office. OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE ARTICLE 11 - Abuse of judicial process Paxton is accused of abusing the process to thwart justice in the securities fraud case against him. It is alleged that Paxton concealed facts from voters with protracted delay of that trial, preventing voters from making an informed decision about his election. ARTICLE 12 - Abuse of judicial process It is alleged that Paxton benefited from donor Jeff Blackards lawsuit that interfered with payment of the prosecutors in Paxtons securities fraud case. That allegedly delayed the case, including discovery of facts and testimony at trial, and deprived voters of a chance to make an informed decision when voting for attorney general. FALSE STATEMENTS IN OFFICIAL RECORDS ARTICLE 13 - State Securities Board investigation Paxton is accused of making false statements to the State Securities Board in connection with its investigation of his failure to register with the board as an investment adviser required by state law. ARTICLE 14- Personal financial statements Paxton is accused of failing to fully and accurately disclose financial interests in his financial statements filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. ARTICLE 15 - Whistleblower response report It is alleged that Paxton made or caused to be made multiple false or misleading statements in the lengthy written report issued by his office in response to whistleblower allegations. ARTICLE 16 - CONSPIRACY AND ATTEMPTED CONSPIRACY Paxton is accused of conspiring or attempting to conspire with others to commit acts described in one or more articles. ARTICLE 17 - MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC RESOURCES Paxton is accused of misusing his official powers by causing employees to perform services for his benefit and the benefit of others. ARTICLE 18 - DERELICTION OF DUTY Paxton is accused of violating the Texas Constitution, his oaths of office, statutes and public policy against public officials acting contrary to the public interest by engaging in acts described in one or more articles. ARTICLE 19 - UNFITNESS FOR OFFICE Paxton is accused of engaging in misconduct, private or public, of such character as to indicate his unfitness for office, as shown by the acts described in one or more articles. ARTICLE 20 - ABUSE OF PUBLIC TRUST Paxton is accused of using, misusing or failing to use official powers to subvert the lawful operation of the state government and obstruct the fair and impartial administration of justice, bringing the attorney general's office into scandal and eroding public confidence in state government, as shown by the acts described in one or more articles. 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 }} 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 }} Ron DeSantis signed a bill that shields SpaceX and other aerospace companies from legal liabilities, the day after Elon Musk hosted the launch of his 2024 campaign bid. The new Florida law would shield the billionaires space flight company, and others such as Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin, if crew members or passengers are killed or injured during missions. It was one of 27 bills that Mr DeSantis signed the day after the chaotic Twitter Spaces launch of his bid for the White House with Mr Musk, who is the SpaceX CEO. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch complex 39A carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a commercial mission managed by Axion Space at Kennedy Space Center April 8, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Getty Images) The Spaceflight Entity Liability Bill protects space flight companies from facing lawsuits in the event of an accident. It requires crew members and passengers to sign a waiver that acknowledges the risks and dangers of being launched into space, reported NBC News. WARNING: Under Florida law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant or crew in a spaceflight activity provided by a spaceflight entity if such injury or death results from the spaceflight activity, the waiver reads. The Independent has contacted the governors office for comment. The Florida Senate carried out an analysis of the legislation and stated that it has the potential to limit the cost of litigation to businesses engaging in spaceflight activities. (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Musks SpaceX has launched a series of missions from the states Space Coast where NASAs Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are located. The billionaire is a vocal supporter of Mr DeSantis and has predicted he has a better chance to win back the White House for Republicans rather than former president Donald Trump. The Space Florida government agency states that the aerospace industry is worth around $17.7bn in revenue. 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 years, Florida legislators and the governors office enjoyed a close relationship with The Walt Disney Company, among the states largest employers, wielding enormous political influence while bringing in billions of dollars to the state each year. Now, the company and allies of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis are suing one another, following a year-long feud over opposition to what opponents have called Floridas Dont Say Gay law that boiled over into political and legal battles that could shape the companys business in the state. The states feud with the company is entangled with volatile far-right attacks smearing Disney and LGBT+ people as groomers and paedophiles, while similar threats to LGBT+ people are making their way through state legislatures and governors offices across the country. Last year, Mr DeSantis endorsed a broadly written bill from Republican lawmakers the Parental Rights in Education Act that prohibits instruction of sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through the third grade and any such discussion that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in other grades. LGBT+ advocates and civil rights groups warned that the measures broad scope could freeze classroom speech involving LGBT+ people and issues from civil rights history lessons to discussions with students, school staff and their families under the threat of potentially financially destructive litigation and harassment from third parties who accuse schools of violating the law. Following passage of the bill, more than three dozen similar measures have been proposed in nearly half of US states, including 26 measures in 14 states in their current legislative sessions alone. Meanwhile, the governor has launched his campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination for president while immersed a political battle with one of the states top employers. Here is how as Disney writes in a recent lawsuit it has come to this. Disney faces pressure to respond to Dont Say Gay threats Disney is a political heavyweight in the state. The company dispatches several lobbyists to the state capitol in Tallahassee and gives millions of dollars through its many entities to both Democratic and Republican officials every election cycle to promote its business. Its also a cultural and economic powerhouse, drawing millions of visitors to the state each year. The companys voice on controversial legislation could, until recently, carry significant weight. But reporting from The Independent and other outlets found that Disney entities contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Mr DeSantis and other Republican lawmakers central to the Dont Say Gay law, despite the companys history of LGBT+ advocacy. In February 2022, Bob Iger just weeks into his retirement from Disney leadership announced that if the bill passed, it will put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy. Eleven days later, facing pressure from LGBT+ advocates and Disney employees, now-former CEO Bob Chapek issued a company memo stating that corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds while asking staff to not mistake a lack of a statement for a lack of support. On 11 March, 2022, Mr Chapek announced that the company would oppose the bill and suspend its political donations in the state. (Reuters) He stated that the company would immediately begin supporting efforts to combat similar legislation elsewhere and pause all political donations in the state pending a review of the companys political giving, conceding that the company failed to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights. The companys LGBT+ employees and staff opposed to the legislation staged daily walkouts to pressure Disney to indefinitely cease all campaign donations to state officials who created or helped pass the measure and demand that Disney leadership publicly commit to an actionable plan that protects employees from anti-LGBT+ legislation. The actions culminated in a full workday walkout or sick out on 22 March. Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down by the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organisations working to achieve that, the company said on 28 March 2022, when the governor signed the bill into law. Governor DeSantis and members of his administration quickly lashed out at the company, igniting a feud that escalated to Republican threats to punish its operations in the state. By the end of that year, Mr Iger returned to Disney as CEO. DeSantis pushes for the end of Reedy Creek In April 2022, Governor DeSantis expanded the scope of a special legislative session on the states redistricting plans to also consider the termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968, including the municipal taxing and government district that allows Disney to tax and regulate its sprawling park and resort properties in the Orlando area. The Reedy Creek Improvement District was first created in 1967 to give Disney control of its land use, zoning rules and public services without putting a tax burden on Florida residents. The district encompasses Disney World properties in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, spanning 39 square miles and land across Orange and Osceola counties. With Disney as the primary landowner for the district, the company is largely responsible for all costs of those municipal services that otherwise would fall under the jurisdiction of county and local governments, including the taxpayers who live within them. In effect, Disney used the Reedy Creek board to tax itself to foot the bill for all of its municipal needs. The governor and Republican lawmakers wanted to blow up that arrangement. On 19 April 2022, Republican state Rep Randy Fine introduced House Bill 3C, the Independent Special Districts bill. A companion measure, Senate Bill 4C, was introduced in the state Senate. The governor and his administration insisted that the initial proposal was intended to block what they called special privileges for big business in the state, but fundraising messages promoting Reedy Creeks demise pointed to Disneys woke opposition to the so-called Dont Say Gay bill. Disney thought they ruled Florida, an email from his campaign on 19 April said. They even tried to attack me to advance their woke agenda. Now, parents see Disney for what it is. And now is the time to put the power back in the hands of Floridians and out of the pockets of woke executives. State lawmakers bristled over the governors initial plans to dissolve Reedy Creek over concerns that doing so would not only violate state law but force Florida taxpayers to pay for infrastructure projects like road construction that Disney was effectively paying for through the districts arrangement. Instead, the governors own appointees will be in charge of the district and its powers to tax, build and borrow money under a new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. (Reuters) During an event on 27 February, Governor DeSantis signed a bill that amounts to a state takeover of the new district, with a five-member board made up of his own appointees. Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end, the governor said inside a Reedy Creek fire station in Lake Buena Vista that day. Theres a new sheriff in town and accountability will be the order of the day. Orlando-area Democratic state representative Anna Eskamani said in a statement that it is absolutely wild to see a self-proclaimed capitalist like DeSantis celebrate the government takeover of a private board. All this bill does is rename Reedy Creek and allow Governor DeSantis to appoint hostile conservative cronies to a new board, she said. Disney still maintains the same tax breaks but their First Amendment rights have been suppressed, and it sends a message to any private individual or company that if you dont purport to what the governor wants, then youll be punished. DeSantis appointees take control Among the governors controversial appointees include a donor who gave the DeSantis campaign $50,000 in 2022 and supported the governors efforts to remove an elected state attorney from office. The governor also appointed the CEO of a right-wing ministry, and the founder of the right-wing activist group Moms for Liberty which the governor has supported to transform local school boards. Board member Ron Peri, CEO of The Gathering USA ministry, was captured in a since-deleted YouTube video suggesting tap water has turned Americans gay. So why are there homosexuals today? There are any number of reasons, you know, that are given. Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, theres estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They cant get it out, Mr Peri said in the video, according to CNN. The level of testosterone in men broadly in America has declined by 50 points in the past 10 years. You know, and so, maybe thats a part of it. Despite public notice of proposed changes before the new board stepped in, the governors appointees were outraged to find the Reedy Creek board approved new agreements to make major changes at Disneys campus, changes that would remain in effect for years to come. Then came the lawsuits Moments after the new board voted to strip control of its Florida resort, the company filed a federal lawsuit against the governor and state officials alleging a targeted campaign of government retaliation. On 26 April, the board voted to nullify those agreements, the latest strike from Mr DeSantis, according to the lawsuit. Disney regrets that it has come to this, the lawsuit states. At the governors bidding, the states oversight board has purported to void publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disneys investment dollars and thousands of jobs, the complaint alleges. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional. (AP) The lawsuit also quotes the governors other retaliatory statements directed towards the company, including weighing potential new taxes and tolls on its hotels and roads and the possibility of a state prison near the parks. A statement from the governors communications director Taryn Fenske shared with The Independent said that we are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state. This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law, the statement added. Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted at the companys case against the board when he told shareholders in April the company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do. The governor got very angry about the position that Disney took, and it seems like hes decided to retaliate against us... in effect, to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right, Mr Iger said. And that just seems really wrong to me against any company or individual, but particularly against a company that means so much to the state that you live in. It didnt take long for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to respond. On 1 May, days after Disneys federal lawsuit was filed, the board unanimously agreed to sue the company in state court. Disney fights back On 18 May, the company announced that it was pulling the plug on a $1bn office complex in Florida, following through on a warning from Disney leadership that billions of dollars in projects were potentially on the line with the governors feud. The development scheduled for construction was set to bring 2,000 jobs to the region, with 1,000 employees expected to relocate from southern California. In an email to employees, Disneys theme park and consumer products chair Josh DAmaro pointed to changing business conditions for the cancellation of the 60-acre Lake Nona project. I remain optimistic about the direction of our Walt Disney World business, he added, noting that the company has still planned $17bn in projects over the next decade at its Disney World campus. I hope were able to, he said. A ranking from Axios and Harris Poll that guages the reputations of the most visible brands in America places Disney at No 77 with a score of 70.9, or good, falling 12 points from an earlier report. This story was initially published on 1 May and has been updated with developments 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 called his father a mortician in an apparent slip of tongue while attempting to ridicule Ron DeSantiss glitch-ridden 2024 presidential campaign on Twitter. Former president Donald Trumps eldest son was mocking Mr DeSantis for his troubled campaign launch on Twitter Spaces, which was marred by technical glitches. He played an audio clip of what he claimed was 8 minutes of silence during Mr DeSantiss campaign launch and echoed his fathers description of it as a DeSaster. It was a hashtag disaster. It took a long time for Elon Musk to barely figure out how and what was going on. It took two charismatic billionaires like Elon Musk and David Sacks to carry DeSantis through this where he basically read an op-ed about what he is gonna do, he said. However, while trying to boost his fathers candidacy, he unintentionally referred to Mr Trump as a mortician an undertaker whose job is to prepare dead bodies and organize funerals. Trump has the charisma of a mortician... And the energy that makes Jeb Bush look an Olympian, he said, referring to the doomed 2016 Republican campaign of Jeb Bush, son of former president George HW Bush. Donald Trump Jr continued his rant without realizing his error. He went on to mock the Florida governor, saying the failed launch was indicative of future failures. He said Mr DeSantis would regret running against his father. The clip of his gaffe went viral, receiving over a million views and prompting a trolling spree. Someone needs to tell him he got it all wrong if hes trying to hype his father, a Twitter user said. Another user Allene Lewis quipped: This is rich! For the first time in Donny Hes life he spoke truth about daddy. It was that extra bump that Jr did right before recording this, one said. Theres no F******g way you make a mistake like this unless your subconscious WANTS you to make a mistake like this, another said. Ron DeSantiss hotly-anticipated 2024 campaign launch fell flat on Wednesday night when it was marred by technical glitches. The Florida governor, 44, chose to announce his presidential run in an unconventional way in a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk and David Sacks. But, the event got off to a rocky start when it crashed several times and the sound repeatedly dropped out. 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 }} A soft-spoken Republican state lawmaker in Louisiana shot down a bill that would ban affirming healthcare for transgender youth in the state, the sole southern state that has not outlawed gender-affirming care amid a wave of restrictive measures targeting LGBT+ people across the country. State Senator Fred Mills, the chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, cast the committees tie-breaking 5-4 vote to block the bills progress in the GOP-dominated state legislature on 23 May. Following the vote, Mr Mills has faced a barrage of attacks from anti-trans far-right activists on social media, his businesses have received harassing messages, and the Louisiana Republican Party is pressuring state lawmakers to sidestep the committee process and put the bill on the Senate floor for a vote. Louisianas House Republicans also plan to sabotage other legislation to send a message to the state Senate. Mr Mills, who is not seeking re-election and delivered congenial farewell remarks to his Senate colleagues on 25 May, appears unfazed. Anytime you have to break a tie vote, no matter which way you vote, theres going to be backlash, and this is a national topic, Mr Mills told the USA Today Network. I did like I always do. I listened to the debate and made the vote I thought was right. Why would I want to handcuff a doctor and his or her decision? I think they know more about this than politicians. Anti-trans self-described fascist pundit Matt Walsh issued a threat to his nearly 2 million Twitter followers and claimed that Mr Mills sided with the butchers and the groomers, using the transphobic smear to falsely suggest that the St Martin Parish state lawmaker supports pedophilia. He will regret it, Walsh said. This is the biggest mistake of his political career, and also the end of his career. Hes going to be infamous and disgraced by his own base. Well make sure of that. Louisiana state Senator Fred Mills (Louisiana Senate) Far-right activist Greg Price with the State Freedom Caucus Network told his followers to let Senator Mills know how you feel about him single-handedly killing this bill to ban sex changes for kids. Louisiana is the only state in the US South that has not banned gender-affirming care for trans youth. Nineteen states have enacted legislation to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth, and at least eight other states are considering similar legislation, against the guidance of major medical organisations, including the Americans Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, that recommend affirming treatment for trans youth experiencing gender dysphoria. House Bill 648, authored by Republican state Rep Gabe Firment, would ban health providers in the state from administering affirming care to patients younger than 18, or face the revocation of their professional licence. Recommended Trans teen misses high school graduation after judge rejects plea That care can include hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers, which are also often prescribed for cisgender or nontransgender youth, as well as social transitioning measures, mental healthcare, and affirming surgeries, which are not recommended under major medical guidelines. A statewide report from the Louisiana Department of Health found that no affirming surgeries were performed on Medicaid-enrolled minors in the state between 2017 and 2021, and the prescription of affirming medications for trans youth within that same time period was also exceedingly rare. Mr Mills said the witness testimony and reporting from the health department persuaded him to vote against the bill. All the testimony I heard by the proponents that children are getting mutilated, I didnt see it in the statistics, he told the Louisiana Illuminator. Always in my heart of hearts have I believed that a decision should be made by a patient and a physician. I believe in the physicians in Louisiana, he added. I believe in the scope of practice. I believe in the standard of care. After national backlash from far-right groups, the Louisiana Republican Party issued a statement calling for procedural action that will result in a Senate floor vote on House Bill 648 to give all senators a chance to weigh in on this pivotal piece of legislation. The Republican Party of Louisiana is deeply disappointed in Senator Fred Mills tie-breaking vote to kill the legislation in committee, according to a statement from the party. The bill passed through the states House of Representatives by a vote of 71-24. Louisina Trans Advocates said the GOPs strategy would be a complete disrespect of the process and would be undemocratic. The onslaught of legislation and volatile political debate surrounding the bills have also negatively impacted the mental health of an overwhelming majority of young trans and nonbinary people, according to polling from The Trevor Project and Morning Consult. A separate survey from The Trevor Project found that 41 per cent of trans and nonbinary youth have seriously considered attempting suicide over the last year. When you prescribe hormone therapies to these kids, they get better, Louisiana psychologist Clifton Mixon told the state Senate health committee this week. They want to live. They go to school. They get better grades. Their relationships improve, and they can begin to live a more normal teenage life. 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 }} Leaders of Kansas' Republican-controlled Legislature backed off a threat to sue the state's Democratic governor for vetoing parts of a GOP education funding bill, saying Thursday that they still doubt the legality of her actions but now question whether a court challenge would be worth it. Gov. Laura Kelly nixed items in a $6 billion measure that provides the bulk of the funding for public K-12 schools for the 2023-24 school year. The vetoes changed how state funds are distributed to protect rural schools, though the move helped a majority of the state's 286 local districts and took funds away from only 25 of them, according to State Department of Education data. Kelly also didn't touch the only school choice initiative that divided Republicans were able to pass this year, expanding an existing program for private school scholarships of up to $8,000 a year for low-income public school students. While public education groups strongly opposed it, some GOP conservatives had hoped to pass the kind of sweeping plan to use state education dollars to help parents pay for private or home schooling that states such as Iowa,South Carolina and Utah enacted. Republican leaders contend that Kelly exceeded the power granted to governors under the Kansas Constitution to veto individual spending items in budget bills. The education funding bill mixed spending with policy, and Kelly deleted six pages of language and also made a technical adjustment at the end of the bill. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, told reporters Thursday at the Statehouse that GOP leaders initially feared she would go after more parts of the bill. I dont know that its worth the fight now, Masterson said. I dont think were going to do anything with this one. When Kelly announced her vetoes last week, Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, called on GOP Attorney General Kris Kobach to review them, suggesting they were poised for a lawsuit. Kelly's actions rejected a GOP-backed change for local school districts with declining student numbers more than half of them. The state distributes its dollars with a per-student formula, so funding drops as enrollments decline, but the state phases in the decrease over several years. The GOP change would have allowed less time for districts to adjust to a funding loss, and top Republicans contend the move would have helped growing districts. But Hawkins said in a statement that the issue can probably be addressed in a more efficient way than suing Kelly. The governor told reporters Thursday after a Statehouse event that she believes the six pages she vetoed clearly represented a budget item. She said she wasn't sure she could go after other parts of the bill, "and I didnt want to test it out. Kelly's vetoes benefitted more than 150 districts, giving them more state funds than they would have received otherwise, according to State Department of Education data. More than 100 others saw no difference. Kansas has boosted aid to public schools over the past decade, with an increase of about 3% coming for 2023-24. Even with fewer students across much of the state, only 10 districts will receive less aid overall than they did in 2022-23. All of those have fewer than 500 students, and four have fewer than 100. Without Kelly's vetoes, 29 districts would have received less money overall than in 2022-23. If they continue to put really bad policy in appropriations bills, you know, I probably will continue to line-item (veto them), the governor said. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna 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 }} Jill Biden will promote empowerment for women and young people and attend a Jordanian royal wedding during an upcoming trip to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. The first lady was scheduled to depart Wednesday on a six-day trip that will take her to Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Portugal. Her office shared some details first with The Associated Press. It will be Biden's first Middle East visit as first lady. She traveled to Namibia and Kenya in February. The first lady believes that supporting youth across the world is critical to our common future, with education, health, and empowerment at the heart of it, said Vanessa Valdivia, her spokesperson. With her visit to the Middle East and North Africa, the first lady will continue to build on her work to empower young people, and reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our partnerships and advance our shared priorities in the region, Valdivia said in an email. In Amman, the capital of Jordan, Biden will attend the June 1 wedding of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, heir to the throne, and Rajwa Khaled Al-Saif, an architect. President Joe Biden and the first lady have a deep and longstanding friendship with the prince's parents, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. When Joe Biden was vice president, he and King Abdullah often met over breakfast when the king traveled to Washington to visit his son, then a student at Georgetown University. Abdullah also visited Biden at his home in Delaware after Biden returned to private life. The two have met at least three times since Biden became president, twice at the White House and once in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In Egypt and Morocco, Jill Biden will connect with women and young people while focusing on U.S. investments that help support education programs and efforts to increase economic opportunity. In Portugal, the first lady will help the U.S. State Department celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Art in Embassies program, highlighting the role the arts can play in diplomacy. 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 }} 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 }} 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 }} 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 }} 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 }} 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 }} One day after the states Republican governor signed the ban into law, a judge in South Carolina has blocked a measure outlawing abortion at roughly six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion rights advocates and civil rights groups filed a lawsuit moments after Governor Henry McMaster announced his signature on the bill. South Carolinas latest law which could extend the sweeping restrictions and outright bans on abortion care across the entire US South, and threaten legal access to care for millions of Americans is nearly identical to a bill that was blocked by the state Supreme Court last year. The decision on Friday means the states abortion regulations revert to previous rules that allow for abortion care up until about 20 weeks after fertilization. The status quo should be maintained until the Supreme Court reviews its decision, Judge Clifton Newman said. Its going to end up there. His decision on 26 May comes just four months after the states Supreme Court permanently struck down a similar measure, which the court determined ran afoul of the states constitution. Restrictions on abortion care must be reasonable and it must be meaningful in that the time frames imposed must afford a woman sufficient time to determine she is pregnant and to take reasonable steps to terminate that pregnancy, Justice Kaye Hearn wrote in the majority opinion on 5 January. A lawsuit from Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Greenville Womens Clinic and two physicians argues that the latest anti-abortion law also violates South Carolina residents constitutional rights to privacy, equal protection, and substantive due process. Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said the decision gives patients a welcome reprieve from a restrictive abortion ban. Our doors remain open, and we are here to provide compassionate and judgment-free health care to all South Carolinians, she said in a statement. While we have a long fight ahead, we will not stop until our patients are again free to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures. More than a dozen states, mostly in the South, have outlawed most abortions or severely restricted access within the year after the Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization, which revoked a constitutional right to abortion care that was affirmed by the decision in Roe v Wade for nearly half a century. South Carolina remains the only state south of Virginia without severe restrictions or outright bans on abortion care past the 12th week of pregnancy. Most of those states have moved to ban abortion in nearly all cases with limited or no exceptions. Last year, lawmakers in South Carolina failed to adopt an anti-abortion law that would ban nearly all abortions in the state, but a six-week ban took effect shortly after the Supreme Courts ruling on 24 June. In a statement following the governors signature on the latest six-week ban, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lambasted Republican lawmakers who are dismantling womens rights across the South, putting their health and lives in jeopardy. South Carolinas ban will cut off access to abortion for women in the state and those across the entire region for whom South Carolina is their closest option for care, she added. Close Related: The competition squaring up to Donald 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 }} Donald Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented migrants born on American soil, as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. Speaking in his latest campaign video as he again seeks the Republican presidential nomination, Mr Trump said: As part of my plan to secure the border on Day One, I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic US citizenship. Meanwhile, as the probe into whether Mr Trump or his advisers broke the law in their retention of classified documents from the White House nears its end, it has been reported that one of his lawyers, Evan Corcoran, has said he was waved off from inspecting the former presidents office weeks before FBI agents found more than 100 such records during a court-authorised search. Mr Corcoran has reportedly told associates that several of the ex-presidents aides told him he need only look in a storage room at Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago club and no further when conducting a document hunt in order to respond to a subpoena. 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 }} Two teenagers in Australia have handed themselves in to authorities after a fire at a seven-storey heritage-listed building in Sydney. On Thursday, a former Henderson Hat factory on Randle Street, Surry Hills, was gutted in a fire. The fire sparked chaos in central Sydney with several neighbouring towers evacuated. People were heard screaming as bricks and large chunks of walls started crashing to the ground, local media reported. A group of young people were seen running from the scene, New South Wales police acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan said on Friday at a press conference, reported ABC News. He said two 13-year-olds handed themselves in at two separate police stations last night, and are assisting with their investigations. The two people we have spoken to are 13 years of age, we believe the other people are of a similar age, he was quoted as saying. Officials said that they are aware of three or four other young people who were present, and are urging them to come forward with their parents. The blaze has been described as once-in-a-decade type of fire. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) acting commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the fire was a defining point in the careers of all the firefighters who attended to it. The one thing I can guarantee at the end of their careers, this is one of the highlights they will reflect upon, he was quoted as saying by the outlet. Authorities said fire crews had to work through the night to control the extremely intense fire while some of the walls posed a significant threat of falling down, FRNSW superintendent Adam Dewberry was quoted as saying. [It was] a rapidly escalating fire, very intense, an abandoned building, old timbers, dried out timbers, and in some reports, rotted out, which all contributed to the significant intensity and spread of this fire, he said. Authorities said at least 70 residents were displaced from the surrounding buildings, with an exclusion zone expected to stay in place for seven days, reported the BBC. Fire officials said that a probe into the cause for the blaze was taken over by NSW Police Arson Squad. 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 }} Belarus' Supreme Court on Friday upheld an eight-year prison sentence handed to a prominent journalist working for an influential newspaper serving the country's sizeable Polish minority. The decision is seen part of the government's sweeping, year's long crackdown on opposition figures, human rights activists and independent reporters. The Court rejected the appeal of Andrzej Poczobut, a 50-year-old reporter with Gazeta Wyborcza, dismissing all defense arguments. In February, Poczobut was found guilty of inflicting harm on Belarus' national security and sowing discord. The trial took place behind closed doors in the Belarusian city of Grodno. He has remained behind bars ever since his arrest in March 2021. Poczobut had extensively covered mass protests that engulfed Belarus in 2020 in the wake of the disputed presidential election that handed authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko his sixth term in office. Both the Belarusian opposition and the West have denounced the vote as rigged. Poczobut's indictment pointed to his coverage of the protests, his statements in support of ethnic Poles in Belarus and a reference to the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland as an act of aggression as evidence of his guilt. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said that Poczobuts appeal was considered behind closed doors without explanation. The journalist is currently in the Grodno prison no. 1 and will now be transferred to a penal colony. Poland's Foreign Ministry on Friday vowed to continue calling for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus. Upholding the sentence of 8 years in prison for Andrzej Poczobut clearly shows the ill-will of the Belarusian authorities regarding representatives of the national minority in Belarus," the ministry tweeted. 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. 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 }} Five French soldiers have been charged with failing to assist 27 people who drowned trying to cross the Channel in the worst small boats disaster on record. A judicial source said nine people in total had been placed in custody over the tragedy and five were formally charged. The AFP news agency reported that those charged included three women and two men on duty at the Channel rescue centre at the time. The disaster sparked a row between the UK and France as each side tried to blame the other for failing to rescue the deceased. It took the UK and French coastguards 12 hours to respond following the first Mayday call. Call records released to lawyers by the French authorities as part of an investigation into the disaster found that the first distress call to the French coastguard was logged shortly before 2.15am on 21 November 2021. The boat overturned at around 3.15am. Shortly afterward, at 3.30am, a passenger reported that some of the group, mostly Iraqui kurds, were in the water. The French authorities replied: Yes, but you are in English waters, Sir. Those on board made more than 20 distress calls between 3.40am and 7.30am at sunrise. At around 2.00pm the rescue services arrived at the scene and all but two of the group had drowned or died of exposure. Throughout the course of the night the UK coastguard, responsible for logging emergency calls and coordinating search and rescue missions in the Channel, continued to deny that the dinghy was in British waters, repeatedly telling the passengers to call the French coastguard. The records from France suggest that the boat entered British waters at 2.30am. The charges were welcomed by a spokesperson for Utopia 56, an organisation representing the migrants. "We can only be delighted that things are progressing from a criminal point of view," said Flore Judet. According to AFP those in custody were from the French rescue service Cross Gris Nez, in charge of rescues in the Channel. Cross Gris Nez declined to comment. The Paris court in charge of the investigation was not immediately available 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 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. Despite the best efforts of investigators, the McCann case had lain dormant for several years before it suddenly exploded back into life in June 2020. German media revealed that Christian Brueckner, a prisoner, now aged 45, 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. He was reportedly living in a Volkswagen camper van in the Algarve at the time of Madeleines disappearance. German investigators have classified their probe into his movements as a murder inquiry, saying they are working on the assumption that Madeleine is dead. They reported in July 2021 that they had found an abandoned cellar beneath his former allotment near Hanover where she could, theoretically, have been held captive. Madeleine McCann (Getty ) Hans Christian Wolters, the prosecutor leading the investigation into Brueckner, has said he is 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. Brueckner was formally named an arguido (suspect) in relation to the case by the Portuguese authorities on 21 April 2022. Barragem do Arade (AFP/Getty) Now, 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. One source has been quoted as saying: Portuguese police will offer logistical support but the initiative is German and they were the ones that requested the work that is going to take place this week. Scotland Yard officers are due to travel to Portugal but theirs will be a watching brief. The Metropolitan Police has since said its officers will be there in order to inform Madeleines family if there are any developments. Loading.... 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, detective chief inspector Mark Cranwell said. A brief statement from Mr Wolters office in Braunschweig confirmed the search but did not reveal why it was taking place, saying only that investigators were acting in response to certain tips. The dam being searched is situated approximately 31 miles northeast of the coastal resort from which Madeleine disappeared. It was constructed in 1955 and is fed by the 35-mile-long Arade river. Portuguese authorities searching the Arade dam area (EPA) Its waters were previously searched in 2008 by specialist divers paid for by Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia, who claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that the girls body was in the waterway. On Monday 22 May, investigators sealed off a mile-long peninsula jutting into the reservoir and began setting up makeshift blue tents to serve as a base of operations. A rigid-hull inflatable boat is being used by officers to search the water and a no-fly zone has been implemented overhead, allowing only police drones to buzz by. Search teams arrive back at one of the operation tents (AP) A track leading to the search area was also cordoned off with police tape and marked vehicles from Portugals National Republican Guard. There are around two dozen Policia Judiciaria officers who seem to be supervising things at this stage, one onlooker told the media. Pictures from the site show members of the emergency services with their faces covered by bandanas searching the waters edge and surrounding grasslands with sniffer dogs. Policia Judiciaria officers at the search site (AFP/Getty) Others were seen with rakes, pickaxes, spades and metal rods combing the ground for clues while what looked like evidence bags were seen being removed from the scene. A Daily Mail report has suggested they are seeking traces of the clothes Madeleine might have worn, particularly the pink pyjamas she was wearing on the day of her disappearance. Part of the municipality of Silves, the beauty spot is a well-known tourist attraction, drawing visitors for hiking, camping and canoeing or touring its nearby vineyards. Close Police were scouring the remote Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal last week, around 35 miles from where the then-three-year-old went missing in 2007 while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz 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 }} Investigators are set to widen the search for Madeleine McCann after photos belonging to prime suspect Christian Brueckner revealed clues. Two other areas surrounding Praia da Luz, where Madeleine disappeared in 2007, could be searched by police, the Sun reported. Investigators made the discovery after looking through more than 8,000 photographs belonging to Brueckner. A source told the Sun: German officers have gone through more than 8,000 pictures belonging to Christian B. That forensic work led them to Barragem - but there are other places that have come up in the pictures too. Detectives are seeking to work out where they are and why Christian B was taking pictures of those places. It comes after police searched the remote Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal last week, around 35 miles from where the then-three-year-old went missing. The office of German prosecutor Christian Wolters said investigators were acting in response to certain tips. The reservoir is known to have been frequented by the latest suspect in the case Christian Brueckner. According to Portuguese broadcaster SIC, the suspect considered the area his little slice of paradise. Three claims have emerged during the past week on which Vladimir Putin would want his troops and the people of Russia to focus. First, that Moscows forces, leaning heavily on the Wagner mercenary group, have taken control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Second, that a raid on Russian territory by anti-Kremlin militias was forced back and the fighters were liquidated. Third, that tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Russias neighbour and ally Belarus. All of these elements are aimed at projecting a sense of strength the idea that Putin, together with those around him, including his military chiefs, is in control of the invasion he launched 15 months ago seemingly with the intention that it would last for a matter of weeks. Scratch the surface, though, and the facade that the Russian president is trying to uphold begins to fall away. Lets start with the last and simplest of those events: the transfer of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Putin announced the move in March; the papers formally authorising it were signed on Thursday; and the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, said later the same day that the weapons had already begun to be moved. The deployment, Russia says, is in response to Nato aggression that is to say, the military support the alliance has provided to Ukraine. Close Moscow drone attack: Buildings damaged in wake of suspected strike For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Ukrainian drone sparked a fire at an oil refinery in southern Russia and shelling hit a Russian town close to the border for the third time in a week, damaging buildings and setting vehicles ablaze, Russian officials said on Wednesday. A day after Russia accused Ukraine of sending drones to attack buildings in Moscow, the governor of Russias Krasnodar region said a drone was the likely cause of a fire that broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery. The report could not be immediately independently verified. Earlier, Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of terrorist activity after Moscow was hit with a drone attack for the first time since the war in the besieged country began. The Russian president accused Ukraine, which has denied any involvement in the drone attack, of choosing the path of attempting to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens and attacks on residential buildings. Drones hit several buildings in Moscow, forcing some people to evacuate their homes after Russia launched its third attack on Kyiv in 24 hours. 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 }} Intelligence chiefs in Kyiv have issued an alert over what they claim are Russian plans to simulate an accident at the occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, in an attempt to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive aimed at retaking territory. An emergency leak of radioactive substances will be announced in the coming hours, the defence ministry claimed in an online statement oN Friday evening, warning that Ukraine will traditionally be blamed for the incident. The occupiers are preparing large-scale provocations to create a centre of radiation danger, the message read. The Zaporizhia plant is at the centre of the alert (REUTERS) The rioters, it warned, would simulate an accident at Zaporizhia, which is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and has been under Russian control for more than a year. For this, a strike will be carried out directly on the territory of the ZNPP, the ministry wrote. In order to hide their actions as much as possible, the Russians disrupted the staff rotation of the permanent monitoring mission of the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] scheduled for today. The purpose of this action is to provoke the international community to conduct a detailed investigation during which all hostilities will be stopped. In this way, the Rashists hope to get the desired pause, which will be used to regroup the occupation contingent and stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun warned: This dangerous operation is disguised as a false flag attack by #Ukraine, aiming to unleash devastating radiation. Appealing to the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to intervene, she said: We cannot allow this to happen! Together, we must prevent this catastrophic nuclear provocation and safeguard the #Zaporizhzhia region from further devastation. Time is of the essence. Lets act swiftly and decisively to ensure peace and safety. Volunteer rescuers practise the evacuation of Zaporizhia during a training exercise (AP) The ministry added later: Russians are going to use this so desirable pause for the regrouping of the occupational personnel and to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The nuclear power plant has been the focus of some of the greatest fears since Russian forces took it over. The area has been repeatedly hit by shelling and the plant has had to rely on emergency generators after losing external power since the war began. Both sides have accused the other of causing the outages. Last week witnesses said Russian military forces had been enhancing defensive positions in and around the plant ahead of the counter-offensive. 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 Russian missile has hit a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, killing two people and wounding 30 in an attack that President Volodymyr Zelensky called a crime against humanity. 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. A covered corpse lay in the road nearby. "Another [Russian] missile attack, another crime against humanity," Zelensky wrote on Twitter. He said a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic had been hit, and added: "Only an evil state can fight against clinics. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure Russian terror." Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said a 69-year-old man had been killed as he passed the clinic and another man's body had been pulled from the rubble. He said 30 people had been wounded, including two children, and contact had not yet been made with three people thought to have been in the building when it was hit. Ukraine's Defence Ministry called the attack a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had carried out an overnight strike on Ukrainian ammunition depots. "The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit," the RIA news agency quoted it as saying. Moscow has dismissed allegations that its soldiers have committed war crimes and denies deliberately targeting civilians although it has bombarded cities across Ukraine since invading 15 months ago. Moscow said earlier on Friday Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone, but the missile was shot down. Ukraine said it had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on Dnipro, Kyiv and eastern regions. Mr Zelensky's office said a fire had broken out on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Kharkiv after an oil depot was hit twice, and that equipment for pumping oil products had been damaged. After months of attacks on energy infrastructure, Russia has shifted the focus of its missile strikes to try to disrupt preparations for a Ukrainian counterattack, a senior military intelligence official said last week. Attacks were increasingly targeting military facilities and supplies, he said. Meanwhile, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has told his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in call on that Russia is open to dialogue over Ukraine, the Kremlin said, shortly after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed a Chinese peace envoy to Moscow. Russia has repeatedly said it was open to resuming peace talks with Kyiv, which stalled a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine early last year, and has welcomed mediation efforts from both Brazil and China. But it has insisted that any negotiations must be based on "new realities", meaning its declared annexation of four Ukrainian provinces that it largely or partly controls - a condition unacceptable to Kyiv. China for its part signed a "no limits" partnership with Russia less than three weeks before the invasion, and has not only refrained from criticising Moscow but also dramatically expanded its Russian energy imports since the start of the war. It has put forward a 12-point plan for peace in Ukraine that involves declaring a ceasefire but does not stipulate that Russia should withdraw from any of the territory it has seized. In his meeting with Li Hui, Mr Lavrov expressed gratitude for China's "balanced position" and willingness to play a positive role, his ministry said. The Chinese proposal has drawn scepticism from the West, with Nato saying Beijing - whose president, Xi Jinping, made a high-profile state visit to Moscow in March - lacked credibility as a mediator. Mr Lula has also pitched himself as a peace broker and proposed, in line with Brazil's tradition of non-intervention and neutrality, that a group of nations not involved in the war should engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. "I reiterated Brazil's willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in pursuit of peace," he tweeted. Mr Lula has condemned the invasion but he irritated Washington - and pleased Moscow - last month when he suggested the West had been "encouraging" war by arming Ukraine. Reuters 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 }} Iran reportedly executed a man over corruption and prostitution charges on Thursday as large crowds gathered to witness the rare public execution dubbed as medieval by activists. Mahmoud Nemati, the public prosecutor of the north-western city of Maragheh in Iran, said that the man engaged in illicit relationships with women and girls, documenting their activities through filmed material, according to local media. The man was identified as Amir Mahdi, according to Fars news agency. Mahdi was apprehended in 2016 and the Maragheh Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of corruption on Earth a sentence, that IranWire reported, was later upheld by the Supreme Court. On Thursday, Iranian news websites posted pictures that showed throngs of people gathered to watch the execution in East Azerbaijan province in Iran. Mahdi was seen blindfolded next to two executioners wearing balaclavas to cover their faces. The international community cannot endorse such medieval practices, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said. He added that the execution shows the true face of a government that tries to prolong its life with cruelty, humiliation and intimidation of society. Human rights activists in the country said that at least seven people were executed in Iran on 25 May on drug and murder-related charges. According to Amnesty International, public executions like Mahdis are rare in Iran even though more people are executed there than in any other nation other than China. In the last month, executions in Iran surpassed 110. Observers point out that Iran is currently witnessing a surge in executions as the regime wants to instil an atmosphere of fear among people, especially after massive protests rocked the regime since last year. Hundreds have been arrested since the anti-regime protests in September after Mahsa Aminis death in police custody. A week ago, Amnesty International, responding to the execution of three protestors, said in a statement: Governments must urgently denounce these executions, in the strongest possible terms, through public statements and demarches. However, in the face of the Iranian authorities unrelenting use of the death penalty, this is not enough. People in Iran dont have the luxury of time they are being arbitrarily deprived of their lives at a horrific rate under the guise of judicial executions. We urge all states to exercise universal jurisdiction over all Iranian officials against whom there is sufficient admissible evidence of criminal responsibility for torture and other crimes under international law. The Iranian authorities must understand, in no uncertain terms, that the world will not simply stand by as they intensify their use of the death penalty as a tool of political repression, the Amnesty statement said. Close UK: British Airways System Outage Sparks Chaos At Heathrow Airport 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 }} Passengers are facing travel chaos as electronic passport gates have gone down across UK airports. The issue is likely to cause long delays at passport controls for bank holiday travelers flying into the country as all airports that use the gates are affected. The Home Office has confirmed the news after the system went down on Friday night - but did not say how long the fault would last. One passenger has described scenes at Edinburgh Airport as a shambles, reporting a queue of over 300 people at passport control on Friday night. Another spoke of total chaos at Gatwick Airports passport control, with queues of over an hour caused by the downing of the electronic passport gates. A Home Office spokesperson said: We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting arrivals into the UK. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers. This comes after thousands of people faced having their bank holiday plans plunged into chaos, as British Airways was forced to cancel scores of flights on Thursday and Friday following an IT failure. British sailor April Boyes captured the moment a group of killer whales attacked her vessel off the coast of southern Spain on Wednesday 24 May, in one of dozens of similar orca attacks recorded so far this year on Spanish and Portuguese coasts. The orcas broke the rudder and pierced the hull after ramming into the boat on its way to Gibraltar, prompting its crew of four to contact Spanish authorities for help, a spokesman for the local maritime rescue service said. Video shows the whales ramming into the vessel as the crew attempt to scare them off with noise. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Surveillance footage shows the moment an employee was attacked as she tried to stop suspects from stealing wigs at a beauty supply store in Houston, Texas. Video released by the Houston Police Department's robbery division shows the staff member confronting a female suspect about a stolen wig in her purse on 17 April. A male suspect then approaches the employee before slapping her in the face. Other suspects then rush to grab wigs before running out of the store without paying. Houston Police are seeking the public's help to identify the suspects. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy is among 28 new members elected to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). The head of the countrys biggest employers group is among a diverse group including peace campaigner Emeritus Professor Monica McWilliams who are recognised for their exceptional contributions to the sciences, humanities and social sciences, as well as to public service. Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said: These individuals, elected by their peers, have made exceptional contributions in their fields of endeavour. We are delighted to recognise their achievements. As Members of the Academy, they will support the RIA by engaging and leading in activities that strengthen the international recognition of the Academys scholarship and serve the public good through their knowledge and insight. The RIA is an independent, all island society established in 1785 and has approximately 650 members, chosen by the membership for their distinguished contributions to scholarship and research in the sciences, humanities, social sciences and public service. Past Members have included Nobel laureates: WB Yeats, Ernest Walton, Max Planck, Erwin Schrodinger, Bob Grubbs and Seamus Heaney. A High Court judge has expressed his scepticism about two Irish-based Russian State-owned aircraft and shipping leasing firms bids to enter examinership. The court was told the application was being made following a recent decree, purportedly issued by Russian Federation President Valdimir Putin, that the Russian state would cover US$1.3BN of the two firms' debts. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore expressed his view about a proposal to place GTLK Europe DAC, and the related entity GTLK Europe Captial DAC into examinership during Friday's vacation sitting of the High Court. The judge said that the application to appoint an examiner when the court was due to commence the hearing of an application, next Monday morning, to have the firms wound up. Four the firms' creditors have asked the High Court to appoint a liquidator to the related firms, which are worth over US$4.5/4.11 Billion on the grounds the firms are insolvent and unable to pay their debts. The four, whose petition is being supported by other creditors of the group, want Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland appointed as joint liquidators to the companies which have been hard hit by international sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The companies are opposing the application and have claimed in those proceedings that despite the sanctions, they are solvent. If that application, which is due to commence before Mr Justice Conor Dignam on Monday, is successful and a liquidator appointed to the firms, it would be the largest winding up in the history of the Irish State. However, on Friday the companies brought a petition before Mr Justice O'Moore seeking the appointment of insolvency practioner Mr Joe Walsh as examiner to the companies. The companies claim in the examinership proceedings that they have become insolvent as a result of the sanctions. The court heard that an Independent Expert had stated in a report that if an examiner is appointed, and a scheme of arrangement with the firm's creditors can be agreed, the two companies have a reasonable prospect of surviving into the future as going concerns. GTLK's creditors would do better under a successful examinership, compared to a liquidation, it was also submitted. One of the grounds for seeking the protection of the courts was a decree made by President Putin regarding GTLK's debt. The court heard that the Russian state would cover US$1.3Bn of GTLK's debt through a bond issue. Mr Justice O'Moore said that he was not making any orders in respect of the examinership application other than adjourn it to Monday morning. The judge said that he was sceptical and had difficulties about a number of matters in the proposed examinership, given that the application had been made shortly before the applications to wind up the companies was about to be heard. The judge he was further sceptical about the Russian President's decree which he said purports to write off a huge amount of debt owed by the companies. His concerns were borne out the the fact that a huge debt owed by the GTLK group, which is owned by the Russian Federation's Ministry of Transport, was being covered by an administration run by President Putin. Louis Fitzgerald is the owner of one of the largest hospitality groups in the country. Photo: David Conachy Revenue at Louis Fitzgeralds hotel and pub group nearly tripled in the 12 months to June last year to 55.7m as business surged after the pandemic. It made a 14.5m profit compared with a 570,000 loss the year before. Mr Fitzgerald owns a slew of well-known pubs and hotels, including the Stags Head and the Arlington Hotel in Dublin. His group employs about 1,000 people. Last week, it was confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald and his wife Helen had agreed to buy Corks historic Imperial Hotel. The proposed acquisition has been referred to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The Imperial Hotel is currently part of the family-owned Flynn Hotels Collection, along with Dungarvans Park Hotel, The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis and the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny. Mr Fitzgeralds group also owns prime Dublin properties such as Bruxelles, Kehoes and The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel. The groups tangible fixed assets were valued at 128.3m at the end of June last year, which was up from 115.6m a year earlier. The accounts also note that the group behind the business repaid all bank loans after the end of its financial year last June. It received almost 5.9m in government Covid-related grants during the 2022 financial year, up slightly from the amount it received the previous year. Earlier this year, Mr Fitzgerald secured planning permission to open a venue on the site of what was the Baggot Inn in Dublin. The location was until recently a KBC Bank branch. Mr Fitzgerald intends to open a pub and restaurant at the venue. Last year, Mr Fitzgerald failed in a long-running battle with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to a 400,000 tax demand made in 2015 under the domicile levy rules. A levy of 200,000 per year is payable by any individual who is domiciled in Ireland and whose worldwide income is more than 1m, if their Irish property is worth more than 5m and their tax liability for the year is less than 200,000. Mr Fitzgerald had argued that he wasnt liable for the domicile levy for the relevant periods because his worldwide income was zero at that time and the losses at his hotel business had reduced his income from other sources. The Court of Appeal last year upheld previous rulings that he must pay the tax demanded. The limit could mean that someone who is in hospital, or who is regularly minding another persons children, or who is away for more than a month, may have to pay for a second account. Netflix is warning customers that they may be cut off if theyre away from home for more than a month. The move, which is part of the streaming giants crackdown on password-sharing, could affect people in hospital, working on short contracts abroad or kids being minded in another home. Earlier this week, Netflix emailed its Irish customers to warn that that accounts may not be used by other households. The company is putting in place a 4.99-per-month option for those who share an account to pay for it. And although travelling and second homes are allowed for members of a household, Netflix is advising that usage outside the primary home for over a month could trigger a block as it tries to stop extended families and friends all using the same single account. Netflix expanded its crackdown on password sharing to 103 countries If you are unable to use your mobile device to connect to the same internet as the TV you used to set your Netflix Household for more than one month, you may be blocked from watching Netflix, a Netflix customer agent told the Irish Independent. Asked whether that would mean someone staying away from their primary homes internet for a month could not continue to use the service, the representative said that was the case. Thats right, the agent said, before suggesting that one way of solving the issue would be to drive or fly home once a month to check in to your home wifi. This appears to place the strictest possible interpretation on Netflixs official position on the matter. From the main place you watch Netflix, connect to the internet and open the Netflix app on your mobile device(s) once a month, its website says about using the service outside the home. Then take the same steps when you arrive at your second location to continue watching Netflix without interruption. Otherwise, details of how exactly the new rules will be enforced have been vague as to how it will calculate that a device somewhere else is not part of the same household. The streaming giants advice to the Irish Independent, via its helpline, is that it will assume youre not legitimately the original household user if youre using it outside the home for more one month at a time. In other words, if you travel away from home for over a month, or relocate somewhere for some of the summer, it will assume youre not really travelling or that you dont really own a second home. It will assume that its a second, separate household thats using your account. It will then block you or ask you to pay twice. The worlds biggest streaming company estimates that up to a third of users share their passwords with extended family or friends in other households, which is against its rules. The biggest services have mostly turned a blind eye to sharing passwords on accounts up to now, as the sector grew quickly. However, the main platforms are now seeing new subscription growth slow considerably, with Netflix itself seeing flat figures for the first time last year. The main streaming services have been raising their monthly subscription prices sharply over the last two years. Netflixs 4K family option now coasts 21. It recently introduced a new ad-supported tier to its service at a reduced price, although this is yet to roll out in Ireland. The Indo Daily: Phillip Schofield scandal 'Unwise but not illegal', but will ITV's morning show survive the fallout of his affair? A boy is in a serious condition in hospital following a road traffic collision in Co Offaly. The collision involved a young boy and a car and it occurred in the Daingean area of the county earlier today. The boy was rushed to Temple Street Childrens Hospital by air ambulance for emergency treatment. Gardai attended the scene of a road traffic collision which involved a vehicle and a pedestrian in Daingean, Co. Offaly earlier today, Friday 26th May 2023, a garda spokesperson said. A male child was seriously injured during the collision and taken to Childrens Health Ireland hospital at Temple Street. Investigations are ongoing. Ex-principal avoids prison for stealing 93,000 from his school to feed gambling addiction Father-of-three Stephen Condon from Raheen, Limerick City, received a 20-month suspended sentenceCondon admitted stealing from St John the Baptist National School in GarryowenHe stole the money in increments of between 400 and 2,000Judge described the thefts as a spectacular breach of trust Stephen Condon walks free from Limerick Circuit Court after receiving a fully suspended 20-month jail sentence for theft of 93,000 from a school he was principal at. Photo: David Raleigh David Raleigh Fri 26 May 2023 at 17:17 The bitter dispute between Paddy McKillen and members of Qatars royal family over a 1.5bn (1.7bn) payment the Irish property tycoon says he is owed for his stake in the luxury Maybourne Hotels group looks set to spawn yet another lawsuit. Convicted Islamic State member Lisa Smith is free from prison just a year after being convicted and sentenced to 15 months for joining the terror group. The former solder left Limerick Prison on Wednesday afternoon where she was collected by a family member, having served her time. All prisoners are entitled to 25 per cent remission and the Dundalk woman had been described as a model prisoner while at the prisons womens wing. Speaking to the Sunday World before she into prison last year she rejected calls made by former jihadist that she "free herself from the psychological mental prison of Islam", saying: "That's not going to happen, no! I love my religion, it's what I live for now." Asked at the time if she was hopeful she would not get a jail sentence, Smith responded: "For me, look, it's OK, it doesn't matter. "My life is my life, my journey is my journey. She had previously been living in tough conditions at a Syrian refugee camp with her young daughter before being sent back to Ireland in December 2019 where she was arrested. During her time at the camp she said in one interview she was not involved in fighting and did not train girls to become fighters. She also claimed she had been visited more than once by the FBI for questioning, and agents had taken her fingerprints and DNA. But the 40-year-old, mother of one, was found guilty in May after a nine-week trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Delivering the verdict, Judge Tony Hunt said it had established that she travelled to Syria "with her eyes open" and pledged allegiance to ISIS, then led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He noted that while Smith is a low risk for re-offending, she was persistent and determined in her efforts to travel to Syria and join Isis and has shown no remorse for her actions. The judge said it was "serious" for an Irish citizen to take up allegiance with a terrorist organisation and persist with it. The court rejected Smiths claims she had travelled to the Islamic State out of a sense of religious obligation and for the purpose of living under Sharia law. In October 2015, she bought a one-way ticket, travelled from Dublin to Turkey, and crossed the border into an IS-controlled area of Syria. The Court of Appeal ruled against her appeal on the severity of her sentence just last March which meant she had to stay her prison until her release date of 27 May. The regime in Limerick Prison is considered much stricter than the main womens jail, the Dochas Centre in Dublin. The mother of a young man who died by suicide has issued High Court proceedings against Gemma ODoherty for what she says is the exploitation of her sons image in an article suggesting a link between young peoples deaths and Covid vaccines. Diego Gilsenan (18), a Cavan native, died in August 2021 by suicide, and his mother, Edel Campbell, claims his image is wrongly being used by Ms ODoherty, as the publisher of The Irish Light newspaper. Ms Campbell claims the activist and journalist has been using the image of her son for her own purposes and agenda, and is now reluctantly issuing court proceedings after all pleas have been ignored. Diego Gilsenan A statement issued by Mulholland Law, who are representing Ms Campbell, said: These proceedings have been reluctantly brought by the Plaintiff, however given the continuing conduct of Ms O'Doherty as the publisher of The Irish Light newspaper our Client felt she has no alternative. The statement accuses Ms ODoherty of trying to, sensationalise the unfortunate death of Diego Gilsenan with inflammatory rhetoric, unfounded conspiracies and the unauthorised and misappropriate use of our Client's son's image is utterly shameful. It was hoped by our Client that a compassionate approach may have been adopted by Ms O'Doherty and that she refrained from the exploitation of her son's image and tragedy for her own purposes and agenda, however this did not materialise, and all pleas have been ignored. Given the absence of specific legislation at the moment from the Oireachtas dealing with grotesque publications, High Court proceedings have been issued. We believe our Client's rights pursuant to Bunreacht an hEireann have been breached, the statement said. In an edition of the freesheet published by ODoherty in late 2022, a photograph of Diego Gilsenan (18) is among 42 photos of young people on the front page who the conspiracy theorist states died suddenly. Inside the publication, ODoherty suggests the deaths of the teenagers and young adults whose photos she has published are linked somehow to Covid vaccines. The faces on our front page are just a small fraction of those young Irish who were struck by the plague of sudden death in 2021/2022. We have no definitive proof as to how they died because the media is covering that up and their families have largely chosen not to speak, Ms ODoherty alleged. One of the young men whose image is used died in a drowning accident. Another is of a young woman who died from head injuries during a camogie game in a freak accident. Others whose photos are used died from a range of medical conditions, such as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) as well as meningitis. Others, including Diego, tragically took their own lives. A mother who had to spend two weeks in a Spanish ICU after her baby was born prematurely has praised her sons teacher for helping the family get through the nightmare scenario. Susan Maguire was on holiday in Lanzarote with her husband Brian and their now seven-year-old son Christopher in November 2021 when she gave birth to Daire at 28 weeks. There was no ICU in Lanzarote, so the Carlow family were transferred to a hospital on neighbouring Gran Canaria. It was horrendous. The shock takes over and I dont know where it comes from, but you get this instinct, Ms Maguire said. The mother of two said she was in disbelief when she realised she was in labour, which she was grateful did not happen on the flight home. They airlifted us the night I had Daire to Gran Canaria. I had him the night before we were due to come home, she said. You dont get a minute to think about it until its done and dusted. We were very fortunate to have insurance, and while he was very premature, he was very well. The only thing that was wrong with him at the time was he had a little hiccup with his heart. We encountered a lot of babies who were a lot further along who were a lot sicker. Ms Maguire and her husband soon decided that it would be in Christophers best interest to go home, and family relatives flew over to collect him so he could return to school. It took one day in ICU to realise it wasnt a place for Christopher to be. We realised he had to go home, said Ms Maguire. He had his brother that he had never met and who he loved already. We could only show him pictures, she said. I didnt know when I was going to get back home or when I was going to see him. The guilt was terrible. Ms Maguire said the family were told to prepare to spend Christmas abroad, but the process was made easier by their sons teacher, Jennifer Hutton, who assured Ms Maguire she would look after Christopher as if he was her own. Daire was in ICU for two weeks and was then brought home to Ireland by air ambulance. He spent five more weeks in hospital after the family arrived home. Ms Maguire said Daire, who is now 18 months, is perfect. Hes great. Its a really happy ever after story, she said. She nominated Ms Hutton, from St Fiaccs National School, Co Carlow, for the Teachers Inspire Ireland Desmond Award for the compassion she showed Christopher. Jenny was brilliant, I never had to worry about him. Shes just fantastic the kids love her and Christopher just absolutely adores her, Ms Maguire said. She was so kind to him, and she treats all the children like that. Its a big deal to us. Shes getting this award for not just how she treated my baby but for who she is as a person. Christopher still loves her and shes not even his teacher any more. Im delighted for the school to get this recognition. Ms Hutton said she was very grateful to receive the award at the ceremony at Dublin City University yesterday. Im really fortunate to work in my own school that I attended, and well-being is at the centre of everything we do here, she said. The fact that Susan, Brian, Christopher and Daire nominated me was really nice and I was very grateful for them sharing their story, but that just goes to show what kind of family they are. During the toughest time in their life, their concern was school. Susan was in contact with me from the ICU in the Canaries and they kept us informed every step of the way. That really helped us to support Christopher in school. Ms Hutton also acknowledged her own inspirational teacher, local woman Aisling Nolan, who died in March after a short illness. She was my junior infants teacher and the reason I became a teacher. My principal described her recently as the heartbeat of our school and its so fitting because she cared so much, she said. Private Sean Rooney, the Irish peacekeeper who was killed in Lebanon last December, was honoured at the 75th anniversary of the United Nations at its headquarters in New York. The Irish ambassador to the UN, Fergal Mythen, received the Dag Hammarskjold medal on behalf of Pte Rooneys family yesterday. The medal ceremony formed part of a series of events that marked the 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping. Pte Rooney (24) was killed when a bullet entered the rear of a vehicle and struck him last December 14. He was on his second overseas mission in Lebanon. He had been serving with the 121st Infantry Battalion with the UN 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 are rooted in the military tradition of the town. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in the grounds of the UN compound to commemorate the 4,200 peacekeepers, including 91 Irish personnel, who have been killed. We mourn their loss and share our deepest sympathies with their families, friends and colleagues. We will never forget their contributions, Mr Guterres said. Pte Rooney was originally from Muirhevnamor, Dundalk. He attended Gaelscoil Dhun Dealgan and St Marys College, Dundalk, before moving to Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal. On leaving school, he joined the Irish Defence Forces in March 2019 and was based with the 27th Infantry Battalion at Aiken Barracks. Homeless campaigners are calling for urgent action because they say the lifting of the no-fault eviction ban has contributed to an all-time record of more than 12,000 people without a home. Sinn Fein spokesperson on Housing Eoin O Broin said the Government must now reinstate the eviction ban after the latest figures from the Department of Housing revealed that 12,259 adults and children were homeless last month; an increase of 246 people over March. Today's homeless figures from the Department of Housing have reached a new and terrifying record 12,259 people, including 3,594 children, were in Department of Housing-funded emergency accommodation in April. This represents an increase of 246 people on March, he said. This is a very significant increase in homelessness in the first month since the ending of the ban on no-fault evictions. On the basis of what we are seeing in constituency offices across the state, homelessness is going to continue to rise at an even faster rate in the coming months. Today's figures confirm once again that the Government's decision to end the ban on no-fault evictions was wrong. It also highlights the fact that they simply did not have the emergency measures in place to deal with the ending of the ban. He said schemes to address the crisis including the tenant-in situ scheme and the output of construction of social and affordable homes were too slow. No additional supply of social housing using emergency planning and procurement powers has even been initiated, he said. Government must immediately reinstate the ban on no-fault evictions. They must increase and accelerate the delivery of social homes, including a significant number of high-grade modular homes delivered with emergency planning and procurement powers. They must also provide councils with additional staff to speed up the processing time for the tenant-in-situ scheme. Failure to do this will see homelessness continue to rise in the coming months approaching and eventually breaching the 13,000 number. "Government must change their approach to this ever deepening homeless crisis before things get even worse. Meanwhile, Catherine Kenny, CEO of the Dublin Simon Community, said Dublin was bearing the brunt of the crisis with 9,010 people in emergency accommodation last month, an increase of 3pc over March and a 24pc increase over the past year. We are frustrated, but unfortunately, this is nothing new, she said in a statement today. Last week, the Dublin Simon Outreach team logged more than 90 calls in a four-hour period, three times what is typical. Callers were facing imminent homelessness or were already sleeping in cars or on couches. The aftermath of the lifting of the eviction ban is beginning to be felt as tenancies come to an end, and many multiples of people are entering homelessness than are exiting homelessness. Should trends continue in this manner, we may see emergency figures in our capital reach five digits by the end of the summer. The human and financial cost of homelessness is substantial, but there are immediate measures that can prevent its occurrence at the outset. We are calling for the implementation of short and medium-term homelessness prevention measures, to include fully resourced tenancy sustainment services, homelessness prevention teams to be established in each local authority, and a review of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to reflect market rates, in conjunction with the longer-term plan to increase housing supply. People becoming homeless in the weeks and months ahead should not have to wait until 2024 or 2025 for homes to live in. As the crisis grinds on, Dublin Simon continues to respond with agility and determination, in spite of the heightened pressures we face, she said. Ms Kenny added: We are calling on Government to deliver sustained funding for the homelessness sector. Focus Ireland said: These April figures give the first indication of the impact of the lifting of the eviction ban on March 31. However, Focus Ireland noted that, given the phased approach adopted by Government, the full impact would be seen in the coming months as Notices of Termination came due and more people were evicted from their homes. Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan explains: As we all know, there was a pause on No Fault evictions under ban. Lifting the ban did not have an immediate impact on all tenants at risk, and we will continue to the impact of that decision through May and June depending on the date of the original termination of tenancy. Focus Ireland, along with many other agencies and local authorities, are working hard to make the Governments safety net measures work, but despite many successes, there are just too many holes in the net and people are falling through into homelessness. The Army Bomb Squad was called in after Tallaght Garda Station was evacuated this evening. The Dublin station was evacuated and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal was requested. The alert was sparked when a man who was brought to the garda station by local officers was found to have a bag with contents of concern in his possession. The evacuation was sparked after what is suspected to have been a viable pipe bomb was discovered in the arrested mans backpack. There is a bitter ongoing gangland feud in the Tallaght area that has seen attempted murders, shootings, damage to property and multiple threat incidents in recent weeks. It has not yet been established if this incident is linked to the drugs feud. It can be revealed that the suspect in custody in relation to the pipe bomb incident is described as a gopher who is used by organised crime gangs in the Tallaght area. The 40-year-old is originally from the Rathfarnham area and is described by senior sources as being a heavy drug user who is paid by more senior criminals in drugs rather than cash. Not considered a serious criminal, the arrested man is believed to have been used by an unknown criminal gang but possibly one of the mobs involved in the escalating Tallaght feud that has seen multiple recent serious incidents. While he remained in custody on Friday inght, gardai have announced that Tallaght Garda Station has now reopened. Tallaght Garda Station has now reopened to the public and all road closures have been lifted, a garda spokeswoman said. The Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team have completed their examination of the bag and contents. The bag and contents have been removed and will now be subject to further technical and forensic examination. A male in his 30s has been arrested and detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a South Dublin Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing. An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time. Earlier, a garda spokesperson said: Members of An Garda Siochana on active patrol in the Tallaght area this evening, arrested a male. On arrival back at Tallaght Garda station an initial inspection of a bag in possession of the male has indicated contents of concern. As a precaution the Garda Station has been evacuated and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been requested. A new report has revealed that women in the Irish prison system are among the most marginalised people in the state, with an estimated 85pc having addiction issues. Studies suggest women are also more likely than men to have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. The Irish Penal Reform Trust launched the annual Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) report for 2022, the sixth such report assessing Irelands penal system across standards set in 2017. The report found the majority of women committed to prison in Ireland are committed on a short-term basis for non-violent offences, with 2021 figures showing that 85 percent of all sentenced committals of women were for 12 months or less. Acting Executive Director of IPRT, Molly Joyce said: 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. We have further seen a significant increase in the average daily number of women in prison, from 104 women in 2002 to 173 women in 2022 (a 65 percent increase over the 20-year period). This persistently high daily population of women and subsequent overcrowding are cause for significant concern. IPRT has called on the Department of Justice, without delay, to take action to address this continued overreliance on short-sentences in the place of community-based sanctions and for a gender-sensitive approach to be adopted across all stages of the criminal justice system. The report also identified a number of other issues in the penal system, showing that while there have been some pockets of progress in 2022, such progress, including in the areas of mental health and overcrowding, is at risk of reversal due to a lack of policy implementation. Ms Joyce added: There has been some significant progress around our approach to mental health in the criminal justice system in 2022, including through the work of the High Level Task Force to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector and the opening of a new Central Mental Hospital that provides modern forensic mental facilities to patients. For too long prison has been the default option for people who experience mental health issues, or the challenges associated with addiction, and the Task Forces focus on diverting these people from prison is accordingly very welcome. That said, mental health remains a deeply pressing issue within our prisons, with approximately 33 percent 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 at of the end of December 2022. This situation requires urgent action by implementing the recommendations of the Task Force without further delay. The report also 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. It was found that there was an 8pc increase in the annual average number of people in prison between 2021 and 2022. The increasing numbers of people in prison, and subsequent overcrowding across the prison estate in Ireland, is extremely disappointing, says Ms Joyce. Concerted efforts to successfully reduce the number of people in prison as part of the Covid19 response have now been reversed, resulting in a prison system that is on its knees. 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. Ms Joyce said that of particular concern is the increasing number of people being held in pre-trial detention, with this years report recording a 23 percent increase in the average number of people held on remand between 2021 and 2022 as well as an apparent increase in the length of time people are spending on remand. It is important to remember that people who are on remand are awaiting trial and have not yet been found guilty of a crime. Further information is needed to understand why the remand prison population is increasing and more crucially work must be done to expand the various alternatives to remand that are available. This could include, for example, expanding bail support schemes that enable a person to remain in the community while awaiting trial. Additionally, while the PIPS 2022 report acknowledges the progress made in strengthening Irelands inspection and accountability mechanisms, IPRT remains concerned that a number of reports submitted by the Inspector of Prisons in regards specific issues in the Dochas Centre remain unpublished by the Minister for Justice. Refusal to publish these reports ties into bigger issues with accountability and transparency in our penal system, and IPRT reiterates our calls for the reports to be published without further delay, added Ms Joyce. Primary school teachers from County Cork, recently joined teaching colleagues from across the region for a Food Dudes Presentation Day to celebrate the achievements of 540 schools that have completed their three-year participation in the award-winning Food Dudes Programme. The three-year curriculum-linked programme includes a year of intervention, followed by two in-school Food Dudes Weeks, aimed at promoting health eating habits amongst primary school children. The healthy eating programme encourages children to eat more fresh produce and is based on repeated tastings of fresh fruit and vegetables, rewards and positive role models. A new and improved Food Dudes programme is currently being rolled out in schools and includes new varieties of fruits and vegetables, additional tasting days, new eco-friendly rewards, as well as new teaching and learning materials which include videos, recipes and a range of bilingual activities. The Food Dudes Presentation Days provide teachers with an opportunity to network and feel part of a community of change. Ideas about ways in which the Food Dudes programme can be integrated into the curriculum and daily routines are shared, and peer to peer support is encouraged. There are currently 1,700 primary schools engaged in the three-year Food Dudes programme, creating a movement of life-long change embedding healthy eating within the school and wider community in a way that promotes healthy eating habits amongst children, helps to reduce obesity rates, and improve overall wellbeing. Over the lifetime of Food Dudes, over 3,300 primary schools and more than one million pupils have taken part. The Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme is managed by Bord Bia in Ireland and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with support from the European Union under the School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme. The programme was first developed by the Food Activity Research Unit, School of Psychology at Bangor University, Wales. More information about the Food Dudes Programme can be found at www.fooddudes.ie. 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. On Organ Donation Week, one woman explains how a double transplant saved her life Transplant recipient Rachel O'Hora with surgeons Dr David Healy, Dr Tom Gallagher and and Dr Emir Hoti An organ transplant recipient in Dublin has said she is grateful for the gift of life after receiving a pancreas and a kidney from a stranger last year. Rachel OHora, originally from Mayo and now living in Blackrock, underwent the combined organ transplant in St Vincents Hospital last year after suffering with numerous health issues. I will forever be grateful to my donor for the gift they have given me, said Ms OHora. Before my transplant, I faced numerous health challenges and the daily struggles of managing a chronic illness. The transplant not only saved my life but also restored my hope and quality of life. As Organ Donation Week draws to a close, the 40-year-old is encouraging the public to register as organ donors and discuss donation with their families. My experience highlights the vital importance of organ donation, she said. I am a living testament to the power of organ donation, and I will forever be grateful to my donor for the gift they have given me. I encourage everyone to reflect on the incredible impact they can make by registering as organ donors and discussing their wishes with their families. Organ transplantation has been saving lives in Ireland for the past six decades and more than 5,000 people in the country are enjoying an extended life because of transplants. However, an ongoing shortage of organs has led to long waiting lists, with consequences for patients. There are currently about 600 people active on waiting lists for organ transplants in Ireland, including heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. I am incredibly grateful for the gift of life that I received through a combined pancreas and kidney transplant, said Ms OHora. Organ Donation Awareness Week will now hold a special place in my heart as it gives me the opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the selfless donor and their family who made this life-changing decision. Dr Tom Gallagher, Consultant at St Vincent's Hospital said the need for organ donors is urgent, and the demand is outweighing supply. We recognise the incredible advancements that have been made and the countless lives that have been saved, he said. However, the need for organ donors remains urgent and the demand for organs far outweighs the supply, leading to long waiting lists and heart-breaking outcomes for many. Every day, countless lives hang in the balance as patients wait for life-saving transplants. As a transplant surgeon, I witness the profound impact that organ donation has on patients and their families. Dr Emir Hoti said between 50 to 60 liver transplants and between six to eight pancreas transplants are performed at St Vincents every year. I have witnessed the transformative power of organ donation first-hand, he said. Each donated organ has the potential to save a life, restore hope, and bring joy to families in their darkest moments. Those interested in becoming an organ donor can request an organ donor card on www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card and are encouraged to share their wishes to their loved ones. With patients waiting months for treatment, Stephen Donnelly stands accused of sleepwalking through a crisis So why is this a particularly bad time for any Dubliner to get a toothache? Because dentists who can see you quickly are becoming as rare as hens teeth. Last week, a Herald investigation revealed that people in some parts of the capital are waiting up to four months for a dental appointment. Of the 26 Dublin clinics contacted, five had a wait time of roughly a fortnight, another two had no availability for a month and two others could offer nothing until the end of the summer. Eight didnt even answer the phone. All this confirms what the Irish Dental Association (IDA) has been warning for some time. Their profession is suffering from a severe staff shortage, with the HSEs dental scheme for medical card holders close to collapse. Read more Some Dubliners could be waiting up to four months for a check-up with their dentist In Dail Eireann earlier this month, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly admitted that dentistry has been a blind spot for successive governments and promised to take action soon. This cut no ice with the Social Democrats health spokesperson Roisin Shortall, who accused Donnelly of continuing to sleepwalk through a crisis in dental healthcare. Just how glaring are the gaps in Irish dentistry? On the surface, things are fine. The register of qualified Irish dentists has 3,492 members, as high as its ever been. However, the IDA says thats misleading because many of those practices are no longer active. A recent IDA survey drilled down into the figures. It found that more than half of all clinics have tried to hire a dentist in the last year, but 60pc of those couldnt find a suitable candidate. Meanwhile, a quarter of practices say they cannot take on new private patients, while 80pc do not have the resources to treat any more medical card holders. The IDA estimates Ireland needs at least 500 new dentists per year to replace retiring ones and cope with our growing population. Currently, were only getting around 200. And the HSEs Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) is also in an advanced state of decay? Like a rotting tooth. As recently as 2017, 1,660 dentists were registered with this HSE medical card scheme. Today thats down to barely 600, one for every 2,500 patients who need them. This has created a dental postcode lottery, with Sinn Fein TD Louise OReilly claiming last September that only one such practice could be found in north Co Dublin. Why are dentists abandoning public patients in their droves? The main problem is money. Although the Government increased its DTSS payments by 40-60pc last year, dentists say this still isnt enough to cover their costs. They are also frustrated by the schemes restrictions on treatments. Dentists can provide two free fillings to DTSS patients, but not denture repairs, root canal work or other more sophisticated procedures. As a result, they often have to take out teeth that could easily be saved. We really just feel our hands are tied, says the IDAs former president Dr Caroline Robins. [The DTSS] flies in the face of everything weve been taught ethically in trying to maintain the health of our patients. Whos suffering most from this drought of dentists? Children. In 2019 the Department of Health launched Smile agus Slainte, a plan to provide free dental care for everyone under 16. Thanks to HSE staff shortages, however, last year half of all children due to be seen by a dentist under the school screening process never received any treatment. In some parts of the country, there are backlogs of almost 10 years. The Government has proposed fixing this by sending primary schoolkids to private dentists instead. According to the IDAs survey, however, 75pc of its members would find it difficult or very difficult to provide such a service. All this is stirring up trouble for the future, since unhealthy baby teeth mean that adult teeth are not guided into their correct positions. Too many children are slipping through the cracks, the IDAs chief executive Fintan Hourihan claims, despite all the evidence showing that the younger a child is when first examined, the less likely the need for major treatment or extractions later. What reforms might improve the situation? The IDA has made some suggestions. One is to replace the HSE scheme with a voucher system, entitling medical card holders to services worth between 100 and 500 for a specified period of time. Another is an injection of funding for the countrys two main dental schools in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. At the moment, these institutions are offering around half of their places to overseas students, who pay higher fees but will most likely return to their home countries. The IDA is also calling for changes in Irelands international work permit rules that would make it easier to hire staff from outside the European Economic Area. What is the Governments response? That help is on the way. The relationship [between government and the IDA] needs to be better, Stephen Donnelly told Dail Eireann on May 10. The minister says he is currently working on hiring a clinical team within the HSE to put new supports in place. These will include a thorough review of the medical card scheme and a doubling of college dentistry places. The IDA, however, claims that getting firm commitments from Donnelly is like pulling teeth. Shortly after his Dail speech, it emerged that the organisation had passed a motion of no confidence in him. Our membership is beyond frustrated at the endless broken promises and false dawns, said the IDAs new president Eamon Croke. Could this uncertainty lead to an increase in people going abroad for dental work? Possibly, although for now dental tourism is mostly about getting cheap cosmetic treatments. Industry insiders reported a surge in Irish people visiting Asian and Eastern European clinics after Covid travel restrictions were lifted last year, since prices there are a lot less painful on the pocket. Not surprisingly, the IDA strongly discourages this trend. A 2009 survey found that 76pc of its members had done repair work for Irish dental tourists who came home with worse problems than before including loose implants, cracked veneers, acute pain, ulcers and cysts. Finally, isnt the biggest danger of a long-term dentist shortage that patients will stop bothering to get their teeth regularly checked? Exactly. As any dentist will tell you, most tooth problems are completely preventable but impossible to reverse. Most importantly, dental check-ups do not only identify cavities and gum disease. They can also sound the alarm bell for wider medical conditions such as oral cancer, diabetes and heart disease. So Irelands lack of dentists doesnt just threaten our quest for a Hollywood smile its a full-blown health crisis that could leave many of us looking seriously down in the mouth. Gardai are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the recovery of a mans body from the Blackwater River, near Kenmare, yesterday. The Garda Press Office told The Kerryman that the man was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services recovered his body from the river. He was taken to University Hospital Kerry for a post-mortem examination. The man was aged in his 70s. It is understood that Gardai do not suspect foul play was involved in the mans death. One of Dundalks best known ladies fashion and homewares stores, Houstons in Clanbrassil Street, is to close Managing Director John Houston told The Argus It is with huge sadness we have had to make the difficult decision to close our store in Dundalk." He cited a combination of many recent economic factors for the companys decision to close the landmark store which has traded in Dundalk since the mid-mid-nineties. Since Brexit was introduced, it has complicated our supply chain and caused numerous increased costs to goods and added huge administration costs, said Mr Houston. . " A global pandemic certainly didnt help the High Street and the resulting uptake of both working from home and online shopping continues to reduce footfall in town centres throughout Ireland. He revealed that company was owed money when UK fashion company Arcadia went into administration, which impacted the stores profitability. The companys popular Dorothy Perkins and Wallis were stocked by Houstons in Dundalk, and Mr Houston said he knew it was going to be a challenge to replace these brands and rebuild the store profitability. While they had added new brands such as Part Two, Fransa and B Young to the store, he said that the the current cost-of-living crisis due to the war in Ukraine meant unfortunately the overall result is the store has become unviable. I am not sure how long the store will remain open; we have just started a massive closing down sale to clear all remaining stock and there are great bargains in all departments, he said. I want to say a big thank you to our wonderful Dundalk staff who have been magnificent through thick and thin. We have been in constant communication with them, and some may choose to relocate to our Newry store. Mr Houston also thanked all their Dundalk customers for their support of nearly 30 years and hoped they will visit the nearby Houston stores of Newry and Banbridge. Houstons was founded on March 17, 1950 by the Houston brothers Kennedy and Robert in Banbridge. As well as the Dundalk shop, it has seven stores in Northern Ireland, in Newry, Banbridge, Enniskillen, Portadown, Lurgan, and Downpatrick. Its shop in Drogheda closed a number of years ago. Ireland must introduce a specific mental health strategy to address the silent pandemic that is casting a shadow across the farming community in rural Ireland. Thats according to Midlands-North-West MEP Maria Walsh, speaking at an event she hosted in Brussels this week with her EPP colleague, MEP Tom Vandenkendelaere from Belgium focussing on mental health and suicide prevention within the farming community. While farm safety is a major issue in Ireland, MEP Walsh believes that mental heath challenges and suicidal ideations have sadly become the norm, and shockingly, almost 25% of Irish farmers are at risk of suicide. MEP Walsh believes that addressing the suicidal ideation among the farming community is just as important as tackling the safety risks associated with life on the farm. As part of the event, MEP Walsh invited representatives from UCDs School of Agriculture and Food Science, and from the School of Psychology, to share their research, highlighting the frightening reality that 25% of Irish farmers are at risk of suicide. Offalys Dr Tomas Russell from UCDs School of Agriculture and Food Science, and Mayos Professor Louise McHugh from the School of Psychology, addressed the forum in Brussels this week, and noted that the findings from their survey were stark but not surprising. In a study conducted by the UCD team, the findings showed that 23.4% of Irish farmers surveyed were considered at risk of suicide, and in the two weeks prior to the survey, these farmers had suicidal thoughts or urges to take their own lives. During a week in which the European Parliament has been focussing on mental health, MEP Walsh wanted to ensure that the Irish farming and rural community were properly represented on the European stage. She also wanted to highlight the fact that mental health difficulties in the farming community have been the silent pandemic for far too long, and something desperately needs to change. Farm safety is a major issue in rural Ireland. It is one that we hear about in the media and through safety campaigns, and rightly so. The difficulty, however, is that mental health is just as much of a problem in our farming community today, and sadly, we are still not talking about it. We need to break down the barriers and address the taboo. Our farming community, particularly in rural Ireland, is finding it really tough and we are continuing to ignore the difficulties, she added. The event heard that mental health difficulties have become a silent pandemic across Ireland in recent years, and an EU-wide mental health strategy is critical to address this. We need to listen to farmers and involve the farming community in the discussion. We also must ensure that research is the backbone of any policy or support on farmer mental health, and that the voice of the farming community is heard. Active Retirement Ireland member May McConnell of Strandhill ARA, Co. Sligo pictured with Martina O'Sullivan of Donegal Town ARA and Mary Jo Hanlon of Letterkenny ARA, Co. Donegal at the launch of the new wellbeing programme for members at the Active Retirement Ireland National AGM in Sligo Active Retirement Ireland has announced the launch of a new wellbeing programme to combat loneliness and isolation, and to support older people to become more aware of and prioritise their mental health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Maureen Kavanagh said many older people were still feeling the deep impacts of a pandemic response which saw their independence and autonomy taken from them and which left them living in fear and isolation for more than two years. The programme is to roll out to Active Retirement Associations across the country. The announcement was made at the organisations AGM in Sligo, with more than 300 older people from Active Retirement Associations around the country in attendance. The programme, funded by Mental Health Ireland and delivered by Active Retirement Ireland, the countrys largest membership organisation for older people, aims to help members laugh more, stress less, live better and was developed by Omra Support Agency with older people, for older people. Active Retirement Ireland CEO Maureen Kavanagh said: Mental wellbeing is vital for healthy, positive ageing. Mental health challenges are not only experienced by young people or those of working age but older people too. In fact, we know that many of the catalysts for poor mental health such as financial hardship, the ending of a career, loneliness, loss of a loved one, and reduced physical wellbeing also form the lived experience of many older people and often in combination. More and more older people are reporting issues relating to mental health and we have CSO data that shows that one in 10 suicides in Ireland from 20152019 were by people aged 65 and over. In addition, a great many older people in Ireland are still feeling the deep impacts of a pandemic response which saw their independence and autonomy taken from them and which left them living in fear and isolation for more than two years. Ms Kavanagh continued: The Active Retirement Wellness Programme is a grassroots programme that seeks to provide a facilitated, safe space for older people to have conversations about mental health and their experiences but also importantly to be heard, while supporting others to do the same. The programme is focused on connection, feelings of purpose and meaning, lightening a load and on friendship as well, through exercises, activities and discussions. Active Retirement Irelands mission is to support older people to enjoy strong social connection and healthy, positive ageing and we have done that now for 45 years. We are delighted to have received funding from Mental Health Ireland to enable us to develop and implement the Active Retirement Wellness Programme and extend this important support to our members, including in County Sligo. However, this is a long game, and the programme will require long-term funding and support to be able to ensure all older people are supported to thrive in later life. For more information about Active Retirement Ireland, go to www.activeirl.ie. The aim of the gathering is to bring together diverse groups who have common cause in protecting the land, water and communities. As well as local voices, the event will also hear testimony from Lakota Standing Rock Water Protectors and environmental justice community groups from across Ireland. The local community groups, including Love Leitrim, Treasure Leitrim, Save Leitrim, Save Dough Mountain, and North Leitrim Sustainable Energy Community, will each deliver their message, united under the theme "Leitrim under attack". The event aims to highlight the harmful effects of counter-intuitive and extractive industrial proposals, which will only accelerate the destruction of communities and planet. We need to decarbonise our economies, but this does not require the creation of sacrifice zones and further environmental degradation. We need to tackle the root of the problem: the overconsumption of the planet's resources due to the continued pursuit of economic growth and profit, said a spokesperson. The event promises to be a fun-filled day out for the whole family, with a range of activities such as a biodiversity walk, bug hunt for kids, music, video presentations, and more. The evening will include talks and discussions including representatives of the community groups, as well as food and music. This is an alcohol-free event. The gathering is an opportunity for everyone to discuss the elephant in the room and collaborate on finding sustainable and just solutions. All are welcome to attend the event which will be held at the Castle in Manorhamilton on 27th May. The organisers would like to thank Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) for part funding and supporting this event. 2-4pm: Biodiversity Week Family Fun. Bug hunt, Kids Art & Citizen science water exhibition 4-6pm: Talks with Standing Rock Water Protectors & Local community and environmental groups 6-9pm: Social event and live bands Sunday 28th: 10-12pm: The Organic Centre: Celebrating connections with Lakota water protectors A Sligo mum has penned a book about the journey of overcoming a rare medical condition her daughter was born with. Lilly-May White from Streamstown, Ballisodare was born with a rare birth defect called oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF/OA). Oesophageal atresia is a rare birth defect that affects a babys oesophagus (the tube through which food passes from the mouth to the stomach). The upper part of the oesophagus doesnt connect with the lower oesophagus and stomach. It usually ends in a pouch, which means food cant reach the stomach. It often happens along with another birth defect called a tracheo-oesophageal fistula, which is a connection between the lower part of the oesophagus and the windpipe (trachea). Lilly-May was born in May 2021 at Sligo University Hospital and was rushed to Crumlin Childrens Hospital in Dublin where she had surgery to repair the defect. She has undergone five more procedures and now she is thriving. Saoirse White, Lilly-Mays mother, a teacher in St Clares, Manorhamilton, said her daughter is an incredibly brave and resilient little lady and she has an inestimable zest for life. It was a tough start but she makes everyday worth any battle, said Saoirse who wanted to create a childrens book to explain her daughters condition. Lilly-May has what is known as a TOF Cough and it is quite a barky cough. Saoirse wanted Lilly-May to have her own story so that she could tell of her unique entry into the world and how much bravery she had to show. It is also a way for her to explain her cough or why she needs to be careful with food. Saoirse hopes to sell the book internationally to teach other children about differences and also so that other TOFs can use it to tell their story. Saoirse and her husband Barry along with Lilly May launched the book, Tremendous, Outstanding, Fearless in St Honore Cafe in Sligo on Wednesday last on her second birthday. Picture shows Children from St. Patricks NS, Calry draw wild flowers during their interactive biodiversity workshops at Parkes Castle, Co. Leitrim with Heritage in Schools specialist, Michael Bell. Picture shows Heritage in Schools specialist, Michael Bell, showing a Brimstone moth to children from St. Patricks NS, Calry during their biodiversity workshops at Parkes Castle, Co. Leitrim. Pic: Brian Farrell Pupils from St Patricks NS, Calry who took part in biodiversity workshops at Parkes Castle. Children from St. Patricks NS, Calry, inspect a Small Square moth during their biodiversity workshops at Parkes Castle with Heritage in Schools specialist, Michael Bell. Pic: B. Farrell. The Heritage Council teamed with the OPW to provide a day of fun-filled, interactive biodiversity workshops at Parkes Castle, Co. Leitrim with Heritage in Schools specialist, Michael Bell. Picture shows children from St. Patricks NS, Calry, Co Sligo get up close and personal with a Woodlouse they came across and drew during their nteractive biodiversity workshops. Pic: Brian Farrell. Pictured at the launch of the Citizen Science Kit are: Aoife Walsh, Library Assistant, Martina Killian, Cloonacool Environmental Group, Cllr. Donal Gilroy, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael Clarke, Niamh Doyle, Cloonacool Environmental Group, Donal Tinney, County Librarian, Siobhan Ryan, Heritage Officer. Pic: Carl Brennan. To celebrate National Biodiversity Week, The Heritage Council teamed with the OPW to provide a day of fun-filled, interactive biodiversity workshops at Parkes Castle, Co. Leitrim with Heritage in Schools specialist, Michael Bell. Picture Shows Children from St. Patricks NS, Calry, Co Sligo. Photo Brian Farrell Cathaoirleach Councillor Michael Clarke celebrated Biodiversity Week 2023 (May 19-28) with Sligo Libraries and the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council, by launching the Citizen Science Kit. The pilot programme between Sligo Libraries and the Heritage Council makes ecology equipment freely available, empowering citizens to join the fight against biodiversity loss. Through the programme, people can access specialised equipment in Sligo Central Library and gather valuable data using the kit which includes nets, magnifying glasses and swatches to help identity species. Sligo Libraries are one of ten libraries in the pilot programme designed to aid communities who are eager to contribute to the preservation of biodiversity but may lack the tools to do so. The kits will benefit community groups exploring biodiversity, amateur ecologists wishing to produce their own biodiversity action plans, students conducting studies, and groups such as Tidy Towns, River Trusts and Field Clubs who want to gather information to bolster local biodiversity projects. Records gathered should be sent to Irelands National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC), whose role it is to collect and manage data and information about Irelands biodiversity. Records submitted to NBDC at https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/ help researchers to monitor changes in biodiversity, identify areas of conservation concern, inform conservation strategies, and provide evidence for policy decisions. Councillor Clarke spoke of the positive role public libraries play in providing an inclusive space for all citizens to access information and said the loan of a Citizen Science Kit from Sligo Libraries will allow communities to learn about the biodiversity in their own area. Councillor Donal Gilroy, Chairperson of Sligo Heritage Forum attended the launch with Donal Tinney, County Librarian, Siobhan Ryan, Heritage Officer Sligo County Council, and Martina Killian and Niamh Doyle from Cloonacool Environmental Group. The Citizen Science Kit can be borrowed by adult members of Sligo Libraries, exploring biodiversity with a group in their community, enquiries to sligolibrary@sligococo.ie Some remaining events in Sligo for Biodiversity Week include: Guided Woodland Walk at Longford Demesne Saturday, May 27 @ 2.30pm to 5pm Join Diarmuid McAree, a Director of Crann - Trees for Ireland, who will lead a walk at the wonderful Longford Demesne woodland in partnership with Yvonne and Declan Foley. Winner of the 2010 RDS Forest Service Bio Diverse Forestry Woodland Award. Highlighting Irish Biodiversity during National Biodiversity Week 2023. Please note that NO dogs are permitted on site in order to protect badger setts and undergrowth providing shelter for a variety of wildlife. Please wear appropriate footwear and weather appropriate clothing. Come join us and enjoy nature at its best! www.crann.ie. This event is free and all are welcome, with booking required via Eventbrite. Workshop: An Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies: Sligo Saturday, May 27 Join the National Biodiversity Data Centre, the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop we will look at the features used to identify Irelands Dragonfly and Damselfly species, where to find them, how to survey and identify them. In the afternoon we will explore local freshwater habitats to practice our field skills and spot some of the many species to be found in this area. The workshop will be led by Michael Bell and will take place in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Ballinafad Centre, Gortalough, Ballinafad, Boyle, Co. Sligo. (Eircode: F52 K752) on Saturday, 27th May from 10:00am 3:00pm (fieldwork included). The workshop audience is beginner to intermediate. Fee 20 (10 for students). Workshop places are strictly limited and booking is via www.biodiversityireland.ie/workshops The grave of the last person buried in the graveyard, Bridget Reynolds in 1982. There's a lot of work to be done in the old cemetery. A small group of local residents have come together to try to restore an ancient cemetery. Kilmorgan Old Cemetery, nestled in the small roads between Riverstown, Ballymote and Castlebaldwin, has fallen into disrepair and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help make the graveyard safe for visitors. Residents living close to the cemetery; Annette Caffrey, Tommy Dyer, Enda OConnell and Maura and Gearoid OConnor, came together with the aim of raising 6,000 to carry out essential works. The GoFundMe page was set in February with 3,500 raised so far. Enda said:We are very grateful to all those who have already donated. We now need to raise awareness in the locality, and get more people to kindly donate. Each donation is gratefully received. Kilmorgan is an ancient monastic site and home to the ruins of an old 17th century church. There are also a number of burials of historic interest, including Francis and Anne Davy the parents of Kilmorganss famous cleric Owen Davy. He became Rev. Dean Owen Davy in 1884, following his emigration in 1875 which had been encouraged by visiting Australian Bishop Martin Crane. He went on to dedicate his life as a priest and educator, leaving a lasting legacy in the diocese of Sandhurst in Victoria, Australia. Additionally, an ancient battle may have taken place beside the ruins of the old church, as inferred in the 1837 publication Lewiss Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, due to the mounds found containing bones and ashes in urns. The group wishes to acknowledge grant funding from Sligo County Council through the Community and Voluntary Grant Scheme in 2022, said Annette. We are very grateful for this. In particular, we want to thank Jude Mannion for his kind assistance. This funding avenue is invaluable to us, she added The cemetery is home to 73 plots, with many family members buried in each plot. It is the resting place for those of both Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic faith. The last person buried there was Bridget Reynolds, nee Osborne, in February 1982. The last person to arrive at the cemetery by horse drawn hearse was Michael Taheny of Coolboy House in May 1943. We want to do our best to make it safe to visit, said Gearoid. Vinnie Davay and his wife Mary visit the graveyard annually to carry out weeding and other light work, but further work needs to be carried out due to the damaged walls and tombstones. A Millennium Mass took place at the Cemetery in 2000, with Fr. Gabriel Murphy and Fr. OShea. Niamh OConnor said: It was a beautiful summers day. I remember walking to the graveyard, helping to push my baby sister Eilis in the pram. She was two and I was eight years old. Im very glad my family are helping to restore this lovely old graveyard. Tommy added:If lots of people give a little it will go a long way. We want to thank everyone who has donated and want to encourage more to do so. Those interested in donating can do so at GoFundMe.com/f/kilmorgan-graveyard-restoration. No further delays will be accepted, Cllr Declan Bree told the most recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum West, when he was advised that construction work on the proposed new 42 bed medical block extension to Sligo University Hospital was expected to commence before the end of the year. In response to a formal question submitted by Cllr Bree, the Chief Executive Officer of the Saolta Hospital Group, Tony Canavan, said: The new 42 bed medical block project at Sligo University Hospital is included in the HSEs 2023 Capital Programme with funding allocated to complete the design and tendering processes and commence construction works before year end. Tenders will need to be sought from short listed contractors over the Summer period and HSE Board approval will then be required in the Autumn to award a public works contract to construct the intended new facility. Acknowledging the reply Cllr Bree said At this stage, people in Sligo and in the South Donegal and Leitrim area which the hospital serves, will not tolerate any further delays. It has been almost four since planning permission was granted for the construction of the 42 bed extension at the hospital. A number of months back 54 consultants who are based in the hospital, all sent emails to the Minister for Health and other members of the Oireachtas to highlight the shocking and unacceptable conditions for patients and staff at the hospital. Such a move by medical consultants is unprecedented and it reflects the deep concern they share regarding the continuing failure of the Government and the Minister for Health to provide adequate resources for SUH. Ten years ago there were 318 beds in the hospital. Today, there are 288 beds in the hospital. Because of the lack of sufficient beds the hospital does not have the ability to absorb the number of patients, who consistently end up lying on trolleys. A bed occupancy of 85% is generally considered to be the limit at which hospitals are able to work safely and effectively. However, Sligo University Hospital has consistently had an average bed occupancy rate of in excess of 100%. This is clearly shocking and unacceptable as it puts huge pressure on nurses and doctors. I can assure the Chairman and the Chief Executive that those of us from the North West region will be keeping a watching brief on developments in the months ahead, said Cllr Bree. Gardai are investigating if the suspect had a personal dispute with the deceasedGardai have recovered knife believed to have been used in the stabbingThe body has been removed from the scene and brought to University Hospital Waterford for a post-mortem Gardai received a report about the incident at around 8.30 p.m. The house in Westbury Woods, Enniscorthy, where a man was fatally stabbed on Thursday night, remains sealed off. Photo: John Walsh. A man aged in his 40s who was the victim of a fatal assault in his home last night was stabbed at least four times, Independent.ie can reveal. The victim, who was originally from Poland, was attacked in a downstairs area of the house in Westbury Woods, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. A knife which is suspected of being used in the incident has been recovered by gardai and is being forensically examined. The only suspect in the case, a man in his early 20s who was well known to the victim, remains in custody at Enniscorthy Garda Station after his arrest last night. A decision to release or charge him is not expected to be made until later tonight. Two crime scenes remain sealed off in the housing estate this afternoon. One of these is the house where the homicide happened and the other is a nearby property where the suspect called after the fatal attack. It is understood that emergency services were alerted to the incident after the young man called to this house in a distressed state at around 8pm. Gardai spoke to the suspect at this location before he was arrested. One line in the investigation is that the man had been in a personal dispute with the victim. Another house in Westbury Woods remains sealed off. Photo: John Walsh. The office of the State Pathologist was notified and the mans remains were removed from the scene at around 2pm this afternoon. His body was brought to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. A full investigation is currently being conducted at Enniscorthy Garda station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO). A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed and will keep the family informed of the investigation. Local Fine Gael TD, Deputy Paul Kehoe, who lives near to where the incident occurred, said the neighbourhood is a very quiet, residential area of Enniscorthy and that the incident has shocked the community. "This is a sad and devastating thing to happen, said Deputy Kehoe. "Its a very quiet area of the town, the general Moyne area is very quiet. "Its devastating for the area and our thoughts are with the family of those who have been affected by this. Meanwhile, Gardai are appealing for anyone with information who can assist with the investigation to come forward. In particular they are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Westbury Woods between the hours of 6pm and 9pm, and who may have information to assist with the investigation, to come forward. A spokesperson for Enniscorthy Gardai said: Gardai are seeking anyone who may have CCTV, mobile phone footage or dashcam footage, from the area to make contact. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9233534, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. World No Tobacco Day is taking place on Wednesday, May 31, and South East Community Healthcare are encouraging all that smoke to use this date as their opportunity to quit or begin the process of quitting. The HSE Health and Wellbeing division through the dedicated Health Promotion and Improvement team are promoting the many free supports that are available to people in County Wexford to quit smoking. This free service provides one to one behavioural support by trained stop smoking advisers to help people to quit and stay quit. The service aims to help people to reach 28 days smoke free, at which stage they are five times more likely to stay quit for good. Trained Stop Smoking Advisors support individuals with changing behaviours, setting quit dates and dealing with cravings and withdrawals. A carbon monoxide monitor is used to track the improvement of the levels of carbon monoxide in the lungs and to validate their progress along the journey, which has proven to be an exceptionally useful tool to help people quit. Support is also provided through face to face appointments or over the phone with friendly, non-judgemental and trained Stop Smoking Advisors. Since the establishment of a number of new clinics county wide in January, there has been a significant uptake in the service. 29pc of current smokers are either trying to quit or actively planning to do so, 46pc of those who smoked in the previous year have tried to quit and 73pc of these have successfully quit (Healthy Ireland 2022). There are currently a number of eight Stop Smoking clinics covering all areas of the county with designated Stop Smoking Advisors providing Stop Smoking support. Lisa Nangle is the Health Promotion &Improvement Officer/Stop Smoking Advisor in the Gorey area, Sean Davitt covers Enniscorthy and Bunclody and Elaine Banville covers the Wexford town and Rosslare area. Siobhan Morrissey is currently covering the area of New Ross. Supported by the governments Slaintecare strategy for its aims of integrating hospital and primary care services, Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit operates as a free, dedicated support for pregnant women and their families. The programme takes referrals of pregnant women (in addition to partners and family members) from the four maternity department of Wexford General Hospital and from primary care/community services in Wexford. Stop smoking Advisor David Phelan said: No matter what stage you or your partner are at in your pregnancy, it is never too late to stop smoking. You will get the support you need and not be judged. Ask your midwife, GP, healthcare provider or practice nurse to refer yourself to the Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit. Other smoking cessation supports include the We Can Quit programme which is delivered as part of the Slaintecare Healthy Communities initiative. Aislinn OLeary is the Slaintecare Healthy Communities advisor and offers support people to quit by providing both individual supports as well as group support. The We Can Quit programme is an evidence based stop smoking programme, designed to be delivered in the community by trained Community Facilitators through group work. We Can QUIT is a free, friendly and supportive group programme for men and women who smoke and who want support to quit smoking. The programme offers a weekly stop smoking group and one-to-one support. The programme is offered by the HSE in partnership with local community organisations. Siobhan Morrissey is the advisor based in the Chronic Disease Hub in Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre which focuses on providing support to people with any of the four major chronic diseases; Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Asthma and Type 2 Diabetes. Ireland now has more quitters than smokers; 27pc of the Irish population are ex-smokers and in all age groups over the age of 35, there are more ex-smokers than current smokers. People who have quit smoking in Wexford have experience the benefits first hand by reaching out for the dedicated support to quit being offered by the HSE Health and Wellbeing department. One successful person reported: After quitting smoking for a month, I was able to insure the car with the savings! Contact your local Stop Smoking Adviser and be directed to your nearest Clinic by emailing southeaststopsmokingsupport@hse.ie or calling 1800 201 203, 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. An estimated 15,000 people attended the unveiling of the Three Rocks monument in the summer of 1952. Crowds attending the unveiling of the Three Rocks monument in 1952. The heroic Battle of Three Rocks at Forth Mountain in Wexford during the 1798 Rebellion will be commemorated with a wreath-laying ceremony on Sunday, ahead of the 225th anniversary on Tuesday, May 30. Members of the public are invited to the event which has been organised by Wexford County Council and Wexford Borough District Council in association with Barntown Heritage Group. Those who wish to attend should arrive at Carrigfoyle car park by 11.45 am on Sunday where free transport will be available to the Three Rocks monument and the battlefield site where the Mayor of Wexford Maura Bell and other dignitaries will lay wreaths. At the monument, which is located near the rebel campsite, heritage consultant Dr Ronan O Flaherty will give a talk on the events leading up to the Battle of Three Rocks which resulted in the rebels taking Wexford after defeating a British artillery column sent to defend the town against an anticipated attack. There will be a small weapons display showing the types of weapons used at the time by both sides. At the battlefield site, on the Barntown/Taghmon road, Dr O Flaherty will discuss the Battle of Three Rocks and the declaration of the Wexford Republic. Michael Brazzill, chairman of Barntown Heritage Group said everyone is welcome to go along. This is a special commemoration and we would like to see people attending, especially those who were part of the bi-centenary celebrations in 1998. An estimated 15,000 people attended the unveiling of the Three Rocks monument in Barntown in the summer of 1952, 14 years after the foundation stone was laid by Margaret McCall, wife of PJ McCall who wrote the song Boolavogue. John Hempenstall of the Wicklow Cheese Company in Arklow has been nominated in the 'Best Artisan Cheese 2023' category. The cream of Wicklow farming has risen to the top, with two nominees reaching the finals of the inaugural National Dairy Awards, which will take place in Portlaoise on June 15. Recognising the quality and talents of the county's dairy farmers and producers, The National Dairy Awards celebrate those who have embraced the challenges of the dairy sector and are driving the Irish agricultural industry towards a brighter and sustainable future. Nominated for 'Best Artisan Cheese 2023', Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese is one of four finalists in the hotly contested awards category. Located in Curranstown in Arklow, Wicklow Ban Brie is managed and handmade by John Hempenstall and his family. The family works closely together, from the first steps of milking the herd to the hand wrapping and packing of all their products. In the Green Acre Marketing 'Social Media Ambassador of the Year', Paul Grace from Dunlavin will fly the flag for Wicklow as a finalist. Paul has been recognised for the informative content he posts on TikTok, interacting with his followers on a one-to-one level and sharing his dairy farming experiences. The inaugural National Dairy Awards gala evening presentations will take place in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise on Thursday, June 15. A spokesperson for National Dairy Awards said: The awards celebrate the primary producers, the artisan producers, sector services and the dairy processors as an industry collective. This will be a premier black tie, industry-wide, awards ceremony highlighting the best of the Irish dairy sector. The judging process comprises a panel of 10 dairy expert judges. The unique process is fully transparent, independent and thorough to ensure the best nominations are recognised and rewarded. Our panel of judges are all well respected and hugely knowledgeable individuals working in, with or advising the dairy sector in Ireland. James Bond star Colin Salmon said he joined EastEnders as he wanted cant be far from home as his wife is not well. (Ian West/PA) James Bond film series star Colin Salmon said he took on a role in EastEnders as he cant be far from home because his wife is not well. The British actor best known for his role as MI6 deputy chief of staff Charles Robinson in three Bond films will part of a new family arriving in Albert Square next month as father-of-two George Knight alongside Strictly Come Dancing finalist Molly Rainford. When asked why he took on the role, Salmon said: My wifes not well, so I cant be far from homeand the universe has brought (me) something quite extraordinary. Colin Salmon is set to be introduced to EastEnders as part of a new family alongside Harriet Thorpe, Molly Rainford and Francesca Henry (BBC) Salmon is married to artist and illustrator Fiona Hawthorne, who previously revealed to Hello! magazine how she was diagnosed with a rare lung condition, interstitial lung disease, leading her to use an oxygen tank. He added: (Executive producer) Chris (Clenshaw) was passionate, he was clear, he was progressive, he had a vision, and a clear love for the show and the people who watch it, so I find that to be the requisite for any job. Salmon also said that as someone from the East End of London, he understands the importance of the show. He added: Growing up and everybody I know, who Ive told Im doing this, has got really, really excited and then some have said: How could you do EastEnders? They dont know me. Its a no brainer, its worked and the universe has been really kind. He also revealed he was assigned veteran soap actor Steve McFadden, who as the tough Phil Mitchell is set to strike up a friendship with him on the show, is taking on the role of his mentor in the production. When asked about what advice the actor gave him, Salmon said he told him: Just get it done. He added: Steve comes on set and Steves ready. Steves there and hes quietly the boss and we had our phone call, I think the opening line is Youre mad, closely followed by Get a bike. Because (in) that way you can get in and out quite easily. My wife just went: Is he mad?' Salmon also said that he was a family man along with McFadden and the other men on the show so the conversations are just so refreshing, because its not that nonsense. Kellie Bright has recently gone behind the bar to help run the Queen Vic (Yui Mok/PA) His character, described by Clenshaw as a boxer with a lot of baggage who knows Phil, joins the square to be with his partner Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), who is the mother of Linda Carter. Linda (Kellie Bright) has teamed up with her larger-than-life mother to run the Queen Victoria pub as Knight brings his two daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Nova Jones actress Rainford) to Walford. Speaking about how her character feels about the new arrivals, Bright said: Linda is very scarred by Janine so for her, everyone is the enemy and no one is to be trusted. Especially not this man, who as far as shes concerned her mum does not know nearly well enough so shes starting from that place, so theres no openness. During the Christmas day episode, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) appeared to be killed off in the English Channel in an attempt to save Linda after Janine Butchers (Charlie Brooks) web of lies unravel and she attempts to flee the country. Elsewhere, Absolutely Fabulous star Thorpe said she wanted to honour the women who have gone before her that will not be put out to pasture with a skirt and a blue rinse. She added: Im almost a 66-year-old woman whos here and now and let me be more rock chick. The Knights will arrive in an EastEnders episode on BBC One on June 1. NCAD fashion design student Eve OReilly (right) with a model Ami Jackson wearing one of her award-winning 'granny chic' designs. Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland Eve OReillys blue rinse graduate collection has turned the granny cliche into cutting-edge fashion, finding inspiration in everything from the humble headscarf and hair rollers to the ubiquitous trolley bag. An egg dress, fold-up baked beans coat and skirt made from anti-slip table mats are just some of the elements in Eves award-winning collection which will go into Create at Brown Thomas in July. The 24-year-old final-year NCAD student from Clontarf was named winner of the Brown Thomas Designer to Watch Bursary Award 2023, which comes with a 4,000 prize, a mentoring programme and installation in store as part of its annual summer celebration of Irish design talent. Ms OReilly combined hand-drawn prints, photography, knit, screen printing and embellishment to create over-the-top, yet glamorous pieces that celebrate life and growing older. I think older women are really largely unseen in the media and we constantly equate femininity with youth which is just completely wrong, she said. There seems to be this idea that once you hit a certain age, you suddenly cant be stylish anymore, you have become almost invisible which is completely wrong. I think its something that needs to be changed and this concept is something that I would love to bring forward into my next collection. Two very stylish women in Eves life were central to the development of the collection. Theres her 60s chick Nana, Deirdre Thompson, and her own mother, Deirdre Thompson, whose style inspired the young designer to create a collection that would resonate with those with a spirit of non-conformity and ultimately show that you can be creative, stylish and vital at any age. In Ms OReillys hands, the trusty headscarf is elevated and knitted in merino and lambswool. The aspiring designer pictured wearing a vintage suit and tie she found in Edinburgh added that taking accessories associated with granny cliche, I made the headscarf quite punky and glamorous with rollers. The ultimate granny cliche accessory the trolley bag helped to inform shapes in the collection and the oversized separates, dresses, outerwear and headpieces. The fabric in a pleated skirt was made from anti-slip mats which Eve crocheted into place and huge plastic storage bags inspired both her check prints and colour palette . I wanted to use everyday objects and familiar items to reflect the normalcy of ageism, she added. I was really inspired by the documentary Advanced Style, this movement that started in New York when photographer, Ari Seth Cohen started photographing older women on the streets of New York, said Eve who now hopes to study for a masters in Antwerp. Croatian police on Friday said a drug and firearm trafficking ring operating across Europe had been broken by a law enforcement operation that arrested 37 people and seized drugs, money and guns in eight countries since last year. Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. Image: Unsplash/Johannes Plenio A hundred and ninety-three countries have unanimously approved the creation of a global greenhouse gas monitoring mechanism, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced on Wednesday. The landmark decision comes as heat-trapping greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels higher than at any time over the last 800,000 years, WMO warned. Data from Earth and space The new Global Greenhouse Gas Watch will combine observations from Earth and from space with modelling, to fill critical information gaps. It will build on WMOs experience in coordinating international collaboration on weather prediction. The agency said that the exchange of data will be free and unrestricted, in support of the Paris Agreement on climate change. According to WMO, between 1990 and 2021, the warming effect on our climate from the main greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, rose by nearly 50 per cent. We know from our measurements that greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels, said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. The increase in carbon dioxide levels from 2020 to 2021 was higher than the average growth rate over the past decade and methane saw the biggest year-on-year jump since measurements started. Plenty still to learn But there are still uncertainties, especially regarding the role in the carbon cycle of the ocean, the land biosphere and the permafrost areas, said Mr. Taalas. We therefore need to undertake greenhouse gas monitoring within an integrated Earth System framework in order to be able to account for natural sources and sinks, both as they currently operate and as they will change as a result of a changing climate. This will provide vital information and support for implementation of the Paris Agreement, he said. Lars Peter Riishojgaard, WMO Deputy Director for infrastructure, said the UN weather agencys decision on the generational challenge of climate change mitigation, is a historic step. Internationally coordinated global greenhouse gas monitoring open to all and operating under WMOs policy of free and unrestricted exchange of data, will provide valuable, timely and authoritative information on greenhouse gas fluxes to the UNFCCC Parties (the UN climate change convention Secretariat), which will help them in their efforts to mitigate climate change, he added. Mr. Riishojgaard said there was very strong support from the science community and private sector, for the new monitoring project. Jida Li/Unsplash Beijing: Chinese authorities are now trying to push out vaccines to fight the ongoing rise in COVID-19 which might reach its peak in June. According to reports, 65 million people are expected to be infected in a week when the peak will be reached. China is witnessing the spike once again, months after it exited from the Zero COVID policy. Zhong Nanshan, a top Chinese epidemiologist,was quoted as saying by The Washington Post that two new vaccines for the XBB omicron subvariants (including XBB. 1.9.1, XBB. 1.5, and XBB. 1.16) had received initial approval. Zhong, speaking at biotech forum in Guangzhou, said three to four other vaccines were set to be approved soon, but he did not provide more details. While officials in China say the new wave will be less severe, public health experts say that an aggressive vaccine booster program and a ready supply of antivirals at hospitals are needed to prevent another spike in deaths among the countrys large elderly population. The number of infections will be less. The severe cases will be certainly be less, and deaths will be less, but that could still be a large number, Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kongs School of Public Health, told the newspaper. Even when we think this is a milder wave, it could still be quite a substantial health impact on the community. Image: UNI New Delhi: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which implements Project Cheetah, has formed a high-level Cheetah Project Steering Committee, a press release by the Union Environment Ministry said. This committee supersedes the previous Cheetah Task Force. The new committee has been formed in accordance with a decision made during a meeting chaired by the Director General of Forest &SS and attended by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The new committee has 11 members. The Committee will be chaired by Rajesh Gopal (former member secretary of the NTCA and currently with the Global Tiger Forum). Members of the Committee include R.N. Mehrotra, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Rajasthan; P. R. Sinha, a former director of the Wildlife Institute of India; H. S. Negi, a member of the NTCA; G. S. Rawat, former Dean of the WII; Qamar Qureshi, a scientist with the WII; the current Inspector General of the NTCA; the current Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh, and others. A four-member consulting panel of international Cheetah experts has also been appointed who will provide advice as an when required. It comprises Prof. Adrian Tordiffe, Veterinary Wildlife Specialist from Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF from Namibia; Dr. Andrew John Fraser, Farm Olievenbosch, South Africa and Vincent van dan Merwe: Manager, Cheetah Metapopulation Project, The Metapopulation Initiative, South Africa. The Steering Committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made in the Cheetah introduction project by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and NTCA. It will closely monitor the developments and provide necessary advice and guidance. Additionally, the Task Force will explore the feasibility of opening the Cheetah habitat for eco-tourism purposes. It will formulate recommendations and regulations to ensure sustainable and responsible tourism practices in the Cheetah habitat. The Task Force will also focus on establishing effective community engagement and involvement in the project activities. It will propose strategies for meaningful community interface and seek ways to actively engage local communities in conservation efforts. The Steering Committee will be operational for a duration of two years, convening at least one monthly meeting. Furthermore, it will conduct field visits as needed to assess the progress and address on-ground challenges. The committee will have the flexibility to seek consultation from relevant experts whenever necessary. For specialised insights and advice, the Task Force will seek input from a panel of International Cheetah experts. These experts may be consulted remotely or invited to India based on specific requirements. To facilitate the efficient functioning of the committee, the NTCA and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will provide necessary support and coordination. The travel expenses of non-official members and other incidental costs will be covered by the NTCA in accordance with the prevailing rules and regulations. In September last year, India introduced eight Cheetahs from Namibia into Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park in an ambitious project to reintroduce the animals in the South Asian nation after their extinction some 70 years ago. The cheetahs were brought to India with the aim of reviving the population of the big cat in the country. Over five years, more than 50 cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia, will be introduced in various Indian national parks, including Kuno. Out of the 20 cheetahs that were transported from Africa to India in the past year, marking the first-ever intercontinental relocation of these animals, only 17 are currently remaining. In the last three months, female Cheetahs Daksha and Sasha and a male Uday have died in Kuno National Park. Image Credit: Facebook/Satyendar Jain New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Friday granted an interim bail to ailing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain for six weeks, a day after he was admitted to hospital, media reports said. Jain was admitted to Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital and he was shifted to ICU after he collapsed in the bathroom of Tihar Jail on Thursday. This was the second time the former Delhi minister was taken to hospital this week. Jain was arrested on May 30 last year on allegations that he laundered money through four companies owned by him. The ruling AAP and Jain have denied all the charges levelled against him. Jain, who was a prominent minister in the Kejriwal government handling various portfolios, resigned from all ministries in January this year. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/Washington/UNI: India and the US held the Inaugural India-US Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue in New Delhi on May 22, for strengthening the defense partnership in new areas including space and Artificial Intelligence. Colin Kahl, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, in a tweet said: Space Policys Vipin Narang & Emerging Capabilities Mike Horowitz met with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi for the inaugural U.S.-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue US-India strengthening our defense partnership in space, AI, and more. US Department of Defense Spokesperson Lisa Lawrence in a statement said: On May 22, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Vipin Narang and Director Michael Horowitz of the Emerging Capabilities Policy Office met with their Indian counterparts for the inaugural US-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue (AD3) in New Delhi. The Dialogue followed a commitment by U and Indian officials at the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in 2022 to deepen collaboration on evolving new defense domains, with an emphasis on space and artificial intelligence. US and Indian officials exchanged views on the unique defense challenges in these domains, their respective defense policies, and areas of convergence and opportunities for further cooperation. They also discussed priorities for maintaining safety, stability, and promoting responsible uses of technologies in these domains. The Dialogue renewed the commitment of the United States and India to expand and deepen bilateral defense cooperation in advanced domains. Image credit: UNI Kolkata/IBNS: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien on Friday alleged that the nine years of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre was high on promises and low on delivery. In a tweet, Derek said, "#9YearsOfModiGovernment. Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions." "The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's institutions - Parliament to Election Commission. Misusing central agencies only to target opponents. Notebandi? Farm Bills? Anti Labour Code? Anti-Industry Disinvestment? Privatisation of profitable PSUs?" he stated. #9YearsOfModiGovernment Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions. The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's Derek O'Brien | ' (@derekobrienmp) May 26, 2023 "Nine years. High on promises. Low on delivery," Derek said adding, "Since 2014 Modi Govt has made a mockery of parliamentary process on several occasions." Earlier commenting on the inauguration of the new Parliament building, he said the Trinamool Congress will boycott the event on Sunday. "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 govt. The NDA statement pulled out by BJP is telling. A once large coalition now virtually extinct! Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules - it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesnt get that. For him, Sundays inauguration of the new building is all about I, ME, MYSELF. So count us out. " 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 GOVT. The NDA statement pulled out by BJP is telling. A once large coalition now virtually extinct! Derek O'Brien | ' (@derekobrienmp) May 25, 2023 Nineteen opposition parties including Congress will boycott the inauguration of the country's new Parliament building on Sunday. The parties include Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, Left, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena and others. The boycott will mark the parties' protest against the inauguration of the new parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The boycott is widely seen as a step towards Opposition unity in the backdrop of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s defeat in Karnataka polls and eyeing the next year's General Elections. The new building of Parliament will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday to mark nine years of his government. Kolkata/Salboni/IBNS: The agitation by the Kurmi community demanding ST status and inclusion of their language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution turned violent on Friday at Salboni in Jhargram district in West Bengal on Friday. The situation came to such a situation that the police and the security of Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had to fight a pitched battle with the violent Kurmi agitators to ward them off. The agitators smashed the windscreens of several vehicles and resorted to pelting them with bricks. Even the car of State Cabinet Minister for Self-Help Group & Self-Employment and Minister of State for Forests and Consumer Affairs Birbaha Hansda, who was a part of the ''Jono Sanyog Yatra'' (Mass Outreach Programme) of Banerjee, was not spared. As the two-month-long ''Trinamoole Nabo Jowar'' programme by Banerjee, which was at Salboni, faced such a violent protest on its way by the Kurmis that he had to alight from his car and walked on foot to have a talk with the agitators and pacify them, but it yielded no result. A few days back Banerjee during his mass outreach programme had given a patient hearing on the issues of the Kurmi community. Even Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also faced the Kurmi's agitation a few days back. The DGP has sought a report from the SP over the incident. [With UNI inputs] Image: UNHCR/Samuel Otieno New York: With crisis atop of crisis threatening millions in the Horn of Africa, the international community cannot afford to stand idly by, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a pledging event to raise $7 billion for the region, held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday. More than 43 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia continue to suffer through one of the worst droughts in recent history, caused by five consecutive seasons of poor rains. Years of conflict and insecurity have sparked mass displacement, while skyrocketing food prices and most recently, the fighting in Sudan, have compounded the situation. It was announced later in the day that $2.4 billion had been pledged by donors. Appeal for action We must act now to prevent crisis from turning into catastrophe, Mr. Guterres said. Let us act together now with greater urgency and far greater support. The pledging event was convened by the UN and Italy, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States, in collaboration with the three affected countries. The Secretary-General saw the devastating impact of the drought first-hand during recent visits to Kenya and Somalia. Families search for food In parts of northern Kenya, parched landscapes and perished livestock have driven families from their homes in search of water, food, and incomes, he said. While in the Somali city of Baidoa, he met communities who lost their livelihoods to drought and insecurity, as the battle against Al-Shabaab militants continues. I was deeply moved by their struggles. And I was inspired by their resilience, courage, and determination to rebuild their lives. But they cannot do it alone, he said. Step up support The UN chief assured that action will make all the difference. Last year, donors delivered life-saving assistance to 20 million people and helped avert a famine. He called for increased support for humanitarian plans for the region which are currently less than 20 per cent funded. This is unacceptable, he said, warning that without an immediate financial injection, emergency operations will grind to a halt, and people will die. Build climate resilience He said the drought in Somalia last year claimed 40,000 lives, and half were children under five, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF). Although recent rains have brought some relief, vulnerable communities are still facing another year of immense hardship. People in the Horn of Africa are paying an unconscionable price for a climate crisis they did nothing to cause, he said. 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. New challenges emerge The heads of major UN agencies working in areas such as aid delivery, food security, health, and assistance to migrants and refugees, made the case for scaled-up support in a video played during the event. The message was carried forward by Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. She said even though improved rains have started to ease the impacts of the drought, they have also brought new risks and challenges, including disease outbreaks. The humanitarian community is determined to provide the support that people need. But five months into the year, funding is critically short, she told participants. Cash-based food assistance has fallen off dramatically, she said, "and humanitarian partners are already running out of money, with many facing the possibility of having to suspend, scale back or shut down programmes. Sowing seeds of hope Somalias Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse was among senior representatives from the affected countries who addressed the pledging conference. He said it comes at a critical time, as the Federal Government and partners have liberated more than a third of those areas previously controlled by Al-Shabaab. This means that we can reach more people with life-saving humanitarian support and high impact development projects, he said. Mr. Huruse urged donors to consider increasing their funding, saying together we shall sow the seeds of hope (and) nurture a future in which no life is lost due to lack of assistance. Image: UN News/Reem Abaza Swift action is needed to prevent flare ups of Israeli-Palestinian violence and avert a looming food crisis, the top UN official in the Middle East told the Security Council on Wednesday. There is no time to spare, said Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. We must take action, not only to ensure Palestinian well-being and governance, but as an integral part of ending the occupation and restoring a political horizon toward a viable two-State solution, based on UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements, he said, briefing the Council on recent grim and dangerous security and humanitarian concerns. While a ceasefire that ended five days of fighting between Israel and Gaza is holding, conflict mitigation efforts must also be met with steps by both sides supported by the international community to reset a trajectory out of the cycle of violence, he said. In this vein, he called on all parties to stop unilateral and inflammatory actions that undermine prospects for peace, and to address the acute financial and institutional challenges facing the Palestinian Authority. Looming food crisis The Special Coordinator also warned of a looming food crisis. I am particularly alarmed by the funding crisis facing UN agencies supporting basic services and social support, including emergency food assistance, to Palestinians, he said, encouraging Member States to immediately seek ways to increase their support. Unless new support arrives, the World Food Programme (WFP) will suspend cash assistance to some 200,000 Palestinians next week, and the UN relief agency, UNRWA, will not have the resources to deliver core services in September. Without new funding, he said we will face serious humanitarian and, potentially, security challenges. Diplomacy saves lives In recent weeks, the UN, together with regional and international partners, mobilized once again to end hostilities between armed factions in Gaza and Israeli forces, he said, calling such efforts crucial to saving Palestinian and Israeli lives. Nevertheless, we must also keep issues fundamental to creating the conditions for a lasting peace at the forefront, he said. The immediate priority is to support steps to bolster the Palestinian Authority and preserve the provision of critical services to the Palestinian people. These steps should be implemented in a way that encourages the parties to engage with each other and require actions by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, alongside increased support and attention from the international community, he said. Civilians bear the brunt Meanwhile, he said a landscape of violence and tensions saw Israel and Palestinian armed factions once again resort to rocket fire into and out of the Gaza Strip enclave. Following the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Khader Adnans death in an Israeli jail following an 86-day hunger strike, armed factions in Gaza fired over 100 rockets towards Israel, causing damage but no injuries. The Israeli Air Force responded with airstrikes against what it said were Hamas and PIJ targets in the Strip, killing one Palestinian and causing damage, he said. Even though the hostilities ended on 3 May, Israel had conducted 323 airstrikes against what it said were PIJ military targets in Gaza, while Palestinian militants, mainly PIJs al-Quds Brigades, launched over 1,200 rockets and more than 250 mortars towards Israel, he added. The number of deaths mounted on both sides, he said, regretting to note that civilians continued to bear the brunt of such hostilities. West Bank violence Levels of violence remained high in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, he said. Seventeen Palestinians, including two children, were killed and 138 Palestinians, including two women and 23 children, were injured by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes, search-and-arrest operations, attacks, and alleged attacks against Israelis, he said. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed significant movement restrictions around Jericho, Nablus, and Hebron following either Palestinian attacks or stone throwing affecting tens of thousands of Palestinians and local economic conditions. Racist slogans Thousands of right-wing Israeli activists, including senior Government ministers, participated in the highly provocative annual flag day march through Jerusalems Old City, marking Jerusalem Day, he said, adding that many chanted racist slogans, including death to Arabs, with scuffles breaking out between Israeli participants and Palestinians. Such provocations and incitement, which continued in the days after the march, are unacceptable and must be condemned by all, he said Expanding illegal settlements More illegal settlement plans are moving forward, with tenders published for some 310 housing units in Area C and demolitions continuing, he said. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished, seized, or forced owners to demolish 33 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and 17 in East Jerusalem, including a donor-funded school east of Bethlehem, displacing 89 Palestinians, including 45 children, he said, calling on Israeli authorities to end the displacement and eviction of Palestinians. They are a substantial obstacle to peace and must stop, he said of the settlements, noting that all such expansion into occupied territory is illegal under international law. Image: UNICEF/UNI55086/Press New York: One of the worlds most wanted genocide fugitives has been arrested after being on the run for more than two decades, the UN tribunal prosecuting war crimes committed in Rwanda announced on Thursday. Fulgence Kayishema is alleged to have orchestrated the killing of approximately 2,000 Tutsi refugees at Nyange Catholic Church during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) said in a statement. He was arrested in South Africa on Wednesday in a joint operation between the IRMCT Office of the Prosecutor and the authorities. Finally facing justice Kayishema has been at large since 2001 and was among four remaining fugitives from the genocide, during which an estimated one million people were killed, and roughly 150,000 to 250,000 women raped, over a period of some 100 days. In a statement released by his Spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 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." Mr. Guterres commended the cooperation between the IRMCT and the South African authorities for the apprehension, and recalled that "all States have an obligation to cooperate with the Mechanism in the location, arrest, detention, surrender and transfer of the accused persons still at large." IRMCT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said his arrest ensures the long-standing fugitive will finally face justice for his alleged crimes. 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, he added. International partners for justice Mr. Brammertz said the thorough investigation that led to the arrest was made possible through the support and cooperation of South Africa and the Operational Task Team established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to assist the ICMRT Fugitive Tracking Team. They also received vital support from similar Task Forces in other African countries, notably Eswatini and Mozambique. Rwandan authorities under the leadership of Prosecutor General Aimable Havugiyaremye continued to be our strongest partners and provided essential assistance, he said. The Chief Prosecutor also cited support from other countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, saying Kayishemas arrest demonstrates yet again that justice can be secured, no matter the challenges, through direct cooperation between international and national law enforcement agencies. The IRMCT performs essential functions previously carried out by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which closed in December 2015, and another for the former Yugoslavia, which concluded two years later. Kayishema was indicted by the Rwanda tribunal in 2001. He was charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture, during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. According to the indictment, he and other co-perpetrators murdered more than 2,000 refugees - men, women, elderly persons, and children - at the Nyange Church in Kivumu commune, on 15 April 1994. He directly participated in the planning an execution of the massacre, working methodically over two days following, to transfer the corpses to mass graves. Further step forward The arrest marks a further step forward in the effort to account for all those fugitives still at large who have been indicted by the ICTR. Since 2020, the OTP Fugitive Tracking Team has accounted for five of the fugitives at large, including another of the architects of the genocide which was orchestrated by the extremist Hutu regime at the time, Felicien Kabuga, as well as Augustin Bizimana, Protais Mpiranya, and Pheneas Munyarugarama. There are now only three outstanding fugitives. Image: Pixabay Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: At least two police personnel died during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Khyber police lines in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) area on Friday, media reports said. Terrorists reportedly escaped from the sport after the attack. The attack also injured two other police officials, reports The Express Tribune. Among the martyred are a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and a line officer. It was further reported that the injured were shifted to a hospital in Peshawar for medical assistance, the newspaper reported. As environment Day is approaching on 5th June, It provides an appropriate time for reflection on climate change, exerting multifaceted adverse impacts on the economic, social, and cultural spheres of our lives. Recent extreme weather events such as severe draughts followed by catastrophic floods in Pakistan, the worst recorded drought in Europe in five centuries, ferocious cyclones such as the Bomb cyclones in the USA, the cycle Freddy in the Southern Indian Ocean region, and the typhoon Hinnamnor in South Korea and Japan are all related to the adverse effects of climate change. iStock According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) estimates, India recorded extreme weather events on more than eighty-eight percent of days in the first nine months of 2022. The changing weather patterns, including increased fluctuations in Monsoons, producing long dry periods and short spells of heavy rains, can be linked to climate change. The geographical location, long coastline, a large share of the population dependent on agriculture, and dependence on monsoons for most of its rainfall, among other factors, make India highly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) estimates that India might have already lost about 3 percent of its gross-domestic-product (GDP) at current levels of global warming and risks losing up to ten percent of its GDP in the extreme case of a temperature increase by 3oC over pre-industrial levels. The urgency of climate corrective actions is further warranted by the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis report pointing that the temperature increase due to global warming has already reached 1.1oC and is approaching 1.5oC faster than predicted. Tackling climate change becomes more daunting due to the presence of doom loops- self-reinforcing vicious loops- among the causes and consequences of climate change, implying that climate change, if left unaddressed, can self-perpetuate itself at higher levels with higher adverse impacts. Doom loops of climate change BCCL Among multiple doom loops of climate change, we use three illustrative examples to illustrate the reinforcing interdependence between the causes and consequences of climate change. Climate change enhances weather risks and reduces the productivity and profitability of agriculture. For instance, abnormally high temperatures in March 2022 resulted in about a twenty-percent fall in wheat yields, the largest decline in two decades. In response to such events, farmers, facing declining incomes, resort to the intensification of agriculture characterized by practices such as enhanced tilling, higher irrigation, stubble burning, and indiscriminate usage of chemical inputs that further release GHGs causing greenhouse warming. For instance, the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) points out that climate change results in increased pest pressure and reduced efficacy of pesticides fueling an increased use of synthetic pesticides in conventional agriculture, producing higher quantities of global warming causing greenhouse gases. Also, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) estimates that high evaporative demand due to increased temperatures has increased agricultural water consumption by close to thirty percent in states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh. Satiating this enhanced water demand from ground aquifers depletes groundwater resources and releases GHGs. Resource-intensive agriculture also harms the life-supporting components of the natural environment, including the air, water, and soil. Likewise, deforestation releases greenhouse gases (GHGs), contributing to global warming and climate change, producing hot, dry, and windy weather conditions favorable for forest fires. A report by the United Nations Environment Program predicts that notwithstanding the most ambitious efforts to reduce GHG emissions, there will be a dramatic increase in the frequency of extreme fire events. The European Union Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service estimates that wildfires during 2021 emitted close to 1.8 billion tons of carbon globally. It expects this to increase as drier and warmer conditions resulting from climate change exacerbate forest fire risks. WWF Furthermore, climate change exacerbates the social, economic, and environmental factors contributing to civil wars and geopolitical conflicts that, besides their severe social and economic costs, also have huge greenhouse gas and ecological footprint. They exert high environmental costs in terms of indiscriminate resource exploitation to fund the war economy, damaged infrastructure, and hampered environmental restoration and protection work. They result in deforestation, loss of species, and various kinds of pollution. For instance, the CO2 emissions from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have already surpassed 100 million tons. Sans appropriate conflict resolution mechanisms and peace agreements, the war-ravaged damaged ecosystems, unless restored, experience diminished capacity to support socio-economic activities fueling subsequent cycles of disorder and violence. Way forward Awareness of doom loops also helps us foresee the first and second-order effects of any action. Given the doom loops of climate change, tackling climate change requires a multi-sectoral, multi-level approach focused on policy measures, organizational initiatives, and individual actions. For instance, promoting the millets- less resource-intensive, hardy crops- besides achieving food and nutritional security and supporting small and marginal farmers practicing dryland agriculture can help tackle climate change. Similarly, given the huge loss of over 6.6 lakh hectares of forest cover in India over the last three decades, urgent efforts for preserving forest cover and afforestation become necessary to check the self-reinforcing loop of climate change, global warming and forest fires. Adopting agroforestry and encouraging the participation of forest dwellers in forest preservation and afforestation provide useful avenues for preserving forests and afforestation. BCCL Moreover, while the signatories of the Paris Agreement set a goal of negative carbon emissions, entailing a reduction of carbon emissions by close to fifty percent by the year 2030, the International Energy Agency estimates that the annual carbon emissions, rather than decreasing, are growing by around 1.7%. Besides quick decisions and actions on the much-needed financing and technology transfer demands from affected nations lacking historical responsibility and present capabilities for climate mitigation and adaptation, focus also needs to be directed at micro-level individual actions and choices as they can matter a lot in the fight against climate change. The Mission LiFE nudging people towards adopting environmentally sustainable lifestyles and environmentally responsible behavior, such as judicious choices regarding energy production and consumption, needs to be enthusiastically implemented. Similarly, promoting energy literacy among citizens can immensely help in the fight against climate change. Furthermore, as tackling climate change and progress towards sustainable development goals mutually reinforce each other, policymakers need to consider and leverage these interlinkages for tackling the doom loop of climate change to save the future of our planet. The Sooner, the better, as there is no Planet B. This article is published in association with Energy Swaraj Foundation as part of our Climate Action series. Prof. Solanki is founder of Energy Swaraj Foundation and Neha Kumari is a research associate at Energy Research Foundation. At a time when questions are being raised about the future of the Cheetah reintroduction programme in India, the Union government has set up a new committee to oversee and review Project Cheetah. The 11-member committee will be headed by Rajesh Gopal, Secretary General of Global Tiger Forum. AP Who are the committee members? Other members of the panel are RN Mehrotra, former principal chief conservator of forest of Rajasthan; PR Sinha, former director of the Wildlife Institute of India; HS Negi, former APCCF, Wildlife; and PK Malik, former faculty at WII, GS Rawat, former dean of the WII; Mittal Patel, an Ahmedabad-based social worker; Qamar Qureshi, WII scientist and Inspector General of NTCA; and the MP's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, and Chief Wildlife Warden. A consulting panel of international cheetah experts, including Adrian Tordiffe, Veterinary Wildlife Specialist, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Laurie Marker, Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia; Andrew John Fraser, Farm Olivenbosch, South Africa and Vincent van dan Merwe, Manager, Cheetah Metapopulation Project, South Africa, will provide advice as and when required. BCCL Eco-tourism, community involvement and more Earlier, the government had told the Supreme Court that there are no Cheetah experts in India as the spices became extinct in the county seven decades ago. The new committee will be tasked with providing suggestions on the opening of the cheetah habitat in KNP for eco-tourism and community involvement in Project Cheetah, among others. Project Cheetah In September, the first batch of eight Namibian Cheetahs was brought to India, followed by twelve more from South Africa in February. AP The high ambitions and unprecedented trans-continental Cheetah reintroduction project was going well, and it seemed like the big cats had adjusted to their new home. But in March, the first major blow came in the form of Sasha, a female Namibian Cheetah who died due to a pre-existing kidney ailment. While the authorities tried to play it down and cheered the news of the birth of four Cheetah cubs, the first in India in over seven decades, the optimism didn't last long. SCREENGRAB Uday, a male Cheetah from South Africa, died in April, followed by Daksha, another female, in May. Three of the four Cheetah cubs that were born in March also died this week, two days apart, ringing alarm bells to many. Search for second home for Cheetahs Several experts and 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. REUTERS In April, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department had written a letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, requesting an "alternative" site for the cheetahs at Kuno. For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. China is preparing for a concerning rise in COVID cases, with projections suggesting up to 65 million weekly infections by the end of June. This prediction is especially alarming, considering China had implemented stringent control measures earlier in the pandemic. However, the recent emergence of the omicron variant, specifically the XBB variant, has contributed to the resurgence of cases. Notably, about six months ago, China had previously dismantled its extensive COVID response infrastructure, including strict lockdowns, widespread testing, rigorous quarantines, and stringent mask mandates. "People feel differently about this wave," Qi Zhang, a 30-year-old employee at a finance company in the northern city of Tianjin, expressed his thoughts. "The last time, everyone was terrified, but now they dont think its a big deal," she told NBC News. Respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan revealed the data on China's new wave of COVID infections at a recent medical conference in Guangzhou. He stated that the wave, which began in late April, was expected, and his modeling indicated that China could reach around 40 million weekly infections. By the end of June, the peak of the wave is projected to reach 65 million cases per week. In comparison, the United States reported over 5 million weekly cases at its peak in January. China and the U.S. have stopped providing weekly case updates, making it challenging to ascertain the accurate scale of the current outbreak in China. The U.S. State Department discussed China's second wave of COVID with allies and partners. However, they did not disclose whether travel restrictions were being considered. Unsplash According to spokesperson Matt Miller, the department will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before updating travel guidelines. "We dont want to see people anywhere, obviously, suffering from COVID-19," Miller said Wednesday. The U.S. government remains committed to working with China "on transnational challenges, including global health matters, and maintaining open lines of communication," he added. AFP Multiple omicron subvariants, including XBB 1.5, XBB.1.16 (also known as "Arcturus"), and XBB.1.9.1, have been detected in the United States since December and account for most current infections. While the CDC is not actively tracking new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are declining in the country, indicating a level of immunity against the highly transmissible variant. AFP/Representational Image China experienced a different omicron variant during its initial wave in December and January, leading to a surge in cases, overwhelmed healthcare facilities, and societal disruptions. Approximately 80% of China's population was infected during that wave, but immunity may have decreased over time, increasing the risk of reinfection. At a medical conference, specialist Zhong Nanshan stated that the Chinese government had granted preliminary approval for two vaccines targeting the XBB subvariants already circulating in the U.S. Further vaccine approvals are expected soon. China's response to the new wave has been relatively restrained as it focuses on economic recovery and aims to reassure foreign businesses, which may have concerns about the reintroduction of restrictions. An employee in the finance sector, Zhang, noted that colleagues who recently tested positive for COVID were still choosing to come to work, highlighting a contrast to the first wave when remote work was more prevalent. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. After Belgian federal authorities released MEP Eva Kaili from house arrest and a requirement to wear an ankle monitor, she is free to return to her duties in the European Parliament and to exercise her rights as an MEP, her lawyers announced in a statement on Friday. Mallam Adamu Adamu, Nigerias Minister of Education, has recalled that he was a novice when the President, Muhammadu Buhari appointed him to serve in the education sector in 2015. Speaking at a valedictory session with officials and heads of parastatals of the Ministry on Thursday, the Minister said because he was inexperienced, he reached out to key people to assist him in their various capacities. Adamu however received credits for appointing some professors of education and other good hands with the help of officials of the Federal Ministry of Education that helped him record some success in his tenure. I didnt know anything about the education sector when I was appointed Minister except superficially. But when Buhari decided to make me Minister of Education, I called some people to assist me to work on a policy document on education because I was a novice in the sector. I shared my idea with them, and they assisted me greatly, and I remain grateful to them for these years, the Education Minister said. He commended Buhari who thought it good and found him worthy of such responsibility despite the fact that he was apparently not ready and unprepared for such task. READ ALSO: Half-Salary: FG Wont Pay Lecturers For Work Undone Education Minister Insists I was busy making recommendations and suggestions to the President on who to appoint into his cabinet in 2015. All of a sudden, he announced my name to my surprise and that was it. We worked together till 2019. In 2019, I approached the President and suggested that he reshuffle his cabinet because, in the eyes of many, it was unusual in our society for a President to work with the same Ministers for four years. Buhari had graciously allowed his Ministers to stay in office for four years. Ordinarily, Ministers stay in office for two years before they are reshuffled. But I know him very well and I knew it will be difficult for him to do that. But I decided to make it easy for him by promising to bring people that would do the job better for me and others who served as Ministers in the first tenure. I promised him that I will give him names of competent people from at least, 19 northern states. So, I suggested to him to drop all the Ministers that worked with him in the first tenure including me, but I knew it would be difficult for him. But to confirm that I can do the job, I gave him a name from Bauchi state whom I had expected him to replace me within the cabinet. That was how Maryam Katagun became Minister of the Federal Republic, the Minister added. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has said he remains committed to the progress of the country and her continued constructive role in Africa. Obi reiterated his call for Nigerians to take back their country because only Nigerians can save Nigeria, stressing that it is the only nation that we have, and it is ours to build and develop. Obi led this out in a statement on Thursday in reaction to the release of the new book, Hands Off Africa, written by Pope Francis and prefaced by global author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. He wrote: I am glad to see the release of the new book, Hands Off Africa, written by Pope Francis and prefaced by our literary ambassador and global author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. READ MORE: Tinubu May Be Sworn-In May 29, But Ill Still Get Justice Peter Obi The book whose release is timely, touches on a very critical point of discontinuing the exploitation of Africa by the Western powers. As Pope Francis suggests, May Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny! I have consistently called on Nigerians to take back their country because only Nigerians can save Nigeria. This is the only nation that we have, and it is ours to build and develop. When I rejected the dual citizenship of other countries years back, I was conscious that Nigeria as the only country that I have will need my full attention and commitment in the years to come. I remain committed to the progress of our nation, Nigeria, and to her continued constructive role in Africa. Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has begged President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), before leaving office on 29 May. Soludo urged President Buhari to release Kanu to him personally, adding that he could vouch that the IPOB leader would be presented in court when needed. The Anambra Governor made the appeal in a letter titled, Passionate Appeal For The Urgent Release Of Mazi and copied to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The Anambra governor stated that if releasing Kanu unconditionally is untenable, he should be granted administrative bail on compassionate grounds. Commending the Buhari government for granting amnesty to repentant Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, Soludo said it was time to extend the same grace to Kanu. He wrote, In the light of the foregoing, it is my earnest prayer that Mr. President may kindly consider the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi 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 principles of the rule of law and be in compliance with the international law and conventions that Nigeria is a signatory to. Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Femi Falana and Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, who are both attorneys to Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, have said their clients travel to Switzerland on Thursday amid his ongoing case with the police, was not unlawful or illegal. The senior lawyers also noted that Kuti is currently not being prosecuted in court by the Nigeria Police Force or any other prosecuting authority. Information Nigeria reports that, Seun Kuti, left Nigeria for Switzerland where he will be commencing a summer tour in Europe, Zurich. Kuti confirmed this on his Instagram story on Thursday, while sharing a picture of himself on the plane with the caption, Euro tour kicks off tonight in Zurich. This comes the same day he regained his freedom from the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State command following his arrest and detention for allegedly assaulting a policeman. Reacting to the development following an inquiry by newsmen on Thursday, Falana said, Seun Kuti will stand his trial. Also, the Magistrate has ordered the police to send the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP). Anytime he is required to stand his trial, he will appear in court. Seun Kuti is presumed innocent until the contrary is proven. As far as were concerned, once the State files a charge and a date is fixed for arraignment, he will be in court. READ ALSO: Police Assault: Seun Kuti Released From Prison After One Week Theres nothing illegal about a person travelling out of the country while theyre on bail. The issue of depositing his passport was not one of the conditions for his bail. As far as were concerned, once the state files a charge, a date is fixed for arraignment. Similarly, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, noted that Seun Kuti is currently not being prosecuted, adding that it was left to the DPP to make a decision on the matter once it receives the case file. He said, He will surely be in court on July 3, 2023, and on each day hes required to appear. It should, however, be noted that Mr Seun Kuti is not being prosecuted in court whether by the NPF or any other prosecuting authority. The DPP, after receiving and studying the police investigation file will decide the offences Mr Kuti is to be charged with. It is after being charged with specific offences that Mr Kuti will be arraigned to take his plea. If he pleads not guilty, trial dates will be set, and the trial will take place. If he pleads guilty, he will be sentenced to appropriate punishment. The police had earlier prevailed on the court to grant it the right to prosecute Kuti, stating that Section 23 of the Police Act gives the police the right to not only arrest but also prosecute suspects. On Wednesday, the police prosecuting team led by Morufu Animashaun applied to vacate the remand application presented in court on May 16 and arraign the defendant properly in order to focus on his prosecution. But, the Yaba Magistrates Court of Adeola Olatunbosun on Wednesday ruled that the police cannot be the complainant and also the prosecutor at the same time. Olatubosun said, I need the advice of the DPP to know whether he should be prosecuted or not. She however adjourned the case till July 3, 2023, for the DPPs advice. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, when contacted said he was not authorised to speak on the matter. I am not authorised to speak on Seun Kutis matter, please. Kindly contact the Head of Chambers, Nigeria Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, SAN, Hundeyin said. Boeing plant executive Shane Openshaw with a V-22 Osprey in 2022. Stripped and painted, it awaited flight testing on a hangar facing the Delaware River at the company's factory in Ridley Park, Delaware County. Read more Boeing Corp.s top helicopter officials say the company needs more orders, or it will have to plan for the closing of the two main assembly lines at its Ridley Park complex along the Delaware River, the largest heavy-manufacturing employer in the Philadelphia area. The Delaware County plants production of updated Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters has fallen to around 20 a year, from 60 in 2021 and 2022, said Heather McBryan, the Boeing vice president who heads that program. That is about the minimum sustainable rate that keeps the plants many suppliers busy enough to stay open, McBryan said. Boeing began making helicopters in Delaware County in 1960. Employment peaked at around 13,000 workers building the first generation of Chinooks, which were used to transport troops and equipment in the Vietnam War. The plant now employs around 4,100, down from 4,700 a couple of years ago. Advertisement McBryan and other Boeing helicopter leaders took questions Tuesday at the Ridley Park plant from U.S. and European defense-industry reporters, who toured the works in advance of next months Paris Air Show, where Boeing and rival aircraft makers will parade their products. I wouldnt say the industrial base is comfortable at that minimal level of production, McBryan said. Companies across the region, such as Ehmke Manufacturing Co. in Juniata Park, maker of fiberglass foam thermal acoustic blankets for Chinook interiors, and Summit Aviation in Middletown, Del., where Boeing has tested products, have benefited when the Ridley Park plant is busy. Its trending down for now, McBryan said. The future of the Chinook While smaller orders from U.S. Special Forces and from Germany and other U.S. allies help keep the Chinook assembly line going, much depends on a U.S. Army decision whether to fully modernize its 470 Chinooks, boosting lifting capacity and electronics. That decision is expected by the end of this year, McBryan added. Boeing is producing about 80 Apache attack helicopters a year, four times the number of Chinooks at the current rate, at its newly expanded helicopter works in Mesa, Ariz., which employs 4,600. The Arizona plant is also restarting production of AH-6 Little Bird scout helicopters and houses other key Boeing operations. Boeing officials stressed that if Chinook production stopped for a long period, it would be difficult to reassemble Chinook workers and suppliers. Long-term plans to rebuild Chinooks for future service with more power and better electronics were approved by the Pentagon and funded by Congress in the mid-2000s, back when large U.S. forces still occupied much of Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of the improvements were designed to cope with desert conditions. In 2018, military planners effectively suspended large, long-term orders for helicopters, armored-personnel carriers, trucks, and other vehicles familiar from U.S. wars in Asia since World War II. At that time, military officials said they needed to focus instead on long-range artillery, satellites, unmanned aircraft, and software to match China and Russia. Worried about potential job cuts, the regions congressional delegation, including local Democrats plus Republicans from suppliers districts, have been lobbying to reinstate the Armys larger Chinook program. The Ridley Park plant has a second line, which produces the V-22 Osprey, whose long-propellered twin engines tilt up so it can take off and land like a helicopter, and also tilt forward so it can fly like a plane. Its used to transport Marines from ships to combat much faster than helicopters, or to hover and land in disaster zones after rapid deployment. Currently 36 Ospreys are scheduled for construction, which will keep Ridley Parks Osprey line busy for around two more years, said Shane Openshaw, a former Army helicopter pilot who heads the Osprey program for Boeing. Discussions to slow or stop the line are starting, he added in response to questioning. The plans are subject to new order flow. The company has also tried to expand its helicopter product line. A Boeing-backed partnership failed last year to win Pentagon support to build Defiant X, the companys proposed replacement for todays Black Hawk helicopters. The Army instead picked a design from Textron Inc. While Chinooks are in use by more than 20 U.S. allies, only Japan has followed the U.S. in buying Ospreys. Proposals to produce a civilian version have not resulted in an FAA-approved commercial tilt-rotor. At times Tuesday, Boeing officials seemed to want to prepare the public for life after Chinook and Osprey. To be sure, folks come here and say its the most beautiful factory in Boeing, that you can eat off the floor, said Kathleen KJ Jolivette, the new general manager for the Ridley Park and Mesa plants. Beyond the assembly lines at the site, engineers and the companys Philadelphia Design Center do work for all Boeing helicopters, as well as for other Boeing businesses, including the commercial airliners built at factories in Washington and in the Midwest. Will unmanned craft replace todays military helicopters? Helicopters remain an important tool in nations war arsenals, but the rapid growth in the use of unmanned aircraft in Syria, Libya, Armenia, and Ukraine in recent wars has forced military planners to consider big changes in the design and use of expensive manned aircraft. Technology is really changing at a rapid pace, said Rich Sikora, senior director for strategy for Boeings Vertical Lift helicopter division. These helicopters are going into harms way. Does it always make sense to have manned helicopters? Boeing is looking into new products including unmanned rotorcraft and drones deployed from helicopters, he said. Boeing is the largest but not the only helicopter factory in the region. Leonardos AgustaWestland plant at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which employs around 1,000, has partnered with Boeing to develop a new military helicopter, MH-139, based on a Leonardo multi-mission design sold to oil prospectors, emergency services, and other buyers. The first should be ready next year, according to Azeem Khan, who heads the MH-139 program for Boeing. The former Sikorsky helicopter plant in Coatesville, which made civilian aircraft as well as the Marine One choppers that transport the president, was shut last year following Sikorskys takeover by Lockheed Martin. It has since been acquired by a group led by members of the Piasecki family, who continue to design new aircraft. The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia remains financially strong, but is seeing lower operating profit margins. Read more The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia recorded its smallest operating profit margin in at least 10 years during the nine months that ended March 31, according to an Inquirer analysis of the not-for-profit health systems financial results. Thats true even excluding federal COVID-19 aid during the pandemic. CHOP said Thursday in a notice to municipal bond investors that its total revenue thus far in fiscal 2023 climbed to $3.05 billion, up 11% from a year ago, but its operating income fell 28% to $101 million. Looked at another way: Revenue climbed $313 million, while expenses were up $353 million. A spokesperson for CHOP did not provide a comment on the health systems financial results. Advertisement Despite the narrowing of its operating profit margins, CHOP remains extraordinarily strong financially. The organization has huge cash reserves enough to keep paying its expenses for 398 days without bringing in another dollar. It has little debt relative to its unrestricted assets. Like the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Main Line Health, CHOP is seeing a recovery in patient demand for services, while also struggling to adjust to higher costs for labor, drugs, and other expenses. Outpatient visits to CHOP doctors climbed to 1.2 million from a pandemic-era low of 906,922 in the same period of 2021. Inpatient admissions recovered to 25,506 in the nine-month period, from 18,132 two years ago. CHOP staffed an average of 46 more inpatient beds so far this fiscal year, after the opening of a new hospital with 52 beds in King of Prussia in January 2022. CHOPs occupancy rate remained very strong at nearly 92%. CHOP has a total of 703 licensed beds, most of them at its main hospital in University City. Storage fills the hallways in the administrative area at the City Department of Public Health, Health Center 10 in Philadelphia. Health Center 10 is the only city-run primary care clinic in the Northeast and one of the only options for uninsured people. Read more At Health Center 10, the only city-run primary care clinic in Northeast Philadelphia, people wait up to a year to get an appointment. Its easy to see why, stepping inside the unassuming office building on Cottman Avenue: Demand at this low-cost clinic is so high that every square foot has been optimized for space. Narrow hallways are lined with lockers and cubicles double as clinic rooms. Exam rooms are not much bigger than closets. The massive reception desk has nearly a dozen staffers answering constantly ringing phones. Uninsured and underinsured people have few options to get primary care in the Northeast, where demand far outstrips the citys capacity to deliver such care. Wait times for appointments at Health Center 10 are the longest in the city. The health department recently announced plans to open two new clinics in the neighborhood, but the first will not open until at least 2025. This health center is filled to the limit, said Yelena Galkin, the citys medical director of ambulatory health services. Theres no corner where we can put additional staff to serve people. We do everything we can. Advertisement Seeing a doctor regularly is crucial to preventing and treating health conditions that can spiral into serious chronic illnesses. But for people without insurance, or the underinsured who still have a hard time affording health care bills, primary care is often unaffordable or inaccessible. Health Center 10 and other city-run clinics, which accept patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, aim to fill those gaps. It takes forever to get seen, said Eliane Da Silva, 57, a North Philadelphia resident who doesnt have health insurance, speaking in Portuguese through a health department translator. Once after an appointment, she said, her doctor asked her to return two weeks later for follow-up care. But the earliest appointment Da Silva could get was months later. Increasing inequity Poverty rates have risen over the last 30 years in Northeast Philadelphia, home to about 425,000 people. In the Oxford Circle and Castor area, where Health Center 10 is located, the number of residents living in poverty jumped a staggering 352% between 1990 and 2017. The Northeast has some of the highest rates of uninsured patients in the city, said Cheryl Bettigole, the citys health commissioner. Its also home to the highest concentration of people who immigrate to Philadelphia, said Bettigole, who ran Health Center 10 before she became the citys top public health officer. By law, immigrants cannot quality for government-funded Medicaid health coverage for five years after they obtain a green card. Until then, many are unable to afford private insurance and rely on Health Center 10 for care. Its an incredibly diverse, vibrant area of the city, but it doesnt have health care access, Bettigole said. Patients at city-run health centers pay on a sliding scale if they dont have insurance, which Bettigole said typically runs about $5 to $20 a visit. About 40% of Health Center 10s patients are uninsured. Besides primary care, the clinics offer dental care, pediatric primary care, womens health care, vaccinations, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and other conditions. There is also a pharmacy on-site. The idea is to provide patients with a one-stop shop for primary care needs. Typically, new patients are offered an appointment within nine months, Galkin said; returning patients usually get an appointment within six. The staff leaves some slots open for urgently needed care, but the high demand and staff shortages make it difficult to offer prompt service. Across the city-run clinic system, about 30% of staff positions are unfilled, said Chanel Conley-Bacon, Health Center 10s director of operations. It takes forever to get seen Patients receiving care at Health Center 10 said they appreciate many of the services it provides. But because its in such high demand, theyre also forced to wait much longer for care than someone with private insurance might. And many patients here simply dont have another option. On a recent weekday afternoon, Tajkera Perdous sat in the waiting area at Health Center 10, helping her mother to an appointment. Formerly a patient there herself, she explained that she had liked the care that she personally received at the clinic, but opted to find a doctor elsewhere when she could. They dont do anything on time thats the main issue, said Perdous, 23, whose family is originally from Bangladesh but has lived in Parkwood for 10 years. Recently, her brother-in-law, who is uninsured, moved to the city and tried to make an appointment. He was given a date a year away. Across the room, a line of patients waited to see the in-house pharmacist. Downstairs, the pediatric waiting area was packed with parents and children. The clinic sees about 300 to 400 patients a day, and its regular patients speak 40 languages between them. Some translators work at the center, but other patients must call in to a telephone translating service during appointments. Speaking in Portuguese through a translator, Da Silva spoke glowingly of her primary care physician at Health Center 10, but said she doesnt always receive adequate or respectful care from other staff at the clinic. Because she is uninsured, she said cannot go elsewhere. She recalled leaving in tears after a difficult appointment during which she felt belittled and mistreated by a doctor. But she wasnt sure who to tell about the experience, and didnt believe that she had any options to be treated elsewhere. (Asked about the episode, clinic directors said they are investigating and declined further comment. In a statement, health department spokesperson Jim Kyle said the department takes these types of complaints very seriously, and strives to maintain a welcoming, safe environment for all patients.) In the pediatric unit, a young mother who also speaks Portuguese arrived with her son for his first appointment at the clinic. She had requested the appointment in October seven months ago. The woman had resigned herself to the long wait, she told health department translator Yorhanna Costa. Its a different country, the patient said. I figure it might just be like this here. Bettigole said that its crucial the city offer more primary care to its most vulnerable residents. A 12-year veteran of the citys health centers, she recalls treating middle-aged patients whose life expectancies were dramatically shortened because they hadnt been able to address health concerns early. If I had seen them at 30, we could have had them on medications that cost pennies per month, she said. This is devastating to communities and its completely preventable. Steven Houser, a prominent Temple University heart-disease scientist involved in a bitter research feud with longtime colleague Arthur Feldman, has settled a federal lawsuit against Feldman and the school, and is retiring in June. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Houser had accused Feldman, a cardiologist, of stealing samples from his research on pigs, using them to secure funding for his startup company. Feldman denied it, saying Houser had authorized a graduate student to retrieve the material from a subzero freezer in a secure Temple laboratory. The samples came from the hearts of pigs in which researchers had induced heart attacks, using them as a model to study human disease. Still unclear is the status of a university investigation into possible misconduct on more than a dozen studies on heart disease, at least nine of which were co-authored by Houser. The tangled tale has been the talk of cardiovascular research circles, both for its level of acrimony and the prominence of those involved. Feldman is a former dean of Temples Lewis Katz School of Medicine, and Houser is a past president of the American Heart Association. Christopher Ezold, an attorney representing Houser, declined to comment on the case other than to confirm the settlement, which was reached in January. The parties have reached an amicable resolution of the civil action, he said. Advertisement The school is holding a June 14 retirement reception to honor Houser, who joined the faculty in 1979. Internal investigation Temples internal investigation involves allegations that research images had been fabricated or duplicated to suggest that a potential heart-disease treatment was effective when it was not. The allegations were first raised on pubpeer.com, a website that allows scientists to make anonymous critiques of research. In his lawsuit, Houser denied any misconduct, stating that for five of the studies, his involvement was limited to editing text written by a colleague for whom English was a second language. In other cases, he said, problems with images were the result of mistakes, which since had been corrected. Houser contended the real reason for the investigation was Feldman. His lawsuit claims that his colleague urged Temple to investigate in retaliation for his complaints over the pig samples. Houser accused school officials of trying to intimidate him into dropping his complaints. When asked for comment on the lawsuit and its investigation, the university provided this statement: Temple University reviews allegations of research misconduct in accordance with university policy and applicable regulations. Allegations of research misconduct are handled centrally through Temples Office of the Vice President for Research, and the university does not comment on internal investigations or personnel issues. Ordinarily, Temple also does not comment on litigation, however we can confirm this matter has been resolved. In legal filings, Feldman has denied any wrongdoing. He disputed Housers allegation that he stole the pig samples, contending instead that Houser had agreed to share them. Feldman said he also offered his colleague the chance to purchase shares in his startup company, Renovacor, and that Houser declined the offer. Renovacor was acquired by Rocket Pharmaceuticals in December. The protein that Feldman studied in Housers pig samples, called BAG3, is among several potential targets for which the company is exploring the use of gene therapy. In his more than four decades at Temple, Houser studied how calcium regulates the beating of individual heart cells, and he also studied the potential for using stem cells to regenerate damaged heart tissue. In a 2014 interview with the journal Circulation Research, Houser was asked for the best advice anyone had given him. He replied: When you get knocked down, get back up. Science is a business with lots of negative feedback. Our papers get rejected, our grants get rejected, people say bad things about our ideas. So I tell people they have to be willing to get back up when they get knocked down, and to not let their life be defined by the way they got knocked down let it be defined by the way they get back up. The 12-year-old Bucks County girl, barefoot and wearing a hoodie pulled around her head, looked up at the officers responding to reports shed been stealing from a nearby abandoned trailer. The girl had only taken the blanket she held in her hands, she told police, to keep her familys rats warm. The strange encounter in rural West Rockhill Township led investigators to a shocking discovery, one that ended with felony charges filed against a couple accused of hiding their seven young children amid deplorable conditions inside a crumbling home unwashed, uneducated, and severely malnourished. The pair, 47-year-old Shane Robertson and 37-year-old Crystal Robertson, were charged with seven counts of endangering the welfare of children, according to court documents. Advertisement An investigation, which began in late April after police encountered the girl, would confirm that the Robertson family indeed kept two dozen caged rats in a room in their Roseann Lane home. But the rodents would be one of the less shocking revelations, a criminal complaint shows. Police found seven children age 16 or younger living inside, four of them hidden in a back room. Almost all were critically malnourished evidenced by the lock that the Robertsons kept on the family fridge. Inside, officers found very little food. Meanwhile, the children the youngest of them 4 years old were riddled with health issues ranging from COVID-19, low kidney function, and dental abscesses to maggots, sunburned scalp, and ringworm. Police said they had no formal education and lacked basic knowledge, struggling with reading, writing, and spelling. Some of the children did not know their own birthdays. Others suffered speech impediments and discovered, only once in the care of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, that they needed glasses. Meanwhile, police recounted in detail the conditions festering under the Robertsons roof as more fit for a zoo than for children. Garbage strewn on the floor, feces on walls and sheets, corroded pipes, and caked dust. Floorboards so warped officers could see the dirt beneath the home Crystal Robertson fell through several months before, she told them. Walls were crumbling around the family, officers described, while holes and animal cages dotted the Robertsons bedroom. Police discovered dogs, turtles, rabbits, toads, and snakes kept throughout the house. A 4-foot reptile which police called a Tegu might have been a reference to the oversize tegus lizard primarily found in South America. The children were taken into the custody of Bucks County youth services and placed in foster care. Both Robertsons were held in the Bucks County Jail and released on bail. Their preliminary hearings are forthcoming. An East Stroudsburg University student teaches at Pleasant Valley Elementary April 12, 2022, as part of a program to address the teacher shortage. To combat the waning pipeline of new teachers, Pennsylvania lawmakers are now proposing to pay student teachers a $10,000 stipend addressing one barrier to entry into the profession. Read more To combat the waning pipeline of new teachers, Pennsylvania lawmakers are proposing to pay student teachers a $10,000 stipend addressing one barrier to entry into the profession. The plan, which would add another $5,000 for student teachers in certain priority areas, is intended to help attract educators amid a teacher shortage that has been pitting school districts and states against one another. With Maryland offering a similar stipend program and New Jersey considering one, Pennsylvania must follow suit so we dont lose talent to those other states, State Sen. Vincent Hughes said at a news conference at the Drexel University School of Education Thursday. Hughes, a Democrat representing parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties, and State Sen. Ryan Aument (R., Lancaster) introduced legislation to create the stipends, which Hughes said he would be pushing for over the coming weeks of state budget negotiations. Advertisement He was joined Thursday by education officials and advocates, as well as aspiring teachers who noted the financial burden they and others face while student teaching a minimum 12-week requirement in Pennsylvania. While student teaching last year at John Moffet Elementary in Kensington, Sydney Smith, a recent early childhood education graduate from Temple University, said she was performing many of the responsibilities of a full-time teacher planning daily lessons, managing a classroom, and building community while also shouldering bills for tuition, commuting, and other life expenses. Many of my fellow student teachers had to work evening shifts after student teaching in order to be able to financially support themselves, Smith said, calling the proposed stipends so important and necessary. Aaron Chapin, president-elect of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said aspiring teachers have described facing significant challenges: Not only are they burdened with college debt, but in many instances, theyre forbidden from having second jobs while student teaching, Chapin said. These obstacles are preventing them from becoming future educators, Chapin said. The stipend proposal comes as Pennsylvania and states nationally are focused on growing the ranks of teachers. Across the country, the number of people completing teacher education programs fell 25% between 2011-12 and 2019-20, according to federal data. The drop has been significantly steeper in Pennsylvania. Area school districts have been struggling to recruit qualified candidates; last year, the number of new educators without credentials outpaced teachers who earned certification. The state is also facing a shortage of teachers of color. We have to invest in the people were asking to dedicate their lives to our students, said Donna-Marie Cole-Malott, codirector of the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium, noting that Philadelphia has been losing Black teachers. Education groups have been pitching solutions, including increasing financial incentives; the head of Pennsylvanias teachers union has called for a minimum $60,000 salary. As part of his budget plan, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a tax credit of $2,500 a year for three years for newly certified teachers. Hughes said the stipend program would complement Shapiros proposal. Both can be done, Hughes said, adding that the stipends were not that expensive. His staff estimated an annual cost of $50 million to $75 million. On top of the $10,000 stipend, in areas that attract few student teachers or with a high rate of open teaching positions, student teachers would receive another $5,000, under the legislation. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency would determine qualifying areas. Elsewhere in the country, Colorado, Michigan, and Oklahoma have enacted similar stipend programs, according to Hughes and Aument. The remains of five more Native American children who died at the Carlisle Indian School will be disinterred. Read more CARLISLE 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. Advertisement READ MORE: Little Chief, other native children to finally go home 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. Army's 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. 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. Police on the scene at Bringhurst and Germantown Avenue, where a teenager was shot on a 23 SEPTA bus at about 11pm. Wednesday. A bullet hole on the inside divider that missed the bus driver by inches. Read more A teenager riding a SEPTA bus in Germantown was fatally shot Wednesday night after he and an armed passenger got into a fight, police said. About 10:45 p.m., a young man wearing a ski mask boarded the 23 bus, heading northwest on Germantown Avenue, near Dennie Street, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said. Almost immediately, he started arguing with another passenger seated a few rows back, Busch said. Video from the bus showed nearby passengers getting up to move seats as the two yelled at each other from their seats, Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said. Eventually, the confrontation escalated into a physical fight, and the masked passenger pulled out a gun and shot the other young man in the chest, Vanore said. At least two shots were fired, Vanore said, and one bullet burst through the bus drivers plexiglass partition, into her compartment area. As the bus driver, stopped on the 5200 block of Germantown Avenue, called for help, the shooter fled, Busch said. Officers rushed the victim whom police have described as a juvenile in his late teens to Einstein Medical Center, where he died a short time later. Vanore said the teen had no identification on him at the time, and remains unidentified. Advertisement There were about eight other passengers on the bus at the time, Busch said. It remains unclear what the two were fighting about, and whether they knew each other before meeting on the bus, Vanore said. The teen is the third person to be shot riding a SEPTA bus in just the last week, and law enforcement officials say the shooting is just the latest example of mundane arguments escalating to gunfire because of widespread access to guns. This pattern is repeating itself far too often, said Transit Police Chief Charles Lawson. Far too often in the city, far too often in SEPTA. Seemingly everyone has access to a gun, and the propensity to use it over meaningless arguments is shocking, he said. Last Wednesday, two 18-year-olds were injured in a shooting in North Philadelphia, after gunfire erupted on the 33 bus, near 21st and Diamond Streets. And just days before that, 14-year-old Wort Whipple was fatally shot on the Market-Frankford subway line. In that case, Vanore said, Whipple and another individual got into an altercation on the train, and when it reached the 52nd Street station and the doors opened, the fight spilled onto the platform. The person then shot Whipple twice in the arm and chest and fled the scene. Police recovered the shooters clothes burned on the ground a few blocks away, Vanore said. The killing remains unsolved. While SEPTAs transit police have worked to increase their presence on the subways, policing the bus system, which runs more than 100 routes and has about 1,000 vehicles, remains a bit of a strategic challenge. Still, Busch said, we will look at whether we can do more of those regular bus check-ins. Busch said all stations and vehicles are outfitted with hundreds of cameras, including 10 to 14 on each bus alone. Video footage has been critical to their investigations, he said, and should serve as a warning to anyone considering committing crimes on the transit system. But policing alone cant prevent these kinds of crimes, Lawson said. Society as a whole has to take a stand on these incidents, he said. Police deployment and strategy alone is not the answer. The city has to get fed up. The compromise agreement on Omni's affordable-housing apartment project would put a large surface parking lot in front of the buildings. Read more After two years of fraught community meetings and lawsuits, the long saga of Omni New Yorks effort to build affordable apartments at 50th and Warrington Streets may finally be reaching its conclusion. At Thursdays City Council meeting, West Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced legislation that would tweak the zoning on the industrially zoned lot at 5000 Warrington to allow a 104-unit apartment building to move forward. We are in the midst of the worst affordable housing crisis this city has ever seen which is why we need to enable the creation of new affordable housing developments in our communities, Gauthier said. I am proud to create a path for such an important project. Gauthier notes that a deed restriction legally requires the site to offer 100% affordable housing. The legislation includes provisions that time-limit the zoning change to align with the financing schedules of the state government funding programs Omni hopes to tap into. If a permit is not pulled before the legislation expires, the previous zoning will return to the land. Advertisement In 2020, Omni, a prominent national affordable housing developer, began exploring development at this hulking derelict warehouse site in one of West Philadelphias most quickly appreciating neighborhoods. Its original design would have offered 174 units and 55 parking spaces in three buildings with retail offerings fronting the sidewalk. Some neighbors objected to the size the six-story apartments are a couple stories taller than nearby rowhouses and the lack of one-for-one parking, despite the neighborhoods status as one of Philadelphias most walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods. In response, Omni reduced the size of the buildings to 104 units and pushed them back against a nearby rail line so they would be farther from neighboring homes. Instead of retail by the sidewalk, the revised plan included a sprawling surface parking lot with one space for every housing unit even though critics of the changes noted that lower-income renters in the surrounding area were unlikely to own cars. In 2021, The Inquirers architecture critic, Inga Saffron, called the new design a bad deal for everyone concerned. Neighborhood groups were mostly happy with the compromise, however. Initially I was totally opposed to the project because I felt it didnt give anything to the community, said Gregory Benjamin, head of the 51st Democratic Ward, the lead neighborhood organization for the site. But with this affordability being something that would be a win for renters in the community, Im just taking a look and see attitude. Even this radically remade vision for the building did not appease some opponents of the project. One near neighbor, Melissa V. Johanningmeier, sued the Zoning Board of Adjustment when it issued approvals for the project. At the beginning of this year, Common Pleas Court Judge Anne Marie Coyle ruled in Johanningmeiers favor, throwing out the zoning boards decision that enabled Omni to move ahead. In her ruling, she noted that the new buildings would unequivocally tower over the surrounding family homes. (Coyle has repeatedly decided against the ZBAs rulings in recent months.) Gauthiers legislation introduced Thursday would essentially obviate Coyles ruling, removing the need for a zoning variance and allowing Omni to finally move forward. Im really happy our Council member is stepping in to ensure that affordable units remain in this section of Philadelphia, said Will Tung, a nearby block captain and a volunteer with the urbanist group 5th Square. The project isnt ideal. It has way too much parking, but thats not the fight were picking. Im really glad Jamie is taking a stand here. Omni did not respond to a request for comment, but its zoning lawyer, Peter Kelsen of Blank Rome, confirmed that the design was unchanged from what had been approved by the zoning board. Any further changes would be very minor if at all nothing material. Tung said that Omni had made some tweaks last year, including adding pedestrian-access points on 50th Street (which is on the way to one of the nearby trolley lines) and some outdoor communal space. They didnt just increase the parking. They also added a little playground on the south side and pedestrian access, so people in those units dont have to walk across an entire sea of parking to get to the trolley, said Tung. A rendering of the proposed 60-unit apartment building, nestled next to the Manayunk Bridge Trail. Read more A proposed 60-unit apartment building from YESS Properties is stirring controversy in Manayunk, as neighborhood groups fear a parking shortage in their riverside neighborhood. The property at 120-26 Green Lane would back up onto the Manayunk Bridge Trail, with the lobby on Green Lane and the garage entrance on Baker Street. The plan calls for 26 parking spaces beneath the structure. We know from history that you need close to one-to-one parking, said Kevin Smith, president of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council. One of the attractions of Manayunk is its access to the expressway. It doesnt have good access to services, like grocery stores. Everybody has a car. The developers did not provide a response to The Inquirers emailed questions. The project does not need any zoning permissions, although it is subject to the advisory-only Civic Design Review board. Advertisement YESS Properties zoning lawyer Jared Klein of Blank Rome noted that the proposal was scheduled to go to Civic Design Review on June 6, but they are pushing back their date to further engage with the community residents over their concerns. The neighborhood group is also critical of what is describes as YESS Properties attempting to squeeze in a few more units by excavating the site and building deep in the hillside to, it argues, get around a height limit. It also worries about trash and delivery vehicles backing into the site and backing up traffic on the narrow roads around it. But Smith says that those arguments are technical in nature. The parking issue goes beyond this one project. Manayunk has long attracted new residents and small businesses, experiencing a wave of reinvestment and repopulation even earlier than the neighborhoods surrounding Center City. But it is not surrounded by walkable neighborhoods like South Philadelphia is or rich in transit lines like University City or Fishtown. Smith argues that as a result, automobiles are a necessity. The need, combined with the communitys relatively high incomes, means the neighborhood has higher levels of car ownership than most of Philadelphia. With the recent development boom, many of the parking lots in the neighborhoods outlying areas such as flood-prone Venice Island have been turned into housing. Weve lost literally hundreds of off-street parking spaces in the last five years, and theyre building things that dont have enough parking, Smith said. People are panicking in the neighborhood. A lot of the overflow has been taken up by the lot on Venice Island and those spaces are being lost. Nic Martins career has involved leading navy clearance divers with special forces teams. In 2003 he helped the SAS take control of a North Korean drug boat. Martin told IB Talk this risk management experience helped prepare him for his current role as head of strategic risk consulting in the Pacific for the global brokerage Marsh. In this episode, Martin shared navy stories and discussed industry challenges, including cyber. Weve got actuaries now working in energy companies that are using their skills and analysing tail risk to think about the likelihood of the renewable grid going down and having to use backup power from gas or something else, and how much do you actually build in terms of capacity, to in effect, reinsure the renewable grid? he said. Its certainly been an unusual year, said Mike Hunneyball (pictured above), operations chief engineer, Australia, at FM Global, the multinational commercial property insurer. He was referring to the frequency of record flooding across Australia, especially in early 2022. However, in terms of whats changed in his conversations with customers during the same time, he pointed to renewable energy. Predictor, which powers the solution, is also integrated with other automated Munich Re solutions like ALLFINANZ, SPARK, and NOVA. Through the proposition, the reinsurer handles the end-to-end process of AI model development, deployment, monitoring, management, and maintenance. Munich Re will also offer reinsurance on policies underwritten by these AI models as an optional service to further support insurers and provide alignment of interest and peace of mind. With more than 100 speakers, including some of the most innovative minds in cyber insurance, cyber security, and regulation, attendees will have the opportunity to learn and gain insights from various workshops. These workshops go beyond the basics of cyber insurance, data security technology, and data breach law, with topics such as "Staying Ahead of Cyber Threats: The Power of a Threat-Informed Defense Strategy," "The Top Data Breach Response Mistakes & How to Avoid Them," and "Countdown to Catastrophe: How the Economics of Zero-Days Could Lead us to the Next COVID in Cyberspace." New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A report by the New York State Inspector General alleges egregious abuse of a workers compensation loss wage benefit provision by state corrections and institution safety officers. The report blames a 2016 labor agreement with the states correction agencys Security Services Unit (SSU) for creating incentives for employees to stay out of work and collect wages, which in turn has contributed to staffing shortages, overtime work for other employees. and morale problems. Inspector General Lucy Lang said the report was previously given to the Governors Office of Employee Relations (OER) as it details egregious workers compensation abuse by corrections facilities security staff that was arguably incentivized by existing contract terms. Lang urged the OER to use the workers compensation report as it negotiates the terms of a new labor agreement covering correction officers. The SSU is represented by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. SSU is part of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). Lang said her office has received hundreds of complaints alleging that correction officers are abusing their lost wage benefits. The report says these complaints have been echoed by staff at many of the 44 correctional facilities visited by her office over the past year, and have resulted in a daily struggle to simultaneously ensure safety while maintaining the delivery of critical services in the face of significant workers compensation-driven staffing shortages. Unlike most employees covered by the workers compensation law, SSU employees are entitled to up to six months of full pay from their employer after an occupational injury or disease, without having to choose between using their accrued leave time or receiving less than their full pay through the New York State Insurance Fund (SIF), the states workers compensation insurance carrier. According to the report, during fiscal year 2020-2021, DOCCS had to cover nearly 1.8 million hours of staff time as a result of workers compensation absences, a nine percent increase from the year prior, and a 61 percent increase over the prior decade. At the same time, the report continues, about two out of three workers compensation claims filed by correction officers were for injuries unrelated to physical contact with incarcerated individuals. 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 report states. From 2015 to 2021, the Inspector Generals team said they observed that at approximately 10% of correctional facilities, on average, one in three correction officers filed a workers compensation claim. One a single day December 26, 2022, eight facilities had 10% or greater of their entire security staff out on workers compensation leave, with three facilities topping 17%. The report also cites an absence of restrictions on employees activities during time spent on leave, which the report says appears to have created a strong motivation for fraud as well as a perverse incentive for correction officers to not return to work before those six months have been exhausted, regardless of their ability to do so. It alleges instances of employees receiving compensation benefits while simultaneously working second jobs and submissions of falsified medical reports. It also cites one case of a married couple, working as correction officers in the same facility, who were allegedly out on workers compensation leave at the same time for 241 days. A spokesman for the union that represents the states corrections officers New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said the union was still reviewing the report and had no comment at this time. The union has complained about a spike in attacks on officers since the implementation in April of a law that limits their ability to place inmates deemed violent in special confinement areas separated from the general population. Topics Workers' Compensation New York Talent Political attacks are interfering with insurers efforts to price climate risks, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero said on Friday, after a wave of insurers quit an industry climate group following pressure in the United States. These political attacks are now interfering with insurers independent efforts to price climate risk, which will harm policyholders, main street investors and local economies, a spokesperson for GFANZ, a United Nations-backed coalition of financial institutions launched by ex-Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, said in a statement. Allianz, AXA and SCOR, three of Europes biggest insurance firms, on Thursday became the latest insurers to quit the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance following accusations from some U.S. Republican Attorneys General that they are violating antitrust laws. UPDATE: ESG-Bashing Triggers More Defections From Insurer Climate Group Japans SOMPO Holdings, a major Asian insurer, was no longer on the list of members on NZIAs website on Friday. It would be the first insurer outside of Europe to quit the alliance. A SOMPO spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The exodus of some of the worlds biggest insurers has raised questions about the viability of the NZIA, which was established in 2021. Lloyds of London CEO John Neal told Reuters this week the alliance needed to make its membership rules less prescriptive, or it risked falling apart. NZIA members held several calls this week on the alliances options, sources say. Some Republican politicians have mounted a campaign against financial institutions collaborating to try and rein in carbon emissions, part of a broader push back against businesses using environmental, social and governance-related factors in their decision-making. Vanguard, one of the worlds biggest asset managers, in December left another alliance for fund managers, citing a need for independence, although other GFANZ groups have largely withstood the pressure. According to the NZIA website, it now has 23 members including Aviva, Lloyds of London and Tokio Marine Holdings. Lloyds of London CEO Neal Calls for Rethink of UN Climate Alliance Rules Legal experts say it would be hard to make a legal case against insurers for breaching antitrust laws, and the NZIA has sought legal advice when setting requirements for members. But insurers are worried about a showdown with Republicans mounting a high-profile campaign. Consumers Research, an activist group that has been highly critical of ESG policies, said on Thursday it would use a mobile billboard outside of NZIA members U.S. offices to pressure them to quit. Most of those to have left the NZIA have sizeable U.S. businesses, but so do some of those still in the group. Some of the insurers to have quit also remain part of other GFANZ alliances. Despite these political headwinds, we will continue to support insurers efforts to manage climate risk and develop transition plans, the GFANZ spokesperson said in the statement. GFANZ, co-Chaired by Carney, was launched in 2021 ahead of the U.N. climate summit, COP26, in Glasgow. (Reporting by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; editing by Simon Jessop and Conor Humphries) Related: Topics Carriers Lloyds Register has told Indias Gatik Ship Management, which has become a major carrier of Russian oil since the Ukraine war, that it will withdraw certification of 21 of its vessels by June 3, the maritime services company told Reuters. It is the latest setback for Gatik, which was also been forced to find new flags for 36 of its ships after they were deflagged by the St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry. Lloyds Register is committed to facilitating compliance with sanctions regulations on the trading of Russian oil, it said in an email to Reuters. Where supported by evidence, we withdraw class and services from any vessels found by the relevant authorities to be breaching international sanctions. Classification societies such as Lloyds Register in London provide services including seaworthiness checks, certification that is vital for securing insurance and entry to ports. Lloyds Register said, however, that 11 of the Gatik vessels it was declassifying were also certified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass). Gatik, which is based in the Indian city of Mumbai according to shipping databases, did not respond to emailed requests for comment. A major U.S. insurer, the American Club, also told Reuters it was no longer providing cover for Gatik ships, while Russian insurer Ingosstrakh said it would not work with Gatik in future. Neither the insurers, Lloyds Register nor the flag registry spelled out exactly why they have dropped business with Gatik. Disruption and Limits In response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, Western powers imposed a price cap on Russian crude of $60 a barrel. While non-EU countries can import seaborne Russian crude, Western shipowners and insurers are prohibited from handling such cargoes unless they are sold at or below that price. Last month, spot prices for Russian crude rose above $60 a barrel and some ship insurance executives said they were nervous of falling foul of the rules as they were unable to independently track the value of cargoes. India does not recognize the sanctions imposed on Russia and has quickly become the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude. Western efforts to curtail the amount of revenue Russia earns from its energy resources are having a disruptive impact, as are Western sanctions on oil exports from other countries such as Iran and Venezuela. But the opacity and limited oversight of the shipping sector means many vessels with cargoes from countries targeted by sanctions continue to sail by finding new flags and non-Western registries or insurers, raising concerns about safety and liability. Every ship requires documents including a flag registry. Ships typically have protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance which covers liability claims including environmental damage and injury. Separate hull and machinery policies cover vessels against physical damage. While Lloyds Register is dropping classification for 21 Gatik ships, at least 28 were listed as certified by the Indian Register of Shipping, according to the IRClass website. IRClass, which is recognized globally, did not respond to requests for comment. Insurance Lost Gatik emerged this year as a leading carrier of Russian oil to India using a fleet of tankers that has numbered more than 40, shipping data shows. American Club, one of the worlds top 12 P&I insurers which combined provide cover for about 90% of the worlds ocean-going tonnage, said it previously covered most Gatik ships but as of early April was no longer covering them, declining to say why. Ingosstrakh, a large Russian insurer active in ship coverage but not part of the top 12, told Reuters this month that its insurance cover for Gatiks Prometheus tanker expired in April and had not been renewed. Ingosstrakh said it had to decline certain requests for insurance it received from Gatik due to the risks identified as part of our adverse media screening procedure, citing negative media coverage without being more specific. We can also confirm that we do not plan to work with Gatik in the future, the privately owned Russian insurer said in response to queries from Reuters. Reuters was unable to ascertain whether any Gatik vessels were currently operating without essential paperwork. India imported 2.76 million tonnes of Russian oil in vessels managed by Gatik during the first four months of 2023, or 10% of its total Russian imports, according to tanker arrival data and Reuters calculations. According to Refinitiv data, about 1.36 million tonnes of Russian crude was earmarked for arrival in India in May and June on tankers linked to Gatik, although those numbers were preliminary. In April, the St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry told Reuters it was removing its flag from 36 Gatik vessels. It is the long-standing policy of the Registry that when we are alerted to breaches of our high standards by vessels flying our flag, we always investigate and take action accordingly, the registry said, declining to provide further details. According to data from maritime platform Lloyds List Intelligence, Gatik has flagged 15 ships to Gabon, up from 9 at the start of April before St. Kitts & Nevis started removing its flag from the companys vessels. Gabons flag registry did not respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul in London and Nidhi Verma in New Delhi; additional reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai and Reuters reporters; editing by Tony Munroe and David Clarke) Topics Carriers Excess Surplus Energy Russia Oil Gas Lloyd's 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. Germanys Handelsblatt reported on Thursday that Elon Musks 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 Teslas 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 labeled Tesla Files. The data protection office in Brandenburg, which is home to Teslas European gigafactory, described the data leak as massive. I cant 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 carmakers 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) Topics Cyber Tesla This edition of International People Moves details appointments at three re/insurers SiriusPoint, IQUW and Chaucer. A summary of these new hires follows here. SiriusPoint Names Lopez as CTO, Succeeding Siry SiriusPoint Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, announced that it has appointed Nestor Lopez to the Executive Leadership Team as chief technology officer. Lopez was most recently Chief Information Officer, and replaces Darryl Siry. Siry will be leaving SiriusPoint at the end of June, after a handover period, to pursue other career opportunities. Lopez joined SiriusPoint in 2022 as CIO reporting to Siry. Lopez takes on leadership of the IT team, reporting to Scott Egan, chief executive officer at SiriusPoint. He is responsible for building out SiriusPoints data capabilities, as well as developing and maintaining an efficient and scalable operating platform for the company. Lopez has over two decades of business transformation experience leveraging technology in the Insurance and Financial Services sectors. Prior to SiriusPoint, he served as CIO at Coaction Specialty Insurance (formerly known as ProSight Specialty Insurance). Previously, Lopez held various leadership roles in information technology and operations, at CNA Insurance, Firemans Fund Insurance Company / Allianz Group and General Electric. The quality and accessibility of our data is central to SiriusPoints strategy and best-in-class aspirations. I look forward to continuing to work with Nestor as we further develop our data and tech capabilities. It is a pleasure to announce his promotion and to recognize the talent we have at SiriusPoint, commented Egan. Darryl leaves with our best wishes for the future: the IT function and team have thrived under his leadership, and he has been a valuable and active member of the Executive Leadership Team. *** IQUW Appoints MacDonald and Hennessey to Lead Property Property speciality insurer and reinsurer IQUW announced the promotion of Robbie MacDonald to head of Property Direct and Facultative (D&F), and Tom Hennessey to head of Property, Delegated Authority (DA). Both based in London, they will be jointly responsible for the global property book, and will report to Steven Tebbutt, active underwriter at IQUW. MacDonald, who has been promoted from his role of lead underwriter, Property D&F, started his career at Marsh in 2007 in London. He then moved to Tokio Marine Global, followed by a move to Tokio Marine Kiln, and then to Tokio Marine HCC. He joined the IQUW D&F underwriting team in 2021. Hennessey started his career at Price Forbes & Partners as an insurance broker in the Property team. After nine years, he moved to be a Property Underwriter at Hiscox, before moving to Arcus Syndicate in 2020. When Arcus was acquired by IQUW in 2021, he became IQUWs Lead Underwriter, Property DA. MacDonald and Hennessey will be supported by the wider IQUW Property team, including Lead Underwriter John Brown, who has over 20 years experience in the property insurance industry, and Stuart Bell, head of Property Claims. Both joined IQUW in 2022 from Beazley and have a wealth of knowledge in the property market. I am delighted to be able to promote Robbie and Tom into their new roles to support our brokers and continue to grow our property portfolio, said Tebbutt. Their appointments will help us retain our lead capability particularly as we enter an important renewal season and develop our proposition as we continue our invest in technology, data, and analytics to help inform underwriting decision making and empower our team through real-time access to valuation, mapping, and risk scoring metrics. *** Chaucer Promotes Tighe to Group Head of ESG Chaucer, the international specialty re/insurance group, has promoted Simon Tighe to become its group head of ESG, in addition to his role as group head of Investments & Treasury within the firm. Tighe has been instrumental in driving Chaucers ESG sustainability strategy, which is committed to embedding ESG into the decision-making process. Tighe has played a crucial role in the development of Chaucers major ESG initiative which it developed in partnership with Moodys. The ESG Balanced Scorecard enables businesses to measure their ESG performance, across up to 158 distinct metrics, enabling them to evaluate business risks and opportunities. I am delighted to announce Simons new role as group head of ESG. He has been a driving force in the evolution of our ESG strategy, in particular the design and development of our ESG Balanced Scorecard with Moodys allowing an objective measurement of ESG, commented John Fowle, CEO of Chaucer. At Chaucer we are committed to adding meaningful value to all our counterparties as we strive to support transition and deliver on our sustainability goals including becoming net zero by 2050 and carbon neutral by 2030. Chaucer recently announced it has signed up to the United Nations Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI). The principles will serve to address ESG risks and opportunities for the insurance and reinsurance industries. Underwriting the Transition: Chaucer, Moodys Break New Ground With ESG Scorecard The ESG Balanced Scorecard which Chaucer developed jointly with Moodys, the leading global provider of financial intelligence, uses up to 158 metrics to evaluate the ESG performance of a business, based on its disclosures. The design marries Chaucers expertise in underwriting risk, with Moodys data and ESG-modelling expertise, to help businesses identify and manage ESG risks and opportunities, helping them to become more sustainable. The scorecard not only enabling (re)insurers to manage their own ESG profiles but also helps re/insurers better understand potential risks and areas for improvement related to the ESG of their customers. Topics Property New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! 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 OpenAIs 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. Were going have to address the issues around deep fakes. Were 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 countrys 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 peoples 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. Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artifical Intelligence New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A federal judge said Wednesday that he wont block JPMorgans legal efforts to blame a former executive of hiding Jeffrey Epsteins decades-long sex abuse to keep the financier as a client. Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan denied requests by lawyers for the executive, Jes Staley, to toss out claims the bank made against Staley after it was sued last year by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein maintained a residence, and a woman who identified herself as one of Epsteins victims. The judge said hell explain his reasoning later in a written decision. Staleys lawyers had asked in court papers for dismissal of JPMorgans claims, saying the bank was using Staley as a public relations shield by asserting claims with no legal basis. They said Staley had no decision-making authority over Epsteins accounts and was not alleged to have seen any of the suspicious account activity that other JPMorgan employees ignored. Epstein was 66 when he apparently killed himself in a Manhattan federal jail cell where he was awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial after his application for bail was denied. He had pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually abused dozens of girls, some as young as 14. Staley, who worked at JPMorgan from 1979 until January 2013, reported to Jamie Dimon, the banks president and chairman, after he became chief executive officer for JPMorgans Corporate and Investment Banking division in 2009, his lawyers said. Dimon is scheduled to be deposed this week in the Epstein-related litigation. Staley left JPMorgan to become CEO of London-based bank Barclays, though he resigned last year after British regulators reported his past links to Epstein. Staleys lawyers did not immediately return a request for comment on the judges ruling Wednesday. In lawsuits filed late last year against JPMorgan, the U.S. Virgin Islands and a woman who identified herself in court papers as Jane Doe claimed that the bank provided Epstein with large amounts of cash from 1998 through August 2013 even though it knew about Epsteins sex trafficking practices. Both lawsuits were filed after New York state in November enacted a temporary law letting adult victims of sexual abuse to sue others for the abuse they suffered, even if the abuse occurred long ago. JPMorgan, in opposing Staleys request to be dismissed from the litigation, has called the lawsuits misguided for targeting the bank. It noted that Jane Does lawsuit mentioned Staley 97 times and claimed that Staley knew without any doubt that Epstein was trafficking and abusing girls while the U.S. Virgin Islands lawsuit named him 41 times. If these allegations are proven to be true then Staley must be held accountable for his alleged misconduct and any harm that conduct caused to victims and the company, the banks lawyers wrote in court papers. The New York bank seeks to hold Staley personally liable for any financial penalties JPMorgan could face in the case and also seeks to recover back wages Staley earned during years when he allegedly knew about Epsteins abuse. On Tuesday, JPMorgan filed court papers accusing the government of the Virgin Islands with complicity in Epsteins crimes, saying that government officials were bought off by Epstein to look the other way while he used his estate to host teenage girls who were sexually abused. A spokesperson from the U.S. Virgin Islands attorney generals office said Tuesday in an email that JPMorgan was trying to shift blame away from the bank, which had a responsibility to report human trafficking but failed to do so. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A workplace safety consulting firm will stop using the OSHA acronym and a stylized logo similar to the federal governments trademarked Occupational Safety and Health Administration acronym and logo under an agreement approved by a federal judge. The government sued to ban the use of the name, acronym, and abbreviation by Global OSHA of Schaumburg, Illinois, which runs the Global Occupational Safety and Health Academy. The government has complained for years that the firms signage is confusingly similar to the official OSHA designation and that it falsely implies sponsorship by the Department of Labors OSHA. The government claims that the terms Occupational Safety and Health Administration and OSHA have been uniquely associated with the U.S. Department of Labor since the 1970s and OSHA is recognized as a national and international authority on occupational safety and health. OSHA and OSHA Training Institute Education Centers are registered trademarks covering services provided to the public in the field of health and safety. The OSHA trademarks incorporate a distinct stylized version of the term OSHA. As a result of the extensive use by OSHA of the names Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, and its distinctive logo, as well as media attention and publicity, the names and logo have acquired incalculable fame, goodwill and value and are uniquely and unmistakably associated with the Department of Labor and OSHA, the government maintains. Global OSHA had been denied trademark registration by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because the agency concluded that the logo falsely suggested a connection with the U.S. government. However in 2019, Global OSHA appealed the USPTOs decision to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), which reversed. The TTAB held that given large number of third-party registrations [descriptively] using the term OSHA, the Global OSHA logo did not uniquely and unmistakably point to OSHA. In February 2022, the government went to federal court to obtain a permanent injunction against Global OSHA. Global OSHA defended itself, arguing that for years many companies have used OSHA to indicate their own safety-related services. Trademark law does not allow plaintiff to tolerate widespread use of its purported mark, then sue a small business on the theory that consumersin a sophisticated market in which decisions are carefully madeare likely to be confused, the firm countered. In April, the parties reached a consent agreement. This week Judge Martha M. Pacold of the federal district court for Northern Illinois approved the agreement under which Global OSHA is permanently enjoined from using the OSHA trademarks, the word OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Academy. The firm has two months to comply. It is barred from using a design aesthetic that is visually similar to the OSHA marks in branding, a logo, tradename and/or trade dress, any website URLs, as a social media identifier, and in any and all business registrations with a state or municipality. Global OSHA is also enjoined from applying or re-applying for any trademark registration for any marks, names, or other identifiers that include OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Academy or are confusingly similar to the OSHA marks. Top officers of Global OSHA formerly worked for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They include James Barnes, chief executive officer; Henry Payne, president; and Charles Shields, executive director. Topics Workers' Compensation New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! According to court records, Root Incs former chief marketing officer accused of stealing about $10 million from the company has not made court appearances, spent money in violation of court orders, and has a bench warrant out for his arrest. Judge Sarah D. Morrison in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on May 10 issued a bench warrant for Brinson Caleb BC Silver after he failed to appear in court to answer a motion for contempt filed by Root Inc, parent company of Root Insurance, over Calebs alleged violation of a restraining order preventing or limiting him, his companies, or associates from spending money or selling properties or possessions Root said were bought with stolen funds. Silver, employed by Root from November 8, 2021 to November 9, 2022 when he was let go as part of company-wide layoffs, was unable to get to a May 9 appearance because he was in the United Arab Emirates, according to court documents. Root alleged in an amended lawsuit filed in February that Silver and others defrauded the insurtech of at least $9.9 million. Root said Silver misused his position as CMO to steal breathtaking sums from Root through a three-step plan that included payments to an outside advertising agency. These funds, totaling $13 million, were then transferred back to Silver via via Collateral Damage, a company owned by Silver and/or Silvers sister Paige McDaniel. That firm then sent funds to others, including Eclipse, another company allegedly owned by Silver, who used the money to purchase luxury real estate in Venice, California and Miami, Florida, Root claims. Silver was ordered to pay Roots attorney fees and costs related to its latest investigation of Silvers spending, and Silver was fined $500 for failure to comply the courts previous order limiting Silvers spending to personal expenses for day-to-day living in an amount no greater than $5,000. Silvers attorneys have also withdrawn from the case, according to records. Roots investigation revealed Silver and Eclipse had been using and transferring assets vastly in excess of the limits set by the court. Root said Eclipse sent more than $40,000 to an unknown entity, and Silver spent lavishly while traveling the globe. For example, he spent $20,000 on plastic surgery and another $8,000 at a luxury resort on Bali, Root said in court documents. Silver has also allegedly made transfers of tens of thousands of dollars to his PayPal and Venmo accounts, and closed a bank account by withdrawing more than $130,000 in cash, Root said. Judge Morrison issued an order to appoint a receiver a custodian and liquidator for all personal property, monetary, and real property assets in the possession, custody, or control of Silver or his companies. The receiver shall take immediate possession, control, management, operation and charge of the receivership defendants and receivership property and maintain all such entities and property in a receivership estate, Morrison ordered. The receiver will furthermore take control of Silvers businesses and take steps to liquidate them. Topics Legislation Fraud New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! 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 who was pinned to the ground and repeatedly tased during an arrest last December. Officials in Jackson, Mississippis capital, released body camera footage that showed three officers Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land struggling to handcuff Keith Murriel as he was stunned numerous times over a 10-minute span. Authorities said the officers had tackled Murriel while arresting him for allegedly trespassing at a hotel shortly before midnight on Dec. 31, 2022. 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 and McCarty was fired in February, then 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 Murriels 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. 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 Wednesdays 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 Murriels 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 Wednesdays 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. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Numbers Mississippi A California Department of Insurance investigation into misleading mailers on insurance claims following wildfires led to a ban of public adjuster and California Recovery Group owner Argen Youssefi of Glendale. The investigation reportedly found California Recovery Group and its owner, Youssefi, were soliciting business at consumers homes and sending mass mailers to file insurance claims related to damage caused by wildfires. The mailers prompted consumers to visit the website SmokeClaim.com or call a number to receive wildfire smoke settlement information. Investigators reportedly found CRG and its representatives misled prospective clients by telling them the program was funded by the state. They reportedly also told them that there would be no claim against their homeowners insurance and their insurance rates would not be affected. Homeowners were told since the wildfires were declared a catastrophic event, there would be no impact on their existing insurance policy. In fact, homeowners insurance typically covers smoke damage. CSI investigators found CRG submitted insurance claims without the knowledge or consent of the homeowners and listed themselves as a payee on some of the claims. CRG reportedly representatives canvassed neighborhoods for clients and were not licensed by the department. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Acrisure and Greg Williams honored for philanthropic and insurance industry leadership CHICAGO, IL (May 23, 2023) The Midwest Division of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, raised $540,000 at its twelfth annual Blazing the Trail Benefit in Chicago last week. IICF hosted more than 360 insurance professionals, business and nonprofit leaders in celebration of the Midwest insurance industrys commitment to philanthropy and honored Acrisure and its co-founder, chairman and CEO, Greg Williams. Proceeds of the event fund IICFs Midwest Community Grants Program. Greg Williams and Acrisure were recognized by IICF for trailblazing charitable efforts in the community, including Acrisures $15 million pledge in 2020 to establish the Center for Innovation in Childrens Health at the Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids. Were honored to be recognized by the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation and insurance leaders in the Midwest, said Williams, We have several philanthropic focus areas in common with IICF, including improving the lives of children and helping to create a fully inclusive industry, and we both believe in the importance of working directly with local nonprofit partners to benefit our communities. Williams has most recently spearheaded the creation of Evolution Advisors, which is an Acrisure joint venture focused on providing growth acceleration and greater access to minority-owned insurance agencies and brokers. Acrisure further creates positive impact through support of local organizations such as the Pittsburgh Promise and the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, and a recently established partnership with UPMC Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh. Jodie Kaufman Davis, executive vice president, H.W. Kaufman Group and a member of the IICF International Board of Governors, served as the 2023 Blazing the Trail Benefit event chair. Also featured at this years Blazing the Trail event was IICF Community Grant recipient Beat the Streets Chicago, a local nonprofit organization that combines year-round wrestling programs with customized enrichment opportunities such as mentoring, tutoring, workshops and positive relationships so children can become their best selves. Were proud to have brought together so many insurance leaders across the Midwest through Blazing the Trail, in support of our communities and in celebration of industry philanthropy, said Jeff Kroeger, president, Insureon, a Division of Specialty Program Group and Hub International, and chair of the IICF Midwest Division Board of Directors. The funds we raise through this annual event, which is generously supported by the insurance community here in the Midwest, enable us to award grants to local nonprofit partners who are helping meet the challenges faced by our neighbors in need. Were pleased to celebrate industry giving and the inspiring philanthropic leadership of Greg Williams and Acrisure. The Blazing the Trail Benefit proceeds support IICFs Midwest Community Grants Program, through which grants are awarded to local nonprofit and charitable organizations focused on education, safety and health. Since its founding in 2011, IICF Midwest has granted more than $4.4 million to over 200 nonprofits working to better the lives and futures of those in need. Communities throughout the Midwest are served by the IICF Midwest Division and Associate Boards based in the Chicago area as well the Ohio and Heartland (Kansas and Missouri) Chapters. The IICF Midwest is one of five divisions, four based in the US and one in the UK, of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, which has granted more than $45 million globally since its inception in 1994. This years Blazing the Trail Benefit was made possible through generous insurance industry support including Presenting Sponsors: Acrisure and Burns & Wilcox; Platinum Sponsors: Aon, CNA, CRC Group, RT Specialty and Zurich; Gold Sponsors: Amwins, Applied Systems and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and many other event sponsors. For more information regarding IICFs Midwest Division, how to contribute or become a board company, please visit IICF Midwest Division at IICF.org or contact IICF Midwest Executive Director Kelly Hartweg at (773) 991-2149 or khartweg@iicf.com. About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, IICF has served as the philanthropic voice and foundation of the insurance industry for close to thirty years, contributing $45 million in community grants along with over 320,000 volunteer hours by more than 115,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations, for maximum community impact. IICF is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at www.iicf.org or follow us on social media: @doubleicf Topics Funding Source: Bill Newman May 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The success of this one well in Colombia has the Canadian operator testing additional nearby locations that may boost production, noted a Research Capital Corp. report. Canacol Energy Ltd. (CNE:TSX; CNNEF:OTCQX) successful recent testing of the Lulo 1 well suggests this exploration play in Colombia's Cienaga de Oro sandstone reservoir "could quickly build production capacity" close to the company's Jobo gas processing facilities, reported Research Capital Corp. analyst Bill Newman in a May 24 update note. "The Lulo discovery has the potential to add significant reserves and production capacity within Canacol's main producing area in the Lower Magdalena Valley basin," Newman wrote. Compelling Return on Investment Newman also pointed out that the potential gain for investors in Canacol is significant. The difference between the Canadian natural gas company's current share price of CA$11.19 and Research Capital's target price on Canacol of CA$32.50 implies a possible 190% return. Canacol is a Buy. Possible Production Increases Newman discussed the latest events surrounding the Lulo natural gas discovery. Canacol tested Lulo 1 over seven days at various rates, up to 22,200,000 cubic feet per day (22.2 MMcf/d), the average being 17 MMcf/d. Tubing head pressure was 2,042 pounds per square inch. Today, Lulo 1 is producing at a controlled rate of 17 MMcf/d. As for the Lulo 2 appraisal well, relayed Newman, Canacol spud it on May 17 and is now drilling it. The company expects it to be producing by the end of May. If Lulo 2 is successful, combined production from it and Lulo 1 would be in the 30-40 MMcf/d range. "This is significant when compared to the estimated corporate production capacity before the Lulo discovery of about 240 MMcf/d," Newman highlighted. New Prospective Area The Lulo discovery led to Canacol exploring another prospective area, close to its main production location, in the middle to lower Cienaga de Oro, Newman wrote. In this 5 square kilometer expanse, Canacol identified five projects to pursue, one of which is Pina Norte, about 300 meters from the company's Jobo facilities. Canacol intends to spud the Pina Norte exploration well next month, June 2023, and release its first results in July. If Pina Norte is successful, plans call for next spudding the Cereza 1 exploration well, which is further out from Jobo, about 1 kilometer away. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp May 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) At AOTH, we see Getchell Gold Corp. (CSE:GTCH, OTCQB:GGLDF) as an excellent value play in a rising gold price environment. Among the factors keeping precious metal prices rocking, are recessions fears; the banking crisis; the Fed's expected adjournment of the current rate tightening cycle; robust gold demand especially from central banks; and stagnant gold supply. 5 reasons gold and silver will soar Moreover, disruption to the global supply chain in recent years has meant that costs are rising fast in the gold mining sector. In 2022, the average all-in sustaining cost (AISC) reached a record-high $1,276/oz, up 18% from 2021. Gold majors wanting to grow their reserves without incurring large capital expenditures are therefore hunting for cheap gold in the ground. Getchell Gold has 2 million ounces at its Fondaway Canyon gold project in Nevada and the outer limits of the deposit have yet to be encountered by drilling. Getchell Gold: Era of M&As may spur gold industry convergence to proven hunting grounds like Nevada Getchell has achieved consistent mineralization over three years of drilling. Out of 18 holes drilled, Getchell has yet to miss! The company has been focusing on the Central Area of a 3.5 km east-west gold trend. This is Fondaway Canyon's nexus of gold mineralization, with the structures providing not only pathways but traps for gold. Getchell has delineated quite a bit of gold in the ground, but, imo they are only just getting started. Getchell Gold, a case study of "gold in the ground" After acquiring Fondaway Canyon in 2020, Getchell identified two priority areas, shown as ellipses on the map below. As they started to drill, Getchell kept hitting gold, and continued to hit mineralization in step-out holes. In its first year of exploration, Getchell outlined three new gold zones: Colorado SW, North Fork and Juniper. The early wide-spaced drilling demonstrated the presence of high-grade shear veins enveloped in thick bands of mineralization and extended the mineralization model a remarkable 800 meters down dip from surface. Five drill holes hit substantive zones of mineralization, between 50 and 100 meters thick. The company kept drilling in 2021 and 2022, upping the scale and capitalizing on its discoveries. At the end of 2021, Getchell made a new discovery: a very high-grade zone that was running 10 grams per tonne over 25 meters near surface. Substantive mineralization in four holes was highlighted by hole FCG21-08, the most northwestern hole, intersecting the Colorado SW zone extending for over 200 meters down hole, and hole FCG21-10, intersecting the North Fork zone extending 82 meters down hole. The latter interval, hosting the highest-grade gold intercept in the 40+ year drilling history at Fondaway Canyon, and reporting 47 g/t Au over 1.5m, is a prime example of the structures that promote the high-grade concentration of gold at the project. Partway through the 2022 drill program, an open-pit model mineral resource estimate was commissioned and published (see below). Eighteen drill holes doubled the previous resource from 2017, with 550,800 ounces of gold in the indicated category and an additional 1.5 million ounces inferred, all at comparatively excellent gold grades for active Nevada operations (1.56 g/t Au indicated, 1.23 g/t inferred). Note, however, that this resource estimate is already out of date. There are nine holes that were excluded in the resource estimate because they missed the cut-off date, and Getchell plans to do a lot more drilling on its wide-open deposit in 2023. Also worth noting is that Getchell hit mineralization in all 18 holes, which is almost unheard of in mineral exploration. To date, the gold mineralization at Fondaway has been traced for a half a kilometer on surface and half a kilometer down dip. It remains open as the drilling has yet to encounter any limits, with the potential size and ultimate scale of the mineralization unknown. "We've doubled the reported mineralization in a short 2.5 years and I don't know how big this is going to get to," Getchell's President Mike Sieb told Proactive Investors, explaining that the large footprint on surface is shallowly dipping, making for a perfect open-pit model. He went on to say: "This is a marked difference from what it looked like it in 2020. We've increased not only the length of the mineralization from surface but also the thickness as well, right now we've modeled an extent about 550 to 600 meters down dip, the mineralization is still continuing on strong." Simply put, the upside potential of Fondaway Canyon is evident from the fact that Getchell just continues to find more gold. 2023 exploration Getchell Gold is working to expand its resource estimate through drilling. Preparations for a much larger drill program than previously are underway; a steady stream of results are expected throughout the second half and into next year. Getchell plans to keep on expanding the mineralization, drawing it along strike and down dip, thus enlarging the conceptual open pit. "We've been increasing the drill meterage into the ground from 2020 through 2022 and this year we're targeting two drills turning all year long to continue to expand and increase the resources at Fondaway Canyon and also perform just enough infill drilling to take all that inferred and put it into the indicated category," Sieb says. The CEO added the market can expect an updated resource estimate and the completion of Getchell's next major milestone, a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), in the first half of 2024. "We're moving up the tiers of de-risking and adding confidence to the project as we go," he said. As part of the 2023 drill program, Getchell this week announced it is applying for an additional 12 drill pads. "After three years of drilling and delineating a sizeable Mineral Resource 600 metres down dip from surface and 600 metres along strike, the gold mineralization remains fully open for further expansion. Exploration of these ample and very evident priority targets requires the Company to permit more drill pads than previously anticipated based on the past three years' drilling success," Sieb stated in the May 24 news release, adding: "The 2023 drill program and drill hole sequencing will be finalized after permit approval is received." The company reiterated the fact that 18 of 27 holes drilled into the Central Area were responsible for doubling the 2017 resource, and that the remaining nine holes, completed in the latter part of 2022, didn't make it into the resource estimate (RE). These nine holes, says Getchell, "all intersected substantive mineralization, fully supporting the mineralizing model and attest to the upside potential and strength of the Fondaway Canyon gold project." The latter bodes well for an updated RE, expected in H1 of next year. It is also important to emphasize that the current RE conceptualizes an open-pit mine model - much cheaper than mining underground - although the minor amount of contiguous mineralization currently extending beyond the open pit limits has been categorized for potential underground mining. Getchell's plan is to expand the mineralization to grow the mineral resource and, in the process, support a larger open-pit model which can then convert the current underground mineral resources to open pit mineral resources. The company expects the majority of inferred resources, currently sitting at 1.5 million ounces, could be upgraded to indicated with continued exploration. As a reminder of how good an environment Getchell Gold is operating in, the Fraser Institute recently named Nevada the world's number one jurisdiction for mining attractiveness - knocking Western Australia off its perch and reclaiming the top spot. The annual survey is closely watched by mining investors. Nevada is host to the largest gold mining complex on Earth: the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture between Newmont and Barrick. Formed in 2019, NGM consists of as many as 10 underground and 12 open-pit mines, plus autoclave, roasting and heap leach facilities. Total production last year from NGM reached more than 3 million ounces, about 3% of the world's total. Among the reasons for retaining its competitive edge are Nevada's lack of income tax, the fact that mining is governed under the federal Mining Act of 1872, which would take an act of Congress to change, and that mining taxes are set out in the state's Constitution. Not only does Nevada produce a lot of gold from existing mines, it is also an excellent place to put a new mine into production. That's because conducting exploration, constructing and building a mine in Nevada is relatively easy. Getchell Gold is among the junior exploration companies hoping to take advantage of Nevada's mining-friendly environment. Over the past three years, Getchell has increased the mineralization substantially, decreased risk, and demonstrated that there is a lot of upside left to grow the resource at its Fondaway Canyon project. Getchell Gold Corp. CSE:GTCH, OTCQB:GGLDF Cdn$0.21, 2023.05.25 Shares Outstanding 106m Market cap Cdn$22.8m GTCH website Richard (Rick) Mills aheadoftheherd.com subscribe to my free newsletter Legal Notice / Disclaimer Ahead of the Herd newsletter, aheadoftheherd.com, hereafter known as AOTH. Please read the entire Disclaimer carefully before you use this website or read the newsletter. If you do not agree to all the AOTH/Richard Mills Disclaimer, do not access/read this website/newsletter/article, or any of its pages. 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More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Source: Streetwise Reports May 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Dakota Gold Corp. says it hopes to take advantage of the placement of two overlapping high-grade gold discoveries to save resources during its exploration. Two high-grade gold discoveries at Dakota Gold Corp.'s (DC:NYSE American) Maitland Gold project in the historic Homestake District of South Dakota overlap, which could make their exploration more efficient. Dakota Gold gave an update on its work at the Unionville Zone in Tertiary mineralization and the JB Gold Zone in Precambrian-aged gold mineralization; both were announced earlier this year. Both gold deposits remain open at depth and in all directions. "Having two large gold systems overlapping in such a small area offers great synergies for exploration, development, and future extraction opportunities," Vice President James M. Berry said. "The potential extension of the Tertiary structural system over 7,300 feet to the north from the current discovery area and onto our Blind Gold Project indicates that the current deposit can be significantly expanded." The JB Gold Zone was found drilling hole MA23C-017, which intersected 12.51 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 4.7 meters in the same mineralization style as the Homestake Mine, which produced more than 40 million ounces (Moz) Au over its lifetime. Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Fairbairn wrote earlier this month that Dakota Gold could advance the JB discovery to a "substantial, high-grade deposit" if additional drilling demonstrates it as a new "ledge." "The majority of the production from the historic Homestake Mine came from long tube-like structures running along iron-formation hinges that the miners named 'Ledges,'" Fairbairn wrote. "Once high-grade mineralization was found in a hinge (or Ledge), the miners were able to follow it down plunge, often extracting material amounts of gold." The JB Gold Zone could be Dakota Gold's "most significant discovery to date," wrote Fairbairn. The Unionville Zone was discovered in hole MA22C-009, which intersected 3.58 g/t Au over 36.48 meters. Another hole, MA22C-007, intersected 7.19 g/t Au over 7 meters. "We believe that the recent discovery of the JB Gold Zone is just the beginning of our goals to identify and define a significant Homestake-style gold ledge in the Maitland area," Berry said. The hole discovering the JB Zone was sunk 5.5 kilometers from the Homestake Mine Open Cut and 2.9 kilometers from Homestake Mining Company's North Drift Discovery, Dakota Gold said. The alteration and mineralization present in MA23C-017 is the same as the high-grade mineral zones found at the Homestake Mine. Homestake Is a 'Legendary District' Robert Quartermain and Jonathan Awde head Dakota Gold, which has acquired and is exploring 46,000 acres surrounding the historic mine. The company is also backed by industry heavyweight Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX:TSX; GOLD:NYSE). "Dakota Gold is now seeking to revitalize this legendary district in hopes of making a material discovery on its land package proximal to the mine," Fairbairn noted. Geologist and investment analyst Matt Badiali said it's a sound plan. "The best place to find a new gold mine is in the shadow of the head frame of an existing gold mine," he said. The Catalyst: Multiple Efficiencies in Testing Both Systems At Maitland, the "Tertiary and Precambrian-aged structures hosting separate gold mineralizing events lie near each other, leading to multiple drill targets and efficiencies in testing both systems," the company said in a release. "Holes drilled to test for Homestake-style mineralization may also opportunistically test for Tertiary mineralization." Dakota Gold said it had drilled nearly 79,000 feet in 19 holes at the project to date. It has 53 drill pads permitted on private land north of the Unionville and JB zones that will be used to test and extend both gold target types. For the Precambrian gold mineralization, it is drilling on wide spacing to define the geology, delineate preferential terrains for gold mineralization, and to produce new discoveries. The next phases will tighten the spacing to find the best mineralization. To explore the Tertiary gold mineralization, the company is continuing to infill drill along the trend of the Unionville Zone and will also begin step-out drilling along the structure that appears to control the brecciation that's carrying the mineralization. Four Drills Turning at Properties A total of four drills are operating on Dakota Gold's Homestake properties, two at its Richmond Hill project and two at Maitland Gold. Last month, the company announced it had outlined an extensive gold system more than a mile long from north to south, with mineralization open in all directions, at the Richmond Hill project, which is 2.3 miles west of Maitland. Drill hole RH22C-013 at Richmond Hill assayed 5.98 g/t Au over 30 meters at the intersection of a dominant north-south structure, confirming the existence of higher-grade gold mineralization. "At Richmond Hill, DC is working on upgrading the historic oxide resource . . . and conduct additional exploration/step-out drilling," Fairbairn wrote. "Results to date bode well for the next resource update, with indications that Richmond Hill hosts a substantial high-grade gold orebody." Ownership and Share Structure According to the company, approximately 30% of the company's shares are with management and insiders. Outside of management, Co-Chairman Robert Quartermain holds the most shares at 10% or 7.34 million shares. President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Awde is next at 8.4% or 6.2 million shares, while Chief Operating Officer Jerry Aberle holds 6% or 4.2 million shares. The remainder of the 30% is held by other members of management and the board of directors. According to Reuters, about 26.6% of the shares are with institutional investors, including Van Eck Associates with 3.8%, BlackRock Fund Advisors with 3.6%, CI Investments with 3.6%, Fidelity Management with 3.5%, The Vanguard Group with 3.2%, Barrick Gold Corporation with 3%, Medalist Capital with 2.4%, Delbrook Capital with 2%, and Sprott Asset Management with 2%. About 27.4% is with strategic investors, Reuters said. The largest holding is with Marin Katusa + KCR LLC, which owns 4.9%. Dakota Gold has a market cap of US$258.25 million, with 75.3 million shares outstanding and 56 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of US$4.69 and US$2.61. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Source: Streetwise Reports May 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Heliostar Metals Ltd. has recently reported initial results from drilling taking place in its Ana Paula project in Mexico. Read more to see what catalysts are on the company's calender and what one analyst says about the company. Heliostar Metals Ltd. (HSTR:TSX.V; HSTXF:OTC; RGG1:FRA) has reported initial results from drilling taking place in its Ana Paula project in Mexico. In a May 24 research note from Roth Capital Partners, analyst Mike Niehuser said, "We have focused on the Ana Paula Project as it is the most important component of this valuation assessment." The first two holes drilled on the property, Hole AP-23-292 and Hole AP-23-291, exhibited promising results. Hole AP-23-292 was drilled to 101.1 meters at 8.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, including 53.2 meters at 11.0 g/t gold. Hole AP-23-291 was drilled to 118.5 meters at 5.4g/t gold, including 44.5 meters at 11.0 g/t gold, including 4.0 meters at 48.5 g/t gold. The ongoing drill program is targeting the high-grade Panel at Ana Paula. The company believes the core has the potential to hold a high-margin, underground gold mine development opportunity. Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, said in a news release that "Drill results like this are rare anywhere in the world. Ana Paula's high grade and consistently wide intervals of gold mineralization demonstrate the underground mine potential." According to the news release, Heliostar will continue to drill at the site to "increase the Ana Paula resource" and will "focus on infill and expansion of the high-grade Panel." In the May 24 note, Niehuser commented, "Following the acquisition, including the addition of the Ana Paula Project with an increase in outstanding shares, we are adjusting our price target to CA$0.65 per share and maintain our Buy rating." A junior mining company Heliostar, according to its website, is "an aggressively growing junior mining company with a portfolio of high-grade projects in Alaska and Mexico." It recently acquired the Ana Paula mine in the Guerrero Gold Belt of southwestern Mexico for US$30 million from Argonaut Gold. Located just 15 km from Torex Gold's El-Limon mine, it will, according to the company, "be the next gold producer in the region" as "it holds 1.47 million ounces of measured and indicated gold at 2.16 g/t." As well as CEO and Director Charles Funk, Heliostar's management team also includes Executive Chairman and Director Jacques Vaillancourt, Directors George R. Ireland, and Ken Booth, and Independent Director Alan Wilson. Heliostar's Promising Properties Though the Ana Paula property is Heliostar's current focus, the company also has its San Antonio Gold project, a gold development project located in Baja California Sur state, Mexico. Development at San Antonio is currently on hold as the company waits for an environmental permit. Heliostar's website gives more details on the San Antonio Gold project, describing "a 2012 preliminary economic assessment [that] reported measured and indicated mineral resources of 1,735,000 ounces of gold and an inferred resource of 67,000 ounces of gold." Similarly, the company's Unga project in Alaska holds high-grade occurrences of both gold and silver in its three primary epithermal vein systems at SH-1, Apollo Sitka, and Aquila. The company noted on its website that "There are several additional exploration targets on the Midway Trend and Norm's Trend. They will become higher priority targets in the near future." Latest Gold Status According to Markets Insider, more Americans are viewing gold as a better long-term investment than stocks for the first time since 2013. Investing.com reported that "J.P. Morgan is telling its clients to add to cash and gold positions at the expense of equities and bonds." The Stockwatch Business Reporter wrote, "New York spot gold fell US$1.30 to US$1,970.50 on Tuesday. The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 1.44 points to 611.35 while the TSX gold index lost 4.54 points to close at 301.23." It also went on to report that Heliostar was "a busy trader, dipping two cents to 47 cents on 2.64 million shares on new assays from its Ana Paula project in Guerrero, Mexico." Multiple Upcoming Catalysts As well as the exciting first drill results, Heliostar has many other upcoming events and milestones to look forward to. Between June and October, the company will also have access to Infill and Growth target Drill Results in Ana Paula. In June, the company expects to have more information on the underground mine design and the impact on economics. By September, they're expecting the metallurgy and mill flow sheet and will also have an updated resource by November. Share and Ownership Structure According to the company, 5% of Heliostar's stock is held by management and insiders. According to Reuters, CEO and Director Charles Walter Funk has 1.07%, with 1.58 million shares. Director George Ireland has 0.73%, with 1.08 million. Vice President of Projects Sam Anderson has 0.13%, with 0.19 million. CFO Mahesh Liyanage has 0.08%, with 0.03 million, and Independent Director Allan Wilson has 0.02%, with 0.03 million. 2.10% is held by strategic investors; this is held by Mount Everest Finance S.A., with 3.10 million shares. 22.62% is with institutional investors. AIMS Asset Management Sdn Bhd has 7.18%, with 10.61 million shares. Euro Pacific Asset Management LLC has 4.21%, with 6.21 million. U.S. Global Investors Inc. has 0.83%, with 1.23 million, and Konwave AG has 0.48%, with 0.70 million. The rest is in retail. Headquartered in Vancouver, Heliostar currently has 147.8 million shares on issue and 14.4 million options and RSU's. It has 58 million warrants and CA$6 million in the bank. The company trades at a 52-week range of CA$0.23 and CA$0.57. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Source: Streetwise Reports May 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Seabridge Gold Inc. is preparing for drill testing of its comprehensive exploration model at its 100%-owned 3 Aces project in the Yukon Territory, which the company believes could be a world-class deposit. Seabridge Gold Inc. (SEA:TSX; SA:NYSE.MKT) announced preparations are underway for drill testing of its comprehensive exploration model at its 100%-owned 3 Aces project in the Yukon Territory. The company plans to complete about 7,500 meters of core and reverse circulation drilling and geophysical surveys at the project, which Seabridge acquired in 2020. "Previous operators defined discrete zones of high-grade gold but encountered challenges connecting and extending these zones," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rudi Fronk said. "Our team has recognized structural controls that may be able to resolve the continuity issue. Last season's work gave us confidence in the grade controls predicted by our exploration model, and we are looking forward to expanding that understanding and moving towards resource delineation." The company received its exploration permit for the project from the Yukon government last fall. Weather conditions and a mandated cutoff date meant the company was only able to drill four holes for about 1,200 meters of the 1,500 to 1,800 meters it had planned. Seabridge has high hopes for the project. "Our expectation is that over time, we will be able to deliver a high-grade gold resource with grades significantly higher than our existing gold resources at our other projects" at 3 Aces, Fronk has said. The company believes the project could host higher-grade gold than its massive flagship project, KSM, in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. Jim Rickards, editor of the Strategic Intelligence newsletter, called KSM "one of the most attractive gold-copper acquisition targets in the world." The company recently announced it was raising US$150 million from Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. in exchange for a 1.2% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on production at KSM. The money will be used to complete work at the site to meet the criteria for "substantially started" status to get its environmental assessment certificate (EAC) there extended indefinitely. Seabridge said it had engaged a leading mining industry bank to assist joint venture negotiations. "We are reiterating our Buy rating as we believe Seabridge could see a significant re-rating if it signs an agreement with a JV partner," wrote Roth Capital Partners analyst Joe Reagor in a May 17 research note. Reagor set a price target of US$33. The Catalyst: A Possible World-Class Deposit Historical drilling at 3 Aces focused on a 13-kilometer-square region known as the Central Core Area. Good widths of high-grade gold were discovered, but not enough of the continuity needed for a resource estimate. In last year's drilling at the site, Hole 3A22-355 intersected 3.53 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 22.5 meters, Seabridge said, including 11.97 g/t Au over 5.2 meters. The remaining three holes all assayed for less than 1 g/t Au, the best intercept being 0.96 g/t Au over 1.8 meters in hole 3A22-357. The 35,700-hectare project consisting of more than 1,700 claims is in a readily accessible part of the southeastern Yukon. The company said it believes the project could be "consistent with some of the biggest and richest gold deposits in the world." Seabridge's exploration model for the project predicts high-grade gold localized in the limbs of second-order folds (F2), preferentially at the contacts between thick phyllite sequences and coarse interbedded sandstones and conglomerates. Multiple F2 synforms and antiforms have been identified in the Central Core Area that has not been systematically evaluated, offering numerous opportunities to expand higher-grade gold distribution. Four different target areas -; Spades, Hearts, Hearts West, and Clubs -; will be drill tested to evaluate different settings where the company's model predicts gold continuity. Seabridge said it will also resume reclamation activities at the site focusing on exploration roads and environmental monitoring of wildlife management, water sampling, and baseline conditions in the area. KSM Increases Attractiveness for JVs The money from Sprott will be used to complete work at KSM to meet the criteria for "substantially started" status to get its environmental assessment certificate (EAC) there extended indefinitely. It also will enable the company to complete a switching station and work needed to connect to BC Hydro's electricity lines for the construction and operation of the mine. Proven and probable reserves at KSM's initial mine total 47.3 million ounces (Moz) Au, 7.3 billion pounds copper (Cu), 160 Moz silver (Ag), and 385 million pounds of molybdenum (Mo), with average production over a 33-year mine life of 1.03 Moz Au, 178 million pounds Cu, 3 Moz Ag, and 4.2 million pounds Mo, a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) found. The company also released a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for a separate, underground block cave mine with a small open pit. That mine is expected to produce 14.3 billion pounds Cu, 14.3 Moz Au, 68.2 Moz silver, and 13.8 million pounds Mo over 39 years. "This capital raise is strategically designed to propel the KSM project forward while maintaining shareholder value without share dilution, which aligns with Seabridge's established approach of offering the most favorable leverage in the industry to gold (> 2 ounces of gold per share) and one of the world's leading to copper (> 600 pounds of copper per share)," wrote B Riley Securities analyst Lucas Pipes in a May 19 research update. Pipes maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a US$60 per share price target. "We believe these efforts strengthen the attractiveness of the KSM project during joint venture discussions by securing the EAC, further minimizing project risks, and expediting the construction schedule," Pipes wrote. Ownership and Share Structure About 36% of the company is held by institutional investors, according to Reuters, including Pan Atlantic Bank and Trust with 7.69% or 6.25 million shares, National Bank of Canada with 5.68% or 4.62 million shares, and FCMI Financial Corp. with 5.11% or 4.16 million shares. Management, board members, and company insiders own approximately 30%, the company said. Fronk owns 1.49% or 1.21 million shares, according to Reuters. The rest is retail. It has a market cap of CA$1.49 billion and has about 82.4 million shares outstanding, with 68.85 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$21.78 and CA$13.83. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp May 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) In a challenging economic climate, the top 25 publicly traded global technology companies displayed remarkable resilience by achieving an impressive 5.2% year-on-year (YoY) revenue growth, surging to an astounding $3 trillion in 2022. Despite facing significant challenges such as geopolitical risks and supply chain disruptions, these companies performed remarkably well, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. An analysis of GlobalData's Company Reports Database reveals that approximately two-thirds (60%) of the top 25 technology companies posted growth in YoY revenue in fiscal 2022. Ragupathy Jayaraman, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft and Google Cloud reported over 25% YoY growth in their cloud revenue in FY2022. In the smartphone category, Apple reported a 7.8% YoY growth, whereas Xiaomi reported a 18.2% decline in revenue in 2022. Xiaomi's sales declined due a reduction in global shipments." Microsoft, Sony, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), Panasonic, Accenture and Qualcomm reported more than 10% YoY growth in their revenue in 2022. TSMC's revenue increased 33.7% YoY, driven by increased shipments in its high-performance computing and smartphone businesses. Qualcomm reported a 31.7% YoY growth in revenue primarily due to increased revenue from handsets, automotive and IoT products and higher estimated revenues per unit. Samsung, Meta, Tencent, Lenovo, Intel, HP, Pegatron, Xiaomi and Compal Electronics were the only companies in the top 25 that reported YoY decline in revenue in 2022. TSMC, Accenture, Pegatron and Qualcomm reported more than 15% YoY growth in 2022, with TSMC and Qualcomm recording more than 60% growth. Jayaraman concludes: "In terms of profitability, 60% of the top 25 technology companies by revenue reported YoY decline in their net profit. TSMC and Qualcomm were the only companies that reported 40% YoY growth in their net profit in FY2022. "Amazon, Dell, Intel, HP, Oracle, Xiaomi and IBM reported more than 50% YoY decline in net profit in 2022. Amazon posted a $2.7 billion loss in FY2022 compared to a net profit of $33.3 billion in the previous year. The company attributes a major portion of the loss to its investment in the electric vehicle startup Rivian. Xiaomi reported an 87.7% decline in its net profit in 2022 due to a 35% drop in its global shipments." For more information To gain access to our latest press releases: GlobalData Media Centre Analysts available for comment. Please contact the GlobalData Press Office: EMEA & Americas: +44 (0)207 832 4399 Asia-Pacific: +91 40 6616 6809 Email: pr@globaldata.com Notes to Editors Quotes are provided by Murthy Grandhi, Company Profiles Analyst at GlobalData The information is based on GlobalData's Company Reports Database This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData's team of industry experts About GlobalData 4,000 of the world's largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData's unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData's mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), new hydrogen and electric propulsion systems and optimising offshore wind potential could see Irish aviation act as a model for global efforts to reach the climate goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Irish airline executives will be among those gathering on June 4-6 in Instanbul, Turkiye, for the 2023 AGM of the International Air Transport Association. At IATAs 2021 AGM, its 300 or so airline members committed to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Greater use of low-emission biofuels like SAF and new hydrogen propulsion systems are among a wealth of technologies in train. The Istanbul AGM is expected to feature updates on aviation sector carbon reduction efforts, like Aeroport de Montreals single-use plastics initiative and Swedens Northvolt development of aviation batteries for electric planes. Simon McNamara, IATAs country manager for the UK and Ireland, told the Irish Examiner he believes that Ireland has a very real opportunity to play a leading role in global aviations net-zero goals, and to enjoy a significant jobs dividend across a range of highly-skilled, climate-focused roles. The aviation industrys net-zero carbon emissions target is focused on delivering maximum reduction in emissions at source, through the use of SAF, innovative new propulsion technologies, and other efficiency improvements (such as improvements to air traffic navigation) but also out-of-sector solutions like offsetting and carbon capture, said Mr McNamara. The anticipated traffic of the industry in 2050 would likely generate 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon emissions if fuelled by traditional jet kerosene. In order to achieve net-zero emissions, 65% of the total emissions reductions will need to be achieved using SAF. This, in turn, would represent more than 450 billion litres of SAF annually by 2050, from every available sustainable feedstock. SAF production reached around 300 million litres in 2022 a 200% increase on 2021 production of 100 million litres. This represents only a small fraction of the SAF needed, but nevertheless positions the SAF industry on the verge of an exponential capacity and production ramp-up toward an identified tipping point of 30 billion litres by 2030, with the right supporting policies, he said. At IATAs AGM in Istanbul, airlines will review progress on the net-zero commitments they made in 2021. They will also note the commitments made in 2022 by member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) including Ireland to a long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero CO2 emissions from aviation by 2050. These commitments spring from the industrys conviction that it, and all forms of connectivity, are necessary for economic development, said Simon McNamara. Without SAF, governments will struggle to meet their climate goals as set by the Paris Climate Agreement and their commitments to economic growth, which is heavily reliant on aviation for tourism, trade, and connectivity. Balancing climate and economic goals To find the right balance between climate and economic growth goals, Mr McNamara said that governments need to: Provide strong incentives to encourage investment in SAF production, including tax credits, grants or other financial incentives; Work with the sector to set ambitious SAF production targets; Coordinate their actions through ICAO to ensure global uniformity in SAF regulations, sustainability standards, procedures, and organization. Mr McNamara said: Ireland might wish to explore the development of a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) industry. A recent KPMG report commissioned by Irish aircraft leasers set out how if Irelands offshore wind resources were fully tapped, it is theoretically sufficient to produce 23Mt of Power to Liquid SAF per year over 20 times Irelands actual (2019) jet fuel consumption. And this is the potential of just one technical pathway for SAF production. There is an opportunity for Ireland to generate and produce SAF and we would encourage the government to look at the options available to it. It has the potential to reduce reliance on importing oil, generate green jobs and it would have a positive environmental impact. Mr McNamara added that there could also be opportunities to produce hydrogen and electric propulsion systems, which will grow in importance from 2035. Again, Ireland is well-positioned to seize the economic opportunities presented by global climate challenges. As an island nation, with an open economy and a large diaspora, air connectivity is indispensable to Ireland, said Mr McNamara. Yet during the Covid pandemic, air connectivity was dismantled. This had profound economic consequences, destroyed jobs, and inflicted misery on people. The aviation sector has immense potential as a strategic economic asset for Ireland over the medium to long term. This includes developing an industrial strategy that supports the investment needed to enable airlines to deliver on their commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2050, he said. Aviation should be recognised as a key facilitator of wider objectives such as reigniting and renewing the economy, addressing climate change (through energy transition) and putting Ireland at the heart of Europe. From major construction projects to measuring change in the tiniest of molecules, Irelands engineering sector is highly innovative. That includes homegrown success stories such as John Sisk & Son, a family business that has been delivering excellence for 160 years. Today it operates across Ireland, the UK and Europe and has worked on projects ranging from the Luas Cross City development in Dublin to the redevelopment and restoration of the Royal Academy of Arts in London to mention just two recent examples. Digital technologies have changed our perception of what is possible for construction and engineering to achieve while creating efficiencies through automation and integration. These changes significantly impact the way we need to operate in the digital era to stay competitive and relevant, says Shervin Deh Bozorgi, digital transformation lead at John Sisk & Son. Just as it is with individuals, so it is with companies. In all our lives the digital tools we have at hand drive our lifestyle choices and speed up our daily tasks. They allow us to be more efficient, collaborative and organised in our workplaces. At Sisk we want to bring a new era of performance through the integration of cutting-edge technologies, increasing digital competencies and embed data-driven decision-making as a key enabler to our business strategy, he says. To do that it not only invests in making its systems and processes better, but educates its people so they can makes best use of new technology. Only when we embed digital thinking at the core of how we manage our business can we expect to be efficient and co-ordinated in every aspect of delivering our projects. This is a mindset shift, one that we need people to continue to embrace across our business. Technology and innovation plays a role in attracting the next generation of engineers to the company too. Sisk understands the importance of being innovative in attracting the best people, and we do a lot to ensure we offer our incoming engineers a great chance to learn new skills, broaden their perspective and get to use the latest technology in performing their tasks, says Victor OShea, regional engineering associate at John Sisk & Son. To this end it has a number of programmes it uses to drive excellence in engineering within the company, including a Summer Internship Programme. This allows college students to come to work in the real world of construction and engineering and is a fantastic opportunity to sample first-hand the intricacies of Irelands largest construction company. They get a flavour of a range of different departments within Sisk including quantity surveying, safety, environmental and the temporary works department, he says. Twenty transition year students from 10 schools were invited into Sisk for two full days during Engineers Week, where they got to use a type of electronic surveying equipment called Total Station, received a briefing on temporary works pre-construction and visited a live construction site. In addition, Sisk has developed a strong partnership with numerous colleges including UCD, Trinity College Dublin and TU Dublin, and this year has delivered lectures and practicals on the most modern methods of surveying and setting out for students in these colleges, he adds. As part of this commitment to teaching we have developed an engineering training area at our head office in Dublin which is used to train secondary school students, college students and our own engineering staff in the intricacies and practicalities of setting out. Endress+Hauser, another family company, is a global leader in measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications. Although headquartered in Switzerland, from where it handles sales of almost 3 billion a year and employs a global workforce, it has had a presence in Ireland since the late 1970s. It has also succeeded by continually pressing ahead with the development and use of innovative technologies, which increasingly means helping to shape the industrys digital transformation. The fact that it has filed 8,600 patents and patent applications is just one indicator of the value it puts on intellectual property. The process automation company provides products, services and solutions for flow, level, pressure and temperature measurement, process analysis and data management. Its subsidiary in Ireland, which employs 75 people, is a leading supplier of industrial measurement solutions and process controls. Endress + Hauser started out after the second World War making the humble level switch; now it has a physical presence in 75 countries and six production centres, says sales engineer Eamonn Redmond. Today it is to the fore in developing innovative applications for Raman spectroscopy, an optical analysis technology that performs continuous, real-time chemical measurements in any environment without needing to extract, prepare or destroy samples. This technology dates to the work of Indian physicist CV Raman in 1928, which in recent decades has been developed for effective use across a range of industries to drive efficiencies. Instead of having to take samples from a bioreactor and send them off to a laboratory for six to eight hours for analysis to see if, for example, fermentation has taken place in a food or beverage, Raman spectroscopy can measure what is going on inside in real-time. This kind of process analytical technology is driving efficiencies and reducing waste. Its a huge driver in industry. People want real time measurement in the cycle, says Redmond. Data is about measurement. You cant control what you cant measure. If you can see whats happening in your process you can use that to inform your decision-making, saving you time, energy, money and resource. It is quality by design. Climate issues can feel like a battleground for modern farm vets. The issue has become politically charged and polarised beyond logic or reason, yet with their crucial role in better breeding and animal health, theres no one better placed to help farmers along the way. Ellen Hegarty, author of a report entitled, Vetting the Professions for a Climate Changing World, explained climate change, climate adaptation and climate mitigation are profoundly changing the nature of veterinary practice. Dr Hegarty surveyed around 300 members of the veterinary professions, including vet nurses and students, in Ireland as part of the Capstone project. It assessed the attitudes and perceptions of the Irish professionals to climate change, and the support they required to take a proactive role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The study looked at food animal agriculture, companion animal care, operating of clinics and hospitals, and how climate change will affect animal health, welfare, disease, housing and nutrition. It found the Irish veterinary professions want to take a proactive role in the climate, changing the future that they face. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Dr Hegarty, originally from a beef and dairy background in Bantry, explained: The study found that the many professions want to take a proactive role in the climate change and future that they face. They feel anxiety about climate change. They feel that theyre profoundly lacking in veterinary-relevant climate and environmental education. They want relevant climate change education and broader environmental stewardship education, and would welcome guidance, support resources and leadership from relevant stakeholders. They believe in their own personal efficacy to make a positive difference, and they believe that they have a number of roles to play in meeting the challenges ahead for humans, animals and the environment. But lack of support remains a critical barrier. In the surveys, they said they are lacking in guidance, support resources, and leadership, Dr Hegarty said. And so what my report recommended was that we need action and leadership at every level of the professions, from [those] working within the profession right up to the the educators, for example, the veterinary college, and then the veterinary nursing education as well. Then also the veterinary representative bodies, and also the veterinary council. Vets said they absolutely wanted climate and environmental education to be part of their core degree education. Continuing education was the most popular choice for the delivery of education or climate change. And that makes sense, because qualified vets obviously arent in college anymore. As some of the most trusted service providers in contact with farmers, offering fair and balanced advice is another crucial part of the job for vets. But when it comes to dealing with what has become a sensitive topic, many feel it is territory too dangerous to broach. However, Dr Hegarty explained that vets can begin by modelling positive climate behaviours themselves for example, by talking about things they are doing in their own personal lives, perhaps getting solar panels or choosing to cycle more. By modelling your own behaviours, youre not telling someone else they have to do it as well, its not in any way patronising or preaching, she said. At a community level, vets are trusted agents, and they can contribute at a community level as well with their suggestions of positive environmental policies. But even by doing something as simple as starting climate conversations, for example, just chatting at the crush side, it can help people take steps in the right direction. Sometimes its just trying to find that common ground, and it can be something really simple. It doesnt have to be, Here, Jimmy, Im going to talk to you about climate now. Especially with it being a politically charged topic within farming at the moment. And it also doesnt even have to be presented as a climate conversation; you can have it as a conversation for somebody whos interested in having better welfare for their animals for example, reproductive and health programmes; having a better bottom line; reducing sea animal losses; improving animal health all of those things contribute to a more sustainable farm. So you could have a climate conversation without really talking about the climate at all. You can let them know that, by the way, along with reducing animal losses, improving your bottom line, youre actually reducing your own Greenhouse Gas emissions too. Vets have a huge role to play in advice around animal health and welfare, genetics and nutrition and all of these can contribute not only to improvements at farm level, but also improvements in farm emissions. An MEP has called for Ireland to introduce a mental health strategy for the farming community "to address the silent pandemic". Fine Gael's Maria Walsh, as part of EU Mental Health Week, hosted an event focusing on mental health and suicide prevention within the farming community. While farm safety is a major issue in Ireland, Ms Walsh said that mental health challenges and suicidal ideations have "sadly become the norm, and shockingly, almost 25% of Irish farmers are at risk of suicide". She believes that addressing the suicidal ideation among the farming community "is just as important as tackling the safety risks associated with life on the farm". As part of the event, Ms Walsh invited representatives from UCDs School of Agriculture and Food Science, and from the School of Psychology, to share their research, highlighting the frightening reality that 25% of Irish farmers are at risk of suicide. Break down the barriers Dr Tomas Russell from UCDs School of Agriculture and Food Science, and Professor Louise McHugh from the School of Psychology, addressed the forum in Brussels this week, and noted that the findings from their survey were "stark but not surprising". In a study conducted by the UCD team, the findings showed that 23.4% of Irish farmers surveyed were considered "at risk of suicide", and in the two weeks prior to the survey, these farmers had "suicidal thoughts or urges to take their own lives". "Farm safety is a major issue in rural Ireland. It is one that we hear about in the media and through safety campaigns, and rightly so," Ms Walsh said this week. The difficulty, however, is that mental health is just as much of a problem in our farming community today, and sadly, we are still not talking about it. "We need to break down the barriers and address the taboo. Our farming community, particularly in rural Ireland, is finding it really tough and we are continuing to ignore the difficulties," she added. Silent pandemic The event heard that mental health difficulties have become a "silent pandemic" across Ireland in recent years, and an EU-wide mental health strategy is critical to address this. "We need to listen to farmers and involve the farming community in the discussion," Ms Walsh said. "We also must ensure that research is the backbone of any policy or support on farmer mental health, and that the voice of the farming community is heard." There are certain moments in Irish culture that will forever be embedded in our memories. Before the internet and the term 'viral' became common use, many of those moments played out on our long-standing late-night chat show. A part of Friday nights since 1962, the Late Late Show has delivered plenty of talking points and hilarious highlights throughout the reign of its three hosts. As Ryan Tubridy steps down from his role after 14 years, we look back at some of the best Late Late Show moments of all time. The Bishop and the Nightie 1966 What seemed like an innocent quiz turned into quite the scandal during one Late Late Show that aired in 1966. The Newlywed Game saw host Gay Byrne chose a married couple from the audience who were asked questions about one another. One question posed to Richard and Eileen Fox on the night was about the colour of Eileens nightie when they were on honeymoon. Richards answer was that it was transparent while Eileen said she wasnt wearing one. The moment faced criticism from Thomas Ryan, Bishop of Clonfert in Galway, and Byrne even had to issue a statement on the matter. Oliver Reed takes over 1979 After the traditional "to whom it may concern" was played, Late Late viewers were surprised to be greeted by Oliver Reed one Friday night in 1979. Taking Gay Byrne's seat, the actor opened the show before handing back to Byrne. Two weeks earlier, Reed had appeared on the show drunk and behaved inappropriately toward actress Susan George. "You tried very hard to take over the show a fortnight ago, you are not going to do so again," said Byrne before taking his seat. Gay Byrne presented the Late Late Show from 1962 to 1999 Marian Finucane takes over from Gay Byrne 1980 During an episode of the Late Late Show in November 1980 that looked at the representation of women in the media, Gay Byrne gave up his seat for a young Marian Finucan. A panel was invited into the studio following a report on the same topic but Gay Byrne was keen on proving one statement wrong: that Marian Finucane will never take the Late Late chair. Inviting Finucane to sit in the presenters seat, Gaybo leaves the stage, and a young Finucane receives a standing ovation from the audience. Finucane looked at home introducing her first guest, a champion of womens rights Dr Lucille Mair. Annie Murphys interview 1993 In April 1993 Annie Murphy appeared on the Late Late Show to discuss her son, Peter, who was fathered by the then Bishop of Kerry, Eamonn Casey. Murphy, who was originally from the States, had just released a book called Forbidden Fruit: The True Story of My Secret Love for the Bishop of Galway when she appeared alongside Gay Byrne on the chat show. Before bidding farewell, Byrne told Murphy If your son is half as good a man as his father, he wont be doing too badly. She responded by saying: Im not so bad either. Boyzones first appearance 1993 How could we forget when Boyzone made their first-ever TV appearance? In 1993, before Mickey Graham became a member and before they had recorded any songs Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy made their debut by showing off their dancing skills. Introduced as Irelands answer to Take That, a baby-faced Keith Duffy confessed they only had 30 minutes to rehearse together. With overalls and no shirts, we cant deny that the boys gave it a good go. Of course, we didnt know at the time that some of the young men before us would go on to sell 25 million records worldwide. We look forward to hearing from you when youre famous, Byrne said before they left the stage. Padraig Pee Flynns houses 1999 During a now infamous interview with Gay Byrne in 1999, former Government Minister and European Commissioner Padraig Flynn discussed the cost of running his three homes. When asked about his pay and expenses as an EU Commissioner, the Mayo politician calculated that he earns about 140,000 with expenses a net of 100,000. Out of that 100,000, I run a home in Dublin, Castlebar and Brussels. I want to tell you something, try it sometime when you have a couple of cars and three houses and three homes and a few housekeepers. Asked by Gay Byrne if he needs three houses, he said: Well I have to live somewhere. Pictured at the Institute of Directors monthly luncheon in May 1999 were Guest Speaker EU Commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn (left) and Dr Paddy Galvin, President of the Institute of Directors. Picture: Nicholas Mac Innes / Mac Innes Photography Pat Kenny and the Toy Show tickets 2008 Being part of the Late Late Toy Show audience is on every Irish persons bucket list but back in 2008, one competition winner blew their chance. After being called by Pat Kenny live on TV, the winner sounded very unenthusiastic despite the great prize of Toy Show tickets and 10,000. As a result while still holding the phone up to his ear Kenny ripped up the tickets live on TV. Liam Neeson and the 50th anniversary 2012 During the Late Late Show 50th anniversary special, Taken star Liam Neeson stopped by to visit Ryan Tubridy in the Late Late studio. However, after the actors appearance, many people speculated that he may have had one too many. Neeson denied that he was drunk but explained that he had not slept for two days before the interview. Mother and daughter reunited 2012 In 2012, the reunion between one mother and her daughter after three years got us all feeling a bit teary-eyed. Not knowing her daughter Sarah was in the vicinity, one mother in the audience told host Ryan Tubridy that she missed doing the girly things with her daughter. Later in the show, Sarah and her boyfriend made a surprise appearance in what was a very emotional reunion. The family hugged it out and cried in front of the studio audience, making Tubridy a bit emotional too. Francis Brennan and the duvet 2016 Another standout, hilarious moment was the brilliant Francis Brennan teaching us all how to correctly change a duvet. The hotelier even did a live demo with a duvet and a sheet, right there on the studio floor. However, it wasnt going to plan, and a member of the audience (Amy) volunteered to come down and give him a hand. After lots of fumbling, they got there in the end. Thank God for Amy. Catherine Corless 2017 Following a powerful interview on the Late Late Show in 2017, Tuam Babies historian Catherine Corless received a standing ovation from the studio audience. She discussed her extensive research into the remains of 700+ children in a sewer system on the Tuam site and a number of guests shared their personal experiences with mother and baby homes. An emotional Tubridy wrapped up the memorable interview before the studio audience gave the historian a rare standing ovation. Adam King aged six from Cork on The Late Late Toy Show 2020. Picture: Andres Poveda Photography Adam King 2020 Of course, we couldnt forget Tubridys bestie, Cork boy Adam King. The pair first met during the Late Late Toy Show in 2020. In the middle of the covid-19 pandemic, the adorable Adam stole the hearts of the nation with his virtual hug. The pair later reunited on the Late Late Show and Adam even got a chance to have a go at presenting. Fantagate 2020 While there are plenty of great moments from the Toy Show, we couldnt bid farewell to Tubridy without mention of his encounter with a fizzy bottle of Fanta during the 2020 Toy Show. When the host opened the bottle of fizzy orange, it exploded and he may or may not have said a curse word. The blunter was followed by a knowing look to camera and a very long drink from his glass. After the show, Tubridy said it was a b-bomb as opposed to an f-bomb and one that probably rhymes with a word like pollocks". Vicky Phelan pictured on the RTE The Late Late Show speaking with Ryan Tubridy. Picture: Andres Poveda Vicky Phelan 2021 In November 2021, the ever-inspiring Vicky Phelan joined Ryan Tubridy on what would be a very special Late Late Show. The Cervical cancer campaigner, who sadly passed away in November 2022, opened up about her decision to stop chemotherapy and to begin palliative care treatment. At the time, her children Darragh and Amelia were aged 10 and 16 and she wanted to spend more quality time with them while feeling well. A lot of people dont talk about this the horrors of the treatment is often worse than the disease itself, she said at the time. "I'd rather be well, I'd rather have a shorter time frame than be like that." Tubridy often mentions Phelan among his favourite guests of all time. Dont mourn, organise. 406 Days (PG) is a documentary detailing the long, bitter industrial action waged by ex-Debenhams workers after they were made redundant during the early days of the Covid lockdown in 2020. Describing themselves more as an extended family than co-workers some of the women had worked together for decades the ex-employees refused to go quietly and demanded the 2 + 2 redundancy package they had previously negotiated in good faith; when that wasnt forthcoming, the workers, the vast majority of them women, organised into picket lines and blockades designed to prevent the removal of stock from the stores. The picket line at Blanchardstown's Debenhams Joe Lees film is told chronologically, employing straight-to-camera interviews with a host of ex-Debenhams workers to tell the story of initial shock and anger, and how they very quickly developed a nationwide communication network that allowed them to maintain the longest-running industrial action in the history of the Irish state. The film is, by its nature, a touch repetitive at times, but it also lays bare blood-boiling abuse of workers rights while celebrating what can be achieved by hard work, solidarity, innovation, and sacrifice. (cinema release) Hypnotic (15A) opens with Austin police detective Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck) telling a therapist how his young daughter, Minnie (Ionie Olivia Nieves), was abducted before his very eyes. Called to a bank raid, Danny discovers a polaroid of Minnie in a safe deposit box a photograph that appears to be the reason for the heist, which is orchestrated by Dellrayne (William Fichtner), a man with a supernatural ability to compel others to do his bidding. Dellrayne, Danny learns from the fortune teller Diana (Alice Braga), is a hypnotic capable of altering his victims perception of the world and soon Danny and Diana are running for their lives, desperately trying to find Minnie before Dellrayne can track her down. William Fichtner in Hypnotic. Pics: Warners Written by Max Borenstein and Robert Rodriguez, with Rodriguez directing, Hypnotic has the feel of a B-movie adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story, one in which reality itself or what is offered up as reality at any given time is not to be trusted. Just as Danny finds that the world can reconfigure itself at a moments notice (the visuals seem to be a nod to Christopher Nolans Inception), the unwary viewer quickly realises that the movie can reshape itself there are realities within realities, all of which are equally authentic. Despite the sci-fi trappings, this is an old-fashioned paranoid thriller what can we trust if we cannot trust our own minds? and square-jawed Ben Affleck is perfectly cast as the baffled detective who is obliged to investigate his own consciousness, with Alice Braga providing dynamic support as Dannys guide to the weird-n-wonderful world of hypnotic constructs, and William Fichtner deliciously sinister as the scar-faced villain. (cinema release) Repairs to a major water main which cut off supplies to large parts of Dublin on Thursday have now been completed. Around 40,000 homes and businesses had either no supply or low pressure due to the burst high-pressure water main pipe. Repairs were complex due to the location of the pipe and the presence of other underground services. Crews worked through the night to progress repairs which were completed at around 2am on Friday. Uisce Eireann said it may take 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 network. It also noted that following this type of work, issues such as cloudy water, air bubbles, discolouration or internal airlocks may arise occasionally. Uisce Eireann is advising customers to run their taps to flush out any discolouration in water following the repairs. Operations manager Margaret Attridge said issue had not been a burst pipe, as had earlier been reported. It was the fitting on top of the pipe, laid 40 years ago, that had sheered off. Incidents such as this could happen once a year. It will take some time for the entire network to return to normal so some customers could experience discolouration of the water and low pressure today, Ms Attridge said. The repairs were said to be "complex due to the location of the dig and the presence of other underground services". There is no boil notice in place and the water is drinkable, Ms Attridge said, although it would not be pleasant. Her advice was run your tap. It's not that it's not safe to drink, but it's not very pleasant to drink. So you run your tap and that should clear it. It should be very localised. The areas impacted by the burst pipe are: Dolphins Barn Harolds Cross Kilmainham Fleet Street Brunswich Street The Liberties Gardener Street Dorset Street Drumcondra Whitehall Artane Coolock Beaumont Fairview Raheny Clontarf Killester Home Farm Typically it takes two to three hours following restoration time for water to refill the networks and for normal supply to be fully restored. Joe OReilly of Uisce Eireann said: The repairs are being conducted as quickly and as efficiently as possible to minimise disruption to homes and businesses and restore water for all customers." "We understand the inconvenience an unplanned outage can have and we appreciate your patience as we work to return normal water supply as quickly as possible." One of the top officials in Europes leading human rights body has expressed concern about the severe lack of accommodation faced by people seeking international protection in Ireland and fears it was adding to anti-refugee sentiment. The Council of Europes Commissioner for Human Rights, Duna Mijatovic has written to the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to raise concern about the challenges faced in providing adequate reception and accommodation for asylum seekers arriving in the Republic. In response, Mr Varadkar said the Government is committed to implement necessary measures for international protection applicants. In a letter that was also addressed to the Minister for Integration, Roderic OGorman, and the Minister for Housing, Darragh OBrien, Ms Mijatovic said the situation given the wider housing crisis in Ireland could contribute to a growing anti-refugee sentiment which had already led to several worrying incidents. Ms Mijatovic noted that over 900 international protection applicants have been left in a situation of street homelessness over recent months. In addition, the commissioner observed that families with children were often housed for extended periods in inadequate and overcrowded temporary accommodation. Ms Mijatovic has called on the Irish authorities to comprehensively review and address structural shortcomings of the international protection system. The commissioner also said Ireland should develop a sustainable approach towards the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers within its broader housing policy. The scale and complexity of the prevailing reception crisis call for a whole-of-government approach, she added. Ms Mijatovic said she highly appreciated the generous welcome that had been extended by Ireland to almost 80,000 refugees from Ukraine, of which some 60,000 had been provided with different forms of accommodation. Read More Port of Cork in talks with Government over 'floatels' for asylum seekers However, she said housing for international protection applicants had been inadequate since last summer with some being turned away due to a shortfall in accommodation. Ms Mijatovic said she was worried by the reported differences in the treatment of people fleeing war in Ukraine and those fleeing war and atrocities in other countries. The commissioner said she was also concerned at the decision taken at the start of 2023 to only offer emergency accommodation to applicants with children which had resulted in over 900 refugees, including some who could be minors, left in a situation of street homelessness. The commissioner said: While I am aware that this decision was taken in exceptional circumstances and with the intention of offering shelter to all applicants as soon as it became available, the exposure of often traumatised and vulnerable individuals to cold, rain, hunger and distress has serious consequences for their human rights, notably the right to health. She claimed the treatment of such applicants could fall short of the minimum standards under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Ms Mijatovic also noted a recent High Court decision that the failure to provide accommodation for an applicant from Afghanistan was unlawful and that efforts by the authorities to secure accommodation did not absolve the Government of its obligations. She said giving the individual a voucher and a referral to private charities was not an adequate response". Taoiseach's response In reply, the Taoiseach said Russias full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine had resulted in an unprecedented number of people arriving in Ireland seeking international protection. Mr Varadkar said temporary protection had been granted to 83,000 individuals from Ukraine which amounted to 1.6% of the countrys population. He said 20,500 other refugees were being accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service in May this year compared to 8,000 just 15 months ago. Mr Varadkar said additional resources and new processes and structures had been put in place to deal with the issues that were arising in what is an extremely challenging situation". The Taoiseach said there had been particular difficulties in sourcing sufficient amounts of accommodation to meet the increased demand given the pre-existing housing shortage in Ireland. However, he said a working group was focused on maximising the scale and pace of delivering accommodation for new applicants for international protection. Mr Varadkar said the Government recognised that the current situation falls short of what is required and is working tirelessly to deal with the problem. Ms Mijatovic said she was worried by the reported differences in the treatment of people fleeing war in Ukraine and those fleeing war and atrocities in other countries. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie While over 5,880 beds had been procured so far this year, the Taoiseach said it also had to find alternative accommodation for another 2,543 individuals who had been staying in hotels due to the start of the tourist season. Despite such intensive efforts, he said demand had consistently outstripped supply with the IPAS being unable to offer accommodation to 199 people as of this week. Mr Varadkar admitted the substantial number of new refugees arriving in Ireland had also had the unavoidable effect of delaying the Governments plans to end the system of direct provision. The Taoiseach stressed that communities across Ireland had demonstrated great solidarity with refugees over the past year and insisted it was only a small minority who sought to create division and engage in intimidation. The actions of a minority do not speak for the majority of Irish citizens, he added. However, he acknowledged that the Government needed to listen and communicate with local communities as new accommodation centres were opened. Mr Varadkar said the Government was working to develop a more effective method of sharing the necessary information". Bravery medals have been awarded to four serving gardai who responded to a man who fired shots indiscriminately in a Co Donegal town in February 2020. They are among the 11 recipients of the Scott Medal, the highest award the Garda Commissioner can bestow, at a ceremony held in Dublin on Friday. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris with silver Scott medal recipient Sgt Edward Griffin pictured at Walter Scott House at the presentation of 11 Garda Scott medals for bravery to members of the Gardai. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Sergeant Edward Griffin, Detective Garda Darren Carter, Detective Garda Enda Jennings, and Garda Louis Browne were awarded Silver Scott Medals for their bravery in apprehending the man armed with a high-powered rifle and who fired at homes, cars, and gardai in Glenties in Co Donegal on the night in question. The man was convicted and received a custodial sentence. Separately, a gold medal for bravery was awarded posthumously to Inspector Sam Donegan, who was killed in June 1972 after responding to suspect devices along the Cavan-Fermanagh border. He had assessed one device as a hoax before the second detonated as he examined it. John Donegan, son of late Inspector Sam Donegan, who was posthumously awarded the Gold Scott Medal. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Silver bravery medals were awarded to three gardai who apprehended an armed man in a bathroom in Ballymun, Dublin in March 2019. When Sergeant Andrew OConnor, Detective Garda Niall Minnock, and Garda Conor Garland arrived at the scene in Poppintree, Ballymun, they saw a man holding what appeared to be a black sub-machine gun, before he ran into a house and into the bathroom. Gardai followed him to the house, and the man fired shots from the bathroom before he was apprehended and the firearm was safely recovered. Gardai then saw a black grenade on the floor of the bathroom; an Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit examined it before carrying out a controlled explosion. The man has been charged and convicted. A bronze medal was posthumously awarded to Sergeant Daniel Kelleher, who was shot during a Garda response to the abduction of businessman Don Tidey in December 1983. Mr Tidey was in his 23rd day of captivity when gardai and army personnel carried out a search of Drumcroman Wood in Co Leitrim, and an IRA hideout was discovered. Detective Garda Kelleher provided armed cover to gardai who were escorting Mr Tidey to safety. As he did, a car approached him at high speed and a number of shots were fired by the occupants of the car, resulting in him being shot and injured in both legs. Don Tidey (second right) with Caroline Kelleher (second left) wife of the late Sergeant Daniel Kelleher, daughter Lesley Kelleher and son Daniel Kelleher. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Bronze bravery medals were also awarded to Sergeant PJ Gallagher and Garda Thomas McGuiness for their bravery during their abduction in October 1983. They were on patrol in Aughamore Far, Co Sligo, when they came across the unusual sight of a number of vehicles parked in a rural layby late at night. The two gardai were approached by armed men and bundled into two vehicles before being moved to a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, where the car was abandoned. They then released themselves from the boot of the car and raised the alarm. One of the countrys main childrens hospitals has admitted changing how it carries out a biopsy and the related aftercare of patients after a baby boy suffered a fatal bleeding in his liver following such a procedure. Legal representatives of Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin issued an apology to the parents of the two-month-old baby at a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court on Friday about the failings in its care of the infant. The baby, Mason Taaffe, died at the hospital on January 15, 2019, just 24 hours after undergoing a liver biopsy at the hospital. A post-mortem revealed he had suffered catastrophic bleeding as a result of the procedure. Counsel for CHI Crumlin, Conor Halpin SC, apologised for the pain, distress and loss suffered by the babys parents, Maria Roche and Jamie Taaffe, during their sons five-day admission to the hospital. Mr Halpin told the inquest that the hospital had introduced several changes as a result of a review of the babys death which were designed to improve safety for all patients. The inquest also heard a conflict of evidence between hospital staff over whether Masons care had been escalated following a deterioration in his condition at around 3am on January 15, 2019. A staff nurse, Rejitha Revi, said she had bleeped a senior house officer three times over a period of around 90 minutes to review baby Mason as she had growing concerns about his condition. In a statement, however, the SHO, Siobhan Pennycook, maintained she had been given no indication that there was any urgency with the situation. Dr Pennycook said she was busy attending other patients, including another urgent case, and said she would review Mason as soon as possible. The inquest heard that the little boy had been born three months prematurely at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin on November 20, 2019. Mother's testimony His mother told the hearing that her son had a number of health complications resulting from his premature birth and needed to be on a ventilator. Ms Roche, who comes from Killinarden, Tallaght, explained her son had been transferred to CHI for a biopsy because of concerns about the functioning of his liver. She outlined several concerns about the care provided to her son during his short stay in Crumlin including being left without oxygen for over an hour-and-a-half and having a rash on his face because it was not cleaned. Ms Roche also claimed she had seen her sons blood pressure only being checked once after the biopsy was carried out on January 14, 2019, although it was meant to be checked at regular intervals. She said she was also worried when Mason started to scream in pain several hours after the procedure which she knew was unusual, although a nurse had tried to reassure her there was nothing to be concerned about. Ms Roche said she and her partner were called back to the hospital and were informed that their sons heartbeat had recovered after it had stopped first for seven minutes and then again for 36 minutes. However, she said his face was blue and swollen and his condition continued to deteriorate until he was pronounced dead at 12.51pm. Consultant testimony A consultant paediatric gastroenterologist, Billy Bourke, informed the inquest that the baby did not have the suspected biliary atresia a blockage of the bile ducts around the liver for which the biopsy was ordered to confirm. While there was no particular risk of bleeding with the procedure, Prof. Bourke said the risk would always be somewhat elevated with premature babies. He said it was the first time in his professional career that he had experienced a baby dying from a liver biopsy. However, Prof. Bourke said it was unlikely that a major blood vessel had been ruptured by the needle used to perform the biopsy as it would have been detected almost immediately. The consultant said all biopsies were now carried out using ultrasound by radiologists, rather than anatomically, as it had been in baby Masons case. Prof. Bourke admitted that the reason they had not been carried out by ultrasound beforehand was due to resources. He also accepted that post-operative monitoring guidelines for the patient had been followed initially, but not after six hours after which the babys condition deteriorated. The inquest heard post-operative observations of patients who undergo a biopsy are now carried out at greater frequencies. A consultant neonatologist, Eleanor Molloy, told the coroner, Crona Gallagher, that medical staff were definitely more aware about the complications of a biopsy following baby Masons death. Verdict Returning a verdict of medical misadventure, Dr Gallagher said she was not required to resolve the conflict of evidence that had emerged during the hearing. The coroner said the verdict reflected the fact that baby Masons death was the unintended consequence of an action and/or omission but did not imply any blame or exoneration of any party. Dr Gallagher said she also endorsed the changes already introduced at CHI Crumlin following the babys death. While she had considered making a recommendation about staffing levels at the hospital, the coroner said the evidence did not indicate having any extra nurses or doctors would have prevented his death. Offering her condolences to the babys parents, Dr Gallagher said they had suffered a great loss during a deeply traumatic experience. There is no tragedy greater than the loss of a child, she remarked. The President has described the burning of tents used by asylum seekers as appalling. Speaking on The Late Late Show, President Michael D Higgins suggested that people should not be allowed to choose who settles in communities or who gets a house. In his last show, host Ryan Tubridy raised the issue of immigration to this country asked the President what message he would have for the nay-sayers who suggest there are not enough houses, he said: Why should you have that choice, its one of the most immoral choices you could have. One issue doesnt defeat the other. This used to be an old one as well in relation to employment in the past, that people were going to take other peoples jobs. "That argument by the way was used most about the Irish in America, and the Irish in America in turn used it against the Chinese." When asked about the recent burning of tents and intimidation of those seeking international protection, he said: I think its appalling of course, This is all the property these people have. However, he added that there is great generosity within Irish people and said our response to those seeking refuge here gives us an opportunity to reveal the best of ourselves. President Higgins said half of his family emigrated in the 1950s and this has informed his thinking. The raised fists of the flash mob, simultaneously a picture of defiance, hope, and solidarity, said it all a symbol of how Cork can be the galvanising city for the rest of the country when it comes to anti-racism. Organisers of the first-ever Anti-Racism Summit to be held in Cork sensed positive change in the air, a contrast to the anti-immigrant and refugee movement in Ireland that threatens to foment from a far-right fringe into a mainstream movement if authorities do not get to grips with the burgeoning issue. Clenched black and brown fists in the air were flanked by the fists of Travellers, by Roma fists, by LGBT fists, and the fists of youngsters across the city who believe in equality in all its forms, before a crescendo of What do we want? Change. When do we want it? Now, led by rap ensemble RiverSide boomed throughout City Hall. The young people who held the event believe in watershed moments, and that this is their time starting in City Hall yesterday, May 26, 2023, Cork can inspire cities and towns across Ireland and beyond to actively reject and combat racism in all forms. Cork Migrant Centre, Corks Mexican Community, the HSE, Nano Nagle Place, National Youth Council, Corks Roma Community, Tusla, Traveller Visibility Group, University College Cork (UCC), YMCA, and Cork City Council were among the organisations supporting the first such event to take place in Cork, along with the likes of Cork City Council and gardai, with the support of the Children and Young People Services Committee (CYPSC). The summit was the first ever ant-racism summit in Cork. The young rappers who took to the stage called for change, and called for it now, as did various poets, dancers, and activists in a day of performance, art, music, and dance. For Mark Mavambu, the supportive words in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in the US in 2020 were all well and good, but havent sufficiently been built upon in the aftermath. One of the mentors for young people attending the summit, the Tralee-raised event manager and record label owner of Congolese and Angolan heritage and who lives in Cork City for the past decade, said condemning explicit incidents of racism is only one part of the equation. Mark Mavambu is a record label founder and events manager. He speaks of the importance of schools in being anti-racist. Education not only for pupils, but for teachers and school administrators is also essential, he said. During covid-19, we did an online version of the event, with the mayor and gardai there. It was a good event, but we kind of felt that promises were made without any real tangible action. Therefore, in this version in person, it is a way not only to hold those in authority to account, but also ourselves. Saying we want to stop racism and xenophobia is all well and good, but what are we going to do about it? Lets educate and have a dialogue. Lets actually try to figure out actions that we can take moving forward in order to actually repair this problem thats happening for the country and for the world. Education is vital and that means having teachers and school principals actively engaged in stamping out racist incidents at root. For example, it may seem trivial to some but not allowing a young Black student to have cornrows in school implicitly implies that we are different, that we need to look a certain way or we dont fit in. Cornrows are not just a fashion trend, they are an intrinsic part of Black culture. Schools have an imperative role, Mark said. Being complacent around the rise of the far right in Ireland is not an option, he said, adding that Cork, as a melting pot of culture, is the best place in Ireland to lead the anti-racist way. Shrugging it off is not acceptable You are always going to get contrarian people, as well as people who feel the need to lash out, and people who know no better. When that comes together, you get anti-immigrant and far right movements growing. Silence in the face of racism is complicity, in Marks eyes. Shrugging it off by saying to yourself that, Ah, its only a few idiots who do it is not acceptable. Being anti-racist means calling such behaviour out and not standing by. Inaction is allowing something to happen if a teacher sees a student bullied and says nothing, not using your authority and privilege to stop it is as bad as the racist act. Young people will be heard and seen Dedborah Aribasoye, Cork-born and raised of Nigerian heritage, experienced racism from teachers and peers, compounded by a diagnosis of dyslexia in primary school. Triumphing over adversity, with a masters in public relations and new media, the youth leader and mentor at the Cork Migrant Centre in Nano Nagle Place was a host for the anti-racism summit. Deborah Aribasoye is a youth leader and mentor at the Cork Migrant Centre in Nano Nagle Place. If there is anything that we want to accomplish, it is that our young people and young adults at this event will be heard and seen, and the people who are able to make the changes in our country actually do help us make them in schools, in colleges, in workplaces. We hope this anti-racism summit will inspire other counties. If a movement could start in Cork and spread across the land, it would be an accomplishment for the entire city and county, she said. The work we do with all the organisations, it is absolutely possible to make Cork an anti-racist leader, we firmly believe that. I think it can definitely be a watershed moment and if the organisations and people that are at the event listen and take onboard to bring the necessary changes into their workplaces, schools, and politics. For people who may think that Irelands progression into a multicultural nation that celebrates diversity is complete, Deborah and her peers say that the reality is unfortunately different there is still a long way to go. From speaking to young people who we work with as well as those around me, it hasnt gone away. It may seem that in recent years that it has calmed a little bit but in reality, we are experiencing racism still in our everyday lives. The other day I was on the bus and a racist comment was made. People are hiding it better rather than it going away. It is easier to call it out these days, for sure, because nobody wants to be labelled as a racist. But in schools and the workplace, it can be a bit more under the radar. Mark is correct when he speaks about the policing of hair. This is something that is culturally important to us and we should be able to express ourselves through culturally important things. I just finished college and am ready to go into the workplace, but the reality is that it is more difficult for Black men and women to find a job, because employers do not just see a CV but also an African name and what I look like. There is a bias towards people who do not look like us and the data shows that organisations and companies do not tend to hire people like me. Not allowed be yourself Rapper and occupational therapy student at UCC, Raphael Olympio, fully endorses what Mark and Deborah have said. Heartbreakingly, he said the systemic and endemic racism has led him to attempt to bleach his skin lighter and other measures in a desperate attempt to fit in. Not being allowed to be myself through the likes of wearing my hair how I wanted was very isolating in school. It got to the stage where I started bleaching my skin when I was a teenager, I put contacts in to make my eyes lighter, and I straightened my hair, just to fit in. But it was never going to be enough. Growing up here in the education system, youre always trying to assimilate, always trying to fit in, to do everything in your power to feel accepted. RAPHAEL, from Togher and of West African heritage, spoke movingly about the first time real allyship from a white school friend came to the fore. In secondary school, I got my hair braided, as a way to portray my culture and who I was. A lot of Black people will braid their hair in the wintertime because it sustains the hair and keeps it healthy, it is not just a fashion thing. I was asked to get rid of it. It was hurtful, but one of my white classmates wrote to the principal to explain the cultural and expressive context. That, for me, was the first time a white person had spoken up for me, stood shoulder to shoulder with me, and it felt so good. In that moment, we were brothers and I will never forget it, he said. Raphael was still compelled to cut his hair, because school administrators have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to cultural and racial understanding, he said. Raphael Olympio tells the Irish Examiner that racism led to him attempting to bleach his skin. All the teachers agreed I needed to get rid of it, then you are allowing my classmates to think I am unequal. That is how it festers. Incidents of explicit racism are still an everyday occurrence for Black people, Travellers, people of colour, and members of the LGBT community despite the progress we believe we have made as a society, Raphael said. Despite it happening regularly, it still absolutely shocks and sickens you to your core. People making monkey noises passing by in their car, people calling you the N-word, and you are left asking yourself what has just happened. There is also a perception in many workplaces that Black people are somehow incompetent. I used to work in healthcare, specifically with the elderly, and I loved it. But there were times people would use racial slurs when helping them, or even co-workers assuming you are not up to the job. My last name has a Portuguese sound to it, so I have walked into job interviews where it it plainly visible that the person does not expect to see a Black man sitting down. I remember one time I spoke in a job interview where growing up in direct provision came up, and the interviewer told me he felt sorry for those inbreds. Because I needed the job, I sat there and accepted it. I had to continue the interview and pretend it was not said. It is hard in the moment to speak up for yourself and to call out such behaviour. You are filled with anxiety and you question in those moments who you are. Fighting back in the moment is so difficult. This is why anti-racism summits with Cork leading the way are so important. In the middle of covid-19, people changed their social media profile pictures to Black, they said Black Lives Matter, they said they were in solidarity. That was great, but now we are asking what will you do now when it comes to taking action? Once you see racism, do you just go back on your device and exclaim that racism is horrible, or do you take action? That is why Cork can be the shining example of anti-racism, Raphael said. We hope this event is going to be the first of many and the first to stir conversation in Cork. This city has a pride about itself and its people are proud of who they are. It would be great to see Cork take that pride in being an anti-racist city and county, and be an example not just for other counties, but for other countries around Europe and around the world. We want Cork to be the driving force for others to look up to that shining beacon to inspire all. Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine has come under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire, authorities said, hours after at least one night-time blast rocked a Russian city in a region next to the annexed Crimea peninsula. The Kremlins forces, meanwhile, struck a clinic in Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing one person and wounding 16, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Also, a Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, placing nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. The Belgorod town of Graivoron, some 4.5 miles from the Ukrainian border, was under fire for several hours, with four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line damaged, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Ukrainian soldiers on a tank ride along the road towards their positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region (AP) Closer to the border, a recreation centre, a shop and an uninhabited house sustained damage in the village of Glotovo. There were no casualties, according to Mr Gladkov. The Belgorod region was earlier this week the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky, as Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unconfirmed local reports said Fridays explosion in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, was caused by drones. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged but there were no casualties. Damaged armoured military vehicles are seen after fighting in Russias western Belgorod region (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP) Drone attacks against Russian regions on the border with Ukraine have been a regular occurrence since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with attacks stepping up last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two consecutive days. In another apparent incident of Kyivs forces harassing Russia, Ukraines defence ministry published footage on Thursday that appeared to show an unmanned drone boat attacking Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video did not show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed claims by Russias ministry of defence on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three boats attacked and destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released footage allegedly showing the destruction of one of the uncrewed boats. At least two civilians were killed and three wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported on Friday. Belaruss Supreme Court has upheld an eight-year prison sentence handed to a prominent member of the countrys sizable Polish minority and a correspondent for a top newspaper in Poland. The decision is seen part of the governments sweeping, yearslong crackdown on opposition figures, human rights activists and independent reporters. The court rejected the appeal of Andrzej Poczobut, 50, a reporter with Polands influential Gazeta Wyborcza, dismissing all defence arguments. In February, Mr Poczobut was found guilty of inflicting harm on Belarus national security and sowing discord. The trial took place behind closed doors in the Belarusian city of Grodno. He has remained behind bars ever since his arrest in March 2021. Upholding the sentence of eight years in prison for Andrzej Poczobut clearly shows the ill-will of the Belarusian authorities regarding representatives of the national minority in Belarus Mr Poczobut had extensively covered mass protests that engulfed Belarus in 2020 in the wake of the disputed presidential election that handed authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko his sixth term in office. Both the Belarusian opposition and the West have denounced the vote as rigged. Mr Poczobuts indictment pointed to his coverage of the protests, his statements in support of ethnic Poles in Belarus and a reference to the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland as an act of aggression as evidence of his guilt. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said that Mr Poczobuts appeal was considered behind closed doors without explanation. The journalist is currently in the Grodno prison number 1 and will now be transferred to a penal colony. Polands Foreign Ministry on Friday vowed to continue calling for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus. Upholding the sentence of eight years in prison for Andrzej Poczobut clearly shows the ill-will of the Belarusian authorities regarding representatives of the national minority in Belarus, the ministry tweeted. A Palestinian man was shot and killed on Friday in the occupied West Bank after sneaking into a Jewish settlement and trying to stab a resident there, the Israeli army said. In a statement, the military said the man attempted to stab a resident in the Tene Omarim settlement and was shot by an armed civilian. It said the incident had set off an alarm and soldiers were scanning the area. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the projected debt ceiling deadline is extended to June 5, four days later than previously estimated. Ms Yellen renewed her warning in a letter to Congress that inaction on raising the borrowing limit would cause severe hardship. Ms Yellens latest letter to legislators on the X-date came as Congress broke for the long Memorial Day weekend. She said that the Treasury Department had deployed an extraordinary measure not used since 2015 to get the US financial position to this point. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy talks to reporters about the debt limit negotiations as he arrives at the Capitol in Washington (J Scott Applewhite/AP/PA) The X-date arrives when the government no longer has enough of a financial cushion to pay all its bills, having exhausted the measures it has been using since January to stretch existing funds. Earlier on Friday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said his Republican debt negotiators and the White House had hit crunch time, straining to wrap up an agreement with President Joe Biden to curb federal spending and lift the nations borrowing limit ahead of the fast-approaching deadline. They had hoped to end weeks of frustrating talks and strike a deal by this weekend. The Treasury now says the government could start running out of money as soon as a week on Monday, sending the US into a potentially catastrophic default with economic spillover around the world. Anxious pensioners and social service groups were among those making default contingency plans as politicians left town for the long holiday weekend. The next batch of social security payments are due to go out next week. The world is watching, said International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva after meeting on Friday with Ms Yellen. Lets remember we are now in the 12th hour. Democrat Mr Biden and the Republican speaker were narrowing differences, labouring to lock in details on a two-year agreement that would restrain federal spending and lift the legal borrowing limit past next years presidential election. Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress. We know its a crunch, Mr McCarthy said as he arrived at the Capitol, acknowledging more progress needed to be made. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters about debt limit negotiations on Capitol Hill in Washington (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/PA) While the contours of the deal have been taking shape to cut spending for 2024 and impose a 1% cap on spending growth for 2025, the two sides remain stuck on various provisions. The debt ceiling, now at 31 trillion dollars (25.1 trillion), would be lifted for two years to pay the nations incurred bills. A person familiar with the talks said the two sides were dug in on whether or not to agree to Republican demands to impose stiffer work requirements on people who receive government food stamps, cash assistance and healthcare aid. House Democrats have called such requirements for healthcare and food aid a nonstarter. Politicians are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from the June 1 X-date when Treasury Secretary Yellen has said the US could face default. Mr Biden will also be away this weekend, departing on Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will return after Memorial Day. Each time there is forward progress, the issues that remain become more difficult and more challenging, said negotiator Rep Patrick McHenry on Friday. Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with Mr McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the countrys full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities. We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point, said Mr McCarthy. One idea is to set the topline budget numbers but then add a snap-back provision to enforce cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals. On work requirements for aid recipients, the White House is particularly resisting measures that could drive more people into poverty or take their healthcare, said the person familiar with the talks, who was granted anonymity to describe behind-closed-door discussions. Over the Republican demand to rescind money for the Internal Revenue Service, it is still an open issue whether the sides will compromise by allowing the funding to be pushed into other domestic programmes, the person said. In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defence spending beyond what Mr Biden had proposed in his budget, instead offering to keep it at his proposed levels, according to another person familiar with the talks. Mr McCarthy said Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, told him, Make sure you get a good agreement. Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, Mr McCarthy has promised 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 has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Mr Bidens desk, right before next Thursdays possible deadline. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States AAA credit on ratings watch negative, warning of a possible downgrade. Burma Myanmar Delegation Visits Rohingya Camps for Repatriation Scheme A Myanmar delegation arrives in Teknaf on May 25, 2023 to meet with Bangladeshi officials as part of efforts to revive a long-stalled plan to return Rohingya to Myanmar. / AFP TEKNAF, BangladeshA Myanmar government team visited Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh on Thursday as part of a mooted pilot repatriation scheme. Most of the refugees have been stuck in ramshackle camps in southeastern Bangladesh since fleeing a 2017 crackdown by the Myanmar military that is now subject to a United Nations genocide investigation. Several previous repatriation attempts have failed but Bangladesh and Myanmar are looking to return around 1,100 people to the violence-wracked state of Rakhine in the coming weeks. Twenty Rohingya visited two resettlement camps this month in Rakhine, where the Myanmar junta plans to house them on what experts say is land that for generations belonged to the Rohingyas before being confiscated. The team of 14 Myanmar officials, all in civilian clothes, arrived by boat in the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf on Thursday morning, went to the camps and talked to around 200 people. But Mohammad Selim, one of the Rohingya who met the Myanmar delegation, told AFP by phone that their demands were being ignored. We said that we have to return to our own ancestral house We told them they should give us citizenship. But they said they will give us NVC [national verification card], which is not citizenship, Selim said. They repeatedly said so. There is no way we can trust them. We have no permanent representative in this repatriation process, Khin Maung, a prominent Rohingya leader, told AFP before the meeting. This repatriation process is just an eyewash. If they didnt ensure our dignity, there is no point returning to IDPs [internally displaced people], he said. One Rohingya who is meant to be repatriated in the pilot project told AFP on condition of anonymity that they did not want to go back and live in Myanmar as non-citizens and stay in IDP camps. Our place should be given back to us, our right to live like other ethnic groups should be legally guaranteed. Otherwise we cannot believe the mass murderers, they said. Mainul Kabir, head of the Rohingya wing in Bangladeshs foreign ministry, told reporters Thursday that repatriation was the only way to solve the Rohingya issue. He said the Myanmar delegation assured that the confusions that are being created will be resolved gradually. Last week, Human Rights Watch criticized the repatriation plan, saying it posed grave risks to the Rohingya. Bangladesh is frustrated with its burden as host, but sending refugees back to the control of a ruthless Myanmar junta will just be setting the stage for the next devastating exodus, the group said in a statement. Burma Rakhines Threadbare Health Service Overwhelmed by Trauma Cases Volunteers from the Myitta Yaungchi Foundation transport a patient in need of urgent medical attention after the cyclonic storm in Sittwe. / Myitta Yaungchi Facebook Storm-hit communities in northern Rakhine state need urgent medical aid for both physical and mental trauma after Cyclone Mocha left a trail of destruction in western Myanmar on May 14. Grieving families who lost their loved ones, homes, or belongings in the storm are suffering post-traumatic stress disorders including emotional instability and depression, according to a doctor from a volunteer group. Treating victims, we found that about 80 percent of their conditions are caused by mental suffering. They lost everything and now have to start their lives from zero again, he said. Junta media said 145 people were killed in the storm, including 117 Rohingya in Rakhine State, which bore the brunt of the cyclone. However, local community leaders near Sittwe told Agence France-Presse that initial counts showed more than 200 Rohingya had died in their areas alone. A Rohingya resident of Thet Kal Pyin displacement camp in Sittwe said residents need medical attention for physical and mental problems. A man from our camp had to be chained down when he lost his sanity after his wife and children were killed in the storm. So, we need physical and mental support for people whose lives were devastated by the cyclone, he said. The Rohingya population in Rakhine displacement camps have limited access to healthcare facilities. A mobile clinic of nine doctors aided by nurses arrived from Yangon last week to treat Rohingya in the displacement camps, a source from Thet Kal Pyin Camp said. Around 75 percent of patients it treated were diagnosed with mental disorders, according to local sources. The mobile clinic saw at least 600 patients per day for five consecutive days before returning to Yangon. Another team of medics is expected to be sent to the camps next week. Yesterday, they saved a child who had a puncture wound that had gone untreated for several days. The child would not have survived without their efforts, a local source said. Meanwhile, Rohingya communities in the storm-affected camps are still living without proper shelters or healthcare facilities, leaving them exposed to health risks. The weather is burning-hot in the daytime. We have nowhere to go when it rains at night. Some people are also suffering skin infections due to the lack of clean water and poor hygiene and sanitation, the source said. A Rohingya camp resident said a local state healthcare facility is open 24 hours but cannot handle the surge in patient numbers since the storm. Some of those injured people wont go to the clinic because they are traumatized and grieving after losing their loved ones, he said. In Rathedaung and Pauktaw townships, residents are prey to diarrhea due to a lack of clean water after their ponds were flooded with seawater during the storm. Help hasnt arrived yet. We desperately need drinking water and rice. Some people have to drink salty water because there is no other option, a resident of Myin Gan Chaung village in Rathedaung said. Two girls died during the storm in Myin Gan Chaung, where the cyclone destroyed 260 houses. He added that villagers have to travel about one and half hours by boat to reach the nearest healthcare facility, in Rathedaung town. Local sources say healthcare facilities are scarce in the remote coastal areas of Rakhine, which was ravaged by heavy fighting between junta troops and the Arakan Army from 2019 to 2022. Burma Resistance Group: Myanmar Police Station Seized in Shan State All Burma Students Democratic Front fighters raid the Mongmit police station. / Supplied The anti-regime All Burma Students Democratic Front seized a junta police station in Kyauk Maw village, Mongmit Township in northern Shan State, on Wednesday, according to the groups northern command. We attacked as residents and merchants reported that junta forces based there are always squeezing money from passersby, said group spokesman Ko Saw. The front said it seized the police station in Mongmit, which is also known as Momeik, within 30 minutes, seizing six weapons and ammunition. It said four police officers, including a sergeant, were killed during the fighting. Three women and two children were freed from the police station, said Ko Saw. The front is working closely with the Kachin Independence Army and various peoples defense forces (PDFs) loyal to the civilian National Unity Government. The front and Indaw PDF in Sagaing Region ambushed junta troops near Nant Thar village in Indaw Township on Monday, sparking a day of fighting which reportedly left at least 15 junta soldiers dead and many injured in the areas heaviest fighting since the 2021 coup. The junta responded with airstrikes on Tuesday, killing two Indaw PDF fighters. The front and various resistance groups attacked a police station in Taung Khin Yan village, Gangaw Township, Magwe Region, on Thursday night. It was a camp where troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members gathered. At least three junta troops were killed and a police officer was injured, said Ko Saw. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Burma Two Arrested With Rakhine Charity Leader Remain in Myanmar Juntas Custody The Rakhine State capital Sittwe after Cyclone Mocha / The Irrawaddy Two people who were arrested along with Rakhine writer-turned charity leader Wai Hun Aung remain in detention over suspected links with outlawed news outlets, despite earlier media reports of their release. 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 communities affected by Cyclone Mocha. On Wednesday afternoon, the junta released Wai Hun Aung, his daughter and the staff member. Earlier, media were told that all five had been released, but The Irrawaddy learned on Friday that the two people the junta claims have links with outlawed news outlets are still detained. Regime spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told Voice of America and BBC Burmese on Wednesday that regime officials detained the five for questioning, and that the two people from Yangon were found to have connections with news outlets the junta regards as illegal and will be detained for further interrogation. The junta has not revealed the identities of the two detainees or the news organizations they allegedly have links with. Since the 2021 coup, the military regime has banned at least six media outletsThe Irrawaddy, 7Day News, Myanmar Now, Mizzima, DVB and Khit Thit Mediaby revoking their publishing licenses. All except 7Day News continue to operate and report on Myanmar, mostly from exile. Burma Two Sagaing Civilians Die in Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Banmauk PDF training with the KIA in 2022. / BR Myanmar junta airstrikes on Banmauk Township in Sagaing Region killed two civilians on Thursday after regime troops suffered causalities fighting resistance forces. A 66-year-old man and 33-year-old woman were reportedly killed in Naung Kan village. The airstrikes came after the Federal Revolution Force, which is trained by the Kachin Independence Army, and Banmauk Peoples Defense Force (PDF) killed at least 20 junta troops, including a captain, in the township on Wednesday, according to the PDF. Over 100 Light Infantry Division 77 and Battalion 416 troops, who had been stationed in Kyaung Lal village for weeks, were attacked on Sunday by the resistance groups. After suffering heavy losses, they retreated on Wednesday and we chased them so they called in jet fighters. Despite the airstrikes, we seized Kyaung Lal, said a PDF spokesman. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Reinforcements from Indaw Township were allegedly stopped by attacks from the All Burma Students Democratic Front and Indaw PDF. Clashes keep breaking out in Indaw to prevent over 100 troops reaching Banmauk, said Ko Saw of All Burma Students northern command. Kyaung Lal and nearby villages emptied weeks ago after residents fled to forests and other villages. A Kyauk Lal resident, who was sheltering in a forest with his family on Friday, said: The fighting has resumed in Banmauk. The clashes near Indaw Township are escalating. In March junta airstrikes killed three civilians in Banmauk following fighting with resistance groups. Myanmars Crisis & the World Intl Community Urged to Recognize Myanmar CDM Members as Rights Defenders Medics and medical students hold placards during an anti-regime protest in Naypyitaw in February 2021. / The Irrawaddy A total of 19 Myanmar civil society organizations (CSOs) have urged the international community to recognize striking members of the countrys civil disobedience movement (CDM) against the repressive regime as human rights defenders and to support the ongoing movement. The world must recognize and provide political and material support to the CDM in their heroic struggle for democracy and human rights, and to end the military tyranny that is ongoing despite the atrocities they face, the CSOs said in a new report released on Thursday. The CDMlaunched as the first mass act of defiance against the militarys attempted coup in February 2021is a popular nationwide strike spearheaded by tens of thousands of civil servants who refuse to work under military rule. The CDM has paralyzed the juntas attempts to govern the country, and its administration has struggled to cope. In response, the regime has targeted CDM participantsor CDMers, as they are knownwith arrest, violence, dismissal from their jobs and eviction from government housing. Now, more than two years on, many of the civil servants continue the strike despite the hardships and threats. The 19 CSOs said in the report that the CDM has succeeded in preventing the junta from fully taking control and has underpinned the efforts of the governing entities of the resistance, including the National Unity Government, to construct a federal democratic Myanmar that guarantees inclusivity, equality and justice for all. Many CDMers play leading roles in NUG ministries and work to provide essential social services to the Myanmar public, the CSOs said. But many donors have been hesitant to fund CDMers, labeling their participation in the Spring Revolution as political, the report stated. The report urges the international community to reassess its view of the CDM and recognize them as human rights defenders according to the accepted international definition. It cited Article 1 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which states: Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels. There is a strong sense in Myanmar that the international community is not providing enough support for the CDMers, said Khin Ohmar, founder and chairperson of Progressive Voice. She said the CDMers have been a key pillar of the Spring Revolution, fighting for a future federal democratic Myanmar that will put an end to one of the most violent military institutions in the world. If not for their clear stand and sacrifices, she said, Myanmar could have fallen completely under military control by now. CDMers, who peacefully protest against the militarys atrocities, serve as the living embodiment of human rights defenders. Persistent support, in all its forms, is crucial to maintaining and sustaining the movement, said Benny Agus Prima, human rights defenders program manager at FORUM-ASIA. Commenting on the launch of the report, Su, a teacher who has been taking part in the CDM, said despite the harassment and threats, the movement is determined to resist the Myanmar military until the revolution succeeds. Our struggle is not only to defend our own rights but the rights of new generations to come, so that they may enjoy the freedom that has been stolen from us by the tyranny of the military, she said. Myanmars Crisis & the World Myanmar Junta Turns to Iran for Missiles and Drones --- Iran has found a new market for its arms since the 2021 coup in Myanmar. A Boeing 747 cargo plane from Iran landed in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon three times between January and April last year. Operated by Iranian cargo airline Qeshm Fars Air, the flights departed Mashhad, Irans second city, and returned to Iran the following day, flight tracker data shows. What did Qeshm Fars Air bring to Myanmar? One of the flights delivered a consignment of 21 boxes thought to contain military drones and engines. The sight of Iranian cargo planes landing in Myanmars capital has also sparked speculation they are supplying the junta with more powerful weapons, including guided missiles. Qeshm Fars Air is already under US sanctions for allegedly transporting weapons to Tehran-backed groups in the Syrian civil war on behalf of Irans Revolutionary Guards. But Myanmar Air Force defectors and other informed sources told The Irrawaddy that Tehran is now also delivering weapons to Myanmar. An Iranian delegation that arrived in Myanmar on January 13, 2022 contained names of individuals linked to the Revolutionary Guard, according to an official list seen by The Irrawaddy. One of the names is Gholamreza Ghasemi, a former Revolutionary Guards commander and pilot who was detained in Argentina last year when his 747 was grounded on suspicion of arms trafficking. It is not known whether, Ghasemi who is also a board member of Qeshm Fars Air, piloted the flights to Myanmar. However, it is safe to conclude that Myanmar and Iran have engaged in secretive military-to-military cooperation since the coup. Prior to the military takeover, Naypyitaw and Tehran had a distant relationship. Several former air force officers who defected to the resistance movement told The Irrawaddy that the junta, officially called the State Administration Council (SAC), has purchased spare parts from Iran to refurbish its drones. According to the BBC Burmese Service and Asia Times, the regime has purchased both MD550 drone engines and guided missiles from Iran. Several former air force officers confirmed this. The MD550 drone engine is produced by an Iranian company called Mado (Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar), which has been on the US sanctions list since October 2021. According to former Myanmar Air Force pilots, Mado supplied the MD550 drone engines to replace worn parts in the juntas existing drone fleet. The maintenance work was conducted at Meiktila Air Force Base in central Myanmar. Iran has been supplying Russia with thousands of drones, including the low-cost Shahed-136 suicide drone, since the invasion of Ukraine last year. The drones have caused heavy damage in Ukraine. Moscow and Tehran have grown much closer since the invasion. Russia wants Iranian drones and ballistic missiles while Iran wants Russian investment and trade. Likewise, ties between Myanmar and Russia have noticeably escalated since the coup, with the junta purchasing jet fighters, helicopters and other military hardware from Moscow. According to a recent report by the United Nations, Myanmars junta has imported at least US$ 1 billion in weapons and military-related equipment since the 2021 coup, much of it from Russia and China. But the junta has diversified its sources of military parts and hardware as Moscow diverts its weapons and ammunition to the invasion of Ukraine. Iran is an obvious alternative given its long record of supplying arms to repressive regimes and to Tehran-aligned belligerents in the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars. The Myanmar military has also enjoyed a deep and secretive relationship with North Korea for years. In 2016-17, Myanmars military sent a team of army engineers to Iran to learn about refurbishing old training aircraft, several former air force officers told The Irrawaddy. Iran is renowned for its ability to repair and finesse military technology it has obtained illegitimately. The Myanmar regime has been tightening ties with Russia, China, India, Belarus and Iran, among other countries, after being hit with western sanctions over the coup and brutal crackdown on a nationwide uprising. The junta is using military hardware purchased from these countries to escalate its aerial and ground campaign against resistance forces and ethnic armed groups in Karen, Kachin, Kayah, and Mon states and Sagaing and Bago regions. In 2005, then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expanded President Bushs axis of evil Iran, Iraq and North Korea to include Myanmar, Cuba, Belarus and Zimbabwe, which she termed outposts of tyranny requiring close US attention. To be sure, in our world there remain outposts of tyranny and America stands with oppressed people on every continent in Cuba, and Burma, and North Korea, and Iran, and Belarus, and Zimbabwe, Rice said. Today, Myanmar buys arms from three of these states Russia, Belarus and Iran as well as from China. In October 2022, Myanmar regime boss Min Aung Hlaing welcomed the new Belarusian ambassador to Myanmar, Uladzimir Baravikou, in Naypyitaw. The two sides discussed upgrading diplomatic relations and cooperation in the defence sector, among other topics, junta newspapers reported. Meanwhile, the juntas secretive relationship with North Korea also looks likely to be renewed. This prompts a question: How will the Biden administration and the West punish the former axis of evil? War Against the Junta Over 40 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks Resistance fighters of Yesagyo PDF / Yesagyo PDF At least 42 Myanmar junta forces including pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) continued to attack regime targets across the country. Incidents were reported in Sagaing, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions and Shan State. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs. Some military casualties could not be independently verified. Military column ambushed with land mines in Sagaing The resistance group Chindwin Tiger People Defense Force claimed to have killed 15 junta soldiers as it and two PDF groups used several land mines to ambush a military column of 200 troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members in Yinmabin, Sagaing Region on Thursday. The column was traveling to the pro-regime village of Bent Bwe in Yinmabin from another pro-junta village, Alal Kyun in Kani Township. First, the military column was ambushed while passing through three minefields, killing five junta forces. The PDF groups continued to ambush the column by using another cluster of 12 land mines, killing 10 more regime troops. Four junta policemen killed in PDF ambush in Sagaing Combined resistance forces ambush regime police forces in Myaung Township on Thursday. / Myingyan Tiger PDF PDF group Myingyan Tiger claimed to have killed four junta police from Kyauk Yit police station in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday when it and other PDF groups jointly ambushed the officers as they were returning to their base. Township administration office raided in Magwe At least 10 regime forces were reportedly killed in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Wednesday when a large number of resistance forces attacked regime troops stationed at the township General Administration Department in Yesagyo town, said Myingyan Black Tiger PDF, which led the raid. Prior to the attack, regime forces had attempted to arrest two PDF members, detaining one, who was injured. The regime forces placed the injured fighter on a road in an attempt to lure resistance forces to try to rescue their comrade, planning to ambush the rescuers. But the junta abandoned the ambush plan when it learned that a large number of PDF fighters were heading to the town to take part in the rescue of the injured comrade, said the leader of the PDF group. Unable to rescue their comrade, the PDF groups attacked the administration office instead. Regime forces face repeated mine blasts in Magwe At least three junta troops were killed and many others injured in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Thursday when Yesagyo PDF conducted a series of land-mine ambushes on military vehicles from the militarys Light Infantry Battalion 256, the resistance group said. First, the group used a cluster of eight land mines to ambush two military vehicles carrying 60 troops on a road. It also used a cluster of 15 land mines to ambush one more military truck transporting reinforcements to the ambush site. In the second attack, three soldiers were killed and eight others injured, the PDF group said. There were no PDF casualties despite soldiers chasing and attacking them. That afternoon, the PDF group used six land mines to ambush two more military vehicles carrying the bodies of killed and injured soldiers near the entrance to Yesagyo. More regime forces were injured, the resistance group claimed. On Wednesday, two soldiers were killed in the township when Yesagyo PDF ambushed five regime forces traveling to a village. Junta spy, militia leader killed in Magwe Southern Magway PDF claimed to have killed the Pyu Saw Htee militia leader Aung Thaung, who was also chair of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)s branch in Ma Dine Village, in Min Hla Township, Magwe Region on Tuesday. The militia leader was supplying the regime with information about striking government servants and pro-junta activists. The group said it also killed army Sergeant Tin Kyi from the No. 2 Military Weapons Factory as he was spying on the movements of local resistance groups by pretending to be a civilian. The sergeant was shot dead while in resistance detention as he attempted to flee after snatching a weapon from PDF forces, the resistance group said. Police outpost seized by resistance in northern Shan Four junta policemen were killed in Momeik Township, northern Shan State on Wednesday when the northern unit of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) raided the police outpost in Kyauk Maw Village, the resistance group said. After a 30-minute firefight, the resistance group managed to seize the whole police base. Six weapons and some ammunition were also seized. The resistance forces found three women and two children at the outpost and released them later. The police outpost was notorious for extorting money from vehicles and businesses nearby. Army major killed in land-mine ambush in Tanintharyi Two regime forces including an army major were killed in Yephyu Township, Tanintharyi Region on Tuesday when Yephyu PDF used land mines to ambush a small vehicle from the militarys Artillery Battalion 304 on the Ye-Dawei Highway, the PDF group told local media. After the incident, regime forces arrested 30 residents including women and children from nearby Kyauk Kanya Village, according to a report by The Tanintharyi Times citing locals and the resistance group. 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. FILE - Family and followers of polygamous sect leader Samuel Bateman gather around as he calls from police custody following his arrest in Colorado City, Ariz., Sept. 13, 2022. Prosecutors have widened their case against the leader of a small polygamous group that resides near the Utah-Arizona border, adding child pornography charges and detailing Bateman's sexual encounters with children he took as wives in new charges filed earlier in May 2023. FILE - Soldiers line up at the United Nations Peace Operations Training Center (CECOPAZ) before the arrival of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Feb. 26, 2015. The organization is marking the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping and observing the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Thursday, May 25, 2023. With the Turkish presidential runoff approaching, anti-migrant sentiment is on the rise and affecting the political discourse in Istanbuls immigrant neighborhoods. This is pushing migrants and new Turkish citizens to support President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The nationalist swing seen in the run-up to the election has sidelined issues like the economy, and refugees have become an easy target for politicians looking to win votes. Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu has joined forces with ultra-nationalist politicians and turned up his anti-refugee rhetoric. For migrants, it has been an exceptionally trying time, leading some to draw political conclusions that may not be in the best interests of liberal democracy. Meanwhile, a rise in raw nationalism has sidelined economics and refugees have become an easy target for politicians looking to win votes. President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia received support from tens of thousands of people who gathered in the capital despite an unprecedented revolt against his leadership following two mass shootings that claimed 18 lives and shattered the nation. The President, who is facing criticism for mishandling the crisis, addressed the crowd while accusing the opposition of trying to abuse the tragedy. In spite of this, Vucic invited the opposition for a dialogue while announcing his intention to step down as the Serbian Progressive Partys leader and to form a new national movement. Serbian officials considered the rally a sign of unity and hope for Serbia despite the unrest in the countrys former province of Kosovo where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police, prompting Vucic to order Serbian troops to be put on a higher state of alert. Four people killed in Japan in a violent attack involving guns and knives. On Friday, Japanese police detained a suspect who allegedly killed four people, including two police officers, in a gun and knife attack and had holed up in a building. The man was taken into custody outside a farm near the city of Nakano in Nagano region, with police confirming a fourth fatality overnight. Another woman and two police officers were earlier confirmed dead in the attack. The 31-year-old suspect had been detained at about 4:30 am (1930 GMT Thursday), and later confirmed he had been formally arrested on suspicion of murder using a suspected hunting rifle. The rampage in a rural area of the western region was a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the worlds toughest gun laws. No motive has yet emerged in the killings, nor has the suspect been formally identified, though several local media reported he is the son of the speaker of Nakanos city assembly. Top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno expressed condolences and stated that police are investigating to uncover the whole picture of the incident, including how the crime developed and its background. The attack started on Thursday afternoon, and the attacker placed the weapon against a window of the vehicle and fired twice. The slain officers were identified as Yoshiki Tamai, 46, and Takuo Ikeuchi, 61. Japan was left reeling in July last year when former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in broad daylight with an apparently homemade gun. Abes accused assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, reportedly targeted the politician over his links to the Unification Church. And last month, a man was arrested for allegedly hurling a pipe bomb-like explosive towards Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as he campaigned in the western city of Wakayama. In 2018, the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his longtime rival Riek Machar signed a peace deal, creating hope for the nation that had just emerged from a brutal civil war. However, five years later, this peace agreement is mostly respected only in Juba, the nations capital, while the fear of conflict remains palpable in other areas of the country. A conflict in neighboring Sudan has further accentuated these fears. Reporting for , the team states that this peace deal has not brought any significant change and people continue to suffer. In February 2022, Pope Francis visited South Sudan and called on the countrys leaders to restore dignity to the displaced people, five years after the end of the civil war. Between 2013 and 2018, South Sudan was plagued by a brutal conflict resulting in an estimated 380,000 deaths. Despite the peace agreement signed in 2018, the violence continues, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting 2.2 million internally displaced persons as of December 2022. Reflecting on his visit, Pope Francis urged South Sudans leaders to make a new start for peace and called for a battle against corruption. He warned that future generations would either venerate their names or cancel their memory based on their actions. The UN and the international community regularly accuse South Sudans leaders of maintaining the status quo, stoking violence, suppressing political freedoms, and embezzling public funds. The high levels of food insecurity and severe climate change-related flooding continue to undermine economic advancement in South Sudan, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. Military personnel charged by France for 27 migrant deaths in tragedy of English Channel in 2021 French magistrates have filed preliminary charges against five French maritime rescue personnel for their alleged failure to assist individuals in danger, following an investigation into the deadly sinking of a flimsy migrant craft in the English Channel in 2021 that claimed the lives of 27 people. The individuals charged, who are all military personnel, serve at a French maritime surveillance and rescue center for the English Channel. The centers objectives involve the coordination of search and rescue operations. While the five individuals have been charged as part of ongoing investigations, ten others have already been charged with manslaughter and assisting illegal entry of migrants. The November 2021 sinking attracted concern regarding smuggling gangs that exploit migrants and caused increased tensions between France and Britain regarding how best to handle the problem. (AP) Reddit Email 162 Shares Newark, Delaware (Special to Informed Comment) Under the previous Iranian Penal Code or IPC, which was in force until 2013, the charge of mohareb, Waging War (on Islam, was frequently used against political dissidents and people with connections to opposition groups abroad, even if they were non-violent. The new Penal Code has provided for their punishment under the vague charges of efsad-fil-arz and baghy. They are looking for a neck to hang. Those were the chilling words of Navid Afkari, a young wrestler who in September 2020 was executed in Shiraz after having been charged with killing a member of the security forces. His dossier, like hundreds of others, remains murky to say the least. But executions are nothing new to Iran. In the 1930s, during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, several pro-communist sympathizers and other opponents were jailed and died in prison, under suspicious circumstances among them Taghi Arani and Teymourtash. Sardar-e-Fateh of the Bakhtiari tribe, the father of the late PM Shapur Bakhtiar, was also executed on the orders of Reza Shah. Under Mohammad Reza Shah, executions continued. In October 1954, Morteza Keyvan, an Iranian poet, art critic, newspaper editor and political activist of the Tudeh Party (Irans pro-Soviet party), was executed in Qasr prison. In addition, 31 members of the Tudeh officers organization were executed. Another notable execution at the time was that of Dr. Hossein Fatemi, Mossadeghs 37-year-old foreign minister, who proposed the oil nationalization to Dr. M. He was executed by a firing squad in Tehrans Qasr prison on 10 November 1954, while still suffering from the injuries of an earlier assassination attempt on him by the Fedayee-e Islam. Shortly thereafter, Navab Safavi, the leader of the Fedayeen Islam and one of his comrades- in -arms who had been involved in assassinations of Irans Prime ministers and of the famous anti-Shia writer Kasravi, were also put to death. Many of the leaders and members of leftist and Islamist organizations who took up arms against the regime in the 1970s faced firing squads. The numbers are not clear. But at least a few dozen met a similar fate. Some, such as Bijan Jazani and his colleagues, were not executed but gunned down on the hills of Evin prison. Khosrow Goleshorkh and Keramat Daneshian, both aged 30, two writers and poets, were charged with the plot of kidnapping the Shahs son. The allegation against them was found to be fabricated. They were both executed on 18 February 1974. During the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, the number of executions was high, but it never reached the level of what happened after the Revolution. It is noteworthy that many of those who repented, led a normal life, and even got jobs in the government. This was not the case after the rise of the Islamic Republic. Now, executions were the order of the day. Some members of the intelligentsia, or sympathizers of leftist and Islamist organizations, most notably the largest ones, (the Fedayeen and the Mojahedin) after having been released from prison, were also put to death. The poet Saeid Soltanpour, who had been in prison during the reign of the Shah and was released after the Revolution, was arrested on his wedding night, taken to the gallows by the IRI, and executed. He was 41. He has now become a legend. Many of the Shahs generals and his prime minister were also executed. Some without due process of law. A few after facing kangaroo courts, the most notable one being the Shahs Prime Minister Abbas Hoveyda. Farrokh Rou Parsa, minister of education and an educated woman, met the same fate, being charged with spreading corruption on earth, a common term used by the IRI prosecutors who apply the sharia law of justice rather than generally accepted modern jusrisprudence. Habib Elghanian, a Jewish Iranian entrepreneur who had created many industries in Iran, returned from a trip, faced execution. He was branded as a Zionist who loved the state of Israel, yet he was a true Iranian nationalist and had done nothing wrong. Many members of the Bahai faith were also executed at that time. In 1988, immediately after the end of the Iran-Iraq war, some 4,000-5,000 political prisoners who had almost completed their sentence and who were waiting to be released, were executed in Evin and Gohar Dasht prisons. The decree came directly by Khomeini. They were also branded as Mohareb ba Khoda (enemy of God). This incident, which has been the subject of numerous books and films, is the single incident in the history of executions in the world when political prisoners were taken from their cells after long sentences and taken to the gallows. The late Abbas Amir Entezam, the spokesman of the provisional government who, arrested on trumped on charges, spent 27 years in prison, wrote: The worst time was when I was with other prisoners and witnessed many of my cell mates being taken and executed one-by-one, without any trials or jury. In the year 1367(1989), we were 350 people in our ward (bandeh zendan); 342 were executed; their ages ranging between 20 70 years. Those were the worst days of my life. I will never forget a single moment of that pain. (Interview with author, Tehran, 2005). In September 1982, Sadeq Ghotbzadeh who had sat next to Ayatollah Khomeini on that infamous Air France flight to Tehran and Irans foreign minister, was executed after being falsely charged with a coup plot. And so, the executions continued. According to historian Ervand Abrahamian, Whereas less than 100 political prisoners had been executed between 1971 and 1979, more than 7900 were executed between 1981 and 1985. the prison system was centralized and drastically expanded Prison life was drastically worse under the Islamic Republic than under the Pahlavis. In the prison literature of the Pahlavi era, the recurring words had been boredom and monotony. In that of the Islamic Republic, they were fear, death, terror, horror, and most frequent of all nightmare (kaboos). In 2010, A Kurdish teacher and poet, Farzad Kamangar, was put to death. The IRI has been especially wary of the ethnic minorities of Iran, fearing that they might want independence from the central government. Farzad Kamangar was 32 years old. Since the murder of Mahsa Amini, and after protests took place in major cities of Iran, executions have been on the rise, especially in the regions of Sistan-Baluchistan, Kurdistan and Khuzestan. By executing anyone whether for political reasons or murder, or for homosexuality or other crimes, the IRI continues to create fear in the Iranian society. You protest, we will kill you. You raise your voice; we will kill you. Only on occasions when there has been outcry by the governments around the world or human rights organizations have, have we witnessed a decrease. Still, the IRI does not heed the international communitys outrage. Its rulers do what they want, without fearing any repercussions. The Shahs regime did care about world opinion. This has not been the case with the IRI. In the last year alone, according to various documented and undocumented reports, nearly 245 individuals the number could be much higher) have been executed, after engaging in protest or on trumped up charges. The recent execution of three men, Saleh Mirhashemi, Saeed Yaghoubi and Majid Kazemi who were charged with killing members of the security forces in street fights in Isfahan (it is very hard to know the exact details) has been met with international outcry to no avail. Just before their death, they wrote a note from prison, Please dont let them kill us. Article continues after bonus IC video Iran executes three men linked to Mahsa Amini protests | DW News The Islamic regime does not move an inch to reduce any of these actions. In fact, it has gotten bolder as Iranians behave defiantly. Yet the very boldness of its reaction may hide a state of panic. The regime in Tehran indeed finds itself in a deep crisis, with protests in Iran calling for the fall of Khamenei and the abolition of Velayat- e -faghih. Yet in the short run, that means more executions, especially since Ebrahim Raisi, the current President of Iran, in the early phase of the Revolution, was a member of the execution committee and served as a warden in Evin prison. After China, Iran is the number one executioner of our time. It is sad and it is inconceivable that a country with so much beauty, so much culture is on record as the number two killer of its citizens. Can we stop this killing machine? Yes, we can, and we must. Reddit Email 18 Shares By Nonhlanhla Dube, Lancaster University | Reports out of Sudan of continuing violence suggest that the seven-day ceasefire organised during talks in Jeddah the seventh attempt to end the violence in Sudan is crumbling. A fighter plane was shot down over Khartoum on May 24 and residents report intense fighting breaking out once again in some areas. The talks, sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the US, are understood to have had a narrow focus based on bringing humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people, according to US secretary of state, Antony Blinken. Blinkens threat of repercussions through sanctions and other means on truce breakers initially led to optimism aid corridors and escape routes could be provided for civilians trapped in the belly of the conflict. But clashes continue and people remain trapped without basic supplies and medicine. This casts doubt on ramping up an already slow humanitarian response amid soaring needs. The UN reports that more than half of the population about 25 million people now need humanitarian assistance. Food, water, health and hygiene support are the main needs following the destruction of essential infrastructure, with markets and energy supply taking a hit. Much of the aid to have arrived in Sudan is understood to be held up in the eastern coastal city of Port Sudan while aid agencies wait for security permits. One of the main themes of my doctoral research was the successful provision of humanitarian aid in armed conflicts. Of the various issues I found to play a role, three stand out in the context of Sudan. Confused chain of command The first is the number of warring parties and the uncertain chain of command. The fewer parties there are, the tighter the chain of command tends to be and the easier it is for humanitarian organisations to obtain reliable security guarantees from all sides. Sudan Africa Migrants Free photo on Pixabay Pixabay Image by combonianos_brasil from Pixabay As has been widely reported, the violence in Sudan has mainly been due to a falling out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and their leaders. But there are also a host of other armed groups operating in various parts of the country. This makes for a weak and uncertain chain of command. Any security guarantees received by humanitarian organisations from just one group may turn out to be worthless. The The International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders are calling for all armed parties to ensure that supplies and personnel reach places where they are most needed reveal the scale of the problem. But achieving this will be a delicate operation. Guns, sticks and stones The second issue relates to the sophistication of weapons used. In Sudan, these range from army-controlled warplanes carrying out airstrikes in the streets of Khartoum to the the armoured jeeps carrying small arms so familiar in similar civil wars. More sophisticated weaponry can make for more devastating attacks, but they are also usually subject to a command and control system as seen in the war in Ukraine. So the terrible irony of the lack of sophisticated weaponry is that it makes the violence harder to control, leading to frequent disruptions and difficult access for international humanitarian organisations. They face high-impact violence and more frequent smaller-scale attacks, which make it all the more difficult to find safe windows of access for aid workers. Flouting humanitarian law The matter is made all the worse if any of the parties to the violence cannot be trusted to respect international humanitarian law. The UN envoy in Sudan, Volker Perthes, told Sky News that the agency had lost vehicles and more than 4,000 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies through looting of warehouses and food trucks. Staff were held at gunpoint and there was a sexual assault attempt on a female member of staff. The UNs World Food Programme was forced to suspend its activities after three members of staff were killed on the day fighting broke out in April. Doctors Without Borders has reported repeated attacks on its personnel and facilities. Such events force humanitarian organisations to retreat and avoid keeping supplies close to where they are needed. This leads to populations in need being cut off from receiving lifesaving assistance. Facing the humanitarian challenge The situation in Sudan is more challenging than in most recent conflicts because of these factors. The plethora of armed groups involved in the violence means that security and access have been almost impossible to negotiate so far. Even Sudans Central Reserve Police are in reality also involved in the violence. Whether any truce between the army and RSF will hold depends on the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms adopted by the agreements sponsors. And other armed groups must be formally held to the same expectations. The consequences for failing to respect international humanitarian law should apply to all armed groups, who must also be included in negotiations. Technological solutions such as telemedicine and the use of drones and airdrops to deliver supplies, might help alleviate the challenges. If a truce can be made to holds (and this is a big if), it might also mean that the parties to the conflict will avoid shooting down aircraft or drones carrying supplies. The scale of the crisis, the costs of deploying such technologies (donors must be willing to fund this), and the unresolved ethical concerns surrounding their use, means this is an ambitious and complex plan. But the use of remote support to provide aid to civilians in warring Syria gives some hope. Meanwhile, no effort should be spared to finding and refining other solutions to improving access in Sudan. Otherwise, ordinary people will continue to suffer and time is running out. Nonhlanhla Dube, Lecturer in Operations Management, Lancaster University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Reddit 229 Email 395 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) After his historic meltdown of a presidential campaign announcement with notorious internet troll Elon Musk on a glitchy Twitter Spaces, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went on to have a conversation with former congressman Trey Gowdy, a kooky climate change denialist, on Fox News Wednesday night. In response to Gowdys question about whether he thought climate change was implicated in Floridas hurricanes, DeSantis said, Ive always rejected the politicization of the weather. He said that hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida and have not become more frequent. So reports John Bowden at The Independent. "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 Like many American politicians, DeSantis just does not understand the issues in human-caused climate change. First, it is climate that is at issue, not the weather. Climate is a long-term pattern. The weather is a one-off. It is shocking that someone who has governed Florida for years should be so ignorant in this matter, although since we prostitute our politicians in the United States he could just be repeating what his Big Oil pimps have instructed him to say. DeSantis quip about the hurricanes not being more frequent is beside the point. In fact, there has been an increase in the frequency of Atlantic basin hurricanes since 1970, but climate scientists do not attribute it to human emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. On the contrary, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, the scientists models project future decreases in Atlantic tropical storm frequency in response to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. (My emphasis). The problem is not more hurricanes. It is the intensity and destructiveness of what hurricanes the oceans do generate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finds that rainfall rates of tropical storms will increase because of human-generated greenhouse gases. Hotter oceans generate more water vapor in the air above them. If we drive the average surface temperature of the earth up by just 3.6 degrees F. (2 degrees C.) above pre-industrial levels, there will be an extra 10-15% of rain within 62 miles of the storm. More rainfall means great likelihood of flooding. Tropical storms will under those conditions also be as much as 10% more intense. There will also be an increase in the proportion of hurricanes and cyclones that reach category 4 and 5. Right now they are about 9% of tropical storms, but they will be a much bigger percentage as we burn more and more gasoline, fossil gas and coal. That, Mr. DeSantis, is bad. A category 4 hurricane has wind speeds of 130-156 miles per hour, enough to damage most homes and to snap most trees in half. A category 5 hurricane is defined as one that has wind speeds of 157 miles per hour and higher. It will flatten most framed houses, destroying roofs and walls, and mow down trees and electricity poles. Category 5 is as high as the Saffir-Simpson scale goes, but some climate scientists think we need to add a category 6 and a category 7. For instance, Hurricane Dorian crashed into the Bahamas in 2019 with sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts up to 220 mph, which Jeff Masters at the Scientific American thought merited a 6. Masters added, Only one hurricane in world history would rank as a category 7: Hurricane Patricia of 2015, which peaked with 215-mph sustained winds off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Moreover, the impact of increased wind speeds is not serial, it is exponential. A 150-mile-an-hour wind is on paper 20% stronger than a 125-mile-an-hour wind. In the real world, the 150-mile-an-hour wind is 73% more destructive. A similar principle is at work in automobile collisions, which is why speeding is so unwise, as this site points out: The laws of physics determine that the force of impact increases with the square of the increase in speed. So, if you double the speed of a car, you increase its force of impact four times. If you triple the speed, the impact is nine times as great. So the increase in the proportion of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes (and above) that the IPCC finds we will encounter in a 2C world is truly alarming. Moreover, quite apart from megastorms, Florida faces sea level rise because driving our cars and heating our homes and businesses is causing surface ice to melt at the poles. Higher seas feed into bigger storm surges when tempests make landfall, so the two issues are related. The threat is not the politicization of weather. Where human actions are turning the climate into Frankensteins monster, those actions should be the subject of politics. These actions are torts for which reparations can be demanded, as even the Roberts Supreme Court has admitted. Torts are always political. DeSantis wants glibly to sidestep this issue. As for the history of slavery, which most practicing historians teach as a matter of course, now that he wants to politicize. Reddit Email 44 Shares ( Tomdispatch.com ) In the Blindmans 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 theyre 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 governments torture program that followed the 9/11 disaster and the launching of the ill-fated war on terror. Weve been left to search in the dark for what so many of us sensed was there. Weve 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 governments efforts (or the lack thereof) to comply with its legal obligations with respect to the infliction of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Then, in 2004, the blindfold began to show some initial signs of wear. That spring, CBS Newss 60 Minutes II showed the first photographs of men held at Abu Ghraib, an American-controlled prison in Iraq. They were, among other things, visibly naked, hooded, shackled, and threatened by dogs. Those pictures sent journalists and legal advocates into a frenzied search for answers to how such a thing had happened in the wake of the Bush administrations invasion of Iraq. By that fall, they had obtained internal government documents exempting any war on terror captives from the usual legal protections from cruelty, abuse, and torture. Documents also appeared in which specific techniques of torture, renamed enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs), were authorized by top officials of the Bush administration. They would be used on prisoners in secret CIA locations around the world (119 men in 38 or more countries). None of this, however, yet added up to Tag! I found you! Senator Feinsteins Investigation Before George Bush left office, Senator Dianne Feinstein began a congressional investigation into the CIA interrogation program. In the Obama years, she would battle to mount a full-scale one into the torture program, defying most of her colleagues, who preferred to follow President Obamas advice to look forward as opposed to looking backwards. But Feinstein refused to back down (and we should honor her courage and dedication, even as we witness the present drama of her insistence on remaining in the Senate despite a devastating process of aging). Instead of retreating, Feinstein only doubled down and, as chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, launched an in-depth investigation into the torture programs evolution and the grim treatment of those prisoners at what came to be known as CIA black sites. Feinsteins investigator, Daniel Jones, spent years reading through six million pages of documents. Finally, in December 2014, her committee issued a 525-page executive summary of his findings. Yet his full report 6,700 pages with 35,300 footnotes remained classified on the grounds that, were the public to see it, national security might be harmed. Still, that summary convincingly laid out not just the widespread use of torture but how it proved not to be an effective means of obtaining accurate information. In doing so, it dismantled the CIAs justification for its EITs which rested on claims of their effectiveness. Meanwhile, Leon Panetta, Obamas director of the CIA, conducted an internal investigation into torture. Never declassified, the Panetta Review, as it came to be known, reportedly found that the CIA had inflated the value of the information it had gotten with the use of torture techniques. For example, in the brutal interrogation of the alleged mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the Agency claimed that those techniques had elicited information from him that helped thwart further terrorist plots. In fact, the information had been obtained from other sources. The review reportedly acknowledged that EITs were in no way as effective as the CIA had claimed. The Cultural Sphere In those years, bits of light from the cultural world began to illuminate the dark horror of those enhanced interrogation techniques. In 2007, after President Bush had acknowledged the use of just such techniques and had moved 14 detainees from the CIAs black sites to Guantanamo, his infamous offshore prison of injustice in Cuba, documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney directed Taxi to the Dark Side. It told the story of Dilawar, a taxi driver in Afghanistan who died in American custody after severe mistreatment. That film would be one of the earliest public exposes of cruelty and mistreatment in the war on terror. But such films didnt always yield doses of light. In 2012, for instance, Zero Dark Thirty, a movie heavily influenced by CIA advisers, argued that those harsh interrogations had helped keep America safer specifically by leading U.S. authorities to bin Laden, a meme often repeated by government officials. In fact, reliable information leading to bin Laden had been obtained without those techniques. Increasingly, however, films began to highlight the voices of those who had been tortured. The Mauritanian, for example, was based on Guantanamo Diary, a memoir by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a tortured Mauritanian held at that prison for 14 years. Slahi, never charged, was finally released and returned to Mauritania. As New York Times reporter Carol Rosenberg summed up his experience, The confessions he made under duress [were] recanted [and] a proposed case against him [was] deemed by the prosecutor to be worthless in court because of the brutality of the interrogation. Abu Zubaydah Last year, award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney once again gave us a film on torture, The Forever Prisoner, focused on a Guantanamo detainee, Abu Zubaydah, whose real name is Zayn al-Abidin Muhammed Husayn. On him, the CIA first tested its harsh interrogation techniques, claiming he was a leading member of al-Qaeda, an assumption later disproved. He remains one of only three Gitmo detainees neither charged by the military commissions at that prison, nor cleared for release. Nothing captures the futility of the blindfold or sometimes even the futility of lifting it more than Zubaydahs story, which was at the heart of the story of torture in these years. The Senate Select Committees 525-page executive summary referred to him no less than 1,343 times. Captured in Pakistan in 2002 and first taken to a series of black sites for interrogation, Zubaydah was initially believed to be the third highest-ranking member of al-Qaeda, a claim later abandoned, along with the allegation that he had even been a member of that terrorist organization. He was the detainee for whom enhanced interrogation techniques were first authorized by National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, relying in part on the Justice Departments greenlighting of such techniques as lawful rather than as torture (legally forbidden under both domestic and international law). Joe Margulies, Zubaydahs lawyer, summarized the horrific techniques used on him this way: His captors hurled him into walls and crammed him into boxes and suspended him from hooks and twisted him into shapes that no human body can occupy. They kept him awake for seven consecutive days and nights. They locked him, for months, in a freezing room. They left him in a pool of his own urine. They strapped his hands, feet, arms, legs, torso, and head tightly to an inclined board, with his head lower than his feet. They covered his face and poured water up his nose and down his throat until he began to breathe the water, so that he choked and gagged as it filled his lungs. His torturers then left him to strain against the straps as he began to drown. Repeatedly. Until, just when he believed he was about to die, they raised the board long enough for him to vomit the water and retch. Then they lowered the board and did it again. The torturers subjected him to this treatment at least eighty-three times in August 2002 alone. On at least one such occasion, they waited too long and Abu Zubaydah nearly died on the board. In addition, as Dexter Filkins reported in the New Yorker in 2016, Zubaydah lost his left eye while in CIA custody. As the Feinstein committees torture report makes clear, CIA personnel present at that black site cabled back to Washington the importance of erasing any information about the nature of Zubaydahs interrogation, implicitly acknowledging just how wrongful his treatment had been. The July 2002 cable asked for reasonable assurance that [Abu Zubaydah] will remain in isolation and incommunicado for the remainder of his life. CIA higher-ups assured the agents that all major players are in concurrence that [Abu Zubaydah] should remain incommunicado for the remainder of his life. Sadly enough, that promise has been kept to this very day. In 2005, CIA officials authorized the destruction of the tapes of Zubaydahs questioning and, never charged with a crime, he is still in Guantanamo. And yet, despite the promise that he would remain incommunicado, with each passing year we learn more about what was done to him. In October 2021, in fact, in the United States v. Zubaydah, the justices of the Supreme Court for the first time openly discussed his treatment and Justices Sonia Sotomayer, Neil Gorsuch, and Elena Kagan publicly used the word torture to describe what was done to him. Elsewhere as well, the blindfold has been shredded when it comes to the horror of torture, as ever more of Zubaydahs story continues to see the light of day. This May, the Guardian published a story about a report done by the Center for Policy and Research at Seton Hall University Law School that included a series of 40 drawings Zubaydah had made and annotated at Guantanamo. In them, he graphically depicted his torture at CIA black sites and at that prison. The images are beyond grotesque and, like a cacophonous symphony you cant turn off, its hard to witness them without closing your eyes. They show beating, shackling from the ceiling, sexual abuse, waterboarding, confinement in a coffin, and so much more. In one picture that he titled The Vortex, the techniques were combined as Zubaydah in a self-portrait cries out in agony. Attesting to the accuracy of the scenes he drew, the faces of his torturers have been blacked out by the authorities to protect their identities. As the Guardians Ed Pilkington reported, Helen Duffy, Mr. Zubaydahs international legal representative, highlighted how remarkable it was that his drawings had ever seen the light of day even though he hasnt been able to communicate directly with the outside world in all these endless years. Calls for Action In the years of the Biden presidency, the international community has focused on Guantanamo in unprecedented ways. In January 2022, after 20 years and well over 100 visits, the International Committee of the Red Cross (the ICRC) called for the release of as many of the remaining prisoners there as possible and, more recently, raised alarm over the failing health and premature aging of its 30 aging inmates. Recently, the United Nations carved out new ground as well. In April, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion condemning the brutality long used against Mr. Zubaydah and called for his immediate release. That group further noted that the continued detention of the prisoners at Guantanamo could potentially constitute crimes against humanity. With each passing year, ever more details about Washingtons torture programs have come to light. Yet, even now, ferocious attempts are still being made to keep the blindfold in place. As a result, to this day were left searching, arms extended, while those who have crucial information about this countrys nightmarish commitment to torture do their best to avoid us, hoping that the endless passage of time will keep them out of reach until we pursuers finally run out of energy. To this day, much still remains in darkness, while Congress and American policymakers continue to refuse to address the legacy of such wrongdoing. But as the constant dribble of information suggests, the story simply wont go away until, someday, the United States officially acknowledges what it did what, if others were now doing it, would be instantly denounced by the same lawmakers and policymakers. That history of torture wont go away, in fact, until this country apologizes for it, declassifies as much of the Feinstein report as possible, and provides for the rehabilitation of Abu Zubaydah and others whose physical and psychological health was savaged by their mistreatment at American hands. Its one thing to say, as Barack Obama told Congress a month into his presidency, that the United States does not torture. Its another to expose the misdeeds of the war on terror and accept the costs as deterrence against it ever happening again. Copyright 2023 Karen J. Greenberg Via Tomdispatch.com VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQX: LMGDF) (the "Company" or "Lumina") is pleased to announce that it has received the first US$12 million payment (the "First Early Deposit Payment") under the previously announced precious metals purchase agreement (the "Gold Stream") with Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd. ("Wheaton") in relation to its 100% owned Cangrejos gold-copper project located in El Oro Province, Ecuador (the "Project" or "Cangrejos"). The principal terms of the First Early Deposit Payment and the Gold Stream are as described in the Company's news release dated May 16, 2023, whereby Wheaton will pay a total of US$300 million to acquire 6.6% of the payable gold produced from the Project until 700,000 ounces of gold have been delivered, and 4.4.% thereafter, with US$48 million being paid as an early deposit pre-construction and US$252 million being paid during construction. The Company also wishes to clarify information disclosed in its May 16, 2023 news release, to revise the original statement from "Wheaton will pay a production payment representing 18.0% of the spot price of gold for the first 700,000 ounces and 22.0% of the spot price of gold thereafter" to "Wheaton will make ongoing payments for the gold ounces delivered equal to 18.0% of the spot price of gold until the uncredited deposit is reduced to nil and 22.0% of the spot price of gold thereafter". About Lumina Gold Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on the Cangrejos Gold-Copper Project located in El Oro Province, southwest Ecuador. In 2023, the Company completed a Preliminary Feasibility Study (the "PFS") for Cangrejos, which is the largest primary gold deposit in Ecuador. Lumina has an experienced management team with a successful track record of advancing and monetizing exploration projects. Follow us on: Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook. Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminagold.com/. To receive future news releases please sign up at https://luminagold.com/contact. LUMINA GOLD CORP. Signed: "Marshall Koval" Marshall Koval, President & CEO, Director 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the Company's decision and ability to develop the Project into a producing mine; payment by Wheaton of $300 million to Lumina and the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the Gold Stream; and the delivery to Wheaton of gold production in respect of the Project. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions; the prices of gold, copper and silver; the Company's ability to meet its obligations under the Gold Stream and other material agreements; the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies, including the PFS; the accuracy of slope guidance underlying the engineered pit design; estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves; anticipated costs and expenditures; future results of operations; ability to satisfy power infrastructure and water capacity requirements; availability and ability to procure personnel, machinery, supplies, and equipment from local sources where possible; the characteristics of the Project producing innate positive environmental impacts; tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the Project; the relationship between the Company and the local communities and its business partners; ability to operate in a safe and effective manner; and the success of exploration, development and processing activities. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to exploration activities and accurately predicting mineralization; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain necessary permits; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of 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); capital costs varying significantly from estimates; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; risks associated with the business of the Company; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; inflation and credit risks; risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) ("Austral" or "the Company") announces the retirement of Mr. Wayne Hubert, effective at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 May 2023. Under the Company's constitution and subject to his re-election at the Company's 2023 AGM, the Board has resolved to appoint Mr. Eduardo Elsztain (Vice Chair) as Non-Executive Chair. Mr. Hubert joined the Board in 2011 and has provided an invaluable dedication during his over twelve years as a Board member and three years as Executive Chair of the Company. Mr. Elsztain, Vice Chair of the Company's Board of Directors stated: "Wayne has made notable and meaningful contributions to the Company, leaving a positive and lasting impression. I express my gratitude for Wayne's dedicated service and extend my best wishes for his future endeavors." The Board has resolved to withdraw the following resolutions from the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of shareholders scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 May 2023: Resolution 2; and Resolution 9. The withdrawal of Resolutions 2 and 9 will not affect the validity of the proxy form attached to the Notice of Annual General Meeting nor any proxy votes already submitted in respect of the remaining resolutions to be put to shareholders for approval. Release approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Austral Gold, Stabro Kasaneva. For additional information please contact: Jose Bordogna Chief Financial Officer Austral Gold Limited This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +61 466 892 307 Gareth Quinn Media and Investor Relations Republic PR This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +61 417 711 108 Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include the Annual General Meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 May 2023 and under the Company's constitution and subject to his re-election at the Company's 2023 AGM, the Board has resolved to appoint Mr. Eduardo Elsztain (Vice Chair) as Non-Executive Chair. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, uncertainty of exploration programs, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets especially in light of the effects of the novel coronavirus,, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability 2ttarct and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on the ASX and on SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. About Austral Gold Austral Gold is a growing gold and silver mining producer building a portfolio of quality assets in the Americas. Austral continues to lay the foundation for its growth strategy by advancing its attractive portfolio of producing and exploration assets. OPERATIONS Guanaco and Amancaya mines, Antofagasta Province, Chile (100% interest) Open pit and underground. 2023 Forecast: 34,000-38,000 gold equivalent ounces Casposo/Manantiales Mine Complex, San Juan Province, Argentina (100% interest) Gold and silver mine currently in care and maintenance. Strategy is to restart profitable mining operations. EXPLORATION CHILE Paleocene Belt, Chile Guanaco District Amancaya District Las Pampa District ARGENTINA Triassic Choiyoi Belt Indio Belt Deseado Massif EQUITY INVESTMENTS VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of May 12, 2023, which announced the closing of the brokered portion of its previously announced financing for gross proceeds of $5-million (the "LIFE Offering"), the Company has now closed the final $11.25-million portion (the "Non-Brokered Private Placement") of its previously announced private placement offering of Common Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million (collectively, the "Offering"). The Offering, including the Non-Brokered Private Placement was first announced on May 1, 2023 and the Company further announced upsizings of the Non-Brokered Private Placement on May 3, 2023, and May 10, 2023, due to high demand. In connection with the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the Company has issued on May 26, 2023, an aggregate of 25,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company priced at $0.45 per Common Share. The Common Shares are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law, expiring September 27, 2023, being the date that is four months and one day following the date of issuance. The Offering has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million for the Company. As previously disclosed, in connection with the closing of the LIFE Offering portion of the Offering, the Company issued 11,111,111 common shares for a purchase price of $0.45 per common share. The common shares issued under the LIFE Offering were issued by way of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and are not subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). No finder's fees were applicable to the Non-Brokered Private Placement and, as previously disclosed, in connection with the LIFE Offering, Canaccord Genuity Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents that included Roth Canada Inc. (collectively the "Agents") received an aggregate cash fee equal to $250,000. The net proceeds of the Offering are intended to be used to advance Nevada King's development and exploration stage assets and for other general corporate purposes. The Offering remains subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals, including final approval of the TSX-V. The securities described herein 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 state securities laws, and 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 laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. Related Party Participation in the Non-Brokered Private Placement Certain insiders of the Company, namely Collin Kettell (CEO and Director), Paul Matysek (Executive Chairman), Craig Roberts (Director) and Bassam Moubarak (CFO), participated in the Non-Brokered Private Placement acquiring an aggregate of 5,244,444 Common Shares. The participation by insiders in the Non-Brokered Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Common Shares purchased by insiders, nor the consideration for the Common Shares paid by such insiders, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Non-Brokered Private Placement in an expeditious manner. The Offering was unanimously approved by the Company's board of directors. About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $21 million after closing of the Offering. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000s) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.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. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the TSX-V approval of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the use of proceeds with respect to the Offering, and the results of the mineral resource estimate on the project are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. 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 APPLE INC. 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 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. Hormisdas Nsengimana "Excuse me, but is this the trial of the accused or of the witness?" said Emmanuel Altit, the defence lawyer, on 22 May. In fact, there was little mention of the accused, Philippe Hategekimana, at the end of the afternoon at the Paris criminal court. The former Rwandan gendarme has been on trial since May 10 for acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in the Nyanza region in southern Rwanda in 1994. But this Monday, the witness present through video conference is a personality well known to international justice. Hormisdas Nsengimana, 68, a Catholic priest and former director of Christ the King College in Nyanza, was accused of genocide and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). He was eventually acquitted in 2009, the trial chamber finding that the evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficiently credible to prove beyond reasonable doubt the priest's guilt. This was a victory for his defence, which was then conducted before the UN tribunal by Altit, who is now Hategekimana's lawyer. But it was a scandal in the eyes of the Rwandan government and the victims' organisation Ibuka, also a civil party in the gendarme's trial. Now living in Italy, Nsengimana has known the accused almost all his life. As he recalled in his opening statement, he and Hategekimana were born in neighbouring villages in the south of the country. "I had the opportunity to be in contact with him at the time," said the priest in his nasal voice. The two men met again in Europe a few years ago, when the priest was visiting a colleague in Brittany. "He put me up for one night before I went back on my way," Nsengimana explained. "So you stayed in touch?" the president asked. "No, not really, it was my colleague who knew him. To say that I stayed in contact with him is excessive. We spoke on the phone from time to time. "I can't say who was an extremist or not Regarding the crimes that Hategekimana is accused of having committed in the Nyanza region in April 1994, the priest said: "I have never heard that the chief warrant officer was involved in the massacres. As I know him, he was a very balanced man and he spoke with people from both communities. He was not biased towards one ethnic group or another. Nsengimana said he had no real contact with Hategekimana during the genocide. A term he would never use, speaking of a "very tense situation". "I didn't go out much because the situation was very tense. But I had to go and buy food. And of course I would ask about the situation. When asked by a witness how he could be so sure that Hategekimana was mixing with both ethnic groups and remained "moderate," as the witness put it, he simply replied: "I told you, we grew up together. Faced with questions from the victims lawyers, he was however at pains to give the names of Tutsis that the accused had frequented, mentioning only one Hutu family that had hidden Tutsis and that Hategekimana, according to what he heard, had helped. Hategekimana is not the only one whom the priest considered to be 'moderate'. Of a worker at Christ the King College suspected by the ICTR of having been involved in several murders, he also said he thought he was "moderate", although he qualified: "My contact with him was limited. Did you know people who were extremists?" presiding judge Jean-Marc Lavergne finally asked. Frankly, I cannot judge anyone. Apart from the chief warrant officer, whom I knew to be moderate, I cannot say who was an extremist or not," the witness replied. In general, the priest said he knew little about what happened in the Nyanza region in April and May 1994, reiterating again and again that he "didn't go out much". Were there massacres in and around Nyanza? Listen, I personally did not go out to see if there were massacres or not. But everyone knows that there were massacres, I heard about them. Who was massacred? Tutsis. By whom? You're taking me very, very far here. I didn't go out so I can't tell you by whom! "I have been accused of many things but they were only rumours When the president of the court asked him about possible massacres committed by gendarmes in the region, the witness evaded. During my trial, I heard about acts committed by gendarmes but not about massacres. During your trial, were gendarmes implicated in the murders of people that you yourself were accused of having killed? A gendarme who committed murders, we didn't talk about that, no," Nsengimana finally replied after a silence. But we did talk about gendarmes who arrested people. The judge read an extract from the ICTR acquittal decision concerning him - in which it is recalled that his defence argued that the murder of an abbot in the parish church of Nyanza, of which Nsengimana was accused, had in fact been committed by a gendarme or a soldier. Then, faced with the witness's poor memory, he read other extracts in which the involvement of gendarmes in murders was mentioned. Each time, the priest justified himself - "I did not reread the judgment before coming to testify" - and showed his perplexity: "Yes, it reminds me something but I have the impression that there have been additions [to the text]. For nearly two hours, the accusations against the priest hovered over the hearing, feeding the questions of the president and later the civil parties. Murders of Tutsi clerics, of a pupil who came to seek refuge in his school, leading bloodthirsty armed groups... I was accused of many things, but the prosecutor could not produce any reliable witness," recalled Nsengimana, "they were only rumours. On the defence bench, Altit ended up being irritated that the witness he had called was being tried again. The president replied that he felt it was necessary to assess his credibility. "In this case, I reserve the right to tell the witness not to answer these questions because it is self-incrimination," the lawyer said. Self-incrimination of what?" the prosecutor Celine Viguier retorted. He was acquitted! And the president asked that these untimely interruptions stopped. "Was there genocide in Rwanda? When it was the turn of the civil parties, the lawyers tried in turn to find out how Hormisdas Nsengimana could have travelled to Nyanza and as far as Butare to meet his bishop (a Tutsi, according to the priest, who advised him to "stay quiet in his school") without seeing with his own eyes the massacres in progress. "No, I didn't see any victims near the roadblocks, fortunately," replied Nsengimana. But Richard Gisagara, one of the lawyers for the civil parties, asked the same question he had asked the week before to another acquitted ICTR witness, General Augustin Ndindiliyimana: "Was there genocide in Rwanda? To this, the former chief of staff of the Rwandan gendarmerie, acquitted on appeal in 2014, had replied on May 16: "I cannot deny the genocide since it was recognised by the ICTR. As for me, I think that people died. Hutus died, Tutsis died. Ndindiliyimana had also insisted on the need to set up roadblocks back in 1994 in order to flush out "infiltrators" of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the rebellion that took power in July 1994, ending the genocide. The prosecutor reminded him of the many civilians killed at these checkpoints, and the general replied: "We should have given clearer instructions, but that was not the case. On May 22, facing Nsengimana, Mr Gisagara took the offensive again: "You speak of a 'troubled', 'very tense' period; do you recognise today that it was a genocide? "The question has been decided by the ICTR," said the priest. And when another lawyer for the civil parties repeated the question, the clergyman got angry. "I repeat, the issue has been decided by the ICTR. We're not going back to that!" he exclaimed. Philippe Hategekimana, sunken in his seat in the dock, then seemed to have been forgotten. "Dr. Romantic 3" lead star Ahn Hyo Seop is meeting his fans in Asia as he is confirmed for a fan meeting tour! Read on to know the details. Ahn Hyo Seop To Hold Fan Meeting Tour in Asia On May 25, Ahn Hyo Seop's agency The Present Company announced that the actor will have his first-ever Asian tour project. It has been said that the event is prepared for fans who have not been able to see him due to the continuous work schedules and COVID-19. Ahn Hyo Seop's Asia Fan Meeting tour will begin in Seoul on July 16. Adding to his next stops are Tokyo, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Jakarta. The schedule of his visits to these countries is yet to be confirmed. The official poster for his upcoming tour will be released soon on The Present Company's social media accounts. According to the agency: "We will be on an Asian tour thanks to the love and support that each one of you sends to Ahn Hyo Seop in his works including 'Dr. Romantic 3,' 'Business Proposal,' and more." The heartthrob is currently starring in the third installment of the famous medical-romance series "Dr. Romantic." He plays the role of Seo Woo Jin and receives consistent support from his fans as he returns to primetime. What's Next for Ahn Hyo Seop: 'Into Your Time' & 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Ahn Hyo Seop will have a jam-packed schedule in the coming months as he is booked to have his immediate drama comeback in the third quarter of the year with Netflix's "Into Your Time." It's the Korean Adaptation of the famous Taiwanese drama "Someday or One Day." The actor will join forces for the first time with "Vincenzo" actress Jeon Yeo Bin and "The Red Sleeve" actor Kang Hoon. Ahn Hyo Seop is also being courted to star in a new movie with Lee Min Ho. On May 3, a media outlet revealed that both actors received casting offers to appear in the web novel-based project "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint," and they are positively reviewing the script. If the "Business Proposal" actor accepts the offer, it will be his first silver screen work since his debut in 2015. For now, catch Ahn Hyo Seop in "Dr. Romantic 3," which airs every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. (KST) on SBS. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Ahn Hyo Seop To Make Movie Debut With Lee Min Ho? Here's What We Know What can you say about Ahn Hyo Seop's upcoming fan meeting tour? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Song Joong Ki's new movie "Hopeless" instantly garnered the audience's attention after making its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2023. The Hallyu star made his Cannes Film Festival debut after the noir movie, directed and written by Kim Chang Hoon, was invited for the Un Certain Regard section screening. Song Joong Ki arrived at the red carpet looking dapper as ever with his black suit, alongside co-stars BIBI, Hong Sa Bin, "Hopeless" director, production company Mani Pictures CEO Han Jae Deok, and Hwang Ki Yong, the CEO of Song Joong Ki's agency, HighZium Studio, and co-producer of the film. 'Hopeless' Starring Song Joong Ki Lauded at Cannes Film Festival 2023 According to a media outlet, the noir movie made its premiere at the Debussy Theater in Cannes, France. Besides the crowd showing much enthusiasm as Song Joong Ki and the cast entered the area, "Hopeless" recorded full seats right before the screening. although Cannes has the spotlight for Spain, but to me it belongs to Korean Cinema! Yesterday we got 'Project Silence' (Kim Tae-gon) 'Sleep' (Jason Yu) and today 'HOPELESS' (Kim Chang-hoon) -- and they are all awesome! pic.twitter.com/B34ZXnIu2W SG (@shandygasella) May 24, 2023 In addition, some guests had to stand and watch the show due to lack of available seats. After the movie ended, the audience gave the show a standing ovation as viewers showed their enthusiastic appreciation for the film. Why Song Joong Ki's Movie 'Hopeless' is Worth Watching In the second half of 2022, outlets confirmed that the Hallyu star had agreed to headline an upcoming low-budget movie. At the time, Song Joong Ki agreed to star in "Hopeless," also known as "Hwaran," with no guarantee. This means he decided to join without pay. According to an outlet, that is because the actor believes in the film's artistic quality. As mentioned, "Hopeless" depicts the story of Yeon Gyu (Hong Sa Bin), a 17-year-old boy whose mission is to escape his life. However, his life changes after meeting an organization boss named Chi Geon (Song Joong Ki). Meanwhile, BIBI takes on the role of Yeon Gyu's sister, Ha Yan. In the same outlet, Song Joong Ki revealed why he accepted the offer to play the lead role. For him, he sees "Hopeless" as a challenging project that feels new to him. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Song Joong Ki Talks About Debut at Cannes Film Festival, Baby With Katy Louise Saunders "I'm looking forward to the competitive and passionate set that we will create together with the director and actors," he added. Why Did Song Joong Ki Attend Cannes Film Festival 2023 Red Carpet Without Katy Louise Saunders? Song Joong Ki's wife, Katy Louise Saunders, garnered the attention of the media after the couple was spotted around France. Unfortunately, it was only Song Joong Ki who arrived on the red carpet. As mentioned by a news portal, the British actress is in full-term pregnancy, making her unable to attend the event. 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 reportedly experienced being disrespected by a civilian while leaving the police station. After the actor went to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) for the warrant of arrest review, the award-winning star was transferred to the Mapo Police Station detention center as he awaited the court rulings. It was after he completed his arrest examination at 12:40 p.m. on May 24 and was transferred to the detention center with both hands tied and escorted by the police. Unidentified Person Throws Coffee Bottle at Yoo Ah In According to a report, he was attacked by a disgruntled civilian while leaving the detention center. As he was about to enter his car, Yoo Ah In, who was surrounded by his bodyguards, was hit with a coffee bottle. His initial reaction was to turn around and check who it was, but instead, his bodyguard guided him inside the vehicle. Yoo Ah In Assures Public He Will 'Cooperate' With the Investigation On the same day, Yoo Ah In briefly spoke to the media outside the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) and the Mapo Police Station detention center. The "Seoul Vibe" star expressed his regrets for using illegal drugs and promised to cooperate with the investigation. "I will cooperate faithfully in the remaining processes and reveal all that I can," he said, adding, "I don't think it is a decision I can make (on whether he should have been arrested)." Moreover, the actor said that he would "respect the court's decision." Court Dismisses Yoo Ah In's Warrant of Arrest After hours of waiting, the court has released its decision regarding the police request for an arrest warrant. As mentioned in a report, the court dismissed the request filed by the police, noting that a warrant of arrest was "unnecessary." "It is difficult to conclude that there are fears of [Yoo] fleeing or destroying evidence beyond his self-defense rights. It is also hard to justify the reasons and the need for an arrest," the court said, as noted by a media outlet. In addition, the court pointed out that the actor admitted most of the charges against him, which include using illegal drugs. As for the claim of the police regarding tampering with or destroying the evidence, the court said that "evidence had been collected," so an arrest warrant was not needed. To recall, Yoo Ah In admitted to part of the accusations against him but denied that he tried to help his accomplice, who is a writer and a close friend, leave the country. Because of this, it led the police to seek an arrest warrant, as well as when Yoo Ah In dodged the second private summon twice. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Yoo Ah In Update: Actor Attempted to Help Accomplice Leave the Country, Says Authorities For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Ugandan traders have renewed their demands to Parliament seeking compensation of 15 million US dollars which is approximately (57.535 billion shillings) from the government for losses they incurred during the armed insurgency in neighboring South Sudan. The 160 traders led by Rashid Manafa, under their umbrella body, Joint Action for the Redemption of Ugandan Traders in South Susan, lost their goods and now want President Museveni and the president of South Sudan Salva Kiir to intervene in the matter He says for the last 10 years, they have been demanding to be paid but all in vain. Parliaments Committee on Trade, Tourism, and Industries has intervened in the matter. In May 2019, the 10th Parliament approved Shs900 billion to have the traders compensated but only 10 companies have so far been compensated. However, the spokesperson for Kampalas Capital City Traders Association, Isa Sekito asked President Museveni to directly intervene in the matter. The Chief of Defence Forces, General Wilson Mbadi has promised to address welfare gaps including availing more accommodation units for soldiers. General Mbadi made the remarks while launching the 3rd Annual Units Mobilisation of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces at 3rd Division headquarters, Moroto Army Barracks. The CDF also promise to improve soldiers health facilities, access to the Defence Forces Duty-Free shops and gradual increment of their salaries. This comes amid growing concern over the poor pay for the members of the armed forces which has partly been blamed by mental health experts, for the recent spate of gun violence in the country. A UPDF soldier recently went on rampage and shot dead Labour state minister Charles Engola, before turning the gun on himself over alleged welfare concerns, claims the army has since denied. Addressing troops in Moroto district, the CDF said the 3rd annual units mobilisation exercise is aimed at increasing ideological awareness and securing frameworks that liberate the minds of officers, militants, Defence workers and families. We are here to enhance within the whole body of the UPDF our tested revolutionary methods of work in order to ensure an efficient and efficacious Peoples force, oriented on conscious discipline, following our Commander-in-Chief and President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Gen Yoweri Kaguta Musevenis units tour in 2019, he noted The CDF urged the troops to refocus on the UPDFs mandate which is to defend and protect the people and territorial integrity of Uganda, and to ensure the inviolability of the peoples rights ,rule of law and good governance in order to facilitate prosperity. Meanwhile, Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, the 3 Division Deputy Commander highlighted the achievements of the disarmament operation (Usalama Kwa Wote ) as it has resulted into the relative calm that is prevailing in Karamoja Sub-region and greater Eastern Uganda. He promised that once a few tactical challenges are addressed, with the guidance of executive order number three (3) of 2023 dated 19 May 2023 on disarmament operation issued by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the, total peace and normalcy shall be restored in Karamoja and neighbouring Sub-regions to create desired conditions for socio-economic transformation. The CDF unit mobilisation exercise is an annual activity that was introduced in December 2020. To conduct this annual nationwide mobilization exercise, different teams from UPDF strategic headquarters in close coordination and harmony with tactical commanders traverse and visit different formations and units of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces. By Catherine Ageno The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights, and the European Court of Human Rights have convened for the third biennial Forum in San Jose, Costa Rica. The forum that runs from May 25-26th shows the success of the inaugural session held in Kampala, Uganda in 2019. According to the African Court president Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, the Forum aims to strengthen the bonds of judicial collaboration among these three regional human rights courts. In a statement, Justice Aboud highlights the Forums significance in promoting open and constructive dialogue, with the ultimate goal of advancing human rights protection and upholding the rule of law on both regional and global scales. Facilitating the exchange of best practices and fostering a common understanding of human rights issues across diverse contexts is of utmost importance for human rights courts, emphasized President Aboud. The Inter-American Court, as the host, anticipates that the Third Edition will serve as a platform for further dialogue and enhanced cooperation among the regional human rights courts, strengthening their collective impact. The historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the three Regional CCourts was signed during the inaugural meeting on October 29, 2019, in Kampala, Uganda, held under the theme; Operationalizing the International Human Rights Forum and Enhancing Jurisprudential Dialogue. The Second Edition, organized by the European Court of Human Rights, took place on March 25, 2021, in Strasbourg, France. Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has put schools across the country on notice over the deadline for the registration of students for the forthcoming end-of-cycle examinations which is fast approaching. UNEB set May 31st as the deadline for the normal registration of candidates for Primary Leaving Examinations, Uganda Certification of Education, and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. According to the UNEB Principle Communication Officer, Jenipher Kalule, parents will be required to pay a 100 % surcharge for PLE and 50% for UCE and UACE if the candidates are registered in June after the official Wednesday deadline and will be required to pay 100% surcharges in July By Nation The Ugandan military says it is investigating an attack on an African Union military base manned by the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) in Bulo Marer town in Somalia on Friday morning. UPDF spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told The Nation Africa that the attack was carried out by foreign insurgents without giving further details He said they were cross-checking the information with the African union transition mission in Somalia (ATMIS) headquarters before issuing a statement. Read more With less than 2 years to the start of another general election season, a group of political party youth leaders is calling for full inclusion of youth and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral processes. The youth are pushing for electoral reforms that will guarantee their right to vote as provided for under Article 59 of the Constitution. Addressing a joint news conference in Kampala this morning, Derick Namakajjo Chairperson of the African Youth Development Link said that although the legal and structural framework supports youth and Persons With Disabilities participation in the electoral process, they have identified some barriers in the legal, policy, and administrative management of elections. These, he says hinders effective participation of youth and persons with disabilities that need the attention of the relevant stakeholders. These barriers are generated from the election observation report for African Youth Development Link for the 2021 general elections and a series of post elections engagements with youth and persons with disabilities conducted in the districts of Arua, Budaka, Abim, Mayuge, Amuria, Kabale, Kanungu, Masaka and at national level in Kampala in 2021 and 2022, said Mr. Namakajjo. The youth leaders cite one of the barriers as denial of the right to vote by the Electoral College system which only allows participation of just a few, recommending that parliament amends the National Youth Council Act to allow direct youth elections with the aim of amplifying youth voices in electoral democracy. Namakajjo also raised concern over the high nomination fees for Parliamentary and Local Government candidature saying the Shs 3,000,000m is out of reach for the ordinary PWDs and youth aspiring to be nominated as candidates for a Parliamentary election. The group has also asked the Electoral Commission to take the initiative to register all PWD eligible voters to establish and maintain a national database of all eligible PWDs voters. The absence of disaggregated data on persons with disabilities suffocates proper planning by the Electoral Commission to redress disability electoral needs for the promotion of an inclusive electoral process. Accurate statistics guide the planner to determine the mode of message for relay to the disability community and optimal quantities of electoral materials in accessible formats for an inclusive electoral process, he said. The youth have also noted that there has not been adequate inclusion of PWDs in the political party structures except for the National Resistance Movement which has an arm of PWDs structures that runs from the village to the National level. We therefore recommend that political parties ensure the inclusion of PWDs in their structures considering the registration and overseer roles played by the Electoral Commission to the political parties, Mr. Namakajjo added. There is no clear objective to deliver a South East Technological University (SETU) student campus in Kilkenny City contained within the newly published SETU Strategic Plan 2023-2028. This is despite plans contained within the same document to develop a new campus building in Wexford, a University-Enterprise Quarter in Waterford and new buildings at the Carlow campus. Mayor of Kilkenny, David Fitzgerald, described the SETU Strategic Plan as very disappointing from a Kilkenny perspective. The failure to identify the need for a dedicated Kilkenny campus with full faculty support ignores Kilkennys role as a key stakeholder in the South-East region, he told the Kilkenny People. Fears The plan talks in generalities about the region while failing to address the specific needs of students in Kilkenny. If implemented, this plan confirms my worst fears that SETU is simply a rebranding exercise for Waterford and Carlow IT. The plan was formally launched earlier this week in the Tirlan building in the Abbey Quarter, an area that was, ironically, previously mooted as a potential site for a SETU student campus in Kilkenny City. Just last year, former Kilkenny County Council Chief Executive Colette Byrne stated that the Abbey Quarter Partnership would be engaging with SETU to understand how Kilkenny could assist in delivering its own student campus. Despite the promising signs back then, there have been no further indications since of any progress in establishing a student campus in the Abbey Quarter, or at any other site in the city. This lack of progress has been echoed by the reluctance in this latest SETU Strategic Plan to commit to even exploring the possibility of a new student campus in Kilkenny City. Instead, SETUs objective is to establish a working group to explore how SETU can support specific activity based in Kilkenny. SETU President, Professor Veronica Campbell, stated prior to the plans launch that SETU already have a strong presence in Kilkenny through the ArcLabs facility in St Kierans and Teagasc in Kildalton. We have commenced detailed scoping discussions with Kilkenny County Council to identify future opportunities that can add value to the new university and to the city and county, she said. We look forward to working with our partners in Kilkenny County Council and across other sectors to expand Kilkenny-based SETU activity. Tanaiste Micheal Martin today announced an agreement by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to purchase almost 1000 hectares of upland habitat in County Cavan as part of the worlds first cross-border Geopark. The site, near Cuilcagh Mountain in County Cavan, will be managed to help the State meet its nature and biodiversity action plans, and significantly benefit the work of the Geopark. Announcing the acquisition plans on a visit to the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark today, Tanaiste, Micheal Martin said: Given the unique conservation value and remarkable concentration of upland habitats and species at this site, I am very pleased to announce that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has reached an agreement to purchase almost a 1000 hectares of land, which will allow them, and Cavan County Council, to support the aims of the Geopark, and protect the nature and biodiversity that is such a remarkable characteristic of this area. Through the Governments Shared Island Local Authority scheme, we are supporting development of a Cuilcagh Lakelands GeoPark plan for biodiversity conservation, climate action and regenerative tourism. I look forward to seeing that work completed later this year and to a deepening cross-border partnership on the Geopark, for the benefit of communities in this unique cross-border landscape. Ownership of these lands on behalf of the Irish people will enhance important cross-border initiatives by local authorities and communities, and provide an unrivalled opportunity for the conservation of an exceptional range of protected upland habitat and species, thereby making a significant contribution toward the State's obligations in nature protection and biodiversity. Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Niall O Donnchu, said: I am delighted that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is partnering with Cavan County Council to deliver significant benefits for nature and communities in the Cuilcagh Lakelands area. The wonderful teams at the Geopark and the two local authorities in Cavan and Fermanagh, combined with the expertise and experience of the NPWS North Midlands Division, will be a powerful combination ensuring this landscape of such outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity is managed and shared for the benefit of the public and local communities for generations to come. CUILCAGH Extending from Co. Cavan across the Northern Ireland border in Co. Fermanagh, Cuilcagh mountain and its surroundings are ecologically important and unique because of the extent and variety of upland habitats that occur and the species that these habitats support. A region of extraordinary natural beauty, the Geopark has huge potential as a venue for education, recreation, outreach and appreciation of the value of nature and biodiversity. Jointly managed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council, the Geopark aims to facilitate strong cross-border cooperation and management and allow for the development and nurturing of positive cultural links, integrated ways of working and collaborative and collective planning and decision-making for the future. Cuilcagh Lakelands Geoparks mission is to nurture and protect the local area to ensure it provides a solid social, environmental and economic platform for the surrounding communities enabling them to live in balance with their surroundings. The number of people accessing emergency accommodation in Kilkenny currently stands at thirty-six (36), according to the latest monthly report from the Department of Housing. This figure is down from the forty (40) people recorded accessing emergency accommodation in Kilkenny in the previous monthly report. A total of 12,259 people nationally accessed emergency homeless accommodation during the last week of April, the highest level ever recorded by the Department of Housing. The overall figure includes 3,594 children across a total of 1,733 families. Focus said it showed the first impacts of the ending of the temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions. June 2022 - 10,492 July 2022 - 10,568 August 2022 - 10,805 September 2022 - 10,975 October 2022 - 11,397 November 2022 - 11,542 December 2022 - 11,632 January 2023 - 11,754 February 2023 - 11,742 March 2023 - 11,988 April 2023 - 12,259 Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said the most deeply worrying trend is the further increase in the number of homeless children. This crisis is affecting not only the most vulnerable but individuals and families of all ages from different backgrounds. Their lives are put on hold as they anxiously navigate a broken housing system with supply never lower and rents that exclude those on lower incomes. As a nation we have failed all of those who call Ireland their home and numerous governments over the last 10 years have not listened to Focus Irelands advice. The Simon Communities said the figures represent an unprecedented number of people experiencing the trauma of homelessness. Wayne Stanley, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: Sadly, we are not surprised to see the number of people in homeless emergency accommodation rise to over 12,000 this month but we have to be shocked that the situation has been allowed to get to this point. He said the recent announcement of projected surpluses show that Budget 2024 will be an opportunity for the Government to reprioritise addressing the homeless and housing crisis through the effective use of available resources. Its an opportunity that cannot be missed and requires focus, planning and an all of Government response. Sinn Fein housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin called on Government to immediately reinstate the ban on no-fault evictions. This is a very significant increase in homelessness in the first month since the ending of the ban on no-fault evictions. He said Government did not have emergency measures in place to deal with the ending of the ban. The tenant-in-situ scheme is still moving too slowly. The output of social and affordable homes is too slow. No additional supply of social housing using emergency planning and procurement powers has even been initiated. He said Government must change its approach to this ever deepening homeless crisis before things get even worse. 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) - Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, has received regulatory approval from the Thai government to operate as a crypto exchange. The company announced on Friday that their new Gulf Binance venture has secured a Digital Asset Operator license in Thailand, giving them their first regulated business in Southeast Asia. Gulf Binance is a joint venture between Binance and Gulf Innova, the Thai subsidiary holding company Gulf Energy. With the license, Gulf Binance will be able to move forward with plans to open a digital asset exchange and digital asset broker that are regulated by Thailands Securities and Exchange Commission. Binance and Gulf Innova reached a joint venture agreement in 2022 and worked with Thailands regulators to ensure the formation of a compliant-first exchange that meets the countrys requirements. We are grateful and honored to be granted digital asset operator licenses for Gulf Binance in Thailand, said Richard Teng, Binances Head of Asia, Europe, and MENA. Local users can expect access to a trusted and regulated service that prioritizes user security alongside compliance with local regulations. Teng added that Gulf Binances Thai users will benefit from the combination of Binance's digital assets expertise and Gulf Innovas established local presence and network, and referred to Thailand as a country with a thriving crypto space that has demonstrated strong commitment in embracing blockchain technology. Todays announcement concludes a long saga for Binance in the country, one which saw the Thai SEC file a criminal complaint against the cryptocurrency exchange on July 2, 2021, accusing them of operating a digital asset exchange without a license. The crypto giants regulatory problems continue in other jurisdictions, however. On March 31, Japans Financial Service Agency (FSA) sent letters to multiple exchanges, including Binance, warning them that they are violating the countrys laws by operating without a license. The FSA issued its first formal warning letter to Binance back in 2021. And on March 27, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit accusing Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao of operating illegally in the country for years. The CFTC has been investigating Binance since 2021 on allegations that it has allowed U.S. residents to use the exchange to buy and sell crypto derivatives. Current laws require any entity offering such services to U.S. citizens to register with the CFTC. Since the launch of its platform in 2017, Binance has taken a calculated, phased approach to increase its United States presence despite publicly stating its purported intent to block or restrict customers located in the United States from accessing its platform, the filing charges. All the while, Binance, Zhao, and Lim, the platforms former Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), have each known that Binances solicitation of customers located in the United States subjected Binance to registration and regulatory requirements under U.S. law. The filing also alleges that Binance purposefully obscures the identities and locations of the entities operating on the trading platform, and actively facilitated violations of U.S. law, including by assisting and instructing customers located in the United States to evade the compliance controls Binance purported to implement to prevent and detect violations of U.S. law. UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Reuters) - A deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian Black Sea ports has not yet resumed full operations, the United Nations said on Friday, having come to a halt before Russia's decision last week to extend it. The pact called the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July with Russia and Ukraine to try to ease a global food crisis aggravated by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, covers three ports, but no ships have been authorized to travel to Pivdennyi (Yuzhny) port since April 29, the U.N. said. The United Nations and Turkey "are working closely with the rest of the parties with the aim to resume full operations ... and lift all impediments that obstruct operations and limit the scope of the Initiative," the U.N. said in a statement. Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of effectively cutting Pivdennyi port out of the Black Sea deal as Russia complained that it had been unable to export ammonia via a pipeline to Pivdennyi under the agreement. The U.N. said on Friday that the Black Sea deal also provides for the exports of fertilizer, including ammonia, but "there have been no such exports so far." "Russia is ready without delay, in a matter of days, to launch the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, while Kyiv has been stalling it for almost a year, imposing new conditions," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday. A Ukrainian government source told Reuters last week 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. LOW INSPECTION Under the Black Sea grain export agreement a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul - made up of officials from the Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the U.N. - authorizes ships and conducts inbound and outbound inspections of the vessels. "According to information shared by the Ukrainian delegation with the parties at the JCC, there are 54 vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports. Out of these, 11 applications have been shared with the JCC for registration," the U.N. said. No new ships were registered on Thursday by the JCC, but two were agreed on Friday, the U.N. said, adding that there are currently 13 vessels loading in Ukrainian ports - six in Chornomorsk and seven in Odesa. It also said that the average number of daily inbound and outbound inspections had dropped to 3.2 during May - the lowest level since operations began in August. 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. It made the same threat and demands in March, before agreeing last week to renew it for 60 days. Russia appears to have prioritized two specific demands: restarting the pipeline to transport Russian ammonia to the Ukraine's Pivdennyi port for export to global markets; and reconnecting Russia's agricultural bank, known as Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payment network. 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. ZURICH, May 26 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) should soon repay the emergency liquidity that the Swiss government gave the stricken bank to aid its rescue, Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said in an interview published on Friday. The country's second biggest lender was given access to 200 billion Swiss francs - half of which was covered by government guarantees - as part of its state orchestrated rescue in March. The bank has already paid back some of the 170 billion francs of loans, which included 100 billion francs in liquidity support from the Swiss National Bank (SNB). "I cannot answer about the part of the liquidity support that came from the SNB without a federal guarantee," Keller Sutter told Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger. "The liquidity assistance secured by federal guarantees currently amounts to 5 billion francs. I believe that that should be fully repaid soon." The government had also made a profit of a bit more than 100 million francs from its support, Keller Sutter said, citing the commitment premium and from the risk premiums attached to the loans. The minister welcomed an upcoming parliamentary investigation into Credit Suisse's collapse, saying it should have a broad mandate to look into the long-term causes of the bank's problems. She also said there would be a shake-up of financial regulation and oversight in Switzerland. "Nothing will not happen. I can already take a position on one point: the financial market supervisory authority, FINMA, certainly needs to be strengthened," she said. "For example, through the authority to impose fines or even a senior management system, which is already in place in the Anglo-Saxon world. Today, it is legally almost impossible to hold anyone accountable for gross failure." (This story has been corrected to say second biggest lender, not biggest lender, in paragraph 2) 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) - The European Unions financial markets regulator has warned investment companies that they must ensure their clients are aware that digital assets like cryptocurrency will remain unregulated in most jurisdictions for the time being. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a statement on Thursday directing financial firms operating in the EU to proactively inform their customers of the regulatory status of the products they offer, with crypto a particular area of concern. Specifically on crypto assets, while the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is close to adoption, crypto assets offered by investment firms will continue to be unregulated in most jurisdictions until MiCA applies, they wrote. Some Member States have domestic legislation and specialist regimes in place which can provide protections for investors in relation to investment firms selling unregulated products and/or services. However, specialist regimes may not exist in all Member States and may also not address all unregulated products encountered. On May 16, the EUs landmark MiCA bill reached another milestone as the finance ministers of all 27 member states voted to approve it. The European Parliament previously approved MiCA on April 20, with 517 members of parliament voting in favor and 38 voting against it. MiCA is a comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation, but its implementation will be carried out in phases. While provisions related to stablecoins could come into force by July 2024, many of the other provisions wont take effect until January 2025 at the earliest. The ESMA said that until MiCA is fully implemented across the EU, when investment firms offer both regulated and unregulated products and services there is a significant risk that investors may misunderstand the protections they are afforded when investing in those unregulated products and/or services, and may believe that the protections of the regulated ones apply to the unregulated ones. The regulator is also concerned that the investment firms reputation, or halo effect, may often serve to provide potentially misguided reassurance in relation to the unregulated products and/or services offered by that investment firm, although such products may present heightened risks relating to complexity, illiquidity or even fraud. They suggested that Some investment firms may encourage the confusion between regulated and unregulated products and services. The ESMA recommends that investment firms take all necessary measures to ensure that clients are fully aware of the regulatory status of the product/service they are receiving, and that they clearly disclose to clients when regulatory protections do not apply to the product or service provided. They also directed firms to clearly and effectively communicate the regulatory status of each product at every stage of the sales process; to ensure all product information is fair, clear and not misleading; to never use the firms regulatory status as a promotional tool; and to ensure the information on their website about unregulated activities is clearly distinguished from regulated activities. Even as MiCA moves forward, EU legislators have more work ahead as several important sectors of the cryptocurrency ecosystem are not addressed in the bill, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Reactions from regulators since MiCAs passage in April have been largely positive, with some focusing on the ways it can be implemented while others see inspiration in it for their own jurisdictions. On May 11, European Banking Authority (EBA) Chair Jose Manuel Campa said he wants central banks to use their powers under MiCA to veto big stablecoins if they believe the cryptocurrencies could threaten their monetary policy. Campa's agency will be directly responsible for supervising major issuers under MiCA. In addition to requiring stablecoin issuers to obtain a license and hold suitable reserves, the legislation allows central banks to intervene on companies proposals to issue new stablecoins, referred to in MiCA as asset-referenced tokens. It will also require the issuance of the stablecoins to cease if the tokens reach over 1 million transactions per day. Newrange Gold (TSXV: NRG) announced yesterday 8it is acquiring Mithril Resources in an all-share deal valued at C$10.9 million (US$8.01 million). Newrange is an exploration company focused on a district-scale exploration for precious metals in the Red Lake District of north-western Ontario, Canada. Mithril is an exploration company listed on the ASX with a current focus on the pre-development Copalquin Gold-Silver Project in Durango State, Mexico. The two signed a binding agreement for a proposed friendly business combination. Newrange President & CEO, Robert Archer, touted the deal. We are very pleased to have entered into the Definitive Agreement with Mithril as this merger represents a new beginning for Newrange shareholders. Not only does the Copalquin Gold-Silver Project bring tremendous value and upside potential but the combined experience of the new management team and board will provide a strong foundation for future growth in the Americas," said Archer in a news release. "Exploration and development in the prolific Red Lake District of Ontario is still active and we intend to capitalize on that with further work on our Argosy Gold Mine and North Birch Projects. Having projects in two leading mining jurisdictions such as Mexico and Canada provides diversity and lowers the risk for shareholders while increasing the discovery potential." SANTIAGO, May 26 (Reuters) - Chile's state-owned mining company Codelco and SQM will hold a meeting next week to discuss a new lithium contract where Codelco will have majority control, company executives said Friday. "We agreed to formalize a meeting that will start next week," SQM CEO Ricardo Ramos told reporters after meeting with Codelco's Chairman, Maximo Pacheco, in Santiago. He added that the company has a common vision with Codelco in the development of salt flats and will work hard to achieve a new agreement in line with the government's goal to take control over the country's lithium industry. Pacheco said the two companies outlined the main topics of negotiation and agreed to meet regularly. He reiterated that Codelco will have a majority control in the new public-private partnership. "We've put a very clear condition that Codelco is going to enter this association and will be a part of this joint venture in a position of majority control," Pacheco said. "It's going to be an extremely complicated negotiation," he said, adding that he hopes talks will "bear fruit" this year. In a statement released after the meeting, Codelco said any agreement will need to be approved by the board of Codelco and Corfo, Chile's state development office which currently issues lithium contracts. In a separate statement, SQM said it expects negotiations to be confidential and will refrain from commenting publicly until the final documents are signed or "negotiations are terminated." (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Editing by Andrea Ricci) LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - Just over 30% of Glencore's investors rejected the company's climate progress report at its annual meeting on Friday, demanding more clarity on how the global miner will meet its commitments to cut emissions. Around 29% of shareholders also backed a shareholder resolution seeking more disclosure on progress in scaling back thermal coal production. Many of the world's biggest listed companies published their first climate action plans in 2020 to cut emissions in a bid to help with reaching the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of capping temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Glencore mines and trades thermal coal, used to generate electricity, and has said it plans to run down its mines by the mid-2040s, closing at least 12 by 2035. Its strategy to responsibly phase out the fossil fuel signalled a divergence from peers Anglo American and Rio Tinto , which had sold or spun out coal assets, and had been welcomed by shareholders in 2021. But some have expressed concern this year over how much Glencore is disclosing about its thermal coal output plans. Britain's largest asset manager Legal & General Investment Management and the fund arm of lender HSBC were among investors to file a request for more information to assess the company's alignment with global climate goals. Shareholder advocacy body Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), which filed the resolution, said it had secured the second-highest vote ever at a London-listed company in favour of a climate-related resolution that was not supported by management. Glencore must recognise that neither the risks of its thermal coal business nor the concerns of investors are going away," said Naomi Hogan, strategic projects lead at ACCR. Deputy CEO Simon Rawson of co-filer ShareAction, said: "The scale of investor support for this resolution reflects the level of frustration at Glencores inactivity over a number of years to set out a credible plan for their coal business that meets the ambitions of the Paris Agreement to urgently address global warming." Glencore had said in a statement dated May 3 that it opposed the shareholder motion because it risked undermining the board's responsibility for its climate strategy, given existing disclosures. Opposition to its climate progress passing the 20% threshold constitutes material dissent among shareholders. "We will continue to engage with shareholders so as to ensure their views are fully understood and to better understand the reasons behind these results," Glencore said in its AGM results statement. (Reporting by Clara Denina in London and Anchal Rana in Bengaluru; editing by Simon Jessop and Susan Fenton) Jonathan Ayling of the Free Speech Union writes: The second annual survey on academic freedom by the Free Speech Union is an eye-opening read for those of us who value ideas and solutions being openly debated in Kiwi universities. Concerningly, this report shows that a majority of academics who responded at five of our eight universities disagreed that they were free to state controversial or unpopular opinions, even though this is one of the specific features of academic freedom as defined in the Education and Training Act 2020. Problematically, it is clear that the flow of political persuasion mapped almost directly onto whether academics felt free. About two-thirds (64%) of academics who identified as very left and 70% of those who identified as left felt free to state controversial or unpopular opinions. It decreased from less than half (46%) of those who are slightly left to one-third (34%) of those who are centrist down to one-quarter (26%) of those who are slightly right to 18% for those who are right. No academic who responded as very right wing agreed with the statement (admittedly, there was a small sample size for this group). This, in the context of an academy that we already know has a left-leaning bent (the respondents to our survey reflect this disposition), is frightening for intellectual diversity. Academics were asked about six specific subjects which might be controversial; a majority of academics felt comfortable discussing only three: religion, politics, and sexual orientation. Some 59% of academics did not feel comfortable discussing the treaty of waitangi and colonialism, with at least one-third (30%) of academics at every single university feeling not at all comfortable (45% of academics from Otago were not at all comfortable). The Herald reports: What i'm concerned about is that the Labour Government has been drawn into seeing everything through the security lens, not through the peace lens. You don't hear the word very often emanating from the Government about the importance of promotion of peace. I'd have no fears about China's economic rise, if China had stayed on the course it started in the late 1990s of becoming less aggressive, of respecting the freedoms it promised hong kong, and gradually allowing more civil liberties. But over the last few years China has acted very aggressively, with the last straw for many being their implicit support of russia's invasion of Ukraine. So I want peace absolutely. But let's recognise that there is a close to zero chance that peace will end due to the us or its allies attacking China. It will end if China tries to kill off democracy in Taiwan by way of military force. Defence Minister Andrew Little agrees that New Zealand has already picked a side decades ago and it sat behind New Zealand's support for Ukraine after its invasion by Russia. We are a small country, he told the Herald this week. We depend on the rest of the world signing up to and adhering to the international rule of law. When we see it breached in such a flagrant way, we've got to be in there supporting, [as] in Ukraine's case, the victim of that breach. Those are values we have signed up to. That is the side we have picked and we have been on that side for decades and decades, and we'll continue to be on that side. And we will always pick that side. It was those values that would determine any future choices as well. This is exactly right. Our values as a democratic liberal country are what count. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm late. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. On June 1, 1971, Judge Earl R. Larson oversaw the start of the Honeywell vs. Sperry Rand patent infringement case in Minneapolis. The case focused on Honeywells legal challenge against Sperry Rand regarding its US Patent No. 3,120,606 for the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), which was then considered the first electronic digital computer. In 1943, John William Mauchly and John Presper Eckert began building the ENIAC digital computer. They completed the computer in 1947 and were subsequently granted US Patent No. 3,120,606. In 1950, Sperry Rand acquired the EckertMauchly Computer Corporation from John Mauchly and John Presper Eckert, along with their patent. The following year, Sperry Rand changed the name of an updated ENIAC to UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer). However, we need to go back to 1937 when John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry began working on their electronic digital computer in the physics building at Iowa State College. By 1939, a fully-functional electronic digital computer prototype solving linear equations and mathematical problems using binary calculations was completed. Atanasoff and Berry named their computing system the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). The ABC became fully operational in 1942, one year before Mauchly and Eckert began work on the ENIAC. During the 1971 patent infringement court case, testimony from John Atanasoff was presented by Honeywell, Inc. Sperry Rand was demanding royalty payments from computer makers, arguing they alone owned the patent of the first electronic digital computer. John Atanasoff provided evidence and testimony (Clifford Berry passed away eight years earlier at age 45) to prove Sperry Rands patent was not for the first electronic digital computer. During the court case, it was revealed John Mauchly obtained engineering designs and other information about the Atanasoff-Berry Computer when he visited Iowa State College in June 1941 and met with John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. Mauchly acknowledged being in Ames, IA, from June 13 to 18, 1941, at the home of John Atanasoff. He discussed computer theory and design with Atanasoff and Berry during this time. John Mauchly verified that he studied the Atanasoff-Berry Computer in Iowa State Colleges physics building. On Oct. 19, 1973, the Minneapolis Court concluded in a 248-page decision that John William Mauchly and John Presper Eckert Jr. incorporated designs from the Atanasoff-Berry Computer in developing the ENIAC. The US Minneapolis federal court judge had ruled in favor of Honeywell. Judge Earl R. Larson concluded, Eckert and Mauchly did not themselves first invent the automatic electronic digital computer, but instead derived that subject matter from one Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff. Larson concluded that Atanasoff and Berry had initially designed a functional prototype of an electronic digital computer using basic principles. And so, John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Edward Berry are recognized as the original inventors of the first electronic digital computer, thus ushering in the modern computer industry. So, who legally holds the computer patent? According to the court ruling, nobody had the patent rights to the computer, resulting in Sperry Rands ENIAC/UNIVAC computer patent being invalidated and their legal right to charge royalties being terminated. Anyone can build a computer without paying royalties. Its worth noting that computer software patents can be obtained. In 2022, the top 15 software companies were awarded 50,981 US patents. John William Mauchly died Jan. 8, 1980, at age 72. On June 3, 1995, John Presper Eckert, Jr., passed away at 76. John Vincent Atanasoff died at age 91 June 15, 1995. A year before John Atanasoff passed away, a group from Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory began rebuilding a replica of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer. Original parts from the computer, such as a memory drum and vacuum tubes, were found in storage at Iowa State University. The group also referred to John Atanasoff's engineering design notes. On Oct. 8, 1997, a working replica of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer was successfully demonstrated, serving as both a tribute and validation of the pioneering work of John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Edward Berry, who built the first-ever electronic digital computer. In a 1984 interview, Atanasoff said, He [John Mauchly] told me he had invented a new method of computing that was different from mine and much better. I believed him. All I want is for the world to know the truth about what I did. JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Plc (LON:JMI Get Rating) shares crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 266.50 ($3.31) and traded as high as GBX 276.16 ($3.43). JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 271 ($3.37), with a volume of 115,175 shares traded. JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Price Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 266.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 278.78. The company has a market capitalization of 210.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -379.58 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.83. About JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust (Get Rating) JPMorgan Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc is a close-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 of the United Kingdom. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAD Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 47,600 shares, a decline of 51.8% from the April 30th total of 98,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 541,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Price Performance NYSE NAD remained flat at $10.92 during mid-day trading on Friday. 263,724 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 583,136. Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 52 week low of $10.55 and a 52 week high of $13.37. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $11.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.48. Get Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a $0.038 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.18%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund About Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Smith Moore & CO. grew its position in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 71,573 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $787,000 after acquiring an additional 3,801 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 39,095 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $430,000 after acquiring an additional 1,950 shares during the period. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 263,104 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,892,000 after acquiring an additional 32,555 shares during the period. Strategic Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $116,000. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $140,000. (Get Rating) Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund operates as a closed-end investment fund, which engages in the investment of its managed assets in municipal securities. The company was founded on May 26, 1999 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PTBRY Get Rating)s stock price was down 7.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $14.74 and last traded at $14.74. Approximately 200 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 20% from the average daily volume of 250 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.86. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Price Performance The business has a 50 day moving average price of $15.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.88. Get PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk alerts: PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 28th were paid a dividend of $0.4603 per share. This is an increase from PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbks previous dividend of $0.18. This represents a yield of 3.18%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 27th. About PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services in Indonesia, the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company offers current, savings, and money market accounts, and time deposit products. It also provides credit facilities for the purchase of houses, villas, apartments, condominiums, home shops, home offices, and land plots, as well as for construction/renovation, top-up, and refinancing; and pension loans. Recommended 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. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Sunshine and a few clouds. High 87F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 87F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. In 2018, Red Velvet became the third girl group to perform in North Korea. Five years later, the democratic party representative explained how the group ended up joining the Pyongyang concert. Here's How Red Velvet Was Chosen To Perform in North Korea in 2018 In April 2018, Red Velvet made history after becoming the third and seventh K-pop group to be allowed to perform in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The quintet went north to participate in a South-North Korean artists' reunion performance stage, together with other musicians from South Korea, as part of a campaign of cultural diplomacy. At the time, the girl group became viral for not only performing at the rare concert but also for being able to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On May 25 then, Yoon Gun Young, the representative of the Democratic Party of South Korea, unveiled how the country chose Red Velvet to send as one of its performers. At the time, Yoon was in charge of preparing for the performance and he was also deeply involved in the South Korean art troupe's Pyongyang concert, "Spring Is Coming," as the head of the Blue House's State Affairs Office. Yoon then explained: "What I thought at that time was that a girl group representing Korea should perform in Pyongyang, show something new, and show that we are this good. Red Velvet was the only girl group that I knew the name of, so Red Velvet took the opportunity." He continued: "The team name is 'Red Velvet' (Red), and the songs they sang were also red-flavored, so they left an impression on me. So I said to the person preparing to recruit, 'I really want to cast Red Velvet, please look into them.' In fact, I didn't know well of all members." Yoon confessed that he only remembered the name and song title because it was impressive, but he didn't know who was who. Representative Yoon Reveals Why Red Velvet Performed 'Red Flavor' in Pyongyang Concert At the time, Red Velvet performed two songs, "Bad Boy" and their hit track "Red Flavor." There were only four members since Joy wasn't able to join them due to her drama schedule. As to why the latter song was chosen, Rep. Yoon said: "If you go to Pyongyang and perform, won't you expect the reaction of Pyongyang citizens? So I asked for two points, he said. I asked for Baek Ji-young's 'Like Being Hit by a Bullet' and Red Velvet's 'Red Flavor' to be included in the playlist." I wanted to show the citizens of Pyongyang that there is such a song. Isn't the lyrics itself 'Like Being Hit by a Bullet' that Pyongyang citizens can't imagine?" However, Pyongyang citizens were expressionless no matter who performed since it was not allowed for them to react enthusiastically when watching it in a crowd. But Lawmaker Yoon clarified: "It must have shocked them to the core that (Red Velvet) is the best girl group in Korea at the time." For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. In a pivotal moment for the South Korean music scene, global pop icon J-Hope of BTS has announced the successful completion of his basic military training, stirring an international conversation on the state of the beloved boy band's future. Fanfare Amidst Farewells Known for his infectious energy and vibrant dance moves, J-Hope (29) sent a wave of mixed emotions through the band's fervent fanbase, affectionately called the ARMY, by posting a photo of himself clad in his military uniform this week. In his heartfelt message to fans on Weverse, J-Hope conveyed gratitude for the love and support that helped him excel in his training, promising to give his best during his remaining service period and to continue showcasing his better facets. He further expressed his love for his fans in the sincere and light-hearted manner characteristic of the star. J-Hope quipped: "Hello ARMY! I'm thrilled to share that I have smoothly wrapped up my training. Your unwavering support and heartfelt letters truly bolstered my spirit, enabling me to commit wholeheartedly to the rigors of training." Continuing in his characteristically upbeat style, J-Hope extended his warmth to his fans. "Rest assured, I will put forth every ounce of effort throughout the remainder of my military service. My focus is to present the best of me to you all! Remember, I hold each of you close to my heart." Adding with a touch of humor, he said: "It's rather mind-boggling, the marvels of mobile technology. Hahahaha!" BTS Military Enlistment Chain J-Hope is the second member from BTS to enlist in the military. He followed after Jin, who began his training in December 2022 and is now an active member of an army unit in South Korea. Suga, who recently turned 30, is slated to be next, with the other members following suit over the next two years. South Korean law mandates 18 months of military service for most males by the age of 28. However, a 2021 amendment now permits pop stars who have received government medals to delay their service until they turn 30, a benefit extended to BTS following their receipt of the Order of Cultural Merit by President Moon Jae-In in 2018. Fans' Support and The Issue of Letters and Gifts Fans worldwide have been sending letters and gifts in an attempt to extend their support to J-Hope during his military tenure. However, the agency, Big Hit Music, has requested fans to desist from sending physical items due to logistical challenges. Instead, the agency suggests fans leave supportive messages on Weverse using the hashtag #Dear_jhope_from_ARMY, assuring that these messages will reach J-Hope personally. They further requested fans to avoid crowding during J-Hope's recruit training graduation ceremony for safety reasons. Implications for the Music Industry With J-Hope scheduled to be discharged in October 2024, and the remaining BTS members to complete their service by around 2025, these developments pose significant implications for the music industry. Will this hiatus catalyze a shift in the global pop scene, or will BTS's influence persist unabated? Only time will reveal the answer. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The ONLY Foreign K-pop Member to Outshine Native Korean Idols in Popularity - Who is She Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more K-pop news and lists. Cassidy Jones wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. Card fraud in Europe declined notably in 2021 amid the implementation of regulatory measures In 2021, card fraud as a share of the total value of payments using cards issued in SEPA was at its lowest level (0.028%) since the Eurosystem started to collect such information from card payment schemes in 2008 After decreasing by 8% in 2020, the value of overall card fraud [1] declined by 11% [2] in 2021 declined by 11% in 2021 The value of card-not-present fraud declined by 12% in 2021 in light of the market-wide implementation of strong customer authentication Card-present fraud in the form of using counterfeit cards at shops and ATMs declined by 37% in 2020 and by 42% in 2021, as the global roll-out of industry standards almost eradicated such fraud For cards issued in SEPA, cross-border transactions accounted for 63% of the total value of card fraud in 2021 1 Introduction In its role as overseer of card payment schemes operating in the euro area, the Eurosystem closely monitors developments in card fraud. Statistical information on the volumes and values of card transactions and corresponding fraud is collected on these schemes[3] for all countries in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and in aggregate for all countries outside SEPA.[4] This report presents some general developments relating to card fraud in 2020 and 2021, in aggregated form without mentioning specific countries. Unless stated otherwise, the results presented are generally derived from an issuing perspective, which refers to payments made with cards issued within SEPA and acquired worldwide. As with previous analyses of the collected data, a few methodological issues continue to apply; these are detailed in the annex. Since these issues are limited to a few specific schemes and countries, they have been accepted for the present analysis. 2 Level of card fraud The total value of transactions using cards issued in SEPA amounted to 5.40 trillion in 2021, of which 1.53 billion (0.028%) was fraudulent (see Chart 1a). After both the value of overall card payments and the value of card fraud had shown similar year-on-year declines in 2020 amid the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (-6.9% and -7.7% respectively), this similarity ceased in 2021. The value of overall card payments recovered in 2021, increasing sharply compared with 2020 (+12.3%). Meanwhile, the value of card fraud continued its steep decline in 2021, dropping by 11.2% compared with the previous year. Consequently, fraud as a share of the total value of transactions declined notably in 2021 to 0.028% (from 0.036% in 2020). This marked the lowest fraud share recorded since the start of data collection in 2008. For cards issued in the euro area, the value of fraud as a share of total card transactions in 2020 and 2021 remained below the respective share for cards issued in SEPA as a whole, at 0.034% and 0.026% respectively. The total number of fraudulent card transactions declined in 2021 to 23.85 million (-7%), after having steadily increased in previous years (see Chart 1b).[5] In relative terms, card fraud volumes as a share of the total number of card payments decreased from 0.026% in 2020 to 0.021% in 2021. Overall, fraud shares in terms of volumes continued to remain considerably below the corresponding figures for values in both 2020 and 2021. Chart 1 Total value and volume of card fraud using cards issued within SEPA Source: All reporting card payment scheme operators. 3 Developments in card-not-present and card-present fraud Card fraud in 2021 declined in terms of both card-present transactions (at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals) and card-not-present (CNP) transactions (e.g. via the internet). As in previous years, the vast majority of card fraud related to CNP transactions (see charts 1a and 1b). In both 2020 and 2021, CNP fraud accounted for approximately 84% of the total value of card fraud. This share had been growing steadily until 2020, in line with the continuously increasing importance of e-commerce and the use of card payments over the internet. The higher share also reflects the effectiveness of various fraud prevention measures in reducing card-present fraud at POS terminals and ATMs. In 2021 the total value of CNP fraud amounted to 1.28 billion (see Chart 2), showing a strong decline compared with 2020 (-12.1%). The majority of CNP fraud continued to take place across borders (i.e. the transaction was acquired in a country other than the country where the card was issued), with the largest share relating to cross-border transactions within SEPA. The overall decline in the total value of CNP fraud was driven by a notable decrease in fraud among transactions acquired within SEPA (domestic and cross-border transactions combined). The value of fraudulent CNP transactions acquired outside SEPA increased in 2021. The strong decline in CNP fraud for transactions acquired within SEPA in 2021 points to a beneficial impact of the Regulatory Technical Standards for strong customer authentication and common and secure open standards of communication (hereafter RTS for SCA and CSC) under the revised EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2).[6] The market-wide implementation of these enhanced security standards by payment service providers ahead of 31 December 2020 seems to have notably increased the security of CNP transactions. Chart 2 Value of CNP fraud by geographical breakdown (total value of CNP fraud in EUR millions) Source: All reporting card payment scheme operators. Card-present fraud committed at ATMs and POS terminals continued to decline in 2021 (-6.4%), following a decrease of 27.7% in the previous year. The value of ATM fraud amounted to around 74 million in 2021 (-4.3% compared with 2020); the value of card fraud at POS terminals amounted to 177 million (-7.2%; see Chart 3). The decrease in the value of ATM fraud in 2021 was driven by a further strong decline in counterfeit card fraud (-67.3%), which only accounted for 3% of total ATM fraud. Similarly, the overall decline in card-present fraud at POS terminals in 2021 was due to a 38.9% reduction in counterfeit card fraud, while other types of fraud in card-present transactions increased in value and should be monitored closely in the coming years. This shows that the increased global roll-out and maturity of EMV terminals has been effective in reducing opportunities for committing magnetic stripe counterfeit fraud. Consequently, occurrences of fraud using counterfeit cards seem to be becoming less common, particularly with regard to ATM cash withdrawals. Losses from lost or stolen cards continued to be the main type of card-present fraud, accounting for 88% of all ATM and 56% of all POS fraud in 2021. Only a minor share of card fraud conducted at ATMs was due to other types of card-present fraud, while these continued to play a more significant role at POS terminals.[7] Chart 3 Value of card-present fraud at ATMs and POS terminals by category (total value of card-present fraud in EUR millions) Source: All reporting card payment scheme operators. 4 The geographical breakdown of card fraud The majority of card fraud in both 2020 and 2021 continued to involve cross-border transactions. While cross-border card transactions represented 11% of the overall value of card payments in 2021, they accounted for 63% of the value of card fraud (see charts 4a and 4b). In the years leading up to 2020, cross-border transactions both within and outside SEPA grew at a faster pace than domestic card payments, indicating that cardholders increasingly purchase goods and services across borders at physical or e-commerce merchants, as well as an increase in the cross-border issuing of cards. In 2020 the share of cross-border transactions in the overall value of card payments declined slightly, as they appeared to be more heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 the value of card payments increased again across all geographical categories, with particularly strong growth in cross-border transactions acquired within both SEPA (+25.5%) and non-SEPA countries (+21.6%). Chart 4 Value of card payment transactions and fraud by geographical dimension Source: All reporting card payment scheme operators. Turning to the geographical breakdown for card fraud, the total value of domestic and cross-border fraud for transactions acquired within SEPA declined by 9% and 16% respectively in 2021 (compared with a decline of around 4% in both cases in 2020). Meanwhile, the value of fraud for transactions acquired outside SEPA increased by 6% in 2021, following a decline of around 30% in 2020. However, this increase was more than outweighed by the aforementioned general uptake in cross-border payments acquired outside SEPA. Consequently, relative fraud shares declined across all geographical dimensions in 2021. The total value of fraud by issuing country declined in 2021 for 20 EU Member States, while increases for the remaining 7 Member States were minor. In relative terms, fraud shares in terms of value declined across 26 Member States. For the one remaining Member State, fraud as a share of the total value of card payments remained roughly unchanged between 2020 and 2021 and was already at a relatively low level (0.009%). 5 Outlook The overall outlook for card fraud in Europe appears to have further improved. The market-wide implementation of the RTS for SCA and CSC appears to have strongly reduced the occurrence of card fraud in 2021, both in absolute and relative terms. A steep decline is registered in CNP fraud, due to the widespread adoption of the 3D Secure standard to support strong customer authentication, as required by the RTS for SCA and CSC. In addition, the global implementation of the EMV standard continued to reduce opportunities for card-present fraud using counterfeit cards. Nevertheless, industry, regulators and consumers need to remain vigilant. 2020 and 2021 were exceptional years, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the related measures (e.g. lockdowns) having a notable impact on both card payments and fraud; among other factors, both international travel and the cross-border use of cards were limited by the pandemic. Furthermore, the aforementioned success of both industry and regulatory measures in reducing card fraud may shift the attention of fraudsters towards card holders, potentially further increasing fraud through social engineering (e.g. by manipulation of the payer) or the theft of physical cards. Future analysis of newly available data due to the recent change in the reporting framework might provide an even clearer picture of emerging issues and offer further insights into the impact of the current implementation of PSD2-related measures. ANNEX: Methodological considerations Two methodological data issues already identified in previous analyses continue to apply, namely that some card payment scheme operators (i) allocate transactions with cards issued cross-border to the country of issuance as opposed to the location of the issuer, and (ii) allocate CNP transactions acquired cross-border by location of the acquirer instead of by location of the merchant. These divergences result in inconsistencies between data collected from the card payment schemes and similar data reported by payment service providers for ECB Statistical Data Warehouse purposes. In addition, some adjustments have been made to data reported to avoid double counting domestic transactions where cards are co-badged. For a few countries, such as France, these adjustments may result in the under-reporting of total transactions and thus give a slightly over-estimated fraud rate. Given that these inconsistencies are limited to a few specific schemes and countries, they have been accepted for this analysis. How was the agreement negotiated with BioNTech-Pfizer? Negotiations followed the guidance provided by EU Member States in the Vaccine Steering Board. The objective being to reduce the number of doses and extend the delivery over the coming years as requested by Health Ministers during the EPSCO meeting on 9 December 2022. Negotiations with BioNTech-Pfizer were conducted by a Joint Negotiation Team, consisting of representatives of the Commission and of experts from several Member States. This team negotiated with and on behalf of all Member States and under the guidance of the Vaccines Steering Board. How does the conversion to optional doses work? Purchase Agreements with vaccine developers, agreed by the participating Member States are legally binding and cannot be unilaterally changed. That is why the conversion of originally contracted doses into optional orders has been agreed. To do so, a fee will be paid which is deductible from the price that Member States would have to pay per additional optional doses if Member States decide to activate such doses in the future. What is the price of the doses? The price of COVID-19 vaccines is considered a sensitive commercial information, and the signatories of the Purchase Agreement (PA) are contractually bound to confidentiality. In general, the agreement ensures that the provisions from the amendment do not substantially deviate from what was initially agreed. This includes no variation of the price for the extended duration of the contract. Also, for the EU Vaccines Strategy the affordability of vaccines has always been a core principle. How many doses should still be delivered under the contract? On 20 May 2021, the European Commission acting with and on behalf of Member States signed a third contract with BioNTech-Pfizer. It committed the purchase of 900 million initial doses, with the option to purchase an additional 900 million doses. Of the 900 million initial doses, 450 million are scheduled to be delivered in 2021 and 2022 and 450 million doses in 2023. Today's amendment to the third contract with BioNTech-Pfizer foresees a reduction of doses compared to the originally contracted amount remaining to be delivered under the current contract. Will these vaccines be adapted to future variants? Member States will continue to receive the latest available versions of COVID-19 vaccines adapted for variants and authorised by regulators, should COVID-19 variants of concern appear in the future. How many vaccines doses will Member States that have opted out receive? Member States that opted out of the amendment will continue to be bound by current contractual obligations. Do these opt-outs mean the end of the solidarity and joint approach of our vaccine strategy? The EU Vaccines strategy has been successful in a way that very few thought possible back in 2020. Solidarity between Member States has been unprecedented and has allowed Member States to have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in quantities needed to protect EU citizens. Moreover, throughout the pandemic Member States have continuously acted in solidarity to respond to the evolution of the virus. Today, the epidemiological situation has improved, and Member States continue to act together to reflect this situation in our COVID-19 vaccines contracts. The agreement reached with BioNTech-Pfizer, and which was negotiated by the Joint Negotiation Team, on behalf of Member States, is yet another example of EU solidarity. It is the result of negotiations with the companies and aimed at reaching the best possible outcome for all Member States collectively. Nevertheless, some Member States expressed they would have expected a different result and have therefore exercised their right to opt out of the proposed amendment, while allowing other Member States to still benefit from it. The Member States that opted out will continue to be bound by current contractual obligations. Finally, the opt-out mechanism has always existed for all contracts concluded with vaccine developers. The fact that Member States make use of a mechanism which was jointly agreed with all Member States, illustrates that the joint approach works and is adapted to the needs of the Member States. Have you changed the liability rules? If so, how? The COVID-19 vaccines contracts have not changed the EU liability rules and patients' rights are fully preserved, including their ability to go to Court. More information Press release EU Vaccines Strategy Safe COVID-19 vaccines for Europeans EU Coronavirus Response HERA website Zarazeno pa 26.05.2023 12:05:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=QANDA/23/2866&language=en lang en SRV Media New Delhi [India], May 26: The Russian Education Fair, an annual event aimed at connecting Indian students with higher education opportunities in Russia, concluded successfully in Mumbai. The fair, which took place from May 14th to May 21st, attracted a diverse crowd of Indian students from across the country. The Consul General of Russia in Mumbai, Aleksei V. Surovtsev, addressed the fair and emphasized Russia's commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities for Indian students. Also Read | Leopard Kills Woman in Gujarat: 80-Year-Old Mauled to Death in Her Home by Big Cat in Amreli District. The final leg of the Russian Education Fair 2023 was held at the Russian House in Mumbai, where representatives from Russian universities and numerous dignitaries were present. Aleksei V. Surovtsev, accompanied by Prof. Shvetsov Mikhail N., the Rector of Mari State University, and Elena Remizova, the Director of the Russian House in Mumbai, graced the event as the Chief Guest. Air Marshal (Dr) Pawan Kapoor (Retd.), Vice-Chairman of Rus Education, and other senior members of the organization played pivotal roles in ensuring the fair's success. In his address, Aleksei V. Surovtsev expressed his pleasure at reconnecting with the Indian students, recalling their previous meeting during the Russian Education Fair in September 2022. He commended the efforts of Rus Education and reiterated Russia's commitment to providing top class educational opportunities for Indian students. The Consul General acknowledged the deep bond between the people of Russia and India and expressed gratitude for their contributions to the field of education. Also Read | Ford EV Customers To Get Access to Over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers as US Automaker Finalises Deal With Elon Musks Company. The presence of Aleksei V. Surovtsev had a profound impact on the Indian students attending the fair. His speech not only inspired them to pursue higher education in Russia but also instilled in them the confidence, knowledge, and skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers. His influence served as a catalyst, igniting their ambitions and fostering a sense of determination within them. The Russian Education Fair served as a gateway for Indian students to explore the diverse opportunities available in Russian universities. Participating universities included Mari State University, Perm State Medical University, Orenburg State University, Tula State University, St Petersburg University, and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. During the fair, Indian students had the unique opportunity to interact directly with representatives from these renowned Russian universities. The university experts provided valuable guidance, counseling, and comprehensive information about the academic programs, scholarships, admission procedures, and student life in Russia. The fair allowed students to gain insight into the rich history, diverse culture, and world-class education system that Russia has to offer. The Russian Education Fair 2023 in Mumbai concluded with immense success, leaving Indian students inspired and equipped with the necessary information to make informed decisions about their higher education options. The fair not only facilitated academic exchanges but also strengthened the educational ties between India and Russia, fostering cultural understanding and collaboration between the two nations. To get admission in top government universities of Russia, contact Rus Education on their student helpline number 1800-833-3338 or visit their website www.ruseducation.in (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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) SRV Media New Delhi [India], May 26: Holoware, a leading provider of Made in India desktop and workstation technology, is pleased to announce its active search for investors to support the company's ambitious growth plans and expand its market presence. Also Read | Elon Musk's Neuralink Brain Implant Gets US FDA Approval for First Human Trials. By partnering with Holoware, investors will have the opportunity to be part of the next big thing in desktop and workstation technology, leveraging the company's strong foundation, innovative product lineup, and commitment to customer-centric excellence. As a result, Holoware is poised to capitalize on the increasing demand for advanced computing solutions in domestic and international markets. Since its inception in 2020, Holoware has been at the forefront of delivering high-performance desktop and workstation solutions tailored to the diverse needs of businesses and individuals. With a steadfast commitment to incorporating the latest components and technologies, Holoware's products outshine competitors, offering competitive pricing, superior performance, timely support, and an environmentally conscious design. Also Read | George Kobiashvilis Journey Inspires Young Entrepreneurs Worldwide. At the heart of Holoware's mission is customer satisfaction, upheld by a team of seasoned professionals devoted to providing exceptional technical support and service. Holoware is dedicated to creating the ultimate customer experience, ensuring that every interaction with its products is seamless and fulfilling. "At Holoware, our vision is to make hologram technology accessible to everyone and integrate it seamlessly into everyday life. We are proud to introduce our Made in India desktops and workstations to the market, partnering with leading brands to deliver creative and innovative solutions across various segments. As a forward-looking company, we strive to be a prominent manufacturer in the Made in India space, catering to the high-end graphical needs of our users. Through collaboration with value-added distributors and strategic partners, we ensure that our innovative solutions reach end users. Our commitment to customer satisfaction extends beyond sales, as we provide comprehensive technical support and service. Trust, integrity, and reliability are at the core of every transaction we have with our clients. Join us as we revolutionize the desktop and workstation industry, bringing cutting-edge technology to the fingertips of individuals worldwide." said Ragav, CEO at Holoware. Holoware is a leading provider of desktops and workstations known for our commitment to value, quality, and customer satisfaction. Our profile highlights the following key features: - Budget-Friendly: We prioritize affordability while ensuring that our desktops and workstations offer superior value for your investment. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and provide an excellent customer experience throughout your journey with us. - Premium Standard: Backed by our design team's extensive technical expertise, we create tailored designs for desktops and workstations based on your specific requirements. By using robust and widely-approved components, we guarantee designs that are safe and reliable, ensuring optimal performance. - On-Time Support: We understand the importance of timely support. Our dedicated team strives to deliver prompt assistance whenever you need it. Adhering to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), we set a higher standard for responsiveness and efficiency. - Eco-Friendly: Environmental responsibility is at the core of our values. We prioritize eco-friendly practices, and our products are designed to minimize harm or contribute to the least possible environmental damage. By choosing Holoware, you can be confident that you're making a sustainable choice. Interested investors are encouraged to reach out to Holoware's investor relations department at reach@holoware.co to discuss potential partnership opportunities. Together, Holoware and its investors will shape the future of desktop and workstation technology. To know more, visit - https://www.holoware.co (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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) SRV Media Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 26: The Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) Kothrud, Pune, hosted the grand Kalatmakata 2023 event on May 6 2023, where budding designers displayed their creations on the runway. The event was a celebration of art and tradition, with collections inspired by various themes and stories. Also Read | AI Helps US Researchers Develop New Antibiotic That Can Kill Deadly Species of Pneumonia-Causing 'Superbug'. Kalatmakata 2023, where imagination came alive, was graced by prominent names from the fashion industry, such as Nivedita Saboo, Sundeep Kocchar, Anil Khosla, and Hemant Trevedi. Trevedi, who has designed for Bollywood celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, mentored the design of each collection. The young designers showcased their creativity and innovation through their concepts and ornamentation. Some of the highlights of the event were: Also Read | UPSC Contemplates Criminal Action Against Two Candidates for Claiming Selection in Civil Services. - Tribal Sahyadri, a collection that paid homage to Warli art and artists, was recognized as the most sustainable collection. - Avishkaram, a collection that depicted the vibrant colours and expressions of Kerala's Kathakali, won two awards: the most original collection and the best tribute to India. - I Sea U, a collection that narrated the stories of the oceans through prints and textures. - Behind the Veil, a collection that featured macrame outfits with ribbons, creating a stunning visual effect. - Viva Magenta, a collection that blended Indian craftsmanship with the Pantone 2023 colour. Every collection had at least one unique saree variation, showcasing the versatility and elegance of the traditional garment. The best innovation in the saree award was won by Victorian Indulgence, a collection that fused Victorian elements with Indian fabrics. Kalatmakata 2023 event was a successful affair that highlighted the talent and potential of INIFD Kothrud students. INIFD Kothrud is one of the best fashion design and interior designing colleges in Pune. Established in 2005, it offers government-approved diplomas, advanced diplomas and certificate courses in fashion design and interior design. It also provides a 0% finance aid facility, state-of-the-art infrastructure, experienced faculty, industry expert workshops, celebrity mentors, international and national tie-ups, practical exposure, personality development and grooming sessions, hostel/PG assistance, and 100% placement assistance to its students. INIFD Kothrud is associated with prestigious events like Lakme Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and many more. Further, the Institute aims to help aspiring designers achieve their dreams and become successful in their chosen fields. Why choose INIFD Kothrud? - INIFD Kothrud is an authorized enrollment and training partner of Medhavi Skill University, A UGC Approved University and approved by Maharashtra State Board of Skill Development (MSBSD), ensuring high-quality education and recognition. - INIFD Kothrud has exclusive mentorship programs by renowned designers like Hemant Trevedi who visit the centre every month and take specific advanced topic training for the students. - INIFD Kothrud has a strong reputation for creating highly skilled design individuals in the fashion and interior design industry & 100% lifetime support for placements. They provide internship, recruitment and training programs that help students and alumni establish connections & navigate their creative careers with their industry partners. - INIFD Kothrud has received several awards for its excellence in design education, such as the Sakal Idol Of Maharashtra for Best Fashion and Interior Design Institute - 2022, the Center of Excellence Award in the presence of Twinkle Khanna, the Excellence Award in the presence of Ashutosh Shah, Appreciation Award in the presence of Fashion Designer Rahul Mishra, The Premium Center Award by Ashley Rebello, etc. - INIFD Kothrud has a vibrant campus life with events, workshops, competitions, exhibitions, factory visits, IV trips, etc., that enrich the student experience and exposure. For more information, visit - https://www.inifdpune.co.in (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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) PRNewswire Shenzhen [China], May 26: 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. Also Read | Kerala Horror: Missing Hotelier Butchered, Body Found Packed in Trolley Bags; Four Accused Arrested. 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. Also Read | Pentecost 2023 Date: When Is Whitsun? History, Traditions and Significance of the Holy Day Observed on the Seventh Sunday After Easter. 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. 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/ZTECorpTwitter www.twitter.com/ZTEPressLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/zteYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ZTECorporation MEDIA INQUIRIES:ZTE CorporationCommunicationsEmail: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Actor Ali Fazal who is gearing up for his upcoming Hollywood action thriller film Kandahar set for release in the US today, shared BTS pictures from the sets. Taking to Instagram, Ali dropped behind-the-scene pictures from the sets featuring Gerard Butler, Ric Roman Waugh and the crew of Kandahar. The film which is a major action motion picture stars Gerard Butler along with Ali Fazal who plays the role of Kahil. Sharing the pictures, he wrote, "Behind some greatness is always a director orchestrating it all!! KANDAHAR HITS HARD TODAY!! North America." He thanked his director and team for this beautiful journey. Ali added, "I cannot thank you both enough. Kandahar Trailer: Spot Ali Fazal and Elnaaz Norouzi in New Action-Packed Promo of Gerard Butler's Thriller (Watch Video). Ric for bringing me on board this journey . And Mr Gerard Butler, for all things notorious on and off camera.... ( and much more ) and to the entire crew of Kandahar on sets and off sets.. you people are the real heroes. Will share more photos later. Go buy your tickets now." From posing with his co-stars and riding a bike, the pictures shows how much fun Ali had while shooting. Ali's wife and actor Richa Chadha also makes an appearance in one of the pictures. Kandahar directed by Ric Roman Waugh is Ali's first action film and was shot extensively in the Al Ula region in Saudi Arabia. The film is expected to release in India in a few weeks. Few days ago, Ali treated fans with a first-look poster of himself from the movie. Sharing the poster, "Pulse pounding action apparently- An adrenaline ride made for the big screen .. here's a screen grab for some context. Cuz some serious Action went down here in the desert. DIRT BIKIN' IT ON A KTM YES. Check out my new movie KANDAHAR . Only in theatres, MAY 26." In the first look poster, Ali can be seen sporting a rather rugged look in front of a dirt bike in the middle of the desert. Ali is the first Indian actor to have a lead titular role in a Hollywood film with the 2017 movie Victoria and Abdul with the legendary Dame Judi Dench. The actor is now starring as one of the leads in the action caper film by the director, Ric Roman Waugh who has to his credit films including Angel Has Fallen and Greenland. Kandahar: Elnaaz Norouzi Shares Her Experience Working with Gerard Butler, Says It Was Magical. Check Out The Post Here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ali fazal (@alifazal9) Helmed by Ric Roman Waugh, the film star popular Scottish actor Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Travis Fimmel and Elnaaz Norouzi in lead roles. The film's description reads, "Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), an undercover CIA operative, is stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan. After his mission is exposed, he must fight his way out, alongside his Afghan translator, to an extraction point in Kandahar, all whilst avoiding elite enemy forces and foreign spies tasked with hunting them down." Meanwhile, Ali Fazal will also be seen in the web series Mirzapur Season 3 which will stream on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video. Apart from that, he will also be seen in The Underbug, Girls will be Girls, Metro In Dino, and in another Hollywood film Afghan Dreamers. New Delhi, May 26: Eighty prison officials from Delhi's Tihar jail have been transferred on Friday, weeks after gangster Tillu Tajpuriya was killed inside the high-security prison allegedly by members of a rival gang. As per Tihar Jail officials, these 80 officials include five deputy superintendents, nine assistant superintendents, eight head wardens and 50 wardens. The current rejig comes in the wake of earlier this month, in which as many as 99 Tihar prison officials were transferred. Tillu Tajpuriya Murder Case: Shakes My Judicial Conscience, Says Delhi High Court Judge Over the Gangster Being Stabbed Over 90 Times Inside Tihar Jail. Tillu Tajpuriya was killed on May 2 allegedly by members of the rival Jitendra Gogi gang in Tihar. The entire incident was captured on the CCTVs installed in the prison. This was apparently to avenge the killing of Gogi in 2021. On September 24, 2021, Tajpuriya's gunmen, dressed as lawyers, shot Gogi dead in a courtroom in Rohini. CCTV footage from Tajpuriya's killing showed several jailed inmates brutally stabbing the gangster multiple times in front of uniformed personnel, who failed to intervene. The police personnel could be seen standing near Tajpuriya, who lay on the floor, and watching as three men repeatedly stabbed the gangster with weapons that they fashioned from the grills of lockup. Tillu Tajpuriya Murder Aftermath: Major Rejig in Tihar Jail, 99 Officials Transferred After the Gangster's Murder. Police said that the accused had fashioned four knives with the exhaust fan's blade. An investigation had been initiated into Tajpuriya's killing and later, nine Tihar Jail officials, including the assistant superintendent, were suspended. Sources earlier told ANI that the jail administration has initiated the process of listing dreaded gangsters, lodged inside Tihar Jail, and started shifting them to different prisons which would be far from the cells of their rival gang members. Tajpuriya who headed the infamous Tillu gang, was arrested in 2016 for multiple crimes and had been in jail ever since. (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 26 (ANI): Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Friday reserved its order on the bail plea of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal, arrested in a money laundering case connected with the multi-crore cattle smuggling case. Sukanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 26. Also Read | Italy: Bear That Killed Runner Spared Death for Now. Special judge Raghubeer Singh after hearing the submissions of the applicant and the agency, reserved the order for June 1. Advocate Amit Kumar argued on behalf of Sukanya and argued on the parity with another accused Tanya Sanyal who was not arrested and a charge sheet was filed without arrest. Also Read | Rajasthan: Passenger Tries To Smuggle Gold Worth Rs 1.40 Crore at Jaipur International Airport, Arrested. He also submitted that Tanya is the wife of BSF commandant Satish Kumar who is also one of the accused. Allegations against Tanya are that she received bribe money for cattle smuggling from Enamul Haque and laundered the same. Despite, serious allegations, Tanya was granted regular bail. Her bail was not opposed by the ED, the counsel argued. Advocate Amit Kumar also argued that the applicant Sukanya also compromised her health due to the investigation of the case. Her surgery was due and she was to travel to Cochin. After receiving the summon she joined the investigation and was arrested. The investigation is over and a charge sheet has been filed. There is nothing incriminating against the applicant, the counsel argued. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 12 filed a reply opposing the bail application of Sukanya Mondal. The agency said in the reply that there is sufficient evidence against the accused. ED through Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) submitted that there is incriminating material against the accused. A charge sheet has been filed. She should not be enlarged on bail. The bail application may be dismissed. He argued that the issue of national security and the weakening of the Economy of the country is involved in the matter. He also argued that Anubrata Mondal, the father of the applicant is an uneducated person and his whole business activities were taken care of by the applicant. The court on May 6, issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a bail plea of Sukanya Mondal. She was remanded to judicial custody after ED's interrogation. Her father is a TMC leader and is in custody in this case. ED was granted custody of Sukanya to trace the proceed of the crime, trace the money trail and identify the modus operandi. She has to be confronted by Anubrata Mondal also. It is also alleged that the accused is a teacher in the West Bengal government. She is actively involved in business activities as per data collected so far. The total cash proceeds of crime deposited in her various bank account and her business entities are worth several crores. Anubrata Mondal, Trinamool Congress party's president of Birbhum district Anubrata Mondal and said to be a close aide of chief minister Mamata Banerjee was earlier arrested by the CBI in connection with the same case in July last year. ED arrested him in the alleged multi-crore cattle smuggling scam after questioning him inside the Asansol jail where he was lodged. In the case, the court earlier noted that this case of ED is based upon the Scheduled Offence (CBI case), the proceedings of which are going on there at Asansol, West Bengal in a CBI Court and some accused have been running into Judicial custody in connection with those proceedings of the CBI case. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, May 26 (PTI) Union Forest Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be meeting to discuss issues related to cheetahs that have been relocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park amid the deaths of six of the felines over the last two months, including three cubs born in March, an official said on Friday. Also Read | Gay Sextortion Gangs Operating on Grindr Dating App Busted by Delhi Police, Four Arrested. While three of the four cubs born to cheetah Jwala died on May 23, Sasha, one of the translocated Namibian cheetahs, died due to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, and cheetah, Uday, brought from South Africa, died on April 13. Also Read | Terror Funding Case: NIA Seeks Death Penalty for Kashmiri Separatist Leader Yasin Malik, Delhi High Court To Hear Plea on May 29. 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. Top forest officials from the state briefed CM Chouhan on Friday before the May 29 meeting with Yadav during which the cheetah revival programme as well as ways to bolster it will be discussed, he said. The officials who briefed Chouhan included Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Ramesh Kumar Gupta, PCCF (wildlife) J S Chauhan and his deputy Subharanjan Sen, he added. Sources said the National Tiger Conservative Authority (NTCA) has formed an 11-member steering committee to monitor the situation and take important decisions along with the Cheetah Task Force. The CM has been told the cubs who died recently were underweight at 1.6 kilograms against the ideal weight of 3 kilograms and could not withstand the scorching heat, the official told PTI on the condition of anonymity. Another official said some cheetahs could be shifted to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary if it was found that Kuno National Park, spread over 784 square kilometres with a buffer zone of 487 square kilometres, faced space constraints. Some experts contend a cheetah needs at least 100 square kilometres to move around freely in the wild, he said. The CM has been told Gandhi Sagar will be ready for cheetahs in six to seven months, though Nauradehi will take some more time. The four cubs, three of whom died, were the first set of cheetahs to be born in India after the species went extinct in 1952. The last cheetah was hunted down in Korea district of present day Chhattisgarh in 1947. 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 set of 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in February 2023 and are housed in a quarantine enclosure at present. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi for their support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. Also Read | Talibans Curbs on Women crime Against Humanity -- Report. "Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted. The ordinance 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. It seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Also Read | Kerala Horror: Missing Hotelier Butchered, Body Found Packed in Trolley Bags; Four Accused Arrested. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 top court verdict. Chief Minister Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convener, has sought support of various political parties, including the NCP, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the TMC, on the Delhi services issue. (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 26: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday in Hyderabad to seek his party Bharat Rashtra Samithi's (BRS) support against the Centre's ordinance which nullifies the Supreme Court order on services matters in the national capital. "Meeting CM of Telengana tomorrow in Hyderabad to seek support against unconstitutional and undemocratic ordinance passed by BJP govt against the orders of SC," Kejriwal tweeted. Delhi Vs Centre Ordinance Row: CM Arvind Kejriwal to Meet Uddhav Thackeray Today Seeking Opposition Parties Support. The Delhi Chief Minister is on a nationwide tour visiting different states and meeting leaders of various political parties to seek their support in Rajya Sabha to defeat the Bill when it is moved in the Upper House of the Parliament. Kejriwal 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. On Thursday, Delhi CM Kejriwal met Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. 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. After his talks, 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." Arvind Kejriwal to Boycott NITI Aayog Meeting: Delhi CM Writes Letter to PM Narendra Modi, Asks Whats the Point. "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 said. Delhi CM also met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. 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. 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 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 26 (ANI): Deputy National Security Advisor, Vikram Misri, on Friday chaired the second meeting of the Task Force to ensure the exercise of India's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. Vikram Misri, who was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, took stock of progress made on various Hydro Power Projects in the Union Territory. Also Read | CVoter Survey: Over 48% Find PM Narendra Modi Most Suitable for Prime Minister's Post, Followed by Rahul Gandhi. During the meeting, Misri emphasized on ensuring that works on all the Indus Basin projects are completed in a time-bound manner to enable better utilization of India's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. Among others, the meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, J-K, and officials of the concerned executing agencies besides officials from the concerned Union Ministries and agencies including the Ministry of External Affairs and Commissioner (Indus) Ministry of Jal Shakti. Also Read | Telangana Shocker: Father Kills Daughter's Lover With Pestle When He Arrives at Girl's House in Nalgonda District. NSA also called on Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and apprised the LG about ongoing efforts to monitor the implementation of Hydro Power Projects in the Indus Basin under the directions of the Prime Minister's Office. Vikram Misri also met the top military and security officials in the UT and was briefed on the prevailing situation in the valley of Kashmir. He appreciated the role of all stakeholders in the successful conduct of the G-20 working group meeting on Tourism held in Srinagar recently. Dy NSA also met with top military and security officials in the UT and was briefed on the prevailing situation in the valley of Kashmir. He appreciated the role of the concerned stakeholders in the conduct of the G-20 working group meeting on Tourism in Srinagar on 22-24 May congratulating them on its successful conclusion, officials. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) A group of 270 eminent citizens, including former bureaucrats, ambassadors and veterans, on Friday condemned the Opposition for boycotting new Parliament building inauguration and claimed the "family-first" parties have come together to boycott all that represents India. While it is a proud occasion for all Indians but opposition parties with their "skeletal arguments, immature, whimsy and hollow reasoning, and most of all flagrant display of non-democratic posturing, just don't get it", they said in a statement. Also Read | Rajasthan: 12 Dead, Several Injured As Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm Batter Tonk; Orange Alert Issued. A democratically elected prime minister of India who has inspired a billion Indians with his authenticity, inclusive policies, strategic vision, commitment to deliver and most of all, his Indianness is "unpalatable to the Congress and other opposition parties", they added. The signatories to the statement included 88 retired bureaucrats, 100 veterans and 82 academicians. Former NIA director Y C Modi, former IAS officers R D Kapoor, Gopal Krishna and Samirendra Chatterjee, and Lingaya University Vice Chancellor Anil Roy Dubey are among those who have issued the joint statement. Also Read | Karnataka Cabinet Expansion: CM Siddaramaiah-Led Congress Government's Cabinet Expansion on May 27, Says Randeep Singh Surjewala. They suggested that the government stands for "India First" while alleging that opposition parties promote "family first brand of politics". How can the family-first driven parties reconcile to an India-first approach so they have come together to boycott all that represents India, the eminent citizens said. Their statement alleged that it is the opposition parties which are "sucking the soul of democracy", a counter to the similar barb the Congress and other members of the Opposition had used against the government. The statement noted that the number of times the Opposition has boycotted recent "non-partisan" events of Parliament is mind boggling. In 2017, the Congress boycotted Parliament's mid-night session to launch the GST, a federal innovation and only of its kind in post-Independence India, they said, adding that these parties boycotted Lok Sabha in 2020 to support eight Rajya Sabha members suspended for "despicable unruly behaviour". The statement cited similar other instances. "The Opposition doesn't get that resorting to its modus operandi to hold placards and vociferous sloganeering, disrespecting the most important institutions of the country, and even using household items such as milk packets to show their protest is what is authoritarian and is what constitutes a grave insult, direct assault on our democracy," it said, using the phrases used by these parties against the government. The Opposition boycotted President Droupadi Murmu's customary speech to the joint session of Parliament ahead of the Union Budget 2023 and one cannot forget the "heaps of insults" inflicted on her by this very Congress party whose member called her "Rashtrapatni", it said. "The inauguration of Parliament building is a proud moment for the entire country. And, it is a matter of extreme despondency in the context of Indian democracy that the Congress, which calls itself the oldest political party, has decided to needlessly cry foul," the statement said. In 2012, the then Speaker Meira Kumar observed that Parliament, with its cracks and absence of emergency measures, was "silently weeping", it noted, underscoring that the demand for having a new Parliament building is old. "Now, do they (Opposition) think that the old building is bulging with efficient opulence? Maybe they do, because they just don't get it," it said. Attacking the Congress, the statement alleged, "The nature of the present Congress has always been undemocratic and their hubris has always come in the way of the nation's progress. Of course, to expect any largesse of heart or soul or to be imbued simply by the pride of being an Indian is expecting too much of the Congress party." But what the Congress does not get along with its allies is that the Indian people understand it, the statement said. "If only the Congress and its allies ponder deeper, they would get that it is not the soul of democracy that has been lost but that the Opposition's popularity which has been lost," it claimed. "We resolve to stand by the country, stand by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As Indians. Just Indians," the signatories said. As many as 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi, 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. (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, May 26 (PTI) Security forces on Friday arrested an associate of the banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen along with a Chinese grenade in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, police said. The terror associate has ben identified as Mohd Yousaf Chouhan of Chhar Cherji village in Kishtwar. Also Read | JPMorgan Announces Layoffs for First Republic Bank Employees, Around 1,000 Staffers Lose Jobs. Based on the information about involvement of Mohd Yousaf Chouhan in terror-lated activities, a case was registered, police officials said. Teams of police along with the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation in Cherji, Chicha and Padyarna areas of the district and arrested the Hizb associate, they said. Also Read | Gay Sextortion Gangs Operating on Grindr Dating App Busted by Delhi Police, Four Arrested. On his disclosure, police recovered one Chinese grenade from Cherji area, the officials said. A major search operation has been launched in the area to nab active terrorists of the district and further develop leads into the case, they added. Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police Khalil Poswal warned the youths not to fall pray to the evil designs of terrorist organisations which will spoil their career. so that immediate counter action is taken against them accordingly, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ernakulam (Kerala) [India], May 26 (ANI): A special Enforcement Directorate court on Friday dismissed the interim bail plea of M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister's Office, in the LIFE Mission scam case. Officials of the Enforcement Directorate arrested him on February 14 this year. A special court is considering ED-related cases. Also Read | Satyendar Jain Granted Interim Bail on Medical Grounds by Supreme Court in Money Laundering Case. The case pertains to the state government's LIFE Mission project, which intended to provide homes to the poor who lost their houses in the floods of 2018. The housing project was proposed at Vaddakanchery in the Thrissur district. The project intended to build houses for 140 families in Vadakkanchery by spending Rs 14.50 crore out of Rs 18.50 crore granted by the Red Crescent via the UAE consulate Also Read | Death Threat to Narendra Modi: Drunk Man Calls Delhi Police Claiming Threat to PM's Life, Nabbed. In April this year, Kerala High Court also dismissed Sivasankar's bail plea in the LIFE Mission Scam Case observing that "Sivasankar has a lot of influence in the ruling party of Kerala. He is especially close to the Chief Minister". Sivashankar's bail plea in the same case is also pending before the Supreme Court. In the bail plea before the High Court, Sivasankar said, "The arrest is a political stunt. There is no direct allegation against the petitioner. The entire case is a political hit job by the Enforcement Directorate using the professional privity the petitioner had with the Chief Minister of Kerala." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 26 (ANI): Mumbai Police have arrested five people for beating a man to death suspecting him to be a thief. The 29-year-old man was mistaken to be a thief and was beaten by a group of people in Mumbai's Borivli East area, police said. Also Read | No Hike in Electricity Bills! Good News for Uttar Pradesh Power Consumers, UPERC Keeps Tariff Unchanged for Fourth Consecutive Year. The man identified as Pravin Lahane passed away a while later. The body has been sent for a postmortem. Earlier, after receiving information at the control room of Mumbai Police about a person some people having beaten up a person, police arrived at the spot and took him to the hospital. Also Read | Rs 75 Coin To Be Introduced To Mark Inauguration of New Parliament Building on May 28, Here's How New Coin Might Look Like. The deceased brother is a police officer at the Santacruz police station. Mumbai Police had on Thursday said that four persons were detained for allegedly beating to death Lahane in the jurisdiction of the Kasturba Marg police station area. The police had registered a case under sections 304, 143, 144, 147, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigation is underway and details are awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 26 (ANI): The Income Tax department on Friday carried out raids at around 40 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to the State Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji. As per sources, the raids were done in around 40 locations at residences and offices of various Government contractors who have alleged links with State Minister Senthil Balaji. Also Read | No Hike in Electricity Bills! Good News for Uttar Pradesh Power Consumers, UPERC Keeps Tariff Unchanged for Fourth Consecutive Year. Balaji is a senior DMK leader from Karur. Raids are currently underway including in Chennai, Karur and other places, the sources said. Also Read | Rs 75 Coin Likely Introduced To Mark Inauguration of New Parliament Building on May 28, Here's How New Coin Might Look Like. More details awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad, May 26: Gold worth over Rs 42 lakh was seized at the Telangana airport, from a person who was concealing it in the form of gold paste in his rectum, the Customs officials said on Friday. The accused passenger was intercepted by the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The seized gold weighs around 685.7 grams and is worth of around Rs 42,78,768. "Based on specific information received, an Indian male passenger who arrived from Muscat was intercepted by the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabad Customs, RGIA. The passenger was found to be carrying gold paste which was concealed in the rectum. Customs seized 685.7 grams of gold worth Rs 42,78,768," the officials said. Further investigation is underway in the case. Hyderabad: 14 Gold Bars Concealed Inside Battery of Emergency Light Seized From Passenger at RGI Airport (Watch Video). Man Caught With Gold Hidden in His Rectum: #WATCH | Telangana: Based on specific information received, an Indian male passenger who arrived from Muscat was intercepted by the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabad Customs, RGIA. The passenger was found to be carrying gold paste which was concealed in the rectum. pic.twitter.com/k51zohQqTE ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 On Tuesday, Gold weighing over 1,800 grams, worth over Rs 1 crore, was seized at Hyderabad Airport from three passengers, officials said. The seizure was made by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) from three male passengers. The passengers were coming from Saudi Arabia and landed this morning. Hyderabad: 224 Grams of Gold Concealed in Handle of Trolley Bag Seized From Passenger At RGI Airport (Watch Video). "Based on passenger profiling, the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabad Customs has intercepted three male passengers who arrived from Riyadh by Flight No XY-325 which landed at 0725 Hrs on May 23," an official statement said. The officials said that on searching the passengers gold was recovered from the passengers which was concealed in their shoes in a paste form. "Gold of total net weight 1818.98 gms valued at Rs 1,13,13,558 which was recovered from all three passengers were seized by Customs. All three passengers belong to Uttar Pradesh," the officials said. On May 16, in a similar incident, a passenger who arrived from Jeddah was arrested at Hyderabad Airport on Tuesday for carrying 403 grams of gold valued at more than Rs 21 lakh, Hyderabad Customs said. "Based on specific information received, a male passenger who arrived from Jeddah by Indigo flight 6E-068 at 8:30 AM on May 16 was intercepted by Customs Air Intelligence officers of Hyderabad Customs, RGIA," a customs official said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Salboni (WB), May 26 (PTI) West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda's vehicle was attacked in Paschim Medinipur district on Friday as members of the Kurmi community allegedly hurled stones at senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's convoy, in which she was travelling, officials said. The incident happened in Salboni where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to attend a party programme on Saturday. Also Read | JPMorgan Announces Layoffs for First Republic Bank Employees, Around 1,000 Staffers Lose Jobs. Abhishek, a Z-plus protectee, led a roadshow in Jhargram's Binpur and Gopiballavpur as part of his Trinamooley Nabojowar (new wave in Trinamool) campaign. Following the rally, he was travelling through Salboni when members of the Kurmi community, who are protesting demanding ST status, gathered on both sides of the road, a party leader said. As his car moved ahead, they allegedly started throwing stones at the roadshow. "The vehicle of Hansda, which was in the convoy, was damaged in the attack," the leader said. Also Read | Gay Sextortion Gangs Operating on Grindr Dating App Busted by Delhi Police, Four Arrested. A huge police contingent was rushed to the spot to control the situation, officials said. It could not be immediately known if anyone was arrested. Condemning the incident, Hansda said violence can never be the form of a democratic protest. "This can never be a fight for the rights of a community. All those who have thrown stones are outsiders, and are using the garb of being members of a specific community to justify the violence," she added. Members of the Kurmi community had met Banerjee in Bankura on Tuesday, and urged him to look into their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour gave them a patient hearing and said it was justified to conduct democratic protests to press for their demands. Last week, BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh's house in Paschim Medinipur's Kharagpur was vandalised allegedly by members of a Kurmi outfit over his comments against the community. "The TMC has been fanning this movement. When my house was attacked they had cherished it, now they are at the receiving end," Ghosh said. The Kurmi community, which is classified as OBC at present, protested for days in April in different districts of the state, including Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, demanding ST status. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said the TMC leadership should do some soul-searching as to why such protests are taking place in the state. He alleged that people are angry over several issues. "It is unfortunate that such protests are happening despite huge security arrangements," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): Training his guns at the grand old party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the 'Sengol' given to former Prime Minister Pandit Nehru was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'. Shah in a series of tweets questioned and asked why Congress hates Indian traditions and culture. Also Read | Cheetah Reintroduction Programme: Centre Sets Up 11-Member High-Level Panel To Review and Provide Suggestions on Opening of Cheetah Habitat for Eco-Tourism. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," Tweeted Shah. https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1661979859206422528?s=20 Also Read | Karnataka: Infant Suspected To Have Died, 30 Ill After Drinking Contaminated Water in Raichur District. He further said that Congress needs to reflect on its behaviour as the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling Adheenam's history BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1661980050957406209?s=20 While, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that there is no documented evidence of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. "All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1661948021142351872?s=20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions. Meanwhile, BJP National President JP Nadda said, "What connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building?" Nadda further said, "The answer is simple- they are dynasty-run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution. Those parties which are boycotting the Parliament's inauguration lack any commitment to democracy because their sole aim is to perpetuate a select group of dynasties." https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1661979036279603201?s=20 "These dynastic parties, particularly the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, are unable to digest the simple fact that the people of India have placed their faith in a man hailing from a humble background. Elitist mindsets of dynasts are preventing them from logical thinking," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1661979297806942215?s=20 "The people of India are seeing how these parties are putting politics above the nation. These parties will be punished yet again by the people for their partisan politics!," read his tweet. https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1661979435375919104?s=20 This comes after at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. The opposition said that the inauguration of 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 are slated to dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], May 26 (ANI): In a span of a few days, a Japanese choral band touring China, stand-up comedy shows in several cities, and jazz shows in Beijing, were among more than a dozen that were abruptly called off, The New York Times reported. Some of the performances were cancelled just minutes before they were supposed to begin and that too without any explanation. Also Read | How Abduction Finance Cameroons Seperatists. Beijing authorities, just before the performances were scrapped, fined a Chinese comedy studio around USD 2 million, after one of its stand-up performers was accused of insulting the Chinese military in a joke; the police in northern China also detained a woman who had defended the comedian online. According to The New York Times, those penalties, and the sudden spate of cancellations that followed, point to the growing scrutiny of China's already heavily censored creative landscape. Also Read | Tipu Sultan's Bedchamber Sword Creates New Auction Record in UK; Fetches Over GBP 14 Million. China's top leader, Xi Jinping, has made arts and culture a central arena for ideological crackdowns, demanding that artists align their creative ambitions with Chinese Communist Party goals and promote a nationalist vision of Chinese identity. Performers must submit scripts or setlists for vetting, and publications are closely monitored. Xi on Tuesday sent a letter to the National Art Museum of China for its 60th anniversary, reminding staff to "adhere to the correct political orientation." The Chinese President's emphasis on the arts is also part of a broader preoccupation with national security and eliminating supposedly malign foreign influence. The authorities in recent weeks have raided the corporate offices of several Western consulting or advisory companies based in China and broadened the range of behaviors covered under counterespionage laws. Many of the cancelled events were supposed to feature foreign performers or speakers. It was only to be expected that Beijing would also look to the cultural realm, as its deteriorating relationship with the West has made it more fixated on maintaining its grip on power at home, said Zhang Ping, a former journalist and political commentator in China who now lives in Germany, according to The New York Times. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dubai, May 26 (PTI) Ambassadors and diplomats from over 30 countries visited the under-construction site of the BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi-- the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East-- to inspect its progress and promote a dialogue of hope, harmony and humanity. The diplomats attended the gathering of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple on Thursday, on a special invite by the Ambassador of India to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir. Also Read | Foreign Woman Strips Naked, Enters Hindu Temple in Bali! Viral Video Shows Female German Tourist Behaving in Inappropriate Manner. "Columns of peace & beams of harmony, make up the @BAPS@AbuDhabiMandir. Resident Ambassadors and diplomats from more than 30 countries visited the temple site and marvelled at the delicate carvings & motifs from across world cultures," the Indian Embassy in the UAE tweeted. The envoys and mission representatives from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Indonesia, Israel, Brazil, Belgium, New Zealand, Canada, and Nigeria, were among those who visited the temple, the Khaleej Times newspaper reported. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi's Visit to France Will Boost Partnership for Decades, Says French Ambassador Benoit Guidee. Sudhir briefed the ambassadors and their families on the temple's progress since the laying of its foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. He described the temple project as a symbol of the close, historic and cultural bonds between India and the UAE, which share the values of peace, harmony, tolerance and coexistence, according to the report. Sudhir also hailed the vision of the leadership of the UAE and their inspiring efforts to build a diverse, peaceful and cohesive community. According to the temple's official Twitter account, the diplomats were awed by the craftsmanship and message of its carvings and architecture. "Honoured to welcome more than 30 Diplomats for a beautiful evening tour of the mandir's progress and a dialogue of hope, harmony and humanity. It was also an opportunity to appreciate the spirit and vision of @BAPS @MohamedBinZayed & @narendramodi," it tweeted. The envoys also interacted with the craftsmen and other team members at the temple and expressed hope to return when the temple opens next year, according to the report. The BAPS temple is being constructed on 55,000 square metres of land, and its structure is being hand-carved by Indian temple artisans and assembled in the UAE. Last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the site and described it as "a symbol of peace, tolerance and harmony." (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 26: Delhi Police have apprehended a man for making a PCR call and allegedly warning of a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official said on Friday. The caller was identified as Hemant Kumar, a resident of Raigar Pura in Karol Bagh. Death Threat to PM Narendra Modi: Kochi Man Issued Threat To Get Even With Neighbour, Arrested. "After receiving the PCR call on Thursday night, a police team was dispatched to the spot. Kumar was brought to the police station and a joint interrogation was conducted," said Pranav Tayal, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi). Government Issues Fresh Rules for Special Protection Group; ADG To Head Special Force That Guards PM Narendra Modi. "He has been unemployed for the last six years and is in the habit of drinking. As per initial probe, Kumar was drunk when he made the PCR call," the official added. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2023 12:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The company said clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for its first in-human clinical study is "an important first step" for its technology.Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink on Thursday said it received the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval to launch first-in-human clinical study. Also Read | US: Biden Hails productive Debt Talks with McCarthy. The company announced the decision on Twitter, saying the approval "represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people."Also Read | Tillu Tajpuriya Murder Case: 'Shakes My Judicial Conscience', Says Delhi High Court Judge Over the Gangster Being Stabbed Over 90 Times Inside Tihar Jail. The goal of the company is to develop implants that can treat neural disorders and that may one day be powerful enough to put humanity on a more even footing with possible future superintelligent computers. On at least four occasions since 2019, Musk has predicted that his medical device company would soon start human trial of a brain impant to treat intractable conditions like paralysis and blindness. But the company, founded in 2016, did not seek approval until early 2022. rm/jsi (AFP, Reuters) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2023 05:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The Taliban's restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls should be investigated as possible crimes under international law, two NGOs said in a joint report.Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists, NGOs based in London and Geneva respectively, jointly released a report on Friday urging an investigation into the Taliban's restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls. Also Read | Kerala Horror: Missing Hotelier Butchered, Body Found Packed in Trolley Bags; Four Accused Arrested. Titled, "The Taliban's war on women: The crime against humanity of gender persecution in Afghanistan," it cited the ICC statute, which lists gender-based persecution as a crime against humanity. Also Read | Golden Holy Book Stolen from Luguthang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh Recovered, Four Arrested. The report shed light on the severe limitations imposed by the Islamic fundamentalist group on women and girls in the war-torn country, after they seized power in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their withdrawal from the country after two decades of war. How has the Taliban rule affected women's rights? Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule, the Taliban have turned increasingly authoritarian, with a profound impact on various aspects of women's lives. Women's access to education and work has been limited, along with their ability to travel and access medical care. The report also accused the Taliban of targeting women and girls who have taken part in peaceful protests by detaining, forcibly disappearing them and subjecting them to torture in custody. Amnesty also documented cases of women and girls being forcibly married to members of the Taliban, as well as attempts to force them into such marriages. The report said those who refused such marriages were "subjected to abduction, intimidation, threats and torture." "Afghan women and girls are the victims of a crime against humanity of gender persecution. The gravity of the crime demands a far more robust international response than has been seen to date. There is only one outcome acceptable: this system of gender oppression and persecution must be dismantled," said Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International. Call for action against Taliban The organizations have called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to include "the crime against humanity of gender persecution" in its ongoing investigation into the situation in Afghanistan. They urged the international community to address the issue of "gender persecution and other potential violations of international law by the Taliban" during the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council. "Holding the Taliban criminally accountable and tackling rampant impunity for the serious crimes documented in this report is a necessary step toward securing justice for survivors of their egregious practices. We simply cannot afford to fail the women and girls of Afghanistan," said Santiago A. Canton, secretary-general at the International Commission of Jurists. The Taliban authorities, who claim to have established an "Islamic system" following the departure of the US-led NATO forces, have not yet responded to the report. In the past, the Taliban dismissed similar reports as "biased and propagandistic." In April, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Taliban to ensure the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The report by Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists adds further weight to the need for urgent action to address the dire situation faced by Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule. tg/sri (dpa, AP, EPD) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2023 11:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, May 26: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) moved the Delhi High Court on Friday seeking the death penalty for Yasin Malik, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader. The division bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh is scheduled to hear the petition on May 29. In May 2022, Malik, who has been convicted in connection with a 2017 terror funding case, was sentenced to life by a special NIA court here. Terror Funding Case: NIA Moves Delhi High Court Seeking Death Penalty for Yasin Malik. Special Judge Praveen Singh had pronounced the verdict under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act which will be concurrent and it will run till life. The quantum of punishment for the offences in the terror funding case, was pronounced last year amid tight security at the Patiala House Courts. During the course of the hearing in the trial court last year, Malik had said: "I will not beg for anything. The case is before this court and I leave it on the court to decide it." "If I have been involved in any terrorist activity or violence in 28 years, if Indian Intelligence proves this, then I will also retire from politics. I will accept the hanging... with seven Prime Ministers, I have worked," he had told the court. Kashmiri Separatist Leader Yasin Malik, Who Was on Hunger Strike in Tihar Jail, Hospitalised. The NIA told the court during the hearing that the accused is responsible for the Kashmiri Pandits' exodus from the Valley. The probe agency had also argued for the death sentence for Malik. On the other hand, the amicus curiae had sought life imprisonment as a minimum punishment in the case. Malik had pleaded guilty in the matter earlier. In the previous hearing, he told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including section 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of a terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2023 08:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Delhi, May 26: It has come to the notice of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) that two persons have been claiming fraudulently, that they have been finally recommended by the UPSC in the Civil Services Examination, 2022 against two Roll Numbers of genuinely recommended candidates. The claims of both persons are fake. They have forged the documents in their favour to buttress their claims. The system of the UPSC is robust as well as foolproof and such errors are not possible. In the instant cases, the details of both fake candidates and findings are as under: UPSC Contemplates Criminal Action Against Two Candidates for Claiming Selection in Civil Services. (I) Ms. Aysha Makrani d/o Shri Salimmuddin Makrani, who is claiming her final recommendation by the UPSC, is found to have forged the documents in her favour. Her actual Roll Number is 7805064. She appeared in the Preliminary Examination held on 5th June, 2022 and scored only 22.22 marks in General Studies Paper-I and 21.09 marks in General Studies Paper-II. As per the requirement of Examination Rules, she was required to score at least 66 marks in Paper-II. She has not only failed to qualify in Paper-II but scored far less marks than the cut-off marks of Paper-I, which were 88.22 for unreserved category for the Preliminary Examination of the year 2022. Hence, Ms. Aysha Makrani has failed at the stage of the Preliminary Examination itself and could not move further in next stages of the Examination. On the other hand, Ms. Ayasha Fatima d/o Shri Naziruddin, bearing Roll Number 7811744, is the genuine candidate, who has been recommended by the UPSC, securing 184th rank in the final result of the Civil Services Examination, 2022. (II) Similarly, in case of Shri Tushar as well, it is found that Shri Tushar s/o Shri Brijmohan from Rewari, Haryana had applied for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2022. He was allotted Roll Number 2208860 for this Examination. He appeared in the Preliminary Examination and scored minus 22.89 (i.e. -22.89) marks in General Studies Paper-I and 44.73 marks in General Studies Paper-II. As per the requirement of Examination Rules, he was required to score at least 66 marks in Paper-II. Thus, even Shri Tushar has failed at the stage of the Preliminary Examination itself and could not move further in next stages of the Examination. On the other hand, it is confirmed that Shri Tushar Kumar s/o Shri Ashwini Kumar Singh, bearing Roll Number 1521306, of State of Bihar is the genuine candidate, who has been recommended by the UPSC at 44th rank. UPSC Civil Services Final Exam Result 2022 Declared on upsc.gov.in, Ishita Kishore Secures AIR 1; Check Direct Link, Merit List Here. By doing so both Ms. Aysha Makrani and Shri Tushar have acted in contravention of the provisions of the Rules of the Civil Services Examination, 2022 notified by the Government of India (Department of Personnel & Training). Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Examination Rules, the UPSC is contemplating both criminal as well as disciplinary penal action against both candidates for their fraudulent acts. The above cases have been reported in the electronic/print media widely. One of such media channels has irresponsibly reported that the UPSC has corrected its mistake in one of the above two cases and investigating the matter as to how such error has happened. Many other media channels and social media portals have also carried the news without any verification. This is unprofessional on the part of the said media channel. It is reiterated that the UPSCs system is robust and foolproof to eliminate any such errors of alleged nature. It is expected of the media channels that they verify the genuineness of such claims from the UPSC before broadcasting/publishing news of such fake claims through their print/media channels. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2023 11:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is also set to boycott NITI Aayog's upcoming meeting in New Delhi. The latter wrote a a letter to PM Narendra Modi saying, "People are asking, if the PM doesn't abide by the SC then where will people go for justice? What's the point of attending NITI Ayog meeting when cooperative federalism is a joke." Delhi CM Writes Letter to PM Modi Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to boycott NITI Ayog meeting, writes a letter to PM Narendra Modi saying "People are asking, if the PM doesn't abide by the SC then where will people go for justice? What's the point of attending NITI Ayog meeting when cooperative federalism is a joke" pic.twitter.com/CPIQJaF9oH ANI (@ANI) May 26, 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.) On 25 May the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairskicked off a three-day visit to Cuba his first official visit there in his current post. End of preview - This article contains approximately 589 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 May Mexicos Presidenturged Hispanic voters in the US not to support, the Republican governor of Florida, who had, a day earlier, announced his intention to run for the US presidency in 2024, on an anti-immigration platform. End of preview - This article contains approximately 384 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 May the Chilean government announced that Presidenthad namedas Chiles new ambassador to Venezuela. End of preview - This article contains approximately 365 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has now officially announced his run for 2024, but it looks like Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is not impressed. With his recent controversial immigration law, as well as his numerous stunts of busing migrants, largely seen as stunts to curry favor for himself to white conservative voters, DeSantis has faced a boycott from Latino truck drivers, as well as a travel advisory for Latinos from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Now, it seems that the president of Mexico is also not happy with him. During his usual news conference, According to USA Today, AMLO took a shot at the controversial governor of Florida and said, "All of his playing politics with migrants was because he wanted to be the Republican party candidate." The Mexican president then urged the Hispanic people of Florida to "wake up and don't give him a single vote." DeSantis targeted not just undocumented immigrants, but also members of the LGBTQ community with his "Don't Say Gay" law, as well as African Americans with his laws banning the discussion of race in schools. These were all; part of the leadup to his announcement of his 2024 run alongside Twitter CEO Elon Musk in a glitch-filled announcement on the social media platform. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Laments Republicans' Politicking The Hill asked a question to AMLO during his morning briefing regarding his shot at DeSantis. To this, the Mexican President stated, "We have to be thinking about this regrettable phenomenon of necessary migration, used with political ends in the United States." He lamented the repeated use of politics by Republicans that has severely affected border security and immigration in the United States as he gave what Texas governor Greg Abbott is doing. READ NEXT: Florida 'Openly Hostile Toward African Americans,' Warns NAACP "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 he's politicking," the president of Mexico said during the news conference. Florida is a state with one of the biggest Latino populations in the country. However, the Latino population there has been shifting to the right in recent years despite Republican efforts to curtail immigration and impose laws against Hispanics. Ron DeSantis' Anti-DEI Laws Also Affecting Latino Students and Faculty in Florida Before his 2024 run announcement, DeSantis signed yet another controversial law. It banned public colleges and universities from using state or federal funds for programs that "advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion." However, this does not just affect African American and LGBTQ students, but also Latinos. Eduardo Padron, president emeritus of Miami Dade College, stated that this is a scary time for education in Florida. He added that "All the progress we have made to be more inclusive in Florida is going away." According to NBC News, Florida's public colleges and universities are considered the top institutions enrolling and graduating Latino students, as well as being one of the country's leading education think tanks focused on Latino college completion. However, DeSantis' Anti-DEI law has made many professors all over the state panic as it will not only ban gender studies but also affect designated Hispanic-serving institutions. 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: How Florida's new immigration bill could create a labour crisis | About That - CBC News The founder of the right-wing extremist group, the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, was finally sentenced last Thursday for seditious conspiracy and other charges. He will now be spending 18 years in prison over his actions that led to the January 6 Capitol insurrection, which his group took part in. The charge of seditious conspiracy was rarely proven in the United States, but when Rhodes and his Oath Keepers associates were found guilty, they made history as the first to be convicted of the crime for the January 6 insurrection, according to the Associated Press. The Oath Keepers, along with fellow pro-Trump far-right extremist group, the Proud Boys, fought to keep then-President Donald Trump in power and urged several Trump supporters to storm the Capitol and disrupt Congressional proceedings, particularly the announcement of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential elections. Much like the Oath Keepers, leaders of the Proud Boys were also found guilty of seditious conspiracy. Following the sentencing decision, Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement saying, "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." Judge Says Oath Keepers' Actions During January 6 Amounted to Terrorism For the first time, a Judge agreed with the Justice Department that the actions of a January 6 perpetrator should be punished as "terrorism." This was because District Judge Amit Mehta increased Rhodes's punishment as he found that the right-wing leader's actions amounted to domestic terrorism. "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," said the judge in his decision and added that Rhodes poses "an ongoing threat and peril to our democracy and the fabric of this country." READ MORE: Donald Trump Used Proud Boys As a Scapegoat According to CNN, the judge found that Rhodes did not express any remorse for his actions and continued to become a threat to the country. The judge pointed out that it was Stewart Rhodes who was organizing the teams of Oath Keepers during January 6 and that the members would not be there if it were not for Rhodes. "He was the one who gave the order to go, and they went," the judge concluded. Seditious Conspiracy Was Hard To Prove Before Oath Keepers Case The law regarding seditious conspiracy in the United States is quite broad, as it is concerned with attempts to overthrow the government; levy war against it; or prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law. So far, it had been hard to prove, though in the case of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, the evidence was so clear. The Guardian pointed out that because the charge carries so much political weight, prosecutors are generally hesitant to use it. The last time the law was successfully used was when Islamist extremist Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman and nine co-conspirators were charged with seditious conspiracy over the plot to bomb the UN headquarters in New York. Most seditious conspiracy cases have fallen apart ever since, including one against the Christian far-right Hutaree militia. READ MORE: Oath Keepers Founder Found Guilty of Seditious Conspiracy This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Oath Keepers founder sentenced to 18 years for Jan. 6 role - ABC News In the latest Gabby Petito update, Roberta Laundrie, the mother of the late Brian Laundrie, has chosen to share her perspective exclusively with Fox News Digital regarding the mysterious "burn after reading" letter that referenced a shovel and trash bags, which she had promised her son. Through her legal representative, the Florida-based mother wrote the letter to her son before going on a cross-country expedition with his 22-year-old fiancee, Gabby Petito, in June 2021. The unfortunate discovery of Petito's lifeless body near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, intensified the gravity of the situation. Subsequently, Brian, aged 23, returned to his mother's residence in North Port, Florida, where he was scrutinized as a "person of interest" in the investigation. Tragically, the unfolding events took an even more distressing turn when Brian's lifeless body was uncovered in a neighboring reserve on October 21, 2021. READ NEXT: Brian Laundrie Mom's Letter to Son Gabby Petito Update: What Does the "Burn After Reading" Letter Say? Court documents reveal that Petito's parents asked for a copy of Roberta Laundrie's letter to their son on multiple occasions, most recently earlier this month. NBC News received a copy of the letter from Patrick Reilly, the Petito family's attorney, Thursday. The message without a date was written on a brown card. Roberta Laundrie's heartfelt letter showcased her deep love and unwavering commitment to her son. She assured him their bond was unbreakable, surpassing any challenges they might face. Her words conveyed her unwavering support and loyalty, no matter what. Her determination to stand by her son was evident. demonstrating her willingness to help him in any way possible and promised assistance in difficult situations. "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," the letter says. Her love knew no boundaries or distance. She expressed that she would eagerly await his safe return even if he went to the moon. Her love was not just words but reflected in her actions and unwavering support. Roberta shared a valuable insight about love being demonstrated through actions, not just words. She encouraged her son to observe how people's actions reveal true love, offering a profound perspective on the essence of love itself. To conclude her heartfelt letter, Roberta found solace in a passage from Romans 8:38 in the Bible. It reinforced her belief in an unbreakable bond, emphasizing that nothing could separate their love. Brian Laundrie's Family Lawyer Says "Burn After Reading" Letter Was Irrelevant to the Lawsuit P. Matthew Luka, the defense attorney representing the parents of Brian Laundrie, has clarified that the "burn after reading" letter holds no relevance to the ongoing civil litigation. Luka previously argued against its submission, asserting that it is unrelated to the subsequent events. He emphasized that the letter was written before Brian and Gabby's trip, making it irrelevant to the unfortunate incidents. Despite certain phrasings within the letter that might imply a connection, Luka assured that it is not the case. He acknowledged that the wording in the letter could be misleading but maintained that it has no real connection to the subsequent events. Brian Laundrie confessed to killing Gabby Petito by leaving a note in his notebook in January 2022, according to the FBI. The FBI holds Brian Laundrie solely accountable for the "tragic death" of Gabby Petito, as no other individuals have been implicated in the case. READ MORE: Brian Laundrie's Parents Shocking Demand This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Brian Laundrie's Mom Sent 'Burn After Reading' Letter to Son - From Inside Edition Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing a mounting pile of corruption allegations and legal woes. He is being investigated by the Texas House of Representatives and the FBI. The House General Investigating Committee has been looking into "alleged illegal conduct" by Paxton, while the FBI is investigating him over accusations of corruption by his former staff members. House Speaker Dade Phelan was the one who announced that the committee has been investigating Paxton earlier this week. On Thursday, the Texas House committee, led by fellow Republicans, voted unanimously to recommend the impeachment of Paxton. The panel spent three hours on Wednesday deliberating on several serious crimes they believed Paxton committed. According to the Houston Chronicle, Paxton is accused of using the resources of his office in order to help a friend and campaign donor, Austin real estate investor Nate Paul. Investigators cited claims made by four former Paxton aides regarding this. The aides filed a lawsuit claiming that Paxton fired them as a form of retaliation after they pointed out that he was abusing his power as Texas AG to help out a campaign donor. The impeachment recommendation is considered "an extraordinary and nearly unprecedented move in state history." This was the first time that the Texas legislature impeached an official since 1975. At the time, a district judge was ousted after being found guilty of embezzlement and other fraud. The only other state official impeached was Texas Governor James Edward "Pa" Ferguson in 1917. READ NEXT: Texas: Daniel Perry Gets Punishment Over BLM Shooting Texas AG Ken Paxton Fires Back Against Fellow Republicans Ken Paxton is not going down quietly as he hit back at fellow Republicans in the Texas House who were investigating him. His main antagonist is Republican House Speaker Dan Phelan, whom he not only accused of being drunk on the job during a recent House session but also called him a "liberal." Phelan merely brushed off these accusations and said the embattled Texas AG was just trying to "save face." Philip Hilder, one of the defense attorneys for Paxton, recently told the Associated Press that his client's alleged wrongdoings should be left to the courts. "These matters are appropriate for resolution in a judicial system, not in a political system," he said. In the Texas State House of Representatives, Republicans hold an overwhelming majority, 85-64, against the Democrats. However, in the case of Paxton, a Donald Trump ally, Republicans seem to be divided as it is still unclear how many will be siding with the House Speaker and how many will be siding with Paxton. The state House has 150 members, and for the impeachment to be successful, a two-thirds majority vote is needed. Republican Divide in Texas Over Ken Paxton The New York Times reported that despite pro-Trump elements turning more to the right, the Texas House had stayed a bulwark for moderates in the state. While House Speaker Dade Phelan, who is publicly critical of Trump's hold in the party, he is also getting push back from far-right lawmakers and conservative activists aligned with the state's AG. The Texas House's investigation on Ken Paxton revealed more about the Republicans' infighting and has even surprised many veteran observers of state politics. "I would say this is as detrimental and important a scandal as we've seen in Texas political history," said University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus. "Not just because of what happened, but because of how long it's been going on and how Paxton has been able to survive it," he added. READ MORE: 3 Texas Men Arrested for Killing Auto Mechanic Over Repair Bill This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Faces Impeachment - From WFAA An American woman had her foot bitten off in a shark attack while snorkeling at a Turks and Caicos resort on Wednesday, police said. According to CBS News, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force noted that the 22-year-old unidentified woman was from Connecticut. In a press release shared on social media on Wednesday night, police said the incident occurred at a resort near the Leeward Marina in Providenciales, the third-largest island in the country, while the American woman was snorkeling with a friend. However, how the two escaped the shark and returned to shore was still unclear. Police reportedly received a call from a resort employee at around 3:07 p.m. local time to request an ambulance. According to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the resort staff said the female victim had her leg bitten off by a shark. Police officers quickly arrived on the scene, along with an ambulance, and the American woman was then taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she first received treatment. Local police initially described her condition as "serious." READ NEXT: U.S. Tourist Killed in Shark Attack Shark Attack Hurt American Woman in Turks and Caicos According to the Daily Mail, the American woman went to Turks and Caicos to celebrate her graduation from Yale University with her friend. A local source told the outlet that the victim had signed up for a private ocean tour before she went snorkeling along Grace Bay Beach at Bone Yard dive site, where she was attacked by what is believed to be a Caribbean Reef Shark. Disturbing images show the American woman's left foot that the shark bit off. The rescue boat's captain bravely jumped into the water to rescue the victim before she was rushed to the hospital. The captain then applied a tourniquet to her leg to stop the bleeding. The captain also managed to recover the victim's foot from the water and placed it on ice. However, it was reportedly too late to attach it back to her leg after a six-hour wait for an emergency aircraft to fly the American woman from the hospital on the island to a medical facility in Miami, Florida. The woman is reported to be stable and will be reunited with her parents in the hospital in Miami, where she will continue to receive the necessary care and treatment. Shark Attacks Are Rare, Experts Say As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, authorities urged beachgoers to exercise caution even though shark attacks are rare. According to data from the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File for the past decade, the number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide decreased last year. It tied with 2020 for the fewest number of reported incidents in the past 10 years, according to CNN. The report noted that nine percent of shark bite incidents involved swimmers or divers. Experts from the University of Florida said unprovoked attacks usually stem from the shark's natural behavior. They said sharks also attack due to outside circumstances, like fishing lines cast in feeding areas. In the case of a shark attack, experts suggest hitting a shark on the nose to deter its aggression temporarily. They also advised the public to claw at its eyes and gill openings if the shark bites. READ MORE: Gabby Petito Update This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: American Tourist Loses Foot in Shark Attack Off Turks and Caicos Islands - From CBS Evening News The Harris County District Attorney's Office has confirmed that a grand jury in Texas has formally indicted Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, TakeOff's suspected shooter. Migo's TakeOff, 28, tragically lost his life on November 1, while his fellow group member Quavo escaped unharmed. The breakthrough in the investigation came after a thorough examination of surveillance footage captured outside the bowling alley where the incident occurred. It was revealed that Clark was the sole individual whose body alignment matched the trajectory of the fatal shot that struck TakeOff before he collapsed, according to Rolling Stone. Additionally, Clark's fingerprints were found at the crime scene, as he was holding a wine bottle at the time of the tragic event. Clark was swiftly arrested and charged with murder on the night of TakeOff's murder. However, he later posted a $1 million bond and was released in January. According to Clark's defense attorneys, the indictment was an expected outcome due to the low standard of proof required during this stage of the legal process. In a statement, Clark's lawyer emphasized the distinction between the standard of proof needed for an indictment and the much higher standard of proof, "guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," presented before a jury during the trial. The defense team expressed confidence that when presented with all the evidence and allowed to cross-examine the state's witnesses, the jury would ultimately deliver a verdict of not guilty. READ NEXT: Nipsey Hussle's Death TakeOff Suspected Shooter, Patrick Xavier Clark's Arrest Patrick Xavier Clark found himself in police custody in 2022 as a suspect in the murder case that unfolded outside a venue. An escalating altercation sparked the tragic event during a dice game, which eventually escalated into a violent confrontation involving gunfire, per The US Sun. Law enforcement authorities revealed that CCTV footage captured Clark, TakeOff suspected shooter, brandishing a firearm and discharging multiple rounds. Notably, at the time of the incident, he was seen holding a bottle of wine. In connection with the shooting, another individual, Cameron Joshua, has also been arrested on weapons-related charges, accused of being the second shooter targeting Takeoff. Following the incident, Clark reportedly fled to a nearby concert hall where he allegedly abandoned the wine bottle, subsequently found to bear his fingerprints. It wasn't until a month later that law enforcement apprehended Clark during a routine traffic stop. Although armed at the time of the murder, it is essential to note that the weapon used in the crime was not in his possession. While Clark's defense attorneys argued that he intended to go on a vacation, authorities suspect he intended to flee to Mexico. Notably, Quavo, Takeoff's uncle and fellow member of the Migos music group, was also present at the scene when the tragic incident occurred. TakeOff's Murder Tragedy struck the music industry as the life of Takeoff, a prominent member of the hip-hop trio Migos, was abruptly cut short outside a bowling alley. The rapper, known by his birth name Kirsnick Khari Ball, was declared dead at the scene, leaving a void in the music world. Takeoff, described as the "most lowkey member" of Migos, hailed from suburban Atlanta, where he grew up alongside his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset, the other two group members. The trio shared a close bond, with Takeoff's mother playing a significant role in raising them. While Quavo and Offset ventured into solo projects, Takeoff remained focused on his collaborative work with Migos. Following the shooting, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner revealed that numerous calls flooded in, all expressing admiration for Takeoff as a talented artist and an exceptional individual. The outpouring of support highlighted his impact on fans and the industry alike. In November, the Harris County Medical Examiner unveiled the details surrounding Takeoff's cause of death. The rapper succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to the head, torso, and arm, the penetrating nature of which led to his tragic demise. READ MORE: US Navy Seal Brutal 'Hell Week' Training This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Patrick Clark indicted in TakeOff shooting death - From KHOU 11 A juvenile wanted on attempted homicide charges in New York City was arrested Thursday morning in Bethlehem, and police say they found guns and drugs inside the city apartment where he was staying. Authorities have been looking for Rehmier Richardson, 17, since the Jan. 17 incident where a group tried to rob a smoke shop, Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy with the Marshals Service Eastern District of Pennsylvania, told lehighvalleylive.com. When confronted by a store employee, Richardson allegedly shot the employee in the leg, Clark said. He was wanted on charges of second-degree attempted homicide and robbery. Investigators learned Richardson was possibly staying with a female associate at an apartment in the 900 block of East Sixth Street in Bethlehem, according to Clark. Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, New York City police and Bethlehem police raided the apartment Thursday morning. Clark said a person answered the apartment door and the teen was arrested without incident at 7:15 a.m., court records say. Richardson is charged as an adult in the attempted homicide case and is being held as a fugitive from justice in Pennsylvania while awaiting extradition to New York, Clark said. There were numerous firearms and narcotics in plain view in the Bethlehem apartment, Clark said. Bethlehem police said in Xavier Byrds bedroom they found a black nylon firearm case with a Mossberg Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and corresponding ammunition inside, as well as a bag of marijuana. Officers also found a 9mm handgun, a .22-caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson .38-caliber revolver and a FedArm 20-gauge shotgun; corresponding ammunition for the firearms; and a distributable amount of cocaine. Four of the five firearms were found in Byrds bedroom, and he is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions in New York for drug possession, drug distribution, and the possession of weapons, Bethlehem police said. Byrd, 49, is charged with five counts of prohibited possession of a firearm, as well as possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Byrd was sent to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $100,000 bail, records show. A defense attorney has not yet entered an appearance in his case. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. A popular Lehigh County neighborhood pub wants to expand with a second location at a site that has sat idle for about two years in Upper Nazareth Township. The Catty Corner Neighborhood Pub & Pie plans to move into the former Sean Galls Dublin Pub & Grill building, 394 N. Broad St. Ext., sometime in October. Catty Corner in November 2018 opened its original eatery at the corner of Mulberry and Howertown Road in Catasauqua. The 21st annual Freddy Awards on Thursday night at the State Theatre in Easton recognized the best of musical performances at 29 high schools across Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties. Leading the pack with seven wins was Emmaus High School during the awards show broadcast live by WFMZ-TV 69. Parkland High School had drawn the most nominations of any participating school 16 for its production of Rodgers and Hammersteins Oklahoma! and took home four Freddy Awards, second-most behind Emmaus. Here is the complete list of winners who shared the stage Thursday night: Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Outstanding Use of Scenery Freedom High School (Disneys Beauty and the Beast) Outstanding Use of Costumes Parkland High School (Rodgers and Hammersteins Oklahoma!) Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member RJ Kloecker as Mal Beineke, Phillipsburg High School (The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy) Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member Addison Treat as Aunt Eller, Parkland High School (Rodgers & Hammersteins Oklahoma!) Air Products Education and Community Impact Freddy Award Salisbury High School (9 to 5 the Musical) Outstanding Use of Lighting Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance Angelina Dries, Aidan Heil, Catasauqua Area High School On The Right Track (Pippin) Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging Parkland High School (Rodgers and Hammersteins Oklahoma!) Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (tie) Kaylee Babiak as Catherine, Hackettstown High School (Pippin) and Emily Novak as Golde, Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (tie) Tyrik Iman-Washington Jr. as Gleb, Warren Hills Regional High School (Anastasia) and Patrick DAmico as Stacee Jaxx, Southern Lehigh High School (Rock of Ages: Teen Edition) Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer Gabriela Baran as Dream Laurey, Parkland High School (Rodgers & Hammersteins Oklahoma!) Outstanding Ensemble Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance Grace Spellacy, Salisbury High School Get Out And Stay Out (9 to 5 the Musical) lehighvalleylive.com + The Express-Times Student Achievement Maeve Yanes Stage Manager/Volunteer Coordinator, Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor Mak Cerrada-Shapiro as Officer Lockstock, Belvidere High School (Urinetown) Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress Jenna Seasholtz as Lonny Barnett, Southern Lehigh High School (Rock of Ages: Teen Edition) Outstanding Production Number Liberty High School Brotherhood of Man (How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying) Outstanding Stage Crew (In honor of Capt. Christopher Seifert) Bangor Area High School (Anastasia) Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Angelina Dries as Leading Player, Catasauqua Area High School (Pippin) Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Jacob Klinedinst as Tevye, Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School Hackettstown High School (Pippin) Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical Emmaus High School (Fiddler on the Roof) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The front few rows in the right section of floor seats at the State Theatre must be magic, lucky or both. For the second Freddy Awards in a row, as presenters announced the winner of the nights final Freddy, the students in that section erupted out of their seats with elation as their school production took home the awards for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical. Last year, those students attended Bangor Area High School. But on Thursday night, Bangor students, who were also nominated in the category for their production of Anastasia, were on the opposite side of the theater. This time, Emmaus High School took home the biggest award of the night for its production of Fiddler on the Roof, a victory that became more and more evident as the night went on. Emmaus pulled in seven Freddy Awards, the most of any school, during the 21st annual high school musical theater awards show, including, in addition to Overall Production, Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra, Outstanding Use of Lighting, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (for Emily Novak as Golde), Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (for Jacob Klinedinst as Tevye), as well as the lehighvalleylive.com + The Express-Times Student Achievement Award for Maeve Yanes, the productions stage manager and volunteer coordinator. Almost every recipient thanked the local Rabbi that helped bring the show an authenticity that Freddys judges obviously took note of. While Emmaus paced all schools and Parkland High Schools Rodgers and Hammersteins Oklahoma! (the most-nominated production with 16) pulled in four of its own, the Freddys otherwise spread the wealth, with 12 of 29 participating schools taking home a win. A full list of winners can be found here. Catasauqua High School, Hackettstown High School, Salisbury High School and Southern Lehigh High School each nabbed two, most notably Hackettstowns Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School win for Pippin, and Catasauqua student Angelina Dries taking home two Freddys in one night one for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (as Leading Player in the schools own production of Pippin) and for Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance, which she shared with castmate Aidan Heil for their performance of On The Right Track. If youre doing the math at home, you might notice that there were 25 Freddys victories despite only 23 Freddy categories. If you can believe it, there were not one but two ties on the night, and stranger yet, they both came in corresponding categories. The supporting actress and supporting actor Freddy awards went to two recipients each after the judges votes came out even. In Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Kaylee Babiak won for her performance as Catherine in Hackettstowns Pippin, and Emily Novak won for her portrayal of Golde in Emmaus Fiddler production. Over in Actor in a Supporting Role, Warren Hills Regional High School student Tyrik Iman-Washington Jr.s turn as Gleb in Anastasia earned him a Freddy and the opportunity to give the speech of the night, while Patrick DAmicos Stacee Jaxx from Southern Lehighs Rock of Ages also got him a Freddy as well as about three-dozen rock-and-roll salutes from the crowd. Between two ties, three nominated Pippin productions and at least a hundred decibels-worth of cheering high schoolers, it was a weird and wild Freddys ceremony that will ultimately be remembered for the overwhelming sense of community that permeates the students who are competitors in name only. It may not come through on the WFMZ-TV 69 broadcast, but so much of what happens on stage is drowned out by hundreds of teenagers whooping and cheering for the friends they just met a couple weeks ago, and truthfully might barely see again, but theyll always share the 2023 Freddy Awards. Whether they celebrated it with a lchaim, a rock on or a tightly choreographed Russian cossack dance, the students involved in the Freddys and each schools productions are so clearly part of the same tribe that when the winners would credit their award to their entire cast and crew, you believe them, and as the closing number winds down and 116 students are still dancing onstage and in the aisles, with hundreds more joining from their seats, you hope, for their sake, they never have to stop. Lchaim, indeed. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. The cost to fill up for Memorial Day 2023 weekend driving is running about 22-26% less than one year ago across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the United States, according to AAA. Thats even with a seasonal surge in gasoline demand leading into the long holiday weekend pushing the national average for a gallon of regular up by less than a nickel since last week to $3.57, AAA says. The automobile club forecasts 6% more Memorial Day road trips than last year, with more than 37 million Americans hitting the road across the United States. The rise in demand for gasoline is helping to push pump prices higher for now, AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said in a news release Thursday. But the increase is mitigated by the low cost of oil, which is wobbling around in the low $70s per barrel. Pump prices could stabilize or fall once this long weekend is in the rearview mirror. Gas demand in a week increased from 8.91 to 9.43 million barrels per day, AAA said, citing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration; that rising demand has helped to boost pump prices. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 2 million barrels to 216.3 million barrels, AAA says: If gas demand grows amid tighter supplies, drivers will likely see pump prices rise. For now, at least, the Lehigh Valleys average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded cost $3.62 on Friday $1.18 or 24.5% less than a year ago, AAA said. Nationally, a gallon cost $3.57 on Friday, or $1.03 (22.3%) less than a year ago. For drivers headed out this weekend across Pennsylvania, state police said troopers will be watching for aggressive, distracted and impaired driving. The holiday enforcement period began at midnight Thursday and runs through Monday, Memorial Day. During the Memorial Day Holiday Traffic Enforcement period of 2022, state police Troop M covering Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties investigated 54 crashes and made 26 arrests for suspected Driving Under the Influence. As part of the 2023 enforcement plan, a sobriety checkpoint is scheduled to be conducted by troopers with state police at Belfast during the holiday weekend in Northampton County. Troopers also reminded drivers that any driver who willfully fails or refuses to bring their vehicle to a stop, or who otherwise flees or attempts to elude a pursuing police officer, can be charged with a felony carrying a maximum penalty upon conviction of seven years in prison, a $15,000 fine and restitution for any damages or injuries sustained resulting from a pursuit. State police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation this week also announced the participation of law enforcement agencies in the National Click It or Ticket Enforcement Mobilization running through June 4. As part of the enforcement mobilization, state and local police agencies were planning coordinated, high visibility enforcement with roving patrols, traffic enforcement zones and speed enforcement details on roads with high rates of unbuckled crashes. Seat belts save lives, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a statement. If you know someone who doesnt wear their seat belt, please ask them to consider changing their habit. Losing a loved one in a crash because they werent buckled can truly devastate a family. A seat belt is your best protection in a crash, but you have to click it! Editors note: This article contains graphics looking at Memorial Day 2023 gas prices well below 2022 levels; What does a gallon of regular cost?; and How current gas prices compare to ... .Click the links here to view them, since they may not display on all platforms, or to view them full-screen. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Finally, an in-depth article explaining the perils of using souped-up marijuana: Legal pot is more potent than ever - and still largely unregulated. In the article published on May 18 in The Express-Times, the majority of the information revealing the higher potency levels of THC, or the effects of increased THC, in todays pot comes from private sources; clinicians, dispensaries, psychiatrists. But the federal government has long documented and warned about the repercussions of recreational weed. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) forewarns that THC causes the high that people feel. With effects such as: Difficulty in thinking and problem solving, altered sense of time, impaired body movement. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has nothing good to say about recreational weed: Marijuana affects timing and coordination in sports. Operating motor vehicles under the influence of pot causes slower reactions, difficulty reacting to signals and signs, and decreased body coordination. As the article indicates: Recreational weed is legal in 22 states plus D.C. The perils of pot are not new, but known for decades. So what planet are our lawmakers living on as they ignore the ill effects and psychological harm from marijuana, yet legalize the ever-increasing THC-loaded pot? In a sense, those lawmakers are no better than the parents who supply alcohol to minors. The comparison is valid. Its irresponsible to supply adults or minors with adverse, mind-altering products. Dan Pryor Belvidere Every man-made problem has a man-made solution. Military-style assault weapons are a man-made problem. God is not responsible. Republican Texas Congressman Keith Self said following the May 7 Allen, Texas mass shooting that we need to believe in almighty God who is absolutely in control of our lives. In 1969, when I volunteered for the U.S. Army Reserve, almost nightly the mainstream media reported the number of dead American soldiers killed in Vietnam by Russian made military-style assault weapons. Today, almost nightly, the mainstream media report the number of dead Americans killed in mass shootings from military-style assault weapons sanctioned for use by only our Republican politicians and their benefactor, the National Rifle Association. The United States, like every other country, has mentally ill citizens. The United States, unlike every other country, has Republicans who allow non-military citizens to possess and use military-style assault weapons to slaughter, almost daily, innocent American citizens who are not a threat to you. The Lehigh Valley has been mostly immune from mass shootings. Its just a matter of time. Dont kid yourself. Like the catastrophes caused by man-made global warming, a mass shooting will come to your life, unless you demand of your local Republican politicians that their thoughts and prayers aint enough anymore. This Memorial Day, also remember the Americans killed in over 200 mass shootings just this year. Our solution? Vote out cowardly Republican politicians permitting these American wars in our towns caused from military-style assault weapons. Ban military-style assault weapons now. Reggie Regrut Phillipsburg Water supply has been restored to approximately 40,000 homes and businesses in Dublin after a major burst on a high-pressure main was repaired. Uisce Eireann, formerly known as Irish Water, said Dublin City Council immediately dispatched an expert water service crew to find and fix the burst. Crews worked through the night before the burst was finally repaired at approximately 2am. Every effort was made to reduce the impact on homes and businesses and restore water supply as quickly as possible, Uisce Eireann said. However, repairs were complex due to the location of the pipe deep underground and the presence of other services. During the outage, Dublin City Council had turned valves to ensure water flowed from alternative areas to continue supply to as many as possible. Uisce Eireann also arranged alternative water supplies in key locations across Dublin. Uisce Eireann technician Joe OReilly 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. Following this type of work, occasionally issues such as cloudy water (air bubbles), discolouration or internal airlocks may arise. Information on how to resolve these issues is on the Uisce Eireann website. A serving soldier has brought a High Court challenge against a senior military officer's order that all members of the Permanent Defence Forces should not attend unofficial parades and protests held on their behalf. The action has been brought by Sergeant Martin Bright, who is also the Deputy General Secretary of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) the body which represents the interests of full-time members of the PDF. The court heard that Sgt Bright intended to attend a protest that took place in in Dublin City Centre in September 2018. That event was organised over army pay and conditions, and was mainly attended by family members of serving members and veterans of the PDF However, Stg Bright did not go to the parade after the PDF's Deputy Chief of Staff issued an order in August 2018 directing members of the Permanent Defence Forces not to attend such unofficial parades and protests. The order issued by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the PDF requested all members of the members of the PDF not attend a number of unoffical parades and protests on behalf of PDF members. The order said that the PDF members should be aware that attendance in uniform or civilian clothing at such events "is not compatible with military service". Sgt Bright, represented by Oisin Quinn SC with Micheal O'Higgins SC instructed by solicitor Fergus O'Regan, claims that the order breaches his rights to freedom of assembly or to express himself freely. The order, he claims, should be withdrawn but the State has refused to do so. In proceedings against the Minister for Defence, Ireland and the Attorney General he seeks a declaration that the order issued in August 2018 is unlawful and outside of the Deputy Chief of Staff's powers. He also seeks declarations that his attendance at lawful assemblies and protests, while not on duty, is not incompatible with military service. If necessary, he seeks a declaration that the order is unconstitutional, and breaches various articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Opening the case Mr Quinn said that there is no express power that allows an officer to order an off duty, and not in uniform, PDF member not to attend a civilian event. The Defence Forces regulations do prevent the attendance of members at political events in uniform, but no such restriction applies in respect of soldiers in civilian attire counsel said. Represented by Patrick McCann SC and Mark Dunne SC the defendants deny the claims. In their defence they say that he lacks the legal standing to bring the action, which should be struck out. This is because Sgt Bright was seconded to PDFORRA which the State says cannot engage in any public agitation as a means of furthering its claims. The defendants also deny that Sgt Bright was prevented from attending the protest, which the defendants say amounted to a political demonstration. The defendants deny that the officer's note of August 2018 was unlawful or invalid, or that Sgt Bright's rights were breached as alleged. The declarations sought should not be granted, the defendants further submit. The hearing, before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, continues. Since 2020, Veja has had some of its sneakers manufactured by Aniger, a Brazilian company. Every day, 6,000 pairs of the French brand leave the factory in Quixeramobim, Nordeste. Here, on May 11, 2023. JULIETTE GARNIER / LE MONDE Bicudo is ruining Anselmo Algaroba's cotton fields. Two weeks before the harvest of the white down, which was scheduled for the beginning of June, this 73-year-old Brazilian farmer, who owns 6 hectares in Veneza, in the heart of the state of Ceara in northeast Brazil, has only one recourse against the boll weevil: Unable to use pesticides, he and his wife, Roseli, pick each affected and dried flower by hand, in the early morning, and burn it immediately to avoid the propagation of the larvae it contains. In Riacho do Meio, 150 kilometers away, Joao Felix, an organic cotton farmer, also fears an attack. The rain, which would wash the plants and drown the worms, is overdue. And the torrential downpours of February and March complicated the first sowings in January and hampered crop emergence in his sandy soil fields. Only 60% of the 171 producers in his cooperative, Esplar, managed to plant on time. The rows in Felix's cotton fields are sparse. And plants attacked by bicudo bear only a few flowers. The beetle destroyed Brazilian cotton plantations in the 1980s. And since then, pesticides have been used everywhere, on large, ultra-mechanized farms, such as in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. These ultra-powerful insecticides are sprayed in abundance. Especially since the country, which is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world, behind India, China and the United States, claims to be increasing its production and becoming the largest cotton exporter in 2023. This comes to the great displeasure of all those who condemn the damage of this industry and pesticides' impact on health. "I often found myself showered with pesticides," said Juan Felix Dantas, a 77-year-old farmer who converted to agro-environmentalism in 2001. 'This poison has no future' However, in Ceara, hundreds of producers are resisting the temptation to use pesticides or are giving them up. "Everyone knows that this poison has no future," said Algaroba. And, according to him, "organic cotton pays well." Despite the bicudo attacks and the chaos caused by the climate crisis, these producers live off their land and feed off the rows of corn, beans, sweet potatoes and sesame planted nearby. On the Jardim farm, near Taua, the cotton harvest, which will require a month's work, should "be good," said Francisco-Veloso de Oliveira, who has been an organic cotton farmer for five years. His salary is guaranteed within the framework of a fair trade contract established for several years by his cooperative, the ADEC, which represents 220 producers around Taua, and Veja, a French sneaker brand. You have 76.6% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Migrants on an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England. BEN STANSALL / AFP A day after searching a stretch of the Mediterranean Sea, an Italian humanitarian group said on Friday, May 26, that its rescue vessel found no trace of a boat said to be in distress and carrying 500 migrants, including a newborn. The vessel "Life Support found no wreckage of any shipwreck, and the 500 persons did not disembark in Italy,'' the nongovernmental organization Emergency said. "It's hard to believe that no coastal authority knows where those 500 are." Emergency raised the possibility that the migrants were brought back to Libya, the launching point for many smugglers' unseaworthy boats that aim to bring migrants to Italy's shores. The organization said Libyan authorities so far were denying it brought the passengers back to Libya, where many migrants spend months in inhumane conditions in detention camps, often enduring beatings or rape until they or their families can pay smugglers for the sea journey to Italy. On Tuesday, another organization, Alarm Phone, which receives calls from migrant boats in distress, said a boat filled with 500 migrants needed help. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes The 'endless cycle' of migration at the French-Italian border 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 ? Emergency said that Life Support sailed for 32 hours to reach the area where the distressed ship was believed to be and searched for 24 hours on Thursday in international waters that are part of Malta's search-and-rescue area. But the group said on Thursday evening that worsening weather forced it to end the search. Believed to be aboard the boat are 45 women, some of them pregnant, and 56 children, including a baby allegedly born during the journey. The Libyan coast guard did not reply to a request by The Associated Press for comment about Emergency's hypothesis that the migrants were taken back to Libya. On Thursday, the Italian coast guard said one of its vessels, in two separate operations, rescued nearly 1,100 migrants from two fishing boats in distress in its search-and-rescue area. The Italian coast guard denied any role involving a third boat in difficulty, with 27 migrants aboard. It said merchant ships were involved in aiding that boat, and "although initially contacted by the Italian rescue center, they (the cargo ships) then received instructions directly from the Libyan authorities, as part of an event occurring inside the area of responsibility" of Libya. The Libyans "legitimately took on the coordination" of the rescue, the Italian coast guard said on Thursday, denying involvement in any "pushing back" of migrants to Libya. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes UK immigration at record levels, in spite of Brexit 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 ? Le Monde with AP At the first meeting of the EPC in Prague on October 7, 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron (right), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. JOE KLAMAR / AFP It was dress rehearsal day in Brussels on Thursday, May 25. Some 47 sherpas and other high-ranking diplomats from all corners of the continent gathered to discuss the next meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), scheduled on June 1, in Chisinau, Moldova. Europe's heads of state and government and that of most of Europe's neighbors except for Russia and Belarus will meet in this new format for the second time, even though the purpose of such a configuration remains unclear. On May 9, 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the idea of the EPC, arguing that "the European Union cannot be the only means of structuring the continent," in the face of Moscow's expansionism, with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, as well countries of the Western Balkans knocking on the EU's door. The EPC came into being despite the initial skepticism of Macron's European partners, starting with Germany, and the concerns of EU candidate countries who feared the initiative was intended to replace enlargement. A total of 44 heads of state and government attended the launch of the EPC on October 6, 2022, in Prague. There could be as many as 47 this time, since Andorra, San Marino and Monaco have joined the club. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend, at least virtually, while Ankara will respond to the invitation after the second round of Turkey's presidential election on May 28. 'European Concert' Brussels, Paris, London and Bucharest spared no effort in the past weeks to help Chisinau prepare for a summit fraught with logistical and security risks. Not only is Moldovan infrastructure (airports, hotels, etc.) not calibrated for the event, but its capital is less than 200 kilometers away from Odesa, Ukraine. The family photo, which will be taken at Mimi Castle, a winery and an architectural monument about 30 kilometers from Chisinau, will project the image of a united continent in the face of a warmongering Russia. This alone will send a strong message to the Kremlin and the rest of the world. The stakes are high for Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a population of nearly 3.5 million, where Moscow wields considerable influence and makes numerous attempts to destabilize the country. "It's a confirmation of Moldova's belonging to the European family," said Nathalie Loiseau, a member of European Parliament in the center-right party Horizons. In October, the European Commission will decide whether to start membership negotiations with Kyiv and Chisinau. With this in mind, the Europeans are expected to offer Moldova a few tokens of solidarity on June 1. These should include reducing cell phone roaming charges, helping to finance military equipment, financial support and other various forms of technical assistance. The bloc is putting the finishing touches on the package. You have 62.18% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A LIMERICK man with a severe health condition has been advised to shower away from his home, while a boil water notice is in place. One droplet of the water goes up your nose, you are at high risk, the young man, who is a son of councillor Kevin Sheahan, has been told by a consultant. Up to 7,000 people living along the Shannon Estuary have been informed they must boil any water they use for drinking, to kill the presence of cryptosporidium which has been detected in the water supply. While Uisce Eireann, which issued the boil notice directive, has said water can be used for bathing without boiling it in general, severely immunocompromised people should contact their doctor or GP. Cryptosporidium can cause respiratory illness if consumed. The concerns of local residents will be raised and discussed, this Friday, at a special meeting of the Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District. While representatives of Uisce Eireann have been invited to attend, it's unclear if anyone from the utility will be present at the meeting. Cllr Sheahan said this Tuesday that his son had been told that it is preferable he washes away from the family home in Askeaton for the time being - and away from the area where the boil notice is in place. As well as Askeaton, this includes Foynes, Ballyhahill, Loghill, Ballysteen, Pallaskenry, Shanagolden, and the surrounding areas. In an emotional address to this month's local authority meeting, Cllr Sheahan said: A member of my family picked up the phone and he spoke to a top consultant in Dublin. He asked the question, We are in a boil notice situation down here, can I take a shower with that water? The consultant said, For Christ's sake, stay away from that water. You cannot take a shower. One droplet of the water goes up your nose, you are at high risk. In an email seen by the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live, Uisce Eireann (formerly known as Irish Water), said a conservative date for the boil notice to be lifted along the Estuary is this December. The situation led to angry exchanges at this month's local authority meeting, with councillors Adam Teskey and Emmett O'Brien walking out in protest. Irish Water executives will address councillors on Friday, but the meeting will be held behind closed doors. There are concerns now of the impact on other people who may be immunocompromised in the district - and the confusion which has been caused. One person who is impacted by this, but who did not wish to be identified, said: If you have a shower or bath, do we need to boil the water first? What happens if you do not have a bath in your home, only a shower? How are they supposed to cope? She also said the cost of the ESB to heat all the water is prohibitive. Cllr Sheahan said: The electorate are all impacted by this. If they are living on the same street as any person under any category I've mentioned, they are impacted. Because the strongest thing you have in life is a good neighbour. Fellow district councillor Bridie Collins said: This is an extremely serious issue. There are a lot of immunocompromised people in our district, and this needs to be resolved particularly for them, but also the general public. The district's leader, Cllr Stephen Keary admitted fears he may be impacted, given the fact he has gone through cancer treatment himself. This is a very sensitive, and very important issue. I understand Kevin's plight and I wish his young fella well. He needs to be safeguarded. Uisce Eireann is not at this time proposing to provide any alternative water supply while the area's boil notice is in place, according to communications seen by the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live. Council boss Dr Pat Daly said he will raise the medical issues with the director of public health immediately. Kieran Lehane, who is the council's director of water services added: I fully understand the upset this has caused. From my own part and my colleagues, council is working very hard to get this matter resolved. A spokesperson for HSE Public Health Mid-West pointed out that recommendations from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre say severely immunocompromised individuals who are at risk of life-threatening illness from cryptosporidial infection may need to take additional measures to protect their health. THE IFA has called on the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to fast-track stronger laws around dog control following recent devastating attacks on cattle. Similar concerns have been expressed in Limerick with Cllr Ger Mitchell requesting new fit for purpose legislation to be introduced and enacted relating to dogs entering on lands which may cause injury to persons or animals, to prevent distress to farmers, owners and their animals. The IFA reports that last week a yearling bullock belonging to a North Kildare farmer had to be put down by vets due to horrific injuries caused by a dog attack. Another bullock had to be put down a month ago having also been targeted by a dog. The devastation being caused by uncontrolled dogs across the country is not acceptable, and the delay by the Minister to act on this prevalent issue is not good enough, said the IFAs Paul McDonald. The effects of such an attack on a farm are widespread, the farmer cannot sleep at night without fear of losing another animal. More must be done immediately to ensure farmers around the country stop bearing the costs of such devastating attacks, he added. IFA have been working hard to highlight the need for dog control laws to be strengthened up, but the Minister continues to fail in implementing stricter laws. The longer farmers have to wait, the more common these sorts of attacks will become, said Mr McDonald. Stronger regulations were brought before the Cabinet in recent months which IFA recognised as a step in the right direction but more is needed to be done to not just prevent dog attacks on livestock but bring forward serious consequences for the owners of dogs found attacking livestock. IFA are again appealing to all dog owners to be extra vigilant of their dogs and their whereabouts at all times, especially at this time of the year when livestock are now out grazing. LIMERICK has received another major jobs boost with the announcement that H&MV Engineering is to open a new global headquarters in the city. The company, which provides services to the energy market already has offices in Dublin, Cork and Thurles and operates international offices in London, Glasgow, Frankfurt, Oslo, Madrid, Hosur, and Bangalore. It provides specialist design, engineering and construction services and is to lead a global expansion from its new international premises in Castletroy over the five next years. Up to 350 people will be employed at the new headquarters in Limerick while a further 350 jobs will be created in other areas of the business. The new 36,000 square foot facility will include engineering VR facilities as well as relaxation areas, a games room and a gym. The expansion plans are being announced just months after the company marked its 25th anniversary, since its foundation in 1997, and represents the companys commitment to its thriving workforce by promoting learning, development and mentoring in a dynamic new office space. The state of the art training facilities will allow H&MV Engineering to expand its graduate and apprenticeship programmes, offering training and upskilling opportunities across a range of disciplines including engineering, design, finance, and commercial development. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney and H&MV Engineering CEO PJ Flanagan will attend an event at lunchtime this Friday to mark the official announcement The CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Leo Clancy, will also attend. Commenting on the expansion announcement PJ Flanagan said: Investing in talent and delivering on our ESG objectives is incredibly important to us in providing rewarding careers to our employees. The new office spaces have been designed to create an optimum atmosphere for innovation and creativity for H&MV Engineering colleagues, as we continue to provide high voltage engineering solutions on the global stage. I look forward to welcoming employees and clients into our new headquarters in Limerick, and to seeing what the next 25 years will bring to our business as we enter the next chapter of the growth for the business. A FORMER principal who stole almost 100,000 from the school in Limerick city where he worked has avoided an immediate prison sentence. Imposing sentence at Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Tom ODonnell said Stephen Condon has completely spiralled out of control due to a chronic gambling addiction but has made an extremely impressive recovery since his offending came to light. Mr Condon, aged 43, of The Grange, Raheen had pleaded guilty to 109 counts of theft- relating to incidents which occurred on dates between September 2012 and July 2016. He was appointed principal of St John the Baptist NS in Garryowen in 2011. Detective Garda Brendan O'Reilly told a sentencing hearing that in 2016, 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 Condon was placed on administrative leave and a team of forensic accountants commenced a review. The report established he stole 56,406 from the school bank account in cash. A further 37,329 was withdrawn on his behalf, said prosecuting barrister John OSullivan. 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, he added. In general, Mr Condon stole sums of money less than 1,000 - the property of the national school. Mr Condon was arrested and questioned by gardai in January 2020. He told them he was very sorry adding: "I had a severe gambling addiction in 2012. I hid it from my family. I went through all our savings and then school funds. Barrister Yvonne 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. Noting the defendants guilty plea, his efforts to rehabilitate himself and the fact that all of the monies have since been repaid, Judge O'Donnell said an immediate prison sentence would be disproportionate in the circumunstances. He said Mr Condon is a good, decent, dedicated family man and he noted that he is now working in another school. The judge imposed a 20-month prison sentence, which he suspended in its entirety on condition the former principal stays out of trouble and does not commit any criminal offence. THOUSANDS of residents in west Limerick who have been advised to boil their water before consuming it have been told a solution is "months away". A boil water notice was placed on the Foynes/Shannon Estuary Public Water Supply earlier this month following the detection of cryptosporidium - around 7,000 customers are impacted. Cryptosporidium can cause respiratory illness if consumed and high levels were detected in the water supply by Uisce Eireann (formerly Irish Water) on Saturday, May 13. A special meeting of the Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District took place this Friday morning to discuss the problem and the potential solutions. A member of Uisce Eireann was present and he confirmed there are plans to remove an ultraviolet reactor from its location in Cork to be re-installed in the Foynes/Shannon water plant on the Shannon Estuary. The reactor renders the cryptosporidium in the water inactive. The installation of the ultraviolet reactor is a temporary measure as Uisce Eireann has plans to replace the filter media in the four sand filters in the water plant. However, this will take anywhere between 12 to 24 months to complete. Independent councillor for Adare-Rathkeale John ODonoghue believes the installation of the ultraviolet reactor as a temporary measure is not something well see this side of Christmas. Theres a lot of work to be done before we even start moving the reactor, Cllr ODonoghue said. They have to take it out of the plant in Cork and the pipework that comes with it, reinstall it on the estuary, reinstall all the pipework and then test it, he added. Fine Gael Cllr Adam Teskey believes the current boil water notice is due to years of lack of investment into the plant located on the Shannon Estuary. There should be better communication between Uisce Eireann. The public has been left hanging, not knowing whats happening, Cllr Teskey told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live. Cllr Teskey believes businesses and households should be compensated for having to put up with the boil water notice. Concerns were also raised about immunocompromised people affected by the boil water notice as a Limerick man with a serious health condition has been advised to shower away from his home due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the water. During the meeting, Cllr ODonoghue asked if Uisce Eireann has any plans to install an ultraviolet light in the water systems of those who are immunocompromised. Irish Water are supplying the water to the customer, therefore if someone is immunocompromised, would Uisce Eireann go to their premises and look at installing the ultraviolet light as that is something that can be done in 48 hours? he stated. The areas affected by the boil water notice include Askeaton, Foynes, Ballyhahill, Loghill, Ballysteen, Pallaskenry, Kildimo and Shanagolden and surrounding areas. In a statement, issued this Friday afternoon, Uisce Eireanns, Duane OBrien said: We are examining all options available to us to work towards lifting this boil water notice. Capital upgrades, including the installation of an ultraviolet reactor at the plant, have been approved. Please be assured we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. Public health remains our number one priority and we appreciate the impact that this notice is having on our customers in the area. Uisce Eireann has stated that those in the areas above must boil their water when drinking, drinks made with water, preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating, brushing of teeth, making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges and make ice from cooled boiled water. A sergeant who was awarded a bravery medal for his actions in responding to a man who went on a shooting spree in a Co Donegal town said it was a miracle that no-one was killed. On the night of February 22 2020, a man fired indiscriminately at homes, cars and Gardai in Glenties. Sergeant Edward Griffin heard three shots fired in rapid succession that night, and so he and Garda Louis Browne drove into the towns main street and saw a man carrying a high-powered rifle. They turned on their patrol vehicles blue lights in order to divert members of the public away from the area. The patrol vehicle was stopped and he alerted two of his armed colleagues, Detective Garda Darren Carter and Detective Garda Enda Jennings, who arrived on the scene. The man fired shots at the Gardai and hit their patrol car, before the armed Gardai shouted instructions and the man eventually dropped to his knees. He was arrested, convicted, and is now serving a custodial sentence. It wasnt just luck, it was a miracle nobody was killed, Sergeant Griffin told reporters at a ceremony in Dublin. There could have been people in the town killed that night, anybody could have been killed. Thats how bad it was. Of course youre afraid, but being a member of An Garda Siochana, youre committed to do your duty and thats what youre there for: to protect the people. You dont have to overcome that fear, you just have to put it to one side until you get the job done. It was absolutely terrifying for the community. Glenties is very quiet town, a very peaceful town, a very law-abiding town, and the community were extremely grateful that this man was apprehended. You dont go to work expecting to go through an experience like that and for our members it would have a long-term impact on them, he said, and agreed that it as a worst-case scenario. The four Garda members who responded to the incident were among 11 recipients of the Scott Medal, the highest award the Garda Commissioner can bestow. At a ceremony held in Dublin on Friday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that it was a day to express deep appreciation for the dangers Garda members face in the course of their duty. He said that those being awarded medals did not act in search of praise or awards, but did so instinctively. It can be a misconception that those who are brave feel no fear in the midst of a life-threatening situation, that they are fearless or without panic. In fact, real bravery is feeling fear, but choosing to resist it, he said. Justice Minister Simon Harris thanked the medal recipients and their families on behalf of the Irish public. A gold bravery medal was awarded posthumously to Inspector Sam Donegan, who was killed in June 1972 after responding to suspect devices along the Cavan-Fermanagh border. He had assessed one device as a hoax before the second detonated as he examined it. His son John Donegan collected the award on behalf of his father, and said it was an emotional day. Its a good day for us. Its a sad day. I think of him and I think of my mother who survived him by 34 years, and was without him for that length of time and never stopped talking about him. He said his fathers death had a huge impact on us as a family for all their lives. I suppose sorrow entered into our lives that day, and we still have that. Very emotional, sad, and sorrowful of course, but still happy to get this award, happy to get this recognition, he said. Mr Harris said that the late Inspector Donegans exceptional courage had protected the community and colleagues in Cavan from an immediate and certain danger. On behalf of the government and on behalf of the people of Ireland, I want to express our gratitude and offer our deepest sympathies to his family, to his friends, to his colleagues, he said. A bronze medal was posthumously awarded to Sergeant Daniel Kelleher, who was shot during Gardais response to the abduction of businessman Don Tidey in December 1983. Mr Tidey was present at the ceremony in support of Sergeant Kellehers family, who were there to accept the award. Mr Harris welcomed the presence of his family and recognised Sergeant Kellehers exceptional bravery that day, which was met with applause from attendees. Mr Tidey was in his 23rd day of captivity when Garda members and army personnel carried out a search of Drumcroman Wood in Co Leitrim and an IRA hideout was discovered. Detective Garda Kelleher provided armed cover to Gardai who were escorting Mr Tidey to safety when he was shot and injured in both legs. Silver bravery medals were also awarded to three Gardai who apprehended an armed man in a bathroom in Ballymun, Dublin in March 2019. When Sergeant Andrew OConnor, Detective Garda Niall Minnock and Garda Conor Garland arrived at the scene in Poppintree, Ballymun, they saw a man holding what appeared to be a black sub machine gun, before he ran into a house and into the bathroom. The Gardai followed him to the house, and the man fired shots from the bathroom before he was apprehended and the firearm was safely recovered. Gardai then saw a black grenade on the floor of the bathroom; an Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit examined it before carrying out a controlled explosion. The man has been charged and convicted. Bronze bravery medals were also awarded to Sergeant PJ Gallagher and Garda Thomas McGuiness for their bravery during their abduction in October 1983. They were on patrol in Aughamore Far, Co Sligo when they came across a number of vehicles parked in a rural layby late at night, which was unusual. The two Gardai were approached by armed men and bundled into two vehicles before being moved to a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, Co Cavan where the car was abandoned. They then released themselves from the boot of the car and raised the alarm. Dogecoin (DOGE), a cryptocurrency that originated from a popular meme, has become a focal point for traders, who eagerly anticipate its possible achievement of reaching $0.1 in May. Alongside this enthusiasm, traders are also venturing into alternative tokens that present promising opportunities. Examples of such projects include Floki Inu (FLOKI) and the noteworthy Caged Beasts (BEASTS) , which are capturing attention due to their genuine value and purpose, setting them apart from DOGE. Let's explore these captivating projects that have caused traders to shift their attention from the established giants of the crypto world and explore the reasons behind this shift. The Crypto Musk-eteers Voyage To $0.1 To begin with, let's first delve into the factors that shape Dogecoin's price and unlock its true potential. Firstly, market sentiment plays a crucial role, as investor perception directly influences the demand for Dogecoin. Additionally, when more businesses embrace Dogecoin as a payment option, its value tends to rise. When assessing Dogecoin, it is crucial to prioritize the security of its network since a strong and secure network has the potential to draw in more investors. Furthermore, it is important to consider the competitive landscape within the cryptocurrency market. Failure to distinguish itself from other cryptocurrencies could lead to a decline in Dogecoin's value. Additionally, staying updated on regulatory changes holds equal significance, as they can significantly influence the trajectory of Dogecoin. Currently, Dogecoin faces stiff competition from other meme coins and is trading at approximately $0.0712. However, analysts remain optimistic and hope that it will reach $0.10 soon. Maybe Dogecoin needs a little push, such as a tweet from Elon Musk, to skyrocket the value of DOGE by the end of May. Igniting the Twitterverse with a Phenomenal Surge in Popularity In 2023, Floki Inu (FLOKI) consistently captured the attention and experienced a remarkable surge in popularity. Notably, there has been a substantial increase in Twitter mentions for Floki Inu (FLOKI) recently. At a certain juncture, Floki Inu (FLOKI) even trended on Twitter, accumulating over 2.5 million tweets. Experts believe that the recent inclusion of Floki Inu (FLOKI) on prominent exchanges has had a positive impact on the social indicators of this meme token. Notably, Floki Inu (FLOKI) was recently listed on Bithumb, a leading South Korean exchange. However, the price of Floki Inu (FLOKI) has not reacted favorably to this development, experiencing a 9% decline on the weekly price chart. Presently, Floki Inu (FLOKI) is trading at $0.0000306. Caged Beasts Breaking Chains & Forging New Paths with Decentralization & Transparency Caged Beasts is a standout presence in the realm of cryptocurrencies, introducing an innovative concept known as "Caged Liquidity" that aims to revolutionize the finance industry by embracing decentralization and surmounting the limitations faced by other tokens. What truly sets Caged Beasts apart is its unwavering commitment to securely locking up funds, prioritizing transparency, and establishing a distinctive identity among its counterparts. In the world of Caged Beasts, transparency reigns supreme, setting it apart from other tokens. Participants have the unique opportunity to witness the stringent lock-up of funds, fostering an environment of trust and integrity. With an impressive 75% of raised funds securely locked until the release date, the ecosystem operates within a controlled and protected framework. This community token places a strong emphasis on decentralization and seeks to challenge the conventions of traditional finance, with the pre-launch stages paving the way for a remarkable transformation led by an ensemble of captivating and influential characters. By actively engaging the community, maintaining transparent tokenomics, and following a robust roadmap, Caged Beasts extends an invitation to investors and enthusiasts alike, encouraging them to join the revolution and become integral members of an extraordinary decentralized ecosystem that dares to question the status quo. Now is the time to seize the opportunity and embark on this exhilarating journey right from its inception. Don't miss out on securing your place in the upcoming Caged Beasts presale, as it is your chance to be part of a movement that reshapes the world of finance, unlocking the true potential of decentralized technology. For more information on Caged Beasts: Website: https://cagedbeasts.com Telegram: https://t.me/CAGEDBEASTS Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAGED_BEASTS Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/ editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/ subscribe to the contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein. The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice. NEW DELHI : The Tata Group-backed Air India has decided to relax the leave policy for employees retiring in the next two financial years, as per an internal communication with the employees. Our HR team followed up with the external tax authorities and happily were able to reach agreement that, for those superannuating in the next two financial years i.e., FY 2023-24 and 2024-25, we are now able to meet the request. Im sorry we were not able secure the ability to do so for those retiring later, but we tried," Wilsons email added. In March, the airline had told its employees that all accumulated privilege leaves beyond a period of 60 days would be encashed. Following the announcement, a large number of staff approaching retirement had asked for the changes in the leave policy until their superannuation. The airline has revised its policy with respect to PLs from April 2023 to align the policy with prevailing market conditions." From 1 April onwards, PLs accumulation limit for all employees has been fixed at 60 days in a particular financial year and the remaining leaves are to be encashed. Earlier, the airline allowed permanent employees to accumulate or encash up to 300 privilege leaves. Simultaneously, the companys senior management executives plan to visit regional offices of the airline through the month of June to have more in-person interactions. In operations, the airline has been trying to improve its information technology system and on-time performance. The airline has recently transitioned to automated Segment Revenue Management System from Amadeus, which is expected to help the airline in data-driven decisions to optimize revenue performance with real-time insights. In May, Air India was at the second position in the punctuality chart after the countrys youngest airline Akasa Air. With our cabin crew and pilot pipeline now flowing well, improvements to the AEP (airport entry pass) process ongoing and (slow but) steady improvement in aircraft reliability, there is no reason why we cant retake our place back at the top of the OTP charts in the months ahead," Wilson told the staff. New Delhi: Tata Groups consumer durables vertical Voltas Ltd on Friday announced ground work for its upcoming air conditioner factory in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. The facility will see an investment of around 500 crore over the next few years and will be operational in the current fiscal, helping the brand boost its footprint in south India. The facility is spread over 150 acres and is expected to generate employment for approximately 1,500 workers. This facility will ensure that all the products manufactured in this facility are competitive on a global scale. This facility will initially manufacture Room Air Conditioners (RACs) and is an extension to the existing RAC facility in Pantnagar," the company said in a statement on Friday. The move is in line with the companys commitment to Make in India, it added. The unit will play a significant role in augmenting the company's capacity in catering to the growing consumer demand across India. It will help expand our presence and footprint, especially in South India", said Pradeep Bakshi, managing director and CEO, Voltas Limited. In fiscal 2022, Voltas reported operating revenues of 7,934 crore with profit of 506 crore for the period. In the last fiscal, it registered for the governments production-linked incentive scheme for manufacturing several components including compressors for room ACs. In India, the company operates four manufacturing units. Founded in India in 1954, Voltas is part of the Tata Group. Besides selling room air conditioners, it sells a range of air coolers, air purifiers, water dispensers, water coolers, commercial refrigeration and commercial air conditioning. It has also launched its range of Voltas Beko home appliances, through its joint venture with East Europes Arcelik. Ever since the Narendra Modi government first came to power in 2014, several changes have been incorporated in income tax rules during the last nine years. On May 30, the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete nine years of tenure. A look at major changes in income tax rules under PM Narendra Modi's nine-year regime. After an overwhelming mandate in the Lok Sabha elections, the late Arun Jaitley presented his first Union Budget where he raised the personal income tax exemption limit from 2 lakh to 2.5 lakh. For senior citizens, the exemption limit was increased from 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh. The limit for deduction under Section 80C was increased to Rs1.5 lakh from 1 lakh while deduction limits for interest on home loan was increased to 2 lakh from 1.5 lakh. -The deduction limit on health insurance premiums was raised from 15,000 to 25,000 for the general public -The deduction limit on health insurance premiums was increased to 30,000 from 20,000 for senior citizens. -The transport allowance exemption was also increased from 800 to 1,600 per month. -An additional deduction of 50,000 for contribution under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) under Section 80 CCD. -Surcharge for income above 1 crore was increased to 12% from 10%. -Wealth tax was abolished -An additional surcharge of 2% on the super-rich who had a taxable income of more than 1 crore. -The tax rebate was raised from 2,000 to 5,000 for those with income not exceeding 5 lakh per annum under Section 87A. -The limit of deduction on rent paid under Section 80GG was also raised from 24,000 per year to 60,000 per year. -Surcharge for income above 1 crore was increased to 15% from 12%. -The budget also imposed a 10% income tax on dividends in excess of 10 lakh annually. -The tax rate was reduced from 10% to 5% in the 2.5 lakh - 5 lakh bracket. -The finance minister also reduced the tax rebate under Section 87A from 5,000 to 2,500, applicable to those taxpayers whose annual income is up to 3.5 lakh. -A surcharge of 10% was introduced on those with annual taxable income between 50 lakh and 1 crore. -A standard deduction of 40,000 in lieu of current exemption in transport allowance and reimbursement of miscellaneous medical expenses -Deduction for medical expenditure was raised to 50,000 from 30,000 for senior citizens. -Deduction for interest income earned on deposits with banks, and post offices were increased to 50,000 from 10,000 in the case of senior citizens, along with an exemption from the deduction for tax for interest income up to 50,000. -The decision to tax long-term capital gains exceeding 1 lakh at the rate of 10% without allowing the benefit of any indexation. -In an election year, the interim budget brought good news for the middle class. Those earning less than 5 lakh ended up paying zero tax. -The standard deduction was also increased to 50,000 from 40,000 for the salaried class. The government introduced new slabs. The new tax regime was optional and the taxpayers were given the choice to either remain in the old regime with exemptions and deductions or opt for the new reduced tax rate without those exemptions. New tax slabs were announced in Budget 2020. The taxpayers were given the choice to either remain in the old regime with exemptions and deductions or opt for the new reduced tax rate without those exemptions. Zero tax for income up to 2.5 lakh 5% for income between 2.5 lakh and up to 5 lakh 10% for income between 5 lakh and up to 7.5 lakh 15% for income between 7.5 lakh and up to 10 lakh 20% for income between 10 lakh up to 12.5 lakh 25% for income between 12.5 lakh and up to 15 lakh 30% for income above 15 lakh. -Dividends received from mutual funds and domestic companies are to be taxed at the recipient's hands. -If the employer's contribution exceeds 7.5 lakh in a year towards NPS, superannuation fund, and EPF, it will be taxable in the hands of the employee. These include pre-filled income tax returns (ITR) forms, higher tax deduction at source (TDS) for non-filers of income tax returns, and exemption of dividend payment to REIT/ InvIT from TDS among others. There were no changes in personal income tax slabs or rates. The government provided a one-time window to correct omissions in income tax returns (ITRs) filed. The Finance Minister announced a new tax rule for taxpayers where a taxpayer can file an updated return on payment of taxes within two years from the end of the relevant assessment year. -30% tax on the proceeds of virtual/digital assets. -The tax deduction limit for state government employees' contribution to NPS raised to 14% from 10%. This year 2023, there were many changes in the income tax rules effective 1 April 2023. Changes in income tax slabs to tax rebate limit raised, No LTCG tax benefit on some debt mutual funds are some of the major changes effective from 1 April 2023. -Extension of rebate for annual income up to 7 lakh, applicable to people under the new income tax regime. -A standard deduction of 50,000 has also been introduced under the new income tax slab. A war of words has erupted between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the claims that Sengol was a symbol of the transfer of power from the British to the Indians in 1947. While Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed on Friday that no documented evidence" exists of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari, and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the Sengol" as a symbol of the British transferring power to India, the BJP has hit back at the grand-old party for heaping a shameful insult" on the importance of the Sengol ". Congress is among the 20 Opposition parties that have decided to boycott the inaugural function alleging that PM Narendra Modi'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." On Friday, the Congress claimed that there is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India". All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- bogus," Jairam Ramesh said. Sengol being used for political ends: Congress Jairam Ramesh alleged that PM Narendra Modi and his drum-beaters" are using the ceremonial sceptre for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. Jairam Ramesh said, The sceptre is now being used by the PM and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament." Centre hits back On the Congress' claims that there is no documented evidence to prove that the Sengol" was indeed given to Jawaharlal Nehru to signify the transfer of power, Union Minister Amit Shah hit back at the grand-old party in a series of tweets and asked why Congress hates Indian traditions and culture. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," Amit Shah tweeted. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 On Thursday, the BJP had alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to India's first prime minister Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. Banks will remain closed for as many as twelve days this month (June 2023), which includes Second and fourth Saturdays as well as Sundays, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar. Of these, six holidays are listed under the Holidays Under Negotiable Instruments Act, while the remaining six days are weekend leaves - Sundays and second and fourth Saturdays. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has placed the holidays under three brackets- Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act; Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holidays; and Banks Closing of Accounts. Bank Holidays in June 2023: Full list 4 June 2023: Banks will remain closed as it's a Sunday. 10 June 2023: Banks will be closed due to the second Saturday. 11 June 2023: All banks remain closed on Sundays 15 June 2023: Banks will remain closed in Odisha and Mizoram and Odisha on account of Raja Sankranti. 18 June 2023: Banks will be closed as it's a Sunday 20 June 2023: Banks will remain shut in Odisha due to Rath Yatra. 24 June 2023: All banks are closed on fourth Saturdays. 25 June 2023: Banks observe a holiday on Sundays. 26 June 2023: Banks will remain shut in Tripura on account of Kharchi Puja. 28 June 2023: Banks in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed for Eid Ul Azha. 29 June 2023: Banks will be closed on the occasion of Eid ul Azha, 30 June 2023: Banks in Mizoram and Odisha will be closed on account of Reema Eid Ul Azha People should keep a tab on bank holidays in June before planning to visit their branch. Apart from that, it is also crucial as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued an order to replace the 2,000 currency notes. The deadline for exchanging these notes is set for 30 September. The Central government has issued an advisory against a malware called Daam that infects Android phones. The virus can hack into your call records, contacts, history and camera, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In, the national cyber security agency, said in its advisory. The advisory has said that the Daam virus is capable of bypassing anti-virus programs and deploying ransomware on the targeted devices". The Android botnet gets distributed through third-party websites or applications downloaded from untrusted/unknown sources, the agency said. In its advisory, the cyber security agency said when the Daam virus gets into an Android phone, it tries to go around the security check of the device. After successfully bypassing the security check on an Android phone, the Daam virus hacks into the sensitive data such as call records and history. "Once it is placed in the device, the malware tries to bypass the security check of the device and after a successful attempt, it attempts to steal sensitive data, and permissions such as reading history and bookmarks, killing background processing, and reading call logs etc," the advisory said. DAAM CAN MODIFY PASSWORDS The government advisory also said that the 'Daam' virus is also capable of hacking phone call recordings, contacts, gaining access to camera, and modifying device passwords. Not just this, the virus can also take screenshot, steal SMSes, downloading/uploading files, etc. and transmitting to the C2 (command-and-control) server from the victim's device. The malware, it said, utilises the AES (advanced encryption standard) encryption algorithm to code files in the victim's device. Due to this, other files get deleted from the storage and only the encrypted filed are left with .enc" extension and a ransom note readme_now.txt". DO'S AND DONTS TO AVOID SUCH ATTACKS The cyber security agency had warned against browsing the un-trusted websites" or clicking on "un-trusted links". No links should be clicked in any SMSes and emails. Keep your anti-virus updated, the advisory suggested. It also suggested that users should be on the lookout for "suspicious numbers" that don't look like "real mobile phone numbers" as scammers often mask their identity by using email-to-text services to avoid revealing their actual phone number. It said, "Genuine SMS messages received from banks usually contain sender ID [consisting of bank's short name] instead of a phone number in the sender information field." It also asked users to exercise caution towards shortened URLs (uniform resource locators), such as those involving 'bitly' and 'tinyurl' hyperlinks like: "https://bit.ly/" " bit.ly" and "tinyurl.com/". (With agency inputs) Top Congress leaders on Thursday held discussions with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar over the expansion of the state cabinet, according to a report published by the news agency PTI. Both the leaders met the Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and the party's general secretary, K C Venugopal. They then held meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge separately at his residence. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar along with Surjewala then held a meeting at the party's Gurudwara Rakabganj Road office and discussed the names that could be included in the expanded Cabinet of the state. Sources said that around 20 more ministers are likely to be inducted into the Karnataka Cabinet and another round of discussions will be held before the state cabinet is finalized, PTI reported. Shivakumar reached the national capital on Wednesday evening while Siddaramaiah arrived later in the night. Both the leaders were sworn in as Karnataka chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively along with eight cabinet ministers on May 20. However, the ministers have not yet been allocated their portfolios. The Congress high command approved the first list of eight ministers against the earlier plan of inducting a much higher number of around 28 legislators into the cabinet. Sources said the names of only those MLAs were cleared who represented all sections and were senior-most and there were no objections from any side over the choice. Differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are emerging over names of probable ministers with both pushing the case of MLAs close to them. Karnataka can have a maximum of 34 ministers and the Congress will find it difficult to accommodate all the aspirants. Criticising the Congress and other opposition parties over the parliament building row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed their collective decision to boycott the inauguration as cheap politics". He also affirmed that the public will choose Narendra Modi as the PM for the third term, as he will win over 300 seats in the 2024 polls next year. "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," said Amit Shah while addressing an event in Guwahati on Thursday. He went ahead and lashed out at Congress for making a hill of mole. He said that Congress and opposition parties are making excuses that the President should inaugurate the new Parliament building. Afterward, he sighted several examples when Governors of states with opposition as the ruling party, were not invited to Bhoomi pujan functions concerning state assemblies. After that, he said that 130 crore Indians are watching the deeds of the opposition and will give their decision next year. He also said that the Congress won't be able to retain the existing number of seats in the fore coming election. On the other hand, PM Modi will come to return to power by winning more than 300 seats. "What you are doing, 130 crore people of the country are watching. In the next elections, when you go to seek a mandate...you have lost the status of opposition, next time you will not win this many seats. PM Modi will become Prime Minister for the third time winning over 300 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," said Amit Shah. It is worth noting that PM Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28. But Congress and other opposition parties had decided to boycott the event. "The attitude of the Congress party is negative. Congress and its partners are giving an example of cheap politics and resorting to boycott," the minister said. He recalled the incident when the then Chhattisgarh Governor was not invited to the bhoomi pujan function of the new state assembly and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were invited. He cited similar incidents in Jharkhand, Assam, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu. "When you do, all is fine. And when the BJP does it, you boycott it," he said. After the extravagant spending on the construction of the parliament building, now its inauguration ceremony has become the centre of a political row, where Congress and other opposition parties are demanding the inauguration of the building by President Droupadi Murmi instead of PM Modi. Amid the scorching summer, people in the financial capital will have to face water crisis over the weekend, as parts of Mumbai will face water cuts for more than 24 hours this weekend due to pipeline repair work, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Friday. In a release, the civic body said that the pipeline repair work in Dadar area in central Mumbai will affect water supply to G-South and G-North civic wards from 8 am on 27 May to 10 pm on 28 May. Apart from this, areas such as Mahim, Matunga (west), parts of Dadar (west), Delisle Road, Prabhadevi, Lower Parel, Satrasta, and Dhobi Ghat among other localities will face water cuts during different times, the release said. The repair work will be undertaken at the junction of Senapati Bapat Marg and Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg in Dadar to plug a leak at the 1450 mm diameter Tanasa pipeline, the BMC said. In order to find the exact location of the leak, it is necessary to shut the water supply from the pipeline for 26 hours from 8 am on Saturday, it said. Once the leak is found, the pipeline will be patched and rivets will be replaced, it added. Among other things, BMC also released a list of 226 dilapidated buildings, which are in a 'very dangerous' condition, citing upcoming monsoon season. The civic body issued a release with a list of 226 very dangerous" buildings in C-1 category. Of 226 structures, the western suburbs account for the highest 126, followed by eastern suburbs with 65 and 35 in the island city, the release said. The civic body has also appealed to citizens to vacate these buildings and move to safer locations as a precautionary measure. The buildings have been declared very dangerous and dilapidated" under section 354 of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, it said. Citizens can access the list of buildings in C1 category on www.mcgm.gov.in portal, the BMC said. Earlier this month, Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had directed officials to cut water and power supply to dilapidated buildings. With agency inputs. To commemorate the inauguration of the new parliament building, the Ministry of Finance announced the launch of a special 75 coin on May 28. A limited number of coins will be launched by the government to mark the occasion. However, this is not the first time when a special coin will be released to mark a special occasion. Take a look at some other events when special coins were released by the central government to mark these occasions. - 100 coin on the 100th edition of Man Ki Baat The central government released a 100 coin to mark the 100th edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat on April 30 this year. The coin released features a microphone and the year 2023 minted on it. Notably, only one 100 coin was minted. - 100 silver coin Other than the 75 coin marking parliament inauguration, a 100 silver coin will be released on the same day with the image of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP founder Nadnamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR). - 175 coin on the establishment of IIT Roorkee In 2022, PM Modi launched a special 175 coin to mark 175 years of the foundation of IIT-Roorkee in July last year. - 100 coins at 90th Interpol General Assembly To mark the 90th Interpol General Assembly's session in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a 100 coin and a postal stamp on the occasion. - 100 coin in honour of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee As a tribute to India's former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Indian government launched a commemorative coin worth 100 in December 2018. The coin was launched a day before the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died in August in 2018. The coin was released to mark his 94th birth anniversary. Other than these coins, the government has released commemorative coins on other special occasions including 100 coin to honour the birth anniversary of Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, and another 100 coin on the 476th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap. Moreover, a series of special coins were released to mark the 75 years of India's independence, ie, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that no one should politicize the new Parliament Building inauguration as the House is a symbol of democracy and the aspiration of all Indians. PM Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament Building on May 28. Speaking to ANI, Rajnath Singh said, The new building of the Parliament is going to be inaugurated on 28th May. No one should politicize this, the new Parliament is a symbol of democracy and the aspiration of all Indians. It is my appeal to all parties who have decided to boycott the inauguration of the Parliament that they should rethink their decision." #WATCH | The new building of the Parliament is going to be inaugurated on 28th May. No one should politicise this, the new Parliament is a symbol of democracy and the aspiration of all Indians. It is my appeal to all parties who have decided to boycott the inauguration of the pic.twitter.com/gogvDIBfCv ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Around 20 political 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". 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. 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. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Thursday issued instructions stating that all principal entities (PEs), including banks, financial institutions, and similar organizations, are required to undergo re-verification of message headers and content templates. According to TRAI's statement, any commercial communication sent via SMS must undergo scrutiny against the content templates registered by PEs with the access service provider. If the SMS fails to comply with the registered templates, is not allowed to be delivered to consumers. TRAI has directed access service providers to re-verify all registered headers and message templates on distributed ledger technologies (DLT) platforms. Within 30 and 60 days, unverified headers and templates are to be blocked. TRAI cautioned that any delay by PEs in initiating the re-verification process for headers and content templates may result in the blocking of their headers, content templates, and messages. As per the regulatory framework, any commercial communication must be conducted using registered headers assigned to the PEs for this purpose. Headers refer to alphanumeric strings assigned to PEs to facilitate the sending of commercial communications, as outlined in the regulations. TRAI noted that some PEs have registered a large number of headers and content templates, and occasionally, these are misused by telemarketers. In February 2023, TRAI reached out to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Health Authority (NHA), and all central/state government departments. TRAI requested these institutions to inform and sensitize all the institutions or departments under their purview that send bulk SMS about the necessary actions to be taken to prevent the misuse of headers and message templates. TRAI observed that many PEs have yet to complete the verification of headers and content templates. Due to this delay, the assigned headers and content templates remain vulnerable to potential misuse, leading to public inconvenience through spam messages and financial frauds. TRAI emphasized that any further delays by PEs in re-verifying headers and content templates may result in the blocking of their headers, content templates, and messages. The regulatory body will review the progress within the next two weeks and issue appropriate directions if necessary. Therefore, it is imperative for all PEs to promptly complete the verification process for headers and content templates to ensure compliance with TRAI's guidelines. NEW DELHI : The Union health ministry plans to ask doctors in private hospitals to start prescribing generic medicines instead of expensive branded medicines to their patients. As part of the plan, the Centre will ask doctors to prescribe generic medicines starting with Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries at private hospitals. This comes in the backdrop of complaints of doctors prescribing costly branded medicines despite the availability of cheaper generic options. Recently, the health ministry issued an alert to all the doctors in the Central Government Hospitals/CGHS Wellness Centres / Polyclinics to prescribe generic medicines only. It was observed that doctors (including residents) in some instances continue to prescribe branded medicines. This has been viewed strictly by the competent authority," an official said on condition of anonymity. In the same way, we are now planning to warn doctors in the private hospitals to prescribe generic medicines to the patients and to initiate this, it will be mandatory for all doctors treating CGHS patients to prescribe generic drugs," the official said adding that the directions are likely to be issued soon. Queries sent to the health ministry remained unanswered. Notably, the health ministry is taking several steps to promote generic medicines. As per the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters. In addition to this, the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, empowers the State Medical Councils and Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the Commission to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violating the regulations. Meanwhile, the Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals has established around 9,000 Janaushadhi Kendras, which sell around 1,759 varieties of generic drugs and 280 surgical instruments. According to government data, these Kendras clocked sales of more than 1000 crore in FY23, which has led to savings of approximately 6000 crores for the citizens. India is the largest and exclusive generic drug exporter in the world. It exported $19.02 billion worth of generics during FY22. In India, the generic market in 2021 was estimated at $360 billion and is likely to grow at just 3-4% in the next couple of years. Explaining why most doctors in private hospitals prescribe branded medicines to patients, Dr Sharad Aggarwal, president, Indian Medical Association said, There is a perception that branded drugs have quality and effective. If government really wants that only generic drugs should be prescribed in India, then why the doctor is allowing the branded drugs to be produced in India." The government should ensure all the generic drugs or even the branded drugs should come with the certificates from the laboratories that what is the bioavailability of that drug because then doctors should not be held responsible for inefficacy of the drug. Then, our job is to prescribe the medicines and whether it is effective or not effective, we should not be responsible. Doctors have no control on the drug business because MRP is decided by the government. We have seen a lot of patients saying that the medicines available in government hospitals are less effective then medicines available outside. Why patients are saying like this... because any medicines which is available at different rates, then there is some difference in the quality." Elon Musks Neuralink has announced a significant milestone in its mission to enable direct communication between brains and computers. The brain-machine interface company has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with its first in-human clinical study. This approval is seen as a crucial step forward for Neuralink's groundbreaking technology. Neuralink expressed their excitement and satisfaction as they revealed the acquisition of FDA approval to initiate their inaugural clinical study involving human participants. This significant development was announced through a tweet posted by Neuralink, which was shared by Elon Musk. The company expressed its gratitude to the FDA and emphasised the collaborative effort between its team and the regulatory agency. While the recruitment for the clinical trial has not yet begun, Neuralink aims to facilitate direct brain-computer communication. Elon Musk had previously explained that the implantable Neuralink device would enable individuals to interact with computers using their minds. The company has made significant progress, as demonstrated by implantation tests conducted on monkeys, where the animals were able to play video games and manipulate cursors through the Neuralink interface. The potential applications of Neuralink's technology are vast. Musk envisions the possibility of restoring lost capabilities, such as vision and mobility, in humans who have experienced impairments. The company's ultimate goal extends beyond medical applications, with Musk expressing concerns about the potential dominance of artificial intelligence and aiming to enhance human intellectual capabilities through brain-machine interfaces. Neuralink's progress has been closely watched, considering Musk's track record for ambitious predictions. Although initial projections for human tests in 2020 were not met, the recent FDA approval marks a significant step towards realising the potential of this groundbreaking technology. Neuralink is not the only player in the field of brain-machine interfaces. Synchron, a company that specialises in similar systems, made headlines earlier this year by announcing the successful implantation of the first brain-machine interface in the United States. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author The United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd J Austin III will visit India and meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with other leaders in the national capital next week. The United States and India continue to modernise the US-India major defence partnership. Apart from India, Lloyd J Austin III will also visit Japan, Singapore, and France next week, according to the news agency ANI. The United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III will visit Japan, Singapore, India, and France next week. Secretary Austin will visit Delhi to meet with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernise the US-India pic.twitter.com/ho3poZ4ewr ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 The White House has earlier said the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep, close partnership between US and India. Prime Minister Modi's state visit holds significant importance as it marks his first visit to the US since President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden extended the invitation. The visit will include a state dinner hosted by the US President and First Lady on June 22 to honor the Prime Minister. On June 22, a historic moment awaits as several thousand Indian Americans are expected to gather on the South Lawns of the White House to witness President Biden and the First Lady extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Modi with a 21-gun salute. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre said the visit will also strengthen US-India shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and shared resolve to evaluate strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy and space. Highlighting the partnership between the US and India, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State recently said that they are looking forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country. "We very much look forward to hosting PM Modi and members of the Indian Government. We have an important partnership with India and we look forward to continuing to take steps to deepen that. This state visit will be an immense opportunity to talk about a number of shared priorities," Vedant Patel said. He said that India and US "have an important partnership," and are looking "forward to deepen that". (With inputs from agencies) NEW DELHI : India will play a major role in the reconstruction and recovery of Sudan after the ongoing conflict in the African nation ends, said Sudans Ambassador to India Abdallah Omer Bashir Alhusain. In an interview, Alhusain, however, said Sudan isnt interested in having New Delhi mediate a resolution in the conflict between government forces and rebel groups, terming it an internal matter". He said Indias track record in building government capacity in Sudan and development efforts positions it well to contribute to the countrys recovery. Edited excerpts: The evacuation of Indian citizens from Sudan gained much attention. Could you give a sense of how this unfolded? Actually, we worked with visa officials and the Indian government, especially the Ministry of External Affairs, who worked really hard. I congratulate them for this operation. We worked together to exchange information to provide the permits for the flights and the ships to go to Sudan. We obtained all the required permits. We also coordinated with the authorities in Khartoum to help transport the Indian citizens from the capital to Port Sudan. This was land transportation by road for around 1000 kilometers. So it was also a very sensitive operation. I think India is one of the first countries to evacuate its nationals. Has New Delhi been asked to assume some sort of mediation role to help the two warring sides come to an agreement? As I mentioned earlier, our bilateral relations with the Indian government is one of the strongest and we have good cooperation and coordination on both bilateral and multilateral debates. However, in Sudan, we look at this conflict as a rebel force threatening the integrity and security of our country. We appreciate all the international community efforts to help calm the situation. Yet we insist that it is an internal matter and it should be left for Sudanese to solve without any outside interference. I believe that after the end of this conflict, India would play a major role in the development and recovery of the economy of Sudan. Sudan enjoys a strategic location in the Western Indian Ocean. What can both sides do on defence? On the military level, we have a good relationship with India. There is a signed military protocol between India and Sudan. India is providing training for our military officers, in Indian military institutions. And as far as the Western Indian Ocean is concerned, my government will be willing to cooperate with India to protect international trade. There is a good ongoing discussion between India and different African countries, including Sudan, on defence issues. Hopefully, this discussion will materialize soon in action to maintain security there. I think Sudan is very willing to cooperate to participate in any kind of agreements in the future. Is there a sense of where this conflict is headed? These unfortunate events were started by rebel forces on 15 April. These rebels were part of the armed forces until they started their rebellion. When they started their coup, they were inside the military camps and inside the capital city of Khartoum and that is a densely populated area. They targeted civilian areas like the Presidential palace, Khartoum international airport, state radio and TV stations, and the General Command of the armed forces itself. So it is very important for our audience to understand that those rebels were inside Khartoum. They did not come from outside and capture territory. The armed forces responded to them to fulfil their commitments to provide security and stability in the country. But due to the fact that this conflict has been taking place in a civilian area, our armed forces adopted a combat strategy aimed at minimizing the losses among the civilians. Now, our troops are in good control in different parts of the capital. Unfortunately, a good number of rebels also took shelter in civilian houses which makes it very difficult for the armed forces to find them. During this conflict, a number of ceasefire agreements have been reached but unfortunately theyve been always violated by the rebels. During the last talks, which were sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the US, the two parties reached an agreement for a seven-day ceasefire, which started last night. Hopefully, this ceasefire will allow our government to evacuate injured people and to provide the citizens with food, water and electricity. It is worth mentioning that these talks deal only with security and humanitarian issues. There is no political aspect to it. This is because we believe that it is our main duty to protect our sovereignty and the integrity of our country. There is no compromise in this issue. Unlike logic chips, which process information, memory chips, which store it, looked less vulnerable to the Sino-American techno-tussle. Such semiconductors are commodities, less high-tech than microprocessors and so less central to the great-power struggle for technological supremacy. That changed on May 21st, when the Chinese government banned memory chips made by Micron from critical-infrastructure projects. The restriction hurts the American chipmaker, which last year derived 11% of its revenue from mainland China. It also opens up a new front in the transpacific chip warone which the countries that are near China but allies of America are being roped into. By opening a gap in the market, the ban creates an opportunity for the worlds two biggest memory-chip makers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both from South Korea. They made 16% and 44% of their respective sales in China in 2021. With Micron frozen out of critical infrastructureand looking riskier to other Chinese buyersthe South Korean duo can pick up more contracts. That is what investors seem to have concluded: Samsungs share price is at its highest since April 2022; SK Hynixs was last this lofty in August. The prospect of a windfall for South Koreas chipmakers is, however, complicated by the countrys blend of American and Chinese interests. President Joe Bidens administration has made no official demand asking its counterpart in Seoul to prevent the South Korean firms from jumping in to fill orders for which Micron will no longer be able to compete. But it is said to be lobbying for this behind closed doors. The 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea to protect it against its despotic nuclear-armed neighbour to the north lend weight to such requests. At the same time, Seoul has little interest in damaging its commercial ties with China. South Korea exported $156bn-worth of goods, equivalent to 9% of its GDP, to the country in 2022, and imported roughly the same amount. That makes China its largest trading partner by some distance. On May 24th the South Korean government formally asked America to review the rules which limit American subsidies to chipmakers if the recipient expands its Chinese production capacity of advanced chips by more than 5% over ten years. South Korea is, in other words, treading carefully. Any public attempt to guide Samsung and SK Hynix risks upsetting Beijing, which is already fuming: on May 22nd a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry said America had coerced other countries into imposing export restrictions on China for the sole purpose of maintaining its hegemonic interests". The official line from Seoul is, for the time being, that it is up to the companies how they respond. That strategic ambiguity may not be viable for much longer. To stay on top of the biggest stories in business and technology, sign up to the Bottom Line, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com In New York City, when the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's grid-patterned streets, it creates a picturesque effect where the north and south sides of the city's cross streets are basked in the sun's light. The phenomenon, dubbed "Manhattanhenge," occurs twice a year with the full sun, and twice a year with the half sun, depending on weather conditions. The dates vary each year, but they typically fall in May and July. It happens four times on two paired dates at the end of May and mid-July; twice with the half-set sun lining up in the exact center of the "canyons" between buildings, and twice with the full circle of the sun touching down in alignment with the city grid. During the full Manhattanhenge as the setting sun lines up with the city streets the entire orb appears on the horizon. With the half sunsets, as the name implies, half of the sun appears above the horizon, and the other half below. "The reason we have Manhattanhenge is related to the way the Earth orbits the Sun and the island of Manhattan is shaped," Jackie Faherty, senior scientist & senior education manager at the American Museum of Natural History, told Live Science in an email. "Neither of those things changes much over the years so you will have the event occurring at almost the same time sequentially. The name was coined by the director of the Hayden Planetarium Neil deGrasse Tyson who was given an homage to Stonehenge." How to see Manhattanhenge The most spectacular Manhattanhenge displays occur at sunset, but spectators are advised to head outside about 30 minutes before to watch as the sun descends in the sky. Manhattanhenge's stunning visual impact is due in part to the expanse of the Hudson River and the relatively low buildings on the New Jersey shoreline, which make for an unobstructed view of the sun as it drops to the horizon in the west for "the grid kiss," Faherty said. "For best effect, position yourself as far east in Manhattan as possible," Tyson wrote in a blog post on the Hayden Planetarium's website. "But ensure that when you look west across the avenues you can still see New Jersey." Tyson suggests picking one of the wider cross streets to view Manhattanhenge, including 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th. Many of the streets immediately adjacent to these ones also offer nice places to watch the spectacle. "The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building render 34th Street and 42nd Street especially striking vistas," Tyson said. Related: Where is Stonehenge, who built the prehistoric monument, and how? Faherty said that the best way to see Manhattanhenge is to pick a street with a wide view with nothing obstructing it towards the Hudson. "There is quite a bit of topography in NYC where there will be little hills along a given cross street that will make it difficult to see straight toward NJ (New Jersey)," she said. "So I always tell people to scope out their favorite location a few days ahead of time and make sure there are no trees, no hills, and no tall buildings in NJ that would block the sun as it hits the horizon. "Getting yourself settled about 20 minutes before sunset is ideal. Sometimes I leave myself even more time since I really love watching how the light on the horizon changes as the sun starts to set." The nickname Manhattanhenge is derived from Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument that can be found north of the modern-day city of Salisbury, England. Once a year, the sunrise is perfectly aligned with the stone columns that make up this horseshoe-shaped megalith, which archaeologists believe was built around 2,500 B.C. New York City is not the only place to experience these types of solstices. Other cities with straight east-west grid-patterned streets enjoy these dazzling sunsets as well, including Chicago and Baltimore in the United States, and Toronto in Canada. Will Manhattanhenge always light up NYC streets? Manhattanhenge's alignment only happens on certain dates because the exact position of the rising and setting sun on the horizon is slightly different every day the result of Earth being tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees in its orbital plane, Faherty said. But in addition to Manhattanhenge, the nearly setting sun is visible between the city's cross streets during a range of dates bracketing the summer solstice, with the so-called "Manhattanhenge Effect" lasting from the first sunset grid kiss in May until the last one in July. Between May 29 and the summer solstice, the sun is still visible at the center of the city's cross streets, hitting the "sweet spot" just a little higher each day. After the summer solstice (which normally takes place between June 20 and 22) "when the Northern Hemisphere starts to tilt away from the sun," the same thing happens in reverse, with the sun hitting the center of the grid a little lower each day "until the second grid kiss in July, when it's the last time the sun makes it that far north," Faherty said. However, if Earth were to suddenly tip over even farther on its axis perhaps following a massive cosmic collision that would jar the alignment enough to end Manhattanhenge forever. "It would have to knock us pretty far, though, for it to not happen in Manhattan at all," Faherty said. The sun sets along 42nd Street in a Manhattanhenge-like sunset on July 5, 2021. (Image credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Such a devastating impact would cause a host of more immediate concerns than the loss of Manhattanhenge. But luckily, the chances of such an Earth-changing event actually taking place are pretty slim, she said. "Earth is pretty stable in its orbit, so as far as current humanity goes, we're not losing that anytime soon. No one who's reading this is going to lose the grid kiss unless something catastrophic happens to the Earth, and I don't see anything like that on the horizon." 1. 'Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style,' by Paul Rudnick Robert Redford's good looks, a tycoon's bank account, Oscar Wilde-style humor - Farrell Covington has it all. When he swishes through the Yale library in 1973 to tell Nate Reminger he loves him, Nate is pretty sure it's all a hoax. Could this offspring of the famously rich (and deeply bigoted) Wichita Covingtons be falling for a Jewish boy from middle-class New Jersey? He is, and that's a beautiful thing because aspiring writer Nate is ready for his grand love story. The two virginal college students immediately agree that they should take off their clothes and see what happens. Lust leads to love and adventures in a "Brideshead Revisited" version of Yale and the wildness of 1970s New York City. It's a love exploding with joy, which sounds the alarm for the deeply homophobic Covingtons: Their hatred of who their son is and what his heart wants is the first of many gut punches these men will receive. Rudnick's prose is a hot contender for best banter in a beach read. He's a humorist of note and an Obie Award-winning playwright, so it's no surprise that his dialogue is so good that Nate and Farrell could zing back and forth for 365 pages and it would be riveting. But these characters have much to do. As Nate tries to get a play to Broadway, he says to the talent: "Farrell always told me that luck and fate are unstable commodities which can't be ignored. You have to lasso them, and hang on for dear life. So I'm prepared for anything. Are you?" Readers, prepare to be delighted. (Atria, $28.99) 2. 'Pieces of Blue,' by Holly Goldberg Sloan Lindsey Hill has no choice but to start over. Her husband - founder of a tech company - drowned in a surfing accident, but his body was never found. He's left her with very little money and three children who are stunned by their father's death, and they need a new stream of income, fast. Lindsey's world has gotten ugly, so she decides to go somewhere beautiful. When the life insurance money comes in, she buys a motel, sight unseen, near Laie, Hawaii. Originally from Wales, with a stiff upper lip, she packs up her children, says goodbye to Oregon and flies to the Aloha State. What else could possibly go wrong? A lot. The motel has almost no electricity. And too many feral chickens. It's a charming but old property, with far too many fixes for her to tackle alone. Sloan made her name as a YA writer. "Pieces of Blue" is her first adult book, so it's no surprise that the Hill children are beautifully drawn. Lindsey's 12-year-old, Carlos, is ready to reinvent himself, and teenager Olivia is as uncomfortable in her new school as sand in a bathing suit. A handful of years younger, Sena is enthralled with those chickens. Their actions and reactions throughout the novel serve as a reminder that change can shake you at any age. With a lot of unanswered questions, there's room for the story to start running, even sprinting, but it remains character-driven throughout. Still, there is a tipping point in the plot. Screaming louder than the fowl is the mystery surrounding Lindsey's husband's death. That anxiety is tempered by the arrival of a ghostwriter who sparks something in Lindsey, and when he offers to do repairs in exchange for lodging, she's thankful. But like the motel that's charming on the exterior and a nightmare inside its sun-faded walls, not everything is as it seems. A book about grit and healing, "Pieces of Blue" is a celebration of the sharp turns families are often forced to make, and how the knots make you stronger. (Flatiron, $28.99) 3. 'The Celebrants,' by Steven Rowley You are dead. Isn't it a tragedy that you can't hear the beautiful eulogies delivered at your funeral? That's the idea behind Steven Rowley's new book, "The Celebrants," in which five best friends decide to celebrate one another with fake funerals and words of love when life hands them lemons. The funeral idea stemmed, not surprisingly, from tragedy, as the group lost their sixth wheel to a drug overdose two weeks before their 1995 graduation from the University of California at Berkeley. The concept sounds macabre (because it is), but "The Celebrants" is very much about being alive. It's marketed as a modern-day "The Big Chill," but it's stirred together with a streak of Gen X independence, a pour of wry humor, some "St. Elmo's Fire" feels and a loud reminder to live boldly. Rowley tackles three of the friends' fake funerals as the chapters move through the years, focusing mostly on the characters as they hit middle age, but the real reminder that death comes for us all is that one of them has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. That reality is the shadow that brings the most life to the book, as the couple hit with this death sentence force each other to embrace every day, realizing how lucky they are to have each other and their found family. "The Celebrants" may not scream vacation novel, more placid lake than high tide, but it's a potent reminder that "to think about life is to contemplate death - it's what makes living so valuable." It's a book that will inspire you to gather your friends and revel in the now. What is more vacation than that? (Putnam, $28) 4. 'Love, Theoretically,' by Ali Hazelwood Only Ali Hazelwood, a neuroscientist turned novelist, could make physics seem sexy. The reigning queen of STEM romance - yes, this is a thing, and yes, it's great - does just that in her third novel, "Love, Theoretically." In snowy Boston we meet physicist Elsie Hannaway. She's single, has a love life with no oomph, a bank account with (almost) no money, a family who views her as their shrink and a punishing schedule. She works as an adjunct professor of theoretical physics at not one but three universities, and is so badly paid that her side hustle is pretending to be a fake girlfriend to get men through awkward family situations. The dates are strictly business: A master shape-shifter, she takes on the persona of whatever it is her date's overbearing parents want. When she's finally up for a big job at MIT and starting the long interview process, she gets a shock in the form of Jack Smith, brother to one of her fake boyfriends. He's a star in experimental physics, who knows her as his brother's (pretend) librarian girlfriend. He's also heading the hiring committee, is no fan of theoretical physics and years before massacred her mentor's career. Oh, and he's a tall, gorgeous genius covered in science-inspired tattoos. The shock is quickly replaced by sparks. Hazelwood has an uncanny ability to make readers care deeply about the protagonist's career in science. A bit like tuning into the Olympics, barely knowing that skeleton is a sport and then ending up in tears over an underdog win, Hazelwood will have you cheering for theoretical physicists the world over. The ease with which she combines STEM concepts like Wigner crystallization with blood-pumping bedroom scenes in this book is a very good argument that this is her best yet. Hazelwood continues to push the genre, inspiring readers to cheer for Elsie as she fights through the often toxic, male-dominated environment of STEM academia - and to also cheer when Jack Smith's shirt comes off. (Berkley, $28) 5. 'Dykette,' by Jenny Fran Davis Winter 2019. Three queer couples go to a Hudson Valley home to celebrate the holidays, and chaos ensues. There are hot selfies, even hotter sex, and enough insecurity and jealousy to make a therapist quit. And then there's the internet. Hands constantly on phones, and a live-streamed performance art piece that pushes the genre with its genius, though it might ruin lives with its cruelty (depends who you ask). Identity and performance are at the center of "Dykette," Jenny Fran Davis's adult fiction debut. There are six people in the house, but the couples are all cut from the same slice of queer life: Think creative Brooklynites with enough cash to buy a 10-dollar organic onion and describe their souls as having that many layers. We dive into this world through Sasha, a high femme getting her PhD in gender studies who is often hysterical and extremely insecure, with a deeply messy brain. As a narrator, she's as unreliable as an old house. If Sasha were a cocktail, she'd be the pinkest cosmo in Park Slope, so there isn't much space to hear the butch perspective on the drama, and sometimes a pink cosmo is too much. But the author identifies as femme, so Sasha's authenticity radiates. Before Davis wrote "Dykette," she penned "High Femme Camp Antics," an essay for the Los Angeles Review of Books that went viral. Those antics are dissected here, as is the femme-butch relationship and the generational shift between Xennial lesbians and contemporary queers. This is a book full of queer vocabulary and gossip written in a bold, unapologetic way. And why should it be otherwise? With "Dykette," Davis has filled what has been mostly an empty shelf in the literary world. (Henry Holt, $26.99) - - - Karin Tanabe is the author of six novels, including "A Woman of Intelligence," "The Gilded Years" and the forthcoming "Sunset Crowd." 1. 'Through the Groves,' by Anne Hull Former Washington Post reporter Anne Hull's memoir is about more than oranges. As a young girl, Hull was assigned to keep watch on her father, an alcoholic and a fruit buyer in central Florida for a juice processing company, who used a grapefruit as a paperweight. Father and daughter listened to the "Florida Citrus Report" on the radio every morning. "Misery was their specialty," Hull writes. "They made even good news sound bad. 'Tangerine futures are up,' the man said, as if someone had died." Able to spin memories into literary gold, Hull's warmth and sadness call to mind the grotesqueries of Flannery O'Connor. Describing her aunt, she writes: "Everything she owned snapped shut - her cigarette pouch, her lipstick case, her white suitcase. When she came to visit, the entire weekend was a series of clicks." Hull's father's illness catches up to him in a terrifying scene witnessed by both of his children. Her mother, a glamorous would-be writer (but instead an elementary school teacher), flees. Hull learns she's getting too old to run around shirtless. She goes back to work at the orange grove during tourist season. "The child Yankees were the ones I felt sorry for," she remembers. "I had never seen children in sunglasses. They looked like small blind adults." An unfortunate stepfather appears. By the time Hull's father calls, drying out in New Orleans, they've both become different people. "'Dad?' I said for the third time. It was like using a foreign word." "Through the Groves" hits that perfect place between pain and love, and Hull makes it look easy. At the end of the book, and the end of her parents' lives, I cherished them both as characters so much that I actually wrote "No" in the margins, as if I could stop the book from ending. (Henry Holt, $26.99) 2. 'Orphan Bachelors,' by Fae Myenne Ng Fae Myenne Ng's first memoir, "Orphan Bachelors," is the story of Ng's parents, which cannot be told without the Chinese Exclusion Act, legislation that kept an entire generation of Chinese men who had immigrated from America, and vice versa, from reuniting with their families. Ng learned from an early age that a "story's function was to protect," she writes. "Our parents didn't believe in bedtime stories. A story that lulls you into dreaming? Why waste time telling a story that didn't terrify and teach?" Ng's story is a kind of mourning, and the path to reclaiming her ancestors is lighted by her mother and father, and the family's love of food. "Food is God. We are people of famine, drought, and hunger. Our daily greeting to kin: 'Eat yet?'" Once when Ng was living in Rome, she found her mother, who was visiting, "playing with her fingers" and asked her what she was doing. She answered: "Counting the days since I've not had a bowl of rice." One of the most moving chapters in the book tells the story of Ng moving to New York, where she was "instantly home," and her friendship with the painter Moira Dryer. As Ng suffers the deaths of her parents, her younger brother and Dryer, she tells her students that she expects them "to put themselves first, to break the rules." She finds joy in the irony of caring for her brother's turtles. "Here I am, a woman who never wanted children, with charges that will live longer than any grandchild." "Orphan Bachelors" is beautifully written, powerfully informative and never boring. In her prologue, Ng warns: "When writing, consider the vessel of time that holds a story. Maybe that's also a guide on how to read this book. When reading, honor what you can't fully inhabit." Thanks to Ng's fierce talent and unapologetic honesty, "Orphan Bachelors" is a revelation. (Grove, $28) 3. 'Why Fathers Cry at Night,' by Kwame Alexander Kwame Alexander is the author of 38 books, many of them for young readers. "Why Fathers Cry at Night" is an unconventional memoir told in, as its subtitle says, "love poems, letters, recipes, and remembrances." It could just as easily be subtitled "The story of the women in my life." He begins with his mother, "my first teacher," whom he "fell in love with" because of "the tender power of her voice. . . . She called us for dinner like we'd won something." From there we move on to the mothers of his two daughters, and to the daughters themselves, girls "I've cherished, and let down," with a brief interlude about poet Nikki Giovanni, a teacher and mentor to Alexander. As with Ng's family in "Orphan Bachelors," food is a form of love and loving for Alexander. "From the second we are born, the experience of food is connected with being held, the warmth of our mother's skin, her soothing voice," he writes. Alexander comes from a line of strong women who have known that a home-cooked meal is a form of care. "My father's mother, Granny, made dinner, for thirty-plus folks - children, grandchildren, neighbors, siblings - every Sunday. How she cooked so much food and still made it to church early to take her seat as head of the usher board, I will never comprehend." Alexander is obviously working to take responsibility for his mistakes, especially when it comes to his older daughter, whom he tells us he has not spoken with in three years. Perhaps he includes his friendship with Giovanni as an example of healing and redemption. Alexander took classes taught by Giovanni and never received higher than a C grade. Angry and hurt, he wrote a hateful play with a character not-so-loosely based on Giovanni. When they ran into each other later in life, they reconciled, and Giovanni has even called him her "literary son." "Why Fathers Cry at Night" offers a refreshing masculine vulnerability that is rarely seen, and one hopes after reading it that Alexander and his daughter will be able to reconcile. "That's what I want this book to spark," he writes frankly in its epilogue, "those difficult but necessary conversations that ultimately make us better." (Little, Brown, $28) 4. 'Oh My Mother!' by Connie Wang Connie Wang's "Oh My Mother!" is pure joy. A memoir about her mother, Qing, told "in nine adventures," the book exhibits dark humor to good effect. Wang grew up in Lincoln, Neb., and remembers fretting in Mandarin school on Saturdays about the "Larry King hairline" she inherited from her Chinese father. "I was definitely not as weird as them, these child geniuses far more brilliant and demented than myself, including a twelve-year-old boy who constructed an entire laptop computer from salvaged parts that he then brought with him to class in order to watch porn during vocabulary lessons." Wang's weirdness, she says, comes from her mother, who loves "Magic Mike XXL" and eating ice cream cones for breakfast. In "Oh My Mother!" (an exclamation that is the closest Chinese translation we have to "Oh my God!"), Wang takes us along on family trips to time-shares, China, Las Vegas, Disney World and finally Versailles, where they run into busloads of Chinese tourists. "The effect was totally bizarre, like seeing a birthday cake in the middle of the forest," Wang writes. "It wasn't until 2005 that the Chinese Communist Party deregulated their travel restrictions." At first, Qing is caught off guard. Then, she says, "I am so proud." At 58, after years of not being able to get a good night's sleep, Qing smokes weed in Amsterdam and gets the best rest of her life. "Thanks Connie I love this!" Alongside the funny stories about Qing are Wang's sharp cultural observations. On the terrifying experience of luxury retail: "There is nothing similar," nothing that "engenders the same intense feelings of inadequacy, elation, shame, and desire - except perhaps for gambling." This memoir ends when many recent ones begin, with the start of the pandemic, and then the birth of Wang's son, Marc. Wang never intended this to be anything but the story of Qing and her influence on her life. "This is our memoir," Wang writes. "And it was forged through shared fact-checking. . . . She is this book's first editor. Every word you read here has first passed under her red pen," making the book as unique and charming as its mother-daughter pair. (Viking, $28) - - - Jessica Ferri is the owner of Womb House Books and the author, most recently, of "Silent Cities San Francisco." The rain is gone (kind of) and the sun is shining bright. It's time to bring out the floats, swimsuits, and ice chests and hit the river. My first float of the season started off right after my friend rented a party bus to transport a group of us safely to the Comal River. Let's be honest. When most groups of friends go tubing, you tend to bring an ice chest filled with alcoholic beverages. I'm not condoning getting drunk on the river because that is dangerous. However, by the time you get back to your car, you're tired and a bit tipsy. Unless you have a DD, a person who agrees to abstain from drinking so they can then drive others home safely, you aren't being safe. So, when my close friend Priscilla Valdez suggested renting a party bus for her birthday, all of us jumped on the idea. It ended up being an amazing experience without any worry. Some of us drank, while others took a good nap. S.A. Limo Connection Party bus to Comal River My friend rented with S.A. Limo Connection, a local limo service that's been around for 13 years. Antonio Brandon, the owner of the service, said he opened the business after traveling with another company. He started the company with one limousine and now has 28 vehicles. S.A. Limo Connection provides service for all types of special events like, weddings, sweet sixteen, quinceaneras, wine tours, tubing, and more. Depending on the size and the hours rented, the party buses have several price options. My friend said she rented the party bus for $175 an hour in a bus that can fit 24 people (that's $43 each for six hours if you split it). Some smaller buses are $150 an hour. It just depends on the party and size, Brandon said. The party bus picks you up from your desired location and then will drive you to the site. Ours met us at La Cantera and then dropped us back off after our tubing experience on the Comal River. The company provided ice and water inside the colorful lit-up bus. You can also play your own music by connecting to Bluetooth. It was a blast. We sang, danced, drank, ate, and had a party before even getting to the Comal River. We didn't have to worry about parking or taking the shuttle back to the bus. The party bus took care of us and dropped us off right at the tube entry. For more information on the service, you can visit the site at salimoconnection.com or call 210-683-5457. Tubing on the Comal (no cans allowed) Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com When we went tubing on May 6, there was an overcast but the sun peeked out now and then to give us a good tan while we were tubing. We were dropped off at Texas Tubes in New Braunfels at 250 Meusebach St., New Braunfels, TX 78130. You can take your own tube or pay $25 for a tube through Texas Tubes. Even if you take your own tube, you still have to pay $25 to float. If you buy a tube there, you don't have to pay to enter. So, I'd recommend buying a tube there because you still need to pay $25 regardless. Life jackets are complimentary (of course I wore one). No cans are allowed on the Comal River. You can bring Yeti-type drink cups and other non-disposable containers. We packed about 15 Yeti drinks into our cooler that day, as well as water. I did walk the tube chute but my friends said it wasn't that scary and deep due to low water levels. The float had other small chutes but it wasn't as dramatic as the huge tube chute. The float lasted us about three hours and went by quicker than I realized. While I enjoyed the Comal River, I will always prefer the San Marcos River thanks to its lazy-style float and for allowing cans (the party bus can take you there too). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Laredo Police Department Auto Theft Task Force has issued an advisory to the community over purchasing vehicles on social media. According to the release, this week alone the task force recovered three vehicles two GMC Denali's and a Chevy Z71 that were purchased via the Facebook Marketplace by Laredoans, leaving the buyers without a car or their money. Residents are advised to use caution when searching online marketplaces, as criminals have been seen applying fraudulent vehicle identification number (VIN) plates and stickers to vehicles to stolen vehicles and then selling them online for cash. Criminals have even been seen presenting forged IDs and titles to vehicles, disappearing shortly after the sale is made. Only once the buyer goes through the titling process is the forged VIN discovered, with authorities having to confiscate the vehicle. The Laredo task force has being the scheme more frequently in recent months, typically finding vehicles stolen in other cities and sold in Laredo. According to the task force, the scheme has mostly been seen done with higher end vehicles like Ford Raptors, King Ranch and Platinum edition pickup trucks. The authorities remind locals to be cautious on online market places, and when encountering prices listed far below market value or a deal that seems too good to be true, stop and do more research before purchasing. Online resources are available to check a vehicles history by using the VIN, including some on the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website. VINCheck, a free look-up service provided to the public by the National Insurance Crime Bureau database, can also be used to find out if the car has been reported stolen and unrecovered, flooded or deemed unrepairable. Anyone with questions on a suspected stolen vehicle can contact the Laredo Police Department Auto Theft Task Force at 956-795-2341 or send them a message via Facebook for more information. Laredos ability to hold and process undocumented migrants to assist the Department of Homeland Security received a significant boost as nearly $13 million in federal funding through the Humanitarian Reimbursement Program was announced Friday, May 26 by Rep. Henry Cuellar. Even though we are one of the safest cities in the country, as a border community we are at the forefront of our countries immigration challenges that comes along with being the largest commercial port in the United States, Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino said. Our ability to meet these challenges starts with collaboration, but also it includes resources. Without resources, the emergency response can devastate a local community because of associated expenses. Im very pleased that our federal partners have made immigration regulation changes and sent more personnel to meet the challenges at the border. The total funding announced was $12,854,974. It includes $624,700 that was provided to the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo in the first tranche of the Humanitarian Reimbursement Program. The second tranche included another $9,255,616 for Catholic Charities and $2,974,658 for the Laredo Fire Department. It is critical that we bring law and order to our southern border. I have been working in constant coordination with DHS and our local entities to tackle the challenges that continue to arise in our border communities, Cuellar said. With the influx of migrants, local governments and organizations have been on the front lines providing support to our men and women on the ground. These efforts have not been in vain, and they have helped alleviate some of the pressure on our processing facilities. However, they do come at a great cost to our local entities. That is why I have been working ceaselessly to reimburse local entities for their work. Cuellar was involved in first creating the Humanitarian Reimbursement Program in 2014. It is used to reimburse local entities for helping provide the necessities of food, water, clothing and shelter to migrants. The big picture is, how do we work with the border? Cuellar said. Im one of those people who feels like we can have strong border security but still be respectful of the rights of the immigrants we have. The funds will be used for covering a wide range of expenses including the basics of clothing, food and shelter along with building supplies, equipment, local transportation, over-the-counter medications, security and staff salaries. It can also be used to cover various maintenance contracts such as COVID fumigation and janitorial services. Since 2021, our shelter has probably seen over 60,000 folks come through That could not happen without the compassion of our staff and the many volunteers that actually come from out of town to help us. We are also prudent, Catholic Charities Executive Director Rebecca Solloa said. We really appreciate the funding, and we try to find the best way to use the funding because we need to make sure we stretch our dollars as far as we can. We appreciate the community which has also donated food and clothing for our shelter. We truly appreciate the funding and the donations enabling us to keep up with the demand of the migration coming in. Laredos two non-governmental organizations work in tandem. Catholic Charities receives the funding and coordinates with the Holding Institute to distribute resources. Holding Institute Pastor Mike Smith credits that collaboration for the success of the local response. How you respond under pressure is really what defines you. Our community is extremely well defined by this, Smith said. We are talking about other communities along the southern border as well and not wanting to see what is happening there happen here. Why havent we seen it? I dont think its because were geniuses or were perfect or we do everything 100% well. No, it is more that we recognize our limitations, and Im able to pass the ball to someone else. Dont sell Laredo short. Dont sell South Texas short. We have a lot of issues, but together as a team weve been able to address them. District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa also credited collaboration when recognizing the efforts of several organizations. On behalf of the city, we are so impressed with all the collaboration that has gone on, she said. The fact the city takes that responsibility so well and coordinates with so many people, that is part of our DNA, this coordination and collaboration. That is what makes us so successful. Throughout the process before and after the expiration of Title 42 at the conclusion of May 11, Laredo has maintained a proactive approach. Trevino first signed a Declaration of Disaster on May 7, and Laredo City Council approved on May 15 an extension of the declaration for another three months. Im a firm believer that we need to be proactive when facing these challenges, because this gives us time to prepare and plan for all the other contingencies, Trevino said. I hope this model can be used on the national level. This was a test of our system and our abilities. God knows and we know, we had time to practice during the pandemic. Cuellar said the proactive efforts are necessary since the numbers could spike at any moment. He credited the lower numbers in Laredo with Mexicos efforts such as the presence of over 40,000 members of the National Guard and transporting people sent back at the border to the interior of the country. How long can the Mexicanos keep this, a month? Two months? We dont know. Once they release, and weve seen this in the past when the Mexicanos stop working with us on this, then the numbers start again, Cuellar said. Of course we have new policies in place here which are very simple. If you come in between ports, were going to send you back. If you come in through a port, well try to process you through there. Those are some of the reasons why the numbers didnt materialize. It doesnt mean they are not going to go up. Laredo Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Guillermo Heard said the city has already begun putting the funds to use to be prepared for if the number of migrants processed daily surges. The city remains in Phase 1 of its Immigration Response Plan with less than 1,000 immigrants being released daily from the Customs and Border Protection Centralized Processing Center to NGOs. Even if the numbers increase substantially to over 2,000 daily to trigger Phase 3, plans are already in place to handle the overflow. Weve been working diligently. Weve been seeing different surges, and migrants have always come to our community, Heard said. This has been going on for several years, not just last year or the year before, and weve always worked with our NGOs. As a city, weve taken a directive for them to continue being in the forefront, and we are there to support them. We meet diligently with local, state, regional and our NGOs and continue planning. Regardless of the numbers seen, everyone involved spoke to the importance of providing compassionate care and preserving the dignity of the migrants processed through Laredo. We believe people should live without fear, oppression, violence and abuse. When the families and individuals come to us, we understand why they are here, Solloa said. That is our main mission to provide them the most compassionate care we can provide. We want to be able to give them dignity and have them understand that once theyve reached our shelter that there is hope beyond. We have seen their distress and heard their stories and their losses. Serving the migrants, our guests in our shelters, it is not just our work; it is our mission. District V Councilmember Ruben Gutierrez Jr. recognized the NGOs for their ability to uphold this mission. These monies are absolutely necessary when it comes to serving these migrants. They are coming here because they have horrible times where they are from, he said. They are coming here trying to make a better life for themselves. These monies go towards them 100% to try to make sure they are able to be processed and cared for here. Because of Catholic Charities and the Holding Institute, you all make it possible. Texas and barbecue go hand in hand and depending on the region of the state the distinct flavors of smoked meats are unique in tradition and technique. A recent report from Texas Food highlighted those barbecue differences and smoked meat preferences per region in the Lone Star State to provide a little insight for the barbecue concessioner to consider when traveling throughout the state. The four signature regions of Texas that were featured for their unique barbecue flavors included East Texas, West, South, and the Central region of the state. East Texas: "In East Texas, pork takes center stage, with pork ribs and pulled pork being the stars of the show," the report said. Slow-cooked meats with a tangy and sweet tomato-based barbecue sauce are what sets East Texas apart from the other regions in the state. The region was noted for its tender fall of the bone slow-smoked pork with a sauce that is also considered a star element to bring all the flavors together. West Texas: While traveling to West Texas the barbecue of this region was highlighted for its variety of different cuts of smoked beef. The style of barbecue is often cooked over direct heat over mesquite wood, the report said, with a common style of charred exterior and a moist tender center. "West Texas-style barbecue showcases the region's cowboy heritage and wide-open spaces," the report said. South Texas: When traveling to the southern regions of the state the Mexican influences of chillies and a variety of smoked meats reign supreme. "In South Texas, a diverse range of meats such as beef, pork, and chicken are often featured," the report said. In addition, the culture of Mexico includes smoked meats such as mojellas and lengua which add to the culture of the area's barbecue. "These meats are marinated in flavorful spices and citrus juices, adding a vibrant and tangy element to the barbecue," the report said. "The cooking methods in South Texas vary, with open pits or grills being commonly used to create a charred and crispy exterior similar to the West Texas-style while maintaining a juicy and tender cut of smoked meat." Central Texas: The style of barbecue in Central Texas is legendary, the process of cooking down the wood to coals to create a perfect slow-smoked brisket with a perfect ring and bark is something that can only be experienced by traveling to the region for a taste. The region's barbecue puts less emphasis on the sauce and any marinades and focuses more on the meat itself, according to the report. The smoked meats are usually served with white bread, picked, and onions, and is a signature style of barbecue that is famed throughout the Lone Star State. Dan Carson / Chron At least one Houston-area Target has moved its Pride Month clothing and accessories and reduced the number of Pride-themed items available in the store in response to a wave of threats against the retailer nationwide. The move comes in response to a wave of aggression towards the Minneapolis-based retailer as its stores have rolled out Pride merchandise ahead of Pride Month in June. 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. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Deputy McRae has since requested to be reassigned from his position as a school resource officer. The NAACP is set to meet with the sheriff and the superintendent this week to discuss the incident. Aderrien Murry, an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by a police officer after he called 911 for help, is recovering after being released from the hospital, according to his family. 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. A gold Scott Medal for bravery was awarded posthumously today to Longford born Garda Inspector Sam Donegan, who was killed in June 1972 after responding to suspect devices along the Cavan-Fermanagh border. He had assessed one device as a hoax before the second detonated as he examined it. His son John Donegan collected the award on behalf of his father, and said it was an emotional day. Its a good day for us. Its a sad day. I think of him and I think of my mother who survived him by 34 years, and was without him for that length of time and never stopped talking about him. He said his fathers death had a huge impact on us as a family for all their lives. I suppose sorrow entered into our lives that day, and we still have that. Very emotional, sad, and sorrowful of course, but still happy to get this award, happy to get this recognition, he said. Justice Minister Simon Harris said that the late Inspector Donegans exceptional courage had protected the community and colleagues in Cavan from an immediate and certain danger. On behalf of the government and on behalf of the people of Ireland, I want to express our gratitude and offer our deepest sympathies to his family, to his friends, to his colleagues, he said. A sergeant who was awarded a bravery medal for his actions in responding to a man who went on a shooting spree in a Co Donegal town said it was a miracle that no-one was killed. On the night of February 22 2020, a man fired indiscriminately at homes, cars and Gardai in Glenties. Sergeant Edward Griffin heard three shots fired in rapid succession that night, and so he and Garda Louis Browne drove into the towns main street and saw a man carrying a high-powered rifle. They turned on their patrol vehicles blue lights in order to divert members of the public away from the area. The patrol vehicle was stopped and he alerted two of his armed colleagues, Detective Garda Darren Carter and Detective Garda Enda Jennings, who arrived on the scene. The man fired shots at the Gardai and hit their patrol car, before the armed Gardai shouted instructions and the man eventually dropped to his knees. He was arrested, convicted, and is now serving a custodial sentence. It wasnt just luck, it was a miracle nobody was killed, Sergeant Griffin told reporters at a ceremony in Dublin. There could have been people in the town killed that night, anybody could have been killed. Thats how bad it was. Of course youre afraid, but being a member of An Garda Siochana, youre committed to do your duty and thats what youre there for: to protect the people. You dont have to overcome that fear, you just have to put it to one side until you get the job done. It was absolutely terrifying for the community. Glenties is very quiet town, a very peaceful town, a very law-abiding town, and the community were extremely grateful that this man was apprehended. You dont go to work expecting to go through an experience like that and for our members it would have a long-term impact on them, he said, and agreed that it as a worst-case scenario. The four Garda members who responded to the incident were among 11 recipients of the Scott Medal, the highest award the Garda Commissioner can bestow. At a ceremony held in Dublin on Friday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that it was a day to express deep appreciation for the dangers Garda members face in the course of their duty. He said that those being awarded medals did not act in search of praise or awards, but did so instinctively. It can be a misconception that those who are brave feel no fear in the midst of a life-threatening situation, that they are fearless or without panic. In fact, real bravery is feeling fear, but choosing to resist it, he said. Justice Minister Simon Harris thanked the medal recipients and their families on behalf of the Irish public. A bronze medal was posthumously awarded to Sergeant Daniel Kelleher, who was shot during Gardais response to the abduction of businessman Don Tidey in December 1983. Mr Tidey was present at the ceremony in support of Sergeant Kellehers family, who were there to accept the award. Mr Harris welcomed the presence of his family and recognised Sergeant Kellehers exceptional bravery that day, which was met with applause from attendees. Mr Tidey was in his 23rd day of captivity when Garda members and army personnel carried out a search of Drumcroman Wood in Co Leitrim and an IRA hideout was discovered. Detective Garda Kelleher provided armed cover to Gardai who were escorting Mr Tidey to safety when he was shot and injured in both legs. Silver bravery medals were also awarded to three Gardai who apprehended an armed man in a bathroom in Ballymun, Dublin in March 2019. When Sergeant Andrew OConnor, Detective Garda Niall Minnock and Garda Conor Garland arrived at the scene in Poppintree, Ballymun, they saw a man holding what appeared to be a black sub machine gun, before he ran into a house and into the bathroom. The Gardai followed him to the house, and the man fired shots from the bathroom before he was apprehended and the firearm was safely recovered. Gardai then saw a black grenade on the floor of the bathroom; an Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit examined it before carrying out a controlled explosion. The man has been charged and convicted. Bronze bravery medals were also awarded to Sergeant PJ Gallagher and Garda Thomas McGuiness for their bravery during their abduction in October 1983. They were on patrol in Aughamore Far, Co Sligo when they came across a number of vehicles parked in a rural layby late at night, which was unusual. The two Gardai were approached by armed men and bundled into two vehicles before being moved to a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, Co Cavan where the car was abandoned. They then released themselves from the boot of the car and raised the alarm. Lockdown may seem like a dim and distant memory, but the legacy of its imprint on the arts is enduring. More than any other aspect of society the hangover of the curtailment of human interaction continues to influence audience attention at arts show. It's not 'cut and dried', some enjoy phenomenal success, while others struggle for viability. In the Midst of Plenty definitely falls into the former category. First staged in the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park in June of 2022 the show sold out all 300 tickets before anyone knew what to expect from a famine musical. They went on to sell out two nights in Roscommon Arts Centre in September 2022. The appeal of the show, and the remarkable audience reaction, saw it scheduled for a nationwide tour. The Roscommon-based group, Enchanted Croi Theatre, have taken the contemporary folk musical set in Roscommon in the time of the Great Hunger to venues across the country. Written by Amy Day and directed by Anne-Marie OSullivan, In the Midst of Plenty is set against the backdrop of the plot to assassinate Denis Mahon, the Strokestown landlord, and traces the story of the so-called missing 1490 who left Strokestown along the Royal Canal and sailed for Canada as part of Mahons forced emigration scheme. The piece is described as an empowering story of strength, loss, resilience, and family connection that has resonated deeply with audiences. The show features Niall Brewster, an actor and director from Longford: I play two completely different characters, one is the Bishop of Elphin. For some reason Im always playing men of the cloth. This character is particularly interesting as some from the community see him as a villain, but there's actually a lot more to him. He's also known as the dove of Elphin. This was because he took active role in trying to release Daniel OConnel, Niall tells. The actor has another string to his bow: My other role is very gritty. I play James Robinson, a ship owner at the Liverpool docks. The conditions that surround the scene are actually horrific. He and his brother are essentially making money from the assisted immigration scheme profiting from Irish people being evicted off the land and put on boats that are not suitable for human beings. People were treated as cargo, hence the term that was much later coined coffin ships. Niall says the touring experience has been astounding: The audiences are absolutely incredible. It was very moving when we premiered at the National Famine Museum, everyone rose to their feet and the response was very moving. I'm looking forward to bringing this fantastic production to Longford's Backstage Theatre. I think this is a story that needs to be kept in the public eye and I hope this production will encourage people to continue to have conversations regarding famine, genocide and emigration. Enchanted Croi Theatre's In the Midst of Plenty comes to Backstage Theatre, Longford, on Wednesday May 31. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: May 26 2023 Fabio and Judith Monasterolo Allegedly Discarded Cinderblocks and Concrete, then Taunted a Bystander who Tried to Intervene. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Fabio Monasterolo, 51, and his wife, Judith Monasterolo, 55, of Holbrook, are accused of unlawfully disposing of broken cinderblocks and concrete in the Town of Brookhaven near tidal wetlands. Using our precious wetlands as a personal junkyard is as selfish as it is destructive, said District Attorney Tierney. This flagrant abuse of our delicate ecosystem is a crime against our wildlife and every law-abiding taxpayer who supports these public lands. Illegal dumping in our wetlands is a crime in the Town of Brookhaven that we take very seriously. Those who commit these crimes will be caught, charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, said Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Edward Romaine. I commend the brave actions of the resident who took it upon themselves to photograph and report this activity to the Suffolk County Police. Together, we are committed to protecting our environment and we will not tolerate illegal dumping happening anywhere in the Town. DEC does not tolerate illegal dumping of any kind particularly in Long Islands ecologically important wetland areas, said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. This joint effort by DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Investigators, the town of Brookhaven, and detectives from the Suffolk County District Attorneys Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team is a prime example of how joint cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies can hold polluters accountable. According to the investigation, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 2:03 p.m., the Monasterolos were observed allegedly illegally dumping solid waste, which included broken chunks of concrete and cinderblocks, from their black Dodge Ram pick-up truck, into the wetlands adjacent to the intersection of Jefferson Drive and Grove Road in Mastic Beach. That intersection and the surrounding areas are owned by the Town of Brookhaven and abut a tidal wetland. When a witness saw what the defendants were doing, she began taking several photographs of the couple and the waste that they had dumped. Defendant Judith Monasterolo, who was in the passenger seat of the Dodge Ram, allegedly then gave this witness two middle fingers as Fabio Monasterolo drove them away from the scene. Pursuant to the District Attorneys Quality-of-Life Town Coalition initiative, Brookhaven Town Officials contacted the District Attorneys Office and provided the photographic evidence and information regarding the dumping crime. Detectives from the Suffolk County District Attorneys Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) immediately began an investigation. The defendants were subsequently arrested on May 1, 2023. The Town of Brookhaven initiated the remediation of the protected site. On May 23, 2023, both defendants were arraigned on the charges by the Honorable Mary Mullen for the crimes of Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, and multiple related Environmental Conservation violations. Under current New York State law, the offenses charged are not considered bail eligible, so the defendants were released on their own recognizance. The defendants are due back in court on June 13, 2023. Fabio Monasterolo and Judith Monasterolo are being represented by Jorge Macias, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Sciandra of the Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST), with investigative assistance from Suffolk County BEAST Detective Walter Justinic, DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Timothy Day, and DEC Environmental Conservation Investigator Jeremy Eastwood. Bayville Adventure Park Owner Pleads Guilty to Using Over $3 Million in COVID Relief to Buy Fancy Massachusetts Home Crime By Chris Boyle Published: May 26 2023 At a federal court hearing in Central Islip, Donald Finley of Locust Valley, 61, pleaded guilty to disaster relief fraud and wire fraud. The owner of Long Island's Bayville Adventure Park has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining $3.2 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding and instead of spending it for its intended purpose, pocketed the dough and used it to buy himself a fancy home in Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. At a federal court hearing in Central Islip, Donald Finley of Locust Valley, 61, pleaded guilty to disaster relief fraud and wire fraud, telling the judge that I am deeply remorseful for my conduct." Prosecutors say that Finley submitted falsified applications for approximately 30 small business loans to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP) between March 2020 and March 2021, and was subsequently awarded $3.2 million in total. But instead of using the funds to keep Bayville Adventure Park afloat during the pandemic, Finley was accused of utilizing them to "purchase personal assets and pay personal expenses." Among the things Finley bought with his ill-gotten gains was the aforementioned home, located on the island of Nantucket. Prosecutors accepted a plea deal from Finley that sees him paying restitution over the amount of $3.2 million, in addition to a $1.25 million fine. He also faces a potential 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 8. He is currently out on a $500,000 bond. With over 1.1 million sari-sari stores in the Philippines, big brands have a world of potential once they tap the market of the local stores. While makers of all consumer goods aspire to see their products lining the shelves of supermarkets and display racks at shopping malls, they also know that a reliable indicator of success is out there in the streets. Small urban and rural communities are often considered the final frontier of brand distribution and recall, because patronage by the masses means a product has successfully turned into a cultural staple. But achieving this level of nationwide acceptance can be tricky, even for the most successful of brands. Thankfully, Puregolds Tindahan ng Aling Puring (TNAP) program bridges the gap between the brands and the masses through our neighborhood sari-sari stores. Today, over 1.1 million sari-sari stores across the country have become fixtures in the everyday lives of Filipinos. Thus, if a brand can make it to the sari-sari stores, they can make it out there. And a direct connection to these sari-sari stores is precisely what Puregold can provide brands through the Tindahan ni Aling Puring program. The program, which was designed to give bulk discounts and financial aid opportunities to sari-sari store owners, also has massive benefits for brands and suppliers. Through its seminars and mixers, among others, the TNAP program allows brands to directly connect with the over 800,000 TNAP members nationwide, including thousands of sari-sari store owners. One such event is the upcoming Tindahan ng Aling Puring Convention which will be held this May 18, 19 & 20, where brands will be able to sell their fast-moving items at huge discounts; conduct daily seminars; give away freebies and host games while allowing them to network with eager business owners including sari-sari store operators. The convention will allow Puregold to engage with small to medium business owners and further widen their reach to sari-sari stores all across the country. Vincent Co, president of Puregold Price Club, Inc., believes that their annual Sari-Sari Store Negosyo Convention is a way to further implement Tindahan ni Aling Purings mandate to foster relations between big brands and sari-sari stores. Were proud and blessed to have grown the Aling Puring program to what it is today, and be able to help both big brands and thriving small business owners, says Co. At the end of the day, the success of Filipino business is the success of us all. And were gratified to keep holding this convention and make brands and sari-sari stories grow by developing mutually beneficial partnerships. Big FMCG companies such as Nestle, URC, Unilever, P&G, San Miguel, Monde Nissin, Century Pacific, Coca-Cola, Del Monte, Globe, Gcash, Kojiesan and Nutri-Asia, among others, are some of the big names that will be participating in the convention. Puregold hopes that the relationships between these big brands and the sari-sari stores will continue to flourish through the years. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Supermarket chain Stop & Shop is providing a palette of food and flavors to hungry drivers stuck in traffic bound for Cape Cod this Memorial Day weekend, giving out free CarCuterie boards while supplies last. As traffic is anticipated to snarl roadways on and off the peninsula on one of the busiest traffic weekends of the year, Stop & Shop said that its innovative charcuterie boards are ideal for on-the-go snacking and fit snugly within vehicles center cupholders. The boards are made up of Boars Head-brand Genoa salami, pepperoni, three-pepper Colby Jack cheese, picante provolone, caramella and horseradish pickle chips along with locally-made baguettes and cranberry bread from the Hyannis-based Pain DAvignon, according to Stop & Shop. The grocers Natures Promise Dried Cranberries can also be found inside the CarCuterie boards, it said, adding that it is also offering its fan-favorite Stop & Shop-brand seltzer waters to keep travelers hydrated on their journeys. Additionally, the unique charcuterie boards feature two adjustable cup holders to allow travelers to continue to sip their drinks while snacking in style, Stop & Shop said. For travelers who want to grab one of the boards, they can make a pit stop at the Cape Cod Canal Region Visitors Center at 1 Meetinghouse Lane in Bourne before they cross the Sagamore Bridge. The grocer began giving out free CarCuterie boards late Thursday morning from a Stop & Shop-branded food truck. The CarCuterie boards are not sold in Stop & Shop stores, according to the company. Were focused on helping our shoppers feed every moment and that includes their holiday weekend away, Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. We know our customers have quite a long journey to get to the Cape, and we want to make that trip easier and tastier by providing them with a new way of snacking on-the-go. Reid added he hopes once travelers cross over the Cape Cod Canal they will consider the grocer as their one-stop shop for all their holiday, road trip, and summer grilling needs, having 17 locations on the peninsula and on nearby Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket. In total, the company operates more than 400 stores scattered across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, and employs more than 54,000 associates. WEST SRINGFIELD Senior high school student Samuel Andica Rios came to the U.S. from Colombia in 2012, when he was 8 years old, and in just 10 years he has earned top honors for his ability to communicate in three languages. Andica Rios, 19, is among 35 West Springfield High School students who earned a state and global Seal of Biliteracy for proficiency as a multilinguist. For his exceptional proficiency in English, Spanish and French, Andica Rios was the only student in town this year to receive the state and global Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction. The first six months I was here were difficult, because I did not know English and the Spanish spoken at home was different, he said. There were so many things to remember. The seal, an insignia that appears on a students transcripts and diploma, recognizes their proficiency in English and at least one other language. Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and West Springfield are some of the 176 school districts participating in the voluntary program that has awarded more than 4,552 students with the insignia as of July 2021. Sharlene DeSteph, director of English language learning for the West Springfield district, said the award was made possible through the Language Opportunity for Our Kids Act of 2017 and was established in the district in the spring of the 2021-22 school year. The number of students interested in participating in the program has increased significantly since its inception, DeSteph said. There are two seals students can qualify for, the state Seal of Biliteracy and the state Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction. To receive the seal, students must meet all graduation requirements and show proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. In addition, students must earn a minimum score of 472 or higher on the grade 10 English portion of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test or retest, and a score higher than intermediate high on a department-approved world language assessment. To earn the seal with distinction, like Andica Rios, graduating students must score 501 or higher on the grade 10 English MCAS test or retest, and a score of advanced low or higher on an approved world language assessment. All human languages are eligible to be recognized by the state seal. Other students earned seals for their language skills in Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Turkish and French, which are among the 52 languages spoken by the districts 3,851 pupils. Through studying language, Andica Rios said he was able to learn about people, cultures, languages and customs of the world. The award honors the diversity of students living in town and also opens doors, he said. West Springfield High student Samuel Andica Rios shows the plaque he received with distinction during a ceremony on May 19 to recognize students who have demonstrated proficiency in multiple languages. (Don Treeger / The Republican) Andica Rios said he has earned a full ride to four colleges and universities, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which he plans to attend in the fall. Superintendent of Schools Stefania Raschilla spoke to students at the ceremony May 19, about her personal experience growing up in a biliterate household before presenting students with plaques adorned with the seals. Keila Mutaguanda, a senior who received a seal for French and Kinyarwanda, the language of Rwanda, did not speak any English when she came to the U.S. at age 6. With support from English as a second language teachers and friends, Mutaguanda said she was able to immerse herself in the community and local language. I was connected with everyone, she said. It is nice to know that you are not the only one (English learner). DeSteph said students and families receive information about the program in the district. Included is information on how and why students should test, and supports that are available to new English learners, she said. A student who plans to test for the seal will receive support after school and help from their teachers; tutors are available, too, DeSteph said. Student Adam Mahdi can speak English, Spanish and two different Arabic dialects. Mahdi, now a junior, said in middle school that he realized that there were many similarities between Arabic and Spanish. Taking Spanish broadened my horizon, he said. Mahdi said he used his skills to help his father, who is a neurosurgeon, to prepare citizenship documents. When Mahdi graduates and moves on to college, he wants to major in pre-medicine and become a doctor. He said fluency in several languages will help him connect with patients on a deeper level. Mahdi, a refugee from Iraq, came with his family to the U.S. to flee the Syrian-Iraqi War. Despite Mahdis family coming to the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at a time, when hate crimes against Muslims were on the rise, Mahdi said he did not experience Islamophobia. West Springfield has always made me feel welcome and safe, Mahdi said. I was able to prosper and do my best on the test, and I hope that all people coming here will feel the same. The journey the students have been on shows their resilience, DeSteph said. Biliteracy is a skill that not everyone has. Graduates at the University of Massachusetts Boston each received a cash gift half to keep and half to give away after commencement speaker Rob Hale made a surprise announcement at Thursdays commencement, Boston.com reported. A widely circulated video on Twitter showed the moment Hale made his announcement, after interrupting Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco. At @UMassBoston commencement, billionaire commencement speaker Robert Hale just told 2,500 stunned graduates he is giving them each $1,000 half to keep, he said, and half to give. pic.twitter.com/oCq3XThdoE sonel cutler (@cutler_sonel) May 25, 2023 Hale told the students for us the greatest joys weve had in our life has been the gift of giving, so each of you is getting $1,000 cash. Hale, who founded Qunicy-based Granite Telecommunications, gave a similar surprise gift to 2021 graduates at Quincy College, the college reported. Hale and Elizabeth Warran spoke at Thursdays UMass Boston ceremony, with Warren exhorting graduates to choose hope, the outlet reported. Thats a little tougher than it sounds right now. After, all of you are graduating into a world that is filled with anger, strife, and grief, Warren said. The detective who police said accidentally shot his gun during a swatting incident at a Massachusetts school was not placed on leave during the investigation, the Danvers Police Department said. The police officer was identified as Detective Christopher Gaffney, who is an 11-year veteran of the police department, the town said Thursday. On Monday, two school resource officers, a detective and a patrol officer responded to the call of a possible person with a long gun intended to harm students at St. Johns Preparatory School in Danvers. One of those officers, now identified as Gaffney, accidentally fired a weapon in a school bathroom, according to officials. Danvers Police Chief James Lovell said the officers gunshot during the response led to an escalated response from area departments. The incident was later determined to be swatting, which is when a false 911 report is made that is intended to prompt a major police response. Researchers said swatting incidents are on the rise since the FBI started tracking such cases in 2008. There were no injuries during Mondays incident. Still, it was traumatic, said Ed Hardiman, head of the Catholic school. At around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, May 22, there was a report of an active shooter in Brother Benjamin Hall on the St. Johns Prep campus, according to the school. The campus went into a lockdown. The four officers arrived on campus less than two minutes after being dispatched, the town said. At 1:49 p.m., state police said an immediate entry was made. While clearing Benjamin Hall, the officers went to the first-floor mens bathroom. Three of the officers went inside the bathroom, while one waited in the hallway. At this point, the town said Gaffney began to put his gun into its holster. The officer reported that as he did, his index finger was extended along the side of the barrel, which is consistent with his training, and that a secondary piece of equipment interfered with the holstering process, resulting in a single shot being discharged and striking the bathroom tile floor next to the officers foot, the town said. The town and police did not provide specifics on the secondary piece of equipment. There were no students or faculty in or near the bathroom when the gun was shot, officials said. None of the officers were hurt. But the gunshot did result in increased response from area departments. Massachusetts State Police were also called to the school. Parents and guardians were informed of the incident by email and text at 2:01 p.m., the school said. Students, staff and faculty continued to shelter in place until state police cleared the buildings. Some students fled school grounds, according to Massachusetts State Police. Some of those students hid in nearby homes. We are also deeply indebted to the surrounding community and to our neighbors, who graciously welcomed students onto their property into their homes as Mondays events unfolded, the school said in a statement. An all-clear was declared at 2:09 p.m. and campus was deemed safe with no immediate danger, the school said. St. Johns Prep is a Catholic school for boys in grades 6 through 12. The website states it has 10 student buildings on campus and 175 acres. The incident is still under investigation and will include an independent review by the Essex County District Attorneys Office, the town said. However, Gaffney has not been placed on leave. Lovell also confirmed with MassLive that the police department does not have body cameras or any in-car video camera. We recognize that Mondays events at St. Johns Prep caused a significant amount of fear and angst for not only those present at the Prep that day, but also to our broader community. We are confident that we can take the lessons learned from these events and work together to effect change that will further ensure the safety of our schools and community, the town said in a statement. The Danvers police officer who shot his gun during a swatting incident at St. Johns Prep is an 11-year veteran of the police department, the town said Thursday. The police officer was identified as Detective Christopher Gaffney, according to a statement from the town. On Monday, two school resource officers, a detective and a patrol officer responded to the call of a possible person with a long gun intended to harm students at St. Johns Preparatory School. One of those officers, now identified as Gaffney, accidentally fired a weapon in a school bathroom, according to officials. Danvers Police Chief James Lovell said the officers gunshot during the response led to an escalated response from area departments. The incident was later determined to be swatting, which is when a false 911 report is made that is intended to prompt a major police response. Researchers say swatting incidents are on the rise since the FBI started tracking such cases in 2008. There were also no injuries. Still, it was traumatic, said Ed Hardiman, head of the Catholic school. At around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, May 22, there was a report of an active shooter in Brother Benjamin Hall on the St. Johns Prep campus, according to the school. The campus went into a lockdown. The four officers arrived on campus less than two minutes after being dispatched, the town said. At 1:49 p.m., state police said an immediate entry was made. While clearing Benjamin Hall, the officers went to the first-floor mens bathroom. Three of the officers went inside the bathroom, while one waited in the hallway. At this point, the town said Gaffney began to put his gun into its holster. The officer reported that as he did, his index finger was extended along the side of the barrel, which is consistent with his training, and that a secondary piece of equipment interfered with the holstering process, resulting in a single shot being discharged and striking the bathroom tile floor next to the officers foot, the town said. They did not provide specifics on the secondary piece of equipment. There were no students or faculty in or near the bathroom when the gun was shot, officials said. None of the officers sustained any injuries. But the gunshot did result in increased response from area departments. Massachusetts State Police were also called to the school. Parents and guardians were informed of the incident by email and text at 2:01 p.m., the school said. Students, staff and faculty continued to shelter in place until state police cleared the buildings. Some students fled school grounds, according to Massachusetts State Police. Some of those students hid in nearby homes. We are also deeply indebted to the surrounding community and to our neighbors, who graciously welcomed students onto their property into their homes as Mondays events unfolded, the school said in a statement. An all clear was declared at 2:09 p.m. and campus was deemed safe with no immediate danger, the school said. St. Johns Prep is a Catholic school for boys in grades 6 through 12. The website states it has 10 student buildings on campus and 175 acres. The incident is still under investigation and will include an independent review by the Essex County District Attorneys Office, the town said. We recognize that Mondays events at St. Johns Prep caused a significant amount of fear and angst for not only those present at the Prep that day, but also to our broader community. We are confident that we can take the lessons learned from these events and work together to effect change that will further ensure the safety of our schools and community, the town said in a statement. A 69-year-old Bridgewater man pleaded not guilty after he was charged with bludgeoning his 58-year-old neighbor to death, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruzs office announced Friday. Dinis Moreira, of Bridgewater, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder in Brockton District Court. He was held without bail. Following a court clinicians examination, he will be sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a 20-day evaluation. Bridgewater police received a call from one of Moreiras family members at about 12:34 a.m. Friday morning, Cruzs office said. The caller said he arrived at Moreiras home at 134 Spring St. and found an injured woman on the floor with severe trauma to her head and face. Later identified as Moreiras neighbor, Valerie Oakhem, she was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and was pronounced dead. Early findings from an investigation led by Bridgewater police and Massachusetts State Police point to Moreira as Oakhems killer, Cruzs office said. Investigators believe that this was a targeted act of violence and not random, Cruzs office noted. The investigation remains ongoing. Moreira is due to return to Brockton District Court on June 14. SPRINGFIELD Its not enough for V-One Vodka to be available at high-profile touristy destinations like MGM Springfield, said V-One creator Paul Kozub. It needs to be where MGM has it: on display at the back of the bar, eye level with folks ordering mixed drinks. Its like a billboard, Kozub said Friday. Its one thing to be one of the bottles in the well. Youll sell some. But if you are out on display, then your really sell. And visitors will learn about the product, order it elsewhere and maybe pick up a bottle for home consumption the next time they visit the package store. Chris Weld, founder, owner and distiller at Berkshire Mountain Distillers discuss his relationship with MGM Springfield at the re-opening of MGM's Hotel Lobby Bar Friday, May 26, 2023. And its important for distillers that their brand names are included in the descriptions of the signature cocktails on the bar menu. The Berry Potter, for example, is muddled raspberries, V-One Triple Berry vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, a splash of soda water and garnished with fresh berries. The Bees Knees is made with Berkshire Mountain Distillers Greylock Gin, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup. Its visibility, said Chris Weld, the owner, founder of and distiller at Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Sheffield. We are all small distillers. So its hard to get the visibility to compete with the national brands. Both Kozub and Weld were on hand Friday as MGM Springfield announced the reopening of the hotel lobby bar and the first-ever opening of its poolside bar, the most recent incremental step in the $1 billion propertys recovery from pandemic shutdowns. Weld recalled Friday that MGM officials came out to this distillery near the New York state line more than five years ago in preparation for MGMs August 2018 opening. We had a tasting, he said. We even created some botanicals (flavorings) for them that they still use. MGM had promised the state and the city as part of its licensing process to buy $50 million a year in local goods and services. In the most recent quarter, that local vendor spending purchase totaled $2.4 million, according to MGM Springfields report to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Kozub said MGM has been a great partner. Theyve had me here since the beginning, he said. V-One was for sale here the first day. This is the restarting of that relationship. Kozubs Valley Vodka is headquartered in Hadley where he has just nine employees. He owns a distillery in Poland with 26 employees where V-One and other vodkas are made and where hes centered philanthropy efforts in the last year, helping the Poles house and care for a flood of war refugees from Ukraine. Kamien, Poland, where Kozub s distillery is located, is just a few hours drive from the Ukrainian border. The man accused of cutting near a womans eyes in Charlestown earlier this week was ruled dangerous by a Boston judge and ordered held without bail. Ismail Mohamed faces one count each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery causing serious injury, kidnapping and mayhem. Mohamed appeared in the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal Court Thursday for a detention hearing. Court records show Justice Lisa Grant ordered Mohamed held without bail for up to 120 days to ensure the safety of the unidentified woman. According to a Boston Police report, Mohamed admitted on Monday morning that he cut near the eyes of the woman, but said he did it in order to relieve swelling and bruises he noticed on her face. The woman told police that Mohamed beat her at one point when she tried to leave the apartment where they were staying the previous night. She called Mohamed a friend and said the two were not in a relationship. When the nation first went into its coronavirus-caused lockdown, James Jimmy Hills knew that the Black and Brown communities in Boston would be hit the hardest by the pandemics health risks. The 51-year-old Dorchester native had spent a great deal of his life as a health advocate dedicated to supporting the well-being of Bostons communities of color. Using his knowledge and experience, Hills would occasionally provide COVID-19 updates on his social media platforms, which gained him a decent following. However, on that early day during the pandemic, Hills felt an overwhelming urge to grab a cup of coffee, take out his iPhone and begin live streaming on Facebook. About 50 or so people came in what I call the room and we just had a real conversation about what was happening with our community, Hills said. At the end of the live stream, Hills mother asked him whether this was going to be an everyday coffee hour. Although he didnt intend it to be, Hills found himself live-streaming daily community updates. For nearly a year, Hills went on Facebook Live at least once a day to talk about a variety of issues, most of which surrounded current events, mental health issues or pandemic-related updates. As a result, Hills social media following grew, leading him to eventually create Java with Jimmy, a live talk show where local leaders, innovators and politicians come together to discuss practical solutions for community issues. Ive done well at embracing that though I thought I was either going to be a pastor, a nonprofit leader or a politician, Ive embraced the fact that this is a destined road where Im having my impact, Hills said. Since its official launch in 2021, Java with Jimmy has gained the attention of notable figures from the Boston area. Influential people such as U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey have all made appearances on the show. Unlike other talk shows, where politicians often feel compelled to provide calculated responses, Hills offers a light-hearted and conversational environment that allows elected officials to relax and let down their hair. This provides audiences with a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of their humanity. I think its important for the community to get to know them, along with their policy, who are they as human beings with all this stuff going on in politics and all this other stuff like who are these humans even when we dont agree with them? Hills said. At the end of the day, they have a heart, they bleed and they feel. The mission of Java with Jimmy, according to Hills, is to share valuable information and resources that empower people to achieve a fair and fulfilling quality of life. By any means necessary, is sort of my approach, Hills said. If its going to be 100% to piss somebody off, Im going to do 99.9% to result in some good for the community. Cindy Diggs, a community and cultural engagement manager at Massachusetts General Hospital, has been tuning into Java with Jimmy since the first episode. The long-time fan said that Hills virtual talk show has been life-saving during a time when the world was drastically changing with few answers. Hes just had his finger on the pulse of everyday things and talks to people about it, Diggs said. The fact that we could talk to so many community members simultaneously and be cheered up because we had something to go to. The show was an avenue for us to be in community with one another. In 2021, Hills partnered up with Diggs and Massachusetts General Hospital to produce #YourHealthyJava, a bi-monthly show focused on spreading health-related information. But, Hills passion for community activism didnt start with Java with Jimmy. The online talk show host said hes always had the courage to advocate for himself and others, even as a child. One of Hills earliest memories dates back to when he was 8 years old and his grandmother took him to a church retreat. During the retreat, Hills said the adults had everything planned out. However, Hills and a few other kids took matters into their own hands and wrote a letter to the adults, asking a simple but important question: What will you do for the young people? I always had that little extra oomph, Hills said. You can do whatever to me, but dont mess with my people. The same sense of advocacy came to the forefront when Hills 17-year-old nephew, Ameen Lacy was fatally shot in Dorchester in 2017. During that time, Hills was working as an event manager in Washington, D.C., when he received the heartbreaking news from a relative. Matters only got worse for Hill when the citys trauma response team mistakenly gave him incorrect information about Lacys funeral service. Feeling frustrated by the lack of effective communication, Hills harnessed his anger and passion to form the #WeNeedToKnow movement. This grassroots effort aimed to bring about more transparency and prompted a thorough reevaluation and transformation of the citys approach to addressing violent crimes. Hills called this moment a turning point for him to have a stronger voice in policy and program procedures. What I think has helped my voice to be embraced by some not all, but by some is that there is front work, that was years of front work that I did before March 24 on 2020, said Hills. Java with Jimmy had a meteoric rise. Shortly after its official launch, people began to reach out to Hills to show their support. One of Hills initial donors, Thaddeus Miles, Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives at MassHousing, stopped by Hills Dorchester apartment to donate a $1500 check toward his talk show. Although, Miles didnt believe the show would last long, at the time Miles believed that it was, one of the best things happening in the city. Seeing the work that hes done over the previous 15 years that Ive known him, and sitting in and having real conversations about how to change community, how to deal with violence in the community, how to heal the community, Miles said. I felt like his voice needed to be heard and that he needed to continue what he was doing. As the Java family expanded, other organizations started investing in Hills work, too. Within just over a year, Hills teamed up with Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital to champion information around health equity in Boston. Hills work later drew the attention of Archipelago Strategies Group, a Massachusetts-based ad agency, that in 2021 offered him a five-figure budget to support his work. Through the support of Archipelago Strategies Group and other organizations, Hills was able to buy more equipment to help build his show. Hills upgraded from using an iPhone, iPad and an old Mac computer that frequently crashed to having a fully-equipped studio in the spare bedroom of his Dorchester apartment, complete with a green screen. A big portion of the funds Hills acquires goes toward supporting his community. At the height of the pandemic, Hills used his funds to host an event called Spark the Love, where he distributed gift cards and personal protective equipment to people in need. He has also invested funds to support local Black-owned businesses and emerging artists seeking to amplify their message. I took that money and put it back into the messaging, building the brand but for the purpose of increasing the impact, Hills said. Now in its third year, Java with Jimmy is transitioning from a humble virtual talk show to a grand stage. In June, Hills said hell be hosting an episode of Java with Jimmy at GBH at Boston Public Library. We are thrilled to be collaborating with James on a special Java with Jimmy event at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library on June 15, said Pam Johnston, the general manager for news at GBH. Were looking forward to an insightful dialogue about the issues that matter to people across Greater Boston. As Hills gains more prominence in the Boston community, hes said that people have suggested he syndicate Java with Jimmy for a broader reach. Although Hills said he has a love for Boston, he isnt opposed to spreading his message in other cities either. I definitely want to increase impact. Ive never really thought about a global stage, but at least you know, regionally, nationally is something that I want to desire, Hills said. That equity is needed worldwide, so if I can have an impact worldwide, Id be down. A New England womans leg was bit off by a shark while she was snorkeling in Turks and Caicos Wednesday, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said. The 22-year-old woman is from Connecticut but was visiting Turks and Caicos with a friend, police said. Her name was not released. At about 3:07 p.m. Wednesday the woman was attacked by the shark and police said an employee of Blue Haven Resort, which is located near Leeward Marina, Providenciales, called for an ambulance. The employee told officials the womans leg had been bit off by a shark, police said. The woman was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in serious condition, police added. The resort is all-inclusive with 46 studios and suites. The resort states it provides convenient access to world-class diving, deep sea fishing, bone fishing, kite boarding, eco-kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. The Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark Attack File confirmed 57 unprovoked shark bites on humans worldwide in 2022. Still, officials said, the risk remains low. The total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide is extremely low, given the number of people participating in aquatic recreation each year, the ISAF said. A man traveling through Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday was surprised by Massachusetts State Police when he was stopped for having a replica pistol hookah device in his carry-on bag, TSA officials said. The 23-year-old Massachusetts man told police hed traveled through the airport many times before with hookah devices, TSA officials said, but police told the airline passenger it wasnt the smoking part of the device that was the issue it was its appearance. Yesterday @TSA officers @BostonLogan detected this replica pistol hookah during security screening. This smoking gun never made it onto the aircraft! #travelfail pic.twitter.com/NPUijkRygy TSA_NewEngland (@TSA_NewEngland) May 26, 2023 The replica gun hookah was bright teal, and had identical grooves and a trigger to a real pistol, as shown in the image tweeted by New England TSA. The 23-year-old was allowed to continue through the airport after police questioned him and confiscated the hookah device, TSA said. Replica firearms may be taken in checked baggage only, TSA stated on its site. Read more: Spirit Airlines adds 5 new flights to Boston Logan International Airport TSA also considers frames, receivers, and 3D-printed guns to be firearms, along with regular guns. Unloaded firearms are allowed to be transported within a locked, hard-sided container and declared to the airline before traveling in their checked baggage. TSAs website states they consider a weapon to be loaded if the weapon and its ammunition are both accessible to the passenger. A first-offense penalty for having a gun at security checkpoints is typically $4,100, but the fine can go well over $10,000. SPRINGFIELD The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has announced a settlement with a Chicopee man who said he was raped as a child in the 1960s by the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon and two other priests. The monetary aspect of the settlement will remain confidential, the mans attorney has said. The resolution follows two years of contentious litigation with the man, identified only as John Doe in public court filings. The case was headed to trial this month in Hampden Superior Court before the parties signaled a settlement was near. The Most Rev. William D. Byrne, bishop of the Springfield diocese, issued a lengthy statement on the settlement this morning. We as a church must continue to do more for survivors, and we must do it in a quicker and more sensitive fashion. I commend John Doe for his courage in coming forward in this matter and by his persistence highlighting areas we must improve. We will, the statement reads, in part. The abuse survivor came forward to the dioceses review board that assesses allegations of clergy abuse with allegations that Weldon and two other late priests gang raped him repeatedly when he was an altar boy of about age 9. His lawsuit also alleges the diocese tried to cover up the accusations aimed at Weldon to protect his legacy. Larry Parnass, former Berkshire Eagle managing editor for innovation, went public with the story in 2019. He is now executive editor for The Republican. An independent investigation ensued and found the survivors allegations unequivocally credible. Byrnes statement on the settlement also says the diocese withdraws any statements made to the contrary. Mr. Does allegations were determined to be credible, therefore, any public statement made on behalf of the diocese in May or June of 2019 that is inconsistent with that is withdrawn. We apologize to Mr. Doe for any harm those statements caused. We regret that interaction with the diocese and civil litigation, often the last stop in trying to resolve these cases, can leave survivors feeling revictimized, the statement continued. An attorney for Doe issued a statement in response to a request for comment largely highlighting the Catholic churchs persistent failures with regard to victims of clergy abuse. The fact that Mr. Doe was forced to pursue litigation in the face of the report prepared by retired Judge Peter A. Velis, confirms the Churchs continuing failure, despite protestations to the contrary, to accept responsibility for the atrocities committed, Springfield lawyer Nancy Frankel Pelletier said. It is Mr. Does hope that Bishop Byrnes statement will be heeded, and that no other survivor will be revictimized for speaking their truth. The Knowledge Corridor is a great idea for Western Massachusetts and for our neighbor Connecticut whose time may finally have arrived. The concept is that the I-91 and Connecticut River corridor houses 42 colleges and universities including three of the top 100-rated schools in America. They serve more than 150,000 students in a region housing cutting-edge tech industries. This megaregion, with a combined 1.9 million residents, has statistics that eclipse other famous knowledge areas, such as North Carolinas Research Triangle. About a decade ago, people promoting the Knowledge Corridor said it could draw companies and entrepreneurs to this region, for new or expanded operations. The topic sparked several well-attended conferences. And then the concept went quiet. One reason was the death of Tim Brennan, the long-time executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, who was the multi-state champion of the Knowledge Corridor. A bigger reason was the difficulty of getting Connecticut, including its schools, to embrace the two-state idea. Its always been tough to shape cross-border projects, almost as though a wall stands between Longmeadow and Enfield. Jay Ash, president of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, who led economic development for Gov. Charlie Baker, was in Springfield on Thursday, speaking to the annual meeting of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. He outlined the competitive economic challenges facing the state and region, including projected population decline and the dearth of students for our universities. He said the Knowledge Corridor could be the answer to offset those trends and to grow jobs here. We think Ash is on to something. This editorial page has long supported the Knowledge Corridor idea. This is the time, in Ashs words, to re-energize the concept. We hope new leaders in the region sign on, including Javier Reyes, the about-to-be installed chancellor at UMass Amherst, which has been fully on board with the concept in the past. At the planning commission, Brennan has a strong successor in Kimberly Robinson. There is new leadership atop the economic development effort in Hartford. The new president of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Megan Burke, came to Springfield from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Bradley International Airport, which serves the entire corridor, is thriving and adding new flights. And so on. Massachusetts also has a new governor, Maura Healey, who is looking for ways to help Western Massachusetts and has named new staff to her regional office. The Connecticut governor, Ned Lamont, might be looking for ways to help the northern Connecticut economy. What if the two governors came together and backed a significant joint grant to promote marketing of the Knowledge Corridor concept for mutual benefit? The idea is as worthy as when first broached. The need is greater than ever. And perhaps the stars are better aligned to convert concept into action. Five-year-old Jeremiah Oliver was protecting his mother, who had just been head-butted, when he was involved in a physical altercation with her boyfriend that led to his death, according to prosecutors. After being head-butted by her boyfriend, Alberto Sierra, Elsa Oliver went to the bathroom to clean herself up, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Sans said in Worcester Superior Court during a bail hearing Friday. During that time, Sans said, Jeremiah ran out of the kitchen closet where they had him living and sleeping and said something to the effect of Dont touch my mommy before Sierra grabbed him by the head. Sierra then slammed Jeremiah down, after which he was not moving, Sans claimed. Jeremiah was placed back in the closet, where he was still not moving. The following day when they looked in the closet, he was still not moving, according to Sans. Oliver and Sierra placed his body in a bag and buried him, Sans said, then moved the body any time Sierra was afraid the police or people looking for Jeremiah would find it. Alberto Sierra was ordered held without bail Friday in connection with the 2013 killing of the boy whose remains were found in a bag off a highway in Sterling in 2014. Worcester Superior Court Judge Karin Bell ordered Sierra, 32, be held without bail at a hearing May 26. Sierra was arraigned on two charges in connection with the killing on May 18: murder and disinterring of a body. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. In court Friday, Sierras defense attorney, Marissa Elkins, asked that Sierras bail be set at no more than $20,000, citing a serious medical condition for which he needs treatment. Sierra suffers from a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis and was part of a clinical trial to treat it that he wouldnt have access to if he was held, Elkins argued. Bell said while she understood Sierras medical condition, she also understood that he could still get the primary medications for his condition in the House of Corrections and given the nature and seriousness of his charges, she was going to have him held without bail. Jeremiah was discovered missing in 2013 and his body was later found on April 18, 2014 in a bag off I-190 in Sterling. Sierra is facing a charge of disinterring a body, according to Sans, because initially Sierra and Oliver dug a hole and buried the body, but moved the body when they worried someone would find it. One of the instances Sierra moved the body was precipitated by his sister telling people she hadnt seen her brother in a while, according to Sans. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the 5-year-olds death a homicide in 2016 after completing an autopsy. The autopsy report on Jeremiah listed the cause of death as homicidal violence of undetermined etiology, according to a press release from the Worcester County District Attorneys office at the time. Sierra moved into a Kimball Street residence in Fitchburg with Oliver and her children in September 2013, authorities said, and took on the role of disciplinarian. Jeremiahs siblings, then 7 and 9, told investigators Sierra would strike them with a belt. Law enforcement became aware that Jeremiah was missing in December 2013 when they were checking on his siblings and found that he was not at home, according to Sans. Oliver told officials Jeremiah was living with family in Florida, Sans said, but it was determined he was actually missing when those family members told authorities they had not seen Jeremiah in years. In addition, the siblings said they had not seen their younger brother in months and, during a search of the home, authorities found a notebook with a drawing of a butterfly that had Jeremiahs birthdate in one wing and a September 2013 date in the other wing, according to Sans. Sans made arguments to connect Sierra to Jeremiahs remains in court Friday. Sierra used the bag Jeremiah was found in to move tools from his home to a garage, according to Sans. She claimed they were also able to tie other items in the bag, including the blanket Jeremiah was wrapped in, to Sierra. She also shared what witnesses have told investigators they heard Sierra say. Those comments included that he smacked Jeremiah around and had a bad relationship with Jeremiah because he would hurt things in the house, Sans said. Sans said Jeremiah had been relegated by Oliver and Sierra to living in the kitchen closet due to behavior issues. Elsa Oliver pleaded guilty to charges of child assault and battery and reckless endangerment of a child in August 2017, prior to which Sierra was sentenced to serve six to seven years in prison for assaulting her and Jeremiahs siblings. Oliver was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. Sierra and Oliver had previously faced charges for abusing Jeremiah, but those charges were dropped. Dropping the charges kept the door open for the possibility of future charges to be filed against them in connection with Jeremiahs killing. Sierra was out of prison when he was arrested and charged in May. He had been sentenced to three years of probation that was scheduled to end on March 25, according to Elkins, but his probation was lifted in 2022 due to good conduct. At the time of his arrest, Elkins said Sierra was living with his father in Fitchburg. Sierra is also engaged to a coworker, according to Elkins, who said the relationship was healthy and didnt involve allegations like those in his previous relationships. Sans said in court Friday that Sierra has had four restraining orders taken out against him. Sierra also has his own child, according to Elkins, for whom he was working to provide child support. Computer-assisted surgical systems are utilized for several purposes, such as pre-operative planning, surgical navigation, and surgical procedure assistance. These systems often employ surgical robots that imitate the human arm and perform surgery using a series of small incisions. One of the benefits of utilizing computer-assisted surgical systems is the improvement in access, magnified vision, and stabilized implantation through smart instrumentation aided by infrared camera navigation and software. The demand for computer-assisted surgery is increasing rapidly due to its precision, miniaturization, reduced pain, and shorter healing time compared to traditional surgical procedures. Additionally, technological advancements in surgical robots are contributing to the growth of the computer-assisted surgical systems market. However, the high cost and maintenance of the system and the lack of skilled professionals are potential obstacles to the growth of the computer-assisted surgical systems market. Ask Us to Get Your Sample Copy Of The Report, Covering TOC and Regional Analysis @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1487 Market Driver: Computer Assisted Surgical Systems Surgical robots are utilized in computer-assisted surgeries to facilitate the procedure through smaller incisions and reduced tissue damage. The precision and accuracy offered by computer-assisted surgeries are key drivers of the growth of the computer-assisted surgical systems market. Additionally, minimally invasive surgeries result in lower healthcare costs. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins showed that American hospitals adopting minimally invasive procedures for appendix, colon, and lung surgeries save between US$ 280 million to US$ 340 million per year in post-surgical complication costs compared to open surgeries. The Health Research Funding report indicates that in 2012, approximately 400,000 robotic surgeries were performed in the U.S., with an estimated 25% annual increase in robotic surgery rates. Consequently, the increasing use of surgical robots is expected to boost the growth of the computer-assisted surgical systems market. Computer-assisted surgery has become a preferred alternative to traditional surgical methods due to its various benefits and technological advancements. Manufacturers of computer-assisted surgical systems are currently focused on upgrading robotic instruments and their accessories to include features such as high resolution, precision, and flexibility, which is expected to drive growth in the computer-assisted surgical systems market. Moreover, as surgical robotic systems continue to advance, manufacturers are expanding the applications of computer-assisted surgical systems. In 2018, Auris Surgical Robots obtained FDA approval for Monarch, an Auris robotic endoscopy system that can be used for diagnosing and treating lung cancer. Additionally, manufacturers are expanding the market through strategies such as mergers and acquisitions. For instance, in 2016, Zimmer Biomet acquired Medtech SA to enter the surgical robotics market. The expansion of the computer-assisted surgical systems market is also due to the provision of training and education associated with the use of the system. For example, the FDA, along with professional societies, is promoting training and education programs to improve the outcomes of computer-assisted surgery. However, stringent approval policies by regulatory bodies are expected to impede the growth of the market. Market Taxonomy for Surgical Computer Assist Devices: By Product Type Surgical Navigation Systems Surgical Robots Surgical Planners & Stimulators By Surgery Type Gynecology Surgery Market Taxonomy for Surgical Computer Assist Devices: By Product Type Surgical Navigation Systems Surgical Robots Urology Surgery Cardiovascular Surgery Neurosurgery Orthopedic Surgery Other Surgeries By End Users Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Emergency Clinics Market Forecast for Computer-Assisted Surgical Systems The computer-assisted surgical systems market is segmented by region into North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. North America currently holds the dominant share in the global computer-assisted surgical systems market due to the technological advancements in the region. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is expected to experience faster growth in the computer-assisted surgical systems market over the forecast period, owing to the increasing healthcare facilities and high rate of medical tourism in the region. Major Companies in the Computer-Assisted Surgical Systems Market Leading companies in the computer-assisted surgical systems market include Stryker Corporation, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Mazor Robotics Ltd., Hansen Medical, Inc. (a subsidiary of Auris Surgical Robotics), Accuray Incorporated, Omnicell, Inc., Smith & Nephew, and Zimmer Biomet. Ask For Discount Before Purchasing This Business Report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/1487 Table of Contents with Major Points: Executive Summary Introduction Key Findings Recommendations Definitions and Assumptions Market Overview Definition of Computer Assisted Surgical Systems Market Market Dynamics Drivers Restraints Opportunities Trends and Developments Key Insights Key Emerging Trends Key Developments Mergers and Acquisition New Product Launches and Collaboration Partnership and Joint Venture Latest Technological Advancements Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis Qualitative Insights Impact of COVID-19 on Global Computer Assisted Surgical Systems Market Supply Chain Challenges Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak Conclusion Appendix Data Sources Abbreviations Disclaimer TOC Continued! Direct Purchase This Premium Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/1487 Why Choose Coherent Market Insights? Identified business opportunities Our market research report can be used to analyze potential markets and new products. It can give information about customer needs, preferences, and attitudes. Also, it compare products and services. A clear understanding of your customers A market report gives companys marketing department an in-depth picture about customers needs and wants. This knowledge can be used to improve products, prices, and advertising. Clear data-driven insights Our Market research encompasses a wide range of activities, from determining market size and segment to forecasting demand, and from identifying competitors to monitoring pricing. All of these are quantified and measurable which means that gives you a clear path for building unique decisions based on numbers. Global Controlled Release Drug Delivery Market Opportunity, Drug Pricing & Clinical Trials Insight 2028 Report Overview: Controlled Release Drug Delivery Market Opportunity: > 90 Billion By 2028 Global & Regional Market Forecast Till 2028 Controlled Release Drug Clinical Pipeline Insight By Phase, Indication, Company, Country & Drug Class Comprehensive Clinical insight On More Than 200 Drug in Clinical Trials Comprehensive Clinical insight On More Than 150 Drug Available in market Drug Pricing, Patent & Dosage Insight By indication: Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Schizophrenia , Chronic Pain, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension & Angina Pectoris Download Report: https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-controlled-release-drug-delivery-system-market Controlled-release formulations of drugs is a newly emerging concept in the global pharmaceutical market and a number of key market players have invested heavily in developing these. The idea of controlled release of drugs has spurred the market with companies developing sustained-release and controlled-release versions of their blockbuster drugs to keep up with generic competition. Moreover, generic drug developers have also managed to chip away the shares of prominent drug developers by commercializing controlled release versions of successful drugs, which has helped them make a place for themselves in the market. Low development and manufacturing costs translate to lower selling prices and lesser treatment burden on patients, which has helped them in gaining access to effective treatments. Many market factors are currently supporting market growth and as patents of best-selling drugs expire, many controlled release version are expected to enter the market in the coming years. Many pharmaceutical companies are currently working on developing controlled delivery formulations of drugs that can be administered orally, nasally, transdermally, ocularly or parenterally. These include Shanghai WD Pharmaceutical, Indivior, Bellus Health, Vivani Medical, Nang Kuang Pharmaceutical and Supernus Pharmaceuticals, and several universities and medical centers have been working with them to conduct clinical trials for their candidates. The US, EU, UK and China are currently dominating clinical trials and the US is dominating the market for controlled release drug formulations because of the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical companies in the region and the easy approval process under the FDA. Many collaborations agreements have been signed in the past couple months. One of the most recent collaboration heard in the news was between Revive Therapeutics and PharmaTher Holdings for research on a microneedle patch for certain indications. Using PharmaThers novel microneedle patch delivery technology, the companies will work on a transdermal patch to deliver 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a psychotic drug, in indications where the compound may find use such as depression, anxiety and abuse disorders. Although controlled release drug delivery systems have demonstrated numerous benefits that have aided in market expansion, they also have significant drawbacks that must be resolved for optimal controlled drug delivery. Unpredictable adverse effects, dose dumping in the event that the design fails, limited room for dose control, and occasionally inadequate systematic availability are a few of these. For some patients, such as those with dementia or other memory-based illnesses or patients with pain where continuous medicinal release for therapeutic relief is ideal, controlled drug release devices, notably transdermal patches, are highly helpful. The use of nanotechnology in controlled drug release devices has changed this field recently. Drugs solubility, absorption, bioavailability, and controlled-release have all been greatly improved, and the use of nanotechnologies to improve pharmacologically active substances has emerged as a viable method for achieving targeted and controlled drug delivery. Similar uses of novel biotechnological methods are anticipated in the future, which may assist to address the aforementioned drawbacks. Although the pharmaceutical industry is not new to the idea of controlled drug delivery, the field has recently experienced a boom as a result of increased competition in the market, leading to the introduction of several current formulations as controlled release medications. But, there are still certain limitations that must be resolved. Nonetheless, controlled drug release systems are anticipated to gradually gain popularity as drug overdose and excessive drug concentrations have a number of severe side effects. The market is currently being fueled by a variety of factors, and this trend will persist in the years to come. Contact: Neeraj Chawla Kuick Research Research Head neeraj@kuickresearch.com Holter Monitoring Systems Market, By End User (Hospitals, Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers), By Product (Event Monitoring Devices, Holter Monitoring Devices, Software), and By Region (Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North America, and Europe) Outlook, Share, Size, and Opportunity Analysis, 20192027 A Holter monitor is a compact ECG device that is designed to continuously monitor a patients heart activity. It comes in a small camera-like size and features wires with silver-dollar-sized electrodes that are attached to the skin. This portable device is battery-powered and can operate for varying durations of 24 to 48 hours, depending on the monitoring requirements. Statistics: By the conclusion of 2027, it is projected that the global Holter monitoring systems market will have reached a value of US$ 1,397.1 million. Ask Us to Get Your Sample Copy Of The Report, Covering TOC and Regional Analysis @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/937 Market Drivers: The global Holter monitoring systems market is projected to experience growth during the forecast period due to the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). As an example, the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2018 report from the American Heart Association reveals that approximately 92.1 million adults in the United States are affected by CVD or are experiencing complications following a stroke. Additionally, the market is anticipated to receive a boost from the growing geriatric population. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, the number of elderly people is projected to rise to 2 billion, a significant increase from 900 million in 2015. In 2019, the North American region was the leading global Holter monitoring systems market, with a value share of 34.6%. It is projected that this region will maintain its position until 2027. Market restraints: The market for Holter monitoring devices is anticipated to face challenges due to strict approval regulations and insufficient insurance coverage policies in various countries. This is likely to impede the growth of the market. Additionally, the average reimbursement for a Holter monitoring study is expected to be less than US$100, which is lower than the reimbursement for mobile cardiac telemetry. The growth of the Holter monitoring systems market is being impeded by a lack of analytical expertise for data in developing nations. Market Opportunities: Participants in the market are expected to find lucrative growth opportunities due to the increasing emphasis on developing expertise in the handling of Holter monitoring systems. NorthEast Monitoring, Inc., a company based in the United States that provides training for Holter technology alongside its ambulatory cardiac hardware and software solutions. In addition, the growth of the market is anticipated to be supported by the rising number of public and private hospitals in developing nations. For example, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the number of government hospitals in India rose from 35,416 in 2017 to 37,725 in 2018. During the forecast period, the global Holter monitoring systems markets hospitals segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% and reach US$ 775.8 Mn by 2027, having been valued at US$ 529.0 Mn in 2019. Current Market Trends: Integrating data management systems with Holter monitors facilitates the provision of comprehensive electrocardiographs combined with the patients medical history, which can be remotely accessed. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the need for implantable cardiac monitors. Implantable loop recorders provide prolonged monitoring of heart rhythm and yield more comprehensive information than Holter monitors. Prominent Players: Prominent players, including Schiller AG, VivaQuant, Shimmer, GE Healthcare, Biotricity Inc., Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd., Welch Allyn, Inc., Bittium Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and Nihon Kohden Corporation, are operating in the global Holter monitoring systems market. Recent Developments: Companies that dominate the market are concentrating on gathering funds to broaden their range of products. For instance, Biotricity Inc., a corporation specializing in healthcare technology for consumers and medical diagnostics, secured US$ 6 million in December 2019 to submit its patch solution to the FDA within the first six months of 2020. The patch solution will be a new and innovative product in the realm of Holter monitoring. To broaden their range of products, significant market participants are directing their attention towards introducing new items. Bittium Corporation, a company based in Finland that specializes in neurology and cardiology devices, exemplifies this approach. During the Medica 2019 conference, a prominent medical sector trade fair that took place in Germany, the company introduced Bittium HolterPlus, a remote cardiac monitoring solution that uses a Bittium Faros ECG device and a mobile application called Bittium HolterPlus. Report Attribute Details The market size value in 2023 USD 584.3 million The revenue forecast in 2030 USD 1397.1 million Growth Rate CAGR of 4.9% The base year for estimation 2022 Historical data 2017 2021 Forecast period 2023 2030 Growth Drivers: Increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, Technological advancements, Aging population, Growing awareness and emphasis on preventive healthcare, Favorable reimbursement policies, Rising demand for ambulatory monitoring. Restraints & Challenges: High cost of devices and limited affordability, Limited awareness and infrastructure in emerging markets, Lack of skilled professionals, Technical challenges and limitations, Data management and analysis complexities, Stringent regulatory requirements. Ask For Discount Before Purchasing This Business Report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/937 Table of Contents with Major Points: Executive Summary Introduction Key Findings Recommendations Definitions and Assumptions Market Overview Definition of Holter Monitoring Systems Market Market Dynamics Drivers Restraints Opportunities Trends and Developments Key Insights Key Emerging Trends Key Developments Mergers and Acquisition New Product Launches and Collaboration Partnership and Joint Venture Latest Technological Advancements Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis Qualitative Insights Impact of COVID-19 on Global Holter Monitoring Systems Market Supply Chain Challenges Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak Conclusion Appendix Data Sources Abbreviations Disclaimer TOC Continued! Direct Purchase This Premium Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/937 Why Choose Coherent Market Insights? Identified business opportunities Our market research report can be used to analyze potential markets and new products. It can give information about customer needs, preferences, and attitudes. Also, it compare products and services. A clear understanding of your customers A market report gives companys marketing department an in-depth picture about customers needs and wants. This knowledge can be used to improve products, prices, and advertising. Clear data-driven insights Our Market research encompasses a wide range of activities, from determining market size and segment to forecasting demand, and from identifying competitors to monitoring pricing. All of these are quantified and measurable which means that gives you a clear path for building unique decisions based on numbers. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023 Packaging Compliance Labs celebrated the grand opening of their site expansion in Grand Rapids, MI. The site expansion is a 35,000 sqft building located on Kraft Ave in Grand Rapids, MI; less than 3 miles away from their headquarters on Brockton Drive. The Kraft location will allow PCL to continue building out future testing capacity, increase engineering capabilities, onboard new test methods to offer customized testing, and provide a center of excellence for sterile packaging. The additional lab will allow us to ramp up our current capacities to solidify PCL as the fastest lead times in the industry and offer new services to our clients, says Matthew Lapham, President and Co-Founder of PCL. The Kraft expansion will be the fifth, and largest, expansion since PCL was founded in 2014. The new site includes additional capacities and capabilities within environmental conditioning, distribution testing, accelerated aging, real-time aging, sterile barrier integrity testing, and increased office space for engineering services and additional employees. ABOUT PCL COMPANY Packaging Compliance Labs (PCL), an ISO 17025 accredited package test lab, ISO 13485:2016 certified contract packaging facility, and packaging engineering firm for the medical device industry. Headquartered in Kentwood, MI, PCL has a test lab in Grand Rapids, MI, and a sales office in Boulder, CO. More information about PCL is available at www.pkgcompliance.com. For more information, contact: Cassie Ladd Senior Marketing Manager Packaging Compliance Labs 616.227.4540 cladd@pkgcompliance.com by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, May 25, 2023 Subscription streaming is such a magnetic business today that it has even lured Arnold Schwarzenegger for an action series. Schwarzenegger, 75, is the star of FUBAR, representing his first time as a TV series star (not counting his eight episodes as host of The New Celebrity Apprentice). In FUBAR, premiering Thursday on Netflix, the former governor of California plays Luke Brunner, a swashbuckling CIA agent considered to be the best in the business. Unbeknownst to him, his 28-year-old grown daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), is also a CIA operative and -- you guessed it -- also one of the best. Watch out, bad guys! Neither one of them knows the other is a secret agent until a surprise encounter in a Guyana jungle in Episode One of this eight-part series. advertisement advertisement They then team up to disrupt an arms deal in a remote camp run by a psychopathic mastermind who Luke knew well as a child. But heres the hook: father and daughter have issues. While theyre running around dodging automatic weapons fire in the jungles and rice paddies of this sprawling encampment, theyre sparring about her childhood and how he was absent for most of it. The show plays like a spy show that could have been concocted for network television, minus the occasional f-words. Not only are father and daughter the best agents in the entire Central Intelligence Agency, but they are supported by a group of younger agents who back them up with out-of-this-world computer wizardry. FUBAR is an acronym that stands for F----d Up Beyond All Recognition, according to the HBO World War II miniseries Band of Brothers, my primary source for WWII history. In the Schwarzenegger series, the title is meant to indicate that the best laid spy plans are sometimes subject to sudden revisions. This happens several times in the show in high-octane action sequences that are its best scenes. The scenario of FUBAR bears a vague resemblance to True Lies, the 1994 Schwarzenegger action movie in which he also hid his true identity as a secret agent from his wife, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. She was not a secret agent, however, but eventually became one after she found herself in the middle of one of his assignments. True Lies turned up as a TV series just this past March on CBS, but was cancelled by May. In agreeing to star in a streaming TV series in his mid-70s, Schwarzenegger may have been influenced by his action-hero friend and rival Sylvester Stallone, 76, who is currently starring in the mob drama Tulsa King on Paramount+. Possibly as part of the deal, Stallone was able to engineer an unscripted family reality show for himself, his wife and three daughters for Paramount+, The Family Stallone. The show premiered just last week, and Paramount announced this week that it has already been renewed for a second season. Along with FUBAR, Netflix is preparing to drop a three-part documentary about the life of Schwarzenegger from his days pumping iron to his triumphs in Hollywood, according to a Netflix description of the show. The documentary series -- titled simply Arnold and premiering June 7 -- has the feel of a biographical project that has been authorized by its subject, and possibly part of a package deal with Paramount (although the TV Blog has no way of confirming this). In an added twist, Netflix announced earlier this week that Schwarzenegger has been named Chief Action Officer for the streaming service. Nobody knows action like Arnold Schwarzenegger, said this unusual press release. Thats why were excited to introduce Arnold as our new Chief Action Officer! In this new role, Arnold is working around the clock to bring you the most explosive series and films on earth! the announcement continued. The TV Blog believes this job is not real and that this press release was a publicity stunt. What was the giveaway? All those exclamation points! FUBAR starts streaming on Thursday (May 25) on Netflix. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 25, 2023 Newsweek has appointed Josh Awtry to senior vice president of audience development. The former senior vice president of audience at The Hill, Awtry previously led content strategy for Gannett USA. As Newsweek undergoes an editorial reinvention to find common ground in news coverage and opinion pieces, Awtry plans to reduce the venom in the nations public discourse and assist in crafting an audience strategy around several themes at Newsweek. Awtry brings 25 years of editorial leadership to Newsweek, leading newsrooms and guiding media strategy for local and nationwide teams. He spent his career helping media outlets grow their audience, expanding reach while improving quality and journalistic relevance. Newsweek has set strong goals for growth through a strategy inclusive of content hubs, brand partnerships and subscription products. advertisement advertisement Search & Performance Marketing Daily (S&PMD) reached out to Awtry to talk about those goals, how the publication plans to support its 100 million unique monthly users, speed to insight and how he plans to help the journalists who write for Newsweek. What follows are excerpts from the discussion. S&PMD: What does Audience Development mean? Awtry: It sits at the junction of data, good shoe-leather journalism, and strategy. You need the correct journalism and then its about understanding the audience to improve it. Someone visits us one time via search -- its about how to get them to come back. How do we get them to read one more article -- to come back frequently? Its about improving the relationship. S&PMD: What type of data helps you determine that? Awtry: Data is the sum total of human decisions. One of the cool things about working in newsrooms for many years, is the ability to see what people are looking at and asking of us. Its data, but its more about humans across the nation giving of their time. You look at the data in aggregate and apply it to a journalistic mission. If people read more car-crash stories. It doesnt mean publishing more car-crash stories. It means applying that to the broader journalistic mission how to help people navigate the community. Show them where most of the car-crashes occur, for example. S&PMD: How does it work? Awtry: The world doesnt need another spreadsheet or dashboard or pivotable. They need to understand the signals. Its analyzing all the data and give journalists something they can use. It also helps journalistsknow what they shouldnt be doing. Im serving the newsroom, rather than a community of readers. Readers show through their actions what they are interested in and not interested in. S&PMD: Have you always been this passionate about this work? Awtry: I thought I was going to be a high school band director. I love music and went to college for journalism and music. I got both degrees. Up until my senior year I wasnt sure which direction I would take, until I landed a job working the evening copydesk at a small newspaper in the middle of Nebraska. Since then, it was a lights-on moment. And I knew at some point in my life I wanted to work or run a newsroom. Its similar to the curiosity that makes for a good journalist. Once the industry moved into data, I could see that the number of times someone read a story. Having the intelligence, if applied ethically and soundly, can be amazing. S&PMD: Throughout your career, what is the best piece of advice you have receive and from whom? Awtry: The editor of the Salt Lake Tribune when I first started referred to me as a whirlwind. The first thing she told me is to stop interrupting people. She also said to make sure everyones ideas have a chance to soak in. Its about the heady responsibility as journalists as the independent voice. The gravity of what we do -- she really impressed that on me. S&PMD: What do you think about journalism today? Awtry: We are seeing amazing journalism and models that couldnt have existed 20 years ago. The bad news is all these are stringing up because they had to survive. Every day we see layoffs and staff reductions. Its scary for journalist, but also the future of information. Ive always been a fan of doing things different, like brushing your teeth with the other hand. It might make your mouth bloody, but youll reach a spot youve never reached before. Newsweek is trying to help people find a common ground. Those words -- common ground -- really stick. Ive worked in North Carolina and rural Idaho -- and Ive met the most wonderful people. Bring those two together and see what you get today versus 20 years ago. The answers are very different. To bring it back to journalism, it is at a crossroads but the future is bright if we can find the right business model to higher and fund journalists. S&PMD: Do you have any immediate goals? Awtry: Listening for starters. The data is listening. Hearing from journalists is listening to understand the pain points to simplify. Time is the greatest gift readers can give. One of the greatest gifts we can give journalists is time. We want Newsweek to reach more of America, which requires a lot of listening. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 25, 2023 Meta Platforms has settled a lawsuit brought by Philadelphia news anchor Karen Hepp over the use of her photo in an ad that appeared on Facebook, according to court papers filed this week with U.S. District Court Judge John Younge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Settlement terms weren't disclosed in the court documents. The agreement brings an end to Hepp's 2019 lawsuit alleging that an ad on Facebook for the FirstMet dating app misappropriated her identity by showing a photo of her, which was apparently taken by a security camera at a New York City convenience store. Hepp claimed in her complaint that Facebook violated Pennsylvania's right of publicity law, which gives people the right to wield control over the use of their names or photos in ads. Meta settled the matter after losing two key rulings in the dispute. advertisement advertisement First, an appellate court ruled that Meta wasn't protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, even though the ad was created by a third party. While Section 230 immunizes companies from most claims stemming from posts by third parties, but has some exceptions, including one for content that infringes someone's intellectual property. Meta argued that a right of publicity isn't the kind of intellectual property that's exempt from Section 230, but the appellate court disagreed. Last year, Meta lost a second crucial battle when Younge rejected the company's argument to dismiss the case before trial. Meta had argued that Hepp's allegations, if proven, would show only that FirstMet violated her right to control the use of her image. Younge rejected that request as premature, ruling that Hepp hadn't yet had the opportunity to obtain evidence that could show whether Meta knew the ad violated Hepp's right of publicity. by Todd Wasserman , May 25, 2023 Generative AI has been quickly absorbed by the marketing industry. According to a report from Botco.AI, after a short introduction period, 73% of marketers are now using AI tools. Of those still holding out, 31% expect to use it within a year, and 46% expect to within two years. Two-thirds of respondents who currently use AI say they do so for brainstorming sessions, first drafts and outlines. Forty-nine percent say they use AI to produce final content. The Botco report was based a survey of 1,000 B2B and B2C marketing professionals in March. Three-quarters of them were from companies with more than 100 employees. Among the converts to generative AI include Microsoft, which is in the process of adding its search to ChatGPT. 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, Microsoft CMO and Corporate Vice President Yusuf Mehdi wrote in a blog post. Now, ChatGPT answers can be grounded by search and web data and include citations so you can learn more all directly from within chat. advertisement advertisement Doing searches within ChatGPT is a new paradigm that threatens Googles dominance in traditional search. Google is currently using generative AI, with a chatbot that ad customers can use to improve their ads. by Ray Schultz , May 25, 2023 Local news may be suffering due to staff cutbacks and newspapers being closed by their hedge funds owners. Nobody should assume that this is what readers want. They crave local news, not some bland rewrite from a city two states away, judging by a new study from the American Journalism Project However, their needs are not identical. When asked about what topics they want information about, people may have a tendency to prioritize different topics in each market, writes Loretta Chao, vice president of strategy and startups at the American Journalism Project, in an analysis published on the Project site. Chao continues, Transportation agencies and highway commissions come up more in places like Houston and Los Angeles, for example, while political polarization is top of mind for many people in Wichita and across Indiana. Government transparency and criminal justice are top of mind for many in Cleveland. Housing is consistently a top-three issue across the board. advertisement advertisement Those are not the only differences. Within single regions, weve encountered communities who have fond respect for their local newspapers, while others in the same place feel theyve been harmed by the very same publications or hadnt even heard of them, Chao reports. Weve also spoken to people who have no exposure to local news outside of word-of-mouth, because of paywalls, digital divides, or literacy or language barriers. But there are even more similarities. The study concluded that: People do want more local news emphasis on local. People want a shared, trusted source of facts. People want the full story of their communities to be told. People want to know about decisions before theyre made, and they want decision makers to be accountable for outcomes. People want to see themselves in the news, and in the newsroom. People want journalists to ask their questions. People want information they can act on. People want the news to meet them where they are. People want newsrooms to play a role in connecting and convening communities. One other thing is clear: reporters have to be engaged with their communities. people want information exchange, not just consumption. Its just as important to them that reporters spend time in local neighborhoods to learn from local residents, as it is for reporters to inform residents. They see it as journalists jobs to ask their questions to the powers that be, to represent their concerns, and to report the angles they care about. The Project heard from nearly 5,000 residents in eight local markets across the country about their experience with journalism in their communities and what kinds of local information would be most useful to them, Chao explains. But Chao notes: Our research isnt statistically relevant we do broad outreach with a focus on reaching as many different experience communities as possible, with a special focus on ensuring we hear from people who arent easily reached through usual channels. Our findings are a qualitative synthesis that improves as we talk to more people in more markets. by Tanya Gazdik , May 25, 2023 The top executives from Ford Motor Co. and Tesla announced a historic agreement that will allow Ford customers to use 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada. Ford President and CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk hosted a Twitter Spaces chat earlier today at 5:30 p.m. ET to discuss accelerating electric vehicle adoption in North America. The audience was able to listen live to the 28-minute chat on Farleys Twitter account, @jimfarley98. More than 91,000 listeners tuned in to the chat, per Twitter metrics. This will give Ford EV customers unprecedented access to fast charging, Farley says. The BlueOval Charge Network is already North Americas largest public charging network, with more than 84,000 chargers including access to over 10,000 public DC fast-chargers. advertisement advertisement Adding more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers creates the single largest integrated fast-charge network across the U.S. and Canada, designed to significantly reduce charge anxiety for Ford customers, with automatic routing to the nearest charger and seamless billing via FordPass. Additionally, Ford dealers are adding roughly 1,800 public-facing fast chargers and locations to the BlueOval Charge Network by early 2024. Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and E-Transit customers will be able to access the Superchargers via an adapter and software integration along with activation and payment via FordPass or Ford Pro Intelligence. In 2025, Ford will offer next-generation electric vehicles with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector built-in, removing the need for an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers. Widespread access to fast-charging is absolutely vital to our growth as an EV brand, and this breakthrough agreement comes as we are ramping up production of our popular Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and preparing to launch a series of next-generation EVs starting in 2025, Farley says in a release. Telsa has spent the last 10 years building an industry-leading charging network, says Rebecca Tinucci, Teslas senior director of charging infrastructure. Were excited to deliver on our mission to accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy by welcoming Ford owners, and other electric vehicles who adopt NACS, to our thousands of Superchargers across North America, Tinucci says in a release. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 26, 2023 A federal judge on Thursday granted preliminary approval to Google's $23 million settlement of a 13-year-old privacy lawsuit over allegations that the company leaked consumers' personal information by transmitting their search queries to publishers. If granted final approval by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, the deal will allow an estimated 200 million U.S. web users who conducted Google searches between October 25, 2006 and September 30, 2013 to claim a portion of the settlement fund. The proposed deal stems from a battle dating to 2010, when search users claimed Google disclosing their queries -- including names and other identifying information -- to outside publishers. (Google no longer transmits search queries when people click on links in the search results.) Google previously attempted to resolve the lawsuit by agreeing to donate $5.3 million to six nonprofits and schools, and more than $2.1 million to the attorneys who brought the lawsuit. That deal hit a roadblock when Ted Frank, founder of the Center for Class Action Fairness, challenged the settlement on the grounds that it didn't adequately compensate Google's users. advertisement advertisement Frank's challenge reached the Supreme Court which returned the matter to Davila to decide a separate issue -- whether the allegations, if proven true, would show that Google harmed to users by sharing their search queries with publishers. Davila ruled in 2020 that the users could proceed with several claims, including that Google violated the federal wiretap law and that it broke its privacy promises. Google has denied any wrongdoing in the case. If granted final approval by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, the deal will allow an estimated 200 million U.S. web users who conducted Google searches between October 25, 2006 and September 30, 2013 to claim a portion of the settlement fund. Assuming the deal goes through, it will put an end to a battle dating to 2010, when search users claimed Google disclosing their queries -- including names and other identifying information -- to outside publishers. (Google no longer transmits search queries when people click on links in the search results.) Google previously attempted to resolve the lawsuit by agreeing to donate $5.3 million to six nonprofits and schools, and more than $2.1 million to the attorneys who brought the lawsuit. That deal hit a roadblock when Ted Frank, founder of the Center for Class Action Fairness, challenged the settlement on the grounds that it didn't adequately compensate Google's users. Frank's challenge reached the Supreme Court which returned the matter to Davila to decide a separate issue -- whether the allegations, if proven true, would show that Google harmed to users by sharing their search queries with publishers. Davila ruled in 2020 that the users could proceed with several claims, including that Google violated the federal wiretap law and that it broke its privacy promises. Google has denied any wrongdoing in the case. People who want to object to the deal must do so by July 31. Davila will hold a hearing in October about whether to accept the settlement. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOS ANGELES (AP) A California man who spent 33 years in prison for attempted murder has been declared innocent and freed, the Los Angeles County district attorney announced Thursday. Daniel Saldana, 55, was convicted in 1990 of opening fire on a car containing six teenagers who were leaving a high school football game in Baldwin Park, east of Los Angeles. Two students were wounded but survived. The attackers mistook the teens for gang members, authorities said. Saldana was 22 at the time of the shooting and worked full-time as a construction worker. He was one of three men charged with the attack. Convicted of six counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle, Saldana was sentenced to 45 years to life in state prison. Saldana appeared with District Attorney George Gascon at a press conference announcing his exoneration Thursday. He said he was grateful to be freed. Its a struggle, every day waking up knowing youre innocent and here I am locked up in a cell, crying for help, Saldana said, according to the Southern California News Group. Im just so happy this day came, he added. Gascon's office began investigating after learning in February that another convicted attacker told authorities during a 2017 parole hearing that Saldana was not involved in the shooting in any way and he was not present during the incident, the DA said. A former deputy district attorney was present at the hearing but apparently did nothing and failed to share the exonerating information with Saldana or his attorney as required, Gascon said. That caused Saldana to spend an additional six years in prison before the DA's office reopened the case and declared him innocent, Gascon said. The district attorney didnt disclose other details of the case but he apologized to Saldana and his family. I know that this wont bring you back the decades you endured in prison, he said. But I hope our apology brings some small comfort to you as you begin your new life. Gascon added: Not only is this a tragedy to force people into prison for a crime they did not commit, but every time that an injustice of this magnitude takes place, the real people responsible are still out there to commit other crimes." MANISTEE As the school year winds down for Manistee Area Public Schools elementary students, it's time to reward the youngsters for their hard work with a little fun. Kennedy Elementary School students headed to Chippewa Field Wednesday to compete in a variety of competitions and team building exercises such as tug of war, flag tag and pipeline relay races. LANSING Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a filed a motion for summary judgment against the former owners of the Edenville Dam. The filing, entered in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, was on behalf of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Department of Natural Resources. Through the discovery process, state investigators uncovered key facts previously unknown to the public, Nessel stated in a press release issued Thursday afternoon. In 2010, Boyce Hydro determined that the east embankment of its dam might fail if Wixom Lake rose too high. Boyce Hydro could have fixed the defect, and even made preliminary plans to do so, Nessel stated, but neglected to ever follow through. That part of the embankment failed in May 2020, just as the new evidence shows Boyce Hydro had predicted internally back in 2010. Max Ortiz/The Associated Press There is no indication Boyce Hydro divulged the defect to the federal government, which regulated the dam at the time. That defect was never divulged to the state after the federal government passed regulation to the Michigan in September 2018. Boyce Hydros former dam safety engineer and chief operator resigned in protest in May 2017 because Lee Muellerthe person managing Boyce Hydro from his home in Las Vegas routinely neglected basic dam safety priorities. The chief operator resigned when Boyce Hydro used its staff and resources to try to dig a pond off-site rather than repair a major safety defect inside the Sanford Dam. The chief operator testified that he tried to persuade Mueller that he was in the hydro business now, you got to pay attention. Mueller resportedly responded that he was not in the hydro business. . . Im in the money-making business. The Edenville Dam failure was a devastating tragedy for thousands in that community, and these new revelations clearly show that failure began at the very top of Boyce Hydro, Nessel said. We discovered an unconscionable disregard for safety and dam integrity that cost the community that relied on the security of that dam immeasurably, and its important we share this with the court today. Boyce Hydro made a several attempts to keep enforcement actions from moving forward, including a months-long effort to persuade the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to prevent the State from pursuing Boyce Hydro in court. This filing makes clear that Boyce Hydro knew of critical safety issues at the Edenville Dam but failed to take even the most cursory actions to fix the deficiencies or alert regulators to the problem, said Aaron Keatley, EGLE acting director. This fits with the companys decades-long history of violations and antagonism toward federal and state regulators and illustrates the owners culpability in this catastrophic dam failure. If the court grants Nessel's motion filed, Boyce Hydro will be dismissed from the case. That is because the bankruptcy process Boyce Hydro initiated allows the state to establish the culpability of Boyce Hydro for the failure of its dam, but channels any funds left in Boyce Hydros estate to the flood survivors whose homes and businesses were destroyed. The state could then pursue a default judgment against Mueller personally, whom the court has already determined is at fault for the dams failure. NEW YORK (AP) U.S. authorities have arrested two suspected Chinese government agents in connection with an alleged plot by Beijing to disrupt and ultimately topple the exiled anti-communist Falun Gong spiritual movement. John Chen and Lin Feng were charged in an indictment unsealed Friday with scheming to revoke a New York-based Falun Gong organizations tax-exempt status and paying bribes to a undercover officer posing as a U.S. tax agent. The undercover officer recorded multiple conversations with Chen, and investigators obtained a wire tap to record phone calls in which Chen and Feng discussed instructions they purportedly received from Chinese government officials, prosecutors said. In one recording, prosecutors said, Chen referred to Chinese government officials as akin to blood brothers" and, in another, he said Beijing would be very generous in rewarding the undercover officers help cracking down on Falun Gong's non-profit status. Chen, a 70-year-old U.S. citizen, and Feng, a 43-year-old lawful permanent resident, are charged with acting as unregistered agents of a foreign government, bribing a public official and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Chen and Feng were both born in China but now live in the Los Angeles area, where they were arrested Friday. Information on an initial court appearance or lawyers who could speak on their behalf was not immediately available. Messages seeking comment were left with the Chinese Embassy in Washington and with the Falun Gong movement. China banned the Falun Gong movement in 1999, classifying it as an evil cult and one of the Five Poisons, or chief threats to its rule. Since then, Falun Gong practitioners have found refuge at a 400-acre compound called Dragon Springs in upstate New York. In the U.S., the Falun Gong movement is known mostly for its ties to Shen Yun, a touring performing arts group, and The Epoch Times, a newspaper that has been marketed as an alternative to traditional U.S. media while also coming under fire for amplifying misinformation and conspiracy theories. The Justice Department has made a series of prosecutions in recent years to disrupt Chinas efforts in the U.S. to identify, locate and silence pro-democracy activists and others who are openly critical of Beijings policies. Such practices by foreign governments are known as transnational repression." The Chinese government has yet again attempted, and failed, to target critics of the (Peoples Republic of China) here in the United States, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. The U.S., Garland added, will continue to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute Chinas efforts to silence its critics and extend the reaches of its regime onto U.S. soil. In seeking to undermine Falun Gong, federal prosecutors allege, Chen and Fengs urged the Internal Revenue Service to revoke the organizations non-profit tax status. In a whistleblower complaint to the tax agency in February, Chen described Falun Gong as a gigantic mega cult echoing language Chinas government uses to describe the movement. Chen and Feng then turned to the undercover officer to make sure the IRS acted on the complaint, offering a $50,000 reward and handing over $5,000 in cash as a down payment if the tax agency conducted an audit, prosecutors said. Chen met with the officer at a restaurant north of New York City on May 14, prosecutors said. A few days later, the officer sent Chen a letter on fake IRS letterhead that stated the agency had opened a case on Falun Gong, prosecutors said. Chen relayed the news to Feng in a wire tapped phoned conversation, indicating that he was planning to update Chinese government officials on their progress, prosecutors said. Chen and Feng's arrest comes a month after the Justice Department charged two men with establishing a secret police station in New York City on behalf of the Chinese government. Around the same time, federal prosecutors charged about three dozen officers with Chinas national police force with using social media to harass dissidents inside the U.S. In 2020, the Justice Department charged more than a half-dozen people with working on behalf of the Chinese government in a pressure campaign aimed at coercing a New Jersey man wanted by Beijing into returning to China to face charges. __ Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. __ Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/. Photo provided Great Lakes Bay Region Moms Demand Action invites community members to a Wear Orange Event at 7 p.m. on June 2 at St. John's Episcopal Church as part of Wear Orange and National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This interfaith event is put on by Moms Demand Action along with St. Johns Episcopal Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence. The event will include speakers from the Saginaw Parents of Murdered Children, Saginaw VA Suicide Prevention Program, Midland City Police Department and a local mental health specialist. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERUSALEM (AP) A Palestinian man was shot and killed on Friday in the occupied West Bank after sneaking into a Jewish settlement and trying to stab a resident there, the Israeli army said. In a statement, the military said the man attempted to stab a resident in the Tene Omarim settlement and was shot by an armed civilian. It said the incident had set off an alarm and soldiers were scanning the area. The Palestinian Health ministry confirmed the death and identified the killed man as Alaa Qissaya, 28. Security camera footage from the site shows a Palestinian male crawling in under a gate and walking into the settlement while holding a knife. The video does not show the alleged stabbing attempt or the man being shot. The settlement is located near Hebron, a flashpoint city in the southern West Bank, which is a frequent site of friction between Palestinian residents and Jewish settlers. Meanwhile, Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and torched five vehicles at the village of al-Mughayyir near the city of Ramallah, the official Palestinian news agency reported. It said five farmers were beaten and injured by the settlers. Israeli media reported that Israeli forces were sent in to bring the situation under control. There was no immediate comment from the military. The incidents occurred as Jews were celebrating Shavuot, a festival marking the day that Jews believe the Torah was given to Moses on Mount Sinai in Egypt. It was the latest in more than a year-long spate of violence in the West Bank. During that time, Israel has expanded near-nightly military raids throughout the area in response to an increase in Palestinian attacks. At least 113 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem this year, with nearly half of them members of armed militant groups, according to an Associated Press tally. But stone-throwing youths and people uninvolved in violence have also been killed. The Israeli army said the number of Palestinian militants killed is much higher. Meanwhile, Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets in those areas have killed 20 people. Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem, along with the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek these territories for a future state. Some 700,000 Israelis now live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Most of the international community considers these settlements illegal or obstacles to peace. LONDON (AP) Twitter has dropped out of a voluntary European Union agreement to combat online disinformation, a top EU official said Friday. European Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted that Twitter had pulled out of the EU's disinformation code of practice that other major social media platforms have pledged to support. But he added that Twitter's obligation remained, referring to the EU's tough new digital rules taking effect in August. You can run but you cant hide, Breton said. San Francisco-based Twitter responded with an automated reply, as it does to most press inquiries, and did not comment. The decision to abandon the commitment to fighting false information appears to be the latest move by billionaire owner Elon Musk to loosen the reins on the social media company after he bought it last year. He has rolled back previous anti-misinformation rules, and has thrown its verification system and content-moderation policies into chaos as he pursues his goal of turning Twitter into a digital town square. Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta are among those that have signed up to the EU code, which requires companies to measure their work on combating disinformation and issue regular reports on their progress. There were already signs Twitter wasn't prepared to live up to its commitments. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive arm, blasted Twitter earlier this year for failing to provide a full first report under the code, saying it provided little specific information and no targeted data. Breton said that under the new digital rules that incorporate the code of practice, fighting disinformation will become a legal obligation. Our teams will be ready for enforcement, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Belgium and Iran exchanged prisoners on Friday in a controversial move that saw an Iranian diplomat convicted of attempting to bomb exiles in France returning to Tehran bedecked in flowers while a visibly gaunt aid worker headed back to Brussels. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement that the aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, had been freed and said that for him, the choice was always clear: Olivier's life was always the most important." He said Vandecasteele had been unjustly held in Iran for 455 days and added that in Belgium, we abandon no one. Not least someone who is innocent, whatever the legal and diplomatic consequences. Iranian state television later showed the diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, being welcomed at the airport by Iran's judiciary chief and the secretary of human rights council Kazem Gharibabadi. Assadi had a floral wreath placed around his neck and held a bouquet of flowers a hero's welcome in Iran. Despite the contentious optics, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said he would do it again, anytime. There is a moral compass. If you have the choice between freeing someone innocent or keeping one, or 10 guilty in prison, then you always have to choose the fate of the innocent, he told VRT network. He compared the exchange to last December's U.S.-Russian prisoner swap between WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges in Moscow. The United States did it too," Van Quickenborne said, adding that it is his "absolute duty to help every innocent Belgian. The swap took place in Oman, long an interlocutor for the West with Iran. Its foreign ministry said and added that "the sultanate of Oman appreciated the high positive spirit that prevailed in the talks in Muscat between the Iranian and Belgian sides, and their keenness to settle this humanitarian issue. Muscat is Oman's capital. In January, Iran sentenced Vandecasteele to a lengthy prison term and 74 lashes after convicting him of espionage in a closed-door trial. He was also fined $1 million. Vandecasteele was arrested in Iran in February 2022 while packing up his belongings, after working with the Norwegian Refugee Council and Relief International in the Islamic Republic from 2015 to 2021, according to Amnesty International. His family and the Belgian government strongly denied Iran's claims, made without offering evidence, that he was a spy. In 2021, Belgium convicted Assadi of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors tied Assadi to a couple, stopped by the Belgian police and found with 550 grams (1.21 pounds) of TATP explosives and a detonator in 2018. They had been trying to target a meeting in Villepinte, France, of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, an exiled Iranian opposition group known as the MEK. Among dozens of prominent guests at the rally in Villepinte that day were then-President Donald Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; Newt Gingrich, former conservative speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Assadi was arrested a day later in Germany and transferred to Belgium. Belgian intelligence identified him as an officer of Irans intelligence and security ministry who operated undercover at the Iranian Embassy in Austria. Iran denied Assadi's involvement. Iran has carried out abductions and other plots against dissidents abroad in the past. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian referred to Assadi as an innocent diplomat in a tweet after his release on Friday. Iranian state television called the case against him bogus accusations. In a statement, the MEK condemned Assadi's release, calling it a shameful ransom to terrorism and hostage-taking. This will embolden the religious fascism ruling Iran to continue its crimes in Iran through repression and regional and international terrorism, the group said. Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them following secretive trials in which rights groups say they have been denied due process. Critics have repeatedly accused Iran of using such prisoners as bargaining chips with the West. Iran, facing Western sanctions over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, has faced protests in recent months and economic strain. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was already scheduled to visit Tehran this weekend before the announced prisoner swap. ___ Casert reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) One of Rwanda's most wanted suspects for the country's 1994 genocide appeared in a South African courtroom Friday, clutching a Bible and another book inscribed with Jesus First on the cover. Fulgence Kayishema was a police officer with the rank of inspector when he allegedly orchestrated the killings of more than 2,000 people - including children - as they tried to seek refuge in a church during the first days of the genocide. He was arrested Wednesday in a small town in a wine-making region about 30 miles east of Cape Town having managed to evade justice for nearly 30 years. South African authorities gave his age as 61. Wearing glasses and a blue winter jacket with a hood, Kayishema confirmed his identity when asked by a judge during his brief appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates Court. He held up the religious books for journalists and others in the courtroom to see before the hearing began and sat through much of the proceedings with his hands clasped in his lap. He was indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity in 2001 by a tribunal investigating the horrors of the Rwandan genocide, where more than 800,000 people were slaughtered when members of the ethnic Hutu group turned on the minority Tutsis and other Hutus trying to protect them. Kayishema will be held in custody until another hearing at the same courthouse next Friday, the judge said. He is expected to be extradited to Rwanda and ultimately go on trial for genocide and crimes against humanity. The five charges South African prosecutors brought against him Friday relate only to him making false statements on immigration forms as far back as 23 years ago to enter and stay in South Africa. In January 2000, Kayishema lied to South African authorities by using a fake name - Fulgence Dende-Minani - and claiming to be a refugee from Burundi, prosecutors alleged in court documents. He was granted asylum in 2004, but that expired two years later according to prosecutors. He had apparently still been living in South Africa for the last 17 years. It was unclear if he would would go on trial on those charges in South Africa before his extradition to stand trial for genocide. Kayishema was indicted for the Rwandan killings more than 20 years ago by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which was set up by the United Nations to investigate the genocide and bring killers to justice. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has continued the work of that tribunal, and announced Kayishema's arrest on Thursday. It called him "one of the most wanted suspects" in the Rwandan genocide. According to the South African prosecutors' documents, he had fled from Rwanda at least a year before his indictment on the killing of 2,000 Tutsi refugees. Kayishema was among the leaders of a group that first tried to burn the church down. When that plan failed, he and others used a bulldozer to raze the building, crushing and killing the people inside, the indictment said. He was also involved in moving the bodies to a mass grave over the next two days, according to the indictment. He was ultimately tracked down to the town of Paarl in South Africa's Western Cape province, an historic old town known mostly for its wine making and for having one of South Africa's most prestigious rugby-playing schools. Kayishema was tracked down by the genocide tribunal's fugitive tracking team and Interpol, with help from authorities in Rwanda, South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, Britain, Canada and the United States, the tribunal said. ___ More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa HARTFORD A man shot in the capital city Thursday night is expected to survive, police said. The man, in his 50s, has a gunshot wound that is not considered life-threatening, Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said early Friday. An alert from the citys ShotSpotter gunshot detection system came in shortly before 11 p.m., directing officers to the 180-block of Lawrence Street, Boisvert said. The shooting scene is near Russ Street and not far from the criminal courthouse. Police found the man and he was taken to the hospital, Boisvert said. More than 30 people have survived being wounded by gunfire in Hartford so far this year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Taylor Swift has been breaking records and delighting fans on the U.S. leg of her Eras Tour, a splashy celebration of her career and new releases since the pandemic. Its become a notoriously tough ticket to get. But on the second floor of the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City, fans can catch glimpses of Swifts eras for much cheaper. Taylor Swift: Storyteller, features dozens of costumes and objects spanning her music videos, tours and awards show performances from the lace gown she wore when performing All Too Well on the Red Tour to the key to the castle featured in the video for Bejeweled." The goal, museum director Tim Rodgers said, was to explore how Swift uses clothing and props to tell stories almost as much as she does lyrics. Its different than stars that use costumes or fashion in order to enhance themselves, Rodgers said. Taylor Swift is using costumes and props like a vocabulary. Rodgers said Swifts team came to MAD with the idea because of another exhibit they hosted Queer Maximalism X Machine Dazzle featuring the work of artist, performer and costume designer Matthew Flower, also known as Machine Dazzle. It was totally unexpected, Rodgers said. Taylor Swift: Storyteller opened ahead of Swifts three-night stop nearby at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. Like her concerts, the collection walks visitors through her genre- and decade-spanning career. There's the crystal-encrusted guitar she used when performing her 2010 album Speak Now, a hooded bodysuit she wore during her Reputation Stadium Tour, the striped T-shirt she wore in a 2020 photoshoot for folklore." She's a visual storyteller. Everything she does ... it feels very intentional," said Teresa Bocalan, a fan visiting the museum. So it's really cool to see those outfits up close." The exhibit, on display through Sept. 4, is accompanied by a playlist of Swifts music videos including her short film for the 10 minute version of All Too Well" which are projected on screens around the room. Lyrics scrawled in Swift's handwriting adorn key walls in the space. But perhaps the centerpiece of it all is a more recent piece of Swifts lore: the flowing red wedding dress she wore in the 2021 video for I Bet You Think About Me (Taylors Version) (From the Vault), directed by Blake Lively and co-starring Miles Teller. The song, featuring Chris Stapleton, was an addition to the re-released version of her 2012 album Red. Adorned with tulle roses, the dress was custom made for Swift by Nicole + Felicia Couture. In the video, the red gown is a showstopper or, more literally, a wedding stopper. In the exhibit, it seems to hold the same power. We had people come in and look at that red wedding dress over there and literally start to cry, Rodgers said of the exhibit's opening weekend. It is, for a lot of people, almost like a religious experience to see this clothing that Taylor once wore. I'm also super excited to see the I Bet You Think About Me dress over there, said Greta Myers, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. We haven't looked at it yet. I'm saving it." NEW HAVEN A New Britain man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in a scheme to buy guns stolen in Florida and sell them in Connecticut, officials say. In a release on Thursday, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut said Eric Woodie, 32, was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking and possessing firearms, and for distributing cocaine. The U.S. attorney's office said Woodie and Dominic Colon-Brown sold a .22 caliber firearm to an individual for $1,200 on Jan. 18, 2021. It said Woodie, Brown and Julian Judge then conspired to obtain stolen firearms in Florida and sell them in Connecticut. In late February 2021, it said, Woodie rented a car, which Colon-Brown and Judge used to drive to Florida to obtain stolen firearms and bring them back to Connecticut. "Woodie also provided Colon-Brown and Judge with cash to purchase firearms," it said. "Colon-Brown and Judge purchased three stolen handguns in Florida, transported them back to Connecticut, and provided them to Woodie." The U.S. attorney's office said Woodie was arrested on March 8, 2021, after he ran from New Britain Police officers and discarded a .40 caliber handgun, which was equipped with a laser and loaded high capacity magazine, during the chase. "The firearm was recovered and a search of Woodies person revealed five knotted plastic baggies containing cocaine, as well as $1,038 in cash," it said. "A subsequent search of Woodies residence revealed the three stolen handguns they acquired in Florida, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, and an additional distribution quantity of cocaine." During the investigation, the U.S. attorney's office said, Woodie and his associates were captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms. It said Colon-Brown and Judge also posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms. The U.S. attorney's office said Woodie has been detained since his arrest. On March 2 of this year, it said, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Colon-Brown, of Farmington, and Judge, of New Britain, each pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Last year, it said, Judge was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine, while Colon-Brown was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $2,200 fine. Scott Bauer/AP MADISON, Wis. (AP) A man who drove the car that helped pull down the statue of a Civil War hero and abolitionist outside of the Wisconsin state Capitol during a night of protests in 2020 has been sentenced to six months in jail. The statue of Hans Christian Heg was toppled and beheaded during a protest in downtown Madison in June 2020 against police brutality. Protests began a month earlier over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and flared up again that June after Madison police arrested a Black activist. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DENVER (AP) A federal judge ruled Friday that a rural Colorado school district can bar a high school student from wearing a Mexican and American flag sash at her graduation this weekend after the student sued the school district. Judge Nina Y. Wang wrote that wearing a sash during a graduation ceremony falls under school-sponsored speech, not the student's private speech. Therefor, the School District is permitted to restrict that speech as it sees fit in the interest of the kind of graduation it would like to hold, Wang wrote. The ruling was over the student's request for a temporary restraining order, which would have allowed her to wear the sash on Saturday for graduation because the case wouldn't have resolved in time. Wang found that the student and her attorneys failed to sufficiently show they were likely to succeed, but a final ruling is still to come. It's the latest dispute in the U.S. about what kind of cultural graduation attire is allowed at commencement ceremonies, with many focusing on tribal regalia. Attorneys for Naomi Pena Villasano argued in a hearing Friday in Denver that the school district decision violates her free speech rights. They also said that it's inconsistent for the district to allow Native American attire but not Pena Villasano's sash representing her heritage. The sash has the Mexican flag on one side and the United States flag on the other. Im a 200 percenter 100% American and 100% Mexican," she said at a recent school board meeting in Colorado's rural Western Slope. The district is discriminating against the expression of different cultural heritages, said her attorney Kenneth Parreno, from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, at Friday's hearing. An attorney representing the Garfield County School District 16 countered that Native American regalia is required to be allowed in Colorado and is categorically different from wearing a country's flags. Permitting Pena Villasano to sport the U.S. and Mexican flags as a sash, said Holly Ortiz, could open the door to offensive material. Ortiz further stated that the district doesnt want to prevent Pena Villasano from expressing herself and that the graduate could adorn her cap with the flags or wear the sash before or after the ceremony. But she doesnt have a right to express it in any way that she wants, Ortiz said. Wang sided with the district, finding that the School District could freely permit one sash and prohibit another. Similar disputes have played out across the U.S. this graduation season. A transgender girl lodged a lawsuit against a Mississippi school district for banning her from wearing a dress to graduation. In Oklahoma, a Native American former student brought legal action against a school district for removing a feather, a sacred religious object, from her cap before the graduation ceremony in 2022. What qualifies as proper graduation attire has been a source of conflict for Native American students around the country. Both Nevada and Oklahoma on Thursday passed laws allowing Native American students to wear religious and cultural regalia at graduation ceremonies. This year, Colorado passed a law making it illegal to keep Native American students from donning such regalia. Nearly a dozen states have similar laws. The legal arguments often come down to whether the First Amendment protects personal expression, in this case the sash, or if it would be considered school sponsored speech, and could be limited for educational purposes. ____ 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 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Funding for drug treatment centers in Oregon, financed by the state's pioneering drug decriminalization policy, stood at over a quarter-billion dollars Friday as officials called for closer monitoring of where the money goes. That need for oversight was demonstrated Wednesday when state officials terminated a $1.5 million grant agreement with a drug recovery nonprofit in Klamath Falls accused of failing to submit completed expenditure and data reports and buying a building for more than double the authorized amount. That $1.5 million is just a drop in a huge bucket $264.6 million has been allocated to date for recovery centers and state officials have a massive responsibility to ensure the money does what it is supposed to: combatting drug use in a state with one of the nation's highest addiction rates. Oregon's drug decriminalization had a rocky start after voters approved it in a 2020 ballot measure. Only a tiny number of people have accessed treatment services after being ticketed for possessing drugs, and funding to treatment providers was delayed. But as of Friday, $184 million has been handed out to these behavioral health resource networks, or BHRNs, in a state of 4.2 million people. To ensure things run smoothly, the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council, responsible for overseeing addiction and recovery centers and the funds to support them, needs more staff, officials say. And the Oregon Health Authority needs more leverage to address bureaucratic and administrative barriers to oversight. But a bill to provide all that remains stuck in the Senate, along with more than 100 other bills, because of a walkout by Republican senators that began on May 3 seeking to block Democratic initiatives on abortion rights, transgender care and gun safety. This proposed legislation is grounded in the fundamental principles vital to the success of Measure 110, Monta Knudson, CEO of Bridges to Change, an addiction recovery organization based in Portland, told lawmakers. The GOP stayaway casts doubt on the bill being passed, even though it had strong bipartisan support as it cleared the House. Oregon's 2020 ballot measure marked the first time a U.S. state decriminalized hard drugs. It reframed the war on drugs to treatment instead of incarceration. Anyone caught with user amounts can call a hotline for help or face a maximum $100 fine. Tax revenues from Oregon's legal marijuana industry finance the treatment as well as harm reduction through needle exchanges and overdose medications. But with so much money involved, opportunities for abuse are ripe. The Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council voted Wednesday to terminate its $1.55 million grant agreement with a provider in Klamath Falls after it allegedly failed to submit completed expenditure and data reports. I dont really have any confidence in this grantee to move forward with funds because we are already catching a lot of flak about Measure 110," council member Hubert Mathews, Jr. said at the meeting "And I think we need to have grantees that can follow the procedures to be able to do this work. Mathews and another council member, though, expressed surprised that no state officials visited Red is the Road to Wellness in person, or other BHRNs (pronounced burns). Thats kind of incredible," Mathews said. "I think we should be able to visit some of these BHRNs to see what theyre doing physically. That would probably help. I dont know how that would happen. I think we need to have a process. Red is the Road to Wellness has already been provided with more than $1 million of its allocation, the health authority said. The health authority can recover those funds if it determines any was spent outside the scope of the grant, said health authority spokesman Tim Heider. The grant included $290,500 to purchase a building, but instead Red is the Road to Wellness bought a property for $750,000 and failed to secure a state interest in the property as required by the health authority, Heider said. William Barnes, the Klamath Falls outfit's executive director, said in a phone interview Thursday that meeting the health authority's reporting requirements is a challenge. The Measure 110 process has been a learning experience for everybody involved, including our organization," Barnes said. He said he had invited health authority staffers to visit his facility, but they never took him up on it. Barnes said he spent $561,000 in grant funding for the purchase of the building, and improvements, with the remainder coming from outside sources. In a statement Friday, Barnes said the building will have eight apartments of recovery housing, a recovery drop-in center, employment office and a bakery offering on-the-job training. Barnes said he'll appeal the termination while still continuing to serve marginalized communities of color. ___ This version fixes a typographical error to correct Oregons population to 4.2 million. Martin Meissner/AP BERLIN (AP) The German military has ordered 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles that were sent to Ukraine earlier this year, a leading defense company said Friday. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann said a contract for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was signed with the federal office for military equipment. It didn't give financial details, but the German parliament's budget committee on Wednesday approved funding of some 525 million euros ($563 million). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Guatemalas top court blocked the candidacy of another presidential hopeful on Friday, this time ending the campaign of poll leader Carlos Pineda for alleged violations of electoral law. The Constitutional Court rejected Pinedas appeal after electoral authorities had ruled him ineligible only a month before the first round of voting June 25. The Constitutional Court has put an end to this countrys democracy, Pineda told the AP in a phone interview. The co-optation of the state prevailed, the rein of corruption and the dictatorship, Pineda said. Its incredible. I feel like dead. Pineda said his final hope rests with the people of Guatemala, that the majority would cast a null vote and that new elections would be held. Pineda is the third presidential candidate ruled ineligible to run. The court rejected the final appeals of candidate Roberto Arzu on Thursday, and previously had ruled against Thelma Cabrera because of a paperwork issue with her running mate. A fourth candidate, Edmond Mulet, also faces the possibility of exclusion, as he awaits a decision from the court regarding his candidacy. The Attorney Generals office called for his investigation for allegedly starting his campaign too early by making comments against the persecution of journalists. Some observers have accused Guatemalas electoral authorities of using the judicial system to pare down the field to candidates acceptable to the establishment. The European Union, United States and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had expressed concern about the exclusion of candidates. Pineda, a conservative populist, running a campaign that caught fire on social media, emerged as the surprise leader atop the polls earlier this month. Authorities said there were problems in the way his party, Prosperidad Ciudadana, selected its candidate that voided his candidacy. MADISON Gov. Ned Lamont inaugurated another summer tourism season on Friday, as a series of high-profile accolades have buoyed some officials' hopes for a steady influx of out-of-state visitors, and left others bracing for the crowds. An estimated 17 million people visited Connecticuts state parks and beaches last year, the third year in a row that crowds have surged past pre-pandemic levels and strained the capacity of lakes, beaches and hiking trails. During the offseason, Connecticuts shoreline also received an added boost from travel critics, with New Haven landing a coveted spot on the New York Times annual 52 Places" list, USA Today naming Mystic a top summer travel destination and Passport Magazine highlighting the states LGBTQ scene. If you look at the trends over the last few years, I think were going to have a lot of people visiting our state, Lamont said from the West Pavillion at Hammonasset Beach State Park, the states most visited park. Weve got the hotel capacity, were trying to get people to use public transportation as much as possible, to relieve the congestion on our roads Lamont's head of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Alexandra Daum, went even further, saying in a news release Friday that Connecticut is poised to have its biggest summer tourism season yet, and rightfully so." As if to hammer home officials lofty expectations, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes announced on Friday that every available state campground within state parks and forests was booked for Memorial Day Weekend. Dykes further encouraged travelers to check the agencys social media pages of the weekend for the latest details about park closures, and to have a backup plan. This is something that we saw a significant increase [of] during the pandemic and it stuck, Dykes said. We thought maybe it would die-off as people returned to their normal patterns, but I think folks actually just discovered how special these places are. In an effort to ease some of the capacity issues at state parks, officials last year launched a free shuttle service that brought about 2,000 visitors to state parks from existing transit stops, eliminating the need for some parking. That program will continue this summer at six parks, Lamont said. In addition, DEEP upped its seasonal pay scale to help recruit nearly 500 workers for the summer, Dykes said. Starting this weekend, the agency said it will have life guards on duty at six of its eight guarded swimming locations, with the final two Indian Well and Burr Pond state parks expected to be staffed by July 4. Last year, summertime crowds forced parks staff to close parking lots on 165 occasions, according to DEEP spokesman Paul Copleman. That was well below the more than 500 closures in 2020 when parks officials slashed capacity limits to maintain social distancing but still above the pre-pandemic level of 120 closures DEEP reported in 2019. (The agency's policy permits staff to close off parks to new vehicles after reaching capacity, but walk-ins are still allowed). Park attendance first began to swell in 2018, after lawmakers enacted the Passport to Parks program that eliminated entrance fees for Connecticut residents in exchange for a new, $15-fee on vehicle registrations. One longtime visitor to Hammonasset, Lynn Neurath of Berlin, recalled regular trips to the beach on Memorial Day more than 30 years ago with her daughter, Corey Koeller, when she said it was less packed, even in the warm weather. On Friday afternoon, however, Neurath and Koeller said they were content to get ahead of the other families that they anticipated would soon fill the beach under sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s all weekend. Were here today because we got older and smarter with the crowds, she laughed. Faced with growing attendance figures, state lawmakers in recent months have proposed several other solutions to easing the strain on state parks, including through stricter capacity limits that would block walk-ins, or even reinstating access fees. Others have set their sights on the sky-high fees that some Connecticut towns charge to access their municipal beaches which critics say are aimed at keeping out residents from the cities and inland areas of the state. Municipal leaders argue that the fees are necessary for upkeep that residents otherwise pay for through property taxes. The only proposal that appears to have gained traction this legislative session, however, is a bill aimed at the crowds that regularly overflow parking areas at Squantz Pond in New Fairfield, which local officials complain has caused visitors to fill up nearby side streets. The bill is currently pending before the Senate. For beachgoers like Neurath, the popularity of Connecticuts beaches is something she has come to expect. How can you do that? Neurath said of efforts to manage the crowds. Once the weather breaks, people are itching to get out. With a big assist from Ukrainian comrades, the body of an Idaho Special Forces veteran was en route to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv -- American soil -- on Friday in time for Memorial Day. Nick Maimer was killed in the embattled city of Bakhmut on May 15 or 16. After traveling to Europe, he was drawn to Ukraine when Russia invaded. He was performing humanitarian work and training defense forces when he was killed in the intense fighting. After his death, he was featured in a propaganda video posted by the Wagner Group, a mercenary group that works alongside the Russian military. The group handed over his remains after another American veteran operating in Ukraine says he helped broker a deal. Read Next: Navy SEAL Instructors 'Hunted' Weaker Candidates Amid Poor Medical Care, Drug Use "We're happy to have him coming back so soon," Zac Feuerborn, Nick's cousin, told Military.com. "We had just accepted that the process might take months. And then we were told that he was on his way to the embassy." Maimer, like other American veterans, was attracted to the Ukrainians' struggle to remain free against Russian President Vladimir Putin's effort to stamp out the government in Kyiv and take the country for his own. Maimer's work included training Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces soldiers and helping the people who elected to stay in Bakhmut regardless of the fighting -- overwhelmingly, older people with no place else to go, or disabled or impoverished residents. "What drew Nick to Ukraine was that, to him, it was an atrocity that Russia invaded them. It was absolutely wrong," said Karl Watts, who connected with Maimer through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and maintained a relationship with him for 34 years. "He was trained to do what he volunteered for, and he felt confident that democracy needed to be defended. For him, it was a matter of principle." Maimer's body was discovered near the end of the fighting within Bakhmut, in the ruins of a building. The find was made by the Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an infamous paramilitary organization accused of war crimes and atrocities. The discovery was captured on video, and shared by Wagner's press team. Prigozhin subsequently released a video in which he repeated claims that Maimer had been killed during a firefight. He pledged to return Maimer's body, saying the Special Forces veteran had died honorably on the battlefield. In the past, Maimer had been partnered with AFGfree, a nonprofit doing humanitarian work in Ukraine since last year. He had also been working as a trainer with the 135th Battalion of Ukraine's 114th Brigade in its Territorial Defense Forces. AFGfree could not confirm or deny that Maimer was fighting in the city. Any battlefield is filled with confusion, and Bakhmut especially so. "There was humanitarian aid work, certainly, that he was involved in. There's no doubt that he became part of [Ukraine's] Territorial Defense in January-February not quite sure yet how that all unfolded," retired Lt. Col. Perry Blackburn, the AFGfree founder and CEO, said in a Zoom interview Thursday. The only person who may know the exact circumstances of Maimer's death is another American veteran who was allegedly with him. Military.com was not able to confirm that, or to reach the veteran for comment. Though the circumstances of his death remain unclear, Maimer's body passed into Wagner's hands. Ultimately, its return home to the U.S. hinged on Wagner's leader, Prigozhin, deciding to release him. Another complication: Ukraine views Wagner as a terrorist group and formally does not negotiate with them. Blackburn said he decided to try to short-circuit the burdensome formal procedures. He reached out to Wagner through a connection, and informal conversations took place between Ukraine's Ministry of Defence and the mercenary group. An arrangement was made to hand over prisoners and bodies, and Maimer's was a part of the exchange. "Ukraine makes every effort to return all of its defenders," said Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, "alive if possible, or 'on the shield.'" Video of the aftermath of the exchange was posted to Reddit on May 25. The same coffin Prigozhin claimed to hold Maimer's body appeared in the possession of Ukrainian soldiers, carried reverently on the back of an armored personnel carrier, part of a prisoner exchange. "The Ukrainians' role in this was pivotal. Without them, it would not have happened. I spoke with one of the members of the unit this morning who confirmed that yes, this is Nick," Blackburn said Thursday. The shifting lines of war in Ukraine -- some of the fiercest fighting in Europe since World War II -- mean efforts to recover or exchange bodies are treacherous. For the people there, the living are a higher priority than the dead. The return of the remains of two other fallen American veterans -- retired Marine Capt. Grady Kurpasi and Marine veteran Pete Reed -- underlines the challenges people and organizations face when it comes to locating remains in Ukraine. Experiences with other wars have given the U.S. best practices when it comes to repatriating remains. It often involves the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which has positively identified tens of thousands of U.S. remains from conflicts across the globe. In this case, with State Department resources stretched thin, the bulk of the repatriation work will fall to the AFGfree nonprofit, the special operations community and Maimer's family. The next steps will be administrative. A labor-intensive, expensive and cross-cultural process detailed in previous reporting, repatriating a U.S. veteran from Ukraine -- or any country -- requires a great deal of paperwork, logistics and authorization from various officials. Blackburn, Watts and Feuerborn said that the next challenge will be raising funds and working with various agencies to bring Maimer's body back to Idaho as quickly as possible. None of it would have been possible without Ukraine's military working to prioritize the recovery and transportation of Maimer's body -- even going so far as to negotiate with Wagner, a group that they regard as terrorists. "The return of defenders of our motherland is a fundamental issue for the work of the coordination center for the treatment of prisoners of war," Yusov said. He noted that every time there is a negotiation for prisoners or bodies, it happens with a different group, and on a different basis. "It is very sensitive, and giving additional information at this time may affect the advance and the preparation of further exchanges," he said. Maimer's family and friends said they are grateful to the Ukrainians, and relieved that part of the ordeal is over -- in time for Memorial Day. "I've heard people ask why Nick went with this unit to Bakhmut. ... He'd been training them for a year," Watts said. "He didn't want them to deploy without him being there to keep helping. He felt responsible for them. That's the kind of man he was." -- Drew F. Lawrence contributed to this article. -- Adrian Bonenberger, an Army veteran and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, reports for Military.com. He can be reached at adrian.bonenberger@monster.com. Related: 'That Was Nick': Special Forces Vet Killed in Ukraine Remembered as Big-Hearted Protector "Effort to fix payroll error for state National Guard troops falls short in Texas Senate" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. An effort to reimburse thousands of National Guard troops who racked up a combined $9.3 million in federal taxes because of a paycheck error while serving on Gov. Greg Abbotts border security mission has fallen short of key legislative deadlines. House Bill 3031 by Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, would create a grant program to help about 7,400 troops assigned to Operation Lone Star who had higher tax bills than expected because the state made a tax withholding error on their paychecks. Lawmakers had set aside $6 million in the budget to fund the grant program, if the bill received approval, to help the troops pay the unexpected taxes caused by the states error. The average impact on service members was $867.29, but there were nearly 300 instances with special circumstances that are not included in that average, according to Johnson. HB 3031, however, was not voted upon before a Wednesday deadline for action by the Senate. The bill was overwhelmingly approved by the House with only 17 days remaining in a regular session that ends Monday. The Senate received the bill one day before its Veteran Affairs Committee had its last meeting and with the meetings agenda already set. The bill faced another obstacle when no senator agreed to sponsor it in the upper chamber. Johnson said she and House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Terry Wilson, R-Marble Falls, reached out to multiple senators to take up the bill but were unsuccessful. I was pleased to have a lot of support for that bill in the House, to recognize that the state made a mistake for the soldiers that we have on the border, and the state should make that right by the people we asked to go down there and take time away from their families, Johnson said. It's very disappointing that the Senate did not share the same priorities as the House. Abbotts office and the Texas Military Department, which oversees the National Guard deployment, did not respond to requests for comment. Hunter Schuler, a soldier who led a unionizing effort among the Guard members, said it would be a shame to end the legislative session without action. He said his family filed for an extension on his federal taxes in hope that the state would help them cover the cost of its mistake. The best time to pay soldiers correctly is when their paychecks are issued. The second-best time to pay soldiers correctly is now, Schuler said. Theres not going to be a more appropriate time to pass this bill. This isnt something thats going to make sense to pass in the next legislative session. The tax issue, first reported by The Texas Tribune and the Military Times in October, stems from a problem with the state payroll system, which was not set up to properly process payments for National Guard troops on state duty. In September 2021, Abbott ramped up the scale of Operation Lone Star, at one point boasting that 10,000 troops were deployed on the mission. The tax withholding issues began the following month. Texas Military Department officials have said the issue began when the state tried to switch from monthly payments to paying troops twice a month to mirror federal pay periods. But when that switch was made, officials withheld taxes from only one of those paychecks each month, leaving troops unaware that they would owe additional money come tax time. The tax problem was one of multiple issues troops faced on the mission, including late or incomplete pay, poor living conditions and a rash of suicides tied to the assignment. Officials said they learned of the tax withholding error in July 2022 and tried to address it rapidly through official publications, guidance from supervisors and town halls. They later offered tax classes to help troops work through the issue. But Johnsons proposal was the first tangible effort by the state to make troops whole after the states tax blunder. The bill barred applicants from receiving a grant larger than the difference between the amount they paid in federal taxes and the amount they actually owed in federal taxes. She said she filed the bill because one of her constituents was among those affected. Stories like the one you just read come to life at The Texas Tribune Festival, the Tribunes annual celebration of big, bold ideas happening Sept. 21-23 in downtown Austin. For just a little bit longer you can grab a discounted ticket to this year's event, but act fast savings end on May 31! Buy now and save. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-legislature-national-guard-payroll-error/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. The Navy SEAL training course is rife with overzealous and unchecked instructors, spotty medical care and students who were so determined to pass that they would either lie to doctors or turn to doping, according to a newly released and highly critical Navy report. The report, commissioned in the wake of the death of Seaman Kyle Mullen, an aspiring SEAL who died in 2022 just after completing the course's notorious "Hell Week," details a "near perfect storm" of issues that included a "degree of complacency and insufficient attentiveness to a wide range of important inputs meant to keep the students safe." The Navy ordered the investigation into how the training course, known as the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course, or BUD/s, came in the wake of comments by Mullen's mother and New York Times reporting that exposed some of the problems detailed in the report. Read Next: Army Secretary to Remind Commanders They Can't Deny Soldiers' Parental Leave A spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Command told Military.com that the investigation is being reviewed, "however, it is too early to comment on any potential accountability actions at this time." The report itself points to the need for some Navy accountability for the problems in SEAL training, and it notes that Naval Special Warfare Command intended to take action, though that section of the document is redacted. A statement from the Navy released alongside the report said that "Naval Special Warfare Command has already implemented many improvements to its training programs and policies," and specifically cited greater instructor oversight and training as well as more thorough medical screenings for cardiac conditions. In 2021, before Mullen and his fellow recruits of Class 352 began their training, leaders at Naval Special Warfare Command and the schoolhouse running BUD/s were already dealing with one problem on their hands. Candidates were dropping out at a far greater rate than normal. While normally, about one in three candidates would drop during the first -- and toughest -- part of the training pipeline, between 2021 and 2022 that figure spiked to almost one in two. Rear Adm. Hugh Howard, at the time the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, told the leaders and instructors at the Basic Training Command, or BTC, the unit that runs BUD/s, that it was important to not relax standards to solve this issue. "Zero is an okay number on the berm -- hold the standard," Howard is quoted as saying in the report. However, investigators noted that some "may have misunderstood his intent." What followed instead was a change among the instructors to a mindset "focused on 'weeding out' candidates and 'hunting the back of the pack.'" The report found that many of the instructors, who had no formal training for the role, "felt the quality of SEAL candidates making it through the pipeline had declined" and it was their job to uphold what they viewed as the standard. Capt. Brad Geary, the officer in charge of BTC at the time, thought the increased drop rate had a few causes but he largely chalked it up to the fact that "the current generation had less mental toughness," the report said. Meanwhile, the cadre of civilian instructors at the school, veteran SEALs put in place to be a check on the active-duty instructors, were sidelined after Geary made a deliberate decision to reduce their role in the training. As a result, the investigation found that leaders at BTC ignored the civilian instructors' warnings about an incredibly tough curriculum and a "lack of perspective on the intent of the evolutions." Compounding the problem was a medical team that was led by an officer -- unnamed in the report -- who, according to the report, "was inexperienced and ill-suited for leadership and yet was left responsible for ensuring the health of candidates at all BUD/s evolutions." Instead, two "overtasked" 1st class petty officers were overseeing medical care for all the SEAL candidates. The lack of leadership and oversight in the medical department meant that no one at BTC or the overseeing Naval Special Warfare Center clinic had a full view of what treatment, problems or concerns any one candidate was facing, putting candidates at significant risk. At the same time, recruits like Mullen were being overseen by wholly unqualified personnel. Both this report as well as the Navy's investigation into Mullen's death noted that after the sailor finished Hell Week, he was given a cursory medical check and handed a flier that explicitly said "DO NOT go and see other/outside medical providers" before explaining, in all capital letters, that "if you go and see other medical personnel who do not understand Hell Week, they may admit you to the hospital or give you medicines that are not compatible with training." As his condition worsened, the only people around him were other recruits who the Navy's investigators noted weren't even trained in CPR. Concerned by Mullen gasping for air as though he was "being drowned," sailors around him called the duty medical provider, who left them with the impression they should not go to the hospital, the report said. According to the report, the very fact that sailors like Mullen would be hesitant to seek out medical help and downplay or hide issues in an effort to not be seen as weak was a challenge to the Navy's Special Warfare commands medical departments that "they were unprepared to meet." That zeal to pass also meant that some recruits started turning to performance-enhancing drugs. The investigation revealed that the Navy has actually grappled with doping in the SEAL training pipeline at least twice in the past decade. After both instances, one in 2011 and another in 2018, the Naval Special Warfare Command asked for permission to be able to test recruits for performance-enhancing substances more freely but was denied both times. After Mullen's death, the investigators found a stash of performance-enhancing drugs in his car, including testosterone and human growth hormone. His blood and urine were unable to be tested for the drugs, the report noted. Two candidates in Mullen's class ended up testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs ,and 20 other candidates are in limbo while the Navy gathers more evidence, according to the investigation. For the time being, leaders at Naval Special Warfare Command are relying on tests that can suggest but not definitively prove use of performance-enhancing substances. But the report notes that "without a rigorous testing program producing timely results," the Navy "will be unable to effectively deter use." In the wake of Mullen's death, the Navy has offered some accountability for the failures and oversights that have been exposed. In October, the Navy issued administrative "non-punitive" letters to Geary and an unnamed senior medical officer. Geary's boss, Capt. Brian Drechsler, the commodore of the Naval Special Warfare Center, also received a letter. While the letters themselves carry no punishment, they typically render an officer unpromotable. Drechsler would go on to leave his post early in May. A spokesman for Naval Special Warfare command said at the time that the change was made in part "to better focus on addressing some of the lingering issues identified" by this very report. Geary would be replaced by Capt. Timothy Sulick in June 2022, according to the report. The Navy does not appear to have publicly announced this turnover or said whether it occurred ahead of schedule. According to the report, Sulick "emphasizes with instructors that their role is to raise the candidates up to the standards, not drive them to quit." -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: 'Instructed Not To Call 911': Report Reveals Confusion, Failure and Fear in SEAL Candidate Death Hawaii's U.S. District Court on Tuesday awarded $29.5 million to a local military family in the largest medical malpractice judgment against Tripler Army Medical Center for a 2016 incident involving their then-month-old child. In September 2016, John and Laura Warren rushed their daughter to Tripler when their baby's belly became distended and tight, and she turned blue from the bellybutton down. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. "They told me a lot of things, but there's a lot of things they didn't tell me, " John Warren said. Some staff at the hospital suspected she was suffering from a midgut volvulus, a condition occurring in infants where the intestine twists, causing a loss of blood flow. It's a serious condition in infants that can lead to death or significant and permanent medical complications if it's not immediately treated. The child did have a volvulus. But doctors didn't check. "Instead, they waited 19 hours, " said Loretta Sheehan, one of the attorneys who represented the Warrens. "And then when she was near death, they sent her by ambulance over to Kapiolani Medical Center. ... They found that about 90 to 95 % of her small intestine was dead, 'necrotic' was the word they used, so they spent the next five months in the hospital. She had a total of about 14 surgeries." The girl survived, but the delay meant she lost most of her intestines. She now requires supplemental nutrition and medication given to her through tubes going into permanent "ports, " or holes, in her body. Over time those ports became infected and she suffered brain and heart damage. "The only way she can survive is by receiving nutrition and fluids through tubes that enter her blood vessels and her blood vessels right below her collarbone and also a tube that enters her stomach. ... Her care is 24 /7 and it's going to be this way for the rest of her life, " said Sheehan. "This award will permit my client to survive. Her medication is extremely expensive, her care is extremely expensive. And she's going to require a great deal of help in the future." A spokesperson for Tripler declined to comment on the case or if the handling of the child's care led to any policy changes at the hospital, referring questions to the U.S. Justice Department. The case is the latest in a series of malpractice cases Tripler has faced. Last year the government agreed to pay a $15 million settlement for a baby who suffered brain damage during birth at Tripler due to a delayed cesarean section. Settlements and verdicts against Tripler since 1997 have cost as much as $108 million. Some former patients have derisively nicknamed the hospital "Cripler." "They gotta get better, " Warren said. "For all their advertising as being the biggest hospital in the Pacific, they really glorify themselves." Warren is a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and currently works as a carpenter. He said he was devoted to the Army, but that while he said fellow soldiers and his leadership were supportive, he said Tripler's handling of his daughter's care felt like a betrayal. Ultimately, he said caring for his daughter forced him to hang up his uniform and leave the Army. "Originally when she was in the hospital, they gave me orders to leave to different places, " he said. "But with her medical condition, even at the time, she was still in the hospital." Warren said that he tries to keep a positive and optimistic outlook for his daughter, but he knows there will be significant challenges ahead. "Honestly it's day to day, " he said. "Whatever she needs, we do it." "The malpractice in this case was egregious, " Sheehan said. "It doesn't make any sense at all. When you look at a baby and you know she might have a condition that will kill her, to sit and wait and see if it kills her ... I'm relieved that the court found liability. And I'm grateful that the court understood the amount of money it's going to take to care for this child." ___ (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. KYIV, Ukraine Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire Friday, authorities said, hours after at least one nighttime blast rocked a Russian city in a region next to the annexed Crimea peninsula. The Kremlins forces, meanwhile, struck a clinic in Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing one person and wounding 16, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Also, a Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, placing nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. The Belgorod town of Graivoron, some 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was under fire for several hours, with four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line damaged, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the border, a recreation center, a shop and an uninhabited house sustained damage in the village of Glotovo. There were no casualties, according to Gladkov. The Belgorod region was earlier this week the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky, as Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unconfirmed local reports said Friday's explosion in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, was caused by drones. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged but there were no casualties. Drone attacks against Russian regions on the border with Ukraine have been a regular occurrence since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with attacks stepping up last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two consecutive days. In another apparent incident of Kyivs forces harassing Russia, Ukraines defense ministry on Thursday published footage that appeared to show an unmanned drone boat attacking Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video did not show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed claims by Russias Ministry of Defense on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three boats attacked and destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released footage allegedly showing the destruction of one of the uncrewed boats. At least two civilians were killed and three wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. ___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London contributed to this report. Active-duty troops, reservists, civilian employees and contractors of the Defense Department may not have to go without pay if an ongoing political fight in Washington, D.C., leads to a default on U.S. debt -- if theyre signed up to have their pay directly deposited into Navy Federal Credit Union, that is. President Biden and House Republicans are wrangling over a deal to raise the governments debt ceiling and head off a potential June 1 default, which could disrupt the issuance of military paychecks. If they cant reach an agreement, Navy Federal will offer its members interest-free loans to help bridge the gap, the credit union announced Friday. The debt ceiling or debt limit refers to how much money the federal government may borrow to pay its bills. Read Next: Army Secretary to Remind Commanders They Can't Deny Soldiers' Parental Leave Navy Federal has provided interest-free loans during government shutdowns in 2011, 2013 and 2018-2019, according to its news release announcing the paycheck assistance program. Heres how it works: To qualify, a Navy Federal members paycheck must come directly from the federal government via direct deposit, and it must be affected by the debt default. Preferably no later than the day before the members scheduled pay date, but up to three days after, the member must register to receive a loan in advance of the pay owed. Loan amounts are determined in $500 increments. If the members last paycheck amounted to $1,001-$1,500, for example, the member will receive a loan of $1,000. If the last check was for $2,501-$3,000, the loan will be for $2,500. Once direct deposits resume, Navy Federal will automatically deduct the loan amount so that its repaid. For customers who dont meet the eligibility requirements, other help may be possible by consulting a member services representative, according to the announcement. Meanwhile, USAA -- a chief competitor to Navy Federal -- is hopeful lawmakers can reach an agreement but is monitoring this issue and ready to assist our members in the event of default, the bank said in a statement emailed to Military.com. The president and Republicans reportedly hoped to reach a deal this weekend that would raise the debt limit as well as curb federal spending, according to the Associated Press. In a letter to members of Congress sent Monday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen estimated that without a deal to raise or suspend the U.S. debt limit, the federal government might no longer be able to pay all of its bills as soon as June 1. Yellen cited past debt limit impasses, saying they hurt business and consumer confidence, borrowing costs for taxpayers and the credit rating of the country. If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests, Yellen said in the letter. Amanda Miller can be reached at amanda.miller@military.com. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. 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The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts LAPEER COUNTY, MI There are numerous events being held to celebrate Memorial Day in Lapeer County this year. Below is a list of parades and special services to attend in honor of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 29. Two-day Military Museum in Imlay City Memorabilia from the Civil War to present day, including folded flags, secured firearms, photos, uniforms, dog tags medals and stories will be on display during the third annual Military Museum in Imlay City. The two-day showcase will be part of the Celebration of Sacrifice from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27 to Sunday, May 28 at Crossroads Baptist Church, located at 6835 Weyer Road in Imlay City. Anyone can register a veteran display for themselves or a loved one either online or by contacting 515-408-6237. Special Memorial Day Honorary Service at Crossroads Baptist Church Coinciding with the Military Museum, a ceremony honoring both living and passed veterans will take place at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 28 at Crossroads Baptist Church, 6835 Weyer Road in Imlay City. Lives will be honored by Senator Kevin Daley, representative and veteran Jaime Greene, Lapeer County VA Director Pete Kirley and Jay Goldsborough, former airborne division sergeant and Michigans 2010 NCO of the Year. Memorial Day parade in Lapeer Lapeers Memorial Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29 at Saginaw Street, traveling down Nepessing Street and ending at Veterans Memorial Park. The parade will conclude with a service at the park, across from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, located at 814 W. Nepessing St. Staging starts at 9:30 a.m. on East Nepessing Street. Local churches, veterans groups, nonprofits, classic cars and trucks are invited to participate in the parade. Dryden Memorial Day parade The annual Memorial Day parade begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29 at Dryden Elementary School. It will head down Main Street to Memorial Park, 4725 S. Mill Road. Services are expected to be held at Memorial Park and Mt. Pleasant Cemetery following the parade. Clifford Memorial Day program Cliffords annual Memorial Day program will take place at the village park on Main Street and Clifford Road starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29. North Branch Memorial Day program The 2023 Memorial Day program will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29 at North Branch Memorial Park, located at 4295 Huron St. Otter Lake Memorial Day service and parade The Memorial Day parade in Otter Lake will assemble at 9:45 a.m. at Otter Lake Fire Hall. The service at the village park, located at 5902 Genesee Ave., is set for 11 a.m. If it rains, the service will be canceled. Read more at The Flint Journal: Here are Memorial Day events set for the Flint area Flint teen running for Miss Michigan Teen USA More than 800 Flint-area students learn to canoe, fish on Mott Lake Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. PONTIAC, MI A Michigan man is accused of viciously attacking his father with a hatchet. John Cornelius Darby IV, 22, of Southfield, was charged with assault with intent to murder on Wednesday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said. The crime is punishable by imprisonment for life or any number of years. Darby is accused of attacking his 51-year-old father with a hatchet on Tuesday. The victim sustained multiple severe lacerations and injuries. After the attack, the defendant allegedly took his fathers truck. The Michigan State Police later located the vehicle on Grand River Avenue near W. Grand Boulevard. A bloody hatchet was found in the vehicle. Acts of violence within families are especially tragic, and devasting, McDonald said in a statement. We will continue to pursue justice vigorously for the victim in this case. Darby was arraigned Wednesday in the 46th District Court and lodged in the Oakland County Jail. Bond was set at $1 million. The victim remains in critical condition but is expected to survive, McDonald said. A probable cause conference is set for 1:30 p.m. on June 7. READ MORE: Missing 23-year-old woman found dead in Upper Peninsula 70-year-old worker dies after being hit by vehicle in Ingham County Michigan man, 52, dies in Upper Peninsula crash ANN ARBOR, MI -- Holocaust survivor Irene Butter shared what it was like to grow up as a Jewish child in Nazi-occupied Europe and survive two concentration camps at a similar age as a crowd full of students on hand to hear her speak at Tappan Middle School. The 92-year-old told her story to a room full of sixth-graders on Thursday, May 25, continuing a chronicling of her journey she has shared with audiences since the late 1980s. The Holocaust survivor said she has made it her mission to make young people aware of what could happen again, while highlighting that everyone has a responsibility to prevent it. You might ask, Why am I telling this story that is almost ancient history? Butter said to the audience. In our own country, and in other parts of the world, we see echoes of the Holocaust and such phenomena as white supremacy, ethnic cleansing, voter restrictions, closing libraries, banning books, separating children from their families -- those are very familiar features of the Holocaust. That is why its so important that you learn about it and take it seriously, and that everyone does whatever they can to prevent this from ever happening again, she added. While Butter shared her experiences as a child during the Holocaust, she also has roots in Ann Arbor. Butter is a University of Michigan emerita professor, co-founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Medal and Lecture at UM and co-founder of Zeitouna, an Arab-Jewish womens dialogue group in Ann Arbor. She also wrote her memoir Shores Beyond Shores: From Holocaust to Hope, My True Story. Related: Holocaust survivor, UM professor to receive humanitarian award in Ann Arbor Holocaust survivor Irene Butter spoke on Thursday, May 25, at Tappan Middle School, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd., in Ann Arbor. At Tappan Middle School, Butter shared her experiences prior to coming to the United States in 1945. She shared details of her life before, during and after she and her family had to endure two concentration camps, Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen. Although the Holocaust wasnt in the curriculum, Scott Opfermann, a geography and world history teacher at Tappan, said the school couldnt pass up the opportunity to her Butter speak. We really try to focus not just on subject matter, but subjects that actually matter and this was one of them, he said. We want to kind of push back on all those false narratives ... (and) really want to advocate for the truth, fairness and for human dignity, he added. I think we met that, and Im talking with a lot of students and they all really provided testimony to the things that they learned that they hadnt realized before. After beginning to read Butters memoir, sixth-grader Annie Russell said being able to hear Butter talk in-person about her experiences gave her a whole new perspective on what happened. I do think its really important that we talk about it for future generations, so we make sure it doesnt happen (again), she said. Holocaust survivor Irene Butter spoke on Thursday, May 25, at Tappan Middle School, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd., in Ann Arbor. Beyond telling her story, Butter made sure to leave students with some advice for the future. One person can make a difference, she said. Sometimes the problems are so large, and we think were so small ... but everybody can make a difference. Dont walk away when you see injustice, that something is unfair or when you see bullying on the playground -- dont turn your back, but instead do something about it. Sixth-grader Jack Mccabe said Butters piece of advice is something students should take away from the event, especially since hes seen hatred himself in real life. You can make a change and you can start a ripple, he said. If you see (hateful) things -- step in and be like Irene and dont be a bystander. Holocaust survivor Irene Butter spoke on Thursday, May 25, at Tappan Middle School, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd., in Ann Arbor. 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: Live music, block parties coming to downtown Ann Arbor with A2 Summer Streets Honor fallen soldiers with these Memorial Day events in Washtenaw County Whats that? A new restaurant has opened right outside downtown Chelsea CLARKSTON, MI - There are two shades of green on the Pine Knob Music Theatre lawn this summer. One comes from the grass and the other from Eastern Michigan University. The popular music venues lawn is now named the Eastern Michigan University Lawn presented by Proud Partners United Wholesale Mortgage, Trinity Health and Ally, university officials said. The collaboration means music goers will see university branding as they enter the amphitheater, as well as videos and animations advertising the university on the digital screens inside the theater, officials said. This is an opportunity to share important academic attributes of Eastern with a wider audience, university spokesman Walter Kraft said in a statement. These include high academic rankings, as well as the universitys newly renovated engineering and technology campus, science complex, residence halls, dining spaces and recreational center. The venue located in Clarkston in metro Detroit was founded in 1972 and was named after sponsor DTE Energy in 2001. The name reverted back to Pine Knob in 2021. The venue ranked No. 1 out of worldwide amphitheaters in a 2019 Pollstar ranking. Were excited to partner with Pine Knob Music Theatre one of the most iconic brands in the music and performance industry, Kraft said. Pine Knobs success as an outdoor music venue is second to none. The partnership with the Ypsilanti university is part of the theaters mission of providing a concert experience that is synonymous with summer in Michigan, said Howard Handler, president of the theaters ownership company 313 Presents. We are proud to expand our partnership with Eastern Michigan University, the second-oldest public institution in Michigan, to include the lawn entitlement at Pine Knob Music Theatre and look forward to providing an amazing experience to our guests this season, he said in a statement. This years concert lineup includes The Cure, Weezer, Dave Matthews Band, Snoop Dogg and more. Read more from MLive: New $115M deal triggers privatization fears again at Eastern Michigan University Closing after almost 70 years, Angelos Restaurant stirs up a mix of emotions in Ann Arbor Thousands of miles from home, Arab students at Eastern Michigan form own community ANN ARBOR, MI - Memorial Day weekend may be the unofficial start of summer, but construction season is already in full swing. If youre gearing up for travel over the holiday, some state road construction projects are suspended between 3 p.m. Friday, May 26 and 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Read more: How will road construction impact Memorial Day travel in Michigan? That doesnt include all Washtenaw County projects on state roadways. Closures at the U.S. 23 and Willis Road interchange will stay in place, as will lane restrictions at U.S. 23 and Michigan Avenue. Heres a full list of road work that could affect travel and commutes for the weekend beginning May 26 and the week ahead. ANN ARBOR Washtenaw Avenue: The street along the University of Michigans central campus will see double-lane closures in both directions between Zina Pitcher Place Street and Geddes Avenue through Friday, June 9 for a UM utility project. One lane of traffic will remain open in each direction through the work zone. Glen Avenue: The street is set to close to all traffic beginning May 30 and ending Friday, July 21 for a utility project. Huron Parkway/Glazier Way: Intermittent lane closures will be in place on Huron Parkway in both directions between Geddes and Hubbard roads for a road repair and resurfacing project. On Glazier Way between Green and Earhart roads, lane closures are also possible, with the roadway slated to close in the eastbound direction as of Wednesday May 17. Work is expected to be completed on both roads by Tuesday, June 6. Geddes Avenue: The street is closed to through traffic between Observatory and Hill streets for a resurfacing and utility project. The project will proceed in phases, with the first estimated to conclude on June 9, when Geddes will reopen to westbound traffic only. South Main Street: The street is closed between Liberty and Huron streets for the second phase of a major resurfacing project. The Washington and Main intersection is also closed. Pedestrians can still access the businesses in the Main Street commercial district. Crews will replace a water main, make crosswalk improvements and put new pavement on the crumbling downtown street. The project is slated to run until Wednesday, July 12 with a third phase in the cards within the Main/Huron intersection, beginning after the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July 20 to 22. South State Street: The downtown street is closed to vehicle traffic between North University Avenue and Huron Street until Friday, Sept. 1, for the second phase of a major overhaul extending curb-less design in the area near the University of Michigan Diag and bringing water and sewer upgrades. The intersections on either side of the work zone will remain open. Regular updates can be found online from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. Broadway Street: The street is closed through Monday, Aug. 21 between the Traver Creek pedestrian crossing island, just south of Jones Drive, and Plymouth Road for a project bringing water main upgrades, sidewalk improvements and pavement resurfacing. The dead-end section of Broadway southwest of the roundabout next to the Beekman on Broadway development is also closed as crews complete utility installations through June 9. Platt Road: The road on the citys east side is reduced from four lanes to two between Packard Road and Huron Parkway until Friday, Aug. 1. The restrictions will allow for crews to replace an existing water main, as well as replace curb, sidewalk and ramps while resurfacing Platt Road. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Scio Church Road: A section of the road between South Seventh Street and South Maple Road is closed for a resurfacing project, bringing improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, through Friday, June 16. Construction on the first phase of the project is set to run through Friday, May 26, when Scio Church Road is scheduled to reopen in the eastbound direction, and officials will notify residents of a new traffic pattern. During the project, the Maple Road intersection will remain open to traffic turning left onto Maple or right onto Scio Church to ease congestion because of the damage to the Liberty Road I-94 overpass. Memorial Day parade closures: Several streets will close from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, May 29 for the Glacier Highlands Neighborhood Association Memorial Day Parade. They are: Frederick Drive from Greenbrier Boulevard to Middleton Drive Middleton to Bardstown Trail Bardstown to Barrister Road ending before Larchmont Drive Larchmont between MacGregor Lane and North Folkstone Court Long-term projects: North Fifth Avenue from Detroit to Catherine streets will have a lane shift through June 2024 for a new development. Eastbound South University Avenue traffic between East University Avenue and Church Street is closed long-term for high-rise construction. The Liberty Road bridge over I-94 is reduced to single-lane traffic, with temporary traffic signals, until further notice after being damaged by a truck on March 13. The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to design and contract for a bridge replacement, officials say, though no timeline has been released for the project. OTHER WASHTENAW COUNTY PROJECTS: Pittsfield Township - U.S. 23/Michigan Avenue: A major project widening Michigan Avenue in Pittsfield Township and upgrading the U.S. 23 interchange will cause shoulder closures and lane closures on a stretch of U.S. 23 south of Ann Arbor. On Michigan Avenue between Carpenter and Textile roads, a single-lane closure is in place. The construction is scheduled to run through November. Pittsfield Township is posting regular updates. Ypsilanti - Memorial Day parade closures: Huron Street will close from 8 a.m. to approximately 10:30 a.m. on May 29 between Catherine and West Cross streets for the Memorial Day parade. Ypsilanti - Hamilton Street: A single lane in the southbound direction on the street is closed between Pearl and Ferris streets through Thursday, Aug. 31. Ypsilanti - Michigan Avenue: A single lane in the eastbound direction is closed between Washington and Huron streets through Aug. 31. The downtown Avenue will also see intermittent total closures in the eastbound direction through May 26 from Hamilton Street to Adams Street. Other downtown Ypsilanti street closures are possible as a major utility and street overhaul project continues. See the citys webpage on the project for updates. Read more: Construction coming to downtown Ypsilanti as utility, street renovation projects resume Ypsilanti Township - Michigan Avenue/I-94 ramp: A road reconstruction project has closed Michigan Avenue between I-94 and a point just east of Hewitt Road as of Friday, May 12 and running eight weeks. A detour map is available online, and north/south traffic on Hewitt will be maintained with lane restrictions. The westbound I-94 off-ramp at Michigan Avenue is also closed during the project. York Township - U.S. 23/Willis Road interchange: Willis Road at U.S. 23 is closed in both directions through late June as bridge and ramp construction takes place. The eastbound Willis Road ramp to northbound U.S. 23 also is closed during the project. As of May 15, additional closures at the interchange include both the southbound U.S. 23 exit and on-ramps at Willis Road, slated to be off-limits through through Thursday, June 15. Ann Arbor Township - U.S. 23 ramp: A single lane of the southbound U.S. 23 ramp to M-14 will close from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30. It will also close from 9 p.m. Friday, June 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 4. Northfield Township - North Territorial Road bridge: The bridge over U.S. 23 will see a total closure for maintenance from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31. Northfield Township - 8 Mild Road bridge: The bridge over U.S. 23 will see a total closure for maintenance from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 31. Northfield Township - U.S. 23: The highway in the northbound direction will see intermittent double lane closures at Barker Road from Thursday, June 1 to June 6 for maintenance. The work will take place between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. The highway in the southbound direction will see intermittent double lane closures at Barker Road from Wednesday, June 7 to Tuesday, June 13 for maintenance. The work will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Sylvan/Lima townships - I-94: The highway in the westbound direction will see single lane closures from Freer Road to the Washtenaw/Jackson county line overnight until June 2. The highway in the eastbound direction will see single lane closures from Freer Road to the Washtenaw/Jackson county line overnight until June 9. Dexter - Main Street bridge: The bridge over the Mill Creek will see lane restrictions between May 30 and June 13 for rehabilitation. Ann Arbor/Northfield townships - Joy Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Earhart and Dixboro roads until Thursday, June 8 for drainage and forestry work. This project has been extended. Dexter Township - Brand Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Quigley and North Territorial roads during through Wednesday, May 31 for forestry work. This project has been extended. Dexter Township - Stitchfield Woods Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Dexter Townhall and Toma roads through May 31 for forestry work. Dexter Township - Toma Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between North Territorial Road and the Washtenaw County line through May 31 for forestry work. Lima Township - Dancer Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between the railroad tracks and Lima Township line through June 8 for drainage and forestry work. This project has been extended. Lima Township - Wylie Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Dexter-Chelsea Road and the Lima Township line through June 8 for drainage and forestry work. This project has been extended. Lodi Township - Saline Waterworks Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Dell Road and the end of the pavement through June 8 for drainage and forestry work. This project has been extended. Lodi Township - Textile Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Alber and Dell roads through June 8 for drainage and forestry work. This project has been extended. Lyndon/Sylvan townships - Various roads: Several roads in the townships will see intermittent lane restrictions through July for a Consumers Energy natural gas pipeline replacement project. A project map is available online. Sylvan Township - Sibley Road: The road will be closed between Conway and Bush roads from April 17 to Saturday, July 1 for the Consumers pipeline project. A detour map is available online. Pittsfield Township - Morgan Road: The road between Carpenter Road and Michigan Avenue is closed for sanitary sewer installation until June 30. A detour map is available online. Pittsfield Township - Platt Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Bemis Road and Michigan Avenue through September for construction of a non-motorized pathway. Pittsfield Township - Crane Road: The road between Textile Road and Michigan Avenue is through June 9 for sanitary sewer installation. A detour map is available online. Pittsfield Township - Bemis Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Moon and Warner roads through May 31 for road resurfacing. Pittsfield Township - Sauk Trail: The road will see lane restrictions between Robinson Lane and Michigan Avenue for road resurfacing the week of May 29. Pittsfield Township - Textile Road: The road is closed between Carpenter and Crane roads for sanitary sewer installation. The project runs through September. A detour map is available online. Pittsfield Township - Linda Avenue: The road will see lane restrictions between Wedgewood Drive and Hidden Creek Drive the week of May 29 for resurfacing. Pittsfield Township - Wedgewood Drive: The road will see lane restrictions between Wedgewood Circle and Warner Creek Drive the week of May 29 for resurfacing. Scio Township - Huron River Drive: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Zeeb and Delhi roads for Border-to-Border Trail construction through Nov. 15. Scio Township - Huron River Drive bridge: The bridge over the Huron River between River Pines Drive and Wagner Road will see intermittent lane closures from May 30 to June 13 for rehabilitation. Sylvan Township - Kilmer Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Notten and Hoppe roads through June 8 for drainage work. This project has been extended. Ypsilanti Township - Georgina Street: The street between Grove Road and Service Drive will see daytime lane closures for DTE Energy gas line replacement through November. Ypsilanti Township - Service Drive: The road will see daytime lane closures through November between Emerick Street and Share Avenue for a DTE gas line replacement project. Ypsilanti Township - Grove Road: The road will see daytime lane closures through November between Arthur and Emerick streets for a DTE gas line replacement project. An updated list of Ann Arbor city street closures, the weekly Washtenaw County Road Commission schedule and the MDOT road closure map are all available online. 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. More from The Ann Arbor News: Ann Arbors Townie Street Party is back better than ever after 3 year hiatus Ann Arbor students built a home. Its the nations largest from high schoolers, teacher says 308 affordable apartments coming to Ypsilanti through new developments under construction A huge victory. Residents join forces to fight potential Starbucks drive-thru GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A bag of money in a car prompted a fatal 2021 shooting, a judge said Thursday before sentencing a Kentwood man to life in prison. Marquis Lee Thomas, who was off parole only three months before the shooting, was sentenced Thursday, May 25 in Kent County Circuit Court for felony murder. He was convicted at trial and police said he killed 35-year-old Michael Wright, whose body was found in a car in the 4100 block of Alpenhorn Drive NW on Dec. 1, 2021. This was a situation where you were involved with the victim in this matter. He was a drug dealer. You were involved in dealing drugs with him, Judge Mark Trusock said. Trusock said evidence showed the two had been driving around in a car all day. There was evidence there was a rather large bag of money before this incident occurred in the car, Trusock said. Trusock said the evidence also showed that, at some point, Thomas was driving the car. You ended up shooting and killing this gentleman. And the money was gone, he said. Trusock described Thomas as someone with a long history of violence that began at age 9. The 2021 shooting happened just three months after he was off parole for shooting a cousin. In that case, he was sentenced to 14 to 40 years in prison. You sir, are an extremely dangerous individual. You are a threat to the community. You are an extremely violent person and, quite frankly, you should never be allowed out in a free society, Trusock said. 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 Girl, 6, dies following May 22 head-on crash Kentwood afterschool program helps refugee students flourish after coming to a new country Police find drug-making supplies in raid of Grand Rapids home KENTWOOD, MI If you met Shukuru Abasi now, you never would guess the bubbly, talkative 12-year-old was once a shy, quiet girl. But four years ago, when Abasi immigrated to the United States from Tanzania, Africa, she barely talked to anyone. She only spoke Swahili, and it was hard to make friends in a brand new country where the culture and language was completely different from where she grew up. I was very shy when I got here I barely talked to anyone, she recalled. Today, Shukuru Abasi has no problem making friends or talking to strangers she loves to talk and meet new people, with a big smile on her face. The 12-year-old said she was able to build confidence by coming to the Refugee Education Center in Kentwood, where she met supportive tutors and volunteers who were trained to help refugee students like her acclimate to the U.S. I learned a bit of English, made friends, and grew my confidence, Abasi told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press on Thursday, May 25. The teachers and the kids here were nice, and after that, I just became talkative, and I never stopped talking after that! Shukuru Abasi and her brother, 16-year-old Wilonja Abasi, are among hundreds of refugee students who have worked with the Refugee Education Center to receive after-school tutoring and social-emotional support that helps them flourish in school in the U.S. The Refugee Education Center works closely with refugee families and school districts to help students acclimate to school and excel in their educational journey. Founded in 2006 by a group of Somali Bantu refugees, the nonprofit has served over 4,500 refugees in West Michigan since its inception. The nonprofits cornerstone K-12 program is an afterschool tutoring program called Project Faulu, which was designed to help refugee students adjust culturally and overcome past trauma that can make learning difficult. On Thursday, May 25, the Refugee Education Center hosted an end-of-year celebration for Project Faulu, inviting the programs 19 refugee students and 15 volunteer tutors for food and games to wrap up another successful school year. Faulu means success in Swahili. Through one-on-one tutoring and peer support groups, the afterschool program focuses on literacy and language acquisition, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum, and social-emotional wellbeing. The program has proven to be successful: More than 80% of students enrolled in Project Faulu increased their grades by at least one letter grade in one subject or more, according to statistics on the programs website. Prajeeta Mangar, 12, attended the afterschool program from kindergarten to third grade. Now, Mangar is a straight-A student, and she attributes her academic success to the foundational skills she learned at the Refugee Educational Center. The volunteers really helped me in doing my homework and studying, and that helped me progress in school, said Mangar, a sixth grader at Crestwood Middle School in Kentwood. But even beyond the test scores, students in the nonprofits afterschool program show progress socially and emotionally, said Meg Derrer, executive director of the Refugee Education Center. The students build connections with their tutors and peers in the program, which helps foster a sense of belonging, she said. Some of the work we do here cant be measured, and so we also look to make sure our students feel attached to their volunteers, that they really have a connection to them, Derrer told MLive. Were always looking to make sure students are moving in the direction of growing academically and in their social and emotional wellbeing, and feeling more and more comfortable in the school setting. The Refugee Education Center enrolled around 100 new students this year, Derrer said. Next year, the program is anticipating nearly 200 new students. Families who work with the nonprofit come to West Michigan from all over the world, including Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Krishna Bista, one of 10 refugee navigators at the Refugee Education Center, said language barriers and cultural differences are the two biggest challenges refugee students face when they come to the U.S. Oftentimes, refugee students are used to having very strict teachers in their home countries, and it takes time for them to adjust to the more relaxed American schools, Bista said. The way how they get education back in the country is totally different here, he said. There, the teacher is more strict back in their country. Here, the teacher is open to the students. So it is very difficult for them (students) because they are coming from the strict (teacher), and now you are in a more open space. Bista came to the U.S. from Nepal in 2008, and became one of the first refugee navigators for the Refugee Education Center. He works with families when they first arrive in the U.S. and helps them acclimate, as well as get their children enrolled in school. His son, 8-year-old Grishal Bista, also was enrolled in Project Faulu. Krishna Bista said hes focusing on education and outreach to make sure all refugee families in West Michigan know about the Refugee Education Center. He said the nonprofit can help bridge families and schools so that students feel more comfortable navigating the U.S. education system. It not only benefits my child, it also benefits the community, he said. 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: Community rally, march for Patrick Lyoya being held this weekend Talent development group launches $9.2M initiative to help more adults earn college degrees Grand Rapids senior wins prestigious Gates Scholarship, covering full cost of college GRAND RAPIDS, MI Police recovered drug-making supplies while arresting a man accused of sexual assault. Grand Rapids police used a search warrant Thursday, May 25, at a residence in the 300 block of Commerce Avenue. Investigators were looking for evidence of several crimes when they found chemicals, equipment and supplies to make illegal drugs. JACKSON COUNTY, MI Attorneys representing Jackson County in a federal lawsuit filed a motion attempting to block jurors from hearing audio recordings of former sheriff Steve Rand making bigoted remarks. A federal judge shot that motion down on May 11, stating the remarks made by the former sheriff are relevant to the case and are a matter for jurors to consider. The statements the county now seeks to keep from the jury are undeniably relevant, U.S. District Judge Linda Parker wrote in her opinion denying the countys motion. Tommy Schuette, a former sheriffs office lieutenant, filed the lawsuit against Rand and the county in February 2018, alleging that Rand persistently mocked him for his hearing loss while he was actively working for the sheriffs office and created a hostile work environment with bigoted, disparaging, racist or sexist remarks, while also violating his civil rights. Related: Jackson sheriff is multifaceted bigot targeting women, blacks, the disabled, lawsuit states In the motion filed by the county, attorneys argued the recorded statements are not relevant, are unduly prejudicial and should be barred by executive privilege. The court disagreed. Schuettes hostile work environment claim is premised on these very statements, Parker wrote. The jury must hear the statements to assess whether Schuette was subjected to a hostile work environment. Even if the county is conceding that Rands statements were sufficiently severe or pervasive to subjectively and objectively create a hostile or abusive work environment, the evidence remains relevant. The jury must decide whether the county exercised reasonable care and took prompt action in response to Rands behavior. Rand was dismissed from the lawsuit as an individual in December 2021 after another federal judge stated the federal American with Disabilities Act and Michigans Person with Disabilities Civil Rights Act do not allow individuals to be held liable only organizations. Related: Judge dismisses lawsuit against former Jackson County sheriff, allows county suit to continue Though Rand was dismissed from the lawsuit, the county can still potentially be found liable for creating a hostile work environment and violating the ADA. More than five years after its filing, the lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on June 27. Because Rand was serving in an elected position, only an order from the governor or a successful recall election would have forced him out of office. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined three times to remove Rand at the request of the county and a recall effort failed. Rand left the sheriffs office in 2020 after declining to seek reelection. Schuette said he met with county officials prior to filing his lawsuit to show them secret recordings he made of Rands demeaning statements about women and Blacks, Hispanics, gays, disabled individuals and overweight people. Related: Lawyer releases obscene audio he claims proves Jackson sheriff is bigot County officials said Schuette demanded three years wages and three years credit for his pension or else he would go public with the tapes, according to the lawsuit. Schuette claims the county completely fabricated that information, saying instead that he asked to be placed on paid leave pending an investigation into Rand, the lawsuit noted. Schuette alleges the county failed to investigate Rand and retaliated against him by filing a report with Michigan State Police alleging Schuette tried to extort money from the county. To read full coverage on the Rand lawsuit, click here. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. More from The Jackson Citizen Patriot: Is Chick-fil-A coming to Jackson? Maybe, if it can find the right location See the best dressed from Michigan proms - Week 4 Permit OKd for large medical marijuana grow operation in Jackson JACKSON, MI Hundreds of people came out to Cascades Park in Jackson to honor first responders who willingly put their lives on the line during September 11. Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week. Hundreds turn out for Tunnel to Towers 5K honoring first responders About 500 people ran and walked in the seventh annual Tunnel to Towers 5K on Saturday morning to honor and raise funds to support first responders. Event director Jan Ganzel, a sergeant with the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, said the May 20 event at Jacksons Cascade Falls Park raised around $30,000. All proceeds go to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which offers programs and services to first responders and members of the military. Is Chick-fil-A coming to Jackson? Maybe, if it can find the right location 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. Celebrate Memorial Day 2023 in Jackson County with these events Ceremonies to help remember military service members who have died are coming up in Jackson County. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May each year. This year, its on Monday, May 29. Here is a list of events taking place in Jackson County. Unattended candle blamed for fire that displaced 2 in Jackson County A fire that displaced two people Wednesday afternoon might have been caused by a candle that was left unattended, officials said. At about 2:38 p.m. on May 24, fire crews from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety responded to a house fire reported in the 3800 block of East Michigan Avenue, east of Jackson. Jackson County man injured in crash with armored truck A 66-year-old was sent to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after his vehicle was hit by an armored truck, police said. At about 4:31 p.m. May 24, officers from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety responded to a personal injury crash reported on Boardman Road near the Jackson Crossing shopping mall. Permit OKd for large medical marijuana grow operation in Jackson A new medical marijuana grow operation may be coming to Jackson soon. The Jackson City Council approved a conditional use permit Tuesday, May 23, for Healthy Hi Inc. to construct a marijuana grow operation at 619 E. Washington Ave., east of downtown Jackson. New restaurant aiming for fall opening in Brooklyn A new Brooklyn restaurant is making progress, with an opening date planned for the fall. The restaurant, recently named Atlas, is moving into the old Columbia Interiors building at 123 N. Main St. in downtown Brooklyn. Since their announcement in 2022, owners Abie Baldwin and Taylor Aue have been working to get the restaurant to the finish line, Aue wrote in an email. Death of man in police custody under investigation in Jackson County State police are investigating the death of a man in the custody of a police department in Jackson County, officials said. A man died while in the custody of the Columbia Township Police Department, said Michigan State Police Lt. Rene Gonzalez. Jackson water rates must increase, study finds ahead of council vote in favor For Jackson residents to continue having safe, clean drinking water and a functioning sewer system, the rates residents pay must increase, according to a study by an outside accounting firm. East Lansing-based Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, which was commissioned by the city to do a study on water and sewer rates, gave a presentation on its findings during the City Council meeting Tuesday night, May 23, before council approved increasing residents water and sewer rates for the next two years. Whats that? A new storage facility is being built in Jackson A new development in Jackson is bringing another storage facility to the area. A property at 1700 S. Cooper St. will be the new home of a Jackson Self Storage location. Construction is taking place at the site to build a new facility for residents with larger-storage needs, such as equipment for small businesses, owner Doug Dysert said. Home destroyed, residents displaced in Jackson fire Severe smoke and flame damage left a home in east Jackson uninhabitable Friday night, officials said. At about 10:30 p.m. May 19, the Jackson Fire Department responded to a structure fire reported in the 1200 block of South Elm Avenue on the east side of Jackson. Jackson County gravel pit proposal in limbo after questions raised during hearing More than 100 Parma Township residents came out in force during a public hearing Monday night to make their concerns heard about a proposed 333-acre gravel pit that maybe coming to their community. After a lengthy 3-hour public hearing on the proposed gravel pit in the 3000 block of North Parma Road Monday, May 22, the Parma Township Planning Commission postponed making a decision on a conditional use permit for the project after the developer was unable to immediately answer several questions raised by the public and the townships research team, the Spicer Group. Take the family to a free live music event in Michigan Center this summer Live music, food trucks and vendors are coming to Leoni Township all summer long, beginning Thursday, May 25. The Leoni Township Parks and Recreation Committee is hosting Summer Music Nights in the Park from 6 to 9 p.m. every other Thursday at the Leoni Township Park on Fifth Street in Michigan Center. Admission is free. The event will not take place June 8, however, during the 2023 Carp Carnival, which lasts through June 10. Jackson High student makes dramatic academic comeback to graduate with friends Its hard to imagine any Jackson High School senior as eager to walk across the stage and accept their diploma this week as Koye Webb. After two-and-a-half years of goofing off, falling behind and digging himself a hole that seemed insurmountable to get out of, Koye couldnt remove a smile permanently plastered on his face as he interacted with his fellow senior classmates as they joked around and signed each others T-shirts following Decision Day on May 19. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily. KALAMAZOO, MI Three months after Jeff Titus was released from prison for a wrongful conviction in a 1990 double homicide that occurred near his property, the 71-year-olds future is still unknown. His attorney, Mary Chartier, and Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting met Friday in Judge Curtis Bells chambers in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court to discuss the case. Fridays hearing was supposed to determine whether Titus would have to go through another trial or if the case would be dismissed. The decision has been delayed to next week. RELATED: Jeff Titus spent 22 years in prison. He celebrated the fresh taste of freedom with family and a Sweetwaters doughnut Titus was investigated and cleared as part of an initial investigation in 1990 into the deaths of Doug Estes and James Bennett, who had been hunting in the Fulton State Game Area in Kalamazoo County on Nov. 17, 1990. As the result of a cold case investigation 12 years later, Titus wound up on trial and was found guilty of killing the two men. On Aug. 19, 2002, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Still, Titus maintained his innocence. On Feb. 24, a federal judge overturned his conviction, ordering his release and a new trial. Jeff Titus, center, on Feb. 24, 2023, after he was released from prison after serving over 20 years for a double murder his attorney said he was wrongfully convicted of. Jim and Dan Ballett stand on either side of Titus. They are the sons of Roy Ballet, a Kalamazoo County Sheriff detective who believed in Titus' innocence. Roy Ballett died in January 2022. (Photo provided by David Moran) The order followed a stipulation of facts from his defense attorney David Moran and the Michigan Attorneys General Office. Undisclosed evidence found in a 30-page Kalamazoo County Sheriffs file showed convicted serial killer Thomas Dillon, who died in 2011, had confessed to the murders to a cellmate. Related: Three decades later, Kalamazoo County double homicide back in the spotlight That cellmate informed the FBI, but the information was never provided to the prosecutors office or defense prior to Titus trial. Dillon, who died in prison in 2011, was serving a life sentence for five murders in Ohio that had taken place between April 1989 and April 1992. One of those murders had happened Nov. 10, 1990, and another Nov. 28, 1990, in a two-week span around the double homicide in Kalamazoo County. Dillons murders involved hunters and outdoorsmen. Whether or not Titus receives a new trial is now in the hands of Getting, should he choose to prosecute the case or dismiss it. Getting and Chartier met with reporters following the initial status conference on Friday, May 26. As the case is still pending against Titus, neither would discuss the details of the conference, but Chartier did say the meeting was productive and she looks forward to continuing conversations with Getting on Friday, June 2. When asked how her client felt still having the matter hanging over his head, she said it was stressful. Anytime he comes into a courthouse, its going to be stressful, Chartier said. He was wrongfully imprisoned for over 20 years. Its been three months, which is why we filed our motion for a status conference and weve got the status conference scheduled for next week, as well. I think that this case should never have been tried or charged in the first place. Chartier said she is confident the process is finally being conducted fairly for Titus and that regardless if theres a trial, they will stand by Titus every step of the way. Getting confirmed the case remains pending on order of the federal court and said hes thankful for Titus patience. Theres difficult, factual legal matters that need to be reviewed in terms of admissibility of evidence, witness availability and whether or not or how the case would move forward, which is part of us adjourning the status conference that was scheduled for today, Getting said. We cant go into any more details about that. Also on MLive: Another one bites the crust: Portage pizzeria closing shop after 44 years Kalamazoo Public Schools approves $230,000 contract with new superintendent See renderings of how downtown Kalamazoos streets will be reconfigured Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. UPDATE: 3 months after prison release, future still unclear for man wrongfully convicted KALAMAZOO, MI A man who was likely wrongfully imprisoned for 22 years will learn Friday if he has to face a new trial. The Kalamazoo County Prosecutors Office will say during a hearing Friday, May 26, before Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Curtis Bell, if there will be a new trial for Jeff Edward Titus, 71. Titus was convicted of a cold case double murder in 2002. He walked out of prison Feb. 24, after his convictions were vacated and a federal judge ordered his release and a new trial. Related: Jeff Titus spent 22 years in prison. He celebrated the fresh taste of freedom with family and a Sweetwaters doughnut In the months following Titus release, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting has not said what his office plans to do in the case. Doug Estes and James Bennett were shot and killed while hunting in the Fulton State Game Area in Kalamazoo County on Nov. 17, 1990. Undisclosed evidence found in a Kalamazoo County Sheriffs file shows convicted serial killer Thomas Dillon confessed to the murders to a cellmate who told the FBI, but that information was not given to the prosecutors office or defense. That 30-page file provided details about Dillons potential involvement. Dillon confessed in 1993 to five murders in Ohio from April 1989 to April 1992. One murder happened Nov. 10, 1990, and another Nov. 28, 1990, in a two-week span around the double homicide in Kalamazoo County. Dillons murders involved hunters and outdoorsmen. Related: Murder convictions vacated after man spends 22 years in Michigan prison Dillon is a suspect in a still-open Pennsylvania murder. He died in prison in 2011. On the day of the killings Nov. 17, 1990, Titus was about 27 miles away, hunting with a friend near Battle Creek, Titus attorney David Moran said previously. The prosecution theory was that Titus left the property he was hunting at and went back to his property which abutted the Fulton State Game Area because he thought people might be on his property. Per the theory, Titus then kills them and drives back to the Battle Creek-area property before going to Burger King and driving home with the man he was hunting with, Moran said. The story is ludicrous, frankly, Moran said. 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: Kalamazoo man killed on Mothers Day loved his family, put others first Parent complaints prompt Kalamazoo Public School Board to review suspension policy Injured infant leads to police investigation; person of interest taken into custody Want to be Kalamazoo mayor? Process begins to run for city office in 2023 KALAMAZOO, MI -- The next Kalamazoo Public Schools superintendent has signed a three-year contract with the district for $230,000 annually. Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the contract with incoming Superintendent Darrin Slade at a meeting on Thursday, May 25. Slades term will begin on July 1, with an orientation period starting June 26. Slade was chosen by the board May 11 following interviews and visits with the finalists. Stephanie Jones from Chicago Public Schools and Ty Weeks from the Dearborn Heights School District No. 7 were also finalists for the position. Slade currently serves as the assistant superintendent of Hazelwood Public Schools near St. Louis, Missouri. To support the move to Kalamazoo, Slade will get a moving allowance of $15,000, according to the contract. RELATED: New Kalamazoo Schools superintendent showed successful track record: trustees Slades salary is about 3% higher than the previous KPS leader, Rita Raichoudhuri, whose salary was $223,000. In 2020, Raichoudhuri agreed to a three-year contract, but resigned in 2022. Emails between Raichoudhuri and the board revealed growing tensions ahead of her resignation. The difference in payment is due to Slades enhanced background, board President TiAnna Harrison said. Its just giving him what he deserves, Harrison told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. The contract also includes 30 vacation days and five personal business leave days each year, plus $800 per month for transportation. Previously, Slade was the assistant superintendent of Instructional Leadership for Kansas City Public Schools, a principal for 16 years in District of Columbia Public Schools and an assistant principal and classroom teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools for 11 years, according to a KPS press release. The board applauded Slades track record of improving graduation rates in his previous districts, when explaining why he was the top choice. Board members also appreciated his experience working in different positions within schools as well as his one-on-one work with students. Hes a complex and adaptive systems leader, board Vice President Jermaine Jackson said during the selection. (Im) certainly looking forward to working with him and serving to put his skillset into this district to make just a lot of very meaningful changes, Jackson said. Slade walks into a district with a multitude of recent controversies. The former assistant superintendent of operations, Jim English, was terminated for business practices akin to gross negligence following a district investigation. English has since filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the district. Tabitha Coleman, the former secretary to the superintendent and board, also filed a whistleblower suit against the district. The investigation also revealed district funds were used to fund the Kalamazoo Public Schools Foundation, a foundation launched under Raichoudhuri without board approval. It is unclear what the status of the foundation is currently. RELATED STORIES Former Kalamazoo superintendent candidate put on leave in Dearborn district Controversial creation of Kalamazoo Public Schools Foundation: Who knew what when Former Kalamazoo schools superintendent accused board of creating hostile environment, emails show BAY CITY, MI In 2014, Timothy H. Findlay was sent to federal prison for threatening to kill a sitting Democrat president and detonate the White House, threats he made from within a Michigan jail. Years later and not having learned his lesson, a yet-again-jailed Findlay opted to repeat history by threatening to kill another Democrat president by blowing up his house. This time, though, Findlay directed his ire at more than just the president, going so far as to threaten to rape the First Lady and kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. As with his previous go-round, Findlay has received a federal prison sentence, imposed by the same judge who sent him there nearly a decade ago. As if in a time loop, the 49-year-old Findlay on May 25 appeared before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington to learn his punishment. The judge sentenced Findlay to 22 months with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Once Findlay serves his time, hes to be on supervised release for an additional two years. Ludington did not impose any fines. Findlay in February pleaded guilty to threatening to kill the president, the lone charge he faced. Findlay was in the Arenac County Jail on a state charge of possessing less than 25 grams of a controlled substance when he made his latest threat on April 28, 2022. He wrote a letter to President Joe Biden stating that when he was out of custody, he and others are going to bomb the White House and kill everyone with cyanide. Rape your wife [and] kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer, tie her up and leave her on Lake Michigan. Then kill everyone with cyanide. Findlay put the letter in an envelope, addressed it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., and placed it where inmates put outgoing mail, according to his plea document. Findlay faced the same charge before, as a grand jury in November 2013 indicted him on two counts of it for threats he made against President Barack Obama in March 2012 and September 2013. Findlay in January 2014 pleaded guilty to one of the two counts in exchange for the others dismissal. In pleading in that case, Findlay admitted that while he was in the Ogemaw County Jail on unrelated bomb threat charges in September 2013, he wrote two notes saying he wanted to kill Obama and bomb the White House. He also scrawled graffiti on his jail cell wall of his desire to kill Obama. Interviewed by a U.S. Secret Service agent, Findlay said once he got out of prison he would get a rifle, borrow a car, drive to Washington, D.C., and kill the President, according to his plea document. Judge Ludington in May 2014 sentenced Findlay to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The judge recommended Findlay go to a prison with a comprehensive drug treatment program. Findlay in the summer of 2017 twice violated the terms of his release by failing to make required disclosures to his probation agent. As a result, Ludington in February 2019 sentenced Findlay to an additional four months incarceration. Read more: Michigan man pleads guilty, again, to threatening to kill a sitting president, blow up White House Michigan man charged with threatening to kill Biden, bomb White House to be jailed pending trial Michigan man federally indicted with threatening to kill Biden, bomb White House Michigan mom who said SpongeBob told her to kill daughter, 3, pleads guilty to murder Legislation that would allow inmates at Michigan correctional facilities to earn a reduced sentence sparked debate at a recent House Criminal Justice Committee hearing over the bills impact on a decades-old, voter-approved ballot amendment. The main bill in the package, House Bill 4450 sponsored by Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, would allow eligible prisoners to earn productivity credits that could be used toward time off their sentences. Everyone who will be covered by this bill will be released and back into our communities at some point, Carter told members of the House Criminal Justice committee at a Tuesday, May 23, hearing. The question we must ask ourselves as lawmakers is simple: if we prepare them to return to their families and their communities, not just with an education, but with a work ethic and mentality to stay focused and disciplined, to work towards a goal and complete it, will they come out safer and less likely to commit crimes than they did when they went in? According to a House Fiscal Agency analysis, roughly 60% of the prison population would be eligible for programming based on convictions of qualifying offenses. Under the bill, incarcerated people could earn from 20 to 100 days in productivity credits for each month they maintain enrollment in a program decided by the corrections department, without having committed any major misconduct. The inmate could also earn 90 days in productivity credits upon completion of the program and 120 days in productivity credits if the prisoner earns a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. A prisoner cannot earn productivity credits in an amount that exceeds 20% of their minimum sentence. Proponents of the bill say the credits would incentivize inmates to participate in programs that would give them skills to contribute to society upon their release subsequently reducing the amount of repeat offenders and creating safer communities. Michigan has a recidivism rate of 23.6%. When offenders are in that prison revolving door, said David Safavian of the American Conservative Union, an earned time credit is critical. It provides an incentive to get treatment for addiction, treatment for mental health, to learn new job skills and to reenter society, said Safavian, who was also formerly incarcerated himself. The bill is not retroactive, so it would not affect sentences of inmates currently in the corrections system or those sentenced before the bill goes into effect. Prisoners who have been convicted of first- or second-degree murder, human trafficking-related crimes like forced labor or serving a life sentence without parole are not eligible to receive productivity credits. Those in opposition to the bill noted it conflicts with a 1978 ballot proposal to end the awarding of good time credits for inmates displaying good behavior. About 75% of Michigan voters approved it. In 1998, the state legislature adopted the Truth in Sentencing law, which required prisoners to serve their entire minimum sentence before being considered for parole. Criminal Justice Committee Vice Chair Rep. Graham Filler, R-St Johns, argued the bills go to war with Truth in Sentencing. The purpose of Truth in Sentencing is I guess twofold: time for the victim to heal and accountability for someone who committed a very serious crime, Filler said. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting, who represented the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, said the Truth in Sentencing laws have provided trust in the criminal legal process for our communities and for our victims. When a victim is told their abuser, the person who shot them, person who broke into their home, will serve 10 years in prison as a minimum sentence, or maybe eight or maybe somewhere between eight and 10. Those are different things, Getting said. Carter testified the bills were designed after years of conversations with law enforcement and crime victims across the state. The legislation would require prosecuting attorneys to notify crime victims when the inmate may be eligible to earn productivity credits. Priscilla Bordayo, a sexual assault survivor and state manager for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice who testified in support of the bill, said one commonality between crime survivors is they never want what happened to them to happen to anybody else. Redemption and rehabilitation are the foundation of safety, she said. Without those we risk continuing cycles of violence and victimization. However, members of the Governor-appointed Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board stressed the repeal of Truth in Sentencing would not only negatively impact victims peace of mind, but it would make it more difficult to negotiate plea agreements. Rep. Bryan Posthumus, R-Cannon Township, who has worked on the legislation with Carter for the last two years, said the bills are about more than just adjusting sentencing and he is open to conversations about what constitutes an appropriate sentence. This package is specifically about making our communities safer, Posthumus said. Its not about whether or not somebody has the correct sentence or years on their on their sentence. The legislation is still awaiting a vote out of committee. Since it would amend portions of the 1978 voter referendum, three fourths of members in both the House and Senate would have to approve the bill for it to pass through the legislature. Read more from MLive: For a day, this tiny park was Michigans capital city Black swallowtail could be Michigans first state butterfly Michigan closer to banning hair discrimination after years of failure Republicans want to let Michigan gun owners carry concealed pistols without license KALAMAZOO, MI The former owner of a hydroelectric dam that released a devastating flood in mid-Michigan ignored key weak spots in the structure for a decade before it failed, according to documents filed in a federal lawsuit. Lee Mueller, the bankrupt former owner of the Edenville Dam, knew the dams east embankment might fail during an extreme flood and took initial steps to address the structural problem but never followed though on fixes, according to filings. Mueller attempted to keep evidence outlining his knowledge of the dams weakness in the exact spot where it failed secret by defying court orders for months, the state claims. Mueller, who managed the dam from Las Vegas through his company, Boyce Hydro, prioritized side projects to build a marina at the dam and hold a music festival rather than invest in structural buttressing that experts say would likely have prevented the failure, filings show. The revelations are outlined in a motion for summary judgement filed Thursday, May 25 in U.S. District Court in Kalamazoo by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. This filing makes clear that Boyce Hydro knew of critical safety issues at the Edenville Dam but failed to take even the most cursory actions to fix the deficiencies or alert regulators to the problem, said Aaron Keatley, acting director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), in a statement. This fits with the companys decades-long history of violations and antagonism toward federal and state regulators and illustrates the owners culpability in this catastrophic dam failure. The May 19, 2020 dam failure caused more than $200 million in damage through a 500-year flood event, which forced the evacuation of 10,000 people downstream of Wixom Lake, an impoundment at the confluence of the Tobacco and Tittabawassee rivers. Heavy rain swelled the lake, causing a breach at Edenville that cascaded down the Tittabawassee, overtopping the Sanford Dam and sending floodwaters into the village of Sanford, downtown Midland and beyond. Nessel and EGLE have been fighting Boyce Hydro in court over culpability for flood damages. The state of Michigan is being sued by flooded property owners who say state officials were negligent in regulating the Boyce Hydro dams before the flood. Attorneys for about 350 affected property owners staged a press conference in Sanford on May 18, accusing the state of hiding behind governmental immunity on claims of inverse condemnation. An appellate judgement that could allow the cases to proceed is pending. The latest federal filing follows an October 2022 judges determination that Mueller and his attorneys deliberately crafted a false public narrative about culpability for the failure. The 2022 order debunks well-worn claims in Republican circles that the state, which sued Boyce Hydro before the flood, had pressured the company to maintain elevated water levels on Wixom Lake to protect habitat for freshwater mussels. In February, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney sanctioned Mueller for repeated failure to cooperate with the litigation discovery process and follow court orders. Maloney, in sanctioning Mueller, wrote that he simply refuses to obey court orders to produce documents in what the judge described as a pattern of bad faith conduct. The latest filing outlines a pattern of Mueller investing time and money in fruitless ventures instead of addressing safety concerns which the federal government had pressured Boyce Hydro to fix for years. According to exhibits, Mueller expressed concern in a 2010 meeting with chief safety engineer Frank Christie and consultant Steve Doret that the east embankment was too narrow and too steep to withstand the pressure of an elevated impoundment in extreme flood conditions. According to state attorneys, Mueller never disclosed the identified weakness in the east embankment to either federal or state regulators prior to the flood. In 2021, an independent study team concluded that static liquefaction, a rare sudden loss of soil strength under saturated conditions which is more commonly associated with mining wastewater dams was the physical mechanism by which the Edenville Dam failed. Almost a decade prior, in 2012, Mueller and Christie developed plans to install sheet piling on the east end of the dam all the way to the concrete spillway on the upstream side. Mueller never installed the sheet pile wall because the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulated the dam, did not explicitly order it, the filing states. Instead, Boyce Hydro placed buttress fill on the dams western end in 2012 and 2014. Boyce Hydro bought the dam in 2006 and Mueller pursued development plans to cut into the embankment to and build a marina to serve as a revenue source rather than increase spillway capacity, as FERC wanted, the filing states. In 2008, Mueller spent almost $500,000 trying to host a music festival rather than building an interim spillway that FERC and Boyce engineers were pushing. According to chief Boyce safety engineer Christie, Mueller bought expensive heavy equipment, such as a $50,000 sawmill, dump trucks, a bulldozer, skid steers, a backhoe and kept everything in a large pole barn. The equipment was used in extensive earth-moving, tree cutting and road building with the goal of hosting a music festival that never happened. Christie allegedly told Mueller, Youre in the hydro business now, youve got to pay attention here and pay attention to FERC. To which Mueller allegedly replied, Im not in the hydro business. Im in the money-making business. In 2015, Mueller changed designs for an interim spillway at the last minute to accommodate his vision for a large travel trailer park on the dam over the objection of his engineer. The changes stymied the unrealized project by dramatically increasing its cost, the filing states. Near another of the Boyce dams, Smallwood, Mueller began building a large pond in the middle of 12 acres the company owned nearby, around which Mueller envisioned a canal that connected to Wixom Lake and a housing subdivision. Mueller worked on the housing development rather than conduct urgent repairs to a Sanford Dam gate over the winter of 2016-2017. Christie resigned in protest shortly thereafter. In September 2018, FERC revoked Boyce Hydros license to generate electricity, citing the companys refusal to invest in necessary spillway capacity increases. State regulators at EGLE subsequently assumed oversight of the dam. Mueller repeatedly told FERC and EGLE he did not have the money to make structural repairs to the dam and increase its spillway capacity. According to Nessels office, the state plans to pursue a default judgement against Mueller personally if Maloney grants the states motion to dismiss the case. Mueller filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020. Related stories: Judge says Edenville Dam owner lied about flood Tax plan approved for Wixom & Sanford lakes rebuild 30-year plan would restore Wixom, Sanford lakes Republicans try to link Edenville fiasco to river crisis Dam failure pinned on static liquefaction Century of errors led to Edenville disaster $15M fine levied on former Edenville Dam owner Zombie flick to film on flood-drained lakebeds SHIAWASSEE TWP., MI Just over 30 minutes from the Michigan Capitol sits a small, unassuming park dotted with tall trees and a rusting swing set. Unless you spot the green-and-gold metal plaque bolted to a big rock, you wouldnt know that this little grassy knoll was once Michigans capital city. Welcome to Shiatown, a fateful plot of parkland off I-69 between Lansing and Flint. Detroit was Michigans territorial seat of government, but the state constitution in 1835 required the legislature choose a permanent capital city by 1847. Officials wanted to protect from invasion by British-controlled Canada, boost settlement and economy in the interior and make the capital more accessible. People were spreading out and getting up into Michigan, said Shiawassee County Historical Society President Charles Wascher. And it was a lot of trouble going so far as Detroit to get their paperwork done. In 1837, a developer platted a tiny square of land next to the Shiawassee River to carry big dreams of becoming the next capital. A plaque at Shiatown Park in Shiawassee County, Mich., notes its connection to the history of Michigan's state capitol.Ben Orner | MLive.com With multiple mills built nearby, the town slowly took shape, explained local author Phil Hathaway, whose 2021 book History of the Shiawassee River touches on Shiatown. Up popped about a couple dozen homes, as did a three-story inn that also served as a government building, schoolhouse and church. One clue of the big picture in mind, Hathaway told MLive, was the naming system for streets: major American cities. From north to south youve got Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Connecticut, Buffalo and Detroit as the street names, he said. Why would somebody do that when they had all these other options, like naming it after themselves? All the buildings from 1837 are gone, but Baltimore Street surprisingly survives as a relic of Shiatown.Ben Orner | MLive.com Before the end of the decade, however, Shiatown went bankrupt and development stopped. Yet its dream of becoming the capital would stay alive by coincidence. As state lawmakers 1847 deadline crept closer, dozens of cities, towns and villages competed to be the new capital, said Matthew VanAcker, the Michigan Capitols education director. The top non-Detroit contenders, according to state history, were Ann Arbor, Jackson and Grand Rapids. Hundreds of lobbyists were pushing hard for their cities to be selected, VanAcker told MLive, recognizing the windfall it would mean for that area of the state. Officials in Marshall, for example, were so sure their location between Kalamazoo and Jackson would win that they constructed a governors residence that still stands today. Copper Harbor, at the northern tip of the Upper Peninsula, was even presented as a joke. There is also a U.P. legend that Calumet, also in the Keweenaw Peninsula, was in the running, but this tale has no truth to it, according to a Northern Michigan University researchers journal article from 2013. Amid debate, bickering and deadlock, an Ingham County lawmaker proposed Lansing, a wilderness township of fewer than 100 people. It was swampy and barely developed, but it was centrally located among the Lower Peninsulas growing cities. After 51 rounds of voting by the state Senate, lawmakers agreed on Lansing as a compromise solution. But state archives needed to get there as government operations transitioned from Detroit. Enter Shiatown. A convoy of state officials on their way to Lansing made camp overnight at Shiatown, fulfilling technically and momentarily the tiny towns dream of being Michigans seat of government. They had a cabin or something they stayed overnight in, Wascher told MLive. Because of the vital state documents carried by officials, their one-day settlement made Shiatown the de facto capital. Older literature notes some civic pride from this quirky bit of history, including a nearby dam study from a University of Michigan student that noted locals frequently mention the capital-for-a-day story. But that study was 20 years ago. Nearly 200 years after that overnight stay in the 1840s, how much does Shiatown mean to Shiawassee County residents today? Not much to tell you the truth, Wascher laughed. It was just a waystation on the way to Lansing. Read more from MLive: Michigan 21st state to enact red flag gun laws with Whitmers signature Republicans want to let Michigan gun owners carry concealed pistols without license In a minute, our lives changed forever: Gaylord residents hit hardest still reeling An MSU professor made students pay $99 each to sign up for her activist website. Now theyre suing. A program that provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes in Michigan is significantly underutilized, with advocates indicating less than 2% of victims receive compensation to help cover medical expenses, funeral bills, and other out-of-pocket costs. In 2020, the state received 594 applications for its Crime Victims Compensation program. At about 5.9 applications per 100,000 people, Michigan had the second-lowest use rate (per capita) of the states with available data, according to a recent analysis by The Associated Press. Among those victims who were successful in submitting an application, nearly half were denied (48%). Others were deterred by things like complicated paperwork and short deadlines, explained Priscilla Bordayo, statewide manager for the advocacy group Michigan Crime Survivors for Safety & Justice. Theres a lack of education on it, a lot of people just dont know it exists, Bordayo said. The other part of it is its very hard to get approved. Theres just a lot of different barriers that take place. The purpose of the fund is to help victims cover things like medical expenses, lost earnings, funeral bills, counseling, sexual assault exams, and other out-of-pocket costs for those who have been harmed as a result of a crime. As it stands, they cant be used for property damage, loss of earnings of family members, or burial expenses like headstones, flowers, etc. Victim advocates say the program has been difficult to tap into for years, though some of those barriers are on the verge of being eliminated. Legislation passed and signed into law last year goes into effect this August, which advocates consider a victory in their ongoing mission of connecting survivors with available resources. Most important, when it comes to victim compensation, is that people can receive funds to heal in every aspect that they could possibly heal, Bordayo said. Earlier this month, AP published a national report that found Black victims and their families are disproportionately denied compensation in many states, often for subjective reasons that experts say are rooted in racial biases. Below is a map breaking down the state crime victim compensation data collected by AP in 2020. Hover over a state to see how many applications each states program received (total and per capita). Click on a state to see racial breakdowns as well. In Michigan, there wasnt much difference most years between denial rates of Black residents compared to their makeup of the applicant pool. However, between 2018 and 2021, Black applicants made up a higher rate of denials specifically for behavioral reasons -- 53.5% -- than their make up of applications -- 44.11%. Those reasons can be subjective and vaguely defined without the burden of proof needed in criminal investigations, AP found. Michigans program says applicants can be denied if they were determined to be: an accomplice to a crime, if they failed to cooperate with the investigation, if their behavior contributed to the crime, if they were incarcerated when the crime occurred, or if other resources have covered all the eligible out-of-pocket expenses. The pie charts below illustrate the racial breakdown of denied applications for the crime victims compensation program in 2018-21, including those denied specifically for behavioral reasons. Cant see the chart? Click here. Bordayo said the idea that someones race may play a factor in a denial is very unfortunate and dishonoring. I think we need to spend less time focusing on how people look and how people behave and start focusing on how do we help people heal, she said. Last year, the legislature passed bills that sought to expand the compensation program. Changes going into effect Aug. 12 include: Expanding the period to file a police report from 48 hours to one year. Crime Victim Compensation applications require a police report and must be filed within five years of a crime. Increasing the maximum amount a victims family could receive from $25,000 to $45,000, including an increase from $5,000 to $8,000 for funeral expenses if the victim was killed. Expanding benefit eligibility to include primary caregivers of victims, those who the victim was primary caregiver for, roommates and significant others of victims. Expanding grief counseling from up to $500, to cover up to 35 sessions of counseling for the victims spouse, parent, child, grandparent or grandchild, significant other, primary caregiver, or other household member. Bordayo said the progress should be celebrated. Expanded timelines allow victims time to cope with the fact that they were a victim of a crime, as well as time to heal from physical and emotional trauma, before shifting focus to the paperwork. Her group also wants to see an online application process in addition to the existing in-person and mail-in options, and more resources to help victims through the application process. One of my victims said, when I was filing for victim compensation I felt like I was filling out a college application, and most of the questions I just simply didnt understand, Bordayo said. Ive seen many victims get denied over silly things and most of it came down to them not understanding what was being asked. Victims shouldnt have to worry about an application in the midst of them trying to heal from trauma, especially from a violent crime. Bordayos group has taken it upon themselves to spread the word about options for victim compensation through press releases, billboards, and social media posting. She said those efforts need to continue with the help of the courts, hospitals, counselors, and other victim/survivor advocacy and support groups. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/CrimeVictim. You can also contact the states Victim Assistance Line at 877-251-7373 or email mdhhs-michigancrimevictim@michigan.gov. Read more on MLive: How will road construction impact Memorial Day travel in Michigan? 70% of Michigan retailers expect strong summer sales Sales tax fund would help Michigan police fight violent crime Trans athletes can play sports in Michigan, just not win, under GOP-backed bill Scientists believe saving black terns from extinction will take more than habitat protection across their breeding grounds in Michigan. Researchers in Michigan used technology to track black terns as they migrated away from their Great Lakes breeding zones, revealing more than ever before about the route the species takes to eventually arrive in Central and South America. Scientists now believe efforts to save the black tern should add focus to migration survival and overwintering areas. Statistics show black terns experienced an annual population drop of 2% across North America between 1966 and 2019. In Michigan, those population drops surpassed 7% each year. Black terns have suffered a 99% reduction in population in Michigan and the species was recently added to the states list of threatened and endangered species. The black tern is now considered threatened in Michigan but is not included on the federal list. The project to track Michigan black terns as they migrate was a partnership between Michigan State University and the National Audubon Society. Researchers used miniature radiofrequency devices the birds carried in a little backpack harness, said Sarah Saunders, co-author of the study and Audubons senior manager of quantitative science. Researchers worked at a black tern breeding colony at the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area. The population there dropped from 300 adult breeding pairs in 2013 to roughly 50 last year. Trackers placed on the birds were designed to fall off after five or six months. Data revealed Great Lakes black terns first travel to the Atlantic coast before shoving off again for their wintering grounds offshore of Central and South America. Theyre stopping over along the Atlantic coast and refueling and taking the time to essentially build up those energy reserves to keep going further south, Saunders said. The tracking results showed black terns from the Great Lakes are heavily using national wildlife refuges along the Atlantic coast and in particular, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina. This new report published in the Biological Conservation journal argues conservation efforts for black terns should expand to include protections along their migration routes and overwintering areas to increase adult survival. Efforts have primarily centered around the special breeding habitat the species requires. Black terns build nests on floating mats of cattail vegetation within coastal marshes, and their well-camouflaged eggs are laid in a shallow cup just above the waters surface. That makes the nests highly susceptible to wind and wave action. Conservation efforts have included limiting the spread of two invasive species, the narrowleaf cattail and phragmites, both of which grow too densely to be optimal for black terns. Perhaps some focus should be placed on migration survival and wintering territories, scientists argue. Whats going on outside the breeding season and away from the breeding grounds is really important for this bird and, likely, other migratory species, said Kayla Davis, first author of the new report and MSU doctoral student. Saunders said Audubon South Carolina officials intend to bolster monitoring efforts this autumn to help understand where black terns are foraging and what fishes they are eating. This should lead to more knowledge about how to help recover this species more effectively, she said. The researcher said that while the study of black terns outside of Michigan is critical to understanding the species, work must continue in the Great Lakes to keep the breeding cycle stable. A lot of the wetlands that theyre using for breeding here in Michigan have fluctuating water levels because of climate change and because of the changing water levels of the Great Lakes, Saunders said. If we have high water levels in one year and a lot of storm events, that leads to a lot of nest washouts and an unsuccessful year of productivity, and thats not good, either. Sign up to receive MLive's free new environment and climate newsletter, "Lake Effect." Enter your email below: Related articles: Bumblebees, bats, birds and more added to Michigans threatened, endangered species list Why volunteers are needed to help save Michigans imperiled black terns Bat species native to Great Lakes on brink of extinction 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. A recent Native American graduate is suing her former Oklahoma school district after her sacred eagle plume was damaged just before her high school graduation ceremony last year. Two school officials told Lena Black that she wouldnt be able to walk across the ceremony stage with the plume attached to her graduation cap because it is a prohibited decoration, according to the lawsuit, which was filed earlier this month. Black is an Otoe-Missouria Tribe member and of Osage descent who graduated in May 2022. The student attempted to explain the plumes significance, but her comments went ignored by the officials, who are named as defendants in the suit. The school employees then tried to forcibly remove the object from Blacks graduation cap, rendering it physically and ceremonially damaged, the complaint alleges. Black collapsed to the ground and suffered a panic attack before going on stage, according to the lawsuit. She eventually walked across the stage toward her diploma, with the plume in hand. This unnecessary, traumatic experience ruined Ms. Blacks graduation experience, a day of celebration for her, her family and her community, the lawsuit states, adding that a school employee previously told the student that shed be able to wear the object on graduation day. The suit claims that students have been allowed to wear eagle feathers as part of ceremonies in the past, however. Black is seeking $50,000 in damages and attorneys fees. Reckon has reached out to Broken Arrow School District for comment. Her attorneys claim that the actions of the school district and officials violated her right to free exercise of religion and freedom of speech under the Oklahoma Constitution, the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act and the U.S. Constitution. The right to wear items that reflect a persons identity in graduation ceremonies has been a point of contention in Oklahoma and elsewhere. On Thursday, the Oklahoma state Legislature chose to override Gov. Kevin Stitts veto of a bill that would allow Native American students to wear tribal regalia during high school and college graduation ceremonies. The measure passed the state House and Senate, which had enough votes to clear the two-thirds threshold. It takes effect July 1. On Tuesday, the Michigan state Senate passed a bill that would allow students to wear braids, dreadlocks and twists by banning the discrimination of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. But stories like Blacks arent uncommon. In April, 18-year-old B Hayes, a non-binary student in Nashville, Tenn., was banned from prom because they attended wearing a suit and not a dress, according to an Instagram post. At that point, Hayes had attended Nashville Christian School for 13 years. I should not have to conform to femininity to attend my senior prom, the student wrote in the post. I will not compromise who I am to fit in a box. Who are you to tell us what it means to be a woman. The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has officially opened a business centre in Kenya dubbed the Ghana Trade House as part of its mandate to facilitate the export of Ghanaian goods and services. The one-stop-shop outlet, located in Nairobi's Sameer Business Park, is intended to provide a platform for Ghanaian exporters to showcase their products and services in the East African country, fostering economic growth and development. According to the CEO of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, the establishment of the Ghana Trade House forms part of the implementation of Ghana's National Export Development Strategy (NEDS), which aims to generate USD 25.3 billion in non-traditional export revenues by the year 2029. Speaking during the opening ceremony held in Nairobi on May 23, 2023, as part of the first-ever Ghana Expo in Kenya, Dr. Asabea Asare said the Ghana Trade House in Kenya, indicates growing economic cooperation between Ghana and countries within the East Africa region. She said the Ghana Trade House will stock premium Ghanaian products for the East African market, diversify the options available, stimulate trade activities, create business opportunities, and generate employment opportunities. She stated that the centre would provide market intelligence, a storage and warehousing facility, as well as a hub for networking between Ghanaian and Kenyan business representatives. Dr. Asabea Asare added that it will become an avenue for cultural exchange between Ghana and Eastern Africa, and also serve as a platform for Kenyan businesses to engage with Ghanaian exporters and explore potential partnerships. "The Ghana Trade House, in Kenya, signifies a giant step towards regional integration within Africa. It puts actions behind our words and highlights the commitment to promoting intra-African trade and cooperation. Other countries on the continent can foster similar initiatives, creating a network of trade houses that facilitate trade and economic integration at the regional level." "By promoting African products and brands on a continental scale, we tend to showcase the diversity and quality of African goods and services, fostering a positive image of African products in international markets. This can lead to increased demand, market penetration, and improved competitiveness for African businesses, complemented by a robust trade infrastructure and supportive environment for trade promotion. This could potentially woo foreign investment from international investors who perceive our region as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and economic growth and development." The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Nana Ama Dokuah Asiamah Adjei, said the Government of Ghana places a high premium on trade within Africa and is determined to do all it takes to boost its exports to African countries. She added that Ghana is strongly committed to intra-African trade within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and that the opening of the Ghana Trade House adds value to Ghana's bilateral trade with Kenya. Kenya's Ag. Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Oliver Konje, urged Ghana and Kenya businesses to explore opportunities in both markets by promoting export products that have comparative advantages. He encouraged Ghanaian chocolatiers to look into the Kenyan market, while Kenyan tea companies do the same in Ghana. Madam Floice Alukabana, the CEO of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), urged African nations to commit themselves to promote trade liberalization through market linkages. She said KEPROBA will continue to collaborate with GEPA to boost trade between Kenya and Ghana. The Ghana Expo was instituted by the Ghana National Coordinating Office (NCO) of AfCTA in collaboration with GEPA, as a market entry strategy intended to position Ghana as a major trading partner across Africa. Ghana's team for the five-day Business Expo, which will end on Friday, May 26, 2023, included 70 local enterprises. 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. Margaret Ansei 25.05.2023 LISTEN Communication team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Margaret Ansei has expressed concerns about the quality of education under the government's free Senior High School (SHS) programme. In an interview with TV3 on the New Day Show, she highlighted the importance of quality education, emphasising that simply attending school for free is not enough, especially when students are unable to acquire essential skills. She further expressed her belief that education should not solely focus on access but also on the quality of learning. We said a whole a lot, we want quality, when you speak to professors or those in academia they will tell you the free SHS programme when they come, when you are teaching them, you have to teach them like you are an SHS student, even in the university, that is the pain you are going through, who said its not good to educate the Ghanaian child or how does it serve the purpose, how do we gain by spending millions of money, about 4% of our GDP goes to free SHS and yet we are not getting the quality that is required, Margaret Ansei argued. The free SHS programme is one of the 16 flagship programmes implemented by the ruling New Patriotic Party government. It is aimed at providing universal access to secondary school education while alleviating financial burden on families. Following the approval of the deal with the IMF, government is compelled to review the policy to ensure that it is targeted properly. On the 60th anniversary of the African Union Day, we reflect on the vision of a united and prosperous Africa championed by its founding fathers, such as Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, and Emperor Haile Selassie. The theme of this year's celebration is Deepening the AU Vision for Unity for Africa through Prosperity, Peace and Modernity for a Better Africa and a Better World. This prompts us to examine the stark contrast between the Africa that Nkrumah and his contemporaries envisioned and the reality of a continent still grappling with underdevelopment, poverty, and dependency on foreign aid. Six decades ago, Nkrumah's vision for Africa was one of economic independence, self-sufficiency, and regional integration. He believed that a united Africa would be able to harness its vast resources and overcome the challenges of underdevelopment. Nkrumah's dream was for African countries to collaborate on economic development and resist the influence of their former colonial masters. Sadly, the Africa we see today is far from the one Nkrumah and other leaders had hoped for. Instead of a united and prosperous continent, we are confronted with a disjointed collection of nations that, in many cases, have become dependent on foreign aid and loans to sustain their economies. The dream of economic independence and regional integration seems more distant than ever, as African countries continue to rely on external assistance to meet their most basic needs. One of the most significant events that highlight the difference between Nkrumah's vision and today's reality is the persistent reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions. Nkrumah was an outspoken critic of the IMF, arguing that accepting loans from such organizations would compromise Africa's economic independence. He famously rejected an IMF loan offer, stating that he did not want his nation to be "micromanaged" by Western powers. Despite Nkrumah's warnings, many African countries, including Ghana, have turned to the IMF for financial assistance time and time again. This reliance on external support has led to a cycle of debt and dependence, undermining the continent's ability to pursue independent economic policies and achieve sustainable development. The "Ghana Beyond Aid" initiative is a prime example of the disconnect between rhetoric and reality. While the slogan suggests a desire for self-sufficiency and economic independence, Ghana has continued to rely on foreign loans and assistance, even pledging its mineral resources as collateral for loans from China. Another significant development that underscores the gulf between Nkrumah's vision and the current state of Africa is the lack of progress in regional integration. Although the African Union has made some strides in promoting cooperation among member states, the dream of a united Africa, with a single currency and a common economic policy, remains elusive. Trade barriers, protectionist policies, and political instability continue to hinder Africa's ability to forge a cohesive and prosperous economic bloc. Nkrumah's vision for Africa was one of unity, self-sufficiency, and shared prosperity. Sixty years after the founding of the African Union, it is disheartening to see that the continent has yet to achieve these goals. Instead, Africa remains mired in poverty, underdevelopment, and dependency on foreign aid. As we commemorate the 60th AOU Day, it is essential to reflect on the lessons of the past and recommit ourselves to realizing the vision of Nkrumah and his fellow founding fathers. The Africa that Nkrumah sought to build was one where its people could stand tall, free from the shackles of colonialism and exploitation. To make this dream a reality, African nations must prioritize economic independence, regional integration, and sustainable development. By embracing these principles, Africa can reclaim its destiny and chart a course toward a truly united and prosperous future. As there are reports of insufficient furniture in schools across Ghana, in some instances compelling pupils to lay on the bare floor for lessons, a new trend has been observed in some communities in the Northern region where some women have developed the habit of breaking the less available furniture in schools in their communities for firewood. The Northern Regional Directorate of Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed that some women in the Sagnarigu municipality have resorted to stealing wooden furniture of basic schools in the area for firewood. According to the GES Regional Statistics Officer, Mr. Alhassan Seibu, some women in the community go into Education Ridge basic school to break the wooden furniture in the classrooms to set fire with it. He added that scrap dealers also steal metal furniture and sell them as scraps. There is a current trending issue, some Sagnarigu women come to the classrooms, break the wooden furniture and go to set fire with it because our rooms are not secured. If you talk about the scrap dealers the metal furniture they also break in and carry them to go and sell as scraps, this is the current trend that is developing in the area that I am staying, and I know it is the same in other districts. In Savelugu, an NGO went and donated over 500 desks and after six months when we went back everything was gone, he lamented. Mr. Alhassan Seibu made the disclosure during a presentation on the furniture situation across the Northern region and the performance of WAEC and WASSCE students last week during the 2023 maiden meeting of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale. Mr. Seibu revealed that there are about 157,000 kindergarten children but only 52,000 of them have desk to sit on, representing 33.6 percent, with a huge deficit of 104,000 children lying on their bellies. At the primary school level, out of 340,000 children, only 149,000 are able to get a place to sit, representing 44 percent, and the remaining children lie on their stomachs to study. Citi News further learnt that out of 99,855 children, 73,207 pupils at the Junior High School level have sitting places with a percentage of 73.3. Additionally, 41,280 out of 55,876 have access to furniture at the Senior High School level and the remaining 14,000 do not have places to sit for classes. The GES statistical officer, therefore, noted that the furniture situation is detrimental to the success of the students. -citinewsroom The president of minerals-rich Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, is in China where he is likely to push to formally overhaul and seal a $6 billion infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese investors. Tshisekedi is expected to meet President Xi Jinping on Friday to review and sign several key trade deals. Most of the DRC's mining industry is under Chinese control, and Tshisekedi's visit comes as the two countries look to resolve mining disputes that have threatened to sour diplomatic relations. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the world's largest producer of battery material cobalt. Tshisekedi has said a previous minerals-for-infrastructure joint venture was poorly negotiated. Ahead of his trip, the Congolese leader instructed his government to move ahead with talks on the infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese counterparts. During the visit to China, the two heads of state will hold talks and attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents together, the Chinese foreign ministry said. "The Democratic Republic of Congo is an important country in Africa, and the friendship between China and the Democratic Republic of Congo has a long history," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. The DRC may also seek China's help to fight rebels in eastern Congo. (with wires) A former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, is calling for legislation on party campaign financing, which will guide political parties expenditure during electoral periods. The former MP noted that the absence of legislation on campaign financing could gradually plunge the country into a situation where unscrupulous persons elect people to the helm of affairs, a situation he fears could have dire consequences for the countrys development. Speaking to Citi News on the back of allegations of vote buying during the Kumawu by-election, Ras Mubarak stressed the urgency for the legislation. I dont see why primaries in Ghana should cost up to GH2 million. GH2 million is a lot of money, but people are paying GH2 million just to win parliamentary primaries, and that is why when a lot of people get to Parliament, they are not serious. I dont know if you have observed proceedings of Parliament when bills are being passed into law. He added, When we are doing legislation on the floor of Parliament, the house is almost always empty. Those who got in there, the majority of them are not interested in the act of passing laws. Because they had spent so much to win their primariesthey are busy out there looking for money to keep up appearances. He also expressed fears that the exit of some experienced Members of Parliament from Parliament is going to have serious consequences. You get people who dont contribute to anything in committee, they only come and sign their names and take committee allowances. They dont contribute, they come and sit in committee meetings and they wont talk, they will come to plenary, and they wont talk for four years. And guess what? These people will get re-elected, and the people who are doing the grinding, the hard workthey are kicked out. Look at the 7th Parliament, the kind of people who lost their primaries. So we have Joseph Yiele Chireh, former MP for Wa West, a former Offinso South MP, Ben Abdallah Banda, a former MP for Daboya-Mankarigu, Mahama Shaibu. I mean these are fine brains, go to Parliament, read the Hansard and see the contributions they made, Ras Mubarak argued. citinewsroom Deputy Education Minister Rev. John Ntim Fordjour has commended the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) for swiftly recalling the history textbooks that contain obnoxious materials on the market. The textbooks which were produced by Excellence Publications allegedly denigrated Christianity. In a tweet, the Deputy Minister said I condemn entirely the rather obnoxious content found in a textbook published by 'Excellence Publications' and smuggled into the market for unsuspecting learners. The content is appalling and misconceived. I support NaCCA's swift action to recall the books and apply sanction. Ghana is most peaceful for a reason, and the important place of religion cannot be undermined. NaCCA in recalling the textbook said in a statement that The attention of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has been drawn to a publication making rounds in the media about the content of a textbook History of Ghana for Basic Schools-Learners' Book Four published by Excellence Publications. The said publication from Excellence Series was taken through the standard protocols established under the approval process of the Council and therefore comes to us as a surprise. This is because the content as published by the media is not the true reflection of what NaCCA approved. The Council wishes to state that the material in question is not an approved content material by NaCCA. The Council urges the general public to continue to bring to its notice, any suspicious material in the market that may be deemed to have been emanated from NaCCA. NaCCA will not hesitate to sanction publishers who publish materials without recourse to the established protocols of the Council. We urge the public not to hesitate to contact our outfit for information on the right content and materials for use in our pre-tertiary schools. 3news.com The Judicial Service has appealed to members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to call off their strike. The Judicial Service said that as part of efforts to resolve the matter, they invited the executives of the Association to apprise them of the ongoing discussions between Government and Management, regarding the review of the salaries of staff and related allowances. Unfortunately, they said, representatives of JUSAG did not honour the invitation. In line with precedence however, the Ministry of Finance has agreed with the Judicial Service to meet on Wednesday 31 May 2023 for an engagement on the matter, a press statement said. It added Management would like to assure JUSAG that the concerns outlined in the press Release issued on 24 May 2023 are being addressed, and therefore, requests the cooperation of the Association in resolving the matter. To this end, Management of the Judicial Service is appealing to JUSAG to call of the strike action in order to participate in the above-mentioned engagement. This will ensure a timely resolution of the matter. JUSAG declared an indefinite strike effective Wednesday, May 24 over the failure of the government to approve reviewed salaries and other allowances. They said they had suffered enough and can no longer bear the harsh economic conditions. Colleagues may recall that the Government of Ghana introduced the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in July 2022 for all public sector workers including staff of the Judicial Service due to the adverse economic condition the country was and is still undergoing. JUSAG submitted its proposal for review of salaries for 2023-2024 on 31st October 2022 to the Judicial Council for consideration in its advice to the President for determination in accordance Article 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. We have suffered enough. We can no longer bear it. An empty sack cannot stand upright. The National Executive Council of JUSAG, upon consultations with the Judicial Service Ladies Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Senior Staff Association (SSAJUG), Driver Association, Finance Staff Association, and all stakeholders who matter, HEREBY DECLARE AN INDEFINITE STRIKE. The Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour has condemned the perceived "anti-Christian" content in a newly introduced Basic 4 history textbook, describing it as "appalling and misconceived." Some sections of the textbook published by Excellence Publications claim that Christian missionary activities have had negative effects in Ghana, including causing physical conflicts, promoting poverty and creating a sense of fear among believers. Reacting to the content on Twitter, the Assin South MP stressed that Ghana's stability and peace are underpinned by its religious tolerance. He noted that it makes it imperative to ensure textbooks contain balanced information that does not undermine the important role of religion. "I condemn entirely the rather obnoxious content found in a textbook published by 'Excellence Publications' and smuggled into the market for unsuspecting learners, he said. He added "The content is appalling and misconceived. I support NaCCAs swift action to recall the books and apply sanction. Ghana is most peaceful for a reason, and the important place of religion cannot be undermined." The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has reportedly recalled the textbooks and plans to sanction the publisher for the inaccurate and misleading information. The full claims that have garnered criticisms read as follows: NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES 1. Religion is a major cause of physical conflicts, and doctrinal disputes in Ghana and the world as a whole. 2. Christianity has led to an increase poverty; There is a direct link between religion and laziness which contributes to poverty in Ghana and Africa as a whole. Religion makes people lackadaisical in their attitude towards finding practical ways to improve their undesirable living conditions. 3. Some religious doctrines brought by missionaries create a sense of fear or timidity in their adherents. 4. Religion creates an avenue for many tricksters or charlatans to parade as men of God to fleece the poor of their meagre resources. 5. Most religious groups discriminate against women in so many ways. 6. Many politicians in Ghana use religion as a vehicle to cause disaffection among people in a bid to advance their political interests. 7. Religion in Ghana does not encourage creativity, invention or critical thinking, because of its conservative or static nature. The Media in the Northern sector of Ghana has undergone a day's advocacy training on the threats of violent extremism in Ghana. Organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and with support from the European Union (EU), the advocacy training workshop was under the theme: The Role of the Media in Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism. The workshop was attended by media practitioners comprising news editors, senior journalists, presenters and producers in the five (5) Northern and three (3) adjoining regions. The main objective of the event was to equip the media with the requisite knowledge and information on how to create awareness, sensitize and educate the general public on the threats of violent extremism as part of the implementation of the National Framework for Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (NAFPCVET). The media is also expected to make Ghanaian citizens more security conscious and encourage the youth at risk not to fall prey to violent extremists. They are also empowered to become strong advocates, educators and ambassadors of violent extremism in their catchment areas Government spokesperson on governance and security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah has thrown his weight behind Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to lead the ruling New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections. The government spokesperson noted that the Vice President can lead the country to the path of socio-economic development if given the nod. Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews AM show on Friday, May 26, Mr. Boakye-Danquah cited Vice Presidents digitalization initiative, which he said has been beneficial to the country. If Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is given a chance to lead Ghana, he will lead us in the right direction. He championed the digitalization agenda we see now, he said. The NPP has, today, May 26, opened nomination for members who wish to contest for the flagbearership position at a filing fee of GHC50,000. The nomination closes on Saturday, June 24, to be followed by a national congress on November 4, where the party will choose who to lead them in the next elections as they aspire to break the 8-year jinx of governance. Joining the Vice President in the keenly contested race is former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, former General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, former Agriculture Minister Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie, Francis Addai Nimo and others. Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has indicated that although the country will make some gains through the implementation of the International Monetary Fund conditionalities, they will only be temporal. In a statement, he argued that governance is not about pussy-footing problems to create temporary reliefs to score political points. Prof. Ransford Gyampo insists that government must implement well-thought practical and commonsensical interventions to address problems for the citizenry. He proposes that Ghanaians should push the government to do better to address the fundamental causes of the problems facing the country. Governance is not about pussy-footing problems to create temporary reliefs for the purposes of scoring political points for electoral advantage. It is more about steering the affairs of a state and implementing well thought through practical and commonsensical interventions, that effectively address the lots of the ordinary people. This is what brings improvements in the physical quality of human life and ultimately wins the hearts of voters, Prof. Ransford Gyampo said. Meanwhile, the Political Science lecturer wants Ghanaians to push politicians to serve the people better and do more beyond the shallow IMF conditionalities. Below is the full statement from Prof. Ransford Gyampo. 1. It is to be admitted that there may be some gains in implementing the IMF Conditionalities, regardless of the IMFs hidden neocolonial intentions to make us dependent on the West. 2. But these gains may be temporary and very transcient because the conditionalities to be implemented do not address the fundamental causes of our woes. 3. We must therefore be awake and smart enough in order not to allow any politician to resort to propaganda with the limited gains that may be made for the purposes of the 2024 electioneering campaign. 5. Governance is not about pussy-footing problems to create temporary reliefs for the purposes of scoring political points for electoral advantage. It is more about steering the affairs of a state and implementing well thought through practical and commonsensical interventions, that effectively address the lots of the ordinary people. This is what brings improvements in the physical quality of human life and ultimately wins the hearts of voters. 6. The Ghanaian People must therefore stand watchful and refuse to be moved by the temporary gains that are likely to be recorded. These gains may merely be likened to the kinds of shoddy road constructions that are done three days to bye-elections. 7. Let us push our politicians to serve us better and to do more beyond the shallow IMF conditionalities for us, and if in so doing, they win our hearts, all the better for us, for them and for Ghana. Yaw Gyampo A31, Prabiw PAV Ansah Street Saltpond Suro Nipa House Kubease Larteh-Akuapim Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K Bagbin has stated that the focus of democracy should be on the rule of law, not the rule by law. The rule of law is governed by fairness and justice and must be centred around the represented people, making their interests and personal development a priority. According to Mr Speaker, the Ghanaian people must be at the centre of all decisions made by the countrys political leaders. Based on this understanding, the purpose of the Legislature must be to add value and worth to all intercessions aimed at improving the lives of Ghanaians. He was speaking during a courtesy call visit paid on him by the Russian Ambassador, H. E Sergei Berdnikov, at Parliament House in Accra. His visit was intended to explore ways to improve ties between the Russian and Ghanaian parliaments. Mr Speaker commended the Russian Ambassador for his determination and drive to strengthen bilateral relations. He went on to argue that there were other avenues for strategic partnerships worth creating and encouraging. Mr Bagbin believes that more collaborations can be formed in energy, trade, education and capacity-building workshops for members of parliament. He advocated for the reactivation and strengthening of the Ghana-Russia Friendship Association to promote exchanges that will create more wealth and employment opportunities for citizens of both countries, while also assisting Ghana in strengthening the atomic energy industry. Even though Ghana and Mexico have had diplomatic ties dating back to 1958, the Russian Ambassador indicated that Russia was still dedicated to looking into fresh and creative methods to strategically deepen this partnership through increasing community participation. In his concluding remarks, Mr Speaker agreed that more could be done to develop ties and relationships between these two nations that would be advantageous to both. We can all agree that additional conversations and interactions are necessary to advance and improve relations between Ghana and Russia," he stated. 26.05.2023 LISTEN General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) will leave office on May 29 after eight uneventful years. We hope it is the last time we hear from a man who rode to power eight years ago promising to end insecurity, strengthen the economy and fight corruption, none of which he achieved. Thankfully, he has vowed not to intervene in our national life and expressed his willingness to disappear to Niger Republic if we request accountability after almost a decade of ruinous leadership. It is a fitting testament to the leadership calamity of the past eight years that Gen. Buhari (retd.) was in a London hospital two weeks to the end of his eight-year tenure, this time to treat toothache. He is ending his misrule much the same way he started it. While Gen. Buhari (retd.) has spent the last eight years taking care of himself and his health, he has left the country prostrate; more corrupt, more insecure, and more divided than he met it eight years ago. The only thing that seems to have improved since he became president on May 29, 2015, is his health and his family fortune. Thanks to Dataphyte, a media research and data analytics organisation, we know that since 2016, Gen Buhari (retd.) has budgeted a total of N7.7billion (about $16.7million), at the official exchange of N461 to a dollar, for the presidential clinic. A breakdown of this figure shows that N2.027billion ($4.3milion) was for recurrent expenditure while N5.6billion ($12.3million) was for capital expenditure. In 2021, Gen Buhari (retd.) approved the construction and equipping of a 14-bed space presidential clinic at a cost of N21billion ($45.5million). Last November Gen. Buhari (retd.), was in London on routine medical check-up. Nigerians have lost count of the number of days Mr. Buhari has spent in London on medical tourism since he came to power. According to Prof. Farooq A. Kperogi, in a November 2022 essay titled, Buhari Misunderstood King Charlesand Burns Nigeria on His Way Out, Buharis frequent London trips while pretending to be president of Nigeria, may have provoked the question by Englands King Charles III if Buhari had a home in London. It is almost forty years since Gen Buhari (retd.) overthrew the democratically elected government of Shehu Shagari, truncating Nigerias Second Republic. One of the reasons Buhari and his coterie gave for their treasonable act was to tackle the great economic predicament and uncertainty, which an inept and corrupt leadership has imposed on our beloved nation for the past four years. Brigadier General Sani Abacha (later, military dictator from 1993-1998), read the coup speechpurportedly on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forcesthat formally ended the government of President Shehu Shagari (1979-1983). Abacha spoke of the harsh, intolerable conditions under which we are now living. Our economy has been hopelessly mismanaged; we have become a debtor and beggar nation [sound familiar?]. There is inadequacy of food at reasonable prices for our people who are now fed up with endless announcements of importation of foodstuff; health services are in shambles as our hospitals are reduced to mere consulting clinics (emphasis mine) without drugs, water and equipment, he told a beleaguered nation. Less than two years later, another general, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, would give the same reasons for overthrowing the regime of General Buhari. The last twenty months have not witnessed any significant changes in the national economy. Contrary to expectations, we have so far been subjected to a steady deterioration in the general standard of living; and intolerable suffering by the ordinary Nigerians have risen higher, scarcity of commodities has increased, hospitals still remain mere consulting clinics (emphasis mine), while educational institutions are on the brink of decay. Unemployment has stretched to critical dimensions, Babangida averred in his August 27, 1985, coup speech. Babangida ruled for eight years. In 2009, sixteen years after he stepped aside, he lost his wife, the delectable First Lady, Maryam Babangida, at the City Hope Hospital, California, USA, after years of battling ovarian cancer. Babangida was reported to be by her side when she died. As military president, Babangida spent time in France for surgeryone of many subsequent overseas surgeriesfor treatment of radiculopathy (pinched nerve), a medical condition in which one or more nerves are affected and do not work properly. When you hear or read the reasons these soldiers of fortune gave for upturning the constitution and how they ended up violating our fundamental freedoms and savaging the country, you want to weep for Nigeria. Eight years ago, some Nigerians took a chance on Gen. Buhari (retd.). They were willing to replace a weak and rudderless president with one who vowed that he was a born-again-democrat, a man of integrity. He would end up dividing us into a country of 97 and 5 percent. It is trite to say Nigerians have been terribly disappointed; it is a great understatement to say that the cheque of tackling corruption and insecurity and building prosperity promised eight years ago has been nothing but a dud cheque. Today, the country is broken almost beyond repair. Corruption is rife. We are a debtor nation, a deeply fractured one at that. The country is more divided today than at any other time, and I am not talking about political division. Not since the civil war have we witnessed the level of division, fear and loathing we are experiencing today. Indeed, we are facing an existential crisis. Make no mistake, the trouble with Nigeria did not start with Gen. Buhari (retd.) The trouble has been there from the outset. Part of the solution to the trouble with Nigeria is effective and selfless leadership. Unfortunately, the leadership recruitment process in Nigeria is as polluted as the gutters of the major streets of the country. Prof Chinua Achebe in his 1983 book, The Trouble with Nigeria, noted that, I know enough history to realize that civilization does not fall down from the sky; it has always been the result of peoples toil and sweat, the fruit of their long search for order and justice under brave and enlightened leaders. Of course, Nigeria can redeem itself. But a nation can only have so many chances to redeem itself. Nigeria is certainly running out of chances. Time is running out on what some people like to call the Nigerian project. Everywhere you turn to, you are confronted with poverty, decay, corruption, injustice, lawlessness, impunity, nepotism, and insecurity, occasioned by a bankrupt elitecertified scoundrels in every sense of the wordfor whom enlightened self-interest means absolutely nothing, who have occupied the political space and are holding the country by the jugular. The educational system has all but collapsed; health services are in shambles. If our hospital were consulting clinics four decades ago when the current monstrosity truncated the Second Republic, today they are death chambers. Unfortunately, there is no let-up in this quest for redemption. Of course, the challenge today is how to pull the country from the brink, save its beleaguered citizens, and restore the dignity of Africa and the Black race. We must do it, by any means necessary! This essay is an excerpt from the introduction of an up-coming book: By Any Means Necessary: Rogue Elte, State Capture, and the Transformation of Nigeria. Addis Ababa, 24 May 2023, (ECA) - Africa should accelerate the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area while creating a conducive business environment to attract private sector participation in one of the largest free trade areas in the world, experts have urged. The AfCFTA is a free trade area launched in 2019 by African countries 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. Despite its premise of boosting trade in Africa, here is mixed perception of its benefits within the private sector across the continent, according to an Index launched by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). To better understand how African businesses are approaching the AfCFTA and how it can best support the private sector through trade, ECA developed the AfCFTA Country Business Index (ACBI) with the financial support of the European Union (EU). The Index enables relevant policymakers to identify bottlenecks in intra-African trade at a country level, which informs the barriers impeding effective AfCFTA implementation from the perspective of the private sector. Recently, the ECA held an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) to present the methodology and findings of the Index to inform the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Opening the meeting, ECA Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, Ms. Hanan Morsy said, The ACBI is the first comprehensive tool based on robust methodological framework for data collection and analysis through which businesses can voice their views on the implementation of the AfCFTA. The ACBI findings make a significant contribution to Africa's development Agenda by identifying bottlenecks in trade regimes that need to be addressed to ensure a more inclusive trade under the AfCFTA, Addressing the same meeting, Head of Policy and Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to the African Union, Mr. Thomas Huyghebaer, highlighted that the development and rollout of the ACBI in 13 countries was a component of the successful EU-ECA Deepening Africa trade integration toward the effective implementation of the AfCFTA project. Senior Policy Officer, Integration and Trade, African Union Commission Mr. Manasseh Ntaganda, emphasized that the ACBI work will complement the AU activities under the 2023 theme to accelerate the AfCFTA implementation moving forward African Integration Agenda. He highlighted the importance of a favourable environment for the private sector to drive inclusive and sustainable development in Africa. One avenue was to scale up the work of the ACBI to all African countries in order to get an accurate picture of the private sector's take on trading under the AfCFTA. African Trade Policy Center Director, Melaku Desta, emphasized that the success of the AfCFTA depends on its implementation and the participation of the private sector, which needs to understand, own, and drive it and aim to take advantage of the opportunities the Agreement offers. Through the ACBI, we are contributing to make sure that business communities are in the driving seat in the implementation of AfCFTA, he added. For her part, Ms. Olajobi Makinwa, Chief, Intergovernmental Relations & Africa, UN Global Compact, said the full implementation of the AfCFTA will foster economic and social development in Africa. Research by the ECA shows that industry and services, mainly transport and tourism are expected to make the most gains from the AfCFTA. The ACBI offers useful insights on how African businesses are perceiving trade and doing business under the AfCFTA. The ACBI reports showed results from Angola, Cote dIvoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia. The tool aggregates the opinions of businesses in Africa and articulates them in an Index that ranks countries by how well they are implementing the AfCFTA from a business perspective. The research methodology for the Index focused on three key dimensions: goods restrictiveness and use; African Free Trade Agreements; knowledge and use of the commercial environment. Noting that the ACBI provides a unique and powerful monitoring and evaluation tool for African member states to gauge and understand the private sectors take of the new AfCFTA environment, Wafa Aidi, an economist at ECA, said the Index can significantly contribute to Africas trade and inclusive development by identifying bottlenecks in trade regimes. If scaled at the regional level, the ACBI can help enhance the participation of the private sector in the AfCFTA. Notable, based on ECA simulations, the share of intra-African trade can be boosted up to 25% by 2045 by ensuring the active participation of the private sector, she added. 26.05.2023 LISTEN Leadership at every level is all about the people. Any leadership that does not envision programmes in the peoples interests is a failed leadership ab initio. It is for this reason that the next House of Representatives must be led by someone with proven capacity, competence, character, and experience in the business of lawmaking. This is necessary because the Federal House of Representatives is a House of the people, therefore, it must not only be seen to serve the interest of the people, it must also produce results at all times to show that it remains aligned with the peoples expectations and aspirations. Unless Members of the Federal House of Representatives elect leaders who cannot be swayed by extraneous forces against them and their constituents, they will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of their people and would have disappointed many and live ingloriously among their constituents ever after. It is for this reason that men and women of goodwill everywhere have been clamouring for Hon Tajudeen Abass of Zaria Federal Constituency to be elected the next Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. As a man who has since traversed the length and breadth of both the countrys public and private sectors in different enviable capacities without blemish, the Iyan Zazzau is experienced enough to lead his esteemed colleagues in navigating the complex and intricate demands of lawmaking successfully for the benefit of the people. Having started his lofty career as a primary school teacher in Zaria for seven years starting from 1981, Abass moved to a private financial services firm, Trust Acceptance Ltd and then as an Accountant II in the Bursary Department of Kaduna State Polytechnic in 1989. But his affection for people and service would not allow him remain in the more lucrative Bursary Department of the Polytechnic, so in the same year, he switched to academics as Lecturer II and doubled as pioneer Head of Department of Accounting and Finance of Kaduna State Polytechnic, Zaria. After establishing the department on a sound footing, Tajudeen sought more experience in the private sector and moved to Nigeria Tobacco Distribution Company now known as British-American Tobacco where he served as Area Marketing Manager from 1993 to 1998. From there, he took higher responsibility as General Manager of Jos Tobacco Distribution Company Ltd in 1998 but returned to his love of service to the people when he took up appointment as Head of Department and Senior Lecturer of the Banking and Finance Department of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria in 2001 and then to Kaduna State Polytechnic in 2005 where he served as Lecturer 1 and pioneer Head of Department of the institutions Banking and Finance Department till 2010. A man dedicated to his dreams of a better society, Hon. Tajudeen Abass kept on developing himself even while serving in various capacities. After obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate in Zaria and his West African School Certificate Examination in Makarfi, he obtained a Grade II certificate from the Kaduna Teachers College and then a Diploma in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Following that, the highly experienced lawmaker obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and then a Ph.D in Business Administration from Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. As a revered academic and vastly travelled man, Tajudeen has successfully published 13 scholarly works in international journals and has attended over forty national and international academic programmes. With such glowing academic sojourn and enviable career, the Iyan Zazzau has proved without any iota of doubt that he has the capacity and competence needed to lead the 10th House of Representatives to an admirable height and help etch the names of his colleagues in gold in the heart of Nigerians. His profound experience as a lawmaker started when he was first elected to the Federal House of Representatives in 2011 under the platform of the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to represent Zaria Federal Constituency and served as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance until 2015 when he was reelected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals. A man loved by his people for his result-oriented legislative output, he was once again overwhelmingly reelected to the Green Chamber in 2019, and having demonstrated competence, character and virtue in the discharge of his responsibilities in the House, especially in the Committees he served, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport in the 9th House, a position he holds till date. Aside being the APC Caucus Leader for Kaduna State in the House of Representatives since 2019 and was also the Chairman of the House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Constitution Review Conference for North-Central in 2021, he was Treasurer of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (African Chapter) in 2019, the same year he was appointed to represent the North West region in the Governing Council of the Nigeria Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), an appointment he holds till date. Regularly courted for his wealth of experience, Tajudeen has served as Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committees four times from 2015 to 2022. Always seeking to improve the welfare of the people through quality legislative bills and motions, Tajudeen sponsored 43 bills and 13 motions in the 8th Assembly which was the 3rd highest number of bills sponsored by any member. Not known to rest on his laurels, Tajudeen took quality representation and legislative output a notch higher by sponsoring 78 bills and 7 motions in the 9th Assembly which was the highest by any member in the House, and more fulfilling for him is that 20 of his bills have been assented to by the President, hence, contributing meaningfully to the sociopolitical and economic development of the country. These great feats have singled him out for consecutive awards and honours as the Best Performing House of Representatives Member for several years. Tajudeen is a Member and Fellow of several professional bodies including being aFellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILTS) in year 2020; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administrators, 2016; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketers, 2013; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management, 2010; Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Nigeria, 2015, and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management in 2008. A Lawmaker with such towering credentials who has proved to be a man of his own mind with excellent interpersonal skills cannot be a stooge to anybody and will work with his colleagues, as he has done everywhere, to achieve great things for the House and the people the members represent. Every institution will always put its best foot forward; it cannot and should not be different with the House of Representatives. No matter the factors considered in choosing the next Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass ticks all the boxes. Humane, cerebral, experienced, transparent, accountable, competent, compassionate and cordial towards colleagues and the people, he has come prepared and committed to be the best Speaker of what will be the best Federal House of Representatives in Nigerias history! Jude Ndukwe, a public affairs analyst, sent this piece from Abuja 26.05.2023 LISTEN One of the ruling New Patriotic Party's flag bearer aspirants, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, has announced his decision to pick nomination forms today, 26 May 2023. I shall be picking up my nomination form at the party's headquarters at 11 am, the engineer and politician told his supporters in a Facebook post. He entreated all party supporters, well-wishers, and sympathisers to join him in his quest to make history. Mr Addai-Nimoh, a former MP for Mampong in the Ashanti Region, is in the race with former Trades Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who has set his campaign in motion to lead the party ahead of the 2024 elections. He has already resigned from his cabinet position to focus on his presidential ambition. Also in the race is Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who announced his decision to run for the slot, to some MPs of the majority caucus. Dr Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are seen as the frontrunners in the race. Other contenders The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has also resigned from his post to focus on his presidential ambition. There are six other contenders including former Minister of Energy Boakye Agyarko and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong. A recent delegates-based survey conducted by Outcomes International Ghana and Centre for Sustainable African Development Initiatives (C-SADI) UK revealed that Kennedy Agyepong was trailing Dr Bawumia and Alan Kyerematen in the race. Also in the race is former presidential Spokesperson and General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong. The rest are a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Joe Ghartey, who is also the MP for Essikado-Ketan; and a former Minister of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, who is also a former MP for Offinso North. Classfmonline Chief Justice Nominee, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has refuted the claims that when judges are appointed they are forced to do the bidding of the appointing authority. The vetting of the new Chief Justice has officially started today, Friday, May 26. During the vetting, she was asked to give her views on the perception that judges especially the Justices of the Supreme Court do the bidding of the appointing authorities. Replying to Madina MP Francis Xavier Sosu who posed the question, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo said it is a false perception. According to her, judges work in respect of the ordinary Ghanaian and not on behalf of the appointing authority. It is a wrong perception because the load of our work is in respect of the ordinary Ghanaian, it hardly has anything to do with appointing authorities, the Chief Justice nominee said. At her vetting today, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo opened up on plans to invest in practice directions as the Chief Justice of the country. She said there will be manuals that every court staff will have to comply with in the discharge of their duties. Meanwhile, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has also disclosed that the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana leadership is being engaged to call off their nationwide strike action. Fulgence Kayishema, one of the last fugitives sought over the 1994 Rwanda genocide, appeared before a court in Cape Town on Friday, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run. He allegedly took part in one of the genocide's bloodiest episodes, when thousands of men, women and children who had sought shelter in a church were slaughtered. Wearing a blue jacket, black trousers and spectacles, and flanked by armed officers with helmets and bullet proof vests, Kayishema identified himself before the packed courtroom. The 62-year-old appeared calm and composed as a state prosecutor read out the accusations against him. They include "genocide" and conspiracy to commit genocide "relating to the slaughter of more than 2,000 people in Rwanda in 1994," prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse told the court. At the end of a short hearing, magistrate Ronel Oliver remanded him into custody, with a next appearance scheduled for June 2. The former Rwandan police inspector was arrested on Wednesday at a grape farm in the small winelands town of Paarl, 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Cape Town, where he had been living under an alias, investigators say. Church massacre He is described by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) -- the successor to the UN court that prosecuted scores of major suspects -- as "one of the world's most wanted genocide fugitives." A 2004 file picture showing a mass grave and the ruins of the Notre Dame de la Visitation church in Nyange where 2,000 Tutsis were slaughtered. By STR (AFP/File) Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Kayishema and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 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 MICT said on Thursday, announcing his arrest. "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." Kayishema's face, top right, is crossed out on a wanted poster Friday at the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit in Kigali, Rwanda. By Mariam KONE (AFP) South African police said the arrest was made in response to an Interpol red notice, and the suspect had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba. On Friday, the court was told Kayishema would be facing additional charges of fraud and contravening immigration laws in South Africa, and further charges were likely to follow. Extradition to Rwanda was not discussed. Aliases The hunt for Kayishema spanned countries across Africa, targeting a man who used many aliases and false documents and relied on a "network of trusted supporters", the MICT 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." The United States had offered up to $5 million reward for information leading to Kayishema's arrest, transfer or conviction, but there have been no details as to whether this played a role in the capture. The MICT in 2015 took over the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), set up by UN after the genocide. The Rwandan genocide. By Paz PIZARRO, Alain BOMMENEL (AFP) Before handing over the reins, the ICTR sentenced 62 people, including a 30-year term handed to former minister Augustin Ngirabatware, and acquitted 14. 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. Chief Justice nominee, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has shot down claims that judges are not independent. The nominee for Chief Justice position said the judges are not doing the bidding of those who appointed them. During her vetting in the Parliament House in Accra on Friday, May 26, she told the Vetting Committee that the perceptions held by many, are inaccurate. It is a wrong perception that judges are doing the bidding of appointing authorities, she said. When given the mandate to serve as the Chief Justice of the nations Supreme Court, Justice Torkornoo said, she will only comply with the staff manual of the court. I will practice directions, manuals that the court staff have to comply with in time, she stated. The statement can be seen as an assurance from the Supreme Court Justice at a time when many citizens appear to lost trust in the judiciary. Many allege that the President has been interfering in the work of the judiciary, hence his willingness to pack the system with his allies. If approved by the Appointment Committee of Parliament, Justice Gertrude Torkonoo will replace immediate past Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah. Chief Justice Nominee, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has pledged to continue the good work of her predecessors once her appointment is approved by Parliament. The Chief Justice nominee faced vetting on Friday, May 26, where she addressed various issues. In an interesting turn of events, she was asked to elaborate on evangelism which is one of her hobbies. She used the opportunity to preach at the vetting as she referenced two famous bible quotes; Romans 3:23 and John 3:16. Evangelism is informing anyone that salvation lies in no other person than the Lord Jesus Christ and that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You asked whether I have time. I think that anyone expresses their core beliefs consistently in whatever they do to spend their time. I lace it into my conversations and I hope that anybody listening now will know that John 3:16; For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Thank you, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo. The new Chief Justice nominee at her vetting has assured that she will work for the ordinary Ghanaian. She described as falsehood, the perception that Judges, especially Supreme Court Judges when appointed do the bidding of their appointing authority. President Deni reaching out to the grassroot level, to request for citizens' votes in the upcoming local elections, which he had implemented in the region. 26.05.2023 LISTEN Prior to the 2022 presidential elections in Mogadishu, considerable focus had been directed toward the eligibility of Said Abdullahi Deni as a candidate. Deni, the prevailing president of the Puntland regional state, was subject to certain reservations regarding his capacity to administer justly and uphold democratic principles in a delicate nation. As a matter of fact, I have authored an opinion piece published in Modernghana (bit.ly/3MzhIYp) during his candidacy, positing that Deni was inadequately prepared to oversee the preservation of Somalia's democratic structure. Additionally, I expounded on his inclination to penalize those that opposed his viewpoints and his limited comprehension of the nation's challenges. It is worth noting that the aforementioned apprehensions I had regarding the administrative tenure of Deni in Puntland now seem to have been unwarranted. Deni's administration has indeed achieved several significant milestones since his entrenchment as the regional leader in 2019. Notably, the successful conduct of the 1p1v local polls fortify his noteworthy achievements, ushering a historic moment as the first-ever such election conducted within Somalia. The aforementioned local elections in Puntland is considered to be a significant triumph for democratic pursuits in Somalia, and a welcome stride towards peaceful and credible democratic elections in the whole nation. Through unwavering efforts, Deni's administration ensured that the electoral process remained impartial, equitable, and honest. Critically, his administration displayed a robust sense of responsibility in taking action against malpractices that threatened the success of the electoral process. For instance, in Nugaal district, following the disruption of elections by locally based politicians, Deni's administration took firm remedial measures by postponing the said elections in these districts. Reflecting upon the commendable strides that Deni's administration has made, one could deduce that earlier skepticism on his leadership abilities may have been ill-informed. Such pursuits such as his unwavering dedication towards upholding democratic values, ameliorating peace and stability while driving development agenda instill a positive outlook towards Somalia's future. With greater backing from the populace and the international community, there is a high potential for Deni to accomplish even more in advancing Puntland's course towards sustainable stability and prosperity and subsequent advancements for the entire nation. Six months after Mali's interim authorities decided to block all French public funding for non-governmental organisations operating in the country, RFI spoke to workers on the ground about how they are managing. Out of 294 NGOs local and international operating in Mali when the transitional authorities imposed the ban on 21 November 2022, around 40 were French. It was just one of the results of the souring of relations between France and Mali after the 2020 coup led by Colonel Assimi Goita. The interim government did not ban all French NGOs working in Mali, but only activities supported financially or materially by the French government, which funds overseas aid work through its French Development Agency (AFD). France's embassy in Mali did not confirm to RFI how many French aid groups are still operating in the country now. But those that remain have had to seek various ways to overcome the loss of funding, some more successful than others. For security reasons, the people interviewed and their organisations are not disclosed. Alternative funding Out of all the programmes that we put on hold [from November 2022], we only had to stop one of them altogether, a director of a large humanitarian French NGO working in north and central Mali told RFI's David Bache. Around 30 percent of its funding used to come from the AFD and has now been replaced by funds from other sources, namely the European Union. The aid group had to slightly reduce the number of French employees, but did not sack any Malian staff. After toying with the idea of leaving Mali altogether, its director told RFI that he was confident the NGO could continue working in the country. Projects interrupted Other organisations say the consequences have been more severe. Six months ago we had to stop all AFD-funded programmes. That's around 30 to 40 percent of our total activities in the country. And we still have not been able to resume them, the director of an international NGO involved in food and medical emergency work told RFI. The organisation contacted other donors who declined to replace the AFD's funding. As a result, we have not been able to drill wells, which in turn poses problems to accessing clean water and increases the risks of various diseases, the director added. We also planned to provide lighting to health centres so that they can stay open in the evening. This, as well as a number of other things, will not happen. We hope we'll be able to fill the funding gap next year. Real-world consequences Local aid groups that relied on French funding have also been affected. Twenty-five per cent of our funds came from France, the manager of one Malian health NGO told RFI. Thanks to other donors, we've finally managed to resume 60 percent of the activities we suspended. But 40 percent of our activities are still completely stopped. We are looking for alternative means of funding but we know, for sure, that we will not be able to continue some of our work. It is a real pity as this affects people's lives. It is proving difficult for NGOs to find suitable substitutes for the AFD, as the French agency mostly focuses on long-term projects and not emergency aid. Some of Malian NGOs report that they have had to dismiss some of their local staff. Time-consuming bureaucracy The Malian authorities are strict about transparency when it comes to NGOs' funding. Six months ago, Mali's transitional government set up a commission, attached to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, whose role is to closely monitor the funding of all NGOs based in Mali and ensure that the French ban is respected. Each month, we have to show financial reports and contracts to the local authorities, to the governor's office and to the central administration. It's a lot of work! said the head of an international NGO's office in Mali. It means that every month we spend several working days, travel long distances and use human and logistical resources to produce the documents required instead of doing our job in the field. The humanitarian staff who spoke to RFI admit that, though they may have been some delays in obtaining authorisations on time, so far they have not been prevented from doing their work. However, some expressed concern about what all the data they provide to the authorities could be used for in future as a means to pressure or even stop humanitarian programmes altogether. The Ministry of Territorial Administration declined RFI's request for comment. French electricity giant TotalEnergies has defended itself after police teargassed climate activists outside its annual assembly in Paris on Friday. The government has urged the firm to speed up the switch to renewable energy. "The climate is at the heart of our concerns," TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told a few hundred attendees at the Salle Pleyel concert hall in the capital. He said his company had done more than others to invest in renewables, adding that it also needed to repond to growing global demand for oil. French police earlier used tear gas to disperse protesters sitting in front of the venue, but ignored three warnings to move. Pouyanne said he regretted having to "take exceptional measures" both in calling in the police and in controlling access to the event. 'Knock down Total' A couple of hundred protesters, however, remained on the street blocked off by police outside the concert hall as shareholders went in. Four people were detained, police said. "All we want is to knock down Total," protesters chanted. "One, two and three degrees, we have Total to thank" was another refrain, in reference to rising global temperatures. Marie Cohuet, spokeswoman for climate campaigners Alternatiba, said TotalEnergies embodied "the worst" of what had been done to exploit people and the planet. One shareholder, who gave his name as Jean-Paul, defended himself as he made his way in. "We are all concerned by climate issues, but there are also economic aspects, employment," he said. 'Go faster' Climate campaigners are growing impatient with oil majors and other companies over their impact on the planet. Energy giants posted record profits last year as Russia's war in Ukraine sent oil and gas prices soaring. TotalEnergies's net profit was a record 18 billion for last year. The group plans to allocate a third of its investments towards low-carbon energy sources and reach 100 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity by 2030. But France's Energy Transition Minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, urged the company to speed things up. "Total invests in renewable energies, but the challenge is to go ... faster," she told Franceinforadio on Friday morning. Shareholders vote TotalEnergies has around 1.5 million individual shareholders who are called on to cast votes, in person or online, on two climate-related issues during the assembly. Investors will vote first on the group's proposed climate strategy, and then on a motion for TotalEnergies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 2015 Paris accord's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The vote on the motion put forward by 17 investors who together hold almost 1.5 percent of shares is purely consultative. TotalEnergies operations include liquefied natural gas and oil projects in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Papua New Guinea and Uganda, where it has come under fire for its Eacop oil pipeline project. (with wires) Dr Zhang Mingqiang is in cell number 204 of Shanghai's notorious Qingpu prison sentenced to six years for spying. He worked for US pharmaceutical giant Amgen in charge of research and development at their Asian operations. Caught in the crossfire between Beijing, the US and the EU, Zhang and his case are not openly discussed. "His feet were black. Frostbite. He's losing his toes. He was in tears," says Seyed Alireza Motavalian, an Iranian former Qingpu prisoner, of the ordeal suffered by fellow prisoner Zhang who holds dual Dutch-Chinese citizenship and a PhD in medicinal chemistry with Belgium's Leuven University. For months the two had been locked up in cells next to each other, but contact apart from "shouting through the walls" was not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions. Alireza himself served 10 years for a bank fraud charge he says was trumped up. He finally met Zhang in person two weeks before he was released. Alireza says Zhang, who is in his fifties, asked him to raise awareness of his situation to the outside world. Marius Balo, a Romanian who spent eight years in Qingpu, describes Zhang as a buddy with whom he shared an interest in books. After the Covid lockdown, which resulted in a complete lack of contact with the outside world, mental stress added to Zhang's physical pain, Balo said. He had given up all hope on improvement. He was in a state of apprehension. But Zhang had learned that complaining to visitors triggered immediate repercussions from prison authorities. Another inmate, an Australian-Chinese named Jack, had told his consul that he "was dying", says Alireza. As a result, the phone line connecting him to the consul was cut and he was placed in solitary confinement for a month. Zhang, who had an impressive career as medicinal chemist with top functions in companies like Merck, Hoffmann-la Roche and Biotica before he ended up with Amgen, told Alireza that he feared "ending up like Jack". "You are going home soon," he told him. "Get the word out." Spying charges? According to Alireza's testimony, Zhang was accused of spying. But according to a source familiar with the case, he was merely involved in routinely "transferring results from local research to Amgen's headquarters in the US" a strictly regulated proces that requires prior approval for sample and data exchange mostly human blood and tissue samples". But even with the best compliance work, Chinese authorities could still find fault with Amgen and throw the legal person into prison, the source said. It is unclear if this resulted in spying charges, he said, but Zhang's role in China "also had a PR/government affairs component, and he might have accidentally touched certain sensitive issues in the process . Peter Humphrey, a British former journalist-turned fraud investigator was locked up in Qingpu in 2014 for 23 months on charges of illegally acquiring personal information of Chinese nationals when looking into a massive fraud case. Today he runs a support network for foreigners who got caught in China's opaque prison machinery. Humphrey says that if Zhang's case was treated as spying, most of the trial would have been held in secret adding Zhang was relatively lucky to be sentenced to only six years given the Chinese counter-espionage law allows for "life and even death sentences". EU walking a fine line The case is complicated by the fact that Zhang has a dual Dutch-Chinese citizenship, and in addition works for a major American company. The EU is walking a fine line to keep relations with China on the right track. Things went south after increasing concern about China's trade practices resulted in Brussels calling China a systemic rival in 2019. This came amid growing EU criticism of China's human rights situation, which led to the suspension of a major investment deal in 2021 and Chinese counter-sanctions. Meanwhile at the instigation of Washington, the Netherlands further limited the export of highly advanced microchip-printing machines made by tech giant ASML, which triggered an angry response from Beijing. Both the Dutch authorities and Amgen refuse to discuss Zhang's case openly. It remains completely unheard of, unlike other high-profile cases involving foreigners charged with spying. In reponse to a request by RFI, Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesperson Casper Soetekouw said his government was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance. W e exercise caution in discussing consular matters with local authorities in public, he added. There are 11 Dutch citizens in Chinese jails according to the 2022 edition of a newsletter on consular affairs published by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amgen's director of communications, Jessica Akopyan, responded after repeated RFI requests to say the company did not " comment on situations involving current or former Amgen employees . 'Lack of support' Alireza, Balo and Humphrey expressed surprise by what they see as a lack of support from Zhang's consulate and company. W hat we have here is somebody who's been abandoned and thrown under a bus by the company that employed him, and also by the Dutch government, says Humphrey. Alireza points out there was some initial contact with Dutch authorities, but that Covid restrictions shut down all exchange. During the pandemic, it was generally more difficult and, in some countries, impossible to visit detainees due to measures taken by local authorities," says Soutekouw, the Dutch spokesperson. But even after the restrictions were lifted, there was not much progress. A readout from a recent, five-hour meeting between Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing does not mention the case. The prisoners-turned-activists now hope that international attention will help free Zhang. I have always been in favor of transparency on such cases and I'm in favour of making lots of noise, says Humphrey. They [foreign goverments] actually started doing something to bring me back the moment my case became public, says Balo. Until then, they do not really want to get involved and try to help. Pointing at the case of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, Humphrey says they were both falsely tried for espionage after being detained very arbitrarily. However if the government made enough noise, it was may be possible to get some concessions out of China. If you say nothing and do nothing, then nothing will happen, Humphrey says. Chief Justice Nominee Gertrude Torkornoo has told the Appointments Committee of Parliament to examine her work as a whole and not only when she became a Justice of the Supreme Court. This was after the Minority side on the Committee decided not to vote on her today after the vetting until they get the reason for the Supreme Court order to Parliament to remove the name of Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson from the records of Parliament. Bawku Central lawmaker Mahama Ayariga told her that they had a challenge with the apex court's refusal to give the reasons for the orders. During the vetting on Friday, May 26, At=yariag said The Minority had a reservation because you participated in the decision involving James Quayson. You did not give a reason for your judgment so as we speak we don't know the basis on which the court arrived at that conclusion. There is uncertainty among us as MPs knowing that our Supreme Court is Consticionl Court that should guide us as a country as to how to run public affairs. [But] we have reached a negotiated position with our colleagues. We will not vote on you today after this hearing. When we finish today and when the Supreme Court gives the reason we will have another opportunity to now assess on the basis of the quality of the reasoning of the court and then we can take the debate. Prior to Mr Ayariga's comment, the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forosn said that they were waiting for the written judgment of the apex court on the Assin North Lammaker. Dr Forsion said the Minority wanted to screen her, especially on that order given to Parliament but first needed to have copies of the judgment. We will be focusing on her judgment on her running from the time she went to the Supreme Court, the Ajumako Enyan Essiam lawmaker said during the Appointments Committee sitting on Friday to screen the nominee. But answering them, Madam Torkornor said The Supreme Court is not a court unless there are five or seven people. My answer is that I have given hundreds of judgments from High Court till now, it would be a great relief if I am assessed on my work as a whole, not the judgments of the Supreme Court. She added Seven people are working together that is why very often, almost invariably every judgment that is given the reasons come out long after the orders. -3news.com 26.05.2023 LISTEN Deputy Minister for Justice, Alfred Tuah Yeboah has appealed to the leadership of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to go back to work. The courts have been left inactive as members of the Association heeded to the directive of their leaders to strike over the non-approval of their new and improved salary structure for the period between January 2023 and December 2024. Speaking to Citi News, Alfred Tuah Yeboah urged the association to meet the government halfway. It is my opinion that the association may want to enter into further negotiations with the relevant state bodies to ensure that this matter is resolved once and for all. We usually look at people who are on remand, for example, someone is arrested today, and by the constitution, he/she cannot be kept in custody for more than 48 hours and the police might take him/ her to court tomorrow. Because they are on strike, you might not be granted bail, and if the police also decide not to grant you bail, you will spend the whole weekend till Monday, May 29. We are even praying that on Monday the court will work. We are rather pleading with the association to reconsider their position. It doesnt mean that they may not be entitled to what they are asking for. But if they are invited for any further negotiations or discussions on this matter, its our expectation that they will cooperate so that we will be able to reach a compromise, said Alfred Tuah Yeboah, Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General. -citinewsroom Chief Justice nominee Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has dismissed perceptions that the unanimous decisions often taken by judges on a panel smack of bias. Its not a matter of bias, she stressed at her vetting on Friday, May 26. It is a matter of legal position. The question was put to her by Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North Constituency James Agalga. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP was concerned about the consistent unanimous positions taken by justices of the Supreme Court in some high-profile cases. Indeed, some Ghanaians nicknamed the Supreme Court Unanimous FC as a result of the outcome of some of these cases including the election petition by John Dramani Mahama in 2021. But Justice Torkornoo justified these decisions, insisting that if it turns out that justices of the Supreme Court take a unanimous decision, then the law is on their side. She explained further that there is a perception that judges can be bribed and this perception has overshadowed the work of some of them who are even unbribable. Judicial predators She said there are some miscreants in the judicial service who have made it a big market to take bribes at the blind side of judges, assuring their victims of taking them to the judges in order to secure positive outcomes for them. Describing them as judicial predators, she said these miscreants within the service have created a market from which they hugely benefit. So, please dont give them money to take to judges because it is their market, Justice Torkornoo cautioned. If approved, Justice Torkornoo will replace Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah as Ghanas next Chief Justice. Justice Anin-Yeboah retired on Wednesday, May 24 after he turned 70. Justice Jones Dotse is acting until Justice Torkornoo is approved and subsequently sworn in. -3news.com The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced the opening of nominations for their flagbearer hopefuls in the upcoming presidential primaries of the party. The announcement by the party has sparked a frenzy among supporters of Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, with many rushing to pay the GHC50,000 fee for his nomination form. One of the first to do so was Madam Abuba Jami, the NPP Womens Organizer for the Walewale constituency in the North East region, who delivered a cheque for the full amount to the campaign office of Dr. Bawumia. Speaking to reporters, Jami said she was proud to support the Vice President, whom she described as a visionary leader with the ability to transform Ghana. I believe that Dr Bawumia is the best candidate to lead our party and our country to greater heights, she said. Thats why I didnt hesitate to pay the full amount for his nomination form. Jamis gesture has been praised by other members of the Bawumia Fan Club, who say that it is a sign of the overwhelming support that the Vice President enjoys within the party. The fact that people are willing to pay the nomination fee without hesitation shows just how much faith they have in Dr. Bawumias leadership, said one member of the group. Also, Bawumia Fan Club, a group supporting the Vice President, in his bid to become the flagbearer of the NPP has raised a total of GH50,000. The money was raised through donations from members across the various constituencies in the country. Though Dr. Bawumia has not officially declared his candidacy for the presidential primaries of the party, set to take place in November 4, 2023 but many of his supporters thought it right to get him to do so. The Bawumia Fan Club has expressed their support for the vice president, highlighting his leadership qualities, humility, and respect for ordinary Ghanaians. The groups National Chairman, Eric Kwabena Twumasi Ankrah, praised Dr. Bawumias ability to digitalize every sector of the country and stated that none of the other candidates can compete with or defeat him. The group is willing to provide any support to Dr. Bawumia to see him triumph, including the donation of the raised money. Another ardent member of the NPP, Yaw Preko, Deputy Director of Communications at the Presidency has directed the National Executives of the party not to issue nomination forms to anyone on behalf of the Vice President until he and his friend, Mustapha Hameed of the Petroleum Commission show up to purchase it. Please until you see me and Mustapha Hameed, dont give nomination forms to another on behalf of DMB. We are buying the forms for him, he posted on Facebook Friday, May 26, 2023. It appears more individuals and groups have expressed their interest to finance the bid to get the Vice president lead the country by rushing to purchase the form and pay for the filing fee for the second gentleman of the country. The NPP is set to hold its presidential primaries later this year, and the race for the partys flagbearer has already begun in earnest. Dr. Bawumia is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race, along with other high-profile party members such as Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong. However, with the mad rush to pay his nomination fee, it appears that Dr. Bawumia has already established a strong base of support within the party, which could give him an edge in the primary. -DGN online Mahama Ayariga, a lawmaker from Bawku Central, informed Chief Justice Nominee Gertrude Torkornor that the Minority side on the Appointments Committee of Parliament had difficulty participating in her vetting. He said the CJ nominee was one of the seven Supreme Court Justices who ordered Parliament to remove James Gyakye Quayson's name from its records. Mahama Ayariga said they had a challenge with the apex courts refusal to give the reasoning for the orders. The Minority had a reservation because you participated in the decision involving James Quayson. You did not give a reason for your judgment so as we speak we dont know the basis on which the court arrived at that conclusion. There is uncertainty among us as MPs knowing that our Supreme Court is a Constitutional Court that should guide us as a country as to how to run public affairs "But we have reached a negotiated position with our colleagues. We will not vote on you today after this hearing, when we finish today when the SC gives the reason we will have another opportunity to now assess on the basis of the quality of the reasoning of the court and then we can take the debate, Mahama Ayariga stated during the vetting on Friday, May 26. Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson stated that they were awaiting the written ruling from the Supreme Court on the Assin North lawmaker in support of Mr. Ayariga's comment. We will be focusing on her judgement on her running from the time she went to the Supreme Court, the Ajumako Enyan Essiam lawmaker said. Justice Torkornor in response to their questions said, The Supreme Court is not a court unless there are five or seven people. My answer is that I have given hundreds of judgments from High Court till now, it would be a great relief if I am assessed on my work as a whole, not the judgments of the Supreme Court." Seven people are working together that is why very often, almost invariably every judgement that is given the reasons come out long after the orders, Justice Tokornor emphasised. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong 26.05.2023 LISTEN Ghanaian Engineer and Politician, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong has taken a formal step to contest the flagbearership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The forms which cost GHS50,000 was picked on Friday, May 26, when the party opened the nominations. In the past year, the former General Secretary had time and again stressed that he wants to lead the NPP into the 2024 general election as its flagbearer. He insists that under him, a New Dawn beckons on Ghanas political landscape anchored on the restoration of cherished values of service sacrifice, and selflessness. He maintains that his passion is to see the transformation of the country. Mr. Agyepong has pledged that if he becomes President, he will cut waste by leading a lean, effective, and efficient government machinery primed to deliver meaningful development to the underserved population. When the time comes for delegates to vote in the NPP presidential primaries, he wants delegates to choose wisely by looking out for a leader with innovative ideas and a clear understanding of where they want to take the country. He has also implored delegates to trust his capacity and fortitude to take the difficult decisions needed to reverse the countrys economic decline. Meanwhile, Kwabena Agyepong is calling on other aspirants to agree to a debate for Ghanaians and delegates to assess and choose who the best candidate is. Ghanaians are entitled and deserve to examine and know what each of us stands for. Our ideas, policy priorities and preferences, our temperament and character all matter. "If you want to lead the people of Ghana then you should be humble enough to submit yourself for scrutiny by the people, he argued. Ahead of the primaries in November, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong is backing the National Executives and Elders of the NPP to oversee an election conducted in a spirit of fairness and equity devoid of manipulation, coercion, and favoritism. In terms of legacy, I believe that most Nigerians will remember Buhari for the rampant insecurity across the country he has led for 8 years. Especially, his inability to uproot and/or substantially degrade the jihadists and footsoldiers of death and destruction who have since invaded the borders and occupy certain sections of Nigeria! Nigerians generally held on to some expectation that President Muhammadu Buhari, the former Major-General of the Nigerian Army who enrolled in 1962 at the age of 19 into the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) was going to move the country onto the path of infrastructural development, security of lives, financial accountability, and fairness to all. How wrong and far off reality have those become! Indigenous peoples and communities have been uprooted and bombed and maimed and butchered with such gory, wickedly passion that all persons of true faith demand(ed) that Buhari stepped up to protect all Nigerian citizens from the AK-47 carrying jihadists and their (sometimes dueling) fellow travelers from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Libya, and a number of neighboring countries. Unfortunately, those squads of terrorism in some collaboration with their domestic allies have seized ancestral forests, farmlands and homesteads. Their actions have not only imperiled Nigerias national security architecture, they have turned many parts of the federal republic of Nigeria into killing fields and wastelands of insecurity and medieval mayhem! Consequently, the Buhari years have been, for millions of Nigerians, the longest 8 years of any elected President of Nigeria. Initially, it started with substantial goodwill and hopefulness in the possibilities of a country severely undermined and battered by the continued, corrosive and overwhelming impact of corruption in high places and at smaller positions and local zones of influence. Buhari, a former military dictator, was sworn in 8 years ago, on May 29, 2015 and promised to work towards a better economy, more secure, less corrupt and peaceful country. The man was reelected in February 2019, to serve another four years that will end on May 29, 2023. Evidently, he has been failing on all the major reasons and the promises he made to all Nigerians. He had significant support, despite allegations of rigging and videos of underage voters especially the third time he contested for president, in the 2015 general election. He edged out then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Dr. Jonathan still seems very uncomfortable with the fundamentals of the rough and tumble of Nigerias politics. Its quite telling that the greater the evidences and videos of ghastly scenes of murderous attacks across Every section of Nigeria, the louder Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Buharis Information Minister) and Garba Shehu exclaimed that Nigerians are impatient and know that things are getting much better than what they are seeing! I wonder how anyone could argue on national and international platforms that the combustion, commotion, clashes, killings which the eyes and lives of the individual Nigerian witness and experience, daily from Sokoto to Nembe, Aba to Zaria, Ibadan to Itigidi, Sambisa to Ujari do not really reflect what we think we saw. Which calls in the great words of the philosopher Groucho Marx who famously said: Should I believe you or should I believe my lying eyes? Uncle Lai, no pun intended, our eyes are not lying! The bitter truth remains that despite the propaganda, Nigerians have endured 8 long and difficult years of insecurities, religious and ethnic conflicts, banking fiasco and truck loads of palaver. Its been for a majority of Nigerians, 8 years of bitter and bloody encounters across Nigerias hijacked, deadly highways and trains. Its been 8 years of Nigerias pandemic of fear and nightmare of violent death lurking nearby! Its been 8 years of painful, brutal slaughter of the natives and indigenous peoples and communities, particularly in Nigerias Middle-belt of Benue and Plateau states. Many of them have been uprooted and bombed and maimed and butchered with gory, demented, wickedly passion. Thats why all persons of true faith demand(ed) that the Buhari regime stepped up to protect Nigeria and Nigerian citizens from the AK-47 carrying jihadists and their fellow travelers from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Libya and a number of other neighboring countries who are knocking down the borders of Nigeria. It has been 8 years whereby Borno and parts of the North East of the country with major Muslim populations have faced untimely deaths in the hands of other Muslim fighters and bandits. They have occupied and seized ancestral forests, farmlands and homesteads. I understand that those jihadists and their sponsoring allies are transforming those real estate into camps and planning bases for their attacks. At a related level, they create some wastelands of insecurity, increasing instability, demographics disruption, poverty and constipation and convulsions across all sections of life in most of Nigeria. The outgoing president failed Nigerians in the area of security. The legacy challenge and the problem remain the facts that Nigerians gave Buhari their trust, their sacred votes and their last drip of hope. He disappointed them with a poorly conducted, flawed and currently disputed presidential election. Under the Buhari presidency and the economy, the Naira has lost so much value, exponentially to date, that it exchanges in the market at almost N800 to $1 (one dollar)! Hence, in one of his moments of candour, Nigerias President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said during his February2023 campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, for the nomination of Buhari-led party (All Progressives Congress): Today, they moved the exchange rate from N200 to N800. If they had repaired it, if they had arrested this, we wont be where we are today, we will be greater. They dont know the way, they dont know how to think, they dont know how to do. Buhari, who ruled Nigeria with an iron fist from December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985, said at his APC partys campaign event in February 2023: Please in the name of God, be patient with us and forgive us. Tell your friends, brothers, sisters and children to continue to vote for APC, Tinubu will continue from where we stop. The truth remains that Nigerians have realistic concerns regarding corruption, last-minute, eye-popping supplementary budgets, banking fiasco and several other problems during this last year of the Buhari presidency. Goodbye, to the Buhari presidency a presidency of small things, of petty malice and ancient grudges, of crass nepotism and clannishness, of moral corruption and assorted inequities, of impunity and incapacity! Dr. Chido Nwangwu , author of the forthcoming 2023 book, MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity. , is Founder of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com , and established USAfrica in 1992 in Houston. He has appeared as an analyst on CNN, ALJazeera, SKYnews, and served as an adviser on Africa business to Houstons former Mayor Lee Brown. Follow him on Twitter @Chido247 According to the Russian publication RTVI, Tamaz Gaiashvili, the founder of Georgian Airways, has stated that the airline will operate transit flights from Tbilisi to European destinations specifically for Russian citizens. The publication reported this information based on Gaiashvili's statements.According to Gaiashvili, several destinations, including Milan, Paris, Vienna, Larnaca, and Thessaloniki, are part of the planned flight routes. The flights are set to begin from June 15, and Gaiashvili expressed confidence in the demand for these routes. He noted that traveling from Tbilisi would be more convenient and faster compared to other options. Furthermore, Gaiashvili mentioned that air communication with Russia would be maintained, and the Georgian government welcomed this decision."We will start on June 15. Let's see how things go. However, we believe there will be sufficient demand for these routes. Traveling from Tbilisi will be more comfortable and faster compared to other destinations. We will continue to maintain air communication with Russia. The Government of Georgia has warmly welcomed this decision. God forbid that it should ever cease," Gaiashvili told RTVI.The Georgian Dream Chairman, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that by the end of June, all 12 recommendations established by the European Union for Georgia to obtain EU candidacy status would be fully implemented.Kobakhidze said that if a fair assessment is conducted, it would result in a positive outcome for Georgia. However, he also recognized that due to its political nature, the chances of success are uncertain, with a 50/50 probability.Kobakhidze further addressed the topic of depolarization, one of the 12 recommendations, and highlighted the importance of the 'radical' opposition's involvement in this process. He called upon the 'radical' opposition to cease their radical behavior and contribute to depolarization efforts."Our expectations are optimistic in this regard, although this is a political decision, and again the chances are 50/50. By June, the implementation of all reforms in accordance with the 12 recommendations will be completed. As for depolarization, it means that both sides have to take steps, especially the radical opposition. Polarization is essentially a term that has been fabricated.Radicalism is often associated with polarization, where it is expected that someone would provoke you and you should not react. However, this does not align with the concept of depolarization. Depolarization occurs when radicals cease their radical actions, and consequently, the government has no incentive to act radically.We urge the radical opposition to adopt a non-radical approach. This is a general call we make. While we may not have grounds for optimism, we can still express this plea," stated Kobakhidze. 26.05.2023 LISTEN Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has eulogised the Chief Justice Nominee, Gertrude Torkornoo. He said she is an inspiration to women given her glorious legal career over the period. During the vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, May 26, Mr Afenyo-Markin who is also a lawmaker for Effutu said You are an inspiration to women. When asked what she had to say to women or young girls who are in self-doubt about their prospects in life? she answered: I will ask them to be confident in themselves, to work on the areas that derate the self-doubts, to choose not to look down on themselves, every girl is entitled to sit with her brother. Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who hails from Winneba in the Central Region, if approved, will become the third female Chief Justice in the history of Ghana, after Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo. President Akufo-Addo had earlier urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to quickly facilitate the approval of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for the position of Chief Justice. The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 officially retired from active service. Justice Anin-Yeboah served 21 years as a judge, serving three years as the Head of the Judiciary. Following his retirement, Justice Jones Dotse, the most senior Justice on the Supreme Court bench, has assumed the position of Acting Chief Justice. This is in accordance with Article 144 (6) of the 1992 Constitution, which stipulates that when the office of Chief Justice is vacant or the Chief Justice, for any reason is unable to perform the functions of his office, the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court shall act as the Chief Justice until a substantive Chief Justice is appointed. 26.05.2023 LISTEN Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Araba Esabaa Torkornoo has warned the public against paying bribes to influence the outcome of cases in court. She said this during her vetting on Friday, May 26, by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. She stressed that the public should not accept the idea that judges can be swayed by money. According to her, some people described as judicial predators have developed a business where they take advantage of innocent people whose cases are in court by telling them that if money is provided to judges, it will help win their case. She indicated that nine out of ten judicial predators who take money from people to bribe lawyers on their behalf end up pocketing the cash. Dont give money to people to be taken to judges.There is a whole market; we call it judicial predators. Its a whole predatory group around our function and that is something that we constantly try to address in our study of ethics both for judges and staff, Justice Torkornoo stated. Justice Torkornoo expressed concern that, regrettably, some people have accepted the notion that they will win cases in courts by paying bribes. It is unfortunate that that perception has prevailedOur work is extremely technical, sometimes people lose cases because they didnt abide by the rules of courts; they didnt abide by the rules of evidence; they didnt abide by substantive law preceptsand so they lose the case and they dont understand. The law is difficult that is why law school is difficult and so when people lose cases, they tend to wonder why they lost and then they come up with all sorts of notions, Justice Torkornoo stated. When her appointment is approved by Parliament, Justice Torkornoo has pledged to engage the public to better understand how the law operates in order not to be swayed by judicial predators. Fulgence Kayishema, one of the last fugitives sought over the 1994 Rwanda genocide, appeared before a court in the South African city of Cape Town on Friday, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run. He allegedly took part in one of the genocide's bloodiest episodes, when thousands of men, women and children who had sought shelter in a church were slaughtered. Wearing a blue jacket, black trousers and spectacles, he denied any role in the massacre after being quizzed by a local journalist before entering the packed courtroom. "What I can say, we are sorry to hear what was happening," he said, asked if he had anything to say to the victims. "There was a civil war in that time and people were killing each other... I didn't have any role." Flanked by armed officers with helmets and bullet-proof vests, Kayishema briefly held up a prayer book titled "Jesus First" before identifying himself to the court. The 62-year-old appeared calm and composed as a state prosecutor read out the accusations against him. They include "genocide" and conspiracy to commit genocide "relating to the slaughter of more than 2,000 people in Rwanda in 1994," prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse told the court. At the end of a short hearing, magistrate Ronel Oliver remanded him into custody. A 2004 file picture showing a mass grave and the ruins of the Notre Dame de la Visitation church in Nyange where 2,000 Tutsis were slaughtered. By STR (AFP/File) He is to be held at Cape Town's maximum security Pollsmoor prison until a next court appearance scheduled for June 2. The former Rwandan police inspector was arrested on Wednesday at a grape farm in the small winelands town of Paarl, 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Cape Town. He had been living in South Africa under an alias for more than two decades, prosecutors said. Church massacre He is described by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) -- the successor to the UN court that prosecuted scores of major suspects -- as "one of the world's most wanted genocide fugitives." Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Kayishema and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 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 MICT said on Thursday, announcing his arrest. Kayishema's face, top right, is crossed out on a wanted poster Friday at the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit in Kigali, Rwanda. By Mariam KONE (AFP) "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." South African police said the arrest was made in response to an Interpol red notice, and the suspect had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba. Eric Ntabazalila, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority, said Kayishema applied for asylum in South Africa in January 2000, pretending to be a citizen of Burundi. Four years later he used the same alias to apply for refugee status, Ntabazalila said, adding the suspect was understood to be a "family man". On Friday, the court was told Kayishema would be facing additional charges of fraud and contravening immigration laws in South Africa, and further charges were likely to follow. Aliases The hunt for Kayishema spanned countries across Africa, targeting a man who used many aliases and false documents and relied on a "network of trusted supporters", the MICT said. The Rwandan genocide. By Paz PIZARRO, Alain BOMMENEL (AFP) The United States had offered up to $5 million reward for information leading to Kayishema's arrest, transfer or conviction, but there have been no details as to whether this played a role in the capture. The MICT in 2015 took over the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), set up by UN after the genocide. Before handing over the reins, the ICTR sentenced 62 people, including a 30-year term handed to former minister Augustin Ngirabatware, and acquitted 14. 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. 26.05.2023 LISTEN Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, popularly known as Joe Wise is backing Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to do a fantastic job as the Chief Justice of Ghana. The Chief Justice nominee was vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, May 26. Although she has been praised for her posture and answers on matters raised at the vetting, there was no consensus to recommend her for approval at the end of the process. Speaking to Citi News after the vetting, Joseph Osei-Owusu was full of praise for Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. According to him, he thought the Chief Justice nominee was brilliant and believed she can do the job. My view is that she was brilliant. She answered all the questions expertly. She demonstrated that her integrity is intact and for me, she is fit for the job. I think the committee should recommend her to the house for approval, Joe Wise said. For the Members of Parliament representing the Minority on the Appointments Committee, they will only take a decision on the new Chief Justice nominee after reading the full judgment of the Supreme Court on the case involving former Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson. Regardless of their stance, Joe Wise has disclosed that Justice Gertrude Torkornoo will be recommended for approval via a majority decision. Authorities of the Kumasi Technical Institute in the Ashanti Region have sent over 500 students home due to their misconduct and violation of school rules. The students, who were all in the boarding house, reportedly caused damage to school properties during a rampage on May 17. School authorities failed to give further information on the matter but only said they took action to instill discipline in the school. The authorities say they have submitted an official report of the conduct of the students to the Technical and Vocational Education Training Directorate for the appropriate action. Citi News has learned that the affected students failed to attend a general assembly parade on Friday during which the authorities conducted a roll call. The authorities subsequently asked the students to pack their luggage out of the dormitories and will be made to face the schools disciplinary committee when they are recalled. The authorities are expected to meet the parents of the affected students to brief them on the development. Most of the affected students on Friday left the school while others were still packing out when Citi News visited the premises. Police from the Manhyia Divisional Command later went to the school and the Police Commander addressed the remaining students in the school and urged them to be law-abiding. citinewsroom Four people on Friday lost their lives in an accident at the Akatsi Yaluvi Junction stretch of the Accra-Aflao Highway. The deceased, Rita Foli and Dzodzi Agbemenya, both residents of Torve within Akatsi South, and two other unidentified males were crushed by a Lexus 44 vehicle with registration number UW 200-22. Chief Superintendent Isaac Baah, the Akatsi South Municipal Police Commander, who confirmed the fatal accident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said Rita Foli, onboard a tricycle with registration number M-19- GW 467 died on the spot. The remaining two unidentified males; one on board the tricycle and the other riding the motorbike, and Dodzi, who was riding the tricycle, were pronounced dead upon arrival at the St Paul's Hospital at Akatsi. Mr Baah said the tragedy, which happened at about 0800 hours, involved a Lexus 44 vehicle, an unregistered Boxer-type motorbike, a tricycle, and one stationary tipper truck. He said investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the accident. However, Assistant Divisional Officer Grade II, Mr Clemence Kponyo, the Akatsi South Municipal Operations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, during their rescue operation, disclosed to the GNA at the scene of the accident that the Lexus vehicle was moving from Accra towards Aflao. The five passengers onboard escaped unhurt when the accident occurred. He said the driver in charge of the Lexus, in an attempt to swerve an object, hit the motor rider before running into the tricycle, and finally hitting the tipper truck in the process. The tipper truck driver, who sustained some injuries, is currently receiving treatment, whilst the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the St Paul's Hospital Morgue awaiting autopsy, Mr Kponyo said. GNA StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Alpha Pro Tech (NYSE:APT Get Rating) in a research report report published on Monday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock. Alpha Pro Tech Stock Performance APT opened at $3.76 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $4.05 and a 200-day moving average of $4.09. The company has a market capitalization of $45.83 million, a P/E ratio of 19.79 and a beta of -0.77. Alpha Pro Tech has a 1-year low of $3.75 and a 1-year high of $4.99. Get Alpha Pro Tech alerts: Alpha Pro Tech (NYSE:APT Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $12.23 million during the quarter. Alpha Pro Tech had a net margin of 3.98% and a return on equity of 3.73%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alpha Pro Tech About Alpha Pro Tech Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Alpha Pro Tech by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 650,063 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,730,000 after buying an additional 38,900 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Alpha Pro Tech by 10.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 579,446 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,434,000 after buying an additional 53,003 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Alpha Pro Tech by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 50,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $210,000 after buying an additional 3,487 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Alpha Pro Tech by 154.4% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 35,319 shares of the companys stock valued at $146,000 after buying an additional 21,435 shares during the period. Finally, PDT Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Alpha Pro Tech by 48.7% in the 2nd quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 20,918 shares of the companys stock valued at $93,000 after buying an additional 6,850 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 19.55% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) 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. Read More 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. Good Life Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Get Rating) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 18,567 shares of the companys stock after selling 149 shares during the period. Good Life Advisors LLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $1,724,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 135.6% during the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 318 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 655.8% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 393 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares during the period. Finally, RFP Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. 78.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Price Performance Archer-Daniels-Midland stock traded down $1.20 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $72.52. The company had a trading volume of 1,132,681 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,096,531. The company has a market capitalization of $39.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.80. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 12-month low of $70.02 and a 12-month high of $98.28. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $77.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $84.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $24.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.09 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.36% and a return on equity of 18.39%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands quarterly revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.90 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 6.84 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 17th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.48%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 16th. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.58%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $94.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. 92 Resources reissued a maintains rating on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $100.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Archer-Daniels-Midland presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.78. Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile (Get Rating) Archer-Daniels-Midland Co engages in the production of oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities. It operates through the following segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, Nutrition, and Other. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment includes activities related to the origination, merchandising, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials, and the crushing and further processing of oilseeds such as soybeans and soft seeds cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed into vegetable oils and protein meals. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Rating)s stock had its maintains rating reiterated by investment analysts at VNET Group in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Argus increased their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $228.00 to $232.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $215.00 to $240.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $225.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $217.71. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Down 0.2 % AJG traded down $0.51 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $203.81. The companys stock had a trading volume of 632,873 shares, compared to its average volume of 893,565. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.85, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 1 year low of $148.24 and a 1 year high of $219.23. The stocks 50-day moving average is $202.48 and its 200-day moving average is $195.22. Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. In related news, CAO Richard C. Cary sold 3,204 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.62, for a total transaction of $697,254.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 37,285 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,113,961.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, CAO Richard C. Cary sold 3,204 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.62, for a total transaction of $697,254.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 37,285 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,113,961.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, Director Sherry S. Barrat sold 2,330 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.00, for a total transaction of $500,950.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 18,808 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,043,720. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 125,354 shares of company stock valued at $25,882,434 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of AJG. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,431,788,000. Boston Partners purchased a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 1st quarter worth approximately $418,715,000. Morgan Stanley grew its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 40.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,143,144 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $404,069,000 after purchasing an additional 619,008 shares during the last quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE purchased a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 4th quarter worth approximately $116,254,000. Finally, Bain Capital Public Equity Management II LLC boosted its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 502.3% during the third quarter. Bain Capital Public Equity Management II LLC now owns 499,542 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $85,532,000 after buying an additional 416,605 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.07% of the companys stock. About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Get Rating) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following business segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ASOS (LON:ASC Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at Liberum Capital to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 470 ($5.85) price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of GBX 500 ($6.22). Liberum Capitals price target suggests a potential upside of 15.76% from the companys current price. ASC has been the topic of several other research reports. Citigroup upgraded ASOS to a buy rating and decreased their target price for the stock from GBX 780 ($9.70) to GBX 600 ($7.46) in a report on Friday, May 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a GBX 950 ($11.82) price target on ASOS in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a GBX 1,050 ($13.06) price target on ASOS in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Shore Capital reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of ASOS in a research note on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 950 ($11.82) price target on ASOS in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ASOS presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 861.25 ($10.71). Get ASOS alerts: ASOS Stock Performance Shares of ASC traded down GBX 12.10 ($0.15) on Friday, reaching GBX 406 ($5.05). 2,414,795 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 709,116. The firm has a market cap of 406.08 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,561.54, a P/E/G ratio of -1.26 and a beta of 2.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 136.85, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.39. ASOS has a 12 month low of GBX 380.10 ($4.73) and a 12 month high of GBX 1,610 ($20.02). The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 671.18 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 701.35. About ASOS ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer worldwide. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands, as well as through third-party brands. It is also involved in the employer of marketing staff and payment processing businesses. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ASOS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASOS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AXQ Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Science Applications International Co. (NYSE:SAIC Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 3,183 shares of the information technology services providers stock, valued at approximately $353,000. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Midwest Professional Planners LTD. acquired a new position in shares of Science Applications International during the 4th quarter valued at $212,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Science Applications International during the 4th quarter valued at $336,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Science Applications International by 157.3% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 31,621 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $3,508,000 after acquiring an additional 19,333 shares in the last quarter. HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in shares of Science Applications International during the 4th quarter worth $4,783,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Science Applications International by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 11,690 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,298,000 after acquiring an additional 1,362 shares in the last quarter. 76.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Science Applications International alerts: Insider Transactions at Science Applications International In other news, insider Michael W. Larouche sold 6,000 shares of Science Applications International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.19, for a total value of $643,140.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,192 shares in the company, valued at $5,272,890.48. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Katharina G. Mcfarland sold 1,193 shares of Science Applications International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.48, for a total value of $129,416.64. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,813 shares in the company, valued at $847,554.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Michael W. Larouche sold 6,000 shares of Science Applications International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.19, for a total value of $643,140.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 49,192 shares in the company, valued at $5,272,890.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 33,430 shares of company stock worth $3,589,623. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Science Applications International Price Performance Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Science Applications International from $90.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Science Applications International from $121.00 to $118.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Science Applications International from $110.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Science Applications International from $141.00 to $127.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Science Applications International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Science Applications International presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $113.30. NYSE SAIC opened at $95.94 on Friday. Science Applications International Co. has a fifty-two week low of $83.68 and a fifty-two week high of $117.94. The stocks 50-day moving average is $103.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market cap of $5.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.83 and a beta of 0.71. Science Applications International (NYSE:SAIC Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 3rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.41. Science Applications International had a return on equity of 25.20% and a net margin of 3.89%. The company had revenue of $1.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.86 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.50 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Science Applications International Co. will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Science Applications International Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th were paid a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. Science Applications Internationals payout ratio is presently 27.51%. About Science Applications International (Get Rating) Science Applications International Corp. is a provider of technical, engineering and enterprise information technology (IT) services. Its offerings include engineering, systems integration and information technology offerings for large, complex government projects and offer a broad range of services with a targeted emphasis on higher end, differentiated technology services, and end-to-end services spanning the entire spectrum of its customers IT infrastructure. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Science Applications International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Science Applications International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BHP Group Limited (LON:BHP Get Rating) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the six analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,503.33 ($31.14). Several research firms have recently commented on BHP. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and set a GBX 2,300 ($28.61) price target on shares of BHP Group in a report on Thursday. Citigroup assumed coverage on BHP Group in a report on Monday, April 24th. They set a neutral rating and a GBX 2,400 ($29.85) price target on the stock. Barclays restated an equal weight rating and issued a GBX 2,550 ($31.72) price objective on shares of BHP Group in a report on Monday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on BHP Group from GBX 2,550 ($31.72) to GBX 2,370 ($29.48) and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 2,800 ($34.83) price objective on shares of BHP Group in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Get BHP Group alerts: BHP Group Trading Up 2.9 % Shares of BHP stock opened at GBX 2,284.50 ($28.41) on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is GBX 2,392.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 2,537.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 36.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.69. The firm has a market capitalization of 115.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 765.52, a PEG ratio of -0.78 and a beta of 0.80. BHP Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 1,998.60 ($24.86) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 2,880.50 ($35.83). About BHP Group BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, iron ore, and metallurgical and energy coal. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BHP Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BHP Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB.PD Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$22.97 and last traded at C$23.77, with a volume of 2700 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$23.76. Canadian Western Bank Price Performance The stock has a market cap of C$2.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.27 and a beta of 1.70. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$24.26 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$24.71. Canadian Western Bank Company Profile (Get Rating) Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, cash management, US dollar, senior, chequing, youth, and student accounts, as well as specialized accounts, including corporate and commercial, organization, strata solution/condo, general trust, and trust fund investment accounts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Western Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Western Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cartica Management LLC lowered its holdings in Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ Get Rating) by 3.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 833,392 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 33,755 shares during the quarter. Embraer comprises approximately 4.9% of Cartica Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Cartica Management LLC owned about 0.45% of Embraer worth $9,109,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Embraer during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Embraer by 241.4% during the 3rd quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,404 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 3,114 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Embraer during the 1st quarter worth $60,000. US Bancorp DE raised its stake in shares of Embraer by 23.0% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 7,832 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 1,462 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of Embraer by 268.3% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 13,126 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $113,000 after purchasing an additional 9,562 shares during the period. 37.89% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Embraer alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ERJ. StockNews.com upgraded Embraer from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Embraer from $27.00 to $24.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Embraer from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. TheStreet upgraded Embraer from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Embraer from $11.75 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Embraer currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $19.25. Embraer Stock Up 2.9 % Shares of Embraer stock traded up $0.42 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $14.73. 781,799 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,592,980. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $15.22 and a 200-day moving average of $12.98. Embraer S.A. has a 12 month low of $7.91 and a 12 month high of $16.75. Embraer (NYSE:ERJ Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 10th. The aerospace company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by ($0.06). Embraer had a positive return on equity of 0.65% and a negative net margin of 0.08%. The firm had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.02 billion. Analysts forecast that Embraer S.A. will post 1.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Embraer Profile (Get Rating) Embraer SA engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft and its parts for commercial, defense, and executive aviation sectors. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Jet Business, Service & Support and Others. The Commercial Aviation segment is involved in the development, production, and sale of commercial jets; and the provision of support services to regional aviation and aircraft leasing. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ERJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Embraer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Embraer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (CVE:CEM Get Rating)s stock price traded up 4.5% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$0.37 and last traded at C$0.35. 207,650 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 199% from the average session volume of 69,562 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.33. Constantine Metal Resources Trading Up 4.5 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.75, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a current ratio of 2.08. The stock has a market cap of C$22.52 million and a P/E ratio of -10.78. The stocks fifty day moving average is C$0.35 and its 200 day moving average is C$0.34. About Constantine Metal Resources (Get Rating) Constantine Metal Resources Ltd., a junior mining company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. The company primarily explores for copper, zinc, gold, and silver deposits. Its principal project is the Palmer project that includes 340 federal mining claims and 63 state mining claims located in Alaska, the United States. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Constantine Metal Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constantine Metal Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GAMCO Investors (NYSE:GAMI Get Rating) and Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends, earnings and analyst recommendations. Earnings and Valuation This table compares GAMCO Investors and Credit Suisse Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get GAMCO Investors alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GAMCO Investors $258.75 million 1.88 $65.56 million $2.47 7.73 Credit Suisse Group $22.88 billion 0.12 -$7.64 billion $0.65 1.32 GAMCO Investors has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Credit Suisse Group. Credit Suisse Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GAMCO Investors, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GAMCO Investors 25.70% 48.30% 29.09% Credit Suisse Group 15.12% 23.83% 1.81% Volatility & Risk This table compares GAMCO Investors and Credit Suisse Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. GAMCO Investors has a beta of 1.25, indicating that its stock price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Credit Suisse Group has a beta of 1.27, indicating that its stock price is 27% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for GAMCO Investors and Credit Suisse Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GAMCO Investors 0 0 0 0 N/A Credit Suisse Group 5 5 2 0 1.75 Credit Suisse Group has a consensus price target of $4.73, indicating a potential upside of 450.99%. Given Credit Suisse Groups higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Credit Suisse Group is more favorable than GAMCO Investors. Institutional & Insider Ownership 30.5% of GAMCO Investors shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 11.2% of Credit Suisse Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 81.2% of GAMCO Investors shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary GAMCO Investors beats Credit Suisse Group on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About GAMCO Investors (Get Rating) GAMCO Investors, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the provision of investment advisory and asset management services. It offers investment advisory principally through Gabelli Funds and GAMCO Asset, which manages separate accounts for high net worth individuals, institutions, and qualified pension plans, and through its role as advisor to a family of mutual funds. The company was founded by Mario J. Gabelli in 1976 and is headquartered in Rye, NY. About Credit Suisse Group (Get Rating) Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas. The Wealth Management division offers comprehensive wealth management and investment solutions, tailored financing, and advisory services to ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) and high net-worth (HNW) individuals and external asset managers. The Investment Bank division offers a broad range of financial products and services focused on client-driven businesses and also supports Credit Suisses Wealth Management division and its clients. The Swiss Bank division offers comprehensive advice and a wide range of financial solutions to private, corporate, and institutional clients in Switzerland. The Asset Management division offers investment solutions and services globally to a broad range of clients, including pension funds, governments, foundations and endowments, corporations, and individuals. The company was founded by Alfred Escher on July 5, 1856 and is headqua Receive News & Ratings for GAMCO Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GAMCO Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CURO Group Holdings Corp. (NYSE:CURO Get Rating) CFO Ismail Dawood bought 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was bought at an average price of $1.09 per share, for a total transaction of $218,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 366,869 shares in the company, valued at $399,887.21. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. CURO Group Stock Performance CURO opened at $1.12 on Friday. CURO Group Holdings Corp. has a 1 year low of $1.00 and a 1 year high of $8.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.68, a current ratio of 9.63 and a quick ratio of 9.63. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $1.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.84. Get CURO Group alerts: CURO Group (NYSE:CURO Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported ($0.87) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.30) by ($0.57). The firm had revenue of $217.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $223.32 million. CURO Group had a negative net margin of 26.06% and a negative return on equity of 71.92%. As a group, equities analysts expect that CURO Group Holdings Corp. will post -1.85 EPS for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes Institutional Trading of CURO Group CURO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Credit Suisse Group cut CURO Group from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $7.00 to $4.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. Stephens lowered their price target on CURO Group from $5.00 to $3.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Long Focus Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of CURO Group by 22.0% in the first quarter. Long Focus Capital Management LLC now owns 1,633,317 shares of the companys stock worth $2,826,000 after buying an additional 295,017 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of CURO Group by 8.6% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 390,521 shares of the companys stock valued at $676,000 after purchasing an additional 30,834 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP bought a new stake in shares of CURO Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in shares of CURO Group by 171.3% in the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 45,596 shares of the companys stock valued at $79,000 after purchasing an additional 28,789 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of CURO Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $94,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 34.85% of the companys stock. About CURO Group (Get Rating) CURO Group Holdings Corp. is a consumer finance company, which engages in the provision of services and lending products for under banked consumers. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Direct Lending Canada Direct Lending, and Canada POS Lending. The company was founded by Douglas Rippel, Chadwick Faulkner, and Michael McKnight in 1997 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CURO Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CURO Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Borse AG (OTCMKTS:DBOEY Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 32,000 shares, a growth of 210.7% from the April 30th total of 10,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 381,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on DBOEY shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Deutsche Borse to 204.10 ($221.85) in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Deutsche Borse from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Deutsche Borse from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Deutsche Borse in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $191.87. Get Deutsche Borse alerts: Deutsche Borse Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of DBOEY traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $17.47. 45,156 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 128,354. Deutsche Borse has a 52-week low of $15.22 and a 52-week high of $20.61. The companys 50-day moving average price is $19.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.17. Deutsche Borse Increases Dividend Deutsche Borse ( OTCMKTS:DBOEY Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter. Deutsche Borse had a net margin of 28.08% and a return on equity of 18.58%. The company had revenue of $1.59 billion for the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Deutsche Borse will post 1.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.2568 per share. This is a boost from Deutsche Borses previous dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.34%. Deutsche Borses payout ratio is 28.41%. Deutsche Borse Company Profile (Get Rating) Deutsche Borse AG engages in the provision of information technology services and market data distribution. It operates through the following segments: Eurex, EEX, Xetra, 360T, Clearstream, IFS, GSF, Qontigo and Data. The Eurex segment includes electronic trading of European derivatives, commodities, and foreign exchange. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Borse Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Borse and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Lufthansa AG (OTCMKTS:DLAKY Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,200 shares, a growth of 148.5% from the April 30th total of 3,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 77,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on DLAKY shares. HSBC upgraded Deutsche Lufthansa from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Barclays began coverage on Deutsche Lufthansa in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. They issued an overweight rating for the company. UBS Group upgraded Deutsche Lufthansa from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Deutsche Lufthansa has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $8.77. Get Deutsche Lufthansa alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Deutsche Lufthansa A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Deutsche Lufthansa stock. OLD Mission Capital LLC bought a new position in Deutsche Lufthansa AG (OTCMKTS:DLAKY Get Rating) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 43,040 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $480,000. Deutsche Lufthansa Trading Up 0.3 % OTCMKTS DLAKY traded up $0.03 during trading on Thursday, hitting $9.90. 35,169 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 54,675. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.89. Deutsche Lufthansa has a 12-month low of $5.40 and a 12-month high of $11.67. The business has a 50 day moving average of $10.48 and a 200-day moving average of $9.67. Deutsche Lufthansa (OTCMKTS:DLAKY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The transportation company reported ($0.38) EPS for the quarter. Deutsche Lufthansa had a return on equity of 11.06% and a net margin of 2.53%. The business had revenue of $7.53 billion during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Deutsche Lufthansa will post 1.52 earnings per share for the current year. Deutsche Lufthansa Company Profile (Get Rating) Deutsche Lufthansa AG engages in the provision of passenger, freight, and cargo airline services. It operates through the following segments: Network Airlines, Eurowings, Logistics, Maintenance Repair Overhaul, Catering and Additional Businesses and Group Functions. The Network Airlines segment comprises Lufthansa German Airlines, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Lufthansa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Lufthansa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:CEV Get Rating)s share price was down 1.4% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $9.71 and last traded at $9.72. Approximately 13,445 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 23% from the average daily volume of 17,413 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.86. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Trading Up 0.2 % The business has a 50-day moving average price of $10.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.06. Get Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust alerts: Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 11th were given a dividend of $0.0371 per share. This represents a $0.45 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.55%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 10th. Institutional Trading of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust About Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Logan Stone Capital LLC grew its holdings in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust by 127.2% in the 4th quarter. Logan Stone Capital LLC now owns 121,503 shares of the companys stock worth $1,213,000 after buying an additional 68,018 shares in the last quarter. Channel Wealth LLC bought a new position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $531,000. Almitas Capital LLC bought a new position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust in the 4th quarter worth approximately $459,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust by 369.3% in the 4th quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 36,970 shares of the companys stock worth $369,000 after buying an additional 29,093 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Melfa Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust in the 4th quarter worth approximately $201,000. 19.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust operates as a closed-end investment fund. It seeks current income exempt from regular federal income tax and California state personal income taxes. The company was founded on January 29, 1999 and is headquartered in Boston, MA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ??#Ahora | Presidente del Poder Judicial, Javier Arevalo Vela, participa en II Reunion de Estados Parte del Acuerdo Tripartito sobre la Transferencia de Activos Decomisados. Lugar: Instalaciones del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. ??https://t.co/dV1g4ZonmN pic.twitter.com/ih1k6aGGkY Amalgamated Bank decreased its holdings in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 157,688 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 1,080 shares during the period. Amalgamated Banks holdings in EOG Resources were worth $20,424,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in EOG. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% in the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 9,118 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,019,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,197 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $245,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Bollard Group LLC grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Bollard Group LLC now owns 10,569 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,369,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. PAX Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. PAX Financial Group LLC now owns 2,705 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, FSM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,018 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $650,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. 87.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get EOG Resources alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have commented on EOG shares. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $171.00 to $170.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Mizuho raised shares of EOG Resources from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $146.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a buy rating and a $152.00 price target on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $149.33. EOG Resources Stock Performance EOG traded down $0.27 on Friday, reaching $110.13. The company had a trading volume of 545,008 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,566,304. EOG Resources, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $92.16 and a fifty-two week high of $150.88. The stock has a market cap of $64.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.90, a P/E/G ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.53. The companys fifty day moving average is $114.32 and its 200 day moving average is $123.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 2.17. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.42 by $0.27. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.83% and a return on equity of 30.34%. The company had revenue of $6.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.00 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 51.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. EOG Resources Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 17th will be paid a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is 20.64%. EOG Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad, and Other International geographical segments. The Other International segment includes China and Canada operations. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (LON:ERM Get Rating) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 1,456.49 ($18.12) and traded as high as GBX 1,460 ($18.16). Euromoney Institutional Investor shares last traded at GBX 1,460 ($18.16), with a volume of 4,978,005 shares traded. Euromoney Institutional Investor Price Performance The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 1,460 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 1,456.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.74. The firm has a market cap of 1.60 billion and a P/E ratio of 14,600.00. Euromoney Institutional Investor Company Profile (Get Rating) Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides business-to-business information services in the United Kingdom, North America, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Fast Markets, Financial & Professional Services, and Asset Management. The Fast Market segment provides commodity price benchmarks and analysis to its clients' business processes and workflows in the metals, mining, forest products, and agriculture industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Euromoney Institutional Investor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Euromoney Institutional Investor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. European Assets Trust PLC (LON:EAT Get Rating)s share price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 92.12 ($1.15) and traded as high as GBX 95.70 ($1.19). European Assets Trust shares last traded at GBX 92.10 ($1.15), with a volume of 377,613 shares trading hands. European Assets Trust Price Performance The businesss 50 day moving average price is GBX 92.14 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 92.81. The firm has a market capitalization of 325.14 million, a PE ratio of -188.13 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.55, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.72. Get European Assets Trust alerts: European Assets Trust Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 6th were paid a GBX 1.45 ($0.02) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 6th. European Assets Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -1,250.00%. Insider Buying and Selling European Assets Trust Company Profile In other European Assets Trust news, insider Pui Kei Yuen bought 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 94 ($1.17) per share, with a total value of 9,400 ($11,691.54). 0.77% of the stock is owned by insiders. (Get Rating) European Assets Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by F&C Investment Business Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in stocks of small and mid cap companies with a market capitalization below that of the largest company in the Euromoney Smaller European Companies (ex UK) Index or below Euro 2.5 billion. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for European Assets Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for European Assets Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Western Trust Bank increased its stake in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 32,061 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the quarter. Accenture makes up approximately 0.5% of First Western Trust Banks portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. First Western Trust Banks holdings in Accenture were worth $8,555,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 54.9% during the 4th quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 412 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 26.5% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. now owns 1,951 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $521,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. Creative Planning now owns 204,374 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $54,535,000 after purchasing an additional 13,814 shares in the last quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at $117,000. Finally, J.Safra Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 292.0% during the 4th quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 439 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 327 shares in the last quarter. 73.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Stock Performance Shares of ACN stock traded up $12.00 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $303.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,718,487 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,386,221. The firms 50-day moving average is $276.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $277.13. Accenture plc has a 1-year low of $242.80 and a 1-year high of $322.88. The company has a market cap of $191.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.30, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.25. Accenture Announces Dividend Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The business had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.59 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.54 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th were issued a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 12th. Accentures payout ratio is 41.25%. Insider Transactions at Accenture In other Accenture news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 26,908 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,423,917.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Accenture news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.82, for a total transaction of $153,911.92. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,739 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,831,009.98. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at $7,423,917.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 15,010 shares of company stock valued at $4,180,030. 0.08% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Accenture from $310.00 to $327.00 in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Accenture in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Piper Jaffray Companies raised their target price on shares of Accenture from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $314.00. Accenture Company Profile (Get Rating) Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barclays upgraded shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (NYSE:ASR Get Rating) from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on ASR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from $215.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $255.00. Get Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. alerts: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Price Performance Shares of NYSE:ASR opened at $279.70 on Monday. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. has a twelve month low of $179.01 and a twelve month high of $314.48. The companys 50 day moving average is $292.38 and its 200 day moving average is $272.96. The company has a current ratio of 3.25, a quick ratio of 3.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The company has a market cap of $8.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 1.08. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Cuts Dividend Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. ( NYSE:ASR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The transportation company reported $4.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.69 by ($0.35). Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. had a return on equity of 22.41% and a net margin of 39.70%. The business had revenue of $369.64 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $364.55 million. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. will post 20.44 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $5.6528 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7%. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.15%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ASR. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 12,500.3% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 619,305 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,201,000 after purchasing an additional 614,390 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 500.5% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 289,413 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $67,430,000 after purchasing an additional 241,214 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. purchased a new position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. in the 4th quarter valued at $39,588,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. in the 3rd quarter valued at $18,410,000. Finally, TT International Asset Management LTD purchased a new position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. in the 4th quarter valued at $16,097,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.66% of the companys stock. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Company Profile (Get Rating) Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SA de CV is a holding company, which engages in the operation, maintenance, and development of airports It operates through the following segments: Cancun, Aerostar, Airplan, Villahermosa, Merida, Holding and Services, and Other. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BB Seguridade Participacoes (OTCMKTS:BBSEY Get Rating) and Seiko Epson (OTCMKTS:SEKEY Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, risk, earnings and dividends. Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.0% of Seiko Epson shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get BB Seguridade Participacoes alerts: Dividends BB Seguridade Participacoes pays an annual dividend of $0.66 per share and has a dividend yield of 10.3%. Seiko Epson pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. BB Seguridade Participacoes pays out 146.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Seiko Epson pays out 18.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BB Seguridade Participacoes N/A N/A N/A Seiko Epson 5.64% 10.79% 5.73% Valuation & Earnings This table compares BB Seguridade Participacoes and Seiko Epsons net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares BB Seguridade Participacoes and Seiko Epsons top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BB Seguridade Participacoes $987.15 million 13.01 $728.83 million $0.45 14.27 Seiko Epson $9.98 billion 0.59 $563.11 million $0.85 9.00 BB Seguridade Participacoes has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Seiko Epson. Seiko Epson is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than BB Seguridade Participacoes, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility & Risk BB Seguridade Participacoes has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Seiko Epson has a beta of 0.97, indicating that its stock price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for BB Seguridade Participacoes and Seiko Epson, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BB Seguridade Participacoes 0 1 2 0 2.67 Seiko Epson 0 0 0 0 N/A BB Seguridade Participacoes currently has a consensus price target of $32.00, suggesting a potential upside of 398.44%. Given BB Seguridade Participacoes higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe BB Seguridade Participacoes is more favorable than Seiko Epson. Summary Seiko Epson beats BB Seguridade Participacoes on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About BB Seguridade Participacoes (Get Rating) BB Seguridade Participacoes SA is a holding company, which engages in the provision of insurance products and services. It operates through the Insurance and Brokerage segments. The Insurance segment includes insurance and reinsurance, pension plan, health, and capitalization operations. The Brokerage segment involves brokerage services and administration, promotion and viability of life and capitalization insurances, pension plan, dental plan and health insurance. The company was founded on December 20, 2012 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. About Seiko Epson (Get Rating) Seiko Epson Corp. engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of information equipment. It operates through the following business segments: Printing Solutions, Visual Communications, and Wearable & Industrial Products. The Printing Solutions segment offers Inkjet printers, serial impact dot matrix printers, page printers, color image scanners, large-format inkjet printers, industrial inkjet printing systems, printers for use in POS systems, label printers and related consumables, office papermaking systems, personal computers and others. The Visual Communications segment offers 3LCD projectors, HTPS-TFT panels for 3LCD projectors, smart eyewear and others. The Wearable & Industrial Products segment offers watches, watch movements, sensing equipment, industrial robots, IC handlers, crystal units, crystal oscillators, quartz sensors, CMOS LSIs, metal powders, surface finishing and others. The company was founded on May 18, 1942 and is headquartered in Suwa, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for BB Seguridade Participacoes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BB Seguridade Participacoes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Imperial Brands (LON:IMB Get Rating) in a report released on Monday, Digital Look reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 2,200 ($27.36) target price on the stock. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a GBX 2,500 ($31.09) target price on shares of Imperial Brands in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and set a GBX 1,993 ($24.79) target price on shares of Imperial Brands in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Imperial Brands has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 2,278 ($28.33). Get Imperial Brands alerts: Imperial Brands Stock Down 3.0 % Shares of IMB opened at GBX 1,722 ($21.42) on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of 15.86 billion, a PE ratio of 1,043.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 137.71. Imperial Brands has a 52-week low of GBX 1,722 ($21.42) and a 52-week high of GBX 2,185 ($27.18). The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 1,893.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 1,997.72. Imperial Brands Cuts Dividend Insider Buying and Selling at Imperial Brands The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be issued a GBX 21.59 ($0.27) dividend. This represents a yield of 1.15%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 17th. Imperial Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8,545.45%. In related news, insider Stefan Bomhard sold 40,168 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,801 ($22.40), for a total transaction of 723,425.68 ($899,783.18). 6.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Imperial Brands Company Profile (Get Rating) Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut tobacco, rolling papers, cigars, and traditional oral tobacco; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, oral nicotine, and heated tobacco products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Imperial Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Imperial Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lowery Thomas LLC reduced its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,918 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 70 shares during the period. iShares Russell 2000 ETF makes up approximately 1.0% of Lowery Thomas LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Lowery Thomas LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $858,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 12,616.2% during the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 7,756,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,279,086,000 after buying an additional 7,695,017 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI grew its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 32,819.0% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,119,653 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $369,583,000 after acquiring an additional 2,113,214 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 8.9% in the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 14,581,100 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,404,715,000 after purchasing an additional 1,192,100 shares in the last quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. raised its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 70.7% in the 4th quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. now owns 1,450,190 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $252,855,000 after purchasing an additional 600,749 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC boosted its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 69.3% during the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,445,383 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $238,373,000 after purchasing an additional 591,463 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Up 0.9 % IWM traded up $1.49 during trading on Friday, hitting $175.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 13,635,356 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,366,615. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $174.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $180.64. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a twelve month low of $162.50 and a twelve month high of $201.99. iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:JMHLY Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 13,900 shares, a growth of 256.4% from the April 30th total of 3,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 45,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days. Jardine Matheson Stock Performance Shares of JMHLY stock traded down $0.87 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $50.18. The company had a trading volume of 15,398 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,825. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $49.05 and a 200-day moving average of $49.88. Jardine Matheson has a 12-month low of $45.01 and a 12-month high of $59.60. Get Jardine Matheson alerts: Jardine Matheson Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 16th were paid a dividend of $1.55 per share. This represents a yield of 4.28%. This is a boost from Jardine Mathesons previous dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 15th. Jardine Matheson Company Profile Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. is a diversified Asian-based group with unsurpassed experience in the region. It holds interests directly in Jardine Pacific (100%) and Jardine Motors (100%), while its 85%-held Group holding company, Jardine Strategic, holds interests in Hongkong Land (50%), Dairy Farm (78%), Mandarin Oriental (79%) and Jardine Cycle & Carriage (75%) (JC&C). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Jardine Matheson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jardine Matheson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cormark restated their market perform rating on shares of National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Cormark also issued estimates for National Bank of Canadas Q2 2023 earnings at $2.41 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $9.76 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $10.24 EPS. Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Scotiabank dropped their price target on National Bank of Canada from C$115.00 to C$111.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Veritas Investment Research reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$102.00 to C$104.50 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. CIBC decreased their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$112.00 to C$110.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, CSFB upped their price objective on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$113.00 to C$116.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, National Bank of Canada currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$105.32. Get National Bank of Canada alerts: National Bank of Canada Trading Up 0.1 % NA opened at C$99.24 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$98.57 and a 200 day moving average price of C$97.71. National Bank of Canada has a 1 year low of C$82.16 and a 1 year high of C$104.83. The stock has a market cap of C$33.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.49, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.11. National Bank of Canada Announces Dividend National Bank of Canada ( TSE:NA Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The financial services provider reported C$2.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$2.41 by C$0.15. The firm had revenue of C$2.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$2.62 billion. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 34.98% and a return on equity of 16.00%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that National Bank of Canada will post 10.0705882 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 27th were issued a dividend of $0.97 per share. This represents a $3.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 24th. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is presently 41.01%. National Bank of Canada Company Profile (Get Rating) National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for National Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 10:44 | Detroit (U.S.), May. 26. "We have concluded the task that allows us to begin negotiations towards a trade agreement with Indonesia, which will allow Peruvian companies to rely on preferential conditions to boost the shipment of their products to this Asian market, in which there is significant potential, which will contribute to continue positioning the quality of Peruvian products abroad," Mathews highlighted. Both government officials agreed that they would begin negotiations to reach a trade agreement, adding that they would set a date for the start of them. Special interest Peru's interest in starting negotiations in the shortest possible time. Minister Mathews particularly highlighted In 2022, Peruvian exports to Indonesia amounted US$83 million a 14.6% increase compared to 2021. Of these shipments, 96% correspond to non-traditional products. Within this framework, farming shipments stand out including products, such as cacao beans, grapes, pomegranates, Brazil nuts, tara, quinoa, and chia. For their part, mining sector shipments totaled US$24 million thanks to products, such as calcium phosphates, anthracite, and zinc. Regarding the fishing sector, fish meal and squid were exported; while, in the textile sector, cotton garment, such as shirts and t-shirts, stood out. Thus, 356 different Peruvian products were exported to Indonesia in 2022 a expansion of 495% over the previous year. Indonesia is Peru's tenth-largest trading partner in Asia. It represents a market of more than 273 million inhabitants, where approximately 52 million make up the middle class, being potential consumers of Peruvian goods or services. (END) SDD/MVB The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has announced the conclusion of the terms of reference for the negotiation of a trade agreement between Peru and Indonesia.Publicado: 26/5/2023 New York Life Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) by 0.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 271,242 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,317 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLCs holdings in U.S. Bancorp were worth $11,829,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Lincoln National Corp raised its position in U.S. Bancorp by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 30,781 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,342,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. raised its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 12,869 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $561,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Adirondack Trust Co. raised its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. Adirondack Trust Co. now owns 2,808 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $122,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Connolly Sarah T. raised its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Connolly Sarah T. now owns 24,389 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,064,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Waldron Private Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 14,330 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $584,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.83% of the companys stock. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth USB has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group lowered U.S. Bancorp from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $46.00 to $43.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Citigroup dropped their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $54.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded U.S. Bancorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $52.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, U.S. Bancorp presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $50.35. Insider Buying and Selling at U.S. Bancorp U.S. Bancorp Price Performance In other news, Director Richard P. Mckenney bought 20,000 shares of U.S. Bancorp stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $30.37 per share, with a total value of $607,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 20,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $607,400. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In related news, Director Richard P. Mckenney purchased 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $30.37 per share, with a total value of $607,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 20,000 shares in the company, valued at $607,400. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider James B. Kelligrew purchased 16,260 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $30.59 per share, with a total value of $497,393.40. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 151,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,647,446.93. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders bought 76,698 shares of company stock valued at $2,446,082 over the last quarter. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. NYSE USB traded up $0.15 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $30.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,432,399 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,791,252. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.93. U.S. Bancorp has a 1-year low of $27.27 and a 1-year high of $53.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The companys 50-day moving average is $33.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $41.05. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $7.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.14 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a return on equity of 16.70% and a net margin of 19.21%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.99 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.59 EPS for the current year. U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.48 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.26%. U.S. Bancorps payout ratio is currently 51.06%. About U.S. Bancorp (Get Rating) U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Numis Securities restated their buy rating on shares of Wincanton (LON:WIN Get Rating) in a research note published on Monday, Digital Look reports. They currently have a GBX 365 ($4.54) price target on the stock. Wincanton Stock Performance Shares of WIN stock opened at GBX 245.50 ($3.05) on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 317.76, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of 305.75 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 627.63 and a beta of 0.66. Wincanton has a 52 week low of GBX 187 ($2.33) and a 52 week high of GBX 410 ($5.10). The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 213.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 283.29. Get Wincanton alerts: Wincanton Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be issued a GBX 8.80 ($0.11) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a yield of 4.06%. This is an increase from Wincantons previous dividend of $4.40. Wincantons payout ratio is currently 3,157.89%. About Wincanton Wincanton plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of outsourced and integrated supply chain solutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It offers business critical services, including storage, handling and distribution, eFulfilment, retailer, home delivery, fleet and transport management, and network optimization. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wincanton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wincanton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $24.40 and last traded at $24.40, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $24.40. Orion Oyj Price Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $25.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a PE ratio of 19.68 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Get Orion Oyj alerts: Orion Oyj Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 24th were paid a dividend of $0.505 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 23rd. This is an increase from Orion Oyjs previous dividend of $0.50. This represents a dividend yield of 1.92%. Orion Oyjs payout ratio is 41.94%. Orion Oyj Company Profile Orion Oyj develops, manufactures, and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Finland, Scandinavia, other European countries, North America, and internationally. It provides prescription drugs and self-care products, including Nubeqa for the treatment of prostate cancer; dexdor and Precedex for intensive care sedative; Stalevo and Comtess/Comtan for Parkinson's disease; Simdax for acute decompensated heart failure; and Fareston for breast cancer, as well as Salmeterol/fluticasone Easyhaler, Budesonide/formoterol Easyhaler, Formoterol Easyhaler, Budesonide Easyhaler, Beclomet Easyhaler, and Buventol Easyhaler drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Orion Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Orion Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Revolution Beauty Group plc (LON:REVB Get Rating) traded down 56.6% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 8.25 ($0.10) and last traded at GBX 8.25 ($0.10). 74,145 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 97% from the average session volume of 2,909,107 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 19 ($0.24). Revolution Beauty Group Stock Down 56.6 % The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 17.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 16.40. The stock has a market cap of 25.55 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -633.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.61. Revolution Beauty Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Revolution Beauty Group plc operates in the beauty and personal care business. It provides make up, skincare, and haircare products under various brands. The company sells its products through e-commerce operations, as well as physical and digital retailers through wholesale relationships. It has a retail footprint of c.15,000 doors across retail chains in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Revolution Beauty Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Revolution Beauty Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC increased its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. (NYSE:IIF Get Rating) by 9.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 11,416 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC owned 0.10% of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund worth $232,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 140,812 shares of the companys stock worth $3,536,000 after acquiring an additional 827 shares during the last quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 58,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,464,000 after buying an additional 1,530 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 13.3% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 62,955 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,581,000 after acquiring an additional 7,396 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 32.0% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 50,145 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,167,000 after buying an additional 12,158 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 15.8% during the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 637,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,842,000 after buying an additional 87,156 shares during the period. 44.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund alerts: Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Stock Up 1.8 % Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund stock traded up $0.37 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $20.57. 8,406 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 35,601. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. has a 12 month low of $18.91 and a 12 month high of $25.79. The business has a 50 day moving average of $19.66 and a two-hundred day moving average of $20.87. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Company Profile Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc The fund is co-managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company. It invests in the public equity markets of India. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group lowered its stake in KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Rating) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,647,457 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 104,306 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in KeyCorp were worth $63,539,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in KeyCorp in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new position in shares of KeyCorp during the 1st quarter worth $38,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of KeyCorp during the 1st quarter worth $40,000. RE Dickinson Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of KeyCorp during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of KeyCorp during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. 82.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get KeyCorp alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of KeyCorp from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of KeyCorp from $24.00 to $15.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on KeyCorp from $20.00 to $17.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Robert W. Baird upgraded KeyCorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $20.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on KeyCorp from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have given 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 $15.97. Insider Activity KeyCorp Stock Performance In related news, insider Amy G. Brady sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.58, for a total value of $701,100.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 119,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,855,905.18. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In related news, insider Andrew J. Paine III bought 75,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $9.78 per share, for a total transaction of $733,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 335,414 shares in the company, valued at $3,280,348.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, insider Amy G. Brady sold 45,000 shares of KeyCorp stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.58, for a total transaction of $701,100.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 119,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,855,905.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders purchased a total of 87,700 shares of company stock valued at $883,407 in the last 90 days. 0.61% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. NYSE KEY traded down $0.23 on Friday, hitting $9.88. 690,629 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,997,199. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The firms 50-day moving average price is $11.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.56. KeyCorp has a fifty-two week low of $8.53 and a fifty-two week high of $20.30. The firm has a market cap of $9.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.24. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.44. KeyCorp had a return on equity of 15.63% and a net margin of 19.09%. The firm had revenue of $1.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.45 earnings per share. KeyCorps revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that KeyCorp will post 1.69 EPS for the current year. KeyCorp Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.205 per share. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 26th. KeyCorps dividend payout ratio is currently 46.33%. About KeyCorp (Get Rating) KeyCorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It provides a range of retail and commercial banking, commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance, student loan refinancing, commercial mortgage servicing and special servicing, and investment banking products and services to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KEY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for KeyCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KeyCorp 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 OTCMKTS SHWGF opened at $1.73 on Monday. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer has a 12 month low of $1.06 and a 12 month high of $1.73. The companys 50-day moving average price is $1.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.62. Get Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer alerts: Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Profile (Get Rating) Recommended Stories 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. Mitsubishi Chemical Group Co. (OTCMKTS:MTLHY Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 50.0% from the April 30th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Mitsubishi Chemical Group Stock Up 0.3 % MTLHY stock traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $28.85. 224 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,342. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Mitsubishi Chemical Group has a 12-month low of $21.93 and a 12-month high of $30.72. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $29.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $27.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.85 and a beta of 0.47. Get Mitsubishi Chemical Group alerts: Mitsubishi Chemical Group (OTCMKTS:MTLHY Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 12th. The company reported $2.10 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $9.29 billion during the quarter. Mitsubishi Chemical Group had a return on equity of 5.20% and a net margin of 2.19%. About Mitsubishi Chemical Group Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp. engages in the management of its group companies. It operates through the following segments: Functional Products, Chemicals, Industrial Gas, and Healthcare. The Functional Products segment sells electronics, displays, films, environment and life solutions, molding materials, polymers, chemicals, and new energy to domestic and overseas customers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Chemical Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Chemical Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NML Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 24,500 shares, a decrease of 48.2% from the April 30th total of 47,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 155,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Insider Activity at Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund In other Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund news, Portfolio Manager Douglas A. Rachlin purchased 50,000 shares of Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $6.25 per share, for a total transaction of $312,500.00. Following the transaction, the portfolio manager now directly owns 378,817 shares in the company, valued at $2,367,606.25. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Portfolio Manager Douglas A. Rachlin acquired 58,580 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $6.55 per share, with a total value of $383,699.00. Following the purchase, the portfolio manager now owns 328,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,153,751.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Portfolio Manager Douglas A. Rachlin acquired 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $6.25 per share, for a total transaction of $312,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the portfolio manager now directly owns 378,817 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,367,606.25. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Get Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund by 448.8% during the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 5,625 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 4,600 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management increased its position in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund by 42.8% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 5,940 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 1,780 shares in the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $62,000. Almitas Capital LLC increased its position in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund by 132.0% during the 4th quarter. Almitas Capital LLC now owns 11,137 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 6,337 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth approximately $80,000. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Trading Down 0.6 % Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Dividend Announcement Shares of Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund stock traded down $0.04 on Friday, hitting $6.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 51,605 shares, compared to its average volume of 168,312. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund has a 52-week low of $5.66 and a 52-week high of $7.51. The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a $0.0584 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.18%. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Funds dividend payout ratio is presently -227.59%. About Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund (Get Rating) Neuberger Berman MLP Income Fund, Inc is closed-end mutual fund. It seeks total return with an emphasis on cash distributions by investing in master limited partnerships. The company was founded on November 16, 2012 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Staffline Group plc (LON:STAF Get Rating) shares crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 37.64 ($0.47) and traded as low as GBX 37 ($0.46). Staffline Group shares last traded at GBX 37.70 ($0.47), with a volume of 79,581 shares changing hands. Staffline Group Stock Down 1.9 % The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.10. The stock has a market capitalization of 61.33 million, a P/E ratio of 1,885.00, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.76. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 37.80 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 37.61. Get Staffline Group alerts: Insider Activity at Staffline Group In related news, insider Thomas Spain sold 45,428 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 37 ($0.46), for a total transaction of 16,808.36 ($20,905.92). In the last quarter, insiders acquired 662,762 shares of company stock valued at $25,237,718 and sold 228,905 shares valued at $8,180,002. 41.31% of the stock is owned by insiders. Staffline Group Company Profile Staffline Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment and outsourced human resource services, and skills training and probationary services. It operates through three segments: Recruitment GB, Recruitment Ireland, and PeoplePlus. The company provides solutions to the agriculture, drinks, food processing, manufacturing, e-retail, driving, and logistics sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Staffline Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Staffline Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ?? En vivo | La presidenta Dina Boluarte, junto con el titular del @MininterPeru y el comandante general de la @PoliciaPeru, participa en el proceso de destruccion de droga decomisada por la Policia Nacional del Peru. ?? Ver transmision: https://t.co/KGcWLjKSK1 pic.twitter.com/hLBkCfU0Kk TransAlta Co. (NYSE:TAC Get Rating) (TSE:TA) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 922,900 shares, a drop of 48.7% from the April 30th total of 1,800,000 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 339,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.7 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of TransAlta by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 895,049 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,273,000 after acquiring an additional 36,076 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in shares of TransAlta by 176.5% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 117,815 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,220,000 after acquiring an additional 75,201 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of TransAlta in the 1st quarter valued at $472,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in shares of TransAlta by 48.1% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 527,834 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,468,000 after acquiring an additional 171,425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of TransAlta by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 642,345 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,655,000 after acquiring an additional 13,793 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the companys stock. Get TransAlta alerts: TransAlta Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE:TAC traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $9.41. 68,394 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 321,514. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.67. TransAlta has a fifty-two week low of $7.55 and a fifty-two week high of $11.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.55 and a beta of 1.06. TransAlta Announces Dividend TransAlta ( NYSE:TAC Get Rating ) (TSE:TA) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported ($0.45) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.51 by ($0.96). The business had revenue of $629.08 million for the quarter. TransAlta had a return on equity of 9.56% and a net margin of 3.90%. As a group, research analysts expect that TransAlta will post 0.98 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a $0.041 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.74%. TransAltas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.17%. Analysts Set New Price Targets TAC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of TransAlta in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. National Bank Financial raised shares of TransAlta from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised shares of TransAlta from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $16.10. About TransAlta (Get Rating) TransAlta Corp. engages in the generation and distribution of electricity through wind, hydro, gas and coal power plants. It operates through the following business segments: Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas, Energy Transition, Energy Marketing, and Corporate. The Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas and Energy Transition business segments are responsible for operating and maintaining the companys electrical generation facilities in Canada, Australia, and the US. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TransAlta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransAlta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTCMKTS:TSGTF Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 279,000 shares, an increase of 1,368.4% from the April 30th total of 19,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 82.1 days. Tsingtao Brewery Stock Down 2.8 % Shares of OTCMKTS:TSGTF traded down $0.26 on Friday, reaching $9.02. 336 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,611. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $10.12 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.78. Tsingtao Brewery has a 52 week low of $6.78 and a 52 week high of $10.89. Get Tsingtao Brewery alerts: About Tsingtao Brewery (Get Rating) See Also Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of beer products worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Shandong Region; South China Region; North China Region; East China Region; Southeast China Region; Hong Kong, Macau and Other Overseas Region; and Finance Company. Receive News & Ratings for Tsingtao Brewery Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsingtao Brewery and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ventas (NYSE:VTR Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $2.90-$3.04 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.98. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently issued reports on VTR. StockNews.com upgraded Ventas from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Ventas from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Barclays cut their target price on Ventas from $57.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. KeyCorp cut their target price on Ventas from $56.00 to $55.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Ventas in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an overweight rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Ventas presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $54.92. Get Ventas alerts: Ventas Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of Ventas stock traded down $0.18 on Friday, reaching $42.63. The company had a trading volume of 665,083 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,107,468. The firm has a market cap of $17.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -237.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 0.63 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The firms 50-day moving average price is $44.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.47. Ventas has a 1 year low of $35.33 and a 1 year high of $57.62. Ventas Dividend Announcement Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ventas The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 3rd will be issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 30th. Ventass dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -999.94%. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Ventas during the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ventas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ventas by 99.3% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,427 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 711 shares during the last quarter. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ventas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $82,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. lifted its stake in shares of Ventas by 885.9% during the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 1,400 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 1,258 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.28% of the companys stock. Ventas Company Profile (Get Rating) Ventas, Inc engages in the acquisition and ownership of seniors housing and healthcare properties. It operates through the following segments: Triple-Net Leased Properties, Senior Housing Operating Portfolio (SHOP), and Office Operations. The Triple-Net Leased Properties segment invests in and owns senior housing and healthcare properties. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ventas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ventas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT Get Rating) had its price target reduced by Wells Fargo & Company from $66.00 to $55.00 in a report released on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Ingevity from $100.00 to $80.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ingevity in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Loop Capital cut Ingevity from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $92.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $66.33. Get Ingevity alerts: Ingevity Trading Down 1.8 % NYSE NGVT opened at $50.10 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 2.57. The company has a market capitalization of $1.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.49 and a beta of 1.81. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $65.74 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $73.97. Ingevity has a one year low of $49.28 and a one year high of $90.81. Insider Transactions at Ingevity Ingevity ( NYSE:NGVT Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $392.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $411.22 million. Ingevity had a return on equity of 30.82% and a net margin of 12.01%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.62 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Ingevity will post 5.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other Ingevity news, SVP Richard Allen White, Jr. sold 1,439 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.00, for a total transaction of $116,559.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,530 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $528,930. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Ingevity news, SVP Richard Allen White, Jr. sold 1,439 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.00, for a total transaction of $116,559.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,530 shares of the companys stock, valued at $528,930. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Stuart Edward Jr. Woodcock sold 4,968 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.14, for a total value of $408,071.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,541 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,180,077.74. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 15,254 shares of company stock valued at $1,247,519. Corporate insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ingevity Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in Ingevity by 3.5% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 41,653 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,669,000 after purchasing an additional 1,425 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in Ingevity by 29.9% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 26,042 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,668,000 after purchasing an additional 5,998 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. raised its position in Ingevity by 26.7% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 74,386 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,766,000 after purchasing an additional 15,658 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in Ingevity by 63.9% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 16,164 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,035,000 after purchasing an additional 6,304 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in Ingevity by 3.8% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 5,186 shares of the companys stock valued at $338,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.01% of the companys stock. Ingevity Company Profile (Get Rating) Ingevity Corp. engages in the manufacture of specialty chemicals and carbon materials. It operates through the following segments: Performance Chemicals and Performance Materials. The Performance Materials segment consists of automotive technologies and process purifications product families. Automotive technologies produces automotive carbon products used in gasoline vapor emission control systems in cars, trucks, motorcycles and boats. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ingevity Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingevity and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc. (NYSE:MNP Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,300 shares, a growth of 760.0% from the April 30th total of 500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 14,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MNP. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund by 1,208.2% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 8,987 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $122,000 after purchasing an additional 8,300 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its stake in shares of Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund by 139.6% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 68,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $925,000 after purchasing an additional 40,000 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund by 1.1% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 107,015 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,441,000 after purchasing an additional 1,120 shares in the last quarter. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund by 6.3% during the first quarter. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC now owns 184,400 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,484,000 after purchasing an additional 11,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in shares of Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $290,000. Institutional investors own 29.40% of the companys stock. Get Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund alerts: Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Stock Performance MNP traded up $0.06 on Thursday, hitting $11.39. The company had a trading volume of 17,480 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,513. Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund has a 52-week low of $10.71 and a 52-week high of $13.49. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.97. Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Dividend Announcement Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Company Profile The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.043 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.53%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 23rd. (Get Rating) Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. The fund is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in investment grade tax exempt securities issued by municipalities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westlake Chemical Partners (NYSE:WLKP Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $28.00 to $27.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Westlake Chemical Partners from $32.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Sunday, May 14th. StockNews.com cut shares of Westlake Chemical Partners from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Get Westlake Chemical Partners alerts: Westlake Chemical Partners Stock Performance NYSE WLKP opened at $21.40 on Monday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $21.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $22.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 4.51 and a quick ratio of 4.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $753.71 million, a PE ratio of 11.96 and a beta of 1.00. Westlake Chemical Partners has a 1 year low of $18.58 and a 1 year high of $28.37. Westlake Chemical Partners Dividend Announcement Westlake Chemical Partners ( NYSE:WLKP Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The basic materials company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $307.68 million for the quarter. Westlake Chemical Partners had a net margin of 4.09% and a return on equity of 6.77%. Analysts predict that Westlake Chemical Partners will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a $0.471 dividend. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.80%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Westlake Chemical Partnerss payout ratio is presently 105.59%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, SVP Andrew Kenner purchased 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $21.44 per share, with a total value of $107,200.00. Following the acquisition, the senior vice president now directly owns 65,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,393,600. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Westlake Chemical Partners A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AE Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Westlake Chemical Partners during the 4th quarter valued at about $344,000. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in shares of Westlake Chemical Partners by 49.6% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 442,517 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $9,515,000 after purchasing an additional 146,705 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Holdings LLC boosted its stake in shares of Westlake Chemical Partners by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Holdings LLC now owns 35,836 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $789,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. Verdad Advisers LP bought a new stake in shares of Westlake Chemical Partners during the 1st quarter valued at about $971,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Westlake Chemical Partners by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 569,693 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $12,539,000 after purchasing an additional 19,644 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.10% of the companys stock. Westlake Chemical Partners Company Profile (Get Rating) Westlake Chemical Partners LP engages in the operation, acquisition and development of ethylene production facilities and related assets. It is also involved in the manufacture and marketing of basic chemicals, polymers, and fabricated building products. The company was founded on March 14, 2014 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Westlake Chemical Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Westlake Chemical Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westpac Banking Co. (ASX:WBC Get Rating) insider Nora Scheinkestel bought 2,330 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$21.22 ($14.15) per share, with a total value of A$49,442.60 ($32,961.73). Westpac Banking Stock Performance Get Westpac Banking alerts: Westpac Banking Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a Interim dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 26th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 10th. This is a boost from Westpac Bankings previous Interim dividend of $0.58. This represents a dividend yield of 3.22%. Westpac Bankings dividend payout ratio is 80.46%. About Westpac Banking (Get Rating) Read More Westpac Banking Corporation provides various banking and financial services in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It offers savings, term deposit, business transaction, not-for-profit transaction, foreign currency, farm management deposit, project and retention trust, and statutory trust accounts; home, personal, business, and commercial loans; car and equipment finance; business overdrafts and bank guarantees; debit and credit cards; international and travel services; share trading services; investment products; and home, car, travel, life, caravan and trailer, credit card and loan repayment, boat, and business insurance products. Receive News & Ratings for Westpac Banking Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Westpac Banking and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) Equities research analysts at William Blair decreased their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for Charles Schwab in a research note issued on Tuesday, May 23rd. William Blair analyst J. Schmitt now forecasts that the financial services provider will post earnings per share of $0.87 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.88. The consensus estimate for Charles Schwabs current full-year earnings is $3.35 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Charles Schwabs Q4 2023 earnings at $0.98 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $3.63 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $4.61 EPS. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.77 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. Charles Schwab Stock Performance Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 19th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, May 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $68.73. NYSE:SCHW opened at $54.24 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $95.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.88. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $51.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.30. Charles Schwab has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $86.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the 1st 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 period. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 4.3% during the 1st 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 period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 25.4% during the 1st 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 period. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. 73.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In related news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger acquired 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $59.31 per share, for a total transaction of $2,965,500.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 656,501 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,937,074.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Todd M. Ricketts purchased 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $56.79 per share, for a total transaction of $567,900.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 230,892 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,112,356.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Walter W. Bettinger purchased 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 656,501 shares in the company, valued at $38,937,074.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders purchased 81,000 shares of company stock worth $4,706,960. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend 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 paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.84%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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. Read More 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. XPS Pensions Group plc (LON:XPS Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 174.50 ($2.17) and last traded at GBX 169.50 ($2.11), with a volume of 379589 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 171.50 ($2.13). Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades XPS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on shares of XPS Pensions Group from GBX 205 ($2.55) to GBX 216 ($2.69) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of XPS Pensions Group in a research note on Wednesday. Get XPS Pensions Group alerts: XPS Pensions Group Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of 345.39 million, a PE ratio of 2,357.14 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.18, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.51. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 161.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 153.88. XPS Pensions Group Company Profile XPS Pensions Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides employee benefit consultancy and related business services in the United Kingdom. The company offers advisory services to pension schemes and corporate sponsors; independent investment advisory services; DB and DC master trust schemes; and self-invested personal pension (SIPP) and SSAS pension services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for XPS Pensions Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for XPS Pensions Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. USER CONSENT We at Moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist with navigation and your ability to provide feedback, analyse your use of our products and services, assist with our promotional and marketing efforts, and provide content from third parties. 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En #Ancash, la ministra de Vivienda, @HPerezDeCuellar, junto a alcaldes de la provincia del Santa y distrito de Nuevo Chimbote, entregaron 5126 titulos de propiedad de @CofopriPeru a favor de mas de 18 mil habitantes de pueblos de este distrito. pic.twitter.com/n4yD5NrTov ??El Ministro @Mathews_JC ???? compartio con el Ministro de Comercio y Crecimiento de las Exportaciones de Nueva Zelanda ???? , @DamienOConnorMP, la solicitud de adhesion del Peru al Acuerdo de Asociacion de Economia Digital (DEPA). https://t.co/pYMU4mWHQY 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. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. The negotiations process between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues to be a priority for the United States, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing when asked on the May 25 talks between the two countries in Russia. Were not in the room, as you noted, but this continues to be a priority for us, Miller told a reporter when asked whether Washington was following the developments in the talks held without its participation. As you know, the Secretary welcomed the two sides here in Washington several weeks ago. We understand that talks continued after that in Brussels, and we support the talks continuing. As weve said, we believe that an agreement is in reach, and we continue to press the two parties to work together to reach an agreement on the issues that remain outstanding, he added. Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will continue to stay engaged. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. May 26 marks the Georgian Independence Day and the countrys Ambassador to Armenia Giorgi Sharvashidze hosted a reception on this solemn occasion. Photos by Hayk Manukyan Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, government officials, cultural figures and foreign ambassadors were in attendance. Ambassador Sharvashidze was wearing Georgian traditional clothing during the event. In his remarks, the Georgian Ambassador said that on May 26, 1918, Georgia declared independence and the first Social-Democratic state emerged on the world map. For more than a century the freedom-loving Georgian people were selflessly fighting against the Imperial regime, and in 1918 we succeeded and returned to the thousand-years practice of independent state. Despite the fact that the first Georgian republic existed only two years and nine months, it achieved much. Georgia was the first state in the region to give the right to vote to both men and women, and five women were elected to the supreme legislative body, one of whom was an Armenian, the Georgian Ambassador said. Speaking about the present-day Georgia, the ambassador said that over the course of 32 years of independence the country succeeded and is now in a leading position among 19 countries in the region in the corruption perception index. He said that in 2020 Georgia was ranked number 1 among 23 countries of Europe and Central Asia in the Ease of Doing Business report and is 5th globally in the economic freedom index. In this phase we have double-digit economic growth and unemployed dropped in half in the past ten years. The Georgian peoples will has been recorded on the Constitutional level on integrating into the European Union and NATO, the ambassador said. Speaking about the Armenian-Georgian friendship, he said that the centuries-old tradition of good-neighborliness, friendship and brotherly relations between Georgians and Armenians is an unprecedented example in world history. Numerous Armenian public figures have been displaying their special love for Georgia, including Naghash Hovnatan, Sayat Nova, Shamchi Melko, Khachatur Abovyan, Avetik Isahakyan and, of course, Hovhannes Tumanyan. Many Georgian classical writers have done the same. We are happy to note that the cooperation level in political, cultural, energy, tourism and other sectors is on the historical high today. Theres been an unprecedented growth in trade turnover and soon Georgian and Armenian nationals will be able to cross the border without a passport, only with [IDs], which will further strengthen and deepen the eternal brotherhood of Georgia and Armenia, Ambassador Giorgi Sharvashidze said. Speaker Alen Simonyan, wishing peace and prosperity to Georgia, said that the two countries know the price of independence very well, which is the entirety of struggle, patriotism, great sacrifice and unity. Armenia and Georgia are tied with Christian and many other cultural links, he added. The huge Armenian-Georgian cultural heritage has a special role in our relations, on which the great Sayat Nova, Hovhannes Tumanyan, Petros Adamyan, Sergey Parajanov and others have had their permanent trace. Our peoples have numerously faced the issue of being absorbed by powerful states, but today, we stand as independent and democratic states. We are going through difficult times now as well. In times of new geopolitical transformations and development of new architecture, we are facing the most serious challenges and we must support each other, unite efforts to withstand them. Together we will succeed in creating strong foundations for regional security, peace and development, Simonyan said, praising the development of intergovernmental and interparliamentary ties. He noted the frequent meetings taking place between the Armenian and Georgian leaders. Simonyan concluded his speech by reciting a piece by Tumanyan addressed to Armenians and Georgians. Look at everything from the heights of friendly love, love that rises, love that thrives, love that unites and warms. At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe Frederick Shava will pay an official visit to China from May 27 to June 2. CCTV: We noted that at the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit of 2023 held a few days ago, many expressed optimism about Chinas economic prospect and said that decoupling will bring extra burden to global economic development. Chairman of the board of German company Siemens and CEO of US chip-maker NVIDIA also said in their interviews that the Chinese market is irreplaceable and pulling out of the market is not an option. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: Since early this year, the Chinese economy has shown sound momentum of recovery and market potential has been unleashed, which has attracted foreign investors around the world. In the first four months of this year, Chinas actual use of foreign capital hit RMB 500 billion, up by 2.2 percent year-on-year. A recent report by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade shows that 92.4 percent of the surveyed foreign-funded enterprises see no decline in Chinas position in global investment decisions. Swiss Centers recent report shows that 62 percent of surveyed Swiss companies in China expect higher profits this year. These facts show that countries are optimistic about Chinas economic prospect and China remains an attractive destination for global investment. For development, China needs the world, and the world needs China. We will continue to foster a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment and share Chinas market and dividend of openness with companies of all countries. China will never close its door to the world. We are ready to work together with all countries that wish to pursue win-win cooperation with us for global prosperity and common progress. Reuters: Vietnam says it has urged China to remove Chinese survey, coast guard and fishing vessels from its waters. The vessels, which first entered Vietnams exclusive economic zone a few weeks ago, have been operating close to gas blocks operated by Russian firms in South China Sea. Can the Chinese side provide further information or comment on the incident? Has it had any contact with Vietnam or Russia on the matter? Mao Ning: China has sovereignty over Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. It is legitimate and lawful for relevant Chinese vessels to carry out normal activities in waters under Chinas jurisdiction. There is no such a thing as entering in other countries exclusive economic zones. On issues related to the South China Sea, we are in communication with all relevant parties and stand ready to handle disputes appropriately through dialogue and consultation to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea. We remain, in the meantime, fully committed to protecting Chinas lawful rights and interests. Global Times: Recently tensions on the Korean Peninsula seem to have worsened. The US, Japan and the ROK continue to promote the sharing of DPRK missile warning data in real time, agreeing to enhance trilateral security cooperation and holding missile defence drills with other countries. The US and the ROK held the largest ever combined annihilation firepower drills near the military demarcation line between the DPRK and the ROK, imposed further unilateral sanctions on the DPRK at the same time, and may hold the first meeting of the US-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group in early June. Japans draft defense white paper characterizes the DPRK as a more critical and imminent threat. The DPRK media published several op-eds condemning the US moves in Northeast Asia to forge a US-Japan-ROK trilateral military alliance, promote NATO-style nuclear sharing and create a NATO-replica in Asia, which pose a major threat to world peace and security. Do you have any comment on this? Mao Ning: China is following the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula. We are concerned over relevant parties putting together exclusive military blocs, carrying out various kinds of provocative military drills and stepping up extended deterrence and intelligence sharing. These moves do no help alleviate the situation on the Peninsula. They will only ratchet up an arms race, disrupt the nuclear non-proliferation regime and undermine peace and stability in the region. TASS: Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is planning to attend the NATO summit in July in Lithuania, where he is expected to have talks with the NATO secretary general to discuss the opening of a NATO liaison office in Tokyo. Whats your comment? Secondly, it is learned that the Black Sea grain deal will be extended for another two months. Western countries only partially comply with this agreement as part of their support for Ukraine. Russia, however, has been under Western restrictions and cannot freely export grain to the rest of the world. How does the Chinese foreign ministry see this? Mao Ning: To answer your first question, we have noted relevant reports. This has certainly drawn our attention. China believes that the relations between countries should be conducive to world peace and stability and not target any third party or harm others interests. The Asia-Pacific lies beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic. NATOs attempt to make eastward inroads into the Asia-Pacific will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability. The countries and people in this region are on high alert against this and firmly oppose any words or actions designed to bring military blocs into this region and stoke division and confrontation. Japan needs to draw lessons from history, stay committed to the path of peaceful development, and avoid doing things that may erode the trust between countries and undermine peace and stability in the region. On your second question about the Black Sea grain deal, China hopes that the agreement will continue to be implemented in a balanced, comprehensive and effective manner. We welcome the consensus on extending the deal and support relevant parties in continuing their dialogue on this and striving to find a solution that accommodates all parties concerns. China has also put forward the cooperation initiative on global food security, and would like to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties over this to build up international consensus and contribute to world food security. CRI: We noted that the official website of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation issued an announcement of the results of the My Dream Painting Competition for African Youth yesterday. Could you share more details with us? Mao Ning: In March this year, the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the China Manned Space Engineering Office and the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in Africa co-hosted a painting competition on the theme of My Dream. More than 2000 African youngsters submitted their paintings, of which 50 stood out. In the second half of this year, the hosts of this competition will organize an awarding ceremony and invite some of the prize-winners to China. The youth are ambitious and passionate dream-chasers. The youth from Africa, with their colorful paintings, have expressed the best wishes for China-Africa cooperation, peace and development, human progress and a better life. This is a true picture of the cultural exchanges and people-to-people bond between China and Africa. China stands ready to offer a platform for African youth to show the world their youthful vitality and their African dream and renew the China-Africa friendship. In the meantime, we stand ready to share our experience and outcomes in the development of high-tech, enhance technology transfer in the agricultural and industrial fields and give a boost to Africas modernization drive. Id like to take this opportunity to send my best wishes to the African youth, who are so ambitious, passionate and hard-working in their pursuit of dreams. I hope that their vitality and vigor will be a source of stability, development and prosperity for the African continent and a driving force for renewing the enduring China-Africa friendship. Hokkaido Shimbun: It has been nearly four years since Professor Yuan Keqin of Hokkaido University of Education was arrested. Could you tell us Professor Yuan Keqins physical condition and the current progress of the case? Voice in Japan calling for his release is growing. Whats Chinas response? Mao Ning: I am not aware of the specifics. I can tell you that China is a country under the rule of law and handles the case in accordance with the law. Phoenix TV: The UK government issued the so-called six-monthly report on Hong Kong yesterday, which asks for the removing of the National Security Law and says that the UK will continue to monitor the proposed electoral changes to Hong Kongs District Council. Do you have any response? Mao Ning: The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has issued a press release refuting UKs so-called six-monthly report on Hong Kong. Nearly 26 years after Hong Kongs return, the UK still hasnt woken up from its colonial dream and continues seeking to interfere in Hong Kong affairs through a misleading report which is steeped in ideological bias and inconsistent with the facts. This gravely violates the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. We strongly deplore and reject this. Since the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government has remained firmly committed to fully and faithfully implementing One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy. Hong Kong residents now enjoy far more rights and freedoms in accordance with law than they did before 1997. The effective implementation of the law on safeguarding national security and the new electoral system has enabled Hong Kong to bring chaos to an end and enter a new stage in which Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive. Its rule of law and business environment have improved, confidence from foreign investors have been growing, and its status as an international finance, trade and shipping hub is further consolidated. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong after its return to China. The legal basis for the Chinese governments governance of Hong Kong is Chinas Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Hong Kong is Chinas Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs. To smear Hong Kong or talk down its prospects will not sway Chinas steady course of advancing One Country, Two Systems. AFP: The senior EU official Enrique Mora met with Chinas envoy Li Hui in Brussels yesterday. At the meeting, Mora said the EU expects China to use its influence on Russia to help end the Ukraine conflict. Can you share any details of these remarks of that meeting? And what is your response to the EUs expectations? Mao Ning: We have released information on Special Representative Li Huis visit. You may refer to that. We have noted that according to the European External Action Service, the EU side welcomed Special Envoy Lis visit to Europe and Chinas recent engagement with Ukraine. On the Ukraine crisis, China has held an objective and just position and actively promoted talks for peace. This has received broad understanding and support in the international community. Given that the crisis is in Europe, China supports Europe in making greater efforts for peace and putting forward a peaceful solution acceptable to all. China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in promoting talks for peace. Shenzhen TV: It was reported that a Taiwan defense official said on May 25 that the US government has started to deliver its plan to send weapons aid to Taiwan via presidential drawdown authority, with the first batch of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles already arrived in Taiwan on May 24. Do you have any comment on this? Mao Ning: The US provision of weapons to Taiwan gravely violates the three China-US Joint Communiques, especially the August 17 Communique, interferes in Chinas internal affairs, harms Chinas sovereignty and security interests, and undermines cross-Strait peace and stability. This is extremely wrong and dangerous. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects this and has made serious demarches to the US. From US politicians clamoring for destroying TSMC to arming the island of Taiwan into a porcupine, it is all too obvious that the US would stop at nothing even if it means destroying Taiwan to contain China. The over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots, will not accept this. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, stop military contact with Taiwan and arming Taiwan, stop creating factors that heighten tensions across the Strait, and stop conniving at and supporting separatist forces attempt to seek Taiwan independence by force. We would like to, once again, make it clear to the DPP authorities that attempting to solicit foreign support for independence and reject reunification by force will only end in failure. China will closely follow the developments of the situation and resolutely safeguard our nations sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Kyodo News: Its reported that on May 27, an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial meeting will be held in the US to discuss issues including keeping the semiconductor supply chain stable, and a preliminary document is expected to be formulated after the meeting. Does the foreign ministry have any comment? Second, the Chinese and US commerce ministers had talks in the US and expressed their respective concerns. How does China view this talks between the two ministers? Is it a sign of any turning point for the currently tense bilateral relations? Mao Ning: On your first question, openness, cooperation and mutual benefits are vital for the success of the Asia-Pacific economy. Regional cooperation frameworks, in whatever name, need to stay open and inclusive, rather than discriminatory, exclusive or protectionist. The global industrial and supply chains are shaped by the laws of market dynamics and the choices of businesses. The US, in an attempt to hold back Chinas development and perpetuate its hegemony, has politicized and instrumentalized trade and tech issues, and coerced or co-opted some countries into adopting export restrictions against China. Such acts seriously disrupt the stability of the global semiconductor industrial and supply chains. We firmly oppose that. The world needs to work together to oppose US economic coercion and bullying, uphold the multilateral trading system, and maintain a stable and unblocked global industrial and supply chain. On your second question about the meeting between Chinese and US commerce ministers, the Chinese side has released information on that, which you may refer to. China views and grows its relations with the US in accordance with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping. China and the US maintain necessary communication. Whats important is that the US cannot demand communication and cooperation from China while hurting and curbing Chinas interests in all possible means. The US needs to work with China to jointly bring bilateral relations back to the right track of sound and steady development. China Daily: US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told a press briefing on May 25 that the US Intelligence Community assesses that China almost certainly is capable of launching cyber-attacks that could disrupt critical infrastructure services within the United States, including against oil and gas pipelines and rail systems. Its vital for government network defenders and the public to stay vigilant. US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro told an interview that the US Navy has been impacted by the cyberattacks from China, adding that it was no surprise that China has been behaving in this manner, not just for the last couple years, but for decades. Do you have any response? Mao Ning: We noted relevant reports. All countries care about the security of their critical infrastructure. The perpetrators of the Nord Stream blasts have yet to be brought to justice. Compared to physical sabotage, how to deal with cyber attacks on critical infrastructure is a bigger challenge. We note with concern that the US National Security Agency, which also serves as the US Cyber Force Command, declared last year that the critical infrastructure of other countries is a legitimate target for US cyber attacks. Such an irresponsible policy puts the worlds critical infrastructure at great risks. The possibility of a Nord Stream-style attack in the cyber space has risen considerably. Since last year, Chinas cybersecurity agencies have released reports revealing the US governments long-running cyber attacks on Chinas critical infrastructure. We will continue to take necessary action to prevent and stop all kinds of cyber attacks that threaten the security of our critical infrastructure. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. The deputy prime ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia will discuss issues related to the unblocking of regional transport connections during their upcoming meeting. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk told reporters that the parties have the same understanding on how the unblocking should proceed and that now the technical issues are being discussed. These are highly important details, because this pertains to the regulation of border crossing between Azerbaijan and Armenia, how to conduct border, customs and other type of control. This is highly important, TASS quoted Overchuk as saying. We will speak concretely about how the border crossing regulation will be carried out and what procedures will be in place, he added. Biotech company Mesoblast has released its Q3 financial report, saying that it cut losses after tax to US$18.6 million from US$21.3 million a year ago. Shares rose more than 4% during the groups quarter improvement. Australian regenerative medicine company and creator of allogeneic cellular drugs for complex inflammatory diseases, Mesoblast [ASX:MSB] has now said it has narrowed its losses taken after tax from US$21.3 million last year to US$18.6 million a US$2.7 million improvement from 2022. The group also announced its Remestemcel-L BLA filing was accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a new Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date set and ongoing manufacturing inspections. Revenue from royalties on sales of Temcell sold in Japan grew 4% in the period to $US2 million for the quarter, and a US$40 million placement has also upped funds. Year-to-date, MSB has risen nearly 25% in share price and more than 9% in the last month alone. Right now, it is trending above its sector by 2.5% and more than 11% in the S&P 200: Source: tradingview.com Mesoblast cuts down its year-on-year losses Cell technology research and medicines developer Mesoblast has announced that it has trimmed losses after tax from US$21.3 million in the March quarter last year to US$18.6 million this most recent quarter. The announcement was given as an operational highlights and financial results report for the period ending 31 March 2023. Net cash usage for operating activities in the quarter reached US$16.2 million, representing an increase of US$0.7 million, or 4%, on the comparative quarter in FY2022 and a reduction of US$8.3 million, or 34%, on the comparative quarter in FY2021. Research and Development expenses were reduced by US$1.2 million (14%), down to US$7.0 million for the third quarter of FY2023 compared to US$8.2 million for the third quarter of FY2022. Manufacturing expenses were slightly higher than in 2022, having climbed from US$5.6 million in the third quarter of 2022 to US$6.2 million this past quarter. In terms of income, revenue from royalties on sales of Temcell sold in Japan grew by 4% during this time to US$2 million for the quarter. This was compared with US$1.9 million for the quarter that ended 31 March 2022. The biotech explained that the US FDA has now accepted its remestemcel-L in the treatment of children with steroid-refractory graft versus host disease (SR-aGVHD) and has set the goal date for a PDUFA for 2 August. The FDA has also now conducted the Pre-License Inspection (PLI) of the manufacturing process for remestemcel-L, and an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) is expected to be issued by FDA in the coming weeks to provide a detailed summary and final assessment. The companys Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) has also been granted approval by the FDA, clearing a trial protocol and is expected to commence enrolment for these trials by the third quarter. MSB has successfully completed a global private placement primarily for existing major US, UK, and Australian shareholders, which has raised around US$40 million, net of transaction costs. The group finished the quarter with US$48.8 million cash on hand pro-forma cash after adjusting for US$40.0 million of proceeds raised in April is US$88.8 million, with up to an additional US$40.0 million available to be drawn down from existing financing facilities subject to certain milestones. Tik-stocks and the mania of 2024 Did you know that previous no-name and inconspicuous small-cap Stemcell United [ASX:SCU] catapulted 8,284% in two days on a medicinal cannabis venture? It wasnt so insignificant then, and it happened so suddenly. Cann Group [ASX:CAN], too, jumped by 30 cents to $4 in a manner of months on another viral explosion. If you know where the next burst of mania is going to be, you can really take advantage of the hype. This is why our experts bring you Tik-Stocks, a sort of cousin to meme stocks you know, those stocks that go through the roof based on social media coverage. These stocks can become overvalued in the blink of an eye. This means you need to time them right. Intrigued? Click here for more. Regards, Mahlia Stewart, For Money Morning YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachatryan has met with representatives of the Armenian community in Qatar. During the meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the State of Qatar, the President presented details about the realities in Armenia and the region, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as internal and external challenges facing Armenia, the president's office said in a readout. The President answered the questions of the representatives of the Armenian community, emphasized the need to strengthen the ties between Armenia and the Diaspora, addressed the possibility of Diaspora Armenians to engage in business and economic activities in Armenia and other issues. August 26, 2020 Belarus - NATO Lobby Acknowledges That Its Color Revolution Failed On August 15 we explained why the color revolution in Belarus would fail. Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko had offered President Vladimir Putin of Russia to finally implement the long delayed Union State that will unite Belarus with Russia. In exchange he wanted full Russian backing for shutting down the U.S. led color revolution against him. Putin accepted the deal. In consequence: Lukashenko, and his police, will not hang from a pole. Russia will take care of the problem and the Union State will finally be established. That does not mean that the color revolution attempt is over. The U.S. and its lackey Poland will not just pack up and leave. But with the full backing from Russia assured, Lukashenko can take the necessary steps to end the riots. And that is what he did. Lukashenko continued to allow demonstrations but when on Sunday the demonstrators were directed to storm the presidential palace they saw a theatrical but strong response: [T]he Polish-run Nexta Telagram channel (which is the main medium used by the Empire to overthrow Lukashenko) initially called for a peaceful protest, but at the end of the day a call was made to try to take over the main Presidential building. When the rioters (at this point we are dealing with an illegal, violent, attempt to overthrow the state so I dont call these people demonstrators) got to the building they were faced with a real wall of riot cops in full gear: this (really scary) sight was enough to stop the rioters who stood for a while, and then had to leave. Second, Lukashenko did something rather weird, but which makes perfectly good sense in the Belarusian context: he dressed himself in full combat gear, grabbed an AKSU-74 assault rife, dressed his (15 year old!) son also in full combat gear (helmet included) and flew in his helicopter over Minsk and then landed in the Presidential building. They then walked to the riot cops, where Lukashenko warmly thanked them and which resulted in the full police force giving him a standing ovation. To most of us this behavior might look rather outlandish if not outright silly. But in the context of the Belarusian crisis, which is a crisis primarily fought in the informational realm, it makes perfectly good sense. The protesters, which police had earlier identified as "rich city kids, the children of rich parents who are fed up with the well-fed life", did not have the stomach to attack a well armed and motivated police force. The NATO lobby shop Atlantic Council has also recognized that fact and bemoans it: The protesters are generally very sweet, polite, and peaceful. Many are young, middle class Belarusians who work in the countrys booming IT industry and come to rallies dressed in form-fitting hipster ensembles. Unlike events in Kyiv in 2013-14, there is no militant edge to the demonstrations. Indeed, this revolution is so velvet that at times it feels positively sleepy. For better or worse, there is a marked absence of the rough and stalwart young men capable of making liberals uncomfortable or leading the resistance if and when the authoritarian state decides to deploy force. Without Nazi stormtroopers like the U.S. used during the 2014 Maidan riots in Ukraine there is no chance to overthrow Lukashenko. With such troops the fight would end in a massacre and Lukashenko would still be the winner. The author rightly concludes: [T]he resistance of the Lukashenka regime is strengthening by the day. With Russia now seemingly standing firmly behind Lukashenka, photogenic rallies and patchy strike action will not be enough to bring about historic change. It is over. The 'patchy strikes' were never real industrial actions. A few journalist of the Belarus state TV went on a strike. They were unceremoniously fired and replaced with Russian journalists. A few hundred workers at the MTZ Minsk Tractor Works did a walk out. But MTZ has 17,000 employees and the 16,500+ who did not walk out know very well why they still have their jobs. Should Lukashenko fall it is highly likely that their state owned company will be sold off for pennies and immediately 'right sized' meaning that most of them would be out of work. During the last 30 years they have seen that happen in every country around Belarus. There have no urge to experience that themselves. On Monday the leader of the earlier MTZ walk out, one Sergei Dylevsky, was arrested while he agitated for more strikes. Dylevsky is a member of the self-proclaimed Coordination Council of the opposition which demands negotiations over the presidency. Other members of the council have been called in for questioning by state investigators over a criminal case against the council. Meanwhile the rather hapless opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who falsely claimed to have won the election, is in Lithuania. She is supposed to be an English teacher but has difficulties reading the English text begging (vid) for 'western' support. She has already met various 'western' politicians including the General Secretary of the German Christian Democratic Union party of chancellor Angela Merkel, Peter Zeimiag, and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun. Neither will be able to help her. With Russia's backing the military, political and economic stability of Belarus is for now guaranteed. Lukashenko will at some point be ousted but that will be at a time and in a way that is convenient for Russia and not because some hapless NED financed IT hipsters try to stage a revolution. Posted by b on August 26, 2020 at 17:13 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page May 26, 2021 Roman Protasevich - Arrested In Belarus - Is A Western Government Financed Neo-Nazi There is more to say about the Ryanair incident in Belarus and the arrest of the 'regime change' operative Roman Protasevich. We will start with the latter. The sympathetic portraits of Protasevich in the New York Times and in the Guardian are only of interest for what they leave out. FOIA Research and The Canadafiles have very well sourced and way more complete pieces on him. They link to a mountain of evidence in form of social media postings, photos and videos which support their findings. From those we learn that Protasevich has long been a member of the fascist "Young Front" militia of Belarus. He has fought alongside the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in Ukraine's post-Maidan civil war. Here is a 2017 picture of Protasevich during a Belorussian court hearing. Here is Protasevich in 2015 on the cover of the recruitment magazine "Black Sun" of the Azov Battalion. Here is Protasevich during an Azov parade (video from the event). Protasevich - back row, third from right bigger There are more pictures sourced from his friends' social media accounts. They all show him with Azov in full battle dress, with Azov insignia and guns. There have been claims that Protasevich was only working as a journalist for an Azov paper. That seems to be false. His father confirmed that his son 'fought' in Donbass. The Azov leader Andriy Biletsky confirmed that Protasevich fought with them in Donbass and that he was wounded. Neither the NYT nor the Guardian mention Proasevich's ideological position or his involvement with the neo-nazis of Azov. The London Times had originally reported that Protasevich was involved with Azov but later silently removed that passage from its report. Another point missing from 'western' media is that Protasevich has long been on the payroll of various 'western' government financed propaganda media: After being arrested for hooliganism, Protasevich would leave for Prague, Czech Republic in December 2017, and begin formally integrating into the imperialist media sphere. Protasevich was a 2017-18 Vaclav Havel Journalism fellow in Prague, for US funded regime change outlet Radio Free Liberty/Europe. Four months after a week long tour of the US State Department, in April 2018, Protasevich began working for USAID funded Belarus Euroradio.fm on August 31, 2018. He left this job in December 2019, and would announce his new job, as Editor-in-Chief of Nexta, a foreign funded Telegram messaging channel covering Belarusian news, located in Poland, beginning in March 2020. Stepan Putila, Protasevichs partner at Nexta, worked for years at Belsat, which has been funded by the Polish Foreign Ministry since 2007, before engaging closely with Nexta. Nexta played a key role in organizing pro-coup demonstrations in Belarus to protest Western supported candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who only won 11 per cent of the vote, yet falsely claims that the election was rigged in Lukashenkos favour, along with regime change organization NEDs funded activists in Belarus. Protasevich's 2018 visit to Washington DC is of special interest: On April 20, 2018, he flew via Brussels to Washington. On April 23, 2018, he posted a picture with the subtitle "The most important week in my life begins." The same day he posted a picture of himself inside the US State Department, stating "Never had so many important and interesting encounters in my life. Tired but very pleased." In DC he met with fellow regime change swamp creature, the Ukrainian-American Gleb Zhavoronkov. Someone should ask the State Department what it thinks of Roman Protasevich's fashion habits. Volodymyr Ishchenko @Volod_Ishchenko - 1:20 PM May 26, 2021 Protasevich's selfie in an explicitly neo-Nazi brand Sva Stone. It's extremely unlikely that one can wear these T-shirts without being "in". Neither the NYT nor the Guardian portrait mention Protasevich's employment by western funded regime change media or his State Department visit. Neither is astonishing. A recent job description by the New York Times for a correspondent position in Moscow demanded extreme anti-Russian bias. The Guardian piece was co-authored by Luke Harding who is well known for his anti-Russian slant, his closeness to MI6 and his fake reporting: In a recent book, Luke Harding, an investigative reporter at The Guardian, described how Mr. Steele had dispatched his collector [Danchenko] to surreptitiously approach a real estate broker, Sergei Millian, who was a peripheral figure in the Trump/Russia saga. Millian spoke at length and privately to this person, believing him or her to be trustworthy a kindred soul, Mr. Harding wrote. But the trouble for Mr. Harding, who is close to both Mr. Steele and Mr. Simpson, was that he wrote those lines before the release of the F.B.I. interview of Mr. Danchenko. In the interview, the collector said that he and Mr. Millian might have spoken briefly over the phone, but that the two had never met. Mr. Harding did not respond to requests for comment. That the London Times silently deleted the well-sourced Protasevich-Azov relationship from its report let's one to assume that the British government has issued a D-notice to hide that fact. Posted by b on May 26, 2021 at 16:41 UTC | Permalink Comments May 26, 2023 Closing The Case Of Regime Changer Roman Protasevich And His Ryanair Flight To Minsk Two years ago a Ryanair flight from Athens to Lithuania was diverted after the Belorussian flight control informed the pilot that it had received an email which said that the plane carried a bomb and would explode during landing in Lithuania. The plane diverted to Minsk. All passengers stepped off board and where bused to the terminal. When they passed through passport control the immigration officers found that two of the passengers had outstanding arrest warrants against them. These were one Roman Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend and co-worker Sofia Sapega. The 'western' media and politicians were up in arms over the 'unprecedented' incident. But the event was far from unprecedented. Western media also failed to report that Roman Protasevich had been a western government financed neo-nazi who had fought with the fascist Ukrainian Azov battalion before working for U.S. sponsored regime change media in Poland. He was one of the persons who had directed the failed 2020 color-revolution in Belarus. Belarus had handled the airplane incident by the book. During the following days claims were made that Belarus received the terror threat email after the plane was informed - i.e. the whole thing was a setup. However, Belarus has claimed that it received the threat email twice, once before it notified the pilots and another copy later. Moon of Alabama has followed the case throughout. Those interested in the details of the original incident can find them in our June 2 2021 post. For a wider political view of the 'color revolution' business in east Europe see this piece by Kit Klarenberg. Links to all MoA posts about the case are listed at the end of this piece. A week after the incident, during a long TV interview, Protasevich spilled the beans about the whole regime operation. He also says that he has come to believe that one of his regime changer colleagues had sent the bomb threat email to get him arrested. A few weeks later Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega were released and put under house arrest. A trial followed and, in early May of this year, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. I though that the sentence, in light of his public turnabout, was quite harsh but others accused of the same regime change operations against Belarus had received up to 20 years prison time. Still, eight years is a long time for a young man who had clearly changed his mind. Sofia Sapega, who is a Russian citizen, had earlier received a 6 year sentence. On May 22 Protasevich was unexpectedly pardoned: Roman Protasevich said: I've just signed the paperwork saying that I have been pardoned. This is certainly simply great news. BelTA reported earlier that on 3 May the Minsk Oblast Court sentenced Roman Protasevich to eight years in a prison colony. He was found guilty of making public appeals for seizing power, committing acts of terrorism, giving offence to the president, spreading knowingly fraudulent information about Belarus, and other crimes. Protasevich was quite surprised: "This news is extremely unexpected. A month ago I could not think that it was even possible, that it would happen. I am really overwhelmed," Roman Protasevich said. I would like to thank President Aleksandr Grigorievich personally because this is his decision. This is a bold move, a decision of a strong-willed person. I want to thank the country and the people who believed in me, in my sincerity, who think that people can mend their ways and admit their mistakes." According to him, he is focused on the positive agenda. "I don't read what they write about me. I unsubscribed from all possible information resources a long time ago. I mean pro-Western, opposition one because they recycle stuff about me. I'm not interested in what's going on there, what they're saying. I am focused [on] the positive agenda. I will devote maximum time to my family," Roman Protasevich emphasized. Reporting on Protasevich's pardon the Washington Post notes: Sapega, a Russian national, was accused of running another Telegram channel called Belaruss Black Book, which published personal information about the countrys security forces. She was sentenced in 2022 to six years in prison. Last month, the Prosecutor Generals Office of Belarus granted its Russian counterparts request to transfer Sapega to Russia following her familys pleas. I have found no other new information about Sapega but, if she is still with Protasevich, it is likely that she will now receive similar leniency. --- Previous coverage of the case published on Moon of Alabama: Posted by b on May 26, 2023 at 16:36 UTC | Permalink Comments May 26, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-126 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 26, 2023 at 16:40 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Barbie and Ken played by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, leave the perfectly pink, positive paradise of Barbieland to encounter ridicule, cat calls, teenagers and jail of the real world. While there, there is also the angry real-world executive, played by Will Farrell, who is intent on keeping Barbie's appearance in the real world a secret. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, expressed concern Thursday about policies of each others governments following Chinese raids on consulting firms and U.S. curbs on exports of semiconductor technology, their governments said. The two sides announced no progress in disputes over technology and security but said Raimondo and Wang promised to strengthen exchanges on trade issues. Companies from both sides have been buffeted by tighter official controls on trade in semiconductors and other activity on security grounds. Political relations between the two governments are at their lowest level in decades following disputes over technology, security, China's territorial claims and Beijing's treatment of Hong Kong and ethnic minorities. Raimondo raised concerns about Chinese actions against U.S. companies in China, her office said in a statement. It said they also discussed the trade and investment environment and areas for potential cooperation but gave no details. Chinese police raided offices of consultants Bain & Co. and Capvision and a due diligence firm, Mintz Group, following the expansion of national security and intelligence laws. Authorities have given no explanation for the raids. The raids rattled foreign companies, which the British Chamber of Commerce in China said this week want greater clarity about enforcement. Chinese authorities have said companies are obliged to obey the law but have given no indication whether they see possible violations. Wang expressed key concerns about U.S. policy on semiconductors, exports and trade, his ministry said. It gave no details. Chinese leader Xi Jinping in March accused Washington of trying to hold back Chinas development after the U.S. government blocked access to technology to manufacture advanced processor chips, hampering the ruling Communist Party's efforts to develop its own semiconductor producers for smartphones, artificial intelligence and other advanced applications. President Joe Biden has tightened restrictions imposed by his predecessor, Donald Trump, on access to design, manufacturing and other technologies that Washington and its allies say might be used to improve Chinese weapons at a time when Beijing is threatening to attack Taiwan and is involved in territorial disputes with other neighbors. The two governments have yet to resume face-to-face negotiations over ending a tariff war that was sparked by Trumps increase in import taxes on Chinese goods over complaints about Beijings industrial policy and complaints about technology theft. Wang was due to meet later with the U.S. trade representative, Kathering Tai, according to the Chinese government. Wang is in the United States to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Detroit. 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, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting. May 26, 2023, 00:01 The Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan will meet in a week. Putin STEPANAKERT, MAY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: "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. An unarmed 11-year-old Black boy in Mississippi was shot by a police officer after he called 911 to report a domestic disturbance to try to protect his mother, his family's attorney said. The family of Aderrien Murry and the community in Indianola, Miss., are calling for the officer who shot him early Saturday morning to be fired. Aderrien was released from the hospital Wednesday after being placed on a ventilator and chest tube for a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and lacerated liver, Carlos Moore, the attorney representing the family, told The Washington Post. The boy was given a cellphone by his mother and told to call the police during a domestic disturbance involving the father of another one of her children, Moore said. After the child called 911, an Indianola police officer who was identified by the attorney as Greg Capers "had his gun blazing" upon arrival at the home at around 4 a.m., Moore said. When Nakala Murry, the boy's mother, told the officer that no one in the house was armed, the officer yelled out that anyone in the home should come out with their hands up, Moore said. Even though Aderrien adhered to the officer's commands and had his hands up, Capers shot the unarmed 11-year-old Black boy in the chest, according to the family and Moore. "His words were: 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do?' and he started crying," the boy's mother said at a news conference this week. The Indianola Board of Aldermen voted this week to place Capers on paid administrative leave while the case is investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. It's unclear whether he will face additional discipline or possible termination. "There's no justification for what this officer did," Moore told The Post. "Aderrien came within an inch of losing his life over the officer's reckless actions." Neither Capers nor Indianola Police Chief Ron Sampson immediately responded to requests for comment Thursday morning. The Indianola Police Department confirmed to CNN that Capers was the officer involved in the shooting. Sampson told the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Miss., that the shooting was "extremely tragic, on both sides." The shooting of the 11-year-old is another recent example in which police have responded to 911 calls by opening fire without reason or doing so at the wrong address. In April, police officers in Farmington, N.M., were questioning whether they were at the right house shortly before they fatally shot an armed homeowner at what turned out to be the wrong address, according to body-camera video. Robert Dotson, 52, was killed on April 5, when officers showed up to the wrong house in response to a domestic violence call. Three officers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave, and the fatal mix-up is being investigated by the New Mexico State Police. There have been 1,078 people who have been fatally shot by police in the United States in the last 12 months, according to a Post database. So far, 404 people have been shot and killed by police in 2023, the database shows. Although half of the people shot and killed by police are White, Black Americans are shot at a disproportionate rate. They account for roughly 14 percent of the U.S. population and are killed by police at more than twice the rate of White Americans. The incident began when the father of one of Murry's children arrived at her home in Indianola at around 4 a.m. Saturday acting "irate," she told reporters on Monday. She was concerned about the man's behavior and feared something could happen, so she wanted to "to stop it right there" by having her son call 911 and his grandmother, she said at the news conference. Her daughter and 3-year-old nephew were also in the home at the time, she said. "He called police and said his mother was afraid, but that the man did not have a gun," Moore said. When Capers arrived at the home on B.B. King Road, the officer knocked on the door before he started to kick it in, the attorney told The Post. After Murry told the officer that no one was harmed, the mother told reporters that her son moved quickly into the living room with his hands up. She quickly realized her boy had been shot. "He came from around the corner, and it was instant," she said at the news conference. "It was instant." She added that it was impossible for Capers to "know if it was a man, boy, pig or cow" that he shot. "He wouldn't know, because he shot so fast," she said. Aderrien ran into his mother's arms and she applied pressure to the gunshot wound in his chest, Moore said. Murry said Capers helped administer aid after shooting her son. "He told me to move, but I wasn't going to move," she told reporters. "Blood was just coming out." The 11-year-old was airlifted to the intensive care unit at the University of Mississippi Medical Center about 100 miles away in Jackson, Moore said. The attorney noted that the family wasn't sure the boy was going to make it, but Aderrien is "back home now and blessed to be alive." Moore, the family's attorney, is very familiar with Capers, who was previously named as the department's "best officer." Capers has not faced discipline after he was accused of using a Taser on Kelvin Franklin, another of Moore's clients, when he was in handcuffs in December, according to the Jackson Advocate. Moore said that even though the police chief and mayor have viewed the body-camera footage of the incident, there's no indication that he or the boy's family will be able to see it during the ongoing investigation. The attorney, who said he's planning to file a federal lawsuit next week to obtain the footage, is hoping to eventually convene a grand jury on a charge of aggravated assault against the officer. "We have a young, unarmed Black boy shot in the chest. [Capers] is a threat to the safety of the residents of Indianola," Moore said. "He needs to face a grand jury of his peers for unnecessarily shooting this boy." Murry emphasized this week that what happened to her son is "not okay." "If a non-police officer was to shoot someone, you know it's not okay," she said at the news conference. "When the police do it, they have protocol. He was trained. He knows what to do." Moore told The Post that Aderrien has been described as "a loving and kind young boy" who was only trying to protect his mother. The boy will be starting counseling on Friday, Moore said, but the incident and questions around why he was shot will stay with him for the rest of his life. "We do believe he's a strong young man and he will get through this, but it's a lot to process," the attorney said. "And he's never going to trust the police again." Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP WASHINGTON (AP) Former special counsel John Durham is scheduled to testify before a House committee next month about his recently completed report on the FBI's investigation of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Durham is due to appear on June 20 in a closed-door session with the House intelligence committee and will testify publicly the following day before the House Judiciary Committee, according to a person who discussed the dates on the condition of anonymity because they had not been publicly announced. DALLAS (AP) Cindy Campos' 5-year-old son was so excited about the Winnie the Pooh book he got at school that he asked her to read it with him as soon as he got home. But her heart sank when she realized it was a tutorial about what to do when danger is near, advising kids to lock the doors, turn off the lights and quietly hide. As they read the Stay Safe book the school sent home without explanation or a warning to parents, she began crying, leaving her son confused. Its hard because youre reading them a bedtime story and basically now you have to explain in this cute way what the book is about, when its not exactly cute, Campos said. She said her first-grader, who goes to the same elementary school as her pre-K son, also got a copy of the book last week. After posting about it in an online neighborhood group, she found other concerned parents whose kids had also brought the book home. The district's decision to send kids home with the book has made waves. Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, tweeted: Winnie the Pooh is now teaching Texas kids about active shooters because the elected officials do not have the courage to keep our kids safe and pass common sense gun safety laws. It sparked enough of a reaction to warrant an explanation from the Dallas Independent School District, which said in a statement Friday that it works "hard every day to prevent school shootings" by dealing with online threats and improving security measures. It also conducts active shooter drills. Recently a booklet was sent home so parents could discuss with their children how to stay safe in such cases, the district said. "Unfortunately, we did not provide parents any guide or context. We apologize for the confusion and are thankful to parents who reached out to assist us in being better partners. The district did not say how many schools and grades in the district received the books. Campos said the book was haunting her and that it seemed especially tone deaf" to send it home with kids without explanation around the time the state was marking the anniversary of last year's mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. It also comes as Texas' Republican-controlled Legislature wraps up a session in which it rejected virtually all proposals to tighten gun laws but did pass legislation banning school libraries from having books that contain descriptions, illustrations or audio depicting sexual conduct not relevant to the required school curriculum. Active shooter drills have become common in American schools, though theres disagreement over whether they do more harm than good. Campos said that although she doesnt disagree with the book's intent, she wished it would have come with a warning to parents so that she could introduce it to her kids at the right time and in the right way. She said she has discussed school shootings with her kids, and that she might have chosen to wait to read them the book until there was another attack. I would have done it on my own time, said Campos, who first spoke to the Oak Cliff Advocate. The books cover says: If there is danger, let Winnie the Pooh and his crew show you what to do. Inside, it includes passages such as If danger is near, do not fear. Hide like Pooh does until the police appear. Doors should be locked and the passage blocked. Turn off the light to stay out of sight. The book was published by Praetorian Consulting, a Houston-based firm that provides safety, security and crisis management training and services. The company, which didn't respond to messages seeking comment, says on its website that it uses age-appropriate material to teach the concepts of run, hide, fight the approach authorities say civilians should take in active shooter situations. The company also says on its website that its K-6 curriculum features the characters of Winnie the Pooh, which are now in the public domain and even featured in a recent horror movie. Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images Armando Sauzameda Mendoza, 39, of Midland was sentenced Thursday to 65 years in prison for the offenses of sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact, Midland County District Attorney Laura Nodolf announced. After hearing evidence Tuesday and Wednesday inside the 441st District Court, a jury found Mendoza guilty after about 3 1/2 hours of deliberations, according to Nodolf. The defendant elected to have the jury determine punishment, and the jury assessed punishment at 65 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on each of the three counts. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Tens of thousands of people converged on the Serbian capital on Friday for a major rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, who is facing an unprecedented revolt against his autocratic rule amid the crisis triggered by two mass shootings that stunned the nation. The event was somewhat overshadowed by a new crisis in Serbia's former province of Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police on Friday and Vucic ordered Serbian troops to be put on a higher state of alert. Vucic also said that he ordered an urgent movement of Serbian troops to the border with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Answering Vucics call for what he called the largest rally in the history of Serbia, his supporters, many wearing identical T-shirts with his portrait, were bused to Belgrade from all over the Balkan country as well as neighboring Kosovo and Bosnia. The organizers said that hundreds of thousands of participants attended the gathering in front of Serbia's National Assembly amid rain and a thunderstorm that drove many to find a shelter. Those working in state firms and institutions were told to take a day off from work to attend the rally in front of the parliament building. Some said that they were warned that they could lose their jobs if they don't show up on the buses which started arriving hours before the gathering was to start. Serbian officials said the rally promotes unity and hope for Serbia. At three large anti-government protests held earlier this month in the capital, demonstrators demanded Vucic's ouster as well as the resignation of two senior security officials. They also demanded the withdrawal of broadcasting licenses for two pro-Vucic television stations that promote violence and often host convicted war criminals and other crime figures. Opposition protesters blame Vucic for creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and division in the country that they say indirectly led to the May 3 and May 4 mass shootings that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them schoolchildren who were gunned down by a 13-year-old schoolmate. Vucic has vehemently denied any responsibility for the shootings, calling organizers of the opposition protests vultures and hyenas who want to use the tragedies to try to come to power by force and without an election. They are not against violence, they want my head, he said. Analysts believe that by staging the mass rally, Vucic who has ruled the country for more than a decade with a firm grip on power, is trying to overshadow the opposition protests with the sheer number of participants. For the first time, Vucic has a problem," said political analyst Zoran Gavrilovic. His problem is not so much the opposition, but Serbian society that has woken up. During the rally, Vucic is expected to announce that he is stepping down from the helm of his Serbian Progressive Party and forming a movement that will unite all patriotic forces in the country. He could also call for a new parliamentary election for September something unlikely to be accepted by the opposition under the current conditions where he has full control over all pillars of power, including the mainstream media. Vucic, a former pro-Russia ultranationalist who now says that he wants to take the country into the European Union, has alleged that foreign intelligence services are behind the opposition protests. He said that he received the tip from sisterly spy agencies from the east thought to mean Russia. There are widespread fears that violence could erupt during the rally on Friday that could then be used as a pretext for a crackdown on future opposition protests, including one that is scheduled in Belgrade on Saturday. Similar big rallies were held in Serbia in the early 1990s when strongman Slobodan Milosevic delivered fiery speeches that heralded the violent breakup of Yugoslavia and rallied the masses for the wars that followed. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAGATNA, Guam (AP) Chainsaws buzzed Friday as neighbors helped neighbors clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of Typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades but appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake. While it was still early going in the recovery effort, police Sgt. Paul Tapao said there did not seem to be any major damage, main roads were passable and Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries. To Tapao, the roar of the mechanical saws was a reminder of the resilience of the storm-prone U.S. Pacific territory and its people. Everyone helps out with the cleaning, he said. Thats the Guamanian way thats embedded in the blood. He added that there's a saying in Chamorro the indigenous language of the Mariana Islands inafa maolek, that means cooperation, a concept of restoring harmony or order. Storms have taught our island to be resilient, he said. Were still here. Still, officials said it could take weeks to clean up the mess after Mawar briefly made landfall as a Category 4 storm Wednesday night on the northern tip of the island of roughly 150,000 people, flipping cars, tearing off roofs and leaving trees bare. Some villages had little or no water Friday, Tapao said. About 51,000 customers were without electricity, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There were 725 people in shelters Friday, down from nearly 1,000 on Thursday, officials said. Water contamination from the heavy rains and runoff was a concern: The Guam Waterworks Authority issued a notice advising residents to boil water before drinking it, and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency warned people to stay out of the sea at all beaches because of high bacteria content. The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The swirling typhoon churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs and swamped houses. In the southeastern village of Yona, the floodwaters reached above the waist at the home where Alexander Ken M. Aflague's mother-in-law and sister-in-law live, he said. Two trucks and an SUV were completely submerged. Aflague said the mood on the island was like after every storm, as people assess the damage and move toward rebuilding their lives back to normal. His major worry was shortages, saying supplies were at levels similar to what they were during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cleanup is the struggle but we all pitch in and help each other, he said via text message. Also in Yona, winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Bazas mothers house, allowing water to damage everything inside. His mother rode out the storm with him at his concrete residence, he said, but my moms house didnt escape. He drove around in a pickup after the storm passed looking for supplies to repair her roof, but most stores were without power and accepting only cash. Many wooden or tin homes were badly damaged or had collapsed outright. Its kind of a shock, Baza said. On Friday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists for Guam and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts. There were long lines at ATMs and some stores and gas stations on Friday. Officials said they anticipated being able to resume operations at the flooded A.B. Won Pat International Airport next Tuesday. Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero gave the all-clear Thursday evening, returning the island to its typical condition of readiness as the National Weather Service lifted its typhoon watch. We have weathered the storm, Leon Guerrero said. The storm is forecast to continue moving northwest before turning sharply north Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Taiwans Central Weather Bureau. That track would keep the typhoon at sea for days as it gradually weakens. Mawar had 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. On Friday morning, Mawar was centered 345 miles (555 kilometers) west-northwest of Guam and 360 miles (579 kilometers) west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 14 mph (23 kph). Carlo Quinonez, who lives near Tamuning, said he rode out the storm in a hotel and felt very lucky that the building was largely unscathed. A nearby abandoned building lost many of its windows and part of a wall on the fifth story, Quinonez said. It was the peak that had us questioning our safety. Floors rattling and walls creaking. Tossing debris, and roots, and fruit everywhere, he wrote in an email. The Navy has 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. ___ 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, Ed Komenda in Seattle and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed. The negotiations process between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues to be a priority for the United States, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing when asked on the May 25 talks between the two countries in Russia. May 26, 2023, 10:56 Armenia-Azerbaijan talks continue to be priority for U.S. State Department spox STEPANAKERT, MAY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Were not in the room, as you noted, but this continues to be a priority for us, Miller told a reporter when asked whether Washington was following the developments in the talks held without its participation. As you know, the Secretary welcomed the two sides here in Washington several weeks ago. We understand that talks continued after that in Brussels, and we support the talks continuing. As weve said, we believe that an agreement is in reach, and we continue to press the two parties to work together to reach an agreement on the issues that remain outstanding, he added. Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will continue to stay engaged. HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post) Damage incurred by one of the fuel supply piers at the Port of Guam during Typhoon Mawar wont cut off the sup "Might as well call a spade a spade. GWA failed, quite honestly. Pre-storm, they said they were ready. Post-storm, they're far from ready. Our residents are without water. Without power is no problem, but to be without water? And GWA said they were prepared. They're not prepared," Alig added. Pull Quote "According to the man, he tried, but was unable to pull the other swimmer from the rough waters approximately 30 yards from the island." Reilly said. Pull Quote Former Trump White House senior adviser Steve Bannon speaks to the media as he arrives at federal court to be sentenced on Oct. 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C.. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/TNS) "Terrified," the girl said, when asked how she felt when the roof came off her home. "I was screaming and shaking at the same time." Pull Quote The issue has been well publicised in the country for years but many tourists are unaware of the danger. South Korea has been plagued by the use of hidden cameras, or 'spycams', to illegally record and prey on unsuspecting women for years, with the endemic widely reported by local media. Despite the horrifying issue instigating protests, documentaries and court cases in the country, one Australian woman who lived in South Korea fears tourists are unaware of the threat, and she has released a TikTok video to warn people. Jazmyn Jennings, who lived and worked in South Korea, said foreigners are unaware of the threat that spycams pose. Source: Getty and TikTok/jazmynjenningss "[It] is a huge problem in South Korea which is not discussed among foreigners," Jazmyn Jennings said. "If you go into any female bathroom you will find every single crevice plugged up with wet toilet paper," she continued, explaining this is a common tactic used by women to stop cameras being hidden in these spaces. "This issue extends beyond toilets as well," she said. "We're talking Airbnb's, hotel rooms ... basically anywhere that is a private area you run the risk of being exposed." The footage captured by hidden cameras is often broadcast online, with the offenders making the video available for men to purchase and view. The women featured in the videos are often completely oblivious they are being recorded. 'Ridiculously well disguised hidden cameras' The illegal phenomenon has gained such momentum that deceitful everyday items, such as clocks and fire alarms, have been purpose-built for the function of recording women. There have been a wide range of reports which uncover the creative ways women have been illegally spied on over the years, with both strangers and people known to the women guilty of the offence. One woman shared her employer had gifted her an expensive alarm clock, only realising months later that her boss had had an all-access live stream into her bedroom, the ABC reports. A documentary, titled Open Shutters was created last year by journalist Jieun Choi, which investigates the real-life impact these privacy violations have on the women, with Jieun herself falling victim to surveillance from her neighbour. Women on the streets of Seoul protesting against spycams. Source: Getty More than 30,000 cases of filming with the use of hidden cameras between 2013 and 2018 were reported to authorities in South Korea, the BBC reports. From school bathrooms to motel rooms and even in their own home, there is seemingly no space where women feel free from the potential surveillance these hidden camera enable. There are now products on the market capable of detecting hidden cameras, with Jazmyn recommending foreigners buy one if they plan to visit South Korea. "They help you find the light in the room and it'll show you [the hidden camera]," she explained. "You can either report it, or you can take it away." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The woman wounded by a Fort Worth, Texas, police officer the week of May 22, 2023, asked the officer to shoot her and was holding a knife at her side when the officer fired, footage released by the department Thursday shows. (Ben Noey Jr./Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS) V Margineanu/Getty Images A display of class rings has disappeared from Illinois College. Jacksonville police were told Wednesday that a set of 10 rings had gone missing from the college's campus between 2020 and now. The last time anyone could remember seeing them was January 2020. A bill that would decriminalize hanging things from a car's rearview mirror is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk. House Bill 2389 passed the state Senate on May 4, clearing both legislative branches. The bill, filed in February by Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, would take away the police's ability to stop or search a car because the driver hung something off the mirror. Sen. Christopher Belt, D-East St. Louis, was the bill's chief sponsor in the Senate. The House voted 70-37 to pass HB2389 on March 24, while the Senate voted 41-11 on May 4. Reps. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, and Randy Frese, R-Quincy, as well as Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, all voted against it. Under current law, it is illegal for any driver in the state to hang an item from their rearview mirror. That includes items like air fresheners, rosaries, face masks and even placards for handicap parking spots. Texas, California, Arizona and Pennsylvania all have similar laws. The bill has picked up three other co-sponsors in the House and six in the Senate, as well as another supporter in Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Proponents of HB2389 said it would make driving conditions safer for both motorists and police officers, while also allowing law enforcement to focus on violent crimes. Supporters also said the current law allows police to racially profile drivers. In 2021, Kim Potter, a white Minneapolis police officer, shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright after police attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Wright's mother said he initially was pulled over for having air fresheners hanging off his rearview mirror. Opponents of the bill say it would put public safety at risk. "Obstructions that affect drivers views of their environment and other motorists or pedestrians are a form of distracted driving and put the public in danger, Tracy said. Officers must have the ability to better protect the public by using their professional judgment at any moment of the potential for harm resulting from blocked sightlines. Representatives from the Illinois Sheriffs' Association and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police also spoke out against the bill at committee hearings in March and April, respectively. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic leaders say theyve agreed to a framework for next years roughly $50 billion state spending plan, even as negotiations continue in the final stretch of lawmakers already-extended spring legislative session. Their announced agreement included only a two-page summary of top line spending numbers in five stated areas fiscal responsibility, education, fighting poverty, health and human services and economic development. The rest would be included in a series of budget bills that had not been filed as of Wednesday. Even with details lacking, Pritzker, House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon proclaimed unity as they faced reporters' questions on the budget. Democrats have done the work to earn our state eight credit upgrades, Welch said. And all three of us standing here today made the same commitment heading into these budget negotiations...we will continue putting Illinois down a path toward fiscal stability when this budget is signed into law. Harmon said he hoped the House could take a final vote on Friday due to a constitutional requirement that bills be read in the chamber three times on three separate days. But the Senate adjourned Wednesday without giving its approval, meaning the session would be extended through at least Saturday. The Senate did file a budget, Harmon said, referring to his 3,409-page amendment to Senate Bill 250. Our agreement with the House and the governor was to not act on that proposed budget until we had agreement with both the House and the governor. We are eagerly awaiting their final input into the budget. Members of the House said they were still reviewing the amendment and they had been polled as to whether they would prefer to work through Saturday or return Tuesday to finalize the plan. I don't think people want to come back Tuesday, Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, told Capitol News Illinois. I think they'll find a way, that things have always worked out, and I think that Saturday should be that's my feel. I think mostly people are happy. I think people are very happy that (the budget process has) actually slowed down a little bit. Andrade pointed out that representatives were repeatedly warned, do not make any plans until June 1 and said Statehouse veterans shouldnt have believed the original adjournment date of May 19 was realistic unless the budget was shoved ... down everyones throat. As for the agreement, the trio of top Democrats was especially short on details when pressed on how the state would manage the biggest unforeseen cost facing lawmakers: a still-growing program that grants Medicaid-type health care coverage to non-citizens age 42 or over. The governors office recently estimated the program would cost $1.1 billion in the upcoming fiscal year, or five times more than he had initially budgeted. The Senate and the House have agreed to give us the tools to manage the program properly so that it doesn't reach a ($1.1 billion) proportion ... and instead allows us to provide health care for the people who are on the program now and make sure that we're continuing the program going forward, but in a budget friendly way so that everybody gets the health care that they deserve, Pritzker said. His office said those options include limiting future enrollment in the program, requiring co-pays, maximizing federal reimbursement 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, Alex Gough, a spokesman for the governor, said in a statement. The budget pressure created by the noncitizen health care program coincided with requests by several health care advocacy groups. Hospitals have asked for an increase to Medicaid reimbursement rates of up to 20%, and providers of care for individuals with developmental disabilities had sought a $4 hourly wage increase. Suffice to say that there are Medicaid reimbursement increases, Pritzker said. Not as much as everybody has asked for, but it's a big sum. The two-page summary indicated the budget would include over $200 million to improve services for Illinoisans with developmental disabilities and another $24 million to increase reimbursement rates for home workers who assist the elderly. The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, a trade group for homes serving disabled individuals, had sought the $4 per hour increase for direct service professionals. The state currently pays a $17 hourly flat rate to providers, although some direct service professionals are ultimately paid more or less. The association issued a news release saying the governors plan only accounted for a $2 increase, a 50-cent increase from the governors initial February proposal. 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, its president and CEO, Josh Evans, said in a statement. The association said the wage increase was needed to make direct service professional pay competitive with restaurant and retail work. The industry needs adequate staff to be able to reduce the wait list of 15,000 people seeking state-funded care, Evans said. The announced budget plan also calls for a $75 million increase in the Department of Children and Family Services budget to hire 192 new staff, expand training and protection, increase scholarships for youth in care and improve facilities. The governors office did not provide a total revenue estimate or spending figure, although Pritzker said it would be close to the $50.4 billion number that was last cited by the Governors Office of Management and Budget earlier this month. At one point during the spring session, the legislatures fiscal forecaster the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability had predicted a vast surplus for the current fiscal year that had the governor and legislative leaders discussing tax cuts. But that projected surplus evaporated when April revenues came in about $1.8 billion below the previous fiscal year. The office of management and budget decreased its current-year revenue estimate earlier this month by $616 million, although it also increased next years estimate by $532 million. While those developments essentially ended the talk of tax cuts, they didnt drastically alter the landscape of Pritzkers February proposal, which relied on a more conservative estimate than the commission on forecasting. As a result, the deal announced by top Democrats Wednesday afternoon included many of the spending priorities outlined in Pritzkers February proposal. That included a $350 million increase to the K-12 education funding formula, a $200 million pension payment beyond what is required by law, a $100 million increase in college and university funding, and a $100 million increase for Monetary Award Program grant funding for college scholarships. The agreement, according to the governors office, would also include the $250 million to fund his Smart Start early childhood education plan, a backbone of his February budget proposal. That includes increased funding for child care workforce compensation, early childhood block grants, early intervention programs and home visits. In February, 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. In another apparent downward adjustment, a $70 million three-year teacher pipeline program proposed in February would now receive $45 million. The governors office also noted that Home Illinois the governors plan for addressing homelessness would still see more than $350 million in state funding, the same number quoted in Pritzkers February proposal. The announced agreement also includes a $20 million grant program to incentivize the expansion or building of grocery stores in food deserts an issue pervasive in both rural and urban areas of the state. A bill directing the states Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create the grant program, dubbed the Grocery Initiative, received final approval from the Senate on Wednesday, passing on a unanimous vote. Those seeking to launch cannabis businesses through Illinois social equity licensure pathway a program set up to prioritize would-be entrepreneurs from Black and Latino communities would have a chance for a share of $40 million more in forgivable loans. That figure was unchanged from the governors February proposal. One item missing from the budget framework was the states $75 million tax credit program that supports private school scholarships. The Invest in Kids program was established as part of Illinois 2017 overhaul of how the state funds public education. It was a priority of Republican then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, a vocal proponent of so-called school choice and frequent critic of public schools. Pritzker promised to repeal the program during his first run for governor against Rauner in 2018, but during his first legislative session in 2019 he abandoned plans to phase it out in a deal to attract GOP votes for the states budget plan. In 2021, he again tried to scale back the program, but dropped the idea. Last year, he even said he was supportive of keeping it. But the law has a built-in sunset date of Jan. 1, and Pritzker said the program was not something covered by the budget agreement. Its something that still has time, potentially, but its not something thats in the budget agreement, he said. After the news conference, Harmon said he was slated to discuss the plan with Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, and he was hopeful it would receive Republican votes in that chamber. A spokesperson for Curran said negotiations were ongoing. House Republicans have been more critical of the negotiating process, saying theyve essentially been left out of it. Republicans and Democrats have shared priorities and past promises that need to be kept, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said in a statement. She said those include extending the Invest in Kids scholarship and a research and development tax credit. Another House GOP priority was phasing out the franchise tax as had initially been planned in 2019 budget negotiations before Democrats backtracked the following fiscal year, and changing the estate tax code. Today we learned from Governor Pritzker and Democratic leaders that our shared priorities are not included, she said. 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. Jacksonville Police OTHER REPORTS A wheel came off a car being driven at 10:58 a.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of West Morton Avenue and struck a vehicle in a parking lot. Pike County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Sarah J. Shawgo, 42, of Havana was arrested at 8:54 p.m. May 17 in the 300 block of South Main Street, Pleasant Hill, on charges of possession of methamphetamine, driving under the influence, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failing to signal. The Citizen's 2023 farmers market guide Farmers market season is getting underway in the Cayuga County area, and here are the ones we know will be open this year: Auburn Farmers Co-op Market: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays beginning June 1 in the parking lot across from Curley's, 96 State St., Auburn. For more information, call (315) 704-8609 or visit facebook.com/auburnfarmerscoopmarketinc. Downtown Auburn Saturday Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, June 24 through Aug. 26, at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, Auburn. For more information, call (315) 258-9820 or visit facebook.com/saturdaymarketauburnny. Hops N Shop: Noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, June 4 through Sept. 24, at Prison City Brewing, 251 North St., Auburn. Visit prisoncitybrewing.com. Aurora Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays beginning May 27 at the Wells College boathouse lawn, Route 90, Aurora. For more information, visit facebook.com/afmboathouse. Moravia Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays beginning TBA in the parking lot of Kinney Drugs, 130 Main St., Moravia. For more information, visit facebook.com/moraviafarmersmarket. Owasco Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays beginning June 14 under the town shelter at 7198 Owasco Road, Owasco. For more information, visit facebook.com/owascofarmmarket. Skaneateles Farmers Market: 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, May 25 through Oct. 12, and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, May 27 through Oct. 14, in Austin Park, 1 E. Austin St., Skaneateles. For more information, visit facebook.com/skanfarmersmarket. To add a market to The Citizen's listings, email citizenfeatures@lee.net. Journal-Courier The state fire marshal's office has been asked to assist in the investigation of a fire that caused significant damage Friday to a Jacksonville house. Firefighters were called about 5 a.m. Friday to 606 N. Church St. and arrived to find heavy flames on the north and east sides of the residence, which was not occupied. Nicole Watsons quest to become Super Mom has ended. Voting for the quarterfinal round ended at 9 p.m. Thursday and Watson fell short of the total needed to advance to the semifinal round. The contest is being conducted in waves. She finished first in two previous rounds to qualify for the quarterfinal round. The Woodson mother of three was a contender for the title of Super Mom, a nationwide contest operated by colossal.org as part of a fundraising campaign for Children's Miracle Network. The winner of the title Super Mom 2023 gets $20,000, a two-page feature in Woman's World magazine, and a weekend trip to Palm Springs, California. Watson said she would donate any prize money back to Children's Miracle Network. While Watson has been eliminated, she is excited to have helped raise money for Children's Miracle Network and children in need, she said. Watson is a supply supervisor at Jacksonville Correctional Center, where she has worked for 24 years. She also serves as a captain for Woodson Fire Department, is an EMT for Murrayville-Woodson EMS, and is an active volunteer for several organizations. Watson and her husband, Cameron, have three children, Tanner, 24; Kendyl, 20; and Finn, 17. The 2024 Republican primaries are under way six candidates, including former president Donald Trump, have already announced, and more than a dozen other Republicans have their eyes on the nomination. As former state Republican Party chairs in Michigan and Utah, were excited about this competitive field representing a strong, diverse party that can bring together many backgrounds, generations and conservative philosophies. But under our traditional primary voting system, a crowded primary can backfire, with spoiled votes, nasty infighting and frustrated voters. The simple truth is that wed have a better chance of capturing the presidency if we selected our nominee using ranked-choice voting. And a new Citizen Data poll shows that voters are on board 61% of Republicans are interested in ranking candidates in such a crowded field. Our traditional primaries seem to hurt Republican candidates again and again. Look at the Senate primaries in Arizona, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania last year. Republicans squandered tens of millions running negative ads against each other, Democrats meddled by donating to the least-electable candidates, and the winners in these contests earned only a third of the GOP primary vote. We lost badly in each state, and Democrats expanded their majority in the Senate. In primaries, ranked-choice voting also known as instant runoff voting gives us the best chance of coming together around the strongest candidate. Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank their favorite candidates one, two, three. If a voters first choice cant win, their vote counts for their highest-ranked candidate who has a shot. Ranked choice voting is helpful in any race with three or more choices because voters can support the candidates they like the most without worrying that theyll spoil the race and help someone they like the least. In line with President Reagans 11th Commandment (Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican), candidates are rewarded for running issues-focused campaigns that might earn them voters second or third choices instead of scorched-earth mudslinging. In winner-take-all contests, it ensures a majority nominee who represents consensus instead of someone winning with just 30% of the vote. In the 2024 primaries, Republican state parties should have the option to use various methods that fit their states needs. That includes ranked choice voting, which would help identify the best candidate to unite our party. The Republican base may have heard some negative things about ranked choice voting after a Democrat defeated Sarah Palin for the U.S. House seat in Alaska. But that race swapped primaries for a free-for-all top four election where the leading Republican encouraged supporters not to support the other Republican. Trump, frustrated with the loss, soured on the idea. This election was a classic example of how campaigns should not be run, but we shouldnt shoot ourselves in the foot because of one election in Alaska. If we adopted ranked choice voting for our presidential nominating process, it would lift the partys nominee without favoring any candidate. A ranked choice voting primary requires candidates to appeal for second-place votes: Trump and everyone else will need them. They might talk to each other rather than scream past each other. And no matter the nominee whether it is a former president, a governor or a senator or someone we cant yet imagine theyd head into the fall campaign with most Republicans behind them. The only way Republicans lose to Biden is by beating ourselves. Thats much more likely to happen after a circular firing squad of a traditional primary. Lets stop repeating the mistakes of the past. Ranked choice voting is a good option for our presidential primaries and better still for setting us up for a win in 2024. The two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu booked her semi-final berth after a hard-fought win against China's Zhang Yi Man. Sixth-seeded Sindhu defeated the unseeded Chinese shuttler 21-16, 13-21, 22-20 in the quarter-final that lasted for an hour and 14 minutes. In the earlier rounds, the Commonwealth Games 2022 champion Sindhu defeated Denmark's Line Christophersen in a closely contested first round match by 21-13, 17-21, 21-18 before easing past Japanese Aya Ohori in the second round via straight games 21-16, 21-11. Tunjung, on the other hand, eased past second-seeded Wang Zhi Yi for straight games win to reach the semi-final. The Indonesian shuttler defeated the Chinese 21-11, 21-14 in the quarter-final match that lasted for 39 minutes. In the earlier rounds, the seventh-seeded Indonesian claimed straight game wins, starting with 21-19, 21-12 first round victory over Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu Po followed by a 21-1, 21-19 win over South Korea's Sim Yu Jin in the second round. Now, Sindhu will face an opponent she has had much success against in the form of Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. The Indian has got the better of her Indonesian opponent in six of the seven previous attempts, losing only in the recent meeting in Madrid Masters 2023 Final. Ahead of the women's singles last four clash, we take a look at the timing and live streaming information for PV Sindhu vs Gregoria Mariska Tunjung Malaysia Masters 2023 Semi-Final: What time is PV Sindhu vs Gregoria Mariska Tunjung Malaysia Masters 2023 semi-final match starting? The women's singles semi-final match of Sindhu is third in the order of play on court 1 after the women's doubles semifinal, and is expected to start after 12:45 PM IST on Saturday (May 27). The first match of semi-final day starts at 1 PM Local Time (10:30 AM IST). How to watch PV Sindhu vs Gregoria Mariska Tunjung Malaysia Masters 2023 Semi-Final in India? Sports 18-1 channels will telecast the semi-finals live, while fans in India can also live stream the matches using JioCinema and VOOTSelect from 10:30 AM IST on May 27, while PV Sindhu's match may start around 1 PM IST (approximately). Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. An Auburn man who prosecutors said stabbed a bar security guard last year was found guilty of assault in Cayuga County Court Thursday. Following a four-day jury trial, Gregory Jordan, 40, was found guilty of second-degree assault, a class D felony, but was acquitted of second-degree attempted murder, a felony. A news release from the Cayuga County District's Attorney's Office said the jury returned the guilty verdict after reviewing evidence such as officer testimony and photographs. A call for a stabbing at Swifty's Tavern, 45 Perrine St., came in at 2:20 a.m. May 29, 2022, and the suspect was later identified as Jordan, the Auburn Police Department said. A security guard was found bleeding from his neck when officers arrived at the bar and the man was taken to Auburn Community Hospital for a non-life threatening injury. The release said testimony at the trial established Jordan "sliced the victim in the neck causing a stab wound more than three inches in length." Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci told The Citizen that Jordan "hit an artery, but not a major artery" and the victim testified during the trial. Jordan faces a maximum determinate term of seven years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision, the release said. He is currently set to be sentenced before visiting Judge Barry L. Porsch, out of Seneca County, on July 31. We commend the members of the jury for the time and consideration they gave listening to and reviewing the evidence throughout the trial," Grome Antonacci said in the release. "We hope that this conviction and ultimate sentence will provide the victim and his family a sense of justice and closure. Brazil: UN regional group has endorsed Amazon city to host 2025 climate conference View Photo SAO PAULO (AP) Brazils government announced Friday that a U.N. Latin America regional group has endorsed a Brazilian city in the Amazon region to host the 2025 U.N. climate change conference, though the world body has not yet publicly confirmed the venue. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially said Brazil will hold the conference, known as COP 30, in the city of Belem, state of Para, in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest, reflecting his intention to bring attention to the Amazon. A statement from the Brazilian government later clarified that the regions support was merely a step in the selection process. The support for the Brazilian candidacy demonstrates the regions confidence in Brazils capacity to advance the agenda in the fight against climate change, the statement read. The latest U.N. climate conference was hosted by Egypt in Sharm el-Sheikh, and this years will take place in Dubai. The U.N. has not yet announced the 2024 venue, let alone the 2025 one, but the locations tend to rotate among regions, and the Brazilian government statement Friday indicated that a Latin American working group was choosing the 2025 venue, and had endorsed Belem. The final decision wont be made until COP 29 next year. It will be a honor for Brazil to welcome representatives from all over the world in a state in our Amazon, Lula said in a video posted on his social media channels. I went to COPs in Egypt, in Paris, in Copenhagen, and all people talk about is the Amazon. So I said, Why dont we go there so you see what the Amazon is like? Brazils foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, says in the video that the decision was made at the U.N. on May 18. The U.N. has yet to confirm the venue. Brazils announcement comes in a week that Lulas administrations environmental governance has faced headwinds from Brazils congress. Lawmakers by a large majority approved a measure that eroded the environment ministrys authority over construction in forested and coastal areas, as well as other development. Also this week, the congress is debating whether the state-run oil giant should be allowed to drill off the coast in the Amazon states of Amapa and Para. Associated Press BERLIN (AP) Police in Berlin said Friday that they have opened an investigation of Roger Waters on suspicion of incitement over a costume the Pink Floyd co-founder wore when he performed in the German capital last week. Images on social media showed Waters firing an imitation machine gun while dressed in a long black coat with a red armband. Police confirmed that an investigation was opened over suspicions that the context of the costume could constitute a glorification, justification or approval of Nazi rule and therefore a disturbance of the public peace. Wayland Baptist Universitys School of Creative Arts is undergoing a couple faculty and administration changes for the upcoming fall semester. Wayland professor Richard Fountain, Professor of Piano, will assume the role of Dean of the School of Creative Arts this fall according to a news release Thursday. Fountain has served as the Professor of Piano since 2008 and served as Associate Dean prior to the promotion. He will replace Ann Stutes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dr. Mark McClanahan plans to call it a career after more than three decades in medicine. McClanahans last day at the Covenant Health West Texas Family Medicine Clinic at 1806 Quincy will be May 31. McClanahan visited with The Herald to share a glimpse of what his career has been like and what he hopes to do next. The doctor calls himself a Plainview Boy. His mother was a med-tech here at the Plainview hospital and his dad ran Whites Auto Store. His journey in medicine started as a Plainview High School senior. He became involved in a work study program and spent his free time as an orderly at the hospital. Thats what sparked his interest in medicine, he said. After graduation, McClanahan pursued physical therapy. I took a job in Muleshoe for three years as a physical therapist and then decided I might want to apply to medical school, which I did, he said. He attended the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. He met an anesthesiologist during the interview process for medical school that McClanahan credits with getting him in. McClanahan took advantage of the opportunity and graduated with honors. On his medical school graduation day, the anesthesiologist, who was also head of the schools Christian medical society, came up to McClanahan. He said I knew if you got in that you would do well, McClanahan recalls. That action meant a lot. McClanahan took it as a sign that he was following Gods plan. Following an internship at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, he settled in Muleshoe where he practiced for 12 years. I did everything, a true country doctor, he said. He delivered babies, dealt with fractures, worked emergency room cases and worked in the busy clinics. At that point, I thought I might want to teach so I went back to Tech for another two years, he said. The next stop in his journey was Brownfield where he established a clinic. After eight years, he was approached by some of his former pediatric patients from Muleshoe who were medical residents at this point and were interested in starting a practice. I said well, lets go to Plainview, McClanahan said. I knew they were hungry for doctors. They created West Texas Family Medicine with the intent to provide all services under one roof. They partnered with the TTUHSC School of Medicine and with McClanahans alma mater (TCOM) to providing learning opportunities for medical students. Teaching is one of the things that I really enjoy, McClanahan said. Thats one of the aspects hes enjoyed most about his medical career and his time in Plainview. Its hard to say how many residents hes helped train. According to his nursing staff, Dr. McClanahans love for imparting wisdom on young doctors is evident. He loves teaching, said Roxanne Barrientos, an LVN who has worked with Dr. McClanahan for about 13 years. He has a lot of patience. Barrientos said shes never seen him hesitate to help out a new resident or to answer their questions and break down anything complex. He wants them to learn and be successful. Its one of the qualities she and Judy Castillo admire about McClanahan. Castillo has been on his service as a certified medical assistance for one year but has worked at the clinic for five. When he wasnt at the office treating patients, McClanahan would often spend his free time fishing. After May 31, he plans to do that quite a bit more with his wife, Leeann McClanahan. Were going to do a lot of that and a little bit of travel, he said. He also has three grown sons Jason, John and Matt with their own families. Ive got a bunch of grandkids between all of them, McClanahan said. Thats the other thing, Im going to be able to go chase them and go to the occasional game. Im looking forward to doing some of that. While hes stepping away, he wont be gone completely. McClanahan said hes offered to continue his services on a parttime as needed basis. Asked why he chose to retire now, he joked, I got my Medicare card in the mail. Im going to work some, he said. On the other hand, I want to take the opportunity to do things while I have my health. May 19 A 27-year-old man was arrested during a traffic stop at the 2500 block of Gladney. Officers stopped the vehicle because it was suspected to have ties to an assault that had just occurred. Upon investigation, the individual was found to have active warrants for driving with an invalid license and for speeding. An assault was reported on May 19 at the 1600 block of N. Date St. Police arrested a 30-year-old man at the location and charged him with assault and with criminal mischief. Harassment was reported on May 19 at the 900 block of W. 28th St. A 32-year-old man was arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Tom Green County. Theft was reported on May 19 at the 2400 block of Dimmitt Road. An assault was reported at the 900 block of N. Columbia on May 19. The call type is noted as injury to a child. A crash was reported on May 19 at the intersection of W. 7th and Houston St. The crash resulted in injuries for one driver who was treated at the scene by EMS. The other driver declined medical treatment. An assault was noted at the 2200 block of W. 20th St. on May 19. May 20 Criminal mischief was reported at the 1300 block of W. 15th St. on May 20. The damage caused is estimated to about $700. A 60-year-old man was arrested on May 20 at the 2600 block of Dimmitt Road. Officers were called to the location in reference to criminal trespass. He was charged with criminal trespass. Officers arrested a 24-year-old man on May 20 at the 400 block of W. 5th St. during a traffic stop. The driver was found to have multiple active warrants including charges for: failure to appear/bail jumping; failure to maintain financial responsibility, second offense; failure to appear/bail jumping; unregistered motor vehicle; failure to maintain financial responsibility; no liability insurance; display expired license plates; no license plate light; and failure to appear. May 21 Criminal mischief was reported on May 21 at the 1000 block of Travis St. Damage to a vehicle was noted. Shoplifting was reported on May 21 at the 3500 block of Olton Road on May 21. A 20-year-old man was arrested on May 21 at the 400 block of W. 7th St. during a traffic stop. A motorcycle rider was stopped for speeding. The rider was found to have multiple active warrants for the following charges: speeding, violating a promise to appear; failure to maintain financial responsibility; failure to appear; operating a vehicle with the wrong license plate/registration; and driving without liability insurance. An assault was reported on May 21 at the 200 block of southeast 1st St. A 36-year-old man was arrested on May 21 at the 2800 block of Olton Road during a traffic stop. The driver was found to have an active warrant for a probation violation. During the investigation, a crystal-like substance was found in the vehicle. It was identified as methamphetamine. May 22 A false report to induce an emergency response was reported on May 22 at the 900 block of W. 28th St. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on May 22 at the 1600 block of W. 5th St. Another crash with vehicle damage was reported at the 1300 block of W. 24th St. on May 22. A terroristic threat was reported on May 22 at the 2900 block of W. 7th St. Officers responded to the 900 block of N. Broadway in reference to a male individual calling multiple times to yell and cuss at the dispatchers. Officers responded to a call regarding shots fired at the 1500 block of El Barrio Road. May 23 Police responded to the 300 block of Vermont St. on May 23 in reference to suspicious persons in the area. An 18-year-old man was found to have active warrants for possession of drug paraphernalia and for failure to appear. Officers arrested a 28-year-old man on May 23 at the 2400 block of W. 5th St. following a report of him asking odd questions about security at the Comfort Inn. A man matching the description provided by an employee of the hotel was located and he was found to have an active warrant for violation of a probation warrant for burglary of a vehicle. The warrant was out of Victory County. A 30-year-old man was arrested on May 23 at the 600 block of N. Broadway. He was charged with driving while intoxicated. A crash with vehicle damage was reported on May 23 at the 1000 block of N. I-27. Harassment was reported on May 23 at the 1600 block of Lexington. A crash with vehicle damage was reported at the 700 block of Ash St. A theft was reported on May 23 at the 900 block of Portland St. A crash with injury was reported on May 23 at the 3600 block of N. I-27 east frontage road. Those injured with treated by EMS at the scene and transported to Covenant Health Plainview. A crash with vehicle damage was reported at the 3900 block of N. Columbia. An animal attack was reported at the 1000 block of Baltimore. Another crash with vehicle damage was reported at the 1400 block of Travis St. on May 23. An assault was reported at the 3300 block of Quincy St. on May 23. A 25-year-old woman was charged with assault causing bodily injury. An assault on an officer was reported on May 23 at the 600 block of W. 29th St. A 35-year-old man was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, search or transportation. He was also found to have an active warrant. A crash resulting in damage to private property was reported on May 23 at the 1500 block of W. 5th St. May 24 A 51-year-old woman was arrested on May 24 at the 3700 block of Olton Road for driving while intoxicated. A 22-year-old woman was arrested on May 24 at the 1600 block of Yonkers St. during a traffic stop. The woman was found to have multiple active warrants including charges for failure to appear, failure to maintain financial responsibility, driving with no license and failure to appear. Shoplifting was reported on May 24 at the 3500 block of Olton Road. Trespassing was reported on May 24 at the 600 block of W. 24th St. A 43-year-old woman was charged with criminal trespass. DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) Just beyond the pastoral gardens and traditional homes of an eastern Hungarian village, a gigaproject of Chinese industry is taking shape. Bulldozers and excavators are already preparing the land for construction of a nearly 550-acre electric vehicle (EV) battery plant. The 7.3 billion euro ($7.9 billion) factory will be one of Hungary's largest-ever foreign investments, and the government hopes it will make the Central European country a global hub of lithium-ion battery manufacturing in an era where governments are increasingly seeking to limit greenhouse gas emissions by switching to electric cars. But residents, environmentalists and opposition politicians worry that the sprawling factory built by China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) will exacerbate existing environmental problems, hit the country's precious water supplies and further undermine its economy to China. You have this viscerally bad feeling when you walk past the area where they are building. I simply feel this bad feeling in my stomach, said Eva Kozma, 47, a local mother who has joined with other residents of a village near the building site to oppose the project. This is progress, this is the future? Pouring concrete over nature while we know how polluting the factory is going to be? she said. Kozma and others on the outskirts of Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, say they were blindsided by the announcement that the factory would be built on valuable agricultural land. They fear that the large quantities of water diverted to the plant for cooling equipment will threaten their water supply, and that chemicals from the plant could leech into the soil and water, damaging the region's natural resources. That region, the Great Hungarian Plain, is threatened by desertification, a process where vegetation recedes due to high heat and low rainfall. Climate change-driven droughts and record heat waves in the area have compounded heavy water use by agriculture and depleted groundwater, resulting in devastating crop yields. Last year, Hungary experienced its hottest summer on record, and nearly 2.5 million acres, or 20% of the country's croplands, dried out. Experts say that unless a comprehensive water retention plan is enacted, much of the region will soon be unsuitable for agriculture. Yet despite these environmental struggles, Hungary's government believes that the European Union's ambitions to phase out the manufacture of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 present a unique opportunity for the country to take its place as a leader in EV battery production, and has embarked on a major push to attract such investments. And there will likely be buyers: transport represents nearly a quarter of Europes greenhouse gas emissions, and more than 70% of those emissions are caused by road transport. If the EU is to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050, EVs will play a pivotal role. CATL's 100 GWh battery plant in Debrecen, which is expected to create around 9,000 jobs, is the largest of a number of EV battery factories popping up around the country, part of the government's strategy to serve foreign car manufacturers present in Hungary like German carmakers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz as they transition to battery-powered vehicles. Hungarys foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, said earlier this month in Beijing that the presence of those German carmakers had inspired the recent spate of Chinese investments in EV battery plants, and that "the Chinese suppliers of these German companies continue to regard Hungary as the meeting point of East-West investment. Gabor Varkonyi, an auto industry expert, agrees that the effort to attract battery makers makes good sense for Hungarys economy especially given that more than 20% of the country's exports comes from the automotive industry. It is very much in Hungarys interest for these investments to appear here, especially arm in arm with German technology, Varkonyi said. This way, both can be tied here in the medium term, so that neither will be able to work successfully without the other. In this sense, it is an absolute national interest. But Dalma Dedak, an environmental policy expert with WWF Hungary, says that despite intentions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making cars electric, there's been a lack of environmental impact studies on the longer term consequences for Hungary's air, soil and water. Details have only been released on the first phase of the CATL plant's multi-stage construction, she said, so its footprint on the environment once it is fully running remains unknown something that has eroded trust between the affected population and the government. It is of concern that the approval procedure for the first phase of the plant does not show what kind of water consumption and emissions can be expected when the entire plant is built, she said. "That is, will Hungarys resources be sufficient for these ambitious plans? The water consumption of the industrial park where the factory is located is expected to amount to more than 40,000 cubic meters (10.5 million gallons) per day doubling the drinking water consumption of Debrecen and laying a major burden on a region in the midst of a historic water crisis, Dedak said. In the long run, it's a problem and a question of how to supply water to such a water-scarce city, she said. CATL says that 70% of its water consumption will come from gray water household wastewater that has been purified though this plan was not present in the environmental impact study for the first phase of the factory. Hungary's Ministry of Economic Development did not respond to a request for comment. Other critics of the investment point to the economy's dependence on foreign-owned automobile companies, and see it as a deepening of the foothold Hungary has provided to China in Central Europe. Laszlo Lorant Keresztes, president of the Hungarian parliament's Committee on Sustainable Development, said that Hungary's economy "is very vulnerable to the automotive industry, and this (plant) increases that vulnerability. Speaking at a protest opposing the factory in Debrecen this week, Keresztes said the roughly 800 million euros ($861 million) in infrastructure and tax incentives Hungary's government will supply to CATL is an unrealistic amount of money per job," and that as in the case of German car makers the majority of capital generated would be exported. "These are essentially assembly plants, and they take the profits away from here. It is also typical that they do not give work to Hungarian people, not to the local people, but to foreign guest workers, he said. Some of the residents outside Debrecen worry that the massive plant will bring traffic and noise that will spoil the idyllic community where they came to raise their children. But mostly, they're afraid of the irreversible impact it could have on their natural world. They took the lands, they destroyed the soil, they destroyed the air, the water, said Eniko Pasztor, 65, a local activist who plans to leave the area if the plant is completed as planned. Theres no amount of money that can fix what we have ruined. We have to make sure that what we have remains," she said. "Weve done a lot of damage already. I dont understand why we need more, more, more. ___ 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. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscows forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometers (more than 4 miles) from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom, said resident Tatiana Safonova. We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said described the sound beforehand like a growling, noisy moped driving by. Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "Im somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war - so its quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded. Ukraines Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russias Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. Late Friday, officials in the Russian-held sector of Donetsk reported two missile strikes on the city of Mariupol, where a monthslong siege early in the war left much of the city in ruins. Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed official as saying the missiles were long-range Storm Shadows, which the United Kingdom delivered to Ukraine this month. In Moscow, Chinas special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers, the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says its neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict, but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraines allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin must first withdraw his forces. ___ Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London, contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine WALLINGFORD Magdali Cordova realized that her kids were learning English in school differently. She had moved from Ecuador in the spring of 2021 and enrolled her son Gabriel in third grade at Parker Farms Elementary School. However, Cordova noticed that her son was not doing as well as his sister Victoria, a seventh-grader at Moran Middle School. Why you and not him? What happened? she asked herself. I started finding out and I realized that Victoria had bilingual teachers and Gabriel didnt. While Gabriel had support from a multilingual teacher that used different strategies to help him learn English, Victoria had support from a bilingual program at her school with teachers that spoke Spanish. Bilingual teachers speak more than one language, while a multilingual teacher may not, but is certified to teach English to non-English speakers. Even though Cordova said Gabriels multilingual teacher was a blessing and helped him learn English, she still worried about whether her son could keep up with his other subject areas without speaking the language. As a mom, I dont know English, so I was worried because he was in classes all day where they only spoke English, she said in her native Spanish. The differences between how Victoria and Gabriel learned English parallel the wider landscape for English learners in Connecticut. Most English learners are Latino, speak Spanish at home and are in elementary school, according to the latest report from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Among English learners, about six in 10 attend programs that teach English as a second language and three in 10 attend a bilingual program. The rest use language transition support services or have parents who declined to accept language services. However, in practice, most English learners receive a mixture of English language services over the course of their education. Facing the bilingual teacher shortage Although language support systems offer huge benefits for students, they are often an additional expense for overburdened school districts and very difficult to staff. Connecticut is currently facing a shortage of bilingual teachers and teachers certified to teach English to learners of other languages in K-12. This shortage is compounded by post-pandemic teacher burnout, plus the toll from the additional services that multilingual teachers provide for families. Nationwide, a third of schools said they do not have enough staff to teach English as a second language or run bilingual programs this school year, according to a survey from the National Education Association. Even though finding educators has been a challenge in Wallingford because of the shortage, the school system is fully staffed, said Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Fran Thompson. There are seven certified bilingual teachers in Wallingford, 12 teachers certified to teach English to speakers of other languages and five bilingual paraeducators. In total, they provide language services to about 7% of the district, although it fluctuates from year to year. I think the need is significant no matter where you are, because regardless of the size of your population, you still want to service everybody, Thompson said. In recent years, the district has received additional funding to meet students needs. According to this years budget document, the district has received a total of about $158,000 in federal funds from 2019 to 2022 through a federal grant for immigrant and youth education and Title III, which provides additional funds for language instruction for limited English proficient and immigrant students. The district has also received about $17,000 over the same period from a statewide bilingual grant. Making a difference: Dual-language programs State law mandates that public schools with 20 or more students that speak any language other than English at home must provide bilingual instruction. In Wallingford, three elementary schools this year are mandated bilingual schools and each has a full-time bilingual teacher. One of the largest bilingual programs in Wallingford is at Cook Hill Elementary School. The program has 32 students this year and uses a different approach than most schools in Connecticut, according to the State Department of Education. School districts have historically taught transitional bilingual programs that are designed to promote English language proficiency and result in the decline of a students home language. However, the team at Cook Hill takes a dual language approach by encouraging parents to strengthen their childrens home language. The philosophy we have here is that we believe if we strengthen their native language, in this case, Spanish, the transition into the second language, which is English, is going to be faster and theyre going to have a better foundation, said bilingual teacher Wilfred Velez. Velez teaches in Spanish, while his counterpart, Julia Evola focuses on teaching English. Even though research supports the effectiveness of a dual-language model, he said the team often fields concerns from parents who believe that learning two languages at the same time confuses students and keeps them from learning English. Our students that come with a very strong first language are always excelling in English, Evola said. It takes kids five to seven years, at least, to learn a new language. Changing attitudes toward speakers of other languages Despite the resources now available, Wallingford schools have not always been as supportive to speakers of other languages. Witnessing a language barrier was a formative memory for Susan Rhodes. She moved to Wallingford from Massachusetts in 1976 and enrolled in fourth grade where she met a classmate from India who was afraid to speak in class because of her heavy accent. I'd never seen a situation like that and I felt really bad for her because the teacher didn't really make any effort to make her feel included or share her culture with us, she said. I felt bad that I was a new girl, but worse for her. Rhodes decided to become a teacher herself after becoming involved with JumpStart in college. She learned Spanish and eventually achieved a bilingual certification and one to teach English to speakers of other languages. Rhodes has been working in the Wallingford district as needed during the past 20 years and has witnessed a demographic shift from a program that taught English to Polish students. She also remembered that the local Nucor Steel plant hired a lot of Mexican workers from a sister plant in Texas in the 1980s and she started to see the children of those families in her high school classes. Its a great job that I have to have the honor to know these children and meet families around the world and really make a difference for them. Its really powerful, really rewarding and very special, she said. Providing cultural support: building a sense of belonging Teaching English in public schools has long been a stand-in for wider discussions surrounding immigration, culture and belonging. Beyond just providing language support, multilingual educators often also provide cultural support. While Velez and Evola pull kids out of their classroom, paraeducator Marisol Garcia works with classroom teachers to help support small groups of students. Garcia has a social work background and is from Mexico City. She has been working in the district for 19 years and said she is passionate about teaching students in Spanish. The sad thing about the new generation of parents is that they dont want to teach their language to their kids, which also affects them, Garcia said in her native Spanish. I think that its important to make our kids proud of where they come from, of who they are, of their roots. Beyond teaching English, the team at Cook Hill said one of their priorities was to make their families feel comfortable in the school. When Velez started at Cook Hill 18 years ago, he noticed that the Latino community was not going into schools, so the team made a point of organizing events for parents to get to know the principal, staff and school. Communicating with parents Since multilingual teachers specifically teach students who speak a different language at home, an additional barrier they face is communicating with parents. At Cook Hill, Garcia and Velez have their own direct line to communicate with parents in Spanish. We have our own line where parents speak with us for absences, appointments [and] questions. We translate for Parent-Teacher conferences, Planning and Placement teams, everything, Garcia said. Garcia used to also translate all of the report cards for every student and communications sent home. The district has since hired a full-time translator, which allows Garcia to spend more time supporting students. Support from the district like new curriculum, allocating staff, and providing resources is an important strategy to support teachers. Educator burnout is a very serious issue nationwide with 90% of members say feeling burned out is a serious problem, according to a study from the National Education Association. It's so much extra, Rhodes said. The balance is that I dont have to teach a full classroom. We do pull out. So if I had to teach a whole classroom of students and do all that extra work, I couldn't do it. I would blow up. It just would be so hard, or I wouldnt communicate with the parents. And then that wouldn't serve me either. As a Spanish-speaker, Cordova said communicating with schools has been a challenge, so she has had to find workarounds. Last year, she gave her son a cell phone and asked him to talk to her directly if he felt sick. She also would write old-fashioned notes she had translated on Google and send them. Last year, I wanted to reach the school, but I didnt have a way to do it, she said. As parents, we have to deal with a language we dont know, we have to work, we have to be in charge of the house. With everything, sometimes everything collapses and we cant dedicate ourselves to one thing, like learning English full-time. For schools without a dedicated bilingual team, the district implemented the ParentSquare app earlier this year, which allows teachers to text with parents in several languages through a translation. Cordova said that this was helpful and hasnt had problems with it. This year, Cordovas youngest daughter, Valentina, is a shy kindergartener at Cook Hill. Even though she has only been in school for one year, Evola nominated her for a most improved award. Shes put herself out there and Ive seen growth, Evola said. Parker Farms hired a new bilingual teacher who splits her time with another elementary school, based on caseloads. As a result, Cordova has seen a big improvement in her sons ability to speak English. Thank God my kids already overcame the language barrier, she said. They are not at 100%, but they at least understand and can defend themselves and continue to overcome. lguzman@record-journal.com,Twitter: @lguzm_n 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. Latino Communities Reporter Lau Guzman is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Support RFA reporters at the Record-Journal through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re. To learn more about RFA, visit www.reportforamerica.org. WALLINGFORD The Town Council took several steps this week to clarify its obligations to LS Power, which operates the town-owned Pierce Generating Station on John Street. That action included giving up the towns right of first refusal should LS Power seek to sell its lease of the power plant. The council first made official joint accessibility to the decommissioning fund required by the lease. The fund was created in 2006 during a prior lease with the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative, an energy cooperative owned by several municipal utilities in Connecticut, to assure that if a leasee terminates its contract with the town, the equipment used to generate the electricity will be removed from the building at the leasee's expense, which potentially could cost in the millions. The town leased the empty building to CMEEC, which brought in its own equipment, and then sold that lease to LS Power. That contract has a provision that LS Power can give the town 30 days notice if they want to leave, and should LS Power pull out of the deal and leave the equipment it would be up to the town to pay to remove it, which Town Attorney Gerald E. Farrell Sr. said could top $20 million. The decommissioning fund puts that responsibility on the leasee. "We have the right as the landlord at the end of the lease whenever that occurs that we can require the tenant to take the plant and turn it back to what it was before. That's what the decommissioning fund is for," Farrell said. "They take what they put in and give us back the bare bones building prior to their entering into the lease.They take out what they brought in, leaving whatever was there." The decommissioning fund assures the town won't be responsible for that cost, but the fund only contains $430,000 because the company has demonstrated that it has a relationship with a Rhode Island firm that would pay LS Power to purchase and remove the equipment and then sell it to a third-world country where such equipment is in demand. "Wallingford did a decommissioning study and came up with $20 million, and then the lessee showed me that they could decommission the plant and this firm in Rhode Island would come in and pay to take everything out," Farrell said. "Evidently equipment that would have no value in Connecticut, and you'd have to pay to get rid of it, has considerable value in third world countries and this firm has figured out how to do that. It's not a make-believe thing, it took place already." "We have reasonable confidence that in fact reselling to a third world country is going to happen and we shouldn't be concerned?" Council Chairman Vincent Cervoni asked. "That's correct," Farrell said. "It's happened with this tenant already." Councilor Vincent Testa questioned what would happen if the LS Power arrangement with the Rhode Island firm were to fall apart and if the town would then become liable for the equipment removal. "They are still liable for the cost of decommissioning. We haven't waived that at all," Farrell said. But when the initial decommissioning fund was created, it was supposed to be jointly administered by the town and LS Power. The town was never added to the account, and in the interim steps have been taken by the leasee of which the town was unaware, Farrell said. "There has been a fund in place but it was not jointly administered. We found out it was being moved from bank to bank without our knowledge," Farrell said. "We said we want joint administration and this is setting up the joint administration we should have had for 10 years." Sale of lease The town also has had the right of first refusal whenever a lease is sold, meaning if the leaseholder negotiates a deal to sell it, the town can step in and become the purchaser with the same negotiated price and conditions. When CMEEC sold the lease to LS Power, the town waived that right, and LS Power now wants the town to permanently waive that ability, Farrell said. "Their argument was it is very difficult to negotiate with the purchaser where anyone has the right of first refusal," Farrell said. Previously, there was some thought the town might want to get back into generation, Farrell said, when one of the three Public Utility Commissioners advocated for it. "I don't think any of the three present commissioners think we should, or the director of utilities thinks we should. We've been out of the generation business for quite a while," Farrell said. LS Power has been a good tenant, he said, paying more than $350,000 a year to the town in revenue which is split between the town and the Electric Division. "I think it is worthwhile to keep them a happy tenant," he said. "So they want out?" Town Council Vice Chairman Tom Lafflin asked. "I don't think that's going to happen. It means they have decided they can make a profit," Farrell said. "They are in the business of making a profit." I'm not concerned about these guys. I'm concerned about who they sell it to," Lafflin said. "We still have the right to look into whether who they are selling it to is credit-worthy," Farrell said. "We just are giving up the right to be the buyer, we are not giving up the right to approve the creditworthiness of the signee. We still have the right to say no, you're selling it to an entity that can't pay the lease." By giving up the right of first refusal, we're giving up the right to go in there and match this buyer and say we'll take it," Cervoni said. "If we give up this right to first refusal, if they decide to go out and sell this lease, we still can compete, we just lost the right to say your low bid we're taking that." Councilor Christina Tatta said she wasn't willing to give up that right. "I don't see a huge benefit at this point of us giving this advantage away," she said. The council approved forgoing the right of first refusal, with only Tatta voting no, while unanimously agreeing to the modification to the decommissioning fund. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. AUBURN A woman who prosecutors said kept drugs in her home for a drug selling ring will be seeing prison time. Chalise A. Bullock, 24, was in front of Judge Thomas Leone for a sentencing in Cayuga County Court Thursday. Bullock was one of 16 people charged in August in connection to alleged involvement with a drug selling ring in central New York that authorities said spanned as far as California. Bullock was facing counts of second-degree conspiracy, a class B felony, and first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A felonies. As a part of a previous agreement, one of her charges was reduced to second-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in satisfaction of the other counts. She was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. Prior to the sentencing, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci said in court Thursday that Bullock was "upfront and honest" in her pre-sentence investigation report, noting that most defendants are not as honest as she was. After court, Grome Antonacci described Bullock's involvement with the drug ring. "She would sell on behalf of them and also she was a stashhouse, she kept all the drugs at her house," Grome Antonacci said. Local law enforcement previously said the arrests of those 16 people were related to an investigation into Auburn drug sales that began in April 2021. The Finger Lakes Drug Task Force said it was discovered during the investigation that the leaders of the ring were being resupplied with cocaine from Rochester and New York City. The drug ring was also being supplied with pressed blue fentanyl pills and methamphetamine from California. Multiple search warrants were executed in Auburn, Cortland, Syracuse and Bakersfield, California last year. In January 2022, law enforcement said they recovered approximately 2.6 kilos of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, over a pound of pressed blue fentanyl blues (approximately 7,000 pills), two defaced handguns, over $20,000 in cash, $15,000 in jewelry, a kilo hydraulic press and multiple cutting agents in searches held in Auburn and Cortland. A Syracuse storage locker was searched in April 2022, with approximately 70,000 pressed blue fentanyl pills found. A search by federal drug enforcement officers recovered 103,000 pressed blue fentanyl pills, 133 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of cocaine, 17 firearms and $33,000 in Bakersfield, California that same day, police said. Also in court Cole Chapman, 25, was originally in front of Leone in court Thursday for a couple of conferences, but he later pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery and third-degree criminal mischief. Pleading to the mischief count satisfied another third-degree criminal mischief charge. The robbery charge stemmed from an incident at a residence on Barber Street in Auburn in February. A man living at the property allowed Chapman into the home to come in and stay briefly, the Auburn Police Department said. The two men got into an argument and Chapman stole a container full of change. Chapman pinned the man down and held him during a physical confrontation before leaving with the money, police said. The victim called 911, and Chapman was found by APD members on foot on State Street. In regard to the mischief charge, Chapman admitted Thursday to damaging a 17-inch touchscreen valued at mote than $800 while at the Cayuga County Jail. Mitchell T. Holmes, 24, was also sentenced by Leone, facing charges of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and fourth-degree grand larceny. As a part of a previous agreement, he pleaded to the larceny count in satisfaction of the other charge. Holmes was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison. Wayne F. Matthews Jr., 36, facing a resisting arrest charge and two counts of first-degree criminal contempt, was sentenced to 1 1/2 to three years in state prison for one of the contempt charges as a part of a previously agreed-upon sentence. Archaeologist unveils mysteries of Mexica fascination with crocodiles Mexico News Daily Investors Are Getting Some Negotiating Power Back. But Not as Much as You Think. Institutional investor. Limited partners in PE. The stark de-risking choice facing economies Mohamed El-Erian, FT Another Blow to the Return to Offices: Everyones Got Allergies WSJ. Allergies. Climate Science and the legal rights of nature (abstract) Science. The right to evolve. Hmm. Let er rip embodied that right, no? Leaked Brownstone Institute Emails Reveal Support for Child Labor, Underage Smoking Walker Bragman, Important Context. Because freedom, no doubt. #COVID19 China? With firm allies like Japan and Australia, the US can afford to take its eye off the Indo-Pacific when it needs to South China Morning Post Myanmar India Dear Old Blighty The Tories have a dirty secret: they dont want to reduce immigration Telegraph. Weve got 400-year-old lawns to roll! New Not-So-Cold War 36 Hours in Bakhmut: One Units Desperate Battle to Hold Back the Russians WSJ US hopes to snatch victory from jaws of defeat in Ukraine Indian Punchline. Quoting MacGregor: [The United States is] not a land power anywhere but in our own Hemisphere. We are primarily an aerospace and maritime power, much like Great Britain. And what does that mean? When things go badly for us, we sail away, we fly away, we go home Thats what we always do. Eventually, we just leave. And I think, thats on the agenda now. * * * From the Ukraine Defense Contact Groups monthly meeting: Ukraine is capable of liberating all territories, but not in near future General Milley Ukrainska Pravda F-16s wont be magic weapon to win Ukraine war, top US general warns NY Post. Milley again. With Ukraine Set to Get Another Weapon from Its Wish List, Democrats Push for More Defense One * * * Ukraines coming counteroffensive has a good chance of succeeding The Atlantic Council Ukraines Coming Counteroffensive? Lower Your Aim CEPA * * * The rise of Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov NV profile New Voice of Ukraine. We should ask this guy where Zaluzhnyi is; he probably knows! Ukraine is already looking to a postwar digital future Gillian Tett, FT. The Nazis only had IBM punch cards. So, progress! Interpreting The Three Nuclear-Related News Items From Thursday Andrew Korybkos Newsletter Yves here. I had no idea that Medicaid was such a heavyweight in total US health care. This is remarkable in what it says indirectly about poverty and income instability in the US. Remember that Medicaid has stringent eligibility requirements and like most US programs for the poor, a complex application process. A disabled and high functioning colleague confirmed it was hard to get through the hoops. By run75441. Originally published at Angry Bear Mostly taken from The expanding role of Medicaid in US health care: A research roundup, journalistsresource.org, Kerry Dooley Young. May 2023. I have added commentary to this report. I do have another report on Medicaid which I have to deep dive to make shorter sense of it. This report includes information going back to Obamas introduction of the PPACA and the impact of it on Medicaid. It offers information to a reader which they may not be aware of or have forgotten. Originally published in July 2020. In light of the Republicans debt ceiling negotiations with the Biden administration in 2023, involving discussions of a federal Medicaid work requirement, the report is current as of May 24 with some updated statistics. This is a partial of the report. A list of additional studies as recently as April 2023 are this site. The two largest U.S. health plans share a birthday, July 30, 1965, but they have different roles and public images. A law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson created Medicare, which serves people age 65 and older, and Medicaid, which covers people considered to be poor by government standards. Both programs also cover people with disabilities, contributing to overlap between Medicaid and Medicare. About 12.2 million people of the about 60 million people enrolled in Medicare in 2018 also had Medicaid coverage. People tend to remain enrolled in Medicare. In 2022, 55.5 million of the the 63.8 million participants were age 65 and older, according to the 2022 Medicare trustees report. The rest of the enrollees qualified due to disabilities. Not so with Medicaid, where there is more churn. For example, about 86.7 million people were covered by the state-federal program at some point during fiscal 2018, according to a December 2019 report from Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). But fewer might be covered by the program at any given point in the year, as can be tracked through Medicaids website. (The program posts a monthly snapshot of recent enrollment as well as releasing more extensive data.) People gain Medicaid coverage when they lose jobs for instance, during the recession stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and drop it when they become employed again. Some people with disabilities also rely on Medicaid coverage while waiting to qualify for Medicare. While Medicaid is a safety-net program for many Americans, Medicare is more of an aspiration, which enjoys a significant base of bipartisan support. You couldnt move my mother out of Medicare with a bulldozer, then House Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin, a Louisiana Republican, said in 2003, while working on the last major expansion of the federal health program. She trusts in it, believes in it. Its serves her well. But theres a sharp partisan divide about Medicaid. There were no Republican votes for the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), which set the stage for a major expansion of Medicaid thats still unfolding. Instead Republicans have since tried repeatedly to repeal the ACA, while also reviving in recent years attempts to convert federal funding of Medicaid from an open-ended commitment based on formulas to more limited support though block grants. GOPs unsuccessful ACA repeal bids in 2017 foundered, though, in part due to growing support for Medicaid, according to Richard Sorian, a former assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration. Sorian looked at how the 2014 expansion had allowed more people to get access to health care in several states with Republican governors, such as Ohio, as well as in those dominated by Democrats. Richard Sorian writes; For most of its history, Medicaid took a back seat to Medicare, the health benefits program for seniors and others. But many more are leery of touching the program and facing the wrath of the people who elected them. Adding . . . some politicians still seek Medicaid budget cuts. A few statistics show how Medicaid underpins much of U.S. health care. About 1 in 5 Americans get health insurance through Medicaid. It is run by the states with federal financial support and oversight. As of January 2023, more than 85.9 million people in the U.S. were in Medicaid. This according to the latest data posted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). There were about 7 million participants in the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), considered a sister initiative to Medicaid. Medicaid paid for 43% of all births in the U.S. in 2018, while private insurance plans paid for 49%. Policymakers now are looking to expand Medicaid coverage to try to lower the high rate of maternal mortality in the United States. There are bills pending in Congress that would require Medicaid coverage of new mothers from a 60-day period to the entire year following giving birth . . Medicaid is the largest U.S. purchaser of what it calls behavioral health services, which include mental health treatment and services to treat addiction and substance abuse. Medicaid is the primary tool through which the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 expands the publics access to health care. News coverage of the federal governments implementation of the ACA in 2014 focused heavily on hitches with the startup of the online state and federal exchanges through which people who did not get health plans from their employers can buy medical coverage. These were primarily intended to help people whose employers do not offer health plans. Many people get subsidies to purchase their insurance on these exchanges. Without this help, they might not be able to afford insurance. About 11.4 million people were covered by these health plans sold on the exchanges for 2020, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These include plans sold by for-profit companies as well as ones from nonprofit insurers. By late 2018, about 15.1 million people were using Medicaid due to expansion created by the ACA, CMS reported. States have varied eligibility criteria, including income cutoffs, for Medicaid. Before the ACA, many states largely excluded adults who do not have disabilities, no matter how little they earned. President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats intended for all states to raise their Medicaid eligibility requirements to allow adults who work but have incomes just above the federal poverty level to get health insurance. CMS last year authorized Utahs Medicaid expansion, which will allow coverage for single people with annual income of as much as 138% of the federal poverty level ($17,608). For a family of four, this income cutoff would be $36,156. Under the ACA, states initially were required to set their cutoff for Medicaid eligibility at a level allowing people with household incomes as high as 138% above the federal poverty level to enroll. It is important to note the actual text of the ACA sets this level at 133%, other provisions of the law nudged the cap to 138%. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that states could choose whether they wanted to raise the threshold for Medicaid eligibility under ACA. In an effort to encourage states to raise their income thresholds to allow more people to qualify for Medicaid, the federal government offered to cover the majority of the cost of covering these new enrollees. Many Republican state governors initially balked at the offer and GOP political candidates campaigned on pledges to repeal the ACA. Several Republican leaders, including Gov. Gary Herbert of Utah and then Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, later took the federal government up on its offer. The U.S. opioid epidemic helped persuade GOP holdouts to expand Medicaid. As of May 2023, 10 states have not taken formal action to expand Medicaid, according to a tally kept by the Kaiser Family Foundation. In some states expanding their Medicaid coverage, Republican governors added conditions for people who are able to enroll thanks to increased income thresholds, including payments of premiums. Congressional and state Democrats have objected to Republican attempts to add work requirements to Medicaid participation for adults who do not have disabilities. They have argued that many people added as a result of the expansion already work and documenting employment is a significant administrative burden. To help journalists report on Medicaid, weve summarized a few studies below to help reporters understand the key debates happening about this program. At the heart of Medicaid research are persistent questions about how well the massive state-federal health program works. Studies published to date show mixed results on questions of whether having Medicaid coverage helps participants improve or maintain their health. For example, one study found middle-aged people who live in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA are less likely to die of heart disease. But discussions about Medicaid often quickly loop back to the somewhat surprising findings of a 2008 experiment in Oregon involving Medicaid. After Oregon officials found they had funds for a limited expansion of the states Medicaid program, they used a lottery to select about 30,000 people from a waiting list of almost 90,000. This approach allowed economists a rare opportunity to study the effects of Medicaid coverage in a group of people randomly selected to enroll in the state-federal health plan. Some findings from studies of the Oregon experiment disappointed advocates for Medicaid expansion. These findings include research that seems to contradict a common theory that people newly enrolled in Medicaid would use emergency rooms less often for basic health care needs if they could afford to see a primary care doctor by participating in Medicaid. Visits to a primary care clinic cost significantly less than emergency room visits. In recent years, many researchers have sought to assess the early impacts of the ACAs Medicaid expansion. The results of the Oregon experiment cast doubt about the possible benefits of Medicaid coverage for a group that had been randomly selected to receive coverage, writes Sarah Miller, an assistant professor at the University of Michigans Ross School of Business, and her co-authors in a 2019 paper. The inconclusive nature of these results has led to skepticism among some researchers, policymakers, and members of the media as to whether Medicaid has any positive health impacts for this group. In their paper, though, Miller and her co-authors estimate Medicaid expansion may have prevented 4,800 deaths in their sample population among people ages 55 to 64, or roughly 19,200 fewer deaths over the first four years alone. Miller and her co-authors also offer an estimate of what many states decisions against Medicaid expansion meant for their citizens. Our estimates suggest that approximately 15,600 deaths would have been averted had the ACA expansions been adopted nationwide as originally intended by the ACA. In another report Miller and her associates did conclude a broader access to Medicaid appeared to lower the mortality rate in a study focused on people ages 55 to 64, Miller and her co-authors find. An additional University of Michigan study on the relationship between Medicaid enrollment and mortality found a 0.13 percentage point decline in annual mortality, a 9.3% reduction over the sample mean, associated with Medicaid expansion. The effect is driven by a reduction in disease-related deaths and grows over time. The ostensible goal of the operation is to provide support and assistance to the Special Operations of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and National Police of Peru, including in regions recently engulfed in violence. Unbeknown, it seems, to most people in Peru and the US (considering the paucity of media coverage in both countries), US military personnel will soon be landing in Peru. The plenary session of Perus Congress last Thursday (May 18) authorised the entry of US troops onto Peruvian soil with the ostensible purpose of carrying out cooperation activities with Perus armed forces and national police. Passed with 70 votes in favour, 33 against and four abstentions, resolution 4766 stipulates that the troops are welcome to stay any time between June 1 and December 31, 2023. The number of US soldiers involved has not been officially disclosed, at least as far as I can tell, though a recent statement by Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is currently person non grata in Peru, suggests it could be around 700. The cooperation and training activities will take place across a wide swathe of territory including Lima, Callao, Loreto, San Martin, Huanuco, Ucayali, Pasco, Junin, Huancavelica, Iquitos, Pucusana, Apurimac, Cusco and Ayacucho. The last three regions, in the south of Peru, together with Arequipa and Puno, were the epicentre of huge political protests, strikes and road blocks from December to February after Perus elected President Pedro Castillo was toppled, imprisoned and replaced by his vice-president Dina Boluarte. The protesters demands included: The release of Castillo New elections A national referendum on forming a Constitutional Assembly to replace Perus current constitution, which was imposed by former dictator Alberto Fujimori following his self-imposed coup of 1992 Brutal Crackdown on Protests Needless to say, none of these demands have been met. Instead, Perus security forces, including 140,000 mobilised soldiers, unleashed a brutal crackdown that culminated in the deaths of approximately 70 people. A report released by international human rights organization Amnesty International in February drew the following assessment: Since the beginning of the massive protests in different areas of the country in December 2022, the Army and National Police of Peru (PNP) have unlawfully fired lethal weapons and used other less lethal weapons indiscriminately against the population, especially against Indigenous people and campesinos (rural farmworkers) during the repression of protests, constituting widespread attacks. As soon as possibly next week, an indeterminate number of US military personnel could be joining the fracas. According to the news website La Lupa, the purported goal of their visit is to provide support and assistance to the Special Operations of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and National Police of Peru during two periods spanning a total of seven months: from June 1 to September 30, and from October 1 to December 30, 2023. The secretary of the Commission for National Defence, Internal Order, Alternative Development and the Fight Against Drugs, Alfredo Azurin, was at pains to stress that there are no plans for the US to set up a military base in Peru and that the entry of US forces will not affect national sovereignty. Some opposition congressmen and women begged to differ, arguing that the entry of foreign forces does indeed pose a threat to national sovereignty. They also lambasted the government for passing the resolution without prior debate or consultation with the indigenous communities. The de facto Boluarte government and Congress are treating the arrival of US troops as a perfectly routine event. And it is true that the US military has long held a presence in Peru. For example, in 2017, U.S. personnel took part in military exercises held jointly with Colombia, Peru and Brazil in the triple borderland of the Amazon region. Also, the US Navy operates a biosafety-level 3 biomedical research laboratory close to Lima as well as two other (biosafety-level 2) laboratories in Puerto Maldonado. But the timing of the operation raising serious questions. After all, Peru is currently under the control of an unelected government that is heavily supported by Washington but overwhelmingly rejected by the Peruvian people. The crackdown on protests in the south of the Peru by the countrys security forces the same security forces that US military personnel will soon be joining has led to dozens of deaths. Perus Congress is refusing to call new elections in total defiance of public opinion. Just a few days ago, the countrys Supreme Court issued a ruling that some legal scholars have interpreted as essentially criminalising political protest. As Perus civilian institutions fight among themselves, Perus armed forces the last remaining backbone in the country, according to Mexican geopolitical analyst Alfredo Jalife has taken firm control. And lest we forget, Peru is home to some of the very same minerals that the US military has identified as strategically important to US national security interests, including lithium. Also, as I noted in my June 22, 2021 piece, Is Another Military Coup Brewing in Peru, After Historic Electoral Victory for Leftist Candidate?, while Perus largest trading partner is China, its political institutions like those of Colombia and Chile remain tethered to US policy interests: Together with Chile, its the only country in South America that was invited to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was later renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership after Donald Trump withdrew US participation. Given as much, the rumours of another coup in Peru should hardly come as a surprise. Nor should the Biden administrations recent appointment of a CIA veteran as US ambassador to Peru, as recently reported by Vijay Prashad and Jose Carlos Llerena Robles: Her name is Lisa Kenna, a former adviser to former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a nine-year veteran at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and a US secretary of state official in Iraq. Just before the election, Ambassador Kenna released a video, in which she spoke of the close ties between the United States and Peru and of the need for a peaceful transition from one president to another. It seems more than likely that Kenna played a direct role in the not-so-peaceful transition from President Castillo to de facto President Boluarte, having met with Perus then-Defence Minister Gustavo Bobbio Rosas on December 6, the day before Pedro Castillo was ousted, to tackle issues of bilateral interest. On a Knifes Edge After decades of stumbling from crisis to crisis and government to government, Peru rests on a knifes edge. When Castillo, a virtual nobody from an Andean backwater who had played an important role in the teachers strikes of 2017, rode to power on a crest of popular anger at Perus hyper-corrupt establishment parties in June 2021, Perus legions of poor and marginalised hoped that positive changes would follow. But it was not to be. Castillo was always an outsider in Lima and was out of his depth from day one. He had zero control over Congress and failed miserably to overcome rabid right-wing opposition to his government. Even in his first year in office he faced two impeachment attempts. As Manolo De Los Santos wrote in Peoples Dispatch, Perus largely Lima-based political and business elite could never accept that a former schoolteacher and farmer from the high Andean plains could become president. On December 7, they finally got what they wanted: Castillos impeachment. Just hours before a third impeachment hearing, he declared on national television that he was dissolving Congress and launching an exceptional emergency government and the convening of a Constituent Assembly. It was a preemptive act of total desperation from a man who held no sway with the military or judiciary, had zero control over Congress, and had even lost the support of his own party. Hours later, he was impeached, arrested by his own security detail and taken to jail, where he remains to this day. Castillo may be out of the picture but political instability continues to reign in Peru. The de facto Boluarte government and Congress are broadly despised by the Peruvian people. According to the latest poll by the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP), 78% of Peruvians disapprove of Boluartes presidency while only 15% approve. Congress is even less popular, with a public disapproval rate of 91%. Forty-one percent believe that the protests will increase while 26% believe they will remain the same. In the meantime, Perus Congress continues to block general elections. Perus Strategic Resources As regular readers know, EU and US interest in Latin America is rising rapidly as the race for lithium, copper, cobalt and other elements essential for the so-called clean energy transition heats up. It is a race that China has been winning pretty handily up until now. Peru is not only one of Chinas biggest trade partners in Latin America; it is home to the only port in Latin America that is managed entirely by Chinese capital. And while Peru may not form part of the Lithium Triangle (Bolivia, Argentina and Chile), it does boast significant deposits of the white metal. By one estimate, it is home to the sixth largest deposits of hard-rock lithium in the world. It is also the worlds second largest producer of copper, zinc and silver, three metals that are also expected to play a major role in supporting renewable energy technologies. In other words, there is a huge amount at stake in how Peru evolves politically as well as the economic and geopolitical alliances it forms. Also, its direct neighbour to the north, Ecuador, is undergoing a major political crisis that is likely to spell the end of the US-aligned Guillermo Lasso government and a handover of power to Rafael Correas party and its allies. And the US government and military have made no secret of their interest in the mineral deposits that countries like Peru hold in their subsoil. In an address to the Washington-based Atlantic Council on Jan 19, Gen. Laura Richardson, head of the U.S. Southern Command, spoke gushingly of Latin Americas rich deposits of rare earth elements, the lithium triangle Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, the largest oil reserves [and] light, sweet crude discovered off Guyana, Venezuelas oil, copper, gold and the fact that Latin America is home to 31% of the worlds fresh water in this region. She also detailed how Washington, together with US Southern Command, is actively negotiating the sale of lithium in the lithium triangle to US companies through its web of embassies, with the goal of box[ing] out US adversaries (i.e. China and Russia), concluding with the ominous words: This region matters. It has a lot to do with national security. And we need to step up our game. Which begs the question: is this the first step of the US government and militarys stepping-up-the-game process? The former president of Bolivia Evo Morales, who knows a thing or two about US interventions in the region, having been on the sharp end of a US-backed right-wing coup in 2019, certainly seems to think so. A few days ago, he tweeted the following message: The Peruvian Congress authorisation for the entry and stationing of US troops for 7 months confirms that Peru is governed from Washington, under the tutelage of the Southern Command. The Peruvian people are subject to powerful foreign interests mediated by illegitimate powers lacking popular representation. The greatest challenge for working people and indigenous peoples is to recover their self-determination, their sovereignty and their natural resources. With this authorization from the Peruvian right, we warn that the criminalization of protest and the occupation of US military forces will consolidate a repressive state that will affect sovereignty and regional peace in Latin America. Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who refuses to acknowledge Boluarte (whom he calls the great usurper) as Perus president and has recently faced threats of direct US military intervention in Mexicos drug wars from US Republican lawmakers, had a message for the US government this week: [Sending soldiers to Peru] merely maintains an interventionist policy that does not help at all in building fraternal bonds among the peoples of the American continent. Unfortunately, the US government does not seem interested, if indeed it ever has been, in building fraternal bonds with the peoples of the American continent. Instead, it is set on upgrading the Monroe Doctrine for the 21st century. Its strategic rivals this time around are not Western European nations, which are now little more than US vassals (as a recent paper by the European Council of Foreign Relations, titled The Art of Vassalisation, all but admitted), but rather China and Russia. (Natural News) A former top national security adviser to then-President Donald Trump has issued a dire warning: The American Deep State, via the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), is planning anew to steal the 2024 elections for, of course, a Democrat. Former Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland, who served in the Trump administration for four months under then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn before he was railroaded out of his position, said in an interview with Fox News Maria Bartiromo that the newly released report from special counsel John Durham proves that there was previous election interference during the 2016 cycle in a bid to stop Donald Trump from winning. We now have black-and-white evidence that the FBI interfered in the 2016 election. When they failed to elect Hillary Clinton, they set out to destroy the Trump administration, she told Bartiromo, as reported by Zero Hedge. Go back to 2020. This time, the CIA got involved in the election with those 51 former intel agents who said the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation. So theyve gotten away with it for two elections. They will surely try and get away with it in 2024, right? she said. Because there are no consequences. There is now hard evidence that there was election interference by the U.S. intelligence agencies and the Department of Justice. Those individuals must be terrified that a Republican president comes in with a Republican Attorney General, investigates them, and charges them with all of the crimes they have committed over the last eight years. Take it to the bank, McFarland continued. They will absolutely interfere in 2024, she added. These people are selling us out. Not only to foreign leaders, but they are interfering in our elections. They are tearing up the Constitution This is just a gut punch to the American people. WATCH: The Trump-Russia collusion hoax refers to the allegations that the 2016 presidential campaign of Trump conspired with the Russian government to influence the outcome of the election. This 400-word summary aims to provide a concise overview of the key aspects surrounding this controversial topic. The allegations stemmed primarily from the Steele dossier, a collection of unverified intelligence reports compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. The dossier alleged that the Trump campaign had close ties to Russia and contained salacious claims about compromising information held by the Russian government. However, the dossiers credibility came under scrutiny, as it relied heavily on anonymous sources and uncorroborated information. Multiple investigations were conducted to examine the claims of collusion. The most notable among them were the investigations led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee. These investigations spanned several years and involved extensive scrutiny of various individuals associated with the Trump campaign. After a thorough investigation, the Mueller report, released in April 2019, found no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia to interfere in the election. While the report did identify Russian interference efforts, it did not establish that any Americans, including Trump campaign members, knowingly conspired with these efforts. Furthermore, subsequent investigations, such as the DOJ inspector generals report, revealed flaws and biases in the handling of the investigation into alleged collusion. These revelations raised concerns about the objectivity and credibility of those involved in the process. Durhams report just confirmed all of that. Critics long argued, correctly, that the Trump-Russia collusion narrative was politically motivated, fueled by partisan interests seeking to undermine the legitimacy of the Trump presidency. They point to the lack of concrete evidence supporting the collusion claims as evidence of a coordinated effort to delegitimize Trumps presidency. But even after Trumps reelection was stolen from him, the deep state continues to target him with bogus charges and endless investigations. Sources include: NaturalNews.com ZeroHedge.com (Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have DNA contamination. Microbiologist Dr. Kevin McKernan has discovered unacceptable levels of double-stranded DNA plasmids floating around Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Pharmaceutical and medical device R&D executive Sasha Latypova expounded on McKernans findings in an interview with The Freedom Corner with Peter Sweden. Latypova said the DNA contamination is a significant problem because the replicable DNA plasmids can invade human cells and bacteria in the gut. This invasion can lead to the replication of antibiotic-resistant genes, sepsis, cancer and other health issues. Experts at the World Council for Health (WCH) also confirmed that DNA contamination in mRNA vaccines is a global risk. They said the presence of replicable DNA plasmids in both the monovalent and bivalent vaccines is unacceptable, and called for an immediate halt to the COVID-19 vaccine program. Besides the DNA contamination, McKernan also discovered the presence of Simian virus (SV40) promoters in Pfizers mRNA vaccine. The SV40 found in the vaccine is just a viral piece not the whole virus. However, it still presents a risk of driving cancer. SV40 was initially found in rhesus monkey kidney cells used to produce both inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV.) When it was discovered to be an animal carcinogen, a law was passed in 1961 to prohibit its presence in vaccines. (Related: The true story of SV40, the cancer-causing virus hidden in polio vaccines.) COVID-19 vaccines are disarming peoples immune systems McKernan warned that there is a lack of quality control in the manufacturing process of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, and it could pose risks such as anaphylaxis, blood clotting, antibiotic resistance, gene integration and long-term production of spike protein in the body. Dr. Mark Trozzi, a Canadian physician and medical researcher, supported McKernans findings about the high concentrations of bacterial DNA in Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. In his interview with the New American, he stated that any traces of bacterial plasmids, including that from the Escherichia coli bacteria, should have been filtered out in the final batches of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Whenever we see DNA contamination, like from plasmids, ending up in any injectable, the first thing people think about is whether theres any E. coli endotoxin present because that creates anaphylaxis for the injected, McKernan said. Meanwhile, a study published in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute journal showed that COVID-19 vaccine spike proteins inhibit the ability of damaged DNA to repair itself. If DNA damage cannot be properly repaired, it will contribute to the amplification of viral infection-induced pathology, the study authors warned, noting that immunodeficiency is a potential outcome. If you get an SV40 promoter in front of an oncogene, you will end up with a high expression of a gene that can drive cancer, it will be a very rare event, but you dont need many of these cells to be hit with something like this for it to take off. SV40 actually plagued, granted it was the full viral genome, not just the promoter, but this has plagued previous vaccine programs. The polio vaccine is one of them that they were concerned, that this may have contributed to cancer from that vaccine. So, theres a history of being concerned over SV40, McKernan said. Visit BadMedicine.news for more stories about the dirty COVID-19 vaccines. Watch this video that explains how vaccines suppress DNA repair mechanisms in your cells. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Pfizer Hid Evidence That HRT Causes Cancer. STUDY: Covid vaccines inhibit DNA repair, cause cancer. HISTORY REPEATS: Pfizer paid out $1.2B after its drug caused thousands of BREAST CANCER cases. Gruesome, post-covid-injection skin diseases now rampant among the fully jabbed. Pfizer suspends distribution of anti-smoking drug after cancer-causing agents found in the pills. Sources include: TheExpose.com PeterSweden.substack.com TheNewAmerican.com MDPI.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) German police recently carried out a series of raids across seven states related to their probe into climate protesters accused of criminal activity. More than a dozen properties that are linked to the climate activist group known as Last Generation were raided by police, who seized assets and bank accounts as they investigate the groups finances. Munich prosecutors are leading the investigation, which is focused on seven individuals aged 22 to 38 suspected of supporting or forming a criminal organization. A separate investigation was launched last year into actions taken by climate protesters against an Eastern Germany oil refinery. The group is also being investigated for trying to disrupt flights at the Berlin airport and an attack on a $110 million Monet painting at a Potsdam museum using mashed potatoes. The individuals who are the subject of the investigation have been accused of being part of a campaign to finance criminal offenses; they reportedly collected at least $1.5 million for their cause. In addition, two of those being investigated are suspected of attempting to sabotage an oil pipeline running from Bavaria to Trieste in Italy last year. As part of the searches, investigators are reportedly looking to obtain evidence related to the groups membership structure and finances. Some of the tactics the group has used include blocking roads throughout the country in hopes of pressuring the German government into taking stronger actions to stem climate change. In the past few weeks, they have held up traffic on highways and at busy intersections in Berlin nearly every day. Chancellor Olaf Scholtz has weighed in on the group, commenting that he believed it was completely nutty to somehow stick yourself to a painting or on the street. Leaders in the environment-focused Green Party, who are part of Scholtzs governing coalition, have also spoken out against the group, saying their approach is counterproductive. The group appears to be undeterred by the raids, however. They make us afraid, but we must not be frozen by fear, Last Generation spokesperson Aimee van Baalen told the media. The German government is right now driving us toward climate hell with its eyes wide open. It is even stepping on the gas pedal. We must continue to resist now, because we need to loudly demand that lives be protected. She also took the opportunity to implore the public to support marches they have planned for German cities like Berlin in the near future. Although the group admits that its protests may be provocative, they believe that this is the best way to keep the topic of climate change on peoples minds and part of the public discourse. Germanys Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, said that police registered 1,600 criminal complaints related to climate protests last year, many of which took place during Last Generations road blockades. UK also takes steps to address criminal activity by climate activists The UK is also taking steps to address unruly behavior by climate activists, giving police in England and Wales new powers when dealing with protestors. For example, any protestors who lock themselves to buildings, objects or each other can now face as much as six months in prison, while interfering with refineries, railways or airports could be punished by up to a year in jail. The way British authorities have responded to these types of crimes so far has been inconsistent. A pair of men who placed a huge banner that caused a bridge on the River Thames to be closed for more than 40 hours were handed sentences of 2.5 years in prison, while activists from a group called Just Stop Oil who stormed the race track during the Formula 1 race in England were spared time behind bars. Just Stop Oil is part of the international network of climate activists known as A22, which also includes Germanys Last Generation. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com ABCNews.go.com (Natural News) LinkedIn, whose founder Reid Hoffman funded a Russian bot hoax against GOP candidate Roy Moore & underwrote Trump accuser E. Jean Carrols lawsuit, has locked the account of GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for expressing fact-based views as a presidential candidate about climate policy and Bidens relationships with China. (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) Big Tech election interference has begun, tweeted Ramaswamy, who included correspondence from LinkedIn regarding the decision. Big Tech election interference has begun: @LinkedIn locked my account & censored me this week for posting videos where I expressed fact-based views as a presidential candidate about climate policy and Bidens relationships with China. They said it violated their policies relating pic.twitter.com/ND2dFVnGAg Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 25, 2023 Note that the third strike is for claiming that the climate agenda is a lie and that fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity. Two years ago, Big Tech censored people who argued that we shouldnt close schools for Covid, he said in a separate tweet. Now theyre censoring presidential candidates for arguing that fossil fuels are required for prosperity. They didnt censor me because its false. They censored me because its true Two years ago, Big Tech censored people who argued that we shouldnt close schools for Covid. Now theyre censoring presidential candidates for arguing that fossil fuels are required for prosperity. They didnt censor me because its false. They censored me because its true https://t.co/TYElXRdVLZ Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 25, 2023 When it comes to the left, as usual, speech for me, but not for thee Read more at: ZeroHedge.com (Natural News) The slanderous Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is colluding with the corrupt Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to smear Catholics and conservatives, according to a report. Jihad Watch Director Robert Spencer disclosed this collusion in a May 23 piece for Front Page Magazine. According to him, the SPLC relentlessly smears legitimate conservative individuals and groups by labeling them as purveyors of hate and lumping them in with the likes of the [Ku Klux Klan] and neo-Nazis. Spencer cited a May 14 article at the Daily Signal stating that the FBI appears, at least briefly, to have joined the SPLCs attempt to smear Roman Catholics. The piece noted that Catholics who adhere to the churchs teaching on marriage and who celebrate the Latin Mass were the targets of the smear campaign. Michael J. Matt, editor of the Remnant newspaper and producer of Remnant TV, expressed surprise after seeing his organization on a leaked FBI memo in February. His organization had been listed alongside several other groups he described as defunct. According to Matt, the FBIs list of radical-traditional Catholic hate groups came from a 2007 list compiled by Heidi Beirich and Rhonda Brownstein both from the SPLC. Brownstein serves as the current legal director for the group, while Beirich formerly oversaw the SPLCs Intelligence Project and Hatewatch blog. There has been an explosion of traditional Catholic groups since [the late] Pope Benedict XVI brought back the Latin Mass, he pointed out. None of the new groups who are in positions of real influence are targeted in the memo. But thats beside the point. Thats good, but the fact that the FBI is working with the SPLC and targeting law-abiding citizens because it disapproves of their religious beliefs is disquieting enough, Spencer wrote in response to Matts point. (Related: Whistleblower says FBI plotting to CRIMINALIZE Christianity.) FBI planting informants inside churches Matt noted that the SPLC never cleans up its list of hate groups, and described the FBIs short-lived decision to cite the Alabama-based civil rights group as foreboding. I have this suspicion that the SPLC was just laying the groundwork so that when the government gets far enough to the left, they can start using these resources like the [SPLCs] hate map to silence people. Meanwhile, Spencer also recounted an exchange between Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Attorney General Merrick Garland back in early March. The senator asked Garland if the Department of Justice (DOJ) under him was cultivating sources and spies in Latin Mass parishes and other Catholic parishes around the country. The attorney general replied in the negative, saying that the DOJ does not do investigations based on religion. But it later came to light that Garland was lying, said the Jihad Watch director. The feds did have informants in Catholic churches, snooping around and looking for evidence of that domestic terror threat that the Biden regime keeps insisting is the worst such threat we face today. Nor is there any indication that theyve taken these spies out of the pews. If there were a steady stream of terrorists routinely radicalized in Catholic churches and going out to bring the wrath of the Immaculate Heart of Mary upon the populace, there might be some justification for this program, Spencer noted. As it was, it was plain and simple harassment and scapegoating of Christians. [But] this criminal regime will not stop with Christians, either. Watch Alex Newman explaining how the SPLC serves as a Deep State tool against Christians and conservatives below. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FBI whistleblower releases documentation showing that agency actively surveils radical Latin Mass Catholics. Federal judge allows defamation lawsuit against SPLC, which routinely brands conservatives hate groups, to proceed. FBI tried to cultivate sources inside Catholic and Christian churches under phony guise of fighting domestic terrorism. Discredited SPLC now claims group of singing nuns is a hate group while bigoted, violent Leftists are characterized as tolerant. Sources include: SGTReport.com FrontPageMag.com DailySignal.com Brighteon.com Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Police said a Syracuse woman was charged with two felonies after trying to cash a forged check at a bank in Cayuga County. Members of the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office arrested Roberta A. Root, 55, on Wednesday after responding to LNB Bank in the Town of Sennett following a report that Root was attempting to pass a forged check. According to a news release, the investigation confirmed that the check was in fact fraudulent, and Root was charged with second-degree forgery and possession of a forged instrument. She was arraigned at the Cayuga County Jail and held without bail pending her return to the Town of Sennett Court on May 31. The sheriff's office said that this is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Harkness of the Criminal Investigations Division at (315) 294-8143. Tips can also be left at cayugacounty.us/452/Send-a-Tip. (Natural News) Target has lost $9 billion in market value since angry social media users called for a boycott of the Minneapolis-based retailer over its rollout of the PRIDE collection featuring LGBTQ-friendly clothing for children. (Article by Ariel Zilber republished from NYPost.com) A week ago Wednesday before the controversy erupted, Targets stock closed at $160.96 a share, giving the big-box chain a market capitalization of $74.3 billion. As of early trading on Thursday, however, shares of the company were trading off 1% at $141.76 capping a weeklong tumble that has shrunk the cheap chic discount retailers value to $65.3 billion. That amounts to a 12% drop that has shaved a whopping $9 billion off the companys market capitalization. Target said on Tuesday it was removing some items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after intense backlash from some customers who confronted workers and tipped over displays. 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 on Tuesday. Target has been subjected to calls for a boycott over its rollout of its controversial PRIDE collection. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 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 that customers knocked down Pride displays at some stores, angrily approached workers and posted threatening videos on social media from inside the stores. That was just days after Target CEO Brian Cornell had defended the LBGTQ-friendly merchandise, saying it was the right thing for society. Target declined to specify Wednesday which items it was removing but among the ones that garnered the most attention were tuck friendly womens swimsuits that allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal their private parts. Designs by Abprallen, a London-based company that designs and sells occult- and satanic-themed LGBTQ+ clothing and accessories, have also created backlash. The Pride merchandise has been on sale since early May. Pride month is held in June. Target confirmed that it has moved its Pride merchandise from the front of the stores to the back in some Southern stores after confrontations and backlash from shoppers in those areas. Target was criticized for its tuck friendly bathing suits for transgender people. Randalwhitejr / Tiktok Target was also criticized for marketing rainbow-colored swimsuits to children. Target Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren said on Tuesday that Target is about to see its business suffer in the same way that Bud Light did. I think that Target really soon is about to find out what happens when conservatives shop or rather dont shop, because they are about to get Bud Light-ed, Lahren told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday. Bud Light has seen its sales drop for some six consecutive weeks down 25% versus a year ago in the most recent week since boycott calls erupted in response to its controversial marketing campaign with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. With Post wires Read more at: NYPost.com (Natural News) The United States has secured a defense cooperation agreement with the Oceanian nation of Papua New Guinea as Washington attempts to push back on Chinas growing influence in the Pacific. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing in for President Joe Biden, signed the new security pact along with P.N.G. Prime Minister James Marape and Minister of Defense Win Bakri Daki on Monday, May 22, at the countrys capital of Port Moresby. P.N.G.s proximity to Australia and many Pacific island nations make it strategically significant, and China and the U.S. have been competing for influence over the country, much like they are competing for influence in other parts of the globe. (Related: Generals warn of aggressive Chinese military expansion into Latin America.) The full text of the U.S.-P.N.G. defense pact has not been made public, but Blinken claimed it would enable the U.S. to support P.N.G. as it strives to build up the abilities of its own armed forces, the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces, as well as increase regional stability, help provide aid during disasters and support efforts to tackle illegal fishing. The work that were doing together to try to shape the future could not be more important, could not be more timely, said Blinken. Were deeply invested in the Indo-Pacific because our planets future is being written here. Papua New Guinea is playing a critical role in shaping that future. Along with the defense pact, the U.S. also signed a maritime agreement with P.N.G., which will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to partner with the nation to counter illegal fishing and seaborne drug smuggling. PNG being pressured by China, local leftists to move away from US influence Marape has been facing extreme political pressure over the defense pact ever since rumors of its creation were revealed just one week ago. Particularly, local Papua New Guinean youth and leftist activists held protests at campuses against the signing of the Defense Cooperation Agreement after a leaked draft of the agreement suggested that the U.S. would use military facilities in the nation, raising the prospect of more U.S. personnel being stationed in Papua New Guinea. Furthermore, complaints were raised about the possibility of U.S. service members being subject to American military courts rather than the nations own justice system. Naomi, 17, a student, told the Associated Press that she was against the security pact because it would allow the U.S. to come and go as it pleased without permission. Meanwhile, she claims China has been a big help to P.N.G., building roads and funding schools. The U.S. didnt help us with aid and other things, said Naomi. Theyre just trying to sign the agreement. Local politicians also warned that the agreement might undermine the nations relationship with China, which has become a major investor in P.N.G.s infrastructure. As of press time, China has yet to comment on the signing. However, upon hearing news of Blinkens impending visit, the communist nation did warn the U.S. against the introduction of geopolitical games. Marape even had to stress to reporters that P.N.G. was not in any way forced into signing a defense agreement with the United States. I just want to stress this point: It wasnt shoved down on our throat. It wasnt forced upon us. It was a mutual agreement, said Marape. Our defense force needs to be stepped up and supported. Marape further emphasized that the defense pact in no way breaks or encroaches upon P.N.G. legislation nor does it affect the countrys relationships with other regional powers. It does not affect whether in China or Australia or the United Kingdom or Japan or India or any other nation, for that matter this agreement does not in any way, shape or form stop Papua New Guinea from continuing to do business with those we do business with, he said. Marape added that the new defense pact was necessary to sign because it updates and overhauls the countrys previous defense treaty with the U.S., the 1975 Visiting Forces Act, into one that is exclusive for U.S.-P.N.G. military cooperation and military engagements and partnership. While it provides updates to the 1975 act, Marape stressed that the agreement is subsidiary to it and does not replace it. Biden, who was called back to Washington, D.C. over protracted negotiations with House Republicans over the debt ceiling, has invited Marape to the White House later this year so they can continue discussing various issues, including trade and economic times, defense and maritime security. Learn more about Chinas latest activities around the world at CommunistChina.news. Watch this news broadcast from WION News discussing Japans $75 billion plan to counter Chinas growing influence over the Indo-Pacific region. This video is from the channel Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Canada expresses intent to join the anti-China AUKUS military bloc. US warns China about plans to increase military drills in South China Sea region. Taiwan to buy 400 American anti-ship missiles as China continues to threaten the island nation. Australia to buy up to 5 nuclear-powered submarines from the US and China isnt happy about it. China set to have PERMANENT presence near Australia via deals with South Pacific nations. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ABC.net.au APNews.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday, May 19, that an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as the mad cow disease, has been detected in South Carolina (SC) the seventh detection of BSE in the United States since 2003. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or to human health in the United States. Given the United States negligible risk status for BSE, we do not expect any trade impacts as a result of this finding, the federal agency said in a statement. According to SCs leading public research institution, Clemson University, the cow was from Tennessee and tested positive for atypical BSE. The animal was euthanized after showing symptoms of the disease upon arrival at the plant in SC. Samples were sent to a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) lab for testing and returned suspect for BSE. The samples were then sent to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) where they were confirmed positive for atypical L-type BSE. Atypical BSE generally occurs in older cattle and seems to arise rarely and spontaneously in all cattle populations. South Carolina state veterinarian Michael Neault, director of the universitys Livestock Poultry Health Department, said this is an isolated case. Of the six previous cases in the country, the first was a case of classical BSE in a cow imported from Canada 20 years ago and the rest have been atypical (H- or L-type) BSE. APHIS also claimed that America has a longstanding system of interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the country. It added that the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease. The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. Another important component of our system which led to this detection is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population, the website further included. FDA: Mad cow disease could be deadly for humans According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), humans could acquire a version of BSE called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) if they ingest food from cows that are infected with BSE. In 2019, researchers reported that one in 2,000 people in the United Kingdom were carriers of vCJD, the BBC reported. As of that year, 232 people died after getting infected with vCJD. Most of the victims lived in the U.K. at some point in their lives. Four of them lived in the United States. The four Americans who died after contracting vCJD most likely were infected when they were living or traveling overseas, the agency said. BSE was linked to the practice of feeding cattle an artificial protein supplement that was made from the remains of other animals in an attempt to speed up their growth. Meanwhile, vCJD progressively attacks the brain but can remain dormant for decades. Also, a 2014 report of the House of Commons Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee stated that thousands of people could be asymptomatic carriers of the prions that cause vCJD and blood transfusions were a key channel of transmission. The infection is untreatable and incurable despite decades of research. There is also no test to determine whether a person carries the disease. Richard Knight, a senior neurologist based in Edinburgh, said there were still people silently infected. Every prediction that we have suggests that there are going to be further cases, he added. (Related: Mad cow disease could remain hidden in humans for decades; future death waves possible.) Visit Infections.news to read more stories related to infectious diseases like mad cow disease. Watch the BBC documentary that tackles the fatal man-made mad cow disease below. This video is from the Truth or Consequences channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: USDA downplays seriousness of mad cow disease found in Alabama cow. Experimental Covid-19 vaccines could cause mad cow disease, experts warn. Toxic biosolids linked to deadly prion-related illnesses like mad cow disease. Cases similar to mad cow disease in Brazil not linked to beef consumption, may be caused by vaccines. Person-to-person transmission of mad cow disease / BSE now documented; alarming discovery suggests widespread human susceptibility. Sources include: YourNews.com TheEpochTimes.com APHIS.USDA.gov BBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Australian government reportedly asked U.S. tech companies to censor content related to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) more than 4,000 times between 2017 and 2022. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Australian Sen. Alex Antic revealed this censorship from Canberra, coursed through the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The DHA is in charge of matters related to citizenship, terrorism and border security. The response to Antics FOI request stated that between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 15, 2022, the DHA lodged 4,212 COVID-19-related content referrals to digital platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The referrals, which concurrently came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, urged the platforms to review questionable content against their own terms of service. Moreover, the department also lodged 9,423 terrorist- and violent extremist-related referrals over the aforementioned period. All in all, the DHA lodged 13,636 content referrals. Further information was made unavailable or heavily redacted, according to the Epoch Times. It continued: The revelations highlight the extent to which government authorities attempted to control public discourse around issues like vaccine efficacy, lockdowns and mask mandates. The South Australian senator blasted the government for working with overseas social media companies to suppress citizens views. The system used by [DHA] was created for the purposes of seeking removal of terrorist-related material, Antic told the Epoch Times in an email. However, the mission creep into matters of public health proves that we need to be vigilant at all times with the power given to bureaucracies. It is also concerning that this seems to be a pattern being adopted in many parts of the Western world, as we saw from the Twitter Files scandal in the U.S., he added. The federal senator with the Liberal Party ultimately called for a royal commission investigation into how all levels of the government handled the COVID-19 pandemic. (Related: Senator Ted Cruz asks Big Tech to hand over communications with government regarding misinformation censorship.) Twitter closely colluded with DHA to CENSOR dissenting info online Writing for Racket News, Australian journalist Andrew Lowenthal also discovered that Twitter had worked closely with the same government agency on censoring dissenting information online. The Australian reporter collaborated with his American counterpart, Matt Taibbi of the Twitter Files fame, into scrutinizing the DHAs links with the social media site. The search into the Twitter Files yielded 18 emails from the Australian department requesting the removal of 222 tweets. One email was signed by a senior analyst at the DHAs Social Cohesion Division working on extremism insights and communication but purportedly misspelled with word extremism. Lowenthal lamented how a group that cant spell check has reportedly become a fact-checking authority for an entire nation. One post flagged for removal featured Victoria Premier Dan Andrews with a mask on, but with the words this mask is as useless as me on the face covering. The said post allegedly contradicted official information, leading the Australian journalist to quip: Even a humorous commentary on masks was deemed too much for the fun police. In another instance of the DHA being unable to take a joke, Lowenthal cited a tweet complaining about the long lines for swabbing as part of PCR tests. He explained: The DHA apparently believed that a [user] thought that the swab used for PCR testing really was shoved up to [their] brain.' According to him, a content referral asking for this post to be taken down was rejected. From our review, little to none of the content that was flagged came from extremists,' Lowenthal concluded. Rather, it was and is from everyday Australians and foreigners who disagreed with government policy. Watch former U.S. Department of State official Mike Benz exposing how the U.S. Department of Defense funded COVID-19 censorship even before the pandemic. This video is from the Prevent Global Genocide channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Twitter yielding to more government CENSORSHIP demands under Musk leadership. Jim Jordan subpoenas CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, other top agencies for documents related to social media censorship. Government is marketing censorship tools to Big Tech to gag conservatives. Big Government selling unconstitutional censorship tools to Big Tech to override First Amendment and silence all voices of dissent. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com IMG.TheEpochTimes.com [PDF] Racket.news Brighteon.com (Natural News) The European Union has fined Mark Zuckerbergs Meta, ordering the California-based tech company to pay 1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) over violations of data privacy laws. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) announced the decision to penalize Meta on May 22. It followed an extensive investigation into the operations of Facebook in the continent. The investigation was launched by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) back in August 2020. The DPC is in charge of regulating all of Metas operations within Europe. Its May 22 ruling, however, alleged that the parent company of Facebook and Instagram violated Article 46(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In particular, the GDPRs Chapter 5 establishes the conditions for the transfer of personal data to countries outside of the EU or to international organizations. According to the commission, Meta continued to transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S. even after the European Court of Justice ruled the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield agreement invalid in 2020. (Related: Facebook confirmed to be a massive spy machine that records your conversations and violates your privacy.) Meanwhile, the company helmed by Zuckerberg said it plans to appeal the ruling and the accompanying fine. It has also assured users that there will be no immediate disruption to Facebook services in Europe. The fine issued by the DPC surpasses the previous record of 746 million ($805.7 million), which had been slapped on e-commerce giant Amazon back in 2021. Aside from the fine, the DPC also ordered Meta to stop processing the personal data of European users on U.S. servers within the next six months. The personal information encompassed in the order include pictures, friend connections, direct messages and data collected for targeted advertising. Meta Global Affairs President Nick Clegg and Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead decried the ruling in a joint statement. They wrote: This decision is flawed, unjustified and sets a dangerous precedent for the countless other companies transferring data between the EU and the United States. Meta: Issue stems from conflict between EU, US data privacy laws EDPB Chairwoman Andrea Jelinek described Metas violation as systemic, repetitive and continuous. She also stressed the severity of the tech giants violations. Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine sends a powerful message to organizations about the significant repercussions of serious infringements. Meta meanwhile argued that the issue stems from the conflict of law between U.S. rules governing data access and the privacy rights of Europeans. The company expressed optimism that American policymakers and their European counterparts would head to a clear path toward resolving the conflict, under a newly-proposed transatlantic Data Privacy Framework. Thousands of businesses and organizations rely on the ability to transfer data between the EU and the U.S. to operate and provide everyday services, Meta said. This is not about one companys privacy practices. There is a fundamental conflict of law between the US governments rules on access to data and European privacy rights, which policymakers are expected to resolve in the summer. The company reiterated that it will appeal the ruling, including the unjustified and unnecessary fine, and seek a stay of the orders through the courts. Visit BigTech.news for more stories about Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Watch this video to learn how the EARN IT Act, which has been introduced three times in Congress, wants to end privacy. This video is on the What is Happening channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: In major privacy victory, top EU court rules against mass surveillance. California lawmaker trying to weaken privacy law turns out to be married to Amazon Ring Exec. Google and Meta caught harvesting your sensitive financial information through tax prep software. Meta plans to sack thousands of employees amid severe drop in revenue. Italy bans ChatGPT over privacy concerns. Sources include: ReclaimtheNet.org NPR.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) The crimes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with regard to the Russian collusion conspiracy theory against President Donald Trump have been laid bare for the world to see. And the FBIs response to being outed is one of we dont care; we will do whatever we want and there is nothing anybody else can do about it. The recently released Durham report paints a dark and sinister portrait of who and what the FBI really is behind closed doors. The agency did not just make a blunder in the way it handled the Russian collusion conspiracy theory; we now know for certain though it was abundantly obvious from the start that the FBI intentionally set out to destroy Trump and his associates, including General Michael Flynn. The FBI took unto itself the power to decide who could be President, reported Zero Hedge, comparing the FBIs egregious actions to those of the late Julius Caesar when he defied the rules and crossed the Rubicon River into Rome, which within a single generation led to the end of that republic. The fate of the American republic is staged for a similar end. And the FBI is leading the charge by depriving a lawfully elected president of his seat while facilitating a coup that installed a fake president and his regime instead. The whole nation can see that the FBI acted in violation of law and every tradition we have had since the inception of the republic, the Hedge further noted. The FBI has responded with remarkable clarity. It did nothing wrong. It does not care what Durham (or countless whistleblowers) say(s). It does not care what Congress thinks. It will do as it pleases. (Related: We recently learned that in 2021 while everyone was distracted with covid, the FBI was conducting one new illegal, warrantless search every two minutes for an entire year.) The FBI hates Americans and their Constitution, which is supposed to protect them from the likes of the FBI in the first place In her recent testimony before Congress, Suzanne Turner, the FBIs Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, revealed, when asked about the Durham report, that her agency went astray in staging what would become a coup against Trump. Turner also made a powerful admission about the fact that she never even bothered to read the report, nor had she ever even been briefed on it. Congress pressed her again and again about it, even asking for someone else from the FBI to answer for her if she was, for whatever reason, incapable of delivering the truth. To this, Turner was seen dripping contempt, to quote one media source, with every word and mannerism she did express. The concerns of the peoples elected representatives were clearly of no interest whatsoever to her, the Hedge reported about Turners openly and flagrantly blatant hatred for the American people and the United States Constitution that was meant to protect them from the likes of her. Right now, the House Oversight Committee is in the process of probing fake president Joe Biden and his unlawful regime. Its members are investigating the Biden Crime Familys taking of money from foreign interests, including communist China, in exchange for policy decisions. By the looks of it, Congress already knows that Biden is working on behalf not of the American people, but Beijing and likely other foreign entities. As part of this investigation, the House has demanded from the FBI copies of reports that allegedly reveal it as a knowledgeable co-conspirator in such treason. The FBI has gone fully rogue and must be dealt with immediately for the protection of America and its people. To learn more, visit FBI.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The FBI has become known in recent years less as a federal law enforcement agency and more of a propaganda arm of the American deep state whose objectives are to dismantle the country as founded by being weaponized against true patriots. Case in point: This weeks U-Haul-Nazi flag incident involving a neo-Nazi from near St. Louis, Mo. who struck a barrier near the White House. Only this time, a growing majority of Americans saw the incident for what it was: Pure fiction. We deserve better false flags. Its as if the FBI isnt even trying anymore. Thats the consensus from most conservatives, who are calling BS on the latest Nazi stunt that unfolded in D.C., and are calling it just another poorly-orchestrated FBI psyop, Revolver News reported. According to Inside Paper, heres what went on at the White House: US Secret Service officers detained the driver of a U-Haul box truck in Washington on Monday night after the vehicle crashed into a barrier near the White House, the agency said in a statement. There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation, the statement said. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi later said in a tweet that a preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square, adding that charges would be filed over the incident. Not long after, and right on cue, of course, a Nazi flag was found in the truck and laid out perfectly on the street for all to see. BREAKING: Apparently a Nazi flag has been pulled from the cab of a U Haul truck that rammed the security barrier at Lafayette Square near White House pic.twitter.com/IMxBdloRVf Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) May 23, 2023 The report added: A local CBS affiliate, WUSA9, reported that what appeared to be a Nazi flag had been found during a search of the U-Haul, though no other information on the flag was provided. The crash took place just before 10 pm (0200 GMT) on the northern edge of the square, a few hundred yards from the White House in an area home to several upmarket hotels. A local Fox affiliate reported that some hotel guests said they had been told to evacuate after the crash. A journalist with the station posted video from the scene showing a robot searching the cargo area of the truck. This comes as the Biden regime and the politicized agencies it controls repeatedly claim, without evidence, that white supremacy is the number one domestic terrorist threat to the country. According to some reports, domestic extremism is on the rise in the United States, fueled in part by political polarization and the spread of misinformation on social media. But this extremism can take many forms, including white supremacy, anti-government groups, and violent left-wing groups like Antifa. The FBI has identified such groups as a top threat to national security, but of course, the current regime only focuses on one threat: White conservatives. But in this case, the white supremacist is actually of Indian (as in from India) origin. Why are these Nazis never white? https://t.co/ZwXHlF8fXb ALX ?? (@alx) May 23, 2023 But Americans are getting wise to this government propaganda. Let me get this straight so you are telling me a guy with a Nazi flag in an empty Uhaul Truck randomly plowed into a White House barricade at low speeds, then gave up immediately and got arrested, and the FBI laid out the flag in front of the truck for the perfect photo op? Matt Wallace of the Elon Musk Council noted, echoing the skepticism of many. Why are these Nazis never white? https://t.co/ZwXHlF8fXb ALX ?? (@alx) May 23, 2023 Still others see the deep state preparing to set off another major staged domestic terror attack. A major false flag on the level of OKC is coming, there is zero doubt. The missing nitrogen fertilizer, this Nazi Uhaul White House dry run. Patriot Front (pure fed gay op) right after Biden speech Buckle up, the big false flag is going to be blamed on WHITE SUPREMACY. pic.twitter.com/RQxzAGaxyL Matt Bracken (@Matt_Bracken48) May 23, 2023 Our government is completely corrupt. Sources include: Revolver.news Politico.com (Natural News) Todays Brighteon Broadcast News features an interview with Lisa McGee and Todd Callender who reveal that numerous Biden officials including AG Garland and so-called Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have no legitimate oaths of office on file. This indicates they have no sworn allegiance to the United States of America and are merely acting as officials. They are impostors, in other words. And legally speaking, their actions carry no legitimate authority. They are merely bluffing their way through office. It turns out that much of the Biden regime has sworn no loyalty to the United States Constitution or its people. Instead, their loyalties lie outside the USA with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or globalists who wish to see the United States of America utterly destroyed. This is why Mr. Austin, for example, is dedicated to the total destruction of the U.S. military. Only by destroying Americas ability to defend itself can the CCP invasion of America succeed. Right now, hundreds of thousands of military-aged males who belong to the CCP are crossing the undefended southern border, positioning themselves for an activation day at which time they will wage kinetic warfare against the people of America while destroying critical infrastructure such as refineries, power grid stations, bridges and military bases. Mr. Mayorkas another official with no proper sworn oath on file is committing treason by allowing the CCP to invade the USA with military operatives who will take part in this kinetic war against this nation. Similarly, the ATF is actively seeking to disarm the American public by turning tens of millions of arm brace owners into felons through a flip-flop rule change that goes into effect in just a few days. The takedown of America is a coordinated, treasonous, lawless affair thats being run by corrupt criminals who arent even legitimate government officials. They are impostors working for an illegitimate regime that rigged the 2020 election and was never even voted into power by the American people. Learn more in todays bombshell interview with Lisa McGee and Todd Callender, as part of todays Brighteon Broadcast News. Heres what else we cover in this episode: Corporations that push LGBT agenda actually HATE YOU (but love Satan) The North Face, run by left-wing morons, rolls out real life homosexual mascot Corporations commit brand suicide to appease the TRANS TYRANTS Target has lost $9 BILLION in valuation since pushing satanic trans gear for children People taking Ozempic weight loss drug sh#t their own bed sheets (and go BALD!) NatWest bank INTERROGATES their own customers who dare to withdraw cash BLM has gone BROKE, burning through hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate donations REPARATIONS for all end the Fed and stop the theft of spending power Full interview with Lisa McGee and Todd Callender Biden admin officials have NO OATHS of office on file they are impostors! Brighteon: Brighteon.com/e5366970-58d0-434c-82c0-e9f1efbd6579 Rumble: Rumble.com/v2q6btq-bbn-may-26-2023-missing-oaths-biden-officials-swear-no-allegiance-to-the-un.html Bitchute: Bitchute.com/video/VZNkY6yhLEe8/ Banned.Video: Banned.video/watch?id=6470ca9b1cd98dc354c24c14 iTunes podcast: Healthrangerreport.com/brighteon-broadcast-news-may-26-2023-missing-oaths-biden-officials-swear-no-allegiance-to-the-united-states-feat-todd-callender Discover more interviews and podcasts each day at: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/HRreport Follow me on: Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger (my breaking news gets posted here first) Telegram: t.me/RealHealthRanger Substack: HealthRanger.substack.com Banned.video: Banned.video/channel/mike-adams Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@healthranger Twitter: @MikeAdamsHR Gettr: GETTR.com/user/healthranger Parler: Parler.com/user/HealthRanger Rumble: Rumble.com/c/HealthRangerReport BitChute: Bitchute.com/channel/9EB8glubb0Ns/ Clouthub: app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/naturalnews/posts Join the free NaturalNews.com email newsletter to stay alerted about breaking news each day. Download my current audio books including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind at: https://Audiobooks.NaturalNews.com/ Download my new audio book, Resilient Prepping at ResilientPrepping.com it teaches you how to survive the total collapse of civilization and the loss of both the power grid and combustion engines. (Natural News) An alleged customer of NatWest bank captured a photo of a sign plastered across the doorway entry to one of the banks branches notifying customers that in order to withdraw their own cash, they must tell NatWest why they need it. Based out of London, with a few locations in Southern California as well, NatWest allegedly told its customers via signage that in order to keep them safe and secure, customers will now be asked questions about the purpose of their cash withdrawals. We may also ask for supporting documentation such as an invoice, the sign further reads. This helps us validate the withdrawal as genuine and protect you against fraud and scams. The biggest fraud and scam of all is private central banking, of course, which has a stranglehold on the United Kingdom just as it does the United States. Nevertheless, this is the official story from NatWest as to why it has decided to start probing its customers intentions before allowing them to access their own cash. (Related: During covid, communist China was using phony positive test results as an excuse to lock Chinese people out of their own bank accounts.) Private central banking is the biggest scam and fraud of all The signage at NetWest also allegedly informs customers that in order to withdraw large cash amounts exceeding 2,000, a 24-hour notice must first be sent to the bank so preparations can be made. You can pre-advise us of your transaction via our customer contact team or in branch, the sign states. In some instances, we may choose to decline the cash withdrawal based on the information provided surrounding the transaction. This will be at the branchs own discretion for more information please review our T&Cs that can be found under section 2.2.) A graphic display of the sign has been circulating on social media as of late you may have already seen it. It was independently verified on the NatWest website, which contains the same small-print notice about the sudden change. In Canada, this type of thing has already been happening for quite some time now, including before covid. At least four big banks there routinely ask their customers to explain why they are withdrawing cash in excess of a couple thousand dollars. Customers are free to tell them that this is none of their business and banking customers need to know that they have the freedom to do this, as some probably fear that they have no choice but to answer any such line of questioning. Even if no bank has yet to deny a persons withdrawal for any reason, you can see that the groundwork is now being laid, with NatWest in tow, to normalize the probing of peoples purchasing decisions. The infamous war on cash is what this is all about, and it is moving along nicely, bit by bit, in the U.K., Canada, India, France, and elsewhere where the banking systems are tightening their restrictions on customer freedom. Soon, it will all morph or at least this is the stated plan into a central bank digital currency, or CBDC, paradigm. If left to run its course, central banking will lead the way into late-stage globalism, marked by an elimination of all privacy; a litany of new controls over consumer behavior; and the end of fiat currency as we currently know it. With the mother of all economic recessions dead ahead (if not here already), and the fiat banking system more or less insolvent, the value proposition for CBDCs (aka subservience-tokens) will be Universal Basic Income, with all-encompassing strings attached, reports warn. As the economy hastens its implosion, you will see more of this kind of bizarrely restrictive behavior from the money changers. To keep up with the latest, visit Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: BombThrower.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Attorney General Ken Paxton is the one man who has stood up against the Democrat-Marxist onslaught in the great state of Texas. Democrats and Secret Sleeper Republicans hate him for this. (Article by Jim Hoft republished from TheGatewayPundit.com) In December 2020, Ken Paxton formed a coalition of states to sue battleground states Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, for their unconstitutional changes to the 2020 election laws. The US Supreme Court threw out the case despite its obvious merit later that month. Paxton later told The Gateway Pundit that he still believes the Supreme Court had a constitutional obligation to hear the case which they ignored. While serving as Attorney General in Texas Ken Paxton defended 12 lawsuits related to election laws. Democrats wanted to open the elections to mail-in ballots and ID-free voting and sued Texas to institute these unconstitutional practices in Texas elections. AG Paxton and his staff won every single one of these cases and prevented Democrats from stealing Texas like they were able to do in Georgia and Arizona. Ken has been fighting for free and fair elections in Texas and understands what a huge issue this is in our country today. The people LOVE Ken Paxton and reelected him to office in 2022. But Texas RINOs and Democrats hate Attorney General Ken Paxton. On Tuesday AG Paxton called on Texas Speaker Dade Phelan to resign for being drunk in the US Capitol. Speaker Dade Phelan should resign. pic.twitter.com/ZD920VOt1X Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 23, 2023 On Wednesday AG Paxton condemned the RINOs in the Texas House. In response a Texas House Committee voted to remove PAXTON! On Thursday Texas lawmakers on the GOP-led House General Investigating Committee unanimously recommended impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is the only politician in the state defending elections from the unrelenting Marxist horde. KHOU reported: In an unanimous decision, a Republican-led investigative committee that spent months quietly looking into Paxton recommended impeaching the states top lawyer. The state House of Representatives could vote on the recommendation as soon as Friday. If the House impeaches Paxton, he would be forced to leave office immediately. The move sets set up a remarkably sudden downfall for one of the GOPs most prominent legal combatants, who in 2020 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Bidens victory. Only two other officials in Texas nearly 200-year history have been impeached. Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. (Natural News) The U.S. has signed a new pact with Papua New Guinea to improve security cooperation as it vies with China for influence in the Pacific Ocean. The new pact will also give Papua New Guineas defense forces a boost and improve regional stability. The defense cooperation agreement was signed on Monday by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who traveled to Port Moresby on President Bidens behalf. Although the pact has yet to be made public, the full details are expected to be released in a few months. The U.S. also signed a maritime agreement with the island nation allowing the American Coast Guard to partner with them to combat drug smuggling and illegal fishing. Papua New Guinea boasts a strategic location north of Australia. It is the most populous island nation in the Pacific with more than 10 million people and was the site of some intense battles during World War II on account of its strategic importance. Speaking about the pact, Marape emphasized that it did not encroach on the countrys autonomy and should not affect its relationships with other countries. However, the agreement did lead to student protests in Papua New Guineas second biggest city, Lae. A statement released by the country said: Papua New Guinea does not have enemies but it pays to be prepared. Territorial dispute is (imminent), as in the case of Ukraine-Russia. This agreement is not about geopolitics but rather recognizes the countrys need to build its defense capabilities because border disputes are inevitable in the future. Blinken told reporters: Were deeply invested in the Indo-Pacific because our planets future is being written here. Papua New Guinea is playing a critical role in shaping that future. Biden invited Marape to visit Washington, D.C. later in the year for another U.S.-Pacific summit to discuss topics such as maritime security, trade and economic ties. The president was originally slated to visit Papua New Guinea to sign the pact himself but canceled to focus on debt limit negotiations in the U.S. He would have been the first sitting American president to visit a Pacific Island country if he had followed through with his plans. U.S. is strengthening ties in the Pacific In addition to the Papua New Guinea agreement, Blinken signed a similar agreement with Palau and is planning to wrap up negotiations for a similar pact with the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Another deal with the Federated States of Micronesia is also expected. The renewed agreement plays a major role in American efforts to fight Chinas attempts to broaden its influence throughout the Pacific region. The U.S. has also recently opened embassies in Tonga and the Solomon Islands and revived volunteer efforts via the Peace Corps. Last year, China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands in a move that has left many of its neighbors worrying that China could station naval ships, weapons and troops there. The president of Micronesia, David Panuelo, warned his citizens during his national address in January that U.S. military drills in the area could ramp up during the coming years. He noted: These exercises will be increasing in frequency over the next several years, and while they are ultimately in our national interest and in the interest of our nations security of which the U.S. is our indisputable guardian it is important that our citizens know about them well in advance so that our people do not see these activities and then immediately fear the worst. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com ABCNews.go.com As June begins, the latest weather report showed that Australia is expected to experience severe weather conditions, possibly damaging winds, large hail and snow in the country. The weather forecast added the cold snap is expected to unload in portions of Southeast Australia, unfolding chilly wind conditions in the country. Australia, with travel plans should consider the weather conditions, as snow and damaging winds could result in travel difficulty and slower commutes. A cold snap and challenging weather conditions In the latest weather report, The Guardian showed that a cold front is expected to unfold in southeast Australia. As some parts of the country recently experienced challenging temperatures, The Guardian reported that rainy and gusty winds could be likely this week. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney, Darwin and Brisbane are expected to experience sunny weather outlook. In addition, the forecast added that rainy conditions could unfold in Melbourne and Adelaide. Due to the chances of rain in some parts, it is best that travelers and motorists should keep an umbrella. Due to the cold front wave, colder conditions are forecast in the country, especially in parts of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ballarat and Bendigo. Meanwhile, freezing conditions are forecast in Temora, Dubbo and parts of New South Wales. The forecast added that severe weather could become likely in Tasmania, southeastern New South Wales and Victoria. Recently, the 9News reported that hazardous surf emerged in portions of NSW and Victoria. Did you know? Weather in Australia As some parts of Australia could likely face severe weather conditions this week, the country has different temperatures depending on the area. According to Climate Change Knowledge Portal, the report showed that Australia is considered one of the driest continents with people and animals. In terms of the snow conditions, the country has places with magnificent snow that Australians and tourists can witness. According to Australia. com, there are places that Australians could visit for snow conditions, including Falls Creek, Mt. Buller, Selwyn, Charlotte Pass and many others. Preparing for the weather conditions this week Based on recent reports, portions of Australia could likely face severe weather challenges, bringing damaging winds, hail and rain. Also Read: UK Weather Forecast: Warm, Sunny Weather Outlook to Continue in UK This Week Australians should keep updated with the weather for this week. The cold front could unleash colder temperatures in the country. Colder weather outlook could increase risk of cold-related health concerns, including hypothermia and frostbite. Furthermore, checking the temperatures of your family members would be helpful, especially for older adults, children and people with medical conditions. On the other hand, the challenging weather this week could likely result in slower commutes and travel. Australians with travel plans should consider the weather before leaving their homes. Snowy conditions and damaging winds could result in slippery roads and travel difficulty. Related Article: US Weather Forecast: Rainy, Stormy Conditions Likely to Unfold in Northeast US For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) are indigenous to Southeast Asia but made it into the headlines over the past several decades when they first appeared in Europe in 2004, where they co-interact with the native European hornet (Vespa crabro). However, there are instances when one can get confused in distinguishing their physical appearances or morphological features. For years, scientists have shown that the emergence of an "alien" wasp species or any other animal group in a new ecosystem is detrimental to its native inhabitants, especially if the visitor is an invasive species. In the case of Asian hornets, the local honeybee population is threatened in Europe. How to Identify Asian Hornets? Although different in some cases, both wasps belong to the Family Vespidae and Genus Vespa. However, one of their most evident differences is that V. velutina is darker in color compared to its native European counterpart V. crabro. In addition, the European hornet's head is yellow from above but the ones on the Asian hornet is dark, according to the BBC Wildlife Magazine. The most striking physical features of the Asian hornet is the yellow ends on their legs and is very distinctive in relation to the European hornet. Also Read: No More 'Murder' as Invasive Asian Hornet Gets Renamed Accidental Introduction to Europe In 2004, the first batch of Asian hornets arrived in France but was only detected a year after in 2005. The BBC wildlife magazine reported they were accidentally introduced into the continent through some imported pottery. Since then, they spread rapidly across the French mainland territory and into multiple neighboring European countries like Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. According to the website Discovering Belgium, the Asian hornets in France probably arrived in a pottery shipment from China. By 2009, wasp nests increased to several thousand and were identified in the French city of Bordeaux and its surrounding provinces. Following the Asian hornet invasion in France, the wasp species was first reported in Spain in the year 2010, Portugal in 2011, Italy in 2012, and Belgium and the United Kingdom in 2016, according to the site. Asian Giant Hornet Threat There is another wasp species that pose a threat to Europe. I n recent years, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), formerly dubbed "murder hornets" for decapitating bees and destroying their colonies, is also a growing threat to the continent. An individual might also mistake them to the other two species that are the topic of this article. Despite the striking resemblance between Asian hornets and European hornets, the Asian giant hornets or northern giant hornets have yellow-orange heads. Furthermore, V. mandarinia is also native to Southeast Asia but also in East Asia, South Asia, and some parts of Russia's Far East region. Also called the Japanese giant hornet, mandarinia is the world's largest hornet. In relation to the Asian hornets, both species also serve as predators of honeybees, which have been deemed by scientists to be vulnerable, especially to the ones previously called murder hornets. Related Article: Deadly Asian Hornet Swarm Underway in the United Kingdom, Brits Prepare for the Worst MONTREALJessica Jasmin helms the newest featurette from gay cinema brand Disruptive Films, the apocalypse-themed "The End." Nico Coopa and Tony Genius play the pricinpal roles of the piece, about roommates who get word of an emergency nuclear alert and turn to sex as doomsday approaches. Despite the dark untertones of "The End," its stars report that it was delightful to shoot. "'The End' was such a fun experience," Coopa said. "This was my first time meeting the wildly sexy and talented Tony Genius, who was a pleasure to work with, and even more devastatingly handsome in person. This was also my first time working under the stellar direction of Jessica Jasmin. She truly had a vision here and brought the project to life with her considerable talent. Really delighted to be a part of it. Echoed Genius, This was my first big Disruptive Films scene, and I couldn't be more proud of what weve created with such a talented crew and cast. Jessica Jasmin and the whole crew were amazing professionals with an eye for creativity. Nico Coopa was one of the hottest country boys to be spending my last moments with. This is true lovemaking at its finest set in an end-of-the-world thriller! For Jasmin's part, she said that directing the scene was a trip back to her roots. Coming from a film background, I felt like I was getting back to myself through this work," she remarked. "Its an honor to direct for my brand and to be surrounded by an amazing crew and incredible talent. Spitfire fly-past at North Norfolk church The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, has dedicated St Peters, Haveringland as a memorial church to the RAF 100 (Bomber Support) Group, which operated from nearby RAF Swannington in WWII. Around 250 people gathered in the festival church of St Peters on Sunday 21 May to take part in the dedication ceremony. The RAF 100 Group used to fly from RAF Swannington and other Norfolk airfields in the latter part of the Second World War. The perimeter road of the old airfield passes close to the church of St Peter, and the church, close to Cawston, is a significant place for the people who treasure the memories of those who served at the base. Guests at the service included senior officers from the air forces of the USA, France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Norway. These nations worked with the RAF 100 Group, and their representatives joined the congregation to remember those who served and those who died. Also present at the service was Deputy Lieutenant Lt. Col. Ian Lonsdale along with representatives from UK armed forces, emergency services and ex-service and youth organisations. Perhaps the most important guests, though, were the RAF 100 Group Association, which brings together family members of those who served with the Group, many of whom were killed in action. In the service, accompanied by the Aylsham Band, the congregation heard memoirs read by family members of those who had served with the 100 Group, and Bishop Graham led an act of dedication which will be commemorated with a memorial plaque to be installed later this year. After the service, the crowd was treated to a fly-past by a Spitfire, part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich said, I was delighted to join a packed church at St Peters, Haveringland, to mark its dedication as a memorial church to the RAF 100 (Bomber Support) Group. It was very moving to meet relatives of those who served in that group, including those who, at a young age, had lost their fathers to war. As well as being a place of memory about the terrible business of war, St Peters Church is also a place to pledge ourselves to become the blessed peacemakers that Jesus calls us to be. Event organiser and RAF 100 Group Association Member, Mike Hillier, said The stories told by relatives during the service brought home the personal side of conflict and how it also affected those who were left behind. The Church of St. Peter, sitting as it does next to the path on which aircraft would pass to take off on their missions at night, will now be a constant reminder to all those who visit of the sacrifices that were made so that we who are left can live in peace and freedom. The Team Vicar for Haveringland, Revd Andrew Whitehead, said becoming a memorial church to the RAF 100 (Bomber Support) Group is an important moment for the church in Haveringland. As well as helping us to look back, with gratitude, to those who fought for our freedom, this new status also enables us to look forward to an exciting future for the church as it seeks to serve the people of todays generation. The photo of the Spitfire over Haveringland Church, top, is courtesy of Rebecca Whitehead. The photo in the church is courtesy of Christopher Mander. Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk? If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. Tony Rothe, 26/05/2023 Uma Kannan By Express News Service BENGALURU: In a surprise move, the tax department has excluded Singapore, Mauritius, Netherlands and Luxembourg from the list of countries exempted from the stricter Angel Tax rules implemented recently. These countries are the biggest contributors to foreign direct investments (FDI) in India. In a notification issued late on Wednesday, the government identified 21 countries, investments from which will be exempted from the recent change in tax rules, bringing investments from overseas jurisdiction under the Angel Tax. The countries on the exempted list are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, the US and Russia. The latest notification means any investments from these countries (excluded countries) will attract angel tax. Saurrav Sood- Practice Leader-International Tax and Transfer pricing at SW India says this seems to be a deliberate miss in spite of the fact that many investments come from these jurisdictions through SPVs (special purpose vehicles), which invest indirectly into Indian start-ups. Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, said countries such as Singapore, Mauritius and Netherlands have been missed and this will certainly impact investments from these countries. We believe that the government should take industry views on this and take steps to include these countries in the exempt list, Joshi said. Apart from the US, Mauritius and Singapore are top sources of FDI inflow to India. According to government data, Mauritius, Singapore, Netherland contribute 25.9%, 23% and 6.9% of total equity inflow to India from April 2000 to December 2022. The CBDT also excluded entities registered with SEBI as Category-I FPI, endowment funds, pension funds created and broad-based Pooled Investment Vehicle or fund where the number of investors in such vehicle or fund is more than 50. Sood also said such a condition of 50 investors is somewhat misaligned with Section 9A provisions which provide safe harbour benefits with 25 investors as a condition there in. While this notification has been a welcome relief to investors, it will have to be seen whether it meets the end fairly or is a goal half achieved, he added. Last week, the CBDT exempted many foreign and Indian entities from the purview of angel tax. To account for forex fluctuations, bidding processes and variations in other economic indicators, it also proposed to provide a safe harbour of 10 % variation in value. Start-up investments Introduced in 2012, it is the tax that unlisted firms are liable to pay on the capital they raise via issue of shares Investments from Australia, Canada, France, UK and US, among other 16 countries in Indian start-ups exempted from angel tax Investments from govt-related investors including sovereign funds, banks and specified countries (21) are not subject to angel tax provisions In its previous notification, CBDT had proposed to provide a safe harbour of 10 % variation in value CBDT notification comes into effect on April 1, 2023 BENGALURU: In a surprise move, the tax department has excluded Singapore, Mauritius, Netherlands and Luxembourg from the list of countries exempted from the stricter Angel Tax rules implemented recently. These countries are the biggest contributors to foreign direct investments (FDI) in India. In a notification issued late on Wednesday, the government identified 21 countries, investments from which will be exempted from the recent change in tax rules, bringing investments from overseas jurisdiction under the Angel Tax. The countries on the exempted list are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, the US and Russia. The latest notification means any investments from these countries (excluded countries) will attract angel tax. Saurrav Sood- Practice Leader-International Tax and Transfer pricing at SW India says this seems to be a deliberate miss in spite of the fact that many investments come from these jurisdictions through SPVs (special purpose vehicles), which invest indirectly into Indian start-ups.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, said countries such as Singapore, Mauritius and Netherlands have been missed and this will certainly impact investments from these countries. We believe that the government should take industry views on this and take steps to include these countries in the exempt list, Joshi said. Apart from the US, Mauritius and Singapore are top sources of FDI inflow to India. According to government data, Mauritius, Singapore, Netherland contribute 25.9%, 23% and 6.9% of total equity inflow to India from April 2000 to December 2022. The CBDT also excluded entities registered with SEBI as Category-I FPI, endowment funds, pension funds created and broad-based Pooled Investment Vehicle or fund where the number of investors in such vehicle or fund is more than 50. Sood also said such a condition of 50 investors is somewhat misaligned with Section 9A provisions which provide safe harbour benefits with 25 investors as a condition there in. While this notification has been a welcome relief to investors, it will have to be seen whether it meets the end fairly or is a goal half achieved, he added. Last week, the CBDT exempted many foreign and Indian entities from the purview of angel tax. To account for forex fluctuations, bidding processes and variations in other economic indicators, it also proposed to provide a safe harbour of 10 % variation in value. Start-up investments Introduced in 2012, it is the tax that unlisted firms are liable to pay on the capital they raise via issue of shares Investments from Australia, Canada, France, UK and US, among other 16 countries in Indian start-ups exempted from angel tax Investments from govt-related investors including sovereign funds, banks and specified countries (21) are not subject to angel tax provisions In its previous notification, CBDT had proposed to provide a safe harbour of 10 % variation in value CBDT notification comes into effect on April 1, 2023 LOS ANGELESThe Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Collective is partnering with various organizations to celebrate International Whores Day by hosting Sex Workers Health: From Surviving to Thriving, a comprehensive health fair at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA from 12 noon to 5 p.m. PT on Friday, June 2. The event will be presented in collaboration with SWOP LA, The Sidewalk Project, PASS Certified, Kink Out Events, Strippers United, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Tickets to the event are free and may be obtained in person or online here. The event is meant to expand access to racially concordant, trauma, sex work and LGBTQIA2S-plus informed holistic practitioners, medical providers and mental healthcare. Over the past year, BIPOC Collective has shifted much of its programming by providing crisis management and direct service referrals to community members with the most pressing needs, said Sinnamon Love, founder and director of BIPOC Collective. We stay committed to doing this work through partnerships with organizations like SWOP LA, The Sidewalk Project and PASS. Im thrilled this years IWD event serves as a 'party with a purpose' to get sex workers tested, insured, connected with resources, and vaccinated against MPox just as Pride season begins. The event will include information sharing, mental health referrals, Medicaid enrollment navigation and mobile health clinics interspersed with wellness activities, including yoga led by Thick Girl Yoga LA, a self-defense class with Vanessa Carlisle of Hookers Army, and a sound bath with Erotic Medusa. The afternoon will also feature pole dancing organized by Strippers United and DJ sets from EthicalDrvgs, Star Ah-Mer-Ah-Su, Succubus Tony, Ly Tran and Eva Myra May. "Sex workers are among the most marginalized people in the world, and criminalization leaves them vulnerable to predators," said The Sidewalk Project representative Soma Snakeoil. " We are committed to empowering sex workers with resources, public health access, and education. We believe in support, not salvation." More than 30 vendors will be present at this years event, including St. Johns Transgender Health Program, Avril Heals, East LA Womens Center, Fire & Flow Therapy, Total Testing Solutions, MPower, Trans Migrant Support CA, The Cupcake Girls, Sunday Faire, Templerotica, Pansey Esthetics, SWAID, evan mccrary, Strippers Co-op, East L.A. Womens Center and CAST-LA. The 2023 IWD Health and Resource Fair is supported by donations, grants and sponsorships from Third Wave Fund, Emergent Fund, CAST-LA and The Black Erotica Archive. The BIPOC Collective is a disabled, BIPOC, sex worker-led national human rights organization that provides financial assistance, peer-led education, labor advocacy and expands access to mental health services and medical care to marginalized people in the sex trades. The Geffen Contemporary is located at 152 North Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012. For more information, visit bipoc-collective.org. By PTI NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi for their support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. "Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted. The ordinance 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. Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic n unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 26, 2023 It 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 top court verdict. Chief Minister Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convener, has sought support of various political parties, including the NCP, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the TMC, on the Delhi services issue. NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi for their support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. "Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The ordinance 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. Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic n unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 26, 2023 It 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 top court verdict. Chief Minister Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convener, has sought support of various political parties, including the NCP, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the TMC, on the Delhi services issue. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim medical bail to Delhi's former Health Minister, Satyendar Jain, seeking bail in a money laundering case for six weeks. A vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha granted him bail to allow him to take treatment in a private hospital of his choice. Although he has been granted bail the court has directed him to not influence the witnesses, leave GNCTD without the courts leave and also go in any press or media to make any statement on any issue. The courts order will remain in operation till July 11. Jain, who is undergoing treatment at a city government-run hospital, had suffered a blood clot due to a head injury, though his condition is stable, sources said on Friday. A four-member medical board has been constituted for the treatment of Jain, who was admitted to an ICU of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Thursday, they said. The board members include senior physicians from LNJP Hospital, neurologists from GB Pant Hospital, besides specialists in critical care, they said. Earlier in the day, sources said Jains medical condition was being investigated. Jain was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case based on an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation against the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him and has been in custody since May last year after the attachment of properties worth Rs 4.81 crore by the ED. The money belonged to the five companies. Jain had challenged the Delhi High Court's April 6 order, which refused to grant him bail, noting that it did not find any illegality in the rejection of his bail pleas by the trial court on November 17, 2022. Noting that Jain is an influential person and has the potential to tamper with the evidence, as indicated by his conduct during custody, High Court Judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma had said, "In order to grant bail, there has to be substantial probable cause for first believing that the accused is not guilty of the offense." Referring to the testimonies, the bench stated in its order, "Jain is the conceptualizer, visualizer, and executor of the entire operation, and he was aided and abetted by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. "The plea of Satyendar Kumar Jain that he was not found in physical possession of any property needs to be rejected outright, as for the offence of money laundering, physical possession of the proceeds of crime is not necessary. Similarly, the fact that the acquired shares were transferred back to Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain will also make no difference, as it may again be done to conceal the proceeds of crime or project them as untainted money. The companies are controlled and managed by Satyendar Jain, and the 'constant changing pattern' of shareholding clearly indicates that he was indirectly controlling the company affairs," the bench had said in its order. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim medical bail to Delhi's former Health Minister, Satyendar Jain, seeking bail in a money laundering case for six weeks. A vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha granted him bail to allow him to take treatment in a private hospital of his choice. Although he has been granted bail the court has directed him to not influence the witnesses, leave GNCTD without the courts leave and also go in any press or media to make any statement on any issue. The courts order will remain in operation till July 11. Jain, who is undergoing treatment at a city government-run hospital, had suffered a blood clot due to a head injury, though his condition is stable, sources said on Friday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A four-member medical board has been constituted for the treatment of Jain, who was admitted to an ICU of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Thursday, they said. The board members include senior physicians from LNJP Hospital, neurologists from GB Pant Hospital, besides specialists in critical care, they said. Earlier in the day, sources said Jains medical condition was being investigated. Jain was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case based on an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation against the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him and has been in custody since May last year after the attachment of properties worth Rs 4.81 crore by the ED. The money belonged to the five companies. Jain had challenged the Delhi High Court's April 6 order, which refused to grant him bail, noting that it did not find any illegality in the rejection of his bail pleas by the trial court on November 17, 2022. Noting that Jain is an influential person and has the potential to tamper with the evidence, as indicated by his conduct during custody, High Court Judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma had said, "In order to grant bail, there has to be substantial probable cause for first believing that the accused is not guilty of the offense." Referring to the testimonies, the bench stated in its order, "Jain is the conceptualizer, visualizer, and executor of the entire operation, and he was aided and abetted by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. "The plea of Satyendar Kumar Jain that he was not found in physical possession of any property needs to be rejected outright, as for the offence of money laundering, physical possession of the proceeds of crime is not necessary. Similarly, the fact that the acquired shares were transferred back to Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain will also make no difference, as it may again be done to conceal the proceeds of crime or project them as untainted money. The companies are controlled and managed by Satyendar Jain, and the 'constant changing pattern' of shareholding clearly indicates that he was indirectly controlling the company affairs," the bench had said in its order. Aishwarya Prabhakaran By Express News Service KOCHI: Following the discontinuation of waste collection services by the Kochi corporation, Marine Drive, a public hang-out spot in Kochi, has unfortunately turned into a dumping ground. Shops in the vicinity have resorted to piling up plastic and biowaste, creating an unsightly scene. The entrance of this renowned tourist destination has become a site for accumulated waste, with black garbage bags piling up. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding possible health hazards, particularly considering the upcoming monsoon season. This neglect by the local authorities and the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) prompted criticism from social activist Ranjith Thampy, who questioned the governments commitment to the renowned Kerala Model and the states reputation as Gods Own Country. The tourism minister is busy promoting Kerala tourism. He should say something about the waste lying in Keralas most popular tourist destination, Marine Drive, for the past two months. Kochi corporation and GCDA are least bothered and not interested in removing it, even after repeated reminders, Thampy said. Fortunately, after nearly two months, GCDA, Kochi corporation, and the vendors reached an agreement to address the waste issue. A GCDA official explained that previously corporation used to handle waste collection from the vendors at Marine Drive. However, following a fire accident at Brahamapuram, the local authorities decided to discontinue waste collection and urged the waste generators to engage a private agency for waste management. Due to initial confusion, there was a delay in resolving the matter, but they have now reached an agreement with a Suchitwa Mission-approved agency to promptly collect and remove the waste. GCDA has assigned the agency with the task of removing the current waste accumulation on a one-time basis. However, for a long-term and sustainable solution, we are planning to implement the Thumboormuzhy model of waste management, the official stated. The vendors have been given clear instructions to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. The private agency will collect biodegradable waste at a rate of `5 per kg and non-biodegradable waste, including plastic, at a rate of `7 per kg. Once the Thumboormuzhy waste management plant is established, the private agency will solely focus on collecting plastic waste from the vendors, the official further explained. GCDA officials are currently working on estimating the total waste generated and determining the cost of installing the waste treatment plant. This comprehensive assessment will contribute to finding a long-term and sustainable solution to manage waste effectively. KOCHI: Following the discontinuation of waste collection services by the Kochi corporation, Marine Drive, a public hang-out spot in Kochi, has unfortunately turned into a dumping ground. Shops in the vicinity have resorted to piling up plastic and biowaste, creating an unsightly scene. The entrance of this renowned tourist destination has become a site for accumulated waste, with black garbage bags piling up. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding possible health hazards, particularly considering the upcoming monsoon season. This neglect by the local authorities and the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) prompted criticism from social activist Ranjith Thampy, who questioned the governments commitment to the renowned Kerala Model and the states reputation as Gods Own Country. The tourism minister is busy promoting Kerala tourism. He should say something about the waste lying in Keralas most popular tourist destination, Marine Drive, for the past two months. Kochi corporation and GCDA are least bothered and not interested in removing it, even after repeated reminders, Thampy said. Fortunately, after nearly two months, GCDA, Kochi corporation, and the vendors reached an agreement to address the waste issue. A GCDA official explained that previously corporation used to handle waste collection from the vendors at Marine Drive.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, following a fire accident at Brahamapuram, the local authorities decided to discontinue waste collection and urged the waste generators to engage a private agency for waste management. Due to initial confusion, there was a delay in resolving the matter, but they have now reached an agreement with a Suchitwa Mission-approved agency to promptly collect and remove the waste. GCDA has assigned the agency with the task of removing the current waste accumulation on a one-time basis. However, for a long-term and sustainable solution, we are planning to implement the Thumboormuzhy model of waste management, the official stated. The vendors have been given clear instructions to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. The private agency will collect biodegradable waste at a rate of `5 per kg and non-biodegradable waste, including plastic, at a rate of `7 per kg. Once the Thumboormuzhy waste management plant is established, the private agency will solely focus on collecting plastic waste from the vendors, the official further explained. GCDA officials are currently working on estimating the total waste generated and determining the cost of installing the waste treatment plant. This comprehensive assessment will contribute to finding a long-term and sustainable solution to manage waste effectively. By PTI JAIPUR: The wait for justice continues, says Rakbar Khan's wife after a Rajasthan court convicted four men in the 2018 lynching of her husband but acquitted a VHP leader she terms the "main accused". The court in Alwar on Thursday sentenced Dharmendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Paramjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar to seven-year imprisonment in the lynching of Khan on the suspicion of cow smuggling. VHP leader Naval Kishore was acquitted due to lack of evidence against him. "We have not got justice. They had murdered my husband. The main accused was acquitted by the court while the sentence awarded to the others is less. They should have been given strict punishment," Khan's wife Asmina said on Friday. The court convicted the four under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (1) pertaining to culpable homicide and 341 (wrongful restraint) but acquitted them of charges of murder (302) and rioting (147). Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Ashok Sharma had said on Thursday that 304 (1) means where there is knowledge but there is no intention to kill. The trial court's order will be challenged in the Rajasthan High Court, Khan's family members said. Khan is survived by his wife and seven children. His father Suleman died of a prolonged illness two years after the lynching case. ALSO READ | Meerut court acquits 40 accused in 1987 Maliana riot case which left 72 Muslims dead Talking to reporters after the court's verdict, Kishore, however, said, "The four others are also innocent". "There was no pressure on the trial court and it has acted according to the law. Even if the case is appealed in the high court, we have full faith in it," he said. Sharma said Kishore was made an accused based on a telephonic conversation with the other accused. However, the court gave him the benefit of doubt as it did not find any concrete evidence against him, he said. Reacting to the sentencing, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said, "We will get the decision reviewed. We will see what is written in the decision and later, we will see what can be done." Defence lawyer Hemraj Gupta said the court acquitted Dharmendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Paramjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar in the case of the charges framed under IPC sections 302 and 147 (rioting), while Kishore was acquitted of all charges. He claimed the court had overlooked the findings of a judicial inquiry in which police had been found at fault. In the statement of Aslam, who was the prime witness in the case, the accused names were not mentioned, Gupta said. He said that "we have given a notice to the director general of police and district superintendent of police that a judicial inquiry had found police fault in the case and no action was taken against them". Nasir Ali Naqvi, another SPP in the case, said he will write to the state government to appeal the lynching case in the high court. "The accused should have been convicted under murder charges (IPC section 302). Aslam had identified the one acquitted (Naval Kishore) in the court. The court had considered his statement which led to conviction of the others, how can Kishore be acquitted. I will be writing to the government to appeal the case in the high court," Naqvi said. He said even under IPC section 304, maximum punishment of life imprisonment should have been given. The Rajasthan government had appointed Naqvi as SPP in the case in February 2021 after Khan's mother, Habiban, had raised concerns about the proceedings of the matter. Police had filed a charge sheet against Paramjeet Singh, Naresh Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Dharmendra Yadav in 2019. Khan and his friend Aslam were beaten up severely by a group of people on suspicion of cow smuggling in an area under Alwar's Ramgarh police station on July 20, 2018. They had allegedly purchased the cows from Ladpura village and were taking them to their village in Haryana through a forested area near Lalawandi village when they were attacked by the accused. Aslam had managed to escape but Khan succumbed to his injuries at an Alwar hospital. JAIPUR: The wait for justice continues, says Rakbar Khan's wife after a Rajasthan court convicted four men in the 2018 lynching of her husband but acquitted a VHP leader she terms the "main accused". The court in Alwar on Thursday sentenced Dharmendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Paramjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar to seven-year imprisonment in the lynching of Khan on the suspicion of cow smuggling. VHP leader Naval Kishore was acquitted due to lack of evidence against him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We have not got justice. They had murdered my husband. The main accused was acquitted by the court while the sentence awarded to the others is less. They should have been given strict punishment," Khan's wife Asmina said on Friday. The court convicted the four under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (1) pertaining to culpable homicide and 341 (wrongful restraint) but acquitted them of charges of murder (302) and rioting (147). Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Ashok Sharma had said on Thursday that 304 (1) means where there is knowledge but there is no intention to kill. The trial court's order will be challenged in the Rajasthan High Court, Khan's family members said. Khan is survived by his wife and seven children. His father Suleman died of a prolonged illness two years after the lynching case. ALSO READ | Meerut court acquits 40 accused in 1987 Maliana riot case which left 72 Muslims dead Talking to reporters after the court's verdict, Kishore, however, said, "The four others are also innocent". "There was no pressure on the trial court and it has acted according to the law. Even if the case is appealed in the high court, we have full faith in it," he said. Sharma said Kishore was made an accused based on a telephonic conversation with the other accused. However, the court gave him the benefit of doubt as it did not find any concrete evidence against him, he said. Reacting to the sentencing, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said, "We will get the decision reviewed. We will see what is written in the decision and later, we will see what can be done." Defence lawyer Hemraj Gupta said the court acquitted Dharmendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Paramjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar in the case of the charges framed under IPC sections 302 and 147 (rioting), while Kishore was acquitted of all charges. He claimed the court had overlooked the findings of a judicial inquiry in which police had been found at fault. In the statement of Aslam, who was the prime witness in the case, the accused names were not mentioned, Gupta said. He said that "we have given a notice to the director general of police and district superintendent of police that a judicial inquiry had found police fault in the case and no action was taken against them". Nasir Ali Naqvi, another SPP in the case, said he will write to the state government to appeal the lynching case in the high court. "The accused should have been convicted under murder charges (IPC section 302). Aslam had identified the one acquitted (Naval Kishore) in the court. The court had considered his statement which led to conviction of the others, how can Kishore be acquitted. I will be writing to the government to appeal the case in the high court," Naqvi said. He said even under IPC section 304, maximum punishment of life imprisonment should have been given. The Rajasthan government had appointed Naqvi as SPP in the case in February 2021 after Khan's mother, Habiban, had raised concerns about the proceedings of the matter. Police had filed a charge sheet against Paramjeet Singh, Naresh Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Dharmendra Yadav in 2019. Khan and his friend Aslam were beaten up severely by a group of people on suspicion of cow smuggling in an area under Alwar's Ramgarh police station on July 20, 2018. They had allegedly purchased the cows from Ladpura village and were taking them to their village in Haryana through a forested area near Lalawandi village when they were attacked by the accused. Aslam had managed to escape but Khan succumbed to his injuries at an Alwar hospital. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A 25-year agreement on power purchase, launching of an inter-country digital payment system (like the UPI), and trilateral trade between India, Nepal and Bangladesh are some of the decisions likely to be announced during the upcoming state visit of Nepals Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) to India next week (May 31 to June 3). Prachanda will be accompanied by a large delegation including officials from Nepals foreign, energy, trade and infrastructure ministries. He is expected to visit Mumbai too, but will arrive in Delhi first where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others. He will also be having interactions with the business community, say sources. While a joint communique would be issued at the end of the visit, the draft prepared for the visit by the Nepalese government includes increasing two-way air traffic, inter-country digital payment with India for Nepali companies, trilateral electricity trade with Bangladesh, a power purchase agreement between India and Nepal for 25 years, Lower Arun and Phukot Karnali hydropower development project and Amlekhgunj Lothar and Siliguri-Jhapa petroleum pipeline construction agreement. ALSO READ | Is hydropower the key to propel India-Nepal ties to a new high? "More than half a dozen agreements and memoranda of understanding are likely to be signed and announced. The agreements will likely include subscribing to a digital payment mode that would ease cross-border payments using e-wallet and building of bridges in Chandani-Dodhara and the Jhulaghat areas across the Mahakali River in Kanchanpur and Darchula districts respectively," said a source. Nepal is also likely to put in a request to extend an India-funded petroleum pipeline inside Nepali territory. There could be an agreement on a new petroleum pipeline to be constructed from Siliguri to Jhapa and storage facilities and extension of present Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline to Lothar, Chitwan. Biratnagar-Bathnaha (India) railway line is said to be nearing completion and a formal announcement about it is expected to be made during the visit. Besides, there is a possibility of India sharing a project report of the Kathmandu-Raxaul railway line. Nepal is also seeking to expand connectivity with India by air and is looking at India to fly into Bhairahawa airport in Lumbini. Meanwhile, Nepal is also likely to seek a resolution of the boundary issue. NEW DELHI: A 25-year agreement on power purchase, launching of an inter-country digital payment system (like the UPI), and trilateral trade between India, Nepal and Bangladesh are some of the decisions likely to be announced during the upcoming state visit of Nepals Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) to India next week (May 31 to June 3). Prachanda will be accompanied by a large delegation including officials from Nepals foreign, energy, trade and infrastructure ministries. He is expected to visit Mumbai too, but will arrive in Delhi first where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others. He will also be having interactions with the business community, say sources. While a joint communique would be issued at the end of the visit, the draft prepared for the visit by the Nepalese government includes increasing two-way air traffic, inter-country digital payment with India for Nepali companies, trilateral electricity trade with Bangladesh, a power purchase agreement between India and Nepal for 25 years, Lower Arun and Phukot Karnali hydropower development project and Amlekhgunj Lothar and Siliguri-Jhapa petroleum pipeline construction agreement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Is hydropower the key to propel India-Nepal ties to a new high? "More than half a dozen agreements and memoranda of understanding are likely to be signed and announced. The agreements will likely include subscribing to a digital payment mode that would ease cross-border payments using e-wallet and building of bridges in Chandani-Dodhara and the Jhulaghat areas across the Mahakali River in Kanchanpur and Darchula districts respectively," said a source. Nepal is also likely to put in a request to extend an India-funded petroleum pipeline inside Nepali territory. There could be an agreement on a new petroleum pipeline to be constructed from Siliguri to Jhapa and storage facilities and extension of present Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline to Lothar, Chitwan. Biratnagar-Bathnaha (India) railway line is said to be nearing completion and a formal announcement about it is expected to be made during the visit. Besides, there is a possibility of India sharing a project report of the Kathmandu-Raxaul railway line. Nepal is also seeking to expand connectivity with India by air and is looking at India to fly into Bhairahawa airport in Lumbini. Meanwhile, Nepal is also likely to seek a resolution of the boundary issue. Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said his government will make all efforts to ensure that the culprits in the Jaipur serial blasts case are meted out the harshest punishment, and towards this end the government has appointed the Attorney General of India as its counsel in the Supreme Court. It will be the effort of the government to ensure that the harshest punishment is meted out in such cases. That is why we have appointed the Attorney General there (in the Supreme Court) as a lawyer. The matter has been taken up in the Supreme Court. Now, I understand that the hearing is starting, there will definitely be decisions on it., Gehlot told reporters. During the tenure of Vasundhara Raje as state CM, on May 13, 2008 a series of bomb blasts in Jaipur killed 71 people and injured 185 others. The special court which heard this case had convicted Mohammad Sarwar Azmi, Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Salman and Saifur Rehman on December 18, 2019 and sentenced them to death. However, the Rajasthan High Court quashed the conviction due to lack of evidence. The court also pulled up the probe agency for its poor investigation. In the election year, the BJP seems keen to encash on this issue and is claiming that it was a result of Congress laxity in pursuing the case due to vote bank politics. Kicking off the Rajasthan campaign two weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress government for the acquittals of Jaipur blast case. Union Minister Amit Shah had also raked up this issue during a public rally in Bharatpur last month and had accused the Gehlot government of playing appeasement politics. JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said his government will make all efforts to ensure that the culprits in the Jaipur serial blasts case are meted out the harshest punishment, and towards this end the government has appointed the Attorney General of India as its counsel in the Supreme Court. It will be the effort of the government to ensure that the harshest punishment is meted out in such cases. That is why we have appointed the Attorney General there (in the Supreme Court) as a lawyer. The matter has been taken up in the Supreme Court. Now, I understand that the hearing is starting, there will definitely be decisions on it., Gehlot told reporters. During the tenure of Vasundhara Raje as state CM, on May 13, 2008 a series of bomb blasts in Jaipur killed 71 people and injured 185 others. The special court which heard this case had convicted Mohammad Sarwar Azmi, Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Salman and Saifur Rehman on December 18, 2019 and sentenced them to death. However, the Rajasthan High Court quashed the conviction due to lack of evidence. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The court also pulled up the probe agency for its poor investigation. In the election year, the BJP seems keen to encash on this issue and is claiming that it was a result of Congress laxity in pursuing the case due to vote bank politics. Kicking off the Rajasthan campaign two weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress government for the acquittals of Jaipur blast case. Union Minister Amit Shah had also raked up this issue during a public rally in Bharatpur last month and had accused the Gehlot government of playing appeasement politics. Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: Ahead of the BMC elections, the Maharashtra government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde has decided to give pucca dream houses to slum dwellers at a cost of Rs 2.50 lakh in Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Housing Department issued the government resolution (GR) on Thursday. As per the GR, the cabinet sub committee appointed by the housing minister. It one of the major decisions by the Shinde-Fadnavis government to make the slum dwellers happy by giving them pucca houses in redevelopment. Earlier, the Shinde government allowed women to commute in he government buses by giving a 50 per cent discount in the bus travel. According to the GR, the slum dwellers have to fulfill certain conditions to get a house for two-and-a-half lakh rupees. The Chief Executive Officer of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority has been entrusted with the responsibility of determining these conditions and criteria for eligible beneficiaries. BJP Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar expressed his gratitude towards CM Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. MUMBAI: Ahead of the BMC elections, the Maharashtra government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde has decided to give pucca dream houses to slum dwellers at a cost of Rs 2.50 lakh in Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Housing Department issued the government resolution (GR) on Thursday. As per the GR, the cabinet sub committee appointed by the housing minister. It one of the major decisions by the Shinde-Fadnavis government to make the slum dwellers happy by giving them pucca houses in redevelopment. Earlier, the Shinde government allowed women to commute in he government buses by giving a 50 per cent discount in the bus travel. According to the GR, the slum dwellers have to fulfill certain conditions to get a house for two-and-a-half lakh rupees. The Chief Executive Officer of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority has been entrusted with the responsibility of determining these conditions and criteria for eligible beneficiaries. BJP Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar expressed his gratitude towards CM Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Pranab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: Sporadic incidents of explosions at different parts of West Bengal in the past few months have raised a question whether the state will witness blood bath in the upcoming panchayat elections. Blasts at places where explosives were stockpiles have already claimed a total of 16 lives, including three minors, in the past five months. This year, there were 10 explosions at the crude bomb manufacturing units in the state, right from a house in a village to a makeshift structure in a paddy field. Opposition parties alleged the rural election will witness re-run of violence the states electorates experienced 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. Nine people, including a student of Class X, were killed in a major explosion on May 16, were killed. During the course of investigation, the 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, CM Mamata Banerjee decided to visit the area on Saturday. The chief minister may announce help for the families of the deceased, said an official. The Opposition parties alleged the recent incidents of explosions are clear evidence that the ruling party is gearing up for violence. There will be number of intra-party clashes in the TMC over getting candidature tickets, said CPI(M)s central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty. KOLKATA: Sporadic incidents of explosions at different parts of West Bengal in the past few months have raised a question whether the state will witness blood bath in the upcoming panchayat elections. Blasts at places where explosives were stockpiles have already claimed a total of 16 lives, including three minors, in the past five months. This year, there were 10 explosions at the crude bomb manufacturing units in the state, right from a house in a village to a makeshift structure in a paddy field. Opposition parties alleged the rural election will witness re-run of violence the states electorates experienced 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. Nine people, including a student of Class X, were killed in a major explosion on May 16, were killed. During the course of investigation, the 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sensing discontent among the people in Egra, who supported the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections, CM Mamata Banerjee decided to visit the area on Saturday. The chief minister may announce help for the families of the deceased, said an official. The Opposition parties alleged the recent incidents of explosions are clear evidence that the ruling party is gearing up for violence. There will be number of intra-party clashes in the TMC over getting candidature tickets, said CPI(M)s central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty. By PTI MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday denied interim protection to Sanville, alias Sam D'Souza, in a case related to an alleged demand of Rs 25 crore bribe from actor Shah Rukh Khan for not implicating his son Aryan Khan in the Cordelia cruise drug bust case. Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede is one of the accused in the case. D'Souza, through advocate Pankaj Jadhav, has filed a plea seeking quashing of the case against him. He also sought interim protection from any coercive action, like arrest, until his plea is decided. However, a vacation bench of Justices Abhay Ahuja and MM Sathaye refused to give any intern protection to the D'Souza. Earlier, the court granted interim protection to Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Wankhede on an undertaking that he will attend the office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as and when called and not make any statement about the case in the media. The CBI recently filed a first information report (FIR) against Wankhede for allegedly seeking Rs 25 crore bribe from Shah Rukh Khan for not framing Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case. The probe agency has booked Wankhede and four others for alleged criminal conspiracy and extortion threat, besides provisions pertaining to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act, on a complaint by the NCB. The agency has alleged that NCB's Mumbai zone received information in October 2021 related to the consumption and possession of narcotics substances by various individuals on a private cruise ship and some of its officers conspired and obtained undue advantage in the form of bribes from the alleged accused. Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, after a raid on the Cordelia cruise ship. He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court after three weeks as the NCB failed to substantiate its charges against him. MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday denied interim protection to Sanville, alias Sam D'Souza, in a case related to an alleged demand of Rs 25 crore bribe from actor Shah Rukh Khan for not implicating his son Aryan Khan in the Cordelia cruise drug bust case. Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede is one of the accused in the case. D'Souza, through advocate Pankaj Jadhav, has filed a plea seeking quashing of the case against him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He also sought interim protection from any coercive action, like arrest, until his plea is decided. However, a vacation bench of Justices Abhay Ahuja and MM Sathaye refused to give any intern protection to the D'Souza. Earlier, the court granted interim protection to Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Wankhede on an undertaking that he will attend the office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as and when called and not make any statement about the case in the media. The CBI recently filed a first information report (FIR) against Wankhede for allegedly seeking Rs 25 crore bribe from Shah Rukh Khan for not framing Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case. The probe agency has booked Wankhede and four others for alleged criminal conspiracy and extortion threat, besides provisions pertaining to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act, on a complaint by the NCB. The agency has alleged that NCB's Mumbai zone received information in October 2021 related to the consumption and possession of narcotics substances by various individuals on a private cruise ship and some of its officers conspired and obtained undue advantage in the form of bribes from the alleged accused. Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, after a raid on the Cordelia cruise ship. He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court after three weeks as the NCB failed to substantiate its charges against him. By IANS NEW DELHI: Close to three of every five Indians are of the opinion that the regime headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is mostly about 'Hindutva' and 'Nationalism'. This was disclosed during an exclusive survey across India conducted by CVoter to mark nine years of the Modi regime. Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, after he led the BJP to a historic majority of 282 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. During the election campaign in 2014, Modi emerged as a leader who publicly took pride in his identity as a Hindu and promoted unapologetic nationalism. This has led to a polarization of Indian polity and prompted many critics to portray the prime minister in an unflattering light. There are hardly any major differences of opinion on this issue except the Muslim community that does not perceive Modi and his regime in very favourable terms. Nationalism and Hindutva were "embedded" ever since the Prime Minister decided to personally contest Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi, one of the oldest and most holy cities that mark Hinduism. Perhaps the only major difference of opinion is among supporters of NDA and UPA. While more than 61 per cent of UPA supporters are of the opinion that "the politics of the Narendra Modi regime revolves mainly around Hindutva & Nationalism", about 52 per cent of NDA supporters shared the same sentiment. ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh Ram Navami violence: First victim is a Muslim youth brutally murdered by miscreants That could be because NDA supporters also cite welfare schemes as part of the core agenda of the Modi regime. Nevertheless, since Modi became Prime Minister, the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has started in earnest after a Supreme Court verdict, the Kashi Vishwanath corridor has been completed, the brand new structures in Ujjain Mahakaal Temple have been completed and numerous religious tourism voyages have been launched. During his regime, Hindu temples have been opened even in many countries in West Asia. NEW DELHI: Close to three of every five Indians are of the opinion that the regime headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is mostly about 'Hindutva' and 'Nationalism'. This was disclosed during an exclusive survey across India conducted by CVoter to mark nine years of the Modi regime. Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, after he led the BJP to a historic majority of 282 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. During the election campaign in 2014, Modi emerged as a leader who publicly took pride in his identity as a Hindu and promoted unapologetic nationalism.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This has led to a polarization of Indian polity and prompted many critics to portray the prime minister in an unflattering light. There are hardly any major differences of opinion on this issue except the Muslim community that does not perceive Modi and his regime in very favourable terms. Nationalism and Hindutva were "embedded" ever since the Prime Minister decided to personally contest Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi, one of the oldest and most holy cities that mark Hinduism. Perhaps the only major difference of opinion is among supporters of NDA and UPA. While more than 61 per cent of UPA supporters are of the opinion that "the politics of the Narendra Modi regime revolves mainly around Hindutva & Nationalism", about 52 per cent of NDA supporters shared the same sentiment. ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh Ram Navami violence: First victim is a Muslim youth brutally murdered by miscreants That could be because NDA supporters also cite welfare schemes as part of the core agenda of the Modi regime. Nevertheless, since Modi became Prime Minister, the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has started in earnest after a Supreme Court verdict, the Kashi Vishwanath corridor has been completed, the brand new structures in Ujjain Mahakaal Temple have been completed and numerous religious tourism voyages have been launched. During his regime, Hindu temples have been opened even in many countries in West Asia. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. After her graduation from Flagstaff High School (FHS) on Friday, Elizabeth Cervantes-Ramon will begin her study of political science with a full-ride scholarship to Dartmouth. Its a bittersweet feeling, she said of leaving high school. I would say theres the fear of the unknown, yet theres also the excitement for new adventures. I know Flag High has supported me all these years and Im really thankful for that. Cervantes-Ramon has made the most of her time at FHS, joining several school programs and helping to lead a handful clubs. She helped found FHSs Hispanic Club and served as president, citing the need for representation in the school. She also serves as president of the Praise Bible Study club, has organized a yearly Battle of the Bands fundraiser as vice president of the Humanitarian Club, works with nonprofit Gravity Water as part of the National Honors Society and has represented Arizona in the National Student Leadership Congress. Though she doesnt consider herself an artist, Cervantes-Ramon's Advanced Placement capstone project was to paint a mural in her school titled Immigration is Beautiful. It includes a map of the United States and the San Francisco Peaks alongside people and symbols from a variety of cultures represented by FHS students. She said that by creating the mural, she wanted other students to be able to see themselves represented at the school. A self-described outgoing extrovert, she said shes passionate about public speaking, giving speeches at City Hall and Northern Arizona University. In addition to her studies at FHS, shes taken college classes at Coconino Community College in criminal justice and early childhood in order to help get a head start on areas that could be helpful in her future career. And in her free time, she enjoys running and reading romance novels to relax. Cervantes-Ramon credited her family, friends and the school with her success in keeping up with so many different things, plus the bullet journal she keeps updated with all her daily tasks. Among that support system were her brothers Fernandez and Vicente, her parents Anna and Vicente, her friend Genisis and Native American academic advisor Darrell Marks, Principal Libby Miller and Assistant Principal Matthew Barquin at FHS. I have a lot of people in my life that Im not alone, even when things get harsh, when I feel that Im just done with everything, I know that I have people in my life that are going to support me, she said. ... Its all about your relationships. A first-generation student, Cervantes-Ramon remembered how lectures from her parents would always start with si estudias -- if you study. She had one of those lectures herself to share with other students. Si estudias you have the opportunity to go to college, si estudias you won't have to suffer, she said. Nothing in this life is easy, but receiving an education is the key to success. It is the key to opening doors to receive a better life. The beauty of an education would be that the knowledge that we gain, no one can ever take. It's ours to keep forever. As first-generation students, we get stressed out, we get tired and we feel like giving up, but we can't. This education is not only for us; its for our families, for our brothers and sisters, for our ancestors. Shes also a part of the schools TRIO program, which is meant to help first-generation students find college resources throughout their time in high school. The group also participates in activities such as college tours and group rafting trips. She said she's "loved" her time at FHS. I love FHS. I always represent the color green, and Im excited that Ill still continue to represent the color green at Dartmouth, because its Go big green, she said. Her scholarship is through the QuestBridge program, saying that she was one of 1,755 students that were matched with a scholarship out of 17,900 total applications (only 2.7% of QuestBridge applicants to Dartmouth received a full-ride scholarship, she added). She plans to study political science, with the hope of one day becoming a lawyer to help children of color have a better life. Ive seen our system and it's not the best when it comes to minorities; there are opportunities, yet we dont really see the results, she said. When I look at people in law, most of them are white and Im like, why not my people, why not my race, why cant we be more represented? For me, its all about representation. Cervantes-Ramon said shes excited for the classes in college as well as to try new experiences and meet new people. She had several pieces of advice for other students, including to try new things, keep studying, prioritize mental health and stay true to yourself. She also said it was important to find your why. For me, my why was breaking that cycle of going to college, she said. I wanted to go to college, I wanted to show my family that it could be done. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it for me. I never even thought that the idea of going to an Ivy League was possible, especially getting the full ride. I honestly burst into tears when I heard that, because the hard work does pay off. I would say stay true to yourself and ask for help, because there's always people out there in the world that want the best for you. She added: Just get involved and have fun, because it honestly happens by so fast. Narendra Sethi By Express News Service Akshay Kumar pitches state as industry hub Star actor Akshay Kumar met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and discussed developing Uttarakhand as a new film industry hub. After the Kedarnath visit, Akshay Kumar also visited the CMs residence complex. The state of Uttarakhand is emerging as a new shooting destination for the film industry day by day, Dhami said. The natural beauty of Uttarakhand is attracting people for filming. The state government is also working on various schemes to develop Uttarakhand as a big film destination. PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express PM Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express train between Dehradun and Delhi via virtual mode. This is considered to be a big gift for the state towards strengthening the rail connectivity of Ukhand. This is the first Vande Bharat train to connect Ukhand and the national capital, while it will be the fourth such train of this category to be operated by the Northern Railway, NR Chief Public Relations Officer Deepak Kumar said. So far, 16 of them are running in the country. The chair car fare will be Rs 900 and the executive chair car fare will be Rs 1,695. Ukhand and Goa sign MoU to promote tourism The states of Ukhand and Goa will work together to promote mutual cooperation in various dimensions of tourism. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed by Secretary Tourism Sachin Kurbe and Goa Tourism Director Sunil Achimpka on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khunte. Describing the occasion as historic, Chief Minister Dhami said that this initiative will inspire other states as well. Both Uttarakhand and Goa are tourism-intensive small states, both the states can take advantage of these opportunities with mutual coordination, said Khunte, tourism minister of Goa. Narendra sethi Our correspondent in Uttarakhand narendrasethi@ newindianexpress.com Akshay Kumar pitches state as industry hub Star actor Akshay Kumar met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and discussed developing Uttarakhand as a new film industry hub. After the Kedarnath visit, Akshay Kumar also visited the CMs residence complex. The state of Uttarakhand is emerging as a new shooting destination for the film industry day by day, Dhami said. The natural beauty of Uttarakhand is attracting people for filming. The state government is also working on various schemes to develop Uttarakhand as a big film destination. PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express PM Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express train between Dehradun and Delhi via virtual mode. This is considered to be a big gift for the state towards strengthening the rail connectivity of Ukhand. This is the first Vande Bharat train to connect Ukhand and the national capital, while it will be the fourth such train of this category to be operated by the Northern Railway, NR Chief Public Relations Officer Deepak Kumar said. So far, 16 of them are running in the country. The chair car fare will be Rs 900 and the executive chair car fare will be Rs 1,695. Ukhand and Goa sign MoU to promote tourismgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The states of Ukhand and Goa will work together to promote mutual cooperation in various dimensions of tourism. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed by Secretary Tourism Sachin Kurbe and Goa Tourism Director Sunil Achimpka on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khunte. Describing the occasion as historic, Chief Minister Dhami said that this initiative will inspire other states as well. Both Uttarakhand and Goa are tourism-intensive small states, both the states can take advantage of these opportunities with mutual coordination, said Khunte, tourism minister of Goa. Narendra sethi Our correspondent in Uttarakhand narendrasethi@ newindianexpress.com Express News Service NEW DELHI: Paru, 18, travelled around 100 km to reach his CUET-UG exam centre in Meerut from Delhi. Two days later, he drove another 45 km to Noida from his Delhi house to take the next exam. Guddu Kumar said his sister had to travel 400 km from Amritsar to Delhi. These are not isolated cases of students travelling long distances for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG), which started on May 21. Many complained and took to social media about getting exam centres far away from their homes, sometimes outside the city. Mumbais Ridhee said her centre was not even in Maharashtra. She wrote her exam in Ahmedabad. Sai Sudhamshu from Hyderabad was luckier; his exam centre for the May 28 test is only an hour away from his house. Speaking with this paper, Delhi boy Paru said, I was very nervous, not so much about the exam, but about reaching the centre on time. There was heavy traffic on the way. I managed to reach an hour before the exam began." He added that his father, who had accompanied him, had a worse time. There were no arrangements for parents or guardians outside the Meerut or Noida centres. He had to make his own arrangements and sat in the car till my exam got over, with the air-conditioner on, as it was so hot in the afternoon, said Paru, who took the CUET-UG exam on May 22 and 24 in the third shift (3.30 to 6.30 pm). Some of the students he interacted with told him they were coming from Delhi on their scooters, and many complained about feeling ill and dizzy because of travelling in the heat. Though, so far no significant problems have been reported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Testing Agency (NTA) in comparison to the maiden CUET-UG exam, which was marred with technical glitches, cancellations, and students missing their exams because of long-distance travel to reach far-off centres. When asked about the travel woes of students and no arrangements for parents, UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar said, We have now ensured that students do not have to travel long distances. Kumar also said that they are making all possible efforts to address these issues. Citing the example of Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar said all students are allotted centres within J&K and their exam will start on the 26th. As many as 87,309 are scheduled to take the exam in the UT. On parents facing problems at the centre while waiting for their wards, Kumar said in many centres, water and snacks are arranged for them. In some centres, even buses were arranged to transport students and parents, he added. Faizan Peer, general secretary of communication, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, who took up the problems of the students and wrote to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said they were bombarded with Whatsapp messages and calls from aggrieved students. The exams were deferred only after we took up the matter and raised it with the authorities. Now, examination centres are being arranged here in Kashmir only, he told this paper. Exams were also deferred in riot-hit Manipur on May 29. However, it was not just travelling far distances for the exams that agitated students. Many said they were not allowed into the centre as they were not carrying Aadhar cards, despite being told that any identity card would work, to the biometric and computer malfunction. Tanvi, carrying her passport as identity proof, said she had to ask her mother to come from Dwarka to Rohtak Road 21 km - to provide her Aadhar card as she was refused to enter. They reached the examination hall two-three minutes before the exam was to start. It was a very anxious moment for them, she said. The CUET-UG has been scheduled from May 21 to June 6 for 14.99 lakh candidates who have opted for 64.35 lakh test papers. This year's number of applications increased by 41 per cent from last year's debut edition. NEW DELHI: Paru, 18, travelled around 100 km to reach his CUET-UG exam centre in Meerut from Delhi. Two days later, he drove another 45 km to Noida from his Delhi house to take the next exam. Guddu Kumar said his sister had to travel 400 km from Amritsar to Delhi. These are not isolated cases of students travelling long distances for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG), which started on May 21. Many complained and took to social media about getting exam centres far away from their homes, sometimes outside the city. Mumbais Ridhee said her centre was not even in Maharashtra. She wrote her exam in Ahmedabad. Sai Sudhamshu from Hyderabad was luckier; his exam centre for the May 28 test is only an hour away from his house.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speaking with this paper, Delhi boy Paru said, I was very nervous, not so much about the exam, but about reaching the centre on time. There was heavy traffic on the way. I managed to reach an hour before the exam began." He added that his father, who had accompanied him, had a worse time. There were no arrangements for parents or guardians outside the Meerut or Noida centres. He had to make his own arrangements and sat in the car till my exam got over, with the air-conditioner on, as it was so hot in the afternoon, said Paru, who took the CUET-UG exam on May 22 and 24 in the third shift (3.30 to 6.30 pm). Some of the students he interacted with told him they were coming from Delhi on their scooters, and many complained about feeling ill and dizzy because of travelling in the heat. Though, so far no significant problems have been reported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Testing Agency (NTA) in comparison to the maiden CUET-UG exam, which was marred with technical glitches, cancellations, and students missing their exams because of long-distance travel to reach far-off centres. When asked about the travel woes of students and no arrangements for parents, UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar said, We have now ensured that students do not have to travel long distances. Kumar also said that they are making all possible efforts to address these issues. Citing the example of Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar said all students are allotted centres within J&K and their exam will start on the 26th. As many as 87,309 are scheduled to take the exam in the UT. On parents facing problems at the centre while waiting for their wards, Kumar said in many centres, water and snacks are arranged for them. In some centres, even buses were arranged to transport students and parents, he added. Faizan Peer, general secretary of communication, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, who took up the problems of the students and wrote to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said they were bombarded with Whatsapp messages and calls from aggrieved students. The exams were deferred only after we took up the matter and raised it with the authorities. Now, examination centres are being arranged here in Kashmir only, he told this paper. Exams were also deferred in riot-hit Manipur on May 29. However, it was not just travelling far distances for the exams that agitated students. Many said they were not allowed into the centre as they were not carrying Aadhar cards, despite being told that any identity card would work, to the biometric and computer malfunction. Tanvi, carrying her passport as identity proof, said she had to ask her mother to come from Dwarka to Rohtak Road 21 km - to provide her Aadhar card as she was refused to enter. They reached the examination hall two-three minutes before the exam was to start. It was a very anxious moment for them, she said. The CUET-UG has been scheduled from May 21 to June 6 for 14.99 lakh candidates who have opted for 64.35 lakh test papers. This year's number of applications increased by 41 per cent from last year's debut edition. By PTI NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 15.96 crore on two private firms engaged in mining activities near River Son in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The tribunal also directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), along with the state ministries of environment and forest in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to look into the question of declaring parts of river Son, running in both states, as 'Son Ghadiyal Wildlife Sanctuary' in accordance with law within three months. The NGT was hearing a matter regarding the illegal mining of sand and morrum (a minor mineral derived from the weathering and disintegration of granitic rocks) near Son in the Sonbhadra district. The tribunal noted that the issue pertained to such illegal mining near Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) and protected reserved forests, in violation of various conditions of environmental clearance (EC), consent orders and environmental laws, directly causing damage to the environment and aquatic ecology, particularly the flora and fauna in the area. Noting the evidence before it, a bench of judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel said two proprietorship firms, Sudhakar Pandey and Associates (respondent no.14) along with New India Minerals (respondent no.15) had violated environmental laws and norms in carrying out mining activities. Both firms were granted permits for mining morrum in Agori Khas village of Obra tehsil in the district, the bench noted. "...they (respondents 14 and 15) are guilty of carrying out illegal mining beyond the lease area...The next violation observed...is mining by the leaseholder in the mainstream of the river," the bench said. As illegal mining had caused serious damage to aquatic ecology and the riverine regime, both had to pay environmental compensation on the 'Polluter Pays' principle. For EC violations, they were also liable for the initiation of criminal proceedings, the bench said. It said that considering the entire facts and circumstances of the cases, a direction is given to the authorities concerned to look into the question of declaring parts of river Son, running in the states of UP and Bihar, as 'Son Ghadiyal Wildlife Sanctuary.' "Ministries of environment and forest in the states of UP and Bihar and MoEF&CC shall consider the matter of declaration of part of river Son running in the states of UP and Bihar as Wildlife Sanctuary and ESZ for protection of ghadials (freshwater crocodiles) etc. in Son and would take necessary, remedial and appropriate action within three months," the tribunal said. It said as the Environment (Protection) Act is included in the schedule of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and both respondents had committed an offence under the EP Act, the Directorate of Enforcement could look into these aspects and take further action. Regarding the quantum of compensation, it directed Sudhakar Pandey and associates and New India Minerals to pay a compensation of Rs 8.16 crore and Rs 7.8 crore, respectively to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) by depositing 40 per cent of the amount within one month and the remaining amount in two equal instalments within two months. Forming a joint committee comprising representatives of the UP's State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, the state's Ministry of Environment and Forest, UPPCB, and District Magistrate, Sonbhadra, the green tribunal directed it to revisit all mining leases in the Son river bed in Sonbhadra district and take appropriate decision or action within three months. It said till the committee took a decision, no further mining in the riverbed is allowed. NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 15.96 crore on two private firms engaged in mining activities near River Son in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The tribunal also directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), along with the state ministries of environment and forest in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to look into the question of declaring parts of river Son, running in both states, as 'Son Ghadiyal Wildlife Sanctuary' in accordance with law within three months. The NGT was hearing a matter regarding the illegal mining of sand and morrum (a minor mineral derived from the weathering and disintegration of granitic rocks) near Son in the Sonbhadra district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The tribunal noted that the issue pertained to such illegal mining near Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) and protected reserved forests, in violation of various conditions of environmental clearance (EC), consent orders and environmental laws, directly causing damage to the environment and aquatic ecology, particularly the flora and fauna in the area. Noting the evidence before it, a bench of judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel said two proprietorship firms, Sudhakar Pandey and Associates (respondent no.14) along with New India Minerals (respondent no.15) had violated environmental laws and norms in carrying out mining activities. Both firms were granted permits for mining morrum in Agori Khas village of Obra tehsil in the district, the bench noted. "...they (respondents 14 and 15) are guilty of carrying out illegal mining beyond the lease area...The next violation observed...is mining by the leaseholder in the mainstream of the river," the bench said. As illegal mining had caused serious damage to aquatic ecology and the riverine regime, both had to pay environmental compensation on the 'Polluter Pays' principle. For EC violations, they were also liable for the initiation of criminal proceedings, the bench said. It said that considering the entire facts and circumstances of the cases, a direction is given to the authorities concerned to look into the question of declaring parts of river Son, running in the states of UP and Bihar, as 'Son Ghadiyal Wildlife Sanctuary.' "Ministries of environment and forest in the states of UP and Bihar and MoEF&CC shall consider the matter of declaration of part of river Son running in the states of UP and Bihar as Wildlife Sanctuary and ESZ for protection of ghadials (freshwater crocodiles) etc. in Son and would take necessary, remedial and appropriate action within three months," the tribunal said. It said as the Environment (Protection) Act is included in the schedule of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and both respondents had committed an offence under the EP Act, the Directorate of Enforcement could look into these aspects and take further action. Regarding the quantum of compensation, it directed Sudhakar Pandey and associates and New India Minerals to pay a compensation of Rs 8.16 crore and Rs 7.8 crore, respectively to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) by depositing 40 per cent of the amount within one month and the remaining amount in two equal instalments within two months. Forming a joint committee comprising representatives of the UP's State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, the state's Ministry of Environment and Forest, UPPCB, and District Magistrate, Sonbhadra, the green tribunal directed it to revisit all mining leases in the Son river bed in Sonbhadra district and take appropriate decision or action within three months. It said till the committee took a decision, no further mining in the riverbed is allowed. By PTI NEW DELHI: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri Friday hit out at the Congress and those objecting to the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the "boycott gang" is insulting the legacy of their own leaders and the freedom fighters. In a series of tweets, Puri cited an old article of the Time Magazine published in 1947 which he said was a must read for those who wish they had built the magnificent new Parliament instead of Prime Minister Modi. #WATCH | #NewParliamentBuilding: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, "An article was published in the Time Magazine of America in 1947 and all those who are protesting (against the inauguration of new parliament building) should read this article and gain knowledge about what pic.twitter.com/BZfmmU8LnU May 26, 2023 In another tweet, the minister said on that momentous day, a havan was performed, the pithambaram made from silk and gold was wrapped around the PM by representative of the Adheenam who escorted the Sengol to Delhi by a special aircraft. Payasam from that morning's pooja at the Nataraja temple was brought as prasad. This piece should show a mirror to the naysayers, Puri said, adding that the "boycott gang is actually insulting the legacy of their own leaders and the freedom fighters". On that momentous day, a havan was performed, the pithambaram made from silk & gold was wrapped around PM by representative of the Adheenam who escorted the Sengol to Delhi by a special aircraft. Payasam from that morning's pooja at the Nataraja temple was brought as prasad. pic.twitter.com/M11EGfQaf2 Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 26, 2023 The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer on Sunday followed by a formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Prime Minister Modi. As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday even as 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. The Opposition has stepped up its attack on Prime Minister 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. ALSO READ: One man's ego has denied President's privilege to inaugurate new Parliament: Congress The BJP has alleged 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 a "big heart". NEW DELHI: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri Friday hit out at the Congress and those objecting to the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the "boycott gang" is insulting the legacy of their own leaders and the freedom fighters. In a series of tweets, Puri cited an old article of the Time Magazine published in 1947 which he said was a must read for those who wish they had built the magnificent new Parliament instead of Prime Minister Modi. #WATCH | #NewParliamentBuilding: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, "An article was published in the Time Magazine of America in 1947 and all those who are protesting (against the inauguration of new parliament building) should read this article and gain knowledge about what pic.twitter.com/BZfmmU8LnUgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 In another tweet, the minister said on that momentous day, a havan was performed, the pithambaram made from silk and gold was wrapped around the PM by representative of the Adheenam who escorted the Sengol to Delhi by a special aircraft. Payasam from that morning's pooja at the Nataraja temple was brought as prasad. This piece should show a mirror to the naysayers, Puri said, adding that the "boycott gang is actually insulting the legacy of their own leaders and the freedom fighters". On that momentous day, a havan was performed, the pithambaram made from silk & gold was wrapped around PM by representative of the Adheenam who escorted the Sengol to Delhi by a special aircraft. Payasam from that morning's pooja at the Nataraja temple was brought as prasad. pic.twitter.com/M11EGfQaf2 Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 26, 2023 The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer on Sunday followed by a formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Prime Minister Modi. As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday even as 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. The Opposition has stepped up its attack on Prime Minister 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. ALSO READ: One man's ego has denied President's privilege to inaugurate new Parliament: Congress The BJP has alleged 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 a "big heart". By PTI KOLKATA: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing nine years in office, the Trinamool Congress on Friday said the last nine years will be remembered as a period of "failed promises and disastrous policy decisions". TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O' Brien, in a tweet, said the last nine years were "high on promises and low on delivery", with the weakening of the country's institutions and misuse of central agencies to target the opposition being key achievements of the BJP government. #9YearsOfModiGovernment Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions. The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's Derek O'Brien | ' (@derekobrienmp) May 26, 2023 "Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions. The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's institutions - Parliament to Election Commission. Misusing central agencies only to target opponents. Notebandi? Farm Bills? Anti Labour Code? Anti Industry Disinvestment? Privatisation of profitable PSUs? Nine years.High on promises. Low on delivery," O'Brien tweeted. ALSO READ | Notebandi effect: Six years on, people still smarting from demonetisation blow The BJP, however, rejected the TMC's criticism of the Narendra Modi government on its ninth anniversary as an "effort to divert attention from its failures." "The TMC must first assess its performance while being in power in West Bengal for the last 12 years. The state government and the ruling party are neck-deep in corruption, and its administrative failure is evident from the worsening law and order situation," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said. KOLKATA: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing nine years in office, the Trinamool Congress on Friday said the last nine years will be remembered as a period of "failed promises and disastrous policy decisions". TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O' Brien, in a tweet, said the last nine years were "high on promises and low on delivery", with the weakening of the country's institutions and misuse of central agencies to target the opposition being key achievements of the BJP government. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); #9YearsOfModiGovernment Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions. The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's Derek O'Brien | ' (@derekobrienmp) May 26, 2023 "Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions. The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's institutions - Parliament to Election Commission. Misusing central agencies only to target opponents. Notebandi? Farm Bills? Anti Labour Code? Anti Industry Disinvestment? Privatisation of profitable PSUs? Nine years.High on promises. Low on delivery," O'Brien tweeted. ALSO READ | Notebandi effect: Six years on, people still smarting from demonetisation blow The BJP, however, rejected the TMC's criticism of the Narendra Modi government on its ninth anniversary as an "effort to divert attention from its failures." "The TMC must first assess its performance while being in power in West Bengal for the last 12 years. The state government and the ruling party are neck-deep in corruption, and its administrative failure is evident from the worsening law and order situation," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said. By Express News Service BENGALURU/LUCKNOW: Although 20-odd opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28, former prime minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda has decided to attend the event, which will also be attended by leaders of some other non-BJP parties, including Shiromani Akali Dal, Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party of Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telugu Desam Party, AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal. While the attendance of Gowda and other non-BJP leaders goes against the opposition boycott, the inauguration by PM Narendra Modi has received support from Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, who has termed the stand of boycotting the event as unfair and congratulated Modi. Mayawati terms Oppn boycott unfair After attending a JDS meeting to assess reasons for its poor performance in the state Assembly polls, Gowda told reporters, I will attend the Parliament building inauguration ceremony. Is it a BJP or RSS office that I should not go for it? He termed the new Parliament building an asset of the country and not an issue of any individual. The magnificent structure has been built with taxpayers money and it belongs to the country, he said, adding that it is not a BJP or RSS office. I will attend the inaugural ceremony as a former PM and as a citizen of India, he said. Gowda said he had many reasons to oppose BJP politically, but he would not like to bring politics to the inauguration of the Parliament building. He said that he has been a member of both houses of Parliament and always worked within the framework of the Constitution and would not like to bring politics into it. I am committed to the Constitution and that is the reason I am attending the ceremony, Gowda said responding to a question. Mayawati The opposition parties have accused Modi of sidelining President Droupadi Murmu and termed it an assault on democracy and the Constitution. Gowda enjoys a good rapport with Modi as well as senior leaders from Congress and other Opposition parties. In the recent Assembly polls, JDS fought against BJP and Congress. Meanwhile, Mayawati termed the Opposition boycott of the event as unfair. She said the Centre has the right to unveil it as it has built it. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the BSP chief said, Whether it was the Congress partys government at the Centre or now the BJPs, the BSP has always extended its support to them over issues related to the country and public interest, rising above party politics. Viewing the inauguration of the new Parliament building in the same context, the party welcomes it. However, while expressing her gratitude for being invited by the Centre to the programme and extending her best wishes for its success, she expressed her inability to attend the event owing to her pre-scheduled engagements regarding the continuous review meetings of the party. BENGALURU/LUCKNOW: Although 20-odd opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28, former prime minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda has decided to attend the event, which will also be attended by leaders of some other non-BJP parties, including Shiromani Akali Dal, Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party of Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telugu Desam Party, AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal. While the attendance of Gowda and other non-BJP leaders goes against the opposition boycott, the inauguration by PM Narendra Modi has received support from Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, who has termed the stand of boycotting the event as unfair and congratulated Modi. Mayawati terms Oppn boycott unfairgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After attending a JDS meeting to assess reasons for its poor performance in the state Assembly polls, Gowda told reporters, I will attend the Parliament building inauguration ceremony. Is it a BJP or RSS office that I should not go for it? He termed the new Parliament building an asset of the country and not an issue of any individual. The magnificent structure has been built with taxpayers money and it belongs to the country, he said, adding that it is not a BJP or RSS office. I will attend the inaugural ceremony as a former PM and as a citizen of India, he said. Gowda said he had many reasons to oppose BJP politically, but he would not like to bring politics to the inauguration of the Parliament building. He said that he has been a member of both houses of Parliament and always worked within the framework of the Constitution and would not like to bring politics into it. I am committed to the Constitution and that is the reason I am attending the ceremony, Gowda said responding to a question. MayawatiThe opposition parties have accused Modi of sidelining President Droupadi Murmu and termed it an assault on democracy and the Constitution. Gowda enjoys a good rapport with Modi as well as senior leaders from Congress and other Opposition parties. In the recent Assembly polls, JDS fought against BJP and Congress. Meanwhile, Mayawati termed the Opposition boycott of the event as unfair. She said the Centre has the right to unveil it as it has built it. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the BSP chief said, Whether it was the Congress partys government at the Centre or now the BJPs, the BSP has always extended its support to them over issues related to the country and public interest, rising above party politics. Viewing the inauguration of the new Parliament building in the same context, the party welcomes it. However, while expressing her gratitude for being invited by the Centre to the programme and extending her best wishes for its success, she expressed her inability to attend the event owing to her pre-scheduled engagements regarding the continuous review meetings of the party. Shahid Faridi By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Congress high command has reportedly given shape to a plan that allows warring Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan to bury the hatchet in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections. The plan entails giving the post of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president to Pilot. The decision has been conveyed to Chief Minister Gehlot. The CM is said to have expressed some unease. The current PCC chief, Govind Singh Dotasra, is a Jat. Gehlot says Dotasras presence as PCC chief will draw the Jats towards the Congress because the BJP recently removed Satish Poonia, also a Jat, as its state president. If Dotasra too goes, the Congress may fail to tap the Jat anger with the BJP, Gehlot is said to have reasoned. Congress insiders say the party has told Gehlot he can appoint a Jat as the states deputy CM to take care of the communitys sentiments. The party has given Gehlot a free hand to choose a Jat leader as his deputy. Dotasra, a Gehlot loyalist, is the front-runner for the post. According to sources, Pilot, who has been on the warpath against Gehlot, has agreed to bury the hatchet and accept the post of PCC chief until the upcoming Assembly elections. Rajasthans elections are due in December, and the Congress central leadership is keen to resolve the differences between its two top leaders in the state. Party leaders feel like in Karnataka, where Congress managed to win the election by bringing the two top leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar together, it is important to get Gehlot and Pilot on the same page to make a serious bid to retain power in Rajasthan. Sources said talks with both leaders have been going on for some time, and the groundwork for an agreement has been done. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge will soon meet the two leaders after which the peace formula will be announced. Among Pilots demands is compensation for students affected by a paper leak and restructuring of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission. Panel on Raje graft As sought by Pilot, panel is likely to be set up to probe charges of alleged corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government of the BJP NEW DELHI: The Congress high command has reportedly given shape to a plan that allows warring Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan to bury the hatchet in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections. The plan entails giving the post of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president to Pilot. The decision has been conveyed to Chief Minister Gehlot. The CM is said to have expressed some unease. The current PCC chief, Govind Singh Dotasra, is a Jat. Gehlot says Dotasras presence as PCC chief will draw the Jats towards the Congress because the BJP recently removed Satish Poonia, also a Jat, as its state president. If Dotasra too goes, the Congress may fail to tap the Jat anger with the BJP, Gehlot is said to have reasoned. Congress insiders say the party has told Gehlot he can appoint a Jat as the states deputy CM to take care of the communitys sentiments. The party has given Gehlot a free hand to choose a Jat leader as his deputy. Dotasra, a Gehlot loyalist, is the front-runner for the post.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to sources, Pilot, who has been on the warpath against Gehlot, has agreed to bury the hatchet and accept the post of PCC chief until the upcoming Assembly elections. Rajasthans elections are due in December, and the Congress central leadership is keen to resolve the differences between its two top leaders in the state. Party leaders feel like in Karnataka, where Congress managed to win the election by bringing the two top leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar together, it is important to get Gehlot and Pilot on the same page to make a serious bid to retain power in Rajasthan. Sources said talks with both leaders have been going on for some time, and the groundwork for an agreement has been done. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge will soon meet the two leaders after which the peace formula will be announced. Among Pilots demands is compensation for students affected by a paper leak and restructuring of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission. Panel on Raje graft As sought by Pilot, panel is likely to be set up to probe charges of alleged corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government of the BJP By Express News Service BHOPAL: As the next assembly polls draw closer in Madhya Pradesh, the voices of discontent seem to be getting louder in the ruling BJP. Yet another senior leader of the party, former MLA from Vijayraghavgarh seat of Katni district, Dhruv Pratap Singh, now has vented his discontent, alleging that he is being sidelined in the party for the last eight years. While most disgruntled BJP leaders, including ex-minister Deepak Joshi (who recently joined the Congress) have blamed the growing clout of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia-loyalists behind their unease, Singh (who won the Vijayraghavgarh seat in 2003) has alleged that the party in Katni district seems to have become the hegemony of present MLA and former minister Sanjay Pathak, who had quit Congress and joined BJP in 2014. Since the last eight years, the party hasnt found me worthy of any work, even during last years local body polls also. It seems the BJP has left and forgotten me. Eight years back (before Sanjay Pathak joined BJP) I was part of each and every BJP event in Katni district. But things are totally different now, the present state party president VD Sharma (also the local MP from Katni district) possibly doesnt even recognize me, Singh said on Thursday. Presently in Bhopal to meet state partys top leadership, including the MP CM, Singh hails from a sworn non-Congress family and has been with the BJP since 1980. He defeated two-times sitting Congress MLA and then cabinet minister Satyendra Pathak from Vijayraghavgarh seat in 2003. Singh, however, lost the 2008 polls from the same seat to Pathaks son Sanjay Pathak (one of the richest politicians currently in MP). Sanjay, who also won the seat in 2013, quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2014 and was a minister in the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. Hegemonised Katni MLA Dhruv Pratap Singh alleged that the party in Katni district seems to have become the hegemony from the past eight years of the present MLA and former minister Sanjay Pathak, who had quit Congress and joined BJP in 2014. BHOPAL: As the next assembly polls draw closer in Madhya Pradesh, the voices of discontent seem to be getting louder in the ruling BJP. Yet another senior leader of the party, former MLA from Vijayraghavgarh seat of Katni district, Dhruv Pratap Singh, now has vented his discontent, alleging that he is being sidelined in the party for the last eight years. While most disgruntled BJP leaders, including ex-minister Deepak Joshi (who recently joined the Congress) have blamed the growing clout of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia-loyalists behind their unease, Singh (who won the Vijayraghavgarh seat in 2003) has alleged that the party in Katni district seems to have become the hegemony of present MLA and former minister Sanjay Pathak, who had quit Congress and joined BJP in 2014. Since the last eight years, the party hasnt found me worthy of any work, even during last years local body polls also. It seems the BJP has left and forgotten me. Eight years back (before Sanjay Pathak joined BJP) I was part of each and every BJP event in Katni district. But things are totally different now, the present state party president VD Sharma (also the local MP from Katni district) possibly doesnt even recognize me, Singh said on Thursday. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Presently in Bhopal to meet state partys top leadership, including the MP CM, Singh hails from a sworn non-Congress family and has been with the BJP since 1980. He defeated two-times sitting Congress MLA and then cabinet minister Satyendra Pathak from Vijayraghavgarh seat in 2003. Singh, however, lost the 2008 polls from the same seat to Pathaks son Sanjay Pathak (one of the richest politicians currently in MP). Sanjay, who also won the seat in 2013, quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2014 and was a minister in the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. Hegemonised Katni MLA Dhruv Pratap Singh alleged that the party in Katni district seems to have become the hegemony from the past eight years of the present MLA and former minister Sanjay Pathak, who had quit Congress and joined BJP in 2014. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with a plea seeking a direction, observation or suggestion to the Lok Sabha Secretariat that the inauguration of the building should be done by the President of India Droupadi Murmu. Justice PS Narasimha: What is this plea filed? This is nothing. Be grateful that we havent imposed cost on you. What is the ground on which you have challenged? We know why you do and file such pleas. We are not inclined to interfere under article 32 in this matter, Justice PS Narasimha remarked. The plea that has been filed by Advocate CR Jaya Sukin had stated that states the President is the First Citizen of India and all important decisions regarding the country are taken in the name of Indian President. During the hearing on Friday, Sukin while laying emphasis on Article 79 of the Constitution according to which the President is the head of the Parliament said, It is a policy matter I agree.. but this is about the president. President is the head of the Parliament. It was also contended in the plea that Lok Sabha Secretariat has violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for inauguration. That the statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on May 18 and the invites issued by Secretary General, Lok Sabha regarding inauguration of the new Parliament building is arbitrary and violates the principles of Natural justice and Articles 21, 79 and 87 of the Constitution of India. Injustice has been caused to the Nation People and they have been affected be non-appreciation of relevant materials in objectives and impartial manner by statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the plea stated. The plea was filed amidst the joint statement issued by opposition parties deciding to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament by PM Narendra Modi on May 28. The signatories to the letter included Congress, Trinamool, AAP, DMK, JD (U), NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI (M), SP, RJD, CPI, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK and RLD. Though Bharat Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) is not a signatory to the party but it said that it would not take part in the event. Apart from the PIL, NCP had earlier issued a statement saying that, Many in the opposition feel the President should rightfully inaugurate the new Parliament. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with a plea seeking a direction, observation or suggestion to the Lok Sabha Secretariat that the inauguration of the building should be done by the President of India Droupadi Murmu. Justice PS Narasimha: What is this plea filed? This is nothing. Be grateful that we havent imposed cost on you. What is the ground on which you have challenged? We know why you do and file such pleas. We are not inclined to interfere under article 32 in this matter, Justice PS Narasimha remarked. The plea that has been filed by Advocate CR Jaya Sukin had stated that states the President is the First Citizen of India and all important decisions regarding the country are taken in the name of Indian President. During the hearing on Friday, Sukin while laying emphasis on Article 79 of the Constitution according to which the President is the head of the Parliament said, It is a policy matter I agree.. but this is about the president. President is the head of the Parliament. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It was also contended in the plea that Lok Sabha Secretariat has violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for inauguration. That the statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on May 18 and the invites issued by Secretary General, Lok Sabha regarding inauguration of the new Parliament building is arbitrary and violates the principles of Natural justice and Articles 21, 79 and 87 of the Constitution of India. Injustice has been caused to the Nation People and they have been affected be non-appreciation of relevant materials in objectives and impartial manner by statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the plea stated. The plea was filed amidst the joint statement issued by opposition parties deciding to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament by PM Narendra Modi on May 28. The signatories to the letter included Congress, Trinamool, AAP, DMK, JD (U), NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI (M), SP, RJD, CPI, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK and RLD. Though Bharat Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) is not a signatory to the party but it said that it would not take part in the event. Apart from the PIL, NCP had earlier issued a statement saying that, Many in the opposition feel the President should rightfully inaugurate the new Parliament. Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: The differences between BJP and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena surfaced on Friday over sharing the power and allocations of Lok Sabha seats for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shindes Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Gajanan Kirtikar alleged that BJP has been giving them 'step-motherly' treatment. He said that Shinde's Sena has 41 MLAs and 13 Lok Sabha MPs, but they still have not been given proper respect by the BJP. Earlier Shiv Sena was not part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but now we are part of the NDA. We should be given the status and respect as NDA alliance partners. We have been treated badly by the BJP, Kirtikar alleged. Kirtikar also said that the Shiv Sena will demand 22 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Maharashtra. Kirtikar pointed out that the Shiv Sena had won 18 seats out of 22 in the 2019 LS polls. In 2019, the BJP and Shiv Sena contested 26 and 22 seats respectively. Its our right to get the 22 seats as we contested 22 seats in the last 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Our party should get our share, Kirtikar said. The statement comes hours after a meeting of Shiv Sena MPs was held on Wednesday night under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence. The party decided that the Shinde-led Sena will contest 22 out of 48 seats, as per the traditional BJP-Shiv Sena seat-sharing formula. On the other hand, BJP leaders refused to comment on the demand of Shin Sena for Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Everyone knows what is the real strength of Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. They may be demanding 22 seats, but it is highly impossible because conceding more seats to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena means throwing the seats to the Opposition without any major fight. BJP wants to contest as many seats in Lok Sabha. We may accommodate them in state assembly elections, but not in Lok Sabha elections. Here, each seat is very important and crucial if BJP wants to come into power, said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity. Sources said that BJP has already started preparing for the Shiv Sena seats including Kalyan-Dombivali where CM Eknat Shindes son Dr Shrikant Shinde is a Lok Sabha member. We have entrusted the responsibility to our union ministers for the Lok Sabha in Maharashtra. Therefore, Shinde and his people should not expect more in Lok Sabha seat distributions, he added. MUMBAI: The differences between BJP and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena surfaced on Friday over sharing the power and allocations of Lok Sabha seats for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shindes Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Gajanan Kirtikar alleged that BJP has been giving them 'step-motherly' treatment. He said that Shinde's Sena has 41 MLAs and 13 Lok Sabha MPs, but they still have not been given proper respect by the BJP. Earlier Shiv Sena was not part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but now we are part of the NDA. We should be given the status and respect as NDA alliance partners. We have been treated badly by the BJP, Kirtikar alleged.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kirtikar also said that the Shiv Sena will demand 22 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Maharashtra. Kirtikar pointed out that the Shiv Sena had won 18 seats out of 22 in the 2019 LS polls. In 2019, the BJP and Shiv Sena contested 26 and 22 seats respectively. Its our right to get the 22 seats as we contested 22 seats in the last 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Our party should get our share, Kirtikar said. The statement comes hours after a meeting of Shiv Sena MPs was held on Wednesday night under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence. The party decided that the Shinde-led Sena will contest 22 out of 48 seats, as per the traditional BJP-Shiv Sena seat-sharing formula. On the other hand, BJP leaders refused to comment on the demand of Shin Sena for Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Everyone knows what is the real strength of Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. They may be demanding 22 seats, but it is highly impossible because conceding more seats to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena means throwing the seats to the Opposition without any major fight. BJP wants to contest as many seats in Lok Sabha. We may accommodate them in state assembly elections, but not in Lok Sabha elections. Here, each seat is very important and crucial if BJP wants to come into power, said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity. Sources said that BJP has already started preparing for the Shiv Sena seats including Kalyan-Dombivali where CM Eknat Shindes son Dr Shrikant Shinde is a Lok Sabha member. We have entrusted the responsibility to our union ministers for the Lok Sabha in Maharashtra. Therefore, Shinde and his people should not expect more in Lok Sabha seat distributions, he added. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LAS VEGAS Facing the future with a dwindling Colorado River supply and intense pressure from the federal government, Arizona, California and Nevada have offered a plan to cut their water use significantly. The proposal announced Monday isn't final. It calls for cities, irrigation districts and Native American tribes to accept federal money and in some cases volunteer to use less water over the next three years. The 3 million acre-feet that the states have proposed cutting through 2026 amounts to about 10% of their collective water allocation. An acre-foot is enough water to serve two to three U.S. households a year. To compensate water users for the cuts, the Biden administration plans to spend about $1.2 billion. The river that courses through the U.S. West serves 40 million people with drinking water, as well as water for irrigation and hydropower. The watershed deal broke a stalemate that could have swept the seven states that rely on the river into expensive and lengthy legal fights, though the amount of water offered falls short of what the federal government sought last June. The plan comes after mandatory and voluntary cuts. It aims to conserve an additional 1.5 million acre-feet by the end of 2024. California is entitled to 4.4 million acre-feet of water per year, Arizona to 2.8 million acre-feet and Nevada to 300,000 acre-feet. What does it mean for California? California has committed to conserving 1.6 million acre-feet of water under Monday's agreement which is about half of the total. The Imperial Irrigation District, which provides water to the crop-rich Imperial Valley in southeastern California, is the largest single recipient of the river's water. The district will work on a pilot program where farmers would turn off their water for 60 days on forage crops like alfalfa to save water during hot summer months, said JB Hamby, a district board member and chair of the Colorado River Board of California. That might affect dairy farmers, but farmers, their workforce and consumers wouldnt see a major hit, he said. Another key recipient of river water is the Metropolitan Water District of California, which provides water to 19 million people in six counties, including Los Angeles. The district is benefitting from a winter that battered the state with storms, leaving California awash with water for the first time in several years. Metropolitan will turn to other sources of water and leave about 250,000 acre-feet in Lake Mead this year, said Bill Hasencamp, the districts manager of Colorado River resources. The district also typically pays a nearby farming district to fallow land in exchange for about 130,000 acre-feet of water a year. Under the plan, the district would instead let the federal government buy that water. What about Arizona? Arizona has already endured two years of federally mandated water cuts tied to the level of Lake Mead. The latest proposal from the three states will affect eight cities that get water through the Central Arizona Project and farms in tribal areas, said Brenda Burman, the entitys general manager. Based on commitments from Nevada and California, Arizona would accept 1.1 million acre-feet in additional cuts. Water officials in the state declined to confirm the number and said discussions are underway on how cuts to other water-users would be shared. I would believe that part of the calculus here for those cities is: Step up here, we do this, and we avoid maybe bigger mandatory cuts,'" said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Much of the states Colorado River supply is delivered through a canal system to dozens of water users that include cities in metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, Native American tribes, businesses and farms. Some water savings are expected to come from a longstanding program that provides funding for leaving water in Lake Mead, the reservoir behind Hoover Dam outside Las Vegas. Already, the Gila River Indian Community and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in metropolitan Phoenix have agreed to cut back their water use in exchange for tens of millions of dollars. The plan is to move from simply trying to protect water levels at the major reservoirs Lake Powell and Lake Mead to building them up, Buschatzke said. Both are less than one-third full. This is a short-term deal to build stability, Burman said. We all know we are going to have to learn to live with a smaller river. How does Nevada fare? The Las Vegas area with 2.3 million residents and nearly 40 million tourists per year relies almost completely on Colorado River water drawn from Lake Mead. But due to strict water-use laws and conservation measures, residents and tourists are not likely to notice changes in water supply in coming months. Ranches, farms and rural cities elsewhere in Nevada draw from groundwater and other sources. Under Mondays plan, Nevada will conserve about 285,000 additional acre-feet of water, the regional Southern Nevada Water Authority said. Nevada historically has not used its full allocation of Colorado River water. Famous fountains on the Las Vegas Strip use recycled water, and for the past two decades, the Southern Nevada Water Authority has banned front yard lawns in new neighborhoods from using water. Grass at office parks and street medians is also banned, and home swimming pools are limited in size. A deal has been elusive. Why now? The states have been struggling to reach agreement since the river manager, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, called for swift and dramatic cuts last summer to stave off a crisis. A series of winter storms refreshed mountain snowpack and lowered some of that urgency for now, but the states agree that some reductions are still needed. Though the federal government has threatened unilateral action since last summer, Reclamation officials didn't put in writing what that would look like until last month. They proposed two ways of forcing cuts: Relying on an existing, decades-old water priority system, or forcing cuts on a proportional basis across the board. The latter likely would have resulted in drawn-out, complicated lawsuits that few of the parties wanted. The wet winter, fear of a nasty legal battle and the promise of federal dollars all appear to have helped bring everyone to the table. "Its always a concern when states lose control of their own process, said John Entsminger, Southern Nevada Water Authority general manager. What happens next? Reclamation lifted a May 30 deadline for comment on its earlier proposals so that it can evaluate the environmental and other impacts of the three-state proposal. Ultimately, a decision is likely to be made by mid-August, when federal officials outline the state of the river for the following year. If it's finalized, the agreement will run through 2026, when other regulations and guidelines expire. By Express News Service BHOPAL: The residents of Karhal town in Madhya Pradesh are holding special prayers for the remaining African cheetahs in Kuno National Park (KNP). The death of six cheetahs, including three cubs within a span of two months at Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) has prompted this move as the residents consider the cheetah's well-being their future prosperity and development. The Manshapoorna Hanuman Temple in Karahal town (15 km from the KNP and 50 km from the Sheopur district HQ) is resonating with special prayers for the safety of cheetahs since Thursday evening. An Akhand Jyoti has been lit-up, and round-the-clock keertans and bhajans, as well as a special Sunder Kand path, have been started at the temple for the safety of the cheetahs. The doctors are doing their job at the KNP to save the life of the last of the four cheetah cubs that were born at the park in March last week. But along with dava (medicine) dua (prayers to god) too are necessary for the safety of the cheetahs, Karahal resident Giriraj Paliwal, who is also the panchayat secretary of neighbouring Ranipura village told the TNIE on Friday. Paliwal, who is also one of Cheetah Mitras (volunteers appointed to promote the protection of cheetahs among natives of the area) said, Not only will the special prayers continue at the temple in Karahal but we hope that residents in adjoining villages too start similar prayers for the safety of the cheetahs. The people residing in this backward Karahal block of MP hope that cheetah tourism will bring prosperity to the lives of local people. Lands that were once priced at Rs One Lakh have since then seen their value zoom by five to ten times. In many villages close to the KNP, almost 60% of the lands are sold now to those planning to develop resorts and hotels to cash on the Cheetah Tourism whenever it starts. We hope cheetah tourism will render our jobless youths many jobs, particularly that of tour guides and also lead to the overall development of the small Karahal town, which is 15 km from KNP. But for that to happen, the cheetahs need to be safe and healthy. The KNP has witnessed six cheetah deaths in the last 60 days, including three Namibian and South African adults and three out of the four cubs born to a Namibian cheetah Siyaya aka Jwala in March. The fourth cub is stated to be critical at KNP Hospital. As part of PM Narendra Modis ambitious Cheetah Reintroduction Project into Indian wilds seven decades after the fastest moving animal on earth was declared extinct in India eight Namibian cheetahs were released into the KNP on September 17, 2022 (PMs 72nd birthday) and 12 South African cheetahs were released into the same park on February 18, 2023. But out of the 20 Namibian and SA cheetahs, now only 17 adults and one cub (which is stated critical) are alive. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted a Cheetah Project Steering Committee headed by Dr Rajesh Gopal, the secretary general of Global Tiger Forum, New Delhi. The 11-member panel, which will also have on board four wildlife and veterinary experts from Namibia and South Africa as consultants, will review the progress, and monitor and advise on the reintroduction to the MP Forest Department and the NTCA. It will also work on opening the Cheetah habitat for eco-tourism and suggest related regulations, besides suggesting on local community interface and their involvement in the projects activities. BHOPAL: The residents of Karhal town in Madhya Pradesh are holding special prayers for the remaining African cheetahs in Kuno National Park (KNP). The death of six cheetahs, including three cubs within a span of two months at Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) has prompted this move as the residents consider the cheetah's well-being their future prosperity and development. The Manshapoorna Hanuman Temple in Karahal town (15 km from the KNP and 50 km from the Sheopur district HQ) is resonating with special prayers for the safety of cheetahs since Thursday evening.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); An Akhand Jyoti has been lit-up, and round-the-clock keertans and bhajans, as well as a special Sunder Kand path, have been started at the temple for the safety of the cheetahs. The doctors are doing their job at the KNP to save the life of the last of the four cheetah cubs that were born at the park in March last week. But along with dava (medicine) dua (prayers to god) too are necessary for the safety of the cheetahs, Karahal resident Giriraj Paliwal, who is also the panchayat secretary of neighbouring Ranipura village told the TNIE on Friday. Paliwal, who is also one of Cheetah Mitras (volunteers appointed to promote the protection of cheetahs among natives of the area) said, Not only will the special prayers continue at the temple in Karahal but we hope that residents in adjoining villages too start similar prayers for the safety of the cheetahs. The people residing in this backward Karahal block of MP hope that cheetah tourism will bring prosperity to the lives of local people. Lands that were once priced at Rs One Lakh have since then seen their value zoom by five to ten times. In many villages close to the KNP, almost 60% of the lands are sold now to those planning to develop resorts and hotels to cash on the Cheetah Tourism whenever it starts. We hope cheetah tourism will render our jobless youths many jobs, particularly that of tour guides and also lead to the overall development of the small Karahal town, which is 15 km from KNP. But for that to happen, the cheetahs need to be safe and healthy. The KNP has witnessed six cheetah deaths in the last 60 days, including three Namibian and South African adults and three out of the four cubs born to a Namibian cheetah Siyaya aka Jwala in March. The fourth cub is stated to be critical at KNP Hospital. As part of PM Narendra Modis ambitious Cheetah Reintroduction Project into Indian wilds seven decades after the fastest moving animal on earth was declared extinct in India eight Namibian cheetahs were released into the KNP on September 17, 2022 (PMs 72nd birthday) and 12 South African cheetahs were released into the same park on February 18, 2023. But out of the 20 Namibian and SA cheetahs, now only 17 adults and one cub (which is stated critical) are alive. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted a Cheetah Project Steering Committee headed by Dr Rajesh Gopal, the secretary general of Global Tiger Forum, New Delhi. The 11-member panel, which will also have on board four wildlife and veterinary experts from Namibia and South Africa as consultants, will review the progress, and monitor and advise on the reintroduction to the MP Forest Department and the NTCA. It will also work on opening the Cheetah habitat for eco-tourism and suggest related regulations, besides suggesting on local community interface and their involvement in the projects activities. Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Two months after his visit to the UK, Rahul Gandhi is all set to visit the United States on May 30. During his six-day tour, the senior Congress leader will be meeting senators, celebrities, dignitaries, students and business leaders, among others, in the US. The visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US on June 22. In New York, Rahul will meet a group of prominent Indian-American celebrities such as film director Mira Nair, comedian Hasan Minhaj, actor Aziz Ansari, award-winning author Kiran Desai and model-turned-actor-turned-TV host Padma Lakshmi, among others. The visit to the US was planned after Gandhi received an invitation from Stanford University in California to deliver a lecture last month, said Praveen Chakravarty, Chairperson of the Congress Data Analytics Department. On May 30, Gandhi will be interacting with the Indian diaspora, venture capitalists, students, and technology executives in Silicon Valley. Speaking to this newspaper, Chakravarty, who has been coordinating the tour, said Gandhi will speak at the auditorium at Stanford University where former US President Barack Obama delivered a speech. This was an invitation from Stanford University. It was important to connect with Indians in America after the stupendous success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and victory of Congress in Karnataka, he said. While Chakravarty will be accompanying Gandhi from India, he will be joined by Sam Pitroda in the US and members of the Indian Overseas Congress. Gandhi will deliver a speech on the topic The New Global Equilibrium at Stanford University on May 31. Gandhi will be talking about the changing world and Indias role in it, he said. During Gandhis UK trip, Gandhis remarks on the state of Indian democracy sparked controversy back home after several BJP ministers demanded an apology from Gandhi. Gandhi will be in Washington DC on June 1-2, said Chakravarty. On June 1, Gandhi will be speaking at the National Press Club, where former PMs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had also addressed the press. Diaspora to host dinner for Rahul There are dinners hosted by diaspora in which senators and Congressmen may be there, said Praveen Chakravarty, Chairperson of the Congress Data Analytics Department. In New York, Rahul Gandhi will be meeting a group of well-known artists, painters, writers, and actors among others. On June 4, he will attend a rally of more than 10,000 people in New York NEW DELHI: Two months after his visit to the UK, Rahul Gandhi is all set to visit the United States on May 30. During his six-day tour, the senior Congress leader will be meeting senators, celebrities, dignitaries, students and business leaders, among others, in the US. The visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US on June 22. In New York, Rahul will meet a group of prominent Indian-American celebrities such as film director Mira Nair, comedian Hasan Minhaj, actor Aziz Ansari, award-winning author Kiran Desai and model-turned-actor-turned-TV host Padma Lakshmi, among others. The visit to the US was planned after Gandhi received an invitation from Stanford University in California to deliver a lecture last month, said Praveen Chakravarty, Chairperson of the Congress Data Analytics Department. On May 30, Gandhi will be interacting with the Indian diaspora, venture capitalists, students, and technology executives in Silicon Valley.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speaking to this newspaper, Chakravarty, who has been coordinating the tour, said Gandhi will speak at the auditorium at Stanford University where former US President Barack Obama delivered a speech. This was an invitation from Stanford University. It was important to connect with Indians in America after the stupendous success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and victory of Congress in Karnataka, he said. While Chakravarty will be accompanying Gandhi from India, he will be joined by Sam Pitroda in the US and members of the Indian Overseas Congress. Gandhi will deliver a speech on the topic The New Global Equilibrium at Stanford University on May 31. Gandhi will be talking about the changing world and Indias role in it, he said. During Gandhis UK trip, Gandhis remarks on the state of Indian democracy sparked controversy back home after several BJP ministers demanded an apology from Gandhi. Gandhi will be in Washington DC on June 1-2, said Chakravarty. On June 1, Gandhi will be speaking at the National Press Club, where former PMs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had also addressed the press. Diaspora to host dinner for Rahul There are dinners hosted by diaspora in which senators and Congressmen may be there, said Praveen Chakravarty, Chairperson of the Congress Data Analytics Department. In New York, Rahul Gandhi will be meeting a group of well-known artists, painters, writers, and actors among others. On June 4, he will attend a rally of more than 10,000 people in New York Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The Prayagraj Police on Friday, 26 May, filed the first chargesheet in the murder of Umesh Pal, the main witness to the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal. Umesh, along with two police security guards was shot dead outside his home on 24 February this year. In the present chargesheet, filed in the SC-ST court, charges have been filed against only one accused, Sadaqat Khan, leaving out the names of eight other accused. Khan is one of the nine accused named in the case. As per the senior police official of the district, the 1,857-page (including attachments) charge sheet has been filed under nine sections of the Indian Penal Code against Sadaqat Khan in connection with the case registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 307, 506, 34 and 120B of IPC, Section 3 of Explosive Act, 7 CLA Act and 3 (2) V SC/ST Act, was filed on Friday as the judicial custody period of 90 days of the accused was due to end on May 27. The police added Section 3 (2)V of the SC/ST Act on May 23, 2023, in the FIR (no. 114/2023) related to the Umesh Pal murder case and investigations were handed over to the additional commissioner of police (ACP) under whom a team of investigators was constituted. The investigations are underway in connection with the other accused. Sadaqat was arrested by a team of Special Task Force from Gorakhpur on February 27. Sadaqat used to stay in the hostel of Allahabad University where, as per the police sources, the conspiracy to kill Umesh Pal was given the final touches. Police sources also claimed that days before the murder on February 24, the accused had visited slain gangster Atiq Ahmeds brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf in Bareilly jail on February 11. The nine persons who visited Ashraf included Mohammed Asad (Atiqs son), Mohammed Ghulam, Guddu Muslim, Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman, Sadaqat, Sabir, Arman and others. They had reportedly entered the premises on a single ID and stayed on the prison campus for around three hours. Umesh Pal was a key witness in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case in which Atiq and Ashraf were the main accused. Besides, Sadaqat had also attended online and offline meetings with other conspirators. While two of the accused Arbaaz and Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman were killed in separate police encounters at the February end and March first week, respectively, Atiqs son Mohd Asad and Ghulam Mohammad were neutralised by UP STF in Jhansi on April 13. Gangster brothers Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead by three assailants while being taken for a medical check-up at Colvin Hospital under police custody on April 15. However, other accused including Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen, Ashrafs wife Zainab Fatima, Atiqs sister Ayesh Noori, and his main shooter Sabir are at large. LUCKNOW: The Prayagraj Police on Friday, 26 May, filed the first chargesheet in the murder of Umesh Pal, the main witness to the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal. Umesh, along with two police security guards was shot dead outside his home on 24 February this year. In the present chargesheet, filed in the SC-ST court, charges have been filed against only one accused, Sadaqat Khan, leaving out the names of eight other accused. Khan is one of the nine accused named in the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As per the senior police official of the district, the 1,857-page (including attachments) charge sheet has been filed under nine sections of the Indian Penal Code against Sadaqat Khan in connection with the case registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 307, 506, 34 and 120B of IPC, Section 3 of Explosive Act, 7 CLA Act and 3 (2) V SC/ST Act, was filed on Friday as the judicial custody period of 90 days of the accused was due to end on May 27. The police added Section 3 (2)V of the SC/ST Act on May 23, 2023, in the FIR (no. 114/2023) related to the Umesh Pal murder case and investigations were handed over to the additional commissioner of police (ACP) under whom a team of investigators was constituted. The investigations are underway in connection with the other accused. Sadaqat was arrested by a team of Special Task Force from Gorakhpur on February 27. Sadaqat used to stay in the hostel of Allahabad University where, as per the police sources, the conspiracy to kill Umesh Pal was given the final touches. Police sources also claimed that days before the murder on February 24, the accused had visited slain gangster Atiq Ahmeds brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf in Bareilly jail on February 11. The nine persons who visited Ashraf included Mohammed Asad (Atiqs son), Mohammed Ghulam, Guddu Muslim, Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman, Sadaqat, Sabir, Arman and others. They had reportedly entered the premises on a single ID and stayed on the prison campus for around three hours. Umesh Pal was a key witness in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case in which Atiq and Ashraf were the main accused. Besides, Sadaqat had also attended online and offline meetings with other conspirators. While two of the accused Arbaaz and Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman were killed in separate police encounters at the February end and March first week, respectively, Atiqs son Mohd Asad and Ghulam Mohammad were neutralised by UP STF in Jhansi on April 13. Gangster brothers Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead by three assailants while being taken for a medical check-up at Colvin Hospital under police custody on April 15. However, other accused including Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen, Ashrafs wife Zainab Fatima, Atiqs sister Ayesh Noori, and his main shooter Sabir are at large. By PTI KOTA: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday accused the BJP-RSS of promoting untouchability in the society and asked them whether they would "embrace" the country's Dalits. Gehlot attended a mass marriage function of 2,222 couples, including 2,111 from the Hindu community and 111 from the Muslim community, in Baran district. Talking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Gehlot alleged that the BJP and RSS create and spread differences and discrimination, and promote untouchability among the people of the country. "They (BJP-RSS) talk about Hindu religion and all of them are Hindus but they should rise above religion and do some real work," Gehlot said. "Untouchability is still there in villages as well as urban areas. There is discrimination against lower classes and everybody knows it," he added. Gehlot said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reveal their short-term and long-term plans for the welfare of Dalits. "Who is taking care of Dalits? What are you (BJP-RSS) doing for them? Will you embrace Dalits?...They should answer these questions since they are in power at the Centre," Gehlot said. KOTA: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday accused the BJP-RSS of promoting untouchability in the society and asked them whether they would "embrace" the country's Dalits. Gehlot attended a mass marriage function of 2,222 couples, including 2,111 from the Hindu community and 111 from the Muslim community, in Baran district. Talking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Gehlot alleged that the BJP and RSS create and spread differences and discrimination, and promote untouchability among the people of the country.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "They (BJP-RSS) talk about Hindu religion and all of them are Hindus but they should rise above religion and do some real work," Gehlot said. "Untouchability is still there in villages as well as urban areas. There is discrimination against lower classes and everybody knows it," he added. Gehlot said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reveal their short-term and long-term plans for the welfare of Dalits. "Who is taking care of Dalits? What are you (BJP-RSS) doing for them? Will you embrace Dalits?...They should answer these questions since they are in power at the Centre," Gehlot said. By PTI CHENNAI: The Sengol was handed over to Lord Mountbatten and then it was presented to Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 to symbolise the transfer of power from the British and wrong claims made in this respect by some people have caused sadness, the head of a Tamil Nadu monastery said here on Friday. Speaking to reporters here, Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam's Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swami said the Sengol that was away from the gaze of people would now be prominently displayed in Parliament for the world to see. This was the first response of the pontiff following the political controversy that erupted over the Sengol. To a question on proof of the Sengol's handing over, the pontiff said there was evidence including photographs and reports that appeared in newspapers and magazines in 1947. "To claim that the Sengol was not given is wrong information," he said. Answering a query, the pontiff said dissemination of 'wrong information' (by some people) in respect of the Sengol caused sadness. He also displayed a math publication that had photographs on the handover of the Sengol in 1947. "It is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu that the Sengol has gone from the Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam located in the Chola country (region ruled by the Cholas). The sceptre signified righteousness for a just and fair regime and there are references to the Sengol in Tamil literature including the classic didactic work Tirukkural," the pontiff noted. On Hindu religious motifs on the Sengol, he said, "In keeping with the traditions followed during the reign of the Chola empire, the Sengol was made and the Rishaba (Nandi, the Bull) symbol was placed on it." ALSO READ | Set to adorn new Parliament, 'Sengol' was prized possession of Allahabad Museum for seven decades The spiritual leader said, "Sengol is a sign of Dharma, the Nandi is a symbol of Dharma; it symbolised protection of Dharma for all the times to come." He also cited a Tamil Shaivite hymn to underscore the importance of Nandi symbolising Dharma. About two months ago, the Centre had hinted on placing the Sengol inside the new Parliament building. The Union government has invited them for the inaugural event. "We are happy the Sengol that was confined to a museum will be placed in the new Parliament building. We have been invited and will be going. The Sengol will be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. The pontiff said Rajaji and other leaders reached out to the Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam over the question of symbolising the transfer of power from the British. In 1947, the math was headed by Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swami and it was decided to make a Sengol in sync with tradition to symbolise independence and the power transfer. An order was placed with Chennai-based Vummudi Bangaru Jewellers to make a five-foot long Sengol and it was done accordingly by the firm. The math delegation, which included Sadai Swami alias Kumaraswamy Thambiran, Manicka Oduvar and nadaswaram maestro T N Rajarathinam Pillai reached Delhi. It was the Thambiran Swami who handed over the Sengol to Lord Mountbatten who presented it back to the Swami and it was taken out in a procession to the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi to the accompaniment of traditional music. Eventually, the Sengol was presented by the Thambiran Swami to Nehru symbolising the power transfer, he said. It was handed over to the first Prime Minister of India Nehru following recitation of hymns from the Thevaram, he added. In Tamil, the word Aadeenam denotes both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such a math. Thevaram is a collection of revered Tamil Shaivite devotional hymns. CHENNAI: The Sengol was handed over to Lord Mountbatten and then it was presented to Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 to symbolise the transfer of power from the British and wrong claims made in this respect by some people have caused sadness, the head of a Tamil Nadu monastery said here on Friday. Speaking to reporters here, Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam's Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swami said the Sengol that was away from the gaze of people would now be prominently displayed in Parliament for the world to see. This was the first response of the pontiff following the political controversy that erupted over the Sengol.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); To a question on proof of the Sengol's handing over, the pontiff said there was evidence including photographs and reports that appeared in newspapers and magazines in 1947. "To claim that the Sengol was not given is wrong information," he said. Answering a query, the pontiff said dissemination of 'wrong information' (by some people) in respect of the Sengol caused sadness. He also displayed a math publication that had photographs on the handover of the Sengol in 1947. "It is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu that the Sengol has gone from the Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam located in the Chola country (region ruled by the Cholas). The sceptre signified righteousness for a just and fair regime and there are references to the Sengol in Tamil literature including the classic didactic work Tirukkural," the pontiff noted. On Hindu religious motifs on the Sengol, he said, "In keeping with the traditions followed during the reign of the Chola empire, the Sengol was made and the Rishaba (Nandi, the Bull) symbol was placed on it." ALSO READ | Set to adorn new Parliament, 'Sengol' was prized possession of Allahabad Museum for seven decades The spiritual leader said, "Sengol is a sign of Dharma, the Nandi is a symbol of Dharma; it symbolised protection of Dharma for all the times to come." He also cited a Tamil Shaivite hymn to underscore the importance of Nandi symbolising Dharma. About two months ago, the Centre had hinted on placing the Sengol inside the new Parliament building. The Union government has invited them for the inaugural event. "We are happy the Sengol that was confined to a museum will be placed in the new Parliament building. We have been invited and will be going. The Sengol will be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. The pontiff said Rajaji and other leaders reached out to the Tiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam over the question of symbolising the transfer of power from the British. In 1947, the math was headed by Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swami and it was decided to make a Sengol in sync with tradition to symbolise independence and the power transfer. An order was placed with Chennai-based Vummudi Bangaru Jewellers to make a five-foot long Sengol and it was done accordingly by the firm. The math delegation, which included Sadai Swami alias Kumaraswamy Thambiran, Manicka Oduvar and nadaswaram maestro T N Rajarathinam Pillai reached Delhi. It was the Thambiran Swami who handed over the Sengol to Lord Mountbatten who presented it back to the Swami and it was taken out in a procession to the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi to the accompaniment of traditional music. Eventually, the Sengol was presented by the Thambiran Swami to Nehru symbolising the power transfer, he said. It was handed over to the first Prime Minister of India Nehru following recitation of hymns from the Thevaram, he added. In Tamil, the word Aadeenam denotes both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such a math. Thevaram is a collection of revered Tamil Shaivite devotional hymns. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a part of the Telangana High Court order asking a trial court to enlarge on bail on July 1 a man accused of involvement in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy. A vacation bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha, which posted the matter for further hearing on July 14, said it was staying the part of the high court's April 27 order directing the trial court to enlarge accused T Gangi Reddy alias Yerra Gangi Reddy on bail. The bench was hearing two petitions, including the one filed by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Suneetha Narreddy, challenging the high court order granting conditional bail to T Gangi Reddy, while allowing a plea for its cancellation. The other petition was filed by T Gangi Reddy challenging the high court's order cancelling the bail. "Re-list on July 14. Till the next date, the following part of the order dated April 27 passed by the high court shall remain stayed," the bench said. In its April 27 order, the high court had said, "Accused No.1 (T Gangi Reddy) is directed to surrender on or before May 05, 2023. On his surrender, he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, 2023 which is the outer limit fixed by the Supreme Court for completion of investigation by CBI." "In case, the accused fails to surrender before the court concerned on or before the said date, CBI is at liberty to take him into custody as provided under law and produce him before the court of Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Hyderabad," it had said. "The Court --- is directed to enlarge the petitioner on bail on July 01, 2023, on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs one lakh with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the said court," the high court had ordered. During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Suneetha, told the bench that the CBI has filed its counter affidavit on her plea. He said the CBI has said in its counter that the high court order is a "bad precedent". "We will take it up after vacation. The last portion (of the high court order), we will stay that," the bench said. During the hearing on May 24, the CBI had termed as "inherently contradictory" the high court order granting bail to the accused and told the bench that it supports Suneetha's plea challenging this verdict. "We have never heard of it that the order which cancels the bail allows the bail. How is it possible? Inherently contradictory," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the CBI, had told the bench. On May 18, the top court had issued notices to the CBI and the accused on the plea challenging the high court order. Earlier, the top court had transferred the pleas seeking cancellation of Gangi Reddy's bail to Telangana High Court for fresh adjudication. The CBI had initially moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking the cancellation of bail. The high court held there were no legal grounds to cancel it. The probe agency had then moved the top court which, on January 16, transferred the matter to the Telangana High Court to consider it afresh on merits. The CBI is also probing the role of YSR Congress Party Lok Sabha member Y S Avinash Reddy in the case. Avinash Reddy is a nephew of Y S Vivekananda Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's cousin. Vivekananda Reddy, one of the brothers of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, weeks before the Assembly elections in the state. The murder case was initially probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state CID but was handed over to the CBI in July 2020. The CBI had filed a charge sheet in the murder case on October 26, 2021 and followed it up with a supplementary charge sheet on January 31, 2022. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a part of the Telangana High Court order asking a trial court to enlarge on bail on July 1 a man accused of involvement in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy. A vacation bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha, which posted the matter for further hearing on July 14, said it was staying the part of the high court's April 27 order directing the trial court to enlarge accused T Gangi Reddy alias Yerra Gangi Reddy on bail. The bench was hearing two petitions, including the one filed by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Suneetha Narreddy, challenging the high court order granting conditional bail to T Gangi Reddy, while allowing a plea for its cancellation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The other petition was filed by T Gangi Reddy challenging the high court's order cancelling the bail. "Re-list on July 14. Till the next date, the following part of the order dated April 27 passed by the high court shall remain stayed," the bench said. In its April 27 order, the high court had said, "Accused No.1 (T Gangi Reddy) is directed to surrender on or before May 05, 2023. On his surrender, he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, 2023 which is the outer limit fixed by the Supreme Court for completion of investigation by CBI." "In case, the accused fails to surrender before the court concerned on or before the said date, CBI is at liberty to take him into custody as provided under law and produce him before the court of Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Hyderabad," it had said. "The Court --- is directed to enlarge the petitioner on bail on July 01, 2023, on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs one lakh with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the said court," the high court had ordered. During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Suneetha, told the bench that the CBI has filed its counter affidavit on her plea. He said the CBI has said in its counter that the high court order is a "bad precedent". "We will take it up after vacation. The last portion (of the high court order), we will stay that," the bench said. During the hearing on May 24, the CBI had termed as "inherently contradictory" the high court order granting bail to the accused and told the bench that it supports Suneetha's plea challenging this verdict. "We have never heard of it that the order which cancels the bail allows the bail. How is it possible? Inherently contradictory," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the CBI, had told the bench. On May 18, the top court had issued notices to the CBI and the accused on the plea challenging the high court order. Earlier, the top court had transferred the pleas seeking cancellation of Gangi Reddy's bail to Telangana High Court for fresh adjudication. The CBI had initially moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking the cancellation of bail. The high court held there were no legal grounds to cancel it. The probe agency had then moved the top court which, on January 16, transferred the matter to the Telangana High Court to consider it afresh on merits. The CBI is also probing the role of YSR Congress Party Lok Sabha member Y S Avinash Reddy in the case. Avinash Reddy is a nephew of Y S Vivekananda Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's cousin. Vivekananda Reddy, one of the brothers of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, weeks before the Assembly elections in the state. The murder case was initially probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state CID but was handed over to the CBI in July 2020. The CBI had filed a charge sheet in the murder case on October 26, 2021 and followed it up with a supplementary charge sheet on January 31, 2022. By PTI SINGAPORE: An Indian national has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for allegedly making illegal payments of over SGD 5.1 million from a construction company where he worked to firms linked to him. Hussain Naina Mohamed (47) on Thursday pleaded guilty to nine counts of cheating involving more than SGD 2.5 million and one count of moving a portion of his ill-gotten gains out of Singapore. Sixteen other charges, including those involving the remaining amount, were considered during sentencing, The Straits Times reported. He later told investigators that he had sent the money to India to help cover his parents' household expenses. Mohamed admitted that he had set up the firm solely to earn some cash from Utracon Corp. He was also the only one making all business decisions for Aret while his sister was the 'face' of the firm, said the prosecution. This was because he knew that he could not be seen by Utracon to be involved in Al Rahman Enterprises & Trading (Aret) in which he was a partner. The illegal payments took place between 2009 and 2019, causing at least SGD 5,00,000 in losses to Utracon, according to the Singapore daily report. Mohamed worked for the construction firm Utracon Structural Systems, which is part of the Utracon Corporation, until January 2019. As an assistant shipping manager, his responsibilities included making vendor recommendations to his superiors. He also helped Utracon Overseas, which is also part of the Utracon Corporation, with similar tasks. Among other things, Mohamed failed to inform his employer that he was a partner at Aret. Instead, he recommended Aret to be his employer's vendor for marine insurance as well as freight-forwarding services. Mohamed also recommended to his superiors his father's firm, SM Enterprises (SME), as a vendor to supply plastic components. The prosecution said Utracon would not have awarded jobs to these firms had it known about the blatant conflict of interest with regard to Mohamed. As the companies linked to Mohamed did provide services to Utracon as its vendors, Utracon's financial loss amounted to at least SGD 5,00,000 as a result of the cheating. This loss included the illicit profit Hussain made from the offences. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Jingxi said the accused and his sister were partners at Aret, which was registered in June 2009 and provided marine insurance as well as freight-forwarding services. As a result of his dishonest concealment, Utracon was induced to award jobs to Aret and paid it more than SGD 7,05,000. In May 2011, Hussain approached Utracon's director of Singapore operations and offered to source for an alternative supplier of plastic components that would purportedly offer better rates than its supplier at that time. He then liaised with an Indian company called Vijay Industries to fabricate the plastic parts that Utracon required and arranged for his father's firm, the India-registered Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), to export these plastic parts to Utracon. Mohamed did not tell the director that the SME belonged to his father and that the plastic components were actually manufactured by Vijay Industries, with SME only marking up the prices. As a result of his dishonest concealment of facts, Utracon was induced to award jobs to SME and paid it more than SGD 1.4 million. Mohamed also worked with a director of a firm called Indus Global Line (IGL) to cheat Utracon. In 2011, the pair entered into an illicit agreement for IGL to submit inflated quotations to Utracon for freight-forwarding services, with Mohamed determining the quantum of each markup, the media report said. Mohamed then validated all the inflated quotations before submitting them for Utracon's approval. As a result, Utracon paid IGL nearly SGD 3,75,000. On six occasions between May 2014 and November 2017, Mohamed removed from Singapore nearly SGD 1,42,000 of his ill-gotten gains by methods that included engaging the services of local remittance agents. SINGAPORE: An Indian national has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for allegedly making illegal payments of over SGD 5.1 million from a construction company where he worked to firms linked to him. Hussain Naina Mohamed (47) on Thursday pleaded guilty to nine counts of cheating involving more than SGD 2.5 million and one count of moving a portion of his ill-gotten gains out of Singapore. Sixteen other charges, including those involving the remaining amount, were considered during sentencing, The Straits Times reported. He later told investigators that he had sent the money to India to help cover his parents' household expenses. Mohamed admitted that he had set up the firm solely to earn some cash from Utracon Corp.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He was also the only one making all business decisions for Aret while his sister was the 'face' of the firm, said the prosecution. This was because he knew that he could not be seen by Utracon to be involved in Al Rahman Enterprises & Trading (Aret) in which he was a partner. The illegal payments took place between 2009 and 2019, causing at least SGD 5,00,000 in losses to Utracon, according to the Singapore daily report. Mohamed worked for the construction firm Utracon Structural Systems, which is part of the Utracon Corporation, until January 2019. As an assistant shipping manager, his responsibilities included making vendor recommendations to his superiors. He also helped Utracon Overseas, which is also part of the Utracon Corporation, with similar tasks. Among other things, Mohamed failed to inform his employer that he was a partner at Aret. Instead, he recommended Aret to be his employer's vendor for marine insurance as well as freight-forwarding services. Mohamed also recommended to his superiors his father's firm, SM Enterprises (SME), as a vendor to supply plastic components. The prosecution said Utracon would not have awarded jobs to these firms had it known about the blatant conflict of interest with regard to Mohamed. As the companies linked to Mohamed did provide services to Utracon as its vendors, Utracon's financial loss amounted to at least SGD 5,00,000 as a result of the cheating. This loss included the illicit profit Hussain made from the offences. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Jingxi said the accused and his sister were partners at Aret, which was registered in June 2009 and provided marine insurance as well as freight-forwarding services. As a result of his dishonest concealment, Utracon was induced to award jobs to Aret and paid it more than SGD 7,05,000. In May 2011, Hussain approached Utracon's director of Singapore operations and offered to source for an alternative supplier of plastic components that would purportedly offer better rates than its supplier at that time. He then liaised with an Indian company called Vijay Industries to fabricate the plastic parts that Utracon required and arranged for his father's firm, the India-registered Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), to export these plastic parts to Utracon. Mohamed did not tell the director that the SME belonged to his father and that the plastic components were actually manufactured by Vijay Industries, with SME only marking up the prices. As a result of his dishonest concealment of facts, Utracon was induced to award jobs to SME and paid it more than SGD 1.4 million. Mohamed also worked with a director of a firm called Indus Global Line (IGL) to cheat Utracon. In 2011, the pair entered into an illicit agreement for IGL to submit inflated quotations to Utracon for freight-forwarding services, with Mohamed determining the quantum of each markup, the media report said. Mohamed then validated all the inflated quotations before submitting them for Utracon's approval. As a result, Utracon paid IGL nearly SGD 3,75,000. On six occasions between May 2014 and November 2017, Mohamed removed from Singapore nearly SGD 1,42,000 of his ill-gotten gains by methods that included engaging the services of local remittance agents. By AFP MOSCOW: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on 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, Russia's foreign ministry announced a visit to Moscow by China's special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui -- Beijing's latest effort to broker an end to the fighting. Li's visit to the Russian capital, where he is expected to meet foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, comes after he met with Ukraine's 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 Russia's 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 Russia's 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, Tokyo's military also said it deployed fighter jets against Russian planes travelling along parts of its coastline. Ahead of the visit by China's 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 Beijing's 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 Moscow's 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. It's just not," Milley told journalists after a video meeting of dozens of countries that support Ukraine. On the ground, the head of Russia's 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 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's 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. "I'm grateful to our air defence forces for the 100 per cent result." 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, Russia's FSB security service said it had arrested two Ukrainians who had allegedly planned to target nuclear power plants in the country. MOSCOW: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on 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, Russia's foreign ministry announced a visit to Moscow by China's special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui -- Beijing's latest effort to broker an end to the fighting. Li's visit to the Russian capital, where he is expected to meet foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, comes after he met with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "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 Russia's 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 Russia's 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, Tokyo's military also said it deployed fighter jets against Russian planes travelling along parts of its coastline. Ahead of the visit by China's 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 Beijing's 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 Moscow's 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. It's just not," Milley told journalists after a video meeting of dozens of countries that support Ukraine. On the ground, the head of Russia's 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 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's 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. "I'm grateful to our air defence forces for the 100 per cent result." 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, Russia's FSB security service said it had arrested two Ukrainians who had allegedly planned to target nuclear power plants in the country. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Dr. Timothy Tesmer testifies before the Health and Human Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to become the state's chief medical officer on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN A Nebraska legislative committee on Thursday advanced the contentious appointment of a new chief medical officer who would be charged with determining new rules and regulations surrounding gender-affirming care for minors. Members of the Health and Human Services Committee advanced the appointment of Dr. Timothy Tesmer on a 4-2 vote. It was a moment in a months-long fight over gender-affirming care bubbling up in the committee with tense questioning and senators yelling at one another behind closed doors. Tesmer is an ear, nose and throat doctor who most recently practiced in Lincoln. He graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and has practiced in Louisville, Kentucky; Springfield, Missouri; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. He described to the committee how he set up his private practice in 2020, noting he had a vision and set out to fulfill it by bringing in legal, financial and marketing experts. I wrote policy, I set standards and I ensured that my team met those standards, Tesmer said. These are the skills that I bring to this role today: The ability to set a vision when necessary, make tough decisions and collaborate with experts to achieve my goals. Multidisciplinary team to be created But much of Tesmers hearing hinged upon how he would approach the authority granted to him under Legislative Bill 574, which Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law on Monday. Through LB 574, the chief medical officer has the sole responsibility of regulating puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors in transition care. Tesmer said that while the law states it would rest on the shoulders of the chief medical officer, final rules and regulations would be evidence-based and reasonable. In reality, that will be accomplished by a team of multidisciplinary health care providers, Tesmer said, including input from local, regional and national experts who provide gender-affirming care. State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, along with State Sens. John Cavanaugh and John Fredrickson, both of Omaha, had proposed specific rules and regulations that were not adopted during debate on LB 574. Walz, a committee member, asked Tesmer whether he had seen those protocols and whether he would take them into consideration. I would be willing to look at that, Tesmer responded. But I have to apply that to the boundaries of the context of the law. Two doctors Dr. Helen Grace, a pediatrician, and Dr. Alex Dworak, a family physician testified in a neutral capacity and said they could be a resource to Tesmer. They said if Tesmer can put his personal opinions aside and consult with experts, that is more important than prior expertise in the field of gender-affirming care. No physician can know all of Nebraska, Grace said, so collaboration is critical. The gender care side of LB 574 will become law on Oct. 1, banning transition surgeries but kicking potential restrictions on puberty blockers and hormone therapies down the road. The other half of LB 574, an approximate 10-week abortion ban, is already law. Pillen during LB 574s signing ceremony said that gender-affirming care as a catch-all solution was the work of Lucifer, which also became a point of contention Thursday among testifiers. We believe in protecting our kids, making sure that they parents and kids dont get duped into the silliness that If you do this, youre going to become happy, Pillen said Monday. That is absolutely Lucifer at its finest. Abbi Swatsworth, executive director for OutNebraska, testified against Tesmer for his role in supporting an original form of LB 574. In a statement, she condemned Pillens comments as appalling and inflammatory. One person testified in Tesmers support, five in opposition and two in a neutral capacity. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, the committee chair who had a key role to play in LB 574s passage, said four comments were submitted in support, 83 in opposition and 7 in a neutral stance. Does one issue define chief medical officer One heated moment, among a handful in lines of questioning, was State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha asking Tesmer whether top surgeries, those related to breasts, would be appropriate for any minors. She said the questions were designed to assess his legal and medical understanding, noting the surgeries will be banned for trans youths. Tesmer said breast augmentation or enhancement surgeries would be appropriate for cisgender minors but not transgender youths because they are irreversible. Cavanaugh blasted that as discriminatory and said her fear is that LB 574 is in a line of actions toward the eradication of transgender people in Nebraska. She has made similar comments on the floor of the Legislature. She added she is concerned that Tesmer, based on his statements, could advance that mission. I am hoping beyond all hope that I am so off base and incorrect, Cavanaugh said. I am asking you to show me, in your words today and your actions moving forward, how wrong I am. But so far, everything you have said has reaffirmed my opinion. And I am concerned and deeply, deeply concerned about the discrimination that you are openly sharing with us today. Tesmer said he has personal opinions and biases, as all people do, but he would rely on his team in following the law. I can assure you right here, right now, I can assure you that personal opinions will be put aside, he responded. This issue, this one issue, I hope doesnt define the whole chief medical officer role. State Sens. Merv Riepe of Ralston, Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Jen Day of Omaha pointed to other duties the chief medical officer will have to face and asked his advice, including expanding access to care, dealing with STDs in Douglas County and providing guidance to doctors related to the termination of pregnancies. Rules and regulation process Julia Keown, a registered nurse, testified in support of Tesmers nomination. I have the utmost faith in Dr. Tesmers ability to uphold his medical oath and follow national norms in the United States on what is the best medical practice, Keown said. These practices have already been put forth by multiple medical associations and societies, including a specific guide from the Endocrine Society. The Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline is interestingly, super similar to the LB 574 amendments drafted by Walz and John Cavanaugh, Keown added. Keown said that based on norms and her professional experience, it would be natural for Tesmer or any other chief medical officer to adopt these already formulated policies. Some opponents fear Tesmer may use his authority to implement a full ban on blockers and hormones. You are at the epicenter of all of this During multiple lines of questioning, Cavanaugh and Tesmer interrupted one another. Cavanaugh told Tesmer that LB 574 defined the 2023 session. She was among the leading voices against the measure, including a three-month-long filibuster on nearly all legislation. Cavanaugh and Day also criticized Tesmer for having a hand in LB 574s passage when he was chair of the State Board of Health from early 2022 to a week before he assumed the acting CMO position on March 27. That board, on March 20, released a statement in support of LB 574 in its original form, outlawing puberty blockers and hormone therapies in addition to puberty blockers. Tesmer asserted he had no knowledge of the statement prior to it being unveiled and voted on at an afternoon March 20 meeting. He said the statement advanced from a subcommittee that morning. A public records request showed that State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, who introduced LB 574, did coordinate with some board members to have the statement ready prior to the bill being debated on the floor. The request did not reveal any written communication to or from Tesmer, either in his email or text messages, prior to the boards final vote. Hansen said its not unusual for the State Board of Health to issue statements related to legislation. However, Day said Tesmers unawareness of the statement, as the boards chair, casts doubt on his ability to lead. You have utilized that position of power to make this a defining issue, and now you are in a different position of power that has been tasked with this, Cavanaugh told Tesmer. So you are at the epicenter of all of this. OK, if thats the way you characterize it, then Im happy to be at the epicenter of this role, Tesmer responded. If thats what this CMO role is defined by, Im happy to do that. Tesmer said he supported the statement because he is against the transition surgeries for minors and signed on because of the irreversible language in the bill. However, there is one mention against both irreversible surgical and hormonal manipulation of minors for the purposes of gender reassignment. The March 20 meeting minutes state that Tesmer attempted to remove that sentence from the final draft that he ultimately supported. The author of your own destruction Just before the 4-2 vote on advancing Tesmers appointment, in a closed-door meeting, Day expressed concern about Tesmer bringing biases into future work. Riepe said he looks at character first and that hes heard from Lincoln-based physicians that Tesmer has good character. A glance from Walz prompted Cavanaugh to comment: What is left to say? These four gentlemen do not care, she said, noting her four male colleagues who would vote to support Tesmer and LB 574. Hansen said that characterization was not fair. He said there is a difference between caring and having a difference in opinion. State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, the committees vice chair, leaned forward as Hansen and Cavanaugh argued. You have been the author of your own destruction, he told Cavanaugh. Hansen, Hardin, Ballard and Riepe supported Tesmer while Cavanaugh and Day voted against him. Walz was present, not voting. The full Legislature will consider Tesmers appointment sometime next week, Hansen said. Mansukh Mandaviya delivers keynote address at World Health Assembly on Heal in India and Heal by India New Delhi, May 24: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the 76th session of the World Health Assembly centered on the theme of 'Health for All' in the presence of Dr Tedros, Director General, World Health Organization and Health Ministers from across the world. Mansukh Mandaviya delivers keynote address at World Health Assembly on 'Heal in India and Heal by India' Recounting G20 India's Health priorities of Health Emergency Preparedness, Access to Medical Countermeasures, and Digital Health, Mandaviya said, "The unprecedented circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic have further served to strengthen the agenda for a more connected world that is prepared to tackle future health challenges."On the sidelines of the event, the Health Minister also held a meeting with the Iranian Health and Medical Education Minister."Productive meeting with Bahram Eynollahi, Minister of Health and Medical Education, Iran on the sidelines of #WHA76 in Geneva. Discussed ways to further strengthen India-Iran cooperation in healthcare, pharma, digital health and traditional medicine," Mandaviya said in a tweet.Addressing the World Health Assembly, the Health Minister proposed a Global Medical Countermeasures Platform with distributed manufacturing and R and D through regional networks and the Global Initiative for Digital Health.Elaborating further, he stated, "The Global Medical Countermeasures Platform aims to ensure equitable access to safe, high-quality, cost-effective medical countermeasures to all the countries."Underscoring the need to bridge the global digital divide, Mandaviya added, "Global Initiative on Digital Health will facilitate in building consensus on the promotion of Digital Public Goods for customization and democratization of digital tools for the world and particularly for low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)."He reiterated that "The aim of Global Initiative on Digital Health is to act as an institutional framework and provide an agile and fit for purpose digital solutions with the use of cutting-edge technologies."Mandaviya also cited the Ni-kshay Platform as an example of innovation and investment in health technologies, reiterating India's commitment to eliminate Tuberculosis leveraging its own mathematical model substantiated by the end-to-end patient care, provider workflows, and digitization of the cascade of care incorporated in the platform.Commending the World Health Organization for prioritizing the agenda of 'Health for All', Mandaviya said "The theme finds resonance with the theme of G20 India Presidency 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' as well as the notion of "Antyodaya" meaning reaching the last person in the last mile."Highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on the world, The Union Health Minister noted that though the pandemic has indeed taken a toll on our healthcare systems, it is vital to maintain the momentum and work in tandem to translate our vision of 'Health for All' into reality and ensure a healthier tomorrow for the coming generations.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! OpenAI CEO threatens to quit EU over new law that puts AI in high risk zone 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. OpenAI CEO threatens to quit EU over new law that puts AI in 'high risk' zone 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".IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! DGCA advises Go First to submit revival plan within 30 days New Delhi, May 25: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday advised Go First Airlines to submit a comprehensive restructuring plan for a sustainable revival of operations. DGCA advises Go First to submit revival plan within 30 days A senior DGCA official informed that Go First has submitted their response to a show cause notice, issued on May 8, wherein they have requested that they may be allowed to use the moratorium period to prepare a comprehensive restructuring plan for restarting operations and present the same to DGCA for the requisite regulatory approvals before restarting operations.Accordingly, DGCA advised the airline on Wednesday to submit a comprehensive restructuring/revival plan for a sustainable revival of operations, within a period of 30 days."The airline has been asked to furnish,inter-alia, the status of availability of operational aircraft fleet, post holders required, pilots and other personnel, maintenance arrangements, funding/working capital, arrangements with lessors and vendors etc. for the sustainable revival of operations," the official said.The revival plan once submitted by Go First shall be reviewed by DGCA for further appropriate action in the matter, the official added.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! DGCA grants 30 days to Go First to submit revival plan 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. DGCA grants 30 days to Go First to submit revival plan 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.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans have a very balanced side due to match winners, says Aaron Finch 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. IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans have a very balanced side due to match winners, says Aaron Finch 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."IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! 3 Indian peacekeepers to be honoured with UNs Dag Hammarskjold medal New York, May 25: Three Indian UN peacekeepers will be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at a solemn ceremony at the UN headquarters on Thursday. 3 Indian peacekeepers to be honoured with UN's Dag Hammarskjold medal "We salute our fallen heroes, and their bravery and offer our deepest respects," the Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said ahead of the ceremony to honour the peacekeepers of the United Nations."Remembering the fallen, honouring the brave. Ahead of the solemn #PKDay ceremony at @UN HQ today, PR @ruchirakamboj articulates our profound gratitude for the peacekeepers' sacrifices and commitment to their mission. We salute their bravery and offer our deepest respects," Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York tweeted.The three Indians include Border Security Force personnel head Constables Shishupal Singh and Samwali Ram Vishnoi, who served with the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Shaber Taher Ali, who was employed in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi deployed as part of a United Nations mission at Butembo, Congo, since June 2, 2022--were among five people killed during an anti-UN protest in the eastern city of Goma near the strife-torn country's border with Uganda. While Shishupal hailed from Sikar, Vishnoi belonged to Barmer."India's contribution to UN peacekeeping needs no long introduction. Suffice to say that since our first participation in a UN peacekeeping mission in 1950, India has been one of the most prolific contributors to peace efforts worldwide," said Indian envoy Kamboj.India has deployed more than 275,000 troops, including a significant number of women peacekeepers, in over 51 UN peacekeeping missions."Sadly, this has also entailed the supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of the profession of arms. Later today, a solemn ceremony will take place at UN headquarters in New York, where we will honour the memory of three Indian peacekeepers with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal," said Kamboj.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.The UN Secretary-General will preside over a Dag Hammarskjold Medal and Military Gender Advocate of the Year award ceremony in the General Assembly Hall.In his message honouring the extraordinary contributions of UN peacekeepers to international peace and security, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe."This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the UN Peacekeeping. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29 offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel's invaluable contribution to the organisation's work and honouring more than 4,200 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! French Open: Mirra Andreeva qualify for maiden grand slam main draw 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. French Open: Mirra Andreeva qualify for maiden grand slam main draw 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.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! YouTube Music testing Samples tab, may bring Shorts to the platform 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 testing 'Samples' tab, may bring Shorts to the platform 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.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! OpenAI closes $175 mn fund to empower other AI startups: Report 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. OpenAI closes $175 mn fund to empower other AI startups: Report 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.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The trial of the man accused in the death of John Michael Mike Crites, the 48-year-old Birdseye man who was killed in June 2011, is set to begin June 1. It's 12 years to the month of his disappearance that stemmed from what authorities described as a neighborhood dispute over land access turned deadly. It will be heard in front of Lewis and Clark County 1st Judicial District Court Judge Mike Menahan and is expected to take 30 days. Jury selection begins May 30, court officials said. Leon Michael Ford was charged with felony deliberate homicide and felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence on Sept. 11, 2020. Ford was 66 years old at the time he was arrested and his bond was set at $400,000. He is not currently on the inmate list at Lewis and Clark County Detention Center. Mr. Ford did not kill Michael Crites and had nothing whatsoever to do with Mr. Crites death, Fords attorney Palmer Hoovestal said Thursday. We are looking forward to the upcoming trial and the opportunity to prove Mr. Fords innocence. Lewis and Clark County Attorney Kevin Downs said Leo Gallagher, the previous county attorney, was coming out of retirement for the purpose of prosecuting the case as special deputy county attorney. He will prosecute along with Jessica Best of the county attorney's office. Downs said it was a mutual decision to bring Gallagher on board. "The investment he put into this case (prior to retirement) was significant," Downs said Wednesday. "I have every confidence in Leo... and Jessica in prosecuting this case. Crites was last seen alive on June 25, 2011. Two garbage bags full of bones identified as his were found in October 2011 near MacDonald Pass by two U.S. Forest Service employees. More remains, including his skull, were found west of the Continental Divide near Elliston in September 2012. The deputy state medical examiner listed Crites cause of death as gunshot wounds to the head. In a lab report from July 2013, the projectile recovered from the head was determined to be consistent with a 38 class, 95 grain hollow-point bullet. The 38 class bullet includes calibers in .38 special, 357 Magnum, 9mm Luger and 380 Auto firearms. During an October 2012 search of Fords Oak Harbor, Washington, home, authorities seized a Ruger 357 Magnum revolver, a Colt 380 semi-automatic handgun and a Smith and Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. The cable ties found with Crites body were last produced in September 2011 and were only available through specific distributors through special order. Investigators subpoenaed Chugach, a contractor doing business at an Oak Harbor air base where Ford was employed in 2011. Records show that the company purchased this type of cable ties, and Ford removed them from the Oak Harbor warehouse in February 2011 but didnt list a work order number to identify the project he planned to use the materials for. Investigators also allege that Ford withdrew a box of heavy-duty trash bags from the Chugach warehouse inventory on June 27, 2011. Fords vacation slips and video footage indicate he was in Helena that day and not at work at the air base. Theres a long history of property access friction among the residents on Turk Road with access via Birdseye Road to Three Mile Road. Crites owned several parcels totaling around 80 acres, that he built a home on in 1996. Turk Road continued through some of his parcels. Before the killing, tension was on the rise with residents in the area for years. Courts weighed in several times due to neighbors blocking road access. Allegations of trespassing, assaults, intimation, threats and weapon violations among the residents led law enforcement to send a letter in September 2010 to area residents saying what they would and wouldnt respond to. Neither the Sheriffs Office nor the County Attorneys Office is going to get involved in what should be civil disputes about access and easements, the letter read. People may wear sidearms on their person or carry a firearm without being subject to criminal prosecution even if the person in possession of the weapon gets into an argument with another." In the days leading up to Crites death, his roadway issues were front and center among the Birdseye-area residents. Two neighbors have been charged with crimes in connection to the Crites' killing: Ford and John Mehan. Ford and his wife, Debbie, owned a lot north of Crites property. One of the ways the Fords could access their land was through a lower road on Crites property. Access to the lower road was a continuous hot spot for Crites and Ford with Crites installing a metal barrier in 2002, according to an affidavit filed in September 2020 in District Court. Ford agreed to let Crites fence the road as long as he gave permission for access and knew the lock's combinations. Ford learned Crites was changing the locks and confronted Crites on June 17, 2007, allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at Crites, according to court reports. Ford claimed Crites already had a rifle in his hand so he pointed his pistol at the ground in response, said officials. Three days later, the gate on the lower road was welded shut. On June 21, 2007, Crites was served an order signed by a District Court judge to allow Ford access to his property from the lower road, officials said. This order didnt solve the problem. Ford said that he contacted Crites in early June of 2011 via letter to let Crites know that he would be returning to his property and expected to be able to access it from the lower road. The Floras, who were neighbors, had game cameras in the area that picked up Ford traveling up Turk Road toward the property on the night of June 25, 2011. In a later interview about that night, Ford told authorities he went to Crites residence, and they worked out their differences with respect. Crites detailed the incident differently to a friend over the phone, saying that Ford showed up at his home and screamed at him. Crites told him to come back the next morning around 10:30 a.m. Phone records indicate that Crites called a friend before meeting with Ford on June 26, 2011. He told the friend that he was having issues with a neighbor that could end in a gunfight, and he asked the friend to write down a name. The friend said he could hear a vehicle approach before the call ended around 10:38 a.m. In an interview on June 28, 2011, Ford told investigators that he never saw Crites two days prior and that he and his wife sprayed weeds that day. This statement was proven inaccurate when investigators found that Ford didn't rent a weed sprayer from Lewis and Clark County Weed District until June 27, 2011. In an interview in January 2012, Ford changed his statement saying he didnt spray weeds on June 26, 2011, but spent hours searching for booby traps with a metal detector. Ford claimed he sprayed weeds for three days and made trips back and forth between his and another neighbor's property, Dennis Shaw, to refill the spray trailer with water. Cameras in the area only record him making one trip driving back down Turk Road after having the weed sprayer for less than two hours the same day he picked it up, according to court reports. A Weed District employee accompanied Ford to his property on June 28, 2011, to inspect it and told investigators that he was skeptical Ford had even sprayed his property because the trailer was returned clean and full of fuel, said officials. Crites had called a neighbor the morning of June 26, 2011, and asked them to be a witness to the conversation he was scheduled to have with Ford. The neighbor declined the request but urged Crites to record the event and call him after the two met. Crites never called, and so the neighbor went to check on him the next day, and found his property gate and door to his home open. The neighbor called Crites phone several times before going to his residence, according to court reports. Authorities contacted Verizon to request a ping of Crites cellphone to help find his location on June 28, 2011. Crites' cellphone was not actively connected to a cell tower at the time of the ping, but records show that Crites phone received an incoming call from his concerned neighbor that pinged off the Montana City cellphone tower. This cell tower was one of the cell towers used by cellphones located on the lower portion of Turk Road, which is where the Shaw residence is located and where Debbie Ford claimed they left the weed sprayer overnight on June 27-28, 2011. Investigators concluded that somebody briefly turned on Crites phone the morning of June 28, 2011, before turning it off, a 2020 affidavit stated. Court documents state that Ford left Montana on June 30, 2011. He briefly returned in 2012, and investigators have no information showing he has been back since then. Mehan was the first arrest in the Crites death mystery on July 6, 2011, after trespassing on another neighbors land and removing cameras. He was charged with felony tampering with evidence. The cameras belonged to the Floras who had put them up after a bitter dispute with their neighbors over their claimed right to use Turk Road and Redtail Ridge Road to get to their home. Mehan pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of misdemeanor criminal mischief in October 2013 and received a six-month suspended jail sentence and a $1,000 fine. The cameras were being used by the sheriffs office as part of the investigation into Crites death. Mehan was caught on tape walking toward the area shortly before one camera was moved to the ground and another was corrupted on June 30, 2011. The affidavit filed in Justice Court supporting the tampering charge outlines other information involving Mehan, stating that he spoke with a concerned citizen at a public event in Helena and said that it would be impossible for police to obtain a DNA profile from the bones located on MacDonald Pass because the police had not recovered a specific body part necessary to develop a profile. The affidavit noted that although the fact that a complete skeleton wasnt recovered from MacDonald Pass was public information, the specific body parts that were missing from the skeleton were only known by law enforcement at the time. Mehan moved with his wife, Katy Wessel, to the neighborhood in 2007, and his interactions with Crites escalated over the years, including multiple alleged incidents of firearms either being shot or brandished from 2010 to 2011, according to court documents. On April 22, 2011, Mehan, Wessel and Shaw filed a lawsuit against Crites, citing they lived in fear of the man due to threats, brandishing of weapons, videoing and/or using his binoculars to look into homes in the area and more. The plaintiffs claimed that Crites attempted to utilize law enforcement to his advantage and lied to authorities about his own actions in the past. In August 2021, the court wrote to the parties asking the status of this matter and advised that if the parties failed to submit a status report, the case would be dismissed. The case was closed in October 2021. Both the state and Ford have filed three motions in limine, meaning to be discussed outside the presence of a jury, to determine what evidence can and cant be presented at trial. In court documents filed on May 16, the state was asking that the character witnesses for Ford be limited to three or four witnesses on the grounds of needless presentation of cumulative evidence, and the court denied this because they dont yet know the number of character witnesses Ford will bring forth. The states second motion seeks to prevent Ford from referencing testimony regarding Crites alleged bad character, and this was denied. The third motion from the state was to exclude any matter brought up that expresses or alludes to personal opinions that isnt supported by evidence; both parties agreed that asserting facts not in evidence isnt allowed so the court ruled they didnt need to make an order. Fords first motion of limine seeks to exclude any testimony by the states witnesses regarding shed cat hair DNA testing. Evidence was submitted for DNA testing with samples from cat hair at Crites burial site, hair from Fords cat and hair from Mehans cat. The results came back as inconclusive, hence Ford says it is irrelevant. The court denied this motion. Fords second motion seeks to exclude all testimony by the states witnesses on commenting on the credibility of any other witnesses, including Ford, since credibility is exclusive to the jurys determination. The motion was denied. The last motion from Ford seeks to exclude all testimony, arguments or references to statements Crites made prior to his death in regards to his fear of Ford. The court determined this motion to be too broad and denied it. Connie Crites, the sister of John Crites and personal representative of his estate, filed a lawsuit against Ford and Jane Doe for a wrongful death claim and a survival action claim on June 28, 2021. The case remains open. Many residents left their homes in the area due to the death and rising stress between neighbors, according to news reports. Crites 80 acres has been sold since, but it is unknown the date of the transaction. According to onX Maps, the Fords still own around 90 acres and Wessel owns 40 acres each near the Birdseye area. This story has been updated. MiG-29K fighter jet makes maiden night landing on INS Vikrant 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'. MiG-29K fighter jet makes maiden night landing on INS Vikrant 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.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! The Worlds 50 Best Bars launches Bareksten Best Bar Design Award PNN, New Delhi, May 25: For the first time in its 21-year history, 50 Best branches into the field of design with the launch of the Best Bar Design Award. The World's 50 Best Bars launches 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 y to be eligible. Entries will close on 6th June and the winner will be announced at 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 applyingThe 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 engineeringAccessibility - 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 staffErgonomics - 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 facilitiesEcological 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 in Singapore on 17th October - find out everything you need to know about the award's criteria, and its judges andAnirudh Singhal, Founder of Haus of Bars by SpeedX, selected as the Indian jury member for World's 50 Best Bar Design Awards.Meet the judgesThe 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- 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.- 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 , an online store giving the public access to professional-grade equipment to create the ultimate home bar.- 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.- Semple is one of two masterminds behind the hospitality-focused interior design studio , 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.- 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.- 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 ).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 today.The 15th edition of 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 , follow us on , find us on , visit us on and subscribe to our .For more information about The World's 50 Best Bar Design Awards and to see the full list of judges, visit the website at(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Over two dozen US states ban China from purchasing farmland Washington, May 25: 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. Over two dozen US states ban China from purchasing farmland 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.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Study reveals skin cancer rewires its energy systems to spread more efficiently Washington, May 25: 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. Study reveals skin cancer rewires its energy systems to spread more efficiently 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."ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Violence in insurgency-hit Southern Thailand registered upward trend in 2022, says Expert Bangkok [Thailand], May 26: Violence in insurgency-hit Southern Thailand registered an upward trend in 2022, according to an article written by Zachary Abuza, a noted expert on terrorism and insurgency in Southeast Asia for BenarNews, reported The Diplomat. Violence in insurgency-hit Southern Thailand registered upward trend in 2022, says Expert On April 14, attacks took place simultaneously in six places in the Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala provinces of Southern Thailand, on the last day of Ramadan.The attacks were the latest sign of how the conflict might expand, if not dealt with in time. While the attacks did not lead to any human causalities, they brought to a shattering end, the ceasefire agreement that the insurgent group and the Thai government had agreed for the entire Ramadan period, according to The Diplomat.The campaign leading up to the May 14 election saw a wide range of issues discussed. The perennial issues of insurgency and separatism - and the challenges they pose to law and order - are of critical importance to the people in Southern Thailand.This is especially true in light of the fact that since its re-igniting in 2004, the conflict in Southern Thailand has claimed more than 7,000 lives and injured an estimated 13,500 people.As per The Diplomat, while political leaders and interlocutors often deny it, the problem has an ethnic dimension as well. The majority of Malay Muslims of Southern Thailand, Thai Buddhists, and other Thai ethnic groups rarely interact socially due to several inter-societal and inter-community differences.Malay Muslims find it challenging to assimilate into the political and religious culture of the Thai state, and Islamic beliefs and practices diverge from the state's focus on "nation, religion (i.e. Buddhism), and king."For the Thai authorities, the Muslim-Malay community has been somewhat impenetrable in a fragile law and order situation - a deadly mix that has worsened the conflict and held back the region's economic development.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! AI helps identify new antibiotic than can take one of three top superbugs 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. AI helps identify new antibiotic than can take one of three top 'superbugs' '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.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Australia must accept inconvenient truths about its relationship with China: Defence Minister Marles Sydney, May 26: Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said that the country must accept 'inconvenient truths' about its relationship with China, news.com.au reported. Australia must accept 'inconvenient truths' about its relationship with China: Defence Minister Marles The news.com.au is an Australian-based news website which is owned by News Corp Australia.Marles, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, despite recent diplomatic breakthroughs, said the relationship with China remained "very complex".According to news.com.au, Marles said that it was a relationship that could not be defined with "simplistic platitudes" after China wound back trade restrictions on Australian timber last week and with signs sanctions against barley could soon dissipate.The immense threat China posed in undertaking the largest conventional military build-up since the Second World War must be taken in combination with the significant trade opportunities, he said.Marles further stated that there are human rights issues in China and Australia is vigilant in the way in which the country has raised that. "But we've also seen a huge growth in the Chinese economy, which has given rise to the single biggest alleviation out of poverty that we've seen in human history," he said."I mean, there are human rights issues in China and we are vigilant in the way in which we've raised that, but we've also seen a huge growth in the Chinese economy, which has given rise to the single biggest alleviation out of poverty that we've seen in human history," Marles added.He stated that all of the facts are sitting together and are complex. Australia has a trading relationship with China, which is of enormous benefit to this country, reported news.com.au."And we have added in at the same time, we do have security anxieties in relation to China with the significant military build-up that we've seen. All of that is complex. There's not a way around the complexity of that," Marles said.The Australian Defence Minister said that the country would work with China where it can, but will also disagree with China when it must."But at the end of the day, we value a productive relationship with China. That's obvious because China matters. And we're seeking to stabilise that relationship with China and you can see that happening," he said.He added that, unlike China, Australia was seeking to engage with the region to make sure motive and strategy were "transparent," as per the report in news.com.au.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! IIFA 2023: Norwegian dance group Quick Style to set stage on fire with their dance moves Abu Dhabi, May 26: Get ready to witness Norwegian dance group Quick Style setting the IIFA 2023 stage on fire with their dancing skills. IIFA 2023: Norwegian dance group Quick Style to set stage on fire with their dance moves The boys will perform at IIFA in Abu Dhabi on May 27. And guess what? They will groove to Bollywood songs.On Friday, the social media team of IIFA shared a glimpse of Quick Style's dance rehearsals.In a clip, the boys expressed gratitude for giving them an opportunity to be a part of IIFA this year."Get ready for some movin' and groovin'!#TheQuickStyle crew just wrapped up their mind-blowing rehearsal for the Nexa IIFA Awards 2023, leaving us craving for more," the post read on the IIFA's Instagram account.The group rose to fame after recreating hook steps of popular Bollywood songs such as 'Sadi Galli' from the film 'Tanu Weds Manu' and 'Kala Chashma' from 'Baar Baar Dekho'.Earlier this year, the boys visited India and met several celebrities including Raveena Tandon, Virat Kohli and Suniel Shetty.During their visit to India, Quick Style also spoke to ANI. They expressed their love for Indian songs."For us, the song Kaala Chashma and every song that is popular in this world..it's not anyone's, it's everyone's. And the people that watch our show, we feel they are our family, our group, our supporters, so we are together. So the song is ours," the group said.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Kisan Sampark Abhiyan: 1.5 lakh farmers participate across J-K Srinagar, May 25: Jammu and Kashmir government has recorded enthusiastic registration of farmers across all districts of the UT under 'Daksh Kisan', a first-of-its-kind hybrid skilling programme designed exclusively for the farming community, said an official statement. Kisan Sampark Abhiyan: 1.5 lakh farmers participate across J-K "Over 12000 farmers have registered themselves in the Daksh Kisan Portal till now and around 3000 farmers have been enrolled in skilling course of their choice. Besides, a substantial number of farmers have already progressed to an advanced level of completion of the online skilling course", an official spokesperson informed while giving details about ongoing Kisan Sampark Abhiyan."Daksh Kisan- is a Learning Management System (LMS) for the skill development of farmers. A first of its kind in the country, DAKSH KISAN, has been developed by the Agriculture Production Department, where 121 skilling courses per the agro-climatic zones of J-K are free to the farmers. A simple scan of the QR code at the back of the pamphlet is being provided to farmers during Kisan Sampark Abhiyan which takes them to Daksh Kisan Portal where he can register for free and undertake any skilling course of his/her liking", he added.Attributing the credit of this rare accomplishment to the ambitious 'Kisan Sampark Abhiyan', the official said that the initiative launched on April 24, 2023, has completed five rounds till this week with coverage of about 1367 panchayats. Nearly,1.5 lakh farmers across all districts of J-K have attended the orientation programme during these five rounds of orientation programmes.This massive farmer's orientation exercise is being undertaken by the Agriculture Production department in J-K whereby ambitious targets of reaching out to farmers in each and every Panchayat have been envisaged under the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan in the next 4 months. The farmers outreach exercise has been planned under the recently launched Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).The orientation programme is being organised simultaneously across all the districts of the UT. The programme has been designed to be conducted on the first three days of every week. The Government has issued an exhaustive district-specific calendar.Under LMS, video lectures and textual material are available in Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri and Hindi. Besides, specialised modules on business development and financial management have also been included to ensure that the farmers are not merely trained but become skilful entrepreneurs. After completion of online courses, the farmers shall be sent for 5-7 days to Krishi Vigyan Kendras in their respective districts for practical hands-on training in their chosen skilling course. On successful completion of the skilling course, the farmers shall be provided certificates by SKUAST J/K, read the official statement.Additionally, a question-answer session after each screening session of videos is being held to clear the doubts of farmers. The farmers are also being provided with pamphlets of all the schemes in the three languages (Hindi, Urdu and English) in the shape of a booklet, which also contains the information about the contact details of all the departments under the agriculture production department of the UT, mentions the official statement.The farmers are also being educated about the mode of an application under these schemes using the KISAN SATHI- the IT Dashboard of the schemes developed by APD.A baseline survey and skill gap study of farmers is also being carried out simultaneously during the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan. The data of around 1.4 lakh farmers have been captured to date using IT tools for having a holistic assessment of the state of Agriculture and farmers in the UT.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! US Defence Secretary Austin to visit India next week Washington, May 26: United States Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III will embark on a four-nation trip including India from next week, according to the official statement released by the US Department of Defence. US Defence Secretary Austin to visit India next week The first stop in his four-nation trip is Tokyo where he will meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders and visit US troops stationed in Japan.According to the statement, Secretary Austin's visit comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize Alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic US-Japan "2+2" Ministerial meeting earlier this year.Later on, Secretary Austin will travel to Singapore where he will deliver plenary remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.On the margins of the Dialogue, the Secretary will meet with key leaders to advance US defence partnerships across the region in support of our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in ASEAN centrality.After completing his trip to Singapore, Secretary Austin will visit India. At the third stop, New Delhi, he will meet with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernize the US-India Major Defense Partnership.This visit provides an opportunity to accelerate new defence innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and drive ongoing efforts to expand operational cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries.Secretary Austin will conclude his trip in France to participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day and meet with French and United Kingdom defence leaders.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A man previously accused of molesting a child while working at St. Labre Indian School is one of hundreds of priests named in a massive investigation into child sex abuse across dioceses in Illinois. Dennis Druggan, a former pastor at the Catholic high school in Ashland during the 1980s, allegedly abused at least one person, according to a recently published report from the Illinois Office of the Attorney General. The investigation concluded that nearly 2,000 people were victims of sexual abuse committed by than 400 authority figures in the Catholic Church over a period of several decades. These perpetrators may never be held accountable in a court of law, wrote Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul in a message attached to his offices Report on Catholic Clergy Child Sex Abuse in Illinois, 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 Illinois investigation began in 2018, with attorneys and investigators receiving firsthand accounts from survivors. Clerical officials also granted the Illinois Attorney Generals Office access to over 100,000 internal documents held by the dioceses. Prior to the investigation, the dioceses of Illinois made public the names of 103 clerical members who had substantiated accusations of child sex abuse. When the investigation concluded, according to the Illinois attorney general, that list increased to 451. Druggan, per the report, had been assigned to Chicago while ordained as a priest in the early 1980s. While more details on his time in Chicago are scarse in the report, he allegedly abused at least one person. The data and time of that abuse is unknown. Prior to the release of the Illinois report May 18, Druggans name had appeared on two lists containing alleged and proven abusers within the church. In 2018, the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, one of two Catholic districts in Montana, published a list of dozens of clergy members accused of sexual abuse. Druggans name was on the list, and will stay there on the dioceses website at least until August 2028, per a settlement reached in Cascade County District Court between the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings and 86 people who filed claims of sexual abuse, the Great Falls Tribune reported. The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, a clerical organization with a history dating back to the 1500s, has also maintained a list since 2013 of members with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. The organization defines substantiated allegations, according to its website, as allegations confirmed by a friars admission, or revealed through an administrative or criminal justice process. Druggan's name is among them. In 2012, the Associated Press reported, Druggan was suspended from his position as rector and president of a Wisconsin Catholic high school following an allegation of sexually abusing a child in Ashland more than two decades previously. No criminal charges were filed, and Druggan has maintained his innocence. His heading the St. Lawrence Seminary in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin, was Druggan's last assignment as a member of the Province, which goes back to the 1970s. Druggan, according to a timeline available on the Provinces website, first arrived at St. Labre in Ashland in 1979, where he stayed until 1981. He left for assignments in Chicago for the next three years. Druggan returned to St. Labre in 1984 as a pastor and co-director and remained at the school for the rest of the decade. In total, five men on the Provinces list of alleged predators within its membership had assignments at St. Labre. Those include Druggan, Carl Pulvermacher, Bertold Ascher, Emmett Hoffman and James Anthony Gleason. Their time at the school spanned the 1950s through the 1980s. St. Labre, built in 1884, has a student body that includes children from the Norther Cheyenne and Crow Indian reservations and operates as a private high school within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. Aditya Birla Capital launches One Verse to offer customers an immersive & interactive experience in the Metaverse NewsVoir, Mumbai, May 26: Aditya Birla Capital, the financial services arm of the Aditya Birla Group, announced the launch of One Verse, a Virtual Lounge in the Metaverse to offer its customers an immersive and interactive experience of the vast offerings of its PIFA solutions which is Protection, Investing, Financing and Advising. Aditya Birla Capital launches One Verse to offer customers an immersive & interactive experience in the Metaverse Its protection offerings include insurance solutions for life, health, motor, travel, corporate general insurance, and wellness; investing offerings include mutual funds, stocks and securities broking, wealth, portfolio management services and pension funds; the financing solutions consist of home finance, personal finance, SME finance, mortgage finance, loan against securities, corporate finance, debt capital market and loan syndication and asset reconstruction; it also offers money advisory services to help customers fulfil their financial services needs.With this launch, Aditya Birla Capital becomes one of the leading Non-Banking Players in India to open a Virtual Lounge in the Metaverse.In line with its digital strategy of implementing emerging technologies and innovative digitization initiatives across age-groups, One Verse becomes another digital channel for Aditya Birla Capital for engaging with the younger generation of tech savvy customers. It will also provide them with the knowledge of financial services through an immersive and interactive virtual experience. Users can access One Verse through the Aditya Birla Capital's , Mobile app or by using the Occulus VR headset.One Verse offers a virtual replica of the physical branches wherein customers can create their digital twin by taking a selfie and entering the Virtual Lounge to interact with an agent and navigate through the various product and service experiences.Aditya Birla Capital has partnered with Hexaware Technologies to build this virtual experience for customers in the Metaverse.Features and Benefits- The Virtual Lounge features interactive displays, digital walls to deliver a unique experience of its Protecting, Investing, Financing and Advising solutions to customers- Customers can create their digital avatars, and interact with representatives of Aditya Birla Capital- They can also access various digital self-service channels like WhatsApp, Bot, and Web portal by scanning the QR code or by clicking on the Web Portal tab- The platform further allows customers to access financial products and schemes anytime, anywhere, and receive personalized financial advice from customer representatives in a secure and interactive space- The platform is a virtual replica of the physical branches and customer can interact with the customer care executive for any assistance on queries.How to Access One VersePlease click on the link to watch One Verse explainer video -Aditya Birla Capital has been bolstering its digital capabilities by scaling up its digital base to build an integrated portfolio of digital assets to serve customers in a frictionless manner and across channels of their choice.It launched Udyog Plus, a comprehensive digital platform for MSME ecosystem, to offer a completely paperless digital journey for business loans and loan disbursement of up to Rs 10 lakh. The platform is integrated with government e-commerce websites via Open Credit Enablement Network and with private e-commerce websites to provide credit facilities to sellers on these platforms.Aditya Birla Capital also incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Aditya Birla Capital Digital Limited ("ABCDL") to develop an omni-channel Direct-to-Customer (D2C) platform to serve existing customers, acquire new customers and act as a one stop-solution for delivering PIFA solutions to customers. In addition, it collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to develop and promote a complete set of digital payment options to customers, through its subsidiaries.It recently launched INFINITE, a flagship start-up engagement programme, to co-create solutions with tech-driven start-ups for enhancing customer journeys and increasing operational efficiencies.Aditya Birla Capital Limited ("ABCL") is the holding company for the financial services businesses of the Aditya Birla Group.With subsidiaries/JVs that have a strong presence across Protecting, Investing and Financing solutions, ABCL is a financial solutions group that caters to the diverse needs of its customers across their life cycle. Powered by more than 34,000 employees, the businesses of ABCL have a nationwide reach with over 1,295 branches, more than 2,00,000 agents/channel partners and various bank partners.As of March 31, 2023, Aditya Birla Capital Limited manages aggregate assets under management of about Rs. 3,600 billion with a consolidated lending book of approx. Rs. 943 billion, and an active customer base of approx. 38 million, through its subsidiaries and joint ventures. Aditya Birla Capital Limited is a part of the Aditya Birla Group, which is in the league of Fortune 500. Anchored by an extraordinary force of over 140,000 employees, belonging to 100 nationalities, the Aditya Birla Group operates in 36 countries across the globe.For more information, please visit .(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! SRK University Bhopal announces innovative and modern methodologies in the education sector SRV Media, New Delhi, May 26 a prestigious private institution dedicated to providing top-notch education, is proud to announce the implementation of innovative and modern methodologies in the education sector. SRK University Bhopal announces innovative and modern methodologies in the education sector With a commitment to empowering students and fostering creativity, the university aims to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the dynamic global job market. The new initiatives introduced by SRK University Bhopal include interactive classes, online teaching, and the utilization of modern technological tools. These methodologies will be based on the latest advancements in technology and will focus on nurturing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities among students. Furthermore, students will have access to research and development activities, as well as opportunities to participate in international projects., Chairman of SRK University Bhopal, stated, "At SRK University Bhopal, we believe in providing an empowering educational experience that prepares students to confidently face the future. Our commitment to innovation has led us to implement contemporary approaches such as blended learning, online learning, and adaptive learning. The objective of these initiatives is to create an environment that fosters innovation and creativity among our students. The implementation of these methodologies will be conducted in phases, commencing in the upcoming academic year. By bridging the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge, students will be better prepared to tackle the challenges of the future. The university expects this initiative to have a positive impact on students' academic outcomes."To ensure optimal results, the initiative will combine modern teaching and learning techniques with traditional ones, allowing students to maximize their productivity and success in their academic pursuits. SRK University Bhopal also places great emphasis on effective student-faculty engagement and has established a feedback mechanism. The institution promotes frequent gatherings and feedback sessions, fostering contact and interaction between students and faculty. It has also created a forum for open conversation and debate between academic staff and students.Furthermore, SRK University Bhopal has forged partnerships with leading educational institutions, granting students access to comprehensive courses and educational materials. This partnership opens up a wide range of opportunities for students to explore their interests and develop various skills.The university is committed to upholding rigorous standards in both research and education. It employs stringent quality assurance methods, including ongoing monitoring and teacher evaluation, to ensure excellence. The institution also encourages faculty members to engage in academic pursuits such as attending conferences and seminars, publishing research papers, and collaborating with other organizations.To enhance access to resources and materials, SRK University Bhopal is investing significantly in enhancing its digital infrastructure. Additionally, the institution is exploring the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence into its curriculum.Through these innovative teaching techniques, students will gain a deeper understanding of their courses and become better prepared for the future. SRK University Bhopal has a strong reputation for delivering top-notch education and is renowned in the field. By emphasizing the use of technology in teaching, the institution aims to enhance students' learning experiences."This commitment to modernity and innovation ensures that our students are well-prepared and equipped to succeed in an ever-changing world," said Dr Sunil Kapoor Bhopal. "By teaching the latest technologies and providing our students with the necessary skills, we strive to propel them to the forefront of their chosen industries."SRK University Bhopal is a prestigious private institution located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in various subject areas. The university is dedicated to providing high-quality education and empowering students to excel in their chosen fields.To receive exclusive updates regarding exams, courses offered and admissions visit their website -For more information, contact +91 755 2740395 or email on(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)ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! MeT Dept issues orange alert in Rajasthan Jaipur, May 26: The MeT Department on Friday issued an orange alert for the northern parts of Rajasthan after heavy rain and storms lashed the state a day earlier. MeT Dept issues orange alert in Rajasthan According to Department officials, rainstorm will continue in the districts of Bikaner, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer, Kota until Saturday.Meanwhile, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Alwar, Nagaur, Jaipur, Dausa, Bharatpur, Dhaulpur, Karauli districts will witness strong to intense thunderstorms, and winds blowing at 50 to 60 kph.The Department also said that there was a strong possibility of hailstorm at some places.Due to the activation of another new Western Disturbance from May 28, thunderstorms will increase again.As a result, there will be a strong possibility strong winds blowing at 50 to 70 kph, as well as heavy rain and hail at some places.IANS26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Only 1 square foot of floor can harbour lakhs of illness-causing germs BusinessWire India, New Delhi, May 26: Lizol, India's leading disinfectant brand, and India's leading government research agency, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR) institution 'Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology' (IGIB) have jointly conducted a study to analyse the presence of germs and pathogens in Indian homes. Only 1 square foot of floor can harbour lakhs of illness-causing germs The study found a variety of germs on floors in Indian homes. The research team studied the presence of germs in Indian households and found that floor areas across different rooms harbour illness-causing germs such as, Escherichia coli, Moraxella spp, Brevundimonas spp, Acinetobacter spp. The research also revealed that there are over 1000 types of bacteria and 200 types of viruses across surfaces in homes. The germs identified have been responsible for diseases such as diarrhoea and conditions like skin-infections, urinary tract infections, acne, eye and bloodstream infections. Dr Rakesh Sharma, PhD, Chief Scientist at CSIR-IGIB, said, "The study conducted in partnership with Lizol has brought to light details of germs and pathogens found on floors in different parts of Indian homes. Further, the germs found in the study are known to be responsible for certain illnesses and hence highlighting the need to maintain clean and germ-free homes." Saurabh Jain, Regional Marketing Director, Hygiene, Reckitt- South Asia said, "Lizol, a leading disinfectant brand with 130-year-old global heritage, champions the cause of protecting families and keeping them illness-free. This study commissioned in Indian houses is an attempt to build healthier homes by identifying germ-related threats that exist here. Our aim is to raise awareness and educate Indian families on the benefits of adopting better cleaning and disinfection habits by using specialised cleaning solutions that provide superior germ kill than commonly used solutions, like ordinary phenyls." He further added, "In India, less than 20 per cent homes use a specialized floor cleaner to mop their floors while majority use detergents or plain water which are ineffective in dirt and germ cleaning. According to recent studies, widely used phenyls were also found to be inadequate, leaving 50 per cent germs behind after mopping^. Only specialized floor cleaners, like Lizol, with disinfecting actives like benzalkonium chloride offer enhanced cleaning and protection from germs with 99.9 per cent germ kill on your floors every time you mop them*." Lizol disinfectant floor cleaners offer protection from disease-causing germs for Indian families significantly better than Phenyls, concluded an independent lab testing. Ordinary phenyls have a distinct smell that lingers and may create a false impression that they are effective at killing germs. However, recent independent lab testing has revealed that they kill only 50 per cent germs^. The testing also identified that only 1 cap of Lizol's superior formulation offers 99.9 per cent Germ Kill^ and 10X Better Cleaning* vs 3 Caps Of Phenyl. Julie McKinney, PhD, R and D Director, Microbiology and Virology at Reckitt, said, "The recently conducted study has helped us identify specific germs and pathogens that may be found on floors throughout Indian homes. Over 1000 types of bacteria and 200 types of viruses including E. coli, the most common faecal bacterium, were identified in the study. These findings highlight how important it is to adopt effective floor cleaning and disinfection practices in our daily routines. At Reckitt, we develop products with an aim to protect consumers from germs and pathogens. Lizol All-in-One Disinfectant Surface Cleaner offers 99.9 per cent germ kill^." Lizol All-in-1 disinfectant surface cleaner is recommended by IMA. It is available in 7 different fragrances across India and e-commerce websites priced as low as Rs 42/-. It is present in product packs ranging from 200ml to 5L along with value refill packs of 750ml and 1.8L. * As per lab testing vs ordinary white phenyls^As per lab testing done on representative bacteria on recommended dilution(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)ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! MoS Muraleedharan visits Kerala University Thiruvananthapuram, May 26: Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Friday visited Kerala University here and met with its Vice-Chancellor. MoS Muraleedharan visits Kerala University Congress and Left parties affiliated employee organisations had raised objections to the minister's visit, which was reported to be for the inauguration of the Kerala University Employees' Sangh office at the Kerala University campus in Palayam."I came here to meet the VC, and we discussed areas of cooperation between the health university, the Kerala University and the Government of India and other issues of mutual interest," Muraleedharan said.He said, "I heard that here the people have put a ban on anybody who comes to the university, who is not an impersonator...I don't belong to that category so perhaps that could be the disqualification they see in me. I don't care."The Left and Congress-affiliated organisations allege that the office, which was to be inaugurated by Muraleedharan was situated on the University's land and it was land by the BJP-affiliated employee organisation. However, the university authorities said that there was no such office space that was allotted to the organisation.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Why does Congress hate Indian traditions, culture so much?: Amit Shah on Sengol controversy New Delhi, May 26: Training his guns at the grand old party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the 'Sengol' given to former Prime Minister Pandit Nehru was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'. 'Why does Congress hate Indian traditions, culture so much?': Amit Shah on Sengol controversy Shah in a series of tweets questioned and asked why Congress hates Indian traditions and culture."Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," Tweeted Shah.He further said that Congress needs to reflect on its behaviour as the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom."Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling Adheenam's history BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," read his tweet.While, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that there is no documented evidence of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India."All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," read his tweet.Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol.The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. It will be displayed for the nation to see and will be taken out on special occasions.Meanwhile, BJP National President JP Nadda said, "What connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building?"Nadda further said, "The answer is simple- they are dynasty-run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution. Those parties which are boycotting the Parliament's inauguration lack any commitment to democracy because their sole aim is to perpetuate a select group of dynasties.""These dynastic parties, particularly the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, are unable to digest the simple fact that the people of India have placed their faith in a man hailing from a humble background. Elitist mindsets of dynasts are preventing them from logical thinking," read his tweet."The people of India are seeing how these parties are putting politics above the nation. These parties will be punished yet again by the people for their partisan politics!," read his tweet.This comes after at least 21 opposition parties have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu.The opposition said that the inauguration of 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 are slated to dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28.ANI26 May 2023 Shared Recently! Lindsay Lohan shows off baby bump in swimsuit Los Angeles, May 26: Actress Lindsay Lohan delighted her fans as she shared a glimpse of her baby bump while on holiday in Oman. Lindsay Lohan shows off baby bump in swimsuit The former 'Mean Girls' star announced she was expecting her first child with her husband, Bader Shammas, in a sweet Instagram post in March, reports 'Mirror.co.uk'.And the 36-year-old actress was certainly glowing in her latest Instagram snap in which she relaxed on a sun lounger in a classic black swimsuit.As per 'Mirror.co.uk', with her locks scraped back and a pair of super cool aviator-style shades shielding her from the sunny rays, the former child star looked in her element as she smiled for the camera while enjoying her luxury stay at the resort Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman.Lindsay, who captioned the image with an emoji wearing shades, was inundated with well-wishes from her celebrity pals, with Paris Hilton commenting with heart-eye emoji.Real Housewives star Kyle Richards added "Awwww. So excited for you," while Natasha Bedingfield added "Yeessssssssss (sic)."Her fans were also delighted to see her, with one pointing out "Don't know why this reminds me of Parent Trap when Hale is by the pool but it does! You look amazing."A second added "Omg @lindsaylohan you look radiant makes me so happy, love u," while a third gushed "This makes me smile from ear to ear! So happy for you queen!"IANS27 May 2023 Shared Recently! Manoj Muntashir Shukla set to host docuseries Ananth Anaadih Vadnagar Mumbai, May 26: Owing to its historical significance and enduring legacy, Vadnagar, located in Gujarat's Mehsana district, is set to enthral audiences with a two-part docuseries, 'Ananth Anaadih Vadnagar'. Manoj Muntashir Shukla set to host docuseries 'Ananth Anaadih Vadnagar' The series explores the enduring history of India's fortified city where each episode delves into a specific era, beginning with Vadnagar's evolution from a modest settlement to a prominent town during the Mauryan Era.The Indo-Greeks constructed imposing fortifications in the 1st Century BCE, while Buddhism thrived with the discovery of numerous monasteries. The series will be hosted by writer-lyricist Manoj Muntashir Shukla. Vadnagar's significance as a trade hub grew through coin mints, various industries and buzzing marketplaces prove the continued significance of Vadnagar as centre for commerce and trade in Gujarat during ancient and mediaeval periods.Manoj Muntashir Shukla said "The opportunity of hosting this docuseries has been uniquely reassuring and a learning experience for me, and for that, I am truly grateful to Warner Bros. Discovery. This project marks my first collaboration with them."He further mentioned "Despite Vadnagar's widespread recognition, there were numerous fascinating aspects about the city that remained unknown to me, and I am confident that there will also be revelations for many people in India. The discoveries made in the docuseries took me by surprise and I cannot wait for viewers to explore this untold narrative and be equally surprised."'Ananth Anaadih Vadnagar' will premiere on June 7 at 900 p.m. on Discovery Channel and is available to stream on the discovery+ platform.IANS27 May 2023 Shared Recently! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. St. Vincent Healthcare announced its initiative Thursday to include local tradespeople in its mammoth, multi-million-dollar, five-year project to replace its downtown hospital. The larger replacement hospital will be much larger, growing from the current 640,000 square feet to 820,000, and will be built on the existing campus. The hospital will also grow from 253 beds to 295. Because construction is still in the planning phase, it isnt yet clear how much the new state-of-the-art hospital will cost. St. Vincent Healthcare merged recently with Intermountain Health, a Utah-based system with 33 hospitals and 3,800 physicians and clinicians in at least 385 clinics. Another Utah-based company, Layton Construct will be the hospital projects general contractor. The company, which has regional offices in numerous states, has several specialties including health care facilities. Several area sub-contractors already have been chosen, including TrueNorth Steel in Billings and Montana Contracting Inc. As a 5th generation Montanan, and one whose own mother was raised in Billings, Ive been extremely proud of the work weve completed in Billings. But nothing will top being a part of this new hospital, said Scott Gearhart, president of MT Contracting, Inc. As much as 80% of the work could go to local contractors and businesses, said Sean Fitzgerald, Laytons construction manager. The challenge will be finding enough local sub-contractors who arent already busy on projects. Numerous projects in Yellowstone County have been delayed by contractor and labor shortages. Its always better to use as many local workers as possible, he said. Well use as many as we can find. The new hospital project presents a wide range of opportunities for local tradespeople, St. Vincent said in a press release. The hospital is actively seeking partnerships with dozens of trades including, but not limited to: Plumbing and electrical contractors HVAC technicians Construction and finishing trades To learn more about project opportunities and the pre-qualification process, local tradespeople are encouraged to attend an outreach meeting on June 14 from 4-6 p.m. hosted by Layton Construction at the Mansfield Health Center on the campus of St. Vincent Healthcare. More details can be found at newstvincent.org. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Supreme Court decision curbing the EPAs power to regulate wetlands drew a quick response from Montanans engaged in water quality issues Thursday. Conservation groups called the ruling a blow to the clean water regulations in an arid state where a majority of waterways don't flow year round and wouldn't be regulated. Property owners said the decision signaled an end to their concerns about the EPA further expanding its reach on what could be regulated under the Clean Water Act. At issue was an EPA policy known as waters of the United States, which prior to Thursdays court ruling EPA interpreted as empowering the agency to regulate water quality on wetlands that didnt have a continuous surface water connection with navigable waters. Justices unanimously ruled that water bodies without that continuous connection were beyond EPAs regulatory reach. The agency had previously recognized the connectivity between wetland and waterways that was not only seasonal, but also through the soil, perhaps never surfacing. Were not even talking about hydrologic connectivity anymore. What we just got out of the United States Supreme Court is essentially a if you cant see it, it doesnt exist, test, said Guy Alsentzer, executive director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper. Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is probably best known for its work to repair the degrading water quality of the West Gallatin River, which has suffered five straight years of algal blooms in its upper reaches where growth in the resort community of Big Sky has affected water quality. This month, EPA designated the upper portions of the West Gallatin as impaired, too unhealthy for aquatic life and recreation. The thrust of this case history was essentially an ideologic push from the private property rights community saying we dont want the federal government doing anything to control how we develop on things that are upland and not directly adjacent to a perennial waterway. And thats the whole thrust, Alsentzer said. An arid, headwaters state, Montana has roughly 840,300 wetland acres, or about .9% of state area, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife. The impact of the Supreme Court decision is better understood in the context of how many Montana streams don't flow continuously, some 63% according to EPA. The quality of those water bodies is still important to wildlife and the environment. The case before the Supreme Court centered on an Idaho couple, the Sackett family, building a home near Priest Lake on land that that had to be filled in to avoid water issues. The EPA identified wetlands on the couples lot and proceeded to regulate the development using the Clean Water Act. Alsentzer said the biggest impact of the court ruling centered on water quality harmed by development. Property owners would no longer have to be mindful of water quality when dealing with wetlands disconnected from perennial waterways. Preservation would go out the window. He said the ruling wouldnt impact agriculture, which already benefits from several exemptions. But agriculture groups did submit friend of the court briefs in the Sackett vs. EPA case. The National Cattlemens Beef Association concern centered on the significant nexus test, which is to say the EPAs ability to determine whether the relationship between a wetland and perennial waters warranted enforcement without a continuous surface water connection. NCBA argued that it was difficult for landowners to know if there was a significant nexus, with potential criminal consequences in play if they didnt take appropriate action. The groups attorney, Mary-Thomas Hart, explained the matter in an audio recording following the ruling. I think the goal of eliminating the significant nexus test is to provide more regulatory certainty, Hart said. So, NCBA wrote an amicus brief to the Supreme Court highlighting a lot of issues with the significant nexus test. One of those issues is the criminal liability attached to the Clean Water Act and attached to violations of the Clean Water Act. NCBA argued to the court that there's no way we can constitutionally hold someone liable for a violation of the Clean Water Act if they're not even aware that they're violating the Clean Water Act. And the significant nexus test was so broad and so vague, that someone could violate the Clean Water Act without even realizing it. Montana attorney Hertha Lund, who ranches near Lennep and is also a member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, said the Supreme Court ruling does away with whats known as the glancing goose test, an issue the justices had decided in landowners favor in previous cases. They have to be connected, Lund said of wetlands and adjacent rivers and lakes. Thats what the court concluded Thursday. If you think about what the glancing goose test is, it used to be that if a goose can fly over your farm and they saw a pothole, that could be a clean water body regulated under the Clean Water Act. And according to the test that they got rid of, the significant nexus test, that was much more likely to pass as a prairie pothole under Waters of the United States. The unanimous court said no more to that. Hopefully this whole issue is gone forever. At least we have some continuity now. Thats a huge issue. And it certainly affects agriculture because there was always a potential with a significant nexus test that it could be a prairie pothole. Across the Eastern Montana prairie, there are watering holes dammed into the subtle creases of the plains, catching whatever moisture falls from the sky or weeps from the earth. There's one about every mile to keep cow calf pairs watered up in regions that often get less than 12 inches of moisture a year, sometimes less. These features pass the glancing goose test of which Lund spoke. The EPA has ruled normal farming activities exempt from regulation, but producers, prior to the court's ruling, frequently expressed concern the rules could someday change. A flurry of press releases from Republican elected officials followed the Supreme Court decision. U.S. representatives from Montana, all Republicans, have messaged against Waters of the United States for at least 16 years, dating back to former Rep. Denny Rehberg. Press releases Thursday were loaded with hyperbole. Rep. Matt Rosendale suggested that the EPA was using the law to regulate mud puddles. Gov. Greg Gianforte called the decision, A big win for small business owners, farmers, and ranchers, todays unanimous decision from the U.S. Supreme Court reins in an out-of-control federal bureaucracy. The EPAs days of trying to regulate potholes and puddles through the Clean Water Act are over. Montana farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of our lands and waters, not federal bureaucrats. Montana will continue to stand against the Biden administrations federal overreach, and I appreciate the U.S. Supreme Court for its commonsense, unanimous decision. Western Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said It should not take 18 years of jumping through regulatory hoops and battling the federal government to build your home. This unanimous SCOTUS decision is a huge win for farmers, ranchers, and current and future property owners in Montana. The Supreme Court made the right decision based on the law. The Court was clear the Biden Administration does not have the legal authority to implement these far-reaching regulations that would allow the EPA to regulate every cow pond and creek in Montana and add thousands of dollars in costs to literally any building project. The Biden Administration has no choice but rescind their unconstitutional federal overreach. Eastern Montana U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale said For far too long, The Biden Administration has weaponized WOTUS to expand federal jurisdiction over dry creek beds and mud puddles across the United States. In a major victory for Montana farmers and ranchers, the Supreme Court ruled against this unconstitutional overreach and reaffirmed the rights of private property owners. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said Today the Supreme Court helped put Montana farmers and ranchers more in charge of the decisions about their own land, ripping it away from unelected Washington bureaucrats. Our farmers and ranchers feed the country and the world and should not have to fear an overbearing federal government making decisions about their land for them. For too long Washington Democrats have depended on the regulatory agencies and the judiciary to force their will on the American people when they could not get their way through the legislative process, and I am glad to see the Court recognize this and right these wrongs. The Supreme Court mentioned that states are free to set water quality standards beyond the limits set Thursday on the EPA. Alsentzer said Montana could be asked to go beyond the EPA minimum in order to protect Montanans state Constitution right to a clean and healthful environment. Boy, we need to revisit, frankly the lawfulness and the practicality of that law, given that our entire Western wildlife heritage, our water resources, and our way of life is predicated on our clean cold waters, and our in our healthy rivers, Alsentzer said. If we're suddenly not allowed to exercise reasonable, straightforward protections to say, look, you have to simply get a permit and make sure that you're minimizing harm before you're allowed to do something. If we're not even going to do that, I guess it's a race to the bottom for water quality, and we're picking winners and losers. 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. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High around 90F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some passing clouds. Low near 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Eldaniz Babayev's solo exhibition "News of Victory" will take place at Baku Museum Center on May 26-28. The exhibition is dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic and the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azernews reports. The exhibition covers different periods of the artist's work and includes 17 paintings and graphic works - portraits, still lifes, landscapes, historical and genre paintings, which demonstrate Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, brotherly and friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as well as culture, traditions and customs of the Azerbaijani people. The central place in the exhibition is occupied by graphic portraits of outstanding Azerbaijani and Turkish poets, cultural figures, whose work reflects the ideas of freedom and independence of the two fraternal peoples. The guests will also be presented with a presentation of the book-catalog "Eldaniz Babayev. News of the Victory" (author Mirza Talybov), reflecting the life and work of the artist, as well as his social and educational activities. The exhibition is held with the support of the Culture Ministry, Baku Main Department of Culture, Ataturk Center in Azerbaijan, Baku Museum Center, the Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture, Azerbaijan Artists' Union, Baku Art Center, Khatai Art Center and Baku Art Gallery. Note that Eldaniz Babayev was born in 1971 in the village of Boladi, Lankaran. He graduated from Azim Azimzade State Art School and the Faculty of Painting at Azerbaijan State University of Arts. In 1989-1991 worked as an artist at the Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture. In 1998-2006, he acted as a director of the Gala Art Gallery of the Baku Main Department of Culture. Since 2006, he is a director of the Baku Art Gallery. Eldaniz Babayev is a laureate of national and international awards. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az. 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. Antiviral drugs can make antifungals work again. That, at its simplest, is the approach Mohamed Seleem's lab at the Center for One Health Research has found may be a key treatment strategy in the battle against Candida auris, a frighteningly deadly fungal pathogen discovered in 2009 that is considered an urgent threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Candida auris, first discovered in Japan as an ear infection, has a staggering 60 percent mortality rate among those it infects, primarily people with compromised health in hospitals and nursing homes. Recently, Seleem and Ph.D. students Yehia Elgammal and Ehab A. Salama published a paper in the American Society for Microbiology's Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy journal detailing the potential use of atazanavir, an HIV protease inhibitor drug, as a new avenue to improving the effectiveness of existing antifungals for those with a Candida auris infection. A perfect storm of antimicrobial resistance, global warming and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the rapid spread of Candida auris around the world, said Seleem, director of the center, a collaboration between the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. We don't have lots of drugs to use to treat fungal pathogens. We have only three classes of antifungal drugs. With a fungal pathogen, it's often resistant to one class, but then we have two other options. What's scary about Candida auris is it shows resistance to all three classes of the antifungal. The CDC has a list of urgent threats, but on that list there is just one fungal pathogen, which is Candida auris. Because it's urgent, we need to deal with it." Mohamed Seleem, the Tyler J. and Frances F. Young Chair in Bacteriology at Virginia Tech Widespread use of fungicides in agriculture, in addition to the three classes of antifungal drugs used widely in medicine, has contributed to fungal pathogens developing more resistance, particularly Candida auris. Also, its rise has been linked to rising global temperatures and to easier spread through hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients in recent years during the global pandemic. Atazanavir, an HIV protease inhibitor drug, has been found by Seleem's lab to block the ability of Candida auris to excrete antifungals through its efflux pumps. Think of a boat taking on water and hoses siphoning that water out of the boat to keep it afloat. Atazanavir stops up the hoses. That allows the azole class of antifungal drugs to not be expelled as easily and perform better against Candida auris, the Seleem lab's research has found. The research on atazanavir builds on work three years ago by Seleem's lab, then at Purdue University, finding potentially similar benefit in lopinavir, another HIV protease inhibitor. HIV protease drugs are already in wide use among HIV patients, who can also be extra susceptible to Candida auris. Some HIV patients have likely been taking HIV protease drugs and azole-class antifungals in tandem for separate purposes, providing a potential source of already existing data that can be reviewed on whether those patients had Candida auris and what effects the emerging pathogen had on them. Repurposing drugs already on the market for new uses can allow those treatments to reach widespread clinical use much more rapidly than would happen with the discovery of an entirely new drug, as existing drugs have already been tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration and have years of further observation of effects in prescriptive use. In 2022, the Center for One Health Research received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for the Seleem lab's research on repurposing already approved drugs for treating gonorrhea. In a recent study published in the Nutrients Journal, researchers investigated the association between the culinary skills of undergraduate students and their chances of being obese or overweight. Study: Low Cooking Skills Are Associated with Overweight and Obesity in Undergraduates. Image Credit: DGLimages/Shutterstock.com Background Culinary skills, which the ability to plan meals, shop for ingredients, and prepare various kinds of fresh and processed foods, are essential for establishing a healthy lifestyle since homemade meals generally have better nutritional content and contain more vegetables. Studies have shown that undergraduate students consume large quantities of ultra-processed foods such as nuggets, snacks, pastries, and soft drinks. Such foods contain highly processed ingredients and have very low nutritional content, but require very little to no preparation time or cooking skills. The unhealthy lifestyle among undergraduates is often a result of the adolescence to adulthood transition where they are seeking autonomy and juggling more responsibilities, which does not leave enough time for preparing meals at home. The access to processed and packaged foods and the hurdles in preparing meals in domestic kitchens for the students in residence lead to the development of unhealthy eating habits, leading to obesity. The switch to remote learning during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and enforced social distancing measures could have also increased the dependence on processed foods, both as an emotional response and for convenience. About the study In the present study, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis as part of a larger project involving three universities in Brazil, that examined healthy eating and culinary skills among undergraduate students. Students regularly enrolled in undergraduate courses at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), and living in their own homes or university residence were included in the study. Data on sociodemographic factors such as gender, age, enrolled courses, availability of financial aid, ethnicity, parental education, civil status, and number of offspring were gathered using questionnaires. The questionnaire also included questions on characteristics related to meal preparation and consumption, such as who was responsible for the meals at home, the time available to prepare meals, where were the main meals consumed, and what utensils and equipment were available in the kitchen. Self-reported height and weight data were used to obtain the body mass index (BMI), and an adapted Brazilian questionnaire was used to assess healthy eating habits and cooking skills. The questionnaire examined areas such as culinary attitudes, behaviors, and self-efficacy, availability of vegetables and fruits, knowledge of culinary techniques and terms, and self-efficacy in using seasonings, vegetables, and fruits. Cooking skills, availability of foods and ingredients, and culinary knowledge were classified as low, medium, or high. Results The findings indicated that inadequate culinary skills and low self-efficacy in using seasonings, vegetables, and fruits were associated significantly with obesity and overweight. Eating out and living with other people increased the chances of obesity and overweight, while self-efficacy in using seasonings, vegetables, and fruits, and sharing meal preparation responsibilities were linked to lower chances of becoming obese or overweight. The study also reported that more women reported having culinary skills and time to cook, and were less obese or overweight than men a finding supported by other studies that reported a difference between genders in the competence in buying ingredients and cooking food. Various other studies have reported that while the number of men who cook has been increasing in recent years, they cook more for pleasure and occasionally rather than routinely. Living with a spouse or a partner and children was associated with a higher chance of becoming obese or overweight, and while this association was observed for both men and women, the correlation was stronger for women. However, other studies have reported that the BMI of women living with their spouses was lower than that of women living with other people. Furthermore, contrasting results from various studies reported that students living alone rather than with other people had a greater tendency to consume ready-to-eat meals and to be obese or overweight. Given the conflicting results, the authors believe that this association needs to be examined further. Conclusions Overall, the findings reported that higher levels of culinary skills and self-efficacy in using seasonings, vegetables, and fruits, as well as sharing or being solely responsible for meal preparations were linked with a lower chance of being obese or overweight. Living with others or eating out was linked to a higher chance of being obese or overweight. These results highlight the need to inculcate and encourage cooking skills among undergraduate students to establish long-term healthy eating habits. The George Institute for Global Health today announced data from the phase III INTERACT3 study demonstrating that a new combination of treatments for stroke due to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) significantly improves the chances of surviving without major disability. Results were presented today at the European Stroke Organisation Conference in Munich, Germany, and simultaneously published in The Lancet. The INTERACT3 study is the first-ever randomized controlled trial to show a clearly positive outcome for the treatment of ICH. Timely administration of the new treatment protocol known as a Care Bundle centered on the rapid control of high blood pressure, led to improved recovery, lower rates of death, and better overall quality of life in patients with this serious condition. Despite the high rates of ICH and its severity, there are few proven options for treating it, but early control of high blood pressure is the most promising. Time is critical when treating this type of stroke, so we tested a combination of interventions to rapidly stabilize the condition of these patients to improve their outcomes. We estimate that if this protocol was universally adopted, it could save tens of thousands of lives each year around the world." Professor Craig Anderson, Director of Global Brain Health at The George Institute and senior author of the research Commonly referred to as a hemorrhagic stroke or brain bleed, ICH is the second most common type of stroke and also the most deadly, with 40% to 50% of patients dying within 30 days. It occurs when blood leaks out of a blood vessel into the brain tissue and represents over a quarter of all cases of stroke, affecting approximately 3.4 million people a year. In the INTERACT3 study, over 7,000 patients were enrolled across 144 hospitals in 10 countries - nine middle-income countries and one high-income country. The research team evaluated the effectiveness of the new Care Bundle, which included early intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure, strict glucose control, fever treatment, and rapid reversal of abnormal anticoagulation. They found that using this new treatment protocol compared to usual care reduced the likelihood of a poor functional outcome, including death, after six months. This was estimated to prevent one additional death for every 35 patients treated. Central to this was a rapid reduction in systolic blood pressure, where target levels were achieved, on average, in 2.3 hours [range 0.8 to 8.0hrs], compared to 4.0 hours [range 1.9 to 16.0hrs] in the control group. The interventional protocol resulted in a statistically significant reduction in mortality, number of serious adverse events, and time spent in hospital, as well as demonstrating an improvement in health-related quality of life. The burden of ICH is greatest in low- and middle-income countries. In 2019, 30% of all stroke cases in LMICs were ICH, almost double the proportion seen in high-income countries (16%). This is in part due to high rates of hypertension and limited resources for primary prevention strategies, including identification and management of stroke risk factors by healthcare services. Dr Lili Song, joint lead author and Head of the Stroke Program at The George Institute China, said, "A lack of proven treatments for ICH has led to a pessimistic view that not much can be done for these patients. However, with INTERACT3, we demonstrate on a large scale how readily available treatments can be used to improve outcomes in resource-limited settings. We hope this evidence will inform clinical practice guidelines across the globe and help save many lives." Thought Leaders Neil Kelleher Director of the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Northwestern Proteomics Northwestern University In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we spoke to this years recipient of the Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award, Neil Kelleher. Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your professional background? My name is Neil Kelleher, and I am the director of the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Northwestern Proteomics at Northwestern University in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. I do top-down proteomics. What first attracted you to the field in which you work? I was first pulled into science when I was 15 years old, and I worked at a company called Weyerhaeuser, a tree and paper company out in Seattle, Washington. There, I discovered analytical chemistry. As a mere high school student, I was handed a tin of sulfur, or what looked to me at the time, some yellow compound. I was told that I had four months to identify what this substance was, and, in turn, I learned spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, all of which led me to a career in biological mass spectrometry. What is proteomics? Proteomics is a sprawling field that is associated with protein-level biology. In other words, it is the study of proteins. If genomics is the study of all the genes in an organism or an ecosystem, then proteomics is the study of all the proteins collectively. What is the difference between the knowledge obtained from proteomics compared to genomics? What can we learn from proteomics that genomics cannot teach us? Most people are familiar with the so-called central dogma that DNA gives rise through RNA molecules to proteins. The proteins are the worker bees in your bodies. Image Credit: Christoph Burgstedt/Shutterstock.com If you point to anywhere on your body, you are pointing to proteins. Proteins are thought to be closer to our biology and disease traits the more complex traits. Thus, we really need to understand proteins to understand human biology holistically. How does Fourier transform-based mass spectrometry impact the interpretation of measurements in proteomic applications? Fourier transform mass spectrometry is like the Porsche of mass spectrometers because of its ultra-high resolution. FTMS breaks down into various types. The most famous ones are FT-ICR, which uses a superconducting magnet, like an MRI in a hospital, and there is also the Orbitrap-style FTMS. Both have had a significant impact on proteomics. Long considered a specialist technology for physicians and chemists, how important is mass spectrometry in biological research? FTMS or Fourier transform mass spectrometry is playing an increasing role in biological research, both in proteomics and metabolomics, while also being used to image biological tissues for lipids, energy metabolites, and proteins of ever larger size, as well as to capture proteoforms. What is top-down proteomics? Top-down proteomics is a philosophy that we came up with at Cornell to first measure the molecular weight or the composition of the whole protein and then controllably degrade it into pieces. This is in contrast to an approach where the protein is broken into pieces first, and then the protein is rebuilt from the bottom up. Top-down proteomics is the application of a top-down measurement philosophy to proteomics, and its benefit is that it can be used to determine protein composition with complete molecular specificity. What are the advantages and disadvantages of top-down proteomics? The advantage top-down proteomics is absolute precision in the molecular analysis of proteins, something that isnt possible with other techniques. The disadvantage is that the implementation of it still is lacking, and we need about a hundredfold boost in that ability to capture all the proteoforms, all the different forms of protein molecules in a complex sample like human blood or tissue from any part of the body or other biological model systems. How is this top-down approach used in research? Top-down proteomics is used like other proteomics tools in both basic biomedical research and clinical translation. I would say for that last part, there are some real sources of excitement regarding the implementation of proteomics with complete molecular specificity, so top-down proteomics, which determines proteoforms. If you do that in cohorts of 100 or 200 patients, you will detect strong biological signals as biomarkers, and the world desperately needs these to be able to detect disease earlier so that we can try and develop therapeutics and treatments. We must be able to detect disease earlier, and top-down proteomics is a major step in achieving this. What is meant by the term proteoform? Thanks to the Human Genome Project, we now know there are about 20,300 human genes that code for proteins, but each protein can be present in many different molecular forms in the human body. These protein forms are otherwise known as proteoforms, and through the Human Proteoform Project, we are interested in creating an atlas - a definitive reference set of proteoforms in human biology. How does your current work aim to bridge the gap between genotypes and phenotypes? In biology, there is a widely recognized gap between the genes that encode the molecules that give rise to life and the phenotypes the genotype-to-phenotype gap. Simply put, there is gap in our understanding of how genes give rise to complex traits, especially disease traits in humans. Image Credit: MiniStocker/Shutterstock There are many omics technologies available to help bridge that gap, including exposomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. There is a growing idea that proteins are likely to be strong connectors of genotype to phenotype, but proteomics has not fully realized that potential yet. To close that gap, top-down proteomics is essential as it can help to determine proteoforms that can be used to connect genes to phenotypes for basic biomedical research applications and clinical translation. However, this will likely take a few more years as proteoform measurement is a relatively small research area, but it is growing quickly. What impact has the field of proteomics had on the study of COVID-19 and the causative agent SARS-CoV-2? The COVID-19 pandemic was a classic case where the concern was an RNA virus, but the proteins that were present were key. Due to the focus of biomedical research, we already know a large number of proteoforms from SARS-CoV-2, for example the infamous spike protein, and that is one way we were able to understand both the virus and the drugs that could be used to target the virus. This is just one example of how proteomics as a field is positively impacting biomedical research. Proteomics also had a major impact on the clinical detection and treatment of COVID-19, specifically when studying the serology and antibody responses of patients, or antibodies as treatments for COVID-19. What does it mean to you to be this years recipient of the Pittsburgh Conference Achievement Award? I could not have been more excited to have been given this award. When I got the news from Brian and the award committee a couple of months ago, I was absolutely floored and have been excited ever since. The day I received the news was the best day in well over three years of the pandemic. What are you working on right now that you are particularly excited about? I am particularly excited about the prospects of reaching a tipping point on the Human Proteoform Project. It is the equivalent of the genome project but for proteins. Our aim is to sequence, map, and define the human proteome like we did the genome two decades ago. There have been major movements in the private sector over the last three years as proteomics companies have started to go public. They have had major investments from large venture capital firms and institutional investors. Now we need the worlds governments to step in, as they did with the Human Genome Project, to help create the definitive reference atlas of the proteoforms in human biology. What are you looking forward to most about Pittcon 2024 in San Diego? I think San Diego is a great location to continue Pittcon 2024. The floor at Pittcon 2023 was vibrant, with attendees returning to face-to-face interactions this was the exact energy that we expected and remembered from pre-COVID Pittcon. Why is it so important for people to come together face-to-face to exchange ideas and build relationships? Face-to-face interactions are pivotal, and I think we saw this at Pittcon 2023 in Philadelphia. Individuals were energized by the ability to collaborate and communicate, whether in the private sector or academics. Pittcon has been a beautiful way to get experts from across the field together. I have personally missed that. I must also add that I am tired of working over Zoom and believe we need to return to business as usual. Pittcon was also a great place to recruit new students. Many of my strategic goals were met thanks to the benefit of face-to-face interactions, whether via professional meetings or out at a bar in the evening. All kinds of interactions take place at Pittcon, including business, academic, cross-sector, and government. Interpersonal exchanges are also key to opening the world back up, especially for our trainees and the next generation of Pittcon attendees and student professionals. About Neil Kelleher Neil Kelleher is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of top-down proteomics, natural product discovery, and cancer epigenetics. The Kelleher Group pioneers cutting-edge technologies for understanding the role of proteins in health and disease and more specific diagnostics based on proteoform systems medicine. Kelleher is a leading voice in the Human Proteoform Project, a global research initiative to create the definitive set of reference proteoforms created from the 20,300 genes in the human genome. A serial entrepreneur, he has spun out successful companies and recently helped found two new ones. His contributions have been recognized by multiple awards, including the Biemann Medal from the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, the Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry from the American Chemical Society, and a Searle Scholar Award. Kelleher joined Northwestern in 2009. About Pittcon Pittcon is the worlds largest annual premier conference and exposition on laboratory science. Pittcon attracts more than 16,000 attendees from industry, academia and government from over 90 countries worldwide. Their mission is to sponsor and sustain educational and charitable activities for the advancement and benefit of scientific endeavor. Pittcons target audience is not just analytical chemists, but all laboratory scientists anyone who identifies, quantifies, analyzes or tests the chemical or biological properties of compounds or molecules, or who manages these laboratory scientists. Having grown beyond its roots in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy, Pittcon has evolved into an event that now also serves a diverse constituency encompassing life sciences, pharmaceutical discovery and QA, food safety, environmental, bioterrorism and other emerging markets. Treatment with luspatercept improved red blood cell counts and erythroid responses compared to treatment with epoetin alfa in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), allowing the majority to no longer require regular blood transfusions. Results from the Phase III COMMANDS trial, led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, were reported at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of first-line treatment with luspatercept, which enhances red blood cell maturation, compared with epoetin alfa, a therapy commonly used for low blood cell count, in transfusion-dependent patients with anemia due to very low- to intermediate-risk MDS. In this interim analysis, 58.5% of patients receiving luspatercept achieved the primary endpoint of independence from red blood cell transfusions compared to 31.2% of patients who received epoetin alfa. Within the first 24 weeks of treatment transfusion, 47.6% of luspatercept patients achieved transfusion independence versus 29.2% of patients receiving epoetin alfa. Additionally, 74.1% of patients who received luspatercept saw hematologic improvement in erythroid responses greater than eight weeks, compared to 51.3% of patients who received epoetin alfa. Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes often experience anemia that requires frequent red blood cell transfusions. In this study, we observed a significant improvement in patient red blood cell counts with luspatercept, representing a promising advance to enhance the lives of these patients." Guillermo Garcia-Manero, M.D., professor of Leukemia and lead investigator of the study Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases in which the bone marrow doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells, including red blood cells. Patients with MDS often experience symptoms such as anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath and increased vulnerability to infection. Because of the frequency of anemia, most patients require regular red blood cell transfusions. Some cases of MDS can progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Luspatercept is a novel agent that enables late-stage red blood cell maturation. By targeting the TGF- signaling pathway, luspatercept helps restore normal red blood cell creation. The trial enrolled 301 patients at 226 sites. Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous luspatercept every three weeks or subcutaneous epoetin alfa weekly for 24 weeks. Patient characteristics were balanced across both treatment arms. Treatment-related adverse events of all grades occurred in 30.3% of patients in the luspatercept group and 17.6% in the epoetin alfa group. Eight patients (4.5%) that received luspatercept discontinued treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. AML progression was reported in four patients receiving luspatercept and five patients receiving epoetin alfa. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies of the drug. "These results show, for the first time, superior effectiveness of an innovative therapy over epoetin alfa," Garcia-Manero said. "I am encouraged by these results, as luspatercept represents a transformative therapy that could become a new standard of care for patients with transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndromes." The patients in this study continue to be followed long term to determine overall survival, time of transfusion independence and frequency of progression to AML. The study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. Garcia-Manero has worked in a consulting/advisory role for and received research support from Bristol Myers Squibb. This article discusses how Cyto-Mine facilitates the mining of rare cells from complex cell populations and subsequent cloning to microplates, with evidence of single-cell status using a seamless, completely automated process. One of the most significant steps in the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for a biologic is proof that the molecule is generated from a clonal cell line. Traditionally, this has been dependent on the demonstration of statistical probability that the cell bank was cloned from a single cell progenitor. Lately, cell-in-well imagers have gained much interest as a tool for visual verification following cloning by limiting dilution, colony picking, or cell sorting. Some of the top pharmaceutical companies have made considerable investments in the integration of separate systems into a continuous workflow, while for many, the process of screening, cloning, and verification necessitates several discrete steps involving manual intervention at each stage. The main limitation of cell-in-well imagers is that only the base of each microplate well is visualized such that cells that have not or cannot settle to the bottom will fail to be detected. The Cyto-Mine Single Cell Analysis and Monoclonality Assurance System (as shown in Figure 1) help address the present technologies weaknesses by screening hundreds of thousands of individual cells for protein production, specificity, or functionality at the picoliter level. It subsequently sorts positive hits and carefully dispenses each one individually to microplate wells. Assurance of clonality is achieved via multi-frame imaging of the single status of each cell single status at the time of dispensing. Cell encapsulation delivers a protective environment that provides high viability and assay sensitivity over a wide range of cell types, including hybridomas, B cells, and CHO cells. The study described in this article demonstrates the main steps through which Cyto-Mine identifies, selects, and isolates single, viable, high-value cells with assured clonality. Figure 1. The benchtop Cyto-Mine system designed for use in Class II biosafety cabinets. Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Cyto-Mine workflow Cyto-Mine rivals both limiting dilution and cell screening processes but in a highly efficient and completely automated way. The systems unique ability to offer high-throughput cell screening and monoclonality assurance is made possible through a series of four seamless steps: Encapsulation of cells into picodroplets at extremely high dilution for maximization of the number of picodroplets that contain only one cell. In situ incubation of the resulting picoliter test tubes to assay the protein secreted by each cell. A sorting phase that selectively isolates the highest value cells in picodroplets and diverts all other picodroplets to waste. High-speed, multi-frame imaging of each picodroplet immediately before dispensing takes place to deliver visual evidence of single-cell status. Step 1: Encapsulation of cells into picodroplets The Cyto-Mine process is set up by preparing the target cell population to the indicated concentration in the preferred culture medium, mixing it with appropriate detection probes, and then pipetting it into a disposable Cyto-Cartridge (Figure 2), which is then loaded into Cyto-Mine. When the run begins, Cyto-Mine gently pumps the cell suspension through microfluidic structures, cross-mixing it with the bio-compatible surfactant, CytoSurf, to encapsulate cells into 300 pL picodroplets of the culture medium, as presented in Figure 3. Using High Fidelity Mode, the sample dilution is set to 0.05 cells per picodroplet such that ~95% of picodroplets are empty, ~5% contain a single cell, and the probability of 2 or more cells per picodroplet is ~0.1%. Figure 2. Single-use Cyto-Cartridge. Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Figure 3. Cell encapsulation. Picodroplets at a uniform size of 300 pL are generated such that only one in 20 contains a cell. Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Step 2: Incubation and secreted protein assay Millions of produced picodroplets are collected into a chilled, Peltier-controlled incubation chamber (as displayed in Figure 4), where incubation takes place at up to 37 C to activate the desired detection assay. The miniaturized scale means that secreted protein such as IgG from a single cell can be quantified after just 0.5 to 2 hours. More information regarding the Cyto-Mine IgG Secretion Assay and the Antigen-specific Assay can be found in Sphere Fluidics Application Notes 01 and 02, respectively. Following incubation, the chamber returns to its chilled state to prevent further assay reaction. The picodroplets are subsequently channeled to the sort phase. Figure 4. Picodroplets held in the Cyto-Cartridge incubation chamber are incubated for a defined period to enable the single-cell-based assay to develop. Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Step 3: Picodroplet sorting After incubation, Cyto-Mine sequentially sorts all picodroplets using fluorescence detection, with the positives being actively channeled for collection. The majority of picodroplets, which are either empty or contain low-fluorescing cells, are directed to waste. Cyto-Mine can detect the dispersed fluorescence within the picodroplet (e.g., by a secreted protein assay) or the intracellular fluorescence (e.g., by an intrinsic functional assay marker or viability stain ), as displayed in Figure 5. The user can choose to define and modify the population of cells for collection. The selected picodroplets are subsequently stored in a chilled microchamber before being dispensed. Figure 5. Options for sorting on Cyto-Mine by detection of fluorescence either trapped in the picodroplet (A) or intrinsically within the cell inside the picodroplet (B). Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Step 4: Visual verification and dispensing After the sorting phase is completed, the selected picodroplets that contain the high-value cells are spaced out, imaged, and dispensed to either 96- or 384-well microplates that are prefilled with an appropriate culture medium, as presented in Figure 6. The imaging process utilizes an ultra-highspeed, brightfield camera to obtain numerous frames of each picodroplet as it travels through the microfluidic channel immediately before dispensing. As cells within picodroplets are in constant motion, this multi-frame imaging circumvents the situation where two superimposed cells might be incorrectly detected as one (Figure 7). Figure 6. Cyto-Mine visual verification and dispensing. Immediately prior to dispense, picodroplets are brightfield-imaged to identify and record the number of cells per picodroplet, and also re-measured for picodroplet fluorescence. Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Figure 7. Brightfield multi-frame imaging avoids potential miscounting by detecting encapsulated cells at multiple time points as they rotate into different positions. Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics On-the-fly software analysis can be used to identify and annotate each picodroplet that clearly contains a single cell. Any picodroplets that contain more than one cell, or those exhibiting any ambiguous result, are annotated accordingly on the microplate map (see Figure 8). Picodroplet fluorescence is measured again when in assay mode, and the reading is documented at the point of dispense. Figure 8. Cyto-Mine data-tracking and verification of single-cell status. Software analyses and identifies the number of cells per picodroplet (A), and displays the results in microplate map format (B). Only picodroplets that unambiguously contain a single cell are given single-cell status. Fluorescent intensity is also documented for each well (not shown). Image Credit: Sphere Fluidics Cyto-Drop, the proprietary dispense mechanism of Cyto-Mine, gently dispenses verified single cells to prefilled microplates. As the picodroplet comes into contact with the culture medium in the microplate well, it dissociates, liberating the cell into the culture medium. The plate-filling speed is rather quick, taking less than two minutes to fill a 96-well plate and four to six minutes for a 384-well plate. The protective nature of the Cyto-Mine picodroplet technology and workflow generates clones with strong outgrowth potential. Conclusions The four consecutive steps in the fully integrated Cyto-Mine workflow deliver a powerful yet unique solution to address the challenge of screening vast numbers of cells and subsequently isolating the highest-value clones with confidence that they originate from a single-cell progenitor. When used in combination with single-use, disposable reagents and consumables, Cyto-Mine provides the following key benefits: Simplicity: A seamless and completely automated process for the screening and isolation of verified clones on a single platform Quality: A unique capacity for mining and isolating rare, single, viable, high-producing cells Traceability: Provides storable visual evidence of single-cell status at the time of dispensing, which is necessary for the required documented evidence of monoclonality Strong outgrowth: Gentle picodroplet encapsulation and processing ensures compatibility with a broad range of animal and human cell types with high viability of selected clones Speed and Efficiency: Reduces Discovery and Cell Line Development process timelines and enables multiple projects to be run in parallel. No downtime between runs Sterility: The benchtop system can be utilized in Class II biosafety cabinets with end-to-end sterility and disposable consumables Download the full white paper Acknowledgments Produced from materials originally authored by Sphere Fluidics. The work detailed in this article was partially funded by the UK Government Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) under the BioStreamline Project, which exists to develop new approaches for the more efficient development and manufacture of next-generation biologics. About Sphere Fluidics Our Vision Our philosophy is simple. We combine our knowledge and resources to help you find rare and valuable biological variants, while helping you to save time, reduce costs and stay a step ahead of the competition. Our novel single cell analysis systems offer the rapid screening and characterization of single cells. These systems are underpinned by our patented picodroplet technology, specifically designed to increase your chances of finding that rare one-in-a-billion molecule or cell that could be an industry blockbuster. We understand that time is of the essence. Thats why our technologies boost throughput and assay sensitivity across a range of applications. Most importantly, our flexible systems evolve alongside your changing research needs, providing an adaptable platform that helps you to meet your goals. Our History Founded in 2010, Sphere Fluidics is an established Life Sciences company, originally spun out from the University of Cambridge. We initially developed 25 patented products biochips and specialist chemicals which currently assist hundreds of customers globally with their research. We initially focused on producing novel biochip systems and providing R&D services. We have since extended our expertise and are developing a technology platform that enables discovery in a range of growing markets through single cell analysis. Our systems make the development of new biopharmaceuticals faster and more cost-effective, improve monoclonal antibody screening, cell line development, and overall research efficiency in a number of other applications including synthetic biology, single cell diagnostics, prognostics and single cell genome editing. The Cyto-Mine Single Cell Analysis System is our flagship product the first integrated, benchtop system to automatically analyse, sort and dispense millions of individual cells in just a single day. Our Partnerships We value and are always open to discussing new collaborative, successful and innovative academic and industry partnerships to further develop and improve our single cell technologies. Our Technology Access Programmes and Collaborative Services exist to enable academic researchers and companies alike to tap into our application-specific expertise through direct partnerships. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. The British supercar-maker McLaren has launched the Artura high-performance hybrid at a sticker price of Rs 5.09 crore (ex-showroom) in the Indian market. Designed at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking and hand-built at the adjoining McLaren Production Centre, it comes with a 5-year warranty as standard. India is the 41st country in the world for McLaren to start the sales of the Artura. Being the first company model to be built on the all-new carbon fibre MCLA platform, McLaren Artura has a best-in-class kerb weight of only 1489 kg. The supercar gets four driving modes in the form of E-mode, Comfort, Sport and Track. We are thrilled to bring the all-new McLaren Artura to India, offering our customers the latest in automotive technology and design. Our impact in the Indian market in our first year has been outstanding, and we look forward to continuing to provide our customers with exceptional service and the ultimate driving experience," said Paul Harris, Managing Director - APAC and China, McLaren Automotive. The Artura hybrid supercar flaunts a shrink-wrapped appearance which is identical to the recent company models and driven by the McLaren design principle of everything for a reason. As for features, it gets electrical heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (eHVAC), new Digital Instrument Cluster and Smartphone mirroring. top videos Under the bonnet, the Artura houses a 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged petrol engine along with a lithium-ion battery pack with a combined power output of 671 bhp and peak torque of 720 Nm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed transmission. The supercar does a 0-100kmph sprint in just 3 seconds while it reaches 200kmph from standstill in merely 8.3 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 330kmph. The lithium-ion battery can be charged upto 80 percent in only 2.5 hours. In Pure EV mode, the supercar has a driving range of 31 km with a top speed of 130 kmph. The British brand claims that the Artura is the most fuel-efficient McLaren ever built with a 104g/km CO2 emissions and 4.6L/100 km mileage (WLTP certified). Markets regulator Sebi will come out with a mutual fund light regulations for passive funds as part of efforts to reduce the compliance burden, foster growth as well as lower costs to investors, a senior official said on Friday. Passive funds is an investment vehicle that tracks a market index or a specific market segment. These funds include passive index funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and Fund of Funds investing in ETFs. Also Read: New To Mutual Funds? Know These Terms Before Investing The regulator is looking to reduce compliance requirements for passive funds that are tied to changes in the underlying index and operate on a non-discretionary basis. To accommodate passive investments, such as index funds and ETFs, the regulator is introducing mutual fund light regulations, news agency PTI quoted Sebi Whole Time Member Ananta Barua, as saying. These regulations will provide greater flexibility for index funds and ETFs, enabling them to offer transparency, diversification, and lower costs to investors, compliance burden, Barua said while speaking at the mutual fund summit organised by industry body Assocham in New Delhi. According to him, Sebi has revised the requirements for sponsoring a mutual fund, enabling entities with sound financial conditions, including private equity funds, to become sponsors without a mandatory profit track record. To enhance liquidity in the debt market and address risks, Sebi has put in place prudential regulations for open-ended mutual funds, especially debt funds, he added. Barua also emphasised that Sebi is committed to promoting good governance practices in the mutual fund industry. Trustee supervision of Asset Management Companies (AMCs) has been strengthened, and they now have additional responsibilities for overseeing fairness of fees and expenses, AMC performance, prevention of market abuse, and avoidance of conflicts of interest." top videos Moreover, mutual funds are encouraged to exercise their stewardship role by actively participating in voting and corporate governance matters of the companies they invest in, he noted. (With PTI inputs) We often spend lavishly on our weekends and at times, we push our boundaries on trips. But what if we told you that there is a woman who spends up to Rs 70 lakh on one days shopping? According to a report in the Daily Star, the hobby of a woman named Soudi, who lives in Dubai, is only and only to spend her husbands money. We usually spend anything from 3,600 to 72,000 depending on Jamals (her husband) mood, in one shopping spree," Soudi said. She also added that her favourite designers are Dior and her husbands is Hermes. The woman regularly posts photos and videos of her luxurious holidays and gateways to expensive places on social media. She said that she is a rich housewife from Dubai and has millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram. The couple loves matching cars and Jamal has also gifted Soudi a Birkin bag and two cars. Talking to Cover Real Life, the woman shared that she only likes designer clothes and bags. She has travelled to many countries of the world and easily spends Rs 14-15 lakh on every trip. One of her recent trips, which was to the Maldives, cost them Rs 12.78 lakh. We both love the Maldives, and we go to London every few months: we just got back from Seychelles. We want to go to Japan next," Soudi said. top videos Speaking of Soudi and Jamals extravagant lifestyle, the woman said that she loves manicures and each of them costs around Rs 63,000. I love surprises, so I love it when Jamal books out the restaurant just for us, at a cost of 1,080 (around Rs 96,000), and sends me what to wear that night, and he always ends the night with a surprise gift," she added. Saudi was born in Sussex and her husband is a rich man from Saudi Arabia. She moved to Dubai with her family when she was six years old. They met at a University in Dubai and after four weddings, the two tied the nuptial knot and have been married for two years now. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A bill to expand a state- and federally-funded program that would keep Montanas seniors in their home with in-home supports has been vetoed by Gov. Greg Gianforte. Senate Bill 296 would have moved assisted living into the Community First Choice program, a Medicaid program that encourages independent living by providing in-home care assistants to support activities of daily living. The program seeks to keep seniors in their home rather than transitioning to expensive institutionalized care. Last year, as more than a dozen nursing homes closed across the state, and assisted living facilities strictly limited Medicaid recipients, Gianforte talked about the growing desire among seniors to age at home. While AARP data supports this claim, in-home care services that make it possible for Montanans to safely age in place are not robust enough to meet the current demand, let alone a substantial increase. A personal care assistant can help with things like doing dishes, meal prep, basic housekeeping, bowel and bladder support, and more. If a senior does not receive support with these things when they need it, their physical and mental deterioration can accelerate, leading them to need skilled nursing support sooner. Gianforte has also said that proving in-home services is a lot less expensive than institutionalized care for both the consumer and the state. While these services can be accessed through another Medicaid program called the Big Sky Waiver, funds for this service are limited. Theres often a lengthy wait time before a slot opens. During the legislative session, lawmakers turned to national experts in senior and long-term care to assess Montana programs for senior services. While initially commended for programs like CFC, experts said the biggest barrier to these services is the time it takes to become eligible. The long wait times then incentivize hospitals to discharge patients to nursing homes. Bill sponsor Sen. Becky Beard estimated that by moving assisted living into the CFC program, which draws both state and federal dollars, a significant potion of the waitlist could be addressed. Gianforte disagreed with this, calling it an inefficient and obtuse approach that could lead to unplanned financial obligations for the state. There is no provision enabling (Department of Health and Human Services) to ensure that recipients have not exploited the eligibility system by transferring their assetsSenate Bill 296 would restrict DPHHSs ability to serve Medicaid patients choosing to live in a community setting instead of a nursing homes, Gianforte said in his veto letter. The bill also included a mechanism to update room and board costs on a regular basis a rate that hasnt been updated since 2009. Room and board costs take into account things like monthly income, spend down for Medicaid benefits and creates an allowance that Medicaid residents keep for personal use. In the veto letter, Gianforte argued that the proposed process is cumbersome and would result in a plethora of different room and board rates. The Gazette asked the following questions, to which the Governor's Office declined to respond. - What in the bill would lead to "major, unplanned financial obligations to the state," as is stated in the veto letter? - The governor has advocated for those who want to age at home. Why not expand a service like Community First Choice that supports home care? - The assisted living room and board rate hasnt been adjusted since the early 2000s. What solutions does the governor propose to adjust that rate to more accurately reflect the current cost of living? 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). More people from outside the EU arriving on student and work visas, as well as the Ukraine and Hong Kong schemes, all contributed, the ONS said. Reacting to the data, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Numbers are too high, its as simple as that. And I want to bring them down. Asked whether immigration was out of control, the British-Indian prime minister replied: Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high. He told ITV that the measures to tighten visa rules for overseas students which were put in place this week were significant and would bring levels down over time. In a bid to drive down net migration, from next year, only those on post-graduate research programmes will be able to bring their families to the UK. The spike in the numbers 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. top videos 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. The final results for the 2022 Civil Services Examination have been released by the Union Public Service Commission. There is no denying the fact that cracking the UPSC examination is no cakewalk. Every year, hundreds of thousands of aspirants sit for the exam and only a few make it with flying colours. Others wait for their second, or third attempt to achieve a rank. Despite the anxiety surrounding the UPSC examinations, every year we get acquainted with certain success stories that not only become an inspiration for several UPSC candidates but also to the general masses. Today, lets delve into the success story of Robin Bansal. Also read| Gardeners Son from Kashmir Secures AIR 7 in UPSC CSE 2022, Says There Was Mental Pressure, Lack of Guidance Robin Bansal, 25, belongs to the small town of Lehra in Rajasthans Sangrur district. Robins father is a lecturer in Economics, while his mother is a homemaker. After completing his schooling, Robin sat for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) to bag the opportunity of getting admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi. The young mans grit and determination enabled him to get his desired admission to IIT. After obtaining a B.Tech degree from IIT, Robin landed a high-paying job at a private firm. His salary was Rs 35 lakhs per annum. But, Robin seems to have some other plans that were brewing in his mind. He was not interested in leading a corporate life but wanted to get selected for a government job. Just a year after securing the private job, Robin quit his company and started preparing for the UPSC CSE examinations. top videos Robins journey was not easy. In 2019, when he first took the UPSC examination and failed. He also could not crack the exam in his following attempts in 2020 and 2021. But the 25-year-olds hard work and efforts paved the way for his success. In 2022, Robin fulfilled his dream of cracking the UPSC examination, securing the 135th rank. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, a former Shiromani Akali Dal MLA, visited Robin to congratulate him personally. Robin, in an interview, shared that his next goal is to join the Indian Police Services in the position of an IPS Officer. Margot Robbies Barbie and Ryan Goslings Ken face some existential crisis outside the borders of their lavish pink world in the main trailer of Barbie. Well, fans are aware Margot Robbies character will set foot in the real world but now we know it might be against her will. In the new trailer released on Thursday, everything seems to be fine until it isnt. The video opens with Barbie and Kens hilariously flirtish conversation about a grand party with synchronised choreography. Everyone enjoys their hearts out in the fantasy world until Margot Robbie disrupts her own party asking, Do you guys ever think about dying? This sets a series of inexplicable situations be it Barbies water running cold or her perfectly pointed feet going flat. The strange experiences wouldnt halt and she is given two options by Kate McKinnons Barbie. Margot Robbie can either choose to return to her Barbie life or travel to the real world to uncover the truth of the universe. Margot Robbie picks to remain inside the pearly gates but it seems that wasnt an option at all. She is then sings seated inside her car to cross the borders of Barbieland until she realises Ryan Gosling has followed her. Joining forces they meet up with the CEO of Mattel, however, the journey isnt an easy one. During a beach outing, their pink-coded attires grab attraction, leaving a man inappropriately touching Barbie. She punches the pervert but lands in jail. If that isnt enough Kens request of performing an appendectomy at a hospital also stirs up some security trouble. Meanwhile, panic ensues when the truth about a real-life Barbie walking in the streets of LA begins to circulate. The CEO of Mattel is frustrated and vows to send the rogue Barbielanders back to their pink plastic lifestyle. Watch the trailer here: Besides Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Dua Lipa, Kate McKinnon, and Issa Rae play pivotal roles in the upcoming fantasy comedy flick. The plot of the movie showcases how a beloved Barbie is forced to leave the fantasy doll world for not being a perfect doll. She journeys to the real world setting comical consequences while discovering the meaning of true happiness. Helmed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie is set to hit the big screens on July 21. The sudden and tragic demise of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai actress Vaibhavi Upadhyaya sent shockwaves throughout the film industry. Vaibhavi, 32, met with a car accident while on vacation with her fiance in Himachal Pradesh, leaving everyone in disbelief. Vaibhavi Upadhyayas last rites were held on Wednesday, May 24 in Mumbai. Speaking to ETimes, the actress brother Ankit bravely shared the sequence of events that led to the devastating accident. It all began when I got a call from the police in Himachal Pradesh. I just couldnt believe it. I went numb," Ankit said. He added, I was told that a heavy vehicle had brushed her vehicle that too at its rear when it had almost passed it cleanly and her car toppled in a ditch (valley). My sister was thrown outside the car. The locals gathered and took her to a hospital almost immediately. But she was declared dead on arrival." Ankit further informed that Vaibhavis fiance Jai Gandhi, who was driving the car was trapped inside the vehicle for a few minutes until some locals arrived to rescue him. Ankit further shared that Jai had to break the windshield in order to free himself. Ankit disclosed that the incident occurred on a regular lane. Jai and Vaibhavis car was adjacent to a ditch, which was between two shops when a truck coming from the opposite direction brushed it," he revealed. Ankit emphasised that Jai was driving at a moderate speed during the accident, and both he and Vaibhavi were not under the influence of alcohol. He also provided reassurance that Vaibhavi was wearing her seatbelt, as confirmed by the postmortem examination, which revealed marks on her body indicating the use of it. Jai was also wearing his seatbelt. The police had detained Jai after the accident as the prime suspect. I rushed to Himachal Pradesh and got him released. They didnt even allow him to see Vaibhavi until I reached. They wanted someone from Vaibhavis family to give a statement before they would let him go," he added. When Ankit received the call from the police about the accident, his parents were on vacation in Australia staying at his aunts place. Unsure of what to do, he contacted his aunt and they made the decision not to reveal the news to his parents. Instead, they informed them that Vaibhavi Upadhyaya had been injured and quickly arranged their tickets back home. It was only upon their arrival in Mumbai that they disclosed the tragic truth to his parents. Ankit further said that his mother has been unable to cope with the loss. She is weak. My father has been trying to put up a brave front, he said adding that they still havent been able to process it. Jai Gandhi and Vaibhavi Upadhyaya had plans to finalise their wedding date once they returned to Mumbai. The wedding would have taken place either by the end of this year or early in 2024. The Pakistan government, in an attempt to crack down on Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters involved in damaging military buildings and installations last week, has decided to take action under the stringent Army Act and Official Secrets Act. Known to be a draconian legislation, under the Pakistan Army Act of 1952, punishments can vary from two years to a life sentence, going up to capital punishment in a few cases. Field General Court Martial was established under the Army Act. The military courts function under Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of Pakistan Army while the President and Prosecution Counsel of Military Court are military officers. The accused can hire a lawyer and appeal within 40 days in the Army Court of Appeal. Pakistan is the only country in South where military courts can trial civilians. The International Court of Justice has often raised concerns and objections over the courts, with a 2016 report saying: Pakistan has failed to prove fair trails under the Army Act. The Pakistan Army Act was brought into force in 1952 and is used to put military personnel on trial under the militarys own legal code. Some provisions of this law are also applicable on civilians. In 1966, under the rule of military leader Ayub Khan, an amendment was made to the Act whereby civilians accused of inciting mutiny within the rank and file through written and verbal material could be tried under the Act. The court that hears cases brought under the Act is called the Field General Court Martial. Between August 2018 and April 2022, more than 20 civilians were tried under the law. From 2015 to 2019, the military courts have convicted at least 641 people. Some 345 people have been sentenced to death, at least 56 of whom have been hanged, and 296 people given prison sentences. Only five accused have been acquitted. In South Asia, Pakistan is the only country where the military has been given such powers to take civilians to task behind closed-door trials. Offences for which military courts can try civilians -Attacking military officers or installations -Kidnapping for ransom -Possessing, storing or transporting explosives, firearms, suicide jackets or other articles -Using or designing vehicles for terrorist attacks -Causing death or injury of military personnel -Possessing firearms designed for terrorist acts -Acting in any way to over-awe the state or the general public -Creating terror or insecurity in Pakistan -Attempting to commit any of the above listed acts within or outside of Pakistan -Providing or receiving funding for any of the above-listed acts -Waging war against the state Procedure of trial There are no elaborate procedures that may lead the accused to military courts. The military court judges are military officers. There is no requirement for them to have a law degree or a legal background, which are prerequisites of judicial competence and independence. The suspects tried by military courts remain in military custody at all times, even after the magistrate records their confessions and statements. When a person is convicted by the military court, they get 40 days to file an appeal in the armys court of appeal. In case the appeal court upholds the verdict, the convict would have the opportunity to seek mercy from the army chief and the president of Pakistan. The convict can approach a high court if he felt that due process was not observed during his trial and his fundamental rights as an accused were not fulfilled. However, this appeal is only to allow review petition for the punishment. In a strongly worded briefing paper published by ICJ in 2016, it claimed that the government and military authorities have failed to make public information about the time and place of their trials; the specific charges and evidence against the convicts; as well as the judgments of military courts including the essential findings, legal reasoning, and evidence on which the convictions were based. top videos Kulbhushan Jadhavs Trial Indian national and retired Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav was tried in a military court and handed the death sentence for espionage and terrorism. He was tried by the FGCM under Section 59 of the Army Act and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923. The dispute surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modis May 28 inauguration of Indias new Parliament building, aimed at moving away from the nations colonial history, has been intensifying. An increasing number of opposition parties, currently standing at 21, have announced their decision to boycott the grand occasion. In 2020, a comparable boycott occurred during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new building. This action took place amidst a severe Covid-19 pandemic and a significant protest by farmers on the outskirts of Delhi. The farmers protest was against the high-stakes agricultural reforms being promoted by the Modi government. The new Parliament building, designed to accommodate 888 members in the lower house chamber and 300 members in a separate chamber for the upper house, is a crucial component of the governments Central Vista redevelopment plan. The plan aims to revitalize the historic core of New Delhi. In comparison to the existing numbers of 543 and 250 members in the lower and upper houses respectively, the new building will provide increased seating capacity. The government has faced criticism from the opposition regarding the new Parliament building for various reasons. Some of these controversies include the decision to continue construction during the Covid-19 crisis, objections to the ferociousness" of the lion structure atop the building, and concerns regarding the individual inaugurating the structure. After two years of extensive construction involving 60,000 workers, the new Parliament building is now complete and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Lets take a closer look at the significant controversies surrounding the new Parliament building during the past two years: Big Budget In 2020, there were reports of the Central government allocating a budget of Rs 20,000 crore for the Central Vista project amid the pandemic. However, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri clarified that the allocated budget was intended for a series of development projects planned until 2026. He mentioned that approximately Rs 862 crore was specifically earmarked for the new Parliament building. Several political parties raised concerns about the necessity of such expenditure during the pandemic when resources were needed for fighting Covid-19. The official website for the Central Vista project compared the funds allocated for Covid-19 and the Central Vista project. It stated that the one-time amount allocated for vaccination in the fiscal year 2021-22 was 175% higher than the total budget (Rs 20,000 crore) assigned to the Central Vista project, as per a report by India Today. Green Cover Concerns The Central Vista project, which includes the construction of the new Parliament building, the prime ministers residence, and a central secretariat, faced criticism from environmental experts due to concerns about the impact on the existing green cover. In response, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) stated its commitment to minimizing tree cutting by focusing on tree transplantation. The government, through the Central Vista website, reported that 404 trees that were removed for the Parliament building have been successfully transplanted in the Eco-Park. Furthermore, they highlighted that over 80 percent of the translocated trees have survived, as per the report. This approach aims to mitigate the negative effects on the green cover and emphasizes the efforts made to preserve the environment during the execution of the Central Vista project. Design Consultant The design consultant for the Parliament building project was HCP Designs, an architecture firm based in Gujarat, led by Bimal Patel. The firm was selected for the role and was paid Rs 229.75 crore for their consultancy services. Bimal Patel has been known as Prime Minister Modis preferred architect and has been involved in several projects aligned with the Prime Ministers vision. In response to allegations of favoritism regarding the selection of the design firm, the Central Vista website stated that the bids were thoroughly examined by the Central Public Works Department. Firms were evaluated based on their detailed approach, methodology, and concept design presentation before being chosen for the project. Lion Too Ferocious In July 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the national emblem that was placed on the new Parliament building. However, controversy arose regarding the expression of the lion depicted in the emblem. Several politicians expressed concerns, stating that the lions appeared ferocious." In response to the controversy, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the new emblem. The petitioners argued that the lions in the new emblem had an aggressive and open-mouthed expression, unlike the serene and composed appearance of the lions depicted in the state emblem kept at the Sarnath Museum in Varanasi. The dispute revolved around the contrasting perceptions of the lions expression and its alignment with the symbolism and aesthetics of the national emblem. The Supreme Court rejected the petition against the new emblem, stating that it did not violate the provisions of the State Emblem of India Act, 2005. Latest Row Over PM, Not President Shortly before its scheduled opening, the new Parliament building became embroiled in a new controversy as as Modi, rather than the president, was invited to inaugurate it. This decision received criticism from opposition leaders who argued that the head of state, rather than the head of government, should conduct the inauguration. In defense of the move, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri pointed out that former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had also inaugurated various premises within the Parliament in the past. Sengol Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday claimed there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the Sengol as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his drum-beaters are using the ceremonial sceptre for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. The Sengol will be installed close to the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker after the new Parliament building is inaugurated by Modi on May 28, an event 20 Opposition parties, including the Congress, are boycotting. top videos On Thursday, the BJP had alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred Sengol a golden stick gifted" to Indias first prime minister Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. The vesting of the sacred Sengol'" with Nehru, on the eve of Indias Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India, BJP leader Amit Malviya had said. After Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue, the bust of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar also known as Veer Savarkar will be unveiled in the port Luis capital city Mauritius on May 28, Savarkars birth anniversary. Maharashtra PWD minister Ravindra Chavan will attend the programme which will be graced by Prithviraj Singh Rupan, President of Mauritius, and Leladevi Dookun-Luchoomun, the Deputy Prime Minister. According to the PWD ministers office, many Savarkar followers from different states of India will also remain present for the function. This is the second-consecutive function where two icons of Maharashtra from different eras are being honoured by Mauritius. Earlier, in April, a 13-feet-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled by deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on the premises of Maharashtra Bhavan. The latest function will mark the beginning of Veer Savarkar Global Summit with the aim to spread the work, literature and thoughts of the freedom fighter. top videos Speaking to News18, Ranjeet Savarkar, grandson of Veer Savarkar, said: We are really happy to hear that a bust of Savarkar will be unveiled in a country like Mauritius by the President. Many people across the globe are accepting Savarkars thought and teachings. He always said he was not against any religion but if someone is against their religion, he will give a befitting answer. Savarkar had also said that Hindus of India should go out in other centres, spread the teachings of Hindu religion and tell the world about the beauty of Hinduism. He was also of the opinion that Hindus should progress in other countries and make the motherland proud. According to minister Ravindra Chavans office, after the event, he will interact with his counterparts in Mauritius and hold a dialogue on road and infrastructure development. Chavan will also hold talks regarding industrialists investing in the state of Maharashtra. Air Indias flight from Delhi to Vancouver returned to the national capital shortly after the takeoff due to a technical glitch on Friday, Air India Spokesperson said. As per the airline, the aircraft landed back safely at Delhi Airport and will leave the airport at 1:30 pm. Air India flight AI185 from Delhi to Vancouver returned to Delhi following a technical issue shortly after takeoff. The aircraft landed back safely at Delhi Airport. The Aircraft will leave at 1:30 pm: Air India Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/RMYzAIvSjM ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 According to media reports, passengers saw sparks from the right engine of the Boeing 777 (VT-ALM) that was operating as AI 185. It was also reported that the pilots operating the flight later dumped fuel and then landed back in Delhi around 7.30 am to ensure the safety of the passengers. The airline said there was no bird hit and all the passengers and crew members were saved. top videos "AI-185 (Delhi-Vancouver) of May 26, 2023, operated by B777 aircraft has air returned to Delhi following a technical issue shortly after takeoff. The aircraft landed back safely at Delhi airport now. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and are making alternate arrangements for them while providing all support," an AI spokesperson told TOI. The Assam government on Friday constituted a three-member committee to investigate the incident in which a water pipe in Guwahati burst, leading to the death of a woman and injuries to five people. The committee will be headed by Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Pabitra Ram Khaund, while the other two members are retired Secretary of Public Health Engineering Ramendra Sundar Choudhury and Irrigation Departments retired chief engineer Sanjai Kumar Mahanta, according to a notification. The committee will submit its report within three days. The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) took suo motu cognisance of the incident and directed the Kamrup Metro district magistrate to conduct an inquiry into the incident, which happened on Thursday. It directed that the inquiry report must be submitted at the earliest, AHRC member Santanu Bharali said in a statement. The actual cause of the incident is still not known and the district magistrate must examine all the aspects connected to it, he said. The district magistrate must mention in the report the names and addresses of the deceased and injured persons, and details of the damaged vehicles, houses and business establishments, the AHRC said. top videos It also sought the name and address of the company that installed the pipeline and the measures taken by the administration to support and provide relief to the affected people. The main supply pipe of the Guwahati Water Supply Project being installed with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) burst due to some technical fault. The gushing water damaged several houses and vehicles, besides killing a person and injuring five others. The Central government will launch a special Rs 75 coin to commemorate the inauguration of the new parliament building, the Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday. One side of the coin will feature the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar, with Satyamev Jayate" engraved below it. The word Bharat" in Devanagari script will be written on the left side and the word India" in English on the right. The rupee symbol and the denomination value of 75 in international numerals will be written below the Lion Capital. The other side of the coin will feature an image of the parliament complex and the words Sansad Sankul" in Devanagari script will be written on the upper periphery and Parliament Complex" in English on the lower periphery. The coin will be circular in shape and made from a four-part alloy, which includes 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% nickel, and 5% zinc. The 35-gram coin will have a diameter of 44 millimetres and 200 serrations along its edges. The new Parliament building will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 28. As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the ceremony. However, many parties have decided to boycott the event over claims that the Central government ignored President Droupadi Murmu by not inviting her to the function. Follow LIVE The political row over the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building escalated with BJP alleging that the opposition parties decided to boycott the event just because it has been built at the behest of Prime Minister Modi. top videos At least 20 opposition parties including the AAP, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have announced the boycott of the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. Meanwhile, 25 parties have confirmed their attendance at the ceremony which includes seven non-NDA parties. ALSO READ : 25 Vs 19: As New Parliament Opening Sparks Debate, Heres A List of Parties Attending, Boycotting Event Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A plea agreement has been reached in the case against a Gallatin County woman accused of beating and torturing her 12-year-old grandson. Patricia Batts is expected in Gallatin County District Court Friday for a change of plea hearing. The plea agreement comes four months after Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell withdrew the countys intent to pursue the death penalty against Batts. The details of the agreement were unavailable Thursday. A hearing is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m. in front of Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown. Batts is charged with five felonies, including deliberate homicide, aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment, strangulation of a partner or family member, and tampering with witnesses and informants, according to court documents. Batts pleaded not guilty in 2021 to all charges, which stem from the 2020 death of her 12-year-old grandson, James Alex Hurley. Hurley was found dead in the West Yellowstone home of Batts and her husband, James Sasser Jr., in February 2020. Bruises and wounds were found all over Hurleys body along with a gash on the back of his head. An autopsy performed on Hurley found that the boy died from blunt force trauma to the back of the head. Prosecutors alleged that Hurley was beaten and tortured by his family members. Five people, including Batts, were charged in connection to Hurleys death, including a family friend, Batts husband and her son, have been sentenced. Prosecutors have considered Batts the ringleader of the abuse that led to Hurleys death. Former Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert planned to seek the death penalty for Batts. But when Cromwell took over in January, she opted against seeking the death penalty, saying it would bring the case to an end sooner. Cromwell handed over the Batts case, along with a slate of other felony cases, in late January to the Prosecution Services Bureau division of the Montana Attorney Generals Office. Daniel Guzynski, an assistant attorney general and special deputy county attorney for Gallatin County, is now prosecuting the case. Guzynski filed a motion for a change of plea hearing on May 12, according to court documents. That motion noted that a plea agreement had been reached with Batts, but did not provide details or say when the agreement was struck. The motion was granted on May 15. Batts' case is the last of the five connected to Hurley's death. The other four people charged have been sentenced. Hurleys teenage uncle and Batts son, James Sasser III, was sentenced in October 2020 to the Montana Department of Corrections in October until he turned 18. After that, Sasser III will be on probation until he turns 25. He is also required to pay a $500 fine. Gage Roush, the family friend, was sentenced to probation in December 2020 for striking Hurley with a wooden paddle roughly a month before the boy was found dead. Roush was given a plea agreement that allowed him to serve a five-year deferred sentence. Madison Sasser, Hurleys aunt and Batts daughter, was sentenced in January 2021 to youth probation with the Montana Department of Corrections until she turns 21. She will also be on probation until she turns 25, similar to her brother. Sasser also agreed to testify against her parents as part of her plea agreement. Hurleys grandfather, James Sasser Jr., was sentenced in March 2022 to 100 years in prison. Deliberate homicide and aggravated kidnapping charges come with the possibility of life in prison, or up to 100 years in prison, according to state law. A strangulation charge comes with up to five years in prison, and witness tampering comes with up to 10 years in prison. The Delhi Police on Friday issued traffic advisory ahead of the inauguration of the new parliament meeting by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 and asked people to avoid make necessary adjustments ahead of travel through the New Delhi District between 5:30 am and 3:00 pm on Sunday. The functions and ceremonies planned for the inauguration are expected to be attended by many VVIPs, VIPs, and other dignitaries, the advisory said. Special traffic arrangements will be in place for smooth conduct of the functions," it said. Traffic management measures will be implemented as follows: CONTROLLED AREA: The New Delhi District will be designated as a controlled area. Only public transport vehicles, individuals preparing for Civil Service exams, residents with valid identification, labeled vehicles, and emergency vehicles will have permission to travel within the district. REGULATED AREA: The regulated area will be bounded by Mother Teresa Crescent Road, R/A Talkatora, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, R/A Gol Dak Khana, Ashok Road, R/A Patel Chowk, Ashok Road, R/A Windsor Place, Janpath, R/A MLNP, Akbar Road, R/A Gol Methi, Akbar Road, R/A GKP, Teen Murti Marg, R/A Teen Murti, and Mother Teresa Crescent Road. Only individuals preparing for Civil Service exams, bonafide residents, labeled vehicles, and emergency vehicles will be permitted to travel within this designated area. Travellers are advised to plan their journeys in advance and make necessary adjustments to avoid the New Delhi District between 5:30 am and 3:00 pm to ensure their own convenience and smoother traffic flow in the area, the statement said. The general public and motorists are encouraged to maintain patience, adhere to traffic rules, practice road discipline follow the instructions given by traffic personnel stationed at intersections. Citizens were also asked to remain updated through the Delhi Traffic Police Facebook page, Twitter handle, official website, and helpline. Civil Service aspirants who have examination centers located in the New Delhi District are advised to plan their journeys ahead of time and allocate sufficient extra time to avoid any inconvenience. New Parliament Building Inauguration The much-anticipated inauguration of the new Parliament building is set to take place on Sunday. The auspicious occasion will commence with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer. Prime Minister Modi will then formally open the proceedings in the Lok Sabha. According to officials, the havan will be conducted outside the new building at approximately 7 am. During the ceremony, the esteemed high priests of the Shaivite order will present the ceremonial sceptre, Sengol, to Prime Minister Modi. While 25 parties are expected to grace the event, 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the ceremony. top videos Dignitaries such as former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, among others, are expected to attend the formal inauguration of the new complex. The impressive triangular-shaped four-storey Parliament building spans an expansive built-up area of 64,500 sqm. It features three main gates known as Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. Satyendar Jain Health Update: Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain was on Friday granted bail for six weeks on medical ground, a day after he was put on oxygen support and admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) in the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment. Granting bail, the Supreme Court said that Jain can neither speak to the media nor leave Delhi during this period. Reacting to the development, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that the courts decision came due to Jains health. We are not against any ailing person," he added. The former Delhi minister had suffered injuries to his back after he collapsed in the washroom of Tihar Jail number 4 due to dizziness. His X-ray and scans were conducted and later referred to Lok Nayak Hospital after he complained of persistent pain in his back, shoulder, and knee, hospital officials said. 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. This was the second time in a week that the former minister was taken to a hospital, prompting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to target the Centre over his deteriorating health. Wishing a speedy recovery to Jain, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, 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 Jains speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances." The AAP claimed that Satyendar Jain has become extremely weak and finds it difficult to walk. Due to his religious beliefs, Satyendar Jain has been living only on fruits and raw vegetables in jail. Suffering from severe muscular loss. Satyendar Jain has lost 35 kgs while in prison," the party said. Suffering from sleep apnea, he sleeps at night with the assistance of a BiPAP machine which continuously pushes air into his lungs," the party added. Satyendar Jain has been in Tihar jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. The LNJP Hospital is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. Jain was brought to the emergency department of the LNJP Hospital and doctors examined him, a senior doctor at the hospital had said on Thursday. top videos A senior jail official said that around 6 am on Thursday, under-trial prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped in the bathroom of the 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. The Bombay High Court on Friday reprimanded the Mumbai Police for not taking action against noise pollution caused by loudspeakers installed in mosques, even after receiving complaints. Failure to act on noise pollution from mosques amounts to contempt of court," the court said. The high court directed police to file a reply to the peition filed by a local resident. The next hearing will take place on May 29. Last year there was a massive controversy over the use of loudspeakers with MNS chief Raj Thackeray calling for a ban on their use in mosques. This was soon after there were incidents of communal violence around Hanuman Jayanti festivities in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand. Similar clashes were also witnessed in Gujarat and Karnataka. The Maharashtra government then took a stern view and announced that loudspeakers could only be used in religious places and events with proper prior permission. In previous cases, the Bombay HC has said the use of loudspeakers was not a fundamental right. In August 2016, the court ruled that no religion or sect could claim that the right to use a loudspeaker or public address system was a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. It also said if a religious establishment is located in a silence zone, then rules prohibiting the use of loudspeakers and other forms of sound producing systems must be followed. Noise is defined as an unwanted sound, a potential health and communication hazard dumped into the environment with regard to the adverse effect it may have on unwilling ears". According to the law, it is defined as an air pollutant" in Section 2(a) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Section 2(a) of the Act states that an air pollutant" is any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance, including noise, present in the atmosphere in such concentrations as to be or tend to be harmful to humans, other living creatures, plants, property, or the environment". top videos The Central Pollution Control Board has established permissible limits for different areas, which are then defined by different zones for day and night. The permissible limit in industrial areas is 75 decibels (dB) during the day and 70 dB at night. It is 65 dB during day and 55 dB at night in commercial areas, and 55 dB in day and 45 dB at night in residential areas. In July 2005, the Supreme Court had banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems in public places between 10 pm and 6 am (except in cases of public emergencies), citing the serious effects of noise pollution on the health of those who live in such areas. Then, in October 2005, the SC had stated that loudspeakers could be used till midnight for festivities for 15 days a year. The Narendra Modi-led government has grand plans for the mega G20 Leaders Summit in Delhi from September 9 to 10, including hiring a top event management firm for a highly professional approach. Top officials said this is being done considering the unprecedented and historic importance, as well as significance of the summit. According to some exclusive details accessed by News18, the central government will be rolling out the red carpet at the Delhi airports with special lounges and creation of hangars for special aircraft arriving with foreign leaders at both the Palam air force station and Terminal 3. Officials told News18 that the government will be paying attention to minute details traditional attires for visiting world leaders and their spouses; multilingual designer menu cards for gala lunches and dinners; drone swarm and fireworks at a special cultural show; multilingual ushers; gifts through the One District One Product scheme; and amalgamation of the theme of the G20 meeting and flavour of the participating country. An excursion or retreat is also being planned for world leaders along with a spouses programme, as part of the summit that will be held at the new Pragati Maidan Convention Centre in Delhi. India is expecting world leaders and their spouses from the G20 countries and non-G20 member countries invited as guests Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and United Arab Emirates. In addition, the heads of 14 international organisations are expected at the summit, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, United Nations, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Trade Organisation, and Asian Development Bank and CDRI. Countries holding the presidencies of regional organisations, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations, African Union, and AUDA-NEPAD will also take part at a leader-level in the G20 summit. Special airport lounges, high-quality multilingual hoardings The red carpet will be rolled out at the T3 and Palam, where foreign heads of state will be arriving. This will involve creation of hangars and other functional spaces along with an upgrade of air-conditioned lounges for VVIPs along with digital directional signages. Dedicated custom and immigration counters will be made inside the lounge, along with facilitation counters, porters while G20 country flags with poles will be displayed at airports. The VVIP protocol will follow the arrival to departure model. All over Delhi, high-quality multilingual hoardings will be put up en route to five-star hotels where foreign guests will stay and then to the G20 venue. The route will also see flags of different countries, photographs of visiting leaders and customised arch gates. The detailed brief is: Highest quality deliverables with utmost professionalism along with deployment of trained and professional manpower to oversee and execute the G20 Summit. At the venue The Pragati Maidan venue will have bilateral meeting rooms, VVIP holding rooms, leaders lounge, listening rooms, country rooms and a media centre with branding, as per the G20 theme. A cultural programme and gala dinner venue will be set up along with medical and prayer rooms. The government is also seeking high-quality office equipment like large round, oval and horseshoe-shaped wooden conference tables and top-notch gadgets for the summit. High quality sound systems like Sennheiser and Bose are being sought for the summit room and other bilateral rooms. The leaders lounge will seat about 80 to 100 VVIPs, for which the government is seeking high-quality furniture. The government will also set up help desks-cum-registration centres and a dedicated 24-hour call centre support for event-related queries along with internet connections with 5G-enabled stable speeds at all summit venues. top videos Other arrangements include printing of multilingual designer menu cards for lunches and dinners, creation of digital walk-throughs for motorcade movements and movement of VVIPs and digital way-finding kiosks. Adequate numbers of well-trained ushers, both English-speaking and preferably multilingual, will be deputed for the summit venues and airport. The cultural programme may include fireworks, drone swarm and digital elements like augmented realities. Traditional attire for leaders and spouses will also be provided for the cultural programme. The gifts to be given to dignitaries could be procured through ODOP scheme. The Narendra Modi government did a thorough two-year-long exercise of looking at official records and media articles dating back to 1947, including one in Time magazine, to establish the significance of the Sengol and the authenticity of the Sengol Vesting Ceremony on the night of August 14, 1947 that symbolised the transfer of power to India. The events were triggered by an article in Thuglak magazine on May 5, 2021 by S Gurumurthy that said the Sengol was a symbol of Independence given to Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by a Tamil pontiff. Within a few days, renowned classical dancer Dr Padma Subrahmanyam sent the English-translation version of the article to the Prime Ministers Office. She pleaded that a profound, sacred and historic ceremony of Sengol-vesting had been kept out of public knowledge and history and that the Modi government must make this public on the occasion of Independence Day in 2021. Two-Year-Long Exercise This prompted the PMO and the Culture Ministry to dig up old records and media reports to establish the significance of the Sengol. Officials culled details from newspapers, books by respected authors and pored over the information available online about the presentation of the Sengol to Nehru at his residence. Chairman of Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Nripendra Mishra, was requested to check if some reference or photographs of this ceremony were available in the private papers of Nehru in the Nehru Museum and Library. A key discovery was an article in Time magazine dated August 25, 1947, which carried a detailed report of the Sengol ritual in its foreign news section. Nripendra Misra, in a letter on April 26, 2022, gave to the government details of a book titled The lndian ldeology written by Perry Anderson, as well as another book referring to the same by Tai Yong Tan and Gyanesh Kudaisya titled The Aftermath of Partition in South Asia. The government also found DF Karakas book dated 1950 that corroborated that the Sengol was handed over by Tanjore priests as the symbol of traditional Indian method of deriving ruling authority from holy men. Other similar proof found by the government regarding the ceremony included Dr Babasaheb Ambedkars writing dated December 1955, the Freedom at Midnight book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, and Yasmin Khans book Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan. top videos Various other media reports from 1947 corroborated the same. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Policy Note of 2021-22, published by the DMK government, also recounted the Sengol ceremony of 1947. A report presented by the DMK government to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2021-22 mentioned this. The government finally found the 77-year-old Sengol to be preserved in the Allahabad Museum in a nondescript location for decades and categorised as Nehrus golden walking stick. It will now finally find its place of pride in the new Parliament building in Delhi. The discussions during the upcoming state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and American President Joe Biden's trip to India will revolve around four Ps- Peace, Prosperity, Planet, and People, said a top diplomat of the US here on Friday. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti who was in the city, told reporters that the entire planet is counting on the friendship between India and US and the deepening ties. In four months, our leaders will meet thrice face-to-face, and probably as I said it feels natural I think as I said those four Ps- peace, prosperity, work on our planet, and connecting our people will be what you see when Prime Minister (Modi) comes to Washington and youll see a further reflection and deepening that when the president (Biden) comes here to India. I hope that he (Biden) will have a chance not just visit the capital Delhi but maybe go someplace else in the country as well, the envoy said when asked about the main agenda of the leaders visit. PM Modi will embark on his first official state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, in the third week of June. The American President is expected to travel to India in September to attend the G20 Leaders Summit. Garcetti said companies belonging to the US are investing in Hyderabad creating 100,000 jobs here and similarly Indian business houses are also investing in the North American country. Commenting on the relations with India, he said the militaries of both countries train together while the largest military exercises India does are with the US. We are working towards an Indo-Pacific that is safe, secure, and prosperous, he said. On the number of visas to be issued to Indians this year, Garcetti said the USA is on track to process one million visas this year. Meanwhile, the Ambassador visited a clinic operated by the transgender community here. top videos I was moved & proud to visit the Mitr Clinic, a groundbreaking initiative supported by @USAID in Hyderabad. The clinic is led & operated by transgender people & is making a positive impact by strengthening stigma-free health services for the transgender community, he said in a tweet. He also visited the Indian School of Business (ISB) and T-Hub here. Several passengers of VietJet are having a harrowing time at the Mumbai airport as the Vietnam-bound airline, which was scheduled to fly to Ho Chi Minh City around 11 pm on Thursday, is yet to take off. Flyers said that there is no information available regarding the flight. A passenger tweeted to civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel the license of VietJet". He also complained about the rude staff" and no facilities being provided by the airline in wake of incessant delay. The passenger further said that the situation was particularly difficult for senior citizens. @PMOIndia @narendramodi @PiyushGoyal @JM_Scindia @Gen_VKSingh Please cancel license of VietJet Airline. VJ 884, 26-May delayed by 3 hrs. No AC, No water, rude staff. No update. Difficult for all of us Pankaj Mohan (@panky1972) May 25, 2023 Stuck inside vietjet from Mumbai to Vietnam for 2 hours. After intial announcements abt takeoff followed by 'a technical issue will update further' announcement by pilot everyone seems to have disappeared! Worst is AC is inoperational n they have no water to serve! A nightmare! Karuna Kirpalani (@KarunaKirpalani) May 25, 2023 More than 100 passengers stranded at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport complained that they were not even given drinking water. Among them, children were the most affected as some of them fell unconsciousness". Passengers complained that there was no flight status available for the flight scheduled for May 26. The details online showed status for May 25 and then May 27. The incident has come at a time when the airline is also facing backlash in South Korea over cancellations and refusal of refunds. According to a report by The Korea Economic Daily, the Korea Consumer Agency has received 329 consultations pertaining to Vietjet Air from January last year to March this year. top videos In the first quarter of 2023 alone, complaints jumped 127.9% for Vietjet Air. The report further stated since June 2021, the airline has been offering customers credit points for canceled tickets, including those canceled by the airline, but imposes a 45,000 won ($40) per person fee for voluntary cancellations. The Korean report further stated that these credits, however, expire in one to two years and are non-transferable, leading to potential losses for customers. The Customs Department on Friday destroyed 350 kg of drugs worth over Rs 1,500 crore at an incineration facility, officials said. Mumbai Customs Zone-III burnt down the narcotic substances at the Mumbai Waste Management Limited at Taloja in Navi Mumbai, in the presence of a high-level drugs disposal committee, he said. The destroyed drugs included 9 kg of high-purity cocaine and 198 kg of methamphetamine (meth) which were seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, from a fruit consignment in October 2022, said Dr Shridhar Dhumal, deputy commissioner (customs). top videos This was one of the biggest seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine and would have fetched Rs 1,476 crore in the illicit drug market, he said. Besides this, 32.9 kg of marijuana or ganja, 81.91 kg of mandrax and 298 MDMA tablets seized in various parts of Mumbai and its neighbouring areas were also destroyed, he said. Read more a museum as a stick of Nehruji by the Gandhi family. The nine questions come at a time when the Congress is already attacking the BJP government over false narratives being spread on Sengol through WhatsApp University. The Supreme Court today rejected a plea seeking inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu. We know why you file such petitions. We are not inclined to entertain this petition, said the top court. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday (May 26) said that there was no documented evidence whatsoever of Indias last viceroy Lord Mountbatten, countrys last governor-general C Rajagopalachari and first PM Jawaharlal Nehru describing Sengol as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple BOGUS, the Congress leader added. Reacting with a sarcasm-laden statement, BJP leader and Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted with laughing emojis: Out comes the spin by Rahuls spin master. History n Tradition of #Sengol that was attempted to be shamelessly buried as walking stick has come out. Appropriate response is contrition n to join all Indians in celebrating this re-discovery of our tradition n culture that Pt Nehru was part of (sic), the BJP leader added. As the Opposition stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration, the Press Club of India wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla drawing his attention to continuous and unrelenting restrictions imposed on entry of journalists covering Parliament over the last several sessions. In the letter to Om Birla, Press Club of India said that a large number of journalists covering Parliament proceedings for the last several decades are still being denied the opportunity to cover Parliament proceedings despite having permanent press gallery passes. The journalists added that they understand that these restrictions were imposed due to Covid-19 pandemic but with the situation gradually easing, the media feels these superfluous restrictions have no logical basis or rationale. Meanwhile, the Union finance ministry has announced minting of Rs 75 coin to commemorate the opening of new Parliament building. According to the notification, the coin will be circular in shape and have the inscription Parliament Complex with the image of the new building. It will be 44 millimeters in diameter and will have 200 serrations along the edges. The metallic composition of the coin will have quaternary alloy consisting of 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% nickel and 5% zinc, the notification stated. A report in Hindustan Times stated that the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar along with the inscription Satyamev Jayate will be featured in the center of the coins obverse side. The left periphery will of the coin will have Bharat inscribed in Devanagari script and India in English. The report further stated that the upper periphery will have Sansad Bhavan inscribed in Devanagari script and the lower periphery will have Parliament Complex in English. The announcement comes amid the Oppositions objections to PM Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building, with the Congress saying one mans 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 in New Delhi 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 Oppositions 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. The National Investigation Agency on Friday moved the Delhi High Court seeking a death sentence for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. The plea challenges the order of special NIA judge Shailendra Malik, who awarded Yasin a life sentence. The matter has been listed for hearing before a division bench of the high court on May 29. CNN-News18 accessed the details of the NIA plea. Here are the details: Spearheaded, involved in terrorist activities in Kashmir Valley for decades: The NIA stated that Yasin Malik, over decades, had been involved in and spearheading terrorist activities in the Valley. He did this with the help of foreign terrorist organisations; he masterminded, planned, engineered and executed armed rebellion in the Valley in a bid to usurp the sovereignty and integrity of India, the central agency added. The NIA stated that Yasin Malik, over decades, had been involved in and spearheading terrorist activities in the Valley. He did this with the help of foreign terrorist organisations; he masterminded, planned, engineered and executed armed rebellion in the Valley in a bid to usurp the sovereignty and integrity of India, the central agency added. Offences acts of external aggression: The plea stated that it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that the offences committed by Yasin were ex-facie acts of external aggression, brazenly planned and executed by acts of waging war against the nation. Internal disturbance was created by raising and using trained and armed militia within the state and by helping trained terrorists raised in enemy states to infiltrate the borders, the plea added. The plea stated that it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that the offences committed by Yasin were ex-facie acts of external aggression, brazenly planned and executed by acts of waging war against the nation. Internal disturbance was created by raising and using trained and armed militia within the state and by helping trained terrorists raised in enemy states to infiltrate the borders, the plea added. Findings of trial court flawed, unsustainable: The NIA told the HC that the findings of the trial court, that this case was not in the rarest of rare categories, was flawed and completely unsustainable. The NIA said the life sentence awarded by the special court on the grounds that the present case was not in the category of the rarest of the rare cases is ex-facie legally flawed and completely unsustainable. The NIA told the HC that the findings of the trial court, that this case was not in the rarest of rare categories, was flawed and completely unsustainable. The NIA said the life sentence awarded by the special court on the grounds that the present case was not in the category of the rarest of the rare cases is ex-facie legally flawed and completely unsustainable. Complete erosion of sentencing policy: The NIA stated that if terrorists like Yasin Malik were not awarded capital punishment on the grounds that they pleaded guilty, then it will result in a complete erosion of the sentencing policy. It will further create a device, whereby such dreaded terrorists after indulging, waging and spearheading an act of war against the state, in case caught, would have a way out, it said. The plea further stated that such a sentence will not be commensurate with the crime committed, where due to their act of war, the nation has lost its valuable soldiers. The NIA stated that if terrorists like Yasin Malik were not awarded capital punishment on the grounds that they pleaded guilty, then it will result in a complete erosion of the sentencing policy. It will further create a device, whereby such dreaded terrorists after indulging, waging and spearheading an act of war against the state, in case caught, would have a way out, it said. The plea further stated that such a sentence will not be commensurate with the crime committed, where due to their act of war, the nation has lost its valuable soldiers. Miscarriage of justice: The NIA also told the HC that not awarding capital punishment in this case will result in a miscarriage of justice as an act of terrorism is not a crime against society but against the entire nation. top videos While pronouncing his order while awarding a life term to Yasin, the special judge had made the following observations: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A storm that lasted more than 45 minutes dropped hail and up to three or four inches of rain Thursday evening as it swept across much of Golden Valley County and moved into Musselshell County. One Golden Valley County rancher said he was told by a county officials that hail had piled up six to eight inches deep on Highway 12 between Lavina and Roundup. A flood and flashflood watch remains in place for the two counties until noon Friday. A severe thunderstorm watch has also been issued. On Friday, the same area, along with much of the high plains in Eastern Montana, could see more severe thunderstorms with large hail and strong wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana emerged as the top-performing states among the large states, Tripura performed well in the smaller states category while Delhi ranked at the bottom among the Union Territories in NITI Aayogs annual Health Index for Covid-19 pandemic year of 2020-21, according reports on Friday. The Health Index, launched by NITI Aayog in 2017, assesses the performance of states and union territories based on 24 health performance indicators. NITI Aayog collaborated with the Union Health Ministry and the World Bank to release the comprehensive health index. According to a The Indian Express report, the release of the 2020-21 Health Index Report, which was scheduled for December 2022 (fifth edition), has not been made public yet. NITI Aayog is reported to have shared the annual Health Index report for 2020-21 with the Health Ministry. The report assesses the performance of states and union territories based on two parameters: incremental performance, measuring year-on-year progress, and overall performance, evaluating overall achievements. A NITI Aayog official told the publication that the report would be disclosed at the appropriate time." Kerala, TN & Telangana Top Performers Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana have secured the top three positions in terms of overall performance among the 19 larger states, according to the government think tank. Meanwhile, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh occupy the bottom three positions, ranking 19th, 18th, and 17th, respectively. Regarding incremental performance from 2019-20 to 2020-21, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Odisha have emerged as the top three performers among the larger states. In the category of smaller states, Tripura has demonstrated the best overall performance, with Sikkim and Goa following closely. On the other hand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur occupy the bottom three positions. Among the union territories, Lakshadweep has secured the top position in terms of overall performance, while Delhi has been placed at the bottom. Past Performances In the fourth Health Index released by NITI Aayog in 2019-20, Kerala had emerged as the top performer among larger states in terms of overall health performance. Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, ranked as the worst performer. Tamil Nadu and Telangana secured the second and third positions, respectively, in terms of health parameters. Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were ranked as the second and third-worst performers. Interestingly, despite being ranked the worst, Uttar Pradesh achieved the highest incremental change from the base year (2018-19) to the reference year (2019-20), making it the top performer in terms of incremental performance. top videos Among the smaller states, Mizoram was recognised as the best performer in both overall performance and incremental performance. In the union territories, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir were ranked at the bottom in terms of overall performance. However, they were the leading performers in terms of incremental performance. The report highlighted that Kerala has consistently secured the top position in terms of overall performance in all four rounds of the Health Index. The health index comprises indicators in three domains: health outcomes, governance and information, and key inputs and processes. The report has been prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) with technical assistance from the World Bank, as stated in a released statement in 2021. The Karnataka High Court recently denied bail to a government primary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting minor girl students. The Court noted that the teacher had not only allegedly harassed girl students, but had also threatened them of spoiling their name and future. A bench of Justice Umesh M Adiga noted in the order that although in our country, teachers are respected like God, because of the alleged behaviour of the accused teacher, parents would think twice about sending their girl child to school. It may spoil name, fame and future of the said girl students. It is not a crime against the individual, but crime against a society," the judge observed. The court was dealing with the bail plea filed by the accused teacher. The prosecution case was that the petitioner had been working as an Assistant Teacher in the Government Primary School, Boragunte village for six-seven years prior to the time when the matter was reported. He had been allegedly harassing sexually minor girl students studying in classes IV to VI. It was only in March 2023 that the villagers informed the Block Education Officer (BEO) about the illegal acts of the accused petitioner and when the BEO visited the said school, some girl students, studying in IV and V standards, stated the accused used to touch their private parts and talk to them in an obscene manner. The girls also informed the officers that the accused also used to ask them to touch his private part after undressing himself. Thereafter, the BEO lodged a written complaint and the police registered a case for the offences punishable under Sections 8 & 12 of the POCSO Act. A chargesheet was also submitted before the Fast Track Special Court. The accused teacher was then arrested on March 27 and had been in custody since then. His bail plea was also rejected by the Fast Track Court. Before the high court, the counsel for the accused teacher argued that the accused had been teaching at the said school for a few years and there had not been any complaint against him. top videos The counsel claimed that as the accused teacher had objected to a petty shop proposed by a villager in the school premises, the villagers had falsely implicated him in the present case. However, the court noted that the Fast Track Court had elaborately discussed all the said points as well as the point of law involved in the present case and rejected the bail application. The court held that the accused teacher did not deserve to be released on bail at the present stage. Highly anticipated first glimpse of the new iconic" parliament building all set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 was released on Friday. The video shared by PM Modi, showcases a Lok Sabha adorned with a captivating Peacock theme. Equipped with state-of-the-art communication technology, the spacious halls can comfortably accommodate hundreds MPs. Sharing the clip, Prime Minister in a tweet said, The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building." The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-Tweet some of them. Dont forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride. pic.twitter.com/yEt4F38e8E Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2023 He also called for citizens to share the clip with voice-overs using the #MyParliamentMyPride tag. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-Tweet some of them. Dont forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride," he added. The interior design of the space features three prominent national symbols: the lotus, the peacock, and the banyan tree. New Parliament Features The Parliament building, designed in a triangular shape and spanning four storeys, covers a total built-up area of 64,500 square meters. The structure is accessible through three primary gates known as Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. Tata Projects Ltd, responsible for the construction of the new Parliament building, has included several notable features within its design to showcase Indias rich democratic heritage. Additionally, there will be a dedicated lounge area for Members of Parliament, a well-stocked library, multiple committee rooms, spacious dining areas, and ample parking space to accommodate the needs of those visiting the premises. The new Parliament building is not only equipped with modern technology but also boasts a significant increase in seating capacity and overall space compared to its predecessor. It features a total of 1,272 seats across two chambers, accommodating nearly 500 more seats than the previous building. The Rajya Sabha hall, designed around the lotus theme, which represents the national flower of India, offers a larger capacity of up to 384 seats. Similarly, the Lok Sabha hall, inspired by the national bird, the peacock, can accommodate up to 888 seats. In line with inclusivity, the new Parliament building is Divyang-friendly, ensuring that people with disabilities can move around freely and independently. Accessibility features are integrated into the design, prioritizing the needs of individuals with disabilities. Moreover, the Parliament building is designed to complement an open courtyard, serving as a space for members to interact and will showcase the national tree of India, the banyan tree. Sengol Installation and Significance According to a PTI report, the ceremonial sceptre Sengol, which was presented to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to signify the transfer of power in August 1947, has been relocated from the Nehru Gallery in the Allahabad Museum to Delhi for its installation in the new building of Parliament. The historical sceptre, made of silver with a gold coating will be installed near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker. During the dedication ceremony of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Modi, with utmost humility, will accept the Sengol sceptre from an Adheenum representing the non-Brahmin Saivite order from Tamil Nadu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said. Adheenams, with a lineage of over five hundred years, played a significant role in sanctifying the transfer of power during the Chola period, and their involvement continues in present times. C Rajagopalachari had requested the leader of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in the then Madras Presidency (Tamil Nadu) to perform a similar ritual symbolizing the transition of power from the British to Indian hands. The leader of the Adheenam had commissioned jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty to craft the original five-foot-long Sengol sceptre. top videos The official website of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers contains information about the sceptre, including a rare photograph of Nehru, which is also featured in a short film about the Sengol. Notably, two individuals involved in the creation of the original Sengol, Vummidi Ethirajulu (96 years old) and Vummidi Sudhakar (88 years old), are expected to attend the inauguration function of the new Parliament building. Customs officials reported on Friday that gold worth over Rs 42 lakh was seized at the Telangana airport. The gold was found concealed in the form of gold paste in the rectum of a passenger. The interception was made by the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabads Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The seized gold weighs approximately 685.7 grams and has an estimated value of Rs 42,78,768. #WATCH | Telangana: Based on specific information received, an Indian male passenger who arrived from Muscat was intercepted by the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabad Customs, RGIA. The passenger was found to be carrying gold paste which was concealed in the rectum. pic.twitter.com/k51zohQqTE ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 top videos Based on specific information received, an Indian male passenger who arrived from Muscat was intercepted by the Customs Air Intelligence unit of Hyderabad Customs, RGIA. The passenger was found to be carrying gold paste which was concealed in the rectum. Customs seized 685.7 grams of gold worth Rs 42,78,768," the officials told news agency ANI. Officials have stated that further investigation is currently underway in the case. On Tuesday, a significant seizure of gold weighing over 1,800 grams, with an estimated value of over Rs 1 crore, was made at Hyderabad Airport from three passengers. 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 airlines 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 SIAs 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 airlines 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. Pankaj Tripathi is one of the leading actors in the industry. He has achieved several accolades and is one of the most popular choices to play a protagonist for one reason sheer talent. His effortless acting skills make every role he plays believable. But before he became a famous actor in Bollywood, Pankaj had humble beginnings. The actor is originally from Gopalganj, a district in Bihar and he recently got a government school renovated there. Pankaj spoke about his decision to get the school renovated to ABP news, Our Gopalganj district administration made an app called the Gopalganj Gaurav app. A meeting was held where the administration said that if anyone who is from the district but resides outside, wants to undertake social service activities for their village or district, the administration will help them undertake such activities. I was present in the meeting, and I felt it was a good initiative. He revealed that two months later, the principal of the new secondary school and the actors former primary school called him and said that they required funds to construct a compound wall and gates to secure the premises. Pankaj planned and funded the project along with his elder brother. However, when he visited the school, he realized that the school was in bad condition with the plaster on the walls falling off. Moreover, the colours were faded, lights and fans werent functioning properly and a lot of other things were wrong with the schools infrastructure. Pankaj then decided to revamp the whole school through the trust that was formed in the name of his mother and father, Pandit Banaras Tiwari Foundation. Pankaj further stated that the initiative was taken in order to inspire students to attend the school and show a keen interest in their studies by experiencing the state-of-the-art infrastructure in their vicinity and develop an interest in education. The upgrade was completed through the trust fund and collaboration with the paint brand that Pankaj is the ambassador. The brand reportedly liked Pankajs idea of revamping the school and providing electrical equipment and paint. Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is all set to co-host IIFA Awards 2023 with Vicky Kaushal. However, the formers wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be skipping the award ceremony. Reportedly, the actress will not be attending the event due to their daughter Aaradhyas school. According to a report in India Today, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be skipping IIFA as Aaradhya has school. Hence, the mother-daughter will be staying back in Mumbai. During the press conference, Abhishek was asked about his wifes absence. In response, the actor candidly shared that Aishwarya has decided to skip this years IIFA due to Aaradhyas school commitments. Just a week back, Aishwarya attended the 76th Cannes Film Festival with her daughter. The actress walked the red carpet setting her best fashion foot forward. Aishwarya is a regular at Cannes. Over the years, she has served some stunning looks as she walked the red carpet in gowns and sarees. The International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) Awards promises to be a star-studded affair and a treat for all Bollywood lovers. The stars have already made it to Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi and the pre-event festivities have already started. Meanwhile, on the work front, Abhishek Bachchan will next be seen in Ghoomer. Helmed by R Balki, the movie also stars Saiyami Kher, Shabana Azmi, and Angad Bedi in pivotal roles. He also had a cameo in Ajay Devgns latest film Bholaa. The film is all set to release on March 30. Abhishek was last seen in the OTT film Dasvi alongside Nimrat Kaur and Yami Gautam. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on the other hand was last seen in Mani Ratnams historical fictional drama Ponnyin Selvan 2. She was seen sharing screen space with Trisha Krishnan, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Vikram. The film turned out to be a massive hit garnering praises from fans and critics alike. Veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi left everyone surprised on Thursday after he announced his second marriage at the age of 57 with entrepreneur Rupali Barua. Ashish was previously married to Piloo Vidyarthi. A day after the actors second wedding, his first wife (Piloo) revealed that the two parted ways in 2021. She mentioned that Ashish was seeing a different future and made it clear that the actor never cheated on her. Last year in Oct we filed a petition together. No one has pushed anyone. This was completely mutual. I have spent a very long time of my life as Shakuntala Baruas daughter and Ashish Vidyarthis wife. Now the time has come that I want to walk my path alone. I want my own identity and just to be clear, it wasnt like he has ever crushed my identity. I just realised that he is seeing a different future, I am seeing a different one," Piloo told Hindustan Times. Ashishs first wife also clarified that there were no hardships between the two and added, There was no torture, hardship or anything as people are speculating. We are two different people. For two years we tried to go our separate paths and now he is doing great in his career. I have been looking after a lot of backend things for the last five years. In my personal life, I have different needs now. I cannot fill the goal of Mrs Vidyarthi now." She further mentioned that Ashish never cheated on her. During the interaction, Piloo Vidyarthi also talked about her first husbands second marriage and shared that everyone deserves a second chance. He needs a partner. We cannot hang a man because of his needs. He has found someone thats a good thing," she said. Earlier, Ashish also talked about his second marriage and 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. Veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi issued a video statement on Friday talking about his decision to marry at the age of 57 and why he parted ways with his first wife, Piloo Vidyarthi. Ashish left everyone surprised on Thursday after he announced his second marriage with entrepreneur Rupali Barua. For More: Ashish Vidyarthi FINALLY Opens Up On Divorce from First Wife Piloo, Says We Tried Our Best But Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are three of the most successful actors in Indian cinema and have established themselves as superstars when it comes to being part of big-budget films. Buzz is that, earlier this month the trio partied till 4 am, at Salman Khans Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai. For More: Salman Khan, SRK Convinced Aamir Khan For THIS, Partied Till 4 AM at Galaxy, Discussed Dunki On his 51st birthday, filmmaker Karan Johar unveiled the first look of his upcoming directorial outing, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Along with the character posters of Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, netizens were also offered a glimpse of their onscreen family members played by veteran actors Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi and Jaya Bachchan, among others. While most details about Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani are still kept under wraps, Johar in a social media post had stated that it is inspired from a real life family anecdote that was shared by his father, late producer Yash Johar. For More: Shabana Azmi Opens Up On Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Says If People Hate Me | Exclusive Bollywood superstar Salman Khans bodyguards didnt let Vicky Kaushal meet him at the ongoing IIFA in Abu Dhabi, owing to security reasons. A video of Vicky Kaushal trying to talk to Salman has surfaced on social media. The video shows Vicky taking selfies with fans when Salman passes by with his security. Vicky goes up to Salman to greet him with a handshake, but his security pushes him away and doesnt let him meet the Tiger 3 star. The video is going insanely viral on Reddit and has left netizens divided. For More: Salman Khans Security Pushes Vicky Kaushal Away at IIFA; SHOCKING Video Goes Viral Ashish Vidyarthi has been ruling headlines ever since he surprised everyone with his second marriage at the age of 57. The actor tied the knot with entrepreneur Rupali Barua in an intimate ceremony on Thursday, May 25. A day after, his former wife, Piloo Vidyarthi talked about their separation and mentioned how some just cannot take it when two people do it peacefully and beautifully. For More: Ashish Vidyarthis First Wife Urges People To Be Kind, Says He Is Not a Bad Person A day after Ashish Vidyarthi left everyone surprised announcing his second marriage with entrepreneur Rupali Barua, he issued a video statement on Friday talking about the same. In his statement the veteran actor recalled how he met Rupali after he had amicably parted ways with his first wife Piloo. He also clarified that he is not 60-years-old but is rather 57. Ashish also urged everyone to respect how people are living their lives. I literally let the word out in the universe. I was at that point 55, maybe, and I said I want somebody to get married to. Thats how I met Rupali Barua and we got chatting then we met. Then we discovered something interesting about one another and we thought that we could be walking together as husband and wife. Therefore, Rupali and I got married. She is 50 and Im 57, not 60. But age doesnt matter my friend. Each one of us can be happy. Whatever be our age, right? So, just wanted to let you lets keep moving. Lets respect how people are living their lives," he said. Check out his video statement here: Several pictures of Ashish and Rupali from their wedding are going viral on social media. On Thursday too, Ashish also talked about his second marriage and 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. Meanwhile, earlier today, Ashishs first wife Piloo Vidyarthi also talked about her first husbands second marriage and shared that everyone deserves a second chance. He needs a partner. We cannot hang a man because of his needs. He has found someone thats a good thing," she told Hindustan Times. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Whitewater season for skilled boaters has arrived as flows on many of the states top wavy rivers have hit perfect flows for wet, chilly thrills. Perhaps nowhere is the psych higher than on the Stillwater River, a tributary to the Yellowstone River. Last June, the stream hit a record high, blowing out new channels, bridges and houses and dousing the floating season. This year, thankfully, its much tamer with flows at 4,150 cubic feet per second compared to an average of 2,030 cfs. People want to play this summer because theres no flooding, said Merek Rosin, owner of Adventure Whitewater outside Absarokee, noting reservations were solid. Last year at this time, the river was running low because of an unusually cool spring before rain on snow and warm temperatures rapidly changed the dynamics. Right now, its a good level for experienced boaters with the right gear including lifejackets, self-bailing rafts and dry suits on cool days. A dry suit can help ward off the chill of the 48-degree water, which feels fresh off a snow field. Tim Hedin, owner of Boat Werx, ran the upper Stillwater last weekend and said it was perfect. The only strainer now is the Trout Creek Ranch bridge, which sits low on the right side, he said. Hedin encouraged boaters to stay left. On the lower river, last years flood wiped out Beartooth Drop, a notorious plunge just upstream from a bridge known for trapping unsuspecting newbies. But theres now an upstream wave train that has been known to flip unprepared boaters. The lower river has changed so much, Rosin said. Hedin said the river should be good for skilled boaters at flows under 5,000 cfs. Yellowstone The Yellowstone River also saw a historic flood last year that overlapped the highway through Yankee Jim Canyon. Right now, the river is at 18,600 cfs in Livingston, about twice what it normally is at this time of the year but trending downward from a couple of days ago thanks to cooler weather. The Boulder River, outside of Big Timber, was also running higher than usual. At 2,670 cfs, the rocky river is floatable for skilled boaters below Natural Bridge. The window to float the stream is typically narrow because once it drops too much, it is too rocky to negotiate. Downstream farther, the Yellowstone River at Billings was running about twice its normal volume, although also declining a bit thanks to cooler temps. Flood stage near Billings is 13.5 feet and the river on Friday was at 9.6 feet. The river is getting a big boost from the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River, which hit 5,430 cfs on Friday, down a bit from a day earlier. The Clarks Fork Valley was also hammered by flooding last June. The river has about 2 more feet to climb to reach flood stage in the valley. Last year by mid-June it had climbed to 4 feet above flood stage. Elsewhere Other whitewater attractions in the state include the Gallatin, the Blackfoot, Middle Fork Flathead and Clark Fork Rivers Alberton Gorge. Veteran river-runner Mike Johnston, of Montana River Guides, visited the Gallatin last week for a whitewater rescue course and riverboarded the Mad Mile. It was only 3,500 cfs the day he went, but hes done it at levels as high as 6,000 cfs. The river was running at 4,190 cfs on Friday. Johnstons company has been running rafting trips on the Blackfoot River recently, where flows were at 5,800 cfs on Friday, below average for this time of the year. Its going to be a good year for the Blackfoot, Johnston said, even though flows seem to have peaked early, as did the Clark Fork River. As soon as the flows through the Alberton Gorge drop to the low 20s, as in 20,000 cfs, Johnstons crew typically shifts their focus to that area, which is closer to his shop. On Friday the Clark Fork below Missoula had quickly dropped to 19,800 cfs compared to 27,400 cfs on Tuesday. Johnston used to launch at higher flows but has become more cautious after encountering unprepared floaters in bad situations cold, wet, using substandard equipment and too often drunk. Reservoirs Higher water on some rivers, bolstered by recent rainfall, has pushed some reservoir levels up, although it can also add a lot of floating branches and logs to lakes. Fort Peck Reservoir had climbed to an elevation of 2,225 feet by Friday, up about 5 feet since the beginning of March. Last year at this time, the reservoir was trending downward. The lake is fed by the Missouri River, which was running higher than normal for this time of year at 16,900 cfs near Landusky. The Missouri also feeds Canyon Ferry Reservoir, which was at an elevation of 3,789 feet. That's good enough to wet down all of the boat ramps around the lake for the Memorial Day weekend. The Missouri River at Toston, upstream from the lake, was also flowing at higher-than-normal flows for this time of year 17,300 cfs compared to the average of 9,600 cfs. Weather According to the National Weather Service, there is a flood watch for Montana east of Billings in poor drainage and urban areas. Heavy rainfall the last few days has saturated the soil in many locations across the watch area, the Weather Service advised. The risk of thunderstorms with torrential rainfall rates, over ground that is already saturated, will increase the risk of flash flood issues through at least this evening. This watch may need to be extended into the weekend as well for some areas. A reader's video of a flash flood in Golden Valley County on Thursday showed a torrent of water and hail running down a gulley into the Musselshell River. The agency also issued a flood advisory for portions of southwest Montana along the Jefferson River from Twin Bridges to Three Forks. The Jefferson at Twin Bridges was running at an elevation of 7.4 feet. Flood stage is 10 feet. Despite all of the moisture, about 68% of the state remains abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. About 30% of the state is in a moderate state of drought with only 3% of Montana all in the northwest in severe drought. Thats an improvement from a year ago when 94% of the state was abnormally dry and 16% was in extreme drought. Last year in October, Deepika Padukone was roped in as the global brand ambassador for renowned French luxury brand, Cartier. Ever since the announcement, the actor has been frequently spotted sporting Cartier jewellery, including the exquisite yellow diamond necklace she wore at the Oscars in March 2023. Now, photographs from Deepikas debut campaign for Cartier have been released. Pictures from the actress Cartier campaign were shared by a Reddit user on Thursday. In the photos, the actress exudes a confident aura while dressed in a black ensemble, beautifully complemented by Cartier jewellery. The campaign showcases Cartiers latest collection, featuring stunning pieces such as the Sama necklace and Panthere Givree. Deepika is adorned in dazzling diamonds throughout the campaign. The pictures feature her in a variety of outfits, including leather boots, a black gown, a beige robe and a timeless pantsuit. Fans were all praises for the campaign. One user wrote, The minimalist background with the neutral outfits makes the jewellery stick out even more. and shes gorgeous!" Another wrote, Love it! Shes giving luxurious professional working woman. Especially like the futuristic outfit in the 3rd pic and love her whole look in the 4th one as well." Another dubbed her royalty and wrote, The jewellery looks stunning and Deepika makes it look so regal! What a classic combination, both royalty." On the work front, Deepika Padukone recently starred in the blockbuster film Pathaan and is now gearing up for her next project, Fighter, directed by Siddharth Anand, where she will be sharing the screen with Hrithik Roshan and Anil Kapoor. Apart from Fighter, Deepika also has Project K with Nag Ashwin in the pipeline. The film features a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Disha Patani. A plethora of Indian actors and filmmakers graced the red carpet at the 76th edition of Cannes Film Festival. While some received a thumbs up for their sartorial sensibilities, others were trolled to no end. However, actor Esha Gupta, who was a part of the Indian delegation led by Dr L Murugan, the Minister of State in the Ministry of I&B, was widely appreciated for making some interesting style statements on the red carpet. Her white Nicholas Jebran gown grabbed the attention of many. But, in her signature candour, Esha exclusively tells News18 that her peers sensibilities and choices on the red carpet didnt really strike a chord with her. However, there is one actor in particular who she is really excited to see. I want to be very honest and say that Im not sure I liked anyone elses look but mine (laughs). Having said that, the one person Im really looking forward to is Anushka Sharma, Esha says. For the unversed, Anushka is all set to mark her Cannes debut and will honour women in cinema along with Hollywood icon, Kate Winslet. Needless to say, all eyes are set on Anushka as her fans are exhilarated to see what she dons on the red carpet of the film gala. And Esha is no exception. I heard that she will be walking the red carpet. She has her own style and understands her style. Her style really speaks of her personality. She doesnt follow fashion. Im just a fan of Anushka when it comes to her acting skills and fashion sensibilities. I know for a fact that shes not going to disappoint, states the Raaz 3D (2012) and Baadshaho (2017) actor. Esha goes on to tell us that she will always hold the Cannes Film Festival close to her heart as it gave her the opportunity of watching a film with Hollywood actor, Johnny Depp. Revisiting the episode, she remarks, Since I was part of the official delegation from the Indian governments side representing Indian cinema, I was lucky to be in the same room as Johnny Depp and other amazingly talented people on the first day. We saw the premiere of his film, Jeanne du Barry. It was really good. Oscar winner Guneet Monga was also part of the Indian delegation. Sharing her excitement about getting to spend some time with her, Esha says, She is doing amazing. She was telling me how they came to the Cannes when didnt have any budget to promote their film 10-12 years back. Shes one of the treasures of India. She has been getting us international awards and recognition. I got a lot of time to chat with her as we walked the red carpet together. But Eshas association with Guneet dates back to their school days in Delhi. She was my senior. I call her didi even now out of respect because she is friends with my sister. Its amazing to see her journey and the way she talks and the films that she has made. People like her are presenting new-age cinema, says the former beauty pageant winner. Lauding Guneet, the 37-year-old further adds, I recently saw Kathal. The scripts that shes choosing as a producer is just amazing. She might be a producer and me, an actor, but it opens my eyes so much and reinforces the fact that you dont need to succumb to the industry and do the same things that everyone is doing. Lavani folk dancer Gautami Patil has become a popular name in Maharashtra. From elders to children, everyone enjoys her performances. Apart from this, Gautami always stays in the limelight for controversies too. A few days ago, Gautami was in the news about her marriage, and now she is discussing her last name! According to the latest reports, Gautami, who is popularly known as Gautami Patil, has a different surname. In a recent interview with TV 9, Rajendra Jarad Patil, who identified himself as the Maratha Coordinator, claimed that Gautamis real surname is not Patil but Chabukswar. She is defaming the Patils by using the last name Patil. He also said Gautami should not use the surname Patil. Otherwise, her programme will not be allowed in Maharashtra, and I directly warned her," he said. Meanwhile, Gautami recently broke the silence on this controversy. In her recent programme, which was held for the first time in Virar, Gautami Patil visited Shri Satyanarayana and interacted with the journalists. During the interaction, when she was asked about the ongoing controversy, she said, My surname is Patil, I will only use the surname Patil, I dont care what anyone is saying. My programme is cultural." On the other hand, the number of Gautami followers and people flocking to the events is increasing day by day. She also enjoys a large social media fan base. Well, a few days ago, Gautami was a part of another controversy. Her event was coordinated close to the AIIMS Hospital and Research Centre in Aundh, Pune. The performance was derided by a lot of people, and some even questioned how the police could allow such a loud event near a hospital. Gautami recently made headlines after one of her ardent admirers proposed to her in the comments section of her video. One of her followers commented on the folk dancers video on the song Kasam Ki Kasam from the film Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, saying that he adored Gautami and would always stand by her. He also stated that he was the lifemate she had been looking for and that he would never betray her. Please reply to me," the admirer requested. Reports suggest Gautami charges between Rs 2 and Rs 5 lakh for an event. Samantha Ruth Prabhus latest social media entry is a special wish for a close friend. In one of her Instagram Stories, the actress penned a birthday note for her friend Himank Duvvuru and expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support and friendship he has shown her throughout the past year. Samantha emphasised how his presence has been a constant source of strength and inspiration for her. Samanthas birthday wish stood as a testament to their strong bond and served as a touching tribute to their friendship. Happy Birthday Himank Duvvuru. Thanks for being an absolute rock through thick and thin. Couldnt have gotten through this last year without you. You deserve the bestest of everything, Samantha Ruth Prabhu wrote along with sharing a picture of her friend. With unwavering determination, Samantha Ruth Prabhu weathered storms both personally and professionally in the last year. Samantha Ruth Prabhu stood tall, bravely confronting the challenges that life threw her way, including her health issues. Throughout the past year, she exemplified remarkable resilience, becoming an embodiment of courage and determination. In October of last year, Samantha revealed that she was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition myositis, which undoubtedly added to the complexity of her circumstances. Dealing with the physical and emotional toll of this condition, Samantha exhibited tremendous strength as she navigated through the ups and downs of her health. Samanthas openness about her battle with myositis not only shed light on the realities of living with such a condition but also inspired others suffering from the same to sail through life. Last year in October, Samantha in a social media post said, A few months back I was diagnosed with an auto-immune condition called Myositis. I was hoping to share this after it had gone into remission. But it is taking a little longer than I hoped. I am slowly realising that we dont always need to put up a strong front. Accepting this vulnerability is something that I am still struggling with. The doctors are confident that I will make a complete recovery very soon. Despite the ups and downs she faced, Samantha Ruth Prabhu remained resolute and committed to her work. Her dedication continued to shine through as she appeared in numerous films throughout the year. She was last seen in the mythological romantic drama Shaakuntalam, directed by Gunasekhar. Her performance was lauded by the audience and critics alike. She even continued filming Citadel with Varun Dhawan for the Indian adaption of The Russo Brothers spy series with the same name. Up next, she will be seen in Telugu romantic drama Kushi alongside Vijay Deverakonda. Veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi made a surprise announcement yesterday, May 25. The actor announced his marriage to an entrepreneur, Rupali Barua. The couple opted for a court marriage followed by an intimate get-together attended only by their immediate family and close friends. 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," Ashish Vidyarthi said while talking to the Times Of India. The National Award-winning actor was previously married to Rajoshi Barua, daughter of yesteryears actress Shakuntala Barua. Who is Rupali Barua? Ashish Vidyarthis wife, Rupali, hails from Guwahati and is associated with an upscale fashion store in Kolkata known as NAMEG. In contrast to Vidyarthis active presence on social media, Rupali chooses to maintain a low profile. Rupali, as evident from her reels, finds joy in dancing and cherishing moments with her family members. Her Instagram profile reflects her personal interests and relationships. Following a limited number of people on her Instagram, indicates that the 50-year-old entrepreneur prefers to engage with a close circle of acquaintances and accounts that align with her interests. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gossip Girl (@bolly_newzz) According to reports, Vidyarthi and Rupalis love story began during a fashion shoot. Their paths crossed and upon the conclusion of the shoot, they exchanged contact numbers. From there, they embarked on a journey of getting to know each other. After spending a few years together, their bond grew stronger, leading them to make the decision to take their relationship to the next level and tie the knot. While Vidyarthi has kept the details of his love story with Barua private, he did express his joy about their marriage in a conversation with ETimes. The actor revealed that marrying Rupali at this stage of his life brings him an extraordinary feeling. Rupali added, We met some time ago and decided to take it forward. But both of us wanted our wedding to be a small family affair. For the wedding day, Ashish Vidyarthi made a striking appearance in a traditional Mundu from Kerala, adding a touch of cultural richness to the occasion. Meanwhile, his bride, Rupali, radiated elegance and beauty in a stunning white and golden Mekhela Chador, paying homage to her Assamese heritage. Ashish Vidyarthi was previously married to Rajoshi Barua. Although Ashish and Rajoshi are now separated, they continue to co-parent their beloved son, Arth Vidyarthi. Actor Ashish Vidyarthi took everyone by surprise when he announced his wedding to Assamese entrepreneur Rupali Barua on May 25, 2023. 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, Ashish said while talking to the Times Of India. The intimate wedding took place in Kolkata, where Rupali owns an upscale fashion store. The two have a 10-year age difference between them. An initial ban on The Kerala Story in West Bengal created quite a furore before it was allowed to be released in the state. Now, a controversy has erupted over a yet-to-be released film, The Diary of West Bengal, with police issuing a notice to the director alleging that he was trying to defame" the state with this movie. The BJP, meanwhile, attacked the Mamata Banerjee-led government and said it was trying to muzzle freedom of speech and expression once again, as it had when The Kerala Story was released in the country. The saffron camp said the TMC was trying to intimidate" the director as the film targeted the chief minister. In fact, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya even shared a clip from the trailer of the film and said nothing in it appeared to be factually incorrect. Hailing from Maharashtra, film-maker Sanoj Mishra has directed The Diary of West Bengal. It is presented by Wasim Rizvi Films and written as well as produced by Jitendra Narayan Singh. The film claims to be based on true events". Jitendra Narayan Singh, formerly Wasim Rizvi and ex-chairman of the Shia Waqf Board, converted to Hinduism in December 2021. According to sources in the police, Mishra has been served a notice under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to appear for questioning at the Amherst Street police station in Kolkata on May 30. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Cinematography Act. But Mishra denied that he was trying to defame West Bengal and said the movie was factual. My intention is not to malign the image of the state. We have shown only facts in the film which are well-researched," he told ANI. He added that the shooting of his film was not yet over and the team was likely to submit it to the Central Board of Film Certification next month. #WATCH | Sanoj Mishra, director of the Hindi film "The Diary of West Bengal" speaks on the notice severed to him by the West Bengal police alleging that the director is trying to defame Bengal with this film, says, "My intention is not to malign the image of the state. We have https://t.co/N00BlnwqOx pic.twitter.com/SOrakPdjCe ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Malviya said the movie depicted the lived experience of many" in West Bengal. After a failed attempt to ban The Kerala Story (the film is still not in theatres because owners are being threatened with punitive action, if they do), Mamata Banerjees administration is now intimidating the director and producer of The Diary of West Bengal, a movie based on true events, on the prevailing condition in the State. The notice to filmmakers is uncalled for because nothing in the trailer appears factually incorrect. It is lived experience of many in Bengal," he tweeted. He added: Mamata Banerjee should stop muzzling freedom of speech and expression. She runs a vile decrepit Govt and it is a matter of time that people of Bengal will reduce her regime to dust." top videos After a failed attempt to ban The Kerala Story (the film is still not in theatres because owners are being threatened with punitive action, if they do), Mamata Banerjees administration is now intimidating the director and producer of The Diary of West Bengal, a movie based on https://t.co/Z4O5uHAOWX pic.twitter.com/seq0QL6VR1 Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 26, 2023 According to a report published by Hindustan Times, the narrator in the trailer of the film claims that Bengal has become a second Kashmir" for unorganised Hindus", while a character alleges that Mamatas love for Rohingya Muslims" is forcing Hindus to leave their homes. The trailer also highlights the so-called appeasement politics by the TMC government, which has led to restrictions on Hindu festivals. Karnataka was ranked first in the country for justice delivery in April this year, but the same department has now come under fire from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who warned officials that the Congress government will not allow saffronisation of the force. The India Justice report had mentioned Karnataka at the top of 18 other midsize and large states with respect to policing, judiciary, prisons, and providing legal aid. Just a month later, with the new Congress-led government in place, DK Shivakumar not only wants to send a message down the ranks of the police force that the Congress government is looking to overhaul it from top to bottom to ensure smoother and better functioning, but also a word of caution against those who he alleged were part of saffronising" the police force during the previous BJP regime. In the very first law and order review meeting addressed by the newly sworn-in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar on Tuesday, the latter reprimanded senior police officials present in the meeting and asked them to honour the uniform" and not bring disgrace to the police department. He stressed that the Congress priority was to clean up the old department and restore its integrity and respect. Saffron Shawls & Saris In October 2021, pictures had surfaced of officers in the Vijayapura Rural police station (located in northern Karnataka) and Kaup police station (Dakshina Kannada) wearing saffron on the auspicious festival of Vijayadashami. This sparked a political row between the Congress, which was then in the opposition, and the Bommai-led BJP. The Congress accused then Chief Minister Bommai of promoting jungle raj (lawlessness) in the department and the state. In Vijayapura Rural police station, all officers wore traditional white kurta-pyjamas with saffron scarves. In Kaup, which is in coastal Karnataka, male station personnel wore white panche (dhotis) and saffron shirts, while the women officers wore saffron saris. Why did you only change the police uniform? Provide trishuls (tridents) and ask them to indulge in violence. Your dreams of establishing jungle raj could come true," tweeted Siddaramaiah when the issue came to the fore. He had also tagged two photographs as evidence to show how the police personnel shed their khaki uniform to don the saffron clothing. Then home minister Araga Jnanendra defended the police personnel while accusing Siddaramaiah of raising such issues to gain political mileage among minorities. Jnanendra sought an explanation as to why Siddaramaiah was so opposed to saffron as a colour and whether it was a colour banned in the country. He had also criticised Siddaramaiah for not commenting on the white skull cap or white kurta many police personnel wear while taking breaks from duty to offer namaz. When that is respected, why not this? Jnanendra questioned. Uniform Insulted When Cops Wore Saffron The Karnataka Police Department had a good name in the entire country. But you have brought disgrace to the department. It is a fact that an ADGP-level officer was found to have tampered with the OMR answer scripts in examinations for recruitment of PSIs. This is a clear indication of the department falling from grace," Shivakumar said while addressing the closed-door meeting with the police officials. Are you all set to saffronise the police department? We will not allow it under our government," he declared. I know how you insulted the Police Department by turning up in saffron attire in Mangaluru, Vijayapura, and Bagalkote. You should have come in saffron clothes today as well for this meeting," he added sarcastically. News18 has learnt from sources that several senior officers were uncomfortable with the way the meeting progressed. The state police force has a new DGP, Alok Mohan, and he too was part of the first briefing by the new government. It was demoralising, as many of us who are senior officers have served with pride in our uniform. We are committed to a safe Karnataka and will continue to do so," said a senior officer who sought anonymity. Another officer also stressed that a couple of isolated incidents should not have been the focus of the meeting. We are known to be the best police force in the entire country. Our force has sacrificed a lot for it. We will always respect the law and the Constitution," the officer said. No Action on Threats to Siddaramaiah, Kharge? Shivakumar even questioned the integrity and probity of the police as he alleged that the police department officials allegedly harassed Congress leaders like Priyank Kharge, who was a whistle-blower in the PSI scam. He asked why the police did not take action against BJP leader Ashwath Narayan for making a personal attack against Siddaramaiah and had said that Siddaramaiah should be finished off just like the 18th-century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was also at the meeting, addressed the officers and asked them to keep a close watch on issues like moral policing, which had seen a sharp rise in the past few years. He advised them to break the drug mafia operations in the state, curb goonda-ism, and find effective solutions to ease Bengalurus traffic woes. The CM reiterated that the Congress government has a zero-tolerance policy towards any efforts to disrupt communal harmony, even through social media, and that such attempts should be curbed immediately. top videos Demoralising the Police, Says Bommai Former CM Bommai accused the ruling Congress of bringing down the morale of the police force. The Karnataka Police have a good name in the country, and the police have never indulged in so-called saffronisation. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have decided to implement their agenda, and in order to achieve that, they are bringing down the morale of the police department. The Congress has started its appeasement politics from day one of assuming power," said Bommai. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought time to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi for their support to oppose the Centres ordinance on control of services in Delhi. The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted. top videos The ordinance 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. It seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the 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 top court verdict. Chief Minister Kejriwal, who is the AAPs national convener, has sought the support of various political parties, including the NCP, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the TMC, on the Delhi services issue. Governments of the same ideology are working in the Centre and state, because of which people of Maharashtra were getting benefits of various schemes, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said here on Friday. Criticising the Opposition parties stand of boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Shinde claimed that they were doing so to deny credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his work. Shinde was speaking at the inauguration of a Shasan Aplya Dari event in Kannad area of Aurangabad, during which funds were disbursed to 1.49 lakh beneficiaries under various schemes. Both the state and Centre have governments of the same ideology. Hence, people of Maharashtra are getting benefits of various schemes. The Centre has sanctioned proposals for urban development, roads and railways. Basic facilities have been sanctioned by the Centre without curtailing a single rupee," the chief minister said. He further expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also sanction Marathwada water grid scheme. The state government has also increased funds for side businesses which will provide extra income to farmers, he said. We have implemented game-changer projects such as the Samruddhi Expressway. To take such projects further, we need the Centres support," Shinde said. The chief minister came down heavily on the opposition parties for their stand of boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building at the hands of PM Modi contending that it is President Droupadi Murmu who should do the honours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw a dream of this building and completed it in less time. The Opposition is taking a stand to oppose this inauguration so that Modi does not get credit for this work," Shinde said. He also criticised the meeting of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Kejriwal met a few people. One is going to the doorstep of the other. But our government is going to peoples doorsteps to give them something. This is happening because they are afraid of Modis work," the chief minister said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and Leader of Opposition in the state legislative Council Ambadas Danve claimed that district officials had funded the Shasan Aplya Dari event in Kannad. Danve in a tweet alleged that tehsildars and block development officers had contributed Rs 50,000 each, while agriculture assistants and talathis had shelled out Rs 12,000 and Rs 6,000 each respectively for the event. top videos Officials were ordered to pay from their pockets for Shasan Aplya Dari event. They were also given targets to bring people for the programme, he tweeted. Criticising the governments agriculture-related policies, Danve said, Beneficiaries of government schemes were waiting for funds for a year. Farmers are not getting good returns for onion and cotton. The chief minister did not utter a word about the rise in prices of seeds. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The North Dakota Industrial Commission has given the go-ahead to a carbon dioxide storage project in McLean County. The project will capture climate-warming CO2 emissions from Midwest AgEnergy Groups Blue Flint Ethanol plant near Underwood and transfer them to the underground Broom Creek Formation. The formation also will be the site where the nearby Coal Creek Station coal-fired power plant will store its emissions. The University of North Dakotas Energy & Environmental Research Center earlier this month received $38.1 million in funding from the federal Energy Department to develop a storage system for Coal Creek. The EERC previously worked with Midwest AgEnergy Group to develop the carbon storage system for Blue Flint. The Industrial Commission approval will be effective June 1, and the multimillion-dollar project is set to get moving quickly. We start work right away and maybe even by the end of the year, next year theyll be ramping up to store 220,000 tons a year," State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms said. That amount is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of about 44,400 vehicles over a year's time, according to an Environmental Protection Agency converter. The Blue Flint carbon storage project will be the second active CO2 injection well in North Dakotas growing list of carbon storage projects. The other site is operated by the Red Trail Energy ethanol plant in Richardton. Helms said he anticipates there will be six injection sites across the state a year from now. The pipeline from the Blue Flint Ethanol plant to the storage site will be 3 miles long, and storage will cover just over 11 square miles. The Industrial Commission on Thursday also voted in favor of the amalgamation of pore space in the storage facility area. Pore space is the part of the subsurface that is porous enough for liquid and gas to flow through. Amalgamation is the process of requiring pore space owned by those who did not accept easements to be included in the storage facility. About 91% of landowners agreed to easements related to this project prior to amalgamation. Landowners who did not agree to easements will still receive compensation, according to Helms. Everybody within the storage facility area will be equitably treated," he said. Carbon storage projects have encountered pushback across North Dakota as the state seeks to reduce emissions while simultaneously keeping its carbon-intensive industries alive. Emission reductions will be required to get the states production in line with the growing number of markets that have stricter environmental standards and regulations. Critics of carbon storage technology question its viability in reducing emissions and point to potential health risks that may arise if a pipeline were to leak. Gov. Doug Burgum said he is excited to see the project go through. Love that 91% number," he said. That dispels a lot of concerns for folks, so thats just great. On Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkars birth anniversary on May 28, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in a video message on Twitter: It is Savarkars teaching that we have made nationalism the pivot for nation building. A year later, on the 140th birth anniversary of Savarkar, the prime minister is all set to inaugurate the new parliament building by installing the 77-year-old Sengol (sceptre) a symbol of sovereignty, strength and righteousness. Even though the central governments decision to bring the Sengol back to the national capital sparked a debate and discussion about the BJPs Tamil outreach by including their tradition and culture into national politics there are several other arguments behind it as well. The primary one is controlling the Hindutva and Bharartiya narrative. The date chosen for the inauguration, the procedures and rituals designed to mark the ceremony are crucial and relevant for the upcoming political developments, especially the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Senior politicians and experts said it was also a veiled reminder from the government on how the Congress-led government treated Indian culture in the past, and how the party wronged Savarkar. Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the economic advisory council to the prime minister of India, told News18, I am very pleased that the Sengol has been brought back. It symbolises both transfer of sovereignty to the Indian people after centuries of foreign occupation, and also symbolises the continuity of an ancient civilisation. It is shocking that most Indians were unaware of its existence all these years. Sanyal, also an author, has written several books on Indian history and traditions. The decision of bringing and establishing the Sengol to the new parliament building symbolises an integration of north and south, said union home minister Amit Shah while announcing the Centres decision on Wednesday. According to political experts, it is one of the many efforts of the government to bring the focus back on ancient Indian traditions, history and civilisational facts and, thereby, dominate the narrative of Indianness and decolonisation. It is definitely not special about Tamil outreach, but it is about the national ethos. There used to be different kinds of kingdoms in ancient India. In the Tamil epic Silappathikaram, Sengol was mentioned as a tradition observed in Kerala kingdoms as well. It is a symbol of ensuring rule of law, sanctity of government. Sengol should not be confined to language or state, let us not fall into the trap of bifurcating states, culture and languages. Culture is constant and immortal. It is about decolonising, bringing back the Indianness and Indian ethos, said Sachchidanand Joshi, member secretary, executive and academic head of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). He added: It is not only putting us away from history and lineage, but a deliberate attempt to put us in an inferiority complex not only by foreign rulers but also by some of our former governments. Savarkar, Sengol and Swatantrata There has been dismay among intellectuals and politicians about the nondescript location of the Sengol for decades as many of them took to social media to post photos of it in the museum and expressed anguish over it. The day happens to be Savarkars birthday. Vinayak Savarkar was a very important part of our freedom struggle, and it is a befitting tribute to him as well, said Sanyal, who is the author of Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won its Freedom. There are senior officers, important members in the government who claim that the date was only a coincidence, not a conscious decision; there is another section in the RSS-BJP who feel all of these the date, Vedic rituals, decision to bring in history, tradition and the historic 77-year-old Sengol (sceptre) are intertwined. Apart from using the ancient symbol and Hindu rituals as the pivot of the process, the government and the new Parliament Bhawan, this is also a way to dominate the political narrative about Indianness. This is also a part of the decolonisation process and the new governments efforts to celebrate swatantrata in the Amrit Kaal, said a senior historian, who is also a member of the RSS. On a day when 19 opposition parties and the AIMIM separately boycotted the inaugural ceremony, citing the programme as an instance of sidelining the high office of the President of India, Shah announced the governments decision to install the gold-plated silver staff known as sengol in Tamil, the official and royal symbol of power transfer in southern India in the new Parliament building. top videos He also added that the Sengol almost disappeared from peoples view and memory. It was kept in former PM Jawaharlal Nehrus ancestral house for years and traced in a museum in Allahabad. It was labelled as golden walking stick gifted to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, many intellectuals wrote on social media while sharing its pictures. There are many such ancient materials and symbols that this government will bring back and present before people. This is how the process of decolonisation will progress in the Amrit Kaal, said a central minister. Having won the assembly elections is just part of the battle won for the Congress in Karnataka, as the sword of dissension continues to hang over the Siddaramaiah-led government. The Congress high command may have temporarily quelled the internal unrest regarding the selection of the chief minister, but the process of picking ministers for the cabinet clearly requires a tougher strategy and some firm decisions. Despite efforts to present a successful partnership between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, it is evident to keen observers that all is not well. ALSO READ | Southern Slice | In Congress Relay Race, Theres A New Hurdle Selecting A Well-balanced Cabinet The Congress is functioning like a coalition government between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar," joked a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister. KAUN BANEGA MANTRI? Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are facing mounting pressure from their loyal supporters to finalize the cabinet allocation before the coming weekend. Each of them wants to accommodate their own MLAs, and they seem to disagree on the selection of ministers. Amid strife, it is learnt that around 22 additional ministers are expected to be sworn in by the end of the week, fuelled by escalating demands for prompt portfolio assignments. With the government preparing to fulfill its five major pledges to the electorate, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister find themselves compelled to promptly delegate responsibilities to these ministers. The Congress also finds itself in a unique dilemma, caught in a web of abundance. With 135 elected MLAs and only 34 ministerial berths, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are certainly treading cautiously. ALSO READ | Why Karnatakas New CM Siddaramaiah Chose to Stair Clear of Vidhan Soudha Jinx for Swearing-in The two are grappling with intensifying pressure from their loyalists, all competing for coveted positions in the cabinet. Prominent members from the Lingayat, Banjara, Muslim and Vokkaliga communities have actively engaged in fervent lobbying efforts, with some even traveling to Delhi to impress upon the Congress national leadership why they should be included in the cabinet. Balancing caste and regional representation within the cabinet, while also considering seniority and loyalty, poses a formidable challenge for Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. FRESH FACES VERSUS EXPERIENCED LEADERS Adding to this predicament is another challenge. A senior Congressman hinted that the high command seems reluctant to include seasoned veterans in the first round of the full-fledged cabinet, as they want to reward a section of MLAs for their efforts in bringing the party to power and also introduce young fresh faces as ministers. The existing cabinet presently comprises eight ministers, excluding Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The Congress high command had cleared the names of legislators for the initial round of cabinet posts to accommodate a combination of caste, community and seniority. The list of eight names was meticulously curated, including MLAs who garnered unanimous approval without objections from either factionSiddu or DKS. ALSO READ | I Am Not Happy: Why Shivakumar Asked Congress Cadre To Not Come To His Or Siddaramaiahs House Armed with their respective lists, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar individually embarked on trips to Delhi, with each leader given an opportunity to propose their preferred names and provide justifications for their inclusion in the cabinet. After intense deliberations and heated arguments, both Siddu and Shivakumar were allowed to suggest five names each as their choices for ministers, and the high command will choose another 8 to 10 names. The probable names for ministerial positions include Byrathi Suresh, Krishna Byre Gowda, Laxman Savadi, BK Hariprasad, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Saleem Ahmed, Santosh Lad, Tanveer Sait, Dinesh Gundu Rao, HK Patil, Eshwar Khandre, and Dr HC Mahadevappa. However, there is also deliberation that a sizable number of ministers may come from the Lingayat community, which voted in favour of the party and significantly contributed to its success in the Kalyana Karnataka region. WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK, ASKS BOMMAI The delay in cabinet appointments has given the BJP an opportunity to criticize the ruling party, and former CM Basavaraj Bommai promptly expressed his concerns over the delay in portfolio allocation. Seeking a response from Siddaramaiah, the conversation on the floor of the assembly went as follows: I am happy that the Chief Minister has introduced his ministers to the House; they have all worked as Ministers in the past. Congratulations to the Chief Minister and all the Ministers, but it would have been appropriate if the Chief Minister had introduced Ministers after allocating portfolios to them. He could have introduced them by saying DK Shivakumar is the Minister for this G Parameshwara is the Minister for this" Why has it not happened? It should be done at the earliest. In my opinion, if it is done at the earliest, it will be good," Bommai said. Amused yet firm, Siddaramaiah quipped that he will allocate responsibilities at the earliest. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to respond, Siddu asked Bommai a question in return. ALSO READ | Can Give Sharp Response But: Shivakumars Brother on No Power Sharing Formula Claims How long was BS Yediyurappa alone in the cabinet as the Chief Minister? Mr Former Chief Minister (referring to Bommai), you need not have any doubts about our cabinet. They (Siddaramaiahs eight ministers) will all be given responsibility at the earliest," he said. In July 2019, then BJP Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa operated as a one-member cabinet for over three weeks when the BJP assumed power after the collapse of the JDS-Congress coalition regime. Not wanting to let go of the verbal duel, Bommai retorted, saying that Yediyurappa was all by himself when he was sworn in. In your case, the Ministers have already taken oath. You have made them ministers and havent handed them any responsibility. What will the people think," asked the former CM. No one will think anything. If you, the opposition, dont think otherwise, it will be more than enough," Siddaramaiah responded. Bommai once again responded, saying he was speaking on behalf of the newly appointed Congress ministers. Siddaramaiah replied with a thank you for your suggestion. SIDDU VS DKS: SHARED OR FULL TERM? Its not just the cabinet, but statements from the Siddaramaiah camp that have also been causing constant consternation in the Shivakumar camp. A recent statement by Minister MB Patil, who is closely associated with Siddaramaiah, stated that the former would continue as the CM for the full five-year term. Internally, in a meeting between Sonia Gandhi, Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi, it was discussed that the Deputy CM should wait for a couple of years, clear his Income Tax (I-T) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases, and be ready to take over the reins of the government from Siddaramaiah, who would be 78 years old by then. A younger Shivakumar could lead the state into the next election with him possibly at the helm. ALSO READ | Did Missing Raj Yog in Kundli Shatter Shivakumars CM Dream? On Gurus Advice, Siddas Deputy Waits in Wings DK (as Shivakumar is popularly called) is to be credited for the Congress win this time, and he will be rewarded. We have the word of Soniaji on this. We will wait, and it will be a sweet wait," said a Shivakumar camp MLA who is also vying to be a minister. HIJAB, HALAL BAN Another issue that seems to be troubling the Congress is the revocation of the ban on hijab, halal and other communal-based laws implemented by the previous BJP government. During the campaign for the May 10 Assembly polls, the Congress, including Shivakumar, campaigned, stating that they would remove the ban once they assume power in the state. Cabinet Minister Priyank Kharge also recently reiterated that the Congress is committed to revoking the laws banning hijab, halal, on superstitions and cow slaughter. Sources indicate that the Congress is cautiously approaching this matter, considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party aims to avoid giving the BJP an opportunity to capitalize on the issue. However, some party leaders believe that the matter should be pursued, including the proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal in the partys manifesto, which has previously yielded positive results. A decision on this will be made soon, according to a Congress insider. top videos Sources suggest that the party is also contemplating implementing its decision to construct a 114-foot tall Jesus Christ statue in Kapalabetta near Kanakapura town, intended to be the worlds largest Christ statue. Kanakapura also happens to be Shivakumars constituency. As a result of the discussions to finalize the ministers for Karnataka, which reached an impasse on Thursday, crucial meetings between Congresss top leaders and their counterparts from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had to be postponed. This is not the time for debate, this is the time to save parliamentary democracy, said NCP chief and Congress ally Sharad Pawar as he addressed a joint press conference with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, assuring that the people of Maharashtra would support the AAP in its crusade against the May 19 ordinance. The NCP chief said this is not an issue restricted to Delhi or the Aam Aadmi Party but is a question on safeguarding the power of elected governments to govern. Going a step further, the veteran politician, citing his 56 years of experience, said he would travel to various states to garner support of non-BJP political parties for the same. We have to focus on uniting all non-BJP parties. To ensure that all non-BJP parties support Arvind Kejriwal is our duty, said Pawar in an apparent message for ally Congress, which is yet to take a stand on the Centres Delhi ordinance. Seizing the moment, Kejriwal said: I will formally seek time for a meeting with Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi tomorrow (May 25). After decimating the Congress to zero in the Delhi Assembly, this is the first time that the AAP chief has publicly and openly sought support from the top brass in the Grand Old Party. Ahead of the 2019 elections, Kejriwal had met Rahul Gandhi at Pawars residence in Delhi for a brief time. However, talks fell through as the Congress and AAP could not agree on who should fight on how many seats. Meanwhile, the Left parties who have been with the Congress in Parliament CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), RSP, Forward Bloc have already announced their opposition to the Centres ordinance. In fact, on May 24, they became the first to have demonstrated on the streets against the ordinance. On May 25, the CPI(M)s mouthpiece, Peoples Democracy, called upon the Supreme Court to nullify the ordinance and political parties to unite against it. 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 in Parliament. Taking special note of the Congress, the CPI(M)s mouthpiece said: The Congress party should stop dithering on 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 a basic attack on democracy and federalism. Terming it an indicator of opposition unity ahead of 2014, the CPI(M) mouthpiece said: 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. In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the BJP and announced her partys opposition to the ordinance, requesting other political parties to do the same. I appeal to all parties. This is a chance for all of us to come together as the Opposition and send a big message across the nation that we can defeat the BJP in the Rajya Sabha and discard the ordinance. Similarly, in Mumbai, former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, an ally of the Congress, also threw the weight of his party behind Kejriwal. We all have come together to save the country and democracy. I think we should not be called opposition parties. In fact, they (the Centre) should be called opposition since they are against democracy and the Constitution. Also supporting Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav said: We have come to give full support to Kejriwal-ji for the manner in which he is being harassed. The central government is doing injustice especially after the SC verdict makes everything clear. They (central government) are discriminating against non-BJP governments in states. They want to change the Constitution. There is a threat to democracy. In fact, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, who is on a mission to unite the Opposition against the BJP ahead of the big battle in 2024, has already spoken to Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, impressing on the latter to support the AAP in its fight. However, after the meeting, general secretary KC Venugopal tweeted: The Congress party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgement on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi . It will consult its state units & other like-minded parties on the same. top videos In a veiled reference to the AAP, the general secretary added: The party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party. The Centre has six months to bring in the ordinance in the form of a bill in Parliament. It may not be in a tearing hurry to do so. However, pressure from allies, former allies and potential allies is mounting on the Congress party, particularly amidst talks of opposition unity ahead of 2024. On May 25 , as Kejriwal wound up the first leg of his campaign for support of opposition parties against the May 19 ordinance after visits to West Bengal and Maharashtra, he bagged the public support of JD(U), TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT), the Left parties and NCP. Now, its time to dial the Congress party. Once again. Baidu, the Chinese search giant, will very soon launch its own generative AI model called Ernie 3.5. According to Reuters, Ernie 3.5a large language model (LLM)will power Baidus ChatGPT-like chatbot, Ernie Bot, and help in upgrading its search engine. This development comes after Baidu CEO Robin Li announced the same at the Zhongguancun Forum, which is widely regarded as one of Chinas most acclaimed technology forums. Baidu, just a couple of months ago, launched its Ernie bot to a mixed reception. Reuters notes that after the mixed reviews, Baidu has kept its products, including the Ernie Bot and Ernie 3.5 LLM, in a trial mode. At a global level, Americawith Microsoft-backed OpenAIgot the first movers advantage when it comes to generative AI after it launched ChatGPT back in November 2022. Microsoft, with its billion dollar investments in OpenAI, beat Google and other conglomerates at launching generative AI publicly first. Later, Google revealed Bardits own chatbot powered by LaMDAwhich was later switched to PaLM 2 (unveiled at Google I/O 2023). Witnessing the rapid growth from American companies, the Chinese search giant Baidu could be looking at evening the odds with its American counterparts as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence commitment with Ernie 3.5. top videos Geoffery Hinton, considered one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, left his job at Google to openly discuss the risks associated with generative AI chatbots. However, he also clarified that he does not regret his involvement in developing generative AI at Google. Speaking to BBC, Hinton claimed that international competition would mean that a pause would be difficult and if everybody in the US stopped developing it, China would just get a big lead. The Nothing Phone (2), which will be the successor to the much-hyped Nothing Phone (1), is set to launch in July, as confirmed by CEO Carl Pei in an interview with Forbes. Previously, some concrete information had already been confirmed about the device, including the chipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. However, Carl Pei has now revealed that the device will be equipped with a 4700 mAh battery, surpassing the 4500 mAh battery cell found in the outgoing Nothing Phone (1). Regarding aesthetics and design, very little is currently known about the device, except for a short teaser released by the company earlier this year. From the teaser, it is evident that the Nothing Phone (2) will feature a design reminiscent of the Nothing Phone (1)indicating a likely transparent back panel adorned with the signature glyph lighting interface that garnered attention for the first phone. The companys teaser also unveiled a red LED indicator on the back and the presence of a mysterious switch, though it remains unknown if the switch will serve a functional purpose or purely contribute to the devices aesthetics. Moving forward, it is expected that the company will gradually release more information in small increments to generate hype and excitement among potential buyers and the tech communitya strategy successfully employed during the launch of the original Nothing Phone (1). top videos The Nothing Phone (2) is also anticipated to feature upgraded cameras, further improving upon its predecessor. During his series of reviews for rival products, Carl Pei emphasized that the camera is a top priority for Nothing. While acknowledging that their software may lag behind some competitors, the company is actively working to improve the overall camera experience for consumers. As for pricing in India, there is currently limited information available. However, considering the inclusion of a flagship-grade Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipseta price increase is likely. Realistically, the phone is expected to fall within the price range of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000a bracket also shared by the rival OnePlus 11R. A Florida man lost his arm after being mauled inside a lake by a deadly alligator. The incident occurred at Port Charlotte on early Sunday morning. During the terrifying attack, the dangerous reptile bit the mans right arm just above the elbow. Identified to be Jordan Rivera, the 23-year-old reveals he went near the lake to pee, as per NBC. He doesnt remember much about the traumatic event but what he does recall is the long bathroom queue of the bar he was at. Instead of waiting in line, Jordan decided to take a walk near the lake to pee when he fell into the water. I was going over there something happened where I either tripped or the ground below me just went down, he said. The last thing he remembers is ending up in the water and what happens later is kind of a blur to him. The next memory of Jordan remains is waking up at the hospital and realising that the alligator ate his arm. While talking about losing his arm, Jordan added, It kind of feels like my arm is just there, but not there. He shared the story of his survival from the hospital bed and chooses to be optimistic. Even though it is the craziest thing that he had to incur, the Florida man has decided to have a positive attitude towards life. I didnt lose my life, I lost an arm, its not the end of the world, you know, he explained. It was the people at the bar who came to his rescue. Not only did they manage to pull Jordan out of the water, but they also wrapped his arm with a tourniquet, a device that is wrapped tightly around to stop heavy blood flow. top videos For the survivor, all the people involved in his rescue are nothing less than angels. In addition to this, the coincidence of someone having the medical device with them seems like a miracle to him. I call them angels, that were there, that saved his life. The chance of someone being there with a tourniquet, to me, its a miracle that hes here, said Jordan. The Florida man hasnt recovered entirely as of yet. Doctors are yet to perform another procedure to remove bacteria around the wound. The world of culture has recently been turned upside down by the prowess of artificial intelligence software. Such technology can now generate stunning creations, often imitating the style" of a certain creator. One such work has now joined the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm. The Impossible Statue" takes the form of a stainless steel sculpture representing a human figure holding a golden globe in one of its hands. To the untrained eye, this may look like a new work of art, but more erudite art lovers might notice references to Michelangelo or Rodin. And for good reason, since The Impossible Statue" was designed by training several artificial intelligence programs using the masterpieces of five of the most important sculptors in the history of art, namely Michelangelo, Rodin, Kathe Kollwitz, Takamura Kotaro and Augusta Savage. Behind this technological feat are the consulting firm The A.I. Framework and Sandvik, an engineering company specializing in metalworking. According to Artnet News, Sandvik teams selected the stylistic characteristics of each sculptor that they wanted to be reflected in their creation, and then generated several images with DALL-E, Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. Once they were satisfied with the result, they transformed this 2D image into a 3D model and, later, into a 1.5-meter high, 500-kilogram statue. top videos For Peter Skogh, director of the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm, The Impossible Statue" shows how artificial intelligence can drive artistic creation. The Impossible Statue is a great example of what the combination of modern technology and human brilliance can create," he said in a statement reported by Artnet News. Our mission is to create a broader understanding of the possibilities of technology and to stimulate the next generation. This project is ticking all the boxes for us." The Impossible Statue" is now on display in a new gallery dedicated to artificial intelligence at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm. Many cultural institutions are now interested in this technology, either as an exhibition theme in its own right or as a tool to rethink the museum experience and the way it welcomes visitors. A revolution in the making. Traces of alcohol and cocaine consumption have been found in the body of PTI chairman Imran Khan, Pakistans health minister Abdul Qadir Patel said on Friday while citing details of the former prime ministers medical report prepared by the PIMS hospital based on samples taken after his arrest on May 9 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He said that a medical board was constituted shortly after the arrest of the deposed premier which included renowned psychologist, Dr Rizwan Taj, orthopedic medicine experts, and medico-legal specialists. On May 9, Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi was presented before the medical board for examination. When he was taken into custody by NAB, he was in an intoxicated state," Patel said during a press conference in Islamabad. top videos The minister said the report did not have any details about the fracture on his leg, which Khan claimed he sustained during an assassination attempt on his life in November 2022. He said Imran Khan had a plaster on his leg for about five to six months, but there was no fracture as per the medical report. A copy of the report circulating on social media reads, The gentleman was examined and appears under stress with anxiety symptoms. There was extensive anger/anxiety about the events happening in the last few weeks. He had little insight about the seriousness and reality of the current situation. The mental stability is questionable. There were some inappropriate gestures. An ongoing wave of Covid-19 infections in China has forced authorities to step up vaccination programmes in order to arrest the recent spike. This spike in cases is expected to peak in June and infect as many as 65 million people a week, the Washington Post reported. The report pointed out that the new XBB variants of Covid-19 are mutating to overcome the immunity developed after China departed its Covid Zero policy last year. The report cited Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan who on Monday announced two new vaccinations for the XBB omicron sub variants (including XBB. 1.9.1, XBB. 1.5, and XBB. 1.16) were given preliminary approval. Three to four other new vaccines will also soon receive approval. When China lifted Covid Zero last winter at least 85% of the population fell sick at that time. This new wave could be the largest number of infections recorded since the lifting of the stringent measures. However, Chinese officials claim that the current wave will be less severe. They pointed out that the elderly population is at risk and vigorous vaccination campaigns must be mounted to prevent them from getting infected. 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. Even when we think this is a milder wave, it could still have quite a substantial health impact on the community, an epidemiologist was quoted as saying by the Washington Post. The Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has observed a significant increase in Covid cases, surpassing flu, making it the prevailing infectious disease during the last two weeks of April. Amid concerns, Chinese experts told the Washington Post that reinfections will have milder symptoms and hospitals wont be overwhelmed like they did during the previous winter. top videos Certain medical facilities are advising mask-wearing and avoiding crowded places for vulnerable individuals and senior citizens. China has recorded over 99 million Covid-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Experts believe that the number could be much higher than this figure. Over 121,144 have died due to Covid-19 in China and experts believe that this number also is not a true reflection of Covid deaths in the country. The issue of human rights abuses and the fear of dissidents of the government as well as the army being tried under the Pakistan Army Act and trials in military courts is serving as a wake up call for people living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). A section of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have already distanced themselves from Imran Khan since the army has made it clear that those who stand with him will face the wrath of the law. Amidst all of these events, human rights abuses continue unabated in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Recent arrests under the draconian Army Act have heightened fears among the people living there. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan feel they are being held hostage by Islamabad. Separatist leader Sheikh Hassan Johri from the Gilgit-Baltistan region warned the Pakistan Army, demanding justice and equal rights. Accusing the current regime of fascism, he labelled interior minister Rana Sanaullah as a terrorist. Johris speech on May 18, 2023, has further intensified the tensions in the region. Separatist leaders have also organised marches against the Army as well as against taxes levied on the residents of the region. Leave Imran Khan or face military courts The human rights watchdogs in Pakistan and the judiciary are helpless as they could not take any action on the 8,000 arrests that have been made since May 9 without FIRs. The US and the UN have raised the alarm regarding the disturbing plan to revive the use of military courts to try civilians. They fear that there is no rule of law in Pakistan. We call for the respect and equal application of democratic principles, freedom of expression, and rule of law around the world, and of course in Pakistan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said while the UNHRC Chief, Volker Turk, voiced his concern over these issues. top videos Imran Khan has asked Western nations for help but help is yet to arrive. Pakistan has shot back at the US saying that the use of draconian military rule is its internal issue. State Minister Hina Rabbani Khar argued that trials under the Army Act are Pakistans internal issue. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. North Dakota's Legislative Management Committee has approved 49 studies to be conducted in the interim between the recently concluded Legislature and the 2025 session, on topics ranging from energy to child care. Twenty-one of them are required studies; 28 were optional. Legislative Management guides the Legislature between sessions. The Legislature adjourned April 30, and Legislative Management met Thursday, Prairie Public reported. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, the committee chairman, said the average number of studies over the last three bienniums has been between 45 and 49. Studies result from bills changed into studies or as part of larger legislation. Turning a bill into a study is sometimes used as a method to defeat controversial legislation. Studies can lead to recommendations for legislation in the next session, while some research will indicate changes in policy aren't necessary. Mandatory study topics this interim include charitable gambling issues, state laws that restrict carrying of guns, and impacts of term limits voters approved last fall for the governor and lawmakers. One of the optional studies the committee approved is a study concerning electric vehicles. Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, spoke in favor of it. He said the state Department of Transportation will be receiving $25 million in the next biennium for charging stations. He said the study will look at the adequacy of that spending. "There are people deciding whether or not to come to North Dakota, based on plug-in stations," Mathern said. "Whether we do more or not, we certainly need to learn more about this demand coming in our future." Another optional study approved by the committee will look at the impacts of replacing school snow days with virtual instruction days. Online learning technology was implemented during the coronavirus pandemic. The Legislature agreed that school districts could use it instead of snow days, so schools could receive state payment for those days and don't have to do makeup days. Sen. Kyle Davison, R-Fargo, said that when the Legislature gave local districts more flexibility in terms of snow days, it came with the caveat that the Legislature would monitor the investment in updating curriculum so students could be online. "We told them that when we changed this law to allow this flexibility, we would monitor this, and we would keep an eye on what the feedback was, and how the different districts were handling these virtual days," he said. Davison said his intent is not to have a gotcha study. "It's to build in the knowledge of how this is impacting schools," he said. Some other optional studies that were approved include the makeup and performance of the North Dakota High School Activities Association, the accessibility of natural gas in small communities, ways to "maximize the economic viability" of existing energy sources, the leasing of state facilities, possible upgrading of the state Supreme Court building, homelessness and barriers to housing, transportation for older adults and people with disabilities, the potential impacts of artificial intelligence, the child welfare system including American Indian child welfare, and child care infrastructure. A full list is at bit.ly/43pCAbu. Legislative Council, the Legislature's research arm, will now send out surveys to lawmakers, to gauge their interest in studies. There likely will be 26 interim study committees appointed once the surveys are returned. Lefor also appointed Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, to chair the Legislature's Budget Section. Rep. Don Vigesaa, R-Cooperstown, will be the section's vice-chair. 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 Britains tax department described as one of the countrys 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 Majestys 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. 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 todays sentencing, said Eamonn ONeill, 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 gangs 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. top videos The HMRC said that Patels 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. A recently released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document has showed that late British monarch Queen Elizabeth II faced a possible assassination threat during her 1983 visit to the United States. The revelation was made after the FBI released a cache of files relating to the Queens travels to the US after her death in September last year. The document showed that the US authorities braced from threats of Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the late Queens visit. The assassination threat was made to a police officer in San Francisco, who drank regularly at an Irish pub, BBC reported. The report said that the American officer warned federal agents about a man who he knew through the pub sought revenge for his daughter who had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet". The threat was made on February 4, 1983, a month ahead of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philips visit to California. The plot involved attempting to drop an object from the Golden Gate Bridge as the royal yacht Britannia sailed beneath it. 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 document stated. The Secret Service planned to close the walkaways on the Golden Gate Bridge as the yacht nears. However, it is unclear what measures were taken, but the visit went ahead and there were no arrests. The 102-page document was uploaded to the FBIs information website on Monday following a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by US media outlets. There were also warnings of an attack by IRA sympathisers during a visit in 1981, the report added. The late Queens state visits to the US, including the 1983 visit, came during heightened tensions amid the tensions in Northern Ireland. top videos The report further said that an internal FBI memo from 1989 read that the possibility of threats against the British Monarchy is ever-present from the Irish Republican Army (IRA)". Elizabeths second cousin Lord Mountbatten was killed after explosives were detonated on his boat by IRA in the Republic of Ireland in 1979. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" will embark on a four-day official visit to India from May 31 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Foreign Ministry sources said here on Friday. This will be Prachandas first foreign visit after assuming the high office for the third time in December last year. Foreign Ministry sources here said the visit will take place from May 31 to June 3 and the Ministry will make a formal announcement on Saturday. The foreign ministry will make a formal announcement of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachandas official visit to India on Saturday. The visit will take place from May 31 to June 3 and he will hold high-profile meetings, including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on bilateral ties," the official, who is an aide to Foreign Minister N P Saud, said. "The preparations for the visit have reached its final stage. Foreign Minister Saud last week held consultations with former foreign ministers and foreign Secretaries to discuss various issues related to the visit," the official said. top videos Meanwhile, Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma called on Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar in New Delhi this week and discussed Prime Minister Prachanda's upcoming visit. Matters related to energy cooperation, water resources, trade, commerce, transit, and infrastructure would mainly figure during the bilateral talks in Delhi between the two leaders, according to foreign ministry sources. Pakistan military officials were in touch with Imran Khans party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf during the May 9 violence and 23 serving officers have been taken in custody by the Pakistan army for interrogation, sources have revealed. Pakistan army has started investigation against its own military officers allegedly involved in the violence following former prime minister Imran Khans arrest in a corruption case in Islamabad, sources told CNN-News18. The army officials were allegedly responsible for helping and felicitating PTI protestors; and revealing disclosed locations of army installations. Top sources claimed that 23 serving officers have been taken into custody for interrogation. A joint team of Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been formed to inquire and investigate the arrested officers. The officials had revealed the information about the army installations including the Army headquarters and Corps Commander House in Lahore. The Corps Commander Conference and National Security Committee meetings have already approved the trails of arsonists, abettors and facilitators under Pakistan Army Act and Officials Secret Act of Pakistan. Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir on Thursday said that the nation will neither forgive nor forget" those involved in the attacks on the memorials of martyrs". In his address, Gen Munir said that the nation will neither forgive nor forget those who desecrated the memorials of martyrs and undermined their dignity". Such behaviour will not be tolerated," he added. On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises. PTI 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 mob also stormed the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi for the first time. top videos Since the widespread violence, the government has cracked down on Khans supporters, arresting thousands of people and threatening trials before military courts. 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. Phillip Schofield, the 61-year-old popular UK television presenter, has made a stunning exit from British broadcast network ITV and confessed to engaging in an affair with a younger male colleague on the daytime TV program This Morning" while he was still married. Schofield, who stepped down from his presenting duties on the show last Saturday, characterized the relationship as a consensual on-off" one, acknowledging that it was unwise but not illegal, The Guardian reported. Expressing remorse for his actions, Schofield admitted to lying about the affair to various parties, including ITV and friends. In an interview with UKs Daily Mail, he revealed that he had concealed the truth about the relationship in an effort to protect his ex-colleague. Schofield expressed profound regret for deceiving his employers at ITV, his colleagues and friends, his agents, the media, the public and his family. He apologised sincerely for his unfaithfulness to his wife, Stephanie Lowe, with whom he had been married for 30 years. As per the British daily, the UK presenter had previously planned time off during his brothers sex abuse trial, which concluded with his brother, Timothy Schofield, being convicted of 11 sexual offenses involving a child. Schofield, through his lawyers, expressed deep regret for ending his 35-year association with YMU, a company he regarded as faultless in their management of his career. Schofield began his career as a bookings clerk at the BBC before venturing to New Zealand, where he pursued TV and radio work. He returned to the UK in 1985 and gained prominence as a continuity announcer for Childrens BBC, co-hosting the Saturday morning show Going Live" from 1987 to 1993. Schofield joined This Morning" in 2002, according to the Guardian. top videos In February 2020, Schofield publicly revealed that he is gay and expressed gratitude to his wife, Stephanie, for her remarkable support. He shares two adult children, Molly and Ruby, with Stephanie. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Chinas special envoy Li Hui on Friday that there were serious obstacles" to resuming peace talks, blaming Ukraine and Western countries. The Russian foreign minister reaffirmed Moscows commitment to a political-diplomatic resolution of the conflict, noting the serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western mentors," the foreign ministry said. During the meeting with Li, who was Chinas ambassador in Russia between 2009 and 2019, Lavrov also praised Beijings balanced" position on Ukraine. While China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for its offensive. Both sides expressed readiness to further strengthen Russian-Chinese foreign policy cooperation, invariably aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the region and on the planet as a whole," the Russian foreign ministry said. The Chinese envoys visit to the Russian capital came after Li met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv earlier this month. Li has said there is no panacea to resolve the crisis". top videos Since the start of Moscows assault on Ukraine, Beijing and Moscow have drawn closer under a partnership that has served as a diplomatic bulwark against the West. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow in March, saying ties were entering a new era". A Mississippi police officer who shot and wounded an unarmed 11-year-old Black boy in the childs home should be fired, an attorney for the childs 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 was the worst moment in my life and I feel like nobody cares. Thats my child, yall," 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. 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. top videos 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. President Joe Biden declared Thursday the United States would avoid a disastrous credit default even as lawmakers went on a 10-day break without a deal on raising the nations borrowing limit to keep paying the bills. There are seven days until June 1 the earliest possible point when the government estimates it could run out of money to service its debts and missed loan repayments would likely spark a recession, roiling world markets. But members of the House of Representatives began hitting the road for the Memorial Day recess after their final vote Thursday morning and are not due to return until June 4. There will be no default," Biden said at the White House, adding that his negotiations with Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who leads the narrow majority in the House of Representatives, had been productive." But Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed the Republicans from the House floor, accusing them of having abandoned their jobs in Washington to risk a dangerous default in a crisis that theyve created." And these Republicans, theyre going to say that Joe Biden refused to sit down with them," he added. Thats a fake narrative that theyve continued to try to put into the public domain." House Republicans are demanding cuts of up to $130 billion, with spending next year capped to 2022 levels, in return for their votes to raise the borrowing cap. They also want tightened work requirements for benefits claimants and a clawback of unspent pandemic aid dollars. - Military readiness - Democrats reject the proposed cuts and want the Republicans to sign off on a no-strings-attached hike, as they have dozens of times in the past. Economists have spent months raising the prospect of economic catastrophe should the government default, and top military brass added their own dire prognosis Thursday, warning that the crisis would have a significant negative impact" on troops. Readiness clearly would be impacted. So our large-scale exercises that we do at various training centers would probably either slow down or come to a halt in many, many cases," Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. McCarthy has said lawmakers will get 24 hours notice if they are required to return for a vote during the recess, with negotiators for the Republicans and the White House reportedly closing the gap on their differences. Speaking on Fox News Thursday, the speaker rejected demands for a clean" bill and added that he would not agree to tax increases on corporations or the rich as an alternative to cuts for reducing the nations $31 trillion-plus debt burden. - Manufactured crisis - McCarthy pointed to a CNN poll out this week in which showed 60 percent support for a debt ceiling hike if accompanied by cuts, although 51 percent of respondents in a new Monmouth University survey said they wanted the two issues to be separated. We know where our differences are, and we will continue to be at the table to try to solve this problem," McCarthy said. Only one other democracy Denmark has a formal debt ceiling, but it is managed without the political high drama that periodically grips Washington. Raising the cap simply enables the government to make repayments on loans that have already been approved and carried out, and has no implications for future spending. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told investors at a conference in Washington the default threat was a manufactured crisis" that was already making borrowing more expensive and costing Americans money. top videos A batch of Social Security payments worth about $25 billion is scheduled to go out on June 2 and those payments could be halted if the Treasury Department is unable to cover loan repayments. A federal judge in Boston has set a May 31 hearing for a lawsuit filed by unionists contending that the 14th Amendment requires Biden to borrow funds to pay US obligations, regardless of what Congress does. United States Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin will travel to New Delhi from next week, US Department of Defence said in a statement announcing his trip to Japan, Singapore, India and France. The US Defence Secretary will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders in India as the United States and New Delhi continue to modernise the US-India Major Defense Partnership, the statement said. The first stop in his four-nation trip is Tokyo where he will meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders and visit US troops stationed in Japan. Secretary Austin will visit New Delhi to meet with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernize the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership, the statement said. This visit provides an opportunity to accelerate new defense innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and drive ongoing efforts to expand operational cooperation between the US and Indian militaries, it added. Austin will begin his trip from Japan, as part of his seventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region. In Tokyo, he plans to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders and also visit the US troops stationed in Japan, it said. top videos According to the statement, Secretary Austins visit comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize Alliance capabilities, optimize US force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic US-Japan 2+2 Ministerial meeting earlier this year. After Singapore, Austin will visit New Delhi and then conclude his trip in France to participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day, and meet with French and the United Kingdom defense leaders, the statement added. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will next week visit new NATO member Finland where he will deliver a speech championing Ukraines defense against Russia, the State Department said Friday. Blinken will travel on June 1-2 to Helsinki after a meeting of the Western alliances foreign ministers in Oslo. He will first visit Sweden, which is also seeking to join NATO, and will meet all three countries prime ministers. In Helsinki, Blinken will meet deliver a speech to highlight all the ways in which Russias aggression against Ukraine has been a strategic failure," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. Blinken will outline our continued efforts to support Ukraines defense of its territory, sovereignty and democracy in pursuit of a just and durable peace," he said. The Oslo meeting will prepare for a summit of NATO leaders in July in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Several former Soviet bloc NATO members are seeking formal commitments to Ukraine at the summit, even if a formal offer to join looks distant. Dereck Hogan, the top US diplomat for Europe, indicated that the United States by far the largest military power in NATO was in no rush to make formal promises to Ukraine. Under NATOs Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. We will look for ways to support Ukraines Euro-Atlantic aspirations but right now," Hogan told reporters, the immediate needs in Ukraine are practical and so we should be focused on building Ukraines defense and deterrence capabilities." Hogan said Blinken would seek progress on the key deliverables" for Ukraine at the Vilnius summit but did not expect announcements in Oslo. Finland and Sweden, which long kept an official veneer of neutrality to avoid conflict with Moscow, both sought membership in NATO after Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, whose pre-war efforts to join the alliance were unsuccessful. Finland officially joined NATO in April. Turkey and Hungary have yet to give their blessing for Sweden to join NATO, whose accession decisions need unanimity. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pressed Stockholm over the presence in Sweden of members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Ankara considers terrorists. Western diplomats have voiced guarded hope that Turkey will lift its objections after Sundays second-round presidential election. top videos Hogan said that Swedens NATO bid would be part of our discussions" with Turkey after the election. Blinkens visit in Sweden will be to the northern city of Lulea where he will take part in talks of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, which among other issues has looked to set common standards in the face of Chinas advances. BERLIN -- A consortium of seven German museums has begun working with Beijing's Palace Museum to determine which of the thousands of Chinese artifacts in their collections were looted and smuggled out in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion. The researchers estimate that hundreds of porcelains, bronzes and picture scrolls could be implicated. In 1900, American, Austro-Hungarian, British, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian troops moved into north China to crush an uprising that targeted Christians and foreign and colonial influences. Their intervention was followed by an orgy of looting by soldiers, civilians and missionaries that did not spare Chinese imperial palaces, including Beijing's Forbidden City. The British Legation, for instance, held daily loot auctions for crowds of foreign bidders. By some accounts, 10 million artifacts were stolen from China during its "Century of Humiliation" between 1842 and 1945. Beijing's Forbidden City was one of the Chinese imperial palaces looted by soldiers, civilians and missionaries. Getty Images Germany has in recent years begun repatriating looted items from its colonial era. In 2018, Berlin returned skulls taken during the early 20th-century genocide committed by Germans in what is now the African nation of Namibia. German researchers' attentions subsequently turned to the legacy of the Boxer Rebellion, with Shanghai University joining their efforts in 2019. The Palace Museum last year also linked up with the project and has taken part in virtual meetings that started in December. The intention is to produce guidelines to serve as a robust basis for comprehensive investigations by other German and international museums into Boxer Rebellion art looting. The German investigators describe their provenance research as an internationally pioneering move that will ultimately make the other members of the Eight-Nation Alliance face questions about repatriation. "Our project paves the way for the repatriation of looted objects," said Christine Howald, Asia collections provenance researcher for the Berlin State Museums. She does not expect, however, that China will insist on getting all of the pieces back. "Art looting in the context of the Boxer Rebellion is a global issue, and our project has so far generated great interest as far as Australia, which has many Chinese pieces from that period in its museums despite not having been part of the Eight-Nation Alliance itself," she said. Mio Wakita, curator of the Asian art collection of the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna, told workshop participants in Berlin in March about studies of her museum's "Jesuit globe" that may have come from an imperial collection in Beijing. (Photo by Jens Kastner) On the German side, the current project, with total funding of 220,000 euros ($238,665), is due to end in November with completion of the guidelines. It is expected they will then be utilized for follow-up projects. The seven involved German museums initially each chose up to 20 Chinese pieces for deep research. The researchers are investigating materials, imagery and inscriptions as well as documents from German military archives and China's imperial workshops that could offer clues about the origins of the items. Chemical tests, X-rays and interviews with descendants of protagonists could be involved in follow-up investigations, Howald said. A workshop held by the seven involved German museums in Berlin on March 2 illustrated how exact attribution is a difficult task, not least because some art traders a century ago may have falsely claimed their artifacts belonged to imperial collections to command higher prices. Other difficulties derive from inconsistent romanization of Chinese words, geographic confusion in the diaries of German soldiers and the fact that looting of Chinese imperial palaces and mausoleums was also conducted by Chinese warlords in the 1920s. Among the pieces that have so far been linked to the Boxer Rebellion is a portrait of a Chinese military officer that was looted from the Winter Palace in Beijing, which served as the German forces' headquarters. Visitors take photos next to the ruins of Beijing's Winter Palace, another site that was looted. Getty Images In 1902, the painting was sold by a Berlin art shop to the Ethnological Museum of Berlin, which is home to a further 16 such portraits that might also be linked to the Boxer Rebellion. "Initial findings show that there is surprisingly strong linkage between German looting in African colonies and German looting in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion," Howald said. "Some key protagonists, such as military members, diplomats and art dealers, were highly active in both settings." East Germany and the Soviet Union both returned pieces looted during the Boxer Rebellion to China in the 1950s. In 2013, a visit to China by then-British Prime Minister David Cameron was overshadowed by criticism from the China Center for International Economic Exchanges that plundered artifacts kept in the British Museum were not being returned. On China's part, the protection of traditional artifacts and cultural relics has become a state strategy under President Xi Jinping amid an emphasis on the "great revival of the Chinese race." A portrait of a Chinese officer that has been linked to the looting of the Winter Palace in Beijing. (Courtesy of the Ethnological Museum of Berlin) Xi referred to "cultural relics and cultural heritage" in his first keynote address as secretary-general to the 2017 Communist Party Congress, stressing the need for strengthened protection. On a visit two years later to the ancient Silk Road oasis of Dunhuang in western China, he praised the role of a research center there in protecting and recovering artifacts from a "series of destruction and stealing." In March, the National Cultural Heritage Administration reiterated that it would "comprehensively implement and make into use" the spirit of Xi's directives on cultural relics. In his final presentation as premier to the annual National People's Congress in March, Li Keqiang also emphasized the importance of protecting cultural relics to "propagate outstanding traditional culture of the Chinese race." None of the scholars working with the Germans at Shanghai University nor the Palace Museum agreed to comment on the joint project. Chinese diplomats who joined the March 2 workshop in Berlin and other Chinese scholars did not reply to requests for comment. While Beijing looks set to welcome the repatriation of any looted artifacts from Germany, it can also be expected to gloss over the fact that their presence overseas may have kept them intact amid the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, said Steve Tsang, director of the University of London's SOAS China Institute. "Historical artifacts had been taken out of China at one time or another, and those that ended up in museums in various countries are well preserved, looked after and made available to the general public," he said. "It is entirely possible that if they had not been taken out and preserved in museums, many of them would have been destroyed in the Cultural Revolution," he said. "This is not a simple black-and-white matter, as advocates of the repatriation of historical artifacts' like to claim." Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is the national holiday observed in the United States to honor soldiers who died while serving the nation. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day became a national holiday in 1971 through an act of Congress, with its roots dating back to the era of the Civil War. Memorial Day pays tribute to all military members who have died while serving in US forces. Its Origins The holidays origins can be traced back to local commemorations for soldiers with neglected gravesites during the Civil War. The first observance that would later become Memorial Day took place in Charleston, S.C, USA News reported citing historian David Blight of Yale University. It occurred at a former horse racing track that had been turned into a prison for Union prisoners by the Confederates. One of the earliest Decoration Days occurred on April 25, 1866, in Columbus, Mississippi. Women decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers who died in the battle at Shiloh with flowers. On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the tradition of placing flowers on veterans graves continued with the establishment of Decoration Day by the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans. This tradition continues to thrive in cemeteries of all sizes across the country. How the US celebrates it? Its a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service. The holiday is observed in part by the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence. While originally dedicated solely to honoring Civil War soldiers, Memorial Day now encompasses all Americans who have served. World War I marked the expansion of the holidays scope to include soldiers from other conflicts. Various places in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, with states like Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania among those asserting ownership of its origins, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Why is Memorial Day in May? The timing of Memorial Day is believed to be influenced by Illinois U.S. Representative John A. Logan, a Democrat elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1858. Logan, an officer during the Mexican War and a strong supporter of the Union, advocated for Memorial Day to coincide with the full bloom of flowers nationwide, as stated by the National Museum of the U.S. Army. In 1888, Congress passed an act designating May 30 as a holiday in the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service. Since then, Memorial Day has been observed as the last Monday of May. In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance Act was signed into law by Congress and the President. This act created the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages individuals to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence. What Biden said US President Joe Biden said that the country can never fully repay the debt it owes these fallen heroes. But today, we vow to rededicate ourselves to the work for which they gave their lives, and we recommit to supporting the families, caregivers, and survivors they left behind," he said in a White House press statement. This is always a day where pain and pride are mixed together. To all those who are mourning the loss of a service member including Americas Gold Star Families we see you and grieve with you," he added. As per the National Moment of Remembrance, Biden encouraged all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 pm local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. top videos (With agency inputs) Struggling to make significant progress against Moscow, Western countries and Ukraine are fervently attempting to apprehend Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their pursuit is driven by what they perceive as war crimes committed by him during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. These nations are counting on the charges filed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova. The accusations stem from the alleged forcible deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. Russia too hasnt denied the claim and instead said that it has been saving children from Ukraines own army and not stealing them. Besides, some of the Western leaders are also highlighting an ongoing online campaign demanding Putins arrest when he lands in South Africa in late August this year for the BRICS Summit. The campaign already signed by over half a million people and addressed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and to all members of the ICC reads: Your authorities must arrest Putin if he sets foot on your territory, so he can be held accountable for the heinous war crimes he has committed, including the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. Whatever happens, August will represent a fork in the road. Either Putin attends the BRICS summit, risking arrest, or by staying away he exposes his fear of being arrested. Whichever outcome, a line will be crossed, wrote former UK prime minister Gordon Brown in The Guardian besides calling for upfront American engagement in the due process. South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute, the ICCs founding document, and therefore will be obligated to obey the ICCs arrest warrant against the Russian president. Interestingly, the other major parties involved in the conflict, namely Ukraine, the US, and many NATO nations besides Russia, have not ratified it. However, following the invasion of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine granted jurisdiction to the ICC over its territory and has hosted ICC prosecutor Karim Khan multiple times since the start of the current investigation a year ago. Its not that South Africa may walk a complex diplomatic tightrope for the first time. In 2015, the country made headlines by refusing to arrest then-visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who was subject to two ICC warrants charging him with genocides, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Pretoria had based its decision on the belief that African nations were being disproportionately targeted by the ICC. But with superpowers in the ring this time, the situation for the Ramaphosa government could be tricky, a reflection of which was seen last month when the South African president announced his countrys withdrawal from the ICC to quickly make a U-turn with his office saying there was an error in a comment made during a media briefing. According to a recent report in the Sunday Times, a South African government official was quoted saying that they have no option to not arrest Putin. If he comes here, we will be forced to detain him, the outlet reported. Further, President Ramaphosa has set up a dedicated commission led by his vice president to examine the ICC arrest warrant. South African officials are actively engaging with the Kremlin in an attempt to dissuade Putin from visiting their country, thus aiming to avoid facing a difficult choice, the Times reported. The issue has also become thorny in South Africas domestic political circle. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula in a recent interview with the BBC came out strongly in Putins support, questioning Britains position on the issue. If it were according to the ANC, we would want President Putin here even tomorrowWe will welcome him to come here as part and parcel of BRICS, but we know that we are constrained by the ICC in terms of doing that. Putin is a head of state; do you think that a head of state can be arrested anywhere? Have you arrested Tony BlairWhere are the weapons of mass destruction? Mbalula questioned. The ANC shares strong ties with Moscow, stemming from the Soviet Unions historical support for the partys campaign against the white minority rule of Apartheid. While Kyiv also backed the ANCs fight for democracy, Pretoria has thus far remained neutral and refrained from condemning the Russian invasion. The arrest warrants issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the Hague-based ICC against Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova on March 17 this year accused them of war crime. The release issued by the court read that the Russian president is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022(the day war began). Identical charges were read out against Belova who is Commissioner for Childrens Rights in the Office of the Russian President. Aside from that, the court chamber, in a strongly worded judgement, stated that although it could have kept the warrant confidential in order to protect victims and witnesses and to safeguard the investigation," it was compelled to make it public to prevent the further commission of crimes". In a retaliatory move, Moscow issued an arrest warrant against Karim Khan, the British prosecutor at the ICC who had been persistently pursuing the war crime" case in Ukraine. The charges against Khan reportedly accuse him of knowingly holding an innocent person criminally liable" and, as per NBCs report citing the Russian Investigative Committees Telegram post, he, along with three ICC judges, allegedly issued unlawful decisions. So, where does this case move from here? Experts say these charges are just the beginning, and over time, more are expected to be added, including accusations of Russias strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure, such as power and transport. In February, Ukraines Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, was quoted by CNBC stating that his country had documented over 65,000 Russian war crimes, which included acts such as indiscriminate shelling of civilians, willful killing, torture, and conflict-related sexual violence". Furthermore, the Russians have not clarified whether President Putin will attend the August BRICS summit in person or if he will opt to participate online. Even if he comes, the chance of South Africa acting on the ICC warrant is wafer thin. The ICC, due to a lack of enforcement capabilities, currently possesses limited authority to take any meaningful action. Moreover, the Hague-based court does not conduct trials for individuals in absentia. Therefore, for the case against Putin to progress, he must either voluntarily surrender himself to the ICC or be apprehended by a cooperating government. However, both scenarios look quite impossible as Russia is not a pushover and another superpower China is backing Moscow. Besides, Putin has been known for travelling with care and these happenings will make him further cautious to take any kind of risk that may prove costly. An analysis of Putins past itinerary based on information on the presidents official website shows that since the beginning of the war, he has made eight visits to foreign nations (excluding captured Ukrainian territory), just one of them Tajikistan being a member of the International Criminal Court. The Central Asian nation was a part of the former Soviet Union and is considered as Moscows traditional ally. Besides, Dushanbe remains highly dependent on Russia for both money and security. The other countries that Putin visited after the beginning of the war include Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus. Most of them are Russian friends while countries like Iran have no love lost for the West. In 2023, Putin has not stepped out of his country even once. His last working trip as reported on the presidents website was on April 18, 2023, to Russian-controlled parts of Ukraines southern Kherson region and he attended an army command meeting. Putin is also the Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces. Not just bilateral, the Russian president has also avoided his personal attendance at multilateral meetings outside a select few friendly nations and instead has opted to send his Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov in his place. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in November 2022 in Bangkok (Thailand) was attended by Belousov while the UN General Assembly in September 2022, ASEAN in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and G20 in Bali (Indonesia) in November 2022 were attended by Lavrov. On Wednesday Russia had warned the Moldovan president for agreeing to comply with the ICC judgement and arrest Putin should he visit the country. For the US and the Western powers, the sight of BRICS members standing side by side holding hands while remaining silent on the Russian invasion will not be a welcome sight. Among the four BRICS nations, only Brazil has voted to condemn the Russian invasion at the UN, that too under Western pressure. Earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had blamed Ukraine in part for the current mess and questioned the US and Europe for fueling the war by supplying weapons to Kyiv. No wonder, Washington in the ICC warrant at least sees an opportunity to embarrass Putin. I think its justified, US President Joe Biden has said, welcoming the ICCs decision. In the current scenario, however, experts believe that the warrant carries more symbolic weight, indicating that a significant part of the world (123 countries and States Parties to the Rome Statute) may become off-limits for the Russian president. top videos Additionally, it would require an incredibly arduous and coordinated global effort to establish the crime, making it even more challenging to prove Putins direct involvement. Notably, Putin and Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir are not the only heads of state who have faced scrutiny from the ICC in the past. Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, for instance, was acquitted of all charges in 2019 following a three-year trial. Likewise, Kenyas President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta faced charges by the ICC prior to their election. In the months since the balloon incident, the U.S.-China relationship has resembled an airplane steadily losing altitude. But instead of working together to pull up the nose of the plane to avoid a crash, U.S. and Chinese officials have been bickering in the cockpit over who is to blame for the downward trajectory of relations. During this period, American officials registered public frustration (with justifiable cause) that they did not have willing counterparts in Beijing to work with to stabilize the bilateral relationship. Chinese officials similarly grumbled that the United States was implacably hostile and bent on suppressing Chinas rise. They argued that there was nothing to be gained by dealing directly with American counterparts because American animosity was fueled by insecurity over Chinas rise, not by specific Chinese actions of concern. Xi seemingly endorsed this attitude, complaining publicly that the United States and its partners were undermining Chinas development by pursuing all-around containment, encirclement and suppression of China. In recent days, however, there are indications that both countries might be working their way out of their bitter moods toward each other. Both sides have resumed contact at senior levels and signaled plans to further strengthen bilateral exchanges in the weeks ahead. During a press conference at the Group of Seven summit, Biden predicted a near-term thaw in relations with China. If it occurs, such a thaw likely will be driven by mutual self-interest. Biden has consistently emphasized the need to lower risk in the U.S.-China relationship and compete responsibly without veering into conflict. Xi faces mounting challenges, including but not limited to softening economic growth, rising youth unemployment, mounting international wariness of Chinas political economy, and simultaneous strains between China and virtually every developed economy. Washington and Beijing also share an interest in laying the groundwork for productive leader-level exchanges when Biden and Xi are together at the Group of 20 in India in September and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in San Francisco in November. Reflecting the criticality of the coming period between now and upcoming leader-level engagements in the fall, Kurt Campbell, the U.S. National Security Council coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, recently noted, I think you will see in the coming months whether its going to be possible to reestablish effective, predictable, constructive diplomacy between the United States and China. Recognizing that China also will get a vote in the conduct of relations, there are several adjustments available to the United States during this coming period that could raise the likelihood of pushing the relationship in the direction of becoming more effective, predictable, and constructive. First, Washington can reprioritize direct, private diplomacy with China. Public spectacles, such as the March 2021 meeting between U.S. and Chinese diplomats in Anchorage or the more recent dust-up between Blinken and Politburo member Wang Yi on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, are counterproductive. They limit Americas ability to influence how China pursues its interests, shake the confidence of Americas allies in the soundness of American strategy, and poison personal relations between participants. Pushing Xi publicly will generate the opposite of the intended effect. Private letters, phone calls, quiet conversations among national security advisors, drama-free visits, and work through embassies will hold greater prospects of making progress on American priorities with China. Second, the United States should pause efforts with Beijing to negotiate crisis management mechanisms and principles for the conduct of the relationship. At a tactical level, there is no scope for progress on these issues in the current climate of relations. Pushing these topics now will be more aggravating than risk-reducing. At a more strategic level, there is a real risk that pursuing this line of discussion will lead U.S. officials into a dead end with a poison trap. Every Chinese official with whom I have spoken about guardrails and principles for the relationship equates such an understanding with acceptance of Chinas core interests, especially in relation to Taiwan. Allowing any perception to emerge that the United States is pursuing guardrails with Beijing that involve negotiation over Americas approach to cross-Strait issues would do more harm than benefit. If U.S. officials want to prioritize risk reduction with China, then they should instead table concrete proposals around specific issues. For example, they could propose a mutual acceptance to refrain from future anti-satellite tests that create orbital debris. They could negotiate understandings around limits on the uses of artificial intelligence-enabled weapons systems. These would be more productive avenues to reduce risk than creating an opening for China to press the United States to modify its approach to Taiwan as a prerequisite for progress on broader principles to guide the relationship. Third, Washington needs to get back into the business of channeling Xis ambitions to constructive ends. Xi wants to enjoy dignity and respect on the world stage. He wants to be viewed as a global leader and a peacemaker. Washington should look for ways to harness these ambitions to support its own priorities. For example, rather than pouring cold water on Beijings inability to mediate Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, the United States and its global partners should look for discrete areas to urge China to take on greater responsibility for lowering tensions and relieving suffering. Washington could push Beijing, for example, to take the lead in pressuring Russia to keep grain routes open through the Black Sea for the sake of global food security. Washington and its partners could encourage Beijing to take the lead in setting expectations in Moscow and Kyiv that attacks against nuclear power plants such as Zaporizhzhia would constitute nuclear terrorism and provoke a harsh international response. Beijing also could be urged to organize international efforts to pool funding for Ukraines $411 billion reconstruction bill after the war concludes. Chinas leaders also want to be seen as global leaders on climate issues, despite also being the worlds largest emitter of carbon dioxide. Washington should leverage Xis interest in being perceived positively on climate issues to press China more aggressively to curb domestic emissions and invest more in accelerating the renewable energy transition around the world. Ultimately, the renewable energy transition will not succeed without massive Chinese contributions. China should be incentivized to step up on this issue by being assured that America and others will recognize and welcome its contributions. At the same time, Washington is in a stronger position to address challenges posed by China working with its partners than it is alone. Coalitional strength is critical for influencing Chinas choices. To tighten coordination with its partners, Washington needs to credibly assure them that its strategy is designed to nudge Chinese behavior in less predatory, hostile, repressive, and mercantilist directions, rather than being designed to halt Chinas rise or overthrow the Chinese Communist Party. The more the United States relies exclusively on threats and punishments for dealing with China and frames competition in existential terms, the more that Americas allies and partners will hit the brakes to guard against being pushed into a head-on confrontation with their largest trading partner. Few, if any, of Americas partners are interested in enlisting in an anti-China bloc. To assuage such anxieties, Washington needs to be prepared to commend Chinese contributions to global challenges, even as it also pushes back against Chinese repression at home, unfair economic practices, and bullying abroad. Biden also will need to engage directly to elicit a public statement from Xi of the latters interest in moderating relations. This would provide a necessary signal to Chinas party and government apparatus that Xi wants to move forward in managing U.S.-China tensions and that they will need to as well. Even as it makes these adjustments, Washington will need to remain firm and tolerant of friction with Beijing. There will continue to be flare-ups and Chinese challenges to American interests that will require resolute American responses. The road to more resilient and productive U.S.-China relations will not follow a straight line; it will have ups and downs and tests of wills. Ultimately, any progress toward a more functional and predictable U.S.-China relationship will require political courage and determined efforts from both sides. Neither side can deliver greater stability on its own. This may be too much to expect of leaders in Beijing and Washington in current circumstances. The path of least political resistance in both capitals is to continue blaming the other side for the sustained slide in relations and for mounting problems at home. While such an approach might be expedient in the near-term for diverting anger abroad, it will not improve the health, safety, and prosperity of people in either country over the longer term. Ultimately, these are the metrics upon which leaders are measured by history. UPDATE May 25, 2023 5:50 PM CDT A judge has decided that a nude scene involving underage actors in the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet was not child pornography, rejecting a lawsuit filed by the stars. Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie agreed Thursday with a motion filed by Paramount Pictures, the defendant, to dismiss the suit, the AP reports. The suit doesn't show the scene "can be deemed to be sufficiently sexually suggestive as a matter of law to be held to be conclusively illegal," the Los Angeles County judge wrote, adding that the film is protected by the First Amendment. An attorney for the actors criticized the ruling and said a version of the suit will be filed in federal court. Jan 4, 2023 2:25 AM CST Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are infamously seen partially nude in the 1968 movie version of Romeo and Juliet, filmed when the actors were just 15 and 16, respectively. More than half a century later, Hussey and Whiting are suing Paramount for sexual exploitation and distributing naked images of adolescent children, Variety reports. California recently suspended the statute of limitations on child sex abuse lawsuits. The lawsuit claims Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, assured them they'd be wearing flesh-colored undergarments when the scene was filmed but then, on the final day of filming, told them that if they didn't perform the scene naked while wearing just body makeup, the movie would fail, People reports. The suit also claims Zeffirelli showed them the camera placement and promised they wouldn't be filmed or seen in the movie naked, but that he was lying, and Hussey and Whiting were filmed naked without their knowledge. "At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? There are no options. There was no #MeToo," says their business manager. Adds their attorney, "These were very young naive children in the 60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them. All of a sudden they were famous at a level they never expected, and in addition they were violated in a way they didnt know how to deal with. (Read more lawsuit stories.) The parents of Brian Laundrie have released the full letter his mother wrote to him after snippets that emerged previously raised eyebrows. For one thing, the letter came in an envelope on which Roberta Laundrie wrote "burn after reading." And in the letter itself, she offers to bring a shovel to help him bury a body. On Wednesday, a judge ordered the letter released to the parents of Gabby Petito, who are headed to a civil trial next year with the Laundries, reports NBC News. Brian Laundrie admitted killing Gabby before taking his own life. The letter was found with his remains, but Roberta Laundrie says it was written months before Gabby's death and has nothing to do with her. She also maintained that the eyebrow-raising language on the envelope and in the letter itself were goofy inside jokes between her and her son that make sense in the full context of the letter. CNN has the full text, including: 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." 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 reference to "burn after reading" was a jokey reference to a book they were familiar with, she says. (Read more Brian Laundrie stories.) Graduates of Johns Hopkins University got a surprise commencement speaker Thursday: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. He spoke via livestream from Ukraine, where he said the war has crimped the futures of countless young Ukrainians, robbing them of opportunities and loved ones, per the AP. Zelensky told Hopkins graduates to keep that in mind and 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." During his remarks Thursday, Zelensky 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 todayand what you want your tomorrows to look like. The commencement ceremony took place at the schools Homewood Field on the universitys Baltimore campus. Zelensky, 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. The university announced Zelenskys address with the ceremony already underway, just minutes before his remarks were set to begin. University President Ron Daniels awarded Zelensky an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree after his speech. (Read more Volodymyr Zelensky stories.) The FBI has released some of its files on Queen Elizabeth II's travels to the USincluding details of an alleged assassination plot during her 1983 visit. The files state that the FBI received a call from a man who said someone he knew from an Irish club frequented by IRA sympathizers claimed his daughter had been killed by a rubber bullet in Northern Ireland and he wanted revenge, the BBC reports "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 states. It's not clear whether the FBI viewed the threat as merely "the drunken rant of a bereaved father," but the Golden Gate Bridge walkways were closed as the royal yacht approached, the Times of London reports. According to the newly released files, the man had previously been interviewed by the FBI and was "generally cooperative, although he makes no secret of his sympathies for the IRA." The files go back to 1976, when the queen visited New York City for bicentennial celebrations and a summons was issued to the pilot of a small plane who flew over Battery Park towing a banner that said, England, Get out of Ireland," NBC reports. In 1991, the Secret Service warned the FBI that "an Irish group had reserved a large block of grandstand tickets" at a Baltimore Orioles game the queen was scheduled to see with then-President George HW Bush. An internal memo from when the queen visited Kentucky in 1989 stated that "the possibility of threats against the British Monarchy is ever-present from the Irish Republican Army," though no specific threat was mentioned. (Read more Queen Elizabeth II stories.) A 7-year-old boy set fire to his family's home as his parents slept inside, according to West Virginia police, who've laid arson charges against the boy and child abuse charges against his stepfather. The fire erupted around noon Wednesday near Elizabeth, per the AP. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department said later Wednesday that a 7-year-old boy had been charged with first-degree arson "after the family home was intentionally set ablaze with the parents asleep inside." Everyone inside escaped, though two children were treated for injuries, said Robert Bailey, chief deputy for the state fire marshal's office. A day after the blaze, the sheriff's department announced the boy's stepfather, 38-year-old Aaron Hufford of Sandyville, was arrested "for child abuse of the same 7-year-old," per the New York Daily News. Investigators said they received video showing Hufford repeatedly striking the boy's buttocks with enough force to potentially cause bodily harm, per WCHS. Hufford was shown the video, identified himself, and admitted his use of force was "excessive," according to court documents. Police said they would release "no further information" in regard to the arson case "because of the sensitive nature." (Read more arson stories.) A bit of the $2 billion Powerball jackpot that a California man won apparently will be going to lawyers. A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County says the ticket Edwin Castro cashed in was stolen, CBS News reports. Jose Rivera says that he bought the ticket at Joe's Service Center in Altadena last Nov. 7 but that Urachi "Reggie" Romero quickly stole it from him. Rivera repeatedly demanded the ticket back, but Romero refused to turn it over, the suit says. No details about how Castro got his hands on the ticket were included. The California Lottery Commission stands by its declaration of Castro, who chose a lump-sum payment of $997.6 million, as the winner. "When it comes to the vetting process for big winners, California Lottery has the utmost confidence in its process," a spokesperson told People. The suit over the largest lottery payoff ever includes the Lottery Commission and Romero as defendants. (Castro went home shopping after his win.) We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. TL;DR: Microsoft Office is the most essential software for your devices, as it allows you to access all the tools you need to succeed. Right now, it's on sale for only $29.99 until May 21. If you want to type up a document, send an email, build a presentation, or even just organize your thoughts, you need top-rated software with leading productivity programs. Fortunately, Microsoft Office has got you covered. And while it's usually a pricey proposition to get access to all the apps available within Microsoft Office, right now, it's more affordable than ever. You can now get a lifetime license to MS Office Home and Business 2021 for Mac or MS Office Pro 2021 for Windows for only $29.99 until May 21 at 11:59pm Pacific no coupon needed! It's an incredible deal, especially when you consider what's included. When you get a subscription to Microsoft Office, you get access to the following apps on your laptop. Microsoft Office Word (for creating all of your documents) Microsoft Office Excel (for all your spreadsheet needs) Microsoft Office PowerPoint (for building your presentations) Microsoft Office Outlook (for all your emails needs) Microsoft Office Teams (for hosting all your meetings) Microsoft Office OneNote (for taking all your important notes) Consider what the experts have to say about this top-rated software: "Microsoft Office is the best set of productivity apps for serious office work." PCMag also raved about MS Office, noting that "The new version is an incremental upgrade that adds speed and some ingenious convenience features but otherwise works almost exactly like earlier versions, so there's no big learning curve for upgraders." TechRadar also applauded MS Office, emphasizing how it's "widely considered the most powerful bundle of productivity tools on the market." Change how you approach work, school, and more with software and programs built for all your needs. Get the best software solution with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 for Mac or Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows, now just $29.99 until May 31 at 11:59pm Pacific. Prices subject to change. Netflix's crackdown on password sharing is underway, leaving some to wax poetic about yesteryear, when the company promoted the practice as "love." Speaking of nostalgia, here comes Blockbuster to remind us all of the simplicity of Friday night movie rentals shared with family and friends. "A friendly reminder that when you used to rent videos from us. We didn't care who you shared it with As long as you returned it on time," reads a Thursday tweet from Blockbuster's official Twitter account, viewed more than 10 million times. The company tagged Netflix in the tweet to ensure its dig came across. Users responded with "forgotten memories" from childhood. "Blockbuster was a whole experience that I miss. Friday night Blockbuster and Pizza Hut nights were the best," one wrote, per Livemint.com. Netflix might have the last laugh, however, and not just because it predicts that cracking down on password sharing in the US will boost subscriptions and revenue. Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph recently spoke of how he tried to sell the company to Blockbuster for $50 million in 2000. Executives "laughed us out of the room," he said, per Yahoo. "Given Netflix's lack of profitability at the time, the proposed amount might have appeared too high," according to Yahoo. Two decades later, however, Netflix is valued at nearly $160 billion and Blockbuster has a single store left. Alerted to this, Blockbuster's Twitter account replied, per Livemint: "I'm an intern. I barely have permission to have a lunch break. I didn't pass on anything." Amazon Prime Video UK also got in a dig at Netflix, tweeting a rather snarky image to highlight that it's fine with password sharing. Dexerto notes that though Netflix is the first streaming platform to block password sharing, others may follow suit in light of Netflix's claimed success. (Read more Netflix stories.) Attorneys general across the US joined in a lawsuit against a telecommunications company accused of making more than 7.5 billion robocalls to people on the National Do Not Call Registry. The 141-page lawsuit was filed Tuesday in US District Court in Phoenix against Avid Telecom, owner Michael Lansky, and company Vice President Stacey Reeves. It seeks a jury trial to determine damages. The lawsuit arises from the nationwide, bipartisan Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force of 51 attorneys general and the District of Columbia, formed last year to investigate and take legal action against telecoms companies routing volumes of robocall traffic, per the AP. The lawsuit says Avid Telecom used spoofed or invalid caller ID numbers, including more than 8.4 million calls that seemed to come from government and law enforcement agencies, as well as private firms. The company also allegedly sent or transmitted scam calls about the Social Security Administration, Medicare, Amazon, and DirecTV, as well as auto warranties, employment, and credit card interest-rate reductions. The lawsuit alleges Lansky and Reeves violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and other federal and state telemarketing and consumer laws. "Americans are sick and tired of their phones ringing off the hook with fraudulent robocalls," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. "Seniors and vulnerable consumers have been scammed out of millions because of these illegal robocalls." Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes concurs, noting nearly 197 million of the robocalls were made to Arizona phone numbers between December 2018 and January 2023. "Every day, countless Arizona consumers are harassed and annoyed by a relentless barrage of unwanted robocallsand in some instances these illegal calls threaten consumers with lawsuits and arrest," Mayes said in a statement. Neil Ende, the company's outside legal counsel, is pushing back, noting that "contrary to the allegations in the complaint, Avid Telecom operates in a manner that is compliant with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations." (Read more robocalls stories.) Indiana's Medical Licensing Board has ruled that a doctor who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old Ohio girl can continue practicing medicinebut she will be reprimanded for what the board decided was a breach of privacy law. Dr. Caitlin Bernard will be fined $3,000, but the board declined to suspend her license as state Attorney General Todd Rokita had requested, the Indianapolis Star reports. The board unanimously cleared Bernard of the charge that she had failed to report the girl's abuse quickly enough. Bernard told the board Thursday that she had followed reporting requirementsand the case was being investigated by police in Ohio before she even saw the patient. In what Bernard's supporters described as a vendetta, Rokita, who is strongly anti-abortion, announced an investigation last year after the doctor disclosed that the girl had come to Indiana for an abortion because she couldn't get one in Ohio. The case received nationwide media attention. At the hearing Thursday, Bernard's attorney pushed back against claims from state attorneys that she had broken privacy laws by giving a Star reporter enough information to make it possible to identify the girl. "What she shared was age, gender, and state," said witness Paige Joyner, a privacy compliance officer. "Thats not protected health information." Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight accused Bernard of being "brazen" in pursuit of her "own agenda," the AP reports. The doctor countered that the hearing would not be taking place if Rokita "had not chosen to make this his political stunt." When Voight asked her why she hadn't used a hypothetical example instead of discussing the girl's case, Bernard said: "I think that its incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion." (Read more Caitlin Bernard stories.) A massive surge in the stock of chipmaker Nvidia has rocketed it into the ranks of the world's most valuable companies. After the company forecast that its second-quarter earnings would be $11 billion, $4 billion more than Wall Street was expecting, its stock rose 24% Thursday, boosting its value by $184 billion to $939.3 billion, well ahead of Tesla and Meta, the Washington Post reports. It's now on the verge of joining Apple, Google parent company Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon as a trillion-dollar company, a title only held by the four tech giants and Saudi Aramco. Nvidia's stock is now up almost 170% so far this year, putting it far ahead of other chipmakers, thanks to the boom in AI. "When generative AI came along, it triggered a killer app for this computing platform thats been in preparation for some time, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday. Huang founded the company with two other engineers in a meeting at a Denny's 30 years ago, where they discussed improving video game graphics, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company's graphics-processing units proved to be ideal for other uses involving complex calculations and were adopted by cryptocurrency miners. The company's stock sank as the crypto industry struggled but it rebounded with the surge of interest in AI. Its chips are used to train models like ChatGPT. Nvidia's CFO Colette Kress told investors Wednesday that the launch of ChatGPT was the company's "iPhone moment," when the "technology came together and helped everybody realize what an amazing product it can be and what capabilities it can have," per the Post. "We're seeing incredible orders to retool the world's data centers," Huang said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said Nvidia is seen as the "core hearts and lungs of the AI revolution." He said before Wednesday, skeptics had been saying "an AI bubble was forming," but "instead, Jensen & Co. delivered guidance for the ages," reports Yahoo! Finance. (Read more Nvidia stories.) A judge on Friday put a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy until the state Supreme Court can review the measure. The ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came just about 24 hours after Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill. The decision means South Carolina reverts to a ban at about 20 weeks after fertilization, per the AP. "The status quo should be maintained until the (state) Supreme Court reviews its decision," Newman said. "It's going to end up there." The law passed Tuesday by the General Assembly is similar to a ban on abortion once cardiac activity can be detected that lawmakers passed in 2021. The state Supreme Court decided in a 3-2 ruling that the 2021 law violated the state constitution's right to privacy. Legislative leaders said the new law makes technical tweaks that should sway at least one justice to change his mind; plus, the author of that January ruling has since retired. The law took effect as soon as it was signed, and Planned Parenthood immediately sued, saying it put South Carolina's abortion clinics into limbo, with canceled appointments from patients further along in their pregnancies and doctors having to carefully review the new regulations. The abortion rights group said the new law was so similar to the old one that clinics and women seeking treatment would be harmed if it were allowed to stay in effect until a full court review. The majority opinion in the state Supreme Court ruling striking down the 2021 law said that although lawmakers have the authority to protect life, the privacy clause in the state constitution ultimately gives women time to determine whether they want to get an abortion, and most women don't know they're pregnant six weeks after conception. Justice Kaye Hearn wrote the opinion. She has since had to retire because she turned 72 and was replaced by a man, making South Carolina's high court the only one in the country without a woman on the bench. The changes in the new law are directed at another justice in the majority, John Few, who wrote his own opinion saying the 2021 law was poorly written because legislators didn't show it did any work to determine if six weeks was enough time for a woman to know she was pregnant. Few suggested he would've found an even stricter full ban on abortion constitutional, saying that if a fetus had all the rights of a person, then a ban would be like child abuse or rape laws that don't violate privacy rights. The new law includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the patient's life and health, and rape or incest up to 12 weeks. Doctors breaching it could face felony charges and up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Most Southern states have enacted stricter abortion laws in the past year, and abortion foes say that's why South Carolina has seen a sharp increase in the number of abortions and out-of-state patients. Abortion is now banned or severely restricted in much of the South, including in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. In Georgia, it's allowed only in the first six weeks. (Read more abortion stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Sgt. Henry Johnson wears his French Croix de Guerre as the 369th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 15th Infantry (Colored), New York National Guard, arrives back in New York City in 1919 after fighting in France in World War I. Johnson was the first American Soldier to be awarded the French medal. (Courtesy photo) The Public Safety Report is compiled from criminal complaints filed in state and federal courts, as well as some police blotter information, trooper dispatches, fire department reports and interviews with public safety officials. Individuals named as arrested and/or charged with crimes in this report are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. Azerbaijani President concludes his working visit to Russia 26 May 2023 [01:27] - President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has completed his working visit to the Russian Federation. Views: 646 Filmmaker John Waters was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by the University of Baltimore for his support of artistic freedom and his ongoing contributions to the city of Baltimore. While it's not the first honorary degree he's ever received, it is his first from a school that he actually attended. Waters, who attended the university in 1965, expressed his gratitude, saying, "This is the only school after grade school I ever went to that actually claims me, and I am proud of that." Waters also acknowledged the crucial role the university played in his early career. As a student, he got his first writing published, and the university later served as the stage for the world premieres of three of his "most notorious trash epics," including Pink Flamingos. Baltimore Fishbowl: "In 1965, when I went to the University of Baltimore, almost 50 years ago, it was a very different place than it is today," he said. "They'd take anybody, and I'm living proof." Waters said his high school, Calvert Hall College High School, wouldn't let him graduate "because I had long hair and truancy," but he went to summer school at Boys Latin School of Maryland and passed. He said he enrolled at the University of Baltimore that fall "with a big chip on my shoulder," but one teacher changed that. The teacher was "a woman named Miss Norris, who helped start a literary magazine here that year, called Welter," he said. "She encouraged me to write something for it and I did an inside job about my grandfather and how he was waiting for death. It got published, my first anywhere. And while my parents were horrified about the subject matter, they were proud I was in print. And here I am 58 years later 8 books, 17 movies!" Receiving the degree onstage, Waters quipped, "Remember when the scarecrow gets the brain in Wizard of Oz?" , May 26 ( NHK ) - Japan's top government spokesperson says Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has reprimanded his secretary and son Shotaro over reported merrymaking in the leader's official residence. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu commented at a news conference on Thursday about an online article of the Shukan Bunshun weekly released the previous day. The article said Kishida Shotaro, who serves as the prime minister's secretary, held a year-end party with his relatives at the living quarters adjacent to the prime minister's office in December. The younger Kishida and the participants reportedly frolicked and took photos in a room that is used to receive foreign dignitaries. The report also said they held a mock news conference, and a participant was photographed lying on a staircase in the residence. ...continue reading Dreaming of connecting with nature? 450 000 km of stories await you at Parks Canada administered places from coast to coast! GASPE, QC, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - The vast network of protected areas administered by Parks Canada is a gateway to nature, history, and 450 000 km of stories from coast to coast. Starting on Friday May 26, Forillon National Park officially opens for the 2023 visitor season. Penouille Beach, located in the southern sector of Forillon National Park. Photo: Roger St-Laurent, photographer. (CNW Group/Parks Canada) Events for everyone! Several events will be held at Forillon National Park this season, including: Klo Pelgag's sunrise show, presented in partnership with the Festival Musique du Bout du Monde on August 13 at Cap-Bon-Ami (sold out); at Cap-Bon-Ami (sold out); The event in memory of the shipwrecked Carricks, organized in collaboration with the Societe nationale Gaspesie/Iles-de-la-Madeleine, in September; and The Ultra Trail Forillon, a new trail running event, presented by Evenements Gaspesia on September 23 and 24. New services! With the aim of increasing accessibility to its facilities, Forillon National Park will make available, to persons with reduced mobility, an aquatic wheelchair and an aquatic walker to facilitate access to the recreation centre pool. A new ship will be introduced to the Croisieres Baie de Gaspe fleet. As of June 1 , visitors will be able to enjoy a more personalized and sporty experience aboard the Rocher Le vieux, a 12-passenger zodiac, accompanied by a captain guide-interpreter. , visitors will be able to enjoy a more personalized and sporty experience aboard the Rocher Le vieux, a 12-passenger zodiac, accompanied by a captain guide-interpreter. To meet the growing demand, dogs will now be allowed in two oTENTik roofed accomodations, which will now be identified as pet friendly. During their stay, visitors will also be invited to actively participate in conservation efforts by photographing the coast from different "Coastie" locations on the beaches of Cap-des-Rosiers, Petit-Gaspe, Anse-aux-Amerindiens and Penouille. The data collected through this citizen science initiative will help monitor coastal changes over time. National parks and national marine conservation areas are gateways to discovering, learning about, and connecting with nature. There are countless opportunities to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being outdoors at these treasured places. If you are still looking to make plans for your vacation, consider spending the night to rest and recharge! Parks Canada's Reservation Service allows visitors to plan their trips to a wide variety of national parks and national historic sites across Canada with confidence, ease, and knowledge that they have a guaranteed spot waiting for them. If your favourite spot is booked on your preferred days, check back regularly for cancellations, or plan your visit for less busy periods like during the week or the shoulder seasons. To book a stay, please visit the Parks Canada website at reservation.pc.gc.ca or call 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783). To make the most of their Parks Canada experience, visitors are asked to plan their trip in advance, by visiting the Parks Canada website and signing up for the e-newsletter, to be among the first to find out about new and noteworthy events and activities, special offers, trip planning ideas and much more all delivered directly to their inboxes! Visitors can also download the Parks Canada app, listen to Parks Canada's new podcast ReCollections, and follow Parks Canada on social media for destination inspiration and to help plan their perfect visit. Parks Canada staff at Forillon National Park are excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything that the Forillon National Park has to offer. Quotes "Each year, Forillon National Park is an essential destination in our beautiful region, and our government is proud to contribute to it. I invite visitors from all over the world to discover and rediscover the park, its extraordinary landscapes, distinctive flora and fauna and many heritage sites that reflect our rich history." The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Gaspesie Les-Iles-de-la-Madeleine "The visitor season coming into full swing at Parks Canada administered places is always an exciting time of year. The Parks Canada team works extremely hard to provide visitors with high quality and meaningful experiences across the country. We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors to Forillon National Park to create lasting memories!" Ron Hallman President & Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Quick Facts Located on the tip of the Gaspe Peninsula, Forillon National Park protects a territory of 244.8 km 2 , including a narrow strip of marine area a little over 150 m wide (4.4 km 2 ). , including a narrow strip of marine area a little over wide (4.4 km ). It is recognized as an important site for the protection of unique natural environments, a variety of habitats and of some species at risk. Its distinctive coastal landscape, hiking trails and campsites are increasingly popular, as reflected by the sharp increase in the number of visitors to the park since 2013. Parks Canada has launched a new podcast series, entitled ReCollections . Five initial episodes share the captivating stories behind various national historic sites across the country. Delve into Canada's rich natural and cultural heritage as you uncover these cherished treasures. has launched a new podcast series, entitled . Five initial episodes share the captivating stories behind various national historic sites across the country. Delve into rich natural and cultural heritage as you uncover these cherished treasures. Parks Canada administered places are a source of shared pride for all Canadians. That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to continue to offer free admission to all Parks Canada administered places for youth aged 17 and under. By encouraging young people to discover and connect with these incredible natural and cultural places, we can inspire the next generation of stewards for these protected places. administered places are a source of shared pride for all Canadians. That is why the Government of is pleased to continue to offer free admission to all Parks Canada administered places for youth aged 17 and under. By encouraging young people to discover and connect with these incredible natural and cultural places, we can inspire the next generation of stewards for these protected places. In celebration of diversity, Parks Canada continues to offer free admission to new Canadian citizens for one year through the Institute for Canadian Citizenship's Canoo mobile app. Visiting Parks Canada's national heritage places is a great way for Canadians to experience the outdoors and learn more about our environment and heritage. Want the ultimate ticket to nature, history, and adventure? The Parks Canada Discovery Pass provides unlimited admission for a full year to over 80 destinations across the country. Visitors can purchase their Parks Canada Discovery Passes online, on-site, and at partner retailer locations across the country. Associated Links http://www.twitter.com/parkscanada SOURCE Parks Canada For further information: Contacts, Media Relations, Parks Canada, 1-855-862-1812, [email protected]; Marie-Anne Laliberte, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Gaspesie Field Unit, 418 355-4298, [email protected] Usually, when someone calls 911 in Rifle, Colorado complaining about an unruly member of Rep. Lauren Boebert's family, the call is coming from the house of a Boebert neighbor who feels threatened. But in December, the call came from inside the Republican lawmaker's home, when Boebert's son tearfully told the operator that his father, Jayson Boebert, was "throwing me around," reports Insider. "He just does this to me so much," he added. But five minutes after the teen hung up the phone, he called them back while the cops were already on their way to the house and began to take back what he said, only to have Congresswoman Boebert grab the phone to say they "don't need help." From Insider: In the 6:46 p.m. call, obtained by Insider, the teen was sobbing, gasping for air, and had trouble speaking while saying his dad was "throwing me around." The dispatcher asked the teen whether Jayson Boebert was physical with him. "Yes, he was throwing me around," he said, breathing heavily. The dispatcher told the teen she was going to have an officer come help and he didn't have to worry. She also asked whether there were 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 responded, still crying. "He just does this to me so much." He added: "I'm in the driveway, but my mom's staying down at the farmhouse because there's problems with them. I'm going down there where he can't get to me." Jayson who has had trouble with the law in the past, including the time he was convicted and jailed for "public indecency" after exposing his penis to two teen girls at a bowling alley denied his son's earlier accusations, telling Insider that "nothing physical" happened in December. "He overreacted. We're back to being a family," the far-right gun-toter said. "Every teenage boy is going to want to test the bull. We've gotten over it." Four months later, in April, Lauren Boebert filed for divorce finally, a wise choice from the perpetually confused lawmaker, known more for making mean-spirited and racist attacks than making sound decisions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) A private Japanese moon lander went into free-fall while trying to land on the lunar surface last month, company officials said Friday, blaming a software issue and a last-minute switch in the touchdown location. The spacecraft belonging to the company ispace was originally supposed to land in a flat plain. But the target was changed to a crater before Decembers launch. The craters steep sides apparently confused the onboard software, and the 7-foot (2-meter) spacecraft went into a free-fall from less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) up, slamming into the lunar surface. The estimated speed at impact was more than 300 feet (100 meters) per second, said the company's chief technology officer, Ryo Ujiie. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed the crash site the next day as it flew overhead, revealing a field of debris as well as lunar soil hurled aside by the impact. Computer simulations done in advance of the landing attempt did not incorporate the terrain of the new landing site, Ujiie said. CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada said the company is still on track to attempt another moon landing in 2024, and that all the lessons learned will be incorporated into the next try. A third landing attempt is planned for 2025. If successful, ispace would have been the first private company to land a spacecraft on the moon. Only three governments have achieved that: Russia, the United States and China. An Israeli nonprofit tried in 2019, but its attempt also ended in a crash landing. Named Hakuto, Japanese for white rabbit, the spacecraft and its experiments were insured, according to Hakamada. The United Arab Emirates had a mini lunar rover on board that was lost in the crash. Two U.S. companies have lunar landers awaiting launch later this year from Cape Canaveral, in partnership with NASA. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Eversource Energy took its first steps Thursday to getting out of the wind farm development business, selling its 50 percent ownership stake in a 175,000 acre site located 25 miles off the southern coast of Massachusetts. The company sold its ownership stake for $625 million to its joint venture partner, the wind farm developer Orsted, Eversoujrce officials said. The Danish energy company currently owns the other 50 percent of the joint venture. The deal between the two companies is expected to close by the end of the third quarter this year. Because Orsted is a Danish company, the lease sale will require the approval of the U.S. government's Committee on Foreign Investment. At the same time that Eversource is selling its ownership stake in the uncommitted wind farm site, the company has also signed a letter of intent with Orsted to buy tax credits that the Danish company has in the South Fork Wind project. The two companies are currently equal partners in that project, which is under construction 35 miles east of Montauk Point on Long Island and is scheduled to begin operating this fall, producing enough electricity to power 70,000 average homes. Jeff Kotkin, an Eversource spokesman, said the company is buying the tax credits it does not already own as a partner in South Fork joint venture "There are significant federal tax credits that are available to those who invest in renewable energy projects," Kotkin said. "Sometimes those tax credits are sold to an investor rather than retained by the owner." The purchase of the tax credits from Orsted is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, he said. The two transactions Eversource announced Thursday are the first step in the company's ultimate goal of getting out of the wind farm development business entirely. Eversource is looking to sell its 50 percent ownership stake in the South Fork project as well as two other wind farms on which construction has not yet started. Those two projects are Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind. Sunrise Wind will be located more than 30 miles east of Montauk Point and produce enough electricity to power nearly 600,000 homes when it becomes operational in 2025. Revolution Wind will be located 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast and 32 miles southeast of the Connecticut coast when it begins operating in 2025. Of the 704 megawatts of electricity that Revolution Wind will produce when it begins operating, 304 megawatts will be used to power Connecticut homes and businesses, with the remainder going to Rhode Island. Eversource expects to announce the buyer of its ownership stake in all three projects by the end of June, company officials said. Joe Nolan, Eversources president, chief executive officer, and chairman, said while the company is exiting the unregulated offshore wind business, it is "is fully committed to being a catalyst to the regions clean energy transition, with our regulated companies building many of the facilities that will enable more than 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind generation to reach the homes and businesses of Southern New England." "We share the same goals as the states in which we operate when it comes to building the clean energy delivery systems of the future," Nolan said in a statement. David Hardy, Orsted's group vice president and chief executive officer for the company's operations in the Americas, said, Eversource's six-year partnership with the company "strategically advanced the onshore scopes of our three projects." Eversource first announced its plans to exit the wind farm development business a year ago. The company's decision - and whether the Revolution Wind project is built - is important because it is one of two major wind farms planned off the southern New England coast that would generate electricity for Connecticut. The other project is the Park City Wind farm in the works by Orange-based Avangrid. Park City Wind construction will be staged primarily out of Bridgeport, but Avangrid is in the midst of trying to change the terms of its offshore wind contract with Connecticut, Connecticut is counting on both projects to meet statutory goals it has set to cut carbon emissions by 2040. Completion of the two projects is also important because of continuing uncertainty over Dominion Energy's long-term plans for its two nuclear reactors at Millstone Power Station in Waterford. Millstone supplies a quarter of New Englands electricity. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Most anyone whos driven between New York and Connecticut be it I-95 or the Merritt knows you need some pretty solid motivation to make a trip north during rush hour. Thursday night, Academy Award-winning performer and activist Susan Sarandon made the journey from Manhattan to Fairfield to reunite with ex-husband Chris Sarandon an Academy Award nominee himself for a live taping of the latter Sarandons podcast, Cooking by Heart, at the Sacred Heart University Community Theater. It was the first time the former couple appeared together since their divorce nearly 50 years ago. And Susan made her motivations for making the trek which pushed the show back 40 minutes because of traffic abundantly clear. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection Via Getty When I met Chris, I thought and correctly so that he knew everything. Because he took me to black and white movies and introduced me to literature and basically saved my life with his kindness, she said. As you can imagine I wasnt too stable coming (from a large working-class family in New Jersey). He was incredibly patientSo really, I credit you with my foundation and my survival. One of the reasons Im here is to publicly say that. Chris Sarandon met Susan (then Tomalin) when he was a graduate student at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and she was a freshman. Susan was the eldest of eight children at the time (her mother was pregnant with a ninth during Susan and Chris wedding) and said she was the hip the kids was on. As the oldest, she was more of a second mother to her siblings than a child. Her home life, she said, was chaotic. Food wasnt a joy, it was maintenance. Most of the neighborhood families were even larger she said. The kind of close-knit, blue collar Catholic community where she said the gene pool never had time to mutate and leisure activities included sitting in an inflatable pool or picking rocks in the yard. Katy Beth Barber / Contributed When it came time to college, she got into some, but had no concept of deadlines. But a drama teacher got her into the drama program at Catholic U and she was off. Thursdays show was Chris Sarandons second live taping of Cooking by Heart, the podcast he started last year to interview chefs, celebrities and others about food and memory. The conversation felt more like old friends catching up than watching an interview. And, in essence, thats exactly what it was. Despite being divorced for years, the Tomalin family and Sarandon families stayed in touch, just not Chris and Susan. Their mothers were even friends later in life when they both wound up in Florida. Every time I would bring my kids down to Florida to visit my mom, your mom would come over to hang out with us, Chris told Susan. She never told me, she responded. Wow, she had a whole different life. The comment got some laughter from the crowd. Chris also mentioned being in touch with her siblings. Some have even come to his shows over the years. Im the only one that wasnt in touch? Susan asked, shocked, to more laughter. Yeah, Chris said, nonplussed. Unbelievable, Susan responded to more laughter and applause. Despite the late start, the audience was warm and welcoming partly thanks to an impromptu pre-show show from Chris and his current wife of nearly 30 years, Tony winner Joanna Gleason. Gleason, an accomplished performer in her own right, engaged the crowd, asking them questions about food. She even left a few hungry with stories of her lamb tajine. Katy Beth Barber / Contributed Susan Sarandon told candid stories about family and food, including how Chriss mother also nearly saved her life with avgolemono soup, a silky Greek soup made with eggs, chicken and lots of lemon. Got through many a cramping every month with avgolemono soup, she said. She talked about her daughter, Westports Eva Amurri. Amurri, whom she had with Italian director Franco Amurri. Amurri, also an actor, currently runs a lifestyle blog, "Happily Eva After." How to make cocktails, how to cook food, how to carve pumpkins, how to do your hair, you know all that stuff, Susan said of her daughter's blog. And every now and then she writes really funny things about how much she hates her children at the moment. Which is really nice, to have someone who isn't perfect. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for BAM Her daughter, she said, is like an affordable Gwyneth Paltrow, eliciting another round of laughter. Susan Sarandon has had a prolific career as a performer spanning six decades. Shes also had some famous relationships. She and Chris Sarandon didnt have children, but she had Amurri in her next relationship and two sons with actor Tim Robbins, who she was in a relationship with for more than 20 years. After Chris, she never married again. It wasnt for her, she said. And being able to live with Chris while attending a Catholic school was a bonus. Her son, Miles, she said, gave her some dating advice during the pandemic. He said, You should pick a man with cats because they respect independent women. Someone who doesnt need your tail to be wagging, she told the crowd. Now, she says, she lives with her three cats. Theres Ida, an older, grumpy cat with a mark on her chin that makes it look like shes always sad; Sweetie, a small two-year old who Ida is constantly trying to kill and Harry, a nine-month-old male who likes to cuddle, but who the other cats wont play with. My apartment is so small I didnt have a door on my bedroom. But now I got a door on my bedroom so I can kind of manage the team, she said. So, I'm back on cats. One, that is a cat person. A cat lady is definitely when youre over two, you become a cat lady. Even with a late start, the crowd and Susan were willing to stick around. "I came all this way, we have to at least talk for a long time," she said to more laughter. Katy Beth Barber / Contributed The conversation then swung to one of her latest passions, her work with One Fair Wage, a nonprofit that looks to end the sub-minimum wage earnings of tipped workers who get carved out of minimum wage hikes. Susan was recently and proudly arrested recently while protesting a bill that would again carve tipped workers out of a raise while at the State Capitol in Albany. She said she told a guard they were actually helping the cause by arresting the protestors. "You're really on our side," she told the guard. "We need you to arrest us because that's how this is going to get in the news. I didn't know anything about it. So actually, you're working with us and there's so many people that you are really helping by working with us." The full, nearly hourlong interview will premier on Chris Sarandon's podcast, "Cooking by Heart," this fall. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Three former police officers who were indicted by a Mississippi grand jury joked around about a Black man who died in their custody, with one of them questioning whether to call an ambulance for the man immediately, body-camera footage shows. Officials in the state capital of Jackson announced Wednesday that a Mississippi grand jury had indicted two former police officers on murder charges and another ex-officer on a manslaughter charge in the death of Keith Murriel, who is seen on video being pinned down and repeatedly shocked with stun guns during a New Years Eve arrest. The city released hours of body-camera footage detailing the encounter, which The Associated Press reviewed. The officers had tackled Murriel while arresting him for allegedly trespassing at a hotel after they asked him to leave the building's parking lot. The footage showed then-officers Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land struggling to handcuff Murriel as he was stunned numerous times for over 10 minutes. McCarty and Willis are Black, and Land is white, according to Melissa Faith Payne, a city spokesperson. After officers handcuffed Murriel, they placed him horizontally in the back of a patrol car. Seventeen minutes of the hourlong body-camera footage shows officers trying to place Murriel inside the vehicle. The remaining 43 minutes of the footage dont show paramedics arriving or the officers checking on Murriel to see if he needed immediate medical aid. The footage is broken up into multiple clips, and it is unclear whether officers attended to Murriel off-camera. What is clear is that during that 43-minute period, the officers joked around about the encounter. I hope (he) is asleep. Because if hes asleep, itll be a good ride, Willis is heard saying on camera, using a racial slur to refer to Murriel. It was funny seeing (his) feet in the air In the beginning, it was funny. After a while it got annoying. After officers left Murriel in the patrol vehicle, Willis said he was going to call a sergeant to ask when officers should call an American Medical Response, or AMR, ambulance. I dont know if he wants to wait until we get down (to the station) to do this, until I give him AMR, Willis said. That way he's at least already down there, because if we open the door, he's going to try to get out. The clip from Willis body camera ends after one hour. Paramedics arrived 12 minutes into the next clip from Willis' body camera. When a paramedic opened the back door of the patrol vehicle, he noticed Murriel wasnt breathing. McCarty then told one of the paramedics Murriel was on something. The Jackson Police Department has not indicated whether any narcotics were detected in Murriels toxicology report. Paramedics performed CPR before transporting Murriel to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. On Willis' body-camera footage, he can be heard telling someone Murriel choked on his own vomit. In an email, Francis Springer, an attorney for McCarty, wrote that her client sincerely laments Mr. Muriels death and has the most sincere condolences for his family and friends. Ms. McCarty doesnt believe she is guilty of the crime for which she is indicted or of any other crime. She will enter a not-guilty plea, Springer wrote. An attorney for Land declined to comment. The Hinds County District Attorneys Office and Hinds County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether Willis had retained an attorney. Daryl Washington, an attorney for Murriel's family, said the language and tactics used by the officers justified their indictment. It makes you wonder how these officers act when they are not captured on their own body cam, Washington said. "But these officers knew that their body cams were on, and they felt very comfortable because they believed nothing would happen to them. Fortunately, Keiths family is not going to allow this to be swept under the rug like a lot of these cases usually are. Murriel's family has filed a civil lawsuit against the officers. Washington said city officials did not give them enough time to view the footage before it was released to the public. Some family members saw the footage for the first time in news reports. "We expected to at least have a couple of days or so to prepare ourselves, he said. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said at Wednesdays 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 were indicted on May 12. All three officers were placed on administrative leave after the incident. McCarty was fired in February, and Willis and Land in April. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones told WJTV-TV that Land is out of jail on a $75,000 bond, and McCarty is out on a $150,000 bond. The sheriff on Wednesday said Willis had not yet been arrested and a spokesperson for the department did not respond to a phone message Thursday inquiring whether he was in custody. ___ 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Municipal workers appear to have been in violation of a state beach maintenance rule when they ran over and crushed some horseshoe crabs last weekend at Seaside Park. More specifically, according to Connecticut's regulations, using motorized equipment to groom the sand, as was the case here, is prohibited from mid-May to mid-July specifically to help protect spawning horseshoe crabs. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Tuesday said it would investigate the incident because the population of these particular creatures, which pre-date dinosaurs, is depleted and they are "an ecologically-important species of conservation concern," according to the department. State officials made a site visit to Seaside, located in the city's South End along Long Island Sound, on Wednesday. And in a statement Thursday, Paul Copleman, a spokesman for the department, said the probe into the "mortality event" is continuing and offered more specifics. "Our concern involves potential violations pertaining to prohibited beach raking with motorized equipment during certain times of the year," Copleman said. Referring to the guidelines for Connecticut's general permit for coastal maintenance, Copleman noted that all beach-grading work is prohibited from April 1 to Sept. 15 and beach raking with motorized equipment or equipment that penetrates the sand more than two inches is forbidden from May 10 to July 15. Raking by hand is allowed. Those rules are specifically aimed at protecting reproducing horseshoe crabs and nesting/migrating shorebirds. kHyal, a Bridgeport resident, designer, artist and writer, found several of the dead and injured crabs last Friday and Sunday mornings, May 19 and 21, respectively, around 6 a.m. She has said it was clear they were run over by a heavy-duty vehicle used by the parks department to rake the sand and remove trash and debris ahead of the summer season. kHyal also has photos of the equipment in use and of the beach covered in large tire tread marks. The city has not refuted her allegations. Copleman did not specify what, if any, punishment the city and/or parks staff might face. The guidelines for the DEEP beach maintenance permit allow that agency's commissioner to "take any action provided by law to abate a violation of this general permit, including the commencement of proceedings to collect penalties for such violation" and also to "revoke a permittee's authorization." kHyal and Madeline Dennis Raleigh, another local environmental activist, had reached out to city parks staff and Hearst Connecticut Media earlier this week about the dead horseshoe crabs. Hearst subsequently sought comment from Mayor Joe Ganim's administration and from DEEP. In a statement Tuesday evening about the crushed horseshoe crabs, the mayor's communications director, Tiadora Josef, had said, "We conducted a thorough review and engaged in discussion with our park staff to understand the circumstances and take appropriate action." "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," Josef continued. "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." Asked about Wednesday's visit by employees from the DEEP, Josef forwarded a comment from the municipal parks department confirming that initial meeting at Seaside Park took place. "We are waiting for DEEP to schedule a meeting with the City of Bridgeport to discuss in greater detail next steps and educating our staff," the parks office added. The non-profit Save the Sound and state Rep. Joseph Gresko, D-Stratford, who is currently trying to have a bill passed that provides more protections for horseshoe crabs in Connecticut, also this week expressed concern over what happened at Seaside Park. Bill Lucey is the Long Island Soundkeeper with the New Haven-based Save the Sound. He was pleased Thursday to learn that the state is seeking to enforce the beach maintenance rule, adding he personally was not aware it was on the books. "During the spring months a lot of species are in spawning mode, like horseshoe crabs, as well as shore birds," Lucey said. And, he continued, over-grooming the sand can not only disturb those processes and potentially injure or kill wildlife, but also interfere with "a whole ecological system on the beach that depends on seaweed washing up and other detritus that's all part of the food chain." Horseshoe crabs already face plenty of challenges on top of dangers from humans. According to the state's data, a female can lay as many as 90,000 eggs each season, but only about 10 of those individual embryos will ever become adults, with the rest eaten by birds and fish before they hatch. "From my experience we do have a lot of good laws on the books, but they're not worth much if not enforced," Lucey said. Despite warm and sunny weather this Memorial Day weekend, Connecticut boaters and swimmers should be wary of frigid water temperatures, the National Weather Service warned Friday. Temperatures are expected to reach up to around 80 degrees for parts of the shoreline over the three-day weekend. But water temperatures remain cold, hovering around the 50s, the weather service said. Those water conditions can put swimmers at risk of hypothermia. "Daytime air temperatures will rise into the 70s for the Memorial Day weekend," the weather service said. "However, water temperatures will remain in the upper 50s. 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 lose dexterity within minutes and be unable to accomplish simple tasks," the agency continued. "Anyone planning to recreate on small boats, canoes or kayaks this holiday weekend should plan accordingly and use extreme caution to avoid this threat." Cold water temperatures can also increase a person's risk of drowning, because the freezing water can make a person gasp and hyperventilate. Forecasts show Connecticut should see sunny and warm temperatures throughout the holiday weekend. Friday will be cool, with sunny skies and highs reaching the upper 60s to low 70s. Temperatures will warm up to the mid 70s on Saturday before reaching the low 80s on Sunday, the weather service said. Temperatures will reach the upper 70s to low 80s on Memorial Day. For those vacationing along the southern shore of Long Island, the weather service is also warning of a moderate risk of rip currents along ocean beaches. BRIDGEPORT A Norwich man has pleaded guilty to to fraud and tax offenses stemming from a scheme that defrauded women approached through their social media accounts, officials say. In a release on Thursday, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut said Dexter Enwerem, 36, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court for defrauding $450,000 out of people, most of whom were women. The U.S. attorney's office said Enwerem participated in a scheme to defraud individuals who were contacted through their Facebook and Instagram accounts between September 2019 and March 2021. As part of the scheme, it said, a co-conspirator of Enwerem would use a false identity and make false representations to approach and befriend victims through the social media platforms. "As the relationship progressed, the co-conspirator would sometimes move the communication to Google Hangouts, an online platform that allows users to communicate by video call or direct chat message," it said. "Eventually, the co-conspirator would request money from the victim based on various false representations of need." The U.S. attorney's office said the victims would then send money by wire transfers, checks, money orders and cash. It said some of the money was wired into bank accounts that Enwerem controlled, while some was sent in packages to an address where Enwerem could receive them. Through this scheme, the U.S. attorney's office said Enwerem and his co-conspirators defrauded victims of approximately $450,000. "Enwerem wired approximately $220,000 of these funds to bank accounts in Nigeria," it said. "In response to bank officials who questioned the nature of these wire transfers, Enwerem falsely stated that the recipients were family members and that the funds were intended to take care of his grandmother, and for household expenses." The U.S. attorney's office said Enwerem also failed to pay taxes on the income he obtained through the scam. It said he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and to one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. As part of his plea, the U.S. attorney's office said Enwerem has agreed to pay restitution of $449,000 to his victims, and $127,000 in back taxes for the 2019 and 2020 tax years. It said Enwerem was arrested on related state charges on March 24, 2021, and is released on $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. WEST HAVEN Plans to promote local businesses with banners were shot down when the City Council decided it needs an ordinance governing the use of light posts after the owner of a firearm training business alleged discrimination. David Tammaro, a retired West Haven police sergeant and owner of Bullseye Shooting LLC, which was registered as a business in West Haven in April 2021, said he reached out to an official with the regional Chamber of Commerce about a proposed program to promote local businesses with banners on Captain Thomas Boulevard. Tammaro said his conversations with officials on May 17 ended with him being told that the program would seek to avoid businesses promoting things such as guns and marijuana. He said Simon McDonald, director of membership and marketing for the Milford and West Haven Regional Chamber of Commerce, told him he does not "personally" like guns, but would call him back; Tammaro said he received a call back from McDonald that he spoke with Public Works Commissioner Tom McCarthy and it was decided that a banner would not be sold to Bullseye Shooting LLC. Can a Chinese or Mexican restaurant purchase a banner? An Asian nail salon, an African hair braiding business?" Tammaro wrote in a letter read aloud to the City Council Monday. This is blatant discrimination. Acting City Council Finance Chairman Ron Quagliani, D-At Large, said the council received a legal opinion from city attorneys citing Shurtleff v. City of Boston, a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling determining that a Christian group's right to free speech was violated after having an application to fly a flag on a public flagpole denied. I think the problem is here, and maybe someday well get better, is the process needs to be first, Quagliani said. "I think we need to have a policy first before we have a program. Other council members shared their opinions that the city should not pick and choose which businesses to represent without having a solid policy in place. Councilwoman Colleen O'Connor, R-At Large, said she believes the approach should be "all or nothing." "Personally, I think the City Council should come up with a city ordinance," said Council Chairman Peter Massaro, D-6. Massaro said there are certain things that should be considered, such as the duration a banner can fly, how they are maintained and which organizations and groups can be represented. He said he worried that a situation will present itself where there will be more interest than there is space, and it would force a situation where a decision between businesses would have to be made. Quagliani said the committee would seek a draft of an ordinance before taking any further action on the shoreline banner advertisement program. McDonald said he believes an ordinance is appropriate. He said he would like to be "part of the solution" when there's a breakdown in communication between city staff and its council. Prior to Tammaro reaching out about buying a banner, the banner program already had been scrutinized by the council for 20 banners having been sold without their knowledge or involvement. "Instead of one side coming to me and saying one thing and another side coming to me and saying something different, let's come together to come up with a solution," McDonald said. McDonald said Tammaro's letter was mostly accurate, although he said that he deferred to McCarthy about selling a banner to a firearm training business before calling back and sharing his personal opinion on guns and saying that no banner would be sold to Bullseye Shooting LLC. "I have personal feelings about a lot of things. I dont let it affect my business," McDonald said. "I knew there was possibility for controversy, so I made the call and said it's not my call and I told Public Works." McCarthy said the decision was made for the "first go-around" of the proposed banner program that businesses that are "publicly palatable" would be promoted citing things such as alcohol, CBD, marijuana and pistols as being things that might be outside of those guidelines. Ultimately, though, he said the council makes the decisions and he "never had anything to do with the program." McCarthy agreed he proposed the concept to McDonald, but said he then "got out of the way." Take a few minutes out of your day to listen to this sweet live version of Kurt Vile and John Prine singing Prine's How Lucky at the Grand Ole Opry House, New Year's Eve, 2019 (just a few months before Prine died of COVID in April, 2020). The first time I heard Kurt Vile singing Prine, and singing with Prineon Vile's EP Speed, Sound, Lonely KVI knew Vile and Prine were a match made in heaven. The EP includes Vile's delightful cover of Prine's Speed of the Sound of Lonelinesshe speeds it up a bit, changes the timing of the delivery of the lyrics, and manages to keep the spirit of the original while adding his own quirky touches, like his endearing lilt throughout, and his meandering improvisation of 'run' at the end of the song. The EP also includes Vile and Prine singing Prine's How Lucky together, which Pitchfork describes: Vile's music can be reassuring and, at its best, transporting. Featuring both men singing and picking together, "How Lucky" considers all the glorious details in the world that greet us every day, but acknowledges there are infinitely too many for our brains to catalog and archive. The point is, you'll never run out. "There was all these things that I don't think I remember," they sing together on the final verse, before realizing, "Hey, how lucky can one man get." It doesn't feel quite as momentous as you'd expect from a meeting of these two mellow rock and rollers, and that's okay. It's sweetly minor, much like the other songs on here. I dunno, it feels pretty momentous to meit's about as close to perfection as I can imagine. As Gerry Fournier commented on the video for Speed of the Sound of Loneliness: "The soul of John Prine lives through Kurt Vile." For more live Vile and Prine, here they are performing "Paradise" (with Fiona Prine), Speed of the Sound of Loneliness, and Sam Stone (starts at 4:00), all from the same show in Philadelphia, April, 2018. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Carsten Koall/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Carsten Koall/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 BERLIN (AP) German lawmakers on Friday gave the go-ahead for the country's troops to stay in Mali for up to another year, part of a plan to bring Germany's involvement in a U.N. military mission in the West African nation to an orderly end. Parliament approved the new and final mandate for German troops' participation in the U.N. mission known as MINUSMA by 375 votes to 263, with one abstention. It provides for the deployment of up to 1,400 troops until May 31, 2024 at the latest. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo were put on high alert Friday following clashes inside Kosovo between police and ethnic Serbs that injured more than a dozen people. Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, who are a majority in that part of the country, had tried to block recently-elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings earlier Friday. Last month's snap election was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs and only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies. Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Several cars were set ablaze. Kosovo Serb hospital officials said about 10 protesters were injured. Police said five officers were injured as protesters hurled stun grenades and other objects. A police car was burned. In response to the clashes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he put the army on the highest state of alert and ordered an urgent movement of troops closer to the border. He also demanded that NATO-led troops stationed in Kosovo protect ethnic Serbs from the police. The United States condemned Kosovo's government for using police to forcibly enter the municipal buildings. These actions have sharply and unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermining our efforts to help normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia and will have consequences for our bilateral relations with Kosovo, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday. Vucic spoke at a rally Friday evening in Belgrade as tens of thousands of people turned out to support the government in the wake of two mass shootings earlier this month that killed 18 people and wounded 20 others, stunning the nation. We will preserve peace but I am telling you that Serbia wont sit idle the moment Serbs in northern Kosovo are attacked, he told the crowd. Vucic has previously warned that Belgrade would respond to violence against Serbs, and has stepped up combat readiness several times during moments of tension with Kosovo. However, any attempt by Serbia to send its troops over the border would mean a clash with NATO troops stationed there. Zdravko Ponos, a former Serbian army chief turned opposition politician, criticized Vucic's response as inappropriate. This is only saber-rattling that serves as face-saving for Vucic, Ponos told the N1 regional television network. Kosovo police acknowledged their increased presence to assist mayors of the northern communes of Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok to exert their right of work." New mayors in three northern communities were prevented from entering municipal buildings, with small groups of Serbs raising their hands at the entrances, apparently to show they were not there to take part in violence, according to Albanian news outlet indexonline.net, which also published photos. In Zvecan, the news website Kosovo-online.com showed clashes with police in front of the municipal building, while in Leposavic the main square was blocked with cars and trucks. Local elections were held in four Serb-dominated communes in northern Kosovo after Serb representatives left their posts last year. They had resigned in protest because Kosovo authorities' refused to allow an ethnic Serbian association to coordinate work on education, health care, land planning and economic development at the local level. A 2013 Pristina-Belgrade agreement on forming the Serb association was later declared unconstitutional by Kosovos Constitutional Court, which said the plan wasnt inclusive of other ethnicities and could entail the use of executive powers to impose laws. The two sides have tentatively agreed to back a EU plan on how to proceed, but tensions still simmer. The U.S. and the EU have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo they must normalize relations to advance in their intentions to join the bloc. The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbias rule, and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died. NATOs military intervention in 1999 eventually forced Serbia to pull out of the territory. Washington and most EU countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China have not. ___ Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Associated Press writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report. ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistans government said Friday that 17 more supporters of Imran Khan would be tried in military courts over recent anti-government violence, bringing the overall number of followers of the former prime minister facing military tribunals so far to 33. The development comes amid a government crackdown on Khans opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its supporters over the violent demonstrations that followed Khan's arrest earlier this month in Islamabad. For days, Khan's followers attacked public property and military installations across the country. The violence subsided only after Khan was released on orders of Pakistan's Supreme Court. At least 10 people were killed in clashes between Khan's supporters and police. Interior Minister Rasan Sanaullah Khan, who is not related to the former premier, said that only 33 suspects have been selected for military trials although police arrested nearly 5,000 of Khan's supporters over the past two weeks. The minister said about 80% of those detained were released on bail pending trials in civilian courts. He also denounced Imran Khan, a crocket star turned Islamist politician, saying that as opposition leader, he was the mastermind of the violent attacks on military installations." We have evidence to back it up, the minister said without elaborating. Khan himself faces more than 100 legal cases, including on graft charges during his 2018-2022 term as premier, and has also been charged with terrorism for inciting people to violence. In courts, he has won protection from arrest in multiple cases, pending trial. On Thursday, Khan proposed talks between the government and his party with the aim to end the ongoing political turmoil. The government has not responded to the offer. On Friday, Khan claimed that several of his party officials and lawmakers have quit at gunpoint and have not left his camp because of the rioting by his supporters, as some have said. Separately from the political turmoil, Pakistan is also struggling with an unprecedented economic downturn. Talks between the government of Khan's successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the International Monetary Fund for the revival of the $6 billion bailout package have been on the hold since December. Khan has claimed that his April 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote in Parliament was illegal and a conspiracy by Sharif, Washington and the military to discredit him. All three have denied the allegations. MOSCOW (AP) Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has appealed a three-month extention of his detention on espionage charges, a Russian court data website indicated Friday. Gershkovich, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested in March while on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges. A Moscow court on Tuesday extended his detention until Aug. 30. According to the court website, the appeal was filed on Thursday. There was no information whether a date has been set for a hearing. Gerhskovich's case has been wrapped in secrecy. Russian authorities havent detailed what if any evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges. Various legal proceedings in the case have been closed to the media. State news agency Tass said Tuesday's hearing was held behind closed doors because the reporter was accused of possession of secret materials. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that Gershkovichs parents, Soviet emigres living in New Jersey, were visiting Moscow and saw their son during the short hearing. I dont know how to describe this happiness and this sadness at the same time, the newspaper quoted the reporters mother, Ella Milman, as saying. She said Gershkovich looked relaxed and well, and that they communicated through smiles. The U.S. State Department said at least one U.S. Embassy official also attended the hearing. Gershkovichs arrest has rattled journalists in the country and drawn outrage in the West. The U.S. government declared Gershkovich to be wrongfully detained and demanded his immediate release. Hes being held in Moscows Lefortovo prison. U.S. Embassy officials were allowed to visit Gershkovich once in prison since his arrest in Yekaterinburg on March 29, but Russian authorities have denied two more recent requests to see him. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BERLIN (AP) German police have been left red-faced after a member of the public was able to slip into a VIP convoy for Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then give him a hearty hug as he prepared to board a plane at Frankfurt Airport. Tabloid newspaper Bild reported Friday that Scholz's bodyguards only realized their mistake later, and chased the man down. In a statement, federal police said the man was detained. Nobody was hurt but an investigation into the security breach has been launched, police said. Scholz's office confirmed the incident, which happened late Wednesday as Scholz made his way back to Berlin following a celebration for the 25th anniversary of the European Central Bank. "The encounter and hug at Frankfurt Airport (...) was indeed not planned by the chancellor," Scholz's spokesperson Wolfang Buechner told reporters in Berlin. He said that the incident was a surprise to him but the German leader "didn't feel threatened at any point. Scholz himself downplayed the incident when asked about it at a news conference in Estonia later Friday. As for the question about people saying hello to me and greeting me, that is never something that particularly amazes me it is perfectly normal, and I didn't feel that this situation was dramatic, he said. Pressed on possible consequences, he added: The police do good work, and I feel that I am in safe hands. Despite that confidence, Buechner said that "there are questions surrounding this incident and they will be carefully investigated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The 45th annual Ethos Greek Festival in Stamford has been announced for June 1 - 4. The event is put on by the Greek Orthodox Church of Stamford and is held at the church, located at 1230 Newfield Ave. Per the festival website, its mission is "to create a celebratory, family-friendly event that shares Orthodox faith and Hellenic culture authentic Greek food, traditional dancing and music with the entire community." Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2, the Greek Festival will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Saturday, June 3, it will run from noon to 11 p.m. and on Sunday, June 4, the festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. Festival activities include fair rides, Greek cuisine, face painting, traditional music and dancing and more. There will also be a raffle at $25 per entry. Winners can get various restaurant gift cards or gift baskets, and there is a $10,000 cash grand prize. The drawing will be on the last day of the festival, June 4, at 8 p.m. Matthew Brown/Hearst Connecticut Media Carnival ride tickets cost is $1.50 each, $30 for a sheet of 22 and $60 for a sheet of 49. All day unlimited ride wristbands are $30 each. Local sponsors to the event include restaurants like Ridgefield's Gyro on Pita and Stamford's Kouzina Greek Taverna & Bar. Proceeds from the festival fund a "significant portion" of the church's operating expenses and allows it to focus on local and national charitable organizations. No admission is required to attend the festival. More information can be found on the Ethos Greek Festival Website. The Danbury Greek festival will also be happening June 9 - 11, hosted by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. Callie Elizabeth Thweatt, 22, allegedly broke into the Harvest Moon Cafe in Rome, Georgia over the weekend and fixed herself a salad valued at $500. Not clear how police valued the salad at $500. According to WSBR Radio, "authorities did not specify what ingredients Thweatt put in her salad." One can only imagine she topped the salad with a lot of caviar or, unfortunately more likely, they are referring to the containers of ingredients she touched, tainting them. She was charged with "theft by taking." As a wise person once said, "You don't win friends with salad." The push to complete the renovation and expansion of the Niagara Falls Public Librarys Stamford branch got another boost on Friday, when the Stamford Kiwanis Club came through with a $15,000 donation toward the project. That comes on the heels of Aprils big news that the project had received $300,000 toward the $500,000 fundraising campaign goal from the McCall MacBain Foundation, established by Niagara Falls native John McCall MacBain and his wife, Marcy McCall. Library chief executive officer Alicia Subnaik Kilgour told Kiwanis board members Dave Wheeler and Gerda Huyzers, who presented her and library community engagement manager Laura Martin with the donation, the money will help to get the ambitious expansion completed so the popular branch can reopen at the Town and Country Plaza. This is really going to help our community, its really going to make a difference for them, she said. The library said it noticed as far back as 2017, there was an influx of students using the Stamford Centre branch as a community space during lunch hours. This required new programming to meet the needs of teens and provide access to library resources. But the library said demand for programming quickly exceeded the space limitations, which prompted the expansion. Then the pandemic hit and messed things up like it did to so many other things. Pandemic-related restrictions and unforeseen cost overruns delayed the expansion. So, late last year, the library launched the fundraising campaign to get the branch back open after being closed to the public for more than a year. Library officials have stressed the librarys options for funding has limitations because provincial legislation forbids user fees on many library services and provincial funding has been frozen at the same level for 20 years. The city earmarked $760,000 in casino-related funds toward the Stamford Centre expansion, which will add some 2,000 square feet to the branch. The library also received a $750,000 federal grant in October to help make the branch fully accessible. But library officials say its important they dont eat into the librarys reserve funds to pay for the expansion cost overruns because that money will be needed for work, such as repairs and maintenance, at other branches including the main Victoria Avenue branch, which will hit the half century mark next year. Our community has been incredibly supportive and we are so appreciative of Stamford Kiwanis Club for their donation to the library, said Subnaik Kilgour. Budget constraints and rising costs mean donations like this are more important than ever before. It means the Stamford Centre location renovation will be the best it can be and that were able to continue to provide free, essential services, programs and resources to our entire community. Kiwanis were able to make the donation from the service clubs popular regional bingo program on YourTV cable television. Wheeler said by buying the bingo cards at local Avondale stores and playing, Niagara Falls residents are doing their part to help the numerous local causes and charities Kiwanis donates to. Youre investing in your community, he said. Even if you dont win, you win because when you buy a bingo card that money goes back into your community. SHARE: They may not realize it, but by purchasing Kiwanis bingo cards at local Avondale stores and playing along to the popular game on YourTV cable television, Niagara Falls residents are doing their part to make sure people who might otherwise go hungry have food in their bellies. Thats because for the third time in three years, members of the Stamford Kiwanis Club showed up at the Niagara Falls soup kitchen operated by Niagara Falls Community Outreach (NFCO) on Friday afternoon to hand over a major donation from the Kiwanis regional bingo program. This years donation was $12,000. The soup kitchen has seen explosive growth in demand in recent years, mirroring record numbers of people forced to access emergency food banks in the city and across Niagara. Before the pandemic, when it had sit-down lunches and dinners at the former church on St. Lawrence Avenue in the citys downtown, the soup kitchen often served 80 to 100 people, said volunteer fundraising chair Bonnie Brady. But after pivoting to free takeout lunches seven days a week when the pandemic hit, those numbers have exploded. In the middle of the month were looking at about 240 people a day, and at the end of the month its maybe even a little more, said Brady. Tuesdays tend to be our biggest day because they know its chicken day: they all know its chicken breast or chicken thighs. Previous donations by the Kiwanis have paid for gas and maintenance for the soup kitchens new van, which plays a crucial role in transporting food donated in large amounts on skids from the Costco locations in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, said Brady. Its huge, she said of the Kiwanis donations. Wed be dead in the water without the vehicle. Brady said the soup kitchen also gets support from farmers in Niagara-on-the-Lake donating cucumbers and peaches when theyre in season, and Niagara Falls residents dropping off donations. People have been very good to us: our food drives have been very well received, she said. Its been great. The support is out there. We have wonderful support from farmers, said Brady. Were very fortunate. Stamford Kiwanis president Dave Wheeler said Niagara Falls residents are directly helping vulnerable people by playing Kiwanis television bingo because most of the money gets donated to local agencies and charities such as the soup kitchen. Youre investing in your community, he said. Even if you dont win you win because when you buy a bingo card that money goes back into your community. SHARE: Two Niagara College students were awarded with the renowned Eichenholz-SPIE Photonics Technician Scholarship. First-year photonic engineering technician students Harsha Gopi and Janvi Patel were among four recipients that received scholarships worth $2,500 each on behalf of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Its the second year in a row that a student from Niagara College has been honoured with the scholarship. Gopi and Patel, who are both from India, hold bachelors degrees in physics and came to Niagara College last September to enhance their education in photonics. Photonics is the study of the physical science of light waves, which explores the generation, detection, and manipulation of light. Patel is grateful to study at Niagara College, which offers one of the only college-level programs in photonics technologies and manufacturing in Canada. It gives me a sense of pride and honour to be a part of this unique program only offered at NC, she said in a news release. During my time at the college, my classmates and I have been provided with well-equipped labs and experienced professors who can demonstrate photonics through experimental setups. Gopi credits the college program with helping her to grow her knowledge. I am gaining tons of hands-on experience that I know will adequately prepare me for the workplace, Gopi said in the same news release. I can learn from professors who are well-experienced in the field and are always available to offer helpful support and guidance. This scholarship program is possible thanks to the support of SPIE fellow Jason Eichenholz. Eichenholz, a serial entrepreneur, executive, and recognized pioneer in laser and optics-enabled innovation, product development, and commercialization. In addition to the scholarship, both students will receive a one-year complimentary SPIE student membership, which offers tools, workshops and network opportunities for professional growth, lifelong learning, and career advancement. SHARE: MONTREAL - WestJet pilots are bound for a 24 per cent pay bump over four years under an agreement-in-principle between the company and the union. Pilots will receive a 15.5 per cent hourly pay raise this year retroactive to Jan. 1 upon ratification of the deal, according to a copy of the tentative agreement summary obtained by The Canadian Press. It also lays out a cumulative 8.5 per cent hike to their hourly wage over the remainder of the contract, from 2024 through 2026. Bargaining came down to the wire last week, with WestJet cancelling more than 230 flights in preparation for job action before a deal was reached hours ahead of the strike deadline on May 19. The agreement sets a new standard for labour gains in Canadian aviation, says consultant Rick Erickson. Thats a pretty substantive boost particularly this years 15.5 per cent pay hike said Erickson, managing director of R.P. Erickson and Associates. You can bet that Air Canadas pilot union will be looking at this very, very closely, as well as other groups such as flight attendants. Flight crews at the countrys biggest carrier may soon be in bargaining themselves. In a letter to members this month, the Air Canada Pilots Association said workers must decide by May 29 whether to stick with their 10-year collective agreement inked in 2014 or opt to start full negotiations ahead of time this year. The WestJet deal could also make it tougher for budget airline competitors Flair Airlines and Lynx Air to retain pilots, even as they gain an edge on labour costs. Does it make sense for me to stay here where I am? Or should I move over to one of the majors where Ill get paid better for it but have completely different working circumstances? Erickson asked, paraphrasing pilots who would have higher compensation but lower seniority and thus worse scheduling options on arrival at a large airline. Nonetheless, the higher compensation cost that WestJet managers now have to contend with amid a competitive domestic and cross-border market has to worry them enormously, he added. The summary of the tentative agreement also stipulates the integration of Swoop flight operations into WestJet mainline starting this fall, with full integration no later than October 2024. The provision appears to spell out an internal merger of the two entities flight planning that brings pilots onto a level pay scale and allows them to toggle between both carriers. Calgary-based WestJet, owned by Onex Corp., declined to comment on the specifics of the deal. As the tentative agreement between the WestJet Group and ALPA has not yet been ratified by its membership, we are unable to disclose the terms of the agreement, spokeswoman Denise Kenny said in an email. The ratification vote on the tentative agreement opens Tuesday, with WestJet and discount subsidiary Swoops 1,800 pilots able to cast a ballot through June 9, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said Friday. Bernard Lewall, who heads the unions WestJet contingent, said last Friday after reaching a deal that the union achieved its main goals of better pay, job security and work-life balance. The preliminary agreement includes a 15 per cent increase in per diems, more flexible scheduling and even extra legroom seats for all deadheads when an employee flies for free as a passenger en route to or from an assignment. As negotiations ground on last week, the Air Line Pilots Association also approved a merger with the Air Canada Pilots Associations 4,500 members, bringing the countrys two biggest flight crew labour groups under one roof. The move means 95 per cent of professional Canadian pilots are represented by a single union, according to Charlene Hudy, the Air Canada unions council chair. Labour shortages continue to plague the aviation industry, with a dearth of workers in areas ranging from air traffic control to ground handling as the sector begins to take off again after the pandemic collapse and travel turmoil over the past year. In March, Delta Air Lines pilots secured a deal that includes a 34 per cent pay hike over four years. American Airlines pilots authorized a strike amid contract negotiations earlier this month before reaching a preliminary deal last week. United Airlines pilots are also in the middle of talks, pushing for even higher pay than their Delta counterparts, as well as comparable quality-of-life provisions. Those might include clauses that prevent airlines from requiring pilots to accept assignments on days off. Were entering into a period in the whole of the airline industry in North America of labour unrest, Erickson said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA As China and Russia are asserting greater influence in Europe and Asia, restoring ties with Saudi Arabia is the right move forward for Canada, despite human rights concerns, experts say. Canada announced Wednesday that it is normalizing diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and appointing ambassadors, five years after a rift. Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador and recalled its ambassador, after Ottawa expressed concern over the arrests of activists in Saudi Arabia, including prominent womens rights campaigner Samar Badawi in August of 2018 . The Saudi government also banned new trade with Canada. Open and effective channels of communication are important, including with problematic actors like Saudi Arabia, Roland Paris said in an email. Having a Canadian ambassador in the kingdom will facilitate that communication, which is a good thing. Paris is a professor of international affairs and the director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, and a former senior adviser on foreign policy to the prime minister. The normalization comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been rebuilding fractured relations with western powers in an effort to make his country the regions energy powerhouse at a critical time when war between Ukraine with Russia has ripple effects on the global economy. Having ambassadors in our respective capitals will allow for a higher level reciprocal contact and dialogue, echoed Masud Hussein, Canadas former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Its hopefully an important signal that both countries want to renew the trade and people contacts that were very vibrant, particularly Saudi students in Canada. The rift led Saudi Arabia to send fewer students to Canada, after years of having a significant presence in university classrooms and teaching hospitals. Having higher level contact will also allow better channels to discuss issues of concern including human rights but also security and stability in a very important region, said Hussein. Wednesdays decision was prompted by discussions between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the crown prince in November, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok, both countries said in their statements. The Saudis were very present at APEC and Trudeau seized the opportunity while he was away from home to renew fractured relations with them, said Ferry de Kerckhove, a former Canadian diplomat. I would say that the change has primarily come from Saudi Arabia. There is a clear effort in Riyadh to stabilize the countrys foreign relations and extract the country from costly foreign entanglements, said Thomas Juneau in an email to the Star. Juneau is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. By exchanging ambassadors with Canada again, Saudi Arabia can turn the page on this dispute too, and send the message to other western democracies that it is open for business, Juneau said. Canada might have felt compelled to support the U.S. in ensuring Saudi Arabia remained part of the western fold, considering it is expanding relations with China and Russia, charged de Kerckhove. There is a fragile regional balance in the Middle East which has become more susceptible to Chinas influence. Saudi Arabia agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in March, as a dialogue partner, indicating the countrys continued pursuit of closer political ties with China. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001 to promote peace, economic development, and security in the region. Through this partnership, as well as major energy deals, Saudi Arabias economy is growing at a rapid rate that Canada cannot ignore, de Kerckhove said, and Canada may be able to capitalize on business opportunities it missed out on before. The move does not change Canadas stance on human rights, de Kerckhove said, and there needs to be some balancing act. There will be cries and screams against the move, but it is good international politics, and it is about time Canada decides on some foreign policy interests. We are (following) in the footsteps of every country in the western world, France is notably kissing Saudi Arabias proverbial a in pursuit of its economic interests. Saudi Arabia has been boycotted by the western world since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in at a Saudi consulate in Turkey by a Saudi hit squad in 2018. Dozens of Saudi human rights defenders and activists serve long prison sentences for criticizing authorities or advocating for political and rights reforms, according to Human Rights Watch. Saudi Arabia has denied findings by U.S. intelligence agencies that the crown prince approved the 2018 murder of Khashoggi. I have no doubt that some in Canada will criticize this move by arguing that it rewards Mohammed bin Salman despite his abysmal human rights record. I think this criticism misses the mark, though, said Juneau, explaining it is easier to promote human rights, and other Canadian interests, with an ambassador than it is without one. The benefits for Canada will be limited, according to some experts. Saudi Arabia was never a major trade or diplomatic partner for us. Moreover, it is still not clear to me how much both sides are willing to work to expand relations beyond the exchange of ambassadors, Juneau said. With files from Canadian Press Read more about: SHARE: NANAIMO, B.C. - The city of Nanaimo on central Vancouver Island is the latest British Columbia community to receive government approval for a cancer care centre, Premier David Eby said Friday. The centre will be located at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. B.C.s growing and aging population has stretched demand and need for cancer treatment across the province, Eby told a news conference in Nanaimo. We know now that one in two people in B.C., thats every other one of us, will face a cancer diagnosis at some point in our lifetime. He said 80 people in B.C. are diagnosed with cancer each day. The Nanaimo announcement followed Thursdays long-awaited approval of a new cancer treatment facility at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. The government also recently approved temporarily sending B.C. cancer patients to clinics in neighbouring Washington state to reduce wait lists at provincial treatment centres. Eby said the Nanaimo cancer centre is expected to offer radiation therapy, an outpatient ambulatory care unit and the latest diagnostic technology. Health Minister Adrian Dix said he expected the business plan for the treatment centre to receive approval by the end of this year, followed by a construction tender process, with the facility slated to open in the summer of 2027. He estimated the cost of the cancer care centre to range from $200 million to $300 million. Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson said the centre ensures many patients in Nanaimo and in communities north of the city on Vancouver Island will be treated closer to home rather than travelling hundreds of kilometres south to Victorias cancer facility. We know the last thing people should be thinking about when they are fighting cancer is how close they are to their family and friends, she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Gainesville, Florida police charged Omar Gutierrez, 32, with first-degree attempted murder for stabbing his roommate. Curiously, Gutierrez was wearing a cat costume at the time. When the roommate asked Gutierrez why he attacked him, Gutierrez reportedly said: "It was instinctual." From WCJB: According to the arrest report, the victim was in his room on Tuesday, when Omar Gutierrez, 32, walked up behind him wearing a cat costume. Gutierrez then plunged a knife into the back of his roommate's neck[] When detectives spoke with the victim in the hospital, he explained that Gutierrez said a week earlier he was "not above killing" the victim. Gutierrez claimed the roommate hurt his cat, which he denies. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) One of Rwandas most wanted suspects for the countrys 1994 genocide appeared in a South African courtroom Friday, clutching a Bible and another book inscribed with Jesus First on the cover. Fulgence Kayishema was a police officer with the rank of inspector when he allegedly orchestrated the killings of more than 2,000 people - including children - as they tried to seek refuge in a church during the first days of the genocide. He was arrested Wednesday in a small town in a wine-making region about 30 miles east of Cape Town having managed to evade justice for nearly 30 years. South African authorities gave his age as 61. Wearing glasses and a blue winter jacket with a hood, Kayishema confirmed his identity when asked by a judge during his brief appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates Court. He held up the religious books for journalists and others in the courtroom to see before the hearing began and sat through much of the proceedings with his hands clasped in his lap. He was indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity in 2001 by a tribunal investigating the horrors of the Rwandan genocide, where more than 800,000 people were slaughtered when members of the ethnic Hutu group turned on the minority Tutsis and other Hutus trying to protect them. Kayishema will be held in custody until another hearing at the same courthouse next Friday, the judge said. He is expected to be extradited to Rwanda and ultimately go on trial for genocide and crimes against humanity. The five charges South African prosecutors brought against him Friday relate only to him making false statements on immigration forms as far back as 23 years ago to enter and stay in South Africa. In January 2000, Kayishema lied to South African authorities by using a fake name - Fulgence Dende-Minani - and claiming to be a refugee from Burundi, prosecutors alleged in court documents. He was granted asylum in 2004, but that expired two years later according to prosecutors. He had apparently still been living in South Africa for the last 17 years. It was unclear if he would would go on trial on those charges in South Africa before his extradition to stand trial for genocide. Kayishema was indicted for the Rwandan killings more than 20 years ago by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which was set up by the United Nations to investigate the genocide and bring killers to justice. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has continued the work of that tribunal, and announced Kayishemas arrest on Thursday. It called him one of the most wanted suspects in the Rwandan genocide. According to the South African prosecutors documents, he had fled from Rwanda at least a year before his indictment on the killing of 2,000 Tutsi refugees. Kayishema was among the leaders of a group that first tried to burn the church down. When that plan failed, he and others used a bulldozer to raze the building, crushing and killing the people inside, the indictment said. He was also involved in moving the bodies to a mass grave over the next two days, according to the indictment. He was ultimately tracked down to the town of Paarl in South Africas Western Cape province, an historic old town known mostly for its wine making and for having one of South Africas most prestigious rugby-playing schools. Kayishema was tracked down by the genocide tribunals fugitive tracking team and Interpol, with help from authorities in Rwanda, South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, Britain, Canada and the United States, the tribunal said. ___ More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa SHARE: SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California rivers fed by this winters massive Sierra Nevada snowpack have been turned into deadly torrents, drawing warnings from public safety officials ahead of the Memorial Day weekends traditional start of outdoor summer recreation. At least seven people, including two children, have died or gone missing this spring in the grasp of powerful rivers plunging down from Californias towering mountain range, and there have been numerous rescues. This year were seeing higher water, faster water and colder water, said Capt. Justin Sylvia, a fire spokesperson in Sacramento, which is crossed by the American River. Sacramento has already had 20 water rescues this year, nearly as many as all of 2022, Sylvia said Tuesday as crews practiced swift-water rescues on the lower American River near its confluence with the Sacramento River. Memorial Day weekend is typically one of the busiest, if not the busiest, times of the year, and floating down the American River is like a quintessential Sacramento activity, said Ken Casparis, spokesperson for Sacramento County regional parks. Probably thousands of people use the river for floating or swimming or rafting, what have you, and this weekend conditions are shaping up to be pretty dangerous, so we have been urging people to stay off the river, he said. Even just wading along the shore is being discouraged, said Casparis, who was hoping for chilly weather to discourage river use. Forecasters predicted mild weather in the interior of Northern California except for chances of thunderstorms in the mountains. With Californians expected to flock to the outdoors, the Governors Office of Emergency Services on Thursday issued a broad caution about conditions they might encounter, including fast-moving water, following months of severe weather. An extraordinary series of storms this past winter buried the Sierra range in deep snow that is now melting, swelling Central Valley rivers that just months ago were running low because of years of extreme drought. Reservoirs that store water and provide flood control must release high flows into rivers to maintain room for incoming runoff. That, in turn, changes rivers. Sandbars and ledges may become steep drop-offs and lead to an unexpected plunge into cold water. It can really give a shock to the body, said Daniel Bowers, Sacramento citys director of emergency management. Experts say muscle control can be lost in minutes. The recent tragedies include an 8-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother, who were swept away by the Kings River on Sunday. The girls body was found that afternoon and the boys body was found nearly 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) downstream on Monday, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office said. The fatal accident occurred even though both the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers have been ordered closed to recreational users since March 14. In the Sierra northeast of Sacramento, a man was swept away by the American River on April 29, two days after Placer County authorities first issued warnings. His body was found Friday in a lake miles away. Another man who vanished in the river on Mothers Day remains missing. Placer Countys messaging about the risk is blunt. If the public doesnt listen to our warnings this year, people are going to die, more people than weve seen over the last few years, sheriffs Sgt. Kevin Griffiths says in a public service announcement video. The American River has not been closed to recreation in Sacramento but Bowers, the emergency management official, urged all river users to wear life jackets, even if theyre using another flotation device. American River Raft Rentals of suburban Rancho Cordova has temporarily suspended its operations on the lower segment of the river because the rate of flow is too high, co-owner Kent Hansen said Thursday. We definitely understand that this is part of the business and thats why we would never put profits over safety, Hansen said. Were hoping that all of our guests will choose a safe time to go soon when water flows get back a normal, raftable flow. Sylvia, the fire captain, emphasized that people should immediately call 911 if someone gets in trouble in the water. If you have a rope or if you have a life jacket that you can throw to them, do that, but do not go in the water after them because you will become a second victim, he said. In Yosemite National Park, waterfalls have been thundering with runoff bound for the Merced River. The park has advised visitors to keep their distance from all waterways and stay off slick rocks. We shouldnt have to say it, but do not try to wade, swim, or float on any rivers or creeks, the park said via Facebook. With summer approaching, the Kern County Sheriffs Office on Friday planned to carry out a ritual intended to warn people about the southern Sierras notorious Kern River, which country legend Merle Haggard called a mean piece of water in his song Kern River. A sign at the mouth of the Kern River Canyon, which tallies the number of lives lost in the river since 1968, is updated each spring to add deaths that occurred over the previous 12 months. This year, the total was to be raised from 317 to 325. ___ Antczak reported from Los Angeles. SHARE: WASHINGTON (AP) Jill Biden will promote empowerment for women and young people and attend a Jordanian royal wedding during an upcoming trip to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. The first lady was scheduled to depart Wednesday on a six-day trip that will take her to Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Portugal. Her office shared some details first with The Associated Press. It will be Bidens first Middle East visit as first lady. She traveled to Namibia and Kenya in February. The first lady believes that supporting youth across the world is critical to our common future, with education, health, and empowerment at the heart of it, said Vanessa Valdivia, her spokesperson. With her visit to the Middle East and North Africa, the first lady will continue to build on her work to empower young people, and reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our partnerships and advance our shared priorities in the region, Valdivia said in an email. In Amman, the capital of Jordan, Biden will attend the June 1 wedding of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, heir to the throne, and Rajwa Khaled Al-Saif, an architect. President Joe Biden and the first lady have a deep and longstanding friendship with the princes parents, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. When Joe Biden was vice president, he and King Abdullah often met over breakfast when the king traveled to Washington to visit his son, then a student at Georgetown University. Abdullah also visited Biden at his home in Delaware after Biden returned to private life. The two have met at least three times since Biden became president, twice at the White House and once in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In Egypt and Morocco, Jill Biden will connect with women and young people while focusing on U.S. investments that help support education programs and efforts to increase economic opportunity. In Portugal, the first lady will help the U.S. State Department celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Art in Embassies program, highlighting the role the arts can play in diplomacy. 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: Nearly 99 per cent of nursing homes in Ontario now have air conditioning in residents rooms, almost a year after the province set a deadline for the requirement. Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra said only nine of the 625 nursing homes in Ontario remain without air conditioning in resident rooms. Three of those are expected to have units installed by the end of May, and three more are on track to have AC this summer. Two homes have electrical capacity issues but are being redeveloped and will eventually have AC. The government has granted exemptions to those eight homes and recently fined a ninth one. The province is now conducting an inspection blitz, as the warm weather arrives, to ensure homes are complying with legislation that mandates air conditioning in resident rooms. Its a shame that we actually had to put a program in place that air conditions the homes, but were there now, 99 per cent done, and just a couple more left to go, Calandra told The Canadian Press in an interview. Legislation passed in 2021 required long-term care homes to install air conditioning in all resident rooms by June 2022. The province gives homes funding for air conditioning and is spending $200 million on the program, Calandra said. The government also recently passed regulations that allow it to slap higher fines on nursing homes not in compliance with the law. Last week, as part of its inspection blitz, the province laid the first such fine under the new rules. Prescott and Russell Residence in Hawksbury, Ont., has been fined $25,000 for not complying with the law. Calandra said inspectors found air conditioning units on site, but they were not installed in residents rooms. It gave the home a week to comply. Weve been very, very, very clear to all of them what our expectation is on the air conditioning side, he said. We funded it. We expect it to be in the rooms and available. The nursing home, run by the United Counties Of Prescott and Russell, has taken issue with the fine. Eric Larocque, administrator of the Prescott and Russell Residence, said the home complied with the law last year but found there were some nights in May when temperatures would drop below zero. The homes air conditioning units are installed in windows in the rooms in the building that dates back to 1978. It makes a huge draft at nighttime, he said. The furnace cannot keep up on those nights, causing temperatures inside the rooms to drop. Our residents were getting really cold, he said. The home has sensors in every room, he said, and gets alerted when temperatures rise above 26 C or fall below 22 C temperatures mandated by law. This year, the home set up air conditioning units in 13 lounges should the temperatures in rooms get too hot during the day. They planned to install air conditioning units in rooms in June, when the temperatures would get higher. We still believe that we did the right thing, Larocque said. He said the home has now complied with the law by putting the air conditioners in all 110 residents rooms despite some cold nights this week. The home will seek a review of the fine, he said. The issue shouldnt arise next year as they are moving into a new building, Larocque said. Last August, the province fined two homes $1,100 under the old penalty regime. Those homes have since installed air conditioning in every resident room, Calandra said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. SHARE: DULUTH, Minn. - A Florida man pleaded not guilty to human smuggling charges Friday in a case linked to the discovery last year of a family of four migrants from India found frozen to death just steps from the Canada-U.S. border. Steve Shand, 48, waived the reading of the indictment before entering the plea via videoconference as part of a brief but long-awaited arraignment in Duluth, Minn. Not guilty, Shand said when asked by Minnesota magistrate Judge Leo Brisbois how he was pleading to the charges one count each of bringing people into the U.S. illegally and of transporting them inside the country. A jury trial had been scheduled for July 17 in Fergus Falls, Minn., an hours drive southeast of Fargo, but Brisbois who has yet to rule on a number of discovery and production motions said the final date depends on the trial judge. Shand, from Deltona, Fla., was arrested in January 2022 in a remote area of northern Minnesota, where U.S. Border Patrol officers encountered him with two Indian nationals in a rented passenger van. Just over the border, near Emerson, Man., RCMP officers discovered the bodies of four people authorities believe died of exposure while trying to slip into the U.S. on foot. Shand is not charged in the deaths. Court documents filed at the time say it wasnt long before agents encountered a group of five Indian migrants as they trudged through a forbidding blizzard and -35 C temperatures toward the location where Shand was arrested. One of them was carrying a backpack containing childrens clothes, toys and a diaper that he said belonged to a family of four that had become separated from the larger group during their 12-hour overnight odyssey. Relatives have identified the victims as Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishaliben, 37, and their two children: daughter Vihangi, 11, and three-year-old son Dharmik. Police in India say they have since charged three men who allegedly acted as immigration agents for the family and provided them with paperwork. All three Dashrath Chaudhary, Yogesh Patel and Bhavesh Patel, no relation face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempting culpable homicide, human trafficking and criminal conspiracy. Authorities in the U.S. suspect the case is linked to a larger human smuggling operation a problem long associated with activity along the southern border with Mexico, but that some Capitol Hill lawmakers say is growing in scope up north. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported 11,583 encounters with non-Canadian citizens last month at or near the northern border, up from 5,317 during April 2022. For fiscal 2023, similar encounters already total 76,471, more than the 68,935 recorded during all 12 months of the 2022 fiscal year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. By James McCarten in Washington, D.C., with files from Hina Alam in Fredericton SHARE: OTTAWA Events featuring an Israeli cabinet minister alongside controversial Canadian preacher Charles McVety and a Conservative MP are ruffling feathers in Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolys office. Jolys office only learned about Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chiklis planned trip to Canada from other Liberal MPs, who raised questions about it when they received an invite to an event with Chikli on Parliament Hill next week. Normally, visits by foreign lawmakers are arranged through the Global Affairs department or official parliamentary friendship groups, but the Ottawa event was organized via a third group: the unofficial Israel Allies Caucus, run by Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis. Shes a long-time ally of McVety, who is hosting his own event with Chikli at the Canada Christian College near Toronto. We have great concerns about this visit as facilitated by Leslyn Lewis, Maeva Proteau, a spokesperson for Joly, told the Star. Of all the inspiring, hard-working people in Canada they could have arranged the Israeli minister to meet with, the Conservative party has chosen to highlight an individual dubbed one of the most publicly and vocally homophobic men in Ontario. Chikli is Israels minister for diaspora affairs, a portfolio dedicated to strengthening ties between Israel and Jewish communities around the world. The current Israeli government, a hard-right coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu has had challenges building a consensus of support in the West. Last March thousands took to the street in Israel to condemn his proposals to limit the powers of the Supreme Court, a move viewed by the U.S. and Canada too as a potential threat to the rule of law. But Chikli has also attracted his own spotlight. This week, he made headlines for backing Twitter boss Elon Musks attacks against businessman George Soros, a puzzling stance for some as Musks comments were widely condemned as antisemitic. Soros is often cited in antisemitic conspiracy theories as being responsible for various world events. As Israels minister whos entrusted on combating anti-Semitism, I would like to clarify that the Israeli government and the vast majority of Israeli citizens see Elon Musk as an amazing entrepreneur and a role model, Chikli said. Chikli has also been called out by his critics for making anti-Palestinian remarks. McVetys event is being billed as a Jerusalem Day celebration, a holiday in which Israel commemorates the unification of East and West Jerusalem after the Six-Day War. Israel is under attack and anti-Semitism is growing. It is important that we take time from our busy schedules to stand with Israel, the event announcement reads. It will be thrilling to participate and experience hundreds of Christians and Jews, standing shoulder to shoulder, celebrating peace and security for Jerusalem and all of Israel. McVety was once a close ally of Ontario Premier Doug Ford; the quote Jolys office used to describe him as homophobic came from Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne when she blasted Ford for attempting to grant McVetys college full university status. Ford and McVety have not been close since that effort failed. McVety has been repeatedly criticized for homophobic and Islamophobic comments. A decade ago his television show was pulled off the air after complaints. Last year, he was named one of Israels Top 50 Christian Allies in the world by an organization called Israel Allies, a network of mostly Christian politicians who are staunch supporters of Israel. Lewis whose bids for leadership of the Conservative party were backed by McVety and a network of evangelical churches started a Canadian branch of the group earlier this year. Canada Christian College, Israel Allies Canada, its U.S. arm as well as Chiklis office did not return questions from the Star about how it was that the minister got on their invite list. Israels embassy in Ottawa also did not reply to a request for comment. In a statement, Lewis said her event is non-partisan. 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, a non-partisan event open to all Parliamentarians, she said. Like other Members of Parliament, including members from the Liberal and New Democrat caucuses, I will be speaking with the Minister about the important relationship between Canada and Israel and about how we as parliamentarians can work to combat the concerning rise of anti-Semitism throughout the world. Lewis said she was not part of any diplomatic protocol discussions, referring those questions to the government. A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said they consider the visit private. Liberal MP Yaara Saks told the Star she only learned of Chiklis upcoming visit when she received the invite to Lewis event. Its highly disappointing to see the minister not go through official channels and to engage the government on important shared issues of anti-Semitism and the diaspora community, she said. Saks was among those who flagged the visit to the Israeli embassy in Ottawa and Jolys office. She told the Star she is very proud of decades worth of strong relations between Canada and Israel based on shared values. I would urge the minister to consider those in planning trips such as these. Internal Israeli government documents leaked to the media there suggested Israel was warned about having one of its cabinet ministers meet with groups the Canadian government considered extreme, as it ran the risk of sending the wrong message about who Israel wants as partners. After Canadas complaints, the Israeli press reported, Chiklis itinerary was revised. He is now expected to also meet with the official Parliamentary group in Ottawa, as well as other community groups. Editors note May 26, 2023: This story has been updated to provide more background on Amichai Chikli. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - Almost a year before the closure of 24 Sussex Drive due to disrepair and an infestation of rodents, the chairman of the National Capital Commissions board of directors warned that further delaying a cabinet decision on the fate of the residence would put the whole structure at risk. The mansion, which sits on a prime riverfront property a few kilometres from Parliament Hill, served as the home for Canadas prime ministers between 1950 and 2015. Concerns about the deteriorating state of the building prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family to move into a different official residence after he was elected. For nearly eight years, they have lived at Rideau Cottage, which is on the grounds of nearby Rideau Hall. Since then, the federal Liberal cabinet has continually deferred making a decision about whether to restore the heritage property. Its seen as a bit of a political quagmire. In 2018, Trudeau remarked that no prime minister wanted to spend taxpayer dollars on 24 Sussex. In January 2022, the NCC boards chairman Marc Seaman wrote to Filomena Tassi, the then-public services and procurement minister, expressing concern around the delay of a cabinet decision beyond December 2021 on the future of 24 Sussex Drive. The concerns are detailed in a briefing note from the Privy Council Office, the administrative arm of the federal cabinet. It was obtained by The Canadian Press under access-to-information laws. In the letter itself sections of which have been redacted Seaman said he wants to convey the boards strong view that continued deferment carries real risks to both the physical integrity of the building itself and our ability to execute our fiduciary responsibility as stewards of this most important classified heritage building on behalf of all Canadians. The property had been used for outdoor receptions in the years since 2015, and staff were still using some rooms. But in July, Seaman informed the government of the commissions plans to close the residence entirely, saying the work that needed to happen by no means pre-empts any future decisions by the federal government regarding the use and purpose of the residence. Last fall, a rodent infestation, worries that electrical issues could start a fire and outstanding water damage, among other issues, led the commission to determine that 24 Sussex now posed a health and safety risk to the remaining staff who worked there. The building was officially shuttered to remove aged systems and asbestos. It will remain closed for at least the next year, after contractors moved in last week to begin that work, according to commission spokeswoman Valerie Dufour. The project is budgeted to cost $4.3 million. Officials blame the deterioration of the 34-room mansion on consecutive governments unwillingness to spend money on repairing and performing proper upkeep of the house, which was first built in 1868. A spokesman for Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek, who replaced Tassi in the role last August, said Thursday it continues to work with the commission to develop a plan for the future of 24 Sussex Drive. The commission has said the federal government is reviewing options for the property, which sits on more than two hectares and includes a 12,000-square foot main house with 34 rooms, a pool house and two security guard kiosks. A draft report titled Revitalizing the Official Residence of the Prime Minister of Canada also released to The Canadian Press through access laws shows that the commission offered the government a series of specific options, including a recommended approach and a list of pros and cons. However, all the details about those options are redacted. The documents also identify issues with the home beyond its crumbling physical state. The layout and security measures do not pass muster to serve as a modern prime ministers residence, which is meant to host international guests and various events, they suggest. It is limited in its ability to support official functions and day-to-day activities, with poor accessibility, insufficient-sized rooms and lack of support spaces, such as barrier-free washrooms, reads one document. It goes on to say that while roughly 20 per cent of the space is designed for the prime minister and family to live in, privacy is an issue. There is no clear separation between the private and official spaces, it says. A 2021 report from the commission on the state of its assets said there was $36 million worth of deferred maintenance to complete at 24 Sussex, not including security or other infrastructure upgrades. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA Afghan-Canadians who worked for the Canadian military in Afghanistan are asking the Federal Court to declare a special immigration program for Ukrainians in breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and expand it to include nationals from all countries. Two Afghan-Canadian men filed the lawsuit this week in a move they say may also be the last step left in a long fight by former language and cultural advisers to rescue their families from abroad. We are proud Canadians, we are proud of what we did for Canada and now we are being treated like trash, said one of the men, who is referred to as John Doe 1 in the lawsuit and who only spoke to the Star on the condition he not be named to protect his family. Their application argues the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program is discriminatory because its wide-ranging provisions only apply to Ukrainians, as opposed to all those fleeing conflict. The program also discriminates based on race, the lawsuit says. Ukrainians are predominantly white and European. Afghans are predominantly dark-skinned and Muslim. Thus, the CUAET has the effect of distinguishing based on race, colour, ethnic origin and religion, which are prohibited grounds under s. 15 of the Charter, reads the application, which was obtained by the Star on Friday. The men are asking for the court to declare the program in breach of the Charter, and order it applied to all foreign nationals. Their application to Federal Court comes nearly six months after two other advisers settled a human rights complaint with the government over the fact theyd initially been completely shut out of immigration programs for Afghans set up in the wake of that countrys collapse to the Taliban in 2021. Language and cultural advisers, known as LCAs, were recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces in Canada and deployed with soldiers to help them navigate the unfamiliar cultural terrain during Canadas involvement in the war. Unlike interpreters, who were hired by the military on contract via multinational firms, LCAs were akin to serving members of the military, wearing uniforms and given high-level security clearances to carry out their work. Around 45 of them worked with the CAF over the course of the mission; John Doe 1 was in one of the last deployments to Kandahar before Canadas combat mission ended in 2011. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Ottawa found itself rushing to find ways to rescue Afghans whod worked alongside Canadian forces there. Ultimately, Canada pledged to resettle 40,000 Afghans by the end of this year, including former interpreters, human rights activists and members of religious minority groups. But LCAs were told they had to use traditional economic or family sponsorship programs to get family members in Afghanistan to Canada. The settlement of the human rights complaint compelled Ottawa to expand its existing Afghan settlement policy to cover relatives of LCAs as well. The lawsuit argues that program is too limited in scope compared to the one Canada put in place for Ukrainians. The CUAET was one of the governments responses to demands last year that Canada offer safe haven to Ukrainians following Russias invasion of their country. It offers Ukrainians and their family members even if they arent Ukrainian extended temporary immigration status in Canada, and with it the ability to work and go to school here. There is no cap on the number of applications under the program, many of the fees are waived and there is expedited processing of forms. The policy for LCAs requires applicants to have been in Afghanistan on or after July 22, 2021 and meet a specific definition of family member. A maximum of 380 applications are being accepted. The lawsuit argues that if the LCAs were Ukrainian, theyd have no problem bringing their currently excluded family members to Canada. For John Doe 2, whose sister would be eligible to come to Canada under the existing program for LCA but wont because she couldnt bring her adult children, the lawsuit felt like the final option. We have knocked on everybodys door, he said, and they ignored us. The federal government did not respond to a request for comment from the Star on Friday afternoon. In its response to the human rights tribunal complaint earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada argued the Afghans had no grounds to claim discrimination on the basis of national origin. People who arent Ukrainian dont have access to the specific Ukrainian program, IRCC wrote at the time, and all programs cant be open to everyone. If that were the case, IRCC would be unable to respond in a targeted facilitative manner to any humanitarian crisis without responding equally and simultaneously to all humanitarian crises, it said. Canada has committed to resettling 40,000 Afghans by the end of the year via programs launched in 2021; to date, about 32,000 have arrived. Those numbers are cold comfort to the men who are suing Ottawa. As Canadians, they say they dont understand why they cant bring family members here from abroad the way others can. We are Canadian citizens, said John Doe 1. We were on the front lines as Canadian citizens, and now they just dont care about us. Read more about: SHARE: It seems beyond obvious now that David Johnstons report on foreign interference in Canadian democracy was politically doomed even before the former governor general weighed in earlier this week. Regrettably, as the raucous fallout over his report has demonstrated, the current political climate doesnt create much space for plans that hinge on trust and goodwill among parties and deference to experts and authority. But remember: Johnstons target audience was never the political class or at least it shouldnt have been. Johnston wasnt appointed special rapporteur to make Pierre Poilievre feel better about Justin Trudeaus government. That would be like asking the Conservative leader to stop speaking in rhymes and slogans. Johnstons mission was and is to help Canadians retain their trust in the integrity of things that are bigger than the petty politics weve seen on display this week namely, democracy and the integrity of elections. Keeping that in mind, its the second phase of Johnstons report, the public hearings he suggested, that has acquired major significance for days and weeks ahead. If Trudeau is going to stick with the Johnston plan and so far that does seem to be the idea then those public hearings had better be good. In fact, they need to be knock-it-out-of-the-park good, because they are the stand-in for the public inquiry into foreign interference that so many wanted him to recommend. Johnston said it himself in his opening remarks to the media on Tuesday: A public process is warranted to address the parts of my mandate that are not classified. Canadians rightfully have questions and deserve to be engaged fully in my work. He then rattled off a number of critical issues to be addressed in the hearings. They include everything from how foreign interference affects diaspora communities to how current pieces of Canadas national security infrastructure may need to fixed. In all, Johnston identified more than a dozen questions that need to be aired in public. My problem with his report is that this section was unfinished, incomplete. If he was going to take the risk of nixing a public inquiry a decision my colleague Althia Raj identified as less than politically astute then the public hearings had to be sketched out in far more detail. Johnston told us definitively why the public inquiry was impossible secrecy rules meant the best stuff wouldnt be public at all. What he didnt outline for us was why the public hearings were a good or even better substitute. I didnt get a chance to ask Johnston in his meeting with the Star this week when exactly over the past couple of months he had decided a public inquiry into foreign interference was impossible. He did tell us at his news conference and in his report that he had fully expected to make a recommendation for a full public inquiry, but ultimately couldnt send the government down that road. Whenever that moment did come though, I think Johnston and his team should have got to work on solid plans for the public hearings maybe not precise dates and locations, but a thorough list of how this process would unfold. It wouldnt have calmed the political fury that Poilievre was waiting to whip up over the report, no matter what it said. (Was the Conservative leader ever going to say anything about this report other than it was written by Trudeaus ski buddy?) But it would have been a reminder that Johnston wasnt writing his report for Conservative approval it was to reassure Canadians that their fears, concerns and apprehensions were going to be seriously addressed before the end of this year. A comprehensive, well-laid-out agenda for these hearings wouldnt be just political communication strategy although it would have given critics of Trudeau and Johnston something else to talk about, besides the fact a public inquiry was a no-go. The hearings are ultimately a chance to put Johnstons work where it belongs in the realm of public trust, before the public, out in the open. Its public trust in democracy that is at issue here, not whether political parties can get along or even whether theres a breakdown in communication between government and the national-security system. Yes, these may be serious issues, but theyre a smaller part of the bigger picture. The overarching question is whether Canadas democratic system is strong enough to withstand meddling from outsiders (or even insiders). One other suggestion: Johnston envisions himself presiding over these hearings. Id argue thats not necessary. Better to have these public hearings led by experts in the various questions theyre going to tackle, maybe even taken from lists compiled by some of the parliamentary committees. Whether its fair or not, Johnston is now too much of a lightning rod and the scope of his hearings is too large, and in too short a time span, for one person. The next phase of Johnstons report doesnt have to land the same way the first part did. It just requires some attention to the real target audience of this exercise: the public and its trust in democracy. Susan Delacourt is an Ottawa-based columnist covering national politics for the Star. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt SHARE: A pregnant woman at a Walgreens in Lafayette, Louisiana, ready to receive a TDAP vaccine a routine and recommended protection for expectant mothers was minding her own business when an unsolicited and uninvited anti-vax creeper demanded that she explain her medical decision. Even after being asked repeatedly to respect her privacy, the creeper persisted, berating and lecturing the pregnant woman under the guise of "concern." The confrontation kicked off with Creeper's initial query, "I was just wondering what vaccine you're gonna get." Maintaining her cool, the woman responded, "It's none of your business. Please get away from me." Seemingly oblivious to the woman's discomfort, Creeper continued her line of questioning. "I'm six feet back. I was just wondering what makes you think you need a vaccine while you're pregnant?" Not missing a beat, the woman shot back, "I take medical advice from my doctor who went to medical school, not a woman in the line at Walgreens." Despite this, Creeper was relentless. "That's a very good point. Do you feel better justifying the fact that you're going to inject some kind of chemical?" she challenged, attempting to sow seeds of doubt. "Please get away from me," the woman repeated. Despite numerous pleas for her to maintain distance, Creeper launched into an uninvited sermon about "liberalism and vaccines." Eventually, the woman's patience wore thin. "You're really starting to piss me off," she warned. Unfazed, Creeper fired back, "I hope so. I hope I am. I hope I make you think. Look what you're doing to your baby. Think about it." At this point, the woman had had enough. "Okay, bitch," she retorted. After one last jab about the necessity of a vaccine during pregnancy, Creeper finally appeared to take her leave. However, she soon returned, smiling at the camera. "Hello, you can take a picture of me," she said. Quick to correct her, the woman retorted, "Oh, no, I'm taking a video. I'm gonna put it on the internet." Creeper seemed pleased. "That's good. I hope you do." Once again, the woman sternly repeated, "Get away from me. I'm serious." Isn't it curious how people who insist on personal freedoms and the right to be left alone are usually the first to trample on the very same rights of others? The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has accused some members of his cabinet of working against him during the March 18 gubernatorial election. The Governor, who was re-elected for his second term in office, stated this on Thursday during a valedictory meeting with the outgone members of the State Executive Council, held at the Government House, Lafia. Governor Sule declared that he could have sacked those that allegedly conspired to stop his re-election with immediate effect, but decided to move forward after the victory. He lauded those who were loyal to him and worked hard for the success of his re-election bid. He said, I have seen and also heard of some who worked like there is no tomorrow for us to lose the election. I want to thank those of you particularly who worked for the success of my re-election and did not listen to any side comments but your loyalty to God Almighty and your loyalty by the oath you have taken to be able to deliver us. I always keep everything aside so that we can move forward once God made me successful, that was the only reason I didnt listen to advice to sack those that worked against us immediately after the election. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami said 4,366 projects have been implemented in the last four years. Pantami disclosed this on Thursday at the virtual and physical commissioning ceremony in Abuja. The projects include, Nigerian Communications Commissions Emergency Communications centres, National Information Technology Development Agencys ICT centres, Ten operational mailing vehicles for the Nigerian Postal Service and Universal Service Provision projects Nationwide. The Minister launched the IT Hub Construction and Equipping in Gashua, Yobe State (North-East), Digital Awareness Programme at Cardoso High School, Apapa, Lagos State (South-West), Community IT Training Centre Ogbomoso, Oyo State (South-West), Digital Nigeria Centre at General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College, Bauchi, Bauchi State (North-East), Mini-ICT Square Project at FUT Minna, Niger State (North-Central), Digital Nigeria Centre at Udi Abia Secondary School, Udi, Enugu State (South-East) and other projects. Pantami noted that Nigerias digital economy grew significantly in the last four years due to the implementation of well-tailored policies. According to him, broadband coverage increased from 23 per cent to 80.86 per cent in the period under review. He expressed delight that the sectors contribution to Nigerias economy grew from N51.3 million to N408.7 billion in four years. He stated that the government has increased National Identity Number enrolment from 39 million to 100 million. Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, the Director General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Abdullahi, the Postmaster General/CEO of NIPOST Hon Sunday Adepoju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Prof Muhammed Abubakar, the Director General of National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Aziz, National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, Dr Vincent Olatunji lauded the Minister for pioneering giant strides in the sector. Prof Danbatta, represented by Adeleke Adewolu, the Executive Commissioner of Stakeholder Management, NCC highlighted several interventions facilitated by the Minister responsible for the growth in the sector. He noted the implementation of the NIN-SIM synchronization policy, the exemption of the telecommunications sector from an additional 5 per cent tax and other laudable achievements recorded under the Minister. On his part, the DG of NITDA Abdullahi said Pantamis legacy will not be forgotten in the sector. Also, the Postmaster General, Adepoju said the Minister had impacted the telecommunications industry significantly. There is no doubt that effective and efficient National Mail Routes will help in putting Nigeria on a proper pedestal within the comity of global postal administrations, he stated. Major highlights of the ceremony were the ribbon cutting of several projects including the unveiling of a 443 pages compendium of the major achievements, programmes and initiatives in the digital economy sector, 10 mailing vehicles of NIPOST, the celebration of over 100m NIN enrollment and others. President Muhammadu Buhari says the 9th national assembly gave him the required support to fulfil his promises to Nigerians. Buhari spoke on Thursday at the inauguration of the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja. Buhari described the 9th national assembly as one of the most productive in terms of output and outcome. The President did not make reference to the 8th parliament, but the presidency has often stated that it didnt get the support of the national assembly led by Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara. Buhari said he refrained from meddling in the affairs of the legislature to encourage their independence. This 9th assembly will be remembered as one of the most productive in terms of output and outcome, Buhari said. Again, I thank the leadership of the national assembly for giving me the support required to deliver on my promises to Nigerians. From the moment of my election in 2015 and subsequently, I supported the idea of an independent national assembly one that is able to decide its leadership and develop its agenda in line with the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I refrained from meddling in the affairs of the legislature and instead promoted a culture of mutual respect and collaboration between the two arms. Buhari said the nation is endowed n many ways, adding that the teeming population remains its greatest asset. Nigeria is immensely endowed in many ways. Our single greatest asset is the people of this nation, he said. Our teeming youth population provides the labour force we need to industrialise and develop our economy. This underscores the need for more investment in human capacity development. A State High Court sitting in Edo on Friday dismissed the notice of suspension issued against the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, by some party members at the ward level. The judge, Justice Emmanuel Aihamoje, on Friday, threw out the case for lacking merit. This was contained in a statement, issued in Abuja on Friday, by the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who also confirmed that the action was filed by Abure and the executives of LP Ward 3 in Esan North East of Edo State. In his judgement, which lasted for nearly two hours, Aihamoje judged that the party ward executive in Uromi in ward 3 lacked the power under the Labour Party Constitution, particularly Act 13 & 17 and the Electoral Act 2022, as amended to remove the national chairman of the party. The judge in Suit No: HUC/21/2023 therefore went ahead to impose perpetual injunction against Lamidi Apapa and his faction from removing or suspending Abure as the national chairman until a new national convention of the party is convened. Aihamoje further stated that the purported wards 3 executive who suspended the national chairman of the party acted outside the powers vested on it by the Labour Party Constitution. Reacting to the ruling, LP Ward 3 Chairman, Thompson Ehiguese, told journalists at the court premises that the judgement has put an end to impostors who are masquerading as members of the labour party in the ward. He said, These charlatans claiming to be members of our party are from Edo North and members of APC. I want to use this medium to congratulate the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement that stood firmly with Comrade Julius Abure while the sponsored crisis in our great party lasted. The judgement is explicitly clear that Barrister Julius Abure remains the national Chairman until the party convention holds next year. Nothing can change our collective resolve to reclaim Nigerian masses mandate freely given to Mr Peter Obi and the party in the last presidential election. On his part, Edo State Labour Party Chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, affirmed that Labour party has been vindicated, adding that the court has confirmed Apapa and his faction are tragic power seekers. Apapa, who before then was a deputy national chairman and a custodian of the constitution of the party, knew that the act of those who came to Abuja to announce the suspension of the national chairman was not doing so legally, since the action was an aberration to the provisions of the partys constitution, instead, he ran to the court, seeking ex-parte motion to restrain the national chairman. Today they have been basically told that the charade can no longer be entertained by the court, he said. When contacted, the spokesman for Lamidi Apapa-led faction, Abayomi Arabambi, disclosed that he was planning to address a press conference to address the ruling. As of the time of filing the report, nothing has been heard from him. The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A five-member panel of the Supreme Court held on Friday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked the locus standi to institute the suit. The panel said the PDP is not a member of the APC. The PDP had claimed that Shettimas nomination as Tinubus running mate was in breach of the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act. The party alleged that Shettima was still the APCs candidate for Borno central senatorial district on July 14 when he accepted the nomination for vice-presidential candidate. However, the respondents said Shettimas senatorial nomination was dropped on July 6, 2022. The respondents said the suit was statute barred, having been filed 15 days after the cause of action instead of 14 days as required by law. They also averred that the issue being contested is an internal party affair and that the appellants lacked locus standi to institute the suit. But the appellants insisted that section 284(14)(c) of the constitution gives them the right to institute the suit as it is not an internal party affair, rather, a breach of the Electoral Act. In its judgment, the apex court held that section 284(14)(c) of the constitution does not extend to a party poking into the affairs of another party no matter how pained and disgruntled it may be. The position of the law has always been that no political party can challenge the nomination of a candidate of another political party, Adamu Jauro, who read the lead judgment, said. The position did not change in section 285(14)(c) of the constitution. No matter pained or disgruntled a political party is with the way and manner another political party is conducting or has conducted its affairs concerning its nomination of candidates for any position, it must keep mum and remain an onlooker for he lacks locus standi to challenge such nomination in court. Section 285(14)(c) of the constitution only allows a political party to challenge the decisions and activities of INEC disqualifying its own candidate from participating in an election. It is therefore abundantly clear that a political party that files a suit challenging the nomination of a candidate of another political party would be a nosy busy-body, a meddlesome interloper, peeping into the affairs of his neighbour without any backing. The appellants by its originating summons and affidavits in support filed to disclose any nexus between the actions of the respondents and the suit. And it has failed to show which harm it suffered or that it stands to potentially suffer from the action of the respondents. In fact no dispute has been shown to exist between the appellants and the respondents. Im in complete agreement with the lower court that the appellant lacked locus standi to institute and maintain this action at the trial court. The apex court added that the appeal is frivolous and bound to fail. Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Friday, said President Muhammadu Buhari was leaving Nigeria much better than he met it on assumption. Ganduje made the statement at the inauguration of 3,000 capacity Ultra-Modern Custodial Centre at Janguza in Kano on Friday. Ganduje, represented by Alhaji Usman Alhaji, Secretary to the State Government, said the project would move Kano to a functional mega city. Indeed, this is what Buhari promised Nigeria and the people of Kano to deliver dividends of democracy. He commended the president for the efforts rendered to Kano State and inaugurating the largest custodial centre. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that out of the four inaugurated projects virtually by President Buhari, three are situated in Kano, which includes the Nigerian Navy Logistics College, Dawakin Tofa, 3000-Capacity Ultra modern Correctional Centre and the New International Terminal Building of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The Controller General, Nigerian Correctional Service, Halliru Nababa said the project was a world-class centre and the first of its kind in the country, which ranked among few of its kind on the African Continent. The Correctional Service now stands transformed and re-energised to answer its name anywhere among its equals. The impact of this modern facility on the management of offenders and the internal security of our country is indeed tremendous. Nababa said that President Buhari was the first sitting president to visit a Custodial Centre for the purpose of witnessing the payment of fines for indigent inmates, facilitated by the Kano state government. Suffice to say that such a massive infrastructure upgrade is a quantum leap from a system that hitherto seemed neglected, to a highly revamped and reformed Service, able to actualise its statutory mandate professionally. He commended the president for his support and commitment towards delivering sustainable reforms in offenders management and public service delivery. As a Service, we assure you of replicating your kind gesture with professional and dutiful service. The President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, took the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on a familiarisation tour of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Buhari and Tinubu arrived at the Press Gallery at around 1:18 pm shortly after observing the Jummah Prayers at the Aso Villa Mosque. This is the Gallery where you will be meeting members of the press, Buhari told Tinubu as both men emerged from the waiting room of the Aso Chambers. This comes barely 24 hours after the President conferred upon Tinubu the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, at the State House Banquet Hall. On Thursday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had taken Shettima on a tour of the VP Wing of the State House. Both leaders exchanged documents ahead of the official handover of power on Monday, May 29, 2023. Ibinabo Dokubo, a former presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), says she is qualified to be a minister in the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu, president-elect. Dokubo, who declared her intention to run for president in April 2022, did not contest the ruling partys presidential primary in June that produced Tinubu as the flagbearer. Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Thursday, the former aspirant said she deserves to be minister because she is qualified, and wants to see Tinubu succeed in office. I declared before Asiwaju, when he indicated his interest that he wanted to become the president he stood a better chance of getting the ticket. Im still young, I still have more years ahead of me, so I withdrew my interest, Dokubo said. I dont only deserve to be a minister, I am qualified to be a minister. As a youth and as a leader in the Rivers state APC. I have the capacity. I have something that I can bring to the table, I have so many plans while I was running for president. I deserve to be a minister. I can see Nyesom Wike running around Asiwaju and APC. This is a party he once called a cancer party. Does Nyesom Wike want to be a cancer minister? Im not saying I must become [minister], but I must be part of the process. Either I will or I will nominate. Asiwaju said his government is going to be a youth government. In all categories, Im qualified to be a minister. IM NOT HAPPY WITH APCS NOMINATIONS FOR NASSEMBLY Dokubo said lawmakers-elect should be allowed to elect who they want as their presiding officers. When I got the news, I was not happy. I know the party is supreme but equity fairness and justice are more supreme than the party. It is better for them [lawmakers-elect] to go and vote, she said. It [zoning] was not nice. They endorsed Godswill Akpabio for senate president. He did well as the governor of Akwa Ibom. Akpabio did well as a minority leader but as a minister of Niger Delta, Akpabio did not do well. NDDC almost collapsed in the hands of Akpabio. For over two years, it was a one-man show, one man sat on the affairs of NDDC. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, on Thursday, said he knew nothing about the education sector when he was appointed in 2015 by the President, Muhammadu Buhari. He disclosed this at a valedictory session with officials and heads of parastatals of the Ministry. Adamu, upon his appointment, shared his idea with those he called on to help him with a policy document on education. I didnt know anything about the education sector when I was appointed Minister except superficially. But when Buhari decided to make me Minister of Education, I called some people to assist me work on a policy document on education because I was a novice in the sector. I shared my idea with them and they assisted me greatly, and I remain grateful to them for these years, the minister said. He, however, commended President Buhari for counting him worthy of such a task. I was busy making recommendations and suggestions to the President on who to appoint into his cabinet in 2015. All of a sudden, he announced my name to my surprise and that was it. We worked together till 2019. In 2019, I approached the President and suggested that he reshuffle his cabinet because, in the eyes of many, it was unusual in our society for a President to work with the same Ministers for four years. Buhari had graciously allowed his Ministers to stay in office for four years. Ordinarily, Ministers stay in office for two years before they are reshuffled. But I know him very well and I knew it will be difficult for him to do that. But I decided to make it easy for him by promising to bring people that would do the job better for me and others who served as Ministers in the first tenure. Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari is making last-minute appointments and seeking approval for funds disbursement. On Wednesday, Buhari asked the senate to approve a request to pay various sums as judgment debts. The amounts $566,754,584, 98,526,012 and N226 billion are said to be owed by the federal government. Earlier on Wednesday, the president swore in seven federal commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Buharis last-minute decisions have elicited varied reactions, given the proximity to the handover to the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu. During an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, Adesina addressed the issue. The presidential spokesperson said Buhari has a four-year mandate which will end on May 29, 2023. He added that the federal government is obligated to pay any form of debt incurred during the eight-year tenure. A wicked man pays and owes not, that is what the good book says, he said. When you owe and you refuse to pay, the Bible says you are a wicked man. If the government is owing all those judgement 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. Adesina also spoke on the presidents refusal to dissolve his cabinet after his final federal executive council meeting on Wednesday. It depends on the president. Style is typical to each person, that is the style of the president, he added. 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. Following backlash over its choice of imagery, Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest has apologized for displaying a banner featuring a smiling white couple promoting their Juneteenth event on Greenville, South Carolina's Main Street. This banner was one among ten, all depicting residents of various racial backgrounds as part of a broad representation of the community. TikToker Tashay shared a video where she points at the banner in question, saying in dismay, "Because, why the fuck would they ever?!" Juneteenth, which was made a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates the freeing of enslaved Black Americans after the Civil War. Now, the festival's founder, Reuben Hays, said that including the white couple was on purpose. His goal was to show that the event is for everyone, and not just one group. But following the backlash, Hays came forward and admitted they might have goofed up in their attempt to unite everyone, and in the process, they didn't quite honor the depth of Black culture and the significance of Juneteenth. We acknowledge this mistake having been made and will correct the error quickly. This error was an attempt at uniting all of Greenville and thereby a slight oversight on one individual's part that prevented us from fully embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of the black culture through the message and meaning of Juneteenth, and for that, we apologize to you the entire community. To foster solidarity and inclusivity, we will continue to work to make all communities better. We take full responsibility for this misstep in this regard, and pledge to rectify the situation promptly and responsibly. Again, the flags in question will be removed as soon as possible This is not the only drama stemming from the event. Bruce Wilson, a community activist who used to run the event, accuses the current organizers of "whitewashing" the celebration and has threatened them with a lawsuit if they don't call the event off by May 31. Popular Biafra Agitator and Separatist Simon Ekpa warned President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Department of State Security that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu must not die under detention. In a statement disclosed to newsmen on Friday, the Finland-based lawyer and Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, BRGIE, called on Buhari, DSS, Malami to free Nnamdi Kanu over his deteriorating health. Ekpa said the medical team of the Department of State Security, DSS confirmed that Nnamdi Kanu needs urgent medical attention. He lamented that Kanu had been complaining of ear pain for over two years without proper medical attention. He urged the Nigerian Government to either release Kanu immediately or allow his medical team to attend to him while in detention. He kicked against the DSS medical team performing surgery on Nnamdi Kanu. He stressed that nothing must happen to Kanu while in DSSs detention. The information has revealed that the DSS Medical Unit has recommended urgent ear surgery for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra). With this letter, we are telling the DSS Medical Unit not to attempt any such manoeuvre. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been complaining of his deteriorating health for Over two years, and DSS refused to see his medical team. He has been without his reading eyeglasses since he was kidnapped and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria against his will; still, the DSS refused the courtesy of replacing his eyeglasses and having an optical reexamination. The competent court of any wrongdoing has discharged Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yet DSS keeps him captive. By recommending this urgent surgery for him after refusing access to his medical team, DSS has directly accepted that they have debased Mazi Nnamdi Kanus health and are planning now to use an excuse of surgery to poison and kill him off. If DSS is sincere, they should allow Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the freedom to walk away from their dungeon and go and meet his medical team. His Life is not guaranteed under the DSS surgeons or the Nigeria healthcare system. In March 2022, Biafrans mourned DIG Joseph Egbunike, who died after medical surgery to remove a FISH BONE stuck in his throat. Hence, we are saying no to the DSS-recommended urgent surgery for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which we view as a Trojan Horse and insincere. Suppose the DSS medical unit insists that the surgery must be done in their captivity and must be done urgently. In that case, they should allow Mazi Nnamdi Kanus medical team to come in and perform the surgery. All Biafrans must stand up now and say no to any wicked and inglorious DSS attempt to perform any surgery on our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. If anything happens to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from DSS surgery, be assured that Nigeria will be on flame, and many suspected of being part of this kidnapping will pay heavily, his statement contained. Recall that Kanu was re-arrested in 2019 by the Nigerian Government. Despite several court orders, Buharis Government refused to grant him bail. In another development, Ekpa was awarded the honour of Ambassador of Peace at the African Day celebration in Helsinki, Finland, by the Universal Peace Federation, UPF. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has dissolved his cabinet. Abiodun dissolved his cabinet in line with the provisions of the law, ahead of his second term inauguration on May 29, 2023. The governor sadly announced the dissolution of the cabinet at a valedictory State Executive Council meeting held today. In an emotion-laden speech, Abiodun appreciated the appointees for working with him and serving the state. I am sadly, formally dissolving this executive council, today the 26th of May, 2023, Abiodun said. The governor disclosed that he had put in place some parting packages for the outgoing appointees, saying the packages would be made available to them by the office of the secretary. I will miss you all, but please lets always keep in touch. We have fulfilled our promises. We cant score ourselves 100 percent because we cant do everything. But we have done our bits and Im very proud of what weve achieved, he stated. Abiodun added that some of you will be called upon to serve again, I am sure you will make yourselves available. Thank you for trusting me, for believing in me, for working with me and for serving the state. He appreciated God that the council did not lose anyone since it was formed. Ahead of the May 29 inauguration, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, took Kashim Shettima, his successor, on a familiarisation tour of the presidential villa. Speaking after the tour, Shettima commended Osinbajo for taking him round the offices out of courtesy. The Vice-President-elect said he was at the presidential villa to exchange ideas with Osinbajo on how to move the nation forward. On the instance of Vic-President, who is a friend and a contemporary, I came here just to exchange ideas on how to move the nation forward, he said. He took me round the offices out of courtesy and I want to commend him, I want to thank him for extending that courtesy to me. On Tinubus presidency, Shettima said the president-elect would hit the ground running immediately after the inauguration on May 29. He does not have the luxury of time. I will be the Vice-President. I dont want to be presumptuous or make a loud proclamation, he added. But my interaction with him (Tinubu) has shown that we will hit the ground running from day one. I believe it is a humbling experience. It is a call to national duty and by Gods grace, we need the support of all of you, especially the media to succeed. So, I wish to employ all of you to join us in building a new Nigeria. Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers, says the state borrowed a parade vehicle from Ondo in 2015 for his swearing in. The tenure of the governor will come to an end on May 29, after taking over the leadership of the state from Rotimi Amaechi in 2015. Speaking with his cabinet members on Thursday, Wike said his administration, unlike his predecessors, is leaving Rivers in a better state. He said he could not move into the government house after his inauguration, adding that everything was looted. We didnt have the opportunity of anyone handing over to us. It was even difficult to get a parade vehicle. We had to borrow from the governor of Ondo state, Segun Mimiko, he said. That was how wicked the previous administration was. I couldnt pack into the government house for more than a year because everything was looted, down to the pillowcase and bed sheet. The kitchen was looted, but thats not part of the problem today. We thank God that we are going to hand it over successfully. No local government in the state cab say that they have not been impacted with the development of this administration. Wike served as chief of staff when Amaechi was governor of the state. He was later appointed a minister of state by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Wike and Amaechi fell apart ahead of the 2015 elections, with the latter defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Wike remained in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since then, both men have remained at loggerheads. A legal practitioner and social critic, Inibehe Effiong, has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement dismissing the disqualification of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima. Effiong claimed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should have persuaded one of the aspirants who took part in the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary to challenge Shettimas double nomination. He said that the PDP made a serious mistake in its decision to challenge Shettimas double nomination by itself. The Apex Court on Friday dismissed the suit filed by the PDP, seeking Tinubu and Shettimas disqualification from the 2023 presidential election. The Court held that the PDPs suit was grossly lacking in merit. In a post via his verified Twitter handle on Friday, the legal expert said that the outcome of the litigation was predictable. He wrote, In law, strategy is important and can make nonsense of the substance of a case if not properly considered PDP could have persuaded one of the numerous aspirants who participated in the APC primary to challenge Shettimas double nomination. But it decided to do so on its own. The outcome was predictable. It wasnt going to be tenable given the state of the law on pre-election matters. It is tidier to raise it as a ground in the petition and contend that the double nomination eroded Tinubu/Shettimas qualification. This case was always a distraction. Ahead of the Presidential inauguration scheduled for Monday, May 29, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command says it has deployed human and material resources across the nooks and crannies of the territory to ensure that the event is safe and peaceful. A statement issued on Friday morning by the commands spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the deployment which consists of all intelligence and tactical assets at the Commands disposal, solidified with inter-agency collaboration, was borne out of the need to avert any form of threat on the nations democratic process. According to the PPRO, the strategic operational deployment is characterized by visibility policing across the territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance, vehicular/foot patrol, and diversions at strategic points namely: 1. Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal 2. Deeper Life Junction, 3. Bond/Total Filling Station, 4. POWA/FCDA Junction, 5. Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs, 6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 Eagle Square ( Phase 1 & Phase 11), 8 Kur Muhammad Way / National Mosque, 9 Abia House 10 NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo, 11 Gana Junction/Transcorp, 12 Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, 13 Aso Drive, 14 Ceddi Plaza 15 NNPC Twin Tower and 16 NNPC/NBS. She said the Commissioner of Police, FCT command, Haruna G. Garba equally alerted the general public of proposed fireworks scheduled to take place on the eve of the inauguration, at the City Gate and the Millennium Tower, to usher in the new administration. Asking residents not to panic, the police boss said the fireworks is expected to be carried out by Messrs Innate Arts and Media. The supreme court on Friday, described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a meddlesome interloper over the suit seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima. The PDP had alleged that Shettima was still the Borno central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on July 14 when he accepted the nomination for vice-presidential candidate. The party claimed that the nomination of Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate of the APC was in breach of the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act. Responding to PDPs argument, the respondents said the suit was statute barred, having been filed 15 days after the cause of action instead of 14 days as required by law. They also averred that the issue being contested is an internal party affair and that the appellants lacked the locus standi to institute the suit. Delivering judgement on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court agreed that the PDP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit. The supreme court said the PDP is like a nosy busybody that is peeping into the affairs of its neighbours. The apex court added that the PDP failed to show the potential harm it suffered or stands to suffer from the action of the respondents. Adamu Jauro, a member of the panel who delivered the lead judgment, said: It is therefore abundantly clear that a political party that files a suit challenging the nomination of a candidate of another political party would be a nosy busybody, a meddlesome interloper, peeping into the affairs of his neighbour without any backing. The appellants by its originating summons and affidavits in support failed to disclose any nexus between the actions of the respondents and the suit. And it has failed to show which harm it suffered or that it stands to potentially suffer from the action of the respondents. In fact, no dispute has been shown to exist between the appellants and the respondents. Im in complete agreement with the lower court that the appellant lacked locus standi to institute and maintain this action at the trial court. Jauro added that the case has been a waste of precious time. It is frivolous and bound to fail and is fraught with manifest malady. It has been a waste of precious time and judicial energy. Counsel should do better to advise their clients to desist from such frivolous matters. The appeal is grossly lacking in merit and it is hereby dismissed. The supreme court also awarded the sum of N2 million against PDP and in favour of the respondentsTinubu, Shettima and APC. Two New Jersey men who duped real estate investors by producing fake deeds to sell properties they didnt own were recently sentenced after previously pleading guilty in the scheme, according to the state Attorney General. Richard Toelk Jr., 54, of Atlantic City, and his business partner, attorney Keith Smith, 60, of Egg Harbor Township, produced at least 20 fraudulent deeds for Atlantic City properties and filed them with the county clerks office in 2018 and 2019, prosecutors said. Most of the properties were owned by the Atlantic City municipal government and some were privately owned, officials said. Investigators have asked for the publics help in finding a man wanted for allegedly shooting a woman multiple times and leaving her for dead Sunday night in Bergenfield. Aaron Sierra, 22, of Bergenfield, was charged with attempted murder, receiving stolen property and obstruction of justice by flight and is considered armed and dangerous, according to a statement from the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. Police were called to a home just before 7 p.m. on Sunday and discovered a 20-year-old woman suffering gunshot wounds, the office said. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and was in stable condition Thursday night. Sierra was identified as a suspect. His last known whereabouts were in upstate New York, investigators said. Authorities released few details about the alleged incident. Anyone with information that could lead to his apprehension was urged to call the offices tip line at 201- 226-5532. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. A recent warrant squad sweep through Essex County resulted in the arrests of 43 fugitives, including two adults and a juvenile wanted on murder charges, the prosecutors office announced Friday. The fugitives, all of them from Essex County, were picked up during the month of April for failing to appear in court. They were all arrested without incident for crimes ranging from murder, to aggravated assault and robbery, weapons possession, down to shoplifting, the prosecutors office said. As we all know, when someone is charged with a crime, they dont just turn themselves in, said Mitchell McGuire, chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutors Office, which worked with Newark police, Essex County Sheriffs Office, and the U.S. Marshalls Service to conduct the sweep in April. As a matter of fact, they do their best to avoid being encountered by law enforcement. So efforts like this warrant sweep are pivotal in keeping our communities safe, he said. Among the fugitives taken into custody were Antuane Gregory, 42, of Irvington, who was wanted for the April 15 shooting at a liquor store in Newark that killed Corey Beasley, 43, and wounded three others. Gregory is charged with murder, four counts of aggravated assault, plus weapons possession. The warrant sweep also included the arrest of a man accused of killing Frensly Bouquet, a 27-year-old truck driver from Florida on April 12. Lavon Ford, 27, of Newark, shot Bouquet around 1:45 a.m. during a robbery after the driver had pulled over on McCarter Highway to make a phone call, authorities said. Ford is charged with murder, robbery and weapons possession. The details of the juvenile arrest for homicide were not available at the news conference. Acting Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens was joined by Newark Public Safety Director Frtiz Frage and Special Agent Bryan Miller from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, which participated in the sweep. Stephens said with summer coming, it was important to remove as many violent offenders from the streets as possible. We got great results from the warrant sweep, Stephens said. Frage noted that 21 of the fugitives arrested were from Newark, and thanked the law enforcement agencies who participated. Frage said in a typical year, more than half of the violent offenses recorded in Newark happen between May and September. These efforts today will help us mediate that, Frage said. Were prepared to deal with the next couple months, and we appreciate all the support from everybody. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com. On the same day that Tina Turner's death was announced, Lizzo honored the trailblazing rock 'n' roll legend on stage in Phoenix. Delivering a stirring rendition of Turner's song "Proud Mary," Lizzo paid homage to the late superstar, acknowledging the immense impact Turner had in paving the way for Black women in music. Consequence: "Today, we lost an icon," Lizzo said prior to cooly crooning the intro to the song. "And I haven't allowed myself to be sad. I haven't allowed myself to cry about it. And I don't want to right now because I'd much rather celebrate the incredible legend Tina Turner is. As a Black girl in a rock band, I would not exist if it was not for the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll." Masking her emotions behind sparkling sequins, big Tina-esque hair, and an emphatic chant of "There is no rock 'n' roll without Tina Turner," Lizzo then ripped the bottom half of her costume off, and worked her way into the classic and recognizable "Proud Mary" dance. School curriculums that incorporate discussions of race, sexuality and social justice have become so heavily weaponized by politicians in some conservative states that teachers are struggling to simply teach students about their own history. But in Jersey City, supervisors and teachers not only feel total freedom, but a sense of obligation to update high school course offerings to expand lessons about those topics. We really just want to create that safe space for them where they can have those critical thought-provoking and life-changing conversations, said Tynetta Harris, Jersey Citys K-5 English Language Arts supervisor, who helped develop the revised Black Literature and Culture curriculum. We can create the spaces to be able to guide those conversations with the students and also root it in the academic foundation. The goal here is we want to create change agents. We want our students to be equipped not just for the now, but also for the future. Jersey City public high school students will have the opportunity to sign up for a new Contemporary Social Justice course and updated Black Literature and Culture course after the Board of Education Thursday unanimously approved the curricula that has sparked outrage and protests elsewhere. In Black Literature and Culture, students will learn about Black identity through poetry by the likes of Nikki Giovanni while also newly reading graphic novels like John Lewis March and comics like the Spider-Verse series. Contemporary Social Justice will traverse topics such as immigration and environmental justice and encourage students to develop solutions to these modern inequities. "The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story" by Nikole Hannah-Jones and "March: Book One" by Andrew Aydin and John Lewis at WORD Bookstore in Jersey City. (Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal) They are topics that elected officials are censoring from schools in states like Florida and Texas, but that New Jersey has increasingly championed and, in some cases, mandated be taught in schools. And while debates swirl around the topics at school board meetings in some Republican-controlled states, the new Jersey City curricula were approved without as much as one complaint from the public at Thursdays Board of Education meeting. We just wanted to create a learning experience where everyone felt seen valued and heard because, as we all know, representation matters, Harris said. The social studies department decided to create a Contemporary Social Justice course while revising the core curricula for the department, such as the history courses. There were so many more modern topics that the courses didnt cover or delve into, and after finishing the revisions last school year, the social studies team decided to take a year to craft a more contemporary history course, said Melissa dos Santos and John Emolo, both K-12 social studies supervisors and members of the committee that developed the course. The first topic students in Contemporary Social Justice will learn is media literacy, one way that the district hopes to help them navigate information about social justice issues they consume regularly. Our students get a lot of information on their phones and a lot of news comes quickly at them, dos Santos said. Black Literature and Culture, meanwhile, is a new name for the elective that had been African American Literature, an effort to make the course more reflective of Black Americans from all over the world, said Erika Schulz, the districts language arts supervisor for grades 9-12. But far more than just the name was updated. The committee revising the course, which Schulz, Harris and dos Santos all sat on, changed the courses structure so that instead of defining units of study by chronological time periods, the units move through thematic elements of texts such as alienation, resistance and afro-futurism. And it added new texts to the course to diversify the types of books students would read to include graphic novels and recent texts like Nikole Hannah-Jones The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. Liberty High School, Innovation High School, Ferris High School and Infinity Institute plan to offer Contemporary Social Justice next school year, said Superintendent Norma Fernandez. Seven schools will offer Black Literature and Culture. Incorporating media literacy in curricula will not be unique to the Contemporary Social Justice elective. Soon, all New Jersey students will be required to learn about the topic in school per a first-of-its-kind state mandate that Gov. Phil Murphy signed in January. The Jersey City electives also uphold other statewide requirements for topics that students must learn about, such as the history of the LGBT community and, through the 2002 Amistad law, African-American history. Under Murphys leadership, New Jersey has been steadfast in expanding topics related to equity and history taught in the classroom. A 2021 law requires schools to teach about unconscious bias and economic disparities and begin lessons about diversity and inclusion as early as kindergarten. The efforts present an approach that clashes with those in states like Texas, where the teaching of critical race theory is banned; and Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis went as far as essentially banning discussions about the existence of LGBT people in some classrooms. After DeSantis banned AP African American Studies classes from being piloted in Florida, Murphy expanded the course to 25 new high schools in New Jersey. As governors like Floridas Ron DeSantis prioritize political culture wars ahead of academic success, New Jersey will proudly teach our kids that Black History is American History, Murphy said. While the DeSantis Administration stated that AP African American Studies significantly lacks educational value, New Jersey will stand on the side of teaching our full history. Jersey City, meanwhile, is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country and teaching about social justice and Black authors are important ways to match course offerings with student interests, the supervisors interviewed said. It makes me smile to know that we included some Marvel comics and that a new Spider-Verse (movie) is coming out, Schulz said. It makes me smile to think that there will be interest in this. And while the topics presented in the courses can be heavy, the district was deliberate in offering students messages of hope. Black Literature and Culture intentionally ends on a high note with the afro-futurism unit, Harris said. Both courses use solutions-oriented approaches to encourage students to creatively envision positive change to the social challenges the classes present. One person suffered an apparent seizure. In an unrelated incident, another drank too much, too fast and passed out on the floor. Those were just two of the calls Jersey City police responded to during a chaotic period Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Police officers waited for ambulances from the Jersey City Medical Center to arrive. And they waited. And waited. Weve been waiting for 40 minutes, one police officer relayed over the police radio between 11 p.m. and midnight. This guy is going in and out of consciousness, one officer said, hoping that might spur a quicker response. An explanation soon followed: From MC, they stated they have a lot of unconscious patients and that overpowers all the calls they trying their best to get to us. At this time the only thing they can do wait for a bus to clear out. The reason: There was no mutual aid partner available, Jersey City Medical Center officials say. A spokeswoman for the Jersey City Medical Center told The Jersey Journal that the hospitals EMS experienced an unexpected surge in call volume, double the usual volume. Every call is screened and prioritized using a nationally recognized call-screening protocol that helps assign priority levels for calls based on the patient complaint. One of the responding officers put the problem in perspective, hinting at the possible tragic repercussions of making people experiencing a medical episode wait. I want to ask (JCMC) what they want us to do if this guy starts having a seizure, he said over the police radio. Nearly an hour later, a call went over the police radio: Evening tour has been on a call at Cator on a man down since 22:26 (10:26 p.m.). We are approaching an hour and a half and still no ambulance is available. At least one officer from the midnight tour was sent to relieve the officer, but only after a conversation between the police officer on the scene a supervisor about whether the person, who had passed out from apparent drug use but was alert now, could wait on his own for EMS. Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said there were 32 calls for service between 6 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday, but Jersey City Medical Center officials would not say how many calls their EMS crews responded to overnight Monday. Life-threatening conditions receive a higher priority, a JCMC spokeswoman said. When there is a large volume of calls for emergency assistance, our standard response is to collaborate with mutual aid agencies to assist. Regrettably, they were unable to assist. As a result, non-life-threatening calls were unfortunately delayed. JCMC officials did not say which other hospitals they called for mutual aid. At least one police officer asked about a work-around. Maybe they could transport the patient themselves: We have an male requesting to go to the MC. .. . We are looking to see if we can transport him to the MC since there are no buses (ambulances) available. The response from a sergeant on duty was swift: Thats a negative, we are not authorized for that. Over the two-hour span multiple officers inquired about the possibility of mutual aid help from other hospitals EMS teams or (is JCMC) the only game in town? JCMC officials did not say when their EMS crews got a handle on the backlog of waiting patients. Jersey City officials did not seem overly concerned that police officers spent anywhere from 30 minute to 2 hours waiting with people in distress for an ambulance, instead of policing. They did not respond to questions about the trickle-down effect of delayed ambulances or holding the hospital accountable. One employee in the public safety department, who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak, said this is a tragedy waiting to happen. There are not enough ambulances out there and what happens when someone has a heart attack or a stroke and an ambulance never comes? they said. Swifties looking for last-minute tickets to the Eras Tour may be in luck or at least more luck than earlier in the week. Friday marks the first of three Swift concerts in New Jersey, and as of early afternoon, ticket prices were starting to plummet for each show. On Vivid Seats, the cheapest tickets are now below $1,000 after hovering around $1,500-$2,000 all week; fans can snag seats for Fridays MetLife Stadium concert for $958. Front-row seats were going for as high as $6,000 all week but are now down to $3,506 on StubHub. Throughout the day, ticket prices have been sporadically dropping for the shows on May 26, May 27 and May 28. While there is no set time to determine when any of this happens, it is usually up to pure luck, how long you want to wait it out, and how fast you can click that refresh button. If you want to secure tickets right now, here are the cheapest tickets available before fees, at the time of publication, for Taylor Swifts MetLife Stadium shows. The Eras Tour (Friday, May 26) Cheapest Tickets: $958 on Vivid Seats | $1,082 on StubHub | $1,392 on TicketNetwork Cheapest Lower Level Tickets: $1,100 on Vivid Seats | $1,178 on StubHub | $1,392 on TicketNetwork Cheapest Floor Tickets: $3,345 on StubHub | $3,495 on Vivid Seats | $4,290 on TicketNetwork The Eras Tour (Saturday, May 27) Cheapest Tickets: $1,157 on Vivid Seats | $1,206 on StubHub | $1,573 on TicketNetwork Cheapest Lower Level Tickets: $1,247 on Vivid Seats | $1,300 on StubHub | $1,694 on TicketNetwork Cheapest Floor Tickets: $3,676 on StubHub | $4,451 on Vivid Seats | $5,803 on TicketNetwork The Eras Tour (Sunday, May 28) Cheapest Tickets: $1,132 on Vivid Seats | $1,188 on StubHub | $1,581 on TicketNetwork Cheapest Lower Level Tickets: | $1,132 on Vivid Seats | $1,284 on StubHub $1,615 on TicketNetwork Cheapest Floor Tickets: $3,570 on StubHub | $4,052 on Vivid Seats | $6,119 on TicketNetwork More upcoming MetLife Stadium tours Taylor Swift is not the only artist heading to MetLife Stadium this year. Here is a list of upcoming tours that you wont want to miss. RELATED STORIES ABOUT LIVE EVENTS: Taylor Swift tour 2023: Full schedule, dates, where to buy tickets Queen and Adam Lambert tour 2023: How to buy tickets for 8 new show dates Aerosmith farewell tour 2023: Dates, schedule, ticket info for The Peace Out Tour Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. An Asbury Park woman admitted Wednesday that she was responsible for the death of her 2-year-old son after he overdosed earlier this year, officials said. Shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 5, Asbury Park Police officers were called to Langford Street apartment for a report of an unresponsive child and when they arrived, they rushed him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, according to a release from the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office. An investigation uncovered that heroin and fentanyl that belonged to the childs mother, 26-year-old Quanique Smith, had been left in the home and within reach of the boy and his 5-year-old sibling, the office said. The younger boy ingested the drugs, causing him to overdose. Smith was arrested later that day and taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution before being indicted in late March on charges of aggravated manslaughter, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, hindering apprehension and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said. She pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated manslaughter. She was scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7 and is expected to face eight years in state prison, the office said. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Taylor Swift fans thinking about riding NJ Transit to her three concerts this weekend at MetLife Stadium might want to consider the agencys mixed track record when it comes to moving massive numbers of fans to and from mega events held in the Meadowlands. While NJ Transit has had several recent shows and sports events where the agencys trains and buses successfully moved fans, many still remember long delays and chaos that followed NJ Transit flubs of other events. Super Bowl XLVIII and Wrestlemania 35 were two infamous events that resulted in waits that thousands of frustrated fans measured in hours. NJ Transits performance for the May 2019 concerts of K-Pop superstars BTS was the agencies triumph, when predicted two hour waits to board a train didnt happen and transit worked as planned. The alternative is to drive and sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams to and from the concerts, including time wasted waiting to leave the parking lots. NJ Transit officials said the agencies entire record of providing service for hundreds of special events since the Meadowlands train station opened in 2009 should be considered and that the agency has planned how to move Swifties this weekend. Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 was dubbed the mass transit Superbowl by event promoters and NJ Transit officials said they were ready for the crowds promising to provide a world class experience. The blow out pounding that the Seattle Seahawks gave the Denver Broncos sent fans to the trains early. Photographs of thousands of fans swarmed around the three-track MetLife Stadium station showed up on the national media. NJ Transit commissioned a 148-page report probing the Super Bowl problems that was prepared by the law firm of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney and Carpenter, and delivered in August 2014. It concluded NJ Transit took a little longer due to some glitches, but NJ Transit still safely cleared all post-game 33,000 plus passengers in three-and-a-half hours. NJ Transit has successfully and seamlessly delivered rail service to MetLife Stadium for hundreds of major events since the station opened in 2009, said Jim Smith, an agency spokesperson. Similar to cars leaving the stadium parking lot, the closer you are to the front of the line following an event, the shorter the wait time is for a train to Secaucus for connections. Where the report faulted the agency was on the deployment of 300 backup buses. Fearing a repeat of pre-game overcrowding and congestion at Secaucus Junction station, where fans transfer to stadium trains, then Transportation Commissioner James Simpson and NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein disagreed on how to deploy the 300 buses. Simpson wanted the buses used to augment rail service from the stadium, Weinstein wanted the buses moved to Secaucus to ease crowding there. Simpson deferred, and the buses went to Secaucus, until Gov. Chris Christies chief counsel strongly urged sending 100 buses back to MetLife Stadium, the report said. Buses are a component of the stadium transportation contingency plan for the Taylor Swift concerts, but are not intended to be a substitute for rail service, Smith said. Trains have the capacity to move more people. Fans taking trains from MetLife stadium after Wrestlemania 35 in April 2019 faced similar problems of long waits and lines, compounded by rain after the end of the event. NJ Transit blamed WrestleManias 12:30 a.m. end time, which it said was two hours later than the planned 10:30 p.m. stop. Because of federal regulations governing how long train crews work between rest periods, the agency was not able to have train employees work overtime to staff additional trains, officials said. WWE officials fired back saying mega events dont run on a schedule, like a train. NJ Transits pre-event plan called for using six train sets after the event until approximately 1 a.m., based on the WWEs initial event schedule, agency officials said. By the end of the evening, NJ Transit moved more than 12,000 customers from MetLife Stadium. The two-track rail line can only move a maximum of 13,000 people an hour. Based on how well NJ Transit performed after the May 2019 MetLife concerts by Korean superstars BTS, Taylor Swift fans may not have to wait an era for a post-concert train. While BTS fans were warned by MetLife of two-hour waits, they did not materialize. This time, back up buses ran on a load and go basis and trains departing MetLife every 10 minutes. Concert promoters also ended the show when scheduled, avoiding the train crew issue seen during Wrestlemania. Reports after the first BTS show from the field were that train service operated as smoothly as possible when thousands of people are being moved. Another change is that NJ Transit now has a full roster of locomotive engineers to operate trains, which wasnt the case in 2019. NJ Transit plans to operate a full rail schedule to minimize wait times and maximize capacity for the Taylor Swift concerts, Smith said. Unlike the BTS show, MetLife officials did not discourage Swifties from taking the train and linked to NJ Transits concert service website from the stadiums Swiftie Central webpage. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Two women have been found guilty of locking an 8-year-old boy in a room in an Ocean County house day and night with no access to a bathroom, no lights and no furniture over several months, authorities said Friday. Donna Jung, 57, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, and Helecia Morris, 41, of Brick Township, were convicted Thursday of endangering the welfare of a child after a week-long jury trial, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. Police and child protection officials were called to their home in Brick on Jan. 9, 2016 for a wellness check on the 8-year-old boy, authorities said. Jung and Morris lived at the house with three children and the 8 year old is the biological son of Morris, authorities said. The locked room where they found the boy reeked of urine and was described by investigators as abhorrent conditions, authorities said. He was not allowed to use the bathroom in the residence and was excluded from socializing with the rest of the family, the prosecutors office said in a statement. The room contained no bed, no furniture, no lights and no toys. The abuse and neglect occurred between April 2015 and January 2016, authorities said. The boy and the two other children were removed from the home and placed in foster care. Jung and Morris were charged with child endangerment two days later. Both were taken into custody after the jury verdict and are being held at the Ocean County Jail pending sentencing scheduled for July 7, authorities said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Students from Ridgefield Park High School celebrated their prom at Seasons in Washington Township on Thursday evening. Dressed to impress, the prom-goers enjoyed the evening as they socialized, posed for photos and danced the night away. SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: This year, subscribers can get free unlimited high-resolution digital photo downloads of any of our photos in our galleries. Additionally, subscribers will get 50% off the prom-related keepsakes available for purchase. NJ.com is expanding its prom coverage this year with more photos from the celebrations. Students from Voorhees High School celebrated their prom at Arts Quest, Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, Pa. on Thursday evening. Dressed to impress, the prom-goers enjoyed the evening as they socialized, posed for photos and danced the night away. SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: This year, subscribers can get free unlimited high-resolution digital photo downloads of any of our photos in our galleries. Additionally, subscribers will get 50% off the prom-related keepsakes available for purchase. NJ.com is expanding its prom coverage this year with more photos from the celebrations. A New Jersey restaurant employee who asked for additional masks for COVID-19 and additional security in her workplace claims in a lawsuit she was fired as retaliation while out on maternity leave. Daelasky Roman, 30, of Lodi, was hired by the Montclair Hospitality Group in March 2021 to work as a floor manager at Ani Ramen House in Maplewood, according to the suit filed last month in Superior Court of Union County. Montclair Hospitality Group, which owns several restaurant brands, transferred Roman to Ani Ramens New Brunswick location in July 2021. A short time later, she was accosted by an intoxicated patron who struck her in the face and returned the next day to harass her, she said. After the alleged assault, Roman repeatedly asked for security officers to be present in the restaurant, but the company did not comply, the suit says. Representatives for Montclair Hospitality Group and Ani Roman did not respond to requests for comment on allegations contained in the lawsuit. In August 2021, Roman found out she was pregnant and because there were no security officers at the New Brunswick restaurant she requested a transfer to a different company restaurant, still in fear of the patron who struck her, the suit says. Instead of a transfer, the Montclair Hospitality Group offered Roman the position of travel manager the following month. That meant she still needed to work at the New Brunswick location, but only once per week, according to the suit. In November 2021, Roman asked for additional COVID-19 safety measures to protect her, her unborn child and her co-workers, the suit says. Instead of offering masks, a corporate manager allegedly asked Roman if she felt safe. I feel safe as the next person, Roman responded, according to the suit. As long as everyone feels safe and is coming into work, we are going to carry on. We dont want to scare customers away, the corporate manager allegedly said, according to the lawsuit. The corporate manager began to retaliate against Roman because of her requests for increased safety measures, the suit alleges. In January 2022, the manager allegedly told Roman her salary was no longer in Montclair Hospitality Groups budget and offered her a position as a server, which would have resulted in a dramatic loss of income, the suit says. The company instead offered Roman the hybrid position of human resources/floor manager, which was also a demotion and a reduction in pay, the suit says. Put simply, plaintiff was retaliated against for repeatedly advising (the manager) of legitimate safety concerns in the workplace and her request to accommodate her pregnancy, the suit says. For the next few months, Roman says she was given sham write-ups for mishandling petty cash and for speaking negatively about Montclair Hospitality Group, the suit says. In March 2022, Roman went out on maternity leave. The suit says Roman obtained approval from human resources to take family medical leave and temporary disability, all of which would end in August 2022. However, Montclair Hospitality Group terminated Roman on June 11, 2022, stating in an email she abandoned her employment duties, even though her leave was approved and protected under civil rights laws, the suit says. The lawsuit alleges Montclair Hospitality Group violated the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act by retaliating against Roman. The suit also alleges wrongful termination, failure to accommodate, gender and pregnancy discrimination, and a hostile work environment. Roman simply wanted to perform her job, advance in the industry she loved, and raise a family, the lawsuit says. Instead of being commended for her selflessness, defendants began their campaign of retaliation toward her simply because she requested additional safety measures. The suit seeks reinstatement of Romans job, along with back pay, benefits and monetary damages. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Thursday, Rougned Odor smacked a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to push the Padres past the Washington Nationals for an 8-6 win. It was a spark that the 23-27 Padres needed. BUY MLB TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER Writes Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune: If May is too early to assess that he saved a season, then it can suffice that his three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Thursday saved the Padres from themselves. Before Odor drove in the go ahead run, San Francisco was one out away from dropping their sixth straight series. Somebodys got to start it, Odor said, via Acee. That guy is me. And now we go. Odor, 29, started his MLB career in 2014 with the Texas Rangers. He cracked the 30 home run-plateau in 2016, 2017 and 2019. He also led the American League with 178 strikeouts in 2019. Want to bet on MLB? See the best NJ Sports Betting sites The Rangers traded Odor to the Yankees in April of 2021. He played 102 games for New York, hitting .202 with 15 home runs and 100 strikeouts. He spent the 2022 season with the Baltimore Orioles, hitting .207 in 135 games with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. MORE MLB: - Buck Showalters message to Mets after Cubs Marcus Stromans mound show - Harrison Bader hopes Yankees want him long-term, says I would do this s--t for free! | Q&A - Yankees Aaron Boone is waging a war he cant win | Klapisch Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com. In an surprise move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a virtual appearance as the commencement speaker for the class of 2023 at Johns Hopkins University. Addressing the graduating class via livestream from Ukraine, Zelenskyy's speech on Thursday was presented at the university's Baltimore campus. The university also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Focusing on the significance of time, freedom, self-determination, and democracy, Zelenskyy conveyed his gratitude to the United States and the Biden administration for their unwavering support for Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia. NPR: "I'm proud that Ukraine is not losing a single day in its defense against Russian terror. Every day we do everything, everything to become stronger, to give more protection to people, to save more lives," Zelenskyy said. "The United States has also not lost a single day in helping Ukraine repel the Russian aggression." Drawing parallels between the graduates and those fighting in Ukraine, he discussed the common hopes they share for their futures, "They and you have similar hopes for life, similar expectations from life." "Every person eventually realizes that time is the most valuable resource on the planet, not oil or uranium, not lithium or anything else, but time," Zelenskyy said. "The very flow of time convinces us of this. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones." The address marked Zelenskyy's first speech at a U.S. college campus since his talk at Stanford University in May 2022, three months following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 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. Philadelphia high schoolers Tiffani Billups, left, and Amal Oubarri use pipettes at the Wistar Institute, where they contributed to a new study of a possible treatment for HIV. Wistar Institute/TNS Honest Guide is a Prague-based YouTube channel that exposes scams and tourist traps in the Czech Republic. In this particular video, Honest Guide highlights a company that overcharges people driving across the border by hiding the official place to pay for the toll. The unofficial toll booth owned by the private company charges six euros more than the normal price for the crossing fee, which is required to drive on highways in Czechia. This means that tourists end up paying 50% more than they should for the fee. The company only accepts Czech crowns, forcing tourists to exchange their euros at a bad rate, too. The video explains that people can simply pay the toll online or at an official kiosk (which is hard to find but accepts credit cards), and takes only one minute or less. However, many tourists are unaware of this option and end up waiting for hours in line at the private company's booth. The grand reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Islamabad, marking Azerbaijans upcoming Independence Day on May 28, 2023. The event, held at Sheesh Mahal, Serena Hotel, was attended by foreign ambassadors to Pakistan, Representatives of the Pakistani government, public, cultural, and business circles, high-ranking officers, media representatives, as well as Azerbaijanis living in Pakistan, Azernews informs with reference to Embassy. Rana Tanveer, the Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training in the Government of Pakistan, graced the event as the chief guest. Alongside other esteemed guests, he participated in the cake-cutting ceremony, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the occasion. Ambassador Farhadov began his speech by expressing gratitude to the attendees for joining in the celebration of Azerbaijans Independence Day. Speech by Ambassador Ambassador emphasized the significance of May 28, commemorating the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 as the first democratic secular republic in the Muslim East. Recalling the achievements of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic during its 3 decades existence, Ambassador Farhadov highlighted the formation of the first Parliament and Government, the determination of borders, and the adoption of national symbols, such as the flag, anthem, and coat of arms. Notably, recognizing equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of ethnicity and religion, and granting women the right to vote were remarkable milestones. However, the Ambassador acknowledged the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Bolsheviks in 1920, leading to the demise of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. It was only after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that the people of Azerbaijan reestablished their independent state, building upon the traditions of their earlier republic. Ambassador Farhadov expressed gratitude to the late National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, who assumed power in 1993 during a crisis and played a vital role in strengthening the nations independence. The Ambassador highlighted the ongoing celebrations of Heydar Aliyevs 100th birth anniversary in Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and other friendly countries. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan continues to flourish, with notable successes in various areas of national life. The Ambassador emphasized the recent victory in the Patriotic War 2020, during which the Azerbaijani Army liberated territories from Armenian occupation within 44 days. Subsequently, the government initiated extensive restoration and reconstruction efforts, facilitating the return of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees to their ancestral lands. Emphasis on Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations The deep-rooted friendship, brotherhood, and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan were highlighted as significant pillars of bilateral relations. Ambassador Farhadov expressed gratitude to Pakistan for being among the first countries to recognize Azerbaijans independence in 1991. He underscored the mutual support between the two nations, both bilaterally and within international organizations. The Ambassador further emphasized the strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, which have seen growth in various fields. Direct flights between the two countries, initiated in 2022, have facilitated increased tourism, with 50,000 Pakistani visitors to Azerbaijan in the same year. The introduction of the online ASAN visa system for Pakistani citizens has also enhanced people-to-people connectivity. In recognition of the close ties, Azerbaijan exempted rice from import customs duty for rice originating from Pakistan, contributing to a nearly tripled trade turnover between the two nations. Ambassador Farhadov expressed gratitude to all attendees for joining the celebration of Azerbaijans Independence Day and emphasized the continued growth of relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. The Buffalo man accused of shooting at a car that crashed and fatally struck a pedestrian Tuesday night is now in federal custody. In Buffalo, from east to west, everyone knew 'Claire,' pedestrian who died in crash Tuesday Clara Gomez, 58, well known in Buffalo as 'Claire,' was identified as the victim of the fatal crash outside the Metro station at Main and West Utica streets. Marlon Servance, 22, was scheduled for a felony hearing Friday in City Court after being charged Wednesday with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment. The hearing was adjourned and he was technically released on $1 bail before he was taken into federal custody. U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. entered a plea of not guilty on Servance's behalf to a federal charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Authorities said Servance fired multiple times with a gun at two women in an SUV Tuesday night while chasing the vehicle. The women's SUV crashed into the corner of Main and West Utica streets where Clara Gomez, 58, known in the community as "Claire," was struck. Gomez died at the scene. Gomez was well known for panhandling in the streets and gained unexpected fame when she was featured on the cover of a Westside Gunn album. Servance fled the scene in his dark-colored SUV, according to court papers. Witnesses alerted police to shots fired, and then authorities learned the vehicle bore the state registration 3MIDNITE. Shortly after the crash, law enforcement officials spotted the SUV parked on the 800 block of East Ferry Street. The vehicle was still running and unoccupied. When Servance exited the rear door of an apartment, he was placed in custody. He was in possession of a car key that law enforcement determined was the key to the SUV, according to court papers. Law enforcement officials obtained consent to search the apartment from a woman who lived there. The police found a black, semi-automatic Smith and Wesson firearm with an obliterated serial number between the ottoman and a couch in the living room. The woman who lived there denied any knowledge of the firearm, indicating Servance arrived at her home moments before the police arrived. He was carrying a hoodie when she let him into the apartment. She then went upstairs to bring food to her mother, she told police. A woman brought to the vicinity of the apartment identified Servance as the person who had been shooting at her and the other woman. Authorities searched the SUV and recovered numerous fired cartridge casings, according to an affidavit from Anthony Vesich, a special agent of the FBI. Servance was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A detention hearing has been set for Tuesday. The alarming call came in to the Erie County Sheriff's Office at 5 a.m. Thursday a 13-year-old girl had gone missing from her house. Investigators quickly learned that someone going by the name "Dale" who said he was from Pennsylvania who had been in contact with the girl through Xbox video games and may have lured her away. Just under 24 hours later and after a frantic manhunt that spanned New York and Pennsylvania and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, police descended on a residence in Glen Rock, Pa., close to the Maryland border, where they arrested 24-year-old Dale Kumler and found the 13-year-old girl safe. Now, Kumler is facing multiple charges in both Pennsylvania and New York, including statutory sexual assault and kidnapping. He may also be charged federally. He was arraigned in a Pennsylvania courtroom Friday and was denied bail. The girl was back home safe with her family Friday. Investigators said they were breathing a sigh of relief Friday afternoon because they had feared the worst. "We were fortunate to find her," said Michael J. Keane, who serves as the first deputy district attorney for the Erie County District Attorney's Office, at a news conference. Erie County Undersheriff William Cooley told reporters how the investigation unfolded. They learned that the girl had last been seen about 11 p.m. Wednesday at her home. She had left her phone at her home before disappearing. Investigators began scouring her social media contacts and discovered that she had been in contact with the suspect through Xbox, which allows people to play games and communicate via voice and text as well. They also interviewed the girl's family members and other people known to her and canvassed the area for surveillance video. Sheriff's investigators reached out to other agencies including New York and Pennsylvania state police, the Grand Island Police Department, Cranberry Township police, Greece, N.Y., police, U.S. Border Patrol, Erie County Central Police Services, the Erie County District Attorney's Office, New York State Parks Police and New York State Thruway Authority. The investigation eventually led law enforcement to Kumler's home. FBI agents and Pennsylvania troopers located Kumler and interviewed him. Cooley said the suspect admitted to picking up the victim but claimed he had dropped her off in Harrisburg, Pa. "They did not buy this narrative," Cooley said. They obtained a search warrant and eventually found the girl at the house. Kumler was charged by Pennsylvania authorities with statutory sexual assault; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16; indecent assault of a person less than 16; corruption of minors; and unlawful contact with a minor, according to Pennsylvania court records. New York authorities have charged him with second-degree kidnapping. Kumler is expected to remain in Pennsylvania until at least June 9 to appear on the charges there, Keane said. Matthew Miraglia, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Buffalo office, said that the case shows the dangers of communicating with strangers online. "Things like this happen online, whether it's grooming of children or elder scams," he said. "You don't know who the other person is. You have to take everything with a grain of salt. If it seems too good to be true. it probably is." News Staff Reporter Ben Tsujimoto contributed to this report. Republican Erie County legislators tried to bar asylum-seekers from being housed in Erie County on Thursday, but the effort was rebuffed. While some legislators discussed the complex issue of federal immigration policy and its impact on Erie County with each other in casual conversation and with the news media at the Legislature's regular meeting, Legislature Democrats referred the resolution to committee. What's behind the sudden influx of migrants in New York? The surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has made its way to New York City and now may have an impact on Buffalo. "This is a very fluid situation," Democratic Majority Leader Timothy Meyers said. "I don't think we know everything." Erie County is rapidly becoming a focal point for the raging debate about what should be done with asylum-seekers from the southern border of the United States who have overwhelmed New York City and now need to be sent to other parts of the state for housing. County Executive Mark Poloncarz has said he does not intend to issue any state of emergency to bar migrants from being bussed in. The Republican resolution would have directed Poloncarz to issue an executive order barring migrants from being housed in the county. The resolution, sponsored by Republican-turned-Conservative Legislator Jim Malczewski, of Elma, also would have barred any private business or hotelier from transporting or housing asylum-seekers in Erie County without Poloncarz's permission "acting within the spirit of this resolution." Chairwoman April Baskin referred the matter to the Government Affairs Committee. A Republican attempt to require an immediate discussion and vote on the matter failed. Government Affairs Committee Chairman John Bargnesi, D-Town of Tonawanda, said he's willing to convene a committee meeting on the matter, but wasn't sure when it would happen, who would be asked to speak about it or what information will be available. "We've got to get our facts straight," he said. "There's a lot of misinformation out there." Poloncarz says Buffalo State likely to house asylum-seekers, addresses issues of vetting Asylum-seekers in New York City won't be coming to Erie County for at least the next seven days, but when they do come, they are likely to be housed at SUNY Buffalo State University dormitories. Poloncarz has previously said he considers state of emergency declarations barring the asylum-seekers to be "illegal and immoral." He also said the cost of those who are being housed in Erie County will be borne by New York City and New York State. But Republican legislators expressed skepticism about those assertions, saying that these people could wind up in living in Erie County for years, and that there is no way to know how long the costs associated with these migrants will continue. Malczewski said he has no reason to trust New York City's or New York State's ability to foot the costs for these asylum-seekers in the long term. Legislator Chris Greene, R-Clarence, also said legislators are unaware of any contracts or agreements that legally require the state or New York City to cover the costs of the asylum-seekers that arrive here from downstate. Even if costs are covered in the short term, they said, they question who will cover the costs of the migrants in the long term, given that asylum case backlogs can stretch out decisions for years. Bargnesi and committee Vice Chairman John Gilmour, D-Hamburg, said a committee meeting would be a good place to try and start getting answers. Unlike some Legislature committees, the Government Affairs Committee does not meet regularly. The last time the committee met was eight months ago, in September. While the committee does have a number of items sitting in it, few were resolutions seeking action. Gilmour said he hopes this migrant issue will be taken up by the committee soon. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LAPORTE County police are trying to figure out why a 20-year-old man drove off a county road and into a tree Thursday, resulting in his death. The LaPorte County Sheriff's Department identified the deceased as Braydon R. Flagg of Mill Creek. Officers were called out around 2:21 p.m. Thursday to County Road 50 North in the area of County Road 1000 East in rural Wills Township in response to a crash. "A black 2012 Toyota passenger vehicle was traveling westbound on CR 50 North," according to police. "For an unknown reason, the vehicle drove left of center and traveled across the eastbound lane. The vehicle left the south side of the roadway and continued traveling until colliding with a tree." The vehicle re-entered County Road 50 North and came to a stop. Flagg was extricated from his vehicle and taken to a regional hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room, police said. "Toxicology test results are pending," according to the department. "The crash investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released." Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail Jonathan Smith Jacob Brennan Elton Dean Benjamin Soulcheck Reynaldo Sanchez Genesis Gavidia Douglas Allen Christopher Throgmorton Yolanda Wilkerson Karley Jensen Danielle Jones Cedric Harris John Schadowsky Hollie Lachapelle Kenneth O'Brien Matthew Potocki Davon Coleman Robert Freeman Earl Johnson Kaila Brown Joseph Milsap Da'Marion Batchelder Adrian Lacy 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. VALPARAISO A 32-year-old Valparaiso woman, nabbed for driving while intoxicated and illegally possessing a loaded handgun, backed into a police car during the traffic stop, according to the arrest report. "The vehicle turned eastbound onto Beech Street where it made a complete stop and the driver put the vehicle in park," the Valparaiso police officer said. "The driver then put the vehicle in reverse and began to back up slowly and struck the front of my fully marked patrol vehicle. I activated my horn on my patrol vehicle in an attempt to get the driver of the vehicle to stop prior to the collision. "Upon the collision, the vehicle maintained reverse gear for a period of time before moving forward." The driver, Genille Richmond, was taken to Porter County Jail and faces criminal charges of carrying a handgun without a permit and several counts of operating while intoxicated, including one of endangering others. The officer said he was called out shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a reckless driver and watched the vehicle in question strike the curb while arriving at McDonald's, 2002 Calumet Ave. After the vehicle left the drive-thru window, the officer said he watched it swerve erratically and nearly strike another curb while traveling south on Calumet. The vehicle was then stopped, at which time the crash occurred. Richmond was seen moving a handgun from the glove compartment to the passenger seat in an attempt to hide it, police said. "The driver never attempted to grab the firearm/pistol," the report says. Police said they smelled marijuana and alcohol inside the vehicle and found several cold and empty beer bottles. They also recovered a .22-caliber handgun loaded with a magazine and one round in the chamber. "I asked dispatch if Genille had a firearms permit for the state of Indiana and they advised she did not," police said. Richmond was reportedly found to be too drunk to legally drive and to have marijuana in her system. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. PORTAGE A 44-year-old Illinois man was ordered by a Porter County judge Friday to have no contact with a 15-year-old Portage-area boy he is accused of meeting and having sex with in a local hotel room. Jason Hammer of Darien made an initial appearance in Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer's courtroom on two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor and felony possession of child pornography. Hammer, who appeared with defense attorney Adam Tavitas, waived formal reading of the charges. He was required to sign a no-contact order, prohibiting him from having contact with the boy while his criminal case proceeds. A Porter County police detective said he was called out March 31, when the father reported waking up around 3 a.m. and discovering his son sneaking back into his bedroom through an open window. The father reportedly found a Snapchat message on his son's phone describing sex between the boy and a man named Jason, and where they intended to meet, police said. They also spoke about having shared explicit photos. The boy reportedly told police he met Hammer on a mobile dating application and switched to Snapchat so they could swap photos. He said he did not know Hammer's full name. The boy said he sneaked out his bedroom window and met up with Hammer at a nearby park, according to a charging document. Hammer, who was driving a BMW, reportedly took the boy to a Valparaiso hotel where they spent a few hours having sex before the boy returned home around 3 a.m. The boy said that while he claimed on the dating app to be 16, he told Hammer he was 15, police said. "Jason replied, 'I was expecting there to be a whole bunch of cops here'," the boy told police. He also said Hammer withdrew $40 from a bank machine and provided it to him to purchase marijuana and alcohol. Police said they obtained Hammer's identity from hotel records and located sexually explicit messages on the boy's cellphone. Police traveled to Hammer's office in Downers Grove, Illinois, but he was not on site, a court document says. Hammer called back later and reportedly admitted to communicating with the boy on the dating app. Prosecutors and defense agreed to a bond for Hammer of $10,000 surety and $5,000 cash, records show. He has bonded out of the Porter County Jail. Clymer set a trial for Oct. 9, with preliminary hearings July 28 and Sept. 8. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Puppies A group of puppies huddle together after they were found Thursday at a suspected puppy mill. Lake County Animal Control and Adoption is caring CROWN POINT The Lake County Sheriff's Department rescued more than 40 dogs Thursday at two properties believed to be part of a puppy mill operation. Detectives served search warrants at a residence in Crown Point and a barn near Rensselaer. Officials found the animals in various conditions of health; four were found dead, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said. The pups are being assessed by veterinary professionals for any health issues. Lake County Animal Adoption and Control is caring for the dogs. Among the animals are 29 French bulldogs, seven American bullies and one mountain dog. Puppies Detectives served search warrants Thursday at a home in Crown Point and a barn near Rensselaer after receiving a tip Wednesday about a man who An anonymous tipster called the sheriff's department Wednesday out of concern about a man who had purchased an oversupply of dog food and medical supplies for pets. A 41-year-old man is being questioned in connection with the operation. Martinez said they are investigating allegations that the person running the operation may have been illegally performing surgery on some of the animals. "As a person who loves pets, I am appalled at the treatment of these animals," he said. "I'm pleased that our detectives were so diligent with following up on leads in this case." Puppies A group of more than 40 puppies were found Thursday at locations in Crown Point and Rensselaer, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said. An investigation into this operation is ongoing. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Aaron Doeing Jr. Adam Hollingsworth Anastasia Clark Anthony Peters Cameron Mills Candice Makiling Candice Shaw Charles Ward Colton Wilkey Damien Kent Daniel Gianoli Daniel Velasquez David McGuire Jr. Dessiree Reese Devante Ricks Devion Perry Devonte House Dimitri Person Eddie Turnage Edgar Hernandez Rodriguez Emmanuel Rivera Eric Rangel Jr. Fernando Mancillas Munoz Freddie Forsythe Glen Johnson II Henry Jones Jr. Jaime Najera James Webb Jelani Pruitt Jennifer Mischka Jermaine Wade Sr. Jerome Cannon Jesus Barajas Joshua Chism Kenneth Jones Kirk Wright Kurt McCammon Jr. Kymari Cheeks Lisette Corral Louie Campbell Michael Hill Michael-Anthony Kruse Milan Tanasijevich Monique Bradford Montel Smith Muhammad Najeeullah Nadarangua Jackson-Carson Naja Wilder Novae Gatewood Paris Finney Quintin Transou Jr. Raymond Colburn Rene Rodriguez Robert Jones Robert Kirk Robert Ramos Ronald Myers Semaj Reynolds Theron Harris Jr. Travis Walker Trina Weaver Victor Sanchez Vincent Michalik Coal ash that cannot be reused is stored by energy companies in retention ponds, some of which are unlined. Over time, contaminants from coal ash can leak out of landfills into groundwater, blow into the air as dust, and release to surface waters and land because of structural failures. A recent report from Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project says 91% of U.S. coal-fired power plants have leaked dangerous levels of contamination into the surrounding groundwater. The long list of plants includes the Michigan City generating station. NIPSCO has operated a coal-fired generating station in Michigan City since 1931. In 2018, the utility announced that all of its remaining coal-fired generating stations would be retired within the next decade, with Michigan City between 2026 and 2028. Under the EPA's current rule, NIPSCO is required to clean up the site's five coal-ash ponds. However, local environmentalists are worried about the "legacy" coal ash that was mixed with sand for made land at the property. The made land is on the edge of Lake Michigan, separated from the water by a steel seawall. In December, members of Just Transition delivered a petition to the EPA's Region 5 headquarters in downtown Chicago. The petition asked the EPA force NIPSCO to remove all of the legacy coal ash. "EPA, we beg of you to treat this like the crisis it is," Williams said during the protest. "EPA, the time is now to change and update the federal rules." EPA Administrator Michael Regan said tightening coal-ash regulations will better protect human health and the surrounding environment. Ensuring the health and safety of all people is EPAs top priority, and this proposed rule represents a crucial step toward safeguarding the air, groundwater, streams and drinking water communities depend on, he said in a news release. Many of these communities have been disproportionately impacted by pollution for far too long." Ben Inskeep, program director for Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, urged the EPA to adopt the draft rule, saying it would help hold "utility polluters accountable for their coal ash messes." In a statement to the Times, a NIPSCO spokesperson said the utility is "in the process of reviewing" the EPA's draft rule and how it may apply to the cleanup work being conducted in Michigan City. In 2022, NIPSCO removed about 171,000 cubic yards of coal ash from the generating station's five onsite ponds. Contamination has been found in the groundwater at the Michigan City plant, but NIPSCO said it believes that the primary source of the groundwater contamination is the coal ash that is being removed. "The data collected to date indicates there is no risk to human health or the environment, and no impacts to drinking water supplied by neighboring communities, including resources drawn from Lake Michigan for that purpose," the spokesperson said. Donnita Scully of the LaPorte County NAACP called the EPA's draft rule a "step in the right direction. This rule places value in humanity over exorbitant profits by industry, and if executed right, will protect the integrity of our community. Taking the W. Literally. The Dent Tower sign facing Sheridan Drive in Amherst is without its "W," which was whisked away by the whipping winds of Western New York. In fact, the W's whereabouts are unknown at this time. "The 'W' blew off in a windstorm and disappeared. We have no idea where it went," said John Yurtchuk, managing member of the limited liability company that owns the building. Even if the W is found, it won't be reattached to the building. That's because a new sign is on the way, which should arrive next month and be up within a couple weeks, said Yurtchuk, who owns the building in a partnership with the structure's longtime anchor, Dent Neurologic Institute. "We're not replacing the W because the whole name is going to come down, and it's going to be backlit and modern," said Yurtchuk, who has owned the six-story building, which was long ago home to the Key Financial Center, for roughly two decades. As for the W, Yurtchuk admits no one is looking that hard for it, given the upcoming arrival of a new sign. Somewhere, someplace, there is a large W or upside-down M far from its home. "It just disappeared, rode the wind," Yurtchuk surmises. So until that new sign arrives, welcome to Dent To_er. Jon Harris Pot to the left of me, chickens to the right A South Buffalo couple wants to raise live chickens in their yard, but at least one neighbor is clucking about the impact to her nose. Eric M. and Kathleen Sharp of Eden Street have applied for the ever-popular "chicken license" from the City of Buffalo, hoping to gain permission to have five hens. According to their application, they would keep the birds in a 4-by-6 chicken coop, in their privacy-fenced backyard, so they're not winging it. And the, ahem, waste? It would be "scooped daily and disposed in a composter that is sealed." Two of their neighbors signed off on their request. But another one that is still in the "designated radius of the property," according to the city, isn't so keen on the idea. "I strongly, strongly object to giving a license for raising chickens to the home owner at 297 Eden," wrote the Lyons family, who live at 291 Eden. "We have pot growers next door and the owner at 297 also grows pot, which smells all summer long. The smell of chickens added to this would be horrendous. Please do not give them a license. Thank you." A separate, unrelated chicken license is also pending at 146 Fenton St. Jonathan D. Epstein Solid C students State Supreme Court Judge Frank Caruso was the master of ceremonies this month at a Ken-Ton Kiwanis Club dinner honoring some honor students from local high schools who won Kiwanis scholarships for college. Caruso spoke about how impressive the scholarship winners were, and then added, Lets not forget about the C students, either. Some of them could even become judges. Or supervisors! quipped Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joseph Emminger, who was sitting in the audience. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. People can ask questions or voice concerns at an upcoming public hearing on the renewal of Carmeuse Lime's air quality permit in Gary. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. June 1 at the 21st Century Charter School at 556 Washington St. in Gary. The state is looking to renew Carmeuse's five-year operating permit in Buffington Harbor on the Lake Michigan shore in Gary. Carmeuse, which is headquartered in Belgium and bases its North American operations in Pittsburgh, supplies steel mills with lime, one of the main ingredients burned in blast furnaces to make iron that's turned into steel. The multinational company has local operations in Portage and in Gary. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Environmentalists have raised concerns about air quality violations at the Gary plant, saying more safeguards are needed to protect the public. Carmeuse Limes emissions are significant, and the company compliance record is poor, Dorreen Carey, president of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, said in a letter to IDEM. The lime manufacturing plant on Lake Michigan is asking the state to renew its air quality permit, which was last renewed in 2014. IDEM has sent seven violation letters and taken six enforcement actions since then. Another environmental group, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, has raised concerns about emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals that could be harmful to people, including minorities and low-income residents in nearby neighborhoods. It's asked for more monitoring, more emissions testing and a ban on burning trash. Carey said the permits should not be renewed until IDEM tightens emissions limits, requires more reports, increases monitoring, steps up inspections and boosts enforcement efforts to ensure clean air for the community. A companys monitoring and record-keeping responsibilities are not voluntary. They are required by IDEM, and they are critical to protecting community health and the environment because they are the only way IDEM and the public can be sure a company is meeting its operating and emissions requirements on a day-to-day basis, Carey said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The live music wafted across Lake George like a siren song for the soul. I couldnt make out the name of the tune. It didnt matter. Its soothing sound lured me in like one of the nearby fishermen using the catchy hook of a familiar pop song. I gravitated toward it without thinking. This is the timeless magic of live music. Chris Sulcer and Lou Samaniego, known on any stage as Chris & Lou, were singing an old song popularized by The Beatles in 1963. There were bells on a hill. But I never heard them ringing. No, I never heard them at all. Til there was you. Its a sweet song with tender lyrics: Then there was music. And wonderful roses. They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows. Of dawn and dew. Chris & Lou have been performing for more than 20 years at private events, local bars and crowded festivals. Ive watched them perform dozens of times. Yet I dont recall hearing them play this song. That night in downtown Hobart, I wandered toward them as they played Till There Was You. My wife and I had just finished recording an episode of our She Said, He Said podcast at CreataSpacePlace studios. We were searching for somewhere close by to dine. Delicious food and live music go together like a melody and lyrics. Chris & Lou were performing on the outdoor back patio of Tavern on the Lake, a gastropub that seduced me with its flatbread and brisket poutine. You can keep your craft beers, fancy drinks and trendy bar atmosphere. Its the food and music that keep me coming back to any dining establishment. Alcoholic drinks are labeled as the social lubricant of most cultures. I dont doubt that, but I believe food and music are primal ingredients in our social lives. Both connect us in ways that transcend our differences, whether race, religion, politics, income, ethnicity or geography. For eons, food and music have provided a common ground of understanding, enjoyment, pleasure and peace of mind. Together, they feed our soul. They bring us together. They qualm our tensions. They tap into something deep within our ancestral rituals. Food and music are so interwoven into our daily lives that we forget their importance. And then another weekend rolls around and our shared dance continues. Where should we dine out? What should we eat? What sounds good tonight? Whos playing where? Have we seen them lately? The next thing we know poof! we are dining out somewhere, surrounded by strangers we have nothing in common with. Or so we think. And then we begin eating food prepared by the same hands in the same space. We break bread together, figuratively, and share air space with people we would otherwise never know. This is one of the unspoken benefits of dining out. It forces us to socialize, whether we crave it or complain about it. It sets the table for conversations that would never materialize otherwise. It serves us another opportunity to enjoy a shared experience, or to criticize it. Live music amplifies this ancient dynamic of human bonding. It dissolves our differences. It puts us on the same sheet of music. It makes us one, if only for a few minutes or a few hours. Have you ever attended a live concert, arriving with hundreds or thousands of strangers but exiting the performance as kindred souls? You can feel the connective vibe lingering as you leave the venue. This is the magic of live music. And its after-effect. It doesnt matter if it happens at a tavern on a lake, a neighborhood bar, an upscale restaurant or an outdoor stadium. Ive experienced this feeling at all of these locations, including places I didnt expect to experience it, such as Gejas Cafe in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Billed as Chicagos premier fondue restaurant, it was named America's most romantic restaurant by a USA Today's reader poll. And for good reason. Its candlelit dining room feels like a wine cellar filled with live classical and Flamenco guitar music. The restaurants food was amazing. But the music connected me with every other diner without having to converse with any of them. This was the same feeling I had while listening to Chris & Lou that night at the outdoor patio on Lake George (watch a video at the online version of this column). This is the power of live music that all of us know but too often take for granted. When my wife and I got married last May, we knew there were two things we had to share with our guests: tasty food and live music. This is why we invited Chris & Lou to perform at the Aquatorium in the Miller section of Gary. They played at our first date, a public event in 2020. We wanted them to play at our most important date. Regardless of date, all of us are wedded to the social connectors of food and music. Todays column is simply a reminder to recognize the primal importance of both entities in our lives. The next time youre enjoying their presence in public, glance around the room and absorb what centuries of humans have been doing since the dawn of time. For many people, living in a manufactured home isnt a choice, but a necessity. Here, the trailers are several peoples second or third homes, and often not their only home in the Hamptons. A pied-a-terre for a pied-a-terre. The average price of a single-section manufactured home in the United States is $86,100, according to the Manufactured Housing Institute trade organization. But that wont get you much in Montauk Shores, where an 800-square-foot beachfront home sold for $3.75 million in February, the highest recorded sale in the parks history. A million-dollar trailer park isnt unheard of take, for example, Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park in Malibu or Smuggler Park in Aspen. The luxury communities were generally formed as something very different. Montauk Shores began as a campsite, and in the 1970s, it officially became a mobile home condominium. In its early days, fully-furnished trailers typically went for $10,000. It was an affordable place for blue-collar workers and families to enjoy a slice of beachy Hamptons life, a refuge for those who might not otherwise have had one. A lot of the people there were firemen and policemen. It was just a place for them to escape, said Tom Zemaitis, 73, who at first knew of Montauk Shores as a campground and purchased a trailer with his wife, Cherie Doughan, in 1976. We loved going to Montauk, but its changed. The homes have gotten bigger and glitzier. Driveways are now lined with BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes. At one point, J. Darius Bikoff, the founder of Vitamin Water, bought a home there. But the marina owner turned developer isnt a new transplant from Manhattan. Hes one of their own. Jeff Strong, 66, has lived in Mattituck since he was a boy and is president of Strongs Marine, a family business that sells boats and operates commercial marinas. Strongs Marine has been in his family for three generations. He is seeking approval from the areas planning board to build two massive sheds for indoor yacht storage on the grounds of his yacht center. Mr. Strong estimates it will cost him more than $5 million to clear the hill, truck out the sand and then build the two 45-foot-tall storage sheds, each around 50,000 square feet. The yacht storage facility, he said, will offer heated indoor winter storage that fills a gap in the market for wealthy boaters from Hamptons communities like Sag Harbor and Amagansett, as well as Westchester County and Connecticut, and will put up to $65,000 in property taxes and $474,000 in sales taxes into the Town of Southolds coffers each year. Were confident theres market demand for us to add another 88 yachts, and when it comes to the funding, we could absolutely do both buildings right from the get-go, Mr. Strong said in an interview at his yacht center. The site currently offers outdoor storage for 15 commercial fishing boats, and both outdoor and unheated indoor storage for up to 100 yachts. He declined to share his current prices, but said he anticipates he will be able to charge at least 25 percent more for heated indoor winter storage. Locals opposed to the project say wealthy yacht owners from across the sound should find somewhere else to park their vessels in the winter. Were creating a North Fork problem for a non-North Fork issue, said Bridget Elkin, founding agent of Compass Real Estates North Fork office. She said that other developers were surely watching, and would be quick to swoop in next if the plan moves forward. If the planning board is willing to approve projects that dont benefit the community, it shifts the balance of what people come to the North Fork for, she added. Jeffrey Epstein was many things: a sexual predator, a friend to the rich and powerful and, for many years, a lucrative customer of the nations largest bank. Now the bank, JPMorgan Chase, faces a reckoning for its nearly 15-year relationship with the disgraced financier, one that could cost it a big payout in two civil lawsuits that claim the bank ignored warnings that he was trafficking teenage girls for sex because it was profiting from its relationship with him. New disclosures resulting from the cases suggest that employees of the bank flagged Mr. Epsteins activity as suspicious on a number of occasions, while other documents show Mr. Epsteins familiarity with top executives at the bank, and his easy access to them, even after his 2008 guilty plea in Florida to soliciting prostitution from a teenage girl. Filed late last year in federal court in Manhattan, the lawsuits one brought by lawyers representing Mr. Epsteins victims and the other by the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands are proceeding on a fast track, with dozens of depositions taken of victims, Virgin Islands officials and people who worked for the bank and Mr. Epstein. Federal prosecutors and the F.B.I. are investigating whether Senator Robert Menendez or his wife received unreported gifts of a luxury car and an apartment in Washington from a halal meat company that is also the focus of a criminal inquiry, two people with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. The investigation into Mr. Menendez, a Democrat who is the senior senator from New Jersey, is linked to a government search of the meat companys offices and the home of its president, according to a lawyer who met with prosecutors. The search followed the Egyptian governments decision in 2019 to make the company, IS EG Halal of Edgewater, N.J., the sole authorized importer of halal meat into the country from anywhere in the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned that the abrupt change could drive meat prices for Egypts 90 million Muslims higher and disrupt the market. Mr. Menendez, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has said that he was willing to assist investigators and a spokesman has maintained that the senator is confident the inquiry will be successfully closed. As much as we love booking vacation houses at the beach, paying steep daily rates doesnt exactly spark joy. But if youre fortunate enough to own such a place, renting it out short-term can generate substantial revenue. In a recent study, AirDNA, a company that analyzes Airbnb data, found the U.S. vacation rental markets where landlords are likely to see the largest annual profits. Researchers separated the markets for cabins, urban apartments and beach houses, then based the results on occupancy and average daily rates using a year of data from April 2022 through March 2023. Potential gross yearly income was calculated by subtracting Airbnb fees from expected rental payments (though mortgage payments and other expenses were not included in the calculation). Urban rentals had the lowest potential revenue among the three types of housing. Cabins showed more potential. And large beach homes came out on top. Granted, its expensive to buy in expensive markets as in the top-ranked Santa Barbara, Calif., where an occupancy rate of 66 percent and an average daily rate of $1,224 generated a potential annual gross of $261,115. Los Angeles and Miami followed with similar revenue potential. In fact, 17 of the 20 highest-grossing short-term rental markets for beach houses were found in California or Florida. To determine the profitability of beach houses, only coastal areas of often larger markets were considered. New Yorks Long Island (considered an individual market in the study) ranked 20th for beach houses, no doubt helped by luxury rentals in the Hamptons and other parts of the East End. Long Islands occupancy rate saw a pandemic bump, from 43 percent in 2019 to 52 percent in 2020, and has hovered around that level since. The average daily rate has risen considerably, from $796 in 2019 to $1,447 in 2023. The day before a key meeting last year between a lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and officials seeking the return of classified documents in Mr. Trumps possession, a maintenance worker at the former presidents private club saw an aide moving boxes into a storage room, according to a person familiar with the matter. The maintenance worker offered to help the aide Walt Nauta, who was Mr. Trumps valet in the White House move the boxes and ended up lending him a hand. But the worker had no idea what was inside the boxes, the person familiar with the matter said. The maintenance worker has shared that account with federal prosecutors, the person said. The workers account is potentially significant to prosecutors as they piece together details of how Mr. Trump handled sensitive documents he took with him from the White House upon leaving office and whether he obstructed efforts by the Justice Department and the National Archives to retrieve them. Mr. Trump was found to have been keeping some of the documents in the storage room where Mr. Nauta and the maintenance worker were moving boxes on the day before the Justice Departments top counterintelligence official, Jay Bratt, traveled to Mar-a-Lago last June to seek the return of any government materials being held by the former president. In the Oath Keepers case, prosecutors marshaled text messages, videos and other evidence to argue that Mr. Rhodes and other militia members had agreed to take steps to block Congress from certifying Joseph R. Biden Jr.s Electoral College victory, a crucial step in the constitutional system for the normal transfer of power. Mr. Rhodes received 18 years in prison, and one of his top deputies was sentenced to a 12-year term. Is sedition the same thing as insurrection? While they clearly overlap, sedition centers more on plotting and incitement, whereas insurrection is generally understood to mean the actual violent acts of an uprising aimed at overthrowing the government. That said, the federal law against insurrection, Section 2383, slightly blurs that line. It says that whoever incites, sets on foot, assists or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto is guilty of that offense. Its penalty is up to 10 years in prison and disqualification from holding federal office. Insurrection charges are considered difficult to prove and are exceedingly rare. While many people have called the events of Jan. 6 an insurrection, the Justice Department has not charged any rioters with that crime. In addition to the handful of seditious conspiracy charges against members of two militias, the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, prosecutors have charged various rioters with such crimes as assaulting police officers, obstructing an official congressional proceeding and trespassing. What about domestic terrorism? There is no stand-alone crime of domestic terrorism, but it still has a legal definition and consequences. In this case, the judge imposed a sentencing enhancement on Mr. Rhodes, ruling that the context of his crimes met the definition of terrorism: crimes of violence that are intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or government policy. A dancer struggles and falls, again and again. She bends her back deeply and twists on the floor as the people around her watch, curious but withdrawn. We hear the sound of writing, graphite against paper. As couples pass by, the dancer leaps and rolls, flying and landing heavily, looking side to side as if seeking refuge. The dancer, viewed at a recent rehearsal of Ballet Hispanico, portrays the 17th-century Mexican writer Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz in a scene depicting a moment early in her life, when she was living at the court of the viceroys in colonial Mexico. The movement suggests feelings of isolation and yearning for freedom. Sor Juanas life is the subject of a new work by the choreographer Michelle Manzanales that premieres on June 1, during Ballet Hispanicos season at the New York City Center. Sor Juana, born out of wedlock into a deeply patriarchal society, chose the convent over marriage and domesticity. Despite the odds, she became one of the most noted writers and thinkers in Latin America, whose works, still read in school, are the subject of countless studies. (In Mexico, her face appears on the 100-peso note.) She is intriguing not only because of her extraordinary achievement but because not much is known about her beyond the few clues she left in her writing. ALBANY Buffalo State Sen. Tim Kennedy has introduced a bill giving Gov. Kathy Hochul authority to enter a new casino compact with the Seneca Nation, a required step towards finalizing an agreement. But the bill also contains provisions granting the Nation new advantages in its ongoing negotiations with Hochul's office, raising concerns within the Hochul administration. Hochul recuses herself from Seneca Nation casino compact negotiations Gov. Kathy Hochul's husband, William Hochul, is senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Delaware North, which has an interest in two racinos that directly compete with the Seneca Nations three casinos. Under the 2002 compact, in exchange for paying a portion of revenues on slot machines and other gaming devices to New York State, the Nation obtained the exclusive right to offer those devices west of State Route 14. The Nation has since opened three casinos. Kennedys bill, through legislation, would guarantee the Nation the same exclusivity zone as negotiated in 2002. If that bill became law this year, the Hochul administrations main leverage in current talks the threat of not granting such exclusivity would disappear. The bill would also make it easier for the Seneca Nation to sue New York's governor over the compact negotiations. Two top Hochul aides are currently engaged in high-stakes talks with Seneca President Rickey Armstrong Sr. over the details of a new Seneca Nation compact. The original agreement between New York State and the Nation, signed in 2002, expires in early December. As of this week, there was no alternative bill in the State Legislature granting Hochul authority to enter a new pact. If both houses of the Legislature passed Kennedys current version, Hochuls administration would face a difficult decision. She could sign the bill, despite likely opposing certain terms or issue a veto, leaving her without authorization to enter a new compact ahead of the December expiration. Hochuls press secretary, Hazel Crampton-Hays, said in a statement only that, We will review the legislation if it passes both houses of the Legislature. Kennedy's office drafted the bill in conjunction with the Seneca Nation, which is one of the senator's top donors. And the Nation's leadership is pushing for its passage before session ends in June, sponsoring online ads and pressing members of the Legislature. But it is far from clear whether the Legislature, controlled by Democrats, will play hardball with the Democratic governor on this issue. In a statement this week, Kennedy framed his bill as a potential multi-year project, one that could benefit the Seneca Nation in future negotiations with a different governor. This bill was just introduced in the Senate, and it's certainly a priority, Kennedy said. As we head into the last few weeks of legislative session, hundreds of bills will pass through committees and move to the floor, and I'm hopeful that this will be one of them. If it's not, we'll certainly be picking up where we left off next year. This legislation is not in direct response to the ongoing negotiations between the Executive Chamber and the Seneca Nation my expectation is that these talks are progressing in a positive direction and that everyone is engaging in good faith negotiations. This is about the future for a time where we may not have the leadership that we have today. Kennedy's office also could introduce an alternate version of the bill, or Hochul could introduce her own "program bill" in the Legislature. While Kennedy believes the Hochul administration is negotiating in good faith, Seneca leadership has been wary of the governor since last year, when her administration issued a subpoena freezing Seneca bank accounts and forcing the repayment of more than $500 million in disputed casino revenue. In recent months, Armstrong has also been trying to gain a meeting with Hochul, but has been rebuffed. The Nation hoped for a more reasonable person that we could interact with and work with as a partner," Armstrong told The Buffalo News in an interview last week. "We haven't seen it yet. Senecas launch public awareness campaign ahead of negotiations for new compact "It's beyond time for our positive impacts and contributions to this area to be recognized in a fair compact," said Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels. Lobbied by donors Records show that some of Kennedys largest campaign contributors are among those pushing for a new compact favorable to the Nation. Last week, businessman and Seneca Nation Councilor J.C. Seneca held a rally promoting a fair compact in Buffalo, where several former Seneca Nation presidents and Kennedy's chief of staff spoke. That same day, Kennedys bill was introduced. Since 2010, J.C. Seneca or his tobacco business have donated nearly $80,000 to Kennedys campaign. In an interview, J.C. Seneca said he'd had no direct contact with Kennedy about the bill and never saw the language until it was publicly released. He added that the Nation's lobbying firm, Hinman Straub, did work with Kennedy on its drafting. "It's a good bill," he said. "The chances of it being it being passed and signed by the governor are slim to none. But Kennedy is an upstanding guy. He's a guy who certainly does right thing. If you look at this bill, and the intent of it, it's doing the right thing." He believed the Legislature may not pass the bill in its current form because "the governor carries a lot of weight. And if the governor puts pressure on the Assembly and Senate, it could be difficult." Records show that the Seneca Nation has itself donated more than $63,000 to Kennedy, far more than the Nation has donated to any other politician in New York since 2000. Hirshbeck said the recently introduced bill was "born out of collaboration" with the Nation. "The Seneca Nation came to our office with this request, and our legislative team reviewed it internally, before sitting down with the Senecas and their counsel to discuss the premise and work through questions to finalize language," she said. Kennedy, a Democrat, said that as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Native American-State Relations, its my responsibility to address the inequities the nations have faced for hundreds of years and be a voice in state government on their behalf. 'Sovereign immunity' If passed, the bill would also waive the states sovereign immunity from certain types of litigation filed by the Nation in state and federal court. Specifically, the Nation could file a lawsuit claiming that the governor was failing to enter into negotiations over the gaming compact or was not negotiating in good faith. Federal law provides legal protections to Native American nations regarding gaming compact negotiations. But in 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court also found that Floridas sovereign immunity protected the state from a gaming-related lawsuit filed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Kennedy bill would expressly waive that immunity so that federal law applies to talks between the Seneca Nation and New York. California and Michigan have previously taken similar actions, according to the Nation. The Assembly sponsor of the bill is Democrat Gary Pretlow, who is the chair of the bodys Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee. And Kennedy is an influential member of the Senate Democratic conference from Western New York who chairs the subcommittee focused on State-Native American relations. Otherwise, the bill has attracted one other co-sponsor in the Senate and none in the Assembly, with the session scheduled to end in two weeks. If the bill does not pass before then, Hochul could call a special session later this year to take up the issue. In 2001, the Legislature granted Gov. George Pataki authority to enter the original compact during a special October session. The Seneca Nation says Kennedys bill should not be controversial. The immunity waiver grants a protection already provided by federal law. And because the Nation has spent nearly $2 billion to develop and operate its casinos since 2002, guaranteeing exclusivity is more than reasonable. We see the introduction of this bill as an important step in the process toward a fair and equitable compact, Armstrong said in a statement this week. "Fundamentally, we believe it is the right thing to do and that passing the bill can help ensure an arena for fair and honest negotiations, which is in everyones best interest. Kennedy said if exclusivity is not guaranteed, "it would be too easy for a future Governor to walk away from these negotiations and allow the Seneca Nations exclusivity agreement to disappear overnight." That would be a "slap in the face to the Nation and an abdication of our responsibility as New Yorkers to ensure the Seneca Nation is treated as a full and equal partner," he said. Further complicating the situation is that Hochul says she has recused herself from the ongoing negotiations with the Nation. Thats because her husband, William Hochul, is a top official at Delaware North, the global gaming and hospitality company that has an interest in two of the racinos that directly compete with the Seneca Nations three casinos. In 2021, Hochul signed an agreement recusing herself from decisions on any/all matters related to Delaware North. The compact negotiation is a unique situation, however, because no one besides Hochul can ultimately sign off on a deal with the sovereign nation. Hochuls office says the governor has delegated all negotiations to staff. The phenomenon of the artist who drops out, whether only leaving the scene socially or actually ceasing to make work, may be as old as the scene itself, but it could be catching on. In 1967, Agnes Martin left New York for the New Mexico desert, avoiding the art world for years. In 1975, Bas Jan Ader disappeared after setting sail across the Atlantic alone in a tiny boat, giving rise to speculation about whether this was his final artistic gesture. Stanley Brouwn, Charlotte Posenenske and Lee Lozano have absented themselves, and, more recently, Cady Noland became legendary both for her work and for abandoning the art scene. Now, another New York artist is making a unique and provocative exit. On Darren Baders humorously named website, aaronbader.com, a sign reads: 20 Yrs: Selling My Practice. Its been a good ride, he says on the site. If he finds a buyer, he will be prohibited from being Darren Bader the contemporary artist, and that identity will be taken over by the buyer. All his works to date will remain under the existing artists purview, but if the buyer wants to keep making trademark Bader works, theyre welcome to take a crack at it. (Whether collectors and buyers will continue to buy them is, of course, another question.) Whats the asking price? He has in mind a low-seven-figure sum. Is it a gag? Hes often (unflatteringly) called a prankster, but if this is a prank, its the kind that comes with an eight-page contract, drawn up with the attorney David Steiner (also known as artist Alfie Steiner). It will be published in the coming weeks, along with a video about the artist by the filmmaker Pacho Velez and text by Bader, in an issue of the online journal Triple Canopy titled True to Life. The powerhouse pop superstar Celine Dion announced Friday morning on social media that she was canceling the remainder of her Courage World Tour through April 2024 in order to focus on her recovery from a rare autoimmune and neurological disease. Dion, 55, first shared publicly that she was grappling with the medical condition called stiff person syndrome, which causes progressive stiffness and severe muscle spasms in an emotional Instagram video that she posted in December 2022, as she canceled or postponed a number of tour dates. I am so sorry to disappoint all of you once again, Dion said in the statement on Friday. Im working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when youre 100 percent. Its not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, its best that we cancel everything now until Im really ready to be back onstage again. I want you all to know, Im not giving up And I cant wait to see you again! The remaining 2023 tour dates had been scheduled to run from Aug. 26 in Amsterdam through Oct. 4 in Helsinki, Finland; then from March 6, 2024, in Prague through April 22, 2024, in London. Tickets purchased for the canceled dates can be refunded via the original point of sale, according to the statement. At the other end of the spectrum, Chases willingness to give a composers an entire hour also paid dramatically satisfying dividends in the premiere of the improvising pianist and composer Craig Taborns Busy Griefs and Endangered Charms at the Kitchen. It was one of the best shows Ive experienced this season. Taborn is storied in contemporary jazz, with pianism of delicacy, intricacy and power. His 2011 debut solo recording for ECM, Avenging Angel, is among the best piano works of this century, and in recent compositions for his Junk Magic ensemble, he has also been edging into chamber-like arrangements. So, Chase was wise to ask Taborn for a program-length Density piece. Griefs placed him in a quartet alongside Chase, the clarinetist Joshua Rubin and the percussionist Susie Ibarra. (Ibarra, also a key presence on jazz stages, has also recently performed the works of Pauline Oliveros with Chase.) Griefs begins with chiming synth figures on a digital loop, plus some thick, doleful acoustic piano harmonies; as is his regular practice, Taborn manipulated a small electronic manual that rested atop his piano. After Rubin entered on bass clarinet, Taborns articulation of the opening material accelerated, though the somber mood remained intact. It took five minutes for Chase to enter on a flute but once she did, Taborns piece moved from its griefs to its charms. Across the hour, Chase was given space to partner with every other player in duos, all of which took advantage of Taborns invitations to improvise. With Rubin, she steered unison lines that gradually branched into rhythmically independent cries; the sneaky effect had the quality of Taborns own pianism. With Ibarra, she reveled in funk-laced passages. And with Taborn, she collaborated on long-lined melodies and freer sounding improvisations. With few exceptions, the hit HBO series Succession has followed the Seinfeld model of no hugging, no learning, as the ultra-privileged Roy siblings seek to replace their late father, Logan (Brian Cox), at the top of the Waystar Royco media empire. For some reason despite their narcissism, recklessness and stunning lack of personal growth we really care about what happens to them and their lackeys anyway. Who will emerge victorious? And at what personal cost? Now, with the 90-minute series finale set to air on Sunday, we seem poised to receive some kind of answer, as the long corporate death match winds to an end. But before it does, the show still has plenty of questions to answer. Can even a supersized conclusion cover them all? Here are several we would like to see addressed. What will America decide? In hopes of helping secure their own leadership positions, Kendall and Roman Roy (Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin) directed Waystars right-wing news network ATN to call victory for the far-right presidential candidate Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk), who indicated he would squash the GoJo deal. But those burned ballots in Milwaukee mean the election is still contested, and the Democratic candidate, Daniel Jimenez (Elliot Villar), still has a shot at the White House. How long will the count drag on? Will we see a resolution? The momentous Turkish presidential election, whose second round will take place on Sunday, has more than just geopolitical consequences; it is a watershed for culture as well. Since 2016, after a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the government here has cracked down on artists, writers, filmmakers and academics, who have experienced censorship, job losses and a climate of fear. For the novelist Burhan Sonmez, who is part of the countrys ethnic Kurdish minority, the upheavals of the Erdogan years are only the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle between Turkish power and Turkish art. Born outside Ankara in 1965, where his first language was Kurdish, he worked as a human rights lawyer but went into exile in Britain after a police assault. He has written five novels, including the prizewinning Istanbul Istanbul, Labyrinth and Stone and Shadow, newly out in English by Other Press. His novels delve into imprisonment and memory, with echoes of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Jorge Luis Borges. Whereas Kakus eyes look mostly ahead, in ON THE ORIGIN OF TIME: Stephen Hawkings Final Theory (Random House Audio, 12 hours, 10 minutes), the cosmologist Thomas Hertog focuses more on the past, specifically Hawkings groundbreaking 1988 text A Brief History of Time and Hertogs own working relationship with that text and its author. In this scientific intervention, Hertog recounts the moment, in 2002, when Hawking declared: I have changed my mind. Brief History is written from the wrong perspective. Hertog agreed. Ethan Kelly reads the audiobook with a confidence that suggests he has just emerged from the same Cambridge University halls where Hawking and Hertog discussed their ideas this audiobook can make the listener feel smarter than he or she is. Wed been thinking of cosmology all wrong, Hawking and Hertog theorized, from a Gods-eye view that obscured the scientists essential truth: We are within the universe, not somehow outside it. Some of the deep dives into new, interior viewpoints might lose the average listener, but the heavy stuff is broken up with refreshing anecdotes that illustrate not only the authors devotion to his mentor but also the extent of Hawkings brilliance and sense of humor. I am dying, Hawking once typed into the machine that spoke for him, making Hertog suffer through a long pause before he finished: for a cup of tea. To help us feel anchored again in our physical world, there are birds. At least, theyve always served that purpose for Mya-Rose Craig, the author of BIRDGIRL: Looking to the Skies in Search of a Better Future (Macmillan Audio, 9 hours, 30 minutes). The 21-year-old Craig is a prodigy of sorts within the vast (and growing) world of birders. She clocked 325 species in one year alone when she was 6. While early trips took her around the English countryside from her home outside Bristol, soon she was accompanying her parents to Ecuador, Antarctica and beyond. By 17, she had become the youngest person ever to have seen more than 5,000 bird species. Crystal Smith Pauls debut, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT KITTY KARR? (Holt, 416 pp., $27.99), is a slow burn, although it does have a juicy plot revolving around Angelenos so rich they have a Ferris wheel in their backyard. The gossip is that a white Hollywood icon, Kitty Karr Tate, has just died and left her fortune to the three St. John sisters, who are beautiful, talented and Black. The sisters hardly need the money; their father is a producer and their mother an Oscar-winning actress. One of the sisters landed an Academy Award by the time she was 13, and, as the story begins, the eldest, Elise, is a nominee in the midst of Oscar season. Paul quickly switches gears, taking the narrative to 1930s North Carolina and the story of a teenager named Hazel Ledbetter, orphaned and possessed only of $5 and her great-great-grandmothers earrings. She is graced with her grandmothers unusual blue-gray eyes, proof of forced miscegenation generations before. Working as a second cook for a wealthy family, Hazel is raped and impregnated by the heir to the familys tobacco fortune. When her daughter Mary Magdalene is born, she has her mothers eyes but can (and does) otherwise pass for white. It takes a long time for the two story lines to converge, and the contemporary drama feels superficial compared with the emotion and heartbreak of Hazels and Marys stories. Kitty Karr is uneven, but this is an ambitious novel, illuminating the complexities of racial identity, particularly what it means to be Black in Hollywood no matter the era. Its the kind of book that makes you want to know more about Hollywoods hidden history. The writer Martin Amis, who died last week at the age of 73, was a towering figure of English literature. Practically born into the limelight, as the son of the celebrated British novelist Kingsley Amis, he secured his own fame in 1973 with the publication of his novel The Rachel Papers, and for the next half century went on to produce a scintillating body of ambitious, raucous, witty and stylish works of fiction and literary journalism distinguished by their cutting intelligence and virtuosic prose. On this weeks podcast, Gilbert Cruz talks with The Timess critics Dwight Garner (who wrote Amiss obituary for the paper) and Jason Zinoman (who co-hosts a podcast devoted to Amiss career, The Martin Chronicles) about the life and death of a remarkable figure. Amis was arguably the most slashing, articulate, devastatingly clear, pungent writer of the last 25 years of the past century and the first almost 25 of this century, Garner says. If youre in a room with writers, he is often the one that writers are envious of. Just his way with words, his descriptions, the fact that he scorned cliche, scorned outdated language. In my own life as a writer, there are very few writers of course Im not a fiction writer, but I study writing there are only a handful of writers that I think of in the category that Martin Amis is in, which is, if Im stuck on a piece or Ive just written a bad sentence, I think: Would Martin Amis ever let this sentence go to print? Not that I can hope to match his sentences, but I hope not to sink to this level where, dont do that because Martin Amis wouldnt do it. We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Reviews podcast in general. You can send them to books@nytimes.com. Little is known about Will Somers, who became court jester to Henry VIII at the age of about 20 and held that position for the rest of his life. Which, of course, makes him irresistible to Jeri Westerson, who has already written a series of medieval noir novels. COURTING DRAGONS (Severn House, 210 pp., $30.99) is the first in a new series narrated by Will himself, a sprightly figure with a well-cultivated flair for gossip and a vigorously pansexual appetite. Its this latter that embroils him in the murder of a Spanish diplomat and a murky blackmail scheme, as well as a possible plot to kidnap Princess Mary. The court was full of dragons, Will observes. Which dragons must I slay to protect Henry? And which to protect myself? Alida Becker is a former editor at the Book Review. LaRoccas writing is as lush as a baroque painting. A strawberry rhubarb pie is a human artery in full bloom, and a woman under Crowleys spell feels her body hardening like cooling beeswax. But LaRoccas true talent lies in his ability to bring his readers into the lives of his characters a mothers desperation to help her blind child; a widowers mourning; a gay couples fight against discrimination. Its through such explorations that readers can enter other lives, and feel empathy for those who are like us, and those who are not. That, LaRoccas novel seems to argue, is the point of fiction to crack open the shell of otherness and explore all thats inside. LaRoccas talent is even more pronounced in his story collection, THE TREES GREW BECAUSE I BLED THERE (Titan, 204 pp., $19.95). The short-story form, by definition an act of compression, distills LaRoccas vision to its essence. The stories collected here are by turns confident, brutal and breathtaking. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has called on his supporters to protest when the GOP-led state House of Representatives takes up impeachment proceedings against him on Saturday. During a news conference Friday, the three-term Republican invited "fellow citizens and friends to peacefully come let their voices be heard at the Capitol tomorrow. The request echoes former President Donald Trumps call for people to protest his electoral defeat on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob violently stormed the U.S. Capitol. Paxton decried the impeachment proceeding as an effort to disenfranchise the voters who returned him to office in November. The state House will consider on Saturday whether to impeach Paxton on 20 articles, including bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust. Franchising has always been an on-ramp for the middle class to open their own business, said Charlie Chase, the chief executive of FirstService Brands, a franchiser of home renovation and painting services. Over the years, Mr. Chase, who has served on the board of directors of the International Franchise Association, said he had helped hundreds of successful franchisees get their start. We have created a lot of millionaires, he said. Still, Mr. Chase said he was concerned about how some franchisees were being pushed into businesses without understanding all of the risks. He blames aggressive internet advertising for some of this (Mr. Laskin learned about Burgerim from a Facebook advertisement, for example), and also a network of third-party brokers that often push prospective franchisees to buy multiple franchises at a time. The Federal Trade Commission, under the leadership of Lina Khan, is looking broadly at industry practices including disclosure and issues such as franchisers unilaterally changing the terms of an agreement with a franchisee. Franchising can be a good business model, but it can also lead to a lot of harm, Elizabeth Wilkins, the director of the commissions Office of Policy and Planning, said. We are concerned about instances where the promise does not match with reality. We believe there is a significant gap that is worth our investigation. In the case against Burgerim, federal officials said that the company executives told franchisees they would refund their franchise fees if their business did not open, but that many people never got their money back. Mr. Bronstein, the lawyer for Mr. Loni, said offering refunds was not the best way to run a business. The United States is inching closer to calamity, as lawmakers continue to spar over what it will take to raise the countrys $31.4 trillion debt limit. That has raised questions about what will happen if the United States does not raise its borrowing cap in time to avoid defaulting on its debt, along with how key players are preparing for that scenario and what would actually happen should the Treasury Department fail to repay its lenders. Such a situation would be unprecedented, so its difficult to say with certainty how it would play out. But its not the first time investors and policymakers have had to contemplate what if? and theyve been busy updating their plans for how they think things may play out this time. While negotiators appear to be moving toward an agreement, time is short. There is no certainty that the debt limit will be lifted before June 5, when the Treasury now estimates the government will run out of cash to pay all of its bills on time, a moment known as the X-date. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said on Friday that the United States will run out of money to pay its bills on time by June 5, moving the goal post back slightly while maintaining the urgency for congressional leaders to reach a deal to raise or suspend the debt limit. The letter provided the most precise date yet for when the United States is expected to run out of cash. Ms. Yellen had previously said the nation could hit the so-called X-date the moment when it does not have enough money to pay all of its bills on time as soon as June 1. Ms. Yellens letter comes as the White House and House Republicans have been racing to reach a deal that would lift the nations $31.4 trillion borrowing cap and prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt. The Treasury Department hit its statutory debt limit on Jan. 19 and has been employing accounting maneuvers known as extraordinary measures to ensure the United States can continue paying its bills on time. On Friday evening, President Biden expressed hope that an agreement could soon be clinched. Things are looking good. Im very optimistic, Mr. Biden said as he departed the White House for Camp David, adding, Im hopeful well know by tonight whether we are going to be able to have a deal. Sitting at a cafe terrace overlooking a park commemorating the birthplace of the vast oil industry in the western Canadian province of Alberta, Audrey Cerkvenac and Ernestine Dumont, wrestled with a political dilemma. In a province long the epicenter of Canadas conservative politics, the two older women had been unwavering conservative supporters. But now, as Mondays provincial election approached, they said they had been turned off by the strident right turn the provinces conservative party had taken as it ruled Alberta during the pandemic, fueled by extremist protests against Covid restrictions and baseless claims about vaccines. The hard-right turn of the United Conservative Party has put a province that was once a sure win for Canadas conservatives up for grabs in Mondays elections. Beyond a referendum on the ideological shift of the party, the vote could also serve as a gauge of the conservative standing nationwide. D.J. Martinez, Ms. Martinezs son and a fourth-generation manager with his brother Michael Martinez, said he feels as duty bound to safeguard his grandmothers recipe, as he does Chopes thick-battered chiles rellenos and sturdy enchiladas. To him, theyre more than just recipes. Do you know what sazon means? Mr. Martinez said. Sazon means, like, the culture, the tradition, and the style of cooking all come together and create the flavor. Thats kind of what it means; thats why it tastes so good. An El Paso native, the chef John Lewis grew up eating at Chopes, a straight shot up Interstate 10, every other Saturday. And every meal began with queso. Chopes version exactly translates to how its read: Its chiles with cheese. He has tinkered with the simple dish for years and now serves a version at his New Mexican restaurant, Rancho Lewis, in Charleston, S.C. Eventually we did a video call and I decided to go for it, he said. The purchase was Mr. Irizarrys first using WhatsApp. Since then, he has bought cuff links and a pair of earrings from Hancocks through the same process, and has used WhatsApp to communicate with watch retailers in Europe. Its definitely easier now Ive done it once, he said. As for Hancocks, several such sales that year prompted the company to add a WhatsApp link to every product on its website. The company declined to be specific about figures, but it said 20 percent of its sales are now initiated through WhatsApp, compared with less than 10 percent before the pandemic. It has increased international sales by a significant amount because it removes the formality of email and allows you to establish rapport quickly, Mr. Burton said in a phone interview. It gives us a better success rate than any other channel, such as email or phone calls. The global luxury jewelry industry weathered the economic turbulence of the pandemic years well, growing to $28 billion in 2022 from $22 billion in 2021, according to a report by the consulting firm Bain & Company in collaboration with Fondazione Altagamma, the trade association of Italian luxury goods manufacturers. The reports authors noted that luxury spending last year was still geared toward products, as tourism and business travel had not yet returned to prepandemic levels. And, they wrote, brands were benefiting from the multi-touch point ecosystem that the industry has developed, referring to the combination of digital and personal interactions that many customers now experience in the process of making a purchase. Home to a goldsmithing tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, this city of 110,000 is best known among tourists for its concentration of buildings by the 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio, not to mention its jewelry museum, located in the palatial Basilica Palladiana that dominates the central piazza. It also is a hub for jewelry companies that continue to promote traditional handicrafts even as they experiment with cutting-edge techniques such as powder metallurgy reducing precious metals to powder to be used in 3-D printing, or what the industry calls additive manufacturing. It is the kind of advancement that will allow jewelers to execute designs that are impossible to achieve through traditional casting methods, ensuring both quality and consistent results. Vicenza is, without any doubt, the technological core of the machinery production for the gold sector, Giovanni Bersaglio, the chief operation officer at Berkem, a supplier of plating equipment and chemical solutions for the jewelry industry, based in nearby Padua, wrote in an email. The center has grown thanks to close collaboration between jewelry companies and technology suppliers, cooperation that has always been seen as fundamental to the companies evolution and growth. That is especially true now, in the wake of the pandemic, which saw demand for Made in Italy jewels soar in step with demand for fine jewelry in general. In 2022, exports of Italian gold and silver jewelry reached 9.8 billion euros (about $10.5 billion), a 22.5 percent increase over the same period in 2021, and a 40.8 percent increase over the same period in 2019, according to Confindustria Federorafi, a national association representing companies in Italys jewelry manufacturing sector. Damiano Zito, the chief executive of Progold, which designs and manufactures jewelry in Trissino, a small town about 15 miles west of Vicenza, said the pandemic highlighted an issue that has plagued the Italian industry for the better part of the past decade: its dwindling number of skilled workers. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. On April 14, 1912, a reporter sent a dispatch from HALIFAX, N.S. with breaking news: The White Star liner Titanic had struck an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast and was sinking. In 1926, a journalist wrote an article from the NORTH POLE for the first time. And in January 2020, New York Times journalists reported on a deadly new contagion the coronavirus from WUHAN, China. These capitalized lines of text, which begin many Times articles, are known as datelines. A dateline tells the reader where the reporting occurred an article with the dateline WASHINGTON, for example, was reported from Washington, D.C. Datelines are an essential tenet of journalism; they are meant to add credibility to articles. (Sometimes, they can also be fun: Reporters have filed copy from places that sound made up, such as SANTA CLAUS, Ind.) But despite the intention of datelines to clarify a reporters whereabouts they increasingly cause confusion, especially among digital readers. In recent surveys, many readers said they didnt know what a dateline meant. Some knew that it signified where the events in the article took place, but not that a reporter had been working from that location. To help quell that uncertainty, The Times has officially introduced a new dateline format for digital articles: Instead of LONDON, datelines will be more conversational: Reporting from London. Huesera: The Bone Woman Stream it on Shudder. This Spanish-language first feature from the Mexican director Michelle Garza Cervera covers familiar horror territory mom trauma, folk brujeria but puts a macabre, feminist refresh on worn formulas. Valeria (Natalia Solian) is suffocating, not by a pair of hands or under a pillow but by her pregnancy. Her husband, Raul (Alfonso Dosal), is overjoyed to be a dad, but her ex-girlfriend Octavia (Mayra Batalla) wonders why the once-punk Valeria wants to be a mom anyway. It doesnt help that Valeria is seeing things: a woman jumping off a balcony, a hand gripping her ankle from under the bed. Valeria finds comfort one night in an old stomping ground a crowded mosh pit but then she goes into labor, delivering what the doctor calls her little princess. Thats when the terrors in this assured, deeply unsettling film go from a slow-burn simmer to a sense-blistering supernatural boil. Solians centered performance makes a mothers ambivalence and doubt not easy to get across onscreen look utterly forbidding. Hi, Im Rob Marshall, and Im the director of The Little Mermaid. So this is about two minutes into the musical number Under the Sea, which was the most challenging musical number Ive ever created because you have one live actor I mean, there she is Ariel, played by Halle Bailey. And introducing dance into a sequence is so complicated because it has to feel seamless. It has to feel organic. It cant feel applied. So right about here, as the turtles start to move, then you see, O.K., theres a little bit of dance starting to happen. The tricky part about this was because I only had one live actor, I needed some dancers or something to work from. And I took a page out of Walt Disneys playbook, and I worked with the Alvin Ailey Company. He had worked with the Ballet Russe Company when he created Fantasia. And I thought that was such a brilliant idea. So I worked with the Alvin Ailey Company, brought them to London so we could create all these sea creature moves on something so our artists, our CGI artists, could actually use them as a template, which was incredible. And then we found all these sea creatures that actually lent themselves to dance naturally. These are all real sea creatures. So right there you have mimic octopus and flatworms. Here were moving into a bioluminescent world. We had the Alvin Ailey Company using umbrellas and, literally, ribbons, streamers hanging from them so that they could literally create this idea of jellyfish. But all of this, every moment of this was choreographed. And it was so complicated because everything was done on counts. It wasnt sort of just like, well, lets just let them do whatever they want. Every moment of it was strategically choreographed by myself, John DeLuca, and our choreographers. [UNDER THE SEA]: music to me. Music is to me Theres one moment actually coming up here right here [UNDER THE SEA]: hot crustacean band that, literally, the CGI artist said its the most creatures theyve ever had ever onscreen. But it was really about protecting and celebrating this beautiful number. Heres a nautilus shell that we tried to create a la Busby Berkeley. But I really just wanted to make sure that we were doing justice to this incredible number but also bringing a photoreal, exciting world to life. Here is the weekly outdoors calendar: May 27-29 59th National Lake Trout Derby on Seneca Lake. laketroutderby.org. May 28 Boston Valley Conservation Society 10-week winter trap league begins at 9624 Zimmerman Road, Boston. Sundays 9 a.m. to noon; Thursdays 6 to 8 p.m. Call 335-4111 for more info. May 29 Memorial Day Sporting Clays Shoot (100 birds, NSCA registered) at Hanover Fish and Game Club, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. Registration at 8 a.m., shooting starts at 9 a.m. $50 for 100-bird main event. Register at winscoreonline.com. May 30 Wood and Brook Sportsmans Club Trap or Skeet League continues at Genesee Street, Crittenden. Shooting 6 to 9:30 p.m. Also Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to public. Teams are 5-7 shooters. 300 total birds in trap or skeet. Call Ben at 983-0026 or Brian at 863-0719. May 30 Allied Sportsmen 3-D Archery League continues at 12846 Clinton St., Alden, and will run for 17 weeks beginning at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 15 targets on the course. Any questions contact John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. May 30 WNY Chapter of Trout Unlimited month meeting at The Ridge, 555 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca, starting at 7 p.m. Final meeting until September. June 1 Opening Day, Inland Muskellunge season. dec.ny.gov. June 1 Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo Memorial 3-Fish/Big Fish contest out of Wilson and Olcott. Entry fee is $100 per boat. Fish from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Best three fish. For more info contact Mike Johannes at 523-1727. June 2-3 Skip Hartman Memorial Niagara County Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament out of Wilson and Olcott. lakeontarioproam.net. June 2-3 WNY Walleye Classic out of Barcelona and hosted by Primitive Patriot Outdoors. Big fish Friday and six-fish tourney on Saturday. For more information contact 490-4226. June 2-4 65th Annual Allegany Nature Pilgrimage. $45 for adults, $6 for ages 12-17; $20 for full-time students. buffaloaudubon.org to register. June 3-11 National Fishing and Boating Week June 3 Teach-Me-To-Fish Clinic at the East Aurora Fish and Game Club, 1016 Luther Road, East Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. For kids 15 and under. Register at 9:30 a.m. Call Chris Bennett for more info at 982-2342. June 3 Classic Side-by-Side Skeet Shoot at Evans Rod and Gun Club, 864 Cain Road, Angola. Entry fee $25. Call Fred Lima at 479-4833 for more info. Shooting starts at 10 a.m. June 3 Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge fishing opportunities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop into the visitor center to grab fishing gear (on loan with bait) at 1101 Casey Road, Bason. June 3 Caledonia Trout Festival at Big Springs Museum, Caledonia, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food, live music, antique fishing tackle memorabilia, kids fishing pond and more. June 4 Open House and BBQ starting at noon at the Allied Sportsmen Club, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. Youth JOAD and fishing for kids. June 6 State of Lake Ontario public meeting at Irondequoit Fish and Game Club, 658 Bay Front S, Rochester, starting at 7 p.m. June 6 Niagara Musky Association monthly meeting, Eldredge Club, 17 Broad St., Tonawanda, starting at 7 p.m. June 6 Wood and Brook Sportsmans Club Trap or Skeet League continues at Genesee Street, Crittenden. Shooting 6 to 9:30 p.m. Also Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to public. Teams are 5-7 shooters. 300 total birds in trap or skeet. Call Ben at 983-0026 or Brian at 863-0719. June 6 Allied Sportsmen 3-D Archery League continues at 12846 Clinton St., Alden, and will run for 17 weeks beginning at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 15 targets on the course. Any questions contact John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. June 10-11 Orleans County Open Tournament. Weigh-in at the Black North Inn, Point Breeze. Two days of fishing, best five salmon and five trout each day. Call 585-704-7996 for more info. June 10 Fly Fishing 101 Class at Orvis Buffalo, 4545 Transit Road, Clarence. Space limited. Free. Call 276-7200 for more info. Classes for June 3 are already filled. June 10 Get Outdoors and Get Together Day at Reinstein Woods Nature Center, 93 Honorine Drive, Cheektowaga, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. reinsteinwoods.org or call 683-5959. June 15 Statewide Bass Season Opens, along with Great Lakes muskellunge season. June 17-18 ASA Qualifier Shoot at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, starting at 10 a.m. It is a 20-target 3D shoot. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Cost is $25. Any questions contact John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. Submit calendar items to billhiltsjr@gmail.com at least three weeks in advance. Between 2018 and 2019, Robynn Europe, a former professional body builder, worked at an Equinox on the Upper East Side, where she managed personal trainers. Years earlier, as a scholarship student at Brearley, the girls school several blocks away, where she began in seventh grade, commuting first from Canarsie and then Coney Island, she had experienced the coded bias of privileged teenagers. There was only one other Black student in her class. But still that had not prepared her for what she described as crass, unfiltered expressions of prejudice from male colleagues in an expensive gym, awash with the scent of eucalyptus oil if not the base notes of enlightenment. Ms. Europes tenure at the club was short-lived; Equinox terminated her employment in less than a year because, the company said, she was late 47 times in the course of 10 months. Ms. Europe held a different view of her firing, believing that her lateness was merely a pretext for discrimination, and soon after she filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, arguing that she had been subjected to a hostile work environment and eventually let go because of her race and gender. Last week, a predominantly white jury of five women and three men agreed, delivering a verdict in little over an hour. The next day they awarded her $11.25 million in damages. The swiftness of the jurys decision and the size of the payout $10 million in punitive damages and $1.25 million for the distress she suffered follow a pattern similar to the verdict reached in the same courthouse just a few weeks before, in E. Jean Carrolls defamation suit against Donald J. Trump. In both instances, the process and outcome suggest the ways in which recent transformative social movements around race and gender might reframe the way that juries think about the long shadow of emotional disruption that bigotry or sexual violence can produce. Ms. Europe, who had been an art student at Oberlin College, was an unlikely entry into the fitness world. Returning to New York after graduation, she took an office job at the David Barton Gym, where she worked to support herself through a tattooing apprenticeship. In 2006, she received her certification as a personal trainer. Racism and sexism they are just pervasive in the fitness industry, she said when I met her at her lawyers office in Brooklyn recently. There is little definitive data on marijuana use among children, and what information is available can sometimes offer a contradictory picture. Disciplinary data from the city education department reflects a 10 percent increase in alcohol- and drug-related offenses this year compared to 2019. But a city survey found teen cannabis use had declined in 2021, the same year that the state legalized marijuana for recreational use, to the lowest level recorded since the question was added to the survey in 1997. Still, two dozen students and teachers at public, private and charter schools across the city said in interviews that some classrooms were in disarray as more pupils showed up late and high. They said that with the proliferation of unlicensed smoke shops and the availability of vape pens and edible products, cannabis has never been more accessible and inconspicuous. They relayed accounts of students taking hits of vaping pens when teachers turned their backs, of bathrooms and stairwells becoming smoking lounges and of the smell of weed wafting through school hallways. Teachers across high schools in the city said it was rare to catch students in the act of smoking, given the increasing ease, leaving reports to be made based on more opaque judgment calls of the students smell and behavior. It really feels like this unstoppable tide that were futilely trying to suppress, said America Billy, 44, who has been teaching at a public high school in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, for over a decade. She said it was hard to know whether a student was out of it because of a lack of sleep, family stress or drugs. On a Friday in early December she knows the date because it was the Sabbath night of Hanukkah a man abruptly opened the door to their little house in the refugee camp and said: Youre still here? Her father, Melesie, immediately ordered the family to leave everything and make their way to a half-forested area, at the edge of a primitive runway. I remember total silence, she says. Even the babies realized this was a special moment. Then a plane landed, its seats removed to make way for as many passengers as possible. Within hours, they were in Israel the fulfillment of a communal dream that, according to legend, had begun nearly 3,000 years earlier, with the union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and the birth of their child, King Menelik I of Ethiopia. Kanotopsky, who is now 46 and works for the Jewish Agency for Israel, told me her life story a few weeks ago as we sat aboard an Ethiopian Airlines jet flying from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv. With us on the plane were 111 Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, who are among the very last of the 5,000 Ethiopians that the Jewish state has agreed to welcome since 2020 in the name of family reunification, with the requirement that they have at least one first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) already in Israel. By June, this chapter of aliyah, Jewish immigration to Israel, will end, and this door to Ethiopians will be closed, at least for now. The problem is, there are still anywhere from 9,000 to 12,000 people in Ethiopia who practice Judaism and believe themselves to be Jews even if the state of Israel believes their familial ties to Judaism are too weak. Slavery made a mockery of political and civil rights for whites as well as Blacks, and to many Americans it made no sense that states could pursue such repression without raising the opposition, and intervention, of the national government. When, after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the victors had their chance to further restructure the American political system, they took aim at the barrier between the Bill of Rights and the states, not the least because ex-Confederates were fighting to restore bondage in the former rebel states and would not stop unless met with the force of the Constitution itself. Its this that gives us the second sentence of the 14th Amendment: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The point of this language according to its principal author, John Bingham of Ohio, a Radical Republican member of the House was to to arm the Congress of the United States, by the consent of the people of the United States, with the power to enforce the bill of right as it stands in the Constitution today. The adoption of the 14th Amendment, Bingham explained on the House floor, would take from the states no rights that belong to the states. But, he said, if they conspire together to enact laws refusing equal protection to life, liberty, or property, the Congress is thereby vested with power to hold them to answer before the bar of the national courts for the violation of their oaths and of the rights of their fellow men. Unfortunately, in a series of rulings culminating with Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, the Supreme Court would narrow the scope of the 14th Amendment to the point where the Constitutions limits on the actions of states were little different from what they had been before the Civil War. The justices, the historian Eric Foner writes in The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution, insisted that the amendment had not significantly altered the balance of power between states and the nation, and proved unreceptive to claims that a states inaction in the face of violence or other expressions of racial inequality proved justification for federal intervention. And yet even these monumental setbacks could not erase the fact that the 14th Amendment had, as Foner writes, citing the legal scholar William J. Novak, set in motion a process whereby rights became attributes of a national citizenship rather than a welter of local statutes, traditional practices, and common law traditions, all of them grounded in inequality. Many of the legal and political triumphs of the 20th century involve the fight to give substance to and expand the scope of those rights. And whether victory comes through the courts or through legislation, the fights have been, in each case, the struggles of ordinary people expressed through collective, democratic action. In doing all this, we have, against the history and tradition of this country, begun to construct a robust set of universal rights a baseline for political and civic equality that extends to every member of the political community and that binds the states as much as it does the federal government. When scholars and other observers of the American system say that we have been a fully functioning democracy only since the 1960s, this is what they mean. This work is far from over there remains the question of positive economic rights, which have been under assault since they emerged during the Great Depression but we have nonetheless built a conception of citizenship that was practically unimaginable for a large part of this nations history. It is exactly this triumph that conservatives and reactionaries hope to reverse. The plan, as we have seen with abortion, is to unspool and untether those rights from the Constitution. It is to shrink and degrade the very notion of national citizenship and to leave us, once again, at the total mercy of the states. It is to place fundamental questions of political freedom and bodily autonomy into the hands of our local bullies and petty tyrants, whose whims they call freedom, whose urge to dominate they call liberty. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. To the Editor: Re Hot Mic, Dead Air and Eventually, DeSantis Speaks (front page, May 25): So Ron DeSantis finally entered the race. Among his highest priorities is a crusade against D.E.I. (diversity, equity and inclusion) and woke that we must all witness now. I have three questions for Mr. DeSantis: First: What is wrong with diversity? Ecosystems are more resilient if there is diversity. Likewise for human societies. And diverse societies are more fascinating. Color is interesting; monochrome is boring. Second: What is wrong with equity? Dont all Americans believe in equality of opportunity and equality before the law? And we know that extreme inequality of income and wealth hurts the economy. Third: What is wrong with inclusion? Which group do we propose to leave out? Dont all Gods creatures have a place in the choir? The Biden administrations plan to cancel up to $20,000 of debt for tens of millions of Americans has faced endless pressure. Just this week the House of Representatives voted to repeal it. But the suit against it, brought by six Republican-led states, has received much less scrutiny. Thats because the Supreme Court issued certiorari before judgment, meaning the suit did not first have to wend its way through lower courts. Its factual claims havent been adequately tested. Theyve hardly even been aired. So we decided to do the fact-checking ourselves. We filed public records requests and reviewed almost a thousand pages of internal financial documents, emails and other communications from the parties in the case, as well as court filings and the transcript of oral arguments at the Supreme Court in February. We found that the states most fundamental justification for bringing the case that canceling student loans could leave a Missouri-based loan authority unable to meet its financial obligations to the state is false. As our research shows, and the loan authoritys own documents confirm, even with the new policy in place, its revenues from servicing loans will increase. According to the rules of American jurisprudence, if there is no injury, there is no right to sue. Its called standing, and the plaintiffs dont have it. They simply said they did. That assertion has been enough to get them to the nations highest court, and may help persuade the justices to rule in their favor. The administration and Congress need to correct that imbalance. If access to asylum is going to be assigned at random, the U.S. government had better make sure its doing everything possible especially expanding staffing and physical space at ports to maximize the number of slots available. And it must work toward evaluating everyones asylum claims on the merits. The lottery doesnt determine who wins asylum; it chooses whos allowed to apply for it. Hundreds of slots a day are assigned to asylum seekers waiting on the Mexican side of the border, whove signed up for the lottery using the CBP One app, run by Customs and Border Protection. The federal government claims that slots are awarded based on an algorithm that gives more weight to those who have been trying for an appointment the longest but there is a large element of random selection, too. Those who are selected are given an appointment time 13 days in advance, at a port of entry. Those who arent selected have to register the next day and try again. Under a regulation finalized May 10 by the Department of Homeland Security, people who have preregistered for appointments at ports in other words, those who use the lottery are the only ones who are allowed to seek asylum without facing other process hurdles. Everyone else has to meet a far higher standard to be allowed to file a full asylum application and face an immigration judge. That includes both people who cross between ports of entry committing the federal crime of unlawful entry and people who present themselves at ports of entry to ask for asylum but lack an appointment. The latter are not committing any federal crime. But under the regulation, unless they can demonstrate that they were persistently unable to use the CBP One app and not speaking one of the three languages currently offered by the app isnt enough to meet that standard they are presumed ineligible for asylum. The only way for an adult, or family, to avoid that presumption entirely is the lottery. As arbitrary as this is, people who work with asylum seekers on both sides of the border see it as less arbitrary than the first-come-first-served appointment system that was in place for the first few months of this year. That system led to a mad dash every 24 hours as people used everything from clicker apps to cartel-rented phones to grab one of the few hundred available slots. The Biden administration has now both expanded the number of appointments available about 1,000 per day, across the border and instituted the lottery system, which gives people 23 hours to register and an additional 23 to confirm their booking if selected. Among their other ventures, the couple hosts a Wednesday happy hour in a food truck owned by the Shoals, a hotel next to their land facility in Southold. They sell their oysters at festivals and a local farm stand and host farm tours by boat in the summer. Theyre installing an oyster automat outside the warehouse to sell boxes of Little Rams and shucking gear, and plan to bottle their homemade oyster sauce. Back on the bay, the old salt was skeptical of the new competition at first. Its not every day that a couple shows up from Brooklyn and elbows their way in with folks who grew up clamming. Most oyster farmers had first careers as baymen, not advertisers and interior designers. They had a different mind-set where you have to be able to sell the product in a more creative way, said Ms. Rivara, 64, who owns the hatchery and is a 40-year shellfish farming veteran. They have a different skill set for selling stuff. I never went to school for sales and marketing. Ms. Bassett and Ms. Peeples do know how to brand themselves, appearing in Vogue and other glossy publications, yet many longstanding oyster farmers, Ms. Rivara included, said they have come to appreciate their gumption. Each year, the million or so students applying to college through the Common App are given the option to check a box, disclosing whether they identify as Hispanic, Asian, Black or white, among other choices. Now, with the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule soon against race-conscious admissions and with colleges wanting to follow the law the Common App has made a pre-emptive move on what is known as the race box. Beginning Aug. 1, colleges will be able to hide the information in those boxes from their own admissions teams, said Jenny Rickard, chief executive of the Common App, in an interview. The new option will help colleges comply with whatever legal standard the Supreme Court will set in regards to race in admissions, Common App said in a statement. A nonprofit, Common App administers a universal application used by more than 1,000 colleges and universities. The decision was the culmination of a yearlong legal pursuit of Dr. Bernard by the states attorney general, Todd Rokita, a Republican who opposes abortion. The Ohio girl had traveled to Indiana for the procedure after her home state enacted a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Dr. Bernard told a reporter for The Indianapolis Star about the case during an abortion rights rally. She didnt name the patient, but the case quickly became a flash point in the early, heated days of debate after the Supreme Court ruling, catching the attention of President Biden and turning conservative attention and ire toward Dr. Bernard. I dont think she intended for this to go viral, said Dr. John Strobel, the president of the board, calling Dr. Bernard a good doctor. But I do think we as physicians need to be more careful in this situation, he said. Mr. Rokita, who had filed the complaints against Dr. Bernard with the medical board, praised the outcome. This case was about patient privacy and the trust between the doctor and the patient that was broken, Mr. Rokita said in a statement late Thursday. What if it was your child or your patient or your sibling who was going through a sensitive medical crisis, and the doctor, who you thought was on your side, ran to the press for political reasons? News / Local by Staff reporter HIGH Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda has acquitted a Harare businessman Offer Sivan and Cassandra Myberg of fraud allegations involving US$1 million that were levelled against them by a fugitive former partner Gilad Shabtai.Allegations were that Sivan, who is a director of Adlecraft Private Limited and his assistant, Myberg allegedly misrepresented to Stanbic Bank that Shabtai who is also a director in the firm, had agreed with them to open two bank accounts in the name of their company at Belgravia branch and allegedly forged Shabtai's signature on the forms.One of the accounts was in United States dollars and another in Zimbabwean dollars.It was alleged that they also manufactured a company resolution on September 20, 2020 appointing Sivan as the sole director of the company.Shabtai had also accused the duo of withdrawing and misappropriating $22 359 513,14 and US$762 983,06.The State was represented by Whisper Mabhaudhi and Lovet Masuku while Sivan and Myberg were represented by Advocate Nyamakura, Marble Tarugarira and Josephine Sande.In defence, the duo said the charges were malicious. Sivan also accused Mabhaudhi of bias in favour of Shabtai saying he had lodged a similar complaint against Shabtai but the prosecutor had dismissed it as a civil dispute.The prosecutor-general had also declined to prosecute the case saying the dispute was a manifestation of boardroom squabbles between Sivan and Shabtai which had no place in the criminal courts. He said the case must be resolved in the civil courts.Four witnesses testified in the matter and Sivan's counsel questioned how the trial could progress without key witnesses, Shabtai, and Munyaradzi Gonyora who had reported the case to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.The State, however, indicated that Shabtai would not come for trial and Gonyora was nowhere to be seen and his phone was unreachable.The prosecutor tried to tender a sworn statement by Shabtai as the basis for stopping the trial but the court refused saying the law does not allow such procedure.Justice Kwenda then acquitted the duo saying it had been established that the bank received no complaint of fraud or forgery from Adlecraft.In addressing the unavailability of key witnesses, Justice Kwenda said it was the responsibility of the State to secure the attendance of State witnesses."A criminal court should not be misled into presiding over a private prosecution which is disguised as a public prosecution based on a police docket compiled from police investigations."The State is expected to secure the attendance of State witnesses through the subpoena because it has the force of law," Kwenda ruled."Further, in terms of section 237 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act where any person subpoenaed to attend a criminal trial without reasonable excuse fails to obey the subpoena and it appears from the return or from the evidence given under oath that the subpoena was served upon such person to whom it is directed, or if any person who has attended in obedience to a subpoena fails to remain in attendance, the judge or magistrate may issue a warrant directing that such person be arrested and brought at a time and place stated in the warrant, or as soon thereafter as possible, before him or some other judge or magistrate."The State, having stopped the trial after the accused persons had pleaded to the charge, commanded the court to acquit the accused persons. As a result the accused persons are found not guilty and are acquitted," Kwenda ruled. The Treasury Department said its cash balance fell to $38.8 billion as of Thursday, as the United States inched toward running out of cash to pay its bills. That was significantly lower than the $316 billion the department had in operating cash, which is held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, at the start of the month. Just how empty is the Treasury cash coffer? For comparison, $38.8 billion is on par with the gross domestic product of Bahrain and Paraguay and lower than the net worth of more than two dozen of the wealthiest people in the world. Of course, much of the assets of those billionaires are tied up in stocks, rather than liquid assets. Here is a list of people with higher net worths than the U.S. cash reserves, according to Bloomberg Newss Billionaire Index as of Thursday. (Under the news agencys editorial policy, its billionaire owner, Michael Bloomberg, is not considered for the index. Forbes, though, estimates his net worth at $94.5 billion.) Senator Mitch McConnell had a message for Americans growing increasingly worried that the economy is going to crash if the federal debt ceiling is not raised: Just chill. Look, I think everybody needs to relax, Mr. McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and minority leader with deep experience in debt limit showdowns, told reporters back home earlier this week. Regardless of what may be said about the talks on a day-to-day basis, the president and the speaker will reach an agreement. It will ultimately pass on a bipartisan vote in both the House and the Senate. The country will not default. That may be a case of easier said than done. While Mr. McConnell, President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy have repeatedly assured Americans that there will be no default, that guarantee is looking a little shakier with little more than a week to go before the U.S. Treasury is projected to run out of cash to pay its obligations. Mr. ODonnell warned that those who received refunds but were ineligible for the money would have to repay the funds with penalties. He said the I.R.S. was aggressively auditing taxpayers who collected the refunds and the firms that processed them. He estimated that hundreds and possibly thousands of tax credit mills had popped up across the country in the last three years. They seem to be everywhere, Mr. ODonnell said. The tax credits are less well known than the more popular Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans to cover payroll, rent and utility expenses during the pandemic. But for eligible taxpayers, they have the potential to provide a substantial windfall in the form of a tax refund. Businesses, including nonprofit organizations and churches, can seek up to $26,000 for each employee on the payroll if they can show that their operations were fully or partly suspended in 2020 or part of 2021, and report a significant decline in their revenues during that time. However, the fine print that determines if a business is eligible is complicated, and the I.R.S. is concerned that firms that are processing applications for the credit at high volume are overlooking important restrictions in order to rake in bigger refunds and commissions. For instance, the I.R.S. is concerned about taxpayers dipping into multiple pots of relief money and says many tax preparation firms are not telling clients that they cannot claim the tax credit on wages if they also received money to cover payroll costs through the Paycheck Protection Program. The ballooning cost of the program is exacerbating Americas precarious fiscal situation. The White House and Republican lawmakers are locked in a bitter fight over raising the debt ceiling, which caps how much money the United States can borrow. The Treasury Department has estimated that the government could run out of cash on June 5 and has resorted to accounting maneuvers so that it can keep paying its bills. So far, at least 19 states have started to remove people from the rolls. A precise total of how many people have lost coverage is not yet known. In Arkansas, more than 1.1 million people over a third of the states residents were on Medicaid at the end of March. In April, the first month that states could begin removing people from the program, about 73,000 people lost coverage, including about 27,000 children 17 and under. Among those who were dropped was Melissa Buford, a diabetic with high blood pressure who makes about $35,000 a year at a health clinic in eastern Arkansas helping families find affordable health insurance. Her two adult sons also lost their coverage. Like more than 5,000 others in the state, Ms. Buford, 51, was no longer eligible for Medicaid because her income had gone up. A notice she received informing her that she did not qualify made her so upset that she threw it in a trash can. But a majority of those who lost coverage in Arkansas were dropped for procedural reasons. Daniel Tsai, a senior official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who is helping to oversee the unwinding process for the Biden administration, said that more outreach was needed to help those who lost coverage that way. He said federal officials were in regular contact with state officials around the country to review early data on the unwinding and check whether people who lost coverage had a fair shot to prove their eligibility. A few hours after Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison for his role in a seditious conspiracy to instigate the pro-Trump violence of Jan. 6, Matthew M. Graves, the federal prosecutor who has overseen the governments investigation of the Capitol attack, released a statement with a fact that underscored the landmark nature of the moment. More people were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the siege of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Mr. Graves wrote, than any other criminal event since the statute was enacted during the Civil War. Nearly two and a half years after supporters of President Donald J. Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to derail the peaceful transfer of power, Mr. Rhodess sentencing was the most high-profile statement of accountability yet for an episode that seems certain to occupy a dark place in American history and remains a flashpoint in American politics. Amid the more than 1,000 criminal cases filed so far by the Justice Department against those who played a role in the attack, the prosecution of Mr. Rhodes, accused of plotting to mobilize his followers into storming the Capitol in two separate military-style stacks, stood out in a way that the judge who sentenced him, Amit P. Mehta, articulated in court on Thursday. The 1983 visit, like some of the queens other trips to the United States, occurred during the 30-year sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Some 3,600 people were killed during that period, when Britain deployed its military to the Protestant enclave to confront groups, including the I.R.A., that wanted to reunite Northern Ireland with the rest of Ireland. The man on the phone call shared plans to harm the queen by either dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia when it sailed underneath or attempting to kill her during a visit to Yosemite National Park, the documents said. Specific details about how either plot would have been accomplished were not provided. Officials noted that the Secret Service had intended to close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge when the yacht was nearby. Though it is unclear if any arrests were made, the documents note that the monarchs visit was completed without incident. The F.B.I. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday morning. The New York Times covered the queens tour of the West Coast at the time, describing it as a sparkling affair punctuated by a visit to President Ronald Reagans ranch in California. It was reported that inclement weather had forced the royal couple to fly rather than sail into the Bay Area, although they participated in a dockside send-off celebration. The queen said her time on the West Coast was a wonderful and enjoyable journey. Security concerns about some of the queens other visits to the United States were also outlined in the documents. Before her trip to Kentucky in 1989, the F.B.I. said it was unaware of any specific threats against the monarch, but noted the possibility of threats against the British monarchy is everpresent from the Irish Republican Army. An overwhelming majority of Texas House members voted on Saturday to impeach the states Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, on bribery and corruption allegations, including that he gave special treatment to a campaign donor who helped him remodel his house. After a four-hour proceeding before a packed gallery, 121 House members voted for the move while 23 were against it, with two abstaining, representing the first time a Texas statewide officeholder has been impeached in more than a century. Nearly all Democrats voted to impeach and so did a majority of Republicans. With the vote, Mr. Paxton was temporarily thrown out of office pending a trial, which has not yet been scheduled, in the Texas Senate. Heres what to know. Who is Ken Paxton? Before he became the attorney general in 2015, Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. worked as a lawyer and state legislator, serving in both the State House and Senate. His wife, Angela Paxton, became a political force of her own and won a seat in the State Senate in 2018. The school district in Dallas has drawn backlash from parents after giving elementary school students a Winnie the Pooh-themed book that teaches children how to run, hide, fight in dangerous situations like a mass shooting. Cindy Campos, whose two children attend an elementary school in the Dallas Independent School District, said that she wasnt sure what to do when her youngest son, who is in prekindergarten, came home from school last week with the book, titled Stay Safe. The book, Ms. Campos said, had been tucked into her sons backpack with no note or instructions. If danger is near, do not fear, the book reads. Hide like Pooh does until the police appear. At first, Ms. Campos said that she wondered if it was a gift from her sons teacher. But later that evening, she found the same book in the backpack of her older son, a first grader. Thats when she said she started to wonder whether the book was an initiative from the school district. A new study suggests that, for some patients, the anesthetic ketamine is a promising alternative to electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, currently one of the quickest and most effective therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat depression. The study is the largest head-to-head comparison of the two treatments. Patients who dont respond to at least two antidepressants about one-third of clinically depressed patients have a condition that clinicians refer to as treatment-resistant. Their options for relief are limited. Doctors typically recommend up to 12 sessions of ECT, which has a long-established efficacy, but is tainted by the stigma of historical misuse and frightening Hollywood images of people strapped to tables, writhing in agony. Todays ECT is much safer and done under general anesthesia, but the procedure remains underutilized. The study, published on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that ketamine, when administered intravenously, was at least as effective as ECT in patients with treatment-resistant depression who do not have psychosis. (For people with psychosis, ketamine, even in very low doses, can worsen psychosis-like symptoms.) The results were very surprising to us, said Dr. Amit Anand, lead author of the study and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School who studies mood disorders at Mass General Brigham. His team had initially hypothesized that ketamine would be nearly as effective as ECT. Instead, Dr. Anand said, they found that ketamine performed even better than that. CARTAGENA, Colombia For a champion of peace, Leyner Palacios faces a lot death threats. The latest menacing message came in February, when Mr. Palacios, 47, was warned he had 12 hours to leave the region where he was born on Colombias Pacific Coast, and to never come back. The last time he had received a similar warning, in March 2020, one of his bodyguards was killed. So Mr. Palacios, who served on Colombias Truth Commission, announced on Twitter he was going into hiding for a while. I do not want them to see my coffin full of my unjustly murdered body, he wrote. I have understood that the threat is the door to the cemetery. The 11-member commission spent four years investigating every aspect of Colombias conflict, which was fought between government forces, left-wing guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups from 1958 to 2016. News / Local by Staff reporter LAST week, Zimbabwe continued with its structured debt clearance dialogues with foreign creditors owed over US$14 billion, as the country makes important steps to weave its way out of the debt hole.Stakeholders to the crucial dialogues are determined to thrash out a viable plan to the clearance of principal debt and arrears, which have been accumulating since Zimbabwe defaulted from 1999.The country's total consolidated debt stands at US$17,5 billion, according to official reports, which is just over half of the country's US$30 billion gross domestic product.Domestic debt was estimated at US$3,4 billion before last week's meetings took place, with debts owed to bilateral creditors at US$5,75 billion.About US$2,5 billion is owed to multilateral creditors.To help the country tackle the crisis, government last year appointed two eminent African leaders - African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina and Joachim Chissano, the former Mozambican head of state, as high-level facilitators.It is the first real attempt by Harare in six years to address the debt crisis.The late former president Robert Mugabe's plan, discussed during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring meeting in Lima, Peru in 2015, collapsed due to lack of political will.But the levers of power have shifted.President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who assumed power in 2017, appears determined to address the debt crisis.But he faces so many hurdles.He has to agree to several demands attached to the debt clearance plan, some of which led to the flop of the Lima plan.In Harare, some analysts say agreeing to the conditions would be crucial for Harare. But some of them are reminiscent of those set out in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera), an American law.These include holding credible, free and fair elections during landmark polls expected in August and addressing human rights concerns.Stakeholders have also emphasised that Zimbabwe must carry out political and electoral reforms, as part of efforts to give the international community assurances that the country is ready to address its problems.Two weeks ago, Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube announced several new measures to stabilise the economy, including reviewing the way the Reserve Bank's foreign currency auction system works.Facilitators to the dialogue viewed them as an important step towards reforms.Economist Chenesayi Mutambasere said there was so much groundwork required to address Zimbabwe's debt.She pointed to several grey areas that have to be explained."The genesis of our debt crisis is structural financing of underperforming state-owned enterprises, overpriced government contracts that under deliver and are not tied to a payback period," Mutambasere told the Zimbabwe Independent."These include the Deka project, which was funded by India Exim Bank in 2014, but work only started in 2019/2020 with the quotation now costing nearly three times."The loan was also diverted to pay off the Chinese for the Hwange Power Station Unit 7 and 8 loan, which is resource backed. This reflects the complex structural issues associated with the Zimbabwean debt."We need a public debt audit. We still lack clarity on debt commitments outside of the Paris Club. A debt audit is the first step if the government is being transparent about upholding the notion of governance reform. You cannot ask for debt forgiveness if there are no signs of repentance," Mutambasere added.She noted that holding credible and fair elections' remained a major issue in Zimbabwe.Mutambasere said while there had been talk over reforms, this had not translated into practical action."The elephant in the room is credible and fair elections.Mnangagwa's sentiments are empty words as they do not reflect what is happening on the ground. The electoral process continues to be sabotaged by acts like the imprisonment of opposition figures," she said.Stephen Chan, a world politics professor at the University of London, said it was important to note that Chissano made it clear that tackling Zimbabwe's debt hinged on external confidence in Zimbabwean political processes."The government has a poor economic track record on which to contest the elections," Chan noted."The flurry of recent financial reforms may benefit some of the rich, but not the majority of people struggling with the cost of living. These are the bulk of the electorate. In a fully open and fair election, government might struggle to get the votes it needs."In that case, it might have to choose between continued power and external help in restoring the economy. The track record of (the ruling) Zanu-PF is a quest to stay in power," Chan said in an interview.Mnangagwa acknowledges that the plan must be implemented for Zimbabwe to unlock new external financing.But his government has always been found wanting.Gift Mugano, executive director at Africa Economic Development Strategies, said there were high chances the dialogue could fail."When I look at the conditions being set, I see the reminiscence of Zidera because these are the very same things that are inside the Act, leading to the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe," he said. The unexpected opening of an emergency exit door on an Asiana Airlines plane making its landing on Friday in Daegu, South Korea, left passengers shaken, and nine of them were hospitalized after they experienced difficulty breathing. The police arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of forcing open the door. The suspect, who could face charges of violating aviation security laws, did not reveal a motive, said Kim Hyeong-su, an officer in the criminal affairs division of the Daegu Dongbu Police Station. The plane, which left Jeju Island at 11:58 a.m., was at an altitude of 700 feet and minutes from landing at 12:38 p.m., when a man seated in the emergency exit row next to the door forced it open, a spokesman for the airline said. According to FlightAware, the plane was traveling about 170 miles an hour at that point in the flight. Normally when a plane is mid-flight, the difference in air pressure inside and outside the cabin prevents the doors from opening. But the plane was so close to the ground that the difference was negligible, allowing the door to be unlatched, said the airline spokesman, Baek Hyunwoo. This is a tale of two meals and two men named Lam. It begins with a joke and ends with a prison sentence. Two years ago, one of Vietnams most powerful officials ate a steak encrusted with 24-karat gold during a trip to London. It didnt go over well at home a one-party state that is still, despite its freewheeling capitalism and rising inequality, ruled by a Communist Party and officially called a socialist republic. The official, Gen. To Lam, who runs the powerful Ministry of Public Security, faced criticism and ridicule online. A Vietnamese activist who also runs a noodle stand spoofed the gilded meal by making a video that showed him theatrically sprinkling green onions onto a bowl of noodles. On Thursday, the activist, Bui Tuan Lam, was convicted of conducting propaganda against the state and sentenced to more than five years in prison. The authorities in Danang, the central Vietnamese city where he lives, said that he was guilty of making, storing, distributing or disseminating anti-state information and materials. The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This week, I wrote about the conversation about race and racism in the Australian media industry that had been set off by the announcement from Stan Grant that he would step back from his television hosting duties. Mr. Grant, one of Australias most high-profile journalists, said that he and his family had received relentless racial abuse after he spoke about colonial-era violence as part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporations coverage of the coronation of King Charles III. I spoke to Narelda Jacobs, who hosts Network 10s midday news program, about her experience as a Noongar woman who has worked in media for two decades, the extra challenges and burdens Indigenous journalists face, and how she hoped Mr. Grants departure would be a watershed moment for the industry. What she said stuck with me, so I thought Id include some of her remarks that didnt make it into the article. (Quotes have been edited for length and clarity). On the heavy price Indigenous journalists pay for challenging mainstream perspectives The kings coronation is really a perfect example. Craig Foster said similar things as Stan, and yet people didnt come after him in the same way. There are different standards that apply for First Nations people. Eighteen students who put a young Black man through a notorious fraternity hazing ritual at a prestigious university in Belgium, leading to his death and setting off a national debate about racism, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter on Friday and ordered to pay fines and perform community service. Sanda Dia, a 20-year-old student at the Catholic University of Leuven, now known as KU Leuven, died of multiple organ failure in December 2018. He had been forced alongside two other fraternity pledges to drink alcohol excessively, chug fish oil until he vomited, swallow live goldfish and stand outside in an ice-filled trench. The decision on Friday, by the Antwerp Court of Appeal, appeared to end a case that had wound its way through the Belgian justice system for five years. The court found all 18 students guilty of involuntary manslaughter and degrading treatment, but acquitted them of charges that included culpable neglect and administering a harmful substance causing death or illness. The students all members of the fraternity Reuzegom, which traditionally attracts scions of the countrys elite were each sentenced to perform 200 to 300 hours of community service and pay fines of 400 euros, or about $430. Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter jailed in Russia on espionage charges, has appealed a court decision earlier this week that extended his detention by more than three months, The Journal confirmed on Friday. Mr. Gershkovich, 31, had already spent nearly two months in Moscows Lefortovo jail, known for harsh conditions, when a court on Tuesday extended his detention through Aug. 30. While the decision had been widely expected, The Journal noted in a statement at the time that it was deeply disappointed and would continue to demand his immediate release. The appeal was filed on Thursday, The Journal said. The White House has said that Mr. Gershkovich is wrongfully detained, which effectively means the United States considers him a political prisoner. Russia has so far provided no evidence to back up the espionage charges, and the United States, The Journal and several press freedom groups have vehemently rejected them as spurious. Iran freed a Belgian aid worker imprisoned in Tehran for 455 days on charges of spying, in exchange for Belgium releasing a former Iranian diplomat who was convicted in 2021 of a thwarted bomb plot, officials from both countries said on Friday. The aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, was flown late Thursday from Tehran to Muscat, the capital of Oman, where the exchange took place, Belgiums prime minister, Alexander De Croo, said on Friday. At this moment our compatriot Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium, Mr. De Croo said in a video address from Brussels, confirming that the government had secured Mr. Vandecasteeles release. He added that Mr. Vandecasteele had undergone medical examinations to assess his health after more than a year under very difficult conditions. Mr. Vandecasteele had worked in Iran for five years until he lost his job in March 2021 and left the country. When he returned to retrieve some belongings in February of last year, he was arrested by Iranian authorities, who sentenced him to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on charges of espionage, money laundering and currency smuggling. The Belgian government had called Mr. Vandecasteeles imprisonment arbitrary and said Iran had provided no information on the case. The German police are investigating Roger Waters, a founder of the band Pink Floyd, who has long been critical of Israel, after he performed in Berlin last week wearing a Nazi-style costume like the one he used to critique fascism in The Wall. Mr. Waters, who has made anti-Israel statements in the past that many have said cross a line into antisemitism, has successfully fought two attempts by German courts to block him from German concert venues in the past. The investigation is focused on the costume Mr. Waters wore during a rendition of the 1979 Pink Floyd song In the Flesh, from their seminal album The Wall, in which a rock star imagines himself as a fascist dictator. Similar staging was featured in the 1982 movie Pink Floyd: The Wall, featuring Bob Geldof. During parts of the concerts in Berlin, on May 17 and May 18, Mr. Waters wore a black trench coat with epaulets and a red armband, according to videos posted to social media and witnesses. Flanked by men dressed in costumes that evoked Nazi storm troopers, he shot a prop machine gun into the audience. Mr. Waters has worn similar costumes at concerts outside of Germany for years for the routine, which he has called satire. The Russian and Belarusian defense ministers on Thursday signed an agreement laying out how to store Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russian state media reported, as Moscow moved ahead with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its close ally. President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus said on Thursday in Moscow that the relocation of the weapons had begun, but did not say whether any had already arrived in his country, the Belarusian state news agency Belta reported. The signing of the agreement comes some two months after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said he would be able to position nuclear weapons in Belarus by the summer, a claim analysts widely saw at the time as bluster intended to put pressure on the West. The agreement is the latest example of irresponsible behavior that we have seen from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over a year ago, the State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Thursday. The United States saw no reason to adjust its nuclear posture and had seen no signs that Russia was preparing to use a nuclear weapon, he added. KYIV, Ukraine Explosions far behind the front lines shook Ukraine on Friday, as a Russian missile demolished part of a hospital complex and apparent Ukrainian strikes hit Russian-occupied cities, in their escalating, long-range aerial war. The attack on a medical center in the central city of Dnipro killed at least two people, left three more missing and injured at least 30, Ukrainian officials said. It destroyed a three-story building and damaged several others. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine posted to social media a video of a gutted building, its roof and upper walls missing, belching smoke into the sky, calling it another crime against humanity. Ukraine is expected to launch a major counteroffensive soon some analysts say it may already be in its earliest phases and both sides have stepped up their strikes from a distance ahead of the clash on the ground. Kyivs forces have increased the tempo and range of attacks deep into Russian-held territory, primarily on military depots, convoys and troop concentrations, and railroads used by Russian forces. Though peace seems distant, the United States and Europe are debating how to guarantee Ukraines security once the fighting with Russia stops, even without a total victory by either side. West Germany may provide a model, a precedent for admitting a divided country into NATO. Despite its division and unhappy role as the border between nuclear armed rivals during the Cold War, West Germany became a NATO member in 1955, benefiting from the alliances protection, without ever giving up its commitment to unification, finally realized in 1989. For Ukraine, much will depend on the shape of the battlefield after its coming counteroffensive, and whether the outcome leads to some kind of extended cease-fire, relatively stable borderlines, or even peace talks. As NATOs yearly summit approaches in July, its members are discussing what they can offer Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who wants more concrete assurances that his country will join the alliance. News / Local by Staff reporter WHITE commercial farmers forced off their land over 20 years ago have waited since 2018 when government agreed to a compensation deal to receive their settlements. It is important to note that these farmers compromised and agreed to take US$3,5 billion. In the same spirit, Zimbabwe should also compromise and demonstrate that it is taking this issue seriously.President Emmerson Mnangagwa must stick to his commitment and pay them, in line with the Global Settlement Deed (GSD), as agreed in 2018. Before Mnangagwa took over the presidency five years ago, the late former strongman, Robert Mugabe had denied responsibility.But the blowbacks from angry western powers were deadly.Zimbabwe's economy surrendered 50% of its gross domestic product (GDP) within the first decade of the confrontations.Its currency collapsed in December 2008.To demonstrate that western creditors owed over US$13,5 billion, almost half of Zimbabwe's US$30 billion GDP, take this issue seriously, it stuck out during last week's debt summits in Harare and Victoria Falls.It was not a coincidence that those leading the plan brought it up for discussion soon after jetting in from Washington, where a law the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) was enacted in 2000 during bloody farm invasions.They knew what they were doing. They want to persuade Washington and other powers that Zimbabwe is taking steps to address Zidera's concerns. This is vital for them to secure global confidence that Harare is ready to reform, before getting a debt deal.Rightly so, western creditors have raised issues of fundamental concern to humanity. Harare must end impunity and rights violations. It must change from a tradition of disputed polls to holding credible elections from this year and beyond.No one disputes that these are important milestones to be achieved.Their continuing to overshadow Zimbabwe's electoral and political landscape has caused immense suffering. The world cannot not fold arms when everything is going wrong. But the longer Zimbabwe procrastinates, the more dire the endgame.Isolation will be prolonged and the debt pile up will be out of control. With regards to the GSD, Mnangagwa must not take chances.Yes, everybody knows that he is leading a government that is bleeding on all fronts, following decades of kleptocracy. But he knows that the farmers invested to make Zimbabwe's land productive.Zimbabwe's agricultural success is riding on a foundation that they laid before they were chased out. As we reported last week, the plan to pay them through Treasury Bills (TBs) won't work.Like a payslip, a TB only represents an intention to pay. Broke governments have always rolled over TBs on maturity. It will be foolhardy for Zimbabwe to think that these farmers will agree to live on a promise. But the longer this dispute plays out, the more Mnangagwa's re-engagement plan suffers. A similar debt clearance plan was cobbled in Lima, Peru, in 2015. It flopped because Mugabe was not keen to compromise.Sure, Zimbabweans don't want another Lima. Memorial Day weekend is among the busiest for travel in the United States and the unofficial start of summer; a day for cookouts, beach trips and auto races. But how did Memorial Day, held on the last Monday of May in honor of Americas war dead, begin? Here is a refresher: Honoring the Civil War dead The holiday grew out of the Civil War, as Americans Northern, Southern, Black and white struggled to honor the staggering numbers of dead soldiers, at least 2 percent of the U.S. population at the time. Several places lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. One of the earliest accounts comes from Boalsburg, Pa., where, in October 1864, three women are said to have placed flowers and wreaths on the graves of men who had died serving the Union during the Civil War. In May 1865, just after the war ended, a large procession was held in the ruined city of Charleston, S.C. There, thousands of Black Americans, many of whom had been enslaved until the city was liberated just months earlier, commemorated the lives of Union captives buried in a mass grave at a former racecourse. The service was led by some 3,000 schoolchildren carrying roses and singing the Union marching song John Browns Body. Hundreds of women followed with baskets of flowers, wreaths and crosses, according to historical accounts. Cities in the North and South began honoring their war dead. In May 1866, Waterloo, N.Y., was decorated with flags at half-staff, draped with evergreens and mourning black, according to the village. In Columbus, Miss., that same year, women were said to have placed flowers on the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers. Robert Dilenschneider It is on Memorial Day that we Americans commemorate all those who have died while serving in the U.S. military. Because it is observed on the last Monday in May, this year Memorial Day will fall on May 29. The brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of our nation did not hesitate to perform their duties. Let us use that day, therefore, to remember and honor their sacrifice. This Memorial Day comes at a challenging time in our history. Social and political conflicts continue to divide us. Instead of working to overcome the differences, many of our leaders in Washington seem more intent on deepening the divide in partisan rancor. Meanwhile, guns proliferate there are now more weapons in private hands, some 400 million, than there are people in this country. And mass shootings continue at a rate of about one every week. But we Americans have faced and overcome domestic conflicts before, and so as long as we maintain our love of Country and determination to move forward, we'll get through the current difficulties too. As we mark Memorial Day 2023, let us remember not only our fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen, but also the more than 1.4 million men and women now on active duty in our Armed Forces. Of those, as many as 170,000 are stationed or conduct missions in foreign regions, from Africa, to the Middle East, to the South China Sea. And let us never forget that our nation has paid a steep price for the freedoms we enjoy: The dead in all conflicts since the American Revolution total more than 1.3 million. The history of Memorial Day is remarkable. It began in 1868 when an official order was sent out by Gen. John Logan designating May 30 as Decoration Day to remember those who had died during the Civil War. He chose that date because flowers would be in bloom across the nation to place on the graves of the fallen. On the first Decoration Day, 20,000 graves at Arlington Cemetery were decorated, and future President James Garfield gave a speech. By 1890, all Northern states had recognized Decoration Day as a holiday. Southern states, however, chose to honor their dead on separate days. These differences continued until after World War I, when the holiday was changed to honor all Americans who died fighting in any war. In 1971, Congress made Memorial Day a federal holiday and designated the last Monday in May as the official observance. As we all know, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer a time for holiday pleasures like friends and families getting together for a cookout or the first trip of the year to a beach. But no matter how we mark this special event, let us all stay safe. And let us all keep in our hearts the courageous men and women who have sacrificed so much for this nation. As we said last year and say again now, Remember to Remember. *** Robert L. Dilenschneider is the Founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group, an international communications firm that provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions, to crisis communications, to marketing, government affairs and foreign media. Mercury Public Affairs is representing Zagreb-based Fortenova grupa d.d., the food and beverage company that is the largest privately owned business in Croatia. Fortenova, which is 49.9 percent owned by sanctioned Russian banks Sherbank and VTBE, put itself on the auction block last month. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, Sherbank tried but failed to unload its ownership position in Fortenova. In announcing the hunt for a buyer, Fortenova noted that though it is not subject to sanctions, the Russian ownership complicates business operations and negatively affects the value of the company for all stakeholders and makes it impossible to reach a sustainable and efficient capital structure. Fortenova has hired Lazard to run the auction and expects to find a buyer sometime in September. The company reported 2022 revenues of $5.8B and employs more than 45K people Peter Kucik, Mercury managing director, is handling the work for Fortenova. He spent seven years at the US Treasurys Dept. of Foreign Control, where he was senior sanctions policy advisor. Kucik played a role in slapping federal sanctions on Libya and Myanmar and the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba during the Obama administration. Omnicom owns Mercury. Two Longford mothers have appeared in court charged with fraudulently carrying out a string of transactions while using a stolen Revolut card. Sylvia Nevin (33) 41 Grian Ard, Ardnacassa, Longford and Winnifred Nevin, also known as Winnie Mooney, 4 Camlin View, Longford were both charged with a series of theft related offences at several shops in Longford town on March 6. They included thefts at Fresh Today, Longford Shopping Centre, Day Today, The Kiosk, 57 Dublin Street, Longford, Iceland, Athlone Road, Longford, Mr Price, Athlone Road, Longford, The Checkout, Ballymahon Street, Longford and Tesco, Longford Shopping Centre. All of the alleged incidents, the court heard, resulted in the loss of 234 to the injured party. Sgt Mark Mahon, for the prosecution, said the card had been taken from the alleged male victim inside the doors of a local fastfood restaurant. This matter relates to an incident where a revolut card was obtained from the injured party in a takeaway in Longford and gardai found out there was a number of transactions on that revolut card, he said. The total amount the injured party was out of pocket was 234.76. It would appear there would be seven different transactions that brought it up to that amount at various different locations. Judge Bernadette Owens accepted jurisdiction in the case, meaning the matter could be dealt with at District Court level. Solicitor for both women, Brid Mimnagh said Ms Mooney, or Ms Nevin as she is otherwise known, was a single mother of four with her co-accused being a widow mother of three young children. Ms Mimnagh said she would be seeking an adjournment to allow for a fully prepared submission of mitigation on foot of a guilty plea which was to be entered by both women. Legal aid was also granted to both accused, who were remanded on bail until a sitting of Longford District Court on July 18. Its expected that on that date a victim impact statement from those shops affected will also be handed into the court. 19 of the 24 retail units in the Bridge Shopping Centre, Tullamore, remain on the market four years after they first went on sale. The units are being sold in one lot by several private owners, with a guide price of 4,750,000. They include a floor area extending to 1,711 sq.m. / 18,416 sq.ft. - The total rental income per annum is 439,096. Some of the high profile tenants, which will not be affected by the sale, include, Holland and Barrett, Vero Moda, Dolan's Pharmacy and Boston Barbers. The units first came on the market in 2019 with a guide price of 5.95 million and an annual rental income of 732,000. Kieran Curtin of HWBC who are handling the sale said there have been some expressions of interest. ''Tullamore is a good town,'' he said. The Bridge Shopping Centre was built by a company headed up by local businessman Christy Maye in 1995 and was opened the same year by the late Gay Byrne. The centre is anchored by Dunnes Stores and has a total of 24 tenants, a cinema and 350 car parking spaces. It also has a restaurant on the second level. HWBC describe the centre as ''a successful regional shopping centre comprising over 68,000 sq. ft. of retail space including a 46,000 sq. ft. Dunnes Stores.'' The description continues: ''It has an excellent and broad user mix including fashion, footwear, pharmacy, jewellers, sportswear, household and hair salon. There is also good multiple representation including An Post, EBS,Vero Moda and Holland & Barrett.'' HWBC say ''Bridge Street is one of the main shopping streets in Tullamore. It is a busy mixed-use street incorporating primarily retail, restaurants, public houses, leisure and office use. The Bridge Centre is located at the northern end of Bridge Street, opposite O Connor Square. This end of the street is regarded as the prime retail pitch in Tullamore.'' The opening day for a fantastic new community cafe Offaly will be announced soon. An update for the new cafe from the Moneygall Village page on Facebook shared photographs of the incredible progress and said that an opening day would be announced soon. Moneygall Village commended the excellent work of Moneygall Construction Shop Fitting LTD for the transformation and fit out. It also noted the work of so many volunteers to get it to this stage. The group noted the project had huge support from Offaly Local Development Company, Clann Credo - Community Loan Finance, Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board Laois and Offaly ETB Community Education It added that the community and surrounding areas of Moneygall once again stepped up to support the fundraising and enabled this project to move from an idea in the Community Development Plan 'Moneygall 2025' to another social enterprise for the benefit for all the community. 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. President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Arif Alvi has 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: To His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, It gives me great pleasure to convey my best wishes on the occasion of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan. Over the last thirty years the fraternal bonds between our two countries have strengthened based on our deepening multi-sectoral cooperation particularly in economy and trade, culture, education as well as defense. Pakistan proudly stood by Azerbaijan during testing times and will continue to offer its steadfast support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. I would also like to congratulate the people of Azerbaijan as they commemorate the Year of Heydar Aliyev paying tribute to the extraordinary legacy of the National Leader of Azerbaijan, whose vision and hard work put Azerbaijan on the path of success and prosperity. I look forward to working with you to further expand our bilateral cooperation for the betterment of the people of two countries. I pray for your personal health and happiness, and for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Azerbaijan. Please, accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Arif Alvi President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan News / Local by Staff reporter RULING Zanu-PF's security chief, Lovemore Matuke this week rebuffed reports that he has directed party organs to disband WhatsApp groups, which officials have claimed were dividing the party, but provincial leaders insisted that the directive to close them had come from above.'The social media crackdown, which came into force last weekend, was meant to help Zanu-PF heal following divisive primary polls in March, which ended with some losing candidates rebelling.Last week, the Zimbabwe Independent reported that a Zanu-PF supporter' was killed at a polling station in Mutoko.It was a rare case of interparty violence for the party, which has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. Zanu-PF emerged bruised from the internal poll that was held in March with the party leadership being forced to order re-runs in some constituencies and wards that witnessed violence among warring supporters.But Zanu-PF faces arch rivals, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in crunch polls expected in August, forcing its leaders to heal fissures among the party faithful.The party has also sent senior politburo members to some provinces in a bid to quash the turmoil.Meanwhile, strongly worded statements issued to party members by provincial spokespersons said the gag was with immediate effect. Those defying the order were threatened with unspecified action.In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent, Zanu-PF national secretary for security Lovemore Matuke said he never issued the directives."Those reports are false," Matuke said this week."We are not aware of such a directive or even a recommendation from my department."However, the Zanu-PF national security department last week directed provinces to disband WhatsApp platforms.But sources within the party shrugged off the directive saying Zanu-PF leaders could not monitor the activities of members in other WhatsApp groups.According to a statement issued by Nigel Murambiwa, Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial secretary for information and publicity last weekend, the directive was with immediate effect."The department of information would like to advise all members, cadres, comrades and all affiliates organisations that an instruction has been issued by the security department to dissolve or delete all WhatsApp groups that talk or have links with the party Zanu-PF with immediate effect," Murambiwa said."However, constituencies are allowed to formulate, manage and organise one group incorporating every party member. All secretaries for information from all organs are, therefore, empowered to monitor activities of the groups in constituencies."He added: "Group administrators who are going to defy this order shall be treated as divisive and will face the wrath of the law without fear or favour. The deadline to comply is effectively immediate".A similar statement issued in Manicaland was also seen by the Independent.Zanu-PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa did not respond to inquiries on the ban.But Murambiwa said the directive was important to stop "rowdy groups" from sending out damaging statements about the ruling party."We did not just ban WhatsApp groups," he said."There are rowdy groups that were formed prior to our internal primary elections and some of the losing candidates and disgruntled supporters of losing candidates are posting denigrating messages that seek to divide or put the name of the party into disrepute. Those are the ones we ordered our members to take down."Social media platforms have given this year's polls a new complexion.Zanu-PF and the CCC have created a battlefield on social media where supporters fight each other to defend their party policies and ideologies.The platforms have also been used to poke holes in the parties' programmes and projects. Early this year, CCC supporters were alleged to have hijacked Zanu-PF constituency WhatsApp groups to campaign for their leader, Nelson Chamisa.Zanu-PF was forced to abandon some of its WhatsApp groups, fearing infiltration by the opposition.President Emmerson Mnangagwa's campaign teams had created several WhatsApp groups after obtaining voters' mobile numbers to canvas for votes.However, CCC members were said to have joined Zanu-PF WhatsApp groups, which were opened to all registered voters, and started campaigning for Chamisa.Zanu-PF is currently battling divisions and internal fights, which forced Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavima last week to flee an angry mob that was protesting against alleged rigging of the ruling party's primary elections in Gokwe-Chireya constituency.Zanu-PF youth league secretary Tino Machakaire on Saturday last week also pleaded with feuding party factions to unite ahead of the elections. Machakaire visited Mashonaland West and Midlands provinces as allegations of party members de-campaigning aspiring candidates across the country emerged. He was accompanied by his deputy John Paradza despite recent reports of bad blood between the two. 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. A GARDA from Offaly has been awarded a silver Scott Medal for bravery after taking on a man armed with a machine gun in Dublin four years ago. Detective Garda Niall Minnock, Cappincur, received his medal from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at a special ceremony at Walter Scott House, Military Road, Dublin on Friday morning. The two gardai who were with him in Ballymun on March 11, 2019 in Ballymun, Sergeant Andrew OConnor and Garda Conor Garland were also awarded silver Scott medals. They had responded to a call about an armed man in the vicinity of shops in Poppintree, Ballymun. On arrival at the scene the guards saw a male running with what appeared to be a black sub machine gun in his hand. He into a private house followed by the three gardai. He then ran into the bathroom of the house and as the gardai followed a number of shots were discharged from the bathroom. The gardai tackled him in the bathroom and the firearm was safely recovered. The guards then observed what appeared to be a grenade on the floor of the bathroom. After they arrested the man an Irish Defence Forces bomb disposal unit arrived to examine the grenade and a controlled explosion was conducted. In July 2020 Detective Garda Minnock, who is well known in Offaly GAA circles both as a player and administrator with Cappincur, received a bravery award from the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Speaking to the Tullamore Tribune at the time he said it was just fluke that neither he nor the other gardai all three of whom were unarmed - were hit when the man shot at them from the bathroom. We tried to talk to him and talk him down and then he lifted the machine gun in our direction and let off shots and we jumped on top of him as he was firing and disarmed him then. We pushed him towards the bathtub and into the bathtub and sat on top of him and held him there until more guards came. Detective Garda Minnock said he was frightened by the incident but added: It's just one of them things I suppose. You don't really dwell on what could possibly happen and what you don't expect to happen. At the time you just react and you can think about what happened after. We were definitely lucky. Garda Minnock said the man who fired the shots, Derek Devoy, was well known to gardai and residents of the Ballymun area. He was prosecuted and the Special Criminal Court heard his gun went off while a primed grenade was on the floor in the house at Crannogue Road, Ballymun on March 11 last year. Garda Minnock narrowly avoided being shot in the head when a bullet passed his eye-line in the hallway of the extension where the bathroom was located. A shell casing struck Garda Minnock and the court was told the Offaly man was lucky not to be two steps forward when Mr Devoy opened fire. When Garda Minnock and his colleagues subdued the man they saw a grenade on the ground with its pin out and fly-lever not attached. It was detonated afterwards in a controlled explosion. The gunman, aged 37, was armed with a Makarov sub-machine gun and a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade. He pleaded guilty to possession of the gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury and to assaulting gardai. Mr Devoy's father died when the man was eight, his sister was killed when an attempt was made on his own life and his older brother had been murdered in 2014. Eight other Scott medals were presented on Friday morning, including a gold medal awarded posthumously to Inspector Samuel Donegan who was killed in 1972 in Legakelly, Cavan when a device he was inspecting exploded. Army, Air Force conduct joint war drills on border along Rajasthan, Punjab India oi-Sanjeev Nayak Indian Army and Air Force (IAF) completed a 4-day joint war exercise along the western borders of the country covering areas of neighbouring States of Rajasthan and Punjab on Wednesday. Army's Shatrujeet Brigade and the Western Command prominently took part in the exercise christened as 'Sudarshan Shakti' which was designed to validate operational plans in a network-centric environment, Army officials said. The joint exercise was carried out to deploy paratroopers with new generation weapon systems in support of mechanised forces deep inside enemy territory to facilitate and enhance the operational reach of their own forces, they explained. The elements of combat power and support & logistic support were exercised in a synergised application under all domains of enemy threat including Grey Zone Warfare as part of high tempo operations. Integrated use of force multipliers like special forces and deployment of niche technologies covering drones, tethered drones, loiter ammunition as well as key aspects of electronic warfare, thus making it a unique event in its scope and objectives. The movement and application of large forces earmarked from outside the theatre was also validated. Exemplary training standards and high morale was displayed by the participating troops despite soaring temperatures, the officers added. C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster and AN-32 aircrafts were used to insert troops and specialised equipment into designated areas in the obstacle-ridden terrain with clinical precision, an official statement said. "The exercise was carried out in realistic tactical settings and showcased the speed, agility and lethality of the paratroopers to induct into a hostile environment, secure dropping zones, and engage the enemy with surprise, precision and speed," it said. "A high level of operational preparedness and synergy was displayed between Western Command, strategic forces and the Indian Air Force to undertake integrated operations in an obstacle-ridden terrain," it added. Meanwhile, the Sapta Shakti Command of Indian Army also carried out a warfare study using advanced technologies during the drills wherein combat power, combat support and logistic support were studied covering key aspects of electronic warfare with special forces, drones and ammunition. This battle study fulfills the stated objectives of the five pillars of transformation announced by Army Chief General Manoj Pandey in January this year. South Western Command's GOC-in-C Lt. General B.S. Raju and Western Air Command's Air Officer C-in-C Air Marshal P.M. Sinha were present during the war drills. The partnership of the the Army and the Air Force is an excellent example of jointness and interoperability between the two forces during various operational scenarios. The successful completion of 'Sudarshan Shakti' demonstrates the commitment of the South Western Command and its allied units to a high level of operational readiness and capability to meet future challenges. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 12:52 [IST] Arvind Kejriwal Seeks Time To Meet Kharge Over Centre's Ordinance India oi-Deepika S Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi seeking their support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. "Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted. On May 19, the Centre promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance 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. It seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Must Bring Non-BJP Parties Together: Pawar Extends Support To Kejriwal Against Centres Ordinance Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 top court verdict. Chief Minister Kejriwal has announced a nationwide tour to meet leaders of different parties to seek support against the Centre's Ordinance brought in to subvert the top court's order giving his government control over the bureaucracy in the national capital. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 12:40 [IST] News / National by Staff reporter The row over the rightful heir to the Ndebele kingdom took a new twist with the King Lobengula Royal Trust declaring that the throne and they will soon announce the rightful king.This is despite the emergence of some individuals who have claimed they are the rightful heirs to the vacant throne.Lobengula was the last Ndebele king after a British Pioneer Column led by Cecil John Rhodes destroyed the Kingdom in 1893.Recently, South Africa-based Bulelani Collins Khumalo claimed to be the legitimate heir to the throne and was crowned at a private place in Bulawayo after the government blocked his "coronation" that was supposed to take place at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo in 2018.Stanley Raphael Tshuma who calls himself King Mzilikazi II has also laid claim to the throne together with Peter Zwide Kalanga Khumalo who proclaimed himself King Nyamande Lobengula II.Addressing the press, Thursday, family spokesperson Nkosinathi Ndiweni said they are yet to install a new king."The King Lobengula family and the Royal Trust state categorically that the Ndebele nation has no king at the moment. No one has been coronated or installed in a customary manner. The mandated Crown family, King Lobengula house, was to identify within itself the heir to the throne. This is in line with what happens in all Nguni nations that the Crown House identifies the successor to the king," he saidNdiweni said the King Lobengula family distanced itself from all the false claims' that have been made by individuals or supporters of individuals claiming to be the heirs to the Ndebele throne."There have been many people coming out in public or secretly claiming to be heirs to the Ndebele throne and/or kings. Others have been misled by Khumalos outside King Lobengula's family and told that they are the rightful heirs to the throne. The family regrets and apologies for the confusion all this has caused to the Ndebele nation who own and cherish the Monarch Institution," he said.Ndiweni said they embarked on a rigorous' identification process which met the royal blood lineage, health and moral requirements and spiritual rituals."It will be the chiefs who will publicise the name of the identified King Lobengula's House, Inkosana and arrange for the coronation at the appropriate time. They will ensure that the laws of the country regarding the matter of Kingship and custodianship of the culture are adhered to strictly," he said.Local government minister July Moyo is on record declaring that there are no provisions for a king in the constitution.Traditional leaders fall under his ministry and the Zanu-PF government has often been accused by its opponents of using the chiefs for political gains. War Of Words Over Sengol Escalate As Inauguration Of New Parliament Nears What Transpired At The Closed Door Meetings Held By Amit Shah In Manipur Congress Reduced 'Sengol' To Walking Stick: Amit Shah Amid Parliament Row India oi-Deepika S Amid the snowballing row over the new Parliament building, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the Congress, accusing it of reducing the ancient sceptre 'Sengol' to a walking stick. Several top BJP leaders have also launched fresh attacks on the Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC and AAP for their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick," Shah wrote on Twitter. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling Adheenam's history BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," he added. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 Shah's statement comes after Congress claimed that there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the 'Sengol' as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh shared a descriptive Twitter message to note that the claims circulating about 'Sengol' are typically false narratives. New Parliament Building Inauguration: Check Opening Date, Time and Other Details Inside "Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from WhatsApp University? The BJP-RSS Distorians stand exposed yet again with maximum claims, minimum evidence," tweeted Ramesh. "There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- BOGUS," he added. "Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," he further said. History will repeat itself on Sunday when the new Parliament House will be dedicated to the nation. PM Modi will receive the sacred symbol of fair and equitable governance, Sengol and install it in the new Parliament House. This is the same Sengol that was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of 14th August, in the presence of several leaders. No custom duty on import of drugs for all rare diseases Assam Mosque Committee Not to Allow Burial Of Those Who Died Due To Consumption Of Drugs Drugs Worth Rs 2,525 Crore Seized: It Is Indias Operation Samudragupta Vs Haji Salim India oi-Vicky Nanjappa On May 13, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Zubair Derakshshandeh, a Pakistani national on the charge that he supplied drugs to several countries as a member of the Haji Salim gang. In a joint operation the NCB and Indian Navy arrested him in the international waters, off the coast of Kochi. Zubair was caught with 132 bags of suspected contraband, weight 2,525 kilograms. The agencies learnt that the haul contained "high-purity methamphetamine" worth Rs 2,500 crore. The NCB said that the methamphetamine was of the most superior quality they had come across in the illegal drug market. The probe has found that a large vessel carrying the contraband had set out from the Iranian border. It was waiting for smaller boats to collect the drugs, following which the boats would sail into international waters. According to investigations, Zubair is a resident of Balochistan and worked for a businessman, who had several ships and boats. The businessman is a close associates of Haji Salim who is high on the radar of Indian agencies. He is said to have replaced Dawood Ibrahim as the prime drug lord doing business in India and other countries. Salim hails from Pakistan's Pansi and he last known location is Karachi officials added. Has Haji Salim Replaced Dawood Ibrahim As The New Drug Lord In Pakistan? Salim has been the main supplier of drugs to India since 2015. All the major drug busts in India since the 2016 have had a Haji Salim stamp on it. Salim started off by handling the drug trade on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. However in recent years, he has expanded operations internationally. Salim has extensively used the sea routes to traffic drugs. The NCB learnt about Salim after information was passed on by the National Security Council Secretariat. Salim's name came up extensively after the Indian agencies launched 'Operation Samudragupta'to stop drug smuggling from Afghanistan and Pakistan. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 15:11 [IST] Inauguration Of New Parliament Building And What An Opportunity The Opposition Missed Filled With Humility And Gratitude; Will Keep Working Harder: PM Modi On Govt Completing 9 Years First Look Of New Parliament Building Set To Be Inaugurated On May 28 | WATCH India oi-Madhuri Adnal The government Friday released a video of the new Parliament building which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new complex which is in triangular shape has been built next to the existing complex and will be almost equal to the former one. The triangular-shaped four-storey Parliament building has a built-up area of 64,500 sq m. The building has three main gates -- Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. The present building of the Parliament was completed in 1927, and is now 96 years old. The new Parliament building, constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, will have a grand constitution hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space. #WATCH | Delhi: First look at the New Parliament building that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.#NewParliamentBuilding pic.twitter.com/ouZoz6dLgu ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Should Be A Limit To Politics: Jaishankar On Opposition Boycott Of New Parliament Launch The existing building served as independent India's first Parliament and witnessed the adoption of the Constitution. Originally called the Council House, the building housed the Imperial Legislative Council. The Parliament building witnessed the addition of two floors in 1956 to address the demand for more space. In 2006, the Parliament Museum was added to showcase the 2,500 years of rich democratic heritage of India. Officials said the present building was never designed to accommodate a bicameral legislature and the seating arrangements were cramped and cumbersome, with no desks beyond the second row. The Central Hall has seating capacity only for 440 persons and the need for more space was acutely felt during Joint sittings of both the Houses. He Should Return As Prime Minister In 2024: Madurai Priest Who Will Present Sengol To PM Modi India oi-Prakash KL Narendra Modi should return as the Prime Minister of India again in 2024, said the head priest of Madurai Adheenam Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal, who will be presenting the 'Sengol' to the PM during the inauguration of the new parliament building on Sunday. "PM Modi is a leader who got global appreciation. He is doing good things for people. Again in 2024 he has to become PM and should guide people. We are all so proud as world leaders are appreciating our PM Modi," ANI quoted him as saying. "I will be meeting PM Modi and presenting the 'Sengol' to him on the inauguration of the new Parliament building," he claimed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28, marking a significant milestone in the redevelopment of Central Vista. The 'Sengol' will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building between 8.30 and 9.00 am. OPINION: Sengol - From Eyesore To Cynosure There will be a prayer meeting at 9-9.30 am. Many great scholars, pundits and saints, including Shankaracharya, will be present in this prayer meeting. The same spectre will be handed over to PM Modi by the head priest of Madurai Adheenam on May 28. "We're the makers of the 'Sengol'. It took us a month's time to make it. It is made of silver and gold plated. I was 14 years at that time...we're grateful to PM Modi," Vummidi Sudhakar, chairman of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers which made historic sceptre 'Sengol', told the news agency. The first Prime Minister of India was presented 'Sengol' at his residence on the night of August 14. This represents the symbol of the transfer of power from the Britishers to India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recalled the incident and said, "Even after 75 years of independence, most of the people in India are not aware of this event in which India's transfer of power took place through handing over of 'Sengol' to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It was a special occasion on the night of August 14, 1947, celebrating India's independence. On this night Jawaharlal Nehru received the 'Sengol' from the Adheenams (Priests) of the ThiruvaduthuraiAdheenam (Mutt) 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. What we are celebrating as independence is actually marked by the very moment of handing over the 'Sengol'." The History of the Sengol: Explained PM Modi took a decision to adopt the 'Sengol' as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal, Shah said. He claimed that the new building of Parliament will witness the same event, with Adheenam(Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the 'Sengol'. "The 'Sengol' is profound in meaning, which is derived from the Tamil word 'Semmai', meaning "Righteousness". It is blessed by the high priests of a leading Dharmic Mutt in Tamil Nadu. The Nandi, with its unyielding gaze as the beholder of 'Nyaya', is hand-carved at the top. Most importantly, the recipient of the 'Sengol' has the "order" ('Aanai' in Tamil) to rule justly and fairly. This is what is most appealing, for those elected to serve the people must never forget this," he added. Two More Cheetah Cubs Die In Kuno National Park, Only One Alive Health Condition Of Fourth Cheetah Cub In Kuno Park Stable: Official India oi-PTI The health condition of the fourth and the last surviving cheetah cub at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, which witnessed the death of its three other siblings earlier this week, is stable, an official said on Friday. India's ambitious cheetah population revival program suffered a setback after three India-born cheetah cubs died at the KNP this week. 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 fourth cub's condition is stable. But it is very difficult to tell about the survival of any (ailing) animal. We are trying hard...," KNP director Uttam Sharma told PTI in response to a query. Another forest department official blamed the sweltering heat for the death of this cub's three siblings on Tuesday. Two More Cheetah Cubs Die In Kuno National Park, Only One Alive When the three cubs died on May 23, the mercury was above 45 degrees Celsius, he said, adding that the cubs were born during the hostile time of the year in terms of temperature. In Namibia, cheetahs give birth to their offspring at the onset of the rainy season, which is followed by winter there. But Jwala gave birth to the four cubs at the KNP at the onset of summer, he said. Right now, the weather at the KNP is pleasant due to overnight rains, he added. One of the four cub's death was reported in the park on May 23. The two other cubs also died on the same day, on Tuesday afternoon, but their deaths were reported only on Thursday. An official release issued on Thursday said that after the death of the first 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. 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 cubs were found severely dehydrated. Despite treatment, the two cubs could not be saved, it said. Apart from the three cheetah cubs, three of the 20 adult cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia have died at the KNP, casting aspersion on the fate of the much-hyped large carnivorous revival programme. 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 Korea district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. None Of The Officials Have Any Cheetah Management Experience: Centre To SC 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 15:05 [IST] Inauguration Of New Parliament Building And What An Opportunity The Opposition Missed Historic Sceptre 'Sengol' Moved To Delhi Ahead Of Inauguration Of New Parliament Building India oi-Prakash KL Ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament building, the golden 'Sengol', which was kept in Allahabad Museum, has been moved to Delhi. The whole collection of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has been kept in Allahabad Museum and 'Sengol' was transferred to the National Museum last year, Waman Wankhede, Curator of the Allahabad Museum, told ANI. 'Sengol' will be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. "The foundation stone of this museum was also laid by former PM Nehru. He donated more than 1200 materials to Allahabad Museum, under then-curator SC Kala. Nehru wanted his whole collection to be kept here only. Along with all the things, this golden stick was also kept in the collection," ANI quoted Wankhede as saying. Meet The Woman Who Brought The 'Sengol' To PMO's Notice "It (Sengol) is a 162 cm long stick with gold polish. It was transferred to the national museum on November 4, 2022," he added. 'Sengol' is the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India. This is the same 'Sengol' that was accepted by Nehru at his residence on the night of 14th August, 1947, from the Adheenams (Priests) of the ThiruvaduthuraiAdheenam (Mutt) in Tamil Nadu. In the new Parliament House, it will be placed prominently close to the Speaker's podium. On the other hand, Twenty opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, have come together and announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new building by the Prime Minister. They want President Draupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building. They have also come down heavily on the BJP for not inviting her for the event. As the war of words continue between the ruling and Opposition parties, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the grand old party saying that 'Sengol' was reduced to a walking stick by Congress. OPINION: Sengol - From Eyesore To Cynosure "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick," Shah wrote on Twitter. "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom. Congress is calling Adheenam's history BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," he added. However, 25 other parties will be attending the inauguration of the new Parliament House. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 12:58 [IST] With Eye On 2024 Polls, PM Modi Holds Meeting With CMs Of BJP-Ruled States Inauguration Of New Parliament Building And What An Opportunity The Opposition Missed Filled With Humility And Gratitude; Will Keep Working Harder: PM Modi On Govt Completing 9 Years SCO Summit Under Indias Chairmanship On July 4; PM Modi To Chair The Meet How The New Parliament Building Differs From Old Sansad Bhavan India oi-Deepika S Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday, nearly a century after the existing one was established. The magnificent four-storey structure, built at a cost of Rs 862 crore, embraces the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The old Sansad Bhavan served as independent India's first Parliament and witnessed the adoption of the Constitution of India. It is a colonial-era building designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, which took six years to construct (1921-1927). Originally called the Council House, the building housed the Imperial Legislative Council. The Parliament Building witnessed the addition of two floors in 1956 to address the demand for more space. OPINION: Sengol - From Eyesore To Cynosure In 2006, the Parliament Museum was added to showcase the 2,500 years of rich democratic heritage of India. The building had to be modified to a large extent to suit the purpose of a modern Parliament. Amid the row over who should inaugurate the new building, here are the major differences between the to-be-inaugurated and already existing Parliaments. The design The new Parliament building, which reflects the aspirations of 140 crore Indians is built at an area of around 65,000 sqmt. Its triangular shape assures optimum space utilisation. The magnificent four-storey building is triangular in shape. Seating capacity The new Parliament will accommodate 888 seats while the Rajya Sabha will also be able to house 384 parliamentarians. The existing building has a strength of 552 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha 284. No Central hall Notably, the new Parliament building will not feature a Central Hall. Instead, it houses a state-of-the-art constitutional hall, symbolically placing citizens at the heart of our democracy. Earthquake proof Unlike the old Parliament House, the new structure will be reinforced to withstand strong shocks in Zone 5, ensuring the safety of the occupants. To Mark New Parliament Launch, Centre To Mint Rs 75 Coin Peacock and Lotus Flower Theme Lok Sabha has been designed on the theme of the national bird Peacock, the chamber of the Rajya Sabha symbolises the national flower, Lotus. Large spaces The new Parliament building will have big offices that are designed to be secure and equipped with the latest communication technology. It will also have large committee rooms, and purpose-designed spaces to facilitate and deliver higher efficiency. The Central Lounge The Central Lounge is being created to complement the open courtyard. The open courtyard will have the national tree, the Banyan tree. Divyang friendly The new Parliament building is accessible to people with disabilities. Divyangs will be able to move around freely and independently. Naxal attack: Intel was general in nature, may have not been actionable Why do naxalites up their offensive during the summers Assessing the Chhattisgarh attack and the four motives of the naxalites In Search Of Lost Mobile, Man Empties 21 Lakh Litres Of Water From Dam India oi-Prakash KL In a strange incident, a government official took the daunting task of pumping out water from a dam to get his mobile dropped into the deep waters. The incident was reported in Chhattisgarh. Rs 1 lakh worth cellphone accidentally fell into the Kherkatta Dam when a government official named Rajesh Vishwas, a food officer in the Koilibeda block of Kanker district, was having a great time with his family, according to a report in NDTV. The locals jumped into the water to find the smartphone, but could not locate it. Then, the officer brought two 30hp diesel pumps to drain out the water and ran it non-stop for three days. The report claims that they emptied 21 lakh litres of water which could irrigate 1,500 acres of farmland, to find his mobile phone that had fallen into an overflow area with 15 feet deep water. However, the process was halted after an official from the irrigation and water resource department rushed to the spot following a complaint. In #Chhattisgarh, an officer's I-phone fell into a dam reservoir. Two pumps of 30 horsepower, ran 24 hrs, and pumped out-hold your breath- 21 lakh litres of #water, this water could have irrigated 1,500 acres of land, & this is when "there is severe shortage of water i the area ! pic.twitter.com/vBSol7EafS Ramandeep Singh Mann (@ramanmann1974) May 26, 2023 By then, six feet deep water has been drained out. Rajesh Vishwas claimed that the phone dropped into the water when taking a selfie and he wanted the mobile at any cost as it contained government information. Although he got his phone back, it is not working. "I went to the dam on Sunday with a few friends to take a bath there on my off day. My phone slipped into the overflow tankers, whose water is not usable. It was 10 feet deep. Locals tried to find it but failed. They told me they can surely find it if the water was two-three feet shallower. I called the SDO and requested him to allow me to drain some water into the nearby canal if there was no problem in doing so. He said it was not an issue if three-four feet deep water was drained, and would in fact benefit the farmers who would have more water. That's why I got help from locals to drain around three feet of water and got my phone back," the website quoted Vishwas as saying. The official from the irrigation and water resource department admitted that Vishwas was given permission but only to drain water up to five feet. Responding to the incident, state Cabinet Minister Amarajeet Bhagat said that he was not aware of the incident and would take appropriate action based on the facts. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 16:57 [IST] I-T survey on BBC offices: 'One day there will be no media in India', Mamata Banerjee compares BJP to Hitler BBC should make sure to caught with rules, regulations: British MP on I-T surveys IT Raids At Locations Linked To TN Minister Senthil Balaji; DMK Workers Clash With Officials India oi-Prakash KL The Income Tax department on Friday carried out raids at around 40 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to the State Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji, ANI reported citing sources. The coordinated searches across different locations are being held in cities including Karur and Coimbatore, at the premises of individuals allegedly linked to the minister. The premises of his close relatives and some contractors have reportedly come under scanner, according to a report in PTI. #WATCH | IT raids across Tamil Nadu in around 40 locations at various Government contractors' residences and offices who have alleged connection with Minister Senthil Balaji. Raids are currently underway in Chennai, Karur and other places. More details awaited: Sources (Visuals pic.twitter.com/vSM3gYYxiQ ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Balaji is a senior DMK leader from Karur and he holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. #WATCH | Clash breaks out between DMK workers and IT officials, who came to search the premises of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji's brother Ashok, in Karur district. pic.twitter.com/D07qHz86c3 ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Meanwhile, a clash broke out between the DMK workers and IT officials, who came to search the premises of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji's brother Ashok, in Karur district, the visuals shared by ANI showed. On the other hand, BJP TN Chief Annamalai slammed the DMK and tweeted, "IT officials manhandled, vehicles vandalised by DMK goons in support of Cash for Job Scam Minister Senthil Balaji & his brother. TN CM Thiru @mkstalin should instruct his partymen to behave responsibly & remind them that we don't live in the 60s." However, the development comes at a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin is on an official foreign trip. He embarked on a nine-day tour of Singapore and Japan with the aim of attracting more investments to the state. "The key motive of this visit (to Singapore and Japan) is to extend the invitation (to investors) for the 2024 Global Investors Meet," the Chief Minister said. It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu CM had visited Dubai last year and signed pacts with six investors to the tune of Rs 6,100 crore that would ensure 15,100 job opportunities. However, the AIADMK has slammed Stalin and said that he went on a "pleasure trip." What happens to the Kohinoor diamond now that the Queen is no more 'Kohinoor' On Display At Tower Of London As A 'Symbol Of Conquest' India oi-Sanjeev Nayak The famous Kohinoor diamond, which was taken away from India during British rule, has gone on display as a ''symbol of conquest'' with a new exhibition at the Tower of London beginning Friday. Kohinoor came into the possession of Queen Victoria of England from the Sikh empire's treasury several years before she became the empress of India. Kohinoor or Koh-i-Noor, a Parsian word meaning 'Mountain of Light', is the largest cut diamond in the world, weighing 105.6 carats or 21.12 gram. It forms part of the new Jewel House exhibition at the tourist attraction and is accompanied by a video which charts the diamond's journey around the globe. The exhibition aims at setting to try and contextualise its turbulent colonial history in a "transparent, balanced and inclusive" way, as perceived by the British. The attached labels for specific royal ornaments the Kohinoor has adorned over the years further explain the history of one of the most precious piece of stone in known history of human civilisation. Since its arrival in the United Kingdom, it has only been worn by female members of the British royal family. Queen Victoria wore the stone in a brooch and a circlet. After she died in 1901, it was set in the crown of Queen Alexandra. It was transferred to the crown of Queen Mary in 1911, and finally to the crown of Queen Elizabeth in 1937 for her coronation. ''The new exhibition explores the origins of a number of items in the collection, including the Koh-i-Noor," said a spokesperson for the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the charity that manages Britain's palaces. ''It references its long history as a symbol of conquest, which has passed through the hands of Mughal Emperors, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas. We conducted extensive audience research before putting together this display, as well as consulting local community groups and specialist academics, which has informed our approach throughout and shaped our presentation of the Koh-i-Noor's story," the spokesperson said. Among the labelling to be used, the diamond will be described as a "Symbol of Conquest", to note that it has had many previous owners, including Mughal Emperors, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas. ''The 1849 Treaty of Lahore compelled 10-year-old Maharaja Duleep Singh to surrender it to Queen Victoria, along with control of the Punjab. Why Queen Camilla will not wear the Kohinoor diamond for her coronation An Armlet dating back to 1830 has the label: "Queen Victoria received the Koh-i-Noor diamond in 1850, set in this enamelled armlet. Now set with replicas, the central stone shows the Koh-i-Noor's earlier Mughal cut. It was re-cut in 1852 to improve its sparkle and conform to European tastes." With Queen Alexandra's Crown of 1902, the label reads: "The Koh-i-Noor, sometimes considered lucky, developed a reputation for bringing bad luck to men who wore it. From 1902 it was set in the crowns of several Queens consort, beginning with Queen Alexandra's crown, now set with replicas. The Koh-i-Noor is currently set in Queen Elizabeth's crown.'' The exhibition, which runs until November, has been conceived as a special display of all the jewels that have returned to the Tower of London after their use during the historic Coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. In a diplomatic move, however, Camilla had conspicuously chosen not to be crowned queen using the Kohinoor as per royal tradition. ''Following the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, we are delighted to unveil our new Jewel House exhibition, which explores the history of this magnificent collection in more detail than ever before," said Andrew Jackson, Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel House. ''The crown jewels are the most powerful symbols of the British monarchy and hold deep religious, historic and cultural significance. From their origins to their use during the coronation ceremony, the new Jewel House transformation will present the rich history of this magnificent collection with more depth and detail than ever before," added Charles Farris, Public Historian for the History of the Monarchy at Historic Royal Palaces. Alongside the exhibition, imagery from the coronation on May 6 will feature in a new 'Crown and Coronation' display which will later tour the UK. The crown jewels have been kept at the Tower of London since 1661, continuing a tradition of protecting precious objects at the historic fortress. (With inputs from agencies) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 16:37 [IST] News / National by Staff reporter The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) Youth League has threatened to close all borders and airports before the August elections in order to combat gold smuggling, which the party claims is carried out by individuals linked to Zanu-PF.This call comes after MRP stated that action was needed to stop gold smuggling, as seen in the four-part Al Jazeera documentary, The Gold Mafia, which sparked outrage in the country by revealing how large amounts of gold are smuggled clandestinely from Zimbabwe every month, assisting money laundering through an intricate network of shell businesses, fake invoices, and paid-off officials, some linked to the government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Speaking at an MRP star rally held in Lobengula Hall in Bulawayo on Thursday, Mudenda Chilumbo, Chairperson of the MRP Youth League, said an uprising was needed to stop resource plundering and maladministration that was prevalent under the Zanu-PF regime."We have the borders at Plumtree, Beitbridge and Kazungula plus airports that are the Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo and the Victoria Falls International Airport, we will take them to a halt. No plane will fly from Joshua Mqabuko or Victoria Falls International airports. No haulage trucks will also move out of the border. This is the only way to stop this nonsense," he said, referring to these as avenues in which gold was smuggled out of the country.Chilumbo said MRP youth were "prepared to die for this country and would not allow looting to continue.""We have doctors, nurses and teachers who are suffering yet there are gold smugglers. It is our duty to stop that nonsense. Let us restore the spirit of the liberation struggle," said the youth league chairperson.He claimed that an "uprising" was the only solution to Zimbabwe's crisis, drastic as it sounded."The United Nations gives people the right to revolt and we want an uprising because there is no other solution than a revolution. All airports must close down. We can't continue respecting Mnangagwa. Treason is a small issue. Mnangagwa is not going to stop a revolution, the revolution noise is louder than the sound of an AK," Chlumbo said."We are calling on youth from these various places that house these borders to support our call. Youth in Beitbridge must close the border there while we here in Bulawayo meet at the airport."Chilumbo said there is a difference between a political party and a revolutionary movement, of which MRP was the latter."We have value and ethics while others are concerned about smuggling gold. We have to deal with the saga of gold smuggling before elections," he said, noting people must know what MRP was demanding, adding he spoke "with clarity and conviction."He further suggested that Zimbabwe could hold elections without President Mnangagwa, implying that MRP would have removed' him."Mnangagwa went to Britain for the coronation of King Charles yet he has denied the revival of the Ndebele monarch but together with Britain have celebrated the dethronement of the Ndebele kingdom," said the youth league chair."They arrested nine of our members for inciting violence but what incites violence more betwen gold smuggling and those fighting for their rights. That's nonsense! Some will say I am making treasonous statements but we have (the late veteran) Lookout Masuku who was charged for treason under false pretences. What is treason compared to death? We are demanding independence, not elections that are a project of a colonial white system."Chilumbo also claimed holding national elections was pointless because the voting processes were already skewed in favour of Zanu-PF."Why hold elections when Mnangagwa has won? The liberation struggle was for one man one vote but here the elections have been rigged by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission," he alleged.The MRP youth league chair further alleged leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa "has no zeal to take over after Mnangagwa.""Chamisa has a cluster of useless lawyers and some politicians from Matabeleland have also been useless Professor Jonathan Moyo, Professor Mthuli Ncube, Professor Welshman Ncube and Dr Thojozani Khupe. We need your support and we say 'forward to the uprising.'" Meet The Woman Who Brought The 'Sengol' To PMO's Notice India oi-Prakash KL On Sunday, history will once again unfold as the nation dedicates the new Parliament House. On this special occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the sacred symbol of fair and equitable governance, 'Sengol' and install it in the new Parliament House. '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. It has to be noted that it was the same 'Sengol' that was accepted by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, from the Adheenams (Priests) of the ThiruvaduthuraiAdheenam (Mutt) in Tamil Nadu on August 14, 1947. However, this historical piece of information was not known by many till it a few days ago. In fact, not many are aware of the fact that it was classical dancer Dr Padma Subrahmanyam who brought it to the notice of the Prime Minister's Office in 2021. SC To Hear Plea Seeking Inauguration Of New Parliament Building By President Today "I am the one who has been writing a history of culture, I didn't know about the 'Sengol' episode in our history because no textbook has any reference to it. I thought 'Sengol' has to be publicised. So I translated the entire Tughlaq article into English and wrote a covering letter to the Prime Minister stating that the 'Sengol' must be brought out from wherever it is and wide publicity should be given during the 75th year of the celebration of freedom. This is how the whole thing started," ANI quoted her as saying in an interview. Though she had written an e-mail to the PMO, Subrahmanyam did not any response from his office. "I did not get any reply immediately. I thought it went unnoticed but this came as a big surprise to me. I felt elated that 'Sengol' is going to be placed in the new Parliament House. It's such a moment of pride for every Indian," she said. "Anyone who has studied Tamil Literature will know about 'Sengol'. It has been a tradition in many parts of India. 'Sengol' is a symbol of the transfer of power. I feel elated that it's not just a part of the 75th year, but it is going to be permanently placed in the building of our pride. Feel elated 'Sengol' will be placed in the building of India's secular government. It will be there symbolising justice," she added. How The New Parliament Building Differs From Old Sansad Bhavan The head priest of Madurai Adheenam Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal will be presenting the 'Sengol' to the Prime Minister during the inauguration of the new Parliament building. At monsoon's fag end, why is there so much rain in Delhi-NCR now? Monsoon Likely To Be Normal This Year: IMD India oi-Prakash KL The monsoon is likely to be normal this year and expected to arrive in Kerala on June 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on 26 May. "Once the monsoon will get established strong, we are expecting the monsoon to arrive in Kerala around 4th June. Before 1st June, we are not expecting monsoon to arrive. Monsoon most likely to be normal this year," ANI quoted the IMD in a tweet. The weather-monitoring agency stated that there is no cyclone probability in the Arabian sea for next week. "If rainfall distribution is almost similar everywhere, then it will be an ideal situation. There won't be any problem. If we get equal distribution everywhere, there won't be much impact on agriculture. In northwest India, as of now, below-normal rainfall will be there," the IMD stated. It has to be noted that the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021, June 1 in 2020, June 8 in 2019 and May 29 in 2018. No Heatwave In Delhi For Next Five Days: IMD However, private forecasting agency Skymet Weather said the monsoon was likely to reach Kerala on June 7 with an error margin of three days. "The onset will be delayed and the advancement slightly sluggish over peninsular India. Hot weather will continue deep into June this year over central and northern parts of the country. This may not augur well for Kharif sowing," it said in a statement. However, the IMD had stated that its forecasts for the monsoon onset over Kerala proved to be correct during the last 18 years except in 2015. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 13:34 [IST] Democracy Is The Valuable Legacy Of Our Country: LS Speaker Om Birla From 1921 To 2023 - The Timeline Of Parliament House Inauguration Of New Parliament Building And What An Opportunity The Opposition Missed New Parliament Building Inauguration: Check Opening Date, Time and Other Details Inside India oi-Deepika S Prime Minister Narendra Modi will is set to inaugurate the newly constructed Parliament building, which symbolises the spirit of self-reliant India on May 28. The new Parliament building reflecting the aspirations of 135 crore people is being built alongside the existing Parliament. The magnificent structure spread over 65,000 sq meters can accommodate 888 MPs in Lok Sabha and 384 MPs in Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha will be three times bigger with 888 seats and is based on a peacock theme, the national bird. While Rajya Sabha, built on the national flower lotus theme will have a capacity of up to 384 seats. PM Modi To Inaugurate New Parliament Building On May 28: Here Is The Full Schedule The new parliament building will house Constitution Hall, in the middle of the building, where a copy of the Constitution will be kept. Besides, big pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, and the Prime Ministers of the country will also be put up. The new Parliament is a part of the ambitious Central Vista Project of the Narendra Modi government. Why the opposition parties are objecting to the inauguration?Nearly 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the new parliament building's inauguration accusing the centre of insulting the top constitutional post of the country by not asking the President of India or Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for the inauguration. They also took objection to the timing of the new parliament building inauguration, as it coincides with the birth anniversary of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. How The New Parliament Building Differs From Old Sansad Bhavan New Parliament Inauguration: Date and Time PM Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 at 12 pm. The ceremony will begin at 7.30 with a havan' and 'puja' and would go on till 8.30 am. The 'Sengol', a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu will be installed near the chair of the Speaker between 8.30 am and 9 am. There will be a prayer meeting by Many great scholars, pundits and saints, including Shankaracharya at 9-9.30 am. The second phase of the ceremony will begin at 12 noon with the singing of the National Anthem. Two short films will be screened at this time. The messages by President Draupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar will be read out by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. While a provision has been made for an address, by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, he has however said that he would boycott the ceremony. A Rs 75 coin and a stamp too will be released on this occasion. The new Sansad inauguration will conculdes with the address by the Prime Minister at 2.30 pm. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 12:08 [IST] NIA Moves Delhi HC Seeking Death Penalty For Kashmiri Separatist Yasin Malik India oi-Madhuri Adnal The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking the death sentence for Yasin Malik, the Chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and prominent Kashmiri separatist leader. The petition, filed by the NIA, is scheduled for a hearing on May 29 before a Division Bench comprising Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh. Yasin Malik had previously been handed a life imprisonment sentence by a special NIA court in May 2022, in connection with a case related to terror funding. He had pleaded guilty in the said case.The trial court, which had rejected the NIA's plea for capital punishment, had said the crimes committed by Malik struck at the "heart of the idea of India" and were intended to forcefully secede Jammu and Kashmir from Union of India. "These crimes were intended to strike at the heart of the idea of India and intended to forcefully secede J&K from UOI. The crime becomes more serious as it was committed with the assistance of foreign powers and designated terrorists. The seriousness of crime is further increased by the fact that it was committed behind the smokescreen of an alleged peaceful political movement," the trial court had said. It had noted that the case was not the "rarest of rare", warranting death penalty. The maximum punishment for such an offence is death penalty. The life term was awarded for two offences - section 121 (waging war against government of India) of IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA. Days After Questioning Satyapal Malik, CBI Raids at Nine Locations According to the Supreme Court, life imprisonment means incarceration till the last breath, unless the sentence is commuted by the authorities. The court had awarded Malik 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being member of terror organisation) of UAPA. It had also awarded five-year jail term each under sections 13 (unlawful act), 38 (offence related to membership of terrorism) and 39 (support given to terrorism) of UAPA. Malik had on May 10 last year told the Delhi court he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included acts of terrorism and sedition. The court had framed the charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor. A charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both of whom have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case and are living in Pakistan. NIA To Probe Bhopal-Hyderabad Hizb-ut-Tahrir Module Case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The National Investigation Agency has taken over the probe into the recently busted Bhopal-Hyderabad Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) module. The module was first busted by the Madhya Pradesh ATS and Intelligence Bureau. However owing to inter-state ramifications, the probe was handed over to the NIA. The agency will now register a separate case. The operation was launched at Bhopal, Chhindwara and Hyderabad, during which 16 persons allegedly associated with the HuT were arrested. Ten persons were arrested from Bhopal, one from Chhindwara and five from Hyderabad. The arrested persons were working in various professions such as gym trailers, tailors, computer technicians and auto drivers in their local communities. The probe also revealed that these persons had formed a group and were plotting major terror strikes. They had dangerous plots in their minds, an official said. Following their arrest, the agencies recovered scores of documents as well as videos in which some of them were seen addressing topics relating to the Caliphate and why democracy should not exist. In Bhopal Funding Case Against JMB, NIA Raids 2 Locations in UP Further the officials also found numbers of several Pakistanis on them. This has led to the suspicion that they may have been directed by a handler from Pakistan. The probe officials also learnt that these persons were conducting shooting practices and close combat training in the remote jungle areas. This is also included the distribution of Jihadi literature, an official said.Further they also delivered provocative speeches during secret religious meetings. The accused persons were scouting for young persons who were ready to undertake suicide strikes, the probe also found. During the course of the probe, the officials also learnt that five of the suspects had married Hindu girls and converted them to Islam. The converts were a pharmacy professor from Barasia in Bhopal and a cloud service engineer from Bhopal. Inauguration Of New Parliament Building And What An Opportunity The Opposition Missed PM Opening Central Vista Tomorrow: Find The Full Schedule India oi-Vicky Nanjappa All eyes would be on the inauguration of the new Parliament building which will take place on Sunday, May 28. The programme would last for seven hours, which would begin with a 'havan' and 'puja.' The event would end with an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The complete schedule: The ceremony will begin at 7.30 with a havan' and 'puja' and would go on till 8.30 am. The installation of the Sengol, the historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu will be installed near the chair of the Speaker between 8.30 am and 9 am. Between 9 and 9.30 am there will be a prayer meeting and many pundits and saints will represent the same. The second phase of the ceremony will begin at 12 noon with the singing of the National Anthem. Two short films will be screened at this time. The messages by President Draupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar will be read out by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. While a provision has been made for an address, by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, he has however said that he would boycott the ceremony. A Rs 75 coin will be released on the occasion. A stamp too will be released. The programme will end with the address by the Prime Minister at 2.30 pm. Rwanda genocide accused arrested after 22 years India oi-Sanjeev Nayak A man suspected of orchestrating the killings of over 2,000 people during the 1994 Rwanda genocide was arrested in South Africa on Wednesday after being on the run for almost 22 years. The accused, Fulgence Kayishema, had since assumed a false identity. Over 8 lakh people died in the genocide wherein members of the Hutu ethnic group targeted minority Tutsis. According to United Nations investigators, Kayishema, one of the world's most wanted fugitives, was arrested in South Africa. 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 ever since been on the run using various aliases and disguises. The Nyange church attack is seen as one of the most brutal acts during the 100 days of the Rwandan genocide. Kayishema was arrested in a joint operation by UN and South African authorities in the town of Paarl, in South Africa's Western Cape, according to a statement by the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The investigators said that while Kayishema initially denied his identity, within hours he admitted that he had been expecting his own arrest for a long time. A reward of up to $5 million from the US 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 17:05 [IST] Tihar Jail SP Gets Notice After 2 Inmates Shifted To Satyendar Jains Cell on His Request SC Grants Bail To Delhi's Former Minister Satyendar Jain On Health Grounds India oi-Prakash KL Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi's former minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds for six weeks in a money laundering case. "We are inclined to grant interim medical bail. We allow the petitioner to take treatment at private hospital and we allow him to be released on interim bail as subject to the conditions by the trial court. his order shall remain in operation till July 11, 2023," Bar & Bench quoted a vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha as saying. It directed Jain not to influence the witnesses while asking him not to leave Delhi without prior permission from the court. The apex court has asked the former Delhi minister to produce all relevant papers of treatment before it and said that the order will remain in operation till July 11. The matter has been listed for hearing on July 10. It has also asked the AAP leader to choose any hospital of his choice for his medical treatment. Satyendar Jain was put on oxygen support and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the LNJP hospital after his condition worsened on Thursday, the AAP said. He was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and later, shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems. "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 party had earlier said. Based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the CBI on August 24, 2017, the ED initiated the investigation into the money laundering case. The CBI alleged that Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He was arrested in May 2022. School Jobs Scam: TMC Leader Abhishek Moves SC Against CBI Questioning, Plea To Be Heard On May 26 SC Declines Plea Seeking Inauguration Of New Parliament By President India oi-Deepika S The Supreme Court has junked a plea seeking a direction that the new Parliament building be inaugurated by the President of India and not the Prime Minister. The plea was rejected after a Vacation Bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha expressed their disinclination to entertain the plea filed by advocate C R Jaya Kukin. The petition was filed as withdrawn. "What is your interest?", the Bench asked the petitioner. The petitioner responded by saying, "The head of the executive is the President... President is my president." Historic Sceptre 'Sengol' Moved To Delhi Ahead Of Inauguration Of New Parliament Building We don't understand why you come with such petitions...we're not interested in entertaining it under Article 32", the Bench said. The petitioner then referred to Article 79 of the Constitution of India which says that the Parliament of India comprises the President and two Houses. "How is Article 79 related to the inauguration?", the Bench asked. "President is the head of the parliament, he should open the building. Executive head is the only head who should open," the petitioner said, while citing Article87 which says that the Parliament session commences with a special address by the President of India. The Bench however wondered as to how this provision is connected to the inauguration. The Bench seemingly was not convinced with the arguments by the petitioner. Before it was rejected the petitioner withdrew the plea. History Of Old Parliament Building In 10 Simple Points Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta said that the petitioner should not be allowed to withdraw the petition as he will file the same plea in the High Court. The petitioner however said that he has no plans of approaching the High Court and that he was withdrawing the plea so that the dismissal would not become a certificate to the executive. The Bench recorded in the order that the petitioner, after arguing for sometime chose to withdraw the petition as the court was not inclined to entertain the matter. Smriti Irani's daughter marriage: Look who all attended the wedding reception of Shanelle in Mumbai 'Sengol' Kept in Museum As 'Stick of Nehruji', Smriti Irani Tears Into Congress India oi-Madhuri Adnal Union minister Smriti Irani expressed her strong criticism of the Congress party during a press conference regarding the opposition parties' boycott of the inauguration ceremony for the new Parliament Building. She accused the Congress and the Gandhi family of neglecting the significance of 'Sengol', a symbol of freedom, by keeping it hidden in a museum as a mere 'stick of Nehruji'. Irani also questioned the Congress party's motives behind the boycott of the new Parliament building inauguration, and said "they won't understand the meaning of transfer power. Are they against Hindu religon?." #WATCH | 'Sengol' which is a symbol of our freedom was kept in a dark corner of a museum as a 'stick of Nehruji' by the Gandhi family: Smriti Irani, BJP pic.twitter.com/YHeIjTHgWg ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 She also demanded clarification from the Congress party regarding their failure to invite the Governor in Chhattisgarh and other places. Congress Reduced 'Sengol' To Walking Stick: Amit Shah Amid Parliament Row The 'Sengol,' previously housed in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum, has been transported to Delhi today in preparation for its installation in the new Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally receive the 'Sengol' and it will be positioned near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker. A fierce exchange of words has erupted between nearly two dozen opposition parties and the government concerning the 'Sengol' and the decision to have Prime Minister Modi inaugurate the new Parliament instead of President Draupadi Murmu, who has not received an invitation to the event. Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress, released a joint statement on Thursday, accusing an 'authoritarian prime minister' of completely sidelining President Murmu. They labeled this action as a 'grave insult and a direct assault on democracy.' For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 18:06 [IST] News / National by Staff reporter BULAWAYO's business community and motorists say they will boycott parking in the central business district in protest over the new pricing system introduced by Tendy Three Investment (TTI) and the city council.The new prepaid parking system, which will commence on June 1, will introduce weekly, fortnightly and monthly packages.In a recent notice to motorists and stakeholders, TTI indicated that the new packages would cost US$30 weekly, translating to US$4,30 per day, US$50 per fortnight and US$90 per month.But the business community and motorists said the proposed charges were not sustainable."We have reached the final lap of preparations. The boycott announcement will come from the office of the secretary-general of the Bulawayo Business Development Association," the notice put out by the Business Development Association read."We have covered ground in holding meetings with key stakeholders, including the police in Bulawayo. We have also taken into consideration contributions and suggestions from the various platforms where the boycott conversation has been going on."Firstly, we have come up with an information model to educate the public about the boycott. Secondly, we will come up with the dates for phase one of the Bulawayo parking boycott. This will give us ample time to make alternative parking and transportation plans."As soon as the final official update is done, please play your part in circulating the information to every platform so that we can reach everyone who is affected and is influential in bringing the parking solution to our city," the notice read.The business fraternity and motorists said they wanted to attract buy-in and involvement of all key stakeholders to achieve the desired results."This boycott should mount sufficient pressure on TTI and BCC to cause them to come to the negotiating table. The aim of the boycott is to cripple their revenue collections from the parking venture. Everyone needs to join forces and be united as we bring order to our city again. In the meantime, please continue to exercise patience," the notice said.Bulawayo businessman and chief executive officer of Green Afrique Technologies, Anglistone Sibanda, said TTI and BCC entered into an anti-people and suspicious parking deal."We have always questioned the arrangement, and in such opaque deals that are driven by greed, such behaviour is often inevitable. A boycott is a good call but l would even call for something more drastic and decisive: a total overhaul of the Bulawayo City Council leadership," Sibanda said.National Consumer Rights Association co-ordinator Effie Ncube said: "Boycotting goods and services is one way they can do this. It is another way ofspeaking. What is needed is a dialogue between residents and BCC so that they arrive at a win-win arrangement. A boycott gives authorities an opportunity to demonstrate sincerity and their readiness to engage. Effective governing requires responsive attitudes on the part of governors," he said. No justification for terrorism, must be stopped: Jaishankar at SCO meet Need to take disengagement process forward: Jaishankar on border row 'If I have a good guest, I am a good host': S Jaishankar on Pak's Bilawal Bhutto Not Russian Anymore: Jaishankar's Reply On EU Call For Action Against India Should Be A Limit To Politics: Jaishankar On Opposition Boycott Of New Parliament Launch India oi-Deepika S External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday lashed out at the opposition parties for boycotting the new Parliament building launch on Sunday, saying that there should be a limit to doing politics. "Some people are trying to create controversy. But I believe that there should be a limit to indulging in politics. At least on such occasions, the entire country should come together and celebrate this festival," S Jaishankar said. Jaishankar said that it is unfortunate if the inauguration is being turned into a controversy. "I believe that the inauguration of the new Parliament building should be taken as a festival of democracy and it should be celebrated in that spirit," Jaishankar was quoted saying by PTI. A political slugfest broke out between the BJP and opposition parties after they decided to boycott the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building. The opposition parties have demanded that President Draupadi Murmu should do the honors and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. War Of Words Over Sengol Escalate As Inauguration Of New Parliament Nears However, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) condemned the decision of opposition parties to boycott the May 28 inauguration function of the new Parliament building. "This act is not merely disrespectful; it is a blatant affront to the democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation," read the statement issued by the NDA. "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," it added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 16:53 [IST] War Of Words Over Sengol Escalate As Inauguration Of New Parliament Nears India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Union Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at the Congress over its claim that there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the 'Sengol' as a symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India. Several BJP leaders too attacked the Congress and other Opposition parties for announcing that they would boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick',"Shah said in a tweet. Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom, Shah also said. In a series of tweets, BJP president, J P Nadda said, " what connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building? The answer is simple- they are dynasty run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution." New Parliament Building Inauguration: Check Opening Date, Time and Other Details Inside Those parties which are boycotting the Parliament's inauguration lack any commitment to democracy because their sole aim is to perpetuate a select group of dynasties. Such an approach is an insult to the makers of our Constitution. These parties must introspect, he added. What connects most parties which are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building? The answer is simple- they are dynasty run political parties, whose monarchic methods are at loggerheads with the principles of republicanism and democracy in our Constitution. Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) May 26, 2023 Senior Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh hit back and said, " this is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives." "There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- bodgus," he also said. "Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," Ramesh also added. "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... 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 Opposition had said in a joint statement. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 14:07 [IST] From impersonators to reporters, how the PFI still remains a threat What Is The Model Prisons Act Of 2023 And Why Is It Significant India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that it has finalised the preparation of the Model Prisons Act of 2023. This would replace the existing 130-year-old colonial law and is aimed at shifting the focus of incarceration from "retributive deterrence" to "reform and rehabilitation". The 2023 Act aims at providing guidance and address gaps in the existing prison laws. It also aims at making provisions for the grant of parole, furlough and remission as well as introduce special provisions for women and transgender inmates. The Model Prisons Act 2023 is being introduced on the backdrop of a spate of killings and gang violence inside the prisons. One such incident was the killing of Tilly Tajpuriya, who was allegedly stabbed to death by members of a rival gang in the Tihar Jail. The National Investigation Agency too had asked the Union Home Ministry to shift dreaded gangsters lodged in north India's prisons to southern states. The NIA's request came in the wake of nearly 25 gangsters running a criminal nexus from inside jails in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Home Minister Amit Shah had said that a change in the prisons laws is under works during the inauguration of the 6th All India Prison Duty Meet 2022 in Ahmedabad. The pre-Independence Prisons Act, 1894, focused on keeping criminals in custody and enforcing discipline and order in prisons, leaving "no provision for reform and rehabilitation of prisoners, a MHA statement read. The MHA assigned the task of revising the Prisons Act 1894, to the Bureau of Police Research and Development. The bureau held wide ranging discussions with the state prison officials and correctional experts and then prepared the draft. The new law aims to provide separate accommodation for women and transgender inmates. It also aims act ensuring the physical and mental well-being of prisoners, and focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. It also aims at bringing attitudinal changes towards prisoners and initiate vocational training and skill development for prisoners for their reintegration into society. The new Act will also bring in transparency in prison management and include provisions for security assessment of prisoners. New measures were prisoners to video conference with courts as has also been introduced. Prisoners using mobile phones in jail will be punished for it. Along with the Prisons Act, the Prisoners Act of 1900 and he Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950' have also been reviewed by the MHA. The relevant provisions have been assimilated into the Model Prisons Act 2023. Why Pakistan Will Continue To Boil And There Is No Solution Around The Corner India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The political crisis in Pakistan is showing no signs of ending. The army and Imran Khan are in confrontation mode and there is talk that the party of the latter, the PTI is likely to be banned for attacking government establishments. Pakistan which has been sponsoring terror against India for years now has been on the boil for a variety of reasons. The country has been down economically and in terms of the terror front it has been facing its own problems. Following the arrest of former Pakistan prime minister, Imran Khan, there was widespread violence. One image where Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Salman Fayyaz Ghanni was seen pleading before the protesters to spare Jinnah House was quite telling. This only tells how on the back foot the Pakistan Army is. The army has however decided not to cow down. It has been booking cases against Khan's supporters and the government has even threatened to ban the PTI. Pakistan observers say that the turmoil will continue for more time. The judiciary in the country is seen to have a soft corner towards Khan and his party. While the army has been harsh on Khan's supporters, the judiciary has been coming to their rescue. Things are likely to change when the current chief justice of Pakistan retires in September later this year. In the same month, PTI appointed Pakistan president Arif Alvi also steps down and Pakistan would hope that this would bring down tensions in the country. Former Pakistan PM And PTI Chief Imran Khan Added To No-Fly List In addition to the violence, Pakistan is also grappling with the menace of terrorism. Data until April 2023 shows that the country has recorded a total of 226 terrorism related fatalities. The rise in the number of fatalities is mainly due to the increase in the number of incidents at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban has been the most violent groups in the country and had recently ended the ceasefire. To add to the mess is the economic situation in the country with the IMF yet to release USD 1.1 billion. The inflows have been declining and Pakistan still attracts the lowest FDI in the region. In a nut-shell Pakistan is in a mess in terms of political instability, economics and security. While the watchers say that things may improve by Septembers, officials OneIndia spoke with say that it is unlikely. Committed to our strategic partnership, says PM Modi after meeting with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin With Defence Talks On Agenda, US Defence Secretary To Visit India India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Lloyd Austin, the United States (US) secretary of defence, will visit India, early June to hold discussions on bilateral defence cooperation said Ely Ratner, the assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs in the department of defence. Ratner is a key architect of the administration's defence posture in the region. Rather also said that the India and US are now more strategically aligned than ever before and there is a clear directive from the top leadership in the American system that the defence relationship with India was top priority and could not continue in business as usual mode. He also hinted major announcements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in June. He further expressed categorical support for co-development and co-production of defence systems to strengthen India's indigenous capabilities. This would be Austin's second trip to India since taking office in January 2021. He is also travelling to Tokyo and then Singapore, where he will address the Shangrila dialogue before he heads to Delhi on June 4. Govt Imposes Phased Import Ban On 928 Defence Items In Latest Self-Reliance Push The visit comes in the run-up to the visit by PM Modi's state visit, where defence cooperation is expected to figure prominently among the outcomes. Austin is the fourth US cabinet-secretary to visit India this year. Earlier Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, treasury secretary Janet Yellen and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo visited India. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 8:31 [IST] Video of crocodile galloping towards man in Florida Park enclosure goes viral Fact Check: Video of crocodile walking waterlogged streets is from MP not Bengaluru 'Vegetarian' crocodile that lived in Kerala temple pond for over 70 years dies Elderly Man Killed By Crocodiles After Falling Into Their Enclosure International oi-Prakash KL In an unfortunate incident, an elderly man was killed by crocodiles from his own farm after he fell into its enclosure. The victim has been identified as Luan Nam and about 40 crocodiles attacked him. He was reportedly trying to move a crocodile out of the cage after it laid eggs. He was using a stick to move the reptile when it grabbed it and pulled him in, according to a report in AFP. "While he was chasing a crocodile out of an egg-laying cage, the crocodile attacked the stick, causing him to fall into the enclosure," Mey Savry, police chief of Siem Reap commune, told AFP. "Then other crocodiles pounced, attacking him until he was dead," he claimed. He was from Po Banteay Chey village within the Siem Reap commune, local media reports claimed. The police chief said that the 71-year-old deceased's body was covered with bite marks and one of his arms was bitten off and eaten up by the reptiles. Also, Nam was the president of the country's Crocodile Association. In a similar incident, a two-year-old girl was killed and eaten by crocodiles in 2019. The incident occurred when she wandered into her family's reptile farm in the same village. There are many crocodile farms around Siem Reap. In Cambodia, it is common for farmers to breed and trade crocodiles. They sell reptiles to China, Thailand, and Vietnam and seek their skin for the production of leather and various other goods. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 26, 2023, 14:11 [IST] Ontario's privacy commissioner and human rights commission say the province should put in place effective guardrails on the public sector's use of artificial intelligence technologies. From sending Martha Stewart and mobsters to jail, to working for Obama and Trump, to becoming Americas most hated man ...Next stop: fiction writing. Fetty Wap Sentenced to Six Years in Prison on Drug Trafficking Charges . TMZ reports the rapper, best known for his hit,.. Wibbitz Top Stories 24 May 2023 US and Saudi monitors said both parties have violated the truce. UN human rights chief Volker Turk called on both sides to stop sexual violence and spare civilians' lives. News / National by Staff reporter TWO members of the secessionist Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) who were arrested on September 5 last year while submitting a petition to the Bulawayo High Court have been fined US$100 each.The activists were protesting "irregular" transfer of nine jailed party activists to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare.Goiste Moyo (Female) (35) and Lwazi Khanye (male) (30) denied the charge of participating in a gathering with the intent to promote public violence, and breaching peace or bigotry.They were also facing an alternative charge of disorderly conduct in a public place.The duo was represented by Nqobani Sithole when it appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrates Court.On Tuesday, the duo was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of US$100 each for doorstepping the High Court.Meanwhile, another MRP activist from Insuza, Matabeleland North province, Chrispen Jikidola Ncube was also arraigned before the courts on May 16.He was arrested after he resisted the occupation of his village land by strangers. The State charged him with assault and malicious damage to property.Ncube spent some days at Khami Prison and was released on bail to May 30. He is being represented by Nqobani Sithole. The London hotel-owner was shot by a sniper, while his wife starved to death in their house. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Police in Germany have launched an investigation into Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters after he fired an imitation machine gun while wearing a Nazi-inspired uniform at a concert in Berlin. Three women have been arrested on suspicion of theft after walking into a police station with 'I rescued the Kings sheep'.. Tamworth Herald 25 May 2023 A member of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for participating in the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says unless lawmakers raise the debt ceiling by June 5, the government won't have enough money to pay all of its bills. Daily Record 27 May 2023 The two stars were brought off with injury but judging by their involvement in the celebrations, Postecoglou isn't too worried. Fuel quota currently allowed on the National Fuel Pass (QR system) in Sri Lanka will be increased from next month (June), the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said. Posting on Twitter, the Energy Minister revealed that the current quota will be increased, for all vehicles, from the fuel price revision scheduled to take place in June. He said the decision was taken at the meeting held yesterday (May 25) afternoon with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) finance, commercial and marketing divisions. He said the CEYPETCO cargo plan, finances and distribution plans were also reviewed during the meeting. Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has scheduled direct flight service to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, starting from August 12. The new services will be operated by VIETJET, CIAL said in a media release on Friday. The new flights will be operated four days a week -- on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The new direct flight service from Ho Chi Minh City, VJ1811, will depart at 19:20 hours and reach Cochin International Airport at 22:50 hrs. The return flight,VJ1812, will depart from Kochi at 23:50 hrs and will reach Ho Chi Minh City at 06:40 hrs. This is the first direct air service from Kerala to Vietnam, making it a significant milestone for both the airport and the countrys tourism industry. This new service furthermore complements the existing flight services from Kochi International Airport to other Southeast Asian destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok, the statement said. CIAL currently operates two daily services between Kochi to Singapore; one service, 6 days a week, to Bangkok; three daily services to Kuala Lumpur. "We are very happy to announce a direct flight service from Kochi airport to Ho Chi Minh City. We are confident that the launch of this new air route between Kerala and Vietnam from CIAL will be a significant milestone in the tourism industry, providing travelers with a convenient and direct transportation option to meet their requirements. Also, the opening of a new air route marks a pivotal moment in the history of airport operations, which will help our company in opening up new avenues for economic growth and cultural exchange", said S Suhas IAS, managing director, CIAL. In the previous financial year (2022-23), CIAL handled 89.82 lakh passengers. Looking ahead, the company anticipates surpassing the milestone of one crore passengers in the current financial year. Notably, Kochi airport currently holds the position of being ranked third in the country for the highest number of international passengers. Heffel auction soars to $17.2 million in sales, ignited by intense global bidding Alex Colville masterpiece June Noon dominates, surpassing $2 million Emily Carr, Lawren Harris and E.J. Hughes each broke the million dollar mark with major, well-known canvases TORONTO, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Heffel Fine Art Auction House , leading force in the art market, presented a remarkable collection of artworks at its highly-anticipated spring auction this evening in Toronto. The works were presented in Heffel's brand new Yorkville auction room, with participation from a global audience, as the live and online experiences were seamlessly married through Heffel's Digital Saleroom. In the spotlight were museum-quality and fresh to the market masterworks by Alex Colville, Emily Carr, Lawren Harris and E.J. Hughes, among many others. Heffel's marquee sale demonstrates the power and resilience of the art market, with an unwavering apetite for important works of art. (All prices are in Canadian dollars and include a buyer's premium.) Alex Colville masterpiece, June Noon, surpasses $2 million at the Heffel auction on May 25, 2023 (CNW Group/Heffel Fine Art Auction House) The packed saleroom witnessed an exhilarating moment as the iconic masterpiece by Alex Colville, June Noon found a new home amidst intense bidding. With its commanding presence and thoughtful depiction of the artist and his wife, Rhoda, June Noon achieved an explosive result, selling for an impressive $2,161,250. Fresh to the auction market after spending more than 50 years in the famous Langen Collection in Germany, the important 1963 masterpiece was shown at the 1966 Venice Biennale and has been widely exhibited and sought-after ever since. "We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming success of tonight's auction," said Robert Heffel, Vice President of Heffel. "The extraordinary results achieved reflect the impressive works on offer, the passion of collectors across the world and the vibrant and incredibly strong auction market. We are deeply grateful for the continued support and trust bestowed upon us by our consignors." Highlights from the Spring 2023 Live Auction Alex Colville led the Heffel sale as the acclaimed June Noon surpassed the $2 million mark . The work was admired at Heffel's cross-country previews and found a new home tonight after it had been well cared-for in an important European collection for half a century (est. $1,500,000 2,500,000). Emily Carr's exceptionally rare and brightly coloured canvas, Sitka Totem Pole surpassed the million dollar mark at the Heffel auction and sold for three thousand times its original selling price of $400, which is inscribed on the back of the painting. The beloved work has been cared for by the same family since it was first acquired from Carr's dealer, and has only been seen by the public once in the last 100 years when it toured with the National Gallery of Canada's 2006 exhibition, Emily Carr: New Perspectives on a Canadian Icon. Lawren Harris's mesmerizing Northern Image , consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia was standout at the Heffel auction, captivating attendees with its dynamism and beauty. This cherished artwork from Harris's abstract period commanded significant attention and achieved a remarkable sale price of $1,021,250 and became the most valuable abstract work by the artist ever sold at auction (est. $450,000 550,000). E.J. Hughes' masterpiece canvas Abandoned Village, Rivers Inlet, BC fetched an impressive $1,801,250 at auction, exceeding presale expectations. The widely known and exceptional example by Hughes was consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia and made its market debut at Heffel this evening. Arthur Lismer's remarkable An Ontario Village (Meadowvale), a treasure among the artworks on offer, emerged as a highlight in the sale as it far surpassed its estimate of $250,000 to $350,000 and sold for a monumental $751,250. The large scale canvas, commanding in scale and rich in colour, is a museum quality example by the Group of Seven artist. Two iconic works by Andy Warhol garnered heavy competition in the Post-War & Contemporary Art session, following Heffel's global Warhol record last fall. The highly-coveted portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from the Reigning Queens series sold for $277,250 and the Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species series sold for $301,250, a new world auction record for the iconic image globally. Jean Paul Riopelle's market is stronger than ever, as Canada prepares to celebrate his centenary. The Automatist artist shined bright in the spring auction, with the sale of four examples from important periods in his incredible career, all of which surpassed their estimates. The outstanding works were led by the dynamic 1958 canvas Foison which sold for $661,250 (est. $250,000 350,000). Heffel is now inviting consignments for the fall 2023 auction season, encompassing international and Canadian works of art. The deadline for spring consignments is August 2023. For more information on the works included in Heffel's spring live auction, visit www.heffel.com . About Heffel Fine Art Auction House Since 1978, Heffel has connected passionate collectors across the world with outstanding works of art, with sales totaling three quarters of a billion dollars. With facilities in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary, Heffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides premium client service to both sellers and buyers internationally. For additional information, to schedule an interview, or for images and b-roll, please contact: Rebecca Rykiss Heffel Fine Art Auction House rebecca@heffel.com 647-361-4607 Heffel sells exceptionally rare Emily Carr canvas, Sitka Totem Pole, for more than $1 million at its spring auction (CNW Group/Heffel Fine Art Auction House) SOURCE Heffel Fine Art Auction House Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/25/c3205.html 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! Unlike Western Europe and the USA, Bulgaria has not offered investors from outside the country a concierge real estate service. This service is not just about finding a property to purchase and closing the transaction but offering all the ancillary services required to make the property fit to use and managing the property if it is purchased for investment. Factors to consider when purchasing Real Estate in Sofia Whether looking for somewhere Planners for a new Interstate 5 bridge on Thursday introduced six possible designs for the proposed Columbia River span. While key details are still uncertain including when it might be built and how the $7.5 billion construction project would be funded the new renderings show for the first time what the bridge could look like and how it would affect the skyline of the surrounding cities. The six proposals are: Rendering of a proposed single-level "extradosed" bridge design for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River, as viewed from the west from the Hayden Island.Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Extradose: A single-level bridge with low towers and cables that dont protrude into the air space of Portland International Airport or Pearson Airfield. Rendering of a proposed single-level "finback" design for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River, as viewed from the west from Hayden Island.Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Finback: A close relative of extradose bridge with its cables replaced by fins that contain cables within a concrete housing. Towers also dont protrude into the airspace. Rendering of a proposed single-level concrete design for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia river, as viewed from the west from Hayden Island.Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Concrete: A single-level bridge similar to Interstate 205s Glenn Jackson Bridge that uses concrete with structural supports for the wider spaces between piers. Rendering of a proposed single-level steel girder design for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River, as viewed from the west from Hayden Island.Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Steel Girder: Similar in same shape to the concrete bridge but with a structure made of steel, which is lighter. Rendering of a proposed double-level truss design for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River, as viewed from the west from Hayden Island.Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Truss: A two-level structure, with highway on top and public transit and bike/pedestrian lanes underneath. No intrusion into airspace. Narrower than single-level bridge. The design is similar to the shelved Columbia River Crossing proposal. Rendering of a proposed lift-span design for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River, as viewed from the west from Hayden Island with the bridge span down.Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Movable: A bridge with a lift deck, much like the two current spans that make up the current Interstate Bridge, to allow vessels to pass below. Mechanical parts would be housed within large towers. Crews would have to dredge the river channel to make it deeper, because the lift would not be at the current deepest part of the river. The renderings show what the bridge would look like from east and west of the bridge in Vancouver and Hayden Island, but dont show the how each would look from a street-level view on either side of the river. The renderings do show a possible view from the Hayden Island shared-use path, east of the bridge. It also wasnt immediately clear how each design would affect the cost of the project. Greg Johnson, director of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, told a steering committee made up of local government and transportation officials that his design team would develop detailed renderings. The Interstate Bridge team must build a bridge that allows ships to pass under it, as well as products manufactured by several local companies located upstream. Absent a drawbridge or movable span, the bridge must be at least 178 feet high to clear those vessels, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, which must sign off. Despite the unveiling, the new Interstate Bridge is far from a done deal. Oregon lawmakers have failed to pass a bill that would have borrowed $1 billion to help pay for the bridge. The state legislature could still allocate that money as part of a broader budget bill. Federal funding that will pay the bulk of the cost hasnt been secured. And the bridge plan still must submit an environmental impact statement for public review and approval by the federal government. Chris Regan, the environmental manager for the bridge replacement program, told local officials he expected the environmental impact statement to be ready for review in late 2023, and after a 60-day public comment period, it could be submitted to the federal government. Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle stopped him. Sixty days isnt going to cut it for the city of Vancouver, she said, noting that the public comment period would fall in the middle of the holidays and limit community engagement. Were going to need 90 days. Jayati Ramakrishnan; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com The city of Portland is seeking $400,000 from a local manufacturer, alleging the company is responsible for a 2018 derailment of the Portland Streetcar. In its lawsuit against Vigor Works, filed Monday and first reported by Willamette Week, Portland city attorneys allege that the company failed to comply with the terms of its contract and provide a streetcar with a working throttle and brakes. Portlands city government has reached a tentative agreement to clear more homeless campsites from city sidewalks, settling a lawsuit from 10 residents who have, or care for people with, physical disabilities. As part of a proposed settlement, the city agreed to prioritize removing campsites that obstruct sidewalks, extend its ban on city employees handing out tents and tarps to homeless residents, and remove at least 500 camps from sidewalks each year. The city also will make it easier for people with physical disabilities to report obstructed sidewalks. Portland police identified a 22-year-old Gresham woman on Thursday as the person whose remains officers found in Southeast Portlands Pleasant Valley neighborhood in December. Kristin Smith was reported missing on Dec. 22. Officers responded Feb. 19 to a report of human remains in a wooded area near Southeast Deardorff Road and Flavel Street. The Police Bureau and county investigators searched the area for evidence, police said. Portland police did not release additional information, including a cause of death or how they identified Smith. The Multnomah County Medical Examiners office and Portland police are investigating, officials said. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives Jeff Pontius Jeffery.Pontius@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0433 or Kristina Coffey at Kristina.Coffey@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-1081. Sheriffs officials in Clark and Multnomah counties are also investigating after finding the bodies of two other women last month. Police and firefighters in Clark County found Joanna Speaks, 32, of Oregon dead inside a barn at an abandoned property in Ridgefield, Washington on April 8. The county medical examiner determined Speaks died of blunt head and neck injuries. The Clark County Sheriffs Office is investigating the death as a homicide and said Speaks body was moved to the location where it was found. Less than two weeks later, Multnomah County sheriffs deputies found the body of 24-year-old Charity Lynn Perry in a culvert near Ainsworth State Park in east Multnomah County. Her body was discovered April 28 near East Historic Columbia River Highway and Northeast Tumalt Road. The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office has not released additional information, citing an ongoing suspicious death investigation. -- Catalina Gaitan, cgaitan@oregonian.com, @catalingaitan_ Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. Gaura Allen heard the back-and-forth gunshots last Friday night, called 911 and ran outside. At the end of the block, Allen spotted a man dying on the sidewalk and five or six women running toward the nearby Madison Suites motel. There goes our year, he thought to himself. He was referring to how the block, considered the citys deadliest last year, had gone 13 months without a homicide. That streak was now over. When the police arrived, they found a man dead from gunshot wounds on the west side of Northeast 82nd Avenue where it intersects with Milton Street. It was disappointing, but no surprise, Allen said. Two days before, residents who live next to the long-troubled motel at the edge of the block tried to warn the city. After a gun-violence-intervention pilot project through the citys Community Safety Division was conducted in the neighborhood last year, the block had quieted down. The Safe Summer PDX program brought together various city bureaus to target the blocks escalating problems. It resulted in a night and day difference from a year and a half ago, one neighbor said. But now its night again. The problems arent as numerous or as severe as they were a year ago, but one in particular is back in force sex trafficking and many neighbors blame both the motels owners and the city for not doing enough about it. A couple months ago, a longtime resident whose backyard borders the north side of Madison Suites, started noticing scantily dressed young women coming and going from the motel rooms at all hours. She believed they were prostitutes. Neighbors had witnessed people having sex in cars and often saw used condoms littering the street, she said. The blatant human trafficking creates a predatory space because men are approaching every woman walking in the neighborhood, neighbors wrote in a May 17 email to the city. Where there is sex trafficking, it is only a matter of time (before) the problems with drugs and guns increase, said the email to Stephanie Howard, the citys director of Community Safety, and two members of the divisions Safe Blocks team, which performed the pilot gun-violence-intervention project in the neighborhood last summer and fall. They were right. And nobody denies that around-the-clock sex trafficking is occuring in the neighborhood. Not even the motels owners. Theres tons of it going on, said Ricky Patel, who owns the motel with his father, Mike Patel. I pull into the motel, and two or three (women) come to my car door. The Patels insist they try not to rent to traffickers and people looking to sell sex. Theyre struggling to keep the business afloat and desperate for the city to help them get the motel, which is listed for $2.2 million on a real-estate site, off their hands. Its like we walk two steps forward and one step back, Ricky Patel said. THE CITY STEPS IN On May 19, 2023, a 19-year-old man was killed across the street from Madison Suites, at the intersection of Northeast 82nd Avenue and Milton Street. It was the first shooting homicide in the area in more than a year. Between Aug. 2021 and April 2022, four men were killed in shootings near the intersection of Northeast 82nd Avenue and Milton Street at the time the highest concentration of homicides in Portland on a single block. Over the same period, at least half a dozen other people survived gunshot wounds from shootings within several blocks of 82nd and Milton. But Savon Marquis Davis, the 19-year-old man who died near Madison Suites on May 19, was the first homicide victim in the area in more than a year. Its the worst-case scenario, said Jenni Pullen, the supervisor of the citys Safe Blocks team. Its tragic. Weve lost a human being and this community is traumatized. Again. Last summer, Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a gun-violence emergency as the city hurtled toward what would become its second straight year of record-breaking homicides. The declaration freed up $2.4 million in funding from the city budget, and, after reporting from The Oregonian/OregonLive examined the deadly intersection, officials decided the 8200 block of Northeast Milton would serve as one of the testing grounds for an initiative aimed at stanching violence in concentrated trouble spots. Soon, a few of the areas most notorious drug dealers and sex traffickers had been arrested during police stings. Stolen, partially dismantled cars were towed away. An open-air drug market in an encampment that once blocked Milton Street was repeatedly cleared away. It hasnt returned since last fall. But Portland police officers who zeroed in on the block recognized the changes might not be permanent. Were always holding our breath, you know, officer Michael Stevens, who led stolen-car missions near the motel, said in January. Because these things can come back. Now, instead of the encampment blocking the street, its women, said Alan Luebke, a lead organizer among residents in the neighborhood. Its just been getting worse and worse, he added. RISE IN SEX TRAFFICKING When Sgt. Kristi Butcher and some members of her team at the Police Bureaus Human Trafficking Division patrolled near Madison Suites last Thursday night, buyers were lined up on Beech Street. It was like a drive-thru line, Butcher said. Men were waiting to pull up and talk to one of 14 girls standing on the sidewalk. Butcher stopped five buyers previously referred to as Johns and arrested three. Its obvious whats going on in the neighborhood, she said, but its difficult to prove in court. I think the city did a pretty good job of coordinating their efforts and cleaning up the area, Butcher said. They took a lot of the busyness away. But now thats opened up the grounds for the prostitution, which is very blatant, and quite rampant at the moment. There are two places in the neighborhood where people are consistently selling sex: the Madison Suites and the Howard Johnson up the road on Sandy Boulevard, Butcher said. Solving the problem isnt simple, as a group of residents learned when they asked for a meeting with the Portland Police Bureaus Human Trafficking Division. In mid-April, they sat down with the divisions seven officers including Butcher who said that while it would be easier to disregard the situation as autonomous sex work, many of the women likely have been trafficked since they were preteens, molded until they have no option but to continue in a lifestyle in which traffickers have total control over them. The women for various reasons, including fear typically wont turn on their traffickers, leaving police with little solid evidence for a charge. It made me feel less animosity towards the women, said one long-time Madison South resident, who was asked not to be named out of safety concerns. I also felt like the officers felt very defeated in their capacity to manage any part of human trafficking. Theyre just very limited. Side-by-side comparison views of the 8200 block of Northeast Milton, compiled with photos captured in June and then in December, show the start contrast in the area. Prompted by The Oregonian/OregonLive's reporting on the "deadliest block," the citys response to the problems on Milton Street showcases potential solutions to entrenched public-safety problems in Portland. The Human Trafficking Division is assisting in the investigation of last Fridays homicide, Butcher confirmed, though its still unclear if the shooting was connected to sex trafficking. When asked if police believed the Patels were encouraging or turning a blind eye to sex trafficking at the motel, Butcher said, Theyre certainly not helping (the situation). This perception has led to renewed acrimony between the motel owners and their neighbors, putting the relationship back where it was before the city began its targeted enforcement and encouraged both sides to work together. Things calmed down for a while, and now hes back to renting to a different breed of criminal, Luebke said of Mike Patel. Patel and his son bought the property in 2008 after decades of working in the hospitality industry. The Patels got on board with the neighborhood clean-up effort last year. Theyve attended meetings with neighbors and the city. For a little while, the partnership seemed to be working. Not anymore. Were kind of at the point where we dont want to work with Mike, Luebke said. We dont trust him. The recent shooting, he said, feels like a reinforcement of what weve been trying to tell the city all along, which is: you need to intervene on Madison Suites. THE MOTELS FUTURE Mike Patel, the owner of Madison Suites. July 6, 2022 Beth Nakamura/The OregonianThe Oregonian Ricky Patel is the first to acknowledge that he and his father arent running the Ritz-Carlton. In fact, hes desperate for the city for someone, anyone to buy the motel. I cant sell it, he said. Because of all this violence, who wants to come here? Ricky Patel said hes just as frustrated as the neighbors. He wouldnt like living near the motel, he said. And he doesnt. The father of three is raising his family in Hillsboro. He doesnt bring his children to the motel. He said he worries about his father, who lives in a room behind the motels office. Ricky Patel said he and his father emigrated to the U.S. for the American Dream, not for crime. For many years, he loved working in the hospitality business and was employed at several hotels. I dont feel happy to run a motel anymore, Patel said. He said the city got his hopes up last year, and then abandoned him. Sam Adams, the former Portland mayor who until January was acting as the current mayors top advisor, had promised to help the Patels secure grant funding for repair costs. But Ricky Patel said they never finished that process. Neighbors had also pitched Adams the idea of blocking traffic from 82nd Avenue by closing Milton and Beech Streets. The momentum was lost after Adams abrupt exit from City Hall earlier this year. Adams announced his departure from his city job in February, citing health issues. Mayor Wheeler said he demanded Adams resignation after Adams was accused by multiple female city employees of bullying and intimidating behavior. The Patels said they have spent thousands of dollars on repairing the motel and correcting city code violations. I cant do any more improvements until I get some funds in, Ricky Patel said. We did our part. He said he and his father try to vet potential customers through online booking. The motel accepts cash and credit cards. If someone tries to rent a room but has a local address, the Patels turn them away, he said, because theyre more likely to be doing drugs or sharing the room with traffickers. We take a chance on people who say theyre good, but we never know, he said. They say one thing to your face and do something different. The Patels are open to the city leasing their property for transitional housing for homeless Portlanders or low-income families an option that was explored last year but seemingly hit a dead end after Adams left his position. Thats Jenni Pullens dream, too. As supervisor of the city team that came in to help clean up the area last year, Pullen said she was really energized about the possibilities for Madison Suites. Last November, the Joint Office for Homeless Services completed an assessment of the property. But then nothing came of it. Pullen said she doesnt know why, but shes not ready to give up. I have seen the Patels put in a really good effort to improve the property, Pullen said. I would like for us to do our due diligence to find a way to transform that property in a way thats positive for the community. The motel and its 25 mini-apartment-style units is ideal for a transitional housing program or an emergency shelter, Pullen said. So her team is following up with the joint office to figure out next steps. But neighbors have expressed frustration that the recent meetings with the Safe Blocks team have been centered on funding for a summer neighborhood block party and refurbishing a street mural. I see the point of trying to change the culture of the space, a neighbor said. But we also need more than that. Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. The disturbing story of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old woman whose disappearance became a national news story in 2021, is explored in a 48 Hours episode scheduled for Saturday, May 27, on CBS. The hour, which originally aired on Sept. 17, 2022, is reported by 48 Hours and CBS News national correspondent Jericka Duncan. (Gabby Petito: The Untold Story, airs at 10 p.m. Saturday, May 27, on CBS. No cable or antenna? 48 Hours can be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial; DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial; and Paramount Plus, which also offers a free trial.) Gabby Petito: The Untold Story, as the hour is called, focuses on the last days of Petitos life, and looks at warning signs that werent recognized. Petito had been on a road trip across the country with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. Petito posted images of their van life on social media, and the couple were, according to reports, heading for a visit to Oregon. After widespread press speculation, Petitos body was found on Sept. 19, 2021, in Wyoming. A coroner ruled that Petito had died by manual strangulation. Laundrie was considered a person of interest in Petitos disappearance, after he drove back to his parents home in Florida, without Petito. Laundries body was found in a nature preserve near his parents Florida home on Oct. 20, 2021. A coroner ruled that Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the FBI, Laundrie had claimed responsibility for Petitos death in a notebook that was found after Laundrie died. According to recent reports, Petitos parents won a victory in court after a judge ruled that a letter Brian Laundries mother wrote to her son could be admitted into evidence in the emotional distress suit the Petitos have filed against the Laundries. The letter, recovered from Brian Laundries backpack upon the discovery of his remains in October 2021, said burn after reading, as CNN reports. As CBS New York reports, the letter written by Roberta Laundriewas found in Brian Laundries backpack. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, 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. As the CBS New York story reports, The Petitos attorneys say the letter proves Roberta Laundrie knew her son killed Petito and offered to help cover it up. But lawyers for the Laundries say the letter was undated and does not refer to Petitos death. Kristi Turnquist 503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Cadbury Flake deemed too crumbly for 99 cone, say ice cream sellers (PA Archive) (PA Archive) British ice cream sellers have complained that Cadbury Flakes have become too crumbly for 99 ice creams. Vendors allege that quality of the chocolate has plummeted since manufacture of them were moved to Egypt, making them too crumbly to use in 99 ice cream cones. Cadburys parent company MondelAz International said the issues had been addressed but warned older stock might still be in circulation. Speaking to the BBC, John Taylor, owner of C&M Creamery Ices said: You cant give someone a 99 with a broken Flake. Its embarrassing for an ice cream man. Wholesale boxes contain approximately 144 Flake 99s, but Katy Alston, who operates a van in Bognor Regis and is president of The Ice Cream Alliance, said that she has had to throw half away in some cases. Weve thrown away 70 in a single box before because theyve all been broken, she said. For the first time, I wont be using Cadbury Flakes this year. It feels a different product. She also claimed that ice cream sellers reputation had to be upheld and said: If you order a 99, you want a good solid Flake in it. Lawrence Glauser, owner of Lorenzos Ices in East Yorkshire, said the Flakes are a big issue and has resorted to using German own-brand chocolate sticks instead. Customers dont seem to mind, the German ones are a lot denser and dont seem to fall apart as easily, he said. Cadbury has been owned by Mondelez International since 2010 and has been making Flake 99s in Egypt since 2020. The US multinational insists that the recipe has not changed and took issues of quality very seriously. In a statement, a Mondelez International spokesperson said: We care about our loyal customer base and take quality issues very seriously. Cadbury Flake 99 is a naturally delicate and crumbly product, and we have processes in place within our supply chain to avoid any breakage as much as possible. We are aware that, recently, some customers have received product which does not meet our usual high standards. This has been addressed following improvements to our production processes, although some prior stock may remain in circulation. We are in the process of liaising with our customers (wholesalers) to support those potentially impacted. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. Todd Hoffman, who first gained TV fame as a leader of a gold mining crew on Gold Rush, came back to the Discovery Channel in 2022 with a new series, Hoffman Family Gold. In that show, Todd, his father, Jack, and his son, Hunter, again went in search of gold, working a mine in Alaska. Hoffman Family Gold returns for Season 2 in June, and this time, a rivalry between father and son is taking center stage. (Season 1 of Hoffman Family Gold is streaming on Discovery Plus, which offers a free trial.) In Season 2, Hoffman, who lives in Sandy, and his crew return to Alaskas Mammoth Valley Mine, hoping to find 1,000 ounces of gold, which can be used to pay off $750,000 of debt, as the Discovery press release says. But theres some family drama in the mix. In the trailer for the new season, Todd says, If we cant do it this year, theres no excuse. Then, his son Hunter says he wants to run his own wash plant. It caught me by surprise at how much he doesnt want to work with me, Todd says of his son. Hunter, meanwhile, says, I dont want to fight with him anymore. Meanwhile, Todd says there are things that Hunter doesnt know, for example, I am way out on a limb, financially. Two plants, father, son, Todd says. Theres going to be a little competition. Heres what else the Discovery announcement says about what viewers can expect in Season 2: This new season reveals the ups and downs of a true multi-generational family business and the tumultuous battle between father and son to see who can mine the most gold from the same piece of ground. After last seasons difficulties, highlighted by fierce weather conditions, broken equipment, and an inexperienced crew unable to work the rich paydirt, Gold Rush legend Hoffman returns to Alaskas Mammoth Valley Mine with a plan to unearth 1,000 ounces of gold to turn a profit and pay off his $750,000 of debt. He also brings his son, Hunter, his father, Jack, a handpicked, trustworthy crew, a fleet of new equipment and the necessary grit to keep the gold coming week after week. And thats not all. The release continues: However, theres a new challenge at the mine site this season: Hunter, Todds son is tired of taking orders from his father and hell stop at nothing to prove he has the experience and skills to successfully run his own mine site, despite the overwhelming pressures. Hunter goes all in this season as he attempts to out-mine his dad. You know what that means -- tension: Tensions will soar as the Hoffmans father/son conflict plays out in a high-stakes showdown all while they battle brush fires, floods, wild animals, and an early Alaska winter. Relationships will be put to the ultimate test as viewers learn if the Hoffman familial bond is worth its weight in gold. Hoffman Family Gold returns for Season 2 at 9 p.m. Friday, June 16 on the Discovery Channel. More of our coverage: Oregons Todd Hoffman makes a bombshell Gold Rush announcement Kristi Turnquist 503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Portland police announced Thursday theyd made an arrest in the four-alarm fire that tore through the May Apartments last week and that arson was the cause of the blaze at Southwest 14th Avenue and Taylor Street. Police arrested 30-year-old Garrett Repp on allegations of felony arson, criminal mischief and misdemeanor reckless endangerment in the fire that displaced residents of all 42 units. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center around 7 p.m. Fire investigators entered the structurally unsound building on Tuesday to investigate the cause of the fire. They called the investigation a success but disclosed no results until Thursday. [READ MORE: Hes just been a wrecking ball: Accused arsonist in SW Portland apartment fire hit with stalking order day before blaze] Repps ex-girlfriend told The Oregonian/OregonLive he had lived in the May Apartments since November. The landlord, SkyNat Property Management, initiated an eviction order against Repp in February saying he owed $3,180 in rent and late fees, court records show. On March 23, Repp didnt appear in court and he was to be evicted March 31. On April 17, the Multnomah County Circuit Court Landlord Tenant Department ordered Repp to move out by midnight on April 23. An amended order was filed May 1, ordering him to move out by midnight May 7. A third order was issued May 3, ordering him to move out by midnight May 8. The fire broke out May 16. Beth Slovic; bslovic@oregonian.com; 503-221-8551 Catalina Gaitan of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed reporting. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Congressional Republicans on Thursday passed a joint resolution to try to block President Joe Bidens student debt relief program. Just two of Congress Democrats sided with the Republicans, including Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents Southwest Washingtons 3rd Congressional District. Gluesenkamp Perez, who founded and owns a Portland auto-repair business with her husband, Dean, said in a statement that she couldnt support debt forgiveness for college students without equal investments in career and technical education. Expansions of student debt forgiveness need to be matched dollar-for-dollar with investments in career & technical education. I cant support the first without the other. The severe shortage of trades workers needs to be seen & treated as a national priority. Its about respect. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@RepMGP) May 25, 2023 The resolution is an attempt to repeal Bidens debt relief program, which would forgive student loans up to $20,000, depending on income levels and whether that student received a federal Pell Grant. It also seeks to end a pandemic-era student loan repayment pause extended by the Biden administration. The effort faces an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Bidens relief plan is currently on hold as the Supreme Court considers its legality. Glusenkamp Perez campaigned on her working-class roots. Her great great grandfather Bert Gilmore was a quarry foreman who helped build the Washington state Capitol, Gluesenkamp Perez campaign website says, and her grandmother was born in a logging camp. Im all for repairing whats busted but the higher education system is totaled. College costs too much & the credentials produced get unwarranted social status, justifying more cost increases by our countrys elite. They need to snap out of it & the system needs a total overhaul. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@RepMGP) May 25, 2023 Gluesenkamp Perez herself graduated from Portlands elite private Reed College. Twitter critics were quick to point out that shes also been the beneficiary of federal loan forgiveness. During the pandemic, Deans Car Care received a $64,000 paycheck protection loan, which was forgiven as of April of 2021, according to a database compiled by the Salem Statesman Journal. Using the trades as a way to undermine student debt cancelation is unacceptable. Doing so after having a $63,861 PPP loan forgiven is hypocritical and shameful. Forgiveness for me, not for thee https://t.co/u04vRuFvZM pic.twitter.com/D6iptq0Obe Nina Turner (@ninaturner) May 25, 2023 The Oregonian/OregonLive reached out to Gluesenkamp Perez for comment Friday on that loan and more information about what kinds of investments in technical education shed like to see. Spokesperson Hannah Crook said Gluesenkamp Perez would be satisfied with investments in career technical education at the college or high school level. Crook also said the comparison of the paycheck protection loan to student debt relief makes no sense. She didnt choose to live through a pandemic, Crook said. Access to PPP loans was practically universal, and the PPP loan let her mechanics feed their families. Community colleges often facilitate apprenticeship programs that lead directly to high-paying trade jobs. One of the top paying associate degrees through Clackamas Community College is an apprenticeship partnership with Portland General Electric, which nets completers an average of $88,000 their first year after completing the program. I worked in my family's cabinet shop for a decade and I've been restoring classic cars at a garage for a few years. I have a master's degree. 2008 changed my plans and path. Stop trying to pit college graduates against those in the trades. Some of us have done both. Spacecase Records (@SpacecaseRecs) May 25, 2023 Heres how other area members of the House of Representatives voted on the measure: Oregon: Suzanne Bonamici, D, Oregons 1st District: No Cliff Bentz R, Oregons 2nd District: Yes Earl Blumenauer, D, Oregons 3rd District: No Val Hoyle, D, Oregons 4th District: No Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R, Oregons 5th District: Yes Andrea Salinas, D, Oregons 6th District: No Southwest Washington: Dan Newhouse, R, Washingtons 4th district: Yes Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum recused herself this week from her offices criminal investigation into Nishad Singh the disgraced FTX executive whose $500,000 donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon last fall was falsely reported under the name of a Las Vegas company. Rosenblums recusal, while merited, is both ridiculously late and deeply inadequate to ensure the independence that this inquiry deserves. Rosenblum should have worked long ago to separate herself and former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan from any administrative or criminal investigation into Singhs donation due to their cozy relationships with the party. While she is the head of the state justice department responsible for prosecuting campaign finance crimes, Rosenblum has also contributed more than $100,000 to the Democratic Party of Oregon over the years; Fagan, whose office includes the elections division, has received tens of thousands from the party and hired its former deputy director to serve as her elections chief. Seeking an independent investigator would reflect the spirit of Oregon law. ORS 260.345 calls for complaints involving a political committee that supports the secretary of state to go to the attorney general. It also allows for the attorney general to seek an alternate prosecutor if that political committee supports the attorney general. But Rosenblum did not intervene last November when Fagan announced her office would investigate how Singhs donation was attributed to cryptocurrency payment processor Prime Trust. That false report was disclosed only after repeated inquiries by The Oregonian/OregonLives Hillary Borrud. Rather, Rosenblum continued business as usual, even donating $2,500 last month to the party despite the ongoing investigation and the possibility that the Democratic Party of Oregon could have been referred to Rosenblum for criminal prosecution. Theoretically, that is. The party lucked out, thanks to settlement talks that began under Fagan and concluded under Acting Secretary of State Cheryl Myers, who took over after Fagan was forced to resign over her $10,000-a-month side job. Myers announced earlier this month an agreement to slash a proposed $35,000 fine against the party to $15,000, even though a state attorney said the elections division lacked the authority to reduce it. She also pledged not to refer the organization to Rosenblum for criminal investigation unless new evidence called for it. In return, the Democratic Party of Oregon promised to report on how it will improve its procedures for reporting the true sources of donations in other words, show it can follow the law, the way a statewide political party is supposed to. Among the procedures the party should consider: reading the information on the wire transfer document which, in this case, identifies Nishad Singh as the originator of funds. Myers office, however, did refer Singh to the attorney general for criminal investigation for his possible role in the false reporting. Singh, who pleaded guilty in New York to federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering and other crimes, has already testified to using funds from customers of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and Alameda Research hedge fund for political donations to federal campaigns. The Oregon donation may also be such a contribution. Importantly, in recusing herself from Singhs case, Rosenblum didnt ask a district attorney or other impartial investigator to take on the prosecution, instead leaving it to the staff that reports to her. Certainly, the justice department has credible professionals who take seriously their responsibility and would, presumably pursue evidence wherever it leads even the Democratic Party of Oregon. And Michael Kron, special counsel to Rosenblum, told The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that the agency has effective screening protocols in place that have been used in previous recusals by Rosenblum, who had served as a judge on the Court of Appeals prior to her election in 2012. But Rosenblum has already had some discussions with her staff about the case, Kron acknowledged, as part of her regular briefings about major inquiries. That involvement, Rosenblums known patronage of the Democratic Party of Oregon and the secretary of states forgiving settlement amount to one very large thumb on the scales. Part of finding evidence comes from whether investigators choose to ask questions along these lines in the first place. And there are plenty of questions that need to be asked. At what point did the Democratic Party of Oregon learn that the $500,000 it received may have been stolen? Before, during or after distributing proceeds to candidates? How do the partys actions square with Oregon law? Will justice department employees probe these questions as part of their inquiry into Singhs actions? An independent entity needs to review this case not only to assure Oregonians that top political players can and will be held accountable for their misdeeds. But also because Rosenblum herself does not seem to take seriously the reasons Oregonians might doubt her someone who donated to a political ally as it was under investigation by the state. Her spokesman, Roy Kaufmann, told the editorial board that AG Rosenblum wants to be clear that she does not believe this screening/recusal is required by law. Rather, it is out of concern for appearances and the high public profile of this matter that she is taking this action, he said. Appearances as opposed to a commitment to independence. Sadly, that sounds about right. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Editors note: This story first appeared on palabra, the digital news site by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. By Julie Schwietert Collazo The moment when I knew wed made the right decision about our kids education came in an email inviting parents to sign their kids up for a visit to Mexico Citys National Anthropology Museum. But this was no ordinary field trip. Students would ride in a double-decker bus from the school to the museum, accompanied along the way and at the museum by luchadores from Mexicos Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), who would talk with students about mujeres guerreras and the history of women warriors in Mexicos diverse Indigenous cultures. This, I thought, was the education I didnt even know I wanted for my children. My only complaint was that parents werent invited. *** I was in Mexico City for a work trip on May 14, 2022, when 10 Black people were murdered at a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York. (Three others, two white and one Black, were injured.) Ten days later, a shooter entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers, and injuring several others. On the day of the Buffalo attack, my Black, immigrant husband was at home with our three children in New York City. When we spoke that night, I posed the question, Why do we voluntarily remain in the United States? Why, I asked him, Dont we return to Mexico City? To be able to ask that question entailed privilege for sure, privilege that isnt available to many people who worry about violence. While our family is lower middle class in the United States, it would become upper middle class if we moved to Mexico, affording us even more protection. The question of moving also raised concerns among family and friends who worried about violence in Mexico. I wasnt naive about that violence, nor other problems in Mexico. Along with my husband, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Cuba, I co-founded Immigrant Families Together, a nonprofit we created in 2018 as a response to the Trump administrations family separation policy. In our work advocating for more than 130 asylum-seeking families supported by our organization (plus thousands more reached through our detention and border support programs), Id heard numerous stories about the reasons why people flee Mexico and the dangers asylum seekers from other countries face as they cross Mexico. Id even written a book with one of those asylum seekers, The Book of Rosy/El libro de Rosy, which details those dangers. And as a fact checker who specializes in Latin American subjects for outlets such as palabra and The Atavist, Im all too familiar with the statistics and, more importantly, the human stories of people impacted by widespread violence. But, I continued in my conversation with Francisco, Kids dont go to school alive and get shot up in their classrooms as a common occurrence. And while anti-Blackness and racism exist in Mexico and can have deadly consequences its not routine for Black folks to go grocery shopping and end up bleeding out on aisle 9 because some racist decides to go on a shooting spree. It didnt take much to convince him. By early June, it was official: We obtained our residency visas and were ready to move. Francisco and I had lived in Mexicos capital from 2007-2009, pre-kids. I hadnt wanted to leave Mexico, but in 2009, two forces conspired to result in our return to the U.S. The first was that our residency visas werent renewed. At the time, Mexico didnt have a rubric for substantiating freelance income, so we were told we had to abandon the country. The second was that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect, meaning that you couldnt simply walk across the border with a U.S. drivers license anymore. Francisco loved Mexico. But at the time, he loved New York more. That love died during the Trump years. The xenophobia aided and abetted by stubborn racism in the U.S. became too personal. So when I raised the issue of returning to Mexico (which by then had a solid framework for assessing freelance income), Francisco was open to the idea. Id always wanted to come back to live, and I had often returned for work. And now, we were doing it. This time, with kids. *** I arrived in Mexico City with our three children at the end of July, the beginning of the school year just a few weeks ahead of us. In New York, throughout the pandemic, I homeschooled our two youngest children. But as the worst of COVID began to recede, they expressed their desire to return to real school. They loved homeschool, they explained, but more than anything, they wanted to be with other kids for six hours a day. Mariel, 12, our eldest, wasnt yet sure about what she wanted. (She eventually chose to attend an online school.) In an effort to figure out where Orion, 8, and Olivia, 7, would go to school, I immersed myself in Facebook and WhatsApp parent groups, where parents from Mexico and around the world Colombia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, England, Latvia, and all points in between shared experiences and offered advice. Mexico City with kids, it seemed, would introduce a learning curve I hadnt had in Mexico City without kids. There were private schools with U.S. university-tuition price tags. There were public schools, but reports of pervasive bullying, especially of non-Mexican kids, discouraged me from this option. There were non-traditional schools outdoor classroom schools, for example. The choices were seemingly endless, and so were the opinions about each one. A former teacher warned against one private schools narcissistic director and his cult following. Besides the bullying problem, public schools seemed to pose other problems, too. Franciscos cousin, Ernesto, who had lived in Mexico for a decade after emigrating from Cuba, shared his experience as the parent of a former public school kid: With all the asks for colaboracion for classroom and supplies, youll end up paying as much at public school as at private school. His 7 year old went to a public school for a year before transferring to a private school focused on the Waldorf model, which emphasizes kids creativity and imagination. Our private school costs just over $1,000 a month for both kids are impossible for families living in poverty, especially outside of the city. Even public school costs, where school supplies and shoe expenses are charged to families, are a serious strain on family resources. And of course having to forgo school to go to work is another reality for children living in poverty. Data seem to affirm Ernestos experience: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that within its member countries, Mexico has among the lowest per-student outlays. On average, OECD countries spend $10,722 USD per primary school student and $11,400 USD per secondary school student, while Mexico spends just under $3,000 USD per primary student and $2,890 USD for secondary students. There were schools close to home that didnt have space for both kids. There were schools far from home that would require two hours of travel each way, twice per day. How was a parent supposed to make a choice, especially when they suddenly had privilege theyd never known in the U.S.? Olivia Collazo Schwietert and Orion Collazo Schwietert outside their school, Colegio Montessori del Bosque. Photo by Francisco Collazo for palabra Finally, with the start of the academic year just a few days away, I registered Orion and Olivia in a Montessori school, just over a mile away from our home. It was in a calm residential neighborhood, close enough to walk to and back. The school itself was located in what was once a large house, with a yard where kids enjoyed recess, had PE classes, participated in yoga on Fridays, grew kale and herbs, and picked oranges from a tree that shaded the patio. Students and their teachers walk to the neighborhood market on Thursdays to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, and cook lunch together, and at home, my kids practiced for their turn saying, buen provecho, and a kind of secular grace before the meal: Damos gracias a la naturaleza y a las personas que trabajaron para darnos estos alimentos. (We give thanks to nature and the people who worked to give us this food.) On our walks to school, the kids compared and contrasted what they liked about Mexico City versus NYC. Some of the differences were obvious and easy to articulate: Never, for example, had they built a big, beautiful Dia de Muertos altar in their public school in New York, nor made a pinata and broken it gleefully with classmates as part of pre-Christmas celebrations. Though I discouraged such comparisons, inviting them instead to experience and love each place on its own terms, it was hard for me to follow my own advice. School in Mexico City was much more satisfying than in New York, and not just because of the focus on the community over the individual and on learning through play and fun. The Montessori method encourages curiosity among all students. Photo by Francisco Collazo for palabra To be fair, figuring out education in New York had been a challenge, too. For one thing, people routinely offered academic career advice, even before Id given birth to our first child. Everyone, it seemed, was an expert. They clucked sympathetically when I replied that I didnt know what our plan was. You really should have been thinking about this, like five years ago, theyd say knowingly, pityingly, referencing waiting lists and lotteries and the kind of insider intel I thought was reserved for CEO suites or presidential war rooms, not elementary education. There were intriguing private school options, like the United Nations International School, which we toured with our first child, Mariel. But by the time we had a second child and well before we had our third it was clear that the math could never add up: two creatives with freelance incomes + three kids did not equal more than $120,000 in annual tuition outlays. Public school it would be! At first, I wasnt worried. After all, Id been a public school kid and I turned out just fine, and my husband was from Cuba, where education, including university, was universal and free the idea that parents would pay for their childrens primary education was not only foreign; it was repugnant. Everyone deserves the same quality education, he grumbled repeatedly, and most forcefully after our first child took at the age of four a gifted and talented placement test. We were behind the ball there, too. While standing in line waiting to check-in, we learned that other families had dropped hundreds of dollars on G&T tutors to prep their children yes, four and five year olds for the test. As you can probably guess, we had not done this. But still, I felt good about our choice. We lived in one of the most diverse counties and in one of the most progressive cities in the country. Public school couldnt be that bad, could it? Of course it could. The #ENOUGH school walkout was a national, student-led gun violence protest, held on March 14, 2018. In a school with more than 1,000 students, Mariel, Schwieterts eldest daughter, was the only child to walk out in protest. Photo by Julie Schwietert Collazo And it didnt take much time to see that. Though our kids school was ranked among the top 50% in the state, there was a lot that didnt sit well with us. Class sizes were large. Teachers were frazzled and stretched thin. Teaching was oriented toward testing, which, in turn, was oriented toward the school maintaining its public-facing status as a good school. There was a roach problem (I knew, because I led a Girl Scout troop in the schools cafeteria). Also, the curriculum seemed surprisingly conservative. After Mariel, brought home a Social Studies test where shed been docked for defining a family as a group of people who love each other (the correct answer was: A mother, a father, and two children), I became that mother: the one who wrote passionate, progressive defenses on tests when I was just supposed to sign them. They werent just defenses for my kids. They were defenses for the world I wanted us all to live in. All that would have been fine, Francisco and I told ourselves. Wed supplement our kids classroom learning with the values and lessons we wanted them to know. But it was the environment itself that was intolerable. School safety officers and crossing guards (both of whom are employed by the New York City Police Department) who yelled at kids as they got off their school buses in the morning. Active shooter drills where our middle child was told to hide in a closet because a bear a bear! was coming. A gun violence protest where Mariel was the only student to participate in the national school walkout. An administration that refused to reaffirm the schools safety for Muslim families when the so-called Trump travel ban went into effect, telling me when I inquired about the schools silence, that addressing the issue would be too political, and then after I offered to draft a letter that would not be too political, declining. They would not be addressing the issue, period. If neither the academics nor the environment was redeeming, why, exactly, were our kids there for? *** In the United States, we never had enough money to consider alternatives to a public school education. In Mexico, our relative economic stability (were still dealing with massive debt) opened possibilities to us that (a) would never have been available to us in New York, no matter how hard we worked, and (b) arent accessible for the average Mexican, who in 2022 earned 172.87 pesos a day, and in 2023 will earn 207.44 pesos a day $8.60 USD and $11.26 USD, respectively. This observation is even more true for Mexicans who live outside of economically productive urban areas and/or who are marginalized because of one or more aspects of their identity. I recognize that the choices available to my family are out of reach for too many people. But it is my hope that my children will choose to continue living in Mexico as they reach adulthood, and that they will join the grassroots groundswell that is fighting for educational equity for all Mexicans. Given that they have grown up alongside two activist parents who founded a nonprofit that supports Mexicans, Central Americans, South Americans, and folks from the Caribbean who are seeking asylum in the U.S., and they have been steeped in that work throughout their lives including here in Mexico, where we have sheltered asylum-seeking families from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela I am confident they will. This confidence comes in the form of a foundation of thought and action that is being poured by their own school. It was in the first parent-teacher conference that I took note of the most positive difference in my childrens education in Mexico: time, as well as a focus on true learning, not learning so the school could brag about achieving some state or national standard. During parent-teacher conferences in New York, which were scheduled for strictly enforced five-minute time slots, teachers always said, Your kids are great; no problems; thanks for coming. So I was taken aback when the Mexico City teacher team for our kids yes, a team met with us for nearly 20 minutes. They were obviously unhurried, went into detail about what was happening in the classroom, and then asked about what was happening in our kids lives and ours at home and in our community. They wanted us all to be partners in our childrens growth, not just at school. It seemed they wanted to be in conversation with us about how we all existed in our larger community. Each Friday, students work together to prepare lunch for their classmates and teachers. Students visit the neighborhood fruit and vegetable market to purchase ingredients for each weeks lunch. Photo by Francisco Collazo for palabra This feeling is reinforced across the entire school experience, from the schools WhatsApp group for parents, where information and support are shared openly and easily and families organize mutual aid for social service projects they care about, to the leisurely family potluck dinner (complete with tequila and mezcal!) held in the schoolyard (it went on for hours, and no one was rushed to leave, even though it was a school night), to the holiday bazaar and kids Christmas performance, which sprawled beyond the shows conclusion to include a long, lovely lunch and afternoon in the park. And the bonus: The only kind of drill the kids had to participate in was an earthquake drill, which was purposeful, organized, not frantic, and presented to kids in an honest, but age-appropriate way no bears involved. To be clear, I know this experience isnt universal in Mexico City. Our experience is just one anecdote, in a relatively upscale neighborhood, in a family and community that have more resources and options than in many other places, especially rural, Indigenous, and marginalized communities. But those more important aspects of our childrens education here are reflected in other areas of society, too: the concern for community over the individual, the feeling that were all in this together, and the sense that we can always make time for one another that we dont have to hurry toward some arbitrary academic goal that ultimately means little, if anything, for the student and their learning. During a recent trip back to the U.S. to visit my family, Olivia remarked wistfully toward the end of the trip that she was ready to return to Mexico. Its my happy place, she said. I want to live there forever. With the foundation that is being set for her here, I have no doubt she will grow up to help shape a Mexican education system that offers to all students the same gifts she has been given here. Julie Schwietert Collazo is a bilingual writer, editor, factchecker, and translator, as well as the co-founder and director of Immigrant Families Together Julie Schwietert Collazo is a bilingual writer, editor, factchecker, and translator, as well as the co-founder and director of Immigrant Families Together, a non-profit formed in 2018 to respond to the family separation policy. Along with Rosayra Pablo Cruz, she wrote The Book of Rosy/El libro de Rosy, published by HarperOne and HarperCollins Espanol in 2020. Both authors are featured in the documentary, Split at the Root/Dividida en la Raiz, which is streaming on Netflix. Francisco Collazo is a photographer, chef, and co-founder of Immigrant Families Together. Francisco Collazo is a photographer, chef, and co-founder of Immigrant Families Together. After scaling back a utility rate hike that will kick in July 1, the Portland City Council decided to bump it back up a notch, saying it wants to preserve a new program designed to assist low-income renters. Water and sewer rates will increase 5.65% under the rule adopted Wednesday, up from the 4.85% city leaders approved just a week prior. Republicans boycotting the Oregon Senate may be on track to kill hundreds of bills and derail top priorities for Gov. Tina Kotek, including plans to accelerate home building, boost the reading skills of young children and fix the states public defense crisis. Despite Senate President Rob Wagner and Kotek continuing to express hope that the session can be salvaged, some lawmakers and Capitol insiders say it is effectively over and are preparing to reconvene in a special session this summer to craft the two-year budget. But a special session is typically narrow in scope and may not include work on many of the bills that could be killed by the walkout. Update: About 24 hours after Gov. McMaster signed the ban into law, Judge Clifton Newman blocked it, pending the state Supreme Courts review of the measure. As of this writing, abortion is banned in South Carolina at roughly 20 weeks. 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. MILTON, ON , May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, alongside the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ontario, and the Honourable Parm Gill, Member of Provincial Parliament for Milton, announced a combined investment of over $4.8 million which built 34 not-for-profit affordable homes in Milton. Canada Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Located at 70 Ontario Street and owned and operated by the Catherton Charitable Foundation, the building features 83 one and two-bedroom units 34 of which are funded by Canada and Ontario. Residents of the building include individuals, families and seniors paying affordable rent, as well as fixed- and low-income residents receiving various levels of rent assistance and subsidies. The project supports intensification of Milton's Urban Growth Centre and has added a new, separate four-storey apartment building to the west portion of an existing residential property. This investment is made through initiatives of the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy and the funding includes: $563,439 from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) $435,043 from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) $900,000 from the Canada-Ontario Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) agreement $2,923,036 from Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF) Quotes: "Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Through the National Housing Strategy and our partnership with Ontario, we have built 34 affordable homes for low-income individuals and families in Milton, who now have a home that meets their needs. These investments will help us build stronger communities by making life more affordable for those most in need. This is one of the many ways the Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy is ensuring that no one is left behind." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion "The Government of Canada is investing in affordable housing here in Milton and across Canada to ensure everyone has an affordable place to live, while improving the quality of life for those who need it most. Our focus is on meeting the needs of vulnerable groups, including seniors and women and their children, by providing them with safe, accessible and affordable housing options that meet their unique needs." Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton "These 34 new units will make a life-changing difference for the residents, and I am proud that they were made possible through a collaborative investment by the Ontario and federal governments. This project is a good example of our government's commitment to tackle homelessness and the housing supply crisis across Ontario including through our historic levels of increased funding for homelessness prevention." The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ontario "Every dollar counts when it comes to building more homes that will make a real difference for families and seniors. By working together, we're able to provide Milton residents with more than housing- we're giving them the stability, foundation and support that empowers residents to truly thrive." The Honourable Nina Tangri, Ontario's Associate Minister of Housing "Our government is proud to invest in the creation of new affordable housing in Milton and across Ontario. These 34 new units are part of a larger development that will meet our growing community's housing needs, in line with our government's plan to increase housing supply so more people are able to find a home they can afford." The Honourable Parm Gill, Member of Provincial Parliament for Milton "This combined federal and provincial funding supports the Region's commitment to providing safe and accessible housing that meets the diverse needs of residents, as outlined in our Comprehensive Housing Strategy for 2014-2024. Thank you to Minister Clark and MP van Koeverden for this important investment in Milton through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative, Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative, Social Infrastructure Fund and the Investment in Affordable Housing Extension. This funding has been critical in supporting the creation of much needed affordable housing in our Region." Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair "The Town of Milton is committed to working with government partners to address the need for a variety of housing options. Today's announcement delivers on our belief that Milton can be a safe, welcoming and attractive home for all of our residents." Gord Krantz, Mayor, Town of Milton "The Maple Leaf Group's board of directors is thrilled to be adding much needed affordable housing to Halton Region and the City of Milton. The 70 Ontario Street project we are celebrating today, took over 10 years to be fully developed and occupied and the result speaks for itself." Steve Robinson, President of Board of Directors, Catherton Charitable Foundation Quick facts: The Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $82+ billion to give more Canadians a place to call home The Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) provides funding to repair, regenerate and expand community housing so tenants can live in a home that is affordable. It can also be used to support community housing providers whose original program arrangements are expiring and help them to become more sustainable. The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) provides flexible funding to address local housing priorities and improve access to affordable housing options. It will help to increase affordable housing supply and improve the state of repair of affordable and social housing stock. It provides cost-matched funding to service managers and Indigenous program administrators. The Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF) and Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Program are joint federal-provincial programs that funded the creation and repair of affordable housing. They also provided down payment assistance for homeownership and rental assistance to families and individuals in need. The Ontario government invested over $1.2 billion in emergency funding under the Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) to help municipal service managers and Indigenous program administrators respond to COVID-19, create longer-term housing solutions, and help vulnerable people, including those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Ontario is also investing an additional $202 million each year for the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program bringing Ontario's total yearly investment to close to $700 million. This includes an increase of $4.4 million through the Homelessness Prevention Program for the Region of Halton, bringing the total to $14.3 million for 2023-24. These programs help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and support the community organizations delivering supportive housing. Funding can also be used to build new supportive housing units. Related links: As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing needs, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of the Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada. Ontario's most recent housing supply action plan Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants is the latest in a series of steps taken by the province to help more people find a home they can afford. For more information on affordable housing in Ontario, visit ontario.ca/affordablehousing or follow us on Twitter . CMHC Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Ontario Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/26/c2705.html Heading off to college in pursuit of a four-year degree can be an exciting albeit expensive proposition. However, for Jane Amstutz, Brethren High School graduate, it will be completely free. Amstutz was awarded Central Michigan University's Centralis Scholar Award, which will provide her with tuition, room and board for four years. Amstutz said she was "over the moon" when she found out she would won the scholarship. "I definitely cried. ... I was very happy. I felt very grateful for my teachers, my family and my friends who just support me and make sure I have the opportunity to compete for those scholarships," she said. "I was also very surprised. I wasn't expecting to get a full ride to Central, but it was just an amazing day. I was so happy. I just felt super excited about everything." The scholarship is CMU's highest merit-based award, for which high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.7 are eligible to compete. Only 20 Centralis Scholar Awards are given out annually, while 60 students receive the Centralis Gold Award, which covers tuition alone. The application process has two rounds. "For your first round of applications, you write an essay, you put down some references, you put down what extracurriculars you do and you have to upload a creative piece," Amstutz said. "For my creative piece I submitted a video of me playing a song that I wrote, so I could hopefully stand out amongst the other applicants." Amstutz said 400 of the roughly 1,000 scholarship applicants are invited to campus for a second round of competition. "They give a whole presentation about the honors college and other scholarship opportunities at Central. Eventually they call all of the applicants up in groups ... and they take you somewhere on campus and you get the prompt for an essay," she said. "You have like an hour to write it maybe 45 minutes. It's all done on Microsoft Word, but then they print it out so the essay is never stored anywhere except for on that paper copy." Andy Amstutz, Jane's dad and a science teacher at Brethren, said his daughter started to doubt herself after the in-person essay. "The essay was 'what two things would you go back in history to visit and how does that influence you?' She chose Nirvana on MTV Unplugged ... because she's way into that kind of stuff. Then she said 9/11, too," Andy Amstutz said. "... She goes, 'I don't know what they're going to think of me wanting to go see Nirvana on "MTV Unplugged."' I got kind of a kick out of it. ... I kind of chuckled at that that she took a risk like that." Fortunately, the risk paid off and Jane Amstutz was awarded the scholarship. "No one from our school has ever gotten that," Andy Amstutz said. "They've gotten the tuition, but they haven't gotten the room and board." Jane Amstutz said she is glad she took a chance and applied for the Centralis scholarship. "I would encourage any senior next year who meets the qualifications to apply, because you never know what's going to happen," she said. As for what she'll study at CMU, Jane Amstutz said she still has time to figure that out. "I'm not 100% married to any major, but as of right now I'm thinking about majoring in English," she said. "I really enjoy writing, so I want to do something with writing, but I'm not sure what yet." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Pioneer photo/Bradley Massman Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Pioneer photo/Dylan Schwartz Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Pioneer photo/Dylan Schwartz Show More Show Less 5 of 5 BIG RAPIDS Margo Berke and Marlies Manning, two local artists, are honored to be guests at the Ferris State University Fine Art Gallery. The Continuing the Journey exhibition runs from June 1 tthrough August 4 with an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6. PARIS Talm the premium French skin care brand for use before, during and after pregnancy has raised its first round of funding to help bolster expansion. Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas, cofounders of Caudalie, took a minority stake in the high-end dermocosmetics brand for mothers-to-be and moms. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. More from WWD Talm is an acronym for to all the mamas. It was launched in September 2021 by Kenza Keller, a luxury beauty executive who recently served as Byredos international marketing director. Prior to that, she worked at Hermes International in Paris and Guerlain in London. Keller appeared on Forbes Frances 40 Women list last year. Her idea for Talm was spawned when she was first expecting. I discovered that women, when they are pregnant, want to conceive or have just given birth, are in a position where its really difficult to find products that are truly safe for them and their babies, Keller said. She was further shocked to find a dearth of such products with a high level of sensoriality and eco-friendly components. This idea started to grow and grow and actually became an obsession, she said. Keller set out to create a line 100 percent safe from the first day of pregnancy, through breastfeeding even for the baby and beyond. So it needed to be also organic, vegan, Keller said. The brief was super restrictive. Using naturals, product efficiency was key, too. For Talms eco-friendly approach, she turned to glass for bottles and compostable corn byproduct for outer packaging. Products are made in France, and each natural and raw material is tracked, for transparency and quality control. Keller created products to be pleasurable and multifunctional. She wants women using Talm to feel comfortable in their own skin. Less is more on many levels. At launch, Talm had three products, each of which mentioned pregnancy and postpartum on its labeling. There is Mega Oil, for body and facial hydration, now the bestseller; Mega Serum, with a roll-on applicator, and Mega Balm, a rich cream. Together, they comprise a skin care routine. Talm Mega Serum Mega Hair supplements, to reduce and prevent hair loss, came next and have become Talms second bestseller online. Product prices range from 34 euros to 39 euros. The idea is to capitalize on the existing, minimalist portfolio, said Keller, who is now working on a facial skin care collection, due out in the second half of 2023. Talm was initially launched in five countries, and in 2022 boasted 10 international markets, including Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. An 11th opened this year, and more are slated to come. Prestige retailers, such as Oh My Cream, Smallable and Galeries Lafayette, as well as pharmacies, stock Talm. About half of its sales, which are growing by triple digits, come from Talms e-shop servicing Europe and the U.S. Mathilde Thomas said that what attracted her as an investor to the brand are its formulas high quality and efficacy, as well as Kellers passion and aesthetic sense. The promising niche of pregnant women is underdeveloped, Thomas continued. Today, in this particular segment, only insufficiently clean and effective formulas exist. Among her goals is to widen Talms reach. The Thomas family office invests inside and outside the world of beauty. We want to support young people in the key stages of building a cosmetics brand help plan healthy, sustainable and profitable growth, as [we did], Thomas said. She explained another aim is to help them develop in Europe, as well as the rest of the world, in order to learn and possibly create synergies. Keller said shed long been interested in Thomas. I have always been very fascinated by the [Caudalie] brand story, but also her personal journey as an entrepreneur, Keller said. I really wanted to have them on board her and her husband. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BIG RAPIDS Michael J. Van Diepenbos, of Cascade, has accepted a role as an appointee to The Ferris Foundations Board of Directors at Ferris State University. Diepenbos, senior vice president and group manager of Comerica Banks business banking practice for the west and southwest Michigan regions, was officially approved for appointment by Ferris State Universitys Board of Trustees in December 2022 in Big Rapids. A Ferris alumnus, Diepenbos earned an associate degree in architectural technology from the College of Engineering Technology in 1987. Soon after, in 1989, he moved to the College of Business and received his Bachelor of Science in business administration. He continued his education at Western Michigan University, where he was awarded a Master of Business Administration with a finance concentration in 1994. With a service mindset, Diepenbos joins a board of individuals committed to securing and administering financial support for students, faculty and staff. Its a tremendous honor to join The Ferris Foundation Board, and Im grateful to work with so many talented community leaders as we seek to advance the mission of Ferris State University, Diepenbos said. Preparing our students for lifelong success is the responsibility of all who serve our university. Our bulldog students, faculty and staff are at the center of the Foundations work, and Im proud to assist in creating the positive change that is Ferris State University. Diepenbos joined Ferris Alumni Association in 2012 and is its immediate past president. In the Alumni Association, he has chaired its Legacy Scholarship program, was on its Distinguished Alumni and Pacesetter Awards Committee, and served eight years as an executive committee officer. In 2016, Diepenbos co-founded the Ferris State University Grand Rapids Council and has been a co-chair since. The Council consists of business and community leaders who have raised more than $500,000 to support scholarships for Ferris students from Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties. Kathy Mullins, vice president for University Advancement and Marketing and interim executive director of The Ferris Foundation, welcomed Diepenbos appointment. Mullins, who has strong West Michigan ties coming to Ferris in December 2022 from Grand Rapids Community College, is familiar with Diepenbos past work and enthusiastic about what he will do in the future supporting Ferris students, faculty and staff of a university now led by Ferris President Bill Pink. I am thrilled that Mike has joined the Ferris State University Foundation Board of Directors, Mullins said. As an alum and community leader, he brings expertise and energy to the board that will serve our students and community well. This is an exciting time at Ferris State University with many positive changes on the horizon as Dr. Pink continues to move Ferris forward at record speed, and Mike is just the Bulldog to keep pace. Diepenbos West Michigan activism includes serving on the Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School Board, where he chaired its finance committee for years. He is also a St. Paul the Apostle Church member and has served as a member of the pastoral committee and finance committee chair. He is an adjunct tax and accounting professor at Grand Valley State University. In addition, Diepenbos has served as a Junior Achievement instructor and a Grand Rapids Public Schools tutor. Diepenbos lives in Cascade and has been married to his wife, Liz, for more than 30 years. The couple has two adult children, Eric and Sarah. Photo provided/Michigan State Police Sixth District Photo provided/Michigan State Police Sixth District A woman and her young daughter were critically injured Monday in a head-on crash on a West Michigan road, per state police. Photos provided/Michigan State Police Sixth District A 6-year-old girl died from the injuries she sustained in a head-on crash, Michigan State Police announced three days after the collision. It is with great sadness that we share this update that the 6-year-old girl has passed away from her injuries, MSP Sixth District wrote in a Thursday statement. The loss of a child is a tremendous heartache, and our thoughts and condolences are extended to the family and friends. The following list includes some recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims. Thursday, May 25 11:31 p.m. - Deputies spoke to a 34-year-old woman regarding her daughter not coming home. The 34-year-old stated her daughter ended up in Saginaw with friends and wanted assistance picking her up. The officer provided the woman with the telephone number for Thomas Township police. 11:04 p.m. - Deputies spoke to a 23-year-old Mount Haley woman regarding threatening text messages she was receiving. The woman was advised to block the incoming texts and contact the court for a personal protection order. 8:50 p.m. - Police responded to a domestic violence complaint in the 5800 block of Plumtree Lane. 10:47 p.m. - A 38-year-old man heard what he thought were footsteps in his backyard. A deputy checked the area and did not find any evidence or footprints. 10:25 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jasper Township residence regarding a wellbeing check on a 16-year-old boy who was possibly suicidal. Deputies contacted the boy and his 41-year-old mother who stated everything was fine, and that they didn't need any assistance. 8:41 p.m. - Deputies spoke to a 51-year-old Mount Haley Township man regarding his stolen property being located by an unknown man. The man stated he did not want to press charges, he just wanted his chainsaw back. 8:42 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township regarding a wellbeing check. The caller advised that they had not talked with their friend since 9:30 a.m. and she wasn't returning phone calls or texts. Contact was made with the 46-year-old woman, and she advised that she was all set and would call her friend. More Information Activities of the Midland County Sheriff's Office and Midland Police Department on May 25, 2023 See More Collapse 8:03 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence regarding a 52-year-old woman reporting that her 59-year-old brother had committed suicide. Deputies investigated, and no signs of foul play were located at the scene. 4:24 p.m. - Police responded to a property damage crash at Jefferson Avenue and Northgate Drive. 2:33 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to assist Michigan State Police with report of a possibly intoxicated driver. Deputies arrived on the scene and discovered the woman driver was not intoxicated. 11:43 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding the theft of water and electricity. The incident is being investigated and charges are being requested on a 40-year-old Lee Township man. A report will be sent to the prosecutor for review. 9:40 a.m. - Deputies responded to a Larkin Township residence for an 89-year-old Larkin Township man who was found deceased by a family member. The death was suspected to be from natural causes and nothing suspicious was found during the investigation. 9:16 a.m. - A deputy met Hampton Township police in Bay County regarding a man with a Midland County warrant. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail without incident. 8:49 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township highway regarding bikes on the shoulder of the road that had been run over by a vehicle. The deputy located the bikes that were still attached to a vehicle mounting system. The bikes were disposed of as they were no longer of any value. 7:51 a.m. - Police were called to Isabella and Sandow roads for a property damage crash. 4:02 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to Homer Township regarding a 35-year-old man reporting a suspicious vehicle left unoccupied. Deputies located the 32-year-old woman owner of the vehicle who advised she would be returning to retrieve the vehicle shortly. No further assistance was needed from deputies. 1:46 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a domestic between a 33-year-old Lee Township woman and a 41-year-old Lee Township man. A report was sent to the prosecutor for review. 12:02 a.m. - Deputies performed a traffic stop on a vehicle for vehicle violations in Greendale Township. Upon further investigation deputies found the 40-year-old man driving did not have a valid license. The man was cited, and a report is being sent to the prosecutor for review. YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) More than 30 women abducted by separatist rebels for protesting illegal taxes imposed on them were released, the government said Friday. The women were taken earlier this month from Babanki, a farming village in the Northwest Region, along the border with Nigeria. We have taken the women to hospitals where they are being treated for injuries and supported psychosocially, said Simon Emil Mooh a local government official. The separatists were collecting monthly payments from children, women and men, imposing taxes on couples before they got married, and forcing families to pay $1,000 to bury their relatives, he said. The Central African nation has been plagued by fighting since English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion in 2017, with the stated goal of breaking away from the area dominated by the French-speaking majority and setting up an independent, English-speaking state. The government has accused the separatists of committing atrocities against English-speaking civilians. The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced more than 760,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group. Some of the women released told The Associated Press that they were tortured while in captivity. The separatist fighters beat me with their guns after stripped me naked, Vubom Elizabeth told the AP by phone on Friday from the hospital where she was being treated. The rebels broke her left leg and arm, she said. Separatist leader Capo Daniel said the women were freed after promising to stop protesting, but warned that people would continue to be punished if they continue. The governor of Cameroon's Northwest Region, Deben Tchoffo, called on the collaboration of communities to stop the atrocities and said the government will do what it takes to protect the women from separatist brutality. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) A Spanish Jesuit priest who died in 2012 has been accused of sexually abusing a minor in Bolivia three decades ago, the latest in a string of pedophilia cases that have shaken the Catholic Church in this Andean country. Jorge Vila Despujol, who died in Barcelona in 2012, was formally accused before prosecutors Thursday by a person who alleges they were indecently touched when they were 13, the Jesuit Society in Bolivia said in a statement. The name of the alleged victim is being kept confidential. The abuse allegedly occurred when the victim was at an educational institution in the central region of Cochabamba, although no further details were given. Vila Despujol founded the organization Defense of Children International in Bolivia, which promotes the rights of minors. The organization is still active, and it condemned all forms of abuse in a statement in which it also urged other victims file reports with the Public Prosecutors Office. The Jesuits in Bolivia have been in the spotlight since the Spanish newspaper El Pais published excerpts from the diary of late priest Alfonso Pedrajas a few weeks ago, in which he admitted to sexually abusing dozens of minors in Catholic boarding schools in the 1970s and 1980s. An alleged victim of Pedrajas formally filed an accusation against the deceased priest on May 19, the Jesuit order said. The revelations about Pedrajas, a Spanish Jesuit who died in 2009, has helped uncover other cases of abuse by Church authorities, including from other orders, amid a broad inquiry by prosecutors. One Carmelite parish priest, Milton Murillo, was sent to pre-trial detention for three months earlier this month. The Public Prosecutors Office said this week it had formally charged another priest, Garvin Grech, with covering up Murillos alleged crimes. Grech has fled to neighboring Argentina, according to police. Attorney General Wilfredo Chavez said earlier this week that around 23 priests have been implicated in alleged pedophilia cases. 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. Earlier this week, Jordi Bertemeu, one of the Vaticans top sex crimes investigators, arrived in Bolivia amid the growing scandal. The Bolivian Catholic Church acknowledged on Wednesday that it had been deaf to the sufferings of the victims of sexual abuse committed by priests and pledged to seek reparation for the victims. YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) A passenger bus collided with a truck in Cameroon, killing at least 19 people, the government said Friday. The bus was headed to the southern town of Eseka when it lost control and struck a heavy duty truck," which was transporting sand, Transport Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe said. The majority of people on board died on the spot. LONDON (AP) British Airways canceled dozens of flights Friday, blaming computer problems for disrupting plans for thousands of passengers at the start of a busy holiday weekend a rocky kickoff to the summer travel season in Europe. The technical glitches and strikes by airport staff across Europe are stirring concerns about a repeat of last summer's post-pandemic air travel chaos that unleashed delays, cancellations and mountains of lost luggage from London to Sweden to Amsterdam. Most of the 42 affected flights in London were on short-haul routes to and from Heathrow, Europes busiest airport. Computer issues on Thursday caused planes and crew to be out of position Friday, which was expected to be the busiest day for U.K. air travel since before the coronavirus pandemic. Other flights were delayed, with some passengers unable to check in online. Travel is expected to be especially busy over the next few days as a three-day weekend coincides with the start of a weeklong holiday for most schools in Britain. Were aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix, British Airways said on its website. The industry is gearing up for a busy summer season and hoping to avoid a repeat of the disorder last year, when airports and airlines struggled to keep up with demand that came roaring back after pandemic restrictions eased. While some disruptions can be expected, there is a clear expectation that the ramping-up issues faced at some key hub airports in 2022 will have been resolved, the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, said this month. "To meet strong demand, airlines are planning schedules based on the capacity that airports, border control, ground handlers, and air navigation service providers have declared. Over the next months, all industry players now need to deliver, the airline industry group said. IATA warned that strikes, including by airport staff such as air traffic controllers, are cause for concern, particularly in places like France. Labor action by French workers battling the government over pension reforms has resulted in as many as 30% of flights canceled at Paris second busiest airport, Orly, on some days. In Britain, Heathrow security guards launched a three-day strike Thursday over pay after walking off their jobs over busy periods earlier this year, including Easter. The strikes have been an issue, but "mitigation measures that have been implemented has meant that in the vast majority of cases, people have been able to travel from the U.K. as expected, and we expect the same to be the case over the summer months, said Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, which represents about 350 U.K. travel agents. The industry is made of many moving parts and navigating some of the issues outside of our control at exceptionally busy periods does put increased pressure on the entire ecosystem, she said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscows forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometers (more than 4 miles) from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom, said resident Tatiana Safonova. We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said described the sound beforehand like a growling, noisy moped driving by. Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "Im somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war - so its quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded. Ukraines Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russias Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. Late Friday, officials in the Russian-held sector of Donetsk reported two missile strikes on the city of Mariupol, where a monthslong siege early in the war left much of the city in ruins. Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed official as saying the missiles were long-range Storm Shadows, which the United Kingdom delivered to Ukraine this month. In Moscow, Chinas special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers, the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says its neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict, but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraines allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin must first withdraw his forces. ___ Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London, contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine 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. After leaving prison, where hed been incarcerated for nearly three decades, a man in his 60s took up residence in the woods of Kansas City, where he stayed for five years. He eventually found his way to City Union Missions emergency homeless shelter, where staff learned hed been panhandling to pay for his eyesight medication. At the shelter, they pegged him as a good fit for the L. Minor Care Center next door, a program that helps connect men with high needs to long-term supportive housing, however long it takes. Once at the center, staff connected the man with a healthcare provider who covered his medications and delivered them to him. He doesnt have a move-out deadline, and all the services are free. The man, upon learning this, started crying. This is the first time I feel like anybodys ever cared for me, Amanda Greene, the centers administrator, recalled him saying. In the five years since opening, nearly 700 men have come through the center, with most staying for about 150 days, though some have stayed for years before transitioning into permanent supportive housing, City Union Mission leadership said. Of those, 75% were still in permanent housing a year later. Were finding thats really the sweet spot thats missing in Kansas City, is this non-clinical, but high-touch, high-investment opportunity for them to just relax and feel at home and for us to start working toward, where is the best place we can place them, said Terry Megli, CEO of City Union Mission, which runs the center. All the men at the center have been chronically homeless, and about 80% were previously institutionalized. About 60% have a traumatic brain injury, and almost everyone has experienced some sort of addiction. Almost every resident suffers from multiple mental health disorders and/or physical disabilities, Megli said, with about half using a wheelchair, cane or walker. Many also suffer from addiction. Some of the mens needs are too high even for emergency or cold-weather shelters, Greene added. This means each guest needs a personalized experience. And that starts with helping the men overcome their stigma about being homeless and learn to recognize their own worth, she said. They focus on building trust, creating a routine, getting on a medical management program and learning to relax, now that theyre in a safe space. Once that foundation is built, they look for permanent housing. Guests relax in the community recreational room at the L. Minor Care Center on April 25, 2023, in Kansas City. About 10 men are currently on the centers waiting list, though Greene estimated there are thousands of people in the metro who could benefit from their program. Its why Megli is in the process of creating a similar program for women and families. Kansas Citys homeless population has grown in visibility, and likely size in the past few years, as the pandemic forced more people into fraught financial situations. Right now, an estimated 1,800 people are living unhoused in Kansas City, Missouri, alone, according to a recent estimate by the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness These numbers are part of the reason Megli is hoping to draw more attention to the success of the L. Minor Care Center, which he hopes to expand into a similar program for women and children. With the right resources, staff said, they hope to help hundreds more people. Growing mental health needs At the turn of the century, a former City Union Mission staffer named Loraine Minor recognized a growing need to address mental illness in Kansas Citys homeless population. The center, her namesake, finally opened in 2018 on East 10th Street next to their mens shelter. They now have a team of about 20 people, including case managers, administrators and overnight staff who help cater to the individual adaptive living needs of each man. The program has cost just under $4 million in five years through donations. Staff at the mens emergency shelter are trained to help identify individuals with mental health and physical health needs. From there, L. Minor Care Center staff run a vulnerability assessment to determine if they are high risk and could benefit from the program. Once theyve joined the center, the men can stay as long as they need to until they find permanent supportive housing, staff say. And if they leave and then later face homelessness again, theyre welcomed back to try again. Unlike most emergency shelters, they dont have to leave during the day; and unlike many transitional housing opportunities, theres no move-out deadline. Many of the men have to re-learn how to take care of themselves after years spent living on the street, Greene said. Others need around-the-clock nursing and support. Most of the men, including those with diabetes, are given resources to learn how to take care of their health. The center helps connect each person with a primary care doctor, and clinicians make stops by the center at least once a month. Theres so many resources in Kansas City, its just connecting all the dots, Greene said. Amanda Greene, administrator for the L. Minor Care Center, speaks about the amenities the center provides for guests on April 25, 2023, in Kansas City. Then theres the journey to independence and confidence. We really dont want them to come in thinking theyre labeled, that something is broken and that they have a mental health issue, Megli said. We want to be able to draw out who they really are. Green helps lead the charge. She started volunteering at City Union Mission three days after she retired from the Army, fulfilling an inner calling to work with the homeless. Within a few months she was hired to lead their newly-opened L. Minor Care Center. She knows what its like to be part of an institution. Some of the men were also in the military. Others were in prison, or rehabilitation centers, or homeless shelters. Its why she tries to incorporate a mix of routine and structure with flexibility and freedom. When a new person joins, staff sketch out a plan based on their wants and needs. From there, they can take as much or as little time as they need to reach those goals. It gives staff the ability to help cater to the mens individual, complex needs in ways that most shelters cant. I love our staff having that commitment and resolve to say, if someone comes back and needs help, this just means were going to do it better. we wont give up on them, whether it takes 30 days or 3.5 years, Megli said. A place for community When he was in his late 20s, John Tyree Davis said he lost his job and later his housing after overworking himself, unable to find a good balance between work and life. Greene met Davis, who was born and raised on Kansas Citys east side, at City Union Missions emergency shelter and recommended he join the center as one of its youngest residents. It picked me up, brought me to good spirits, Davis, now 32, said of the center. Here, its nothing but pure love. He found relief from worrying where his next meal might come from, or where to lay his head. But more importantly, he said, he found community, balance and hope. John Tyre Davis, a former resident, speaks about his experience at the L. Minor Care Center on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Kansas City. I come from a place where you can be down and out in life, you can be homeless, but you have to find those little things that make you want to push yourself to do better, said Davis, who was filled with inspirational sayings like those seen on classroom walls, like: Just keep trying. You get knocked down, pick yourself back up and continue on. Dust yourself off and lets go again until we get it right. He constantly reminds himself that his life matters. Now Davis, who recently moved into a home with three other men who also transitioned out of the shelter, uses those skills to help care for others as a caretaker for the elderly. He fears that without the center, hed be back on the streets or in jail. Kansas City needs more opportunities like the L. Minor Care Center, Davis said. The fact that guests can stay as long as they need to sort out their affairs is huge in helping them to transition out successfully. The ongoing education about life off the streets was invaluable. Irvin Hernandez, 65, agrees. Hernandez, who came to the U.S. from Chapas, Mexico, a few decades ago, joined the center about four years ago. He moved to Kansas City in 2000. He had it all: a job in construction, a house, a car. Ervin Hernandez, a resident, speaks about his experience at the L. Minor Care Center on April 25, 2023, in Kansas City. But he lost it all after suffering a heart attack and stroke. Shortly before he found City Union Missions emergency mens shelter, Hernandez was sleeping on the streets, where he attempted to kill himself. City Union Mission saved my life, he said, later adding, Its like a family here. Hernandez no longer lives at the center, but he likes to come back to visit his friends. A staffer checks in on him at his new home at least once a week to drop off his mediation and make sure everything is going well. Recently, they helped Hernandez get a new wheelchair. The community-building is intentional. Its a way to foster trust and friendship that will hopefully serve the men long after theyve left the center. We find something good in everyone who comes through those doors, said Edwin Jackson, a case manager, who pointed out photos on a bulletin board of previous residents whove since moved out, one of whom Jackson still takes to church each week. Davis is a giver of his time and help, even when someone doesnt want it, Jackson said. Hernandez is an encourager, even when he struggles to encourage himself. Sometimes we overlook people. We forget that theyre no different, Jackson said. Their path mightve been different than yours the only difference is, sometimes society says, theyre no use to us and we find use in everybody. Edwin Jackson, case manager for the L. Minor Care Center, speaks about his duties at the L. Minor Care Center on April 25, 2023, in Kansas City. A day at the center The mens wake-up call is between 6 and 6:30 each morning. Breakfast is at 7, where the men are often found drinking coffee, watching the news or playing cards in the gathering room next to lockers labeled with their names on paper pineapples. A Go Army stamp was taped above a Go Navy sticker. Upstairs, the beds are nicely made up by the guests, who tighten and tuck the sheets every morning as part of their routines. A poster on one bedroom door read: The greatest adventure is yet to come. A quick group meeting follows where the men can connect with their case managers. Then its laundry day for some and all hands on deck to clean the common rooms. Then theyre free to go about their day, either in the center or in the city. Several beds are seen set up in guest rooms at the L. Minor Care Center on April 25, 2023, in Kansas City. On average, between 15 and 24 men fill the rooms of this center, with an average age of 55, but with guests as old as 84 and as young as 18. After lunch, the group reconvenes for community time. This is when Greene teaches about leisure and recreation. In other words, they learn how to have fun and express themselves, whether through art, music or something else. It all goes toward the goal of providing the men comfort, care and life skills. Gentlemen, Greene begins one afternoon, as the couple dozen men in the room slowly shifted to face her for a recent meeting, the last of the day before dinner. Were in a fallen world, so we have a negative filter, so we automatically can look for everything thats wrong with ourselves, with each other, whats around us. So it takes a room full of geniuses and gentleman and ladies like all of you to look for whats good, she begins. Greene asked the group to name three positive small happenings that day. She starts: three new men moved into the center. I got up this morning, said a man who was previously shot in the face. I get to go to the library tomorrow, another said. Another man chimed in and said he lost his backpack with paperwork somewhere. Greene assured him theyd find it, and then that could be his positive experience the following day. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity has condemned the armed attack on the Libyan Military Attache building in Khartoum, Sudan, which caused material damage Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said here Friday it was closely monitoring events in the town of Zawiya (45 km west of Tripoli) on Thursday during an air strike carried out by the Ministry of Defence of the Government of National Unity against traffickers Photo: (Photo : ABDULAZIZ KETAZ / Getty Images) In a highly anticipated court case, Karima Jiwani, the mother of 'Baby India,' appeared before the court today, alleging mental health problems and postpartum depression as the underlying reasons for the tragic abandonment of her newborn daughter. Jiwani stands accused of leaving the baby tied in a plastic bag in the woods just hours after giving birth in 2019. As the legal proceedings unfold, the defense argues that the charges fail to account for the crucial role mental health played in the heartbreaking incident. Baby India's Mother Claims Mental Health Problems According to Atlanta News First, the defense lawyer, E. Jay Abt, asserts that mental health issues, including postpartum depression, significantly affected Jiwani's actions on that fateful day. Emphasizing her previously normal life, Abt highlights the need to consider the impact of mental health in determining the appropriate charges. However, Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Penny Penn refutes these claims, stating that no evidence suggests Jiwani suffered from psychosis or postpartum depression at the time of the incident. The case first came to light in June 2019 when deputies discovered a baby wrapped in a plastic bag near Daves Creek Road in Cumming, Georgia. The newborn, known as 'Baby India,' was found atop a pile of leaves and sticks, crying and covered in blood, with the umbilical cord still attached. People reported that after years of investigation, a breakthrough occurred when advanced DNA practices allowed authorities to identify Baby India's birth father. This crucial step propelled the investigation forward, seeking to determine the circumstances and the individual responsible for leaving the child in the woods. Upon investigation, no evidence has emerged to suggest that the father was aware of either the pregnancy or the act of abandoning the baby at this stage of the investigation. Read Also: Chinese Americans in Florida Sue State Over Discriminatory Property Law Exploring Mental Health Factors and Safe Haven Laws Additionally, according to Atlanta News First and Jiwani's legal team, evidence supporting the mental health claims will be presented during the court proceedings. While Georgia has Safe Haven laws to protect both infants and parents, allowing newborns to be left in the care of designated safe locations without prosecution, Jiwani's actions seemingly deviated from these provisions. The prosecution contends that Jiwani intentionally abandoned her child on the side of the road, failing to provide any indication that the baby was meant to be found. According to a CNN report, the sheriff's office investigation revealed that Jiwani had a documented past of undisclosed pregnancies and unexpected childbirth occurrences. Despite her arrest, Jiwani has no prior criminal record, suggesting that this tragic incident stands as an isolated event in an otherwise unblemished life. As the court case progresses, the defense is set to present their argument, highlighting Jiwani's mental state and postpartum depression as pivotal factors influencing her actions. While the case raises questions surrounding the intersection of mental health, criminal intent, and legal responsibility, it ultimately falls upon the court to weigh the evidence and determine a just outcome. The fate of Karima Jiwani and the impact of mental health in cases of this nature now rest in the hands of the justice system. The court's ruling will shape not only the future of this case but also shed light on the legal landscape surrounding mental health issues in similar circumstances. As the proceedings unfold, the public awaits a just resolution that considers the complexities surrounding maternal mental health and its implications for parental responsibility. Related Article: New Texas Law Permits Unlicensed Chaplains to Serve as School Counselors Photo: (Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty Images) In a devastating incident that unfolded over the weekend, a 17-year-old boy tragically lost his life during a daring climb on the iconic Los Angeles Bridge. The young teenager's ill-fated pursuit of social media fame ended in a fatal fall that has left the community in shock and highlights the dangers associated with reckless stunts for online attention. Los Angeles Bridge Climbing Attempt Turns Fatal As reported by the Los Angeles Times, in the early hours of Saturday, authorities were dispatched to the 6th Street Viaduct after receiving reports of an accident. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of the teenager, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The identity of the victim has not been disclosed pending notification of family members. According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, preliminary investigations indicate that the boy slipped and fell while attempting to scale one of the bridge's arches, seemingly with the intention of documenting the exploit for social media. The specific social media platform he was using and the manner in which he aimed to share his climb remain undisclosed. As per LAist, the 6th Street Viaduct, which opened just last July, was envisioned as a modern architectural marvel that would connect downtown Los Angeles to the historic Eastside. The impressive $588-million structure replaced an aging 84-year-old Art Deco span and was designed to become a landmark of the city. However, since its opening, the bridge has experienced recurring issues with street racing, graffiti, and illegal takeovers, drawing large crowds of spectators eager to witness dangerous stunts. Street racing and takeovers led to several instances of bridge closures, disrupting regular traffic and raising concerns about public safety. The allure of the bridge's panoramic views of the city's skyline and its thousands of LED lights attracted thrill-seekers who sought notoriety through social media, perpetuating a dangerous trend. The Need for Increased Safety Measures According to the Associated Press, in January, the bridge was also the site of another tragic incident when a man was fatally shot during the unauthorized filming of a music video. Chief Moore addressed the recurring tragedies and pledged increased security measures to counteract such reckless actions. "Tragically, we see that location, while it has spawned a great deal of pride in Los Angeles, it has also unfortunately served as a backdrop now for tragedies such as this," stated Moore during a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission. The city's authorities have acknowledged the need for additional vigilance and patrols in the area to deter dangerous activities and prevent further loss of life. However, the challenge remains to strike a balance between promoting the bridge's cultural significance and ensuring the safety of visitors. Read Also: Chinese Americans in Florida Sue State Over Discriminatory Property Law Community Reflection and Mourning The untimely death of the 17-year-old has sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting a period of reflection on the perils associated with seeking online validation through risky exploits. Authorities and community leaders have called for greater awareness and education surrounding the consequences of engaging in potentially life-threatening activities for the sake of social media attention. As Los Angeles mourns the loss of yet another life on the 6th Street Viaduct, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility borne by both individuals and society at large to prioritize safety over fleeting moments of internet fame. With increased awareness, education, and enhanced security measures, it is hoped that such senseless tragedies can be prevented and young lives can be preserved. Related Article: New Texas Law Permits Unlicensed Chaplains to Serve as School Counselors Photo: (Photo : Freepik) A frightening incident involving a 2-year-old child being shot in the head while attending a daycare in Spanish Fork is now being investigated by authorities in Utah. The community is in disbelief and in need of explanations after the authorities referred to the incident as a "tragic accident." According to Today, authorities claim that the event happened when two people were watching the youngsters play in a vinyl-fenced area. A little child was seen tripping and bleeding from the face all of a sudden. When the daycare staff immediately informed the toddler's parents, they hurried the child to the hospital. Doctors discovered a startling finding, however, during scans at the hospital: a small-caliber bullet was lodged in the child's skull. After being subsequently transported, the child is now said to be in stable condition at Primary Children's Hospital. Due to concerns that it would result in more harm, doctors have opted against surgically removing the bullet. Although it is anticipated that the youngster will completely recover, the occurrence has caused serious alarm and sparked an inquiry into its circumstances. Authorities think that the open fields to the west of the daycare may have been the point of origin for the stray gunshot. According to USA Today, detectives have located a guy who was allegedly using a 22-caliber air gun to kill birds in that location. The situation will be examined for possible charges by the Spanish Fork municipal prosecutor's office while the guy is participating in the inquiry. Read Also: Baby Died After Day Care Provider Put Her In Car Seat, Day Care Provider Charged With Murder Day Care Center Expresses Heartbreak and Concern for Injured Child According to NBC News, the childcare center's owner, Lane Mugleston, expressed astonishment and dismay at the occurrence and said, "We are extremely stunned. That this would occur in Spanish Fork astounds us. The childcare facility issued a statement in which it expressed its sincere sympathies to the family of the wounded child and reiterated that safety has always been their first concern. The neighborhood anticipates a comprehensive review of the events leading to the child's injuries as the inquiry moves forward. The unfortunate occurrence serves as a warning that security precautions must be taken inside and outside child care establishments. The neighborhood is still holding out hope that the youngster will fully recover, but they are also concerned about the shooter and their family since they most likely had no idea what their actions would lead to. Authorities and local leaders are collaborating to stop such occurrences from happening again by highlighting the need for safe weapon usage and surroundings awareness. Since many people find it difficult to understand how a vulnerable infant could have been hurt in such a sad and unplanned way, the occurrence has had a significant effect on the community. Case to Be Sent for Prosecution Consideration in Spanish Fork Discussions on the necessity for tougher rules banning the use of firearms close to populous places, especially when children are present, have been spurred by the occurrence. Laws that encourage responsible gun ownership and guarantee the security of children in childcare facilities are being pushed for by members of the community. It is advised that parents and other people who are responsible for children have open discussions with them regarding firearm safety, stressing the need to report any strange or alarming behavior to responsible adults. Local government officials are also thinking about educational programs to spread the word about the value of safe gun ownership and the hazards linked to guns. The event has caused the community to reflect, which has resulted in a renewed resolve to put children's safety and wellbeing first. Community members are determined to use this tragedy as a chance for change as investigations go on and conversations about prevention strategies develop. It is anticipated that by working together, such events might be prevented in the future, allowing kids to develop and flourish in safe circumstances. The neighborhood stays solidly behind the wounded youngster and their family, giving them support and courage while they heal. Related Article: Nashville School Shooting Prompts Nationwide Boost in Active Shooter Training, Childhood Preparedness Protocols Photo: (Photo : LOGAN CYRUS /Getty Images) The South Carolina Senate has passed Senate Bill 474, also known as the "Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act," imposing a highly debated six-week abortion ban in the state. The bill, which cleared the Senate by a vote of 27-19, now awaits the signature of Governor Henry McMaster. If signed into law, South Carolina will join a list of Republican-led states that have implemented sweeping abortion restrictions in recent years, following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. However, the measure's survival against potential court challenges remains uncertain. Senate Bill 474 Imposes Stringent Six-Week Abortion Ban According to CBS, Senate Bill 474, commonly referred to as the "Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act," would effectively prohibit most abortions in South Carolina once cardiac activity can be detected in the fetus or embryo, typically occurring around six weeks into pregnancy. This ban would be enforced even before many women are aware of their pregnancy. Physicians who knowingly violate the law could face felony charges, fines, and the revocation of their medical licenses by the State Board of Medical Examiners. The bill includes exceptions to save the life of the pregnant individual and in cases of fatal fetal anomalies. It also allows limited exceptions of up to 12 weeks for victims of rape and incest, with mandatory doctor reporting requirements to local law enforcement. Additionally, an amendment added by the House would mandate that a "biological father" pay child support from the moment of conception. According to CNN, a united group of female legislators from both sides of the aisle in the state Senate formed an alliance to oppose the bill's passage on Tuesday. Referred to as the "sister senators," consisting of three Republicans, one Democrat, and one independent, they argued that modifications made by the House, particularly regarding specific terminologies, significantly changed the bill that had initially been approved by the Senate. Surprisingly, the three Republican male legislators who previously joined them in preventing a more stringent abortion ban during the regular session voted in favor of the six-week ban. Read Also: Chinese Americans in Florida Sue State Over Discriminatory Property Law Uncertain Legal Future and Political Landscape According to the Associated Press, although the South Carolina Senate's approval of the six-week abortion ban marks a significant milestone, the bill's future remains uncertain due to the likelihood of legal challenges. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic has indicated its intent to file for a temporary restraining order once Governor Henry McMaster signs the bill into law. The fate of any legal challenge will also be influenced by changes in the composition of the South Carolina Supreme Court, as the retirement of the sole female justice who previously authored a key opinion on abortion creates a new dynamic. Abortion in South Carolina used to be legal until 22 weeks of pregnancy. However, South Carolina now joins many other neighboring southern states in implementing tight abortion bans, including Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The outcome of potential legal battles surrounding the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act will significantly impact the future of abortion access in South Carolina. The debates and legal battles over abortion rights are likely to continue as activists on both sides of the issue vigorously pursue their agendas. As South Carolina awaits Governor McMaster's signature, the implementation of the six-week abortion ban could have far-reaching implications not only for the state but also for the ongoing national discourse surrounding reproductive rights and access to abortion. Related Article: New Texas Law Permits Unlicensed Chaplains to Serve as School Counselors Photo: (Photo : PASCAL GUYOT / Getty Images) The CDC issues another warning for a possible recurrence of another Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, outbreak as pride events come up in a few weeks. In anticipation of upcoming Pride events, the CDC has issued a warning to doctors across the United States, urging them to remain vigilant and closely monitor for any new cases of the viral infection known as Mpox, or monkeypox. The CDC's proactive approach aims to prevent the recurrence of last year's Mpox outbreaks, which posed a significant health emergency. With pride celebrations slated to take place nationwide in the coming weeks, health officials and event organizers express optimism about reduced infections and their severity this year. However, concerns persist that complacency may lead people to disregard the ongoing risks associated with it. Growing Concerns of Mpox Resurgence Amidst Pride Celebrations According to Fox News, as the summer of 2022 unfolded, Mpox infections skyrocketed following Pride gatherings, resulting in over 30,000 reported cases throughout the United States. The majority of these cases were transmitted through sexual contact between gay and bisexual men, with approximately 40 individuals losing their lives to the disease. This year, health officials and event organizers are hopeful that improved circumstances, such as a larger vaccine supply, increased immunity rates, and easier access to effective treatment options, will contribute to a decline in both the number and severity of Mpox infections. To provide better insight into the potential resurgence, the CDC recently conducted a modeling study focusing on 50 counties that were the primary targets of government campaigns to control sexually transmitted diseases. The study identified ten counties with a 50% or higher likelihood of mpox outbreaks this year. Key factors contributing to this increased risk included the number of individuals deemed highly susceptible to infection and the proportion of them possessing immunity through vaccination or prior exposure. Among the most vulnerable counties were Florida, Tennessee, Cincinnati, and others, where fewer than 10% of high-risk individuals were estimated to have any form of immunity. Read Also: LGBTQ+ Advocates Celebrate as Louisiana Committee Rejects Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth Continued Efforts to Mitigate Mpox Risks Health officials are working tirelessly to instill a sense of urgency surrounding the Mpox threat, even as it fades from public consciousness. Formerly known as monkeypox, this viral infection belongs to the same family as smallpox and is endemic in certain parts of Africa. According to the CDC, the onset of symptoms typically occurs within three weeks of exposure to the virus, with flu-like symptoms followed by a rash within 1-4 days. The rash can appear on various body parts, including the vagina, labia, testicles, penis, anus, and mouth. Common symptoms of Mpox encompass rashes, chills, sore throat, cough, headache, fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. According to the WHO, the primary objectives of treating Mpox involve managing the rash, alleviating pain, and preventing complications. Prompt and supportive care plays a crucial role in symptom management and mitigating further issues. Administering a vaccine can effectively prevent Mpox infection. Ideally, the vaccine should be administered within four days of contact with an infected individual, or up to 14 days if no symptoms are present. It is strongly recommended that individuals at high risk, including those with multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men, healthcare workers at risk of exposure, and sex workers, receive the vaccine to minimize the risk of Mpox infection. According to ABC, various countries scrambled to develop vaccines and implement countermeasures, prompting the WHO to declare a health emergency in late July. The United States followed suit in early August. Fortunately, the concerted efforts of governments, healthcare providers, and affected communities led to a decline in cases, with daily averages dropping from nearly 500 in August to fewer than 10 by December. As pride events approach, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential risks associated with Mpox and take proactive measures to prevent its spread. Event organizers and health officials are urging attendees to prioritize vaccination, providing information and resources to encourage responsible behavior. Their collective efforts aim to ensure the well-being of participants and curb the potential for Mpox outbreaks to occur at these large-scale gatherings. Related Article: South Carolina Senate Approves Controversial Six-Week Abortion Ban, Fetal Heartbeat Bill Awaits Governor's Signature Photo: (Photo : Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images) Retail giant Target faces intense scrutiny after its recent decision to remove LGBTQIA+-themed merchandise from its stores. The company cited employee safety threats as the reason behind the removal, prompting a wave of controversy and criticism. As debates around LGBTQIA+ rights continue to unfold across conservative states, the move by Target has sparked concerns about corporate responsibility and its impact on the community. Target's Safety Concerns Lead to Removal of LGBTQIA+ Merchandise Forbes reported that in a public statement addressed to LGBTQIA+ people, Target Corporation emphasized the importance of inclusivity as a fundamental value within the company. The retailer expressed its commitment to creating an environment where team members and customers feel accepted, respected, and welcomed. Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, expressed deep concern over the threats faced by themed merchandise, describing them as distressing. He acknowledged that employees in stores and service centers have endured abusive treatment from conservative individuals. However, critics argue that Target's decision to remove merchandise reflects a surrender to pressure amidst ongoing culture wars. Target made headlines this week when they moved certain LGBTQIA+-themed merchandise from the front of their stores to the back end, where very few people could see it. The decision came in response to what the company described as threats impacting the safety and well-being of its employees. As reported by NBC News, videos posted on TikTok by Target customers revealed that Pride merchandise displays had been relocated to less visible areas within the stores, raising questions about the motivation behind the move. The removal of LGBTQIA+ merchandise by Target has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Target's corporate communications department has faced backlash for not providing immediate responses to inquiries about the specific items that were removed and the nature of the threats faced by employees. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about how the decision may be perceived by members of the LGBTQIA+ community, especially considering the company's longstanding commitment to celebrating Pride Month. In some stores, particularly in conservative states, Pride displays were observed to have been shifted to less visible sections. Employees at a Target store in Cary, North Carolina, reported that the Pride collection, which was prominently featured at the front of the store, had been relocated to the women's clothing section. Although management instructed employees to make the change, they were not given a reason for the shift. Read Also: South Carolina Senate Approves Controversial Six-Week Abortion Ban, Fetal Heartbeat Bill Awaits Governor's Signature LGBTQIA+ Rights and Corporate Responsibility Target's removal of LGBTQIA+ merchandise comes at a time when LGBTQ rights are under scrutiny across the United States. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in state legislatures this year, encompassing various issues ranging from education curtailment to healthcare restrictions. This contentious climate has heightened concerns about the impact of corporate decisions on marginalized communities. As per Fox News, while Target had previously collaborated with LGBTQIA+ designers for its Pride collection, critics have taken particular issue with the apparel for children and an inclusive bathing suit. The controversy surrounding the use of Satanic symbolism in the designs by British designer Erik Carnell, one of the collaborators, has further fueled opposition to the collection. As Target faces scrutiny over the removal of LGBTQ merchandise due to employee safety threats, the controversy surrounding the decision highlights the ongoing debates surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights, corporate responsibility, and the safety of marginalized communities. The incident serves as a reminder that companies must navigate the delicate balance between consumer demands, employee well-being, and social responsibility in a polarized society. Related Article: LGBTQ+ Advocates Celebrate as Louisiana Committee Rejects Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth Photo: (Photo : Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) A 15-year-old teenager from Arizona has been arrested after allegedly bringing a fully automatic AR-15 to Bostrom High School in Phoenix. The incident has raised concerns about the accessibility of lethal weapons to minors. According to court documents obtained, the teenager was found to be in possession of a device that would enable the AR-15 to function as a fully automatic machine gun. Disturbing Details Unveiled in Court Documents According to NBC News, court documents exclusively obtained by NBC News reveal disturbing details about the incident. The 15-year-old teenager, whose identity is being withheld due to his minor status, allegedly brought a disassembled AR-15 along with a device known as a "lightning link" to Bostrom High School. When combined with the AR-15's upper and lower receivers, the lightning link can transform the weapon into a fully automatic firearm. This means that the weapon would be capable of firing continuously without the need to repeatedly pull the trigger. Police were alerted to the presence of a firearm on the Phoenix campus after receiving reports from unidentified sources. The school immediately went into lockdown as officials detained the student in the main office. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, the 15-year-old was found speaking to the principal and vice principal. The teenager allegedly displayed aggressive behavior, prompting officers to handcuff him and make the arrest. During a subsequent search, police discovered the lightning link device, a lower receiver, a fully loaded magazine, additional ammunition, and firearm-related accessories in the teenager's backpack. Notably, the upper receiver was concealed inside the teenager's sweatpants, with the barrel facing upward towards the officers. To their surprise, the officers also found a live cartridge inside the chamber. According to USA TODAY, in a statement from Principal Michelle Gutierrez de Jimenez, the school administration became aware of a potential presence of a weapon on campus during lunchtime, prompting them to initiate a lockdown as a precautionary measure. In response, Bostrom High School, which is characterized by a small learning environment as described on the Phoenix Union High School District website, will implement additional safety measures on Monday as a proactive step. Read Also: 'Baby India' Case Update: Mother Alleges Mental Health, Postpartum Depression in Court as Cause of Abandonment Instagram Messages and Parental Shock Further investigation into the teenager's activities led police to obtain a search warrant for his laptop. The examination of his online communications revealed Instagram messages between the teenager and another minor. These messages reportedly involved discussions about the sale of a firearm, although it remains unclear whether the other juvenile was also a student at Bostrom High School or if they were referring to the firearm brought to the school. The teenager's mother, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed shock over the allegations against her son. She mentioned that nobody in their immediate family owned guns, and her son had never expressed an interest in firearms. Describing her son as easily influenced, she attributed his actions to his desire to fit in. She also stated that her son has ADHD, shedding light on potential factors that may have contributed to the incident. Calls for Regulation and Legal Consequences The arrest of the Arizona teenager for bringing a fully automatic AR-15 to Phoenix's Bostrom High School has reignited the debate surrounding gun control and the accessibility of firearms, particularly to minors. According to TODAY, the incident highlights the need for stricter regulations and measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The 15-year-old now faces multiple felony charges, including being a minor in possession of a firearm, manufacturing, possessing, or selling a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct with a weapon, and interfering with an educational institution. He is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in court with a parent for a pre-trial conference. As the investigation continues, authorities and educational institutions must work together to ensure the safety and well-being of students. It is imperative to address the underlying issues surrounding the incident and take the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, safeguarding the educational environment for all. Related Article: Australia's Rural Education at Risk: Elmhurst Primary School Among Many Closures 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 President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou has 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 Excellency, On the occasion of the national holiday of your country the Independence Day, I would like to extend to you, on behalf of the people of Greece, and on my own behalf, my sincere congratulations and wish the people of Azerbaijan peace and prosperity. Taking this opportunity, I wish to reaffirm my confidence in further strengthening of the relations between our countries both in bilateral format, as well as within international organizations. I am convinced that the successful cooperation between Greece and Azerbaijan in the field of energy will further contribute to the development and stability in our region, and will expand to other areas of mutual interest. Your Excellency, on the occasion of your national holiday, I convey my best wishes to you. Please, accept the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Katerina Sakellaropoulou President of the Hellenic Republic As Russia Makes Another Nuclear Threat In The Ukraine War, Should We Be Worried? Why are concerns about use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war on the rise again? Why are concerns about use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war on the rise again? Concerns around Russias nuclear threats are rising yet again following Moscows latest moves in the Ukraine war but should we be worried? Russia has tried to use the Wests fear of nuclear war as a bargaining chip over the last 15 months, suggesting that the more support Ukraine receives from its allies, the more likely Moscow is to press the nuclear button. It also continues to occupy the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, where Europes largest nuclear power plant is based, prompting fears in the UN of a nuclear disaster. Now, as Russia prepares to Ukraines highly-anticipated counteroffensive, it appears to be shifting its tactical nuclear weapons closer to the West. Heres what we know so far. Russia has moved tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus According to Russian state news agency TASS, Belaruss president Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed the transfer of tactical nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus has begun. These are lower-yield weapons meant for the battlefield rather than widespread attacks on civilisations. Russian president Vladimir Putin first announced this move back in March, saying Moscow would use the weapons if needed to defend its territorial integrity. Russian reports suggest the transfer will be complete in just over a month, although its unclear how many nuclear weapons the country has. The seemingly dramatic move has been painted as an act of self-defence by the Kremlin. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu claimed Moscow was just responding extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin prior to the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin prior to the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2023. Putin ally issues warning about preemptive strike Russian news agencies also quoted the Security Council deputy chair, former president Dmitry Medvedev, as saying that Russia would not hesitate to launch a preemptive strike on the West if it gives Ukraine nuclear weapons. Medvedev said: There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a preemptive strike. It comes after the UK agreed to send long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine earlier this month, which would allow the country to hit targets within Russias borders. However, the West has not suggested it has any plans to send nuclear weapons to Ukraine any time soon, and has been very clear that it only wants to help the country defend itself. How have countries reacted? NATO said that it did not plan to change its own nuclear posture based on this action although it warned that this rhetoric was still dangerous and irresponsible. Japans chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also condemned Russias decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying: As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, Japan never accepts Russias nuclear menace, let alone its use. The US used atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, in an effort to force Japan to surrender on the eastern front of World War 2. Japan just placed additional sanctions on Moscow after the G7 summit last week saw countries promise to step up measures to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. Should we be worried? The Institute for the Study of War think tank suggests that these weapons have not yet been transferred and, if it does happen, this transfer is actually part of a longstanding effort to cement Russias de facto military control over Belarus. Claiming that this is more about regional politics, the think tank said: The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus requires both significant military infrastructure and Russian command and control over elements of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The Kremlin likely intends to use these requirements to further subordinate the Belarusian security sphere under Russia. It added that their possible deployment is highly unlikely to presage any Russian escalation. The experts pointed out that Russia already had nuclear weapons which could hit any target which these tactical weapons being moved to Belarus could also hit so it doesnt give Moscow any particularly strong advantage on that front. The think tank also suggested: Putin is extraordinarily unlikely to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine or elsewhere. As the analysts pointed out back in September, Moscows red lines for nuclear weapon use have already been crossed in this war several times over without any Russian nuclear escalation. Related... The topic of foldable devices, especially smartphones has been a hot topic online. On May 11, Business Standard posted a report titled "Apple now the only major smartphone brand without a foldable device." The report noted that with the Pixel Fold debuting earlier this month, every major Android brand now has a foldable smartphone. Bloomberg recently provided a chart illustrating some of the key leaders in foldable phones, putting Chinese OEMs Xiaomi and Vivo in the category of "others." China is a critical market for Apple who is likely keeping an eye on this market segment in respect to foldables. TrendForce posted an analytical report on Wednesday with the title being "Foldable Smartphone Shipments Expected to Soar by Over 50% YoY, Reaching 19.8 Million Units in 2023." While that's a super-hyper byline, the reality is that "the market penetration of foldable phones is to only be around 1.7% market share in 2023. With continuous improvements in cost and design, this figure is expected to surpass 5% by 2027," according to TrendForce. That's not exactly a statistic that threatens Apple, though it has to be acknowledged that foldables fall into the premium phone market segment where Apple currently dominates. In April, Patently Apple posted a report titled "A recent study shows that 39% of those willing to Purchase a Foldable smartphone in the Future would prefer one from Apple." So It's pretty clear that Apple fans will jump in head first whenever Apple decides to enter this segment. The survey revealed that 45% want a flip-phone style while 35% want a book-style form factor. At present, Apple's patents indicate that they're working on a series of possible future foldables including a folding hybrid notebook-tablet, Book and Flip phone models as well. Yesterday the US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple that show that their teams are continually updating and upgrading their patent claims to ensure that they're legally protected against competitors. Apple Flip-Style iPhone Yesterday the U.S. Patent Office published two Apple patents relating to foldables and more. The first is titled "Multi-Part Device Enclosure" that primarily focuses on a flip-style iPhone. While the patent verbiage does in fact support physical buttons etc., the patent equally presents a design that uses "touch sensors" and "touch-and/or force sensitive displays." Obviously the archaic view of a flip-phone as a patent figure is to illustrate a concept people could relate to. It's not a design that Apple would ever deliver. Apple Later adds: "These components, along with the display that is positioned below the transparent cover, produce an input surface that may accept various types of physical inputs, such as swipes, gestures, touch inputs, presses, and the like." Apple's patent FIG. 19A below illustrates a composite structure integrated into a display portion to facilitate cooling of a display or other components of the electronic device. Apple's patent FIG. 19B above illustrates a side view of the device #1900 of FIG. 19A, air may enter one end of the air-permeable structure #1910 and pass through the air-permeable structure exiting at location #1918. While Apple was granted this patent back in February 2021, Apple's team have filed a continuation patent that adds extra features and/or protections for their invention. You could review the entire patent including their 20 new patent claims at the bottom of patent application number 20230161390. Leaker Jon Prosser posted went all out 2 years ago with a video report with concept images claiming that Apple was leaning towards a flip-style foldable phone, much like the recent study suggested. While this style isn't my preference, more seem to a want a flip-style smartphone. I'm personally looking for a larger display rather than the same iPhone of today simply folded in half. Send in your comments below as to which model you would prefer and why in our comment section below or on our Twitter feed. iPhone/iPad with Mechanism to Enlarge the Display In Apple's second patent application posted yesterday by the U.S. Patent Office they cover a wider range of possible future foldable devices. One covers devices that could provide an extendable display for an iPhone or iPad. To better visualize this concept, see the video below of Samsung demonstrating a prototype of a future tablet with an extendable display at an Intel event last October. As you'll see in the patent FIGS below, Apple presents a scrollable display concept along with a simple foldable device and a wild device that could act as a next-gen notebook-like device. Apple's patent FIG. 2 below is a perspective view of a scrollable device having a flexible display extended between two housing structures; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a scrolling flexible display deployed using multiple internal rollers. Apple's patent FIG. 6 above is a top view of device #10 in an illustrative configuration in which the housing for the device has a main portion (housing structure 12-1) and has a smaller portion (housing structure 12-2) that is used as a support bar to help pull flexible display #14 off of a roller within the interior of structures #12-1. Bistable support strips such as tape #32 may be used to help support the flexible display when the flexible display is in its deployed state as shown in FIG. 6. Apple's patent FIG. 7 below illustrates electronic device #10 having a foldable configuration, in fact a double fold. Apple states that in general, the device may have any suitable number of bend regions (#50, e.g., one or more, two or more, three or more, etc.). Apple's patent FIG. 11 below illustrates what is known as a tear drop flexible display configuration that allows the display to fold and appear flat, as the tear drop display is hidden in the hinge area of the folded device. See the tear drop design of the OPPO foldable smartphone here. Apple's patent FIG. 15 above is one of the more inventive concepts for a foldable device from Apple. It's unique two-display notebookish device. The base section contains a rigid display that acts as a virtual display keyboard when needed. The second display is hidden in an "internal roller" with a handle that the user could pull on and expand the display. What makes this a hot concept is that display doesn't have to be a traditional size. It could, in theory, hold a much larger portrait display for different kinds of work when needed. This is definitely a hot and wild concept, though probably too wild for Apple executives to ever sign off on. Too bad, because an Apple competitor is bound to scoop up this concept and actually bring it to market. With that said, Apple's patent goes to illustrate that they have engineering teams experimenting and patenting various foldable devices to bring to market when the time is right. So all this negative chatter about Apple being last to market, as if they're bumbling idiots, is always a belly laugh for me. While Apple was granted this patent back in March 2020, Apple's team have filed a continuation patent that surfaced this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that adds extra features and/or protections for their invention. You could review the entire patent including their 20 new patent claims at the bottom of patent application number 20230161383. Theological Presuppositions; What Was Apostolic Teaching?; Church Defined; Christian Unity; Faith Isnt Philosophy 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] Ecclesial consumerism There was a time in European history when Roman Catholicism was the only game in town. Moreover, to publicly question Catholic tenets was an invitation to be tortured to death by the religious and/or civil authorities, so there was a powerful incentive to keep your head down even if you entertained private doubts. [p. 135] Hays would love his readers to think that such things didnt happen under Protestantism. Think again! No one was more intolerant and bloodthirsty than Protestant England in the 16th and 17th centuries. Catholics didnt receive full civil freedom until the 1830s, and even then anti-Catholicism attitudes were endemic. In addition, for devout Catholics, its not just a set of beliefs but an all-encompassing way of life. [p. 135] And its not for serious, devout Protestants? It should be! Its in evangelical Protestantism that I heard and accepted the maxim, Jesus is Lord over all of life. Everyone within your inner social circle was Catholic. A complete, off-the-shelf package. Thats how it used to beless so now. That conditioning produces tunnel visionso that any alternative is inconceivable. For those deeply immersed in Catholic culture, a break with Catholicism requires a radical paradigm shift. [p. 135] Everyone within your inner social circle is anti-Catholic Protestant. A complete, off-the-shelf package. That conditioning produces tunnel visionso that any alternative is inconceivable. For those deeply immersed in anti-Catholic Protestant culture, a break with anti-Catholicism and/or the much larger Protestantism requires a radical paradigm shift. A persons religious affiliation shouldnt simply be a cultural given. To be randomly born into a particular religious package is not a good reason to be an adherent. Thats the luck of the drawwhich doesnt reliably select for truth. [p. 136] I agree 100%. In my experience, Bryan [Cross] always commences his discussion of Catholicism with key assumptions taken for granted, as if thats already been established. Bryans view of Catholicism is like an axiomatic system in which the first principles are arbitrary postulates. [p. 138] In my experience, Steve Hays always commences his discussion of Protestantism with key assumptions taken for granted, as if thats already been established. Hayss view of Protestantism is like an axiomatic system in which the first principles are arbitrary postulates. [Catholicism is] a schismatic and heretical body which broke with the NT exemplars. [p. 138] I would like to see a systematic exposition of these exemplars. This reminds me of a ludicrous exchange from June 1996 that I had with Bishop Dr. [???] James White, the premier anti-Catholic Protestant (Reformed Baptist) apologist of our time. His words will be in green below (the original exchange see the link is here compacted and abridged for more brevity and clarity): I believe it is vitally important to believe in what the Apostles taught. Which, of course, is exactly why I cannot embrace the teachings of Rome. In fact, it is fidelity to the apostolic message that is the strongest argument against the innovations of Rome over time, Dave. Why not boldly tell us, then, James, precisely whatthe Apostles taught? [and I wanted to know what they taught, specifically, on 18 issues that I laid out] Thats pretty easy, Dave. I have 27 books filled with their teaching. Where shall we start? I guess we could start with the apostolic teaching that we are justified by faith and so have peace with God (Romans 5:1). Why, though, if sola fide is true, did scarcely anyone teach it from Paul to Luther, according to Norman Geisler, in his latest book Roman Catholics and Evangelicals (p. 502)? Very strange, and too bizarre and implausible for me. The Apostles also taught that Jesus Christ was and is fully deity (Colossians 2:9), and thats really important, too! Absolutely. But you guys got this doctrine from us, so big wow! Are you saying that the Bible is insufficientto answer these questions? That Gods Word is so unclear, so confused, so ambiguous, that these issues cannot be determined by a careful and honest examination of the Bible? Its irrelevant what I think, because Im asking you. But lets assume for the sake of argument that it isclear, sufficient, and perspicuous. Okay, now, please tell me what it teaches on these issues! Does anyone not understand my argumentation here? Is it that complicated? This is the essence of my whole argument in this vein. If we grant your perspicuity, then tell us these doctrines that are so clear. Im saying: be true to your own principles, and dont be ashamed of them. Either demonstrate this abstract, ethereal notion of perspicuity concretely and practically, or cease using it if it has no content, and if it is only useful as a content-less slogan to bash Catholics with. People who call themselves Protestants disagree on every point above; people who call themselves Roman Catholics disagree on every point above, too. So what? Again, Im just holding you to your own words (fidelity to the apostolic message). If you would rather admit that your own phrases have neither definition nor doctrinal or rational content, that would be one way (albeit not a very impressive one) out of your felt dilemma. Im simply asking you to define what you mean by apostolic message. I hope all on the list realize what is being said here. A person with the entire NT in his hand cannot know what the apostolic message was unless he likewise has Roman tradition alongside! Imagine it! All the more reason for you to tell us what this mysterious apostolic message is. According to this curious illogic, one can know what the message is, without the Catholic Church, but they cant tell mewhat it is, what it consists of! Christ is the way, truth, and life, and hence fidelity to Him would cause one to put truth and consistency in the forefront of the examination. What does this have to do with anything? Consistency is primarily what Im calling for, and Im asking you what the truth is, but you dont want to tell me! I get the real feeling, Dave, that you well know that your questions have been and will be answered, If they have, Ive missed it. Please, somebody send me that post. If they will be answered, when, and by whom, I wonder? . . . Why dont you select just five of this present list of items out of my entire list of 18 in which Protestants differ, and tell me what the Apostles taught, so I can know what you know? Your argument wont get you anywhere, Dave (and your style is certainly not going to win you any points with the more serious of our readers, either). Is that why no one is answering? My style? Maybe Ill try a boring, staid approach, then. You well know what the Bible teaches on these topics. James, James! This is the whole point! We know, but you guys cant figure it out. Hence your reluctance to answer (I can think of no better reason). A short answer to my question surely wouldnt put you out. White went off on even more distant tangents after that. The fact remains that he would not tell me what the apostolic message was in areas where Catholics and Protestants disagree; let alone on the eighteen points I asked him about. He claimed that it existed, but would not get specific. It was pathetic and absurd in equal measure. Hays sophistical attempts to talk about NT exemplars reminded me of this. He wont (and did not) get specific, either, because he knows (and I submit that Bishop White also knew) that close analysis of early Church history is embarrassing for the Protestant view every time. So the usual strategy is out of sight, out of mind. Presuppositional Catholicism In my experience, Bryan Cross never begins with evidence; rather, he always begins with his preconception of what the Church must be like. By definition, the Church must be such-and-such. He has an unfalsifiable paradigm. Kinda like Barths concept of suprahistory, where Christian essentials safely exist in a Never-never land sealed off from the risk of empirical or historical disconfirmation. Even if he occasionally appeals to the church fathers, I suspect thats filtered through his Catholic paradigm. The Roman Magisterium has the final interpretive authority regarding the consensus patrum. So there is no independent evidence for Catholicism, only value-laden evidence that takes the Catholic paradigm for granted. Its a kind of Catholic presuppositionalism. An axiomatic system in which the the Church is axiomatic, but the axioms are indemonstrable. [p. 139] In my experience (especially after going through this atrociously argued book), Steve Hays never begins with evidence; rather, he always begins with his preconception of what the invisible Church must be like. By definition, the invisible Church must be such-and-such. He has an unfalsifiable paradigm. Kinda like Barths concept of suprahistory, where Christian essentials safely exist in a Never-never land sealed off from the risk of empirical or historical disconfirmation. Even if he occasionally appeals to the church fathers, I suspect thats filtered through his low church, non-denom Calvinist paradigm. Steve Hays has the final interpretive authority regarding the consensus patrum. So there is no independent evidence for his low church, non-denom Calvinism, only value-laden evidence that takes the low church, non-denom Calvinism paradigm for granted. Its a kind of Calvinist presuppositionalism. An axiomatic system in which the the Church is axiomatic, but the axioms are indemonstrable. And Hays never-ending incomplete sentences are about to drive me batty! And I have 556 pages to go! I will need serious prayer for my patience and great difficulty in suffering folly and lousy arguments, to endure it. The address of the visible Church is Shangri-La. Although you cant find it on the map, its oh-so visibleunlike those hapless Protestant denominations. [p. 139] The address (if there is said to be just one) is in the Vatican City in the center of Rome. Anyone can find that. Elevator out of order Notice how Bryan [Cross] opposes the Church to individual Christians. Hes covertly uses the Church as a synonym, not for the faithful, but for a tiny subset of the church: popes and bishops in union with the pope. [p. 155] Yes, because hes being biblical. So, for example, in Matthew 18:17 Jesus recommends regarding a non-repentant sinner: If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If the Church is simply the faithful, then the passage would read, If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the faithful. How does that work? Obviously, some of the faithful must be selected in order to function as an authoritative Church, whether locally (as in this instance) or the entire Church. Likewise, in the Jerusalem council, the early Church had to make a decision about circumcision and how the Mosaic Law related to Gentiles, and apostles and elders (Acts 15:2, 22-23) gathered in Jerusalem. They came to a decision that seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us (15:28). This binding decision was then announced to Christians in widely different locations. Paul was traveling through Asia Minor (Turkey) and he delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem (16:4). So how does this scenario work out with Steves equation of the Church and the faithful? Again, only some of the faithful: the elite if you will, carefully selected, including Paul, Peter, and James the bishop of Jerusalem, made the decision, guided by the Holy Spirit, to be observed by all Christians. Thats not some kind of democratic every man for himself low Church, non-denom Protestant authority. Rather, its full-blown, infallible Church authority, contrary to sola Scriptura. (since something other than Scripture was infallible: the Church). Its also both hierarchical and papal authority. Peter was present at the council and provided the key rationale for the final decision. Apostles and elders functioned as later, bishops would, gathering in council under the authority of a pope: sort of like the US Congress and the President, except that the pope, unlike the President whose veto can be overridden, must always be agreed with by the council. In these cases and others that could be brought forth, the Church is indeed different from individual Christians, and they can be distinguished from each other. Since Christians arent united in one faith in a visible catholic Church (as Bryan defines it), that was never Christs intention. If that was his intention, then hes fallible and mistaken. I dont think God has failed intentions. [p. 155] Nonsense. The Bible and God give us the ideal of what we are supposed to be like, and we fail and fall short every time. Is that Gods fault? No. Was the fall of man and original sin his fault? No. Is God the author of sin? No. Would the Church be perfectly one and holy just because Jesus wanted that? No. God gave human beings free will, and that always incudes the possibility of failure and sin, and much evil. Therefore, our falling short is distinct from the question of Gods perfect will and intention. He wanted us to be perfectly one (John 17) and Christians clearly are not. But the Catholic Church has the largest amount of doctrinal unity, and has continually for almost 2,000 years. Protestantism has great amounts of self-contradiction and disunity, by nature of its tragically faulty rule of faith. So that introduces a false concept alongside the usual sins and foibles of human beings. Maybe Bryan thinks that Christs intentions are realized in the church of Rome. If so, that would mean Jesus only intended for Roman Catholics to be united in one faith in a visible catholic church, rather than Christians in general. [p. 155] No; God intended for all Christians to be spiritually and doctrinally united and all in the same Church: the Catholic Church. Now there is a sense in which a Catholic convert no longer relies on his own judgment. But thats because hes given up, and not because the process of inquiry yields a flash of insight that transcends the epistemic starting-point. [p. 158] No, because its a thing called faith: which Hays completely neglects in his entire analysis of Bryan Crosss argument. Ive long noted this in anti-Catholic apologetics and contra-convert analyses, in which they almost seem to reduce the Christian faith to mere philosophy. Everything is premises and logical conclusions and epistemology and absolute certainty. But faith is a huge part of it, too! Faith doesnt operate on the same plane as reason (though we must always seek to make it consistent with reason). Its not certain in the way that 2+2=4 or if a=b and b=c, a=c are. Hays at length finally did mention faith, but in the case of Catholic converts, he characterized it as blind faith (p. 158), ruling out the possibility of divine illumination (p. 158), so he is immediately hostile to it. He simply assumes without argument that a Catholic converts faith must be blind and unsupported by evidence, the Bible, internal verification by the Holy Spirit, etc. Then Hays gets a little closer to the mark: A Catholic inquirer may come to believe that his sect is divinely protected from error, but his belief isnt divinely protected from error. [p. 160] No one said that it was. But it can be correct without being infallible. And if in the final analysis this belief is indeed correct, then that person has arrived at a true state of affairs: an infallible and indefectible Church, and is in a great place. I would say that both are taught in the Bible, and I wrote a 150-page book about it: Biblical Proofs for an Infallible Church and Papacy (March 2012). He cant appeal to an infallible teaching office to retroactively validate his fallible belief in an infallible teaching office. [p. 160] Thats quite correct. But what he can do is note that the Bible (itself inspired, infallible, inerrant revelation from God) teaches that the one true Church is infallible. That aint simply him believing or saying it; its God. Protestants dont even make the claim! Its precluded by their false pillar of sola Scriptura. Instead, he comes to a point where he surrenders his judgment to the judgment of the magisterium. [p. 160] Nope. He surrenders it to the Holy Scripture that teaches an infallible and authoritative, institutional, hierarchical, visible, and historically continuous Church. And if he studies Church history, he finds these notions predominating, too, until the Protestants came along and tried to deny it. But he doesnt do that because reason proved the magisterium to be divinely protected from error, thereby rendering independent judgment unnecessary beyond that point. He wasnt infallibly guided to infallibly discover an infallible guide. [p. 160] Ah, but yes he was, because Holy Scripture (whether this person knows it or not) teaches it. [H]is assent to the magisterium can never rise any higher than human opinion. Even if an infallible teaching office did exist, that lies beyond the reach of reason to demonstrate. [p. 162] Nonsense. Scripture and Church history both validate it. So the vicious circularity of the Catholic appeal remains inextricable. [p. 162] Hays wrongly thinks so because he has completely ignored what the Bible has to teach us about this matter. *** 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. The Way to Avalon Over a decade ago I heard the call of Avalon and answered when it pulsed so deeply in my being. I remember my High Priestess saying to me You know you are Avalonian right? Every part of my body and soul vibrated with a resounding YES! I was Avalonian and I knew it. I then responded to her with Yes, but what is Avalon? After a little research and a few pushes from her in the Avalonian direction I joined the Avalon Mystery School under the directorship of Mara Freeman. A brilliant teacher and Avalonian I still consider my spiritual mentor today. Not long after answering the call to avalon I embarked on my first pilgrimage and visited Glastonbury. It was on that trip that I found the White Spring and my life changed forever. It seems like it was just yesterday that I first stepped foot in Glastonbury but the truth is that it was over a decade ago. Since that time I have devoted my life to The Way of Avalon and the Sacred Waters. Not long after that, I began to simultaneously teach about Water Magic and Avalon. Two distinct paths that were also on the same trajectory. My Water Magic was more public. For it was there in the White Spring all those years ago that I asked How may I serve and the water spirits answered by urging me to begin teaching about Water Magic. Alongside this practice, Triskele Rose was born. Triskele Rose is an initiatory Avalonian mystery tradition that has three branches. Currently, we have one in Phoenix Arizona, one near Portland Oregon, and one about to open here in Glastonbury. The magic of Triskele Rose is steeped in the Celtic lore of Avalon, the landscape of Glastonbury, and the ways of the Ancient Enchantress, Magicians, and Priesthood of antiquity. The Avalonian Mysteries are central to our praxis working with the energies of the Ancestral Priestess of Avalon, the Sacred Springs of the Celtic world, and the Witchcraft Practices of the Postmodern Period. The magic of Avalon continued to work and transform me in so many ways. In 2022 while visiting Glastonbury. Spirit told me I would be moving to Avalon before 2023. I didnt believe it. I told myself it was impossible. There was no way. but once again walking The Way of Avalon changed my life. Within a few months, I was on my way. Now about 6 months later I am here. Living my dream life in Glastonbury. I am the sacred steward of Chalice Orchard which is Dion Fortunes and Geoffrey Ashes old home. I am the third author to live here and to write about, teach about, and love the ways of this sacred landscape. While I may be new to Glastonbury. Avalon has been such a deep part of my magical and spiritual practice for years and years. Loving Avalon and walking her sacred ways has continued to change, heal and transform me in so many ways. Then I began to wonder if walking the Avalonian way transformed my life in such magical ways could it also transform others lives? Was avalon once again urging me to create magic and share it with others that might feel the deep soul longing for something deeper, magical, and transformative? There is no doubt in my mind that the answer is yes. Does reading this stir something deep within your soul? Have you heard the call of Avalon but dont know how to answer? Does seeking the mysterious magic beyond the veil intrigue you? Does Avalon tug at your heart and wish to reveal her magic to you? Then join me for an all-new workshop series on Avalon! The Cauldron of Avalon The Cauldron of Avalon is a new workshop series that I am launching that brings the teachings of Triskele Rose to more people. It is a way to learn about Avalon, the magic and mystery of the sacred isle without having to commit to an intense training program. The Cauldron of Avalon will be an ongoing series of workshops that will help you to connect with the energies of healing, magic, transformation and so much more. If you would like to know more then join me in the 1st workshop of the Cauldron of Avalon Series. THE WAY TO AVALON! In this workshop, we will discuss things such as What is Avalon, Where is Avalon, How to find Avalon in your personal practice, and most importantly how to answer the call of Avalon. We will also be learning how to part the Mists and partake in a Meditation: Journey to Avalon. Workshop 1 The Way to Avalon An Introduction to Avalon and the Avalonian Way June 6th 2023 7:00 pm BST Online Zoom Registration Ends June 5th Live attendance is encouraged. However, a recording will be sent out to all who purchase a space and will be available for 6 months. Workshop 2 Waters of Avalon Coming Soon Workshop 3 Spirits of Avalon Coming Soon Sign up at WWW.WATERWITCHCRAFT.COM Tons of Windows 11 news poured out from Microsoft Build this weekand among the new features coming down the pipeline is a new way to force quit an app. Currently, the way to kill an unresponsive program is by opening the Task Manager, finding the app within the Processes tab, right-clicking, and then choosing End task. But as highlighted by The Verge, you can soon perform the same action with fewer steps in Windows 11. You just have to right-click on the app in the taskbar, then choose Force Quit. This method mimics macOS, making a transition (or switching between operating systems) that much easier than beforeand less bewildering for people who rarely (if ever) interact with the Task Manager. Force Quit isnt the only fresh feature headed to Windows 11, either. A couple will cross off items from our wishlist, like universal RGB lighting controls. Other nifty updates include Mouse without Borders, an addition to Microsofts excellent PowerToys lineup that lets you control multiple PCs with just one mouse; a proper Windows Backup app; and the launch of Windows Copilot, which will provide AI assistance within the operating system. But perhaps the most momentous announcement was coming native support for compressed files formats like RAR, 7-ZIP, and GZ. After almost three decades, Microsoft is officially making third-party programs that handled such files extraneousand by proxy, likely putting memes about WinRars 30-day trial in their grave. The new Google AI search engine gets right to the point: You ask a question, it answers (albeit sometimes with inaccuracies). And you can do it without needing to scroll down past all the ads, promoted responses, and other cruft to see what matters. It may seem like a pithy response, but thats the real benefit of the new Google Search, the AI edition, aka the Search Generative Experience (SGE). PCWorld was offered a chance to go hands-on with Googles new AI search experience, and we came away (mostly) impressed. Its a richer experience than what Microsofts Bing Chat offers. Google allows you to sign up for the SGE via its Search Labs, accessible via the Chrome desktop browser, or Chrome for Android and iOS. Youll need to join a waitlist, the same way Microsoft offered a waitlist for Bing Chat. Mark Hachman / IDG How is the new Google search? Mostly for the better, though publishers should still worry about Google snatching even more eyeballs than than it already does. But Google (like Bing) makes a real effort to answer the question you pose to it immediately, but with more detail than what Bing offers and an invitation to follow up. The best thing, though, is simply this: It gets right to the point. Thats the way Google used to be, decades ago. Over time, though, the results to your query are competing with ads and sponsored results, cards, and all sort of middling-to-useless information that simply distracts from what youre searching for. Googles new AI search treats your question the way PCWorld treats its reviews: with a clean, direct presentation summarizing relevant information, such as pros, cons, prices and more. How Google Searchs AI handles queries Google subtly encourages you to ask a question and any follow-ups, but you dont have to: Search for simply Morocco and youll receive a Wikipedia-like series of four paragraphs or so explaining the key points. Ask a question (is Maui better than Oahu?) and youll receive a similar response, but with the pros and cons of each. The latter are the next-level contextual questions content creators usually try to answer, because search historically cant. Google provides solid contextual information here, without being definitive. Mark Hachman / IDG In both contexts, Google declines to footnote its information as Bing does, but includes two or three small cards to the right, inside the search response box. Like Bard, Googles formal AI chatbot, Googles AI search suggests a few follow-up questions. Underneath all this, if you can scroll down far enough, are the list of traditional links. If you ask a shopping-related question (whats the best gaming laptop under $1,000?) Google provides several more cards, in a column hierarchy, with much more detailed information about the pros and cons of each. It looks very much like a traditional web site or even a magazine layout, and goes far beyond the competition in presenting rich, though bite-sized, information about each product. Click the card, and a sidebar pushes out from the side of the search box, with even more links and details. Googles new AI search does seem to track follow-up queries. A disclaimer claims that it will store your query information for 24 hours, so that you dont have to constantly resubmit your questions. You can perform traditional searches for topics on Googles AI search. But it wont generate a search box for every result, like the top. In that case, Google Search represented a list of linkswhich disappeared after the next search was completed. Mark Hachman / IDG Is Googles AI search accurate? Not entirely. Still, its better than our earlier experiments with Bard, which flubbed a substantial number of the details of Googles own Pixel Fold and Tablet. Google doesnt really bother with the now-almost-traditional warnings that AI can generate imprecise results. Instead, its disclaimer is that Generative AI is experimental. Info quality may vary. And it does vary. Remember that AI chatbots cant be trusted to give fully accurate answers, no matter how confident the presentation seems. To its credit, Google did a very good job in presenting the details of its own Pixel Tablet and Fold, when Bard couldnt. Factually, a quick check of its results seemed to match the traditional Google search. But it was when Googles AI became helpful that it ran into trouble. Theres a lot of information that Googles generative AI search presents here, but not all of it is totally accurate. Mark Hachman / IDG A case in point: When choosing a gaming laptop, you can consider things like [the] display: A 1366 x 768 resolution display is better for gaming than a 1080P display, it returned, when asked about gaming laptops under $1,000. Wed disagree with that, and you probably would, too. When asked to summarize the HP Victus 16-e1000 Series gaming laptops, Googles AI search replied: This laptop has a 16.1-inch screen, 8-64 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB-8.2 TB drive. It can handle most games at 30 FPS. However, it has a plastic build, a weak screen hinge, and a chintzy touchpad. Thats a great summary, with a rich, concise mix of details. But according to HP, the Victus 16-e1000 includes 8-32GB of RAM and between 256GB and 1TB of storage, not 8.2TB. And yet, having reviewed an earlier Victus, Id agree with the other points. Again, I do like the fact that the new AI-powered Google search tries to answer the question. I still found myself wishing for the richness and the thoughtfulness of well, humans. In asking Google to compare Maui and Oahu, I found this response to be more thoughtful, entertaining, and knowledgeable. Google specifically architected Google Search not to display personality, unlike Bing. Google also refuses to commit to picking one choice over another. Humans do. Enjoy it while you can That will likely be the crux of the love/hate relationship with AI searchimmediacy of answers versus personality and a human touch. For publishers, the trouble is this: In a traditional search engine, you enter your query at the top of the page, and Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or whoever simply publishes a list of results. Add a new query, and you get a new list. A traditional Google Search query with sponsored results all over. If nothing else, AI search forces Google to start over. Mark Hachman / IDG With Googles new AI Search, all of the questions and Googles responses stack, so the page simply gets longer and longerand any traditional text links that Google provided for earlier responses disappear. (The small card links remain.) Bings search page (not Bing Chat, but actual Bing search) feels much friendlier to traditional publishers. Unless youre a merchant, Googles approach to the rest of the web feels much more arrogant and cursory. If youve been around tech long enough, you know that companies bend over backwards during the first few weeks and months to ensure that nothing gets in the way of an optimal user experience. Thats when they hook you. There will be a time, probably, when Google works through accuracy issues to present you with a coherent AI search experience. Enjoy that time while you can. For now, Googles new AI Search is a decent, modern refresh of Google Search. But its likely only a matter of time before this refresh becomes as cluttered with junk as traditional Search. 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 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 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 Zimbabwe's main opposition coalition, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has alleged that some of the more than 4,000 prisoners released on presidential amnesty last week include child rapists. President Emmerson Mnangagwa pardoned the prisoners drawn from the countrys 47 prisons in an attempt to decongest overcrowded jails. Prison authorities had said rape was among offences excluded from the amnesty. However, viral videos showed what local media said were rapists celebrating their freedom with some who are said to have served less than a year of their term. The CCC in a statement on Wednesday said it was "grossly irrational to release dangerous, unrehabilitated offenders back into society" before informing or preparing rape victims. Unleashing an unrehabilitated rapist who has not served his sentence back into his community unchecked and with no safeguards to protect victims endangers women and girls and can never be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said. Some Zimbabweans on social media have also demanded that the decision be reversed as it puts women in danger. "In normal countries, amnesty is never granted to rapists or people who have committed violent crimes. Women are not safe with this regime," investigative journalist Hopewell Chinono and government critic tweeted. The Zimbabwean authorities are yet to comment on the allegations. 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 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 The Akuapem North Constituency Executives, led by Chairman Omane Mensa-Bonsu, have expressed their profound appreciation to the Director General of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Mr Samuel Awuku, for for his continuous support to the constituency. In a statement issued by the Constituency Secretary, Samuel Kodua-Boateng, he enumerated numerous employment opportunities Mr Awuku has supported the constituency to create for the people they are serving. For instance, Mr Awuku has supported the NPP Akuapem North constituency to fix over 500 electricity meters, secured educational scholarships, financial supports, infrastructural projects and built close relationship with religious leaders, traditional leaders, party faithfuls and entire electorates. "In as much as the party is working assiduously to break the 8 year political cycle, the major contributions by Mr Awuku is something that is worth emulating" the statement in part read. The constituency party also congratulated Mr. Awuku for emerging as the overall Public Sector CEO for the year 2022, at the just-ended 7th Ghana CEO Summit and Excellence Awards held in Accra. 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 Former President John Dramani Mahama has extended his congratulations to the Member of Parliament for Kumawu following the recently concluded by-election in the constituency. "I extend my congratulations to the Member of Parliament-elect, Ernest Anim," Mahama said in a Facebook post on May 25, 2023. John Mahama also acknowledged the commendable conduct displayed by the people of Kumawu, stating, "Congratulations to the people of Kumawu for the peaceful conduct of Tuesday's parliamentary by-election. "Of course, I cannot forget the warmth of the people and the enthusiasm demonstrated when I led a delegation from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to campaign for our candidate, Kwasi Amankwah. I am very grateful. "That enthusiasm was aptly demonstrated in the increased number of votes our candidate garnered in the poll 1,284 actual votes, representing an increase of 52.6% over our 2020 performance." Looking ahead to the 2024 general elections, Mahama further expressed optimism and credited the efforts of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Kwasi Amankwa, for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the NDC. He also took the opportunity to extend his appreciation to the Ghana Police Service for their professionalism exhibited during the by-election. "I would like to congratulate the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his men and women for their assistance in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the polls. The conduct of the police personnel gives us confidence for the future that they will continue to bear true allegiance to the state and not to any political party." Mahama added, "To the Electoral Commission, you are once again reminded that a credible election depends as much on the persons you recruit and appoint as presiding and other officers as much as it depends on the collaboration with the agents and representatives of the political parties." Ernest Yaw Anim, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the just-ended by-election in Kumawu, emerged as the winner of the election. The by-election, which initially carried uncertainties regarding predictions due to its competitiveness, has finally produced a winner. Ernest Yaw Anin received 15,264 votes, representing 70.91% of the valid votes. Kwasi Amankwaa, who ran on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), received 3,723 votes, representing 17.29%. Kwaku Duah, an independent candidate, secured 2,478 votes, representing 11.51%, while the other Kwaku Duah, who also stood as an independent candidate, managed to garner 62 votes, representing 0.29%. Paul Agyemang, the constituency's returning officer, declared the results and revealed that the registered voters were 34,790, while the valid votes cast were 21,527, representing 62.45%. The number of rejected ballots was 204. Some jubilant NPP supporters who spoke to GhanaWeb even before the declaration said they were already confident that the NPP candidate had won by a large margin. According to them, their failure to reject the independent candidate Kwaku Duah stemmed from a fact-finding mission that revealed his non-affiliation with the NPP party, despite his previous campaign claims. "He told us he was partially NPP, but we discovered that he was lying," some supporters told GhanaWeb. 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 developer wants to tear down two buildings on Front Street in Harrisburg and build an apartment building, but Harrisburg City Council voted down the project earlier this week. Some city council members said they were voting against the land development plan due to a lack of affordable housing units in the project. EI Associates, which has offices in Harrisburg and Cedar Knolls, New Jersey wants to demolish two, two-story office buildings at 2709 and 2717 N. Front St. near Wiconisco Street and build a four-story, 21-unit (15 one-bedroom and six-two bedroom units) apartment building with 44 parking spaces. The building would include a fitness space, a mail room, bicycle storage and a roof level terrace overlooking the Susquehanna River. Adam Kerr of EI Associates told city council at a workshop meeting earlier this month that the company would like to begin construction in the spring of 2024. One person is dead and another is in the hospital after a shooting at a Pittsburgh bar early Friday morning. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near Chiefs Cafe, along North Craig Street in the North Oakland area of the city, according to reports from KDKA and WPXI. Police told WTAE a wounded 29-year-old man was found at the intersection of North Craig Street and Centre Avenue. He was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition. A 55-year-old man was found in the bar and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. READ MORE: School employee sent nude photos to central Pa. students, had sexual contact with teen: police A woman charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy while she was a classroom monitor at Elizabethtown Middle School sent him $20 and vape pods after the April encounter, police said in court documents. Megan V. Carlisle, 37, was helping the 15-year-old with his schoolwork when she started groping him on April 28 in an in-school suspension (ISS) classroom at the middle school, Northwest Regional police said in an affidavit of probable cause. A Montgomery County teen has been arrested and charged with murder after police say he killed an innocent bystander while shooting at another person last fall. Damien Wilson, 19, has been on the run since the shooting but was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on Thursday at a Philadelphia home, according to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer and NBC10. According to reports, Anthony Vitelli, 47, was shot along the 800 block of Arch Street in Norristown on Oct. 7, 2022. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Using surveillance footage, interviews, and cartridges and other evidence left at the scene, police said they were able to determine that Wilson was the shooter but that Vitelli was not the intended target. Authorities said they believe Wilson was attempting to shoot another man because the mans friend had shot Wilson in the leg on July 27, 2022. The evidence indicates this was an attempted retaliatory killing that instead killed an innocent man, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said to the Inquirer. 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. Police said Wilson was also wanted on an unrelated August 2022 incident, where they say he entered his girlfriends home and choked her. Officials said got a search warrant for Wilsons phone and found text messages between him and his ex-girlfriend that discussed the shooting, with her encouraging him to lie low while police searched for him. Wilson has been charged with first and third-degree murder, person not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing an instrument of crime and reckless endangerment. He is in custody, awaiting arraignment and was denied bail. MIDDLEBURG The woman whose car with an infant in the back landed on the roof of a Snyder County restaurant last year has been sentenced to state prison and ordered to pay nearly $210,000 in restitution. Snyder County Judge Lori R. Hackenberg on Thursday told Theresa J. Risso, 44, of Selinsgrove, what she did was beyond comprehension. The judge sentenced her to 5 to 25 years in state prison followed by 10 years probation and fined her $7,500. She recommended she be placed in a drug treatment program. Risso pleaded guilty in April to charges of endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault by vehicle, causing a catastrophe, drunken driving and recklessly endangering another person. She admitted driving drunk on March 4, 2022, with her then 1-old not properly strapped in a seat in the back. Theresa Risso left magisterial district court on Friday March 11, 2022. Her car hit several vehicles and came to rest on the roof of the former Golden Chopsticks along Routes 11/15 in Shamokin Dam that has since been demolished. Risso told the judge she takes full responsibility for her actions and understands an apology is not enough. I feel awful, she said. What I did was wrong. She recognizes what she did impacted so many lives, she said. I made a very bad and poor decision, she said. I realize when I took that first drink I couldnt stop. Risso noted she has raised her 9-year-old daughter on her own and the younger one with the girls father. I should have thought of them before I took that first drink, she said. Her blood alcohol level was .327 or more than four times the legal limit to be charged with driving under the influence, police said. This was her third drunken driving conviction, court records show. Risso commented she had been in recovery. Recovery is a lifetime journey, Hackenberger told her, adding she hopes this event will be a constant reminder to remain sober forever. James Haught, who was critically injured when Rissos car pushed the van in which he was seated into the restaurant building, said he forgave her but cannot get over that she had her child in the car. Haughts wife Christine, who also was in the van waiting for their food, told Risso she cannot forgive her. You about killed him [her husband], she said. I pray you get the help you need. The plea agreement was designed to bring finality and accountability to Risso, District Attorney Michael Piecuch said. Prior to being sentenced, Risso accepted a modification to the agreement that was worked out in private by the judge and attorneys in another room. Hackenberg did not explain the need for the change or what it was. Risso is alleged to have been drinking in Williamsport before heading toward home on Route 15. She was observed driving erratically on Route 15 south of Lewisburg speeding up to 65 miles an hour and slowing to 35, police said. After entering Shamokin Dam, Rissos car struck three vehicles and the front drivers side tire came off before it went over a curb and sheared off a pole in the area of Service 1st federal Credit Union. It went airborne, traveling over the curb in a parking lot, striking a concrete barrier and the van in which the Haughts were sitting. The engine separated after the car hit the barrier and struck the wall of the restaurant near the van causing a fire ball. The car landed on the roof causing the part over the kitchen area to cave in. One of the six employees of the restaurant that was open only for takeout was injured. In November, shoplifting and receiving stolen property charges were resolved when Risso paid for the $102 worth of items she was accused of stealing on five separate occasions from the Selinsgrove Weis Markets. Four of the thefts occurred after she was released in August on $200,000 bail on the other charges. Her bail was revoked in October due to the new charges. More: Pa. court sets criteria to determine if volunteer fire companies fall under open records law Daughter of Pa. airman killed in WWII amazed at effort used to identify his remains VICTORIA British Columbia Premier David Eby is heading to Asia on a trade mission that makes stops in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Vietnam. But the premier's tour itinerary, released Thursday, does not include China. Eby said the overseas mission will bolster B.C.'s trade and investment ties in the Indo-Pacific region, the world's fastest-growing economic zone. B.C. cabinet ministers Josie Osborne and Brenda Bailey, and Jagrup Brar, the New Democrat government's minister of state for trade, will accompany Eby on the trip. A government statement said the premier and his ministers will meet with government and economic leaders in the Asian countries on issues of trade and investment, and discuss partnership opportunities ranging from clean technology to critical minerals and communications technology. The mission is about building and exploring new relations and market opportunities, Eby told reporters Thursday. "We're looking to diversify our trade relationships and to deepen our relationships with countries like Japan and Korea, and strengthen and build new relationships with countries like Singapore," he said. "By having a diverse number of trading partners, I think, that will be more economically stable for British Columbians at a time of geopolitical tensions. The more trading partners we have, the deeper our relationships, the more successful our province will be." Eby and his ministers return June 7. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. The Canadian Press Jay Z and Beyonce have been facing major criticism over the recent purchase of a sprawling $200 million Malibu, California, estate but in one comedians opinion, those who are hating should be taking notes instead of throwing shots and it should inspire all, according to media sources. Deon Cole was caught out in New York City by TMZ and was asked about his take on the extreme purchase. The way Cole sees it, the naysayers should quite critiquing and get out into the world and achieve their own version of success. Realistically speaking, we cant all spend like the global megastar couple, but the main point to this is find your own level of success, the outlet reported. As you can imagine, the 30,000-square-foot home the couple purchased was an astronomical amount of money, where the couple paid for the huge mansion in all cash from renowned art collector William Bell. Bell also created the iconic soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, according to Forbes. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the home has been dubbed as an architectural masterpiece by the outlet. The estate reportedly took more than a decade and a half to finish and was completed in 2014. The estate is on record as the most expensive home ever sold in California, according to reports. The property is also the most expensive single-family-home ever sold in the U.S., according to real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel, per CBS News. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the massive estate sits on 8 acres in Malibus Paradise Cove neighborhood, which is also known as Billionaires Row, according to the outlet. To Cole, we should all see this as an aspire to inspire kind of purchase. Read More A banner for a Juneteenth celebration in Greenville, South Carolina, that features a white couple has been a topic of discussion on the Internet recently, with the organization responsible now apologizing and promising to take them down, according to news sources. An upstate celebration of freedom, unity & love, the banner, promoting an upcoming Juneteenth GVL event, reads, while also featuring a photo of a white man and white woman smiling. The banner has gone viral on social media with many saying the decision to use white models for a Black holiday has made them cringe. Some even say its an attempt to whitewash the event. This is how Black History gets completely distorted, repackaged, to be palatable for white Americansand erased, one Twitter user wrote. This is 100% doing harm. This is 100% buying into the idea we cant be whole on our own. Not even for one day. According to the organizations website, Juneteenth GVL Inc. was co-founded by three Black men and has an all-Black board and team. They began hosting Greenvilles annual Juneteenth event in 2022, The Daily Beast reported. Juneteenth GVL would like to offer an apology to the community for the presence of non-black faces being represented on two flags representing Juneteenth, the events founder Rueben Hays said in a statement posted to Twitter Thursday afternoon. We acknowledge this mistake having been made and will correct the error quickly. This error was an attempt at uniting all of Greenville and thereby a slight oversight on one individuals part that prevented us from fully embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of black culture through the message and meaning of Juneteenth. We take full responsibility for this misstep. Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to curate remarkable Juneteenth experiencesand we anticipate a beautiful celebration that everyone will be pleased with and proud of. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that our events fully the diversity, inclusivity, and historical significance of Juneteenth, the statement said. Hayes defended the banner on Wednesday, saying it signified that the event was for everyone. The banner was one of 10 designs posted and hung throughout the downtown area, with other posters showing Black, Asian, and Hispanic residents, The State reported. Additionally, Hayes said the federal holiday, celebrated on June 19, doesnt belong to one group. He said the organization has a vision to broaden the celebration to promote healing among divided communities. We did not want to make this exclusively Black, Hays said. That is not in the spirit of unity. In addition to an apology within the statement and a pledge for future events to reflect diversity, inclusivity and historical significance, Hayes said the board has worked for eight months to plan various events. Bruce Wilson, who has organized a Juneteenth event for the past two years at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, was barred from using the venue this year due to Juneteenth GVL, which held its event last year at a different location. Wilson said he intends to sue the Peace Center for breach of contract if they dont cancel Juneteenth GVL, The State reported. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. It became a federal holiday in 2021. Read more via The State. Read More: By Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News (TNS) 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 Tampa Bay 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. Law enforcement officials investigate the home of Brian Laundrie's parents in September 2021 in North Port, Fla. (AP Photo/Curt Anderson, file)AP 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. A home in South Londonderry Township, Lebanon County, was destroyed in a mid-afternoon fire Thursday. Dylan Wilson, assistant chief of the Lawn Fire Company, said the fire at the single-family home in the first block of Woodland Circle was dispatched about 3 p.m., after neighbors discovered the blaze and alerted the homeowner. Wilson said by the time his crews arrived, the back of the property was engulfed in flames, and fire was also evident from the street side. Firefighters not only had to deal with the blazes head start with no hydrants in the rural area, Wilson said, but also had access problems to two sides of the homes because of woods to the rear, and a large, fence-in retention pond to its left. Wilson said it took about two hours until firefighters had the blaze under control, and units remained on the scene until about 7 p.m. to make sure all hot spots were extinguished. He placed total losses, between the home, its contents and vehicles, at about $1 million. There were no injuries. Wilson said a fire marshal will be inspecting the scene Friday morning to help determine the cause of the blaze. But the chief also noted that, based on what firefighters saw of the scene Thursday, he preliminarily believes the fire was sparked by accidental causes. Wilson said the family of five is staying with relatives, and receiving assistance with clothing and other needs from the Red Cross. More: Fire closes central Pa. restaurant, sends co-owner to hospital Pa. woman whose car landed on restaurant roof must pay nearly $210K in restitution Delawares low elevation mixed with crowded beaches and limited exit routes make the state particularly vulnerable to massive flooding, but officials hope an influx of federal infrastructure money will trigger future evacuation plans automatically via artificial intelligence. The Biden administration was set to announce a total of $53 million in grants Thursday to Delaware and seven other states aimed at high-tech solutions to traffic congestion problems. Although the money comes from the infrastructure law the president signed in 2021, many of the programs including the $5 million for flood response efforts in Bidens home state have evolved since then. Whats new is the predictive analysis; the machine learning, U.S. Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, Delawares former transportation secretary, said in an interview with The Associated Press. Because now we have access to all this data, its hard for us as humans to figure out what is data and what is actionable information. Delaware officials pull off evacuation-type procedures every week during the tourism season, with long lines of cars headed to the beaches on weekend mornings and back at night. But flooding presents a unique problem including standing water on roads that can make the most direct routes out of town even more treacherous than simply sheltering in place. What you dont want to do is make the decision too late and then you have vehicles caught out, said Gene Donaldson, operations manager at the states 24-hour Transportation Management Center. Delawares transportation department, which controls more than 90% of roads in a state with the lowest average elevation in the country, is tasked with implementing evacuation plans during high water a bureaucratic nightmare considering how quickly conditions can change. For humans to monitor thousands of detectors or data sources is overwhelming, said George Zhao, director of transportation for Arlington, Virginia-based BlueHalo, which has worked with Delaware on developing the software. Thats where AI comes in. Rather than sending a crew to the scene to block an impassable road, the system uses sensors to detect weather threats and even can predict them. Then, it sends the information directly to drivers through cellphone alerts while broadcasting them simultaneously on electronic highway signs. The amount of data keeps growing, with many automated cars now able to not only inform their drivers of the dangers ahead but also feed the system to warn others. Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology tested an earlier version of a flood prediction analysis system on the Mississippi River between 2019-22. Steve Corns, an associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering who co-authored the study, said the system was able to detect in minutes what used to take hours. But now, Corns said, the capabilities are even more advanced and useful provided theyre adequately funded so the technology doesnt become obsolete. Previous legislation had awarded more than $300 million in congestion relief grants, and Bhatt said the agency received $385 million in applications for the $52.8 million in the latest batch under the infrastructure law. He said that shows huge appetite for innovative solutions to tackle traffic problems. Other payouts in this round of grants include $14 million for machine learning traffic prediction and signal timing in Maryland and $12.7 million to retrofit Ann Arbor, Michigans traffic system with cellular technology that could become a national template. It also includes $11.6 million to expand a microtransit service in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Jeff McMurray of The Associated Press wrote this story. More: Whats new at the Delaware beaches for summer 2023? Hotel renovations, boardwalk additions and more After spending 12 hours 150 feet underground, a man who broke into a coal mine in Lansford, Carbon County, and initially refused to come out surrendered to police, according to news sources. The suspect, David Eisenhauer of Carbon County, broke into the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum around 4 a.m. Thursday morning. Staff at the mine noticed a broken lock outside of the mine when they arrived later that morning, according to reports from WNEP and Fox56. It didnt take long for a Pennsylvania State Police emergency response team, along with officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, to report to the scene. Eisenhauer had told authorities that he had a gun and ceased communication with negotiators afterward. Officials told Fox56 that the whole ordeal was a hazardous and dangerous operation considering the low temperatures, confined space, and total darkness of the mine. Its an unusual circumstance, I dont know how many swat teams have actually deployed to deep mines to conduct an operation, this is outside everybodys normal way of doing things, Carbon County Detective Jack Soberick said to Fox56. He is on a contained second level of the mine, theres no way out except for that one entryway. He can go, I believe they said 200-300 yards North or South, and a couple of side entrances, but he cant get out of there except for that one exit, Lansford Officer-in-Charge Shawn Nunemacher said to Fox 56. Eventually, around 4:30 p.m., Eisenhauer exited the mine and got into an ambulance. He was transported to the hospital to be checked out. He does have several outstanding warrants, we have one officer thats going down to keep him detained, until he is done being medically evaluated and released by the hospital, Nunemacher said to Fox56. They did not find anything on him, there is an officer down there with mine staff trying to recover anything he might have left down there. Theres currently no explanation as to why Eisenhauer went down in the mine, according to reports. Read More: A western Pennsylvania local police officer charged with illegally transporting an undocumented immigrant has been released on bond and had his service weapon seized. Bethel Park Lt. Blake Babin, a 33-year veteran of the force, pleaded not guilty to the single federal charge Thursday evening, according to WTAE-TVs Mike Valente, who also reported that Babin was released on $10,000 unsecured bond and that his department had taken his gun. Babin, 59, has been placed on administrative leave with pay Bethel Park Police Chief Timothy OConnor told WTAE. Pittsburgh area media reported Thursday that the FBI arrested Babin at his home after he was indicted on the single charge of transporting an undocumented worker to help the person illegally remain in the country. The person authorities say Babin helped has not been identified in court documents and their relationship has not been established. WTAE reported that the judge ordered Babin not to have any contact with the person. Babin helped the person sometime between Oct. 20 and Dec. 30, 2022, acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If convicted, Babin could face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The department has said Babin oversees patrol, traffic officers and the dispatch center. Bethel Park, which is in Pittsburghs South Hills, has 38 full-time officers and responds to about 16,000 annually. SUNBURY - A Northumberland County woman is facing up to 40 years in prison after pleading no-contest to third-degree murder in the 2021 stabbing death of her husband. Lisa Karlaza, 54, remains jailed without bail with sentencing scheduled for Aug. 3. By pleading no contest she agreed the governments evidence would be sufficient for a jury to find her guilty. County Judge Paige Rosini did not require the prosecution to outline that evidence other than to say she killed her husband, Richard, on July 4, 2021, in their Dooleville home. Mount Carmel Twp. police accused Karlaza of using an 8-inch kitchen knife to kill her husband. An autopsy found stab wounds to his chest, neck, shoulder and groin area. No one else was found in the home, a bloodied knife was found in the dishwasher and her story of a home invasion did not add up, police said. Under terms of the plea agreement, charges of aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, false reports, simple assault and harassment are to be dismissed. Testimony at the preliminary hearing included that of a neighbor who had heard the Karlazas arguing and police who said Lisa Karlaza had called 911 to report a home invasion and possible homicide. Their late son, Nicholas Karlaza, 30, was staying at the residence for a few days but he was visiting a friend when his father was killed. The son, who died Feb. 13, 2022, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he was working, had been critical of the way the police and district attorney were handling the investigation of his fathers death. He accused police of doing nothing with evidence he found a few weeks after the death he claimed incriminated his mother. That evidence included sponges containing red stains and a bloody footprint. To many, Memorial Day signals the start of summer and is celebrated with picnics and pool openings. Earlier today, Ramon Colon-Lopez, one of the nations highest ranking military leaders, reminded Milton Hershey School students the May holiday is more than just a fun day. As you think about Memorial Day from now on, I just ask one thing from you. I want you to count your blessings. I want you to start looking at the things that you have right now, he said. Colon-Lopez, the most senior enlisted service member in the United States Armed Forces and a primary advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the guest speaker at the Derry Township schools annual Memorial Day assembly, a solemn event held in Founders Hall Auditorium. The assembly featured speakers, color guard, music and a roll call of the Gold Star alumni killed in the line of duty. Nearly 2,000 students plus teachers, staff and alumni filed silently into the auditorium. Its reverent and I think its a wonderful lesson for our students, even if they dont fully grasp it, said Susan Alger, manager of school history. Speaking to the students, Colon-Lopez noted Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day, and was first recognized in 1868 to remember the fallen from the Civil War. Today, the holiday commemorates the nearly 1.4 million Americans have given their lives for the support and defense of the U.S. Constitution, he said. Colon-Lopez emphasized the freedoms veterans fight for, noting we are the only nation that fights to protect the Constitution, and the idea that every person is created equal and should have the same opportunities as others. Those who have made the ultimate sacrifice have done so for a reason, he added. We fight not because we hate whats in front of us. We fight because we love what we leave behind and thats every single one of you, Colon-Lopez said. He added Memorial Day is a time to reflect on all of the young men and women who have served our country. The reason they did that is because for many generations before us, someone has done the same for them and every generation looks for a way to pay it back, Colon-Lopez said. His participation was facilitated by school alumna Kimberly Elenberg who called Colon-Lopezs visit a big deal. His ability to come here and spend time with the children is really meaningful. We watched their faces in the front row and they snapped to attention. They were really paying mind, she said. READ MORE: Almost everyone I speak with lately wallows in dissatisfaction. They feel bogged down by what they are seeing, hearing, experiencing. I get it. A lot of these people, like me, came into adulthood in the 1960s and 70s. Times were turbulent, but hope prevailed. With peace and love, we truly believed we could change the country, improve it. We envisioned light at the end of the tunnel, especially for women and minorities. Hope is dashed these days. Politicians seem intent on taking, not giving. They shout from capitals across the country: You cant love this person. You cant control your own body. Your children cant read this book. You cant use this bathroom or wear these clothes. You cant. You cant. You cant. Didnt we all grow up in the land of the free and the home of the brave? While we pay respects to the brave this weekend, many of us arent feeling very free. Who are these governors and legislators bearing stone tablets that tell us what we can and cant do? Fortunately, were on a second governor in Pennsylvania who is an exception to the horrors happening in other states. But many of us cringe in fear as we head toward yet another presidential election. The choices range from bad to worse. While we look with fear on Washington in 2024, conservatives in legislatures and local offices keep chipping away at our freedoms. In 2022, attempts to ban or restrict library materials in the United States reached an all-time high, according to the American Library Association, which tracks book bans and advocates against censorship. Our governor may be savvy, but all around us book banners and curriculum changers are screaming, You cant. It took a complaint from one person just one to prohibit students in a Florida school from reading a poem shared with the world at the last presidential inauguration. Across the country, a single person or a handful have been able to strip schools of books about racism and sexual orientation and to whitewash history. If Florida and Texas come to mind, hear this: Pennsylvania ranks third in the country in the number of banned books. These include the most banned book in the state, Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, as well as Jesse Andrews Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman. Remember, no one is forcing kids to read these books. No one is trying to infiltrate your home. These books are (or should be) available because, for some kids, they could be life-affirming. For others, they nurture tolerance. Keep in mind too that just a couple of months ago some West Shore parents objected to a curriculum designed to help students feel good about themselves and others. Their objection? Not everyone deserves respect, empathy, honesty, kindness etc. from my children. Really? Is that because they have two mommies, because they are gender queer or is it their religion, or lack of it, thats objectionable? Hate and division breed our sense of hopelessness and sadness. Our generation focused on love. What changed that? Sad to say in many cases religion fuels the intolerance toward those who look differently, act differently, dress differently. Preaching fear of others results in hatred and distrust. We dont need this fear in the land of the free. The brave fought for a country built on tolerance. Lets honor them by remembering that. NANCY ESHELMAN: columnist1@verizon.net Hail hit a flight, cracking the pilot's windshield somehow, no one was harmed Hail hit a flight, cracking the pilot's windshield somehow, no one was harmed This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by Chris Mei from The Weather Network, featuring stories about people, communities and events and how weather impacted them. -- On Monday, May 26, 2003, a British Midland Airways (BMI) Airbus 312 was hit by an aggressive hailstorm on its way from Cyprus to Britain. There were 213 passengers and eight crew aboard the flight. The BMI aircraft was approaching Manchester, England when it was hit with violent weather, including hail and large chunks of ice. Many passengers who weren't buckled in were thrown from their seats. One passenger was Bruce Johnstone, a New Zealand photojournalist. "It was like a hail of bullets and then a huge thump. Everyone was screaming and we are lucky to be alive," said Johnstone. Click here to subscribe to This Day in Weather History Another passenger, Pat Mallon, a medical secretary from England, said, "The plane just dropped and started vibrating. Everybody was stuck on the ceiling. We were out of our seats for a few seconds and that happened two or three times. The flight landed at Manchester Airport around 30 minutes late. The passengers clapped and cheered as the plane safety touched the ground. Upon landing, the plane was inspected. The hail significantly damaged the plane's nose and the windshield, but all internal systems were still completely functional. "The pilot said that in his 20 years of flying experience he had never encountered anything quite like it and, to reassure the passengers, he said it would be very unlikely if we ever encountered anything like it again," said Mallon. All 221 people on board the flight walked away without significant injuries. To learn more about the BMI Airbus 312 flight, listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History." Subscribe to 'This Day in Weather History': Apple Podcasts | Amazon Alexa | Google Assistant | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Overcast' Thumbnail: Courtesy of Pixabay Doug Mastriano, the conservative state senator from Franklin County who helped upend Pennsylvanias Republican politics in 2022 but had trouble translating that into broader general election support, is formally out of the 2024 race for U.S. Senate. Mastriano made his announcement Thursday night in a forum that is right in his comfort zone: A Facebook Live post featuring himself, his wife Rebbie, and beamed directly to an audience of his biggest supporters. A section (left) of the vertical column of a construction crane is lowered past the mangled section of the fallen boom in Kelowna, B.C., Wednesday, July 14, 2021, following a fatal collapse of the crane. (File photo) University of East Anglia, UK introduces MA in Medical and Health Humanities New Delhi (India) | Published : May 24, 2023 University of East Anglia, one of the UK's top 30 universities, is pleased to announce MA in Medical and Health Humanities, a new post-graduate programme under the aegis of the Norwich Medical School. This innovative programme is aimed at bridging the gap between medicine, health sciences, and the humanities, offering a unique and holistic approach to understanding health and healthcare from diverse cultural perspectives.The Masters in Medical and Health Humanities course will offer creative and practice-based learning while exploring health as a holistic and culturally embedded experience. It is designed for students with a background in Humanities, Social Science, Medicine, and Professional Health related subject fields who are keen to explore the relationship between medicine, health, and society through a humanistic lens. It will challenge students to think critically and philosophically about what it means to be a healthcare professional in contemporary times.This programme will also offer students to have the opportunity to engage in critical discussions, interdisciplinary research, and experiential learning, allowing them to develop a well-rounded understanding of healthcare from multiple perspectives. The unique aspect of this curriculum is that it offers a platform for students to engage in cross-cultural dialogues, explore diverse healthcare systems, and understand the cultural nuances of healthcare in different countries. This will enable students to develop a global perspective on healthcare and become culturally competent healthcare practitioners, capable of navigating the complexities of healthcare in diverse settings.During the course duration, students will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, resources, and faculty expertise at the campus, research, and innovation in healthcare education. This programme will provide students with a supportive and inclusive learning environment, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and personal growth. It will also offer a wide range of new-age job opportunities in healthcare, academia, publishing, media, and cultural institutions. Speaking on the occasion of the addition of a new programme, Dr Harriet Cooper, Lecturer in Medical Education (Sociology, Medical and Health Humanities), MB BS Sociology Theme Lead, Year 3 Reflective Practice Lead, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia said, "The Masters in Medical and Heath Humanities is a result of our endeavour to constantly evolve and offer education that addresses the need of contemporary times and the future world. This is a pioneering programme aims to offer a fresh perspective on healthcare, incorporating diverse cultural, ethical, and philosophical perspectives. It will give a comprehensive understanding of the human dimensions of health and healthcare, and prepare students to be compassionate, culturally competent healthcare professionals in a globalized world." The Masters in Medical and Health Humanities course is a bespoke module that covers a wide range of topics including narratives of healthcare, illness and disability, and applied arts and health. Students can take this programme either as a one-year full-time course or as a part-time course over two years. The course is open to all domestic and international students. The annual intake of the programme is September in each of the years. Additionally, the university is offering a full scholarship of 19,800 to the students. Students who are eligible for the scholarship can apply from the link - https://www.uea.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships-finder/international . Also, to learn more about this innovative programme the students can visit the website link: https://www.uea.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-degrees/courses/ma-medical-and-health-humanities About the University of East Anglia The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a UK Top 30 university and is ranked in the top 20 in UK for research citations. Known for its world-leading research and good student experience, it was awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework and is a leading member of Norwich Research Park, one of Europe's biggest concentrations of researchers in the fields of environment, health, and plant science. www.uea.ac.uk Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions After Losing Huge Lead, Red Hot Bin Weng Wins WPT SHR Poker Showdown May 25, 2023 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Another day, another tournament win for Bin Weng, who took down the World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown on Thursday in Las Vegas for $1,128,250. And now he can go get some sleep and try to win yet another final table on Friday. Weng, who lives in Pennsylvania, is on the heater of a lifetime and apparently cannot be stopped this year. The $3,500 buy-in tournament began in late April at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, where it played down to the final six. Play was paused for a few weeks and the remaining players traveled across the country to the Esports Arena at Luxor. The champ can't spend much time celebrating his big win because less than 20 hours after winning the SHRPS, he'll return to the same venue to compete at the final table of the WPT Choctaw tournament, where he also holds the chip lead. First place in that event pays $400,740 and he could become the first player ever to win World Poker Tour events in consecutive days. Weng Loses Lead, Rallies to Win Bin Weng Weng entered the final table with larger than a 2-1 chip advantage over everyone else. Early on, he was pretty much unstoppable and quickly extended his lead. The shortest stack entering the final table, Rafael Farah, was his first victim and went home in sixth place for $238,000. Jack Thu was next out the door in fifth place ($312,000) when he moved all in preflop with a weaker ace to that of Weng, who held on in the hand. Weng won a race to eliminate David Mzareulov in fourth place ($550,000) and had over 70% of all chips in play at that point. Shortly after, he'd win a 60/40 to take out Mitch Garshofsky (third place for $745,000), which brought about heads-up play against Sridhar Sangannagari who'd never won a live poker tournament. When heads-up play in the 612-player tournament began, Weng had more than a 4-1 chip advantage and seemed to be unstoppable. But the wheels would quickly come off when his opponent started to pick up a couple of small pots right off the bat, and then Sangannagari would continue to chip away at that lead. Before long, the match was almost even, and then it turned completely around when Weng attempted a massive bluff with jack-high that didn't get through against middle pair. All of a sudden, Sangannagari was in the lead by nearly 2-1 and had all the momentum on his side. But Weng's been on such a heater this year two major tournament wins already in 2023 entering the SHRPS. The contest would turn back around in the red hot poker pro's favor with 77 on a flop of 872 when his opponent jammed all in with QQ. There would be no two-outer on the turn or river and just like that, Weng was back out in front. For more than a half hour following, the heads-up competitors would battle back and forth before Sangannagari went all in with top pair on the river only to find out Weng had rivered the nut straight. That left the player with the losing hand down to crumbs and would soon bow out in second place for $745,000. Weng now has two seven-figure scores already this year. In January, he took down The Return, a $5,300 buy-in tournament at Borgata in Atlantic City, for $1,000,000. He can't win another million on Friday, but he can become a poker legend and pull off one of the most impressive accomplishments in poker history if he goes back-to-back at WPT Choctaw. WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Bin Weng $1,128,250 2 Sridhar Sangannagari $745,000 3 Mitch Garshofsky $550,000 4 David Mzareulov $413,000 5 Jack Thu $312,000 6 Rafael Farah $238,000 Sharelines Read our recap of the @WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Espionage Act charges have been mentioned by a legal expert as prosecutors have gathered evidence that Trump sometimes showed classified documents to others and kept them in a place they were visible to others in his office. In a damning and well documented report in the Washington Post, we learned today: Prosecutors in addition have gathered evidence indicating that Trump at times kept classified documents in his office in a place where they were visible and sometimes showed them to others, these people said. Taken together, the new details of the classified-documents investigation suggest a greater breadth and specificity to the instances of possible obstruction found by the FBI and Justice Department than has been previously reported. Even during his presidency when Trump treated Mar-a-Lago like a Winter White House he kept no visitor logs or other system of tracking visitors. Forbes has documented a few of the thousands of visitors through a compilation of photos shared and other means, showing a range from conspiracy theorists to former European Parliament member Nigel Farage , Ray J and the former general who pleaded guilty to lying to investigators Michael Flynn (not a great person to be seeing classified documents), Roger Stone who the government accused of undermining the Russia investigation by lying about his communications with Wikileaks, intimidating a witness, and more was found guilty of seven felony counts but later pardoned by Trump, and also in addition to the usual suspects of Republicans and conservative activists were the son of Brazils president Eduardo Bolsonaro and Lee Dong-sup, who was a member of South Koreas parliament in 2018. Representatives from Brazil, South Korea and Russia check. The list is not comforting, especially from a man who made a joke about his bigger red button just last night. Over this incredibly disturbing news, former Special Counsel for the Department of Defense and co-editor-in-chief of Just Security Ryan Goodman wrote, I expect this will result in Espionage Act charges. Dissemination is key. 2. Trumps reported conduct of RETAINING classified documents is already more serious than average case in which Justice Department DOES indict. COMMUNICATING or TRANSMITTING classified documents to third parties is considered much more egregious. pic.twitter.com/54nQ3r3bDU Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) May 25, 2023 The reported facts are now far beyond just an obstruction case. Willfully disseminating to third parties is also easily distinguishable from Pence, Biden, other instances in which DOJ has declined to prosecute (eg Alberto Gonzales), Goodman continued. In the next tweet, he highlighted an excerpt from this breaking news, A second employee who help Walt Nauta move boxes into storage room a day before FBI visit on June 3. The next day the employee helped Nauta pack an SUV when former president Trump left for Bedminster. Goodman pointed out a section saying the DOJ has evidence that even before Trumps office received the subpoena in May, he had what some officials have dubbed a dress rehearsal for moving government documents that he did not want to relinquish, from which he concludes the following two charges are applicable: 18 USC 1519 obstruction 18 USC 793(e) willful retention People familiar with the situation told the Post reporters that Smiths team has concluded the bulk of its investigative work in the documents case and believes it has uncovered a handful of distinct episodes of obstructionist conduct, one of which occurred AFTER the August 8th FBI search. Donald Trump has denied all wrong-doing in the classified documents case, even claiming during a March Fox appearance that he had the right to take classified documents with him to Mar-a-Lago and in his recent CNN town hall when asked if he had shown the classified documents to anyone else, said, Not really I would have the right to not that I can think of. In reality, intentionally disclosing classified information without authorization is a federal crime under the Espionage Act, hence Goodmans mentioning of it in this case. Punishment can be up to 10 years in prison or even charged with treason. Trump has labeled this investigation a witch hunt. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The punishment for fact-checking anti-abortion lies is in. The Indiana doctor who provided a needed abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim has been reprimanded by the state medical board for discussing the case with the media. Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an OB-GYN from Indiana, has been the target of a Right wing disinformation campaign after she provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim and mentioned the case, without naming the patient, to counter the anti-abortion rhetoric that was dominating the political landscape in the summer of 2022. The states medical board voted to issue Dr. Bernard a letter of reprimand and a fine of $3,000. But it decided against stiffer penalties, which could have included suspension or probation, instead deciding that Dr. Bernard is fit to return to her practice. The board also cleared her of other allegations that she failed to appropriately report the girls rape to authorities, the New York Times reported Friday, adding, The decision was the culmination of a yearlong legal pursuit of Dr. Bernard by the states attorney general, Todd Rokita, a Republican who opposes abortion. The chair of the American Medical Associations Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs pointed out as quoted in the Times that Dr. Bernard had an affirmative obligation to speak out and that she is one of just two doctors in Indiana with expertise in complicated obstetric cases like second-trimester abortions. Anti-abortion activist Rokita pursued charges against this doctor so relentlessly that he ended up actually being found guilty of violating the law in the doing. Professional ethics lapses might be his specialty. To what end? What was the goal here? Soon after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24, 2022, a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio became the victim of a Right wing led public attack on her credibility and the medical need for her to get an abortion, with legacy media offering factchecks that were proven to be woefully misinformed about abortion as a medical procedure and the harm of pregnancy on a young girls body. At the time, I wrote in these pages, Glenn Kessler at the Washington Post cast doubt upon the story, claiming there was only one on-the-record source, the treating doctor, whom he described as an activist. Kessler called the story something that fed into the Presidents talking points.' That factcheck gave rise to what became a nation-wide effort to discredit the rape victim and the doctor. It used the unfounded Republican suggestion that a doctor would lie about rape because the doctor had an agenda other than to help her patient as a given and ignored that 80% plus of rapes are not reported to the police. It also assumed that a 10 year old could get pregnant without rape, which is not actually possible. All 10 year old pregnant girls have been raped by someone. Why was this rape ever fact-checked? While Republicans and the media were running with the idea that this rape didnt happen and if it did it is so rare that abortion is not necessary right, it came out that 52 under-15-year-olds got abortions in Ohio in 2020, which is one abortion necessary per week due to rape. Thirty-four percent of victims of sexual assault and rape are under age 12. So, abortion is necessary. There is simply no way around this fact. Eventually, there was also an arrest made in this specific case. The burned media began regrouping and now are much more informed and responsible in their coverage of this topic. But this was the narrative around abortion just one year ago; it was a Republican-led discussion, until it wasnt once Roe was overturned and the reality of abortion being a human right forced itself into the public sphere with story after story of cases that reasonable people could see should be exceptions becoming too gruesome to ignore. Republicans, with a big assist from the then still ill-informed press, were attacking Dr. Bernard for political reasons, with accusations including claiming she failed to report the case. She did report the case two days after the procedure as required by law on 2 July, 2022. For anyone still doubtful that the charges against this doctor were politically motivated, Indianas Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita opened an investigation of the doctor, claiming she failed to uphold legal and Hippocratic responsibilities. Guess who was then found guilty of violating confidentiality laws for going on Fox News to undermine this doctor? Thats right. Attorney General Todd Rokita. A court ruling found that Rokita violated the law during a Fox News appearance in which he accused Dr. of being an abortion activist acting as a doctor. The judge found Rokitas comments caused Bernard irreparable harm to her reputation and professional standing. The lies about this rape victim, her doctor, and the need for abortion continue unabated in anti-abortion circles one year later. Heres video of Laura Strietmann, an anti-abortionist who is still lying a year later about the events surrounding the young rape victim in order to make her position appear less harmful than it is. Ohio State Representative Jessica E Miranda (D) countered by pointing out how offensive it was for the family of the young girl and the 10-year-old who has already been through quite enough and had an entire political party and national media gaslighting her rape. It was reported. So let us not continue to spread disinformation time and time again about certain familys personal issues that they have dealt with in terms of a 10-year-old rape victim being raped and child sexual abuse. Laura Strietmann, Cincinnati Right to Life leader, on the 10-year-old girl who was raped and went to Indiana for an abortion: "While a pregnancy might have been difficult on a 10-year-old body, a woman's body is designed to carry life." OH State Rep. Miranda (D) shuts her down. pic.twitter.com/ZscOCUYapd Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) April 19, 2023 What is the purpose of these lies and attacks? The purpose of these politically motivated charges appears to be to silence this doctor about the medical need for abortion. Abortion is a human right. Pregnancy is more dangerous than abortion and young girls bodies cant handle pregnancy. Rokita politicized a 10-year-old rape victims case to further his activist agenda against medical freedom for girls and women. He did it by smearing the doctor who provided the service and trying to silence her over and over again. Todays reprimand will have a chilling impact upon other doctors who might be considering speaking up for their patients. A May 11 editorial from Hearst Connecticut Media: The word college should be synonymous with deeper thinking. Yet the recent discourse at the Connecticuts highest levels about the future of state colleges and universities has been sounding more like a fourth-grade playground tussle. Lost in the conversation, as usual, is the future of the students. Imagine being a high school student weighing options, or a current college student trying to sort out whether theyll be able to pay the bills come September. There are only four weeks left in the session to determine how much the 17 programs (2-year community colleges, 4-year regional public universities and online courses) will get in state funding. Four weeks during which the fate of Connecticuts colleges will be competing with countless other causes. Its a predictable script. Lawmakers will settle on a figure that administrators at the colleges will have to live with. Tuition hikes are inevitable. For some students, that will be enough to drop out. Colleges struggling to boost enrollment take more hits. And the heartless cycle will continue to slam a lot of first-generation college students. Connecticut, as it has a steady habit of doing with its own image, is sabotaging a reputation as a state with a range of college opportunities for students. Given that some 95% of students in our state colleges are from Connecticut, it is also targeting its own future workforce. This is too important to cram into the workload of lawmakers over a few weeks that also happen to dovetail with the end of the school year. It merits a special session to hash out how the state will support its own colleges, its own students, its own workforce, for the next generation. At the core of the divide is that the Office of Policy and Management says the colleges are asking to continue elevated funding that was added to their budgets during the pandemic, when tuition revenue dropped. The colleges, meanwhile, say the state negotiated union contracts for its workforce without providing the funding to pay for it. You can choose to take sides, but it wouldnt really matter. The state and the colleges have common stakeholders the students. And the students are left confused. Will classrooms be larger next semester? Will favorite teachers depart? Will programs be cut? And there are a lot of those stakeholders. About 85,000, plus their families. These Connecticut colleges have been battling cuts and consolidation for the better part of the last decade. The governors office wants a more sustainable system. Terrence Cheng, who has had oversight of the colleges for the past two years, says enrollment is starting to stabilize. As any student knows, fighting for survival is not the same as striving for success. And agreeing on the terms of a reduced budget is not the same as planning future innovations, let alone addressing infrastructure that will only erode under financial pressures. If Connecticut is going to burnish a reputation for hosting colleges that are aspirational, its leaders need to remind themselves of what colleges represent. They need to get back to basics. They need to re-imagine. They need to balance lifes realities with its possibilities. In short, they need to become students again. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Ron DeSantis claims that he is the competent electable version of Trump, but former Rep. Liz Cheney ripped the heart of that claim. Beta DeSantis followed Trump and said that he also would pardon 1/6 defendants: Florida governor @GovRonDeSantis says on @clayandbuck if hes elected president that on his first day in office he will consider pardoning any January 6th defendant he believes was politically prosecuted from a member of the public all the way up to President Trump himself. Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 25, 2023 Cheney tweeted: Any candidate who says they will pardon Jan. 6 defendants is not qualified to be President. Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 25, 2023 Ron DeSantis is playing a losing hand. By being afraid to take on Trump while also trying to appeal to Trump voters, the Florida governor is looking weak and like he is a follower, not a leader. The fact that DeSantis copied Trumps pledge to pardon 1/6 defendants is a sign of DeSantiss unwillingness to step out of Donald Trumps shadow. Cheney was correct. Any candidate who suggests pardoning the domestic terrorists who attacked the Capitol on 1/6 is not fit for office. Ron DeSantis has taken a public relations beating since he started his presidential campaign with an epic thud, but former Rep. Cheney brought up a great point. DeSantis aligned himself with Trump in rejecting America, and he made it clear that if he is elected president, he will not put the interests of the American people first. The Florida governor is an America last puppet, a mini-me of a failed former president. DeSantis has clearly demonstrated that he should not be allowed anywhere near the White House or the Oval Office because he does not have the nations best interests in mind. How can DeSantis be the competent version of Trump when he holds all of the same Trump positions? Cheney was right. Ron DeSantis isnt competent. He is unqualified. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Though DeSantis campaign is bragging about his fundraising in the first 24 hours, Ron DeSantis administration officials are also soliciting campaign cash from lobbyists who have business currently before the governor, and theyre doing it before the state budget is signed. Officials who work for Gov. Ron DeSantis administration not his campaign have been sending text messages to Florida lobbyists soliciting political contributions for DeSantis presidential bid, a breach of traditional norms that has raised ethical and legal questions and left many here in the state capital shocked, an exclusive report from NBC News informs. NBC News reports they reviewed messages from four different administration officials, ranging from those directly in the governors office and with leadership positions in state agencies and They requested the recipient of the message contribute to the governors campaign through a specific link that appeared to track who is giving as part of a bundle program.' This practice was described as jaw-dropping by folks long involved in Florida politics, so its not business as usual. It looks like a clear demand for campaign cash to lobbyists with business before the sitting Governor, which might qualify as quid pro quo. Quid pro quo is defined as a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something. Quid pro quo is not necessarily illegal, but it can refer to something that is potentially illegal when used in a political realm. The specific issue here is not only that Ron DeSantis needs to put the squeeze on lobbyists for campaign cash, which in and of itself raises some questions about his viability as a candidate, but that he is using government staff, paid by the taxpayer, to do the work of campaign officials possibly using taxpayer funded items like phones and laptops, and is using the lobbyists desire to get something from DeSantis government to twist arms to get donations. Its pretty bad. DeSantis is also bragging about his fundraising haul, as if it suggests his strengths as a candidate. DeSantis campaign says it raised $8.2 Million in first 24 hours, the New York Times reported, claiming, The cash haul points to the strengths Ron DeSantis will have in taking on Donald Trump. Sure, that is a big haul but it seems it isnt all organic if his administration are strong-arming lobbyists for cash before he signs the budget, and that can be misleading about the candidates strength and popularity. The stories of @RonDeSantis GOVERNMENT staffnot campaign, GOVERNMENT staff soliciting Florida lobbyists for money for his Presidential campaign should draw the immediate attention of the Department of Justice. This is Putinesque kleptocracy, Project Lincoln founder Rick Wilson wrote above the news. Wilson called this quid pro quo and pointed out that its especially outrageous because DeSantis has yet to sign the state budget. Ron DeSantis clearly patterns himself after Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban in his usage of power to steal more power, but that he does so with the big assist of doing it in the wake of Trumps so far unpunished and blatant self-dealing corruption for years makes it all the easier for the Florida Republican to graft and appear to operate like a mobster. Just hours before his failure to launch campaign announcement on Twitter, Ron DeSantis did exactly what Orban has been teaching conservatives to do to hasten the backsliding of democracy: He changed yet another law to accommodate his own grab for power. This one was a sweeping election bill that made a change to the states resign-to-run law, which NBC reported in a separate piece Republican legislative leaders have long said they would change it to ensure there were no legal concerns. Note that last sentence, because its exactly what Viktor Orban preaches: Change the law so its legal to grab more power. Rinse, repeat while taking control of media and distracting with culture war issues. DeSantis administration didnt bother replying to NBC News in time for publication, but one administration official acknowledged that they were fundraising for the campaign. Its not clear that this is illegal, as it depends upon a number of factors including whether they were sent on state-owned phones, or if they were sent on state property. A longtime Florida election law attorney said that even if the DeSantis aides are fundraising for the campaign in their personal capacity, off the government clock, it still raised ethical questions. Ethical questions are not an issue for a Republican candidate anymore, so thats a nonstarter. It might even be a brag added to a speech. Knowing our Justice Department under a Democratic president, this will be ignored even if it rises to the level of potential illegality for fear of looking partisan an outdated value meant to protect our institutions that is continuing to enable the erosion of democracy and freedom in this country. (This is not suggesting the DOJ should be weaponized; rather, it is suggesting the DOJ is being weaponized by gaming the ref with unproven accusations of bias.) It might not be illegal, but it is the corrupt use of a politicians authority for personal gain. It puts the people of Florida last. It abuses the power given to this Governor to work for his state. And it informs as to how DeSantis will lead should he be successful in his bid for the White House. When Dwight Bradham Jr. took over as director of Veterans Affairs for Aiken County in 2016, he wanted to expand its role within the community. The offices main goal is to advocate for local veterans and help them apply for federal and state benefits, but Bradham wanted to talk more about the Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and how to make Aiken as veteran-friendly as possible. We basically do eligibility screening. We talk with veterans, with families, make sure that they understand these could be their potential benefits based on their military service, Bradham told the Kiwanis Club of Aiken at its Thursday meeting at The Willcox. Our office is then able to assist them in filing claims through the VA program. Another focus of the talk was on the upcoming Memorial Day celebrations in Aiken and ensuring military service is celebrated during the holiday weekend. Bradham said that Memorial Day has been muddled and become more about celebrating summer and cookouts rather than honoring veterans. I am very, very grateful that we live here in Aiken. We've got a wonderful community. Aiken supports its military citizens, Bradham said. Were definitely a patriotic town if not a military town. According to Bradham, Aiken is one of the only cities in South Carolina that still has a Memorial Day parade. This years parade has been canceled due to inclement weather, but Bradham still celebrated the towns support for its military community. We all believe it's important to continue that tradition of Memorial Day, Bradham said. Another way Bradham mentioned that Aiken celebrates its veterans is through the Hometown Heroes project, which celebrates veterans with banners throughout the city, and outreach to Vietnam War veterans to ensure they are celebrated and have access to benefits. Vietnam veterans hold a very special place in my heart because they didn't get a fair shake when they came home, Bradham said. They did not get welcomed home properly in many instances. Plans are in place for a Sunday salute to one of Clemson University's hundreds of alumni who died while serving in the military a list that includes several men from Aiken and adjoining counties. Clemson Corps, described in promotional material as Clemson's premier military veteran alumni group, has plans to add a name to the Scroll of Honor, an on-campus memorial that was dedicated in April 2010. Harold C. Pearce, who grew up in Dillon County, is to have a stone etched with his name added to the scroll in a 4 p.m. event at Memorial Park, which is near Memorial Stadium. He served in the Army, starting in World War II, and was killed while serving as a military police officer in Korea in 1950, at age 25. The Aiken County list of Clemson alumni who died while serving in the military currently includes David Lawrence Alexander Jr., Sailor Oswald Beard, Wilburn Harmon Creighton Jr., Henry Daniel Leitner, Edward Rollins Roberts and Joseph Lucas Ruzicka. Barnwell County's sole representative is Daniel Willard Smith, and Edgefield County's contingent includes Benjamin Waldrep Anderson, Joseph Shelton Hough, Albert Ouzts Kemp and Roy Homer Shealy. Comprising Saluda County's group are William Matthew Able, Bedford Hayne Forrest, Carl Long, Joe Wise Padget, Henry Daniel Parkman and Claude Rothell. Most of the deaths occurred in World War II, and the earliest currently listed among Aiken, Barnwell, Saluda and Edgefield counties was that of Edward Rollins Roberts, an Aiken resident who died in 1918 of pneumonia during World War I while serving in the Army. The most recent local casualty listed is Joseph Lucas Ruzicka, a North Augusta resident who served in the Air Force and was killed in action in Thailand in 1972. The university was established in 1889 and has Air Force and Army ROTC programs. Pearce, who is to be memorialized Sunday, was originally buried as an "unknown," but reexamination and scientific testing led in 2019 to identification of his remains. He was buried with full military honors at Catfish Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near Latta, on Sept. 26, 2019, according to Clemson Corps. Clemson's website, addressing military history, notes, "Clemsons proud tradition of military excellence dates back to its founding as a military school for cadets seeking the highest academic excellence. In 1916, ROTC was instituted under the National Defense Act, and in 1917 the entire senior class enlisted in World War I. This was the first of many collective acts of bravery exhibited by Clemson University students and alumni. To date, more than 10,000 Clemson alumni have served in the armed forces, and more than 490 have given their lives to secure the freedom of others." Information on criteria for inclusion in the memorial is available via the Clemson Corps' website. Honorees, with few exceptions, "were in one of the armed services at the time of their death and were conducting their military duties," it notes. "Those exceptions include a civilian reporter who worked closely with those in combat and died in an aircraft crash into the English Channel and two civilians who died years later as a result of injuries while on active duty. Several others died as a result of automobile accidents while on leave. Many died in training accidents and of diseases." Details are available from Emily DaBruzzi, Clemson's director of military and veterans engagement, at 864-656-9793 and edabruz@clemson.edu; and also from 1968 Clemson graduate Dave Lyle, a Navy veteran, at scrollofhonor@gmail.com. With summer fast approaching, local and state agencies are reminding people to be safe while on the water. Some tips people can follow to be safe while swimming include taking swimming lessons, swimming with a buddy and wearing a life jackets. The city of Aiken public pools are scheduled to open the Saturday before Memorial Day and will be open from 1-6 p.m. The pool will be closed on Memorial Day and will open June 3 and will remain open through Labor Day weekend. In 2022, Aiken reported no boating accidents, injuries or fatalities, but one drowning was reported in Aiken, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. According to South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the majority of drownings involve children, with more than 85% being between the ages of 1 to 6 being pool related. Safety first Greg Lucas, who serves as the public information officer with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said practicing water safety is important for anyone who is near a body of water. He said most drownings are due to people not wearing a lifejacket. Our No. 1 rule is for people to wear their life jackets, he said. Lucas said swimmers and boaters should come up with float plan, which is basically letting a family member or someone know where they going and how long they will be gone. He said extra caution should be taken if someone wants to go kayaking on the rapids, and kayaking companies often teach kayaking safety. If they are going to swim in the area of rapids they need to get familiar with the area or go with someone who is familiar because it can be dangerous, Lucas said. Saskia Lindsay, regional communications manager with the Red Cross of South Carolina, said Memorial Day weekend is a busy time for South Carolinians. A lot of people go on the lake, go to the beach, go to the pool and grill out," she said. Those things can be fun, but can also be hazards. Lindsay said if someone is drowning, people shouldn't go into the water, but instead use a rope or something someone can grab onto in order to get them out of the water. Lindsay said if someone is on a boat, a lifejacket should be available and boat operators should not drink alcohol. She said there is also a Red Cross app that teaches people about water safety. I would advise families to take the time to sit down with their families and go over the safety measures around water," she said. Getting ready We always have a big crowd on opening day," said Lucas West, recreation supervisor for the city of Aiken. West said in order to keep residents safe, the city has opened registration for swim lessons for adults and children through the America Red Cross. He said the main goal of the lessons are to prevent drownings. Youth lessons will be held Monday to Thursday for two weeks, with Fridays being used as the rain date. Three-week swimming lessons will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays for adults. The cost is $30 per person for children and adults, with registration taking place at Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, but a Fun Funds Youth Scholarship is available to help offset the cost of the swim lessons, according to a media release from the city of Aiken. Lucas said DNR offers free swim lessons to families that can be taken in person or online. DNR also offers boating classes that can be taken in person or online through a six-week course. Lindsay said Memorial Day is supposed to be a fun time, but people have to remember safety. The No. 1 thing is to learn safety, make good choices, learn to swim and how to handle and emergency, Lindsay said. Could the Savannah River Site play a role in helping to secure American's energy supply? U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said recently the site located 20 miles south of Aiken could play multiple roles in securing America's energy supply including the reprocessing of commercial nuclear fuel and as the location of a small modular nuclear reactor. Duncan, who chairs the Energy, Climate and Grid Security Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he shared a vision with former Congressman Gresham Barrett of making the site an energy campus. Barrett represented the Third Congressional District, the district Duncan currently represents, from 2003-2011. At the time he represented the district, a portion of Aiken County including the Savannah River Site were part of the district. "You've got the expertise down there and the knowledge for nuclear as the nation moves toward advanced nuclear reactors, small modular nuclear reactors and the miniaturization of things and what advanced fuels might look like," Duncan said. He added that he felt the site could become a location for repossessing commercial nuclear waste. Duncan said he considered commercial nuclear waste an asset that could meet a lot the nation's enriched uranium needs. Enriched uranium has a higher percentage of the fissile uranium 235. Mined uranium is around 99.27%-99.28% uranium 238, 0.71%-0.72% uranium 235 with the remainder being uranium 234. The percentage of uranium 235 is increased through isotope separation. Most reactors need enriched uranium to begin the nuclear reaction to generate power. Once the reaction begins, the uranium 238 it's fertile, meaning it will begin to change into other elements both up and down the periodic table begins to break down and generate heat which is converted to steam to generate power. Once the uranium decays so far, it has to be removed from the nuclear reactor. Reprocessing is the process of taking that decayed uranium and adding more uranium 235 and 238 so the fuel can be used again in a nuclear reactor. Duncan said reprocessing commercial nuclear waste would help end the country's reliance on Russia for enriched uranium. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reported last summer the United States purchased around 14% of mined uranium and 28% of its enriched uranium from Russia. Additionally, Kazakhstan is the the world's largest supplier of uranium the country produced about 43% of the world's supply in 2022 and that country ships most of its uranium through Russia. Duncan said he would like for the site to be the location of a small modular nuclear reactor. "We're going to try to propagate new missions out there while understanding they have a defense mission, as well," Duncan said. "I think the site's great for that." The Savannah River Site is the nation's only supplier of tritium and, if current plans are followed through, will be one of two suppliers of plutonium pits for nuclear weapons. Duncan added he would love to see workers involved in constructing two new reactors at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant across the Savannah River come over to the site when they're done. "We've got a great location there and it should be more utilized than what it's utilized with its ongoing missions," Duncan said. A technology consulting startup that works with commercial and national security customers is expanding its Charleston headquarters with plans to add more than 130 jobs. Ignite Digital Services said it will invest more than $960,000 to grow its operations at 1505 King St. in the upper peninsula, attracted in part by the local workforce and a growing client base in the region. Other expansions are underway at the firm's other offices in San Diego, Norfolk, Va., Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, but the most significant growth is at its Holy City headquarters location, according to the company. Murphy, former CEO of locally based Atlatl Software and more recently SPARC, which was sold to consulting giant Booz Allen Hamilton in 2015, said the quality of life quotient continues to attract the kind of skilled workers to supports his new company's growth plans. Hiring is underway for 135 positions at the Charleston office to add to a current staff of about 230. The company said it will complete its buildout by next year. Launched in September after Murphy led the buyout of Atlas Executive Consulting with private equity firm Farragut Capital Partners, the firm helps companies seeking digital solutions to manage their operations and data using automation and robotics. Customers include companies and other clients in the defense and security sector. Among the largest is the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic in Hanahan, which provides technology services for the military and counts more than $2.6 billion in annual contracting activity. From audit to automation, defense clients rely on Ignite Digital Services to improve their products, streamline processes, and automate business operations all of which give time, money, and resources back to our clients workforces, so they can focus on higher-impact work, Murphy said in an email. S.C. Commerce Department chief Harry Lightsey said Charleston is "rich in resources" to support the firm's expansion. New dining venues are on the way to Johns Island, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, a new retail shop is coming to downtown Charleston, a new entertainment venue is opening in West Ashley and a new workout site is rolling into James Island. Read more3 new restaurants coming to Lowcountry; new retailer to open in downtown Charleston COLUMBIA At a Midlands Technical College graduation ceremony, high school students walked away with more than just a certificate each also had the chance to receive a bag full of hundreds of dollars worth of construction tools and a pair of heavy work boots. The Building Occupational Opportunities in the Midlands program teaches disabled students from four school districts in Lexington and Richland counties the construction skills needed to attain apprenticeships and entry-level technical jobs. Eight graduates walked the stage cheered on by family and instructors at a ceremony May 26 on Midlands Tech's airport campus in Cayce. Four more students were part of the fifth graduating class but didn't attend the ceremony. If a student lands a job after the program, they can keep the tools their school district provided for them, said the program director, Mike Ross. Each year, school districts select students in special education classes who don't qualify for a full high school diploma to participate in the program, Ross said. "They have struggled at challenges while they were in high school," said Midlands Tech President Ronald Rhames about the graduates. "To complete a program, that means they're going to be able to get gainful employment." This year, one graduate, Cameron Gillspie from White Knoll High School, will start an apprenticeship with Walker White Inc., a South Carolina mechanical construction company, in June. "It has given him a whole life," Gillspie's mother, Tiffany, said. "Opportunities to take advantage of and something he really knows." In addition to construction skills, the program taught Gillspie patience, he said. "Some things take time to do right," he said. "Mostly working with wood." The program teaches measurement and calculation skills that students will need on job sites, as well as how to use tools, work with common construction material and meet safety requirements. The graduates also received their Occupational Safety and Health Administration certifications. Each year, as a final project, the class constructs an 8-foot-by-8-foot shed from flooring to roof. At the start of the next semester, a fresh group takes the shed apart to learn proper demolition, Ross said. This is the second year Midlands Tech is teaching a revamped curriculum with two instructors, focusing on safety and basic skills the students can use at entry-level jobs, such as measurement and cutting. The new course focuses less on complex skills, such as roofing, that graduates can learn on the job, Ross said. Along with technical skills, the program builds students' confidence to apply and interview for jobs after finishing high school, Ross said. During the five-month program, 12 South Carolina construction companies met with the students at a job fair and interview day. Two to three graduates usually move on to a job after the program, Ross said. However, many face transportation challenges when entering the job market, Ross said. While they're enrolled with the program, Midlands Tech or the school district can provide transportation, but when they graduate they struggle to make it to interviews or job sites. "If we could figure that aspect out afterwards, I think we would see that (hiring) number go up," Ross said. LEXINGTON Crash victims treated at the Lexington Medical Center following the May 25 collision between a school bus and a tanker truck have been released from the hospital. 17 children and one adult in stable condition came to the hospital after the crash, according to hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson, and were "evaluated, treated and released" May 25. The bus driver is on administrative leave, according to a May 26 statement from Lexington One School District spokeswoman Libby Roof, as district human resources and transportation personnel conduct an investigation. The South Carolina Highway Patrol initially said 10 students were sent to the hospital from the crash, which occurred just before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Pond Branch Road and AC Bouknight Road, about 16 miles southwest of Lexington. However, additional students sought care on their own after the crash. A Highway Patrol spokesman said the collision remained under investigation on May 26. The bus had been carrying 43 students from Gilbert High School and Gilbert Middle School, according to Roof. The district is also cooperating with the S.C. Highway Patrol's continuing investigation into the crash, a district statement said, adding that district administrators and transport officials would fully review results from both investigations. We want to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the first responders and Lexington Medical Centers medical personnel for the care, concern and assistance provided yesterday. Their efforts helped ensure the safety and well-being of our students," Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait said in the statement. State Superintendent Ellen Weaver said in a May 26 statement that the S.C. Department of Education is also working with law enforcement to investigate the crash and will take "swift, appropriate action as details become available." "My concern and prayers are with all the students on the bus and their families, especially those who sustained injuries," her statement read. Weaver also said she was grateful to S.C. legislators for funding upgrades to the state's bus fleet, which she said "saved lives." The state education agency received almost $8 million from a settlement with Volkswagen to buy new buses in 2019, and lawmakers designated $19 million of that year's lottery profits to school buses. In January 2018, the legislature overrode a veto from Gov. Henry McMaster to designate more than $20 million in lottery surpluses on buses. This is a developing story and will be updated. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. One of the things Daniel Hoesing encouraged during his almost 10 years as superintendent of Schuyler Community Schools was recognizing the invisible staff, the people that don't get recognized often. At board of education meetings, he would ask the schools' principals to include a staff shoutout in their reports. In November 2022, Hoesing's resignation was accepted by the board of education. His term is set to run into early June. For his final meeting on May 8, many decided it was time to recognize him as a sort of farewell. As the first principal went to read their report, Hoesing stopped them, insisting those interested read the comments after the meeting as, while he is grateful, he doesn't need the congratulations at a public meeting. Heather Bebout, after-school program director, thanked Hoesing for his work in helping Warrior Academy get a strong foothold in the school system. "I am excited to highlight the incredible work of Dr. Hoesing! Eight years ago, Dr. Hoesing secured a grant that enabled us to establish the Warrior Academy, an after-school program that has since positively impacted the lives of over 2,500 students," Bebout said in her report. Middle School Assistant Principal Andy Banahan gave a short "Thank you" during the meeting, but wrote in his report how he was thankful for Hoesing's influence not only on his teaching but on his life as a whole. He also thanked him for his contributions to the schools. "I am thankful for his vision, and giving heart to the community of Schuyler, and in my time here I have seen the various things he has done to help improve not only Schuyler Community Schools but the entire community of Schuyler. We are thankful for his leadership over the last ten years and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors! Thanks, Doc!" Banahan said. Hoesing got his start in Schuyler approximately 10 years ago, he said, but he spent the first year gathering information and seeing exactly what the community wanted. "The first year was a lot of listening and planning and so on and even though I've been here 10, the majority of the work actually started in the second year," Hoesing said. "I was always interested in bringing the kind of school I thought the community wanted." That community participation, Hoesing said, sprung Schuyler Community Schools into a strategic plan that made those wants and needs possible. Many of the changes he was happy about, he said, were invisible. One he was particularly pleased with was the adoption of the Capturing Kids' Hearts protocols that focus on building strong student-teacher relationships. There were, of course, many others. "The things I'm most happy about going forward is this community recognizing the value of the dual-language school," Hoesing said. "Also the addition of post-secondary options, all students should have access to post-secondary options, expanding college offerings to students during high school and encouraging them to pursue careers in areas they want to work in." Listening to people and honoring what their needs are, Hoesing said, is always his goal. While the estimated value of Schuyler Community Schools' buildings went from about $54 million to $127 million, he added, it wasn't just about adding buildings and facilities. "There were a lot of fun projects but they were all guided by not the building but what we wanted to accomplish inside the building," Hoesing said. "Like the fieldhouse, it's the only place in town really that our cultures mix. We wanted to create a center for students to have access to a facility and also a place where cultures mix in town." Following his resignation from Schuyler Community Schools, he said, he will be retiring from public education and moving to Cedar County Catholic Schools as president there, living in Yankton, South Dakota. The role of superintendent, Hoesing said, is a little bit more than people may assume. Beyond doing the budgets and arranging meetings, the superintendent is responsible for attracting, acquiring and retaining administrative staff, which he created the "invisible" or "behind-the-scenes" staff recognition to aid with. "One of the things I really pushed hard was recognizing those staff who everyday are pretty invisible to the public. Our principals highlight programs or staff members, those are our spotlights to bring the people who work behind the scenes to the forefront so the community is able to know and appreciate the work those people do," Hoesing said. "That's one thing I hope they continue doing, looking for those bright spots in the community." As a sort of parting note, Hoesing added that the Schuyler community can be its own best advocate and worst enemy in some ways. The community, he said, has suffered somewhat from perceptions about high minority populations and high poverty, things he said simply aren't true, but that in that regard, Schuyler is making its own way as an example of what a diverse community can be. "Schuyler is turning that corner to look at what they are, teaching the rest of the state and possibly country how to live in a more diverse community," Hoesing said. "Diversity brings more opportunity than communities that are more homogenous. If you continue to capitalize on the strikes that are rather than the ones that are not, this community will continue to thrive." COLUMBIA A shooting at a graduation party in a Columbia-area park landed two teens in a hospital, according to police. Two 17-year-olds, one boy and one girl, were injured May 25 in a shooting at what was described as a graduation party. Columbia Police officers responded to the shooting, which they said was not fatal, around 11 p.m. at St. Anna's Park on Liberty Hill Avenue. Police have not released information about the injured teens' conditions, but tweeted that both were alert when EMS took them to the hospital. The shooting came less than a month after an incident involving teens at another Columbia-area park left nine people shot and two others injured. Though it was also not fatal, the mass shooting at Meadowlake Park on April 29 into a crowd of dozens ranging from 16 to 20 years old was South Carolina's largest shooting in almost a year. The incident involved students from high schools across the area, and police said it started out as a "flash party" that gained traction on social media. Four area schools, Eau Claire, C.A. Johnson, W.J. Keenan and Columbia High Schools, conducted graduation ceremonies on May 25, hours before the St. Anna's Park shooting. No word has been released on whether those involved in the incidents were Columbia-area high school students. Investigators are continuing to gather more information about the incident, police said. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. LEXINGTON A new wave of leadership in the Lexington County Republican Party, chosen last month at a party meeting, quickly adopted a purist approach to conservativism, warning elected county Republicans against straying from "the basic tenants of our platform," the recently elected chairwoman said. That message has drawn questions from several of the county's Republican office-holders, who doubt the newly empowered hardline faction represents the thinking of the average Republican in Lexington County. We are no longer a true conservative, moderate-friendly Republican Party that can welcome every candidate and give every candidate a chance, said State Sen. Katrina Shealy, a Lexington Republican who served as chairwoman of the county party from 2006 to 2008. During the state convention, which Lexington County hosted May 20, Republican delegates reelected state party Chairman Drew McKissick. A minority of state party delegates didn't support McKissick, including critics who called him a "RINO," or "Republican-in-name-only." All but two members of the Lexington County 51-member delegation, chosen by the new county party leadership, were part of the unsuccessful opposition to McKissick. Most of the Lexington delegates' votes went to Jeff Davis, leader of the right-wing mySCGOP organization that supports and rallies likeminded hardline activists around the state. A month before, during the Lexington County Republican Convention in April, local party meeting attendees chose Pamela Godwin as chair. The former county party grassroots director, Godwin won automatically after her sole opponent, former State Rep. Todd Atwater, withdrew from the race. Godwin and her lieutenants ran as a part of the SaveSC slate, a group of hardline, "America First" conservatives. "We believe this state and country can be saved through activism and putting God first," Godwin said of the group. Among the top priorities for the new Lexington GOP leadership are getting conservatives elected to nonpartisan offices and pushing back on "newest boondoggle from the Town of Lexington regarding their new 'resort,'" Godwin said in an email. Additionally, Godwin said the county party will hold Lexington elected Republicans responsible for "disregarding the basic tenants of our platform." When prompted, Godwin did not clarify what authority or mechanism the party has to hold elected officials accountable. Goodwin also lashed out at her party's Statehouse leadership. "The Republican legislative leadership has become very aggressive in using taxpayer funds to subsidize woke corporations and are pushing a left-wing environmental agenda," Godwin said. Marion Mason, a Red Bank resident who became active in the party after Donald Trumps loss in the 2020 election, was among the Lexington County delegates voting to oust McKissick. Mason gave resounding support for the new county GOP's leadership. Some in the Republican Party, we call them RINOs or establishment Republicans, are not strong enough against the woke policies of the Democrats, he said. Theyre too timid to take action, so I think we need stronger leadership. But, Shealy said that while the county party has always been deep-red conservative, members were open to those they didnt agree with. Thats changed since Donald Trump rose to prominence in the Republican Party, she said. Things have just been leaning more and more and more to the far right not to the Republican right, but to the more of a libertarian right, Shealy said. While U.S. Rep Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, did not comment on his home county's new GOP new leadership, the congressman expressed support for McKissick, the state party leader whom Lexington delegates opposed. While factions like Goodwin's haven't taken hold across the state, Lexington isn't the first staunchly Republican county to see a recent rift between hardline Trump loyalists and other Republicans. Several months ago, the Republican parties in Greenville and Horry counties experienced a similar factional divisions. Two years ago, a group in Greenville that campaigned as a MAGA slate centering around allegiance to former president Donald Trump ousted the Greenville GOP chair, vice chair and executive committeeman who had been chosen just months before. This past February, the state party, which has portrayed the Greenville party as a a combative and chaotic group, seized control of the county partys precinct reorganization process. Still, the "America First" faction maintained control of the party during the 2023 county convention. Horry County has faced months of political infighting between former Chairman Roger Slagle and current party leaders, led by Chairman Reese Boyd. Slagle and his administration resigned in September over accusations that state party leaders were meddling in county party politics. He then tried to rescind his resignation later that month. In January, Boyd and his team successfully sued former leaders, including Slagle and two of his lieutenants. Whether the divisions in Lexington will reach those levels remains to be seen. The Lexington party is fighting for unity, said Craig Caldwell, former Lexington GOP Chairman and Godwin's predecessor. "I hope it doesn't go to the extent of what Horry and Greenville counties have gone through," Caldwell said. "There's a lot of good people in Lexington (who) don't want to see that. They they still want to work together." Alexander Thompson contributed from Columbia. Two of the three finalists being considered for Charleston Countys next school superintendent have withdrawn their candidacies, throwing a wrench in the selection process in the searchs final days. In a May 26 announcement, the district said the two pulled out after their names were publicly posted in a Facebook group earlier in the week. While the candidates names had become subject to public disclosure under state law once they were made finalists, the statement described the online post as a premature leak because the candidates hadnt yet told their current districts they were finalists. The board is extremely disappointed that the process of selection has been upended and has apologized for the position this put two of the candidates in, the statement said. What this means for the search now is unclear. The press release said the board intended to proceed as planned, suggesting trustees would move forward with the one remaining candidate. That finalist, Wisconsin superintendent Eric Gallien, toured the district on Thursday, interviewing with the board and meeting community members. Board Chairwoman Pam McKinney said she respected the two finalists decisions. Its their decision, not mine. But are we disappointed? Extremely, she said. What has happened has truly affected our entire community. That was out of our hands, obviously. McKinney said the board planned to meet May 30 to discuss next steps. A meeting agenda says the board intends to discuss candidates and could take a vote to offer a candidate a contract. The superintendent position has been in limbo since December 2021, when former Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait resigned suddenly. Don Kennedy, then the districts chief financial officer, was asked to serve in the top role temporarily. The board removed his interim title last June but said their intention was still for Kennedy to serve only until a permanent replacement was hired. The previous board interviewed five search firms last year but ultimately decided to hold off on starting the search because all nine seats on the board were up for election. In March, the new board hired BWP and Associates to run the search. BWP is a national search firm based out of Illinois. They just concluded a search for a superintendent in Charlotte, N.C., and are leading another search in Savannah, Ga. Kevin Castner, who was leading the search in Charleston, did not respond to a request for comment about the latest developments. Board members and the public had expressed concerns that the search was being conducted hastily in order to hire a new superintendent before the 2023-24 school year. The goal was to make a hire by the end of May. This schedule is too ambitious, board member Darlene Roberson said in March. As part of the search, BWP first solicited community feedback via an online survey. Then, they held community meetings to help develop a candidate profile. Based on that feedback, the board decided they wanted someone with a proven record of success as a superintendent who had a vested interest in being with the district long-term. At a special called meeting May 22, the board voted on six semifinalists who were identified only by the letters A, B, C, D, E and F. One candidate received nine votes of support, while two others received 6 votes of support. Two received three votes of support; one received zero. The board did not immediately disclose the newly named finalists. The Post and Courier asked McKinney and district staff for the names of the three finalists a day after the boards vote. McKinney didnt respond. Vanessa Denney, a spokeswoman for the district, said the names couldnt be released yet. State law says that all search materials related to the final three applicants for a public position are public records. Jen Madden, the S.C. Press Associations executive director, said in an email that local governments violate this requirement far too often. Jay Bender, an attorney for the press association, said the district should have made the names public upon request once the board had selected three finalists. The board does itself and the public a disservice by not disclosing persons under consideration and soliciting comments from the public about the candidates, he said. A closed selection process discloses that board members believe they have been elected to be rulers and not representatives. In an interview, McKinney said she understood what state law says but the board had a confidentiality agreement with the search firm. Our understanding with BWP is that the information about the applicants is kept confidential and is the property of BWP until a finalist is decided by the board, she said. Bender said the board cant make an agreement like that. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! Youd have to be a complete idiot if you think you can enter into a contract that violates state law, he said. More than 24 hours passed between the boards vote to select finalists and the Facebook post that named them. McKinney said the board did not communicate with the candidates, BWP did, so she didnt know what expectation they had about how long their names would remain confidential. The post naming the finalists was made by an anonymous member of the Charleston Area Community Voice for Education Facebook group. The post identified three people by name and expressed frustration that the board had not yet named the finalists publicly. The next day, the district announced two of the three candidates names. The district did not disclose the name of the third candidate, saying it was still in the process of confirming the persons plans to visit. Charles McNulty, a superintendent in Little Rock, Ark., was named alongside Gallien. McNulty is superintendent of the Pulaski County Special School District and was scheduled to visit Charleston next Tuesday. His withdrawal was first reported May 25 by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The following day, the district announced two candidates had withdrawn. The announcement did not say which candidates had withdrawn; Denney confirmed that McNulty and the never-named third finalist were the ones who had done so. McNulty did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did the third person named in the Facebook post as a finalist, who is a superintendent in a neighboring state. The Post and Courier could not confirm the post's accuracy and is not naming him. McKinney said she didnt know whether the board will be ready to make Gallien an offer or if they will want to reopen the search. She said she didnt have an opinion on what to do next and wanted to hear what other board members thought first. During Galliens visit to Charleston, he met with the board for a final interview, toured three schools, took questions from a focus group and then attended a general community meet and greet at Burke High School. Sully Witte, a spokeswoman for the district, said CCSD did not have biographical information or a resume to share for Gallien. The district did not make him available for comment during his visit, and he did not respond to an emailed request for comment. According to the resume on the Racine school districts website, Gallien was hired as superintendent there in 2018. Before that, he served as the districts deputy superintendent for five years. He previously worked in Milwaukee Public Schools leading turnaround efforts at academically struggling schools. He also served as a principal, assistant principal, teacher and a teachers assistant and has business experience as a real estate investor and business owner. Gallien is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who saw combat in Operation Desert Storm, serving from 1987-95. He has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, two masters degrees from Alverno College, a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an associates degree from the Milwaukee Area Technical College. He is currently on medical leave from the Racine school district, according to an out-of-office email. A November article in The (Racine) Journal Times says he planned to take medical leave after having surgery. Gallien has family ties to the Charleston area, he told the focus group. His grandmother grew up here and moved away, and the superintendent position would be a way to honor his familys love of this community. He emphasized his experience with a range of different types of schools as an asset if he were to be selected as the next CCSD superintendent. The district I currently serve in is very similar to this district, its just a smaller scale, he said. If selected, Gallien said he has a 100-day plan that would involve a listening tour. He said he has a number of ideas for the district but wouldnt come in immediately making changes without first listening to the community. Community members at the meet and greet, which happened before news of the two other candidates' withdrawals, said they were confused why the district hadnt named all of the finalists and that it made it hard to know who was being considered. Kalila Wilson, a climate coach in the districts office of student support services, said its important to her that the next superintendent know the unique challenges of Charleston. She was pleased to see that Gallien had family ties to the area and said she enjoyed talking with him. I think he heard me, she said. Nathalie Bennett, the districts 2022 teacher of the year, said the next superintendent will have to connect with teachers. Many are struggling with not feeling valued, she said. Bennett said she came because she wanted to get to know the candidates. Its obviously not our decision to make, but its good to know whos running the ship, she said. Visual journalist Henry Taylor contributed to this report. GREENVILLE Chef Alex Morgan can finally cook for his wife now that he's taken a new job, even if the career move might come as a surprise to those who know him. It's a shift from fine dining to small-batch brewery. For the past four years, Morgan has served as chef de cuisine at The Anchorage and Mr. Crisp, both acclaimed local Greenville restaurants. But now he will develop the menu at downtown's Fireforge Crafted Beer on East Washington Street. Despite appearances, Morgan said he considers it a lateral move. One of the things with the past 20 years or so that Ive been cooking is the chef hours, Morgan said. Thats the reason a lot of really talented chefs get out of the industry ... that work-life balance. This is definitely not a step down. Maybe a move sideways." Morgan joined Fireforge in March and in that time has been honing the brewerys food menu. That menu was most recently directed by Fireforge co-owner Nicole Cendrowski, but the plan was always to hire someone fulltime. Welcoming someone with Alexs impressive culinary background to our team is exciting, Cendrowski said in a statement. He shares our vision of creating the best experience for our guests from pint to plate. Morgan brings more than two decades of restaurant experience and a passion for locally sourced ingredients. Thus far, he has taken things slow, honing processes, surveying tastes and familiarizing himself with Fireforges beer and culture. New on the menu is a southern Cuban sandwich, with house-made mustard barbecue sauce, house roasted pork and ham and bread from a bakery in Atlanta. Morgan is parlaying his connections with local producers and farmers to reframe sourcing and ingredients. He's using the food hub at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery, along with local lettuces from a variety of farmers. Morgan also plans to create more events at the brewery. Last weekend, he helped Fireforge throw its first Polish Fest, for which Morgan made house-smoked kielbasa on artisan buns. He's doing cookouts for Memorial Day and for Fathers Day with smash burgers and creative hot dogs with homemade condiments and Brasstown beef hot dogs. Come tomato season, Morgan intends to create something with local heirloom tomatoes and burrata, because those are two of my favorite ingredients, and I think they work so well together. Morgan's culinary career has spanned a wide range of cuisines, from burrito cook to fry cook to sous chef. His experience at Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine, fueled a passion for and an understanding of fresh seafood. Spending the last four years with The Anchorage and Mr. Crisp also fueled a deeper appreciation and connection to products and farmers in the Carolinas. Right now, were just trying to figure out what works best, he said. A lot of people dont know that Fireforge has much of a menu, and I think as people start to realize that, well be able to implement more. GREENVILLE Downtown banners for a Juneteenth celebration featuring non-Black individuals have been removed following community concerns over who should represent the holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. One of the banners posted in May by Juneteenth GVL the nonprofit that runs the event featured two non-Black people. It was displayed on a street pole at the intersection of Main and Broad streets across from the Peace Center, the most-prominent intersection in downtown Greenville. A photo of the banner circulated on social media for days prior to its removal May 25, drawing negative reactions. The debate boiled over, and activists planned to hold a protest and boycott the event if the banners weren't removed. They were taken down hours later. In a written statement on Facebook announcing the removal of two banners, executive director and founder Reuben Hays apologized on behalf of the organization. This error was an attempt at uniting all of Greenville and thereby a slight oversight on one individuals part that prevented us from fully embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of the Black culture through the message and meaning of Juneteenth, Hays said. MaTa Crawford, a community activist, said as an African American woman, she was heartbroken down to my spirit when she learned about the banner. Crawford and others planned to protest below the flag unless it was removed. Juneteenth is for people that suffered 400 years of slavery, not for other people to come in and take it, Crawford said. We already lose too much of our culture, too much of our history, too much of who we are to society. The nonprofits leadership initially defended its use of racial diversity in the banners, which included Black, White and Hispanic people. They said it was an intentionally diverse lineup in the spirit of inclusion. Crawford said she doesnt mind people of different races coming to a Juneteenth celebration, but the holiday is for celebrating the freedom of enslaved African Americans. Fourth of July is for inclusion and for all Americans to come together to celebrate freedom as Americans, but Juneteenth was specifically for African Americans that were slaves, Crawford said. Non-African Americans cannot represent a totally African American culture, or event, or history. You cant change that. Ultimately, Crawford said she appreciated the empathy of the statement, but she said it shouldnt have taken so much community pressure for the banners to be removed. A 2,700-square-foot condo in Greenvilles second-tallest building that sold for $1.26 million a year ago is back on the marketfor more than double its original purchase price. Read moreWhy are so many out-of-staters moving to Greenville? Taxes, Covid, politics and more BEAUFORT A music teacher with the Beaufort County School District was arrested May 24 and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree. A tip indicating that Jared Michael Smith, 34, may have been in possession of images or videos depicting child pornography led to an investigation by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. At the time of his arrest, Smith was an orchestra teacher at Hilton Head Island middle and high schools, school district spokeswoman Candace Bruder told The Post and Courier. He was hired in August 2013 but is no longer employed by the district. Smith also taught music lessons at Hilton Head Island Elementary School and Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts twice a week before the start of morning classes. After investigating the tip about Smith, law enforcement officials were able to obtain a search warrant for his Hilton Head Island residence. Investigators searched Smith's home May 23 and collected items for digital forensic evaluation. The Sheriffs Office Device Extraction Unit examined a cellphone seized from Smith and found media consistent with the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor. A warrant was subsequently obtained for Smiths arrest, and he was taken into custody late in the afternoon May 24. He was incarcerated at the Beaufort County Detention Center. According to the Sheriff's Office, the investigation is ongoing. Additional evidence collected during the search will be examined to determine if Smith will face further charges. The South Carolina Code of Laws states, "An individual commits the offense of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor if, knowing the character or content of the material, he possesses material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity." The felony charge carries a prison term not to exceed 10 years. County records indicate that Smith was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center May 25 on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond. That type of bond did not require Smith to post any bail money before being released from detention. A school district communication about Smith's arrest advised parents to contact school administration if a student is in need of any support. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ag Processing Inc.s new soybean crushing facility is set to open in 2025 and a groundbreaking ceremony was held May 17 at the Butler County Event Center in David City, not too far from Platte County. Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) announced in 2022 its plans to construct a facility capable of processing more than 50 million bushels of soybeans per year in David City. It will be located in the north part of town. The cooperative processes soybeans into two primary products soybean meal and soybean oil. AGP is also involved in biodiesel. AGP CEO Chris Schaffer said during the groundbreaking that AGP is a regional cooperative, headquartered in Omaha, owned by 15 farmer-owned cooperatives across the Midwest, which represents over 200,000 farmers. A lot of time and effort went into managements recommendations to expand AGPs crush capacity by 15% as well as selecting David City as the next site, he said. Soybean origination and product market destinations were considered, as well as operational factors such as labor availability, infrastructure, transportation and community support. David City checked all the boxes, Schaffer said. AGP operates 10 other soybean processing facilities, which are located in small towns throughout the Midwest. After 38 years on the board of directors, I have witnessed firsthand the value that AGP brings to rural communities, said Lowell Wilson, AGP board chairman. Once operational, David Citys plant will provide strong markets for soybeans and better access to soybean meal to support value-added agriculture. In addition, this project will add well-paying jobs and excellent benefits, growth opportunities for local businesses, infrastructure improvements and increase for local organizations. AGPs cooperative model is successful, Wilson said, because its designed to benefit the local community and local producers. AGPs earnings are returned to its local member owners who do business with them, he added. The economic impact on the David City community will be considerable. The AGP board approved this $700 million project because it fits well in our vertically integrated soybean processing platforms strategic plan, Wilson said. AGPs board and management appreciate the cooperation and support they have received from officials with David City, Butler County and the State of Nebraska, he added. Governor Jim Pillen also spoke at the groundbreaking. Pillen, who grew up roughly 30 minutes from David City, noted the current state capitol is about 100 years old; the State of Nebraska is 156 years old. One hundred years ago, the governor then was Gov. (Samuel R.) McKelvie and he broke ground with a horse and a plow. He was the last governor of Nebraska that lived and breathed living in agriculture, Pillen said. Agriculture drives the State of Nebraska; always has, always will, because of what's taking place here. He noted the importance of agriculture in Butler County. Working together for agriculture, Pillen said, is something that makes him excited about the arrival of the AGP plant. The dream and vision for all of us in Nebraska, is that we don't export an ounce of corn and soybeans, we consume that here and then we sell product he said. Pillen touched on renewable fuels and the 20-some ethanol plans that have been built in Nebraska since President George W. Bushs efforts in 2007. AGPs plant will be a tremendous opportunity to continue to grow value-added agriculture in the form of renewable fuels, he added. To me, that's the future. That's the key to having great H3 (high wage, high skill and high demand) jobs and making sure that we have really, really successful family farms for generations and generations to come, Pillen said. The governor also mentioned, among other things, that Nebraskans are risk takers, entrepreneurial, innovative, problem solving always figuring out how to get better and better. That's why this is a great place to build a plant. That's why it's a great (area) to be for all of us in agriculture. And that's why it's such an awesome place to live and raise your families, Pillen said. Columbia, S.C. - Junior and senior high school students in South Carolina will have a chance to win an Apple MacBook Air and $1,000 for their school or home schooling association if selected as a winner of Dominion Energy and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) third annual Str Read moreDominion Energy and S.C. Department of Education accepting entries for third annual essay contest celebrating notable African Americans FLORENCE The thrum of engines and the smell of gasoline filled the air as nearly 300 motorcycles rolled out of Florence ahead of Memorial Day weekend, escorting the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Myrtle Beach. It was the beginning of the end of a seven-year project to bring the Vietnam Memorial Wall to the Grand Strand. David Maxwell, a Korean War veteran and Chapter 3 president of Rolling Thunder of South Carolina, said bringing the wall to the area is a way to raise awareness about the Vietnam War and its veterans. Over 58,000 men and women died in Vietnam, Maxwell said, noting many of the veterans were disparaged when they returned. Quite frankly, we werent treated very well when we came home, and now that part is being recognized and now were being treated like we should have been treated all along. The wall is a three-fifth scale model of the memorial in Washington, D.C. At approximately 6 feet tall and almost 300 feet long, it contains each of the more than 58,000 names that the D.C. memorial does. The wall travels across the United States, and from May 26 to May 28, itll be at The Market Common in Myrtle Beach thanks to the efforts of the Myrtle Beach Military Appreciation Committee. A number of events will be held over the weekend to mark Memorial Day and the walls arrival, Maxwell said. The wall often receives an escort as it travels the country. Maxwell said Rolling Thunder of South Carolina, which is also involved with the military appreciation committee, was asked to escort the memorial wall the 95 miles from Florence to Myrtle Beach. Around 9 a.m. motorcyclists began to arrive at Black Jack Harley Davidson in Florence. Many wearing military caps and jackets, the riders hugged or shook hands, talked with each other and took photos of the gathering cavalcade. They also ate breakfast 2,400 pancakes and a pile of bacon prepared by the staff at Black Jack Harley Davidson Sign up for our SC Military Digest newsletter Get exclusive military reporting, updates from Palmetto State bases, headlines from around the globe and more delivered to your inbox each Tuesday. Email Sign up! Sheri Gibson, marketing manager at the Florence motorcycle dealer, said she was up by 5:30 a.m. to make sure everything was ready for the motorcyclists. It was well worth the work it took to host them, she said. When you see them walking away and theyre smiling and theyre happy and theyre proud, how can you doubt your decision? she said. Davis Gibbs served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. He was among the first troops to return home when the U.S. began to pull out. We couldnt wait to get on that ship, he said. But he, like many others who fought in Vietnam, didnt receive a heros welcome. A North Carolina resident, Gibbs drove two hours to be a part of the escort to Myrtle Beach. Its his second time escorting the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, Gibbs said. On his first ride, in New York, he remembers banners strung across the streets and people lining up to see the procession. Seeing the appreciation of the hundreds of motorcyclists riding with him and the others who line the roadway means the world to him, he said. Of the 70 men whom Gibbs trained with in boot camp, 10 returned. Just six are alive today, he said. And while he's escorting a wall to memorialize those men, he can't bring himself to look for their names. All the names are there, but I cant look at them. I cant do it, he said, taking a minute to compose himself. I know theyre there, but I just cant look at them. Pleading guilty to a felony May 25, Beaufort attorney Cory Fleming said he knew his friend Alex Murdaugh was going to steal money belonging to the family of Murdaughs late housekeeper, even if he didnt know the extent of the scheme. Fleming, 54, was hired to sue Murdaugh on behalf of the family of Gloria Satterfield, who died a few weeks after falling down the stairs at his Colleton County home in 2018. The Satterfields retained Fleming on Murdaughs recommendation, unaware that the two men were close friends and law school roommates. Fleming told U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel that he thought Murdaugh was going to skim about $100,000 from the $4.3 million that Murdaughs insurers agreed to pay to settle with Satterfields family. Instead, Murdaugh, 54, allegedly took every dollar the family was supposed to receive, one of myriad state and federal financial crimes he is accused of committing. Speaking in Charlestons federal courthouse, Fleming said he thought Murdaugh wanted a cut of the attorneys fees. The way he described it was, hes gonna get some of this, too, Fleming said. Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring with Murdaugh to commit wire fraud in connection with the Satterfield theft, a felony with a maximum sentence of five years in prison. In a plea deal, Fleming agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in return for help getting a lighter sentence and staying out of state prison. Fleming has not yet been sentenced, and a federal magistrate judge on May 25 released him on unsecured bond, allowing him to travel throughout South Carolina and Georgia without posting bail. His defense attorney, Deborah Barbier, said he was surrendering his law license in those states effective this week. Federal prosecutors accused Fleming of filing fake paperwork in state court to get the Satterfields settlement approved, which included some $150,000 in fraudulent expenses. The documents also overstated the legal fees Fleming was taking. Before accepting Flemings guilty plea, Gergel asked why he would overstate his fees while stealing money for made-up expenses. Thats when Fleming explained he knew Murdaugh was going to take some of the money, which he said he absolutely knew was wrong particularly since Murdaugh was the man being sued. Otherwise, Fleming largely answered Gergels questions with yes-or-no answers in a soft, raspy voice. In a concession to Fleming, federal prosecutors said they do not believe Fleming knew about Murdaughs larger scheme, in which he allegedly diverted the rest of the settlement funds. Murdaugh has admitted he set up a bank account to mimic a business that handles large settlements and used it to deposit checks from Flemings firm that should have gone to the Satterfields. Ronnie Richter, an attorney for Satterfields sons, told U.S. Magistrate Judge Molly Cherry that Satterfield was proud to work for the Murdaughs and considered herself an extension of the family after being with them for decades. Her sons trusted Murdaugh when he suggested they file a lawsuit against him, Richter told Cherry. Still, Richter said it was a good day seeing someone plead guilty as part of the Murdaugh saga, as opposed to fighting the charges. And he noted that Fleming and his former law firm were the first defendants to settle with the Satterfields. As part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Fleming said hed handed over the more than $670,000 he collected in legal fees from the Satterfields. Murdaugh, who already faces more than 100 state charges, was charged federally for the first time this week on 22 counts related to several alleged financial crimes, including the Satterfield theft. He has yet to officially enter a plea on the federal charges, but his attorneys said they expected to resolve them without going to trial, suggesting he could plead guilty. With Murdaugh and Fleming, federal prosecutors have now charged three men in connection with Murdaughs alleged schemes to steal millions of dollars from his law firm, his clients and others who trusted him. The third, former Hampton banker Russell Laffitte, was convicted after a federal fraud trial last fall; Laffitte is still awaiting sentencing after two unsuccessful attempts to overturn his guilty verdict. Outside the courthouse, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse said federal authorities always intended to prosecute the financial crimes exposed in Murdaughs orbit but waited to do so until after Murdaughs double-murder trial concluded in March. A Colleton County jury found Murdaugh guilty of killing his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son Paul in June 2021 at the same hunting estate where Satterfield died three years earlier. Murdaugh is now serving a life sentence in state prison. Flemings plea agreement with federal prosecutors doesnt resolve the nearly two-dozen charges brought against him at the state level, including 18 related to the Satterfield case. He is scheduled to stand trial on the Satterfield-related charges on Sept. 11 at the Beaufort County Courthouse. The S.C. Attorney General's Office has said his federal charge doesn't affect its plans to proceed with the trial. South Carolina's $29 billion tourism industry generates hundreds of millions of dollars in hotel taxes and for decades nearly all that money has been used to attract and serve more tourists. Now, a change in state law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster on May 19 allows local governments to use some of that accommodations tax money for affordable housing efforts. The legislation received strong support in the House and Senate. It's an acknowledgement of how widespread a problem housing affordability has become for renters and potential homeowners. In counties with the most tourism the accommodations tax, or A-tax, generates tens of millions of dollars yearly. Those areas, such as Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Hilton Head Island, also have intense housing affordability issues. In the greater Charleston area, the median price of a home has increased by 55 percent in five years, to $414,000 in April, and rising mortgage rates have made them even less affordable. Rents have increased by more than a third in just the past two years. Charleston County Councilwoman Jennie Honeycutt said the ability to use hotel tax money for housing could be a key to funding county affordable housing efforts. The county has been developing a broad housing initiative, but has struggled with the issue of annual financing. "I'm beyond thrilled about this," Honeycutt said. "It is finally a recurring funding source that we've been looking for." "I anticipate the county taking a lead on this," she said. The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort. It does not provide any new funding for housing, but rather allows local governments to use up to 15 percent of their A-tax money for workforce housing efforts. For Charleston County, that could have amounted to more than $3.8 million last year. In the city of Charleston, it could have been worth up to $3.4 million. "We're talking about a significant amount of money," said Davis. What local governments actually choose to do with it, thats up to them." I got letters from the town councils of Hilton Head, of Bluffton, city council in Beaufort, telling me this was their number on legislative priority," he said. "The fact that we were able to get something like this passed speaks to the saliency of this (housing affordability) issue." Hilton Head Housing On Hilton Head, Rev. June Wilkins, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, has been a vocal advocate for affordable housing efforts. It's an issue that got lots of attention in the summer of 2022 when about 300 people were told they were being evicted from one of the few affordable apartment complexes on the island, Chimney Cove, to make way for a new development. While the evictions did not happen and the Chimney Cove situation remains unsettled, in November the island's City Council agreed to spend $1 million annually on housing efforts. The A-tax legislation could help with financing. "This Chimney Cove thing was a real wake-up call," said Wilkins. "I'm really happy that Tom Davis sees the need and was able to figure out something to do. "It feels like it's just our issue, but it's everywhere," she said. "People used to say 'oh, workers can just live across the bridge in Bluffton,' but prices there have soared." Charleston and Mount Pleasant also passed resolutions supporting the legislation and it was a top priority of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. I think well be able to see some tangible results in the very near future," said Scott Slatton, spokesman for MASC. Municipalities had wanted more. In addition to the A-tax money, they wanted to be able to use some of the hospitality tax collected on meals and drinks to be used for housing. That was in Davis' original Senate bill but was stripped out in the House. Davis said that was a reasonable compromise. Greenville takes the lead Greenville is poised to become the first South Carolina city to use A-tax money for housing efforts. Greenville's pending budget includes $1 million of hotel tax revenue for housing efforts on top of the $2.5 million the city already devotes to such efforts yearly. Greenville Mayor Knox White said the city won't be diverting A-tax money from other purposes, because collections have been growing so quickly that there's plenty to go around. The tourism dollar accounts have grown mightily," he said. "The pie is very large." "We have the capacity to fund the projects we want to fund, and still address affordable housing," said White. The number of hotel rooms in Greenville used to be under 1,000 and now its more like 3,000." Horry, Charleston and Beaufort counties collect the largest shares of the statewide A-tax money, which brought in more than $111 million last year, followed by Greenville and Richland. Each gets a share of the statewide 2 percent tax on hotel stays, which is distributed based on where it was collected, and 28 counties have a local hotel tax as well. In Charleston the city, county and state each collect a 2 percent tax on accommodations, including hotels and short-term rentals. Many towns, cities and counties have their own A-taxes, which when combined cannot add up to more than a 3 percent tax (Charleston is a special case, with a tax that pre-dated the 3 percent limit). Amy Wharton, Charleston's Chief Financial Officer, said the city needs more details about the pending A-tax rule change. While 30 percent of the statewide tax money goes to tourism promotion and marketing, the rest of it and any local A-tax money supports local services as long as there's a connection with tourism. That includes construction of facilities that might attract or be used by tourists, and local arts groups and festivals. Is there enough pie? As long as tax collections are growing, as in Greenville, local government could set aside some of the money for housing initiatives without taking away from other things. But if the funding pie gets smaller, affordable housing would be one more priority competing for money. In Charleston the International African American Museum was partly funded with accommodations taxes, as was the reconstruction of Low Battery. In Greenville, Unity Park was paid for partly with tourism taxes. And in North Charleston the Coliseum & Performing Arts Center has been a beneficiary. Marketing groups will still get their share of the statewide tax money, and some also get a portion of local tax collections. Charleston County gave nearly $3.3 million of local A-tax money to the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau in the last budget year, but was not required to do so. The county also gives 20 percent of the county-wide tax money to the towns and cities where it was collected, but that's also at County Council's discretion. What council could control, and change if they want to, are what the CVB gets, and municipalities, and contributions," said county Finance Director Corine Altenhein. The contributions are the more than half-million dollars distributed to local arts groups and festivals. One challenge, Altenhein said, is that tourism tax revenues are hard to predict. They plunged by roughly half in the year the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, prompting local governments to cut funding. If we have a hurricane, a bad one, people arent going to come," she said. Another challenge is that local governments often use A-tax money for long-term projects that support tourism, such as construction of a museum or a road, or drainage improvements. A government might borrow millions for a project, and pay the debt with future tax collections. That means there can be less discretionary money available for housing, unless tax collections keep going up. I would say the majority goes to our projects," said Tammy Harness, Mount Pleasant's Deputy Chief Financial Officer, who offered a fire station and public safety training facility as examples. We typically use it on facilities and roads. What's next? Local governments can immediately use A-tax money for housing initiatives. That will only be allowed until 2030, because House lawmakers added a sunset clause to the bill. If its a successful program that accomplishes what we think it will, we can stand it back up after seven years," Davis said. Any housing initiatives financed with A-tax money must serve people earning between 30 and 120 percent of the area's median income. That broad range includes people with very low to middle incomes. Housing initiatives could include rental housing but "must include programs to promote homeownership," under the legislation. The law also created a new state committee to examine current and potential land use planning in the state. One thing the law does not do is take away any of the state money used to promote and market S.C. tourism. Attempting to tap into that money would "buy you opposition," said Davis. So, going forward the hotel tax money could be used by local governments for workforce housing, but it's certain that at least 30 percent of the statewide tax will continue to be used to attract more tourists. Last week, the S.C. General Assembly passed a bill banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, at about the six-week mark in a pregnancy, with exceptions for when a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, the life or health of the mother is at risk or the unborn child is diagnos Read moreDavis: SC abortion debate isn't over. The only way out is through. The women and men the cops who worked for Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds absolutely loved him. That's exactly what youd expect to hear after the 56-year-old chief succumbed to cancer on Monday evening. But in this case it has the virtue of also being true. The same claim couldnt be made for every chief in every police department. There are policy disagreements, bad blood and politics in most places these days especially cop shops. Way of the world. But Charleston police officers held Reynolds in particularly high regard, which was clear to anyone who spent time around them. As Coastal Crisis Senior Chaplain Rich Robinson said at Tuesdays City Council meeting, the chief was a cops cop. That's exactly what he was. Reynolds was the model of a modern lawman: fiercely loyal to his people, yet unwilling to tolerate anything less than complete professionalism. Old-school in the law-and-order ways that mattered, yet willing to adapt to the modern world in the ways that nowadays matter even more. That balance is part of his legacy. As Atlantic magazine reported earlier this month, Reynolds built a police department that unlike most isn't having trouble recruiting new officers. The chief attributed that success, per usual, to everyone else: He often said support for the police in Charleston made his job easier. But his upstanding character, attitude, intelligence and the outstanding way he ran the police department was the foundation of that support. Id rather go 100 officers short than hire somebody who does not deserve to be in this uniform, Reynolds told the magazine. Which is why he didnt have to. Nobody detests bad cops more than good cops, and he knew it. "He made this department 100% better. He listened from the top to the bottom," says Capt. Tony Cretella. "He took up for us, but he also held us accountable. He told us to give everybody the same respect. And he walked the walk every day." And, Cretalla notes, Reynolds worked to gain the trust of "the communities that need us most." Most chiefs say their job is the publics safety, but Reynolds took it personally. He considered every person harmed on his watch a personal failure which of course it wasnt. He grieved with families who lost loved ones to accident or crime, and it was never for show. The chief once called me just after visiting the families of two young men killed in a shooting. Im angry about this, he said. Everybody should be angry about this. I quoted him, but he wasnt offering comment; he was venting. Anyone who met him briefly could've gotten the impression he was too nice to be a cop. Police officers see too much, deal with people in their worst moments, and it makes them understandably wary. Reynolds never let all that change who he was. Thats not to say he didnt get riled up. He often did. The chief was perpetually perturbed about all the guns stolen from unlocked cars a crime so common here that Charleston is often near the top of the national statistics. Its dangerous and careless, and he didnt mind saying so. Reynolds took great offense at the criticism his department received after the 2020 King Street riot, that his people didnt do enough or had orders to stand down. The very suggestion made his blood boil. No one told him how to do his job, nor had they ever tried. Because Luther Reynolds knew what he was doing. The chief had little appetite for politics but, like most lawmen, felt so strongly about an open carry law that he went to the Statehouse to argue against it. His greatest concern, other than public safety, was that such a law would make his officers jobs harder. Most people would've quit after the crushing diagnosis Reynolds got a few years ago. But for the chief, the work was too important to stop. So he kept fighting, right up until the end. Cretella says when officers visited him in hospice last week, Reynolds spent the time asking about their families ... and for updates on open cases. "He exemplifies what leadership is," Cretella says. "He was an inspiration to us all, not just the department but the whole community." The eulogies for Chief Reynolds including one Tuesday from a visibly choked up Mayor John Tecklenburg have mentioned his unwavering faith and devotion to family. Thats who he was. But Reynolds considered his officers, his department, part of his family. And he did everything he could to ensure they were treated fairly, protected and allowed do their jobs in a way that brought honor to themselves and Charleston. And that, ultimately, is why they all loved him. As we await an explanation for the North Charleston Sewer Districts unexplained decision to stop letting a city official live rent-free on its Stall Road property, its worth taking a moment to consider how City Councilwoman Rhonda Jerome was able to keep getting reelected year after year while the arrangement continued. Its not because she didnt report it. Its because the S.C. State Ethics Commission has neither the mandate nor the staff to ensure that elected officials report their income, perks and gifts correctly, which Ms. Jerome has not done since 2017. And it looks as though she accidentally stopped completing her annual statements of economic interests correctly because of a change the commission made. The result is that anyone looking up her past six statements would learn only that she received some unspecified amount of income in the form of use of property from the Sewer Commission. While a determined political opponent might dig deeper to find out what that means, its nowhere near enough information to conjure up the idea of free land to live on, along with electricity and water bills paid. That's because Ms. Jerome has been reporting the arrangement as "Private Income" instead of "Income from an SC Governmental Entity," which it obviously was. And although state law appropriately requires elected officials to report the amount of money they receive from governmental entities, it requires them to report only the source and type, but not the amount, of income from non-governmental sources. That makes it much more difficult for voters to detect possible conflicts of interest which is the main purpose of these reporting requirements. Its worth noting that Ms. Jerome listed the value of the land use on her earlier statements: $4,800 a year, or $400 a month. That figure is probably out of date it should have been updated regularly to reflect the increasing value of not having to pay rent or utilities to live on the property but assuming it's ballpark, it provides enough information for people to get a sense of what was going on. She told us that when she first ran for office in 1999, this was how the Ethics Commission advised her to handle the free land and utilities, which she and her husband had received long before her election, in return for providing some level of security for the property. She said she didn't realize she had changed the way she was reporting the arrangement, and on Thursday she was still waiting for the Ethics Commission to respond to an inquiry she made after we questioned her about her reports. Of course, this was such an obvious mistake that she wouldn't have to wait if the Ethics Commission reviewed the reports to make sure they're completed properly: It would have caught the mistake years ago. Although it probably made sense to allow the Jeromes to live on the property initially, in order to protect the Sewer Commissions investment in trucks and other equipment on the site, its hard to imagine that their presence still provides much value: The site is now much more secure. So we can see how it would make sense for the commission to rescind the agreement. But as we noted earlier this month, there was nothing acceptable about the cryptic way the commission took action: in a secret session with absolutely no explanation for why it made what might very well have been a reasonable and even overdue decision, but which the public has every right to believe was, as Ms. Jerome argues, a political move because she is running for mayor against candidates preferred by the commissioners. We will continue to await an explanation from the Sewer Commission which hasn't even posted minutes from its May 8 meeting online. Meantime, we once again urge the Ethics Commission to propose ways to step up its oversight of more than 20,000 ethics and campaign finance reports it receives each year. And we call on the Legislature to adopt those or other changes to help ensure that both people who are trying to comply with the law and those who are not get some guidance to ensure their reports are correct. Because all the reports in the world are useless if theyre not accurate or complete. Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier. COLUMBIA A state circuit court judge indefinitely blocked South Carolina's new six-week abortion ban May 26 to give the courts time to resolve a legal challenge brought by the states abortion providers. Abortion is again legal in South Carolina up to 22 weeks. The law, dubbed the Heartbeat Bill by supporters, went into effect after Gov. Henry McMaster signed it May 25. It bans abortions after an embryos cardiac activity can be detected at about six weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies and to protect the life of the mother, and exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks. Less than an hour after the signing, the states abortion providers filed a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality and requested the courts block its implementation with a temporary restraining order, warning of irreversible harm to patients if it were allowed to remain in effect. In a Richland County courtroom May 26, Circuit Judge Clifton Newman went further than the plaintiffs had requested, issuing a preliminary injunction that blocks the laws enforcement indefinitely rather than temporarily. Newman indicated he agreed with the plaintiffs argument that the new law is similar enough to a six-week abortion ban passed in 2021 that the state Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in January to warrant blocking its enforcement. "The status quo should be maintained until the Supreme Court reviews its decision in light of the new legislation, Newman said from the bench. In the January ruling, the high courts 3-2 majority found the 2021 law violated the privacy clause of the state constitution, and the abortion providers argue the new law does, too. Republican leaders who support the abortion law have telegraphed that another long court fight was expected and urged a quick legal review. "We will continue fighting to protect the lives of the unborn in South Carolina and the constitutional law that protects them," McMaster said on social media. "I hope that the Supreme Court will take this matter up without delay." State Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, said he respected Newmans ruling but remains convinced that the heartbeat bill is constitutional and that the Supreme Court will agree. Abortion providers said the ruling comes as a relief for their patients, dozens of whom are scheduled for procedures in the coming days. Until this injunction is in our hands, people are waiting, and theyre scared and theyre unsure, Vicki Ringer, the director of public affairs for plaintiff Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, told reporters after Newman ruled but before the injunction had been signed. We look forward to having this injunction so we can continue services, women can get the care they need. Last year, the Supreme Court took up the 2021 law directly, skipping the circuit court and state Court of Appeals. How quickly this lawsuit will work its way through the judicial branch is up to the attorneys and judges. Attorney Kathleen McDaniel, who argued for the plaintiffs, said they do not know how they will proceed. Everyone agrees the law will end up back before the state Supreme Court eventually, and the May 26 hearing offered a preview of the arguments both sides are likely to make. The state focused on S.C. Supreme Court Justice John Fews concurring opinion to strike down the 2021 six-week abortion ban. Few mostly took issue with flaws in the laws construction, unlike the majoritys other two justices who found that a six-week ban, no matter how it was written, violates the state constitution. The 2023 act, in good faith, grappled with (Fews) opinion and attempted to remedy some of the defects, Thomas Hydrick, an S.C. assistant deputy solicitor general, told Newman. Because the legislation was changed to address Fews concerns, the January decision shouldnt stop the implementation of the new ban, Hydrick said. McDaniel, the plaintiffs attorney, countered that no matter how you slice it and dice it the two six-week bans from the old and current legislation are effectively the same. The in-the-weeds debate seemed to strengthen Newmans conviction that the question should be answered by the Supreme Court, telling the attorneys they were speculating about how Few and the courts newly elected justice would vote. McDaniel told Newman if he did not block the ban, hundreds of women could be denied their rights by a potentially unconstitutional law while they wait for the high court to issue an injunction. Last summer, the state Supreme Court took a month and a half to block the six-week ban they eventually struck down. Hundreds of women were denied abortions in the interim, McDaniel said. That was a six-week time period where womens rights were invalidated, McDaniel said. My very serious concern is that the same timeline would be in effect here. Newman seemed convinced. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Naomi Creason The Sentinel David Miller, former lieutenant with the Carlisle Police, had what he called the grim reaper duties during police testing. He walked out with applicants who failed the process, sometimes encouraging them to reapply or congratulating them on their efforts. Its during this time that he meets the people he and other national advocates want to see more of in the police force: women and minorities. Im always very bummed that Im walking out the people I wish we were getting, Miller said, adding that hes a father of four daughters. When Im there at that initial testing day, and I see a lot of the possible females showing up to the test, Im always, in the back of my mind, thinking it would be great if we could get more females, it would be great if we could get minorities, it would be great if we could get more of this. But ultimately, its who passes. Amid a push for police forces to represent and reflect more of the population they protect, solutions arent as simple as hiring more, especially when a Civil Service Commission, like that in Carlisle, is involved in the process. Population The Carlisle Police Department covers a population with a higher percentage of minorities, except for Asians, compared to the rest of Cumberland County, according to the latest U.S. Census data. In the Borough of Carlisle, the Census reports that 79.6% of its population is white, 9.9% of its population is Black, 7.6% is Hispanic and 5.7% is more than one race. As of October, Carlisle Police had representation from at least the top three racial populations in the borough. Of its 28 people in the department, there were 23 white officers, four Black officers and one Hispanic officer. Those numbers equate to a slightly higher population of white and Black officers 82.1% and 14.3%, respectively. One of the Black members of the department holds the highest rank in Carlisle. Police Chief Taro Landis has held his position since 2017 when he came to the borough from Tredyffrin Township (located east of Philadelphia), which is where he started his police career following military service and rose through the police ranks. As a military man, hes always seen the U.S. Armed Forces as the leader in racial inclusion. Though his adoptive father served in a segregated unit in World War II, Landis pointed to the military desegregating its forces in 1948 as being ahead of the country at large. He said that integration meant a higher level of jobs not available in other industries or other avenues at the time. In some ways we should follow that example, he said. There are so few places where you get promoted for your merit. Landis sees the police evaluation process as being very much based on merit. Testing The merit-based approach to testing applicants in Carlisle is also the reason local officials are unable to calculate how many people of color apply for a job. Miller said testing is governed by the Civil Service Commission in Carlisle, where people apply to be tested and take part in a physical exam. Anyone who passes the physical exam can take the written exam, and those who pass that will take part in an oral interview graded on a rubric. Those who pass all three parts of the testing will then undergo a background check and are ranked, with veterans getting priority for hiring. Miller estimates that of those who pass the fitness test and get a 70% or higher on the written exam, about half will fail the oral interview part of the process that requires an 80% passing rate. He said that until they show up, they are unaware of applicants race or gender, and an applicants ability to get to the interview portion of the testing is dependent on them passing the physical and written exams. At no point during the process are we allowed to ask anything related to that, Miller said. Its not until actual background investigation well even know the age of somebody. Because of my position, Ive been kind of bothered by how do we balance this? said Miller, who only recently left the Carlisle police department to work in a county position. I mean, the whole civil service process came about because things werent done right for a long time; they wanted to increase fairness. Over time, they figured out that the civil service process doesnt always promote fairness. But were still in that, and we cant break out of that. Change in standards One part of the test that has changed is the physical fitness exam. A 2014 U.S. Justice Department litigation was settled in 2021, forcing Pennsylvania State Police to pay more than $2 million into a compensation fund and change its physical fitness standards that the lawsuit argued ruled out otherwise qualified women, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit argued that only 73% of women passed 2009 physical standards compared to 98% of men, based on fitness tests that were not required to perform a troopers job duties. One of those tests was the vertical jump, which has since been cut by State Police, as well as by Carlisle Police, Miller said. Despite the change, women are often still the least represented on police forces, and Carlisle only has one female officer after the retirement last year of another woman. Miller said Carlisle Police is not looking at reducing physical fitness standards any further, which consists of a 70.1-second 300-meter run, 24 push ups, 28 sit-ups and 1.5-mile run in 15:55 minutes. He argued those standards are necessary to hire officers capable of performing their duties, and other reductions would be a slippery slope to cutting other standards for officers, especially when he sees a problem lying elsewhere. Staffing shortages While women and minorities may be a national talking point for police forces, theres another local and national struggle facing police: finding enough people. Since October, Carlisle Police has managed to fill a few vacancies, but Miller expects more vacancies to occur this year. Even with a full 33-member department, Miller finds that number to not be sufficient in doing their job and performing extra duties in connecting with the community. Id love to have officers riding around on bikes right now, but I cant, he said. We probably average (1,700) to 1,800 calls a month. Miller said the number and types of calls fluctuate, but the department has seen dramatic increases in calls related to addiction and mental health. Every agency is struggling with manpower, he said. With what police face and the public perception of their job, Miller said fewer people are looking to step into their shoes to serve the community. Carlisle and multiple other police agencies in Cumberland County combine their efforts for the Cumberland County Police Testing Consortium, which collects and tests applicants and puts a single list of candidates together that police departments use to fill vacancies. The consortium used to be an annual event, but during COVID, the consortium was expanded to be held twice a year in March and September. Before 2020, Miller said the consortium would attract more than 300 people. Now, the number of applicants is nowhere near that number. Were lucky to have 100 now, he said. We didnt even have 100 in the September testing, it was 78. Were basically seeing less than a third show up. That is not a sign of a lack of advertisement or need for fewer standards; its about the number of people showing up. Miller said police advertise the consortium with colleges and universities across the region, including in Baltimore and Philadelphia, and post the information to social media and its Crimewatch page. The consortium website at cumberlandcountypolicetest.com even lays out how to apply online, requirements for the application and tips on how to get in shape for the fitness test. With the efforts theyve gone to reach potential candidates, Miller said the push for diversity cant be solved if no one applies. Its something beyond our walls, beyond our control, he said. Its a systemic issue that is beyond what we can fix. ROCK HILL Authorities in Chester County said the Rock Hill Police Department and the York County Sheriff's Office assisted with an investigation into a shooting death involving an accused gunman from Rock Hill. The Chester County Sheriffs Office charged Reco White Jr., 20, in the shooting on May 23. About 9 p.m., Chester deputies went to Stepping Stone Drive, off of Armory Road, following a 911 call about a shooting. The wounded person, who has not been identified, was taken to MUSC Health Chester Medical Center and was later pronounced dead. SPARTANBURG Spartanburg Day Schools leader has been awarded South Carolinas highest civilian honor. State Rep. Max Hyde presented the Order of the Palmetto to Head of School Rachel Deems during the school's commencement ceremony on May 26. Deems, who is ending her tenure at SDS after 11 years serving as head of school, was awarded for her contributions to education and dedication to shaping students lives. This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement as a servant leader and pioneer in independent school education, Hyde said in a news release. The Palmetto State is grateful to Mrs. Deems for all that she has done to nurture and prepare students for careers of consequence. In 2012, Deems became SDSs first female head of school. Under her leadership, the school experienced record enrollment growth, surpassed strategic endowment initiatives, added two new preschool grades and has seen upgrades and additions to its campus. Deems has been in the education field for 44 years. Prior to her time at SDS, she worked at two independent schools in Georgia. She was the head of school at The Westfield School for four years and was the director of development at Stratford Academy for nine years. Before Deems independent school tenure, she served as chief administrative officer, assistant provost, and dean of students at Mercer University and director of alumni affairs and vice president at Judson College. Shes served as a board member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA). In 2022, she revived the SAIS Distinguished Service Award. Deems has volunteered for local organizations such as the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, United Way of the Piedmont, Globalbike, the Rotary Club and the Spartanburg Regional Hospital System. In 1971, Governor John C. West established the Order of the Palmetto as South Carolinas highest civilian honor presented in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service and contributions on a national or statewide scale. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 13:30:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1031 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Fabled Copper Corp. ("Fabled" or the "Company") (CSE:FABL)(FSE:XZ7) is pleased to announce that it has completed an initial closing of the non-brokered private placements (the "Offerings") announced in its press release dated April 12, 2023.The Company issued (i) 3,255,000 conventional units (the "Conventional Units") at a price of $0.08 per Conventional Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $260,400 and (ii) 350,000 flow-through units (the " Flow-Through Units") at a price of $0.10 per Flow-Through Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $35,000.Each Conventional Unit is comprised of 1 common share of the Company ("Common Share") and 1 Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Conventional Warrant"). Each Conventional Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire 1 additional Common Share at a price of CAD$0.12 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.Each Flow-Through Unit is comprised of: (i) 1 Common Share designated as a "flow-through share" (each, a " Flow-Through Share") under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Act")); and (ii) 1 Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Flow-Through Warrant"). Each Flow-Through Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire 1 additional Common Share at a price of CAD$0.15 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.The Flow-Through Warrants and Conventional Warrants are each subject to an acceleration right exercisable by the Company which will force their exercise should the Company's Common Shares trade at or above a volume-weighted average price of $0.20 on the TSXV for any 20 consecutive trading days following the closing date.The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Conventional Units will be used for general working capital purposes and expenses. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Flow-Through Units will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" within the meaning of the Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the Flow-Through Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of Flow-Through Units.In connection with the closing of this tranche of the Offerings, the Company paid finder's fee commissions in the aggregate amount of $17,724 and issued 120,000 broker warrants (each, a "Broker Warrant"). The Broker Warrants have the same terms as the Conventional Warrants.The Offerings are subject to the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the final acceptance and approval of the CSE.All securities issued pursuant to this tranche of the Offerings are subject to the statutory hold period that expires four months and one day from their issuance, being September 26, 2023.The Company wishes to announce that the Offerings will, subject to the approval of the CSE, remain open for an additional 45 days from the date of this press release, being July 10, 2023.Resignation of DirectorThe Company also reports the resignation of David W. Smalley as Chairman and Director of the Company effective May 19, 2023. Mr. Smalley resigned due to constraints on his personal time and in order to concentrate on other opportunities.About Fabled CopperFabled is a junior mining exploration company. Its current focus is to creating value for stakeholders through the exploration and development of its existing drill ready copper properties located in northern British Columbia.The Company's current property package consists of the Muskwa Project and the Bronson Property and comprises approximately 16,219 hectares in three non-contiguous blocks and located in the Liard Mining Division of British Columbia. The Company is seeking to broaden and diversify its portfolio. To this end it has added two lithium claims (the VOLT 2 Property) in Miquelon, Quebec to its land package and is seeking to add both the OHM Property and the VOLT 1 Property, each lithium properties, located in the Val D'Or and Miquelon areas of Quebec respectively. The Company is also seeking to add an additional high grade gold and silver property, the TJ Ridge Property in British Columbia for which it has entered into a letter of intent.Mr. Peter J. Hawley, President and C.E.O.Fabled Copper Corp.Phone: (819) 316-0919peter@ fabledcopper.org For further information please contact:info@ fabledcopper.org This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition, development plans and business plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains any required regulatory approvals.Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the failure of the shareholders of the Company to approve the Consolidation Proposal, impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; inability to obtain drilling permits; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 19:00:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 483 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) investors who suffered substantial losses submit your losses now.Class Period: July 15, 2019- Feb. 22, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 12, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/MPW Contact An Attorney Now: MPW@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW) Securities Fraud Class Action:According to the complaint, Defendants made false and misleading statements and failed to disclose that Medical Properties: (1) masked the distressed state of its tenants through sale-leaseback arrangements that were essentially round-robin transactions in that they allowed debt-saddled tenants to meet their obligations in the short term; (2) fraudulently transferred hundreds of millions of dollars in what amounted to a bailout of financially distressed tenants; and (3) concealed its fraudulent transfers with fake construction projects with purportedly high capital expenses, despite the fact that the company entered into "triple-net leases" that obligated its tenants to pay a significant portion of expenses.Investors began to learn the truth on Jan. 26, 2023, when Viceroy Research published a scathing report accusing Medical Properties of "engaging in billions of dollars of uncommercial transactions with its tenants and their management teams in order to mask a pervasive revenue round-robin scheme and/or theft." Then, on Feb. 2, 2023, Viceroy sent and published its letter to Medical Properties' auditor highlighting Viceroy's concerns about severely distressed tenants and round-tripped revenues, uncollectible accrued revenues and impaired asset values.Finally, on Feb. 23, 2023, the company announced Q4 and full-year 2022 financial results that included a whopping $171 million impairment charge relating to four properties leased to Prospect and a write-off of $112 million on unbilled Prospect rent.These revelations drove the price of Medical Properties shares sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Medical Properties cooked its books," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Medical Properties and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Medical Properties should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email MPW@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 02:26:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 420 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SNOW Contact An Attorney Now: SNOW@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) Investigation:In past quarters, Snowflake has touted the strong demand for its data warehousing and the advantages of its consumption pricing model, which charges customers based on how much they use its products.On May 24, 2023, Snowflake announced its Q1 2024 financial results, which brought a new forecast for FY 2024 product revenue of $2.6 billion, below the $2.705 billion outlook that management had most recently offered, which itself was a lowered target.In response, Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler slashed his price target for the company, claiming Snowflake shares would likely "be in the penalty box" in light of a "massive slowdown" in the business and "persistent" cuts to guidance. Moerdler saw several concerning factors in Snowflake's report, including "that growth is impacted not just by a slower uptake of new projects but shrinkage in existing workloads." Moerdler concluded that the trend "raises questions about the criticality of the workloads and durability of growth." These events sent the price of Snowflake shares crashing lower on May 25, 2023."We're focused on investors' losses and whether Snowflake may have misled investors about the sustainability of its revenue growth," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Snowflake and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Snowflake should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SNOW@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 08:31:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 330 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. ("Charles River" or "the Company") (NYSE:CRL) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Investors who purchased the Company's securities between May 5, 2020 and February 21, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before July 18, 2023.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Charles River illegally imported non-human primates for research purposes. The Company was at risk of investigations by the DOJ among other agencies. The Company was forced to suspend importation of primates from Cambodia. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Charles River, investors suffered damages.Join the case to recover your losses.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.Office: 310-301-3335info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 08:31:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 354 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Trinseo PLC ("Trinseo" or "the Company") (NYSE:TSE) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Investors who purchased the Company's securities between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before June 20, 2023.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Trinseo's plant in Bristol, Pennsylvania, suffered from a troubled history of safety problems under its previous ownership, which continued to be plagued with safety problems after it was acquired. The Company failed to disclose the specific risks involved in this plant's normal operations. The Company was at risk of chemical spills and other problems due to its operation of an unsafe plant. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Trinseo, investors suffered damages.Join the case to recover your losses.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.Office: 310-301-3335info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 15:15:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 375 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / The KeyBank Foundation has made a $175,000 investment to help Lacasa Inc. empower people to make positive financial decisions and provide access to inclusive, mainstream financial products and services. This grant is part of KeyBank's commitment to invest in the communities it serves."All of us at KeyBank are incredibly proud to support Lacasa and the work they do to educate and empower individuals within the community to make good financial decisions," said Seth Keirns, KeyBank Northern Indiana Market President. "This funding will have a transformative effect on the adults Lacasa serves and provide them with resources and information that will help put them and their families on a path to self-sufficiency and success." Lacasa, a nonprofit housing agency, has several programs and services to help clients achieve financial stability. For more than 50 years the agency has been a cornerstone in Northern Indiana creating opportunities for personal empowerment, family stability and neighborhood vitality."Over the past few years, Lacasa has seen a significant increase in both interest and necessity for our financial education classes. Thanks to KeyBank's continued support and generosity, Lacasa will be able to grow its reach and client base which equates to a stronger and healthier financial climate throughout Elkhart County," said Lacasa's Director of Client Empowerment, Ashley Bowen.Using the funding from Key, over three years, Lacasa is aiming to expand their financial education course participation and more than double the significant financial milestones reached by working adults. They plan to create new employer partnerships to bring financial empowerment tools to the workplace to support workforce stability.Since 2017, KeyBank has made community investments supporting low to moderate income individuals and neighborhoods totaling more than $93 million in Northern Indiana. This involves lending for affordable housing, small businesses, mortgage and home improvements as well as transformative philanthropy.Read more about KeyBank's support of Lacasa:Lacasa awarded $175K grant to expand financial education programs | WNDU-TVKeyBank grant boosts Lacasa's financial education effort | Elkhart TruthPhoto: KeyBank Foundation Awards Lacasa $175,000 to Expand Financial Education in Elkhart County.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: KeyBankWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 21:00:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 722 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The National Donut Day celebration will pay tribute to WWI's historic Donut Lassies through free donuts, community engagement, and donations to the Salvation ArmyDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / National Donut Day is Friday, June 2, and LaMar's will be partnering with The Salvation Army to host an annual fundraising and community engagement event. Each participating LaMar's location will also be giving away free donuts to everyone who visits a store.LaMar's National Donut DayImages of Donuts and Text Reading "National Donut Day" National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of every June - a tradition dating back to 1917, when Salvation Army volunteers known as the "Donut Lassies" made donuts for soldiers on the front lines of World War I. In celebration of this tradition, LaMar's will be partnering with The Salvation Army to host its 9th Annual National Donut Day fundraising campaign. The campaign will be hosted by various LaMar's locations nationwide, and it will include free donuts, donations to The Salvation Army, and community engagement with local police and fire departments. The goal of this campaign is to spread joy and give back to the community, just like the Donut Lassies did over 100 years ago.This year's National Donut Day fundraiser will be a celebration unlike any other. In addition to raising funds for The Salvation Army through donations, LaMar's will match all online donations made during the week of May 28th. Each participating location will be handing out free Ray's Original Glazed donuts to customers, along with LaMar's National Donut Day t-shirts, while supplies last. LaMar's will be partnering with local police and fire stations, who will volunteer their time to hand out the free donuts and t-shirts to community members at select participating locations.In addition to celebrating the holiday at LaMar's stores, The Salvation Army will be delivering thousands of LaMar's donuts to the Denver and Aurora Police Departments as well as locations in Kansas City, MO, Omaha, NE, and Wichita, KS, for National Donut Day. Staff and members of the Army, along with Aurora police officers, will also hand deliver donuts to veterans at the VA Medical Center in Aurora, CO. The Salvation Army brass band will be at the medical center at 10 a.m. to perform and celebrate the national holiday."The Salvation Army's tireless mission to keep children clothed, sheltered, and fed is an enduring reminder that we need to do what we can to support our community members," shared Temi Osifodunrin, LaMar's Director of Marketing and Advertising. "LaMar's is thrilled to be spreading joy to our communities on National Donut Day, just like the Donut Lassies did for soldiers during World War I."To receive a free Ray's Original Glazed hand-made donut on National Donut Day, LaMar's customers must simply visit their local store. For customers who can't make it to a LaMar's location on National Donut Day, LaMar's will also be mailing out "Share the LaMar's Donut Day Love" cards to community members in surrounding neighborhoods. These cards can be used to redeem one free donut with a hole and a small coffee. Specialty donuts & coffee will be available but will incur an upcharge when used with the card.For more information about LaMar's National Donut Day celebration, or to make an online donation, please visit www.donutday.com About LaMar's Donuts - After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar's Donuts in Kansas City, Missouri, on Linwood Boulevard in a converted gas station. Today, the franchised chain has 25 stores in five states. LaMar's has won numerous awards and has earned favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine. LaMar's donuts were also the first to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world's most trusted guide to restaurants. Visit us at LaMars.com About The Salvation Army - The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church established in 1865, has supported those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year across 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, please visit imsalvationarmy.org Contact InformationTemi OsifodunrinDirector of Marketing and Advertisingmarketing@ lamars.com 303-771-9999 x. # 7001SOURCE: LaMar's Donuts President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Mohammad Shahabuddin has 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 Excellency, On the auspicious occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, it gives me immense pleasure to convey my warmest greetings and sincere felicitations to you and to the friendly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I firmly believe that the existing bonds of friendship between our two countries will be further strengthened in the days come. On this joyous occasion, I would like to wish you good health, long life and happiness and to the friendly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan continued peace, progress and prosperity. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Mohammed Shahabuddin President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Missouri has more than 13,000 children in the foster care system, taken from volatile and abusive homes and put with strangers for their safety. The kids are put through legal channels asking them to recall and recount their suffering, make hard decisions, avoid contact with their biological families, forget their pets for a while and even uproot to new schools. Of those 13,000 Missouri children, more than 500 of them are in the 24th Judicial Circuit the legal jurisdiction made up of Washington, St. Francois, Madison and Ste. Genevieve counties on any given night. For most foster kids, the darkness of their circumstances means their daylight might as well be night. They need a constant friend they can trust who has a flashlight to ease the way. CASA of the Parkland, which started in March 2020, recently held its Light of Hope luncheon to award and recognize those who ease the way for 24th Circuit foster kids: volunteers, caseworkers, social workers, sponsors, legal representatives and those who stand for CASA court appointed special advocates for children. CASAs are trained volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for foster children, shepherding the kids through the legal system and foster-family experience as a constant friend and authority figure, even as a kids case lawyers, judges, foster families and schools might change. At the CASA of the Parkland luncheon held May 11 at Memorial United Methodist Churchs fellowship hall in Farmington, Lyn Ruess, attorney and former guardian ad litem (GAL) was given the Light of Hope Award for her services to foster children. Guests also heard moving testimony from a 14-year-old girl, Sophia, and her adoptive mother, Monica Lawrence of Franklin County CASA. JoAnna Watts, executive director of CASA of the Parkland, said Ruess was just an amazing human being, constantly advocating for the needs of foster children. An attorney who graduated from law school at Washington University in St. Louis, Ruess has served as a guardian ad litem, an attorney who represents the best interests of those who cannot represent themselves, such as foster children. Every year, CASA of the Parkland has organized Festival of Trees in which people sponsor fully-decorated Christmas trees that are later auctioned off at top dollar. Watts told the crowd at the luncheon, Ruess chooses to decorate her tree with presents. And all of those gifts are for the children that we advocate for. Lyn provides all of that, Watts said. Ruess said she always had a lot of help in shopping for and decorating the Christmas tree, so it was embarrassing and wonderful at the same time to receive the award. I couldnt do the tree without some of my best friends, she said. Watts then introduced Sophia and Monica Lawrence. Sophia, 14, talked about her experience as a foster child in the system, and Lawrence spoke of her experience as a CASA volunteer, and as an outreach coordinator for Casa in Franklin County. We hope their story is one that inspires and empowers you to see all the ways you can help kids in foster care, Watts said. Sophia, addressing the room alone on stage, told the crowd she would soon be celebrating her sixth anniversary of being adopted. She said she remembered feeling alone and scared as she went through the foster care system, and that she greatly relied on her CASA advocate, Lawrence, for normalcy, stability, and even some fun here and there as they went bowling or shopping. She was someone I could talk to without a care in the world, and she made me feel safe something I didnt always feel at the time, Sophia said, adding that her CASA was her lifeline especially in the court system. She said every kid deserved that advocacy. "I don't want people to think they have to have a PhD or a degree in psychology to be a CASA volunteer. So much of it is just being there for the entire time," Sophia said. "Things might get hard, there might be bad days, the learning curve might be steep or stressful, but there's support, there are people to help you and your foster kid get through it all. You're on a journey together, and at the end, you'll have made all the difference and it will all be worth it." Lawrence spoke next about what it was like to care for Sophia in the foster system. She and her husband had been foster parents before and had eight placements. She knew what it was like to hold a baby who had been born to someone addicted to meth, and she knew what it was like to watch a 5 year old flunk all the placement tests to get into kindergarten, leaving her to wonder, and not for the first time, "How are we going to get these kids back on track?" She said eventually, with diligence, patience and support, the kids eventually not only survived, but thrived. Lawrence said she and her husband knew, "right off the bat" Sophia's case was going to be challenging. "Both of her parents were facing some lengthy prison sentences, and weren't going to be present in her life," she said. But that's when CASA stepped in. Sophia's CASA served as an authority figure and friend, a lifeline for Sophia, advocating for her charge in a way that helped the judge, lawyers and clerks know Sophia in a more personal fashion. She would take Sophia on outings just to get to know her better, ask how Sophia was doing, to be a listening ear in case she had exciting, sad or scary news to impart. Lawrence appealed to the luncheons audience to consider volunteering or donating to CASA of the Parkland. I thought about throwing in the towel on foster care many times, she said. The system is definitely screwed up, it cant be denied. But CASA is working. Its filling the gaps. Its making an enormous difference in a way that cant be done by the current system, and these kids deserve that support, that help to get through these situations that they didnt even create. For more information or to discuss the requirements for becoming a volunteer, call 573-664-1299 or visit casaoftheparkland.org. Local radio personality Mark Toti was the master of ceremonies for the luncheon. Heather Jordan, president of the CASA Board of Directors and a former CASA volunteer, provided an earlier overview of the non-profit, its purpose and its successes. Food was provided by Memorial United, and its preparation was overseen by Mark Cook of Cook Financial LLC. Lunch was served by the Missions Team of Memorial United Methodist Church and dessert was provided by the Relief Society, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 23:31:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 930 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WINNIPEG, MB / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV:MPH)(OTC PINK:MCUJF), a company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products for patients and prescribers in the United States market, today reported its results from operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Highlights:Recorded total net revenue of $5.6 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and;Recorded total net revenue from the sale of AGGRASTAT of $2.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $2.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and;Recorded total net revenue from the sale of ZYPITAMAG of $640,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and;Recorded total net revenue from the Marley Drug business of $2.3 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and;Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA1) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $916,000 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and;Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $290,000 or $0.03 per share compared to net income of $482,000 or $0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.Financial ResultsThe modest decrease in AGGRASTAT revenues when compared to the same period in the previous year, as described above, is the result of a decrease in the volume of AGGRASTAT sold in 2023 when compared to 2022, in conjunction with an increase in wholesaler fees.The royalty obligations related to AGGRASTAT are now fulfilled and are no longer due.ZYPITAMAG contributed $640,000 of revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in revenue is primarily as a result of increased fees to wholesalers and pharmacy benefit managers.The Marley Drug business contributed $2.3 million of revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Marley Drug is a US pharmacy licensed to ship medications to all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. It serves thousands of customers and provides another channel for direct-to-consumer marketing, distribution and improved profit margin for ZYPITAMAG. The increase in revenue is a result of increased sales through its e-commerce platform, including increased sales of ZYPITAMAG.Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $916,000 compared to $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Decreased adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 resulted from higher selling and research and development expenses, partially offset by increased Marley Drug revenue and reduced general and administrative expenses.Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $290,000 or $0.03 per share compared to net income of $482,000 or $0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The main factors contributing to the decrease in net income recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were higher selling and research and development expenses, partially offset by increased Marley Drug revenue and reduced general and administrative expenses.At March 31, 2023, the Company had unrestricted cash totaling $4.9 million, equal to $4.9 million of unrestricted cash held as of December 31, 2022. Cash flows from operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $173,000 compared to cash used in operating activities of $736,000 for the period ended March 31, 2022.All amounts referenced herein are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.The full financial statements are available at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.medicure.com NotesThe Company defines EBITDA as "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other income or expense" and Adjusted EBITDA as "EBITDA adjusted for noncash and non-recurring items". The terms "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA", as it relates to the three months and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 results prepared using IFRS, do not have any standardized meaning according to IFRS. It is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.Conference Call Info:Topic: Medicure's Q1 2023 ResultsCall date: Monday, May 29, 2023Time: 7:30 AM Central Time (8:30 AM Eastern Time)Toll Free: 1 (888) 506-0062International: 1 (973) 528-0011Participant Access Code: 408939Webcast: This conference call will be webcast live over the internet at the following link:You may request international country-specific access information by e-mailing the Company in advance. Management will accept and answer questions related to the financial results and operations during the question-and-answer period at the end of the conference call. A recording of the call will be available following the event at the Company's website.About Medicure Inc.Medicure is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the U.S. cardiovascular market. The present focus of the Company is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) injection and ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) tablets in the United States, where they are sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma Inc. Medicure also operates Marley Drug, Inc. ("Marley Drug"), a pharmacy located in North Carolina that offers an Extended Supply drug program serving all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Marley Drug is committed to improving the health status of its patients and the communities they serve while reducing overall health care costs for employers and other health care consumers. For more information visit www.marleydrug.com . To learn more about The Extended Supply Generic Drug Program call 800.286.6781 or email info@ marleydrug.com.For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com . For additional information about AGGRASTAT, please visit www.aggrastathdb.com or refer to the full Prescribing Information. For additional information about ZYPITAMAG, please visit www.zypitamag.com or refer to the full Prescribing Information.To receive investor and business updates from Medicure PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 22:35:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 726 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CALGARY, AB and SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Nexera Energy Inc. (TSXV:NGY)(OTC PINK:EMBYF) (the "Corporation", the "Company" or "Nexera") would like to provide an update on the status of the filing of its Q1 financial statements, accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certifications for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (collectively, the "Q1 Filings").The current bookkeeper of the Corporation has recently informed the Corporation that, due to the delay in completing the 2022 annual financial statements on time, they will not be able to compile and complete the unaudited Q1 Financial Statements of the Corporation by the prescribed filing deadline, and the Company anticipates the Q1 Filings will be delayed beyond the required filing deadline: (i) under Parts 4 and 5 of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and pursuant to National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuer's Annual and Interim Filings, being May 30, 2023 (the "Filing Deadline").The Company intends to continue to work diligently and expeditiously with its bookkeeper and auditor and expects to file the Q1 Filings as soon as possible, and in any event no later than June 23, 2023.Other than as previously disclosed by the Company and herein with this press release, the Company confirms that there have been no material business developments since the date of its last financial statements that were filed.Management Cease Trade Order ApplicationIn light of the delay in filing of the Q1 Filings prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company is providing this default announcement in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP12-203"). The Company has made an application to the Alberta Securities Commission (the "ASC"), as principal regulator of the Company, for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") under NP 12-203 in respect of the anticipated default regarding the Q1 Filings. The granting of the MCTO is at the discretion of the Alberta Securities Commission and there is no guarantee that this will be granted. The issuance of the MCTO will not affect the ability of persons who have not been directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade in their securities. In the event that the MCTO is granted, it will be in effect until the default is remedied. The Company intends to follow the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in NP 12-203, including the issuance of bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases, for as long as the Company remains in default.For further information, please contact:Nexera Energy Inc. President, Shelby D. Beattie, by telephone at (403) 262-6000Email: info@ nexeraenergy.com About Nexera Energy Inc.Nexera Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: NGY) is an energy company with oil producing properties in Southwest Texas. Nexera is owner and operator of the Lavernia, Wooden Horse and Stockdale Horizon Projects. The Company also owns 100% of Production Resources Inc., a South Texas oil company.Forward Looking StatementsExcept for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein relating to the timing of the filing of financial statements constitutes forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Nexera Energy Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 07:20:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 586 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX:RLF)(OTCQB:RLFFD)(OTCQB:RLFTD) (Relief Therapeutics, or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options with the potential for transformative outcomes to benefit those suffering from select specialty and rare diseases, today announced the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of shareholders will take place Tues., June 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. CEST at avenue de Secheron 15 in Geneva, near the Relief Therapeutics offices.AGENDAThe agenda includes the discussion and adoption of the annual accounts for the 2022 financial year, appropriation of the result, the discharge of the board of directors and executive committee for their duties performed in 2022, extension of the duration of the Company's capital band and an increase of the conditional share capital, several proposed amendments and additions to the articles of association related to the new Swiss corporate law, the compensation of the members of the board of directors and of the executive committee as well as the re-election of existing members of the board of directors, the chairman of the board of directors, the nomination and compensation committee, independent voting rights representative and auditors.The formal notice of convocation of the AGM, including information on attending the meeting in person or by proxy, requirements for notification and registration for the meeting, regarding the e-voting system as well as all ancillary documents relevant for the meeting, will be mailed Tues., May 30, 2023 to registered shareholders. The full agenda is available on the Relief Therapeutics website .ABOUT RELIEF THERAPEUTICSRelief Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing treatment paradigms and delivering improvements in efficacy, safety and convenience to benefit the lives of patients living with select specialty and rare diseases. Relief Therapeutics' portfolio offers a balanced mix of marketed, revenue-generating products, our proprietary, globally patented Physiomimic and TEHCLO drug delivery platform technologies and a highly targeted clinical development pipeline consisting of risk-mitigated assets focused in three core therapeutic areas: rare metabolic disorders, rare skin diseases and rare respiratory diseases. In addition, Relief Therapeutics is commercializing several legacy products via licensing and distribution partners. Relief Therapeutics' mission is to provide therapeutic relief to those suffering from rare diseases and is being advanced by an international team of well-established, experienced biopharma industry leaders with extensive research, development and rare disease expertise. Relief Therapeutics is headquartered in Geneva, with additional offices in Balerna, Switzerland, Offenbach am Main, Germany and Monza, Italy. Relief Therapeutics is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFFD and RLFTD. For more information, please visit our website www.relieftherapeutics.com or follow Relief Therapeutics on LinkedIn and Twitter .CONTACT:RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SACatherine DayVice President, Investor Relations & Communicationscontact@ relieftherapeutics.com DISCLAIMERThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Relief Therapeutics to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. A number of factors including those described in Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SIX Swiss Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could adversely affect Relief Therapeutics. Copies of Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SEC are available on the SEC EDGAR database at www.sec.gov . Relief Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.SOURCE: Relief Therapeutics Holdings AG PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 15:45:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 404 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm, is reminding investors that the deadline to move for lead plaintiff in a securities class action lawsuit against Trinseo PLC (NYSE:TSE) ("Trinseo" or the "Company") and certain other defendants (collectively, "Defendants") is June 20, 2023.CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLASS ACTIONThe action, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, asserts claims under 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on behalf of a Class consisting of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Trinseo securities between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), and who were damaged thereby (the "Class").According to the complaint, throughout the Class Period. Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's Bristol, Pennsylvania plant had a troubled safety record while under prior ownership and continued to be unsafe after the Company acquired it; (2) Defendants did not sufficiently disclose specific risks related to conducting operations at that plant; and (3) operating a chemical plant with an unsafe history and presently unsafe operations exposed the Company to a heightened risk of achemical spill or other adverse event, among other things.When the truth about Trinseo's business reached the market, according to the Complaint, Trinseo's stock precipitously declined, thereby injuring investors.Lead Plaintiff DeadlineThe Lead Plaintiff deadline in this action is June 20, 2023. Any member of the proposed Class may seek to serve as Lead Plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain a member of the proposed Class.What You Can DoIf you purchased Trinseo securities during the Class Period, and suffered damages, realized or unrealized, you are encouraged to contact Scott+Scott attorney Jonathan Zimmerman at (888) 398-9312, or jzimmerman@ scott-scott.com , for more information.About Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLPScott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and employee retirement plan actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, Virginia, California, and Ohio.Attorney AdvertisingCONTACT:Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLPJonathan Zimmerman(888) 398-9312jzimmerman@ scott-scott.com SOURCE: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 22:35:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 570 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Victory Battery Metals (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR6)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered Unit Private placement (the "Unit Financing"). The Corporation raised proceeds of $300,000 through the sale of 6,000,000 Units.Pursuant to the terms of the Unit Financing, each Unit is offered at a subscription price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.07 for a two year period, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate expiry upon 30 days' notice if the common shares trade at $0.20 or higher for a period of 10 days, including days where there is no trading. There were no finder's fees paid and no insiders participated in the Unit Financing.The Company intends to use net proceeds for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes.For further information, please contact:Mark Ireton, PresidentTelephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653)E-mail: info@ victorybatterymetals.com About Victory Battery MetalsVICTORY BATTERY METALS (CSE:VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The Company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.SOURCE: Victory Battery Metals Corp. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said it has issued seven new regulations aimed at providing a regulatory environment that assures efficiency, predictability, clarity and effectiveness to the Nigerian oil and gas sector. NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Mr Komolafe said the new regulations were signed and issued at the commissions headquarters in a ceremony witnessed by Ogonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on Thursday. He said these bring to twelve (12) the number of regulations so far concluded and issued by the commission in line with its mandate as prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021. All the 12 regulations and others to be finalized soon would serve as the key regulatory tools to be deployed by the commission in the discharge of its statutory functions under the PIA regime. Eighteen regulations were initially identified as a priority. Issuing the regulations represents a significant milestone achievement for the commission in its continued stride towards the attainment of the goals of the PIA and the reformation of the upstream petroleum sector, he said. He listed the seven new regulations to include, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum measurement regulations 2023, Production Curtailment and domestic crude oil supply obligation regulations 2023, Frontier basins exploration fund administration regulations 2023, and the Nigeria Upstream Decommissioning and abandonment regulations 2023. Others are Significant crude oil and Gas discovery regulations 2023, Gas flaring, Venting and methane emission (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) regulations 2023 and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Unitization regulations, 2023. Gazetted Regulations Mr Komolafe noted that five regulations were successfully gazetted into law between June and October 2022. All the regulations are revolutionary and aimed at providing a regulatory environment that assures efficiency, predictability, clarity, and effectiveness to the industry in the discharge of the commissions mandate. The PIA 2021 empowers the Commission to make regulations which will give meaning and intent to the spirit of the Act. Consequently, the Commission, in fulfilment of this mandate, swung into action with the drafting of regulations of which five were initially gazette and published, he said. He noted that gazetting the twelve regulations demonstrates the commissions commitment towards providing a business-enabling environment in the Nigerian upstream oil and gas industry space. READ ALSO: Our drive to promote clarity, trust and predictability in the industry has remained un-flinching as evident in the efforts deployed towards ensuring that regulations and key policies necessitated by the PIA are developed and gazetted expeditiously to enable alignment with the provisions of the PIA. The seven regulations signed today are part of the thirteen draft regulations that were presented for discussion during the first, second and third phases of our consultations with stakeholders between 2022 and 2023. It is worthy of note that inputs of stakeholders from the various engagements were considered in the drafting of the regulations. The drafts were subsequently forwarded to the Attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice for vetting, legislative standardization, and approval. It is pertinent to note that the process of formulating the above regulations has been a rigorous and strenuous exercise characterised by several challenges at different stages of the regulation-making process, he said. Nevertheless, he said, the outcome of the process is a result of critical thinking, vigorous engagements with the industry stakeholders, careful evaluation, and hard work by the commissions regulation development team, whose efforts are a testament to the commissions continually strive towards excellence in the discharge of its functions. I also charge them to re-double their ongoing efforts to speedily conclude work on the other regulations that they are currently working on as well as the others that have been identified and are being developed. The commission assures the industry of its continued dedication to develop and issue policies that will create an enabling environment for growth and more investments in the Nigerian upstream oil and gas sector, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The youth wing of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has held what is being touted as the biggest inauguration concert in the country. Weeks back, APCs National Youth Leader, Dayo Isreal, announced the free concert to appreciate those who campaigned and voted for the partys flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mr Tinubu, who emerged victorious at the recently held presidential elections beating three other major candidates, will be inaugurated as President of Nigeria on Monday. The concert, held at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, was tagged Renewed Hope Concert, in line with APCs campaign slogan. Sighted at the concert was the president-elect, Bola Tinubu. He was accompanied by his deputy, Kashim Shettima, Pat Utomi, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila and others. Renewed Hope Concert The 2023 general elections may have come and gone, but the residues of the animosity between the different parties generated during the election period are still being felt. According to the organisers, the Renewed Hope Concert is expected to, among other things, douse the tension in the polity while also providing fun and networking opportunities to attendees, regardless of party affiliations. The division created among Nigerian entertainers concerning their preferred candidates during the election period was not immediately visible in the list of performers. Hosted by Seyilaw, the Renewed Hope Concert featured performances from artistes from different generations, including Pasuma, Naira Marley, Young Jon, Wande Coal, Waje, Skales, Iyanya, Chuddy K, Konga, Praiz, who rendered the national anthem, Fati Niger Artquake and Kcee among others. It also featured energetic performances from new entrants into the Nigerian music scene, like Fireboy DML, Asake, Zinoleesky, Qdot, BNXN, and Seyi Vibez. Buju happily joined Seyi Vibez on stage to perform Gwagwalada at the Renewed Hope Concert in Abuja. pic.twitter.com/TZuxScNEIh OLAMIDE (@Olamide0fficial) May 26, 2023 Interestingly, one of their peers, Odumodu Blvck, before the concert, made a post announcing that he turned down an offer to sing from the organisers. They tried to get me to perform at the inauguration. They did not do their research, the Declan Rice crooner posted on Instagram. Musicians like Wande Coal, Naira Marley, Iyanya, Skales and Waje did not openly campaign for any candidate. On the other hand, Portable, who campaigned for the APC in one of the South Western states, was left out of the list of performers. His omission has drawn the ire of the controversial artiste, who has had repeated run-ins with the police. It may not be unconnected with his public apology after performing at the APC campaign. READ ALSO: Also, while Kcee chose to be non-partisan, he was seen in the company of Seyi Tinubu, who was pivotal to the APC youth wing campaign, when the latter visited people in business and entertainers from Eastern Nigeria. While other artistes took turns to entertain the audience with good songs, it was Timayas performance of his 2022 song, Sweet Us, that has kept the internet, particularly Twitter, busy. Timayas Sweet Us draws some of its lyrics from the famous phrase by Port Harcourts swanky governor, Nyesom Wike, whose second term ends following Monday, As e dey sweet us, e dey pain dem. As e dey pain dem, omo e dey sweet us, was Governor Wikes famous campaign slogan which Timaya turned into his lyrics. The concert also featured cultural displays from various cultures nationwide. Reactions Expectedly, the Renewed Hope inauguration concert has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians. As a fallout of the concert, a counter hashtag, #NigeriansDidNotVoteTinubu, trended on Twitter. The Renewed Hope Concert is the talk of the town today. Abuja is feeling the energy. Theresa Tekenah (@TheresaTekenah) May 26, 2023 Seyi Tinubu didn't just give Agbado youths the best FREE CONCERT in Nigeria's history,he also gave out 6 brand new cars to people The peak for me was the Wheel Chairs he gave to our people with Special Disabilities,that got me teary Bravo ST#RenewedHopeConcert pic.twitter.com/LRqpcLLoAm David Offor (@DavidsOffor) May 26, 2023 It's just 3 days to Villa, and the Obidients are already having a very tough season.#RenewedHopeConcert will live rent free in their heads for many years to come. "The road to success is paved with doubters and haters." Renewed Hope is here! pic.twitter.com/RYxUbZm8VH TallJohn (@JohnFanimokun) May 26, 2023 Abeg Artistes were paid to perform at an event, not to offer political endorsements, let's remember they have families & careers to build. Do not set anyone up for unnecessary backlash! Elections are over.Let them go home and enjoy their paychecks in peace! Akin Olaoye (@akintollgate) May 26, 2023 Inauguration Ahead of the inauguration of Mr Tinubu and Mr Shettima as the President and Vice President of the country, the duo have been conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and Grand Commander of Order of the Niger, respectively. The investiture occurred at the State House Conference Center in Abuja on Thursday. Meanwhile, the federal government has directed the restriction of movements around Eagle Square, the venue of the inauguration parade, from 2 p.m. on Friday till Tuesday. The president-elect Bola Tinubu and his vice will be sworn in on Monday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah is a Nigerian legend in many ways. Since the dawn of the Fourth Republic, very few private citizens in Nigeria have played such an outsized influential role in the deepening of the nations democratic experience and the healing of our multiple wounds. From his membership of the countrys Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission popularly known as the Oputa Panel to his involvement as Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference and his subsequent role as Facilitator of the Ogoni Reconciliation Process, Bishop Kukah has been a measuring rod of the nations readiness to confront her troubled past and address the inherent contradictions. Witness to Reconciliation: My Personal Journey Towards Reconciliation in Ogoniland tells the story of his personal involvement as the Presidential Facilitator of the Ogoni Reconciliation Process with the objective of bringing Shell and the Ogoni together on the one hand and also helping to resolve differences among different factions of Ogoniland as well as the Government of Nigeria, on the other. Father Kukah (as he then was and remains to many of his friends even after his elevation to episcopacy) was appointed by President Obasanjo in May 2005 to facilitate the dialogue because both sidescan trust you to be independent and neutral. The Ogoniland crisis has been a long drawn one that came to a head with the gruesome murder of the Ogoni Four and the eventual state murder of writer and minority rights activist, Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight in November 1995 by the Abacha military junta. It was a period of tumultuous political crisis in the country triggered by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election. The Ogoni killings exacerbated the political tension and increased international opprobrium against the military junta, leading to Nigerias suspension from the Commonwealth. This is a 267 page, ten chapter book with a Foreword from the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd Justin Welby. Archbishop Welby could not be described as an accidental choice for this responsibility, given the extensive direct and behind the scene roles he had played on the Ogoni crisis as erstwhile Director of the International Centre for Reconciliation under the Anglican Church at the Coventry Cathedral. True to type, all sides to the Ogoni crisis Dr Peter Odili, then Governor of Rivers State, Mr Ledum Mitte, then President of MOSOP and Dr Basil Omiyi, CEO of Shell lauded the choice of Father Kukah and looked forward to working with Father Kukah in making the Presidents vision of reconciliation a reality. Despite the general support received though, Father Kukah also noted that the warning bells were equally sounded early, particularly by the old warhorses of civil society and the environment lobby like Nnimmo Bassey. For example, whilst welcoming his appointment, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth warned him that there can be no true reconciliation without justice. The Ogoni had already defined what justice meant to them when they appeared before the Oputa Panel. These include: Full implementation of the Ogoni Bill of Rights, public apology by Shell to Ogoni people before any discussion between both parties, comprehensive audit and clean up of Shells oil spillage and pollution of Ogoniland, adequate financial compensation paid to the Ogoni for the despoiliation of their environment, setting up of a Committee to catalogue and document losses by the Ogoni during the oil inspired, military campaign with a view to bringing relief to victims and their families, a referendum to determine whether Ogoni people want Shell back and total stoppage of gas flaring in Ogoniland. President Obasanjos appointment of Father Kukah could be taken as a logical response in pursuit of these conditions for justice for the Ogoni people. Just as he did in his previous account of the Oputa Panel, Witness to Justice, Father Kukah deals extensively with how he moved from very little by way of a guidebook to conceptualising the approach to the assignment. The Presidential directive was simply to facilitate the dialogue because, according to President Obasanjo, all I want is let there be peace in Ogoniland so that the people can settle, and if possible, Shell can go back to their work. Given my own involvement in the early days of the Oputa Panel as Technical Adviser to the Panel and watching him operate in bringing the work of the Panel to reality, I could almost picture how Father Kukahs extensive network and single minded determination was brought to effective use in this assignment. He elaborated on the critical roles of Archbishop Welby and the Welby Papers, his friendship with Ledum Mitee whose insight on the local dynamics was critical and the extraordinary support of Governor Peter Odili in helping to define the assignment and clarifying roles and responsibilities. He also acknowledged the role of former Head of Shell, Egbert Imomoh and the Centre for Social and Corporate Responsibility led by Rev Fr Kevin OHara in those early days. In all of the ten chapters, he described in great detail how he went about the assignment. Having established the roles and responsibilities in response to the broad objective articulated by President Obasanjo, he went into the various efforts he undertook to build trust among competing interests in Ogoniland, acknowledged the critical role of the Governor in securing the buy in of all segments of the Ogoni society right from the Head of the Traditional Council, Chief Giniwa to other community leaders, religious leaders, MOSOP activists and all those opposed to MOSOP in Ogoniland. Given the deep seated wounds that had festered over the years without any serious attempt to address unrelenting pains, Father Kukah narrated how he had to negotiate landmines on the path to reconciliation including threats to his own life by elements opposed to his open and inclusive approach to reconciliation. Clearly undeterred, he soldiered on with President Obasanjos support, who against the run of play, visited Ogoniland twice on account of the reconciliation effort and kept reinforcing Fr Kukahs confidence even in moments of stress and orchestrated frustrations. The height of all these efforts was Father Kukahs epiphany which led him to the involvement of the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP as the linchpin for the clean up efforts of the polluted and environmentally degraded Ogoniland. UNEP eventually completed the Ogoni Clean up study in 2011, in which 122 kilometres were surveyed, over 200 locations, 69 sites for groundwater investigations, 4000 samples from 142 drilled wells, 780 boreholes drilled with soil samples extracted and over 5000 medical records examined. In summary, UNEP recommended to the Federal government the setting up of an environmental restoration authority, the establishment of the Ogoni Trust Fund of $1 billion over a ten year period and an improved clean up method and development of an asset integrity management plan for Ogoniland by Shell. The UNEP recommendations of 2011 mirror Father Kukahs recommendations in the report submitted to President Obasanjo the day he left office on May 29, 2007.(Chapter 9). Fifteen years after Father Kukah completed his initial assignment, (even though both Presidents Yaradua and Jonathan asked him to continue in his role as Presidential Facilitator) and twelve years after UNEP submitted their report to the Federal Government, Ogoniland has remained unattended to. Although the Jonathan administration established the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in 2012 to undertake UNEPs recommendations and appointed an Ogoni, Ms Joy Nunieh as the Head, HYPREP more or less soon collapsed and Ms Nunieh stepped aside as its head. When the Buhari administration assumed office in 2015, frantic efforts were made to approach things differently particularly with Ms Amina Mohammed at the helm of the Environment Ministry but eight years after, HYPREP has remained mired in controversy over funds between the supervising Ministry of Environment and the projects Ogoni head, Dr Ferdinand Giadom and Shell threatening to freeze funds due. Sadly, Ogoniland continues to suffer the misfortune of governance failure as exemplified by the inability to accomplish President Obasanjos broad objective of peace in Ogoniland so that the people can settle, and if possible, Shell can go back to their work. As Godwin Ojo of Friends of the Earth wrote the Government and Shell have done little more than set up processes that look like action but are just fig leaves for business as usual. The lack of meaningful action in the face of incontrovertible scientific evidence is outrageous. The Nigerian government and Shell are quite simply getting away with environmental and human rights abuses in the Niger Delta. While the government must take the larger share of the responsibility for the failure, Father Kukah also found the internal collusion of the local elite with the irresponsible behaviour of the oil multinationals culpable for the parlous state of affairs in Ogoniland. In saner climes, it is clear that Shell could not have gotten away with this blatant neglect. Compare the Ogoni situation with the British Petroleum 2010 spillage in the Gulf of Mexico, United States and the firm manner the Environment Protection Agency handled the matter. BP coughed out $62 billion for the clean up exercise and associated costs. Here, Shell has found it difficult to even contribute a fair share of the clean up expenditure of $1billion in Ogoniland. This is a very emotional book by a patriotic Nigerian who does not want the search for the perfect to become the enemy of the good. Father Kukah has spoken clearly, indubitably and unequivocally for himself. His pain is palpable and he has used this book to further expose the debilitating contradictions of the Nigerian state and the failure of leadership. For a complete picture, we look forward to other accounts from Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, Governor Odili, Ledum Mitee of MOSOP and Shell conglomerate who all had ringside seats in trying to resolve the Ogoni tragedy. Yet a man like Father Kukah who has given freely of his time to serve Nigeria in these various capacities must wonder whats the point of this sacrifice if it doesnt help in building a nation where peace and justice reign? As a man of faith, it is clear that Bishop Kukah has not given up in his belief in Nigerias capacity to better its condition. Right to the last page of the highly readable book, he is still in search of viable options for resolving the conundrum and believes that the pursuit of external legal options might offer some respite to the hapless victims of this serial abuse. Viable as this option may be, it is merely an abdication of the States responsibility for the welfare and security of its citizens. As he wrote: READ ALSO: the condition of the Ogoni people must be seen as a metaphor for the majority of Nigerians spread across the entire country who continue to live in penury and destitution amidst an ocean of huge oil resources. They watch helplessly as the local and national elite continue to squander the commonwealth. The Ogoni people have come to the conclusion that their non violent struggle, the loss of their prominent sons and the destruction of their environment has yielded almost nothing in return(p.227) We must thank Father Kukah for his infinite belief in Nigeria. We must commend him for documenting his experience for posterity. Given the cul de sac we seem to have found ourselves on the Ogoni restoration project, one can only hope that the incoming administration will do justice to UNEPs report and recommendations and address the problem beyond the Ogoni situation to include the plight of all disadvantaged communities in Nigeria. The alternative is better imagined and the incidence of oil theft in the Niger Delta is but evidence of the people resorting to self help a situation which will leave the Nigerian states economic security significantly threatened. This book is highly recommended and should be compulsory reading for all development practitioners, conflict resolution specialists, politicians and the general readers. I thank you for listening. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Osinachi Nwachukwu, Elizabeth Ochanya and Iniobong Umoren have one thing in common. They were among the over 600 Nigerian victims of gender-based violence (GBV) who died under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, according to the government-owned dashboard Report GBV. One of Mr Buharis campaign promises during the 2015 elections, and reiterated 100 days after he assumed office, was that he would ensure the rights of women are protected as enshrined in our constitution. For instance, the Nigerian constitution, in sections 17(1) and (2) (a), recognises womens equal rights; equality of rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law. Section 43 also recognises the right to acquire property and guarantees every citizen the right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in the country. This protects women against cultural beliefs that deny them the right to own land. After he was reelected in 2019, Mr Buhari assured of his administrations determination to fight gender-based violence through the instrumentality of the law and awareness creation. Has he fulfilled his promises, and do his words match his actions? Lets examine his performance in quelling GBV in Nigeria. Worrying GBV statistics President Buhari has spoken out several times, condemning violence against women and girls. In 2015, during his campaign, he promised that, if elected, his administration would have zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. In 2016, at a book presentation titled 8 Evils of Human Trafficking, he called for better legislation to protect women and girls. He reiterated the call in 2019 after a BBC documentary exposed sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, but this time calling for stricter laws. In 2020, at the United Nations Initiative town hall on sexual and gender-based violence, he urged men and boys to help achieve the goal of creating a society that is free from domestic violence, rape and all other forms of violence against women and girls. In 2021, in commemoration of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), he promised to continue supporting women in any programme to end GBV. In the same year, he requested a global treaty to end violence against women and girls at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. A review of GBV incidences sheds light on how Nigerian womens and girls situations have changed during his presidency. Between 2013 and 2018, findings from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), the latter half of which falls under Mr Buharis tenure which began in 2015, revealed that incidences of spousal physical, sexual, or emotional violence grew from 25 per cent to 36 per cent, with spousal violence being the most prevalent. Also from the DHS data, instances of sexual violence against women from ages 15 to 49 increased from 36.9 per cent to 44.9 per cent. This fuelled lamentations from different quarters, such as a coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of #StateofEmergencyGBV Movement and the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN). They decried the rising GBV cases as more Nigerians suffer or survive multiple forms of violence ranging from deprivation to sexual violence, physical assault, emotional abuse, cyber-attacks, female genital mutilation, and child marriage. FOMWAN engaged in situation analysis across the target states and realised that these practices are so rampant, primarily in rural communities. There are long-standing customs and traditions of these practices. This is why FOMWAN is coming in to build the CSOs capacity, the National Programmes Coordinator of FOMWAN, Asiya Rodrigo, said at a training for CSOs on GBV in 2022 in the Northwest state of Kano. More recently, in October 2022, 17 million Nigerian women were reported to have experienced gender-based violence. According to statistics from the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), one in three Nigerian women has experienced physical or sexual violence, as Derby Ifeanyichukwu Collins-Kalu, a senior programme officer in charge of gender-based violence (GBV) at the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), explained. Also, in 2022 alone, at least 401 Nigerian women died due to GBV, as stated by the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen. She did not indicate which form of GBV caused the most deaths. Failed bills, unimplemented policies to protect women, girls Since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999, Mr Buharis administration has not been the first to pledge to protect the rights of women and girls. But while his tenure helped improve the adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Child Rights Act (CRA) in states, other bills introduced at the National Assembly during his time to cater for their welfare were relegated. In March 2016, the Gender and Equal Opportunities (GEO) bill, which sought to grant equal rights to women, the right to freedom from violence, and end gender discrimination, was vehemently shut down by some senators who claimed it conflicted with Sharia law, a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. In September of the same year, the bill was reworked and presented again to the Senate to address the previous points of contention. It passed the second reading, but no public hearing was conducted until the tenure of the assembly ended in May 2019. Biodun Olujimi, the senator who sponsored the bill, reintroduced it in November of the same year, but it still suffered a setback after some senators raised concerns that it infringed on Islamic morals. At no point did the president intervene in the issue. Kemi Okenyodo, a lawyer who serves as the executive director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, said that President Buhari, in his capacity, could have played a role in securing the passage of the bill. While the president cannot directly enact legislation as that power lies with the National Assembly, he could have exerted influence and advocated for the bills passage. As a new government emerges, the president-elect can also work with the stakeholders interested in the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill reintroduced and passed by the National Assembly, she explained. March 1, 2022, presented another opportunity for federal lawmakers to show their support for Nigerian women and girls and pass five gender bills proposed in the constitution review process at the federal parliament. Yet, they were rejected because the male legislators could not be convinced of their relevance, according to Ms Olujimi. The men were just set on what they wanted to do. It was tough; only a few of them supported us, and God knows why because most of them have very special daughters, daughters who have done very well; daughters who have made them proud and have grown in the system. Yet, they couldnt vote for the simplest thingtheir futurebecause the future is in the woman, she said. This led to a massive outcry from womens groups, who besieged the gates of the National Assembly complex the following day. On the positive side, the federal legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives under Mr Buharis tenure passed the Sexual Harassment Bill, which was introduced to prevent, prohibit, and redress sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions. This was after an initial rejection by the House of Representatives because they wanted the bill to include other spheres of society like the workplace, and religious institutions, among others, along with academic institutions. However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Babajide Omoworare, explained to PREMIUM TIMES that the bill has not been sent to the president for assent and is stalled at the federal parliament following different versions passed in the Senate and House of Representatives. They set up a conference committee to look into the differences. They will report back very soon. That is when it will now go to the president, he said. In the heat of the pandemic, the Nigerian government inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on Eradication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in response to the worsening cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the country arising from the pandemic and lockdown measures as stated by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Part of the mandate of the committee, according to Mr Malami, was to review all the existing laws and policy instruments touching on offences of rape, child defilement, and gender-based violence. It was also tasked with developing, for adoption, a national prevention of sexual abuse/violence strategy for the period of 20212025 that identifies and encapsulates measures to enhance response to rape and gender-based violence, and sets new targets for prevention, intervention, and treatment. However, existing GBV laws and policy documents have not been reviewed, and the strategic plan to prevent sexual abuse has not been developed as indicated in the mandate. Even the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, faulted the committees level of implementation of the task assigned to it. As a result of this entire advocacy, the NGF declared a state of emergency against GBV on June 10, 2020. He, President Muhammadu Buhari, supported the calls for urgent action through the establishment of an inter-ministerial Presidential Task Force on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, which is yet to be fully implemented, she said. Mrs Buhari has a foundation, Future Assured, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of women and children through advocacy, community mobilisation and health promotion. A search through the social media accounts of this foundation showed that Mrs Buhari mostly helps Nigerian women and children with economic empowerment and medical care and only advocates against GBV. More state domestication of GBV laws, slow implementation Prominent laws to protect Nigerian women and girls from gendered violence, like the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 and the Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003, although not introduced by President Buhari, got adopted in more states during his tenure; with the help of the Nigerian Governors Wives Forum, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and other development partners within the sector. With the coming of Buharis regime, the Ministry of Women Affairs stepped up their game by ensuring that more states domesticate the act, which has helped. They have what we call VAPP committees, which are made up of women-led civil society organisations to advocate and mount pressure on the different states, Mabel Ade, a GBV advocate, disclosed to PREMIUM TIMES. Likewise, Mr Buhari canvassed for them to be domesticated in the 36 states while celebrating 2022s National Childrens Day. The VAPP Act seeks to prohibit all forms of violence against persons, including women and girls, in private and public life and provides maximum protection, effective remedies for victims, and punishment of offenders. Prior to the Act, only women could be raped in the eyes of the law because rape was defined as vaginal penetration according to the definition in Section 357 of the Criminal Code Act. However, this law is the first to acknowledge that men can be raped too. The definition of rape in the Act is if he or she intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus, or mouth of another person with any other part of his or her body or anything else It is also the first law to define instruments of rape as more than just a penis; it recognises other parts of the body like a hand or objects like pens and pencils. Under Mr Buharis tenure, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, said the government got all 36 states and the FCT to domesticate the VAPP Act as of 18 January 2023. The CRA is the law that guarantees the rights and responsibilities of all children in Nigeria. It specifies the duties and obligations of the government, parents, and other authorities, organisations and bodies. The Child Rights Act protects girls from being married until the age of 18. The provisions prohibit the use of corporal punishment for children. The minister also mentioned that 32 out of the countrys 36 states have domesticated the CRA. The remaining states that are yet to adopt the Act are all in the northern region of Nigeria, where child marriage is prevalent. However, different provisions were domesticated, particularly with the CRA, according to Mrs Ade, the GBV advocate and founder of the Adinya Arise Foundation, which provides a range of interventions for women. She indicated that nine states in the Northeast and Northwest like Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kebbi, and Katsina, had either pegged the age of consent at 14 years or were silent about it to perpetuate child marriage. The age of consent has been a headache for us in the field. Because without the legal framework and backing, as a lawyer, what can you use to defend your client? If there are gaps in the law, what can you do? she quizzed. While different versions of the same law allow more tailored approaches to addressing GBV, taking into account local contexts and challenges, it can also lead to confusion, particularly for law enforcement agencies, victims, and service providers operating across state borders, said Mrs Okenyodo. During the Buhari administration, the government established family courts in 17 states, which Mrs Tallen said was based on the provisions of the Child Rights Act. These specialised courts were created to adjudicate SGBV matters. However, Mrs Ade, who is also a GBV first responder, noted that the family courts are underfunded and overwhelmed with many cases. A family court can function when you have the police bring a forensic report and carry out investigations promptly. When there is no funding, how do you talk about its effectiveness and functionality? With the number of cases on a daily basis, they dont have the ability to handle them because the basic prerequisite for handling such cases is not there. We have a volume of cases that have not received any attention, she explained. Also during Mr Buharis time in office, two states Ekiti and Lagos joined their counterparts to either pass or assent to their versions of the acts. To complement these laws, states like Lagos introduced a Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and launched a 24/7 helpline, code, and mobile application for GBV, and they recorded a spike with 4,860 domestic violence and child abuse cases between 2021 and 2022. Ekiti State introduced psychiatrist tests and a register for sex offenders, issued grants to former Female Genital Mutilation practitioners to discourage them from the practice, opened a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and plans to establish gender courts as a means to end GBV. The states SARC recorded 139 cases in one year of its establishment, and female lawyers bemoaned the rise in GBV cases, which they noted is caused by unabated impunity of perpetrators, cultural/religious beliefs, family/cultural influence, gender inequality, survivor stigma, and the culture of silence, among other factors. Despite being widely adopted by the majority of the states in Nigeria, the VAPP Act has not seen an increase in people being prosecuted, Mrs Ade told PREMIUM TIMES. Non-enforcement of the VAPP Act is caused by lack of political will. Because where there is political will, it is backed by funds and enforcement. This government is very insincere about many things. If a donor is supporting a centre that helps survivors and then the donors project ends, what stops the government from saying, lets put a budget here to continue? she said. Another factor, like a slow justice system. as stated by Mrs Tallen, on January 18 at a capacity building programme for designated judges handling SGBV proceedings, contributes to the stalled progress. Mrs Tallen noted that out of a total of 3,754 pending cases of SGBV, only 33 convictions were recorded as of 16 January 2023. She did not mention when this data was first computed. More positive changes Another success against GBV under Mr Buhari is that relevant ministries, departments, and agencies collaborated with civil society groups and international partners to introduce diverse initiatives focused on tackling the menace. The development partners did this to ease the implementation of their projects. The lack of central GBV data collection by the National Bureau of Statistics, NAPTIP, and the National Human Rights Commission has been identified by the United Nations as one of the shortcomings in fighting GBV in Nigeria, according to the United Nations and the First Lady Aisha Buhari. The UN indicated the need for centralised data collection and management of GBV through collaboration between the government, donors, and CSOs following the rise in GBV amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Buhari government addressed this gap by launching the National GBV Data Situation Room and Dashboard by the Ministry of Women Affairs in November 2020 to have a platform, Report GBV, that collates the unified data of violence against Nigerian women and girls, since 2019, from CSOs, NGOs working in the GBV sector, and GBV desk offices of security agencies across the country through monthly submissions to the ministry on the dashboard. On the platform, 15,299 cases have been recorded, and 674 people have died from GBV. There are 825 closed cases, 4729 open cases and 33 convicted perpetrators as of 24 April 2023. This initiative was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union-United Nations Spotlight Initiative. Similarly, in 2021, with support from the British Council and European Union, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) introduced the Nigeria Sexual Offender and Service Provider Database (NSOD), a sexual offender register, and a service provider register, and as of 24 April 2023, the following numbers were recorded: 1,189 total cases, 232 convicted, 546 in court and 187 under investigation. The data are gotten from governmental, non-government, faith-based, voluntary, and charitable associations/ institutions, or individuals providing shelter, homes, counselling, legal, financial, vocational, educational, psychosocial, medical, or other assistance to victims and survivors of all forms of domestic and sex-related violence and entered into a dashboard on the website. While Mrs Ade, the gender advocate, commends the existence of the sex offenders register and database for GBV, she also advises that they be made more visible by putting them in the media and public places. How many people go on the website to check? You dont know who raped who until you check. If its in the media or posted as you are entering the motor park or at the airport, it would deter others and caution people who have such tendencies. Nobody wants to be associated with something like that, she explained. Furthermore, the Nigerian government also established family courts in 17 states in May 2022, to ensure the safety and protection of children. It also established designated special courts for SGBV cases in the Federal Capital Territory, and four judges were assigned to handle them. However, family courts were not created in the remaining 14 states because it depends on the state government to introduce them. Mrs Ade, who did research into this, noted that the state governments did not implement the initiative because they lacked funds to sustain it, while some that are existing are non-functional. Through collaborative efforts between the Nigerian government and international bodies like the UNFPA, UN Women recorded successes like behavioural changes in FGM practitioners in Ekiti and Imo states through constant sensitisation and the creation of surveillance groups, mostly locals, to serve as watchdogs for perpetrators. Similar strategies help survivors in Sokoto and Lagos states speak more, report cases, and get help, but a lot more work still needs to be done. Now, the onus lies on the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, to implement his manifesto and plans to tackle the prevalence of GBV in the country. This report was supported by the Africa Women Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and with the sponsorship of the Ford Foundation Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu as a candidate in the last presidential election. The suit, which alleged the inappropriate nomination of Mr Tinubus running mate for the February 2023 presidential election, Kashim Shettima, impliedly sought to stop the president-elect from being sworn in as president on 29 May. A five-person panel led by Inyang Okoro dismissed the suit unanimously on Friday. Adamu Jauro, a member of the panel who delivered the lead judgement, held that the PDP lacked the legal right to file a suit on an internal affair of APC. It should be noted that no political party can challenge the nomination of another political party. A political party lacks the right to challenge the activities of INEC on account of the nomination of another political partys candidate. No court has the jurisdiction to entertain such a suit by another party, the court held. The court said PDP failed to show any harm it suffered because of Mr Shettimas alleged double nomination. Agreeing with the Court of Appeals earlier judgement dismissing the suit, Mr Jauro said, I am in complete agreement with the Appeal Court that the PDP lacks the right to file this suit. The appellant was unable to point to where the lower court determined the substantive issues on its merit. It is clear that the suit is statute-barred. Hence this court has no power to delve into the merit of the merit of the suit. The judge added: It is frivolous and bound to fail fraught with manifest malady. It has been a waste of precious time and judicial energy. Counsel should do better to advise their clients to desist from suit frivolous matters. The appeal is grossly lacking in merit and it is hereby dismissed. The court awarded the cost of N2 million against PDP and in favour of the respondents The judgement came three days ahead of the inauguration of Mr Tinubu as Nigerias president. Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday conferred Nigerias highest national honour, GCFR, on Mr Tinubu preparatory to the president-elects inauguration on 29 May. The second highest national honour, GCON, was also conferred on Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima. Background The PDPs suit predated the February 2023 presidential election. The case differs from the election petition case that the party filed at the presidential election court in the aftermath of the February election to challenge Mr Tinubus victory. The party filed the suit challenging the Tinubu/Shettima candidature suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 28 July 2022. Mr Shettima was already the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Borno Central Senatorial District at the time of his nomination as the partys vice-presidential candidate last year. PDP said he had yet to withdraw his senatorial candidature as of the time his party nominated him as its vice-presidential candidate. READ ALSO: The opposition party argued that such double nominations of a person for elections to different constituencies in an election cycle breached the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1) (2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022. The breach, according to the plaintiff, invalidated the APCs presidential ticket. PDP, therefore, sought an order disqualifying APC and its candidates Messrs Tinubu and Shettima from participating in the 2023 presidential election. But delivering judgement on 13 January, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, dismissed the case on the grounds that PDP lacked the legal right to enquire into what he described as an internal affair of the APC. Mr Ekwo added that the suit was caught by the principle of estoppel, saying the issue of Mr Shettimas nomination as Mr Tinubus running mate was earlier decided by another court of competent jurisdiction. The judge held that the suit was an abuse of the court process and, as such, deserved to be dismissed. Displeased with the judgement, PDP appealed against it at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. But the appellate court dismissed the appeal in its verdict on 25 March, exactly one month after the presidential election won by Mr Tinubu and his party were declared to have won. A three-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal affirmed the Federal High Courts decision. In the lead judgement delivered by James Abunduga, the appellate court described the PDP as a meddlesome interloper for dabbling into the affairs of the APC. The PDP further appealed to the Supreme Court. A five-person panel of the court led by Inyang Okoro heard the appeal on Monday and fixed it today (Friday) for judgement. At the hearing, the PDP, through its lawyer, Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged Supreme Court to set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal on the matter and grant his clients prayer for cancellation of Counsel for Tinubu and the APC, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, sought the dismissal of the suit on the premise that it was bereft of any merit. Besides, the respondents contended that the matter had become status barred in view of the expiration of the period allowed for the hearing and determination of such a pre-election case. On its part, INEC, through its lawyer, Adebiyi Adetosoye, said it supported Mr Tinubu and APCs demand for the appeal to be dismissed with substantial cost. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. At the Leadwood Board of Alderman meeting Monday, citizens made their voices heard regarding their towns almost-empty police department. Aldermen also reviewed the issue of livestock within city limits, and considered the possibility of Leadwood becoming a Purple Heart City. The primary concern raised by citizens was the need for a police presence in Leadwood. Currently, the city relies on only two reserve police officers who visit infrequently. Several citizens voiced their concerns about what they said was rampant disregard for the citys laws, including speeding, ignoring stop signs, and car theft. In response, city officials outlined a plan to hire at least one full-time officer, many stating that all of their applicants previously have not met the qualifications or reference standards. Several on the council expressed hope for expanding the force further when at least one full time officer is hired. During the meeting, the aldermen approved a business license for Safeguard Security, a Farmington company which, while not technically a police force, can provide security services to protect city property and act as a deterrent to crime. Mayor Robert Crump emphasized the importance of restoring law and order to Leadwood, and said, "Leadwood has such a cloud over the top of it, and it is going to take some time to get things back to normal. It is priority number one for me to get the police back together and bring some law to the town." Addressing a similar issue, the council deliberated on a local residence with potential violations of city ordinances. The discussion centered on whether the property adhered to the mandated distance of 200 feet between livestock animals and neighboring houses. When asked further about the issue, one couple in the audience indicated that the residents of the dwelling in question perceived the livestock animals as service or therapy animals. The aldermen briefly elaborated on what is legally considered a service or therapy animal, before Crump acknowledged the violation and assured citizens he had plans to rectify the situation. Attendees also expressed concerns about the property operating a business without the requisite license after multiple Facebook posts were made advertising the residence as an animal farm. In a positive development for the community, the Leadwood Community Betterment Association announced that recent successful fundraisers had generated enough funds to construct new playground equipment. The planned additions include a jungle gym and a set of seesaws to be installed within the next few months. The meeting also saw the proposal to designate Leadwood as a Purple Heart City, brought forward by a founding member of the Our American Hero Foundation (OAHF). This foundation, established in 2015, offers local scholarships to students from the West County School District. To achieve this recognition, Leadwood's mayor or the city itself would need to make a proclamation acknowledging the city's veterans, particularly those wounded in combat. The Military Order of The Purple Heart, Chapter 104 out of Fort Lauderdale, would then accept the proclamation. The OAHF representative pledged to fund the installation of three signs throughout the city, commemorating Leadwood as a Purple Heart City. The council unanimously passed a motion to proceed with the plan, and a ceremony is scheduled for October to honor the city's veterans. The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, awarded N17 million against three applicants and their lawyer in a suit seeking to stop the swearing-in of Bola Tinubu on 29 May. Delivering judgement, James Omotosho described the suit as frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court processes. This followed oral applications by counsel for Mr Tinubu, Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the APCs lawyer, Abdulganiyu Arobo, who urged the court to dismiss the suit for being unconstitutional. In agreement with the lawyers, Mr Omotosho held that the applicants, neither candidates nor members of a political party in the election that produced Mr Tinubu as president-elect, lacked locus standi, legal right, to institute the matter. He further held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter being a post-election matter that should have been filed at the Presidential Election Petition Court. The judge, punitively, ordered the applicants to pay N10 million to Mr Tinubu and N5 million to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court also ordered the applicants lawyer, Daniel Elombah, to pay N1 million each to Mr Tinubu and APC for filing a vexatious suit. Mr Omotosho ruled that the applicants and the lawyer must pay 10 per cent per annum on the sum until the fines were completely paid off. Earlier on Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja awarded a whopping N40 million fine against a candidate, Ambrose Owuru, in the 2019 presidential election for filing a strange suit in which he prayed to be sworn in as president instead of Mr Tinubu. The Supreme Court earlier on Friday awarded N2 million cost against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after dismissing a suit seeking the disqualification of Mr Tinubu and his running mate in the 25 February presidential election. The suit, filed last year, impliedly sought to stop Mr Tinubus inauguration on Monday. Mr Tinubus victory at the 25 presidential elections had triggered a chain of suits, including three pending before the Presidential Election Petition Court. Suit The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case that the Federal High Court ruled on Friday was filed by three applicants Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Paul Isaac Audu and Anongu Moses. They had filed the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/657/2023 through their lawyer, Daniel Elombah. In the suit, they sued the president of Nigeria, Mr Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Director-General of the State Security Services (SSS). Others are the Inspector-General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the motion dated 18 May and filed 22 May, the applicants sought an order of interim injunction restraining Mr Tinubu from being sworn in as Nigerias president pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. In a 10-ground argument attached to the motion, the applicants said that the APC candidate contested the last presidential election and was declared to have won the poll by INEC. They said though Mr Tinubu was billed to be sworn in as president on May 29, they said they had uncovered that Mr Tinubu failed to declare his alleged Guinean citizenship alongside his Nigerian citizenship in the affidavit he deposed to in INECs Form EC9. By this, the applicants argued Mr Tinubu committed an offence of perjury, among others, which disqualified him from running for president. Mr Omotosho had, on Tuesday, ordered Oliver Eya, who moved the motion on behalf of Mr Elombah, to address the court on whether the court had jurisdiction to hear the suit, locus standi of the applicants and the legal right they sought to protect. The judge then fixed today (Friday) for the ruling. Hearing When the matter was called for ruling, Mr Omotosho said the applicants had no legal right to file the suit. He also held that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case and that any decision reached would have amounted to a nullity. The subject of jurisdiction is a serious one, and indeed it is the life wire of any proceeding. A court that adjudicates on a matter it has no jurisdiction would have wasted its time, that of the litigants, the court staff and indeed material, human and financial resources. This court is mindful of how precious its time is and would not want to waste such time on a matter it clearly lacks jurisdiction over. The applicants have no locus standi to bring this application neither is the subject matter within the jurisdiction of this court. I, therefore, hold that any suit challenging the qualification, disqualification or inauguration of the President-elect and Vice President-elect by any High Court or Federal High Court is unconstitutional, ultra vires and vexatious as it is the Court of Appeal that has original jurisdiction according to Section 239 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. In particular, this suit is vexatious, frivolous and ought not to be filed as it is an abuse of court process. I take judicial notice that the Court of Appeal is already hearing the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and as such, suits seeking to stop the inauguration of a President-elect and Vice President-elect are to be filed at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as the proper venue. I must comment on the attitude of lawyers filing these sorts of suits as these suits are capable of destabilising the democracy of this country. Counsel who are supposed to be ministers in the temple of justice are filing frivolous suits challenging the qualification or inauguration of the President-elect in High Courts few days to inauguration of the President-elect. To the mind of this court, learned counsel are violating the Rules of Professional Conduct by filing vexatious suits capable of heating the polity. Counsel are supposed to advise their clients about the consequences of filing these types of suits. Instead counsel go ahead to file these suits capable of dragging the name of the judiciary through the mud, he said. The judge said that a simple look at the constitution would have shown where the suit ought to have been filed, the capacity of the plaintiffs, and the time within which to file, same as the lawyer was aware even by the contents of the original process. He said the lawyer shirked these important details by filing this utterly vexatious, frivolous, abusive and embarrassing suit. This court will not allow itself to be used as an instrument of destabilisation, neither will it infringe on the constitutional jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal that has the original jurisdiction and already exercising the jurisdiction, he said. He said even if the plaintiffs had the legal right to file the suit, suits challenging the qualification or nomination of a candidate ought to be filed within 14 days of the occurrence of the event; hence the suit is statute barred. The judge, consequently, refused the application for an interim injunction restraining Tinubu from being sworn in as Nigerias president and dismissed the main suit wherein the applicants prayed for the nullification of Tinubus candidacy. After the ruling, Mr Fagbemi, who appeared for Tinubu, then prayed to the court for a cost of N30 million, describing the suit as an abuse of the court process. Corroborating Mr Fagbemis submission, Mr Arobo, who appeared for APC, asked for the cost of N20 million against the plaintiffs and another N20 million against their lawyer. He said this would caution lawyers and their clients from indulging in the condemnable act. The whole of this country will not know what my lord has done to save this nation. The trial court and Court of Appeal have determined this matter, he said. Mr Arobo said despite this, the counsel still went ahead. He said if the lawyer were sanctioned, it would cut down the excesses of some counsel. The first duty of a lawyer is to protect the sanctity of judicial process as a minister in the temple, he said. The judge, however, asked lawyers who brought protesters to the court. I heard they are saying Nigeria belongs to them and not to court. I want to advise that when you have surrendered yourselves to court, you should not be doing this. It can lead to anarchy. We hold a duty to keep this nation as one. They have the right to protest but not to come to court and be saying what they are saying, counsel, Mr Omotosho said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has pledged the 13 members-elect from Rivers State to Tajudeen Abbas, the anointed speakership candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)noting that he will not allow the repeat of the 2015 experience. Mr Wike, a governor under the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the pledge on Friday in Port Harcourt when Mr Abbas and the leadership of the Joint Task Group visited him as part of the ongoing campaign. He said he would be joining the campaign after leaving office as governor on Monday. He said he would help to avoid the repeat of 2015, where elements within the ruling party collaborated with the minority parties to elect the leadership of the National Assembly. I want to say here that I am with you fully. You know I do my things in the open. When (Kingsley) Chinda told me that you are coming here, I said there was no need because I am with you fully. All our members are with you, except one, who is doing something else. 2015 wont repeat itself. Let me tell you, Ill leave the office on Monday, and once I leave, we will start the campaign fully. I urge all of you to support Abbas. Dont support him in the day and do something else in the night. You should support him fully, he said. The Rivers State governor has rebelled against his party since the presidential primary, where he lost to Atiku Abubakar. Mr Wike, alongside some PDP governorsSamuel Ortom of Benue, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu Abia, and Ifeanyi Uguwanyi of Enugu State formed the G5 group that opposed Atiku Abubakar. Mr Wike has admitted on several occasions that he supported Mr Tinubu during the presidential election. He has repeatedly urged all aspirants in the race to support the zoning arrangement of the ruling party. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tinubu settled for Godswill Akpabio (South-south) and Barau Jibrin (North-west) for the senate president and deputy senate president, respectively. He also endorsed Tajudeen Abbas (North-west) and Ben Kalu (South-east) for speaker and deputy speaker, respectively. However, the party is facing the possibility of open rebellion where aggrieved members may align with lawmakers of the minority parties to pull an upset. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to give the incoming administration maximum cooperation ahead of the May 29 presidential inauguration. Mr Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, also expressed commitment towards a united Nigeria. The president was speaking on Friday at a public lecture and special Jummaat prayer held as part of activities to mark the 2023 presidential inauguration at the National Mosque, Abuja. Elections have come and gone; another set of leaders have been democratically elected to govern our dear country. It is our duty to give them all the necessary cooperation to enable them to deliver their plans towards transforming Nigeria into the country of our dreams, he said. The president said his administration had laid a solid foundation for infrastructural development in the country. A solid foundation has been laid in the past eight years for subsequent administrations to build upon, Mr Buhari said. He commended the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, for his support and cooperation throughout the administration. Also, speaking at the event, President-elect Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President-elect, Kashim Shetima, assured Nigerian women of increased representation in the presidency. There are certain positions that the President, in the new administration, will by the grace of God take, but in the fullness of time, Nigerians will come not only to appreciate but also to celebrate us. My sisters, it is assured that you will be well represented in the incoming administration. Not only represented, but you will be well compensated, Mr Tinubu said. He, however, told the gathering that the incoming administration would be mindful of the lessons and experiences of leadership. Whether we accept it or not., we are going to spend more years of our lives outside power than in power. So, by the grace of God, I assure you we will do justice to all Nigerians irrespective of religion or differences in political affiliations, tribal or sectional background, he said. Speaking earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the occasion urged all Nigerians to build a resilient and united front to ensure sustainable peace and harmony across the country. We should all work together to bring everybody to contribute positively to the development of this great country. We must also work towards strengthening our diversity to live peacefully with one another and coexist as one big family. The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the event also culminated in a two-rakaat special congregational prayers ahead of May 29 Presidential Inauguration. Dignitaries who attended the special prayers are Senate President Ahmed Lawal, Murshid of the National Mosque, Shehu Galadanci, Permanent Secretary of State House, Tijjani Umar and Etsu Nupe Yahaya Abubakar. Others are the wife of the Vice President-elect, Nana Shettima, and the Special Assistant to the President on the African First Ladies Peace Mission, Mairo Al-Makura, among others. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen have killed Victor Ijioma, the traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo, a community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias south-east. The hoodlums also killed the traditional prime minister of Mgbele, otherwise known as the Isama of Mgbele, another community in the same council area. The two victims were killed in separate attacks in different locations on Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. How they were killed Mr Ijioma, the traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo Community, was said to have been ambushed and killed at Umuamaka Junction in the neigbouring Izombe, another community in the council area. A resident of the area, Ignatius Ogbonna, told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers killed Mr Ijioma while he was inside his car. The attackers set the victims body ablaze alongside his car after killing him, according to sources from the community. The traditional prime minister, whose name could not be obtained as at the time of filing this report, was killed in Mgbele, his community. Sources from the two communities said a joint team of security operatives, comprising the police and the military, had begun combing surrounding bushes in search of the attackers. READ ALSO: When contacted on Friday morning, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the attacks and the killings to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Barde, has drafted a high-powered team of police officers to track down the gunmen in the area. Mr Barde commiserated with the families of Mr Ijioma and the slain prime minister, asking God to grant them the fortitude to bear the sudden losses, Mr Okoye said. Worsening Insecurity Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. Hundreds of people have been killed or injured in such attacks. The latest attack comes about six days after gunmen killed two police officers at Okpala Junction in Ulakwo, a community in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state. Last month, gunmen killed five police officers and a couple in the same community and council area. The Nigerian government has accused 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 Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State says he did not seek election to the Nigerian Senate because, as a professional in politics, he did not look at the next election but the next generation. Mr Emmanuel said he instead sought to be Nigerias president because he could rescue the country and put it back on track. The governor stated on Wednesday during an interview with Channels Television. I didnt seek to go to the Senate, I sought to be the President because I know I have the capacity to restore Nigeria, and thats why I wanted to be president. In every country on planet earth, the presidency is based on economic blueprints, and we can have the good economy; thats what the nation needs. I have what it takes to put this country back on track, Mr Emmanuel said. Mr Emmanuel, who is exiting office on Monday after eight years as governor, was one of the aspirants defeated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary in May last year. After losing the primaries, Mr Emmanuel was appointed the chairperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council. Speaking on the countrys current challenges, particularly the brain drain, Mr Emmanuel said it was multi-sectoral and beyond the power of a subnational. The governor said it has to be looked at holistically from the national level so as to build a strong economy to reverse it. Is not only affecting one sector, go to education, health, ICT. In our days when you are sent on exchange programme, all your salaries in Nigeria would still be there. You would be earning allowances there to keep you, so when you come back and accumulate the salaries, and then you should be able to buy a car. That was the attraction then. But now people are leaving for so many reasons, and I keep saying this, employees do not resign their jobs they resign their bosses they love the jobs, but what their bosses put in place for the job is what they dont like. The bosses, Mr Emmanuel, said in this case, are the federal, states and local government areas, including business firms. Contesting for president and picking form for senate violates Electoral Act Unlike other aspirants, particularly those in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who returned to contest for Senate after losing at the presidential primary, Mr Emmanuel did not. He said doing so would have been a violation of the law. I dont like violating the law I cant be running for President and at the same time, I go and collect form for Senate. I mean, thats a total violation of the Electoral Act, he said. Although the governor did not mention anybodys name in particular, several APC presidential aspirants, including his predecessor, Godswill Akpabio, after losing at the presidential primary, contested for Senate and won. Besides Mr Akpabio, others include Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State and Ben Ayade of Cross River States. Mr Emmanuel declined to comment when asked about his relationship with his former boss and predecessor in office, Mr Akpabio. If you observe me over the years on any interview, I dont discuss people and personalities, is a very wrong thing. I am not into that kind of politics, he replied. READ ALSO: Woman docked for allegedly accusing Gov Emmanuel of adultery Mr Emmanuel served as Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government under Mr Akpabios administration before resigning to contest the governorship election in 2015. He was Mr Akpabios preferred successor. The duo later fell out, and Mr Akpabio, in 2018, defected from the PDP to the ruling APC. Mr Akpabio is currently the Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North-west District and the choice of the APC for Senate President in the 10th National Assembly. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former presidential aspirant, Ibinabo Dokubo, has urged the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to appoint her as a minister in his incoming administration. Ms Dokubo, the first female presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said the appointment would serve as compensation for her withdrawal from the presidential race because of Mr Tinubu. Ms Dokubo spoke at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. She said she was qualified to be a minister because she had many ideas that would assist the incoming administration in developing the country. I dont only deserve to be a minister. I am qualified to be a minister as a youth and as a leader in the Rivers State APC. I have the capacity. I have something that I can bring to the table. I had so many plans while I was running for president. I deserve to be a minister. I am not saying I must become minister, but I must be part of the process. Either I will, or I will nominate. Asiwaju said his government is going to be a youth government. In all categories, I am qualified to be a minister, she added Ms Dokubo accused the outgoing Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, of lobbying the president-elect and the leadership of the APC for a ministerial position. I can see Nyesom Wike running around Asiwaju and APC. This is a party he once called a cancer party. Does Nyesom Wike want to be a cancer minister, she said. I declared before Asiwaju when he indicated his interest that he wanted to become the president; he stood a better chance of getting the ticket. I am still young, I still have more years ahead of me, so I withdrew my interest. 10th National Assembly The former presidential aspirant condemned the zoning arrangement of the APC for the sharing of leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly. She noted that the choice of the party for the senate presidency, Godswill Akpabio, is unfit for the position on the ground that he ran a one-man show while he was a minister of the Niger Delta. When I got the news, I was not happy. I know the party is supreme, but equity, fairness and justice are more supreme than the party. It is better for them to go and vote, she said. It was not nice. They endorsed Godswill Akpabio for senate president. He did well as the governor of Akwa Ibom. Akpabio did well as a minority leader. But as a minister of the Niger Delta, Akpabio did not do well. NDDC almost collapsed in the hands of Akpabio. For over two years, it was a one-man show; one man sat on the affairs of NDDC. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has declared his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) ahead of his inauguration as governor on 29 May. Mr Mbah, elected governor of the state on 18 March, submitted his asset declaration forms at the South-east Zonal office of the CCB on Friday in Enugu. The Federal Commissioner in charge of the South-east Zone of the CCB in the state, Benedict Umeano, received the forms. The governor-elect told reporters, shortly after submitting the forms, that the declaration of assets was important in the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance. As the chief executive, we are meant to uphold the law. It is also incumbent on us to act lawfully, and what we have simply done here today is in line with the new direction of my career, Mr Mbah, a lawyer, said. As you also know, I am now migrating from the corporate environment to the public sector; in the private sector, we have codes of corporate governance, and here in the public sector, we also have the Code of Conduct for the public servants. What we have simply done today is to comply with the requirements of the law by filling the forms as stipulated by law, he added. The governor-elect described the process of the asset declaration as seamless and expressed happiness for complying with the requirements of the law. My administration shall be upholding these requirements for all public officers. It is mandatory, and its not an option. As public servants, we are not left with any option but to fill out our CCB forms. We must abide by the provisions of the law, he stated. CCB speaks On his part, the CCB Commissioner in the state, Mr Umeano, commended the governor for leading by example by declaring his assets ahead of the inauguration. By the grace of God, by Monday, he (Mbah) will be the chief law officer of the state. By this submission, he has shown that he is going to lead by example, he said. READ ALSO: Code of Conduct Bureau invites Keyamo over petition against Atiku He has given a good example to the rest of the other politicians and even those who are going to be his functionaries that they have to comply with the rule of law. We commend him for this, Mr Umeano, a lawyer, said. What the law says Section 153 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution requires public officers to declare their assets to the CCB on the assumption of office and at the end of the service. Also, Section 3(c) of the Third Schedule of the constitution empowers the CCB to retain custody of the declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on terms and conditions prescribed by the National Assembly. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias incoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should ensure that human rights are central to all his policies both at home and abroad, Human Rights Watch said today in an agenda outlining key human rights priorities for the new administration. Human Rights Watch (HRW), in the agenda, urges the new administration to prioritize improvements in five key areas. They are: to promote civilian protection in conflict areas; respect and protect media freedom and the right to free expression; bolster the social safety net to tackle entrenched poverty and inequality; protect and promote the rights of internally displaced people; and to adopt a foreign policy that centers human rights. Tinubu is set to take the reins at a time of deep uncertainty about the nations affairs including worsening poverty and inequality, high levels of insecurity, and recurrent violations of civil and political rights, said Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. Once in office, the president-elect should focus on these critical issues and make efforts to reverse course on significant human rights backsliding. Mr Tinubu, who was declared winner of the February 2023 presidential elections, is to be inaugurated on May 29 for a four-year term. The elections were marred with irregularities including violence at the polls and an inability to upload election results from polling units in real time. The inauguration is taking place amid ongoing petitions challenging Timbus victory at the Court of Appeal, which functions as the presidential election tribunal. In his campaign manifesto, Mr Tinubu emphasized security of life and property as a top priority for his administration. He stated that part of his strategy to achieve this is to first pull most Nigerians out of poverty and provide the basic needs for a decent life and social justice for all, irrespective of region, tribe, and religion. Human Rights Watch urges President-elect Tinubu, once in office, to act on his campaign promises to tackle critical levels of insecurity, ensure civilian protection and accountability for rights abuses, protect Nigerians rights to freedom of expression, and prioritize efforts towards the realization of an adequate standard of living for all. The incoming administration should also support constitutional democracies, especially in West Africa, and stand up for fundamental rights and democratic freedoms in its foreign policy considerations. Nigeria has been failing to ensure economic and social rights for everyone, including the right to an adequate standard of living, Human Rights Watch said. According to Nigerias National Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 133 million people in the country live in multidimensional poverty, experiencing high levels of deprivation in areas including sanitation, health care, food, and housing. Inequality has also reached extreme levels as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen at an alarming rate. However, the country lacks a functioning social security system to protect against economic shocks and income insecurity throughout peoples lives, including during common life events such as old age, unemployment, sickness or giving birth, and caring for dependents. In the Northwest, gangs commonly called bandits carry out widespread killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and looting. In the Northeast, the conflict between the Islamist armed group Boko Haram, its breakaway factions, and the Nigerian security forces has killed an estimated 350,000 civilians and created a humanitarian crisis that includes the displacement of more than 2 million civilians within Nigeria and over 280,000 to Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. In the Southeast, anti-government groups apparently clamoring for secession kill and maim people to enforce their sit-at-home order requiring people to stay home, with the aim of shutting down all public places, including businesses and schools. Security forces responding to the insecurity and in other instances across the country are implicated in gross human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests, illegal detention, and extrajudicial killings. Security forces also use excessive force to suppress citizens rights to protest, while the authorities have repeatedly failed to hold officers responsible for abuses to account. Government actions also indicate significant regression on the right to free expression and media freedom. These include an eight-month ban on Twitter in 2021, efforts to introduce a social media bill aimed among other things at criminalizing government critics, arrests and detentions of critics and journalists, and sanctions on media outlets for critical reporting. Tinubu promised to address the cycle of violence, injustices, and endemic poverty that millions of Nigerians face every day, Ewing said. The incoming president should put his words into action by taking steps to improve human rights and ensuring that his administration shows the utmost regard for the rule of law and democratic principles. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, says about 70 per cent of senators and members of the House of Representatives were rejected in their constituencies during the last general election. Mr Lawan said this on Thursday during the commissioning of the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja. The institute was commissioned by President Muhammdu Buhari as part of the legacies of the 9th National Assembly. Mr Lawan, in his remarks at the ceremony, lamented the high number of current federal lawmakers who lost their reelection bids. He said one of the methods that will be used to check the negative effects of the high turnover rate is for the leadership of the National Assembly to organise capacity-building programmes for lawmakers in the 10th assembly. Also, for us in the 10th National Assembly, having suffered serious and massive casualties of not having or losing about 70 per cent of our senators and members of the house, it means we have to work hard on capacity building for the rest of us who will be new in the National Assembly. He urged members of the public and the lawmakers-elect to enrol into the National Institute for Legislative Studies for them to have legislative understanding. I am going to use the opportunity here today to urge you, sir that this is not for only National Assembly members needs; no, it is for all Nigerians and will be pleased to see people from the executive arm of government coming to take some lessons in NILDS because that will help in the understanding of what National Assembly or parliament does, he said. So, this is an apt time to have NILDS permanent site commissioned, and then NILDS will have to hit the ground running because there will be very many who will need the capacity building that will be offered by NILDS. Mr Lawan thanked President Buhari for supporting the 9th national assembly to achieve their goals. Lastly, Mr President, I cannot leave this place without emphasising what we have been able to achieve with us in the 9th National Assembly. You have a share here, probably about 49 per cent. Fifty-one per cent National Assembly and 49 per cent, the executive arm of government, he noted. Whatever we have done here is because you wanted us to do it, but also, Sir, whatever result we have been able to achieve, and we have achieved a lot, it was because this 9th National Assembly has always been there to give you the kind of support that we need to achieve what we have achieved and we have achieved so well. Parliament-friendly The Senate President described Mr Buhari as the most parliament-friendly president since the beginning of the fourth republic. A few days ago, maybe a week, I started a case of you being the most friendly president or, let me say, the most parliament-friendly president since the beginning of the fourth republic. I am not saying other presidents are not friendly, they were, but to varying degrees, yours is a total commitment to the legislature. He said President Buhari, throughout his eight years, did not interfere in the affairs of the National Assembly. You have never interfered in what we do. You have never even asked that we should do this; you always believe that the national assembly knows, especially this 9th national assembly knows its challenges and can perform, he said. But one thing that you have achieved that many past presidents havent is for you to using four years, 2019 till date, assent over 100 bills that we have passed, and most of them are not common bills, very strategic, critical and crucial bills that will change the lives of citizens, the economy, the oil and gas sector and so many others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A support group of Bola Tinubu, Nigerias president-elect, have arrived at the Supreme Court in Abuja ahead of Fridays judgement on a suit seeking Mr Tinubus disqualification as a presidential candidate and his scheduled swearing-in as president on 29 May. The group comprising young people gathered at the Bullet Junction near the Supreme Court. A Niger Delta ex-militant, Asari Dokubo, was seen among the group. Mr Dokubo who has been a vocal supporter of the president-elect, sat on a rock while the protesters were gyrating around him. The demonstrators carried placards declaring their support for Mr Tinubu. On Bola Tinubu mandate we stand, one of the placards read. Another read, May 29 is sacrosanct. Nigerians have voted. The suit before the court was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to disqualify Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate in the 25 February election over the alleged inappropriate nomination of his running mate, Kashim Shettima. The party has similarly raised the issue in its petition pending at the presidential election court to challenge Mr Tinubus victory at the poll. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Missouri families who were promised emergency pandemic grocery funds last summer are still waiting even as another summer is beginning. For more than six months, families have been raising alarm about the delayed benefits owed to around 600,000 kids. There is, in Missouri, no clear end in sight. Pandemic EBT is a federal program administered by states. Last summer, it was designed to provide a one-time deposit of $391 per eligible child in grocery benefits to assist low-income families. The benefits, like the regular federal food stamps program, could be used like a debit card, called electronic benefit transfer, to purchase eligible food. The extra benefits could easily double the amount a low-income family receives in standard food assistance. The average amount of benefits per Missouri household on food stamps, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, was just under $400 in March. A family with three eligible kids is waiting for over $1,000 in grocery aid from the state. One mother has been checking her childrens accounts every morning for months to see whether the money has arrived. The education department has told The Independent benefits are on the horizon, or that there is no timeline, for months. In October the education department said it expected the benefits to be distributed by the end of 2022. In February, a spokeswoman for the department said we dont have a set timeline but expected benefits to be doled out in the coming weeks. We continue working with [the Department of Social Services] to get the summer benefits processed but we do not have an exact date at this time, an official with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which administers the benefit, wrote this week in an email to one mother who provided the correspondence to The Independent. This week, the department issued a statement to The Independent saying Teams are in the final stages of testing data files so that [the Department of Social Services] system can administer the summer benefits. The agency did not provide a timeline. Children who qualified for subsidized school lunches in the 2021-2022 academic year are eligible, along with children under 6 who qualify for the federal food assistance program SNAP. The state estimated 454,000 schoolchildren and nearly 158,000 children under age 6 qualify for the benefit. Many states had trouble getting the benefits out in time for last summer due in part to the challenges of operating an emergency program with shifting federal guidelines each year, that requires interagency collaboration between social services departments and education departments. But Missouri appears to be among few (if any other) states with approved summer 2022 P-EBT plans that have not yet begun dispersing benefits. In each of the eight states bordering Missouri, benefits were already distributed for summer Pandemic EBT by earlier this year. Oklahoma began issuing the benefits last July. Missouris plan for distributing the aid was approved by the federal government in late October, after all but five other states had been approved, and many states had finished issuing benefits. Oregon and Georgia had their plans approved in late October, like Missouri. But unlike Missouri, Georgia began dispersing the benefits in December; Oregon began in March. Two states: South Dakota and Alaska, did not have approved plans at all. One of the main hurdles to getting the benefits out sooner, officials have said, was that the state needed a new data collection portal to track students COVID-related absences, for the school-year benefits. Pandemic EBT includes a more narrowly-targeted benefit for school year 2021-2022 for children who had COVID-related absences which the state said it needed to administer before the summer benefits and involves more complicated data collection on the part of schools. Mallory McGowin, a spokesperson from the education department said they had begun issuing the school year benefits beginning in February, and now that school year benefits have mostly been administered (there is some data clean-up still taking place), teams at DESE and DSS have moved on to the summer benefit program. McGowin said they believe they will work with year-round school staff to address any potential challenges with data. One mother still waiting on the benefits is Jennifer Sheils, whose desperation has grown as the months of waiting ticked by. Where are the funds that were made available? It is almost the Summer of 2023, she wrote in a recent email to the state. What is going on?? The federal government of Nigeria has unveiled the controversial national carrier, Nigeria Air, less than three days before the inauguration of a new administration. The national carrier aircraft was unveiled by the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport premises in Abuja on Friday. When we came in 2015, we knew what to do. We commissioned consultants to give us a brief of what the sector would be, the minister said while addressing journalists at the airport. He said the airline was an investment between entrepreneurs in Nigeria and an Ethiopian consortium. The minister had hinted in March that the national carrier would commence operation before the swearing-in of a new administration on 29 May. Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly, Mr Sirika said. National Carrier Nigeria Air, the nations proposed national carrier, was unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show in England on 18 July 2018. The project was suspended two months after being announced as critics raised concerns over its relevance and sustainability. The proposed airline was expected to gulp $8.8 million in preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost. The national carrier idea was raised many years after Nigerias defunct carrier, Nigeria Airways, collapsed due to corruption and poor management. READ ALSO: Aviation minister insists Nigerian Air will commence operation before May 29 Last July, the Federal Executive Council approved the leasing of three aircraft to enable the airline to commence operations. In September last year, Mr Sirika said at a press briefing in Abuja that Ethiopian Airlines emerged as a core investor in Nigeria Air with a 49 per cent shareholding. This led to the suit filed by local airline operators, who say they can manage Nigerian Air better than a foreign airline. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Coalition of Registered Political Parties in Ogun State has cautioned the Nigeria Police Force against being used as an instrument to disrupt democracy in the State. The group accused the police of being used by Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate other parties and their candidates. The press conference was reacting to an exclusive story by PREMIUM TIMES on how a police report indicted the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, for money laundering and vote-buying, during the 18th March governorship election. In the report submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and INEC, the police said Mr Adebutu deployed two billion naira to buy votes through preloaded 200,000d ATM cards. But, addressing journalists in Abeokuta on Friday, the coalition called on the police to be independent in discharging their duties. Speaking on behalf of the group, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tony Ojeshina, advised Mr Abiodun and the APC to focus on the cases before the election petition tribunal rather than engaging in cheap propaganda, media bullying and trial, rumour peddling and name calling. Mr Ojeshina spoke alongside representatives of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT party), Labour Party (LP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Action Congress (AAC), All Peoples Party (APP) and National Rescue Movement (NRM). We want to urge the Nigeria Police Force not to allow themselves to be used as an instrument of cohesion and intimidation by Prince Dapo Abiodun with his expected numbered days as the Governor of Ogun State. We are advising Prince Abiodun to honourably find ways to defend the hard evidence against him and his party rather than engaging in cheap propaganda, media bullying and trial, rumour peddling and name calling of a man whose mandate he wants to dubiously steal. READ ALSO: Why APC lost Osun governorship election Former deputy governor Since the time the petition was filed at the tribunal, Dapo Abiodun and his party have made frantic efforts to ensure that our candidate did not proceed with the tribunal and has failed in their several attempts to suppress Hon. Adebutus bid to recover the mandate of the good people of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and his party have now resorted to engaging in media trial, blackmailing, name calling and rumour peddling against our candidate. We are not unaware of the antics of Abiodun and his party APCs deliberate effort to sway public attention away from his many unforgivable transgressions in the electoral process and also to cause a distraction for the tribunal through his consistent media trial and rumour peddling against our candidate, Adebutu, Mr Ojeshina said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday led President-elect Bola Tinubu on a familiarisation tour of the premises of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the president-elect had earlier joined Mr Buhari and other Muslim faithful to observe the two-rakaat Friday prayer at the Aso Rock mosque. NAN reports that Messrs Buhari and Tinubu inspected some departments that are key to the workings of the presidency, starting with the Council Chamber and exiting at the press gallery. The State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Lawal Kazaure, explained the functions of the various departments visited during the inspection tour. READ ALSO: Former female presidential aspirant demands ministerial appointment from Tinubu NAN observed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima on a similar familiarisation tour of the Vice Presidents office and departments on Thursday. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police, on Friday, held PREMIUM TIMES judiciary reporter Ameh Ejekwonyilo at their office at the Supreme Court in Abuja for about four hours for using his phone to film a scene on the court premises. Two of the police officers Peter Ekele and Mary Ogbome attached to the Supreme Court police station, seized Mr Ejekwonyilos phone and took him to their nearby office on the court premises. The police officers seized my mobile phone. They arrested me at about 11:35 am. I repeatedly asked for my offence, but they could not tell me any, Mr Ejekwonyilo narrated. It took the intervention of my editors, the Director of Information of the Supreme Court, Festus Akande, and the Police Public Relation Officer, Force Headquarters, Muyiwa Adejobi before they released me at about 3:30 p.m. Hours after his arrest, Mr Ejekwonyilo could not message his editors about his situation. He was later handed his phone for him to unlock with his PIN to enable the police officers to access the pictures and videos on the device at about 1.07 p.m. The journalist took advantage of the short time he was asked to unlock the phone to message his editors about his detention. His editors immediately called and sent messages to his phone to find out why he was detained, but got no answer. While the editors were figuring out the reason for Mr Ejekwonyilos arrest, one of his colleagues covering the judiciary who witnessed the arrest, called the journalists supervisor, Ade Adesomoju, Head, PREMIUM TIMES Judiciary, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Desk, to shed light on the situation. Pleas from members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) led by Kayode Lawal to the police were ignored as they continued to detain the journalist. The police continued to hold on to Mr Ejekwonyilo for more than two hours after Mr Adesomoju and another PREMIUM TIMES editor, Bisi Abidoye, arrived at the Supreme Court police station and engaged the Divisional Police Officer, Rakiya Gimba, in a lengthy discussion over the matter. Asked by the editors which law did the reporter break at different times, the police officers repeated the same refrain that Mr Ejekwonyilo tried to hide his phone when an officer demanded to know why he was filming the scene. Without citing any legal basis for the journalists arrest, they also said Mr Ejekwonyilo refused to film the earlier part of the scene when the woman being arrested allegedly slapped a police officer. The woman denied slapping any of the police officers. They insisted that Mr Ejekwonyilo must write a statement as part of their investigation process. Both the Supreme Courts Director of Information, Mr Akande, and Police PRO, Mr Adejobi, contacted by PREMIUM TIMES editors, intervened by calling the DPO. But they kept holding on to him and tutoring him on how he should have written the statement long after the officials called Ms Gimba. Mr Ejekwonyilo, who insisted he would not change his statement, was later granted bail on self-recognisance, and his mobile phone was returned to him. Genesis of reporters predicament Mr Ejekwonyilo was at the Supreme Court on Friday to cover the judgement on a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the president-elect, Bola Tinubu. After the proceedings, Mr Ejekwonyilo stumbled on the scene of a tussle between a police officer and a woman named Ruby Nyananyo, a partisan supporter, who was also at the court to witness the judgement. Three female police operatives, later identified as Amarachukwu Oluchukwu, Theresa Effiong and Elameyi Effah, were seen holding down Ms Nyananyo against the staircase railings outside the court complex. Ms Nyananyo clung onto a rail on the stairs of the Supreme Court entrance in a desperate bid while the angry police personnel pounced on her. After subduing Ms Nyananyo, the police officers bundled her into their waiting van and zoomed off. ALSO READ: IPC condemns threats to PREMIUM TIMES reporter This was the scene Mr Ejekwonyilo was capturing with his phone when the police accosted him. Ms Nyanamo, who denied slapping any police officer, would later tell Mr Ejekwonyilo, where they were both detained at the police office, that she was accosted by a policewoman when she attempted to enter the courtroom. The police officer who stopped me said I was not permitted to enter the court. As I tried to video the jubilant crowd, a policeman simply called Mr Johnson snatched my phone. I tried to recover my phone, then there was a scuffle, she said with bloodshot eyes. Police authorities have repeatedly said it was not a crime for citizens or journalists to film a public scene. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A journalist who works for a Katsina-based Hausa language television station, Tambari Hausa TV, Rukayya Aliyu Jibia has alleged that her life is in danger after an altercation with the police last week in Katsina. Ms Jibia, who was arrested for what the police described as seeking cheap popularity on Tiktok, but released later, said she was scared for her life. She said she was arrested for criticising the police public parade of four girls allegedly arrested for prostitution on her personal Tiktok account. A few days back, the Nigerian Police, Katsina State Command, paraded four suspects, young ladies between the ages of 19 to 23, claiming that they were into prostitution. Upon seeing that video, I recorded a Tik Tok video on my personal Tik Tok page, where I quoted a section in Nigerian Constitution which I suggested to the police that they should have taken the girls to the court until they are proven guilty before parading them to the press, she said. The journalist said after the video was published, the spokesperson of the police in the state, Gambo Isa, invited her to the palace of the emir of the town. I was on my way to the emirs palace when Gambo Isah and his boys came with four cars, blocked my way, they dragged me out of my car, and they broke my phone and I sustained injury as you can see, and they dragged me to the emirs palace where Gambo Isa told the emir that Im sabotaging their efforts in the state, she said. Ms Jibia said the emir ordered the police to remand her but when she was taken to court, the judge was not around. She was later taken to the police area commanders office and told to write a statement and asked to return the following day. I went there around 11:00 am (Thursday), and I was hoping that Ill be taken to court. Unfortunately, the area commander told me I would be taken to police headquartersI was so scared of what happened to me the other day. Gambo Isa assaulted me, so I ran for my life, she said. Why we arrested her- Police In his reaction, Mr Isa said the journalist was seeking cheap popularity through her Tiktok videos. He said that Miss Jibia has been using her Tiktok account since last year to attack the police activities in the state You may recall that sometime in 2022, the Katsina Police Command succeeded in busting a notorious syndicate of armed robbers leading to the arrest of their kingpin one a k.a. ABBA KALA and his team and the recovery of over 13 stolen motor vehicles. He was charged to court on 7 different F.I.Rs to High courts in Katsina, now in prison. But to our utter amazement Ruqayya came out, through her Tik Tok and attacked the police that Abba Kala was innocent and the police lied, he said. Mr Isa also debunked the allegation that police are trying to arrest her, saying she has been granted bail to a surety. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Requests for approvals are flooding the National Assembly, new loans are being taken and above all, publications are being launched on the great achievements of the Buhari government. The ongoing hysteria is best symbolised by the announcement from the Minister of Aviation..that today, 26th May, Air Nigeria will come into service as it flies into the country. Dont ask me why it should start service on the last working day of the administration; its all part of the frenzy of governance. There has been a frenzy of governance activities over the past three weeks as the Buhari administration abandoned his Baba go slow mode of operation and got into the lets work as if there is no tomorrow mode. Many new contracts are being signed daily. Ministries are getting restructured one week before the end of the administrations mandate. Requests for approvals are flooding the National Assembly, new loans are being taken and above all, publications are being launched on the great achievements of the Buhari government. The ongoing hysteria is best symbolised by the announcement from the Minister of Aviation, who is demolishing buildings, restructuring the ministry, sacking and appointing management staff, that today, 26th May, Air Nigeria will come into service as it flies into the country. Dont ask me why it should start service on the last working day of the administration; its all part of the frenzy of governance. I am one of those who remember that Minister Sirika told us in 2015 that the President had directed him to start a national carrier and it would be done immediately. As President Buhari finishes his tenure, which he says would be at the end of the working day on the 29th of May, all attention would now be on his legacy. Over the past eight years, my good friend IBB (Ibrahim Bida Buhari) has inundated our class mates WhatsApp group with tons of narratives on the great achievements of the maker of modern Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. IBB is a quantity surveyor and he accepts and propagates the numbers being reeled off on how the governments agricultural revolution has ended rice importation, created jobs for the youth, revolutionised infrastructure, etc. IBB has always challenged me to seek and see Presidents Buharis achievements and it is good to interact with people who see the other side of the argument. While I believe President Buhari does have some achievements, however the evidence I see tells me that it could have been so much more. As he departs from office, one important achievement is the significant gains over the past one year on security. Boko Haram, in particular, has been on the receiving end for months. On the 25th of November 2016, this column addressed the theme of: What happens to governance when the President wont govern. Our Constitution places the power of the executive in one person the president. At the same time, the Constitution, conscious of the fact that the president cannot execute the vast array of governmental processes alone, requires that ministers, advisers and heads of parastatals be appointed to help the president carry out the huge responsibility of executing government policies. At the beginning of the Buhari administration, there was a general expectation that he would hit the ground running. This was because he used the two months between his election and inauguration to consult extensively with his political allies. Having sought power for over a decade, it was assumed that he knew exactly what he wanted to do with it. In any case, he had exercised power previously and was fully aware of the job description of the president. For almost two years after coming into office, the president had no economic advisers. When he eventually appointed a team and they proposed a Plan the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), he refused to implement it on the grounds that the Central Bank Governor, a nice man called Emefiele, had been giving him trillions of naira through ways and means advances, as such he did not need to take any tough economic decisions, as proposed in the Plan. Buhari got inaugurated on 29 May, 2015 and then nothing happened for a long time. Well, he did request for Senate approval to appoint 15 special advisers, which he obtained on 3 June, 2015, just five days after his inauguration. 18 months after inauguration, he succeeded in appointing only five out of the fifteen that had been approved for him. Out of the five, he sent three to the vice president and one to the minister of Budget and National Planning. It took President Muhammadu Buhari five months after inauguration to appoint ministers. The heads of most government agencies were appointed over two years after his assumption of office. For almost two years after coming into office, the president had no economic advisers. When he eventually appointed a team and they proposed a Plan the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), he refused to implement it on the grounds that the Central Bank Governor, a nice man called Emefiele, had been giving him trillions of naira through ways and means advances, as such he did not need to take any tough economic decisions, as proposed in the Plan. Earlier this month, exactly three weeks to the end of his tenure, the president launched the Nigeria 2050 Plan. It promises to ensure that Nigeria attains a GDP per capita of $33,328 per annum, placing the country among the top middle-income economies in the world by 2050. According to World Bank data, Nigerias GDP per capita was only $2,065.7 in 2021. President Buhari said his plan has the vision of a dynamic, industrialised and knowledge-based economy that generates inclusive and sustainable development for the country. Excellent words. But his legacy would be Nigeria becoming the poverty capital of the world, not the Eldorado he is telling us would be produced by those who would come after him. Making numerous appointments just as you are leaving government on the other hand, is depriving the incoming administration of the opportunity to choose and appoint people in line with its policy intentions. As we await the flood of information on misgovernance under President Buhari in the coming months and years, the assessment of his legacy will start in earnest. The problem with governance is that if you do not make political appointments for your first two years in office, then civil servants take all the political decisions, including the most important one of NOT MAKING ANY DECISION. Sometimes, civil servants do not want to make decisions so that they do not get noticed or disturbed as they enjoy the perquisites of power, including the most harmful one of looting public funds. When, therefore, the president does not appoint people to govern, those at the head of governmental organisations create forms of governance linked to prolonging their temporary positions. Achieving the policy goals of the government cannot be their priority because their logic is that they are there for a short time until the president decides on who should do the job on a full-time basis. Making numerous appointments just as you are leaving government on the other hand, is depriving the incoming administration of the opportunity to choose and appoint people in line with its policy intentions. As we await the flood of information on misgovernance under President Buhari in the coming months and years, the assessment of his legacy will start in earnest. Meanwhile, I hope I can get an Air Nigeria ticket to Lagos on Tuesday and no one would tell me to go to Katsina and ask Oga Sirika. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Arla Foods, maker of Dano Milk, has inaugurated its state-of-the-art dairy farm in Kaduna as part of the companys efforts to ensure sustainable milk production in Nigeria. The farm located in Damau village, Kubau Local Government Area, Kaduna State, was inaugurated on Thursday, 25 May, 2023, by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, El-Rufai described the newly commissioned dairy farm as a significant milestone and game-changer for the dairy sector in Nigeria. He commended the management of Arla Foods for having faith and confidence in Nigeria and the Kaduna State Government. El-Rufai explained that the Arla Dairy Farm is another testament to the commitment of the Kaduna State Government to collaborating with private organisations and providing the enabling environment for businesses to set up and thrive in the state. He urged the incoming Governor of the State, Senator Sani Uba, to continue to support Arla and other companies with investments in the state for economic prosperity. The Arla Farm a state-of-the-art Danish designed dairy farm is the first of its kind in Nigeria and with it, Arla is creating the future of dairy in Nigeria. Designed to ensure optimum animal welfare and productivity, the Farm will be a showcase for sustainable milk production in Nigeria. It covers 400 hectares of land, with the capacity to house 400 milking cows and 1000 animals in total. Currently, the farm is home to 216 Danish Holstein cows, which arrived in May 2023 and are settling well into their new environment. In his welcome address, the Executive Vice President of Arla Foods International, Simon Stevens, described the completion of the farm as a massive achievement for Arla Foods in its journey in Nigeria and globally, noting that this success exemplifies the significance of solid partnership and the vast potential available in Nigeria. He disclosed that the project was conceived in line with the quest to achieve a number of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including 2, 8, 12 and 17. This milestone symbolises what can be achieved with strong partnerships. We can see how the contribution of the Kaduna State Government, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, NGOs, the farming community, and many more have helped to deliver a big project. Im happy that many of my colleagues are celebrating this joyous occasion in Lagos and at the global headquarters in Denmark. And when you look around at these facilities, I hope you are filled with pride as I am. Besides, this achievement symbolises the massive potential we see in Nigeria and the exciting journey this country is on. We have been part of this journey for quite some time, and we are extremely committed to continuing to play a part and contribute to the development of the dairy industry, Stevens said. He added that the farm, delivered at an investment cost of over 10 million Euros, would serve as a place of milk production and an epicentre of dairy farming knowledge. In his remark, Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Sune Krogstrup, noted that the project demonstrates Arla Foods commitment to boosting the local dairy segment of the agricultural value chain that would positively impact the economy of Kaduna State and contribute significantly to Nigerias GDP. Also speaking, the Head of Arla Foods West Africa, Mrs Anna Mansson, noted that the commissioning of the project is a culmination of a series of events that began with the signing of a lease agreement with the Kaduna State Government in 2021, resulting in the securing of farmland and followed by construction work. Mansson also noted that the state-of-the-art dairy farm is the first of its kind in Nigeria which is poised to define the future of dairy in Nigeria. Mansson noted that over 40 people would be directly employed at the farm, as this would serve as a means of livelihood to Nigerians, especially those within the Damau community of Kaduna state. She explained that the farm is expected to produce 1.6 million kg of milk in 2024, with a target of 4 million kg of milk annual production. In his goodwill message, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, noted that he is proud to be associated with such a massive investment as this would bring about economic transformation to the people of Kaduna State and beyond. I am happy to have witnessed many strategic investments in my domain over the last few years. This kind of investment Arla Farm, can only be found in other climes, but I am glad I am witnessing such in my reign.On this basis, I would like to say a big thank you to Arla Foods, and Kaduna State Governments management and staff for this investment, Bamalli said. In her remarks, the Managing Director of Kaduna Markets Management and Development Company, Tamar Nandul, stated that the agency is proud to be associated with Arla Foods and the value addition to Kaduna state investment. Nandul acknowledged that the farm is unarguably the most advanced single farm in Nigeria and noted that this project would go a long way to improve profitability for herders, revolutionise the states dairy value chain and bring about permanent solutions to the herder-farmer crisis. Also speaking, Vice President of Finance for the International Zone, Arla Foods, Steen Futtrup stated that the official opening of the farm is a clear example of the companys commitment to Nigeria, saying that the company is optimistic that the farm would make a significant impact on the local dairy industry. Speaking on the features of the farm, The Managing Director, Arla Nigeria, Peder Pedersen, stated that the project, which covers 400 hectares of land with the capacity to house 400 milking cows and 1,000 animals, is designed to ensure optimum animal welfare and productivity. Pedersen noted that the farm is home to 216 Danish Holstein cows, which arrived a few days ago and are settling well into their new environment. According to him, the Holstein breed, known to have a higher yield per cow than local breeds, is expected to produce five million kg of milk per year at the farms full capacity. He stated that the farm has state-of-the-art technology that offers comfort for animals and helps a great deal in producing high-yielding milking cows. About Arla Foods Arla Foods is a dairy company with around 8400 farmer owners in seven Northern European countries. Our philosophy of producing natural, healthy, and high-quality dairy products dates back to the 1880s when dairy farmers in Denmark and Sweden joined forces with one common goal: To create and provide the best dairy products. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Jegam Yappai community in Lau local government area of Taraba State on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) for providing a motorcycle to the community to help in transporting vaccination workers. The motorcycle was given to the community by UNICEF in collaboration with Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative (GAVI) as part of its health interventions in rural communities. The community head, Ishaya Yamba, commended the organisations when the head of the UNICEF Bauchi field office visited the village. He said since the intervention last year, there had been a reduction in early childhood illnesses in the area as more children have been immunised. When the motorcycle was not available, the turnout of women in bringing out their children for vaccination was not as it is now. Because they wait for several hours before the arrival of the health workers, most of them get tired and will live before the arrival of the health workers without their children being injected. But since they started coming here on a motorbike, they arrived here promptly and perform their duty on time, that gives our women enough time to go to their farms and also attend to other domestic work after bringing out their children to take the immunisation, he said. Mr Yamba said, The presence of UNICEF in our village has helped a lot; it affords our children the opportunity to be immunised against killer diseases that have been killing our children in the past. Mr Yamba added, As you can see the road to our community is very bad, we find it very difficult to even assess the nearest primary health center which is more than 15 kilometers from here. While commending UNICEF for its intervention in the Village, he begged the government to provide basic amenities for the community. While speaking on the successes of the intervention, the head of the Primary Health Care facilities in Lau Local Government, Anthony Benjamin, told PREMIUM TIMES that the major challenge faced by the field workers was the lack of accessible roads to the remote communities in the locality No doubt the donation of the motorcycle has helped in enhancing our performances, especially in areas that are difficult to reach, he said. Jegam Yappai lies isolated from Mararaban Kunini on the Jalingo-Numan highway. The 10 kilometers journey from the highway to the village is stressful due to the bad terrain. In November last year, GAVI and UNICEF donated 420 motorbikes and 13 vehicles to eight states to strengthen integrated routine immunization (RI) and Primary Health Care (PHC) in states. The states are Bayelsa, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara. One hundred motorcycles were donated to Taraba State. Tokunbo Oshin, Director, High Impact Country Programmes of Gavi, said Gavi decided to support some states in Nigeria that have weak indicators of health system strengthening and have more direct engagement at sub-national levels, towards the countrys graduation out of Gavi support by 2028. He said the motorcycles were donated to ensure delivery of services to hard-to-reach areas in the states. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Bello Matawalle, the outgoing governor of Zamfara State, was lucky to become governor in the first place. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 governorship poll, he did not become governor because he won the majority of the votes cast in the election. He was made governor after the Supreme Court ruled that the All Progressives Congress (APC), which polled the majority of votes, did not conduct primaries for the election of its candidates in Zamfara State as a result of the in-fighting in the party at the time. The court voided all the APC votes and ordered that the candidates of the parties with the next highest votes should be declared the winners of the elections. But Mr Matawalle could only manage to stay in power for one term. After defecting from the PDP, he faced the 2023 election as the APC candidate but was defeated in the 18 March governorship election by the PDP candidate, Dauda Lawal. During the campaign before the 2019 election, Mr Matawalle promised to fight unemployment and poverty and revamp the education and health sectors. Poverty rate, internal revenue and debt management Mr Matawalle spoke passionately about fighting poverty during his campaign, which he said was spurred by insecurity in the state. In 2019 when he was sworn in, Zamfara State was worse than the national average poverty headcount rate as 73.98 per cent of the states population was considered poor while the national average was 40.1 per cent. The state had a higher percentage of poor people than Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Adamawa states, according to a report by the Statista. The multidimensional poverty index released in November 2022 stated that 78 per cent of Zamfara people are poor, meaning poverty worsened under Mr Matawalle, from 74 to 78 per cent. Mr Matawalle also performed poorly in debt management In 2019, data showed the state had a combined domestic and external debt of N103.35 billion. The debt rose to N130.1 billion in 2020 and N130.94 billion in 2021. The state currently has the second-highest debt in the North-west region and occupies the 15th out of the 36 states of the federation. However, from 2019 to 2021, the state witnessed an increase in its internal revenue generation (IGR), In 2018, it generated N8.21 billion, while in 2019 when Mr Matawalle took over, the state generated N15.42 billion. By 2021, the last year the data was provided, Mr Matawalles administration had increased the internal revenue to N18.50 billion, according to NBS data. Unemployment While Mr Matawalle failed to improve the general economic situation of the state by failing to fight poverty, available data shows a slight improvement in the employment data of the state from 2019. In 2018, the state had an unemployment rate of 17.98 per cent while the latest NBS data shows that the rate has fallen to 12.99 per cent. As part of its job creation efforts, the state government said it employed over 6,000 civil servants between 2019 and 2022, including 556 teachers and other health workers. The state chairperson of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Sani Halliru, told PREMIUM TIMES that the incumbent governor fulfilled his promise of providing jobs. Education After he was sworn in in 2019, Mr Matawalle promised to revamp the education and health sectors of the state as he announced free healthcare for women and children of the state. We are aware that poor education, poverty, and unemployment are the causes of criminal activities and I want to plead with members of the public that within the next few weeks, we will come up with practical ways of handling these starting with free education and scholarships, Mr Matawalle said. However, a study by UNESCO revealed that Zamfara State under Mr Matawalle did not make significant efforts in rolling back the out-of-school children menace. The UNESCO data released in 2023 shows the states percentage of out-of-school children rose from 41.1 per cent in 2018 to 61.4 per cent in 2022. The state was named among the 22 states with an alarming rate of out-of-school children in the country. In 2020, Zamfara had 422,214 out-of-school children, according to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) but that number has now risen to 883,953 in 2022. To be fair to Mr Matawalle, widespread insecurity contributed to many parents withdrawing their kids from school, especially in rural communities. Piling debts have led examination bodies in the country, especially the West Africa Examination Council, to bar pupils from the state from participating in the 2022 examinations while the National Examination Council (NECO) withheld Zamfara State pupils results for 2020 over the debts. NECO, in 2020, said Zamfara topped the list of states owing the body. While the overall N3.5 billion debt did not start during his administration, Mr Matawalle failed in his promise to revamp the education sector by not settling them. Also, the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) statistics showed that students in Zamfara had mixed performances in its public examinations. In 2019, only 22.22 per cent of students who wrote the examinations passed. In 2020, the state recorded an increase in pass rate to 44.05 per cent but it nosedived to 9.15 per cent in 2021. Public school pupils could not participate in the examinations in 2022 due to the debt. Health Mr Matawalle named the health sector one of the priority areas of his administration. But data indicated that the state made little progress in the sector under the administration. For instance, in 2019, the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Programme said Zamfara had 300 medical doctors. The Matawalle administration increased the number to 350 in 2022. Even at that, the state falls short of the World Health Organization (WHO) requirement of one doctor to 1,000 patients. In 2021, the state chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Mannir Bature, lamented the concentration of health workers in the state capital as well as the general decay of hospitals in the state. The level of decay is disheartening. Only the General Hospital in Gusau has the facilities required for a decent health facility. In the remaining 13 local government areas, General Hospitals dont even have facilities for neonatal care.. 78% of the human resources in the health sector is concentrated in Gusau, leaving just 22% to be shared amongst the remaining 13 local government areas, he said Mr Matawalle also performed poorly in tackling infant and maternal mortalities in the state. In 2018, months before he took over, the child mortality rate stood at 130 deaths per 1,000 live births. The national average is 62 deaths. The rate increased to 136 deaths per 1,000 births in 2021, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of the NBS. Despite most of the development indices getting worse during his tenure, some residents of the state believe Mr Matawalle stole billions of naira meant to develop the state, a matter currently being investigated by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, although the governor has denied any wrongdoing. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A group advocating for workers rights has condemned the Lagos State Police Command for detaining a female police officer over her resignation. Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) in a statement on Friday signed by its chairman and spokesperson, Rufus Olusesan and Chinedu Bosah respectively, demanded the unconditional release of the female corporal. Fauzziyah Isiak, who works in the administrative department of the police absconded from work after sending her resignation letter, the police said. However, according to her, she has been trying to resign from the police since 2022 but her letters were not approved. She was invited to the police command headquarters on Wednesday and subsequently detained. Group CDWR described her arrest as undemocratic. According to Fauzziyar Isiak, she had shown interest to resign since last year but the Lagos State Police Command had consistently blocked her by refusing to approve her resignation and issue her discharge certificate, the statement reads. Fauzziyar Isiak narrated her ordeal through her Twitter handle and the Lagos Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin has confirmed the undemocratic arrest and detention through his response by stating that the Police is not like the private sector and that until a policeman or policewoman gets his or her discharge certificate, he or she stays in the Police Force in spite of showing interest to resign. READ ALSO: This bureaucracy amounts to undemocratically keeping an unwilling officer in the Force. The group further said that the administrative process of discharging police officers who want to willingly leave the Force has been weaponized to keep them in the police force against their will, something which is tantamount to imprisonment. Any rule that allows people to be kept by force in the Police Force is condemnable. In other words, it is despotic and a violation of fundamental human rights. The group demands that the officer be freed and her discharge certificate issued without further delay. We also demand that rank-and-file police officers be allowed to belong to a police union as a means to defend their democratic rights and better working conditions, the statement reads. We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and pro-masses organisations to intervene in the ongoing attacks on the democratic rights of Fauzziyar Isiak so as to regain her freedom. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LONDON Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel won the International Booker Prize on Tuesday for Time Shelter, a darkly comic novel about the dangerous appeal of nostalgia. The book beat five other finalists to the prize, which recognizes fiction from around the world that has been translated into English. The 50,000 pounds ($62,000) in prize money is divided between author and translator. Time Shelter imagines a clinic that recreates the past, with each floor reproducing a different decade. Intended as a way to help people with dementia unlock their memories, it soon becomes a magnet for people eager to escape the modern world. Gospodinov, 55, said he began writing his book about the weaponization of nostalgia in 2016, the year of the election of Donald Trump and the U.K.s Brexit referendum. He said it was a time when anxiety was in the air. I wanted to write a novel about the monster of the past, he said. Because you can see in this time that populist politics, actually, they paid us with the empty check of the past. French novelist Leila Slimani, who chaired the judging panel, said it was a brilliant novel full of irony and melancholy. Its a very profound work that deals with a contemporary question and also a philosophical question: What happens to us when our memories disappear? she said. But it is also a great novel about Europe, a continent in need of a future, where the past is reinvented and where nostalgia can be a poison. Gospodinov is one of Bulgarias most-translated authors. Time Shelter has also won Italys Strega European Prize for literature in Italian translation. The International Booker Prize is awarded every year to a translated work of fiction published in the U.K. or Ireland. It is run alongside the Booker Prize for English-language fiction, which will be handed out in the autumn. The prize was set up to boost the profile of fiction in other languages which accounts for only a small share of books published in Britain and to salute the underappreciated work of literary translators. Last years winners were Indian writer Geetanjali Shree and American translator Daisy Rockwell for Tomb of Sand. Rodel said she was grateful to the prize for rejecting the belief that that if youre a good translator, maybe you shouldnt even be noticed. This is a creative process, she said. This is a definite collaborative work of art that were creating with our authors. Im just endlessly grateful to the Booker for putting that out in front in this award. 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 SOURCE Promotora de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (PROCOMER) GUIGANG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Guangxi Guigang Fushuai Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. and PT. DFU INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA signed the first batch of directional purchase contracts for 20,000 new energy electric vehicles in Jakarta, Indonesia. Crystal Huang, CEO of PT. DFU INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA, said that driven by the global green development wave, new energy electric vehicles from Gangbei District of Guigang City would make positive contributions to residents' travel and global green and low-carbon development. New energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District are attracting a large number of Lao exhibitors. With the opening of overseas exhibition tour of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo this year, new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District appeared in Singapore, the Philippines, Laos and other countries, and automobile enterprises exchanged and negotiated face-to-face with local enterprises and residents, entering a period of comprehensive market expansion. Behind the emergence in the ASEAN market is the industrial competitiveness promoted by Gangbei District for many years, according to the Publicity Department of Gangbei District, Guigang Municipality. In 2015, Gangbei District planned to build China-ASEAN New Energy Electric Vehicle Production Base. At present, the base has introduced more than 100 well-known domestic finished automobile enterprises such as Emma, Luyuan, Tailg, Lima, Zuboo and OPAI, as well as supporting enterprises such as Haopai and Feineng. More than 50 enterprises have been completed and put into production, forming an annual production capacity of 5 million two-wheeled electric vehicles, 500,000 three-wheeled electric vehicles and 5 million electric vehicle parts, with a local matching rate of 80%. Brand concentration, matching rate of parts and intelligence level rank among the top in the country. Electric vehicle enterprises in Gangbei District have a complete range of products with excellent quality, including more than 100 models such as electric bicycles, electric mopeds and electric high-speed motorcycles, leading the industry in terms of battery life, safety, intelligence and energy conservation. The testing level of Guangxi New Energy Electric Vehicle Products Quality Testing Center within its jurisdiction ranks among the top in the country. In 2022, the output value of new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District increased by 99.3%, and the total output value of the whole industrial chain exceeded 21 billion Chinese yuan. In 2022, with high quality and low price products and taking advantage of opportunities of RCEP, China-ASEAN and other trade agreements, the export trade volume of China-ASEAN New Energy Electric Vehicle Production Base reached more than USD 8.7 million. Guangxi is the only province in China connected with ASEAN by land and sea, and it is the most convenient access to the sea in Southwest China. Guigang is located in the southeast of Guangxi, with smooth high-speed railways, expressways and high-grade waterways, and more than 100 high-speed trains transiting through Guigang every day. Xijiang Golden Waterway runs through the whole territory, and 3,000-ton ships can be navigable all the year round and can directly reach Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao within 30 hours. Guigang Port within its jurisdiction is the first inland river port of 100 million tons in the Pearl River system, and it is one of the most convenient channels for exporting materials from Southwest China to Hong Kong, Macao and ASEAN countries. At present, new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District have been exported to India, Thailand, the Netherlands, Nepal, Peru, Costa Rica and Madagascar. Image Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440964 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086779/NEV.jpg SOURCE The Publicity Department of Gangbei District, Guigang Municipality 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 . EarthEcho International 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 SOURCE EarthEcho International DUBLIN, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Industrial Sugar Market by Type (White Sugar, Brown Sugar, & Liquid Sugar), Application (Dairy Products, Bakery Products, Confectionery, Beverages, & Pharmaceuticals), Source (Sugarcane & Sugar Beet) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The industrial sugar market is projected to reach USD 59.1 billion by 2028 from USD 46.4 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 5.0% The demand for industrial sugar is driven by the growth in the food and beverage industry, which accounts for the majority of sugar consumption. The increasing demand for convenience foods and beverages has led to an increase in the use of sugar as a sweetener and preservative. The pharmaceutical and chemical industries also use sugar as a raw material in the production of various products. Moreover, the industrial sugar market is also influenced by the growing trend toward natural and organic food products, which has increased demand for organic sugar. Additionally, the market for alternative sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup, is also impacting the demand for industrial sugar. By type, white sugar is projected in high demand during the forecast period. Several factors, including the growing demand for processed foods and beverages and the increasing use of sugar in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries, drive the global market for white sugar. The market is also influenced by factors such as sugar prices, government regulations, and the availability of raw sugar. Moreover, the raw sugar undergoes a refining process that removes impurities and produces a granulated, white product that is approximately 99.5% pure sucrose. This refined white sugar is commonly used in the food and beverage industry as a sweetener and in other industrial applications. By form, the market for granulated industrial sugar is projected in high demand Granulated sugar is commonly used as a sweetener in a wide variety of food and beverage products, including baked goods, confectionery, soft drinks, and other processed foods. The demand for granulated sugar is steady throughout the year because it is a common ingredient in many food and beverage products. The granulated sugar market is also influenced by various external factors such as changes in government regulations, weather conditions, and trade policies. For instance, changes in sugar import/export tariffs and quotas can impact the availability and prices of granulated sugar in different regions of the world. Asia Pacific will significantly contribute towards market growth during the forecast period The industrial sugar market in the Asia Pacific region has been experiencing steady growth over the past few years. This growth can be attributed to the dominance of domestic food manufacturers, which is driving the adoption of food & beverages industry in the region. Moreover, the food and beverage industry is the largest consumer of industrial sugar in the region, due to the high demand for sweeteners and other sugar-based ingredients in various food and beverage products. Additionally, the pharmaceutical and personal care industries are also driving the growth of the industrial sugar market in the region, as sugar is widely used in the production of medicines and cosmetic products. Competitive assessment In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies and service offerings of leading players Sudzucker AG (Germany), Cargill, Inc. (US), Associated British Foods plc (UK), Raizen (Brazil), and Lantic Inc. (Germany)are among others in the industrial sugar market strategies. Premium Insights Increasing Use of Industrial Beet Sugar and Value Addition of Sugar By-Products to Drive Growth of the Industrial Sugar Market White Sugar Segment and India Accounted for Significant Market Share in 2022 Beverages Segment to Account for Largest Market Share by 2028 White Sugar Segment to Lead Market During Forecast Period Granulated Segment to Account for Largest Market Share by 2028 Sugarcane Segment to Dominate Market During Forecast Period Market Dynamics Drivers Rise in Global Consumption of Sugar and Growth in International Trade Increasing Use of Sugar By-Products in Industries Rising Use of Beet Sugar as Raw Material in Beverage Production Restraints Need for Water-Consuming Monoculture Production Increasing Popularity of Alternate Sweeteners as Sugar Substitutes Opportunities Growing Need to Explore Potential of Sugarcane Crops Using Energy Optimization Increasing Development of the Global Sugar Industry Preferential Trade Agreements Governing Sugar Imports Challenges Fluctuations in Price and Availability of Sugar High Cost of Producing Sugar Industry Trends Value Chain Analysis Research & Development and Raw Material Sourcing Manufacturing Distribution End-users Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customer Businesses Revenue Shift and New Revenue Pockets in Industrial Sugar Market Technological Analysis Digitalization Genetic Engineering Case Studies Sugarpharm Made Significant Investments to Overcome Supply Chain and Regulatory Challenges Cargill Utilized Its Expertise to Improve Technology Used for Manufacturing Natural Sweeteners Company Profiles Key Players Sudzucker AG Cargill, Inc. Associated British Foods PLC Raizen Lantic Inc. Mitr Phol Group American Crystal Sugar Company Louis Dreyfus Company Tereos Michigan Sugar Company Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Limited Canal Sugar Al Khaleej Sugar Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited (Rscl) Rana Group Other Players Shree Renuka Sugars Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries Limited Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd. Nile Sugar Bannari Amman Group Dhampur Bio Organics Limited Dhanraj Sugars Pvt. Ltd. Thai Sugar Group Mehta Group Dalmia Bharat Group For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/p3wgy 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 GREENWICH, Conn., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AdminaHealth, the leading provider of employee benefits billing solutions for the healthcare, insurance, and voluntary benefits marketplace, is pleased to announce the promotion of Christian Morris to the position of Vice President of Sales. "Morris has been instrumental in expanding AdminaHealth's reach and impact." Tweet this Christian Morris, Vice President of Sales, AdminaHealth With over 20 years of business development and entrepreneurial experience in technology, benefits tech, and media, Morris has been instrumental in expanding AdminaHealth's reach and impact. He joined the digital billing solution company as Director of Sales and Marketing in 2017, making an immediate impression in driving visibility and educating benefits and insurance ecosystem members on the value of the AdminaHealth platform. His leadership and expertise helped to establish AdminaHealth as a leading provider of employee benefits billing technology. "Christian's passion and skills are invaluable to our team," said Robert A. Bull, CEO and Founding Member of AdminaHealth. "Prior to joining AdminaHealth, Christian held senior sales and marketing positions in software, publishing, and media organizations in both Europe and the US. His experience, as well as his proven leadership, make him the ideal choice for Vice President of Sales. We are confident that he will continue to drive growth and success for our company." "I'm excited to take on this new role and continue to build upon the momentum we've achieved at AdminaHealth," said Morris. "We have a fantastic team and a cutting-edge platform that is transforming the employee benefits industry. I look forward to working with our clients and partners to deliver even greater value and innovation." About AdminaHealth AdminaHealth is the leading provider of patented billing and payment solutions for the insurance industry. The company's innovative platform simplifies the administration of benefits and streamlines payment processes for brokers, carriers, employers, and third-party administrators. Founded in 2014, AdminaHealth is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, and serves clients throughout the United States. SOURCE AdminaHealth STAVANGER, Norway, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker BP (OSE: AKRBP) , (OTCQX: AKRBF) has awarded Heerema Vlissingen a contract for procurement and construction for the Munin jacket in the Yggdrasil area. "This is an important contract for the Yggdrasil development. With this award we have placed all major fixed facilities contracts in the Yggdrasil area, and we are in line with our execution plan," states Project Director Peter Kupka for fixed facilities deliveries in Yggdrasil. "Heerema Fabrication Group Vlissingen is an experienced international contractor with a solid track record. I am very pleased that they will contribute to Yggdrasil and look forward to starting the execution phase for the Munin jacket," Kupka continues. The jacket contract was signed on 23 May. Delivery in 2025 Munin is an unmanned production platform in the northern part of the Yggdrasil area in the North Sea. Aibel is delivering the topsides. Aker Solutions will do the detailed engineering of the jacket. The jacket will be fabricated at the Heerema yard in Vlissingen in the Netherlands. Jacket procurement will start in the autumn, and construction is set to start in the beginning of 2024. The Munin jacket weighs 5.800 tonnes. The height is 130 meters, and it will be installed in a water depth of 105 metres. Eight piles of 60 metres will be used to secure the jacket to the seabed. Installation is planned in 2025, and Aker BP has secured lifting capacity for all the installations in the Yggdrasil area. "We have now secured the execution plan for the Munin jacket from start of engineering to installation. Heerema will also be responsible for the installation of the jacket performed under a separate contract between Aker BP and Heerema Marine Contractors. Well done to all involved," says Peter Kupka. About Yggdrasil Yggdrasil consists of the Hugin, Fulla and Munin licence groups, and the area is located between Alvheim and Oseberg in the North Sea. The area contains a total of around 650 million barrels of oil equivalent. Total investments are estimated at NOK 115 billion in real 2022 terms. In December 2022, Aker BP and licence partners Equinor and PGNiG Upstream Norway AS (formerly LOTOS ) made a final investment decision to develop the Yggdrasil area. Plans for development and operation (PDOs) were submitted to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Aker BP has entered agreements amounting to over NOK 50 billion with alliance partners and suppliers. All agreements and contracts are conditional on the Norwegian authorities approving the PDOs. CONTACT: Contacts: Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesperson, tel.: +47 402 24 217 Kjetil Bakken, Head of Investor Relations, tel.: +47 918 89 889 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1629/3775076/2084430.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/aker-bp-asa/i/installations-from-munin,c3182441 Installations from Munin SOURCE Aker BP ASA NOVI, Mich., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- All American Pet Resorts, the premier luxury pet care brand, is thrilled to announce the addition of two new Resort locations to its growing family in North Carolina. Joining the New Bern, North Carolina Resort, which is scheduled to open this summer, are Resorts in Greensboro and Asheville. According to Stephan Dimitroff, Executive Vice President of All American Pet Resorts, "Each of our new, North Carolina franchisees brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their new role as an All American Pet Resorts owner. They are committed to delivering the highest standards of care and ensuring each pet's comfort and happiness." In addition to its standard pet care services, which include spacious and comfortable overnight boarding suites, interactive daycare, pampering grooming services and more, each North Carolina Resort location will also offer specialized care for senior pets and those with special needs, and work to ensure they receive the attention and care they need. Timing for the opening of the Greensboro and Asheville Resort locations is to be determined at the time of this writing. Dimitroff goes on to say "All American Pet Resorts continues to aggressively expand its nationwide footprint with new Resort locations in key markets targeting areas with high demand for pet care services like North Carolina. Our newest franchisees here in New Bern, Greensboro and Asheville, have a commitment to excellence that aligns perfectly with our brand values. We have no doubt that they will provide pet owners in their respective communities with an outstanding pet care experience." For more information about All American Pet Resorts and their range of services, or becoming an All American Pet Resorts franchisee, please visit allamericanpetresorts.com About All American Pet Resorts All American Pet Resorts is a successful and growing pet care franchise. With a focus on providing premiere pet care services to dogs and cats, All American Pet Resorts has built a loyal customer base and a reputation for quality care. All American Pet Resorts offers its franchisees comprehensive training, ongoing support, and access to its proprietary systems and processes. Franchisees can also benefit from the company's established brand recognition, marketing expertise, and economies of scale. SOURCE All American Pet Resorts SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Marin County District Attorney's office announced that they have reduced the charges against the vandals who desecrated and destroyed the statue of St. Junipero Serra on the property of St. Raphael parish from a felony to a misdemeanor. This comes after the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Archbishop Cordileone have been left out of restorative justice conversations with the perpetrators. St. Junipero Serra statue vandalized in October of 2020 at St. Raphael parish. On May 24, 2023, Archbishop Cordileone wrote a letter to the Marin County District Attorney and Deputy District Attorney objecting to the pending decision, raising questions about failure to include the Archdiocese in discussions, and the potential consequences of perpetuating discrimination and violence against the Catholic Church. Responding to the action, Archbishop Cordileone said, "It is clear to me that this course of action would not have been taken with anyone else. In fact, if the same kind of offense had been committed against another religious congregation or group, it would almost certainly have been prosecuted as a hate crime. There have been more than 100 attacks on Catholic Church property across the nation, including in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, one of which was someone firing a bullet into our Cathedral. Anti-Catholicism has a long and ugly history in this country. Now, with this decision, the Marin County District Attorney has given the signal that attacks on Catholic houses of worship and sacred objects may continue without serious legal consequence." The Serra statue on the property of St. Raphael parish was destroyed by vandals in October of 2020. Read more about the incident here. Read Archbishop Cordileone's letter in English and Spanish. Media Contact: Peter Marlow [email protected] SOURCE Archdiocese Of San Francisco Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Theres a been a conviction in the car-to-car shooting that injured two men and terrified schoolchildren in Charlottesvilles 10th & Page neighborhood last fall. Originally charged with four crimes including two counts of malicious wounding, 21-year-old Taquarius Orlando Catoe-Anderson pleaded guilty earlier this month to a single misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon and received a 180-day active sentence. If the punishment doesnt seem commensurate with the facts of the case, which involved a salvo of bullets as elementary school children were walking nearby, Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania has an explanation. We are sometimes forced to resolve cases with plea agreements that do not reflect the seriousness of the conduct because witnesses are reluctant to cooperate and come to court and testify, Platania wrote in an email to The Daily Progress. While Platania declined to speak about the specifics of the case, the criminal complaint asserts that the shooter was the passenger in a white sedan getting chased by another vehicle. Surveillance video from a nearby recreation center operated by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority indicated that during the Sept. 28 incident the white sedan was initially the prey. It was trying to get away, according to the narrative attached to the arrest warrant. A brown Ford Crown Victoria followed, an action that led the white sedan to blow the stop sign at the intersection of Hardy Drive and Eighth Street, according to the narrative. The white 4-door sedan did not slow down for the speed bumps, according to the document. It did not stop at the stop sign, indicating that it was trying to get away from whatever the occupants saw. The two men in the Crown Victoria were Deonte Johnson, who was shot in left shoulder, and Jatavious Turner-Jones, who was shot in buttocks and thigh, according to the file. According to a contemporary press release, they were treated for their injuries at the University of Virginia Medical Center. The fusillade occurred around 2:40 p.m. at the intersection of Anderson Street and Ninth Street Northwest as several students from Venable Elementary, now Trailblazers Elementary, were walking home. One girl ducked for cover behind a parked car, according to her mother. Three hours later, at least nine bullet holes were visible on or around the drivers door as the Crown Victoria was towed away. Charlottesville General District Court records indicate that Catoe-Andersons guilty plea was accepted on May 1. Held since his March 8 arrest, he is jailed at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. The troubles for Catoe-Anderson appear not to be over. He was back in court Friday on two new charges stemming from his arrest on the city charges. Albemarle County officers making that arrest at a Hydraulic Road-area apartment allegedly found Catoe-Anderson with a gun and over a pound of marijuana. He has been charged with possession with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in connection with drug distribution. His next hearing on the new charges has been set for July 6. Research includes 12 posters and abstracts, including studies with Thermo Fisher Scientific WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Integra Connect, LLC., the leading provider of value-based, precision medicine solutions and services for specialty care, today announced that results from 12 studies will be highlighted during the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting from June 2-6. The studies, conducted by Integra Connect and leading organizations such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, will highlight how: Genomic Testing Advances Precision Oncology: Expansion of genomic testing is pushing the boundaries of precision medicine, and improving patient outcomes and survival rates; Treatment Decisions Impact End-of-Life Patient Outcomes: Use of chemotherapy or immunotherapy at end-of-life (EoL) is associated with higher rates of in-patient admissions and intensive care unit stays, as well as lower hospice rates; Innovative AI and Machine Learning Technologies are a Promising Tool for Community Practices: AI and machine learning models specifically trained for use in oncology can quickly identify high-risk cancer patients in need of proactive intervention and aid in the optimal utilization of clinical resources; Oncology Real-World Data Delivers on the Promise of Evidence-based Decision Making: Real-world data, derived from community oncology organizations, is improving clinical decision making and patient experiences. "The data shared at ASCO 2023 is an important milestone for Integra Connect because the body of evidence represents our ability to support the entire cancer care community providers, health systems, payers, and life sciences organizations as they work to improve patient outcomes, succeed under value-based care models, and drive the adoption of precision medicine advancements," said Jeffrey A. Scott, MD, Chief Medical Officer and President of Population Health Solutions at Integra Connect. Thermo Fisher Scientific and Integra Research Highlights Value of Rapid Genomic Testing A partnered study with Thermo Fisher Scientific looked at de-identified data from Integra Connect to determine the importance of genomic testing in stage 4 lung cancer patients, and overall patient survival when patients awaited genomic testing results prior to initiating treatment. "When making a decision about cancer treatment, clinicians, pathologists, and patients should have the best insights available to inform care. Leveraging de-identified real-world data from Integra Connect allows us to clearly demonstrate the value of earlier genomic testing through rapid next-generation sequencing for patients with cancer," said Garret Hampton, president of clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "By arming clinical teams with genomic insights at pivotal moments in care, we can help ensure every patient receives the right treatment, right away based on their unique cancer, helping improve outcomes and transform oncology." The findings will be presented as a poster presentation, titled: "Real-World Testing and Treatment Patterns Among Patients with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study," (Abstract# 9030, Poster Bd # 18, Session Title: Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell Metastatic). The poster will be presented on June 4, 2023 at 8:00 am 11:00 am CT. Integra Connect Pinpoints Ways to Improve Patient Outcomes and Experience Leading provider organizations and Integra Connect evaluated data from oncology value-based care programs and uncovered trends on to how to best support oncology patients, from bedside care to treatment. Integra Connect determined that the use of chemotherapy or immunotherapy within 30 days of death drove higher rates of in-patient admissions and ICU stays, and lower rates of hospice services near end-of-life, which experts believe negatively impacts patient and caregiver experience. The findings will be presented as a poster presentation, titled: "The association between systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) at the end-of-life (EOL) and acute care use among patients treated at oncology practices participating in the Oncology Care Model (OCM)," (Abstract# 6580, Poster Bd #72, Session Title: Health Services Research and Quality Improvement). The poster will be presented on June 3, 2023 at 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm CT. By leveraging data from a select group of oncology community practices operating under the Oncology Care Model, Integra Connect found that machine learning models and AI can help predict patients at-risk for in-patient admission, ED visits, and end-of-life, irrespective of practice type, as well as suggest the development of 'whole health' care management plans that can lead to changes in the risk profiles of cancer patients. The findings will be presented as a poster presentation, titled: "Data driven insights from multiple OCM practices to optimize care for managing high-risk cancer patients across multiple cancer types," (Abstract# 6576, Poster Bd #72, Session Title: Health Services Research and Quality Improvement). The poster will be presented on June 3, 2023 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm CT. Integra Connect will also share findings from a Quality Initiative that analyzed de-identified data to uncover the importance of sub-specialized care in the treatment and management of ovarian cancer. The findings will be presented as a poster presentation, titled: "Understanding differences in the rates of BRCA/HRD testing and treatment in 1st line maintenance in patients with ovarian cancer treated by gynecologic oncologists compared to other providers: A quality initiative by Integra Connect (IC) PrecisionQ," (Abstract# 5576, Poster Bd #271, Session Title: Gynecologic Cancer). The poster will be presented on June 5, 2023 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm CT. Additionally, Integra Connect led a Quality Initiative research study, which used de-identified patient data to identify and implement changes for a higher standard of guideline driven care in Stage III patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The company also examined the impact of transitioning from an external palliative care program to an internal program on hospice quality measures in a community oncology practice participating in the Oncology Care Model. The findings will be available via online abstract, titled: "The impact on hospice quality after initiation of an internal palliative care program by a community oncology practice" (Abstract #e18720). Leading Organizations Utilize Integra Connect's Value-Based Care-focused Real-World Data to Advance Evidence-Based Cancer Care Integra Connect's robust real-world, de-identified oncology data set was utilized by leading life sciences organizations for five studies that were accepted as online abstracts by ASCO. This research shows broad implications for the use of de-identified real-world data to identify treatment gaps and improve patient care. Results from those studies will be available via online abstract: "Real-World Outcomes of First-Line Maintenance with Niraparib or Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer" (Abstract# 420502). "PARPi Monotherapy as 1L Maintenance Chemotherapy Following Chemotherapy + Bevacizumab in Advanced Ovarian Cancer" (Abstract# 420652). "Use of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors (PARPi) in metastatic castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) Patients with Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) Mutations" (Abstract #414314). "Testing for BRCA1/2 Improves Outcomes in Patients with Ovarian Cancer Treated with PARPi in 1st Line Maintenance (1LM)" (Abstract# 416450). "Phenotypic Differences Related to HRR Gene Mutated Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) Treated Win Routine Care Settings in the U.S." (Abstract# 410164). For more insights on Integra Connect's research and presence at ASCO 2023, please go here. About Integra Connect Integra Connect is a value-based, precision medicine company that leads the industry in real-world data and analytics capabilities for oncology. With data from more than 11 million unique patient lives, decades of value-based care expertise and sophisticated technologies, it enables specialty care providers, health systems, payers, and life sciences companies to improve patient outcomes, provider decision-making, business operations and performance, and clinical research for success under value-based care models. Since it was founded, Integra Connect has supported more than 5,000 providers, six payer organizations, and a multitude of life sciences companies in their efforts to advance value-based, precision medicine. Notably, Integra Connect enabled more than 1,500 oncology providers and payer organizations to succeed under the Oncology Care Model, generating more than $260M in value-based care revenue and more than $100M in shared savings for participating practices, supported the creation and launch of alternative payment models for oncology, and leveraged our real-world data set to enable life sciences research into precision medicine advancements. To learn more, please visit: Integraconnect.com or LinkedIn. CONTACT: Alyssa Howerton 240 816 1645 [email protected] SOURCE Integra Connect CINCINNATI, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced its inclusion among the 2023 Axios Harris Poll 100, an annual ranking of the reputations of the most visible companies in the U.S. "We do not take for granted the trust America places in us to provide families with fresh, affordable food and to support healthy, thriving communities," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "This is recognition of our incredible associates who deliver our customers a fresh and friendly shopping experience and affordable prices, each and every day." The Axios Harris Poll is a trusted ranking of the reputations of companies most on the minds of Americans, with a framework used by Harris since 1999. Through the survey, respondents evaluate reputations against key dimensions such as ethics, trust, vision and products and services. Kroger has regularly received high marks on the survey, consistently ranking among America's most visible and trusted companies. "Kroger's continued inclusion in the Axios Harris Poll 100 speaks to the company's unending commitment to serve more customers in more communities, which powers Kroger's ability to do more good for our associates, customers and the planet," said Keith Dailey, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "Core to this mission is our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan to address food insecurity in America, so that no one needs to worry about where their next meal will come from." In the first five years since launching Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, the Kroger family of companies has delivered $1.65 billion in giving to hunger relief, which includes 582 million pounds of surplus food donated, for a total of 2.9 billion meals directed to communities, and $54.6 million in grants from the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation. Kroger's proposed merger with Albertsons Companies, Inc, will provide even more meaningful and measurable benefits to associates, customers and communities. The combined company will deliver lower prices and more choices for customers, provide stable and fulfilling employment for associates from every walk of life, and provide more support to create thriving, healthy communities. About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. We are, across our family of companies nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. SOURCE The Kroger Co. ATLANTA, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of its forty years as the only national organization focused on Black women's health and wellness, BWHI will return to its local chapter roots this fall, hosting large-scale "homecoming"-themed celebrations designed to educate, empower, and advocate on behalf of Black women and girls' health and wellness. These events will be a true celebration of everyday Black women, their achievements and contributions, and a reflection on the continued work necessary to improve the health outcomes of Black women. The BWHI "homecoming" celebrations, with the theme "40 Years of Loving Black Women," will take place from September 22 through October 20, 2023 Tweet this "Our organization has dedicated itself to eliminating barriers to health and wellness for Black women nationwide for 40 years. We will celebrate our four decades of work by bringing some of the leading women of color in the fight for health equity to your doorsteps with our upcoming multi-city tour. We are truly honored to have sustained and grown since our founding and are excited to continue to raise awareness, provide programs, tools, and resources, as well as empower and inspire our nation's Black women and girls," said Linda Goler Blount, MPH, President of BWHI. The BWHI "homecoming" celebrations, with the theme "40 Years of Loving Black Women," will take place from September 22 through October 20, 2023, featuring in-person gatherings for the BWHI community in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Washington DC/Philadelphia Metro region, and Los Angeles. This milestone is a testament to the unwavering commitment of BWHI's team, partners, and supporters toward achieving health equity for Black women. The tour will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the organization's accomplishments and highlight the ongoing work of improving health outcomes for Black women. We invite all our supporters to join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone as we continue to work towards a healthier future for all. Each event will bring together a large number of past and present board members, staff, grass-roots activists, participants in BWHI signature programs, renowned musicians, actors, and entertainers, as well as BWHI's esteemed founder, reproductive justice and civil rights trailblazer, Byllye Y. Avery. As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, BWHI plans to hold its inaugural health and wellness summit for Black women, called the State of Black Women (SOBW). The summit will occur at Spelman College in Atlanta, where BWHI was founded. This conference will feature keynote speakers from the scientific and medical communities, and select panel discussions. The panels will cover various topics related to Black women's current status and where they can go in the future, including discussions on the economy, politics, health, and education. BWHI's State of Black Women convening aims to bring together experts to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities facing Black women today. Spelman President Dr. Helene D. Gayle will make the opening comments. "We are proud to be the founding home of such a reputable and life-changing organization as BWHI," Spelman President Dr. Helene D. Gayle states. "Spelman College has a goal to provide the best education and resources for women of color, and our partnership with BWHI on its inaugural State of Black Women Symposium aligns with our core mission to help lead the charge towards educating, preparing, uplifting, and empowering Black women." Registration for science summitt and homecoming events available at: http://bwhi.org/tickets ABOUT BWHI: Established originally as the National Black Women's Health Project in 1983, the Black Women's Health Imperative is the first and only national non-profit organization created for and by Black women dedicated to improving the health and wellness of our nation's 21 million Black women and girlsphysically, emotionally, and financially. BWHI's core mission is to advance health equity and reproductive and social justice for Black women across their lifespan through policy, advocacy, education, research, and leadership development. For more information, please visit www.bwhi.org . Media Inquiries Contact: Andrea Hamilton: [email protected] Sponsorship Inquiries: If interested in sponsoring BWHI 40th Anniversary events, please reach out to Kris Salkil at [email protected] SOURCE Black Women's Health Imperative POCONO MANOR, Pa., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomz, the leading parent-teacher communication app, has announced it will be attending the PAIU Education Conference as a vendor. The conference will take place from May 31st through June 2nd. Bloomz, the parent-teacher communication app, has announced it will attend the PAIU Education Conference as a vendor. Tweet this Pocano Manor, PA Bloomz, the leading parent-teacher communication app, has announced it will be attending the PAIU Education Conference as a vendor. The conference will take place from May 31st through June 2nd. The PAIU Education Conference is an annual gathering of education professionals looking to expand their knowledge, skills, and network. The conference is hosted by the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units and features workshops, keynote speakers, and opportunities for attendees to connect with peers and experts in the field. The topics of the conference cover a broad range of educational issues, including special education, technology integration, curriculum development, and innovative teaching strategies. The conference provides a platform for educators to learn from each other, share their experiences, and explore new ideas. Bloomz will be showcasing its innovative parent teacher communication app designed to connect teachers and parents better about their child's progress in class. Attendees can stop by the Bloomz booth to win fun prizes like shirts, thumb drives, and socks. "We're excited to attend the PAIU Education Conference and show how Bloomz can help bridge the gap between teachers and parents," said Chaks Appalabattula, CEO of Bloomz. "As a parent myself, I understand how important it is for parents to stay involved in their children's education. Bloomz makes this easier by giving parents instant access to grades, announcements, and other important communications." The PAIU Education Conference is a unique opportunity for education professionals to network and connect with vendors like Bloomz, who are helping transform the learning experience. To learn more about Bloomz and how it can improve classroom communication, visit the company website at www.bloomz.com or stop by the booth at the PAIU Education Conference. SOURCE Bloomz Inc BREWSTER, Mass., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Candleberry Inn on Cape Cod today announced it has been recognized by Tripadvisor as the 2023 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best award winner for Best B&Bs and Inns in the United States, ranking #1 out of 25 properties. The awards honor travelers' favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants, and beyond, based on the reviews and opinions collected from travelers around the world on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period. Best of the Best award winners are among the top 1% of listings on Tripadvisor, distinguishing them as travelers' favorites for 2023. Candleberry Inn Cape Cod Exterior Twilight Candleberry Inn Cape Cod Beach Rose Bathroom "We are so thankful to all of our guests who have left us reviews on TripAdvisor." said Marco DiDomizio, co-owner of the Candleberry Inn. "We feel like it gives our future guests a more multifaceted viewpoint on what it's like to stay at the Candleberry Inn. Our goal is always to serve our guests at the highest level. What a privilege it has been to do that." "Congratulations to the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best winners," said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. "Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who matter most: your guests. With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am continually impressed with the hospitality industry's resilience and ability to adapt. Cheers to another successful year!" Check out all the reviews, and discover more about the Candleberry Inn here https://candleberryinn.com/ . About Candleberry Inn on Cape Cod The Candleberry Inn is a multiple award-winning boutique Bed and Breakfast, located in Brewster, the historic heart of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Beautifully decorated rooms, all with newly renovated private baths, central air conditioning and HDTVs. Enjoy a delicious multi-course gourmet breakfast each morning. The Candleberry Inn sits in the center of a classic Cape Cod village perfect for exploring the area. About Tripadvisor Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps hundreds of millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby. The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps. Media contact: Marco DiDomizio [email protected] (508) 896-3300 * Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, March 2023 ** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files SOURCE Candleberry Inn BANGALORE, India, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Ceiling Tiles Market is Segmented by Type (Vinyl Laminated Gypsum Ceiling Tiles, PVC Laminated Gypsum Ceiling Tiles), by Application (Non-Residential, Residential)): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2029. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Building Materials & Supplies Category. The global Ceiling Tiles Market was valued at USD 6836.9 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 8975.4 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period 2023-2029. Major factors driving the growth of the Ceiling Tiles Market: Increased commercial construction of office buildings, institutional structures, and healthcare facilities is anticipated to be the main driver of the Ceiling Tiles market expansion. Furthermore, with rising disposable income in emerging nations, rising need for thermal and acoustic insulation, and shifting consumer attitudes towards the aesthetics of homes and offices, the Ceiling Tiles market industry is predicted to expand significantly. Additionally, throughout the course of the forecast period, the Ceiling Tiles market dynamics are anticipated to gain from the use of creative and sustainable building methods that use eco-friendly materials for walls, floors, and ceilings. The basic materials used to make ceiling tiles include metals, mineral fiber, fiberglass, gypsum, wood, and plastic. Download Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-34A7017/Global_Ceiling_Tiles TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF CEILING TILES MARKET: The ceiling Tiles market is being driven by an increase in construction work for commercial projects such as office buildings, industrial complexes, hospitals & clinics, and office buildings. The market for ceiling tiles is rising as a result of customers' growing preference for thermal insulation, better aesthetics, and growing disposable income. The increasing commercial sector and the usage of tiles to improve the overall aesthetics of office buildings are furthering the market's expansion. Additionally, the demand for products is increasing due to the medical industry's rapid expansion, which in turn is driving the building of hospitals. Another key element propelling the market is the use for enhancing the appearance of residential buildings' exteriors and homes. The focus on financing green projects is being shaped and intensified by real estate lenders and investors. This is opening up prospects for green buildings and increasing consumer awareness of pollution and CO2 emissions, which is fueling the demand for sustainable products. Additionally, businesses are implementing a decarbonization plan to create carbon-neutral structures and developing new materials to assist initiatives for sustainable construction solutions. Thus, the business of ceiling tiles is benefiting from the growing trend of green construction. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the Ceiling Tiles market When installing acoustical ceilings, sound quality is a key consideration. Even its capacity for absorbing outside noise is unrivaled. Suppliers provide affordable acoustical ceiling tiles. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Ceiling Tiles market When compared to other ceiling solutions on the market, purchasing acoustical ceiling tiles is the most cost-effective choice to make. Compared to other construction activities, installing an acoustical ceiling has substantially lower labor expenses. Get spoilt for choice since acoustical ceiling tiles may achieve a variety of styles. It may quickly and simply change the appearance of any area without requiring spending money on significant house renovations. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-34A7017/global-ceiling-tiles CEILING TILES MARKET SHARE During the projected period, Asia Pacific is anticipated to represent the largest share of the worldwide market. The expansion in this area can be attributable to both economic growth and population increase. Due to the expansion of the business sector, the bulk of the people in the area are relocating to metropolitan centers. Due to this, there is a significant demand for the product from both commercial and residential users. Download Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-34A7017/Global_Ceiling_Tiles_Market Key Companies: AWI Knauf Rockfon Saint-Gobain SAS International USG Chicago Metallic Foshan Ron Building Material Trading Grenzebach BSH Guangzhou Tital Commerce Haining Chaodi Plastic Shandong Huamei Building Materials New Ceiling Tiles Odenwald Faserplattenwerk Techno Ceiling Products Inquire for Customized Chapters: https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/QYRE-Auto-34A7017/Global_Ceiling_Tiles_Market Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-34A7017&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS - Cleanroom Ceiling Tiles and Panels Market - Commercial Ceiling Tiles Market - Non-Acoustic Ceiling Tiles Market - Luxury Ceiling Tiles Market - Acoustic Ceiling Tiles Market - Metal Ceiling Tiles market was valued at USD 4103.4 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 5355.9 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period 2023-2029. - Commercial Building Automation market was valued at USD 76270 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 93670 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period 2023-2029. - Mineral Fiber Ceiling Tiles market was valued at USD 4464 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 5541.7 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period 2023-2029. - Mineral Fiber Ceiling Tiles market was valued at USD 4464 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 5541.7 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period 2023-2029. - Ceramic Floor Tiles and Wall Tiles Market - Ceramic Tiles Making Machines Market - Anti-Skid Ceramic Tiles Market - Unglazed Ceramic Tiles Market - Metal Roofing Tiles Market - Composite Roofing Tile Market - Eco-Friendly Tiles Market - Perimeter Security market size is estimated to be worth USD 124860 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 186330 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 6.9% during the review period. - Home Automation System market size is projected to reach USD 92770 million by 2027, from USD 48720 million in 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.2% during the forecast period 2021-2027. - The global smart thermostat market size was valued at USD 1.86 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 11.36 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 28.00% from 2020 to 2027. - Building Automation market size is projected to reach USD 59630 Million by 2028, from USD 40980 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 5.4% during 2022-2028. - Vitrified Tiles Market estimated at USD 7493.1 million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of USD 8578.4 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period 2022-2028. - Ceramic Floor Tiles and Wall Tiles Market - Art Tiles Market - Ceramic Tiles market size is estimated to be worth USD 103810 million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of USD 121810 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.7% during the forecast period. 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CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Sitemap: https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/884 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/885 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/886 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SID Display Week 2023, an influential event hailed as the "Oscars" in the display industry, was held in Los Angeles, the United States, from May 23 to 25, 2023. Mr. Chen Yanshun, Chairman of BOE, and Mr. Gao Wenbao, President of BOE were invited to attend the opening ceremony of SID Display Week. At the same time, BOE hosted the "Define the Future BOE Innovation Ecosystem Forum" during the event, paying homage to the 30th anniversary of its founding with world-leading technologies of display. Chen Yanshun, Chairman of BOE, attended the forum and delivered a speech. He reviewed the company's 30-year epic journey and shared his insights on the future of the display industry, which received enthusiastic responses from the audiences. 60-plus years of impactful witness to industry revolutions As a prestigious organization dedicated to the global display industry, the SID is celebrating its 61st birthday this year. Ever since its inception some 60 years ago, SID has witnessed the evolution of the global display industry, and served as a comprehensive communication and cooperation platform covering technology, materials, equipment and applications, playing a pivotal role in the commercialization and industrialization of frontier display technologies. Looking back at the development of the industry, Chen Yanshun said, "This year, we are celebrating the 61st birthday of SID, which has witnessed the evolution of the display technology from CRT to PDP, TFT-LCD, OLED, and MLED. Display functions are expanding from solely video to touch interaction, fingerprint recognition, and embedded audio. The display form factor transformed from bulky black-and-white CRT to slim vibrant flat-panel LCD. People from all over the world have benefited from the revolutions in the display industry. We all deserve a thunderous round of applause for our relentless journey filled with innovation!" 30 years of entrepreneurial journey through hard work and perseverance Founded in the spring 30 years ago, BOE has emerged as a global leader in the display industry. "Over the past 30 years, we have been navigating the dynamics of the global display industry, following and being followed by our competitors, and inspiring and being inspired by our partner," said Chen Yanshun. Over the past three decades, BOE has transformed from an electronic component enterprise valued at RMB60 million into a world-leading IoT company with annual revenue of over RMB100 billion, and from a local enterprise with over 10,000 employees to a global innovative IoT company with more than 100,000 employees. BOE played a crucial role in tackling the "shortage of panels" faced by China's electronics industry, built the first Gen 5, Gen 6 and Gen 10.5 production lines in the Chinese mainland, and now has 17 world-leading semiconductor display production lines, leading China's display industry to grow from the ground up. BOE's glittering trajectory is exactly attributed to its respect for technology and dedication to innovation. "We believe that 'there are no weak markets, only weak mentality or weak products.' Continuous innovation is our core competence and our source of sustainable growth. Like observing the Earth from outer space, BOE identifies and captures long-term trends and opportunities at a very high level, making strategic contributions to the entire display industry," said Chen. Currently, one out of every four displays in the world comes from BOE. As of 2022, BOE had independently filed more than 80,000 patent applications in total, made into the top 20 on the list of the Top 50 U.S. Patent Assignees released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services for five consecutive years, and stayed among the top 10 by international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications for seven years in a row. "Continuous innovation" holds key to BOE's brilliant success in the past and will also usher in a new era of high-quality development for the company. 10 years of accelerated transformation based on "Empower IoT With Display" strategy Ten years have passed since BOE made its debut at SID Display Week in 2014. The ten years have witnessed closer ties between BOE and the global top display event, and BOE's stride toward high-quality development based on its "Empower IoT With Display" strategy in the IoT era. Over the past ten years, BOE has scored remarkable achievements. For example, in 2020, it became the first semiconductor display enterprise in the Chinese mainland to receive the SID Display Industry Awards (DIA). Furthermore, BOE launched the first technology brand (ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED) in China's semiconductor display industry, marking the beginning of "technology + brand" dual drive. BOE is also pressing ahead with its own transformation. In 2021, it launched the "Empower IoT With Display" development strategy, with a view "To Integrate More Functions, To Empower More Scenarios, To Diversify More Forms". "61 + 30 + 10 equals 101. If 'one hundred' represents 'completeness' and 'perfection,' then 'one hundred and one' symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh start after a major milestone. I believe this special number, 101, also signifies the success of today's BOE Innovation Ecosystem Forum and the bright future of the next 100 years," Chen Yanshun pointed out. "Innovation" is the eternal theme of the technology industry. "Green" is the color representing the future of our world. The future of the world is unfolding in countless possibilities. Displays will be ubiquitous in the IoT era. Along this journey, BOE has been and will be "Open, Collaborative and Innovative." "We invite all of you to join forces and nurture a global ecosystem, strengthening our cooperation, and building win-win relationships," Chen added. Riding the trend of the integrated development of the real economy and the digital economy, frontier semiconductor display technologies are empowering myriad application scenarios in a way never seen before. Display is becoming the "first touchpoint" for the digital and smart transformation and wider IT adoption of various industries, and bringing about amazing changes to people's lives. As a world-leading innovative IoT company, BOE is committed to "Light the World with Displays, Change Life with Heart". The company will continue to capitalize on technological innovation and work with its partners to nurture a win-win industry ecosystem and forge ahead toward an open future of fusion development. SOURCE BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. BEIJING, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- What are the cutting-edge technologies for artificial intelligence (AI)? How can they benefit our daily lifeThese questions might be enlightened at a recent meeting for international collaboration and advancement in AI technology. What are the futuristic robots and AI technologies? he 7th World Intelligence Congress (WIC), an international event that focused on AI and related technologies, was held this month in Tianjin. The event aimed to promote global cooperation and exchange in the field of AI, smart manufacturing, smart vehicles, 5G-plus internet, etc. The congress provides a platform for AI researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and experts from various disciplines to share knowledge, discuss innovations, and explore the impact of AI and related technologies on society. In this video featuring the display of technologies at WIC, China Matters' vloggers Evy and Jack head to Tianjin to explore new cutting-edge technologies and dive into the coolest exhibits. They challenge each other to see who can find the most interesting tech. Evy enjoys handcrafted coffee from a robot barista who specializes in making pour-over brews. Jack gets the ultimate Grammy-style photo shoot from a high-speed robotic cameraman. He also shows off his new "power suit" by using it to lift up Evy as if she were as light as a feather. Aimed at more hi-tech exhibits, Evy challenges Jack to a head-to-head battle on a "5G racetrack." So how is this event revealing the latest advancements and trends in AI? Contact: Li Siwei Tel.008610-68996566 E-mail[email protected] Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyH_6vcwH6 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735490/China_Matters_Logo.jpg SOURCE China Matters GUANGZHOU, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) ("CNFinance" or the "Company"), a leading home equity loan service provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. First Quarter 2023 Operational and Financial Highlights Total loan origination volume [1] was RMB3.4 billion ( US$0.5 billion ) during the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 47.8% from RMB 2.3 billion in the same period of 2022. was ( ) during the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 47.8% from in the same period of 2022. Total number of active borrowers [2] was 25,759 during the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 20.0 % from 21,464 in the same period of 2022. was during the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of % from in the same period of 2022. Total number of transactions [3] was 5,543 during the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 26.1% from 4,394 in the same period of 2022. was 5,543 during the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 26.1% from 4,394 in the same period of 2022. Total interest and fees income were RMB453.2 million ( US$66.0 million ) in the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 8.6% from RMB417.3 million in the same period of 2022. ( ) in the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 8.6% from in the same period of 2022. Net income was RMB49.3 million ( US$7.1 million ) in the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 14.4% from RMB43.1 million in the same period of 2022. ( ) in the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 14.4% from in the same period of 2022. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB0.72 ( US$0.10 ) and RMB0.65 (US$0.09) , respectively, in the first quarter of 2023, as compared to RMB0 .63and RMB0.57 , respectively, in the same period of 2022. "In the first quarter of 2023, our management team and employees kept working on promoting high-quality development of our services. Our collaboration with commercial banks continued to scale. In this quarter, we originated RMB3.4 billion in total, including RMB2.2 billion under trust lending model and RMB1.2 billion under commercial bank partnership. As a result of our effective risk control mechanism, we recovered loan principal, interest and penalties in the first quarter of 2023, which equal to 109% of the actual outstanding loan principal of delinquent loans. To prepare ourselves in facing possible economic fluctuations going forward, it is very important for us to balance business growth and risk control strategies. We will keep expanding our business by optimizing services provided to sales partners and rolling out new products. At the same time, achieving "high-quality development" requires us to achieve higher profit margin and at the same time, manage risks effectively. We will work on reducing the overall costs with funding partners. We will also work on improving the overall loan quality by prioritizing business operations in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities and other major cities in China." Commented Mr.Zhai Bin, Chairman and CEO of CNFinance. [1] Refers to the total amount of loans CNFinance originated under the trust lending model and loans recommended to commercial banks during the relevant period. [2] Refers to borrowers with outstanding loan principal of home equity loans as at the end of a specific period. [3] Refers to the total number of loans CNFinance originated under the trust lending model and loans recommended to commercial banks during the relevant period. First Quarter 2023 Financial Results Total interest and fees income increased by 8.6% to RMB453.2 million (US$66.0 million) for the first quarter of 2023 from RMB417.3 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to an increase in the Company's interest income on loans and interest income charged to sales partners. Interest and financing service fees on loans increased by 5.2% to RMB411.5 million (US$59.7 million) for the first quarter of 2023 from RMB391.1 million in the same period of 2022, primarily attributable to the increase of average daily outstanding loan principal in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to the same period of 2022. Interest income charged to sales partners, representing fee charged to sales partners who choose to repurchase default loans in installments, increased by 60.3% to RMB37.5 million (US$5.5 million) for the first quarter of 2023 from RMB23.4 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to the fact that the Company allows more sales partners to repurchase the default loans in installments to help sales partners ease their pressure on cashflow. Interest on deposits with banks increased by 53.6% to RMB4.3 million (US$0.6 million) for the first quarter of 2023 from RMB2.8 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to increased average daily balance of time deposits. Interest and fees expenses decreased by 8.1% to RMB184.6 million (US$26.9 million) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB200.9 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to a decrease in daily average outstanding principal of other borrowings as well as the funding cost from trust companies. Net interest and fees income increased by 24.1% to RMB268.6 million (US$39.1 million) for the first quarter of 2023, from RMB216.4 million in the same period of 2022. Net revenue under the commercial bank partnership model, representing fees charged to commercial banks for services including introducing borrowers, initial credit assessment, facilitating loans from the banks to the borrower and providing technical assistance to the borrower and banks, net of fees paid to third-party insurance company and commissions paid to sales channels, was RMB21.5 million (US$3.1 million) for the first quarter of 2023. The Company has started to collaborate with commercial banks since 2021 and such collaboration grew and scaled in the second half of 2022 The outstanding loan principal under the commercial bank partnership was RMB3.4 billion as of March 31, 2023 as compared to RMB70.4 million as of March 31, 2022. Collaboration cost for sales partners, representing sales incentives paid to sales partners, increased by 4.3% to RMB83.0 million (US$12.1 million) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB79.6 million in the same period of 2022, primarily attributable to the increase of average daily outstanding loan principal in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to the same period of 2022. Net interest and fees income after collaboration cost was RMB207.0 million (US$30.1 million) for the first quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 51.3% from RMB136.9 million in the same period of 2022. Provision for credit losses, representing provision for credit losses under the trust lending model and the expected credit losses of guarantee under the commercial bank partnership model in relation to certain financial guarantee arrangements the Company entered into with a third-party guarantor, who provides guarantee services to commercial bank partners, was RMB78.9 million (US$11.5 million) for the first quarter of 2023, as compared to a reversal of RMB13.6 million in the same period of 2022. The reversal in the first quarter of 2022 was primarily due to the fact that the Company transferred the remaining loans under the traditional facilitation model to third parties and the allowance of such loans was reversed. Realized gains on sales of investments, representing realized gains and losses from the disposal of investment securities, was RMB3.9 million (US$0.6 million), as compared to RMB8.4 million for the same period of 2022. Net losses on sales of loans was RMB0.9 million (US$0.1 million) in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to RMB38.9 million in the same period of 2022, primarily attributable to the fact that the Company transferred the remaining loans under the traditional facilitation model to third parties in bulk during the first quarter of 2022. Such loans under the traditional facilitation model were all facilitated prior to 2019, and the majority of them were long past due. Other gains, net was RMB16.0 million (US$2.3 million) for the first quarter of 2023 as compared to RMB18.4 million in the same period of 2022. Operating expenses increased by 0.5% to RMB80.3 million (US$11.7 million) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB79.9 million in the same period of 2022. Employee compensation and benefits was RMB44.0 million (US$6.4 million) for the first quarter of 2023 as compared to RMB43.0 million in the same period of 2022. Share-based compensation expenses was nil for the first quarter of 2023 as compared to RMB1.4 million in the same period of 2022. According to the Company's share option plan adopted on December 31, 2019, approximately 50%, 30% and 20% of the option granted was vested on December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Related compensation cost of the option granted has been fully recognized as of December 31, 2022. Taxes and surcharges increased by 7.4% to RMB8.7 million (US$1.3 million) for the first quarter of 2023 from RMB8.1 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to an increase in total interest and fees income by 8.6% for the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of 2022. Operating lease cost increased to RMB4.2 million (US$0.6 million) for the first quarter of 2023 as compared to RMB3.6 million for the same period of 2022. Other expenses was RMB23.4 million (US$3.4 million) for the first quarter of 2023 as compared to RMB23.8 million in the same period of 2022. Income tax expense was RMB17.6 million (US$2.6 million) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB15.4 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to the increase in taxable income in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to the same period of 2022. Effective tax rate remained 26.3% for the first quarter of 2023 and the same period of 2022. Net income increased by 14.4% to RMB49.3 million (US$7.1 million) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB43.1 million in the same period of 2022. Basic earnings per ADS and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB0.72 (US$0.10) and RMB0.65 (US$0.09), respectively, in the first quarter of 2023, compared to RMB0.63 and RMB0.57, respectively, in the same period of 2022. One ADS represents 20 ordinary shares. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of RMB2.2 billion (US$0.3 billion), compared to RMB1.8 billion as of December 31, 2022, including RMB1.6 billion (US$0.2 billion) and RMB1.2 billion from structured funds as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, which could only be used to grant new loans and activities. The delinquency ratio (excluding loans held for sale) for loans originated by the Company decreased from 18.3% as of December 31, 2022 to 15.2% as of March 31, 2023. The delinquency ratio for first lien loans (excluding loans held for sale) was 19.3% as of March 31, 2023 as compared to 21.8% as of December 31, 2022, and the delinquency ratio for second lien loans (excluding loans held for sale) decreased from 17.6% as of December 31, 2022 to 14.4% as of March 31, 2023. The NPL ratio (excluding loans held for sale) for loans originated by the Company increased from 1.1% as of December 31, 2022 to 1.8% as of March 31, 2023. The NPL ratio for first lien loans (excluding loans held for sale) increased from 1.1% as of December 31, 2022 to 2.4% as of March 31, 2023, and the NPL ratio for second lien loans (excluding loans held for sale) increased from 1.2% as of December 31, 2022 to 1.7% as of March 31, 2023. Recent Development Share Repurchase On March 16, 2022, the Company's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$20 million of its ordinary shares in the form of American depositary shares ("ADSs") during a period of up to 12 months commencing on March 16, 2022. On March 16, 2023, the Company's board of directors authorized to extend the share repurchase program for 12 months commencing on March 16, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had repurchased an aggregate of approximately US$13.9 million worth of its ADSs under this share repurchase program. Conference Call CNFinance's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on Friday, May 26, 2023 (8:00 PM Beijing/ Hong Kong Time on Friday, May 26, 2023). Dial-in numbers for the live conference call are as follows: International: +1-412-902-4272 Mainland China +86-4001-201203 United States: +1-888-346-8982 Hong Kong: +852-3018-4992 Passcode: CNFinance A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call until 11:59 PM ET on June 2, 2023. Dial-in numbers for the replay are as follows: International: +1-412-317-0088 United States: +1-877-344-7529 Passcode: 7691736 A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of CNFinance's website at http://ir.cashchina.cn/. Exchange Rate The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and all of the revenues are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB"). This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of March 31, 2023. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into U.S. dollars at that rate on March 31, 2023, or at any other rate. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "confident" and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: its goals and strategies, its ability to achieve and maintain profitability, its ability to retain existing borrowers and attract new borrowers, its ability to maintain and enhance the relationship and business collaboration with its trust company partners and to secure sufficient funding from them, the effectiveness of its risk assessment process and risk management system, its ability to maintain low delinquency ratios for loans it originated, fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China, the impact and future development of COVID-19 pandemic in China and across the globe, and relevant government laws, regulations, rules, policies or guidelines relating to the Company's corporate structure, business and industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law. About CNFinance Holdings Limited CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) ("CNFinance" or the "Company") is a leading home equity loan service provider in China. CNFinance, through its operating subsidiaries in China, conducts business by connecting demands and supplies through collaborating with sales partners and trust companies under the trust lending model, and local channel partners and commercial banks under the commercial bank partnership model. Sales partners and local channel partners are responsible for recommending micro- and small-enterprise ("MSE") owners with financing needs to the Company and the Company introduces eligible borrowers to licensed financial institutions with sufficient funding sources including trust companies and commercial banks who will then conduct their own risk assessments and make credit decisions. The Company's primary target borrower segment is MSE owners who own real properties in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities and other major cities in China. The Company's risk mitigation mechanism is embedded in the design of its loan products, supported by an integrated online and offline process focusing on risks of both borrowers and collateral and further enhanced by effective post-loan management procedures. For more information, please contact: CNFinance E-mail: [email protected] CNFINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED Unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets (In thousands, except for number of shares) December 31, 2022 March 31, 2023 RMB RMB US$ Assets Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 1,772,184 2,183,325 317,917 Loans principal, interest and financing service fee receivables 9,456,802 8,523,985 1,241,188 Allowance for credit losses 763,996 734,037 106,884 Net loans principal, interest and financing service fee receivables 8,692,806 7,789,948 1,134,304 Loans held-for-sale 1,844,438 2,137,097 311,185 Investment securities 518,645 494,039 71,938 Property and equipment 2,284 2,328 339 Intangible assets and goodwill 3,488 3,361 489 Deferred tax assets 76,905 98,021 14,273 Deposits 145,093 153,642 22,372 Right-of-use assets 29,777 29,733 4,330 Guaranteed assets 726,411 697,315 101,537 Other assets 669,889 844,744 123,004 Total assets 14,481,920 14,433,553 2,101,688 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Interest-bearing borrowings Borrowings under agreements to repurchase 112,642 318,935 46,441 Other borrowings 7,727,559 7,202,999 1,048,838 Accrued employee benefits 31,645 14,396 2,096 Income taxes payable 186,901 209,839 30,555 Deferred tax liabilities 73,752 73,548 10,709 Lease liabilities 28,583 29,094 4,236 Credit risk mitigation position 1,354,653 1,288,391 187,604 Other liabilities 1,028,471 1,271,740 185,180 Total liabilities 10,544,206 10,408,942 1,515,659 Ordinary shares (USD0.0001 par value; 3,800,000,000 shares authorized; 1,559,576,960 shares issued and 1,371,643,240 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023) 917 917 134 Treasury stock (87,631) (95,299) (13,877) Additional paid-in capital 1,024,204 1,024,204 149,136 Retained earnings 2,958,716 3,005,593 437,648 Accumulated other comprehensive losses (10,212) (11,718) (1,706) Non-controlling interests 51,720 100,914 14,694 Total shareholders' equity 3,937,714 4,024,611 586,029 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 14,481,920 14,433,553 2,101,688 CNFINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (In thousands, except for earnings per share and earnings per ADS) Three months ended March 31,2023, 2022 2023 2023 RMB RMB US$ Interest and fees income Interest and financing service fees on loans(2) 391,109 411,450 59,912 Interest income charged to sales partners 23,428 37,450 5,453 Interest on deposits with banks 2,749 4,277 623 Total interest and fees income 417,286 453,177 65,988 Interest expenses on interest-bearing borrowings (200,890) (184,599) (26,880) Total interest and fees expenses (200,890) (184,599) (26,880) Net interest and fees income 216,396 268,578 39,108 Net revenue under the commercial bank partnership model 122 21,471 3,126 Collaboration cost for sales partners (79,604) (83,007) (12,087) Net interest and fees income after collaboration cost 136,914 207,042 30,147 Reversal/(provision) for credit losses (1) 13,554 (78,802) (11,474) Net interest and fees income after collaboration cost and provision for credit losses 150,468 128,240 18,673 Realized gains on sales of investments, net 8,366 3,890 566 Net losses on sales of loans(1) (38,929) (869) (126) Other gains, net 18,455 15,959 2,324 Total non-interest (losses)/income (12,108) 18,980 2,764 Operating expenses Employee compensation and benefits (43,048) (44,030) (6,411) Share-based compensation expenses (1,443) - - Taxes and surcharges (8,048) (8,719) (1,270) Operating lease cost (3,548) (4,157) (605) Other expenses (23,803) (23,389) (3,406) Total operating expenses (79,890) (80,295) (11,692) Income before income tax expense 58,470 66,925 9,745 Income tax expense (15,393) (17,589) (2,561) Net income 43,077 49,336 7,184 Earnings per share Basic 0.03 0.04 0.006 Diluted 0.03 0.03 0.004 Earnings per ADS (1 ADS equals 20 ordinary shares) Basic 0.63 0.72 0.10 Diluted 0.57 0.65 0.09 Other comprehensive losses Foreign currency translation adjustment (2,239) (1,506) (219) Comprehensive income 40,838 47,830 6,965 Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests - 2,459 358 Total comprehensive income attributable to ordinary shareholders 40,838 45,371 6,607 (1) In 2022, the majority of sales partners chose to fulfill their guaranteed obligations by making instalment payments. When sales partners sign the creditor's rights transfer agreement, the loans to be transferred will be recognized as "held-for-sale loans (HFS)", and HFS would be measured at the lower of the cost and fair value. In 2022, the Company reassessed the fair value of HFS, such reassessment had led to overstatement in net gains/(losses) on sales of loans as well as understatement in provision for credit losses, which had no impact on net income in the three months ended March 31, 2022. (2) To provide more relevant information, the line items of Interest income charged to sales partners and Net revenue under the commercial bank partnership model, which were included in Interest and financing service fees on loans in the three months ended March 31, 2022 have been shown in separate items. SOURCE CNFinance Holdings Limited BEIJING, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following article was published today by China Daily. China is willing to work with other countries to promote the global mobility of young talents, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and enhance global cooperation in education, and science and technology, official and experts from home and abroad said on Friday. Young people are the driving force behind science and technology innovation, and more efforts are needed to build platforms that allow them to innovate and exercise their entrepreneurial skills, the experts said. They made the remarks at the Beijing International Youth Innovation and Development Forum. As one of the subforums of the ongoing 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, it is hosted by Beijing Talent Work Bureau, China Daily and a center for overseas talent in Beijing. Sun Meijun, head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, said that as the Chinese capital, Beijing has unique advantages in pooling youth strength and serving innovative development. The city has almost 100 universities, more than 1,000 research institutes and more than 1 million college students and teachers. Beijing ranks on top among global scientific research cities, while its entrepreneurship ecosystem is ranked first in Asia and fourth globally, she said. Chen Jie, vice-minister of education, said the essence of innovation-driven development lies in talent. Talent drives development and innovation determines the future, he said. Young talent drives scientific and technological innovation. The Ministry of Education will continue to make efforts to cultivate and nurture young talent, in order to build a platform for the exchange of global innovation resources and accelerate the establishment of a world talent hub, Chen said. China values talent cultivation and makes great efforts to create favorable environment for the development of young talent, he said. To promote high-quality education development, the ministry has deepened education reform and continuously expanded education opening-up to cultivate and nurture more international and multidisciplinary talent, he said. Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said in the new era, innovation is essential to promoting high-quality development, meeting people's desire for high-quality life, building new development paradigms and creating a community with a shared future for mankind. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. However, the international situation is very complicated and certain countries are trying to undermine the development of others in science and technology through decoupling and containment measures, he said. Under such unfavorable circumstances, people around the world with a vision should further strengthen international technological cooperation, Qu said. As a national English-language newspaper, China Daily has made good use of its multimedia strength and resources at home and abroad to launch a series of new media products centered on youth, and hosted special brand events to tell the stories of youth communication and innovation, and promote people-to-people exchanges and global cooperation, he said. "From a broader perspective and with more forceful actions, China Daily will tell stories about the Chinese youth and global innovation and entrepreneurship to the world to promote global people-to-people exchanges, and make new contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind," Qu said. Jurg Burri, Switzerland's ambassador to China, said the Swiss and the Chinese people have a very similar concept of youth, and therefore the two countries have very good reasons to work together when offering opportunities to the youth. No generation owns the planet; it only holds the planet for the next generation. Therefore, Switzerland, China and all other countries must prepare the next generation to hold the planet and hold it responsibly for the generation to follow, he said. Barry C. Barish, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and a professor at California Institute of Technology, said international talent can bring advanced technology and innovative thinking, making it easier for local companies to improve competitiveness. So countries should strengthen the introduction and management of such talent, he said. By ZOU SHUO SOURCE China Daily Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A second man has pleaded guilty for encircling counterprotesters with torches on the evening before the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Tyler Bradley Dykes of Bluffton, South Carolina, agreed Thursday to a six-month active sentence, and prosecutor Lawton Tufts pronounced his office satisfied with the term because the 25-year-old has no criminal record. Taking that into account, we thought this was an appropriate sentence, Tufts said in court. Also, the fact that he accepted responsibility. Under the plea agreement approved by Albemarle Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins, the full term of the sentence is five years, with five years of mandated good behavior and one year of supervised probation. One month ago, another judge heard that Dykes was recently accused of pasting swastika stickers in his home state and denied him bail. On Thursday, Dykes again appeared in the striped jumpsuit that is the uniform of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail and wearing waist chains and leg irons. The 6-foot-5 young man stood straight as he answered without hesitation the judges volley of questions about his signed plea deal: Yes, your honor. I am, your honor. I have, your honor. I did, your honor. Tufts told the court that on the evening of Aug. 11, 2017, Dykes was among the group of white nationalist torch-bearing marchers who encircled a handful of counterprotesters gathered at a statue of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson in front of the University of Virginia Rotunda. They had just marched down the Lawn shouting neo-Nazi slogans including Blood and soil and Jews will not replace us. The defendant was towards the front, said Tufts. The defendant was multiple times throwing the Nazi salute. Then, Tufts alleged, the defendant allegedly swung his extinguished torch in the direction of some counterprotesters. We dont want him to be in this community because of the nature of the charges, said Tufts, urging the judge to return Dykes to South Carolina after the conclusion of the jail term. Neither Dykes nor his attorney, Bryan Jones, offered any statement on the allegations, but Dykes asked the judge to ensure that his parole officer permits him to travel for his work as a computer technician. I have clients in the Savannah, Georgia, area, which is a about a 35-minute drive from my home, said Dykes. I work in computers and basically do tech support. Higgins agreed to endorse that request in his file. She also agreed to another defense request to give Dykes credit for time served since his March 17 arrest in South Carolina. Despite it being read in open court Thursday, the plea agreement must be sealed for up to a year, Higgins ordered. To prevent a repeat of Virginias notorious past as a haven for the racial terror group the Ku Klux Klan, Virginia criminalizes the use of fire for racial intimidation with penalties that can reach five years. Another man charged under this law accepted a plea deal earlier this month, according to Albemarle County court records. Will Zachary Smith, of Nacona, Texas, was released after signing his sealed plea and ordered to return for sentencing on Aug. 7. Three other men have been indicted for the 2017 event and await adjudication. MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Horizon Corporation (NYSE: FHN or the "Company") will host an Investor Day in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, with presentations by members of the executive leadership team. The presentations are expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. (CT) and conclude no later than 1:00 p.m. (CT). A live audio webcast of the conference and presentation slides will be available to the public on the day of the event in the Events and Presentations section of First Horizon's Investor Relations website at https://ir.firsthorizon.com/events-and-presentations/. A webcast replay will be available within 24 hours after the event. In person attendance is by invitation only to institutional investors and analysts. Materials from Investor Day may contain forward-looking statements, including guidance, involving significant risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. Those factors include general economic and financial market conditions, including expectations of and actual timing and amount of interest-rate movements including the slope of the yield curve, competition, customer and investor responses to these conditions, ability to execute business plans, geopolitical developments, recent and future legislative and regulatory developments, natural disasters, and items mentioned in the Investor Day material, as well as critical accounting estimates and other factors described in FHN's recent filings with the SEC. FHN disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments. About First Horizon First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $80.7 billion in assets as of March 31, 2023, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states across the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com. SOURCE First Horizon Corporation TAMPA, Fla., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQX: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated, multi-state cannabis company operating under the FLUENT brand, issued a statement on the two failed cannabis bills in Texas. Commenting on the recent failed legislation, Kristopher Kem, FLUENT Cannabis Care Texas President said: While we are ultimately disappointed in the Texas Senate's failure to take action to decriminalize cannabis and expand the state's medical cannabis program, we commend Texas Rep. Joe Moody, Rep. Stephanie Klick and their respective authors and cosponsors of House Bill 218 and House Bill 1805 for their continued work to enact meaningful legislation on cannabis reform. As of October of last year, Texas ranked number one in the U.S. for most cannabis possession arrests. For decades, cannabis prohibition has funneled thousands of Texans into the criminal justice system. With more than 80% of Texans supporting the decriminalization of cannabis and the legalization of medical cannabis in the state, we must continue to call on our elected leaders to act on the will of their constituents and right the wrongs of the past. At FLUENT, we believe in broadening access to medical cannabis. We are currently expanding our delivery capabilities to support patient populations in Houston and Austin, because we believe that Texans and all Americans deserve access to safe, tested medical cannabis. While we're disappointed in this legislative outcome, we're here to support the people of Texas and look forward to growing our operations and presence in the state. About Cansortium Inc. Cansortium Inc. is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Company operates under the FLUENT brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. The Company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Cansortium Inc.'s common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "CNTMF". For more information about the Company, please visit www.getfluent.com. For further information, please contact: Company Contact: Robert Beasley, CEO 850-972-8077 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Sean Mansouri, CFA Elevate IR 720-330-2829 [email protected] Media Contact: Patrick Maddox 501-680-5220 [email protected] SOURCE Cansortium Inc AI-based system for first time confirms at least five jaguars in Mexico's Dzilam nature reserve. MEXICO CITY, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of nature conservation experts have recently announced that with the help of Huawei Cloud and artificial intelligence, they have identified at least five jaguars in a nature reserve in Dzilam, Yucatan, in southeast Mexico. The Tech4Nature Mexico project, launched in the Dzilam de Bravo nature reserve last year, uses an integrated and continuous monitoring system analyzing images and sound data to identify and track jaguars and their preys. The project involves partners including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Polytechnic University of Yucatan, C Minds' AI for Climate initiative, Rainforest Connection, the local community of Dzilam, and the government authorities of Yucatan. Huawei supplied the capabilities of Huawei Cloud to the project. To date, the team has collected more than 30,000 photos, 550,000 audio recordings and numerous video clips of wild animals. This data trove provides deep insights of local wildlife to researchers and contributes to the preservation and promotion of Yucatan biodiversity. The data is processed on the ModelArts AI Platform from Huawei Cloud and Rainforest Connection's Arbimon AI platform from. Sayda Rodriguez Gomez, Secretary of Sustainable Development of Yucatan, says that the knowledge gathered through the monitoring system is helpful in driving conservation efforts. "The first thing we discovered was that it was difficult to convince someone to invest in conservation," she recalls. "Knowing is something extremely valuable. What we get now with monitoring are things that, if we do not see them, we don't know are there," she adds. "If people don't know there are these animals, they don't help us." The team identified 119 species, including 88 birds, 22 mammals, five reptiles, and four amphibians, of which 34 species are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Prior to the project, local experts didn't know whether the reserve was home to jaguars, and if so, how many there were. "We need to upload the data to a Big Data platform because it is a high volume of information," says Joaquin Saldana, director of strategy marketing at Huawei Latin America. "We need to process it at high speed and with artificial intelligence. Then start to understand the pictures and be able to detect the animals that interest us." The team is now working to develop algorithms enabling individual identification of jaguars, which will be fundamental to figure out how many jaguars live in the region. "We are setting the basis for a state-wide biodiversity monitoring platform with AI on the Huawei Cloud," says Regina Cervera, a project coordinator at the innovation agency C Minds. "Our umbrella species is the jaguar, because if we make sure to protect it, then we protect everything that surrounds them. What we are doing is a huge and pioneering step for decision-making for conservation and nature-based solutions." Ecologists estimate that around 4,000 to 5,000 jaguars live in the wild in Mexico. Of this amount, more than half of them live in the Yucatan Peninsula, making it one of the primary regions for their conservation. But their existence is threatened by illegal hunting, deforestation as well as climate change. Protecting the jaguar means a lot to local communities. Juan Castillo, a community leader in the Dzilam de Bravo Reserve, says that he has heard about the jaguars ever since he was young. In Mexico, the number of jaguars is now growing, increasing to 4,766 animals in 2018 from 4,025 in 2010, a promising sign that conservation strategies are working. "All this is jaguar land," Juan Castillo says. "Since I was a child, I liked knowing that it is part of us. Sometimes what I say makes people laugh: the day I die, I would like to be a jaguar. I wish that there is still a way to take care of them, because if not, tomorrow we would only be seeing it in books." To learn more about the story, please visit: https://www.forclimate.ai/tech4nature About Huawei Founded in 1987, Huawei is one of the world's leading providers of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 195,000 employees and operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world. To achieve this, we will promote universal connectivity and promote equal access to networks, laying the foundations for an intelligent world; we will deliver superior computing power where and when it is needed to bring cloud and intelligence to every corner of the globe; we will build digital platforms that help industries and companies achieve greater agility, efficiency and dynamism; and we will redefine the user experience with AI to bring a higher level of intelligence and personalization to all aspects of people's lives, whether they are at home, on the go, in the office, playing or exercising. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on: http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei http://www.twitter.com/Huawei http://www.facebook.com/Huawei http://www.youtube.com/Huawei Media contact Alberto Romero [email protected] (55) 2855-8274 SOURCE Huawei LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "If you are looking for the best experience for children and youth who are blind, visually impaired or have multiple disabilities, then join us for Wayfinder's Camp Bloomfield program this summer! We have incredible sessions planned that emphasize safety, belonging and respect while encouraging independence. Without the distraction of technology, campers will slow down and create real-life social networks while they learn new skills and challenge themselves," says Mark Lucas, Wayfinder Family Services' camp and recreational programs manager. Blind and visually impaired campers form lifelong bonds at Wayfinder's Camp Bloomfield This summer, Wayfinder's Camp Bloomfield will offer three free sessions at Camp Whittier in Santa Barbara and one special session at Camp Bob Waldorf in Glendale. Sessions will offer traditional camping activities, such as archery, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, rock-climbing wall, ropes challenge course, arts and crafts and much more. These activities will be adapted for all ages and abilities by Wayfinder's expert recreation staff, led by Lucas. Many of the staff also have vision loss and serve as role models to campers. The Youth and Teen Session (for ages 7-17 who are visually impaired or have multiple disabilities), Alumni Session (for adults 18+ who are visually impaired) and the Family Camp Session (for children with disabilities plus their family members) will be held at Camp Whittier, a 94-acre camp in Santa Barbara on traditional Chumash land that features rolling hills and oak trees. A special Inclusion Session at Camp Bob Waldorf, nestled on 112 acres in the Verdugo Hills of Glendale, will be a new collaboration with Jewish Big Brothers of Los Angeles. The partnership will combine 24 children (ages 7-17) who are visually impaired with 100 sighted, low-income youth of the same ages. Wayfinder camp staff and Camp Bob Waldorf staff will team up to create a successful experience for both groups of children. This session will introduce campers with visual impairment to a mainstream summer camp so they can learn to integrate with sighted campers and advocate for themselves in a safe, positive environment. Sighted campers and staff will learn to appreciate the abilities of children with vision loss. Also, campers will develop new skills they can practice in their everyday lives. Both camp sites are accredited by the American Camp Association, signifying that they meet the high standards for quality, safety and operations. Registration is open for all sessions until June 1st, but space is limited and applications are processed in the order they are received. This year, Wayfinder Family Services is celebrating 65 years of its Camp Bloomfield program. In 1958, Henry Bloomfield and the Bloomfield Foundation purchased a 40-acre campground in Malibu, California, and donated its use to the organization, so that campers with vision loss could enjoy traditional summer camp experiences, from which they were excluded at the time. Although the Malibu campsite was destroyed by the Woolsey fire in 2018, the Camp Bloomfield program has operated at rented facilities, or during the first two years of the pandemic, as a virtual camp and day camp. In summer 2022, Camp Bloomfield returned to offering in-person, overnight camp sessions. This summer marks the program's 65th year of building independence and sparking lifelong friendships. About Wayfinder Family Services Formerly known as Junior Blind, Wayfinder Family Services is the place to turn for people facing the greatest challenges. The organization provides expert, individualized support and services to children, youth, adults and familiesfrom people with vision loss and developmental disabilities to children in need of temporary shelter, foster care and adoption. SOURCE Wayfinder Family Services The family-owned brewery gets back to its roots to focus on brewing deliciously unique craft beer OAKLAND PARK, Fla., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The founders of Funky Buddha BreweryRyan and KC Sentzare reacquiring their Oakland Park, Florida-based business from Constellation Brands. Both the Sentzs and Constellation agreed that now is the ideal time for the original owners to reclaim control of the company and focus on beverage innovation, new consumer experiences, and additional product lines. Its flagship beer portfolio, including Floridian and Hop Gun, will remain available for distribution, and the founders are excited to introduce new products. "Beverage innovation has always been our biggest strength, and Ryan and his team have some incredible ideas in the pipeline," said KC Sentz, Owner and Co-Founder of Funky Buddha Brewery. "As we approach our 10th anniversary, it seems like the perfect time for our business to evolve and reignite the community's passion for craft beverages." From traditional styles to experimental ales, Funky Buddha makes beers that create an experience, celebrate being different, and always keep things funky. The brand was acquired by Constellation Brands in 2017 and has had a successful partnership that expanded the brand's distribution. "We enjoyed working with Constellation and we learned a lot from them. As we embark on the next chapter, we plan to push boundaries and create entirely new drinking experiences in beer and beyond," added Ryan Sentz, Owner and Co-Founder. "We'll be serving good vibes on tap for many years to come." The reacquisition of Funky Buddha Brewery by the Sentz brothers is targeted for June 2023. About Funky Buddha Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery was founded in 2010 in Boca Raton by husband and wife Ryan and Giani Sentz. Ryan's brother KC and his wife Melissa joined the business as demand for their beers grew. Tired of the standard beer offerings, they took matters into their own brewhouse, whipping up unconventional-yet-exceptional ales. They are still Funkin' up the industry a decade later, crafting unique libations from the confines of their Oakland Park, Florida headquarters. Funky Buddha products are currently available at bars, restaurants, and retailers across the state. Website: https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FunkyBuddhaBrewery/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/funkybuddhabrew Twitter: https://twitter.com/funkybuddhabrew SOURCE Funky Buddha GUANGZHOU, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Open Guangzhou, Shared Opportunities" Further Opening up of the Service Sector and Global Bay Areas Service Industry Cooperation Roundtable was held in Guangzhou on May 25th. The event attracted representatives of leading enterprises and organizations from the world's four major bay areas to discuss opportunities for cooperation in the service sector. At the event, "Open Guangzhou, Shared Opportunities" the promotional film for Guangzhou, the Comprehensive Pilot Site for Opening up in Service Industry, and Guangzhou's ten enterprise pilot cases of deepening innovation and development of trade in services were officially released. On December 20, 2022, Guangzhou was approved to carry out a national comprehensive pilot project to further open up the service sector. Guangzhou grasps the major opportunity of unfolding the comprehensive pilot project and brings its capabilities to full play in high-quality development and construction of a new development pattern. Chen Yanchuan, Deputy Director-General of the Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau, introduced Guangzhou's comprehensive pilot policy of further opening up the service sector. He mentioned that Guangzhou prioritizes the manufacturing industry and fully promotes the integrated development of the advanced manufacturing industry and modern service industry. Six advanced manufacturing clusters with an output value of over 100 billion yuan, such as intelligent connected and new energy vehicles, high-end equipment manufacturing, modern urban consumer industry, etc., have formed in Guangzhou. At the roundtable, guests from the world's four major bay areas had discussions around topics such as "opportunities for cooperation and development in the global service sector", "opportunities for opening up and cooperation in the service sector in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area", and "practical exploration of in-depth integration of the modern service industry and advanced manufacturing industry". Harley Seyedin, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China, believed that the comprehensive pilot project of further opening up the service sector shows China's determination to pursue high-quality development and openness, and it also demonstrates Guangzhou's solid industrial foundation and its ability to combine its resources and industrial advantages with the service sector. FUJINO ATSUYA, vice President of Hitachi Elevator (China) Co., Ltd., said that the integration of the advanced manufacturing industry and modern service industry is not only an important way to keep up with the new round of technological revolution and to achieve high-quality development but also an accelerator to promote the transformation and upgrading of enterprises. Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of WTO, said in his video that trade in services is the most dynamic component of global trade. One of the factors is the ongoing trend to more market opening as shown by the OECD services trade restriction index which measures the degree or also to the recent WTO agreement on domestic services regulation. Both tell us that China recorded a very significant improvement as a result of market opening or regulation governing foreign direct investment. The global business community has paid attention to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Guangzhou, the city of openness, has a closer connection with the world. Tan Ping, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, said in her speech that Guangzhou will seize the opportunities, bring its advantages to full play, and set a good example on the new journey, so as to relieve the difficulties of development, converge the forces of cooperation, gather the momentum of innovation, and seek shared achievements by opening up. Guangzhou will continue to play the role of a leader in terms of high-quality development. SOURCE Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau DUBLIN, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Craft Beer Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global craft beer market size reached US$ 117.1 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is set to reach US$ 221.5 Billion by 2028 exhibiting a CAGR of 11.21% during 2022-2028. The escalating demand for low-alcohol beverages and the rising number of health-conscious consumers represent the primary factors driving the market growth. Besides this, the growing number of restaurants, lounges, bars, and pubs serving alcoholic beverages due to the increasing socialization trends is another major growth-inducing factor. Additionally, there has been a significant shift toward low ABV beers and ciders due to the rising awareness regarding alcohol unit consumption among the masses. Along with this, consumers, especially the young population, are now willing to try out new beverages, which is catalyzing the product demand. As a result, several key players are introducing a wider choice of flavors, such as sweet and sour, spicy, honey-like, and fruity, with enhanced taste to attract more consumers and expand their product portfolio. Moreover, the incorporation of go-green technology and innovative methods into the craft beer manufacturing process to minimize water usage and wastage is propelling the market growth. Other factors, including the rising popularity of non-alcoholic craft beer, ongoing research and development (R&D) activities, and changing consumption patterns, are also creating a positive outlook for the market. Key Questions Answered in This Report What was the size of the global craft beer market in 2022? What is the expected growth rate of the global craft beer market during 2023-2028? What are the key factors driving the global craft beer market? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global craft beer market? What is the breakup of the global craft beer market based on the product type? What is the breakup of the global craft beer market based on the age group? What is the breakup of the global craft beer market based on the distribution channel? What are the key regions in the global craft beer market? Who are the key players/companies in the global craft beer market? Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Bell's Brewery Inc. Constellation Brands Inc. D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. Diageo Plc Duvel Moortgat Heineken NV New Belgium Brewing Company Inc. Oskar Blues Brewery LLC Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Stone & Wood Brewing Co. (Lion Brewery Co) The Boston Beer Company Inc. Key Market Segmentation: Breakup by Product Type: Ales Lagers Others Breakup by Age Group: 21-35 Years Old 40-54 Years Old 55 Years and Above Breakup by Distribution Channel: On-Trade Off-Trade Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/atcn4l 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 MUNICH, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei unveiled the OlympusMons Challenges 2023 and the winners of the OlympusMons Awards 2022 at the Innovative Data Infrastructure Forum (IDI Forum) 2023, with the aim of inspiring global scientists to tackle technical problems in data storage. Technological innovation requires theoretical breakthroughs, as well as technological inventions, prototypes, and applications, all of which depend on collaboration across industry, academic communities, and research institutes. Huawei has announced OlympusMons Challenges for four consecutive years, helping guide the direction of research in the global data storage field. By overcoming key technical challenges, Huawei intends to put high-level scientific research into practice, and lead to a win-win collaboration. Professor Onur Mutlu's team at ETH Zurich, which won the OlympusMons Awards 2022, researched data-centric converged storage and computing network systems, developing innovative adaptive optimization algorithms that accelerate the upgrade of the storage architecture. At this summit, Huawei announced two major challenges for the OlympusMons Awards 2023: Storage with Ultimate Per-Bit Cost Efficiency, and Data Resilience and Services Oriented towards Multi-Cloud Environments. Huawei hopes to work with the academic community to build high-quality data storage systems that are characterized by data-centric storage architecture, efficient data use and governance technologies for new applications, data resilience, and proactive safeguards. Joan Serra-Sagrista, Professor from the Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Autonomous University of Barcelona, introduced the third Global Data Compression Competition (GDCC), which is co-hosted by the university and Huawei, inviting software engineers, researchers, students and enthusiasts to take part. The competition will encompass eight major challenges dedicated to lossless compression algorithm, with 171,000 euros in total prize money having been set aside. Individuals and teams who achieve the highest compression rates and performance will be declared winners. Dr. Cheng Zhuo, Chief Technical Research Expert of Huawei Data Storage, delivered a keynote speech at the event, entitled "Innovations Towards Next-Generation Storage Architecture", noting that as enterprises achieve digitalization on an accelerated timeline, data storage innovation will proceed in six key areas: capacity, performance, and reliability, efficiency, resilience, and a multi-cloud ecosystem. The development of the data storage industry requires widespread collaboration, and Huawei Data Storage will continue to work with industry and academic to develop smart, digital, and sustainable solutions of tomorrow. SOURCE Huawei ALBANY, N.Y., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A month-long Asian Cultural Festival from SACAF and OGS NY, concluded in Albany, New York on Wednesday, bringing the curtain down on a vibrant series of events celebrating the rich heritage of Asian American and Pacific Islander, (AAPI), communities. The highlight of the festival was a captivating photo exhibit, which showcased the breathtaking natural wonders and cultural treasures from various Asian countries. Attendees were taken on a virtual journey, immersing themselves in the grandeur of Asian UNESCO world heritage sites. From China's awe-inspiring Mt. Huangshan and Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings to Japanese's revered Toshogu Shrine, Malaysia's Batu Caves, and Indonesia's traditional Balinese Dance, the photos symbolized the kind and persevering nature of Asian people. Complimenting the photo exhibit was a symposium in conjunction with an AAPI themed farmers market, which delighted attendees with tantalizing foods and handcrafts. Thousands of residents of Albany, NY, had the opportunity to engage with a diverse arrange of Asian cultures and traditions through the display of products. "We honor the rich tapestry of AAPI communities, bridging ancient tradition with modern innovation, local experience with international influences, and transforming our understanding of heritage," said New York Assemblymember Steve Raga. "We invite everyone, regardless of their ancestry, to embrace the resilience, strength, and vibrant diversity that defines the AAPI spirit." The Symposium brought together esteemed leaders and speakers to honor the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Elaine Fan, Director of Asian Affairs of NYS Governor's Executive Chamber and Kristen Hanifen, Associate Commissioner of OGS NYS delivered warm remarks. It featured engaging panel discussions, where the stories and experiences of Asian Americans were shared. Marian Goldberg, founder of Goldberg on Travel recounted her remarkable experience of visiting Japan 44 time while Vekrum Kaushik, founder of the Longevity Lab shared his inspiring journey as a successful Indian American entrepreneur. Kailin Lu, Deputy Director of CNTONY shared the Chinese tea culture and histories of Mt. Huangshan and Dazu carvings while Sun Kim, the 11th president of the Korean American Association in Long Island shared Korean culture. Kwang Kim, of the Korean American Heritage Society, offered valuable insights gained from over 30 years of serving the Korean community. "It's important to unite communities through culture and history!" he said. Media Contact: CIMG [email protected] SOURCE SACAF DUBLIN, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "International Health Insurance 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The latest information, facts and figures on international health insurance International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is a key global health insurance product for many insurance companies, brokers and MGAs. It is a dynamic market that is seeing major new partnerships, selling and buying of insurers or business books, technological changes and much more. New compulsory health insurance and universal health insurance affects demand in a positive as well as negative way. Brokers and insurers expect strong growth in 2023 and future years. Employers are shifting from traditional expat models to decentralised models that incorporate more virtual assignments and in-market hiring. There are more short-term and flexible assignments but the number of long-term assignments is at pre-2020 levels. IPMI has new markets of HNW, digital nomads, temporary foreign workers, cross-border workers, local employees, contract workers plus international students. The publisher has been researching and studying the IPMI market for 30 years. His market reports are based on a daily updated database of 177 countries-83 insurance companies-47 insurance brokers, agents and MGAs/MGUs. The main IPMI is report is 300 pages and as well as the latest information this edition studies the many insurer-insurer IPMI partnerships that are changing the global market. The 2023 edition comes as a package with- 177 country profiles 83 insurance companies 47 insurance brokers, agents, MGAs and others The report package is for- Management consultants Insurance brokers and agents Insurance companies MGAs and MGUs Professionals working in global healthcare markets Hospital and clinic groups operating internationally Travel agents Banks and other financial institutions Investors and private equity National and local government policymakers Lawyers Policy advisors Think tanks Assistance companies Cost containment and claims management companies Insurance technology companies Travel managers Why buy this report? Keep up to date with trends in IPMI and how the market is changing. Understand the impact of major partnership deals. See an overview of what insurers and brokers are doing. Find out which countries are bringing in compulsory health insurance. Understand changes to universal health insurance in countries. See the latest insurer and broker research. This is THE one report you need as it is informed, analytical and up to date- from an insurance and market research professional of many years standing. It is as far from the usual boiler late report as a new Ferrari is from a rusty Lada. Please Note: This report does not contain images, diagrams or price comparisons. It does include facts and figures - with tables when appropriate. Key Topics Covered: Introduction IPMI market IPMI market 2023 International health insurance numbers The target market Redefining expats and IPMI customers Traditional Expat Employee Local Employee/Contractor Workers, Hybrid Expat Employee Short assignments Digital Nomad Temporary foreign workers Cross-border workers Sending people overseas High Net Worth and High profile customers International students Temporary foreign workers MGAs Lloyd's MGA Third-party administrators Foreign companies in the USA Digital nomad insurance Businesses and consumers Chronic condition management Diaspora cover for relatives Employer health support to employees and families Merging health insurance and healthcare Millennials Remote health services Seniors Short-term cover International health insurance partnerships The big partnership deals Key deals Health insurers A to Z recent events Countries A to Z Research - insurers, brokers and others Healthcare Survey Work and Wander: Digital Nomads Expat survey Expat and international employee healthcare trends Healthcare in 2040 Future health, care and well-being by 2040 Millennials- misguided or misunderstood? Global Medical Trend Rates Report 2023 US employer medical costs projections Social media comments by expats World of Work Mental health of expats The Future of Work: Flexibility, diversity, and purpose Executive Wellbeing Index 360 Global Wellbeing Survey Global Wealth Report 2022 Health Care Insights Study Health Trends: Future of Healthy Aging USA Health Systems in Transition-Czechia Health Systems in Transition- Georgia United Kingdom : Health system review 2022 : Health system review 2022 How can health insurers mobilise new technology International Health Insurance for Expatriate, Students and Affluent Residents: Global Expatriates: Size, Segmentation and Forecast Tackling the Surgery Backlog in the Canadian Provinces Expat Insider 2022 Work from Wherever Index Health Trends 2023 Political Global Risks Report 2023 Healthy ageing in the era of an ageing global workforce, Medical claims data Annual 2022 Expat Employee Benefit Trends Annual 2022 USA Employee Benefit Trends International Mobility Survey International Migration Outlook Health at a glance- Latin America and the Caribbean and the Health at a glance- Europe Expat workers in Europe State of International Health Insurance Report 2021-2022 Cost of International Health Insurance Report 2021-2022 Global Employee Benefits Trends Report 2022 International School Survey Top 2023 USA Employee Benefit Trends Sigma 4-22 World Insurance Number of international students State of World Population World Migration Report 2022 ACA numbers Can people afford to pay for health care in Bulgaria Quality of data on health spending 2023 Global Medical Trends Survey China health insurance health insurance Africa Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East And North Africa The Future Databases A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Abacare Achmea Adelaide ADNIC Aetna-CVS Ageas AIA AIG Alan Allegiant Alliance Allianz Amariz Amazon Aon Apple April Arabia Insurance Ardonagh ASSSA Aviva Axa Bahrain National Life Bellwood Prestbury Berkshire Hathaway Best Meridian BIMA Blue Cross Blue Shield Bupa CCW Chubb Cigna Clements Worldwide Collinson Daman Damana DFV Diot Siaci Discovery Doha Euroins Fairfax Fosun International Foyer Global FWD Gallagher General & Medical Generali GeoBlue Global Risk Partners Great Eastern Great West Lifeco Health Compass Henner Hollard Health Howden IMG International Citizens Jubilee JW Seagon Kunlun Liberty Health Liberty Mutual Lloyd's of London Lockton Malakoff Humanis Manulife MAPFRE Marsh McLennan Medgulf Medibank Medicover Medihelp Met Life Millenium Momentum Metropolitan Morgan Price Morgan White Munich Re Mutua Madrilena National Life and General New India nib NN Now Health NSIA Insurance Nugent Sante Old Mutual Oman Insurance Optimum Global Orient Insurance Pacific Cross Pacific Prime Pan-American Life PassportCard PBI PICC Ping An PZU QBE QLM Regency Assurance Sanlam Seguros 360 Seven Corners Signal IDUNA Sompo Starr State Life Status Global Swiss Global Swiss Life Swisscare Tokio Marine Trawick Union Insurance UNIQA Unisure UnitedHealth VHI Vienna Insurance Group VUMI VYY WAFA WellAway William Russell WTW Zhong An Zurich Insurance For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tr3hwh 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 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Three years into the racial reckoning triggered by the death of George Floyd, a Black man handcuffed and suffocated by a white police officer, the landscape particularly in Virginia and elsewhere in the South is being scrubbed clean of emblems of white supremacy of which that caught-on-video moment in Minneapolis became a modern monument. Less obvious symbols ancient, distinctly Southern and almost entirely white in their provenance endure, with one now shared by a nation likely largely unaware of its complicated origin: Memorial Day, when Americans pay tribute to military men and women killed defending the United States at home and abroad. Memorial Day, for the most part, began as a commemoration by Southerners of husbands, fathers and sons who perished in the 19th-century Confederate revolt to preserve Black slavery. The observance sprang from a womens movement made up of what were known as ladies memorial associations that would impress the Union victors of the Civil War, spurring them to formally honor the Northern dead. These volunteer associations, drawing many of their members from the upper and middle classes, would whether repatriating remains to grieving families, creating Confederate cemeteries or organizing flower-bedecked tributes, most of which the Union refused to provide its former enemies help reinvent the Souths crushing defeat as a noble crusade to preserve a way of life. At its core, of course, was the enforced separation of the races, revived barely 30 years after the Civil War, through Jim Crow laws that stripped many Black Southerners of their voting rights and consigned them to the lower rungs of the economy. Into the early 20th century, the associations ultimately overtaken by the better-known United Daughters of the Confederacy, whose Richmond headquarters was damaged by protesters during post-George Floyd unrest in 2020 worked tireless to promote a positive memory of the Confederacy and to cultivate white Southern solidarity, writes Caroline E. Janney, a University of Virginia historian, in her 2008 book, Burying the Dead but Not the Past: Ladies Memorial Associations & the Lost Cause. The associations, however, became political instruments in the post-Civil War push by the Southern white patriarchy to restore its traditional authority. Southern men, says Janney, could claim that these Ladies were disinterested in politics, but women had literally provided a platform from which ex-Confederate men could lament their defeat. This fact was not lost on the Republicans and Union occupying forces and did little to persuade them that these displays had no political content. As a result, she observes, Even in the tender hands of Southern women, Memorial Days and cemetery dedications smacked of unrepentant rebellion. Often overlooked is the racial dimension of these tributes to the Civil War fallen; that many were proposed and perpetuated by whites. An early observance, at Blandford Cemetery in 1867 in Petersburg, site of the bloody, 292-day siege that presaged the collapse of the Confederacy in 1865, is seen by some historians as the impetus for a national holiday, which wasnt officially established until 1971 by an act of Congress five years after a declaration by President Lyndon Johnson, a Southerner and father-in-law of a Virginia governor and U.S. senator, Charles Robb, recognizing Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace in 1866 of Memorial Day. Lawyer-historian John Peters in Blandford Cemetery, Death and Life in Petersburg, Virginia reports that Mary Logan, wife of Gen. John A. Logan, leader of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union veterans organization, visited Blandford some months after the observance and was moved by the floral arrangements that continued to adorn Confederate graves. The general, taken by her account, directed that local chapters of the Grand Army of the Republic be similarly attentive of Union graves. But like the mists of war, history can confuse and conceal, lending nuanced complexity to the story of Memorial Day initially known as Decoration Day and now a holiday that seems less about war and remembrance and more about the start of the summer travel season and sales by online and bricks-and-mortar retailers. Organized tributes in the South and North to Civil War dead were reported even before the fighting stopped, with flowers cast on soldiers graves. In Charleston, South Carolina, not a month after Lees surrender at Appomattox, thousands of people many of them Black honored with a parade Union casualties who would be exhumed from a mass grave and reburied in individual plots. Virginia incrementally and, often, reluctantly, surrendered the insignia of its Southern character including, in Richmond and other cities, statutes of Confederate military and government leaders. This represents a bow to growth, accelerating suburbanization, nationalized state and local politics, and a population more than half which is non-native. A state holiday honoring Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson it was briefly paired with one for the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. was eliminated in 2020, replaced with Election Day. Three years earlier, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a New York-born Democrat, signed into law legislation by a Black delegate, Delores McQuinn of Richmond, creating charitable trusts to pay for upkeep at often-neglected Black cemeteries. The state had previously helped care for Confederate cemeteries, many created by the ladies memorial associations. Time, too, has obscured the Southern roots of Memorial Day and the paradox that a holiday that is supposed to be about national unity was born of regional revolt. Ritual mourning of war dead is so universal that I doubt whether the Confederate connection could taint Memorial Day for modern Americans or make people reluctant to observe it, says John Coski, a historian retired from the American Civil War Museum in Richmond and an expert in Confederate iconography. I think most people understand the universal need to honor war dead and to make sense of and find meaning in their sacrifice. Close 05-26-1986: Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-29-1983 (cutline)L Last year's Memorial Day Festival meant family picnics. 05-31-1968 (cutline): As part of Memorial Day observances yesterday, an avenue of flags was flown in Williamsburg, with each flag representing an area serviceman killed in Vietnam. Tommy Etchberger, a Boy Scout who participated in a memorial service sponsored by Post 39 of the American Legion, poses beneath one of the flags. 05-19-1989 (cutline): Ronnie Harrison (foreground) enjoys a Memorial Day nap at Libby Hill Park picnic. 05-26-1986 (cutline): Re-enactment groups will recall Memorial Day today. 05-26-1990 (cutline): Re-enacters from the all-African American Massachusetts Regiment led the Memorial Day Grand Reunion Parade of Union and Confederate soldiers down cowod-lined Monument Avenue and past the statue of Robert E. Lee. 05-24-1987: Parade on Monument Avenue for Memorial Day included re-enacters. 05-29-1983: Small neighborhood parade goes down 27th street for Memorial Day. 05-29-1979: The Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-23-1987 (cutline): Earl Peyton of American Legion Post 242 of Sandston put flags on the graves of servicemen at Seven Pines National Cemetery yesterday. The Memorial Day tradition helps to remind those passing the graves that the holiday is meant to be much more than a three-day weekend. 05-20-1970: Memorial Day. Editor's Note: A total of 1,112 Virginians have died in Vietnam since December, 1961 and 278 of them have died since last Memorial Day. From the Archives: Memorial Day A look back at Memorial Day in Richmond. 05-26-1986: Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-29-1983 (cutline)L Last year's Memorial Day Festival meant family picnics. 05-31-1968 (cutline): As part of Memorial Day observances yesterday, an avenue of flags was flown in Williamsburg, with each flag representing an area serviceman killed in Vietnam. Tommy Etchberger, a Boy Scout who participated in a memorial service sponsored by Post 39 of the American Legion, poses beneath one of the flags. 05-19-1989 (cutline): Ronnie Harrison (foreground) enjoys a Memorial Day nap at Libby Hill Park picnic. 05-26-1986 (cutline): Re-enactment groups will recall Memorial Day today. 05-26-1990 (cutline): Re-enacters from the all-African American Massachusetts Regiment led the Memorial Day Grand Reunion Parade of Union and Confederate soldiers down cowod-lined Monument Avenue and past the statue of Robert E. Lee. 05-24-1987: Parade on Monument Avenue for Memorial Day included re-enacters. 05-29-1983: Small neighborhood parade goes down 27th street for Memorial Day. 05-29-1979: The Virginia War Memorial on Memorial Day. 05-23-1987 (cutline): Earl Peyton of American Legion Post 242 of Sandston put flags on the graves of servicemen at Seven Pines National Cemetery yesterday. The Memorial Day tradition helps to remind those passing the graves that the holiday is meant to be much more than a three-day weekend. 05-20-1970: Memorial Day. Editor's Note: A total of 1,112 Virginians have died in Vietnam since December, 1961 and 278 of them have died since last Memorial Day. DUBLIN, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Italy Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Italy data center market is expected to reach a value of $3.65 billion by 2028 from $3.01 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 3.29% during 2022 to 2028. Italy is one of the fastest-growing data center markets in Western Europe. The demand for data centers in the country is increasing due to the huge demand from Italian enterprises. This report analyses the Italy data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. There is growth in the Italian economy, and it made a rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy grew by around 3.9% in the year 2022. Around USD 14 billion as investments are planned under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) for the digitalization of Italian public administration and businesses by 2026, USD 7 billion. The usage of AI, big data & IoT, increasing submarine cable deployments, and adoption of cloud services make the country favorable for data center investments. The government of Italy is investing over USD 900 million to develop a national cloud for migrating its sensitive data-carrying workloads to the cloud. Italy is working immensely to decrease its carbon footprint by reducing energy imports and investing in renewable energy projects, energy grids, and sustainable transport. The country is taking steps to reform its national energy systems and transition from fossil fuels. Italian cities such as Milan, Bologna, Rome, Turin, Florence, Padua, Prato, Bergamo, and Parma have been selected by the European Union to make them smart and carbon-neutral by 2030. WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH? Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Italy colocation market revenue. colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Italy by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across states in the country. A detailed study of the existing Italy data center market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period. data center market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Italy Facilities Covered (Existing): 55 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 07 Coverage: 16+ Locations Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Italy Market Revenue & Forecast (2022-2028) Retail Colocation Pricing The Italy market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry. VENDOR LANDSCAPE Some key investors in the Italy data center market include Aruba , Telecom Italia, Equinix, DATA4 Group, and Irideos. data center market include , Telecom Italia, Equinix, DATA4 Group, and Irideos. The market has witnessed investments from new entrants, such as STACK Infrastructure, Vantage Data Centers, CloudHQ, and Compass Datacenters. Major Vendors IT Infrastructure Providers Atos Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies IBM Lenovo NetApp Nutanix Oracle Pure Storage Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors AECOM Ariatta Eiffage EDITEL DBA PRO Future-tech ISG In-Site NORMA Engineering Starching Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Alfa Laval Caterpillar Climaventa Climate Technologies Cummins Emicon Legrand HiRef Honeywell International Piller Power Systems Munters Mitsubishi Electric Pramac Rittal Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec STULZ Trane Vertiv Data Center Investors Amazon Web Services Aruba Equinix Microsoft Telecom Italia IRIDEOS SUPERNAP Italia New Entrants Geoveda Compass Datacenters Google STACK Infrastructure Vantage Data Centers EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) Milan Other Cities (Ancona, Arezzo, Bologna, Frosinone, Massarosa, Padua, Palermo, Pavia, Perugia, Piacenza, Pisa , Rome , Treviso, Turin , and Venice ) , , Treviso, , and ) List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) REPORT COVERAGE: The segmentation includes: IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers Economizers & Evaporative Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Engineering & Building Design Fire Detection & Suppression Systems Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV Geography Milan Other Cities For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fz6g57 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 ESCALON, Calif., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- J Vollbrecht Consulting Inc. (JVC), is a women-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small business that specializes in providing project management and project controls support services to clients across the United States. This milestone achievement highlights JVC's commitment to growth, diversity, and its ability to compete in the federal marketplace. The 8(a) program, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is designed to assist small businesses in their development and establish a solid foundation for future success. The program offers a wide range of support services, including mentorship, business training, and access to government contracts, enabling companies to navigate the complexities of federal procurement and drive growth in competitive industries. By attaining 8(a) certification, JVC gains a significant advantage in the government contracting arena. This designation recognizes JVC's potential to provide high-quality professional and technical services and positions the company to secure valuable federal contracts. With this certification, JVC can leverage its expertise, innovation, and exceptional customer service to expand its operations and contribute to the advancement of federal initiatives. The 8(a) program fosters opportunities for businesses like JVC to establish long-term relationships with government agencies, prime contractors, and other 8(a) certified companies. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, JVC can enhance its capabilities, access new markets, and create a broader impact in the industry. This certification also opens doors to a network of resources through JVC's mentor/protege agreement with Longenecker & Associates that will fuel JVC's growth trajectory. "We are thrilled to be certified with the 8(a) Business Development Program," said Dr. Jennifer Vollbrecht/ CEO at JVC. "This achievement reflects our ongoing dedication to excellence and positions us for significant growth in the federal marketplace. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to making a positive impact through our services and solutions." JVC's certification with the 8(a) program is a testament to the company's strong foundation, exceptional leadership, and commitment to excellence. The company was established 4 years ago and JVC has already demonstrated its ability to deliver innovative and high-quality products to its clients, exceeding their expectations and contributing to their success. As an 8(a) certified company, JVC remains steadfast in its mission to provide cutting-edge solutions to its clients while expanding its footprint in the federal marketplace. About JVC: J Vollbrecht Consulting (JVC) is a women-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small business. JVC specializes in providing project management and project controls support services to clients across the United States. The JVC team provides expertise to evaluate and systematically eliminate the nation's top scientific, energy and manufacturing risks through excellence in leadership, program management and strategy execution. For media inquiries or more information, please contact: Taylor Brown Business Manager J Vollbrecht Consulting, Inc. 209-679-9925 [email protected] www.jvc-inc.com SOURCE J Vollbrecht Consulting NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE: JKS) resulting from allegations that JinkoSolar may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased JinkoSolar securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16025 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On May 9, 2023, News4jax and the Jacksonville Daily Record reported that, on the prior day, law enforcement agency vehicles were seen at the JinkoSolar solar panel manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that "[a]ccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal agents were assisting the Department of Homeland Security with the execution of a search warrant." Reportedly, according to News4Jax, JinkoSolar is one of several companies under investigation by the Commerce Department for circumventing trade rules by sending products to other countries before moving them to the U.S. On this news, JinkoSolar shares fell $3.91 per American Depositary Receipt ("ADR"), or 8.25%, to close at $43.47 per ADR on May 9, 2023. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. The new battery cell JV will be located in Bryan County , Savannah, Georgia where Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is currently being built Total investment amount of over USD 4.3 billion; LGES and HMG to take a 50 percent stake respectively JV's battery production aimed to start at the end of 2025 with an annual production capacity of 30 GWh, capable of supporting the production of 300,000 EVs Building the second battery manufacturing JV, LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to continue strengthening the ties with their long-time partnership in electrification efforts SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hyundai Motor Group announced an EV battery cell manufacturing joint venture in the U.S. today. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding to produce EV batteries in the U.S. and further accelerate the Group's electrification efforts in North America. The signing ceremony took place in LGES's headquarters in Seoul on May 26 with the attendance of Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution and Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor Group to Establish Battery Cell Manufacturing Joint Venture in the U.S. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group will each hold a 50 percent stake in the JV, which will involve the investment of over USD 4.3 billion (KRW 5.7 trillion). "Two strong leaders in the auto and battery industries have joined hands, and together we are ready to drive the EV transition in America," said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. "By further advancing our product competitiveness and global operational expertise, LG Energy Solution will commit our best efforts to offering the ultimate sustainable energy solutions to our customers." "Hyundai Motor Group is focusing on its electrification efforts to secure a leadership position in the global auto industry. We will create a strong foundation to lead the global EV transition through establishing a new EV battery cell plant with LG Energy Solution, a leading global battery producer and long-time partner," said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. The annual production capacity of the new joint venture is at 30 GWh, able to support the production of 300,000 units of EVs annually. The facility will be in Bryan County, Savannah, Georgia adjacent to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, currently under construction. Starting construction in the second half of 2023, the joint venture plans to start battery production at the end of 2025 at the earliest. Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the plant, then supply them to the Group's U.S. manufacturing facilities for production of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models. The new facility will help create a stable supply of batteries in the region and allow the Group to respond fast to the soaring EV demand in the U.S. market. With this JV, LGES now has seven battery plants currently operating or being constructed in the U.S., where the company is concentrating most of its resources to expand the production capacity. By ramping up its local production, LGES aims to provide innovative products both in scale and with speed, thereby expediting the clean energy transition in the U.S. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group have long been partners in the field of electrification having worked on the supplies of EV batteries for vehicles, including Elantra Hybrid, Kona Electric, and IONIQ 6 dedicated EV. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, LPi hybrid vehicle introduced in 2009, was the Group's first electrified model. In 2021, both started construction of the Indonesia battery cell JV which is set to start production in the first half of 2024. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to further strengthen the ties going forward with the EV battery cooperation. About LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 25,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers such as General Motors, Stellantis N.V., Hyundai Motor Group, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. At the forefront of green business and sustainability, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com . About Hyundai Motor Group Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT, and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Group's mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on any challenges, we strive to create a better future for all. More information about Hyundai Motor Group, please see: www.hyundaimotorgroup.com SOURCE LG Energy Solution LG to Unveil Its Unique, Color-changing Refrigerator in Australia in Partnership With the Country's Largest Festival of Creativity, Innovation and Light SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics (LG) announces 'MoodUP, by LG,' an exciting, multifaceted activation set to take place during Vivid Sydney 2023. Featuring the biggest light show in Australia, Sydney's annually-held festival, which is now in its thirteenth year, will introduce locals and visitors to LG's innovative InstaView fridge with MoodUP. LG Electronics announces a multifaceted activation set 'MoodUP, by LG' to take place during Vivid Sydney 2023. LG Electronics announces a multifaceted activation set 'MoodUP, by LG' to take place during Vivid Sydney 2023. LG InstaView Fridge with MoodUP at 'MoodUP, by LG' booth at Vivid Sydney 2023 LG InstaView Fridge with MoodUP at 'MoodUP, by LG' booth at Vivid Sydney 2023 A truly revolutionary kitchen appliance, the LG InstaView fridge with MoodUP has color-changing door panels that provide a whole new level of personalization. Enabling users to switch up the colors whenever the mood takes them, the fridge and its LED panels offer up to 190,000[1] color combinations to choose from and easy management via the LG ThinQ mobile app. Additionally, the InstaView with MoodUP boasts advanced refrigeration and smart technologies that deliver outstanding food freshness and user convenience for an elevated kitchen experience. Visitors to LG's activation will be greeted by an eye-catching LED 'wall' measuring an impressive four-meters-high by eleven-meters-wide. Along with meeting the company's colorific new fridge, they can also take part in a fun, movement-based quiz, What's your Vivid Sydney Mood?, spanning eight compelling categories: Energetic, Cruisy, Whimsical, Cheerful, Adventurous, Creative, Soulful and Curious. After completing the quiz, visitors can capture the moment with a 360-degree photo and by answering some questions about the kind of Vivid experience they're looking for can receive a personalized Vivid Sydney itinerary. The ability to tailor the itinerary to the preferences of each visitor is made possible through the convenient accessibility of a web-augmented reality (web-AR) platform, which can be easily accessed using a compatible smart device.[2] For more interactive enjoyment, LG has developed unique AR placements, strategically situated at various points along Vivid Sydney's dazzling, eight-kilometer-long light walk. These exclusive AR placements, also accessible through web-AR on compatible devices, present different activities to enhance the experience of the festival's immersive light show. To ensure they don't miss out on any of the captivating AR, visitors can opt to receive prompts on their smartphones alerting them that they've arrived at one of LG's AR-enabled locations. "Our personalizable, customizable InstaView fridge with MoodUP offers a wide array of colors to suit any tastes or preferences, and we're very excited to be showcasing it at Vivid Sydney," said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. "During Sydney's iconic festival, visitors will have the chance to experience a range of engaging interactions with our innovative fridge, which we plan to release in Australia this summer the first time it will be available outside of South Korea." From May 26 to June 17, experience the vibrant and diverse colors of the LG InstaView fridge with MoodUP at Vivid Sydney's immersive 'MoodUP, by LG' activation, taking place outside of Customs House in Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia. [1] Applies to 4-LED panel-door models. The number of color combinations available may vary by the models and the markets. The ThinQ app is available on compatible Android and iOS smartphones. [2] Visitors can create an itinerary prior to visiting Vivid Sydney and without attending the 'MoodUP, by LG' activation via: www.lg.com/au/moodup. About LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company is a global leader in home appliances, smart home solutions, air solutions as well as visionary products featuring LG ThinQ AI. The company is creating various solutions with its industry leading core technologies and is committed to making life better and healthier for consumers by developing thoughtfully designed kitchen appliances, living appliances, HVAC and air purification solutions. Together, these products deliver enhanced convenience, superb performance, efficient operation and compelling health benefits. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085398/MoodUP_by_LG_exterior_01.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085399/MoodUP_by_LG_exterior_02.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085401/MoodUP_by_LG_interior_03.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085400/MoodUP_by_LG_interior_05.jpg SOURCE LG Electronics, Inc. KETCHUM, Idaho, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metalex, an emerging US mining and metals company operating across the African continent, has raised $2 million in seed funding. This funding will enable the company to expand its metal processing operations, enhance its technology platform, and grow its team. Ayo Sopitan, CEO of Metalex JD McDonnell, Managing Partner, Endura Capital Management The funding round was led by Endura Capital Management, a Sun Valley, Idaho based hedge fund. Endura has also entered into a strategic partnership with Metalex to form the $10 Million Endura Metalex African Opportunities Fund. This joint venture will provide trade finance for Metalex's operations in its key markets. "We are thrilled to have the support of Endura Capital and our other investors as we continue to expand our business across Africa," said Ayo Sopitan, CEO of Metalex. "We are now well placed to build a well-oiled machine that is built on our own processing facilities with feedstock sourced and produced in partnership with local miners in our key market, Zambia as well as other geographies like Nigeria, Zimbabwe amongst others." Endura Capital Management is equally excited about the partnership, with Managing Partner JD McDonnell noting, "We believe that the commodities sector in Africa represents a tremendous growth opportunity, and we are confident that our partnership with Metalex will enable us to identify and invest in the most promising sectors in this space." With this new funding and partnership, Metalex, under the leadership of CEO Ayo Sopitan and COO Sev Bazil, is poised to become a major player in the African commodities market, creating new opportunities for growth for host communities, as well as its investors. Media Contact: John David McDonnell [email protected] 312-371-3557 Ayo Sopitan [email protected] SOURCE Metalex TicWatch Pro 5 is the first smartwatch to include the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 Wearable Platform, powered with Wear OS by Google (Wear OS 3) at launch SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobvoi Inc. , the leading AI company and creator of TicWatch smartwatches, today unveiled the highly anticipated next-generation TicWatch Pro 5. As the premier leader in AI software-hardware integration, Mobvoi has strengthened its AI capabilities with a self-developed Large Language Model (Sequence Monkey) that has the potential to enhance the AI CoPilot feature of the TicWatch series. Mobvoi's new TicWatch Pro 5 is ideal for outdoor adventures and everyday health & fitness tracking. Mobvoi's new TicWatch Pro 5 key features and benefits. TicWatch Pro 5 is the first wearable to feature the new Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 Wearable Platform, which supports versatile sensors, more accurate health algorithms, and a longer battery life. These advanced features position TicWatch Pro 5 as users' wearable health copilot with the ability to collect health-related data, analyze it locally or through Mobvoi's backend universal Large Language Model, to provide personal health insights and guidance. TicWatch Pro 5 also launches with Wear OS by Google (Wear OS 3) to help users stay connected in style. With the strongest exterior materials of any TicWatch to date, and an all-new rotating crown for easier navigation, TicWatch Pro 5 is the most powerful and most durable smartwatch in the TicWatch class. "It's been an honor working with some of the world's leading global technology companies like Google and Qualcomm to create this next-generation TicWatch that integrates our in-house AI-based algorithms, setting a new standard for the category," said Robert Zhang, vice president of engineering at Mobvoi. "Our team has spent countless hours perfecting these algorithms behind 24/7 continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep and fitness tracking features, and more to provide users with a seamless, enjoyable experience whether they are at home, in the gym, or on a hike. All of these bring our smartwatch closer to becoming a health copilot. Apart from that, we're also adopting a company-owned AI model to copilot the content creation process (e.g. Text-to-Image) on our watch face creation platform - TimeShow." TicWatch Pro 5's main shell is designed with ultra-strength durability through aerospace-grade Aluminum and a surgical-level metal bezel, providing a lightweight feel while being highly resistant to damage and corrosion. The bright and easily readable screen is protected by fingerprint and chip-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. Tested to meet US-MIL-STD 810H and 5ATM water resistance, TicWatch Pro 5 is built to handle constant use and rugged adventures, with open water swimming suitability. TicWatch Pro 5 proudly upholds the distinctive and celebrated legacy of the Dual-layer display design famously associated with the TicWatch series. TicWatch Pro 5 users will quickly notice the new design of the device's 2nd-layer display (namely Ultra-low-power Display), and upgraded functionality for Essential Mode. The Ultra-low-power display allows users to see vital metrics via switchable tiles by rotating the crown, all without waking the watch. The upgraded Essential Mode introduces Smart Essential Mode which enables the watch to automatically go to sleep if it detects no motion, such as while a user is sleeping or not wearing it. These all enable users to proactively and strategically plan their battery usage and extend battery life for up to 80 hours*. With a quick 30-minute charge, the TicWatch Pro 5 can reach 65 percent* battery life, ensuring all workouts, date nights and day trips are connected. Full List of TicWatch Pro 5's key benefits and features includes: Brand New Features: Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 Wearable Platform: Offers an unparalleled user experience, with higher processing power, faster connectivity and better energy efficiency. Offers an unparalleled user experience, with higher processing power, faster connectivity and better energy efficiency. Wear OS by Google: TicWatch Pro 5 is powered with Wear OS by Google (Wear OS 3). TicWatch Pro 5 is powered with Wear OS by Google (Wear OS 3). Rotating Crown: Enables a touch-free experience and a quicker way to navigate and launch apps, adjust volume, and zoom in/out on maps, perfect for wet hands or when users are wearing gloves. Enables a touch-free experience and a quicker way to navigate and launch apps, adjust volume, and zoom in/out on maps, perfect for wet hands or when users are wearing gloves. Evolved Ultra Low Power Display (ULP Display) Tiles with rotating crown navigation: TicWatch Pro 5 innovatively introduces ULP display tiles to show always-on biological data and ambient information. This includes heart rate, blood oxygen, calories, compass and other essential data, and can be accessed by rotating the crown. TicWatch Pro 5 innovatively introduces ULP display tiles to show always-on biological data and ambient information. This includes heart rate, blood oxygen, calories, compass and other essential data, and can be accessed by rotating the crown. In TicExercise , the ULP display introduces innovative Heart Rate Zone Backlights and switchable fitness metrics. Trail runners and night joggers can easily track their heart rate by a simple glance at the display's changing colors, without disrupting their pace. , the ULP display introduces innovative Heart Rate Zone Backlights and switchable fitness metrics. Trail runners and night joggers can easily track their heart rate by a simple glance at the display's changing colors, without disrupting their pace. Recovery Time and VO2 Max: Know your limits and when to push boundaries while exercising. VO2 Max predicts the maximum amount of oxygen you can use during exercise. Powered by Mobvoi's AI-enhanced algorithms, the Recovery Time on TicWatch Pro 5 evaluates one's physical condition. Know your limits and when to push boundaries while exercising. VO2 Max predicts the maximum amount of oxygen you can use during exercise. Powered by Mobvoi's AI-enhanced algorithms, the Recovery Time on TicWatch Pro 5 evaluates one's physical condition. Compass, Barometer and Multi-GNSS: Enables users to plan their route more precisely and know their routes in real-time so they never get lost in the wild. Additional Features: Upgraded Essential Mode: It now supports both Scheduled and Smart entering, and allows you to access important biological information, ambient data and advanced sleep tracking with extreme low power consumption. It now supports both Scheduled and Smart entering, and allows you to access important biological information, ambient data and advanced sleep tracking with extreme low power consumption. Long Battery Life* & Fast Charge: The giant 628mAh (typical) capacity enables a battery life of 80 hours*. With the fast charge tech, the battery can fuel up to 65 percent* with a quick 30-minute charge. The giant 628mAh (typical) capacity enables a battery life of 80 hours*. With the fast charge tech, the battery can fuel up to 65 percent* with a quick 30-minute charge. One-tap Measurement : Access five health metrics (heart rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, stress level and a heart health rating) after exercising at any time by a single tap on the screen. : Access five health metrics (heart rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, stress level and a heart health rating) after exercising at any time by a single tap on the screen. Enhanced Sleep Tracking: Newly added features include respiratory rate monitoring, customizable blood oxygen monitoring, skin temperature monitoring and AI-empowered algorithms generated daily/weekly/monthly sleep reports. Newly added features include respiratory rate monitoring, customizable blood oxygen monitoring, skin temperature monitoring and AI-empowered algorithms generated daily/weekly/monthly sleep reports. Improved Continuous Heart Rate Monitor: More accurate data (HR, SPO2, IHB, AFib) to exercise wisely and give vital insights into a user's general health and lifestyle. More accurate data (HR, SPO2, IHB, AFib) to exercise wisely and give vital insights into a user's general health and lifestyle. Stress Management: TicHealth fatigue assessment and TicZen energy level and stress level monitoring. TicHealth fatigue assessment and TicZen energy level and stress level monitoring. 100+ Professional Workout Modes: Newly integrated open water swim and altitude calibration for climbing or trail running. Newly integrated open water swim and altitude calibration for climbing or trail running. MIL-STD-810H: Durable to withstand sudden air pressure drops and weather changes. Durable to withstand sudden air pressure drops and weather changes. 5ATM Water Resistant and Open Water Swimming Suitable: TicWatch Pro 5 supports underwater heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking. It is able to sustain open water or rain exposure without damage. TicWatch Pro 5 supports underwater heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking. It is able to sustain open water or rain exposure without damage. Stay Connected: With a phone's Bluetooth connectivity, users can take and make calls straight from their wrist without needing to reach for their phone. *Battery consumption/charge depends on use and varies by platform. Google, Google Play, Wear OS by Google, Google Wallet and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC. TicWatch Pro 5 users can benefit from additional Mobvoi services, including the recently released Sports and Health Data Platform , TimeShow watch face app with a platform integrating Mobvoi-owned AI model to copilot the content creation process (e.g. Text-to-Image), and a one-year-free VIP Sleep Service plan. Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 5 is now available on Mobvoi.com and Amazon for $349.99. The watch itself comes in a jet black "obsidian" finish, with five 24mm watch bands available to choose from; "Go Wild" silicone bands in Jungle Green, Bonfire Orange, and Twilight Blue, as well as "Go Urban" genuine leather bands in Tuxedo Black and Smart Casual Blue. To learn more about Mobvoi and its TicWatch lineup, visit www.Mobvoi.com or follow on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram . About Mobvoi: Mobvoi is an innovative AI tech company with in-house core technologies in the areas including speech recognition, natural language understanding, vertical search, etc. Their core consumer products include the TicWatch line of smartwatches and TicPods and Mobvoi Earbuds line of hearables . The Beijing-based Chinese startup has announced six rounds of financing, including Sequoia, Zhenfund, SIG, Google, etc. Mobvoi formed a strategic partnership with automobile giant Volkswagen in 2017. Mobvoi is dedicated to redefining the next generation of human-machine interaction by bringing hardware/software integrated products into people's daily life with a strong AI-centered approach. To find out more about Mobvoi: www.mobvoi.com MEDIA CONTACT: Rongrong Zhao 551-427-8985 [email protected] SOURCE Mobvoi Inc. WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station will conduct a pair of spacewalks Friday, June 9, and Thursday, June 15, to install two new solar arrays. NASA will discuss the upcoming spacewalks during a news conference at 12 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 1. Live coverage of the news conference and spacewalks will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Steve Bowen is pictured outside the International Space Station during his eighth career spacewalk, during which he routed cables and installed insulation to ready the orbital outpost for its next set of roll-out solar arrays. News conference participants are: Dina Contella , operations integration manager, International Space Station Program, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston , operations integration manager, International Space Station Program, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Diane Dailey , spacewalk flight director, NASA Johnson , spacewalk flight director, NASA Johnson Megan Shutilka, spacewalk officer, NASA Johnson U.S. media interested in participating in person must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 31, by calling 281-483-5111 or emailing [email protected]. To ask questions, reporters must dial into the news conference no later than 11:45 a.m., June 1. Questions also may be submitted on social media using #AskNASA. Each spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. and last about six-and-a-half hours with NASA coverage beginning at 7:45 a.m. On June 9, NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg will exit the station's Quest airlock to install an upgraded IROSA (International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array) on the 1A power channel on the starboard truss of the station. Bowen will serve as extravehicular activity (EVA) crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Hoburg will serve as extravehicular crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. U.S. EVA 87 will be the ninth spacewalk for Bowen and the first for Hoburg. On June 15, the same pair of astronauts will install an IROSA on the 1B power channel on the starboard truss. Assignments for U.S. EVA 88 will be determined at a later date. The spacewalks will see the fifth and sixth IROSAs mounted to the existing station solar arrays. The new arrays are 60 feet long by 20 feet wide (18.2 meters by 6 meters) and will shade a little more than half of the original arrays, which are 112 feet long by 39 feet wide. The seventh and eighth IROSAs will be installed on future spacewalks. Each new IROSA will produce more than 20 kilowatts of electricity, and once all eight are installed, will enable a 30% increase in power production over the station's current arrays. Get breaking news, images and features from the space station on the station blog, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at: https://www.nasa.gov/station SOURCE NASA VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of May 12, 2023, which announced the closing of the brokered portion of its previously announced financing for gross proceeds of $5-million (the "LIFE Offering"), the Company has now closed the final $11.25-million portion (the "Non-Brokered Private Placement") of its previously announced private placement offering of Common Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million (collectively, the "Offering"). The Offering, including the Non-Brokered Private Placement was first announced on May 1, 2023 and the Company further announced upsizings of the Non-Brokered Private Placement on May 3, 2023, and May 10, 2023, due to high demand. In connection with the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the Company has issued on May 26, 2023, an aggregate of 25,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company priced at $0.45 per Common Share. The Common Shares are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law, expiring September 27, 2023, being the date that is four months and one day following the date of issuance. The Offering has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million for the Company. As previously disclosed, in connection with the closing of the LIFE Offering portion of the Offering, the Company issued 11,111,111 common shares for a purchase price of $0.45 per common share. The common shares issued under the LIFE Offering were issued by way of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and are not subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). No finder's fees were applicable to the Non-Brokered Private Placement and, as previously disclosed, in connection with the LIFE Offering, Canaccord Genuity Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents that included Roth Canada Inc. (collectively the "Agents") received an aggregate cash fee equal to $250,000. The net proceeds of the Offering are intended to be used to advance Nevada King's development and exploration stage assets and for other general corporate purposes. The Offering remains subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals, including final approval of the TSX-V. The securities described herein 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 state securities laws, and 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 laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. Related Party Participation in the Non-Brokered Private Placement Certain insiders of the Company, namely Collin Kettell (CEO and Director), Paul Matysek (Executive Chairman), Craig Roberts (Director) and Bassam Moubarak (CFO), participated in the Non-Brokered Private Placement acquiring an aggregate of 5,244,444 Common Shares. The participation by insiders in the Non-Brokered Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Common Shares purchased by insiders, nor the consideration for the Common Shares paid by such insiders, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Non-Brokered Private Placement in an expeditious manner. The Offering was unanimously approved by the Company's board of directors. About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $21 million after closing of the Offering. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000s) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.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. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the TSX-V approval of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the use of proceeds with respect to the Offering, and the results of the mineral resource estimate on the project are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. GUIGANG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Guangxi Guigang Fushuai Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. and PT. DFU INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA signed the first batch of directional purchase contracts for 20,000 new energy electric vehicles in Jakarta, Indonesia. Crystal Huang, CEO of PT. DFU INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA, said that driven by the global green development wave, new energy electric vehicles from Gangbei District of Guigang City would make positive contributions to residents' travel and global green and low-carbon development. New energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District are attracting a large number of Lao exhibitors. With the opening of overseas exhibition tour of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo this year, new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District appeared in Singapore, the Philippines, Laos and other countries, and automobile enterprises exchanged and negotiated face-to-face with local enterprises and residents, entering a period of comprehensive market expansion. Behind the emergence in the ASEAN market is the industrial competitiveness promoted by Gangbei District for many years, according to the Publicity Department of Gangbei District, Guigang Municipality. In 2015, Gangbei District planned to build China-ASEAN New Energy Electric Vehicle Production Base. At present, the base has introduced more than 100 well-known domestic finished automobile enterprises such as Emma, Luyuan, Tailg, Lima, Zuboo and OPAI, as well as supporting enterprises such as Haopai and Feineng. More than 50 enterprises have been completed and put into production, forming an annual production capacity of 5 million two-wheeled electric vehicles, 500,000 three-wheeled electric vehicles and 5 million electric vehicle parts, with a local matching rate of 80%. Brand concentration, matching rate of parts and intelligence level rank among the top in the country. Electric vehicle enterprises in Gangbei District have a complete range of products with excellent quality, including more than 100 models such as electric bicycles, electric mopeds and electric high-speed motorcycles, leading the industry in terms of battery life, safety, intelligence and energy conservation. The testing level of Guangxi New Energy Electric Vehicle Products Quality Testing Center within its jurisdiction ranks among the top in the country. In 2022, the output value of new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District increased by 99.3%, and the total output value of the whole industrial chain exceeded 21 billion Chinese yuan. In 2022, with high quality and low price products and taking advantage of opportunities of RCEP, China-ASEAN and other trade agreements, the export trade volume of China-ASEAN New Energy Electric Vehicle Production Base reached more than USD 8.7 million. Guangxi is the only province in China connected with ASEAN by land and sea, and it is the most convenient access to the sea in Southwest China. Guigang is located in the southeast of Guangxi, with smooth high-speed railways, expressways and high-grade waterways, and more than 100 high-speed trains transiting through Guigang every day. Xijiang Golden Waterway runs through the whole territory, and 3,000-ton ships can be navigable all the year round and can directly reach Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao within 30 hours. Guigang Port within its jurisdiction is the first inland river port of 100 million tons in the Pearl River system, and it is one of the most convenient channels for exporting materials from Southwest China to Hong Kong, Macao and ASEAN countries. At present, new energy electric vehicles in Gangbei District have been exported to India, Thailand, the Netherlands, Nepal, Peru, Costa Rica and Madagascar. Image Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=440964 SOURCE The Publicity Department of Gangbei District, Guigang Municipality Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Lebanon man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing a child and physically abusing another. During a Friday, May 26 hearing in Linn County Circuit Court, Senior Judge Daniel Murphy sentenced Jeremy Wyatt Strawn, 26, to 180 months in prison for second-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree criminal mistreatment convictions. According to court documents, Strawn sexually abused a child under the age of 6 on or between January 2021 and November 2022. Strawn also caused physical injury to a different victim who was in his care during that time. As a part of a plea deal between the prosecution and defense, Strawn pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree criminal mistreatment. The remaining charges first-degree sodomy, strangulation and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse were dismissed. According to defense attorney Arnold Poole, Strawn earned his GED while in custody at the Linn County Jail and hopes to continue his education while at the Department of Corrections. WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from southern New Mexico schools will have an opportunity to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 11:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, May 30, on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. NASA astronaut Steve Bowen prepares for a spacewalk in the International Space Station's Quest airlock during Expedition 69. NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Frank Rubio will answer prerecorded questions from students through a collaboration with the New Mexico Museum of Space History. The museum is dedicated to telling the story of space exploration and has engaged several school districts in southern New Mexico to participate in the downlink. The museum's educators traveled to each district and presented information about the space station and its Expedition 69 crew, then worked with the students to develop the questions posed to the astronauts. Media interested in covering the event should respond no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, May 29 to Cathy Harper at: [email protected] or 575-437-2840 x.41153. For more than 22 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts living in space aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Near Space Network. Important research and technology investigations aboard the International Space Station benefit people on Earth and set the groundwork for future exploration. As part of Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers the Artemis Generation ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery. See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation SOURCE NASA DUBLIN, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America Modular Construction Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The North America modular construction market size reached US$ 25.9 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is set to reach US$ 35.7 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.49% during 2022-2028. Modular construction includes off-site prefabrication of single or multi-storey structures before being installed on the main construction site. It includes the construction of various components, such as ceilings, doors, walls, floors, beams, columns, etc., that are joined together to make a single structure by deploying cranes and other lifting or rigging tools. Modular construction offers easy relocation or expansion, improved quality control, reduced construction time, better design options, and minimized waste production. In North America, modular construction is increasingly being adopted as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional construction methods. The increasing demand for prefabricated building structures along with growing focus on reducing overall construction cost and time is primarily driving the market for modular construction in North America. Furthermore, the rising number of infrastructure projects, including healthcare facilities, corporate buildings, modern housing centers, educational institutes, etc., is also propelling the market growth. Additionally, the rising environmental concerns towards increasing level of carbon emissions from conventional construction methods are further driving the demand for modular construction in the region. The introduction of numerous government initiatives for promoting the construction of green buildings across the United States and Canada, is also catalyzing the market. Moreover, the high prevalence of extreme cold weather in the region leading to shorter daytime and heavy snowfall that inhibit on-site construction methods is also propelling the need for modular construction. Moreover, the growing integration of numerous advanced technologies with prefabrication methods, such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, Building Information Modeling (BIM) etc., are expected to further drive the market for modular construction in North America. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in early 2020, however, has negatively impacted the market for modular construction in North America. The introduction of stay-at-home measures across the region has led to the postponement of numerous construction activities, disrupted supply chains, and led to the temporary closure of facilities, thereby hampering the market growth. Key Questions Answered in This Report What was the size of the North America modular construction market in 2022? modular construction market in 2022? What is the expected growth rate of the North America modular construction market during 2023-2028? modular construction market during 2023-2028? What are the key factors driving the North America modular construction market? modular construction market? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the North America modular construction market? modular construction market? What is the breakup of the North America modular construction market based on the division? modular construction market based on the division? What is the breakup of the North America modular construction market based on the sector? modular construction market based on the sector? What is the breakup of the North America modular construction market based on the material? modular construction market based on the material? What are the key regions in the North America modular construction market? modular construction market? Who are the key players/companies in the North America modular construction market? Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being Aries Building Systems LLC ATCO Ltd. Boxx Modular Inc. (Black Diamond Group) Mobile Modular Management Corporation (McGrath RentCorp Inc.) Modular Genius Inc. Satellite Shelters Inc. Triumph Modular Corporation Vanguard Modular Building Systems LLC Vesta Modular Willscot Corporation. Key Market Segmentation: Breakup by Division: Permanent Modular Construction (PMC) Relocatable Buildings (RB) Breakup by Sector: Public Residential Commercial Others Breakup by Material: Wood Concrete Steel Others Breakup by Country: United States Canada For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o139le 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 Workers Secure First Teamster Contract MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a three-day strike, bus workers at North Reading Transportation (NRT) have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first Teamster contract. These bus workers are represented by Teamsters Local 170 and provide student transportation for Marlborough Public Schools. The agreement covers 65 workers and includes wage increases, Teamsters 401(k) with company contributions, and holiday and attendance bonuses. "What happened here in Marlborough is yet another clear indication that strikes work," said Shannon George, Local 170 Secretary-Treasurer. "When NRT refused to offer Marlborough bus workers a fair contract, our members had no other choice but head to the picket line and make their demands heard. We are grateful to have such resilient and determined members and we couldn't be more thrilled that they now have a strong contract." "We are grateful to the students, parents, school faculty, and the broader Marlborough community for showing their support for us while we were on strike," said Cayla Dodd, NRT bus driver in Marlborough. "We are thrilled to be back behind the wheel and to have finally secured the respect we deserve. Big thank you to the Teamsters for sticking by our side through this contract fight and helping us secure a strong union contract that addresses many of our concerns." Local 170 recently secured a new contract for NRT bus workers at Framingham Public Schools and is still in negotiations with NRT for a contract for bus workers at Westborough Public Schools. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Teamsters Local 170 has been helping the working class and the community since 1933. For more information about Local 170, go to teamsterlocal170.com. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 170 Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) achieved remarkable success at the 10th edition of the Global Brand Awards, securing two prestigious accolades for the year 2022 in Vietnam. The bank was honoured with the titles of 'Excellence in Retail Banking' and 'Best Digital Banking Brand.' LONDON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Brand Awards, hosted by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), a renowned international publication headquartered in the UK, is an annual event that acknowledges global brands for their exceptional performance across various sectors. It also serves as a platform to keep readers informed about key trends in the branding world. OCB was evaluated based on criteria such as customer service, satisfaction, digital innovation, strategic relationships, and new business development. Jay Reddy, the Director of Global Brands Magazine, congratulated OCB on their outstanding achievements at the awards ceremony. He commended the bank for securing two prestigious awards in a single financial year, a feat that is not commonly accomplished. Reddy praised OCB's robust financial performance, innovative products and services, and commitment to customer service, wishing them continued success in the future. Commenting on winning the awards, Nguyen Van Huong, Deputy CEO of Retail Division of Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank, said, "Developing the retail segment has now become a strategy of many banks, not only OCB, because the retail channel is the main driving force of the bank. It has the sustainable growth over time with lower risk, achieving business benefit of scaling. In the near future, we will implement the goal of building a personalized, digital banking system for each customer. OCB will provide services via smart mobile applications or computer platforms and every process here will be 100% digitized." About Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) was established on 10 June 1996. After more than 27 years of operation and development, OCB currently has more than 200 business units spread across all regions and key economic centres across the country. OCB was recognised by the State Bank as one of the first three banks to complete risk management items according to the Basel II international standards by the end of 2018. Moody's Investors Service, one of the three most prestigious credit rating agencies in the world, increased Counterparty Risk Assessment (CRA) and Counterparty Risk Rating (CRR) to Ba3 in July 2019. This is the highest-ranking level in Vietnam today. Rated as the leading bank in Vietnam in terms of operational efficiency with sustainable growth potential, OCB has created confidence for Aozora Bank - one of the most efficient banks in Japan, to invest 15% share capital of OCB and become a long-term strategic partner. OCB has gradually risen to the top of the group of private banks in Vietnam according to three criteria: growth rate, safety and efficiency. Not only operational efficiency and profit, OCB always actively controls costs, synchronously implements cost-optimising solutions to improve business efficiency, this is the Bank's direction throughout. OCB's equity has now increased by nearly 8 times, profit by more than 16 times and total assets by 12 times. Thereby, OCB became a joint stock commercial bank holding the No. 1 position in terms of profit growth rate and No. 3 in terms of return on capital efficiency. About Global Brands Magazine (England) Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views, and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The Magazine focuses on the world's top brands, showcasing their strategies and success stories. The magazine covers a wide range of industries, including fashion, beauty, technology, and more. It is targeted towards business executives and marketing professionals, offering insights and analysis on brand building and management. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that stand out, and have a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions, and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. The Magazine has over 9.5 million visitors and 14 million page views per month, making it one of the best online magazines in the world. With over 9.5 million monthly visitors and 14 million page views, GBM is one of the most esteemed online magazines globally. The magazine also maintains a strong presence on social media, boasting over 20k+ Facebook likes, 10k+ Instagram followers, 25k+ Twitter followers, and 3k+ LinkedIn followers. About the Global Brand Awards The Global Brand Awards is an annual event that celebrates the accomplishments of the world's leading brands. These awards honour brands across various categories, including innovation, sustainability, customer experience, and more. The aim is to showcase best practices in branding, marketing, and customer engagement while providing recognition and exposure for the winning brands. The awards ceremony typically features a gala event attended by business leaders, marketing executives, and media representatives. Last year, over 20k companies were evaluated, and the winners were celebrated at an awards ceremony. The 10th Global Brand Awards Night took place at the Waldorf Astoria in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, with nearly 100 companies and around 150 delegates from across the globe in attendance. Dignitaries from various industries, such as banking, insurance, financial services, education, healthcare, hospitality, logistics, and more, graced the event. To learn more about the awards, please visit the awards section on the GBM website. To nominate your company or business leader for the Global Brand Awards 2023, please click on the following link: https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/nomination-form/ Check out our social media shout outs from the links below: Facebook: https://bit.ly/43g0aHO Linkedin: https://bit.ly/423kj2w Instagram: https://bit.ly/434u8OX Twitter: https://bit.ly/45uO1QO Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1764747/3812924/GBM_2022_Logo.jpg SOURCE Global Brands Publications Limited DENVER, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) today announced its AIPCon customer conference will be publicly live streamed on June 1, 2023. The exclusive conference will have a particular focus on the rapid adoption of Palantir AIP, bringing together C-suite executives from across Palantir's current and prospective customers. Palantir CEO Alex Karp will share opening remarks, and CTO Shyam Sankar will provide a detailed look at the newest release of Palantir AIP and AI in Foundry. Palantir AIP enables customers to activate large language models and other AI on their private network, subject to full control. Customer keynotes at AIPCon include: Cisco : Mike Younkers (Senior Director, Engineering, Government Solutions) : (Senior Director, Engineering, Government Solutions) Cleveland Clinic : Rohit Chandra (Chief Digital Officer) : (Chief Digital Officer) HCA Healthcare : Ben Spears (Director of Management Engineering) & Canaan Stage (AVP of Clinical Operations) : (Director of Management Engineering) & Canaan Stage (AVP of Clinical Operations) Jacobs : Bob Pragada (Chief Executive Officer) & Shannon Miller (EVP & President, Divergent Solutions) : (Chief Executive Officer) & (EVP & President, Divergent Solutions) J.D. Power : Bernardo Rodriguez (Chief Digital and Technology Officer) : (Chief Digital and Technology Officer) Panasonic Energy of North America : Justin Herman (VP & Chief Information Officer) Additional speakers and customer demos showcasing the use of AI technology throughout the afternoon will include executives from Molson Coors, Cardinal Health, RBC, Lockheed Martin, PG&E, Tampa General Hospital, DISH Wireless, Siemens Healthineers, PwC, and more. AIPCon will be accessible via live stream here beginning at 9:30am PT on Thursday, June 1, 2023. For local viewing locations, please reach out to [email protected]. About Palantir Technologies Inc. Foundational software of tomorrow. Delivered today. Additional information is available at https://www.palantir.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and the presentations to which it relates contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantir's expectations regarding our product development, distribution, and pricing, expected benefits of and applications for our software platforms, business strategy and plans (including strategy and plans relating to our Artificial Intelligence Platform ("AIP"), sales and marketing efforts, partnerships, and customers), investments in our business, market trends and market size, expectations regarding any current or potential customers, partnerships, or other business relationships or initiatives, opportunities (including growth opportunities), and positioning, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Limited AIP trial access available now. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to meet the unique needs of our customer; the failure of our platforms to satisfy our customer or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; our platforms' reliability; and the timing of the development and release of, and updates to, our products. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Media Contact Lisa Gordon [email protected] SOURCE PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES INC. Penta Security has grown and maintained its leadership position in the South Korean WAF industry, recording a year-over-year double digit revenue growth in 2022, lower than the 20% in 2021. SAN ANTONIO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently assessed the web application firewall (WAF) industry and, based on its findings, recognizes Penta Security Systems with the 2023 South Korean Company of the Year Award. The company deploys WAPPLES, its International Computer Security Association (ICSA) Labs-certified WAF, in public cloud environments, such as AWS and Microsoft Azure, and uses its Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) Cloudbric to support expedited cloud migration processes. Penta Security's diverse portfolio of supported cloud environments addresses the increasing demand for cloud-based WAF solutions over the last two years. With WAPPLES supporting local cloud environments across Asia-Pacific, the company offers scalability and accessibility to its customers, differentiating it in South Korea. Penta Security bridges South Korean web application firewall market technology gaps by offering comprehensive threat protection. Penta Security bridges local WAF market technology gaps by offering comprehensive threat protection. WAPPLES' threat intelligence platform detects new web vulnerabilities, provides automated vulnerability updates, and allows customers to patch vulnerabilities quickly and respond to attacks instantly. Based on advanced technologies that improve threat detection efficiency, the solution instantly detects and blocks known, modified, and zero-day attack vectors that alter the application programming interface (API) and YAML data formats within incoming web traffic, differentiating Penta Security from competitors. Ying Ting Neoh, Cybersecurity Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan, observed, "Penta Security has gained a competitive edge in the local market by staying updated and complying with the latest regulations in South Korea. Frost & Sullivan commends its WAF solutions that showcase the implementation of best practices to meet customers' unmet needs." Penta Security's WAPPLES successfully reduces false positives and achieves a 144% improved network performance, compared to the previous model after an upgrade. The company's sandbox environment for WAPPLES fends off evolving application layer attacks, and its strategic partnerships in South Korea and worldwide provide local customers with access to advanced technologies, a world-class experience, and 24/7 support when expanding the geographic reach. Penta Security continuously fosters strong customer ties and achieves loyalty across the South Korean WAF industry, with its reputation and brand value in the region garnering solid growth across verticals in 2022. "Penta Security has positioned itself as an industry leader in South Korea due to its steady business performance in 2022. It has continuously upheld its brand value as the South Korean WAF industry leader while fostering strong customer relationships," added Neoh. With its strong overall performance, Penta Security earns Frost & Sullivan's 2023 South Korean Company of the Year Award in the WAF industry. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence, in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership, in terms of customer value and market penetration. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Tammy Chan E: [email protected] About Penta Security A global leader in web, data, and IoT security with 26 years of expertise in powering secured connections, Penta Security's next-generation web application firewall WAPPLES has been the market leader in the Korean market for 15 consecutive years since 2008 and has maintained a leading position in the Asia-Pacific region after obtaining the largest market share in 2016. Its COCEP detection engine is known to be one of the most advanced logic-based detection tools in the industry. For more information, visit pentasecurity.com. For partnerships, email mailto:[email protected]. SOURCE Frost & Sullivan JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (the "Company") today announced the expiration and results of its previously announced tender offer to purchase for cash ("Tender Offer") any and all of its outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2024 ("Notes"). The Tender Offer was made pursuant to a Tender Offer Memorandum, dated May 18, 2023 ("Tender Offer Memorandum") which is available on the tender website ("Tender Website") at https://deals.is.kroll.com/pgn. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The Tender Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York time, on May 25, 2023 ("Expiration Time"). As at the Expiration Time, the Company received valid tenders under the Tender Offer, which had not been withdrawn in respect of the Notes, of an aggregate principal amount of US$499,851,000 of Notes, representing approximately 52.62% of the total principal amount outstanding of the Notes. No Notes was tendered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Tender Offer Memorandum, the Company has decided to accept for purchase all of the Notes validly tendered. The Tender Offer Consideration is US$1,006 per US$1,000 principal amount of the Notes. The aggregate consideration expected to be paid by the Company on the Payment Date to the holders of the Notes tendered and accepted for purchase is US$502,850,106, plus Accrued Interest Payment. The Company will arrange for cancellation of all Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase following purchase by the Company, and any Notes not validly tendered will remain outstanding and accrue interest in accordance with their terms. Following settlement of the Tender Offer, US$450,149,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes will remain outstanding. The Company retained BNP Paribas, Mandiri Securities Pte. Ltd. and Standard Chartered Bank ("Dealer Managers") to act as dealer managers in connection with the Tender Offer. For additional information regarding the terms of the Tender Offer, please contact BNP Paribas at +65 6210 3322 / +44 20 7595 8668 or by email at [email protected] / [email protected]; Mandiri Securities Pte. Ltd. at +65 6589 3880 or by email at [email protected]; and Standard Chartered Bank at +65 6557 8252 / +44 20 7885 5739 / +1 212 667 0351 or by email at liability [email protected]. The Company retained Kroll Issuer Services Limited ("Information and Tender Agent") to act as the information and tender agent for the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the Tender Offer should be directed to the Information and Tender Agent at the contact details provided. Documents for the Tender Offer, including the Tender Offer Memorandum, are available at the Tender Website: https://deals.is.kroll.com/pgn and may also be obtained by contacting the Information and Tender Agent by telephone at +44 20 7704 0880 (London) / +852 2281 0114 (Hong Kong) or by email at [email protected]. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. No offer or invitation to acquire or exchange any Notes is being made pursuant to this announcement. SOURCE PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk More patients will soon benefit from ability of A.I. tech to highlight lesions and to provide better data to physicians BOSTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Catching cancer earlier and achieving more accurate initial diagnostics are two of the key benefits of breakthrough artificial intelligence technology that a European company is now bringing to U.S. patients. For Quibim, a leading provider of imaging technology in the E.U., that path began with the recent approval they received from the U.S. FDA to apply their patented A.I. powered technology to domestic prostate cancer diagnostics. With today's announcement of bringing on their first U.S.-based chief medical officer, that path has now led the A.I.-driven company to Boston's hub of medical talent. More patients will soon benefit from ability of A.I. tech to highlight lesions and to provide better data to physicians Tweet this Widely sought-after oncology leader Dr. Glen J. Weiss, MD, MBA, will serve as the chief medical officer for Quibim as the company expands its relationships with hospitals and life science companies across the U.S. The move signals a key juncture in the proliferation and mainstreaming of A.I.-based technology into the U.S. patient experience. As an established and major European A.I.-based imaging provider, Quibim has played a vital role in enhancing clinical trial design, optimizing drug development, and managing large volumes of imaging data while creating new predictive imaging biomarker panels that benefit patients, providers, and companies alike. Now, the company is seeking to broaden those impacts in the U.S. with a chief medical officer at the helm who has deep ties to Massachusetts. While the company will maintain its U.S. headquarters in New York, Boston is among the markets where the company anticipates increased adoption of its A.I driven imaging technology platforms, including "QP-Prostate". According to data adapted from the American Cancer Society and other sources by Cancer.net , prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, except for skin cancer. Weiss is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member and was a Director of Phase I Clinical Research at Beth Israel Medical Center (BIDMC), and an associate member of the BIDMC Cancer Research Institute. Weiss' background encompasses over 100 phase 1-3 oncology studies and significant experience in biomarker/translational research studies. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Nature Communications, Clinical Cancer Research, and Cancer Cell. "Quibim is revolutionizing medical imaging and advancing personalized medicine," said Angel Alberich-Bayarri, CEO at Quibim. "Dr. Weiss' expertise and visionary approach will greatly contribute to our mission, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities and achievements that lie ahead for our company." Quibim's medical division incorporates innovative tools into imaging software and data extraction analytics, as well as into therapy effectiveness assessment specifically by enabling "lesion highlighting" and "volumetric data analysis". Quibim aspires to be the go-to provider and category leader in predictive imaging biomarkers, novel diagnostics, and IP development for personalized medicine imaging solutions. The hiring of Dr. Weiss marks a significant milestone in Quibim's growth and development in the U.S. positioning the company for substantial expansion in research exploration, collaboration, and business development. As CMO, Dr. Weiss will lead Quibim's medical division, providing strategic guidance on personalized medicine, scientific development of platforms, and clinical applications. "I can envision a future where medical imaging evolves from a diagnostic tool to a dynamic theranostic for clinical drug development," said Dr. Weiss. "Harmonization of medical solutions, particularly in imaging, to enhance real-world evidence interpretation and clinical trial reporting is critical. Quibim has mastered this." About Quibim Quibimwith offices in New York (United States), Cambridge (UK), and Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona (Spain)was born from the ambition of transforming imaging into a catalyst for precision health. They do this by designing pioneering tools that unlock imaging data to improve patient outcomes. The brand is linked to company values, based on a deep understanding of the modern science of imaging data and finding a way to transform this data into actionable predictions. To achieve this, Quibim partners with top-tier biopharma companies to detect pathologies early and to predict outcomes in oncology/immunotherapy, immunology, inflammation, and neurology using MRI, CT, and PET imaging, leading to new regulatory cleared Medical Devices marketed to healthcare providers. The company is specialized in the development of AI models created by the use of real-world evidence (RWE) projects and biopharma partners to extract new insights from images; thereby developing novel quantitative imaging biomarkers to deeply analyze disease mechanisms, advance drug development, and monitor treatment progress using a whole-body approach. Media Contact: Hallie Kogelschatz [email protected] SOURCE Quibim TAMPERE, Finland, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual General Meeting of Bioretec Ltd was held on 26 May 2023 in Tampere, Finland. The Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements for the financial year 1 January-31 December 2022 and resolved to discharge the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability for the financial period 1 January-31 December 2022. The Annual General Meeting resolved in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors that the loss of EUR 2,347,332.35 for the financial period 1 January-31 December 2022 will be booked in the balance sheet as equity under profit/loss for previous financial periods and that no dividend shall be distributed. Number of members of the Board of Directors, election of members of the Board, and their remuneration The Annual General Meeting resolved that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be six (6). Tomi Numminen, Michael Piccirillo, Sarah van Hellenberg Hubar-Fisher, Pekka Simula, and Paivi Malinen were re-elected as members of the Board. Additionally, Kustaa Poutiainen was elected as a new member of the Board. The term of the Board of Directors will end at the closing of the Annual General Meeting 2024. The Annual General Meeting resolved that the Chairman of the Board will be paid EUR 2,500 per month and that the members of the Board will be paid EUR 1,500 per month. Reasonable travel expenses of the members of the Board of Directors shall be reimbursed in accordance with the maximum amount of the respective travel allowance base approved by the Tax Administration. The Annual General Meeting resolved that the company may enter into a consultancy agreement with Tomi Numminen for consulting services related to the funding processes of the company and commercialization of the company's products in the United States. The consultancy fee payable pursuant to such agreement shall not exceed EUR 7,500 per month. In addition, the Annual General Meeting resolved that the company may enter into a consultancy agreement with Valugen GmbH for the services of Michael Piccirillo in connection with establishing the company's Scientific Advisory Board, to create key opinion leader connections. The consulting fee payable pursuant to such agreement shall not exceed EUR 3,000 per month. Election and remuneration of auditor The Annual General Meeting elected auditing firm Ernst & Young Oy as the auditor of the company until the closing of the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Auditing firm Ernst & Young has notified the company that it will appoint Erika Gronlund, Authorized Public Accountant, as the responsible auditor. The auditor will be compensated as reasonably invoiced. Authorization of the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares, as well as the issuance of option rights and other special rights entitling to shares pursuant to Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act, as follows: Under the authorization, up to 5,000,000 shares (including the new shares to be issued based on the special rights) can be issued, which at the time of the proposal represented approximately 26 percent of all outstanding company shares. The shares or special rights entitling to shares can be issued in one or more tranches, either against or without payment. The shares issued under the authorization can be new shares or shares in the company's possession. The authorization can be used for the financing or execution of acquisitions or other business arrangements, to strengthen the balance sheet and financial position of the company, for implementing the company's share-based incentive plans, or for other purposes determined by the Board of Directors. Under the authorization, the Board of Directors may resolve upon issuing new shares, without consideration, to the company itself. The Board of Directors is authorized to resolve on all terms for share issues and granting of special rights entitling to shares in the company. The Board of Directors is authorized to resolve on a directed share issue and issuance of special rights entitling to shares according to the shareholders' pre-emptive rights and/or in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive right, provided that there is a weighty financial reason for the company to do so. The authorization is valid until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, however, no longer than until 30 June 2024. The authorization revokes previous unused share issue authorizations. Amendment of Option Program 2018-1 The Annual General Meeting resolved to extend the subscription period for the shares that the option rights entitle to subscribe for under Option Program 2018-1 until 31 December 2026 as follows: With option right 2018-1A: 1 January 2019-31 December 2026 With option right 2018- 1B : 1 January 2020-31 December 2026 : 1 January 2020-31 December 2026 With option right 2018-1C: 1 January 2021-31 December 2026 With option right 2018-1D: 1 January 2022-31 December 2026 The Annual General Meeting additionally resolved to authorize the Board of Directors to make the required decisions for implementing the resolution of the Annual General Meeting and in addition, if required, to amend the terms and conditions of Option Program 2018-1 to reflect the amendments in the Finnish Companies Act in respect of the terms of option rights and other special rights that came into force on 31 January 2023. This authorization is in force until 31 December 2023. The outstanding option rights of Option Program 2018-1 entitle to subscription of a maximum of 1,308,333 new shares in the company or shares in possession of the company. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available no later than 9 June 2023 on the company's website at https://bioretec.com/investors/investors-in-english/governance/general-meetings/annual-general-meeting-2023 Resolutions of the constitutive meeting of the Board of Directors At its constitutive meeting held after the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors of Bioretec Ltd elected Tomi Numminen as the Chairperson of the Board. The Board resolved to establish an Audit Committee and a Nomination /Remuneration Committee. The members of the Committees were elected as follows: Audit Committee: Tomi Numminen (chairperson), Paivi Malinen ja Sarah van Hellenberg Hubar-Fisher (chairperson), Paivi Malinen ja Nomination / Remuneration Committee: Pekka Simula (chairperson), Michael Piccirillo ja Kustaa Poutiainen Further enquiries Tomi Numminen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, tel. +358 40 581 2132 Timo Lehtonen, CEO, tel. +358 50 433 8493 Bioretec in brief Bioretec is a globally operating Finnish medical device company that continues to pioneer the application of bioresorbable orthopedic implants. The company has built unique competencies in the biological interface of active implants to enhance bone growth and accelerate fracture healing after orthopedic surgery. The products developed and manufactured by Bioretec are used worldwide in approximately 40 countries. Bioretec is developing the new RemeOs product line based on a magnesium alloy and hybrid composite, introducing a new generation of strong bioresorbable materials for enhanced surgical outcomes. The RemeOs implants are resorbed and replaced by bone, which eliminates the need for removal surgery while facilitating fracture healing. The combination has the potential to make titanium implants redundant and help clinics reach their Value-Based Healthcare targets while focusing on value for patients through efficient healthcare. The first RemeOs product market authorization has been received in the U.S. in March 2023 and in Europe, CE-mark is expected to receive during 2023. Bioretec is positioning itself to enter the addressable USD 7 billion global orthopedic trauma market and become a game changer in surgical bone fracture treatment. Better healing - Better life. www.bioretec.com SOURCE Bioretec BEIJING, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SANY, the leading global construction machinery manufacturer, recently hosted the Global General Assembly 2023 in Changsha from May 16th to 17th. The event brought together over 1,200 dealers and customer representatives from nearly 100 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, France, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, to discuss win-win development strategies. Global General Assenbly twodays collection During the conference, Xu Ming, the Senior Vice President and director of International Operations Headquarters of SANY, emphasized the importance of cooperation in the global climate of both crisis and opportunities. He introduced the international development strategy of SANY, highlighting the company's focus on improving products, building "channels," and upgrading digitization and service levels in the future. Xu also expressed his expectation to strengthen cooperation with global dealers and customers to create a bright future. The conference also included an on-site signing activity, which reached intended orders of 1.172 billion yuan. SANY showcased 42 new products in the form of a "parade," including the SKT105E, a tool in the process of Green Action, boasting zero emissions and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 130 tons per truck per year. SANY's heavy-duty downhill energy consumption is reduced by about 90%, and the power recovery rate is increased by about 10% compared to the industry. In addition, the SY19E, the first mini electric excavator launched by SANY, features high efficiency, energy-saving, safety, reliability, and has a long-lasting battery life. Multiple configuration options are provided to meet customers' needs in different countries. On May 17th, SANY showed the guests around the "Lighthouse Factory" to experience the magic of intelligent manufacturing. In the evening, a firework show was performed in Liuyang to welcome and appreciate the arrival of guests worldwide. "SANY is committed to improving products, building channels, and upgrading digitization and service levels to promote win-win development with our global dealers and customers," said Xu. "The Global General Assembly 2023 was a successful event that brought together dealers and customer representatives from around the world to discuss future growth and success." To view the highlights of 2023 SANY Global General Assembly, please click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ovZiEqe8II SOURCE SANY Group 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. 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: Vote margin was 99 percent in favor of a strike OAKLAND, Calif., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare workers at LifeLong Medical Clinics have overwhelmingly voted to go on strike over management's attempts to silence them for trying to solve staffing and patient care problems, and to demand management bargain in good faith for solutions. Beginning June 5, workers will launch a two-day strike across seventeen LifeLong Clinics in the Bay Area, with picket lines at LifeLong Trust Health Center in Oakland, Ashby Health Center in Berkeley, and Brookside San Pablo Health Center in San Pablo. Caregivers are demanding that their employer stop the threats and intimidation, and bargain in good faith to solve the severe patient care crisis across the clinic caused by short-staffing, high turnover, low wages, and worker safety concerns. They fear management's refusal to address critical issues is jeopardizing the quality of care provided throughout LifeLong's network of clinics. "We are ready to strike because management refuses to listen to healthcare workers and is not bargaining with us in good faith," said Mable Bermudez-Chun, a community health worker at LifeLong Brookside Clinic. "Patient care suffers as workers are stretched thin and others keep leaving. LifeLong management needs to stop trying to silence us when we stand up for wages that keep up with the cost of living, safe staffing and better working conditions." LifeLong Medical Care is a safety net provider for more than 61,000 underserved and vulnerable individuals, many with complex health conditions, every year. Yet, these vulnerable patients are put at even more risk because healthcare workers at their facilities are understaffed and underpaid, leading to high worker turnover. Workers at Lifelong Medical Care are concerned about worker safety and threats to the quality of patient care due to understaffing. They are calling on their employer to listen to and work with caregivers to address the staffing crisis through ongoing contract negotiations. "It's upsetting to have to tell patients we can't help them," said Millie Callen, a patient care coordinator in the Urgent Care at LifeLong Brookside Clinic. "But our clinics are so short-staffed that even in the urgent care where I work, I often have to send people to the emergency department because I can't get them in for their tests or follow-ups. It's heartbreaking because we got into this work to help people. But management is trying to silence us instead of working with us to solve the problems." In response to workers' attempts to improve conditions, management has been threatening and intimidating caregivers, and violating labor law by stopping them from speaking up. The vote margin was 99 percent in favor of the strike. The strike vote applies to more than 500 healthcare workers in a variety of job classes, including registered nurses, medical assistants, social workers, dental assistants, community health workers, street medicine workers, patient care representatives, and others. SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org. SOURCE SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West MIAMI, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 22, 2023, after months of investigation, Daniel Harper, through The Moskowitz Law Firm PLLC and Mark Migdal Hayden LLP, filed a class action Complaint in the Southern District of Florida, currently pending before Judge Frederico A. Moreno and Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, captioned Daniel Harper v. Shaquille O'Neal, Case No. 1:23-cv-21912-FAM (S.D. Fla.). The action asserts claims under 5, 12(a)(1), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), as well as under the Florida and Virginia state law on behalf of a class consisting of All persons or entities who, within the applicable limitations period, i.e., March 9, 2023 to the present date, inclusive (the "Class Period"), purchased an NFT from the Astrals Project. If you purchased an NFT from Astrals Project b/w March 9, 2023 & now, you are encouraged to contact plaintiffs' counsel Tweet this "Our main goal is to allow the common investor a fighting chance," said plaintiffs' counsel Adam Moskowitz, founder of The Moskowitz Law Firm, PLLC. Moskowitz further explains "In the related FTX litigation, he falsely told the world he was 'all in with crypto,' but with this case, there is no dispute that he, his business partner, and even his son, Myles, who served as head of 'Investor Relations,' made routine postings, assuring the customers that he would 'never' abandon them, even after the FTX collapse. Shaq even posted a video clip of the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, namely, to give the impression that he was not going anywhere. He has not been seen or heard from in months." If you purchased an NFT from the Astrals Project between March 9, 2023 and the present date, inclusive, you are encouraged to contact plaintiffs' counsel, Joseph Kaye of The Moskowitz Law Firm PLLC by phone at (305) 740-1423, or by email at [email protected] and [email protected], for more information. The complaint alleges that O'Neal violated provisions of the Securities Act when he and his son, Myles O'Neal, founded a company called ASTRALS, which offered and sold Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to investors nationwide and across the globe. The lawsuit alleges that the NFTs were unregistered securities, O'Neal participated in ASTRALS' failure to register the NFTs, as well as their offer and sale to the investors, who are entitled to a refund of their investments into the NFTs. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 24, 2023. If you wish to discuss this action and potentially join it as a plaintiff and/or class representative, or otherwise have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiffs' counsel, Joseph Kaye of The Moskowitz Law Firm PLLC by phone at (305) 740-1423, or by email at [email protected] and [email protected]. SOURCE The Moskowitz Law Firm MUMBAI, India, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Custodian, a leading international publication covering securities services, conferred Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE with 'Lifetime Achievement Award - Leaders in Custody Awards for Asia Pacific' held in Singapore on May 25th, 2023. This prestigious award recognizes Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan as a visionary business leader, with an outstanding contribution in the Indian securities market, who has been at the helm of both the Indian stock exchanges. He was a founding team member of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and is currently the MD & CEO of NSE. Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE honored with Lifetime Achievement award by Global Custodian in Singapore This award ceremony for 'Leaders in Custody Awards for Asia Pacific', honor the achievements of securities services, infrastructure and technology providers across the Asia Pacific region, along with 'Editors' Choice awards', 'Innovation awards' and coveted individual awards including 'GC Legend' and 'Industry Person of the Year'. Lifetime achievement award is given to a single individual with a track record of huge contribution over a period of many decades. Global Custodian is known for its editorial views of the global securities services industry spanning over the past three decades. Global Custodian publishes quality editorial and its series of annual surveys have become benchmarks for the industry. About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE): National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is the world's largest derivatives exchange by trading volume (contracts) as per the statistics maintained by Futures Industry Association (FIA) for calendar year 2022. NSE is ranked 3rd in the world in the cash equities by number of trades as per the statistics maintained by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) for calendar year 2022. NSE was the first exchange in India to implement electronic or screen-based trading. It began operations in 1994 and is ranked as the largest stock exchange in India in terms of total and average daily turnover for equity shares every year since 1995, based on SEBI data. NSE has a fully integrated business model comprising exchange listings, trading services, clearing and settlement services, indices, market data feeds, technology solutions and financial education offerings. NSE also oversees compliance by trading, clearing members and listed companies with the rules and regulations of SEBI and the exchange. NSE is a pioneer in technology and ensures the reliability and performance of its systems through a culture of innovation and investment in technology. For more information, please visit: www.nseindia.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086487/NSE_Global_Custodian.jpg SOURCE NSE India SHANGHAI, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SOFAR, the global leading supplier of PV & ESS solutions, released multiple, competitive solar and energy storage innovations globally at SNEC 2023, fueling an accelerating clean transition to carbon neutrality. SOFAR Booth Optimized for utility-scale energy storage plants, SOFAR has their latest flagship PowerMaster on display, which is an industry-leading integrated solution embodied with cutting-edge technologies. As a safe, reliable and sustainable solution to ensure grid resilience amidst demanding market operating conditions, PowerMaster is a combination of an innovative air and liquid hybrid cooling system, 3+2 safety systems, modular design, lower LCOS and smart control. The result of ten years of exploration and independent R&D, SOFAR PowerMaster has won recognition from industry partners since its release. During the Powering Forward New Product Launch, SOFAR signed MoUs with Hongyuan New Energy, Huaqing New Energy and Xiaoju New Energy, further solidifying its prevailing presence in the energy storage market. In the meantime, SOFAR has launched another new product 320kW string inverter PowerMega tailored for utility PV. This high-current inverter made an impressive debut at SNEC by solving traditional sore points and combining efficiency, safety and user-friendly all in one. With a max. efficiency up to 99.05% and 20A input current per MPPT, the inverter is compatible with 210/182mm modules and enables higher power yields. Featuring IP66 and C5-M anti-corrosion, it manages to survive harsh environments with a wide range of working temperature from -30 to 60. In addition, it supports I-V scanning which allows to pinpoint faulty strings thus maintaining stable operation around the clock. By virtue of the proven competitiveness of PowerMega, SOFAR also signed MoUs with Guohong Energy Group, Sichuan Shangwei and Tianlun New Energy, highlighting its strength and influence in utility sector and marking a crucial chapter of the company's journey towards net-zero ambition. "As countries worldwide steadily decarbonizing their energy sources and phasing out reliance on coal power, we see great potential in renewable energy as it shows a positive impact on building a more sustainable and low-carbon planet. SOFAR will work relentlessly to bring forth all-scenario solutions for scaling-up demands, making renewables accessible and available for more countries," said Guy Rong, Senior Vice President of SOFAR. About SOFAR SOFAR is a global leading supplier of solar PV and energy storage solutions and committed to be the leader of digital energy solutions with a comprehensive portfolio, including PV inverters, hybrid inverters, battery storage system, central energy storage and smart energy management solutions for residential, C&I, and utility-scale applications. By 2021, SOFAR entered the TOP5 Global Hybrid Inverter Suppliers, set up a global R&D network with three R&D centers and two manufacturing bases. In 2022, SOFAR annual production capacity reached 10GW for PV & storage inverters and 1GWh for batteries. By the end of 2022, SOFAR has shipped over 18GW inverters to more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Learn more: https://www.sofarsolar.com/. SOURCE SOFAR SINGAPORE, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stamford American International School received a Distinction Award for corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives at the American Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting last month. The AmCham CARES program promotes CSR among its members and recognizes companies that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the local Singapore community and beyond. Two-time winner Stamford American International School Superintendent Dr. Mark Wenzel speaks about the schools vision for corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and opportunities for service projects at the American Chamber of Commerce. For the second year in a row, Stamford was the only educational institution among 48 recipients to receive the award, presented by Singapore President Halimah Yacob. Stamford's service program focuses on engaging students in making the changes they want to see in the world. Recent projects include: Raising funds for flood relief in Pakistan through UNHCR; support for YWCA of Singapore to assist families facing poverty; financial assistance for Guide Dogs SG; and providing funds for Doctors without Borders and Singapore Red Cross to aid earthquake victims through UNHCR; support for to assist families facing poverty; financial assistance for Guide Dogs SG; and providing funds for Doctors without Borders and Singapore Red Cross to aid earthquake victims Working with the charity organization Mad About Giving to deliver 47 care packs of toiletries and other items for the Bidadari worker dormitory located near the campus to deliver 47 care packs of toiletries and other items for the Bidadari worker dormitory located near the campus Partnering with Community Chest to purchase 100 educational books for Physics, English, Chinese and Math for Xinyuan Community Center to purchase 100 educational books for Physics, English, Chinese and Math for Xinyuan Community Center Purchasing items and assembled gift bags for the holidays that included cookies, socks, Milo packets, tea and candy canes for Marymount Centre to support women and children in need Partnering with LooLa Eco Adventure on a mangrove planting project to have students plant and name their own mangrove trees as part of a school-wide sustainability initiative Combining academic excellence and service learning Stamford fosters a learning environment where classroom studies and service to the community serve as key educational pillars consistent with the IB curriculum. The school challenges students to develop a global mindset and act in ways where the school's values of compassion, integrity, courage and ingenuity shine bright. In addition to its recent recognition by AmCham Singapore, Stamford has earned other recognitions for innovation and quality curriculum: Silver Winner, International School of the Year , HoneyKids Singapore, 2021 and 2022 , HoneyKids Singapore, 2021 and 2022 Asian Parent's Award for the Most Innovative International Preschool Curriculum Parents' Choice Award for International Preschool "We appreciate the strong recognition from these outside groups," said Superintendent Dr Mark Wenzel. "They correspond with the highest parent satisfaction scores in our school's history, and really positive feedback from the students themselves on recent surveys. Our goal is to inspire students, both in their learning and in their service to others. We think of Stamford as a place where students can find their excellence and they're living up to it every day!" SOURCE Stamford American International School DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tabanero, America's leading premium hot sauce brand, is introducing an exciting new partnership that brings its latest specialty blend to Walmart stores across the Southeast. Starting March 2023, regional Walmart customers have in-store access to Peach Bourbon Tabanero. Tabanero Launches Peach Bourbon Hot Sauce in Walmart The belle of Tabanero's saucy lineup, Peach Bourbon features hints of sweet peaches infused with aromatic bourbon, culminating in a mouthwatering flavor that is distinctly and deliciously Southern. "We are thrilled to bring Peach Bourbon to southeastern Walmart stores and an audience that values these unique, culturally significant flavors," said Tabanero's Director of Trade Operations, Traci Bryan. "We've worked hard to deliver this outstanding hot sauce, and we can't wait for customers to experience it!" Peach Bourbon began as a seasonal specialty, but thanks to its popularity with customers, it is now a year-round fixture for Tabanero. The hot sauce is rich with flavor and depth. The smokey bourbon notes mingle with the sweetness of peaches for a luxuriously spicy experience. It's a versatile pairing for pork, fish, goat cheese, and more. Tabanero's Peach Bourbon hot sauce is available in a 5-ounce bottle in stores at Walmart in the condiment aisle. Customers can also purchase it online on Tabanero's website and Amazon. About Tabanero Tabanero is the brainchild of legendary entrepreneur Carl DeSantis, and each blend is a product of his obsessive passion and creativity. These exclusive formulas use high-quality organic ingredients sourced directly from Tabasco, Mexico and crafted in the USA. Tabanero's electrifying lineup includes hot sauce blends, seasonings, and cocktail mixes. The organic, premium ingredients are all-natural, gluten-free, and kosher, with no artificial preservatives, additives, or fillers. For more information about Tabanero's products, visit www.tabanero.com. Tabanero Contact Information- Traci Bryan Director of Marketing, Tabanero [email protected] 888-443-4224 SOURCE Tabanero GREENSBORO, N.C., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Outlets (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, announced today that its financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 will be released on Thursday, August 3, 2023 after the market close. The Company will host its conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, listeners should dial 1-877-605-1702. A live audio webcast of this call will be available to the public on Tanger's Investor Relations website, investors.tanger.com. A telephone replay of the call will be available from August 4, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m. on August 18, 2023 by dialing 1-877-660-6853, replay access code #13739144. An online archive of the webcast will also be available through August 18, 2023. About Tanger Outlets Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, fully or partially owns and/or manages a portfolio of 37 centers, including one center under development. Tanger's operating centers, which comprise approximately 14 million square feet, are located in 20 states and in Canada and are leased to over 2,700 stores operated by more than 600 different brand name companies. Tanger has more than 42 years of experience in the outlet industry and has been a publicly traded REIT since 1993. For more information on Tanger, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tanger.com. Investor Contact Information Doug McDonald SVP, Finance and Capital Markets T: (336) 856-6066 [email protected] SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. Autonomous Vehicle Company Caught in a Lie at Board of Supervisor's Meeting SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A zoning appeal victory for the Teamsters Union has effectively stopped the expansion of autonomous (AV) carmaker Waymo following a unanimous vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The board agreed with the union's claim that the company had not been forthright in its application to alter the use of a large distribution center in the city's industrial area. "AV companies such as Waymo threaten the livelihood of Teamster members who are employed in the expanding area of parcel delivery," said Tony Delorio, Teamsters Local 665 Secretary-Treasurer. "Waymo's model is to eliminate working package car drivers entirely, and the work that remains would be relegated to minimum-wage sorting jobs. Their race-to-the-bottom plan was stopped with this vote." The hearing uncovered inconsistencies in the initial zoning application filed by Waymo, as well as newly discovered violations of municipal transit policy. The company told the Board of Supervisors that it had no intention of engaging in parcel delivery at the hearing, but this was refuted when the Teamsters provided video evidence of Waymo leadership bragging about bringing parcel delivery to the city. "This company clearly has credibility issues," said John Bouchard, Teamsters Local 350 Secretary-Treasurer. "Nobody came to the microphone to support sending fleets of driverless vehicles onto city streets with the end goal of job elimination. The general public is not on the side of these AV companies in San Francisco or anywhere else." The hearing at San Francisco's City Hall was packed with rank-and-file Teamsters who stood and thanked elected officials as the meeting concluded. Teamsters Locals 315, 350, 665, 853, 856, 2010, and 2785 sent members to witness and participate in the hearing. Teamsters Local 665 represents over 5,000 members throughout the Bay Area in waste management, transportation, and a wide variety of other industries. For more information, go to https://www.teamsters665.org/. Contact: Tony Delorio, (650) 255-0848 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 665 FLORENCE, Ky., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver Mattress is excited to announce the Grand Opening of a new combined Furniture Row and Denver Mattress in Florence! Located at 7531 Mall Rd, this new store is replacing the existing Denver Mattress in Florence, which has been undergoing renovations for the past several months in anticipation of this change. "We are thrilled to unveil the new and improved Denver Mattress and Furniture Row in Florence," said Joe Sparks, the General Manager of Denver Mattress. "Our goal was to create an immersive shopping experience that is unlike anything else in the area. The Denver Mattress in Florence now includes a beautiful Furniture Row section on the sale floor that displays some of our best-selling pieces of furniture for every room of the home, and it also showcases a sleek, modern design that is both inviting and functional. Customers will soon be able to shop for both mattresses and furniture from one convenient location, and they will even be able to order a variety of online Furniture Row products to the store for easy pick-up. With more shopping space, a brand-new look, and the ability to shop for their entire home, we're confident that all our customers in Florence and the surrounding area will love the new combined location." To make this project a reality, the company first obtained the neighboring retail space next to the existing Denver Mattress in Florence. Once renovations began, the dividing walls were removed, and the Denver Mattress was expanded into the new larger space. The design team then went to work updating the interior of the store with a fresh new aesthetic, which included new flooring, drywall, lighting fixtures, and more. Lastly, the team divided the open floor plan into two sections: a Denver Mattress section with rows of mattresses from Denver Mattress and America's best-selling mattress brands, and a Furniture Row section which features some of their most popular furniture collections for every room of the home. About Furniture Row Every Furniture Row offers an extensive selection of stylish brand name and designer furnishings for every room of the home, all curated into easy-to-navigate sections within a spacious interior. Furniture Row is committed to providing their customers with finely made furnishings at incredible prices, and they're renowned for their friendly, knowledgeable sales associates whose only goal is to help you create the home you love. Visit http://www.FurnitureRow.com About Denver Mattress Denver Mattress manufactures its mattresses in its Denver-based factory and distributes them to its own retail stores. By having a single factory, Denver Mattress is able to maintain high quality control standards and deliver a more consistent product at a lower cost than multiple factory producers. Denver Mattress, the easiest way to get the right mattress. Visit http://www.DenverMattress.com Contact Andrea Terrones [email protected] SOURCE Furniture Row, LLC Program hits milestone metric as it seeks to equip law enforcement with Veteran-centric crisis response training RALEIGH, N.C., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans Service Organization, The Independence Fund, has reached a milestone metric, training more than 2,000 North Carolina law enforcement officers and first responders in Veteran-centric Crisis Response Training as part of its Veterans Justice Initiative (VJI) program, which was launched in partnership with the state of North Carolina in 2021. VJI addresses the unique and severe mental health needs faced by Veterans, especially post-9/11 combat Veterans. Since its first quarter 2022 launch, VJI has trained 1,883 officers and first responders across all 100 counties in North Carolina. Additionally, The Independence Fund's VJI team has engaged in 144 cases across 38 towns and cities throughout the state, providing navigation for both Veterans and the state's legal counterparts. "The Independence Fund, through the Veterans Justice Initiative program, is assisting law enforcement agencies, first responders, and front-line workers to understand the nuances and true scope of Veterans' mental health once they return home from service," says The Independence Fund's CEO Sarah Verardo. "We know that early intervention and casework is crucial to Veteran mental health. VJI has developed robust, alternative ways to approach Veterans in crisis from initial contact with 911 operators, first responders, and law enforcement." Nearly half of North Carolina's 700,000 Veterans seek medical or mental health treatment according to the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research, and many experience crisis without knowing how to adequately address their needs. "Our military presence is huge, leaving the pursuit of making North Carolina the most military-friendly state long overdue. To some, North Carolina is just a brief stop in their journey; to nearly 700,000 veterans, its home," said, Rep. Charlie Miller, a sponsor of North Carolina's No Veteran Left Behind law. "As a law enforcement veteran, I am well equipped to identify the dire need in our state to provide local law enforcement with additional training to assist veterans in need. I'm thankful for the Independence Fund for their partnership with the State and Law Enforcement." VJI's approach is holistic, from a Veteran's initial contact through any necessary legal processes. Importantly, the program establishes a strong aftercare plan through an extensive network of resources and partner organizations to help a Veteran find healing and hope beyond their crisis. "The Union County Sheriff's Office is proud to be a part of this amazing team dedicated to honoring and providing aid to our nation's military Veterans. Through Crisis Intervention Training, the UCSO has been able to learn more about the services that can be offered to Veterans in the midst of a crisis situation and appropriate methods that can be used to de-escalate and resolve situations with referrals for assistance, not a criminal arrest," says Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey. "VJI provides options for Veterans in crisis that are either already involved in the criminal justice system or at risk to become involved in the future. By utilizing local, state, and federal resources our agency hopes to work closely with The Independence Fund to honor the sacrifices and service of our veterans as we exercise patience and understanding when interacting with a Veteran dealing with a crisis situation." Through funding provided by the state of North Carolina's No Veteran Left Behind program, The Independence Fund plans to continue expansion of VJI with additional, immersive training experiences for law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, and 911 dispatching units. ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE FUND: Founded in 2007, The Independence Fund (501c3) is committed to serving the Warfighter Community by providing innovative programs and services to support the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual independence of our servicemembers, combat Veterans, their caregivers, families, and those allies who served in combat alongside our troops, through innovative mobility and adaptive technologies and therapies for combat veterans; suicide prevention; caregiver and family support; and Veteran advocacy with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, other government agencies, federal and state legislators, and other partners. The Independence Fund believes in fairness and equality for all veterans and families irrespective of race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation, and will continue to uphold these American values. Media Contacts Debra Richardson, Chief Communications Officer [email protected] (304)-704-9823 SOURCE The Independence Fund Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. State senators who have walked off the job and are barred from reelection will not be allowed to file for reelection in 2024 when the window for candidates opens Sept. 14, according to the Oregon Secretary of State's office. Under Measure 113, passed with a 68% yes vote in November, lawmakers who have more than 10 excused absences cannot seek reelection. Ten senators have passed the absence threshold as part of an effort to keep the Senate from reaching the two-thirds of members present required under the state constitution to form a quorum to meet and do any business. The Senate has not established a quorum since May 3. A political and legal showdown would come if any of the "disqualified" senators attempted to file for reelection. "If a candidate is not eligible to hold office, the courts have interpreted election statutes to mean that the filing officer cant allow them on the ballot," Ben Morris, spokesperson for the office of secretary of state, said Thursday, May 25. An analysis of Measure 13 submitted to the secretary of state at the time of the November ballot measure's drafting said lawmakers who surpassed the absence limit could conceivably file for reelection and even win, but could not be seated. Morris said that conflicts with state law which does not allow candidates who are ineligible to assume office to appear on the ballot. A recent example was New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who was blocked from the Democratic primary ballot for governor by then-Secretary of State Shemia Fagan for failing to meet the state's residency rule. Not all senators barred in 2024 The Senate has staggered four-year terms. The ban on filing to run in 2024 would affect six senators who would be up for reelection, including House Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend. Also past the 10-absence threshold and up for reelection in 2024 are Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale; Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls; Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction; and Sen. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas. Sen. Bill Hansell, who would be barred from reelection, had previously announced he would retire at the end of his current term. Four other senators in the walkout are not up for reelection until 2026: Sen. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook; Sen Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles; Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer; and Sen. Cedric Hayden, R-Rosburg. Other senators who have taken part in the walkout hold seats that are not up for reelection until 2026 or have not accumulated 10 absences through Thursday. Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, had four absences when he began to return to the Senate floor for quorum calls. Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, has one absence and has been on the floor for all other sessions. Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, has been on a long-term excused absence due to medical reasons. Republicans have kept two senators on the floor for most of the walkout, which ensures the Senate is still under the minimum 20 members needed to meet. The participants in the walkout have said they will challenge the unexcused absences and Measure 113 itself if needed. They argue their actions are in the best interests of their constituents and the absences recorded by Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, are "retribution." Stay up to date on mid-Willamette Valley news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Albany and Linn County news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you. "We are the last line of defense to hold the majority accountable, Knopp said Tuesday, May 23. Oregon's 13 Constitutional Defense Fund, a political action committee formed by Knopp to support the walkout, has raised $5,726 since it was established May 10, mostly through small donations, including from the Republicans' "WinRed" small online donation website. The PAC has spent $675.53. No legal challenge to the law has been filed by the GOP senators as yet. The fund is directed by veteran Prineville political consultant Bryan Iverson, who also directed the 2022 efforts of The Leadership Fund and Evergreen Oregon PAC, the political fundraising arms of Senate Republicans and House Republicans, respectively. He is married to House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville. Breese-Iverson has expressed support for the Senate walkout and said House Republicans could also leave the Capitol if Democratic Party actions became punitive to her caucus. But to date, the 25 GOP members have come to the floor and joined with the 35 Democrats to establish the minimum quorum of 40 House members to meet the two-thirds requirement in the state constitution. Morris said the secretary of state's office is developing rules to integrate Measure 113 into the state's campaign filing and fundraising regulations. "The Elections Division will work with the Legislature to create a process for including Measure 113 in the candidate filing process," Morris said. "That work is currently underway." The work is going on under Acting Secretary of State Cheryl Myers, Fagan's deputy until May 8, when Fagan resigned from office amid reports she had accepted paid work, outside of her state job, as a consulting attorney to a subsidiary of La Mota, a major cannabis dispensing company whose business license is issued by the secretary of state and that is part of the marijuana-related industry audited by the office. Gov. Tina Kotek said she would not name a replacement for Fagan until after the May 13 local elections. Last week, Kotek said had not settled on a choice or even developed a list of possible replacements for the state's top elections job. The office of secretary of state will be on the 2024 ballot and any appointee who sought to continue in the position would have to run for the job beginning with the May 2024 primary. Related stories: West Virginia University and University of Alabama round out the top three WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio State (OSU) & Wilberforce University Team has been named the winner of Year One of the EcoCAR Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge, taking the lead in the four-year collegiate engineering competition. West Virginia University took second place and University of Alabama finished third in the judged competition, which was held from May 2126, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. The Ohio State University & Wilberforce University Team Claims Top Spot in Year One of the EcoCAR EV Challenge Managed by Argonne National Laboratory and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), General Motors, and MathWorks , the EcoCAR EV Challenge is a cross-disciplinary competition among 15 North American universities designed to build an EV talent pipeline through cutting edge automotive engineering education and practical application. Participating teams are tasked with complex, real-world technical EV challenges, including enhancing the propulsion system of a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ to optimize energy efficiency while maintaining consumer expectations for performance and driving experience throughout the four-year competition. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the forefront of the EcoCAR EV Challenge, which promotes STEM to inspire the next generation of an EV workforce that is representative of all communities. "Year One of EcoCAR is all about generating big ideas and developing a strategy for the remainder of the competition," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alejandro Moreno. "These students are already demonstrating the capacity and drive needed to pursue careers in the EV sector and become trailblazers in the mobility industry." While OSU has been in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC) for more than two decades, this was the first time they chose to form a collaborative partnership with another school to compete in the program. Last fall, the team set out to establish a partnership with Wilberforce University (HBCU). This presented unique challenges with integration between the two groups of students, but the team has now proven they can compete successfully as one cohesive team. The Team excelled across all judged categories in Year One, earning top three finishes for 12 of the pre-competition deliverables, ten of which were first place finishes. The Team will take home $10,000 in prize money from industry sponsors. In Year Two of the competition, each student team will receive a Cadillac LYRIQ, a next-generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) provided by GM. Teams will be tasked with reengineering the vehicle to add new energy efficient and customer-friendly features designed to address the decarbonization needs of the automotive industry. "As a proud EcoCAR sponsor, we are honored to continue to provide the tools and training to help build the next generation of EV talent," stated Ken Morris, Vice President Electric and Autonomous Vehicles at GM. "As this competition progresses, we look forward to seeing how the students incorporate their ideas from this year and put their skills to the test in reengineering their Cadillac LYRIQs. We congratulate the Ohio State & Wilberforce Team on their first-year win and are excited to see what the remainder of the competition has in store." "The Team's complex embedded system designs were impressive," said Lauren Tabolinsky, Global Academic Student Programs Manager at MathWorks. "We look forward to seeing the teams continue to use MATLAB and Simulink to build and simulate their EV designs throughout the duration of the multi-year competition." For more information about the EcoCAR EV Challenge, please visit avtcseries.org . About EcoCAR EV Challenge: Managed by Argonne National Laboratory and sponsored by DOE, General Motors, and MathWorks, the EcoCAR EV Challenge is a four-year collegiate engineering program that builds on the successful 35-year history of Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC), which exemplifies the power of government/industry partnerships to address our nation's toughest energy and mobility challenges and provide practical skills to the future leaders of the transportation workforce. General Motors provides each of the competing teams with a Cadillac LYRIQ the brand's first all-electric vehicle built on GM's Ultium Platform which encompasses a common set of propulsion components battery cells, modules, packs, and a family for Ultium Drive units. GM also provides vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring, and operational support. A foundational principle of EcoCAR is the use of Model-Based Design, a mathematical and visual design approach using MATLAB and Simulink that enables users to manage projects quickly and cost-effectively, collaborate on designs, and develop complex embedded systems. MathWorks provides teams with a full suite of software tools, simulation models, training, technical mentoring, and operational support. The U.S. Department of Energy and its research and development facility, Argonne National Laboratory, provide competition management, team evaluation and logistical support. Other sponsors provide hardware, software, and training. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply the U.S. Department of Energy's endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Government or any agency thereof. The Department of Energy's role in this competition does not include the solicitation or selection of sponsorships, nor does it include the establishment of sponsorship criteria. Contact: Kimberly DeClark, EcoCAR (202) 441-0096 SOURCE EcoCAR EV Challenge A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from PR Newswire this week, including a "Little Mermaid" Happy Meal and Venmo's new account for teens. NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Press Release Roundup, May 22-26, 2023. Photo provided by McDonald's USA. https://prn.to/3MCJJyr Read more of the latest releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNalert on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for Lowe's and Petco. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy consumer and retail industry press releases from PR Newswire, including Americans' snack preferences and the top toy picks for summer. NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the consumer and retail industries stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Consumer Press Release Roundup, May 22-26, 2023. Photo provided by Taco Bell Corp. https://prn.to/3BSCayw Read more of the latest consumer-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNcnsmr, @prnfood, @prnbeauty, and @prnfashion on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, quarterly results for Lowe's and DICK's Sporting Goods crossed the wire this week. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy culture press releases from PR Newswire, including initiatives from PepsiCo and Nickelodeon to empower the next generation. NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering different cultural groups stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly People & Culture Press Release Roundup, May 22-26, 2023. Photo provided by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. https://prn.to/3BXE9l8 Read more of the latest culture-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNmltcult on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire #100DaysOfCamping Celebrates the 2023 Summer Camping Season CHICAGO, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousand Trails, the premier campground network that provides outdoor enthusiasts opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in top vacation destinations across North America, is launching its ninth annual #100DaysOfCamping campaign. The contest begins Memorial Day weekend, as the summer-long challenge encourages campers across the country to get outside and camp this season. Thousand Trails encourages campers across the country to get outside and camp with 9th annual #100DaysOfCamping campaign Tweet this Thousand Trails ninth annual #100DaysofCamping campaign kicks off Memorial Day weekend, encouraging people to camp all summer long. Guests of Thousand Trails campgrounds can take part in the campaign by sharing their camping photos via social media and tagging #100DaysofCamping. Prizes include a GoPro camera, eco-friendly camping items, a Thousand Trails Camping Pack and a grand prize package featuring a Thousand Trails Camping Pass. With approximately 100 days of camping to be enjoyed between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, Thousand Trails honors these popular summer vacation days as the featured #100DaysofCamping. Guests are encouraged to take part in the #100DaysofCamping campaign as a promise to slow down, get back to basics, enjoy the great outdoors, and reconnect with what matters most: Nature, friends, family, and yourself. This season the popular Thousand Trails rally towels are back with guests receiving the towels at check-in over Memorial Day weekend. Guests are encouraged to display their rally towels in their camping photos all summer long, posting to social media with the hashtag #100DaysofCamping or uploading to www.100DaysofCamping.com for opportunities to win prizes like a GoPro camera, a Thousand Trails Camping Pack, eco-friendly camping accessories, and a grand prize package featuring a Thousand Trails Camping Pass. "Thousand Trails visitors enjoy the events and activities we host throughout the year and with our ninth season of #100DaysOfCamping they can expect a little something extra," said Pat Zamora, spokeswoman for Thousand Trails. "We enjoy providing unique opportunities for our guests to get out and camp, and this campaign is another way for guests to create special camping memories." About Thousand Trails Thousand Trails provides top RV resorts and campgrounds in North America with over 80 locations in 23 states and British Columbia, Canada. Thousand Trails and their affiliates offer RV and outdoor recreation enthusiasts opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in top vacation destinations, complemented with amenities and activities for the whole family. For more information, please visit ThousandTrails.com. Official Rules for the 2023 #100DaysofCamping Photo Contest can be found here. SOURCE Thousand Trails GOTHENBURG, Sweden, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tridentify, an international provider of cold-chain monitoring solutions, has announced the launch of its latest innovation - a real-time cold chain monitoring system that includes a ground-breaking feature for continuously monitoring the stability and remaining shelf-life of shipped products in the cold-chain. The new system will transform the way companies monitor their operations and manage their stability budgets by providing a comprehensive view of the stability and the remaining shelf-life of the pharmaceutical products in real time. The new system provides an accurate and real-time overview of shipment stability, allowing the company to make data-driven decisions with confidence. By implementing this system, businesses can ensure they are working within their budget and can also identify areas of inefficiency and make proactive changes to optimise their operations. With the launch of this new monitoring system, Tridentify is revolutionising the industry by enabling companies to monitor their operations and the stability of their shipments in real time. The new system provides an accurate and real-time overview of a shipment's stability and remaining lifespan, allowing companies to make data-driven decisions with confidence. By implementing this system, companies can ensure they are working within their given framework and can also identify areas of inefficiency and make proactive changes to optimise their operations and supply chain. We are excited to announce the launch of our new real-time monitoring system with stability budget monitoring. This new system will revolutionise the way businesses monitor their operations and manage their shipments, providing a comprehensive view of product stability in real-time, says Johan Stormlund, CEO of Tridentify. The stability budget monitoring feature is one of the most impressive aspects of this new system. It allows companies to set the parameters for each shipment and monitor it in real-time. The system integrates seamlessly into manufacturing workflows, enabling real-time quality assurance checks to ensure products meet the highest standards of quality. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, including advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms, the monitoring system empowers manufacturers to optimise their quality control processes and streamline production. Tridentify's new real-time monitoring system and stability budget monitoring feature are designed to provide businesses with the tools they need to operate efficiently, make informed decisions, and stay within their framework. This new system represents a significant advancement in quality assurance technology, empowering manufacturers to maintain the highest quality standards while increasing productivity and profitability, says Johan Stormlund, CEO at Tridentify. For further information, please contact: Johan Stormlund, CEO Tridentify +46 734 122 668 [email protected] The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/tridentify-ab/i/tridentify-cold-chain-monitoring-system,c3182899 Tridentify Cold Chain Monitoring System SOURCE Tridentify AB WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Digital Currency Monetary Authority (DCMA) announced it is piloting a self-custody and completely private point-to-point digital cash implementation of Unicoin in Latin America and Africa. Universal Monetary Unit (UMU), Unicoin, Direct Mobile-to-Mobile Digital Cash Electronic money and paper money are the two forms of societal legal money recognized by the banking industry. Electronic money is transacted through banks and financial institutions and requires banking compliance such as KYC and AML features, whereas, paper money can be transacted person to person privately without involving any banking or financial intermediary. Bitcoin and the first generation of cryptocurrencies all implement shared ledger technology or electronic cash. The crypto industry has yet to simulate a person-to-person paper money transfer, or digital cash. Unicoin implements true cryptographic digital cash in which money is transferred directly between mobile devices using wireless point-to-point technology, Bluetooth and Near-Field Communications (NFC). Unicoin's Point-to-Point Digital Cash is a completely private self-custody form of money not shared on any distributed ledger. Each mobile device is transformed into a hardware wallet with its own localized ledger and can transact with another device operating the same Unicoin Digital Cash Protocol. Unicoin supports both a bank wallet for regulated electronic cash and a mobile wallet for private digital cash. Unicoin holders can attach their mobile wallet to their bank wallet and transfer money between them the same as depositing and withdrawing cash into a bank account. Unicoin digital cash is ideal for developing countries without a high concentration of Smartphones or Internet connectivity. Unicoin digital cash is ideal for merchants in rural areas and for unbanked and financial inclusion initiatives. For mobile devices with internet connectivity, enhanced features are available, such as foreign exchange rates, enabling digital cash mobile wallets to settlement money transfers in any legal tender. Once the mobile wallet is downloaded and installed, an initial cash balance can be loaded by attaching and transferring funds from a Unicoin bank wallet, by purchasing Unicoin from an approved money services provider, or by receiving a money transfer directly from another Unicoin mobile wallet holder. It is not advisable to store too large of a balance in the mobile digital cash wallet because if the mobile phone is lost or stolen, just like cash, there is no way to recover it. If a Unicoin holder wants to transact a large digital cash payment, it is advisable to transfer funds from the bank wallet to the mobile wallet only at the time of payment. Unicoin's digital cash solution is deployed as a standalone money operating system and can easily be integrated into ATM machines, Point of Sale (POS) devices, and public payment systems, like bus and train station ticketing and payment machines. The Unicoin digital cash solution is currently being piloted in both Latin America and Africa with the expectation of a full product release within the next six months. About the Digital Currency Monetary Authority (DCMA) The DCMA is a world leader in the advocacy of digital currency and monetary policy innovations for governments and central banks. Membership within the DCMA consists of sovereign states, central banks, commercial and retail banks, and other financial institutions. https://dcma.io About Universal Monetary Unit (UMU) Universal Monetary Unit (UMU), Unicoin, symbolized as ANSI Character, U, is legally a money commodity, can transact in any legal tender settlement currency. Unicoin supports both electronic cash and digital cash payments. Electronic cash functions like a CBDC to enforce banking regulations and to protect the financial integrity of the international banking system. Digital cash transacts private mobile to mobile payments. https://umu.cash Media contact: Ruth Marshall [email protected] +17043035359 SOURCE Digital Currency Monetary Authority Judges celebrate the "user-centric" design behind the new TyMetrix 360 interface HOUSTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions, part of Wolters Kluwer's Legal & Regulatory division, has been recognized as Company of the Year, Legal in the 21st Annual American Business Awards. The Silver Stevie Award is one of four plaudits bestowed by the program in recognition of ELM Solutions' market-leading AI solutions, product enhancements and thought leadership events, with judges lauding the company's ability to help clients solve complex problems efficiently. A sleek new user interface that ELM Solutions incorporated into its TyMetrix 360 e-billing and matter management platform also received praise from the American Business Awards' distinguished panel of top business executives, who feted the solution with a Gold Stevie Award in the program's Legal Solution category. Judges celebrated the new interface's "user-centric" design, which offers advanced search features, customizable rollout options, and market-leading security and authentication processes. Meanwhile, the sophisticated AI algorithm underlying ELM Solutions' LegalVIEW BillAnalyzer spend management solution was honored with a Bronze Stevie Award in the program's Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Solution category. Judges called BillAnalyzer a boon to legal departments and their billing processes, drawing particular attention to the AI algorithm's constant state of learning and evolution as it analyzes each line of a law firm invoice for compliance with outside counsel billing guidelines. In addition to the praise visited upon ELM Solutions' technology and services, judges celebrated the "smart planning, research and message development" that earned the company's ELM Amplify 2022 user conference a Bronze Stevie Award in the program's Brand & Experiences, Brand Engagement Event category. With partnership and innovation as the key themes, the 2022 conference outlined best practices for corporate legal departments eager to enhance cost savings and improve compliance with outside counsel billing guidelines. "Many thanks to the judges of the 21st Annual American Business Awards for recognizing the power of Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions' innovative AI technology, intuitive workflows, and market-leading insights to transform the way that today's legal professionals are working," said Barry Ader, VP Product Management and Marketing, Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions. "We remain committed to the role of trusted partner as our clients strive to enhance their legal operations programs and generate boundless new efficiencies." Earlier this year, ELM Solutions became a part of Wolters Kluwer's Legal & Regulatory division in a move that brought the company's legal software assets into closer alignment and bolstered product innovation. Wolters Kluwer's Legal & Regulatory U.S. business unit secured multiple plaudits from the American Business Awards, including Gold Stevie Awards for its market-leading Legisway work management platform and VitalLaw legal research solution. ELM Solutions is the market-leading global provider of enterprise legal spend and matter management and legal analytics solutions. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools that address the growing needs of corporate legal operations departments to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. Corporate legal and insurance claims departments trust its innovative technology and end-to-end customer experience to drive world-class business outcomes. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of 5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Media Contacts Paul Lyon Senior Director, External Communications Global Branding & Communications Wolters Kluwer Office +44 20 3197 6586 [email protected] Frank Ready Senior Specialist, External Communications, Legal & Regulatory Wolters Kluwer 717-205-3647 [email protected] SOURCE ELM Solutions VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. (CSE: YOUR)(OTC: YOURF)(FSE: HOB) (the "Company" or "YourWay"), a leading consumer-centric House of Brands committed to redefining the cannabis industry, is providing an operational update and announces the launch of a shareholder forum webcast to be held on June 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm EST. The updates to be provided include details of the initiatives being taken to address the delays in releasing the Company's audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022, financial highlights to date, product launches, and a talent update. Auditor Update The Company continues its efforts to engage a suitable auditor, despite facing challenges in identifying an appropriate firm. Since the resignation of Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP ("MGO") effective December 6, 2022, the Company has been actively searching for an auditor to retain. Given that YourWay is a Canadian public company, the auditor needs to be registered with the Canadian Public Accountability Board to be able to accept an engagement. To date, we have contacted 31 firms to gauge their interest in the engagement. Unfortunately, many firms we spoke with indicated an unwillingness to accept the engagement for the reasons MGO resigned, as described in our press release dated December 20, 2022. Other reasons cited by firms included capacity constraints or their policies of not working with cannabis companies in the United States based on federal cannabis laws. We want to reassure our stakeholders that we remain committed to finding an auditor, and our search is ongoing. Financial Highlights The market conditions in Arizona have softened considerably, impacting our sales levels. As a result, we have taken proactive measures to address these challenges. We have reviewed and adjusted our cost structure, increased our commitment to our sales force, collaborated with suppliers to improve pricing, and implemented strategies to conserve cash. It is important to note that we do not carry any non-supplier debt. However, we are experiencing difficulty collecting a significant amount owed to the Company by one customer. Revenues continue to be challenged, primarily driven by the shift in market conditions that led us to engage in opportunistic bulk distillate sales. In fiscal 2021, distillate sales represented approximately 50% of the Company's sales, which declined throughout fiscal 2022 due to significant price pressures, margin compression, and the downward trend in biomass pricing. We continue to work on solutions internally and with partners to provide a low-cost alternative to compete with the influx of cheaper bulk material in the marketplace. In fiscal 2022, sales of our butane products, including our flagship shatter category, declined by about 40% but remains our highest-performing category. In addition, sales of our vape cartridges dropped by approximately 19% in fiscal 2022 as compared to fiscal 2021. The overall sales decline in our branded products results from the large multi-state operators vertically integrating their operations to offer more of their own branded products. As a result, the Company has shifted to offer a mixed balance of white-label and branded products, as we believe there is opportunity in both categories. Given the continued challenge in sales, the focus has been to invest in innovation, acquire talent, pay down significant vendor payables built up through the second quarter of fiscal 2022, and focus on cost reduction measures. The Company implemented pricing guardrails, minimizing the number of low-margin sales, mitigated the costs of contracts entered into during previous years that are no longer viable and has entered into new supply arrangements that will reduce the cost of goods sold in fiscal 2023. Talent Update YourWay is delighted to welcome two highly talented individuals who have joined our organization. Kaiya Bercow has assumed the role of Vice President of Operations. With nearly a decade of experience in the cannabis industry and as the founder of Utopia Cannabis based in California, Kaiya brings invaluable expertise to our team. Additionally, Vikki Doolittle has joined us as Director of Sales. With her extensive experience in sales, distribution, and the cannabis industry, including her recent role as Wholesale Sales Manager for Trulieve in Arizona, we expect Vikki will play a crucial role in restructuring our sales function and driving our sales growth. Product Launch We are thrilled with the successful launch of two new cannabis products under our VenomX brand in Arizona, as previously announced on April 4, 2023. The newly introduced products, Diamond-Infused Pre-Rolls and Live Resin All-in-One Vaporizers were made available to retailers in the first week of April 2023. The Diamond-Infused Pre-Rolls represent a groundbreaking addition to our VenomX flower products, combining pure THCa diamonds with premium cannabis. In addition, the Live Resin All-in-One Vaporizers offer a 1.0g device that delivers an all-cannabis-derived experience with the combination of live resin high terpene extract and distilled cannabis oil. We are pleased with consumers' reception of our innovative products and look forward to further expanding the reach of the VenomX brand through our dedicated marketing and innovation teams. Shareholder Forum Webcast On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 2:00 pm EST, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jakob Ripshtein will host an online and dial-in forum exclusively for our shareholders consisting of prepared remarks followed by a question and answer session related to the Company's operational update. "This forum reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in our communications with all stakeholders." said Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jakob Ripshtein. "We value your continued support as we strive to build a stronger, more resilient company, and we are eager to share our progress with you." The agenda for the forum will include: The status of our audit, providing context for the delay in filing our financial statements The status of our cease trade order The status of our House of Brands strategy Recent product innovation Financial performance update New hires who are leading our effort to advance our strategy Details of the webcast and dial-in: Webcast attendees can pre-register at the following link: https://app.webinar.net/mlJwOdv2RL7 For individuals who cannot attend the webcast, dial-in access will be provided; please use the following phone numbers: Local: 416-764-8668 North American Toll-Free: 888-390-0561 We encourage all shareholders to participate and engage with us during this forum. About YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. YourWay is a publicly traded, multi-state and consumer-centric House of Brands committed to redefining the way consumers and cannabis brands interact, with sales and operations in Arizona. By building their own brands, partnering with others, and supporting retail partners control brand strategy, they are dedicated to expanding their reach; remolding the cannabis industry and ultimately redefining consumers and cannabis brands interact. YourWay aims to connect with the cannabis consumer on a deeper level, utilizing decades of brand-building expertise and an integral understanding of the customer experience to create an intuitive suite of branded products that closely align with consumer need states. The YourWay portfolio is an all-encompassing house of brands designed to create a sense of belonging for every cannabis consumer regardless of their relationship with the plant. Please visit www.yourwaycannabis.com or follow on Twitter at @yourwaycannabis for the latest news and information about YourWay and its brands. Website: www.yourwaycannabis.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the shareholder forum webcast to be held on June 6, 2023 and the updates to be provided at such webcast; the Company's ongoing commitment to finding an auditor; the Company's continued efforts to provide a low-cost alternative to compete with the influx of cheaper bulk material in the marketplace; the opportunities for the Company in white-label and branded products; the Company's expectations for a reduced cost of goods sold in 2023; the Company's expectations regarding the new Vice President of Operations and the Director of Sales' expected role in restructuring the Company's sales function and driving sales growth; the Company's expectations for the continued growth and expansion of the VenomX brand; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's 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. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance, or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the launch of the new products; changes in consumers demand and preferences; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; compliance with extensive government regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated August 28, 2020, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward nonenforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa has 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 Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in my name and in the name of the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain, I am pleased to present to Your Excellency our sincere congratulations and best wishes of good health and happiness. We pray to God Almighty to grant your Excellency abundant health and happiness, and to bless the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan with further progress and prosperity. I willingly assure Your Excellency of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain Cuba's Supreme Court has announced that it handed down 18 convictions for Violence Against Women in 2022. In a press release circulated by the official press on May 15, the regime's justice authority assured that it "acts with consistent severity within the framework of what is established by law," imposing "sanctions of incarceration for more than 25 years and, in some cases, life imprisonment." The court pointed to its sentences as an example of "the Cuban States prioritization of guaranteeing effective equality in the enjoyment and exercise of rights, promoting the comprehensive development of women and their full social participation, as well as protecting them from gender and family violence in any of its forms." This number of convictions issued against femicides is paltry, however, in view of the fact that macho violence claimed at least 145 lives of women, girls and boys in Cuba from 2019 to the present, according to the reporting done by the independent observatories of Cuban feminist platforms. In 2022 alone there were more than 30 femicides. The Supreme Courts decision, which Cuba's Yo Si Te Creo (IBelieveYou) movement has labelled "punitive populism," is published at a time when Havana is poised to undergo the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review. Thus, the regime will be scrutinized for its observance of recommendations related to the empowerment of women and the application of the gender perspective in national policies. In this context, Cuba has yet to approve a Comprehensive Law against Gender Violence and has been called out for not having ratified the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Although the Penal Code that entered into force in December 2022 establishes the deaths of women victims of gender violence as "murder," entailing penalties ranging from 20 years to the death penalty, the legislative compendium does not expressly include the crime of femicide, one of the fundamental demands of Cuban feminists. The release issued by the Supreme applauds that 18 murderers of women were convicted in 2022, but says nothing about other crimes related to gender violence, such as rape, fondling, harassment, injuries, or threats the latter one of the most frequently established in the criminal sections of municipal courts, according to sources familiar with the Cuban judicial system. The Court also fails to mention the number of aggressors convicted of prosecutions for attempted attacks, and it is not even clear about the 18 murder convictions it issued; it states that the penalties were issued in 2022, but does not specify whether the femicides occurred in the same year, or in previous ones. Criminal proceedings of this type can be protracted. The issue of official information on femicide statistics is a common appeal voiced by of Cuban feminist organizations, as transparency on this issue is essential to raise awareness among the population; the visibility of the scourge could become a deterrent for potential aggressors, and encourage women victims of gender violence to see their situation reflected in the media, and report violations. Being able to access official figures on murders is the only way to determine the real dimension of femicides. Thus, activists continue to demand unbiased information on macho violence in Cuba, but they also demand shelters, specialized police stations, that the State or its institutions compensate the dependents left behind by the victim of a femicide, specialized and early attention for aggressors, a gender- and feminism-conscious approach to public education, and other measures, as occur in most countries with protocols against gender violence. 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 Ramallah, May 26 : At least eight Palestinians were injured and 14 were arrested 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, Xinhua news agency reported. 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. Moscow, May 26 : 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 has said. 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 defence attache office at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow, the ministry was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying. 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 September 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". Singapore, May 26 : An Indian national has been sentenced in Singapore to 30 months in prison for duping his employer into making payments totalling over SG$5.1 million (Rs 31 crore) to other companies linked to him, a media report said. Hussain Naina Mohamed, a 47-year-old assistant shipping manager at a construction firm, pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine counts of cheating involving more than SG$$2.5 million and one count of moving a portion of his ill-gotten gains out of Singapore, The Straits Times reported. During the sentencing, 16 other charges, including those involving the remaining amount, were also considered. Hussian told investigators that he had sent the money to India to help cover his parents' household expenses. The payments took place between 2009 and 2019, causing at least SG$500,000 in losses to Utracon Corporation where Hussain worked until January 2019. Hussain, whose responsibilities included making vendor recommendations to his superiors, also did not inform his employer that he was a partner at a company called Al Rahman Enterprises & Trading (Aret). Instead, he recommended Aret as well as his father's firm to be his employer's vendor for marine insurance, freight-forwarding services, and plastic components. The prosecution told the court that Utracon would not have awarded jobs to these firms had it known about the conflict of interest. The companies recommended by Hussain did provide services to Utracon as its vendors, which resulted in a financial loss of at least SG$500,000 to Utracon as a result of the cheating. Hussain admitted in the court that he had set up the firm solely to earn some cash from Utracon, and due to his dishonesty, Utracon ended up paying SG$705,000 to Aret. In addition, Utracon was induced to award jobs to his father's firm, and ended up paying more than SG$1.4 million to it. In 2011, he entered into an illicit agreement for Indus Global Line (IGL) to submit inflated quotations to Utracon for freight-forwarding services due to which Utracon was cheated of SG$375,000, The Straits Times reported. On six occasions between May 2014 and November 2017, Hussain amassed SG$142,000 from his ill-gotten gains by methods that included engaging the services of local remittance agents. Washington, May 26 : Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison over his role in the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot. While prosecutors had demanded for 25 years, this is the longest prison sentence yet given to a Capitol rioter. Along with Rhodes, who was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and other crimes, a second Oath Keepers member, Kelly Meggs was also sentenced to 12 years in prison. Thursday's sentences are the first handed down in over a decade for seditious conspiracy in the US. "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," CNN quoted District Judge Amit Mehta as saying before handing down the sentence. "That is what you did. 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. "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," he added Judge Mehta said Rhodes, the 58-year-old former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, expressed no remorse and continues to be a threat. "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 offence against the government to use force. It is an offence against the people of our country." Earlier on Thursday, Mehta ruled that Rhodes' actions amounted to domestic terrorism. "He was the one giving the orders. He was the one organising the teams that day. He was the reason they were in fact in Washington D.C. Oath Keepers wouldn't have been there but for Stewart Rhodes, I don't think anyone contends otherwise. He was the one who gave the order to go, and they went." At the hearing, Rhodes claimed he was a "political prisoner" and insisted that the Oath Keepers were standing in opposition to people "who are destroying our country", the BBC reported. Rhodes founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. He began a campaign to reject the results of the election two days after the November 2020 vote, while ballots were still being counted. Armed members of the anti-government group showed up at a number of protests and standoffs, and eventually became staunch supporters of former US President Donald Trump. Dozens were present at the riot. In January this year, four other Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy and four members of the far-right Proud Boys were convicted on the charge earlier this month. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ELBA A man charged with first-degree sodomy remains in Coffee County Jail on no bond awaiting a judges decision after an Anaiahs Law hearing at the Coffee County Courthouse here Thursday afternoon. Coffee County District Judge told Christopher Michael Nelson, 46, that he took Nelsons request for bond under advisement after a hearing during which Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox told the judge that Nelson has two prior felony sex-related convictions and was released from prison in 2019 after serving some 20 years on the first-degree sodomy conviction. The Anaiahs Law amendment to the constitution of Alabama allows district attorneys to request that bail be denied for persons charged with Class A felonies giving district attorneys the ability to argue that the defendant is going to be a violent threat to the community. Nelson is arrested in connection with a complaint to law officers involving a 16-year-old victim, Coffee County Sheriffs Department Investigator Robert Seagle testified Thursday. The incidents occurred while Nelson and the victim both were doing manual labor on a farm located off of Coffee County 348 between March 15 and April 1 of this year, Seagle said. Seagle said that witnesses have told law officers that Nelson has been stalking the victim and threatening him with harm if he tells anyone about what occurred in the farm field. Seagle also said that the 16-year-old suffers from a developmental disorder that impacts his communication skills. During the hearing, Tarbox played a telephone call Nelson made from the Coffee County Jail to his employer asking him to come to court Thursday to testify that he and the teenaged victim had never been alone together while they worked together. On the recorded phone conversation, the employer told Nelson that he could not tell that lie. Four neighbors and friends of Nelson told the judge Thursday that Nelson would not be a flight risk if he was allowed bond because his mother is currently hospitalized, and Nelson is needed to be her caretaker when she is allowed to remain home. They also said that he would not be a danger to the victim despite Nelsons recorded verbal threats to do so. He just likes to run his mouth, two of them said. Nelson took the stand and told the court that he would not be a flight risk because he is the sole caretaker of his mother. Where am I going to go? he asked the judge. I aint got no place to go. New Delhi, May 26 : In the Delhi excise policy scam case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed in its charge sheet that former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia intentionally replaced an entire cabinet draft note containing crucial legal opinions from two former Chief Justices of India -- Ranjan Gogoi and K.G. Balakrishnan -- as well as Mukul Rohtagi, a senior advocate and former Attorney General of India, with a new one, according to sources. The sources said that the old draft cabinet note was causing hindrance in pursuing Sisodia's ulterior motives including providing assistance to the South Group, and hence it was allegedly destroyed. The sources said that the new draft policy was favouring the agenda of the South Group and Sisodia. While probing the matter, the ED learned that the file presented before them by the Excise Department did not have any old legal opinion. The sources said that a crucial note containing legal opinion was allegedly removed from the file. When the ED further probed the matter, they learned that excise official Gaurav Mann gave the unsigned old draft copy to Sisodia's staff in January 2021. When questioned by the ED, Mann revealed that he wasn't given back the draft note. The ED has called it a conspiracy hatched by Sisodia, alleging that the accused did everything possible to ensure that the old cabinet note containing legal opinion could not be brought on record. The ED traced the file back and discovered that the file of the old cabinet note was lastly given to Sisodia by DANIC official Pravesh Jha, after which it went missing The file was allegedly given to Sisodia on January 28, 2021. However, when the ED grilled Sisodia regarding this, he denied receiving any note. The ED has alleged that the file was destroyed by Sisodia. "Sisodia also created a legal facade by creating whatsApp account using his PA Devender Sharma's phone number. And he has destroyed the old note," said the source. The ED case is based on the CBI's FIR (First Information Report). So far, the ED has filed four charge sheets in the case, one main charge sheet and three supplementary charge sheets. Gorakhpur : , May 26 (IANS) The Gorakhpur Police have ordered an inquiry into a viral video in which a faculty member of the Purvanchal University is seen and heard asking a girl student for sex. Though the girl in question has not lodged any complaint, a suo motu cognizance of the video has been taken and a probe initiated, police said in a tweet. The video that went viral on Friday shows the faculty member repeatedly asking the girl for favours and she politely says "abhi nahin'. According to reports, the girl herself recorded the conversation and uploaded it on social media to expose the teacher. There has been no reaction from the university authorities yet. Tokyo, May 26 : The son of a local Japanese politician was arrested on Friday in connection with a stabbing and shooting incident in Nagano prefecture which claimed the lives of four people. The police have identified the suspect as Masanori Aoki, the 31-year-old son of the Nakano city assembly speaker, Xinhua news agency reported. At around 4.25 p.m. on Thursday, local police received an emergency call about the man stabbing a woman in the city of Nakano. The two officers who rushed to the scene were shot dead, according to local police. After fleeing the scene, the suspect later barricaded himself for hours inside his father's home in a quiet residential area of Nakano city. Local police on Friday morning also confirmed a fourth death at the scene -- an elderly woman. She was reported to sustain injuries, but her conditions were uncertain as she was in proximity to the scene to be evacuated on Thursday. The motive of the attack remains unknown. Gun violence remains extremely rare in Japan, despite the killing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July last year, reports the BBC. Shootings of multiple police officers are even rarer, with the last incident taking place in 1990, when two officers were shot by gang members in Okinawa prefecture. In 2014, there were just six incidents of gun deaths in Japan, compared with 33,599 in the US. Sydney, May 26 : The police force in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) confirmed on Friday that two 13-year-old school children handed themselves in in connection with a major blaze that erupted in a multi-storey building in Sydney. "We are aware of reports overnight of a group of young people that were seen running from the fire scene shortly after 4 p.m. (on Thursday)," said NSW Police Force Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan at a press conference on Friday morning. Dunstan pointed out that the two 13-year-old teenagers handed themselves in at two separate police stations in the late hours of Thursday night and are now assisting police with inquiries, reports Xinhua news agency. "I can further confirm that we are aware of a further three or four other young people who were present during the fire," the police officer said, asking the young people to come forward with their parents. Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell also briefed reporters on the latest development regarding the fire, which broke out in the multi-storey building in Surry Hills at about 4 p.m. on Thursday and then upgraded into a "10th alarm" status, the most severe type of blaze. "There was extensive damage to the two buildings that were involved in the fire and that resulted in significant structural collapse," Fewtrell noted. The acting commissioner mentioned that extinguishing the remaining pockets of fire was "quite challenging" due to the debris from the collapsed buildings. "We continue to just sort of keep wetting down the hotspots, and it will continue for some time to get final extinguishment there," Fewtrell added. New Delhi, May 26 : Microsoft-backed ChatGPT developer OpenAI has introduced 10 grants worth $100,000 each for building prototypes of "a democratic process for steering" artificial general intelligence (AGI). The company said that its goal is to fund experimentation with methods for gathering nuanced feedback from everyone on how AI should behave. "While these initial experiments are not (at least for now) intended to be binding for decisions, we hope that they explore decision relevant questions and build novel democratic tools that can more directly inform decisions in the future," the company said in a statement late on Thursday. The last date to apply for an OpenAI grant is June 24. Grant recipients are expected to implement a prototype, engaging at least 500 participants and will be required to publish a public report on their findings by October 20. "The primary objective of this grant is to foster innovation in processes -- we need improved democratic methods to govern AI behaviour," OpenAI wrote. "We believe that decisions about how AI behaves should be shaped by diverse perspectives reflecting the public interest." AGI should benefit all of humanity and be shaped to be as inclusive as possible, according to OpenAI. According to recent reports, Sam Altman-run OpenAI has closed a $175 million investment fund focused on empowering other AI startups, with backing from Microsoft and other investors. We're launching ten $100,000 grants for building prototypes of a democratic process for steering AI. Our goal is to fund experimentation with methods for gathering nuanced feedback from everyone on how AI should behave. Apply by June 24, 2023: https://t.co/kJG2bNnons OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 25, 2023 OpenAI has already been investing in AI startups for some time. OpenAI recently closed a more than $300 million share sale at a valuation between $27-$29 billion, according to the reports. -- Syndicated from IANS Kolkata, May 26 : BJP national president J.P. Nadda is expected to visit West Bengal next month to finalise the party's strategy for the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls in the state. A member of the party's state committee here said that if everything goes as planned, Nadda will be in Bengal along with party's central observers for the state like Amit Malviya, Mangal Pandey and Sunil Bansal in the first half of June. "As per plan, besides meeting the top state leaders, the central leadership is also expected to make visits to certain districts and meet the respective district leadership there. The focus will be on districts within those Lok Sabha seats where our party candidates were defeated by narrow margins in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," the state committee member of the BJP said. He also said that although nothing is finalised, the state party leadership will also try to persuade Nadda to address at least one public rally in any district during his visit. It is learnt that the central leadership of BJP is especially unhappy over the functioning and infighting among the party's leadership in certain districts. "Our national president might also suggest some changes in the district leadership during his visit to West Bengal next month," the state committee member of the party said. Last time Nadda visited West Bengal was in February and prior to that in January. "However, in both the cases the main purpose of the visit was mass outreach through public rallies. However, the planned visit next month will be different as the focus will be mainly on suggestions and strategies to streamline the organisational structure of the party in the state," the state committee member said. Bhopal, May 26 : The NIA will investigate the recently busted Bhopal-Hyderabad module of Islamic organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), said Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra. He said the National Investigation Agency has taken over the case on Thursday, and the agency will be investigating 'foreign funding' and alleged overseas connections. Mishra told IANS that a team of NIA visited Bhopal and after that a diary of the case has been handed over to it. The nexus of alleged radical Islamic (HuT) was busted jointly by special Anti-Terrorist Scot (ATS) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of Madhya Pradesh. "Dairy of the case has been handed over to NIA as it wanted to investigate foreign funding and overseas involvement in the matter. Unearthing the HuT nexus was a big achievement of MP police. The BJP government will not tolerate such activities in Madhya Pradesh and whoever found involved will be punished," Mishra added. Early this month a total 16 youths allegedly associated with HuT were arrested during the operation, which was conducted simultaneously at several locations in Bhopal, Chhindwara, and Hyderabad. Of them, 10 were arrested from Bhopal, one from Chhindwara, and five from Hyderabad. The arrested men were reportedly working in various professions such as gym trainers, computer technicians, tailors, and auto drivers in the local communities. Investigations revealed that they were planning mass attacks and were preparing dangerous plots. During the interrogation, officials from various agencies found HuT-related documents in their possession, as well as videos in which some of them were seen addressing gatherings on topics of caliphate and democracy, trying to convince them on which one to choose. The MP Police had also claimed that suspects were also found to be involved in conducting clandestine shooting practice and close combat training camps in remote jungle areas, which included distribution of Jehadi literature and provocative speeches during secret religious meetings. The accused were known to identify and recruit young individuals who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the organisation's cause. Kolkata, May 26 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths, probing the multi-crore school recruitment case in West Bengal, have now summoned Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a close confidant of the top leadership of Trinamool Congress at its Central Government Office (CGO) complex here on May 30. Sources said that Bhadra will be asked about a couple of questionable entities with whom he had been associated for a long time. Two other persons have also been summoned by the ED in this matter. One of them is Gyanananda Samanta, a Trinamool Congress Zilla Parishad member in South 24 Parganas district while another is Rahul Bera, a civic volunteer by profession. On May 20, the ED had conducted raids at Bhadra's residence in Behala. The raids were carried out on the same day when CBI sleuths had questioned Trinamool Congress's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the case. Earlier, the CBI had also raided Bhadra's residence during which they seized some documents and cash. The ED sleuths have accessed certain clues from the two mobile phones of Bhadra that were seized. The sources said Bhadra will also be questioned on Tuesday about these clues available from his mobile phone. Bhadra's name had surfaced after Gopal Dalpati, a suspect in the case, named him during central agency's interrogations. Dalpati told the sleuths that an accused in the recruitment case and expelled youth Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh, used to hand over a portion of the scam proceeds collected by him to Bhadra, whom Ghosh used to address as 'Kalighater Kaku' (uncle of Kalighat). As per Dalpati's versions, Ghosh claimed that Bhadra was his main link with the top leadership of the state's ruling party. New Delhi, May 26 : Delhi Police have apprehended a man for making a PCR call and allegedly warning of a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official said on Friday. The caller was identified as Hemant Kumar, a resident of Raigar Pura in Karol Bagh. "After receiving the PCR call on Thursday night, a police team was dispatched to the spot. Kumar was brought to the police station and a joint interrogation was conducted," said Pranav Tayal, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi). "He has been unemployed for the last six years and is in the habit of drinking. As per initial probe, Kumar was drunk when he made the PCR call," the official added. Patna, May 26 : Some important files were gutted in a fire that broke out at the SSP office in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Friday. The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, but police and fire officials said that it could have emanated from a short circuit. The SSP office is located at Company Bagh in Muzaffarpur. The police personnel present at the spot managed to take out files safely but the bulk of files were gutted. "We learned about the incident on Friday morning. The fire officials managed to douse the flame. Some files were gutted in the fire mishap. The reason for the incident could be a short circuit," says Rakesh Kumar, SSP of Muzaffarpur. In another incident, fire broke out in two adjacent general stores of Bihar's Sitamarhi district on Friday morning. Valuables in a tune of Rs 30 lakh were gutted in this mishap. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. FORT NOVOSEL For Ed and Bonnie Brown of Troy, the Memorial Day Commemoration held here Friday morning held added significance as they honor their son Private First Class John Brown, who died about two decades ago at the age of 21 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Troy native was serving with the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, when the unit deployed to Iraq in February 2003. He was killed in an explosion some six weeks later on April 14, 2003. His parents were among those honoring the nations fallen at a ceremony that culminated with the placement of a memorial wreath by United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry; Aviation Branch Chief Warrant Officer, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael Lewis, and Aviation Branch Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Kirk Coley. Today is a time when we pause to reflect on the fallen, those whose dreams were cut short, McCurry said. Our nation is forever indebted to our fallen soldiers. They are the ultimate example of personal courage and selfless sacrifice. We will never forget the price of freedom or their sacrifice to our nation. McCurry also recognized Gold Star families present. They have paid the ultimate price for our nation. We are humbled by your sacrifice, inspired by your resilience, and grateful by your continued service to our communities. McCurry said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War. I talk about the extraordinary number of pilots we trained here, he said. Today we are especially mindful of the contributions of our Vietnam veterans and especially those 58,000 who paid the ultimate price. Noting that this year is the 40th anniversary of the Aviation Branch, McCurry said, We are fortunate to have warriors who are passionate about the sacred trust that aviators have with the soldiers on the ground. We are honored to be here today, said Ed Brown, as he scanned the audience of military and civic leaders from the area surrounding the Home of Army Aviation. This is our 20th year that weve gone without John. I just hope that people will remember what Memorial Day is really about, the fallen soldiers father said. Its not just a day off; its a day to celebrate the lives of those who have lost theirs in the cause of freedom. We are forever ever grateful for their courage and sacrifice, McCurry said about Gold Star families, thanking them for their presence at the ceremony Friday. Fallen soldiers personify the highest values of the Warrior Ethos and have left a lasting legacy of the honorable service, McCurry said. We renew our commitment to train hard every day in honor of their sacrifice. New York, May 26 : A team of US researchers have identified 12 key symptoms of Long Covid condition -- which persist more than 30 days after a Covid-19 infection. With over 650 million people globally having been infected with SARS-CoV-2, long Covid represents a significant public health concern that affects quality of life, earnings, and health care costs. To better understand the prevalence and severity of symptoms, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched Researching Covid to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER-Adult). Published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study examined 37 symptoms across multiple body areas and organs. Researchers identified 12 symptoms that most set apart those with and without long Covid: post exertional malaise (worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion), 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. The findings include a new scoring system for long Covid to help clinicians and researchers better define it and investigate treatments for patients. "Now that we're able to identify people with long Covid, we can begin doing more in-depth studies to understand the biological mechanisms at play," said corresponding author Andrea Foulkes, Principal Investigator of the RECOVER, and Professor at Harvard Medical School. "One of the big takeaways from this study is the heterogeneity of long Covid: long Covid is not just one syndrome; it's a syndrome of syndromes. Understanding this idea is a really important step for doing more research and ultimately administering informed interventions," she added. The study began enrolling participants in October 2021. Researchers analysed the results of a symptoms survey distributed at 85 hospitals, health centres, and community organisations in 33 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Over 9,500 individuals completed the survey, including uninfected adults as well as individuals who were six months past infection with Covid-19. The survey, developed in collaboration with clinicians and patient advocates, included 37 different symptoms and corresponding measures of severity. The results also suggest that re-infections, infection with a pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant, and absence of vaccination is associated with a higher frequency and severity of long Covid, but the authors emphasise that ongoing research is necessary. Varanasi, May 26 : The world's longest recorded song is now the 'Shri Ramcharitmanas', composed and recorded in a single track by BHU's vedic science teacher Jagadeesh Pillai. The Guinness World Records has acknowledged Pillai's feat which is the fifth Guinness honour for him in the past 11 years. "The longest officially released song is 138 hr 41 min 20 sec, and was achieved by Dr Jagadeesh Pillai (India) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 12th April 2023," says the citation from The Guinness World Records. Earlier, the longest officially released song was of 115 hours 45 minutes by Mark Christopher Lee and The Pocket Gods from St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK on December 1, 2021. Pillai recorded a single track consisting of over 11,000 verses and it took four years to achieve this feat. Pillai composed and recorded a single track based on the entire book of the epic 'Shri Ramcharitmanas', which consists of more than 11,000 verses. It is written in Avadhi language, and composed by the 16th-century bhakti poet Goswami Tulsidas. UP Minister of State (Independent charge) Daya Shankar Mishra 'Dayalu' met Pillai and expressed his best wishes to him. The minister said that despite not being from a Hindi speaking state, singing such a long song in Avadhi language in such a beautiful and emotional way with bhajans and kirtans as per the rules of Guinness record are really amazing. Pillai made it to the Guinness records for the first time in 2012 when he made an animation movie in the shortest possible time of 3.5 hours. The earlier record was of six hours made by a Canadian. Next, he set the record for "longest line of postcard" with a collection of 16,300 postcards. He next registered in the Guinness records by doing the "largest poster awareness campaign" under the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' public awareness campaign. Next, he made the longest envelope as part of the "Yoga Mass Awareness" campaign to earn the Guinness honour for the fourth time. Chikkaballapur : , May 26 (IANS) The Karnataka Police arrested two persons on Friday in connection with a moral policing case involving a Hindu man and a Muslim woman in Chikkaballapur district. The arrested persons were identified as 20-year-old Wayeed and 21-year-old Saddam, both residents of Nakkalakunte in Chikkaballapur. The police have launched a hunt for another accused, Imran. The incident of a group of youths belonging to the Muslim community thrashing a Hindu boy for hanging out with his Muslim female friend had come to light on Thursday. The accused had also attacked the girl and threatened her. Police said the victims were sitting in a small hotel in Chikkaballapur, when they were noticed by the gang. The young woman was clad in burqa. The accused gang observed the duo and attacked them after confirming that the young man was a Hindu. The gang first called the young man out and thrashed him. The young woman rushed to his rescue and told the accused that she knew him very well and questioned their actions. However, the accused asked the young woman to apologize. Later, the woman lodged a complaint against the accused in the Chikkaballapur police station. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had vehemently stated that moral policing will not be tolerated in the state. London, May 26 : The London Fire Brigade has issued a warning after a man narrowly avoided injury following an explosion of his e-bike, the media reported on Friday. CCTV footage from the entrance to Avi Gooransingh's home in Tangley Grove shows the bike's battery erupt after it goes into thermal runaway, producing a white and grey coloured highly flammable and toxic vapour cloud into the air which ignites into a fireball a few seconds later, reports mirror.co.uk. The 29-year-old narrowly escaped the fire and was able to run back into his flat, shocked and unhurt. Firefighters were quickly on the scene and safely put out the fire. In the wake of the incident, the London Fire Brigade has been running its #ChargeSafe campaign, which aims to highlight the fire risks associated with lithium batteries commonly used with e-bikes. The Brigade has been called to 52 e-bike and 12 e-scooter fires so far in 2023. Deputy Commissioner Dom Ellis said: "Although we can't be sure why this particular battery failed, we do know that Avi's e-bike was purchased second-hand and that an additional battery pack, bought from an online marketplace, had been fitted. "Cheaper batteries purchased from online sources which don't necessarily adhere to UK safety regulations are more likely to fail and present an increased fire risk. Our advice is also to buy from a reputable seller. "As the video clearly shows, once the bike goes into thermal runaway, it can lead to a rapid and ferocious fire." The Deputy Commissioner further recommended charging and storing the e-bikes outside of one's house, "and if you can't, then seriously think about whether you should buy one". Kochi, May 26 : A local court here on Friday denied interim bail to M. Sivasankar, the former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Life Mission scam case. The trial court was hearing the interim bail sought by the now-retired top former IAS official Sivasankar, who held a strong position in Vijayan's office till 2020, when he was suspended following his links with the prime accused in the gold smuggling case- Swapna Suresh. He sought the interim bail on the grounds of medical treatment. Sivasankar had earlier moved the Supreme Court, but the petition was moved to July and he was asked to approach the trial court for his needs. All along, the ED had been strongly opposing Sivasankar's bail and briefed the court that all arrangements are in place for his medical needs at the state-run Medical College hospital. With the ED taking a strong position, the trial court refused interim bail to Sivasankar. Incidentally, Sivasankar after being suspended for several months was taken back to service and given a plum posting and in February he retired, only to be sent to jail in the corruption case linked to Vijayan's pet project Life Mission - building of homes to the poor and downtrodden. Now Sivasankar will have to remain in the jail till July, when the apex court reconsiders his bail plea. Islamabad, May 26 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) will not resist any move to impose a ban on the Imran Khan led-PTI "for promoting extremism and violence". Earlier, Bilawal had voiced his disagreement when some PML-N leaders proposed a ban on PTI as a political party, reports Dawn news. He made these remarks while speaking to the media in Islamabad, which echoed the sentiments he expressed during the meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well. "I have opposed the move to ban PTI in the federal cabinet, but now we can do nothing as they (the PTI) have crossed the red line," he said. "What can we do if a political party wants to be turned into a militant organisation," he asked rhetorically. On setting up military courts to prosecute PTI supporters who were involved in riots and violence on May 9, the PPP chairman said his party will support anything done under the law and Constitution, Dawn reported. Although he endorsed the trial under the Army Act, 1952, the PPP leader ruled out the possibility of a constitutional amendment to establish new military courts. The courts could be formed under the Army Act and thus, there was no need for a constitutional amendment, he added. Bilawal has made his intentions clear, the opinion within the PPP was divided on both issues -- the establishment of military courts and a ban on PTI, Dawn reported. Talking to Dawn, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said Bilawal met Sharif for the first time since the PPP's Central Executive Committee meeting on May 19. Mumbai, May 26 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said he is planning to make a feature film detailing the saga of how the erstwhile Maha Vika Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra was toppled in June 2022 with the alleged lure of 'khokhas' (slang for crore rupees) here on Friday. Talking to the media, Raut said that the film will be titled 'Diary of Maharashtra Khokha' and promised that it will be a 'historical movie' to hit the silver screens. "There are already films like 'The Kerala Story' or 'The Kashmir Files' so now I am planning to make a real story on the role played by 'khokhas' that led to the collapse of the state government here..." said Raut. With a mischievous smile, Raut said that he may hire film-maker Vivek Agnihotri for the venture and the film would have less people and more 'khokhas'. After the MVA government of ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray was toppled, the Opposition Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Sena (UBT) had alleged that at least "50 Khokhas" (implying Rs 50-crore) were paid to break the 40 MLAs of the original Shiv Sena. Attacking Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena which pulled the rug from under the Thackeray, Raut said that the Shinde party is doomed for allying with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "The Shinde group is not a party but a chicken coop of the BJP and it will be 'cut' at one shot... Then, there will be no more 'cock cock, cock cock'... This will happen soon," predicted Raut. To a query, the Sena (UBT) Chief Spokesperson added that his party's decision to boycott the inaugural of the new Parliament House was based on principles and to save democracy. "The President and the Vice-President have been ignored from this event... That is not correct... We have taken a principled stand on this issue," Raut said. Kigali, May 26 : The umbrella body of genocide survivors' organizations in Rwanda (IBUKA) has welcomed the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema, one of the most wanted suspects of the 1994 massacre. Kayishema, who had remained at large since 2001, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in Paarl, South Africa, in a joint operation, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) said in a statement late Thursday. "Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than twenty years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes," said Serge Brammertz, IRMCT chief prosecutor. Naphtal Ahishakiye, IBUKA executive secretary, said the arrest of Kayishema was welcome news in view of his direct role in the killing of Tutsis. "As a former prosecutor, Kayishema was at the forefront and one of those who played a big role in the genocide, particularly the killing of more than 5,000 Tutsi refugees at the Nyange Church. "Kayishema and others used a bulldozer to collapse the church, burying the refugees inside ... his arrest after years of eluding justice is soothing to us as IBUKA," Ahishakiye told Xinhua. Ahishakiye said IBUKA wishes all genocide suspects arrested outside the country could be extradited to be tried in Rwanda, where they committed crimes, to enable survivors to follow the proceedings. He also called for the speedy trial of genocide suspects to avoid further delaying justice. In 2001, Kayishema was indicted by the defunct International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on multiple charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture, during the genocide. The indictment alleged that on April 15, 1994, Kayishema, together with other co-perpetrators, murdered more than 2,000 men, women, elderly and children refugees at the Nyange Church in Kivumu Commune. The Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994 when about 1 million people, mostly of the Tutsi community and moderate Hutus, were massacred. BT Group, a major UK telecommunications company, has announced its plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations as a means to improve efficiency, cut costs and enhance customer experiences. During a recent earnings call, BT Groups CEO, Philip Jansen, expressed optimism about the potential advantages of AI for the company. He highlighted their existing chatbot, Amy, which is already proficient in addressing the majority of customer inquiries. Additionally, BT Groups exploration of generative AI, including OpenAIs ChatGPT, could open up opportunities for the creation of innovative products and services. Companies are widely embracing AI-powered customer service tools, including low-code and no-code solutions, to enhance their customer support capabilities. These tools utilize AI technologies to automate and improve various aspects of customer interactions. Here is a simplified explanation of low-code and no-code AI tools for customer service: Low-code AI tools provide a platform equipped with pre-built components and functions, enabling businesses to create AI-powered customer service solutions with minimal coding. These tools feature visual interfaces and drag-and-drop functionalities, making it easier for non-technical users to develop AI-driven customer service applications. With low-code AI tools, companies can automate tasks like addressing common customer queries, delivering personalized recommendations, and directing customer inquiries to the appropriate departments. No-code AI tools take the simplicity of low-code tools a step further. They eliminate the requirement for coding or programming knowledge, allowing users to develop AI-powered customer service solutions solely through visual interfaces. No-code tools offer ready-made templates and configurations that can be customised and integrated with existing systems. They empower business users to build chatbots, virtual assistants, and other AI-driven applications for customer service without relying on developers or IT professionals. For instance, OpenAIs ChatGPT is an AI language model used to create chatbots and virtual assistants for customer support. Googles Dialogflow is a popular AI platform that enables the development of chatbots and virtual agents with natural language processing capabilities. IBMs Watson Assistant is an AI-powered chatbot platform that helps businesses handle customer inquiries and provide personalized responses. Microsofts Azure Bot Service provides tools for building AI-powered chatbots that can be integrated into websites, messaging apps, and voice assistants. Salesforces Service Cloud Einstein uses AI to deliver intelligent customer service, automating tasks and analyzing customer interactions. Zendesk Answer Bot utilizes machine learning to provide automated responses and streamline customer service through help desk systems. Freshworks Freddy AI is an AI-powered platform offering chatbots, automated ticketing, and customer self-service features for personalized support. Ada Support is an AI chatbot platform that automates responses and provides personalised assistance using natural language processing and machine learning. Acquire.io is a customer engagement platform that includes AI chatbots, co-browsing, and live chat capabilities for real-time support. Helpshift offers AI-powered customer service solutions, such as chatbots and in-app messaging, to help small businesses provide proactive support and resolve issues across multiple channels. Last year, BT Groups digital unit introduced a new platform called AI Accelerator. This platform uses machine learning technology to speed up the deployment of new artificial intelligence projects. Previously, it took six months to implement these projects, but now it can be done in just six days. One of the main advantages of the AI Accelerator is that it simplifies and speeds up the process of taking an AI project from its initial prototype stage to full production. By using common frameworks and templates, the platform reduces the administrative and technical complexities involved in implementing an AI use case. The AI models are the key components that enable the practical use of AI. They analyse data and make predictions in ways that humans cannot. The new platform manages and speeds up the deployment of these AI models created by BT Groups data community. It assesses their effectiveness and behaviour to extract value from the companys massive 29-petabyte data collection. By using common frameworks and templates, the AI Accelerator significantly reduces the administrative and technical processes involved in turning an AI idea into a fully functioning system. BT Group has also incorporated safeguards into the platform to ensure that new AI projects are evaluated according to data privacy, security, and ethics principles. This ensures that AI is used responsibly and safely across the business. In addition to the AI Accelerator, BT Group is also embracing modular and reusable data products, which further enhance the companys move towards becoming an AI-driven organization. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. New Delhi, May 26 : A Delhi court on Friday pronounced order in favour of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi allowing his plea seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the issuance of an "ordinary" passport. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Mehta of Rouse Avenue Court, however, directed that the NOC in respect of the passport will be valid for only three years after Gandhi having prayed that the same be granted for 10 years. Gandhi on Tuesday moved the court seeking an NOC in order to get a fresh "ordinary" passport after he surrendered his diplomatic travel document after his disqualification as an MP. Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had opposed Gandhi's application saying that if the Congress leader is allowed to travel abroad, it may hamper the probe in the National Herald case. The case was filed by Swamy against Rahul, his mother Sonia Gandhi, their companies and associated persons. Swamy on Friday told the court that he was told by an official in Britain about Gandhi declaring himself a British citizen, therefore, under the Indian law, his Indian citizenship should be cancelled. "I was in Britain recently and there, an official told me that Gandhi has declared himself as a British citizen. Under Indian law, his Indian citizenship should be directly cancelled," he said. After his conviction by the Gujarat court on the controversial remark "all thieves have Modi surname", Rahul Gandhi had surrendered his diplomatic passport after his disqualification as a member of Parliament (MP). Swamy opposed the application saying that there is no fundamental right to a passport and that there was no valid reason to grant a passport for 10 years. "He has asked for a passport valid for 10 years, which is maximum. But this is a special case. There is no such thing as a fundamental right to a passport. He has no valid reason for the passport for 10 years. Permission should be granted after analysing the other correlated matters," he said. Backing up Gandhi, Advocate Tarannum Cheema said that passports have been issued to people accused of graver offences. "Ten years is given as a matter of routine. Insofar as the citizenship part is concerned, firstly the document he has annexed will not amount to criminal proceedings. We have not heard anything from the Ministry since 2019. People who have been involved in graver offences have been granted passports for ten years. It includes 2G and other cases," Cheema said. To which, Swamy said that if something wrong has happened in the past, it should not be made a precedent. Earlier, Gandhi's counsel had told the court that there are no criminal cases pending against him and therefore he can be granted an NOC. On November 1, 2012, Swamy had filed a private complaint in the court alleging that both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have committed fraud and land grabbing worth Rs 16 billion by acquiring a publicly limited company called Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) through their owned private company, Young Indian. The court had on December 19, 2015, granted bail to Gandhi and others in the case. "The applicant ceased to be a Member of Parliament in March 2023 and as such he surrendered his diplomatic passport and is applying for a fresh ordinary passport. By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking permission and no objection from this Court for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him," Gandhi's application read. Jaipur, May 26 : The MeT Department on Friday issued an orange alert for the northern parts of Rajasthan after heavy rain and storms lashed the state a day earlier. According to Department officials, rainstorm will continue in the districts of Bikaner, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer, Kota until Saturday. Meanwhile, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Alwar, Nagaur, Jaipur, Dausa, Bharatpur, Dhaulpur, Karauli districts will witness strong to intense thunderstorms, and winds blowing at 50 to 60 kph. The Department also said that there was a strong possibility of hailstorm at some places. Due to the activation of another new Western Disturbance from May 28, thunderstorms will increase again. As a result, there will be a strong possibility strong winds blowing at 50 to 70 kph, as well as heavy rain and hail at some places. Jaipur, May 26 : Around 10 days after former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot gave an ultimatum to the Rajasthan government, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has termed the demand for compensation to the candidates affected by the paper leaks as a sign of 'intellectual deficiency'. Gehlot attacked Pilot without taking his name and this is being seen as the beginning of a fresh confrontation. The Chief Minister was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of new terminal of Sindhi Camp Bus Stand in Jaipur on Thursday. Gehlot said, "Where are the paper leaks not happening? We have made a law. We are sending those accused in paper leak cases to jail. If the opposition does not have any issue then they will talk about paper leaks. And will say give compensation to them, give compensation to the 26 lakh people who took the test. Such a demand is made that since the papers were out the aspirants should get compensation. What would you call this? Wouldn't this be called insolvency of the intellect?" "In the history of the world, has anyone ever demanded that the papers were out and the children who were studying, could not take the exam, be given compensation. Can the government give? You tell me, such demands are also made. When the paper is out, those who have done good work are left behind. Paper out... paper out. Where are the papers not getting leaked," he questioned, and added that paper leaks are also happening in Gujarat and other states. Without taking the name of Sachin Pilot, Gehlot made this statement citing the opposition. However, the demand for compensation was first raised by Sachin Pilot on May 15 and it is being considered as the answer to Pilot. Gehlot replied to Pilot and in case of controversy, he also left a room to say that he had replied to the opposition, said party leaders. Bhubaneswar, May 26 : The Odisha crime branch on Friday filed a more than 540 pages charge sheet in the murder case of the then health minister Naba Kishore Das. In a press statement, the crime branch said it has filed the charge sheet in the court of SDJM, Jharsuguda against accused Gopal Krishna Das (53) for murdering the then health minister on January 29 and attempting to kill others, including inspector in-charge of Brajrajnagar police station, P. K. Swain and another Jeevan Kumar Nayak. The crime branch said that the accused Gopal Krishan Das (the then police ASI) committed the crime in his senses and in a pre-planned manner. His mental condition was found stable and normal, it said. "After evaluation of all the evidence-oral, documentary, medico legal, cyber forensic and ballistic opinion, it became clear that accused Das had developed personal grudge and anguish against deceased minister Naba Kishore Das. He felt threatened from Das and his supporters and feared for his life. Gradually, he made up his mind to commit his murder. For this he meticulously planned and then executed the crime," the CB said. Though the charge sheet was filed, the investigation is kept open in respect of obtaining a few reports and clarification and for complying with some formalities, it said. As the matter involved an attack on the life of a serving minister, the crime branch took charge of investigation of Brajarajnagar P.S on the very day of the incident (January 29). The crime branch had formed 10 investigating teams and deputed to Jharsuguda, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and other places even beyond the state to probe into different possible angles of the case. The teams examined 89 witnesses and seized several exhibits, including firearms, live cartridges, empty cartridges, hand wash of the accused etc. During investigation, some family members of the accused claimed that Gopal Das was suffering from bipolar disorder long back. To verify the authenticity of the claim, a special medical board was constituted by the director of medical education and training, who conducted their examination and opined that they had not found active psychopathology in Das. Further from locals and colleagues, it was also ascertained that his mental condition was quite normal and there was no abnormality. Moreover, he was cooperative in the investigation and replying to all the questions asked in a cogent manner, the CB officials said. Notably, the then police ASI Gopal Das had murdered the then health minister Naba Das using his office revolver. Oppositional parties in the state had alleged conspiracy behind the murder. However, the crime branch probe has not found any conspiracy angle. Seoul, May 26 : The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who has been seen in public may be his first child and she may be one of the "candidates" who could inherit his power, the head of a South Korean think tank said on Friday. The remarks by Koh Yu-hwan, head of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, were compared with an assessment by South Korea's spy agency, which told lawmakers that the daughter, Ju-ae, is Kim's second child, reports Yonhap News Agency. The National Intelligence Service has said Kim is believed to have three children and there was information that his first child is a son, with the gender of the third one being unknown. "Personally, I think there is a high possibility that Ju-ae may be the first child of (Kim Jong-un)," Koh told reporters without disclosing the grounds for his claim. He said it is too early to say that Ju-ae has been groomed as a successor to the current leader, but he thinks she appears to be among "candidates" of the next leader. Ju-ae, believed to be 10 years old, has shown up at military events since her first public appearance in November last year, when she attended the firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile, along with her father. Despite her frequent appearance in state media, many observers see the possibility of Ju-ae becoming a hereditary successor as low, given the North's patriarchal society and the rumoured existence of an eldest son among Kim's children. Cairo, May 26 : Egypt has so far taken in 121,000 Sudanese fleeing the armed conflict that erupted on April 15, the Foreign Ministry here said. The figures were revealed by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Geneva, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying in a statement. Shoukry and Grandi discussed ways to enhance cooperation and partnership between Egypt and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to alleviate the burden of Egypt, which currently hosts around 9 million migrants and refugees, the statement quoted Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid as saying. Their talks also underlined the necessity for the UNHCR to mobilise resources to support Egypt's efforts in providing the necessary humanitarian and medical assistance for the displaced Sudanese citizens fleeing the conflict, he added. The armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have so far killed 865 and injured 3,634 others. A new week-long ceasefire was reached on May 20 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. New Delhi, May 26: Former Maldivian President, Mohamed Nasheed's supporters have decided to form a new political party - The Democrats, which will be headed by Nasheed. The archipelago goes to the polls in September this year. In fast-moving developments in the South Asian nation, at least 12 MPs have already quit the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). However, Speaker Nasheed himself has not quit the party despite his plans to head the new political outfit. Both Speaker Nasheed and Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih are known supporters of India. Also, Solih enjoys a close personal chemistry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With these two leaders of the MDP at the helm, diplomatic and economic relations between New Delhi and Male have grown manifold. With India's financial and infrastructural support, Maldives has been able to shake off the financial impact of Covid as well as slipped out of the debt diplomacy net cast by Beijing through its loans and infrastructure projects. India Narrative spoke with Dhananjay Tripathi, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations at the South Asian University (SAU) to know whether a split in the MDP is likely to impact relations with India. Tripathi says that a lot depends upon the prospects of opposition candidate Abdulla Yameen, who has been found guilty of corruption and money laundering during his term as president. Yameen heads the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) which has been a strident anti-India party. "It is still not clear whether Yameen is eligible to contest the election because of corruption. Even though he is in jail, his party is making efforts to secure his candidacy for the upcoming elections. But because of his 11-year conviction by a criminal court, he cannot contest unless a higher court clears him," says Tripathi. Yameen was sentenced in December 2022 to 11 years in prison and a fine of $3 million for laundering money and accepting bribes from a foreign company in deals for the development of a resort. Tripathi also says that India's community-based approach in development projects, not just in the Maldives but also in other countries in South Asia, has made a difference among the people. He says: "Our investment in Maldives is massive. That has made a difference." Talking about the internal politics between the two stalwarts of the ruling party - President Solih and Speaker Nasheed, Tripathi says: "Even if the two contest elections against each other both have a good equation with India. The coalition politics in the country is very fluid with political parties changing their partners in each election. We could have a scenario that the opposition parties may actually end up supporting either Solih or Nasheed. However, it is also possible that the two might end up supporting the other in case one of the parties gets a larger vote." With a highly dynamic Maldivian politics, it is still early to predict how Nasheed's party - The Democrats, shapes-up. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Bhopal, May 26 : Amid buzz that the BJP high command may take some decisions regarding changes in its Madhya Pradesh unit, meetings in the state party unit continued since Friday morning. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrived at state party headquarters and a close-door meeting was under way. State BJP president V. D. Sharma, Home Minister Narottam Mishra, state in-charge Murlidhar Rao, National organisational secretary Shiv Prakash and state organisational secretary Hitanand Sharma are attending the meeting. State BJP leaders said the meeting has been organised regarding OBC issue, however, a series of events that unfolded since morning indicate something beyond. Before the meeting, which is underway at the state BJP headquarters, the State Home Minister first met V. D. Sharma at his residence. After meeting with Sharma, Mishra also met with Chief Minister Chouhan. Union Ministers Prahlad Patel and Narendra Singh Tomar along with BJP's national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had a close-door meeting with Chief Minister Chouhan at latter's residence late on Thursday. Since then, the buzz around changes in the party's Madhya Pradesh unit has grown. However, state BJP media department claimed that the meetings "are just a routine follow up on different issues." Notably, Chief Minister Chouhan and the state BJP president V. D. Sharma would also leave for New Delhi by Friday evening to attend inaugural programme of the new Parliament building on Sunday. Jaunpur, May 26 : Prof Alok Singh, principal of the TD College, affiliated to Purvanchal University, has issued a show cause notice to the teacher who allegedly sought sexual favours from a girl student, promising to get her passed in the B.Ed and TET examinations in return. Prof Singh told reporters that he had seen the video and sent the show cause notice to the teacher concerned, asking him to explain his conduct within three days. The principal also said that he had apprised the management of the viral video which will decided on the further course of action in the matter. Replying to a question, he said that the girl in the video had neither come forward to lodge a complaint and nor was he aware of her identity. Earlier in the day, a group of students gheraoed the principal's office and demanded action against the teacher The Uttar Pradesh Police have already ordered an inquiry into the viral video . A police spokesman said that though the girl in question has not lodged any complaint, the police have taken suo moto cognizance of the video and initiated a probe. The video that went viral on Friday shows the faculty member repeatedly asking the girl for favours and she politely says "abhi nahin". According to reports, the girl herself recorded the conversation and uploaded it on the social media to expose the teacher. Kolkata, May 26 : Sanoj Mishra, the writer and director of the controversial movie 'The Diary of West Bengal' has been served a legal notice by Kolkata Police and has been asked to be present at a city police station on May 30 for the purpose of questioning. Police sources said that the trailer of the movie was released on YouTube recently, following which, there was a complaint on May 11, alleging that the movie seemed to have been made as a deliberate attempt to malign the image of West Bengal. "Following preliminary investigation, the top brass of the city felt that there is sufficient ground to question the director in the matter and hence, a notice has been served to him asking him to report at Amherst Street Police station at 12 noon on May 30," a city police official said. The notice has been issued under Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code. (CrPC). Recently, the West Bengal government was in controversy for imposing a ban on the screening of 'The Kerala Story', on grounds that the content of the movie can hamper communal harmony in the state. The director of the movie Subrata Sen moved the Supreme Court and the ban was finally lifted. The state government faced criticism from the opposition parties, civil society, intellectuals and celebrities for imposing the ban. This weekly feature from Dynamic Business runs down the weeks top funding rounds from Australia and the US. Check out last weeks biggest funding rounds here. Melt Ventures raises $10 million Melt Ventures, the pioneering fund dedicated to advancing manufacturing in Australia, has successfully raised $10 million for its inaugural fund. The company anticipates raising an additional $20 to $30 million by the end of the current fiscal year. The fundraising round attracted new investors, including industry leaders such as Justin Hales, founder of Camplify, the CEO and founder of Newcastle tech firm Pegasus, and Andre Pinkowski, co-CEO of Portt, a contract and supplier software platform based in Sydney. Several family offices also participated in the funding, demonstrating their confidence in Melt Ventures vision. Endua secures $11.8 million to scale clean energy technologies Endua, an Australian clean energy company, has successfully secured $11.8 million in funding. This significant investment will enable Endua to accelerate developing and deploying innovative hydrogen generation and storage technologies. These advancements have the potential to deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy solutions to power communities, remote industries, and off-grid infrastructure. Notable investors contributing a combined $7.5 million in pre-series funding include Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), Melt Ventures, and 77 Partners. Strategic co-investors, such as Main Sequence, a deep tech fund founded by CSIRO, and Ampol, the countrys largest transport energy provider, have also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Enduas vision and commercialization efforts. Adventus.io closes $22 million series B funding Adventus.io, the leading SaaS-based student recruitment platform, has successfully concluded its Series B funding round, securing AUD 22 million in investment from existing shareholders. With over 1,600 education institutions and 8,000 recruiter partners worldwide, Adventus.io has solidified its position as an industry innovator in the education sector. The substantial capital infusion and strengthened financial position will enable Adventus.io to maintain its leadership and further enhance its role as a trusted central platform in the global and continuously expanding education industry. $2.7 million funded to support womens workforce participation and career development As part of the Return to Work Pathways Program, over $2.7 million will be allocated to fund 13 projects across the state. These initiatives aim to support women in gaining employment and establishing meaningful careers. Over the next two years, the Return to Work Pathways Program will assist more than 1,000 women in becoming job-ready and securing sustainable employment opportunities. This investment demonstrates a commitment to empowering women and promoting their workforce participation, ultimately fostering their professional growth and success. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Kiev, May 26 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said that a person was killed and 15 others were injured during a Russian rocket attack on a medical clinic in the city of Dnipro. Confirming the development on Instagram, the President said that the "Russian terrorists once again confirm their status of fighters against everything humane and honest". He also posted a video of the damaged building, showing firefighters at the scene and smoke billowing from the structure. "The shelling aftermath is being eliminated and the victims are being rescued. All necessary services are involved," he added. Before Zelensky's confirmation, Serhii Lysak, the head of Dnipro's military administration, said that the city was attacked with drones and rockets on Thursday night. In January this year, 44 people were killed when a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Dnipro. In the attack, 72 apartments were destroyed and over 230 others damaged. New Delhi, May 26 : Eighty officials in various prisons in Delhi were transferred weeks after the killing of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya inside Tihar prison by members of a rival gang on May 2. However, the prison spokesperson said that these were routine transfers. According to officials, 80 officials have been transferred within jails including Mandoli, Tihar, Rohini jails and headquarters. "The officials include five deputy superintendents, nine assistant superintendents, eight head warders and 58 warders," said the official. Earlier, this month 99 officials of Tihar Jail including 11 deputy superintendents, 12 assistant superintendents, head warders and warders were transferred by the Director General (Prisons) Sanjay Beniwal, who deemed the killing of Tajpuriya inside prison a grave matter. "However, the transferred officers/officials shall draw their salary from where they were drawing earlier. Further, all the above-mentioned officers/officials hereby stand relieved with immediate effect without waiting for formal relieving from concerned jails/offices. Non-compliance of the order shall be viewed seriously," the transfer order had read. The killing of Tajpuriya has prompted the authorities to undertake a comprehensive review of the situation, resulting in a strategic overhaul of operations and implementation of essential reforms at the grassroots level. Mumbai, May 26 : India's biggest state-run, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), in Mumbai completes 34 years of operations on Friday (May 26) and now ranks among the World Bank report of ports that turn around box ships in just 22 hours. The latest World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report, 2023 observed that the JNPA 'turns around' box ships in mere 22 hours (or just 0.9 day), which is considered among the best in the world. This distinction came after another superlative performance by the port this year - hitting a record high cargo volume of 6.05 Million TEUs till March 2023. Joining the celebrations on the eve of the 34th anniversary on Thursday, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal lavished praise on the JNPA, terming it as "a world class port that has run parallel to India's rise as an economic power. The port has played a very major role in moving goods in steel containers as containerisation became entrenched in the global supply chain". "The efficiency and productivity parameters displayed by JNPA compare well with the best in the world. This was made possible through a combination of private partners and port management working as a team to the benefit of India's export-import community," said Sonowal. Nestling in the lap of the country's commercial capital, JNPA has emerged as "an epitome of excellence, revolutionizing the maritime landscape with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and unwavering commitment to efficiency and customer satisfaction" over the past more than three decades. Starting with a humble initiative to decongest the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA), JNPA has risen to become one of the most advanced and sought-after ports in the region, handling more than 50 percent of India's container cargo traffic shipped by sea and serving as a crucial gateway for international trade. The JNPA is the only port in the country where the world's top three container terminal operators - PSA International, D P World and A P M Terminals - runs facilities, and it's the calling port of all the biggest container shipping lines to load and unload the steel boxes carrying varied cargo. As the country plans to become a USD Five Trillion economy, the JNPA will be a feather in the cap through all stakeholders, continuous innovations, expansion and service excellence to make it a global maritime hub, said JNPA Chairman Sanjay Sethi. Commemorating the milestone event, Sonowal honoured and felicitated the top performers among the trade and JNPA employees, said an official. New Delhi, May 26 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday targeted the Centre over growing unemployment and said that under the BJP, India has become 'vishwaguru' in snatching jobs. In a tweet Kharge said, "In the last nine years, the Modi government has become a 'Vishwaguru' in snatching the employment of crores of youths." He said adding a video which highlighted the failure of the government in providing jobs to youths. The video highlighted that the government promised to provide two crore jobs to youths every year. "Did the government provide jobs to 18 crore youths of the country? In the video, it also said that only 40 per cent youths look for jobs while 60 per cent of youths are dependent on others' income. It also said that the unemployment rate is at a 45 year high and 63 per cent Indians between 20 to 24 age group are unemployed. It also said that as per the CMIE survey, the unemployment rate climbed to four-month high in April this year. Taking potshots at the Modi government, the Congress in its video alleged that unemployment doubled in the last nine years and India has become 'vishwaguru' in snatching jobs. "The country has been suffering for the last nine years," the video added. Earlier in the day, Congress also launched a booklet, titled '9 saal, 9 sawaal' to highlight the failures of the government in the last nine years and asked nine questions to Prime Minister Marendra Modi. San Francisco, May 26 : Google-owned YouTube has announced that it will be shutting down 'YouTube Stories' on June 26 as the company aims to focus on other essential areas, like Shorts, Community posts, live videos etc. "Starting on June 26, 2023 the option to create a new YouTube Story will no longer be available. Stories that are already live on that date will expire seven days after they were originally shared," YouTube said in a blogpost on Thursday. In addition, the company said that the Creators will be notified of the shutdown via a variety of channels, including forum posts, in-app messages, reminders in YouTube Studio, and more. While Stories are going away, the Google-owned video platform suggested that both "Community posts and YouTube Shorts are great alternatives that can deliver valuable audience connections and conversations". For creators who want to share lightweight updates, start conversations, or promote their YouTube content to their audience, YouTube Community posts could be a great option, according to the company. Moreover, the company said that YouTube Shorts is the way to go if users want to create short video content or reach a new audience, as amongst creators who use both Shorts and Stories, Shorts on average drive many times more subscribers than Stories. Meanwhile, Google has clarified that it will not delete accounts with YouTube videos, after announcing that it will delete personal accounts and their content that haven't been used or signed in for at least two years. The company updated its blog post, saying "We do not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos at this time". New Delhi, May 26 : The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Telangana High Court order directing the special judge for CBI cases, Hyderabad, to enlarge the accused Yerra Gangi Reddy, accused in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, on bail on July 1. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing Suneetha Nareddy daughter of Vivekananda Reddy, submitted before a bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Justice P.S. Narasimha that the CBI in its counter says two things: the high court has no power under Section 482 of CrPC to grant bail and it is a bad precedent. On the last day of hearing, earlier this week, additional solicitor general (ASG) Sanjay Jain, representing the CBI, submitted before the apex court, "We have never heard of it that the order which cancels the bail, allows the bail. How is it possible?" He added, "inherently contradictory". The bench said that the operative part of the high court order which directed the CBI court, Hyderabad, to enlarge the petitioner on bail on July 1, 2023, on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs 1 Lakh with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction, shall remain stayed until the next date of hearing. Senior advocate Aman Lekhi appeared for Yerra Gangi Reddy. The top court was hearing a plea filed by Suneetha Narreddy, challenging the high court order granting conditional bail to T. Gangi Reddy alias Yerra Gangi Reddy, while allowing a plea for bail cancellation. The court on May 18 had issued notices to the CBI and the accused on the plea against the high court order. The accused has also challenged the cancellation of bail by the high court, which has been scheduled by the apex court for hearing in the second week of July. The Telangana High Court on April 27 cancelled the bail of Yerra Gangi Reddy, the prime accused in the murder case of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy. It directed him to surrender before the CBI court by May 5. The court also clarified that if the accused failed to surrender, the CBI may arrest him. It ruled that as the CBI is scheduled to complete the hearing on June 30, Gangi Reddy may be granted bail on July 1 on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The Supreme Court had recently extended the deadline for completing the investigation into the sensational case till June 30. Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula of Kadapa district on March 15, 2019, weeks before elections. The 68-year-old was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him. The CBI took over the investigation into the case in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicion about some relatives. The Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad while observing that doubts raised by Suneetha Reddy about getting a fair trial and investigation in Andhra Pradesh were reasonable. New Delhi, May 26 : iBroad7, 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 - 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. Mr 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," Mr Upadhyay said. The new businesses include Audiostream, 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 per cent, complete transparency in KPI measurement. Brands can reach out to listeners via: Age, Gender, Location, Language, Genre. Audiostream enables video advertisement on Spotify, Wynk, Hungama and Saavn. A new business - The Buying Hub - 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, 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, 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. Dubai, May 26 : A Dubai court has ordered Indian-origin hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah, convicted of tax fraud and money laundering, to pay Denmark's tax authority 4.6 billion dirhams ($1.25bn), thus rejecting a final appeal by him against a civil lawsuit, media reports said. The Dubai Court of Cassation issued a binding ruling this month, saying Shah must pay the amount as part of a civil case that was filed by Denmark's tax authority (Skat) five years ago, The National reported. Shah also has to pay to the Danish authorities an additional 5 per cent interest on the sum, accrued from the date the case was lodged in August 2018, the court said. "The process of execution in terms of how this money will be paid back to Skat, has already been initiated," said OGH Legal, the Dubai firm acting on behalf of the Danish tax agency. "This conclusive ruling after a nearly five-year pursuit of justice underscores the serious and uncompromising stance of the UAE authorities against financial misconduct," The National quoted OGH Legal as saying. Shah, 52, who lived on The Palm Jumeirah, was arrested by Dubai Police in June last year following Denmark's extradition petition. His fraud scheme involved submitting thousands of applications to the Danish Treasury on behalf of investors and companies from several countries around the world in order to receive dividend tax refunds, according to Dubai Police. The scheme involved 126 fake companies. In April this year, the Court of Cassation ruled that Shah would be extradited to Denmark for prosecution over the tax fraud allegations. A UAE official said last month that the process of extraditing Shah was set to begin. Kochi, May 26 : The Congress on Friday accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of failing to detect "wrongdoings" in his own office, and termed him as "the vice-chancellor of university of corruption". The Chief Minister on Thursday had spoken about how a village assistant was arrested by the Vigilance Department for engaging in corruption even as the village officer had said that he was unaware of the act, which could not be believed. Taking a swipe at this, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said that the same thing is being asked by the people of Kerala as to how Vijayan failed to find out the corruption that was going on in his own office. "His former Principal Secretary M.Sivasankar is now in jail for the second time, after he was first arrested and was in jail in 2020 in the gold smuggling case. People are laughing about CM Vijayan mentioning the case of a village assistant who was caught for corruption and the Village Officer's statement that he did not know, cannot be believed. All are now asking if this is the case, then how come Vijayan did not know what was happening," asked Satheesan. "Today there are five big scams that have come out and are in public domain and Vijayan, who is speaking about the village assistant's corruption, is yet to open his mouth on these scams that have originated from his office," added Satheesan. Incidentally, Vijayan on Thursday further stated that some government officials have a doctoral thesis on how to engage in corruption. "Yes, it's true and this Vijayan is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Corruption. He knows that he cannot open his mouth, and hence he is shying away from answering questions being raised on these five scams," added Satheesan. K.K. Rema, a first time legislator and widow of former CPI(M) leader T.P. Chandrasekheran, who after forming his own party was brutally murdered allegedly by CPI(M) workers, said, "It was hilarious to hear him say that it was a shameful incident about the corruption done by the village assistant. "Doesn't he feel any shame when his own former principal secretary M. Sivasankar is presently lodged in a jail. "There are numerous cases where in the CPI(M) people are at the centre of corruption and Vijayan never speaks anything on this, but after hearing the corruption done by a village assistant he is feeling ashamed. That's really surprising," said Rema. Chandigarh, May 26 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been facing public wrath in his much hyped ongoing on-the-spot grievance redressal programme named Jan Samvad (public connect). The latest reason for the anger among villagers of Mahendragarh district was the announcement of sub-tehsil by the Chief Minister a day earlier. As villagers of Dogda Ahir came to know about the announcement of a new sub-tehsil, which they claimed is announced in a smaller village, they got angered. They said their village was bigger than Sihama village and ideally a sub-tehsil should also be set up in their village. The protesters staged a sit-in protest outside the official accommodation where the Chief Minister stayed for a night. In the morning, the Chief Minister called the protesters for talks and convinced them to withdraw the protest with a promise to conduct a feasibility report for setting up the sub-tehsil in their area too. The Chief Minister, a strong advocate for simultaneous parliamentary and assembly elections to cut costs as they are due within five months in 2024, believes the Jan Samvad is a platform where the people are talking about the difference of the Congress regime and the present rule. Ahead of the parliamentary and Assembly elections, the BJP has stepped up its poll preparations in a bid to repeat its government in the state for the third time and win the maximum seats for the Lok Sabha. Now this is another phase of the Jan Samvad programme. Earlier, in Sirsa district it was disrupted on May 15 when a woman sarpanch confronted the Chief Minister, took off her dupatta (stole) and threw it on his feet. Within a week, three such incidents involving the Chief Minister were reported in Sirsa when he concluded his Jan Samvad programme on May 16. Political observers believe like the Congress that faced twin anti-incumbency in 2014 state polls it is the BJP that is facing similar dissatisfaction among the people over corruption, law and order and unemployment. "The unprecedented success of the BJP in 2014 parliamentary elections marked a significant shift in the state's electoral politics," an observer told IANS, adding "now state's anti-incumbency is banking heavily on the BJP and its impact will be seen clearly in the next elections -- both the Lok Sabha and later the Assembly". After thwarting foes within, seasoned Congress politician Bhupinder Hooda is donning battle gear once again to lead the party to victory. Eyeing to woo 65 per cent of the population that lives in rural areas, on an average everyday Hooda is aggressively trying to reach out to the masses up to panchayat through the 'Hath Se Hath Jodo' campaign, which has been extended till July-end. Not missing an opportunity, Hooda is building up a campaign by launching scathing attacks by saying more and more youth are falling in the trap of drugs and crime due to faulty policy of the BJP-JJP government. Expressing concern over unemployment spreading far wide, he is also questioning the government over the use of force against protesting people over the ongoing Chief Minister's Jan Samvad programmes. Contrary to him, Chief Minister Khattar, who seems to be banking largely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma, is saying the state is adapting several schemes emulated by the Centre for every section of society. He is saying the people are availing benefits of state schemes like Parivar Pehchan Patra, CHIRAYU Haryana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Old-Age Pension, Mera Pani Meri Virasat and Meri Fasal Mera Byora. He believes in the last eight-and-a-half-years the government has brought many radical changes in the system along with all-round development of the state. While addressing the Jan Samvad in Nangal Sirohi village in Mahendragarh district on Friday, the Chief Minister announced that in the next four months the government is planning to fill 65,000 vacancies in Group C and D. South Korean tourist jailed in Singapore for stealing $21,000 from friend People walk past the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, October 28, 2021. Photo by Reuters A South Korean tourist on Thursday was sentenced to six months in jail for stealing S$29,000 (US$21,000) from a friend and gambling with the money at a casino. Song Hayan pleaded guilty to theft after being arrested by police on April 21, Channel News Asia reported. According to the indictment, Song visited Singapore with her friend, a 30-year-old South Korean woman, on April 17, and they stayed at Marina Bay Sands Hotel. At about 1 p.m. on April 21, Songs friend left to go shopping. When the victim returned two hours later, Song had left. She then looked for her transparent bag that contained S$29,000 in hundred-dollar notes, but it was missing. She then called Song, but she did not answer, so posted an Instagram story and tagged Song, urging her to return the money. Later she called Song and arranged to meet her at the hotel's casino. Song confessed to taking the money and using it for gambling at the casino. The victim called the police and the arrest was made later the same day. New Delhi, May 26 : Leading fintech company PhonePe has announced that the company has become the first digital payments app to successfully enable the linkage of two lakh RuPay credit cards to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). It has also processed a Total Payment Value (TPV) of Rs 150 crore via RuPay Credit on UPI. The company said it aims to offer a comprehensive suite of solutions for RuPay Credit on UPI in partnership with NPCI to popularise its usage among the customers and merchants alike. The company has already enabled the acceptance of RuPay credit cards on UPI across 12 million merchant outlets in the country, achieving the highest merchant penetration in the ecosystem. "We are thrilled to partner with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and become the first payments app to link two lakh RuPay credit cards to UPI. We believe that RuPay cards on UPI will revolutionise the access and use of credit in the ecosystem, and we are committed to offering comprehensive solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our customers and merchants," said Sonika Chandra, Vice President, Consumer Platform and Payments, at PhonePe. "Similar to any other credit instrument, MDR is applicable for RuPay on UPI and our merchant partners are enthusiastically adopting and driving the use of RuPay among the customers," she added. Moreover, PhonePe mentioned that the overall widespread acceptance of UPI has ensured that customers have ample opportunities to utilise their RuPay credit cards for transactions. On the consumer side, the company is driving the adoption through seamless and intuitive nudges on the PhonePe app. These contextual communications are encouraging customers to adopt RuPay credit cards through UPI as their preferred payment option. Moving forward, PhonePe will continue to collaborate closely with NPCI to scale the RuPay Credit penetration in the country through enhanced functionalities. San Francisco, May 26 : Meta-owned Instagram has announced that it now allows for advertisements in search results via its Marketing API (Application Programming Interface). With this new addition, users will be able to update their app to enable their clients to create and preview ads in Instagram search results via API. "Starting today, we now allow for ads in Instagram search results via the Instagram Marketing API. This new ads placement will be available on all current Marketing API versions, and does not require an upgrade," Meta said in a blogpost on Wednesday. "This will not require the use of a new endpoint; the 'Instagram search results' placement option will be available via the current Marketing API endpoint you may already be familiar with, through the addition of the INSTAGRAM_SEARCH placement option," it added. Moreover, the company said that this feature update will enable the three capabilities via the Marketing API -- ads creation, ads insights, and ad preview. With 'ads creation', developers will be able to use "INSTAGRAM_SEARCH" as one of the placement options when creating ads, while 'ads insights will let users see how ads perform via Instagram search results placement when breaking down insights by placement level. With 'ad preview', developers will be able to fetch the preview in the INSTAGRAM_SEARCH_CHAIN format. Meanwhile, Instagram is set to take on Elon Musk-run Twitter with a similar micro-blogging text platform that is likely to be launched by the end of June. The Twitter-like platform, "Instagram's new text-based app for conversations" is apparently codenamed P92 or Barcelona, according to Lia Haberman, who shared the news in her ICYMI Substack newsletter. Dubai, May 26 : Thirteen Indian nationals, including seven companies owned by them, have been convicted of money laundering and tax evasion by the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court, a media report said. The court found them guilty of laundering Dh510 million involving unlicensed provision of credit facilities through points of sale (POS), the Khaleej Times reported last week. Four of the Indians were sentenced to jail terms ranging from five to 10 years, followed by deportation, and the court ordered them to pay fines ranging from Dh5 million to Dh10 million. The seven companies involved in the crime were each fined Dh10 million. According to investigations, the Indians had set up a "criminal organisation" and used the headquarters of a travel agency to carry out unlicensed economic activities through which they had reportedly gained over half a billion dirhams. They would pay customers in cash and then use their credit cards to make fake purchases through their companies' POS, the Khaleej Times reported. In some cases, they would also assist customers settle credit card debts by depositing cash into their accounts, making another fraudulent POS transaction, and then deducting an interest amount. According to bank transaction reports and financial analysis statements issued by the Financial Information Unit (FIU), an unusually high volume of cash flow into and out of the bank accounts of the defendants and their companies was noticed in a short period of time. In December last year, six companies were fined Dh3.2 million for breaching anti-money laundering laws. New Delhi, May 26 : Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced a boycott of the Niti Aayog meeting scheduled here on Saturday, saying if "cooperative federalism becomes a joke, then it is not worth to join the meeting". He made the announcement in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he also urged him to allow the non-BJP government to also work. In his letter, Kejriwal said, "Tomorrow is the meeting of the Niti Aayog. The job of the Niti Aayog us to promote cooperative federalism and prepare the vision for India. However, the way in which democracy has been targeted and non-BJP governments are being brought down and not allowed to work, then it is not the vision for new India and not in spirit of cooperative federalism." He claimed that in the last few years, a message is being given that if any state choose to elect a non-BJP government then it would not be "tolerated". Targeting the Centre, Kejriwal said: "Either the non-BJP governments are brought down by buying the MLAs or MLAs of non-BJP governments are threatened by the action of central agencies like the CBI or the ED." He alleged that if the MLAs do not bow, then ordinances is brought for non-BJP governments or through Governors, they are not allowed to work. Citing the May 11 judgement of the Supreme Court, he said, "After a long fight of eight years, the people of Delhi won in Supreme Court and then an ordinance was brought by your government to negate the top court orders." The Chief Minister said that if today any of the officers of the Delhi government does not work, then it cannot take any action against them. "How the government will work in such a scenario? In this way the government is not allowed to work. Why do you want to make the Delhi government not work? Is this the vision for new India? Is it cooperative federalism?" Kejriwal asked. He highlighted that there is anger among the people across the country over the ordinance brought by the BJP government. "The Supreme Court is considered to be the temple of justice and people are asking if the Prime Minister does not accept the Supreme Court, then where will people seek justice?" "When in this way the Constitution and the democracy will be targeted openly, the cooperative federalism being reduced to a joke, then what is the meaning of attending the NITI Aayog meeting. It is the reason why people are saying that we should not participate in the meeting and thus we have decided to boycott the meeting." He further said that the Prime Minister is like a father and elder brother and he has to deal with each and every state in same manner without being partisan. "If the people of the country and the state governments work together then only the country will move forward and if you only keep on supporting the BJP governments and not the non-BJP governments, then the development of the country will stop," he said. Kejriwal had met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav over the government's ordinance. Both the parties -- Janata Dal-United and Rashtriya Janata Dal -- were first to announce support to Kejriwal. He also met his West Bengal counterpart and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and all the three parties had extended their support. Kejriwal has also sought time from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi for a meeting over the issue. Mumbai, May 26 : The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the contract for the operation and maintenance of Mumbai's first fully underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro Line 3 to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, an official said here on Friday. The DMRC bagged the prestigious contract for 10 years after a global competitive bidding process in which it emerged as the lowest successful bidder, marking a significant milestone to make the Line 3 operational soon. The DMRC is considered a pioneer in the Metro Railway sector in India, having successfully operated and maintained the Delhi Metro for over two decades. Vide the contract, DMRC will be responsible for all the day-to-day operations including the OCC, DCC, stations, running of trains, maintaining the trains and all the metro systems infrastructure and ensuring safety of passengers, under the Key Performance Indicators. MMRC Managing Director Ashwini Bhide said the O&M comprises a crucial component for any metro and the MMRC is committed to provide safe, comfortable, reliable and high-quality but cost-effective services to the passengers. However, MMRC will continue to perform other duties like the revenue management, multimodal integration, business and brand management, public relations, legal compliances, non-fare box revenues, debt-servicing, coordination with regulatory authorities, etc. Hyderabad, May 26 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao here on Saturday to seek support against the Ordinance passed by the Centre designating Delhi Lt Governor as the administrator who will have the final say on the postings and transfer of all bureaucrats serving the Delhi government. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader on Friday tweeted that he will seek Telangana Chief Minister KCR's support against the "unconstitutional and undemocratic Ordinance passed by the BJP government against the orders of the Supreme Court". The Supreme Court had recently passed an order giving the Delhi government the power to make laws and post or transfer bureaucrats. In a unanimous ruling, a five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court on May 11 had stated that the Delhi government had legislative and executive powers over administrative services in the national capital. Kejriwal along with other AAP leaders will urge Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and Telangana CM KCR to extend support to the party against the ordinance. He will also request the BRS to oppose the Bill to be brought by the Modi government in Parliament to replace the ordinance. The meeting with KCR will be the latest in a series of meetings the AAP leaders are having with leaders of various opposition parties in various states. Kejriwal has also sought time with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi to seek Congress support in Parliament. On May 25, Kejriwal along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had called on Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar in Mumbai to enlist his support. The AAP leaders also had a separate meeting with Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray. Kejriwal was earlier in Kolkata to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She assured him that when the Narendra Modi government presents the bill in Parliament, Trinamool Congress will oppose it. Bengaluru, May 26 : Irate passengers have demanded an investigation by civil aviation regulator DGCA following inconvenience suffered by them due to the cancellation of IndiGo's Mangaluru-Bengaluru flight at the Mangaluru International Airport. The Bengaluru-bound flight was diverted to Dubai on Thursday morning following grounding of the Dubai-bound Indigo flight after a bird hit. Academician and Lokniti Network's national Coordinator Sandeep Shastri, in a social media post, said that "the flight was cancelled as Indigo needed the aircraft to service an international flight and they call it the hopelessly vague operational issue. "Request Hon'ble Minister, DGCA to initiate an investigation, over a 100 domestic passengers were inconvenienced with no compensation." "My in-laws aged in their 80s and traveling on wheelchairs received shoddy treatment from Indigo. Their flight to 6E5357 was cancelled 20 minutes before departure. No help or support. I had to get them on the evening flight and book a hotel." He had urged the IndiGo authorities, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and the DGCA to look into the matter. Major tragedy was averted at the Mangaluru International Airport when the Dubai-bound Indigo flight suffered a bird hit while taking off on Thursday. According to sources at the airport, the incident happened at 8.30 a.m. and caused panic among the passengers. However, as per an official statement, "as far as the incident per se is concerned, 6E 1467 IXE-DXB (8.25 a.m. 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 a.m. "The 160 passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was declared aircraft on ground (AOG) for a thorough engineering inspection. These passengers were later accommodated on another IndiGo aircraft that had arrived from Bengaluru. "The rescheduled Dubai flight left at 11.05 a.m.. 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 a.m.). There was no panic as reported in a section of the media." Chandigarh, May 26 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Friday accused the AAP government in Punjab of trying to muzzle the voice of media ever since it assumed power. "The government has registered false cases against journalists besides banning web channels and even stopping advertisements to publications which refused to relay its propaganda," he said. "It has also proceeded against artists, academicians and intellectuals. The SAD will do its utmost to guard the freedom of the press and democratic values and warns the AAP government not to trample upon civil rights in this manner." Reacting to summoning of Managing Editor of the Ajit newspaper, Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Badal said the act of summoning of Hamdard by the state Vigilance Bureau was a "brazen act of a power drunk Chief Minister who wanted to exact revenge against the him for his principled stand on freedom of the press". In a statement here, the SAD President expressed solidarity with Hamdard and said the Akali Dal would do its utmost to defend the voice of the media in Punjab. Asserting that the intimidation of Hamdard had shocked Punjabis worldwide, Badal said the Chief Minister first stopped advertisements to the Ajit newspaper. "Then it started intimidating functionaries of the Ajit and now it has stooped down to persecuting its Managing Director. This is the height of vendetta politics and is totally unacceptable in a democracy." Patna, May 26 : JD(U) chief Lalan Singh on Friday said whatever Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, becomes a law in the country. On withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency note, he said: "Whatever Narendra Modi says in the country, it becomes a law. He had demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes. He has said that the Rs 2,000 currency note would also be withdrawn. He can do anything." Reacting to BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's statement that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had inaugurated the new building of the state Legislative Council and not the Governor, Lalan Singh said: "Sushil Kumar Modi has a serious disease of being in headlines and he can say anything to get something from Narendra Modi cabinet. He is talking about the extension of Bihar Vidhan Sabha. Doesn't he know the difference between the extension of a Vidhan Sabha building and construction of new Parliament building? Parliament also has an extension building but no one would care who inaugurated or not." "Here we are talking about the main building of parliament. Who is the custodian of these two houses? As per the Constitution, the President of India addresses both the houses on the first day of every year during the budget session. The Prime Minister is not a custodian of both the houses. Why he does not address day one of the Budget session every year? You (PM Narendra Modi) have taken the credit of making a woman from the tribal community the President of the country. However, now, you are going to inaugurate the new Parliament building," Singh said. "Prime Minister can inaugurate anything. You have seen him inaugurating a drain in Varanasi. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country, no one has flagged off any train. Every time, Vande Bharat express has to be launched, he reaches there to wave the green flag. He does not allow anyone to do it," Singh said. "The present Parliament House is a historic heritage. It has a great history. The Constitution was drafted in that place. Hence, it is our Parliament. Now, Narendra Modi is changing the history of the country. He is transforming the prestigious history of the Parliament to Modi's history. Hence, I said that the country will become 'BJP mukt' in 2024 and then the new building will be used for other works," Singh said. On Sushil Modi's statement that JD(U) and other opposition parties are killing democracy of the country by boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Singh said: "Why would I kill the democracy of the country.... And Sushil Modi would give the certificate to us of it... How could a party which ruined the democracy in the entire country, could give a certificate to others. "In Delhi, the five judges bench of the Supreme Court had given the judgement in favour of Delhi government, However, the Centre brought an ordinance and turned down the decision of apex court. The Supreme Court had given the right to an elected government to take decisions, but the Centre once again gave the entire power to L-G. The Supreme Court had left three jobs for the Centre police, law and order and lands. Are you running the democracy? Is this a democracy? You are killing democracy. You have implemented an undeclared dictatorship," Singh said. "The people of the country are watching the dictatorship of BJP. Himachal Pradesh became BJP mukt, Karnataka became BJP mukt, MCD became BJP mukt. Now, the country will become BJP mukt in 2024," Singh said. Kolkata, May 26 : The Centre has turned down West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal to depute her Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge), Chandrima Bhattacharya, and Chief Secretary, H.K. Dwivedi, as representatives from the state for the Niti Aayog meeting scheduled in the national capital on Saturday. Sources in the state secretariat said that after the Chief Minister decided to abstain from the meeting, a communication was sent to the Union government proposing the names of Bhattacharya and Dwivedi as the representatives of the state for the meeting. However, a return communique has come from the Union government, stating that only chief ministers can attend the Niti Aayog meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides Banerjee, two AAP Chief Ministers -- Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab's Bhagwant Mann -- have also announced their decision to abstain from the meeting. Initially, Banerjee had decided to attend the meeting. But on May 24, a day after her meeting with Kejriwal and Mann in Kolkata, she announced her decision to skip the meeting. The Trinamool leadership has also announced its decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament House in New Delhi on May 28. Political observers feel that the decision to boycott the Niti Aayog meeting and the inauguration of the new Parliament House has been prompted by Banerjee's eagerness to strengthen her anti-BJP and anti-Centre stand. There is little doubt that Russias illegal attack on Ukraine has had negative repercussions across the globe. Even countries that are not involved in the war have suffered. The invasion caused a massive and historic energy shock to global markets and was one of the main factors that had slowed last years economic growth to just 3.1 percent, according to a report issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in November 2022. Far more serious are the consequences suffered by those in need of food aid. As parts of Africa and the Middle East face an unprecedented food crisis, Russia severely hampered Ukraines capacity to grow food and ship it from its Black Sea ports. But of course, no one has suffered more than Ukraines civilian population, under deliberate attack by Russias military throughout the war. Over the past 14 months, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded nearly 24 thousand civilian casualties. However, the UNHCR notes that the actual figures are certainly considerably higher. No one is paying more dearly than Ukraine, said Robert Wood, United States Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations. After 15 months we are no closer to ending the humanitarian suffering caused by Russias unprovoked war against Ukraine. Instead, the death toll rises from Russias missile and drone strikes on Ukraines civilian population centers. From May one through four, Russia launched more than 145 airstrikes across Ukraine. That translates into an average of more than one missile, drone, or bomb every hour, 24 hours a day, three days straight, he said. In just those three days alone, Russias attacks have killed and injured more than 100 civilians, including at least five children. At the same time, Humanitarian organizations have reported worsening conditions in the frontline areas and necessities such as electricity, food, and fuel are in short supply, said Ambassador Wood. President [Vladimir] Putins escalating attacks on Ukraines critical infrastructure threaten us all, he said. Russia has no interest in mitigating the spillover effects of its war against Ukraine, just as Russia has shown no genuine interest in negotiation or meaningful diplomacy. We again call on Russia to end its attacks on the people of Ukraine and withdraw its forces from Ukraines territory completely, said Ambassador Wood. Russia alone has the power to end the war it senselessly started. Bhopal, May 26 : The officials of Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district -- mistaken as cattle thieves -- were attacked by some villagers when they were looking for a female cheetah 'Asha' who moved out of the protected area, an official said on Friday. The team was following inputs of a GPS device attached to Asha's neck to locate her. A Forest Department official said the incident occurred late on Thursday when the team was tracking Asha's location in Burakheda village. At least four officials were injured. A senior forest official at KNP told IANS the villagers suspected the members of the team to be cattle thieves as such thefts take place frequently in the area. The forest official said on noticing the KNP team's presence in the late night hours and a vehicle in the darkness, the villagers suspected that they were cattle thieves. "The villagers first fired in the air as a warning. However, when the team did not leave, the villagers pelted stones and also physically attacked the team members," the official said. P.K. Verma, the divisional forest officer of Kuno, condemned the attack on the Forest team, and also highlighted the challenges faced by conservation teams. New Delhi, May 26 : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Secretariat to have the new Parliament building inaugurated by the President. A vacation bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and P.S. Narasimha asked the petitioner-in-person as to why he has come to the court with such a petition and emphasised that the court is not interested in entertaining it under Article 32. It also asked the petitioner that how is Article 79 relevant here? Advocate C.R. Jaya Sukin said the President is the head of Parliament, they should inaugurate the building, and questioned, how can the Prime Minister inaugurate the new Parliament building? When the apex court sought Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's view, he said these matters are not justiciable and the petitioner should be restrained from moving the high court by withdrawing the PIL from the Supreme Court. The bench asked Sukin whether he would move the high court after withdrawing the PIL from the apex court. Sukin replied that he would not but wanted to withdraw as a dismissal by the apex court would amount to giving a certificate to the correctness of inauguration of Parliament building by the PM. The bench said it is not inclined to entertain the plea but since the petitioner is seeking withdrawal, the PIL is being dismissed as withdrawn. The plea filed by advocate Sukin said that the respondents -- Lok Sabha Secretariat, Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Law and Justice -- have violated the Constitution and the Constitution is not being respected. It said that the statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on May 18 and invites issued by the Secretary General, Lok Sabha about inaugurating the new Parliament building is an arbitrary manner without proper perusal of the records and without proper application of mind. "That Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Indian Parliament comprises the President and the two houses -- Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha," said the petition. The plea contended that the Prime Minister is appointed by the President and other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the PM. The plea submitted that the president is authorised to appoint constitutional functionaries such as Governors, judges of both Supreme Court and high court, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, and other election commissioners. "That main function of both the Houses is to make laws. Every Bill has to be passed by both the Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law," said the plea. "That Article 87 of the constitution provides two instances when the President specially addresses both Houses of Parliament. The President of India addresses both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha at the beginning of the first Session after each general election when the reconstituted Lower House meets for the first time. The President also addresses both the Houses at the beginning of the first session of each year." The plea said: "That under Article 85, the President can summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, to ensure that six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its sitting in the next session." New Delhi, May 26 : Even as discussions here on the cabinet expansion of the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka entered their second day, Congress General Secretary and state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday said several names have been deliberated upon and swearing in will take place on Saturday as earlier announced. Siddaramaiah, who took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister last Saturday along with state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar as the sole Deputy Chief Minister, have been holding meetings with senior party leaders for two days now to decide on the new ministers. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had arrived in the national capital separately on Tuesday evening and had held meeting at the party's war room with Surjewala and party General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal to discuss the names of the new ministers. On Friday, Siddaramaiah met Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the first time after the swearing-in ceremony. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi was also present. After meeting the Gandhis, Siddamaraiah also met party chief Mallikarjuna Kharge at his residence here. The leaders once again had a brainstorming session at the Congress war room here. After leaving the war room at 15 GRG, Shivakumar too met the Gandhis. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Surjewala said: "Whatever is the decision will be communicated by the only person... Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He discusses with party. Party does not decide. Cabinet is decided by Chief Minister. Siddaramaiah has discussed various names and we have left him with now to decide on whom to include in the cabinet. High command only discusses the various issues in the interest of the party. "I repeat again that the decision on whom to include in the cabinet is decided by the Chief Minister. And I am told by him (Siddaramaiah) that he will be swearing in the further ministers tomorrow, and thus more details can be only given by him." Meanwhile, after meeting Sonia Gandhi, Shivakumar said that everything is fine. Asked about the cabinet expansion on Saturday, he said: "I hope so." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and Venugopal both reached at the residence of the Congress President to discuss the names of the new cabinet ministers in Karnataka. Besides Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, eight more ministers -- G. Parmeshwara, K.H. Muniyappa, K.J. George, M.B. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Ramalimga Reddy, and B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan -- had taken oath on Saturday in Bengaluru. However, none of them have been allocated any portfolio yet. A party source said that the Congress will have to bring balance in the cabinet allocation as it needs to balance of demands of different communities. According to the party sources, 20 to 24 names for the new cabinet have been discussed in the last two days, including representative from each communities. Source said party leaders like Eshwar Khandre, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Shivananda Patil, H.K. Patil, S.S. Mallikarjun, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, all from Lingayat community are likely to be inducted in the cabinet. Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, a Dalit, K. Venkatesh Cheluvarayaswamy and Krishna Byregowda, both from vokkaliga community, and Byrathi Suresh, a leader from Kuruba community are also likely to take oath as the new ministers in the state cabinet. The source said that Rahim Khan is likely to be the sole new Muslim minister, whereas names of Putta Ranga Shetty from Uppara community, Dr M.C. Sudhakar, K.N. Rajanna, a leader of ST community, Santosh Lad, Madhu Bangarappa, Mankala Vaidya, Shivaraj Tangadagi, R.B. Thimmapur, Nagendra and Boseraju have been discussed too. Guwahati, May 26 : A BJP leader has been arrested in Assam's Karbi Anglong district for allegedly collecting Rs 9.52 crore from a number of people in the name of providing them government jobs, an official said on Friday. Moon Ingtipi, a leader of the Kishan Morcha wing of the BJP, was arrested on Thursday. Following the arrest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled her from her position as well as the party. A senior police officer told IANS on Friday that they have received numerous complaints against her, and on the basis of an official complaint, they launched an investigation. "We uncovered enough evidence to make an arrest. The police team is looking into the situation more thoroughly," said Karbi Anglong district's Additional SP, Nayan Barman. After Ingtipi allegedly demanded a significant sum of money from some people under the pretence of offering them jobs in various government departments in Assam, the matter recently came to light. Ingtipi is accused of extorting approximately Rs 9.52 crore from a number of people. Some of the victims who suffered financial losses said that Ingtipi had previously used Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's name to collect money. A victim told the reporters: "She also stated that Tuliram Ronghang, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, is her close friend." Following her arrest, the Assam unit of BJP dismissed her from her position in Kishan Morcha and asked her to quit the party. The BJP leadership, however, remained silent over the accusations made against Moon Ingtipi and her detention. Ahmedabad, May 26 : The toss for Qualifier 2 clash in IPL 2023 between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians will happen at 7.45 p.m. at Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, followed by the match beginning from 8 p.m. Around 6.20 p.m., heavy rain began in Ahmedabad, with some thunder and lightning accompanying it. But by the time the toss was officially delayed to 7 p.m., the rain had stopped with two layers of covers being taken off and players arriving at the ground to warm-up. As per playing conditions on the IPL website, a playoff match can start on the original game day as late as 9.40 p.m. without the number of overs being reduced. Though the weather forecast for the rest of the night in Ahmedabad is clear, even if rain comes and forces a washout, a Super Over will decide the winner, which can begin as late as 12.50 a.m., as there is no reserve day. Even if that isn't possible, the team that has finished higher on the table will qualify for the final, which in this case is Gujarat due to the virtue of topping the table in the league stage. The latest a five overs per side match can start is 11.56 p.m. (with 10-minute interval, no timeouts) and a scheduled finish of 12.50 a.m. The winner of Qualifier 2 between Gujarat, the defending champions and Mumbai, the five-time winners, will play against four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the final on Sunday, while the side who doesn't win will be knocked out of the competition. Mumbai enter Qualifier 2 match high on confidence following a thumping 81-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator match, while Gujarat have another shot at making it to the final after losing to Chennai Super Kings by 15 runs in Qualifier 1. Latest updates on IPL 2023 New Delhi, May 26 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena on Friday appreciated the efforts made by Delhi officials to rejuvenate the Yamuna and the ongoing work on cleaning three garbage dumps for the past one year. The LG, who completed one year in office on Friday, was addressing a workshop on capacity building for civil servants in Delhi. He asked the officials to commit themselves to transparency and work hard without bowing to pressure. "To give corruption-free administration to the society, the responsibility lies on your shoulders. This expectation is not only of mine but the entire society also has the same expectation," Saxena said while mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement "Na Khaunga, na Khaney doongaa," in the context of people-friendly and corruption-free governance. "The statement of PM Modi is not just a quote or `jumla' but it is a matter of fact assertion, demanding clean and transparent governance," the LG emphasized. While stressing the need for 'jazba' (zeal) to connect with the common people, Saxena shared the example of officers from various departments of the government, who are working tirelessly to bring back the Yamuna river to its past glory. He also highlighted the efforts made in the past one year that had resulted in reducing the height of three landfill sites in Delhi. "Friends, I have closely observed that if you have the will to work then nothing is impossible. This, I am mentioning because whether it is the issue of Yamuna cleaning or the three land-fill sites, which are the eyesores of Delhi, or to rediscover the buried history of Delhi and to rejuvenate the water bodies of the city, all the officers deserve accolades as you (officers) have left no stone unturned to achieve these targets," the LG said. Saxena emphasized that during the past one year, the officers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have done an amazing job in reducing the height of the garbage dumps at three land fill sites, through enhanced bio-remediation. "These efforts had led to reducing the height of the dumps by upto 20 metres," he said. Saxena said that despite the Supreme Court monitoring the cleaning of the Yamuna for 28 years and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) doing the same for more than eight years, no substantial results had been achieved. "However, the same officers and staff had started giving positive results after the January 9, 2023 order of the NGT. Yamuna is slowly but surely moving on a path of rejuvenation. This only proved that officers working with zeal, commitment and honesty were capable of achieving any result," he said. He also said that in the past one year, with the aim of ending the culture of adhocism and ensuring that individuals are not exploited in the name of contractual employment, about 17,000 permanent appointments were made to various departments and agencies of the Delhi government through DSSSB and UPSC. New Delhi, May 26 : Three out of every five Indians are of the opinion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been successful in projecting India as a global power over the last nine years. This was revealed during an exclusive pan-India survey conducted by CVoter to mark nine years of the NDA regime headed by Modi. Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister on May 26, 2014 after leading the BJP to a historic majority of its own in the Lok Sabha elections. Since then, Prime Minister Modi has continuously and aggressively promoted the interests of India in scores of bilateral and multilateral meetings with leaders of other countries. The impact of this outreach has been so significant that 50 per cent of Indians who vote for the opposition also agree with the contention. This is rare because supporters of opposition parties have usually given a thumb down to the Modi regime on various issues not just in this survey, but many others conducted by CVoter over the years. The only category of Indians who think Modi has failed to project India as a global power in the last one years is Muslims; close to 56 per cent of them are of the opinion he has failed. Apart from that, a big majority of Indians across demographics and ethnic identities are of the opinion that Modi has been successful in projecting India as a global power. One of the more interesting findings of the survey is that more rural Indians (61.4 per cent) agree with the contention than their urban counterparts (58.3 per cent). From his first visit as Prime Minister to the US in August 2014, Modi has maintained an extremely hectic schedule of diplomatic engagements. New Delhi, May 26 : Contrary to the perception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a 'strong man', a near majority of Indians think that his regime has succumbed to street power. This was revealed during an exclusive pan-India survey conducted by CVoter to mark nine years of the Modi regime. Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014 after he led the BJP to a historic majority of 282 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Since then, the regime has taken many decisions that have been contentious and controversial, provoking strong criticism from the opposition parties. The CVoter survey asked the following question: Do you think the Modi regime has made timely course corrections on issues like farm laws, or has it succumbed to street power? Close to 47 per cent of the respondents in the survey stated that the Modi regime has succumbed to street power, while about 42 per cent of them were of the opinion that his regime has made timely course corrections. Significantly, one third of NDA supporters think that the Modi regime has succumbed to street power. After an ordinance, the Modi regime had managed to pass three historic farm laws in the Parliament in 2020, when India was under the siege by the Covid pandemic. Various interest groups claiming support to farmers across the country had protested vociferously against the laws and virtually laid siege to the capital Delhi for almost a year. In November 2021, Prime Minister Modi had addressed the nation and announced that the government was withdrawing the three farm laws. This move had disappointed many Modi supporters who were convinced that the the three laws were truly reformist, and would have helped the ordinary farmers. Similarly, the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act in December 2019 had led to widespread protests that had culminated in violent communal riots in February 2020 in Delhi, in which more than 50 people were killed. Imphal, May 26 : Amid fresh incidents of violence in at least three districts, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Friday again appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony and announced holding of peace talks with all communities and stakeholders to normalise the situation. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, who is now on a visit to the strife torn state, said that Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Manipur on May 29 and stay for three days to resolve the ongoing ethnic crisis. Police said that incidents of violence including arson were reported from three districts -- Imphal East, Churachandpur, and Bishnupur. Army and various other central forces immediately rushed to the violence hit areas and brought the situation under control. Singh, while talking to the media in the Secretariat, said that the Army, Central Armed Police Force, Manipur Rifles, police, and Village Defence Force had been adequately deployed at 38 most volatile and mixed populated areas of different districts. The Chief Minister said that a team of MLAs from Manipur on Thursday met the Union Home Minister in Guwahati and apprised him of the prevailing situation. "Our government's priority is making peace feel safe and secure. People must have faith in the government to restore peace and normalcy." Rai, who visited some districts, told the media that the recent unrest would affect the development and welfare activities. He said all grievances, demands, problems and issues would be resolved through talks and peaceful process and people of different communities must have faith in the government and shun all forms of violence. Meanwhile, some women organisations on Friday burned the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Home Minister, the Chief Minister, newly appointed Security Advisor to Manipur Government Kuldiep Singh and overall operational commander Ashutosh Sinha. One of the protesters Sandhyarani said following the May 3 incident, people across the state are living in panic and uncertain situations. Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and Naga People's Front (NPF) Lok Sabha member Lorho S. Pfoze jointly urged the people to maintain peace and ethnic harmony and keep their faith and trust in the government to control the situation. Academician turned BJP politician Singh, elected to the Lok Sabha from Inner Manipur parliamentary seat, while Pfoze, a physician turned politician, was elected from Outer Manipur seat. Singh, who earlier in a letter to Prime Minister Modi had said that Kuki leaders, including their 10 MLAs, have demanded a separate political administration (equivalent to separate state) for the tribals under tremendous pressure from various quarters including the militants -- on Friday left Imphal for New Delhi. New Delhi, May 26 : Beware when providing rented accommodation online, as cyber thugs based in Rajasthan have devised a new modus operandi: they contact individuals who have advertised houses for rent and deceive them by sending payment links. Delhi Police apprehended two men who disclosed that they shared a payment link, falsely claiming to have made an advance payment for the accommodation. However, when the victim clicks on the link, the thugs fraudulently extract money from the victim's account. According to the police, a recent complaint was filed at the Cyber South District Police Station in which the complainant told police that he had posted an advertisement for renting out his accommodation on an online portal. Shortly after that, he received a message from an unknown individual who expressed interest in renting the property. "The person impersonated themself as an Army officer and sent the complainant a payment link. Unfortunately, the complainant clicked on the link, resulting in a debit of Rs 5,20,000 from his bank account," said Ankit Chauhan, the additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South). During the investigation, the authorities collected the trail of the fraudulent money transfer into the fraudster's bank account from the respective bank. Additionally, the Call Detail Records (CDR) and Customer Application Form (CAF) of the mobile phone number through which the text message was received by the victim were also obtained and placed under extensive surveillance. "The team diligently worked on all available aspects of the case. Their efforts proved fruitful when it came to light that the defrauded amount of Rs 5,20,000 had been credited to five different bank accounts. Among these, Rs 50,000 was found in an account at AU Small Bank, registered under the name of Shivkesh Bairwa," said Chauhan. The police team thoroughly analysed and logically verified other pertinent details of the bank transactions. Through surveillance and technical analysis, they were able to narrow down the location of the accused to Dausa, Rajasthan. Immediately, the team was dispatched to Rajasthan, and on May 24, a raid was conducted in Dausa, Rajasthan, leading to the apprehension of the accused, Shivkesh Bairwa, a resident of Mohanpura in Rajasthan "During intense interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the aforementioned incident. The accused further disclosed that they had sold their account to an individual named Ramkesh Parjapat," said the official. Acting on this information, the team apprehended the co-accused, Ramkesh Parjapat, a resident of Dausa. "Additionally, the team successfully recovered two mobile phones that were used in the commission of the crime," said Chauhan. "During interrogation, both the arrested accused confessed their involvement in the above mentioned incident and Parjapat revealed that he sold his account to one Khaleed, who is absconding," said the official, adding that efforts are being made to arrest the co-accused. The United States announced that it has completed a new trade deal the first part of a bilateral initiative launched last year called the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade. The United States and Taiwan conducted negotiations under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan AIT and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States or TECRO. As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative noted in June 2022, the initiative is intended to develop concrete ways to deepen the two parties economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for workers and businesses. In a statement announcing the deal, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative noted that this first agreement covers the areas of customs administration and trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, services domestic regulation, anticorruption, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Through these provisions, U.S. businesses will be able to bring more products to Taiwan and Taiwanese customers, while creating more transparent and streamlined regulatory procedures that can facilitate investment and economic opportunities in both markets, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The negotiations for the recently concluded deal took less than a year. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in the statement, This accomplishment represents an important step forward in strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan economic relationship. It demonstrates how we can work together and advance mutual trade priorities on behalf of our people. Among the many areas addressed, the negotiated text commits both sides to establish comprehensive anticorruption measures to prevent and combat bribery. Another key focus is finding ways to encourage trade and investment opportunities between the U.S. and Taiwan for small-and medium-sized enterprises, known as SMEs. They include training programs, trade education, trade finance, trade missions, and improvement in SME access to capital and credit. Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations hailed the agreement as "historically significant" and expressed its commitment to concluding negotiations on remaining issues soon. The agreement will be signed in the coming weeks by AIT and TECRO. Ambassador Tai said, We look forward to continuing these negotiations and finalizing a robust and high-standard trade agreement that tackles pressing 21st century economic challenges. Bhopal, May 26 : Extensive movement and a series of closed door meetings of Madhya Pradesh BJP leaders including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state unit president V. D. Sharma on Friday gave rise to speculation in political circles about some changes in the state party leadership. It began in the morning after senior BJP leader and the state Home Minister Narottam Mishra reached V. D. Sharma's residence and the duo held a closed door meeting that lasted nearly 20 minutes. Mishra, then met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his residence and after that he reached the party headquarters. BJP leaders maintained that the senior leader's visit was to attend a series of meetings scheduled on Friday. In fact, V. D. Sharma along with organizational leaders including state in-charge Murlidhar Rao, national organisational secretary Shiv Prakash and state organisational secretary Hitanand Sharma was busy in a meeting of the OBC community. However, all the leaders left the meeting and to receive CM Chouhan and they held a closed door meeting that ended after one hour. When the meeting was over, Chouhan left the party headquarters without answering press persons' queries. After Chouhan, Narottam Mishra also left the party office without speaking to the press. V. D. Sharma too maintained a distance from the press. State BJP media in-charge Ashish Agrawal said that all talk about some possible changes was just a rumour. Talking to IANS, Agrawal said, "All speculation is fake, a creation of the opposition Congress." All these developments unfolded two days after Union Ministers Prahlad Patel and Narendra Singh Tomar along with the BJP's national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya held a closed door meeting with Chouhan late on Wednesday. Sources privy to the development told IANS that V. D. Sharma had also attended that meeting, but one and a half hours later. Chief Minister Chouhan is scheduled to leave for New Delhi where he is likely to meet top party leaders. However, the BJP office said that Chouhan is visiting Delhi to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building, during which he will meet the central leadership. Kolkata, May 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials probing the multi-crore West Bengal cattle smuggling case have started taking initiative for fresh questioning of Sehgal Hossain, the bodyguard of the prime accused of the case, and Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal. Both Hossain and Mondal are currently serving judicial custody at Tihar Jail in Delhi, and according to sources, the CBI officials have already started the process for getting the legal nod for fresh questioning of Hossain within the correctional home premises. It has been learnt that new evidence have been sourced by the CBI officials after the recent questioning of two Customs officers who had been posted along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, when cattle smuggling through that area was at its peak. Since Hossain was the link between Mondal and different beneficiaries of the cattle smuggling racket, a need had surfaced to question him again. "If, after quizzing Hossain, the necessity arises, we might also go for a fresh questioning of Mondal and seek the permission of the court for that," a CBI source said. Customs is the second central government department after Border Security Force (BSF) that has come under the scanner of central investigation agencies like CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the scam. Earlier, the CBI even arrested BSF commandant Satish Kumar in the course of the agency's on-going probe into the scam. Recently, the ED had submitted its charge sheet in this matter where it had mentioned the involvement of the BSF officials in the alleged scam. In the chargesheet, the CBI has mentioned details of how the cattle were smuggled from a cattle-trading hub at Mohammad Bazar in Birbhum district, taken to the borders of the adjacent Murshidabad district and subsequently sent out of the border in connivance with a section of BSF officials posted there. Srinagar, May 26 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of agriculture credit schemes of banking and financial institutions for Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). He directed the bank officials and administrative officers for seamless coordination at district level for effective implementation of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme and 100 per cent saturation of benefits under Kisan Credit Card and other Central and UT Schemes of agriculture and allied sectors. Sinha also directed the bank officials to appoint nodal officers for both Jammu and Kashmir divisions to monitor the cases received by banks under HADP and other schemes. Small and marginal farmers should be top priority in implementation of HADP. Deputy Commissioners must ensure FPOs are transformed into engines of growth and districts must compete to script success stories of such organisations, said the Lt Governor. He said the 29 projects worth Rs 5,013 crore under the HADP will have a transformative impact on the agriculture economy of J&K. New Delhi, May 26 : With the arrest of four men in separate operations, the Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have unearthed two 'gay sextortion gangs' active in south east Delhi, who used to trap victims using online dating app 'Grindr', an official said. The accused were identified as Arun Kumar alias Chotu (22), Vishal Kohli (24), Rajesh Kumar (42) and Anuj alias Banda (21). According to the police, a new modus operandi had recently come to their notice. The perpetrators create fake profiles on the 'Grindr' app and engage in friendly chats with their victims. The accused entice the victims to participate in sexual activities and invite them to specific locations. Once the victims are in compromising positions, the co-accused forcefully enter the premises. They proceed to create a nude video of the victim and then threaten to share it with his friends and family members. Due to the fear of social stigma, the victims succumb to the demands of the accused and transfer money into the accounts provided by them. "In the first incident, the complainant informed the police that he had encountered an individual named Rahul on the social media app 'Grindr'. Rahul enticed the victim to meet him at Vinobapuri Metro Station on April 24. Upon reaching the metro station, Rahul guided the complainant to a room located in the Sriniwaspuri area, where the trap had already been set," said Rajesh Deo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Once inside the room and engaged in conversation, two individuals abruptly stormed in and began recording a video of the complainant. "They coerced him into removing his clothes and threatened to release the video publicly. Given that the victim was in a respected profession, he was overcome with fear and pleaded for mercy. The perpetrators demanded Rs 2 lakhs. Fearing exposure in society, the victim complied with their demands and transferred the specified amount using the 'Phonepe' app, utilizing the account of one of his acquaintances," said the DCP. During investigation, after registration of the case, the police zeroed in on two criminals Arun and Vishal in the Loni area of Ghaziabad and apprehended them from there. "Further, Rajesh Kumar was also apprehended from Shahbad Dairy area," said the official. In another incident, the complainant recounted an encounter with a man named Nikhil on the 'Grindr' dating app. "Subsequently, they initiated communication through WhatsApp and agreed to meet for a casual hookup at Mohan Estate Metro station. Upon arriving at the designated location, the complainant was instructed to proceed to Mata Chowk, Aali Village, where Nikhil awaited him," said Deo. "Upon reaching the destination, three individuals wielding wooden sticks and two knives abruptly entered the room. All four assailants subjected the complainant to physical assault, coercing him into performing oral sex against his will. Moreover, they extorted Rs 33,000 from the complainant via the Paytm platform," said the official. "The medico-legal case of the complainant was conducted and during investigation Anuj was arrested," said the official, adding that efforts are being made to apprehend the remaining accused persons. "Investigations of both the cases are in process to unearth the entire conspiracy," the official added. Chandigarh, May 26 : A senior cardiovascular surgeon from Chandigarh on Friday helped a co-passenger, who had a cardiac arrest onboard a flight from Japan, to survive. This incident took place onboard an Air India flight from Tokyo to Delhi. The flight, on the advice of the cardiologist, was diverted to Kolkata where the patient was taken to hospital and saved but not before five hours of struggle to save the patient with the help of crew. "We were not sure if we could get help if flight was directed to China so it was a daunting task to sustain the patient for five hours with whatever limited medical resources available on flight," surgeon Deepak Puri said on reaching New Delhi. He said it was heartening that this could be achieved with support of the captain and crew of AI 307. "On the heart attack of the patient, I did cardiopulmonary resuscitation and revived him but we were over sea and nearest destination was Kolkata - five hours away - so we had a daunting task of keeping him stable for five hours with minimum resuscitation resources," Puri told IANS. The airlines arranged special permission for landing in Kolkata and an ambulance to take him to nearest cardiac hospital on arrival and was successful in transferring the patient safely. "All the passengers and crew members gave me so much applause... brought tears to my eyes," an emotional Puri added. Kolkata, May 26 : A convoy of Trinamool Congress's national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked in Wst Bengal's West Midnapore district on Friday by Kurmi protesters who are demanding scheduled tribe status for the community. His convoy was passing through the Salboni area in the tribal-dominated West Midnapore when protesters attacked it. The rear glass of the vehicle of West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda was totally smashed on being hit by bricks thrown at the convoy by the agitating Kurmi protesters. They also shouted "thief, thief" slogans while the convoy was passing through the area. Hansda later told media persons that Kurmi protesters had allegedly even beaten up the Trinamool Congress workers who were part of the convoy. "I personally hail from a tribal background. This is not the way of protest. We have been parts of several movements before. This is simple hooliganism. I will see it through to the end," she said. She also alleged that the opposition parties like the BJP and the CPI-M had been instigating the Kurmi protesters. "Trinamool Congress had never opposed the movement of the Kurmi community in demand for scheduled tribe status. Then why is the attack on our convoy. This cannot be the nature of any caste movement," Hansda said. Incidentally, on Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is supposed to address a political rally at Salboni area. Chennai, May 26 : Expressing displeasure over the Congress' stance on Sengol -- the sceptre that will be placed in the new Parliament building in the national capital, the pontiff of a Tamil Nadu 'math' on Friday said "this is the same Sengol which was given in 1947 to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and it is the pride of Tamil Nadu". Earlier, on Friday, the Congress hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for spreading "false narrative" about "Sengol", saying that there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing this "as the symbol of transfer of British power to India" and all claims to this effect are plain and simply "bogus". Speaking to reporters, the pontiff of Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam (math), said: "We are disappointed by the lies that are being spread by some people. This is a great pride for Tamil Nadu. The Sengol went from Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam, from Chola Nadu. "On May 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the Sengol once again. It will be installed in the new parliament building. We are happy. We have been invited to Delhi, and we will be going there," he said. The Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam pontiff further said the same Sengol was kept hidden for many years. "Now, it is being brought back to the limelight. We were informed 1-2 months ago about the inauguration of the new Parliament. They asked us to come and told us that Sengol would be installed," he said. "Sengol was given to the late PM Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 by the Adheenam. Rajaji (C Rajagopalachari) was asked how to symbolise freedom and India's Independence. At that time, our chief pontiff had asked Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers to make the Sengol," the Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam pontiff said. "The Sengol was sent in a flight to Delhi and it was given to Lord Mountbatten. It was later handed over to then PM Nehru by Adheenam pontiffs," he added. "We have pictures to show how the Sengol was handed over. Some people are spreading wrong information. In 1947, many English newspapers reported about it. The pictures are enough for evidence," he said. Washington, May 26 : Former US President Donald Trump is likely to be indicted latest by August this year as his lawyers expect him to be charged criminally by the Department of Justice in hoarding of highly classified documents at the end of his presidency. "You should expected to be indicted by this year (likely in August)", some of his top advisors and legal team have given him fearlessly this rather unwelcome advice, media reports said. The FBI has been investigating whether or not Trump tried to obstruct its investigation prior to last year's raids on the ex-president's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. Trumps legal team warning follows his indictment by local prosecutors in lower Manhattan courts in New York in April for alleged falsification of business records. Before summer ends, the Fulton County, Georgia, court is expected to decide whether or not to indict Trump on election fraud charges. He was accused of interfering in the election process when his aides entered the election booths in the county. Trump's attorneys have asked him to prepare for another long drawn legal tussle. Trump has reportedly reacted angrily as his manner rubbishing these predictions saying then "what about Joe Biden?" (A small number of classified documents have been discovered at a number of locations connected to Biden, including his garage; the Department of Justice has named a second special counsel to look into the matter, per latest developments). As Trump has announced his candidacy for presidency in 2024, he is yet to be approved at the GOP primaries, some in the conservative circles are reportedly bracing for a distinct possibility of Trump, the current front runner among the republicans, will face indictment across a range of investigations. The indictments range from the Georgia probe into election interference to the Mar-a-Lago documents probe. The Washington Post reported on Thursday that two Trump employees removed boxes of papers last June, the day before DOJ lawyer Jay Bratt visited Mar-a-Lago with federal agents to collect classified material after a subpoena had been issued a month earlier. Investigators view as suspicious the behavior and a possible sign of obstruction. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the special counsel investigation appears to be wrapping up an exhaustive series of interviews and grand jury appearances by Trump aides and employees. Signs of Trump's nervousness were also revealed in a letter Trump himself mailed to from his lawyers to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding a meeting "at your earliest convenience" to discuss the special counsel probe. Prosecutors are putting the magnifying glass to look into whether Trump tried to obstruct justice by withholding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence sought by the National Archives after his presidency ended. Jack Smith, the special prosecutor in the case , has reportedly won stunning and rapid series of court room victories since his appointment in November last year. National Archives sought to recover a set of missing boxes from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence thus initiating a probe and discovered that the former president had retained classified documents at the Florida club. This prompted DOJ subpoena to Trump for all outstanding classified documents. Trump, it may be recalled, issued a blanket declassification order during his presidency and, the FBI began grilling the former president's National Security Council staffers about whether they'd heard of the alleged order. Jammu, May 26 : An active associate of terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested by a joint team of Jammu and Kashmir Police, army and CRPF from Cherji in Kishtwar district, police said on Friday. Police said that police in Kishtwar received inputs about involvement of Mohd Yousaf Chouhan, resident of Chhar Cherji, Kishtwar in terror related activities and a case was registered accordingly. Subsequently, SSP, Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal deputed teams of police, along with army and CRPF, arrested the accused and, on his disclosure, recovered a Chinese grenade from Cherji area. "In this regard, major search operation has been launched in Cherji, Chicha and Padyarna area so that active terrorists of the district are nabbed and further leads into the case are developed," police said. Gurugram, May 26 : Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Friday directed the officials concerned to expedite the processing of legacy waste at the Bandhwari landfill site in Gurugram. The entire legacy waste should be processed by November 2023, he said at a virtual meeting with the officers of the Urban Local Bodies Department, Municipal Corporations of Gurugram (MCG), and Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) here. To effectively manage the fresh waste in Faridabad, the officers informed in the meeting that decentralised waste processing facilities with a capacity of 890 tonnes per day (TPD) are being established by the MCF at various sites. The Chief Secretary directed the officers to ensure the timely disposal of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) by utilising GPS-enabled vehicles. To expedite the waste disposal process, he also directed the officers to identify and finalize two more landfill sites in Gurugram within a specific timeline. He stressed the need to increase daily waste processing capacity in the Bandhwari site and asked the Commissioner of MCG to fix timelines for each activity and designate officers responsible for achieving the targets. MCG has developed 2.5 acres of land at Bandhwari for fresh waste disposal, and dumping operations have commenced since April 15. To maintain quality standards, the Chief Secretary urged the officers to regularly monitor the calorific value of processed waste at the waste-to-energy plant (WTE plant). BW Ideol has signed a Head of Terms with Elawan Energy, an ORIX company based in Spain, for the joint development of a multi-GW floating offshore wind pipeline off Spain and Portugal, subject to further negotiation of the final agreement between the Parties. Elawan Energy is a leading player in the field of renewable energy in Spain, with more than 2.6 GW of projects (solar, hydro and wind) already built and more than 8.4 GW portfolio of renewable projects under development. Elawan Energy is fully owned by ORIX Corporation, a multinational financial group headquartered in Japan, since February 2023, and benefits from a particularly strong and historical local footprint in Spain since Elawan Energy, former Gestamp Wind, was created in 2008 as one of the renewable vehicles of Acek Desarrollo y Gestion Industrial, S.L, the holding company of Riberas family, who currently owns Gestamp Group. BW Ideol and ORIX Corporation already collaborate in Japan as co-development partners on one of BW Ideol's commercial scale floating offshore wind projects currently under development. This exclusive agreement covers the joint development of several commercial-scale projects, within the framework of the upcoming tenders expected in Spain and in Portugal. "We are pleased to keep on expanding our global project pipeline, in line with our dual-leg strategy as co-developer and as technology and EPCI services provider. Elawan Energy has a strong and successful local presence in Spain and is now supported by one of the biggest financial companies in Japan, ORIX Corporation. Together with our winning floating wind experience both in project development and technology delivery, we're highly confident that we'll be able to develop and deliver the most competitive and credible projects" said Paul de la Gueriviere, CEO of BW Ideol. Dionisio Fernandez Auray, CEO of Elawan Energy, also spoke about this strategic match. "Entering the offshore business not only reinforces our commitment to environmental responsibility, but also allows us to diversify our revenue streams and open new growth horizons for Elawan Energy. We are convinced that this strategic partnership will provide us with the necessary expertise to meet the technical and logistical challenges inherent in this type of project" he said. About BW Ideol: BW Ideol is a leading fully integrated platform in floating offshore wind with more than 12 years of experience from design, execution and development of floating wind projects based on Ideol S.A.'s patented floating offshore wind technology and engineering capabilities. The company has a dual-leg growth strategy as a floater EPCI and maintenance services provider and as a wind-farm project developer and co-owner. BW Ideol has two full-scale offshore floating wind turbines in operation in France and Japan, a significant project pipeline including 1 GW under development in Scotland and is supported by BW Offshore's extensive experience from developing and operating offshore energy production systems. For more information, contact Nicolas de Kerangal, Chief Financial & Partnerships Officer at BW Ideol - ir@bw-ideol.com About Elawan: Elawan Energy is a global operator in renewable energy industry which offers integrated solutions along the green energy life circle, from the promotion, development and construction of wind farms, photovoltaic plants and hydropower plants until their operation, maintenance and the sale of this green energy produced. Elawan Energy is part of ORIX Group. For more information, visit : https://www.elawan.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Jaipur, May 26 : The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), an ally of the BJP in Haryana, will now contest elections in Rajasthan in alliance with it, its national President Ajay Singh Chautala said on Friday. Chautala, who had come to Jaipur on Friday for his party expansion, said that talks are going on at the national level with BJP national President J.P. Nadda. "We will contest on those seats in Rajasthan where BJP is weak, he said adding that "BJP is weak in 20 to 25 seats in Rajasthan. Now, JJP will contest on those seats where it is strong". The JJP has entered Rajasthan before the Assembly elections and has formally formed its team in the state. Prithvi Meel will be the state President of the party, and Prateek Maharia, nephew of BJP leader Subhash Maharia, has been made the President of the youth front. Chautala said that the Ashok Gehllot-led Congress government has failed on every front. "Now the people of the state are looking towards the third option. Whenever we contested elections, people have reposed faith in us," he said, adding his party will contest elections on many seats including Fatehpur, Suratgarh, Kotputli, Nohar, Bhadra, and Lunkaransar. On the question of seeing JJP as an alternative to RLP's Hanuman Beniwal, Chautala questioned if he is even in a position to win today? On the question of alliances, newly-appointed state President Meel said that this is a matter of election time. New Delhi, May 26 : Delhi FC were crowned the 2022-23 second Division champions with a 3-1 victory over Ambernath United Atlanta, here on Friday and secured promotion to next season's I-League. Last Sunday, Shillong Lajong FC beat FC Bengaluru United to become the first team to be promoted this season. At the end of the Final Round, Delhi FC finished level on seven points with Shillong Lajong FC but won the 2nd Division title on goal difference since the match between them ended in a goalless draw. Ambernath United Atlanta, playing in their debut 2nd Division season, only needed a point at the Minerva Academy Ground in Chandigarh to win the title, but a brace from Bali Gagandeep and an audacious strike from Vanlalhriatzuala scripted a memorable afternoon for Delhi FC. The capital side had previously made it to the I-League Qualifiers Final Round in 2021 but finished third and missed out on the promotion. However, there was redemption and scenes of pure joy when Delhi FC finally got the job done on Friday and booked their berth in the I-League for the first time ever. Playing at home in a do-or-die clash, Delhi FC had their foot on the throttle from the get-go. After an opening half-an-hour of sustained pressure, they opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a fine team goal. Skipper Balwant Singh released Fahad Temuri in acres of space down the left wing, and the youngster charged forward before squaring the ball into the box for Bali Gagandeep to side-foot it home at full stretch. However, Ambernath United Atlanta, who barely threatened in the first half, came out strong after the break and equalised in the 48th minute with a move similar to the Delhi goal. In the visitors' case, it was Johnson Joseph Mathews who delivered a low cross into the middle from the left, and captain Himanshu Patil stuck his foot out to guide the ball into the net for 1-1. But it wasn't to be the Mumbai side's day, as parity only lasted eight minutes. Gagandeep struck again for Delhi, rising highest in the six-yard box to head in Bhupinder Singh's brilliant delivery from the corner. Although Steven Dias' Ambernath United Atlanta only needed a goal to take pole position again and spoil the hosts' party, they just couldn't find any inspiration in the final third. Eventually, two minutes from time, Vanlalhriatzuala sealed the deal for Delhi FC with a sensational 35-yard strike, which curled right into the top corner. The 22-year-old had attempted a similar shot in the first half which came off the crossbar, but there was no denying him this time. A top-notch goal to secure the top spot in the table for Delhi FC. The other 2nd Division match between hosts FC Bengaluru United and United SC was a dead rubber, the former ran out 1-0 winners. Irfan Yadwad scored the only goal, thus taking his season's tally to 13 goals to finish as the league's top scorer. Ambernath United Atlanta and FC Bengaluru United finished in the third and fourth spot respectively with six points each. United SC were bottom of the table with three points. Bhopal, May 26 : The sudden meeting of Union Ministers Prahlad Patel and Narendra Singh Tomar, accompanied by BJP's national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and then, between senior state leaders has given rise to speculation of some changes in Madhya Pradesh BJP unit. A social media post by Patel, hours after meeting CM Chouhan on Wednesday night, has further fuelled the rumours. "I express my heartfelt gratitude to my old friends and elders CM Chouhan, Narendra Singh Tomar and Kailash Vijayvargiya, who gave me strength by using an old experiment to overcome this state of mind and activism. In times of struggle there was a feeling of mutual love and trust," Patel posted on his official Twitter handle on Thursday, following which some social media users, including local media persons, started congratulating him for new role in the MP BJP. If all that wasn't enough, a closed-door meetings between state unit chief V.D. Sharma and Home Minister Narottam Mishra and then another one to one meeting between Chouhan and Mishra added fuel to the fire. Subsequently, Chouhan, Mishra, Sharma, along with senior party leaders, including state in-charge Murlidhar Rao, BJP's national Secretary, Organisation, Shiv Prakash and state Secretary, Organisation, Hitanand Sharma held a closed-door meeting at party headquarters that ended after one and a half hours. The series of meetings assumed significance, particularly in the wake of rising discontent among party cadres, vented recently by veteran leaders, including former MLAs Satyanarayan Sattan, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, Deepak Joshi (who joined the Congress later), Harenderjeet Singh Babbu and Dhruv Pratap Singh, besides first-time MP from Guna seat Dr KP Singh Yadav. Since Thursday evening, the political circles were abuzz with speculation whether any of the three senior leaders - Union Ministers Tomar (who was state BJP President some years back), and Patel, or Vijayvargiya, could replace Sharma amid rising discontent among party elders against present state party leadership. According to party sources, Vijayvargiya is likely to attend a key organisational meeting of the party in Bhopal late on Friday night, while Chouhan will fly on a two-day trip to Delhi. While state party leaders, including state party media convener Ashish Agrawal termed the speculations of change of state BJP chief as baseless, opposition Congress's state spokesperson K.K. Mishra claimed that the BJP cannot buck the rising anti-incumbency of 18 years against it and its government, by changing the state party chief or even the face of the government. Meanwhile, at least two senior BJP insiders told IANS that the central leadership knows it well that any change in state party leadership or even remotest possibility of change in government's face might prove suicidal for party's already sagging prospects five months ahead of polls. They, however, added that any of the three senior party leaders, may well be given an additional responsibility of poll management through constitution of some body in the state. Bhopal, May 26 : Two days after pamphlets were distributed in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital Indore, alerting Muslim girls against "saffron love-trap", five persons involved in the matter have been arrested, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Friday. Mishra, in a video message, said: "Indore police on Friday have arrested five persons for misleading people through open letters. They have mention RSS in the pamphlets distributed with a wrong purpose and they all have been booked under Section 153 of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc)." Two days ago, pamphlets titled 'Khula Khat' (open letter) advising Muslim women to escape from from "saffron love-trap" the RSS and associated right wing Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal were distributed in several residential colonies in Indore, police had said. As per the police, the pamphlets said that "attempts are being made to turn 10 lakh Muslim girls into Kafirs (non-believers)" and about 800 Muslim girls in Amravati city of Maharashtra were subjected to conversion. As per police, the pamphlets were distributed in several Muslim dominated colonies in Khajrana, Chandan Nagar, Rawji Bazar and Bombay Bazar areas in Indore, besides being shared on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Specific inputs were received regarding pamphlets being distributed by some youngsters in Muslim dominated areas of the city since the last few weeks, police said. The incident had prompted the Home Minister to order a high-level investigation into the matter on Thursday. New Delhi, May 26 : With less than two days left for the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared a video of the four-storey building, saying that the new Parliament House will make every Indian proud. PM Modi gave a glimpse of the new Parliament House through a video, which he will inaugurate on May 28, with a "special request". "The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will Tweet some of them. Don't forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride," Modi said in a tweet attaching the video of the new Parliament House. He also urged the people to re-share the video with their own voice-over which conveys their thoughts about the new structure that will replace the iconic circular building. He also asked the citizens to use #MyParliamentMyPride while posting the videos. Ahmedabad, May 27 : Shubman Gill's sensational 129 off 60 balls followed by veteran pacer Mohit Sharma's impressive fifer (5/10) helped Gujarat Titans thrash Mumbai Indians by 62 runs in Qualifier 2 and reach the final of the IPL 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, here on Friday. The win also meant that Gujarat entered the IPL final for the second successive time and will meet Chennai Super Kings in Sunday's title clash at the same venue. Co-incidentally, the first match of IPL 2023 was between Gujarat and Chennai at the very same venue on March 31. Chasing 234 was always going to be an uphill task for Mumbai. Mohammed Shami struck in his very first over when makeshift opener Nehal Wadhera went for a pull, only to edge behind to keeper. Cameron Green got going with a first-ball four, but retired hurt in second over after being hit on left forearm while trying to fend off Hardik Pandya. Shami struck again in his second over as Rohit Sharma top-edged a pull to fine leg. Tilak Varma got going by flicking and pulling for two sixes in his first four balls. The left-handed batter smashed Shami for four consecutive boundaries -- via late cut, pull and driving twice, before pulling him for six to take 24 runs off the fifth over as Mumbai raced to 65/2. Rashid Khan brought an end to Varma's cameo as the youngster missed a straighter delivery on sweep and was castled, bringing an end to his glittering cameo. Green returned to resume his innings and along with Suryakumar Yadav, the duo hit four boundaries and two sixes collectively against Rashid and Noor Ahmad. Their partnership came to an end when Green tried to pull off Josh Little, but was castled in the 12th over. Suryakumar maintained the tempo with fours off Noor and Little, before reaching his fifty in 33 balls with a scooped six off the left-arm pacer over fine leg. The of #TATAIPL 2023 It's going to be the Chennai Super Kings facing the Gujarat Titans in the summit clash BRING. IT. ON pic.twitter.com/FYBhhsN808 IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2023 He welcomed Mohit Sharma with a pulled six, but the pacer bounced back immediately as Suryakumar went for another scoop, and saw his leg-stump castled. Concussion substitute Vishnu Vinod also fell to Mohit after spooning a catch to cover, followed by Tim David trapped lbw by Rashid. Mohit took the remaining three wickets to clinch a five-wicket haul in just 14 balls, thus sealing Gujarat's place in the final. Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 233/3 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 129, B Sai Sudharsan 43; Piyush Chawla 1/45) beat Mumbai Indians 171 in 18.2 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 61, Tilak Varma 43; Mohit Sharma 5/10, Rashid Khan 2/33) by 62 runs. Latest updates on IPL 2023 -- Syndicated from IANS Bengaluru, May 27 : Reacting to the ban proposal on RSS and Bajrang Dal, senior BJP leader and former Karnataka minister R. Ashoka has challenged the newly-formed Congress government in the state, saying "if the party bans even one branch of RSS, it would be nowhere in the state". Speaking to reporters here, Ashoka, reacting to Karnataka cabinet minister Priyank Kharge's remarks, said: "Your father was unable to ban RSS. It was not done by your grandmother. Even your great grandfather could not do anything. What can you do now?" Ashoka said that the Congress had once a majority in the Parliament. "There were 15-20 state governments in the country. The current condition of Congress is pathetic in the country. If you have guts, ban the RSS. Your government won't last long... for even three months," he said. "Lakhs of branches of RSS are operating. Show us by imposing a ban on one of the branches," Ashoka challenged, adding "Hindu sentiments are with RSS and Bajrang Dal". The former Karnataka minister further said that in the new Congress government in the state, "CM Siddaramaiah is silent but Deputy CM Shivakumar is violent". "In every meeting, Shivakumar speaks ahead of the CM and threatens the police department and Hindu organisations," he said. Meanwhile, Karnataka unit BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel said that if any attempt to ban the RSS or Bajrang Dal is made, "the Congress government won't survive". 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". 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." Panaji, May 27 : Goa police on Friday arrested a tourist from Telangana for rash and negligent driving on the restricted turtle nesting Morjim beach in North Goa. Siolim Coastal Security Police Station told IANS that the patrolling team on Friday morning intercepted the person driving a Honda City Car registered in Andhra Pradesh in rash and negligent manner, endangering human life on the restricted turtle nesting Morjim beach. "We then handed over the person to Pernem Police, who have registered a case against him," Siolim Coastal Security Police said. Pernem Police station Inspector Sachin Lokre said that the accused was arrested and later released on bail. The accused was identified as Sanyas Yadav from Telangana, he said. According to Goa Tourism Department advisory, "Driving of motor vehicles, including 2-wheelers on beaches, is strictly prohibited and will lead to severe action and seizure of the vehicle and arrest of the driver." In the past many such cases were reported on the beaches of Goa, wherein tourist take their cars on beaches and get struck in the sand. The offense has been registered under section 279, 336 of the IPC. Pernem Police are further investigating the case. Tehran, May 27 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein, calling for expanding Iran-Iraq banking relations. According to a report on Iran's Foreign Ministry's website on Friday, the two sides discussed the latest developments in the bilateral ties and highlighted the necessity of improving the gas transfer pipelines from Iran to Iraq, Xinhua news agency reported. They also talked about the implementation of a security agreement the two countries signed in March on ensuring security along the common border, as well as other regional cooperation. Amir-Abdollahian thanked Baghdad for its cooperation in making payments for the Iranian Hajj pilgrimage from Iran's resources in Iraq. In early March, Hamid Hosseini, the chairman of the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, said the US has let Iraq release $500 million of its debts to Iran. Iraq is an importer of electricity and natural gas from Iran and owes the country over $10 billion, as the US banking sanctions forbid dollar transfer to Iran. The US, however, has allowed the Iranian money frozen in Iraq to be used for Iran's imports of goods not included in the American sanctions list and for other payments, such as settling the country's foreign debts. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Kazakhstan eyes expanding its export to Saudi Arabia, Kairat Torebayev, vice minister of trade and integration said, Azernews reports citing Kazinform. Work is ongoing to expand the list of companies with potential to export to Saudi Arabia. The list includes 34 companies producing meat and honey, said Torebayev, speaking at a briefing. The speaker went on to say that as part of the recent visit of the Tajik President, 39 commercial agreements worth over $1.8bn, including $155.7mln worth of agreements on supplies of non-primary products to Tajikistan, were signed. He added that the strategic cooperation agreements with the TALCO Tajik Aluminium Company were concluded. Earlier it was reported that the country has conducted five trade and economic missions to Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Iran, China, and Uzbekistan since the beginning of this year, following which export agreements to the tune of over $300mln were signed. Eversource has agreed to sell its 50 percent interest in a currently uncommitted lease area of approximately 175,000 developable acres located 25 miles off the south coast of Massachusetts to rsted for $625 million in an all-cash transaction. rsted currently owns the other 50 percent share of the joint venture, including the uncommitted lease area. This transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals. Eversource has entered into a binding letter of intent with rsted to use a portion of the proceeds from the lease area sale to provide tax equity for the South Fork Wind project through a new tax equity ownership interest. Eversource will recover this investment primarily in the form of investment tax credits that will be received around the time of the project's commercial operations date. Construction of South Fork commenced in early 2022, with commercial operation expected in late 2023. Eversource's tax equity investment in South Fork Wind is also expected to close in the third quarter. Eversource has also determined that it is in the best long-term interest of the company to advance the sale of its existing 50 percent interest in its three jointly owned contracted offshore wind projects (South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind, and Sunrise Wind) with a total capacity of 1,758 MW. This process continues to progress and Eversource anticipates an announcement by the end of June. "We have had the pleasure of working alongside rsted for more than six years and have experienced firsthand their expertise and global leadership in the offshore wind sector. We continue to expect that offshore wind projects built in our partnership's lease area, including the three now under development, will play a critical role in decarbonizing the generation mix of Southern New England and New York," said Joe Nolan, Eversource's president, chief executive officer, and chairman. "While we are pursuing an exit of the unregulated offshore wind business, Eversource is fully committed to being a catalyst to the region's clean energy transition, with our regulated companies building many of the facilities that will enable more than 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind generation to reach the homes and businesses of Southern New England. We share the same goals as the states in which we operate when it comes to building the clean energy delivery systems of the future." As a condition to close, the lease sale transaction will require approval of The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. "I want to thank Eversource for our six-year partnership and for their expertise that has strategically advanced the onshore scopes of our three projects, which will deliver renewable energy to Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York," said David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at rsted. Eversource cannot provide any assurances regarding the outcome of the sale process of its three contracted projects. As a result of multiple bids and indicative offers from interested parties, Eversource has evaluated its aggregate investment in the three projects, uncommitted lease area, and other related capitalized costs and believes that an other-than-temporary impairment exists. Eversource expects its second quarter 2023 results will include a non-recurring after-tax impairment charge currently estimated to range from $220 million to $280 million. The current estimate of fair value is based on the anticipated potential sales price of Eversource's 50 percent interest of the three contracted projects, as well as the sale of the uncommitted lease area. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to pay off parent company debt. This impairment charge will not impact Eversource's customers. Also today, Eversource reaffirmed its full-year 2023, non-GAAP earnings projection of between $4.25 and $4.43 earnings per share. It also reaffirmed its long-term earnings per share growth rate of solidly in the upper half of 5 to 7 percent from a 2022 base of $4.09 per share. Eversource has engaged Goldman Sachs as its financial advisor to assist with the transactions and Ropes & Gray serves as its legal counsel. Eversource Energy operates New England's largest energy delivery system and serves approximately 4.4 million electric, natural gas and water utility customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. This document includes statements concerning Eversource Energy's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "project," "believe," "forecast," "should," "could" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections may vary materially from actual results. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors that may cause our actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: cyberattacks or breaches, including those resulting in the compromise of the confidentiality of our proprietary information and the personal information of our customers; disruptions in the capital markets or other events that make our access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; changes in economic conditions, including impact on interest rates, tax policies, and customer demand and payment ability; ability or inability to commence and complete our major strategic development projects and opportunities; acts of war or terrorism, physical attacks or grid disturbances that may damage and disrupt our electric transmission and electric, natural gas, and water distribution systems; actions or inaction of local, state and federal regulatory, public policy and taxing bodies; substandard performance of third-party suppliers and service providers; fluctuations in weather patterns, including extreme weather due to climate change; changes in business conditions, which could include disruptive technology or development of alternative energy sources related to our current or future business model; contamination of, or disruption in, our water supplies; changes in levels or timing of capital expenditures; changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policy, including compliance with environmental laws and regulations; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; actions of rating agencies; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. Other risk factors are detailed in Eversource Energy's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They are updated as necessary and available on Eversource Energy's website at www.eversource.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All such factors are difficult to predict and contain uncertainties that may materially affect Eversource Energy's actual results, many of which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as each speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by federal securities laws, Eversource Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. National PEO Week is a time to recognize the importance of PEOs and their SMB clients. Its a chance for us to pay homage to our growing client base, the broker partners who represent PrestigePEOs services in the marketplace, and our hard-working employees. PrestigePEO, one of the nations leading professional employer organizations (PEOs), announced today it is joining hundreds of other PEOs in celebrating the inaugural National PEO Week May 21-27, 2023. National PEO Week, sponsored by the National Association of PEOs (NAPEO), recognizes the industrys important contributions to the U.S. economy through its support of small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). PEOs provide SMBs with a broad range of support services, including, but not limited to, employee benefits, compliance assistance, human resources (HR) support, and payroll administration. Over the past decade, the PEO industry has quadrupled as an increasing number of businesses turn to PEOs for access to a full suite of employee benefits that aid in managing business expenses and help increase profitability. By engaging with a PEO, SMBs are better positioned to remain focused on the core mission and growth of their businesses. There are four million employees served by 175,000 PEOs today. Approximately 15 percent of all employers with 10 to 100 employees use PEOs to better manage and support their businesses. As a part of their services to SMBs and their employees, PEOs also provide access to certified HR professionals. Through this service, PEOs help small businesses comply with myriad federal, state, and local employment laws. Studies by noted economists Laurie Bassi and Dan McMurrer showed that businesses that engage with a PEO grow 7 -9 percent faster, have a 10 - 14 percent lower employee turnover, and are 50 percent less likely to go out of business. The daily support we provide to SMBs affords them and their employees access to a broad range of high-quality benefits and services that would otherwise be inaccessible. Partnering with a PEO like PrestigePEO enables our SMB clients to leverage the scope and size of the overall pool of businesses we serve, said Andrew Lubash, PrestigePEO founder, chief executive officer, and leadership council chair at NAPEO. National PEO Week is a time to recognize the importance of PEOs and their SMB clients. Its a chance for us to pay homage to our growing client base, the broker partners who represent PrestigePEOs services in the marketplace, and our hard-working employees. We appreciate the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the PEO industry, as their contributions are truly making a difference for SMBs and the important role they play in the U.S. economy, Lubash concluded. PEOs can be particularly key to the success of their clients during challenging times. Looking back at the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, PEOs helped ensure that businesses stayed afloat by assisting them with critical actions like securing PPP loans and applying for loan forgiveness, managing employee leave, and applying for available tax credits. In fact, during the pandemic, businesses that partnered with a PEO were nearly 60 percent less likely to have permanently closed than those that did not use a PEO. About PEO Week National PEO Week has been officially recognized in the federal Congressional Record and by the National Day organization, which approves only 30 requests for official designations out of the 25,000 applications it receives yearly. It will be celebrated the third week in May annually. For more information on the PEO industry and National PEO Week, visit http://www.PEOWeek.com. About PrestigePEO Melville, N.Y.-based PrestigePEO provides integrated, end-to-end human resources (HR) solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for managing all essential human resources operations. This includes support for employee benefits management, payroll administration, compliance, and HR guidance, among others. PrestigePEOs full spectrum of HR services and solutions helps SMBs lower employee benefit costs, reduce administrative workloads, and manage critical HR functions. PrestigePEO is among only one percent of PEOs accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), certified (CI) through Workers Comp Risk Management, and classified as a Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) by the IRS demonstrating financial stability and strict adherence with a diverse range of regulatory and security standards. PrestigePEO Holdings, LLC recently acquired StaffLink Outsourcing, LLC, and Advantage Personnel Resources, LLC. Together, all brands work to support small to mid-sized businesses with their HR needs. About TriSpan LLP and TriSpan (USA) LLC (collectively TriSpan) Founded in 2015, TriSpan is a private equity firm with offices in New York and London that invests in lower middle market companies in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom with annual revenues typically ranging from $20-100 million and/or EBITDA of $2-20 million. TriSpan is committed to creating value by combining deep operational and financial resources to drive strong growth and performance. Since its inception, the firm has invested in 17 platforms totaling more than 70 companies to date. For more information, please visit the firms website at http://www.trispanllp.com. By shifting the focus towards personalized and proactive care in the comfort of homes, we can enhance outcomes, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and create a more sustainable and patient-centered healthcare, said Charles Gellman, co-founder and CEO of HiDO. HiDO Health announced today its groundbreaking AI medical technology to alter the future of healthcare. With an unprecedented 67% decrease in health costs and an impressive 80% reduction in hospital admissions, this innovative platform sets a new standard for efficient and cost-effective home-based healthcare. NEHI estimates the overall burden of suboptimal medication use exceeds $500 billion per year in the U.S. Home care plays a pivotal role in reducing healthcare costs while simultaneously improving the lives of patients. By shifting the focus towards personalized and proactive care in the comfort of homes, we can enhance outcomes, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and create a more sustainable and patient-centered healthcare, said Charles Gellman, co-founder and CEO of HiDO. Recognizing the growing need for accessible and affordable healthcare solutions, HiDO Health has developed an artificial intelligence platform, remote monitoring, and data analytics, to transform the way patients receive medical care in the comfort of their homes. This cutting-edge solution not only improves patient outcomes but also provides substantial cost savings for individuals and health plans. Use of HiDO grants individuals, families and caregivers peace of mind that their loved ones are taking prescription medicines accurately, safely and as directed by their provider, thereby reducing the potential for medication errors said Kathy Donneson, former Health Plan Administrator for CalPERS. "Our goal is to empower individuals with the tools they need to receive personalized care in the comfort of their homes, fostering independence, and ensuring their well-being. HiDO is honored to help care for those who need assistance at home, said Brandon Woolsey, co-founder and CTO of HiDO. HiDO Health medical home technology is now available for deployment across the country. The company is actively seeking partnerships to extend the reach of its innovative solution and make a positive impact on the lives of seniors nationwide. About HiDO Health HiDO health, Inc. is transforming home care for the aging population. Founded in 2018, HiDO is the first company to automate home care without caregivers. For more information, visit http://www.hidohealth.com. Michael brings SLT extensive experience and knowledge of marketing within the Registered Investment Advisor channel. His energy, marketing skills, and relationships are going to be meaningful in helping us continue to develop our relationships with advisors and wealth managers across the country. Sandpiper Lodging Trust (SLT) is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Mr. Michael T. Helgeson as Vice President of Capital Markets. Mr. Helgeson is responsible for the education, promotion, marketing, and sales of Sandpiper Lodging Trust to Registered Investment Advisor firms across the country. Prior to his arrival at Sandpiper, Mr. Helgeson held the Regional Vice President of Capital Markets role for the AOG Institutional Diversified Fund (AOGFX). This closed-end fund focused on private real estate, private equity, and private credit/debt. Helgeson was responsible for the education and sales of this fund solely to Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms, and their employed Investment Advisor Representatives (IARs). Prior to AOGFX, Michael served as Regional Director for Duncan Advisor Resources, responsible for the sale and promotion of long-term care, disability, and life insurance to independent insurance agents, and registered representatives of Cambridge Investment Research. From 2010 through mid-2019, Helgeson held both advisor and client-facing wholesaling positions with Jackson National (Banks & Regional Broker-Dealers), Transamerica (Regional Broker-Dealers), Capitas Financial (Banks and Independent Broker-Dealers), Black Creek Capital Markets (RIAs & All Broker-Dealers), and Globe Life (Direct to Consumer), in Denver, CO. His financial services sales experience includes variable annuities, mutual funds, REITs, 1031-exchanges, and life insurance. Ned Sinnott, Managing Director of Equity Investments and Investor Relations at SLT, said, Michael brings SLT extensive experience and knowledge of marketing within the Registered Investment Advisor channel. His energy, marketing skills, and relationships are going to be meaningful in helping us continue to develop our relationships with advisors and wealth managers across the country. We are thrilled to have him onboard. Mr. Helgeson holds a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mr. Helgeson holds active Series 7, 6, 65, 63 licenses, in addition to his Virginia resident life, health, long-term care, and variable contracts license. About Sandpiper Based in Richmond, Va., Sandpiper Lodging Trust (SLT) is a nationally-focused real-estate investment trust recognized as one of the leading companies specializing in extended stay lodging properties. The company continues to develop its portfolio through ground-up development and selective acquisition of performing and non-performing properties. SLT, along with its affiliated funds, owns a total of 36 extended stay hotels under the WoodSpring Suites, Candlewood Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Savannah Suites, and Residence Inn brands. For more information, please visit http://www.sandpiperlodgingtrust.com. Sandpiper Hospitality, an affiliated hotel management company, manages the entire SLT portfolio and manage 24 more hotels for unaffiliated third parties. Sandpiper Hospitality has earned its position as the leading operator in the extended stay hotel segment of hospitality by combining the spirit of genuine, welcoming hospitality with superior financial returns, fueling the growth and prosperity of its various stakeholders from associates to guests to owners and investors. For more information, visit http://www.sandpiperhospitality.com. Media Contact: John D. Austin Chief Financial Officer Sandpiper Lodging Trust 804-775-2200 - x102 Erika H. James, Ph.D., Dean of The Wharton School The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) is thrilled to announce that Weldon H. Latham, Senior Principal at Jackson Lewis P.C., and Erika H. James, Ph.D., Dean of The Wharton School, have been named Honorary Co-Chairs for the NBMBAA's Annual Conference and Career Exposition September 12 - 16th in PHILADELPHIA, PA As esteemed leaders in their respective fields, Latham and James bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and dedication to the advancement of Black business professionals. Their appointment as Honorary Co-Chairs highlights the NBMBAA's commitment to empowering its members and fostering meaningful connections within the business community. "We are thrilled to have Weldon H. Latham and Erika H. James as our Honorary Co-Chairs for this year's conference," said Shawn Graham, interim CEO of the NBMBAA. "Their outstanding achievements and unwavering commitment to diversity and excellence align perfectly with the values and mission of our organization. We are confident that their leadership will inspire and guide our members towards greater success." Latham, with his extensive experience as a Senior Principal at Jackson Lewis P.C., brings a deep understanding of corporate law and its impact on the business landscape. His expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives will play a crucial role in shaping the conference's agenda and driving positive change within the industry. James, as the Dean of The Wharton School, brings a wealth of knowledge in business education and leadership development. With her strong background in academia and her dedication to fostering inclusive business environments, she will provide valuable insights and guidance to conference attendees. The NBMBAA's Annual Conference and Career Expo is a premier event that brings together Black MBA professionals, students, corporations, and organizations from across the country. This year's conference theme, "FORWARD - Empowering the Future to Innovate, Ignite, and Inspire," reflects the organization's commitment to advancing Black professionals and driving positive change in the business world. Attendees can look forward to engaging keynote speeches, informative workshops, valuable networking opportunities, and a career expo designed to connect talented individuals with top companies. The conference aims to empower participants to unlock their full potential and make significant contributions to their respective fields. "We invite all Black business professionals, students, and industry leaders to join us at the Annual Conference and Career Expo," added Graham. "With the guidance of Weldon H. Latham and Erika H. James, we are confident that this year's event will be transformative, empowering attendees to take their careers and businesses to new heights." The conference is open to everyone, regardless of educational background. For more information and to register for this year's event, please visit https://nbmbaaconference.org/. For interview requests or further information about the conference, please visit https://nbmbaa.org. Leaders from Avantor present BioFit National Sales Manager Matt Coyne (center) and Inside Sales Support Specialist Liz Sworden (second from left) with the Avantor Supplier of the Year Award. Its not only a privilege to have a strong and longstanding relationship with a dealer of global renown across a number of markets, but to be cited for efforts in support of their success. BioFit Engineered Products, a global leader in designing and manufacturing ergonomic furnishings, announced that it was named 2023 Supplier of the Year in the Furniture, Equipment and Instruments category by Avantor, a Fortune 500 company and leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. The award was presented at the Avantor 2023 Americas Sales Conference held last month in Orlando, Florida. As an Avantor supplier award winner, BioFit was evaluated on criteria such as product quality, collaboration, operational excellence, marketing, and performance. Upon the presentation, Matt Coyne, BioFit National Sales Manager, noted: Its truly an honor to receive this distinguished award from Avantor. Its not only a privilege to have a strong and longstanding relationship with a dealer of global renown across a number of markets, but to be cited for efforts in support of their success. Being chosen as Avantors Furniture, Equipment and Instruments Supplier of the Year Award recipient for the Americas reflects significant credit across our entire company, and we look forward to accomplishing even higher levels of mutual growth moving forward. Jim Bramwell, Executive Vice President, Americas at Avantor, shared: "Every year, I look forward to interacting with all of our suppliers and associates at Avantor's Americas Sales Conference. On behalf of everyone at Avantor, I would like to congratulate BioFit and the other winners on their achievements we are inspired by your commitment to excellence. Today and every day, we are proud to partner with our suppliers to meet customers' needs." About Avantor Avantor, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. The Avantor portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries it serves. The companys global footprint enables it to serve more than 300,000 customer locations and gives it extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. Avantor sets science in motion to create a better world. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com. About BioFit Engineered Products Headquartered in Bowling Green, Ohio, BioFit Engineered Products is an industry-leading manufacturer of LEED-compliant ergonomic seating, GREENGUARD Gold-certified cafeteria and mobile folding tables, book trucks, carts, and footrests for high-tech, laboratory, healthcare, education, industrial, office, and custom applications. To learn more about BioFit, visit biofit.com, call 800-597-0246 or email biofit@biofit.com. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. alleging the company violated Labor Code 2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code 201-203, 204 et seq., 210, 221, 226(a), 226.7, 227.3, 246, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. is currently pending in the Orange County Superior Court, Case No. 30-2023-01321144-CU-OE-CXC. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. allegedly failed to fully relieve Plaintiff and other Aggrieved Employees for their legally required thirty (30) minute meals breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as the time during which an employee is relieved from all work-related duties and free from employer control. PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. For more information about the lawsuit against Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County, and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Boyz II Men Presented By 3M Science. Applied to Life. "We invite all black business professionals to join us in Philadelphia this September for what promises to be a fantastic welcome reception," said Graham. "With Boyz II Men and 3M as our partners, this event is sure to be unforgettable." The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) announced today that Boyz II Men will be headlining the welcome reception at its 45th annual conference and career exposition. In addition to the announcement of Boyz II Men as the welcome reception headliners, the NBMBAA has also opened up registration for the event. This year's conference theme is "FORWARD - Empowering the Future to Innovate, Ignite, and Inspire," and will feature keynote speakers, workshops, networking events, and a career expo, all aimed at empowering attendees to ignite their potential and shape the future. Members of the association and students are encouraged to register early to take advantage of special pricing and programs. "We are excited to announce that Boyz II Men will be headlining our welcome reception this year, in partnership with 3M," said Shawn Graham, interim CEO of the NBMBAA. "Their timeless music and unparalleled talent have touched the hearts of millions around the world, we are thrilled to have them grace our stage, and grateful for 3M's support in making this unforgettable event possible." The NBMBAA is proud to partner with 3M, a leading global company with a long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The partnership between the two organizations represents a shared commitment to empowering black business professionals and promoting positive change in communities around the world. "We invite all black business professionals to join us in Philadelphia this September for what promises to be a fantastic welcome reception," said Graham. "With Boyz II Men and 3M as our partners, this event is sure to be unforgettable." The conference is open to anyone regardless of educational background. For more information and to register for this years event, please visit https://nbmbaaconference.org/ For interview requests or more information and to register for the conference, visit NBMBAA.org. About National Black MBA Association NBMBAA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) professional member-based organization which leads in the creation of educational, career, and wealth-building opportunities for students, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Representing thousands of members in 42 professional chapters, 33 Leaders of Tomorrow chapters, and over 300 corporate, academic and not-for-profit partners, the organization is dedicated to sponsoring initiatives and developing partnerships that create intellectual and economic wealth in the Black community through its five channels of engagement: career, education, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle. Visit us @ NBMBAA.org https://nbmbaa.org Follow on Twitter @nbmbaahq Facebook, Instagram @theblackmba, and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/theblackmba Greenberg Traurig Miami office Co-Managing Shareholder Yosbel A. Ibarra received The Education Funds Public School Alumni Achievement Award at the organizations annual For the Love of Art charity auction on May 22 at Jungle Island in Miami. Ibarra and fellow honorees were celebrated for having an impact on the economic vitality of Miami-Dade County and demonstrating the success of a public-school education. The Education Fund is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging corporate and community support and resources to improve Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Since 1985, the fund has raised more than $68 million in resources and services that today reach all of Miami-Dades 20,000+ teachers and 345,000+ students in all 470+ public schools. As a public-school alumni and a Cuban immigrant, I know firsthand the value of an accessible public education system, Ibarra said. I am honored to be recognized by an organization that works tirelessly to ensure that hundreds of thousands of children across our county have the same access to a quality education. As co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurigs Miami office, Ibarra oversees approximately 200 attorneys and 170 business staff members. A former co-chair of the firms Latin America Practice, he regularly advises multinational corporations and prominent Latin American investors on international corporate transactions, including investments, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures throughout Latin America and the United States. Ibarra has been recognized by leading publications, such as The Legal 500 Latin America Guide, Chambers and Partners and The M&A Advisor, for his 25 years of experience representing clients on cross-border matters. He is vice chair of Amigos for Kids; vice chair of Mosaic Miami (formerly MCCJ); a member of the Adrienne Arsht Center Trust board of directors; a member of the Law360 Florida Editorial Advisory Board; an officer of the Law Firm Management Committee of the International Bar Association; a board member for the Council of the Americas. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 45 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI Highly Recommended Law Firm for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 250. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPAs Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com. iLawyerUp is working to guide auto accident victims through Florida's complex PIP laws for fair compensation. "The restrictions on who can provide care and the limitations on compensation, especially for non-traditional treatments, add further complications for victims." Guy Noa, Partner at iLawyerUp. Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) laws have been a topic of debate and concern for many years. The recent focus on these laws has prompted iLawyerUp, a leading personal injury law firm in Florida, to share their insights on the impact these laws have on drivers and passengers involved in auto accidents. In the light of the new PIP laws, the role of a personal injury attorney extends beyond legal representation. They act as an advocate, a guide, and a support system for accident victims, assisting them in their journey towards fair compensation and recovery. Florida law mandates that all residents carry PIP insurance in case of a car accident. This insurance covers a limited amount for personal injuries, with a maximum payout of $10,000 for "emergency medical conditions" and a cap of $2,500 for non-emergencies. However, changes in Florida PIP laws have created issues that could negatively affect motor vehicle accident victims. The coverage limits and stringent treatment options covered by PIP insurance may make claiming benefits more challenging, particularly for those who have suffered serious injuries or require extensive treatment leading to large medical bills. "The PIP laws in Florida, often referred to as 'no-fault insurance,' have created a complex landscape for individuals seeking compensation after an accident," said Guy Noa, Partner at iLawyerUp. "The restrictions on who can provide care and the limitations on compensation, especially for non-traditional treatments, add further complications for victims." There has been an ongoing debate about eliminating or modifying Floridas no-fault insurance laws, with proposals seeking to replace PIP coverage with bodily injury coverage. However, all attempts have been unsuccessful, and as of now, PIP coverage remains mandatory for all car owners in the state. Noa from iLawyerUp added, "while PIP insurance is crucial for immediate post-accident care, it's important to understand that it does not cover non-economic losses like pain and suffering. That's why it's critical for accident victims to consult with a personal injury attorney to explore all avenues for financial recovery." As the landscape of personal injury protection laws in Florida continues to evolve, iLawyerUp remains committed to helping accident victims navigate these changes. Their goal is to ensure that their clients receive the compensation they deserve, regardless of the complexities introduced by the PIP laws. About iLawyerUp: iLawyerUp is a prominent law firm with a team of highly skilled and experienced attorneys who specialize in personal injury law. The firm provides top-notch legal representation for a variety of personal injury cases, including car accidents, slip and fall incidents, rideshare accidents, and cruise ship accident cases. iLawyerUp takes a client-centered approach to ensure that each client is provided with exceptional legal representation. For more information, please visit https://www.ilawyerup.com/. JSLI's Cantorial curriculum is mentor-based. One or two students and one instructor meet every other week online. Over the course of the two years (four semesters), students learn Nusach for Shabbat, Festivals, High Holidays, and Weekdays. Jewish Spiritual Leaders' Institute - JSLI - ordains its 24th class on June 17th where they will meet online for an intimate ordination/shabbaton experience. The nine rabbinic candidates will be joined by a Cantorial student. Cantor Leslie Emery of Congregation Shaarey Zedeck in Winnipeg, Canada began studying formally with Rabbi Steve Blane two years ago. She will be joining eight (8) JSLI ordained Cantors in sharing her musical talents. JSLI's Cantorial curriculum is mentor-based. One or two students and one instructor meet every other week online. Over the course of the two years (four semesters), students learn Nusach for Shabbat, Festivals, High Holidays, and Weekdays. Nusach refers to the unique prayer tradition and customs followed by specific Jewish communities, including melodies, texts, and variations in liturgy. In addition, they will join the Rabbinical students for master classes in life-cycle ceremonies- weddings, funerals, etc. The next class starts in September. Rabbi Steven Blane developed JSLI to train people who wanted to be Jewish clergy but unable to attend a 5 year program. The school has always been online, even before COVID, which has allowed more accessible opportunities for learning including for this cohort of students who hail from all over North America. ABOUT JSLI AND SIM SHALOM Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue which is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. Created in 2009 by Rabbi Steven Blane on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Sim Shalom offers a means of connecting the unconnected. Rabbi Blane leads accessible Shabbat services every Friday night using a virtual interface and additionally Sim Shalom provides online education programs, Jazz concerts, conversion and life-cycle ceremonies along with weeknight services at 7:00PM EST led by Rabbis. Rabbi Blane is the Founder and Dean of the Jewish Spiritual Leaders' Institute, the online professional Jewish clergy program, https://jsli.net and of the Union of Jewish Universalist Communities, https://ujuc.org. Sim Shalom, a non profit 501 (3) tax-exempt organization, nurtures a Jewish connection through its mission of innovative services, creative education and dynamic outreach to the global community. For more information visit https://simshalom.com or call 201-338-0165. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Bunker Hill Mining Corp. has announced an agreement with Sprott Private Resource Streaming & Royalty Corp. on an upsized $67 million finance package. This new finance package increases Sprott Streamings total commitment to the Bunker Hill Mine restart to $96 million. With this funding, Bunker Hill Minings goal is to restart the Bunker Hill Mine and produce the first concentrate by the end of 2024. We are excited to announce an upsized and improved project finance package that we expect to backstop the full financing of the Bunker Hill mine restart, materially strengthen our balance sheet and liquidity, and support our TSX-V application, said Bunker Hill Mining CEO Sam Ash. We are thrilled to have partnered with Sprott Streaming, who have demonstrated their commitment and support for the project each step of the way. The company also announced that Teck Resources Ltd. has exercised an option to acquire 100% of Bunker Hills zinc and lead concentrates for at least five years. The Bunker Hill Mine is near Kellogg, Idaho, about 70 miles east of Spokane, Washington. The company says the mine is one of the most storied silver, lead and zinc mines in American history. Initial discovery and development of the property began in 1885. The mine closed in 1981 due to low base metal prices and the need for facility upgrades to meet new environmental regulations. The mine has been on care and maintenance since then. The area became a Superfund site in 1983. Cleanup and reclamation work continued to 2016. A new leadership team including former Barrick Gold executives joined Bunker Hill Mining in 2020 to verify, explore and develop the sites untapped higher-grade silver potential using modern analytical, exploration, mining and processing techniques. The goal is to restart Bunker Hill as a modern, zero-emission, zero-footprint, long-life, underground operation. The company plans to then regenerate and optimize other closed or distressed mines to build a portfolio of similar operations throughout North America to produce silver and other precious metals as well as battery metals. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Packers Sanitation Services, LTD. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LL P, filed a class action complaint alleging that Packers Sanitation Services, LTD. violated the California Labor Code. The Packers Sanitation Services, LTD. class action lawsuit, Case No. 23CV001213, is currently pending in the Monterey County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the Complaint, the company's non-exempt employees were allegedly unable to take off-duty meal breaks due to their rigorous work schedules. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work and a second uninterrupted meal break when employees are required to work ten (10) hours. The Complaint claims that the company did not provide their employees who forfeited meal breaks additional compensation. Additionally, Packers Sanitation Services, LTD. allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Packers Sanitation Services, LTD. 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*** Moray Applegate Today, Applegate Realtors, led by Moray Applegate, is one of the top brokerage firms that specializes in Luxury Real Estate. Born and raised in Puerto Vallarta, Moray is the son of Bernardo and Teresa Applegate, the visionary couple who in 1967 founded CAPSA, the first company to build Luxury Homes in the south shore of Banderas Bay. Back when Puerto Vallarta was only known to a selected few, Bernardo Applegate almost single-handedly built the Santa Barbara Road, the only existing street in Conchas Chinas back in the day, which until this day is synonymous with the timeless Mexican charm of Puerto Vallarta. Morays dear mother Teresa, since 1967, managed the houses that Bernardo built and following their footsteps, their son started his own brokerage company in the mid 80s. Today, Applegate Realtors, led by Moray Applegate, is one of the top brokerage firms that specializes in Luxury Real Estate. With over thirty years of experience, Moray is one of the longest-tenured brokers in Vallarta. If you want to learn about the Real Estate scene in Vallarta, you should talk to him. His passion for his work is contagious. As a true local, Moray is the heir to a noble tradition of Real Estate and it shows. His mindset is to improve the lives of the people of Vallarta through his work and to advocate for sustainable urbanism that strives for modernity while honoring tradition. All this ensures that the Applegate legacy will continue to thrive for generations to come. Visit Moray Applegate's Haute Residence Profile: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/moray-applegate/ ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market, and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners. The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts. HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number-one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more. Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com The dedicated team of victim advocate lawyers at SafetyRights.com, tirelessly work to provide legal support and justice for victims of emerging crime trends. "At SafetyRights, we believe it's crucial to raise awareness about these crimes and the importance of victim advocacy." - Brandon Stein, CEO and Founder of SteinLaw & SafetyRights.com In response to an alarming rise in new crime trends across the United States, SafetyRights.com, powered by SteinLaw, one of Florida's leading personal injury law firms, is raising awareness about the risks and the potential devastating impacts on victims. The three crime trends making headlines are "jugging," "tap and glue," and "sliders." Each poses a unique threat, exploiting everyday situations and leading to significant personal harm and financial loss. "Jugging" involves criminals who wait in parking lots of high-traffic areas such as banks, malls, or stores. They target individuals who are visibly carrying valuable items or appear distracted. The victims, often unaware they are being watched, can find themselves subject to theft or, in extreme cases, violent attacks. This form of crime not only leaves victims with financial loss but also often leads to long-lasting emotional trauma due to the violation of personal safety. Recognizing potential threats is crucial to staying safe," says Brandon Stein, the CEO and Founder of SteinLaw & SafetyRights.com. "Criminals involved in 'jugging' use regular vehicles, making them blend into everyday traffic. It's their behavior that often gives them away. Watch for vehicles that seem to linger without purpose in or near bank parking lots, or those that appear to be watching or following you." "Tap and glue" is an ATM-based crime. Thieves physically block card insertion slots and manipulate unwary users into using the contactless feature without properly logging out of their accounts. Once the victim walks away, the perpetrator can then access the account and make unauthorized withdrawals. This trend has severe financial implications for victims, often complicated by the difficulty in proving the theft to the bank due to the use of the victim's own PIN. The third trend, known as "sliders," typically operate at gas stations. Perpetrators slide into an unlocked car while the driver is distracted at the pump and steal a purse or other valuable items. This trend not only leads to financial loss but can also result in identity theft if personal documents are stolen. The violation of personal space can also cause significant emotional distress. SafetyRights.com shares tips to avoid becoming a victim of these crimes: Stay aware of your surroundings. Never leave cash or valuables in your car. Vary your routes after leaving the bank. Keep cash, cards, and checks out of sight. Dial 9-1-1 if you suspect you're being followed. "These crimes are insidious and often leave victims feeling violated, helpless, and burdened with financial loss," says Stein. "At SafetyRights, we believe it's crucial to raise awareness about these crimes and the importance of victim advocacy. We also want to emphasize the responsibility of establishments to ensure security measures are in place to protect their patrons." SafetyRights' team of experienced crime victim advocate lawyers is dedicated to helping victims of these and other crimes understand their rights and potential legal avenues for compensation. They offer comprehensive legal support to victims, from guiding them through the often complex legal process to representing them in court if necessary. "Victims must remember that they are not alone, and they do have rights. If these crimes occur due to a lack of security measures, victims could have a case for negligent security. At SafetyRights, we stand ready to help," Stein adds. For more information, please visit http://www.safetyrights.com or call 877-659-3548. About SafetyRights: SafetyRights, powered by SteinLaw, is a law firm specializing in personal injury cases, particularly those involving negligent security. They focus on protecting the rights of individuals who have been injured on someone else's property due to the negligence of a third party. The firm is dedicated to helping victims and their families in Florida obtain the maximum level of compensation for their injuries and losses. Cubans around the world are in for an exciting treat as the May Cubacel promo kicks off from May 24th to May 31st, on HablaCuba.com. This exclusive limited-time offer brings unbeatable deals that will leave users in awe and ensure seamless connections with loved ones back home in Cuba. Unveiling a World of Irresistible Offers During this promotional period, Cubacel is rolling out a selection of mouth-watering deals that cater to every communication need. Whether individuals are seeking to stay in touch with talkaholics, satisfy their data appetite, or obtain unparalleled value, the Cubacel promo has it all. Users can expect the following benefits with each recharge: For just 500 CUP, customers can enjoy their main balance, receive an additional 3000 CUP, revel in a generous 25 GB of data, and experience unlimited data usage from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Taking it up a notch, a recharge of 1000 CUP grants users their main balance, an impressive 6000 CUP bonus, a whopping 50 GB of data, and unlimited data usage from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. For those seeking next-level mobile bliss, a recharge of 2000 CUP rewards users with their main balance, a mind-blowing 12,000 CUP bonus, a staggering 100 GB of data, and unlimited data usage from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. With a limited promotional period, time is of the essence. Users are encouraged not to miss out on these sensational offers; they should act now to enjoy unmatched benefits that will bring happiness to their loved ones. Please note: The bonus money, data, and unlimited data usage must be utilized within 30 days of the recharge. The main balance retains its validity for an impressive 330 days from the time of recharge. Furthermore, in addition to facilitating top-up transactions, HablaCuba.com offers customers the convenient option to recharge the Nauta accounts of their family members and friends, enabling them to gain access to the internet. For those seeking a more personalized communication experience, HablaCuba.com's calling services provide an ideal solution. Customers can make calls in the following ways: Utilizing access numbers from any landline, mobile device, or even payphone worldwide. Leveraging the KeepCalling smartphone app, available for both iOS and Android devices. When dialing internationally to Cuba, the call rate is set at 69.9/min for both landlines and mobile phones, while the cost of sending a text message is 7. HablaCuba.com's comprehensive range of services perfectly aligns with the website's mission to bridge the gap between people, regardless of the distance that separates them. By keeping individuals connected, HablaCuba.com proves that no distance is insurmountable. About HablaCuba.com HablaCuba.com is an interactive website designed by KeepCalling, a global telecommunications company registered in 2002 in the USA. Presently, KeepCalling provides its services to hundreds of thousands of consumers, with a focus on customer satisfaction. KeepCalling has been listed by Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA for 5 consecutive years. In 2015 the company registered a revenue increase of over 200% from 2011 to 2014. If you would like to know more about the Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The Los Angeles labor law attorneys at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a class action complaint against Sater Foothill Group, Inc., Sater Foothill LLC, Sater Oil Group, Inc., and Sater Oil International, LLC (hereinafter, collectively, "Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco") for allegedly failing to provide meal and rest breaks. The class action lawsuit, Case No. 23STCV05016, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit, Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 226, 226.7, 246, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198 and 2802 by failing to: (1) pay minimum wages; (2) pay overtime wages; (3) provide required meal and rest periods; (4) provide accurate itemized wage statements; (5) provide wages when due; (6) reimburse for required business expenses; and (7) provide sick pay. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco's employees were allegedly unable to take off duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for meal periods. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges employees were from time to time interrupted during their off-duty meal breaks to complete tasks for Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco. Employees were allegedly required to perform work as ordered by Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco for more than five (5) hours during a shift without receiving an off-duty meal break. Further, the lawsuit alleges Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco failed to provide employees with a second off-duty meal period each workday in which these employees were required bySater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco to work ten (10) hours of work. Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco's policy allegedly caused employees to remain on-call and on duty during what was supposed to be their off-duty meal periods. Employees therefore allegedly forfeited meal breaks without additional compensation and in accordance with Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco's strict corporate policy and practice. If you would like to know more about the Sater Foothill & Sater Oil dba Arco lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC, and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Timothy J. Baggott Sr., 53, of Carbondale, Illinois was arrested May 21, 2023, at 1111 Idaho St. for possession of stolen vehicle. Baggott was additionally arrested May 22 on Interstate 80 for possession of a stolen vehicle, and booked at the jail on a charge of grand larceny of a motor vehicle. Bail: $60,000 Laura L. Brown, 55, of Sun Valley was arrested May 19, 2023, at Chris and Argent avenues for conspiracy to commit a non-felony crime. Bail: $2,500 Jeffrey D. Huff, 34, of Elko was arrested May 21, 2023, at 507 Scott Road for possessing a gun by a prohibited person, discharging a gun or other weapon where persons might be endangered, and intimidating a public official or others. Bail: $25,000 Dexter K. Rockwell, 32, of Spring Creek was arrested May 19, 2023, at South Fork Road and Hylton Drive for third-offense DUI, driving with a suspended drivers license, open container of alcohol in vehicle, and resisting a public officer. Bail: $21,850 Chancy K. Yates, 29, of Spring Creek was arrested May 19, 2023, at Elko County Jail on a felony warrant for possessing a dangerous weapon or fake by incarcerated person. Escape by a felony prisoner, damaging jail property, and resisting a public officer with a deadly weapon not a firearm. Bail: $230,000 Nathan R. Cortez, 18, of Elko was arrested May 22, 2023, at the Elko Police Station for assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a gun where persons might be endangered. Bail: $22,500 Alexander Perez, 54, of Wendover, Utah was arrested May 23, 2023, at the KOA Campground for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $15,000 John P. Stratz, 32, of Elko was arrested May 22, 2023, at Elko District Court on a Nevada prison hold. Daniel J. Aguilar, 29, of Elko was arrested May 23, 2023, on a felony warrant for conspiracy to violate the controlled substances act and three counts of selling/transferring or attempting to sell a controlled substance. Bail: $250,000 Courtney L. Smith, 30, of Spring Creek was arrested May 23, 2023, at 192 Spring Creek Parkway for battery on a protected person. Bail: $2,500 Shawn L. West, 54, of Carlin was arrested May 23, 2023, at 811 Cedar St. in Carlin for domestic battery with deadly weapon by strangulation, coercion with force or threat of force, two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. Bail: $35,640 Aaron F. Bloomfield, 40, of Wells was arrested May 24, 2023, for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence, and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Warren E. Montgomery, 54, of Spring Creek was arrested May 24, 2023, at 406 Merino Drive for felony child endangerment and domestic battery. Bail: $28,140 Dakota L. Brock, 29, of Elko was arrested May 25, 2023, at 222 Rolling Hills Drive for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Joice K. Romaine, 30, of Crescent Valley was arrested May 25, 2023, at 222 Rolling Hills Drive on a felony warrant for conspiracy to violate the uniform controlled substances act, and selling, transferring or attempting to sell a controlled substance. Bail: $150,000 Christopher Teeter, 38, of Elko was arrested May 25, 2023, at 505 Copper St. on a felony warrant for two counts of child abuse or neglect. Bail: $200,000 Michael J. Tognarelli, 40, of Carlin was arrested May 26, 2023, at 185 Idaho St. for two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, and for destroying or concealing evidence. Bail: $12,500 Monique R. Valdez, 27, of Elko was arrested May 26, 2023, at 185 Idaho St. for two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, and for destroying or concealing evidence. Bail: $12,500 The charges listed do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. On May 24, Newbery Medalist and newly appointed National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature Meg Medina sat down with the New York Times for Kids editorial director Amber Williams to discuss her storied career, the 10th anniversary of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, and her latest project. Williams kicked off their discussion by asking Medina how growing up in Queens, N.Y., has influenced her writing over the years. Childhood for me is completely linked with Flushing, Queens, she said, referencing the city streets and subway stop that made up her neighborhood. Its actually a bigger stretch for me when Im trying to write a child living in a situation closer to where I live now (in Richmond, Va.), she said. Apartment life, being in close proximity with neighbors, that mix of sweet and sour that is just all over city lifeI like writing that piece. One of Medinas childhood experiences, in fact, shaped her 2013 novel Yaqui Delgado, which is now being adapted as a graphic novel. While Williams characterized the book as rebellious and inquired as to whether Medina believed that attitude has percolated through the scope of her work, Medina admitted to being most surprised by the reaction to the title itself. Kids have no problem with it; its the parents who get riled up and it stops them from reading all the way through, she said, pointing out the books soft censoring at schools and libraries over the past decade. She is interested in how the graphic novel version will be received and gave credit to illustrator Mel Valentine Vergas for translating a sense of urgency and despair into this format. A notable addition to the new release is Medina herself, who makes an appearance in the pages (I wont tell you where; youll have to find me, she teased). Williams noted that Medinas writing covers a lot of emotionally heavy topicsAlzheimers, immigration, family dynamicsyet she never talks down to her young readers. Medina revealed that she remembers herself at that age: the fury and voicelessness she experienced at 14 served as a guide for crafting Yaqui; and the mix of joy and hopefulness, while feeling the pinch of adult life at age 12 informed Merci. The key is inhabiting the child inside you at different ages. The moment we step out of it is when we run into trouble because we start to make childhood less messy, she said. Commending Medina for her stories timelessness, Williams also acknowledged her for staying relevant by peppering in social media anecdotes, like characters posting videos or using Snapchat. To achieve this balance, Medina said she relied on her much younger editor to stay current, but she was careful not to overdo it by sounding cringey, as she put it. A Return to Joy The conversation shifted from Medinas achievements as a writer to her new role as the 20232024 National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature. Williams pointed out that in her acceptance speech, the author cited her desire of getting back to joy. To counteract the pandemics negative impact on kids, Medina is intent on helping children and families reconnect through reading, showing kids how to talk about books [in a way] that is not a book report, about why they love something and why they think you should take a risk on this book. Medina has been turning to horror and manga at her own readers suggestions. She aspires to use her ambassadorship to create an audio archive of authors reading from their work and sharing their thoughts on reading. Its a quick way for children to realize that we have so many incredible people writing incredible stories, she noted. We have a lot of barriers right now, so Id like to create something thats accessible. Medina said her platform will focus on reminding parents of their power in guiding their childrens reading journey. The strongest position that parents can have is to be in conversation about what their kids are reading and what they think about it, she said. I feel like librarians and teachers are under enormous pressure, and anything I can do to support them, I will, she added. At the close of the talk, Medina hinted at her latest project: a fantasy set in the abyss, where all the characters are dead. What could go wrong?, she quipped. The as-yet-untitled work, whose publication date has not been set, represents a departure from Medinas contemporary storytelling. I am fascinated by the notion of creating light in a place where there is no light, because I think children are tasked with the same thing, she said. Some 17 plaintiffsincluding the ALA's Freedom to Read Foundation, the Association of American Publishers, the American Booksellers Association, and the Authors Guildwill file a federal lawsuit over a recently passed law in Arkansas, Act 372 of 2023 (also known as SB 81), which exposes librarians to criminal liability for making allegedly obscene books available to minors. According to a report in the Arkansas Advocate, news of the suit comes after the Central Arkansas Library System board of directors voted on May 25 to proceed with the litigation. At press time, the suit had yet to be filed. In a statement to PW, ALA officials confirmed their participation in the suit. The American Library Association is pleased that the Freedom to Read Foundation, our First Amendment legal defense arm, and our state affiliate, the Arkansas Library Association, are participating in the lawsuit to vindicate Arkansas residents freedom to read," ALA president Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada told PW. "The government has no place in deciding what books people can borrow or buy." The law in question, which was signed by governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 31 and is set to take effect on August 1, removes an exemption from prosecution for school and public libraries and would empower virtually anyone to challenge the appropriateness of library materials in Arkansas. Library staff found to have knowingly distributed or facilitating the distribution of allegedly obscene material to a minordefined as anyone under 18would be open to a potential felony charge. According to the Arkansas Advocate, the 17 plaintiffs so far include: Central Arkansas Library System Fayetteville Public Library The Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library Garland County Library executive director Adam Webb CALS executive director Nate Coulter Arkansas Library Association Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries The Authors Guild The American Booksellers Association The Association of American Publishers The Freedom to Read Foundation The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund WordsWorth Books (an independent bookstore in Little Rock) Pearls Books (an independent bookstore in Fayetteville) Hayden Kirby (a 17-year-old CALS patron and a student at Little Rock Central High School Jennie Kirby (Haydens mother) Olivia Farrell (an adult CALS patron) The impending lawsuit in Arkansas is the latest in an escalating legal offensive being waged by freedom to read advocates in response to the ongoing surge in book bans and legislative restrictions nationwide. In February, the ACLU joined with librarians in Missouri to file a federal suit over Senate Bill 775, a school library obscenity law that opponents say forces librarians to censor their collections under the "threat of arbitrary enforcement of imprisonment or fines." In March, library advocates in Llano County, Texas, won an injunction to reinstate banned titles at their local public library and to stop future bans, with federal judge Robert Pitman holding that the library board infringed the constitutional rights of library users by unilaterally removing books it deemed inappropriate. The impending lawsuit in Arkansas is the latest in an escalating legal offensive being waged by freedom to read advocates... And most encouragingly, advocates say, recent efforts include the increasing participation of the publishing industry. News of the AAP, ABA, and Authors Guild joining the forthcoming suit in Arkansas comes after PEN America and Penguin Random House joined forces with a group of authors and parents to sue school administrators in Escambia County, Florida, over the removal of books from school libraries. The impending suit in Arkansas looms as a crucial test. Similar library "obscenity" bills have passed in other states this year, though some been vetoedincluding in Idaho, where Republican governor Brad Little rejected HB 314, the so-called Children's School and Library Protection Act of 2023, which would have empowered parents to seek $2,500 rewards from libraries for making supposedly inappropriate materials available to minors. In his veto statement, Little said that the legislation would have imposed sweeping, blanket assumptions on materials that could be determined as 'harmful to minors' in a local library, and would have forced one interpretation of that phrase onto all the patrons of the library." Also this week, lawmakers in Texas passed a bill that could also wind up in the courts. House Bill 900, which now heads to governor Greg Abbott's desk, would regulate so-called "sexually explicit" books in school libraries and would require publishers and vendors to assign ratings based on sexual content. "Books with a 'sexually explicit' rating would be removed from library bookshelves," reports the Texas Tribune. "And students who want to check out books with a 'sexually relevant' rating would have to get parental permission first." In April, a report from PEN America, Banned in the USA: State Laws Supercharge Book Suppression in Schools, said that state laws like those in Texas and Arkansas were a "significant factor" driving book bans across the nation. "The heavy-handed tactics of state legislators are mandating book bans, plain and simple, said Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, in a release announcing the new report. "The numbers dont lie, and they reveal a relentless crusade to constrict childrens freedom to read. This is a developing story. As the founder and owner of Gramercy Books, an independently minded neighborhood bookstore located in Ohio, Linda Kass not only curates a robust author program but also carves out time to write books. Her latest novel, Bessie, reimagines the early life of Bess Myerson, the talented daughter of poor Russian Jewish immigrants, who, in 1945, when American hostility against Jewish people was high, was named Miss America. But even before she began writing Bessie three years ago, Kass was familiar with Myersons life and work. She was an iconic figure and in the public eye, Kass says, probably the most famous of the long list of women crowned Miss America due to the many things she did after winning the title. Myerson followed her pageant win with a successful run as a panelist on early television programs, including the weekly prime-time show Ive Got a Secret. After television, Myerson had a productive political career, which included being appointed commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, a position she held under Mayor Ed Koch in the 1980s. Additionally, Myerson was an outspoken voice of support for the Anti-Defamation League. And while Kass was aware of Myersons numerous achievements, it was a 2020 article that persuaded the author to write Bessie. In addition to mentioning the Miss America win, the article listed the date that Myerson received the title: Sept. 8, 1945. My first two novels (Tasa's Song, A Ritchie Boy) were set during World War II, so I was very familiar with the time period and with the bigoted milieu that existed then, Kass says. What astonished me was the timingthe cultural context and contradiction under which Bess Myerson became Miss America. This crowning took place at a precarious cultural moment. Bessie focuses on the formative years of Myersons life. After a brief prologue in which Myerson is in Atlantic City for the Miss America pageant, Bessie begins in 1936, when the beauty queen is just 12 years old, and ends in 1946. My fictional writing interest has consistently focused on the formative years of my protagonists as they persevere through early challenges, their futures remaining open, Kass says. I have always been fascinated by the moral and psychological growth of my protagonists. Bess Myerson became such a consequential woman. The biographies of her that I became curious to read revealed an early life unknown to me and one at direct odds with the beauty queen image the world has of her today. One biography that served as source material for Kass was Susan Dworkins Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year That Changed Our Lives. Dworkins biography interspersed Besss first-person comments throughout the narrative, Kass says. This gave me Besss actual perspective looking back at her early years. It also, by reading her direct quotes, gave me a sense of her voice, her way of speaking, how she thought, and how she viewed the world. Dworkins book helped Kass overcome one of the many challenges of turning a real life into historical fiction. In a fictional portrait of the early life of a famous woman like Bess Myerson, she says, the challenge for me was to inhabit her emotional essence as she grew into a young woman, to bring new insight to historical events, and to remain faithful to the facts of her life. Although Bessie is a work of fiction, the political environment the novel captures is eerily similar to present-day America. By mid-1945, Hitler is dead and the Nazis are defeated, yet antisemitic, racist, and sexist propaganda still spreads hatred and distrust, Kass says. Id say that sounds awfully, and sadly, familiar. Frankly, antisemitism is at an all-time high right now, as is the repeated violence against people of color and women. The backdrop of isolationism, antisemitism, racism, and sexism were the context of Bess Myersons world in the 1930s and 1940s. My novel reflects that reality, and it mirrors what we are seeing today. But Kasss hope is that readers dont focus on the societal parallels between 1945 and 2023. Instead, Kass says she is optimistic that Bessie will remind audiences that talent, hard work, and fair play can be rewarded, that everyone has a shot. Most importantly, I hope they see a young girl thirsting to go beyond her beauty and talent, to find purpose and to make a difference in her world. Georgi Gospodinov isnt just the first Bulgarian writer to win the coveted International Booker Prizehes the first to even be nominated. Gospodinovs prize-winning novel Time Shelter, translated by Angela Rodel, imagines a clinic for the past in which different floors reproduce different decades in minute detail, allowing patients with Alzheimers to revisit the past. Speaking over Zoom from London, where the pair had received the award in a ceremony hours before, Gospodinov and Rodel were thrilled by the recognition. Just to win the International Booker Prize is something unthinkable, its hugeit doesnt matter what kind of writer you are, what literature youre from, said Gospodinov, with Rodel translating. What was really important was that this was the first Bulgarian book ever even nominated on the longlist, because Ive always thought that literature from small languages has the right to talk about the big questions, the big issues. After the novel was longlisted, then shortlisted, Gospodinov said, he received so much encouragement from writers in the regionnot just Bulgaria but Serbia, Greece, Romaniabecause they too are writing in relatively small languages. One of the big issues that all of Gospodinovs work, and particularly Time Shelter, deals with is the pastnamely the dangers of the past, and the danger that comes with nostalgia for the past. The impetus for this latest novel were the events of 2016, a time when there was a glitch in time, and things really shifted. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his inquiry into nostalgia has grown all the more urgent: This war is a war for the past, he said. In his experience, Eastern European writers in particular understand very quickly this obsession that dictators have with the pastbecause every war brings the world back into the past. Overseas, the invasion has prompted a renewed interest in Eastern European literature. With the onset of the war in Ukraine, the center of Europe has shifted, Gospodinov noted. We usually think of the center of Europe being Paris or Berlin, but it really has shifted to the east. At the center of Europe there is a wound, and now the pain is in the eastits in Ukraine. Rodel added: I think Eastern European literature is extremely important now. We see that this is an existential struggle for what kind of Europe we want to live in, and we need to listen to the voices of the people who are having this experience firsthand. Rodels own path to Bulgarian literature was unexpected and unconventional. As an undergrad at Yale University, she studied Russian literature and was part of the Yale Slavic Chorus. It was there that she fell in love with Bulgarian music, eventually going to Bulgaria to study singing. In order to better sing in Bulgarian, she decided to learn the language, and soon found herself rubbing shoulders with the vibrant literary circles in Sofia. She quickly realized that there werent very many people who were native speakers of English that spoke Bulgarian, and so began trying her hand at literary translation, translating a friends poem here, a friends story there. She didnt just love itshe felt called to do it. There was an absolute need, she said. There was not really that many people that were doing it, and I felt like I had a calling. Rodel and Gospodinov have worked together for some time: she translated his previous book, the 2011 novel The Physics of Sorrow (Open Letter), as well as several of his short stories and an opera libretto. I was, like all of Bulgaria, eagerly awaiting his new book, she said of Time Shelter, which was originally published in 2020. The books U.S. publisher, Liveright, knew early on that the novel was something special. From the moment I read the first paragraph of Time Shelter, I knew that Georgi Gospodinov was an inimitable talent and that he had been paired with the perfect translator in Angela Rodel, said the books acquiring editor, Gina Iaquinta, who went on to praise Gospodinovs philosophical, poetic, madcap genius. As winners, Gospodinov and Rodel share the Prizes 50,000 purseand the limelight. Whats so unique about the Booker International Prize is that it elevates the translator so that were sort of on par as equals with the author, Rodel said. Its really trying to continue this idea that we need to be recognized for the role that we play in making international literature possible. As for Gospodinov, he appreciates that the Booker celebrates nuance, artistry, and complexity in the literature it recognizes. To him, the award is not just a recognition of the importance of the themes in Time Shelter but also of the style, the poetry, the complexity of the bookbecause it is a complex book. He finds the Awards mission to be especially important in this time of reduction, especially in the media, when everythings reduced to the simplest message. We shouldnt give in, he said. We want to continue reading complex literature. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ELKO Heavy winter snow continues to melt in the Ruby Mountains, and Nevada State Parks urges visitors at South Fork State Recreation Area to practice extreme caution near the spillway. Due to the record snowfall this past winter, the spillway at South Fork Reservoir is actively in use to prevent water levels from overtopping the dam and prevent flooding residents homes around the reservoir, an advisory stated this week. Record amounts of snow fell in parts of the Rubies last winter, and warmer temperatures over the past week have accelerated melting. Lamoille Creek reached minor flood stage this week and the Humboldt River in Elko is expected to reach minor flood stage this weekend. South Fork Reservoir, located 16 miles south of Elko, is fed by melting snow from the center of the Ruby Mountains via the South Fork of the Humboldt River. It was created when the Dam was completed in 1988. Any water released through the dam makes its way to the main Humboldt River near Carlin. The Humboldt meanders across northern Nevada and ends in the western part of the state. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, normal conditions are prevailing around the Humboldt basins in northeastern Nevada but much of western Nevada remains abnormally dry. With Memorial Day weekend ahead, South Fork State Recreation Area officials are expecting the summer visitor surge to begin. The park has two campgrounds, two boat launches, and plenty of fishing both above and below the spillway. Snow runoff makes its way through South Fork Dam Nevada State Parks urged visitors at South Fork State Recreation Area this week to stay clear of the spillway as excess water is drained from Nevada State Parks offered the following safety reminders: - Swimming or boating near spillways presents serious dangers. - Water that flows into the dams spillway creates strong, unseen currents that can flip boats and drown even the most experienced swimmers. - Never cross, tie up or go under buoy lines, and follow all warning signs. - Boaters, paddlers, and swimmers should wear a personal flotation device. - Visitors should also be vigilant that their dogs do not enter the water near or beyond the marked buoy line near the spillway. The safety of our visitors is of the utmost importance to us. said Bob Mergell, Nevada State Parks Administrator. With the busy summer ahead, we want to remind visitors to, as always, use caution near dams and spillways so that theyll end their visit happy, safe and full of fun memories. The United States is currently presented with a historical opening in Central Asia. Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine has alerted Central Asian leaders of the uncomfortable truth about how Putin really views the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Russia's former Soviet republics. Since at least 2008, Central Asians have repeatedly witnessed the Kremlin invading and hacking off as much territory as it can get away with, whenever democracy takes hold in Russia's so-called near-abroad. Unlike 2014, the criminal brutality of Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine may well serve as a final wakeup call for the region. Concerned about Putin's imperialist actions in Ukraine, these five nationsKazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistanare, now more than ever, looking to the West to offset the political, economic, and security-related pressures they feel from Russia and, increasingly, China. It would be a mistake for the United States not to seize this moment. For Kazakhstan in particular, which borders Russia's south, recent imperialist actions by Russia must be acutely unsettlingjust a month before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan asked for Russian military assistance to help quell anti-government protests. Since then, Kazakhstan (among other Central Asian states) symbolically abstained from a UNGA vote condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has generally complied with Western sanctions against Russia. However, Kazakh President Tokaev and other regional leaders still felt compelled (or coerced) to attend Moscow's victory day parade on May 9. Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine has alerted Central Asian leaders of the uncomfortable truth about how Putin really views their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Share on Twitter On the very same day, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, publicly noted that if Kyiv fell Kazakhstan would be next. If Kazakh leadership thinks such an outcome could happen in their own country, would they prefer to take the Belarussian government's tack, and sacrifice their sovereignty? Or would they opt to deepen ties with the West, while also trying to dodge the hard-learned lessons of Ukraine and Georgia, that attempted to distance themselves from Russia's sphere? Regardless, the Kazakhs will continue to watch the unfolding outcomes in Ukraine very, very closely. Kazakhstan's relationship with Russia has evolved quite noticeably in the last year, and some have argued that Moscow's influence in Astana is on the wane. Yet key economic and security interdependencies are so dug into the relationship between the two nations that loosening Moscow's grip even slightly is no trivial pursuit. But could such a pursuit by Astana be accelerated? Plausibly yes, but not without near-term policy adjustments, diplomatic engagement, and moderate plus-ups to funding U.S. regional security cooperation initiatives. The U.S. National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy provide scant guidance for engaging the multitude of small but important frontline countries across the globe. This is especially true for our Central Asian partners, who are wedged precariously between Russia, China, and Iran. Recently, Congress indicated support for expanded economic cooperation with Kazakhstan, a welcome development. However, economic assistance should be supplemented with robust security cooperation to be effective. We propose three possible prongs for expanded security cooperation with Kazakhstan. First, U.S. security cooperation efforts within Central Asia traditionally focus on military professionalization as a cost-effective way to sustain partnerships. International Military Education and Training, Defense Institution Building and reform, English language training, and the State Partnership Program are some of the most valued programs offered to our Central Asian partners. Over the long-haul, they draw partners closer and offer meaningful opportunities to experience professional, transparent, and soldier-driven Western military culture up close. A key side-effect is that long-term relationships between future senior leaders within both militaries are built during this process. Still, such positive outcomes require time and patiencethe opportunity in Kazakhstan that presents itself today indeed requires planting new seeds that may only bear fruit several years from now. But in order to do that, existing programs should be reevaluated and reimagined based on the marked shift in the politico-military landscape since early 2022. Second, there are other opportunities that would have more near-term payoffs, and these include a practical easing of restrictions on foreign military sales. A recurring anecdote within security assistance circles is if we can sell X to Saudi Arabia, then why can't Y get approved for country Z? While a simplistic notion, there is some truth behind this complaint. If we're unable or unwilling to sell our own exportable variants in Central Asia, the United States should consider being more supportive of key allies, like Korea, seeking their own military sales in the region. There are advantages in the appropriate, timely declassification and sharing of certain information to achieve strategic effects. Share on Twitter The last prong, but perhaps the most important one for expanding security cooperation is for the United States to improve its intelligence collaboration with Kazakhstan and other key regional partners. If we would've asked security experts two years ago whether it was possible to share the information that we're providing to Ukraine in 2022, many would likely have said that it was impossible. There are advantages in the appropriate, timely declassification and sharing of certain informationwhether between governments or publiclyto achieve strategic effects. Russian media is still the dominant external news source in Central Asia. Countering the Kremlin's mass disinformation about Western intentions remains a thorny yet critical task. For years, CENTCOM has annually hosted Central and South Asia Directors of Military Intelligence Conferences. While these conferences offer unique engagement, allowing us to counter adversarial malign narratives, the United States can and should do more to provide intel-based support that does a better job to combat disinformation, promote transparency, and cultivate relationships built on mutual trustconcepts General Kurilla's recent visit to Turkmenistan consciously focused on. Clearly, there remains much to be done. Fortunately, we have a cadre of capable diplomats, military officers, and expert practitioners charged with implementing U.S. regional policy. We need to arm this cadre with new, assertive policy guidance, and the adequate resources to see such guidance through. Knee-deep in a new era of great power competition, we're now presented with a unique, but fleeting, opportunity in Central Asia. Let's not squander it. Robert Schlesiger is a visiting military fellow at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation with over 20 years of experience as a defense policy analyst, military attache and security cooperation officer. Daniel Egel is a senior economist and Jeffrey Martini is a senior defense researcher at RAND. This commentary originally appeared on RealClearDefense on May 25, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. F-16s going to Ukraine could help it defend against Russian aerial assaults. But their greatest value may be to augment future Ukrainian counteroffensives aimed at retaking occupied land. This will require training and exercising, but Ukrainian forces are fully capable of mastering it. On May 19, President Biden reportedly told the G7 that the United States would support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation aircraft, including F-16s. In recent weeks, the United States has signaled to European allies that it would approve their plans to export F-16s to Ukraine. As recently as February Biden said Ukraine doesn't need F-16s now. The Department of Defense said providing F-16s would be very costly and they were not one of Ukraine's top three priorities. But Members of Congress from both parties have persisted in urging that Biden approve them. The F-16 is a capable fourth-generation aircraft, but not a panacea. General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, cautions, It's going to help a littleI don't think it's going to be a game changer. It's not like a fifth-generation aircraft. An example of the latter is the stealthy F-35, which some allies in Europe are acquiring to replace F-16s. The F-16 is a capable fourth-generation aircraft, but not a panacea. Share on Twitter F-16s could soon be integrated into Ukrainian forces. A recent U.S. Air Force assessment predicted that only four months would be required to transition experienced pilots. But this would give them only initial mission qualification. U.S. instructor pilots favor a 17-week program. This would include three weeks on the use of advanced air-to-air missiles and another four weeks on air-to-ground munitions. Switching from former Soviet aircraft could be challenging. Two Ukrainian pilots who have been flying F-16 simulators in the United States were observed reverting to flying Soviet-style formations. Rushing training could increase the risk that Ukrainian pilots might revert to old or risky habits in stressful situations. F-16s could play important roles. They could complement ground-based air defenses to protect Ukrainian cities and ground forces. Because of the earth's curvature, F-16s can see flying objects at longer distances than can ground-based radar. F-16 radars have greater capability than those on Ukraine's Mig-29s. In some cases, the weapons F-16s use to down aerial targets may be less expensive than ground-based missiles. Retired U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and veteran F-16 pilot, has pointed out that air power is also crucial for combined arms operations. (Ground forces working together with aviation are also called joint operations.) Combined arms operations function like an orchestra of firepower. Artillery softens enemy defenses at longer ranges. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles punch through defenses. Infantry engage and destroy ground forces and help protect armor. Aviation ( PDF ) provides fire support and mobility in both close and deep operations. At times, the United States has learned the value of combined arms operations the hard way. The 1980 attempt to rescue U.S. diplomatic hostages in Iran failed in part because some military elements had too little prior experience working together. The 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act nudged the Department of Defense to emphasize combined arms operations. They were a stunning success in the 199091 Gulf War ( PDF ). Last January, Ukrainian troops began learning more about combined arms operations at the Grafenwoehr training area in Germany. While U.S. and NATO ground forces conduct such training along with aviation, Ukraine has lacked suitable fast combat jets. F-16s may fill this gap better than Mig-29s, in part because of incompatible electronics. Based on current threats from Russian air defenses and fighter jets F-16s will find it challenging to support troops on the ground. Share on Twitter Combined arms operations require high-grade intelligence to find the enemy, timely coordination to direct forces, and trust that all elements are doing their job. More training of intelligence specialists will be important. Effective combined arms operations require skilled pilots and ground spotters. Called joint terminal attacks controllers (JTACs), spotters designate targets for aircraft to attack. JTAC training may take five or more months. However, based on current threats from Russian air defenses and fighter jets F-16s will find it challenging to support troops on the ground. During this fighting season, Ukraine's armed forces will likely conduct innovative combined arms operations, mostly involving ground forces. As F-16s flow into Ukraine and personnel become trained, Ukraine's combined arms fighting will come to resemble more-sophisticated NATO-style operations. Even so, several years may pass before the contribution of F-16s to combined arms operations becomes fully realized. John Hoehn is an associate policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and former military analyst with the Congressional Research Service. William Courtney is an adjunct senior fellow at RAND and former U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan and Georgia. This commentary originally appeared on RealClearDefense on May 24, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. This week, we discuss what's next for U.S. immigration policy after the end of Title 42; using artificial reefs to help defend Taiwan; what it would take to close the Black-white wealth gap; strengthening veterans' social connections; artificial intelligence and ChatGPT; and expanding treatment options for opioid use disorder. Photo by Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters The End of Title 42: What's Next for U.S. Immigration Policy? The expiration of a pandemic-era immigration policy has made headlines in recent weeks. The policy, invoked in March 2020 under Title 42 of the U.S. code, allowed officials to quickly turn away migrants from the border. What are the potential effects of this policy coming to an end? What accounts for the increase in migrants seeking asylum in recent years? And what broader questions about immigration policy remain unanswered? RAND experts Douglas Ligor and Shelly Culbertson answer these questions and more in a special episode of the Policy Currents podcast. Both emphasized the need for comprehensive solutions to address this complex policy challenge, considering the varied reasonspoverty, violence, climate changethat people flee their homes for the United States. A key risk policymakers face is thinking that border security and border policies alone are going to address the migration pressures, said Culbertson. They won't. Photo by Placebo365/Getty Images Defending Taiwan with Artificial Reefs Deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan may be the most important defense challenge of the next few decades. One way to bolster this effort, says RAND's Scott Savitz, is to position artificial reefs around Taiwan. Physical barriers could help deter or defeat a Chinese invasion while also providing environmental and economic benefitsall for an extremely low cost. In other words, artificial reefs could deter Beijing simply by waiting to impale a potential invasion force. Illustration by Kekeli Sumah/RAND Corporation, from Andre Hunter/Unsplash and Pete Soriano/RAND Corporation, from Atlas Illustrations/Adobe Stock and dar/Adobe Stock What Would It Take to Close the Black-White Wealth Gap? The median Black household in America has around $24,000 in savings, investments, home equity, and other elements of wealth. The median white household: around $189,000. RAND researchers found that this gap likely won't close without investing trillions of dollars in Black households. Yesterday's segregation is today's wealth gap, says RAND's Jonathan Welburn. We like to pretend that we live in a race-neutral, merit-based society now but you can't erase history. Photo by Laura Werber/RAND Corporation What Programs Strengthen Veterans' Social Connections? There is strong evidence that veterans who feel connected to family, friends, other veterans, and their communities have much better mental health outcomes than those who do not. But little is known about how veteran-serving organizations help build these connections. A new RAND study aims to fill this gap. The authors identify several lessons about how these organizations evaluate programs focused on social connectednessand key barriers they face in doing so. Photo by Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Reuters RAND's William Marcellino on AI and ChatGPT What exactly is generative artificial intelligence? What are some potential opportunities and dangerous scenarios posed by AI? And how can research help the public prepare for such risks? RAND's William Marcellino, a corpus linguist and sociolinguist, answers these questions in a new Q&A. One key issue to be reckoned with, he says, is AI's effect on how humans verify information: Seeing is believing. Butthere is no longer any guarantee that what you see on the internet is real. The BJP and the AIADMK are unable to sort out ideological differences, observes N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami being greeted by party members in Chennai, May 17, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo At a time when the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu was on the back foot and forced into a defensive position, the continuing one-upmanship between the Opposition All India Anna DMK in the state and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ally at the Centre seems to be a clear give-away ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls this time next year. Rather, the state BJP, or its unit president K Annamalai, is playing spoilsport even after big boss Union Home Minister Amit A Shah had sought to sort out the differences between the parties some weeks ago, in his presence and in discussions with AIADMK boss and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS). In the most recent episode of the kind, Annamalai led a few members of the state BJP's women's wing to submit a memorandum to Governor R N Ravi, demanding the dismissal of two ministers in Chief Minister M K Stalin'S government. The alliance issue flowed from the alacrity with which Annamalai rushed to Raj Bhavan just a day before the AIADMK ally had scheduled a rally and meeting with Ravi, for the very same reason. On the one hand, the AIADMK is upset with Annamalai for seeking to out-smart them on an issue that is of common interest to them both. On the other, some BJP leaders point out how Annamalai had sought to sidestep the party's national women's wing chief, Vanathi Srinivasan, MLA. According to them, Vanathi is the latest one to fall foul of Annamalai, owing to what they call his deliberate attempts to ride rough-shod over the older generation leaders in the state party. Two years after coming to power, the Stalin magic has lost some of its sheen. Yet, the only charge directly levelled against the chief minister is an alleged corruption issue dating back to his days as deputy CM, way back in 2011, under his late father M Karunanidhi. Of course, the BJP's Annamalai was the accuser. However, over the past weeks and months, a perception has been created that through his calculated indifference, Stalin has at least been covering up the alleged wrong-doings of some of his ministerial colleagues and immediate family members. Though nothing has been proved thus far, in a democracy, perceptions rule and there the DMK has lost some ground since the twin electoral victories of 2019 (Lok Sabha) and 2021 (state assembly). Thus, the recent twin hooch tragedies in which Minister K S Masthan's name got entangled, coincided with a Supreme Court clearance for the Enforcement Directorate proceeding against the all-important Electricity and Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji for a recruitment scam from his days as a member of the late chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram's then AIADMK government. The hooch tragedy that took 22 lives in two adjoining northern districts died a natural death after the police investigation showed that apart from people supposedly identified with Masthan, a lower-level BJP functionary too was involved. Likewise, Senthil Balaji's AIADMK past, that too under Amma, was a dampener for the Opposition party to proceed too far in the matter. Alongside these two episodes came the chargesheets filed by the state government's department of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) against two former ministers from the Edappadi government (2016-2021). They are separate cases, yes, but relate to alleged accumulation of disproportionate assets from their days in power. The chargesheets against former health minister and incumbent legislator, Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar, and also former higher education minister K P Anbalagan, each run into 10,000-plus pages, and are products of orders issued by the Madras high court when they were in power. The very term 'disproportionate assets' is an embarrassment for the AIADMK as it brings back to memory the way a Bengaluru trial court sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in prison and an unprecedented Rs 100 crores in fine in a DA case in which she was accused number one (A-1). There is hence some truth in the DMK's finance minister and occasional spokesman Thangam Thennarasu that the AIADMK's well-attended Raj Bhavan rally (though taken only from a couple of kilometres away but in the scorching summer sun) was aimed at deflecting public attention from the DVAC cases. Yet, with better coordination between the allies, the AIADMK and the BJP could have done a better job of targeting the ruling party than Annamalai's 'DMK Files' and leaked audio-tapes purportedly carrying the voice of IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), earlier in charge of the more prestigious finance portfolio. Today, instead, Annamalai's occasional yet persistent reiteration of the party's plans to contest a high number of 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state's total of 39, cause rancour in the minds of AIADMK cadres and leaders alike. In the absence of a charismatic leader like party founder MGR and later Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK cadres are apprehensive if the Edappadi leadership could put its foot down in seat negotiations with the BJP's national leadership in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. IMAGE: AIADMK supporters protest against the state government over illicit liquor and other issues at Saidapet, Chennai, May 22, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo However, there is the other section in the AIADMK that points the increasing toughness that Edappadi has been reportedly exhibiting vis a vis the Modi-Shah leadership of the BJP at the national level, once out of power. In particular, they refer to Edappadi's unyielding ways when it comes to not yielding to reported BJP pressures to work with the other three factions under three-time chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS), Jaya's live-in-confidante Sasikala Natarajan, and the latter's nephew T T V Dhinakaran. The BJP sees an opportunity in this, too, as they have not closed the option of working with the three AIADMK factions, which it perceives as having a strong base in the southern districts, where the party too has a relatively stronger vote base. Or, that is the only way that the BJP could hope to contest 25 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, the Edappadi camp followers argue. But as they too point out, Annamalai's more recent ambition is not just to contest 25 seats, but to send 25 BJP MPs from the state in 2024. It is here that the BJP and the Edappadi-led AIADMK are unable to sit down and sort out certain ideological differences and the diverse campaign the two of them end up with. Going beyond the common ground that revolves around corruption and perceived lawlessness under the DMK regime, the two allies are not able to address the AIADMK'S Hindutva-related concerns involving the BJP. Already, the Edappadi group attributes their combine's rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls more to the BJP's ideological plank that did not sell even in their combined stronghold of the state's western districts, comprising Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, among others. Edappadi and some of his term's strong ministers came from this region and the influential majority community of Vellalar Gounders. Even their losing power in the subsequent assembly elections of 2021, they attribute it to the party's association with the BJP. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit A Shah tweeted this picture of the 'Sengol' to be installed by Prime Minister Narendra D Modi in the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo All factions of the AIADMK are convinced that Hindutva does not sell as a politico-electoral proposition in Tamil Nadu, but are in no place to tell the 'bosses' in Delhi that they are wrong in strategising for the state at the very least. This is because they also seem to feel that if they tell the BJP what to do and what not to do in electoral terms in Tamil Nadu, the national ally might start interfering in the internal affairs of the AIADMK, more than already. According to them, most Tamil Nadu voters, other than those already converted to the BJP's ways and methods, resent the party leadership's strategy to be seen as being the lovers of Tamil language, literature and culture. In the words the BJP leaders choose, the way they package it all and their body language all end up conveying the message that they aimed at hijacking the Tamil identity of two thousand and more years, and subsume them all in their larger 'Bharatiya' identity. Or, so goes the internal exchanges within the AIADMK, too. This applies to PM Modi quoting Thirukkural and the famed Tamil proverb, 'Yaadum oorey, yaavarum kelir' ('All places are ours, all humans are our kin') at the UN General Assembly, or he releasing a Japanese translation of the Thirukkural while in that country recently and in Tok Pisin while in Papua New Guinea. They see the absence of altruism of the kind even in the Centre's decision to place the Sengol, which Lord Louis Mountbatten handed over to then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to mark the transfer of power at Independence, in the new Parliament building and Amit A Shah recalling its immediate history. As Shah explained, the Sengol, which was designed and made by a leading jeweller in Chennai, then Madras, at the instance of the Thiruvaduthurai mutt (of the Saivite order), after C Rajagopalachari, who was a close aide of Nehru and who succeeded Mountbatten as the first and only Indian to become governor general, sought suggestions in the matter. That was after Nehru asked Rajaji for ideas, that too when Mountbatten sought to know how the former wanted to mark the transfer of power. Congressmen in the state are peeved at Shah not mentioning Nehru's role in the matter. From the larger Tamil perspective, AIADMK leaders point out how the pro-BJP social media has already 'saffronised' the Sengol, by first projecting it as being unique to the Tamil kings of yore (which it was not) and then declaring that its presence in a place of prominence in the new Parliament, the highest seat of people's power in the country, reflects the larger Bharatiya tradition and culture! According to these AIADMK worthies, such constructs only produce derision in the average Tamil Nadu voter, and contempt in the eyes of those that are ideologically tuned against Hindutva and Bharatiya brands of BJP's 'nationalism' plank. They resent what they see as the BJP's childish to churlish ways, which treats the Tamil culture and people as less than equal and worse! N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Pakistan still has to acquire the patience you need in a democracy. The patience to accept that even if I do not like the government I have, I must wait till the next election to change it, explains Shekhar Gupta. IMAGE: Police officers clash with an Imran Khan supporter during a protest outside the federal judicial complex in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters Are you with Imran Khan or against him? We can ask this question in two different ways. One, if a fair election is held today, will Imran win or not? And second, if he wins, will it be good for Pakistan or a disaster? The answer to the first question is, of course, Imran will win. He has the street with him as no Pakistani leader has had, not even Nawaz Sharif at his peak when he could win big majorities by himself. His loyalists were also noisy and boisterous, but they would never take on the might of the army. Or, he would not have been removed from power summarily and unfairly thrice. Imran's popularity has risen to a level not seen in Pakistan before. It is because his rivals, enemies and critics, including the army brass, are so convinced that he will easily win an election that they aren't about to hold one now. Or even, given a choice, on the due date in October unless they can disqualify him constitutionally and prevent him from contesting. The answer to the second question is even simpler. For sure, if he wins a big mandate, which he most likely will, it will be a disaster for Pakistan. Because everything he stands for -- extreme populism, angry, retributive governance, Islamism, anti-Westernism (important from Pakistan's perspective), extreme views on India and impatience with modern economics -- will push Pakistan further into the abyss. Which leaves us again with two questions. One, can you stop him without denying Pakistan democracy yet again? And second, if an election means the inevitability of Imran in power with a majority, can Pakistan afford it? Or, if you are somebody sensible within that country, particularly in its army's GHQ or even among its well-wishers abroad, can Pakistan afford at the helm an Imran sanctified by a fresh election? Anybody who is still not convinced of the perils of democratisation without preparation after the disaster that followed the heady Arab Spring should take a close look at Pakistan now. Democracy is among the greatest virtues that mankind has evolved over these millennia, a blessing with all its many imperfections. But it cannot work in a vacuum of ideas, institutions and a larger popular acceptance of what it entails to govern within a democratic but constitutional system. A successful democracy calls for a deep-set patience with its imperfections. As also with what is unique to a constitutional democracy: the limitations of majoritarian powers, for example. Nawaz Sharif lost power thrice because he failed to appreciate it. Imran won't even make any effort to do so. IMAGE: Imran Khan addresses the media at his residence in Lahore, May 18, 2023. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters That's why, in a situation where Pakistan's institutions are weak or vaporising, its judiciary for example, an elected Imran Khan may just be the fatal blow the hapless -- but powerful -- nation doesn't want. See it this way: Elections are the touchstone of democracy, but the one thing most of the so-called democratic and liberal forces in Pakistan do not want right now is an immediate election. On this, they are on the same page as the leadership of their army. Which is the key point we need to debate. It is clear to all at this point that the ruling coalition commands neither the credibility nor the power to govern a country of 23 crore-plus with a broken economy and polity. Until the other day, Pakistan always had a parachute for such situations of grave crisis. That parachute, I regret to say, was the institution of the army. It's a far from perfect idea, especially for those like us who must instinctively support democratisation. But all nations, especially the democracies, need institutions that can stand up to majoritarianism of any kind, including parliamentary majorities. In Pakistan, the judiciary, the election commission, the so-called corruption watchdog and the ever-so-scandalous national accountability bureau have all proven inadequate to the task of protecting its democracy or the national interest. The army was so far the one institution that guaranteed stability. Under this Imran onslaught, it isn't even a parody of its omnipotent past in Pakistan. The country's biggest problem right now is that its army is at its weakest. Why should we care, you might ask. Schadenfreude is always a tempting idea. Whether or not it is such a wise one when it comes to your second largest neighbour is a debate we can leave for another day. This week, we are talking about this counterintuitive and unfortunate idea of the perils of democracy in a country as large as Pakistan. Why and how did the Arab Spring fail? In one Arab country after another, once the headlines of the multiple Tahrir Squares were over, elections followed. What was confused for a democratic upsurge was essentially a popular rebellion against decades of militaristic, populist but near-secular dictators. Instinctively, the response was Islamic. Religion was then the fuel driving these protests. There was no surprise then, when in one country after another, the Islamists won. It was invariably some version of the Muslim Brotherhood, except to some extent in Tunisia. It unravelled in each one. It began with Egypt, where the army returned and restored the status quo ante. And when it did that, it had a fair bit of popular support. Because the people of Egypt had not bargained for the kind of Islamisation their elected government had launched. IMAGE: A man walks past a damaged police station set on fire during clashes between the police and Imran Khan's supporters in Islamabad, May 13, 2023. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters Tunisia, long seen as the one success story of the Arab Spring, has come apart now. Its ultra-popular 'common man' leader, widely hailed as a true democrat in the Eastern world, has now morphed into a cynical dictator. In the Arab world, democratisation meant Islamisation. So far, the militarised dictatorships had kept the religion and the clergy in control, if not under brutal suppression. Armed with the legitimacy of elections, Islamists now spread their influence. This encouraged the new supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood like Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who pushed his own mostly secular and modern democracy into rapid Islamisation and an elected dictatorship. Chastened by all of that, Pakistan's army wouldn't want a Mohammed Morsi in Imran as their new elected leader. You cannot democratise on the run. You need the patience of many decades of prolific work on the ground, mass movements, development of ideas and ideologies, understanding and building of institutions and finally the maturity to accept the limitations of an elected majority. IMAGE: A rally in support of Pakistan's armed forces in Karachi, May 18, 2023. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters In India, for example, much of this homework was done during the freedom movement. Subsequently, there's a mass movement of some kind or the other each decade in some part of the country. Or the big, history-changing events like the Emergency and the fight against it. None of these Arab countries had made this preparation. That's why, once they got democracy, they didn't have leaders who would know what to do with it. Pakistan isn't quite so bad or inadequate on this count. It has had its popular movements, developed a bunch of leaders, but has much distance still to travel. At a popular level, it still has to acquire the patience you need in a democracy. The patience to accept that even if I do not like the government I have, I must wait till the next election to change it. For that patience to develop and sustain, however, you need institutions that are credible and strong. I don't know who in Lutyens's team (the original Lutyens) had the sense to put this inscription at the entrance of our North Block: 'Liberty will not descend to a people: a people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be enjoyed.' For decades since I first noted it, I have nursed a secret fantasy to take the sand-blaster to it. There are moments, though, when I realise that the departing British, however rude, were telling us something. This would be useful reading also for the well-meaning people and institutions in Pakistan as well today. By special arrangement with The Print 'There is no law or Article in the Constitution that says the prime minister must inaugurate the new Parliament, but Article 79 of the Constitution says the President of India is the competent person.' IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu, followed by Prime Minister Narendra D Modi, proceeds to address the joint session of Parliament, January 31, 2023. Ahead of the President are the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Speaker Om Birla and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo Advocate C R Jaya Sukin has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India. The move has come two days before Prime Minister Narendra D Modi is to inaugurate the grand building on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Nearly 20 Opposition parties are boycotting the event because they too feel that President Droupadi Murmu, as the Constitutional head, should inaugurate the new Parliament building. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to advocate Jaya Sukin about his writ petition. Why have you filed this writ petition against the prime minister of India inaugurating the new Parliament building on May 28? That the President of India was not invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament building is not only a humiliation of the President of our country, but also a humiliation of the entire nation. As an Indian citizen, I feel humiliated as the President of India is the head of the nation and the head of Parliament. By not inviting the President of India the entire nation is being humiliated, and I personally as an Indian citizen feel humiliated. But earlier too different state assemblies have been inaugurated by the chief ministers of those states to which the governors were not invited. So what is wrong if the President is not invited to this event? Chief minister, governor and the power of the President of India are different. You cannot compare a governor with the President of India. The governor of a state is not elected by the people's representatives but the President of India is elected by the people's representatives. People's representatives -- members of Parliament -- are elected by the people of India and these people's representatives in turn elect the President of India. A governor's post is an appointment while the President's post is different. The President is head of the nation. You cannot treat the governor and President of India's post on equal terms. When the current Parliament annexe building was inaugurated it was done by then prime minister Indira Gandhi, so what is wrong if Prime Minister Modi inaugurates the new Parliament? That was the annexe building. It was not a new Parliament. The prime minister, speaker or deputy speaker or any Cabinet minister can inaugurate or open the new office in Parliament building, but not inaugurate the new Parliament. Even a library building in Parliament was inaugurated by a then prime minister, isn't it? Yes, that is fine. The prime minister of India can open a library or even a canteen in the Parliament building. It is a part of Parliament, but not a new Parliament. Are you upset that President Murmu was not called for the event or that she should have inaugurated the new Parliament? Parliament must be inaugurated by the President of India. I want the inauguration of Parliament to be done by the President of India. Does the Constitution say anything on such issues? At the time of Independence there was no concept of a new Parliament, so what does the Constitution say? No law says the prime minister should inaugurate a new Parliament, but Article 79 of the Constitution says the President of India is the head of Parliament (external link). The prime minister is the head of the Executive and not the head of Parliament. With just two days left for the inauguration, your PIL has come too late. On May 18 they gave the notification and only yesterday (Wednesday, May 24, 2023) they sent out the invitations to high profile people and told them to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament. Yesterday, they confirmed Sunday's inauguration programme. The Central Vista is Prime Minister Modi's dream project, so what is wrong if he inaugurates the new Parliament? Central Vista is not the vision of Prime Minister Modi as it was planned long ago. The old Parliament was not spacious and convenient. Before 2014, the new Parliament building was decided upon. The project started before Narendra Modi became prime minister in 2014. The Parliament of India is dedicated to the nation and not to the Bharatiya Janata Party or its people. There is no law or Article in the Constitution that says the prime minister must inaugurate the new Parliament, but Article 79 of the Constitution says the President of India is the competent person (to do so). But it is a done deal now. Even some Congress leaders say that if not the prime minister of India, will the PM of Pakistan inaugurate the new Parliament. I am not going for political views as different political parties have different political views. I am only asking for the Lok Sabha secretariat to follow Article 79 of the Constitution. Don't you feel your writ petition and Opposition parties boycotting the inauguration of Parliament reflect badly on our democracy? Does it not send wrong signal internationally? The Union of India must take a consensus view of all the political parties before taking a decision. Our next generation will talk about this matter saying the Union of India took a wrong decision by not consulting all political parties. They should have taken all the parties together and taken a decision on the inauguration of the new Parliament. The Lok Sabha secretariat took a wrong decision without consulting all political parties. Asaduddin Owaisi said legally it is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha who should inaugurate the new Parliament and not the President of India. How far is he correct? No, he is wrong. The Speaker is for the Lok Sabha and they do not have any rights in the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, he is not a competent person. 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) Editor: JYZ The Supreme Court on Friday gave jailed former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain six weeks interim bail on medical grounds, the relief coming a day after he collapsed in Tihar Jail due to dizziness and was admitted to the ICU of a government hospital. The Aam Aadmi Party leader has been in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha allowed Jain, 58, to undergo treatment in a hospital of his choice and asked him to produce medical records by July 10. It also directed Jain to not talk to the media during his interim bail period that ends on July 11. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, said the former minister has lost 35 kg and is suffering from a spine problem. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, sought Jain's examination by a panel of doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. If medical reports suggest treatment, the probe agency will not oppose it, he said. He submitted that Jain had moved petitions for bail on medical grounds in the case earlier as well, but the pleas were withdrawn as the agency sought his examination by a medical board of AIIMS or RML hospital. "He was health minister and jail minister of Delhi. He needs to be examined at a hospital that was not under him," Raju said, claiming earlier medical reports prepared by hospitals were found to be fake. The bench said it is considering enlarging Jain on medical bail but would look into his examination by doctors of either AIIMS or RML hospital on the next date of hearing. On Thursday, Jain was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital and later shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems, AAP leaders said. He was "critically ill", they said. The LNJP Hospital is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. It was the second time in a week the former minister, who collapsed in a bathroom of Tihar Jail, had been taken to hospital. Earlier too, Jain had fallen in the bathroom and suffered a serious spinal injury, the AAP said. On May 18, the top court sought the ED's response on Jain's plea. It issued notice to the ED and granted liberty to Jain to move before the vacation bench for relief and urgent listing of his plea. On April 6, the Delhi high court dismissed Jain's bail plea in 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 senior AAP leader was an influential person having the potential to tamper with evidence. The ED arrested Jain on May 30 last year on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. The arrest took place in the aftermath of a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was granted regular bail by the trial court on September 6, 2019 in the case registered by the CBI. In 2022, the trial court took cognisance of the prosecution complaint (ED version of charge sheet) filed by the federal probe agency against Jain, his wife and eight others, including the four firms, in connection with the money laundering case. On November 17 last year, the trial court dismissed the bail pleas of Jain and two others in the case. It said Jain was prima facie involved in concealing the proceeds of crime. Besides him, the trial court also denied bail to Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, saying they "knowingly" assisted Satyendar Jain in concealing the proceeds of crime and were "prima facie guilty" of money laundering. A week after assuming power in Karnataka, the Congress on Friday released the list of 24 legislators who will be sworn-in as ministers to fill up all the vacant ministerial positions. IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai greet the newly-elected Speaker U T Khader during session of Legislative Assembly, at Vidhan Soudha, in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo The cabinet expansion will take place on Saturday noon with their swearing-in ceremony, according to Congress leaders. The Karnataka government can have 34 ministers. While 10 of them including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar were sworn-in on March 20, the rest will be inducted on Saturday. Senior MLA H K Patil, Krishna Byregowda, N Cheluvarayaswamy, K Venkatesh, Dr H C Mahadevappa, Congress working president Eshwar Khandre and former Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao are among those who will take the oath on Saturday. Others who will make it to the Karnataka cabinet are Kyathasandra N Rajanna,Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Shivanand Patil, Ramappa Balappa Timmapur, S S Mallikarjun, Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, Dr Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Mankal Vaidya, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Rahim Khan, D Sudhakar, Santosh Lad, N S Boseraju, Suresha B S, former CM S Bangarappa's son Madhu Bangarappa, Dr M C Sudhakar and B Nagendra. According to Congress sources, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Madhu Bangarappa, D Sudhakar, Cheluvaraya Swami, Mankul Vaidya and M C Sudhakar are considered close to Shivakumar. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been in the national capital for the last three days and they have held several rounds of discussions. The decision was finalised after hours of parleys between Siddaramaih and his deputy Shivakumar with top central leaders including All India Congress Committee general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi gave their final nod to the list which balances caste and regional equations in the southern state. Earlier, the two Karnataka leaders also met Sonia Gandhi, for the first time after government formation in the state. Differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had emerged over names of probable ministers but these were sorted out during the discussions, the sources said. Meanwhile, all the leaders left for Bengaluru from New Delhi for the oath-taking ceremony of the new ministers. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren also left with Shivakumar and Surjewala for Saturday's event. The portfolios have not been allotted yet. However, according to minister K H Muniyappa, the portfolios of the ministers will be announced by Saturday evening. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal-Secular in Karnataka on Friday mounted a scathing attack on the Congress government for its alleged dilly-dallying attitude towards fulfilling the five guarantees, which it had promised ahead of the recently concluded state assembly elections. IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks in the house during the session of State Legislative Assembly, at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo According to Congress, the five schemes are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti). The Congress had assured that once it came to power with majority, these schemes will be implemented in the maiden cabinet meeting. The party registered a thumping majority by winning 135 out of 224 seats in the assembly. Soon after swearing in, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told media that the cabinet has given its in principle approval. We will get details and discuss... financial implications will be looked into and then we will do it for sure. Whatever the financial implications may be, we will fulfill these five guarantee schemes after the next cabinet meeting, he had said. Addressing reporters, JD-S leader H D Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress misled voters and came to power. He also vowed not to sit idle. "I am calling upon those families, which use 200 units of power. If your power consumption exceeds 200 units, then you pay, I won't stop you from doing so. They (Congress) have promised it (200 units free power)," Kumaraswamy said. The former CM also appealed to the women travelling by government buses not to pay a single rupee because the grand old party has promised free bus passes. According to him, the free bus ride to women across Karnataka will cost the state exchequer Rs 24,000 crore. Lambasting Congress, Kumaraswamy said, "Why did you not tell the conditions while announcing these guarantee schemes? That time you shouted free' and guaranteed'. Now nothing is free and guaranteed. Now you are talking about guidelines." Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader R Ashoka said Siddaramaiah, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced one guarantee each during their election rallies. They had promised that within 24 hours of the formation of government in the first cabinet only, these guarantees will come into effect, the former Deputy CM told the media. More than 240 hours have lapsed since the government formation, the Congress leaders are still looking at the pros and cons. Flaying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the BJP MLA asked, "You tabled 13 budgets. Don't you have the knowledge about the number of BPL families, women and youth in the state, and the electricity requirement to fulfill your promise?" The discussions during the upcoming state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States and American President Joe Biden's trip to India will revolve around four Ps: Peace, Prosperity, Planet, and People, said a top diplomat of the US in Hyderabad on Friday. IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi greets US President Joe Biden during a G20 summit in Bali, on November 15, 2022. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Reuters US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti who was in Hyderabad, told reporters that the entire planet is counting on the friendship between India and US and the deepening ties. "In four months, our leaders will meet thrice face-to-face, and probably as I said it feels natural. I think, as I said those four Ps: peace, prosperity, work on our planet, and connecting our people will be what you see when Prime Minister (Modi) comes to Washington and you'll see a further reflection and deepening that when the President (Biden) comes here to India. "I hope that he (Biden) will have a chance not just visit the capital Delhi but maybe go someplace else in the country as well," the envoy said when asked about the main agenda of the leaders' visit. Modi will embark on his first official state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, in the third week of June. The American President is expected to travel to India in September to attend the G20 Leaders Summit. Garcetti said companies belonging to the US are investing in Hyderabad creating 100,000 jobs here and similarly Indian business houses are also investing in the North American country. Commenting on the relations with India, he said the militaries of both countries train together while the largest military exercises India does are with the US. "We are working towards an Indo-Pacific that is safe, secure and prosperous," he said. On the number of visas to be issued to Indians this year, Garcetti said the US is on track to process one million visas this year. Meanwhile, the Ambassador visited a clinic operated by the transgender community in Hyderabad. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday approached the Delhi high court seeking death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was awarded life term by a trial court in New Delhi in a terror funding case a year ago, asserting not giving capital punishment to such a 'dreaded terrorist' will result in miscarriage of justice. IMAGE: JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik being taken out of NIA court in New Delhi on May 25, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo The plea by the NIA has been listed for hearing on May 29 before a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh. On May 24, 2022, a trial court in the national capital had awarded life imprisonment to Malik, the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, after holding him guilty of various offences under the stringent anti-terror law-Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)-- and the Indian Penal Code. Malik had pleaded guilty to the charges, including those under the UAPA. In its petition before the high court for enhancement of Malik's penalty, the NIA said if such 'dreaded terrorists' are not given capital punishment on account of having pleaded guilty, there will be complete erosion of the sentencing policy, and terrorists would have a way out to avoid capital punishment. A life sentence, the NIA asserted, is not commensurate with the crime committed by terrorists when the nation and families of soldiers have suffered loss of lives. The trial court's conclusion that Malik's crimes did not fall within the category of the 'rarest of the rare cases' for grant of death penalty is 'ex facie legally flawed and completely unsustainable', the anti-terror probe agency said. It emphasised that it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Malik spearheaded terrorist activities in the Valley, and with the help of dreaded foreign terrorist organisations, had been 'masterminding, planning, engineering and executing armed rebellion in the Valley in an attempt to usurp the sovereignty and integrity of a part of India'. 'Not giving capital punishment to such dreaded terrorist will result in miscarriage of justice, as, an act of terrorism is not a crime against society but it's a crime against the entire nation; in other words it's an act of 'external aggression', 'an act of war' and an 'affront to the sovereignty of nation',' the plea said. 'Offences committed by the respondent accused are ex-facie acts of 'external aggression', brazenly planned and executed by 'acts of waging war against the nation whereby 'internal disturbance' was created through raising and using trained armed militia within the state and by helping trained terrorist, raised in enemy states, to infiltrate the borders of India to participate and catalyse such internal disturbances,' it stated. The NIA claimed there are no mitigating circumstances in favour of Malik and the present case falls within the category of 'rarest of the rare' for imposition of death penalty. The trial court, which had rejected the NIA's plea for capital punishment, had said the crimes committed by Malik struck at the 'heart of the idea of India'. 'These crimes were intended to strike at the heart of the idea of India and intended to forcefully secede J&K from UOI. The crime becomes more serious as it was committed with the assistance of foreign powers and designated terrorists. The seriousness of crime is further increased by the fact that it was committed behind the smokescreen of an alleged peaceful political movement,' the trial court had said. It had, however, noted the case was not the 'rarest of rare', warranting death penalty. The maximum punishment for such an offence is death penalty. The life term was awarded for two offences -- Section 121 (waging war against government of India) of the IPC and Section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA. According to the Supreme Court, life imprisonment means incarceration till the last breath, unless the sentence is commuted by the authorities. The court had awarded Malik 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being member of terror organisation) of the UAPA. It had also awarded five-year jail term each under sections 13 (unlawful act), 38 (offence related to membership of terrorism) and 39 (support given to terrorism) of the UAPA. The court had framed the charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor. A charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both of whom have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case and are living in Pakistan. Jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who is undergoing treatment at New Delhi government-run hospital, had suffered a blood clot due to a head injury, though his condition is stable, sources said on Friday. IMAGE: AAP leader Satyendar Jain admitted to an ICU of LNJP hospital in New Delhi, on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo A four-member medical board has been constituted for the treatment of Jain, who was admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Thursday, they said. The board members include senior physicians from LNJP Hospital, neurologists from GB Pant Hospital, besides specialists in critical care, they said. Earlier in the day, sources at the hospital said Jain's medical condition was being investigated. "His condition is stable now. He had suffered a blood clot due to a head injury and is currently undergoing treatment. Several tests, including an MRI, were done on him the report of which is awaited," they said. Jain is currently being put on intravenous fluids. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday granted Jain interim bail for six weeks on medical grounds, saying a citizen has a right to receive treatment of his choice in a private hospital at his own expense. The relief came a day after Jain collapsed in Tihar Jail due to dizziness and was admitted to the ICU of a government hospital. Photos showed the AAP leader on oxygen support. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday targeted the Centre over Jain's deteriorating health. The former Delhi minister was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital and later shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems. Sources in the AAP had said that Jain was shifted to the ICU of the LNJP Hospital and he was "critically ill". "His medical condition is being investigated," a hospital source said and added that doctors are constantly monitoring his condition. This is the second time in a week that the former minister has been taken to a hospital. Jain has been in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. The LNJP Hospital is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. Jain was brought to the emergency department of the LNJP Hospital and doctors examined him, a senior doctor at the hospital had said on Thursday. "Jain has some spinal issues. In the past too he was brought to LNJP Hospital to undergo treatment for it," he had said. The former minister collapsed in a bathroom of the Tihar Jail due to dizziness. Earlier too, Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury, the AAP said. The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the imposition of Rs 25 lakh cost on Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee by the Calcutta high court which had dismissed his plea for recall of its previous order that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could interrogate him in the West Bengal school jobs scam cases. IMAGE: TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee arrives to appear before CBI in Kuntal Ghosh letter case, at Nizam Palace in Kolkata on May 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The top court, however, did not stay at this stage the part of the high court order which had said that central probe agencies could quiz the Trinamool Congress general secretary in connection with these cases and fixed his plea for hearing in July. Abhishek Banerjee is the nephew of TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. An apex court vacation bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha termed the high court's order 'very balanced and fair' and observed that imposition of a cost of Rs 25 lakh was 'perhaps not warranted'. "But then, it does not mean that no cost can be imposed at all... I think the order is very balanced and fair," Justice Narasimha observed. The Calcutta high court in its May 18 order had dismissed a petition filed by Banerjee, a Lok Sabha MP, seeking recall of its previous order which said probe agencies such as the CBI and ED could interrogate him in the case. "List the matter in the week commencing July 10, 2023. Until the next date of hearing, imposition of the costs under the impugned order shall remain stayed," the apex court bench said. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Banerjee, referred to the high court order and said there were 'errors apparent' in it. On April 28, the apex court had asked the Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta high court to reassign the West Bengal school jobs scam case to another judge, days after voicing displeasure over Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay's interview to a TV news channel where he spoke about the raging controversy. During the hearing on Friday, the bench observed that after the apex court's order, the matter was assigned to another bench which passed orders on the applications, including those filed by Banerjee. "The court said as far as the investigation part is concerned, we can't interfere. How far it is wrong?" the bench said. It said the points raised in the applications were considered by the high court which then concluded that interference was not warranted. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said the agency has the power to investigate independently and this cannot be usurped. The bench said both sides can advance their arguments on the next date of hearing. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for the state of West Bengal in the matter. "A new trend has started. The state comes in. In the Chhattisgarh matter, the state came in. In West Bengal matter, the state came in," Raju said, adding that it is 'collusion'. On May 22, the apex court agreed to hear on May 26 Abhishek Banerjee's plea against the high court order. While mentioning the matter before the top court on May 22, Singhvi had said Banerjee has already been quizzed for over nine hours by the CBI and the TMC leader is apprehending that he may be arrested if called again for questioning by the agency. "I (Banerjee) am asking for no coercive step," Singhvi had told the bench while requesting it to list the matter for hearing this week. Banerjee, who was on May 20 questioned for over nine hours by the CBI in connection with the probe into the case, has sought the apex court's direction that no coercive steps be taken against him by the probe agency. The TMC leader's name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, a local businessman and an accused in the school jobs scam cases, where he alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Banerjee in the case. The agency's summons to Banerjee had come within 24 hours of the Calcutta high court dismissing a petition filed by him seeking recall of a previous court order which said probe agencies such as the CBI and ED could interrogate him in the teacher recruitment scam case. Banerjee had alleged that while TMC leaders who were unwilling to bend were being harassed, BJP leaders who had been involved in various cases were allowed to go scot-free. The two-time MP from Diamond Harbour was questioned by the ED twice in the coal pilferage case in the agency's office in the national capital in 2021 and also in Kolkata in 2022. While the CBI is probing the criminal aspect of the school jobs scam cases, the ED is looking into the money trail involved in the alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment in West Bengal. The seat-sharing arrangement between the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party will be the same as that in 2019, senior Sena leader Gajanan Kirtikar said on Friday. IMAGE: BJP president J P Nadda being welcomed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during his visit to the CM's official residence 'Varsha', in Mumbai on Wednesday. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is also seen. Photograph: ANI Photo The BJP, on the other hand, said no decision had been taken on the issue yet. The Sena, which was then undivided, and the BJP had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in alliance. "Shiv Sena contested 22 seats (out of 48) last time and won 18, and BJP contested 26 and won 23. The arrangement will be the same this time. We have already started preparations (for the 2024 polls)," Kirtikar told reporters in Mumbai. Of 18 Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena from Maharashtra, 13 owe allegiance to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and five belong to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. Sena spokesperson and state education minister Deepak Kesarkar too said elsewhere that his party hoped that the seat-sharing formula will remain unchanged. But BJP leader and culture minister Sudhir Mungantiwar maintained that no formula has been worked out yet. "No BJP leader has said that Eknath Shinde's demands will not be accepted. Shinde joined hands with the BJP to provide a government that works to protect the interests of people. His demands would be respected. BJP has high regard for the Shiv Sena led by Balasaheb Thackeray earlier and now by Eknath Shinde," he told reporters at the Raj Bhavan. Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will sit together and take a decision on seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections, the BJP leader added. The wait for justice continues, says Rakbar Khan's wife after a Rajasthan court convicted four men in the 2018 lynching of her husband but acquitted a VHP leader she terms the "main accused". The court in Alwar on Thursday sentenced Dharmendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Paramjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar to seven-year imprisonment in the lynching of Khan on the suspicion of cow smuggling. VHP leader Naval Kishore was acquitted due to lack of evidence against him. "We have not got justice. They had murdered my husband. The main accused was acquitted by the court while the sentence awarded to the others is less. They should have been given strict punishment," Khan's wife Asmina said on Friday. The court convicted the four under Indian Penal Code sections 304 (1) pertaining to culpable homicide and 341 (wrongful restraint) but acquitted them of charges of murder (302) and rioting (147). Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Sharma had said on Thursday that 304 (1) means where there is knowledge but there is no intention to kill. The trial court's order will be challenged in the Rajasthan High Court, Khan's family members said. Khan is survived by his wife and seven children. His father Suleman died of a prolonged illness two years after the lynching case. Talking to reporters after the court's verdict, Kishore, however, said, "... the four others are also innocent". "There was no pressure on the trial court and it has acted according to the law. Even if the case is appealed in the high court, we have full faith in it," he said. Sharma said Kishore was made an accused based on a telephonic conversation with the other accused. However, the court gave him the benefit of doubt as it did not find any concrete evidence against him, he said. Reacting to the sentencing, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said, "We will get the decision reviewed. We will see what is written in the decision and later, we will see what can be done." Defence lawyer Hemraj Gupta said the court acquitted Dharmendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Paramjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar in the case of the charges framed under IPC sections 302 and 147 (rioting), while Kishore was acquitted of all charges. He claimed the court had overlooked the findings of a judicial inquiry in which police had been found at fault. In the statement of Aslam, who was the prime witness in the case, the accused names were not mentioned, Gupta said. He said that "we have given a notice to the director general of police and district superintendent of police that a judicial inquiry had found police fault in the case and no action was taken against them". Nasir Ali Naqvi, another SPP in the case, said he will write to the state government to appeal the lynching case in the high court. "The accused should have been convicted under murder charges (IPC section 302). Aslam had identified the one acquitted (Naval Kishore) in the court. The court had considered his statement which led to conviction of the others, how can Kishore be acquitted. I will be writing to the government to appeal the case in the high court," Naqvi said. He said even under IPC section 304, maximum punishment of life imprisonment should have been given. The Rajasthan government had appointed Naqvi as SPP in the case in February 2021 after Khan's mother, Habiban, had raised concerns about the proceedings of the matter. Police had filed a charge sheet against Paramjeet Singh, Naresh Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Dharmendra Yadav in 2019. Khan and his friend Aslam were beaten up severely by a group of people on suspicion of cow smuggling in an area under Alwar's Ramgarh police station on July 20, 2018. They had allegedly purchased the cows from Ladpura village and were taking them to their village in Haryana through a forested area near Lalawandi village when they were attacked by the accused. Aslam had managed to escape but Khan succumbed to his injuries at an Alwar hospital. Veteran mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa scaled Mount Everest for a record 28th time on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, breaking his own record with the highest number of ascents on the world's highest peak, less than a week after setting it. The 53-year-old record-holding mountain guide stood atop the 8848.86 metres high peak at around 9:20 am Tuesday, according to Chhang Dawa Sherpa, expedition manager of the Seven Summit Trek, who organised the expedition. This was Kami Rita's double ascent of Mt Everest this spring, as he previously scaled Mt Everest for the 27th time on May 17. Kami Rita regained the title for the most number of climbs, a day after another veteran Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa equalled his previous record. A resident of Solukhumbu district in eastern Nepal, Kami Rita first reached Everest on May 13, 1994. He works as a senior climbing guide at the Kathmandu-based Seven Summit Treks and has also scaled other famous peaks above 8,000 metres, including Mt K2, Mt Lhotse, Mt Manaslu and Mt Cho Oyu. May 29, 2023 will mark the 70th anniversary of the day when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest, the first human beings recorded as having ascended to the roof of the world. IMAGE: Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, waves at the media on his arrival in Kathmandu, May 25, 2023, after climbing Mount Everest for the 28th time, creating a new record for the most summits of the world's highest mountain. All Photographs: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters IMAGE: Kami Rita Sherpa is offered a garland on his arrival after climbing Mount Everest for the 28th time. IMAGE: People from the Sherpa community welcome Kami Rita Sherpa. IMAGE: Kami Rita Sherpa performs a religious ritual on his arrival in Kathmandu. IMAGE: People from the Sherpa community follow a vehicle carrying Kami Rita Sherpa. IMAGE: Women from the Sherpa community wait to welcome Kami Rita Sherpa. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) addresses an event entitled "Dag Hammarskjold Medal Ceremony and Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award" at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 25, 2023. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations held ceremonies at its headquarters in New York on Thursday, to honor the memory of the peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives while serving under the UN flag. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in honor of the more than 4,200 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. Moments later, he presided over a ceremony in the General Assembly Hall at which Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded posthumously to 103 military, police and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag in 2022. In remarks at the ceremony, Guterres said that for civilians caught in conflict, UN blue helmets who support security, stability and the rule of law in host countries are seen as "a beacon of hope and protection." "They represent the beating heart of the United Nations' commitment to peace," he said. "By bringing peacekeepers together from around the world, peacekeeping has also become an inspiring symbol of multilateralism in action." Thursday's ceremonies were staged to observe the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29, and to mark the 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping. The first UN peacekeeping mission was established in May 1948, when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. According to a UN press release, more than 2 million peacekeepers from 125 countries have since served in 71 operations around the world. Today, 87,000 women and men are serving in 12 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Guterres pointed out that peacekeepers face a daunting array of rising global tensions and divides, and "are increasingly working in places where there is no peace to keep." "Despite all obstacles, our personnel persevere, risking their own lives in service of others," said the UN chief. "I pay tribute to their service and sacrifice, which inspire our work every day." He expressed the commitment that the United Nations will do its utmost to support the peacekeepers, including improving their safety and security and the effectiveness of peacekeeping. Guterres also presented the 2022 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Captain Cecilia Erzuah, a military officer from Ghana who served with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. Created in 2016, the award recognizes the dedication and effort of an individual peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The resolution is a reminder that there can be no lasting peace without involving women at every step, Guterres said, noting that many negotiating teams and peace processes today are totally dominated by men. "It's up to all of us -- governments, communities and local officials -- to ensure that women play their full part, including as leaders, in building and maintaining peace," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (at podium and on screens) addresses an event entitled "Dag Hammarskjold Medal Ceremony and Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award" at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 25, 2023. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Editor: JYZ Last updated on: May 27, 2023 09:28 IST IMAGE: Just after she got married, Krishna Rajput rushed to do this. Photograph: ANI Why we should all be proud of Krishna Rajput. The Top Videos of the Week, listed by Shailajanand Mishra. Also see: A child-friendly police station. An acid attack survivor's incredible achievement. A man's unusual hobby. Videos chosen by you through your likes on iShare. IAF Showcases Its Might Location: Greece, France Watch the IAF at INIOCHOS, hosted by the Hellenic Air Force at the Andravida Air Base in Greece. And at Orion 2023, yet another multilateral exercise held at Mont-de-Marsan, a base used by the French Air and Space Force. How fantastic is our air force! All Videos: ANI Bhubaneswar's Child-Friendly Police Station Location: Bhubaneswar Even adults face a sense of unease when it comes to visiting a police station; imagine, then, how children must feel. In an applause-worthy move -- and we hope many other police stations will be inspired to do the same -- here's what the Nayapalli police have done to make the experience easier for young children who, for whatever reason, have to visit their station. Acid Attack Survivor's Amazing Achievement! Location: Chandigarh She suffered the trauma of an acid attack at the tender age of three. Her entire face was burnt. She lost her sight but not her indomitable spirit. Beating all odds, 15-year-old Kafi -- whose father works as a peon -- has scored 95.02 per cent in the Class 10 CBSE board exams. She shares her plans for her future in the video below. Way to go, Kafi! Villagers Worship STF Jawan Location: Bastar He fought the Naxalites fiercely at Tekal Gudem in Bijapur. And laid down his life for his people, his country. Martyred Special Task Force Head Constable Shravan Kashyap was posthumously honoured with the Kirti Chakra. In their own way, the residents of Baniyagaon village wanted to honour him as well; this is what they did. Why This Bus Is A Mobile School Location: Surat Their classroom has benches, rugs, a television, lights, a fan and Internet connectivity. And it can move from place to place. Classes are held for three hours and 32 children can study here. For the children living in the slums and footpaths of Surat, Vidyakunj-Vidyapeeth Group's mobile classroom has come as a blessing. Why Ram Singh Collects Radio Sets Location: Amroha He has over 1,100 of them. Some are over a hundred years old. Ram Singh, a retired government employee, believes no one in the world has a radio collection like his. And here's what inspired him to take up this rather unusual hobby. Just After Her Wedding, She Did This Location: Jhansi "My wedding is important," says Krishna Rajput. But something else was just as important. Kudos, Krishna! Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. In this week's Vermontitude podcast, host Peter "Fish" Case chats with Josh Davis, executive director of Groundworks, and Peter Elwell, interi Vermontitude Episode 29: Working on homes when there are none BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- 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. Editor: WXL This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SHARON The next time the state initiates a hazardous tree removal project in a state park, it could be required to share its plans ahead of time with neighbors and state leaders. State Sen. Stephen Harding, R-30, announced this week that S.B. 896, a bill intended to improve transparency and establish standards for clear-cutting trees, was approved by the state Senate. It now heads to the House of Representatives' Environment Committee for approval. The legislation was created after a hazardous tree removal project in 2022 at Housatonic Meadows State Park, conducted by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, was questioned by residents, along with Harding and former state Sen. Craig Miner of Litchfield. Miner previously represented the 30th District. Harding, a former state representative in Brookfield, was elected to the 30th in 2022. In November 2021, Miner learned that close to 200 trees, including some 200-year-old oaks on the banks of the Housatonic River and other areas of Housatonic Meadows State Park, were removed by the DEEP, which said they all were hazardous, he said. Miner and Harding joined residents at a public forum in January 2022 to discuss the removal plans. The hearing and subsequent investigation into the project by the state Council on Environmental Quality, Harding said, revealed "flaws" in the way the agency made its decisions on tree cutting. Harding believes the bill is necessary to watchdog the DEEP's activities concerning trees and tree removal. "This is a good first step in providing needed oversight over (the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's) clear-cutting tree policy at our state parks," Harding said. "What happened in 2022 shouldn't happen again." The bill, "An act concerning tree removal on properties under the control of the (DEEP)," says that if the DEEP decides to remove five or more trees per acre, it would be required to consult with a non-DEEP arborist first, to determine whether the trees should be removed. The bill states the DEEP then would be required to post a notice or tag on the trees. If anyone objects to the removal, they would be entitled to petition the agency in writing. Once the petition is received, the DEEP would suspend the tree removal project and hold a public hearing, giving the petitioners and others a chance to ask questions, according to the bill. Once the hearing is held, the DEEP would have 10 days to decide on the removal and the petitioner's request, and would provide notification on that decision, according to the bill. Will Healey, the DEEP's director of communications, detailed the agency's efforts to update its regulations and increase its transparency and cooperation on tree removal. "Last year, DEEP embarked on an initiative to update our hazard tree management practices, with a strong focus on transparency and public engagement," Healey wrote in an email. "To support this endeavor, we held a series of public meetings and invited written comments from concerned individuals. The outcome of these consultations was our updated Hazard Tree Mitigation Policy, which can be accessed here: (Hazard-Tree-Mitigation-Policy---Final-Version.pdf (ct.gov). The updated policy, Healey wrote, incorporates the following key elements to enhance transparency and establish standards for hazard tree management projects. including enhanced public notice, heritage tree designation and proper personnel training. The public is encouraged to share their input and comments regarding Heritage Trees by emailing DEEP.HazardTrees@ct.gov Under the bill, DEEP, would submit a report to the Environment Committee each year, documenting the previous year's hazardous tree removal projects. Much of that information is provided on the DEEP's website. Bruce Bennett, a Cornwall resident, is the tree warden for the towns of Kent and Cornwall. He's also a licensed arborist and a member of the Housatonic Meadows Preservation Action group, which was formed after the tree-cutting project at that state park. He said he's been working with legislators including Rep. Maria Horn, D-64, in writing bills to further protect parks and campgrounds. The bill, Bennett said, is a good start. "(The Housatonic Meadows Action Group) was instrumental in writing a hazardous tree removal plan with the DEEP," he said. Now that the bill is written and heading to the legislature, Bennett said, DEEP will be required to show how many trees were removed in 2022. "That will show the volume of trees that were eliminated without proper analysis on whether or not they were hazardous at all," he said. "This will educate the House on the volume of the fiasco." Bennett's group also asked DEEP officials to create a replacement plan for the trees that were cut down. At Housatonic Meadows, he said, a reparation plan is in place. "This bill also helps us understand whether or not they're replacing the trees," he said. Funding, he said, could be available to help with this issue, from the Urban and Community Forestry Grant program. The program offers funding for urban tree renewal and other planting initiatives from the Connecticut Urban Forest Council. "That money is becoming available, and it almost screams for someone to be applying for a grant to replant (trees in) our parks and camp areas," he said. "At least what's happening now is, they're getting this bill together to make DEEP let the legislators know about that they're doing. "It's a good bill; it could be much better, like all bills, but it's a step in the right direction," Bennett said. According to Healey, DEEP manages more than a quarter-million acres of land, approximately 8 percent of the state's land, including 110 state parks and 32 state forests. "Over the past few years, these areas have experienced a significant increase in visitation," Healey wrote. "However, the effects of severe storms, drought, and major insect infestations caused substantial damage to trees in both forested and residential areas across Connecticut. The presence of damaged, dead, and diseased trees poses a potential risk to public safety, as they can fall without warning, potentially causing injury or property damage. In our effort to ensure the safety of visitors in high-traffic areas, DEEP proactively identifies and prunes or removes "hazard trees." These are defective trees located within striking distance of developed areas where people, vehicles, or equipment are likely to linger and congregate in parks and campgrounds." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Supporters of an Indianapolis doctor voiced frustration Friday with the Indiana medical boards decision that she violated patient privacy laws when she talked with a newspaper reporter about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old Ohio rape victim. The boards vote late Thursday to issue a letter of reprimand against Dr. Caitlin Bernard wont limit her ability to practice medicine in the state, and the hospital system where she works said it stood by its finding that she followed privacy rules. The medical board rejected allegations that Bernard failed to properly report suspected child abuse and was unfit to have a medical license. Some of Bernards colleagues criticized the Medical Licensing Boards vote and the state attorney generals pursuit of disciplinary action against her as trying to intimidate doctors in Indiana, where the Republican-dominated Legislature enacted an abortion ban last year that courts have put on hold. Bernards revelation of the girl traveling to Indiana to receive abortion drugs turned her case into a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. 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. Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, touted the boards decision as supporting his arguments that Bernard broke the trust between the doctor and patient. The boards vote to reprimand Bernard and fine her $3,000 was far short of the medical license suspension that Rokita's office asked the panel to impose. Bernard's lawyers argued Thursday that officials at Indiana University Health, her employer and the states largest hospital system, had reviewed last summer what she said about the girls treatment and found no violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. IU Health said in a Friday statement that it was pleased Bernard would remain among its doctors. We do not agree with the boards decision regarding patient privacy regulations and stand by the HIPAA risk assessment, the hospital system said. We believe Dr. Bernard was compliant with privacy laws. A request for an interview with Bernard was declined Friday by a spokeswoman for her attorneys. Bernards lawyers didnt say Friday whether they would appeal the board decision in the state court system. They issued a statement questioning the boards reprimand vote for not specifying what protected health information she wrongly revealed. While we wholeheartedly disagree with the letter of reprimand on privacy issues, we are proud of Dr. Bernard for standing up for access to compassionate medical care and for her consummate professionalism during these unprecedented proceedings, her lead attorney, Alice Morical, said. Bernard has consistently defended her actions. She testified Thursday that she believed it was important to use real-world impacts of anti-abortion laws and that she didnt expect so many doubts over her account of such a young girl becoming pregnant. The idea that this was something that someone would make up or was a lie or is something that doesnt happen was very surprising to me, Bernard said. Witnesses and lawyers for the attorney generals office maintained during the licensing hearing that it was the combination of Bernard telling an Indianapolis Star reporter about the girls age and home state, that she was past Ohios then-six-week limit for an abortion and that the procedure would happen in the coming days that created a violation of patient privacy laws. Dr. Tracey Wilkinson, a pediatrician who works with Bernard at IU Health, attended the board hearing in support of Bernard and called her case political persecution that should worry doctors. I think its incredibly unfortunate as the intimidation of Dr. Bernard sends a message that this can happen to any physician thats providing comprehensive evidence-based health care to their patients, Wilkinson said. Anti-abortion groups called on Indiana hospitals to reconsider whether to keep doctors who provide abortions on their staff. Dr. Bernard readily and willingly put her patient -- who was not consulted or willing -- into the public light for her own agenda, said Marc Tuttle, the president of Right to Life of Indianapolis. The medical board members five doctors and one attorney appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb rejected separate allegations that Bernard violated state law by not reporting the child abuse to Indiana authorities. Bernard and IU Health officials testified 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. The boards split decision on the Bernard allegations left no clear winner in the case, said Laura Iosue, a lawyer who led medical licensing investigations at the state attorney generals office for seven years until 2020. The vote will lead to doctors watching more closely what they talk about, she said. Everybodys going to be a little more cautious, Iosue said. I think everybodys going to have their antennae up now, based on this decision. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) The mother of the man who killed Gabby Petito told her son in an undated letter that she would dispose of a body if needed because she loved him so much, according to copies of the note shared publicly for the first time this week by attorneys for Petito's parents. The handwritten note by Roberta Laundrie that says burn after reading on the envelope was released after a Florida judge ruled on Wednesday that the letter could be used as evidence in a lawsuit. The Petitos sued Brian Laundrie's parents, accusing them of knowing that their son had murdered Gabby Petito and helping him with the coverup for nearly a month before her body was found in western Wyoming in September 2021, causing mental anguish, pain and suffering. The letter reads in part: 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. Whether the letter was written before or after Brian Laundrie strangled Petito is in dispute between the parents. Roberta Laundrie claims in a sworn statement in the Florida case that she gave it to her son just before he and Petito left on a cross-country van trip in early June 2021. Roberta Laundrie and her son were having difficulties in their relationship at the time, three months before Brian Laundrie, 23, killed Petito, 22, the court-filed statement said. I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home," the statement said. I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him. The Petito family expressed doubt about Roberta Laundries claimed timing of her letter, suggesting it was in fact written after Petitos death. A reasonable inference may be made from the letter that Roberta Laundrie knew of Petitos demise when the Laundries issued a statement Sept. 14, 2021 five days before her body was found saying they hoped she would be reunited with her family, the Petito family said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written, the statement reads. A search for Brian Laundrie ended with his suicide and discovery of his body in a Florida nature preserve in October 2021. The letter may appear to be unfortunately worded, but that was never its intention, the Laundries' attorney, Matthew Luka, wrote in a March motion trying to persuade the judge not to allow the letter to be used in the case. Along with the statements about disposing of a body and a cake with a file in it, Roberta Laundrie's letter tells her son she would get new guts if he said he hated hers, and watch the skies for his return if he ever flew to the moon, Luka pointed out in an emailed statement Friday. The statements were written before the van trip and demonstrably not intended to be serious because they are not events that would realistically occur, Luka said. Roberta Laundrie added Friday in a statement through her attorney: Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby. Brian Laundrie and Petito were engaged and traveled by van across the U.S. in the summer of 2021, visiting scenic places in Colorado and Utah before heading north. They documented their trip in detail, in real time, on social media. Police in Moab, Utah, pulled over the van after it was seen speeding and hitting a curb at the entrance to Arches National Park in August 2021. Petito told police she and Laundrie had been fighting. Officers separated the couple for the night and didn't pursue charges. Searchers found Petito's body Sept. 19, 2021, near a campground on the edge of Wyomings Grand Teton National Park. A coroner determined shed been strangled a few weeks earlier. ___ Associated Press writer Terry Spencer in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) As he vies for the Republican presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is touting a series of measures he has pushed that have led to an upswing in banned or restricted books not just in Florida schools but in an increasing number of other conservative states. Florida last year became the first in a wave of red states to enact laws making it easier for parents to challenge books in school libraries they deem to be pornographic, deal improperly with racial issues or in other ways be inappropriate for students. Books ensnared in the Florida regulations include explicit graphic novels about growing up LGBTQ+, a childrens book based on a true story of two male penguins raising a chick in a zoo and The Bluest Eye, a novel by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison that includes descriptions of child sexual abuse. Certain books covering racial themes also have been pulled from library shelves, sometimes temporarily, as school administrators try to assess what material is allowed under the new rules. The day before DeSantis entered the presidential race earlier this week, a K-8 school in Miami-Dade County put the poem The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman on a restricted list for elementary students after a parent complained. The reasons for the objection to the poem, which Gorman read during President Joe Bidens inauguration, were not clear. The book version remains available to the middle school students, but Gorman criticized the decision to restrict it for younger grades, saying it robbed children of the chance to find their voices in literature. While efforts to ban books or censor education material have come up sporadically over the years, critics and supporters credit DeSantis with inspiring a new wave of legislation in other conservative states to regulate the books available in schools and sometimes even in public libraries. The number of attempts to ban or restrict books across the U.S. last year was the highest in the 20 years the American Library Association has been tracking such efforts. EveryLibrary, a national political action committee, said its tracking at least 121 different proposals introduced in state legislatures this year targeting libraries, librarians, educators and access to materials. The group said 39 of those proposals would allow for criminal prosecution. He really is blazing a trail, said Tiffany Justice, the Florida-based co-founder of the conservative parents group Moms for Liberty, whose members have filed challenges to books in libraries in several states. What Ron DeSantis does that I think is effective is he uses all the levers of power to make long-term change happen. Other governors, Justice said, are paying attention and following suit. In Arkansas, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law, set to take effect this summer, that could impose criminal penalties on librarians who knowingly provide harmful materials to minors. The law also would establish a process for the public to challenge materials and ask they be relocated to a section minors cant access. Its a perverse world when were talking about trying to criminalize librarians, said Nate Coulter, executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock, which is expected to sue over Arkansas law. In Indiana, school libraries will be required by July 1 to publicly post a list of books they offer and provide a complaint process for community members under a law Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed this month. In Texas, a bill creating new standards for banning books from schools that the government considers too explicit has been sent to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. In Oklahoma, the state school board has approved new rules that prohibit pornographic materials and sexualized content in school libraries and allow parents to submit formal complaints. The rules still must be approved by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. On Friday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill that includes removing all books depicting sex acts, except religious texts, from school libraries. DeSantis insists books aren't actually being banned" in his state's schools, preferring to call the forced removal of some books curation choices that are consistent with state standards. There has not been a single book banned in the state of Florida, DeSantis said during a live appearance on Twitter Wednesday when he announced his campaign. He later said our mantra in Florida is education, not indoctrination. Librarians, free speech advocates and some parents and educators say the push is driven by a small, conservative minority that happens to have outsized clout in Republican primaries, like the one DeSantis is now competing in. This is all part of his plan to run for president, and he believes his vilification of books and whats happening in public schools is his path to the presidency," said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, the states main teachers union. Kasey Meehan, who directs the Freedom to Read program at the writers' organization PEN America, said that, when books are targeted in Florida, they later become the subject of complaints filed by parents in other states. Its something that continues to cause alarm for individuals who are advocating for the freedom to read or for a diversity of knowledge, ideas and books to be available to students across the country, Meehan said. PEN earlier this month sued the Escambia school district in Florida over the removal of 10 books, including The Bluest Eye and Lucky, a bestselling memoir by Alice Sebold about her rape when she was 18 years old. There have been challenges to books in schools for decades "The Bluest Eye" has been targeted in various states for years, long before DeSantis became governor. But the restrictions accelerated in Florida after DeSantis signed bills last year barring discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms, a ban that has since expanded through 12th grade. He also created a mechanism for parents to challenge books in school libraries and has targeted how race is taught in Florida schools. Many teachers and districts complain that the laws' standards are so vague they don't know what books might place them in legal jeopardy. Michael Woods, a special education teacher in Palm Beach County, said new rules compelling him to catalog books in his classroom led him to empty a small library he set up where students could choose to read something that interested them. Now those volumes are stored in a box he's stashed in his closet for fear of getting in trouble. "That kind of positive connection to reading is no longer there, he said. The individual challenges to books might be coming from a fairly narrow segment of the population, according to PEN and the American Library Association, which track requests to pull books. The library association said 40% of all requests challenged 100 or more books at a time. Raegan Miller of Florida Freedom to Read, a group fighting the book restrictions, said she has talked about education issues with fellow parents of all political persuasions for years, and no one has ever complained about inappropriate material in their children's schools. She contends the issue has been ginned up by a small group of conservative activists. Do you really think we are all just happily dropping our kids off (for) Marxist indoctrination and pornography? Miller said. You only hear this stuff at school board meetings. Moms for Liberty, which boasts 285 chapters, has a strong presence at school board meetings in the state and nationwide. It also has successfully backed several candidates for school board. Justice, the group's co-founder, notes the books are still available in public libraries and through booksellers. The question, she said, is whether it's appropriate for taxpayer-funded schools to provide them to children. Some books don't belong in certain settings, she said: A seminary library would have different books than a medical school library. It's the local, elected officials, she added, who should determine what's appropriate. That's representative government, Justice said. ___ Associated Press writers Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City and Arleigh Rodgers in Indianapolis contributed to this report. 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) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- 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, Trkiye 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. This photo taken on May 21, 2023 shows sculptures exhibited at an art exhibition during the first edition of Empower Her Art Forum in Cairo, Egypt, on May 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) 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) People visit an art exhibition during the first edition of Empower Her Art Forum in Cairo, Egypt, on May 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Editor: WJH Former PrivatBank owner Ihor Kolomoisky is not ready to maintain his line of defense against PrivatBank's lawsuit during cross-examination at the upcoming trial on the merits in the High Court of London, which will begin on June 12, PrivatBank said on Friday following the hearings held here on May 23. "In addition, it was confirmed that none of Mr. Kolomoisky's witnesses is also ready to give oral evidence during the hearing on the merits," the state bank said. The financial institution recalled that the hearing on the merits would concern PrivatBank's multibillion-dollar claim of fraud and misappropriation of funds, among others, against Kolomoisky and his partner Hennadiy Boholiubov, whose refusal to testify during the hearing on the merits became known at the judicial procedural hearing on March 29. "Thus, there will be no witnesses at the trial who would testify in fact in favor of Mr. Kolomoisky and Mr. Boholiubov," PrivatBank says. According to it, the defendants and their witnesses did not explain the reasons for refusing to testify. The bank believes that this indicates that the ex-owners of the bank do not have an adequate response to PrivatBank's allegations of their fraudulent activities. As reported, PrivatBank, nationalized in December 2016, a year later filed a lawsuit in the High Court of London against ex-owners Kolomoisky and Boholiubov, as well as six British companies allegedly associated with them, and obtained a court order for a worldwide seizure of their assets in excess of $2.5 billion. On President Joe Biden's invitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States on June 22. One of the primary agendas of the meeting should be to expedite the process of acquiring armed drones from the US, specifically the MQ-9 Reaper. Meanwhile, according to reports, the Indian Navy also wants to extend the lease of the two Sea Guardian drones, a variant of the Reaper, which the navy acquired from the US in 2020. The Sea Guardians are based at the Rajali naval air station, which is in close proximity to Arakkonam, where the navy's P-8I Poseidon anti-submarine warfare aircraft operates. Both platforms are highly capable of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and being US systems, they have shown great compatibility. The Indian Navy currently does not possess an armed variant of the MQ-9. The Sea Guardian variant was leased from the US defence firm General Atomics during the peak of the Galwan Crisis. Vice Admiral MS Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff at the time of the lease, mentioned that the Navy was able to complete the leasing process in 37 days. In the past couple of years, the Indian Navy has extensively utilised the drones' ISR capabilities in the Indian Ocean region. By complementing other surveillance assets, the Navy has been able to track the presence of foreign warships and naval vessels in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Arabian Sea. China, in particular, has been actively asserting its influence in the IOR for the past decade, deploying warships, submarines, and research vessels. Last year, the Yuan Wang-5, equipped with reconnaissance sensors and electronic equipment, came close to India's NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) area. The NOTAM was issued for the user trials of Agni V, India's only Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Prior to this incident, another research vessel, Yuan Wang-6, was observed in the IOR region ahead of the Agni 3 missile test. The drones have immense potential for deployment. For instance, during the Galwan crisis when India and China engaged along the Line of Actual Control, the P-8I aircraft were deployed to monitor Chinese troop movements. The same aircraft was also deployed during the Doklam standoff. The MQ-9 Reaper can serve similar roles. In fact, recently, MQ-9s were spotted in activity near Myanmar's controversial Coco Islands. According to reports, the island is undergoing strategic upgrades, including doubling the length of the airstrip to 2,300 meters. Interesting route taken by an #IndianNavy MQ-9 Reaper drone in the second week of April 2023 around Coco Island (Myanmar) where an airbase is undergoing modernization along with other developments Read more here - https://t.co/OTBfF4RGlq pic.twitter.com/8VB7hv6E5n Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 8, 2023 Although there is no confirmed Chinese presence on the Coco Islands, China has made investments in Myanmar. The Kyaukphyu project is often seen as China's backdoor entry into the Indian Ocean region. In recent years, China, with its "String of Pearls" strategy, has attempted to encircle India and push the nation towards geopolitical isolation. According to the United States' China's Military Power Report 2022, China's support base in Djibouti can now accommodate large naval vessels. China already has control over multiple ports in the region, from Sri Lanka's Hambantota to Pakistan's Gwadar, and others. Currently, India lacks anti-mine warfare vessels and has cancelled plans for acquiring more P-8I aircraft. Under these circumstances, it is crucial for the Indian Navy to extend the lease of the two MQ-9 drones it is currently operating. The drones, under a Company-Owned Company-Operated (COCO) lease agreement, are operated by General Atomics on behalf of the Indian Navy. Last year, sources indicated that India was in advanced negotiations with the United States to purchase 30 MQ-9B armed drones for over $3 billion. With Pakistan's acquisition of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones and China's established prowess in the drone manufacturing sector, the acquisition of armed drones should be the foremost priority of the Indian armed forces to counter the growing threat. The lease of the two current MQ-9 drones is set to end in 2024. On the 75th anniversary of UN 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 UN authorised 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 peacekeeping's 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 world's 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 continent's 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. Adeoye Bankole, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, welcomed the very constructive and positive thrust of the secretary-general's 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, Europe's 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 country's largest river by sewage runoff from their base. Despite that, Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group's 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 we're 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. Unfazed after being placed on the no-fly list, Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday took a swipe at the top leaders of the ruling coalition, saying he has no plans to travel overseas as he neither owns properties nor has any businesses abroad. Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other leaders and former assembly members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were reportedly barred from leaving the country on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Khan wrote: "I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country." "If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our northern mountains, my favourite place on earth," he said. The Exit Control List (ECL) is maintained by the interior ministry and deals with individuals who are not allowed to leave the country due to pending court cases or for other reasons. Earlier, the Samaa News channel reported on Thursday that the Pakistan government had barred Khan, his wife and at least 80 people from leaving the country. 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 report said. Top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) including the party's supremo Nawaz Sharif are accused of amassing huge wealth in country's like the UK. Sharif was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by an anti-graft court in one of the three corruption cases against him in the Panama Papers scandal in 2018. During the trial, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had presented around 21 witnessed to prove that Sharif family cannot justify the money trail to buy four apartments in Avenfield House, Park Lane, London. It is alleged that the properties were bought with graft money in 1990s when he served twice as the prime minister. Sharif, however, has rejected any wrongdoing and insisted they were bought with the legitimate money. Khan, 70, and several top leaders of his party are facing cases in connection with the violence that erupted after the PTI chief's arrest on May 9 in a corruption case. 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 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. 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. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Thursday, claimed that the last six months that have been very "tumultuous" for him have also been extremely difficult to handle for his family. Khan reportedly said on May 25 that his two sons living in the UK with his ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith have been increasingly troubled due to the ruling government's crackdown on him. Speaking in an interview with Independent Urdu, Khan shares his difficult times when asked whether his sons or his family feared for life living abroad. Yes. You know, its natural for all your sons to be worried," said Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister. I speak to them. Theyre worried because there was an assassination attempt on me thats when they came to see me... Its obvious[ly] not just the fear of assassination [but also] being put into jail. You know, for all your sons, its quite difficult to handle," Khan further told the outlet. I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country. If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 26, 2023 Khan claimed that the Pakistan army chief had intended to demolish his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI]. When asked whether he was ready to hold a dialogue with the army chief or the prime minister to put an end to the political turmoil in Pakistan, Khan responded, The prime minister has nothing to do with it. These are just puppets. Former premier of Pakistan, although, noted that he was still ready to negotiate and hold a comprehensive dialogue with the Army. Yes, politicians should be ready to negotiate with anyone at all times. Because politicians resolve differences through dialogue and not through guns," he said. Including corruption and sedition, the former Pakistan PM is facing more than 100 charges against him but he has been granted bail in many cases by the country's apex court over the last two weeks. I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country. If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 26, 2023 'No plans to travel abroad': Khan after travel ban by FIA In November, last year, Pakistan's ex-premier survived an alleged assassination attempt as he was attacked by a gunman who fired at least three bullets at his political rally. Khan sustained wounds to the legs. Just yesterday, the ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, his wife and hundreds of political aides were banned from travelling abroad as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's tussle with the country's powerful military continues. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), responsible for immigration and border control, has put Khans name on the no-fly list, two officials told dpa news agency. It is a standard practice in every case. All those who face court cases are barred from leaving the country, the source told the agency. The 70-year-old PTI chief 'thanked' the government for banning him, saying I have no plans to travel abroad because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country." Khan was dramatically arrested by the country's Paramilitary Rangers as he appeared in the Islamabad High Court. He was detained from the court premises as he was completing the biometry by the forces that he said were linked to the interior ministry. Pakistan's Supreme Court called the rampant arrest of Khan from court as the contempt of judiciary. Unfazed after being placed on the no-fly list, Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday thanked the government for barring him from leaving the country, saying he has no plans to travel overseas as he neither owns properties nor has any businesses abroad. Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other leaders and former assembly members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were reportedly barred from leaving the country on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Khan wrote: "I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country." "If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our northern mountains, my favourite place on earth," he said. I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country. If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 26, 2023 The Exit Control List (ECL) is maintained by the interior ministry and deals with individuals who are not allowed to leave the country due to pending court cases or for other reasons. Earlier, the Samaa News channel reported on Thursday that the Pakistan government had barred Khan, his wife and at least 80 people from leaving the country. 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 report said. Khan, 70, and several top leaders of his party are facing cases in connection with the violence that erupted after the PTI chief's arrest on May 9 in a corruption case. 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 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. 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. Ukraine to include Mozambique in list of countries receiving Ukrainian grain under Grain From Ukraine initiative Ukraine is ready to include Mozambique in the list of countries receiving Ukrainian grains under the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian initiative, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said after a meeting with Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Veronica Makamo. "During my first-ever visit to Mozambique, I met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Veronica Macamo. We agreed to take our bilateral relations to a new level. We will also include Mozambique into President Zelenskyy's humanitarian program Grain From Ukraine," he wrote on Twitter. According to the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kuleba's visit to Mozambique includes three main tasks. "First: to lay the political foundation for developing mutually beneficial relations between countries. Second: to discuss the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. Third: to develop promising areas of economic cooperation," Kuleba said. Thus, the minister invited Mozambique especially as a country currently occupying the seat of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2023-2024 to join the implementation of the Peace Formula. In turn, the Mozambican side expressed solidarity with Ukraine amid the war unleashed by Russia and supported Kuleba's proposal to hold a business forum under the patronage of the Foreign Ministry with the participation of businesses from the two countries. "This will help develop joint projects in trade, agriculture, food industry, IT, digital transformation, and pharmaceuticals," the ministry said in a statement. The People's Republic of China has been fragmenting diplomatic engagement with the Horn of Africa (HoA) to cement its foothold in the conflict-ridden region. Chinese President Xi Jinping's administration has been shifting the dynamics of its geopolitical influence in sub-Saharan Africa as the United States and its European allies made an exit, including the ex-colonial ruler France which was asked to pull out its troops from insurgency-hit Burkina Faso. The Horn of Africa comprises six states Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and the self-governing state of Somalilandof whom five are sovereign states and one is de facto, where China is now expanding its footprint. On Thursday, May 25, China announced that it is stepping up its cooperation with the African countries by sending more emergency food aid to the Horn of Africa. China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said in Beijing on Thursday that PRC will fund the reconstruction of Ethiopian infrastructure destroyed in the year-long Tigray war, according to the Beijing-based newspaper South China Morning Post. China has been weaponising investment on foreign soils as a part of its 'debt-trap diplomacy' to fulfil agendas of economic and military expansionism abroad. In 2022, Beijing sponsored the first-ever Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance, and Development Conference in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, which China's ruling Communist Party touted as a model country under its $126 billion Belt and Road initiative. China's FM Wang Yi, left speaks with Kenya's Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo. Credit: AP China allures Ethiopia with new investments in post-war reconstruction, development In a meeting held with Ethiopias deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen on May 25, Chinese FM Qin said China has delivered two batches of food aid to the Horn of Africa, adding that it is also considering providing a new batch to help countries alleviate their urgent needs. Beijing also iterated that it is ready to support the 'Ethiopian peace process' initiative, and "is willing to deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields to help Ethiopias post-war reconstruction, development and revitalisation," according to the paper. Ethiopia is in a critical period of consolidating peace and focussing on development, Qin was reported saying. China, in turn, pledged to rehabilitate and rebuild the infrastructure of Ethiopia which has been ravaged due to the hostilities in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia as heavy fighting ensued between the Ethiopian federal government and Eritrea on one side, and Tigray People Liberation Front on the other in 2022. The conflict ceased in November after two years of confrontation. Qin also conveyed "Chinas gratitude" to the Ethiopian government for its evacuation effort of its citizens from Sudan. He also acknowledged Ethiopia's help in rescuing Chinese nationals robbed and detained in Ethiopia. China hoped that the Ethiopian government will take effective measures to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel, Qin told Demeke, according to SCMP. Ethiopia's Demeke acknowledged that China has become the African nation's leading source of foreign direct investment and the largest trading partner, as well as the development financier. The minister iterated that PRC has a crucial role to play in Ethiopia's future growth. It remains unclear if the two countries agreed on settling or restructuring the Ethiopian debt under the Group of 20s Common Framework. Beijing expanded its diplomatic efforts with Ethiopia after the United States cut the aid to Mali, Ethiopia and Guinea alleging violations of the AGOA Statutes. As the US suspended Ethiopia from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, China lambasted the latter's action as meddling in Ethiopias internal affairs. Japan on Friday approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to Russian military-related organisations. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the Cabinet approval shows Japan is in step with the rest of the Group of Seven countries that agreed during their summit in Hiroshima last week to maintain and strengthen sanctions against Russia. He said Japan is committed to working with other G7 countries and the broader international community to improve the situation for Ukraine. Matsuno also sharply criticised the signing of a deal between Russia and Belarus on Thursday formalising the deployment of Moscow's tactical nuclear weapons in its ally's territory as a move that further escalate tensions. As the world's only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, Japan finds Russia's threats of nuclear weapons and their use absolutely impermissible, Matsuno said. Japan's government demands Russia and Belarus stop actions that further escalate tensions as we continue to watch the development with strong concern. Japan's additional sanctions and export restrictions reflect the G7's aim to prevent the evasion of sanctions by third countries and include a ban on exporting materials that would help strengthen Russia's industrial base, Matsuno said. According to a statement jointly issued by the foreign, trade and finance ministries, 24 individuals and 78 organisations were added to a list of those subject to asset freezes, including those who allegedly helped to divert and evade sanctions. Japan also imposed an export ban on 80 Russian military-related organisations, including machinery makers. The provision of construction, engineering and other services for Russia will also be banned. Japan has been closely cooperating with the G7 to impose sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine amid growing concern about the conflict's impact in Asia, where China has been expanding its military presence and threatening to use force to exert its control over self-governed Taiwan. Jill Biden will promote empowerment for women and young people and attend a Jordanian royal wedding during an upcoming trip to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. The first lady was scheduled to depart Wednesday on a six-day trip that will take her to Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Portugal. Her office shared some details first with The Associated Press. It will be Biden's first Middle East visit as first lady. She travelled to Namibia and Kenya in February. The first lady believes that supporting youth across the world is critical to our common future, with education, health, and empowerment at the heart of it, said Vanessa Valdivia, her spokesperson. With her visit to the Middle East and North Africa, the first lady will continue to build on her work to empower young people, and reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our partnerships and advance our shared priorities in the region, Valdivia said in an email. In Amman, the capital of Jordan, Biden will attend the June 1 wedding of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, heir to the throne, and Rajwa Khaled Al-Saif, an architect. President Joe Biden and the first lady have a deep and longstanding friendship with the prince's parents, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. When Joe Biden was vice president, he and King Abdullah often met over breakfast when the king traveled to Washington to visit his son, then a student at Georgetown University. Abdullah also visited Biden at his home in Delaware after Biden returned to private life. The two have met at least three times since Biden became president, twice at the White House and once in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In Egypt and Morocco, Jill Biden will connect with women and young people while focusing on U.S. investments that help support education programs and efforts to increase economic opportunity. In Portugal, the first lady will help the U.S. State Department celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Art in Embassies program, highlighting the role the arts can play in diplomacy. The United States announced a new military agreement with Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country, on May 22, 2023. The deal came shortly after US President Joe Biden announced plans to visit the small island country the first US president ever to do so. However, continuing fraught budget negotiations in the US-led Biden to cancel his plans on May 17. The details of the military agreement will be made public over the next few months but US and Papua New Guinea government officials have said that the deal is focused on supporting Papua New Guineas defense forces and increasing regional stability. China is not mentioned explicitly in the announcement of the deal, but we would be remiss in failing to note the connection. Papua New Guineas relevance Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, about 90 miles north of Australia. It has a population of 10 million people and a military with approximately 3,000 active-duty personnel. The United States proposed 2023 military spending budget is over 8,400 times the island countrys annual military spending . Papua New Guinea has a long history of colonization. The British government took over control of the southeast part of the overall island of New Guinea in the late 1800s, while Germany annexed the northern part. Australia then took over control of Papua New Guinea in the early 1900s. Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975. The western half of the island is called Papua and is part of Indonesia. Papua New Guinea has also served as a strategic location for the US in the past. During World War II, for example, Papua New Guinea was the site of a long and bloody campaign fought by the Americans and Australians against the Japanese military, who had occupied parts of the island. Some Papuans have expressed concern about their independence following the U.S. military deals announcement. Papuan University students have been protesting the agreement, asking for more clarity on the pacts details. Today, Papua New Guinea remains strategically located. Anyone with military access to Papua New Guinea could easily reach Australia, a key U.S. ally, by air or sea, with no need for refuelling. And the United States military support and training in Papua New Guinea itself could be a further way for the U.S. military to gain influence on the island and shift military policy to fall more in line with that of the US. Who benefits from the deal? What the US gains from supporting a smaller country with a small military may not seem immediately obvious. But while Papua New Guinea is a small country, it is important from a geographical and diplomatic position, given its proximity to Indonesia, Australia and the Solomon Islands. Indeed, the US has security agreements and partnerships with dozens of countries such as Colombia and Kenya that have weaker militaries and less money than the US. There have been question of who benefits when the US partners with a smaller country and found that both countries benefit. When the US gives military aid to another country, regardless of its wealth, that place generally tends to spend less on its own defense. The one exception to that is when the U.S. gives money to support militaries in countries that are part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in that case, countries may respond to US help by spending more on their militaries, too, because of shared interests. But there are also some strings attached. Some scholars have argued that a smaller military power like Papua New Guinea gives up sovereignty or autonomy over its foreign policy in exchange for US support. In that case, the US is exchanging money for Papua New Guinea to align its decisions with the U.S., instead of China. The US gets a commitment from Papua New Guinea to make decisions that are more favourable to U.S. interests and less favourable to China. US-China competition The US and China are clearly engaged in competition with each other over military, political and economic might. The US is arguably the dominant global power, but Chinas strength and influence continue to rise across Asia and Africa, as it has been making military agreements with such countries as the Solomon Islands, Djibouti and Thailand. There have been several incidents that recently escalated tensions between the US and China. One of these tension-raising events focused on the US Air Forces shooting down a Chinese balloon allegedly used for spying that flew across the U.S. in early 2023. Whats next in the Pacific? A lack of transparency leads to more suspicion against US military deployments abroad. While the US-Papua New Guinea deal may come with security benefits for both countries, continuing university protests on the island highlight that not everyone in the country wants US involvement or the risk of giving up the countrys ability to make decisions, independent of any outside military pressure. Based on the research, it is speculated that there may be an increased transparency on the deal may assuage some of these concerns and make it more likely to be successful. The Candlelight Party is planning a public protest despite warnings from Hun Sen. Members of the Constitutional Council of Cambodia announce the election disqualification of the Candlelight Party for the upcoming election in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 25, 2023. Cambodias Constitutional Council rejected an appeal from the countrys main opposition party to be allowed to register for the upcoming parliamentary elections, a decision on Thursday that leaves the Candlelight Party without options and some observers questioning whether the July vote will have much credibility. The National Election Committees decision earlier this month to block the Candlelight Party from appearing on the ballot was deemed correct and based on the law, council spokesman Prum Vicheat Akara told reporters. The ruling means Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party wont have any major challengers on the ballot on July 23. The decision is a setback for democracy in Cambodia and will disenfranchise thousands of people who have recently become supporters of the Candlelight Party, according to Rong Chhun, the partys vice president. The French foreign ministry echoed that, saying it was a troubling signal that undermines the democratic nature of the vote. France calls on the appropriate authorities to take the necessary measures to allow the Candlelight Party to participate in this important democratic exercise, it said in a statement. The NEC said on May 15 that it wouldnt accept a statement from the Interior Ministry confirming the partys registration in 1998. The committee said it required the original certificate issued by the ministry, which was lost in 2017 when the offices of a previous opposition party were raided by government agents. Candlelight Party members have cried foul because the party was allowed to compete in last years local commune elections. Public protest promised Party officials had hoped the Constitutional Council, a judicial body that examines election disputes, might overturn the NECs ruling. But the Constitutional Council just like the NEC was simply acting according to Hun Sens wishes, Finland-based political analyst Kim Sok said. Son Chhay, second from right, deputy leader of the opposition political Candlelight Party, arrives at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Oct. 7, 2022. Credit: Associated Press Hun Sen cant find any solutions so he already threatened foreign diplomats, he said. He is afraid of a demonstration after the election results. He is afraid of the Candlelight Party and other social injustice issues. The Candlelight Party has two choices, said Australia-based social development researcher Seng Sary. One is to seek some kind of foreign intervention. Another is to persuade France-based opposition figure Sam Rainsy to return to the country for the first time since 2015. The Candlelight Party can call for a small protest, but if Sam Rainsy returns, there will be a bigger movement, he said. If Sam Rainsy is in the country, there will be a bigger force. Party officials will organize a public protest of the Councils decision soon, Rong Chhun said. However, Hun Sen recently warned against holding any protest, saying a demonstration could lead to violence and mass arrests. He has ordered prisons to prepare their cells for opposition party members. Activists and party officials targeted Authorities have arrested several top Candlelight Party officials in recent months. Some activists have complained of a campaign of intimidation, while others have been persuaded by the promise of a government position to switch their allegiance to the CPP. Cambodia's Candlelight Party supporters wave flags before marching during an election campaign for the June 5 communal elections in Phnom Penh, May 21, 2022. Credit: Associated Press The Candlelight Party has attracted support over the last several years with a policy platform centered around improving social welfare benefits such as offering free check-ups and treatment at public hospitals and raising the minimum monthly wage for garment workers and civil servants. Eng Sokha, a voter in Phnom Penh, said the CPP must be afraid of competing with the oppositions popularity. Its well-known that Candlelights paperwork was valid enough for it to compete in the 2022 commune elections, she said. So there is no reason that the party cant join this election. I am disappointed, she said, adding that she might not vote. CPP spokesman Sok Ey San dismissed any concerns about the elections validity. If Candlelight Party supporters dont vote, then the CPP will continue to lead the country, he said. Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. The dwindling group of mostly elderly relatives of victims says they won't give up on seeking redress from Beijing Residents welcome troops loyal to the moderate Chinese leadership in Beijing, June 6, 1989. Troops aligned with hardliners shot their way to Tiananmen Square to commit one of the worst massacres in modern Chinese history. Tiananmen Mothers, a group representing victims of the June 4 massacre that ended weeks of pro-democracy protests in 1989 has called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to take responsibility for the actions of the government ahead of this year's 34th anniversary. "They may believe that they had nothing to do with the order to open fire [on unarmed civilians] back then, but ... it was still done by the party in power, the Communist Party," You Weijie, a spokeswoman for the group told Radio Free Asia on Friday. "The government of today should take full responsibility and tell the public about everything that took place then," she said. Public commemoration of the massacre is banned in mainland China, while an annual candlelight vigil that used to mark the anniversary in Hong Kong's Victoria Park has fallen silent after more than three decades, its leaders in prison under a draconian national security law used to crack down on public dissent. Authorities in China typically place dozens of pro-democracy activists and dissidents under house arrest or other forms of restriction ahead of the politically sensitive date, while members of the Tiananmen Mothers are taken to make offerings to their loved ones under police escort. Meanwhile, the number of living relatives of people killed in the bloodshed -- ordered by then-supreme leader Deng Xiaoping -- dwindles every year, as the group continues to call on Beijing to make public details of the massacre and its victims, to pursue those responsible, and to award compensation to victims' families. Dwindling number More than 70 relatives of victims have died since the group was set up, You said, including seven during the past year alone. "We are sincere in seeking dialogue with the government," she said. "The government has evaded responsibility for the tragedy that took place that year." "We won't give up on this," she said. People on Chang'an Boulevard hold up a photo that they described as dead victims of the violence against pro-democracy protesters on Tiananmen Square, Beijing, June 5, 1989, as hundreds were killed in the early morning hours of June 4, in clashes with Chinese soldiers. Credit: Jeff Widener/AP Meanwhile, Zhang Jingli, who lost her 26-year-old husband Liu Yongliang in the 1989 massacre, wrote on the Tiananmen Mothers' Facebook page that the hardest thing was the lack of official accountability for the violence. "In the 30 long years that have elapsed, I have been able to bear life's difficulties, but I have nowhere to talk about my pain -- that psychological pain has always been with me," Zhang wrote. "How could fully armed soldiers and tanks with live ammunition shoot at unarmed students and citizens on the streets of Beijing and in Tiananmen Square?" she said. Ding Zilin, mother of 17-year-old pro-democracy demonstrator Jiang Jielian who was killed during the 1989 army crackdown on Tiananmen protesters, weeps as she talks about memories of the event in Beijing, April 7, 2009. A group representing the victims of the June 4 Tiananmen massacre that ended weeks of pro-democracy protests in 1989 has called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to take responsibility for the actions of the government ahead of this year's 34th anniversary. Credit: Peter Parks/AFP You said she, like Zhang, had been left to raise a child after losing her husband on the square. "I just had to be brave and get on with it," she said. "As people get older, they have less and less opportunity to stand up and speak out." She said the group expects to be allowed to make its offerings as usual at Beijing's Wan'an cemetery. "We have gone there every year, so I don't think they will make it hard for us this year," she said. Zhang Xianling holds up a photo of her son Wang Nan who was killed during the 1989 army crackdown on Tiananmen protesters at her home in Beijing, April 29, 2014. Zhang is a member of the Tiananmen Mothers, a group that campaigns for the truth about the event to be revealed and for criminal and historical accountability. Credit: Andy Wong/AP This year's anniversary comes as South Korea's biggest human rights group honored jailed Hong Kong barrister and former Tiananmen vigil organizer Chow Hang-tung with its 2023 Gwangju Human Rights Award, in spite of a recent visit from Chinese consular officials asking them to reverse the decision. Chow is currently serving a 15-month sentence for inciting people to hold a vigil for the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. She also stands accused of incitement to subvert state power, with the prosecution claiming that she and the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China used the now-banned vigils to incite the overthrow of the Chinese government. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Lawmakers say theyre near a deal to pay Americas debts, but the fight to get there has aired much dirty laundry. President Joe Biden meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., to discuss the debt limit in the Oval Office of the White House, May 22, 2023, in Washington. After weeks of brinkmanship, American lawmakers may finally be approaching a deal that would raise the U.S. governments debt ceiling, allowing it to pay its debts held in the trillions of dollars by world governments and pension funds alike on time. Such a last-minute deal would ensure Washingtons divisive politics once again avoids torching the global economy by blowing up what is widely considered the worlds safest long-term asset: the debt issued by the U.S. Treasury, backed by the immense American tax base. That would prevent the worst possible spillover of wrangling between Democrats and Republicans across global borders. But much damage to Americas reputation, experts say, will have already been done. U.S. foes, in particular, would be pleased with the reminder of the indivision that can paralyze Washington, said Ryan Hass, the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution. The debt ceiling standoff is an early Christmas present for China and Russia, Hass told Radio Free Asia. They both seek to portray the United States as being hobbled by internal divisions and generating dysfunction that does harm to the rest of the world. Cascading financial ruin Such a depiction could have a devastating impact on Americas reputation across Asia, given the deep economic consequences it could cause if those holding the safe asset end up shortchanged. Japan, according to Treasury data, is the worlds largest holder of U.S debt, with more than US$1.1 trillion, followed closely by China itself, which claims some $860 billion. Taiwan holds the tenth-most, at $235 billion, while India holds $232 billion and Singapore $187 billion. In 17th place, South Korea, meanwhile, holds about $106 billion. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a gala concert dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia, June 5, 2019. (Sergei Ilnitsky Pool via AP) Any failure on behalf of the U.S. government to pay some of its debts to those countries would cause cascading financial damage, as key economic actors themselves wind up unable to pay debts on time. But even if the debt limit is increased, the now nearly annual exercise of uncertainty and brinkmanship will chip away at the perceived reliability of long-term U.S. debt repayment and likely cause financial planners around the world to further diversify their holdings. Credit-rating agency Fitch this week put U.S. debts coveted Triple-A rating, which lets the United States borrow money at the lowest price, on negative watch, citing the increased political partisanship in Washington it said was constantly putting repayment at risk. The agency noted Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has estimated the U.S. government would run out of money to pay its debts on Thursday, June 1, if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling and approve Treasurys ability to issue more debt to pay those now coming due. 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 in a Wednesday report. The failure to reach a deal to raise or suspend the debt limit by the x-date would be a negative signal of the broader governance and willingness of the U.S. to honor its obligations in a timely fashion, which would be unlikely to be consistent with a 'AAA' rating, in Fitch's view. Chaos is priced-in Still, not everyone is sure the debt-ceiling fight will cause significant desecration of Americas centrality to the global financial system. Some pundits, for instance, argue a short-term default would in fact perversely lead to higher world demand for U.S. debt, because in the absence of any alternative asset in a time of global chaos, it would still be viewed in relative terms, at least as the worlds safest asset. Others have noted that China the only economy big enough to offer an alternative to U.S. debt as an asset would, as its second-largest holder, be as financially devastated as anyone by a default But even then, Washingtons allies would understand by now that things will never get that far, with the intense last-minute politicking widely viewed as par-for-course for American democracy, said Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu. Generally, U.S. friends and allies in the region understand that the U.S. has a vibrant two-party system and that sometimes partisan disputes can result in threats of risky actions, Roy told RFA. The danger is other countries, both friends and foes, believing that U.S. politics has become so dysfunctional it might affect U.S. reliability. Roy said, though, that the second-order effects could be severe, with the world seeing how domestic politics can hobble U.S. foreign policy. Now we see President Biden pulling out of a planned Quad meeting in Sydney, he said. If the region sees U.S. internal politics regularly disrupting U.S. foreign policy, this will erode U.S. leadership. Pivot from Asia Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this month canceled a meeting of the Quad a loose alliance of Australia, Japan, India and the United States aimed at counterbalancing China at the Sydney Opera House after Biden said that he would skip it. Biden instead had to fly back to Washington to engage in discussions with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the leaders of the four Quad nations instead met briefly on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima. Albanese told reporters he understood Bidens reasons, but days later announced he planned to soon pay a visit to Beijing. In the end, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, made the trip to Sydney anyway, appearing beside Albanese at a packed-out concert venue for a public-relations coup, with Bidens absence conspicuous. The Australian prime minister likened his Indian counterpart to U.S. rock sensation Bruce Springsteen, who played at Bidens January 2021 inauguration and in March received the Medal of Arts from Biden. Modi is The Boss, Albanese told a packed concert venue. Systemic risk The real risk of the debt-ceiling debacle, then, may be what the indivision in Washington tells allies and foes alike about a polarized American political systems ability to maneuver in times of crisis. Ja Ian Chong, a professor of international relations and expert in Chinese foreign policy at the National University of Singapore, said that the debt-ceiling fracas had blown-up months of efforts by Republicans and Democrats to depict themselves as unified on Asia foreign policy. The debt ceiling dispute calls into question U.S. commitment and resoluteness about maintaining its presence in Asia, Chong told RFA, noting that U.S. foreign policy on China had become the only or one of the few areas with bipartisan agreement in the United States. The Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building is seen with a statue of George Washington in the foreground, in Washington, May 17, 2023. Lawmakers say theyre near a deal to pay Americas debts, but the fight to get there has aired much dirty laundry. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) At best, Chong said, if such a dispute can disrupt President Bidens visit to Papua New Guinea and Australia, this suggests that there isnt even enough bipartisan support for this [foreign policy] agenda. But a worse explanation, he added, is that there is bipartisan support in areas like countering China, but it is not sufficient to overcome serious domestic partisan differences due to the quirks of U.S. democracy. With so much at stake for debt-holders across America and Asia alike, he said, the argument that the near-annual exercise in brinkmanship over the key global asset was just politics was starting to wear thin. Of course, there is a claim that this could be politics as usual or electioneering ahead of next years presidential election, Chong said. Onlookers from Asia are not going to pay attention to these details. The former prime minister also told Asia not to take sides in U.S.-China disputes Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during the Nikkei Forum "Future of Asia" in Tokyo on May 26, 2023. The world is facing the grim prospect of a nuclear war as the Ukrainian conflict drags on, a former Asian leader has warned. I dont think you can make Russia surrender, said former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad about the ongoing Ukraine war on Friday the second day of the Future of Asia conference hosted by the Nikkei news group in Tokyo. They will fight to the end, and in desperation they may resort to the use of nuclear weapons, said the former statesman who will be 98 in July, adding that not only Ukraine and Russia, but the whole world will suffer. Mahathir served as Malaysia's prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. Nuclear war is the worst kind of war because of the extent of destruction it causes, he said, reflecting on the end of World War II when two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. A summit of Group of Seven (G7) of the worlds most developed nations was held in Hiroshima last week. It seems that G7 countries went to Hiroshima trying to persuade the Global South that they should support the Wests efforts in the Ukraine war, Mahathir said. The Global South is a term generally used for less developed countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, as opposed to more prosperous nations in the Global North including North America, Europe, and Australia, as well as several rich Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Singapore. We should not get involved in wars, the former leader said before criticizing what he called the mindset of some countries. Global North thinks that war is a solution to conflicts between nations, Mahathir said. Russia and the West were partners in the war against Germany, he said, but immediately after the war the West decided that their new enemy is Russia so they set up NATO. World government The rivalry between the worlds two superpowers China and the U.S. once again was highlighted at the Future of Asia event, in its 28th year this year. Sri Lankas President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Thursday that his country welcomes the G7's announcement that they are prepared to build a stable and constructive relationship with China. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong went further adding: "Any attempt either to contain China's rise or to limit America's presence in the region will have few takers. Nobody wants to see a new cold war." Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (right) at a Q&A session at the Future of Asia conference, May 26, 2023. Credit: RFA/Screenshot from livestream For his part, Mahathir Mohamad urged Asian countries that they should not take sides to support either the U.S. or China. We should support the world that includes the U.S., China and the rest. We should free ourselves from the influences by the West both in the economic and political fields, said the former leader, known for his anti-Western rhetoric. In his opinion, the United Nations as an organization needs to be restructured in order to lead global efforts in dealing with common world problems such as climate change, pandemics and consequences of wars. We should think of a common approach to deal with world problems, through a kind of world government, he said. Future of Asia, held by Japans Nikkei annually since 1995, is an international gathering where political, economic, and academic leaders from the Asia-Pacific region offer their opinions frankly and freely on regional issues and the role of Asia in the world. This years theme is Leveraging Asias power to confront global challenges. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered a speech Thursday saying Tokyo is focused on co-creating the future with its Asian partners. Edited by Mike Firn. The National Geographics unprecedented tour hopes to solve some of the oceans problems. Schools of fish swim over a coral reef during the past Pristine Seas expedition in October 2021. Updated at 9:05 a.m. EDT on May 26, 2023. National Geographic says it has launched a five-year Pacific Ocean expedition to investigate marine life and ecosystems, find new species and identify potential protected areas in some of the Earths most remote seas. The expedition aboard the vessel E/V Argo embarked from Tahiti on Thursday. It is equipped with a three-seater submersible vehicle that can descend to 300 meters (984 feet) and drop cameras that travel six kilometers (3.7 miles) below the surface to film for hours. Theres also a remote-controlled robot. Ultimately, they hope to support the establishment of new marine protected areas, each with sustainable management and financing plans, National Geographic said in a statement, noting that was crucial to the survival of Pacific island nations. Researchers said they want to learn more about climate change impact amid biodiversity loss, food insecurity, plastics pollution and overfishing. The health of the tropical Pacific is an essential need for the people who live there and really to everyone on the planet because the ocean is a key part of our life support system, said Enric Sala, National Geographic explorer in residence and the founder of the Pristine Seas expedition. Their expedition coverage region is three times the size of the United States. The first phase will cover 6,400 kilometers (3,977 miles) in 2023 alone. The expedition will be completed in 2028. National Geographic said that previous Pristine Seas expeditions generated more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific studies, which ultimately helped establish 26 marine protected areas worldwide. Never explored before The Pristine Seas expedition will tour Kiribatis southern line islands, the Cook Islands, Niue, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Were always looking for new species, said Alan Friedlander, the chief scientist for the expedition. A lot of the Deep Sea has never been explored in many of these places. Sea turtles swimming during the past Pristine Seas expedition in October 2021. Credit: Manu San Felix, via National Geographic An Indigenous Kiribati ocean researcher said the expedition will help understand his ocean country better as custodians of these unique ecosystems. As an Indigenous and marine scientist who grew up in a low-lying developing island state that is the front line of climate change, I have spent most of my life in the ocean, experiencing and witnessing the radical changes in the surrounding marine and ocean ecosystem, Evii Tong was quoted as saying in the statement. Its an existential threat to our nation, people, and culture because the ocean is our identity as I-kiribati. In the Southern Line Islands, part of Kiribati, the crew will study coral reefs decimated in 2015-16 due to one of the strongest ocean warming events recorded in the tropical Pacific. Protected areas with fishing bans around five islands have recovered rapidly, while the unprotected reefs remain severely damaged. The rebirth underway in the protected zones stands out for, so dramatically and convincingly demonstrating the link between protections and resilience, the National Geographic said. Their findings also showed that in protected areas, where fishing is prohibited, fish stocks have rapidly increased by 500% or more within five to 10 years, triggering a cascade of ecological benefits from ecosystem recovery to a boost in ecotourism. Blacktip Reef Sharks swim past a coral reef during the past Pristine Seas expedition to Kiribatis Southern Line Islands in October 2021. Credit: Manu San Felix, via National Geographic Another notable previous finding is the fact that sharks and other apex predators are essential to reef survival, as their voracious appetite helps in a constant turnover of life, which keeps reefs resilient to global warming stresses like coral bleaching. Previous scientific studies missed the vital role of sharks because the work was done in easily accessible areas that had been degraded or overfished, according to Friedlander. We removed this bias by going to very remote regions and showing how a truly pristine, healthy ocean environment functions, he said. Also, for the first time, the expedition showed the amount of carbon released every year due to seafloor net dragging, or bottom trawling, a fishing practice, equals the amount generated by the aviation industry. Deep-sea mining The expedition will investigate deep-sea mining, a contentious issue in the region that has currently divided the Pacific Islands countries into two opposite camps. Sala, the explorer in residence at National Geographic, said specialized cameras will capture detailed depictions of the underwater ecosystems in some of the proposed areas for deep-sea mining, which is a serious threat to that rich and fragile marine life of the depths. We believe that we should know more; the world should not rush to mine the deep sea until we know enough about this part of the world, the last frontier, he said. Convict Tang fish seen in a photo taken during the past Pristine Seas expedition to study how remote atolls fared during mass coral bleaching in Kiribatis Southern Line Islands in October 2021. Credit: Manu San Felix, via National Geographic Palaus Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment Minister, Steven Victor, said the expedition would provide a glimpse into the ocean depth that we often have very little appreciation for because we dont know whats there. We are an ocean people and culture ... We as Pacific Islanders have taken responsibility to take care of the ocean, and we call on the rest of the world to share that responsibility with us, he said. Last week, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. told Radio Free Asia that his government has asked for a deep-sea mining moratorium, at least until 2030. As a Pacific Islander whose islands are going under, why would you go scrape the bottom of the ocean and release carbon, which were trying to stop? So thats being hypocritical, he said. Ultimately, one mans gain can be the demise of the other, and thats why I said lets not let greed lead. Edited by Mike Firn. This story has been updated to add when the expedition departed and to make edits. Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, a camera operator with Myanmar Press Photo Agency, was sentenced to 10 years with hard labor by a secret junta prison court in Yangon, Myanmar, May 26, 2023. A Burmese journalist was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison with hard labor for violating Myanmars counterterrorism law, in addition to a three-year sentence she received in December 2022 for defamation, an attorney working on her case said. Camera operator Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun of Myanmar Press Photo Agency, was sentenced in Insein Prison on the outskirts of Yangon by the ruling juntas Thingangyun District Court, said the lawyer who requested anonymity for safety reasons. She was sentenced to three years in jail under Section 505(a) of the countrys Penal Code after being held in jail for a year. The junta has charged journalists under the broad and vague anti-state provision that penalizes incitement and false news, and carries penalties of two or three years in prison. Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tuns attorney said his client would not appeal the verdict. She said she did not want to appeal, he told Radio Free Asia. She has no more indictments to face. The military regime has clamped down hard on press freedom in Myanmar since seizing power from the democratically elected government in a February 2021 coup. Junta soldiers continue to target, harass, jail and kill journalists. Human rights groups have called on the junta to unconditionally free all journalists targeted in the post-coup crackdown. Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun's injuries resulted from military troops who rammed a vehicle into a crowd of civilians peacefully protesting against the regime in Yangons Kyimyindaing township on Dec. 5, 2021. They arrested the camera operator along with her colleague, photographer Kaung Sett Lin, both of whom were covering the protest, as well as nine young activists. The military vehicle hit the two journalists at high speed from behind, causing serious injuries to their heads, legs and other areas of their bodies, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported. Tun, whose legs were broken, still has difficulty walking and cannot move like a normal person, her attorney said. Since the coup, the military junta has arrested 156 journalists. More than 100 of them have been released, while more than 50 remain in prison, and one photojournalist Soe Naing was killed during interrogation. Translated by Myo Min Aung for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that Russia had begun moving nuclear weapons to its western neighbor and ally, after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to transfer them in March, Azernews reports citing Al Arabiya. There were no new comments from Russia on bringing the nuclear weapons to Belarus. The transfer of nuclear munitions has begun, Lukashenko said 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 Russias Ukraine offensive. In March, Putin announced he would station tactical -- or short-range -- nuclear weapons to the territory of Belarus, drawing condemnation from the West. Lukashenko said Putin had informed him on Wednesday that he had signed a decree on the transfer. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Thursday said the move would not only endanger the lives of Belarusians but also create a new threat against Ukraine and all of Europe. It will make Belarusians hostages to Russian imperial ambitions, Tikhanovskaya added. Tactical nuclear arms are battlefield weapons that, while devastating, have a smaller yield compared to long-range strategic weapons. Putins announcement had spurred fears of nuclear conflict, but experts and governments said it was unlikely that the move would change the course of the conflict. Belarusian troops began training on nuclear-capable Russian missile systems in April. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has confirmed the "meeting" of the Russian vessel with the Ukrainian drone, the press service of the ministry reported. When the russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs met a Ukrainian drone. Indeed, a perfect match! the ministry said on Twitter. Earlier, the media reported that the Russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs was attacked by drones. Information about this was spread throughout the network. Later, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation confirmed the fact of an attempted drone attack on the ship. In their statements, they blamed Ukraine for this incident. Representatives of the Russian ministry said that all the means used to attack the ship were destroyed. However, they presented a video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the boats. The Ivan Khurs is a reconnaissance ship that was launched in 2017, and in 2018 became part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It was designed to provide communications, fleet management, and intelligence tasks. Some were killed in detention, while others in hiding were blocked from medical treatment. Photos of NLD MPs Kyaw Myo Min, who was killed by the junta troops nearly two weeks after his arrest, and Nyunt Shwe, who died in prison due to lack of proper medical treatment. Last June, junta security personnel arrested Kyaw Myo Min, a lawmaker for the deposed National League for Democracy in central Myanmars Mon state, along with two other party members and a fourth individual. More than a week later, his body was found 90 kilometers (55 miles) to the southeast, in Hpa-An township, according to a person close to his family. He is one of 16 NLD lawmakers to die in junta custody or while evading arrest since the 2021 coup, according to a statement released this week by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw a shadow parliament made up of lawmakers ousted in the takeover. The people who were arrested together with him were murdered first and then they killed him, said the acquaintance, who spoke to RFA Burmese on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns. They tied his hands together behind his back and tied a rope around his neck. He was killed with his hands bound. CRPH Secretary Tun Myint called Kyaw Myo Mins death the worst among NLD parliamentarians in junta detention, but said all were unjust. These MPs were arrested and tortured by the junta, he said. Others died because they were denied access to medical treatment. According to the CRPH, at least 14 of the MPs five from the national Union Parliament and nine state and regional lawmakers died in hiding while being sought by the junta for arrest. One other Nyunt Shwe, a lawmaker from the seat of Bago region died in prison after being refused treatment for an illness, the group said. No access to treatment Myint San, the NLDs Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, was diagnosed with cancer while living in a remote location in rural Tanintharyi regions Dawei township to avoid detention, his colleague, Kyaw Htway, told RFA. When the symptoms started showing severely, there were no doctors or medical professionals for him to seek medical treatment from, Kyaw Htway said. He was finally forced to travel to Thailand to seek medication, as he was seriously sick. Myint San, NLD partys Tanintharyi regional government minister, Credit: U Myint San/Facebook The 66-year-old, who was elected as state representative of Tanintharyi and won a seat representing the regions Launglon township in Myanmars 2020 election, died in Phuket, Thailand, last week of complications from his disease. Since the coup, the junta has arrested or imprisoned nearly 130 NLD lawmakers including former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint as well as 29 CRPH parliamentarians and 59 state or regional MPs, according to the CRPHs count. The shadow parliament said that the junta typically charges lawmakers with crimes including high treason, sedition, inciting national unrest and terrorism, and sentences them to lengthy jail terms. Calls to junta Deputy Minister of Information Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the deaths of NLD lawmakers rang unanswered Thursday. Impact on party and society Political analyst Sai Kyi Zin Soe told RFA that the deaths of key politicians could severely impact the NLDs standing in Myanmar, particularly after the junta dissolved the party in late March when its leadership chose not to re-register with the countrys Election Commission. It will be difficult for them to re-establish the party without highly experienced politicians, he said, comparing such efforts to starting from scratch again. Without these experienced politicians to hand down what they have learned to the younger generations, the partys standing will be affected, he added. A human rights activist in Yangon, who also declined to be named for fear of reprisal, went further, saying the deaths will negatively impact wider society. It is a very serious blow to all of Myanmar that the human rights of the MPs who lead the country by writing legislation and upholding the rule of law have been violated as they were arrested, tortured and killed in prisons by the junta, he said. In addition to arresting and causing the deaths of NLD lawmakers, the junta has also targeted members of the party by confiscating their properties. Earlier this week, the NLD revealed that the junta had seized nearly 1,000 homes and private buildings belonging to party members and their supporters since the coup. Speaking to RFA on Thursday, CRPH Secretary Tun Myint vowed to bring those responsible for the deaths to justice when a civilian government is restored to Myanmar. The inhumane brutality of the military junta has been documented and will be reported to the United Nations Human Rights Council, he said. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Water has exposed cracks in the Taliban's fragile relationship with Tehran, with both sides exchanging pointed barbs over scarce supplies before coming to deadly blows along the Afghan-Iranian border. Tensions remain high following the deaths of troops from both sides on May 27, with Taliban and Iranian officials digging in on their positions with increased military activity and fresh warnings. But while disputes over water security are expected to intensify between the two drought-stricken countries, both sides appear to be keeping the door open for dialogue on the issue while boosting cooperation in other areas of mutual concern. The deadly firefight took place across the shared border between southeastern Iran and southwestern Afghanistan, with each side accusing the other of firing first. Social media footage showed Taliban heavy weaponry streaming to the border in the Kang district of Nimroz Province, where officials said one Taliban border guard was killed and several people were wounded after an exchange of heavy gunfire. Iranian media, meanwhile, said up to three Iranian border guards were killed and several people wounded in its southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan Province, where Iran has worked to fortify its border as tensions over water supplies rose over the past two weeks. Following the incident, the Taliban has continued to push back on Iran's claim that it is not honoring a water treaty ironed out by the two sides in 1973. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers dialogue to be a reasonable way for any problem," Taliban Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khawarazmi said in a statement on May 28, referring to the official name of the Taliban's unrecognized government. "Making excuses for war and negative actions is not in the interest of any of the parties." Iran has continued its harder line, with national police commander Brigadier-General Ahmadreza Radan saying the same day that "the border forces of the Islamic republic of Iran will decisively respond to any border trespassing and aggression, and the current authorities of Afghanistan must be held accountable for their unmeasured and contrary actions to international principles." But Iranian officials, too, have expressed the need for a diplomatic solution, with high-ranking security official Mohammad Ismail Kothari describing the dispute as "fighting between children of the same house" while rejecting that Tehran would resort to the "military option." Big Dam Issues Water is a precious commodity in both southwestern Afghanistan, one of the country's most productive agricultural areas, and in southeastern Iran, one of several arid areas of the country where water scarcity has fueled public protests. But with Afghanistan in control of upriver water sources that feed low-lying wetlands and lakes in Iran's southeast, the Taliban finds itself with a rare tool for leverage in its relationship with Tehran. The problem -- or the solution, depending on which side you consider -- stems from the construction of major dam projects in Afghanistan that in combination with increased drought and other factors have restricted the flow of water to the Sistan Basin. The border-straddling basin depends on perennial flooding to fill what used to be a vast wildlife oasis and was home to the massive Hamun Lake, which now consists of three smaller seasonal lakes -- Hamun-e Helmand in Iran and Hamun-e Sabari and Hamun-e Puzak in both Afghanistan and Iran. The longstanding issue of replenishing the basin with water came to the forefront earlier this month following comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and President Ebrahim Raisi. Amir-Abdollahian, in a call with his Taliban counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, demanded the Afghan authorities open the gates of the inland Kajaki Dam that pools water from the Helmand River "so both the people of Afghanistan and Iran can be hydrated." Shortly afterward, Raisi upped the ante during a visit to Sistan-Baluchistan on May 18 by warning the "rulers of Afghanistan to immediately give the people of Sistan-Baluchistan their water rights." He added that the Taliban should take his words "seriously" and not say "they were not told." The Taliban has consistently denied the accusation that it was not complying with the 1973 treaty and said that even if the Kajaki Dam were opened there would not be enough water to reach Iran. But just two days after Raisi's threats, the Taliban appeared to twist the knife by inaugurating a new irrigation project that involved completing the construction of the Bakhshabad Dam on the Farah River, which feeds the Sistan Basin from the north. Contentious Water Treaty According to the 1973 treaty, Afghanistan is committed to sharing water from the Helmand River with Iran at the rate of 26 cubic meters of water per second, or 850 million cubic meters per year. But the accord also allows for less water to be delivered in cases of low water levels, which have been affected by persistent drought and the construction of new dams in Afghanistan, including the Kamal Khan Dam on the Helmand River that was completed in 2021 shortly before the Taliban seized power in Kabul. The Taliban's deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said on May 22 that Kabul was "committed to the water treaty of 1973 but the drought that exists in Afghanistan and region should not be ignored." "The pain of the people of Sistan-Baluchistan is our pain," he added. "Our hearts melt for them as much as they melt for the people of Afghanistan, but we also suffer from a shortage of water." Cooperation on the water issue was previously seen as a sign of deepening ties between Afghanistan's Sunni Taliban rulers and Shi'a-majority Iran. In January 2022, the Taliban released water from the Kamal Khan Dam on the Helmand River in Nimroz Province into the Hamun Lake. While their sectarian differences once made them enemies, their common interests in opposing Afghanistan's Western-backed government and U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan over the past two decades brought them closer. Since the Taliban returned to power, the militant group has sought to build economic and security ties with Tehran. While Iran has not recognized the Taliban-led government, it has sought to work with the group on the issues of Afghan refugees in Iran and cross-border drug trafficking. In February, Iran formally handed over the Afghan Embassy in Tehran to the Taliban. Afghanistan's and Iran's water crises require both countries to show a strong hand on the issue of water supplies, both for domestic consumption and to protect their national interests. But experts suggest the benefits of cooperation outweigh an escalation of the conflict. "Neither country at this point in time needs a really hostile border," Marvin Weinbaum, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan studies at the Middle East Institute think tank in Washington, told RFE/RL. "Economically it is an issue for both countries -- there would be no agricultural potential in Helmand Province without the water furnished by the dam. And very little of it gets into Iran. And southeast Iran is as dry as any place on the planet." Weinbaum said neither the Taliban nor Tehran is going to exhibit weakness on the issue of short-term water shortages. "As the climate heats up, this is only going to grow more acute," he said. But for both countries, Weinbaum said, "economic ties are really what matters the most," along with cooperating on other issues of mutual concern such as preventing the Islamic State extremist group from expanding its foothold in the region. Ironically, just days after Raisi's threats and the inauguration of a new dam project in Afghanistan, the Taliban's Defense Ministry announced it had reached a new agreement on cooperating with Iran on defense and border issues. And on the day of the firefight that left border guards dead on both sides, officials had met earlier to discuss the water dispute. After the deadly incident, Iranian and Taliban officials held another meeting to investigate the cause of the "tensions." Path To Resolution The construction of dams -- which both Iran and Afghanistan engage heavily in -- and their downstream impact stand out among the causes to discuss. "What really triggers these disputes?" asked Weinbaum. "The intensification of them is obviously building dams, which represent simply a lower flow than they've been accustomed to and are not happy with." Other observers suggest the decades-old water-sharing agreement that Iran and the Taliban accuse each other of failing to adhere to holds the answer to resolving the dispute. The 1973 treaty does allow for the delivery of water from the Afghan side to be lower than the agreed-upon levels under certain circumstances, which would appear to include the drought and climate change that the Taliban has said have limited water supplies. It also commits the two countries to follow a set course "in the event that a difference should develop in the interpretation" of the provisions set out in the treaty: diplomatic negotiations, turning to the "good offices" of a third party to help mediate a solution, and in the event neither step works, arbitration. With additional reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda and Radio Azadi Fighting in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk has continued over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military said early on May 31, as local officials reported more alleged drone strikes inside Russia. Ukrainian forces repelled 22 Russian attacks in the east, the General Staff said in its daily update, although the intensity of Moscow's offensive in and around the Donetsk city of Bakhmut appeared to have subsided, according to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar. 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. Unsuccessful Russian assaults took place in the Kharkiv region's Kupyansk and Masyutivka areas, and in Novoselivske in the Luhansk region. Malyar said that in Bakhmut, which has been the epicenter of the fighting in the east for months, Russian troops had not been conducting infantry operations, apparently regrouping their forces, but had been continuing shelling and air strikes on Ukrainian positions. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, which has spearheaded the attacks on Bakhmut, last week announced he was withdrawing his fighters from the city and handing over to regular Russian forces. Ukraine's Defense Ministry has confirmed that Wagner fighters have been leaving the Bakhmut suburbs but remain in the city itself. Prigozhin has claimed that Bakhmut had fallen to his mercenaries, but his claim was rejected by the Ukrainian military, which said it has managed to occupy positions to the north and south of the devastated city. Early on May 31, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, Venyamin Kondratyev, said an alleged drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery. The strike triggered a fire at one of the Afip refinery's distillation units, Kondratyev said, adding that there were no casualties and the fire had been extinguished. Late on May 30, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region said that one person was killed and six were wounded in shelling of a temporary shelter for civilians. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov blamed Ukrainian forces for artillery fire that hit the shelter, which he said housed displaced people, including elderly civilians and children. There was no comment on the claims from the Ukrainian side. Moscow-installed authorities in Ukraine's Luhansk region, which is almost completely occupied by Russia, said on May 31 that five people were killed and 19 wounded by Ukrainian shelling that hit a poultry farm in the village of Karpaty. The information could not be independently confirmed and there was no immediate reaction from Ukraine. On May 30, Russia launched a fresh wave of drone strikes on Kyiv -- the fourth attack in three days -- killing at least one person and wounding several others, but Ukrainian authorities said most of the drones were shot down by the capital's air defenses, while Moscow was subjected to a rare drone attack that damaged several buildings. Bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied equipment, Ukrainian air defenses have been adept at thwarting Russian air attacks -- both drones and aircraft missiles. Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, targeting military facilities and supplies with waves of attacks several times a week. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he continued to speak with Ukraine's Western partners about providing further air-defense systems to repel Russian attacks. This included a conversation on May 30 with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The same day Russia launched its intense drone attack on Kyiv, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said eight drones were shot down or jammed over the Russian capital in what it said was a "terrorist attack" by the "Kyiv regime." Russia's Investigative Committee said no one was wounded. WATCH: Ukrainian survivors of a Russian drone attack, the latest in a wave of at least 17 such strikes this month, described running for their lives on May 30 as their apartments burned and crumbled. Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the attack, the Kremlin said. Putin was quoted later as saying that Ukraine sought to frighten Russians. Ukrainian denied any involvement in the attack. In Washington, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated the U.S. position that it does not support attacks inside of Russia. The European Union condemned the attacks on Kyiv, with EU spokesman Peter Stano saying that such actions "indiscriminately terrorize" Ukrainian civilians. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP The European Unions former high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, has defended the blocs initial response after Russia occupied Crimea in 2014, but acknowledged we did not know then what we know now and said subsequent policy did not sufficiently prioritize what was happening in Ukraine. She also urged Balkan neighbors Serbia and Kosovo to get round the table and find answers to lingering differences preventing normalized relations between Belgrade and Pristina, a full decade after the so-called Brussels agreement that she helped forge. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RLs Balkan Service, Ashton underscored the Western Balkan countries eventual suitability for EU membership and the added challenge of Russian engagement in the region. We were always aware of Russias influence and engagement in the Western Balkans, she said. The events in Ukraine have brought that more into view. Ashton was the EUs first-ever high representative, serving as the blocs chief foreign and security policy coordinator and envoy from 2009-14. Russia covertly occupied the Crimean Peninsula and annexed it in 2014 in a move overwhelmingly rejected by the United Nations, and a simmering conflict waged by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine escalated into a full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. The European Union and the United States led a sanctions push particularly after the downing of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 to punish Russia, the ruble, and perceived proxy fighters in Ukraine. But critics have accused the West of underestimating the threat to international order and UN-recognized borders for years from Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly in what Moscow regards as its near abroad. We did react at the time, imposing sanctions on Russia and trying to get negotiations moving, Ashton said. Hindsight is always difficult. We did not know then what we know now; however, in the intervening years, what was happening in Ukraine was not as high on the agenda as it should have been, in my opinion. Ashton published her memoirs -- titled And Then What? Inside Stories Of 21st-Century Diplomacy -- in February. Speaking to RFE/RL, she drew a sharp distinction between the challenge of China, which has grown considerably for European policymakers, and the situation with Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinping asserted a no-limits partnership with Russia weeks before Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Beijing has urged peace but declined to directly criticize Moscow publicly. I hope that we will see more effort put into developing a strategic approach to China that recognizes the connections and the concerns, Ashton said. I recall that China played a role with the rest of the P5+1 in the Iran [nuclear] negotiations, and my hope would be that China would seek to play a positive role in the multilateral system we need to take care of. In the former Yugoslavia, Ashton was essential to an apparent breakthrough in Brussels in 2013 that provided a road map toward normalized relations between Serbia and its majority ethnic Albanian former province, Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. A decade later, Belgrade still refuses to recognize Kosovar sovereignty while blocking its membership in international institutions. Serbias populist President Aleksandar Vucic has leveraged regional might to pursue closer relations with Moscow and Beijing, and outsiders accuse him of increasingly authoritarian leadership that damages Serbians desire for EU membership. Kosovos prime minister, Albin Kurti, has toughened Pristinas stance on a number of bilateral issues since taking over in 2020, pledging reciprocity, and is frequently critical of Western attempts at mediation. Ashton played down a question about Washington and Brussels vying for influence in the Balkans, saying that its not about who has more power, its about the power of working together. She conceded that there is concern across the [Balkan] region that the EU is not as enthusiastic as it was once for enlargement. Yet there is no question that the countries of the Western Balkans belong inside the EU. But there is a lot to be done by those countries who want to be part of the EU, and some of the lack of enthusiasm is because of the lack of progress being made by those who want to be members, she said. It is not an easy journey, but a journey well worth making. Ashton stressed democracy, human rights, and rule of law as central guiding principles and part of the ongoing dialogue. Among the lessons of her diplomatic years, Ashton stressed to RFE/RL the need for compromise and good negotiators whose drip, drip efforts enable solutions. It is not just the role of the EU to push forward with the Western Balkans, it is also down to each country to determine that it will make the changes necessary to deal with all the issues that are necessary to become a member of the EU, she said. So I hope we will see more done by everyone to address these challenges. Georgia marked the 105th anniversary of the declaration of the first independent democratic republic on May 26. In the capital, Tbilisi, there were official ceremonies and a flyover of military jets. A demonstration was also held to honor the day that saw both Georgian and European Union flags flying. It was held as an answer to the cabinets decision to only decorate the city with Georgian national flags, opting out of also displaying the EU flag. Georgias current political leadership is seen by some as Moscow-leaning and drifting away from the countrys long-standing aspirations to join the EU and NATO. The United States plans to announce military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of up to $300 million, consisting mainly of ammunition, reports Reuters. As reported, the military aid package could be announced as early as Friday, but probably after the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the United States, two official sources said on condition of anonymity. It was expected that the package would have more guided multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) for HIMARS launchers, as well as ammunition for protection. The equipment would be funded using Presidential Drawdown Authority, or PDA, in which the president can authorize the transfer of articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval in response to an emergency, the message reads. 5 Soldiers stand guard near the coffin containing the saint's remains before it is brought inside the church. The Serbian Orthodox Church said up to 100,000 people marched in the procession. In early May, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against gun violence and the government's response to back-to-back mass shootings. Forget Finlandization. What about the porcupine? Russias invasion of Ukraine is grinding into its 16th month with no end in sight. Impatience is mounting in Western capitals about how long the conflict will rage, how long Ukraine can hold out, and how long Western voters -- U.S. first and foremost -- will continue to support sending billions in weaponry to Kyiv. Some of Ukraines staunchest backers -- in Washington, Brussels, and elsewhere -- say nothing less than full membership in NATO will resolve the conflict. But the prospect of NATO membership for Ukraine has been a prominent constant in a series of shifting grievances cited by the Kremlin as justification for launching Europes largest land war since World War II. So, what about opening the spigot of Western weaponry even further, for the foreseeable future, while offering some sort of limited security assurance, and taking the near-term prospect of NATO membership off the table? Sort of like Israel. Also referred to as the porcupine model, the idea is gaining traction in some NATO hallways as diplomats struggle to figure out how to untangle the conflict without throwing Ukraine under the bus -- or rewarding Russia for its aggression. The president of Poland, one of Ukraines strongest supporters, endorses the idea. The discussions on this one are going on right now, Andrzej Duda told The Wall Street Journal an interview published this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accepted an invitation to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania in July, and alliance members will consider setting up a new entity called the Ukraine NATO Council. The arrangement would allow for Ukraine to summon the council and seek assistance in the event of threats, the newspaper said; individual members countries, but not the alliance as a whole, would then provide assistance. 'One Of The Strongest Armies In The World' Ukraines military has defied expectations. Prior to the February 2022 invasion, many outside observers expected Ukrainian forces, hollowed out by years of corruption and mismanagement, would be quickly routed by Russian forces. Not only did that not happen, but Ukraine demonstrated to Western supporters, not to mention Russia, that its armed forces were competent, motivated, and able to handle weaponry more advanced than the Soviet-era stocks that comprised most of its arsenal. And now, armed with more sophisticated Western weaponry worth billions of dollars, Ukraines military has proven its capabilities even further: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the blunt-talking head of Russias most notorious mercenary company, Wagner, last week described Ukraines army as one of the strongestin the world. Providing Ukraine with even more training and weaponry would make the country even more prickly, like a porcupine, supporters of the concept say, giving a hostile adversary like Russia pause before attacking. This strategy aims to create a relationship between Russia and Ukraine similar to that of Israel and Iran, North and South Korea, or East and West Germany during the Cold War, Lise Howard, a Georgetown University professor, and Michael OHanlon, director of research in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, said in an article published this month. Only a clear, committed porcupine strategy is likely to be both politically feasible and truly capable of deterring Russia, Franz-Stefan Gady, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said in an article published on May 22. It means helping Ukraine rearm and train in an agile, lighter way to make sure it can fight a flexible defensive military campaign against any future invading Russian force, he wrote. It is a porcupine strategy with a hammer blow at the end. One question is whether thats enough on its own -- just give Ukraine lots of weapons -- or whether it needs to be paired with some other security agreement. Another is whether its needed. A porcupine model could be a way to go if we had to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to end the war, said Kevin Ryan, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general, now a fellow at Harvards Kennedy School. But its premature to suggest or push for it now. My preference would be to start induction steps with Ukraine now with an eye to full membership, he said. Russia already sees Ukraine as a de facto NATO member. And, in my opinion, even though Ukraine is a shambles economically and politically, it has the best military among European members. They would be instant value-added to NATOs defense. If NATO membership would go too far, the porcupine concept does not go far enough, Howard and OHanlon said in their article, calling for an entirely new organization: the Atlantic-Asian Security Community. 'Israelization' One of the United States closest allies, Israel has reaped massive dividends for its armed forces over the decades. A 10-year defense deal signed in 2016 provided for $38 billion in U.S. military assistance. That has made Israels most hostile neighbors wary of taking its armed forces head-on. The example of Israel is indeed good proof that such a model is viable, Mykola Byelyeskov, a research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, a Kyiv-based government-supported think tank, said in a private message. People are better persuaded when you give real-world examples instead of just catchy phrases. Still, he said, No one is going to push NATO membership of Ukraine off the agenda, even if there is provisional agreement on a porcupine/Israeli strategy. Porcupine or Israel, the idea has skeptics. The problem with the Israel analogy is that Israel is a nuclear state in a nonnuclear environment, while Ukraine, as a nonnuclear state, is the neighbor of the world's largest nuclear power, said Jana Puglierin, director of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Conventional upgrading of the Ukrainian Army alone is therefore not enough, since it would not protect Ukraine against nuclear blackmailing, she said in an e-mail. Ukraine gave up the nuclear weapons it had on its territory in 1994 under a deal known as the Budapest Memorandum, in return for security assurances from the United Sates, Britain -- and Russia. The other problem with the Israeli model, said Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy program at Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank, is that Israel really doesnt have a major conventional threat on its borders. The Ukrainians? They have a neighbor that they share a border with that is much more powerful than they are, he said. Israel does not. A Bronze Medal? In Kyiv, Ukrainian officials are aware of the idea floating around hallways in Washington, Brussels, and elsewhere, Menon said, speaking from the Ukrainian capital. Theres not a lot of enthusiasm for the idea because, as you know, the first order of preference is membership in NATO, he said. The door to membership in NATO was cracked open at a contentious summit in Bucharest in April 2008. Ukraine, and Georgia, another country that Russia views as being in its historic sphere of influence, were offered an open-ended -- overly vague, critics argued -- promise to eventually join the alliance. The offer stopped short of a formal invitation: a Membership Action Plan. Russia invaded Georgia four months later. Some foreign policy experts and historians have drawn a straight line from the Bucharest decision to Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine. In 2021, amid mounting threats against Ukraine, the Kremlin announced that Ukrainian membership in NATO was a red line and tried to persuade the West to rule it out once and for all. For the Ukrainians, Menon said, the second preference is a security guarantee -- a commitment to come to Ukraines aid, but something short of the full commitment of NATO and its Article 5, the alliances central provision that stipulates an attack on one member will be considered an attack on all. They view the 'porcupine' strategy as a discussion that I think could bubble up and lead to the shelving of either option one, NATO membership, or option two, the security guarantee, he said. But he said Ukrainians have not started seriously deliberating what a porcupine model would entail because I think there's a belief that they are owed NATO membership. A porcupine strategy is their bronze medal, if that, he said. Some might even say its not a medal. They might even say that it's not something that is enough to deter Putin. At least two people were killed and more than two dozen wounded when a medical facility in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit during another wave of Russian air strikes against Ukraine, which President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called "another crime against humanity." Video from the site on May 26 showed plumes of smoke coming out of several buildings, which appeared heavily damaged and still ablaze in some parts. Zelenskiy said the buildings housed a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic in the city. "Another Russian missile attack, another crime against humanity," Zelenskiy said on Twitter. "There can be no military purpose in this [attack]. It is pure terror." 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. Volodymyr Orlov, the deputy governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, told a briefing that besides the two people killed, at least 25 people, including two children, were wounded in the missile attack on the health facility in Dnipro. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said earlier on Telegram that the two wounded children were boys aged 3 and 6. Lysak said it had been an "extremely difficult night" of Russian strikes that also caused substantial damage to the region's civilian infrastructure. An hourslong air-raid alert was declared on the territory of Ukraine overnight as Kyiv and several other regions were subjected to air strikes. Most of the incoming missiles and drones were downed by Ukrainian air defenses, the military and regional officials said. The Russian military fired 17 missiles and 31 Iranian-made attack drones on civilian and military targets, but the Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down 10 missiles and 23 drones, Ukraine's Air Force Command reported early on May 26. Damage caused by falling debris was reported in Kyiv's Obolon and Shevchenkivskiy districts, but Serhiy Popko, the head of the capital's military administration, said there were no reports of injuries or casualties during the three-hour attack on the capital that started around 3 a.m. local time. It was the 13th such attack on the Ukrainian capital this month. The cities of Merefa and Izyum in the Kharkiv region sustained damage in the drone attack, the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleh Synyehubov said. A Russian missile destroyed a residential building in the town of Avdiyivka, close to Bakhmut, the Donetsk region city that has been the epicenter of the war in the east, said Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. There were no initial reports of victims, Yermak wrote on Telegram. On the battlefield, fighting continued in and around the eastern city of Bakhmut, the General Staff said in its daily report on May 26, again contradicting Russia's claims that it had captured the whole city. Meanwhile, the governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia claimed that the Ukrainian military was behind dozens of artillery and drone attacks across the border area, but he said no casualties had been reported. And officials in Krasnodar in southern Russian said two drones damaged buildings in the city center, although no casualties were reported. Kyiv, as usual, did not comment on the action inside Russia. The claims of attacks inside Russia came days after an incursion into the Belgorod region from Ukraine by two self-proclaimed anti-Kremlin Russian fighter groups shocked Moscow. On the diplomatic front, Kyivs agenda is now dominated by efforts to speed up the delivery of promised F-16 fighter jets, which are more sophisticated than the Soviet-made warplanes now part of its arsenal. Ukraine's Defense Ministry on May 26 announced that, according to its calculations, it would take almost 50 F-16s aircraft to secure the country's airspace. "Four F16 squadrons (48 aircraft) are what we need to liberate our country from the [Russian] aggressor," the ministry's press service said on Twitter. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, AFP, and Reuters The Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 10 enemy cruise missiles, 23 Shaheds and two reconnaissance drones, the press service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. "By the forces and means of the Air Forces, in cooperation with other components of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, ten X-101/x-555 air-launched cruise missiles, 23 Shahed-136/131 attack drones, two operational-tactical level UAVs, Orlan-10, Merlin-BP were destroyed in the areas of responsibility of the Skhid (East), Center and Pivden (South) air command, the message reads. The hit of shock UAVs and several S-300/S-400 OCD in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions was noted. The consequences of the strike will be reported to the local military administrations. It is reported that another night attack by the Russian occupiers began at the end of the last day at 22:00 on May 25 and lasted until 05:00 on May 26. This time, the enemy shifted the direction of the strike to the east of the country, attacking objects of critical infrastructure and the Defense Forces of Ukraine. According to the AFU, a total of 17 launches of various types of missiles and 31 attack drones were recorded: 10 X-101/x-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95ms aircraft from the Caspian Sea area; seven S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from the Tokmak area (temporarily occupied Zaporizhia region); 31 attack UAVs of Iranian production Shahed-136/131 in the southern and northern directions. THE Great War effort meant masses of workers were needed in the nations munitions factories. This meant people pouring into industrial areas like Rotherham and living in lodgings away from parental or marital supervision. Many were prompted by patriotism, others were tempted by the greater level of freedom which came with being far from home often for the first time. For some, it led to romantic relationships whether they were married or single. William Ward (27) was a munitions worker at Messrs Thomas Firth and Sons at Tinsley, a factory which had been converted at the beginning of the war. In spring 1917 he was staying on Attercliffe Road, Sheffield. Meanwhile Mary Ives (36) was employed at the Cammell Laird munitions building in Sheffield and was lodging in the city, at Jansen Street. William and Mary knew each other. Before the hostilities, he had lived on Mitchells Terrace in Wombwell and she was the wife of the villages postmaster, John Henry Ives. In fact, it seems that William had chosen where he would work in the war based on where he would be close to Mary, and they began a relationship. The pair were found dead in a field at Yew Tree Farm in Brinsworth on the afternoon of May 17, 1917. Blacksmith Harold Bennett Wright, of Greasbrough Road in Tinsley, spotted the bodies beside a hedge initially thinking they had been asleep. When he got closer, he saw that both their throats were slit. Harold shouted for a nearby farm labourer to watch the bodies while he rushed over to Tinsley to inform the police. There was a short delay as officers worked out which force would respond and investigate, before the Rotherham authority was notified and Det Sgt William Shaw and PC Beasby arrived at the scene at 5.15pm. They immediately noted it appeared there had been no sign of a struggle between William and Mary. William was face-down, nearest the hedge, with his left arm resting on Marys waist. In his hand was a bloodstained pocketknife. An open razor lay between the two bodies. Its case was in Williams pocket. Det Sgt Shaw ordered that the bodies be moved to Canklow ready for the inquest. It appeared to be a clear case of murder and suicide, he reported to the Rotherham Coroner, Mr J Kenyon Parker. The officer visited Williams Attercliffe Road lodgings, where he found several letters written by Mary in a tin box. The landlady, Ann Sands, told the detective that William had left her house just after 1pm that day and told her he intended to catch the 1.43pm train back to Wombwell. There was nothing unusual about his demeanour, Ann said. In the past, he had spoken with her about his relationship with Mary even showing her a photograph. At the inquest, held at the Atlas Hotel two days later, Det Sgt Shaw told the coroner and jury his opinion that William had cut Marys throat with the razor and then killed himself with the knife. The coroner asked him: Have you any doubts about it? The detective answered: Not the slightest. A man called Steerman gave evidence, saying he had witnessed the couple walking, arm in arm, along a footpath near where the bodies were found. Mr Steerman said they appeared friendly with each other but it appeared they might have recently argued. He watched them turn into Shepcote Lane and then lost sight of them. Marys husband John told the jury that he last saw his wife the previous weekend, when she had returned to the family home at Wombwell. She would usually travel home on a Saturday and then leave for her lodgings the following morning. It was the Wombwell police who had contacted him to say a body had been found which was believed to be Mary. John initially identified her by the description of a ring she was wearing and a lock of her hair. He asked at Rotherham police station how Mary had died, and was told it appeared to have been at the hands of a man called William Ward. John had known of his wifes infatuation with William. The coroner asked him: I am not getting into matters any more than I can help, but has there been trouble between you and your wife about this man? John burst into tears and replied: Yes. Marys husband also told the inquest that he was aware of William having to serve 12 months in prison for attempting to murder a barmaid a few years earlier. Williams brother-in-law Walter Bird told the hearing that he had been aware of William and Marys romance, with the couple even living together in Doncaster for a short while. When this arrangement had ended, Mary had gone home to her husband. Walter also knew of the attempted murder charge, which had been heard at Leeds Assizes, and said it was his razor which had been found between William and Mary. In summing up, the coroner assured the jury that there was no doubt that the couple had lived as man and wife at Doncaster and had been seeing each other since. He added: The opinion of the two witnesses was that the man murdered the woman and afterwards killed himself. The most significant part of the evidence was the nature of the wounds and the identity of the razor, which the brother-in-law did not even know was missing. Then there was the letters. Another fact was that Ward was convicted at Leeds Assizes to 12 months imprisonment on a charge of attempting to murder a barmaid at Wombwell. The jury did not take long to decide a verdict in agreement with the two witnesses. Det Sgt Shaw was praised by the coroner for his careful and considerate inquiries, and diligent investigation. But the finer details of Williams previous crime were not heard in court. In October 1914, he appeared at Barnsleys courthouse charged with the attempted murder of pianist Nellie Ballard (21), at the Junction Inn, Wombwell on September 7. At the time he was a greengrocer and fish dealer at Wombwell, where he was reported to be a young man of respectable appearance. Nellies employer told the court how she had taken his children out for a walk on that day, and returned home bleeding from her chest. When William was brought into the court, he was also bleeding from the chest, having stabbed himself. Nellie spoke of William acting strangely around that time to the point where her landlords children referred to him being a bit soft in the head. Her and Williams romantic relationship had ended the previous week and she had told him they could remain friends. The pair had been walking along quite happily on the day of the attack, when he asked her if there was any chance of them getting back together. When she said no, he suddenly shouted: Then die! and stabbed her with a large fish knife. Nellie managed to run away... after a short distance she turned, and saw William attempting to kill himself. On November 31, 1914, William was given 12 months for GBH. Three years later, there were very similar circumstances only this time the affair ended tragically. It was presumed that William and Mary were lovers, choosing to die together. But did the earlier case with Nellie change how clear cut this might have been? Adapted from a chapter in Rotherhams Dark Streets by Margaret Drinkall (right), available from Amazon (Kindle edition 3.99, paperback 6.99). EXTENDING the 2 bus fare cap has been welcomed but with a warning that it will not fix South Yorkshires broken network. The government announced that the subsidised tickets will continue for an extra four months to the end of June across England, excluding London. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the extension ensured bus travel remained accessible and affordable for everyone. He added: Buses connect our communities and play a vital role in growing the economy; they transport people to work, take our kids to school and make sure patients can get to doctors appointments. Thats why were determined to protect local routes and encourage more people onto the bus, ensuring people can get around easily and in an affordable way. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: The announcement will not stop further cuts to our broken bus network. We need a partner in government who will match our ambition for South Yorkshires public transport network, rather than inflicting further damage on our communities. Here in our region we lost 15 per cent of our network in the last year, and this announcement threatens at least another 10 per cent of our buses; routes that are a lifeline for thousands of people. We are urgently working through the legal process that will allow us to decide if we can radically change how buses are run in South Yorkshire, through a move to franchising. Repeated, short-term extensions to bus funding are at best a sticking plaster, preventing our bus system from bleeding out. Funding for the cap is from a 500 million government pot, while transport secretary Mark Harper announced a further 300 to 2025 to protect vital routes and improve services that people rely on for work, education, medical appointments and shopping. Fares from November will be capped at 2.50 for a year, after which another national review of bus services will take place. Rotherham Council leader Cllr Chris Read said: Sadly, across the country over the last year 1,000 bus services were axed while the Conservative government failed to provide sustained funding and passenger numbers have recovered slowly in the wake of the pandemic. The devil as always will be in the detail. It is nearly 25 per cent less money than the Confederation of Passenger Transport recently said was necessary to maintain services at current levels, and the distribution across the country will also make the difference in terms of what we can expect to see locally. LEVELLING Up minister Dehenna Davison visited the changing Maltby Grammar School clocktower and said: This is what the fund is all about. The government has put 4.5 million towards the derelict clocktowers transformation into a near-6 million incubator space for training, apprenticeships and business start-up support. Ms Davison also visited Dinningtons high street, where 12 million from the fund will clear the burned-out buildings and revamp the markets area. She said: I am delighted to have been able to visit Rother Valley to see the governments Levelling Up work in action at the old Maltby Grammar School, a building which has so much potential. This building will become a central hub to train young people up and provide them with the skills they need to succeed. This dedicated centre will bring employers to the area demonstrating the governments commitment to levelling up and these projects are exactly what the Levelling Up Fund is about. Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford said: I am delighted that the government will be supporting the Maltby Grammar School redevelopment project to the tune of over 4 million as well as their 12 million commitment to Dinnington. We will finally see redevelopment on the high street, so no more burnt-out and damaged buildings. We have an ambitious plan to rejuvenate Dinnington town centre and create a vibrant and bustling market place, free of eyesore buildings and properties. I am incredibly proud of our area and I cannot wait to see this exciting development get under way. Mr Stafford thanked Dinnington Town Council for its support on the Laughton Road project. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not consider the possible freezing of the war in Ukraine acceptable. "Russia needs to understand that it cannot be about concluding some kind of cold peace - for example, turning the existing front line into a new border" between Russia and Ukraine," he said in an interview with Koelner StadtAnzeiger. Scholz explained that a "just peace" is mandatory only when Russian troops are withdrawn from Ukraine. However, when asked whether they should leave Crimea, Scholz replied: "It is not for us to formulate instead of Ukraine what agreements it wants to reach." In addition, Scholz said that he plans to talk on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin again. "Some time has passed since our last contact on the phone. But I intend to talk to Putin again in due course," he said. MONSTROUS alterations adding an extra floor to a Victorian former doctors surgery were narrowly rejected by Rotherham Council. Mordechai Blum applied to raise Phoenix Court from two to three storeys with rooms in the roof on Blyth Road in Maltby \_ taking the building from nine to 13 apartments. A previous application for a smaller upward extension was turned down by the council and dismissed on appeal in 2021. RMBC felt the proposal would be overbearing for neighbours and also objected to the cladding, which did not match the original stonework. The applicant switched to a new architect, who drew up new plans to raise the roof by 3.3 metres and use natural stone and brick more in keeping with the host property. RMBC senior development manager Chris Wilkins said: All in all, we feel its a much better match in terms of the materials and design. We feel that overcomes the inspectors previous concerns. They have done a much better job. There were 11 objections, including from Maltby Town Council, whose chairman Cllr Chris McMahon called the planned extension a monstrosity. He added: The proposed plan may look better than the first obnoxious plan but it will totally destroy that Victorian building. You will not even be able to see what it used to look like at all. We think it should be protected. Cllr McMahon also raised the issue of parking problems on Blyth Road, which has frequent HGV use and is increasingly used as a rat run to the A1. Two extra parking spaces doesnt even help with the existing flats, let alone the extra building thats going to go up, he said. Simon Gammons, highway development control officer at the council, said the increase in parking spaces from 13 to 15 was sub-standard to RMBCs usual requirements. But he said the council was willing to accept this given the sustainable location near Maltbys centre \_ and pointed out that there had been no parking complaints on this section of Blyth Road. A neighbour raised a concern about a problem sewer pipe which crosses her land and has become exposed. She said the mess at the back of Phoenix Court \_ away from the Blyth Road frontage \_ was horrendous. She added: Theres debris. Its a playground for vermin. There are rats in there and the weeds are taller than me. But one current resident of Phoenix Court spoke in favour of the plans, saying the building was impressive and should be preserved. Its been here for 130-plus years, he added. This will extend its life for generations. The proposals were rejected by four votes to three last Thursday morning. Planning board member Cllr Jenny Andrews said: That building is beautiful and I think putting another layer on will totally alter the look. Its quite iconic in Maltby and I think this will detract from the building. Its an attractive area and I think this will destroy the look of it. HE was always a star in his wifes eyes now Jason Mercer has been shot into space. The tragic rock fan from Broom died in 2019 after his car was hit by another vehicle while stationary after breaking down on the M1 smart motorway. The 44-year-olds long-held wish of having his ashes shot into space was realised by his widow Claire, who arranged for the unusual tribute and arranged a memorial gathering of friends and family at the couples Rotherham home. Claire said she had wanted to do something different to remember him, adding: He wouldve enjoyed the thought of it. She said she had spoken to Sheffield firm Ashes in Space to arrange the usual tribute because his preferred option for a send-off a Viking longboat funeral was not allowed in the UK. A video was shot of the module carrying Jasons ashes rising from earth into orbit before they were released. It also includes a photo and video gallery of his life, before concluding with the message: Laws will be changed in his name while he rests in the stars as nod to Claires ongoing campaign for the scrapping of technology-managed smart motorways Visit https://tinyurl.com/JasonMercerashes to watch the video. Rainfall Southwest Monsoon is expected to remain normal this season, Predicts IMD NEW-DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal monsoon for the entire season, saying that the country is likely to receive less than normal rainfall in June. D Sivananda Pai, head of IMD's Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (EMRC), said, "Parts of south peninsular India, north-west India, far north India and parts of north-east India Except, most parts of the country are expected to receive below normal rainfall in June. Northeast India is expected to receive above normal rainfall". Advertisement Despite the onset of El Nino, southwest monsoon is expected to remain normal this season, he said. He said that El Nino conditions occur due to the warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. He said that the monsoon core zone with most of the rain-fed agricultural areas of the country is likely to have normal monsoon rainfall, which is expected to be 94 to 106 percent of the long-term average (LPA). Satyendar Jain Next hearing will be held on July 10 NEW-DELHI: In a major relief for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, the Supreme Court on Friday granted six-week interim bail to him on medical grounds. Earlier, he fell in the bathroom at Tihar jail. After this, the former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH). The Next hearing is scheduled to be held on July 10 in the case. Jain has been granted bail until July 11. Notably, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) have said that it cannot trust Lok Nayak Hospital's medical reports and a panel of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) should examine Satyendar Jain. Advertisement It is worth mentioning here that Satyendar Jains medical reports will be produced before the court on July 10. The court has restrained Jain from interacting with the media while his bail period. It directed him against influencing witnesses, tampering with evidence, or leaving the National Capital on any grounds. The Supreme Court of India This is not a matter for the court: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to hear the petition regarding the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the President. The Court said that it will not interfere in this matter. This is not a matter for the court. After this comment, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition. A bench of Justice JK Maheshwari heard this matter in the Supreme Court. In the petition filed in the court, it was said that the President is the first citizen of the country. According to Article 79 of the Constitution, the President is also an important part of the Parliament. The decision taken by the Lok Sabha Secretariat not to inaugurate the new building of Parliament House by the President is wrong. Advertisement CM Bhagwant Mann Punjab is constantly suffering: CM Mann CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has boycotted the NITI Aayog meeting to be held in Delhi on May 27 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chief Minister Mann said that the central government is creating hurdles in many public welfare schemes of Punjab. Whether it is the RDF amount or reduction in crop prices, Punjab is constantly suffering. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has sent a notice to the central government regarding matters related to Punjab. Expressing displeasure in this regard, he wrote that the interests of Punjab are not being taken care of by the central government. Centre is not paying attention to the issues of farmers. Apart from Mann, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will also not be a part of this NITI Aayog meeting. Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi organized this NITI Aayog meeting with the Chief Ministers of all the states of the country. Currently, it is not clear whether in the absence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, anyone else from the state government will attend this NITI Aayog meeting. It is worth mentioning here that CM Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are trying to form a united front of opposition parties against the central government. For this, they have sought support from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai and NCP leader Sharad Pawar. CM Mann and Arvind Kejriwal have been continuously seeking support from opposition parties in various states to oppose the central government's ordinance and drop the bill from the Rajya Sabha. Kohinoor Diamond Exhibition will show the entire journey of the Kohinoor LONDON: The Kohinoor diamond will be displayed in a new exhibition at the Tower of London from today as a symbol of victory for displaying its turbulent colonial history in a 'transparent, balanced and inclusive' manner. India has been laying claim to this diamond. Kohinoor is also known as 'Koh-i-Noor'. It is part of a new Jewel House exhibition and is accompanied by a video, which shows the diamond's journey around the world. The exhibition will show the entire journey of the Kohinoor and how it has been a symbol of victory for all its previous owners - the Mughal emperors, the Shahs of Iran, the rulers of Afghanistan and the Sikh Maharajas. A spokesman for Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the body that oversees palace management in Britain, said the new exhibition examines the origins of many objects in the collection, including the Koh-i-Noor. Advertisement Its label reads, By the 1849 Treaty of Lahore, 10-year-old Maharaj Dalip Singh was forced to hand over the diamond to Queen Victoria along with possession of Punjab. Koh-i-Noor means 'Mountain of Light' in Persian". Notably, The exhibition will run till November. Tipu Sultan's Sword Tipu Sultan's Sword has become the costliest Indian object ever sold BRITAIN: The sword of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, was sold at an auction in London for 14 million (about Rs 140 crore). Bonhams, which organized the auction, said the sword sold for "much more price than expected". Tipu Sultan's sword has become the costliest Indian object ever sold, breaking all auction records. According to the information, this sword was recovered from the private room of the palace. This sword was the favorite weapon of Tipu Sultan. The sword of Tipu Sultan, who ruled from 1782 to 1799, is called 'Sukhela' which means a symbol of power. This sword is made of steel and exquisitely engraved with gold. It was found in Tipu Sultan's private chamber and was presented by the East India Company to General David Baird as a token of his courage and honor in the attack. Tipu Sultan who is called 'Tiger of Mysore' died in the attack which took place in May 1799. Advertisement Oliver White, head of Islamic and Indian art and auctioneers at Bonhams, said in a statement ahead of the sale on Tuesday that the magnificent sword is the finest of all Tipu Sultan's weapons. He said that the Sultan had a deep personal connection with it and its exquisite craftsmanship makes it unique. The sword cost between GBP 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 but sold for an estimated 14,080,900. Nima Sagharchi, group head of Islamic and Indian art, said the sword has an extraordinary history and exceptional workmanship. He stated that there was a fierce competition between two persons in bidding. In May 1799, after the destruction of Tipu Sultan's royal fort at Srirangapatna, many weapons were removed from his palace. In this some weapons were very close to him. Occupiers launch missile attack on medical facility in Dnipro, there are victims regions head The Russian occupiers launched a missile attack on a medical facility in Dnipro, as a result there are victims, said head of the Regional Military Administration Serhiy Lysak. "A missile strike on Dnipro. The fascist bastards hit the medical facility. There are victims. The information is being clarified," the head of the Administration wrote on the Telegram channel on Friday. Lysak also noted that the only official source of information is the regional military administration, and urged residents not to spread fakes. OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, dismissed possibilities that the company might leave the European Union due to non-compliance with strict AI regulations. This response followed a rebuke from a senior official, who pointed out that Altman's previous comments about the potential for an exit should be seen as blackmail. Altman is currently undertaking a global tour across Europe to engage with officials and advocate for his AI company, which has generated tremendous excitement worldwide. During a recent visit to London, Altman raised the possibility that OpenAI could consider leaving if the forthcoming AI regulations formulated by the European Union are excessively stringent. This statement prompted a sharp response on social media from European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who accused the company of engaging in blackmail tactics. Breton, the official responsible for digital policy, shared a link to a Financial Times article that quoted Altman stating that OpenAI would make an effort to comply with the regulations, but if compliance was not possible, they would cease operations. He stated that attempting blackmail is pointless and also refuted the notion that Europe's establishment of a comprehensive framework for generative AI is hindering its progress. He further emphasized that the EU's objective is to support companies in their readiness and compliance with the AI Act. A day later, Altman took to Twitter to ease tensions, expressing that his discussions in Europe regarding AI regulation had been highly productive. He emphasized OpenAI's enthusiasm to continue operating in the region and assured that they had no intentions of leaving. The European Union has taken a leading role in global endeavors to establish guidelines for artificial intelligence, as demonstrated by the imminent completion of its AI Act after years of deliberation. The exponential growth of versatile AI chatbots like ChatGPT caught EU officials by surprise, prompting them to hastily incorporate provisions to address generative AI systems. These systems have the capability to generate responses, essays, images, and other content that closely resemble human-like conversations, in response to user queries. Altman shared on Twitter that his European tour encompasses various cities such as Warsaw in Poland, Munich in Germany, Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal, and London. Notably absent from the mentioned cities is Brussels, which serves as the headquarters of the European Union. During his tour, Altman has held meetings with prominent world leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. During a recent meeting with congressional lawmakers, Altman expressed his belief that AI should be subject to regulation by either a U.S. or global agency. He argued that as AI systems become more powerful, government intervention becomes necessary to mitigate potential risks associated with their deployment. During a "fireside chat" at University College London, Altman experienced an overwhelming response from students, indicating their keen interest in the topic. He shared with the audience that the "right answer" to regulating AI is "probably something between the traditional European, U.K. approach and the traditional U.S. approach". Altman emphasized the importance of avoiding excessive regulation until the shape of the becomes clearer. He also mentioned the potential for establishing a global set of norms and enforcement in AI regulation. Altman highlighted that AI regulation has been a recurring topic of discussion throughout his world tour, which has included visits to Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, and Lagos, Nigeria. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Spanish government will provide Ukraine with four more Leopard 2 tanks, as well as a batch of infantry vehicles, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said. "Robles reported on the current state of Spanish supplies, noting, among other things, the upcoming delivery of four more Leopard 2A4 battle tanks and a new batch of M-113 TOA infantry vehicles," the message reads. She also noted good progress in the training of the Ukrainian military in Spain, where about 1,500 servicemen have been trained to date, and it is expected that the annual figure will be reached ahead of schedule. Wine grapes growing at the Sol De Luz Vineyards in the De Luz area of Temecula. The owner of the vineyard, Heather Petersen, is leading a drive to establish a federal American Viticultural Area designation for the De Luz region. For decades, residents of De Luz have prized their communitys obscurity. But a movement under way among the regions farmers could make the little-known community between Fallbrook and Temecula famous. A handful of wine-grape growers in the hilly region, which straddles North San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County, met last month to discuss having the De Luz area registered as an American Viticultural Area. If approved, an AVA designation would mean that wines made with grapes from the area could be labeled with the De Luz name, rather than grouped under the generic South Coast AVA designation that represents all grapes grown in the surrounding areas of Fallbrook, Oceanside, Bonsall and San Diego. Advertisement If competition judges and buyers decree that De Luz wines are exceptional, it could translate into big money. Grape prices and land values could rise, and someday the area could be home to its own community of wineries like nearby Temecula Valley, which has built a $750 million tourism industry around its wine industry. Most De Luz growers at the meeting on Sept. 21 expressed enthusiasm for the AVA designation. But a few expressed caution over how future wine tourism and development might impact the character of the quiet, rural area, which is known for its steep, winding and even pot-holed two-lane roads. Although talk of a De Luz AVA has been on the back burner for years, it heated up this year when new grower Heather Petersen offered to underwrite the AVA application process. When I came here, I could see that this area was really special, Petersen said. I thought it should be recognized as its own AVA. Petersen is the CEO and founder of National Merchants Association, a credit-card processing company that she moved to Temecula in 2012. She grew up on a farm in Ohio and said that she has long been intrigued with the idea of operating her own vineyards. Over the past five years, she has purchased more than a half-dozen agricultural properties in the region, including five pieces of land planted with vines in De Luz. She hosted the growers meeting at the former Woodworth Vineyards in De Luz. She bought the property last year and is operating it under her new company, Sol De Luz Vineyards. Mark Horvath is the winemaker for Sol De Luz. Hes been making wines in Santa Barbara for more than 20 years, and he believes the De Luz area has some unique qualities. Thats an important distinction for earning an AVA designation from the federal governments Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (better known as the TTB). There are 238 AVAs in the United States, ranging in size from the 29,000-square-mile Mississippi River Valley AVA to the 60-acre Cole Ranch AVA in Northern California. All Southern California wineries are grouped in the 3,400-square-mile South Coast AVA, which was established in 1985. Since then, three smaller AVAs have been approved within South Coast for Temecula Valley, San Pasqual Valley and Ramona Valley. Petersen and others hope to establish a fourth AVA within South Coast for De Luz. The boundaries have yet to be drawn for a De Luz AVA, but the general area is roughly 50 square miles in size, Horvath said. There are about 40 wine-grape growers in De Luz, according to Jason Altepeter, operator for Sol De Luz Vineyard. That number, he said, is likely to grow. For many years, De Luz was best known for its avocado and citrus crops, but years of drought and rising water costs have hurt those industries. Last winter, the Rancho California Water District established a CropSwap program, offering ranchers as much as $15,000 an acre to replace their groves with less-thirsty grape vines. An AVA designation in De Luz could add even more incentive for growers to plant grapes. In order to achieve AVA status, growers must prove that the area has special geography, climate, soil and other growing conditions. Horvath and other growers at the meeting said anyone who visits De Luz can see right away how different it is from the surrounding areas, particularly the flatter, drier Temecula Valley. Mick and Susan Gallagher have owned Casa Tiene Vista Vineyard, at the south end of De Luz, for 11 years. He said the region has been prized for wine grapes since the 1700s, when early Catholic missionaries farmed muscat grapes on the hillsides. The valley is bordered by steep hills running northeast from the ocean that channel in cool ocean breezes. Fog and heavy clouds are common, even on summer days. Daytime temperatures in De Luz are 10-15 degrees cooler than in Temecula and it gets twice the rainfall. Plus, while Temecula vineyards often stay warm overnight, temperatures in De Luz can fall 20 to 30 degrees, Gallagher said. Horvath said these sharp temperature swings and the tough hillside growing conditions make for more interesting wines. These are conditions the grapevines want, Horvath said. It cools off more at night than on the valley floor. Grapes like that diurnal flow. By farming in the more challenging hillsides with the swinging temperatures you get more dynamic wines. Theres no flab in them ... theyre on that edge. De Luz winemaker Justin Chang, 35, said the ideal climate in the valley has made a difference in the grapes he grows for his Malbec-forward Good Luck Have Fun Wines. Hes in favor of the AVA proposal. Its hard to say how the region makes the grapes distinctive, but Ive noticed that the cooler temperatures have allowed us to keep our grapes on the vine for an extra month, which increases the complexity of the flavor, Chang said. Creating characteristic De Luz grapes is important for the growers. The most successful AVAs have come to be known for specific varietals, like cabernet sauvignon grapes in Napa and zinfandel in Paso Robles. Growers in the South Coast AVA have yet to grow a superstar grape. Petersen said the goal over the next few months will be to gather information from the regions growers. While most said they favor the AVA application, a few are withholding judgment until they see how the boundaries are drawn, particularly some ranchers in the farthest south area of De Luz near Fallbrook, who dont want to be left off the map. The application process would take at least a year, perhaps several. Petersen said she wont move forward on the effort without the full support of her fellow growers. In five or more years, Petersen and others would like to open tasting rooms and, perhaps, wineries in the area. Horvath said a De Luz winery community could be a boon for all of Southwest Riverside County. Temecula is known as a one-day destination, but if these people have a whole new area to visit for wine-tasting, they could stay overnight and eat in the local restaurants and turn it into a weekend, Horvath said. On the downside, the growth in wine-sipping day-trippers has caused major traffic headaches in the Temecula Valley. Some De Luz residents might resist the development of wineries and the traffic they would bring. But not all. The valleys longest-established vineyards are tended by Robert and Kathleen Dykhouse, who own the 350-acre Peaceful Oaks Ranch in Fallbrook. They love the serenity of De Luz and theyre not afraid to share it. Although hes not yet sold on the AVA concept, Dykhouse said hes long dreamed of seeing De Luz become one of the states premier grape-growing regions where visitors could explore the area by driving a wine trail like those in Northern and Central California. We have the weather and we have the history, Dykhouse said. It would be a place where peaceful people could come and savor the ambience. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com As a result of a missile strike on a polyclinic in Dnipro, one person has been killed, 15 injured, the elimination of the consequences of the shelling continues, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Russian terrorists once again confirm their status of fighters against everything humane and honest. 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. All necessary services are involved. My condolences to the family of the deceased, Zelenskyy said on the Telegram channel on Friday. Full membership in NATO of Sweden, Finland due to Russias aggression to be pretext for Ukraine's accession to Alliance Reznikov The Kremlin's aggressive policy has led to the fact that Sweden and Finland, which have maintained neutrality for many years, have received full membership in NATO and this is a good excuse that Ukraine will also join the Alliance later, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleskiy Reznikov said. "There are the prospects that the Baltic Sea will soon become the internal sea of NATO, which will be a good excuse for the Black Sea to become the internal sea of NATO a little later. But for this, Ukraine already needs to join the Alliance," the press service of the Ministry of Defense quoted Reznikov as saying during a meeting with Swedish representatives in Kyiv. He noted that the aggressive policy of the Kremlin led to the fact that Finland and Sweden, which had remained neutral for many years, received a full and legitimate desire to become members of NATO. During the meeting, important security issues were discussed, in particular, bilateral projects to strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces and expectations of the upcoming NATO summit. In turn, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonson stressed that Sweden will stand side by side with Ukraine for as long as it takes. "The purpose of our visit is not only to assess and understand the needs of the Ukrainian side in the near future, but also to understand how our assistance will develop in the future. We have an understanding of your operational needs. Of course, we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said. And Swedish Minister of Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlen noted that Ukraine is a model for Europe and the world in the struggle for independence. "Ukraine has shown Europe and the whole world the extraordinary efforts it has made to defend its state, demonstrated the extraordinary consolidation of society. In my opinion, the rest of the world should learn a lesson from all the events that took place in Ukraine," he said. The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama partnered with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in India to develop and validate a new test for chytridiomycosis strains, offering new insights into a wildlife disease that caused dramatic declines of over 500 amphibian species and the extinction of 90 others. Their novel assay, published in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, identified previously undetected Indian strains, and successfully detected strains from other parts of the world. The new diagnostic assay was tested with frogs, toads, caecilians (limbless amphibians) and salamanders (tailed amphibians) in India, with comparable or even better results than the gold-standard assay recommended for the diagnosis of chytridiomycosis. Its effectivity was successfully verified in labs in Panama and Australia, proving it to be an affordable alternative for the widespread surveillance of chytridiomycosis in different parts of the world. Rapid detection of chytridiomycosis is essential in managing and mitigating the disease. But ongoing research on this infection caused by two fungal pathogens reveals a complex, dynamically evolving genome. As new strains evolve in different parts of the world and spread through the global trade of amphibians, large-scale surveillance for emerging hybrid varieties is necessary. The newly developed assay will aid global detection, highlighting the value of international scientific collaborations in the search for solutions to a common threat. "This assay will allow researchers to study and determine the spread of strains of the amphibian chytrid fungus that previously passed undetected, especially in countries around the Indian Ocean, where human trade has moved and introduced frog species," said STRI scientist Roberto Ibanez, who collaborated in the study. The new test may also aid in the detection of pathogen reservoirs that have not been identified yet. That is, amphibian species that may be infected but do not show visible symptoms of disease or mortality and are able to silently transmit the disease to other susceptible species in their surroundings. "One strain of the amphibian chytrid fungus caused dramatic population declines, even the disappearance of amphibian species in Panama," said co-author Ibanez. "The Chiriqui harlequin frog (Atelopus chiriquiensis) and the Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki) have not been seen for several years. A few species of frogs have reappeared in some localities, but they have not fully recovered their previous population levels. The amphibian chytrid fungus is still a threat for susceptible species in natural areas." The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The Institute furthers the understanding of tropical nature and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. A new study has revealed that drying laundry using a condenser tumble dryer leads to hundreds of tonnes of potentially harmful microfibers being released into waterways and oceans across the UK and Europe. Researchers from Northumbria University, worked in partnership with scientists at consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble on the study, which is published today (24 May) in the scientific journal PLOS ONE. The team found that while condenser dryers may reduce the volume of airborne microfibers being released compared to vented dryers, they are still a significant contributor of waterborne microfiber pollution, with more than 600 tonnes of microfibers being poured down household drains. Both types of tumble dryer produce microfiber pollution. Although recent studies have suggested that moving from vented tumble dryers to condenser dryers could reduce airborne microfiber pollution, their impact on waterborne microfiber pollution has been unknown until now. While condenser dryers collect moisture from wet clothes into a container, rather than exhausting microfibers into the air as vented dryers do, the researchers found that condenser dryers in the UK and Europe still produce more than 7,200 tonnes of microfiber annually. Although 91% of this is collected in the lint filter, which many consumers dispose of in their household waste, the remaining microfibers -- a massive 641 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of more than 100 adult male African elephants -- are collected in the condenser and poured down the drain. This makes condenser tumble dryers significant sources of microfiber water pollution. However, some appliance manufacturers suggest that consumers should clean their lint filters under a tap. If consumers follow this guidance, it could lead to ten times more tonnes of microfibers entering our waterways. This means that the drying process is causing more waterborne microfiber pollution than the washing process. To evaluate the environmental impact of condenser dryers, Professor John Dean, from Northumbria University's Department of Applied Sciences, worked alongside researchers at Procter & Gamble to test loads of new, clean garments as well as dirty laundry sourced from volunteers in Newcastle upon Tyne. They collected and analysed microfibers from several components of each type of dryer. "We have for the first time focused on microfiber release from vented and condenser dryers using real consumer laundry loads," said Professor Dean, an expert in analytical science and environmental pollutants. "It was found that most microfibers released from dryers is collected in the lint filter, thereby preventing release into the environment. However, when you realise that some manufacturers then recommend regular washing of the lint filter under a running tap, this contributes directly to an increase of waterborne microfibre pollution. "After considering the environmental impact of current domestic household practices, a simple remedy is proffered. Instead of washing the lint filter under the tap after use in the tumble dryer, simply clean the filter either by hand, a light brush, cloth, or vacuum cleaner, and dispose of the collected fibres, as dry waste, in household waste. This simple and effective procedure can reduce microfibre release from tumble dryers and contribute to the protection of the global natural water environment." While extensive research has been carried out into the quantities of microfibers released down the drain by washing machines, historically, less has been understood about the release from tumble dryers. However, in recent years, the spotlight has shifted from the washing machine to the tumble dryer because fibers also become released from textiles during the drying process. The team is now urging the appliance industry, its trade associations, and legislators to recognise that all types of tumble dryer can be significant contributors to the problem of environmental microfiber pollution. The researchers say that efforts are needed to mitigate this issue through revised usage instructions and improved appliance design. Current plans to introduce microfiber filtration systems into washing machines are expected to reduce the environmental impact of that stage in the laundering process. This study suggests that similar approaches to tumble dryers is a logical next step. Dr Neil Lant, a Research Fellow at P&G and their leading scientist on this study, added: "The contribution of washing machines to aquatic microfiber pollution has now been extensively studied and filtration technology is now being integrated into those appliances to mitigate the issue. "Our recent work in collaboration with Northumbria University has recognised, for the first time, that the most important tumble dryer types used in Europe -- condenser and heat pump -- can also be significant contributors to aquatic microfiber pollution, especially if users wash lint filters in a sink. "We do over 7 billion dryer loads in the UK and EU each year, with condenser dryers generating 7,200 tonnes of microfibre. We can prevent around 90% of that from causing water pollution by cleaning lint filters into household waste, but to deal with the rest we'll need to redesign the air filtration systems in all types of dryers." Procter & Gamble has been working with analytical and forensic fibre science experts at Northumbria University for over six years to improve our understanding of microfibre release during washing and drying. New findings could explain biodiversity hotspots in tectonically quiet regions. If we could rewind the tape of species evolution around the world and play it forward over hundreds of millions of years to the present day, we would see biodiversity clustering around regions of tectonic turmoil. Tectonically active regions such as the Himalayan and Andean mountains are especially rich in flora and fauna due to their shifting landscapes, which act to divide and diversify species over time. But biodiversity can also flourish in some geologically quieter regions, where tectonics hasn't shaken up the land for millennia. The Appalachian Mountains are a prime example: The range has not seen much tectonic activity in hundreds of millions of years, and yet the region is a notable hotspot of freshwater biodiversity. Now, an MIT study identifies a geological process that may shape the diversity of species in tectonically inactive regions. In a paper appearing in Science, the researchers report that river erosion can be a driver of biodiversity in these older, quieter environments. They make their case in the southern Appalachians, and specifically the Tennessee River Basin, a region known for its huge diversity of freshwater fishes. The team found that as rivers eroded through different rock types in the region, the changing landscape pushed a species of fish known as the greenfin darter into different tributaries of the river network. Over time, these separated populations developed into their own distinct lineages. The team speculates that erosion likely drove the greenfin darter to diversify. Although the separated populations appear outwardly similar, with the greenfin darter's characteristic green-tinged fins, they differ substantially in their genetic makeup. For now, the separated populations are classified as one single species. "Give this process of erosion more time, and I think these separate lineages will become different species," says Maya Stokes PhD '21, who carried out part of the work as a graduate student in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). The greenfin darter may not be the only species to diversify as a consequence of river erosion. The researchers suspect that erosion may have driven many other species to diversify throughout the basin, and possibly other tectonically inactive regions around the world. "If we can understand the geologic factors that contribute to biodiversity, we can do a better job of conserving it," says Taylor Perron, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at MIT. The study's co-authors include collaborators at Yale University, Colorado State University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Stokes is currently an assistant professor at Florida State University. Fish in trees The new study grew out of Stokes' PhD work at MIT, where she and Perron were exploring connections between geomorphology (the study of how landscapes evolve) and biology. They came across work at Yale by Thomas Near, who studies lineages of North American freshwater fishes. Near uses DNA sequence data collected from freshwater fishes across various regions of North America to show how and when certain species evolved and diverged in relation to each other. Near brought a curious observation to the team: a habitat distribution map of the greenfin darter showing that the fish was found in the Tennessee River Basin -- but only in the southern half. What's more, Near had mitochondrial DNA sequence data showing that the fish's populations appeared to be different in their genetic makeup depending on the tributary in which they were found. To investigate the reasons for this pattern, Stokes gathered greenfin darter tissue samples from Near's extensive collection at Yale, as well as from the field with help from TVA colleagues. She then analyzed DNA sequences from across the entire genome, and compared the genes of each individual fish to every other fish in the dataset. The team then created a phylogenetic tree of the greenfin darter, based on the genetic similarity between fish. From this tree, they observed that fish within a tributary were more related to each other than to fish in other tributaries. What's more, fish within neighboring tributaries were more similar to each other than fish from more distant tributaries. "Our question was, could there have been a geological mechanism that, over time, took this single species, and splintered it into different, genetically distinct groups?" Perron says. A changing landscape Stokes and Perron started to observe a "tight correlation" between greenfin darter habitats and the type of rock where they are found. In particular, much of the southern half of the Tennessee River Basin, where the species abounds, is made of metamorphic rock, whereas the northern half consists of sedimentary rock, where the fish are not found. They also observed that the rivers running through metamorphic rock are steeper and more narrow, which generally creates more turbulence, a characteristic greenfin darters seem to prefer. The team wondered: Could the distribution of greenfin darter habitat have been shaped by a changing landscape of rock type, as rivers eroded into the land over time? To check this idea, the researchers developed a model to simulate how a landscape evolves as rivers erode through various rock types. They fed the model information about the rock types in the Tennessee River Basin today, then ran the simulation back to see how the same region may have looked millions of years ago, when more metamorphic rock was exposed. They then ran the model forward and observed how the exposure of metamorphic rock shrank over time. They took special note of where and when connections between tributaries crossed into non-metamorphic rock, blocking fish from passing between those tributaries. They drew up a simple timeline of these blocking events and compared this to the phylogenetic tree of diverging greenfin darters. The two were remarkably similar: The fish seemed to form separate lineages in the same order as when their respective tributaries became separated from the others. "It means it's plausible that erosion through different rock layers caused isolation between different populations of the greenfin darter and caused lineages to diversify," Stokes says. This research was supported, in part, by the Terra Catalyst Fund and the U.S. National Science Foundation through the AGeS Geochronology Program and the Graduate Research Fellowship Program. While at MIT, Stokes received support through the Martin Fellowship for Sustainability and the Hugh Hampton Young Fellowship. Arctic ground squirrels are unique among mammals. Their ability to keep from freezing even when body temperatures dip below that mark on the thermometer enables them to survive extreme winter climates. New research published in Science analyzes more than 25 years of climate and biological data. The findings include shorter hibernation periods and differences between male and female hibernation periods. Spoiler alert -- the girls "rise and shine" a little earlier in response to warming, which could have both positive and negative ripple effects throughout the food web in these ecosystems. Senior author Cory Williams, assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Colorado State University, began studying arctic ground squirrels while at the University of Alaska Fairbanks more than 15 years ago. "I think the thing that makes our study unique is that we are looking at a long enough dataset to show the impacts of climate change on a mammal in the Arctic," said Williams, who joined the CSU faculty in 2021. "We can show a direct link between changes in temperature and the physiology and ecology of these animals." Helen Chmura, lead author for this latest research, started the analysis while a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2018 and now works as a USDA Forest Service researcher with the Rocky Mountain Research Station. "Our data show that the active layer, the soil layer above the permafrost, freezes later in the fall, doesn't get as cold in the middle of winter, and thaws slightly earlier in the spring." She added, "These changes, amounting to about a 10-day reduction of the time soil is frozen at a meter deep, have occurred over just 25 years, which is fairly rapid." Arctic ground squirrels survive harsh Alaska winters by hibernating for over half the year, drastically slowing their lungs, heart, brain, and body functions. They still must spend energy to generate enough heat from stored fat to keep tissues from freezing. They resurface from their burrows more than 3 feet below the ground each spring, famished and eager to mate. Chmura and Williams, along with co-authors, analyzed long-term air and soil temperature data at two sites in Arctic Alaska in conjunction with data collected using biologgers. They measured abdominal and/or skin temperature of 199 free-living individual ground squirrels over the same 25-year period. They found that females are changing when they end hibernation, emerging earlier every year, but males are not. Changes in females match earlier spring thaw. The advantage of this phenomenon is that they do not need to use as much stored fat during hibernation and can begin foraging for roots and shoots, berries and seeds sooner in the spring. Scientists think this could lead to healthier litters and higher survival rates. The downside is that if the males also do not shift hibernation patterns, there eventually could be a mismatch in available "date nights" for the males and females. Ground squirrels are also an important source of food for many predators, such as foxes, wolves, and eagles. An indirect consequence of being active above ground longer is greater exposure and risk of being eaten. What will happen to the population is a big unknown - there are not clear winners or losers. While hibernation requires less energy, which could help overwinter survival, ground squirrel numbers also depend on how predators respond to climate shifts. For now, Williams concludes, "Our paper shows the importance of long-term datasets in understanding how ecosystems are responding to climate change." Chmura agreed, adding, "It takes a great team to continue a dataset like this for 25 years, especially in the Arctic." Other contributing authors include Brian Barnes, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Loren Buck from Northern Arizona University, who both began this study in the 1990s to learn how Arctic ground squirrels survive such long, cold, dark, winters and just how cold their hibernation spots were. These questions prompted them to install the first soil temperature monitors, and as technology improved, they were able to measure those temperatures all winter long. Cassandra Duncan and Grace Burrell assisted with the research while students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Cage structures made with nanoparticles could be a route toward making organized nanostructures with mixed materials, and researchers at the University of Michigan have shown how to achieve this through computer simulations. The finding could open new avenues for photonic materials that manipulate light in ways that natural crystals can't. It also showcased an unusual effect that the team is calling entropy compartmentalization. "We are developing new ways to structure matter across scales, discovering the possibilities and what forces we can use," said Sharon Glotzer, the Anthony C. Lembke Department Chair of Chemical Engineering, who led the study published today in Nature Chemistry. "Entropic forces can stabilize even more complex crystals than we thought." While entropy is often explained as disorder in a system, it more accurately reflects the system's tendency to maximize its possible states. Often, this ends up as disorder in the colloquial sense. Oxygen molecules don't huddle together in a corner -- they spread out to fill a room. But if you put them in the right size box, they will naturally order themselves into a recognizable structure. Nanoparticles do the same thing. Previously, Glotzer's team had shown that bipyramid particles -- like two short, three-sided pyramids stuck together at their bases -- will form structures resembling that of fire ice if you put them into a sufficiently small box. Fire ice is made of water molecules that form cages around methane, and it can burn and melt at the same time. This substance is found in abundance under the ocean floor and is an example of a clathrate. Clathrate structures are under investigation for a range of applications, such as trapping and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unlike water clathrates, earlier nanoparticle clathrate structures had no gaps to fill with other materials that might provide new and interesting possibilities for altering the structure's properties. The team wanted to change that. "This time, we investigated what happens if we change the shape of the particle. We reasoned that if we truncate the particle a little, it would create space in the cage made by the bipyramid particles," said Sangmin Lee, a recent doctoral graduate in chemical engineering and first author of the paper. He took the three central corners off each bipyramid and discovered the sweet spot where spaces appeared in the structure but the sides of the pyramids were still intact enough that they didn't start organizing in a different way. The spaces filled in with more truncated bipyramids when they were the only particle in the system. When a second shape was added, that shape became the trapped guest particle. Glotzer has ideas for how to create selectively sticky sides that would enable different materials to act as cage and guest particles, but in this case, there was no glue holding the bipyramids together. Instead, the structure was completely stabilized by entropy. "What's really fascinating, looking at the simulations, is that the host network is almost frozen. The host particles move, but they all move together like a single, rigid object, which is exactly what happens with water clathrates," Glotzer said. "But the guest particles are spinning around like crazy -- like the system dumped all the entropy into the guest particles." This was the system with the most degrees of freedom that the truncated bipyramids could build in a limited space, but nearly all the freedom belonged to the guest particles. Methane in water clathrates rotates too, the researchers say. What's more, when they removed the guest particles, the structure threw bipyramids that had been part of the networked cage structure into the cage interiors -- it was more important to have spinning particles available to maximize the entropy than to have complete cages. "Entropy compartmentalization. Isn't that cool? I bet that happens in other systems too -- not just clathrates," Glotzer said. Thi Vo, a former postdoctoral researcher in chemical engineering at U-M and now an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the Johns Hopkins University, contributed to the study. This study was funded by the Department of Energy and Office of Naval Research, with computing resources provided by the National Science Foundation's Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment and the University of Michigan. Glotzer is also the John Werner Cahn Distinguished University Professor of Engineering, the Stuart W. Churchill Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering, and a professor of materials science and engineering, macromolecular science and engineering, and physics. New research from Oregon Health & Science University 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 today in the journal Immunity, the OHSU-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 body -- details 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 anyone, and 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 called 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 nonhuman primate known as Mauritian cynomolgus macaques, which the research team previously demonstrated can successfully receive stem cell transplants. While all of the study's eight subjects 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 that received transplants, two were cured of HIV after 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 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 coauthors, 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 pre-clinical 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 programs in the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The how behind the cure Although Sacha said it was gratifying to confirm stem cell transplantation cured the nonhuman primates, he and his fellow scientists also wanted to understand how it worked. While evaluating samples from the subjects, the scientists determined there were two different, but equally important, ways they 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. Second, in the two subjects 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 subjects' bodies in a series of steps. First, the scientists saw that HIV was no longer detectable in blood circulating in their 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 nonhuman primates cured of HIV. Next, they plan to dig deeper into their immune responses, including identifying all of the specific immune cells involved and which specific cells or molecules were targeted by the immune system. This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants AI112433, AI129703, P51 OD011092) and the Foundation for AIDS Research (grant 108832), and the Foundation for AIDS Immune Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. In our interest of ensuring the integrity of our research and as part of our commitment to public transparency, OHSU actively regulates, tracks and manages relationships that our researchers may hold with entities outside of OHSU. In regard to this research, Dr. Sacha has a significant financial interest in CytoDyn, a company that may have a commercial interest in the results of this research and technology. Review?details of OHSU's conflict of interest program?to find out more about how we manage these business relationships. All research involving animal subjects at OHSU must be reviewed and approved by the university's?Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC's priority is to ensure the health and safety of animal research subjects. The IACUC also reviews procedures to ensure the health and safety of the people who work with the animals. No live animal work may be conducted at OHSU without IACUC approval. REFERENCE: Helen Wu, Kathleen Busman-Sahay, Whitney C. Weber, Courtney M. Waytashek, Carla D. Boyle, Katherine Bateman, Jason S. Reed, Joseph M. Hwang, Christine Shriver-Munsch, Tonya Swanson, Mina Northrup, Kimberly Armantrout, Heidi Price, Mitch Robertson-LeVay, Samantha Uttke, Mithra R. Kumar, Emily J. Fray, Sol Taylor-Brill, Stephen Bondoc, Rebecca Agnor, Stephanie L. Junell, Alfred W. Legasse, Cassandra Moats, Rachele M. Bochart, Joseph Sciurba, Benjamin N. Bimber, Michelle N. Sullivan, Brandy Dozier, Rhonda P. MacAllister, Theodore R. Hobbs, Lauren D. Martin, Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari, Lois M.A. Colgin, Robert F. Silciano, Janet D. Silciano, Jacob D. Estes, Jeremy V. Smedly, Michael K. Axthelm, Gabrielle Meyers, Richard T. Maziarz, Benjamin J. Burwitz, Jeffrey J. Stanton, Jonah B. Sacha, Allogeneic immunity clears latent virus following allogenic stem cell transplantation in SIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-suppressed macaques, Immunity, May 25, 2023, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.04.019. John Herbst, Director of the Eurasia Center of the Atlantic Council, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in 2003-2006, believes that Russia's threats to use nuclear weapons deter the USA from accepting Ukraine into NATO. He assumed that during participation in the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation that the Administration is intimidated by Russia's constant threats that they are using weapons of mass destruction. And, according to him, this highly likely affects the position of the United States regarding Ukraine's membership in NATO. According to Herbst, at the Vilnius summit it will not be possible to hear the bold position of the United States about the prospects for Ukraine to gain membership in the Alliance. According to him, the best way to ensure a good result in Vilnius for Ukraine is to work with Poland and the Baltic states, possibly with the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and of course they expect the British to support this idea. On May 25-26, the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum For Our and Your Freedom is being held. Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO in 2013-17, General Douglas Lute, proposed the creation of the UkraineNATO Council before Ukraine join the Alliance, and also stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine today is the most equipped army in Europe with the greatest combat experience. Speaking during the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation, Lute stressed that the collective agreement on the creation of NATO provides for three key criteria for membership in the Alliance. First, a country aspiring to become a member must be able to contribute to collective defense. Today, Ukraine obviously meets this criterion. Lets be honest, today Ukraine has the best equipped army in Europe. This is a fact of life. In addition, it has the most expansive combat experience. That is, there is no doubt about this criterion, the general said. He stressed that the second criterion is the requirement for a state wishing to become a member of NATO to respect the core values of NATO: democracy, individual freedoms and the rule of law. Luther pointed out that the third requirement for membership is consensus. Sweden has not yet been able to become a member of the Alliance, because there are no 31 votes in favor, he added. Even if we fail to reach a consensus during these six weeks [on issue of Ukraines membership during the time remaining before the Vilnius Summit], we need to codify security assurances equipment training, intelligence information exchange, anything to allow the Armed Forces to defend Ukraine today. The above should be determined bilaterally, not across all 31 countries, the general explained. In addition, according to him, NATO can offer Ukraine a unique and special relationship with the Alliance. To this purpose something along the lines of Ukraine-NATO Council can be created, he believes. The general clarified that such an institution could grant Ukraine the right to assemble the North Atlantic Council at any time. This will ensure Ukraines place at the table any time Ukraine feels threatened. And this will certainly be an appropriate platform to discuss security issues that Ukraine is faced with today. Currently, there is one NATO Council with a non-member country, and it is the NATO-Russia Council. I suggest replacing the NATO-Russia Council with the NATO-Ukraine Council and place Ukraine at the table. Indeed, this does not mean membership in the Alliance, but this is a step that should be taken, the expert noted. The 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum For Our and Your Freedom/Fighting for NATO takes place on May 25-26. On May 25, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission brought partially settled charges against Francis Sabo (also known as "Ricky Bobby") in a $100 million securities fraud scheme in which Sabo, along with several other defendants previously charged by the Commission in December 2022, used social media platforms to manipulate exchange-traded stocks. According to the SEC, since at least January 2020, Sabo promoted himself as a trustworthy stock-picking guru and cultivated a substantial following in the Atlas Trading forum on Discord, a free online forum purporting to provide educational content about trading and securities markets. The SEC contends that Sabo, like the previously charged defendants, purchased certain stocks and then encouraged his substantial social media following to buy those selected stocks by, among other things, posting price targets or indicating he was buying, holding, or adding to his stock positions. However, as the complaint alleges, when share prices and/or trading volumes rose in the promoted securities, Sabo regularly sold his shares without ever having disclosed his plans to dump the securities while he was promoting them. The SEC further alleges that from at least January 2020 through December 2022, Sabo made over $1 million from his participation in the stock manipulation scheme. Sabo is charged with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933. The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, seeks a permanent injunction, disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. To settle the Commission's charges, Sabo has consented to be enjoined from future violations of the charged provisions of the federal securities laws, with the amount of monetary remedies to be determined at a later date. The settlement is subject to court approval. Criminal charges against Sabo were also filed in a parallel action brought by the Criminal Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. The SEC's investigation, which is ongoing, is being handled by Andrew Palid, David Scheffler, and Michele T. Perillo of the Market Abuse Unit (MAU) in the Boston Regional Office, with assistance from Darren Boerner of the MAU, Stuart Jackson, Kathryn Schumann-foster and Marina Martynova of the Division of Risk and Economic Analysis (DERA), and Howard Kaplan of the Office of Investigative and Market Analytics. The investigation has been supervised by MAU Chief Joseph G. Sansone. The investigation resulted from a referral from the Division of Examinations by Mark A. Gera, John Kachmor, Nitish Bahadur, and Raymond Tan in the Boston Regional Office. The litigation will be led by David D'Addio and Amy Burkart of the Boston Regional Office. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Criminal Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The mural inside the gym at The Opportunity Center @ ALCC. The mural by Ouizi at Tiffany's Pizza. Detroit artist Rick Williams working on a mural. Woodrow Hoffer found it disheartening when a Michigan arts agency deemed his hometown an underserved community, where residents may lack access to arts and cultural programming, services or resources. In a nutshell, a cultural desert.Having grown up in Monroe, Hoffer, an architect, professor, and creative director, knew firsthand the lack of cultural opportunities for youth, especially those who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The southeastern Michigan city has no art museum and no art galleries.Most children may never attend a live cultural performance outside of school.Hoffer, working with Stephanie Zorn Kasprzak, executive director of the Monroe County Opportunity Program, decided to do something about that desert. They created a community-focused initiative called Plntng Seeds.The goal of Plntng Seeds is to bring art to the citys public spaces and inspire young people in and around Monroe to follow their purpose of creativity.Last summer Plntng Seeds collaborated with visual artists of diverse backgrounds to create six murals, the largest display of public art in Monroes history. This summer several more murals will be painted. Artists will be in Monroe from June 1 through June 10, working on their murals and visible to the public.We are aiming to be the change that we would like to see in our community, and the seed with which will blossom young creatives to continue the growth of arts and culture in our region, Hoffer says.An initiative called Plntng Seeds is bringing public art in the form of murals to various neighborhoods within the city of Monroe, home to about 20,000 people. In its inaugural launch last summer, six murals were painted. This summer seven more murals will be created. One artist has already started, and the others will follow in June.After helping bring art to the unadorned walls of a gymnasium at The Opportunity Center @ ALCC, Hoffer turned his attention to a community-wide initiative. A member of the centers advisory council, he thought art on gym walls would inspire the youth of the Orchard East neighborhood. Plntng Seeds became the next step, expanding from one center in the community to the entire community. Exposure to creative cultural outlets for most youth in the community is limited to school field trips.Im a visionary person I like to create, Hoffer says. A lot of young people in Monroe and the community are fortunate if they take a field trip even once to an art museum. Thats their one experience with art and culture. Art (in museums) is put on such a high pedestal that it doesnt seem attainable by many of us.I wanted to create something so that a young person could wake up in the morning, turn their blinds and see world-class art in their backyard, he says.The murals are being painted by a diverse group of artists, artists who reflect the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood and the city. A large aspect of this initiative is about diversity and inclusivity, he says. Part of the initiative includes inviting artists who also want to give back to the community.Last years artists were Mike Han, Bakpak Durden, Tony Whlgn, Ouizi, Jake Dwyer, and local artist Amy Arnold. Artists are selected through research and networking and curated by Hoffer in collaboration with building owners and community members. Plntng Seeds has gone farther afield this summer, choosing artists from around the world.What I hoped for and what has been happening is that while these artists are creating their murals, people, young and old approach and ask them about their work, Hoffer says. Theyre asking what it means to be an artist, how they chose a purpose and passion of creativity, and what their works represent. It is important that young people have the opportunity to see creatives who share similar backgrounds to themselves thriving in careers that they too may aspire to one day practice.The murals reflect the diverse talents of the artists. Last summer murals were painted at Tiffanys Pizza, Orchard Center High School, the Opportunity Center at ALCC, Hellenberg Park, and the Monroe Beer Cooler.This years first mural is being painted by Detroit artist Rick Williams. He is also co-owner of Distinct Life, a creative agency focused on brand development and storytelling. Williams is painting at the Monroe Community Ambulance building. Another artist, Dom Laporte, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, will paint a water-themed mural on the rear of the FEDCO headquarters. This mural will be visible from Interstate 75 and greet people as they travel to Monroe.Support for the initiative has come from the Monroe County Opportunity Program (MCOP) and The Opportunity Center at ALCC. Funding has been provided by a multitude of partners, including local businesses, community foundations, the city of Monroe, Google, DTE Foundation and FEDCO, Inc. However, this program would not exist without the generous contributions of the La-Z-Boy Foundation, headquartered in Monroe, Hoffer says.In the fall, Plntng Seeds plans to launch a pop-up exhibition space to showcase the curated works of photographer James Dickerson. Dickerson will tell the story of the people of the Orchard East community through his photography. Along with this exhibition, the organization is curating a series of four creative conversations that will look to inspire creative revitalization in our community.Long term, we are looking to curate more collaborative opportunities and partnerships to continue to disrupt the status quo, to use art and culture in transforming our community. We are also interested in partnering with other communities to provide inclusive and equitable opportunities to creatives, to amplify their works in community development and revitalization, and to represent how culture can be utilized in creating community, Hoffer says. It is important that we are creating places and spaces that are diverse, inclusive and equitable for all. Member of the Board of the International Committee ICOMAM-ICOMAM (committee of military museums, military history and weapons collections), Member of the Board and First Deputy Chairman of the NGO "GASR" (CASTLE) for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Historical Monuments, Doctor of Philosophy in History (Ph.D.) Parvin Fakhraddin oglu Gozalov made two scientific reports at the 11th International Scientific and Practical Conference themed "War and Weapons New Research and Materials" on May 17-19, 2023, Azernews reports. Besides, within the framework of the conference, the 320th anniversary of the "Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps" was celebrated in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. The participation of P.F.Gozalov at the above-mentioned conference is traditional, because since 2014, he has participated and read scientific reports at meetings of such International Conferences of the Military Historical Museum of Artillery. Publications and participation in the work of the conference create a high potential for international cultural, humanitarian and military cooperation between countries, organizations, as well as specialists in various fields and activities. It should be noted that the results and conclusions of published works (research) that are introduced into scientific circulation, creating a solid foundation for the dissemination of objective information about the real prerequisites and events, the illegal activities of the Armenian separatists. "I want to add that in my published works there are constructive and productive conclusions to overcome the barrier of misunderstanding in conflict situations of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, including around the attempts of Western colleagues to incite confrontation between peoples," the professor said as he addressed the conference. The above-mentioned conference was attended by scientists and researchers from Baku (Republic of Azerbaijan), Syria, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, Tver, Volgograd, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Ufa, Izhevsk, Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Pskov, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Nizhny Tagil, Syzran, Gatchina, Ardatov and other cities. In the first report at the conference and a published article, Dr. P.Gozalov presented to the attention of listeners and readers who are not indifferent to historical science and disciplines of the unique banners of Azerbaijan, Ukraine and the Bashkir cavalry regiment during the revolution (1919-1922) accompanying historical events in the South Caucasus. The attention of respected readers is presented with material in which the symbols and attributes of statehood are studied, which changed depending on the paths of historical development and political events. The meaning of symbols, having a very wide range of meanings, is determined by its great influence on the mass of people. Symbols and signs were used to rally people to achieve a common goal, to cause delight, respect, or vice versa to create a feeling of anger, aggression and hostility. The second report was devoted to the similarity of historical attributes of statehood from the museums of three countries, such as Azerbaijan, Turkiye and the Russian Federation. The published article emphasizes that international cultural and humanitarian cooperation is of great importance both for the Republic of Azerbaijan and for the Russian Federation, since through dialogue it is possible to improve and create a more powerful potential for Russian-Azerbaijani international cultural and humanitarian relations. Which is of great global importance and thus creates great opportunities for constructive development, strengthening and reaching a higher level of interstate relations and productive dialogue. The number of killed as a result of the missile strike on Dnipro has grown to two people, according to head of the Regional Military Administration Serhiy Lysak. "From under the rubble of the building of the veterinary clinic, which was also mutilated by the enemy, the body of the deceased man was taken out ...Today's missile attack on Dnipro river claimed the lives of two people. Condolences to the families ...," the head of the Administration wrote on the Telegram channel. As reported, on Friday morning, the occupiers launched a missile attack on a medical facility in Dnipro. Earlier it was known about one dead and 23 wounded. The Netherlands is likely to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after pilot training, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing its own sources familiar with the matter. "The Netherlands currently has 42 F-16 fighter jets in its inventory, 24 of which are currently being used by the Dutch army and cannot be sent to Ukraine until mid-2024. A dozen of the other 18 jets were to be sold to Draken International but the government delayed the transfer of the aircraft in December without disclosing an explanation, citing commercial confidentiality. Although the final decision on deployment has not yet been made, Ukraine may get some of the jets that are on sale or some of the currently operational 24 jets next year depending on the training timeline," the report notes. The publication emphasizes that the Netherlands maintains the airworthiness of all its F-16 aircraft through regular maintenance. A spokeswoman for the Dutch defense ministry said Thursday the government would consider the possible delivery of F-16s to Ukraine at a later date. Pilot training is the priority now, she added. At the same time, the Netherlands, together with Denmark, is now leading a coalition for the training of Ukrainian pilots with the support of Great Britain and Belgium. "The Dutch government is already looking into and discussing with its allies possible deployment plans, one of the people said. Despite the willingness of the Dutch government to help beef up Ukrainian air defenses as soon as possible, pilot training and mapping out deployment and logistics could take many months," the publication reports. According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, to date the Netherlands has provided about EUR 1.6 billion of military aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, including equipment for EUR 732 million. British Airways has cancelled at least 50 Heathrow flights at the start of the Bank holiday weekend due to a computer problem affecting online check in. The airlines website asked passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Media reports said the glitch was affecting short-haul flights to and from the west London airport. Were aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix, the statement read. The airline, owned by IAG, was hit with technical problems last December, when a 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. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com The founders of fast fashion retailer Boohoo.com doubled their pay to about 1m each last year as they were handed hefty bonuses despite missing financial targets. Directors decided that both Carol Kane and Mahmud Kamani deserved bonuses equivalent to their annual basic salary instead of the 30% they had been due to receive after missing sales and underlying profit targets. Guardian Asda is finalising a deal to buy its sister business EG Groups UK and Irish petrol forecourts in a deal worth 3bn, allowing the supermarket to step up its shift into convenience retailing. The businesses are expected to formally announce a long-awaited tie-up in the next few days, which will create a combined business worth about 10bn. Guardian Asos, the struggling online retailer, is raising 75 million in cash from shareholders and has refinanced in an effort to strengthen its balance sheet. The fundraising announced last night is fully underwritten by three shareholders, including the investment vehicle of Bestseller, owned by Anders Povlsen, the Danish businessman. The Times One of the worlds biggest drugs companies has suspended a potential investment in Britain because of the countrys stifling commercial environment. Eli Lilly, the American multinational, had been looking to invest in laboratory space, but it has put its plans for London on hold because, it said, the UK does not invite inward investment at this time. The Times Twitters head of engineering has announced his departure from the social media platform, having decided to resign on the day of Ron DeSantis car-crash presidential launch alongside Elon Musk. Foad Dabiri announced on Twitter that he decided on Wednesday to leave the nest nearly four years after he joined the company in 2019. Mr Dabiri described his role on LinkedIn as engineering lead for Twitters growth organisation. Telegraph 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. The move to NATO may prove to be more difficult than to the EU - Korniyenko Ukraines path to NATO may turn out to be more difficult than to the European Union. This opinion was expressed by Oleksandr Korniyenko, the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation. According to him, the integration of Ukraine into the North Atlantic Alliance depends primarily on international partners and the vision that the member states of the Alliance hold. Vis-a-vis our Euro-Atlantic integration, it seems to me that the situation is not the faithful mirror-reflection, but slightly different. A lot depends now on the vision held by the partners. However, of great importance remain our joint participation and unity, as recently demonstrated at the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance, said the parliamentarian. Ukraine now takes the central place at all international platforms, not just simply heard. That was obvious both at the G7 Summit and the Arab League Countries meeting. This is a novelty development. And without unity it is impossible to interact with the Arab countries, Oleksandr Kornienko stressed. He added that 95% of Ukrainians want to see their country as a member of the European Union, therefore the Parliament must meet the membership criteria by 105%, not just 99%. Noteworthy, the 15th annual Kyiv security forum For Our and Your Freedom/ Fighting for NATO will be held on May 25-26, 2023, with the participation of well-known international figures. In particular, at the Forum, the KSF Security Council will be established and a policy document will be adopted with recommendations for the NATO summit in Vilnius to be held this July. 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. Mumbai, the five-time IPL champions, will face off against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The winner of the match will set up a summit clash with four-time champions Chennai Super Kings. 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." Oath Keepers extremist group founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weeks long plot that culminated in his followers launching an attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rhodes, 58, is the first person convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, violence to receive his punishment. His sentence is the longest handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases, the Associated Press reported. The chaos in Washington was part of a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after winning the 2020 election. You are smart, you are charismatic and compelling and frankly thats what makes you dangerous, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta told Rhodes. The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government. A defiant Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, stated in court hes a political prisoner, and criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration while playing down his actions on Jan. 6. 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. Rhodes sentence may signal the punishment prosecutors will seek for Proud Boys leaders also convicted of seditious conspiracy. 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. More than 500 of the defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison time. STATEN ISLAND JAN. 6 CASES A former Staten Island man police said was found to be a Proud Boy enthusiast was linked to the ordeal through electronic messaging under the monicker LoneWolfWar, while illegally possessing a cache of dangerous weapons in his home. Eduard Florea, then 40, has since pleaded guilty in the federal case and was sentenced to 33 months in prison, records show. Eduard Florea, 40, of Queens, has a history of arrests on Staten Island. Another Staten Island man, who was in fact present in Washington, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Nicolas Moncada, 22, of Bay Terrace, was accused of live-streaming himself while taking part in the riots at the U.S. Capitol building. MORE STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> Commuter alert: Staten Island Ferry delays continue into Friday morning rush hour >> NYPD: 2 cops injured by Staten Island man who tossed bin, ran, resisted; officer concussed >> FDNY: 1 person injured in fire at Stapleton Houses early on Tuesday morning; probe underway of possible arson, according to source >> Woman, 21, dumped newborn baby in trash can inside Staten Island University Hospital, police say >> New details emerge in death of boy, 15, atop train car at Staten Island Railway station STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Authorities are searching for a possible person in the waters of the Kill van Kull off of Staten Island on Friday morning, according to a source with the U.S. Coast Guard. There were no reports of an individual attempting to jump off the Bayonne Bridge, according to a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Authorities are looking into an unconfirmed report transmitted by the Bayonne Police Department about a missing person who could possibly be in the water, according to multiple sources. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the waters as a precaution, according to the source from the Coast Guard. The incident was reported at 6:30 a.m. and the FDNY is on scene and it is unconfirmed at this time if a person is in the water, according to a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS. The NYPD also is assisting, according to emergency radio communications. More information will be posted when it becomes available. MORE STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> Commuter alert: Staten Island Ferry delays continue into Friday morning rush hour >> NYPD: 2 cops injured by Staten Island man who tossed bin, ran, resisted; officer concussed >> FDNY: 1 person injured in fire at Stapleton Houses early on Tuesday morning; probe underway of possible arson, according to source >> Woman, 21, dumped newborn baby in trash can inside Staten Island University Hospital, police say >> New details emerge in death of boy, 15, atop train car at Staten Island Railway station STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. An argument with a stranger over grass clippings ignited a confrontation where a 54-year-old man allegedly brandished a weed trimmer and a gun as he dared the victim to have a shoot-out, according to sources. The standoff was followed by a police raid at the home of Erik Behling on Sharrotts Road in Charleston where police allege they found weapons and drugs, according to the criminal complaint. The bizarre encounter between Behling and a 23-year-old man occurred on May 18 around 7:15 p.m. in the vicinity of Woodrow Road and Turner Street in Charleston, police said. The incident began as a verbal dispute between the two strangers over grass clippings that somehow landed on the suspects vehicle, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Im going to smash your car and hit you with this, the criminal complaint quotes Behling as saying while holding a weed trimmer pointed in the direction of the victim. According to the complaint, the defendant said he was going to get his gun so we can have a shoot-out. The suspect then retrieved a black firearm from his car and pointed the weapon at the 23-year-old man, the complaint alleges. Behling was arrested within minutes. The complaint details how police armed with a search warrant stormed the home and property of Behling on May 19 at about 7:30 p.m. and allegedly found a weed whacker in a white, Ford E-250 owned by the suspect. Inside the suspects home, the complaint alleges that officers recovered a clear jar containing rocks of cocaine, 114 pills of the sedative clonazepam, eight glass pipes with residue of cocaine, a .22-caliber rifle and a black air pistol. Behling was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, menacing and unlawful possession of an imitation pistol. The complaint alleges that, based on a search of New York State records, the defendant is not authorized to possess a pistol or revolver ammunition with the City of New York and that defendant is not a dealer in rifles and shotguns. Behling has been released under supervision and is due back in Criminal Court on July 10, according to public records. An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment. MORE STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> NYPD: 2 cops injured by Staten Island man who tossed bin, ran, resisted; officer concussed >> FDNY: 1 person injured in fire at Stapleton Houses early on Tuesday morning; probe underway of possible arson, according to source >> Woman, 21, dumped newborn baby in trash can inside Staten Island University Hospital, police say >> New details emerge in death of boy, 15, atop train car at Staten Island Railway station 5:53 a.m. FRIDAY UPDATE: At approximately 5:30 a.m. the city DOT posted on Twitter that hourly service on the Staten Island Ferry will resume at 6 a.m. today (Friday, May 26) with departures on the hour out of St. George and on the half hour out of Whitehall. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York Citys fast ferry system is stepping in to help amid severe service reductions on the Staten Island Ferry. NYC Ferry will offer free overnight ferry shuttle service from 10:45 p.m. Thursday, May 25, through 6:15 a.m. Friday, May 26, between the Wall Street/Pier 11 in Manhattan and NYC Ferrys St. George ferry landing on Staten Island. In their Thursday night announcement about free service, NYC Ferry said Staten Island Ferry is not operating overnight tonight, suggesting a full cancellation of service. The DOT, however, would not confirm whether the Staten Island Ferry would run overnight, continuing to call ferry service reduced. The ferries will run on the following schedule. From Wall Street/Pier 11 in Manhattan: 10:45 p.m. 11:45 p.m. 12:45 a.m. 1:45 a.m. 2:45 a.m. 3:45 a.m. 4:45 a.m. 5:45 a.m. 6:45 a.m. From NYC Ferrys St. George Landing: 11:15 p.m. 12:15 a.m. 1:15 a.m. 2:15 a.m. 3:15 a.m. 4:15 a.m. 5:15 a.m. 6:15 a.m. Riders are advised that NYC Ferry boats are much smaller than Staten Island Ferry boats and boarding will be on a first-come, first-served basis. NYC Ferry also stated that the regular route that operates from St. George to Battery Park City to Midtown West may be modified or suspended on Friday, May 26, urging riders to check the ferry.nyc website or the NYC Ferry app before traveling on Friday morning. The Staten Island Ferry began operating on an hourly schedule Thursday afternoon due to a large number of crew members calling out sick. NYC Ferry will provide free shuttle service from Thursday night into Friday morning as the Staten Island Ferry continues to experience service disruptions. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta) THURSDAY AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR With a vast majority of essential Staten Island Ferry staff calling out sick on Thursday, the DOT only had enough staff to operate the Staten Island Ferry on an hourly basis during rush hour. The department has repeatedly emphasized that one absence in a major title can disrupt service, with the U.S. Coast Guard mandating that each vessel be staffed with at least one captain, one assistant captain, three mates and various other positions, like chief marine engineers, marine engineers and marine oilers. This morning, the vast majority of Captains, Assistant Captains, and Mates scheduled to operate Staten Island Ferry vessels this afternoon called out sick. With a national marine worker shortage and as a result of this action, the Staten Island Ferry will run hourly this afternoon and through evening rush hour, said DOT spokesperson Scott Gastel. The reduced schedule is extremely disruptive to the tens of thousands of people who ride the ferry every day and will make it more difficult for Staten Islanders to get home to their families at the end of the work day. Thats why we expect any Staten Island Ferry workers who are not sick to come to work, he added. The Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), the union that represents the captains, assistant captains, mates, chief engineers and marine engineers on the Staten Island Ferry, issued a statement on Thursday attributing the service reduction to ongoing staffing issues. We are operating on a skeleton crew which is clear as the NYCDOT announces service delays, reductions and cancellations daily, because they have failed to attract qualified and certified officers, mariners, engineers and mates all required onboard large vessels in the harbor, said Roland Rexha, secretary/treasurer of MEBA. Union officials have repeatedly stated that the short-staffing at the Staten Island Ferry can be attributed, in part, to an ongoing contract dispute between MEBA and the city that has left crew members without wage increase since 2010. The union claims that the lack of a new contract and existing low wages have made it difficult for the city to recruit and retain talent during the national maritime workers shortage. It is time City Hall recognizes and rewards their enormous contribution and service to our great city and the borough of Staten Island, Rexha said. The rush hour reduction resulted in large crowds of frustrated commuters packing the Whitehall Terminal as they waited for a boat to arrive. An audible groan could be heard from those in the ferry terminal as an announcement detailed: Due to circumstances out of our control, ferry services will be operating on an hourly schedule. 5:53 a.m. FRIDAY UPDATE: After suspending overnight service, at approximately 5:30 a.m. the city DOT posted on Twitter that hourly service on the Staten Island Ferry will resume at 6 a.m. today (Friday, May 26) with departures on the hour out of St. George and on the half hour out of Whitehall. UPDATE: NYC Ferry provides free overnight service as alternative to Staten Island Ferry NEW YORK, NY -- A large crowd of Staten Island ferry riders scurried to take the 4:30 p.m. boat out of Whitehall Terminal Thursday evening. Unbeknownst to the unlucky riders arriving just after the doors closed, they would be stuck waiting another hour for the next ride back home. In a situation that played out similarly in Aug. 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Thursday that the Staten Island Ferry would be operating only every hour throughout the afternoon and evening rush due to an influx of callouts by ferry staff. An audible groan could be heard from those in the ferry terminal as an announcement detailed: Due to circumstances out of our control, ferry services will be operating on an hourly schedule. Passenger anxiously await the next ferry at Whitehall Terminal on Thursday, May 25. (Staten Island Advance/David Luces) One of those people waiting to get back home was Bill, of Great Kills, who said he takes the ferry every day for work and was fed up with the delays. This is atrocious,' he said. Ive only heard one announcement since Ive been here. Nobody can give me an update on whats going on. I dont understand how they (DOT) can be so unprepared -- this keeps happening. The Great Kills resident added the ferry is meant to be reliable and hasnt been for quite some time. The atmosphere around the ferry terminal on Thursday was one of annoyance, with many riders scrambling to make alternate plans to get home. Others left the building altogether while talking angrily on their phones. Riders who spoke to the Advance/SILive.com said while the delays are unacceptable, there was little they could do now and they had to accept the situation. Friends Nicole and Vanessa, both of the North Shore, said they were caught in the ferry delays last summer and werent surprised when told the reason behind it. Were here now, all we can do is just wait. Nicole said. Its unfortunate whats happening. Passenger board the Staten Island Ferry after a delay on Thursday May 25. (Staten Island Advance/David Luces) Vanessa added she had hoped there would be NYC fast ferries running like last summer, but according to her, they were running on a similar schedule to the Staten Island Ferry. The Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), the union that represents the captains, assistant captains, mates, chief engineers and marine engineers on the Staten Island Ferry, issued a statement on Thursday attributing the service reduction to ongoing staffing issues. Its BS, said Jay, of St. George, who was waiting alongside a friend. If the workers were paid properly and how they should be this would not be happening. The service has not been good -- Im lucky Im just going home and not to work. What if this was the morning? Id be stuck being responsible for that. Boats for the remainder of the night will depart from the St. George Terminal on the hour and from the Whitehall Terminal on the half-hour, commuters were told. Typically, the Staten Island Ferry would provide service every 15 or 20 minutes during rush hour. In an effort to improve crowd control, an announcement was made saying: if you dont live on Staten Island, we advise you to not take the ferry tonight. ONGOING PROBLEM A massive crowd waits in the Whitehall Ferry Terminal during the evening rush on Thursday, May 25, with the Staten Island Ferry forced to run hourly service after numerous crew members called out sick. (Courtesy of Instagram) DOT spokesperson Scott Gastel revealed in a statement that a vast majority of captains, assistant captains and mates scheduled to operate Staten Island Ferry vessels this afternoon called out sick. With a national marine worker shortage and as a result of this action, the Staten Island Ferry will run hourly this afternoon and through evening rush hour, the statement read. The reduced schedule is extremely disruptive to the tens of thousands of people who ride the ferry every day and will make it more difficult for Staten Islanders to get home to their families at the end of the work day. Thats why we expect any Staten Island Ferry workers who are not sick to come to work. Officials are currently searching for ways to provide additional service to commuters, but for now they are advising riders to make alternate travel plans, if possible. The department has repeatedly emphasized that one absence in a major title can disrupt service, with the U.S. Coast Guard mandating that each vessel be staffed with at least one captain, one assistant captain, three mates and various other positions, like chief marine engineers, marine engineers and marine oilers. Roland Rexha, secretary/treasurer of MEBA, said the city has been well aware of the staffing shortages for years, but has done little to help address the issue. The entire City of New York, including the mayor and DOT commissioner, have known about the Staten Island Ferry crew shortages for years. Over 18 years, the DOT has only been able to hire one qualified captain, he said. The union pointed to the efforts made by Staten Island Ferry crew members in recent years despite being understaffed, including safely evacuating the Sandy Ground boat during a December engine fire and maintaining service throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our ferry crew safely evacuated and rescued over 900 Staten Islanders last December in the frigid harbor right before Christmas,' Rexha said. They worked hard to provide essential service during the long months and years of the pandemic. They continue to work multiple shifts a day, often away from their families for long periods of time, to get Staten Islanders to Manhattan and back. He has repeatedly stated that the short-staffing at the Staten Island Ferry can be attributed, in part, to an ongoing contract dispute between MEBA and the city that has left crew members without wage increase since 2010. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Last week, Staten Island saw one of the most disturbing gun-related crimes of the year. Jamoure Harrell, 13, of South Beach, was shot in the head while in Rev. Dr. Maggie Howard Playground in Stapleton after school. After Harrell was deemed brain dead, faith leaders, activists and community leaders issued a call to address gun violence in North Shore communities. Local leaders pointed to the latest headline-generating incidents as they continue to raise concerns about gun violence. Harrells death is the fourth fatal shooting this year on Staten Island. City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) in a statement said: My heart goes out to the young man and his family, and I continue to hold them in my prayers. I want to emphasize that nothing is more important than the safety of our children and families. According to the citys CompStat system, three out of the four deadly shootings that happened in the borough this year took place in Stapleton. In two of them, the victims were under 18 years old. This generation that is going about creating this violence is a small percentage, but still they are affecting a large part of the community, said Rev. Antoinnette R. Donegan of Central Family Life Center, Stapleton. Mike Perry is the program manager of True 2 Life, a Stapleton-based organization that is part of New York Citys Crisis Management System (CMS). CMS consists of community-based organizations that provide violence intervention and support systems in communities heavily impacted by gun violence. Theres one anti-gun violence organization on Staten Island, said Perry, a city-commissioned violence interruptor with True2Life Staten Island. In other boroughs you have multiple. Perry works closely with Hanks to help curb the gun violence plaguing the North Shore. Police responded to an emergency call for a child shot in a park in Stapleton on Friday, May 19, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Steve S.) Violence among young people in our communities affects all of us. We have amazing organizations such as Penn & Perry, Inc., and True2Life that are doing this incredibly difficult and important work on Staten Island, and I am proud to be working with them closely, said Hanks. We must provide these organizations with the support and resources they need. Hanks referenced a bill she sponsored last October that passed in the City Council which requires the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice to provide training and operational support to not-for-profit organizations participating in CMS. We are working every day to end the violence, but it will take all of us as a community to get it done, said Hanks. Staten Island interfaith leaders plan to rally in protest of local gun violence at Dreyfus Intermediate School (I.S. 49) in Stapleton, just steps from where Harrell was shot, Friday afternoon. A CALL FOR CHANGE A common point made by community leaders is that conditions need to change and the underlying cause has to be addressed before improvement can be seen. We need more money in the community (in the form of) incentive-based grants, where we can receive funds for training young people, said Perry. We service a particular area on Staten Island, not the whole Staten Island, but theres gun violence all over the North Shore we need to be in all of these communities doing the work. If we are not able to service all of these communities then how do we fully combat the problem? Steven Estevez, 15, of Stapleton lost his life in a gun incident in February. Perry said hes observed that North Shore residents are in fear and simply want safety. They want more anti gun-violence groups, theyve called for more policing. According to Rev. Donegan, who acts as an engagement coordinator, some Stapleton residents are numb to the reality. Although there is not one remedy that will halt violence in the community, Rev. Donegan believes bringing back community centers will help, noting that the Island is missing the beloved Cromwell Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, demolished in 2013. Having a replacement to Cromwell would be great because there hasnt been anything since [Hurricane] Sandy. The city Parks Department in November 2022 unveiled a plan to replace Cromwell with a new recreation center. Local advocates agree that not being reactive, but proactive in educating and dedicating mental health services to youth is a good place to start. Social media could also be playing a role in todays violence, Rev. Donegan reasoned. The emotional intelligence is not there, she said. You have a generation where all they know is the phone. They do not know how to articulate their emotions. Police rope off Wright Street in Stapleton after a male was fatally shot late Thursday, April 13, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Luke Peteley) Its about educating and empowering, said Democratic District Leader Minister Robert Perkins. COVID didnt just affect people physically. Mentally it tore a lot of people up. From what Perkins sees, many people do not want to live with the stigma that can be associated with mental health. A lot of it stems from generational stuff, Perkins said. This is how the parents dealt with it. Now it is rubbing off on the kids. Overall, the leaders say theyre ready to see the community unite and for change to take place. We have to get past the stage of agreement to the stage of action, Perkins said. We have to do what we have to do. Too many lives depend on it. RELATED COVERAGE: The Stapleton community >> Source: Teen in custody in connection with fatal shooting of boy, 13, on Staten Island >> NYPD identifies boy, 13, who was shot in head at Staten Island playground >> Source: Boy, 13, shot in Staten Island playground is brain dead >> Its bad: New details emerge in shooting of 13-year-old at Staten Island playground 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. The CW Network reveals that it will air the World Electronic Music Awards for the first time ever in the United States on Saturday, May 27 from 8 to 10 p.m. EST. Filmed in Las Vegas in the run-up to the worlds preeminent EDM festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, the two-hour primetime event will honor the best in electronic music from the United States, Europe and Asia and will feature the first Electronic Music Hall of Fame inductions. HOW TO STREAM THE WORLD ELECTRONIC MUSIC AWARDS If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can stream the awards show on Hulu + Live TV, which carries The CW network (note, some limitations depending on geographic area). The mega-service also carries all of the other major networks and a slew of cable network channels. >> Learn more about Hulu + Live TV >> Additionally, in some markets Direct TV Stream carries the CW. (Check your local zip code for availability.) This service offers a five-day free trial. >> Get a five-day free trial for Direct TV Stream >> The network also said the show will stream on the CW app. WHAT CHANNEL IS CW ON? If you are watching on cable, catch the World Electronic Music Awards on the CW Network. You can find which channel CW is on by using the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish. A NEW FORMAT FOR THE SHOW We are so excited to be working with The CW on the World Electronic Music Awards broadcast, said creator and executive producer Andy Ruffell. We are introducing a new format for the show, including regional and world awards, plus Hall of Fame honors with EDM superstars accepting... Previous ceremonies have included stars from music, television and film including Jennifer Lopez, P. Diddy, Lenny Kravitz, Juliette Lewis, Benny Benassi, Bryan Adams, Boy George, Tommy Lee, Carl Cox, Perry Farrell, Grandmaster Flash, Tiesto, Moby, Blue Man Group and Paris Hilton. The World Electronic Music Awards is executive produced by Andy Ruffell, Justin Pierce, Jeb Brien and David D. Williams. More information is available at thewema.com. The show was taped on May 18 in Las Vegas as part of the run-up to the annual dance music mega-festival Electric Daisy Carnival. The festival took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway May 19-21. Not only Ukraine must attain victory in the war, but peace as well, - President of the National Democratic Institute Ukraine must not only win in the war that Russia started, but also ascertain that having won in the war, it attains peace, too. Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute (USA) said this in a special video address to the participants of the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation. Your victory is of utmost importance, because in the 21st century it is Ukraine fighting at the forefront to defend democracy against the attacks of world autocrats, he said. Derek Mitchell noted that Ukrainians perceive democracy as a system capable of providing stability, development, unity and defense of national sovereignty and personal dignity that they seek. The President of the National Democratic Institute emphasized that democracy and democratic development should not decelerate at times of war, and the reforms implemented since 2014 have already brought their fruit. In particular Mr Mitchell emphasized the decentralization reform, allowing local authorities to quickly respond to challenges after the war started. He also mentioned the anti-corruption reform, which helped allay Western concerns about military and financial support for Ukraine. After the victory, with international partners support, you will start rebuilding your country, and this must be based on democratic principles to ensure lasting peace, he said. We all are all eternally indebted to you and, and being pro-active allies, will continue standing side by side with you in attaining the victory of democracy not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world, Derek Mitchell summed up. Noteworthy, the 15th annual Kyiv security forum For Our and Your Freedom/ Fighting for NATO will be held on May 25-26, 2023, with the participation of well-known international figures. In particular, at the Forum, the KSF Security Council will be established and a policy document will be adopted with recommendations for the NATO summit in Vilnius to be held this July. 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! Advertisement Eating outJust open The Blue Mountains finally gets its first wine bar and bottle shop (and it was worth the wait) New Blackheath bar Frankie & Mos features the widest selection of natural wines, beers, and spirits in the Blue Mountains (plus a vegie-forward menu of share plates). Bianca Hrovat 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 The best bars, pubs and restaurants to visit in Sydney this month. See all stories . The Blue Mountains area has welcomed its first natural wine bar and bottle shop with the opening of Frankie & Mos in Blackheath this week. Father and son winemaking duo Bob and Tom Colman worked for upwards of a year to open the intimate, 25-seat venue in a heritage shop, across the road from hatted restaurant Ates. New wine bar and bottle shop Frankie & Mos has opened in Blackheath. Phillip Sage Tom Colman tells Good Food its a warm, inviting venue where the wine-curious can try hard-to-find drops at affordable prices, while snacking on share plates fromformer Golden Gully chef Em Evans. Nothing like this exists up here, Colman says, explaining how he was influenced by the wine bars of Europe where by-the-glass menus change daily, often at the whims of curious customers. Advertisement We can see theres a demand now. The demographic has changed in the mountains, and lots of Sydney people have moved here. Between us, Ates, and [Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar] Zoes, were creating a little [dining] precinct in Blackheath, a destination. The all-natural selection of wine at Frankie & Mos. Phillip Sage The brick building, formerly an art gallery, contains three small rooms filled with sunlight, plants and vintage furniture. Evans sources local produce for her tight, vegetable-focused menu. Lighter dishes include a plant-based carrot lox blini with cashew cream cheese ($12) and swordfish crudo with cucumber saffron vinaigrette ($18). On the heartier side, theres wild mushroom gnocchi ($24) and a rack of lamb with parsnip puree and chimichurri ($27). Advertisement Frankie & Mos will exclusively stock organic and biodynamic wines, beers, spirits and non-alcoholic adult beverages. During the day, it will also function as the cellar door for Bob and Toms natural wine label Frankly, a wine made by Bob. A vegetable-forward menu from a former Golden Gully chef. Phillip Sage We want to create a safe space for people to explore wines they probably wouldnt have a chance to elsewhere, Colman says. He hopes the purchasing process will be friendlier and more conversational than people may be accustomed to at city wine bars. The wine list will be forever changing and exciting. Customers will be able to buy a bottle for takeaway, then drink it at the bar for just $25 corkage. Advertisement Were trying to keep the wine as affordable as possible, says Colman. In a normal restaurant youre looking at paying around four times the price of what the restaurant is buying it at, which makes many of these sorts of wines unreachable for the average person. Bob and Tom Colman want to bring a friendly approach to natural wine at Frankie and Mos. Phillip Sage Colman, who studied winemaking in Adelaide before returning to the Blue Mountains, is a passionate advocate for natural wine: wild fermented, hand harvested and no filtering or refining. We feel like [natural wine] actually shows the personality of the winemakers and [gives] a sense of place, or terroir, Colman says. Advertisement Its the future. Frankie & Mo's Cellar door Fri-Sun 10am-5pm Bottle shop Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 12-late, Sat-Sun 10am-late Bar and restaurant Thu-Fri 5pm-late, Sat-Sun 10am-late 44 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath; instagram.com/frankieandmos/ Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up 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 Welcome back to Yours.Sincerely, our Friday dive into the letters and comments on what you decided was the topic of the week. This week, letter writers and online commenters took to their keyboards to voice support or not for Stan Grant, who stepped away from the ABC after relentless racial abuse following his commentary during the Kings coronation. Credit: Illustration: Jim Pavlidis People who love Australia want harmony Stan Grant delivered a powerful speech during his final moments as host of Q+A. He described how he felt like part of the problem afflicting the media before beginning an indefinite break from journalism. ML Many journalists are at the receiving end of hate and vitriol on social media. Stan Grant is not the exception. However, the hate directed at him is part of the institutionalised racism that has made Australia what it is today. pippid Social media the most anti-social invention ever is ubiquitous and unavoidable unless you live entirely off grid and have no family and friends. Advertisement Loading Nixon If you have a soap-box to promote your view, whatever it may be, then be prepared for the flack. So many opinionistas can promulgate their views without ever engaging directly with their audience. Social media, as vile as it can be, has finally given people the ability to respond. Suzee When will bigoted racist Australians realise that Indigenous Australians love this country a lot more than they do. People who love Australia want harmony. sue walshe I respect you Stan and wish you a speedy recovery from the filth that has been thrown at you. Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding Would unbiased media broadcast the coronation? Stan Grant has challenged us about how the media has turned public discussion into an amusement park. Now, without Grant, that public discussion will be worse still, wrote columnist Sean Kelly. Advertisement Loading Nell Knight, Avoca Beach Are we to self-censor, like citizens of an authoritarian regime? Or can our media, as called for, fearlessly, calmly, discuss and judge our history and institutions? millsy10 For a mob that are supposedly egalitarian by nature, many of us seem ill-equipped to deal with a mirror being placed in front of us. You cannot deny history and you cant argue about the timing; it was perfect. Bluespot Stan Grant stepping away is a huge loss to intelligent debate. The racism he has been subjected to is inexcusable. Any errors in decision-making about the nature of the panel/discussion and coronation coverage are those of ABC management, not Stan. Gavan Keating The ABCs decision was a correct one. We are supposed to be a democracy with freedom of speech to discuss, analyse and argue about serious ideas. That is what the program in question was attempting to do. The timing and context was entirely legitimate. Just sayin Surely Stan could have declined any commentary on the coronation? Just say no. Ross.Mallabula If the ABC was unbiased, it would not have broadcast the coronation. The broadcast demonstrates the right wing, monarchist bias of the national broadcaster. Advertisement Graham Lum, North Rocks This attack on Stan Grant has propelled racism back into the headlines. However, it was already simmering under the surface of the referendum debate. Voters need to be very astute in dissecting the comments made by those with powerful public voices. Beware the racist wolves in sheeps clothing. ScottoftheAntipodes Australia has a ridiculously racist past and we sometimes forget that it really wasnt all that long ago that we were stealing Indigenous children, we had the white Australia policy, we didnt allow Aboriginal people to vote. Stan Grant makes an emotional speech after stepping down as host of Q+A. Credit: ABC We need to speak uncomfortable truths Columnist Jenna Price felt crushed by Stan Grants final words on race, racism and the Australian media. Letter writers and online comments felt similarly. John Pace People who seek to divide rather than reconcile are absolutely part of the problem. Bobby Beauty Those people who criticise Q+A are, I venture to say, unhappy to hear views that dont correspond to their own. If we all barricade ourselves in our separate silos, well never sort out our myriad problems. Advertisement The heritage-listed warehouse that burst into flames in central Sydney was supposed to be the fulfilment of a family dream for a $38 million hotel, the culmination of six years of design work and planning, and a catalyst to transform a pocket of trendy Surry Hills with a slick new development. Those dreams were reduced to a smouldering pile of rubble by Friday, as firefighters extinguished the final flames and the police arson squad spoke to two teenagers who had handed themselves in. Plans to transform the building into a hotel complex were about to move into the construction phase. The massive fire that tore through the former hat making factory on Randle Street sent flames, plumes of smoke and debris spewing into the air and onto the street, bringing the southern end of the CBD to a grinding halt on Thursday afternoon. Police said two schoolchildren, both aged 13, handed themselves in to officers at Paddington and Kings Cross with their parents after the inferno caused part of the empty building to collapse. Unscrupulous builders and developers would be forced to fix serious defects in new detached houses under a crackdown on shoddy operators flagged by the states building commissioner. Four years after a string of Sydney construction failures triggered a statewide reckoning with the quality of apartment blocks, David Chandler has signalled a shift in oversight focus to standalone housing in coming months. NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has flagged a shift in focus to class one buildings, or detached houses. Judgment day is around the corner, he said. It will catch you. The building commissioner wants to thrust the construction of new houses under the spotlight as the NSW government faces pressure to confront the states housing supply and affordability crisis. One of the states top-performing private schools has flagged plans to open more campuses in Sydney, claiming the waiting list to enter year 7 is five times the number of students it can admit. Inspired Education, which owns Reddam House in the eastern suburbs, said it was looking to establish more co-ed schools in other parts of the city as demand rises across its primary and secondary years. Reddam House, which has campuses in the eastern suburbs, is looking to open other schools in Sydney. Credit: Peter Rae The high-fee school, split between two campuses in Bondi and Woollahra, is known for its intensive teaching approach, weekly testing and strong academic results, climbing the HSC rankings to fifth spot last year and outperforming selective school Sydney Grammar. In 2019, Reddam became the first school in NSW to relinquish government funding to become a fully for-profit enterprise after joining the private-equity backed corporate Inspired group that operates 80 schools in more than a dozen countries. Leader of the European Solidarity party, the fifth president of Ukraine (2014-19), Petro Poroshenko, during his speech at the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation, said that the NATO summit in Vilnius should not repeat the mistake of Bucharest-2008 and announce the invitation of Ukraine to the Alliance, the European Solidarity said on its website on Friday. I will be terribly disappointed if the Ukrainian delegation brings back a photocopy of the 2008 Bucharest summit after the Summit in Vilnius. If the door (to NATO) is open, do let us in. If you dont allow us to enter, then this door is not open, he emphasized. He stressed that only Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO is the scenario that guarantees permanent peace. The question is how to win the war and not lose the peace. And in this situation we have three scenarios. The first scenario is the only one that all of Ukraine believes in. This is membership in the EU and membership in NATO. It means democracy, it means reforms, it means investment, it means post-war reconstruction. This means that Ukraine is integrated into the largest security organization in the world. And this is called the EU and NATO scenario, Poroshenko believes. How to win the war and not to lose peace? There are three scenarios. The first one is Ukraines membership in the EU and NATO. This means democracy, reforms, investment, post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, - said the ex-President, stressing that this scenario is the most desirable for Ukrainian people. He stated that today about 90% of Ukrainians support it. I want to remind you that even at the beginning of the full-scale war, I was accused that the war started because we made changes to the Constitution together with our parterres in 2019, which provide for mandatory membership in the EU and NATO, Poroshenko said. According to him, there is a second scenario that is also offered to us - these are the so-called security guarantees. Whatever we do there, it will be a photocopy of the Budapest Memorandum. And what will it do? It will go to the project, which, relatively speaking, is called Israel. Israel also has security guarantees. Security guarantees in the best case will be in the supply of weapons to Ukraine, in order for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to fight. But this means a war that will never end and for which Ukrainians will pay a heavy price. Thats just Israel is at war with Gaza, and we are at war with the second largest nuclear power in the world, Poroshenko emphasized. The price and sacrifices will be different. Therefore, no security guarantees can be considered by us now as the pro-Ukrainian scenario, the fifth President is confident. Also, according to him, there is a third scenario that russia dreams of. And this scenario is called Afghanistan: when a dictatorship is formed in Ukraine, when Ukraine is not a member of NATO, when we are not given security guarantees and we are not given weapons. And this is the scenario that is putins dream, warns Poroshenko. It is very important that todays messages are heard during the Vilnius NATO summit. Because when we talk about protecting democracy, the protection of democracy takes place within the framework of our movement in the EU and NATO. Because NATO is democracy, Poroshenko said. Review Melbourne This tiny newcomer is first and foremost a cocktail bar, but Besha Rodell would come here for the food even if there were no cocktails to be found. Archer, a mother of five and former local mayor who worked mostly as a waitress pre-politics, entered parliament in 2019 after winning the marginal seat of Bass from Labors Ross Hart by 563 votes. The first indication of her rebel spirit came in December 2020, when she abstained from the Coalitions legislation to extend trials of a cashless debit card , under which welfare recipients could not buy alcohol, gamble or withdraw cash. Archer, who holds a bachelor of arts in political science and English and a graduate certificate in international politics, felt that quarantining payments was punitive and contravened Liberal Party values. Theres an edge to Archer today. The loss of the heartland Liberal seat of Aston after 33 years emphatically won by Labors Mary Doyle after Alan Tudges retirement has emboldened her and, she believes, proved her point that the Liberal Party is unelectable in its current form. Were joined by Archers key staffer Lucy Mercier, who, one suspects, is in a state of high alert: she knows her boss says exactly what she thinks. Yet Mercier also knows Bridget Archer is, well, authentically Bridget Archer. And therein lies her superpower. (In a later interview I ask Archer how she relaxes. I drink, comes her half-joking answer. I think Ive come out in hives, Mercier responds, slightly horrified.) Archer, who is surprisingly tall and wearing her electorate work outfit of black jeans and low-heeled boots, wonders aloud about the next level on the MP strife scale, as she calls it. Maverick? Rogue? She might want to avoid disgruntled, I say, as that one tends to stick. Disgruntled, she says, mulling the word. And then, eyeing my recorder: Oh, I am disgruntled, dear reader. Outspoken. We discuss this over lunch at Tatler Lane, a restaurant close to her Launceston electorate office, in the states north. Its the kind of eatery coffee roastery, slick design, Instagram-worthy breakfasts that didnt exist in the insular Launceston we knew as teenagers. Were the same age 48 but never met back then. She lived in a low-income suburb but went to Launceston Grammar. I lived out of town and went to a public school. She was expelled during year 12 for sneaking into the boys boarding house. On Saturday nights, in grunty Ford Falcons, Id be doing laps of the CBDs one-way streets, a Launceston cultural experience known as doing blockies. She never did a blockie. I meet Bridget Archer just after the federal Liberal MP lobbed another mini-grenade at her own party. Its the Monday following the April Aston byelection and debate is running hot: what does the seats loss mean for the conservative side of politics? Archer believes she knows exactly what it means and spells it out in the morning papers: I think the party needs to stop ideological dog-whistling and return to centrist Liberal values. And there, alongside her quote, are the words now unshakeably paired with her name: outspoken Tasmanian MP. Weve seen an infiltration and I think its been as insidious as that of right-wing religious conservatism thats infected the Liberal Party and turned it into something it was never conceived to be. She stops for a moment. I dont think [party founder Robert] Menzies would be particularly disappointed with my efforts. No, she says firmly. She describes herself as a small-c conservative who believes in individual aspiration and reward for effort. Im not really a natural fit with the Labor collective. Im not a socialist. But the Liberal Party has gone sideways, she continues, a process she believes began with former prime minister John Howard. Since the May 2022 election, when Archer became the first person in 21 years to be re-elected to Bass the so-called ejector seat of Australian politics she has cut a particularly lonely figure in parliament. Last year she was the only Coalition member to cross the floor to support the Albanese governments carbon emissions target and to censure former prime minister Scott Morrison for his multiple ministries, and to back the national housing fund in February. Last month, Archer declared she would campaign for an Indigenous Voice , putting her at odds with the party room. Her floor-crossing tally now stands at 27, almost pipping Nationals senator Barnaby Joyces record of 28. In March 2021, Archer created a stir again, as the first Liberal woman to publicly confirm her attendance at the Womens March 4 Justice at Parliament House. In November that year, blindsiding the party, she backed independent MP Helen Haines motion to discuss a federal integrity commission. Today you saw, I think, the absolute lioness of the 46th parliament, Haines told the media afterwards. And that woman is the member for Bass, Bridget Archer. In February last year, Archer crossed the floor with fellow Liberal moderates Trent Zimmerman, Fiona Martin, Katie Allen and Dave Sharma to successfully back amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act to abolish the right of religious schools to discriminate against gay and transgender students (in the end, Morrison shelved the legislation). In what universe is spending a f--- tonne of government money on telling other people how to spend their money in any way Liberal? she says after ordering the omelette of the day. The bill narrowly made it to the Senate, which voted to extend the trials for two years. The Whelans bitterly separated when Archer was eight and her mother moved to Launceston. Barry got custody of the kids, but soon after was told he had cancer and six months to live. He died in eight weeks. The children moved to Launceston to live with Marian and her new stepfather but, says Archer, things went from turbulent to more turbulent to more turbulent. The abuse of power, the inappropriate sexual attention and grooming pressure not to tell her mother; treats when hed gone too far began when Archer was eight, during a vulnerable time. Born to a teenage mother in Hobart, Archer was adopted as a six-week-old baby to bank workers Barry Whelan and his wife Marian, who also had a son and daughter. You know, I loved her straight away, says Marian. She was a stunning-looking baby. (In 2014, Archer found her biological mother on Facebook. They regularly messaged and played the online game Words with Friends, but her birth mother died in 2018 while they were still weighing up meeting in person. Archers biological father remains a mystery, as his identifying information was blacked out in her files.) As a teenager, Bridget Archer repeatedly borrowed an anatomy book from the library. Each night, for six months, she copied it out. Even now, her knowledge of body bits and systems is, she says, ridiculous. But Archer studied the book not because it was her dream to be a doctor which it was but as an excuse to stay in her room. This way she could avoid saying goodnight to her late stepfather, a man she describes as an aggressive, emotionally abusive and controlling alcoholic who scared her. When Archer had no excuse to stay in her room, she was expected to wish her stepfather goodnight in his workshop under the house, where he could secretly kiss and touch her inappropriately. He never raped me, says Archer now. But I think that was only because of a lack of opportunity, in the end. Weve seen an infiltration of right-wing religious conservatism thats infected the Liberal Party and turned it into something it was never conceived to be. The party cannot stand by while moderate Liberal voters and potential candidates turn to independent movements like the teals, she says. This is not a sustainable path back to government. Weve got to have a revolution, really, to take the party back, she says. When I suggest this puts her on a collision course with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, she agrees. But its not a personal fight, she says. The fight I am spoiling for is over the future of the Liberal Party. But theres a broader aspect, too. She often thinks about the impact of childhood sexual abuse, and how it fundamentally changes you and is deeply connected to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. (Archer has also spoken openly about her ongoing struggles with panic attacks and anxiety: Ive had a lot of therapy.) She now believes that many Liberal policies in juvenile justice, Robodebt or cashless welfare payments fail to take into account that people with early trauma dont cope in uniform ways. Its like trying to make a fish ride a bicycle were not understanding that peoples capacity to do what you are asking them to do might be constrained by their trauma. Archer tells me this as we drink lattes from the coffee cart in Launcestons quiet Civic Square. From her first speech to parliament, Archer made the decision to acknowledge her history of childhood trauma although she reveals the details here for the first time because she wants to move the conversation forward and chip away at stigma. But her survival of trauma also informs her political views in ways shes only beginning to understand. For a long time, she was puzzled why she felt white-hot anger about the conversation around transgender rights. Theres a moral panic around that issue which is really about people living their own lives in peace yet a complete lack of outrage that one in four kids are sexually abused . And thats happening in their own homes. Thats where people are unsafe. Lillywhite remembers Archer going through a mini-self-destruction at this point. When Archer was expelled for sneaking into the boys boarding house, she had to do her exams at Launceston College (where I was doing them the same year) and flunked year 12. But she got into a law and science degree at the University of Tasmania, thanks to her excellent year 11 results (and that anatomy book). Unsurprisingly, any prospects of doing well enough to get into a medicine degree had evaporated, says Archer. I was in bits. Her schoolmate and best friend, Sarah Lillywhite, describes Archer as a warm, funny and resilient person who was grateful to be at a good school. We just worked bloody hard. There was nothing handed to either of us, says Lillywhite, who was a scholarship student. But things changed when Archer was 15. When the anatomy study didnt give her enough cover, she stopped talking to her stepfather for a year, prompting an ultimatum from him to Marian: either she goes, or I do. Marian, knowing nothing of the abuse, chose her husband, and for year 12 Archer was sent to Grammars boarding house, 10 minutes from home. In year 6, funded by her father and grandfathers wills, Archer was sent to Launceston Grammar. Harbouring the awful secret of her home life, she existed in multiple worlds: her privileged schoolmates would tease her for living in the poorer suburb of Ravenswood, while the neighbourhood kids were scornful of her fancy school. Afterwards, the ramifications came, as Archer expected, and she was called to Morrisons office to explain herself. What few people realised that day was that Bridget Archer had thought about an integrity commission more than most of her colleagues because shed been investigated by one. Even though the Liberal Party trumpets its proud tradition of allowing MPs to cross the floor, Archer knew it was career suicide: You have to pick the hill you are prepared to die on because instinctively you know you are dying. She also knew independent-minded party MPs never really get anywhere in politics, the exception, perhaps, being Barnaby Joyce. The first time Archer crossed the floor , it was an ambush. Determined to achieve maximum impact, and not to have a repeat of the cashless-welfare debate when she says she felt bullied and intimidated for weeks by Morrisons staff she secretly conspired with Haines, who had her own federal integrity commission bill when Morrison was dragging his heels on the issue. In the parliamentary footage of that day November 25, 2021 you can see former Liberal MP Tim Wilson do a surprise swivel in his chair at the chambers central table. He turns to see the stealth bomber, dressed in a forest-green suit jacket and shoulder-length blonde bob, rise to second Haines motion and, speaking in measured tones with no notes her pulse beating in her ears, a sick feeling in her stomach plead with her colleagues to restore trust in elected officials. In retrospect, Archer was always on a collision course with Liberal conservatives; its just that no one saw it coming. If the party just did a nominal amount of homework when they went through candidate selection, they would have realised that Bridget is about values, end of story, says a Bass Liberal branch member who knows Archer well. Bridget is prepared to die on the cross. If she has something she believes in, basically thats it, mate, youre done. Also, she adds, the party can tend to marginalise already marginalised people. It makes us feel better about ourselves. But its not Liberal. Its sort of othering, you know, the way we see ourselves and who our base is, compared to those people or those people or those people. All of those people, in my view, who are just people, they should be the base. Why shouldnt they be? If you go back to your Liberal values about aspiration, all sorts of people have aspiration, now more than ever. Archer speaks with then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg in 2021, after she crossed the floor to allow debate on an integrity commission bill. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Steptoe, says Bridget Archer. Hes like Steptoe and Son. Were walking on a farm road in the autumn afternoon sun and Archer is describing her husband Winston Archer, a farmer, and the scene around us. Its a junkyard: old ploughs, abandoned cement mixers, paint tins, concrete pipes, a dumped trailer and a tractor cabin that looks like its been leaning on a tree since 1963. (Winston tells me later that, sentimentally, he also keeps in a shed samples of posters from every one of Archers election campaigns, including her runs for mayor and council.) Theres also a preponderance of dogs: her own three poodles, Roxy, Bobby and Domino, farm dogs, a fresh batch of shut-eyed border collie-kelpie puppies, and ones that she has never seen before. I dont even know who you are, she says to a beagle-like mutt chasing our heels. A 45-minute drive north of Launceston, the 2000-hectare cattle and sheep farm Effingham is just outside George Town, a blue-collar town at the mouth of the Tamar River, home to the Bell Bay aluminium smelter. The Archers are one of the early-colonial landed gentry families of northern Tasmania, descendants of four brothers who set up large homesteads. My mum, whose Pilates teacher is an Archer, is keen to know which Archers Bridget married into the ones who recently sold a single Angus bull for a record price of $240,000? No, they are Winstons third cousins, Bridget Archer says. Nevertheless, the farm has been in Winstons family for five generations and stretches all the way to Bass Strait. But instead of walking that far, we perch on a bit of concrete slab to chat. When Archer came here after marrying Winston in 2008, she felt, for the first time, some sense of being settled. Until then, she says her life was like something out of Days of Our Lives (her staff joke that her biography will read Chapter 73: enters federal politics.) In 1993, aged 17, she fled her stepfather and went to Hobart, where she dropped out of her degree in the first year and went absolutely off the rails. In the midst of heavy partying she worked as a curation assistant at the Tasmanian Herbarium for four years. But also, during this time, in 1998, Archer married her first husband, who was 15 years older. It lasted 51 weeks. Then in 1999, Archer followed a boyfriend to Sydney, where she briefly studied communications at the University of Technology Sydney. She landed a waitressing job at the famous Doyles seafood restaurant on Watsons Bay, which she adored, and worked there during the Sydney Olympics. While at work one day, she slipped some discs in her back and nearly died from a golden staph infection, contracted in hospital after a lumbar laminectomy operation. Loading After that, Archer felt alone in Sydney and realised she couldnt keep partying with such reckless abandon. In 2003, she returned to Launceston but the recklessness had caught up with her: she came home pregnant. The father, a European backpacker, had left the country. Archer hired a private investigator and found his parents, but they refused to put her in contact with their son. I made a decision pretty quickly that it was just going to be the two of us. Being a single mother was hard, she says, but her childhood had left her with a troubling inner world and she needed something bigger to pull her out of the mental mire. I think having Luke probably saved my life. Archer had her mother and Sarah Lillywhite for support, but also bumped into Evelyn Archer, an old boarding-house buddy, at antenatal classes. The pair reignited their friendship and had their sons within a month of each other in 2003. Archer, who finished her degree in 2004 and graduate certificate in 2005, dreamed of a foreign affairs job but drily observes that being a single parent with a young baby was a bit limiting as far as diplomatic postings go. In 2007, Evelyn introduced Archer to her brother Winston. They married the next year. Shes a beautifully rounded person and a decent person, Winston says. The success of our relationship is that weve never told each other what to do. I still love her as much as I ever have. With affection, Lillywhite describes the Archers relationship as no-frills. Hes grounded and humble, hes such a fantastic foil for the world of high-stakes politics. Evelyn and Winstons father, Lawrence Archer, remembers meeting his future daughter-in-law for the first time at her house in Invermay, one of Launcestons poorer suburbs. My first impression was that she was a very nice young lady, he tells me on the phone. The little house was immaculate, wasnt it, Gail? Archers mother-in-law Gail murmurs assent from somewhere in the background. Later in the call I ask Lawrence about Archers strengths and weaknesses. The 73-year-old is extremely proud of his daughter-in-laws floor-crossings but nominates housework as her weakness. The conversation goes like this. Me: I thought you said her cottage was very neat? Lawrence: But now shes got five kids and shes a politician. Me: Why isnt Winston doing the housework? Lawrence: Well, poor Winston, he does a fair bit Its not a criticism, its just a fact of life. Archer with her mum Marian Campbell after re-election in Bass in 2022. Credit: Courtesy of Bridget Archer In the early years at the farm, Winston suggested to Archer who was looking after the books that getting on the local council was a good way to meet people (the Archers had a long tradition of serving on the George Town council). Archer took up Winstons suggestion and was elected in 2009, when her first daughter, Lauren, was 10 months old. (She would go on to have two more daughters, Edith in 2011 and Molly in 2013, and a son, James, in 2014, a birth that almost claimed her life and afterwards saw her suffer a fortnight of acute postnatal depression. Her first child, Luke, is now 19.) After joining the council, Archer was invited to a Liberal Party social function and served as the secretary and treasurer of the partys local branch between 2012 and 2013. At first, she says, her involvement with the party was a social thing, but her commitment deepened as she became impressed with Will Hodgmans state Liberal government, first elected in 2014. (Hodgman and successor Peter Gutwein would become her political mentors, along with the current premier, Jeremy Rockliff.) Archers time on the council was eventful, to say the least. She became deputy mayor in 2011 and endured an awkward period when the police were called twice to remove Winston from council meetings for being disruptive. It was tricky, she says. I couldnt really get involved but at the same time, it doesnt sort of endear you to your colleagues. (Current councillor Tim Harris describes Winston as an angry ant; Winston counters that hes simply committed to transparency and fiscal responsibility. I didnt raise my voice, I just stood my ground at public question time. Recently Winston was elected a councillor, bringing, quite remarkably, the number of Winstons on the council to two.) Archer was voted mayor in October 2014 and inherited a council that was a mess: a revolving door of general managers, controversial development issues, unsustainable finances. In 2017, her response was to employ an approach she would later use in federal parliament: deliberate ambush. She appeared in Launcestons Examiner with the West Tamar council mayor announcing a feasibility study into amalgamation. But shed not breathed a word to her fellow councillors about it. There was a lack of will to do anything that was going to turn the ship around without that bit of a push. Bridget Archer Councillors went on to vote overwhelmingly against amalgamation but faced with the prospect of losing themselves in a merger backed a restructure that found more than $1 million in savings. This, Archer says, was the result she was looking for. There was a lack of will to do anything that was going to turn the ship around without that bit of a push, she says. Despite the lack of consultation over amalgamation, most current and former councillors who speak to Good Weekend back Archers leadership skills. Shes knowledgeable and got a good head on her. And quite a good leader, says former councillor John Glisson. But not everyone was happy with Archers time as mayor. Under its policy for paying councillors costs, the council had paid Archers childcare fees since 2014. At first she claimed for three days a week, but then, for a seven-month period in 2017, when she was busy with the restructure and replacing general managers, the council covered five days a week, which included two children in long day care and two children in after-school care. In the financial year 2016-17, the council paid $22,000 for Archers childcare. In late 2017, an anonymous complaint was made to Tasmanians Integrity Commission and later printed on flyers and delivered to letterboxes around George Town that Archer was using some council-paid childcare for non-mayoral purposes. It also alleged double-dipping: that she was pocketing the federal Child Care Subsidy, when she should have paid it back to the council to offset its costs. The Integrity Commission investigated. In its March 2018 report which Archer passed on to Good Weekend she admitted to using council-paid childcare for private purposes, but said due to the inflexibility of childcare options in George Town and the at-call nature of being mayor, she had no other option than to book her children into long day care in advance. The commission accepted Archers evidence and cleared her of this allegation. In assessing the second allegation of double-dipping, the investigator acknowledged the argument that Archer should have passed on the federal rebate to the council (which would have halved the councils bill, as the rebate covered 50 per cent of out-of-pocket costs). But he decided this should not be required because Archer had been open and transparent about the councils payment of her childcare; that this arrangement was accepted and approved by council staff since 2014; that it was impossible to calculate the proportion of the rebate applicable to mayoral work and private requirements; and that Archer had not claimed childcare when she was just a councillor, and to some extent offset costs by not using a council car or phone (she was paid a fuel and communications allowance instead). There is thus no evidence of misconduct in relation to this allegation, the report found. Loading The council never got to assess the investigators reasoning for itself because it was never given the report. Five years later, serving and retired councillors are still perplexed as to why, leading to all sorts of speculation. George Towns longest-serving councillor, Heather Barwick, is an Archer admirer and mentor She has matured so much and shes capable of standing up to all of them people because she has Tasmania at heart but still believes there was something odd about a report never surfacing. It was a Liberal [state] government at the time. They kept it shut so that they could put her up for election. (Archer calls this a wild conspiracy theory and points out that the commissions report was finalised just after the March 2018 state election, in which she stood in an unwinnable spot as a Liberal candidate in the state seat of Bass.) Will Hodgman, the then premier, did not respond when Good Weekend puts this allegation to him. Archer says the report found that I worked with the policy that was in place and did not claim anything inappropriately. She says she bears no ill will to whoever complained and is glad that, in the aftermath, the council rewrote the policy on childcare allowances to make it clear that all claims are net of subsidy. The stressful experience made her mindful that anti-corruption bodies need to be careful with reputations, but it did not, she says, diminish her support for such commissions. Meanwhile, on the farm, Winston and Luke arrive in an ATV. Winston is wearing a narrow-brimmed khaki hat, a torn green fleece and grease-smeared jeans. He squints against the sun and Archer breaks the news that she has to return to Canberra for a party-room meeting on the Voice. He is disappointed. Geez, cant you Zoom in? The juggle of parliament and family life the kids are aged between eight and 19 and all live at home is not easy. Winston has, says Archer, employed a farmhand to free up time. Archer does the weeks cooking and shopping before leaving for Canberra, and hires a family friend to look after the kids in the afternoons. She also takes one child, who has autism, to Canberra most sitting weeks because she is home-schooled. The sacrifices of her family are partly what fuels the fire in her belly: she wants to make her time in parliament count. Im not here, she says, to keep the seat warm. As we head back to my car, Archer wonders whether Winston thinks her job is a bit of a hobby and whether he hopes shell give it up soon and things will return to normal. If true, Winstons not the only one wondering if Archer will give it up. Theres a posse of people in her own Liberal branches desperately hoping she will. Archer with her family on their 2000-hectare cattle and sheep farm. From left: Molly, James, Luke, Lauren, husband Winston and Edith, accompanied by poodle Roxy and hand-raised pet sheep Barry. Credit: Charles Headlam The next morning, Archer is at the Tramsheds Function Centre in Launcestons Invermay, not far from where she lived as a single mother. Shes handing out certificates to 59 new Australian citizens, from countries as diverse as Ethiopia, South Korea and Nepal. Later, between photographs with excited new Launcestonians, we talk about the citys lack of diversity when we were teenagers. Today is another sign, says Archer, of Launceston changing for the better. Archers message of change for the Liberal Party that it needs to move towards the centre, where she firmly believes the electorate is isnt particularly controversial in Tasmania, where the party is much more moderate. The current premier, Jeremy Rockliff who is campaigning for the Voice is seen as the most moderate in a succession of moderate Liberal premiers. Recently there have been rumblings of moves afoot to disendorse Archer during the seats preselection process next year. For this to happen, however, someone would need to challenge Archer and then win a majority of branch member votes in a plebiscite. Archer admits that some branch meetings have become tense, with a small group expressing their dismay at her floor-crossings. A senior member of the George Town-East Tamar Liberal branch, one of the biggest in Bass and also Archers home base, tells Good Weekend that just over half of its 58 members dont support Archers positions. Bridget is a pretty popular person down here. She works hard But shes upset a lot of members through crossing the floor when she probably really hasnt had to. He names the Morrison censure as an example and adds that he believes the party is waiting to see if shell run as an independent. (Archer says her preference is to run as a Liberal candidate, but that she would consider turning independent if disendorsed.) Another member says the preselection will be a very noisy process that will amount to little. The elderly, ultra-right-wing constituents, they talk a mean game but theyre very light on action. If you go to the branch meetings, its like Australia 30 years ago. They are a bunch of very elderly, very conservative retirees. A Bass Liberal Party branch member And here is the wider problem for the Liberal Party, playing out in Bass but also in branches all over the country: members who go to meetings skew older and more traditionalist, creating a disconnect with the broader Liberal base. If you go to the branch meetings, its like Australia 30 years ago, says one Bass branch member. They are a bunch of very elderly, very conservative retirees. It could seem to some that Archer is on a kamikaze mission that will mark her as trouble and guarantee her own demise. The more and more she goes against the party, the harder its going to be for her, isnt it? says the senior Bass branch member. But Archer faces a big existential challenge in just keeping her seat. At last years election, Archer went backwards on her primary vote, but through preferences slightly increased her margin by 1 per cent to a slim 1.4 per cent. The national trend towards Labor in current polls suggests Bass will be a tough ask to win again in 2025. It could be that the only way she keeps Bass is to continue on her rebel path, distancing herself from the Dutton-led Liberals, just as she distanced herself from Morrison in 2022. She will also be reaping the benefit of a substantially raised profile at the next election. She has a local reputation, says Launceston resident and community brand strategist Rick Marton, for listening to all views. Bridgets seen as a very real person, a very genuine person, he says. Brad Stansfield, a campaign strategist, former chief-of-staff to Will Hodgman and co-host of Tasmanian politics podcast FontCast, says Archer has worked out that Bass quite likes someone who will be up in lights with their electorates name up in lights beside them. There is, after all, a tradition of Tasmanians loving rebel politicians, from Liberal senator Sir Reg Wright, who crossed the floor 150 times, to Liberal Bruce Goodluck, who wore a chicken suit in parliament in 1985, and, of course, the take-no-prisoners Senator Jacqui Lambie. Given her popularity, Stansfield believes that forcing Archer out would be politically crazy because it would martyr her, deliver her the sympathy vote and hand her the seat as an independent. In other words, for the Liberals, he believes, if its bye-bye Bridget, its bye-bye Bass. There is a preponderance of dogs big and small on the farm, with Archer holding Tank, one of the familys new border collie-kelpie puppies. Credit: Clint Leonard Over coffee, Archer ponders the things that dont make sense about the conservative-led Liberal Party. It gets involved in transgender and womens culture-war issues despite its core tenet of respecting individual choice or, as Archer likes to put it: you do you. She contends it values the family circa the 1950s, yet families dont look like that any more. It doesnt talk enough about the environment. How do you call yourself a conservative when youre not interested in conserving anything? Disgruntled, dear reader, she certainly is. A week later after the Voice party room vote she says she feels even more resolute about change, but wonders if its too late. I dont feel like that here in Tasmania. But certainly when I sit in the federal party room, I think maybe its too far gone. David Crowe, chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, says the Liberal Party crisis has a long way to play out, and if Archer can hang on in Bass, shell be well-positioned when the party finds a team to lead it back to government. People shouldnt regard her as merely a backbencher in a marginal seat. She has the capability and the smarts to be on the front bench. Its only a matter of time before Archer and others are elevated to positions of leadership. But first, he says, the party must work out where it sits in relation to mainstream values. Bridget may be out of touch with the party room. But that reflects the fact that the party room may well be out of touch with ordinary Australians. Loading Archers war on the conservatives does look lonely. Her fellow moderate-faction MPs who crossed the floor with her on the Sex Discrimination Act lost their seats at the last election. That election also resulted in Peter Duttons right faction which is driving the conservatism being left as the biggest party room grouping (according to an analysis by The Age and The Sydney Morning Heralds James Massola, Duttons group has 27 members of the 66-member party room, while the loosely organised moderates are a diminished bunch of 14). Dutton declines to be interviewed for this piece, so its difficult to know what he thinks of Archer, although one federal MP tells me the conservatives hate her. She certainly gets feedback from Sky News anchors, who rail against her floor-crossings. In April, host Caleb Bond advised her to grow a spine and join the crossbench. But Archer keeps going, because she knows many Liberals think like her and because she believes the stakes are high. Maybe its bloody-minded of me, but I feel you cant let those divisive, American-style political forces just take over the party without a fight. I just dont want to let them win. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. A third person has been charged with being part of a lucrative cannabis operation five years after police uncovered thousands of plants in what was Western Australias biggest-ever dope bust. My Thi Tran, 46, was picked up by police at Perth Airport this week after DNA evidence allegedly linked her to a 2018 drugs bust that saw police uncover 7565 cannabis plants growing on a property at Red Gully near Gingin, north of Perth. Police seized more than 7500 cannabis plants in the bust. Credit: WA Police It was estimated the drugs had a street value of around $17 million, making it the biggest cannabis haul in the states history. At a hearing in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, police prosecutors alleged Tran was intrinsically involved in the operation and flagged more charges would be laid in the coming days. At the heart of the Liberal Partys opposition to the Indigenous Voice is the notion that it divides Australia rather than uniting it because it gives Aboriginal people rights or privileges that others do not enjoy. In the words of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to parliament this week (borrowing some from Martin Luther King): The great progress of the 20th centurys civil rights movement was the push to eradicate difference to judge each other on the content of our character, not the colour of our skin. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during Question Time this week. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Voice, he says, will permanently divide us by race and re-racialise the Constitution. In Duttons argument, the 1967 referendum, which removed a number of racist provisions, had been a great step towards equality which the Orwellian Voice proposal undermined. All this was sadly a symptom of the madness of identity politics which has infected the 21st century. Superficially its a powerful argument, and its turning up increasingly in comment threads and pub talk as support for the Voice wavers. But it ignores decades of precedents in Australian and international law, including in the Constitution itself, where courts have recognised the need for, and justice of, special provisions for Indigenous Australians. When a senior partner at PwC, Peter Collins, signed three separate confidentiality agreements with the Australian government between 2013 and 2018, he knew what he was doing. He was inside the tent; he had access to confidential information about Australian tax laws being designed to ensure big multinationals pay their fair share of tax. People know its something to do with tax and big tech companies not paying their fair share, and a bloke who took confidential information from Australian citizens and used it to make money. Lets face it: theres a whole economics-discourse gap that makes financial literacy a challenge, and not everyone is into the jargon or the detail. But even at such a distance from the financial service sector, knowledge of the scale of the ethical and moral failure at PwC is leaking into the broader community. Many Australians dont read the financial sections of the papers or pay attention to the detail of whats played out in a financial world so far away from their own family budgeting. He sat in meetings with Australian Treasury officials and shared his considerable knowledge about tax law to assist in the effective design of Australian law. But then he went back to PwC Australia and PwC Global and with the support of PwC colleagues in the US, UK, Singapore, Ireland, and Europe unethically and collaboratively designed a scheme to profit himself, his colleagues and all the partners in the firm. Loading PwC attempted to enable major international companies, the names of which I intend to ensure are revealed, to avoid paying their fair share of tax. That is money straight from the pockets of hard-working Australians. The actions of PwC were a direct assault on our nations capacity to fund our schools, hospitals and public services and in that way was a direct assault on every Australian citizen. Lets be clear about this: once Collins had the intelligence about what the Australian government was doing on the Multinational Anti-Avoidance Legislation (MAAL), he took it back to PwC to share with colleagues. And share it he did far and wide across the PwC Australia and Global network. Together with others at PwC, Collins became the central cog in the machine being actively constructed inside PwC to turn confidential knowledge into a product for PwC to flog off to the same multinationals who were trying to minimise the amount of tax they pay in Australia. The very first time that sharing of confidential material and insights was suggested was the moment PwC should have pounced on Collins and sacked him for multiple breaches of ethical boundaries. The moment of opportunity to do the right thing was lost. What occurred is matter of historical fact: there is a now public cache of communications between Collins and at least 53 different redacted PwC email addresses that fills 144 pages. It is truly shocking material. Leeser and I are having lunch at OBombay, an Indian-fusion restaurant in Hornsby. He is wearing spectacles, a pin-striped suit and a tie, and looks much like the solicitor he once was Leeser worked briefly at Mallesons after graduating Arts/Law with Honours in Political Science. He has also worked as an adviser for Tony Abbott and Philip Ruddock, headed the Liberal Party think tank the Menzies Research Centre, and served as an executive at the Australian Catholic University (he is Jewish). The Thali plate at OBombay. Credit: Louise Kennerley Leeser is friendly with the restaurants owners, and he chats to our server about business (she says people are budget-conscious and eating out less) before we both order Thali plates the best decision to make in an Indian restaurant when you cant make a decision. Leeser says that since he exited the opposition frontbench, he is frequently stopped by constituents thanking him or congratulating him. As if he cued it, this happens after we pay the bill and leave the restaurant a fellow patron comes up and thanks him (she also says she probably wont vote Liberal at the next election). They say, Were really pleased you made that decision, or Were not sure we agree with the decision but we are pleased you took a stand, Leeser tells me. I think thats what people are looking for in their parliamentarians. Now Leeser is liberated to campaign for the Voice, about which he is passionate, he is making last-ditch efforts to get the government to change the wording of the amendment referendum question, to remove the words executive government and to take out the symbolic language. Next week in parliament he will move amendments to this end. This week he gave a speech on the introduction of the referendum legislation. Our food arrives two steaming platters with a side of naan for me, and roti for Leeser. We have a selection of goat curry, butter chicken, prawn moilee, raita and black lentil dal. I assure Leeser, an ardent monarchist, that he will be treated like the Queen that is, we wont photograph him eating. We tuck in. Leeser loves India. He honeymooned there with his barrister wife, Joanna. He is the deputy chair of the Parliamentary Friends of India, and on Tuesday he joined the Narendra Modi festivities in Sydney and met the Indian prime minister and Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Its such an exciting place to go, he says. You really do feel the futures there. Leeser is also a constitution nut he was given a copy of the Australian constitution for his 10th birthday, and that sparked a lifelong interest in constitutions of all kinds. Julian Leeser loves India and met Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Credit: James Brickwood He does not agree with the minority of legal scholars and former judges who warn of a wave of legal challenges to the Voice. Leeser also believes there is no inherent problem with the Voice advising the executive government (as opposed to just parliament). I dont think theres a big legal issue, he says. But I think theres a political issue, and you know, at the end of the day, you need to win the referendum. Loading If the referendum is lost, thats a terrible setback for our country, a terrible setback for reconciliation, and, obviously, we dont get the Voice. So my view is youre better with a lighter touch constitutional provision that gets you there and moves the referendum to safer ground than it is today. His argument is compelling, not least because he served as a member of then-prime minister John Howards No campaign during the 1999 referendum for a republic, and in 2000 he was associate to Justice Ian Callinan on the High Court. Callinan is a constitutional conservative who is opposed to the Voice. In other words, Leeser is an emissary from the camp of constitutional and social conservatism, someone intimate with the kinds of soft-No voters the Voice campaign needs to win over. But Leeser is highly unlikely to get his way on the amendment. Julian Leeser (far left) was a member of the constitutional No committee in the 1999 republic referendum. Credit: Fairfax Media Wont it be difficult for him to argue the Yes case, given he has been so vocally critical of the proposed wording, and the process behind it? He elegantly dodges the question. Everybody acknowledges that the system is broken, he says. Everybody acknowledges that this is a wonderful country to live in, that we have some of the best social and economic performance in the world, but we have this persistent gap that, despite goodwill from all sides of politics, despite substantial funding, is just not moving. This is because policy has been formulated by well-meaning politicians and bureaucrats in Canberra who havent consulted people on the ground, Leeser says. Loading You get better results for your spending by consulting and engaging with people who are directly affected. You get a better outcome. Youre able to adjust the programs and you get buy-in. And I think those things have been missing in Indigenous affairs for too long. As for arguments the Voice is racial exceptionalism a line Opposition Leader Peter Dutton argued this week when he said it would re-racialise the country Leeser is calmly dismissive. He points out the Constitution already contains a race power (section 51 (xxvi)). Since Federation, the only people we have ever made laws about on the basis of their race are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, he says. I believe they should be given a right to be consulted about what those laws and policies are. We are not dividing people on race, there is not some sort of special privilege. Leeser at Macquarie Lighthouse after he was elected to Wollahra Council when he was 19. Credit: Brendan Esposito I mean, tell people in remote communities they are somehow privileged. Leeser will not be drawn on what a successful Yes campaign will mean for the Liberals or for his leader. I ask him about his appetite for conflict he seems to me much milder than the usual political personality. I dont enjoy conflict for conflicts sake, he tells me. I like having a debate about ideas. Apart from his flirtation with Goth culture, two other things happened while Leeser was a uni student. First, at the age of 19, he was elected a councillor for Woollahra in Sydneys east. This experience proved seminal. Leeser learned that grassroots consultation is integral to successful outcomes knowledge he brings to the Voice debate. The second thing that happened when Leeser was only 20 was that his father, an accountant, died by suicide. He spoke about this movingly in his first speech to parliament in 2016 Leeser was still living at home and recalls with clarity his mothers distress on finding the suicide note. I ask him how this tragedy impacted his personality. You asked me before about combat when I got elected to council at 19, I was ready to have a fight with anyone, he says. I probably would have been one of those people who loved a fight ... and I think [the suicide] didnt knock the fight out of me, but it actually made me realise, Youve got broader responsibilities here. You try to see the dignity in other people, just because youve had a display of that in a way that you never expected. Leeser says his approach to his job has changed since he became a father to James, 5, and Ruth, 14 months. Recently, the family bought a new TV to watch the coronation of Charles III, who Leeser believes will be a good king. Loading Leeser ducked home for the Westminster Abbey show after appearing on an ABC panel alongside Stan Grant, as part of the broadcasters coverage of the event. In the ensuing period, that panel and its fallout for Indigenous author Grant has become a topic of debate, although Leeser and I met before Grant announced he would step back from television following racist abuse. In the week after our lunch, Leeser contacted Grant to express his support over the vitriol he was copping. Im always happy to go on and defend the Crown, Leeser says. But on this occasion, he believes the ABC got the balance wrong in its coverage. Loading He laments having little time to read for pleasure, but mentions a few books as recent favourites The Magna Carta of Humanity by Os Guinness, Hunt Gather Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff, about the parenting practices of tribal cultures, and Scorpions by Noah Feldman about the US Supreme Court judges of President Franklin Roosevelts time. Leeser used to enjoy the theatre greatly but now has little time for it, although he will soon take his staff to see a production of Stephen Sondheims Assassins. The most recent movie he saw was Super Mario Brothers, and he reads a lot of Spider-Man literature with his five-year-old. You know, With great power comes great responsibility, he says, laughing. The timber industry has warned that Victorias early phaseout of native forest logging could lead to a shortage of hardwood in Australia, but has rejected calls for a scheme to shore up local supply. The industrys warning came as the federal government backed the continued export of timber from native forests and plantations, which it said was an important economic opportunity for the sector. A logging coupe at Rubicon, in Victorias Central Highlands. Credit: Karena Goldfinch/supplied Conservationists have been calling for an end to native forest logging for decades, with habitat loss a driving factor for native wildlife extinctions. But Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Joel Fitzgibbon said Victorias decision this week to bring forward its 2030 deadline to end native forest logging to January 1 next year could cause global environmental harm by increasing the need for imports of hardwood timber. 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 Outside a St Vincent de Paul charity store in the southern NSW town of Cooma on Thursday, a television news reporter stops a middle-aged man and asks for his opinion on the death, the night before, of 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland after she was allegedly Tasered by a police officer. I think its important that someone other than the police conducts the investigation, he says matter-of-factly as reporters shiver in the gathering afternoon chill. A police vehicle drives through the southern NSW town of Cooma, where 95-year-old Clare Nowland died after she was allegedly Tasered last week. Credit: Brook Mitchell Police should not investigate themselves. Behind him, in the darkened window of the store where Nowland, a well-known and highly respected local once volunteered, a sign reads closed in sympathy with the family of Clare Nowland on her passing. Across the road, reflected in the glass, is Coomas police station, where Senior Constable Kristian White, an officer with more than a decade of experience in the force, worked until last Wednesday, May 17. Nowlands death, a week after she was Tasered by White when he was called to the aged care home she lived at because she was holding a steak knife, has quickly become a grim flash point. The premier, Chris Minns, called it a traumatic moment. Police Commissioner Karen Webb, facing easily the most turbulent week of her tenure, has been forced to defend the decision to exclude mention of the Taser in a press release announcing the incident. Advertisement Nowland weighed 43 kilograms and suffered from dementia. She had approached Whites partner, sources say. A senior officer told reporters after the incident that she had been moving slowly and using a walking frame. White was at home, in bed, when he was called back to work in the early hours of Wednesday morning for a job at the council-run aged care facility. The NSW Ambulance had been called by staff to Yallambee Lodge where Nowland, a resident of five years whose dementia waxed and waned, had grabbed the knife. Sources close to the investigation now say White was among those who confronted Nowland in a room and told her to stop, repeatedly, before the great-grandmother raised the knife and slowly moved toward Whites female partner. White allegedly uttered bugger it as he deployed his Taser to stop Nowland advancing further. She fell and suffered serious head injuries. Nowlands case has shone a spotlight on a swath of policing issues, from the training of officers who deal with mental health issues, their presence in aged care homes and the use of Tasers by police. Advertisement But it has also returned focus on an issue that has long percolated among justice advocates and in the legal system: should police be investigating police, and who is in charge of overseeing them? Loading The critical incident investigation into Nowlands death the term used for when a person dies or is seriously injured during a police operation is one of more than 90 on foot in NSW. Another was declared on Thursday, when a man allegedly wielding multiple knives was shot and killed by police in Willoughby on Sydneys north shore. In NSW, the investigations are handled by police from outside the local area of the officers involved, a measure introduced to reduce conflicts of interest. But the investigations have long been criticised by those who do not trust a famously parochial organisation to investigate itself. As the high-profile Sydney lawyer Peter OBrien, who specialises in civil cases against the police, told the Herald, it has been historically, a pointless method of police investigation. Since time immemorial it has been a thoroughly ineffective, unaccountable and unsound means of keeping the police accountable, for obvious reasons, and there are any number of examples to show that, he said. Advertisement In 2017, a review of critical incident investigations found a worryingly low rate of compliance with rules governing those probes, including the officers involved being separated from one another less than half of the time as required. Several coronial investigations have pointed to issues with police-led inquiries. Often officers refuse to cooperate at all because, unlike coronial inquiries, they cannot receive immunity from prosecution. This week a report from the police oversight body, the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, revealed cases where officers had refused to co-operate for between 19 and 24 months. Nowlands case has also raised serious questions about resourcing, both for the police and, in the wake of a royal commission, aged care homes. In 2019 Yallambee Lodge received a $4 million federal government grant to improve its dementia care. Its dementia facilities have yet to be completed. There are no flowers outside the low-slung brick building, no mark of what occurred inside a week ago. The Yallambee Lodge retirement home in Cooma, where Nowland was a resident. Credit: Brook Mitchell As Webb herself said in an interview with the Herald this week, responding to incidents involving dementia patients was not a police officers core business, but weve been called there. People with dementia do require particular care and attention and understanding, she said. Advertisement Sources within NSW Police, some who know White, shared wide-ranging frustrations about the gaps police were expected to fill while battling their own staffing shortfalls. All too often police are used as a bandaid for a broken mental health system, one officer said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. In bygone years a station constable who took that call would have told the nursing home staff to deal with that situation themselves. Police Commissioner Karen Webb; Senior Constable Kristian White; Clare Nowland. Credit: Wolter Peeters; Supplied Another senior officer said high-ranking police, inspectors and above, provided a vital lifeline for officers facing complex or fraught situations, but were thin on the ground late at night. They doubted White would have had many such senior voices to call on when he was summoned to Yallambee Lodge. Kristian White the individual may have tasered [Mrs Nowland], but the system allowed it to happen, or failed to stop it, the police source said. Advertisement 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. Singapore: Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, the Australian man arrested in Indonesias conservative Aceh province over an alleged naked and drunken rampage, has reached a $25,000 settlement with a man he left hospitalised and is set to be released in coming weeks. The 23-year-old from Noosa has been detained by police on the island of Simeulue, a surfing hotspot, since the late-night incident last month outside the resort where he was staying. Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones is in police custody. Credit: Nine News He faced as long as five years in prison over the unhinged spree of violence and police also weighed up investigating him under the regions Sharia law, which could have led to him being caned, before deciding against it. However, a compensation deal was struck on Friday with the victim, local fisherman Edy Ron, that is expected to result in his release. Day of mourning for victims of hospital missile attack in Dnipro to be on Saturday mayor On Saturday, May 27, mourning was declared in Dnipro for those who killed as a result of a missile attack on one of the city's hospitals, Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov has said. "Tomorrow a day of mourning has been declared in Dnipro for those who killed as a result of the Russian missile attack on one of our hospitals," he said on the Telegram channel on Friday. "A daytime missile strike destroyed a branch of one of the medical institutions where psychiatric care was provided. In simple words, a mental hospital. There were no military facilities there," he said. According to him, the poor animals of the nearby veterinary clinic also got it. As Filatov said, there could have been more victims. "In fact, people were saved by a miracle. At the time of the attack, there was a 'shift change' in the hospital." "In total, as a result of a massive missile attack at night and daytime shelling, there are more than 1,000 broken windows in the city. In outpatient clinics and adjacent residential buildings. In schools and kindergartens. On the stadium building and in children's out-of-school institutions. In a number of infrastructure and commercial facilities. There is damage to the roofs and communications. Not to mention the private property of people," Filatov said. As reported, on Friday morning, the invaders launched a missile attack on a health facility in Dnipro. It is already known about two killed and another 30 wounded, the fate of three is not yet known, there is no connection with them. Moscow: Russia has acted on a long threatened plan to move tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, in the Kremlins first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the plan in an interview on state television on March 25. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace at the Kremlin last month. Credit: AP Putin insists the US and its allies are fighting an expanding proxy war against Russia after he sent troops into Ukraine 15 months ago. The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. This story is part of the May 27 Edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories . 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 There was a time, not long ago, when James Comey was the most hated man in America. Liberals blamed him for the outcome of the 2016 presidential contest because, as FBI director, Comey sent a letter to Congress days beforehand about Hillary Clintons emails. Clinton would probably have been president, statistician Nate Silver concluded, if Comey had not penned that missive. But he did, and Donald Trump became the 45th president. Then Republicans turned on Comey too, because he refused to ease off on an ongoing investigation into Russias role in the election. Trump fired Comey four months into his presidency. Comeys long and distinguished career in public service, as a prosecutor in his home state of New York and then as the nations top law enforcement officer, ended in ignominy. He was the turd in the political punch-bowls of left and right alike, destined to fade into the background as he had once famously attempted to do at a White House event wearing a blue suit the same colour as the curtains. A few years out from the fever dream of the Trump presidency, and in the same week as the former president is indicted in New York on hush money charges, Comey reports that people are hurling abuse at him a little less than they used to. Somebody screamed F--- you on the street in New York a while ago, he says when we meet at a bookshop cafe in Washington, DC. I think he was from the left, he adds, presumably drawing on a lifetime of criminal profiling. At 203 centimetres tall, Comeys standard response to hecklers is a cheerful thank you for your feedback. Except, that is, when his wife of 35 years, or one of his five kids or three grandchildren, are with him. Then he focuses on getting away quickly. My family doesnt love the idea of being back in the public eye, Comey admits. If all goes to plan, they will be, because Comey has written a novel, his first, which is out in Australia next week. Its a crime thriller called Central Park West, about a federal prosecutor pursuing a powerful mobster in the New York courts following the state governors murder. I can picture eight more books after this one, Comey says. Apart from the joy of finding a new passion, the public servant forced into early retirement is frank about the financial need to succeed. If he doesnt? Ive got to go work at a law firm or something. Lawyer-turned-novelist is a well-trodden path. The most famous examples are the two Johns, Grisham and Mortimer, of Pelican Brief and Rumpole fame. All good lawyers are storytellers, says Comey. Sometimes we think were people of substance, so we cant be storytellers, but if you think about it that way, youre making an enormous mistake. Among a crowded field of yarn-spinners, Comeys one of the best. This is, after all, the prosecutor who went after Martha Stewart for insider trading, culminating in a show trial so scrutinised that even Comeys former boss Rudy Giuliani denounced it a publicity stunt. Stewart was spared the indignity of handcuffs in the courtroom, but Comey worked to ensure the optics were in his favour. As a New York Observer story at the time noted, Comey used plain English to make sure the public grasped the nature of the homemaker impresarios crimes. Advertisement Left, Martha Stewart, the homemaker impresario jailed for insider trading, and right, John Gotti, the head of New Yorks Gambino crime family, whom Comey helped bring to justice as a young prosecutor. Credit: Getty Images Comey is also known for his courtroom wit. A former colleague turned TV writer, Richard Appel, noted hes easily as funny as the writers I worked alongside with at The Simpsons. Comeys record as a prosecutor was impressive he helped nab members of the notorious Gambino crime family, including John Gotti but not everyone was a fan. Comey is smarmy, the veteran US political commentator Joe Klein once wrote, pointing to a moral righteousness widely regarded as genuine but grating. A former colleague recounted to Vanity Fair that on every new lawyers first day in the office, Comey announced that he loved his job because it involved, by definition, doing the right thing. There is stubbornness, ego and some self-righteousness at work, sniped another co-worker. Comey himself has acknowledged that he can be prideful, over-confident and driven by ego. Those traits dovetail with a knack for self-promotion. Time and time again, Comey has somehow appeared, Forrest Gump-style, at pivotal moments in American history. It was Comey, an acting attorney general during George W. Bushs presidency, who rebuffed members of that administration hoping to secretly renew a domestic eavesdropping program. Naturally, he did so not at the office, but by the bedside of the actual attorney general who was incapacitated in a Washington, DC hospital. All this Comey later described at a political hearing into the program that The Washington Post called the most riveting 20 minutes of Congressional testimony. Maybe ever. With Barack Obama. I came to deeply respect him, says Comey of his former boss. Credit: Getty Images Perhaps its not much of a surprise that Comey would become the most famous director of the FBI since J. Edgar Hoover slipped on a lace nightie at a party at New Yorks Plaza Hotel half a century earlier. Though a lifelong Republican, Comeys appointment by then president Obama in 2013 was met with approval from both sides of Congress. Obama and Comey had their disagreements, including when they clashed after unrest in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, about whether heightened scrutiny of police had led to a violent crime wave. (Comey thought that it had.) Still, as Comey later said of Obama, I came to deeply respect him. Things turned weird in the days and months following the 2016 election. Comey details the high emotion of that time in his memoir A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, published in 2018. In that book, Comey is at pains to point out that Obama vindicated his decision to reopen the FBIs investigation into Hillary Clintons emails. I appointed you to be FBI director because of your integrity and your ability, Comey recounts Obama saying. He looked me in the eye and he said, Nothing has happened, nothing, in the last year, that has changed my view. Advertisement His next boss didnt hold Comey in such high regard. Much of Comeys memoir is devoted to disassembling Donald Trump, whom he describes as unethical, and untethered to truth and institutional values. He observes the soft white pouches under Trumps expressionless blue eyes and notes he never saw Trump laugh. To Good Weekend, Comey dismisses the former president as lacking the managerial talent of a mob boss, but manifesting many of the mob bosss unsavoury behaviours. (Trump, meanwhile, has called Comey a showboater and a slime ball.) With Donald Trump who, four months into his presidency, sacked Comey. Credit: Getty Images As described in another one of the memoirs indelibly Comey moments, the newly elected Trump summoned his FBI chief for a one-on-one dinner where they feasted on salad, shrimp scampi, chicken parmesan with pasta, and vanilla ice-cream. It was at that dinner that Trump pressed Comey for a pledge of loyalty, implying he should give up on the FBIs investigation into Russias interference in the election; Comey writes he countered with a promise of honesty which was, famously, not enough for Trump. A scene so memorable later dramatised in a TV miniseries called The Comey Rule, in which Jeff Daniels plays the eponymous character and Jennifer Ehle his wife assured A Higher Loyalty entry into the annals of US political legend. The source material was unimpeachable and the writing itself was praised. The New York Times book critic Michiko Kakutani was over-the-top effusive, describing it as a near-cinematic account; Comey, she said, is what Saul Bellow called a first-class noticer. The book performed extremely well, topping the Amazon bestseller list even before release. Comey published a second non-fiction book with the same publisher, Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust, which sold briskly. So when news broke that Comey was writing a novel, industry observers were surprised to see it was not with Flatiron, his big-deal first publisher, but with an indie outfit, Mysterious Press. Something must be up here, is how publishing veteran and crime fiction columnist Sarah Weinman recalls her reaction to Good Weekend. I wonder what happened? Jeff Daniels portrays the then-FBI chief in the TV miniseries, The Comey Rule. Credit: Ben Mark Holzberg/CBS Advertisement Intriguingly, given the change of publisher, Comey credits his original editor, Zack Wagman, with the idea of writing a novel. He said to me, You ought to think about it. You write stories well. When Comey relented, he discovered a love for what he calls the process of crafting character and scene. He now writes every day from a screened-in porch at his home in suburban Virginia. I found it more fun than non-fiction, but harder, Comey says of his pivot. Its a little bit of a risk to put myself out there. Flatiron Books did not respond to a request for comment, but it could be that Comeys name recognition was not deemed enough to float an untested novelist. Unlike other political figures such as Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have co-written blockbuster thrillers with established authors, Comeys is the only name on the cover of Central Park West. Comey does give credit to his daughter, Maurene, on whom he based the main character. When I think about Nora Carleton, whos a six-foot-tall, auburn-haired woman in her early 30s trying an organised crime case, I was able to think about my own daughter. Maurene has followed in her fathers footsteps as a federal prosecutor in the New York court system, leading the criminal cases against Jeffrey Epstein, who was found guilty of numerous sex crime charges, and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Maurene didnt let her father attend either trial. There was a lot of media attention and she was worried me being there would become a thing. Deprived of seeing his daughter argue a high-profile case in the exact courtroom in which he had prosecuted a mob boss 20 years earlier, Comey decided hed imagine it instead. Comeys daughter Maurene, a New York federal prosecutor, who led the criminal case against the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Credit: Getty Images I tell Comey whats striking about the novel is how it takes the reader behind the scenes, into the nitty-gritty of fighting crime. Few people know that the United States Marshals Service operates the largest prisoner transport network in the world, is a phrase in the book; we learn about jury consultants, turf wars between police departments, and how to convince suspects to come in for questioning without them lawyering up. That was one of my goals in this, says Comey. To use fiction as a vehicle to show what that worlds really like. There are also some surprising plot points, or as the columnist Sarah Weinman dubs them, interesting choices. Nora Carleton is a single mother who is exploring her queer identity a long way from the father of five who wrote her. For this, Comey drew on the experiences of another of his daughters. Did the kids like his book? They were just really relieved there was no sex, says Comey. Terrorism, law enforcement I know these really well. I have five children, but no expertise in romance. There may be no love interest, but Central Park West is surprisingly pacey, combining two seemingly distinct plots mafia killing and political assassination into a satisfying whodunnit that shows all Comey has gleaned about law enforcement. It also seems to be a working-out of what, at 62, he doesnt know. In the years since his very public firing, it appears that Comeys bright lines between right and wrong have blurred a little. Advertisement Without giving anything away, an older, grizzled colleague tells Nora towards the end of the book that I worry youre aiming at the wrong target, with all this truth stuff thats not what the system is for. Our job is to live in grey. Its hard not to view this as a self-rebuke from the man once characterised by The New York Times as a straight-arrow bureaucrat, an apostle of order and the rule of law. Comey has notably never admitted fault or even a sense of doubt on his most controversial decisions chiefly, the fateful letter to Congress about Hillary Clintons emails. As he says, Ive looked at those decisions a thousand times. I feel comfortable with them. But when I put it to Comey that this novel lives in the grey a lot more than the strident defences of his two non-fiction books, hes willing to accept that interpretation. I think part of growing up for anyone, but especially for someone whos spending their career in the justice system, is realising that its imperfect, and that there really is a difference between truth and justice often, he concedes. I was much more idealistic when I was a 32-year-old mob prosecutor. I had seen less of the complication and less of the grey that I saw over the next 30 years. So I think thats fair. I havent even thought of it that way, but I think thats fair. Unshackled from the facts, fiction has been a kind of freedom. In a courtroom, Comey says, imagination is forbidden. But now I get to make something up, as long as I stay true to the people in it. The reviews are not yet in but I found Nora to be a fully realised character: a successful woman who finds it difficult to buy clothes she feels good in, and is distracted about what to cook her four-year-old for dinner while cross-examining a bad guy in court. What made Comey an effective prosecutor, he says, was empathy, and its surely also useful for a novelist. I ask where this ability comes from and he takes me back to his childhood in suburban New Jersey, to a Friday night he felt sure would be his last. As the 16-year-old Comey worked on a column for the high school newspaper in his room, he heard a noise and realised there was a home invasion in process. He discovered the intruder in his parents bedroom with a ski mask on and a gun in hand. He convinced the burglar to lock him and his brother in a bathroom out of harms way. The nightmare ended only when the intruder escaped into nearby woods. Incredibly, Comey doesnt think this incident led to his decision to go into law enforcement, but he does say the gunman gave him two gifts that night. One, because I was certain I was going to die, it gave me perspective, he says. It was very useful to me, throughout the rest of my life, to know that I was just lucky to be alive. The second, Comey says, was an understanding of what victims of crime experience. I can remember people used to say to me, Well, thank god you werent hurt. And I never said this back to them, but I would think, Yeah. Except I thought about that guy every night for five years. He continues, My parents dont live in that house any more. Theyre dead. But when I drive by that house, this little house in New Jersey, I still think about that. Comey says his wife Patrice, a counsellor, believes that telling the story of what happened that night over and over at school was a form of therapy for the shaken teen. In a variation on a theme, Central Park West begins with a home invasion and, in an echo of another chapter of Comeys life, there is also a corrupt politician who leans on law enforcement for nefarious ends. Advertisement 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 Hague:--- the Boards of financial supervision paid a working visit to the Netherlands. There they spoke with the State Secretary of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the State Secretary of Finance, members of the First and Second Chamber, the Plenipotentiary Ministers, the Court of Audit, and the Council of State. During the meetings, they talked about a multi-annual path towards sustainable public finances and the corresponding main priorities in the Caribbean countries and public entities. After years of crisis, Curacao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten are focusing on recovery. According to the Boards, it is thereby important that the debt level be decreased and the investment level is increased. To this effect starting in 2024, the budgets will need surpluses. Curacao recently achieved good results in increasing its tax revenues. For Aruba and Sint Maarten there is still great potential in this area. This requires reforms and decisive efforts to increase compliance in the short term. Controlling expenses also remains as important as ever for all three countries. Investments that strengthen the economy will help with the recovery. Therefore, the Boards recommend introducing multi-year investment agendas. Another key priority is to make the social funds sustainable. Without reforms, in the future, they will prove unaffordable. For the public entities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba more specific priorities are applicable. Financial management remains a point of attention for all islands. For Saba, this lies in securing its current level, and for Bonaire and Sint Eustatius in the progress that is being made. The challenges in the area of public finances in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, and thus the importance of financial supervision, are still as great as ever. By setting priorities and strengthening the relationships, the Boards hope to be able to contribute again in the coming period to the achievement of sustainable healthy public finances. Chairperson Lidewijde Ongering and the members look back on a successful trip. The Boards visit the Netherlands once every two years. The visit took place for the first time under the chairmanship of Lidewijde Ongering. Besides the Chairperson, the Boards consist of the member upon the proposal of the Netherlands Hans Hoogervorst, the member upon the proposal of Aruba Hellen van der Wal, the member upon the proposal of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba Glenn Thode, the member upon the proposal of Sint Maarten Julisa Frans and the member upon the proposal of Curacao Gregory Damoen. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Finance (CF) of Parliament is scheduled to meet on May 26, 2023. The Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday at 09.30 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance and representatives of the Central Bank of Curacao & Sint Maarten (CBCS) will be present. The agenda points are: 1. Presentation on the introduction of the Caribbean Guilder (IS/689/2022-2023 dated April 11, 2023) 2. Developments of and at the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) 3. The way forward for Parliament on Tax reform (IS/651/2022-2023 dated March 27, 2023) Agenda points 2 and 3 were requested by MP S.A. Wescot-Williams Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---Toyin Jagha, Program Manager of the Sint Maarten Trust Fund Program of the Caribbean Country Management Unit, accompanied by the Director of the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), Claret Connor, and delegation members Staciann Cunningham and Carla Bridglal, met with the Council of Ministers (COM) on Thursday, May 25, 2023, as part of the Trust Fund Program Management Mission to Sint Maarten. During the meeting with the COM, the Trust Fund Projects' significant achievements were recognized, which include the Enterprise Support Project (ESP), the Income Support and Training Project (ISTP), and the increased funding for both the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and the Emergency Recovery Project (ERP-1). The World Bank is also preparing to conclude the approval process for three additional significant projects for Sint Maarten. These pertain to wastewater, housing, and mental health. Jagha stated that Sint Maarten is the first country to have a mental health project approved; formalization will take place by the end of the second quarter while the wastewater project is expected towards the end of the year and housing for the first quarter of 2024. Furthermore, the COM was informed of new communication areas and channels that will emphasize the benefits of the Trust Fund for Sint Maarten's inhabitants and enterprises, as well as the experiences of project leaders throughout the process. By the end of June 2023, the World Bank will officially open their office in Sint Maarten, which will facilitate decision-making and communication between Government, and by extension the NRPB, and the World Bank, while also strengthening Sint Maartens position within the region as a hub. Only Haiti, Guyana, and Jamaica have regional offices. The mission, which started from May 15 concludes on May 26, 2023, includes meetings with numerous stakeholders and partners to develop and strengthen communication and networks. Sint Maarten has the second largest portfolio after Haiti and is the first country to execute an agreement without being a member of the World Bank Group. The COM Ministers thanked the Program Manager for the positive updates and looks forward to continuing strengthening collaboration with the World Bank in the best interest of Sint Maarten. SABA:--- Saba recently hosted top travel media from the Netherlands and the United States. Creating more awareness and presence about Sabas product in the North American and Dutch markets remains a priority. The public relations firms have been pitching Saba to top travel media, which also includes selecting and organizing press trips to the island. Director of Tourism Malinda Hassell stated, We continue to work on Sabas exposure to key audiences and source markets, Saba is a niche destination, and together with the public relations firms, Saba continues to be pitched to travel media. Having press and fam trips organized to the island helps the journalists and trade partners experience the island personally in order to pitch stories and expose the island leading to international media coverage. Dutch and US Press trip Together with the marketing firm USP, a Dutch press trip was organized as part of an island-hopping experience as journalists visited the island for one night. They represented Vrouw (High-end women's lifestyle), and Naturescanner (Outdoor & Nature travel platform). Pien laat haar eten zien (One of the Netherlands biggest culinary influencers), together with a representative of the firm. Saba also hosted a US press trip from May 19-22, 2023. The journalists were from Travel Weekly, Forbes, Matador Network, TripSavvy & a freelancer pitching to Go Nomad, Thrillist, and Paste Magazine. The journalists visited together with representatives of Diamond PR and had a wonderful experience and were very impressed, said Hassell. The activities the journalists had the opportunity to experience included diving, snorkeling with Sea Saba, hiking with the Saba Conservation Foundation, arts & crafts workshop with Jo Beans & Marie de Saba, dining around, village walking tour, island tour, visiting the marine lab, and getting to know the projects and events of the Sea & Learn Foundation. Highlights and milestones For 2023 Saba has been featured in 28 top travel media publications in the US and Canada which include Travel & Leisure, Islands.com, Caribbean Journal, Toronto Star, Fox News, The Social TV, MSN.com, and Scuba Diving Magazine. In the Dutch market, Saba had national coverage in the Telegraaf Vrij, other publications included Plus Magazine, Next Travel Magazine, Nature Scanner, and Reiz Bizz. As the island receives more exposure, we look forward to attracting and creating more booking leads to the island, said Hassell. Collaboration We thank our partners for their collaboration and WINAIR for their partnership with these press trips. The inter-regional collaborations and partnerships are of utmost importance for Saba as we continue to work closely with our counterparts. Collaborating on future press and fam trips and fortifying the region as a preferred island-hopping destination is something we see trending among trade partners, concluded Hassell. PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, May 21, 2023, Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson officially opened the two-day Start Conference Strengthening Border Control held in the Simpson Bay Resort conference room. The Start Conference marked the official beginning of the implementation of the plan of approach for Sint Maarten aimed at further bolstering the countrys border security. The current plan of approach is the result of the political agreement reached between Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, individually with the Netherlands in 2020, which includes long-term financial assistance to the Caribbean countries for measures to be taken to strengthen their border security. In addition to making structural funds available to the countries for support by the Customs of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, the Netherlands will also make incidental resources available for investments in equipment, personnel, and facilities of the border agencies. In her opening remarks to the attendees of the conference, Minister Richardson extended a warm welcome to the Progress Committee that has been assigned to monitor the implementation of the plan of approach. The Progress Committee brings together individuals from Sint Maarten and the Netherlands with diverse backgrounds and expertise in border control, immigration, law enforcement, and other related fields. The Committee consists of members from law enforcement agencies in Sint Maarten which are Customs, Immigration and Border Protection Services (IBPS), the Police Force of Sint Maarten as well as members from law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands which are Customs the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, along with representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. In addressing the Committee, Minister Richardson emphasized the importance of increasing collaboration between the border agencies to address Sint Maartens challenges at the border and expressed the hope that the Progress Committees knowledge and expertise will significantly contribute to a comprehensive assessment of the countrys border security challenges and opportunities. During the first day of the conference, the Committee engaged in fruitful discussions with the border agencies, who gave a presentation on the current state of affairs and the progress that was made since Sint Maarten signed its first border protocol with the Netherlands back in 2018. On the second day of the conference, the Committee embarked on a series of site visits to several operations carried out by the border agencies. The purpose of these visits was to directly gather firsthand information regarding the measures that have been implemented and those that are planned, to enhance border security. The site visits culminated with a tour of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction project from which once completed, the border agencies will also operate in the future. The security of Finland and all of Europe is linked to the security of Ukraine, Director of the Finnish Institute for Foreign Affairs Mika Aaltola said. "Finland supports Ukraine and Europe. More than 90% of the population fully support Ukraine. And now the power of Russia must and has already encountered the opposition of a force that will stop it," he said during a speech at the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation. Aaltola said Finland, like Ukraine, has more than 1,000 kilometers of common border with Russia. "Perhaps the NATO route that we took that is the new form of the model that Ukraine can also apply to achieve its aspirations. Sometimes it takes long," he said. At the same time, Aaltola said that in order to achieve victory, it is important to define it without alternatives, "so that there are no strategic manipulations." "We are not living in a vacuum. We are interconnected from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea, from there to the Arctic. That is why Russia has said that it does not recognize these geopolitical border. Therefore, Finland's security is connected to the Ukrainian security, and we should think about reconstructing this region, creating a corridor of resilience here, and we need to start right now to think about," he said. On May 25 and 26 the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum "For Our Freedom and Yours" takes place. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted a search in the apartment of the founder of the UFuture holding, Vasyl Khmelnytsky, the businessman himself has said on Facebook. "In the office, I found out I have guests from NABU at my house. Unfortunately, days of demonstrative searches after nights of missile attacks have become a tradition for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. This visit of law enforcement agencies to me concerns a case that has been under investigation for more than four years. All these years I have been in Kyiv and have not been hiding from anyone. Investigative experiments and interrogations have already been performed more than once," Khmelnytsky wrote. He said that the case concerns a piece of land that Khmelnytsky and his partner purchased for building a new modern school at an open auction, paying the full cost (UAH 18.9 million) and receiving ownership rights. "For us, it is a fully social project, not a business. It is access to quality school education that paves the way for real transformations and reforms in the long term for Ukraine. In the short term, Kyiv, through private investment, receives the necessary infrastructure for a comfortable life for citizens, and the inhabitants of the residential complex receive an additional advantage," he wrote. The businessman said that the court confirmed the lawfulness of acquiring the land plot at an auction and concluding a sale and purchase agreement. "But NABU believes that the price was too low," Khmelnytsky said. According to the businessman, in accordance with the urban planning documentation, commercial or residential real estate cannot be placed at this address, which explains the contract price. The company told Interfax-Ukraine that in July 2018, the state-owned enterprise of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Inform-Resources held an open auction for the sale of real estate belonging to it. The sale price was determined by an independent subject of appraisal activity attracted by the seller and approved by the State Property Fund of Ukraine. The site was purchased by PERSEVSTROY LLC, a company from the UFuture holding, for the construction of the second building of the innovative educational project, the Novopecherska School. "The court confirmed the lawfulness of the acquisition and conclusion of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Yes, the tax office tried to invalidate the Sale and Purchase Agreement. However, the Economic Court of Kyiv dismissed the claim. The decision was left unchanged by the court of appeal and is valid. The Supreme Court refused to open proceedings on a tax complaint. NABU participated in the trial as a third party on the side of the plaintiff," the UFuture press service reported. The company added that to implement the school expansion project, in addition to acquiring real estate, resources have already been spent on the development of several business models, the creation of a separate project team, additional teachers and methodologists were hired and an audit of the school's activities was conducted, and pre-project documentation was developed. "In addition, the management has taken measures to obtain a loan from the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank," the press service said. The company added that information from open sources is known that the funds paid by PERSEVSTROY LLC for real estate have been squandered, but the conscientious buyer has nothing to do with these actions. Khmelnytsky said that in the war conditions, it is necessary to stop the mass practice of so-called "mask shows" and the intimidation of business. "All the entrepreneurs remaining in the country, believe me, are 100% patriots and ready for a civilized dialog. Only in recent months I have learned about dozens of similar cases with demonstrative searches of respected entrepreneurs. Ukrainian society and foreign investors see this negative trend. There is a sincere hope that the government listens to the voice of business because defeating an external enemy and developing Ukraine's economy is possible only by joining forces," he said. Khmelnytsky said he was not going to flee anywhere and was ready to answer all questions. French police teargas protesters at oil giant's meeting Paris, May 26 (AFP) May 26, 2023 The annual general meeting of TotalEnergies opened on Friday in Paris after police teargassed climate activists, as the oil giant also faces pressure from the French government to speed up the switch to renewable energy. The demonstration caps a series of tumultuous shareholder meetings at major corporations in Europe as activists step up pressure on companies to reduce their carbon footprints. "We regret that we had to take exceptional measures both in calling in the police and in strictly controlling access to this assembly," TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told a few hundred attendees in a concert hall in the French capital. French police earlier in the morning used tear gas to disperse protesters who had managed to sit on the ground in front of the venue, the Salle Pleyel, but ignored three warnings to move. A couple of hundred protesters, however, remained on either side of the street blocked off by police outside the venue, as shareholders entered the hall. The police said four people had been detained. "All we want is to knock down Total," protesters chanted. In reference to rising global temperatures, they also bellowed: "One, two and three degrees, we have Total to thank". Some poured a black liquid over their heads. The company wanted to avoid the chaos of last year when activists prevented some shareholders from attending the annual meeting. This year, the firm placed two-metre (6.5-foot) high plexiglas screens to separate off speakers on stage from members of the public at the concert hall. It also forbade attendees and journalists from using their smartphones inside the venue. - 'Go faster' - Climate campaigners are growing impatient with oil majors and other companies over their impact on the planet. Energy giants posted record profits last year as Russia's war in Ukraine sent oil and gas prices soaring. During the annual shareholders' meeting of British group Shell on Tuesday, activists sang "Go to hell Shell!" TotalEnergies plans to allocate a third of its investments in low-carbon sources of energy and reach 100 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity by 2030. But France's energy transition minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, urged the company to speed things up on Friday. "Total invests in renewable energies, but the challenge is to go faster, stronger and above all faster," she told FranceInfo radio. Pouyanne told shareholders that "climate is at the heart of our concerns" and that his group has done more than others to invest in renewables. But as world oil demand is growing and "if TotalEnergies doesn't respond to this demand, others will do it for us". - 'The worst' - Marie Cohuet, spokeswoman for climate campaigners Alternatiba, said TotalEnergies "embodies the worst of what is done in terms of the exploitation of people and the planet", Cohuet said. One shareholder, who gave his name as Jean-Paul, defended himself as he made his way in. "We are all concerned by climate issues, but there are also economic aspects, employment," he said. TotalEnergies' some 1.5 million individual shareholders expected to attend the meeting online or in person are to cast votes twice on climate-related issues during the assembly. Investors are first to vote on the group's proposed climate strategy. They will then also be polled on a motion for TotalEnergies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 2015 Paris accord's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The vote on the motion, which was put forward by 17 investors who together hold almost 1.5 percent of shares, is purely consultative. TotalEnergies operations include liquefied natural gas and oil projects in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Papua New Guinea and Uganda, where it has come under fire for a pipeline project activists say threatens a fragile ecosystem and livelihoods. The French giant has also sparked controversy over posting a record net profit of $20.5 billion for last year, how much taxes it pays in France, and how much it pays Pouyanne. A 10-percent hike on part of his salary for this year was to be discussed at Friday's meeting. tll-nal-ys-cho/ah/sjw/lth BP TotalEnergies EXXONMOBIL OpenAI chief seeks to calm EU tension Paris, May 26 (AFP) May 26, 2023 The boss of OpenAI, the firm behind the massively popular ChatGPT bot, said Friday his company had no plans to leave the European Union -- a day after he hinted at a possible exit. Sam Altman is on a global tour to charm leaders and powerbrokers and calm fears over artificial intelligence (AI), including that it could decimate industries, flood the web with misinformation and copyright infringements, and entrench racism. But on the London leg of his voyage he irritated EU officials after he told reporters OpenAI might have to "cease operating" in the bloc if any future regulations were too strict. He tweeted on Friday ahead of an appearance in Paris: "We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave." ChatGPT burst into the spotlight 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 now uses the firm's technology in several of its products -- sparking a race with Google, which has made a slew of similar announcements. Altman, a 38-year-old emerging star of Silicon Valley, has received rapturous welcomes from leaders everywhere from Lagos to London. But his comments on the AI Act, a regulation aiming to protect people from technology like invasive surveillance, irked the bloc's industry commissioner Thierry Breton. He wrote on Twitter that Altman was "attempting blackmail" and said the EU was trying to help companies prepare for the regulation, which would not be in force until the end of 2025 at the earliest. ChatGPT has already fallen foul of the EU's privacy laws, being briefly shut down in Italy over concerns about its handling of data. jxb/yad TotalEnergies shareholders back oil giant's climate strategy despite protests Paris, May 26 (AFP) May 26, 2023 TotalEnergies shareholders on Friday backed the French oil giant's climate strategy as it faces pressure from both environment activists and the government to speed up its switch to renewable energy. Protesters tried to prevent investors from attending the group's annual general assembly in Paris, but police early in the morning used tear gas to disperse those who had managed to sit in front of the concert hall where it was being held. The demonstration was one of the latest in a series of tumultuous shareholder meetings at major corporations in Europe as activists step up pressure on companies to reduce their carbon footprints. After three hours of debate, TotalEnergies investors attending the gathering online or in person backed the group's climate strategy with more than 88 percent of votes. Nearly a third of shareholders supported a motion from a minority of investors for the oil giant to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to help meet the 2015 Paris accord's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. That motion was put forward by Follow This, a group of 17 investors who together hold almost 1.5 percent of shares, but had been rejected by the oil giant. Follow This representative Tarek Bouhouch had urged investors to support the motion to avoid "a climate collapse". TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne earlier defended the company's climate strategy in front of a few hundred people in the French capital's Salle Pleyel. "The climate is at the heart of our concerns," he said. He said his group has done more than others to invest in renewables. But world oil demand is growing and "if TotalEnergies doesn't respond to this demand, others will do it for us", he said. - 'Go faster' - Despite police blocking off the road outside the venue, a couple of hundred protesters had remained outside the concert hall as the meeting kicked off. "All we want is to knock down Total," protesters chanted. In reference to rising global temperatures, they also bellowed: "One, two and three degrees, we have Total to thank". Some poured a black liquid over their heads. The company wanted to avoid the chaos of last year when activists prevented some shareholders from attending the annual meeting. This year, the firm placed two-metre (6.5-foot) high plexiglass screens to separate off speakers on stage from members of the public at the concert hall. It also forbade attendees and journalists from using their smartphones inside the venue. Climate campaigners are growing impatient with oil majors and other companies over their impact on the planet. Energy giants posted record profits last year as Russia's war in Ukraine sent oil and gas prices soaring. In Switzerland on Friday, shareholders of Swiss commodities giant Glencore sought to hold the company accountable over its coal strategy. During the annual shareholders' meeting of British group Shell on Tuesday, activists sang "Go to hell Shell!" TotalEnergies plans to allocate a third of its investments in low-carbon sources of energy and reach 100 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity by 2030. But France's energy transition minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, urged the company to speed things up on Friday. "Total invests in renewable energies, but the challenge is to go faster, stronger and above all faster," she told FranceInfo radio. - 'The worst' - Marie Cohuet, spokeswoman for climate campaigners Alternatiba, said TotalEnergies "embodies the worst of what is done in terms of the exploitation of people and the planet". One shareholder, who gave his name as Jean-Paul, defended himself as he made his way in to the Paris meeting. "We are all concerned by climate issues, but there are also economic aspects, employment," he said. TotalEnergies operations include liquefied natural gas and oil projects in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Papua New Guinea and Uganda, where it has come under fire for a pipeline project activists say threatens a fragile ecosystem and livelihoods. The French giant has also sparked controversy over posting a record net profit of $20.5 billion for last year, how much taxes it pays in France, and how much it pays Pouyanne. A 10-percent hike to his salary was approved at Friday's meeting. tll-nal-ys-cho/ah/adp/rl BP TotalEnergies EXXONMOBIL State Counsellor of the Romanian Prime Minister for Foreign Relations, Security and Strategic Affairs Iulian Chifu has said that Ukraine's victory in the war against Russia will lead the latter to democratization. "Ukraine's victory will also lead Russia to democratization," he said during the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation, on Friday. The state counsellor also said that it is necessary to learn lessons from the war, one of which is that "grey zones mean give the green light to the aggressor." Chifu also expressed fear that Russia might use its influence in the Transdniestria to use this territory into "a new Kaliningrad." He also stressed the importance of strengthening security in the Black Sea region. "We worked at the Madrid summit and advocated for the Black Sea region to be considered as a region of strategic interest for NATO. And I think that now we can fight together with our Ukrainian friends to ensure that the Black Sea strategy is also worked out by the U.S. Congress," he said. Kyiv Security Forum is taking place in the capital of Ukraine on May 25-26. C hristian Louboutin, the luxury footwear brand that has been worn by popstars including Taylor Swift and Rita Ora, has stepped back into the black in the UK new accounts show. Documents filed with Companies House for Christian Louboutin UK also outlined how sales are bouncing back following Covid-19 disruption that hurt retailers. In the year to August 2022 turnover soared 48.3% to 53.4 million as trade benefited from lockdown rules being lifted and international tourists coming back to stores here. Designer Christian Louboutin founded his eponymous brand famous for its signature red soles in Paris in 1991 with co-founder Bruno Chambelland. Today it has an online business and is sold from 150 locations across the world. The UK business, which recorded a pre-tax profit of 1.2 million up from a 3.2 million pre-tax loss, sells shoes from 12 sites including concessions and a standalone shop on Mount Street in Mayfair. The firm, owned by parent company Christian Louboutin SAS, said in its report: The directors remain confident that in the longer term the business will deliver sustainable sales growth. H elen Brocklebank has no doubts about the capitals status on the global luxury stage. London is unbeatable, she says simply. The words from the boss of luxury goods trade body Walpole come hot on the heels of a string of overseas brands, from shoe maker Aquazzura to Parisian candle firm Diptyque, inking deals for swanky Bond Street shops, and retailers cheering strong sales of Coronation collections. Her organisation estimates the value of Londons luxury sector could be worth between 28 billion and 30 billion by next year in its State of London Luxury report written jointly with Chelsea and Knightsbridge landlord Cadogan. It looks at prospects for high-end retail, certain real estate and hotels, and factors such as revenues, visitor numbers, new openings, and more. But while there is much that is encouraging, the report also identifies some speed bumps that could trip brands racing ahead further, one of the biggest being the blow from the loss of tax-free shopping. Pressure is mounting on the Government to reintroduce VAT free shopping for tourists, which was axed in early 2021 making purchases in the UK 20% more costly for international visitors. A rapidly rising number of chief executives, including at London-listed retail firms such as Burberry and Watches of Switzerland, have laid bare concerns, and many bosses believe well-heeled spenders are being encouraged to shop elsewhere in Europe. But it isnt only FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 luxury giants that are being hit, with a host of businesses, including non-listed retailers and landlords, telling the Evening Standard of their worries, and adding weight to the argument that Londons high-end shopping destination status, which had been more than bouncing back post-Covid, will be knocked by the tourist tax. Brocklebank says: Its crucial now that our position isnt eroded by a legislative environment that fails to recognise and optimise future growth opportunities because a thriving London creates more employment, greater footfall and supports our cultural and creative institutions. Walpoles report points out that if there is a U-turn then London would of course get a big boost. However, it also argues the positive impact would also reach far across the country. While a Burberry trench coat, for instance, might be sold to an international visitor on Sloane Street, it is handmade in the Castleford Mill, outside Leeds. The economic impact of the sale stretches back not just to Castleford, but to the small businesses which in turn supply that mill, the study states. Helen Brocklebank is CEO of Walpole / Walpole Meanwhile in the high-end accommodation sector there has been strong leisure demand stemming from a resurgence of inbound international travel, according to Jessica Jahns, head of pan-EMEA hotels and hospitality research at property consultancy JLL. While hoteliers will have welcomed that following severe disruption during lockdowns, they are among those that could potentially be exposed if would-be guests choose to head on holiday outside of the UK so they can buy designer goods at a better price elsewhere. Landlords are also concerned about the impact, including Richard Benson, managing director of The Ardent Companies UK, which owns The Royal Exchange by Bank station where brands such as shoemaker Crockett & Jones and bag firm Aspinal of London have stores. He says: London has long been a favoured destination for the worlds shoppers, but it is important to understand that as a city we are competing with the likes of Paris, Madrid and Rome for that spend. To prevent these visitors from reclaiming VAT will ultimately be most damaging to the UK itself as tourists stay away, and it is London that will bear the brunt of this pain. Millinery designer Katherine Elizabeth, whose hat boutique is in the Oxo Tower, is among those that agrees tax-free shopping should return, as is Michael Wainwright, managing director of jewellery company Boodles. He says there was serious pent-up demand following lockdowns, and comments: It would be extremely helpful if the Chancellor allowed tax free shopping to go ahead in the UK as it does in every other European country, because lots of Americans and Middle Eastern shoppers are not coming to London anymore, they are going to Paris, Geneva and Madrid. Linda Pilkington, who runs luxury fragrance and candles business Ormonde Jayne, says: London is such an important city for luxury, for tourism and retail and offering tax free shopping is an essential aspect of this. I fear that in the perfumery world, Paris has been reaping the benefits of this change. Linda Pilkington runs perfume company Ormonde Jayne / ormonde jayne As Luca Solca, a luxury goods analyst at Bernstein, puts it, people have been eager to remove the Covid-19 nightmare and catch up with life. For some consumers that meant embracing shopping sprees. But Solca warns that the changes to tax-free shopping mean the UK will lose out on some of the tourist rebound, and adds: This seems a pity. So while Londons luxury sector may be in good shape in the post-pandemic era, it could be doing so much better still. T he weather is finally warming up, and fashion retailers will be delighted emboldened by the sunshine, we head to the shops, hankering for glossy, frothy or floral new outfits in our wardrobes to celebrate the arrival of summer. It induces a frenzy, as we indulge in as many dopamine hits as possible after the grizzly, grey winter. Go on, admit it, if you havent already gone shopping, youre planning to. Whether you need it or not. And how many of you will do so, with a slither of guilt attached? Because we know there is a price to pay for our consumerism, our addiction to convenience and the new. We are far better informed on how damaging and dirty the fashion and apparel industry became in the last three decades. Fast fashion has rightly come to dominate conversation around the fashion industry. Its also often unfairly demonised retailers who were democratising fashion trends for the masses. But fast fashion, mass fashion, whatever you prefer to call it, has without doubt vastly increased pollution and waste, aided the promulgation of a disposable mentality, and meant businesses have outsourced production to low wage, low regulation countries, with unsafe workplaces to keep prices down. Aided by globalisation and digitisation, we opened a Pandoras box and getting those ghouls back inside is going to take time. Together as a society we can tackle the downsides, and we will. The answer is a circular fashion model. In its simplest terms, circular fashion is a system where our clothing is produced through a more considered model. In practical terms this means working to remove waste in production cycles, plus reducing non-recyclable and polluting materials from the supply chain, while recapturing everything from garment offcuts to packaging to use again. Ensuring we keep garments in the cycle for as long as possible, including collections, helpful tax schemes to promote fashion reuse, and finally returning any unavoidable waste to nature safely. I know. Not so simple. In fact, its horribly complex. And companies ,however genuine their goals are to reduce emissions and educate their consumers, will prioritise their bottom line. In the meantime, there is a lot of greenwashing and ESG targets being tossed around. We are made to feel better and keep spending. But how much wiser could our buying habits be, if we could know far more about the item we are buying, and its footprint on the planet and the effect on those making them? The lack of information on the characteristics of what we buy to wear are an essential barrier to circular economy strategies (and applicable to almost all that we consume, from food to clothing and technology). Achieving this level of transparency with textiles is at the heart of developing EU regulation and strategy. And one of the fixes they are considering are Digital Product Passports (DPPs). Defined by the European Commission, a DPP is a product-specific data set. Essentially, it would provide information on the origins of the item, its composition, durability and recyclability, bringing a whole new level of transparency. This will boost consumer consciousness and empower better decision-making along the whole production and selling cycle. Currently data is predominantly being utilised to market goods at you. And further AI development is only going to aid the sophistication of that process. DPPs are one of the ways we can turn data collection to the good: we have a linear economy; transparency can seriously aid turning it into a circular one. The battle ahead is how to persuade businesses who dont want growth or profits stymied that sharing their data is essentially helpful to them as well as us. The EU is leading the way globally: it introduced the Circular Economy Action Plan in 2020. The ambition is for all textile products on the EU market to be long life and recyclable by 2030. Its an admirable target. We left the EU, but the reality is it is doing the hard work we should be part of. And consumers, this is where you come in. If you keep demanding from the brands you love more information, more responsible behaviour alongside your own, and reward those giving that to you with your hard-earned spending power, we will get there. And the demons of consumerism we let out of the box can one day be contained. Shopping responsibly, knowing we are not killing the planet for a fashion hit, will be attained. Tate Britains re-hang has given it new life I was at Tate Britain on Wednesday night for its summer party and to see its controversial rehang, I can only say dont let the negative reviews keep you away. Yes, the Tate has prioritised social and political history over quality, and delivered it in some rooms with painful, sometimes crass commentaries, but these are largely contained to the 18th-century paintings (abolition, pollution, Travellers, feminism, no box is left unticked here). Overall the results are still stunning. The room of watercolours from William Blake and Chris Ofili are totally absorbing. I felt the freshly painted rooms and new juxtapositions meant I could appreciate Tate Britain wholly anew. And I enjoyed that more contemporary female artists were given space (though some of the choices were baffling, given what they have left in their vaults). But dont take it from me or the reviewers: go see for yourself. If Rishi wants a bonkbuster, read Cleo Are we really to believe Rishi Sunak is a fan of Jilly Cooper? As one who devoured all the books in her Rutshire Chronicles, beginning with Riders, I am not convinced this has ever been bedtime reading for our swotty, serious PM, as he insisted on Good Morning Britain. I suspect Amber de Botton, a top aide of his, is the real fan. And anyway, these days those in Westminster are far more likely to be found dipping into Cleo Watsons hilariously sexy satirical novel Whips. This six-foot, statuesque chief of staff to Dominic Cummings and self-described nanny to Boris Johnson has given politics the Rutshire makeover. And yes, Jilly Cooper is a fan. Ive ordered it already. A ctor Alec Baldwin has revealed he wanted out of the public spotlight after he accidentally shot dead cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun in 2021. In an interview with The Times, Baldwin said he had called his wife after the incident on the film set of the movie Rust and told her: I dont want to do this for a living any more. I dont. I dont want to be a public person. The 65-year-old actor said he still struggles with the fatal shooting, and despite a lifetime of accomplishments, he knows it will be what he is remembered by. Baldwin credited his wife Hilaria Baldwin with helping him survive the past 18 months as he faced criminal charges, telling the Times how she took control of his life. Charges of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin over Ms Hutchins death were formally dismissed by New Mexico prosecutors in April. Prosecutors said they were unable to proceed with the case, but the decision to dismiss the charges did not absolve Mr Baldwin of criminal culpability. The Hollywood actor had faced two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the shooting on the New Mexico movie set in October 2021. But the family of Ms Hutchins are continuing their civil lawsuit against Baldwin over her death. Legal representatives for the family said last month that Baldwin could not escape from the fact that he had a major role in a tragedy. Baldwin hopes to finish the filming of Rust this month. He has also booked another film joining the cast of Kent State, a dramatisation of the 1970 killing of four students by the National Guard protesting the Vietnam War on the Ohio college campus. Baldwin is to play Robert I White, Kent States then president, in the film written and directed by Karen Slade. Get ready: Ava Max, Charli XCX, Dominic Fike, Dua Lipa, Fifty Fifty, Gayle, HAIM, Ice Spice, Kali, Karol G, Khalid, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, PinkPantheress, Ryan Gosling, Tame Impala, and The Kid Laroi will all have tracks on the upcoming soundtrack. The last time film-goers were treated to a line-up this stonking was with the November-released Black Panther 2 album. It was jam-packed full of music from stars including Burna Boy, Tems, Stormzy and Future, and included Lift Me Up, Rihannas first solo single since 2016. But for pop fans, the upcoming Barbie soundtrack might just take the biscuit. Just hours after the big artist reveal, Dua Lipas new Barbie song, Dance The Night, dropped. Its music video in which Lipa bops around a pink disco ballroom has already racked up over one million views. To celebrate the upcoming release, weve plucked out our picks for the best film soundtracks of all time. Weve opted for a mix of films some of which consist of instrumental scores and some which are composed of popular songs and chosen those with coherent soundtracks that work consistently throughout the length of an entire movie, rather than films known for just one particular theme. We've also left out musicals and biopics. Our pick of the best film soundtracks Dune Hans Zimmer is well-known for his masterful soundtracks the German composer has scored dozens of films over his four-decade career, including The Lion King (1994), Gladiator (2000), The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), 12 Years a Slave (2013), and Interstellar (2014) and has picked up two Oscars and four Grammys along the way. Dune was something particularly special for Zimmer, though: he grew up adoring the Frank Herbert novels, and always dreamt of being able to score the soundtrack one day. When director Denis Villeneuve Zimmer offered him the job, Zimmer almost turned it down, as it felt like too much responsibility. Happily, he had a change of heart, as the soundtrack is utterly phenomenal. Zimmer, along with a team of talented musicians, sound artists and technicians, tried to imagine what music might be like unlimited by the sounds we are familiar with here on earth, and by human instruments. The result is an eerily intense score that veers between the industrial and melodic. It won him Best Original Score at the Oscars last year. Pulp Fiction Its partly because of its full-pelt, feel-good soundtrack that Quentin Tarantinos Pulp Fiction is still regarded as one of his best works. The careering and bonkers plot was matched perfectly by Tarantinos selection of songs, which included Al Greens Lets Stay Together, Dusty Springfields Son of a Preacher Man, Neil Diamonds Girl, Youll Be a Woman Soon and Kool & the Gangs Jungle Boogie. In fact, these tracks are so fused to the film that to play any of the songs is to conjure up scenes from the 1994 hit. Blade Runner Blade Runner has one of the most evocative worlds ever put to screen, with a cityscape as futuristic and slick as it is sludgy and depraved. The mood was perfectly captured with the striking, mysterious score from Greek electro icon Vangelis. Blade Runner was released in 1982, just a year after Vangeliss triumphant score had been featured on Chariots of Fire yet the two could hardly be more different in tone. The movie is packed with strange synthetic textures, and while its undoubtedly Eighties, theres also a transcendent and timeless quality to it, which is one of the reasons the film still stands up decades later. Evocative romantic scenes are peppered with tasteful saxophone and fretless bass in a way that avoids cliche, while the main themes are a strange mixture of stark and emotive. Its the perfect pairing for one of the most haunting sci-fi movies ever made. Black Panther Black Panther has to be one of the most culturally significant movies of recent years, and has an epic soundtrack to match. The tracklisting to the 2018 hit film which was the first major black superhero movie, and a landmark moment for Marvel and Hollywood as a whole is packed with some of the biggest and most expressive voices in hip hop, including Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Travis Scott. Involving Lamar proved a masterstroke, with the rapper speaking eloquently on social themes like black power and loyalty as he has throughout his entire career. It fit perfectly with the films storyline. He leads the way on a selection of fantastic songs, not least the soaring All the Stars. It brought a contemporary edge to proceedings, and also stands alone as a fantastic collection. On Her Majestys Secret Service Even 55 years after the franchise first arrived, Bond s theme music is as big a deal as the films themselves. None of the series soundtracks are quite as timeless as On Her Majestys Secret Service though, which brings together the best, bombastic sides of Bond composition, with tender orchestrations. There are the mandatory variations on the classic John Barry Bond score some of the finest film score writing ever before the arrival of Louis Armstrongs We Have All the Time in the World, which plays over the gut-punch ending of the film. It lends real emotional heft. Toy Story The Toy Story score is everything youd hope for from a kids film: playful, charming and full of joy. Randy Newmans work gives the film real verve as animated as Woody and Buzz themselves with songs like You Got a Friend in Me leaving an indelible mark on millions of children and adults alike. The emotive ballads, though, are where Newmans songwriting prowess really comes to the fore. There is an ineffable pathos at the heart of the classic film series its part of what makes them so relatable and unforgettable. Newman communicates this through moving tracks like I Will Go Sailing No More and When She Loved Me, which he wrote for Sara McLachlan to sing on Toy Story 2. Star Wars It couldnt be a best soundtracks list without John Williams, one of the true heavyweights of film composition. We could have focused on any number of Williams movies Jaws is one of the most instantly recognisable themes in film, Jurassic Park is deeply cinematic, and his work on Indiana Jones is full of adventurous spirit but Williamss finest work actually came on Star Wars. Everything about the opening theme is as bombastic, expansive and immediate as the films, with the kind of thunderous strings and striding marches that put a sense of anticipation and excitement right into the listener's chest. The ability to match the scale of outer space itself, with vast, sweeping compositions like Duel of the Fates that capture the intensity of galactic battles, is a staggering achievement. Drive Despite the violence and bare-knuckle action, Drive is actually rather understated. Theres minimal dialogue Ryan Goslings driver says just 891 words in the entire movie and its the soundtrack that does most of the heavy lifting, with the music revealing how the characters are feeling, rather than having them spell it out. There are tasteful splashes of synthwave and Eighties nostalgia, with the crepuscular synthesisers and thudding drums of Kavinskys Nightcall pulling us in and setting the tone over the opening credits perfectly. The use of A Real Hero by College and Electric Youth during a sun-drenched drive along the reservoir is beautifully done too, expressing the inner happiness of the movies protagonists even when they aren't able to. Psycho Alfred Hitchcocks masterful use of tension was at the heart of all of his greatest achievements, and its the score in Psycho, as much as anything, that gives it such heart-thumping suspense. He enlisted Bernard Herrmann for the score, who had previously worked on Citizen Kane and Hitchcock movies The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Wrong Man and North By Northwest. The film's angular, visceral soundtrack is one of the most recognisable in cinema, with the shocking shower scene one of the most memorable in horror. It was, in fact, born out of necessity and could have been so different. The production's modest budget meant that Herrmann wrote the score to be performed by just the strings, rather than a full orchestra. The rest was so striking, uncluttered and direct that it led Hitchcock to claim that "33 per cent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music. Praise indeed. 2001: A Space Odyssey For a film that contemplates the entire span of human existence, the implications of artificial intelligence and other weighty themes, only music as towering and grandiose as Richard Strausss Also sprach Zarathustra would do. 2001 is an example of a movie transporting music from elsewhere into new settings and situations in this case, some of the finest classical compositions from history into the depths of outer space. Director Stanley Kubricks selection of classical pieces is expertly chosen, with Ligetis Requiem II Kyrie ramping up the tension and claustrophobic atmosphere. The Blue Danube Waltz, meanwhile, adds a touch of the surreal to the thought-provoking sci-fi masterpiece. Guardians of the Galaxy If theres one thing the often earnest, overblown DC universe can learn from Marvel, its how to have fun with its soundtracks. Guardians of the Galaxys inventive use of Seventies rock and pop music helped to create an atmosphere entirely of its own, injecting a loveable goofiness to the character of Chris Pratts Starlord and a spark of humour that can easily go amiss in big-budget blockbusters. Blue Swedes Hooked on a Feeling became the films anthem, while soundtrack staples like ELOs Mr Blue Sky took on new life in this fresh intergalactic setting. As fresh as they come. A Fistful of Dollars No other soundtracks transport viewers to a specific time or place quite like Ennio Moriccone's scores. The Italian composers work is synonymous with the sound of Spaghetti Western pioneer Sergio Leones films, whether it be The Good, The Bad or the Ugly, or his masterwork A Fistful of Dollars. The latter's main titles are wonderfully evocative, with the shuffling drums pattering like horses racing across the land, the melody of the idle whistle of a cowboy riding into town and the bell strikes announcing his arrival. Its packed with the kind of mischief and adventure that makes these films such exciting and compelling viewing. Moriccone branched out into more mainstream hits like The Thing, The Untouchables, and later The Hateful Eight at the behest of his champion and fan Quentin Tarantino. However, itll always be his work on A Fistful of Dollars and other Leone westerns that made the biggest impact. Barbie will be released in the UK on July 21 Review at a glance K en Loach recently announced that The Old Oak is to be his final work. This is a shame because we need someone with Loachs righteous fury to make films about the deplorable treatment of Britains often invisible and maligned underclass. He might not be bowing out with a masterpiece, but it is still classic Loach. The film takes place in the Northeast of England. The year is 2016 for many, one of the worst years of the millennium, the deaths of David Bowie and George Michael bookending the death of the European dream and the horror show that was Brexit; a pivotal moment that saw an immediately escalation of race-related hate crimes. The Old Oak of the title is the towns last pub standing, run by TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner). The mine has long since closed and the population is in decline, leaving plenty of accommodation available to Syrian refugees. Their arrival causes something of an uproar amongst some of the neighbours, but it is not just lazy racists who object. Loach captures the conflict that can arise when the indigenous population sees the refugees receiving handouts; a group of local boys watching enviously as a young Syrian girl receives a bike. Loach brilliantly portrays the towns boarded up houses and desolate estates, a grim playground for children with little prospect of a future. As with many of his previous films, Loach makes use of non-professional actors, with varying success. When the chagrined locals frequenting the pub vent their anger and discuss their plight, they are a collective mouthpiece for Loachs grievances, all of them unarguably valid yet not always convincingly delivered. handout This is not just the fault of the amateur actors: Loachs long-time collaborator Paul Laverty wrote the screenplay and its just a little heavy-handed, with too much repetition. And the young Syrian newcomer Yara (Ebla Mari) has a pretty formidable grasp of English considering she learnt it from aid workers in a refugee camp. As TJ, Turner is a likeable presence on the screen. Like the protagonists of many a Loach movie, he is seeking redemption for his sins of the past. Mari tackles the arduous script as convincingly as she can, yet her pontificating about the war doesnt ring true. The film opens with black and white photographs Yara has taken of her new neighbours. These images, depicting some of the desolation and desperation of the locals and their habitat, are nicely juxtaposed with the black and white pictures hanging in the pub that feature the miners strike and the soup kitchens that were set up to feed the community. The links between the very different conflicts, and the desire to create and reinforce community through food, are what bring the Syrians and their reluctant hosts together. Loach shows the desperation and heartbreak found in many of these homes. Despite the films failings, it still tugs on the heartstrings just a little too forcibly for my taste. The Old Oak screened at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. It will be released in the UK on September 29 A rguments, walk-outs, even the odd fight early interviews with the young Nick Cave were a health hazard. I was a young troublemaker, drug addict, chaos maker and my default setting was just a general contempt for everything, the Australian musician says. Via his angsty goth-rock outfits The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds and Grinderman, Cave railed against the world and everything in it. I dont necessarily see that as a bad thing, he says now, looking back. I mean its not bad for young people to kick back against this world and try to do something about [it]. Until recently, Cave rarely gave interviews. In 2017, he vowed never to do one again after struggling to talk about grief to a journalist following the death of his 15-year-old son, Arthur. Instead, Cave responded to fan questions (many of which were about loss) via his Red Hand Files website, articulating the debilitating process of grief with unflinching clarity. A live In Conversation series followed and then, during lockdown, he spent 40 hours speaking to journalist Sean OHagan for a book, Faith, Hope and Carnage, the paperback of which is released next week. I mean Im not ashamed of those interviews that I did in the past, he says now as we sit down with a couple of other writers to talk about the book. I mean, f***, thats the way it was back then. There was a sort of ideological clash between the performer and the press. It was just the way we behaved. But he felt differently about OHagan. He was not trying to bring me down, Cave says. He says he had plenty of good faith conversations with OHagan and thinks the book shows what conversations can actually achieve. You see, I start off in one position and end up somewhere completely different. That is through the power of conversation because Sean and I completely disagree on pretty much most things. Ian Laidlaw Cave, who is dressed in his trademark midnight-black suit and pointed-collared white shirt, says hes full of dreadful ideas, but conversations help him work them out. That is the kind of corrective value of conversations. You find out your good ideas and they get firmer and better and your bad ideas drop away. Cave has gone through more searing heartache than anyone should have to. In May last year, less than seven years after the loss of Arthur, Caves eldest son Jethro Lazenby died, just days after being released on bail from prison, where hed been sent for assaulting his mother. He had been ordered to seek treatment for substance addiction. Cave does not speak about Jethro publicly. A year on from that terrible loss, Cave says he feels a more urgent need to connect with people, than ever before. Recently Caves music has seen him working through his often agonising grief in real time, chiming with bereaved people across the world. It offered them hope that, as he sang on his last album with The Bad Seeds, peace will come. Theres a kind of duty in that, that maybe I didnt feel before, that I have at my disposal something thats very valuable, he says. That is, to make music, and I dont want to squander that opportunity. Cave says that to keep making it, he needs to know his art has purpose or is doing something helpful, but not in any virtue signalling kind of way. Sometimes, you think about giving this stuff up The world doesnt need another Nick Cave record, film, Red Hand File, but something I fall back on is that Im doing something of some kind of value beyond what my own art is, he says. [If] it has some kind of knock-on effect, some value, some meaningI keep doing [it]. Megan Cullen And Cave has never been busier. Following the release of the album Ghosteen, which explored grief and loss in all its dizzying wildness, Cave made Carnage, a collection of songs written with songwriting partner Warren Ellis, as well as the soundtrack to the Ana De Armas film Blonde. He and Ellis are now back in the studio with the other Bad Seeds, working on new material. Whats coming out is so instantly interesting and different all the time, he say; he thinks his and Ellis creative partnership is still thrilling. Cave often veers between the serious and the comical in conversation. Im outraged! he says of not being involved in the new Gladiator film, after penning a rejected script for a sequel years ago. He jokes that Russell Crowe should play him in a biopic. Hes a great actor, Russell. He can be amazing, one of those actors whos just a wild card, like Mel Gibson. Theres just something a little off going on thats pretty exciting. Fortunately Caves too busy with other projects anyway; his two novels, The Death of Bunny Munro and And the Ass Saw the Angel, are now in an advanced stage of development for television, with actors attached. He also spends a considerable amount of his time replying to fans via the Red Hand Files. Im very proud of them, he says, but jokes that sometimes theyre a complete pain in the arse, when he has stuff to do at the weekend. Many of those who write to him are devoid of hope, he says. Theres a lot of people who find nothing in this world that is of any value whatsoever... They just see the world as shit and human beings as corrupt, evil. That to me is coming from a place of utter demoralisation and [shows] a lack of faith in ourselves as human beings. I think the Red Hand Files are an attempt to redress that in some way. Getty Images He thinks extreme pessimism about the world, hopelessness are not a good place to be in to attempt to make this world a better place and I think the world needs saving. Cave feels social media, a relentless bad news cycle and the internet are partly to blame. I just see people in such dire situations that there just doesnt seem to be anything to live for. Theres also a corrosive, pathological relentless pessimism coming from the media and social media as well, [its] just sort of eats away at ourselves, at what we are as human beings. He says he doesnt do any social media at all and left Twitter because it just seemed like a bunch of arseholes all hashing it out, but in increasingly stupid ways. He continues: I think social media is a huge problem. I think its having a huge, demoralising effect on society. As for the internet, he remembers going below the line once and wishing he hadnt. I think if there was a comments section on the music I made when I was starting out, I would have never gotten anywhere. I looked at the comment section on Ghosteen, which I think was our 19th album, and they were actually crippling. I showed it to my son [Earl], whos 22 and hes lived his life on the internet; Im like, Look at what theyre f***ing saying! Hes just like, Dude, its the f***ing internet, suck it up princess! His attitude was, Who gives a f***, its just people saying bullshit. I mean I care what people say I care if people hate my music. Fans [were] just sending me vomit emojis! Occasionally, this spills over into the Red Hand Files too, like recently when a long term fan called Cave out for attending the Kings coronation, saying it was at odds with his alternative roots. He told Cave he was taking all his Bad Seed records to the charity shop. Susie Cave and Nick Cave / Dave Benett/WireImage Incidentally, how did he find the coronation? Im not talking about that, he laughs. It was acutely interesting and extremely British. Cave thinks cancel culture, which he once said on his website began as an honourable attempt to reimagine society in a more equitable way has itself become problematic because the wrongs are getting less and less. He argues that the benchmark drops and people are doing less evil things and are still being cancelled. As well as the coronation, he remembers some calling for his cancellation when he revealed he was fully vaccinated. Its not like Im a f***ing fascist, a child molester or whatever. He sparks a challenging conversation, in much the same way he does with OHagan in his book. Cave explains he cant separate the artist from the art, adding that an interesting thing to think about is that there is some correlation between transgressive and bad behaviour, and good art. Its no accident that the really great stuff is often made by the most problematic people, he continues. Theres no metric that says virtuousness makes good art. If you start looking around for the good people whove made art, the conversation shuts down very quickly. All the great stuff seems to be made by people who are out of order in some way or another theres often some distance travelled to get from these extremely flawed people to this extraordinarily beautiful stuff. We need to bear that in mind. He mentions Morrissey, whose music was banned from the worlds oldest record shop, Cardiff-based store Spillers, in 2019 over his far-right views. They took away Morrisseys record. A line was drawn somewhere and Morrissey had to go. Yet if you started to take away from their shop transgressive people over the 150 years theyve been going, theres just no one left, except boring shit. Cave has written about Morrissey before, saying its very difficult when an artist you admire reveals something about themselves, which you feel casts an unhappy shadow across the work. Whatever inanities he may postulate, we cannot overlook the fact he has written a vast and extraordinary catalogue, he wrote, that will outlast his offending political alliances. Cave does admit though there are some artists he cant listen to if theyre particularly contemptable, saying it spoils [his] enjoyment of their music. But on the whole, he thinks politics should be separate from music. I just value art and I see the need for it is too urgent to be f***ing around taking this stuff down. he continues. Thats my problem with the cancel culture business. Thats where it begins and ends as far as Im concerned. Its not some great fight Im having with these people. Its just, I worry about the world, and we need as much good [art] as possible. Cave thinks that to some degree its a mistake for musicians to declare where they stand on certain things, that he doesnt like music that wags its finger at the listener or tells them what position to take. I just dont find that personally the sort of music that I want to listen to. I dont want to get my politics from rock musicians anyway. Theyre unreliable social critics. He wants his music to remain politics-free and to move people, adding its vital for us to continue to find hope in something like music, which can rehabilitate some of the bad stuff going on out there. I think music is at least one good thing we can do in the world. Faith, Hope & Carnage, by Nick Cave and Sean OHagan, is out on June 1, published by Canongate N ext time you hear your neighbours music pumping through the walls, consider the Harvard study that found that every five decibel increase in the average noise level at home is associated with a 34 per cent increase in heart attacks and strokes. Olga Turner, a chartered surveyor turned healthy building consultant, rattles off sobering statistics with ease like the effects on adolescents who live in a cold home, or the billions spent by the NHS each year to treat respiratory diseases linked with poor quality housing. Our homes are shaping our physical and mental health in myriad unseen ways, she says, but most developers remain focused on the bare minimum of building regulations. Which are often based on just not killing someone, right? Galvanized by this huge gap in understanding in the industry, five years ago Turner and partner Jonathan Baker founded Ekkist, the UKs first health and wellbeing consultancy for the built environment. Before us there was nobody looking at how buildings, whether thats homes or offices, actually impact peoples health. Everybody was looking at how they impact the environment or other elements. Now the team has come up with 120 recommendations for the sector that consolidates all of their research so far, from battling the scourge of black mould to creating building layouts that combat loneliness. The hope is that a holistic but digestible approach the guidance is divided into 12 categories, such as circulation design, materials and even post-occupancy will give housebuilders the push they need. Nobody to date has pulled together all of the best practice. So whats in it for housebuilders? Back to that booming music. The real issue, of course, isnt necessarily the neighbour grit your teeth but the fabric of the building. The answer might be another layer of acoustic insulation, which is far easier (and cheaper) to fit during construction. This short-term thinking is seriously costing housebuilders, says Ekkist director and trained architect Ben Channon. Weve spoken to developers and housing associations who have massively reduced the number of noise complaints they get from very little additional insultation between apartments. Some have seen a return on that investment in 18 months. Turner points to recent cases where homeowners have been able to make huge claims on developers warranties under the NHBC [National House Building Council] due to damp caused by poor ventilation. Theyre taking a couple of grand off with a value engineering exercise and creating themselves, or residents, a problem that ends up costing tens of thousands down the line. A prospective buyer of a new build might feel like they hold few of the cards, but housebuilders are sensitive to reputational damage. Channon cites a 2019 survey by Grosvenor that found 98 per cent of the public dont trust private developers. [Following our guidelines] could be a good way for them to say yes we do care. Ekkist is using the checklist to assess 1,000 Wembley Homes by Quintain Living / Chris Winter / Quintain For budgets with little flex, they would like to see developers forgo a trendy, expensive finish for a breathable paint that will improve indoor air quality, or more radically reducing a showy amenity space to widen corridors, which encourages spontaneous conversation. Some of the recommendations may require little or no extra cost, like staggering balconies in new developments so they dont overshadow those below. Typically a balcony comes off the living room, so otherwise the space where people spend the majority of their waking hours might be dark all day, says Channon. High-stakes housing The 2020 death of toddler Awaab Ishak from a respiratory condition caused by mould was called a defining moment by the coroner but Turner says there is still limited provision in most new-build flats for drying clothes. If you look at building regs, the ventilation requirements for areas like kitchens and bathrooms are completely different from main living spaces. We dont think about that when we put an airer up in the bedroom. Creating a space thats ventilated properly for drying clothes is so important. But one of their biggest challenges, says Channon, is that many of their recommendations clash with sustainability best practice. There is an innate friction, for example, in their cynicism about natural ventilation systems, which they say just wont cut it when every London borough exceeds the World Health Organization limits on air quality. Wider corridors can help encourage conversation between neighbours, says Ekkist / Nicholas Worley In a country where where 4.6 million English bedrooms overheat in summer according to the BRE heavy duty air conditioning could prevent a not-insignificant number of annual deaths, but thats at odds with trying to look after the planet. Instead they recommend a balanced approach ideally designing out the need for cooling in 90 per cent of the year through things like external shading, thermal mass, and well-insulated, airtight buildings. Its very similar to the Passivhaus approach. Well-meaning biophilia initiatives are a less obvious pitfall. The trend for trees on balconies is associated with better air quality, mood and a reduction in the urban heat island effect, but then you look at the energy demands the additional concrete or steel required for support, or the huge amounts of water. Channon also hopes to reduce confusion around the use of recycled rubbers and plastics, which he says are often labelled as having healthful properties simply because theyre more sustainable. A new industry standard Clearly some housebuilders are falling comically short (we see stuff on plan where the proposed number of residents cant even fit around the dining table) but Turner insists there is real desire to do better. Ekkist is now assessing 1,000 Wembley Park homes for rent by Quintain Living against the checklist along with two new plots as well as FORE Partnerships new Bermondsey development The Italian Building and upcoming net-zero retirement community St Christophers Square in Bristol. The team is also working with a local authority on a major retrofit. The key will be getting in at ground level, before the big decisions are made and although they are firm that they are not offering an official certification at this stage, the aim is that one day the evolving checklist could be something of a benchmark for the industry. Were really hoping this is the solution. We dont want to see any more headlines about someone dying of an asthma attack because they live in a polluted area, or a little child dying due to mould. T he Elizabeth Line celebrated its first anniversary this week, rolling out its full timetable with direct services from Essex to Heathrow for the first time. Since opening for business, the 20 billion route has transformed journeys for hundreds of thousands of people living and working in the capital. With work having started on the project in 2009, the Crossrail Effect and resulting micro property price booms near new Elizabeth line stations really gathered pace as it became increasingly apparent that the service would reach completion. Yet, despite the vast 10-year price growth recorded in some Elizabeth line locations, and with average asking prices in the capital now 696,477 according to Rightmove, there are still pockets of value to be found. Thirty-five of Crossrails 42 stations are in districts where typical house prices are below the London average. Reading station is the cheapest spot to head for, with average asking prices at 299,1113 last month, according to Rightmove. Although it takes almost an hour to reach Paddington from Reading by Elizabeth Line, a journey that can be done more quickly by national rail, the frequency of service is still a big bonus for residents of the Berkshire town as is the no-change route through to the City and Abbey Wood. Five cheapest areas near Elizabeth Line stations Station Average asking price for home in immediate area in April 2023 Reading 299,113 Slough 347,499 Abbey Wood 372,621 Chadwell Heath 387,943 Heathrow Terminal 4 397,027 Source: Rightmove Harry Buck, senior negotiator at Parkers estate agents in Reading, said many properties regularly come up for sale in the town centre. We have just listed a one-bedroom flat for 190,000 that is just a three-minute walk from the station, said Buck. While many buyers come from within Reading itself, or Oxfordshire to the west, others flock from the suburbs of the capital, and Elizabeth Line services are generally busy with commuters, added Buck. Anyone looking to pick up a place to live must compete with investors eyeing an opportunity to capitalise on high rents in the area, he warned: There is massive demand. No-change journeys Slough Station is the next most affordable stop to househunt on the line, according to the new data, with typical asking prices dropping by almost 10 per cent in the last year to 347,499. With 38-minute no-change journeys to Tottenham Court Road, Elizabeth Line users living in this area can realistically get home from Soho inside an hour and with minimum fuss. But its not just in west London that the opportunities remain. Abbey Wood and Chadwell Heath, either side of the river to the east of the capital, remain the third and fourth cheapest places to buy on Crossrail, according to Rightmove. Houses close to Heathrow Terminal 4, which buts up against the A30 and communities in north-west Feltham, also typically come in below 400,000. Central London properties are, unsurprisingly, the most expensive, with Bond Street leading the way at an average local asking price of 2.3 million. Homes close to Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway are also typically above the city-wide average of 696,477. Many areas on the line have bucked Londons flat-lining property market. While prices across the capital have risen by just one per cent in the last 12 months, those close to Liverpool Street have soared by 12 per cent, according to Rightmove. Ealing Broadway has seen a nine per cent hike, as has Hayes and Harlington, while Canary Wharf is up eight per cent. T he Army missed opportunities to prevent the suicide of a positive and bubbly officer cadet at the prestigious Sandhurst military academy, an inquest found. Olivia Perks, 21, was found hanged in her room at the elite military training school in Berkshire on February 6 2019. Coroner Alison McCormick recorded a conclusion of suicide at the end of the inquest on Friday, with her medical cause of death recorded as asphyxia due to hanging. The risks to Olivia were not managed in accordance with the Army policy for the risk management of vulnerable people She said the army missed an opportunity to get Ms Perks seen by a doctor after the Falklands Ball on February 1 2019, after which she slept in a colour sergeants room. The fact stress was a factor that placed Ms Perks at higher risk was also not passed on to the chain of command after her first term, meaning they were less likely to believe getting her seen was necessary. The coroner said: The risks to Olivia were not managed in accordance with the Army policy for the risk management of vulnerable people. There was a missed opportunity by the chain of command to recognise the risk which the stress of her situation (after the Falklands Ball) posed to Olivia and a medical assessment should have been, but was not, requested. It is not possible to know what the outcome would have been had a medical assessment taken place, but it is possible that measures would have been put in place which could have prevented Olivias death. It is my hope that Livs legacy will be an Armed Forces where the welfare of everyone is properly safeguarded by embracing those qualities that so defined Liv, of positivity, hard work and determination. We have been fighting for the truth of what really happened since (Olivia) passed, and the story we were presented with at the start of this process by the Ministry of Defence was very different to the conclusion that has now been reached by the coroner After the inquest, her mother Louise Townsend said the coroners findings were very different to the story the Ministry of Defence had told her relatives following her daughters death. In a statement issued through her solicitor outside court, she said: The maternal family of Olivia welcome the findings of the coroners inquest into her tragic and unnecessary death. The last four years have been the hardest and most difficult journey we could have embarked upon: to lose our wonderful, vivacious and captivating girl, in circumstances which we now know were avoidable. We have been fighting for the truth of what really happened since she passed, and the story we were presented with at the start of this process by the Ministry of Defence was very different to the conclusion that has now been reached by the coroner. The inquest at Reading Town Hall, which took place over 16 days, heard Ms Perks fell victim to a complete breakdown in welfare support during her time at the academy. She tried to take her own life during a Royal Engineers visit in July 2018 but was deemed at low risk of reoccurrence after. She was back on duty two days later and warned she risked losing her place at the academy if she engaged in similar behaviour again. The inquest was told Sandhurst had an irresponsible lack of welfare support despite being rated outstanding by Ofsted three times before the tragedy. It had just one welfare officer for 2,500 people according to Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Whitelegge, who was commander of the academys Old College at the time. Witnesses told the hearing that during the Royal Engineers visit, Ms Perks had she confessed that she wanted to go in the sea, wanted to kill herself and asked for a belt and knife. She also tried to swallow rocks and attempted to strangle herself. She had been in a banned relationship with then staff sergeant Mark Easingwood, who worked as a fitness instructor for cadets, in the months before she died. We are deeply sorry for the systemic and individual failings within the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst which led to the tragic death of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks in February 2019 Sophie Given, whom Ms Perks had met on a dating site, told the hearing her friend told her she may be pregnant with a staff sergeants baby. He told the hearing they kissed once and had an emotional bond but denied their relationship was sexual. After the Falklands Ball, she spent a night in Colour Sergeant Griffiths room. The pair denied sexual activity had taken place, claiming the colour sergeant had invited her in out of concern for her welfare and she had slept there. The inquest heard that she had said, in a text to a friend, that they had had oral sex and he told the hearing they may have done but that he was too drunk to remember. After she was seen leaving in her ball gown from the night before she was told my office now by the regimental sergeant major and later missed a parade. She felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment as she felt she had got the colour sergeant into trouble and feared losing her place at the academy. In the days before her death, friends told the inquest she felt like she was on trial as the academys leaders questioned her about the incident and rumours about it spread on WhatsApp. I have promised to commit to a culture of continuous learning to ensure Sandhurst remains a safe and positive training environment for our future leaders One staff member told her she had had enough male company as she was being informally questioned about that night by a largely male group. In a letter to her mother, which was found in her room when she died, she said she just cant deal with the false rumours which have ruined my army career. Speaking outside court following the inquest, the academys commandant, General Zac Stenning, said: We are deeply sorry for the systemic and individual failings within the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst which led to the tragic death of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks in February 2019. Much more should and could have been done to support her. As an organisation we should have been better. I have promised to commit to a culture of continuous learning to ensure Sandhurst remains a safe and positive training environment for our future leaders. Nothing less is acceptable. China's Special Rep during visit to Europe calls for ceasefire in Ukraine, preservation of occupied territories by Russia media Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, during a tour of Europe, told the authorities of its countries that they need to call for a ceasefire in Ukraine with the preservation of the occupied Ukrainian territories by Russia, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said, citing Western officials. "The Chinese envoy dispatched to push Beijing's peace plan for Ukraine carried a clear message: U.S. allies in Europe should assert their autonomy and urge an immediate cease-fire, leaving Russia in possession of the parts of its smaller neighbor that it now occupies," the newspaper said. According to WSJ interlocutors familiar with conversations with Li Hui, he also called on European countries "move quickly to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine before it spreads further." In addition, Li Hui recommended that European states "consider China as an economic alternative to Washington." However, representatives of European governments replied to the Chinese special representative that they see no prospects for resolving the situation without the withdrawal of Russian troops. "We explained that freezing the conflict is not in the interests of the international community unless there is withdraws Russian troops," the WSJ said, citing an unnamed diplomat who spoke with Li Hui as saying. According to him, the representative of China was also told that it is impossible to separate Europe from the United States and that Europe will not stop supporting Ukraine. At the same time, it is noted that officials recognized that it is too early to reject Beijing's efforts to resolve the crisis. Li Hui visited Kyiv, Warsaw, Berlin, Paris and Brussels this month to discuss the settlement of the situation around Ukraine. A teenage neo-Nazi obsessed with death filmed himself assaulting three teenage girls by spraying them with liquid in terrifying random attacks, a court has heard. The boy was just 14 when he threw a mystery liquid at two girls as they sat enjoying the sunshine in a south-west London park on May 18 last year. He carried out a similar attack eight days later, targeting a girl as she walked to a study session for her GCSE exams. The Old Bailey heard the attacks were inspired the boys rapid descent into far right extremist ideology, and a dark trend with a group called the Maniac Murder Club for random violent attacks on strangers. Police found videos of the attacks on the boys phone and computer, including edited versions with a Swastika added, Russian language commentary, and a death metal soundtrack. Officers also found a vast amount of far right extremist material, including videos of executions, torture, rape, mutilation, and extreme violence. He wrote about wanting a race war and the eradication of 60 per cent of the worlds population to leave only white people. The boy had also collected BB gun parts, Nazi fridge magnets and badges, and a rubber gas mask, and used an alias online which included the Nazi code 1488 a reference to Adolf Hitler. Mr Justice Jeremy Baker sentenced the boy, now 15, on Friday to a three-year youth rehabilitation order, putting him under intense surveillance and supervision for the rest of his childhood. The court heard the boy was wearing a blue surgical face mask when he carried out the first random attack on two girls as they sat together on the grass in a park. He is heard breathing heavily in the 24-second clip he made himself, running up to the victims and spraying a liquid at one of the girls in an attempt to hit her face. He started sprinting towards us, and I remember looking at his hands to see if he had a knife, said one of the girls. He approached me as I was still sitting cross-legged. He pushed me with one continous push, I heard a continuous spraying noise, and closed my eyes as I realsied he was spraying me with something. My first reaction was it was acid, as I had heard about a lot of attacks on the news. The boy who cannot be named - fled from the girls as they fought back, and the victims were able to wipe away the liquid without any lasting damage. I remember thinking it was a pepper spray attack or something similar, said the second girl. He was aiming something at her eyes. The second attack happened on May 26 last year, when the boy again masked and filming himself targeted a 16-year-old girl on her walk to a study session ahead of one of her GCSE exams. The boy is breathing heavily as he approachs the girl who is walking along a path looking at her phone with earphones in. I didnt say anything, nor did her, and all of a sudden I saw and felt a clear mist-like spray on my face, she said. It sounded like an aerosol, the spray landed on my face and neck, it felt cold, I tried not to breath in and closed my eyes. The girl said she ran away screaming, and was helped by passersby who poured water over her head and took her to hospital. She said her remaining GCSE exams were affected, and she has been left with a lasting fear of being in public alone. I am constantly worried that people I come across are him or related to him, she said. The court heard of the boys deep-seated hatred of homosexuality and non-white races. In an unsent Telegram message, he said the ideology he most closely identifies with is National Socialism, and he would prefer to live in a white society. I think most of the people, maybe somewher around 60 per cent, are sh*t and should be dead, he wrote. They are stupid and they are all so closed-minded. The boy pleaded guilty to three charges of battery, possessing a bomb-making manual, and dissemination of a terrorist publication on the basis of recklessness. The youth, from Isleworth, south-west London, also admitted having extreme pornography involving animals. Passing sentence, the judge said the boy had expressed views of wanting as many people as possible to die, adding that a probation officer had concluded he continues to be obsessed with death and believ you have been created for a special purpose, namely to purify the world by killing the majority of the population. The boy is now taking medication for paranoid schizophrenia and has been in fulltime education while in local authority custody awaiting the outcome of his case. He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of an extended activity requirement as part of the sentence, and will be under a 9pm to 6am curfew as well as curbs on his use of the internet. A police officer involved in the arrest of Sheku Bayoh has denied ever wanting to join the BNP. The pre-recorded testimony of Alan Paton, who has since retired from Police Scotland, was played to the inquiry into the death of Mr Bayoh, which occurred in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in 2015 while he was being detained by police. During the 20-minute recording, Mr Paton denied claims he wanted to join the BNP as a teenager, and he also denied making racist remarks to an Asian family who lived near him and using other racist language. Mr Paton described the claims, made by his sister Karen Swan, as not true in its entirety and an entire lot of made-up nonsense. The former police officer also told the inquiry that father-of-two Mr Bayoh uttered not one word while he was being restrained in Hayfield Road. Mr Paton said: From my initial engagement with him to the conclusion of my involvement, he remained silent. The only screams I heard was that of (police officer) Nicole Short. He was read the witness statement of Ashley Wise, who saw the arrest, which said she saw a man going down to the ground with about six police officers around him and that the man kept making roaring noises and shouting something similar to get off me'. Mr Paton said she was mistaken and that Mr Bayoh did not make the noise. Mr Bayoh, 31, died after he was restrained on the ground by multiple officers. The inquiry into his death is examining whether race was a factor. Mr Paton and fellow officer Craig Walker were first on the scene after reports Mr Bayoh had been carrying a knife and attacking vehicles. The inquiry has previously heard that when they arrived, they rapidly deployed their incapacitant sprays on unarmed Mr Bayoh, and Pc Walker said the gas engineer was clearly in some sort of rage or zombie stare. In the recording played to the inquiry on Friday, Angela Grahame KC read out a statement from Ms Swan which said: I would like to go back to when Alan was a teenager. My mum told me at the time that Alan has said he wanted to join the BNP and she had told him she would disown him if he did. Alan used to make racist remarks to the Asian family that lived round the corner. He was never violent towards them but he was quite vocal. If they passed by him he would make racist comments towards them. I dont know anything else about him joining the BNP. Mr Paton denied the claims, and said: The entire paragraphs not true. Ive got nothing further to add than what I have in my statement that was submitted a few days ago. Challenged by inquiry chair Lord Bracadale if he joined the far-right BNP, Mr Paton told him No. A statement from Mr Patons brother-in-law Barry Swan was also read to the inquiry. He said his wife had told him Mr Paton had wanted to join the BNP when he was 16. The inquiry was told Mr Swan said: There was a few comments, or off-the-cuff remarks, made by Alan over the early years which I took to be jovial and humorous. He said there was no malice or vindictiveness surrounding these comments. Mr Paton denied making such remarks. The hearing on Friday came a day after Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone admitted the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory, which the Bayoh familys solicitor Aamer Anwar said was a significant moment for them. Mr Anwar said: Fighting for a robust investigation, nevermind achieving justice, has involved the Bayohs in enormous challenges and obstacles at great personal cost to the emotional and physical health of their family, young and old. As this chapter of evidence concludes, no-one should forget that Sheku Bayoh lost his life, his two boys are growing up without their father, his partner Collette was left devastated by his loss, a heartbroken mother had to bury her son, and his sisters are left without their baby brother. Shekus loved ones will never give up the search for truth, no matter what obstacles are placed in their path. This inquiry still has a long way to go, and it would be inappropriate to comment further. The inquiry continues. S ecurity contractor Serco has been fined more than 2 million for health and safety failings that led to a mentally-ill prisoner kicking a custody officer to death. Humphrey Burke, 29, attacked 54-year-old Lorraine Barwell as she tried to escort him from his cell in Blackfriars Crown Court in central London in June 2015. Burke admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and was handed an indefinite hospital order at the Old Bailey in January last year. Ms Barwells employer, Serco which is contracted by the Ministry of Justice to provide security services in courts, pleaded guilty last April to failure to discharge general health, safety and welfare duty from January 2014 to March 2017. The prosecution claimed that two attacks on custody officers Ms Barwell and Bernadette Cawley within that period demonstrated what can happen if the right health and safety steps are not taken. Ms Cawley, who survived the attack, was strangled and rammed up against a wall in the dock in an annex court at Woolwich Crown Court in June 2016, but no other custody staff were nearby to help when she pressed the alarm. Humphrey Burke pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of female Serco guard Lorraine Barwell (Met Police/PA) / PA Archive However, Serco had admitted two limited breaches in relation to the two incidents at Blackfriars and Woolwich, but denied they were causative of the harm to the women. But the prosecution had alleged there were wider failings, with areas including risk assessment, staffing levels, training and monitoring. On Friday, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker fined Serco 2,250,000 and ordered the firm to pay the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) costs of 433,596. In his sentencing, the senior judge found Sercos level of culpability for the offence was high. Our mum was a wonderful loving supportive mother to myself, my brother and her two granddaughters whom she adored and loved, and they adored her Among the failings, he said there was insufficient availability of court custody officers, an issue that had been raised with management on numerous occasions. Mr Justice Baker said there had been an obvious and avoidable risk that Burke would kick out forcibly to Ms Barwell, enabling her to be fatally injured. He highlighted inadequate communication of the risk Burke posed and insufficient regard as to the manner in which he should be safely handled as those involved just got on with the task, rather than having proper regard for their safety, leading to the unsafe manner in which Mr Burke was handled on this occasion. He concluded: I am satisfied that had it not been for Sercos breach of duty towards its employees, Lorraine Barwell would not have died in the circumstances in which she did at Blackfriars Crown Court on June 29 2015. The judge said the impact of Ms Barwells death was all too evident from reading a statement from her family. In a victim impact statement, Ms Barwells daughter Louise Grennan said: Our mum was a wonderful loving supportive mother to myself, my brother and her two granddaughters whom she adored and loved, and they adored her. She too was a friend to many and loved by many. To lose her has left a huge void in everyones hearts. Mum was my best friend and she helped me care for my daughter. We spoke about plans to move abroad to live in the sun once mum had retired from work. That has all gone now. Everyone in Serco was deeply shocked and saddened when Lorraine was fatally assaulted by Humphrey Burke in 2015 and we continue to send our deepest condolences to her family and friends HSE inspector Helen Donnelly said: Serco drastically failed in their duties to protect both Lorraine Barwell and other staff over a sustained period. It is not common to have a case covering such an extended period, but it appeared that Serco Limited were not learning from their mistakes. Lorraine Barwell and her colleagues were just doing their job and should have been protected from harm. Had Serco carried out their legal duties, these incidents could have been prevented. While this investigation has been long and complex, we hope Lorraines friends and family will find some comfort in todays sentence and see that justice has now been served. No matter what work environment you are in, health and safety regulation is designed to protect people at work. We will not hesitate to act against those who fail to protect their workers. Anthony Kirby, Serco chief executive UK & Europe, said: Everyone in Serco was deeply shocked and saddened when Lorraine was fatally assaulted by Humphrey Burke in 2015 and we continue to send our deepest condolences to her family and friends. Lorraine was a brave and experienced prisoner custody officer who was a popular and highly respected member of our team and had worked for Serco for over 10 years. She is still sorely missed by her colleagues and everyone across Serco. The safety and wellbeing of colleagues is our highest priority and, as recognised by the court, we have improved our safety processes. We continuously strive to seek to ensure such an incident can never happen again. T ikTok prankster Mizzy has been arrested for allegedly breaching a court order just days after he was released. The 18-year-old, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze OGarro of Manor Road, Hackney, appeared to be filmed as he was detained by a plain clothes Met Police officer. In a statement the Met said: On Friday, 26 May, officers arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order. He has been taken into custody. Enquiries are ongoing. On Wednesday the 18-year-old appeared at Thames Magistrates Court where he admitted to one count of failing to comply with a community protection notice. He was issued a two-year criminal behaviour order which stated that OGarro 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. He was also ordered to pay 200 fine, as well as a victim surcharge of 80 and costs of 85 totalling 365. OGarro appeared in court after he posted a clip of him invading a familys home. He says in the clip: Walking into random houses, lets go and walking towards a family home. Thames magistrates court heard the mother of the family in the video believe they were put at risk in the May 15 stunt, and OGarro has apologised for his actions. Other TikTok clips also showed him stealing a womans dog, ripping up library books and jumping into strangers cars. A statue of the tenacious peace campaigner Brian Haw is to be installed in south London following a crowdfunding campaign. Supporters including Sir Mark Rylance and Brian Eno have donated. Rylance a patron of the Stop the War coalition and charity Peace Direct described him as one of the greatest Englishmen that Ive met in my life in terms of being a person who listened to his conscience. Who was Brian Haw? Brian Haw was a peace campaigner who was famous for spending a decade camped outside the Palace of Westminster in Parliament Square. He was protesting against UK and US foreign policy, and died from lung cancer aged 62 in June 2011. In 2001 he began protesting in Westminster and was frequently surrounded by several anti-war placards, while shouting through his megaphone at politicians going into work. He was closely associated with dissent against the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq and would often be helped by passers-by, including the Oscar-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance. Speaking to the BBC, Rylance previously explained: I had a lot of jobs in the West End and I live in south London so my route home after the show often was through Parliament Square, and so when I was on my bicycle, I would always stop and have a word with him, and give him 20 quid or whatever I had in my pocket. Mr Haw proved to be a nuisance for the police, politicians, Westminster City Council and the mayor of London at the time. Attempts were made to remove him from his pitch, take him to court, and to remove his megaphone. In 2005, legislation was passed by Westminster specifically to try to force him to leave, with all unauthorised protests within a square mile of Parliament being banned. But he remained resolute, stating that his campaign began long before the act was passed, so the exclusion zone did not apply in his case. Where will the Brian Haw statue be installed? The 72cm-tall bronze maquette will be placed opposite the big guns of the Imperial War Museum, within an exterior alcove at the School of Historical Dress in south London, just outside the exclusion zone created in 2005 to dissuade the activist. It is being designed by artist Amanda Ward. In February a crowdfunding campaign was launched, which aimed to raise 50,000, with people asked to donate 1. Organisers now believe enough donations have been made for installation work to begin. At the time of the launch, Rylance described Mr Haw as a remarkable person in the history of London who was a constant voice at Westminster for longer than most prime ministers. Its hoped the monument will remind people of the importance of public campaigning. Rylance said: Its a wonderful aspect and privilege of our lives here in London, that protests are possible. I think its a very important part of society, and one that the authorities are obviously trying more and more now to constrain and that, I think, would be a great loss. So thats another good reason that we get him there where he should be, protesting, standing peacefully across from the Imperial War Museum. A London MP has warned that any move to expand Heathrow Airport would present a serious health issue for her constituents, as she called for the Government to block the project. Fleur Anderson, the Labour MP for Putney, led a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, in which she said the scheme would subject Londoners to unacceptable levels of noise and air pollution. The airport has said the project would create jobs, boost UK exports, and bring lower airfares. In a message to the airports incoming chief executive, Ms Anderson said: There is no version of an expanded Heathrow which is compatible with climate targets. There is no version of an expanded Heathrow that does not reduce the quality of the lives of 650,000 people in my constituency and beyond, who live under the flight path. And there is no version of an expanded Heathrow that does not make the air our children breathe even more polluted. I implore you, put the quality of life and the planet first, and the profits of your shareholders second. The expansion plans had been put on ice after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. But, outgoing CEO John Holland-Kaye believes that the pandemic showed just how important it is for a third runway to be built to increase the facilitys capacity and strength. He told The Independent: We are still committed to expansion. Weve already started some of the preliminary work on expansion, now that we have started to have the bandwidth to do that. Well be saying more about our plans with that later this year. Speaking at Wednesdays debate, Munira Wilson, Lib Dem MP for Twickenham, said her party wanted to see a better Heathrow, not a bigger Heathrow, and that the proposal to expand the airport was dead in the water, on every possible front. A coalition of MPs came together on Wednesday to protest against any expansion of Heathrow Airport / Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell later said a third runway would mean some 4,000 properties in his Hayes and Harlington constituency having to be demolished or rendered unlivable by noise or air pollution. The Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington added: Thats 10,000 people being forced out of their homes. It means three schools, it means churches, the gurdwara, it means a number of community centres, it means our open spaces - the demolition of a whole community This will be the iconic battleground on climate change for Europe - if the Government tries to move ahead. Jim Shannon, the Democratic Unionist Party MP for Strangford, was the sole voice in favour of expansion, saying it was an incredible opportunity to improve connectivity between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in relation to tourism, trade and air passenger duty. Responding on behalf of the Government was Jesse Norman, the Minister of State for Decarbonisation and Technology, who said: The Government continues to support airport growth where it is justified, and expansion of any airport in England must meet our strict climate change obligations to be able to proceed. The Governments approach to sustainable aviation growth is supported by analysis that shows that the country can achieve net zero emissions by 2050 without the need to intervene directly to limit aviation growth. A Heathrow spokesman said: "Heathrow expansion is critical for the UKs future economic success. It will create jobs, boost Britains exports and drive competition and choice to lower airfares for passengers. Whats more, it will only be delivered within strict environmental limits. We are currently conducting an internal review of the project and will look to provide an update later this year. T ourism to London is bouncing back after the pandemic with 16 million overnight visits to the capital from people from overseas last year, official figures revealed on Friday. But the tally was much lower than the 21.7 million in 2019 and prompted more calls for the tourist tax to be abolished. The latest figures showed 9.6 million out of the 16.1 million overnight visits from tourists were from other European countries, 3.5 million from North America, and just under three million from other parts of the world. Ros Morgan, chief executive of the Heart of London Business Alliance, said: Tourism in the West End is showing clear signs of recovery, with footfall up by almost 12 per cent over the last year, and international visitor numbers up by 26 per cent since 2021/22. But she added: Barriers such as additional visas and the removal of tax-free shopping need addressing. Dee Corsi, chief executive at the New West End Company, stressed: Post pandemic, pent-up demand has seen visitor numbers and spend recover faster in some European cities, particularly driven by US visitors, but the UKs growth is lagging behind. She blamed this on the removal of tax-free shopping, which puts us at a 20 per cent price disadvantage when compared to our European neighbours. Adam Tyndall, from BusinessLDN, said the figures show an undiminished appetite for international travel after the pandemic but he also called for restoring VAT-free shopping. Highlighting the Lets Do London tourism campaign, Mayor Sadiq Khan said: With so much going on in the capital this summer, I look forward to London being abuzz with tourists once again. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: Its clear that foreign travel has yet to pick up to pre-pandemic levels as quickly as wed hoped however, there are encouraging signs that foreign travel is on the way back. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is understood to be ready to ditch the tourism tax if it can be shown to be tax neutral or better for the Treasury. A Ukrainian man who walked almost 140 miles to escape Russian bombing, using his dog to distract checkpoint soldiers, details his painful journey in a new London exhibition. Construction worker Igor Pedin fled Mariupol in April last year with his dog Zhu-Zhu and walked the incredible 139-mile journey to Zaporizhzhi, stopping at 25 Russian checkpoints along the way. He is one of 12 Ukrainians who have been photographed and will feature in an exhibition opening on June 1 at the European Parliament Liaison Offices 12 Star Gallery in Europe House, Westminster. Each person has detailed what precious item they chose to take with them as they fled their home towns and cities - including a violin and the Koran. Mr Pedin told curators: I left home and started to walk. I didnt have a destination, it was impossible to know what was or wasnt occupied land. I just had to keep walking, sometimes towards artillery fire in order to work out where the enemy was. My strategy was to be invisible by being visible. If I took to back roads or tracks in the woods, I would look suspicious. Nobody in their right mind would be walking the main roads with a small dog, passing Russian military vehicles. Miraculously this method worked for Mr Pedin, who was greeted with food and cigarettes by Russian soldiers at checkpoints, keen to pat Zhu-Zhu. At the first checkpoint, the soldiers gave me an Easter bun and waved me through. It was surreal. At another checkpoint, they checked my phone and tried to put a Russian SIM in it but it was the wrong size, he told curators. They petted Zhu-Zhu, stuffed cigarettes in my pockets, and let me through. Construction worker Igor Pedin fled Mariupol in April last year / Kaupo Kikkas Having ZhuZhu with me helped, it was a distraction. People love animals, often more than humans, he said. Eventually Mr Pedin reached a Ukrainian checkpoint and from there, volunteers drove him to Zaporizhzhia and took him to a community centre. It was two months since Id eaten a proper meal, he said. The woman sitting next to me literally choked on her soup when she heard that I had walked from Mariupol. I could have died at any point, but I never gave up. Mr Pedins story is one of many harrowing escape journeys, curator Frances Stonor Saunders said. Each story is evidence of a shocking loss. Every object speaks to other objects left behind, and every person represents other people who didnt find their way out of the hellfire. But these stories are also an illuminating portrait of courage, of resilience and dignity, of continued lives. The exhibition What Would You Take, by Estonian photographer Kaupo Kikkas and curator Frances Stonor Saunders, opens on June 1 with a documentary screening and a panel discussion. The short documentary was directed by Heilika Pikkov and produced by Ulo Pikkov / Silmviburlane this year. It accompanies the exhibition. The photographs, interviews and the film were taken in December 2022 in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine and are on display for the first time at the 12 Star Gallery in London. Photographer Kaupo Kikkas said: Even though Estonia and Ukraine share a border and the collective memory of the Soviet period, they never had have much contact with Ukraine. But with the Russian invasion, I immediately understood that this was a common cause, so I started a project of solidarity. A series of events linked to the show have been organised, before the exhibition continues its tour to Europe. The exhibition is supported and organised by the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK. T he legal case against Sadiq Khans expansion of the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) took another step forward on Friday, after the High Court accepted two further grounds for challenging it. Five Conservative councils had in February launched legal action against the expansion, putting forward five grounds claiming that it is unlawful. In April, only two of those grounds were accepted by the court, with three refused. But at a hearing on Friday, the coalition comprising the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Hillingdon and Harrow, along with Surrey County Council, was told that two additional grounds for challenge - out of the three previously refused - would be considered as part of the judicial review. It is thought that the review itself - which will effectively decide whether Mr Khan acted legally or illegally in the way he gave the go-ahead for the Ulez expansion - will take place on July 4. A ruling against the mayor could potentially delay the August 29 expansion of the Ulez from its current boundary just inside the North and South Circular Roads. According to Hillingdon Council, the two additional grounds for challenge - newly accepted by the court - are that there was an unfair and unlawful consultation in relation to expected compliance rates in outer London and, in relation to the scrappage scheme, irrationality due to uncertainty and inadequate consultation. The two previously accepted grounds for challenge were that Mr Khan acted beyond his powers in expanding the Ulez by varying the existing scheme order rather than issuing a new charging order, and that he failed to consider including motorists living in the buffer zone on the edges of London in the 110m vehicle scrappage scheme. Commenting on Friday, Nick Rogers, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesperson, welcomed the news that additional grounds have been accepted by the court. He said: From the evidence that has been uncovered, its obvious that Sadiq Khan does not have the legal basis to proceed with his Ulez tax plans, which take money from charities, small businesses and low income Londoners who cannot afford a new car. Nick Rogers, Conservative London Assembly Member for South West London / London Assembly Sadiq Khan should do the right thing, stop work on his Ulez expansion, and explain his actions to the court." A spokeswoman for Mr Khan said: The Mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one. However, around 4000 Londoners a year die prematurely from air pollution. This is a health emergency and the Mayor is not prepared to stand by and do nothing while Londoners are growing up with stunted lungs and are more at risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia due to our toxic air. We note the Courts decision and will continue to robustly defend action to expand the Ulez while continuing with preparations for expansion at the end of August. The Ulez requires drivers of older, more polluting vehicles to pay a 12.50 daily charge to use their cars. Opponents of its expansion, which will mean it covers the whole of Greater London, say that it will have little impact on overall pollution levels but will hit peoples pockets during a cost-of-living crisis. In an interview with the Times, published shortly before news of the courts decision broke, Mr Khan pointed out that the five councils launching the legal action against the expansion are all Conservative-run. This is party politics, the Mayor told the newspaper. Councillor Colin Smith, the Tory leader of Bromley Council, said: We are obviously delighted at the High Courts latest decision, which has given further scope to the legal challenge we are mounting as it enables a broader range of legal questions to be posed. "We are already witnessing widespread upset and uncertainty locally over the prospect of the Mayors threatened tax against motorists going ahead, due to the damage it will cause to local businesses, jobs and local care networks and anything which assists us in turning this outrageous money making scam away is clearly to be welcomed. "Outer London isnt the same as inner London and never will be and every day which passes demonstrates ever more clearly that City Hall simply doesnt understand how those of us in the cuter reaches need to live our lives due to the inferior transport networks and physically longer distances which people need to travel. "Whilst the legal questions will be examined in court, there is still time for the mayor to draw back from expanding his unwelcome plans to extend his camera network to the outer London border ahead of the court case on 4th July and I once again call on him to do so for the wider good. "If not, we travel on to Independence Day bolstered by todays decision in even greater hope than previously." L abour leader Sir Keir Starmer has dubbed MP Margaret Ferrier missing in action as he prepares to campaign in her seat. Ms Ferrier was found guilty of culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the risk of infection, illness and death by breaching Covid restrictions, and the Commons Standards Committee subsequently recommended a 30-day suspension from the House. A vote to approve the suspension was due to be held on Thursday, but a motion to put it to MPs was not moved by the Government and it is understood there were concerns there was not the requisite number of MPs in the Commons for the vote to take place. With Westminster in recess next week, the earliest the vote can return to the order paper is June 5. A Labour source said the Government had bottled it and pulled the vote amid fears it could have been defeated. If the suspension is approved, it would spark Scotlands first recall petition, with constituents given the chance to call a by-election if 10% sign the document. Labour which held the seat before it was taken by the SNP in 2019 has been active in the now-independent MPs Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, selecting teacher Michael Shanks to stand in any potential contest and deploying Scottish leader Anas Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie there to campaign in recent weeks. Sir Keir is expected to campaign and speak to members of the public in the South Lanarkshire seat on Friday. Speaking ahead of the visit, he said: For too long, the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have been failed by two bad governments and have been unrepresented by a missing-in-action MP. The people of this area are crying out for change and for a new politics that offers hope, partners with their ambition for their area, and focuses on their priorities. Only Labour can deliver the fresh start that Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs and only Labour will focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis and building a brighter future for all of Scotland. A Republican conference timed to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was held at Nakhchivan University on the topic "Heydar Aliyev and issues of national statehood," Azernews reports. The conference was attended by the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Azerbaijani President in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, President of ADA University Professor Hafiz Pashayev, President of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Professor Adalat Muradov, Consul General of Turkiye in Nakhchivan Asip Kaya, Chairman of ANAS Nakhchivan Division Academician Ismayil Hajiyev, President of Mingachevir State University Associate Professor Shahin Bayramov, President of Nakhchivan State University Associate Professor Elbrus Isayev, President of Nakhchivan Teachers' Institute Associate Professor Azad Novruzov, ADPU Vice-Rector for International Relations Professor Mahira Huseynova, scientists and researchers representing other higher education institutions. The participants of the conference first visited the monument of National Leader Heydar Aliyev erected in the main square of Nakhchivan city and laid flowers in front of the monument. The dear memory of the National Leader was commemorated with deep respect. The Republican conference began with the singing of Azerbaijans National Anthem. The dear memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and our martyrs was commemorated with a minute of silence. Fuad Najafli, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Azerbaijani President in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, opened the conference with his opening speech and welcomed the guests. He pointed out that the 100th anniversary of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev was celebrated at the state level, as in every region of Azerbaijan, in the ancient land of Nakhchivan, where he opened his eyes to the world, at a high level with a series of events. Talking about the unparalleled services of the founder and architect of modern Azerbaijan, Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, for the comprehensive development and empowerment of Azerbaijan, the Plenipotentiary Representative said that all the periods led by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan are the golden pages of our glorious history as stages of great construction, progress, and comprehensive development. Thus, due to the great statecraft experience and determination of the Great Leader, political stability has been established in our country, and the implementation of large-scale economic projects has begun. Stating that the Nakhchivan era of the genius's political activity is the main pillar of our independent state, Fuad Najafli noted that the Great Leader paid special attention to the role of Nakhchivan in the development strategy of Azerbaijan, and the city, which is the embodiment of the unity of traditions and innovation, achieved great achievements precisely with the attention and patronage of Heydar Aliyev. The rector of ADA University professor Hafiz Pashayev, who stated that the National Leader is in his homeland Nakhchivan for the second time, spoke about the unparalleled services of the phenomenal politician Heydar Aliyev to Azerbaijani people, visionary and pragmatic policy. Stating that the ideas and policies of Heydar Aliyev are the foundation of Azerbaijan's success today, Hafiz Pashayev pointed out that if it were not for the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan could have lost its state independence, which it had just regained in the 90s of the last century. It was at the beginning of the nineties of the last century that the ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia was signed thanks to the great efforts and foresight of the Great Leader. As a result, comprehensive development was achieved in the country. Hafiz Pashayev noted that the policy of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev today also presents Azerbaijan to the world as a victorious country. Thus, we once again witnessed the logical result of the state and army building, which was founded by a genius, in the Second Karabakh War. Under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, our army won a historic victory over the enemy in the 44-day Patriotic War. Hafiz Pashayev, who was grateful for the organization of such a prestigious conference and the invitation, conveyed his memories of the National Leader to the attention of the participants of the event and presented the books he read by the author to Nakhchivan University. Rector of Nakhchivan University associate professor Anar Kazimov welcomed the participants of the conference and said that Heydar Aliyev's life is an example for every citizen working in any field, the National Leader's persistent activity in the direction of shaping our statehood, economy, and other important areas of the country's life, creating the foundations of the strategy of Azerbaijanism, including his work in Nakhchivan. He noted that the work he has done for the sake of development is an inexhaustible source for many scientific studies. A. Kazimov expressed his belief that this prestigious scientific meeting will also serve these goals. Expressing great interest in the scientific event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader, the rector pointed out that more than 240 articles from 20 higher education and scientific research institutions were included in the conference, and expressed his gratitude to those who supported and contributed to the organization of the conference. Rector of Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) professor Adalat Muradov said that the main core of the national statehood strategy developed by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev with high professionalism was the revival, increase, and strengthening of the economic power of independent Azerbaijan. As a result of his unparalleled activity in the field of comprehensive development of the country's economy and integration into the globalized world economy, our country has embarked on the path of rapid progress. Touching on the topic of the conference, Academician Ismayil Hajiyev, Chairman of the ANAS Nakhchivan Department, said that the National Leader with great management experience developed the long-term concept of independent Azerbaijan statehood based on national and humanitarian norms and implemented it accurately. As a result, Azerbaijan is one of the countries with a unique place in the world today. This great man, who loves his people with infinite amour, dedicated his whole life and rich experience of statehood to the happy future of Azerbaijan and its rise to the level of developed civilized states. ADPU vice-rector for international relations professor Mahira Huseynova said that Heydar Aliyev has not been with us for almost 20 years. However today, effective state policy aimed at the progress and modernization of Azerbaijan is successfully implemented by President Ilham Aliyev. The modernizing Azerbaijan Republic itself is the greatest work dedicated to the bright memory of the National Leader, whose 100th anniversary we celebrated with great respect. As long as this work continues to be written, Heydar Aliyev will live in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people, and his bright ideas will always shine a light on our path. Rector of Nakhchivan State University associate professor Elbrus Isayev said in his speech that the life and political activities of the genius leader Heydar Aliyev, who had unparalleled services in the establishment and development of national statehood traditions of Azerbaijan, have an exceptional place in our recent history. Elbrus Isayev noted that Heydar Aliyev is one of the rare historical figures in the world due to his high human qualities, excellent state management skills, and culture of service to the people. Rector of Mingachevir State University associate Professor Shahin Bayramov pointed out that today we are grateful to the national leader Heydar Aliyev for the existence of the independent state of Azerbaijan and its formation as a powerful country. It is appropriate to say that Heydar Aliyev, who conquered the peak of eternal life in the hearts of every citizen, bequeathed to our people rich material and moral values, the concept of statehood without an alternative, and a strong state of Azerbaijan based on politically and economically reliable foundations. Rector of Nakhchivan Teachers' Institute associate professor Azad Novruzov made a speech and said that the unique activity of the world-famous politician and statesman Heydar Aliyev during the nearly 40 years of leading our country contributed to the economic, social, and cultural progress of Azerbaijan, the prosperity and happiness of our people, and our country's unique and worthy role in the world community dedicated to the struggle for the position. After the plenary session, the guests who got acquainted with the university campus and the existing infrastructure said that they got a high impression of the higher education institution. The first day of the Republican conference ended with a concert program organized by ADA University and Nakhchivan University at the Nakhchivan State National Drama Theater. For information, let us inform you that the two-day conference will continue its work with 6 section meetings. In the sections "International relations and law", "Philology", "Economy and management", "Political and humanitarian sciences", "Science and education", "Culture", reports will be heard and discussions will be held. It was also brought to attention that the materials of the Republican conference on "Heydar Aliyev and issues of national statehood" will be published by Nakhchivan University in the form of a separate book. The State Nuclear Regulation Inspectorate of Ukraine has refuted the fake Russian media information about Ukraine's alleged preparation of a provocation with the explosion of a storage facility with spent nuclear fuel in Kharkiv. "On May 25, 2023, the Russian propaganda agency TASS published a 'publication' citing an unnamed but 'knowledgeable' source about Ukraine's alleged preparation of a 'provocation to blow up a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Kharkiv, followed by accusations against Moscow'," the inspectorate said on its website. As the inspectorate said, the TASS source also claims that Kharkiv is suitable for "Ukrainian neo-Nazis" to commit a terrorist act since there are several nuclear facilities there at the National Scientific Center Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology and at Verkin Institute for Low-Temperature Physics and Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. "The accusations of Russian propagandists are nothing but a cynical, outright lie and a sick fantasy. There are no nuclear reactors in Kharkiv in general and in the mentioned institutes in particular, there is no and never was a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel," the inspectorate said. As explained by the inspectorate, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Ukraine has repeatedly faced fake Russian accusations, in particular, about the manufacture of a "dirty bomb," the preparation of explosions of radioactive substances at various facilities, etc. However, all hostile fake accusations were refuted, including by providing full access to Ukrainian nuclear facilities for International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors. "This indicates that Ukraine remains a transparent country and strictly adheres to its international obligations in the field of nuclear energy use," the inspectorate said. The inspectorate said that the latest inventions of the Russian media about the threats of a nuclear catastrophe at nuclear facilities, which simply do not exist in Ukraine, are a vivid manifestation of the indefatigable wild imagination of the Russian propagandists and their complete disconnect from reality. N igel Farage has claimed that net migration in the UK would have dipped to 50,000 a year if he was in charge after Brexit. The former leader of the Brexit Party has accused the Government of ignoring the will of the people after the UK left the European, as figures revealed that net migration had risen nearly three-fold compared to the pre-Brexit average. He told Sky News: We could have got it down to 50,000. If they put me in charge of it we would have got to 50,000 a year, no question about it, but they didnt. He added: They have ignored what was said in that Brexit referendum and so now a bigger question emerges as to how we are going to change politics in this country. In a podcast with Sky News political editor Beth Rigby released on Friday he said: I wasnt in charge. Had we been a European country with proportional representation, I would have been in a position of authority to work with Government to try and achieve this. Mr Farage said he would reduce the number of international workers permitted in the UK to give a realistic chance of people finding somewhere to live...people getting access to NHS. Asked whether he would accept any responsibility for the failures of Brexit he said: Absolutely none. I was very, very clear that this was about reducing numbers, about moving to an Australian points system where you set the barriers, and you set the levels, so you get genuinely skilled migrants, and Boris Johnson wilfully lowered those salary levels. Official data published on Thursday by the Office for National Statistics showed net migration of 606,000 for last year, nearly three times the pre-Brexit average of between 200,000 and 250,000. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the numbers were just too high and he remained committed to bringing them down. He denied that net migration was out of control. Asked whether Rishi Sunak would like to apologise, his official spokesman told reporters: We are working to bring those numbers down. Weve set out a significant package to do that just this week as well as all the work that goes alongside stopping the boats. Its also important to understand what sits beneath some of those numbers, 114,000 Ukrainians coming over for example, 52,000 British nationals from Hong Kong. We think that is something the public can be rightly proud of. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said British businesses should invest in training UK citizens rather than pulling the easy lever of hiring overseas workers. T he family of an 85-year-old man who lived just steps away from the UKs embassy in Sudans capital have said he was shot by snipers and his wife died of starvation after being left behind in the country. The BBC was told by the family of Abdalla Sholgami and his 80-year-old wife Alaweya Rishwan, who had a disability, that, despite asking for help days after the conflict began, they were directed to cross a warzone to board an evacuation fight in Khartoum. The family said they contacted the UK Foreign Office hotline and the Government has done nothing to support them since the last evacuation flight left earlier this month, even after a British military team was sent to evacuate diplomatic staff. Mr Sholgamis granddaughter, Azhaar, said the embassy was a maximum four steps away from her grandparents home. I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? Im still very disappointed in them, she said. The Foreign Office said the case was extremely sad. The ongoing military conflict means Sudan remains dangerous. The UK is taking a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Sudan. The Foreign Office said the ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited and cannot provide in-person support in Sudan. The family said, while Mr Sholgami and his wife were faced with starvation, he was forced to leave to find help when he was shot three times by snipers. His wife was then left in the property, which was surrounded by snipers, where she died. Mr Sholgami has escaped Sudan to safety in Egypt. More than 2,300 people were evacuated by the UK Government from Sudan on 28 flights since fighting began in April. The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday. The International Organisation for Migration said the clashes have forced more than one million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. About 320,000 others have fled to the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting started on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. F ormer Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met President Donald Trump to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The meeting took place during a visit by Mr Johnson to the United States on Thursday. He has also met Republican politicians in Texas and Mr Trumps former secretary of state Mike Pompeo as he lobbies to shore up the US support for Ukraine. A spokesperson for Johnson said: Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP met President Donald J Trump to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukrainian victory. Former president Mr Trump has previously described Mr Johnson as a friend, but they differ on their views of the Ukraine war. Mr Johnson immediately backed the country, visiting Ukraine several times and calling for the West to provide more weapons. Mr Trump, on the other hand, has previously refused to commit to sending military aid to Ukraine if he returned to the White House and would not say who he thought should win the war. The US has committed $46.65bn of arms and equipment to Ukraine over the past year, making it the largest donor of military aid to the country, followed by the UK, which has committed $7.16bn. The pair have met several times before, including on the sidelines of the 2019 G7 summit in France. When Mr Johnson became prime minister, Mr Trump described him as a good man, adding: They call him Britain Trump. T he mother of Brian Laundrie wrote him a letter offering a shovel and garbage bags if he needed to dispose of a body, court documents have revealed. Laundrie, 23, killed his fiancee Gabby Petito, 22, by strangulation before turning a gun on himself a month later in 2021, police say, in a tragic case that attracted international attention. The couple had been travelling around the US in a van and documented the road trip online before their deaths. A letter written by Laundries mother, Roberta Laundrie, found in Laundries backpack after his death, has been shared after it was given to NBC News by the lawyer for Ms Petitos family. It was addressed to her son along with the words: Burn after reading. It read: 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 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, Mrs Laundrie wrote in the letter. If youre in jail I will bake a cake with a file in it. 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 hand-written note was found in Laundries bag along with a notebook in which he confessed he was responsible for Ms Petitos death, police said. Ms Petitos body was found at Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming in September 2021. Her death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation. Brian Laundrie took his own life by shooting himself in the head, police later announced. His body was found in a Florida swamp. Mrs Laundrie said she had written the letter before her son went travelling with his fiancee in a bid to repair their strained relationship. In an affidavit, Mrs Laundrie said that had given it to him before he and Ms Petito left for their travels. 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. 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. In a statement through her familys lawyer, Mrs Laundrie added: 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. 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. A man has been arrested after four people were killed in a shooting and stabbing incident in Japan. The alleged assailant wore camouflage gear as he stabbed a woman and opened fire with what appeared to be a hunting rifle in the Nagano region in central Japan about 4.25pm local time on Thursday, NHK national television reported. Neighbours called the police after the man barricaded himself in a house. A witness said the man told him: I killed her because I wanted to. Two officers who arrived were shot dead with a shotgun or hunting rifle. The alleged assailant was later holed up in a house for almost 12 hours. A woman who escaped from the property said the attacker was her son while his father was a leader of the city assembly. The suspect, named as Masanori Aoki, 31, was later arrested. Nagano prefectural police chief Iwao Koyama offered condolences to the victims and said the loss of two police officials is extremely regrettable. The house he barricaded himself in was owned by his father, authorities said. Gun crimes are rare in Japan, where gun ownership is tightly regulated. The annual number of fatal shootings in Japan is often reported as being in single figures, in a country of 124 million people, twice the population of Britain. Most killings involve disputes between rival yakuza gangs. The level of gun ownership is also very low. Handguns are banned and hunting guns are subject to a strict licensing system. Every three years a gun owner has to undergo a day of training, take a written test and pass an assessment in a shooting range. There are also criminal record and mental health checks. Guns and ammunition have to be kept separately and are inspected by the police once a year. Last year, however, Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister, was shot dead while election campaigning by a man who had made his own crude gun. P ink Floyd bassist Roger Waters is facing a police investigation for dressing in Nazi-style uniform at a concert in Germany. The musician, 79, wore a black trench coat with a red armband as he appeared to mimic the SS outfit from World War Two. He pretended to shoot at the crowd with a fake gun while an inflatable pig bearing the Star of David floated above. The names of Holocaust victims, including diarist Anne Frank, were projected on a screen at the show last week. The Jewish News said Berlin police have launched a criminal investigation regarding the suspicion of incitement of the people. Police chief Martin Halweg told the paper his costume could be seen as glorifying the violent rule of the Nazi regime. Labour MP Christian Wakeford is among those who have condemned the musician over his divisive actions. Mr Wakeford, who represents Bury South, said Mr Waters should not perform in Manchester amid fears he could fuel anti-Jewish hatred. Mr Wakeford told MPs he was concerned about Mr Waters playing at the AO Arena on June 10. 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, he said. Israels Foreign Ministry criticised Mr Waters on Twitter, writing: Good morning to every one but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. It added: Great news! Berlin police have launched a criminal investigation. US campaign group StopAntisemitism also accused Waters of denigrating the murder of Frank. Earlier this year, Mr Waters was accused of being antisemitic to your rotten core by Polly Samson, wife of his ex-Floyd bandmate David Gilmour. The bassist says he is speaking out against Israels treatment of Palestinians. He began his Berlin show by insisting he is not anti-Semitic. Mr Waters representatives have been contacted for comment. P ope Francis did not receive anyone in audiences on Friday because he has a fever, the Vatican said. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni did not provide any further details on the health of the 86-year-old Roman Catholic leader. Bruni said in response to a reporters question on why none were listed on his daily schedule earlier in the day: Because of a fever, Pope Francis did not receive (anyone) in audiences this morning. The pope spent five days in a Rome hospital at the end of March for bronchitis but recovered quickly following an infusion of antibiotics and returned to his duties, including a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April. He appeared to be tired at a meeting with students near the Vatican on Thursday afternoon, according to onlookers. Francis, who became pope 10 years ago, is missing part of one lung. It was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina. Since he assumed the papacy, he has had to cancel events, sometimes at the last minute, because of fevers. He was first hospitalised as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. None of the popes scheduled events have been cancelled. He is due to preside at a Mass marking Pentecost on Sunday in St. Peters Square and receive Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday. It was not clear if he would hold private audiences on Saturday. The Vatican announced earlier this week that the pope was expected to travel to Portugal from Aug 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day and visit the Shrine of Fatima. R ussia has begun moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in the first such move in more than 30 years. According to Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko nuclear warheads were already on the move to the country as of Thursday following an order signed by Vladimir Putin. The deployment of nuclear warheads outside Russia would be the first since 1991. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigui claims it was sparked by the Wests apparent effort to to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine. The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries, he added during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart. In Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described the plans as the latest example of irresponsible behaviour that we have seen from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over a year ago. Mr Miller repeated Washingtons warning that use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in the conflict would be met with severe consequences, without specifying those consequences. I will just add we have seen no reason to adjust our strategic nuclear posture or any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon, he told reporters. Former Russian President and Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev also claimed that western allies underestimated the risk of a nuclear war over Ukraine. The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realize this and believe that it will not come to this," he said. "It will under certain conditions. A t least one person was killed and 15 injured when a medical facility was hit today in a wave of Russian missile strikes across Ukraine. Rescue work was underway after the strike on a clinic in the city of Dnipro in the east of the country, president Volodymyr Zelensky said. Russian terrorists once again confirm their status of fighters against everything humane and honest, Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app, under video footage of a badly damaged building with smoke pouring out of it. Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak said there were victims in the attack on the medical facility. It was a very difficult night. It was loud - the enemy launched a mass attack on the region with missiles and drones, he said. Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and over 20 drones in overnight attacks on Kyiv, Dnipro and other targets and eastern regions, officials said. Several drones and several missiles hit targets in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, they added. Officials in Kyiv said the roof of a shopping mall, a private house and several cars had been damaged after missiles and drones were shot down. MrZelenskys office said in a statement that a fire had broken out on the outskirts of Kharkiv after an oil depot was hit twice, and equipment for pumping oil products had been damaged. Several houses, cars, and private companies, including a transport company and a gas station, had been damaged, Mr Lysak said. A worker at the gas station was hurt. Meanwhile there were reports that Ukraine allegedly hit a Russian missile store in an occupied part of Ukraine using British-made Storm Shadows. Pictures were said to show an enormous fireball erupting after the reported strike on an arsenal of Russian S-300 air defence missiles in the occupied port of Berdiansk in the southern part of the country. Russia claimed Ukraine struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone, though the missile was shot down by air defences, according to Russian officials and media reports. In the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, a blast damaged a residential and office building, officials said. They did not say what caused the blast, though Russian media said it was a drone attack. Yesterday Russia moved ahead with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move, in the Kremlins first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. The US State Department denounced the deployment plan, but said Washington had no intention of altering its position on strategic nuclear weapons or seen any signs Russia was preparing to use a nuclear weapon. The presence of NATO troops in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine could stop Russia from committing further crimes, President of the Center for Study and Research of Political Decisions (France), senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (SEPA) Nicolas Tenzer said. "There will be a Vilnius summit in July, we don't know if Ukraine will receive a MAP or an invitation to join NATO But what we can do right now immediately is to send NATO troops to Ukraine. And have NATO troops on Ukrainian soil, at least in de-occupied areas. And then we could prevent all the crimes to be committed," Tenzer said Friday at the annual 15th Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation. The expert said the world has allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to commit war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in different parts of the world. "Remember, in 1999, when Putin was prime minister, with the blast of an apartment in Russia was accuse for the second Chechen war? Remember Georgia? Putin has committed much more war crimes against humanity than al-Qaeda and ISIS combined," the expert said. According to Tenzer, the West did not draw conclusions after the events of 2015 in Syria. He believes that if such conclusions were made, then "on February 24, 2022 [the beginning of Russia's full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine] would not have happened." The Kyiv Security Forum "For Our Freedom and Yours/Fighting for NATO" is being held in the Ukrainian capital on May 25 and 26. D ick and Angel Strawbridge have confirmed they have parted ways with Channel 4 after seven years of the hugely popular television series Escape To The Chateau. The couple found fame documenting their challenging journey renovating and transforming the dilapidated 19th century Chateau de la Motte Husson in France into a family home and wedding venue, where they live with their children, Arthur and Dorothy. In 2015, they traded their two-bedroom flat in Essex to move to France, paying 280,000 for the 45-room property and endless grounds, before turning it into a hugely successful enterprise. Confirming they will not be starring in any more series of Escape To The Chateau, the couple shared a collage of pictures from their time on the programme, thanking fans for inviting us into your living room. The statement on Instagram continued: It was a Strawbridge Family decision early last year to conclude Escape To The Chateau, but we have loved every moment and, despite the many challenges, we refused to give up on our dream, and in doing so have filled the chateau with love and laughter, and, most importantly, have created the most wonderful home for our family. The couple also referred to reports that their exit from Channel 4 was amid claims of clashes on set between the pair and production staff. We know there are lots of stories in the press right now. Its not worth us even trying to comment or give context, because anything can be made into a good headline, a statement said. It continued: There are two sides to every story and from the incredible support we have received, most of you know that. We are proud of who we are, and we feel we must do what we believe to be correct, that is in fact what kept Escape To The Chateau unique, and whilst we have indeed parted ways with Channel 4, we are hugely grateful to them and their teams for their support and creativity over the years. The future truly could not look more exciting and we thank you for your continued love and support. In a statement, a spokesman for Channel 4 said it is taking an active role in challenging unacceptable behaviour in our industry. It added: Following a review of our processes in 2021 we have made it easier to raise complaints both formally and informally. We require all our production partners to follow our Supplier Code of Conduct and when concerns are raised with us, they will be taken seriously and action will happen to ensure they are investigated and addressed appropriately. There is always more to do and alongside our suppliers we are committed to building safe, inclusive and professional working environments. P hillip Schofield has announced he is quitting ITV with immediate effect as he admitted having an affair with a younger male colleague and then lying about it to his bosses. In a statement to the Daily Mail on Fridy evening, the ex-This Morning presenter, 61, admitted an unwise but not illegal relationship with the man while he was still married to his wife of 30 years. He said: I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. Phillip Schofield with his former This Morning and Dancing On Ice colleague Holly Willoughby (Ian West/PA) / PA Archive He said he had lied to ITV about the relationship with the ex-colleague and that he would be resigning from the broadcaster with immediate effect. Schofield said he had never issued an injuction about the relationship and that the person was never moved on or sacked from This Morning because of it. I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family, he told the paper. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife. I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. Phillip Schofield at The British Soap Awards / ITV/Shutterstock I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it. ITV confirmed they have accepted his resignation and that he will no longer be appearing on the channel. A spokesperson said: We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield. The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Phillip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down. We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated. His agent YMU group said it had parted ways with Schofield after it learned important new information about the media personality which contradicted what the star had previously told them. His recent departure from This Morning came amid reports of a rift between Schofield and co-presenter Holly Willoughby. In a statement on Thursday, CEO of YMU Group, Mary Bekhait, said: Honesty and integrity are core values for YMUs whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust. This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him. Phillip Schofield - In pictures 1 / 50 Phillip Schofield - In pictures Phillip Schofield on This Morning has announced he is gay ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV Phillip Schofield and Stephanie Lowe attending the National Television Awards 2019 PA Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Dr Ranj Singh, Ruth Langsford, Eamonn Holmes, Rochelle Humes, Lisa Snowdon and the cast of "This Morning", pose in the winners room after winning the Live Magazine Show award during the National Television Awards 2020 Getty Images Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pose with the award for Live Magazine Show for 'This Morning' in the winners room attends the National Television Awards 2020 Getty Images Phillip Schofield making his big break on New Zealand TV Phillip Schofield with Gordon The Gopher Phillip Schofield in his early BBC TV day BBC TV's Saturday morning children's programme "Going Live" with Sarah Greene, puppet "Gordon the Gopher", Phillip Schofield and resident fashion expert Annnabel Giles in 1987 PA Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene on the 'hot line' in London, as they host BBC1's saturday morning programme 'Going Live' in 1987 PA Phillip Schofield with Caron Keating and Sarah Greene in 1988 PA Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie attend the London premiere of Evita in 1996 PA Phillip Schofield, his wife Stephanie and children Ruby (right) and Molly arrive for the premiere of Disney's new animated film Return to Neverland at the Odeon Leicester Square, London in 2002 PA Phillip Schofield Daily Mail Phillip Schofield in Joseph Daily Mail Phillip Schofield in the 1996 title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat PA phillip Schofield with the mythical creature 'Pushmi-Pullyu' on stage in the production of Dr Doolittle at the Apollo Theatre in 1998 PA Fern Britton with Phillip Schofield prenting This Morning in 2003 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for Dancing On Ice in 2006 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on the This Morning set, after Holly was named today as Fern Britton's replacement on the flagship ITV daytime show This Morning in 2009 PA hillip Schofield and family arriving for the 2009 British Soap Awards PA Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for Dancing On Ice in 2009 Phillip Schofield and family arriving for the premiere of 'Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience' in 2009 PA Phillip Schofield The Cube with presenter Phillip Schofield iITV Phillip Schofield with the Entertainment Programme award received for The Cube at the Philips British Academy Television Awards 2011 PA Prince of Wales talking to TV presenter Philip Schofield, during a 2012 reception for celebrities and volunteers of the Diamond Champions volunteers organised by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), at Clarence House in central London PA Phillip Schofield presenting 5 Gold Rings ITV Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton presenting All Star Mr & Mrs Rex Features The Queen greeting Phillip Schofield at a reception for the Queen's Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace in 2016 PA Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during the press launch for the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink in 2018 PA Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. Dancing On Ice: Series 12 in 2020 ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect. In a statement through a lawyer, Schofield said: It is with the most profound regret that after 35 years of being faultlessly managed by YMU I have agreed to step down from their representation with immediate effect. Schofield, who had co-presented This Morning with Willoughby since 2009, said last week he decided to leave the show because it had become the story. He said in last weeks statement: 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 cant 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. Schofields wife, Stephanie - who shares two children with Phillip - previously stood by him when he revealed in 2020 he was gay on ITV after 27 years of marriage. At the time, his wife said: We have had to face the most emotionally painful time in our 27 years of marriage. Schofield first began in UK media as a teenager, and made his name appearing on shows such as the Saturday morning programme Going Live! He started at This Morning in 2002 as a temporary presenter before becoming a permanent fixture at the show. Fern Britton, his original co-host, quit the programme in 2009, with Britton replaced with Willoughby. Loading.... Nasas revealed stunning detailed images of galaxies and stars 200,000 light years away from Earth captured using multiple telescopes. Shots were recorded by the James Webb Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope and three other super-spyglasses using a variety of optical, x-ray and infrared capabilities. Images were combined to create purple, red, orange and magenta cosmic swirls, dots and flashes displaying nebula, spiral galaxies and a star cluster called NGC 346 thats relatively close to our Milky Way in a system called the Small Magellanic Cloud. Scientists at Kings College London have developed an artificial intelligence model which may be able to predict whether an aggressive type of breast cancer will spread. The software is able to detect changes in the lymph nodes of women with triple negative breast cancer. Under tiny operating instruments, rare and very cute British hazel dormice have been given a final health check-up by London Zoo vets ahead of their planned release into the wild next month. During each 20-gram dormouses 10-minute appointment, they were placed under a miniature dormice-sized dose of general anaesthetic while the checks were undertaken. Sonys unveils Project Q mobile gaming device that doesnt look dissimilar to Nintendos Switch handheld console. Plus, Virgin Galactic launch success, Neuralink human trial green light, scathing reviews for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum game, MoD AI tank test and Cybertruck interior revealed. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. R ishi Sunak has met with Googles chief executive to discuss striking the right balance between artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and innovation, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister spoke to Sundar Pichai, also head of Googles parent company Alphabet, about the importance of ensuring the right guard rails are in place to ensure tech safety, No 10 said. It follows a similar meeting between Mr Sunak and leading figures in AI about the need for regulation to protect against potential dangers, ranging from disinformation and national security to existential threats. A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister met with Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet the parent company of Google at the Governments Darlington Economic Campus. The Prime Minister thanked Mr Pichai for Googles role at the heart of the UKs technology ecosystem, and they spoke about opportunities for growth in the industry. On artificial intelligence, they spoke about striking the right balance to ensure the right regulatory guardrails are in place, whilst driving forward innovation. They discussed possible opportunities for industry and international collaboration on safe and responsible AI development and agreed to remain in touch on this issue They discussed possible opportunities for industry and international collaboration on safe and responsible AI development and agreed to remain in touch on this issue. Mr Sunak has advocated the technologys benefits for national security and the economy, but growing concerns have been raised with the increasing prominence of the ChatGPT bot. As well as the issues discussed by Mr Sunak and tech figures, jobs are also being put at risk by the rapidly evolving technology. Last week BT Group said it will cut up to 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade amid plans to shift to AI and automated services. Former Government chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has warned that AI could have an impact on jobs comparable to the Industrial Revolution. Earlier this month, Geoffrey Hinton, the man widely seen as the godfather of AI, warned some of the dangers of AI chatbots are quite scary as he quit his job at Google. Mr Sunak has been hardening his tone towards AI. The Governments policy paper on the technology published less than two months ago was titled: A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation. 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. 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. 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 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. W aymo has put aside its differences with Uber, and will offer its driverless cars on the ride-sharing app later this year, the company has announced . The multi-year deal will combine Waymos world-leading autonomous driving technology with the massive scale of Ubers ridesharing and delivery networks, the company said. It will cover both rides via Uber, and food deliveries via Uber Eats. Of course, autonomous vehicles arent allowed everywhere and, for the purposes of this, the partnership will initially be limited to an area of just over 180 square miles in Phoenix, Arizona. The post says its starting in the region, so it seems likely that parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles County will follow, as Alphabet-owned Waymo also operates there. Fully autonomous driving is quickly becoming part of everyday life, and were excited to bring Waymos incredible technology to the Uber platform, said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Waymos co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, was equally effusive. Uber has long been a leader in human-operated ridesharing, and the pairing of our pioneering technology and all-electric fleet with their customer network provides Waymo with an opportunity to reach even more people. Such mutual backslapping in blog posts may be par for the course, but its still interesting given that the two companies were locked in a damaging legal battle just five years ago. Back in 2017, Uber hired a former Waymo engineer as chief of its self-driving division, and it was alleged that the company obtained confidential documents as a result. The case was settled in 2018, with Uber paying Waymo $245 million in stock. Now it appears the companies are on good terms again thanks to a shared ambition to advance driverless cars across America. On this side of the Atlantic, the progress of autonomous vehicles is slower, though recently a three-year trial covering 1,600 miles around Woolwich successfully completed without crashes . The area was picked due to the density of pedestrian crossings, and Londoners less predictable approach to road safety. In Japan, everybody follows the rules, ServCitys Robert Bateman told the BBC at the time. Not so in the UK. "Quite frankly, if you can get it right here you can then deliver an autonomous vehicle anywhere in the world." L ast year, Virgin Media gave millions of customers on its M100 and M200 tiers a free speed boost. At the time, there was nothing for those on more expensive broadband packages, but now the company has offered a free upgrade albeit one thats not quite as generous as last years freebie. The company has announced that customers of the M500 and Gig 1 packages will get a big boost to their upload speeds. On average, customers of the former will see their average uploads go from 36Mbps to 52Mbps, while those on the latter plan will jump from 52Mbps to 104Mbps. Gareth Turpin, Virgin Medias chief commercial officer, said that the move was reflective of record upstream demand thanks to more people regularly working from home, using video calling apps and new advances in gaming. It is an extremely welcome upgrade, with the Gig 1 plans doubling allowing for upload speeds that are six times faster than the UK average. The increase kicks in next week, and customers simply need to reboot their hub to benefit. But we cant help noticing that it is not quite as generous as the offering to M100 and M200 customers last year, who benefited from significant increases to both their upload and download speeds. That said, there is a case that the M500 and Gig 1 packages dont really need any more download speed. They offer respective averages of 516Mbps and 1,130Mbps already, which is more than enough for most people. Of the consumer packages Virgin Media offers discounting subsidised Essential ones to those on income support two are yet to receive a free upgrade. The M50 package (54Mbps down, 5Mbps up) and the M350 package (362Mbps down, 36Mbps up). Virgin Media has not said whether or not these are in line for an upgrade. The supply of air defense systems to Ukraine is a daily issue for working with partners, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on Friday. "We will do everything possible, everything to speed up the delivery of more and more quality air defense systems to Ukraine this is literally a daily issue for working with partners," he said. According to the head of state, during the day he receives reports on the situation in Dnipro and the elimination of the consequences of another strike. "This is an atrocity: a Russian missile, ballistics against a hospital and a veterinary clinic. Completely sick creatures," the president said. "As of this minute, two people were killed as a result of the strike... My condolences to the families and friends! The rubble has not yet been cleared. More than 30 people were injured, including two children," Zelenskyy said. "This week we have made significant progress on modern aviation for Ukraine, which will become a key component of our defense in the air. We are moving forward in defense modernization faster than we could have imagined six months ago," the president also said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he had a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during which he assured him of his readiness to help with a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, the Brazilian Globa edition said on Friday. The Brazilian President said in a statement he had a call with Russian president, thanked him for the invitation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and said that he could not come to Russia now. He reiterated the readiness of Brazil, which, together with India, Indonesia and China, agrees to negotiate in search of peace. According to Lula da Silva, he is ready to come to Moscow and Kyiv when necessary, but so far he does not see the point in this. He explained that in his opinion, there is no readiness to end the crisis yet. At the same time, he pointed out the need to conduct a dialogue about peace in order to prevent casualties. Niagara Regional Police are warning the public about a suspicious vehicle spotted in Niagara Falls which they say may be connected to a break and enter. In a media release, police said officers responded Thursday to three separate suspicious vehicle complaints in the area of Richard Crescent near Glavcic Drive, Shoveller Drive near Madison Crescent and Matthews Drive near Montrose Road. Police said in each case, a black Ford Expedition pulled into a residential driveway, where a suspect exited the vehicle and knocked loudly on the front door. In one incident, a break and enter took place. In the other two incidents, the suspect left after knocking. Police said the vehicles licence plate, CLWS 335, was reported stolen in Etobicoke. People are asked to watch for the vehicle, as police believe the suspect may be seeking out residential homes. If the vehicle is spotted, the public is asked by police to contact the NRP communication unit at 905-688-4111. Anyone with information is asking to contact the lead detective at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009483. SHARE: Niagara Regional Police arrested a 56-year-old man late Thursday night after a stabbing on the Merritt Trail in St. Catharines sent a another man to hospital. Police were called to the trail at 3:19 p.m. in the area of Martindale Road near Erion Road, where officers located a 47-year-old St. Catharines man who was suffering from stab wounds. Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics took him to an out-of-region trauma centre. Police said the man was later released from hospital and is recovering from his injuries at home. The NRP said their investigation determined the man was operating an ebike on the trail when a confrontation took place with a man who was unknown to him. Police said the victim was assaulted and fell off of his bike onto the ground. Once on the ground, he was stabbed with a knife. The man and area witnesses provided police with a description of the attacker that led officers to identify a suspect. A 56-year-old man was arrested at a residence in the area of Vansickle Road North near Barton Street at about 10:15 p.m. by a team involving the emergency task unit with negotiators and canine, community oriented response and engagement, uniform patrol and traffic enforcement officers. The suspect, a St. Catharines resident, was charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. RELATED STORIES Crime Police investigate stabbing on Merritt Trail in St. Catharines SHARE: The good news is that the Port Dalhousie Supper Market will return in less than a month and run through to the end of August. Everyone loves a good time, right? The bad news if it happens could dampen those hopes. A few days ago, St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe told Niagara regional council that we were receiving warnings (recently) that Port Dalhousie may wind up underwater again this year due to lack of co-ordination by Canadian communities over shoreline protection. The issue of flooding around Lakeside Park, where the supper market is held, is a microcosm of the problem many communities all around the Great Lakes are facing. The impact of climate change on Ontarios shorelines has become a major problem that needs to be treated as such. It cant be left to individual cities and towns to handle, but currently they are carrying the heaviest part of the load. Thats not sustainable, because waterfront municipalities do not have the finances or resources to protect and continually repair their shorelines. Nor do they have the staff or capability, and maybe not even the legal authority, needed to form some sort of co-ordinated plan involving the Great Lakes. We applaud Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton for stepping up as the local voice calling for the provincial and federal governments to take a bigger role in protecting the shorelines, and regional council for backing Easton with its support. As reported earlier this week, Eastons motion is one of several put forward by mayors that make up the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. That group wants the federal government to liase with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on that agencys study looking into ways to better protect the coastlines in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. Two years ago, the mayors group found that Canadian municipalities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River will spend $2.56 billion over five years on coastal protection. Thats a lot of money, especially coming from municipalities the smallest form of government, often representing small villages and towns. In the United States, by contrast, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sharing the cost of a $10.6 million study on shoreline protection with eight states. Siscoe called it embarrassing that on the Canadian side, such an important issue gets handled in a piecemeal fashion. There are plenty of examples around Niagara of the damage to shorelines caused by climate change and shifting water levels. In 2020, the City of St. Catharines had to commit $2.6 million to restore some of the eroding shoreline in Port Dalhousie. And in 2019, the Port Dalhousie Supper Market had to relocate for a time to Henley Island because of flooding in Lakeside Park. In south Niagara, the Town of Fort Erie has seen the paved walkway built through Waverly Beach destroyed by several winter storms, and along Lake Erie and the Niagara River waves are damaging the stone wall faster than the Niagara Parks Commission can repair it. Not to mention the damage caused to individual properties by flooding and storms. As Easton has noted, the problem is too widespread to be left to cities and towns. Whats happening now isnt good enough; whatever more is needed to protect the shorelines and private waterfront properties from further damage has to come from the provincial and federal governments, probably working with state and federal authorities in the U.S. Anecdotally, at least, the problem appears to be getting worse quickly. We hope the voice of regional council and Easton, and the other mayors across Ontario, is being heard further up the chain of command. Read more about: 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: VATICAN CITY (AP) Russia on Friday indicated that it views Pope Francis Ukraine peace initiative positively, but stressed that there are no immediate plans for a Vatican mission to Moscow. The statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry to the state RIA Novosti agency was the first public acknowledgment by Moscow of the popes move. It followed the Vaticans weekend announcement that a veteran of the Catholic Churchs peace mediation initiatives, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, had been tapped by Francis as his envoy. We acknowledge the Holy Sees sincere desire to promote the peace process, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti. At the same time, no practical steps have been taken by the Vatican side to organize the trip to Moscow. Zuppi told reporters Thursday that the scope of the mission was to help ease the tensions of the conflict in hopes it could contribute to paths of peace. He drew a parallel to his efforts in the 1990s, alongside the Rome-based SantEgidio Community, to help mediate peace talks that ended civil war in Mozambique. Then too, Zuppi noted, the churchs initiative began with a hope to find paths of peace, and resulted in meetings that brought warring sides closer together with bonds weaved between factions, and ultimately a peace deal. The effort (in Ukraine) will definitely be in that sense, Zuppi said, speaking at the conclusion of a gathering of the Italian Bishops Conference. Well see. Francis announced the existence of a peace mission while en route home last month from Hungary, where he met with an envoy of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has strongly supported the Kremlins war. In the weeks since, Francis has met at the Vatican with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who made clear he would not accept territorial concessions and rejected Francis reference to victims on both sides of the conflict, saying there can be no equivalence between victim and aggressor. Zuppi noted that Francis hope for peace had brought the Holy Father to tears, a reference to Dec. 8, when Francis wept before a statue of the Madonna in downtown Rome as he prayed for peace in Ukraine. Read more about: SHARE: INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Supporters of an Indianapolis doctor voiced frustration Friday with the Indiana medical boards decision that she violated patient privacy laws when she talked with a newspaper reporter about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old Ohio rape victim. The boards vote late Thursday to issue a letter of reprimand against Dr. Caitlin Bernard wont limit her ability to practice medicine in the state, and the hospital system where she works said it stood by its finding that she followed privacy rules. The medical board rejected allegations that Bernard failed to properly report suspected child abuse and was unfit to have a medical license. Some of Bernards colleagues criticized the Medical Licensing Boards vote and the state attorney generals pursuit of disciplinary action against her as trying to intimidate doctors in Indiana, where the Republican-dominated Legislature enacted an abortion ban last year that courts have put on hold. Bernards revelation of the girl traveling to Indiana to receive abortion drugs turned her case into a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. 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. Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, touted the boards decision as supporting his arguments that Bernard broke the trust between the doctor and patient. The boards vote to reprimand Bernard and fine her $3,000 was far short of the medical license suspension that Rokitas office asked the panel to impose. Bernards lawyers argued Thursday that officials at Indiana University Health, her employer and the states largest hospital system, had reviewed last summer what she said about the girls treatment and found no violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. IU Health said in a Friday statement that it was pleased Bernard would remain among its doctors. We do not agree with the boards decision regarding patient privacy regulations and stand by the HIPAA risk assessment, the hospital system said. We believe Dr. Bernard was compliant with privacy laws. A request for an interview with Bernard was declined Friday by a spokeswoman for her attorneys. Bernards lawyers didnt say Friday whether they would appeal the board decision in the state court system. They issued a statement questioning the boards reprimand vote for not specifying what protected health information she wrongly revealed. While we wholeheartedly disagree with the letter of reprimand on privacy issues, we are proud of Dr. Bernard for standing up for access to compassionate medical care and for her consummate professionalism during these unprecedented proceedings, her lead attorney, Alice Morical, said. Bernard has consistently defended her actions. She testified Thursday that she believed it was important to use real-world impacts of anti-abortion laws and that she didnt expect so many doubts over her account of such a young girl becoming pregnant. The idea that this was something that someone would make up or was a lie or is something that doesnt happen was very surprising to me, Bernard said. Witnesses and lawyers for the attorney generals office maintained during the licensing hearing that it was the combination of Bernard telling an Indianapolis Star reporter about the girls age and home state, that she was past Ohios then-six-week limit for an abortion and that the procedure would happen in the coming days that created a violation of patient privacy laws. Dr. Tracey Wilkinson, a pediatrician who works with Bernard at IU Health, attended the board hearing in support of Bernard and called her case political persecution that should worry doctors. I think its incredibly unfortunate as the intimidation of Dr. Bernard sends a message that this can happen to any physician thats providing comprehensive evidence-based health care to their patients, Wilkinson said. Anti-abortion groups called on Indiana hospitals to reconsider whether to keep doctors who provide abortions on their staff. Dr. Bernard readily and willingly put her patient -- who was not consulted or willing -- into the public light for her own agenda, said Marc Tuttle, the president of Right to Life of Indianapolis. The medical board members five doctors and one attorney appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb rejected separate allegations that Bernard violated state law by not reporting the child abuse to Indiana authorities. Bernard and IU Health officials testified 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. The boards split decision on the Bernard allegations left no clear winner in the case, said Laura Iosue, a lawyer who led medical licensing investigations at the state attorney generals office for seven years until 2020. The vote will lead to doctors watching more closely what they talk about, she said. Everybodys going to be a little more cautious, Iosue said. I think everybodys going to have their antennae up now, based on this decision. SHARE: BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state. State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press Friday that he stands by his decision. But state Attorney General Jeff Landry who is a GOP gubernatorial candidate and the Republican Party of Louisiana are pressing lawmakers to resurrect the bill and pass it. Mills decisive vote Wednesday poises Louisiana to be one of the few southeastern states that hasnt enacted a ban or restrictions on gender-affirming care. Proposals are pending in North Carolina and South Carolinas legislatures, and federal judges have temporarily blocked bans in Arkansas and Alabama. While the topic of transgender rights is immensely complicated and socially polarizing, the bill before me was not, Mills, a pharmacist, said in a written statement Friday. Mills is also the chairman of the Senates Health and Welfare Committee, where the bill was debated for nearly three hours. He added that he relied on science and data and not political or societal pressure. With Mills vote, the bill which would have prohibited hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for transgender minors in Louisiana was deferred, 5-4. In the hours after, backlash mounted with anti-transgender activists taking to social media, including conservative political commentator Matt Walsh, who tweeted to his nearly 2 million followers that Mills would regret his decision and that it is the biggest mistake of his political career. In recent years, Republicans who blocked proposed transgender care bans have faced political fallout. In Arkansas, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson angered fellow Republicans in 2021 when he vetoed a similar ban. The GOP-led Legislature moved quickly to override Hutchinsons veto and enact the ban, which has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. At the time, former President Donald Trump criticized Hutchinson over the veto, calling him a RINO, or Republican in Name Only. Hutchinson, who signed into law other restrictions on transgender youth, argued the medical ban went too far. The Republican said he would have supported a prohibition that focused only on surgery. The deferral of Louisianas proposed ban marked a rare victory for LGBTQ+ advocates this legislative session, who continue to fight against multiple bills from a bill critics call Dont Say Gay," to mandates regarding pronoun usage, to restrictions on access to library books deemed sexually explicit, which advocates fear would target the queer community. But, with two weeks left in the session, conservatives are hastily seeking and pursing ways to revive the legislation. I dont think you are going to see the last of it, Mills said Friday. Already, House lawmakers added a poison pill amendment to Mills own bill related to telehealth that would bar that legislation from becoming law unless the ban on gender-affirming care also becomes law. Additionally, lawmakers can opt to discharge the failed bill from committee, meaning it can receive a vote on the GOP-controlled Senate floor despite failing in committee. This tactic is uncommon and rarely succeeds, but there is growing pressure from political forces outside of the Legislature to do so. As attorney general for 8 years I have worked hard to protect our children. I urge the full Senate to take up and pass HB 648, Landry tweeted Friday. As governor, I would immediately sign this bill into law. Pediatric sex changes should have no place in our society. In a press release, the Republican Party of Louisiana also urged the Senate to override the committee vote and debate it on the floor where all senators will have the chance to weigh in on this pivotal piece of legislation. The bill had already been passed in the House, mainly along party lines, 71-24. Proponents of the legislation argue the proposed bans would protect children from life-altering medical procedures until they are mature enough to make such serious decisions. Additionally, they fear the state could draw minors from surrounding states where there are bans seeking gender-affirming health care. Opponents of Louisianas bill argue that gender-affirming care, which is supported by every major medical organization, can be lifesaving for someone with gender dysphoria distress over gender identity that doesnt match a persons assigned sex. Research suggests transgender children and adults are prone to stress, depression and suicidal thoughts, and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community fear that without the care, transgender children could face especially heightened risks. So far, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, and all three of Louisianas bordering states have enacted bans or are poised to. Associated Press writer Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, contributed to this report. SHARE: Remember Sudan? Forget not the Sudanese. A month ago, Canada and the West worried about not leaving any dual nationals behind. Today, what about the remaining 48 million Sudanese with no foreign passports and nowhere to go? Out of sight, out of mind. Never mind. All those big headlines about dramatic airborne evacuations triggering sniper fire on the ground and political sniping here at home are yesterdays news. But the bigger story isnt going away. Even if its no longer told here, the toll in lives lost and a nation forsaken may soon come back to haunt us in the West. As many as 1,000 Sudanese are dead as rival armed factions wreak havoc on one another and all others in their way. More than one million civilians are newly displaced internally, with some 300,000 sheltering in neighbouring countries; the UN says 25 million Sudanese need help now. For all the human suffering, the geopolitical convulsions may wreak even greater disruption casting Sudan as another Somalia in the making. Rival countries in this volatile neighbourhood from former colonial power Egypt to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, and others in the Gulf are quietly preparing for proxy battles with their chosen factions. Beyond the regional rivalries, Russia and China are also deeply invested in the Horn of Africa. The mercenary Wagner force, now waging war in Ukraine for the Kremlin, also has boots and missiles on the ground in Sudan, having secured gold mine stakes; the Chinese have been mining in Sudan for decades. Yet Canada has hardly been absent over the years. While Canadians see themselves as mere bystanders today, we were once major oil barons in Sudan. I watched as Canadians were caught in the byplay of an earlier civil war between north and south, back when Sudan still counted itself Africas biggest country. I listened as Canadian parliamentarians briefly, if rashly, discussed sending our troops to impose order. Now, nearly a decade after the old Sudan was carved up to bring peace, there are yet more civil wars within wars unravelling each of the two separate countries that emerged. Not just in the north but the south, where nearly 400,000 died and an astonishing four million were displaced by the fighting since 2013. The battle for Khartoum threatens to bifurcate an already battered Sudan in the north. Meanwhile, the ongoing jousting in Juba, nascent capital of South Sudan, threatens to bisect that newly independent sub-Saharan nation. The history of Sudan has been nothing if not complicated since independence from Britain in 1956. Khartoum has today reached a dead end after flirting with every form of political and religious governance since independence from decolonization and democratization to autocracy, followed by Islamist fundamentalism and terrorism under military rule; a cycle of civil wars culminated in a referendum and separation, followed by a fleeting return to democracy in each of the new countries. So what was Canada doing drilling for oil in Sudan until a couple of decades ago? In the late 1990s, I boarded a trusty Twin Otter with a Canadian flag painted on its tail. Chartered by Calgary-based Arakis Energy Corp., the flight was destined for an oil camp 800 kilometres south of Sudan where a crew of 80 Canadians (with a former Mountie as security chief) toiled in the equatorial heat. Deemed a legitimate military target by the southern rebels, the Canadians were protected by and frequently co-ordinated with a force of more than 1,000 government troops, whose human rights record was already the subject of international opprobrium. Sudans then-Islamist government couldnt have been more pleased: I appreciate that Canadian oil company, parliamentary speaker Hassan Turabi the movements spiritual and political leader, told me in his Khartoum office back then. Arakis soon sold out to another Canadian oil firm, Talisman, which ultimately bailed on its stake. But the head of another Canadian firm drilling for oil, Vancouver-based International Petroleum Corp., was unrepentant about the risks and rewards: Its a risk that we can accept, because of the potential, Ian Lundin told me at the time. (Years later, Swedish prosecutors indicted him, as chair of Lundin Energy, for complicity in war crimes carried out by the Sudanese Army and allied forces.) The embattled and overstretched Canadian fortune-seekers grudgingly left Sudan, to be replaced by Chinese and Russian interests that made their own calculations about risks and rewards, human rights and political wrongs. Another foreigner who quietly took his leave was Osama bin Laden, whose residence in Khartoum pre-9/11, as a guest of the Islamists, was visible to any visitor. All that is in the past, but it surely haunts the countrys present and serves as prologue to Sudans future. The countrys military rulers have flitted from sponsoring terrorism abroad to inflicting atrocities at home to turning their guns on one another. Looking back at that recurring history of repression, militarism and adventurism, we ought not to forget that ugly chapter of Canadian meddling. We may be spectators now, barely paying attention, but we were once in the thick of it, profiting from an impoverished countrys oil boom. SHARE: The Mayor of the Municipality of Timisoara, Dominic Fritz, stated for AGERPRES that the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who visited the European Cultural Capital 2023 from Thursday evening to Friday afternoon, was impressed by the harmonious coexistence of all the ethnic groups that live in this city and the effervescence here. "Today we had a tour of the city, at an exhibition in the U Barracks [the former military barracks built by the Vienna Court in 1752, ed. n], a meeting with the graduate students from the Nikolaus Lenau High School, a meeting with the Jewish community, at the Citadel Synagogue. I had the opportunity, walking around the city, to tell him a lot about Timisoara. I can say that his reaction and that of the delegation accompanying him is one of amazement and enthusiasm, just like I always say, that in truth the preconceived ideas about Romania and the Banat region are completely different from the reality we live here. Timisoara is an inspiration and I think it managed to inspire the president as well. Most of all, the president was impressed by the fact that we live with so many ethnic groups here, but also the fact that there is a very effervescent life on the street, that you see a lot of young people. Thursday evening, when he went out to a terrace, he was amazed to see the city so animated on a Thursday evening; so it can be seen that it is a dynamic city and I'm glad that he also noticed," said Dominic Fritz. The mayor of the European Capital of Culture 2023 added that special cultural events will follow, which will attract many foreigners who will be able to find here events for all tastes. "New exhibitions will follow, we have ongoing exhibitions at the U Barracks, in September we will have a big concert together with the Orchestra from Germany, the Brancusi exhibition, and throughout the whole year we will have various events for everyone. Anyone who wants to come to Timisoara can find something interesting," Dominic Fritz pointed out. Law enforcement officers under the procedural leadership of Kyiv city prosecutor's office reported suspicions to the head of one of the district courts of Kyiv region, who on Friday night committed a fatal accident at a checkpoint in Kyiv. According to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) press service in the Telegram channel, the judge was informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 286-1 (committing a fatal accident while intoxicated) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Earlier, the prosecutor's office sent an appeal to the High Council of Justice with a request to grant consent to the detention of a judge. As reported, on Friday night at a checkpoint in Kyiv, a traffic accident occurred with the participation of the chairman of one of the district courts of Kyiv region, as a result of an accident, a soldier of the National Guard died. The judge was detained under Art. 208, 482 Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine. Makariv District Court acknowledged that the incident occurred with the participation of the judge of Makariv District Court Oleksiy Tandyr. "Tonight there was a terrible accident involving the judge of Makariv District Court Oleksiy Tandyr, in which a serviceman died," Makariv District Court said in a Facebook post on Friday. A pretrial investigation in criminal proceedings has been launched under the article on violation of traffic safety rules or the operation of transport by persons in a state of alcoholic, narcotic or other intoxication, if they caused the death of the victim (part 3 of article 286-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to ten years. Pretrial investigation is carried out by investigators of the territorial department of the State Bureau of Investigations, located in Kyiv. Procedural management is carried out by Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, had a telephone conversation on Friday with his counterpart from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, a context in which they discussed the security situation in the Black Sea and the Middle East, the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) informs. The two officials were supposed to meet on Friday in Bucharest, but the Saudi side postponed the event "for unforeseeable and objective reasons", and the visit will be rescheduled "in the near future". The conversation occasioned an exchange of views on the latest security developments in the Black Sea region and the wider Middle East. Minister Aurescu presented Romania's security assessments regarding the war in Ukraine and its complex effects at the regional and global level. He also gave a brief presentation of Romania's multidimensional efforts in support of Ukraine, including with regard to refugees. He welcomed the decision of Saudi Arabia to invite the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to the Summit of the League of Arab States held in Jeddah on May 19, the MAE informs. The head of Romanian diplomacy emphasized "the importance of combating disinformation and false narratives propagated by Russia and reiterated the importance of defending the international order based on the UN Charter and its principles, seriously violated by Russia through the illegal and unjustified war launched against Ukraine". Aurescu emphasized that, starting from the obvious premise that Ukraine is the victim of Russian aggression, it is up to Kiev to decide on the moment and parameters of starting peace talks, at the same time being obvious that at this moment Russia's behavior does not indicate the desire to end the war. Also, Bogdan Aurescu spoke about the prospect of signing bilateral agreements "to support the achievement of the common objectives of economic and sectoral cooperation". The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia thanked Romania for the "exceptional efforts" to support Ukrainian refugees, but also for hosting in Romania the Embassy of Saudi Arabia from Kiev, relocated from Ukraine after the start of the aggression. At the same time, the Saudi minister presented his evaluations regarding the developments of the crisis in Sudan, as well as Saudi Arabia's efforts to maintain the truce and identify long-term solutions, with the aim of maintaining regional stability, the MAE informs. AGERPRES President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday in Timisoara that after his three-day state visit to Romania, he returns to Berlin strongly impressed by the fact that not only Bucharest is developing, but all the regions of our country, including Timisoara. The German president underlined that in the discussions he had with Bucharest officials he expressed the opinion that Romania should join the Schengen area as soon as possible. "I am impressed that not only Bucharest, the capital, but also other regions, such as Timisoara, are developing, you can see how the country and German companies, which have discovered this for a long time, are progressing. (...) We talked about the Schengen issue on the first day of the visit, in Bucharest, in the official discussion. Not only I but also the entire leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany are of the same opinion that Romania's joining the Schengen area should happen as soon as possible," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier. President Steinmeier also stated that bilateral Romanian-German relations must be further intensified, both politically, culturally and militarily, in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. "We had many political security talks here (...). The entire NATO eastern flank is strengthened, something that gladdens me, as a result of the efforts to strengthen security, safety in Europe, together with Romania," Steinmeier pointed out. In Sibiu, the German head of state was impressed by the incredible proof that Romania has received many people of German nationality, which has become, over time, a bridge between Germany and Romania. The last stage of the high official's visit to Romania was the European Capital of Culture 2023, Timisoara, where he noted that the cultural act is much more accessible than in other countries in the east of the European Union. In this regard, Steinmeier stressed the willingness to invest in culture, locally, in this region where people of different ethnicities and religions live together for centuries, and this cooperation must continue. The German president had a meeting with the Jewish community in Timisoara, at the Cetate (Citadel) Synagogue, which is the second largest synagogue in Romania. "This shows how large the Jewish community in Timisoara was. From the 1930s, when there were over 30,000 Jews, today there are only 600. We have had discussions with the Jewish and German communities about discrimination and how close the cooperation aimed at condemning anti-Semitic actions is. Both sides have initiated legislation to have the Holocaust taught regularly in schools. (...). It was a visit with everything, with different impressions about politics, business and culture. I return to Germany with rich impressions and I am sure that it is not just this state visit that is important, but also that we must continue to develop relations between Germany and Romania," said president Steinmeier.AGERPRES Gov't rotation/Gov't spokesman, asked if PM is going to resign: Tomorrow, you will find out the decision. Executive spokesperson Dan Carbunaru stated that Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca shall announce on Friday his decision on submitting the mandate, told Agerpres. He was asked on Thursday evening whether prime minister Ciuca will submit his mandate on Friday or the Government rotation is to be postponed. "I am the spokesperson of the Government. Certainly, your question is aimed at Romania's prime minister, but it has a political connotation which I cannot comment upon. But the prime minister's decision on what happens tomorrow [Friday], you will certainly find it out tomorrow," Carbunaru mentioned in a press conference at the Victoria Palace. Also on Thursday, the prime minister stated, during a visit to Cluj-Napoca, about a possible postponement of the government rotation in the context of the strike in Education, that a decision shall be made after he arrives in Bucharest and talks with partners in the coalition. "I will arrive in Bucharest, discuss with the coalition partners and we will make a decision," Ciuca responded, when asked if the procedures for the government rotation will be postponed, as President Klaus Iohannis said he does not think it can be done during the negotiations with the unions in Education. The coalition leaders met on Thursday evening at the Victoria Palace. Orban files criminal complaint against PM and gov't for not organising partial local elections. Right Force Party Chairman Ludovic Orban filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor General's Office on Friday against Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and members of the Government for their refusal to call and organise partial local elections in 57 localities where mayoral mandates have been declared vacant or where the local council has been dissolvedm told Agerpres. On April 28, Orban sent a "warning letter" to Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, as a "last effort" to get the Government to organise local elections in 57 localities where the office of mayor is vacant, warning him that if he continues to persist "in the attitude of disregarding the law," he will refer the matter to the Prosecutor's Office for the offence of abuse of office and preventing the exercise of electoral rights. The request comes after Ludovic Orban won, on March 17, at the Bucharest Court of Appeal, a lawsuit against the Government, obtaining in court an order for the Executive to organise partial local elections in the localities where the mayoral mandates have been declared vacant or where the local council has been dissolved. The leader of the Right Force Party added that the refusal to hold elections is a serious fact, which creates major damage to local communities, which are now run by people who have no legitimacy. The research system is very fragmented in Romania, but since the end of last year the institutes have the possibility to merge, said the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation, Sebastian Burduja, on Friday, on the occasion of his participation in the opening of "Bucharest Tech Week". "The research system is very fragmented in our country, there are 47 institutes with the Ministry of Research, there are 70 with the Romanian Academy, there are institutes at university level and an imperative suggestion of the European Commission was to focus on this system, to encourage mergers, consortia, even the affiliation of some institutes to universities, at the end of last year, a PNRR [National recovery and Resilience Plan] milestone met on time. A law in Romania allows institutes to merge, form research consortia or even come under the coordination of universities. (...) Salary in the research system is a problem, especially for young researchers. We managed to increase the research budget by 70 percent compared to last year," said Sebastian Burduja. According to him, the basic funding, the "core programme", has increased from about 500 million RON to 740 million RON, which allows the general directors of the institutes to better pay their employees, including young researchers. "Today we signed an order establishing the methodology for the salaries of directors-general and it is the first time that we have made the salary of the director-general dependent on the salaries of junior researchers. So they have every interest to pay a beginner, a young researcher very well," added Sebastian Burduja.AGERPRES Romania is to borrow 600 million euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to build sections of the A7 motorway. The government approved on Friday, through a memorandum, the negotiation of a 600 million euros financing contract between Romania and the EIB to support the A7 Romania motorway project. This is a co-financing related to the Recovery and Resilience Facility. "The 600 million euros financing contract between Romania and the European Investment Bank is intended to support the construction of sections of the 319 km long A7 motorway (Ploiesti - Pascani sector). The total estimated value of the project is 6.7 billion euros (including VAT), with a corresponding allocation from the PNRR of 1.949 billion euros. The difference, up to the total amount, is to be covered by the state budget, the loan amounting to 600 million euros aiming at covering part of this state budget contribution," informs the Government. The actual implementation of the investment will be ensured by the National Road Infrastructure Management Corporation (CNAIR). It is estimated that the project will be completed in 2025, says the Government. The loan drawdown date is four years from the date of signing the financing contract. The loan will be drawn in a maximum of 20 tranches, each worth at least 30 million euros.AGERPRES EXECUTIVE: - The "Financial Guarantee Solutions - Retrospective and Outlook 2023-2024" meeting, joint event organized by the European Association of Guarantee Institutions and the National Credit Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises SA-IFN, takes place under the high patronage of the Romanian Government EDUCATION: - Urban technology festival "TechExpo", 6th edition (May 26 - 28); the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, Sebastian Burduja, the president of the Commission for Information and Communications Technology in the Chamber of Deputies, Sabin Sarmas, the president of the Authority for the Digitization of Romania, Dragos-Cristian Vlad, and the vice-mayor of the capital city Stelian Bujduveanu participate CULTURES: -The International Book Fair Bookfest takes place in Bucharest, with Italy as special guest ECONOMY: - The Ministry of Finance organizes an auction for an additional issue of bonds worth 45 million lei - The National Credit Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises SA - IFN organizes the debate "Financial guarantee solutions - Retrospective and Outlook 2023-2024" - The general strike in education continues SPORTS: - Romanian athletes participate in the European Rowing Championships in Bled (Slovenia, May 25-28) - Romanian athletes participate in the Under-23 European Fencing Championships in Budapest (May 23-27) More than 10,000 troops with over 1,700 hardware items from 14 allied countries will participate in the Saber Guardian 23 (SG23) military exercise which will start on Monday at the 'Smardan' Secondary Combat Training Center, the Defence Ministry announced on Friday. The exercise, termed as "the most ample and complex multinational training activity this year", is led by the "Gen. Ioan-Emanoil Florescu" Joint Forces Command and will take place at military training grounds and facilities in Romania. Along with Romania, 12 allied countries participate with troops and combat training equipment in the SG23 multinational exercise: Albania, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova and the United States of America. The main sequences of the exercise will take place at the "Getica" National Combat Training Center in Cincu - Brasov County, the Secondary Combat Training Center in Smardan - Galati County, the Secondary Combat Training Center in Babadag - Tulcea County, the ground-to-air shooting range of the "Gen. Ion Bungescu" Air Defence Training School at Capu Midia, and the 57th "Mihail Kogalniceanu" Air Base - Constanta County. SG23 activities will also take place at the training facilities in Slobozia and Bordusani - Ialomita County, Varsatura - Braila County, and Frecatei - Tulcea County. Saber Guardian 23 continues the series of exercises started in 2013 and is designed to enhance interoperability in a wide range of missions for NATO member countries and partner countries. The planned training activities include tactical ground movements, wet gap crossing, tactical exercises with and without live shooting with the technical means of all force categories, parachuting, as well as specific medical activities for the evacuation and treatment of the wounded. SG23 is part of the Defender 23 multi-national joint exercise planned by the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and led by the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Command. AGERPRES Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WENTZVILLE Shot down and killed on a bombing mission deep into Germany during World War II, Melvin Bernard Meyer finally came home to be buried on Friday. Meyer, a first lieutenant in the Army Air Forces, was 25 when he died on May 29, 1944. He was born and raised in Overland. The location of Meyers remains was unknown for decades because the plane he was in, a B-17G Flying Fortress named Dutch Cleaner, crashed into a marsh and sank. His remains were positively identified in 2022. His rosary was in his hand, said his grand-niece, Nedra Orf. Meyer will be given a funeral Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Gianna Catholic Church in Wentzville. He will then be buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. His last fight, one week before D-Day, was part of what was then one of the largest bombing missions of the war. Their formation was attacked by a squadron of 15 German fighter planes near their target of Leipzig; their plane crashed near the small town of Horst. Six members of the crew managed to parachute to safety, though they were captured and became prisoners of war. Four did not make it out of the plane, including Meyer, the bombardier. All were killed. After the war, the crew members who became prisoners of war said they last saw Meyer helping the planes wounded top turret gunner, Tech. Sgt. Lyle Larson, put on his parachute. That parachute failed to deploy. After the war, with no evidence that Meyer had survived or been taken prisoner, the Army determined that he had died. According to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, an arm of the Department of Defense, the remains of one crew member were found buried in a cemetery in Horst in 1946. But by 1950, the increasing hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union, which controlled that part of Germany, made it impossible for American officials to search for more. Meyers remains were declared non-recoverable in 1953. After the Cold War thawed, American officials returned to Germany in an effort to find and recover the remains of American servicemen. A team found the crash site in 2012. The lands owner gave permission to excavate the site. History Flight Inc. performed the excavation in 2019, discovering three sets of remains and personal effects including Meyers dog tags, crucifix, wallet containing his drivers license and the rosary. The remains were examined by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agencys laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska. Dental records, DNA analysis and more allowed officials to positively identify his remains. Meyer was born in Overland in 1919, one of six siblings, according to an online obituary. He married Vivian Tippit and they had a daughter, Marilyn Ann, in 1943 before he went to war. Family and friends held a visitation Thursday at the Pitman Funeral Home, which was bedecked with 1,944 American flags placed to honor the airman who died in 1944. At the visitation was Meyers late wifes sister Lela Tippit Bangle, who remembered him from when she was a girl. Just 5 when he died, she said she recalled when his daughter her cousin was born and when she was brought home from the hospital when she was 3 weeks old. The family was large and very close, said Terry Laramie, whose mother-in-law was Vivian Tippit, Meyers widow. But not everyone at the visitation was a family member or friend. Larry Thompson of St. Peters, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973-77, came to pay his respects. He saluted the casket before leaving. Im just glad that he made it home. He was part of what they call the Greatest Generation. He was willing to serve, he said. I feel a connection to him. He was a fellow service member. Meyer is survived by seven nieces and nephews, their children and extended family. His daughter Marilyn died in 1957, at 13. His wife Vivian, who later remarried, died in 2022 at 99 years old. Photos: Missing WWII soldier Melvin Meyer laid to rest Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Central Command (2008-2010), former Director of the Central Intelligence Department, General David Petraeus has said he is confident that Ukraine's counteroffensive will be successful. He said this during the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum on Friday, organized by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation, adding that the Ukrainian defense forces will conduct an effective combined-arms operation. According to the general, success of Ukraine's counteroffensive is largely due to the state of the Russian army, which has been involved in the war for 14-15 months, suffered huge losses, did not have a normal opportunity to get re-equipped and, hence, is unable to ensure integral military discipline. Petraeus also highlighted that further assistance to Ukraine as well as its prospects of joining NATO will depend on success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the battle field. He stressed that a new defense line of NATO is in Ukraine whether NATO wants this or not, adding that Ukraine's membership is NATO is inevitable, and if the invitation for Ukraine is not announced at the summit in Vilnius, then the issue will be solved in the future. At the same time, Petraeus said he would like Ukraine to receive invitation to NATO in Vilnius. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON (AP) For all the concern over just when the government might run short of money to pay its bills, it turns out that no one can be absolutely sure exactly when the country will default what officials are calling the X-date if there's no deal to raise the debt limit. Calculating when the country is going to run out of money requires monitoring major fluctuations in cash flowing into and out of the Treasury and factoring in the timing and size of big payments coming due, among other factors. Now, with only days left for the White House and congressional leaders to negotiate a deal that would allow the government to borrow more money before the U.S. hits the statutory debt ceiling, knowing the drop-dead date is crucial. And amid all the squabbling over the debt, the X-date itself has inevitably become a subject of political rancor. WHAT IS THE X-DATE? The X-date arrives when the government no longer has enough of a financial cushion to pay all its bills, having exhausted the extraordinary measures it's been using since January to stretch existing funds. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's latest estimation is that the U.S. could default by June 5 if there's no deal to raise the legal borrowing limit to support bill paying. In addition to Treasury, several outside groups and companies try to independently pin down the date, including the Congressional Budget Office, Moodys Analytics and the private Bipartisan Policy Center, by poring over public data on government cash flows and changes in debt. Their estimates are all within a few days of Treasury's projections. Shai Akabas, from the Bipartisan Policy Center, helped coin the term "X-date" along with future Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell back in 2011. We defined it as the day after which the federal government would not be able to meet all of its obligations, meaning that if policymakers didnt act by the X-date, then the default would occur the next day. And we quickly realized that that was incredibly difficult for people to understand, Akabas said. It was then revised, supposed to be known as the day on which the government doesnt meet all of its obligations, he said. HOW IS THE DATE CALCULATED? This is where bureaucrats really wonk out. They study things like the Daily Treasury Statement, which offers a detailed accounting of the governments coffers and provides insight into the movement of money. Treasury's Office of Fiscal Projections works with career staff from the Offices of Tax Analysis, Economic Policy and Debt Management to produce a forecast of when the government will exhaust its resources. Just like everyday Americans who tally up their upcoming bills, the government knows a lot about its coming obligations. And it's not just about servicing its existing debts. For instance, on June 1, Treasury will have to pay out $47 billion in Medicare payments, $12 billion in military and civil retirement benefits and $12 billion in veterans benefits, according to a BPC analysis of Daily Treasury Statements. On the next day, the agency will have to pay out $27 billion in Social Security and Medicaid payments. WHAT ELSE CAN AFFECT THE X-DATE? All sorts of factors even the weather. This year, for example, taxpayers in areas that experienced weather disasters including California, New York and large swaths of the South have been granted filing extensions for the 2022 tax season. That means delayed income tax payments coming in that can reduce cash flow. A big infusion of quarterly tax payments is expected to come in on June 15, which could help tide the country over for weeks if the Treasury can hold out that long. But that's looking increasingly less likely. WHO'S QUESTIONING THE X-DATE? Some Republicans are openly questioning Yellen's calculations on when the government might no longer be fully able to pay its bills. How far are lawmakers willing to go to test that theory? Are they less willing to compromise if they dont believe an economic calamity is right around the corner? Everybodys relying on Janet Yellen to tell us this magical day. Show us. Show us the math," said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. When asked if that sentiment was in the back of his mind during negotiations, Donalds replied, I think its in the back of everybodys mind. After Yellen on Friday moved her projection of the earliest date that the U.S. could default from June 1 to June 5, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., took to Twitter to complain, saying: Yellen said it was June 1 earlier this WEEK. Republicans wont be intimidated by her manipulation tactics. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., asked about the X-date by Larry Kudlow on Fox Business on Wednesday, said that whoever is the secretary of the Treasury, Im going to take whatever date they say. Another lead GOP negotiator, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., said he, too, believes Yellen. Shes a straight shooter and I dont think theres any wiggle room for us, McHenry said. Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ive installed a dishwasher. Replaced a faucet. Fixed a deck. Not one of these tasks was accomplished quickly, efficiently or, as my wife has hinted, competently. In other words, Im about as qualified to write a book on home repair as Josh Hawley is to write one on manhood. Thats not to say Missouris senior senator doesnt know a thing or two about being a man. Hes married, a father and apparently capable of doing bold, manlike things. Like railing against government and corporate officials. Raising a clenched fist like any 60s revolutionary wannabe. Setting speed records in the face of danger. Writing provocative tweets that call out the libs. But his most courageous, manliest move might be writing a book titled Manhood, as though a nation of 333 million people, including 165 million males, would welcome instruction on the masculine virtues America needs from a 43-year-old child of privilege. Those virtues include independence, courage, assertiveness, responsibility, industriousness, faithfulness which, of course, are not exclusively male virtues. Reaction to the book, as Post-Dispatch political columnist Joe Holleman noted, tongue-in-cheek, has been predictably positive and negative. People who admire Hawley which, based on election results, would include most Missouri voters will embrace his message and insight, much of it borrowed liberally from the Bible. People who abhor his politics probably wont. (Indeed, more substantial reviews than the one you are now reading have dismissed Hawley as a dour moralist, a neo-Confederate at war with modernity and our leading national pipsqueak.) And yet, even his harshest critics ought to acknowledge Hawley raises legitimate concerns. Boiled down: Hawley says there are just too many young American men who are underemployed, underperforming at school and generally underachieving at life. Disengaged and aimless, they fill their days with screens, leisure and pornography. Many are depressed, abuse drugs and commit suicide. This spells trouble for the United States, Hawley warns, because no functioning republic can survive without virtuous men. Without virtuous men, crime rises, disinterest in work becomes commonplace and, in perhaps the starkest example of male weakness, fatherlessness abounds. According to Hawley, blame largely falls on modern liberalism, whatever that is, and the American left, which he says controls the press, the academy and politics. The left, he says, long ago decided that male strength is dangerous (and) seems to welcome men who are passive and tame, who will do as they are told and sit in their cubicles, eyes affixed to their screens. Exactly how the left has achieved this result and to what end is hard to discern. Hawley name-checks a cast of heavies, including Greek philosopher Epicurus, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx and Herbert Marcuse. But his descriptions are caricatures, unsophisticated and simplistic, which makes it difficult to find the threads that tie his argument together. He peppers his analysis with anecdotes about his family visiting grandparents, reading to his children, meeting his future wife and lots from Scripture. So much is left out, though. For an economic populist whos railed against the export of U.S. manufacturing, its surprising that theres no discussion of the wrenching effect of the Great Recession on working-age young people. Theres no discussion of the legacy of more than 20 years of war and violence. Or the public policies that deepened economic inequality. Hawley also never addresses his own unrepentant fealty to a president whose masculine virtues leave much to be desired. Donald Trump, in fact, is never mentioned. Still, whether Hawleys Manhood succeeds in elevating his national stature or not, it might be worth a read, especially for Missourians before they vote in 2024. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A Pennsylvania doctor was sentenced to six months in federal prison Thursday for his role in a pain pill prescription scheme. Dr. Brian Gullett also was fined $5,000 and surrendered his medical license. Gullett, 46, of Clarksville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty last September to a felony count of aiding and abetting obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Gullett was indicted in 2018 along with the owners, managers and other physicians associated with the Hope Clinic and a group that managed Hope's daily operations. Hope Clinic had offices in Beckley, Beaver, and Charleston, West Virginia, and in Wytheville, Virginia. Five other physicians have pleaded guilty. The remaining defendants are awaiting trial. West Virginia has by far the nations highest drug overdose death rate. The criminal conduct in this case exploited and worsened an already devastating opioid crisis, Will Thompson, the U.S. attorney for West Virginia's southern district, said in a statement. The scheme involved prescribing oxycodone and other controlled substances that werent for legitimate medical purposes from 2010 to 2015. Some prescriptions provided up to seven pills per day, and several Hope locations averaged 65 or more daily customers during a 10-hour workday with only one practitioner working, prosecutors said. Gullett admitted he signed multiple oxycodone prescriptions for someone at the Charleston location in March 2013 even though that persons medical chart did not support the prescriptions and the customer had failed multiple drug screenings, was addicted to pain medication, purchased pills on the street and sold his pills from the clinic to others, prosecutors said. Gullett admitted he didnt discuss with the customer the possibility of addiction or the need for addiction treatment. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Crossing the Interstate 270 bridge over the Mississippi River, it is easy to spot two stone buildings close together in the middle of the river. Perched on oval platforms jutting out of the water, they appear as though they may be all that remains of a historic medieval castle, the rest perhaps washed away by the strong current. The reality is a bit less mysterious or romantic. The towers are basically ornate water intake structures built around a tube, says Curtis Skouby, the director of public utilities with the city of St. Louis. Ports are built into the sides of each tower at different levels below the surface of the river water to allow for changing levels in the river. When the gates covering the openings are removed, gravity allows the water to flow 70 feet down to a slanted tunnel that delivers the water to the water treatment plant. Both were in use until high water in 1993 flooded the intake tubes and filled them with mud and debris. While there are no plans to return the towers to service, it is possible. The equipment to open the gates would need to be overhauled and the chutes carrying the water would need to be cleaned, Skouby says. There is no electricity to the towers so they cannot be operated remotely. Despite their majestic appearance and the fact both have been granted landmark status in 1971 by the city of St. Louis, and their past importance of delivering water to St. Louis residents, it seems an injustice that neither has ever been named. Instead, they are referred to as the tower on the east side of the river, or the tower on the west side of the river. Or Tower 1, or Tower 2. Or the big tower and the small tower. For those who know the history of the buildings, they are also called the old tower which was placed in service in 1894, and the new tower completed in 1915. (The new tower is the one on the east side of the river.) In the early 1800s the first water intake towers were near the Arch grounds, Skouby says. As St. Louis grew, and in order to provide cleaner, healthier water to the city above where industrial waste was being allowed to flow into the river, new treatment facilities, along with their intakes were successively moved up the river. Once or twice a year Skouby and a few other employees with the city of St. Louis venture out to inspect the structures. It is a difficult maneuver to dock the boat and then grab and climb onto the 30-foot steel ladders, he says. The towers are in the middle of the river where the current is most swift, and if someone falls into the water or the engines on the boat fail it is only a few hundred feet downstream to the rapids where the actual chain of rocks stretch across the Mississippi River. Also, as someone climbs up the tower ladders the water rushing by below gives the impression the tower is moving upstream against the current, and that can be disorienting. Despite the danger, infrequent trespassers used to be a problem until a locked steel cage was erected over the ladders in 2010. Interestingly, the water once provided for city water is quite different from one tower to the other, although they are quite close to each other. Tower 2 (the new tower on the east side of the river) took in water from the Mississippi River. Most of the water from Tower 1 comes from the Missouri River, which joins the Mississippi River a few miles upstream, and which is not entirely co-mingled with the Mississippi River water when it arrives at the towers. Both towers were built around the turn of the 20th century when St. Louis was emerging as a city of significance. The towers proudly demonstrated the vitality and prosperity the city was enjoying. The more castle-like tower is Tower 1. It was designed by William Eames, a prominent St. Louis architect in the late 1880s. Among the other buildings he is known for designing were the Palace of Education at the 1904 Worlds Fair and the Cupples Warehouse Complex in downtown St. Louis. Eames tower features walls of rough-cut limestone, arched windows, an iron fence, and balcony encircling the tower, a high stone chimney and a round tower at one end covered by a conical copper roof. Tower 2 was designed by the architectural firm of Roth and Study, which used an Imperial Roman design resembling an Italian Renaissance villa. The firm also designed many of the elegant homes in the Parkview subdivision, which begins on the western edge of the city of St. Louis and continues into University City. Perhaps twice the size of Eames tower, Tower 2 features outside arched windows outlined by thick decorative stone casing. Two columns bracket tall 10-pane entry doors with arched tops that on a normal building would lead to a stately center hall. An ornate iron railing comparable to those seen surrounding some of the stately homes in Lafayette Square encircles the walkway around the building. Both sides are mirror images of the other. Tower 2 was built as a backup to tower 1 and includes living quarters inside for workers to monitor the machinery diverting water to the water plant. Inside, walls are white subway tile, and there is a coal furnace used for heat. But there has never been electricity, water or bathrooms. When built, boats plying the Mississippi River had to navigate between the towers, which is where the main channel of the river is located. It is also a portion of a 17-mile stretch of river where there are a series of underwater rock ledges close to the surface. Navigation through this area was impossible during lower water, and dangerous during high water. Further complicating the journey for river pilots was the Chain of Rocks Bridge built in 1929 and just a few hundred feet upstream from the towers. To solve the problematic river obstacles and avoid the expense of cutting a channel through the bedrock, in 1940 the US Army Corps of Engineers designed and built the Chain of Rocks Canal to bypass the area. The canal stretches from just south of the mouth of the Missouri River to just north of downtown St. Louis. Despite being a hazard to boats navigating the river prior to 1940, only one is known to have collided with either tower. On June 20, 1914, the paddlewheel steamboat Majestic slammed into Tower 2 when it was under construction. Wedged up against the tower, the hull of the boat was used as a platform to store construction material. Despite each tower being well over 100 years old and sitting in rapidly flowing water the whole time, the stone platforms are in remarkably good condition, partly due to the fact each was built with a prow to deflect the ice, logs and water from around the base. The buildings themselves could use some maintenance. Repair has been deferred due to budget issues. Andrew Weil, executive director of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, says, The towers were built when a lot of time and effort was being put into embellishing our community architecture. They could easily just have been holes in the river instead of little castles. Weil also says the river towers are historically linked to the three standpipe water towers in St. Louis proper, each built during the same era, also as symbols of community pride. Those were used as pressure valves to maintain a steady water pressure throughout the city, he says, but they could have been built as large pipes with no character. The Bissell Point Tower at Bissell and Blair Avenue stands 195 feet and was erected in 1885, while just a few blocks away at North Grand and 22nd Street the East Grand Tower is 154 feet high and was built in 1871. The Compton Hill Tower at South Grand and Shaw boulevards and stands 154 feet and was erected in 1871. All five towers were built at a time when the people in charge were creating beautiful architecture instead of something just utilitarian. Each are very significant landmarks in the history of our city, he says. If you go The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge offers an opportunity to walk out on the bridge and get as close as possible to the water intake towers. Opened daily by volunteer gatekeepers from 9 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset, the bridge once carried historic Route 66 across the Mississippi River and features several historical displays, as well as the closest view possible of the castles without a kingdom. For an even better view, bring binoculars. The parking lot on the Missouri side of the bridge is currently closed, but access to the bridge is available from Illinois: To get to the bridge from Missouri, take I-270 and exit at IL Route 3. Go south to Chain of Rocks Road and follow the road west to the bridge entrance parking area. Parking and access to the bridge are free. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS The American Revolution was far away from the 700 people of this wilderness trading village. Mostly of French origin, they were little disposed to care about Bunker Hill or Valley Forge. American commander George Rogers Clark and a small band of frontiersmen had managed to run the lonely British sentries from Cahokia and Kaskaskia in 1778 with little effort or gunfire. Local merchants such as Charles Gratiot rewrote their customer lists, betting on the Americans. But the war would find St. Louis, at least for a day, because of imperial scheming in Europe. Great Britain wanted to flank the rebellious American colonies and snatch vast Louisiana from Spain, which ruled the former French colony with a soft touch and few troops. Spain saw a chance to grab some of the land east of the Mississippi River from the English, who were distracted by the pesky insurrection on the Seaboard. In two palaces far away, maps pointed to St. Louis as a place of value. By March 1780, the trader grapevine brought word that the British were recruiting Native American warriors from around the Great Lakes to attack St. Louis. Don Fernando de Leyba, the Spanish lieutenant governor here, ordered construction of a stone tower near present-day Fourth and Walnut streets on the ridge overlooking the river-hugging village. Local residents, slave and free, dug trenches vaguely around what would become the Gateway Arch grounds. Just to the west were the common planting fields. More rumors floated down the Mississippi River. Leyba expanded the local militia and ordered up the small garrison from Ste. Genevieve. On May 25, 1780, St. Louisans celebrated the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi by relaxing in the common fields, picnicking on wild strawberries. British officers and their warrior allies watched the frolic from nearby woods and figured their stealth had held. Shortly after noon the next day, the British force of perhaps 600 caught a few farmers outside the line before its screaming charge from the north was stopped cold by heavy musket fire from the trenches and steady blasts from five cannon in the tower. Stunned by the defenders readiness, the warriors never reached the trenches and, after a few more half-hearted feints, retreated. The Americans in Cahokia brushed off a smaller attack. Prudently, Leyba kept his force of 300 from charging after the warriors, who returned upriver in a hurry. Accounts of casualties vary wildly. The British claimed to have killed 68 in and near St. Louis. Leyba reported 21 killed and 25 taken away as prisoners. Later research suggests only six were buried in the St. Louis churchyard, although others were buried in the outlying countryside. The British never tried again for St. Louis, where relief gave way to anger that the episode had spoiled the trading business. Leyba was upset with his ungrateful charges when he died a month later of a sudden illness. St. Louis remained a colonial outpost until 1804, when the United States took over through the Louisiana Purchase. From Auguste Chouteau to Jon Hamm: A whirlwind tour of St. Louis history in photos Celebrating St. Louis in photos Founding of St. Louis Chouteau begins building St. Louis, 1764 Pierre Laclede Auguste Chouteau Attack on St. Louis, 1780 Fort San Carlos, 1780 St. Louis map, 1796 Transfer of St. Louis, 1804 Three Flags Ceremony, 1935 First St. Clair County courthouse in Belleville, 1814 Herculaneum, 1817 First steamboat, 1817 The Old Rock House, built 1818 The St. Louis Catholic parish lot circa 1820 The Old Cathedral, 1836 Lynching by fire, 1836 Elijah P. Lovejoy, 1837 Alton in 1837 The St. Louis riverfront in 1840 Slave auction in St. Louis, 1800s Dred and Harriet Scott - 1847 Dred and Harriet Scott statue unveiled Riverfront in 1844 Great Fire of 1849 The Great Fire of 1849 Firefighter hero of 1849 fire Damage from the Great Fire of 1849 Crowded riverfront, 1850 Volunteer fire company, 1851 Outside a slave pen, 1852 Pacific Railroad, 1852 Crowded St. Louis landing in 1853 Chouteau's Pond, early view Chouteau's Pond becomes a cesspool, 1854 St. Louis, 1865 Anti-Irish riots, 1854 Big Mound in 1852 The last hours of Big Mound, 1869 Civil War street battle Civil War clash in St. Louis Civil War fundraiser for troops, their families and freed slaves Emancipation, 1865 A bird's eye view of Belleville in 1859 'New' St. Clair County courthouse, 1859 Alton map, 1868 Cheltenham post office, c. 1870 St. Charles, 1870s Steamboats, 1871 Eads Bridge construction Construction of the Eads Bridge Roadway work begins as Eads Bridge is under construction Construction work on renovation of Eads Bridge in 2000 Riverfront shortly after Eads Bridge opened in 1874 Southern Hotel fire, 1877 Fire hero, 1877 Southern Hotel fire, 1877 St. Louis County Courthouse after "Great Divorce," 1878 Lucas Public Market, 1878 A-B ad, 1879 Sportsman's Park, 1887 Pontoon bridge to St. Charles, 1890 Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman buried, 1891 Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, 1891 Anheuser-Busch, 1892 First car, c. 1893 Union Station, 1894 The Great Cyclone of 1896 Wreckage of Purina Mills, 1896 The Great Cyclone of 1896 The Great Cyclone of 1896 Transit strike in 1900 Tower Grove Park, c. 1900 Construction laborers, 1900 East St. Louis saloon, 1900 St. Louis Police Department's first squad car, 1902 Mark Twain in 1902 Downtown, 1903 Washington Avenue, 1903 Flooding, 1903 Exposition hall, 1904 Exposition hall, 1904 World's Fair, 1904 World's Fair Re-enacting battles at the World's Fair Ice cream at the World's Fair, 1904 Festival Hall, World's Fair, 1904 Ferris' Wheel Olympics, 1904 Sledding Art Hill, 1904-05 East St. Louis, 1905 Train shed at Union Station, 1907 Downtown shopping, 1910 Newsie, 1910 Newsies, 1910 Child labor, 1910 Newsies, 1910 Little newsie, 1910 Newsies Newsies, 1910 Newsies, 1910 East St. Louis police, c. 1910 Downtown, c. 1915 Women want the vote, 1916 Faust's beer, 1916 Free Bridge, 1917 East St. Louis riot, 1917 East St. Louis Race Riots, 1917 Riot victim, 1917 Bevo Mill, built 1917 Veterans return, 1919 Welcoming soldiers home, 1919 Grand Center, 1921 Josephine Baker, 1920s The U.S. Custom House and Post Office, 1922 Lemp Mansion, 1922 Streetcar's heyday, 1925 Dance contest, 1925 Garment district, 1926 Sportsman's Park 1926 Lindbergh in St. Louis, 1927 Lindbergh visits, 1927 Flying high with Lindbergh, 1928 St. Louis Arena, 1929 River Des Peres, 1929 River Des Peres, 1929 Fox Theatre, 1929 Prohibition in the 1920s Prohibition in the 1920s Route 66 across the Chain of Rocks, 1929 1931 World Series Hoping for the end of Prohibition 1932 Repeal of Prohibition, 1933 Repeal of Prohibition, 1933 End of Prohibition, 1933 Lambert Field, 1933 Arch planning, 1933 Construction of Municipal Auditorium, 1933 Municipal Auditorium, 1934 'Showboat' at the Muny, 1934 Riverfront before Arch, 1938 Riverfront before the Arch, 1939 Demolition for the Arch, 1939 Old Cathedral, 1940 Clearing for the Arch, May 1940 Aloe Plaza, 1939 The Admiral, 1940 Aloe Plaza, 1940 'Black Tuesday' 1939 Coal smoke, 1940 Coal smoke ordinance results, 1941 Forest Park Highlands, 1941 Muny chorus, 1942 Muny chorus, 1942 1942 Carter Carburetor Riverfront demolition area, 1942 Clearing land for Arch, 1942 World War II worker, 1943-44 World War II factory work Browns and Cardinals World Series, 1944 Parade for Army Gen. Omar Bradley, 1945 V-J Day, 1945 V-J Day, 1945 St. Louis, 1946 1946 World Series Pacific Local stops in Webster Groves, 1946 Kirkwood commuters, 1946 Protesting Jim Crow, 1946 Jim Crow demonstration, 1947 Catholic school integration, 1947 Golden Eagle steamboat, 1947 Smoky plant, 1947 Dewey doesn't defeat Truman, 1948 Fairground Park mob, 1949 Trains in 1949 Mill Creek, 1948 Mill Creek Valley area housing, 1952 St. Malachy in Mill Creek Valley, 1959 Pruitt-Igoe housing project goes up, 1954 Chuck Berry, 1950s Red Schoendienst, 1953 Beating the heat in 1954 Muny performers, 1954 Grand Center, 1954 Integration of schools, 1955 Blanchette Bridge, 1957 Train commute, 1957 Stan Musial, 1958 Ralston Purina fire, 1962 Gaslight Square, 1961 Gaslight Square, 1961 Gaslight Square fire, 1962 Civil Rights protest, 1963 East St. Louis bank protests, 1963 Protestors, 1963 Jefferson Bank protests, 1963 Stan Musial retires, 1963 World Series 1964 JFK mourned in St. Louis August A. Busch Jr. and son toast a beer, 1964 Cleared riverfront, 1961 A lot going on in St. Louis, 1964 Gateway Arch construction, 1964 St. Louis' Chinatown Searchlight city, 1965 Arch construction Gateway Arch comes together Busch Stadium under construction in 1965 Gateway Arch Construction 1965 Gateway Arch construction Busch Stadium, 1966 Home plate from old Busch Stadium is flown to Busch II in 1966 Peering down from the Arch The Beatles at Busch, 1966 TWA air hostesses, 1967 Enjoying popcorn, 1968 Supreme Court ruling in housing discrimination case, 1968 Downtown in 1969 Downtown with USS Inaugural, 1970 USS Inagural, 1987 Pruitt-Igoe housing project comes down, 1972 The St. Louis Arena, 1980 St. Louis mob wars, 1980 St. Louis mob wars, 1980 Buck and Caray, 1982 Deseg program, 1983 Ozzie flips, 1985 Wickenheiser "Monday Night Miracle" goal in 1986 Ted Drewes, 1988 Chuck Berry honored, 1989 Satellite view of St. Louis, 1991 Flood of 1993 flood satellite image The Great Flood of 1993 The Great Flood of 1993 Ted Drewes, 1993 Coral Court Motel, 1995 John Goodman, 1997 1998 Brett Hull Super Bowl stop The St. Louis Arena, 1999 Pope visits, 1999 Pope visits, 1999 A new millennium, 1999 TWA, 2001 Praxair, 2005 Anheuser-Busch 2008 Union Station, 2012 'Little Bosnia,' 2013 Jon Hamm, sports fan Lighting the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge 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. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A 30-year-old man was sentenced to two life terms Friday for murdering his ex-girlfriend during an argument in May 2020. A St. Louis County jury in March found Darius L. Ware of St. Louis guilty of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a firearm. Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton on Friday sentenced Ware to two consecutive life terms, calculated in Missouri as 30 years in prison, along with an additional 10 years. Prosecutors during the trial argued that just before 5 a.m. May 24, 2020, Ware shot his ex, Lawren Mitchell, in the neck and killed her during an argument in the 5200 block of Lucas and Hunt Road on the edge of Jennings and Norwood Court. Investigators testified they identified Ware using surveillance footage, an eyewitness account and Mitchell's family, according to St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell's office. "This is yet another tragic case that shows how all these guns in our community cost such an enormous waste of human life," Bell said in a written statement. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS A man and a woman were found dead Friday morning inside an apartment in the city's North Hampton neighborhood. Family members of the victims called police around 8 a.m. to report a shooting in the 4900 block of Lindenwood Avenue, near Chippewa Street. Shaunte Harris, 48, and Steven Harris, 66, were pronounced dead at the scene. Both had been shot. Police said Friday afternoon they had not determined whether there was a suspect. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the neighborhood where the shooting happened. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS A transaction through an escort website ended Sunday with one man killing another outside a St. Louis motel, according to charging documents filed Friday. Arthur Ross, 20, of St. Louis, was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action Friday in the death of Kevin Anderson, 27, of Indianapolis. Anderson was found shot about 2:30 a.m. in a stairwell at America's Best Value Inn, at 1100 Lumiere Place Boulevard, near the St. Louis riverfront and died at a hospital. The shooting stemmed from a confrontation about a transaction related to an escort website, St. Louis police wrote in charging documents. Ross is accused of leaving one of the motel rooms and heading toward a car, followed by Anderson. Police allege Ross then shot Anderson through a car window. Anderson ran 20 to 30 feet before collapsing the stairwell, charging documents say. Police collected surveillance video from the area and a witness identified Ross in a photo lineup as the shooter, charging documents say. Ross has two pending charges for unlawful possession of an illegal weapon and delivery of a controlled substance. He was denied bond in the case Friday. St. Louis police said they could not comment on how the men were involved in the escort transaction on Friday. Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denys Maliuska delivered an address at the 94th Annual Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Federal States of Germany, which took place in Berlin on May 25 and 26. "In his address, the head of the department said that with the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine faced many challenges, therefore Ukraine highly appreciates the long-term deep cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Justice of Germany. And stressed that the Ministry of Justice continues to work on the introduction of important reforms in the field of justice," Ukraine's Justice Ministry press service said. It is noted that the ministers of all 16 federal states of Germany strongly condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and called for bringing those responsible for this war to international legal responsibility. "According to the results, a corresponding resolution was unanimously adopted, which lays down the vector for the further development of the legal policy of Germany not only within the country, but also in Europe: the Ministers of Justice see in Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine an obvious and blatant violation of the UN Charter, the basic principles of international law and international treaties; the Ministers of Justice welcome the resolution of the European Parliament of January 19, 2023 on the establishment of a Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine () the Ministers of Justice call on the federal government to provide assistance at the European level to the establishment of a Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine," Ukraine's Justice Ministry said. Maliuska also invited those present to take part in the International Penitentiary Forum, which the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, with the support of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, will be held in Kyiv from June 20 to June 21, 2023. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. JEFFERSON CITY Missouri families who were promised emergency pandemic grocery funds last summer are still waiting even as another summer is beginning. For more than six months, families have been raising alarms about the delayed benefits owed to around 600,000 kids. There is, in Missouri, no clear end in sight. Pandemic EBT is a federal program administered by states. Last summer, it was designed to provide a one-time deposit of $391 per eligible child in grocery benefits to assist low-income families. The benefits, like the regular federal food stamps program, could be used like a debit card, called electronic benefit transfer, to purchase eligible food. The extra benefits could easily double the amount a low-income family receives in standard food assistance. The average amount of benefits per Missouri household on food stamps, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, was just under $400 in March. For months, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which administers the benefit, has told The Independent that benefits were on the horizon or there was no timeline for when they would be paid. In October, the department said they would be distributed by the end of 2022. In February, a spokeswoman for the department said we dont have a set timeline but expected benefits to be doled out in the coming weeks. This week, in an email to one mother who provided the correspondence to The Independent, an education department official wrote, We continue working with (the Department of Social Services) to get the summer benefits processed but we do not have an exact date at this time. In a statement this week to The Independent, the department said, Teams are in the final stages of testing data files so that (the Department of Social Services) system can administer the summer benefits. The agency did not provide a timeline. Children who qualified for subsidized school lunches in the 2021-2022 academic year are eligible, along with children under 6 who qualify for the federal food assistance program SNAP. The state estimated 454,000 schoolchildren and nearly 158,000 children under age 6 qualify for the benefit. Many states had trouble getting the benefits out in time for last summer due in part to the challenges of operating an emergency program with shifting federal guidelines each year, that requires interagency collaboration between social services departments and education departments. But Missouri appears to be among few (if any other) states with approved summer 2022 P-EBT plans that have not yet begun dispersing benefits. In each of the eight states bordering Missouri, benefits were already distributed for summer Pandemic EBT by earlier this year. Oklahoma began issuing the benefits last July. Missouris plan for distributing the aid was approved by the federal government in late October, after all but five other states had been approved, and many states had finished issuing benefits. Oregon and Georgia had their plans approved in late October, like Missouri. But unlike Missouri, Georgia began dispersing the benefits in December; Oregon began in March. Two states, South Dakota and Alaska, did not have approved plans at all. One of the main hurdles to getting the benefits out sooner, officials have said, was that the state needed a new data collection portal to track students COVID-related absences, for the school-year benefits. Pandemic EBT includes a more narrowly-targeted benefit for school year 2021-2022 for children who had COVID-related absences which the state said it needed to administer before the summer benefits and involves more complicated data collection on the part of schools. Mallory McGowin, a spokesperson from the education department said they had begun issuing the school year benefits beginning in February, and now that school year benefits have mostly been administered (there is some data clean-up still taking place), teams at DESE and DSS have moved on to the summer benefit program. McGowin said they believe they will work with year-round school staff to address any potential challenges with data. One mother still waiting on the benefits is Jennifer Sheils, whose desperation has grown as the months of waiting ticked by. Where are the funds that were made available? It is almost the Summer of 2023, she wrote in a recent email to the state. What is going on? Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. The Illinois Senate late Thursday approved a $50.6 billion state budget as Democrats finally found common ground after missing an initial self-imposed deadline and engaging in several extra days of deliberations. The measure now goes to the House, which is expected to vote on it this weekend. The Democratic-controlled Senate approved the budget by a 34-22 vote without any Republican support, although members of the minority party largely toned down their perennial criticisms about being excluded from negotiations. Still, they accused Democrats of ignoring their priorities. Three Democrats Sens. Suzy Glowiak Hilton of Western Springs, Patrick Joyce of Reddick and Doris Turner of Springfield joined Republicans in opposing the spending plan. The process for approving the budget has been slowed as Democrats, who control the governors office and both chambers of the legislature, face economic uncertainty after a couple of years of record revenues thanks to a strong job market and spending stimulated in part by pandemic relief money. In the past two years weve had money, like, coming out of our ears, Rep. Margaret Croke, a Chicago Democrat who is part of the Houses moderate caucus, said earlier Thursday. Weve been very flush with cash, and this is the first year weve had to take a hard look at the budget and make some tough decisions where there are both winners and losers, and unfortunately there are always going to be some people who dont get what they need. Late Thursday afternoon, Senate Democrats introduced a tweaked version of the spending plan Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders presented as a done deal the previous day. The Senate adjourned late Wednesday night without taking an expected vote on that plan. Lawmakers in the House met privately Thursday afternoon to discuss the initial plan, which had not been shared with rank-and-file lawmakers in full before Pritzker stood before reporters with Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch of Hillside to announce theyd reached an agreement. They indicated that they expected the budget to pass through both chambers without significant changes. Having already blown a self-imposed deadline to pass a budget last week, Senate Democrats moved the vote to Thursday, setting up a potential final vote in the House in the early morning hours Saturday. Pritkzer praised the Senates late night vote in a statement, saying the plan makes transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois while building on our record of fiscal responsibility. I look forward to the House taking up this budget that will make child care and education more accessible, health care more affordable, and our states business and economic position even stronger, Pritzker said. Moments before the budget passed through the Senate, Republican Leader John Curran said the Democrats inclusion of his caucus in budget talks was a step forward in our working relationships. But he indicated that the final product of the budget does not reflect the entire state of Illinois. He criticized the budget for ignoring the overwhelming call for relief from tax and utility costs that he believes are crushing families and small- and medium-sized businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic. And he said the budget is not friendly to big business, reflecting why companies like Caterpillar and Boeing have relocated offices out of state. The budget presented here today undoubtedly represents a further expansion and growth of state government at a time when Illinois itself is contracted, Curran said. Before the plan began to move forward Thursday, House Democrats acknowledged the challenge of balancing requests from the various caucuses within their record 78-member supermajority with the need to stay within the overall spending level agreed upon by Pritzker, Welch and Harmon. Democrats had to grapple with skyrocketing costs in a program that provides Medicaid-style health benefits for immigrants who are in the country without legal permission or otherwise dont qualify for the traditional insurance program for the poor. While Croke said dissension within the Democratic ranks has eased over the last week, other party members privately acknowledged a lively debate over competing budget priorities, particularly after the announced budget deal increased spending for the immigrant health care program by more than $300 million from Pritzkers initial budget proposal, which had pegged the price tag at $220 million. Projected spending on the program had spiraled to $1.1 billion, but Pritzkers office said the proposal gives the administration tools to control the costs. There also have been differences over whether to extend a $75 million tax credit program for private school scholarship donors, which was left out of the budget package approved by the Senate and now going to the House. On Wednesday, the Pritzker administration highlighted elements of the budget including an additional $100 million for Monetary Award Program grant funding for college students; an increase of $100 million in higher education funding; and an increase of $85 million to support homelessness prevention, affordable housing and other programs related to a vision of ending homelessness in the state. The proposal also includes an additional $200 million to the states underfunded pension plans on top of the $9.8 billion required under state law. The governors office also emphasized a $20 million investment in a new Illinois Grocery Initiative to expand grocery access to urban neighborhoods and rural towns. The more-than-3,400-page budget plan, filed by Sen. Elgie Sims of Chicago, the Senates chief budget negotiator, also included $15 million for the states violent crime witness protection program, which is half of the $30 million that Pritzker proposed for the program in February. The program is the result of 2013 legislation that called for the state to provide aid to law enforcement agencies to relocate witnesses of violent crimes if they are at risk of danger, but it didnt get funded until Pritzker allocated $30 million for it last year. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, which administers the fund, said the program was still being organized. Also in the budget was a $30 million appropriation for a fund that distributes money to police departments for body cameras and squad car dashboard camera systems. Another $10 million goes to departments to hire and retain police officers, and $4 million was set aside for their firearm ballistics technology. Another $15 million was also set aside for grants associated with a youth summer jobs program, geared toward especially benefiting young people in Chicago and other urban areas. The budget also includes a roughly $112 million increase in the share of state income tax revenue distributed to local governments, partially satisfying a request from municipal leaders, including new Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. In response to another request from Johnson, the budget would provide $42.5 million to aid migrants arriving from the countrys southern border. The rejiggered plan that came out Thursday, however, would make that money available to counties and towns statewide rather than just Chicago and other parts of Cook County. A day after the Senate failed to vote on the budget as anticipated on Wednesday, Sims sought to downplay any disconnect between Democrats in the Senate and the House. Just like with any budget, its 3,000-page document, so everybody wants to go through to make sure that the terms of the agreement are actually on the paper, Sims said. But during a committee hearing Thursday morning, GOP Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet raised concerns about the lack of wiggle room within the Democrats plan, which calls for spending nearly all of the $50.7 billion in revenue the state expects to collect for its general fund for the budget year that begins July 1. Youve only got about $100 million in give between revenue and spend, Rose said, questioning whether state agencies would come back to the legislature looking for more money later in the year. Republican Sen. Jil Tracy of Quincy said it was perhaps ... a tactical error for Pritzker and the Democratic leaders to announce a deal before it was finalized. It should have been done after the budget was passed, Tracy said. Also Thursday, lawmakers punted on another outstanding issue. The House voted 69-36, and the Senate followed with a 36-18 vote, to approve a measure extending their deadline for drawing district maps for Chicagos new elected school board to April 1, 2024. The deadline had been July 1, but two draft maps were criticized in public forums for not being representative of the diverse student population of Chicago Public Schools. The extension gives us more time to ensure that these last-minute submissions are given the thought and the analysis they deserve, said Democratic Sen. Robert Martwick, vice chair of the committee charged with crafting the map and a sponsor of the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. Also, the House voted 69-35 to send Pritzker a measure that would require lawsuits challenging laws under the state constitution to be filed in either Cook County or Sangamon County, home to Springfield. Democrats who supported the measure said it was necessary to prevent people who sue the state from trying to get their cases heard before judges who they believe will rule in the favor, while also conserving resources for the attorney generals office, which represents the state in court. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state has been hit with a barrage of legal challenges to Pritzkers executive orders as well as new state laws abolishing cash bail and banning certain high-powered semi-automatic weapons. One attorney was charging people $200 to have their names added as plaintiffs to the lawsuit, said state Democratic Rep. Jay Hoffman of Swansea, a reference to the numerous lawsuits filed by failed Republican attorney general candidate Thomas DeVore. Republicans, including Rep. Dan Caulkins of Decatur, who has sued the state over the sweeping gun ban approved in January, called the measure a power grab by the Democratic majority. 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, said Caulkins, whose gun ban lawsuit is awaiting a ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court. Tyrants are always the same, whether kings or lawless Chicago politicians. Hoffman, who is from the Metro East area outside St. Louis, noted that the circuit courts in Sangamon County are dominated by GOP judges. 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 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 Lights 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 states 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. 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 Wednesday 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. 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. Retrieved ring Thirteen years after a diamond ring that a Minnesota womans husband gave her for their anniversary was accidentally flushed down the toilet, it resurfaced (literally) at a wastewater treatment plant. The Washington Post reports that Mary Strand of Rogers, Minnesota, dropped the gold ring in the toilet in 2010 but couldnt retrieve it before it was sucked down. As it happens, her husband, David, ran a sewer and drain-cleaning business, giving them a chance to retrieve the ring. But even after taking apart the toilet and running a camera 200 feet into the sewer, they couldnt find it. That was that, until March of this year. Workers in a wastewater treatment plant a quarter-mile from the Stands home found the ring while clearing muck out of a piece of equipment. The local government launched a publicity campaign on social media seeking the owner, inviting anyone to make a claim by describing the ring. Thats how it finally made its way back to Mary Strand but only after officials fielded hundreds of calls from others seeking long-flushed, er, -lost rings. Skin care to de-stress after a mass shooting This new trend by consumer-product manufacturers relying on social media influencers to help them reach niche markets has gotten downright silly and self-destructive. Just ask Budweiser how its influencer campaign with Dylan Mulvaney went. Now skin-care product maker Biore has had to apologize after one of its young brand influencers went on Tik Tok with a bizarre approach to an endorsement. Michigan State University graduate Cecilee Max-Brown posted a video talking about the stresses of a campus shooting earlier this year in which three students were killed and five others wounded. She then pivoted to a narrative about how Biore products help relieve her anxieties. 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, she said in the video. In support of mental health awareness month, Im partnering with Biore Skincare to strip away the stigma of anxiety. We want you to get it all out. Not only whats in your pores but most importantly whats on your mind too, she added. Its definitely time for companies to revert to professionally designed ad campaigns and stop being surprised by unwanted endorsement improvisations. Dont second-guess witch trials? Roughly 370 years after a big witch trial in Connecticut that resulted in 12 convictions and 11 executions of people for witchcraft, the state Senate decided in a 33-to-1 vote to commemorate what it called a miscarriage of justice with a resolution to exonerate all 12. Yes, one senator actually wanted to uphold the convictions. Republican state Sen. Rob Sampson cast the lone No vote Thursday, arguing that focusing on negative history makes America look bad. I dont want to see bills that rightfully or wrongfully attempt to paint America as a bad place with a bad history. I dont want to see anyone try and put a stain on the country that I love. The show must go on At long last, two companies disputing ownership of the Fabulous Fox Theatre have reached an agreement that will ensure it stays open and continues to offer the same eye-dazzling performances as in the past. It was likely that no matter how the ownership dispute played out, someone was going to find a way to keep the stage alive and busy with performances, but the two sides had significantly different visions of what the future looked like. Fox Associates bought the theater building in 1981 and then spent $10 million to restore the building. But most of the land that the theater sits on is owned by Foxland Inc., which invoked a 99-year lease that Fox Associates inherited when it bought the building. The lease was set to expire in 2025. An agreement reached in St. Louis Circuit Court will allow Fox Associates to take full ownership of the building and land. The dispute has been going on for the past two decades, and a big fear in the theater community was that a failure to reach an agreement could cause the theater to go dark. Thats how such cherished facilities can fall into disrepair, which is exactly what happened to the theater before the 1981 renovation. Family values, part two It turns out former Missouri House Speaker John Diehls misconduct was about more than just inappropriate conversations with a 19-year-old legislative intern while he was in office. He was also inappropriate with his campaign money after resigning in disgrace in 2015, according to a newly released consent decree with the Missouri Ethics Commission in which Diehl effectively admits to the violations. Diehl, a conservative Des Peres Republican who touted traditional family values, was among Missouris most powerful politicians in mid-2015, when The Kansas City Star published screenshots it had obtained of sexually charged texts between Diehl then a 49-year-old married father of three and the college freshman. Diehl publicly apologized without specifying what, if anything, occurred beyond texting. He resigned shortly afterward. Missouri Southern State University responded by ending its Capitol internship program more than a month prematurely. For the alleged misuse of campaign funds, Diehl has been fined more than $47,000, though he will actually have to pay less than $10,000, provided he refrains from violating campaign finance regulations for at least 10 years. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The St. Louis Regional Freightways 2024 Priority Projects List includes more than 25 projects representing a total investment approaching $3.7 billion and underscoring the ongoing commitment to improving freight infrastructure in the bi-state region. Approximately $2.7 billion of the 2024 total covers infrastructure projects that have recently been completed, are already funded and under construction or expected to start in 2023 and 2024, or are at least partially programmed for construction. Thats up from $2 billion a year ago, a reflection of the progress being made securing funding and advancing major projects through the development pipeline to strengthen critical roads, bridges, rail infrastructure, and port and airport facilities across the bi-state St. Louis region. The List represents the infrastructure needs of the manufacturing and logistics industries in the Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois and was released during a Freight Summit held May 24 as part of FreightWeekSTL 2023. Kirk Brown, Region Five Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), provided an overview of some of the most significant projects on the list that IDOT is advancing, ranging from the Chain of Rocks Bridge and nearby Illinois 111 Interchange to the Illinois Route 3 connector in Fairmont City/East St. Louis and Illinois Route 158 improvements by MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. He also highlighted the level of funding the state is committing to roadway and bridge improvements, both statewide and in District 8, which includes Madison and St. Clair Counties. 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 % or $2.3 billion just within the next six years, 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. Michelle Forneris, Assistant District Engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) 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. Among the other highlights on the 2024 Priority Projects List is the recently completed $222 million replacement of the Merchants Bridge, a vital rail link connecting Missouri and Illinois at St. Louis. It has been the regions highest priority infrastructure project since 2016. Joe Torp, Industrial Development Manager for Norfolk Southern, said the new 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. Other completed projects include the Union Pacific Railroad Lenox Tower Replacement and Track Realignment, a $10.1 million modernization project that reduced freight train delays by 43 hours a week for combined freight, or more than 10 hours per day. Overall, the project enabled freight, including four Class I rail carriers, and passenger trains to travel through the region more safely and efficiently while allowing rail traffic to be better integrated into system-wide patterns. More than $900 million in funded projects on I-270, almost $670 million in partially funded improvements to Interstate 70, and $233 million in improvements advancing on I-55 from Rte. Z to U.S. Rte. 67 (MO) represent other landmark investments in integral components of the regions freight network. Meanwhile other projects are supporting critical first mile/last mile connections that serve our regions thriving industrial parks and ports. Another high priority project now underway that Brown talked about is the new Interstate 270 (I-270) Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River in a corridor featuring an abundance of manufacturing, logistics and distribution facilities. The project advanced to become one of the regions highest priorities due to rising maintenance costs for the aging structure, and increased traffic volumes and safety issues associated with narrow shoulders. Construction to replace it began in January, marking another significant milestone for infrastructure investment in the region. It also is a testament to the strength of the continued collaboration helping to add capacity and redundancy to the St. Louis regions freight network. Over a three-year period during the project planning phase, in a demonstration of remarkable bi-state unity, the MoDOT and IDOT jointly secured more than $600 million in funding for the bridge replacement, along with improvements to adjacent sections of I-270. The new bridge is part of a regional plan to improve a 30-mile section of I-270 from James S. McDonnell Boulevard in Missouri to Illinois Route 157 in Illinois. Other newly added but currently unfunded projects include $34 million in improvements to the MacArthur Bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis. Now that the Merchants Bridge replacement project is complete, Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, which owns both structures, is turning its attention to the significant work required to keep the MacArthur Bridge functioning effectively as part of the St. Louis Regions freight network. The MacArthur and Merchants Bridges together represent the highest-volume rail crossing on the Mississippi River, said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development. 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. The St. Louis Regional Freightway was established in 2014 by Bi-State Development to create a regional freight district and to advance infrastructure projects to support freight movement through the region. The Priority Projects List is a valuable tool compiled annually by the St. Louis Regional Freightways Freight Development Committee and used to align and amplify advocacy for support and funding for critical infrastructure improvements. Business and industry leaders work directly with local and state officials and departments of transportation to set infrastructure priorities by helping them to understand how infrastructure and efficiency impacts on-time delivery and costs. A projects inclusion on the Priority Projects List signifies unanimous support by the Freight Development Committee and helps raise awareness about the projects need, while demonstrating all partners see the benefits of the project to the entire freight network, making it a stronger candidate for funding. This environment of collaboration is critical to the regions success in funding and advancing some of our highest priority projects, said Lamie. The list of 2024 Priority Projects is included below, and more details about each of these projects and their current funding status can be found at https: https://www.thefreightway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Freightway-2024-Priority-Freight-Projects.pdf. Detailed fact sheets highlight how these projects are supporting multimodal connectivity and adding capacity to the regions freight network so it can continue providing global access to shippers and carriers. The 2024 Priority Projects List will be submitted to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments for approval later this year. Comments regarding the 2023 list are welcome through August 1 by email at MCLamie@TheFreightway.com. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. For many travelers, trips to large cities had little appeal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities like riding public transportation, touring a museum or attending a professional sporting event often took a back seat to less crowded and less urban experiences. In the nations 25 largest markets, occupied hotel room nights (a measurement of demand) were down by 32 million in 2022 versus 2019, according to hospitality data and analytics company STR. Outside the 25 largest markets, though, it was a different story. Hotels saw an increase of 550,000 occupied rooms throughout the rest of the country compared with 2019. Isaac Collazo, STRs vice president of analytics, says smaller markets did well during the pandemic while the top 25 markets suffered. He says travelers felt safer in smaller properties at less-crowded destinations. Now, could it finally be changing? European and U.S. cities are making a comeback Mari Hawkins, a travel advisor with New York state-based Gemini Travel, is undoubtedly noticing a shift in her clients attitudes when it comes to travel and big cities. During the pandemic, she was mainly helping clients book villas and vacation homes, where they wouldnt have to interact with other people. Weve done a complete 180. Theyre going back to cities in droves, she says, citing an increase in bookings to European cities. We have hundreds of people heading to Paris, Rome, Florence, Athens this summer, said travel advisor Lauren Doyle in an email. Her company is called The Travel Mechanic and shes based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Its not just travel to Europe. Collazo said a handful of major U.S. cities saw hotel room sales in the first part of 2023 outpacing pre-pandemic levels, including Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Phoenix, Denver, Nashville, Tennessee, and Tampa, Florida. The ones that benefitted the most had fewer COVID-19 restrictions or lifted the restrictions earliest. But several other major U.S. cities including the nations largest are still fighting to fully regain 2019 travel volume. New York Citys tourism is back in full swing, says Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City. But he quickly pivots to a caveat: The operative word is 'tourism.' Business travel is nowhere near where it was. The lack of business travel is dragging down New Yorks overall hotel occupancy rates. During peak spring break in April 2023, occupancy was down by several percentage points compared with the same month in 2019, according to STR data. Experts are optimistic Dandapani isnt worried. His team predicts New Yorks travel landscape wont fully recover until 2024. Collazo shares his optimism. Pointing to an increase in conferences and business travel this year, he emphasized the "big city" trip isn't a thing of the past. Theres still appeal to go to New York City. Theres still appeal to go to New Orleans, Los Angeles, he said. In fact, Hawkins says her clients are so eager to travel that they are willing to spend more money on accommodations. (And they probably wont have much choice since hotels cost about 15% more than they did before the pandemic.) Im hearing from travelers that they want to go no matter what, she says. Theyre spending money for nicer properties. Ultimately, that has turned out to be a feather in the cap for many New York hotels bottom lines, Dandapani pointed out. The luxury market just had bang-up numbers, he says. Business travelers are returning more slowly The return of travel has been uneven since the end of the pandemic. Cities eased restrictions at different times and hotel occupancy rates have dragged, mostly due to the slow return of business travelers. But if the demand for Europe and smaller markets in the U.S. this summer is any indication, city destinations will eventually rebound to be just as popular as they were before the pandemic. Sean Cudahy writes for NerdWallet. Email: articles@nerdwallet.com. MagellanTV's James Lauzun Talks Licensing, Marketing, and Distributing Documentary Content Tim Siglin, Founding Executive Director, Help Me Stream Research Foundation, and Contributing Editor, Streaming Media, sits down with James Lauzun, VP of Product, MagellanTV, to discuss the ins and outs of running a niche streaming OTT service from an SVOD and FAST content and monetization strategy standpoint, including subscription rates, content rights, and distribution, in this interview from Streaming Media East 2023. You mentioned before we went on air that MagellanTV works in the niche market of documentary and non-fiction, Siglin says. So do you produce the content, do you deliver the content, or both? We do have originals and co-productions, Lauzun says. We also then also acquire a lot of content from overseas. So an Australian producer will make a documentary TV series that will air on that local network. We'll then come in and we'll acquire the IP rights to everywhere else. And is it really for everywhere else, or is it by a specific country or region? Siglin asks. It changes, Lauzun says. Territories are always a thing, and of course, content acquisitions, and what territories do you have? And then sometimes even more granular about what kind of platforms you have rights to. This is all something that our acquisitions team [does] day in and day out. Lauzuns Role in MagellanTVs Product Strategy Lauzun tells Siglin that he begins to strategize once MagellanTVs acquisitions team acquires programming and handles territories and platforms. As the VP of Product, I oversee the product strategy for the MagellanTV brand, both SVOD and FAST, and sort of that middle hub of marketing and product and development and how can we create a compelling reason to join MagellanTV and to consume that content, both on the SVOD or FAST side. And on the SVOD side, what's the typical subscription rate? Siglin asks. So right now, we're at $5.99 a month, Lauzun says. And then, of course, that annual discount. The reason that I ask that about [global territories] is, I've been in the industry for 25 years now when back in 2000 you could pick up global rights IP rights, no problem at all because everybody was like, I'm just broadcasting in my local market, Siglin says. It seems as we've gone on and as the contract windows have changed and the lawyers come for re-ups, those nuances are beginning to pick up. So it's interesting to hear not just premium fiction content, but even in the non-fiction space that you're facing those same challenges. Yeah, exactly, Lauzun says. Thats kind of everywhere, right? Do you license for a particular period of time as well, or is it in perpetuity? Siglin asks. We'll have starting and end dates, like most content agreements like that, Lauzun says. Of course, it depends on the level of production value that we've put in. We'll have times where it truly is an in-house original. We have a great writer and director, Tom Lucas, who creates a lot of our Space originals. And so those of course we hold forever. Then you have the other spectrum, which is a co-production, it's a funded thing that we participated in. And so then the details of how that gets worked out is a little different. The Question of Geo-Blocking and International Programming Access I work abroad a lot, Siglin says. I couldn't take my Netflix with me, and I couldn't take my Amazon Prime. And originally, the argument was, well, We don't own the content. But then, when they started doing original content, the argument suddenly became, Well, we can't do that for you technically, which we all knew was hocus. I was in Turkey at one point, and I saw Orange is the New Black as an episodic on television, and I realized what they were doing is doing sort of what you do. They were taking a US original production and shopping it out as syndication in other countries. So for Magellan, if I have this $5.99 subscription and I'm traveling abroad, is there geo-blocking? How does that kind of thing work? Yes, you could [expect that] with those modern SVOD solutions, Lauzun says. Theres geo-blocking, but one of the things that's really important to us is that the user experience is seamless. We're big believers in that. If you can't watch it, you shouldn't see it. There's nothing worse than seeing the This is unavailable in your country [message]. That just creates a very not compelling user experience. Lauzun emphasizes that to underscore the type of seamless user experience MagellanTV desires, they place more focus on the identity of the brand as a place of education and cultural enrichment rather than making the identity on specific programming, which can help to lessen any possible issues with programming availability in certain regions. If you are in that small to mid-size niche space, Lauzun says, use the advantage of the fact that you can create a connection with that user about why they're there. So what we do is in our marketing, in our onboarding emails, we really try to drive that point home that MagellanTV and the user share the same values, and that creates an environment of retention and of a situation where it's not necessarily about any one show. [Its more about] the library itself. The Issues of Subscription Churn for Niche SVODs Given the fact that you're sort of doing a niche within the non-fiction market and you're smaller than the big guys, do you see a significant amount of churn with those people who identify with the channel? Siglin asks. No, Lauzun says. That's actually one of the advantages. In this environment right now that we have heard a lot of people talking about, there's downward pressure across all monetization types. As we're looking at it, yes, there are headwinds. We can't deny that. But we're still growing. In fact, our retention is improving. And that's because when you are a user, and you need to cut back, we've set that value proposition with you. Your value proposition is not [just] access to content. It represents something about you. This is how you demonstrate the fact you're a lifetime learner. So now the conversation becomes, Oh, am I going to cancel MagellanTV? Well, does that mean I'm canceling being a lifelong learner? Its the reverse of guilt by association, Siglin says. We're not trying to be manipulative about it, Lauzun says. Truthfully, we're a small team and we feel passionately about documentaries, too. But that is something that I feel like these niche streamers can really take advantage of. Its a lifestyle model, Siglin says. The Challenges of Programming for a Niche Streaming Space Siglin asks Lauzun what he considers the most compelling content MagellanTV has at the moment, and Lauzun responds by asking which genres Siglin prefers. What genres do I have an option of? Siglin says. Actually, it's kind of funny, Lauzun says. When we survey and interview people, when they first view our ecosystem, one of the things they say is, Look at all of these genres[its] a long list. There's so much value here, these different interesting topics. And then, once they come in, their viewing behavior is a little different. Most members are watching one, two, maybe three genres. I think we're up to ten different genres. So people do tend to be rather specific in what they enjoy. And that creates its own set of challenges because how, then, on that acquisition side, do we keep multiple pipelines active? Because it's not about needing the next hit drama every quarter. It's about, like, well, we need a great history series, or were going to need a great true crime series. We need a new original [for] Space. So that's one of the challenges when you have these niche offerings is that [the user] is going to get into something that they really enjoy. Learn more about niche streaming OTT services at Streaming Media Connect 2023. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles MORGAN HILL, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / EMQ, developer of the open-source MQTT messaging platform, EMQX, today announced the global availability of its fully managed MQTT service, EMQX Cloud, on Google Cloud Marketplace, providing customers with the ease to purchase and manage MQTT service alongside their other Google Cloud services from one place. Google Cloud Marketplace lets users quickly deploy functional software packages that run on Google Cloud. Google Cloud Marketplace allows customers to easily start up a familiar software package with services like Compute Engine or Cloud Storage, with no manual configuration required. By August 16, 2023, Google Cloud IoT Core will no longer be available. All IoT Core users must migrate their applications to alternative MQTT services before this date to ensure uninterrupted service for their IoT business. As a Google Cloud certified partner, EMQ provides fully managed MQTT cloud services for IoT applications and platforms. EMQX Cloud supports up to tens of millions of device connections, processes millions of MQTT messages per second, and assures the security, reliability, and resiliency of their IoT data infrastructure. Adding EMQX Cloud to Google Cloud Marketplace offers an additional avenue for support, allowing EMQ's users to tap into Google Cloud's global scale and expertise. This provides Google Cloud customers with direct access to the capabilities EMQX provides through the EMQX Cloud MQTT service. Google Cloud users can also easily migrate their devices from the deprecated Google Cloud IoT Core to EMQX Cloud while continuing to use Google Cloud infrastructure seamlessly. Dai Vu, Managing Director, Cloud Marketplace & ISV GTM Initiatives states: "Expanding our partnership with EMQ means accelerating the digital transformation process for our customers. Now, they can safely manage MQTT messaging services for IoT all in one convenient location-on Google Cloud Marketplace." Dylan Kennedy, President & CEO of EMQ Technologies US, states: "We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Google Cloud. Our fully managed MQTT service presence on Google Cloud Marketplace strengthens our collaboration with our shared customers and partners, providing facility and support to IoT businesses worldwide on their cloud journey. We look forward to leveraging this opportunity for even more effective engagement and connectivity." 3 Major Benefits of Adopting EMQX Cloud via Google Cloud Marketplace EMQX Cloud onboarding through Google Cloud Marketplace provides the best possible experience in delivering the highest quality IoT connectivity solutions: Simplified Billing to Meet Google Cloud Committed Spend Listing EMQX on Google Cloud Marketplace offers users a hassle-free procurement process, providing them with easy purchase and deployment options for those who are looking for ideal IoT connectivity solutions. Additionally, customers can take advantage of simplified and unified monthly billing and include their spending on EMQX Cloud towards their Google Cloud committed spend. It would also be much easier to draft a purchase contract under the umbrella of the cloud provider. Fully integrated with other Google Cloud services EMQX Cloud can integrate easily with other Google Cloud services - such as Pub/Sub. The direct result and benefit are in providing customers with a complete end-to-end IoT connectivity solution that will allow businesses to control Google Cloud's data management and EMQ's MQTT connectivity capabilities. Easy, Secure Migration from Google IoT Core to EMQX via Google Cloud Marketplace Listing EMQX on Google Cloud Marketplace also eases migration for current IoT Core users. EMQ can guide how to migrate successfully, and EMQ's expertise in Google Cloud IoT Core migration guarantees a smooth, secure migration to EMQX Cloud with minimum downtime. Learn more about the migration tutorials here. Try EMQX Cloud on Google Cloud Marketplace Now! About EMQ EMQ is the world's leading software provider of open-source IoT data infrastructure. Its core product EMQX, the world's most scalable and reliable open-source MQTT messaging platform, supports 100M concurrent IoT device connections per cluster while maintaining 1M message per second throughput and sub-millisecond latency. It boasts more than 20K+ enterprise users, connecting 100M+ IoT devices, and is trusted by over 400 customers in mission-critical IoT scenarios, including well-known brands like HPE, VMware, Verifone, SAIC Volkswagen and Ericsson. EMQ's global R&D center is located in Stockholm, Sweden. It has 10+ offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. 305 Vineyard Town Center, Morgan Hill, CA, USA 95037 www.emqx.com Contacts [email protected] SOURCE: EMQ Technologies Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSX-V:YGT; Frankfurt:TX0; OTCQX:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announced that it has closed its previously announced best efforts public offering (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,608,050 from the sale of 17,110,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of C$0.10 per share and 25,191,739 flow-through common shares (the "Flow-Through Common Shares") at a price of C$0.115 per share (including on full exercise of the over-allotment option). The Offering was made through a syndicate of agents led by Paradigm Capital Inc. and including Agentis Capital Markets Limited Partnership (collectively, the "Agents"). The Agents received a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The net proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used to advance exploration at the Company's Yellowknife Project (YP), and mostly on the Con Mine Option property (CMO), for working capital, and for general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the sale of the Flow-Through Common Shares will be used for expenditures which qualify as "Canadian exploration expenses" ("CEE") and "flow-through mining expenditures" both within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Company will renounce such CEE with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2023. The Offering was completed by way of a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") filed in each of the provinces and territories of Canada (other than Quebec) and certain Common Shares were sold outside of Canada on a private placement basis. Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO commented, "We are pleased to have completed a successful financing with the support of existing shareholders, and new shareholders. This financing allows us to continue with our deep drilling program below the former Con Mine workings which produced 6 million ounces between 1938 and 2003 and where reported historic very high-grade gold values (16 to 20 g/t Au) make drill testing the extension of the Con deposit so appealing." Senior management and advisors to Gold Terra purchased an aggregate of 900,000 common shares pursuant to the Offering. Directors and officers of Gold Terra participated in the Offering and were issued an aggregate of 500,000 Common Shares. Such participation in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("61-101"). The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to related parties nor the consideration for such securities exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to closing of the Offering as the participation of insiders of the Company in the Offering had not been confirmed at that time. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Gold Terra The YP encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 20 kilometers of the City of Yellowknife, the YP is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where 14 Moz of gold has been produced, and most recently on the Con Mine Option Property where it produced 6 Moz @ grade between 16 to 20 g/t Au (1938-2003). The YP and CMO property lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com. For more information, please contact: Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO [email protected] Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102 [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by 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, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently 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. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the expected use of proceeds from the Offering, and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form as well as the Prospectus Supplement available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp View source version on accesswire.com: Due to the announced transfer of Russian nuclear warheads to Belarus, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell issued a statement in which he called this step one that would lead to "further extremely dangerous escalation." The text of the statement was distributed in Brussels on Friday. "The European Union condemns the agreement by Russia and Belarus to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads on the Belarusian territory. This is a step which will lead to further extremely dangerous escalation," Borrell said. The High Representative said this goes against commitments which Russia has undertaken in the Budapest Memorandum, whereby Belarus eliminated all nuclear weapons from its territory, and in the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States of 3 January 2022 that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. "We call on Russia to abide by these commitments," Borrell told the Kremlin on behalf of the EU. In addition, he said the Belarusian regime is "an accomplice in Russias illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine." "We call on Belarusian authorities to put an immediate end to their support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and reverse decisions that can only contribute to heightening tensions in the region, and undermine Belarus sovereignty. Any attempt to further escalate the situation will be met by a strong and coordinated reaction," Borrell said in the statement. The National Donut Day celebration will pay tribute to WWI's historic Donut Lassies through free donuts, community engagement, and donations to the Salvation Army DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / National Donut Day is Friday, June 2, and LaMar's will be partnering with The Salvation Army to host an annual fundraising and community engagement event. Each participating LaMar's location will also be giving away free donuts to everyone who visits a store. LaMar's National Donut Day Images of Donuts and Text Reading "National Donut Day" National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of every June - a tradition dating back to 1917, when Salvation Army volunteers known as the "Donut Lassies" made donuts for soldiers on the front lines of World War I. In celebration of this tradition, LaMar's will be partnering with The Salvation Army to host its 9th Annual National Donut Day fundraising campaign. The campaign will be hosted by various LaMar's locations nationwide, and it will include free donuts, donations to The Salvation Army, and community engagement with local police and fire departments. The goal of this campaign is to spread joy and give back to the community, just like the Donut Lassies did over 100 years ago. This year's National Donut Day fundraiser will be a celebration unlike any other. In addition to raising funds for The Salvation Army through donations, LaMar's will match all online donations made during the week of May 28th. Each participating location will be handing out free Ray's Original Glazed donuts to customers, along with LaMar's National Donut Day t-shirts, while supplies last. LaMar's will be partnering with local police and fire stations, who will volunteer their time to hand out the free donuts and t-shirts to community members at select participating locations. In addition to celebrating the holiday at LaMar's stores, The Salvation Army will be delivering thousands of LaMar's donuts to the Denver and Aurora Police Departments as well as locations in Kansas City, MO, Omaha, NE, and Wichita, KS, for National Donut Day. Staff and members of the Army, along with Aurora police officers, will also hand deliver donuts to veterans at the VA Medical Center in Aurora, CO. The Salvation Army brass band will be at the medical center at 10 a.m. to perform and celebrate the national holiday. "The Salvation Army's tireless mission to keep children clothed, sheltered, and fed is an enduring reminder that we need to do what we can to support our community members," shared Temi Osifodunrin, LaMar's Director of Marketing and Advertising. "LaMar's is thrilled to be spreading joy to our communities on National Donut Day, just like the Donut Lassies did for soldiers during World War I." To receive a free Ray's Original Glazed hand-made donut on National Donut Day, LaMar's customers must simply visit their local store. For customers who can't make it to a LaMar's location on National Donut Day, LaMar's will also be mailing out "Share the LaMar's Donut Day Love" cards to community members in surrounding neighborhoods. These cards can be used to redeem one free donut with a hole and a small coffee. Specialty donuts & coffee will be available but will incur an upcharge when used with the card. For more information about LaMar's National Donut Day celebration, or to make an online donation, please visit www.donutday.com. About LaMar's Donuts - After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar's Donuts in Kansas City, Missouri, on Linwood Boulevard in a converted gas station. Today, the franchised chain has 25 stores in five states. LaMar's has won numerous awards and has earned favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine. LaMar's donuts were also the first to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world's most trusted guide to restaurants. Visit us at LaMars.com. About The Salvation Army - The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church established in 1865, has supported those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year across 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, please visit imsalvationarmy.org. Contact Information Temi Osifodunrin Director of Marketing and Advertising [email protected] 303-771-9999 x. # 7001 SOURCE: LaMar's Donuts View source version on accesswire.com: WINNIPEG, MB / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV:MPH)(OTC PINK:MCUJF), a company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products for patients and prescribers in the United States market, today reported its results from operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Highlights: Recorded total net revenue of $5.6 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; Recorded total net revenue from the sale of AGGRASTAT of $2.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $2.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; of $2.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $2.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; Recorded total net revenue from the sale of ZYPITAMAG of $640,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; of $640,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; Recorded total net revenue from the Marley Drug business of $2.3 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA 1 ) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $916,000 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; ) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $916,000 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and; Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $290,000 or $0.03 per share compared to net income of $482,000 or $0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Financial Results The modest decrease in AGGRASTAT revenues when compared to the same period in the previous year, as described above, is the result of a decrease in the volume of AGGRASTAT sold in 2023 when compared to 2022, in conjunction with an increase in wholesaler fees. The royalty obligations related to AGGRASTAT are now fulfilled and are no longer due. ZYPITAMAG contributed $640,000 of revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in revenue is primarily as a result of increased fees to wholesalers and pharmacy benefit managers. The Marley Drug business contributed $2.3 million of revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Marley Drug is a US pharmacy licensed to ship medications to all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. It serves thousands of customers and provides another channel for direct-to-consumer marketing, distribution and improved profit margin for ZYPITAMAG. The increase in revenue is a result of increased sales through its e-commerce platform, including increased sales of ZYPITAMAG. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $916,000 compared to $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Decreased adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 resulted from higher selling and research and development expenses, partially offset by increased Marley Drug revenue and reduced general and administrative expenses. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $290,000 or $0.03 per share compared to net income of $482,000 or $0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The main factors contributing to the decrease in net income recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were higher selling and research and development expenses, partially offset by increased Marley Drug revenue and reduced general and administrative expenses. At March 31, 2023, the Company had unrestricted cash totaling $4.9 million, equal to $4.9 million of unrestricted cash held as of December 31, 2022. Cash flows from operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $173,000 compared to cash used in operating activities of $736,000 for the period ended March 31, 2022. All amounts referenced herein are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. The full financial statements are available at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.medicure.com. Notes The Company defines EBITDA as "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other income or expense" and Adjusted EBITDA as "EBITDA adjusted for nonacash and non-recurring items". The terms "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA", as it relates to the three months and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 results prepared using IFRS, do not have any standardized meaning according to IFRS. It is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Conference Call Info: Topic: Medicure's Q1 2023 Results Call date: Monday, May 29, 2023 Time: 7:30 AM Central Time (8:30 AM Eastern Time) Toll Free: 1 (888) 506-0062 International: 1 (973) 528-0011 Participant Access Code: 408939 Webcast: This conference call will be webcast live over the internet at the following link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2965/48501 You may request international country-specific access information by e-mailing the Company in advance. Management will accept and answer questions related to the financial results and operations during the question-and-answer period at the end of the conference call. A recording of the call will be available following the event at the Company's website. About Medicure Inc. Medicure is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the U.S. cardiovascular market. The present focus of the Company is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) injection and ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) tablets in the United States, where they are sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma Inc. Medicure also operates Marley Drug, Inc. ("Marley Drug"), a pharmacy located in North Carolina that offers an Extended Supply drug program serving all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Marley Drug is committed to improving the health status of its patients and the communities they serve while reducing overall health care costs for employers and other health care consumers. For more information visit www.marleydrug.com. To learn more about The Extended Supply Generic Drug Program call 800.286.6781 or email [email protected].For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com. For additional information about AGGRASTAT, please visit www.aggrastathdb.com or refer to the full Prescribing Information. For additional information about ZYPITAMAG, please visit www.zypitamag.com or refer to the full Prescribing Information. To receive investor and business updates from Medicure, please fill out this form click here to be added to Medicure's e-mail list. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information: Statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "may", "plans", "will", "estimates", "continues", "anticipates", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. federal securities laws (such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are hereinafter collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements, include estimates, analysis and opinions of management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors which the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances. Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company's ability to predict or control that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others, the Company's future product revenues, expected results, including future revenue from P5P, the likelihood of receiving a priority review voucher from the United State Food and Drug Administration, expected future growth in revenues, stage of development, additional capital requirements, risks associated with the completion and timing of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market the Company's products, the ability to protect its intellectual property, dependence upon collaborative partners, changes in government regulation or regulatory approval processes, and rapid technological change in the industry. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about: general business and economic conditions; the impact of changes in Canadian-US dollar and other foreign exchange rates on the Company's revenues, costs and results; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for the Company's research and development projects; the availability of financing for the Company's commercial operations and/or research and development projects, or the availability of financing on reasonable terms; results of current and future clinical trials; the uncertainties associated with the acceptance and demand for new products and market competition. The foregoing list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of factors, other than as may be required by applicable legislation. Additional discussion regarding the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its business can be found in the Company's other filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities or the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the "Risk Factors" section of its current Form 20F. AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) injection, ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) tablets, and Marley Drug are registered trademarks. For more information, please contact: Dr. Albert D. Friesen Chief Executive Officer Tel. 888-435-2220 Fax 204-488-9823 E-mail: [email protected] www.medicure.com Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,927 $ 4,857 Accounts receivable 6,206 5,635 Inventories 2,776 3,221 Prepaid expenses 930 1,134 Total current assets 14,839 14,847 Non-current assets: Property and equipment 1,076 1,187 Intangible assets 10,208 10,624 Goodwill 3,174 3,177 Other assets 63 63 Total non-current assets 14,521 15,051 Total assets $ 29,360 $ 29,898 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 6,445 $ 7,128 Current portion of royalty obligation 68 179 Current portion of acquisition payable 677 677 Current income taxes payable 60 60 Current portion of lease obligation 350 346 Total current liabilities 7,600 8,390 Non-current liabilities Lease obligation 427 503 Total non-current liabilities 427 503 Total liabilities 8,027 8,893 Equity: Share capital 80,941 80,917 Contributed surplus 10,515 10,476 Accumulated other comprehensive income (5,483) (5,458) Deficit (64,640) (64,930) Total Equity 21,333 21,005 Total liabilities and equity $ 29,360 $ 29,898 Consolidated Statements of Net Income and Comprehensive Income (expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) For the three months ended March 31 2023 2022 Revenue, net $ 5,628 $ 5,716 Cost of goods sold 1,832 1,691 Gross profit 3,796 4,025 Expenses Selling 2,038 1,692 General and administrative 906 1,312 Research and development 526 345 3,470 3,349 Finance costs: Finance expense, net 5 19 Foreign exchange loss, net 24 133 29 152 Net income before income taxes $ 297 $ 524 Income tax expense (7 ) (42 ) Net income $ 290 $ 482 Other comprehensive loss: Item that may be reclassified to profit or loss Exchange differences on translation of foreign subsidiaries (25 ) (169 ) Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (25 ) (169 ) Comprehensive income $ 265 $ 313 Income per share Basic $ 0.03 $ 0.05 Diluted $ 0.03 $ 0.05 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) For the three months ended March 31 2023 2022 Cash (used in) provided by: Operating activities: Net income for the period $ 290 $ 482 Adjustments for: Current income tax expense 7 42 Amortization of property, plant and equipment 107 107 Amortization of intangible assets 434 368 Share-based compensation 49 17 Finance expense, net 5 19 Unrealized foreign exchange loss 24 133 Change in the following: Accounts receivable (581 ) (1,433 ) Inventories 430 (129 ) Prepaid expenses 201 73 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (796 ) (396 ) Other assets - (29 ) Interest received (paid), net 10 10 Income taxes paid (7 ) Cash flows (used) from in operating activities 173 (736 ) Investing activities: Acquisition of intangible assets (27 ) (47 ) Cash flows used in investing activities (27 ) (47 ) Financing activities: Repayment of lease liability (76 ) (79 ) Cash flows used in financing activities (76 ) (79 ) Foreign exchange loss on cash held in foreign currency - (35 ) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 70 (897 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 4,857 3,694 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 4,927 $ 2,797 SOURCE: Medicure, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2023 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSXV:NOAL) ("NOA" or the "Company") announces that the Company has granted an aggregate of 5,708,000 stock options pursuant to its Stock Option Plan to directors, officers, employees, advisors and consultants of the Company, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The options issued entitle the holder to acquire the same number of common shares of the Company and will be exercisable at a price of $0.50 per common share for a period of 5 years from the date of grant. The options were granted under and are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Stock Option Plan. About NOA Lithium Brines Inc. NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by industry leaders. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars (Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes) and a total portfolio of over 100,000 hectares. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Taj Singh, M.Eng, P.Eng, CPA President & CEO, Director For Further Information Website: www.noalithium.com Email: [email protected] Telephone: 416-568-1027 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements including, but not limited to NOA's future plans and objectives regarding its projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE:PULL)(OTC PINK:PRXTF)(XFRA:A2QJAJ) ("Pure Extracts" or the "Company"), a plant-based extraction company focused on cannabis, hemp and functional mushrooms, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement dated May 1, 2023 (the "Definitive Agreement") with PL Healthcare Management Ltd. ("PLM") and 1411062 B.C. Ltd. ("Subco"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to which the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of PLM (the "Transaction"). In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Definitive Agreement, the Transaction will be completed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation, whereby, among other things: (a) Subco will amalgamate (the "Amalgamation") with PLM to form an amalgamated company ("Amalco"); (b) each issued and outstanding common share of PLM (of which there are currently 35,301,154) will be exchanged for five (5) common shares of the Company ("Common Shares"); and (c) Amalco will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. In advance of closing of the Transaction, Pure will carry out a consolidation of its Common Shares on a 10:1 basis (the "Consolidation"), such that, upon the completion of the Transaction, it is expected that existing shareholders of the Company will collectively hold approximately 6.2% of the Common Shares and that former shareholders of PLM will collectively hold approximately 93.8% of the Common Shares. PLM, an arm's length party to the Company, is a healthcare case management business focused on helping Canadians with health-service case management and related therapies, among other things. Following the completion of the Transaction, the Company plans to utilize cannabis biomass produced by PLM's micro-cultivator and supply its extracted cannabis products to PLM's clients thereby preserving the entire retail sales margin within the Pure Extracts-PLM group of companies. Additionally, Pure Extracts plans to add to its current 47 SKUs by selecting and manufacturing the most beneficial cannabis products from its over 30 proprietary formulations for PLM's clients, addressing such urgent conditions such as PTSD, anxiety and depression. "The PLM team is looking forward to working with Pure Extracts toward strategic development of their business lines and create increasing value for shareholders of both companies," said Shaun Good, the Chief Executive Officer of PLM. Ben Nikolaevsky, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, commented "The combination of the two organizations allows for a synergistic portfolio of products and our ability to reach new segments in the rapidly expanding segment of healthcare and cannabis." Subject to their prior resignation in connection with the Bridge Financing (as defined below), following the completion of the Transaction, and in accordance with the terms of the Definitive Agreement, Ben Nikolaevsky will step down as Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and Yana Popova, Sean Bromley and Dwight Duncan will resign from the board of directors of the Company. Shaun Good will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and Gerry Abday will be appointed as President and a director of the Company. The Company also announces a proposed bridge financing (the "Bridge Financing") pursuant to which PLM would advance funds to the Company prior to the completion of the Transaction. The proceeds of the Bridge Financing would be used to permit the Company to execute larger volumes of purchase orders. If completed, a condition of the first advance under the Bridge Financing would be the resignation of up to three (3) existing directors of the Company and their concurrent replacement with three (3) nominees of PLM. It is anticipated that the first advance under the Bridge Financing would be made on or about May 31, 2023. Shaun Good has a diverse background in various industries and has demonstrated his leadership and entrepreneurial spirit throughout his career. After founding a successful construction company, he transitioned into a career with a major financial company. Responding to his clients' growing interest in investment opportunities, Shaun entered the cannabis industry in 2017. As the founder of four companies in BC, one of which focuses on the research and development of cannabis cultivars and terpenoids for the medical industry, Shaun demonstrates his relentless pursuit of innovation and commitment to helping others succeed. Gerry Abday is a highly accomplished executive with a wealth of experience in the health management and business sectors. As the President of PLM, he has successfully positioned PLM as a leader in the industry by leveraging his keen understanding of market trends and client needs. Gerry's visionary approach to leadership and dedication to excellence has been instrumental in driving the growth and success of PLM. Before taking the helm at PLM, Gerry founded QSD Custom Manufacturing Inc., a thriving business that has generated millions in revenue and served hundreds of clients across North America. Gerry's leadership skills, combined with his passion for improving the lives of others, make him an exceptional figure in both the business world and the wider community. With his vast experience, innovative mindset, and philanthropic spirit, Gerry continues to be a driving force in the pursuit of excellence and positive change. The Transaction will constitute a Fundamental Change of the Company, as such term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, and completion thereof will be subject to a number of customary conditions precedent, including receipt of required regulatory approvals, approval of the shareholders of the Company, PLM and Subco to the Amalgamation, completion of the Consolidation and the Board Changes. Trading in the Common Shares has been halted, and will remain halted, pending review and approval of the Transaction by the Canadian Securities Exchange. About Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF) (XFRA: A2QJAJ) Pure Extracts features an all-new, state-of-the-art processing facility located just 20 minutes north of world-famous Whistler, British Columbia. The bespoke facility has been constructed to European Union GMP standards aiming towards export sales of products and formulations, including those currently restricted in Canada, into European jurisdictions where they are legally available. Pure Extracts was granted its Standard Processing License by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act on September 25, 2020, and its Sales Amendment on July 19, 2021. The Company's stock began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on November 5, 2020 Find out more at https://pureextractscorp.com/ Or contact: Pure Extracts Investor Relations Tel: +1 604 493 2052 [email protected] ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Ben Nikolaevsky" Ben Nikolaevsky CEO and Director This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of Pure Extracts, and the other statements are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Transaction, including statements respecting: the Amalgamation; the timing and potential completion of the Transaction; satisfaction of the conditions precedent to closing of the Transaction; the Consolidation and the expectations of management of the PLM brand; the Company's business and strategic plans; and Bridge Financing by PLM to the Company and the use of such funding, are forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in forward looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and we cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those listed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as, and to the extent required by, applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. SOURCE: Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: All amounts in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / RE Royalties Ltd. (TSXV:RE) ("RE Royalties" or the "Company"), a global leader in renewable energy royalty-based financing, is pleased to announce that it has acquired a royalty on 100MW of output from a wind project located in Alberta, Canada ("Alberta Wind Project") for $940,000 Canadian dollars. RE Royalties will receive a monthly royalty payment for a period of 12 years. The average annual royalty payments are estimated to be approximately $132,000 per year. The Alberta Wind Project is owned by a major independent power producer with a power purchase agreement with a large corporate off taker. The full project is expected to generate approximately 500 GWh of clean energy per year; capable of providing clean, renewable energy for approximately 68,000 homes. Bernard Tan, CEO of the Company stated "We are pleased to acquire this royalty on an operating wind project. This transaction further demonstrates the strength of the royalty financing model in creating a win-win solution for our clients, shareholders, and the environment. We look forward to continuing to deliver on our strong backlog of renewable energy royalty opportunities in the near term." First Quarter Results Conference Call on Thursday, June 1, 2023 The Company announced plans to release its 2023 first quarter financial results before market open on Monday, May 29, 2023. Management will host a first quarter telephone conference call and live webcast on June 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. ET) to discuss its first quarter results. After opening remarks by management there will be a question-and-answer session open to analysts and investors. The conference call may be accessed online at https://www.reroyalties.com/events and questions can be submitted in advance to Melanee Henderson, Investment Relations. Canadian Climate Investor Conference Investors are also invited to join RE Royalties at the inaugural Canadian Climate Investor Conference, on June 8, 2023, in-person at the Hyatt Regency Toronto. Peter Leighton, Chief Operating Officer, will be presenting RE Royalties business outlook and latest investments at the conference. The opening panel discussion will be moderated by Tim Nash, Founder of Good Investing, and host of the Toronto Star Responsible Investing for a Sustainable Economy podcast. Entry to the conference is free for investors and registration is required in advance. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Bernard Tan CEO About RE Royalties Ltd. RE Royalties Ltd. acquires revenue-based royalties over renewable energy facilities and technologies by providing non-dilutive financing solutions to privately held and publicly traded companies in the renewable energy sector. RE Royalties is the first to apply this proven business model to the renewable energy sector. The Company currently owns over 100 royalties on solar, wind, hydro, battery storage, energy efficiency and renewable natural gas projects in Canada, United States and Mexico. The Company's business objectives are to provide shareholders with a strong growing yield, robust capital protection, high rate of growth through re-investment and a sustainable investment focus. For further information, please contact: Investor Contact: RE Royalties Ltd. Melanee Henderson, Investment Relations T: (778) 373-6731 TF 800-667-2114 E: [email protected] www.reroyalties.com Media Contact: RE Royalties Ltd. Talia Beckett, VP of Communications T: (778) 3742000 E: [email protected] www.reroyalties.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been approved or disapproved by any regulatory authority nor has any such authority passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the short form base shelf prospectus or the prospectus supplement. The offer and sale of the securities has 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 in the United States or to United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Forward Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") with respect to the Company and within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. 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. This information represents predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Forward-looking information may relate to the Company's future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the Company's financial results, future financial position, expected growth of cash flows, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, projected capital expenditures, taxes, plans, objectives, industry trends and growth opportunities including financing. The reader is referred to the Company's most recent filings on SEDAR for a more complete discussion of all applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company's profile page at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: RE Royalties Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: Morgan Stanley's chief US equity strategist Mike Wilson told Bloomberg Television on Friday that the firm's bearish equity market call ... I'm a New Customer I'm a Returning Customer E-mail Address (or username, if registered via mobile device) Password NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (Atmus), the Filtration business unit of Cummins Inc. (Cummins; NYSE: CMI), today announced the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 14,124,409 shares of its common stock owned by Cummins at a price to the public of $19.50 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 26, 2023 under the ticker symbol ATMU. Atmus is not selling any shares and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in the offering. The offering is expected to close on May 30, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,118,661 common shares at the IPO price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Upon completion of the IPO, Cummins is expected to hold approximately 83.0% of Atmus, or 80.5% if the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as joint lead book-running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the offering. Baird, BofA Securities, Wells Fargo Securities and HSBC are also acting as joint book-running managers. PNC Capital Markets LLC, BTIG, ING, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Loop Capital Markets and Siebert Williams Shank are acting as co-managers. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained for free from (i) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, via telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or via email: [email protected]; (ii) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, via telephone at (866) 803-9204, or via e-mail at [email protected]. A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to these securities was filed with the SEC and became effective on May 25, 2023. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This announcement is being issued in accordance with Rule 134 under the Securities Act. About Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. is a global leader in filtration and media solutions. For more than 65 years, the company has combined its culture of innovation with a rich history of designing and manufacturing filtration solutions. With a presence in more than 150 countries on six continents, Atmus serves customers across truck, bus, agriculture, construction, mining, marine and power generation vehicle and equipment markets, along with comprehensive aftermarket support and solutions. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee (U.S.), Atmus employs approximately 4,250 people globally who are committed to creating a better future by protecting what is important. About Cummins Inc. Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The companys products range from diesel, natural gas, electric and hybrid powertrains and powertrain-related components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, axles, drivelines, brakes, suspension systems, electric power generation systems, batteries, electrified power systems, electric powertrains, hydrogen production and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 73,600 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality of opportunity. Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $2.2 billion on sales of $28.1 billion in 2022. Forward-looking disclosure statement This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors. These statements relate to the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. There are significant risks and uncertainties relating to the offering. There can be no guarantees that the IPO will be consummated on the timeline anticipated or at all or that Cummins will achieve the anticipated benefits of the IPO. Cummins ability to consummate and achieve the anticipated benefits of the IPO may be materially affected by such factors as changes to the business, results of operation or financial condition of Atmus or Cummins, changes in the filtration and power solutions industries, adverse market or macroeconomic conditions and other factors outside Cummins control that could affect the advisability, pricing and timing of the potential IPO. For additional information about the factors that affect the Cummins and Atmus businesses, please see their respective filings with the SEC. Each of Cummins and Atmus undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005923/en/ Investor relations: Todd Chirillo [email protected] Media relations: Keri Moenssen [email protected] Source: Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC) today announced that members of its executive management team will attend the Stifel Cross Sector Insight Conference on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Boston, MA. In conjunction with the event, Belden executives will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors registered to attend the conference. For more information, please contact your Stifel salesperson. About Belden Belden Inc. delivers the infrastructure that makes the digital journey simpler, smarter and secure. Were moving beyond connectivity, from what we make to what we make possible through a performance-driven portfolio, forward-thinking expertise and purpose-built solutions. With a legacy of quality and reliability spanning 120-plus years, we have a strong foundation to continue building the future. We are headquartered in St. Louis and have manufacturing capabilities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. For more information, visit us at www.belden.com; follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005007/en/ Belden Investor Relations Aaron Reddington, CFA (317) 219-9359 [email protected] Source: Belden Inc WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today and for the seventh consecutive year, Points of Light, the worlds largest nonprofit dedicated to accelerating people-powered change, recognized Charles Schwab among the 50 most community-minded companies in the U.S. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005188/en/ Now in its eleventh year, The Civic 50 is a national standard for corporate citizenship and showcases how leading companies are moving social impact, civic engagement and community to the core of their business. The Civic 50 honorees are companies with annual U.S. revenues of at least $1 billion and are selected based on four dimensions of their corporate citizenship and social impact programs: investment of resources and volunteerism, integration across business functions, institutionalization through policies and systems and impact measurement. Schwab has a longstanding commitment to supporting the communities we serve through financial literacy and volunteer programs, and we are honored to be named to The Civic 50 by Points of Light, said Schwab President Rick Wurster. Broadening access to financial literacy programs can have a meaningful and lasting impact on the financial well-being of individuals and families for generations to come, and we are proud of the partnerships weve built to advance these and other programs in the communities where our clients and employees live and work. Schwab has a long history of strengthening local communities through financial literacy, volunteerism and community support. Through its signature financial literacy program Moneywise America, Schwab aims to level the economic playing field and close the financial education gap by making free, high-quality financial education accessible to everyone. In addition to financial literacy, Schwab employees volunteer thousands of hours annually through Schwab Volunteer Week, skills-based volunteerism programs, and other employee-driven volunteer initiatives that benefit nonprofits, schools, students, teachers, parents and families nationwide. Schwab is committed to providing financial, people and intellectual resources in support of social causes that are responsive to community needs and reflective of employees interests. In 2022 alone, Charles Schwab Foundation provided $13.1 million in direct support to more than 6,500 nonprofits, including $2.8 million in matching funds to organizations supported by Schwab employees. Also in 2022, more than 10,000 Schwabbies volunteered nearly 145,000 hours to benefit local communities. Companies play a critical role in creating thriving, participatory communities, said Diane Quest, interim president and CEO, Points of Light. Companies like Charles Schwab set a model for others, showing how to best use employee talent, business assets and integration to create meaningful impact, and were thrilled to uplift and celebrate their work as an honoree of The Civic 50 2023. The Civic 50 survey is administered by True Impact, and the results are analyzed by VeraWorks. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform the scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate community engagement. To view the full report and see the full list of The Civic 50 2022 honorees, visit www.pointsoflight.org/the-civic-50. For more information on Schwabs commitment to communities, visit https://www.aboutschwab.com/giving-back. About Charles Schwab & Co. At Charles Schwab, we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients goals with passion and integrity. More information is available at aboutschwab.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. About Points of Light Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 145 affiliates across 39 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 3.7 million people in 16.7 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where its needed most. For more information, visit pointsoflight.org. 0523-3MF1 2023 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Member SIPC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005188/en/ E.J. Bernacki Charles Schwab 720-329-9273 [email protected] Source: The Charles Schwab Corporation Availability of the Draft Accelerated Safeguard Plan Granting of the Waiver by the AMF PUTEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ORPEA (Paris: ORP): Convening of all classes of affected parties by the judicial administrators to vote on the accelerated safeguard plan and availability of the draft accelerated safeguard plan and the documents for the vote in the classes of affected parties By judgment dated 24 March 2023, the Specialized Commercial Court of Nanterre ruled in favor of ORPEA S.A.'s request and opened accelerated safeguard proceedings in its favor. The proceedings were extended by a judgment of the Specialized Commercial Court of Nanterre on 22 May 2023 for a further two months, until 24 July 2023. As a reminder, the proceedings only affects the financial, social and tax creditors directly concerned by its restructuring plan, to the exclusion of any other creditor or partner, in particular lessors or suppliers. In this context and following the various announcements made by the Company, Maitre Helene Bourbouloux and Maitre Thibault Martinat, in their capacity as judicial administrators of ORPEA S.A. appointed under the terms of the judgment opening the accelerated safeguard proceedings referred to above, have today convened all relevant classes of affected parties, shareholders and creditors, to vote on the draft accelerated safeguard plan which will be submitted to the classes of affected parties. The vote for each of the classes of affected parties will take place on 16 June 2023 in accordance with the procedures set out in the internal rules governing the classes of affected parties and the convening notices. To this end, the convening notices, which are subject to legal publication, have been published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales (BALO) today and can be accessed, together with the internal rules governing the classes of shares affected and voting procedures and all the documents that must be made available to shareholders under the applicable legal and regulatory conditions, on the Company's website under the heading "Restructuring": (link). The classes of affected parties, including the class of shareholders, will vote on a single resolution: the approval of the accelerated safeguard plan of ORPEA S.A. Availability of the draft safeguard plan of ORPEA S.A. The draft accelerated safeguard plan, prepared by ORPEA S.A. with the assistance of the judicial administrators, on the basis of which all classes of affected parties will vote on 16 June 2023, in person or by correspondence, as the case may be, is now available on the Company's website (www.orpea-group.com) in the "Restructuring" section (link). At the end of the vote, the results will be published on ORPEA S.A.s website. The technical terms and conditions of the equity transactions provided for in the draft accelerated safeguard plan to be submitted to the Nanterre Commercial Court for review, and the transactions to be carried out subsequently, are described in further detail in the Appendix, which is also available in the Restructuring section (link). Granting of the waiver by the AMF On 25 May 2023, and published today, the Autorite des Marches Financiers granted the groupement comprising Caisse de Depots et Consignations, MACSF, CNP Assurances and MAIF a waiver from the mandatory filing of a tender offer pursuant to Articles 234-8, 234-9 2 and 234-10 of the General Regulations of the Autorite des Marches Financiers. (www.amf-france.org). 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. Appendix Terms and conditions of the equity transactions implemented as part of the financial restructuring of ORPEA S.A. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005326/en/ Investor Relations ORPEA Benoit Lesieur Investor Relations Manager [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 S.A. On Tuesday, May 30, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion entitled "'What mathematics, physics for during war?" organized by the scientific lyceum-boarding school Churyumov International Green School. Participants include: experimental physicist, academician, director of the State Scientific Institution Kyiv Academic University of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Oleksandr Kordiuk; Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, Chairman of the Advisory Council under the President of Ukraine on the Development of General Secondary Education, physics teacher at the Richelieu Scientific Lyceum (Odesa, 2000-2009) Serhiy Koleboshyn; Deputy Director of the State Scientific Institution Institute of Educational Content Modernization of the Ministry of Education and Science Olena Dubovyk; astrophysicist, author of the programs Physics and Game, Physics with Perelman, Astronomy for students in 2-6 grades of the Churyumov Scientific Lyceum Bohdan Ohulchansky; moderator - founder of the Churyumov Scientific Lyceum, expert in specialized physics and mathematics education of a scientific profile Iryna Zhdanova (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Additional information: (095) 106 7335 (WhatsApp/Telegram/Viber), a.mezentseva@cigs.com.ua (Anastasia Mezentseva). TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has received a purchase order for 3,000 Units of its HydraGEN Technology Units designed to reduce fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in diesel engines while tracking and creating future Carbon Credits. The recipient of these HydraGEN Units is Bristol & Bristol Incorporated, an oil and gas logistics company located in Georgetown, Guyana. The contract was brokered by Mr. Amir Farahi, a director of the Company, where he will act as a conduit for the purchase of the units on behalf of dynaCERT for Bristol & Bristol. The Company has received full payment for an initial 93 HydraGEN HG-2 Units for delivery commencing immediately. A further 140 HydraGEN Units are expected to be delivered by July 30th 2023 and 750 units to be delivered by September 30th 2023. Further delivery of the remaining units beyond September 30th 2023 are to be mututally agreed upon by both Bristol & Bristol and dynaCERT. Marvin Bristol, President & CEO of Bristol & Bristol, stated, We are very pleased to have been given the opportunity to deploy dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology in Guyana and surrounding regions. Our country has been responsive to new technologies that reduce carbon emissions and understand the importance of deploying, today, readily available solutions to reduce pollution. Not only can we benefit from dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology Units designed to reduce fuel consumption and save on diesel costs, but also reduce greenhouse gasses, which is important to all our citizens and visitors. Jim Payne, President & CEO of dynaCERT, stated, dynaCERT is very pleased to be featuring our HydraGEN Technology to Bristol & Bristol. As new adopters of our technology, Bristol & Bristol are contributing to the world-wide imperatives and their associated local and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of diesel engines. Bristol & Bristol have acknowledged that dynaCERT received the Smart Sustainable Company Rating Seal based on the results of rigorous analysis. This honourable distinction of dynaCERT and its HydraGEN technology as it applies to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Global Compact Principals has been evaluated as "high", the highest global ranking in its category. The extraordinary endorsement of dynaCERT allows its dealers to engage with customers with the assurance that the Company's HydraGEN technology has a significant contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals on the United Nations. The purchase order discussed herein has been received from an Insider of the Company on behalf of Bristol and Bristol Inc. and therefore this constitutes a Related Party Transaction within the meaning of Multi-lateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), however exemptions are available from the valuation (s. 5.5(a)) and minority shareholder approval requirements (s. 5.7(a)) of MI 61-101. The foregoing purchase order is also subject to receipt of the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology along with its proprietary HydraLytica Telematics, a means of monitoring fuel consumption and calculating GHG emissions savings designed for the tracking of possible future Carbon Credits for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, which has shown to lower carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to the future delivery of HydraGEN Technology Units under the purchase order, Bristol & Bristol Incorporated and the nation of Guyana Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005276/en/ Jim Payne, CEO & President dynaCERT Inc. #101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 +1 (416) 766-9691 x 2 [email protected]dynaCERT.com Investor Relations dynaCERT Inc. Nancy Massicotte +1 (416) 766-9691 x 1 [email protected]dynaCERT.com Source: dynaCERT Inc. BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eaton Vance Management (Eaton Vance), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), announced the portfolio managers of certain funds as follows: Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund ( NYSE: EOI) Charles B. Gaffney Douglas R. Rogers Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (NYSE: ETJ) Charles B. Gaffney Douglas R. Rogers Eaton Vance Tax Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (NYSE: ETY) Charles B. Gaffney Douglas R. Rogers Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Income Fund (NYSE: ETB) Charles B. Gaffney Douglas R. Rogers Thomas C. Seto* Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (NYSE: ETV) Charles B. Gaffney Douglas R. Rogers Thomas C. Seto* Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (NYSE: ETW) Charles B. Gaffney Douglas R. Rogers Thomas C. Seto* Thomas C. Seto is a managing director and head of investment management at Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC, sub-adviser to ETB, ETV and ETW. Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value. The market price of Fund shares may vary from net asset value based on factors affecting the supply and demand for shares, such as Fund distribution rates relative to similar investments, investors expectations for future distribution changes, the clarity of the Funds investment strategy and future return expectations, and investors confidence in the underlying markets in which the Fund invests. Fund shares are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested. No Fund is a complete investment program and you may lose money investing in a Fund. An investment in a Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. Before investing, prospective investors should consider carefully the Funds investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Additional Information about the Funds This press release is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Funds; nor is this press release intended to solicit a proxy from any shareholder of the Funds. Fund shares are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested. No Fund is a complete investment program and you may lose money investing in a Fund. An investment in a Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. Additional information about the Funds, including performance and portfolio characteristic information, is available at www.eatonvance.com. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the U.S. securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond a Funds control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005050/en/ Investor Contact: (800) 262-1122 Source: Eaton Vance Management NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Everest Business Funding's unwavering commitment to excellence extends to both its valued customers and dedicated employees. This relentless pursuit of delivering the best possible experience is evident in the organization's recent accolade. The Spring 2023 Best and Brightest Companies To Work For in the Nation list, curated by the National Association for Business Resource, proudly features Everest Business Funding among its esteemed honorees. We want to thank everyone on our dedicated team and all of our wonderful customers for contributing to the success of our organization. As an organization, we only want to give back what is given so much to us, lifting everyone with support along the way. We are honored to be recognized by The National Association for Business Resource and grateful to accept the honoree acknowledgment for one of 2023s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Nation, said Everest Business Funding. The revenue-based funding firm has helped many small businesses and entrepreneurs financially sustain and reach the next level of their business ventures by providing working capital. One of the most applauded contributions Everest Business Funding endows to its customers is the approach of treating every client as a partner, furnishing every engagement with a treatment of respect, high-quality guidance, and confidentiality. Everest Business Fundings team takes the time to get to know the ins and outs of every clients business with the intention of providing the most appropriate funding solution. Along with Everest Business Funding, a total of 195 organizations won the honor of springs Best and Brightest National winners. These top awardees were picked out of the 1,300 nominations from all over the nation. The National Association for Business Resources provides the opportunity to be nationally recognized for this honor four times during the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. As recipients of the prestigious Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award, Everest Business Funding and fellow winners are granted a special invitation to attend an exclusive national conference held in Detroit, Michigan. The conference, scheduled for September 27-28 this year, offers a unique opportunity for honorees to come together for celebration, networking, and professional development. Participants will engage in fruitful discussions, share best practices, address critical industry issues, and draw inspiration from one another. This immersive experience promises to enhance their knowledge and foster meaningful collaborations in a proactive and supportive environment. In addition, all companies who made the list of Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation will be acknowledged and featured in the Wall Street Journal and Corp! Magazines online edition. To understand more about why Everest Business Funding won the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation and explore their exceptional team and comprehensive range of services, visit https://www.everestbusinessfunding.com/. About Everest Business Funding Everest Business Funding is a small business owners trusted partner. They support entrepreneurs by providing them with working capital to expand their business and operations. The entire application, approval, and funding process is completed in record time. When you need cash for equipment, staff, renovations, inventory, marketing, or anything else, Everest Business Funding can help. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005787/en/ Anthony Parker Everest Business Funding 888-342-5709 [email protected] Source: Everest Business Funding DUO-E is the first global Phase III trial of immunotherapy plus PARP inhibition to demonstrate clinical benefit in this setting WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Positive high-level results from the DUO-E Phase III trial showed IMFINZI (durvalumab) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy followed by either IMFINZI plus LYNPARZA (olaparib) or IMFINZI alone as maintenance therapy both demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy alone in patients with newly diagnosed advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. There was a greater clinical benefit observed with the combination of IMFINZI and LYNPARZA as maintenance treatment. Overall survival (OS) data were immature at the time of this analysis however, a favorable trend was observed for both treatment regimens. Endometrial cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women worldwide, with over 417,000 patients diagnosed and over 97,000 deaths in 2020.1 Diagnoses are expected to rise by almost 40% by 2040.2 The current standard of care for advanced endometrial cancer is chemotherapy.3,4 However, long-term outcomes in 1st-line endometrial cancer remain poor and novel treatment options are needed.5,6 Shannon N. Westin, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and principal investigator of the DUO-E trial, said: These exciting data demonstrate durvalumab immunotherapy can significantly delay disease progression for patients with endometrial cancer and the addition of the PARP inhibitor olaparib can improve the benefit further. These combinations could provide physicians with new treatment approaches to improve outcomes for patients. Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: These DUO-E data demonstrate for the first time the power of combining immunotherapy and a PARP inhibitor to provide meaningful clinical improvements for patients with endometrial cancer. These results underscore our ambition to redefine cancer care and we hope to bring this innovative IMFINZI and LYNPARZA combination to endometrial cancer patients as soon as possible. The safety and tolerability profile of IMFINZI plus chemotherapy and of IMFINZI in combination with LYNPARZA was broadly consistent with that observed in prior clinical trials and the known profiles of the individual medicines.7,8 These data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting, and we look forward to discussing them with health authorities. 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 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. : 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. 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. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR LYNPARZA (olaparib) CONTRAINDICATIONS There are no contraindications for LYNPARZA. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML): Occurred in approximately 1.5% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and the majority of events had a fatal outcome. The median duration of therapy in patients who developed MDS/AML was 2 years (range: 10 years). All of these patients had previous chemotherapy with platinum agents and/or other DNA-damaging agents, including radiotherapy. Do not start LYNPARZA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (Grade 1). Monitor complete blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter for clinically significant changes during treatment. For prolonged hematological toxicities, interrupt LYNPARZA and monitor blood count weekly until recovery. If the levels have not recovered to Grade 1 or less after 4 weeks, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations, including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. Discontinue LYNPARZA if MDS/AML is confirmed. Pneumonitis: Occurred in 0.8% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and some cases were fatal. If patients present with new or worsening respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and fever, or a radiological abnormality occurs, interrupt LYNPARZA treatment and initiate prompt investigation. Discontinue LYNPARZA if pneumonitis is confirmed and treat patient appropriately. Venous Thromboembolic Events (VTE): Including severe or fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in patients treated with LYNPARZA. VTE occurred in 7% of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who received LYNPARZA plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to 3.1% of patients receiving enzalutamide or abiraterone plus ADT in the PROfound study. Patients receiving LYNPARZA and ADT had a 6% incidence of pulmonary embolism compared to 0.8% of patients treated with ADT plus either enzalutamide or abiraterone. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and treat as medically appropriate, which may include long-term anticoagulation as clinically indicated. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, LYNPARZA can cause fetal harm. A pregnancy test is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment. Females Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose. Males Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months following the last dose of LYNPARZA and to not donate sperm during this time. ADVERSE REACTIONSFirst-Line Maintenance BRCAm Advanced Ovarian Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for SOLO-1 were: nausea (77%), fatigue (67%), abdominal pain (45%), vomiting (40%), anemia (38%), diarrhea (37%), constipation (28%), upper respiratory tract infection/influenza/nasopharyngitis/bronchitis (28%), dysgeusia (26%), decreased appetite (20%), dizziness (20%), neutropenia (17%), dyspepsia (17%), dyspnea (15%), leukopenia (13%), urinary tract infection (13%), thrombocytopenia (11%), and stomatitis (11%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for SOLO-1 were: decrease in hemoglobin (87%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (87%), decrease in leukocytes (70%), decrease in lymphocytes (67%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%), decrease in platelets (35%), and increase in serum creatinine (34%). ADVERSE REACTIONSFirst-Line Maintenance Advanced Ovarian Cancer in Combination with Bevacizumab Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients treated with LYNPARZA/bevacizumab and at a 5% frequency compared to placebo/bevacizumab in the first-line maintenance setting for PAOLA-1 were: nausea (53%), fatigue (including asthenia) (53%), anemia (41%), lymphopenia (24%), vomiting (22%), and leukopenia (18%). In addition, the most common adverse reactions (10%) for patients receiving LYNPARZA/bevacizumab irrespective of the frequency compared with the placebo/bevacizumab arm were: diarrhea (18%), neutropenia (18%), urinary tract infection (15%), and headache (14%). In addition, venous thromboembolic events occurred more commonly in patients receiving LYNPARZA/bevacizumab (5%) than in those receiving placebo/bevacizumab (1.9%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients for LYNPARZA in combination with bevacizumab in the first-line maintenance setting for PAOLA-1 were: decrease in hemoglobin (79%), decrease in lymphocytes (63%), increase in serum creatinine (61%), decrease in leukocytes (59%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (35%), and decrease in platelets (35%). ADVERSE REACTIONSMaintenance Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 20% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting for SOLO-2 were: nausea (76%), fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), anemia (44%), vomiting (37%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI)/influenza (36%), diarrhea (33%), arthralgia/myalgia (30%), dysgeusia (27%), headache (26%), decreased appetite (22%), and stomatitis (20%). Study 19: nausea (71%), fatigue (including asthenia) (63%), vomiting (35%), diarrhea (28%), anemia (23%), respiratory tract infection (22%), constipation (22%), headache (21%), decreased appetite (21%), and dyspepsia (20%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting (SOLO-2/Study 19) were: increase in mean corpuscular volume (89%/82%), decrease in hemoglobin (83%/82%), decrease in leukocytes (69%/58%), decrease in lymphocytes (67%/52%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%/47%), increase in serum creatinine (44%/45%), and decrease in platelets (42%/36%). ADVERSE REACTIONSAdjuvant Treatment of gBRCAm, HER2-Negative, High-Risk Early Breast Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the adjuvant setting for OlympiA were: nausea (57%), fatigue (including asthenia) (42%), anemia (24%), vomiting (23%), headache (20%), diarrhea (18%), leukopenia (17%), neutropenia (16%), decreased appetite (13%), dysgeusia (12%), dizziness (11%), and stomatitis (10%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the adjuvant setting for OlympiA were: decrease in lymphocytes (77%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (67%), decrease in hemoglobin (65%), decrease in leukocytes (64%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (39%). ADVERSE REACTIONSgBRCAm, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 20% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the metastatic setting for OlympiAD were: nausea (58%), anemia (40%), fatigue (including asthenia) (37%), vomiting (30%), neutropenia (27%), respiratory tract infection (27%), leukopenia (25%), diarrhea (21%), and headache (20%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the metastatic setting for OlympiAD were: decrease in hemoglobin (82%), decrease in lymphocytes (73%), decrease in leukocytes (71%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (71%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (46%), and decrease in platelets (33%). ADVERSE REACTIONSFirst-Line Maintenance gBRCAm Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for POLO were: fatigue (60%), nausea (45%), abdominal pain (34%), diarrhea (29%), anemia (27%), decreased appetite (25%), constipation (23%), vomiting (20%), back pain (19%), arthralgia (15%), rash (15%), thrombocytopenia (14%), dyspnea (13%), neutropenia (12%), nasopharyngitis (12%), dysgeusia (11%), and stomatitis (10%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for POLO were: increase in serum creatinine (99%), decrease in hemoglobin (86%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (71%), decrease in lymphocytes (61%), decrease in platelets (56%), decrease in leukocytes (50%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (25%). ADVERSE REACTIONSHRR Gene-mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA for PROfound were: anemia (46%), fatigue (including asthenia) (41%), nausea (41%), decreased appetite (30%), diarrhea (21%), vomiting (18%), thrombocytopenia (12%), cough (11%), and dyspnea (10%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA for PROfound were: decrease in hemoglobin (98%), decrease in lymphocytes (62%), decrease in leukocytes (53%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (34%). DRUG INTERACTIONS Anticancer Agents: Clinical studies of LYNPARZA with other myelosuppressive anticancer agents, including DNA-damaging agents, indicate a potentiation and prolongation of myelosuppressive toxicity. CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors when using LYNPARZA. If a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor must be coadministered, reduce the dose of LYNPARZA. Advise patients to avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during LYNPARZA treatment. CYP3A Inducers: Avoid coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers when using LYNPARZA. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation: No data are available regarding the presence of olaparib in human milk, its effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the final dose. Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of LYNPARZA have not been established in pediatric patients. Hepatic Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification A and B). There are no data in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification C). Renal Impairment: No dosage modification is recommended in patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr 51-80 mL/min estimated by Cockcroft-Gault). In patients with moderate renal impairment (CLcr 31-50 mL/min), reduce the dose of LYNPARZA to 200 mg twice daily. There are no data in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (CLcr 30 mL/min). INDICATIONS LYNPARZA is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated: First-Line Maintenance BRCAm Advanced Ovarian Cancer For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm or sBRCAm) advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. First-Line Maintenance HRD-Positive Advanced Ovarian Cancer in Combination with Bevacizumab In combination with bevacizumab for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and whose cancer is associated with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive status defined by either: a deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA mutation, and/or mutation, and/or genomic instability Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. Maintenance Recurrent Ovarian Cancer For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Adjuvant Treatment of gBRCAm, HER2-Negative, High-Risk Early Breast Cancer For the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative high-risk early breast cancer who have been treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. gBRCAm, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer who have been treated with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting. Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer should have been treated with a prior endocrine therapy or be considered inappropriate for endocrine therapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. First-Line Maintenance gBRCAm Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma whose disease has not progressed on at least 16 weeks of a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. HRR Gene-mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have progressed following prior treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. Please see complete Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide. Notes Endometrial cancer Endometrial cancer is a highly heterogenous disease that originates in the tissue lining of the womb and is most common in women who have already been through the menopause, with the average age at diagnosis being over 60 years old.9-11 Both the incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer are expected to increase from 417,400 cases and 97,400 deaths in 2020 to 608,130 cases and 157,813 deaths in 2040.1,2 The majority of patients with endometrial cancer are diagnosed at an early stage of disease where the cancer is confined to the uterus. They are typically treated with surgery and/or radiation and the 5-year survival rate is high (approximately 95%). However, patients with advanced disease (Stage III-IV) are usually treated with chemotherapy and have a much poorer prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate falling to around 20-30%.4,5,11,12,13 For patients where the disease has already advanced or returned, treatment options are limited as the cancer is not considered likely to respond to hormonal therapy and will be treated with chemotherapy.5,6 DUO-E The DUO-E trial (GOG 3041/ENGOT-EN10) is a three-arm, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase III trial of 1st-line IMFINZI in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) followed by IMFINZI with LYNPARZA or IMFINZI alone as maintenance therapy versus platinum-based chemotherapy alone as a treatment for patients with newly diagnosed advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. The DUO-E trial randomized 699 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent Stage III or IV epithelial endometrial carcinoma (excluding sarcomas) to receive either 1120mg of IMFINZI or placebo, given every three weeks in combination with standard-of-care platinum-based chemotherapy. Following cessation of chemotherapy, patients were given either 1500mg of IMFINZI or placebo every four weeks as maintenance, either in combination with 300mg BID (2x150mg tablets, twice a day) of LYNPARZA or placebo until progressive disease for 24 months. The dual primary endpoint was PFS. Mismatch repair (MMR) status was one of the stratification factors. Key secondary endpoints included OS, objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR) and safety and tolerability. The trial was conducted in 253 study locations across 22 countries including the US, Europe, South America and Asia. For more information about the trial please visit ClinicalTrials.gov. IMFINZI IMFINZI (durvalumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the PD-L1 protein and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with the PD-1 and CD80 proteins, countering the tumor's immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses. IMFINZI is the only approved immunotherapy and the global standard of care in the curative-intent setting of unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients whose disease has not progressed after chemoradiation therapy based on the PACIFIC Phase III trial. IMFINZI is also approved in the US, EU, Japan, China and many other countries around the world for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) based on the CASPIAN Phase III trial. Additionally, IMFINZI is approved in combination with a short course of IMJUDO (tremelimumab-actl) and chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC in the US, EU and Japan based on the POSEIDON Phase III trial. In addition to its indications in lung cancer, IMFINZI is also approved in combination with chemotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer in the US, EU, Japan and several other countries; in combination with IMJUDO in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in the US, EU and Japan; and in previously treated patients with advanced bladder cancer in a small number of countries. Since the first approval in May 2017, more than 150,000 patients have been treated with IMFINZI. As part of a broad development program, IMFINZI is being tested as a single treatment and in combinations with other anti-cancer treatments for patients with SCLC, NSCLC, bladder cancer, several gastrointestinal cancers and other solid tumors. LYNPARZA LYNPARZA (olaparib) is a first-in-class PARP inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to block DNA damage response (DDR) in cells/tumors harboring a deficiency in homologous recombination-related (HRR) genes, such as those with mutations in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2, or those where deficiency is induced by other agents (such as new hormonal agents [NHAs]). Inhibition of PARP with LYNPARZA leads to the trapping of PARP bound to DNA single-strand breaks, stalling of replication forks, their collapse and the generation of DNA double-strand breaks and cancer cell death. LYNPARZA is currently approved in a number of countries across multiple tumor types including maintenance treatment of platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer and as both monotherapy and in combination with bevacizumab for the 1st-line maintenance treatment of BRCA-mutated (BRCAm) and homologous recombination repair deficient (HRD)-positive advanced ovarian cancer, respectively; for germline BRCA mutation (gBRCAm), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (in the EU and Japan this includes locally advanced breast cancer); for gBRCAm, HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer (in Japan this includes all BRCAm HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer); for gBRCAm metastatic pancreatic cancer; in combination with abiraterone for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in whom chemotherapy is not clinically indicated (EU only) and as monotherapy for HRR gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients who have progressed on prior NHA treatment (BRCAm only in the EU and Japan). In China, LYNPARZA is approved for the treatment of BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer as well as a 1st-line maintenance treatment with bevacizumab for HRD-positive advanced ovarian cancer. LYNPARZA, which is being jointly developed and commercialized by AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the US and Canada, in combination, has been used to treat over 75,000 patients worldwide. The companies develop LYNPARZA in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines independently. LYNPARZA is the foundation of AstraZeneca's industry-leading portfolio of potential new medicines targeting DDR mechanisms in cancer cells. 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 Company's 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. By harnessing the power of six scientific platforms Immuno-Oncology, Tumor Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response, Antibody Drug Conjugates, Epigenetics and Cell Therapies and by championing the development of personalized combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment 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. References World Cancer Research Fund International. Endometrial Cancer Statistics. Available at https://www.wcrf.org/cancer-trends/endometrial-cancer-statistics/. Accessed May 2023. IARC. WHO. Corpus Uteri. Estimated Numbers From 2020 To 2040, Females, Age [0-85+] World. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/tomorrow/en/dataviz/trends Accessed May 2023. Carlson R. Advanced Endometrial Cancer Carboplatin-Paclitaxel Regimen Promising. Oncology Times. 2003;25(22):36. Ferris JS, et al. Uterine Serous Carcinoma: Key Advances and Novel Treatment Approaches. International Journal of Gynecological Pathology. 2021;31(8):1165-1174. Matrai CE, et al. Molecular Evaluation of Low-grade Low-Stage Endometrial Cancer with and Without Recurrence. International Journal of Gynecological Pathology. 2022;41(3):207-219. Soumerai T, et al. Clinical Utility of Prospective Molecular Characterization in Advanced Endometrial Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2018 Dec 1;24(23):5939-5947. FDA. Highlights of prescribing information - Lynparza. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/208558s014lbl.pdf. Accessed May 2023. FDA. Highlights of prescribing information Imfinzi. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/761069s018lbl.pdf. Accessed May 2023. Dork T, et al. Genetic Susceptibility to Endometrial Cancer: Risk Factors and Clinical Management. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Sep;12(9):2407. American Cancer Society. What is Endometrial Cancer? Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/endometrial-cancer/about/what-is-endometrial-cancer.html. Accessed May 2023. Oakin A, et al. ESMO Guidelines. Endometrial Cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-Up. Ann Oncol. 2022 Sep;33(9):860-877. Wright JD, et al. Contemporary Management of Endometrial Cancer. Lancet. 2012 Apr 7;379(9823):1352-60. Monk BJ, et al. Real-World Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Endometrial Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study of US Electronic Health Records. Gynecologic Oncology. 2022;164(2):325-332. US- 76413 Last Updated 5/23 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005082/en/ Media Inquiries Brendan McEvoy +1 302 885 2677 Chelsea Ford +1 302 885 2677 US Media Mailbox: [email protected] Source: AstraZeneca DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leeward Renewable Energy Operations, LLC (LREO) today announced that it has posted to its secure investor relations site instructions to access the 2023 Q1 investor conference call on June 1st, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. CST. Investors who hold LREOs 4.250% Senior Notes due in 2029, prospective investors, broker-dealers, and securities analysts are invited to join the investor call. For information on how to access the site, visit https://www.leewardenergy.com/request-access/ or contact Investor Relations at [email protected]. About Leeward Renewable Energy Operations, LLC LREO is wholly owned by Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE), a leading renewable energy company that owns and operates a portfolio of 25 renewable energy facilities across nine states totaling approximately 2,700 megawatts of generating capacity. LRE is actively developing and contracting new wind, solar, and energy storage projects in energy markets across the U.S., with 1.9 gigawatts contracted and 20 gigawatts under development and construction, spanning over 100 projects. LRE is committed to providing long-term, sustainable energy solutions across all its projects that benefit its community partners while protecting and enhancing the environment. LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of Canadas largest defined benefit pension plans with C$124.2 billion in net assets (as at December 31, 2022). For more information, visit www.leewardenergy.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005310/en/ FGS Global for Leeward Renewable Energy Kelly Kimberly/Liz James (713) 822-7538/(281) 881-5170 [email protected] Source: Leeward Renewable Energy Operations, LLC LYON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the Company), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to improving survival outcomes for patients with cancer, announces today, in the context of its combined Annual General Meeting on June 19, 2023, that the documents referred to in article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code will be made available on its website. The shareholders of MaaT Pharma are invited to participate in the combined Annual General Meeting (the "AGM"), which is called to approve the financial results for the year ending December 31, 2022. The AGM will be held on: Monday, June 19, 2023 at 10:00 am CET At the Companys headquarters Located at 70 Avenue Tony Garnier 69007 Lyon The meeting notice, including the complete agenda, the proposed resolutions and useful information on the conditions for the organization of and participation in the combined General Meeting, was published in the French official Gazette (BALO) n 57 on May 12th, 2023. The Company hereby informs the shareholders that the agenda, proposed resolutions and the preparatory documents to this AGM have been made available to the Companys shareholders in accordance with the legal and regulatory conditions and timeframes applicable. The documents covered under Article R. 22-10-23 of the French commercial code (Code de commerce) are available on the investors dedicated section of the Company's website. With written requests to be sent by post to the Companys registered office or by email to [email protected] until the fifth day (inclusive) before the combined General Meeting on June 19, 2023, i.e. June 14, 2023, all shareholders may ask the Company to send them these documents. For bearer shareholders, they will need to include a certificate of registration in the securities accounts held by an intermediary mentioned in Article L. 211-3 of the French monetary and financial code (Code monetaire et financier). Shareholders may choose one of the following three ways to exercise their voting rights at the General Shareholders Meeting: - attend the General Shareholders Meeting; - give proxy to the Chairman of the Meeting or to any other person or entity; or - vote by mail or by internet. In addition to the Single paper Voting Form, shareholders will be able to send their voting instructions, appoint or revoke a proxy, and request an admission card through Internet, prior to the Meeting, on the VOTACCESS website, under the conditions described below. The VOTACCESS website for this General Shareholders Meeting will be open from 10:00 am (Paris time) on May 30, 2023. Shareholders are invited to contact their financial intermediary to get access codes, if any. About MaaT Pharma MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma has launched, in March 2022, an open-label, single arm Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with acute GvHD, following the achievement of its proof of concept in a Phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, supports the development and expansion of its pipeline by determining novel disease targets, evaluating drug candidates, and identifying biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The companys Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005727/en/ MaaT Pharma Investor Relations Herve AFFAGARD Co-Founder and CEO Sian CROUZET, COO/ CFO +33 4 28 29 14 00 [email protected] MaaT Pharma Media Relations Pauline RICHAUD Senior PR & Corporate Communications Manager +33 6 14 06 45 92 [email protected] Trophic Communications Corporate Communications Charlotte SPITZ or Stephanie MAY +49 171 351 2733 [email protected] Source: MaaT Pharma TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mednow Inc (TSXV: MNOW) (OTCQX: MDNWF) Mednow is pleased to announce it will be presenting at Gravitas 4th Los Angeles Summit, which will be taking place at The Beverly Hills Hotel from Sunday, June 4th to Tuesday, June 6th, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California. Ali Reyhany, CEO, is scheduled to present on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023, at 10 am PDT. Ali will also be fielding investor questions during the in-person summit. Gravitas 4th Los Angeles Summit will feature public and private companies across various industries that will be given the opportunity to present to a highly selective audience of venture capital, family office, and institutional investors attending from Canada, the United States, and abroad. For registration details, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gravitas-securities-4th-annual-la-summit-tickets-581002142047?aff=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order_confirm&ref=eemailordconf&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=viewevent Summit Details: Event: Gravitas 4th Los Angeles Summit Format: Presentations and Q&A Presentation Dates: Monday, June 5th and Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 Time: 9:00 AM PDT 4:00 PM PDT Venue: In-person at The Beverly Hills Hotel About Mednow Mednow (TSXV: MNOW) (OTCQX: MDNWF) is a healthcare technology company offering virtual access with a high-standard of care. Designed with accessibility and quality of care in mind, Mednow provides virtual pharmacy and telemedicine services as well as doctor home visits through an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare that is focused on the patient experience. Mednows services include free at-home delivery of medications, doctor consultations, a user-friendly interface for easy upload, transfer, and refill of prescriptions, access to healthcare professionals through an intuitive chat experience and the specialized PillSmart system that packages prescriptions in easy-to-use daily dose packs, each labelled with the date and time of the next dose. 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding the terms of the Offering, the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering, and Mednow expecting to maintain its standard of pharmacy care, while reducing operational costs, are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release including that the Offering will close and will do so on the anticipated terms; that the Company will use the net proceeds in the manner contemplated; and that Mednow will maintain its standard of pharmacy care, while reducing operational costs. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation, that the Offering will not close or will not close on the anticipated terms or timeline; that the Company will not be able to utilize the proceeds in the manner contemplated; and that Mednow will not maintain its standard of pharmacy care, while also not reducing operational costs. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005210/en/ Investor contact: Lorraine Cardenas 1-855-686-6300 [email protected] Source: Mednow Inc. ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland and Labrador--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3034 in Conception Bay South have signed a new four-year collective agreement. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005297/en/ Pictured (from left to right): L-R: Judy Bishop, Sharline Eason, Terri-Lynn Cooper (Missing: Stephanie Lear) (Photo: Business Wire) It took some time, but we were able to achieve a fair deal for our members, said CUPE 3034 President Terri-Lynn Cooper. The new deal includes: a 9% raise over the next 4 years; new family violence leave language; and improvements to language for Fire Department The local represents approximately 180 members working in the municipal sector including the Fire Department, Public Works, Water and Sewer, Parks and Leisure Services, Town Hall staff. We look forward to being able to continue to serve the town and people of Conception Bay South into the future and growing a strong community. :sm/cope 491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005297/en/ Taylor Johnston, CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative [email protected] Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nidec Corporation (TOKYO: 6594; OTC US: NJDCY) (the Company) today announced that the Company resolved at a meeting of its Board of Directors held on May 26, 2023 to distribute retained earnings (date of record: March 31, 2023) in the form of an annual dividend as outlined below: Determined amount Previous annual dividends forecast (Announced on April 24, 2023) (Reference) Annual dividends for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 Record date March 31, 2023 March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Dividend per share 35 yen 35 yen 35 yen Total dividend amount 20,133 million yen - 20,326 million yen Effective date June 1, 2023 - June 1, 2022 Dividend resource Retained earnings - Retained earnings In our policy on profit distribution, the Company upholds shareholder-oriented management and places importance on stable dividend payments, seeking to increase its dividend payout to around 30% of the consolidated net profit. Based on this dividend policy and in comprehensive consideration of its financial position, profit levels and dividend payout ratio, the Company has decided to reward its shareholders with a year-end dividend of 35 yen per share. This translates into an annual dividend of 70 yen per share together with the interim dividend of 35 yen per share for the year ended March 31, 2023. Dividend per share Record Date Interim Year-end Total Annual dividends per share for the year ended March 31, 2023 35 yen 35 yen 70 yen (Reference) Annual dividends per share for the year ended March 31, 2022 30 yen 35 yen 65 yen View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005926/en/ Masahiro Nagayasu General Manager Investor Relations +81-75-935-6140 [email protected] Source: Nidec Corporation BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA) on May 24th held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. As a result of voting on the matters placed before the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, the companys four director nominees were re-elected to three-year terms, and shareholders ratified the selection of Ernst & Young, LLP as our independent auditing firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Acting on matters related to compensation, shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers for 2022. Also on an advisory basis, shareholders approved the proposal to hold the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers yearly. All proposals on the ballot were approved by a substantial supermajority of votes cast. The Company continually evaluates how best to return capital to shareholders. In light of the current trading price of its shares, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors has suspended the Companys quarterly cash dividend. Instead, the Company intends to utilize its existing share repurchase authorization to return capital to shareholders. About ProAssurance ProAssurance Corporation is an industry-leading specialty insurer with extensive expertise in healthcare professional liability, products liability for medical technology and life sciences, legal professional liability, and workers compensation insurance. ProAssurance Group and its operating subsidiaries are rated A (Excellent) by AM Best; ProAssurance and its operating subsidiaries are rated A- (Strong) by Fitch Ratings. For the latest on ProAssurance and its industry-leading suite of products and services, cutting-edge risk management and practice enhancement programs, follow @ProAssurance on Twitter or LinkedIn. ProAssurances YouTube channel regularly presents thought provoking, insightful videos that communicate effective practice management, patient safety and risk management strategies. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Any statements in this news release that are not historical facts are specifically identified as forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon our estimates and anticipation of future events and are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as, but not limited to, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, hope, hopeful, intend, likely, may, optimistic, possible, potential, preliminary, project, should, will, and other analogous expressions. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: inadequate loss reserves to cover the Company's actual losses; inherent uncertainty of models resulting in actual losses that are materially different than the Company's estimates; adverse economic factors; a decline in the Company's financial strength rating; loss of one or more key executives; loss of a group of agents or brokers that generate significant portions of the Company's business; failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions the Company employs, or change in other claims or coverage issues; adverse performance of the Company's investment portfolio; adverse market conditions that affect its excess and surplus lines insurance operations; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005089/en/ For More Information: Jason Gingerich, VP, Investor Relations 800-282-6242 512-879-5101 [email protected] Source: ProAssurance Corporation BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Azerbaijan has prospects for exporting various agricultural products to Germany, Regional Director for Eastern Europe of the International Association of Agriculture and Food DLG Olga Hunger told Trend. "Azerbaijan has certain advantages in cultivating agricultural crops that are not grown in Germany. Citrus fruits, nuts, fruits, including pomegranates, may be interesting for foreign markets," the regional director of DLG said. According to her, international cooperation between countries is always in the interests of these countries, it allows them to develop together, working with each other. The economy is improving through the development of export and import operations. "Azerbaijan, as a country that exports agricultural products, needs international technologies, experience, and knowledge. Such experience can be gained through holding various international exhibitions, such as the Caspian Agro exhibition," she said. Olga Hunger took part in the Caspian Agro exhibition in Baku. She noted that she was very impressed by the international participation in this exhibition, in which there were many collective expositions from Italy, Holland, the US, Germany, Belarus, Russia, and Georgia. "The very high international participation at the exhibition in Azerbaijan testifies to the interest of foreign companies in entering the Azerbaijani market," the DLG representative added. The International Association of Agriculture and Food DLG, which has 30,000 members, regularly holds exhibitions, business events, and refresher development courses to promote innovative technologies and provide expertise in the agro-industrial sector. DLG holds two of the world's largest industry exhibitions, one of them is EuroTier, dedicated to animal husbandry and poultry farming, which is attended by more than 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries. The second one is AGRITECHNICA, which will be held on November 12-18 this year in Hanover, it will be attended by about 2,600 participants from more than 50 countries, and 450,000 visitors from 140 countries are expected. PANAMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Prodapt, the largest and fastest-growing specialized firm in the Connectedness industry, is expanding its Panamanian operations through a $7 million investment, leveraging the unique nearshoring advantage offered by the country. The investment will generate approximately 500 technology jobs in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and technical support. Prodapt is the first India-headquartered technology services and consulting firm to set up operations in Panama. By leveraging the skilled workforce and conducive business environment in the country, we have scaled its operations several times over the last two years, said Harsha Kumar, CEO of Prodapt. Weve invested around $5 million in building out the center and its workforce, he added. The companys operations in Panama began with a six-seater setup and has expanded over the last two years to 200 technology and domain experts who offer critical delivery and troubleshooting services for Prodapts strategic customers in the Connectedness domain, including some of the largest Communications Service Providers in the Americas. The employee count at Prodapt Panama is expected to exceed 300 this year. I am happy to learn that Indian IT company Prodapt is enhancing its operations in Panama. Prodapt works with many major enterprises and employs over 6000 technology and domain experts in over 30 countries across the globe. For me, Prodapts success in Panama is specially heartening as it is the first India-based technology services and consulting firm to set up operations in Panama, in 2020. I wish the firm success in Panama and global operations, Upender Singh Rawat, Ambassador of India to Panama, said. Prodapts Panamanian operations enhance service delivery for clients in the Americas by complementing offshore strengths with certain capabilities only a nearshore center can provide such as the unique multilingual capabilities and time zone compatibility. In fact, the local center now is building capability to anchor all Latin American business, which accounts for about 15% of the annual revenues of Prodapt. In parallel with the expansion, the company has sharpened focus on social responsibility, particularly on contributions for disadvantaged children. Prodapt distributed gifts at a community home for 88 children, ahead of Christmas last year, and delivered essentials packs & medical support for new mothers at a hospital. About Prodapt Prodapt is the largest and fastest-growing specialized player in the Connectedness industry. With its singular focus on the domain, Prodapt has built deep expertise in the most transformative technologies that connect our world. Prodapt is a trusted partner for enterprises across all layers of the Connectedness vertical. We design, configure, and operate solutions across their digital landscape, network infrastructure, and business operations and craft experiences that delight their customers. Today, our clients connect 1.1 billion people and 5.4 billion devices, and are among the largest telecom, media, and internet firms in the world. Prodapt works with Meta, Google, Amazon, AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Liberty Global, Liberty Latin America, Claro, Lumen, Windstream, Rogers, Telus, KPN, Virgin Media, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Cisco, Adtran, Samsung, and many more. A Great Place To Work Certified company, Prodapt employs over 6,000 technology and domain experts in 30+ countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Prodapt is part of the 128-year-old business conglomerate The Jhaver Group, which employs over 30,000 people across 80+ locations globally. Visit www.prodapt.com for more information. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005477/en/ Ashok Nagraj: +91 9449834080 [email protected] Source: Prodapt HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ST Energy Transition I Ltd. (NYSE: STET) (the Company) today announced that it has cancelled the extraordinary general meeting which had not yet been scheduled (the Extraordinary General Meeting), and is abandoning the proposals set forth in the Companys preliminary proxy statement for the Extraordinary General Meeting filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on May 2, 2023. About ST Energy Transition I Ltd. ST Energy Transition I Ltd. is a blank check company, incorporated in Bermuda as an exempted company limited by shares, for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry or geographic location (subject to certain limitations described in this prospectus), we intend to focus our search on opportunities that contribute in positive ways towards energy transition and clean energy technology. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release and certain materials the Company files with the SEC, as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the Company, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations, assumptions and beliefs regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events, certain of which are beyond the Companys control, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, a variety of risk factors affecting the Companys business and prospects disclosed in the Companys annual, quarterly reports and subsequent reports filed with the SEC, as amended from time to time. Any or all of these occurrences could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements, and the Company does not undertake to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that may arise after the date of the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005315/en/ Jan Erik Klepsland Email address: [email protected] Tel: +1 (441) 295-6935 Source: ST Energy Transition I Ltd. PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: In accordance with Article 5 of EU Regulation n 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation), detailed information is available on the website of Tikehau Capital (Paris: TKO): https://www.tikehaucapital.com/fr/shareholders/regulatory-information Name of the issuer Issuer Identity Code (LEI) Trading Day ISIN Aggregated volume per day (number of shares) Weighted average price per day Market (MIC Code) TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 19/05/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 23.5963 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 22/05/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 23.6981 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 23/05/2023 FR0013230612 1,807 23.5069 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 24/05/2023 FR0013230612 1,195 23.1699 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 25/05/2023 FR0013230612 1,192 23.1777 XPAR TOTAL 8,194 23.4783 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005152/en/ Tikehau Capital Source: Tikehau Capital ACCRA, Ghana & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) and EMTECH SOLUTIONS Inc. today announced a strategic partnership to modernize country-level and regional regulatory sandboxes, enabling the harmonization of heterogeneous Fintech regulatory policies and frameworks across the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). The collaboration aims at strengthening financial integration across the WAMZ member states. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005864/en/ West African Monetary Institute hosts Carmelle Cadet, Founder and CEO of EMTECH for official signing ceremony, cementing partnership.(Photo: Business Wire) WAMI and EMTECH will establish a knowledge and collaboration program called WAMZ RegEX, which focuses on showcasing regulatory innovation, sharing insights from global and regional regulatory sandbox benchmarking, onboarding a cohort of WAMZ regulatory sandboxes to conduct rapid pilots, and promoting value. Additionally, the partnership will involve publishing research and case studies, as well as capacity-building programs and thought-leadership workshops. Olorunsola E. Olowofeso, Director General of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), emphasized the importance of the partnership saying, "Our collaboration with EMTECH marks a new chapter in our commitment to creating a unified financial landscape in the WAMZ and signifies a critical step towards achieving a more integrated and technologically advanced financial ecosystem in West Africa. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our member states and the broader West African region." Souleymane Tall, Director of Financial Integration at WAMI, highlighted the strategic value of this collaboration and stated that the partnership with EMTECH would align with our core mission to promote financial integration and regional economic development. By working together, we could unlock new opportunities, improve access to financial services, and contribute to the overall growth and stability of the West African Monetary Zone. Tunji Odumuboni, Executive Director, Africa at EMTECH, remarked, "We are excited and honored to collaborate with WAMI to drive financial integration and economic development within the WAMZ." EMTECHs expertise in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and Digital Regulatory Sandbox technology will support WAMI and WAMZ member states in fostering an environment conducive to financial innovation. Carmelle Cadet, Founder and CEO of EMTECH added, "The collaboration between EMTECH and WAMI aligns with our mission of making financial markets inclusive and resilient for everyone, by modernizing central banking infrastructure." We are eager to work with WAMI to deploy solutions addressing local and regional fintech innovation and regulatory frameworks in the West African Monetary Zone." Cadet continued, As many countries are developing fintech regulatory frameworks, a regulatory sandbox is a powerful tool to support safe innovations and capitalize on investment opportunities and economic growth. From the U.S. to Europe, regulators need novel new tools. By joining efforts with WAMI, we are committed to working closely with all 6 member states and support them along this new journey of modern central banking in Africa. In EMTECH, they have a real partner for the long haul. For more information about the partnership between WAMI and EMTECH, please contact WAMI Press Contact at +233 (0)302 743801 or [email protected] and EMTECH Press Contact at +1 415 889-7444 or [email protected]. About the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) The West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) is an organization established to undertake technical preparations for the establishment of a West African central bank and launching of a single currency for the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). The Institute's overarching mission is to conduct preparatory activities for the launch of a monetary union, including research and publication, data collection and sharing, and the dissemination of information to facilitate trade integration, financial sector integration, payments system development, and statistical harmonization. About EMTECH SOLUTIONS, INC. EMTECH is a modern central bank technology and services company offering an integrated SaaS platform with products such as the Digital Regulatory Sandbox and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). EMTECH's innovative solutions empower central banks, financial institutions, and regulators to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of financial services innovation and regulation. EMTECH enables its partners to address local and regional challenges, foster financial inclusion, and drive sustainable economic growth by providing cutting-edge technology solutions and services. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005864/en/ West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) Email: [email protected] +233 (0)302 743801 For EMTECH SOLUTIONS, INC. Jessica Rees Email: [email protected] +1 415 889-7444 Source: EMTECH Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) announces that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired in connection with our previously announced pending acquisition of NJOY Holdings, Inc. (Transaction). Therefore, no further regulatory review by the federal antitrust authorities is required in connection with the Transaction. Subject to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, we expect to complete the Transaction in the second quarter of 2023. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Transaction, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to the anticipated completion of the Transaction. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include the parties ability to complete the Transaction in a timely manner, if at all; the possibility that one or more of the conditions to the completion of the Transaction may not be satisfied; prevailing economic, market, regulatory or business conditions or changes in such conditions; and the outcome of any legal proceedings or investigations that may be instituted against us or others related to the Transaction. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our publicly filed reports, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. We assume no obligations to provide any revisions to, or update, any projections and forward-looking statements contained in this release. Altrias Profile We have a leading portfolio of tobacco products for U.S. tobacco consumers age 21+. Our Vision is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future (Vision). We are Moving Beyond Smoking, leading the way in moving adult smokers away from cigarettes by taking action to transition millions to potentially less harmful choices - believing it is a substantial opportunity for adult tobacco consumers, our businesses and society. Our wholly owned subsidiaries include leading manufacturers of both combustible and smoke-free products. In combustibles, we own Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), the most profitable U.S. cigarette manufacturer, and John Middleton Co. (Middleton), a leading U.S. cigar manufacturer. Our smoke-free portfolio includes ownership of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC), the leading global moist smokeless tobacco (MST) manufacturer, and Helix Innovations LLC (Helix), a leading manufacturer of oral nicotine pouches. Additionally, we have a majority-owned joint venture, Horizon Innovations LLC (Horizon), for the U.S. marketing and commercialization of heated tobacco stick products and, through a separate agreement, we have the exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to the IQOS Tobacco Heating System and Marlboro HeatSticks through April 2024. Our equity investments include Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (ABI), the worlds largest brewer, and Cronos Group Inc. (Cronos), a leading Canadian cannabinoid company. The brand portfolios of our tobacco operating companies include Marlboro, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, Skoal and on!. Trademarks and service marks related to Altria referenced in this release are the property of Altria or its subsidiaries or are used with permission. Learn more about Altria at www.altria.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005155/en/ Altria Client Services Investor Relations 804-484-8222 Altria Client Services Media Relations 804-484-8897 Source: Altria Group, Inc. Ameritek Ventures, Inc. (OTC: ATVK), an emerging technology provider of robotic technology, artificial intelligence software, machine learning processes, and blockchain cloud software for businesses and governments, announced today that the OTC Markets has removed the Caveat Emptor warning from the OTC Markets website that was on the Companys profile page. This Caveat Emptor removal occurred after the Companys Form 10 became effective; we received the no comment letter from the SEC, which made us a SEC fully reporting company, and finally, after we cleared our Form 211 from FINRA. Ameritek Chairman and CEO Dr. Shaun Passley said, Ameritek Ventures is an exciting turnaround story. We are now able to share what we have been working on which will generate new revenue streams. Ameritek Ventures will gradually launch new and upgraded products and software technology throughout the year. The company intends to keep investors in the loop by regularly releasing company updates through various online platforms and press releases. About Ameritek Ventures Ameritek Ventures is a group of companies that provides various world-class artificial intelligence software and hardware products and services beneficial to businesses, organizations, and governments. We manufacture and innovate advanced technological developments in the medical industry, portable medical use mini-fridge. Ameritek Ventures explores augmented reality technology with Augmum, Inc. Augmum, Inc., a subsidiary of Ameritek Ventures, Inc., is a glove and glasses augmented reality technology manufacturer. Augmum creates motion-tracking robotic hands, touch-sensing gloves, and virtual-reality glasses using machine learning systems, haptic technology, and augmented technology to control its six-axis robotic arm. Safe Harbor This is the "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" and "continue" (or the negation thereof) or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results or those implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Ameritek Ventures assumes no obligation and has no intention of updating these forward-looking statements. It has no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Ameritek Ventures. Investors are encouraged to review Ameritek Ventures' public filings on SEC.gov and otcmarkets.com, including its unaudited and audited financial statements and its OTC market filings, which contain general business information about the company's operations, results of operations, and risks associated with the company and its operations. CONTACT: For more information, please contact the following: Investor Relationshttps://twitter.com/AmeritekInfo[email protected] (312) 239-3574https://www.ameritekventures.com/ Source: Ameritek Ventures, Inc. Positive high-level results from the DUO-E Phase III trial showed IMFINZI (durvalumab) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy followed by either IMFINZI plus LYNPARZA (olaparib) or IMFINZI alone as maintenance therapy both demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy alone in patients with newly diagnosed advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. There was a greater clinical benefit observed with the combination of IMFINZI and LYNPARZA as maintenance treatment. Overall survival (OS) data were immature at the time of this analysis however, a favorable trend was observed for both treatment regimens. Endometrial cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women worldwide, with over 417,000 patients diagnosed and over 97,000 deaths in 2020.1 Diagnoses are expected to rise by almost 40% by 2040.2 The current standard of care for advanced endometrial cancer is chemotherapy.3,4 However, long-term outcomes in 1st-line endometrial cancer remain poor and novel treatment options are needed.5,6 Shannon N. Westin, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and principal investigator of the DUO-E trial, said: These exciting data demonstrate durvalumab immunotherapy can significantly delay disease progression for patients with endometrial cancer and the addition of the PARP inhibitor olaparib can improve the benefit further. These combinations could provide physicians with new treatment approaches to improve outcomes for patients. Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: These DUO-E data demonstrate for the first time the power of combining immunotherapy and a PARP inhibitor to provide meaningful clinical improvements for patients with endometrial cancer. These results underscore our ambition to redefine cancer care and we hope to bring this innovative IMFINZI and LYNPARZA combination to endometrial cancer patients as soon as possible. The safety and tolerability profile of IMFINZI plus chemotherapy and of IMFINZI in combination with LYNPARZA was broadly consistent with that observed in prior clinical trials and the known profiles of the individual medicines.7,8 These data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting, and we look forward to discussing them with health authorities. 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 (<0.1%), and Grade 3-4 (0.4%) adverse reactions. In patients who received recent prior radiation, the incidence of pneumonitis (including radiation pneumonitis) in patients with unresectable Stage III NSCLC following definitive chemoradiation within 42 days prior to initiation of IMFINZI in PACIFIC was 18.3% (87/475) in patients receiving IMFINZI and 12.8% (30/234) in patients receiving placebo. Of the patients who received IMFINZI (475), 1.1% were fatal and 2.7% were Grade 3 adverse reactions. 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 (<0.1%) and Grade 3 (0.4%) adverse reactions. 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 (<0.1%) adverse reactions. 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 <0.1% (1/1889) of patients who received IMFINZI. 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 Immune-mediated thyroiditis occurred in 0.5% (9/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (<0.1%) adverse reactions. 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 (<0.1%) adverse reactions. 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. : 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. 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 <0.1% (1/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI. 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 (<0.1%) adverse reactions. 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 <2% of patients and were similar across arms 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. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR LYNPARZA (olaparib) CONTRAINDICATIONS There are no contraindications for LYNPARZA. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML): Occurred in approximately 1.5% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and the majority of events had a fatal outcome. The median duration of therapy in patients who developed MDS/AML was 2 years (range: <6 months to >10 years). All of these patients had previous chemotherapy with platinum agents and/or other DNA-damaging agents, including radiotherapy. Do not start LYNPARZA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (Grade 1). Monitor complete blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter for clinically significant changes during treatment. For prolonged hematological toxicities, interrupt LYNPARZA and monitor blood count weekly until recovery. If the levels have not recovered to Grade 1 or less after 4 weeks, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations, including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. Discontinue LYNPARZA if MDS/AML is confirmed. Pneumonitis: Occurred in 0.8% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and some cases were fatal. If patients present with new or worsening respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and fever, or a radiological abnormality occurs, interrupt LYNPARZA treatment and initiate prompt investigation. Discontinue LYNPARZA if pneumonitis is confirmed and treat patient appropriately. Venous Thromboembolic Events (VTE): Including severe or fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in patients treated with LYNPARZA. VTE occurred in 7% of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who received LYNPARZA plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to 3.1% of patients receiving enzalutamide or abiraterone plus ADT in the PROfound study. Patients receiving LYNPARZA and ADT had a 6% incidence of pulmonary embolism compared to 0.8% of patients treated with ADT plus either enzalutamide or abiraterone. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and treat as medically appropriate, which may include long-term anticoagulation as clinically indicated. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, LYNPARZA can cause fetal harm. A pregnancy test is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment. Females Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose. Males Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months following the last dose of LYNPARZA and to not donate sperm during this time. ADVERSE REACTIONSFirst-Line Maintenance BRCAm Advanced Ovarian Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for SOLO-1 were: nausea (77%), fatigue (67%), abdominal pain (45%), vomiting (40%), anemia (38%), diarrhea (37%), constipation (28%), upper respiratory tract infection/influenza/nasopharyngitis/bronchitis (28%), dysgeusia (26%), decreased appetite (20%), dizziness (20%), neutropenia (17%), dyspepsia (17%), dyspnea (15%), leukopenia (13%), urinary tract infection (13%), thrombocytopenia (11%), and stomatitis (11%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for SOLO-1 were: decrease in hemoglobin (87%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (87%), decrease in leukocytes (70%), decrease in lymphocytes (67%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%), decrease in platelets (35%), and increase in serum creatinine (34%). ADVERSE REACTIONSFirst-Line Maintenance Advanced Ovarian Cancer in Combination with Bevacizumab Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients treated with LYNPARZA/bevacizumab and at a 5% frequency compared to placebo/bevacizumab in the first-line maintenance setting for PAOLA-1 were: nausea (53%), fatigue (including asthenia) (53%), anemia (41%), lymphopenia (24%), vomiting (22%), and leukopenia (18%). In addition, the most common adverse reactions (10%) for patients receiving LYNPARZA/bevacizumab irrespective of the frequency compared with the placebo/bevacizumab arm were: diarrhea (18%), neutropenia (18%), urinary tract infection (15%), and headache (14%). In addition, venous thromboembolic events occurred more commonly in patients receiving LYNPARZA/bevacizumab (5%) than in those receiving placebo/bevacizumab (1.9%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients for LYNPARZA in combination with bevacizumab in the first-line maintenance setting for PAOLA-1 were: decrease in hemoglobin (79%), decrease in lymphocytes (63%), increase in serum creatinine (61%), decrease in leukocytes (59%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (35%), and decrease in platelets (35%). ADVERSE REACTIONSMaintenance Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 20% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting for SOLO-2 were: nausea (76%), fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), anemia (44%), vomiting (37%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI)/influenza (36%), diarrhea (33%), arthralgia/myalgia (30%), dysgeusia (27%), headache (26%), decreased appetite (22%), and stomatitis (20%). Study 19: nausea (71%), fatigue (including asthenia) (63%), vomiting (35%), diarrhea (28%), anemia (23%), respiratory tract infection (22%), constipation (22%), headache (21%), decreased appetite (21%), and dyspepsia (20%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting (SOLO-2/Study 19) were: increase in mean corpuscular volume (89%/82%), decrease in hemoglobin (83%/82%), decrease in leukocytes (69%/58%), decrease in lymphocytes (67%/52%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%/47%), increase in serum creatinine (44%/45%), and decrease in platelets (42%/36%). ADVERSE REACTIONSAdjuvant Treatment of gBRCAm, HER2-Negative, High-Risk Early Breast Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the adjuvant setting for OlympiA were: nausea (57%), fatigue (including asthenia) (42%), anemia (24%), vomiting (23%), headache (20%), diarrhea (18%), leukopenia (17%), neutropenia (16%), decreased appetite (13%), dysgeusia (12%), dizziness (11%), and stomatitis (10%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the adjuvant setting for OlympiA were: decrease in lymphocytes (77%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (67%), decrease in hemoglobin (65%), decrease in leukocytes (64%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (39%). ADVERSE REACTIONSgBRCAm, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 20% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the metastatic setting for OlympiAD were: nausea (58%), anemia (40%), fatigue (including asthenia) (37%), vomiting (30%), neutropenia (27%), respiratory tract infection (27%), leukopenia (25%), diarrhea (21%), and headache (20%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the metastatic setting for OlympiAD were: decrease in hemoglobin (82%), decrease in lymphocytes (73%), decrease in leukocytes (71%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (71%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (46%), and decrease in platelets (33%). ADVERSE REACTIONSFirst-Line Maintenance gBRCAm Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for POLO were: fatigue (60%), nausea (45%), abdominal pain (34%), diarrhea (29%), anemia (27%), decreased appetite (25%), constipation (23%), vomiting (20%), back pain (19%), arthralgia (15%), rash (15%), thrombocytopenia (14%), dyspnea (13%), neutropenia (12%), nasopharyngitis (12%), dysgeusia (11%), and stomatitis (10%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA in the first-line maintenance setting for POLO were: increase in serum creatinine (99%), decrease in hemoglobin (86%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (71%), decrease in lymphocytes (61%), decrease in platelets (56%), decrease in leukocytes (50%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (25%). ADVERSE REACTIONSHRR Gene-mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in 10% of patients who received LYNPARZA for PROfound were: anemia (46%), fatigue (including asthenia) (41%), nausea (41%), decreased appetite (30%), diarrhea (21%), vomiting (18%), thrombocytopenia (12%), cough (11%), and dyspnea (10%). Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in 25% of patients who received LYNPARZA for PROfound were: decrease in hemoglobin (98%), decrease in lymphocytes (62%), decrease in leukocytes (53%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (34%). DRUG INTERACTIONS Anticancer Agents: Clinical studies of LYNPARZA with other myelosuppressive anticancer agents, including DNA-damaging agents, indicate a potentiation and prolongation of myelosuppressive toxicity. CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors when using LYNPARZA. If a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor must be coadministered, reduce the dose of LYNPARZA. Advise patients to avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during LYNPARZA treatment. CYP3A Inducers: Avoid coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers when using LYNPARZA. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation: No data are available regarding the presence of olaparib in human milk, its effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the final dose. Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of LYNPARZA have not been established in pediatric patients. Hepatic Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification A and B). There are no data in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification C). Renal Impairment: No dosage modification is recommended in patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr 51-80 mL/min estimated by Cockcroft-Gault). In patients with moderate renal impairment (CLcr 31-50 mL/min), reduce the dose of LYNPARZA to 200 mg twice daily. There are no data in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (CLcr 30 mL/min). INDICATIONS LYNPARZA is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated: First-Line Maintenance BRCAm Advanced Ovarian Cancer For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm or sBRCAm) advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. First-Line Maintenance HRD-Positive Advanced Ovarian Cancer in Combination with Bevacizumab In combination with bevacizumab for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and whose cancer is associated with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive status defined by either: a deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA mutation, and/or mutation, and/or genomic instability Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. Maintenance Recurrent Ovarian Cancer For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Adjuvant Treatment of gBRCAm, HER2-Negative, High-Risk Early Breast Cancer For the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative high-risk early breast cancer who have been treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. gBRCAm, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer who have been treated with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting. Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer should have been treated with a prior endocrine therapy or be considered inappropriate for endocrine therapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. First-Line Maintenance gBRCAm Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma whose disease has not progressed on at least 16 weeks of a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. HRR Gene-mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have progressed following prior treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA. Please see complete Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide. Notes Endometrial cancer Endometrial cancer is a highly heterogenous disease that originates in the tissue lining of the womb and is most common in women who have already been through the menopause, with the average age at diagnosis being over 60 years old.9-11 Both the incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer are expected to increase from 417,400 cases and 97,400 deaths in 2020 to 608,130 cases and 157,813 deaths in 2040.1,2 The majority of patients with endometrial cancer are diagnosed at an early stage of disease where the cancer is confined to the uterus. They are typically treated with surgery and/or radiation and the 5-year survival rate is high (approximately 95%). However, patients with advanced disease (Stage III-IV) are usually treated with chemotherapy and have a much poorer prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate falling to around 20-30%.4,5,11,12,13 For patients where the disease has already advanced or returned, treatment options are limited as the cancer is not considered likely to respond to hormonal therapy and will be treated with chemotherapy.5,6 DUO-E The DUO-E trial (GOG 3041/ENGOT-EN10) is a three-arm, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase III trial of 1st-line IMFINZI in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) followed by IMFINZI with LYNPARZA or IMFINZI alone as maintenance therapy versus platinum-based chemotherapy alone as a treatment for patients with newly diagnosed advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. The DUO-E trial randomized 699 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent Stage III or IV epithelial endometrial carcinoma (excluding sarcomas) to receive either 1120mg of IMFINZI or placebo, given every three weeks in combination with standard-of-care platinum-based chemotherapy. Following cessation of chemotherapy, patients were given either 1500mg of IMFINZI or placebo every four weeks as maintenance, either in combination with 300mg BID (2x150mg tablets, twice a day) of LYNPARZA or placebo until progressive disease for 24 months. The dual primary endpoint was PFS. Mismatch repair (MMR) status was one of the stratification factors. Key secondary endpoints included OS, objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR) and safety and tolerability. The trial was conducted in 253 study locations across 22 countries including the US, Europe, South America and Asia. For more information about the trial please visit ClinicalTrials.gov. IMFINZI IMFINZI (durvalumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the PD-L1 protein and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with the PD-1 and CD80 proteins, countering the tumor's immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses. IMFINZI is the only approved immunotherapy and the global standard of care in the curative-intent setting of unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients whose disease has not progressed after chemoradiation therapy based on the PACIFIC Phase III trial. IMFINZI is also approved in the US, EU, Japan, China and many other countries around the world for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) based on the CASPIAN Phase III trial. Additionally, IMFINZI is approved in combination with a short course of IMJUDO (tremelimumab-actl) and chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC in the US, EU and Japan based on the POSEIDON Phase III trial. In addition to its indications in lung cancer, IMFINZI is also approved in combination with chemotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer in the US, EU, Japan and several other countries; in combination with IMJUDO in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in the US, EU and Japan; and in previously treated patients with advanced bladder cancer in a small number of countries. Since the first approval in May 2017, more than 150,000 patients have been treated with IMFINZI. As part of a broad development program, IMFINZI is being tested as a single treatment and in combinations with other anti-cancer treatments for patients with SCLC, NSCLC, bladder cancer, several gastrointestinal cancers and other solid tumors. LYNPARZA LYNPARZA (olaparib) is a first-in-class PARP inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to block DNA damage response (DDR) in cells/tumors harboring a deficiency in homologous recombination-related (HRR) genes, such as those with mutations in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2, or those where deficiency is induced by other agents (such as new hormonal agents [NHAs]). Inhibition of PARP with LYNPARZA leads to the trapping of PARP bound to DNA single-strand breaks, stalling of replication forks, their collapse and the generation of DNA double-strand breaks and cancer cell death. LYNPARZA is currently approved in a number of countries across multiple tumor types including maintenance treatment of platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer and as both monotherapy and in combination with bevacizumab for the 1st-line maintenance treatment of BRCA-mutated (BRCAm) and homologous recombination repair deficient (HRD)-positive advanced ovarian cancer, respectively; for germline BRCA mutation (gBRCAm), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (in the EU and Japan this includes locally advanced breast cancer); for gBRCAm, HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer (in Japan this includes all BRCAm HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer); for gBRCAm metastatic pancreatic cancer; in combination with abiraterone for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in whom chemotherapy is not clinically indicated (EU only) and as monotherapy for HRR gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients who have progressed on prior NHA treatment (BRCAm only in the EU and Japan). In China, LYNPARZA is approved for the treatment of BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer as well as a 1st-line maintenance treatment with bevacizumab for HRD-positive advanced ovarian cancer. LYNPARZA, which is being jointly developed and commercialized by AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the US and Canada, in combination, has been used to treat over 75,000 patients worldwide. The companies develop LYNPARZA in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines independently. LYNPARZA is the foundation of AstraZeneca's industry-leading portfolio of potential new medicines targeting DDR mechanisms in cancer cells. 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 Company's 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. By harnessing the power of six scientific platforms Immuno-Oncology, Tumor Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response, Antibody Drug Conjugates, Epigenetics and Cell Therapies and by championing the development of personalized combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death. Malaysia's SKS Airways has chosen the Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) E195-E2, the world's most efficient and quietest single-aisle aircraft, to drive its growth plans for the region. The deal for 10 E195-E2s was announced at a signing ceremony at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition ( LIMA '23). The E195-E2s will form the core of SKS Airways' expansion plans and will be based at Kuala Lumpur's city airport, Subang , from 2024. The E195-E2 jet has a range of 2,600nm, the equivalent of about seven hours of flight. The aircraft will be comfortably configured with 136 seats. SKS Airways will be the first E195-E2 operator in the Southeast Asian region, growing Embraer's E-Jets presence in the broader Asia Pacific region which currently stands close to 200. The lease agreement signed between SKS Airways and Azorra, was witnessed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia , His Majesty Sultan Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah , Minister of Transport YB Tuan Loke Siew Fook , The Ambassador of Brazil to Malaysia H.E. Ary Norton de Murat Quintella , Embraer's Johann Bordais, President & CEO of Embraer Services & Support, and Martyn Holmes , CCO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. Dato' Rohman Ahmad , Director of SKS Airways, said, "This is a significant day for the future of aviation in Malaysia . We are delighted to announce the successful signing of these agreements with leading industry players like Embraer and Azorra who share our vision for the future of air travel. With these strategic partnerships, we are excited to embark on a new phase of growth, with a fleet of Embraer's Jets operating out of Subang . The prevalence of the E-Jets at city airports around the world and the low noise emissions of the E195-E2 makes the aircraft a perfect fit for flights in and out of Subang Airport supporting the Government's aim to establish Subang Airport as Malaysia's premium city airport and aviation hub." Martyn Holmes , Chief Commercial Officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation, said, "The E2 is the aircraft family of choice for airlines around the world seeking to develop their regional routes. As the most modern and efficient single-aisle aircraft, the E195-E2 will deliver a step change for our first Malaysian operator, SKS Airways, as it grows regional connectivity within Malaysia and beyond. We welcome SKS Airways to the Embraer family and we look forward to growing our collaboration and partnerships in Malaysia as the country continues to develop as a major aerospace hub." "We are pleased to partner with SKS Airways on this unique opportunity to be a part of the future expansion of Subang Airport . We believe Embraer's new technology E2 is the perfect fit for a redeveloped, premier aviation hub near the heart of Kuala Lumpur , reducing travel times and improving connectivity in the region. The E2's fuel efficiency, carbon footprint and low noise emissions offer a transformative, environmentally conscious jet solution for the city, the region, and its residents", said John Evans , Azorra's CEO. In February 2023 , the Malaysian government announced the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP), A transformational plan for Subang Airport to be developed into a premium city airport and regional aviation hub. The E-Jets family of aircraft: a city airport specialist Airlines have deployed the E-Jets on routes to and from city airports around the world such as London City Airport, New York's LaGuardia Airport and Rio de Janeiro's Santos Dumont Airport . The E-Jets represent 86% of total flights operating in London City Airport. Airlines operating E-Jets into and out of London City Airport include British Airways, Helvetic Airways (operating for SWISS) and KLM. The E190-E2 and the E195-E2 was designed using the 20 million hours of experience the first generation of E-Jets accrued, ensuring that the E2 aircraft are modern and advanced, yet retain the maturity and reliability of the previous generation aircraft. The first-generation E-Jets is one of the most successful commercial jets in the industry and continue to operate across the globe with more than 80 airlines across 50 countries and more than 1,700 units delivered. The E-Jets E2 family which includes the E195-E2 have the longest maintenance intervals in the single-aisle jet category with 10,000 flight hours for basic checks and no calendar limit for typical E-Jet operations. This enables the aircraft to be operated with minimal downtime. In addition, the technology in the aircraft allows for predictive maintenance tools that generate data for airlines to anticipate their maintenance needs. Embraer is committed to developing products, solutions, and technologies to contribute to the aviation industry's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Embraer aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 and achieve carbon neutral growth from 2022. It plans to implement 25% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use in its operations by 2040 and 100% renewable energy sources by 2030. In June 2022 , having already been certified for operations using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends of up to 50%, the E195-E2, successfully completed a test flight using 100% SAF, further reinforcing Embraer's commitment to emissions reduction and sustainable aviation. The E195-E2 is the largest aircraft of the E-Jets E2 family. Images: https://embraer.bynder.com/share/2CB2133D-3C67-4350-8C98BB0FCF9918F0/ About Embraer Embraer is a global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil . It manufactures aircraft for Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security, and Agricultural customers. The company also provides after-sales services & support through a worldwide network of wholly owned entities and authorized agents. Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year. Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and is the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil . The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers across the Americas , Africa , Asia , and Europe . Embraer's APAC headquarters is located in Singapore and its China headquarters is in Beijing . About SKS Airways SKS Airways is a regional airline operating in Malaysia . Founded in November 2017 , SKS Airways launched its first commercial flight from Subang Airport in January 2022 . As part of the SKS Group of companies, SKS Airways is set to reshape the future of aviation by enhancing the connectivity within the region with its new fleet of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. About Azorra Azorra is a relationship-driven aircraft lessor that provides leasing, financing, fleet transition and asset management solutions to aircraft investors, financiers, and airline operators worldwide. Azorra's multi-cultural team reflects the global markets that we serve and includes core competencies in aviation law, aircraft finance, maintenance, marketing, sales, and leasing. Our team is led by seasoned veterans having a shared history of success and is complimented with young professionals that bring fresh perspective, ideas, and enthusiasm. Azorra currently owns and manages a fleet of 77 aircraft on lease to 24 operators in 19 countries on 5 continents and has commitments to acquire additional aircraft including orders for new Airbus A220s and Embraer E2s. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida , and has offices in Dublin, Ireland and Toulouse, France . For additional information, please visit us at www.azorra.com or on LinkedIn. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/malaysias-sks-airways-selects-embraers-e195-e2-to-drive-growth-301835696.html SOURCE Embraer S.A. The docuseries seeks to close the civilian-military divide with vivid storytelling with Americas most recognized veteran business leaders and public servants New York, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This Memorial Day weekend, Fox Stations are airing nationally the first of five episodes of The Warrior Class - a docuseries featuring the untold stories of Americas most fascinating Military veterans hosted by Americas first decorated combat veteran elected to the US Congress, former Army Under Secretary, and Emmy-Award winner Patrick J. Murphy. In episode one, airing this weekend, Murphy takes audiences behind the scenes as he and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, bring to life the toll of supporting and defending the US Constitution against all enemies during the longest wars in American history, and how we can never forget the losses of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Having served in combat, the U.S. Congress, and the Pentagon, the Honorable Patrick J. Murphy is one of the countrys top vetrepreneurs, owning over 60 companies while devoting time to teaching at the Wharton School of Business. The series builds on Murphys longtime advocacy for veterans, his efforts to end the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, and his work to pass a Post-9/11 GI bill for the 250,000 active troops that become veterans every year during his service in Congress. The Warrior Class uncovers the militarys distinct American story at a time when the civilian-military divide is bigger than ever before. The program closes that gap with in-depth storytelling and never-before-heard accounts from top business, political, and professional leaders of today. Murphys passion for telling the untold stories of his brother and sister veterans jumps out from the screen with every episode. Murphy is named after Army Specialist Patrick Ward, who earned the Silver Star while saving others in Vietnam, giving our nation the ultimate sacrifice. Excitingly, the docuseries touches on what it means to serve with interviews with some of the most widely-recognized veterans in the nation, including Chairman Mark Milley, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Army Ranger and former Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky. The airing of The Warrior Class follows Muphys Emmy-award-winning production of NBCs Side by Side: The Hero Nurses of COVID. Secretary Patrick J. Murphy is available for live interviews to talk about the Warrior Class, Memorial Day and give a preview of the great American leaders hes interviewed for The Warrior Class. TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Futurpreneur, an official co-founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20 YEA), is proud to announce the 2023 Canadian G20 YEA delegation. After a rigorous selection process, 47 talented and diverse young entrepreneurs have been chosen to represent Canada at the G20 YEA Summit, hosted by Young Indians (YI) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in New Delhi, India, from July 13-16, 2023. The G20 YEA Summit, held annually ahead of the widely known G20 Leaders Summit, serves as a platform for advising its governments on matters of business and entrepreneurship policy. The Alliance is a collective of organizations across the G20 countries that represent more than 500,000 young entrepreneurs, who meet every year to affect positive policy change and champion youth entrepreneurship worldwide. The theme this year is Hum the Hindi word for We symbolizing the power of collaboration. The theme not only embraces the diverse perspectives that will be shared during the event but also underscores the continued global commitment to enhancing the participation of underrepresented groups in the international trade landscape. Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur, shares her enthusiasm, stating, As founding members of this important global community, we are thrilled to be a part of this years G20 YEA Summit in New Delhi. The Summit theme Hum, or Togetherness, resonates strongly with Futurpreneurs dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As part of our commitment, we have developed tailored offerings to empower equity-deserving young entrepreneurs, led by teams with lived experience and supported by our entire organization. We believe that Canada can achieve the inclusive prosperity we aspire to when we all come together to make it happen. The Canadian delegation, representing a rich diversity of sectors, provinces, and equity-deserving groups from across the country, embodies Futurpreneurs commitment to fostering inclusivity in the Canadian international trade landscape. The delegation consists of 40% women-led businesses and includes 59% of entrepreneurs from equity-deserving groups, including Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs. Hailing from nine provinces, the delegates represent a variety of sectors and industries such as Professional Services, Consumer products, Information and Communications technologies, and Education. The G20 YEA will open the doors to the world for you. You will meet like-minded people and have the opportunity to propose ideas that will shape the entrepreneurial world of today and tomorrow, Kathy Pellerin, VisaVie Canada (QC) and G20 YEA delegate. Futurpreneurs Canadian delegation receives valuable support through a contribution from Global Affairs CanExport Associations program. The organization has also formed strategic partnerships with esteemed organizations such as the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Organization of Women in Trade Toronto, and the Canada-India Acceleration Program. These collaborative partnerships encompass delegation briefing, thought leadership, and support for promoting inclusive trade. The Summit culminates with the delegates producing and issuing a communique on global entrepreneurship policy, which is presented to the G20 leaders during their subsequent Summit. The communique ensures the decision-makers worldwide prioritize the voices and perspectives of young entrepreneurs and keeps these recommendations at the forefront throughout the year. The G20 YEA Summit experience will be enhanced by the G20 YEA mobile app, designed to connect over 800 young entrepreneurs digitally and facilitate meaningful connections and B2B opportunities. The app, powered by two past Canadian delegates, The First Prototype and Upbio, is supported by the G20 YEA Canada team at Futurpreneur and in part by past contributions from Global Affairs Canadas CanExport Associations program. Futurpreneurs 2023 G20 YEA Canadian delegation: Alberta Ghalia Aamer, TalkmazeReza Enaloui, Semitechnic Corp.Jordan Hanna, Linked Digital ServicesChad Midnight, Aqueduct Water Systems British ColumbiaAlexandra Carnio, ProducKIDvityHillina Ghulam Nabi, Kids InnovativeParmjot Gill, Kite Company CreatorBryce Watts, Forager International ManitobaCharmaine Jennings, Strategic CharmNatalie Suppes, S and S Creative Inc. New BrunswickTosin Ajibola and Oluwaseun Adeyemo, Welkom-U Inc.Brad LeBlanc, BrainWorks (BrainWorks Marketing Services Inc.) Nova ScotiaChristian Browne, Vergo OntarioShreyansh Anand, WaiveTheWait Inc.Lachezar Arabadzhiev, SkildLabsOmowunmi Badmus, Omo Bamboo ShopIyvan Chandran, Alpha LiberteeThomas Clark, Altrene Canada CorporationJochebed Essel, EVERYDAY JOYStephanie Guingane, LONCANIJustin Haines, Haines Additive Manufacturing (HAM)Alykhan Jadavji, Palette Foods Inc. - Blue Elephant Royal Thai Cuisine CanadaAtifur Khan, Jada KenyaHamza Khan, Clean AcresRohan Kumar, The Do More CompanyStephanie Loureiro and Mathew Mozaffari, Speer TechnologiesSaamer Mansoor, The First PrototypeTarila Morrone, Hearts of GemsAdesola Ogunsakin, The Retro BagAska Patel, Acuvise Consultancy Inc.Sean Ryan, Predicting AlphaDiana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou, The Dressing Room (TDR) QuebecCarl Beausejour, Zele ProductionsWilliam Bolduc, Predict Expert AIAndrea Bomo, Ann & Eli Apothecary IncAndrew D'Amours, Flytrippers (AK Ventures Inc.)Charles-Antoine Halle, Learn & Earn (Apprends & Entreprends)Mael Houck, Elite ConsultationNina Lantinga, Nets for Net ZeroKathy Pellerin, VisaVie CanadaMargarettha Pierre, KnowMediQ - Home health and wellness services networkMaude St-Pierre, REFORM FOODS INC (Seva Nature) SaskatchewanKristy Ehman, Hyon Software IncJon Piett, LOTUS Sleep Products Inc. ABOUT FUTURPRENEURFuturpreneur is a national, non-profit organization that provides collateral-free financing, mentorship and resources to diverse young entrepreneurs, aged 18-39 who are looking to start, acquire or grow their businesses in Canada. With a mandate to help young entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to life, Futurpreneur provides bilingual (English and French) support and resources to help business owners start and succeed. Founded in 1996, the organization was established to promote entrepreneurship among Canadian youth as a critical pillar for diversifying the economy, generating employment opportunities and fostering a sustainable future. Since then, Futurpreneur has helped more than 17,700 young entrepreneurs launch or acquire small and growing businesses across Canada. Futurpreneur is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance, the Canadian member of Youth Business International and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). www.futurpreneur.ca | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube MEDIA CONTACTLiesl BarrellHead of Marketing & CommunicationsChef, communications et marketingE: [email protected]T: 438-223-9871 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/094c37aa-df5d-4a1a-9193-77695516c8ee https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b14fe78a-1107-4d96-9eeb-16b8216802ac https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb5c0b59-92a1-4254-b3f4-9078363109d3 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44c46a80-2e8a-42a5-9900-4db51af85280 Canadian delegation celebrating the handover to India at the 2022 Summit in Hamburg. Canadian delegation celebrating the handover to India at the 2022 Summit in Hamburg. Group photo of all the delegations of young entrepreneurs at the 2022 G20 YEA Summit in Hamburg last year. Group photo of all the delegations of young entrepreneurs at the 2022 G20 YEA Summit in Hamburg last year. Official Handover to India at the 2022 G20 YEA Summit in Hamburg, marking the start of the 2023 Summit preparations. Official Handover to India at the 2022 G20 YEA Summit in Hamburg, marking the start of the 2023 Summit preparations. Entrepreneurs who will be part of the 2023 G20 YEA Canadian Delegation led by Futurpreneur at the Summit in New Delhi, India, July 13-16. Entrepreneurs who will be part of the 2023 G20 YEA Canadian Delegation led by Futurpreneur at the Summit in New Delhi, India, July 13-16. Source: Futurpreneur IHG Hotels & Resorts has strengthened its partnership with one of the leading developers in Egypt, Arkan Palm for Real Estate Investment in a move that will see IHG add 400 rooms across InterContinental and voco brands in the country. While InterContinental West Cairo 205 is scheduled for a January 2028 opening, the voco West Cairo 205 Suites is set to open by June 2026. The hotels will be strategically located as part of Arkan Palm for Real Estate Investments new mixed-use development 205 an Arkan Palm Development in West Cairo, one of the prime areas in Egypt. The one million sqm development will feature offices, residence units, retail outlets, business parks, hospitals and clinics, an international school, plus a Canal Walk Island comprising of residential spaces and retail stores that is set to be the first-of-its-kind in Egypt. The dual hotel signing, which will add 390 rooms to IHGs portfolio in Egypt, caters to the high demand for luxury and premium guest experiences in the region. This agreement highlights IHGs commitment to the Egyptian market, as well as the trust that the companys long term partners place in IHG and its brand portfolio. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, commented: Were delighted to announce the signing of two newly built hotels in Egypt, and expand our luxury and premium offering in the country. The new InterContinental West Cairo 205 builds on the brands long-standing legacy in Egypt and strengthens our luxury portfolio in the capital by offering world-class stays to guests. Also gaining momentum in the country is our premium brand voco, which combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. We look forward to our guests experiencing exceptional hospitality offerings at the new voco West Cairo 205 Suites. He added: Badreldin Group is our existing and valued partner - we opened Crowne Plaza West Cairo- Arkan, the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Egypt, last year. We are delighted to continue the partnership and together, bring more world-class hospitality options to the growing sector in Egypt. Commenting on the signings, Tamer Badr Eldin, Chief Executive Officer of Arkan Palm for Real Estate Investment said: Were pleased to be growing our hospitality portfolio in Egypt with our esteemed partner, IHG. MEA has historically had strong demand for luxury and premium guest experiences, and as the region continues to be positioned as a great destination for leisure tourism, this demand continues to grow. Having opened a hotel with IHG recently, we are confident in their brands, booking channels and local understanding to offer the most authentic stay experiences to our guests. InterContinental West Cairo 205 InterContinental West Cairo 205 will feature 250 keys and offer luxury experiences to guests through its exceptional design, offering and service. The hotel will feature four dining options, including an all-day dining, specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge and a destination bar. Corporate guests who are looking for an elegant, yet functional location will have access to hotels meeting and events space totalling 1,110 sq m, including a ballroom. Other facilities at the hotel will include a club lounge, a spa, a health club and swimming pool. voco West Cairo 205 Suites With 140 rooms, voco West Cairo 205 Suites will guarantee a premium experience for guests from the moment they check-in, to check-out. The hotel will feature one dining option and a grab-and-go eatery, along with a health club. Additionally, vocos brand hallmarks, a bold design and amenities will add a distinctive charm to every stay. Both upcoming InterContinental and voco hotels will be located close to several leisure and sightseeing destinations, including the Pyramids and the future Grand Egyptian Museum. Being a part of the Arkan Palm master plan, set to be one of the best mixed-use developments in the area, the hotels will be easily visible and accessible to all in West Cairo. InterContinental West Cairo and voco West Cairo Suites will both be 45-minute drive away from the Cairo International Airport, and 30 minutes to downtown Cairo. IHG currently has 7 hotels operating across 4 brands in Egypt, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and has a strong pipeline of 13 hotels due to open in the next 2-5 years. TradeArabia News Service Veyseloglu Group of Companies (VGC) demonstrates its ongoing commitment to restoring and reconstructing liberated territories by collaborating with the Karabakh Revival Fund. As part of this collaborative effort, VGC recently donated an irrigation vehicle to the East Zangezur Economic Region, designated explicitly for the Agali village in Zangilan. The presentation ceremony for the irrigation vehicle had been attended by esteemed individuals such as Aydn Talybov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of VGC, Group CEO Burak Deniz, Chairman of the Board of Karabakh Revival Fund Rahman Hajiyev, Vahid Hajiyev, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts of the Eastern Zangezur economic region, as well as senior management personnel from VGC and media representatives. Expressing his gratitude, Aydin Talibov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of VGC, thanked the Karabakh Revival Fund for their dedicated efforts in the restoration of liberated territories. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, "As Veyseloglu, we firmly believe that sustainable development requires collective action. Through our partnership with the Karabakh Revival Fund, we aim to make a significant impact by providing the necessary support and resources to expedite the reconstruction process." Vahid Hajiyev, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan, acknowledged the valuable contribution of this initiative by Veyseloglu Group of Companies to the revival of Karabakh. He expressed his appreciation to the company's management and employees for their exemplary step forward. Rahman Hajiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Karabakh Revival Fund, highlighted Veyseloglu Group of Companies' consistent support in previous restoration and construction projects in liberated territories, applauding their initiative as a role model for others. The presentation ceremony took place at "AVT Logistics," a subsidiary of Veyseloglu Group of Companies, where attendees also had the opportunity to visit the company's dry and cold warehouses. Veyseloglu Group of Companies (VGC) is a diversified FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) group involved in various aspects of the supply chain, including retail, distribution, logistics, and production. Supporting sustainable development is the fundamental philosophy of Veyseloglu Group of Companies. Changes in Guerbet's Board of Directors Appointment of Didier Izabel as Chair of the Board of Directors Appointment of Pascale Auger as an Independent Director Renewal of three directorships Villepinte, 26 May 2023: Guerbet (FR0000032526 GBT), a world specialist in contrast products and solutions for medical imaging, announces, following the Annual General Meeting of 26 May 2023 and a Board of Directors meeting held on the same day: the appointment of Didier Izabel as Chair of the Board of Directors ; ; the appointment of Pascale Auger as an Independent Director; as an Independent Director; the renewal of the terms of office of three directors, Carine Dagommer, Eric Guerbet and Thibault Viort. Didier Izabel, new Chair of the Board of Directors of Guerbet The Board of Directors appointed Mr Izabel, an Independent Director since 2014, on the recommendation of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, as Chair. He succeeds Marie-Claire Janailhac-Fritsch, Chair of the Guerbet Board since 2013, whose term of office has expired. Didier Izabel, a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and Ingenieur des Mines, joined Guerbet's Board of Directors in 2014 as an Independent Director. A Senior Partner at Axys Finance since 2009, Didier Izabel began his career at the Ministry of Industry, where he was responsible for the pharmaceutical industry for three years. He then spent his entire career in investment banking, successively with Banexi (BNP Group), Edmond de Rothschild, Toulouse & Associes and Banca Leonardo. "It is with great pride and responsibility that I take on this new role entrusted to me by the Board. First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to Marie-Claire Janailhac-Fritsch for her ten years as Chair of the Guerbet Board and thank her for her commitment. Pascale Auger, new Independent Director of Guerbet The Annual General Meeting appointed Pascale Auger as an Independent Director for a term of five years. Pascale Auger, a graduate of Centrale Lille and holder of a doctorate in robotics and industrial organisation from the University of Lille, is Chair of the PRODEVAL Board of Directors. She is also an independent director of ICAPE and Chair of the Nominations, Remuneration and Governance Committee, and an Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Exel Industries. Pascale Auger began her career as a Partner at PwC in charge of the industry and distribution sectors. She then became Vice-Chair of Capgemini Consulting and successively held executive positions with the Bollore Group, AKKA Technologies, LafargeHolcim and Rabot Dutilleul. "I am honoured to join the Board of Directors of Guerbet, a fine family-owned intermediate-sized enterprise in the healthcare sector. The next few years will be important for the Group's development and growth. I'm looking forward to being part of this adventure. Renewal of three directorships: Carine Dagommer, Eric Guerbet and Thibault Viort The Guerbet General Meeting also renewed the terms of office of three directors: Carine Dagommer, member of the Board of Directors since 2021, Director representing the majority shareholder, for a term of 5 years; Eric Guerbet, member of the Board of Directors since 2017, Director representing the majority shareholder, for a term of 6 years; Thibault Viort, member of the Board of Directors since 2017, Independent Director, for a term of 1 year. With effect from 26 May 2023, the Board of Directors will comprise: Didier Izabel*, Chair of the Board Directors: Pascale Auger*, Carine Dagommer, Olivier Fougere**, Mark Fouquet, Eric Guerbet, Celine Lamort, Nicolas Louvet, Claire Massiot-Jouault, Marc Massiot, Jean-Sebastien Raynaud** and Thibault Viort* *Independent directors **Salaried directors About Guerbet At Guerbet, we build lasting relationships so that we enable people to live better. That is our purpose. We are a leader in medical imaging worldwide, offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and digital and AI solutions for diagnostic and interventional imaging. A pioneer in contrast media for 95 years, with more than 2,600 employees worldwide, we continuously innovate and devote 10% of our sales to research and development in five centers in France, Israel, and the United States. Guerbet (GBT) is listed on Euronext Paris (segment B mid caps) and generated 753 million in revenue in 2022. Attachment TORONTO, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highmark Interactive Inc. (TSXV: HMRK) (Highmark or the Company), a provider of remote patient monitoring and other healthtech solutions, today announced that it has successfully been processed for remote patient monitoring and has been reimbursed by Medicare for those services. As an FDA cleared healthtech solution provider, this is a critical validation of the ability for Highmarks technology not just to be used to monitor the health of patients by practitioners but join a very small select group of companies that have their technology reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid for that solution. We are excited to offer our clients the ability to bill for remote patient monitoring services, said Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, CEO of Highmark. This confirms that our FDA cleared solution creates potential for improved preventive healthcare as well as an increase in revenue for our clinician customers, which range from single site clinics, to larger multi site health systems. Furthermore, Sharma stated, By demonstrating that our software is reimbursed by the largest payor globally of healthcare (i.e. US Medicare), Highmark has solidified its clear competitive advantage. Not only are there only a small number of companies that have been approved for reimbursement, Highmarks proprietary algorithms provide a numeric score that can be used to identify patients whose balance is deteriorating, thus enabling proactive interventions to assist with preventing falls. Dr. Sharma continues by saying, This is an exciting milestone, as it opens up a number of strategic opportunities, as the innovation coupled with the software being reimbursed creates the elusive win/win dynamic with patients and practitioners. Our solution meets the demand, and focus being established by the large stakeholder from a health promotion perspective (i.e. CDC, American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons amongst others) have launched and promoted falls prevention, while payors, such as Medicare, have reviewed the economic literature where fall prevention is a significant driver of cost savings. Patients have embraced digital health solutions, especially if it helps them maintain their independence and sense of wellness. In regards to an update of the Cease Trade Order (CTO) applicable to the Companys securities, the Company continues to work to secure additional funding that will allow the Company to satisfy outstanding payables due to its auditors and thus release the audit report necessary for the Company to file its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, which the Company believes will result in the CTO being lifted. The Company believes that it has financing options and it continues to explore short and long term options for its financial viability but there can be no guarantee such funding will be secured. The Company will provide a further update in approximately two weeks. About Highmark Interactive Highmark Interactive was created to change the paradigm of testing and management for brain and mental health. Highmark's approach is focused on providing real-time data to health providers to support proactive, preventative interventions and targeted care planning to improve health outcomes. In addition to a growing network of virtual, in-person and hybrid clinics. Highmark Interactive offers the world's first gamified, FDA cleared patient-led assessments as well as digital clinician-led assessments of neurofunction and balance. Together. The technology is used in more than 350 health organizations globally. By unlocking insights, Highmark's platform enables precision medicine and creates a more contemporary model for delivering better outcomes in medical 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. Learn more: https://www.highmark.tech/ For further information: Highmark Interactive Inc. Sanjeev Sharma, President & CEO. [email protected] or 1-855-969-5079 Investor Relations [email protected] SOURCE: Highmark Interactive Inc Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This News Release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the current expectations and views of future events of the Company. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, targets, expects or does not expect, is expected, an opportunity exists, is positioned, estimates, intends, assumes, anticipates or does not anticipate or believes,or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, will or will be taken, occur or be achieved. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, predictions, indications, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managements expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among other things, statements and expectations relating to the validation of the Companys technology and the continued reimbursement by Medicare for remote patient monitoring services, remedying defaults with respect to filing of the 2022 annual consolidated financial statements and the timing therefore, potential avenues for additional external financing, and the nature of discussions with secured creditors and the outcomes of such discussions. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on opinions, assumptions and estimates made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that Highmark believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances as of the date of this news release, including discussions with potential financing parties and secured creditors. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. In addition, if any of the assumptions or estimates made by management 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 information contained herein. Accordingly, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Although the Company believes the assumptions underlying the statements related to the Company are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and the risks identified in the filing statement, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Source: Highmark Interactive Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integra Resources Corp. (Integra or the Company) (TSXV: ITR; NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to announce, further to its May 23, 2023 press release, the completion of the Companys proposed consolidation of its Common Shares on the basis of one (1) new post-consolidation Common Share for every two and a half (2.5) existing pre-consolidation Common Shares (the Consolidation"). The Consolidation reduces the number of outstanding Common Shares from 171,943,828 to approximately 68,777,531. Proportionate adjustments have been made to the Companys outstanding stock options, restricted share units and deferred share units. No fractional Common Shares will be issued pursuant to the Consolidation and any fractional Common Shares that would have otherwise been issued will be rounded to the nearest whole Common Share. A letter of transmittal with respect to the Consolidation will be mailed to the Companys registered shareholders. All registered shareholders will be required to send their certificate(s) or direct registration system advices (DRS Advices) representing pre-Consolidation Common Shares, along with a properly executed letter of transmittal, to the Companys registrar and transfer agent, TSX Trust Company, in accordance with the instructions provided in the letter of transmittal. Shareholders who hold their Common Shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank or trust company should contact that nominee or intermediary for their post-Consolidation positions. A copy of the letter of transmittal is filed on the Companys issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. It is anticipated that the post-Consolidation Common Shares will commence trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV) and the NYSE American under its new CUSIP number 45826T509 (ISIN CA45826T5098) at market open May 26, 2023. The trading symbol for the Companys shares on the TSX-V will remain ITR and the trading symbol for the Companys shares on the NYSE American will remain ITRG. Millennial Warrants Pursuant to the court-approved plan arrangement (the Arrangement) in connection with the at-market merger of Integra and Millennial Precious Metals Corp. (Millennial), each Millennial warrant to purchase common shares (a Millennial Warrant) will, upon the exercise of such rights, entitle the holder thereof to be issued and receive for the same aggregate consideration, upon such exercise, in lieu of the number of Millennial common shares (each, Millennial Share) to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon exercise of such Millennial Warrants, the kind and aggregate number of Common Shares that such holder would have been entitled to be issued and receive if, immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement, such holder had been the registered holder of the number of Millennial Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon exercise of such Millennial Warrants. All other terms governing the warrants, including, but not limited to, the expiry date, exercise price and the conditions to and the manner of exercise, will be the same as the terms that were in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement, and shall be governed by the terms of the applicable warrant instruments. Pursuant to the Consolidation, proportionate adjustments have been made to the aggregate number of Common Shares that such holder is entitled to upon exercise of such Millennial Warrants and to the exercise price of the Millennial Warrants. Prior to the completion of the Arrangement, Millennial had outstanding a class of Millennial Warrants listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol MPM.WT (the Listed Millennial Warrants). The Listed Millennial Warrants will continue trading on the TSXV as Millennial Warrants, under their existing trading symbol, and will remain listed on the TSXV until the earliest to occur of their exercise, expiry or delisting. Pursuant to the Consolidation, the exercise price of the Listed Millennial Warrants has been adjusted from CDN$0.55 to CDN$1.375 and every one (1) Listed Millennial Warrant is now exercisable to acquire 0.092 of a Common Share. As required by the warrant indenture in respect of the Listed Millennial Warrants, Integra has entered into a supplemental warrant indenture in respect of such warrant indenture governing the Listed Millennial Warrants. A copy of the supplemental warrant indenture is available on Millennials and Integras respective SEDAR profiles at www.sedar.com. About Integra Resources Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its three flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Wildcat and Mountain View Projects located in western Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integras long-term vision is to become a leading USA focused mid-tier gold and silver producer. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSJason KosecPresident, CEO and Director CONTACT INFORMATIONCorporate Inquiries: [email protected]Company website: www.integraresources.comOffice phone: 1 (604) 416-0576 Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the potential benefits to be derived from the recently completed merger with Millennial; the future financial or operating performance of the Company and the Companys mineral properties and project portfolio; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Companys mineral properties and project portfolios; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; and future development plans. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as may, will, could, would, anticipate, believe, expect, intend, potential, estimate, budget, scheduled, plans, planned, forecasts, goals and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include: the integration of the Companies, and realization of benefits therefrom; the Companies ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at mineral properties; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render mineral properties economic; the Companies ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forwardlooking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: integration risks; general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties; and managements ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Although the Companies have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integras annual report on Form 20-F dated March 17, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and Millennials managements discussion and analysis dated April 28, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Companys plans, objectives and goals, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Source: Integra Resources Corp. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marimaca Copper Corp. (TSX: MARI) (Marimaca or the Company) is pleased to report that all of its incumbent directors were re-elected at its annual general meeting of shareholders, held virtually via webcast on Thursday May 25, 2023 (the Meeting). Below are the detailed results of the votes cast by ballot (including votes cast by proxy) at the Meeting on the election of the Companys directors. VOTES FOR VOTES WITHHELD PERCENTAGE OF VOTES FOR Hayden Locke 21,675,434 28,132 99.87% Alan J. Stephens 21,675,434 28,132 99.87% Colin Kinley 21,701,610 1,956 99.99% Michael Haworth 21,674,145 29,421 99.86% Clive Newall 21,675,328 28,238 99.87% Tim Petterson 21,702,687 879 100% Shareholders also passed resolutions re-appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditor of the Company (100% of votes cast in favour) and re-approving the Companys Omnibus Incentive Plan (99.83% of votes cast in favour). Please see the Companys report of voting results filed under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com for the detailed results of all votes received on the matters presented to shareholders at the Meeting. Contact Information For further information please visit www.marimaca.com or contact: Tavistock +44 (0) 207 920 3150Emily Moss / Adam Baynes[email protected] Source: Marimaca Copper Corp. DALLAS, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merciful Tattoo Removal is proud to announce the addition of laser tattoo removal to its services in the Mandan and Bismarck area of North Dakota. They now offer laser treatments using the advanced Astanza Trinity 1.0 laser to remove or transform unwanted ink on any skin type. Merciful Tattoo Removal uses the Astanza Trinity 1.0 Q-switched Nd:YAG and Q-switched ruby combination system to provide the best laser tattoo removal experience in North Dakota. The Trinity 1.0 laser machine produces three reliable wavelengths, 1064 nm, 532 nm, and 694 nm, to target and remove all tattoo colors, even resistant pigments like bright blues and greens. The Trinity 1.0 safely penetrates the skin, targeting the tattoo ink and shattering ink particles without harming the surrounding skin tissue. Merciful Tattoo Removal maximizes patient comfort by utilizing the Zimmer Cryo, an advanced numbing technology that alleviates pain before, during, and after laser treatments. Certified laser practitioners at Merciful Tattoo Removal receive the best training in the world and have the knowledge, experience, and most advanced technology to give customers fast, effective results in a clean and safe environment. The Trinity 1.0 can fade down or completely remove the full-spectrum of ink colors, including black, brown, red, green, blue, and other warm and cool pigments. We are proud to expand our business and offer laser tattoo removal to Bismarck, Mandan, and beyond, said Andy Just, owner of Merciful Tattoo Removal. To celebrate our expansion, all new customers will receive a 20% discount off their first and second sessions. Merciful Tattoo Removal also offers $20 consultations, competitively priced treatment packages, and special discounts. Contact them today to learn more about their affordable pricing options and book a consultation. About Merciful Tattoo Removal Merciful Tattoo Removal is located at Dolls Studios, a premier tattoo shop in Mandan, Bismarck, and surrounding areas. They are dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service and advanced laser treatments. Their highly-trained laser practitioners are certified in operating Q-switch laser technology and provide clients with a safe and precise laser tattoo removal experience, with fewer treatments and side effects overall. To take advantage of the 20% discount offer, call Merciful Tattoo Removal today at (701) 663-1069 or visit their website at https://merciful-tattoo-removal.square.site/. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on the latest news and promotions. Merciful Tattoo Removal is located at 3001 Memorial Highway, Mandan, North Dakota. About Astanza Laser Astanza is the leader in lasers for tattoo removal, hair removal, and additional aesthetic procedures. In addition to delivering cutting-edge medical laser devices such as the Duality, Trinity, MeDioStar, PicoStar, and DermaBlate systems, Astanza offers an unbeatable partnership through The Astanza Experience, which is made of the Business Builder System, 3-Day Business Service Guarantee, and Lifetime Training and Support. Together, these components give Astanza clients a complete range of training, marketing, and business consulting services to achieve success in this growing field. Astanza is an award-winning company that has received several accolades from leading industry organizations, including MyFaceMyBody and Aesthetic Everything. They are certified as Great Place to Work and ranked #47 on Fortunes 2022 Best Places to Work in Texas and #49 on Fortunes Best Workplaces in Health Care. Astanza Laser is headquartered in Dallas, TX, with customers throughout North America and Europe. For product, investor, or press information, call (800) 364-9010, or visit https://astanzalaser.com/. Connect with Astanza on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Source: Astanza Laser Boston, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This past Saturday, Operation Gratitude, in partnership with CSX and volunteers throughout New England, assembled 2,500 Care Packages for Massachusetts First Responders in honor of National Police Week. This event is part of CSX's national Pride in Service community investment initiative, which focuses on serving and honoring first responders, military members, and their families, when and where they need it. The event, which marks the first of this summers series of hands-on volunteer opportunities, was hosted by CSX at UMass Lowell, in partnership with the national nonprofit Operation Gratitude. The 2,500 Care Packages will be sent to First Responders throughout Massachusetts, including Boston, Worcester, and Lowell. Millions of first responders serve their communities throughout the U.S. as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs. These brave men and women put their lives on the line daily, throughout their careers, to serve our communities. Operation Gratitude Care Packages are a morale booster and an opportunity to say Thank You for their service and sacrifice. Since the launch of Pride in Service in 2018, CSX has delivered over 250,000 gifts of gratitude to servicemembers, First Responders, and their families. CSXs commitment to servicemembers is embedded in the identity of the organization as nearly one in five CSX employees has served and CSX employs their own police force and hazmat team. I was thrilled to meet several of our long-time Operation Gratitude volunteers from the Northeast region, who drove for hours to join us at this incredible event, said Carolyn Blashek, Founder and Interim CEO of Operation Gratitude. My thanks to them and to CSX and their employees for their generosity of time and spirit to assemble 2,500 First Responder Care Packages in record time! It was great to see everyone come together as ONE CSX to assemble Care Packages for the brave men and women of the New England community. Our efforts here today symbolize our commitment to bridging community divides, creating connections, and delivering resources to service members in times of need, said Bryan Tucker, vice president corporate communications, CSX. Care Package assembly days are essential to Operation Gratitude's overarching mission to provide every individual an opportunity to express their deep appreciation for those who step forward to protect and defend the American people. CSX and Operation Gratitudes partnership ensures that thousands of heroes annually receive a lovingly filled Care Package, a critical reminder that a grateful nation thanks them for their service. Each Operation Gratitude Care Package contains snacks, personal care and hygiene products, handmade items, and most importantly, handwritten letters from grateful Americans. About Operation Gratitude Operation Gratitude is a nationwide nonprofit whose mission is to lift spirits and say Thank You to our Military and First Responder communities, and to honor their service by creating opportunities for all Americans to express their gratitude through hands-on volunteerism. In March 2003, Operation Gratitude sent its first four care packages to deployed service members in Iraq. Since its inception, the organization has delivered more than 3.8 Million Care Packages to Deployed Troops, Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Military Families, and First Responders. The Volunteers of Operation Gratitude are a generous and spirited grassroots network of Americans joined in a common cause to say Thank You to all who serve our great nation. For more information, visit OperationGratitude.com or follow us on social media. About CSX CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nations economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nations population resides. It also links over 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX). Annie McDougle-Stamey Operation Gratitude [email protected] Source: Operation Gratitude MONTREAL, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the "Company" or "Osisko Metals") (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF; FRANKFURT: 0B51) wishes to announce, as per regulatory compliance, the following updates: Shares for Services Agreement Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 2,000,000 common shares at a deemed issue price of $0.3125 per common share in satisfaction of an aggregate of $625,000 in obligations due to Maxit Capital LP, who acted as the financial advisor to the Company in connection with the recently-completed joint venture transaction with Appian Canada Pine B.V. The common shares issued pursuant to this shares-for-services transaction will be subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws. Grant of Stock Options The Companys Board of Directors have approved the grant of 2023 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, key employees and key consultants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,705,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company. Grants are subject to a three-year vesting period and a five-year term at an exercise price of $0.25 per share. About Osisko Metals Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals space. The Company controls one of Canadas premier past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point Project, located in the Northwest Territories for which the 2022 PEA has indicated an after-tax NPV of $602M and an IRR of 25% is based on the current Mineral Resource Estimates that are amenable to open pit and shallow underground mining and consist of 15.7Mt grading 5.55% ZnEq of Indicated Mineral Resources and 47.2Mt grading 5.94% ZnEq of Inferred Mineral Resources. Please refer to the technical report entitled Preliminary Economic Assessment, Pine Point Project, Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada dated July 30, 2022 which has been filed on SEDAR. The Pine Point Project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, near infrastructure, paved highway access, and has an electrical substation as well as 100 kilometres of viable haulage roads already in place. The Company is also in the process of acquiring, from Glencore Canada Corporation, a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspe Copper Mine, located near Murdochville in the Gaspe peninsula of Quebec. The Company is currently focused on resource evaluation of the Mount Copper Expansion Project that hosts a NI43-101 Inferred Resource of 456 Mt grading 0.31% Cu (see April 28, 2022 press release). Gaspe Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Quebec. For further information on this press release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact: Robert Wares, CEO of Osisko Metals Incorporated Email: [email protected]www.osiskometals.com Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking information. This news release may contain forward-looking information pertaining to the Pine Point Project, including, among other things, the results of the PEA and the IRR, NPV and estimated costs, production, production rate and mine life; the expectation that the Pine Point Project will be a robust operation and profitable at a variety of prices and assumptions; the expected high quality of the Pine Point concentrates; the potential impact of the Pine Point Project in the Northwest Territories, including but not limited to the potential generation of tax revenue and contribution of jobs; and the Pine Point Project having the potential for mineral resource expansion and new discoveries. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of managements 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, including, without limitation, assumptions about: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the development of its projects and pursue planned exploration; future prices of zinc and lead; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; operating conditions being favourable; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of equipment; and positive relations with local groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Companys public documents filed at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Source: Osisko Metals Incorporated Sunstone Therapies presents data at ASCO showing positive long-term follow-up results from psilocybin therapy in cancer patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) 18-month follow-up of patients in phase 2 study shows continued robust clinical response to psilocybin therapy, with sustained response in 64% of patients and two-thirds of patients in remission Data presented at ASCO further validates potential of a single dose of psilocybin and simultaneous psychological support for cancer patients with MDD Rockville, Maryland, May 26, 2023 Sunstone Therapies, a leader in the development of clinical trials and the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the medical setting, today announces data from a long-term, 18-month follow-up study of psilocybin therapy in cancer patients with MDD, at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This is believed to be the longest-term follow-up study of psilocybin therapy with cancer patients ever completed. The original phase 2 study was completed in 2021 and results were published in JAMA Oncology last month. Psilocybin therapy is an approach being investigated for the treatment of mental health challenges, including depression. It combines the pharmacological effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive substance, with psychological support. The study was a phase 2, single-center, fixed-dose, open-label study in 30 patients with curable and incurable cancer. Cohorts of 3 to 4 patients were simultaneously treated with a 25mg dose of synthesized COMP360 psilocybin, in adjacent rooms open to a common space, in a 1:1 therapist-to-patient ratio. The cohorts received group therapy in 1 preparation and 2 integration sessions, supplemented by individual therapy, and were evaluated at 8 weeks and then again at 18 months. Results indicated that a single dose of psilocybin therapy, combined with psychological support, induced remission from depression in patients with cancer and MDD. This was measured by the sustained clinical response, defined as 50% decrease in scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scale from baseline and week 8 (study termination) to 18 months and remission (defined as patients with a MADRS total score 10 at 18 months). Of 30 patients from the parent study, 28 were enrolled in the follow-up study. Sustained clinical response was demonstrated in 18 patients (64%) from baseline to 18 months follow-up, and 16 patients (57%) demonstrated remission of depression at 18 months. Paul Thambi MD, Chief Medical Officer at Sunstone Therapies, commented: This long-term follow-up study builds on the results we have published for our phase 2 study. The data demonstrates that a single dose of psilocybin therapy has resulted in the remission of depressive symptoms in just over half of the patient population up to 18 months post-treatment, reinforcing the potential of this therapeutic approach. As an oncologist, I know the impact that cancer can have on patients and their families. Psilocybin and other psychedelic therapies have the potential to alleviate tremendous emotional suffering and Sunstone is proud to be working with patients at the forefront of this research. Bill Richards PhD, Chief Therapist at Sunstone Therapies, added: I have been involved in psilocybin therapy studies for several decades, and this data is truly encouraging. Its heartening to see the enduring, life-changing effects of the therapy in cancer patients with MDD. About Sunstone Therapies Founded by oncologists Drs Manish Agrawal and Paul Thambi, business strategist Kim Roddy and psychologist Dr Bill Richards, Sunstones team of healthcare professionals has seen first-hand the need for better tools to address the emotional and mental health of cancer patients. Sunstone is focused on developing psychedelic therapies and building modern centers of healing to better treat the emotional and psychological impact of cancer and other diseases and disorders as a fundamental expansion of the standard of care in a medical setting, treating mind and heart along with the physical body. For more information, please visit: https://www.sunstonetherapies.com/ Media contact: Consilium Strategic Communications Tracy Cheung/Chris Gardner/Andrew Stern Email: [email protected] Source: Sunstone Therapies MONTREAL, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has ratified its collective agreement with the Company. The union represents approximately 6,000 CN Locomotive Engineers, Conductors, Yard Conductors, and Yard Coordinators working in Canada. We are pleased that TCRC members have ratified the collective agreement reached earlier this year. We thank the TCRC leadership for their engagement throughout this process. We remain committed to working with this important group to ensure continued service for our customers and improved working conditions for our team members." - Tracy Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer, CN About CNCN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CNs network connects Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Contacts: Media Investment Community Jonathan Abecassis Stacy Alderson Senior Manager Interim Assistant Vice-President Media Relations Investor Relations (438) 455-3692 [email protected] (514) 399-0052 [email protected] Source: Canadian National Railway Company SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. (Tbird2") has added Major General Shanna Woyak of the United States Airforce to its Board of Directors. Tbird2 is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the rich history and culture of aviation in Scottsdale, provide a tribute to our veterans, promote aviation, create unique educational opportunities to the public, provide aviation scholarships for Arizona college students, and support Dogs4Vets and other specific veteran assistance programs. ABOUT SHANNA WOYAKShanna Woyak is a Senior Healthcare Executive having held leadership positions as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and more recently, as a Major General in the United States Air Force. She has led some of the largest transformations in military medicine history as the first Director, Small Market and Stand-Alone Military Medical Treatment Facility Organization (SSO), Defense Health Agency, San Antonio, Texas, overseeing the integration of >200 Army, Navy, and Air Force Medical Treatment Facilities covering 32 states and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Major General Woyak was past Director of the National Capital Region, Washington, DC, leading the first transition of the authority, direction, and control of Army, Navy, and Air Force Healthcare delivery under the Defense Health Agency. EDUCATION Maj Gen Woyak is a Registered Nurse with a Masters Degree in Business Administration and Healthcare Management. She has received Executive Leadership Certificates from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, and Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. NOTABLE MILITARY SERVICE & ASSIGNMENTSSpanning a 37-year career, encompassing many unique assignments, Maj Gen Woyak deployed in 2002 as the Chief Nurse assigned to the 10th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, Combined Task Force, Incirlik, Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch and in 2007 as a Staff Nurse assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group, Joint Force Theater Hospital in Balad, Iraq. Maj Gen Woyak is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal, and more. Stephen P. Ziomek, Chairman and President of Tbird2, stated, It is truly an honor and privilege to have such a valuable asset in the form of Major General Woyak, join the Tbird2 Board of Directors. She has devoted her life to serving the armed forces and veteran community. Her experiences will definitely help us as we continue to fulfill our mission of providing scholarships to our students and supporting the veteran community. Shanna Woyak commented, "It is an honor to be a new board member of this incredible organization! The unique mission set of TBIRD2 in advancing the education and training of our young aviation students combined with their support of the DOGS4VETS program, assisting disabled veterans in living more productive lives, is beyond a privilege to be a part of. I am looking forward to working with this talented team!" ABOUT THUNDERBIRD FIELD II VETERANS MEMORIAL, INC.Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2014 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. During World War II, the airfield named Thunderbird Field II was built for the sole purpose of training U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in 1942. Thunderbird Field II graduated over 5,500 men and women pilots, many of whom saw military action in Europe and the Pacific. The field and school were deactivated on October 16, 1944, sold to Arizona State Teachers College (ASU), then to the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and finally to the City of Scottsdale in 1966 and is now known as the Scottsdale Airport (KSDL). Tbird2 has a permanent Veterans Memorial at the entrance to the Scottsdale Airport, located at 15000 N. Airport Drive, Scottsdale, AZ. The centerpiece of the memorial is a 1942 Stearman biplane, and inside the business center is a historical display honoring the service of men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as POW-MIAs. ABOUT DOGS4VETSAmerican Service Animal Society, dba Dogs4Vets, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enabling disabled veterans live a more productive life through the use of service animals. Dogs4Vets offers no-cost lifetime support and service dog training for over 100 Arizona veterans each year. Contact:Stephen P. ZiomekChairman & President[email protected]480.664.6604 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3145e79-9a90-4806-9cf5-cf7e1a3d965d Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. Board Member Shanna Woyak Source: Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. 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. SINGAPORE, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (Genius Group or the Company), a leading entrepreneur edtech and education group, today announced that certain U.S.-based Genius Group shareholders may be able to trade on Upstream, the trading app for digital securities powered by Horizon Fintex (Horizon) and MERJ Exchange Limited (MERJ). This is being made possible as MERJ Exchange recently signed an agreement with Boustead Securities, a full-service investment banking firm and licensed FINRA member, to permit certain investors access to Upstream. U.S. investors that wish to trade securities on Upstream may now register with Boustead Securities at https://www.boustead1828.com/upstream. After registering with Boustead, U.S. investors will receive instructions from Boustead on how access Upstream. Roger Hamilton, CEO of Genius Group, commented: The agreement between Boustead Securities and MERJ is a novel step forward for the financial industry and should allow certain of our shareholders to trade on Upstream. About Genius Group Genius Group is a leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in todays market. The group has a group user base of 4.3 million students and users in 200 countries, ranging from ages 0 to 100. For more information, please visit https://www.geniusgroup.net/. Investor Notice Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below. Additionally, there is no guarantee that a shareholder will qualify for use of the Upstream app or that their shares will qualify for trading on Upstream. Shareholders should follow the advice of their advisors, and nothing contained in this press release constitutes investment or legal advice as to the availability of Upstream to any shareholder or for any other reason. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, plan, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise. About Upstream Upstream, a MERJ Exchange Market (merj.exchange), is a fully regulated global stock exchange for digital securities. Powered by Horizon's proprietary blockchain-powered matching engine technology, the platform enables users to trade in certain securities using the Upstream app. For more information, please visit https://upstream.exchange/. Disclaimers This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is not permitted. U.S. investors are not currently permitted to trade in Upstream listed securities and may only do after being introduced by a licensed broker dealer. Upstream is a MERJ Exchange market. MERJ Exchange is a securities exchange licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Authority Seychelles, an associate member of the International Association of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). MERJ Exchange is an affiliate of the World Federation of Exchanges, and a full member of ANNA. MERJ supports global issuers of traditional and digital securities through the entire asset life cycle from issuance to trading, clearing, settlement, and registry. Boustead Securities, LLC does not endorse or recommend any public or private securities bought or sold on Upstream. Boustead Securities, LLC does not offer investment advice or recommendations of any kind. All services offered on Upstream are intended for self-directed clients who make their own investment decisions without aid or assistance from Boustead Securities, LLC or Upstream. All customers are subject to the rules and regulations of their jurisdiction. Company and security listings on Upstream are only suitable for investors who are familiar with and willing to accept the high risk associated with speculative investments, often in early and development stage companies. There can be no assurance the valuation of any particular companys securities is accurate or in agreement with the market or industry comparative valuations. Investors must be able to afford market volatility and afford the loss of their investment. Companies listed on Upstream are subject to significant ongoing corporate obligations including, but not limited to disclosure, filings, and notification requirements, as well as compliance with applicable quantitative and qualitative listing standards. Investors are encouraged to take note that, as in all dual listed securities that are traded on multiple marketplaces, there may be differences in pricing as a result of different liquidity, price discovery and other factors. Trading dual listed securities across multiple exchanges may expose investors to various risks, including differences in trading hours, settlement, trading rules and regulations. Investors who are considering trading our dual listed shares Upstream should carefully evaluate these and other risks and consult with financial and legal advisors before making any investment decisions. They should also be aware of any fees, taxes, or other costs associated with trading on Upstream. ContactsInvestors:Flora Hewitt, Vice President of Investor Relations and Mergers and AcquisitionsEmail: [email protected] Media Contacts: Adia PREmail: [email protected] US Investors:Dave GentryRedChip Companies Inc1-800-RED-CHIP[email protected] Source: Genius Group Limited PHOENIX, Ariz., May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As announced on May 1, 2023, American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR, OTCQB: ARRNF, FSE: 1BHA) (ARR or the Company) initiated several steps to progress the Halleck Creek asset, list on the US markets and move the operations to the United States. ARR is continuing its active exploration program both at Halleck Creek and new prospects in Wyoming. The Company is finalizing an exploration program to upgrade the current JORC resource at Halleck Creek. The program will include drilling, mapping and geochemical surveys that will be used for the Companys economic and feasibility studies currently underway. Our commercial review of Halleck Creek and commencement of our feasibility studies is a key milestone for the Company. The Company has engaged US lawyers, accountants and financial groups who are experts in SEC regulations and listing requirements. This body of work is in progress to dual list and ensure a smooth transition to US equity markets. BNY Mellon have also been engaged to establish American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). In September, the Company will also complete the third year of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) audits to meet SEC regulatory requirements. The Company has engaged a leading mining industry headhunter based out of Denver Colorado to help identify and ultimately engage US based mining directors and officers for the company. The Company has identified key roles it needs to continue the development of the Halleck Creek project and the transition to a US based company. Over the past few days, a number of the Companys independent directors have been meeting in the US to progress and facilitate the move to the USA. The directors are meeting with potential US based board, operations, and technical candidates in Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. While in the USA the directors have organized several meetings with financial, exploration and operations groups who will help facilitate the Companies move to the USA in the coming months. ARR believes the steps taken to expand our US presence and recruit key personnel will help in revaluing the Companys standing as a successful rare earth explorer in the USA, as well as prepare the Company to access the US equity markets and provide US investors with a local market. Financially we are well funded and have more than sufficient funds to complete the above activities. The Company will remain dual listed as the Australian market and shareholders remain a core part of the Companys growth strategy. We would like to thank all our shareholders for their ongoing support during this period of transition and we will continue to update the market as information becomes available. This market announcement has been authorized for release to the market by the Board of American Rare Earths Limited. Creagh OConnor, AM Chairman About American Rare Earths: One of the only ASX listed companies with exposure to the rapidly expanding US market, American Rare Earths is developing its 100% owned magnet metals projects, La Paz in Arizona, and Halleck Creek in Wyoming. Both have potential to be among the largest, rare earths deposits in North America. The Company is concurrently evaluating other exploration opportunities while collaborating with US Government supported R&D to develop a sustainable domestic supply chain for the renewable future. Head OfficeSuite 706 Level 7, 89 York St.Sydney, NSW 2000Tel 612 8054 9779GPO Box 1546Sydney NSW 2001 US Mailc/o Western Rare Earths514 Grand Avenue #371Laramie, WY 82070[email protected]americanrareearths.com.au Media Contact:Susan Assadi 347 977 7125[email protected] Source: American Rare Earths Toronto, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The sun is shining, and the summer heat is right around the corner. As the warmer weather approaches, it introduces hazards that employers need to be aware of, so they implement the right safety measures to ensure staff are protected says Wendy Irwin, Health & Safety Consultant at BrightHR Canada. Conditions such as wildfires and lightning can put workers at great risk for illness and injury. Occupations, where workers are required to work outdoors in the summer, include farming, camps, construction, and landscaping. Employers are required under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation in Canada to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of their employees. The cost of not doing so is too great and there are hefty fines. For example, in Ontario under the OHSA, if an employer is convicted of an offense, they may be subject to a fine of up to $500,000 for all other persons and/or up to 12 months' imprisonment. Health and safety inspectors will apply and enforce these laws based on the facts they find in the workplace. Below are the top climate hazards and how risk assessments can help keep staff protected. Wildfires There are roughly 8,000 wildfires in Canada each year. Such hazards can claim human lives, destroy buildings, and devastate communities. Wildfires have been on the rise and its more important than before for employers to take precautions to protect their employees from exposure to wildfire smoke, especially if their business requires outdoor work. Wildfire smoke contains hazardous components that can cause short-term and long-term health effects. When inhaled, carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen supply in the body. This can lead to nausea, dizziness, headaches, visual impairment, and loss of consciousness. If inhaled in great quantities, carbon monoxide may cause death. Additionally, particulate matter can affect your respiratory system and settle in your lungs causing irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, cough, or shortness of breath. How to protect workers from smoke exposure To protect employees from smoke exposure, it is important to first conduct a risk assessment. A risk assessment helps to identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm, analyzes and evaluates the risk associated with that hazard, and determines appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated. Risk assessments are an integral part of an occupational health and safety management plan. It helps to create awareness of hazards, identify who may be at risk, and determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard, among other benefits. The Government of Canadas Environment and Climate Change provides information through the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). Through this index, employers can determine measures necessary to mitigate the risk of exposure to wildfire smoke. Employees should be trained on how to monitor and revise work when the index indicates extreme caution. Below are a few recommendations on how employers can protect employees from wildfire smoke exposure. Increase the frequency and/or duration of breaks. Move work indoors or relocate to an outdoor location with better air quality. If you cant move, reschedule work till the air quality gets better. Follow air quality advisories in your area to plan shifts. Slow down the pace of work or increase the number of workers on the task. Reducing physical exertion will reduce the inhalation of polluted air. Increase the frequency and/or duration of breaks. Wildfire smoke also causes heat stress. Provide cool drinking water on the work site. Remind your workers to drink a glass of water at least every 15 to 20 minutes even if they arent feeling thirsty. Lightning Lightning kills more Canadians than hail, wind, rain, and tornadoes combined, making it an important safety consideration. The odds of getting struck by lightning are more than one in a million, it kills 2 to 3 people every year and injures another 80 people, according to Environment Canada (2021). Its important for employers to be aware that most of these injuries and fatalities occur between June and August. This is especially important for outdoor workers involved in outdoor recreation, construction workers, and road crews. Employers must recognize the hazards associated with electrical storms and have safety procedures and a preparedness plan in place. This will help to minimize any harm or injury to employees. Such policies need to be reviewed seasonally. Lightning safety produced may be included and are not limited to the following: Having a process in place to notify workers about lightning safety warnings. Establishing criteria/policy for stopping and restarting outdoor work activities Outlining what actions workers must take when hearing thunder or seeing lightning or warning signs of an approaching storm. Paying attention to weather conditions How BrightSafe can help Managing health & safety is a big responsibility, and there are always tasks to stay on top of whatever industry you work in. Not only do employers need to make sure they are compliant, but all documentation and policies must also be done properly. Business owners are not employment experts, they are experts in running their business. This is where health & safety smart software can help. BrightSafe provides employers with templates to make risk assessments, record any workplace injuries or incidents and get automatic hazard notifications from staff. --END-- Interviews are available, please contact: Sally Abu-Samra Public Relations Specialist T: 647-363-7978 | E: [email protected] About BrightHR Award-winning smart HR software, BrightHR, is transforming people management for small businesses by providing leading HR and health & safety software as well as advice & support needed for owners to grow their businesses. BrightHR saves business owners and HR professionals valuable time & money through our innovative HR management software. Source: BrightHR The world of divorce proceedings is facing new challenges as cryptocurrency becomes an increasingly common asset that needs to be divided between separating spouses. Cryptocurrency investments, such as Bitcoin, have gained popularity in recent years, with one in five Americans having invested, traded or used cryptocurrency. However, these digital assets can be easily hidden and difficult to trace, creating complications during divorce settlements. Divorce attorneys and forensic investigators have found themselves in a new job category, as they are now responsible for hunting down hidden crypto stashes. Divorce attorney Kelly Burris explains that cryptocurrency assets can be easily hidden by tech-savvy spouses, as these digital assets are not Read More>> About CryptoCurrencyWire CryptoCurrencyWire (CCW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets, (3) enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) to nearly 2 million followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CCW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, CCW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CCW is where news, content and information about crypto converge. To receive instant SMS alerts from CryptoCurrencyWire, text CRYPTO to 844-397-5787 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information, please visit https://www.cryptocurrencywire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CryptoCurrencyWire website applicable to all content provided by CCW, wherever published or re-published: https://CCW.fm/Disclaimer CryptoCurrencyWire (CCW) New York, New York www.cryptocurrencywire.com 212.994.9818 Office [email protected] CryptoCurrencyWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork. Yangpu Binjiang sends a warm invitation to the world to 'Hi Yangpu, Hi Future' Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - On May 26th, the 2023 Yangpu Binjiang Global Promotion Conference was held at the Yangpu Binjiang Xiudai Square. With the lighting up of Yangpu Binjiang, Shanghai's Yangpu District has sent invitations to the world with the theme of "Hi Yangpu, Hi Future." figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/167279_Picture1.jpg Yangpu District, located in the north part of Shanghai central urban area, on the northwest bank of the lower reaches of the Huangpu River, boasts the longest riverside coastline of 15.5 kilometers. At the conference, Yangpu District announced to the market for the first time the key plots recommended by Yangpu Binjiang, including the two core functional areas of Badaitou and Yangpu Bridge East, as well as three major sections of Yangpu Bridge West. A total of 19 plots are included, with a land area of approximately 390,000 square meters and a planned building area of approximately 1.39 million square meters. Yangpu is a national innovation oriented urban area, an important supporting area of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center, a pilot urban area of "Science and Innovation China," and a national innovation and entrepreneurship demonstration base. In recent years, it has taken the online new economy as the core of cluster construction, striving to create the "Belt, Zone, and Circle" industrial landmarks of Changyang Xiudai Online New Economy Ecological Park, GKIC Digital Innovation Practice Zone, and Tongji Knowledge Economy Circle. On the scene of the conference, 17 enterprises officially signed contracts with Yangpu, accelerating the building of its industrial leading position. figure 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/167279_Picture2.jpg At night, a wonderful outdoor lighting show lit up the Yangpu Binjiang and its coastal buildings, depicting a magnificent scene of riverside scenery and illuminating the urban landscape. It also officially sent a warm invitation to the world, welcoming all types of enterprises to gather in Yangpu for investments, and create a better future together! Yangpu Binjiang Global Promotion Conference Julie Ma [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167279 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Canadian Nexus Team Ventures Corp.,(CSE: TEAM)("Canadian Nexus", "the Company" or "TEAM")is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Young ("Mr. Young") as Chief Executive Officer and Director ("CEO" or "Director"), of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Young replaces Arni Johannson as CEO and Director. With the appointment of Mr. Young to the management team and the Board of Directors, Mr. Young will undertake to streamline the Company while seeking new opportunities as a focused investment issuer. We have been looking for a suitable replacement for some time and feel Mr. Young brings all the core values we believe to the table and truly understands the direction of the Company. Mr. Young was an investment advisor holding both his Canadian and U.S. securities licenses up until 2000. He has worked as a corporate governance and communications consultant since 2000 in the technology, mining, and pharmaceutical industries, with clients trading on both Canadian and American stock exchanges. He was the Managing Director of Sonoma Resources Inc., which completed a reverse takeover of Element Lifestyle Retirement Inc. in December 2015. Over the last eight years, he has been providing consulting services and has held directorships with issuers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Canadian Securities Exchange most recently with Interra Copper Corp. and Teako Minerals Corp. Mr. Young and the Board of Directors wish to thank Arni Johannson for his work and dedication and wish him well in his future endeavors in Europe. We look very much forward to having the support of the Company of Arni Johannson as a significant shareholder of TEAM. About Canadian Nexus Team Ventures Corp. Canadian Nexus (CSE: TEAM) is an investment issuer that actively invests in a diversified portfolio of early-stage to mid-level companies and projects. Canadian Nexus leverages its extensive network of operators and global thought leaders to provide investors with a unique multi-opportunity portfolio. From time to time the company may acquire or dispose of shares in the open market as defined in the Company's investment policy that can be found on Sedar under Canadian Nexus Team Ventures Corp. Contact: Scott Young 604-960-1878 Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements the timing, consideration, and completion of the joint venture are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. 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, statements as to the completion of the Acquisition, the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, including the Acquisition, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting the Company's operations and the Company's limited operating history. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this presentation or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167722 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Coho Collective Kitchens Inc. (TSXV: COHO) ("Coho" or the "Company"), a commercial real estate and food technology company that provides private and shared kitchen and food production space to a variety of businesses, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Adelaide Capital ("Adelaide"), a leading investor relations and capital markets advisory firm, to provide investor relations and consulting services to the Company. Adelaide, a full-service investor relations firm located in Toronto, Ontario, will work closely with Coho to develop and deploy a comprehensive capital markets program, which includes assisting with non-deal roadshows, virtual campaigns, social media, conferences and assisting with investor communication. In exchange for Adelaide's services, the Company has agreed to pay a monthly fee of C$12,000 for a 3-month term, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company. "We're excited to collaborate with Adelaide Capital, who will offer us an extensive investor relations platform and enhance our communication with existing and potential shareholders as we embark on our next phase of growth," stated Andrew Barnes, CEO of the Company. As at the date hereof, neither Adelaide nor any employees of Adelaide have any direct or indirect interest in the Company or its securities. Subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities laws, Adelaide may in the future acquire such interest or a right to acquire such interest. The investor relations agreement between the Company and Adelaide is subject to the polices of the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities laws. Coho, Adelaide, and their respective employees are arm's length parties. 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. Further information is available at https://www.cohocommissary.com/ Contacts Andrew Barnes, Chief Executive Officer [email protected] (778) 877-6513 Investor Relations [email protected] (604) 243-7355 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflect management's current expectations regarding future events. Forwardlooking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forwardlooking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to execute on its strategy and the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the annual financial statements and MD&A of the Company. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, 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 statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements, except as expressly required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167734 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - CubicFarm Systems Corp. (TSX: CUB) ("CubicFarms" or the "Company") today announced the resignation of its auditor, KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), effective May 18, 2023. The resignation, given by KPMG on their own initiative, has been considered and approved by the Company's audit committee. There are no reportable events (as defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations) between the Company and KPMG. The Company is commencing the process to engage a replacement auditor for the 2023 fiscal year. About HydroGreen HydroGreen produces Automated Vertical Pastures", a type of smart farming equipment that uses a unique process to sprout grains such as wheat and barley, in a controlled growing environment to efficiently produce a high-performance feed ingredient for livestock 365 days a year. HydroGreen's equipment is simple and easy to operate and performs all growing functions automatically, including seeding, watering, lighting, harvesting, and re-seeding, which allows livestock businesses to feed consistent nutrition every day with minimal labour. When balanced correctly in the ration, HydroGreen sprouted grain modifies animal digestion which enhances productivity and reduces the amount of enteric methane emitted in ruminant livestock. The result also enables environmental benefits to the farm while helping to meet increasing demand for valuable farm-based inset and offset carbon credits. About CubicFarms CubicFarms is a leading local chain agricultural technology company developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its proprietary ag-tech solutions enable growers to produce high quality, predictable produce and fresh livestock feed with HydroGreen Nutrition Technology, a division of CubicFarm Systems Corp. The CubicFarms" system contains patented technology for growing leafy greens and other crops onsite, indoors, all year round. CubicFarms provides an efficient, localized food supply solution that benefits our people, planet, and economy. For more information, please visit www.cubicfarms.com. Contact [email protected] for media or [email protected] for investor inquiries. Forward looking and other cautionary statements This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws including, without limitation, statements with respect to the engagement of a new auditor. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors and assumptions which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of CubicFarm Systems Corp., or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict", and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if the Company's expectations regarding future events, performance, or results change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167619 Mumbai, India--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Datacipher, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its newest service offering, "Security Audit". The program helps organizations maintain and enhance cybersecurity by proactively identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring robust protection against evolving threats. Developed to address cyber threats at their earliest stages, Datacipher's Security Audit assists businesses in assessing their cybersecurity health thoroughly. Led by Amarandhar Kotha, Managing Director and official member of the Forbes Technology Council, the service conducts a meticulous examination of an organization's security measures, policies, and procedures. It encompasses network security, data protection, access controls, and incident response capabilities, with expert consultants working closely with clients' IT and security teams to align the audit process according to their objectives. "We prioritize 100% delivery commitment and consider quality service delivery as our obligation. Our mindset is that our client's success is ours too," affirms Kotha. Upon completing the Security Audit, Datacipher provides clients with a comprehensive report detailing findings and recommendations. This invaluable resource serves as a roadmap for organizations to fortify their cybersecurity defenses and effectively mitigate potential risks. "We are thrilled to introduce our Security Audit service to help organizations maintain robust cyber security postures and work without the fear of any cyber threats," shares Kotha. Available to organizations of all sizes and across various industries, Datacipher's Security Audit service instills confidence by placing clients' cybersecurity in capable hands. About Datacipher Datacipher is a provider of state-of-the-art network solutions, system integration, networking, and cyber security services company, spearheaded by cybersecurity expert Amarandhar Kotha. Since its inception in 2009, focusing on medium and large enterprises, Datacipher has proudly served over 500+ customers and completed 650+ projects spanning different industries. Datacipher is fully equipped to deliver the next generation networking, cloud, and cyber security solutions, and is a real authority when it comes to Juniper Networks services delivery. Datacipher has also received several prestigious awards, including the 2022 Juniper Networks India Partner of the year award, 2020-2021 Juniper Networks Partner of the Year - Western Region award, 2015 Worldwide Highest Customer Satisfaction Award, and many more, recognizing the company as growth drivers of the IT industry with their unwavering dedication to delivering quality service. Contact Details: Contact Person: Amarandhar Kotha Email: [email protected] Website: https://datacipher.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167491 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (FSE: DTC) (OTC Pink: DTCFF) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies, is pleased to announce that, in addition to the previously announced proceeds of $5,494,375 on March 17, 2023, it has received additional proceeds in the aggregate amount of $2,308,625 from the exercise of warrants, pursuant to an early warrant exercise program (the "Early Warrant Exercise Program"). As final part of the Early Warrant Exercise Program, 1,846,900 common share purchase warrants (each a "Warrant") issued by the Company on December 24, 2020 have been exercised at an exercise price of $1.25 per share for gross proceeds of $2,308,625, under the Early Warrant Exercise Program (the "Final Exercises"). The Final Exercises conclude the Early Warrant Exercise Program. Canaccord Genuity Corp ("Canaccord") was compensated with a cash fee equal to 5% of the total gross proceeds raised from the exercise of the Warrants and was issued compensation warrants exercisable at $4.00 per share for a period of two years from the date of issuance (each a "Compensation Warrant"). The Company paid Canaccord an aggregate cash fee of $115,431 and issued to Canaccord a total of 92,345 Compensation Warrants, equals to 5% of the total number of Warrants exercised from the Final Exercises of the Early Warrant Exercise Program. The Company currently has outstanding, 43,675,674 shares, 1,497,780 share purchase warrants exercisable at $2.50 per share, 632,120 finders' share purchase warrants exercisable ranging from $0.15 to $4.00 per share, 1,600,000 stock options exercisable ranging from $1.25 to $2.90 per share for a total of 47,405,574 shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUMTM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases. For further information: Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director P: (514) 947-2272 [email protected] www.defencetherapeutics.com Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects 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 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. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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 applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167667 Details added: first version posted on 14:16 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on measures for the overhaul of the Horadiz-Zangilan highway in the Zangilan district of the Eastern Zangazur economic region, Trend reports. Following the decree, 31.4 million manat ($18.4 million) has been allocated for the overhaul of the Horadiz-Zangilan highway with the length of 61 km from the reserve fund of the President of Azerbaijan provided for in the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2023 to the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads. The Ministry of Finance was instructed to provide funding in the amount specified in this decree, and the Cabinet of Ministers - to resolve issues arising from this decree. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Green Rise Foods Inc. (TSXV: GRF) ("Green Rise" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the release of its interim condensed consolidated financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023. The complete interim condensed consolidated financial statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The men and women of Green Rise continue our harvest, pack and ship operations with excellence. The Company's Growers, led by the Company's Chief Growth Officer Adam Suder, monitor the health of each crop daily with the guidance of the Company's Independent High Tech Hydroponic Greenhouse Crop Consultant, Dr. Sana Sadar. "I am pleased to report that as of this press release, all of the Company's crops are healthy and fresh produce is being grown, picked and shipped. "Year to date" produce pounds shipped at the Company's GR1 and GR2 greenhouses are at or have exceeded prior "year to date" pounds shipped. In addition, I am very pleased to report that the Company's GR3 greenhouse, acquired on June 30, 2022, has also started to ship specialty sweet mini peppers. The plants benefit from the warmer weather during the day and cooler nighttime temperatures help optimize yields. Our finance and operations teams continue to be diligent on managing costs as budgeted." said Vincent Narang the Company's Chief Executive Officer. ABOUT GREEN RISE Green Rise is a grower of fresh produce with 72.5 acres of producing greenhouse ranges located in Leamington and Kingsville, Ontario. The "best-in-class" contract grower, the Company takes pride in providing high-quality, consistent, and reliable product to meet the growing consumer demand for locally grown fresh produce. The Company is proud to be an environmentally sustainable investment, producing locally grown, bee-pollinated fresh produce using less water than field grown produce. Contact Information For further information, please contact: George Hatzoglou, Chief Financial Officer Phone: +1-416-551-5015 E-mail: [email protected] 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Green Rise undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Green Rise undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Green Rise or their respective financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167569 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF) ("Los Andes" or the "Company") advises that Santiago Montt has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company, effective May 25, 2023. Mr. Montt has served the Company as Interim CEO since November 1, 2022, where he was responsible for the Company's operations in Chile. Prior to this, he was the Company COO. Mr. Montt is a global mining executive with vast experience in leading teams in multinational mining companies. Prior to joining Los Andes, he spent over a decade at BHP overseeing corporate and legal affairs in the Americas covering a number of roles in Chile, Brazil, and Australia. His passion for the development of successful and responsible mining will continue to drive the Company's mission to maximize the value of the Vizcachitas Project for all its stakeholders. Mr. Montt will continue to supervise the Company's technical team led by Antony Amberg as Chief Geologist and Manuel Matta and Magin Torres as senior mining and metallurgical consultants. This team has been working with the Company for many years and is responsible for the development of the Project being advanced with Tetra Tech and the pre-feasibility study ("PFS"). Los Andes Copper Chairman, Mr. Eduardo Covarrubias, stated: "We are delighted that Santiago has agreed to take on the role of CEO on a permanent basis. Following the release of the PFS earlier this year, we are now working on the next steps to advance the Project and look forward to providing further updates." About Los Andes Copper Ltd. Los Andes Copper Ltd. is an exploration and development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing the Project, which is located along Chile's most prolific copper belt, into production. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile's next major copper mine. The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 150 kilometers north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is available on the Company's SEDAR profile. Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA. For more information please contact: Santiago Montt, CEO [email protected] Tel: +56 2 2954 0450 Elizabeth Johnson, Investor Relations [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] or visit our website at www.losandescopper.com Follow us on Twitter: @LosAndesCopper To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167650 London, England--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Veqber Guild, a renowned financial institution with a legacy spanning over a century, is proud to announce its productivity for the second quarter of 2023. The company's financial performance reflects its dedication to modern business practices, the implementation of cutting-edge trading technologies, and the hard work of its exceptional team. CEO Dash Bereford, Veqber Guild Under the leadership of CEO Dash Bereford, Veqber Guild has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to excellence, solidifying its position as a significant player in the financial services industry. With a focus on expansion, the company aims to become the preferred choice for financiers in 2023. "I am deeply passionate about this business, and it is this passion that fuels my drive each and every day," stated CEO, Dash Bereford, in a recent interview. "Veqber Guild's strategy is centered around providing an extensive range of financial services, delivering utmost comfort and security to our valued partners. Our relentless pursuit of quality work and investment opportunities has captivated experienced investors and crypto enthusiasts alike." Veqber Guild's primary goals are extending its service offerings, boosting investment and trading volumes on stock exchanges, retaining market leadership, and continuously improving the quality of its services for investors. Veqber Guild lays the environment for its partners to thrive and develop as market leaders in their own right by continually prioritizing these goals. Veqber Guild proudly continues the traditions that have defined its legacy, drawing on a wealth of experience spanning centuries. The company's logo, designed by the founders in the nineteenth century, has remained constant, representing trust, dependability, and continuity. Today, tens of thousands of investors worldwide rely on Veqber Guild to increase their funds using its experience and investments. About the Company - Veqber Guild: Veqber Guild is the world's oldest financial institution, steeped in history and tradition and dedicated to delivering up-to-date information and counseling to help people make sound financial decisions. Veqber Guild provides unbiased support and takes pride in supporting fair practices and transparency in the finance industry through a long-term and sustainable financial management approach. Veqber Guild's commitment to transparency and accountability is one of its most notable features. The guild actively listens to its members, values constructive criticism, and responds quickly to any complaints or difficulties mentioned. Trust is regarded as a necessary foundation, and Veqber Guild believes it may be achieved through open communication and a bottom-up approach. For further details, potential clients can visit the following useful links of the company: Website: https://veqber.com/. Company Phone Number: - +442039963034 Email Address: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090456938529. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@veqberguild. Telegram: https://t.me/QBExpert. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veqberguild/. Media Details: Company Name: Veqber Guild Contact Person Name: William Glasser Email Address: [email protected] Location: United Kingdom, London, England Website: https://veqber.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167355 California-based managed B2B marketplace recognized for outstanding sustainability Berkeley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2023) - Wing Assistant, a leading managed service platform connecting business owners with highly-skilled remote talent, announces its inclusion in Clutch's list of the top 100 fastest-growing companies for 2023. Clutch, a marketplace of B2B service providers, has published its third annual list of companies that have achieved the highest revenue growth rate in the previous year. Wing lands in Top 5 of Clutchs 100 Fastes Growing Companies of 2023 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/167653_d80a6b28d4e809e0_001full.jpg For the 2023 list, Clutch analyzed business' verified financial data and compared absolute growth rate from 2021 to 2022. Wing entered the list this year, taking the 5th spot. It is also the top company named for staffing services. Wing has been instrumental in driving productivity and efficiency for clients across diverse sectors by providing access to dedicated assistants who handle repetitive but crucial tasks like inbox management, appointment scheduling, and trip planning. Recently, Wing was also named as one of America's Best Startup Workplaces by Forbes, and surpassed $14M in annual recurring revenue. Wing employs more than a thousand employees in 10 countries and 4 continents, and is committed towards creating 5,000 new jobs by 2025. "Being recognized as one of Clutch's 100 fastest-growing companies is a testament to Wing's commitment to delivering outstanding service and results. We are incredibly proud of our team's dedication and the trust our clients have placed in us," said Piash Alam, VP of Growth at Wing. He adds, "This achievement reinforces our belief in the transformative power of connecting businesses with highly-skilled talent to accelerate their growth." Clutch's 2023 list features companies headquartered worldwide, and in diverse industries, showcasing their international reach and impact. As Wing continues to enhance its services and expand its global footprint, the company remains committed to empowering businesses by connecting them with reliable, highly-skilled talent. By catering to various industries and its dedication to delivering exceptional results, Wing is poised to keep thriving in the evolving business landscape. About Wing Wing offers a complete solution for remote talent, enabling businesses to focus on core activities while outsourcing recurring work. It provides dedicated assistants, Customer Success Managers, a support team, and innovative virtual assistant management software for streamlined communication, task management, file sharing, and collaboration. As the sole mobile on-demand concierge service app of its kind, Wing learns from user interactions and utilizes AI to enhance its service. Clients can use the app to share to-do lists, workflows, and even record video instructions. The app also allows secure sharing of credentials with assistants. Wing Assistant To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/167653_d80a6b28d4e809e0_002full.jpg Public Relations Contact Aya De La Cruz-Pandy [email protected] Wing Assistant 2150 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 wingassistant.com https://facebook.com/wingassistant https://instagram.com/wingassistant https://twitter.com/wingassistant https://linkedin.com/company/wingassistant To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167653 RAFAEL AZIZ, the dynamic, European-inspired, New York City-based apparel brand, unveils its new, captivating collection of luxury mens and womens socks. Today marks an exciting milestone in the fashion world as RAFAEL AZIZ, the dynamic, European-inspired, New York City-based apparel brand, unveils its new, captivating collection of luxury mens and womens socks. At the emerging brands helm is Azerbaijani entrepreneur and visionary Rafael Aziz, whose success in software engineering, e-commerce, and venture capitalism has led him to his latest endeavor: fashion. In 2023, clothing has evolved beyond being a necessity or formalityits an expression of self. Gone are the days of muted grays, blues, and blacks. We live in an era of externalized self-expression, and RAFAEL AZIZ socks are fully in line with the zeitgeist. More than merely a conduit between the trouser and the shoe, each RAFAEL AZIZ sock, with rich historical narratives weaved into its bright, colorful super-soft fabric, tells a story. Designed by Aziz himself, the patterns in each sock are inspired by the exquisite, painstakingly detailed carpets he watched his grandmother hand-weave as a child growing up in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. He recalls feeling a deep sense of pride in her compositions and a stunning realization of how such rich historical storytelling and preservation could be weaved into a functional object. He carried those memories with him throughout his life, dreaming of ways he could honor her legacy and share his heritage with the world. It was in 2018, when he moved to New York City, one of the great fashion capitals of the world, that Aziz finally decided to turn his dream into a reality. After years of research and development, RAFAEL AZIZ was born. RAFAEL AZIZ encompasses much more than just a pair of socks as it represents a journey through time and culture. His goal is to empower individuals to express themselves authentically, while also honoring the centuries-old traditions that have shaped our world. With his socks, wearers become storytellers, taking strides that bridge the gap between the past and the present. Some RAFAEL AZIZ socks, like the Mariam, feature literal works of art. Others, like the Sham, add that perfect whimsical touch to spice up any outfit. RAFAEL AZIZ socks are loud, theyre bold, theyre fun, but most importantly to Aziz, they honor the centuries-old Azerbaijani traditions that have helped shape the modern world. RAFAEL AZIZ socks are not only fashionably functionaltheyre culturally conscious. RAFAEL AZIZ is an amalgam of its founders greatest passions: design, entrepreneurship, and preserving the rich culture and history of his country of origin. By intertwining the ancient and contemporary, Aziz aims to empower his wearers to showcase their unique fashion sensibilities while paying homage to the rich tapestry of his Eastern heritage. In addition to his socks, Aziz plans to eventually expand his brand to include luxury shirts, shoes, underwear, and fragrance. With vibrant, unique designs that appeal to the globally-minded and curious consumer, Aziz aims to revolutionize the clothing industry by combining premium quality everyday apparel with compelling narratives and timeless aesthetics. Though thoughts of expansion are on his mind, Aziz is committed to maintaining a high standard for each of his products. Consumers can be confident that each RAFAEL AZIZ product comes with a guarantee of unparalleled comfort, innovative artistry, and detailed craftsmanship. RAFAEL AZIZ socks are available for sale on Amazon and www.rafaelaziz.com. --- Check the latest updates on Instagram - About Us: RAFAEL AZIZ is a luxury socks brand based in the heart of New York City. Established in 2021, we pride ourselves on crafting premium men's and women's socks that combine unparalleled comfort, exceptional quality, and trendsetting style. Our designs are meticulously created to make a statement and elevate your everyday look. Using only the finest materials and employing expert craftsmanship, we ensure that every pair of RAFAEL AZIZ socks exceeds expectations in both comfort and durability. Each design is carefully curated to embody the spirit of modern elegance, blending classic and contemporary aesthetics seamlessly. Visit our website at rafaelaziz.com to explore our exquisite collection of luxury socks. Join us in embracing the art of self-expression and step into a world of unparalleled comfort and style with RAFAEL AZIZ. Contact Info: Name: Evan Andersen Email: Send Email Organization: RAFAEL AZIZ, LLC Website: http://www.rafaelaziz.com Release ID: 89098513 If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours. New York, NY--May 26, 2023-- In advance of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th, New York City Council Member Amanda Farias, alongside Council Members De La Rosa, Louis, and Won, joined forces with prominent advocates from CouldYou?, Period Law, Planned Parenthood, and others to host a press conference announcing the introduction of six bills addressing menstrual health. These bills reflect the ongoing commitment of the council member to empower women and eliminate period poverty in the city. To view the full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here. Click image above to view full announcement. About CoudYou? CouldYou? is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to curating, proving and scaling solutions to poverty in partnership with governments, NGOs, businesses and individuals. CouldYou?'s current focus is to end period poverty by 2040. The CouldYou? Cup is currently being distributed to marginalized girls, in eight countries around the world, with the grassroots intention of changing reality to a world where menstruators no longer miss school and period poverty no longer exists. For more information, visit www.couldyou.org . For more information on the CouldYou? Cup, visit www.couldyoucup.org , or follow us on Instagram or Facebook Source: CouldYou? Distributed by: Reportable, Inc. NOVI, Mich. , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- All American Pet Resorts, the premier luxury pet care brand, is thrilled to announce the addition of two new Resort locations to its growing family in North Carolina . Joining the New Bern, North Carolina Resort , which is scheduled to open this summer, are Resorts in Greensboro and Asheville . According to Stephan Dimitroff , Executive Vice President of All American Pet Resorts, "Each of our new, North Carolina franchisees brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their new role as an All American Pet Resorts owner. They are committed to delivering the highest standards of care and ensuring each pet's comfort and happiness." In addition to its standard pet care services, which include spacious and comfortable overnight boarding suites, interactive daycare, pampering grooming services and more, each North Carolina Resort location will also offer specialized care for senior pets and those with special needs, and work to ensure they receive the attention and care they need. Timing for the opening of the Greensboro and Asheville Resort locations is to be determined at the time of this writing. Dimitroff goes on to say "All American Pet Resorts continues to aggressively expand its nationwide footprint with new Resort locations in key markets targeting areas with high demand for pet care services like North Carolina . Our newest franchisees here in New Bern , Greensboro and Asheville , have a commitment to excellence that aligns perfectly with our brand values. We have no doubt that they will provide pet owners in their respective communities with an outstanding pet care experience." For more information about All American Pet Resorts and their range of services, or becoming an All American Pet Resorts franchisee, please visit allamericanpetresorts.com About All American Pet Resorts All American Pet Resorts is a successful and growing pet care franchise. With a focus on providing premiere pet care services to dogs and cats, All American Pet Resorts has built a loyal customer base and a reputation for quality care. All American Pet Resorts offers its franchisees comprehensive training, ongoing support, and access to its proprietary systems and processes. Franchisees can also benefit from the company's established brand recognition, marketing expertise, and economies of scale. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-american-pet-resorts-expands-its-national-presence-with-two-new-locations-opening-in-north-carolina-301835931.html SOURCE All American Pet Resorts SAN FRANCISCO , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Marin County District Attorney's office announced that they have reduced the charges against the vandals who desecrated and destroyed the statue of St. Junipero Serra on the property of St. Raphael parish from a felony to a misdemeanor. This comes after the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Archbishop Cordileone have been left out of restorative justice conversations with the perpetrators. On May 24, 2023 , Archbishop Cordileone wrote a letter to the Marin County District Attorney and Deputy District Attorney objecting to the pending decision, raising questions about failure to include the Archdiocese in discussions, and the potential consequences of perpetuating discrimination and violence against the Catholic Church. Responding to the action, Archbishop Cordileone said, "It is clear to me that this course of action would not have been taken with anyone else. In fact, if the same kind of offense had been committed against another religious congregation or group, it would almost certainly have been prosecuted as a hate crime. There have been more than 100 attacks on Catholic Church property across the nation, including in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, one of which was someone firing a bullet into our Cathedral. Anti-Catholicism has a long and ugly history in this country. Now, with this decision, the Marin County District Attorney has given the signal that attacks on Catholic houses of worship and sacred objects may continue without serious legal consequence." The Serra statue on the property of St. Raphael parish was destroyed by vandals in October of 2020. Read more about the incident here. Read Archbishop Cordileone's letter in English and Spanish. Media Contact: Peter Marlow [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/archbishop-salvatore-j-cordileone-responds-to-marin-county-district-attorney-decision-in-serra-statue-case-301835985.html SOURCE Archdiocese Of San Francisco LOS ANGELES , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SID Display Week 2023, an influential event hailed as the "Oscars" in the display industry, was held in Los Angeles , the United States , from May 23 to 25, 2023 . Mr. Chen Yanshun , Chairman of BOE, and Mr. Gao Wenbao , President of BOE were invited to attend the opening ceremony of SID Display Week. At the same time, BOE hosted the "Define the Future BOE Innovation Ecosystem Forum" during the event, paying homage to the 30th anniversary of its founding with world-leading technologies of display. Chen Yanshun , Chairman of BOE, attended the forum and delivered a speech. He reviewed the company's 30-year epic journey and shared his insights on the future of the display industry, which received enthusiastic responses from the audiences. 60-plus years of impactful witness to industry revolutions As a prestigious organization dedicated to the global display industry, the SID is celebrating its 61st birthday this year. Ever since its inception some 60 years ago, SID has witnessed the evolution of the global display industry, and served as a comprehensive communication and cooperation platform covering technology, materials, equipment and applications, playing a pivotal role in the commercialization and industrialization of frontier display technologies. Looking back at the development of the industry, Chen Yanshun said, "This year, we are celebrating the 61st birthday of SID, which has witnessed the evolution of the display technology from CRT to PDP, TFT-LCD, OLED, and MLED. Display functions are expanding from solely video to touch interaction, fingerprint recognition, and embedded audio. The display form factor transformed from bulky black-and-white CRT to slim vibrant flat-panel LCD. People from all over the world have benefited from the revolutions in the display industry. We all deserve a thunderous round of applause for our relentless journey filled with innovation!" 30 years of entrepreneurial journey through hard work and perseverance Founded in the spring 30 years ago, BOE has emerged as a global leader in the display industry. "Over the past 30 years, we have been navigating the dynamics of the global display industry, following and being followed by our competitors, and inspiring and being inspired by our partner," said Chen Yanshun . Over the past three decades, BOE has transformed from an electronic component enterprise valued at RMB60 million into a world-leading IoT company with annual revenue of over RMB100 billion , and from a local enterprise with over 10,000 employees to a global innovative IoT company with more than 100,000 employees. BOE played a crucial role in tackling the "shortage of panels" faced by China's electronics industry, built the first Gen 5, Gen 6 and Gen 10.5 production lines in the Chinese mainland, and now has 17 world-leading semiconductor display production lines, leading China's display industry to grow from the ground up. BOE's glittering trajectory is exactly attributed to its respect for technology and dedication to innovation. "We believe that 'there are no weak markets, only weak mentality or weak products.' Continuous innovation is our core competence and our source of sustainable growth. Like observing the Earth from outer space, BOE identifies and captures long-term trends and opportunities at a very high level, making strategic contributions to the entire display industry," said Chen. Currently, one out of every four displays in the world comes from BOE. As of 2022, BOE had independently filed more than 80,000 patent applications in total, made into the top 20 on the list of the Top 50 U.S. Patent Assignees released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services for five consecutive years, and stayed among the top 10 by international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications for seven years in a row. "Continuous innovation" holds key to BOE's brilliant success in the past and will also usher in a new era of high-quality development for the company. 10 years of accelerated transformation based on "Empower IoT With Display" strategy Ten years have passed since BOE made its debut at SID Display Week in 2014. The ten years have witnessed closer ties between BOE and the global top display event, and BOE's stride toward high-quality development based on its "Empower IoT With Display" strategy in the IoT era. Over the past ten years, BOE has scored remarkable achievements. For example, in 2020, it became the first semiconductor display enterprise in the Chinese mainland to receive the SID Display Industry Awards (DIA). Furthermore, BOE launched the first technology brand (ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED) in China's semiconductor display industry, marking the beginning of "technology + brand" dual drive. BOE is also pressing ahead with its own transformation. In 2021, it launched the "Empower IoT With Display" development strategy, with a view "To Integrate More Functions, To Empower More Scenarios, To Diversify More Forms". "61 + 30 + 10 equals 101. If 'one hundred' represents 'completeness' and 'perfection,' then 'one hundred and one' symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh start after a major milestone. I believe this special number, 101, also signifies the success of today's BOE Innovation Ecosystem Forum and the bright future of the next 100 years," Chen Yanshun pointed out. "Innovation" is the eternal theme of the technology industry. "Green" is the color representing the future of our world. The future of the world is unfolding in countless possibilities. Displays will be ubiquitous in the IoT era. Along this journey, BOE has been and will be "Open, Collaborative and Innovative." "We invite all of you to join forces and nurture a global ecosystem, strengthening our cooperation, and building win-win relationships," Chen added. Riding the trend of the integrated development of the real economy and the digital economy, frontier semiconductor display technologies are empowering myriad application scenarios in a way never seen before. Display is becoming the "first touchpoint" for the digital and smart transformation and wider IT adoption of various industries, and bringing about amazing changes to people's lives. As a world-leading innovative IoT company, BOE is committed to "Light the World with Displays, Change Life with Heart". The company will continue to capitalize on technological innovation and work with its partners to nurture a win-win industry ecosystem and forge ahead toward an open future of fusion development. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chairman-chen-yanshun-attended-the-opening-ceremony-of-sid-display-week-2023-and-addressed-at-boe-innovation-ecosystem-forum-301835573.html SOURCE BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. --Study found variability in IgA levels in the bloodstream versus the gut, which may help explain why some with IgA deficiency have symptoms, while others do not-- PHILADELPHIA , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IgA deficiency is the most common primary immune deficiency worldwide, but its presentation has puzzled physcians and researchers. Some with the disorder present with symptoms like recurrent infections, autoimmune disease, or allergies, whereas others have no symptoms at all and only become aware of their IgA-deficient status through an incidental finding on a blood test. This variability has raised the question among researchers: Why aren't many of those with IgA deficiency sicker? A new study by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has begun to answer that question, demonstrating that IgA acts as a "tuner" that regulates the number of microbes the body sees every day, restraining the systemic immune response to these commensal microbes and limiting the development of systemic immune dysregulation. "Right now, if we identify IgA deficiency in a patient through a blood test, we have no way of knowing whether the patient will become symptomatic if they aren't already, and we don't know whether or when they might go on to develop a more serious immune deficiency," said Sarah E. Henrickson , MD, PhD, an assistant professor and attending physician in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at CHOP and co-senior author of the paper, which was published today in Science Immunology. "Our paper lays the groundwork for being able to answer these critically important questions by providing a lens into how IgA and the microbiome interact and how an imbalance in that interaction could lead to symptomatic disease." IgA (short for Immunoglobulin A) is an antibody protein that is part of the immune system and plays a role in fighting disease. It is found mainly in the respiratory and digestive tracts, but it can also be found in blood, saliva, tears, and breastmilk. To be diagnosed with IgA deficiency, patients must be over 4 years of age and have no IgA as determined through a blood test, as well as normal serum levels of IgG and IgM, without other known causes of immune deficiency. Some researchers have suggested that perhaps IgM provides a "backup" role in some patients with IgA deficiency, explaining why some patients are asymptomatic. However, how secretory IgA and IgM work together in the mucosal system and whether their roles were redundant or distinct remained unclear. To investigate this further, the researchers analyzed samples from 19 pediatric patients with IgA deficiency and 13 pediatric control patients, from 15 families, and they then complemented that analysis with studies of IgA deficient mice. They sought to answer two questions: how mucosal antibodies like IgA and IgM and system antibodies like IgG interact with mucosal microbes, and how IgA deficiency affects equilibrium of the immune system. Analyzing both blood and fecal samples, the researchers measured antibody levels; identified the microbial targets of IgA, IgM, and IgG antibodies; and performed immune profiling to gauge the activation of the immune system. In doing so, they showed that although IgA, IgM and IgG target overlapping sets of microbes, the role of IgA is distinct from IgM in restraining commensal microbes in the gut, and IgM only modestly compensates for the absence of intestinal IgA. They also determined that 26% of patients who were IgA deficient via blood tests had normal levels of IgA in their feces. Intriguingly, the patients with normal fecal IgA were less likely to develop immune dysregulation and clinical disease, as demonstrated through immune analysis of cytokine levels, whereas those deficient in both blood and fecal IgA were more likely to have elevated inflammatory cytokines and exhibit clinical symptoms. To validate their findings, the researchers studied knockout mice who lacked IgA. Mirroring the findings in human patients, these mice exhibited elevated cytokines and immune dysregulation. The researchers also found live microbes in fat tissue of the knockout mice, which was not found in healthy control mice, providing further evidence for a role for IgA in modulating systemic microbial exposure. "Based on these results, we propose that IgA supports the intestinal barrier to keep the proper balance of commensal microbes interacting with the immune system, acting as a tuner to keep the immune system in check," said co-senior author Michael Silverman , MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor and attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at CHOP. "Without IgA protecting the gut, commensal bacteria can get through, increasing a patient's systemic exposure to these microbes and creating an inflammatory environment. Future studies with larger patient populations should investigate IgA levels in other target tissues and determine if these findings can be used to predict disease course and outcomes." Conrey et al. "IgA deficiency destabilizes immune homeostasis towards intestinal microbiota and increases the risk of systemic immune dysregulation," Science Immunology, May 26, 2023 , DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade2335 About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the 595-bed hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network , which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey , as well as an inpatient hospital with a dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia . In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit https://www.chop.edu. Contact: Amanda DiPaolo Bradley Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (267) 391-8599 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chop-researchers-show-that-iga-fine-tunes-the-bodys-interactions-with-microbes-301832451.html SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the enlarged session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council as a guest at the invitation of President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Trend reports. The participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in this meeting does not mean that Azerbaijan will become a member of this association. There is a more important issue that determines Azerbaijan's participation in this event. This is due to the holding of a trilateral meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia, and the Prime Minister of Armenia. However, this does not mean that Azerbaijan has not developed good relations with the members of this association. Except for Armenia, Azerbaijan has quite positive relations with all the member states of the union. Azerbaijan's trade turnover with these countries on a bilateral basis, except Armenia, is about $5 billion. Azerbaijan does not need to be part of any economic forum or union, because Azerbaijan is a self-sufficient country with a stable economy and does not need any external support. This allows it to pursue an independent foreign policy, and Baku can demonstrate its determination on any issue. Both Russia and Azerbaijan know well what they want. Russia's main interest today is also connected with the opening of the Zangazur corridor. No matter how many positive responses the Armenian Prime Minister has given over the past month in connection with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the opening of communications, the position of Yerevan remains uncertain. Armenia is blackmailing Russia, leans towards the West, and avoids fulfilling the provisions of the trilateral statement signed with the mediation of Russia. After the 44-day Karabakh War, the situation changed dramatically. Azerbaijan has turned from a subject of the conflict into a party that solved it. For the UN, the EU, and Russia, this result was unexpected. Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan, is still a subject of this global game. And over time, Armenia loses its position in relations with these parties. As a result, any proposal put forward by Armenia is no longer taken seriously. The participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as a guest at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow is necessary. At the meeting attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, touching upon the successful development of Azerbaijan's cooperation with the member countries of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, except Armenia, once again brought to the attention of Yerevan that a historic opportunity for normalization of relations has appeared. "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," President Ilham Aliyev said. Announcing that the Zangezur corridor will become part of international railway routes, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev brought to Armenia's attention the opportunity to take advantage of the chance to get out of the difficult geo-economic and political situation. "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 Ilham Aliyev added. "There are serious opportunities for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty," President Ilham Aliyev said. The statement of the Russian President during his speech that it is much more important to have an agreement on the issue of territorial integrity between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and is indeed the basis for agreeing on other issues of a secondary nature. If the future of his people and state is a priority for Pashinyan, who is already known in the political arena as an unreliable politician, then he should definitely take advantage of this opportunity and think about steps to transform Armenia into a full-fledged regional state. And this depends on the opening of communications, and the transition from statements about the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan to concrete practical steps. OKdo, RS, DesignSpark, and global partners, together with Wevolver, give a big thank you to all those who submitted innovative ideas and to the community for their participation LONDON , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The ROCK Engineering Challenge invited engineers, developers, educators, inventors and entrepreneurs, to submit an idea based on the OKdo ROCK single board computers (SBC) and compute modules. The contest attracted 160 high-quality entries from around the world, with applications and ideas spanning various verticals such as IoT, Healthcare, Smart Homes, AI, Robotics, EdTech, Renewable Energy, and Smart City initiatives. Grand Prize Winner: Eric Schleicher , Mike Macdonald , Justin Berger of Constructive Realities The grand prize winner of the ROCK Engineering challenge is Eric Schleicher and his core team at Constructive Realities . Eric is developing Time of Flight (ToF) 3D cameras, capable of on-device depth data processing using the GPUs and NPUs. These compact cameras have many exciting applications in AR/VR, IoT, robotics, and industrial products. An API allows users to process depth data and enables IoT functionality, while Linux-based SoM/SBCs provide extensibility and community support at an affordable price point. As the winning team of the OKdo ROCK Engineering Challenge, they will enter into a partnership worth $50,000 with OKdo to further scale and develop their idea: receive support in product design, prototyping, business and marketing consultancy, and manufacturing/distribution expertise. "We're incredibly excited to win the ROCK Engineering Challenge. Looking at the quality of the other teams' submissions, we're even more inspired to make our 3D camera systems available to the communities that are driving innovation. Establishing our new partnership with OKdo, Radxa and the RS Group is going to significantly accelerate our product development program and is allowing us to expand the scope and capabilities of our next product release," said Eric Schleicher , Founder and CEO of Constructive Realities. Wevolver Community Vote Winner: Marcel Ochsendorf In addition to the grand prize, the Wevolver Community Winner was chosen through a public poll of the finalists. The winner will be given the opportunity to pitch his project to the senior management of OKdo and its partners. The community vote, featuring over 300 votes, has determined the winner to be Marcel Ochsendorf with his project submission focusing on supporting medical facilities. Marcel's project aims to record patients' status using a thermal imaging camera, tracking breathing status, frequency, body temperature, and movements (fall) without contact. The system will notify medical staff if necessary, while ensuring complete anonymization of patients' data, as no sensitive data will leave the room. Marcel's project leverages the Rock SBC's dedicated GPU for local data processing, ensuring data protection and sufficient resources for later upgrades. The ROCK SBC and CM series Developed in collaboration between OKdo and Radxa, the ROCK platforms offer leading capabilities, hardware, and performance in a similar form factor as other popular SBC boards. ROCK offers professionals, industrial OEMs, IoT enthusiasts, hobbyists, PC DIY enthusiasts, and makers a reliable and capable platform for building extraordinary next-generation technology applications. The ROCK boards are particularly suited for commercial applications that need a powerful and customizable board, including but not limited to robotics, smart home devices, medical devices, automation, IoT, and environmental monitoring. View the full product family here . "The ROCK Engineering Challenge has truly demonstrated the immense potential of engineers worldwide in pushing the boundaries of SBC applications. We are thrilled to see the diverse and innovative ideas submitted, showcasing the power of collaboration and creativity within the global engineering community," said Sander Arts , CMO at OKdo. "It's truly inspiring to see the incredible potential and innovative ideas emerging from the engineering community," said Bram Geenen , Co-Founder and CEO of Wevolver. "The ROCK Engineering Challenge has brought together some of the best minds to drive innovation and push the boundaries of what's possible with single board computers. We are excited to support these pioneers as they continue to create ground-breaking solutions for the future." About OKdo: OKdo is a global technology company from RS Group plc which is disrupting single board computer (SBC) and IoT segments. Offering a unique combination of hardware, software, development support, and manufacturing services to inspire and enable customers to generate new ideas and turn them into commercial reality. They are on a global mission to deliver the imagination, creativity, and technical expertise our customers desire. About DesignSpark: DesignSpark is a free platform that provides design solutions and engineer support to accelerate design cycle time, rapid prototyping and quick-to-market solutions. Over 1.2m members have access to a suite of design and programming software, comprehensive CAD neutral libraries, technology news and community support to aid and empower design to manufacturing. About RS Group: RS Group plc provides product and service solutions that help our customers design, build, maintain, repair and operate industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 750,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to 1.1 million customers. RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2023 reported revenue of 2,982 million. For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/ . About Wevolver: Wevolver is a platform where the engineering community & industry connect around informative content about cutting edge technologies. On the platform, companies, universities, and individual engineers publish blog articles, videos, reports, and podcasts. Topics include semiconductors, 3D printing, AI, robotics, IoT, and more. About Constructive Realities: Constructive Realities design and manufacture smart 3D camera systems into end-use applications and create workflows and data management software that turn 3D vision streams into structured information called spatial context graphs. To learn more, please visit: https://constructiverealities.io/ . www.okdo.com | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eric-schleicher-founder-and-ceo-of-constructive-realities-announced-as-winner-of-okdos-global-rock-engineering-challenge-301835699.html SOURCE OKdo SEATTLE , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Feds for Medical Freedom has filed its third lawsuit this year seeking to hold government agencies and their leadership accountable for religious discrimination based on the persecution of workers with religious beliefs against vaccination for COVID-19. Feds for Med Freedom et al. v. Lloyd J. Austin et al., filed in the Western District of Washington , was brought forward by 58 employees of the U.S. Navy's Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington . Austin is the U.S. Secretary of Defense. "Plaintiffs were forced to defend their beliefs so they could simply live according to their faith." According to the filing, plaintiffs "were persecuted and harassed for their beliefs; they were shamed, 'outed,' segregated, ostracized and excluded. Many plaintiffs were placed on unpaid leave, put on AWOL status, threatened with termination and forced to resign due to the intolerable and untenable environment. Plaintiffs were forced to defend their beliefs so they could simply live according to their faith." The lawsuit seeks damages from the plaintiffs and seeks to hold the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy accountable for violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. Feds for Medical Freedom, a grassroots group of over 9,000 federal employees and contractors who believe strongly the government does not have the legal or moral right to force Americans to get vaccinated in violation of their sincerely held religious beliefs, has already achieved significant victories in court. "These are experienced, dedicated and in some cases decorated military personnel and employees," said Feds for Medical Freedom President Marcus Thornton . "We should be celebrating their service, and instead our government ostracized and harassed them. Worse, managers did so knowing they were compromising the integrity and mission-readiness of the U.S. Navy. Our lawsuit is about delivering justice for the men and women who were demeaned and marginalized, and accountability for the bad actors who trampled on their Constitutional rights." Feds for Medical Freedom said it will continue to file new lawsuits seeking justice for federal workers who were injured by the vaccine mandates, and demanding accountability for those in power who violated the religious and Constitutional rights of their fellow Americans. Other lawsuits filed by Feds for Med Freedom in 2023 include Feds for Med Freedom et al v. Merrick Garland et al and Feds for Medical Freedom v. Antony Blinken et al. Media Contact: Alex Weintz : [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/feds-for-med-freedom-and-navy-employees-file-suit-against-department-of-defense-301835848.html SOURCE Feds for Medical Freedom TAMPA, Fla. , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQX: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated, multi-state cannabis company operating under the FLUENT brand, issued a statement on the two failed cannabis bills in Texas . Commenting on the recent failed legislation, Kristopher Kem , FLUENT Cannabis Care Texas President said: While we are ultimately disappointed in the Texas Senate's failure to take action to decriminalize cannabis and expand the state's medical cannabis program, we commend Texas Rep. Joe Moody , Rep. Stephanie Klick and their respective authors and cosponsors of House Bill 218 and House Bill 1805 for their continued work to enact meaningful legislation on cannabis reform. As of October of last year, Texas ranked number one in the U.S. for most cannabis possession arrests. For decades, cannabis prohibition has funneled thousands of Texans into the criminal justice system. With more than 80% of Texans supporting the decriminalization of cannabis and the legalization of medical cannabis in the state, we must continue to call on our elected leaders to act on the will of their constituents and right the wrongs of the past. At FLUENT, we believe in broadening access to medical cannabis. We are currently expanding our delivery capabilities to support patient populations in Houston and Austin , because we believe that Texans and all Americans deserve access to safe, tested medical cannabis. While we're disappointed in this legislative outcome, we're here to support the people of Texas and look forward to growing our operations and presence in the state. About Cansortium Inc. Cansortium Inc. is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida , Pennsylvania and Texas . The Company operates under the FLUENT brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. The Company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida . Cansortium Inc.'s common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "CNTMF". For more information about the Company, please visit www.getfluent.com. For further information, please contact: Company Contact: Robert Beasley , CEO 850-972-8077 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Sean Mansouri , CFA Elevate IR 720-330-2829 [email protected] Media Contact: Patrick Maddox 501-680-5220 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fluent-issues-statement-on-failed-cannabis-bills-in-texas-301835343.html SOURCE Cansortium Inc AI-based system for first time confirms at least five jaguars in Mexico's Dzilam nature reserve. MEXICO CITY , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of nature conservation experts have recently announced that with the help of Huawei Cloud and artificial intelligence, they have identified at least five jaguars in a nature reserve in Dzilam, Yucatan , in southeast Mexico . The Tech4Nature Mexico project, launched in the Dzilam de Bravo nature reserve last year, uses an integrated and continuous monitoring system analyzing images and sound data to identify and track jaguars and their preys. The project involves partners including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Polytechnic University of Yucatan , C Minds' AI for Climate initiative, Rainforest Connection, the local community of Dzilam, and the government authorities of Yucatan . Huawei supplied the capabilities of Huawei Cloud to the project. To date, the team has collected more than 30,000 photos, 550,000 audio recordings and numerous video clips of wild animals. This data trove provides deep insights of local wildlife to researchers and contributes to the preservation and promotion of Yucatan biodiversity. The data is processed on the ModelArts AI Platform from Huawei Cloud and Rainforest Connection's Arbimon AI platform from. Sayda Rodriguez Gomez , Secretary of Sustainable Development of Yucatan , says that the knowledge gathered through the monitoring system is helpful in driving conservation efforts. "The first thing we discovered was that it was difficult to convince someone to invest in conservation," she recalls. "Knowing is something extremely valuable. What we get now with monitoring are things that, if we do not see them, we don't know are there," she adds. "If people don't know there are these animals, they don't help us." The team identified 119 species, including 88 birds, 22 mammals, five reptiles, and four amphibians, of which 34 species are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Prior to the project, local experts didn't know whether the reserve was home to jaguars, and if so, how many there were. "We need to upload the data to a Big Data platform because it is a high volume of information," says Joaquin Saldana , director of strategy marketing at Huawei Latin America. "We need to process it at high speed and with artificial intelligence. Then start to understand the pictures and be able to detect the animals that interest us." The team is now working to develop algorithms enabling individual identification of jaguars, which will be fundamental to figure out how many jaguars live in the region. "We are setting the basis for a state-wide biodiversity monitoring platform with AI on the Huawei Cloud," says Regina Cervera , a project coordinator at the innovation agency C Minds. "Our umbrella species is the jaguar, because if we make sure to protect it, then we protect everything that surrounds them. What we are doing is a huge and pioneering step for decision-making for conservation and nature-based solutions." Ecologists estimate that around 4,000 to 5,000 jaguars live in the wild in Mexico . Of this amount, more than half of them live in the Yucatan Peninsula , making it one of the primary regions for their conservation. But their existence is threatened by illegal hunting, deforestation as well as climate change. Protecting the jaguar means a lot to local communities. Juan Castillo , a community leader in the Dzilam de Bravo Reserve, says that he has heard about the jaguars ever since he was young. In Mexico , the number of jaguars is now growing, increasing to 4,766 animals in 2018 from 4,025 in 2010, a promising sign that conservation strategies are working. "All this is jaguar land," Juan Castillo says. "Since I was a child, I liked knowing that it is part of us. Sometimes what I say makes people laugh: the day I die, I would like to be a jaguar. I wish that there is still a way to take care of them, because if not, tomorrow we would only be seeing it in books." To learn more about the story, please visit: https://www.forclimate.ai/tech4nature About Huawei Founded in 1987, Huawei is one of the world's leading providers of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 195,000 employees and operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world. To achieve this, we will promote universal connectivity and promote equal access to networks, laying the foundations for an intelligent world; we will deliver superior computing power where and when it is needed to bring cloud and intelligence to every corner of the globe; we will build digital platforms that help industries and companies achieve greater agility, efficiency and dynamism; and we will redefine the user experience with AI to bring a higher level of intelligence and personalization to all aspects of people's lives, whether they are at home, on the go, in the office, playing or exercising. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on: http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei http://www.twitter.com/Huawei http://www.facebook.com/Huawei http://www.youtube.com/Huawei Media contact Alberto Romero [email protected] (55) 2855-8274 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-the-first-time-ai-based-system-allows-identification-of-5-jaguars-in-dzilam-reserve-in-yucatan-mexico-301836104.html SOURCE Huawei MUNICH , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei unveiled the OlympusMons Challenges 2023 and the winners of the OlympusMons Awards 2022 at the Innovative Data Infrastructure Forum (IDI Forum) 2023, with the aim of inspiring global scientists to tackle technical problems in data storage. Technological innovation requires theoretical breakthroughs, as well as technological inventions, prototypes, and applications, all of which depend on collaboration across industry, academic communities, and research institutes. Huawei has announced OlympusMons Challenges for four consecutive years, helping guide the direction of research in the global data storage field. By overcoming key technical challenges, Huawei intends to put high-level scientific research into practice, and lead to a win-win collaboration. Professor Onur Mutlu's team at ETH Zurich , which won the OlympusMons Awards 2022, researched data-centric converged storage and computing network systems, developing innovative adaptive optimization algorithms that accelerate the upgrade of the storage architecture. At this summit, Huawei announced two major challenges for the OlympusMons Awards 2023: Storage with Ultimate Per-Bit Cost Efficiency, and Data Resilience and Services Oriented towards Multi-Cloud Environments. Huawei hopes to work with the academic community to build high-quality data storage systems that are characterized by data-centric storage architecture, efficient data use and governance technologies for new applications, data resilience, and proactive safeguards. Joan Serra-Sagrista, Professor from the Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Autonomous University of Barcelona , introduced the third Global Data Compression Competition (GDCC), which is co-hosted by the university and Huawei, inviting software engineers, researchers, students and enthusiasts to take part. The competition will encompass eight major challenges dedicated to lossless compression algorithm, with 171,000 euros in total prize money having been set aside. Individuals and teams who achieve the highest compression rates and performance will be declared winners. Dr. Cheng Zhuo , Chief Technical Research Expert of Huawei Data Storage, delivered a keynote speech at the event, entitled "Innovations Towards Next-Generation Storage Architecture", noting that as enterprises achieve digitalization on an accelerated timeline, data storage innovation will proceed in six key areas: capacity, performance, and reliability, efficiency, resilience, and a multi-cloud ecosystem. The development of the data storage industry requires widespread collaboration, and Huawei Data Storage will continue to work with industry and academic to develop smart, digital, and sustainable solutions of tomorrow. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huawei-resolves-to-revolutionize-global-data-storage-with-olympusmons-challenge-2023-announcements-301835636.html SOURCE Huawei NEW YORK , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheila Thorne, CEO and President of Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group (MHMG), has been recognized as a 2023 Healthcare Hero by Schneps Media. This prestigious award honors Thorne's outstanding contributions and leadership in cultural competency in healthcare from molecule to market. Thorne is a renowned thought leader in the healthcare industry, known for her expertise in promoting cultural competency and diversity in healthcare practices. With over 25 years of experience in multicultural marketing and healthcare consulting, Thorne has been a trailblazer in advocating for inclusive healthcare practices that address the unique needs of diverse populations. "We are thrilled to recognize Sheila Thorne as the 2023 Healthcare Hero," said Joshua Schneps , CEO of Schneps Media. "Sheila's dedication to promoting cultural competency in healthcare and addressing health disparities is commendable. She has been a thought leader and catalyst for change in the industry, and we are honored to acknowledge her contributions with this prestigious award." "I am deeply honored to receive the 2023 Healthcare Hero award from Schneps Media," said Sheila Thorne . "This recognition is a testament to the importance of promoting cultural competency in healthcare and addressing health disparities. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this critical work and will continue to advocate for inclusive healthcare practices that promote health equity." Thorne's work has provided strategic guidance and solutions to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device companies, not-for-profit healthcare organizations, and government agencies to effectively engage diverse patient populations, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities. Her innovative approach has helped healthcare providers develop culturally relevant communication strategies, implement patient-centered care models, and create inclusive environments that promote equitable healthcare access and improved patient outcomes. Thorne's impact extends beyond her work at MHMG. She is a sought-after speaker and presenter at national and international conferences, sharing her insights on cultural competency, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare. Sheila Thorne , an internationally recognized leader in multicultural healthcare marketing, has spent almost three decades designing health education programs and marketing campaigns for racially and linguistically diverse populations throughout the United States , Western Europe , and Latin America . To learn more about Sheila Thorne , visit www.sheilathorne.com For media inquiries or more information, please contact Candace Sandy email: [email protected] or phone: 646.298.5506 About Schneps Media: Schneps Media is a leading media organization in New York City , serving the diverse communities of the metropolitan area. Schneps Media provides news, information, and resources through its various print, digital, and event properties, covering healthcare, business, politics, culture, and lifestyle. www.schnepsmedia.com About Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group (MHMG): Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group (MHMG) is a leading healthcare marketing and consulting firm specializing in cultural competency and diversity initiatives. MHMG provides strategic guidance and solutions to healthcare organizations to effectively engage diverse patient populations, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities. MHMG's services include market research, strategic planning, patient education, increasing diversity in clinical research, and cross-cultural educational programs. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-multicultural-healthcare-thought-leader-sheila-thorne-honored-as-2023-healthcare-hero-by-schneps-media-301835731.html SOURCE Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group (MHMG) The new battery cell JV will be located in Bryan County , Savannah, Georgia where Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is currently being built Total investment amount of over USD 4.3 billion; LGES and HMG to take a 50 percent stake respectively JV's battery production aimed to start at the end of 2025 with an annual production capacity of 30 GWh, capable of supporting the production of 300,000 EVs Building the second battery manufacturing JV, LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to continue strengthening the ties with their long-time partnership in electrification efforts SEOUL, South Korea , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hyundai Motor Group announced an EV battery cell manufacturing joint venture in the U.S. today. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding to produce EV batteries in the U.S. and further accelerate the Group's electrification efforts in North America . The signing ceremony took place in LGES's headquarters in Seoul on May 26 with the attendance of Youngsoo Kwon , CEO of LG Energy Solution and Jaehoon Chang , President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group will each hold a 50 percent stake in the JV, which will involve the investment of over USD 4.3 billion ( KRW 5.7 trillion ). "Two strong leaders in the auto and battery industries have joined hands, and together we are ready to drive the EV transition in America," said Youngsoo Kwon , CEO of LG Energy Solution. "By further advancing our product competitiveness and global operational expertise, LG Energy Solution will commit our best efforts to offering the ultimate sustainable energy solutions to our customers." "Hyundai Motor Group is focusing on its electrification efforts to secure a leadership position in the global auto industry. We will create a strong foundation to lead the global EV transition through establishing a new EV battery cell plant with LG Energy Solution, a leading global battery producer and long-time partner," said Jaehoon Chang , President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. The annual production capacity of the new joint venture is at 30 GWh, able to support the production of 300,000 units of EVs annually. The facility will be in Bryan County , Savannah, Georgia adjacent to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, currently under construction. Starting construction in the second half of 2023, the joint venture plans to start battery production at the end of 2025 at the earliest. Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the plant, then supply them to the Group's U.S. manufacturing facilities for production of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models. The new facility will help create a stable supply of batteries in the region and allow the Group to respond fast to the soaring EV demand in the U.S. market. With this JV, LGES now has seven battery plants currently operating or being constructed in the U.S. , where the company is concentrating most of its resources to expand the production capacity. By ramping up its local production, LGES aims to provide innovative products both in scale and with speed, thereby expediting the clean energy transition in the U.S. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group have long been partners in the field of electrification having worked on the supplies of EV batteries for vehicles, including Elantra Hybrid, Kona Electric, and IONIQ 6 dedicated EV. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, LPi hybrid vehicle introduced in 2009, was the Group's first electrified model. In 2021, both started construction of the Indonesia battery cell JV which is set to start production in the first half of 2024. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to further strengthen the ties going forward with the EV battery cooperation. About LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 25,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers such as General Motors, Stellantis N.V., Hyundai Motor Group, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. At the forefront of green business and sustainability, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com . About Hyundai Motor Group Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT, and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Group's mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on any challenges, we strive to create a better future for all. More information about Hyundai Motor Group, please see: www.hyundaimotorgroup.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-energy-solution-and-hyundai-motor-group-to-establish-battery-cell-manufacturing-joint-venture-in-the-us-301835407.html SOURCE LG Energy Solution VANCOUVER, BC , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQX: LMGDF) (the "Company" or "Lumina") is pleased to announce that it has received the first US$12 million payment (the "First Early Deposit Payment") under the previously announced precious metals purchase agreement (the "Gold Stream") with Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd. ("Wheaton") in relation to its 100% owned Cangrejos gold-copper project located in El Oro Province , Ecuador (the "Project" or "Cangrejos"). The principal terms of the First Early Deposit Payment and the Gold Stream are as described in the Company's news release dated May 16, 2023 , whereby Wheaton will pay a total of US$300 million to acquire 6.6% of the payable gold produced from the Project until 700,000 ounces of gold have been delivered, and 4.4.% thereafter, with US$48 million being paid as an early deposit pre-construction and US$252 million being paid during construction. The Company also wishes to clarify information disclosed in its May 16, 2023 news release, to revise the original statement from "Wheaton will pay a production payment representing 18.0% of the spot price of gold for the first 700,000 ounces and 22.0% of the spot price of gold thereafter" to "Wheaton will make ongoing payments for the gold ounces delivered equal to 18.0% of the spot price of gold until the uncredited deposit is reduced to nil and 22.0% of the spot price of gold thereafter". About Lumina Gold Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on the Cangrejos Gold-Copper Project located in El Oro Province , southwest Ecuador . In 2023, the Company completed a Preliminary Feasibility Study (the "PFS") for Cangrejos, which is the largest primary gold deposit in Ecuador . Lumina has an experienced management team with a successful track record of advancing and monetizing exploration projects. Follow us on: Twitter , Linkedin or Facebook . Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminagold.com/ . To receive future news releases please sign up at https://luminagold.com/contact . LUMINA GOLD CORP. Signed: "Marshall Koval" Marshall Koval , President & CEO, Director 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the Company's decision and ability to develop the Project into a producing mine; payment by Wheaton of $300 million to Lumina and the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the Gold Stream; and the delivery to Wheaton of gold production in respect of the Project. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions; the prices of gold, copper and silver; the Company's ability to meet its obligations under the Gold Stream and other material agreements; the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies, including the PFS; the accuracy of slope guidance underlying the engineered pit design; estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves; anticipated costs and expenditures; future results of operations; ability to satisfy power infrastructure and water capacity requirements; availability and ability to procure personnel, machinery, supplies, and equipment from local sources where possible; the characteristics of the Project producing innate positive environmental impacts; tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the Project; the relationship between the Company and the local communities and its business partners; ability to operate in a safe and effective manner; and the success of exploration, development and processing activities. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to exploration activities and accurately predicting mineralization; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain necessary permits; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of 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); capital costs varying significantly from estimates; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; risks associated with the business of the Company; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; inflation and credit risks; risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lumina-gold-announces-receipt-of-first-early-deposit-payment-of-us12m-from-wheaton-precious-metals-301835971.html SOURCE Lumina Gold Corp. VANCOUVER, BC , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of May 12, 2023 , which announced the closing of the brokered portion of its previously announced financing for gross proceeds of $5-million (the "LIFE Offering"), the Company has now closed the final $11.25-million portion (the "Non-Brokered Private Placement") of its previously announced private placement offering of Common Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million (collectively, the "Offering"). The Offering, including the Non-Brokered Private Placement was first announced on May 1, 2023 and the Company further announced upsizings of the Non-Brokered Private Placement on May 3, 2023 , and May 10, 2023 , due to high demand. In connection with the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the Company has issued on May 26, 2023 , an aggregate of 25,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company priced at $0.45 per Common Share. The Common Shares are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law, expiring September 27, 2023 , being the date that is four months and one day following the date of issuance. The Offering has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $16.25-million for the Company. As previously disclosed, in connection with the closing of the LIFE Offering portion of the Offering, the Company issued 11,111,111 common shares for a purchase price of $0.45 per common share. The common shares issued under the LIFE Offering were issued by way of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and are not subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). No finder's fees were applicable to the Non-Brokered Private Placement and, as previously disclosed, in connection with the LIFE Offering, Canaccord Genuity Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents that included Roth Canada Inc. (collectively the "Agents") received an aggregate cash fee equal to $250,000 . The net proceeds of the Offering are intended to be used to advance Nevada King's development and exploration stage assets and for other general corporate purposes. The Offering remains subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals, including final approval of the TSX-V. The securities described herein 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 state securities laws, and 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 laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. Related Party Participation in the Non-Brokered Private Placement Certain insiders of the Company, namely Collin Kettell (CEO and Director), Paul Matysek (Executive Chairman), Craig Roberts (Director) and Bassam Moubarak (CFO), participated in the Non-Brokered Private Placement acquiring an aggregate of 5,244,444 Common Shares. The participation by insiders in the Non-Brokered Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Common Shares purchased by insiders, nor the consideration for the Common Shares paid by such insiders, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Non-Brokered Private Placement in an expeditious manner. The Offering was unanimously approved by the Company's board of directors. About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada , behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine , located 100km southeast of Ely , (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines ' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada . The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $21 million after closing of the Offering. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV " with an effective date of October 6, 2020 , and a report date of December 22, 2020 , as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron , P.Geo ., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000s) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.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. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the TSX-V approval of the Non-Brokered Private Placement, the use of proceeds with respect to the Offering, and the results of the mineral resource estimate on the project are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nevada-king-announces-closing-of-common-share-offering-to-complete-16-25-million-financing-301835998.html SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. WASHINGTON , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from southern New Mexico schools will have an opportunity to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station . The Earth-to-space call will air live at 11:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, May 30 , on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Frank Rubio will answer prerecorded questions from students through a collaboration with the New Mexico Museum of Space History. The museum is dedicated to telling the story of space exploration and has engaged several school districts in southern New Mexico to participate in the downlink. The museum's educators traveled to each district and presented information about the space station and its Expedition 69 crew, then worked with the students to develop the questions posed to the astronauts. Media interested in covering the event should respond no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, May 29 to Cathy Harper at: [email protected] or 575-437-2840 x.41153. For more than 22 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts living in space aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Near Space Network. Important research and technology investigations aboard the International Space Station benefit people on Earth and set the groundwork for future exploration. As part of Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers the Artemis Generation ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery. See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-mexico-students-to-hear-from-nasa-astronauts-aboard-space-station-301835739.html SOURCE NASA Details added, first publication at 22:44 on May 25 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The joint combat shooting tactical exercises "Heydar Aliyev-2023" ended in the city of Kars of the Republic of Turkiye, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Military personnel of the Separate Combined Arms Army, who participated in the exercises dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkiye and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, successfully completed combat missions and showed good results. The commander of the Separate Combined Arms Army, Colonel-General Kerem Mustafayev, visited the city of Kars in order to observe the joint "Heydar Aliyev-2023" tactical exercises with live firing. During the visit, the monuments of the great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the great leader Heydar Aliyev were visited in the city of Kars. Information was provided on the deployment of troops in the area, as well as events that will be held in stages, modern weapons, and military equipment as part of the exercises. After familiarization with the plan, the stage of combat shooting was launched. According to the scenario of the exercises, special forces units stormed the cave where the terrorist group of the conditional enemy was located. Crews of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery and anti-tank units, supported by helicopters, destroyed the conditional enemy positions with complete accuracy. Snipers performed practical shooting from different distances. The exercises ended with parachute jumps, during which portraits of great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and great leader Heydar Aliyev were unfurled in the sky, as well as national flags of both brotherly countries. The servicemen who distinguished themselves in the exercises were awarded valuable gifts. In the end, a memorable photo was taken. Upon completion of the exercises, the servicemen of the Separate Combined Arms Army crossed the Umid Bridge over the Araz River and returned to their duty stations. Study findings confirm the importance of improving education among clinicians and streamlining processes to increase adoption of testing in routine cancer care SAN FRANCISCO , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced nine studies to be presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago from June 2-6, 2023 . The new research insights highlight innovations in genetic testing in a variety of clinical settings, population groups and cancer types, and reinforce the need to reduce barriers to genetic services to help patients receive the most effective care and monitoring. Presentation showcases learnings about the benefits of germline genetic testing for lung cancer patients ( Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. CDT and Monday, June 5, 2023 at 1 p.m. CDT ) Leading lung cancer expert and Invitae research partner, Renato Martins , M.D., M.P.H., Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center, will present findings from a retrospective study of over 7,000 lung cancer patients who completed germline genetic testing (GGT). Results of the study showed that 14.9% of patients in this cohort had pathogenic germline variants (PGVs), nearly all of which were clinically actionable. Dr. Martins will share research highlights and key takeaways about how patients with lung cancer can benefit from precision therapies based on PGVs in addition to how this vital information informs future cancer screening and family testing, which supports consideration for GGT for patients with lung cancer. Latest PROCLAIM trial findings illustrate how prostate cancer patients experience the impact of genetic testing ( Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 1:15 p.m. CDT ) Studies have shown that uptake for GGT in prostate patients varies widely (10-60%) based on the stage of the disease, practice setting and provider type. To better understand how patients experience genetic testing, Invitae enrolled unselected prostate cancer patients from 15 community urology practices to undergo multigene panel testing and collected patient-reported outcomes via surveys at least one month post GGT. Most patients reported that their test results reduced their concerns or did not impact their level of concern regarding their cancer diagnosis, treatment or follow up. This study shows that universal GGT was beneficial to prostate cancer patients and helped to inform their treatment and follow-up decisions. "Educational programs for germline genetic testing (GGT) for community clinicians treating prostate cancer patients is essential so they can successfully incorporate GGT into their practices," said Neal D. Shore , M.D., F.A.C.S., from the Carolina Urologic Research Center, and lead author of the study. "When clinicians understand both the 'why' and the 'how' for a successful testing program, then patients, their families and our healthcare system will all benefit." Population level data demonstrates support for universal germline testing after a cancer diagnosis ( Monday, June 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. CDT ) A study led by Allison Kurian , M.D., M.Sc ., at Stanford University, in collaboration with Invitae and others, sought to better understand the adoption of genetic testing and results across cancer types. Using the statewide Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries in California and Georgia , researchers were able to link results from laboratories that provided nearly all GGT in these regions to evaluate more than 1.3 million adult patients diagnosed with all reported cancer types. The study highlighted that GGT remains low across cancer types, falling short of guidelines, and the gaps in rates of testing and particularly the continued racial/ethnic disparities in testing are critical areas for intervention that systematic implementation of current universal testing guidelines may help to address. Genetic testing use among patients for whom universal testing is currently recommended were as follows: male breast cancer (50%), ovarian cancer (38.6%), female breast cancer (26%), pancreatic cancer (5.6%), colorectal cancer (5.6%) with testing use increasing over time from 2013 to 2019. Additionally, results showed that compared to non-Hispanic whites, patients from other racial/ethnic groups received less testing without improvement over time, underscoring the need to improve access to genetic testing for underserved groups. "Significant gaps persist in the uptake of germline genetic testing across cancer types," stated W. Michael Korn , M.D., chief medical officer for oncology at Invitae. "We continue to see evidence that the vast majority of patients who qualify have not yet benefited from testing. System-wide implementation of existing universal testing guidelines is the most effective way to identify actionable results that are currently missed, and essential to provide patients access to germline-indicated precision therapies and clinical trials, especially for underserved populations." "The power of linking genetic testing results to SEER registry data allows us to understand what is happening at the population level and to pinpoint where the gaps in testing lie," said Kurian. "This is a crucial step towards closing those gaps." Study results show that novel approaches that aim to streamline germline genetic testing can help eliminate barriers in clinical practice The research team at University of Vermont Medical Center partnered with Invitae to explore a novel and streamlined approach to genetic testing where patients with advanced cancer were first tested and then offered genetic counseling if a PGV was identified. Patients who had been diagnosed recently ( Patients and healthcare providers were given a survey to gauge their satisfaction with the streamlined testing process. More than 94% of patients appreciated having undergone testing during an existing appointment and 82% of participants felt confident that they understood the results of their test. Every healthcare provider who completed the survey was satisfied with the testing process and 94% were interested in continuing with the new approach. The study results show that there is interest from both healthcare providers and patients to incorporate new processes that remove barriers to genetic testing and facilitate seamless integration into cancer care. Improving access to genetic testing Invitae is presenting additional research with its partners at ASCO that supports the company's mission to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for all. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating genetic testing into the standard of care and improving access to testing for underrepresented groups to aid in earlier diagnoses and connect patients to clinical trials as well as precision medicines. 2023 ASCO presentations: Education Session Arie Crown Theater , ASCO Plenary Series: Rapid Abstract Updates: Titled: Landscape of Pathogenic Germline Variants in Patients with Lung Cancer . Presenter: Renato Martins , M.D., M.P.H. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. CDT Titled: Landscape of Pathogenic Germline Variants in Patients with . Presenter: , M.D., M.P.H. at Education Session E451, Family Matters: Germline Testing in Thoracic Cancers: Titled: Pathogenic Germline Alterations in Lung Cancer . Presenter: Renato Martins , M.D., M.P.H. Monday, June 5, 2023 at 1 p.m. CDT . Titled: Pathogenic Germline Alterations in . Presenter: , M.D., M.P.H. at . Oral Abstract Session S100a, Abstract 10500: Titled: Germline genetic testing use and results after a cancer diagnosis. Presenter: Allison W. Kurian , M.D., M.Sc . Monday, June 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. CDT . 2023 ASCO posters: Poster 240/Abstract 10607: Titled: Using patient-reported outcomes to assess the impact of germline genetic testing on prostate cancer patients. Presenter: Sarah M. Nielsen Young , M.S. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . Titled: Using patient-reported outcomes to assess the impact of germline genetic testing on prostate cancer patients. Presenter: Sarah , M.S. at . Poster 223/Abstract 10590: Titled: Rates of potentially actionable germline variants in homologous recombination repair genes in a large international cohort outside of the United States . Presenter: Sarah M. Nielsen Young , M.S. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . Titled: Rates of potentially actionable germline variants in homologous recombination repair genes in a large international cohort outside of . Presenter: , M.S. at . Poster 183/Abstract 10550: Titled: Disparities in Germline Genetic Testing Results from a Cohort of ~493,515 Black and White Patients. Presenter: Sarah M. Nielsen Young , M.S. Saturday, June 3, 2023 1:15 p.m. CDT . Titled: Disparities in Germline Genetic Testing Results from a Cohort of ~493,515 Black and White Patients. Presenter: , M.S. . Poster 250/Abstract 10617: Titled: Eliminating barriers to uptake of germline genetic testing for patients with advanced cancer: the GTAC study. Presenter: Kara K. Landry , M.D. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . Titled: Eliminating barriers to uptake of germline genetic testing for patients with advanced cancer: the GTAC study. Presenter: , M.D. at . Poster 224/Abstract 10591: Titled: Implementation of universal pan-cancer germline genetic testing in an Arab population: The Jordanian Exploratory Cancer Genetics (Jo-ECAG) study. Presenter: Hikmat Abdel-Razeq, M.D. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . Titled: Implementation of universal pan-cancer germline genetic testing in an Arab population: The Jordanian Exploratory Cancer Genetics (Jo-ECAG) study. Presenter: Hikmat Abdel-Razeq, M.D. at . Poster 448b/Abstract TPS622: Titled: MRD assay evaluates recurrence and response via a tumor informed assessment: MARIA-Breast Observational Trial. Presenter: Ed Esplin , M.D., Ph.D., FACP, CGAF, FACMG Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 8 a.m. CDT . Titled: MRD assay evaluates recurrence and response via a tumor informed assessment: MARIA-Breast Observational Trial. Presenter: , M.D., Ph.D., FACP, CGAF, FACMG at . Poster 405/Abstract 4084: Titled: A novel patient-centric longitudinal data registry platform to generate insights into real-world cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) clinical practice. Presenter: Amanda Nottke , Ph.D. Monday, June 5, 2023 at 8 a.m. CDT . About Invitae Invitae (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company trusted by millions of patients and their providers to deliver timely genetic information using digital technology. We aim to provide accurate and actionable answers to strengthen medical decision-making for individuals and their families. Invitae's genetics experts apply a rigorous approach to data and research, serving as the foundation of their mission to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. To learn more, visit invitae.com and follow for updates on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn @Invitae. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the company's beliefs regarding the implications of its new research; that the research reinforces the critical role of germline genetic testing in oncology; and that the study findings confirm the importance of improving education among clinicians and streamlining processes to increase adoption of testing in routine cancer care. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the company's ability to grow its business in a cost-efficient manner; the company's history of losses; the company's ability to maintain important customer relationships; the company's ability to compete; the company's need to scale its infrastructure in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its tests; the risk that the company may not obtain or maintain sufficient levels of reimbursement for its tests; the applicability of clinical results to actual outcomes; risks associated with litigation; the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately and consistently; security breaches, loss of data and other disruptions; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 . These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Invitae PR contact: Renee Kelley [email protected] (628) 213-3283 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-insights-to-be-presented-by-invitae-at-the-2023-asco-annual-meeting-reinforce-the-critical-role-of-germline-genetic-testing-in-oncology-301835287.html SOURCE Invitae Corporation Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) achieved remarkable success at the 10th edition of the Global Brand Awards, securing two prestigious accolades for the year 2022 in Vietnam . The bank was honoured with the titles of 'Excellence in Retail Banking' and 'Best Digital Banking Brand.' LONDON , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Brand Awards, hosted by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), a renowned international publication headquartered in the UK , is an annual event that acknowledges global brands for their exceptional performance across various sectors. It also serves as a platform to keep readers informed about key trends in the branding world. OCB was evaluated based on criteria such as customer service, satisfaction, digital innovation, strategic relationships, and new business development. Jay Reddy , the Director of Global Brands Magazine, congratulated OCB on their outstanding achievements at the awards ceremony. He commended the bank for securing two prestigious awards in a single financial year, a feat that is not commonly accomplished. Reddy praised OCB's robust financial performance, innovative products and services, and commitment to customer service, wishing them continued success in the future. Commenting on winning the awards, Nguyen Van Huong , Deputy CEO of Retail Division of Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank, said, "Developing the retail segment has now become a strategy of many banks, not only OCB, because the retail channel is the main driving force of the bank. It has the sustainable growth over time with lower risk, achieving business benefit of scaling. In the near future, we will implement the goal of building a personalized, digital banking system for each customer. OCB will provide services via smart mobile applications or computer platforms and every process here will be 100% digitized." About Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) was established on 10 June 1996 . After more than 27 years of operation and development, OCB currently has more than 200 business units spread across all regions and key economic centres across the country. OCB was recognised by the State Bank as one of the first three banks to complete risk management items according to the Basel II international standards by the end of 2018. Moody's Investors Service, one of the three most prestigious credit rating agencies in the world, increased Counterparty Risk Assessment (CRA) and Counterparty Risk Rating (CRR) to Ba3 in July 2019 . This is the highest-ranking level in Vietnam today. Rated as the leading bank in Vietnam in terms of operational efficiency with sustainable growth potential, OCB has created confidence for Aozora Bank - one of the most efficient banks in Japan , to invest 15% share capital of OCB and become a long-term strategic partner. OCB has gradually risen to the top of the group of private banks in Vietnam according to three criteria: growth rate, safety and efficiency. Not only operational efficiency and profit, OCB always actively controls costs, synchronously implements cost-optimising solutions to improve business efficiency, this is the Bank's direction throughout. OCB's equity has now increased by nearly 8 times, profit by more than 16 times and total assets by 12 times. Thereby, OCB became a joint stock commercial bank holding the No. 1 position in terms of profit growth rate and No. 3 in terms of return on capital efficiency. About Global Brands Magazine ( England ) Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views, and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The Magazine focuses on the world's top brands, showcasing their strategies and success stories. The magazine covers a wide range of industries, including fashion, beauty, technology, and more. It is targeted towards business executives and marketing professionals, offering insights and analysis on brand building and management. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that stand out, and have a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions, and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. The Magazine has over 9.5 million visitors and 14 million page views per month, making it one of the best online magazines in the world. With over 9.5 million monthly visitors and 14 million page views, GBM is one of the most esteemed online magazines globally. The magazine also maintains a strong presence on social media, boasting over 20k+ Facebook likes, 10k+ Instagram followers, 25k+ Twitter followers, and 3k+ LinkedIn followers. About the Global Brand Awards The Global Brand Awards is an annual event that celebrates the accomplishments of the world's leading brands. These awards honour brands across various categories, including innovation, sustainability, customer experience, and more. The aim is to showcase best practices in branding, marketing, and customer engagement while providing recognition and exposure for the winning brands. The awards ceremony typically features a gala event attended by business leaders, marketing executives, and media representatives. Last year, over 20k companies were evaluated, and the winners were celebrated at an awards ceremony. The 10th Global Brand Awards Night took place at the Waldorf Astoria in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai , with nearly 100 companies and around 150 delegates from across the globe in attendance. Dignitaries from various industries, such as banking, insurance, financial services, education, healthcare, hospitality, logistics, and more, graced the event. To learn more about the awards, please visit the awards section on the GBM website. To nominate your company or business leader for the Global Brand Awards 2023, please click on the following link: https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/nomination-form/ Check out our social media shout outs from the links below: Facebook: https://bit.ly/43g0aHO Linkedin: https://bit.ly/423kj2w Instagram: https://bit.ly/434u8OX Twitter: https://bit.ly/45uO1QO Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1764747/3812924/GBM_2022_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ocb-wins-big-at-the-10th-edition-of-global-brand-awards-301835452.html SOURCE Global Brands Publications Limited LONDON, ON , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Odd Burger Corporation ("Odd Burger" or the "Company") (TSXV: ODD) (OTCBQ: ODDAF) (FSE: IA9) and Zoglo's Food Corp. ("Zoglo's") (CNSX: ZOG) wish to announce that further to its press release dated April 26 th,2023, its non-binding letter of intent has been terminated in accordance with its terms. The company continues to pursue other business opportunities and wishes Zoglo's success in their future operations and business objectives. About Odd Burger Corporation Odd Burger Corporation is a chain of company-owned and franchised vegan fast-food restaurants as well as a food technology company that manufactures and distributes a proprietary line of plant-based protein and dairy alternatives to its locations. Odd Burger restaurants operate as smart kitchens, which use state-of-the art cooking technology and automation solutions to deliver a delicious food experience to customers craving healthier and more sustainable fast food. With small store footprints optimized for delivery and takeout, advanced cooking technology, competitive pricing, a vertically integrated supply chain along with healthier ingredients, Odd Burger is revolutionizing the fast-food industry by creating guilt-free fast food. Odd Burger Corporation is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ODD and on the OTCQB under the symbol ODDAF. For more information visit https://www.oddburger.com . About Zoglo's Food Corp. : Zoglo's Food Corp. is a publicly-traded plant-based food company that offers nutrient-rich, plant-based appetizers, veggies, and meat substitutes to fulfill consumers' needs for all occasions and cooking requirements. Zoglo's wholly-owned subsidiary, Zoglo's Food Inc., currently offers 12 innovative products for the mainstream market through its new Zoglo's Black Box product line. Over the past 25 years, Zoglo's products have been distributed in over 3,000 retail stores across Canada including Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, and Loblaws, and have representation in the United States and Europe. Zoglo's trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker: ZOG and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker: 7UT." Warnings All information contained in this news release with respect to Odd Burger and Zoglo's was supplied by the parties, respectively, for inclusion herein, and Odd Burger and its directors and officers have relied on Zoglo's for any information concerning such party. Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and Zoglo's shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the 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 press release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the timing and completion of the Proposed Transaction, the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Proposed Transaction and the future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions to completion of the Proposed Transaction set forth above and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms and within the time disclosed herein or at all. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/odd-burger-announces-termination-of-letter-of-intent-with-zoglos-food-corp-301835332.html SOURCE Odd Burger Corporation Compassion International prioritizes a two-fold response to a worsening global food crisis COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday is World Hunger Day, when we take time to reflect on the global crisis of hunger and highlight sustainable solutions. The world is hungrier than ever in 2023, with children in poverty among the most vulnerable. According to World Food Program, as many as 828 million people will go to bed hungry each night, and extreme weather, rising costs, and conflict continue to worsen the global food crisis. That's why Compassion International is leading a local-first response in nine of the world's hunger hotspots in partnership with 1,600 frontline churches to provide both immediate and long-term support. Compassion provides food packs and cash transfers to stop hunger in its tracks and empowers families with seeds, fertilizer, livestock, and training so they'll have sustainable food supplies over time. Over the past year alone, Compassion supported more than 1.4 million people through its distribution of food packs. Palamanga Ouali, Compassion's regional vice president for Africa , explains, "To thrive, children and youth must first have access to the basics of life. There is nothing more basic than food. The worry for most of us is about the ability of donors to commit and raise funds for the necessary interventions short-term and medium to long-term sustainable interventions to address the root cause of this problem." The statistics are alarming, and the impact on children is severe. One UNICEF study looked at 15 developing countries and found that every minute, another child will suffer from severe malnutrition. The World Food Program reported that more than 345 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity in 2023. With numbers like these, children are more vulnerable to death, life-threatening illnesses, poor academic performance and intellectual development, gender-based violence and abuse, child marriage (as girls are offered in marriage for dowries that will feed their families), and child labor (as children leave school to support their families). As hunger soars, how can the rest of the world make a difference for these hungry children and families? As a child development organization committed to caring for more than two million babies, children, and young adults, Compassion shares five ways: Get the facts on the global food crisis . Learn how hunger affects children and their families. Explore how conflict creates chronic hunger. Watch this urgent video message from Compassion's church partners. Educate yourself on the link between poverty and hunger . Read up on topics like food security or malnutrition . Use your voice . Share what you learned about hunger on social media or with those in your sphere of influence this May 28 on World Hunger Day. Raise awareness about the worsening global food crisis and spread the word about the needs of families and children in poverty. Become part of the solution through support . Find humanitarian organizations that work with developing nations and support them. You can donate to Compassion to provide both immediate and long-term support to malnourished children and families. A $50 food pack will provide a family of five with a one-month supply of essentials, like rice, eggs, meat, milk, and corn; and sustainable solutions, such as livestock (chickens, goats, or pigs), mitigation (seeds, basic tools, and training), or agriculture (vegetable seeds or fruit trees), will help families find hope and build resilience over time. Sponsor a child . Sponsoring a child in a hunger-affected country helps provide food security and gives children the opportunity to learn, play, grow, and reach their potential. Pray . Compassion works with more than 8,500 frontline church partners all over the globe, and each church partner is trained to identify malnutrition and hunger and take immediate action to address it. Pray that God would equip these churches and staff members with wisdom, protection, endurance, and the resources to fight hunger and provide food security to children and families in their communities. And pray for God's comfort and provision to families struggling with food insecurity. To learn more about poverty, hunger, and Compassion's solutions in the midst of a global food crisis, visit compassion.com/worldhungerday or compassion.com/globalfight. About Compassion International Compassion International is a Christian child development organization working to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Founded in 1952, Compassion partners with more than 8,500 local churches in 29 program countries to deliver spiritual, economic, social, and physical care to over two million babies, children, and young adults in poverty. Ranked No. 12 in Forbes' America's Top Charities List in 2022, Compassion is a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. For more information, visit compassion.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Wilburn 219-384-8177 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-world-hunger-day-in-2023-the-world-is-hungrier-than-ever-301835397.html SOURCE Compassion International PenFed to Devote 'PenFed Tunnel' to Honor Nation's Service Members Who Gave Ultimate Sacrifice TYSONS, Va., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second largest federal credit union, will dedicate the PenFed Tunnel in the Concourse C Connector at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to our nation's military heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during Memorial Day weekend. The millions of air travelers who make their way through the PenFed Tunnel will be reminded of our fallen heroes' sacrifices with images and videos depicting the importance of honoring, reflecting and supporting. "At PenFed, we believe it's important to always remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for our nation, and the loved ones they left behind," said PenFed Credit Union President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck . "This Memorial Day weekend, the PenFed Tunnel will provide a unique way to honor those who lost their lives to keep us safe and ensure our freedoms. It will provide a moment of reflection for travelers as they are welcomed to our nation's capital region." As part of a multi-year, multimillion dollar marketing campaign, the PenFed Tunnel features bespoke digital media comprised of LEDs as well as directional audio via sound cones bookending the tunnel and measures nearly 4,000 square feet. The tunnel also includes two lit tension fabric displays and six tension fabric displays highlighting PenFed in Terminal C and reaches millions of air passengers every day. Learn more and view the PenFed Tunnel page here. PenFed has a strong legacy of being a military-friendly company and donates up to 2% of its annual net income to charitable organizations, with the majority going to military charities. The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, was created in 2001 and, since then, has provided more than $40 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, families, and caregivers. PenFed also plans to use the tunnel in celebration of Independence Day and Veterans Day and in remembrance of those who were impacted by, and responded to, the terrorist attacks on 9/11. About PenFed Credit Union Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.9 million members worldwide with $35.3 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org , like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter . Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn . We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penfed-credit-union-dedicates-concourse-c-connector-at-washington-dulles-international-airport-to-fallen-military-heroes-for-memorial-day-weekend-301835722.html SOURCE PenFed Credit Union More patients will soon benefit from ability of A.I. tech to highlight lesions and to provide better data to physicians BOSTON , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Catching cancer earlier and achieving more accurate initial diagnostics are two of the key benefits of breakthrough artificial intelligence technology that a European company is now bringing to U.S. patients. For Quibim, a leading provider of imaging technology in the E.U., that path began with the recent approval they received from the U.S. FDA to apply their patented A.I. powered technology to domestic prostate cancer diagnostics. More patients will soon benefit from ability of A.I. tech to highlight lesions and to provide better data to physicians With today's announcement of bringing on their first U.S. -based chief medical officer, that path has now led the A.I.-driven company to Boston's hub of medical talent. Widely sought-after oncology leader Dr. Glen J. Weiss , MD, MBA, will serve as the chief medical officer for Quibim as the company expands its relationships with hospitals and life science companies across the U.S. The move signals a key juncture in the proliferation and mainstreaming of A.I.-based technology into the U.S. patient experience. As an established and major European A.I.-based imaging provider, Quibim has played a vital role in enhancing clinical trial design, optimizing drug development, and managing large volumes of imaging data while creating new predictive imaging biomarker panels that benefit patients, providers, and companies alike. Now, the company is seeking to broaden those impacts in the U.S. with a chief medical officer at the helm who has deep ties to Massachusetts . While the company will maintain its U.S. headquarters in New York , Boston is among the markets where the company anticipates increased adoption of its A.I driven imaging technology platforms, including "QP-Prostate". According to data adapted from the American Cancer Society and other sources by Cancer.net , prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, except for skin cancer. Weiss is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member and was a Director of Phase I Clinical Research at Beth Israel Medical Center (BIDMC), and an associate member of the BIDMC Cancer Research Institute. Weiss' background encompasses over 100 phase 1-3 oncology studies and significant experience in biomarker/translational research studies. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Nature Communications, Clinical Cancer Research, and Cancer Cell. "Quibim is revolutionizing medical imaging and advancing personalized medicine," said Angel Alberich-Bayarri , CEO at Quibim. " Dr. Weiss' expertise and visionary approach will greatly contribute to our mission, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities and achievements that lie ahead for our company." Quibim's medical division incorporates innovative tools into imaging software and data extraction analytics, as well as into therapy effectiveness assessment specifically by enabling "lesion highlighting" and "volumetric data analysis". Quibim aspires to be the go-to provider and category leader in predictive imaging biomarkers, novel diagnostics, and IP development for personalized medicine imaging solutions. The hiring of Dr. Weiss marks a significant milestone in Quibim's growth and development in the U.S. positioning the company for substantial expansion in research exploration, collaboration, and business development. As CMO, Dr. Weiss will lead Quibim's medical division, providing strategic guidance on personalized medicine, scientific development of platforms, and clinical applications. "I can envision a future where medical imaging evolves from a diagnostic tool to a dynamic theranostic for clinical drug development," said Dr. Weiss . "Harmonization of medical solutions, particularly in imaging, to enhance real-world evidence interpretation and clinical trial reporting is critical. Quibim has mastered this." About Quibim Quibimwith offices in New York ( United States ), Cambridge ( UK ), and Valencia , Madrid , and Barcelona ( Spain )was born from the ambition of transforming imaging into a catalyst for precision health. They do this by designing pioneering tools that unlock imaging data to improve patient outcomes. The brand is linked to company values, based on a deep understanding of the modern science of imaging data and finding a way to transform this data into actionable predictions. To achieve this, Quibim partners with top-tier biopharma companies to detect pathologies early and to predict outcomes in oncology/immunotherapy, immunology, inflammation, and neurology using MRI, CT, and PET imaging, leading to new regulatory cleared Medical Devices marketed to healthcare providers. The company is specialized in the development of AI models created by the use of real-world evidence (RWE) projects and biopharma partners to extract new insights from images; thereby developing novel quantitative imaging biomarkers to deeply analyze disease mechanisms, advance drug development, and monitor treatment progress using a whole-body approach. Media Contact: Hallie Kogelschatz [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quibim-a-company-leveraging-artificial-intelligence-to-improve-cancer-diagnostics-makes-key-move-into-us-by-hiring-boston-based-chief-medical-officer-301835725.html SOURCE Quibim AUSTIN, Texas , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- QuoteWell, a digital wholesaler built for independent insurance agents, announces its partnership with Herald, a digital infrastructure provider that connects software developers to commercial insurance carriers through a single API. QuoteWell will leverage Herald's industry-leading carrier-connectivity API solution to enhance its agent-friendly platform with the ability to instantly quote and bind small and middle market businesses. QuoteWell is dedicated to delivering solutions for independent agents that increase speed and efficiency of the marketing process and drive agency growth. By integrating Herald's real-time carrier quoting and binding capabilities into their platform, QuoteWell is able to deliver an end-to-end digital experience to its agents across 8 lines of business and 60 products, including both admitted and E&S options. QuoteWell is building a comprehensive and compelling agent experience combining the deep functionality and flexibility of its software platform wholesale capabilities for both standard lines as well as hard-to-place risks and the cutting-edge capabilities of Herald's connectivity infrastructure. "We're very excited for our partnership with Herald as it will allow us to rapidly deliver new functionality to our users and enhance their day-to-day workflows," said Tom Brighton , Chief Business Officer at QuoteWell. "We've really enjoyed working with the Herald team. Their process, people, and tech have each been key to incorporating these new capabilities into our platform and delivering further innovation to our retail agency partners." "QuoteWell is building an innovative software platform to improve the insurance process for independent agents across the country," said Matthew Antoszyk , CEO at Herald. "We're excited to work with the QuoteWell team to help them deliver more value, more quickly to their customers. We're impressed by their platform and their team and believe they are building a truly distinctive offering in the space. We look forward to seeing the future of our partnership grow." Building with Herald, QuoteWell users will be able to access automatic quotes for businesses across thousands of industries and place policies for businesses nationwide. About QuoteWell QuoteWell is a tech-enabled wholesaler helping independent agents save time, access the wider market, and enjoy transparency during the marketing process With technology that streamlines the Commercial Lines marketing process and an integrated team of expert brokers, QuoteWell helps retail agents quickly secure the quotes needed to best serve their clients and drive growth. Their platform and services are aimed at addressing the many gaps and inefficiencies in the submission and quoting process for agents as well as those in the underwriting and distribution departments of carriers/MGAs. If you're an agent or market interested in learning more about the benefits of transacting business through QuoteWell, visit their website , reach out to them at [email protected], or follow on LinkedIn . About Herald Herald builds digital infrastructure for commercial insurance. Developers who use Herald can quote and bind insurance from multiple carriers through a single API. For brokers and technology providers looking to engage with carrier partners via API, Herald helps construct reliable connections and dramatically accelerate product development timelines. For carriers and MGAs enabling connectivity via API, Herald builds and manages integrations with new and existing distribution partners. If you're just interested in learning more about Herald, visit their website or feel free to email at [email protected]. Follow on Twitter , LinkedIn , and subscribe to their changelog to stay up to date. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quotewell-launches-instant-quoting-powered-by-herald-301836001.html SOURCE QuoteWell TAMPERE, Finland , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual General Meeting of Bioretec Ltd was held on 26 May 2023 in Tampere, Finland . The Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements for the financial year 1 January- 31 December 2022 and resolved to discharge the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability for the financial period 1 January- 31 December 2022 . The Annual General Meeting resolved in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors that the loss of EUR 2,347,332.35 for the financial period 1 January- 31 December 2022 will be booked in the balance sheet as equity under profit/loss for previous financial periods and that no dividend shall be distributed. Number of members of the Board of Directors, election of members of the Board, and their remuneration The Annual General Meeting resolved that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be six (6). Tomi Numminen , Michael Piccirillo , Sarah van Hellenberg Hubar-Fisher , Pekka Simula , and Paivi Malinen were re-elected as members of the Board. Additionally, Kustaa Poutiainen was elected as a new member of the Board. The term of the Board of Directors will end at the closing of the Annual General Meeting 2024. The Annual General Meeting resolved that the Chairman of the Board will be paid EUR 2,500 per month and that the members of the Board will be paid EUR 1,500 per month. Reasonable travel expenses of the members of the Board of Directors shall be reimbursed in accordance with the maximum amount of the respective travel allowance base approved by the Tax Administration. The Annual General Meeting resolved that the company may enter into a consultancy agreement with Tomi Numminen for consulting services related to the funding processes of the company and commercialization of the company's products in the United States . The consultancy fee payable pursuant to such agreement shall not exceed EUR 7,500 per month. In addition, the Annual General Meeting resolved that the company may enter into a consultancy agreement with Valugen GmbH for the services of Michael Piccirillo in connection with establishing the company's Scientific Advisory Board, to create key opinion leader connections. The consulting fee payable pursuant to such agreement shall not exceed EUR 3,000 per month. Election and remuneration of auditor The Annual General Meeting elected auditing firm Ernst & Young Oy as the auditor of the company until the closing of the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Auditing firm Ernst & Young has notified the company that it will appoint Erika Gronlund, Authorized Public Accountant, as the responsible auditor. The auditor will be compensated as reasonably invoiced. Authorization of the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares, as well as the issuance of option rights and other special rights entitling to shares pursuant to Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act, as follows: Under the authorization, up to 5,000,000 shares (including the new shares to be issued based on the special rights) can be issued, which at the time of the proposal represented approximately 26 percent of all outstanding company shares. The shares or special rights entitling to shares can be issued in one or more tranches, either against or without payment. The shares issued under the authorization can be new shares or shares in the company's possession. The authorization can be used for the financing or execution of acquisitions or other business arrangements, to strengthen the balance sheet and financial position of the company, for implementing the company's share-based incentive plans, or for other purposes determined by the Board of Directors. Under the authorization, the Board of Directors may resolve upon issuing new shares, without consideration, to the company itself. The Board of Directors is authorized to resolve on all terms for share issues and granting of special rights entitling to shares in the company. The Board of Directors is authorized to resolve on a directed share issue and issuance of special rights entitling to shares according to the shareholders' pre-emptive rights and/or in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive right, provided that there is a weighty financial reason for the company to do so. The authorization is valid until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, however, no longer than until 30 June 2024 . The authorization revokes previous unused share issue authorizations. Amendment of Option Program 2018-1 The Annual General Meeting resolved to extend the subscription period for the shares that the option rights entitle to subscribe for under Option Program 2018-1 until 31 December 2026 as follows: With option right 2018-1A: 1 January 2019-31 December 2026 With option right 2018-1B: 1 January 2020-31 December 2026 With option right 2018-1C: 1 January 2021-31 December 2026 With option right 2018-1D: 1 January 2022-31 December 2026 The Annual General Meeting additionally resolved to authorize the Board of Directors to make the required decisions for implementing the resolution of the Annual General Meeting and in addition, if required, to amend the terms and conditions of Option Program 2018-1 to reflect the amendments in the Finnish Companies Act in respect of the terms of option rights and other special rights that came into force on 31 January 2023 . This authorization is in force until 31 December 2023 . The outstanding option rights of Option Program 2018-1 entitle to subscription of a maximum of 1,308,333 new shares in the company or shares in possession of the company. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available no later than 9 June 2023 on the company's website at https://bioretec.com/investors/investors-in-english/governance/general-meetings/annual-general-meeting-2023 Resolutions of the constitutive meeting of the Board of Directors At its constitutive meeting held after the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors of Bioretec Ltd elected Tomi Numminen as the Chairperson of the Board. The Board resolved to establish an Audit Committee and a Nomination /Remuneration Committee. The members of the Committees were elected as follows: Audit Committee: Tomi Numminen (chairperson), Paivi Malinen ja Sarah van Hellenberg Hubar-Fisher (chairperson), ja Nomination / Remuneration Committee: Pekka Simula (chairperson), Michael Piccirillo ja Kustaa Poutiainen Further enquiries Tomi Numminen , Chairman of the Board of Directors, tel. +358 40 581 2132 Timo Lehtonen , CEO, tel. +358 50 433 8493 Bioretec in brief Bioretec is a globally operating Finnish medical device company that continues to pioneer the application of bioresorbable orthopedic implants. The company has built unique competencies in the biological interface of active implants to enhance bone growth and accelerate fracture healing after orthopedic surgery. The products developed and manufactured by Bioretec are used worldwide in approximately 40 countries. Bioretec is developing the new RemeOs product line based on a magnesium alloy and hybrid composite, introducing a new generation of strong bioresorbable materials for enhanced surgical outcomes. The RemeOs implants are resorbed and replaced by bone, which eliminates the need for removal surgery while facilitating fracture healing. The combination has the potential to make titanium implants redundant and help clinics reach their Value-Based Healthcare targets while focusing on value for patients through efficient healthcare. The first RemeOs product market authorization has been received in the U.S. in March 2023 and in Europe , CE-mark is expected to receive during 2023. Bioretec is positioning itself to enter the addressable USD 7 billion global orthopedic trauma market and become a game changer in surgical bone fracture treatment. Better healing - Better life. www.bioretec.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resolutions-of-bioretec-ltds-annual-general-meeting-and-the-constitutive-meeting-of-the-board-of-directors-301835730.html SOURCE Bioretec BEIJING , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SANY, the leading global construction machinery manufacturer, recently hosted the Global General Assembly 2023 in Changsha from May 16th to 17th . The event brought together over 1,200 dealers and customer representatives from nearly 100 countries and regions, including the United States , Germany , France , India , Thailand , and Indonesia , to discuss win-win development strategies. During the conference, Xu Ming , the Senior Vice President and director of International Operations Headquarters of SANY, emphasized the importance of cooperation in the global climate of both crisis and opportunities. He introduced the international development strategy of SANY, highlighting the company's focus on improving products, building "channels," and upgrading digitization and service levels in the future. Xu also expressed his expectation to strengthen cooperation with global dealers and customers to create a bright future. The conference also included an on-site signing activity, which reached intended orders of 1.172 billion yuan . SANY showcased 42 new products in the form of a "parade," including the SKT105E, a tool in the process of Green Action, boasting zero emissions and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 130 tons per truck per year. SANY's heavy-duty downhill energy consumption is reduced by about 90%, and the power recovery rate is increased by about 10% compared to the industry. In addition, the SY19E, the first mini electric excavator launched by SANY, features high efficiency, energy-saving, safety, reliability, and has a long-lasting battery life. Multiple configuration options are provided to meet customers' needs in different countries. On May 17th , SANY showed the guests around the "Lighthouse Factory" to experience the magic of intelligent manufacturing. In the evening, a firework show was performed in Liuyang to welcome and appreciate the arrival of guests worldwide. "SANY is committed to improving products, building channels, and upgrading digitization and service levels to promote win-win development with our global dealers and customers," said Xu. "The Global General Assembly 2023 was a successful event that brought together dealers and customer representatives from around the world to discuss future growth and success." To view the highlights of 2023 SANY Global General Assembly, please click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ovZiEqe8II View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sany-hosts-global-general-assembly-2023-for-dealers-and-customer-representatives-301835310.html SOURCE SANY Group CHARLESTON, S.C. , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle , Thomas Sumter Tisdale Jr . is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Attorney for his contributions to the legal field. Mr. Tisdale began his educational career at the University of the South in 1961 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He then attended the University of South Carolina School of Law and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Prior to working at his own firm, Mr. Tisdale was a lawyer with Hellman, Yates, and Tisdale from 2013 to 2021, and a partner with Nexsen Pruet from 2004 to 2013. Mr. Tisdale was also a partner and founder of Young, Clement, Rivers and Tisdale from 1964 to 2004. A testament to his professionalism and tenacity, the attorney is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of South Carolina, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. With more than 58 years of experience in the field, Mr. Tisdale currently works in private practice at The Law Offices of Thomas S. Tisdale LLC. He has been the owner and publisher of Home House Press since 2010 and has several written works including "Carolina Sunrise" in 2016; "Truth in Cold Blood, A play in Three Acts", in 2013; and "A Lady of the High Hills : Natalie Delage Sumter " in 2001. Among his career accomplishments, Mr. Tisdale has served as the youngest president of the South Carolina State Bar and maintains affiliation with numerous professional organizations. He is a member of the Historical Society of the Supreme Court of South Carolina; the Preservation Society of Charleston; the General Society of Colonial Wars; and is the Officer of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem , among other organizations. He is also a member of the prestigious Society of the Cincinnati, the nation's oldest patriotic organization founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army who served together in the American Revolution. Contact: Katherine Green , 516-825-5634, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inner-circle-acknowledges-thomas-sumter-tisdale-jr-as-a-top-pinnacle-attorney-for-his-contributions-to-the-legal-field-301835803.html BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Azerbaijans fight against the mine threat is an example for many countries, Founder and CEO of iVoice Communications, former war correspondent and member of the Roots of Peace International Advisory Board Adriana Aristizabal told reporters, Trend reports. She made the remark on the sidelines of the second International Humanitarian Conference on mine clearance on the "Combating the mine threat - the path to sustainable development" topic in Baku. "What I saw yesterday in Azerbaijans Aghdam district struck me. To see how the government and people in Azerbaijan unite to clear the territories is an example for many other countries in the world, Aristizabal said. I found out that the territories of Azerbaijan are polluted with millions of mines. But with the help of programs that are being implemented in Azerbaijan, the country will soon be able to return all internally displaced persons to their native lands safely," she added. Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands from mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops. According to the Defense Ministry, a total of up to 30,420 hectares of Azerbaijani land have been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance by the engineer-sapper units in the liberated territories so far. In total, 10,206 anti-personnel mines, 2,580 anti-tank mines and 10,446 units of unexploded ordnance were detected and neutralized. VALLEY FORGE, Pa. , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard today announced changes to the advisory arrangements of Vanguard Growth and Income Fund and Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund. Wellington Management Company LLP has been added as an advisor to the Growth and Income Fund, and the portion of the U.S. Growth Fund advised by Wellington Management will increase. Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group (QEG) will no longer serve as an advisor to either fund. Following the advisory changes to the Growth and Income Fund, the fund will no longer employ a solely quantitative approach to security selection. Existing advisors Los Angeles Capital Management LLC and D. E. Shaw Investment Management, L.L.C. will continue to use their current quantitative investment processes, and Wellington Management will deploy a fundamental approach to security analysis. Vanguard believes that the advisors' complementary investment processes will enhance the fund's ability to add long-term value for shareholders. Following the changes to the advisor arrangements of the U.S. Growth Fund, the fund will be managed by Wellington Management, Jennison Associates LLC, and Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd. Each advisor has a distinct yet complementary approach to growth investing. The fund's investment objective and principal investment strategies will remain the same. Vanguard expects the expense ratios for both funds will increase as a result of the changes in advisor arrangements. For the Growth and Income Fund, the restructuring of the investment advisory arrangements is expected to increase the fund's expense ratios to 0.37% for Investor Shares and 0.27% for Admiral Shares , from 0.32% and 0.22%, respectively. The U.S. Growth Fund's expense ratios are expected to change to 0.35% for Investor Shares and 0.25% for Admiral Shares , from 0.33% and 0.23% respectively. The expected expense ratios for both funds exclude performance-based adjustments. Each fund will continue to be in the lowest-cost quartile of their respective peer groups. As part of its oversight responsibilities, each fund's board of trustees considers numerous factors in the evaluation of current and prospective investment advisors. After careful consideration, each fund's board concluded that changes to the advisory structure would best serve each fund and its shareholders. An active legacy and time-tested multi-manager approach Wellington Management is Vanguard's longest-serving external advisor, having managed client assets on behalf of the funds since Vanguard's founding in 1975. As of December 31, 2022 , Wellington Management oversaw $392 billion of Vanguard fund assets globally and is Vanguard's largest external advisor. Vanguard uses a multi-manager approach on certain investment strategies as we believe that a combination of globally recognized investment managers with deep portfolio management expertise and different but complementary strategies can lower portfolio volatility, mitigate manager risk, and create opportunities for long-term outperformance. Vanguard evaluates multiple qualitative and quantitative metrics to set advisor allocations based on strategic, long-term targets as opposed to short-term tactical shifts. About Vanguard Founded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world's leading investment management companies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to individual investors, institutions, and financial professionals. Vanguard operates under a unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success. For more information, visit vanguard.com. For more information about Vanguard funds, visit vanguard.com to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing. All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanguard-announces-advisory-changes-for-two-equity-funds-301835706.html SOURCE Vanguard PORT VILA , Vanuatu , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi-asset broker Vantage (or "Vantage Markets") has unveiled Vantage Rewards, a new loyalty programme*, enabling Vantage clients to receive rewards for their commitment to trading with the company. The rewards program is aligned with Vantage's corporate value of putting clients first and is open to both new and existing live and funded account holders in eligible jurisdictions*. Vantage Rewards is built upon a point-based loyalty program where clients receive points based on the total notional volume of their closed trades and by performing pre-determined account activities. These accumulated points can be redeemed for various rewards, including cash redemption, loss protection vouchers, deposit rebate vouchers, profit booster vouchers, wheel of fortune spins, lucky draw tickets, and other exclusive perks. In addition, clients will be assigned a tier based on the total notional volume traded to date. The higher the tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), the more points and benefits clients can receive and enjoy. "At Vantage, we recognise that our success is closely intertwined with the trading experience and the long term success of our clients. This is why we are dedicated to creating a trading environment that fulfils both," said Marc Despallieres, Chief Strategy and Trading Officer, Vantage. "Vantage Rewards is a game changer for the industry, because we are going beyond providing a trading platform, to offering a rewards programme from which our clients can benefit." "The Vantage Rewards programme is our way of thanking our clients for choosing us as their trading partner and entrusting us with their investments. Our team will continue to add new exclusive rewards and trading benefits for our clients, to make Vantage their broker of choice," adds Despallieres. To learn more about Vantage Rewards, please visit: https://www.vantagemarkets.com/promotions/vantage-rewards/ *Not applicable for residents in UK and Australia About Vantage Vantage (or Vantage Markets) is a multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading CFD on Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds. With more than 13 years of market experience, Vantage entities now have over 2,000 employees across more than 30 global offices. Vantage is more than a broker. It provides a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user- friendly trading platform that enables clients to take advantage of trading opportunities. trade smarter @vantage. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vantage-unveils-loyalty-programme-to-make-trading-more-rewarding-for-clients-301835491.html SOURCE Vantage BEIJING , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE: WDH) ("Waterdrop" or the "Company"), a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact, today announced that it will report its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023, before U.S. markets open on Monday, June 5, 2023. Waterdrop's management team will hold a conference call on June 5, 2023 at 8:00 AM U. S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: International: 1-412-317-6061 United States Toll Free: 1-888-317-6003 Hong Kong Toll Free: 800-963976 Hong Kong : 852-58081995 Mainland China : 4001-206115 Chinese Line (Mandarin) Entry Number: 6683992 English Interpretation Line (Listen-only Mode) Entry Number: 8700524 Participants can choose between the Chinese and the English interpretation lines. Please note that the English interpretation option will be in listen-only mode. Please dial in 15 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the Elite Entry Number to join the call. Telephone replays will be accessible two hours after the conclusion of the conference call through June 12, 2023 by dialing the following numbers: United States Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Chinese Line Access Code: 1702325 English Interpretation Line Access Code: 8201572 Additionally, live and archived webcasts of the conference call will be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.waterdrop-inc.com/. About Waterdrop Inc. Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE: WDH) is a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact. Founded in 2016, with the comprehensive coverage of Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace and Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding, Waterdrop aims to bring insurance and healthcare service to billions through technology. For more information, please visit www.waterdrop-inc.com. For investor inquiries, please contact Waterdrop Inc. [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waterdrop-inc-to-report-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-on-june-5-2023-301835506.html SOURCE Waterdrop Inc. HAMILTON, Bermuda , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM) ("White Mountains") today announced that it and its wholly owned subsidiary, WM Hinson (Bermuda) Ltd. ("WM Hinson" and together with White Mountains, the "Purchasers"), have commenced a cash tender offer to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (each, a "Common Share"), of MediaAlpha, Inc., a Delaware corporation (NYSE: MAX) (the "Company"), at a price of $10.00 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest (the "Offer"). If the Purchasers accept any Common Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer, WM Hinson will purchase all such accepted Common Shares. The Offer is being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal, each dated May 26, 2023 . The Purchasers are making this Offer because they believe the Company's Common Shares represent an attractive investment. The Offer is not made for the purpose of acquiring or influencing control of the business of the Company. The Company is a "controlled company" under the rules of the NYSE, and following the Offer, an affiliate of the Purchasers will continue to have certain control rights over the Company as provided in the Stockholders' Agreement as described the Offer to Purchase. The Offer is scheduled to expire at one minute following 11:59 p.m. , New York City time, on Monday, June 26, 2023 unless the Offer is extended or terminated (such date and time, as they may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). Any extension of the Offer will be announced publicly on the first business day after the Expiration Date. The Offer is not conditioned on the receipt of financing. The Offer is, however, conditioned on a minimum number of 2,500,000 Common Shares being properly tendered and not properly withdrawn and to certain other conditions, which are set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Holders interested in tendering their Common Shares must do so in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Complete terms and conditions of the Offer are set forth in the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and other related materials, which are being filed today by the Purchasers with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Copies of the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and other related materials are available free of charge from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the Offer. Questions regarding the Offer and requests for assistance in connection with the Offer may be directed to D.F. King by contacting (877) 896-3199 (toll-free). Banks and brokers may contact D.F. King at (212) 269-5550 or [email protected] or the dealer manager, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at (877) 371-5947 (toll-free). Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is acting as depositary for the Offer. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as Dealer Manager in connection with the Offer. White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., based in Hamilton, Bermuda , is a diversified insurance and related financial services holding company. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and therefore is subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe", "project", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "strategy", "future", "opportunity", "plan", "may", "should", "will", "would", "will be", "will continue", "will likely result", and similar expressions, and include statements regarding the conduct, terms and completion of the Offer. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release. You should carefully consider these and other uncertainties described in the Offer to Purchase and the other tender offer documents that have been or will be delivered to you or filed by the Purchasers with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. None of the Purchasers or any of their directors, officers or affiliates give any assurance that they will achieve their expectations. The inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by the Purchasers or their directors, officers or affiliates or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that the Purchasers are filing today (or that the Company will file) with the SEC, including among other materials a tender offer statement on Schedule TO containing the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal, and other materials relating to the Offer. HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THESE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR COMMON SHARES. The Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal will be made available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. CONTACT: Rob Seelig (603) 640-2212 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-mountains-insurance-group-ltd-announces-that-white-mountains-insurance-group-ltd-and-wm-hinson-bermuda-ltd-commence-tender-offer-for-up-to-5-000-000-shares-of-class-a-common-stock-of-mediaalpha-inc-301835339.html SOURCE White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. VANCOUVER, BC , May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. (CSE: YOUR)(OTC: YOURF)(FSE: HOB) (the "Company" or "YourWay"), a leading consumer-centric House of Brands committed to redefining the cannabis industry, is providing an operational update and announces the launch of a shareholder forum webcast to be held on June 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm EST . The updates to be provided include details of the initiatives being taken to address the delays in releasing the Company's audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 , and December 31, 2022 , financial highlights to date, product launches, and a talent update. Auditor Update The Company continues its efforts to engage a suitable auditor, despite facing challenges in identifying an appropriate firm. Since the resignation of Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP ("MGO") effective December 6, 2022 , the Company has been actively searching for an auditor to retain. Given that YourWay is a Canadian public company, the auditor needs to be registered with the Canadian Public Accountability Board to be able to accept an engagement. To date, we have contacted 31 firms to gauge their interest in the engagement. Unfortunately, many firms we spoke with indicated an unwillingness to accept the engagement for the reasons MGO resigned, as described in our press release dated December 20, 2022 . Other reasons cited by firms included capacity constraints or their policies of not working with cannabis companies in the United States based on federal cannabis laws. We want to reassure our stakeholders that we remain committed to finding an auditor, and our search is ongoing. Financial Highlights The market conditions in Arizona have softened considerably, impacting our sales levels. As a result, we have taken proactive measures to address these challenges. We have reviewed and adjusted our cost structure, increased our commitment to our sales force, collaborated with suppliers to improve pricing, and implemented strategies to conserve cash. It is important to note that we do not carry any non-supplier debt. However, we are experiencing difficulty collecting a significant amount owed to the Company by one customer. Revenues continue to be challenged, primarily driven by the shift in market conditions that led us to engage in opportunistic bulk distillate sales. In fiscal 2021, distillate sales represented approximately 50% of the Company's sales, which declined throughout fiscal 2022 due to significant price pressures, margin compression, and the downward trend in biomass pricing. We continue to work on solutions internally and with partners to provide a low-cost alternative to compete with the influx of cheaper bulk material in the marketplace. In fiscal 2022, sales of our butane products, including our flagship shatter category, declined by about 40% but remains our highest-performing category. In addition, sales of our vape cartridges dropped by approximately 19% in fiscal 2022 as compared to fiscal 2021. The overall sales decline in our branded products results from the large multi-state operators vertically integrating their operations to offer more of their own branded products. As a result, the Company has shifted to offer a mixed balance of white-label and branded products, as we believe there is opportunity in both categories. Given the continued challenge in sales, the focus has been to invest in innovation, acquire talent, pay down significant vendor payables built up through the second quarter of fiscal 2022, and focus on cost reduction measures. The Company implemented pricing guardrails, minimizing the number of low-margin sales, mitigated the costs of contracts entered into during previous years that are no longer viable and has entered into new supply arrangements that will reduce the cost of goods sold in fiscal 2023. Talent Update YourWay is delighted to welcome two highly talented individuals who have joined our organization. Kaiya Bercow has assumed the role of Vice President of Operations. With nearly a decade of experience in the cannabis industry and as the founder of Utopia Cannabis based in California , Kaiya brings invaluable expertise to our team. Additionally, Vikki Doolittle has joined us as Director of Sales. With her extensive experience in sales, distribution, and the cannabis industry, including her recent role as Wholesale Sales Manager for Trulieve in Arizona , we expect Vikki will play a crucial role in restructuring our sales function and driving our sales growth. Product Launch We are thrilled with the successful launch of two new cannabis products under our VenomX brand in Arizona , as previously announced on April 4, 2023 . The newly introduced products, Diamond-Infused Pre-Rolls and Live Resin All-in-One Vaporizers were made available to retailers in the first week of April 2023 . The Diamond-Infused Pre-Rolls represent a groundbreaking addition to our VenomX flower products, combining pure THCa diamonds with premium cannabis. In addition, the Live Resin All-in-One Vaporizers offer a 1.0g device that delivers an all-cannabis-derived experience with the combination of live resin high terpene extract and distilled cannabis oil. We are pleased with consumers' reception of our innovative products and look forward to further expanding the reach of the VenomX brand through our dedicated marketing and innovation teams. Shareholder Forum Webcast On Tuesday, June 6, 2023 , at 2:00 pm EST , Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jakob Ripshtein will host an online and dial-in forum exclusively for our shareholders consisting of prepared remarks followed by a question and answer session related to the Company's operational update. "This forum reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in our communications with all stakeholders." said Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jakob Ripshtein. "We value your continued support as we strive to build a stronger, more resilient company, and we are eager to share our progress with you." The agenda for the forum will include: The status of our audit, providing context for the delay in filing our financial statements The status of our cease trade order The status of our House of Brands strategy strategy Recent product innovation Financial performance update New hires who are leading our effort to advance our strategy Details of the webcast and dial-in: Webcast attendees can pre-register at the following link: https://app.webinar.net/mlJwOdv2RL7 For individuals who cannot attend the webcast, dial-in access will be provided; please use the following phone numbers: Local: 416-764-8668 North American Toll-Free: 888-390-0561 We encourage all shareholders to participate and engage with us during this forum. About YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. YourWay is a publicly traded, multi-state and consumer-centric House of Brands committed to redefining the way consumers and cannabis brands interact, with sales and operations in Arizona . By building their own brands, partnering with others, and supporting retail partners control brand strategy, they are dedicated to expanding their reach; remolding the cannabis industry and ultimately redefining consumers and cannabis brands interact. YourWay aims to connect with the cannabis consumer on a deeper level, utilizing decades of brand-building expertise and an integral understanding of the customer experience to create an intuitive suite of branded products that closely align with consumer need states. The YourWay portfolio is an all-encompassing house of brands designed to create a sense of belonging for every cannabis consumer regardless of their relationship with the plant. Please visit www.yourwaycannabis.com or follow on Twitter at @yourwaycannabis for the latest news and information about YourWay and its brands. Website: www.yourwaycannabis.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the shareholder forum webcast to be held on June 6, 2023 and the updates to be provided at such webcast; the Company's ongoing commitment to finding an auditor; the Company's continued efforts to provide a low-cost alternative to compete with the influx of cheaper bulk material in the marketplace; the opportunities for the Company in white-label and branded products; the Company's expectations for a reduced cost of goods sold in 2023; the Company's expectations regarding the new Vice President of Operations and the Director of Sales' expected role in restructuring the Company's sales function and driving sales growth; the Company's expectations for the continued growth and expansion of the VenomX brand; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's 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. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance, or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the launch of the new products; changes in consumers demand and preferences; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; compliance with extensive government regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated August 28, 2020 , filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States . Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States . Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States . Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward nonenforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yourway-cannabis-brands-inc-provides-operational-update-and-announces-shareholder-forum-301835958.html SOURCE YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. FILE PHOTO: Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The race to be the next NATO boss is heating up. But it is a race run largely in the dark, with no sign of a winner yet. Jens Stoltenberg, the transatlantic military alliance's Norwegian secretary-general, is due to step down at the end of September after nine years in post. Many alliance members would like his succession settled at, or even before, a NATO summit in Lithuania in mid-July. That does not give NATO's 31 nations, spanning from the United States through new member Finland to Turkey, much time to forge the consensus needed to pick a new leader. They could also ask Stoltenberg to extend his term for a fourth time. Whoever takes the reins will do so at a critical time, facing the twin challenges of keeping allies together in supporting Ukraine while guarding against any escalation that would draw NATO directly into a war with Russia. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace declared last week that he would like the job. But, as some governments push for a first female NATO secretary-general, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is also emerging as a serious contender. Though a very public role, the contest is extremely opaque, played out mainly in consultations among leaders and diplomats. Those consultations continue until all NATO members agree they have reached a consensus. Jamie Shea, a former senior NATO official who served with the alliance for 38 years, said leaders will be looking for a highly skilled politician, communicator and diplomat. "Keeping the family together, keeping everybody on board constantly, being in touch with all of the allies to make sure that you're addressing their concerns, is an important part of the job," said Shea, now with the Chatham House think tank. WALLACE AND FREDERIKSEN Many diplomats see Wallace as a long shot for the job, although he is widely respected across the alliance. The desire to pick a woman counts against him with some members. Many would also prefer a former prime minister or president to ensure NATO's boss has top-level political clout. Stoltenberg, 64, was prime minister of Norway. And some, notably France, want someone from a European Union country, hoping for closer cooperation between NATO and the EU. Frederiksen meets all of the above criteria. Although she says she is not a candidate, she has stopped short of saying she is not interested in the job. NATO diplomats say that behind the scenes she is being seriously considered. Frederiksen's name first surfaced publicly in a report by Norwegian newspaper VG last month and there was a flurry of media interest again this week when the White House announced she would visit U.S. President Joe Biden in early June. "I'm not applying for any job postings," she told reporters in Copenhagen on Wednesday, playing down speculation that the visit might amount to a job interview for the NATO role. While the post traditionally goes to a European, any serious candidate needs buy-in from Washington, NATO's dominant power. A source familiar with U.S. thinking said the Biden administration does not yet have a favoured candidate and a "lively debate" among top aides was ongoing. A State Department spokesperson said it was "too early in the process to speculate on who the United States will support". Social Democrat Frederiksen, 45, became Denmark's youngest prime minister in 2019. She was praised for crisis management in the COVID-19 pandemic and won a second term last year. She would have to give up her post as prime minister if she got the NATO job, which political commentators have said would bring her fragile government to the brink of collapse. And a campaign for the NATO post would not be plain sailing. Her country falls well short of the NATO goal of spending 2% of GDP on defence. Denmark is at 1.38%, although Frederiksen has pledged to speed up efforts to hit the target. Some allies also argue the job should go to an Eastern European for the first time, particularly as Russia's war in Ukraine has made that region even more important for NATO. If Frederiksen got the job, she would be the third NATO boss in a row from a Nordic country. OTHER POSSIBILITIES Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of Germany and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland have also featured in discussions among diplomats and media reports. But diplomats say Kallas is seen as too hawkish on Russia for some NATO members, Berlin wants von der Leyen to stay at the Commission, and Freeland faces major headwinds as a non-European from a country considered a laggard on defence spending. Other names that often come up are veteran Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. But Rutte has insisted he does not want the job. And Sanchez has a general election to fight later this year. Some diplomats also suspect many mooted candidates may be unacceptable to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who is widely expected to be re-elected on Sunday and has shown no qualms about blocking NATO consensus. Turkey, along with Hungary, is holding up Swedish membership of NATO. The apparent shortage of candidates with widespread support raises the possibility of Stoltenberg's tenure being extended again, perhaps until another NATO summit in 2024. Stoltenberg has said he is not seeking to stay longer. But he has not said how he would respond if asked to do so. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk, Clement Rossignol, John Irish and Michel Rose; Writing by Andrew Gray; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) An election campaign billboard of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition alliance, with a slogan that reads "Syrians will go!", is pictured, ahead of the May 28 presidential runoff vote, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 25, 2023. R By Khalil Ashawi and Ali Kucukgocmen ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Like many Syrians in Turkey, Ghaith Sameer is awaiting the result of Sunday's election runoff with trepidation, fearing a win for an opposition candidate who promises to swiftly repatriate migrants. Sameer fled Syria's civil war in 2012 and is now one of over 3.4 million Syrians living in neighbouring Turkey, where economic woes have aggravated a rising tide of hostility that has washed into the presidential election. "The opposition's promises frighten me and make me angry as well because they make Turkish citizens hate us," said Sameer, who took Turkish nationality two years ago and plans to vote on Sunday for President Tayyip Erdogan. While Erdogan has a good chance to win the runoff after falling just short of an outright first-round victory two weeks ago, his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has embraced anti-migrant rhetoric to try to turn the race around. Kilicdaroglu has teamed up with a far-right nationalist party and promised to repatriate all migrants within a year as posters bearing his face have sprouted across Turkish cities vowing that Syrians will leave. Although Erdogan has been more welcoming to Syrians and other migrants in Turkey, which has the world's biggest refugee population of 5 million, he has also made moves to accelerate a return of migrants to Syria. For Syrians, the election and the anti-migrant turn in Turkish politics have cast new uncertainty over their future, causing many to wonder if they will have to start again having already fled a deadly war in their homeland. Sameer, 38, said many of his friends and relatives were putting off plans until after the election when things would be clearer, with his brother even waiting to replace a broken food processor. "Most Syrians now feel as if the course of their entire lives depends on the results of the elections," he lamented. Even though he has Turkish citizenship, Sameer has still been making alternative plans "in case anything happens". He has even considered moving with his wife and two small children to a country where conditions for Syrians might be better, such as Egypt or the Kurdish region of Iraq. FAR-RIGHT PARTY When Kilicdaroglu announced a deal on Wednesday for far-right Victory Party leader Umit Ozdag to back him in the runoff, Ozdag said their promised departure of migrants would lift "the burden" on the economy and stop Turkey becoming "migrant-istan". Playing on xenophobic stereotypes that accuse Syrians and Afghan refugees of theft, sexual harassment and other crimes, Ozdag said repatriating migrants would "make the streets safe again". Such language and Kilicdaroglu's new anti-migrant posters that hang from lamp posts and over underpasses have been particularly alarming for Syrians. "Can anyone with even a shred of humanity accept to see signs hanging on the walls of schools and crowded streets threatening to deport Syrians?" asked Ahmad, a 40-year-old Syrian who like Sameer now has Turkish nationality. Ahmad, who withheld his family name fearing repercussions, said he was worried how the signs would affect Syrian children who can read Turkish because they are educated in the language, and described it as "repulsive and disgusting hate speech". UNEASE AT RETURN Most major warfare has been paused in Syria for years, with Turkey controlling enclaves across the border where it backs rebels against President Bashar al-Assad and which are already crowded with displaced people from other parts of Syria. Life across the border is brutally hard, with damaged infrastructure, a ravaged economy and the constant threat that war could suddenly erupt again. People in rebel-held territory fear reprisals if the government retakes those areas. With their fate a growing political issue, many Syrians may still feel unease even if Erdogan beats Kilicdaroglu on Sunday, noting his administration's plans for new housing projects across the border to accelerate their eventual repatriation. Like other regional leaders, Erdogan is also mending fences with Assad, raising the possibility of a rapprochement that could worry many Syrians in Turkey. Saad Abdalkader, who has lived in Turkey since 2015, said he could envisage no stability in Syria while Assad held power and was considering travelling onwards to Europe in search of safety. He recounted an incident when a friend was robbed but feared he would be assaulted if he went to the police to illustrate the precarious position many Syrians feel themselves to be in in Turkey. Omar Kadkoy, a Syrian working at the Ankara-based economic think tank TEPAV, said Syrians still faced "misery and fear" in their home country which would feel like a foreign land to their children. "It isn't an easy decision to make," he said of returning voluntarily, adding that for Syrian children in Turkey: "They're moulded by everything that is Turkish. To them, Syria is a bed-time story." (Reporting by Khalil Ashawi and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Angus McDowall and Nick Macfie) FILE PHOTO: Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji speaks during a Reuters interview at his office in Nairobi, Kenya July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo NAIROBI (Reuters) - Anti-graft watchdog Transparency International has withdrawn an award it gave Kenya's outgoing chief prosecutor, it said on Friday, accusing him of dropping high profile corruption cases. The Kenyan chapter of the global watchdog had awarded Noordin Haji its Integrity Award in 2019, saying he had led his office in prosecuting dozens of corruption cases, which was seen as an historic achievement in a country beset by graft. Haji, who has been nominated by President William Ruto to become head of the spy agency, has dropped charges against several high profile corruption suspects after Ruto took over last September. Transparency International (TI) Kenya said it had received public petitions against the decision to drop the cases, including those against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Aisha Jumwa, who is a cabinet minister. "These petitions have raised serious allegations regarding the withdrawal of high profile corruption cases, including those for which you were previously recognised, resulting in the loss of public funds," TI Kenya Executive Director Sheila Masinde said in a letter to Haji released on Friday. Both Gachagua and Jumwa denied any wrongdoing when they were on trial. The group also raised concerns about six other corruption cases that have been withdrawn by prosecutors, who cited lack of sufficient evidence for the decisions. Haji, whose nomination to the helm of the country's intelligence service is awaiting parliamentary vetting, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which he heads, said they had received the letter from TI and acknowledged Masinde's decision. "In adherence to the principles of fair hearing and due process, we eagerly anticipate an invitation from the board of TI, providing us with the opportunity to present our perspective," it said in response to a request for comment. "During this interim period, we have discontinued the utilisation of the award and will promptly return it upon the board's determination." Ruto and his top officials have accused his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, of using the war on corruption to target his political opponents. (This story has been refiled to say that the prosecutor's office will return award if its board determines so, in the 2nd bullet point) (Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Mark Potter and Kirsten Donovan) By Marine Strauss and Charlotte Van Campenhout BRUSSELS/DUBAI (Reuters) -A Belgian aid worker arrived back in Belgium on Friday night from Iran, where he had been accused of spying and jailed until being freed in a prisoner swap with an Iranian diplomat who had been imprisoned in Belgium in connection with a failed bomb plot. Aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, 42, was arrested on a visit to Iran in February 2022 and sentenced in January to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on charges including spying. The Belgian government said on Friday they had reason to believe that Iran had been planning to increase his sentence. Iranian diplomat Asadollah Assadi was convicted in Belgium in 2021 in connection with a foiled bomb plot in France and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Both countries rejected the charges against their citizens as fabricated. Vandecasteele landed at Melsbroek Air Base next to Brussels Airport and was met by his family, Belgian VRT TV showed. Oman had mediated the swap. Iranian state TV reported that Assadi had arrived back in Tehran and showed him sitting with officials including government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described Assadi in a Twitter post as "our country's innocent diplomat who was illegally arrested against international law". Belgium's Constitutional Court in March upheld a prisoner exchange treaty with Iran, but that was not what was used to free Vandecasteele. Using the treaty would have taken too long, Belgian government officials said, as that would have meant that the target of the bomb plot in France, the exiled National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), could have gone to court to stop the transfer. Instead, Belgium used Article 167 of its constitution which specifies that the government can conduct its own foreign policy and regulate international relations, a government official said. NCRI said Assadi's release 15 years before the end of his sentence encouraged terrorism. "Nothing justifies releasing a terror master," Shahin Gobadi from NCRI said. "Nothing." Belgian opposition party N-VA said in a statement the government had succumbed to Teheran's blackmail politics. Oman's foreign ministry said earlier an agreement had been reached under which the prisoners were released and transported from Brussels and Tehran to Muscat, the Omani capital, on Friday in preparation for their repatriation. The Gulf Arab country has good relations with both Iran and Western countries and has acted before as a mediator for the two estranged sides. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said is scheduled to travel to Iran on Sunday for a two-day visit. Belgium's justice minister said at the time of Vandecasteele's conviction that it was based on fabricated evidence and amounted to retribution for the prison term given to Assadi. Iran has arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals in recent years, mostly on espionage and security-related accusations. Rights groups have criticised the arrests as a tactic to win concessions from abroad by inventing charges, an accusation Tehran denies. The Belgian government said Vandecasteele had been the only Belgian prisoner in Iran. (Reporting by Marine Strauss, Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels and Nayera Abdallah in Dubai; editing by Mark Heinrich, Andrew Heavens and Nick Macfie) FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures along Brazil's Indigenous Peoples Minister Sonia Guajajara, during the closing of the Terra Livre (Free Land) camp, a protest camp to demand the demarcation of land and to defend cultural BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's Institutional Relations Minister Alexandre Padilha said on Friday the government still has the instruments to maintain its sustainability agenda, even as Congress moves to weaken key ministries' environmental powers. His remarks come after a congressional committee approved a proposal Wednesday to the gut the environmental ministry of its oversight of the rural land registry. The bill also removed the Indigenous ministry of its power to demarcate Indigenous lands. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met earlier on Friday with environmental minister Marina Silva and Indigenous peoples' minister Sonia Guajajara and said the government will try to revert the changes proposed in the bill. The ministers left the meeting knowing that there will not be losses in those ministries, Padilha told reporters after. 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. Friday's meeting intended to assure the ministers and reaffirm that the government will not set aside campaign commitments if the changes come into effect. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Isabel Woodford) Details added: first version posted on 12:26 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The international assistance provided to Azerbaijan in de-mining is like a drop in the ocean, Director of LINKS Europe Foundation Dennis Sammut said at the 2nd international humanitarian conference on "Combating mine threat - the path to sustainable development" in Baku, Trend reports. According to Sammut, he has been shocked during his recent visit to Aghdam. "Seeing every destroyed house, I thought that families lived there many years ago. We must approach the issue of de-mining in the South Caucasus from a humanitarian point of view. Today, 600,000 people who have been refugees since 1990s cannot return to their homes here, he noted. Mines prevent people from returning to their native lands. The international community must help Azerbaijan in this matter, given the scale of the problem. We must work together, focus on the humanitarian sphere of de-mining, and provide technical support. This is a human rights issue, the inhabitants of these places have the right to return to their homes, director of LINKS Europe said. We must draw the attention of the international community to Aghdam, as well as convey to the world what was done in Aghdam," he also noted. Besides, according to Sammut, countries should accede to the Ottawa Convention. "Azerbaijan is a large and rich country with a strong army and good diplomatic ties. We must take into account the leadership of Azerbaijan in the region. Azerbaijan can take the lead in the field of de-mining in the region. The country has extensive experience in this area and can share it, the foundations head pointed out. I propose to hold, an international conference on de-mining in the South Caucasus at the end of the year. We must involve a number of countries in this effort, take an ambitious and innovative approach. Working together, we can turn the South Caucasus into a mine-free region by 2030," he added. Following the liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands from mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops. The estimates done following the end of the war, have shown that 302 Azerbaijani citizens have become victims of the mines, 57 of the citizens were killed, and 245 were injured. Since November 2020, as a result of large-scale mine clearance measures carried out by the country, an area of 81,386 hectares has been cleared. A total of 88,260 mines were identified and defused, including 28,259 anti-personnel mines, 15,303 anti-tank mines and 44,698 units of unexploded ordnance. FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a meeting with auto industry leaders to announce measures to boost car purchases by low-income Brazilians, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Ma SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday he had a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed his willingness to establish peace talks with both sides of the war in Ukraine. Lula tweeted he had also thanked Putin for an invitation to attend an economic forum in Saint Petersburg, but had to decline it as he "can't visit Russia at the moment." "I reiterated Brazil's willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in pursuit of peace," Lula added, after also discussing the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this week. The Kremlin confirmed the call and said Putin told Lula that Russia is open to dialogue over Ukraine. Lula has pitched himself as a peace broker to end the war, which began when Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. His proposal, based on Brazil's tradition of non-intervention and neutrality, calls for a group of nations not involved in the war to engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. The leftist leader was expected to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Japan this month, but the meeting fell through because of scheduling. (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Steven Grattan and Marguerita Choy) FILE PHOTO: The Imperial Strathcona Refinery which produces petrochemicals is seen near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, October 7, 2021. REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo By Nia Williams (Reuters) - Canada's corporate oil capital Calgary will be a crucial battleground in Alberta's provincial election on Monday, with the latest polling suggesting Rachel Notley's left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) holds a slight edge in the city. The closely-fought race reflects the increasing diversity of Alberta's largest city, home to the headquarters of nearly all of Canada's oil and gas companies. Calgary, home to 1.4 million people, has traditionally been a conservative stronghold, but recent polling suggests some moderate voters may be deterred by the ruling United Conservative Party's (UCP) shift to the right under Premier Danielle Smith. The outcome of Alberta's election will have a huge bearing on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's ambitious climate agenda, with Smith's conservatives opposing most of his policies on the issue - in contrast to the NDP, which is more supportive. As Canada's largest oil-producing province, Alberta also produces the most emissions. A poll from ThinkHQ Public Affairs released late Thursday shows 49% of Calgarians support the NDP, versus 43% for the UCP. In the last election, the UCP won 23 of the city's 26 seats. The NDP would have to convert that polling lead into a landslide victory in Alberta's largest city, adding at least 15 Calgary seats to have a chance of winning the provincial election, said Marc Henry, president of ThinkHQ. "Calgary is going to be a battleground...," Henry said. "The NDP is going to pick up some seats, it's just a matter of how many." Smith has opposed many of Trudeau's climate policies, saying they threaten Alberta's economy. Notley is more supportive of federal emissions-cutting measures, while still promising to protect the oil and gas sector. Tim Pickering, founder and chief investment officer of Calgary-based Auspice Capital Advisors, said the local industry is generally supportive of Smith's UCP. But he cautioned that there has been some frustration over policies like Alberta's Sovereignty Act - a law allowing the province to refuse to enforce federal laws it deems unconstitutional - that risk deterring investment in the province. "Industry is cautious, not so much about Danielle Smith, but with politicians in general making statements and missteps that hurt the province," Pickering said, adding that many companies still saw the UCP as the only option. Outside Calgary, the NDP is expected to clean up in the provincial capital Edmonton, while the UCP is tipped to sweep most rural ridings and smaller cities. In 2019, the UCP's decisive victory in Calgary helped topple the NDP government, but the oil and gas industry, long seen as firmly supportive of Alberta conservativism, has become more wary of Smith's populist stance on Albertan sovereignty and a string of controversies since she became premier in October. These include a report from Alberta's ethics commissioner this month that said the premier breached conflict of interest rules by discussing a pandemic-related prosecution case with her justice minister. Lori Williams, a political science professor at Calgary's Mount Royal University, said the oil industry itself is increasingly diverse. "The big oil players and the companies investing in research and production of cleaner energy would probably like a government that is seen as credible on the environment," Williams said. "They can live with either (party) but they want a government that's competent and stable." Earlier this year, the-then CEO of Cenovus Energy said friction between Alberta and Ottawa was making meaningful discussions on funding decarbonization technology difficult. Many companies would like to see more collaboration with all levels of government from whichever party wins on Monday, said Deborah Yedlin, CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. "They expect more collaboration, whoever wins the election, to make sure the policies being put forward can be agreed on in a way that is constructive," Yedlin said. (Reporting by Nia Williams, editing by Deepa Babington) (Reuters) - Canada's Competition Bureau on Friday made several recommendations for a more competitive legal cannabis industry in the country and to safeguard it from illicit market activity. The recommendations include review of the cannabis licensing process and related costs, adjustments in THC limits for edible cannabis products, and easing of restrictions on cannabis promotion, packaging and labelling. Cannabis has more than 60 constituents called cannabinoids. THC is perhaps the best known of those, less so for its medical benefits and more for its psychoactive properties that give people a "high" feeling. The recommendations were submitted to Health Canada and an expert panel in response to the ongoing legislative review of the federal Cannabis Act. Canada's cannabis consumers spent C$4.52 billion ($3.38 billion) on regulated adult-use products in 2022, according to Statistics Canada. ($1 = 1.3372 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) FILE PHOTO: Pictures of the Rwandan Genocide victims donated by survivors are displayed at an exhibition at the Genocide Memorial in Gisozi in Kigali, Rwanda April 6, 2019.REUTERS/Baz Ratner/File Photo By Philbert Girinema and Ayenat Mersie KIGALI (Reuters) - Once the mass murder of their people began, Safari Jean Bosco and his mother, sister and brothers sought refuge in a Catholic church along with over 2,000 others packed into the building. Some prayed as hungry mothers strained to breastfeed. By April 12, 1994, six days after the genocide against Tutsis by an extremist Hutu regime began, militia surrounded the church. Soon afterward Bosco saw local police inspector Fulgence Kayishema in a meeting with the parish priest and others. "We thought the meeting... was addressing how to maintain our security," Bosco told Reuters. "It later came to our knowledge that they had cruel intentions to exterminate us." Hutu militia lobbed grenades at the Nyange Catholic Church in Kibuye Prefecture, then doused it with fuel to set it ablaze. When that failed, they knocked down the church with bulldozers and most of those sheltering inside died. On Wednesday, after 21 years on the run from his genocide indictment over the church massacre by the international Rwanda war crimes tribunal, Kayishema was arrested in South Africa, giving the survivors a long-denied sense of satisfaction. "The arrest of Kayishema was eagerly awaited. May justice prevail," said Bosco, now 67, who survived the bulldozing by hiding under some of the bodies of the 2,000 victims. He had been Kayishema's neighbour before the 1994 genocide, and spoke to Reuters by his front door while gazing pensively at Kayishema's old plot of land. Another neighbour, Aloys Rwamasirabo, lost five of his nine children at the church. The rest were killed elsewhere by Hutu militia. "We just thank God and the government that he was caught," said Rwamasirabo, who helped build a memorial at the site of the church. "We want him (Kayishema) to come and see how the place looks now despite what he has done to it." Tribunal prosecutors said Kayishema helped plan the church slaughter, obtained materials to help carry out the killings and supervised the dumping of corpses into mass graves. Neither Kayishema, who appeared briefly in a South African court on Friday and was remanded in custody, nor his lawyers have commented on his arrest and the charges against him. The parish priest, a Hutu, was convicted as an accomplice by the Rwanda tribunal in 2007 and is serving a life prison term. An estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed during Rwanda's genocide, orchestrated by an extremist Hutu regime and meticulously executed by local officials and ordinary citizens. Kayishema's arrest means there are now only three fugitives indicted by the tribunal whose whereabouts remain unknown, though Rwanda considers that a greater number of genocide perpetrators have yet to be caught. "His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes," said Serge Brammertz, prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which took over from the Rwanda tribunal when it was wound up in 2008. (Reporting by Philbert Girinema and Ayenat Mersie; editing by Mark Heinrich) A view shows damaged buildings, after anti-terrorism measures introduced for the reason of a cross-border incursion from Ukraine were lifted, in what was said to be a settlement in the Belgorod region, in this handout image released May 23, 2023. Governor By Andrew Osborn (Reuters) - A cross-border raid into Russia from Ukraine this week has fuelled calls for Moscow to allow local self-defence units to be armed, with one influential lawmaker suggesting a new military border command structure be set up. The raid on Belgorod region by Ukraine-based ethnic Russian fighters who oppose the Kremlin, apparently equipped with U.S.-made military vehicles, spanned two days, forcing Moscow to call in air and artillery strikes to drive the raiders out. The attack, in which Russia said at least one civilian was killed, has prompted debate about what Moscow, which invaded Ukraine 15 months ago in what it called a "special military operation" - can do to better protect its own border. Ukraine-based fighters made a similar armed incursion into another border region - Bryansk - in March, and Ukraine, which has long promised a powerful counter-offensive to drive Russian forces from its own territory, appears to have been ramping up drone and sabotage attacks against targets inside Russia. After this week's attack, the governors of two regions which border Ukraine - Belgorod and Kursk - said they favoured changing the law to allow local volunteer self-defence units to be armed when necessary. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, said he and others were working to try to change the law. "We have them (local self-defence units). We have nearly 3,000 people in seven battalions along the border," said Gladkov. But although he said they were combat-ready and had been in training since November last year, he said they remained unarmed because it was illegal to give them weapons under current Russian law. "We're now searching for a legal basis...(for them) to be able to push back the enemy if necessary for those who are trained, able and professional," he said. "I think it would be the right decision." Arming such forces could save the defence ministry from being forced to divert some of the troops it needs on the front line to respond to similar raids in future. Roman Starovoit, governor of the Kursk region which also borders Ukraine, said he favoured the idea too which has a powerful backer in the form of Andrei Turchak, first deputy speaker of the upper house of parliament. Turchak told President Vladimir Putin in a Kremlin meeting last month the issue had to be resolved. "The legal status of these formations is now extremely restricted, and most importantly they do not have the right to carry and use weapons. We propose that this anomaly be eliminated at the legislative level," Turchak told Putin, who took away a report with recommendations to study. Colonel-General Andrei Kartapolov, an influential lawmaker who chairs the lower house of parliament's defence committee, believes bigger structural changes are needed to secure the border too. He told the RBK news outlet that a unified headquarters that could coordinate and was in charge of all the military and security forces in Russia's border regions with Ukraine was now needed. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Philippa Fletcher) FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell attends a press conference with Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom (not pictured) on the day of an EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in connection BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Friday condemned an agreement between Russia and Belarus to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus. "This is a step which will lead to further extremely dangerous escalation," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. Russia moved ahead on Thursday with its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move. The plan was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. On Thursday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said he was signing documents in Minsk on the process for storing such weapons in Belarus. Borrell said the decision contravened multiple international agreements. "We call on Russia to abide by these commitments," he said. "The Belarusian regime is an accomplice in Russias illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine," Borrell added. "We call on Belarusian authorities to put an immediate end to their support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and reverse decisions that can only contribute to heightening tensions in the region, and undermine Belarus sovereignty." He said any attempt "to further escalate the situation will be met by a strong and coordinated reaction". (Reporting by Andrew Gray;Editing by Kirsten Donovan) U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham speaks during an interview with media, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Smutko By Sergiy Voloshin KYIV (Reuters) - If the United States fails to back Ukraine enough in the war against Russia, that would send a signal to China that it could take Taiwan, a senior Senator said on a visit to Kyiv on Friday. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that U.S. President Joe Biden should send more weapons to Ukraine in addition to the more than $35 billion of weaponry and military hardware already provided. A hard line toward China is one of the few policies with bipartisan support in the deeply divided U.S. Congress. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory. Chinese armed forces conducted exercises, fired missiles over Taiwan and cut military contacts with Washington after former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island in August 2022. "There can be no backing off of helping Ukraine because if we fail here, there goes Taiwan," Graham told reporters. "If you're running for President, as a Republican or Democrat, I don't know how you can make the argument that we're stronger against China if we pull the plug on Ukraine - that makes zero sense. What I want the Chinese to see is that invading a neighbor is not as easy as it looks." He continued: "The best way to protect Taiwan and world order is for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to lose." In order for a long-anticipated Ukraine counteroffensive to succeed, its forces need more and better armaments, such as U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets and longer-range weapons, Graham said. "There are weapons that matter and we've been too slow getting weapons that matter to the Ukrainian military ... my message to the Biden administration is, I appreciate what you have done. You need to do more," said Graham. (Reporting by Sergiy Voloshin, writing by David Ljunggren; editing by Grant McCool) FILE PHOTO-Flags are pictured during the first working session of G-7 foreign ministers in Muenster, Germany, November 3, 2022. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/Pool By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) - Group of Seven (G7) nation officials will meet next week to consider problems posed by generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Japan said on Friday. Leaders of the G7, which includes the United States, European Union and Japan, last week agreed to create an intergovernmental forum called the "Hiroshima AI process" to debate issues around fast-growing AI tools. G7 government officials will hold the first working-level AI meeting on May 30 and consider issues such as intellectual property protection, disinformation and how the technology should be governed, Japan's communications minister, Takeaki Matsumoto, said. The meeting comes as tech regulators worldwide gauge the impact of popular AI services like ChatGPT by Microsoft-backed OpenAI. The EU is coming closer to enact the world's first major legislation on AI, inspiring other governments to consider what rules should be applied to AI tools. Japan, as this year's chair of G7, "will lead the G7 discussion on responsive use of the generative AI technology", Matsumoto said, adding the forum hoped to come up with suggestions for heads of state by year-end. At last week's Hiroshima G7 summit, leaders also called for developing and adopting international technical standards to keep AI "trustworthy" and "in line with our shared democratic values". The G7 AI working group will seek input from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Matsumoto told a regular press conference. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya) By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) -Credit Suisse was ordered to pay $926 million to Georgia's former prime minister on Friday for losing part of his fortune, in a Singapore court ruling that represents one of the biggest legal awards made against the bank. Singapore's International Commercial Court said a unit of Credit Suisse had not acted in good faith and neglected to keep the assets of Bidzina Ivanishvili safe, in the latest blow to the troubled bank, which is being taken over by UBS. Credit Suisse immediately said it would appeal the decision. Billionaire businessman Ivanishvili, who was Georgia's prime minister in 2012 to 2013, had placed $1.1 billion under the custodianship of Credit Suisse Trust in 2005, the court heard. Ivanishvili's lawyers Cavinder Bull and Woo Shu Yan from the law firm Drew & Napier said Credit Suisse Trust's failings had led to fraudulent mismanagement and substantial losses. In its judgment published on Friday, the court said the bank had failed to safeguard Ivanishvili's assets by preventing Patrice Lescaudron, an adviser at Credit Suisse Trust in Singapore, having access to them. Lescaudron was convicted by a Swiss court in 2018 of forging signatures of former clients, including Ivanishvili, over an eight year period. He admitted falsifying trades and hiding losses in a scheme that made him tens of millions of Swiss francs. He was released in 2019 and killed himself in 2020. "It is not accepted that the defendant's conduct was reasonable," Judge Patricia Bergin said in a written judgment. "It preferred the importance of Mr Lescaudron in retaining the big client, the plaintiff, with the Credit Suisse organisation to the compliance with its core obligation of keeping the Trust assets safe." Credit Suisse knew Lescaudron had breached regulations designed to prevent fraud and had waited for up to two years for a response from him when questioned, Bergin said. "Its tolerance of these flagrant breaches was not in good faith and was unreasonable," Bergin added. APPEAL The $926 million to be paid by Credit Suisse will be reduced by $79 million it had already paid in December. "The judgment published today is wrong and poses very significant legal issues," Credit Suisse said in a statement. "Credit Suisse Trust Limited intends to vigorously pursue an appeal," it added. The bank is also appealing against another judgment related to its management of Ivanishvili's assets. A Bermuda court ruled in March 2022 that Ivanishvili and his family are due damages of around $600 million from Credit Suisse's local life insurance arm. The final sum due from Credit Suisse should be further reduced to prevent an overlap with the Bermuda case and prevent a so-called double recovery, the court said. Credit Suisse is currently appealing the Bermuda decision. A person familiar with the matter said the overlap is estimated to be about $300 million and that Credit Suisse has already taken provisions for part of the total compensation. In the Singapore case, the bank will appeal on the basis that the compensation related to money lost due to bad investment decisions rather than just fraud. A spokesman for Ivanishvili welcomed the Singapore decision. "Despite the judgment in Bermuda last year and the admission of breach of duty during the Singapore trial, Credit Suisse has continued to frustrate our clients' efforts to seek redress for the crimes committed by its employees," the spokesperson said. "We expect Credit Suisse to fully comply with the judgment and finally accept responsibility for its failures." (Editing by Alexander Smith) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Demining machines made in Azerbaijan will be used in its liberated territories from Armenian occupation, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Vugar Suleymanov told journalists on May 26, Trend reports. Suleymanov said that the ANAMA uses new equipment in the process of mine clearance. "The country is already producing machines for mine clearance, and we will use them in our work," Suleymanov added. Moreover, at the 2nd International Conference on humanitarian mine action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Aghdam held on May 25, the chairman said since November 2020, as a result of large-scale mine clearance measures carried out by the country, an area of 81,386 hectares has been cleared. A total of 88,260 mines were identified and defused, including 28,259 anti-personnel mines, 15,303 anti-tank mines and 44,698 unexploded ordnance. In the end, Suleymanov added that despite this, the mine threat still remains. U.S. Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic (Reuters) - Global money market funds drew inflows for a fifth straight week in the seven days to May 24 as investors resorted to buying safer assets on caution with time running out for talks over raising the U.S. debt ceiling. According to Refinitiv Lipper data, global money market funds received about $17.67 billion worth of inflows, the biggest amount in three weeks. U.S. money market funds received $39.89 billion worth of inflows but investors sold European and Asian funds of $15.76 billion and about $30 million, respectively. U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy are closing in on a deal to raise the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling for two years, a U.S. official told Reuters, but time is running short. The U.S. Treasury estimates it will run out of funds within a week, and legislating any deal will take that down to the wire. Meanwhile, global equity funds faced $4.14 billion worth of net selling, the sixth weekly outflow in a row. Investors sold healthcare, industrial and energy sector funds of $414 million, $183 million and $174 million, respectively, but consumer discretionary drew $286 million worth of inflows. Meanwhile, global bond funds saw $6.97 billion in net purchases during the week, the biggest weekly inflow since April 5. Global government bond funds drew a fifth weekly inflow, worth $3.85 billion, while high-yield bond funds received $649 million worth of inflows, marking their first weekly net buying in four weeks. Among commodity funds, investors purchased precious metal funds for a fifth straight week, worth $388 million, but exited $219 million worth of energy funds. Data for 23,986 emerging market funds showed equity funds lost $831 billion in their first weekly net selling in four weeks, while bond funds had a fifth weekly outflow in a row, worth $472 million. (Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill) GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - With just a month to go before Guatemalan voters will pick a new president, the country's top court ruled on Friday to leave the frontrunner in polls out of the election. Last week, conservative businessman Carlos Pineda was deemed ineligible to run by a lower court, but he appealed the eleventh-hour ejection from the ballot to the constitutional court. "Corruption won, Guatemala lost!" Pineda wrote on Twitter after the decision to confirm his exclusion from the June 25 vote was announced. Pineda's candidacy was originally suspended due to what a lower court judge cited as its noncompliance with rules governing the nomination process, such as the failure to collect signatures from party delegates and file a required financial report. The constitutional court ruling on Friday essentially confirmed the earlier decision, while scrambling the race to succeed outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, who is prohibited by law from seeking another term. Prior to Pineda's disqualification, two other presidential hopefuls had previously been excluded from the ballot, prompting concern from international rights groups over Guatemala's electoral process. Juan Pappier, an official with Human Rights Watch, branded the moves as a "clear manipulation of the judiciary" to guarantee a preferred electoral result. Pineda led all candidates with 22% of the support in a poll published earlier this week. With his exit from the race, the leading contenders include former first lady Sandra Torres, retired diplomat Edmond Mulet and Zury Rios, the daughter of a former dictator. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by David Alire Garcia) SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Croatian police on Friday said a drug and firearm trafficking ring operating across Europe had been broken by a law enforcement operation that arrested 37 people and seized drugs, money and guns in eight countries since last year. In the final phase of the operation, raids on Wednesday in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands were carried out by police from those countries supported by European policing agency Europol and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the officials said. The operation against the so-called Balkan Cartel followed the discovery by Croatian police of a cell of the gang in Zagreb last year, officials said. Raids also took place in Germany and Austria since Croatia began its investigation last year. One of the 37 was Dino Muzaferovic, a Bosnian who was arrested in Germany last December and transferred to Italy, where he is serving a four-year prison term for drug trafficking, Goran Laus, the head of Croatia's police drug crime service, told a news conference. Muzaferovic is believed to be the head of the cartel and has run the operation from behind bars, Laus said. In response, Tihomir Misic, Muzaferovic's lawyer in another case against him in Croatia, told Jutarnji List newspaper: "Dino has been in detention for more than a half year and is in prison abroad so it is unclear how the accusations that he run the alleged criminal organisation may stand." No lawyer or representative of any of the other detained people was immediately available to comment. Laus said that out of the 37 arrested, 14 were Bosnians, 11 Croats, eight Slovenians, two Serbs, one German and one Turk. In a statement about the raids, Croatia's Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime said it had ordered the investigation of 22 accused people over criminal acts of criminal association for unauthorised production and trade of drugs, and illegal possession, manufacturing and purchase of firearms and explosives. (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by William Maclean) A rescuer works at a site of a clinic heavily destroyed by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Mykola Synelnykov By Olena Harmash and Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) -A Russian missile hit a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, killing two people and wounding 30 in an attack that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called a crime against humanity. 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. A covered corpse lay in the road nearby. "Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity," Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter. He said a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic had been hit, and added: "Only an evil state can fight against clinics. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure Russian terror." Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said a 69-year-old man had been killed as he passed the clinic and another man's body had been pulled from the rubble. He said 30 people had been wounded, including two children, and contact had not yet been made with three people thought to have been in the building when it was hit. Ukraine's Defence Ministry called the attack a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had carried out an overnight strike on Ukrainian ammunition depots. "The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit," the RIA news agency quoted it as saying. Moscow has dismissed allegations that its soldiers have committed war crimes and denies deliberately targeting civilians although it has bombarded cities across Ukraine since invading 15 months ago. OVERNIGHT ATTACKS Moscow said earlier on Friday Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone, but the missile was shot down. Ukraine said it had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on Dnipro, Kyiv and eastern regions. Zelenskiy's office said a fire had broken out on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Kharkiv after an oil depot was hit twice, and that equipment for pumping oil products had been damaged. After months of attacks on energy infrastructure, Russia has shifted the focus of its missile strikes to try to disrupt preparations for a Ukrainian counterattack, a senior military intelligence official said last week. Attacks were increasingly targeting military facilities and supplies, he said. (Editing by Timothy Heritage) ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court on Friday suspended for at least another month a culling order for a bear blamed for the killing of a 26-year-old runner in the Italian Alps. The death of Andrea Papi, on April 5, reopened a debate in Italy on the co-existence between humans and wildlife in an area that was re-populated with bears from 1999 thanks to an EU-funded programme. The bear in question, a 17-year-old female known as JJ4, was captured by park rangers after her involvement in the attack was established by DNA evidence. The local provincial government says the animal needs to be put down as it has a history of attacking humans, but environmental groups object. The Trento administrative court partially upheld the groups' appeals and froze the killing order until June 27, giving parties time to submit further evidence. Environmental groups were asked, in particular, to elaborate on their proposal to move the bear to a reserve in Italy or abroad, as an alternative to culling. Judges said they would reconsider the issue in a hearing on Dec. 14. A spokeswoman for animal rights lobby LAV said that this meant the bear could not be killed before then, but there was no immediate confirmation of this from the court itself. Judges decreed the same suspension for another bear, MJ5, which has yet to be captured and is also facing a cull order after he injured a man in March who was walking his dog on a mountain path. Local government data indicates that Trentino had around 100 wild bears in 2021, with numbers increasing by about 10% per year from 2015 onwards. Trentino governor Maurizio Fugatti said last month that the optimal number would be around 50, and that his province now has around 70 "excess" bears. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, Editing by Louise Heavens) FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is escorted by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, after Zelenskiy was invited to the Group of Seven nations' su By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan will place additional sanctions on Russia after the Group of Seven (G7) summit the country hosted last week agreed to step up measures to punish Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Friday. Matsuno, Tokyo's top government spokesperson, also condemned Russia's move on Thursday to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying it would further intensify situations around the invasion of Ukraine. "As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, Japan never accepts Russia's nuclear menace, let alone its use," Matsuno told a regular press conference. The leaders of G7, including the United States, Britain, Germany and France, last week showed their resolve to support Ukraine with additional military aids and sanctions on Russia, at the annual summit held in the world's first atomic-bombed city Hiroshima. In a co-ordinated action with G7, Japan will freeze assets of 78 groups and 17 individuals including army officers in Russia and ban exports to 80 Russian entities such as military-affiliated research labs, according to a Friday foreign ministry statement. Japan will also ban providing construction and engineering services to Russia, although the details of the measure will be announced at a later date, a trade ministry statement said. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry) FILE PHOTO: Peter Orszag, CEO of Financial Advisory, Lazard, speaks at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake By Lananh Nguyen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lazard Ltd said Peter Orszag, a banker and former White House official, will take the helm as its chief executive officer on Oct. 1, when Kenneth Jacobs steps down after 14 years in the top job at the investment bank. Jacobs will become the 175-year-old firm's executive chairman, focusing on client relationships. Orszag, who joined Lazard in 2016, currently leads its financial advisory business overseeing deals. When he takes the reins, Orszag will eliminate that role and reassign his duties to others across the firm, he said in letter to its more than 3,400 employees, calling on them to turn the bank into the "go-to destination" in finance. "We should aim higher," he wrote. Lazard was ranked No. 7 in the list of top deal advisers for the first quarter, up from No. 9 last year, according to Refinitiv. It is the latest Wall Street firm to set out leadership changes. Last week, Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman said he would step down within a year and become executive chairman, with three candidates in the running to succeed him. By contrast, JPMorgan Chase & Co's chief Jamie Dimon said he had no plans to leave the largest U.S. lender after running it for 17 years. The leadership change comes in a tough year for dealmaking amid economic uncertainty. Lazard reported a surprise loss in the first quarter as activity slumped. Jacobs warned in April of an uncertain outlook for the rest of the year and announced plans to cut about 10% of the company's workforce. Most recently, Orszag advised First Republic Bank before the lender was seized by regulators and sold to JPMorgan earlier this month. Orszag was formerly a vice chairman at Citigroup Inc. He also served in the Obama administration as director of the Office of Management and Budget, and before that, as the director of the Congressional Budget Office. In recent months, he has represented Lazard at industry conferences and in media interviews. The executive has a degree in economics from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in economics from the London School of Economics. "Peter has proven to be a strategic, visionary and decisive leader, with deep relationships across the industry," said Richard Parsons, the bank's lead independent director who previously served as Time Warner CEO and Citigroup chairman. Orszag has the "ability to effectively lead Lazard through evolving global markets and complex geopolitical dynamics," Parsons said. (Reporting by Lananh Nguyen; Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Sonali Paul) BLANTYRE (Reuters) - Authorities in Malawi have rounded up 920 refugees who had settled in different communities to move them back to a camp in a district bordering the capital Lilongwe, home affairs ministry spokesperson Patrick Botha said on Friday. The operation, which started on May 17, followed a government ultimatum that called for all refugees to return to the Dzaleka refugee camp by April 15, or face enforced relocation. The government has accused refugees of leaving the overcrowded camp without following proper procedures. The round-up operation started in Lilongwe and has been extended to other districts. Botha could not say when the operation, which has been criticized by human rights groups, will end. "We can't give a timeframe as this is a national security matter," Botha said in an interview. "We will continue until we are satisfied that all foreigners that have refugee status are returned to Dzaleka," he said referring to the refugee camp in Dowa district, about 60 km away from Lilongwe. The exercise has drawn criticism from the United Nations and local human rights groups. "We strongly reiterate our call to the authorities to rescind their relocation decision as the existing structures in Dzaleka refugee camp are already stretched to the limit and cannot accommodate more refugees in a dignified manner," Valentin Tapsoba, director of UNHCR's Regional Bureau for Southern Africa, said in a statement issued on Wednesday. The camp, meant to accommodate up to 12,000 refugees, was as of Monday home to more than 50,600 refugees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, UNHCR said. Botha, while acknowledging the camp was overcrowded, denied that Malawi was abusing the rights of the refugees. "We are conducting this exercise with dignity," he said, adding the exercise involved verifying refugee and resident permit statuses. "Being a refugee is a status and not permanent. For most of those we are rounding up, there is no longer conflict in their countries," he said. (Reporting by Frank Phiri; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo) Police officers stand outside the Embassy of Peru in Mexico City, a day after Peru's President Dina Boluarte announced the return of the country's ambassador to Mexico, in Mexico City, Mexico, February 25, 2023. REUTERS/Luis Cortes/File Photo By Valentine Hilaire and Marco Aquino MEXICO CITY/LIMA (Reuters) -Peru President Dina Boluarte blasted her Mexican counterpart on Friday as "very ignorant," as a dispute between the two leaders escalated over the contentious ouster of Peru's former president late last year. Earlier on Friday, Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he does not want economic or trade ties with Peru while Boluarte is in power, though he did not specify if he would take action. The outspoken Mexican leftist has repeatedly derided Boluarte as illegitimate. A day earlier, lawmakers in Peru declared Mexico's president was not welcome in the South American country, citing what they described as his meddling in their internal affairs. Lopez Obrador argued the removal and subsequent jailing of Peru's former president, Pedro Castillo, last December was unconstitutional, and on Friday Mexico's leader turned up the rhetorical volume. "So long as there isn't democratic normalcy in Peru, we don't want economic or trade relations with them," he said. Boluarte had a ready response when asked by reporters in Lima. "Very ignorant given the intelligence of the Mexican people," she said. Lopez Obrador has repeatedly backed fellow leftist Castillo, a former rural school teacher who only lasted 17-months in office. The Mexican leader reiterated that he will not hand over the rotating presidency of the Pacific Alliance trade bloc to Peru, and on Friday said is willing to give it to Chile. "I will not give it to the lady who is usurping the presidency," he said. Diplomatic relations between the two Latin American nations were already strained Last December, Boluarte's government ordered Mexico's ambassador to Lima to exit the country following Lopez Obrador's early comments condemning Castillo's ouster. Boluarte then announced in February the withdrawal of Peru's ambassador to Mexico, in response to comments from Lopez Obrador branding her government as unconstitutional. Peru's Congress has also classified Colombia's President Gustavo Petro "persona non grata" for similar criticisms of Boluarte. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire in Mexico City and Marco Aquino in Lima; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by David Alire Garcia and David Gregorio) ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Performers from Ghana, Ethiopia and Tanzania have helped launch a five-year project to try to secure more funding for arts and culture, aiming to persuade African governments to allocate at least 1% of their budgets. The project, called Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) has been started by the African Union in collaboration with Selam Ethiopia, a non-governmental organisation that uses film, music and circus performances to address issues such as women rights. "We want to empower artists. A lot of artists want to participate in these discussions about good governance, human rights but they are scared of the consequences," Lucy Ilado, regional programme director at Selam, said. It is not yet clear whether African governments, many of whom are struggling with debt repayments and the high costs of living, will be able to allocate more cash to the arts. The African Union was not immediately available for further comment. CfCA organisers said they would work with government agencies, research institutions, artists and civil society with the aim of "budget proposals, budget bills, and, in countries where the process is further along, discussions on increased budget allocation to the culture and creative sectors". Vitali Maembe, a musician from Tanzania who took part in Thursday night's concert to launch the project, told Reuters he hoped that more funding would help artists to be better educated. "It is very rare you go to the university and see funds for the art students," he said. Hundreds of revellers from Ethiopia and other African countries attended the concert, with music performances featuring saxophones, guitars, drums and traditional Ethiopian instruments. (Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; Editing by George Obulutsa and Alison Williams) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent an appeal to the participants of the International Conference Mine Action The Path to Reaching Sustainable Development Goals, Trend reports. "Dear delegates! I sincerely welcome you on the occasion of the opening of the international conference themed Mine Action The Path to Reaching Sustainable Development Goals. The theme of todays conference is of particular relevance for Azerbaijan and humanity in general. Azerbaijan ranks among the countries with the most mine and unexploded ordinance contamination worldwide due to the deliberate policy pursued by Armenia. In 2020, Azerbaijan put an end to Armenias occupation of its lands, and our country secured a historic victory as an outcome of a 44-day Patriotic War. In the aftermath of Armenias 30 years-long aggression, over 1 million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their native lands and subjected to ethnic cleansing. While our cities and villages were razed to the ground and our people's historical, cultural and religious heritage deliberately annihilated. According to initial estimates, Armenia had not stopped there and planted over 1.5 million mines across our lands throughout the occupation. Since the Second Karabakh War ended, 302 Azerbaijani citizens fell victim to the mine explosions, 57 of whom died, and 245 were severely injured. Overall, since Armenias launch of military aggression against Azerbaijan, nearly 3400 of our fellow citizens suffered from mines, with 587 losing their lives. 358 mine victims were children, and 30 were women. Armenia planted mines along the roads behind the former line of contact, cemeteries, and other civilian installations, adding to the daily rise in mine explosion victims. The mine threat Azerbaijan faces is comparable to the horror of weapons of mass destruction. The large-scale development work has immediately begun in our liberated territories to ensure a voluntary, secure and dignified return of our fellow citizens expelled from their homes. As we speak, the entire infrastructure destroyed during occupation is being rebuilt, and cities and villages are constructed in Karabakh and East Zangezur, declared green energy zone. Some of our completed work is evident; you have witnessed it firsthand during your visit to Azerbaijan. Regrettably, Armenia continued to plant mines across Azerbaijans territory after the conflict ended, using the Lachin road. Over 2700 anti-personnel mines produced in Armenia in 2021 were discovered in our territories. Along with delaying the restoration and reconstruction work carried out there, a mass mine contamination of our lands gravely jeopardizes the lives and well-being of our people. It impedes realizing the rights of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons who have longed to return to their homes for so many years. Humanitarian demining is among Azerbaijans primary state priorities. The foundation of that policy was laid by the National Leader of the people of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, whose 100th anniversary we celebrate this year. Thanks to the Great Leaders strategic vision, foresight and wise policies, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action ANAMA, was established 25 years ago. Presently, ANAMA is the leading agency conducting humanitarian demining in the country. Despite the magnitude and complexity of the mine problem we face and the long way ahead, our country has mobilized all its resources to overcome this task as soon as possible. Today, demining efforts in Azerbaijan are conducted using the most modern and advanced technology available worldwide. Consistent work is underway to boost our national demining potential, and our capabilities have grown significantly in that direction in the past two years. I should note that over 90 percent of our demining activities are funded through our national resources. In the meantime, we cooperate productively with our foreign partners in that sphere and are grateful to the countries and international organizations that support us. Regrettably, given the general picture, the extent of foreign support is still mediocre. Azerbaijan views demining efforts as directly related to sustainable and lasting development, considering the enormous impact of demined territories on the welfare and progress of our people and their significance in a broader perspective for our countrys development. That is why humanitarian demining is officially declared the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal in Azerbaijan. As Azerbaijan addresses its demining problem, it contributes globally to the humanitarian demining process. Since the consequences of wars and mines are growing worldwide, we have proposed establishing humanitarian demining as the UNs 18th SDG. The work is underway also within the Non-Aligned Movement, where we hold chairmanship, to form a Likeminded Group of Mine-Affected Countries. Todays conference is a favorable opportunity to address challenges and possibilities related to mine problems in the global agenda and exchange leading expertise in this sphere. I believe the discussions at this conference will lead to mobilizing joint efforts in demining and formulating new ideas and initiatives for the sake of humanitys prosperity and leaving a legacy of a Mine Free World for future generations. I extend my best wishes and wish the conference every success," the message said. FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appears on screen as he addresses the members of Dutch parliament via video link, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in The Hague, Netherlands, March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The Netherlands is "seriously considering" sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but has not taken any final decision yet, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday. Earlier this week the Netherlands said it wanted to start training Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16's as soon as possible. Asked if the Netherlands would send fighter jets to Ukraine, Rutte told a news conference no final decision had been taken, but added that "if you start training it's obvious that is something you are seriously considering". Any decision on sending F-16s was dependent on approval from the U.S. to do so, Rutte said. He added that the Netherlands would potentially have fighter jets to pass on as it was currently phasing out its F-16's. According to figures from the Dutch defence ministry the Netherlands currently has 24 operational F-16's which will be phased out by mid-2024. Another 18 of the jets are currently available for sale, of which 12 have been provisionally sold. Last Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden endorsed training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy 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. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Bart Meijer; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, holds hands with coalition party leaders during a press conference to announce the party's agreement with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo By Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's new government must continue engaging with insurgents in the country's south to ensure peace, a top Thai official involved in the talks said on Friday. An alliance led by the progressive Move Forward party, which won this month's general election, says it will prioritise peace-building in the predominantly Muslim and ethnically Malay southern provinces, where conflict has flared on and off for decades. General Wanlop Rugsanaoh, head of Thailand's Peace Dialogue Panel said the next government must "maintain continuity and momentum of the talks", which resumed last year after a two-year suspension due to the pandemic. "The process must continue no matter what," he said adding that his team will work with all stakeholders to ensure continuity of the talks until a new government is formed. The main insurgent group, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), which calls for independence from Thailand and participates in the talks, did not respond to a request for comment. The region shares a border with Malaysia and was part of an independent Malay sultanate, Patani, before it was annexed by Thailand in 1909 as part of a treaty with Britain. The most recent phase of conflict erupted in 2004, and more than 7,300 people have been killed since then, according to Deep South Watch, a group that monitors the violence. Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat has said under his leadership, the peace process will be led by civilians rather than the military, and will take into account human rights, coexistence in a multicultural society and greater public participation. Analysts say a Move Forward-led government could foster more participation from the public and the international community. "The peace talks are part of a larger negotiation between the Thai state and the people of Patani," said security analyst Don Pathan, using the traditional name of the border region. "The challenge is to come up and identify what are the terms for peaceful co-existence between all sides." (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor) FILE PHOTO: Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND) speaks to delegates at the Republican State Convention in Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S. April 7, 2018. REUTERS/Dan Koeck (This May 26 story has been corrected to remove the incorrect reference to Fargo as the state capital, in paragraph 2) By Nathan Layne (Reuters) - North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is planning to enter the 2024 presidential race, joining a growing field of candidates hoping to topple Donald Trump and secure the Republican nomination, according to a person familiar with his plans. Burgum, who is serving his second term as the sparsely populated state's top official, is expected to launch his campaign with an announcement on June 7 in Fargo, the person said. The governor's office declined to comment. Burgum, 66, built a successful software business before selling it to Microsoft Corp in 2001. A proponent of low taxes and fewer regulations, he will likely seek to portray himself as a traditional conservative who will focus on the economy and national security, the person familiar with his plans said. Jeanette Hoffman, a Republican political consultant, described Burgum as a long shot for the nomination, but said he has a compelling personal story and represents a steady hand who could appeal to those tired of the chaos of Trump. "Right now, GOP primary voters are like, 'Who?'" she said. "But this could be an open field and he has a story to tell." An expanding field of Republicans are vying for the chance to take on President Joe Biden, who is expected to win the Democratic nomination for a second term but is seen as vulnerable amid economic headwinds and low approval ratings. Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted on May 9-15 showed Trump is backed by 49% of Republicans, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a distant second place at 19%. They were followed by former Vice President Mike Pence with 5% and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on 4%, the poll showed. Burgum, who won re-election in 2020 with more than two thirds of the vote, last month signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country, joining a conservative push to limit access to the procedure in many states. He also signed into law the largest income tax cut in state history. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, and Jason Lange in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler) FILE PHOTO: A view shows the French oil giant Total refinery in Donges near Saint-Nazaire, as France's trade unions announced a nationwide day of strike and protests next week against the pension reform, France, January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/Fil By Victoria Klesty, Benjamin Mallet and America Hernandez (Reuters) -Pressure mounted on oil majors on Friday as Norway's giant sovereign wealth fund said it would vote against CEOs at Chevron and Exxon and support for a climate activist resolution at TotalEnergies' AGM surged to over 30%. Together with peers BP and Shell, the companies face a vocal minority of investors demanding faster emissions cuts as a majority of shareholders supports management in reaping the benefits of record profits from oil and gas. Norway's $1.4 trillion wealth fund, the world's single largest stock market investor, said on Friday it would vote against CEOs at Chevron and ExxonMobil and against management on emissions-related proposals at their meetings on May 31. The fund, which owned a 0.86% of Chevron and 1.13% of Exxon as of the end of 2022, has previously voted against the reappointments of directors and said it would, as in previous years, support the Follow This climate activist resolution asking for faster emissions cuts at the U.S. firms. However, it voted against Follow This at TotalEnergies' shareholder meeting on Friday, where French riot police clashed with protesters trying to block entry to the French company's annual general meeting (AGM). Still, Follow This, which put forward its TotalEnergies resolution together with 17 institutional investors with a total of 1.1 trillion euros under management, got 30.4% of votes on Friday. The last time Follow This filed a resolution at the French group in 2020, it received 17% support. Influential shareholder advisory ISS recommended voting in favour of Follow This at TotalEnergies' AGM, in contrast to the negative recommendations for the resolution at Shell and BP. The jump in support for the activist resolution did not, however, derail TotalEnergies' company-sponsored climate resolution, which got almost 89% backing, echoing last year's result. At BP, Follow This in April received slightly more support than last year at around 17% and Shell where support this month held steady at around 20%. Follow This asks companies to align their targets to the U.N. Paris Climate Agreement goal of keeping warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. Scientists say the world needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 43% from 2019 levels by 2030 to stand a chance of meeting that goal. So far the world's biggest publicly traded, Western oil and gas companies have not come up with targets that foresee absolute emissions cuts, including planet-warming gases from the combustion of the fuels they sell, along those lines. (Writing by Shadia Nasralla; editing by Barbara Lewis and Jason Neely) FILE PHOTO: Toy figures of people are seen in front of the displayed Paramount + logo, in this illustration taken January 20, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ By Medha Singh and Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Paramount Global rose by more than 6% on Friday after its controlling shareholder, media mogul Shari Redstone's National Amusements Inc, announced it had received a $125 million investment from a private equity firm. National Amusements said it had agreed a $125 million preferred equity investment from BDT Capital Partners to help the U.S. movie theater operator cut its interest expense and pay down borrowings, according to a statement on Thursday. BDT Capital Partners, which is a private equity firm backed by Dell Inc founder Michael Dell and billionaire investment banker Byron Trott, will be issued warrants to purchase 3.5 million of Paramount Global's non-voting shares owned by National Amusements at a strike price of $15 as part of the deal, the Wall Street Journal reported. "The bull case is that the financial pressure will force PARA [Paramount Global] to find a buyer and shareholders will achieve private market value," Loop Capital analysts said as they upgraded the stock to "hold" from "sell". Paramount Global shares, which have lost 12% year-to-date, rose 6.1% and were trading at $14.94 around noon on Friday. Earlier this month, Paramount Global, one of National Amusements' biggest assets and its main cash cow, missed first-quarter revenue estimates and cut its dividend by 80% in an effort to save approximately $500 million, prompting multiple analysts to downgrade the company's target stock price. Paramount Global has been looking to sell some its assets to raise capital amid a weak advertising market that has hit its TV business. The company is considering the possible divestment of its majority stake in BET Media Group and it is attempting another sale of book publisher Simon & Schuster, Reuters reported. (This story has been refiled to clarify reference to BDT Capital Partners in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) FILE PHOTO: Pfizer company logo is seen at a Pfizer office in Puurs, Belgium, December 2, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron By Blake Brittain (Reuters) - Biotech company Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc filed new lawsuits on Friday against Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc in Delaware federal court, again claiming that the companies' COVID-19 vaccines infringe its patents. The new lawsuits mark the third time Alnylam has sued Pfizer and Moderna in Delaware for allegedly violating its patent rights in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology, which the vaccines use to deliver genetic material into the body. Alnylam is again seeking an unspecified share of royalties from the companies' vaccine sales. Pfizer earned $37.8 billion from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty last year, while Moderna made $18.4 billion from its vaccine Spikevax. Representatives for Alnylam, Moderna and Pfizer did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new lawsuits. Moderna and Pfizer have denied the allegations in the earlier cases and argued that Alnylam's patents are invalid. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Alnylam first sued Moderna and Pfizer last March. It filed another pair of complaints last July over an additional LNP patent, which were later consolidated with its earlier lawsuits. The lawsuits filed Friday include four new infringement claims against Pfizer and three against Moderna. The complaints are part of a wave of patent lawsuits filed by biotech companies over COVID-19 vaccines, including a case brought by Moderna against Pfizer last year in Massachusetts. Alnylam told the Delaware court that it pioneered LNP technology "essential" to the mRNA-based vaccines more than a decade ago. It also said it gave Moderna confidential information about the technology in 2014 during discussions about a potential collaboration. The cases are Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc v. Moderna Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:23-cv-00580 and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc v. Pfizer Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:23-cv-00578. For Alnylam: William Gaede, Sarah Columbia, Sarah Fischer, Ian Brooks and Bhanu Sadasivan of McDermott Will & Emery For Moderna and Pfizer: attorney information not available Read more: Alnylam files patent infringement lawsuits against Pfizer, Moderna Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines infringe new Alnylam patent, lawsuits say Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine lawsuit is based on bogus patent (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington) FILE PHOTO: A pro-LGBT demonstrator waves a rainbow flag as Polish nationalists gather to protest against what they call "LGBT aggression" on Polish society, in Warsaw, Poland August 16, 2020. Kuba Atys/Agencja Gazeta via REUTERS WARSAW (Reuters) - Right activists who published a directory of LGBT-friendly schools in Poland condemned on Friday a plan by a parliament-appointed official to inspect the establishments on the list, saying it could have a damaging effect on young people. LGBT rights are a deeply divisive issue in the predominantly Catholic country, and the ruling nationalist Law and Justice party has maintained its opposition to what it calls "LGBT ideology" in the run up to elections this year. The LGBTQplusME project, coordinated by activist Dominik Kuc, published an online ranking of schools in Poland on May 10 based on how "LGBTQ-friendly" they were, according to the results of a survey. It includes a list of the top 10 most friendly schools, part of a project, it said, to help people find "safe, open and tolerant" places to study. A day later, the parliament-appointed Children's Rights Ombudsman, Mikolaj Pawlak, told a conference organised by conservative Catholic organisations under the patronage of the education ministry that he would launch inspections to see "how this friendliness manifests itself". His office did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment on Friday. Kuc told reporters that the schools on the list helped the psychological wellbeing of all children and that the proposed inspections could have damaging consequences. "In the current situation schools are intimidated by the Children's Rights Ombudsman," Kuc said. "The Ombudsman for Children's Rights is actually taking children hostage in this political war, they will feel the effects of the announcement of these inspections." Religious conservatives have regularly argued that teaching about LGBT issues in schools is dangerous as it seeks to sexualise children, a position which is rejected by activists and NGOs. Opposition lawmaker Marta Golbik also condemned the planned inspections. "If he (Pawlak) is going to inspect friendly schools, maybe he will start inspecting friendly hospitals, playgrounds that are friendly for children," she said. (Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Andrew Heavens) WARSAW (Reuters) -Polish lawmakers passed a bill on Friday to create a commission to look into Russian influence in the country, in what the opposition says is a government attempt to launch a witch hunt against political opponents in an election year. Ruling nationalists Law and Justice (PiS) say that liberal opposition party Civic Platform (PO) allowed Poland to become dangerously dependent on Russian fossil fuels when the PO was in government from 2007 to 2015, raising questions about whether members of the PO were under Moscow's sway. PO rejects this criticism and opposition figures have labelled the bill "Lex Tusk," using the Latin term for "law." They say it aims to eliminate PO leader and former prime minister Donald Tusk from the political scene ahead of elections scheduled for October or November. The bill passed by a 234-219 margin, with one abstention. "We want the law on the commission for examining Russian influences to come into force and for the commission to be able to work," PiS spokesman Rafal Bochenek said on Thursday. "If Mr Donald Tusk has something on his conscience ... he should be afraid." The idea of forming a commission to look in to Russian influence in Poland was in fact first put forward by Tusk in 2022. The commission would investigate the period 2007-2022 and have the power to ban people found to have acted under Russian influence from holding security clearance or working in roles where they are responsible for public funds for ten years, effectively disqualifying them from public office. Its members would be chosen by parliament, where PiS can command a narrow majority. Poland's human rights ombudsman, Marcin Wiacek, has said the bill is unconstitutional and would mean that a public administrative body would carry out functions which should be reserved for the courts. Poland's upper house of parliament, the Senate, voted in favour of throwing out the bill, a position that was upheld by a parliamentary commission on Wednesday. The bill would have to be signed by President Andrzej Duda to become law. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Marek Strzelecki in WarsawEditing by Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis attends the first World Congress of Eco-Educational Cities, at the Vatican, May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis did not receive anyone in audiences on Friday because he has a fever, the Vatican said on Friday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni did not provide any further details on the health of the 86-year-old Roman Catholic leader. "Because of a fever, Pope Francis did not receive (anyone) in audiences this morning," Bruni said in response to a reporter's question on why none were listed on his daily schedule earlier in the day. Francis spent five days in a Rome hospital at the end of March for bronchitis but recovered quickly following an infusion of antibiotics and returned to his duties, including a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April. He appeared to be fatigued at a meeting with students near the Vatican on Thursday afternoon. Francis, who became pope 10 years ago, is missing part of one lung. It was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina. Since he assumed the papacy, he has had to cancel events, sometimes at the last minute, because of fevers. He was first hospitalised as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon. None of the pope's scheduled events have been cancelled. He is due to preside at a Mass marking Pentecost on Sunday in St. Peter's Square and receive Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday. It was not clear if he would hold private audiences on Saturday. The Vatican announced earlier this week that the pope was expected to travel to Portugal from Aug. 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day and visit the Shrine of Fatima. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Frances Kerry) By Elena Fabrichnaya and Alexander Marrow MOSCOW (Reuters) - Only five transactions involving foreign companies selling assets in Russia since October have involved payments to non-residents above $400 million, the Bank of Russia said on Friday, playing down the impact of such deals on financial stability. From telecoms companies to fashion retailers, thousands of firms halted operations in Russia last year as Western governments imposed sanctions after Moscow despatched troops to Ukraine. Some managed to negotiate swift exits, often selling at huge discounts or handing the keys to local management. The central bank on Friday said around 200 deals had been completed between March 2022 and March 2023, with just 20% of those involving large asset sales, those in excess of $100 million. "The impact of foreign investors selling their subsidiaries in Russia is not significant on an economic scale," the central bank said in a financial stability report. The bank played down the impact of Western exits on the FX market when the rouble tumbled in early April, but the Kremlin plans to introduce a $1 billion monthly cap from June of foreign currency residents can buy to settle such deals. "The large volume of foreign currency purchases needed for settling transactions, in the context of the shrinking current account surplus in Russia's balance of payments, may have a negative impact on the foreign exchange market, so buyers are advised to distribute FX purchases evenly," the central bank said. The central bank sits on a government commission that monitors foreign investment, which gives approval for transactions and has demanded that exiting firms sell assets at a discount of at least 50%. The commission seeks to mitigate risks to financial stability by giving priority to buyers with relevant industry experience, the central bank said. Many withdrawing companies have included buyback clauses, something the central bank said helped business to continue operating without interruption. (Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya and Alexander Marrow; Editing by Hugh Lawson) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The current circumstances allow us to count on the possibility of concluding a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the foreseeable future, but the main thing is not the time, but the final solution of all issues, Spokesperson for Russian President Dmitry Peskov told journalists, Trend reports. The spokesperson said that representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia will meet at the end of next week in Moscow to discuss the issues between the parties. "There is no such a task as to solve everything at once because the main thing is still the final result. No one is chasing time here," Peskov said. According to the Kremlin representative, it is for these reasons that hardly anyone can now predict the exact date of the signing of the peace treaty. FILE PHOTO: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a news conference in his office in Belgrade, Serbia, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica By Fatos Bytyci ZVECAN, Kosovo (Reuters) -The United States and allies rebuked Kosovo for escalating tensions with Serbia on Friday, saying the use of force to install mayors in ethnic Serb areas undermined efforts to improve troubled relations with neighbouring Serbia. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic placed the army on full combat alert and ordered units to move closer to the border following clashes on Friday between Kosovan police and protesters opposed to the ethnic Albanian mayors. Police fired tear gas in the town of Zvecan to disperse a crowd trying to prevent a newly-elected mayor from entering his office, after a vote in April was boycotted by the Kosovo Serb majority in four northern municipalities near the border with Serbia. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the government of Kosovo for accessing the municipal buildings by force and called on Prime Minister Albin Kurti to reverse course. In a statement, Blinken said Kosovo's actions went against U.S. and European advice and had "sharply and unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermining our efforts to help normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia and will have consequences for our bilateral relations with Kosovo." Britain, France, Italy, Germany and the United States issued a joint statement that called on Kosovan authorities to step back and de-escalate the situation. The U.S. has been Kosovo's main supporter politically, militarily and financially since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Ethnic Albanians form more than 90% of the population in Kosovo, with Serbs only the majority in the northern region. Serbs in Kosovo's northern region do not accept the 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, almost a decade after the end of a war there, and still see Belgrade as their capital. A Western-backed plan verbally agreed to by Kosovo and the Serbian government in March aimed to defuse tensions by granting local Serbs more autonomy, with the government in Pristina retaining ultimate authority. MORE AUTONOMY Some 50,000 Serbs living in four north Kosovo municipalities, including Zvecan, shunned the April 23 vote in protest that their demands for more autonomy had not been met. Turnout in the April election was just 3.47% and local Serbs said they would not work with the new mayors in the four municipalities - all from ethnic Albanian parties - because they do not represent them. In a statement, the Kosovo police said five of its officers were slightly injured when protesters pelted them with rocks and other objects. Four police vehicles were attacked, including one that was set ablaze, the statement said. Gunfire was also heard in the area, it said. Around 10 people sought medical attention in a local hospital for light injuries and the effects of tear gas, local Serb health authorities said. Earlier, police in the Kosovan capital of Pristina issued a statement saying they were assisting the newly-elected mayors to enter the municipal offices. The mayor in Zvecan was successfully escorted into the municipal building, a Reuters reporter heard on a police radio. In a speech to thousands of supporters at his Serbian Progressive Party's rally in Belgrade, Serbia's Vucic announced a session of the country's national security council to discuss the situation. "We have never had a more difficult and bigger crisis" he said, adding that while he would strive for peace, Serbia would "not sit idle" if ethnic Serbs were attacked in the north of Kosovo. Vucic, accused the West of weakness and acting slowly. Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani said police actions "against Vucic's illegal structures and criminal gangs are legitimate, in fulfilment of their constitutional duties to defend all citizens without distinction." Several vehicles from the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo were seen in the vicinity of the site of the incident, while helicopters flew over the area, a Reuters reporter said. The situation was calm in the late hours. Municipality buildings were still guarded by heavily-armed police officers with their armoured vehicles blocking roads in and out of the mayors' offices. EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano called all parties to "de-escalate the tense situation and restore calm immediately." "The EU will not accept any further unilateral or provocative actions and preservation of peace and security on the ground should be prioritised," he said in a statement. (Reporting by Reuters TV, Fatos Bytyci, Aleksandar Vasovic and Ivana Sekularac in Belgrade, Simon Lewis in Washington and Andrew Gray in Brussels; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) Migrants wait to disembark from a Spanish coast guard vessel, in the port of Arguineguin, at the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Borja Suarez (This May 26 story has been refiled to remove the reference to Maleno as Morocco-based in paragraph 10) GRAN CANARIA/RABAT (Reuters) - Spain said on Friday it was probing reports of casualties among a group of migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands from Africa, after a charity cited survivors as saying Moroccan soldiers opened fire killing at least one of them. The Moroccan authorities did not immediately respond to emailed and telephoned requests for comment on the allegation that its forces shot at the group of more than 40 migrants as they sought to depart on a dinghy early on Tuesday morning. Reuters could not independently verify the report. "We are investigating," a Spanish police source told Reuters, referring to reports of injuries. One account of the incident citing unidentified survivors for the death of a migrant was posted on Twitter by the Walking Borders charity that documents migrants missing at sea. Following the incident, the group managed to depart and were eventually recovered 12 miles south of Gran Canaria at 9 p.m. on Thursday night in a rescue involving Spanish helicopters and patrol boats, officials in the Canary Islands said. The migrants told rescuers they had set sail from the small town of Boujdour in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara, 200 nautical miles south of the Canary Islands, officials said. A spokesperson for the Spanish government in the Canary Islands said it had no record of gunshot injuries among the arriving migrants -- 32 men, nine women and a girl -- but that three of them required medical care including a pregnant woman, another "unwell" person and a third with a "leg trauma". But a Spanish police source later said one of the three migrants being treated for injuries in the Canary islands had bullet exit and injury wounds, and police were gathering evidence for an investigation. Helena Maleno, head of Walking Borders, said survivors of the incident who remained in Morocco had told her by telephone that soldiers on an anti-migration patrol fired up to four rounds of gunfire at the boat as it embarked, hitting a young Malian man in the neck and killing him. Txema Santana, an adviser on migration to the Canary Islands government, told Reuters the migrants had told rescuers that two people had been killed by shots fired by what they described as an "anti-migration checkpoint" before leaving Morocco. Jose Antonio Rodriguez Verona, head of the Red Cross emergency team on the Canary Islands, said what exactly had happened remained unclear and the migrants who made it to the Canary islands did not identify who had opened fire. "The migrants told us that there were two people who had died on the crossing and their bodies had been thrown overboard," he told Reuters. Injuries to migrants are frequently caused by trafficking gangs following disputes, according to rights groups and migrants speaking previously to Reuters. However Moroccan rights groups including the CNDH state human rights council have also warned of the growing use of force by the Moroccan authorities in the control of migrants from Africa towards Europe. Last year, at least 23 people were killed and scores left injured or missing in a mass border crossing attempt between Morocco and Spain's North African enclave of Melilla last year. (Reporting by Borja Suarez, Corina Pons, David Latona, Inti Landauro, Joan Faus and Belen Carreno; Additional reporting by Ahmed El Jehtimi; Writing by Aislinn Laing; Editing by William Maclean) A view of the interiors of El Geneina Educational Hospital in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan, in this picture released on May 10, 2023 and obtained from social media. Abbas Hussein Altom/via REUTERS By Mahamat Ramadane and Nafisa Eltahir ADRE, Chad/CAIRO (Reuters) - When war engulfed Sudan's capital last month, it quickly spread to the western Darfur region, reigniting an old conflict and sending a wave of refugees over the border into Chad. Nasr Abdullahi sent his wife, sister and five children to Chad last week, staying behind to wait for news of a 17-year-old son in the capital Khartoum. But when his neighbour's house was burned down and gangs took over the streets, he fled too. "I couldn't take it anymore, so I decided to leave on foot," the 42-year-old said after arriving exhausted on Wednesday in the Chadian town of Adre, about 27km (17 miles) from El Geneina, the main city in West Darfur State. "I crossed through the bush and walked west all night." Residents link the resurgence of violence in El Geneina and other parts of Darfur to the power struggle between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, which has allowed militias in the area to go unchecked. Those interviewed by Reuters said the attacks since late April in El Geneina were carried out by "Janjaweed" militias, armed men usually thought to come from Arab nomadic tribes riding trucks, motorcycles and horses - the same militias from which the RSF was born. The RSF denies instigating violence in Darfur, instead blaming the army. The attacks in El Geneina have razed its markets, power grid and medical facilities, witnesses say, reviving memories of the atrocious violence that erupted in the early 2000s. Sudan's health ministry says up to 510 people have been killed in the city of about half a million. At least 250,000 people in West Darfur have been internally displaced while another 90,000 have fled to Chad. With El Geneina's communications now cut off, Abdullahi's account offered a rare glimpse of the chaos. "Heavy weapons and machine guns are being fired everywhere. When you go out in the morning, you see new bullet holes in the walls," he said, adding that water supplies were cut and food was running scarce in the city he left. LAND CONFLICT The feared Janjaweed militias first gained power as the government used them against rebels in Darfur two decades ago. More than 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced. The RSF emerged from them and grew into a large paramilitary force with legal status. Its commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, became deputy head of Sudan's ruling council after helping topple former leader Omar al-Bashir during a popular uprising in 2019. Though conflict in Darfur is often described along ethnic lines pitting Arab tribes against non-Arabs, it is also rooted in a struggle for land, intensified by climate change. "This is between the herder and the farmer. It's about resources and land," said Sultan Saad Bahreldin, leader of the Masalit tribe, the largest bloc of El Geneina residents. Arab livestock herders migrated to less arid areas during droughts in Darfur in the 1970s and 80s, causing tensions, said Jerome Tubiana, a researcher on the region. They gained more land as the Janjaweed helped government forces drive back rebels in the conflict from 2003. But they felt a 2020 peace deal with some rebel groups, which promised the return of displaced people to their land, ignored their needs. Attacks increased as international peacekeepers withdrew. Five El Geneina residents, most preferring to remain anonymous to avoid retaliation, said by telephone - before lines went down - that they thought the militias aimed to empty the city and that the army had done little to offer protection. 'THEY COME INTO HOMES AND SHOOT' Instead, armed Masalit men and members of the Sudanese Alliance, a group that signed the peace deal, fight from within the neighbourhoods they live in. "The militias attacked anyone present in the city, even if they initially targeted Masalit tribes. Even Arab residents were not safe," said Mohamed Aldouma, former governor of the state and member of the Darfur Bar Association, a human rights group. Lawyer Jamal Abdallah said that witnesses had told him of one incident in El Geneina where seven people were killed in one home, and another in a makeshift clinic where 12 already injured people and a doctor were gunned down. "The Janjaweed come into homes and shoot," Abdallah added, saying he could see dead bodies and dead animals strewn in the street. Three people living in El Geneina told Reuters that they saw attackers wearing the RSF's beige uniforms. The RSF has in the past rebuked individual soldiers for involvement in Janjaweed attacks, but it accuses the army and allied militias of being behind the latest Darfur violence. Hemedti, who hails from an Arab tribe, called on people in El Geneina in an audio message earlier this week to "reject regionalism and tribalism. Stop fighting amongst yourselves immediately." An army spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Representatives for the Janjaweed militias could not be reached. Attempts to contact leaders of Arab tribes living in the city failed due to the blackout. Enaam Alnour, a local activist, said her brother and several male relatives were killed and her neighbourhood was "completely destroyed, burned, looted". She told Reuters from El Geneina that she documented from doctors and witnesses the rape of nine female university students by armed men. Reuters could not verify those incidents. The Sudanese Doctors Union said that all of the city's hospitals were destroyed, as well as its blood bank. Photos shared by a local journalist with Reuters showed drip bottles punctured, rendering them useless. Government buildings, the main market, and aid agency offices were looted, witnesses and aid groups said. Though West Darfur is the nation's hungriest state, many farmers are unable to access land or supplies to prepare for the rainy season. At least 85,000 people who had sought refuge after previous attacks inside El Geneina's now-destroyed schools, municipal buildings and mosques are displaced again, said Mathilde Vu, of the Norwegian Refugee Council. It is dangerous for aid workers to deploy, Vu said. "We are looking at a very bleak future." (Additional reporting by Mai Shams El-Din, Khalid Abdelaziz and Eleanor Whalley; Writing by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Andrew Cawthorne) Supporters of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic take part in a rally in support of his policies and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), in Belgrade, Serbia May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Tens of thousands gathered in the center of Belgrade on Friday in support of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in a show of power following big anti-government protests over two mass shootings that killed 18 people earlier this month. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and secessionist Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik were among the speakers at the "Serbia of Hope" rally which drew busloads of people from around Serbia and neighbouring Bosnia and North Macedonia. On May 3, a teenage boy killed nine pupils and a security guard in the first school mass shooting in Serbia. A day later, a 21-year-old man killed eight outside Belgrade, which triggered deep dissatisfaction and protests. The protestors, supported by the opposition parties, say the government led by Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has failed to rein in media that have promoted violence and to act against criminal elements in society. They called for Vucic and some ministers to resign, provoking the ruling elite to organise the rally to show how much support they have. Vucic called supporters to hold a minute of silence to pay respect to all those killed in the two mass shootings. He told supporters he would resign as head of the party on Saturday. "As of tomorrow I will be president of all citizens of Serbia and not the president of the political party." At the rally, people held Serbian flags, pictures of Vucic and a banner reading "With my heart for Vucic." "Both you and us are facing similar challenges, and we are both exposed to attacks by the international liberal mainstream," Szijjarto said in Serbian. "They attack us because we want peace in Ukraine, they attack us because we believe in family values and because we refuse to be told what to do." "Serbia led by Vucic we trust and we support. Long live Serbia, long live Republika Srpska, long live Russia," Dodik, the president of the Bosnian Serb Republic, told the crowd. Traffic in Belgrade has been blocked and buses were parked throughout the city. "I came here to support our president who is fighting for peace in Serbia," Goran Dincic, 53, who came from the southern town of Nis. ($1 = 106.4700 Serbian diners) (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Marguerita Choy) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers the Closing Plenary Keynote address at the Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, Colorado, U.S. April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Sweden, Norway and Finland next week to discuss with allies how to build Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities as Russia's war grinds on, officials said on Friday. The talks would also cover deepening cooperation with Europe on trade and technology, the officials said. At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo, Norway on Wednesday and Thursday, Washington hopes to shore up support for Ukraine ahead of a July summit in Lithuania, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dereck Hogan told reporters while previewing the trip. Asked whether Ukraine could be extended a formal invitation to join the alliance, Hogan repeated Washington's support for NATO's open-door policy but said decisions were made by all allies. "The immediate needs in Ukraine are practical and so we should be focused on building Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities," Hogan added. In Sweden on Monday through Wednesday, Blinken and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will lead the fourth meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council. "We expect continued progress in several key areas including holding Russia accountable and supporting Ukraine via work on export controls and the misuse of technology, the clean tech transition, technology cooperation and trade and supply chains," Ruth Berry, senior advisor at the State Department's bureau of cyberspace and digital policy, told reporters. Blinken would give a speech in Helsinki, Finland on Friday, the department said in a statement, "to highlight all the ways in which Russias aggression against Ukraine has been a strategic failure, and our continued efforts to support Ukraines defense of its territory, sovereignty, and democracy in pursuit of a just and durable peace." Finland formally joined NATO in April in a historic policy shift away from its tradition of neutrality brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sweden's application has been held up by NATO members Turkey and Hungary. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Alex Richardson) FILE PHOTO: Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda attends a press conference over rigging safety tests by its affiliate Daihatsu that affected 88,000 vehicles, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 8, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha By Makiko Yamazaki and Daniel Leussink TOKYO (Reuters) - Proxy adviser Glass Lewis has recommended that shareholders of Toyota Motor Corp vote against the re-election of Chairman Akio Toyoda as a board director at an upcoming meeting, citing his responsibility for the lack of a sufficiently independent board. Glass Lewis made the recommendation against the chairman of Japan's largest company by market capitalisation at a time when board independence has been under greater scrutiny from investors. The U.S.-based proxy adviser said only three of Toyota's 10 board nominees are deemed independent according to its classification, short of the proxy adviser's requirement that at least one-third of directors be independent. Toyota, on the other hand, regards four of its nominees as independent, including the deputy chair of Toyota's main lender, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, whom Glass Lewis considers "affiliated." Glass Lewis' requirement is in line with Japan's corporate governance code, which calls for one-third board independence at firms listed in the Tokyo market's main section. "In our view, the board does not have a sufficient number of independent directors, which raises serious concerns about its objectivity, independence and ability to perform proper oversight," Glass Lewis said in a report dated May 25. "In this case, we recommend that shareholders voice their concerns about this issue by voting against nominee Akio Toyoda, chair of the board, who we believe should be held accountable for allowing insufficient independent representation," it said. Glass Lewis also recommended investors vote against the election of some statutory auditor nominees due also to insufficient independence. Toyota, which will hold its annual general shareholders meeting on June 14, didn't immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Glass Lewis also recommended a vote against a shareholder resolution by a trio of European asset managers urging Toyota to improve disclosure of its lobbying on climate change. "The company has shown significant responsiveness to shareholders through its existing and planned disclosure concerning how it is engaging on climate policy-related matters," Glass Lewis said. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Daniel Leussink; Editing by Peter Graff, Susan Fenton and Paul Simao) U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen hosts a meeting with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the Department of the Treasury in Washington, U.S., July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke about the U.S. economy's resilience in the face of global headwinds in a meeting Friday with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, according to a Treasury Department statement. Yellen and Georgieva also discussed recent banking sector stress, the outlook for the U.S. economy as well as the Ukraine war, according to the statement. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Doina Chiacu) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone, though the missile was shot down by air defences, according to Russian officials and media reports. In the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, a blast damaged a residential and office building, officials said. They did not say what caused the blast, though Russian media said it was a drone attack. Unverified videos on social media showed a drone flying over the city. "All emergency services are working at the scene. The cause of the incident is being investigated. Residents are asked to stay calm," Krasnodar mayor Yevgeny Naumov wrote on Telegram. In the neighbouring Rostov region, the local governor said a Ukrainian missile had been shot down by air defences on Thursday near Morozovsk, where there is a Russian air base. "In the area of Morozovsk, an air defence system went off, shooting down a Ukrainian missile," Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev said. "The military is doing its job. Stay calm." (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) Stanislav Kravchenko becomes the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, after the previous chief Vsevolod Kniaziev was detained by anti-corruption authorities for allegedly receiving a $2.7 million bribe, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Ky KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Supreme Court elected a new head on Friday following the removal of his predecessor, who has been detained on bribery allegations in the country's biggest anti-corruption case. A total of 108 judges out of 148 voted to appoint 56-year-old Stanyslav Kravchenko, who had been the head of the Cassation Chamber for Criminal Cases, which is part of the Supreme Court. Ukraine has in recent months increased efforts to clamp down on corruption despite Russia's invasion. Fighting corruption is vital for Ukraine as it tries to meet the criteria for joining the European Union. Judicial reforms and the rule of law are also important as it strives to maintain support from the International Monetary Fund and seeks Western financial aid. The previous head of Ukraine's Supreme Court, Vsevolod Kniaziev, was dismissed this month following his detention. Kniaziev is suspected of taking a $2.7-million bribe. He has denied wrongdoing and criticised his detention, but said he is cooperating with investigators. At a plenary court meeting broadcast online, judges considered four candidates to replace Kniaziev. Kravchenko, who was elected a judge at the Supreme Court in 2017, received by far the most votes. The head of the Supreme Court is elected from among the court's judges for a four-year term and cannot hold the office for more than two consecutive terms. (Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage) FILE PHOTO: Flags of U.S. and China are seen in this illustration picture taken August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Los Angeles residents have been charged with acting in a Beijing-directed scheme targeting U.S.-based practitioners of the Falun Gong group that is outlawed in China, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday. John Chen, also known as Chen Jun, and Lin Feng were arrested in California over allegations they supported Chinese efforts to strip the tax-exempt status of a U.S. entity run by Falun Gong practitioners, the department said in a statement. The department described the scheme as part of a broader campaign by China's government to target its U.S.-based critics. The charges were announced a month after federal agents arrested two New York residents on suspicion of operating a Chinese "secret police station" in Manhattan's Chinatown district. A complaint against Chen and Lin was filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, the department said. Reuters was not immediately able to reach them or their lawyers for comment. China's embassy in Washington did not immediately provide comment. Chen and Lin in 2023 attempted to bribe an undercover federal agent acting as a U.S. tax official to advance a complaint that would strip the Falun Gong entity's federal tax exemption, the department said. The two paid $5,000 in cash bribes and promised to pay substantially more to advance the complaint with the Internal Revenue Service's Whistleblower Program, it said. The bribes were intended to carry out China's aim of "toppling ... the Falun Gong," the department quoted Chen as saying on an intercepted call. Stripping the entity's exempt status would increase its federal tax obligation. Falun Gong, based broadly around meditation, was banned by China in 1999 after 10,000 members appeared at the central leadership compound in Beijing in silent protest. The group has called for people to renounce the ruling Chinese Communist Party. China's government has described the group as a cult organization that threatens national stability. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Grant McCool) Details added: first version posted on 15:05 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Multicultural values of Azerbaijani society are extremely important, David Bednar, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) located in Utah (US), said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports. During the meeting, Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan as a multinational and multi-confessional state, where representatives of all religions live in peace and prosperity, has become one of the global centers of intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue. According to the minister, a number of globally significant initiatives, including the Baku Process initiated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, were put forward and Azerbaijan also held a number of important international events in this direction, including the UN Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations. Bayramov also said that Azerbaijan, where comprehensive attention and care is provided for the cultural and religious heritage of various peoples, is one of the countries where there are exemplary relations between states and religion, and Christians in the country, freely preserve their traditions, religious beliefs, culture, actively participate in all spheres of the social and cultural life of Azerbaijan. The minister also informed about the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenia. Information was also provided on the reconstruction and construction work in Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period [following the 2020 second Karabakh war], and its efforts to ensure peace and stability. Armenia's attempts to impede this process and the remaining mine threat were emphasized. Bednar noted that hes aware of the tolerance and multiculturalism traditions in Azerbaijan, as well as important initiatives promoting interreligious dialogue. He also noted that the values which Azerbaijani society has in the current period when discrimination on religious, racial, and ethnic grounds becomes especially acute at the international level, are extremely significant. He stressed the interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan within the framework of various church programs. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. FILE PHOTO: Lengths of pipe wait to be laid in the ground along the under-construction Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia, U.S. September 29, 2019. Picture taken September 29, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller (Reuters) - U.S. energy company Equitrans Midstream Corp's long-delayed $6.6 billion Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to Virginia received another negative court ruling on Friday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) "inadequately explained its decision not to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement." The statement would address "unexpectedly severe erosion and sedimentation along the pipelines right-of-way." The Court remanded the case back to FERC to either "prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement or to better explain why one is unnecessary." The case was brought by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups opposed to the project. "We see this ruling as creating an additional hurdle to restarting construction when (Mountain Valley) reacquires its outstanding permits this year, as it could force a longer review ... and could push the projects completion into 2024," said analyst at ClearView Energy Partners, a research firm. Equitrans said it was reviewing the decision, without providing any additional details. Its stock rose about 4% to a 12-week high of $6.14 per share in late Friday trading. In early May, it said it could finish the pipe by the end of 2023, but noted "there remains significant risk and uncertainty, including regarding current and likely litigation." The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has vacated several of the project's federal and state permits - some more than once - is still hearing lawsuits, including a challenge against authorizations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Equitrans is waiting for new authorizations from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FERC. In addition to pursuing permitting the regular way, Equitrans said it "continues to support the potential enactment of federal energy infrastructure permitting reform legislation that specifically requires completion of the (Mountain Valley) project." When Mountain Valley construction started in February 2018, Equitrans estimated the 303-mile (488-km), 2-billion-cubic-feet-per-day (bcfd) project would cost about $3.5 billion and enter service by late 2018. Mountain Valley is owned by units of Equitrans, NextEra Energy Inc, Consolidated Edison Inc, AltaGas Ltd and RGC Resources Inc. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Marguerita Choy) FILE PHOTO: The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly By Blake Brittain (Reuters) -Alphabet Inc's Google must pay $32.5 million in damages for infringing one of smart-speaker maker Sonos Inc's patents in its wireless audio devices, a San Francisco federal jury decided on Friday. The case is part of a sprawling intellectual property dispute between the former collaborators that includes other lawsuits in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The companies previously worked together to integrate Mountain View, California-based Google's streaming music service into Sonos products. Sonos first sued Google for patent infringement in Los Angeles and at the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2020, accusing the tech giant of copying its technology during their collaboration in devices including Google Home and Chromecast Audio. Sonos last year won a limited import ban on some Google devices from the ITC, which Google has appealed. Google has countered with its own patent lawsuits in California and at the ITC, accusing Sonos of incorporating the tech company's technology into its smart speakers. Sonos has called Google's lawsuits an "intimidation tactic" to "grind down a smaller competitor." Santa Barbara, California-based Sonos lost nearly one-fifth of its market valuation earlier this month after cutting its revenue forecast. The jury found Google infringed one of Sonos' two patents at issue in the trial. Sonos had previously asked the court for $90 million in damages, a request Google said in a court filing that Sonos had reduced from $3 billion after U.S. District Judge William Alsup narrowed the case. A Google spokesperson said on Friday the case was a "narrow dispute about some very specific features that are not commonly used," and that the company was considering its next steps. Google also said it has "always developed technology independently and competed on the merit of our ideas." A Sonos spokesperson said the verdict "re-affirms that Google is a serial infringer of our patent portfolio." (Reporting by Blake Brittain in WashingtonEditing by David Bario, Rosalba O'Brien and Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: The United States Department of Labor is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 30, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor said on Friday it was providing up to $653 million in grants to state governments to help safeguard against fraud by updating their unemployment insurance (UI) information technology infrastructure. It said in a statement that $600 million in grants would also assist with improving service delivery. The grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act signed in 2021. State UI programs are susceptible to fraud. This month, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance said it was "experiencing an increase in fraudulent claim activities." That resulted in initial claims for state unemployment benefits surging to a 1-1/2-year high during the week ended May 6, leading economists to mistakenly conclude that the labor market was fast losing momentum. The jump was subsequently revised away, leaving claims at levels consistent with tight labor market conditions. "This funding represents a historic investment in the nation's UI infrastructure intended to help states invest in and equip themselves with the tools needed to strengthen their systems now and for the future to operate programs effectively," said Brent Parton, acting assistant secretary for Employment and Training. The Labor Department said the need to upgrade the states' UI infrastructure became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when 1 million unemployed Americans filed initial claims every week for a year, overwhelming the nation's 53 different systems. Up to $53 million will be available to enable states to participate in information technology modernization programs sponsored by the Department of Labor. Last month, $200 million in funds for ID verification and fraud prevention were made available to states. In addition to grant funding, the Labor Department said it was providing direct assistance and resources to help states modernize their UI programs and safeguard them against fraud while ensuring equitable access to benefits. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By David Lawder DETROIT (Reuters) -U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai raised complaints about China's state-led economic policies during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who objected to U.S. tariffs and trade policies, their offices said. But statements from the U.S. Trade Representative's office and China's Commerce Ministry both emphasized the need for Washington and Beijing to maintain communication on trade. "Ambassador Tai highlighted the need to address the critical imbalances caused by Chinas state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade policy," USTR said in a statement released after the meeting on the sidelines of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit. "She also raised concerns about PRC (People's Republic of China) actions taken against U.S. companies operating there," China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement that Wang raised complaints about U.S. economic and trade policies toward China, including U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, economic and trade issues related to Taiwan, and on the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that exclude China. Tai on Saturday will hold a ministerial meeting of countries in the IPEF talks, which exclude China and aim to provide a U.S.-centered alternative to its influence. Last week, she announced initial trade agreements with Taiwan. China claims the self-governed island as its own territory. USTR is conducting a four-year review of U.S. tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports, imposed in 2018 and 2019 by then-President Donald Trump. Tai has long raised objections to China's attempts to dominate certain industries using massive state subsidies and said such issues continue to come up in the relationship. Asked during a press conference whether the U.S. would resort to using further trade tools to address China's practices, such as a new "Section 301" investigation that could lead to more U.S. tariffs, Tai said that "aspects" of the Biden administration's response were already evident in U.S economic policies. "The benefit of sitting down and having a conversation with interlocutors from Beijing is so that we can understand each other better and understand how we are experiencing the impacts that we have on each other's economies," Tai said. CABINET-LEVEL DISCUSSION Wang's meetings with Tai in Detroit and with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Washington on Thursday marked the first cabinet-level exchange in months between U.S. and Chinese officials, following a series of setbacks that raised tensions between the world's two largest economies. Tai stressed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between Washington and Beijing as they spoke on the sidelines of APEC, the U.S. statement said. The Chinese statement was similar in tone to concerns raised with Raimondo about U.S. trade, investment and export policies. 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 turning into a new Cold War. But those plans suffered several setbacks, starting with the downing of a suspected 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 major domestic industries. (Reporting by David Lawder, Ismail Shakil and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann, David Gregorio and Grant McCool) MADRID (Reuters) - Allegations of voter fraud in small towns and an unprecedented case of kidnapping marked the last day of campaigning before local and regional elections in Spain on Sunday. The voting is taking place in 12 regions and 8,000 towns and cities, most of them currently governed by the Socialist Party (PSOE). Opinion polls are predicting gains for the conservative People's Party (PP), which if replicated in a national election in December could unseat the ruling left-wing coalition. Police arrested at least nine people in Spain's North African enclave of Melilla on Monday and Tuesday over alleged election fraud with mail-in ballots, involving one of the parties in the coalition government of the autonomous city, Coalition for Melilla (CpM). Other cases emerged, with seven arrested on Wednesday in the Andalusian town of Mojacar for an alleged vote-buying scheme and investigations underway in small towns on the Canary Islands and in the Murcia region. The councillors involved in those cases are mostly from the PSOE. An unrelated kidnapping case in the small Andalusian town of Maracena, in which a PSOE councillor was allegedly held captive and threatened in February, was made public on Thursday by a court. The judge pointed to the current PSOE mayor, Berta Linares, and her ex-partner as possible perpetrators, according to court documents cited by El Pais newspaper. Speaking to reporters, Linares denied any involvement and questioned the fact that the case was revealed hours before the election, contributing to "media noise". Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo of the conservative People's Party (PP) called on Friday for "massive" voting on Sunday against "those who want to win with deceit and cheating", adding that "democracy is not for sale". PP spokesman and MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons said the investigations proved the "rule of law works". "Therefore, I believe the elections results cannot be called into question," he added. In the last election year, 2019, there were 69 voting-related crimes, according to Interior Ministry data. Ignacio Jurado, professor of political science at the Carlos III University, said the alleged fraud would have little impact on Sunday's election except in the specific places where arrests have been made. "But I don't think we are talking about a game-changer. It is going to hinder the recovery of confidence in politics, which has been going on since the economic crisis," Jurado said, referring to Spain's 2008 crisis. (Reporting by Belen Carreno; Additional reporting by David Latona; Editing by Frances Kerry) Participation in this offering by certain of our existing stockholders would not increase the available public float of our shares. Certain of our existing stockholders, including stockholders affiliated with our directors and who own 10% or more of our outstanding capital stock, have indicated an interest in purchasing securities in this offering at the public offering price. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, fewer or no securities in this offering to any of these stockholders, or any of these stockholders may determine to purchase more, fewer or no securities in this offering. To the extent these stockholders purchase any securities in this offering, such purchase may not increase the available public float of our shares because such stockholders may be restricted from selling the securities by restrictions under applicable securities laws. As a result, any purchase of securities by such stockholders in this offering may not improve, or may reduce or have no effect on, the liquidity of our common stock relative to what it would have been had these shares been purchased by investors that were not existing stockholders. (*)It is expected that the delivery of the pre-funded warrants will be made against payment therefor on or about June 1, 2023, which will be the third business day after the date of the prospectus supplement. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the pre-funded warrants prior to the second business day preceding such settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the pre-funded warrants will settle in three business days, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Such purchasers should consult their own advisors in this regard. CUSIP No.: 282914100 ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER: This Statement relates to the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of 8x8 Inc. (the Issuer), a Delaware corporation with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act). The principal executive officers of the Issuer are located at 675 Creekside Way, Campbell, California 95008, United States. ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND: Sylebra Capital Limited (Sylebra HK) hereby files this Statement on behalf of the Reporting Persons pursuant to the Agreement with Respect to Schedule 13D (the Joint Filing Agreement) attached to this Statement as Exhibit 99.1. Sylebra HK and Sylebra Capital LLC (Sylebra US) are the investment sub-advisers to Sylebra Capital Partners Master Fund, Ltd. (SCP MF), Sylebra Capital Parc Master Fund (PARC MF), Sylebra Capital Menlo Master Fund (MENLO MF) and other advisory clients. The term Affiliated Investment Entities refers to SCP MF, PARC MF, MENLO MF and other advisory clients. Sylebra Capital Management ("Sylebra Cayman") is the investment manager and parent of Sylebra HK. Sylebra Cayman owns 100% of the shares of Sylebra HK, and Daniel Patrick Gibson (Gibson) owns 100% of the Class A shares of Sylebra Cayman and 100% of the share capital of Sylebra US. Gibson is a founder and Chief Investment Officer of Sylebra Cayman. In such capacities, Sylebra HK, Sylebra US, Sylebra Cayman, and Gibson may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares of common stock of the Issuer held by the Affiliated Investment Entities. Sylebra HK, Sylebra US, Sylebra Cayman and Gibson are each referred to herein individually as a Reporting Person and collectively as the Reporting Persons. The principal address of the Reporting Persons is c/o Sylebra Capital Limited, 20th Floor, 28 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Each of Sylebra HK, Sylebra US and Sylebra Cayman are engaged in the principal business of fund management. Gibson serves as (i) a director and owner of each Sylebra HK and Sylebra Cayman and (ii) a sole member of Sylebra US. Each of the Affiliated Investment Entities are engaged in the principal business of investments. None of the Reporting Persons have been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) during the last 5 years. None of the Reporting Persons have during the last 5 years been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. Sylebra HK is a private limited company organized under the laws of Hong Kong. Sylebra US is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware, United States. Sylebra Cayman is an exempted company with limited liability organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Gibson is a citizen of Antiqua and Barbuda. ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION: The Reporting Persons each used their respective working capital to purchase the shares of common stock of the Issuer. ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION: The Reporting Persons previously filed a Schedule 13G, as amended, on February 14, 2023. The Reporting Persons acquired the shares of common stock reported both therein and herein for investment purposes. These acquisitions of shares were made in the ordinary course of business and were not made for the purposes of influencing or acquiring control of the Issuer. The Reporting Persons are filing this Schedule 13D to supersede their previously filed Schedule 13G to report a change in their intentions. The Reporting Persons intend to engage in discussions with the Issuer and consider exploring and/or developing plans (whether preliminary or final) that may relate to, among other things, the operations, governance, management, business, assets, financial condition, corporate structure and strategic merger and acquisition plans of the Issuer. Such discussions may include proposals regarding possible strategic transactions including possible business combinations. The Reporting Persons may also take one or more of the actions listed under Item 4 of Schedule 13D (items (a)-(j)) and may discuss such actions with the Issuer and Issuer's management and the board of directors and/or other stockholders of the Issuer as appropriate and as necessary. There can be no assurance that the Reporting Persons will pursue any of the matters set forth above and there can be no assurance that the Reporting Persons will or will not develop any plans or proposals with respect to any of the foregoing matters or take any particular action or actions with respect to some or all of their holdings in the Issuer, or as to the timing of any such matters should they be so pursued by the Reporting Persons. The Reporting Persons reserve the right, at any time and in each Reporting Persons sole discretion, to take or refrain from taking any of the actions set forth above. The Reporting Persons from time to time intend to review their investment in the Issuer on the basis of various factors, including the Issuer's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, general economic and industry conditions, the securities markets in general and those for the Issuers Shares in particular, as well as other developments and other investment opportunities. Based upon such review, the Reporting Persons will take such actions in the future as the Reporting Persons may deem appropriate in light of the circumstances existing from time to time. If the Reporting Persons believe that further investment in the Issuer is attractive, whether because of the market price of Shares or otherwise, they may acquire Shares or other securities of the Issuer either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Similarly, depending on market and other factors, the Reporting Persons may determine to dispose of some or all of the Shares currently owned by the Reporting Persons or otherwise acquired by the Reporting Persons either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER: (a)(b) Reporting Person: Sylebra Capital Limited (2) Shares Held Directly: -- Sole Voting Power: -- Shared Voting Power: 14,389,476 Sole Dispositive Power: -- Shared Dispositive Power: 14,389,476 Beneficial Ownership: 14,389,476 Percentage of Class: 12.37%(1) Reporting Person: Sylebra Capital LLC(3) Shares Held Directly: -- Sole Voting Power: -- Shared Voting Power: 14,389,476 Sole Dispositive Power: -- Shared Dispositive Power: 14,389,476 Beneficial Ownership: 14,389,476 Percentage of Class: 12.37%(1) Reporting Person: Sylebra Capital Management (4) Shares Held Directly: -- Sole Voting Power: -- Shared Voting Power: 14,389,476 Sole Dispositive Power: -- Shared Dispositive Power: 14,389,476 Beneficial Ownership: 14,389,476 Percentage of Class: 12.37%(1) Reporting Person: Daniel Patrick Gibson (5) Shares Held Directly: -- Sole Voting Power: -- Shared Voting Power: 14,389,476 Sole Dispositive Power: -- Shared Dispositive Power: 14,389,476 Beneficial Ownership: 14,389,476 Percentage of Class: 12.37%(1) (1) This percentage is calculated based upon 116,364,248 shares of the Issuers common stock outstanding as of May 18, 2023, as computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) promulgated under the 1934 Act. (2) Sylebra HK holds no shares of the Issuers common stock directly. Sylebra HK may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuers common stock held by the Affiliated Investment Entities due to its role as their investment sub-adviser. (3) Sylebra US holds no shares of the Issuers common stock directly. Sylebra US may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuers common stock held by the Affiliated Investment Entities due to its role as their investment sub-adviser. (4) Sylebra Cayman holds no shares of the Issuers common stock directly. Sylebra Cayman may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuers common stock held by the Affiliated Investment Entities due to its role as the investment manager and parent of Sylebra HK. (5) Gibson owns 100% of Class A shares of Sylebra Cayman and thus may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuers common stock held by the Affiliated Investment Entities. (c) There have been no reportable purchase or sale transactions with respect to the Issuers common stock within the last 60 days by the Reporting Persons. (d) No person other than the Reporting Persons has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Issuers common stock. (e) Not applicable. ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER: The information provided in Items 3, 4 and 5 is hereby incorporated herein by this reference. Sylebra Cayman has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Issuer for the receipt of proprietary or confidential information from the Issuer. Except for the Joint Filing Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and for such confidentiality agreement, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among the Reporting Persons or, to the knowledge of any of the Reporting Persons, any other person or entity referred to in Item 2, or between such persons and any other person, with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including, but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the securities, finders fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies. ITEM 7. MATERIALS TO BE FILES AS EXHIBITS: For airmen headed to the wind-swept plains of Minot Air Force Base, N.D., or middle of nowhere New Mexico for a tour at Cannon Air Force Base, not all hope is lost. Starting Thursday, enlisted members of the Air Force can switch jobs if they find a counterpart in their career field with the same rank, special experience code and skill level willing to trade places. If that option sounds familiar, its because the service is reviving the enlisted swap assignment program, which was shut down years ago. The goal is to give airmen more control and flexibility in their careers, the service said Thursday in a statement. Eligibility extends to those of the ranks of senior master sergeant and below. The Air Force previously offered a similar program in 2007 for enlisted airmen and officers ranked lieutenant colonel and below stationed in the United States. That program ultimately was deemed unfair and fewer than 5% of airmen participated, the Air Force Personnel Center said in a 2017 Facebook post explaining why the initiative ended. Airmen had to pay to move, which put a heavier financial burden on younger troops, the personnel center said then. Under the revamped program, the Air Force will pay for relocation costs, the service said. It also does not limit assignment exchanges to stateside bases. Officers are not included this time around. The new policy requires airmen to initiate a trade within 90 days after receiving orders to a new base with someone who is eligible for that assignment. Airmen must be in good standing and find a counterpart in the same career field with similar clearance who is willing to take the assignment. The Space Force is not participating while it continues to evaluate assignment options better-suited for guardians, the Air Force said. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass first announced the assignment swap last fall at the Air and Space Forces Associations annual conference. She did not say at the time when the initiative would be implemented. Airmen will use the MyVector online forum to discuss swapping assignments, the service said. The Air Force Personnel Center will review applications for eligibility, and applicants will be notified of a decision through MyVector. The service suggested airmen may experience some technical issues with the program application, but Bass said we werent waiting for the perfect system to be built before launching it. Private Facebook groups, such as one called Security Forces Assignment Swap, already have been established to facilitate assignment exchanges. And the new policy is generating some buzz on social media. Ill pay someone to take Cannon off my hands, said one of 93 comments posted on Reddit earlier this month about the new program. HONOLULU (Tribune News Service) Hawaiis U.S. District Court on Tuesday awarded $29.5 million to a local military family in the largest medical malpractice judgment against Tripler Army Medical Center for a 2016 incident involving their then-month-old child. In September 2016, John and Laura Warren rushed their daughter to Tripler when their babys belly became distended and tight, and she turned blue from the bellybutton down. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. They told me a lot of things, but theres a lot of things they didnt tell me, John Warren said. Some staff at the hospital suspected she was suffering from a midgut volvulus, a condition occurring in infants where the intestine twists, causing a loss of blood flow. Its a serious condition in infants that can lead to death or significant and permanent medical complications if its not immediately treated. The child did have a volvulus. But doctors didnt check. Instead, they waited 19 hours, said Loretta Sheehan, one of the attorneys who represented the Warrens. And then when she was near death, they sent her by ambulance over to Kapiolani Medical Center. ... They found that about 90 to 95% of her small intestine was dead, necrotic was the word they used, so they spent the next five months in the hospital. She had a total of about 14 surgeries. The girl survived, but the delay meant she lost most of her intestines. She now requires supplemental nutrition and medication given to her through tubes going into permanent ports, or holes, in her body. Over time those ports became infected and she suffered brain and heart damage. The only way she can survive is by receiving nutrition and fluids through tubes that enter her blood vessels and her blood vessels right below her collarbone and also a tube that enters her stomach. ... Her care is 24 /7 and its going to be this way for the rest of her life, said Sheehan. This award will permit my client to survive. Her medication is extremely expensive, her care is extremely expensive. And shes going to require a great deal of help in the future. A spokesperson for Tripler declined to comment on the case or if the handling of the childs care led to any policy changes at the hospital, referring questions to the U.S. Justice Department. The case is the latest in a series of malpractice cases Tripler has faced. Last year the government agreed to pay a $15 million settlement for a baby who suffered brain damage during birth at Tripler due to a delayed cesarean section. Settlements and verdicts against Tripler since 1997 have cost as much as $108 million. Some former patients have derisively nicknamed the hospital Cripler. They gotta get better, Warren said. For all their advertising as being the biggest hospital in the Pacific, they really glorify themselves. Warren is a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and currently works as a carpenter. He said he was devoted to the Army, but that while he said fellow soldiers and his leadership were supportive, he said Triplers handling of his daughters care felt like a betrayal. Ultimately, he said caring for his daughter forced him to hang up his uniform and leave the Army. Originally when she was in the hospital, they gave me orders to leave to different places, he said. But with her medical condition, even at the time, she was still in the hospital. Warren said that he tries to keep a positive and optimistic outlook for his daughter, but he knows there will be significant challenges ahead. Honestly its day to day, he said. Whatever she needs, we do it. The malpractice in this case was egregious, Sheehan said. It doesnt make any sense at all. When you look at a baby and you know she might have a condition that will kill her, to sit and wait and see if it kills her ... Im relieved that the court found liability. And Im grateful that the court understood the amount of money its going to take to care for this child. (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. At a Thursday ceremony on the edge of Kaneohe Bay, outgoing Marine Corps Base Hawaii commander Col. Speros Koumparakis handed over the reins to his successor, Col. Jeremy Beaven. Koumparakis assumed command of MCBH in June 2020, not long after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. He was responsible for administration of 4, 500 acres within five parcels on Oahu that serve roughly 20, 000 personnelincluding Marines, Navy, military family members, civilian employees, contractors and veterans. During his time, he juggled the demands of the pandemic, a Marine Corps reshaping its force for operations in the Pacific amid tensions with China, and a series of local controversies over environmental issues and debate about the future of the historic base. During the ceremony, Marine Corps Installations Pacific commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Liszewskiwho oversees all Marine Corps facilities in the Pacific regionpraised Koumparakis' leadership. "There's not a lot of glory in some of those tasks, " Liszewski said. "But what he did was provided the support to the operating forces here to project power, to generate and sustain readiness ... (and was ) guided with the sense of protecting the land, protecting the history and the culture and, most importantly, protecting your relationship with the people here in the state of Hawaii." But that relationship has been sometimes strained. In 2022 the state Department of Health slapped MCBH with a $240, 250 fine for unauthorized wastewater discharge from its Kaneohe Bay Water Reclamation Facility. For its part, the Marine Corps submitted a request to the state for a contested case hearing. Marine Corps officials say they are working to fix the aging facility and want to modernize it. This year first-term U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda and U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono have requested funding to repair and upgrade the troubled facility. If approved, the funding would come through a congressional earmark, money that lawmakers can set aside for special projects in their district that were not originally included in the president's budget request, though it's not certain it will survive when lawmakers begin competing with each other to secure funding in their districts. Koumparakis also took on the job as local frustrations already had begun boiling on the other side of the island at Ewa Beach, where a plan to install a concrete "shore stabilization " barrier at the Marines' Puuloa Range Training Facility to protect it from erosion prompted a backlash the previous year and continued to be a hot-button issue. State environmental officials warned the project would hasten the actual erosion of the beach. The Marines ultimately abandoned the project. The Marine Corps already has relocated its most precarious short-range firing rangeknown as Foxtrotabout 40 meters mauka to reduce the threat of shoreline erosion, and has been testing the area for potential lead poisoning with state agencies. In a March announcement, Koumparakis said, "It is my intent for MCBH to pursue these changes at PRTF to ensure the longevity of the training facility and the health and safety of the surrounding environment and community." In April, state legislators passed a nonbinding resolution urging the relocation of the entire firing range, citing concerns about noise, safety and possible lead exposure to nearby homes, the shoreline and the ocean. The Marines argue PRTF is their only 1, 000-yard "known distance firing range " for sniper training in Hawaii and the only location where all 7, 000 Hawaii-based Marines can undergo annual rifle qualifications out to 500 yards. The Marines are in the midst of restructuring their entire force, starting with troops in Hawaii, amid simmering geopolitical tensions. The Corps is undergoing a radical reorganization called Force Design 2030, which aims to shift gears from the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria to return the service to its roots as an amphibious force focused on island and coastal fightingbut with a 21st-century twist. This vision seems largely focused on potential operations around the South China Sea, a busy waterway through which one-third of all international trade travels. China considers the entire waterway its exclusive sovereign territory and has been locked in a series of maritime navigational and territorial disputes with its neighbors. The Chinese military has built bases on disputed islands and reefs over the objections of neighboring countries and has been stepping up its operations around Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing considers a rogue province and has vowed to bring under its control. In 2022 the Corps officially activated the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment at MCBH. The unit is the first of its kind and is set to serve as the blueprint for the Marines' future fighting units. Commanders hope the new units will be able seize islands and coastlines and set up missile batteries to take out enemy ships and disrupt supply lines. Under Force Design 2030, Koumparakis and his team also oversaw the departure of all the Marines' traditional helicopter units from Kaneohe, which have long been a source of noise complaints around the island. The focus turned to operation of the Corps' Hawaii-based tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys, an aircraft that can take off vertically like a helicopter but can adjust its rotors to fly like a plane to travel faster and farther than a traditional helicopter. With the support of the new KC-130Js refuelers that arrived this year, the Ospreys can fly continuously across vast stretches of ocean. The Marines also have received new MQ-9 Reaper drones to replace the smaller RQ-21 surveillance drones that have flown out of the base for the past four years. The Reapers can fly much higher and also can be refueled by KC-130Js. During the ceremony, the new aircraft were on display on the parade field. "What you see there today is not aircraft that fly around Hawaii ; Force Design has put aircraft here that fly from Hawaii to support our partners and our allies, " Koumparakis told attendees. "(Marines in ) Hawaii now through Force Design can depart today and, in less than 36 hours, be with our partners and allies in the first and second island chains. That is different." But to accommodate and maintain the new aircraft, the Marine Corps has plans to demolish historic Hangar 103, which was attacked by the Japanese navy on Dec. 7, 1941, and still bears damage from the battle. The plan drew swift criticism from historians and preservation groups. In 2022 the Marine Corps signed a memorandum of agreement with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that contains several measures to mitigate the impact on historic sites. Construction of the new Type II Hangar 103 is expected to take place between fiscal years 2025 and 2027, and the Marine Corps has said design of this new hangar will incorporate "historic design elements consistent with those found on hangars built here during World War II." Incoming base commander Beaven is a Marine Corps aviator and former chief of staff of the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs, which several Marines at the base believe will help him in securing funding for projects. In addressing the assembled crowd, which included local elected officials and community leaders, he spoke of his love of the outdoors and history, and his enthusiasm for protecting both. "You will find in me a ready ear, to hear and to learn, and to grow and to help in decision-making, " Beaven said. Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment and operation of a "Restoration, Construction and Management Service No. 2 in the East Zangazur Economic District" public law legal entity, Trend reports. TOKYO A Navy air station southwest of Tokyo found no contamination of its water supply after thousands of gallons of aviation fuel spilled from storage tanks Wednesday, according to Navy and Japanese officials. JP-5 aviation fuel spilled into the Tate River, which runs through Naval Air Facility Atsugi, but it had dissipated by Thursday and no further contamination was reported, according to a news release that day from neighboring Ayase city. "Out of an abundance of caution, we had the water in our wells tested, base spokesman Greg Mitchell said by email Friday. The results came back today, with no indication of any fuel constituents." The base fire department responded to the spill around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday, Mitchell said Thursday. The South Kanto Defense Bureau told the city 2,400 gallons of fuel spilled but the amount that flowed off base is unknown, according to the Ayase city. Ayase Mayor Masayoshi Koshio met with NAF Atsugi commander Capt. Manning Montagnet at the base and asked him to quickly collect and manage the spilled fuel, make efforts to identify the cause, take preventative measures and provide further information, according to the city. Montagnet told Koshio that "the Navy deeply regrets" the incident and "is very sorry to have caused uncertainty and concern to the local residents," the city said. The cause of the spill is under investigation, Montagnet told the mayor, according to the city. The commander promised to provide information as it becomes available and take preventative measures. NAF Atsugi until 2018 was home to Carrier Air Wing 5, which deploys aboard the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier stationed at nearby Yokosuka Naval Base. 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. The USS George Washington is back in Navy hands after an extended, six-year maintenance period at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. The company, which built the aircraft carrier in the 1980s, officially returned, or redelivered, it following three days of sea trials, the company said in a news release Thursday. The George Washington since August 2017 has been in the Virginia shipyard for its midlife nuclear refueling and overhaul, a process expected to last four years but that ran into overtime due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other setbacks. George Washington has gone through a transformation and now returns to the fleet as a fully recapitalized ship, ready to support any mission and serve our nation for another 25 years, Todd West, vice president of in-service aircraft carrier programs at the shipyard, said in the news release. The sea trials, which began May 22, included high-speed operations and tests designed to prove system performance and demonstrate the carriers various capabilities at sea, Huntington Ingalls said. Sometime next year, the George Washington is scheduled to return to Yokosuka Naval Base, the ships homeport south of Tokyo from 2008 to 2015. It will replace the USS Ronald Reagan as the centerpiece of the U.S. 7th Fleets carrier strike group. The Ronald Reagan, which arrived at Yokosuka in 2015, will return for maintenance to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., Naval Forces Japan announced in April. The Navy positions many of its most advanced capabilities in Japan in recognition of the importance of our alliance, Naval Forces Japan spokeswoman Cmdr. Katie Cerezo told Stars and Stripes by email April 28. This turnover will ensure continued carrier presence in the region. George Washingtons overhaul concludes just over a week after the Navy released the results of an investigation into the ships command climate and sailor quality of service. The Navy launched the investigation after three crewmember suicides over one week in April 2022. The report found numerous factors contributed to the ships mental health crisis, such as insufficient manning, poor working and living conditions and an insufficient number of mental health professionals to meet demand. The carrier has lost nine sailors to suicide since 2017. YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan The middle school principal at this airlift hub in western Tokyo is advising parents to monitor their childrens social media for inappropriate messages. Principal Hilary Simmons, in a post Wednesday on Yokota Middle Schools Facebook page, said students were solicited via private message to share inappropriate material. Her message did not explain what the messages entailed. While this is not a school-related matter in that it did not occur on our school campus, this scam has impacted some of our students, she wrote. Yokotas 374th Airlift Wing referred questions to the spokeswoman for Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific, Miranda Ferguson, who declined to provide further details. In her message, Simmons said parents of children affected by this scam should contact the bases security squadron. Simmons offered several pointers. Be mindful of what you post, including personally identifiable information or PII, she wrote. Remember: anything you post can be captured on a screen and shared to a wider audience, even if your account is private. Watch out for suspicious messages and accounts, Simmons said. Not everyone is who they say they are on social media. Parents should be aware of their childrens social media activity and talk to them about social media safety at home, too, she added. Military installations on Guam lowered their alert levels Friday as the U.S. territory continues to clean up and repair damage left by Typhoon Mawar. Joint Region Marianas, the military installation management command on Guam, was still in assessment mode, spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Katie Koenig told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday. She was unable to speak to conditions at individual bases. Access to Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam is being limited to those with Defense Department common access cards, typically service members and dependents, with limited exceptions for Andersen, according to a Friday evening news release from Joint Region Marianas. While the situation continues to develop rapidly during recovery efforts, we ask the community for their patience and understanding as we work to get through this difficult time, Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, Joint Region Marianas commander, said in the release. Naval Hospital Guams emergency room is available and Branch Health Clinic Apra Harbor is accepting walk-ins, according to the release, with pharmacies available at both locations. Mawar, the strongest typhoon to strike the island in decades, lashed parts of the island Wednesday afternoon with 138 mph sustained winds and gusts of 167 mph. It dropped as much as 2 feet of rain on central and northern Guam and about 1 foot elsewhere. At Naval Base Guam, gas pumps at the Navy Exchange were online at 6:15 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday and expected to open again 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, according to a post on the bases official Facebook page. Consumers are limited to $20 transactions, in cash only, until further notice. The base and hospital convenience stores will open again between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the post. Customers are limited to two items, cash purchases only. Andersen Air Force Base is working to get essential services reopened such as the Base Exchange, Commissary, fuel station and medical services, according to a Friday afternoon post on its Facebook page. Thankfully no member of Team Andersen was seriously injured, Brig. Gen. Paul Fast, 36th Wing commander, said in the post. Currently our top priority is sustaining life and ensuring the well-being of our members, but we are also prioritizing opening our airfield to bring in aid for the island. Spokespeople for Naval Base Guam, the Marine Corps Camp Blaz and Andersen were unable or did not respond to email and phone requests for information Friday. Much of the 210-square-mile island was still without power Friday. The Guam Power Authority met only 3.8% of its customer demand, the islands Joint Information Center said in a news release. The water supply fared slightly better, with Guams northern and southern supplies operating normally and 50% of wells online across the islands, the Guam Waterworks Authority reported in the same release. People are being urged to boil water due to possible bacterial contamination. Parks, recreational areas and schools that arent serving as emergency shelters remained closed. Emergency shelters are at 30% capacity, with 690 people there as of 4 p.m., according to the information center. All major roadways are cleared and open, but traffic control points will be unmanned by 6 p.m. and motorists are asked to proceed with caution when approaching major intersections. The Federal Emergency Management Agency continued to support and coordinate responses, along with other federal agencies such as the Defense Department and the Red Cross, the agency said in a Thursday news release. Navy ships operating in the region are ready to provide assistance if called upon, Koenig told Stars and Stripes in an email Friday. She did not confirm or deny that the USS Nimitz had been ordered to Guam to assist in recovery efforts, as reported by the Associated Press on Thursday. DOD has teams on the island working with the local government and FEMA, she said, but damage assessment is still underway. The teams have received 12 assignments from FEMA so far, including debris clearance, personnel movement and the establishment of staging bases to support recovery efforts. As FEMA identifies additional DoD missions, we will move appropriate personnel and equipment to support the government and people in the affected area, she Koenig wrote. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa The mother of a Marine who drowned in a rip current off Okinawa in June 2021 has returned to the island to warn service members and others about the dangers posed by unpredictable seas. Jessica Niss, 46, of Mountain Lake, Minn., delivered an hourlong presentation Wednesday called "Practice a Pause" for about 100 Marines at the Camp Foster theater. She urged the Marines to pause and consider the consequences before doing anything that poses a risk. She also implored them to think of their loved ones back home. Niss' son, Cpl. Eric John Niss de Jesus, was 24 when he went missing on June 5, 2021, after getting caught in a rip current at Odo Beach in Itoman. She shared her son's story in hopes of saving lives ahead of the critical summer months. Niss de Jesus was swimming with three friends near a reef when they were caught in a rip current. He barked words of encouragement to his friends ahead of him, spurring them forward to safety. When the group exited the water, Niss de Jesus was nowhere to be found. His body was recovered four days later, approximately 1,000 feet from shore. Water safety remains a serious issue on the semi-tropical, southern Japanese island, where scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and surfing rank among the most popular recreational activities, Shawn Curtis, installation safety office director, said Wednesday. The islands rocky coastline, high winds and myriad reefs and natural channels form the perfect setting for breaking waves and rip currents. The U.S. military on Okinawa has suffered 39 water-related deaths since 2003, including 18 Marines, Curtis said. More than 50% of the Navy and Marine drowning deaths around the world since 2018 have occurred in either Hawaii, Guam or Okinawa. Water-related incidents peaked on Okinawa in 2022 at 106, a 10-year high, Jason MacDonald, ocean safety program manager for Camp Butler, told Stars and Stripes last month. There were 40 fatalities in 2022, including one U.S. service member, according to Japanese police. Niss gave seven Practice a Pause talks between May 18 and Wednesday, including two at the Defense Department high schools at Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base. She was scheduled to speak Thursday to Marines at Camp Hansen and Friday at Camp Kinser, where her son worked as a military working dog handler for Marine Corps Installations Pacific. Niss became emotional Wednesday as she shared pictures and stories of her son over the years. Niss de Jesus was a kind and thoughtful big brother to all, who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a bachelors degree in animal science, she said. He enlisted in the Marines in 2019 to work with dogs, though he was selected two years later for the enlisted commissioning program. This puts a lot of purpose to my pain, she said after hugging a long line of Marines at the conclusion of her presentation. Being able to share him with others is my privilege as a momma. Cpl. Isaac Lopez, an avid snorkeler and surfer from 3rd Maintenance Battalion, said it's sometimes easy to get lost in the countless training sessions and safety briefings. It will have more of an impact now because of Erics mother, he said after her speech. Cpl. Andre Henry, also from the maintenance battalion, agreed. People should pay attention, take caution and actually do the research before they go out to the beaches, he said. A Japanese warship will raise the Rising Sun flag during an upcoming multinational exercise in South Korea, Japans defense minister said Friday. The Maritime Self-Defense Force Japans navy will fly the ensign of self-defense by following the national law, Yasukazu Hamada told reporters at a Tokyo news conference, according to a transcript on the ministry website. The Eastern Endeavor maritime interdiction exercise will take place between Tuesday and June 2 at South Koreas southern Jeju Island. Naval personnel from South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada will stop and board ships simulating the transport of weapons of mass destruction, according to South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The allied navies will also discuss methods to combat North Koreas means of delivery of those weapons, according to a ministry news release. The Japanese destroyer JS Hamagiri is scheduled to attend the exercise, a spokesman for Japan's Joint Staff said Friday. A Japanese warship could also visit Busan, South Koreas largest port, Japan's the Yomiuri newspaper reported Thursday. Japanese warships routinely fly the Rising Sun flag, which has been the official ensign of the Maritime Self-Defense Force since 1954, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. However, the flag is also associated with Imperial Japan, which waged war in the Pacific during World War II, and with Japans colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. The flags symbolism and other unresolved historical disputes dating to Koreas colonization have often railroaded diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo. The origin of the Rising Sun symbol dates to 1870. For the Japanese, the flag is not an expression of political or discriminatory assertions, according to the Foreign Affairs ministry website. Tokyo will continue to explain at every opportunity its view that the display of the Rising Sun Flag is not political promotion to the international community, including South Korea. The Hamagiri may raise the Rising Sun flag during the exercise according to international practice, Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesman for South Koreas Ministry of National Defense, said at a news briefing Thursday. "As far as we know, a national flag of a country and a flag symbolizing the nations military or organization is usually on a foreign vessel entering another countrys port, Jeon said. This is perhaps a common practice being used in the world, as far as we know. The flag attracted attention in November when South Korean sailors rendered a salute toward a Japanese warship flying the Rising Sun during the Japan International Fleet Review at Sagami Bay near Yokohama. South Korean Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yonngi likened the salute to paying respects to a war criminal. Jeon, speaking Nov. 7 at a National Assembly hearing attended by Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, questioned whether internationally accepted is an acceptable standard. We were humiliated under Japanese imperialism for 36 years, when Tokyo was saying it will conquer the world while hoisting this flag, Jeon said to Lee. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to Tokyo on March 16, said he hoped to work with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to create brighter bilateral ties for future generations. Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met again May 7 in Seoul, where Yoon said: We must move away from the thinking that we will be unable to take any steps toward future cooperation unless the two nations put a total end to all issues of the past, the Asahi newspaper reported that day. Yoon, the first South Korean president to visit Japan in 12 years, pledged after taking office to mend ties with Japan. I cant accept the notion that because of what happened 100 years ago, something is absolutely impossible [to do] and that they [Japanese] must kneel , Yoon said in a Washington Post interview published on April 24. YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance drones arrived in Japan in time to avoid a typhoon that passed close to their home station on Guam on Wednesday. The unmanned aircraft began their annual deployment to the airlift hub in western Tokyo on May 15, the 374th Airlift Wing announced on Thursday. A day earlier, Typhoon Mawar, which generated winds of nearly 150 per hour, passed close to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron drones are normally based. A statement on Andersens official Facebook page Friday indicated the airfield is closed in the typhoons wake and when it reopens, bringing in aid will be the priority. The Global Hawks summer in Yokota to avoid the typhoon season on Guam, U.S. Forces Japan spokesman Air Force Maj. Thomas Barger said by phone Friday. Information about the number of drones and airmen in the rotation wasnt available immediately, he said. The mission is an enduring rotation, meaning it doesnt have a set end date, Barger added. Past drone rotations to the base have included as many as five drones and dozens of maintainers. Beginning in 2014 the Air Force positioned Global Hawks at Misawa Air Base in the countrys northeast, where Japan now stations its own Global Hawks. Since 2017, the U.S. drones have rotated to Yokota. The Global Hawk flies at 60,000 feet and has a line of sight to targets more than 340 miles away, according to manufacturer Northrop Grumman. The Global Hawks mission is to provide a broad range of U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to support joint forces, and Allies and partners in worldwide peacetime, contingency, and crisis operations, the wing said in its statement. The exact range of the aircrafts cameras and sensors is classified, but a Global Hawk flying near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, for example, could see well beyond the Yalu River that marks North Koreas border with China. LONDON 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 London's 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 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. 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. MOSCOW Russia is ready to supply Somalia's army with military equipment in its war against terrorism, Russia's foreign minister said Friday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the offer after talks with his Somali counterpart Abshir Omar Jama in Moscow. Russia's top diplomat said Moscow reaffirmed its readiness to meet the material needs of the Somalian army in its fight against extremists that remain on Somalian territory including al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda." The offer further underscores Russia's growing interest in the African continent upstaging the west in countries facing conflict. Currently, Russian mercenaries Wagner are present in the Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique and Libya. Somalia has faced numerous attacks from al-Qaida's East Africa affiliate group, al-Shabab and recently the government embarked on what has been described as the most significant offensive against the al-Shabab extremist group in more than a decade. The extremist group has held back the nation's recovery from decades of conflict. Russia's game plan in Africa has involved seeking alliances with regimes or juntas shunned by the West or facing insurgencies and internal challenges to their rule. The African leaders get recognition from the Kremlin and military muscle from Wagner. They pay for it by giving Russia prime access to their oil, gas, gold, diamonds and valuable minerals. Russian influence in Africa was evidenced when the United Nations 17 of the 35 countries that abstained from a vote on a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine were African. Somalia had voted in favor of Ukraine resolution but has been working on improving relations with Russia that were severed in 1978 when Moscow backed Ethiopia in a war with Somalia. PRISTINA, Kosovo Serbia put its troops on the border with Kosovo on the highest state of alert Friday following clashes between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo police that left more than a dozen injured on both sides. The Serbs in northern Kosovo, who represent a majority in that region, were trying to block the entrance of municipal buildings to prevent recently-elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering them. Police fired tear gas and several cars were set ablaze. In response to the clashes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that he put the army on a "highest state of alert." Vucic also said that he ordered an "urgent" movement of Serbian troops closer to the borderline with Kosovo. Vucic will attend a rally in support of him in Belgrade after two mass shootings earlier this month that killed 18 people and left 20 others wounded. He said in a statement that because of "violence" against Kosovo Serbs, Serbia demanded that NATO-led troops stationed in Kosovo protect them from the Kosovo police. Kosovo police acknowledged their increased presence in the north "to assist mayors of the northern communes of Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok to exert their right of work." Police said that five officers were injured by stun grenades and other hard objects thrown from protesters. A police car was burned while three others were damaged. Police also reported that shots were heard. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Kosovo Serb hospital officials said that about 10 protesters were injured. U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeff Hovenier condemned "the ongoing action by Kosovar authorities to access municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo. Today's violent measures should be immediately halted," he tweeted. New mayors in three communes in northern Kosovo, which is mostly populated by an ethnic Serb minority, were prevented from entering the buildings with small groups of Serbs keeping their hands up at the entrance of the municipalities, apparently in a sign that they were not there to take part in violence, Albanian indexonline.net website wrote, also showing photos. In Zvecan, the Kosovo-online.com site showed clashes with police in front of the public building while in Leposavic they also had blocked the main square with cars and trucks. Earlier, Serbs also switched on their alarm sirens in the four communes, including in the main northern Mitrovica town, in a warning sign and call to gather, "sirens which are used by criminal structures for mobilization and gatherings," according to police. The April 23 snap election was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs and only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies. Local elections were held in four Serb-dominated communes in northern Kosovo after Serb representatives left their posts last year in protest at the establishment of the association, which would coordinate work on education, health care, land planning and economic development at the local level. With Kosovo's ethnic Serbs demanding autonomy, Kosovar Albanians fear that the association may turn into a new ministate like Srpska Republika in Bosnia. A 2013 Pristina-Belgrade agreement on that plan was later declared unconstitutional by Kosovo's Constitutional Court, which ruled that it wasn't inclusive of other ethnicities and could entail the use of executive powers to impose laws. The two sides have tentatively agreed to back a EU plan on how to proceed, but tensions continue to simmer. The association issue is among the main ones, for which both the United States and the European Union are pressing Kosovo. The United States and the EU have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as the war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo they must normalize relations to advance in their intentions to join the bloc. The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbia's rule, and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died. NATO's military intervention in 1999 eventually forced Serbia to pull out of the territory. Washington and most EU countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China have not. ___ Llazar Semini reported from Tirana, Albania, Dusan Stojanovic contributed to this report from Belgrade. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. A meeting was held on May 26, 2023 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Javier Colomina, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, the ministry told Trend. According to the ministry, issues of cooperation between NATO and the country, the normalization process between the latter and Armenia and the current state of negotiations were discussed during the meeting. Bayramov spoke about the steps taken by the country to promote the peace agenda, the military and political provocations of Armenia that damage the peace process. In turn, Colomina highlighted that NATO supports the process of normalization of relations between the two countries. The importance of conducting a regular political dialogue and developing practical cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan as a partner country contributing to peace and security in the region and beyond it was noted at the meeting. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. The search for Marine Corps veteran Grady Kurpasi had gone cold until former Army paratrooper Meaghan Mobbs stepped into a safe house in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. It was January, and Mobbs and her team of veterans and humanitarian workers with the private Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation had already spent months trying to find out what happened to Kurpasi after he went missing in a battle with invading Russian forces near Mykolaiv in the south. The Weatherman group had arrived at the house in Kharkiv on an unrelated mission, meeting with another American veteran fighting alongside Ukrainians to discuss weapons and logistics. An unexpected breakthrough came a short time later. Do you have any Americans with tight lips down in Mykolaiv or Kherson? the veteran wrote in a text message to Mobbs, asking if what he was about to tell her would remain confidential. He explained how his unit in Ukraines legion of foreign soldiers had been tasked last year with recovering the body of a fallen American but the area had become overrun with Russian troops. Holy hell, Mobbs wrote back. Are you talking about Grady? Kurpasi, 50, had traveled to Ukraine shortly after the Russian military stormed the country in February 2022. He first assisted with evacuations and training Ukrainians for combat and then took up arms himself. He was motivated to fight after witnessing atrocities committed during Russias failed attempt to seize Ukraines capital Kyiv, his family and friends said. He had racked up 20 years of valuable military experience before retiring from the Marine Corps in September 2021, including three deployments to Iraq and service as an infantryman, scout sniper and captain with multiple awards for valor. He was inspiring, selfless, and constantly endured hardship and difficulty with a smile on his face, Kurpasis family wrote on a GoFundMe page. Due to the intensity of the war, there was a need for people such as Grady, they said. Kurpasi was last seen April 26, 2022, as he left an observation post to investigate the source of incoming gunfire with a British volunteer, Andrew Hill. Two other members of their unit were killed in the ensuing attack and Hill was captured by the enemy. Rumors swirled that Kurpasi had been taken prisoner by the Russians too or was lying injured in a hospital but Mobbs said she knew in her gut that he was gone. She brought Kurpasis case to the Weatherman Foundation in August 2022, eager to find and bring home a fellow recipient of a military scholarship from the Pat Tillman Foundation. Our value system within the organization is deeply steeped in service, said Mobbs, the foundation's president. The groups director of operations, Joe Norbeck, is also a veteran so it mattered to us, she added. The foundation considers itself "the last-mile convener of humanitarian assistance," Norbeck said, and is dedicated to protecting children, defending human rights and promoting democracy. The organization followed multiple leads that went nowhere until that meeting with an American fighter in Kharkiv. The man provided a six-digit grid coordinate of a potential search site where Gradys remains might be found. It was a large area, Norbeck said, but it was something. Norbeck, a 27-year veteran of Army Special Forces, led the recovery effort in Ukraine and worked discreetly without notifying Kurpasis family of the mission to avoid giving false hope. He, however, had no doubt that his team would succeed. I was not going to quit, no matter how many dead ends we hit or how many roadblocks we hit, Norbeck said. We were I was very determined to make sure that we returned him home because I knew it was possible. He enlisted the help of an explosive ordnance disposal team to comb through the designated search area, which was occupied by Russians until a successive Ukrainian counteroffensive last fall, and found medical specialists who could perform remains identification. The Ukrainian military loaned a mine clearance team after it returned from the monthslong struggle for the now-destroyed eastern city of Bakhmut and the Ukrainian government provided the scientific experts, Norbeck said. The five-member group, along with a dog and a drone specifically designed for locating remains, had five days in late March to clear and search the area. They identified several sets of remains after three days. One of them was Kurpasi. His partial skeleton was found several hundred meters outside the grid coordinates in woods close to a road in Oleksandrivka, a small frontline village between Mykolaiv and Kherson. Kurpasis helmet, body armor, boots and backpack were dug up near the bones, Norbeck said. In early April, testing of the remains matched the DNA sample that the State Department had collected from Kurpasis 14-year-old daughter and Norbeck finally notified Kurpasis wife. She then gave the Weatherman Foundation permission to begin the complicated process of transferring the remains to the familys home in Wilmington, N.C. The journey involved moving the remains to another province of southwestern Ukraine, opening and closing a criminal case, obtaining a coroners report and a death certificate, and turning over documents to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to receive a consular report of the death of an American citizen abroad, Norbeck said. Kurpasis remains left Ukraine in mid-May, accompanied by Norbeck. They traveled to Moldova, then Turkey, then on to New York, where Kurpasis family and friends held a ceremony to honor him. A private jet then flew the remains, covered by an American flag, to North Carolina, where Kurpasis wife and daughter were waiting. It was extraordinarily bittersweet, Mobbs said. Its a moment that Im proud of but its also tinged with sadness and grief and means all hope is extinguished that he will be found alive. She said she has been fascinated by the act of repatriation since learning about the duties of a mortuary affairs specialist during her officer training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. One of the most honorable things that you can do, in my opinion, is bring someone home to be laid to rest on American soil, to give closure to a family, she said. Norbeck said there was a need for repatriating Americans killed in Ukraine and the Weatherman Foundation was trying to fill it. The organization had previously supported the repatriation of former Navy SEAL Daniel Swift, paying for his funeral and helping move his remains, and sent monetary support for Pete Reed, a former Marine who died while working as a frontline medic, Norbeck said. Mobbs anticipates taking on more repatriation cases as Ukraine attempts to take back land occupied by Russian forces in a highly anticipated summer counteroffensive. I hate to say it, but I imagine there will be more that are killed and so someones going to have to do it, she said. I want nothing more than my organization to have the honor of bringing Americans home in the way that they should be, with honor and attention, back to their families. LEGGETT, Tex. - A man suffered a stroke but a stopped train blocked paramedics from reaching him for over an hour. A senior in a nearby retirement community missed his oncologist appointment because another train obstructed that same intersection. A fire crew could not get to a house engulfed in flames until another train eventually cleared the crossing. For decades, those living along Glover Road in Leggett, Tex. - a rural community with fewer than 150 residents some 80 miles from Houston - wrote letters, sent emails and called authorities pleading that trains stop blocking the neighborhood's sole point of entry and exit for hours. Some residents and a county judge sent letters addressed to the railroad company, warning of a "greater catastrophe," including a toxic train disaster. "Should there be a derailment . . . we would be dead ducks, having no evacuating route," Pete Glover, the man whom the street is named after, wrote in a 1992 letter to the railway company. "If some home caught afire," he added. there'd be "no way for firetrucks to serve them." To many in the community, their worst fears were realized in 2021, when baby K'Twon Franklin died. His mother, Monica Franklin, had found the three-month old unresponsive in her bed the morning of Sept. 30, and called 911. Paramedics responded, but a Union Pacific train blocked their path on Glover Road, according to Franklin and a local police report. It took more than 30 minutes for them to carry K'Twon into an ambulance. Two days later, the baby died at a hospital in Houston. "Unfortunately, the delay has cost my child's life," Franklin, 34, told The Washington Post. Over the last decade, rail corporations have been running more lengthy freight trains - some as long as three miles - partly to save fuel and labor costs. As they do, they are blocking rural and urban intersections, stoking anger and contributing to tragedies and calamities. Much of the nation's focus has been on a long Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in February, sparking a toxic fireball and prompting state and federal investigations. But while Congress has shown some renewed concern about rail safety, there's been little focus on an everyday safety threat - long trains blocking first responders from getting to emergencies. It is happening across the country. In Tennessee, a man died of a medical emergency after an ambulance crew was held up at a train crossing. In Oklahoma, a man perished from a heart attack after first responders were stuck behind a train at the only entrance to their street. Since 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has operated a digital portal where citizens can report obstructions caused by trains. So far this year, there have been more than 1,400 reports of first responders blocked by trains. There have also been documented cases of frustrated pedestrians crawling under stopped trains, only to be injured or killed when the train starts moving. In Texas, K'Twon's mother has filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific, claiming its routine blockage of the Glover Road intersection prevented paramedics from reaching her child, thereby causing his death. In response, the railway company has offered its sympathy and said it is working to resolve problems at intersections in Leggett and other communities. "Our hearts go out to K'Twon's family on this tragic situation," the company said in a statement. "Union Pacific is in the early phases of litigation discovery, investigating the overall factual timeline, including whether the presence of a train had any impact on first responders' ability to revive K'Twon. We understand the impact blocked crossings have for community residents and work diligently to reduce the amount of time trains occupy the crossing." Many residents of Leggett put little stock in such pledges. Schools superintendent Jana Lowe is one of several local leaders and residents who have been writing and calling Union Pacific for years, warning that obstructions at the Glover Road crossing - such as school buses delayed for hours - could lead to something more horrific. "I fairly believe that this cost a child's life, that they weren't able to get there on time," she said. "It's heartbreaking. It could have been avoided." In his 25 years as a locomotive engineer, Eddie Hall saw his trains grow longer and longer. He can recall when they were just over a mile in length. Before going on leave last winter, he was driving a 3-mile long Union Pacific train with as much 18,000 tons of mixed freight on his regular Tucson to El Paso route. He's seen his line of freight cars disrupt traffic for hours in small and rural towns, he said adding that in Tucson, trains can block the downtown's four railroad crossings for as long as an hour. "Whatever they block, they block," said Hall, who now leads the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. "The carriers really don't take into consideration how long we sit on rail crossings." Trains have mushroomed in length for a simple reason - they save money and generate profits for railway companies and their shareholders. Roughly two decades ago, activist investors started pressuring railway corporations to become more efficient, by reducing labor and fuel costs. So railroads adopted an operating model that cut crews and consolidated trains, known as "precision scheduled railroading." By using longer trains, rail companies are operating fewer shorter trains, increasing fuel efficiencies and decreasing costs and their carbon footprints, industry officials say. It has paid off. BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, the two largest railroad corporations in the nation, have reported record earnings in recent years. U.S. railroads have paid out $196 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to shareholders since 2010. Rail industry officials say the use of longer trains has also helped improve safety, and they point to an overall decline in derailments. But in the aftermath of the East Palestine spill, federal regulators have warned that long trains deserve closer review and can contribute to derailments. About 1,000 trains derail annually nationwide, according to the FRA, including a spate this year. Following the Ohio incident, a train derailed on the Swinomish Reservation in Anacortes, Wash. in mid-March, spilling diesel fuel. Also in March a train passing through Springfield, Ohio, went off its tracks - leading to a shelter in place - and a small town in Minnesota was evacuated after a train carrying ethanol derailed and caught fire. A FRA advisory last month urged railroads to make sure that engineers are adequately trained to handle long sets of freight cars and that locomotives don't lose communication with devices at the end of trains that can help trigger the brakes in an emergency. Federal regulators also highlighted safety risks associated with blocked crossings, particularly how stopped trains can impede access to emergency services. The FRA's recommendations stopped short of mandating trains size limits, which some labor unions and local communities have demanded. Members of Congress and state lawmakers in at least five states have proposed establishing length restrictions in the wake of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment in Ohio. In that incident, federal investigators have said that an overheating wheel bearing led the 149-car train to derail. The train's length, approximately 1.8 miles long, has not been identified as a potential factor. Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said in an earnings call last month that accident data doesn't show that long trains are riskier. He said that since 2019, train length is up by about 20 percent in his railroad's network, while mainline and siding derailments are down by 26 percent. "There's zero corollary between train length and derailments," Fritz said. Labor unions, however, say longer trains tend to require more maintenance because greater stress is placed on the equipment, and they cause greater conflicts in communities. "When you have first responders trying to get from one side of the track to another, in a small town like that, you're putting the public safety at risk," Hall said. Leggett, an hour north of Houston, is an unincorporated community surrounded by farms and cattle ranches, a part of the Gulf Coastal Plain once carpeted by vast timberlands. At one point there were as many as 20 sawmills in the area, and the railroad was at the center of the region's early economy, delivering pulpwood to a paper mill near Houston. These days, the residents of Glover Road, a mile-long dirt road bordering the train tracks, receive little benefit from the railroad, and must cope with some hazards. Long trains carrying ethanol, fertilizers and other chemicals stop at a nearby switching station multiple times a day, often blocking the single crossing that connects Glover Road and its two dozen homes to the rest of Polk County. "One time they sat there for 3 hours," recalls Kathy Crowhurst, a resident of 18 years who owns the Good Ol' Daze retirement community. She said her tenants - ages 55 to 98 - have had to cancel doctor's appointments or wait on the other side of the tracks to get home. Schoolchildren are often late to class when the train blocks school buses. In 2021, a train blocked a firetruck on its way to a house fire on Glover Road, said Corky Cochran, chief of the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, which includes Leggett in its territory. Fortunately, another truck had already made it to the scene and they didn't need more water. Good luck, said Cochran, "or the fact that God has been on our side." Another scare came on Jan. 19. That night, Crowhurst's fiance Pete suffered a stroke and her 911 call coincided with a train pulling into town. "We waited and waited," said Crowhurst, with no help showing up just after 8 p.m. Finally, she saw flashlights and two paramedics hurrying across the tracks and the half-mile stretch to her house. It took about 30 minutes for the emergency crew to get him to the hospital. Her fiance, who was battling brain cancer, survived the stroke, but Crowhurst said it was a dangerously close call. Trains block the Glover Road crossing several times a day, and are unpredictable in their timing and duration, residents say. Trains on the main single track pull to a siding track so one coming in the opposite direction can go through. That was the cause of the obstruction that prevented paramedics from quickly reaching baby K'Twon, Union Pacific said in a statement. Every time there's an incident, Crowhurst, 65, notifies Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy, who sends an inquiry to the railroad. Murphy said residents have been pleading for relief for decades, while she has been asking Union Pacific to help with at least one road option that would improve access for residents on the wrong side of the tracks. The solution would be to build a short connector road to another crossing, giving Glover Road residents a way out. They could then cross the tracks and drive 15 minutes to Livingston, the nearest town. Or if all crossings were blocked in Leggett, they could take the long way to Livingston, about a 45 minute drive. In its statement, Union Pacific said it is committed to working with communities - including Leggett - to resolve issues with blocked crossings. But local officials and residents say that, despite the county and state facilitating land acquisition, the railroad has not made it a priority. "They're so slow moving and now we have a deceased baby," Murphy said. Along with nagging concerns about safety, many in Leggett say they've lost the most basic of liberties - the freedom to move around. Simple everyday errands - such as a trip to the dog groomer or a visit to the doctor - generate uncertainty. Joyce Davis, 76, who has lived in the community her whole life, said she has friends who are hesitant to visit, fearing they will get stuck by a blocked train. She hears it so often, she said, it has become a running joke. "Don't come over here on your lunch hour, just in case," she said she tells her friends. Like many of her neighbors, Franklin had repeatedly called Union Pacific to report trains blocking Glover Road, the only way in and out of the trailer where she lived at the time with her two daughters, her then-partner and K'Twon. She said she had prayed for a baby after years of being told she could not have more children. Sometimes, Franklin said, a stopped train would prevent the school bus from picking up or dropping off one of her daughters. Her complaints to Union Pacific, Franklin said, went unanswered. She remembers having a conversation about train delays with Lowe, the schools superintendent, just before the worst day of her life, Sept. 30, 2021. That morning, after leaving her bedroom, Franklin returned to check on K'Twon, she said. But the curly haired baby didn't move when she touched him. Alarmed, Franklin, a registered nurse, checked for his pulse. He still had some color on his face, Franklin recounted. She called 911 and started to perform CPR while talking to the operator. The operator instructed her to continue until help could arrive. But when paramedics found their path blocked by a train, they were forced to crawl under the train cars, according to a Polk County Sheriff police report, and Franklin grew increasingly desperate. She ran toward them with the baby in her arms. There, on a cross tie, Franklin and a paramedic continued CPR for several minutes, she said. Finally, the train moved on and paramedics were able to hustle K'Twon into their ambulance, more than a half an hour after Franklin had called 911, she said. When he died two days later, Franklin was grief stricken and angry. Later, she made plans to move her family far away from Leggett. "I can't live close to a train track," she said, adding that even the sound of a train horn haunts her. As public concern mounts over derailments and blocked crossings, state and federal leaders in both parties are calling for tougher regulation of railway companies. Following the toxic disaster in Ohio, two Republican U.S. senators, Marco Rubio of Florida and J.D. Vance of Ohio, sent Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a pointed letter. In it, they questioned why the federal government wasn't doing more to police railroads that are "moving more freight with fewer workers." "It is not unreasonable to ask whether a crew of two rail workers, plus one trainee, is able to effectively monitor 150 cars," the senators wrote in their Feb. 15 letter. The Railway Safety Act, which would require railroads to maintain a toll-free number where people can report blocked crossings, advanced to the Senate floor this month where it will probably need 60 votes to pass. The legislation also would set standards for trackside safety detectors, apply new rules to trains transportation hazardous materials and curb efforts by railroads to reduce their workforces. On the state level, at least five legislatures - in Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, Virginia and Kansas - were reviewing bills this year to restrict train lengths. Most are looking at restricting the length of the train to 1.6 miles. It is still an open question, however, if states hold the legal authority to regulate railroads, which have long enjoyed protection under the 1887 Interstate Commerce Act. Last year, for instance, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down that state's law that set a five-minute limit on how long stopped trains can block crossings. The court ruled that federal law preempts such state restrictions. In response, the attorneys general of eighteen states and the District called on the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm state authority to regulate blocked railroad crossings "in the interest of public safety." It is unknown if the high court will take the case. In March, the U.S. Supreme Court invited the federal government to offer its position on whether state and local governments can regulate how long trains can block railroad crossings. It could be at least fall before the nation's highest court decides to take the case. In the meantime, the FRA says it is working with the National Academy of Sciences on a study of trains that are longer than 7,500 feet. The study - mandated by Congress in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure deal - is expected to be complete later this year, as is a report the FRA is preparing for Congress on blocked intersections. The agency's database of rail crossing complaints provide a snapshot of what communities are facing: "late for work, lost wages," reads one complaint from Villa Grove, Ill. "Students can't get to school," someone reporting up to 2 hour of delays in Keyser, W.Va., said. "Local businesses are unable to work," said another in Los Angeles. The FRA said it has not investigated specific instances where blocked crossings delayed emergency response, saying those cases would be a matter for local officials and law enforcement. It says that it "continues to encourage railroads to prevent and minimize adverse impacts caused by blocked crossings." The Association of American Railroads, which represents the industry, says limiting train length to 7,500 feet, as some state lawmakers have proposed, could increase U.S. freight train fuel consumption by about 13 percent. The solution, the industry says, is to work with communities to minimize the frequency of blocked crossings. The association says crews are trained to reduce the occurrence of blocked crossings, and dispatchers are alerted when crossings are blocked and have authority to address obstructions. But with more than 200,000 grade crossings across the United States, some impacts are inevitable, the industry says, citing those as the trade-off of transporting goods. "Railroads are aware of their impact on communities, particularly grade crossings, and sympathize with those who may be affected by train movement," the AAR said in a statement. While the association declined to comment on specific cases where blocked crossings delayed first responders, it added that shipping goods by rail reduces freight truck shipments, thereby reducing congestion on roads and highways. In Leggett, Walter Peden recently surveyed his family old homestead, which burned down years ago along many other homes nearby, including his wife's grandmother's house, which he said caught fire last year. Train blockages did not contribute to firefighter response to any of those blazes. Still, Peden is somewhat resigned to the fact that trains will block fire crews and paramedics from reaching his property and others on Glover Road. "Trapped," he said, describing how he currently feels. Not everyone is giving up. Murphy said she'll keep lobbying for a fix to the Glover Road crossing. She concedes, though, that small communities lack the funding and clout to get infrastructure built quickly, even when the public is at risk. "It's extremely concerning, not just for me, not just for Polk County, but across the entire United States," said Murphy. "In rural communities you can't just say, 'We'll go to the next crossing' because there is no next crossing." Lazo reported from Washington. America's military involvement in the Vietnam War ended 50 years ago this year, but the legacy of and respect for those who served continues to grow. Some made the ultimate sacrifice. More than 58,000 men and women lost their lives during the conflict before the U.S. military withdrew from it in 1973. This includes 385 from our nine-county region whose names will be listed in a special Memorial Day section in this newspaper. Others returned home to a nation torn by feelings about the war that were sometimes misdirected toward those who served their country honorably. This story looks at their experiences, and the legacy of the Vietnam War 50 years later. Michael Vanderveen, of Dayton, enlisted in the Marine Corps on his 18th birthday in February 1968 and arrived in Vietnam in June as an infantry rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. He was wounded several times during his service, receiving two purple hearts, one for the injuries he sustained from stepping on a landmine in January 1969. Vanderveen, who lost both his legs but retained both knees, went from a hospital in Da Nang, to a field hospital in Japan for nearly three weeks and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for about two years. "While I was in the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, I became a member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War and I staunchly wanted the war to end," he said. "I wanted our guys to come home and it took a while, but we got the job done." Vanderveen said young people today come up to him and thank him for his service and his sacrifice. "But when a person in my age range comes up and says all that, I automatically think, 'I wonder what you were doing in '69-'70, whether you were one of the people that was throwing (vegetables) and rocks at us and calling us every nasty name you could think of," he said. "I don't mean to sound bitter, but I am, a little bit." The fact that society has gone from shunning those who fought in that war to revering those who were killed in action and paying tribute to those who survived is "wonderful," Vanderveen said. "It's one thing to protest the war, but don't hate the warrior," he said. "That was pretty much what I had to say in Philadelphia and on from that point." Vanderveen recalls the first time he was allowed home from Philadelphia in 1971. He was clad is his dress blues and, because he didn't have his prosthetics yet, was wheeled by an airport employee through the concourse at Cox Municipal Airport. When the employee went into a shop to buy him some cigarettes, a soda and a candy bar, Vanderveen rolled up to a window to watch the planes taxi in and out. "A lady in a mumu came up to me and she goes, 'Were you in Vietnam?' I said, 'Yes ma'am' and she she spit right in the middle of my dress blues," Vanderveen said. "And she was lucky that the red cap (airport employee) came out just in time to grab my shoulders because I was about to launch out of the wheelchair and I'd have probably gone to prison that day. "Now, we are getting thanked for our service. We are getting honored in many ways." Vanderveen acknowledges that anti-war sentiments aimed at those who fought in Vietnam didn't vanish with the end of that war. "There's still protest every conflict that we're in, and that will probably never end until we stop getting in wars, but as far as my service goes, I am proud to have served," he said. He said he also is proud to be president of the Vietnams Veterans of America Chapter 97, a group that formed in 1985 and one that he officially joined in 2005. The organization, which has about 185 members, will be one of the groups on hand at 11 a.m. Monday morning at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park for a Memorial Day ceremony. For the past eight years, Vanderveen has dropped a wreath from the Stewart Street Bridge into the Great Miami River on Memorial Day after the ceremony at the park, which memorializes area residents from an eight-county region who lost their lives during the war, including several local Medal of Honor winners. Learning from mistakes Connie Wilson, of Springfield, whose father served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, including during the Vietnam War, said "being an Army soldier was the greatest honor of his life, as being an 'Army brat' was the greatest honor of mine." Wilson, who was born in 1964, said her father, Roy Wilson, fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars before leaving the Army in 1969 at 43 years old. The family lived in Georgia when Wilson's father was over in Vietnam and while Wilson's mother did much of the worrying, Wilson herself "didn't understand as much." "Before he went over there, he used to always talk about how wonderful our country was, how he loved what he was doing, how he loved our country, and so I just always knew that my dad, he was just doing great things for our country," she said. But Roy Wilson's return to America saw "no recognition at all" from his fellow citizens, his daughter said. "If there was any, it wasn't good," Wilson said. "For a long time, if anybody said anything to him, it wasn't a good thing." As the years went by and people spotted her father wearing Army hats or T-shirts, their initially chilly reception turned warm. "People would say 'Thank you for your service,'" she said. "It was a big turnaround." Wilson's father died in 2011 at 85 years old. "If he was here, he would say the same things I did," she said. "He would tell you that serving ... in the Army was an honor for him and he would encourage anyone to do that. It was a great career for him (and) ... it gave him a great life." Wilson also said that when her father returned from Vietnam, there weren't the resources available that there are today. "No one to put an arm around his shoulder and tell him that they would get him in with a psychologist or counselor or whatever," she said, noting that her father suffered nightmares for more than a year following his return. "You just took care of it. Today, they have all of those things in place. And all of that is so very important. Hopefully, that means they've learned from their mistakes." Legacy today The Vietnam War impacted more than the U.S. soldiers that returned to America, according to Paul Morrow, a visiting assistant professor in the University of Dayton Human Rights Center and postdoctoral fellow who worked on the center's Vietnam Legacies Project There were about 500,000 Vietnamese alone that came to the United States by 1995, along with other Southeast Asian immigrants. Those who came over already have grandchildren who were born here. "Those people are, on the one hand, confronting anti-Asian hate in the U.S., and on the other hand, have a different perspective on the current government of Vietnam and some of the other current governments in Southeast Asia today," Morrow said. "Their grandchildren, like grandchildren from other ethnicities and races all across our country, are interested in their roots, but they don't have the sort of lived memory of that experience of being a refugee, of flights, and so they're interested in 'Well, where do I come from?' but they don't really have a lot of prior associations with Vietnam today," Morrow said. The Vietnam War also led to "Vietnam Syndrome" in American policy. "Through basically the first Gulf War with George H.W. Bush, there was a real hesitation to use U.S. military power in foreign conflicts," he said. "Today, do we have a similar hesitation to use U.S. military force abroad? I think that the experience particularly of the end of the conflict in Afghanistan, probably for someone of Biden's generation or some of our older political leaders, they think 'That was another messy withdrawal from a conflict setting where we didn't really achieve what we wanted' so I would imagine they've got some Vietnam War flashbacks. "At the same time, Biden's stance on American assistance in Ukraine versus direct conflict with Russia is probably shaped by some of these same Cold War era thoughts." In 1973, when the U.S. officially exited the Vietnam War, which wouldn't officially end until 1975, three-fourths of those in the U.S. Congress had some form of military service record, Morrow said. Today, with the current congress, that's down to 18%, Morrow said. As for the American population as a whole, approximately 18% of the populace were veterans by 1980, he said. Today, that number is down to just 6.5%. "There's been a distancing of a big proportion of the U.S. population from military service, and that probably has driven a lot of polarization with political associations with military service," Morrow said. "Today, three-fourths of the people in Congress who are veterans are in the Republican Party. You wouldn't see that split back in 1980." Morrow said Kathleen Belew, author of "Bringing the War Home", argues that the loss of faith in the actual elected political leaders who were running the war led to "a certain kind of backlash amongst veterans who consider themselves very patriotic, but thought that they had been basically betrayed by the political and military leadership at the time." Honoring veterans Robert Black, of Oakwood, went to college and joined the Air Force as a second lieutenant through the ROTC program in 1960, serving as a navigator in Vietnam intermittently from 1966 to 1969. When he made it back stateside, Black was stationed in Colorado and went to school to become a contracting officer. There, on occasion, he would encounter people giving him the peace sign, "but never received anything negative, just sort of like nothing, you know?" Five decades after the end of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, acknowledgement of one's service is not only more likely, but more common, he said. "People seem actually, much friendlier ... than they did when I first came back in '69, the ones that acknowledge that you're in the Air Force or served," Black said. This Memorial Day, like past years, he plans to paying tribute to all veterans, including those who fought and died in Vietnam and those who returned stateside and have died since then. "I think it's important," Black said. "Being in the Air Force, I had it a lot easier. I feel (those) who were in the Marines (and) in the Army, they really had it rough. I didn't have it that rough and I could fly in and fly out and they were staying there. I have a lot of admiration for those people." Black said while he's observing Memorial Day, he'll be thinking of the crew of people he knew on board a Lockheed RC-121 who perished when the plane went down. Vanderveen said the way the public views veterans coming back from wars has come a long way in the past 50 years. "Guys coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq, they were welcomed home in the proper manner," he said. "Our motto with the Vietnam Veterans of America is never again will one group of veterans abandon another and we are steadfast in that. We make sure that the guys returning from other wars are welcomed home." Vanderveen said that when Beavercreek native Marine Corporal Larry Draughn returned from his second deployment to Afghanistan after losing both his legs to an IED there in May 2009, "just about everybody" in the VVA chapter was there at his new Fairborn house to greet him. "The smile on his face said it all," he said. "It was a wonderful thing to be involved with." The Dayton Daily News honors all the men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives in service to our country. This Memorial Day, 50 years after the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, we pay special tribute to the lives lost in that war. Pick up Monday's newspaper for a list of names, branches of service and home towns and counties of the 385 servicemembers from our area listed as casualties of the Vietnam War by The National Archives. (c)2023 Springfield News-Sun, Ohio Visit Springfield News-Sun Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON, D.C. For more than a century, the poppy has served as the national emblem of remembrance of those who have died in the service of their country. This Memorial Day weekend, the USAA Poppy Wall of Honor is back on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The wall, embedded with 645,000 poppies in honor of American war dead since World War I, has been a part of the D.C. Memorial Day observance since 2017. This year a special panel marks the National Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration, and there is also a digital panel displaying individual remembrances that have been aggregated with #PoppyInMemory. The installation is located near the Lincoln Memorial and will be open Friday until midnight, Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Former spokesperson of the Punjab government Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and her husband Jamshed Iqbal Cheema have announced to quit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and politics. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after being released from Adiala Jail, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema condemned the events that occurred on May 9 following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khans arrest. He said upon hearing the news of Imran Khans arrest, I personally arrived at Jinnah House, with no intention of engaging in any form of attack or violence and I found it quite unexpected when individuals entered Jinnah House and engaged in acts of arson and vandalism. Those responsible for such actions should be held accountable and face legal consequences, he said adding that the narrative that unfolded on May 9, which was a result of the senior leaderships actions, unfortunately, continued due to circumstances beyond our control. Cheema further said that the events of May had detrimental effects on democracy, politics, and peaceful protests. They not only harmed Pakistan domestically but also tarnished its image globally. In the absence of peaceful protests, the political partys narrative suffers a setback, leading to losses in its overall message and agenda. He announced their decision to disassociate from politics, which includes parting ways with PTI, adding that once they step away from politics, any affiliation with the party ceases to exist. Speaking on the occasion, Musrat Jamshed Cheema expressed that her entry into politics was driven by a desire to contribute to the betterment of the country. She emphasised that she spoke to Imran Khan 11 times on the phone and knew their calls were being tapped, adding that they didnt talk about institutions in the telephonic conversation. Ms Cheema stressed the importance of prioritising the nations welfare and rising above personal ego to mitigate the harm inflicted upon the country, urging everyone to unite for the betterment of the nation. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khans close friend and legal advisor, Babar Awan, has made an unannounced departure from Pakistan. According to the reports, Awan boarded a flight to London from Islamabad International Airport at 1pm on Friday. The flight, Virgin Atlantic VS379, is scheduled to arrive in London around 5pm Pakistan time. He said in a tweet, he was with the party and had left the country for pre-arranged private engagements. I have left the country for pre-arranged private engagements. All my medicines are Pakistani and treated by proud Pakistani doctors. Imran was a friend before, now he is my leader, Tehreek-e-Insaf is my larger family and Pakistan is my destination, he said. Awan is known for his vocal criticisms of the PDM government. He joined the PTI in 2017 after being associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party for several years. In recent days, PTI has seen its several leaders quitting the party or stepping down from their posts. Eric Brills (50) had his case further adjourned at Dublin District Court today. A man charged with flying a drone into a critical area near Dublin airport is to seek legal advice on exclusionary zones before deciding on a plea. Eric Brills (50), who allegedly interfered with operations at the airport in an incident in January, had his case further adjourned at Dublin District Court today. It is alleged that on January 24, at Naul Road, Cloghran, Co Dublin, Mr Brills unlawfully and intentionally interfered with the operation of air navigation facilities at Dublin Airport by operating a drone in the 300-metre critical area, such act being likely to interfere with the safety of aircraft in flight. The offence is under the Air Navigation and Transport Act and Mr Brills, of Holywell Dale, Swords, has not yet indicated how he intends to plead. Today was his third court appearance since he was arrested and charged. The DPP has directed that the case can only remain in the district court if the accused is pleading guilty. If he contests the charge, he will be sent forward to the circuit court for trial. Defence solicitor Donal Quigley said today it was a very unusual charge and asked the court to extend free legal aid to cover a barrister. He wanted to seek advice from counsel, saying there was a particular issue in relation to exclusionary zones which he needed to clarify. Judge Ciaran Liddy granted the extension of legal aid and adjourned the case to June 23. On the first court date, Det Gda Enda Ledwith said the accused made no reply to the charge after caution. Bail was granted with no garda objection subject to conditions. Under the terms, Mr Brills must not operate any drones. He was also to provide gardai with his phone number and be contactable at all times, reside at his current address, surrender his passport to gardai and not apply for other travel documents. Mr Brills was not required to sign on at a garda station. The court had heard it was a "complex case". The offence, on conviction on indictment in the circuit court carries a potential sentence of up to life imprisonment. At district court level, the maximum penalty for any single charge is 12 months. It is illegal to fly drones within 5km of the airport, and drones over a certain size must be registered. First version published at 18:25 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. A meeting was held on May 26, 2023 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Javier Colomina, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, the ministry told Trend. According to the ministry, issues of cooperation between NATO and the country, the normalization process between the latter and Armenia and the current state of negotiations were discussed during the meeting. Bayramov spoke about the steps taken by the country to promote the peace agenda, the military and political provocations of Armenia that damage the peace process. In turn, Colomina highlighted that NATO supports the process of normalization of relations between the two countries. The importance of conducting a regular political dialogue and developing practical cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan as a partner country contributing to peace and security in the region and beyond it was noted at the meeting. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Brad Hunter joins Nicola Tallant to discuss the famous headline from 1983s New York Post IT was the headline that vent viral 1983 style, inspired the movies and is being celebrated by old school tabloid hacks across the world 40 years on. "Headless Body in Topless Bar" was penned by the legendary New York Post editor Vincent Musetto after a cocaine-fuelled crime spree by criminal Charles Dingle. Nicola is joined by journalist Brad Hunter, formerly of the New York Post, about the headline and the gruesome story behind it. Crime World Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. MORE EPISODES Smith left Limerick Prison on Wednesday afternoon where she was collected by a family member. Convicted Islamic State member Lisa Smith is free from prison just a year after being convicted and sentenced to 15 months for joining the terror group. The former solder left Limerick Prison on Wednesday afternoon where she was collected by a family member, having served her time. All prisoners are entitled to 25 per cent remission and the Dundalk woman had been described as a model prisoner while at the prisons womens wing. Speaking to the Sunday World before she into prison last year she rejected calls made by former jihadist that she "free herself from the psychological mental prison of Islam", saying: "That's not going to happen, no! I love my religion, it's what I live for now." Asked at the time if she was hopeful she would not get a jail sentence, Smith responded: "For me, look, it's OK, it doesn't matter. "My life is my life, my journey is my journey. She had previously been living in tough conditions at a Syrian refugee camp with her young daughter before being sent back to Ireland in December 2019 where she was arrested. During her time at the camp she said in one interview she was not involved in fighting and did not train girls to become fighters. She also claimed she had been visited more than once by the FBI for questioning, and agents had taken her fingerprints and DNA. But the 40-year-old, mother of one, was found guilty in May after a nine-week trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Delivering the verdict, Judge Tony Hunt said it had established that she travelled to Syria "with her eyes open" and pledged allegiance to ISIS, then led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He noted that while Smith is a low risk for re-offending, she was persistent and determined in her efforts to travel to Syria and join Isis and has shown no remorse for her actions. The judge said it was "serious" for an Irish citizen to take up allegiance with a terrorist organisation and persist with it. Lisa Smith outside court The court rejected Smiths claims she had travelled to the Islamic State out of a sense of religious obligation and for the purpose of living under Sharia law. In October 2015, she bought a one-way ticket, travelled from Dublin to Turkey, and crossed the border into an IS-controlled area of Syria. The court had heard how she had encouraged a husband to do a snipers course. The Court of Appeal ruled against her appeal on the severity of her sentence just last March which meant she had to stay her prison until her release date of 27th May. She had been sharing a cell in Limerick Prison dissident republican killer Rose Lynch where inmates have been forced to make space as prison numbers increase. They previously had their own cells, but get on well together, according to sources and agreed to share with each other to make space.. The regime in Limerick prison is considered much stricter than the main womens jail, the Dochas Centre in Dublin. Like all Muslim prisoners in the system, Smith had been allowed to observe her faith, praying five times a day and allowed Halal food which is prepared in line with her religious beliefs. She had previously spent a month in Limerick Prison in December 2019, after she was first extradited back to Ireland from a Syrian refugee camp before getting bail. A man, aged in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene in Westbury Woods, Enniscorthy. A man (20s) has been arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing in Co Wexford last night. Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident at around 8pm last night after receiving reports of an unresponsive male with serious injuries at a residence at Westbury Woods, Enniscorthy. The man, aged in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The body remains at the scene this morning. The office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place later today. A garda spokesman has confirmed that a man, aged in his 20s, has been arrested as part of this investigation. The spokesman said: He is currently being detained at a Garda station in Wexford under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. A full investigation is currently being conducted at Enniscorthy Garda station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO). A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed and will keep the family informed of this investigation. The residence at Westbury Woods remains preserved for technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. Gardai are appealing for anyone with information that can assist with this investigation to come forward. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9233534, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. After nearly 22 years with the Sunday World Daragh Keany has had a varied career Pat Shortt asked Daragh to have a walk on part in Mattie, once the interview was complete Reporter Daragh Keany with Primetime presenter Mirriam O'Callaghan at the Residence club on Stephens Green..Pic taken 25/05/2009 by Padraig O'Reilly... Reporters Daragh Keany and Niamh Byrne with drugs they purchased in Limerick's Trinity Rooms nightclub.....Pic taken 23/06/2009 by Padraig O'Reilly... Daragh has been lucky enough to befriend Ireland's biggest stars through the years, including Miriam O'Callaghan Idris Elba wasn't impressed when Daragh Keany told him he didn't even record their last interview My very first byline in the Sunday World was back in March 1996 when I was in the newsroom on Work Experience from school. I was 15. Ill never forget the buzz of going to the local garage late on the Saturday night to grab a few copies of the paper from the first delivery. Seeing my name in print gave me an unexpected high and I lapped up the praise from my extended family the following day. Little did I know then that less than six years later I would walk through the doors once more; this time on a 6-week probation. The bylines were slow and steady in the beginning. But it was a high I wanted to chase. As a young reporter you are tasked with a huge array of stories and investigations. Some are quick-hit wonders while others take days, or even weeks, to complete. Any day you can pick up the phone (usually straight after Joe Duffy comes off the air) and you can have any sort of person with any sort of story to get your claws into. I had a memorable gay brothel bust in a dodgy apartment on Bachelors Walk run by a former trainee priest who used the pseudonym John Paul in honour of his Holiness. Im not even lying. A tip off came through explaining his past and his dealings and we chased the story. I almost made my excuses and left too early because our lawyers wanted to know for sure, was I being offered sex. I didnt want to hang around to find out. Before the red carpets and exclusive interviews Daragh Keany worked the news beat I have purchased drugs in several counties around the country including a super club in Limerick that had just opened. Two of us headed down on a Friday night after a concerned parent had contacted our newsroom. Within 20 minutes of getting on site we had purchased a bag of coke and ten ecstasy tablets. A decade later and Nicola Tallant asked me to buy another bag of cocaine right outside our office that we had ordered by text 30 minutes earlier. A former Mountjoy prisoner took a liking to me and one of my stories, so he asked to meet me where he handed over 20 fake drivers licences that had belonged Malcolm MacArthur. And my favourite hard news anecdote is the one when I had a prostitute call the newsdesk who wanted to reveal all about one of Irelands most glamorous pimps Samantha Blandford Hutton. Daragh got to meet one of his idols Bryan Cranston Its not all seedy news stories though. As soon as the magazine launched in the summer of 2003 I was quickly drafted in by the then-editor Neil Leslie. That catapulted me into a world of celebrity interviews, red carpets, glamorous photoshoots, weekly flights, walk-on roles and party invites, that 15-year-old work experience me would never have thought possible. I interviewed 50 Cent in his penthouse in The Four Seasons and even convinced him to sing Happy Birthday down the phone to a pal Mikey, who was queuing outside The Point to see him in concert that night. Mikeys mates who were with him in the queue didnt believe it was Fiddy on the phone. So, you can imagine their shock and amazement when he changed the words to his famous song on stage that night Yo Mikey, its your birthday. We gonna party like its your birthday. Pat Shortt asked Daragh to have a walk on part in Mattie, once the interview was complete I was on set of Mattie when Pat Shortt asked me did I want to be in the show, once the interview was wrapped up. Fast forward a few hours and Ive come through makeup and I was recording a scene where I was being arrested in the police station. In 2004 Fox flew me to LA for a week to interview the stars of Breaking Bad, The Simpsons, 24 and My Name is Earl. I spent three hours each day doing round tables with all of the biggest names, but it was the drink with Steve Martin at the bar later that I remember most. And meeting Brittany Murphy and Eva Longoria in a Sushi restaurant one night and being introduced by a Fox boss as the mayor of Dublin. On another slightly-regrettable occasion I flew to London to interview the cast of Guy Richies RocknRolla with the specific task of focussing on Thandie Newton (because she was sexy), Gerard Butler (because he butchered the Irish accent in PS: I Love You) and the director (because he was Mr Madonna at the time). I had achieved my goal within an hour of getting to the venue, so I didnt even bother pressing record on my dictaphone for the exclusive chats with little known actors Idris Elba and Tom Hardy. I literally couldnt have cared any less what they said. My job was done. A few years later and superstar Elba is in Dublin for a rare DJ set and while chatting to him I casually told him about the RocknRolla junket. He smiled and quickly stuck me in a playful-but-sore headlock. Closer to home we have a much smaller pool of celebrities and through the years I have been lucky enough to call them pals. Miriam, Ryan, Daithi, Elaine, Claire, Marty and Pat are always willing to give me a quote. Some even invite me for a drink every now and again. Daragh has been lucky enough to befriend Ireland's biggest stars through the years, including Miriam O'Callaghan When I started in Irelands biggest tabloid I used to get asked a lot about it. I would always reply with three factsthe SW email address gets an answer far quicker than my Gmail; it is far more fun than you think and finallyif you think our stories are bonkers at times you should see the ones that dont make it on to our famous pages. Whether it was jail visits, celebrity run-ins or foreign trips27 years after my eventful and highly-influential work experience week in our newsroom I actually still get a massive buzz out of seeing my byline each and every Sunday. Ill never stop chasing that high. CNN also details the arson attack on a camp in Sandwith Street, Dublin, following a protest there earlier this month The plight of asylum-seekers who fled violence and persecution only to find themselves threatened by far-right activists in Ireland has been highlighted by CNN in the US. The major American 24-hour cable news channel has reported on how Ireland, known as the the land of a hundred thousand welcomes, has seen tensions over the countrys growing number of asylum-seekers rising for some time. The news site also details the arson attack on a camp in Sandwith Street, Dublin, following a protest there earlier this month, where it was dismantled and later set alight. CNN interviews a man by the name of Ahmed who told them that when he first arrived in Ireland after fleeing violence in his home country of Sudan, he was told by officials there was no place for him to stay. The CNN report highlights the tensions in the country So, like many other refugees, he pitched a tent near Dublins International Protection Office, the CNN report states. He said he didnt have many belongings, some books, a few personal items and photos of family members who were killed in the conflict just weeks before he fled. The channel reports that Ahmed, who asked them not to reveal his real name because of concerns over his safety, said all that was destroyed earlier this month after far-right anti-immigration activists organized a protest that led to the burning of the make-shift camp where he was staying. The Sudanese man told CNN he came to Ireland to escape political persecution he is facing at home over his pro-democracy beliefs. After escaping Khartoum, he flew to Dublin, where he asked the Irish government for asylum. He said that he was relieved to have found refuge with such great people but a month and a half after arriving in Ireland, he is still waiting for more permanent accommodation as he camps on the streets of Irelands capital. It is hard to be under a tent, there [is nowhere] to go to the bathroom and no cooking facilities. This is not a solution. We just want to be somewhere safe, he told CNN. CNN states that Irish police did not provide details about its investigation into the incident and did not respond to questions about who it believed started the fire. The force told CNN they met with government representatives and provided a proportionate response to incidents of public gatherings and protest. Struggling to cope with the high numbers of refugees arriving to its shores, Ireland has built up one of the longest backlogs of asylum claims in Europe, the report adds. It also refers to the Oxford Migration Observatory who say refugees afre waiting an average of 23 months to hear an initial decision on their application in 2021, the latest available data. Even if their case was prioritized, the wait remained long: 14 months on average, according to the observatory, CNN adds. According to CNN, Bulelani Mfaco, a former asylum-seeker and spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), told them in an email that the backlog is because, unlike other EU countries, Ireland has no statutory time limits for issuing decisions on asylum claims. Its far-right organizers spreading disinformation about asylum-seekers in a bid to pit asylum-seekers against other marginalized people in Ireland, he is quoted as saying. What we are seeing though is more not in my backyard type of objections or house our own first which we have seen from far-right organizers before. CNN says that questions have also been raised about the standards in one of Irelands largest refugee accommodation centers, the Citywest Transit Hub in Dublin. Nick Henderson, the CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, told CNN: We would have concern for the safety of refugees regarding the continued overcrowding of the facility. We have recently worked with homeless people who have been brought into the Citywest Transit Hub and have not been provided with a bed, instead being left to sleep on chairs or on the ground. The aftermath of the arson attack on the Sandwith Street camp One refugee who had previously stayed in the centre told CNN the accommodation was overcrowded, which has led to tensions between refugees. Im terrified for my life, the refugee told CNN. He said he left the emergency accommodation, describing it as dangerous. Having been homeless in Ireland for the past five months, he has moved his tent to the outskirts of Dublin because he was worried about another arson attack. Here life is not good. I have a heart problem, but I do not have access to healthcare because I do not have the document to show this. I want to work but I am not allowed. We have nowhere to wash. It is very hard. Where do I go from here? he said. It appears that every child has a number above their head which indicates how much they are or are not, concentrating An award-winning journalist has posted leaked footage from a Chinese classroom which shows students being monitored in a disturbing way by artificial intelligence. Jennifer Zeng is the host of video channel Inconvenient Truths which aims at offering authentic, first-hand information about global current affairs and politics. Scary. This is how Chinese students are being monitored in their classroom, Ms Zeng wrote on social media. The regular BBC contributor described how different colours appear above the students heads as they learn. Chinese classroom Seems to me that different colours are for different movements. The green one is for standing up of another kind. Looks like that person is the teacher. Red colour for raising head, pink colour for lowing head, yellow for lying head on desk, orange colour for turning head, blue colour for lowering head and holding the desk, etc., Ms Zeng said. It appears that every child has a number above their head which indicates how much they are or are not, concentrating. Every single slight movement is detected by the surveillance camera. The labels on their heads say raising head, 0.89, lowering head,0.88, standing up of another kind, 0.9, Lying head on the desk, lowering head and holding the desk, 0.71 etc. The numbers keep changing to indicate the degree of the movements. Journalist Ms Zeng Ms Zeng grew up in China but left for Australia in 2001 after being arrested four times and placed in Beijing Female Labour Camp for one year for practicing Falun Gong. Her best-selling memoir Witnessing History: One Womans Fight for Freedom and Falun Gong was published in English and Chinese. In 2010, Jennifers story was turned into an award-winning documentary, Free China: The Courage to Believe. As a result, Jennifer moved to the US in 2011 and obtained an EB-1 visa (Extraordinary Ability Green Card) for her abilities and national and international acclaim. Irelands most exciting night in fashion is celebrating 20 years in the business by rolling out the red carpet at a brand new southside venue. Holly Carpenter at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Blathnaid Treacy at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Matthew MacNabb and Laura Nolan at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Louise Cooney at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Irelands most glamorous stars are dressed to impress at the Platinum VIP Style Awards in Dublin this evening. Irelands most exciting night in fashion is celebrating 20 years in the business by rolling out the red carpet at a brand new southside venue, The Dublin Royal Convention Centre, after a decade-long run at The Marker Hotel. RTE 2fm star Doireann Garrihy is playing host for the evening for a second year in a row and has set high standards for attendees by rocking up in a baby pink shift dress. Matthew MacNabb and Laura Nolan at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy She is also on hand to support her older sister Aoibhin, who is among the nominees for the Most Stylish Woman award. This year saw more than 100,000 people voting for their favourite fashionistas across seven categories including Most Stylish Woman, Most Stylish Man, Most Stylish Influencer, Look of the Year, Most Stylish Newcomer, Favourite Irish Designer, and the Sustainable Style Award. Nominees include Love Island alums Greg OShea and Dami Hope, while Amy Huberman, Una Healy, Suzanne Jackson, and Erica Cody are also hoping to take home a gong. Blathnaid Treacy at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy But the most coveted prize of all - Best Dressed on the Night is still up for grabs and the competition is stiff. Some of the famous faces who have made their way to the most exciting event of the year include Most Stylish Influencer nominee Bonnie Ryan - who has her sister Lottie in tow - as well as former Miss Universe Ireland Roz Purcell. The Tipperary woman enlisted in the help of her Instagram followers yesterday to decide on her outfit for the night a toss up between a bubblegum pink gown with bunches of black fabric around the hips or an elegant old black dress that belonged to her boyfriends mother. Holly Carpenter at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2023 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Golden Lane, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy It seems like Roz made the right call as she stayed true to her sustainable roots in the second-hand John Galliano number, which complemented her model figure perfectly. Meanwhile, celebrity couple Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian, are battling it out for the Most Stylish Man title tonight. Last years Most Stylish Woman winner Pippa OConnor Ormond made her return to the Platinum VIP Style Awards and switched things up from her winning white gown by wearing a sultry black mini dress. And there was a special buzz on the red carpet tonight as a host of expectant mothers graced the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Louise Cooney, who announced her pregnancy last weekend, is glowing in a rented pink gown with a bow at her backside while RTE presenter Blathnaid Treacy showed off her bump in a form-fitting purple floral moment as husband Charlie held her neon green sparkly bag for photos. Just one question remains as the stars pile into their seats and Doireann Garrihy steps up to the mic before the awards ceremony kicks off who will be crowned a Platinum VIP Style Awards champion and who will leave empty-handed? Outgoing host impressed with the appointment of good egg Patrick Kielty to the top gig on Irish TV. Ryan Tubridys preference for another PK to replace him as host of The Late Late Show has come to pass, with the appointment of good egg Patrick Kielty to the top gig on Irish TV. The Co. Down comedian declared it a real honour last week to step into the shoes of Ryan and his predecessors Gay and Pat as he thanked RTE for the chance to be a part of the next chapter. Earlier this month, a departing Ryan had reflected on his radio show on the widespread coverage Patrick and his wife Cat Deeley had garnered as they attended the Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta) awards in Dublin. Patrick Kielty featuring strongly and firmly in a lot of the papers today, with a suggestion being maybe its time for another PK to take over The Late Late Show, Tubs had noted. Lovely man, lovely fella, and lovely wife, and a good egg all around. So, well see where that all goes shall we. Wife Cat also hinted that her husband was ready and willing to take over as host of the chat show as she walked the red carpet. Ryan Tubridy Lets see if he can get it and we should talk about it then, she said. Kielty himself, while not giving anything away, did not hold back his appreciation for what he called one of the greatest shows on the planet. Whoever gets it will be really lucky, he declared. So, he will take the hot seat in September, to become the fourth to present one of the worlds longest running late-night talk shows. Kielty has also had a long career in TV and radio presenting, having fronted Patrick Kielty Almost Live on BBC One from 1999 to 2003. He also co-presented talent show Fame Academy with English presenter Cat in 2002, with the pair later becoming a couple and marrying 10 years later. For children and teenagers, life should seem full of possibilities. Unfortunately, without positive influences in their lives, not all young people are aware of their true potential. Te Aranui Youth Trust is a charity working to support young people to live a life they value with a bright future ahead. Founded over 20 years ago from a desire to provide disadvantaged youth with the tools for a positive future, Te Aranui Youth Trust surrounds youth with role models who help to inspire constructive behaviours and life choices. Te Aranui Youth Trust work under a letter of agreement with the New Zealand Police and Ministry of Education to provide a number of interventions and programmes for vulnerable youth between the ages of seven to fourteen in the Western Bay of Plenty. These young people have often experienced poverty, domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse, and the social challenges that arise from these issues. Our specialised programmes are targeted at those young people who despite having potential, may just need some extra support due to circumstances in the home, says Tanya Grimstone, Te Aranui Youth Trust Funding & Administration Manager. Together we work to build their resilience and confidence. We guide them towards opportunities in education and self-development, and to overcome obstacles in their lives. The programmes include a weekly Breakfast Club to fuel the youth for learning and discuss issues they may be having at school or home; school based Wahine Toa and Tama Toa life skills programmes; a school holiday programme with kapa haka, Maori tikanga, games, and an activity where the youth give back to their community; and one-on-one mentoring. The Wahine Toa and Tama Toa programmes are regularly requested by schools and consistently fully subscribed. The Youth Development Officer mentors a number of youths who have not been engaging in school, an issue that has significantly increased post-Covid-19. We have had a lot of success in this area with a number of our rangatahi now back at school full time, says Tanya. We have managed to increase our capacity in this space and have employed another Youth Development Officer so that we can increase our level of support in the community. This is a direct intervention in preventing youth from contributing to the growing issues in Tauranga around youth crime. Through exposure to positive role models and experiences they might not normally have, youth are able to see a brighter, more productive future, Tanya says. We believe that with early intervention we can break the cycle of violence, substance abuse, and benefit dependence, providing our most vulnerable kids with positive role models and a vision of a better life. By giving them the skills and techniques to deal with their anxieties, anger, and frustration, they can grow to be functional adults contributing to their community. TECT has been supporting Te Aranui Youth Trust since 2010 with funding towards the Safe Young Driver Expo, and, more recently, towards the Trusts operating costs. We know that not all young people have positive role models in their lives or equal access to opportunities due to systems and experiences beyond their control, says TECT trustee Pete Blackwell. Were proud to provide Te Aranui Youth Trust with $40,000 in funding support towards the delivery of programmes that are addressing these challenges and achieving such great results for our youth and wider community. To find out more about Te Aranui Youth Trust, visit: https://www.tayt.org.nz/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on a visit to Georgia, participated as an honored guest in the military parade and military oath-taking ceremony of the servicemen held on the occasion of Georgia's Independence Day, Trend reports. Then the Defense Minister visited the Heydar Aliyev Park in Tbilisi, laid a wreath at the monument to the National Leader, and paid tribute to his memory. It should be noted that the Military Orchestra of the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev of the National Defense University, which participated in the event held on the occasion of Georgia's Independence Day, performed a concert program. The Fieldays Forestry Hub will again feature when Fieldays 2023 returns to its traditional winter slot, from June 14-17, at Mystery Creek in Waikato. Like last year, the Fieldays Forestry Hub, located at site G80, will host about twenty sector organisations under the theme of Wood our low-carbon future, with staff from large companies and small not-for-profit agencies on hand to provide information and answer questions. This year a new series of forums and talks will enhance the learning experience of visitors wanting to know more about the forestry and wood processing sector. The Hub will host two forums and several hot-topic talks that will be open to the public, with time scheduled for questions and answers. The two forums will be fronted by The Country radio host Jamie Mackay who will moderate a debate between a panel of speakers. The first forums topic will be, Food and wood how much land does each need? This is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14, at 2pm. The second forums topic will be, Are all trees created equal? This is scheduled for Thursday, June 15, at 2pm. Other attractions include a forestry simulator, so visitors can experience what its like to operate machinery in a forest, and a couple of large forestry machines to view close-up. Forestry Minister Peeni Henare has been invited to officially launch the Hub for 2023 on Wednesday, June 14, at 11am. The hub is a collaboration between Fieldays and an advisory group comprising Te Uru Rakau New Zealand Forest Service, Forest Growers Levy Trust, Scion, NZ Forest Owners Association, Red Stag, NZ Farm Forestry Association and Future Foresters. Hub spokesperson Alex Wilson says the sector has begun a process of transformation in partnership with the government with, most recently, the launch of a $57 million Wood Processing Grant Fund in April and the release of the foundational Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) last November. The sector can expect more information on the ITP projects to be released at Fieldays. The wider public can anticipate an engaging experience on the possibilities of trees and wood as the sector helps to mitigate climate change and addresses the challenges of wetter and hotter weather in many parts of the country. The forestry and wood processing sector is New Zealands fourth largest primary industry exporter and a major contributor to regional economies and employment. Fieldays gives our sector a particular opportunity to have conversations with rural landowners about the opportunities to grow trees for timber, protect the land and to store carbon. New Zealand Farm Forestry Association president Neil Cullen says many farming organisations agree that an integrated tree planting approach on-farm is the best way forward to address the many environmental land use issues. The Farm Forestry Association will have a significant presence in the Fieldays Forestry Hub to explain how its members have practically implemented this approach, and which tree species work best and what are the costs and returns. New Zealand Forest Owners Association president Grant Dodson says the Forest Hub is a valued way the industry can communicate directly with farmers and the public. Well be there to explain the truth of some issues, such as the many things we are doing to reduce forest waste, but also just to communicate that we have a lot more in common with the rest of the primary sector than many people think. Scion chief executive Dr Julian Elder says Scions 2030 Strategy of right tree, right place, right purpose is highly relevant for rural New Zealand. Our innovations and technologies can be applied to trees and fibre on farms in new ways. Julian Elder says future rural landscapes and communities would include a mix of farming, productive forestry, trees and new manufacturing and processing activities. "All this will play into the goal of a circular bioeconomy and grow jobs and resilience for farmers and rural communities. New Zealand National Fieldays Society CEO Peter Nation says the Fieldays Forestry Hub is set to build on last years successful launch by showcasing the latest innovation and technology, a commitment to sustainability and providing a real opportunity for conversation. Full details about the Fieldays Forestry Hub can be found at https://www.fieldays.co.nz/attend-fieldays/explore/forestry. Further details of planned events at the Hub Forums run for up to 50 minutes; talks run for up to 30 minutes. Forestry Minister Peeni Henare has been invited to officially launch the Hub for 2023 on Wednesday June 14 at 11:00am. Forum 1, Food and wood how much land does each need? Wednesday June 14 at 2pm. Talk 1, Futurity Group, CEO Jacob Kohn: Creating high value, advanced wood products Thursday June 15 10am Forum 2, Are all trees created equal? Thursday June 15 at 2pm. Talk 2, Jarden, Head of Commodities Nigel Brunel: Mechanics Carbon Trading in the ETS, Friday June 16 10am Talk 3, Scion, Portfolio Leader for Distributed and Circular Manufacturing Marc Gaugler: Distributed manufacturing bringing the factory to the forest, Friday June 16 11:30am Hes just four years old and has already had to take on Leukaemia. Yet, young Tate McNaught has the support of a whole tennis club behind him to help raise funds for his treatments. At the end of February, the Tauranga pre-schooler was diagnosed with leukaemia out of the blue, says his nanna Linda McGovern. He had ear infections quite often and he just had his routine four-year-old ear and eye check. The nurse thought he had a hole in his ear drum so my daughter marched him to the doctor and had a blood test, and, yeah, thats when they found outit was a bit of a shock for us all. Just like his nanna and poppa Linda and Mike McGovern, who have been Papamoa Tennis Club members for 10 years, Tate loves tennis. He loves any racquet sport.its in the blood I think. Hes a typical four-year-old really busy, loves to bike, loves to be outside. But hes coping very well because hes not allowed to go to daycare, or see his friendsin case he gets a cold, or infection. Surrounding support Although he may have to keep his distance from people, the support around Tate is ever present. This Saturday, May 27, the Papamoa Tennis Club is hosting a Shave for a Cure fundraising event in light of Tates diagnosis. The tennis club is just phenomenal, says Linda. They just get behind people that have had problems and I mean its our grandson so the club members were just so upset, so its quite humbling to think youve got friends who really care about you. The fundraiser will include fun tennis games, live music and head shaving for a good cause. Club president Gerald Greig will go under the clippers himself. Gerald says Mike and Linda are really good members of the club. Theyre lovely people and lots of people in the community are afflicted by thisthats really why the club has got behind it. Thankfully Tate is cancer-free at the moment but he still has two years of treatment ahead, says Linda. [Doctors] put them on a really long maintenance programme to make sure that all the cancers gone, apparently it can hide in lots of different parts of your body. Hes been pretty good you know but the next few months could be different because theyre increasing the dosage, so hey, you just take every day as it comes and hope that hes well. The club aims to raise $15,000 for the NZ Leukemia and Blood Cancer Research team. The Shave for a Cure fundraiser is at Papamoa Tennis Club from 1pm-7pm on Saturday, May 27. If you cant make it, donate at: https://www.shaveforacure.co.nz/t/tate A team of 26 gymnasts were selected from across New Zealand to compete in the Singapore Open 2023 with four from right here in the Bay of Plenty. Tauranga rhythmic gymnasts Bobbi-rose Holmes, Sunny Davis, Holly Van den Borst and Polina Macfarlane will compete in a whirl of ribbons and leotards in Singapore, kicking off today. The championship, which runs from May 26 to May 31 has had these teenaged gymnasts training hard at the Athlete Factory NZ. They train four days a week for about 15 hours, says Future Gymnastics Tauranga head coach Nicky Pow. [On top of this] We started doing a dance Pilates class, and then bringing in a ballet teacher to assist with their training so they can perform to the best of their ability. International experience This is the girls first taste of competition against international athletes together. For 19-year-old and level 10 gymnast Bobbi-rose, this opportunity has been a long wait after she made the New Zealand team to compete in the Australian National Championships back in 2019. Yet due to Covid-19, the competition was canned. Im super grateful that the opportunity has arisen again, and its just super exciting to be able to have that international competition experience. Bobbi-Rose is now excited to have her friends competing alongside her. We all get along really well. We all know how many hours weve put into the sport, so were all excited for each other, and its so nice to be able to compete and train with each other. Top Coach Nicky has also been selected as a New Zealand coach for the competition. Bobbi says the team are grateful to have Nicky training them. Its just amazing to have someone so dedicated, who cares for us so much, and were excited for her because this is her first time becoming a NZ coach. Rhythmic gymnasts Holly Van Den Borst, Sunny Davis, Bobbi-rose Holmes and Polina MacFarlane will compete in the Singapore Open 2023 during the next six days. Photo: Brydie Thompson/SunLive. Bobbi-Rose is also forward to seeing gymnasts from other countries and potentially being inspired by their routine, but as a personal goal Ill just be doing my absolute best under the circumstances. Nicky says if her athletes come back with a medal then that would be incredible but right now its definitely an experience and the ability to step up to further competitions either this year or next year, and just really clear that pathway to podium success. People across Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty have until June 10 to attend three amazing exhibitions at the Incubator Creative Hub. A night featuring goblets, brooches and student creative genius was not to be missed and hundreds turned up to the Historic Village on sunset on May 12 to attend the launch of the Threesome at The Incubator Creative hub. One of the great things about these monthly triple exhibition launches is that there is so much diversity of the types of themes and genres, Says Incubator Director Simone Anderson. This month weve trebled the participation as al the exhibitions are group shows. And this created a huge frenzy on the opening night with a lot of excitement and a buying stampede! The excitement is contagious. The Pinned exhibition includes the collective work of 27 artists displaying their works of art in brooch form attached to the attire and all on the most imaginative methods of display from denim jackets to chicken wire sculptures and pompom skulls. As it turns out brooches are one of the hottest art and fashion trends with Vogue Magazine broaching the subject this year as well as a recent article and Town & Country magazine celebrating this newly revitalised but ancient trend. We learnt that brooch as a word stem from a medieval French word broche, which described the spit that was used for roasting meat. Further tracking back links us to the Latin word brocchus, which means to protrude and simply describes the functional original purpose of a brooch which archaeologists suggest date back to the Iron Age and that is to fasten a garment. Continuing the ancient trending artforms, the new exhibition in the Pot titled Goblets of Fire explores the idea of this drinking vessel in the most imaginative ways possible. The exhibition includes an enormous chalice-like sculpture titled Lord of the Drinks, vessels complete with un-mouth friendly spikes that you might expect to be used in a medieval torture chamber, and Game of Thrones-esque goblets complete with miniature ceramic jars containing accompanying potions. There is a fantastic line up of artists who took up this challenge and Im pleased to say in true Incubator style you wont expect to see anything ordinary here, says Simone. Te Hononga is the perfect fit exhibtion in Peoples Gallery Toi ka rere. The Incubator Creative Hub is renowned for fostering and encouraging young and to expand on their work outside their comfort zones and in this instance, to display their works beyond the school environment. So it is with Te Hononga from the Visual Arts students at Papamoa College. Arts Tutor, Tania Lewis-Rickard describes the exhibition, With emphasis on the Kaupapa theme Te Hononga - the Connection, means that students will be able to explore their unique individual stories visually. Expressing their culture and interests and visually display their connection to things that are exciting and meaningful to them. Using a diverse range of media, the students have been asked to explore any media and format. Drawing, painting, mixed media painting and 2D relief painting, sculpture - 2D relief, 3D, free-standing; digital art; photography; photo-mixed media and collage. If youre looking for reason to be artistically stimulated and to become a walking exhibit of art on your winter coats, then make sure you come along and view this spectacular threesome. Classic dishes that never go out of fashion in Spain: from melon with ham to prawn cocktail and 'pyjamas' They reigned supreme in the 20th century, but they are not extinct. Prawn cocktail, fish terrine, deviled eggs, baked Alaska and many other delicacies can still be enjoyed in restaurants around Malaga province Marina Martinez Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram There was a time when if you saw prawn cocktail on the table, served in a glass with its Marie Rose sauce, you knew that something important was cooking. Not to mention fish terrine, bacon-wrapped dates and deviled eggs. They never failed at Christmas, nor at weddings, christenings and other big events. And then there are those dishes that just by mentioning them you had to dress up, such as beef Wellington, sole Meuniere or crepes Suzette. In the second half of the twentieth century they were the best of the best, but with the passing of time they lost their lustre to the point where they fell into the category of what we nowadays label as old-fashioned food. And not in a derogatory tone. Rather nostalgic. Because many still have that distinguished air of fine, classic cuisine. Not that they are as plentiful as Russian salad, but some strongholds still stand firm. In fact, more than we imagine. Flamenco eggs and crepes Suzette Without going too far, we can order pork Strogonoff at Papulinos (C/ Don Cristian, 41-Malaga) or also with veal at El Trillo (C/ Don Juan Diaz, 4-Malaga), El Botijo (avda. de Los Guindos, 33-Malaga) and Nuevo Lanjaron (C/ Europa, 10-Torremolinos), the latter, by the way, a real paradise for lovers of old fashioned dishes because it also serves prawn cocktail, and... flamenco eggs! That is a juicy relic for its many fans, who nowadays hardly have the opportunity to eat them outside the home. Traditional stuffed pineapple is still prepare at La Montana (C/ Lope de Rueda, 316). At BiBo Marbella (Hotel Puente Romano) we can order the sole Meuniere and the sirloin Wellington, a dish that is also made to order at Treze (C/ Teatro, 16-Alhaurin el Grande); while at La Langosta (C/ Francisco Cano, 1-Fuengirola) they have lobster thermidor on the menu. The crepes Suzette at Las Llaves (Avda. de Rota, 4-La Cala de Mijas) are now a permanent fixture on the menu, as is the prawn cocktail, while the souffle at the Marbella Club or Juanito Juan (Avda. Salvador Allende, 26-Malaga) remain the top of the top. Classics such as beef Wellington, Strogonoff or lobster thermidor are still on the menu But there's no need to aim so high: do you remember whisky cake, melon with ham, fruit salad, or baked Alaska? There are so many memories and flavours that come to mind that this report would be endless. But the truth is that all those dishes that we call old-fashioned still have their audience in Malaga province. Judging by what restaurateurs tell us, many of them have not gone out of fashion. Shrimp or prawn cocktails, fish terrine or deviled eggs come out of the kitchens every day. Some, in an evolved version, such as the Spanish San Jacobo, which in many cases has gone from the original with ham and cheese to incorporate meat. In large restaurants such as Frutos (Avda. la Riviera, 80-Torremolinos) or La Reserva 12 (C/ Bolsa, 12-Malaga) they make it with veal. Viennetta, another incombustible dessert Over the years, Spain's traditional 'pyjama' dessert (homemade creme caramel, ice cream, whipped cream and fruit in syrup) has also mutated into combinations where anything goes. At Venta Las Navas (C/ Lope de Rueda, 268-Malaga) they serve one that is as succulent as it is hearty. Although the queen of old-fashioned desserts has to be the Viennetta (known previously in Spain as the Comtessa), which can still be found in the freezers of many beach bars and 'venta' restaurants. It even pops up at haute cuisine restaurants such as Back (C/ Pablo Casals, 8-Marbella), where David Olivas makes his personal version of the classic, in this case with lemon. As we can see, vintage cuisine is not dead. The proof is on the street. It doesn't matter what type of restaurant. The list is extensive. And, above all, it is in demand. This is shown by journalist Ana Vega Perez de Arlucea in her book Cocina Viejuna (Larousse), where she highlights these dishes that had their golden age between the 60s and 90s, to the delight of the 'gastronostalgic'. Here we take a look at some examples and where to find them in Malaga province. Melon with ham Ampliar Melon dish with ham served at La Reserva 12. Daniel Maldonado Is it really still on the go? More than a few people will think so. It is not something that abounds in the hotel and catering trade. And even less so in the collective memory when it comes to ordering it. In a world in which the eye (and the taste buds) goes to patatas bravas, tartar, brioche or ceviche, melon with ham may even go unnoticed when you glance at any menu. But it is there. And on more than we think. It is even reinvented in the form of spherification or croquettes, as in the case of Malaga restaurant Pez Wanda (C/ Granada, 39). Others maintain its essence, such as La Reserva 12 (C/ Bolsa, 12-Malaga), La Reserva del Olivo (Plaza del Carbon, 2-Malaga), the Meson El Sacristan (Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, 14-Ronda), El Trillo (C/ Don Juan Diaz, 4-Malaga) or La Montana (C/ Lope de Rueda, 316-Puerto de la Torre, Malaga), where it is also served with prawns and in the melon itself with a revival touch. However, if we go back to the Middle Ages, the combination has its origins in a medical recommendation: to eat melon at the beginning of meals or mixed with other ingredients such as ham. From the 19th century onwards, it was considered a delicacy worthy of the most elegant banquets. And it remained so until the 1970s and 1980s. Its peak. Deviled eggs Ampliar At Carmen at Only You, they make deviled eggs with a 'Japanese' touch. Who doesn't still eat deviled (stuffed) eggs at home, or at a friend's or relative's? Some even go to great lengths to garnish them with peppers or hard-boiled egg yolk. Simple, but chic at the time. Then as now, they are usually stuffed with tuna and tomato and covered with mayonnaise. Although they were originally spiced, as was the custom in medieval Islamic cuisine. And they have their own history. The recipe dates back to the 13th century, and in the Golden Age we can find Diego Granado's version, with sultanas, pepper, cinnamon, orange juice, mint and marjoram. Meanwhile, Felipe III's chef, Francisco Martinez Motino, stuffed them with cheese and breadcrumbs and then fried them. Nowadays, it is more common to see them on tables at home than in restaurants. However cold tapas trays on bars would always have them alongside the famous Russian salads, boquerones en vinagre (anchovies in vinegar) or salpicon de marisco (seafood salad). Some of them continue to do so. From essential tapas bars such as Bar Salamanca (C/ Tirso de Molina, 9-Malaga), La Caverna (C/ Tomas Echeverria, 21-Malaga) or Bar Baresi (C/ Pinzon, 8-Malaga) to the five-star hotel Only You (Alameda Principal, 1-Malaga), which offers them on the menu of its tavern Carmen. In this case, with an oriental touch: dashinomoto, a base of kimchi, ketchup and Japanese mayonnaise to accompany the eggs and tuna, and egg yolk, anchovy and Korean spring onion on top. Fish terrine Ampliar Monkfish terrine is one of the star dishes at Meson Astorga. Daniel Maldonado One of those starters without great difficulty, but which gave a stately touch to any celebration. A kind of pudding that has become less and less prominent over the years (especially in the south of Spain) despite being an ideal recipe to look good at a gathering for family or friends. That's at home. Outside, it is not very common in restaurants either. And it has its unconditional fans. Just ask at Meson Astorga (C/ Gerona, 11), where, along with onion tart with ham or the aubergines, it is a dish they wouldn't dream of removing from the menu. Their faithful regulars wouldn't let them. In their case, they make it with monkfish. Although the dish that makes the fish terrine famous is scorpion fish, which is, for example, on the menus of Refectorium Catedral (C/ Postigo de los Abades, 4) or Candamil (C/ Cuarteles, 4-Malaga). It is worth remembering that this fame comes from none other than the three Michelin-starred Arzak, who really made it popular in the 1970s. So much so that it even surpassed the original, a recipe published in the 1930s in La Cocina Completa by the gastronome Maria Mesteyer, known as the Marquise de Parabere. Battered prawns Ampliar The prawns of Los Marfiles have a very good reputation. Daniel Maldonado It sounds a bit like a joke, but it's a good one. Battered prawns in Spain were known as 'gambas con gabardina'. The trench coat gave them an air of sophistication. Today it is difficult to find them called that on restaurant menus. But this is not a dish that has disappeared. No. They are still there. But now they're called 'gambas rebozadas'. Believe it or not, they were born in bourgeois cuisine. There is evidence of them French gastronomy at the end of the 19th century. It was around the 1950s that fish such as cod began to be 'dressed' in trench coats. Madrid led the way in changing the original batter with stiff egg whites for the carbonic gas of beer or a siphon. Another way to fluff up the batter. That is, of course, if it's homemade. Because the proliferation of frozen prawns made it lose the status it once had as one of the great exponents of modern tapas. There are still a few good prawns in their trench coats in this area. Some of the most acclaimed in Malaga city are those of Los Marfiles (Avenida de la Aurora, 59-Malaga), which are homemade. Although we must not miss those at El Parador Playa (Ctra. Cadiz, 131-Benalmadena), here as 'gabardina inversa de gamba blanca' (served with the head). Prawn cocktail Ampliar El Rincon de Joaquin's prawn cocktail, with lettuce, sea bream and apple. Migue Fernandez It was the best of the best in its day. And for quite a few years. There was no celebration, event or Christmas when the prawn cocktail was not there, with its Marie Rose sauce and lettuce in that double-glazed glass. It was synonymous with a big day, a party. Omnipresent, both at family gatherings and in restaurants, this dish has its origins in 19th-century California and its nouveau riche, sponsored by the gold rush. This is where cocktail sauce was born. It would later take shape in Las Vegas and, at the turn of the century, reach Europe, where Marie Rose sauce was added. Little by little it took off and by the 1960s it was already one of the kings of cuisine. And even more so between the seventies and eighties, when ingredients that were considered innovative at the time, such as avocado and pineapple, were added. Well, don't go away yet, it's not extinct. In Malaga we can still count on the fingers of more than two hands places where the famous prawn cocktail is still hiding. One of the most successful in Malaga city is El Rincon de Joaquin (C/ Quasimodo, 16-Malaga), where it is served daily. Other examples are La Venta Platero (Carretera Coin-Cartama, km 3.5-Coin), La Reserva de Antonio (Plaza del Remo, 6-Torremolinos), Eclipse (Avda. de Andalucia, 189, Velez-Malaga) or Las Llaves (Avda. De Rota, 4- La Cala de Mijas). Of course, there would be many more if we accept avocado with prawns/shrimps and Marie Rose sauce/mayonnaise as a cocktail. Baked Alaska Ampliar Baked Alaska is one of Areia's most popular desserts. Goma This is one of the most spectacular desserts in living memory from the golden age of the last part of the 20th century. The contrast of textures and temperatures of the sponge cake, the fruit and the ice cream covered in meringue and baked (without melting) was a delight in itself. If we added the preparation at the table with the flambeed liqueur, it became a spectacle. The dessert was an example of avant-garde cuisine created by French chef Charles Ranhofer to commemorate the annexation of Alaska to the United States in 1867. At a time when brownies, tiramisu, chocolate cakes and cheesecakes are repeated ad nauseam, the baked Alaska is a needle in a haystack. "It is a dessert that is already very difficult to find, which is why, together with the vanilla souffle, it is the most popular of our desserts," said Carlos Garcia Mayoralas, one of the pillars of the Areia restaurant (C/ Ramon Gomez de la Serna, 23-Marbella). There they offer a raspberry version with yoghurt, meringue and flambeed with rum. A luxury that can also be enjoyed at El Mirlo Blanco (C/ Cuesta de la Villa, 2-Mijas); or at La Taberna de Mike Palmer (Club Hipico El Pinar, Camino de los Almendrales, s/n), with homemade almond sponge cake, orange ice cream, Swiss meringue and washed down with orange liqueur. It is not an easy recipe. Perhaps that is a handicap in the kitchen. But this vintage touch of such a high level is appreciated at the table. Whisky cake Ampliar Several Spanish ice cream brands continue to make whisky cake. Sur A childhood memory for many in Spain is of the adults at the table after a meal in Spain asking for a splash of whisky over their slice of whisky cake. A dessert that was forbidden for the minors in the room. That was another era - culinary nostalgia for the 80s/90s when whisky cake was the most popular dessert. Today it is generally associated with industrial ice cream, but it was actually cake before ice cream. And it may well have its origins in Malaga. The story goes that Stanislaus I Leszczynski, King of Poland in the 18th century, liked to soak his cakes in Malaga wine, which created a trend among confectioners. The idea of soaking cake in an alcoholic drink was interpreted differently depending on the country. In France, for example, it gave rise to the rum baba, and in Catalonia, to the 'borracho con crema quemada'. There is speculation that some versions, perhaps in Ireland or Scotland, could be the origin of this whisky cake, which began as a cake and then became popular in ice cream form until it gradually lost its prominence. Not surprisingly, some ice cream brands continue to make it and supply supermarkets and many restaurants, such as the popular Papulinos (C/ Malasana, 42-C/ Don Cristian, 41-C/ Correo de Andalucia, s/n-Malaga). Although where it is most abundant is in roadside ventas and chiringuitos (beach bars). We can even enjoy it as one of the flavours to choose from in ice cream parlours such as Fragola (C/ Jerez Perchet, 14-Malaga). Nor can we forget a chef who has returned the whisky cake to its pedestal: Miguel Palma, who includes it in his menu at La Taberna de Mike Palmer with a version he prepares with whipped cream with whisky and sponge cake soaked in the spirit, to which caramelised egg yolk is added at the table and flambeed with Dyc. It couldn't be more authentic. Pyjamas Ampliar The special pyjamas from the Talillas sale, to share. Eating pyjamas might sound strange, but there was no doubt that it was the most eagerly awaited end to any lunch or dinner. Especially since chefs started to go all out and made it more and more appealing by adding exotic ingredients, from pineapple to chocolate syrup and, of course, lots of cream. Some have even topped it with paper umbrellas and sparklers. The dessert now has its place on the menus of many restaurants... and in the orders of many customers. This is confirmed at El Boticario: "It seems to be coming back into fashion, it is in demand quite a lot." At the famous Venta Los Montes in Malaga, they prepare it true to the original: creme caramel, ice cream, fruit and cream. As in Venta Talillas (Avenida Antonico Rosa, s/n-Villanueva del Trabuco), which has made the pyjama one of its star desserts. It includes creme caramel, curd, pineapple, peach in syrup, Viennetta, 'grandmother's cake' and cream (plenty of it). Other versions go even further by incorporating wafers, cherries or profiteroles. From there, many reinterpretations have been seen under the name of 'special assortment', a mix of various desserts from the menu of the restaurant in question. A worthy descendant of the genuine 'pyjamas' that were born in Barcelona in the 1950s. And is was all because of some soldiers from the US Navy who asked for 'peach melba' (vanilla ice cream, peach and raspberry coulis) at the legendary 7 Portes restaurant. They didn't have any, but they made their own version with peach in syrup, ice cream, creme caramel and cream. The phonetic adaptation of peach melba gave rise to the term 'pijama'. It is still on the menu today. What (and who) are you really paying when you order a food delivery? Takeaway couriers. Most restaurants increase their prices to make up for the up to 30 per cent cut taken by food delivery apps such as Just Eat, Glovo and Uber Eats Ivan Gelibter Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram This is going to seem ridiculous, but it really happened. A group of youngsters are chatting in the grounds of a block of flats on the outskirts of Malaga. It is 9.30pm on a Saturday. In other words, supper time. After discussing what they fancy eating, they decide on McDonalds. But they do not move from where they are. A few minutes later, a motorbike pulls up at the gate of the building. The rider has the distinctive yellow cube-shaped Glovo branded backpack from which he takes out several brown bags from the burger chain, and hands them over the wall of the flats. Only 20 minutes have passed since they opened the app on their phone and now they have hot food in their hands. They could have walked 200 metres to the restaurant, but they decided that splitting the four-euro delivery fee was not expensive. But have they really only paid extra for delivery? The short answer: No. When you order a delivery you are not only paying extra for delivery, but you are also spending at least ten per cent more for each product than you would if you ate in the restaurant or collected it yourself. Glovo, Just Eat and Uber Eats are the biggest food delivery apps in Spain. Although each company has different strategies, they all have something in common: taking a cut of the restaurant bill of between 15 and 30 per cent. This is the main reason why many restaurants up their prices, so that those apps don't take all of their profit. They are forced to use these platforms to stay in the market. It is easy to prove this. Take for example a hamburger restaurant in a popular Malaga neighbourhood, that asked to remain anonymous. A burger is four euros, a portion of 'Turkish' fries (with kebab meat and yoghurt) is another four. A drink is two euros. If a customer rings up and collects the food themselves it comes to 10 euros, but if they order through an app like Glovo it can come to 14.50 euros. How is it that it costs almost 50 per cent more? Ampliar Glovo on average takes 30 per cent from the restaurants. SUR has verified with several restaurants that restaurants usually put the menu up by 15 per cent. As well as this extra euro and a half (with the example of a ten euro bill), you have to pay three more for delivery, an amount that changes depending on the delivery distance. Now the price is 14.50 euros. From this, 8.05 euros goes to the restaurant, 3.45 to Glovo, and 3 to the driver. Sources told SUR that some apps give a portion of the total bill to the driver, but we are talking percentages of around one per cent. How the apps work One of the main reasons behind the success of these apps is their practicality, but this is not the only reason. When you order with Just Eat or Uber Eats, the order arrives at a specific machine in the restaurant and is automatically put into a queue, often in front of people already waiting. In other words, if you arrive at a restaurant and see 10 people in the queue, you know there are 10 orders before yours. However if an order from Glovo arrives, it skips the queue. SUR investigated the way these applications work and the impact. It called a known local noodle chain which has its own delivery drivers, but also works with the popular apps. According to the person on the phone, the waiting time for delivery, (the restaurant was seven minutes away), was an hour and 20 minutes "at least". Then, going onto Glovo instead and making the exact same order, the driver arrived in just 38 minutes. In a popular roast chicken takeaway in the La Paz area of Malaga something similar happens. Until recently there were two queues; one for those who had ordered by phone and another for those who had not pre-ordered. Now, a third queue has been introduced for riders, which goes much quicker than the others. In reply to the complaints of various customers, an employee admitted that: "If you order by app it will arrive much quicker than if you call". So, why do local restaurants prioritise orders from apps that take 30 per cent of their business over other orders? Moises Lopez, the owner of successful burger joint Moi's in north Malaga and the tax advisor for several small businesses across Malaga, has the answer to this question, "Glovo orders arrive more quickly, that's true. This is because of Glovo's rules; they give you a maximum of 20 minutes for preparation and distribution," he explained, admitting that he, however, does not do things that way. "I have my own drivers as well. When a Glovo order arrives I don't delay it, but I also don't prioritise it over other preexisting orders." Ampliar The burger restaurant Mois's recieves enough orders to have its own delivery drivers Nito Salas The case of Moises Lopez is particularly striking. His business opened during the pandemic and was initially just him or one of his friends delivering the orders. However, the popularity of his burgers has led to him having up to four of his own delivery drivers on the weekends. "When I see that I'm overloaded I turn off the Glovo and Just Eat machines and have just mine, meaning I don't have to share my profit with anyone." On a normal evening at the weekend his drivers deliver around 45 orders, while through the apps they can only sign up for less than ten deliveries each. Although food delivery was already on the rise in March 2020, lockdown, restrictions and the fear of catching Covid increased demand for restaurants to bring food to the customer, despite the Spanish habit of normally always going out to eat restaurant food. Although the numbers have dropped compared to peak Covid times, this business model is not going to disappear anytime soon. Nevertheless, food deliveries are not good business for everyone. Many restaurants are now forced to use these apps to stay in business. "It is a long time since people would call up to buy two burgers, come down to the restaurant and collect them. Now they order through Glovo even though it works out more expensive. It would be great to not have to share my profit with these apps, but if I don't work with them I will disappear from the market because a large proportion of customers will just order somewhere else," explained the owner of one restaurant in Torremolinos. Lack of awareness "Sometimes people do not care about the quality. They prefer to order with Glovo than to go out to eat down the road," Moises Lopez sighed, adding that "people do not realise they are paying more through these apps; I have told regular customers so they know, but some are still unaware". Moises confirmed that virtually all restaurant businesses increase food prices on the apps so as not to lose more money, going against the terms of the contract with the delivery app, which generally stipulates restaurants have to keep prices the same. "Almost no one does this and they start to do what they want," he added. There are differences between the apps, however. "For Just Eat, to change the price you have to send them an email with a photo of the menu, but people doctor it. With Glovo you can change it yourself and it is more straightforward. But at the end of the day they all turn a blind eye, as the more expensive the order is, the more they make." In Moises' case, he took a risk and now has four delivery drivers. However, when is it affordable to have your own drivers? "You have to have a consistent number of orders, or wait until they arrive. At least 10 or 12 daily orders to be worth it. But to get as far as that... well, you know, that is a risk that the big delivery apps don't need to take," he concluded. Discovering Spain through the eyes of a Ukrainian artist Victoria Dael has been living in Riogordo since fleeing her home city of Lviv in April 2022 and is holding her first Spanish exhibition in the village Victoria Dael with her dog and one of the paintings. Jennie Rhodes Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram A new exhibition of work by Ukrainian artist Victoria Dael is opening at Riogordo Ethnographic Museum Saturday 3 June. The artwork in the Revealing Spain exhibition is the fruit of a year-long process; the same amount of time that the painter has been living in the village. Victoria, 40, and her husband were enjoying their fulfilling and happy life in Lviv in western Ukraine, when on 24 February 2022 Russia invaded. With the encouragement of her husband, Victoria made the difficult decision to flee the country and she came to Spain. However, her husband had to stay in Ukraine. A long journey to Malaga Victoria and her dog, Watson, named after my favourite literary character travelled independently on trains and their journey took them from Lviv to Krakow, then on to Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona and finally to Malaga, where Victoria had a friend who was already living here. She explains that European train companies helped the Ukrainians with free tickets. Unable to Paint Unsurprisingly, it took Victoria some time before she felt ready to pick up a paintbrush: I was stunned by what was happening to us during those days and nights. I spent some months without being able to paint, the artist says. What hurt the most was not being able to perceive the beauty surrounding me here. However, little by little, my eyes were opening once again, Victoria explains and the paintings in her exhibition reflect her desire to discover Spain. The exhibition runs until 30 June with the opening happening on Saturday 3 June at 8pm. Opening hours are Thursday 10am to 2pm, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 2pm and from 5 to 9pm, Sunday from 9am to 5pm. All of the work is for sale and 30 per cent of the profits will be donated to Ukrainian charity organisations and volunteer groups that take care of abandoned animals in Ukraine. For further information about the exhibition contact Riogordo museum Tel: 952 732620. Victorias website: www.victoriadael.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. A meeting was held between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Alexander Zuev, the ministry told Trend. During the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the country's activities and large-scale initiatives in a number of areas within the UN. In particular, the activities in the field of peace and security support, including the participation of the country's peacekeepers in various missions, were highly appreciated. Noting the special importance of the country's cooperation with the UN and its specialized structures, Bayramov highlighted the close cooperation of Azerbaijan as a donor country. The sides also exchanged views on the latest situation in the region in the post-conflict period (second Karabakh war). It was noted that despite the fact that the territories of the country were under the occupation of Armenia for almost 30 years, about a million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their native lands. The occupation had a devastating impact on the socio-economic well-being of the country, and by overcoming difficulties, it turned from a country receiving aid into a donor country. Detailed information was provided on the donor activities of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contribution to the global fight against the pandemic. The assistance provided by the country to numerous countries in the fields of health, education, technical and humanitarian spheres was also brought to attention. The minister also spoke about the process of mine clearance in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation, and about Azerbaijani citizens who become victims of mines laid by Armenia that does not cooperate with Azerbaijan in the field of mine clearance. Bayramov, having informed about the renovation and construction work in the territories liberated from occupation, the return of internally displaced persons to their native lands, pointed out the importance of increasing international efforts to eliminate the mine threat. In turn, Zuev, thanking the minister for the detailed information, noted that he had witnessed great creative work and great economic development in the country for a short period of time. The UN representative said that security in Azerbaijan is successfully ensured, and law enforcement agencies adequately cope with the tasks assigned to them. He also congratulated the country on holding an important international conference on "Combating mine threat - the path to sustainable development" held in the country's capital Baku. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Archbishop Marek Solchinsky, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See in Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican were discussed at the meeting, as well as the current state of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The importance of cooperation projects, mutual visits and dialogue between Azerbaijan and the Vatican in a number of areas was emphasized. The meeting discussed the new realities that emerged in the region in the post-conflict period, the reconstruction and construction projects carried out by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation, the steps taken by our country towards ensuring peace and stability in the region. Archbishop Marek Solchinsky highly appreciated the environment of mutual understanding, brotherhood and solidarity between representatives of various religions in Azerbaijan, the country's efforts in this direction. During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on other topics of mutual interest. Ithaca, N.Y After 36 years police have determined who murdered a Cornell student working at an Ithaca Red Cross shelter. David Malcom, 26, of Connecticut, was found stabbed to death at the shelters office at 717 W. Court St. in Ithaca on Feb. 12, 1987. The previous day he had worked a 24-hour shift. For more than three decades, police couldnt solve the murder. On Friday, Ithaca police announced that with the help of DNA they now know who killed Malcom. Police also said that figuring out the killer revealed that in his last moment, Malcom was protecting a teenage girl. During his shift on Feb. 11, a teenage girl came in from the town of Newfield, police said. She had been in a bad situation with her estranged boyfriend and came to the shelter to seek help. When the boyfriend asked Malcom where she was, he didnt tell him. So, the boyfriend stabbed Malcom to death, police said Malcoms heroic actions for not disclosing the whereabouts of the young teen sadly cost him his life, police said Friday. Police determined the boyfriend was the murderer through DNA, police said. The man, however, died in 2019. Police did not release his name. At the time of the murder, friends remembered Malcom as a kind, special person. The sheer gentleness of the man made him very special. He also had a wonderful sense of humor, Nina Miller, told The Post-Standard in 1987 after the murder. She knew Malcom when she was director of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Counseling. He was the best of what young people can be. He was idealistic, sensitive, warm, very bright, she said. Malcom also worked at Suicide Prevention and Homes Inc. He was a wonderful role model for kids, Miller said. He was really wise beyond his years. Originally the police suspected an associate of Malcom but he is no longer a suspect, police said. Correction: An earlier version of this article had the wrong age for Malcom. He was 26 years old. Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. A rapper from Western New York is donating $10,000 for the funeral of a woman he featured on his album cover. BURY MY BABY IN STYLE, Westside Gunn wrote on Twitter. #RIPCLAIRE the LEGEND. WIVB reports Gunn, whose real name is Alvin Worthy, made the donation to a GoFundMe raising money for funeral expenses for Clara Gomez, a homeless woman well known in Buffalo as Claire. Gomez, 58, was killed Tuesday night when she was struck by an SUV outside a Metro Rail station. Gomez was featured on the cover of WWCD, the major label debut from Worthys hip-hop group Griselda. Released by Westside Gunn, his brother Conway the Machine and their cousin Benny the Butcher on Shady Records in 2019, it was named one of the years best albums and featured big name guests like Eminem and 50 Cent. Griselda also referenced Gomez in multiple songs, including the Westside Gunn solo track Connies Son: Claire need a dollar gave her two, now she want five. Everybody in the whole city knows (Claire), Worthy told Sway in the Morning in 2019. Shes like the Buffalo mascot, man. According to the Buffalo News, Gomez was killed when two women in an SUV were being pursued by another vehicle and a man was shooting at them from that vehicle. Gomez was hit by the SUV and died at the scene. The accused shooter, Marlon D. Servance, Jr., 22, of Buffalo, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told WGRZ that an investigation is ongoing, but vowed justice for Gomez, who struggled with mental health and addiction. Claire is a human being, and Claire deserves the respect that every human being deserves, no matter what her problems are, Flynn said. I am committed to bringing this woman justice. A funeral for Gomez is scheduled for Friday, June 2, at the Lombardo Funeral Home in Buffalo. Troops and individuals from the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways (GSNYPENN) Council spanning 24 counties in New York and two in northern Pennsylvania sold 1,673,785 packages of Girl Scout Cookies during the 2023 season which concluded April 30. Local Girl Scouts increased sales this year by 16.56 percent over 2022 and successfully reached program goals during the councils largest annual fundraiser. Members use program earnings to power experiences for themselves and their troops like community service, camp and outdoor adventures, travel, badge work, pursuing Girl Scoutings highest awards and more. The 2023 cookie program began later than usual, on January 31, to try to help mitigate a potential repeat of midseason stock shortages that plagued the council in 2021 and 2022 due to baker supply chain issues. The council also extended the typical end-of-March season conclusion to the end of April to allow members additional time to hold community booths and reach troop and individual goals. Historically, around 75-80 percent of the councils registered girl membership participates in the cookie program each year. The 2023 cookie season saw an increase in the number of girls taking part, marking an 82 percent participation rate. Through the annual cookie program, our members learn financial literacy, practice entrepreneurship and further develop and strengthen their leadership skills. It was wonderful to feel a return to normalcy this season, says GSNYPENN CEO Julie Dale. Despite a few bumps in the road, we truly appreciate the continued support of our members, families, friends, and communities each year during this program and challenge them to help us donate even more cookies to area food banks. Sweet Support Gift of Caring Donations 24,520 packages of cookies were purchased by customers through the councils Sweet Support Gift of Caring annual service project which helps troops give back to others while also supporting program goals. Donated cookies are being gifted to 2023 Gift of Caring recipients Food Bank of Central New York and Food Bank of the Southern Tier. The council is challenging all communities it serves to help donate 12,000 more packages of cookies to these partners by June 1. Visit gsnypenn.org/givecookies and donate $5 per package. Make it even sweeter by donating an entire case (12 packages) for $60. Both food banks serve populations spanning the councils footprint. GSNYPENN wants to help stock the pantries with a special treat through the summer months when food insecurities for children and families can be higher during the school break. In 2010, while browsing a local thrift store in Phoenix, Arizona, Kristin de Galard spotted a painting that immediately captured her attention. The watercolor depicted an inviting waterside summer scene, recalling de Galards childhood spent on the shore of Lake Superior. She purchased the painting for $12. I brought it to my moms home in nearby Glendale, where she spent the winters as a snowbird, said de Galard. Until 2015, it hung in her dining area where we both enjoyed it. Eventually, the painting would journey from Arizona to de Galards home in Wyoming. Upon arrival, she noticed a small piece of paper stapled to the back of the frame. It was a certificate of provenance, a document commonly used to identify the origin and author for many different types of art. Clearly legible over 75 years later, the typewritten font read: Work of the Waves Lake Ontario Associated Artists of Syracuse Floyd H. Allport 1949 In fact, Dr. Allport was not only a painter, but among the most highly regarded social scientists of his time and considered by many as the founding father of social psychology. Dr. Allport was also one of the very first faculty members of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Over the course of Dr. Allports academic career, he received numerous commendations, including the American Psychological Associations Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award. Prior to his time at Syracuse University, Dr. Allport also served as a lieutenant in World War I; received his Ph.D. from Harvard; taught as an Associate Professor at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and as a visiting professor at the University of California Berkely. In 1924, he published Social Psychology, considered a seminal work in his area of expertise. In addition to a lifetime of professional accomplishments, Dr. Allport enjoyed one activity that he pursued on his own time: painting watercolor scenes of Central New York, where he served as president of the Associated Artists of Syracuse. The Association often displayed their work alongside world-renown professional artists at the Syracuse Museum of Fine Art then located on James Street which would eventually become the Everson. The paintinghad been sitting in a closet until this [February], said de Galard. I contacted CNY Arts to see how I could return it to Syracuse University, or possibly a family member of Dr. Allport. When CNY Arts received de Galards inquiry, Executive Director Stephen Butler recognized the historical significance of Dr. Allports academic and artistic endeavors. As a graduate of the Maxwell School, Butler also understood the importance of returning the painting to Syracuse University. CNY Arts paid to have the painting shipped home, where Maxwell Professor Catherine Gerard facilitated joint stewardship of the painting between CNY Arts and Syracuse University. Professor Gerard is also a past president and current member of the CNY Arts Board. This is perfect timing, said Amy Criss, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Maxwell. Dr. Allport was an inaugural member of our department, and 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the field of social psychology. It would be really special to unveil the painting during the celebratory conference. Soon, Work of the Waves will be featured at the Maxwell School for all current and future members of the community to enjoy. In the spirit of CNY Arts upcoming On My Own Time art exhibition program, the creative community of Central New York and Syracuse University wish to honor both Dr. Allports impressive scholarly contributions, as well as his creative talent, which he pursued on his own time. On My Own Time is a showcase dedicated to recognizing the creative achievement of local artists who practice their craft as an avocation. This year marks the 50th anniversary of On My Own Time. Selected art will be featured at a finale exhibit hosted by the Everson Museum in October. Dr. Allports remarkable example demonstrates that there is time and purpose in each of our lives for exploration, reflection, and expression. For more information about On My Own Time, please navigate to: www.cnyarts.org Syracuse, N.Y. Community leaders and activists pushing for policing reforms marched Thursday in Syracuse to remember George Floyd, who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer three years ago. About 20 marchers started at the Victory Temple Fellowship Church, 817 E. Willow St. before making their way to the Public Safety Building on South State Street. Onlookers occasionally clapped or honked as people marched and chanted toward Syracuse police headquarters. At the Public Safety Building, Bishop H. Bernard Alex, senior pastor at Victory Temple Fellowship Church, called for people in the building to join the demonstration. One man could be seen looking down at the marchers through a second-floor window but no one came down. The rally grew to more than 30 as others walking by joined as Alex and other community leaders voices boomed through loudspeakers to recall Floyds murder and the struggles Syracuse communities still face. Alex said he couldnt help but notice how different the crowd looked this year. It was the smallest turnout to date and a sharp contrast to the immediate reaction to Floyds death. In 2020, protests lasted weeks, stretched to Syracuse suburbs, included the support from local politicians and police officials. At times, crowds swelled sometimes to thousands, all in solidarity against police brutality and in search for new solutions. So where was everyone now, Alex asked. Not even the police escort showed. I remember three years ago, he said. We were shutting down streets, neighborhoods. Hundreds thousands of us. Alex called on church leaders, activists, students and politicians to renew their support. In the three years since 2020, Floyds murderer, Derek Chauvin, has been sentenced to a 22.5 year prison term. Three other police officers who were with Chauvin have been sentenced for violating Floyds civil rights. But local and national problems with police culture persists, Alex said. The pastor said he often gets calls about another story of a bad encounter with Syracuse police. The phone rings all the time, Alex said. Just because you dont hear about it, dont think it stopped. Alex looks back at the social movement in Syracuse in 2020 and thinks what if. As much momentum as the movement had at the time, Alex said it eventually fractured and lost its focus. Then apathy set in, he said. Alex worries it will take another national tragedy to wake people up. But small crowd or none, Alex said hell be back next year. Bishop H. Bernard Alex, right, and Hasahn Bloodworth, left, call on people in the Public Safety Building in Syracuse to join a demonstration to commemorate George Floyd on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Fernando Alba | falba@syracuse.com Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950. Salina, N.Y. In a whirlwind week at the Candlewood Suites in Salina, a town judge has issued a temporary order late Thursday that the hotel cannot evict some of its long-term guests. The hotel this week had attempted to push people out to make room for migrants who were expected to come from New York City, despite a state of emergency declared by Onondaga County trying to prevent the city from sending migrants here. But the county and town obtained temporary orders preventing the asylum-seekers from being bused to the hotel on South Bay Road. Despite that order, some people living in the hotel were still being told they had to leave this week. Of the hotels 123 rooms, 79 have been occupied by long-term guests. A Salina Town Court judge ordered the hotel to allow at least four long-term residents on the property to have full access to their rooms until a court hearing on June 7. Susan Griffith, the lawyer representing the residents, said in the petition that hotel employees have tried intimidating and harassing the residents into leaving their rooms by taking their property, deactivating key cards, surveilling them and making unauthorized charges to their credit cards. Some people have stayed at the hotel for months and even years. Under state law, anyone staying more than 30 days would be considered tenants, according to Griffith, the managing attorney with Central NY Legal Services. The hotel cant kick out tenants without filing for eviction through the courts, she said. Unlawful eviction is a misdemeanor under state law. Hannah Grace, one of the petitioners, has stayed at the hotel since November. On Wednesday she said she was kicked out without eviction papers or notice. She said she was locked out of her room and a manager told her she had to leave. Grace said she and the manager called 911. 911 records show two calls to Onondaga County Sheriffs Office deputies Wednesday. The hotel said that because of unpaid bills, they didnt want her on the property, said Tom Newton, a spokesperson for the Sheriffs Office. Grace told Syracuse.com she has a balance of about $1,300. Grace said she gave deputies a receipt of her check-in for November. She said management had told police that she had only been staying at the hotel since April. Without a court order, deputies could not interfere, Newton said. Deputies were at the hotel to make sure the dispute didnt escalate, he said. Grace said the deputies told her something similar, saying it was a civil dispute and they couldnt intervene. Deputies also told her that the hotel would pursue criminal charges if she did not leave the property. Grace said she came to the hotel from New Jersey searching for a fresh start. She was only meant to stay there until she found something more permanent. But since coming here she said its been one thing after another. Shes left an abusive ex, lost two jobs and started a third on Tuesday. Without family in the area, help is hard to find. Its been nothing but hell, she said. Its just been situation after situation. Grace was forced to sleep in her van Wednesday night but with the town judge signing off on the temporary order, she said she plans on returning to the hotel Thursday. An Onondaga Sheriff's vehicle sits outside of Candlewood Suites in Salina Wednesday, May 24, 2023. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Syracuse.com staff writer Marnie Eisenstadt contributed to this report. *** More on the Candlewood Suites hotel: In a suburban Central NY hotel, an international drama unfolds: Is the bus coming? Onondaga County judge issues 2 temporary orders blocking hotel from housing migrants Central NY hotel management sent long-term residents scrambling to make room for migrant contracts Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. About 70 percent of mine explosions occurred outside the former line of contact [which existed between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia prior to the 2020 second Karabakh war], Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Samir Poladov said, Trend reports. Poladov made the remark at the international conference on "Combating mine threat - the path to sustainable development" in Baku. He noted that in order to carry out construction work, the above territories, first of all, must be cleared of mines. "Cluster munitions, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, as well as unexploded ordnance are found there. Plastic mines made in Armenia are most widely spread there," Poladov said. He added that the goal of ANAMA is to increase the area cleared from mines up to 50,000 hectares per year. Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands of mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops. Since November 2020, as a result of large-scale mine clearance measures carried out by the country, an area of 81,386 hectares has been cleared. A total of 88,260 mines were identified and defused, including 28,259 anti-personnel mines, 15,303 anti-tank mines and 44,698 units of unexploded ordnance. NEW YORK (AP) A New York City artist and college professor who held a machete to a journalists neck and threatened to chop him up was arrested Thursday on charges of menacing and harassment, police said. The confrontation with a New York Post reporter at professor Shellyne Rodriguezs apartment building on Tuesday came after the newspaper published a story about an earlier episode in which Rodriguez had cursed at anti-abortion activists at Hunter College, where Rodriguez was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History. A widely circulated video of the May 2 Hunter College incident shows Rodriguez cursing at the anti-abortion activists and accusing them of triggering her students. In the video, Rodriguez asks, What are you going to do, like anti-trans next? and sweeps some of the anti-abortion pamphlets off the literature table. The Post ran a story about the incident Monday and sent a reporter and a photographer to Rodriguezs Bronx apartment Tuesday. Video of Tuesdays encounter shows Rodriguez holding what appears to be a machete to the reporters neck and telling him to get the away from my door. The Post said Rodriguez had earlier shouted from behind her closed door that she would chop you up with this machete! The newspaper said its reporter and photographer left, but Rodriguez followed them and kicked the reporter in the shins. Hunter, a public college and part of the City University of New York in Manhattan, subsequently fired Rodriguez. Hunter College strongly condemns the unacceptable actions of Shellyne Rodriguez, and has taken immediate action, spokesperson Vince DiMiceli said. Rodriguez has been relieved of her duties at Hunter College effective immediately, and will not be returning to teach at the school. Rodriguez was arrested Thursday morning after turning herself in to a Bronx police station. Information on an attorney who could speak for her was not available. Rodriguez has not responded to phone calls or text messages from The Associated Press, but she told the publication ARTNews that Hunter had capitulated to racists, white nationalists, and misogynists by firing her. Rodriguez identifies herself on her website as an artist, educator, writer, and community organizer who uses text, drawing, painting, collage and sculpture. Courtesy photo Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Melissa Kennelly will be stepping down on June 30. A nominating committee will review candidates to make a recommendation on an appointment to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in the coming months. 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. 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. First version published at 11:27 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The international conference on "Combating mine threat - the path to sustainable development" is being held in Baku, Trend reports. The event is being jointly organized by 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 Sustainable Development Goals (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 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 opening of the conference took place in Aghdam on May 26. 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. What just happened? Taiwanese networking corporation Zyxel is once again facing a potential security crisis, as many of the company's firewalls are affected by a couple of nasty vulnerabilities. Updated firmware versions are already available, and customers are strongly advised to install them as soon as possible. The latest security advisory issued by Zyxel is warning customers about multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities discovered in several of the company's firewall and VPN devices. The Taiwan-based manufacturer says that the two flaws can be potentially abused by attackers to execute malicious code or breach through vulnerable networks. The first security flaw included in Zyxel's advisory is tracked as CVE-2023-33009, and is described as a buffer overflow issue in the notification function in Zyxel ATP series firmware. The flaw could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bring a denial-of-service (DoS) threat against vulnerable appliances, or even to remotely execute malicious code on the affected firewall device. The second flaw is tracked as CVE-2023-33010, which is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the ID processing function in Zyxel ATP series firmware. The flaw could once again allow an unauthenticated attacker to cause "denial-of-service (DoS) conditions," or to remotely execute code on an affected device. Both the issues are classified as "critical" vulnerabilities, with a severity score of 9.8. A buffer overflow condition occurs when a program (or a program's sub-routine) is somewhat able to write data to a buffer beyond the buffer's allocated memory, overwriting adjacent memory locations. The issue is typically "solved" with a system crash or by showing an error message, yet sometimes the buffer overflow condition can be exploited by talented hackers or cyber-criminals to execute code or defeat security measures. After a "thorough" internal investigation, Zyxel said it identified the firewall series affected by the aforementioned critical vulnerabilities. The devices which are within their "vulnerability support period," Zyxel said, include the following series: ATP, firmware versions ZLD V4.32 to V5.36 Patch 1 USG FLEX, firmware versions ZLD V4.50 to V5.36 Patch 1 USG FLEX50(W) / USG20(W)-VPN, firmware versions ZLD V4.25 to V5.36 Patch 1 VPN, firmware versions ZLD V4.30 to V5.36 Patch 1 ZyWALL/USG, firmware versions ZLD V4.25 to V4.73 Patch 1 Zyxel has already released updated firmware builds to patch the two critical vulnerabilities, and customers should of course install the updates as soon as possible to avoid being targeted by attackers. Black hat hackers and cyber-criminals are always searching for vulnerable devices to breach networks belonging to private or public organizations, and they are usually pretty good at finding them. WTF?! Just when you thought that printer companies had exhausted all possibilities of adding DRM to your printer, HP is here to prove there's always another way. The International Imaging Technology Council has recently accused the company of "greenwashing" its products. This is allegedly a ploy to hide questionable business practices related to HP+ printers. When HP is not bricking its printers with poorly-coded firmware that stays unpatched for weeks, the company is hard at work finding new ways to prevent its customers from using third-party ink for fear of leaving money on the table for other companies. This behavior has landed HP in hot waters in Europe and the US, which is why last year it agreed to pay compensation totaling $1.35 million to customers who were impacted by its printer cartridge DRM shenanigans. This relates to a feature the company introduced in 2016 called Dynamic Security that was supposedly designed to help them avoid subpar ink, but turned out to be more of a reaction to rival suppliers chipping away at one of HP's biggest profit drivers using relatively inexpensive ink and toner cartridges. As noted by The Verge, HP was already working on a new way to screw consumers as far back as 2020, when everyone's attention was pointed at a small and invisible threat that sent large parts of the world into lockdown. At the time, the company described it as the "most modern and simple printing solution on the market," along with a promise that "every page printed is balanced off with investments to help protect and restore forests in equal measure." What's interesting about this scheme is that it is disguised as an offer that appeals to a lot of consumers looking for a better deal for their printing needs. There's a good reason why Amazon's best-selling printer is the HP Deskjet 2755e. For $95, the company is offering a wireless color printer that can also scan documents and comes with six months of free ink delivered to your door every time your cartridges are about to run out. That last part is important because there's no such thing as free in the printer industry. On paper, claiming the free ink means buying into a subscription service called HP+, which extends your printer's warranty by one year, gives you access to the HP Smart app, and gives you bragging rights for helping the company protect the environment by planting trees for every page you print. Once the free period runs out, you can choose an appropriate payment plan best suited to your printing needs. Image credit: Laurie Hise In reality, once the six months of free ink have passed you're automatically locked into a subscription that draws you away from cheaper ink or toner and into the land of genuine HP supplies. This practice had gone unnoticed until this week when the International Imaging Technology Council (IITC) filed a complaint against the company over what it deems as improper use of the EPEAT label to promote its HP+ products as eco-friendly. The EPEAT certification requires the products in question to allow the use of non-manufacturer and remanufactured cartridges. However, The Verge was able to confirm with ink distributors like CompAndSave that third-party manufacturers have yet to find a way to serve customers that bought an HP+ printer. You can technically cancel your HP+ subscription, but you'd still be using the same firmware that blocks third-party cartridges. IITC says HP has issued several firmware updates over the past two months that are designed to strengthen the ink cartridge DRM. And the company clearly states in the Instant Ink terms and conditions that it reserves the right to perform remote monitoring of everything you're doing with your printer, including what devices you use to initiate print jobs. It will also remotely patch the firmware on your printer without informing you ahead of time. More importantly, disconnecting your HP+ printer from the Internet will disable the cartridges, and the only way to use your printer again is to buy "regular HP cartridges." It's like the online-only DRM that video game companies employ with technologies like Denuvo, with the added inconvenience of being charged for your HP+ subscription until you decide to cancel it. And the moment you cancel HP+, the associated cartridges are disabled. HP has been able to get away with these practices when it comes to HP+ printers through careful language in their documentation, but the IITC is determined to get the Global Electronics Council to remove the EPEAT certification on HP+ printers and review all other HP products for potential improper use of the label in question. The IITC complaint doesn't have the power of a lawsuit, but it should act as a reminder that consumers need to vote with their wallets when companies like HP try to disguise holding you hostage to their own products as eco- and consumer-friendly design. As of writing, four of the top ten best-selling printers on Amazon are HP+ printers, but you would most likely be better served by something like the $99 Brother MFC-J1010DW or the $130 MFC-J1205W. Bottom line: It is now possible to activate a new installation of Windows XP, despite the fact that Microsoft no longer operates its online activation servers. Windows XP has long since been left in the dust but there are still plenty of machines running the legacy OS that could benefit from this tool. The Register points to a blog post from tinyapps highlighting semi-recent developments on the matter. Of course, folks have been cracking Windows XP for decades but it is now possible to do so safely, securely, and without having to get Microsoft involved. Per a Reddit post on the matter, the tool is based on a reverse engineering effort of Microsoft's telephone activation algorithm. According to the latest data from StatCounter, Windows XP is installed on just 0.35 percent of PCs worldwide. That's a hardly a blip on the radar, you say, so why is this even relevant? StatCounter and other analytics services only measure systems that are connected to the Internet and visit sites with tracking code installed. The truth of the matter is that there are lots of systems in the wild that are not connected to the Internet. But why would they still be using an ancient operating system like Windows XP? Out of necessity. There is no shortage of legacy hardware and software that is only compatible with older operating systems like XP. I once did IT work for a tanning salon years ago, and they used proprietary software from a company called Helios to control hardware-based T-Max bed timers. The software and hardware has probably come a long way since then but at the time, it had to be run on an older version of Windows. In many cases, upgrading these mission critical systems simply is not possible because the proprietary hardware or software is no longer in development. If you find yourself in this boat and Windows XP is your only paddle, it is good to know that there's a way to activate the OS without an Internet connection. Microsoft also offered phone-based activation, but it is unclear if this method is still functional today. Full details on what you will need to activate XP can be found over on the tinyapps blog. It also begs the question - will Microsoft ever release an official activation tool for XP? Ford reached an agreement with Tesla Motors to provide EV owners access to more than 12,000 Superchargers across the United States and Canada. This will double the number of fast chargers available to Ford customers starting next year. Gaining Access to Tesla Superchargers (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: A view of Tesla Superchargers on February 15, 2023 in San Rafael, California. Electric car company Tesla is partnering with the U.S. federal government to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States. Rivals Ford and Tesla announced a partnership, offering their services to one another. According to the announcement posted in Ford Media Center, EV owners will have access to 12,000 Superchargers across the United States and Canada. The partnership makes Ford the first major automaker to embrace Tesla's charging standard. Ford will broaden its access by gaining additional chargers available, especially since Tesla is considered the biggest network of high-speed Superchargers in the country. The surprising partnership was announced on Twitter Spaces by Chief Executive Officers Elon Musk (Tesla) and Jim Farley (Ford) that lasted about a half hour and came off without technical difficulties. Musk expressed his delight with this partnership as it not only provides Superchargers but also provides API access. "So like a Ford vehicle can charge at a Tesla supercharger using a Ford app seamlessly. We want it to be something that is supportive of electrification and sustainable transport in general," he added. Farley stated that what he loves about this partnership is the accessibility, given that there are a lot of Superchargers in the country, and reliability with the company's routing software and ease of use of the connector. He added that partnering with Tesla opens a lot of doors for the company as they are learning a lot. Superchargers via an Adapter Both of the companies' agreement reaches far beyond providing access to Superchargers via an adapter. Following this partnership, TechCrunch reported that electric vehicles of Ford will be equipped with Tesla's charge port called North American Charging Standard (NACS) starting in 2025. Customers who own Ford second-generation EVs with NACS ports will be given an option of chagrin at CCS chargers via an adapter. Ford also stated that this will be affordable and will offer different kinds of payment options (like subscriptions). Musk teased its fans during the announcement that the adapter will range from hundreds of dollars. Also Read: Ford to Bring AM Radio to 2024 Models, Reversing Initial Decision-Is It Because of Congress? Reuters reported that both CEOs already hinted at this partnership in their previous interviews and talks. During a Morgan Stanley Forum last Thursday, Farley thinks there is room for some collaboration between the two companies on the infrastructure side, despite it being totally unnatural for them to know that Tesla and Ford are rivals. Meanwhile, Musk tweeted earlier this month that he thinks Ford's overall strategy with EVs is smart, knowing that the electric F-150 Lightning has high demand in the market. When it comes to the losses of the company, he defended Ford by saying, "Always tough with margins for new vehicle lines, especially when there are major technology shifts." Related Article: Tesla Cybertruck vs. Ford F-150: EV Dominates the Old Truck in a Towing Competition, How? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of Azerbaijan hosted a press conference of the "Families of Missing Persons in Karabakh" Public Association, Trend reports. The press conference was attended by family members of 15 missing members of the organization and representatives of NGOs working in the field of assistance to war victims. Speaking about the establishment and activities of the organization, its chairperson Konul Behbudova noted that the main goal of the organization is to protect the rights of persons missing, taken hostage, and prisoners as a result of the military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, and their families, collecting information about the missing persons, prisoners, and hostages, supporting activities for their return to the homeland. Besides, Behbudova called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Global Alliance on Missing Persons, and other international organizations to raise issues related to the missing citizens of Azerbaijan, captured and taken hostage by Armenia. During the press conference, an appeal was made to international organizations in connection with the Azerbaijani servicemen held by the Armenian side, who were captured by Armenia in April 2023. It was also noted that the brilliant historical victory in the Second Karabakh War won by the Azerbaijan Army under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, gave new hope to the families of the missing. Despite the technical difficulties that happened on its previous forums, Twitter stated that it will keep experimenting with its audio platform feature Spaces to give political candidates a chance to connect with their audience. (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 24: 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 to on May 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. The announcement was hampered by technical difficulties as more than a half million people signed on to listen. Experimenting with Spaces for Political Forums Investor David Sacks revealed that Twitter will keep using Spaces for political forums as a way for candidates to connect with an audience, as per Bloomberg's report. Sacks moderated the just-completed discussion between Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his 2024 Presidential Campaign. "If your viewers go to Twitter now and go listen to the recording, I think they're going to wonder what all the fuss was about. Once we got started in a room on my account, we worked up perfectly," he stated. Along with Sacks, the whole team of Twitter wants the platform to become an open channel and a town hall for future candidates to use for their campaigns. Sacks is one of the investors who provided funding for the $44 billion acquisition of Twitter last November 2022, a trusted confidant during the ownership transition, and a close friend of Musk, having worked with him as an executive during their early days of PayPal. Despite this, Sacks denied having an official role in Twitter. Also Read: Elon Musk's Jet Tracker Jack Sweeney Sets Sights on Ron DeSantis Aside from political forums, Twitter Spaces was also used on announcements for his other businesses. Musk and Ford Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley announced their partnership for offering EV owners their Tesla Superchargers. Unlike what happened to DeSantis' forum, this came off without technical difficulties. DeSantis' 2024 Presidential Campaign During his interview, Sacks acknowledged DeSantis' announcement on Spaces experienced difficulties but said that it went well after they switched from Musk's account to his own. The New York Times reported that this was supposed to be a triumphant moment for Musk, but instead, the event experienced several glitches. More than 500,000 people attended the forum and waited for more than 20 minutes for the event to start. Some people were trying to join but were frequently kicked out. Both DeSantis and Musk made a joke about "breaking the internet", which proves that political forums on Twitter Spaces might work in the future. This malfunction was mocked by people on the internet as Sacks failed to ask and challenge DeSantis on certain key points to get to know him by the people listening on the forum. This includes his fight with the Walt Disney Co. and constraints on what schools teach on race or sexuality. As the moderator for the forum, Fortune reported that Sacks blamed the time limit for not being able to bring up controversial views of DeSantis to the forum, "We couldn't cover every single issue in this town hall. We covered so many issues, and it still feels like we are scratching the surface. I think there will be other opportunities for the candidate to address to that," he stated. Related Article: Twitter Spaces Now Back after 'Bug Fix,' Elon Musk Suspends Journalists from Alleged 'Doxxing' 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. E-commerce developers are significant in this era when online-based businesses have flourished, and e-commerce development software abounds. These digital professionals are trained to perform custom software development. They aid companies as they embark on their journey into the online space. As the e-commerce industry steadily expands into a billion-dollar market, business organizations have collaborated with e-commerce development service providers. These clients aim to develop their digital presence, which can translate to greater profitability. Companies may find it challenging to select the best e-commerce development company since plenty of them exist. This article offers readers insights regarding the concept of web development companies engaged in e-commerce software creation. Readers will also learn about the five leading service providers in the e-commerce development field. What Is an E-commerce Developer? E-commerce software developers are professionals engaged in ecommerce app development. Their job involves building e-commerce websites into digital shops that offer solutions to consumers. Furthermore, e-commerce developers can be a part of an outsourcing development company. They provide services to business organizations. These professionals work by understanding every customer's particular business aims. Moreover, dedicated software development teams analyze their client's requirements. Then, they craft a design plan for e-commerce development software and establish web hosting. E-commerce development professionals assist their customers in establishing virtual stores. Their service is significant as online shopping activities grow into many channels. Additionally, e-commerce platform developers assure their clients of seamless integrations. They design online stores and include useful features such as a live chat mechanism, payment gateways, and subscription management. Best 5 E-commerce Developers Software Companies The top makers of e-commerce development software employ e-commerce developers who are proven to be adept professionals. These seasoned custom software development specialists are dependable. They are a part of their clients' e-commerce projects, demonstrating security, reliability, and scalability. Among the five best ecommerce app development firms are the following: 1. Magneto IT Solutions Magneto IT Solutions is a prize-winning ecommerce app development company based in New York City. This nearshore development firm started its operations in 2009. Magneto IT Solutions digitally transforms various business organizations, including B2B2C, B2B, and B2C enterprises. It is an exclusive partner of major B2B e-commerce platforms. Examples are Adobe Commerce, PIM Core, and Oro Incorporated. Magneto IT Solutions have consistently ranked with high ratings from satisfied clients because of the following advantages it offers: a. Offers multiple e-commerce services Magneto IT Solutions offers consulting and solutions to retail, wholesale, distribution, and manufacturing companies to digitalize their businesses. This e-commerce development company has assisted more than 200 brands in improving and building their online ventures. These companies' areas are revenue enhancement, launching, UI/UX, marketing strategy, development, and more. 90% of these business ventures generate high revenues. b. Highly skilled e-commerce software developers Magneto IT Solutions' human resource strength of more than 150 IT specialists stretches across NearShore, Offshore, and Onshore sites. Magneto IT Solutions' dedicated software development team assists customers in scaling their e-commerce enterprises. They perform this measure through the implementation of groundbreaking virtual e-commerce solutions. Additionally, Magneto IT Solutions' team aids clients in increasing their in-house teams' efficiency. This outsourcing development service provider improves and streamlines client retention and acquisition practices. c. Agile technology utilization Magneto IT Solutions' e-commerce software developers use Agile technology to develop user interfaces that lead the industry. They deliver the best end-user experience from ingenious mobile applications and outstanding online stores. 2. P2H Incorporated P2H Incorporated is a major provider of design and web development solutions. Since 2005, this San Francisco, California-headquartered e-commerce software provider has delivered top-quality IT services. Contented P2H clients recommend this firm's dedicated software development team because of the following benefits: a. Expert e-commerce software developers P2H offers clients the expertise of over 470 world-class developers. These professionals are prepared to deliver projects of any complexity or scope within a specified time frame. Additionally, P2H's e-commerce software developers have well-adjusted and smooth workflows that assure customers of quick delivery. P2H's dedicated full-time remote team is also available for complex projects who follow the Agile technique. b. Multiple services offered P2H's clients can get many solutions from this web development company. Besides mobile app development, P2H offers online store website building, UI/UX design, email template and banner advertisement creation, and more. Plus, P2H creates digital shops and portals based on the leading content management systems. They include BigCommerce, WordPress, Magento, Shopify, Drupal, and many others. P2H's cross-platform mobile app development uses frameworks such as React Native. Clients can choose from different engagement models. P2H offers no-commitment partnership and ASAP development. Furthermore, customers can select ad-hoc, retainer, and subscription. They can reach out to the company in their chosen communication channel. 3. Sunrise Integration Sunrise Integration is a custom software development company founded in 1999. It is based in Los Angeles, California. Sunrise Integration's proven multi-platform and process experiences provide clients with a more significant edge over their competitors. This financial software development providers' e-commerce developers offer the following advantages to customers: a. Premium-quality custom software Sunrise Integration's e-commerce software developers can craft high-quality workflow solutions and e-commerce software applications. These specialists have been creating completely customized business software for more than two decades. Sunrise Integration's data integration professionals have intensely concentrated on mobile app development. This dedicated software development team has also focused on logistics, e-commerce, SaaS software, etc. b. Dependable third-party service provider Sunrise Integration's outsourcing development team aids business organizations in concentrating on important matters. These e-commerce software specialists have partnered with Fortune 500 firms and startups. These clients have succeeded with Sunrise Integration's e-commerce software developers completing their web and mobile application development projects. c. Multi-industry and multi-platform expertise Sunrise Integration helps companies from various sectors. This healthcare app development firm's industry span includes logistics, finance, wellness, retail, apparel, etc. Additionally, Sunrise Integration has proficiencies in many platforms. They include eBay, Shopify, Amazon, and Magento. Bigcommerce, Shogun, and WordPress are also among Sunrise Integration's expertise. 4. IT-Geeks IT-Geeks is a company that specializes in web design and development and mobile app development. It started its operations in 2012 and is based in Murray, Utah. IT-Geeks is a distinguished collaborator with Shopify. This web development firm is a leading e-commerce service provider in the world. Satisfied clients cite the following benefits that the IT-Geeks' e-commerce developers deliver: a. Responsive team of e-commerce software specialists IT-Geeks' dedicated software development team is communicative. They are always helpful and attentive, which has resulted in high-quality websites. IT-Geeks' e-commerce development software professionals can also find workarounds. Customers recommend them for their capability to implement particular requests that ensure client satisfaction. b. Optimized e-commerce solutions IT-Geeks professionals offer enhanced e-commerce software for various business organizations. They can integrate their clients' websites with the latter's physical shop design and have their official portals launched soon. Customers also praise IT-Geeks for delivering first-rate functionalities and visual design for their e-commerce sites. This custom software development company delivers websites with an overall appearance and feels consistent with its clients' labels. c. Functionally rich and aesthetically pleasing Shopify websites Being a full-service Shopify firm, IT-Geeks has delivered first-class Shopify solutions to its customers based worldwide. It offers Shopify store setup, design, and migration. Furthermore, IT-Geeks' e-commerce software developers perform Shopify store troubleshooting and maintenance. They have completed more than 4,500 Shopify projects, over 300 migration projects, and a total of more than 10,000 projects. IT-Geeks' success involves their work in custom software development, design, and optimization. Its team has served enterprises of all sizes and almost all business sectors. 5. Softermii Softermii is one of the best employers of results-driven e-commerce developers. This MVP development firm specializes in offering comprehensive outstaffing and outsourcing solutions. Being an international software development outfit, a spirit of ingenious thinking guides Softermii. This financial software development company adapts fast to each customer's unique requirements. Softermii's dedicated software development team crafts bespoke e-commerce software that meets industry-specific problems. For more than nine years, this webRTC development service provider has a rich experience in software development. Softermii is part of the successful implementation of over 100 B2B2C and B2B software of diverse complexities. Furthermore, this healthcare app development company has a wide industry reach. It spans property technology or proptech, real estate, and financial technology or fintech. Softermii's industry scope also includes e-commerce and healthcare, among many others. This real estate software development firm aims to enhance customer satisfaction and profitability for its customers worldwide. Additionally, Softermii is driven at its core by its ambition to facilitate new products' successful launches. This offshore development company desires to improve operational efficiency and catalyze business innovation and growth for its customers. The following advantages make Softermii stand out among its rivals in the industry: a. Ingenious and ready-to-use e-commerce software Softermii is a full-cycle development company. It offers its customers services that best suit their needs or full-cycle development. Its innovative approach involves developing pre-customizable engines. These more accurate solutions address customers' particular pain points and save software development time. Moreover, Softermii's offerings are specially for Small and Medium Enterprises or SMEs and startups. They encompass the entire e-commerce software development lifecycle. This process is from the discovery stage and ends with Quality Assurance. Softermii comprehends time's significance. Hence, this firm delivers software solutions ready for clients' use as soon as possible. b. Laser-focused and upfront approach to clients' needs Softermii's e-commerce software and mobile app development team is diverse. It is composed of over 120 professionals based worldwide. Its e-commerce software specialists deliver unparalleled expertise. They are capable of assembling a skilled software development team within one week. Furthermore, its professionals also invest in their customers' products besides developing their software. They offer anxiety-free service delivery. Thus, customers can concentrate on their enterprises while Softermii handles the technology. Softermii also provides clients with frank consultation. Its professionals are brave to challenge customers' views on their first encounters. Additionally, Softermii's e-commerce software developers give honest and objective feedback. They are always willing to show the brutal reality and recommend logical remedies. Its e-commerce software specialists guide clients in discovering their niche in the market. c. Assuring business operations Softermii has an unwavering commitment to its promises to its clients. This nearshore development company does not overpromise on budget, scope, and time. Its dependable and responsible business approach involves this company firmly committing to a 15-percent deviation threshold. The firm covers any excess and assures its customers that they can confidently plan their projects. Softermii is one of the best e-commerce development service providers. The core attributes defining its software development approach are involvement, efficiency, and flexibility. Its dedicated software development team remains profoundly involved in each client's projects. They ensure that the finished product is of superior quality. Its e-commerce platform developers are also adaptable to customers' requirements and prioritize efficient procedures. Softermii Unveils Exclusive Design Package Tailored for Startups and SMEs Softermii, a cutting-edge software development firm, is thrilled to announce the launch of an exclusive new service designed specifically for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This innovative design package focuses on creating mobile applications, web applications, and landing pages, providing comprehensive, high-quality design solutions to help businesses elevate their digital presence. In a digital-first world where user experience is paramount, Softermii's design package aims to empower startups and SMEs with professional, intuitive, and visually appealing designs. The process is streamlined and efficient, offering two distinct time frames to suit the unique needs and pace of different businesses: A one-week package that includes three meetings and one round of revision. A two-week package that includes five meetings and two rounds of revision. Regardless of the chosen timeframe, Softermii's team of design experts is committed to delivering exceptional results. The deliverables of this package include a comprehensive competitor analysis, providing clients with valuable insights into their market position. Additionally, the package includes UX/UI design for MVP pages, limited to a specific number of pages per app, web app, or landing page. Clients also receive a clickable prototype, an invaluable tool for realistic user interaction testing and feedback collection. Finally, the package wraps up with strategic recommendations for further design evolution, giving startups and SMEs a clear roadmap for future digital growth. "Softermii's design package is more than a service. It's a strategic investment for startups and SMEs," said Slava Vaniukov, CEO of Softermii. "Our goal is to provide our clients with a comprehensive design solution that not only elevates their digital presence but also aids in achieving their business objectives. We understand the challenges startups and SMEs face, and we've tailored this package to meet their needs." About Softermii Softermii is a premier software development and staff augmentation firm offering bespoke technology solutions to startups and SMEs across various industries. With a stellar track record in successful B2B and B2B2C software products and the innovative VidRTC tool, Softermii is committed to delivering unparalleled value to its clients. For more information about Softermii's new design package, VidRTC, and its range of services, please visit their website or contact Slava Vaniukov - CEO & Co-founder, +1 (424) 533-5520, info@softermii.com Magneto IT Solutions, P2H Incorporated, Sunrise Integration, IT-Geeks, and Softermii are today's best firms delivering high-quality e-commerce development software solutions. They have earned many five-star ratings from clients who find their e-commerce developers worthy of their trust. These five leading companies are partners committed to their customer's success. 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After an impressive journey spanning 39 days and 14 hours, NASA's Super Pressure Balloon Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT) has successfully completed its global flight test. Launched from Wanaka Airport in New Zealand, which serves as NASA's long-duration balloon program launch site, the mission concluded on Thursday, May 25, at 9:27 a.m. EDT. The flight, regarded as the program's most successful to date, saw the balloon maintain a stable float altitude in the stratosphere, marking a significant achievement for NASA's Balloon Program Office. Long-duration Balloon Flight Debbie Fairbrother, the chief of NASA's Balloon Program Office at the Wallops Flight Facility, expressed her satisfaction, stating, "Achieving long-duration balloon flight through day and night conditions is an important goal for our program and the science community, and this flight has moved the needle significantly in validating and qualifying the balloon technology." To ensure a safe landing, the balloon operators from NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, executed flight termination commands at 8:37 a.m. EDT on May 25. As a result, the 18.8-million-cubic-foot balloon swiftly separated from the payload, deflating rapidly, and descended under a parachute. It landed in an unpopulated area located 66 nautical miles northeast of Gobernador Gregores, Argentina. NASA collaborated with Argentine officials throughout the mission and is currently in the process of recovering the balloon and payload. In its impressive 40-day journey, the super pressure balloon completed a remarkable five full circuits around the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Retaining a float altitude of approximately 108,000 feet, the balloon ventured into the southern regions, posing potential challenges in terms of power supply due to limited sunlight exposure. Consequently, the decision was made to conclude the flight safely by executing a land crossing, providing an opportunity to recover the balloon and payload. Debbie Fairbrother expressed her pride in the team's accomplishments, stating, "I could not be prouder of the team for conducting a safe and successful flight, and the science returns from SuperBIT have been nothing short of amazing." Read Also: NASA's Floating Balloon Telescope SuperBIT Captures Tarantula Nebula in Gorgeous Detail What's Next for the Balloon Program? Looking ahead, NASA's Balloon Program has scheduled a science mission launching from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in July. The Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia oversees the agency's scientific balloon flight program, which conducts 10 to 15 flights annually from various launch sites worldwide. Peraton, the operator of NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Texas, provides essential services, including mission planning, engineering, and field operations for NASA's scientific balloon program. Over the course of 40 years, the CSBF team has successfully launched over 1,700 scientific balloons. Meanwhile, the fabrication of NASA's balloons is handled by Aerostar. Related Article: [UPDATE] Dead NASA Satellite to Crash Into Earth! Should You Be Worried? Here are RHESSI's Re-Entry Details 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. During a Twitter Spaces conversation with Ford CEO Jim Farley, Elon Musk hinted at the possibility of Tesla sharing its automotive operating system code with other automakers, reported first by TechCrunch. Musk drew a comparison to Android's impact on the phone industry as a general standard and suggested that Tesla might consider open-sourcing more code. This potential move would place Tesla in competition with tech giants like Google and Apple, who have developed their own automotive operating systems. Tesla's Agreement with Ford The discussion arose when Farley expressed the challenges of creating a "fully software-updatable vehicle." Musk responded by offering Tesla's assistance on the software front. This Twitter Spaces session was also used to announce a significant agreement between Tesla and Ford. Under the deal, Ford's electric vehicle customers would gain access to Tesla's Supercharging network in the United States and Canada. Additionally, Ford has made a commitment to integrate Tesla's charging port into its forthcoming second-generation electric vehicles, set to debut in 2025. During live events, Elon Musk frequently discusses ideas for Tesla, with some eventually coming to reality while others do not. If Tesla were to expand its over-the-air updatable software to encompass other vehicles, it would directly challenge Google and Apple in the car operating system market. Automakers have the option to utilize Google's Android Automotive OS, which is derived from its open-source mobile operating system and tailored for automotive applications. Apple has also ventured into the operating system market by introducing its next-generation CarPlay, intended to power all aspects of a vehicle's instrument cluster. Both Apple and Google provide middleware solutions, namely Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which enable seamless integration between users' smartphones and car infotainment systems. Moreover, Musk and Farley alluded to potential future partnerships, including the exploration of collaborations within the supply chain domain, as they engaged in their discussion. Read Also: Twitter to Continue Experimenting Spaces for Political Forums, Following DeSantis' Campaign Fiasco Scarcity of Entrepreneurs During the conversation, Jim Farley raised inquiries regarding Tesla's newly established Corpus Christi lithium refining facility. Ford had recently finalized agreements with Albemarle and SQM to secure a stable supply of lithium for its electric vehicles. In response, Musk reiterated his concerns about the scarcity of entrepreneurs in the US who focus on mining and processing raw materials. He expressed hope that Tesla would not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. Musk highlighted the presence of Tesla's existing nickel-based cathode refinery in Austin and the potential for involvement in anode manufacturing, although he expressed a preference to avoid it if possible. Additionally, he emphasized the expected substantial demand for synthetic graphite, a critical component in lithium-ion anodes. The conversation between Elon Musk and Jim Farley provided insights into Tesla's potential plans to share its automotive operating system code and hinted at future collaborations. As with any ideas put forth by Musk, time will tell if these concepts will become a reality in the ever-evolving automotive industry. Related Article: Tesla Plans to Reveal New Gigafactory's Location by End of 2023, Musk Says 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Is TikTok Shop, the e-commerce marketplace of the popular short video app TikTok, surpassing established players Shopee and Lazada in Southeast Asia? This emerging threat has caught the attention of industry experts and analysts, according to a report by CNBC. TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is actively expanding the short video app's presence in markets beyond the United States and India, aiming to diversify revenue streams. As part of this strategy, TikTok Shop enables merchants, brands, and creators to sell their products to users on the platform. TikTok Shop in Southeast Asia Since its launch, TikTok Shop has made significant strides in the Southeast Asian market. It expanded to six countries in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. The platform's growth has been remarkable, with its gross merchandise value (GMV) skyrocketing to $4.4 billion in 2022, based on internal data obtained by tech media outlet The Information. However, it is important to note that TikTok Shop's current GMV is still considerably lower than that of Shopee and Lazada. Shopee recorded a staggering $73.5 billion in GMV in 2022, while Lazada reached $21 billion for the year through September 2021, according to CNBC. Despite the significant lead of its competitors, TikTok Shop poses a threat. The platform continues to grow rapidly, attracting both large and small users who leverage its reach to connect with new customers. With over 135 million TikTok users in Southeast Asia alone, according to market research company Insider Intelligence, the potential customer base for TikTok Shop is substantial. Indonesia, in particular, stands out with the second-largest population of TikTok users after the United States. The country boasts around 113 million TikTok users, driven by its sizable young population. Meanwhile, Shopee's parent company, Sea Group, is relying on the e-commerce platform to bolster its balance sheet amid declining revenues in its gaming arm. Shopee is actively expanding its presence in Malaysia and strengthening its operations in Brazil as well. Read Also: TikTok CEO Gets Grilled in Congress Hearing About App's Ban In the US; COO Claims 'Xenophobia' TikTok's Influence on Consumer Behavior While TikTok Shop's rise is evident, a survey conducted by retail insights company Cube Asia finds an interesting trend. Consumers spending on TikTok Shop have reportedly reduced their expenditures on Shopee (-51%), Lazada (-45%), and offline shopping (-38%) in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. This shift highlights the impact of TikTok Shop's growing influence on consumer behavior. As TikTok Shop continues its expansion and gains traction in Southeast Asia, it poses a potential challenge to the established dominance of Shopee and Lazada. With its unique combination of short videos and e-commerce capabilities, TikTok Shop has tapped into a new avenue for online shopping that appeals to the region's millions of users. The competition among these e-commerce players is set to intensify, driving innovation and benefiting consumers with more choices and possibly improved services. Related Article: Experts Say TikTok Ban on Australian Government-issued Phones Should Also Apply To Other Social Media Apps 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes is set to breathe new life into a groundbreaking project to export solar power from Australia to Singapore, Bloomberg reports. Cannon-Brookes, the co-founder of Atlassian Corp., and his partner, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, have acquired the assets of the failed Sun Cable project, which had previously gone into voluntary administration following a dispute between Cannon-Brookes and fellow billionaire Andrew Forrest. With this acquisition, Cannon-Brookes and Quinbrook gain control over a vast renewable energy development in northern Australia. Reviving the Sun Cable Project The Sun Cable Project aims to transport electricity from Australia to Singapore through a 4,200-kilometer (2,600-mile) submarine cable. It is considered one of the initiatives that could help Asia's fossil-fuel-dependent economies transition to lower-emissions electricity sources. Read Also: Clean Energy Startups See Unprecedented Surge in Funding, Reaching $12.3 Billion in 2022 Singapore, in particular, with its limited space for major renewables sites, would greatly benefit from the project. Cannon-Brookes expressed his belief in the potential of Sun Cable, stating, "We've always believed in the possibilities Sun Cable presents in exporting our boundless sunshine and what it could mean for Australia." The new owners plan to move forward with a first-stage project that would deliver 900 megawatts of clean electricity to Darwin, Australia while exporting 1.8 gigawatts to Singapore. What's Next? The deal between Grok Ventures, Cannon-Brookes's investment firm, and Quinbrook includes: The intellectual property of the Sun Cable project. A solar farm site in the Northern Territory. Advanced permitting for a transmission line to Darwin. Notably, construction work has yet to commence, and the exact details of the acquisition price remain undisclosed. Andrew Forrest's Squadron Energy, another key investor in the project, had also submitted a proposal during the sale process. However, they did not submit a final bid and have expressed doubts about the commercial viability of exporting power to Singapore. In a statement, Forrest, the founder of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., said, "We remain unconvinced of the commercial viability of the Australia-Asia Powerlink, but if others believe it can be achieved, we wish them all the best." What the Revival of the Sun Cable Project Means The revival of the Sun Cable project represents a significant step towards advancing renewable energy solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. The project's vision extends beyond just powering Singapore, as developers envision it as part of a potential super-grid that could connect countries from Japan to India. By tapping into Australia's abundant solar resources and leveraging submarine cable technology, Sun Cable has the potential to transform the energy landscape in the region. Cannon-Brookes's involvement in the project brings his expertise and financial backing, which could play a crucial role in overcoming the challenges faced by the previous administration. His success as the co-founder of Atlassian Corp., a leading software company, demonstrates his ability to drive innovative projects forward. As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, initiatives like the Sun Cable project offer a glimmer of hope. Australia's vast solar potential, coupled with Singapore's energy demands, creates a unique opportunity to establish a sustainable and scalable energy supply chain. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Biden's Veto Saves US Solar Industry From Tariff Setback in Southeast Asia 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Home security cameras are becoming more and more important as criminals find new ways to breach people's houses. One of the benefits offered by these security cams is scaring possible burglars. If would-be thieves saw your home security cameras, there's a high chance they'll be discouraged from doing their planned crimes. Aside from deterring would-be burglars, home security cameras also allow people to watch their properties even when they are traveling to other places. However, the effectiveness of security cameras will still depend on the areas where you install them. Home Security Camera Guide 2023: Worst Places To Install It CNET reported that there are three worst areas where people can install their home security cameras. These include the following: Also Read: Wyze Aware of Security Cam Major Flaws? Bitdefender Claims It Already Informed the Manufacturer Private areas: Of course, you need to consider the privacy of the areas where you'll be installing your security cams. Avoid areas such as guest rooms, bathrooms, make-up rooms, etc. Behind obstructions: Another place you want to avoid is those behind obstructions. For example, you don't want to install your home security camera in areas covered by trees or behind a massive wall. Difficult-to-see places: Usually, people tend to install their security cams in locations that are difficult to see. These include the backdoor, side alley, and other similar areas. However, a recent study conducted by ADT revealed that over 30% of criminals prefer entering through the front door. Meanwhile, 22% of them tend to break in through the first-floor windows. Best Areas To Install Security Cams Now that you know the worst areas to install home security cameras, it is time to check the best places to install them. Safe Wise provided lists of the best areas to install home security cameras, such as the following: Driveways Common areas, such as the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom Side and front doors Stairways You can click this link to learn more details about the places where you can install your home security cams. Recently, we wrote a review for the Noorio wireless battery security camera B310; an AI-powered weatherproof camera. We also covered the decision of Arlo to halt support for older security cameras. For more news updates about smart home devices, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Protect Your Home, Deter Intruders with Properly Positioned Security Cameras 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A former Tesla employee has shared a leaked document of the company's complaints for the past years, particularly about the Autopilot feature. The confidential data, which was shared with the German publication Handelsblatt contains 100GB of data on issues raised by consumers who opposed the automaker's Full Self Driving (FSD) capabilities. New Tesla Leak Contains Thousands of Autopilot-Related Concerns Even though someone is good at hiding secrets, there will be a time when all will be revealed unexpectedly. That's what happened to Tesla, which was silently keeping all of its customers' complaints for the past years in what it thought to be safe data storage. According to a report by Engadget, the data was related to a German newspaper which later said that some complaints could be traced back to 2015. The newest concerns were from March 2022. Handelsblatt has revealed that within that time frame, Tesla noted 1,500 cases of issues related to braking, while 2,400 reports are about self-acceleration problems. Some filed cases, including the 383 complaints, are centered on phantom braking, while 139 reports revolved around "unintentional emergency braking." The anonymous whistleblower also unveiled how Tesla handles thousands of complaints based on its existing policies, Business Today wrote in its report. "For each incident, there are bullet points for the "technical review." The employees who enter this review into the system regularly make it clear that the report is "for internal use only." Each entry also contains the note in bold print that information, if at all, may only be passed on "VERBALLY to the customer." "Do not copy and paste the report below into an email, text message, or leave it in a voicemail to the customer," it said. Vehicle data should also not be released without permission. If, despite the advice, "an involvement of a lawyer cannot be prevented," this must be recorded." Related Article: Elon Musk Reveals Tesla Might Share Codes With Other Automakers Did Tesla Deny the Leaked Document of Complaints? In another report by Ars Technica on Friday, May 26, Handelsblatt said that it tried to contact Tesla regarding the sensational file leak. As expected from a controversial company, Elon Musk or any other Tesla representative did not reply. However, Handelsblatt's editor-in-chief Sebastian Matthes said that Tesla wanted the stolen data to be returned to it. The automaker even requested the publication to delete all the other copies of the documents. According to Tesla's Managing Counsel for Litigation, Joseph Alm, the possible leaker of the data could be a "disgruntled ex-employee" who has previous access to the company's files. Alm said that any publication is not allowed to report "illegally obtained information." He added that Tesla will start the legal proceedings to sue the anonymous whistleblower for his "theft of Tesla's confidential information and employees' personal data." Read Also: Hyundai Announces $1.1 Billion Investment with LG Energy, Building Electric Battery Joint Venture 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tech employees for online safety and trust, as well as AI ethics, are still experiencing layoffs. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, numerous companies in the tech industry decided to let go of some of their staff. Their layoffs just got worst in 2022. This 2023, Meta, Apple, Twitter, and other tech firms are still terminating their employees. Now, the main question is, why do tech companies tend to terminate employees who are part of their AI ethics and online safety teams? Why Tech Employees for Online Safety, AI Ethics Face Terminations According to CNBC's latest report, massive tech layoffs were made when cyberbullying and other harmful online activities were rampant. Also Read: DoorDash Allegedly Overcharges iPhone Users! Food Delivery Company Now Faces Lawsuit In 2022, Meta's team anti-misinformation team was working on a fact-checking tool that was supposed to be completed in around half a year. However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to lay off employees included in the team put an end to the anti-misinformation technology. Meanwhile, Twitter also disbanded its ethical AI team back in November 2022, as well as around 15% of employees of the trust and safety department. Aside from Twitter and Meta, Google also terminated some of its staff who are working to protect users from radicalization, censorship, toxicity, and misinformation. Although the 2024 U.S. Election season nears, these tech firms are still planning to conduct layoffs. Because of this, tech critics think that Meta and other companies view safety and trust, as well as AI ethics, as cost centers. Tech Layoffs This 2023 Tech Crunch provided the tech layoffs that were conducted this 2023. Here's how many employees were terminated in the tech industry from January to April: January: 84,714 employees laid off February: 36,491 employees laid off March: 37,109 employees laid off April: 17,926 employees were laid off If you want to learn more specific details about these tech layoffs, you can click this link. Here are other stories we recently wrote about business tech: The partnership of T-Mobile and SpaceX was targeted by AT&T. Recently, Apple's generative AI job posts were spotted. For more news updates about happenings in the tech industry, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Meta Rolls Out Final Phase of 10,000 Job Cut Plan, Accelerating Restructuring Efforts 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Seagulls, specifically the herring gulls, have long been considered a coastal nuisance in the UK, notorious for their relentless food snatching. For instance, several news agencies reported that the birds began scooping up drugs and eating them before going on a drug-fueled rampage to terrorize pedestrians. However, new research shared by The Conversation challenges the prevailing notion of these birds as mere aggressors, revealing a surprising depth of intelligence and social prowess. A Taste for Human Food University of Sussex animal researchers led by Franziska Feist set out to discover the cognitive abilities of urban herring gulls after being intrigued by the gulls' capacity to scavenge human food. Previous studies hinted at their ability to adjust foraging behaviors in response to human activity, show heightened interest in people with food, and display a preference for human-touched food. The team aimed to investigate whether the gulls could track objects handled by humans and compare them to other things within their environment. Such cognitive abilities would indicate a level of intelligence beyond basic object recognition. How the Researchers Conducted the Study Their study, recently published in Biology Letters, employed a clever experiment on Brighton Beach. Individual herring gulls or small groups were presented with two crisp packets of different colors, while the researchers held a third packet matching one of the colors. The researchers meticulously observed the gulls' responses, testing the hypothesis that the birds would choose the color-matched packet held by the researchers. Astoundingly, almost all of the gulls that interacted with the crisp packets (95%) selected the color-matched one held by the researchers. Interesting Findings This remarkable finding suggests that herring gulls can identify and compare objects in their surroundings. Furthermore, the gulls appeared to closely observe human foraging choices, using that information to inform their food selection. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in the approach rates between adult gulls and young birds with brown plumage. However, most attempted thefts (86%) were executed by adults, despite constituting only 46% of the overall sample. This implies that pilfering food demands a certain audacity and skill, traits that most young birds have yet to develop. Alternatively, competitive adult birds might discourage the younger ones from attempting food theft. Read Also: Study Reveals Gannets' Secret Weapon Against Avian Flu - Turning Blue Irises Black What makes these findings even more captivating is the fact that herring gulls have not co-evolved with humans. The researchers note that their urbanization began merely 80 years ago, making it unlikely that their behavior stems from innate abilities acquired through a long-term association with humans. Instead, their triumph in adapting to urban environments appears to emanate from a broader and more versatile behavioral repertoire. Observant Birds While this research unveils the astonishing cognitive prowess of herring gulls, it also carries implications for coastal residents and visitors who frequently endure the birds' uncanny ability to target and snatch food. The researchers propose that the challenges posed by gulls' food theft are not solely attributable to humans feeding the urban gulls. It seems that the act of observing humans consume a particular food item renders it and any identical items nearby more enticing to the gulls. This cognitive toolkit possessed by herring gulls adds complexity to managing the delicate relationship between humans and these urban avian dwellers. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Study Shows Pet Parrot Social Behavior Thrives When on Video Calls with Other Parrots 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New regulations slow down vaccine supply, posing risk of disease infection in Vietnam There are increasing concerns the prolonged vaccine shortage may soon lead to the resurgence of infectious diseases in Vietnam. A child is vaccinated in Binh Duong Province. VNA/VNS Photo Duong Ngoc This comes as the vaccination rate for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) fell short of the annual targets last year. In 2022, only three out of 20 provinces and cities in the southern region achieved the full vaccination rate for children under one year old, and the overall vaccination rate for the region reached only 79.5 per cent due to the vaccine shortage in the EPI. According to Hoang Ngoc Mai, thanks to reserves, vaccines were still adequately supplied in the early months of 2022. However, by mid-2022, the supply was not quickly replenished, leading to a shortage of a number of vaccines nationwide for diseases such as measles, DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus), measles-rubella (MR) and polio (bOPV). To cope with the shortage, the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, the Centre for Research and Production of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals sponsored 328,280 doses of DPT vaccine and 200,000 doses of measles vaccine to the programme, helping to meet the demand for a month. But shortage has recurred and persisted since then. Due to the lack of vaccines, in 2022, most of the vaccination rates in the EPI did not reach the annual target and had been lower than the 2021 rates. In the southern region, 14 provinces had vaccination rates below 80 per cent, such as ong Nai, Tien Giang, Lam ong, Tay Ninh, Can Tho, Soc Trang, An Giang, Tra Vinh, ong Thap, Binh Phuoc, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang. The catch-up vaccination rate in the southern region was also very low. In 2022, only 16 out of 20 provinces implemented catch-up vaccination, with 338,026 doses administered. In the first quarter of 2023, only 18 provinces and cities conducted catch-up vaccinations, with 123,498 doses administered. This number is very low compared to the number of children that are in need of catch-up vaccination and does not significantly change the vaccination rate in the region. Risk of infectious disease outbreaks Mai said that the low vaccination rate puts Vietnam at risk of large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases. She noted that the World Health Organization has classified the risk of polio returning to Vietnam from the lowest level to a medium-high level. Duong Thi Hong, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Ministry of Health) and Head of the National Expanded Programme for Immunisation Office, said that currently, most provinces have run out of the 5-in-1 DPT-VGB-Hib vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Some vaccines are in very limited supply and only enough for use until July 2023, such as DPT, tuberculosis (BCG), pertussis (DTaP), and measles-rubella vaccines. Meanwhile, the polio vaccine supply is sufficient until August 2023. The EPI has compiled all vaccine needs from localities and submitted them to the Ministry of Health. Hong said that the health ministry is making efforts to restore the vaccine supply for the programme. The ministry will establish a common price framework for imported 5-in-1 vaccines, and localities will quickly sign contracts with manufacturers based on actual needs, after obtaining results of procurement through bidding or price negotiation according to regulations, quickly sign the contract to receive the vaccine. This method is similar to what the Department of Health has done to buy some drugs. "In June, the ministry will issue an official document requesting the quantity of orders," she said. "Localities must have an accurate figure of the required vaccine quantity to avoid situations of excess or shortage compared to the demand." HCM City is one of the localities affected by the disruption of vaccine supply in the EPI due to a large number of children in the vaccination age group. According to the citys Department of Health, the shortage of vaccines for EPI started in May 2022 and has continued until now. Despite sending multiple recommendation letters to the health ministry, the quantity of supplied vaccines has not been sufficient to meet the vaccination needs of young children in the area. According to the projection of the Department of Health, from now until June 2024, HCM City needs approximately 1,553,000 doses of various vaccines in the EPI. The EPI is providing immunisation to 10 vaccine-preventable diseases in Vietnam. It is estimated that EPI has saved 42,000 lives and prevented more than 6.7 million childhood diseases like polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles and pertussis with high vaccine coverage. Cubersome procedures slow down supply Nguyen ang Hien, the Director of the Centre for Research and Production of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, which is currently responsible for producing and supplying four types of vaccines for the EPI (including bOPV, measles, and measles-rubella), said that in previous years, there was no shortage of vaccines because the centre would usually produce a certain surplus quantity of vaccines for future years, even without specific plans or orders. However, in the past two years, due to changes from the health ministry, the centre no longer produces a surplus but manufactures vaccines based on specific orders. Recently, the centre received a document from the health ministry regarding the proposal of pricing plans, which will be submitted to the ministry for approval. Based on the approved prices by the health ministry, the EPI will sign a joint contract to purchase vaccines, and provinces and cities will place specific orders with the manufacturers accordingly. However, in order to accomplish this, the manufacturer needs an accurate quantity to determine the vaccine price and forecast the raw materials for production planning. In addition to the quantity, localities need to provide the manufacturer with the delivery schedule, such as how many times a year they will receive shipments and when they will receive them, so that the company can have appropriate production plans. "The vaccine supply is not something that can be instantly fulfilled, we need to have a plan to prepare for purchasing raw materials. Only with accurate forecasting and ordering can we ensure the domestic vaccine supply," said Hien. Agreeing with this, Tran Thanh Hieu, Deputy Director of the state-owned Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH), said that the health ministry and the EPI need to be proactive in placing orders so that companies can be proactive in production and supply. Hieu said, like the Centre for Research and Production of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, in previous years, VABIOTECH had produced a certain quantity of vaccines for stockpiling, ready to supply when needed. However, due to various objective conditions, the unit is currently unable to produce a large quantity. Therefore, if the health ministry and localities have plans and place orders early, the enterprise can respond in a timely manner. "To ensure a steady and sustainable supply, it is necessary to have a long-term plan, at least two years, so that the entire programme, manufacturers, and users can be proactive," said Duong Huu Thai, Director of the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), which has provided four types of vaccines for the EPI. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov is participating as an honored guest in the military parade in Georgia on the occasion of the country's Independence Day (May 26) and oath-taking ceremony of the Georgian servicemen, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, Hasanov is on a working visit to the country at the invitation of his Georgian counterpart Juansher Burchuladze. The Military Orchestra of the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev of the National Defense University is participating in a series of events held on the occasion of the Independence Day in Georgia. Dispute over climate change: How to deal with deniers at the dinner table? These are the mobiles in which WhatsApp will stop working properly from June 1 Roscosmos: the launch of the Russian Luna-25 spacecraft will take place in August The official ChatGPT app is now available in Spain Borisov: it is necessary to create a plant for the mass production of satellites in Russia by 2026 After about ten days in space: Crew of second private ISS mission back on Earth 'I smoked and drank a lot': Zaz opens up about his excesses at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic (m+) What McKinsey, BCG, Bain and Co. are really good for: An exclusive study of the best consultants Electric cars: BMW and VW catch up with Tesla and BYD, according to ICCT study The 'urban heat island' that may increase deaths and hospitalizations this summer in Spain Guangdong Province's high temperature warning continues to take effect, and many cities have experienced high temperatures of more than 37C The collision of strength and wisdom More than 300 wrestlers competed in the "Sheep Scratching Competition" in Daixian County, Shanxi Kirimayama Ozeki promotion press conference [Details] What are your thoughts on the new name "Kirishima" "A lot of people are praying for Sergio": PSG goalkeeper Rico, who was hit by a horse, remains in intensive care Ahead of the start of the Japan Championships in Athletics, Sani Brown is eager to win back-to-back titles Ksenia Shoigu spoke about the preparation of the One Run race held in China Anders Christiansen out of action for the rest of the season for Malmo FF Analysis of the price rally: Where there is (perhaps) catch Bank 3-year and 5-year deposit rates generally drop below 3% What do you think? Ministry of Public Security: We insist on not tolerating the crime of fraudulent issuance of securities and investigate it to the end 100% security inspection of ships passing through the Three Gorges Gate: Guarding the "heavy weapons of a big country" (Economic Watch) Why are the executives of multinational companies "coming to China fever" again? What has happened: Everything you need to know about the West Link They locate in Ukraine the two-year-old girl kidnapped by her mother in Zaragoza Sanchez radicalizes his speech before the 23-J: defines PP and Vox as "two extreme right like Trump" and charges against the media Alessandro Lequio, on the arrival of Ana Obregon and her granddaughter in Spain: "I had no idea" Not found but the accident on the bridge in Pitea is being investigated as causing someone else's death Macron said he would like to meet with the leaders of Kosovo and Srebia together with Scholz Canada: inbreeding at the origin of the high rate of rare diseases in Quebec, reveals a study Bill to amend the My Number Act, etc. approved by a special committee of the House of Councillors, to be enacted on June 6 In Rostov-on-Don, sports structures will be checked after an emergency with the collapse of the grandstand Repeal of retirement at age 64 in France: several scenarios but little hope of voting 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 Indra, Cellnex, Unicaja, NH... power war at the top: "We have to talk about our CEO" The worst wine in the supermarket is entered in an international competition and wins the gold medal Two Italian spies and a Mossad agent among four killed in boat sinking on Lake Maggiore A campaign in Germany asks supermarkets not to contribute to the drying of Donana with the sale of Spanish strawberries The head of the European Commission announced a new plan to accelerate the integration of the Balkan countries into the EU At the Globsec forum, Emmanuel Macron wants to set himself up as a leader in European defense against Russia (Economic Watch) Why are the executives of multinational companies "coming to China fever" again? 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. First version published at 12:53 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of Azerbaijan hosted a press conference of the "Families of Missing Persons in Karabakh" Public Association, Trend reports. The press conference was attended by family members of 15 missing members of the organization and representatives of NGOs working in the field of assistance to war victims. Speaking about the establishment and activities of the organization, its chairperson Konul Behbudova noted that the main goal of the organization is to protect the rights of persons missing, taken hostage, and prisoners as a result of the military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, and their families, collecting information about the missing persons, prisoners, and hostages, supporting activities for their return to the homeland. Besides, Behbudova called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Global Alliance on Missing Persons, and other international organizations to raise issues related to the missing citizens of Azerbaijan, captured and taken hostage by Armenia. During the press conference, an appeal was made to international organizations in connection with the Azerbaijani servicemen held by the Armenian side, who were captured by Armenia in April 2023. It was also noted that the brilliant historical victory in the Second Karabakh War won by the Azerbaijan Army under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, gave new hope to the families of the missing. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Within the framework of the cooperation negotiations between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, a working meeting with the German Strategic Communication Issues officers was held at the Training and Education Center of the Azerbaijan Army, Trend reports. At the meeting, held with the participation of the working group established to implement the Communication Strategy of the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Azerbaijan, German representatives were provided with detailed information about the activities of the Ministry in the field of communication, including measures on countering information and psychological operations during the 44-day Patriotic War. The guests presented briefings on Strategic Communication, including the organization of public relations and other issues. The meeting emphasized the importance of the conduct of such meetings and the organization of mutual visits in terms of the exchange of experience in the field of communication. During the visit, the delegation visited the press offices of the Ministry of Defense, Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC, Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and Baku Media Center. The guests were given detailed information about the work done in the field of military patriotism. A worker protests at the Maximus call center in Bogalusa in 2022. Friday is the last day of work for about 55 employees at the center. It's the second layoff in five months the facility, which provides customer relations services for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 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. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., second from right, reacts as a protester, third from left in a blue T-shirt, calls out and moves toward her as she speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 17, 2023, about the World Health Organization. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., fourth from left, and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., fifth from left, assist as others try to restrain the protester. The protester was removed from the area and Boebert continued to speak. You may not have heard about Nvidia, but thanks to the artificial intelligence boom its now one of the most valuable companies in history. The company has for years made the computer chips that can run graphics-heavy video games. But several years ago, artificial intelligence researchers began using those same chips to run the powerful new algorithms that were causing breakthroughs in the field. Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang. Credit: AP This week, the company reported earnings and explained the incredible surge in demand it has seen as the tech world races to create new versions of AI prompting potentially the largest one-day increase in a companys value, ever. The 24 per cent rise in stock price means Nvidia is now worth $US939.3 billion ($1.43 trillion). Thats more than Tesla and Facebook, which are worth $US584.7 billion and $US647.6 billion, respectively. And it sits just behind the big tech companies of Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon and Saudi state oil giant Saudi Aramco the only companies more valuable. Age subscribers are invited to be the first to experience THE LUME Melbournes new experience Connection with 2-for-1 tickets* to opening week between June 23 - July 2. The Connection experience takes visitors on a journey of discovery across Australia, bringing to life the stories, art, and culture of First Nations Peoples through multi-sensory art and dynamic interactivity and blends both traditional and contemporary mediums. THE LUME Melbournes newest experience, Connection, which features over 500 individual artworks from 80 First Nations artists. Credit: THE LUME To redeem your special offer, head to THE LUMEs website, add two tickets to your cart and apply the unique code: THEAGE In collaboration with The National Museum of Australia, Connection is the largest First Nations art and music experience ever assembled, with over 110 artists and musicians brought to life in the worlds largest digital art gallery. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Armenians continue to carry out illegal transportation accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, Trend reports. Russian peacekeepers continue to ensure the protection of military transportation of illegal Armenian armed formations. The footage shows how military transportation to the combat positions of illegal Armenian armed formations is carried out by means of the Khankendi-Karkijahan-Khalfali road, accompanied by armored vehicles of Russian peacekeepers. The peaceful protest on the Lachin-Khankendi road against the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan's mineral resources in the area of Russian peacekeepers' temporary deployment started on December 12, 2022, and ended on April 28, 2023. This peaceful protest organized on the Lachin-Khankendi road lasted 138 days. Previously, following the talks with the Russian peacekeepers' command on December 3 and 7, 2022, a group of experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC was going to begin preliminary monitoring of the illicit mineral resource exploitation, as well as emerging environmental implications on Azerbaijani lands, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, on December 10, 2022. 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. Pan-Asian restaurant Lulu Bondi joins beachside siblings Harrys, Raw Bar and RND in the former home of Italian restaurant A Tavola. The best bars, pubs and restaurants to visit in Sydney this month. See all stories . Preview(opens in a new tab) Restaurateur Harry Lambropoulos welcomed a new sibling to his family of Bondi Beach eateries this week. Lulu Bondi, which opened on Hall Street, joins beachside stablemates Harrys, Raw Bar and RND. It felt like we needed a spicy-sounding sister, says group operations manager Jonna Kristiansson. Our other venues all sound very masculine. Hokkaido scallop and prawn toast at Lulu Bondi. Hannah Singleton Lulu has filled the space where Italian restaurant A Tavola previously traded. While Harrys, Raw Bar and RND are clustered together at the corner of Wairoa and Warners avenues, the new site is in the busier retail heart. Lulus neighbours include China Diner, Fonda and Gelato Messina. We saw potential with it, Kristiansson says. Advertisement Opinion Eating outBest of Sydney leaves Melbourne in the dust for top-notch restaurants The winner is Syd-er-ney! In the Melbourne vs Sydney food fight, Callan Boys is for the Harbour City. Callan Boys 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 Destination NSW boss Steven Cox sure knows how to ruffle some feathers in Victoria. Speaking at The Sydney Morning Heralds Sydney 2050 Summit last week, Cox said the Harbour City has the best food and drink and produce of anywhere in Australia. This is exactly what you would expect a state tourism chief to say, of course, but Cox then supported his claim by quoting former Rockpool chef Neil Perry. I said, Neil, youve got restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, where is the best food in Australia? He said without a shadow of a doubt it is Sydney, said Cox, according to Herald Sydney Editor Michael Koziols coverage of the event. Cue much croissant-throwing by my Victorian colleagues. How could Perry say that! The nerve! Theres no competition. We have caneles. And laneways! And the big seafood dumpling at Flower Drum! Opinion Keep your flashy restaurants Sydney, Melbournes have a casual elegance that cannot be beaten Theyre right. There is no competition. Sydney leaves Melbourne in the dust for dynamic, trailblazing restaurants. And by Sydney, I mean all of Sydney Bondi, Strathfield, Bonnyrigg not just the CBD, although it should be said that the inner-city is going off. White-hot restaurants are opening at a rate we havent seen since the 2000 Olympics. Advertisement In the past five weeks, Sydneys CBD and The Rocks have welcomed sprawling Mediterranean grill Le Foote, swanky trattoria Palazzo Salato and New York-inspired bistro Clam Bar. Melbournes most exciting new restaurant this year seems to be a fancy souvlaki shop from one-time MasterChef host George Calombaris. Sydney rock oysters, nuoc cham and ginger chipolatas at Clam Bar. Edwina Pickles Melburnians will say that more Italian and American joints do little to advance a citys unique food culture. Sydney needs more Sydney-style restaurants. I say Clam Bar, for one example, is entirely unique. The steakhouse model is lifted from New York, sure, but a Manhattan grill chef would sooner serve oysters with Vegemite than Clam Bars choice of Vietnamese dipping sauce and ginger chipolatas. This is what Sydney restaurants do best. They take the most delicious ingredients and ideas the world has to offer, and they create something thrilling and fresh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sydney, arguably, can also claim Australias best: pho (An Restaurant, Bankstown commonly held as the countrys best), fish and chips (Charcoal Fish, Rose Bay, run by the famous Josh Niland, need we say more?), Thai (dozens of examples), and char kwai teow (first table on your left at the hawker centre opposite Guildford train station). Ill concede that Melbourne has better spaghetti. Collection 20 of Sydney CBDs very best restaurants for Vivid (and beyond) Melbourne, youre also better for food shopping, and your pubs are way more fun. Pokies have turned so many of our old boozers into lifeless gaming dens. I still love your big, grey streets, and Ill always be jealous of Geralds Bar, Embla, and yes that massive mud-crab-stuffed soup dumpling at Flower Drum. But a few choice snacks and world-class dim sum cant match Sydneys energy, innovation and all-round deliciousness. The winner is Syd-er-ney! Callan Boys is the editor of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up On the same day a plane loaded with cocaine crashed in Papua New Guinea, Osman El-Houli was arrested over an alleged $141 million drug importation plot. Likened to a movie script, El-Houli was accused of driving interstate to collect more than 400 kilograms of pure cocaine delivered by a black flight from PNG. In a Hollywood ending for the Melbourne truck driver, he walked out of the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday with jubilant family and supporters, after a jury found him not guilty. Hired by a man he knew as The Professor, the 35-year-old told police he drove 3000 kilometres from Melbourne to collect bags of cash in July 2020. Parts of Flinders, Spencer and Collins streets could be closed to cars at peak times under a Melbourne city council proposal to reduce the number of people driving through the CBD and prioritise pedestrians. Blocking some city streets to private vehicles between set times each day and restricting car access to a single direction along others are key proposals in the scheme to make the city more walkable. The Future Streets Framework will be considered by councillors at the Future Melbourne Committee next month, a precursor to community consultation and a formal council vote. The draft plan proposes creating several Melbourne Square streets near train stations that could be fully or partially closed at certain times to non-essential vehicles. Twelve-year-old Sam* stood watching level crossing railway works on a busy Camberwell road the day he first met by chance the man who would become his abuser. Child sex offender Anthony John Hutchins, then aged 33, struck up a conversation with the boy and discovered they both loved railways, asking the child if he wanted to join him as a volunteer at tourist attraction Puffing Billy in 1975. Convicted sex offenders Robert Whitehead (left) and Anthony Hutchins (right) with young volunteers at Puffing Billy in 1979. Credit: John Thompson I used to live near the railway line and hang around to see the station person and signal box regularly. Id been in a locomotive with a person and nothing had ever happened. Even by 12, I had built up years of trust, Sam told The Age. When Tony approached me and said he was the leader of the track maintenance gang at Puffing Billy I was in awe, I thought it was fantastic. A 62-year-old Como man faces a string charges over child exploitation material with victims from across the world, who police allege he communicated with online. The man was charged after detectives from the child exploitation operations squad received a tip via Crime Stoppers on Thursday. Police allegedly uncovered evidence of child abuse material after examining the mans devices. Credit: Eddie Jim Detectives executed a search warrant at the mans home, where they seized digital devices including desktop computers, laptops, storage devices and mobile phones. Police allege a forensic triage of some devices revealed the man had been communicating with numerous children over internet-based chat applications. An ACT deputy chief police officer who oversaw the Lehrmann rape investigation said the intense media pressure hanging over the police motivated him to direct the former Coalition staffer be charged in late 2021. Commander Michael Chew told his subordinate Detective Superintendent Scott Moller in early August lets just get it served and move on against the backdrop of increasing public scrutiny and perceived delays in the investigation. ACT Policing Commander Michael Chew said media scrutiny drove him to direct his subordinate to charge Bruce Lehrmann. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The matter was dragging on and the commentary surrounding the matter was increasing, Chew told an inquiry into authorities handling of the high-profile case. Asked by Erin Longbottom KC, counsel assisting the inquiry, whether those factors had motivated him to direct the court summons be served on Bruce Lehrmann, Chew replied that they had, before acknowledging in hindsight he should not have responded that way. Western Australias industrial umpire has slapped the Australian Nursing Federation WA with the biggest-ever fine in the states union history for holding an unlawful rally on the steps of parliament last year. The Industrial Relations Commission has fined the nurses union $350,000 for organising the November 25 strike and rally, which was attended by about 4000 nurses and midwives protesting the state governments pay offer and hospital conditions. ANF WA secretary Janet Reah at the nurses rally in November. Credit: Hamish Hastie It is understood the next biggest fine was handed to the teachers union after its 2008 strike, which was less than $10,000. The fine is about a third of the unions revenue according its last annual report. The fine is far less than the tens of millions of dollars the ANF was initially warned it could face, and no individual penalties were issued, except for a $10,000 fine handed down to union secretary Janet Reah. London: 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 three-metre by five-metre area of woodland about 30 metres 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. Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from a resort in Portugal. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. In UK's Victoria and Albert Museum, Galerie Edition Raphael (Raphael Gallery) hosted an event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports. Heydar Aliyev, during his visit to the UK in 1998, took part in a concert event organized in this place, where he delivered a speech. He underlined the importance of presenting Azerbaijani music and art in this historic hall. This significant historical moment gave another exceptional feature to the event on May 25 dedicated to national leader's anniversary. The event, held with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was attended by UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan Baroness Emma Nicholson, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, speakers of the House of Commons of the UK. Moreover, the event was attended by members of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) working group on Azerbaijani-British inter-parliamentary relations, members of the diplomatic corps, accredited in this country, representatives of the private sector, well-known public figures, and members of the country's community in the UK. An exhibition and concert program dedicated to the life and work of national leader Heydar Aliyev were presented at the event. In turn, the exhibition presented photographic materials and information about the life and political activities of the great leader, and the main events in the history of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani-British bilateral relations. The new battery cell JV will be located in Bryan County , Savannah, Georgia where Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is currently being built Total investment amount of over USD 4.3 billion; LGES and HMG to take a 50 percent stake respectively JV's battery production aimed to start at the end of 2025 with an annual production capacity of 30 GWh, capable of supporting the production of 300,000 EVs Building the second battery manufacturing JV, LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to continue strengthening the ties with their long-time partnership in electrification efforts SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2023 -- LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hyundai Motor Group announced an EV battery cell manufacturing joint venture in the U.S. today. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding to produce EV batteries in the U.S. and further accelerate the Group's electrification efforts in North America. The signing ceremony took place in LGES's headquarters in Seoul on May 26 with the attendance of Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution and Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group will each hold a 50 percent stake in the JV, which will involve the investment of over USD 4.3 billion (KRW 5.7 trillion). "Two strong leaders in the auto and battery industries have joined hands, and together we are ready to drive the EV transition in America," said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. "By further advancing our product competitiveness and global operational expertise, LG Energy Solution will commit our best efforts to offering the ultimate sustainable energy solutions to our customers." "Hyundai Motor Group is focusing on its electrification efforts to secure a leadership position in the global auto industry. We will create a strong foundation to lead the global EV transition through establishing a new EV battery cell plant with LG Energy Solution, a leading global battery producer and long-time partner," said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. The annual production capacity of the new joint venture is at 30 GWh, able to support the production of 300,000 units of EVs annually. The facility will be in Bryan County, Savannah, Georgia adjacent to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, currently under construction. Starting construction in the second half of 2023, the joint venture plans to start battery production at the end of 2025 at the earliest. Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the plant, then supply them to the Group's U.S. manufacturing facilities for production of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models. The new facility will help create a stable supply of batteries in the region and allow the Group to respond fast to the soaring EV demand in the U.S. market. With this JV, LGES now has seven battery plants currently operating or being constructed in the U.S., where the company is concentrating most of its resources to expand the production capacity. By ramping up its local production, LGES aims to provide innovative products both in scale and with speed, thereby expediting the clean energy transition in the U.S. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group have long been partners in the field of electrification having worked on the supplies of EV batteries for vehicles, including Elantra Hybrid, Kona Electric, and IONIQ 6 dedicated EV. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, LPi hybrid vehicle introduced in 2009, was the Group's first electrified model. In 2021, both started construction of the Indonesia battery cell JV which is set to start production in the first half of 2024. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to further strengthen the ties going forward with the EV battery cooperation. * Made In USA EV Tax Stipend Component Requirements Le Mans Winner Rotary Powered Mazda 787B to Demonstrate at 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary Anniversary LEARN MORE: Mazda at Le Mans, Lots of trying Lots of Loosing Lots of winning HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 25, 2023; 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) Mazda 787B, the overall winner of the 59th 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. USAID aims to develop the non-oil economy of Azerbaijan, Director of the USAID mission in Azerbaijan Michael Nehrbass told Trend. According to him, two priority areas have been chosen in this direction, agriculture and agro-tourism. "These sectors have great economic potential from a short-term perspective. USAID has extensive experience in the field of agriculture. We conduct training and seminars for small entrepreneurs in the field of production, processing and export of agricultural products," he said. "We provide support in entering new markets for medium-sized businesses that have already established production and exports, in particular the markets of Europe, the Middle and Far East, and help eliminate dependence on foreign markets. We also work with them in the field of standardization of goods and bringing in compliance with international requirements of manufactured and exported products," he added. USAID provides technical and financial support to SMEs and the government of Azerbaijan. Nehrbass said that USAID provides technical and financial support to farmers and business entities in the agro-tourism sector. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. World oil prices on Friday morning are decreasing just like on the previous day according to the auction data, Trend reports. Markets assess the prospects for OPEC+ policy following statements from Russia. The price of July futures for Brent crude oil decreased by 0.31 percent, to $76.02 per barrel, and July futures for WTI (West Texas Intermediate) - by 0.11 percent, to $71.75. A day earlier, quotes lowered by 2.7 percent and 3.4 percent respectively after growth in the previous three trading sessions. On May 25, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that no new steps will be taken at the in-person OPEC+ meeting on June 4. He explained this by the fact that just a month ago, some countries decided to voluntarily cut oil production due to the slow pace of global economic recovery. "Oil lost recent gains amid OPEC's reluctance to cut production further. We see things softening a bit further from here as cautious sentiment permeates the markets," Bloomberg cited managing director for brokerage Vanir Global Markets Pte James Whistler. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. It is necessary to further expand ties between tourism organizations of Azerbaijan and the UAE, Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammed Al Blooshi said during a meeting with Goydeniz Gahramanov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Azerbaijan Association of Travel Agencies, Trend reports. According to the association, at the meeting, the ambassador was informed about its activities, role in the development of tourism in Azerbaijan, and opportunities for cooperation with member companies of the organization. Gahramanov, highlighting during the discussions that the Middle East market, in particular the UAE market, is of great importance for the tourism sector of the country, noted that after the creation of the possibility of mutual visa-free entry for citizens of the two countries with general civil passports, progress will be made in both inbound and outbound tourism. In turn, Al Blooshi noted that the existence of friendly relations between the two countries has a positive impact on tourism and other areas. He also expressed readiness to provide his support for expanding cooperation in this direction. During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on such issues as holding meetings in the B2B format, organizing information tours, exchanging experience, as well as increasing the number of air travel. Currently, Azerbaijan Airlines, Flydubai and Air Arabia airlines organize flights to UAE's Dubai and Sharjah several times during the day. Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS Eddie Nash, a UCLA sophomore and volunteer with the UCLA Brain Exercise Initiative, right, participates in a trivia quiz with seniors at a residential facility, May 13 in Westwood, California. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Under the leadership of Yves-Louis Darricarrere, Co-Chairman of the French-Kazakh Business Council of MEDEF International, more than 35 French companies conducted a multisectoral mission in Astana on April 16 and 17 to enhance bilateral relations, a source at MEDEF told Trend. Major French companies already established in Kazakhstan actively participated in the mission, with a strong representation from the energy sector, which plays a pivotal role in the economic ties between the two countries. The visiting companies had the opportunity to meet Kazakhstan's new Minister of Energy, Almassadam Satkaliyev, fostering crucial connections in the energy domain. "The delegation was dominated by companies operating in the energy, transport and communications, and industrial sectors. There were also several companies from the agriculture, health, banking and digital sectors," said the representative. In addition to strengthening existing partnerships, the visit served as a precursor to the upcoming visit of French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht, during which multiple agreements were signed. "MEDEF International was particularly active with Central Asia during the first half of the year, with delegations to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. New activities could take place in the near future in Central Asia, as French companies are showing a strong interest in the region," the representative noted. MEDEF International is a non-profit private-funded organization, created in 1989 by MEDEF, the French Business Confederation. MEDEF International is the most representative organization of the French private sector at an international level. MEDEF International aims at promoting French companies know-how abroad through collective actions. MEDEF International supports trade, technological cooperation, and investments, and long-term partnerships, especially in emerging and developing markets as well as reconstruction markets. Youthline's research found that anxiety among rangatahi in NZ is increasing, and their hope is that Benee's song will be a free tool for people to use before an exam, when they can't sleep, or when the dreaded overthinking cycle is too hard to break. Unlike most beauty filters, the enhancements Meg has made will not glitch or show any noticeable change in her feature while filming a video. To anyone who isnt in the same room as Meg at the time of recording, she would appear normal to our eyes. 18-Year Prison Term a Predetermined Outcome of Show Trial, Oath Keepers Leader Says Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III has said the group did not attack the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) The way Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III sees it, in todays political environment, Thomas Jefferson could easily be convicted of seditious conspiracy to oppose the authority of the U.S. government. In a 1787 letter to William Stephens Smith, Jefferson famously said, The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta cited that quote during the May 2426 sentencing hearings for four members of the Oath Keepers in Washington. Thomas Jefferson today would be subject to a conspiracy if another person said, Yes, I agree with that, Rhodes told The Epoch Times, a day after being sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the Capitol incursion on Jan. 6, 2021. Judge Mehta read it in Kelly Meggss sentencing, Rhodes said. He said, You said this: the blood of the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. He said, That is advocating revolution. Dont try to tell me that was not your intent. Longest Jan. 6 Sentence Rhodes, 58, of Granbury, Texas, was handed the longest prison term of any Jan. 6 defendant. His co-defendant, Meggs, also found guilty of seditious conspiracy, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Oath Keepers Jessica Watkins and Kenneth Harrelson were sentenced to 8 1/2 years and 4 years, respectively, on May 26. The Oath Keepers were indicted on Jan. 12, 2022. Federal prosecutors alleged the Oath Keepers conspired to disrupt or impede the ceremonial counting of Electoral College votes by a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. The government relied heavily on statements made by Rhodes and other defendants in encrypted chats to prove a conspiracy, while defense attorneys argued the First Amendment protects their speech. Rhodes never entered the U.S. Capitol or committed any acts of violence on Jan. 6. He testified in his own defense that the Oath Keepers only went to Washington on Jan. 5 and 6 to provide event and VIP security at permit-approved events. He told the FBI in May 2021 that when he learned of violence at the Capitol, he ordered all Oath Keepers away from the building. 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) Attorney General Merrick Garland said the sentences reect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions. 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. United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves hailed the seldom-used conspiracy statute. There have been few instances in our nations history when our fellow citizens have engaged in a seditious conspiracya conspiracy to use force to oppose the functioning of our government, Graves said. More people were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the siege of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, than any other criminal event since the statute was enacted during the Civil War. Judge Mehta utilized sentencing enhancers sought by the Department of Justiceincluding for terrorismin handing down Rhodess prison term. Die Was Cast Rhodes told The Epoch Times that he expected to receive a long sentence. That die was cast from the beginning of the case, he said. Judge Mehta himself and the jury are just different fingers on the same hand, Rhodes claimed. Theyve already had their script, their marching orders, their party-approved talking points and outcome, and all theyre doing is going through the motions through the various facets of the show trial. Listening to Judge Mehta brand him as dangerous, Rhodes said, was like talking to the Spanish Inquisition or to a show-trial judge in the Soviet Union, or to a Nazi judge in the peoples courts of Nazi Germany. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, appears on a screen during a House Select Committee hearing to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol, in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on June 9, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Youve got a loyal party tool, a functionary, who is doing his job, which is to persecute. You know, Show me the man, and Ill show you the crime. That started from day one. Rhodes, who earned a law degree from Yale University, said he believes the federal seditious-conspiracy statute is unconstitutionally vague and tramples upon the First Amendment. The Civil War-era law made it very easy to reach people who they, of course, are still accusing of rebellion, but to reach them in a much lower threshold of evidentiary proof, he said. And also with a vague crime. Resisting with force. What does that mean? Rhodes asked. It could be pushing someone; it could mean the people outside the Capitol who were fighting with the police. The authority of the U.S. government, what does that mean? So it makes it very, very easy to prosecute people. The seditious-conspiracy statute is a shortcut to chilling and quashing unpopular free speech, Rhodes said. The judge waves a magic wand and says, Well, its not protected speech because its speech in a conspiracy, Rhodes said. So if thats true, then any speech that you useall of your so-called protected speechcan be created or crafted into unprotected speech just by alleging a conspiracy. All they do is wave that magic wand conspiracy and prestoyour speech is now no longer protected. Its simply part of a crime. Mehta called Rhodes dangerous, saying he is smart, charismatic, and a compelling figure. Rhodes said all of his speech cited by prosecutors in the Oath Keepers trial was pure political speech protected under the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brandenburg v. Ohio. So what he is doing is making it very clear that he is sentencing me to 18 yearsand frankly, the entire prosecution is because of my free speechbecause we just cant have that in this country, Rhodes said. Smith, Notley Announce First Pieces of Planned Legislation If Elected Alberta Premier Leader of the NDP Rachel Notley (L) and Leader of the United Conservative Party Danielle Smith prepare for a debate in Edmonton on May 18, 2023. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press) With only five days remaining until Alberta votes, the two party leaders in the running for premier on May 29 election day have made announcements about their first acts if elected. New Democrat Party (NDP) Leader Rachel Notley said at a morning news conference on May 25 that if her party was elected, she would call a summer legislative session to pass Bill 1, an act to cap power bills and auto insurance, freeze tuition, and accelerate $10/day childcare. According to Notley, Bill 1 will save the vast majority of Albertans nearly $1,000. The NDP leader said power prices are expected to spike this summer, pledging the NDP will cap them, previously promising in the campaign to do so for a three-month period. Notley said her government, if elected, would also launch an investigation into electricity prices to improve competitiveness, reliability and affordability. Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley makes a campaign announcement in Calgary, on May 4, 2023. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Notley also said Bill 1 would freeze car insurance premiums, re-index and raise benefits for seniors, and freeze tuition. She said the NDP would offer a kids activity tax credit, promised to be up to $500 per child, so kids can pursue the sports, music, dance and other extracurricular activities that help them to grow and learn and enjoy life. This is a real investment in long term affordability so that Albertans will see savings permanently on an ongoing basis. Bill 2, said Notley, would be to repeal the job-killing Sovereignty Act and eliminate small business tax, and Bill 3 would legislate to protect your [Canada Pension Plan]. Notley has also announced that an NDP government will remove the tax on small business, but raise the corporate income tax rate from 8 to 11 percent, an almost 38 percent hike. Taxpayer Protection United Conservative Party (UCP) Leader Danielle Smith announced at a news conference on May 24 that a reelected UCP governments first bill would be the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, which the party said would prevent future governments from raising personal and corporate income taxes without a referendum. Smith said some of the promised measures she has pledged during her campaign, such as the creation of an 8 percent tax bracket, do not require legislation or a referendum. The way were going to structure this Act is that we can always reduce tax rates. And we dont need to have a referendum for that, she said. The UCP leader said the new tax rate will reduce income taxes for households below a $60,000 annual income by 20 percent. For those above 60,000, it will deliver a $760 tax break for an individual and $1,520 per family. The corporate tax right now is 8 percent. And when we pass this legislation, that would be sending a message to the business community that it will stay that way, and the only way it would change is if the government put it to a referendum of the people, said Smith. United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith makes an election campaign announcement in Calgary, Alta., on May 4, 2023. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) The UCP leader said economists have talked about the whipsaw that the corporate sector is experiencing from having the corporate tax rate brought up to 12 percent by the NDP during their term beginning in 2015, then the UCP dropping it back down to 8 percent on reelection in 2019. Now Ms. Notley is threatening to bring it up again to 11 percent which is a 38 percent increase, said Smith. She said the province cannot afford that move. We have had the Alberta Chamber of Commerce say that this creates business uncertainty. Weve had the Alberta Enterprise Group say so, weve had economists like Jack Mintz and others, and weve even had a union, CLAC [Christian Labour Association of Canada], that has said that it would create job losses and instability, said the UCP leader. In a press release on May 23, the Alberta Enterprise Group, an advocacy group of businesses that states it collectively employs more than 150,000 people, said that tax hikes would hurt the province. We are very worried that a 37.5% increase in the provincial income tax rate may cost Alberta both investment and jobs across the whole economy with a negative impact on the petrochemical and clean-tech industries in particular. Global capital makes decisions based on global comparisons. The proposed tax increase does not make Alberta competitive with the US gulf coast and that is who Alberta competes with for these prosperity creating projects, said the group. Meanwhile, Todd Hirsch, a former ATB chief economist, endorsed the NDPs plan, including the corporate tax hike, stating it is an economic plan that works for everyone. Its a plan that will give a hand up to those who need it so they can contribute to and invest in our province, he said on May 16. ANALYSIS: Beijing Conducts Training for Village Officials Nationwide as Rural Conflicts Intensify Expert says conflicts between communist cadres and the masses are concentrated in the countryside Residents stand next to smashed and overturned cars after civil unrest in the village of Shangpu in China's southern Guangdong Province on March 2, 2013. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) Chinas ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently conducted a rare training session for village officials nationwide. Experts have suggested the move would be part of the CCPs attempts to address its power crisis resulting from intensified conflicts in rural areas. The large-scale simultaneous training courses, jointly organized by the Central Committee and the Party School, lasted from April 24 to 28, according to a May 16 report by state-run media Xinhua. The training catered to all village party organization secretaries and village committee directors nationwide, with the primary training classes set up in Beijing and 3,568 sub-classrooms distributed at provincial and county Party schools (administrative colleges) and related training institutions. Ministerial officers from the Party School, the Organization Department of the Central Committee, the Secretary Bureau of the Central Agricultural Office, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission, and the Bureau of Law and Legal Governance of the Ministry of Justice delivered speeches or lessons via video broadcast. This is the first time that the CCP has conducted training directly for all village leaders in the country, and it is also the most extensive training event for rural grassroots cadres in recent years, Xinhuas report said. Such rare training reflects the crisis of grassroots political power that has alarmed Zhongnanhai, the seat of CCPs decision-making core in Beijing, U.S.-based current affairs commentator Li Yanming told The Epoch Times on May 18. Chinas social contradictions and conflicts is now concentrated in the countryside, and it is escalating, according to U.S.-based political and economic analyst Lu Tianming, who also expressed a similar opinion to The Epoch Times that this training is designed to strengthen the CCPs leadership of village cadres in its governance crisis. Lu held that the CCP convened village officials nationwide for so-called training with two main purposes, One is to let them [village officials] bridle the jobless people at the grassroots level. The other is that barbaric agricultural management in rural areas has promoted strains and clashes between cadres and villagers. The CCP requires these village officials to appease local farmers to avoid inflaming conflicts, Lu said. According to Lu, the CCPs years of extreme and ineffective containment measures during the COVID-19 epidemic have brought severe hardship to the urban economy, leading to supply chain disruption and mass layoffs from labor-intensive industries such as manufacturing and construction companies which rural migrant workers had majorly staffed. The return of massive jobless workers to the countryside was a destabilizing social factor for the communist rulers, and they fear it will affect their rule, Lu said. Migrant workers standing near signs advertising their skills as they wait by a street to be hired in Shenyang, in northeastern Chinas Liaoning Province on Feb. 6, 2023. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Rural Enforcement Rural enforcement (or nongguan in Chinese) has become a buzzword on the Chinese internet this year, accompanied by the acceleration of the CCPs policy of restoring forests to farmlands. The official name of rural enforcement is Comprehensive Agricultural Administrative Law Enforcement Team. The public compares it to the urban enforcement (or chengguan in Chinese) in the city and sees similarities between the two: oppressing the lower class people in the name of law enforcement. Restoring forests to farmlands requires farmers to cut down trees and plant crops instead. The move is a complete reversal of CCPs previous approach of returning farmland to forests, which has been in place for over 20 years after floods swept through China, affecting millions of people in 29 provinces between June and August 1998. A strawberry farmer walks past a greenhouse at his farm where sales have been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China, on Feb. 4, 2020. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) Lu pointed out that China is facing an increasingly severe food crisis, and the CCP is relying on rural enforcement to carry out its new strategy to speed up the release of more arable fields. The State Council Information Office held a press conference on May 11 entitled Safeguarding Food Security, Securing Chinas Rice Bowl, at which Cong Liang, secretary of the Food and Material Reserves, said it was estimated that the national emergency processing capacity was 1.64 million tons of rice per day by the end of 2022 that can only meet the needs of all of the population for two days, warning, there are still weaknesses in Chinas food emergency security system. In recent months, in provinces like Henan, Hunan, Guangxi, violent rural enforcement has sparked outrage among farmers, with viral videos showing some officials spraying fields with lime, demanding villagers replant ginger fields with rice, destroying tobacco harvests, demolishing homes, and confiscating livestock. This phenomenon is severe among village cadres and rural enforcement staff, and they do not talk about the law or reason, said Li Yanming. The Communist Partys grassroots regime has long been criticized as an organized crime syndicate. The thuggish and rogue practices of the CCPs rural officials have stirred up great public discontent, aggravating conflicts and creating more instability, and even leading to a spate of rural bloodshed, according to Li. Bloody Cases Since May of this year, Chinese media have reported three consecutive incidents of villagers stabbing village cadres in northern and northeastern China, involving 18 deaths and one injury. Shanghai-based Chinese media Guancha reported on May 12 that a stabbing case happened on May 11 in Majiagang village, Yiquan town Donggang city, Liaoning Province, resulting in multiple casualties. A local source said that the suspect, surnamed Jin, 64, was a farmer in the village who had a clash with a neighbor over a land dispute. Out of anger at the village chief for favoring his relatives in dealing with the land dispute, Jin first stabbed the village chiefs relatives. The village chief was out that day, and the village chiefs wife was killed. On May 10, Liu Jijie, the village clerk of Xili village in Changqing district, Jinan city, Shandong Province, and his family were killed, according to a report from the Chinese portal site NetEase on May 13. The suspect, Jia Qiang, was the deputy director of the education department of Changqing No. 1 Middle School. His daughter was molested by Lius son, who was detained after Jia Qiang called the police. Liu used his contacts and connections to get his son out of police custody soon after. After that, Lius son kept harassing Jias daughter until the girl was driven crazy. Jia killed himself after killing the entire Liu family. Liu was 63 years old when he was killed, his wife 37, and his son 16. On May 1 at 3:00 pm, a murder case occurred in Xishe village, Hongdao Town, Dingxiang County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, NetEase reported on a May 8 report. The report said 38-year-old Xu Guoqiang and the village cadre had quarreled before but didnt mention for what reason. On May 1, Xu went to the village cadres home and killed the village cadre and three others, then fled in his car until he was arrested at a hotel in Taiyuan, Shanxi, on May 4. The police released a police report explaining the arrest process but not a word about Xus motive for the killing. Those bloodbaths are reportedly more than occasional isolated incidents but have been linked to rebellious actions against long-standing oppression by cadres, such as the public outrage over the May 2 beating and kneeling of a villager in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, by a village security team led by the village chief, according to the report. The foundation of the CCPs authoritarian rule is crumbling, Li Yanming said. Li said Chinas rural problems are closely intertwined with the food, population, unemployment, and economic crises. He said its further brewing to become social and political turmoil. Kane Zhang contributed to this report. Australia Appoints Former Ambassador to Afghanistan for Counter-Terrorism Police officers that form part of the Australian Joint Counter Terrorism Team stand outside a home they raided as part of an operation in which they arrested three men who were allegedly preparing to attack the public in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 20, 2018. (AAP/David Crosling/via Reuters) Australia has announced the appointment of the countrys next Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Today I announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Feakes as Australias next Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement on May. 25. Australias Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism is responsible for leading our international engagement on counter-terrorism, including at international fora and works closely with domestic agencies on counter-terrorism issues. Terrorism is a global challenge, and working closely with our international partners in the region and beyond is critical to safeguarding Australia, our people and our interests from the harms of terrorism and violent extremism. The role of the Office of the Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism includes building and maintaining international links by leading negotiations on counter-terrorism cooperation and holding regular consultations with partner countries, coordinating efforts to ensure Australias effective implementation of its obligations under United Nations counter-terrorism instruments, and managing the listing of individuals and organisations under Australias terrorist asset freezing regime, etc., according to the website of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a press conference after a joint meeting with her French counterpart at Quai dOrsay in Paris, on Jan. 30, 2023. (Stephane de Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images) The Australian Government maintains information about groups that are proscribed as terrorist organisations under the Australian Criminal Code. If a group is listed as a terrorist organisation it is an offence to: direct the activities of the organisation recruit persons to the organisation receive training from or provide training to the organisation receive funds from or make available funds to the organisation provide support or resources to the organisation Former Ambassador to Afghanistan Feakes will also sit on the Commonwealth Joint Counter-Terrorism Board and the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee. The son of a diplomat, Feakes was introduced to diplomacy at a young age. He lived with his family in France, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India. Mr Feakes is a career diplomat with extensive counterterrorism experience. He most recently served as Commonwealth Deputy Counter-Terrorism Coordinator within the Department of Home Affairs. His previous diplomatic roles include Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan and postings to Iraq and Papua New Guinea, Wong said. Feakes previously held strategic and national security positions in Canberra, including as Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and as Senior Adviser for Asia Pacific issues within the Prime Ministers Department. I was always interested in doing that sort of work, in visiting other countries, in learning about other cultures, Feames said in a case study of 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. Richard Feakes. (Nathan Fulton/DFAT) During his time in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, in 2016-2017, Feames tried to get out of his office every day despite the potential security challenges. There is no real typical day, he said. The best way to understand the complexity of Afghanistan is to speak to as many people as possible. The former ambassador was also passionate about keeping Australians safe. I think Australia and Australians, we take seriously our responsibility to support a country like Afghanistanand many other countries as wellfor security, and to build stability and provide livelihoods, he said then. What happens in a place like Afghanistan can have direct implications for Australians at home and elsewhere From time to time, Australians need our assistance overseas for consular support. Asked about the best day he had in the country, Feames recalled him travelling for the first time to Tarin Kot in Uruzgan Province, where the Taliban was active. It was a day that wasfilled for me with some emotion, thinking about the sacrifice and commitment and bravery of Australian Defence Force personnel, so that was at once a very good day, but at the same time, a rather emotional and poignant day, he said. Australias Mining Council Praises Andrews Governments Mining Boost but Criticises New Tax Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to media at the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, on May 18, 2023. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) The Mineral Council of Australia has welcomed new funding initiatives by the Andrews government to regulate the resources sector but is concerned that an additional payroll tax levy will be a burden for businesses. This follows an allocation of $23.2 million from the state budget to the resources sector. Meanwhile, the states additional payroll taxwhich has been criticised by various industries, including the private education sectorhas been said to come at a bad time as the industry seeks new investments. This tax increase will be an additional burden on the very businesses that kept the Australian economy from a prolonged recession as the nation battled COVID, said James Sorahan, executive director of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) Victoria. Nevertheless, Sorohan said the $23.2 million from the Victorian government is a positive example of how governments and industry can work together to get projects underway. Victoria needs a broader economic base and a more diverse economy, Sorohan said, adding that the development of critical mineral projects would equate to more mines, more jobs, and royalties to fund state services and to fix the budget. Importantly, developing Victorias projects in mineral sands, copper, and zinc, as well as exploration projects in gold, base metals, REE, and lithium, will help reduce inequality in regional areas and provide a much-needed boost to regional Victoria, Sorohan said. In addition to the funding, an Earth Resources Approvals Coordinator will be established to help complex mining projects navigate through the array of Acts, regulators, and tiers of government while delivering investments in regional Victoria. Still Waiting For Clarity For Critical Minerals The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) chief executive, Warren Pearce, said while he welcomes the state governments new initiatives, more needs to be delivered to support critical minerals in Victoria. Pearce explained that Victoria has continued to rank among the lowest Australian jurisdictions for mining investment, despite Australia being the most attractive part of the world for mining investment. Industry needs clear government support to continue exploration success, the identification of new mineral deposits, and the ability to progress discoveries into productive operating mines that will lead to growth, jobs, and investment, Pearce said in a statement (pdf). Victoria must compete as an exploration and mining destination of choice and needs to work harder to secure the future of the industry and its important role in underpinning the governments key emissions objectives. Investment in the Victorian Minerals Sector Continues to Decline According to mineral exploration expenditure data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), exploration spending in Victoria declined for the third successive quarter. For example, investment in exploration in Victoria had fallen more than 30 percent in the 12 months to Dec. 31, 2022, with Victorias share of national expenditure down almost 40 percent during the 12-month period. Additionally, year-on-year expenditure on new projects had dropped over 40 percent. This downward trajectory is not indicative of a robust industry, nor is it sustainable at this level of decline, according to the AMECs Victorian budget submission (pdf). According to a survey by the Fraser Institute, Victoria was ranked among the lowest jurisdictions internationally for uncertainty concerning administrative and environmental regulations, as well as for regulatory duplication and inconsistencies. With the challenges and impacts of COVID largely realised and absorbed, Victorias sustained lacklustre performance and perceptions of the state as a sound investment destination remain concerning, and undoubtedly investment capital continues to preference other national and international jurisdictions that have clearer, more certain regulatory regimes and lower cost operating environments, according to the AMEC report. Industry needs clear government support to continue exploration success, the identification of new mineral deposits and the ability to progress discoveries into productive operating mines that will lead to growth, jobs and investment. The ranking of Victoria was 47 out of the 62 jurisdictions as determined by the 2022 Fraser Institute survey, and it was the second-last of the seven Australian jurisdictions, with Tasmania ranking 50. More work needs to be done to deliver timely permitting approvals and to support industry investment, Sohoran said. Clearer and more certain project approval timeframes and reform to Victorias flawed gold royalty is required if Victoria is to attract mining investment. Victorian mining is estimated to pay $140 million in royalties in 2022-23. This is in addition to various fees and charges imposed by mining. Further, the 2022 budget included an investment of $7.4 million over three years to support the development of a critical minerals prospectus and grants programme. One year on, and we have not seen a prospectus or a grants programme. Its time Victoria put pen to paper and developed a Critical Minerals Strategy as leading mining jurisdictions have done. A clear path forward would support both industry and federal government investment in this new frontier for the mining industry, Pearce said. Meanwhile, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and South Australia appeared in the global top 10 on the Investment Attractiveness Index in the 2022 survey. When considering both policy and mineral potential, Australia continues to be the most attractive region in the world for mining investment, the survey noted. Biden Admin Investigating Whether US Equipment Was Used in Rebel Attack Inside Russia The Pentagon is seen from a flight taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Nov. 29, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) President Joe Bidens administration and the U.S. Department of Defense are investigating whether U.S. equipment was used during a cross-border raid into Russia earlier this week. On Monday, a pair of paramilitary groups crossed the border from Ukraine into Russias western Belgorod region to sow chaos inside Russias borders. The paramilitary fighters identified themselves as members of Liberty of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, two groups of self-described Russian nationals who say they oppose the current government under Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian officials have claimed to have repelled the apparent rebel groups. Unverified photos and videos posted on social media showed the paramilitary forces appearing to use several HMMWVs (Humvees) and MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which are produced by American companies General Motors and Navistar Defense, respectively. Russian state-owned media outlets also shared images purporting to show Humvees captured during the fighting in Belgorod. In an interview with the Financial Times, the leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps, Denis Nikitin, claimed his organization did indeed possess Humvees and MaxxPros but declined to say how they gained possession of the vehicles. The appearance of U.S. support for an attack inside Russia risks further straining relations between the two countries. Biden Admin Skeptical at First On Tuesday, in one of the Biden administrations earliest responses to allegations U.S. equipment was used in the cross-border raid into Russia, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, Weve seen a lot of reports on social media, and fuzzy pictures on social media, and a lot of kind of armchair intelligence analysts making claims. Were skeptical that they are that they are accurate. In a press briefing the next day, Miller changed his tune slightly. We are looking into the reports. Weve obviously seen the reports by media organizations over the last 24 hours or so, Miller said Wednesday. As a general policy matter, we have been clear that we dontwe 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. I wouldnt want to prejudge either the outcome or when well reach that outcome other than to say were looking into it now and dont yet have any verified conclusions, he added. Pentagon spokesman and Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder addressed reports of U.S. equipment being used in the recent Belgorod incursion during a Tuesday press briefing. Weve seen those reports, something that we obviously continue to monitor very closely, Ryder said. I will say that we can confirm that the U.S. government has not approved any third-party transfers of equipment to paramilitary organizations outside the Ukrainian Armed Forces, nor has the Ukrainian government requested any such transfers. So again, its something well keep a close eye on. Escalation Between US and Russia The United States has gradually provided Ukrainian forces with more powerful weapons over the course of the war with Russia, at times seeking assurances that certain weapons would only be used inside Ukraines borders. Last May, as his administration prepared to approve transfers of advanced M142 HIMARS rocket launchers to Ukraine, Biden told reporters, Were not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia. Biden ruled out transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in January of this year but reversed course after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G-7 summit of world leaders in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend. After relenting to Zelenskyys requests for fighter jets, Biden said, I have a flat assurance from Zelenskyy that they will not use [the F-16s] to go on and move into Russian geographic territory. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Bidens decision to approve transfers of F-16s to Ukraine represents an escalation scenario in the conflict. Russian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shared similar comments about an escalating conflict between Russia and the United States when Belgorod came under attack mere hours after the U.S. approved the F-16 transfers. It is no secret that this equipment is being used against our own military, Peskov told reporters this week when asked about the Belgorod attack. And it is no secret for us that the direct and indirect involvement of Western countries in this conflict is growing by the day. We are drawing the appropriate conclusions. Russian officials have alleged the incursion inside Belgorod harmed Russian civilians and have characterized the assault as an act of terrorism. While attackers have described themselves as Russian rebels, several Russian officials have insisted they are, in fact, Ukrainian militants. There are many ethnic Russians living in Ukraine, but still, [the saboteurs that intruded into Russian territory] are Ukrainian militants, Peskov told reporters on Tuesday. From NTD News California Asks EPA for Permit to Ban Gas-Powered Vehicles by 2035 The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is asking the Biden administration for permission to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. But the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, made up of 450 U.S. companies that manufacture fuel and petrochemicals, urged President Joe Biden to reject Californias request in a letter sent May 26. California has officially asked the Biden administration for permission to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2035an unprecedented move that will deny millions of Americans the ability to choose for themselves the types of cars or trucks they want to drive, the groups CEO, Chet Thompson, said in the statement. The group also suggested Congress needed to be ready to push back against the movement in defense of American consumers, the nations energy, and national security. Approving Californias waiver could trigger 20 other states to follow with their own bans, the group said. A growing number of states, including Rhode Island, Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Oregon, New York, and Massachusetts, have adopted similar regulations to ban gas cars by 2035. The Biden administration is trying to convince the public its not out it ban gas stoves or vehicles, Thompson said. But if they give California the green light, there will be no escaping that label or its legacy of restriction. Were hopeful that a moderate President Biden takes the reins. We urge him to deny Californias request outright and rescind EPAs own proposal to eliminate most internal combustion engine vehicles. CARB asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 22 to approve a waiver under the Clean Air Act to implement its new rules. These vehicles will permanently displace emissions from conventional vehicles, wrote CARB Executive Officer Steven Cliff, adding that motor vehicles and other mobile sources are the greatest source of emissions in California. The 60-page waiver request reportedly says CARBs program will cost $210.35 billion to implement through 2040. Its expected to cut smog from light-duty vehicles by 25 percent by 2037. EPA plans to follow its regular process for the waiver, spokeswoman Shayla Powell told The Epoch Times. As with all waiver requests from California, well follow an open public process in considering it, as the agency routinely does, Powell said. CARB voted last year to ban the sale of new internal combustion vehicles in the state by 2035. The Advanced Clean Cars II act (pdf) will also phase out gas-powered vehicles over the next 12 or so years. The regulations mandate 35 percent of vehicles manufactures in 2026 and sold in California would have to be zero-emission cars, up from 12 percent currently required. California residents and visitors can still drive gas-powered cars in the state after the deadline, and it allows for one-fifth of sales after 2035 to be plug-in hybrids, which run on batteries and gas. The EPA, which sets air quality standards for vehicle emissions, has granted waivers for the Golden State to impose standards stricter than the rest of the nation. In April, the EPA granted Californias Clean Air Act a similar permit for CARBs program to ban the sale of diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks after 2036. The push to rapidly transition vehicles from fossil fuels to electric come from Gov. Gavin Newsoms climate action plan. Newsom signed an executive order in 2020 (pdf) calling for new heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state to be zero emission by 2045, but CARB wanted to speed up the transition. Reuters contributed to this report. California Lawmakers, Families Walk out in Frustration During First Hearing of New Fentanyl Committee With the fentanyl crisis causing more than 100 deaths a week in California, lawmakers met on May 24 for the first-ever hearing of a newly created committee on overdose prevention, with some lawmakers and family members walking out in frustration during the proceedings. This hearing, 80 percent of the time, was saying we care more about the dealers than the victims, committee member Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) told The Epoch Times while the hearing was underway. The joint meeting included the new Select Committee on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction, and Overdose Prevention and two Assembly committeespublic safety and healthwith a Democratic supermajority leading the discussions. Four panels were convened by committee Chair Assemblyman Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) covering prevention, education, treatment, and criminal justice. Due to the alleged lack of balance in the discussions, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) voiced complaints, and Republican lawmakers eventually chose to leave during the hearing. Were not going to get solutions by walking out, Haney told The Epoch Times at the conclusion of the meeting. This isnt a political or partisan issue. Its a public health and safety issue. During opening remarks, Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles)who chairs the Assembly Public Safety Committeetold legislators and attendees that it was time to come together and forge a solution. As in the previous fentanyl-related hearings earlier this year, Jones-Sawyer talked about not repeating the failed war on drugs while at the same time suggesting Nancy Reagans anti-drug slogan Just say no from the 1980s be amended to Just say hell no to drugs. The hearing began with Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, telling the committees that fentanyl was first synthesized in 1959 and proved extremely efficient at crossing the blood-brain barrier. Its very helpful in surgery [as an anesthetic], he told lawmakers. But its very dangerous in the streets. Humphreys argued that prohibition doesnt work because it is so cheap and easy to make fentanyl, which costs approximately 1 percent of the cost to make heroin. It will outcompete heroin because the profit margin is so large, he said. Its so profitable [dealers] can afford for [clients] to die. Laura Didier, mother of 17-year-old fentanyl poisoning victim Zach, moved the crowd with the story of losing her son, a straight-A student with no signs of drug use prior to his sudden death from a counterfeit Percocet purchased on Snapchat. There are no words to express the excruciating pain of losing someone so young and precious, she told the committee. Im not the only mom whos found their child dead in their bedroom. This story is becoming all too common. Didier countered Jones-Sawyers just say hell no with just say know, arguing that education and communication with children are vital to overcoming the crisis. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle acknowledged the need for prevention, education, and treatment, but called for more to be done. Reluctance to Enhance Punishment for Fentanyl Dealing Enhancing punishment for fentanyl dealers is one key issue at the center of discussion as victims families and some lawmakers have criticized current criminal justice measures for being too lenient for drug dealers. Under existing state law, a dealer with 3,000 pills is to be charged with misdemeanors, according to Assembly members, because the weight does not exceed one kilogramthe threshold for felony charges. Throughout the hearing, some Democratic lawmakers argued against lengthening prison sentences for fentanyl dealers, which their Republican colleagues said can deter the distribution of the deadly opioid. They think these mid-level dealers are just addicts that need to sell drugs to get by but they are essentially the backbone of the cartels, Jim Patterson told The Epoch Times. Its just an excuse for dealers to have a free shot at our kids. Some Republican lawmakers said increasing penalties is important because there will always be violators who are unwilling to mend their ways. [The lack of consideration of punitive measures] really bothers me. We have to hold people accountable, Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) told the panel. I hope we can get to the point that treatment and education will not help for some. These are criminals, and they need to be punished. Some Democratic lawmakers echoed similar sentiments. Were going to do everything in our power to keep kids in California safe, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) said at the hearing. We need to balance that with stronger penalties, enforcement, and consequences. After more than three hours of hearings with no progress made to increase punishment, Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) said the talks were too one-sided and demanded more be done to address the issue from a criminal justice standpoint. Were very rich in talk, but were starving in effective action, Lackey told the committee. We become partners in this tragedy when we dont take action. Lackey was advised the following panel would focus on the issue, but he eventually walked out when a public defender provided a lengthy comment. Theyre worried about over-incarceration. How about this inordinate death? Lackey told The Epoch Times while leaving during the last panel. Death is the ultimate penalty, yet were dismissing it, and thats irresponsible. Other Republican lawmakers and some victims family members also left out of frustration. The law has created a perverse incentive, Jim Patterson told The Epoch Times. The state of California is in many ways perpetuating dealers to transition into dealing fentanyl. Family members could be seen distraught and in disbelief with the progression of the hearing, with one father of a fentanyl victim bothered by what he saw as a lack of urgency or concern from the new committee. Why did they bring the public defender? Cyril Liwanag told The Epoch Times after leaving in the middle of the criminal justice discussion. It offended me. Where is their moral compass? Liwanags son Adrian was a victim of fentanyl poisoning two years ago, and he came to the hearing hoping for better results. Theres only one end with fentanyl: its death, and the dealers know that, he said. This is premeditated murder. From here, future steps for the committee include plans to travel around to different communities and invite public discussion, with Los Angeles slated for the next stop, but no date has been provided, according to Haney, chair of the new overdose prevention committee. The list of fentanyl bills that were held in April for interim studywhich has been criticized by the bills supporters as a stall tactic to push them to 2024will be reviewed in a special hearing sometime in June. The deadline for state bills to be passed by their house of origin is June 2 for the 2023 legislative session, which means that it is very unlikely for the stalled bills to move forward this year. Calls for Boycott of North Face Grow After Company Uses Drag Queen in Ads As Target deals with a boycott after featuring pro-LBGT clothing for children, some prominent conservatives on social media are targeting another company for its clothes. North Face, the maker of jackets and hiking clothing, launched a campaign with a drag queen for its Summer of Pride ad blitz. In a post, a drag queen says hes a real-life homosexual and is here with the North Face to help you out, drawing a bevy of negative reactions on Twitter and other social media platforms. Some also noted that the clothing company is selling Pride Collection clothes for children. A screenshot of North Faces website, taken on May 26, 2023, shows the the firms Pride Collection line of clothing. (North Face/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) We roar. We heal. We become, North Face says in one ad, adding, Mother Nature guides us to where we need to beand we dress up to honor her. Consumers are then offered to pay for rainbow-colored products, including kids shoes. Responding to the posts, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote that big name brands sexually targeting children makes me want to buy all generic brand clothing now. Besides we can save a fortune NOT wasting money on labels that are grooming our children. She then suggested that people should boycott the company with the hashtag #boycottgroomers. Robby Starbuck, a former Republican congressional candidate in Tennessee, opined on the campaign by writing: Can anyone explain how the heck this ad helps @thenorthface sell outdoor clothes? Theyre screaming at you to not buy their products if this violates your values. Accept their challenge. Referring to the backlash against Bud Light for appearing to work with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney and the Target boycott, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) declared Thursday, I guess North Face wanted to get a taste of what conservatives did to Bud Light and Target. How many times do we have to explain to the woke marketing departments at these disgusting companies that America is not a nation of degenerates? she wrote, adding, Lets make it as shameful to wear North Face as it is to drink Bud Light! And another influencer wrote, If you own any clothes made by North Face, go ahead and burn them. Responding to the boycott calls, North Face issued a statement on social media: 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. Were partnering with Pattie (the drag queen) because we believe the outdoors are for everyone. It also wrote: Its why we have a zero-tolerance policy against racist, discriminatory, threatening, abusive, harmful, vulgar or attacking social media comments, which will be removed immediately. The Epoch Times has contacted North Faces parent company, VF Corporation, for comment. Other Boycotts It comes after critical comments and calls to boycott Target surfaced in the past week after the company released LGBT clothing for children, including for infants. Target responded to the backlash by moving some of its Pride Collection clothing to the back of its stores in some areas, according to a statement issued by the retailer. Since introducing this years collection, weve experienced threats impacting our team members sense of safety and wellbeing while at work, said a statement from the Minneapolis-based retailer. 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 offers candles, photo frames and lights as part of its LGBT display in a Texas suburb on May 24, 2023. (Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times) Products for infants, including onesies with pro-LGBT slogans and content, were part of Targets collection. One onesie includes the text Bien Proud, and another features what appear to be LGBT rainbows and hearts along with the transgender flag colors, according to its website. The Minneapolis-based retailer also is offering a range of child-oriented LGBT books in its inventory, such as Bye Bye, Binary and What Are Your Words? These books instruct children on the use of transgender pronouns. Some products for kids also appear to feature drag queens, according the retailers website. Before that, there were widespread calls to abandon Bud Light after it produced a personalized can with Mulvaneys face on it. Mulvaney, in several social media posts, posted the can with the hashtag #budlightpartner, but Anheuser-Buschs chief executive told investors that there was no partnership or official sponsorship involving the transgender influencer. Analysts say that more than $15 billion has been shaved off Anheuser-Buschs market value since early April amid the boycott. Other light beer makers, including Coors and Miller, have seen their sales increase in the meantime, while Bud Lights sales have diminished. Changing Definitions in Chinas Counter-Espionage Law Increases Risk for Western Consultants Tim W. Ferguson, editor of Forbes Asia (L); Gao Xiqing, professor at Tsinghua University (2L); Karen Harris, managing director at Bain & Company (2R), and Brad W. Setser, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (R) discuss China's 13th five-year plan at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on April 19, 2016. (Valentin Schmid/The Epoch Times) Chinas new counter-espionage law broadens the definition of espionage, increasing the risks for foreign consultants, which some experts said may increase the risks for investing in the country. On March 27, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told foreign attendees of the China Development Forum (CDF) 2023 in Beijing that China would unswervingly open up to the outside world, no matter how the international situation may change. Wang Wentao, Chinas commerce minister, reportedly told world business leaders at the CDF that foreign businesses are not guests, but family. With that said by the top officials in charge of Chinas economy, Chinese police raided the Beijing office of the American due diligence company Mintz Group and detained five of its Chinese employees in March. Financial Times reported that there was no sign of activity in Mintzs office in Beijing shortly after the raid, whose glass doors were locked with a heavy chain. Following that, in April, Chinese police visited the Shanghai office of the U.S. consultancy Bain & Company. In May, the local public security agency visited Capvisions offices in Suzhou and questioned its local employees. Its offices in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen were searched as well. With scant information on the raids, there has been speculation of these consultancies approach to obtaining data and information, which China regards as a violation of its new counter-espionage law. Economists believe that the raids in the guise of counter-espionage signal that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head Xi Jinping has narrowed the space that his predecessor Hu Jintao had allowed these companies and that this new law might backfire on Chinas economy. The Epoch Times has reached out to Capvision, Mintz Group, and Bain for comments. Security Is Xis Core Focus The CCPs rubber-stamp legislature began to revise Chinas counter-espionage law in 2021 and passed an update last month. Security personnel stand guard at the entrance to the Forbidden City near an image of Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R), as the closing session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) takes place at the Great Hall of the People nearby in Beijing on March 11, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Now security is Xis core focus, said Chiou Jiunn-Rong, a professor at the Department of Economics of Taiwans National Central University, in a recent interview with the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times. According to Chiou, Xi has trust issues as he is afraid of being treated by Western countries in the same way he has treated them in the past. For instance, Xi doesnt want Western professionals to perform the accounting and auditing operations of Chinese companies. Xis extremely worried that if data leaks during this process, it will harm Chinas economic security and, of course, his own rule, said Chiou. Hed rather protect economic security than take any risks. Higher Risks for Foreign Companies The new counter-espionage law empowers the regimes authorities to gain access to data, electronic equipment, information on personal property, and also to ban border crossings, Reuters reported last month. Zheng Xuguang, a U.S.-based Chinese commentator and economist, blasts the regime for the vague definition of national interests and security in the revised law. He said the new counter-espionage law broadens the definition of espionage, which is a very arbitrary definition, without clear boundaries. In the past, obtaining so-called classified national secrets was considered espionage. Now, anything that hinders national security is deemed espionage, Zheng said in an interview with the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on May 23. Zheng added that the communist regime has been conducting investigations on foreign consultant companies since 2020. Originally, [investigations] were carried out by the Administration for Industry and Commerce, now known as the Market Supervision Bureau. However, Xi was dissatisfied with the results and instructed the Ministry of State Security to take charge. National security is like a box, and anything can be thrown into it, Zheng said. According to this law, conducting industry research is considered a threat to economic security, and investigating the backgrounds of officials can be seen as a matter of national security. A young man holds a sign bearing photographs of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China for more than a year, outside B.C. Supreme Court where Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was attending a hearing, in Vancouver, on Jan. 21, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Kevin Andrews, an Australian former member of Parliament who held multiple cabinet positions including Minister for Defence, also expressed his concerns over the execution of the new law. This vague, wide-ranging extension to the laws heightens the risks for foreigners in China, especially anyone collecting, creating, using, or processing datain other words, many providers of business services, wrote Andrews for The Epoch Times on May 7. He said that travel advice for Australians should be updated to reflect the increased risks involved in visiting China. Business services such as due diligence work are very crucial to foreign investors, especially in opaque authoritarian states like China. Without proper due diligence, foreign companies will be unable to invest in new projects in China, Eric Zheng, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, told the New York Times earlier this month. Davy Jun Huang, an American economist, said that foreign consultant businesses have to be more cautious in their operations in China under the new counter-espionage law. This law grants significant investigative powers to the authorities. Though it doesnt mean [consultancies] will lose their business in China, it simply means that the difficulty of accessing information will increase exponentially, Huang said. As the space for publicly available information in China continues to shrink, foreign companies are ultimately concerned that there may come a moment when they can no longer fulfill their due diligence investigations and supply chain audits because the CCP increasingly refuses to share critical information. For foreign companies, the surprise inspections on these due diligence firms pose a threat to their ability to conduct due diligence through consultants or their own employees, hindering their investment capabilities. The New Law Backfires According to Chiou, a significant portion of Chinas exports has been contributed by foreign-invested enterprises in recent years. With foreign investment starting to withdraw, the orders they have previously received will naturally shift to other countries. Under such stringent regulatory measures, it is understandable that foreign-invested enterprises have no confidence in investing and operating in China, Chiou said. Structurally speaking, losing the support of foreign-invested enterprises will likely cause increasing harm to Chinas economy in terms of exports, investment, and employment. Chiou added that taking a longer-term perspective, in areas such as technology acquisition, mutual talent development, and the establishment of standards for new products, China appears to gradually disconnect from the Western world. If China cannot lead in advanced global technologies or standards, its economy will gradually decline and drift further away from the global stage, said Chiou. The Chinese regimes increasing assertiveness on the global stage has alerted the United States and its allies. Europe and the U.S. essentially agree on the concept of risk mitigation. This includes aspects such as intellectual property protection, human rights, compliance, and legality, and tackling industry monopolies. Both Europe and the U.S. strongly demand these factors as essential and necessary conditions [of cooperation with China], rather than negotiating on them as in the past, Huang told The Epoch Times. Such risk mitigation measures will have a significant impact on Chinas export business in the next three to five years, Huang said. Song Tang and Yi Ru contributed to this report. Chinas Payback to the US With Micron Ban Could Signal Decoupling From Both Sides: Expert China recently banned Micron chip sales to critical information infrastructure operators over cybersecurity issues. It came after the world economic power players showed their support for alternative and secure supply chains, and Micron announced its investment in Japan. Chinas ban will only enhance the risk of foreign investors in China, and possibly force economic decoupling between China and the free world, says an expert. Microns Awareness While the technology war between the two economic powers is escalating, Micron may have been fully aware and prepared, said Shen Rongqin, an associate professor at York University in Canada. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) started the cybersecurity review on Micron on March 31, when Micron was also in the process of increasing the production of semiconductor chips in the United States. Micron acknowledged in its recent quarterly report in March that the Chinese regime may restrict us from participating in the China market or may prevent us from competing effectively with Chinese companies. A Secure Supply Chain When South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol prepared a state visit to the United States in April, the White House was reported to have asked South Korea to urge Samsung Electronics and SK Hynixthe two other dominant players in the Dram memory chip, not to fill in the market gap in China if Beijing bans Micron from selling chips. In response to a media request, South Korean trade minister Ahn Duk-geun said any decision would be left to the individual companies. He said, Its hard for the government to dictate what a company should or should not do, reported Wall Street Journal. However, just two days before China announced the ban, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with executives of global chip companies on May 18, including TSMC, Micron, Intel, IBM, Applied Materials, Samsung, and IMEC, in an effort by the Japanese government to secure a stable supply of critical components without relying on China and foster the regions economic security. Since 2021, the Japanese government has focused on the development of the chip industry, which has brought more than 2 trillion yen ($14 billion) in announced investment plans. Almost concurrently, Micron announced that it will be introducing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology to Japan, investing up to 500 billion yen in 1-gamma process technology development to manufacture its next generation of Dram. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, on May 7, 2023. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP) Samsung Electronics also plans to establish a central research and development (R&D) facility at Yokohama Research Institute and will likely build a semiconductor packaging test line in Japan. This is unprecedented for major players such as Micron, Intel, TSMC, and Samsung to have all increased their investment in Japan, said Yueh-Chung Chu, an assistant professor of the Department of Finance, Southern Taiwan University of Finance and Technology. Especially for Samsung to set up an advanced packaging production line in Yokohama, this changed the mutual blockade between Japan and South Korea in the field of technology. For Japan, it is of great significance, he said. Geo-political Decoupling Chu said that Beijing picked the evening when G-7 Hiroshima summit had just concluded its three-day meeting to announce the Micron chip ban, and that was meant to warn the United States and the participating states regarding investment in China. However, the ban brought concern to foreign investors in China. U.S. businesses are worried about being the next target of Chinas security review, said Michael Hart, president of the Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China). European companies in China are also worried, especially about the possible impact on the semiconductor supply chain, according to a report by Voice of America. Shen said that the U.S.-China tech war isnt likely to be eased in the short term. He said he believed the White House was seeking to decouple in high-end technology and high-end products, but the decoupling is not unilateral. Ever since Huawei was sanctioned, China has comprehensively reviewed its product line both upstream and downstream, and searched for substitution. If there is no alternative, theyll look into self-reliant development, he said. Lin Cenxin contributed to this report. Critical U.S. infrastructure has been infiltrated, all fingers pointing to state-sponsored Chinese hackers. Microsoft warns the attack singled out the U.S. island territory of Guam, raising national security concerns. But was Taiwan the intended target? Guam is the centerpiece of any U.S. military response to a Taiwan invasion. And it goes further: The United States and allies warn this could be happening globally. Topics in this episode: Chinese Malware Hits Guam, Aiming for Taiwan? China Braces for the Next Wave of CCP Virus Biden Picks Next Joint Chiefs Chairman Bank of America to Reshuffle 40 Asia Bankers: Source Hong Kong Political Cartoonist Bids Farewell to 40-Year Column From Bowing to Mocking: China-Critic Comedian Uncle Roger a Hit Online Chinese Salvage Ship Caught Looting WWII Wrecks Computer Maker Lenovo Hit by PC Demand Slump U.S. Shouldnt Play Verbal Games with China Over Taiwan: Yates China in Focus is sponsored by Preserve Gold. Click here to claim your $200 and 1% cash-back in free gold and silver*: http://offers.preservegold.com/ntd A new survey of over 1,000 Australians has highlighted the stress and barriers they face during tax time, with almost one in three finding the end of the financial year and tax submission time to be stressful, and a fifth preferring to pick up their pooches poop than complete their tax return. When asked to choose, the majority of Australians would prefer to participate in other activities such as scooping up canine poop (19 percent), making small talk with an unpleasant neighbour (18 percent), sitting in the middle seat on a long-haul flight (17 percent), and getting a filling at the dentist (16 percent). Tax time can be an incredibly demanding period, often causing a great deal of stress, Rachel Clements, Director of Psychological Services, Centre for Corporate Health, said. During this time, sharing your worries with family and friends can provide solace, and discussing your concerns can offer valuable insights and help put things into perspective, Clements said. 16 percent of Australians said they would rather get a root canal than do their taxes. (Ben Chasteen/Epoch Times) Whether youre a tradie, hairdresser, or fast-paced startup, small Australian businesses have had a tough few years, according to Damien Greathead, an accountant and advisor lead at Intuit QuickBooks Australia. Tax time can add significant stress and mental load, Greathead said. Working with an accountant or bookkeeper can help small business owners reduce stress and get time back in their day to focus on unwinding with some comedy, seeing friends and family, or pursuing their hobbies. While most Australians do not enjoy working on their tax returns, three in ten said they enjoy it, and two-thirds find it easy. Of those, 39 percent said it is because their accountant or tax consultant does everything for them. However, 32 percent of Australians said they struggled to complete their tax returns. Main Obstacles Women are more likely to have a lack of knowledge and understanding of the correct process (62 percent) and are more likely to not know where to start (29 percent) compared to men. Despite this, men are more likely to struggle and be stressed by the tax submission process (37 percent compared to 28 percent). A man uses a computer. (Bench Accounting/Unsplash) The main barrier for those who find the process challenging is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the correct process (51 percent), highlighting a need for more financial literacy. 39 percent said they had a lack of motivation to complete it, and 36 percent attributed it to their lack of organisation. This comes amid news that small Australian businesses will be facing a price surge in their electricity bills of between 14.7 to 28.9 percent in the coming months. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) said that they recognised that this was a challenging time but that consumers had options. 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, AER chair Clare Savage said in a statement. The federal government also said that it could have been worse. These are big increases, but as the regulator made clear, without the intervention of the Albanese government, they would have been much bigger, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said. The survey of 1,018 Australian adults was commissioned by Intuit QuickBooks and undertaken between the 8th to 10th of May 2023. Close Encounter Involving 3 Planes at San Francisco Airport Two aircraft aborted their landings at the San Francisco International Airport in California on May 19 after sighting another plane on the runwaypart of a string of dangerous aircraft safety events occurring recently. The incident involved a United flight and an Alaska Airlines flight aborting their landings. The planes were cleared to land on two different runways. However, a Southwest flight moved across these two runways, forcing both pilots to abort the landing and pull up. Both planes circled around for some time before landing. The potentially dangerous incident prompted the air traffic controller to reprimand the Southwest pilot, saying You shouldnt be on the runway, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported the story. In a statement to the outlet, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that neither of the two close calls amounted to a runway incursion. The agency looked into the incident and determined the appropriate steps were taken to ensure a safe operation. Back in 2017, a near-disaster almost happened at the San Francisco airport when pilots of an Air Canada jet mistakenly attempted to land on a taxiway and almost landed atop four other planes that were waiting to take off. The Air Canada plane missed one of the passenger aircraft by just 14 feet before it aborted the landing and averted a tragedy. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet lands as an Alaska Air Boeing 737 jet prepares to take off at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on April 5, 2011. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) The incident at the San Francisco Airport comes after the FAA reported six serious runway incursions at various airports across the country in the first three months of the year. In March, the agency held a safety summit with government leaders, experts, and senior officials to discuss safety management issues, Simple Flying reported. Recently, the FAA announced over $100 million to 12 American airports to help reduce incidents of runway incursions. The funds will be used to reconfigure confusing taxiways, install airfield lighting, and construct new taxiways. Some airfields have complex layouts that can create confusion for pilots and other airport users. This funding will reconfigure complex taxiway and runway intersections to help prevent incursions and enhance the safety of the National Airspace System, Shannetta R. Griffin, FAA associate administrator, said in a May 22 statement. Latest Near-Miss Incident The San Francisco airport incident began to unfold when United Flight 277 was cleared to land on the airports Runway 28 Left, according to flight data and air traffic control audio and video reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle. However, after the captain of United Flight 277 saw Southwest Flight 1179 approaching Runway 28 Left, he broadcast that he was going around. At the time, the plane had descended to about 225 feet and was roughly a mile away from the start of the runway and the Southwest aircraft. United Flight 277 increased its altitude and aborted the landing. The plane then climbed to 800 feet and flew over the beginning of Runway 28 Left. Just a few seconds after United Flight 277 aborted the landing, Southwest Flight 1179 taxied onto Runway 28 Right, which runs parallel to Runway 28 Left with 750 feet between the two. Ross Aimer, an aviation consultant, reviewed the audio record and told the San Francisco Chronicle that it seemed the Southwest pilot did not hear the air traffic controllers clearance for departure from Runway 28 Right as the transmission apparently got blocked. The blockage happened because two pilots hit their mic buttons at the same time, thus obscuring the full instructions from the controller, he said. Seeing that Southwest Flight 1179 crossed from Runway 28 Left to Runway 28 Right, the air traffic controller contacted the pilot of the craft and asked whether the flight was departing. We never got that clearance, the pilot said, to which the controller replied, OK, so you shouldnt be on the runway. The Southwest pilot said that the last plans we got were to line up and wait. The controller replied, I dont need an argument on frequency. Southwest Flight 1179 was told to exit Runway 28 Right onto a taxiway as Alaska Airlines Flight 553 was closing in and cleared to land on the runway. However, seeing that the Southwest plane was too close, the Alaska Airlines plane, which had dropped to about 550 feet, also aborted its landing. Aimer said that the incident needs to be investigated. If the United pilot had not gone around, this couldve been disastrous. Somebody screwed up. What saved the day was the United pilot, he said. Comer to Hold Wray in Contempt if FBI Wont Produce Document Alleging Biden Criminal Activity Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, delivers remarks during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) House Republicans threatened to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress if he does not produce documents related to an alleged bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability said on May 25 that it would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings if the FBI didnt produce FD-1023 records by May 31, when Wray is set to testify before the committee. During a recent interview, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said, Not only do I expect the document I expect to know exactly what the FBI did to investigate the validity of the claim. The committee chairman also said that the events allegedly took place over the course of 2015 and 2016 during the end of the Obama administration, when Joe Biden was vice president, and he took it upon himself to travel all over the world, to some of our adversaries around the world and talk about foreign policy and foreign aid. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to the FBI on May 3 for a file containing allegations that a whistleblower linked Biden to a criminal scheme involving money for policy decisions while he was vice president. We have received legally protected and highly credible unclassified whistleblower disclosures, Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, said in a letter (pdf) to Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland on May 3. Based on those disclosures, it has come to our attention that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) possess an unclassified FD-1023 form that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions, the letter reads. Since then, Republicans have continued to receive resistance from the agency in their efforts to obtain the document that alleges Biden took a bribe from a foreign national while serving as vice president. They dont respect anyone in Congress, Comer said during a recent Fox News appearance. Theyve been able to get away with this for a long time. The media continues to turn a blind eye. The Senate Republicans continue to fund the FBI. So why would you change your business model when youre getting everything you want? An FBI spokesperson responded to The Epoch Times inquiry, saying, The FBIs mission is to protect the American people. Releasing confidential source information could potentially jeopardize investigations and put lives at risk. The law enforcement agency went on to say, The FBI remains committed to cooperating with Congress oversight requests on this matter and others, as we always have. Joseph Lord contributed to this report. Commerce Leaders from US, China Fail to Find Common Ground Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 11, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on May 25. The two traded complaints but failed to break new ground in the floundering Sino-American trade relationship. Raimondo raised concerns about the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) actions against U.S. companies in China, according to a statement released by the Commerce Department. Wang, likewise, expressed concerns about U.S. efforts to prevent the regime from obtaining advanced semiconductors and other critical technologies, a statement from the CCPs Commerce Ministry said. The Commerce Departments readout added that the talks included candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the U.S.-China commercial relationship. These included discussion of areas of trade and investment ripe for potential cooperation, but neither side gave any indication that such discussion bore fruit, nor did they specify what areas cooperation might take place in. Neither statement provided additional details about the nature of the talks, and no progress was apparently made toward resolving the nations ongoing disputes over technology, security, and trade. Raimondo and Wang promised to strengthen exchanges on trade issues in the future, however. Biden Admin Seeks Talks While CCP Suppresses Foreign Businesses The meeting of the commerce leaders took place under the shadow of a recent series of crackdowns in China, in which the CCP raided consulting firms and other foreign businesses, seizing private documents and detaining employees without apparent cause. The raids, including on U.S. companies Bain & Co., Capvision, and Mintz Group, follow the controversial expansion of national security and intelligence laws in China, which allow the regime to deny anyone in the country the right to leave. The CCP has given no explanation for the raids, which have drawn international outrage and sparked fears of increased rights abuses by the regime against employees of foreign companies. They appear to be part of a wider crackdown on foreign companies by the CCP, however, which has sent foreign investors fleeing from China. Despite the increasing hostility towards foreign firms in China, the Biden administration is doubling down on its efforts to woo the CCP regime back into regular diplomatic relations. To that end, Raimondos meeting with Wang is part of a wider effort by the administration to reset negotiations with China since Biden met with CCP leader Xi Jinping in Bali last November. The White House initially hailed the Bali engagement as a thaw in Sino-American relations and evidence of the administrations capacity to meaningfully engage in dialogue with the nations foremost competitor. Those hopes were dashed in February, however, when a Chinese spy balloon traversed across the continental United States, including over sever military sites associated with the nations nuclear program. Since then, the administration has struggled to recreate its Bali moment, with officials frequently citing it in their efforts to bring China back around. During a press call earlier in the week, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby described the process as a whole-of-government effort to recreate the spirit of Bali. Raimondo, likewise, invoked Bali in her meeting with Wang, with the Commerce Departments statement explicitly mentioning it. David Krayden: Cancelling Canada Day Is the Latest Form of Cultural Dictatorship From Unelected Elites Commentary The city of Calgary has reversed its decision to cancel the July 1 fireworks and effectively dismiss Canada Day with it. Port of Vancouver has not retreated from its position of terminating the fireworks. In both cases, the decisions to cancel were made not by elected officials but unelected bureaucrats who decided Canada Day had become a source of controversy and July 1 should become something else other than recognizing Canadas sovereignty, history, and heritage. A country that is afraid to recognize that history and its founding has no business pretending to be a nation of free people. Even the leftist mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, said he is incredibly disappointed to see [the fireworks] cancelled this year. Fireworks have long been a part of Canada Day in Vancouver, he tweeted. We will be reaching out to the Port Authority to discuss this further and hope to see a return of Canada Day fireworks in the coming years. The Port Authority made the decision for the city and the people of Vancouver, pointing to the cost of fireworks but, more telling, noting that it wants to transform Canada Day into something it is not and take it in a new direction. Following national conversations about how to best celebrate Canada Day in light of the tragic findings at residential schools, a statement reads, the event was re-named Canada Together and is planned collaboratively with representatives from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations under the theme of weaving together the fabric of a nation.' What does this even mean? What national conversations? Are we not all Canadians, including indigenous peoples, or are we going to apply identity politics to the national character? This is nothing short of the Balkanization of Canada and an ill wind of division and rancour. In Calgary, the citys arts and culture department made the dimwitted decision to cancel the fireworks. They also cited cultural sensitivities over Truth and Reconciliation and noted that July 1 is 100th the anniversary of the odious Chinese Immigration Act. Does that mean we have to change the date that we celebrate the beginning of Canadas independence? July 1 is also the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 where Canadians heroically fought and died. But thats not the kind of history these bureaucrats want to remember either. Calgary reversed its decision after several prominent local politicians spoke up, including well-known Michelle Rempel-Garner, Conservative MP for Calgary Nose Hill, and several city councillors. The people of Calgary made their voices heard as well, and this enclave of city employees did not get away with the theft of Canada Day. But theyre getting away with it in Vancouver and theyre using completely specious arguments to push a cultural and political agenda that is toxic and suicidal. Canada Day unites Canadians of all political persuasions and ethnic origins. It is poisonous to continually revisit the conflicts of the past and dwell on differences rather than emphasize the qualities of Canada that the vast majority of Canadians admire. Canada has never been a perfect countryno country isbut it has much to be proud of. It is absurd to continually return to the assumption that Canada could have remained a landmass available only to First Nations that were often at war with each other. Canada evolved, it has embraced differences and allowed a degree of cultural freedom that is indeed unique in the world. And despite what the cultural elitists would have you believe, we get along fine together, regardless of race, religion, or creed. The impulse to destroy Canada Day and to replace it with some vague, uncertain day of navel gazing is the same sort of self-loathing that has resulted in the desecration and/or removal of statues of great Canadians. Sir John A. Macdonald, Canadas first prime minister, has been particularly disparaged, just as a host of great American leaders have been cancelled in the United States because their policies were insufficiently woke to endear them to the vocal minority that dictates how progressive we should be. To some, the only statues left standing and the only schools so named will be those honouring the work of those aligned with special interest groups agenda. Some in Canada are not content to destroy our history but wish to endanger our future by denying the citizens of this country the opportunity to celebrate the obvious successes of a nation that has overwhelmingly been on the side of right throughout its history: defeating Nazism, opposing totalitarian communism, and ensuring the dignity and freedom of the individual above the glorification of the state. How dare these cultural dictators try to take that away from us. We must continue to oppose them at every turn and keep their hands off Canada Day. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Dedicated USAustralia Command Needed to Streamline Cooperation: Colonel U.S. soldiers attend an inauguration ceremony by transforming the Area Support Group Poland into the permanent U.S. Army Garrison Poland, at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland, on March 21, 2023. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images) A U.S. military commandakin to U.S. Forces Japanshould be established in Australia to help overcome the cultural differences between the allies, says one senior official. U.S. Army Colonel Alan W. Throop said the U.S. Department of Defense often misunderstood just how much smaller the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is, in a report for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Overcoming these differences will be important given the increasing aggressiveness from Beijing in the immediate region and the involvement of both nations in partnerships such as the QUAD, AUKUS, and military exchanges (interoperability). One U.S. respondent to Throops report said, Americans typically dont have an appreciation for the size or scale of the Australian military. The entire ADF is smaller than one [U.S.] Marine Expeditionary Force, and I mean, thats small. They are everywhere. So, because weve been shoulder to shoulder with Australians in Iraq, and Afghanistan, theyre in our schoolhouses, in our commands. We dont realize how truly small they are by number. They are extraordinarily capable; theyre just very small, said another personnel member. The respondents also admitted that because the U.S. already had a military presence in the countrya pre-staging ground for any potential conflictit was easy to forget to factor in the countrys own sovereignty. The other assumption is [that in] a lot of countries we just do, we just come, and we do, and we just kind of are the 800-pound gorilla, that we just assume that they are going to be cool with it, and if theyre not, that theyll get over it. But Australia isnt that way, and Australia definitely exercises its sovereigntydiplomatic and customs and border, and their own laws and sovereigntymuch more so than if we were to go into another non-allied country, they said. Australia Must Also Pull Its Weight: Defence Expert Michael Shoebridge, head of Strategic Analysis Australia, said it was true that due to the mismatched scale of the U.S. and Australian militaries, working together would often be more challenging than expected. The defence budgets give you an idea of the scale mismatch: Australias $52 billion (US$34 billion) compared to the Pentagons budget of US$840 billion, he told The Epoch Times in an email. In terms of raw numbers, Australia has 72 F-35 fighter jets compared to the 450 operated by the U.S. Armed Forcesplus a massive fleet of F-16s, F-15s, and F-22s. In the Navy, the U.S. has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers backed by hundreds of supporting naval vessels, whereas Australia has no aircraft carriers. The U.S. Army meanwhile has around 480,000 personnel compared to Australias 30,000. There is enormous strength in the connections between lots of different parts of each others defence institutionsdirect organizational working relationships, personnel exchanges and so on. But its a product of history, not design, Shoebridge said. And while its easy to say what U.S. people and institutions should do, its actually as much the job of Australians to build the connection and understand the giant, complex U.S. defence machinery, he added. Not enough of us do this. Plenty of us wail about the U.S. not understanding us well, though. Copy the Japanese Model, Colonel Says Meanwhile, Throop recommended additional training and visits to Australia for U.S. personnel. He called for a U.S. Forces Australia to be established to focus on synchronization. The USFOR-A would synchronize, track, and have overall visibility of Department of Defense efforts to provide local direction and the best military advice to U.S. Embassy in Canberra, to the Australian defence establishment, and then back to U.S.-based seniors and headquarters, much like [U.S. Forces Japan] provides in the bilateral defence relationship with Japan. U.S. Forces Japan works to ensure U.S. armed forces stationed in the Asian country can maintain a lethal posture and readiness to support regional operations while coordinating with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. One could replace Japan in this statement with Australia, and it becomes a first step on what USFOR-A would become in a new bilateral setting. Democrat Congresswoman Went to Jeffrey Epsteins Home Virgin Islands officials helped Epstein hide his crimes, filing alleges Ranking member Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) delivers opening remarks during the first hearing of the Weaponization of the Federal Government subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 9, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) A U.S. congresswoman went to Jeffrey Epsteins home in 2018, within a year of his being arrested on charges of child sex trafficking. Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) went to Epsteins townhouse in September 2018, she acknowledged during a deposition this month. I recall going to the address, ringing the bell someone opening the door, Plaskett said as she answered questions under oath on May 8. He was sitting at a very long table having a conversation with another gentleman, Plaskett added later. That man left, and Plaskett sat down and spoke to Epstein for a period of time that she said was less than one hour. They spoke about Virgin Islands politics, national politics, campaign contributions, according to Plaskett. Epstein was one of a list of individuals from whom Plaskett planned to ask for money for herself, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), or both. She was supposed to raise a certain amount, somewhere around $250,000, for the DCCC, which helps get Democrat congressional candidates elected. Plaskett asked Epstein for the maximum donation an individual could give, about $30,000. Epstein agreed and did not ask for anything in return, Plaskett said. But the donation was rejected. The DCCC conveyed that Epstein had not passed their vetting, Plaskett said. The DCCC did not pick up the phone or return a voicemail. Epstein was a convicted sex offender starting in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Plaskett acknowledged being aware of Epsteins criminal past but said she didnt recall when she first learned of it. The knowledge may have come to her before the meeting. Plaskett said she saw no women in Epsteins home other than Lesley Groff, one of Epsteins associates. Plasketts campaign received more than $30,000 from Epstein and people linked to him, such as Darren Indyke, a lawyer for one of his Virgin Island-based businesses, and Groff. Epstein pushed associates to donate to Plaskett, writing to one that we would have a friend in Stacey if she were elected, according to an email obtained by JPMorgan Chase. Plasketts deposition was taken as part of a civil case against the bank. Plaskett in 2019 vowed to donate an amount equal to that which she received to Virgin Islands organizations supporting women and children. My litmus test for accepting campaign contributions has been based on whether the donors money was made legally or by ill-gotten means and that the contributor will not ask of me or my Congressional office for any special favors. All my contributions have passed that test, she said at the time. In this case, however, I am uncomfortable having received money from someone who has been accused of these egregious actions multiple times. A residence belonging to Jeffrey Epstein on East 71st St. on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City on July 8, 2019. (Kevin Hagen/Getty Images) Actively Facilitated JPMorgan is defending itself against a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Virgin Islands government, which says Epstein utilized his two islands in the territory to carry out sex crimes, using funds in JPMorgan accounts. An attempt to dismiss the case was rejected in March as a judge ruled the government can pursue the claim that the bank knowingly benefited from participating in a sex-trafficking venture. Both JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank could be liable for Epsteins sex trafficking, the same judge later ruled. Epstein was charged in July 2019 with child sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. He died in prison a month later. The death was ruled a suicide. Plaskett and other Virgin Islands officials actively facilitated Epsteins crimes, JPMorgan said in a new motion, which included Plasketts deposition, filed this week. Discovery materials showed Cecile de Jongh, the territorys first lady at the time, frequently corresponding in 2011 with Epstein over the draft language of a proposed bill that would tighten sex offender monitoring laws. Epstein worried that the law, if passed, would restrict his movements and enable the media to access files about him. After the bill was passed in 2012, de Jongh apologized for how things panned out and said, We will figure something out by coming up with a game plan to get around these obstacles. De Jongh crafted a plan to let Epstein easily travel to and from the Virgin Islands, JPMorgan alleged, citing the materials. Many of the discovery materials were entered under seal, meaning they are not available to the public, and portions of the motion were redacted. Other emails showed de Jongh advising Epstein on how to go about donating to Virgin Islands political candidates, at one point floating monthly retainers for at least one official, and sending an email that was exchanged between her husband, Gov. John de Jongh Jr., and the Virgin Islands lieutenant governor regarding banking rules and regulations. Epsteins biggest return for donating to politicians and groups came in the form of tax breaks, which he received for decades starting in 1999, according to the new filing. The amount received was redacted; local media have reported that the total was more than $100 million after 2007 alone. When a reporter reached out to ask about the tax breaks, Cecile de Jongh suggested to Epstein that they respond with the statement that she worked for Epstein as an office manager and had nothing to do with the breaks. Plaskett was a lawyer for the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, which gave the tax breaks, starting in 2007. She moved to a firm headed by Erika Kellerhals, who did work for Epstein, in 2013. Plaskett said she could not recall when she first met Epstein, but that it was at his office in St. Thomas. She also said that she wasnt sure whether she carried out any work related to Epstein while at Kellerhals firm. Little St. James Island, one of the properties owned by Jeffrey Epstein, in an aerial view near Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on July 21, 2019. (Marco Bello/Reuters) Allegedly Paid for Tuition De Jongh, who was employed by one of Epsteins companies throughout her husbands two terms as governor, received ample benefits, according to the new filing, including $200,000 in 2007 alone. Epstein also paid for the tuition of the de Jongh children and offered to provide funds for the governors defense after he was charged with embezzlement, according to one email. I will play any role in this you guys like. I can lend john the money so he immediatly [sic] has it, Epstein wrote to Cecile de Jongh, according to the filing. I woulld [sic] gladly be on thephone (anonymouse) [sic] with john[,] quinn and the prosecutor offering suggestions. De Jonghs work included helping a female associate of Epsteins get a dental license, after which the woman set up a practice in an office shared with Epsteins companies and arranged for a local immigration lawyer to assist at least one other woman. The ages of the women were not listed. Another official involved with Epstein was the current governor of the Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan, according to the discovery materials. Bryan facilitated donations by Epstein to schools and little leagues in the territory, JPMorgan said. Bryans office declined to comment. Inquiries to Cecile and John de Jongh were not returned. DeSantis Breaks Silence on Trump Attacks Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said former President Donald Trumps constant criticism of him is telling. It could suggest Trump knows DeSantis could win the GOP nomination in 2024, the governor said in an interview with Good Morning New Hampshire radio host Jack Heath on May 25. 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, DeSantis said. It is only me. They wouldnt do that if they didnt think that I had a chance, because I think they realize I am offering folks a record of achievement thats second to none, DeSantis added. They know that Im more likely to win the election. The governors remarks came one day after he entered the 2024 race, launching his bid for the White House on Twitter. 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) DeSantis then dismissed Trumps claims that his governorship has not been a success. I mean, for him to say that were not winning in Florida, no one has taken a state from being a swing state four-and-a-half years ago to now being a red state in such a dramatic fashion. You cannot find an example of that in the modern history of our country, DeSantis said. Were proud of that. DeSantis won reelection easily in 2022, defeating his Democratic challenger Charlie Crist with 59.4 percent to 40 percent of the vote. Four years earlier, DeSantis defeated Democrat Andrew Gillum by a margin of 0.4 percent, or about 32,000 votes. The Florida governor touted that he is the better candidate in winning general election votes. At the end of the day as a leader, yes, Im going to get Republican votes. You need that, but you cannot just do it with Republicans. Youve got to be able to win with independents, and we even peeled off Democrats because were addressing issues that people care about, DeSantis said. So I think people are going to be able to see that. 2024 Race Apart from Trump and DeSantis, the 2024 race for the Republican presidential nomination now includes former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, conservative radio host Larry Elder, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Trump is leading the GOP pack. According to a survey by Emerson College that queried 1,064 registered voters in Iowa from May 19 to May 22, Trump held a 42-point lead over DeSantis, who finished second with 20 percent of support. Haley finished with 5 percent of support, leading Scott (3 percent), Ramaswamy (2 percent), and Hutchinson (1 percent). In a hypothetical 2024 matchup, Trump would defeat President Joe Biden 49 percent to 38 percent, according to the survey. The margin of victory is smaller for DeSantis, who would defeat Biden 45 percent to 38 percent. Former President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Rob DeSanctimonious and his poll numbers are dropping like a rock. I would almost be inclined to say these are record falls, Trump said in a short video posted on Truth Social on Wednesday. The former president began calling the Florida governor DeSanctimonious days before the 2022 midterm elections. Trump continued: The question is Rob just young and inexperienced and naive or more troubling, is he a fool who has no idea what the hell hes doing? We already have one of those in office, we dont need another one. We need MAGAMake America Great Again, Trump added. This is the last shot we got at it. If we dont win this time, our country is in really big trouble. During the interview, DeSantis said he believes that the country needs a presidential candidate that could serve two terms, to turn the nation which is currently at an inflection point. I think the country is on the wrong track. I think people see it with their own eyes. I think they feel it in their bones. And we cant have another four years of this, DeSantis said. And so who is going to be the leader, to be able to win the election like we did in Florida, and then get in and implement the type of policies that are gonna get the country back on track? I think you need to be able to serve two terms. I think thats very important, DeSantis said. Doctor Reprimanded, Fined for Talking Publicly About Minors Abortion Medical board rejected request to suspend doctor's license A doctor was reprimanded and fined by Indiana officials on May 25 for disclosing details about an abortion she performed on a 10-year-old. Dr. Caitlin Bernard didnt abide by privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the abortion, according to Indianas Medical Licensing Board. The board, however, rejected accusations from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita that Bernard violated state law by not reporting the child abuse to Indiana authorities. Board members turned down a request from the attorney generals office to suspend Bernards license and did not restrict Bernards practice of medicine. They fined Bernard $3,000 for the violations. Thanks to my amazing team, the abortion doctor got the maximum civil fine for violating three counts of privacy laws and received a public reprimand to go into a national database, Rokita said in a statement. Bernard and one of her lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. Bernard, who has consistently defended her actions, told the board that she followed Indianas reporting requirements and hospital policy by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse. The doctors lawyers said that she didnt release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws. The 10-year-olds situation was reported by the Indianapolis Star on July 1, 2022, one day after the abortion was performed and several weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. That ruling triggered a law in Ohio that barred abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, prompting the girl to travel for the abortion. The girl who received the abortion was raped by an illegal immigrant in Ohio, authorities there said. Gerson Fuentes, the illegal alien, lived in the same home as the girl. A trial for Fuentes, who has pleaded not guilty, has not yet taken place. Bernard reported the abortion to the Indiana Department of Health shortly after performing the procedure, in line with state law. Several details were wrong or missing, including the age of the father of the child and his immigration status. She also did not report the case to Indianas Department of Child Services or police, according to Rokitas office. Rokita, a Republican, publicly questioned whether Bernard followed state law on reporting and said that his office was investigating the matter. A judge later found that Rokita violated state law by disclosing the investigation. Rokita also said Bernard may have violated privacy law. Her employer, Indiana University, concluded that she did not violate federal privacy law, but the Medical Licensing Board on Thursday concluded that Bernard went too far in telling a reporter about the girls pending abortion and that physicians need to be careful about observing patient privacy. Decision I dont think she expected this attention to be brought to this patient. It did. It happened, Dr. John Strobel, president of the board, said. The board said that Bernard disclosing the girls circumstances and her age could have led to her identity being exposed. Bernard told the Star that she received a call from a child abuse doctor in Ohio who shared that he had a 10-year-old patient who was six weeks and three days pregnant, and that the girl was going to Indiana to see Bernard. Rokita said the case was about patient privacy and the trust between the doctor and patient that was broken. What if it was your child or your parent or your sibling who was going through a sensitive medical crisis, and the doctor, who you thought was on your side, ran to the press for political reasons? Its not right, and the facts we presented today made that clear, he added. Dr. Bharat Barai, a board member, dissented from the majority. We are trying to suppose that yeah this could have been done and maybe somebody could have discovered it, Barai said. The Indiana boardwith five doctors and one attorney present who were appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcombhad wide latitude under state law allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke, or place on probation a doctors license. Alice Morical, a lawyer representing Bernard, said that the doctor could not have anticipated the atypical and intense scrutiny that this story received. President Joe Biden cited the case during remarks at the White House, sparking speculation that the story was made up until Fuentes was arrested. Egregious Violation Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight argued during the hearing that the board needed to address what he called an egregious violation of patient privacy and Bernards failure to notify the state 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. DOJ Charges 2 Suspected Chinese Agents for Targeting Falun Gong in US 2 individuals tried to bribe purported IRS official to advance Beijings campaign against persecuted group, Justice Department says NEW YORKFederal prosecutors have charged two men with attempting to bribe a public official with tens of thousands of dollars in a scheme to help the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) topple the persecuted faith group Falun Gong. John Chen, a 70-year-old U.S. citizen born in China, and Lin Feng, a Chinese citizen aged 43, attempted to manipulate the IRS Whistleblower Program, through bribery and deceit, in an attempt to strip an entity run and maintained by Falun Gong practitioners of its tax-exempt status, according to court filings unsealed on May 26. The information they submitted to the IRS is facially deficient and contains rhetoric similar to the propaganda that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] Government uses to justify its subjugation and harassment of Falun Gong members, according to the complaint. Chen and Feng, who reside in Californias Chino City and Los Angeles, respectively, were arrested at their residences early on May 26, a spokesperson from the FBI Los Angeles field office told The Epoch Times. The two face charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering. Chen was held without bond, and the U.S. Marshals Service will transport him to New York. Fengs detention hearing was postponed until June 1. He will remain in custody until then, a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in Los Angeles told The Epoch Times. Chens lawyer declined to comment. The Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles on May 26, 2023. (Annie Wang/The Epoch Times) Shocking and Insidious The action marks the first prosecution by U.S. authorities to deter the Chinese regime from targeting Falun Gonga meditative practice with core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerancein the United States. In China, the CCP has been severely persecuting the group for the past 23 years. The Department of Justice (DOJ) indictments also followed the arrest of two individuals allegedly running a secret police station in New York for Beijing. One of the men, according to the Justice Department, organized counter-protests in Washington to demonstrations by Falun Gong practitioners during Chinese leader Xi Jinpings U.S. visit in 2015. Efforts to manipulate and use the arms of the U.S. Government to carry out the PRC Governments autocratic aims are as shocking as they are insidious, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement announcing the charges. From January to May, Chen and Feng worked under the direction of Chinese officials to engage in a bribery campaign, according to the DOJ. Discussing the plan in a recorded call around Jan. 21, Chen indicated that he aimed to help the CCP topple Falun Gong, noting that the Chinese leadership would be very generous in funding the illicit payments, according to the court document. According to the DOJs complaint, Chen said during a recorded call a week later that after this thing is done reward for work will surely be given at that time. In early February, Chen and Feng submitted a whistleblower complaint, which Chen would later claim was intended to be for the benefit of U.S. taxpayers, to an IRS office in New Windsor, New York, according to the court filing. That complaint, which repeatedly used the regimes defamatory language in describing Falun Gong, was facially deficient, the filing stated. It also stated that IRS personnel have advised to reject the complaint. On May 14, the pair met with an undercover agent who posed as an IRS official in a restaurant, promising to pay a total of $50,000 to open an audit on the Falun Gong-related entity, according to the document. In the back seat of the agents vehicle, Chen handed the agent a $1,000 cash bribe, in $100 bills, as an initial payment. The agent would receive 60 percent of the whistleblower award from the IRS if the whistleblower complaint was successful, Chen and Feng promised. On an intercepted call two days earlier, the two said that they would receive direction from a Chinese official to carry out the scheme through a China-based encrypted messaging app, then delete the officials instructions. They planned to alert and sound the alarm to the Chinese official if the meeting failed to go as planned. Blood Brothers Over the course of the scheme, Chen also warned a contact, who introduced him to the purported tax official and was cooperating with the FBI, to keep the illicit payment plan discreet, according to the court document. If you say pay money, [expletive], itll leave a trail along the way, and itll be troublesome, Chen allegedly said. The identity of the Chinese official hasnt been released, but Chen, in an intercepted call while discussing the scheme, said the official is the one that is always in charge of these matters, the DOJ complaint reads. The complaint noted that the repression efforts targeting Falun Gong are centralized from the 610 Office, an extralegal body that for many years maintained a principal location in Chinas northeastern megacity Tianjin. The citys name came up in a call around May 16, after the agent emailed Chen a document purporting to show his whistleblower complaint being referred to the audit department. Seeing the email, Chen called Feng and asked him to go to New York to deliver the agreed-upon bribe money. Chen said he would contact Tianjin again. In a call with the agent around that day, Chen reaffirmed that the two were carrying out the campaign on behalf of Beijing. According to the filing, Chen told the agent to trust these friends. They are like blood brothers. We started this fight against [the founder of the Falun Gong] twenty, thirty years ago. They are always with us, Chen allegedly said. He said the money is from all of us, which the FBI investigator says likely refers to the Chinese authorities. It is very risky to bring money into the US need to use some special methods. It needs some time, Chen said, according to the court document. He explained that he would return to China in June and pay the agent in installments between July and September. Its so much. In the US, ten thousand is over, and one has to declare. Darn it, dont want to declare, he said. Feng handed the undercover agent another $4,000 cash bribe at John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 18 to further the scheme. The same day, Chen told the agent in a call that he would return to China to collect more funding and have Feng deliver it in two $25,000 payments to the agent in New York. A Threat to Our Democratic System The details of the case, according to Falun Dafa Information Center Executive Director Levi Browde, show how Falun Gong practitioners remain a major target for the CCPs transnational repression. It also shows the lengths the CCP will gobribing a tax official to break US law and weaponize U.S. institutions against innocent peopleto try to get their way, he told The Epoch Times. We applaud the U.S. government for taking this action, and we encourage it to vigorously pursue CCP agents across the U.S. because they pose a threat not only to Americans who speak out against the atrocities in China, but also to our government officials, and indeed our democratic system itself, all of which is targeted by these illicit schemes. Prosecutors said the arrest is their latest effort to confront the Chinese regimes transnational repression campaign. The Chinese government has yet again attempted, and failed, to target critics of the PRC here in the United States, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. He added that the Justice Department will continue to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute efforts by the PRC government to silence its critics and extend the reaches of its regime onto U.S. soil and defend the rights to which every person in the United States is entitled. The Department of Justice continues to expose the Chinese governments brazen attempts to perpetrate transnational repression, this time through attempted bribery, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said. As highlighted by todays arrests and charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, we will not tolerate efforts by the PRC or any foreign government to intimidate, harass, or undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all who live in the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray said that Chinas government has once again shown its disregard for the rule of law and international norms. He vowed that his agency will continue to confront the Chinese governments efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country. FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway said the alleged activity is antithetical to fundamental American values. Those who practice transnational oppression on behalf of the Chinese government must be held accountable, he said. Linda Jiang contributed to this report. Durham to Testify Before House Judiciary Committee on Seriously Flawed Russia Probe Special counsel John Durham will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on his report excoriating the FBIs seriously flawed investigation of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, The Epoch Times has confirmed. The hearing, scheduled for June 21, will follow Durhams closed-door briefing with the House Intelligence Committee on June 20. Durham was appointed in October 2020 by then-Attorney General William Barr to conduct an independent inquiry of whether the law was violated by investigators in the Trump-Russia probe, which the FBI internally dubbed Crossfire Hurricane. After nearly three years of investigation, Durham released his much-anticipated report (pdf) on May 15, finding that the FBI failed to uphold its important mission of strict fidelity to the law in carrying out its investigation. That same day, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent the special counsel a letter inviting him to testify on his findings at a committee hearing. Findings In his report, Durham noted that there were clear discrepancies between the FBIs handling of election interference allegations concerning Trump and those related to his political opponent, Hillary Clinton. He revealed that in late 2014, the FBI learned from a credible informant that a foreign government was planning to send an unnamed individual to contribute to Clintons anticipated presidential campaign to gain influence with Clinton should she win the presidency. The information was independently corroborated by the FBI and a full counterintelligence investigation was opened. However, when expedited authorization was sought for a FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) surveillance order, the application remained in limbo at FBI Headquarters for about four months. The reason for the delay, an agent told Durham, was because everyone was super more careful and scared with the big name [Clinton] involved. The agent added that the FBI was tippy-toeing around HRC because there was a chance she would be the next President. Yet when it came to the allegations against Trump, Durham found that the FBI had little evidence to support opening an investigation, but did so anyway, relying heavily on unsubstantiated information provided or funded by Trumps political opponents. Durham also noted that the Crossfire Hurricane investigators pursued a FISA surveillance order against Trump campaign associate Carter Page despite acknowledging that there was likely no probable cause to suspect he was a foreign agent, and that they disregarded significant exculpatory information that should have prompted investigative restraint and re-examination. But even though his overall report reads as a scathing indictment of the FBIs conduct, Durham recommended against any wholesale changes in the guidelines and policies that the Department [of Justice] and the FBI now have in place. New rules and regulations, he reasoned, would be a fruitless exercise if agents were not already committed to the bureaus guiding principles of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity and protecting the American people. The answer is not the creation of new rules but a renewed fidelity to the old. FBI Recognizes Missteps In response to Durhams criticism, the FBI issued a brief statement acknowledging that missteps were made in the bureaus rush to investigate Trump. The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time, the FBI wrote. Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented. This report reinforces the importance of ensuring the FBI continues to do its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism the American people deserve and rightly expect. Despite the FBIs assurances of reform, Republicans have been disinclined to take the bureaus word for it. Commenting on the report on Fox Business Varney and Co., Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he found it heartbreaking to see the Justice Department and FBI so politicized and weaponized. We have FBI whistleblowers coming forward, one after the other, describing how today, under Joe Biden, they are treating the FBI as the political enforcement arm of the DNC. Likewise, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said Durhams report only confirmed the suspicions that had been long held by the Republicans on his committee and needed to be addressed not only internally at the FBI but also by Congress. The report confirms that FBI personnel repeatedly disregarded critical protections established to protect the American people from unlawful surveillance, he said in a statement. Such actions should never have occurred, and it is essential that Congress codifies clear guardrails that prevent future FBI abuses and restores the publics trust in our law enforcement institutions. East LA Kidnapping Suspect Arrested, Alleged Victim Located EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif.A man who allegedly forced a woman he was dating into a vehicle at gunpoint as she attempted to board a Montebello Transit bus was arrested May 23, and the woman was located safe and uninjured, authorities said. Angel Flores, 24, approached a woman from behind at about 8:40 p.m. Monday in the 3800 block of East Third Street as she attempted to board the bus, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department reported. The bus driver tried to intervene on the womans behalf but the suspect broke a window on the bus and retrieved a handgun from a nearby four-door vehicle described as possibly a white 2022 Honda Civic, authorities said. Flores allegedly pointed the weapon at the bus operator and coerced the woman inside the car before driving away, sheriffs deputies said. The vehicle was last seen heading east on Third Street to the eastbound Pomona (60) Freeway and out of view. Investigators used surveillance videos from nearby businesses and from the bus, along with other investigative resources, to identify Flores as the alleged kidnapper. Flores was arrested by officers from the Los Angeles Police Departments (LAPD) Newton Division several hours later on suspicion of driving under the influence, sheriffs deputies said. He was taken to the LAPDs 77th Street Division jail, where he was interviewed by detectives from the sheriffs department. Investigators learned that during the arrest, a replica firearm was recovered from Floress vehicle that resembled the weapon used during the reported kidnapping, the sheriffs department said. Deputies located the woman a short time later, safe and uninjured, sheriffs officials said. She told detectives that she was in a dating relationship with Flores. However, its not clear what led up to the reported kidnapping. Flores was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and vandalism. Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the sheriffs tipline at 562-946-7893, the East Los Angeles sheriffs station at 323-264-4151, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. East Texas Teenager Charged With Murder in Killings of Parents and Siblings NASH, TexasAuthorities 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. Elon Musks Neuralink Gets FDA Approval to Study Brain Implants in Humans Elon Muskss neurotechnology company Neuralink announced on Thursday it has obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out a clinical study of brain implants in humans. It marks the first in-human clinical study for the company. This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people, the company said in a statement. Recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial. Well announce more information on this soon! it added, without providing further details about the trial. Musk, in response, wrote on Twitter: Congratulations Neuralink team! Musk Ambitions Neuralink was founded in 2016 and is based in San Francisco. According to its website, Neuralink seeks to build the first neural implant that will let you control a computer or mobile device anywhere you go. Musk previously indicated he hopes the company will one day help people with debilitating conditions, which include severe spinal cord injuries and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Musk also believes brain implants could have potential to help other conditions including obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia. He is also optimistic the technology could enable web browsing and telepathy. Ethical and Other Concerns The company began testing brain implants in animals back in 2019. By April 2021, Neuralink published a video showing a 9-year-old macaque named Pager playing computer games via a neural implant that was inserted into its brain. Neuralink has also demonstrated a robot that can handle some of the most delicate parts of the required brain implant insertion surgery, a pig whose legs can be controlled remotely by a computer, and a monkey with a brain implant that made it see flashes of light. Musk made headlines late in 2022 when he said the brain implants safety is such that hed be willing to implant them in his children. Experts have told The Epoch Times there could be ethical, safety, security, privacy, and even philosophical issues when it comes to Neuralinks goals of having healthy people interact directly with the technology via the mind. Federal Investigations Neuralink has been under several federal investigations. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in February it is investigating whether the company had transported potentially dangerous pathogenswhen removing the brain chips from monkeys brainswithout proper measures to contain them, which would be in violation of federal law. Separately, Neuralink is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Office of Inspector General for potentially violating the Animal Welfare Act. The probe was also checking on how the USDA has been overseeing the company. Democrat congressional lawmakers in May urged the USDA to look into how Neuralink oversaw its experiments and whether there were any conflicts of interest within the panel that was responsible for overseeing animal testing. Specifically, the lawmakers said (pdf) that a report from Reuters on May 4 presented a new allegation that requires the USDA and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Inspector General to investigate the company for possible conflicts of interest among its Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members. Katabella Roberts and Reuters contributed to this report. Emotional Harrison Ford Reflects on His Years as Indiana Jones CANNESHarrison Ford teared up as he recalled his years playing Indiana Jones, after the Cannes premiere of what he has said will be his last outing in the blockbuster film franchise. I love to work and I love this character and I love what it brought into my life, he told journalists at the festival on May 19. Is it not evident? the 80-year-old added, when asked why he was setting aside the role now. He was speaking a day after receiving an honorary award at the film extravaganza for his cinema career. The new film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, pits the adventurous archaeologist against a former Nazi scientist, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who is searching for a dial that makes it possible to travel through time. Fleabag writer and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge also joins in the adventure as Jones goddaughter. Theres magic here and it comes from the collaboration, from the knit of everybodys ambition, Ford said, his voice breaking as he reflected on working with the Dial of Destiny cast. Ive never seen actors give as much to each other. The film opens at the end of the World War II with a younger-looking Ford, a feat of artificial intelligence technology that uses old footage to create a de-aged version of his face. I know that is my face, that it is not some PhotoShop magic. Thats what I looked like 35 years ago because Lucasfilm has every frame of film that we made together over all these year, Ford said. He was happy with how the effect turned out, but he didnt want to be young again, he said. Ford, who first played Indiana Jones in 1981, told Total Film magazine last month that he would hang up the characters iconic bull whip and hat for good after this film, which will be released to wider audiences in late June. F-16s Wont Be a Game-Changer in Ukraine, Pentagon Leaders Say Poland Air Force F-16 Falcons, here in 2022 training flight, could be among fighters that find their way to Ukraine by year's end. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images) The Biden administration will allow American-made F-16s to be sent to Ukraine to help Kyiv defend its skies for years to come, but they will play no role in its pending offensive to oust Russian invaders. That point was iterated and reiterated by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley during a press conference following the May 25 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an ad hoc assembly of nations providing assistance to Ukraine. President Joe Biden on May 19 announced the United States would allow allies to provide fourth-generation F-16 Falcons and train Ukrainian forces in how to fly and maintain them. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been lobbying for the United States and its allies to provide the multi-role fighter for months. He apparently pried consent from Biden when they met during the May 19-21 Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Austin and Milley thanked the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland for offering to contribute F-16s or provide training for pilots and ground crews. They said the response underscores the commitment of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a 54-nation allianceincluding all 31 NATO statesthat have collectively contributed more than $65 billion in equipment, munitions, training, and other assistance to Kyiv in response to Russias February 2022 invasion. They also said that the F-16s wont be arriving for months and when they do, there wont be enough of them to really make a difference, downplaying the need for the fighters, as they have for months. Norway is among the nations that have agreed to participate in a program to funnel American-made F-16s, such as this Norwegian Air Force fighter departing from an air base in Bodoe, into Ukraine. (Pierre-Henry Deshayes/AFP/Getty Images) Too Late for Offensive, Too Few for Impact Austin said it will take time to train pilots and crews to maintain and arm the fighter jets. Planning and executing this training will be a significant undertaking, but the coordination of this contact group will help make that possible, he said. Milley said since the beginning of the 15-month war, the emphasis has beenand remainsbuilding Ukraines ground-based air defenses in mitigating Russias air superiority. It was not only the most effective and swiftest solution, but an economical use of financial assistance being offered by the group, he said. Ten fourth-generation F-16s collectively cost $1 billion, Miley said. Over their service-spans, it will cost another $1 billion to maintain them, he said. So, youre talking about $2 billion for 10 aircraft, Milley said. The Russians have thousands of 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. A lot of bucks for the jets, but not much relative bang, the four-star Army general said. 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 defense to cover the battle-space and deny the Russians the airspace. And that is exactly what happened. That doesnt mean its a wasted investment, Milley said, noting the F-16s could be the foundation for a Ukraine Air Force that can take on the Russians head-to-head in the sky. But thats not happening anytime soon. It is going to take a considerable length of time to build up an air force thats the size and scope and scale thatll be necessary, he said. Despite President Joe Bidens consent to allow F-16s to be sent into Ukraine, Pentagon officials maintain Kyivs most pressing needs remain ground-based air defense, such as these U.S.-provided Patriot missile defense system at Sliac Airport in Sliac, near Zvolen, Slovakia, on May 6, 2022. (Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters) Priorities: Air Defense, Armor, Artillery Immediate necessities, both said, are air defense systems, armored vehicles, and munitions. One of Ukraines most urgent requirements is ground-based air defense, Austin said. And this contact group will continue driving hard to help Ukraine defend the skies. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its sordid bombardment of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. And the Kremlins cruelty only underscores Ukraines need for a stronger, layered ground-based air defense architecture. In recapping the 12th meeting of the groupa closed-door session attended remotely by defense ministers from more than 50 nationsAustin said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov requested resources to plug unnamed critical capability gaps and members agreed to keep strengthening Ukraines position on the battlefield. In his address to the group, Austin said since it had last convened in April at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany, the United States has committed an additional $1.8 billion in assistance to Ukraine. This latest package includes $375 million in HIMARS [rocket launcher] ammunition, anti-tank systems, laser-guided rockets, heavy equipment transport, armored bridging systems, air-defense systems, and munitions, especially 155-millimeter artillery rounds, he said. The package also includes equipment that will integrate Ukraines legacy air-defense systems with air-defense launchers, missiles, and radars from the group, Austin said. Austin said in recent days Germany has pledged an additional $3 billion in aid, including more Leopard tanks, ammunition, and combat drones. Denmark also announced a significant new package. It includes air defense support and combat enablers such as mine-clearing vehicles, mobile field bridges, and recovery vehicles, he said. France also has committed more light tanks and armored vehicles. The United States has trained nine motorized and mechanized brigades, and continue to execute collective training for Ukrainian combat units, said Austin, noting that 31 M1 Abrams training tanks from the United States arrived at an army base in Grafenwoehr, Germany, in early May. Austin and Milley praised the sustained resolve of the member nations in the group, especially since all recognize it will require a long-term commitment to help Ukraine defend itself and rebuild afterward. Today, we committed to doing even more to support Ukraines fight for freedom, Austin said. I came away from todays meeting as confident as ever in the contact groups resolve and sustained unity. Target Faces Bud-Light Treatment as Opposition to LGBT Merchandise Aimed at Children Grows Backlash intensifies as retailer moves Pride Month displays to back of Southern stores A shirt sold in kids' sizes as part of Target's Pride line. (Courtesy of Alice Giordano) DALLASThe backlash against Target continues as conservative groups launch petitions and campaigns demanding that the company remove LGBT products, particularly merchandise aimed at children. Target came under fire this week as details of the stores Pride Month merchandise, which included products made for children, appeared on social media and were picked up by news outlets. Calls to give the retailer the Bud-Light treatment have grown louder on social media over Targets embrace of rainbow-colored onesies for babies and tuck-friendly womens swimsuits for men identifying as women. Conservative groups have launched petition drives and campaigns against Target LGBT merchandise as displayed May 24, 2023. (Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times) Target responded by removing some of the LGBT merchandise, citing safety concerns for employees who allegedly had been threatened. At least one Youtube video showed a man going through Target, pulling down LGBT rainbow displays, and stomping on them. The campaign against Target now includes online petitions and campaigns against the retailer. American Family Association (AFA), a faith-based group, launched an online petition on May 24 with more than 28,500 signatures. The petition was started to provide a voice for customers tired of the woke corporate culture at Target, according to James Taylor, senior fellow for AFA and director of its policy and legislative affairs branch. Americans are tired of being forced to tolerate things that are morally offensive and harmful to children and women, Taylor told The Epoch Times in an email. Targets customer base is middle-class Heartland America. And middle-class, Heartland America believes a man is a man, and a woman is a woman. They understand basic biology, and they have common sense. They also dont drink Bud Light anymore, and, as of today, they wont be shopping at Target, he wrote. Another petition launched on May 25 on CitizenGo was titled: Stop Targets New Gay Pride Collection for Babies! And a conservative group called The Battle Cry urged the public to download their June Challenge fliers condemning the transgender cult and drop them everywhere inside Target stores nationwide. AFAs petition calls for Target to remove all LGBT displays from its stores altogether. The landing page included the phone number to Targets headquarters. The groups petition condemned displays of transgender and LGBT merchandise as inappropriate and offensive to families, especially those with impressionable children. It went on to say the economic impact of offending many to appease a few would mean financial loss for the retailer. Target includes childrens books and ginger bread houses as part of their Pride display at a Texas store May 24, 2021. (Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times) Stop following the WOKE crowd and use common sense when doing business in our communities, the petition says. CitizenGo, a platform promoting life, family, and liberty, called out Target for embracing transgender rhetoric. That petition generated 7,000 signatures within hours of its launch and was directed to Brian Cornell, Targets chief executive officer. Its hard to believe, but Target just released a new collection of transgender and LGBT accessories, books, and clothes for kids and even babies, the petition page states. The retailer reportedly decided to relocate Pride displays in more conservative Southern states to the back of stores, according to the New York Post. The display was at the back of the store at a Target store in a Texas suburb adjacent to Dallas. An Epoch Times reporter only saw three people visit the Pride display at the Target in Rockwall County. One was a Target employee who grabbed a Trans People Will Always Exist! shirt and headed to the checkout line. Targets new Pride line includes a Pride Parade Float gingerbread kit along with LGBT gingerbread house kits. (Courtesy of Alice Giordano) The shopper response was mixed. Krystal told The Epoch Times in the store parking lot she didnt notice the display while shopping. But she could understand people protesting the idea of LGBT products aimed at children. The display didnt bother a mother with small children loading her SUV with Target bags. She had heard about the controversy and saw the Pride Month display, she said. I think its their choice, she said when asked if she approved of the LGBT merchandise. Brandon, a father wearing a Clemson T-shirt, shrugged at the idea of the display, even if it involved children. It doesnt bother me, he said. Thats parental discretion. Social media conservatives also blasted Target for offering LGBT items from the Abprallen brand, headed by transgender designer Erik Carnell. The London-based company designs and sells LGBT clothing and accessories, some of which use Satanic images such as pentagrams and horned skulls. Carnell partnered with Target to design 2023 Pride season merchandise, according to news accounts. His items at Target included an adult shirt saying, Cure transphobia, not trans peoplea bag with a spaceship and rainbow that says too queer for here, and a fanny pack that says ,We belong here, according to the Daily Dot. Target reportedly removed the Abprallen merchandise, though the Satanic-themed items were not reportedly being sold at Target stores, according to news outlets. A search for Abprallen merchandise on Target.com on May 23 showed no results. Conservatives were outraged nonetheless, with several posting images of an Abparellen T-shirt emblazoned with Satan Respects Pronouns on Twitter. As with Bud Light, which is still trying to recover after the company tapped transgender TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney to promote its beer, the Target boycott is hiting its performance on Wall Street. Stock prices for Target Corp, based in Minneapolis, have fallen since reports began circulating about the LGBT merchandise. Target said in a May 24 statement on its corporate website that the company wants to move past the uproar and continue supporting the LGBT community and Pride Month, which it has celebrated for a decade. Target Corps Pride Collection offers more than 2,000 products, including clothing, books, music, and home furnishings. The items include gender fluid mugs, queer all year calendars, and books for children aged 28 titled Bye Bye, Binary, Pride 1,2,3, and Im Not a Girl, according to news outlets. Reuters contributed to this report. The FBI was given just days to hand over key documentsor they will face criminal charges for contempt of Congress. This has to do with documents that could be incriminating to the Biden family. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, issued a letter to the FBI that details the requested document. We also speak to former FBI special agent Marc Ruskin about what it means if the FBI is being used politically. And Jeff Carlson, co-host of Truth Over News, joins us to talk about whether Obama, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former FBI Director James Comey knew about the plan to target former President Donald Trump with Crossfire Hurricane. Federal Appeals Court Rules on Maine COVID Vaccine Mandate Attendees held signs calling for medical choice at the kickoff rally for the northeast convoy to D.C. at an I95 service area in Kennebunkport, Maine, on March 2, 2022.(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) A recent court ruling on Maines COVID vaccine mandate for healthcare workers is seen by some vaccine choice advocates as the latest sign that medical freedom is becoming a sanctified constitutional right in America. In a 3-0 ruling, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (pdf) on Wednesday that Maine District Judge John Levy erred in dismissing a First Amendment and Equal Protection claim brought against the state by a group of healthcare for refusing to consider religious exemptions from the COVID vaccine mandate. Based on the plaintiffs allegations and in the absence of further factual development, the Court wrote in its unanimous decision, the Mandate treats comparable secular and religious activity dissimilarly without adequate justification. New Yorks announcement earlier this week that it was voluntarily ending its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers left Maine as the only state with the requirement. Maines vaccine mandate was considered to be one of the strictest in the United States, with Maine Gov. Janet Mills implementing an unconditional no-religious-exemption policy. When healthcare workers refused to take the vaccine, they were fired. A critical shortage of first responders in the vast rural New England state wouldnt even dissuade Mills, who instead brought in national guard and traveling nurses to replace the states unvaccinated healthcare workers. Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the Maine Attorney Generals office, told The Epoch Times that the state would not be commenting on the appellate courts ruling because it was pending litigation. Courts have issued similar rulings in other cases in which government administrations or healthcare facilities granted medical exemptions while rejecting requests for religious ones. Daniel Schmid, an attorney with Liberty Counsel, which represents the Maine healthcare workers in the case against the state, told The Epoch Times that the ruling reaffirms the argument he has made in similar cases in other states that the virus doesnt know the difference between a medical exemption and a religious one. Its at least a warning shot that, if this happens again, treating religious exemption to a vaccine differently than medical exemptions isnt going to fly, said Schmid, who has successfully argued several landmark Supreme Court cases against COVID mandates. Schmid said he also believes that states like Maine may have created unintended consequences by eliminating religious exemptions from the COVID jab because it invites a similar test of all other mandatory vaccines, such as required child immunizations for school attendance. Like New York, Maine eliminated religious exemptions from required school immunizations in addition to the COVID vaccine. Connecticut, California, Mississippi, and West Virginia also eliminated religious exemptions for all vaccines. Schmid said that in addition to religious-based objections to vaccines on the grounds they were made with tissue and cells from aborted babies, some have also raised religious objections to the use of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in vaccines because it alters the human bodys genetic makeup. The constitution protects religious beliefs and protects against discrimination, he said, those are both protected rights that vaccine choices fall into. According to Penn Medicine, which led the development of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, it is working on a litany of mRNA vaccines for a litany of diseases. In its latest report on the development, Penn Medicine, the vaccine development arm of the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), lists genital herpes, HIV, Hepatitis C, malaria, tuberculosis, cancer, and influenzarequired in some states for healthcare workers and studentsamong some of the diseases it is working to develop an mRNA-based vaccine against. Were working on every imaginable infectious disease, said Dr. Drew Weissman, director of vaccine research at UPENN, in celebrating the development of more mRNA vaccines. Weisman helped develop the COVID vaccine. Tiffany Kreck, a cofounder of Health Choice Maine, told The Epoch Times that the recent ruling against Maines denial of religious exemptions is the moment weve been waiting for. The mother of two helped found the group in direct response to the elimination of the religious exemption from school-required vaccines by Maine lawmakers in 2021. The measures have since remained under heavy scrutiny in the New England state, which despite its large population of blue-collar workers, fishermen, tradesmen, and elderly, has a peculiarly Democrat-dominated government. In this last legislative session alone, at least three different bills aimed at repealing the elimination of religious exemptions for vaccines were introduced in Maine. All three were swiftly defeated. Kreck is hopeful that the Mill Administration has inadvertently opened up a Pandoras Box that will incite legal remedies to government overreach when it comes to mandating vaccines. By the very least, I hope the people of Maine see this as more of a power play than concern over public safety, she said. Kreck said that her organization, which has a pending lawsuit it filed on behalf of EMT workers against the states COVID vaccine mandate, knows of several traveling nurses hired out of state by Mills to replace in-state healthcare workers who are not vaccinated against COVID. Detailed Five Eyes Warning on Chinas Cyberattack Very Rare, Professor Says Following a warning by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and Canadas Five Eyes allies of a significant threat from a state-sponsored actor associated with the Peoples Republic of China, a cybersecurity expert says the rarity of the alert means it should be taken very seriously in Canada. Its a fairly rare thing to put out something like this so publicly and, of course, it runs a risk of frightening people, and we probably have good reasons to be frightened, Thomas Patrick Keenan, a professor at the University of Calgary, told The Epoch Times. On May 24, the Cyber Centre, which is part of the Communications Security Establishment, joined its Five Eyes partners of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States to issue an advisory warning of an actor targeting critical infrastructure operators in the United States. While the Cyber Centre said it had no reports of the actor targeting Canada, it noted that Western economies are deeply interconnected and an attack on one country can impact the infrastructure of another. According to the 2023-24 National Cyber Threat Assessment, the state-sponsored cyber programs of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea continue to pose the greatest strategic cyber threat to Canada, with critical infrastructure remaining a prime target for both cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors. Living Off the Land Hacking The threat was initially uncovered by tech giant Microsoft and attributed to Volt Typhoon, a Chinese state actor that focuses on espionage and information gathering. Keenan said companies are often very shy about naming who is responsible for cyberattacks. But when a big company like Microsoft names a big country like China, I guess we should take it pretty seriously, he said. In a May 24 blog post, Microsoft claimed that the 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. It said since mid-2021, the group has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guamhome to a major U.S. naval baseand throughout the United States. The style of attack Volt Typhoon uses has been described as living off the land, which means using existing network tools and valid credentials to better avoid detection. Keenan said that as opposed to traditional malware attacks, which involve the creation of new files on computers, living off the land means attacks that can exist in a computers memory using already available tools. What Microsoft is suggesting is that, in this case, its not so much an automated attack. Its a human being sitting at a keyboard with a command line prompt, trying commands to see if they can get into systems, to see if there are weaknesses, or if they can find compromised credentials, no passwords and so on. So its kind of different from what we usually see, he said. Possibility of Escalation Keenan said he had asked the Canadian Department of Defence whether the military has authorized any counter-hacking, otherwise known as active measures, and was pointed to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Strong, Secure, Engaged document, which outlines the countrys defence policy. The document claims CAF has plans to develop active cyber capabilities and employ them against potential adversaries in support of government-authorized military missions. Keenan said that while the CAF could be authorized to engage in active measures against the Chinese communist regime, this would basically start to get into a cyber war, where we hack them, they hack us back, and so on. Im fairly confident that those [in the United States] who are responsible for this are thinking about hacking back, but it would requireat least if the Canadian military got involvedhigh-level authorization, he said. Florida Citrus Industry Posts Worst Year Since 1930s After Hurricane Damage and Crop Disease Containers of orange juice are on display in a grocery store in Miami on Jan. 19, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Floridas citrus industry posted its worse harvest since 1937, which should give orange fans some pause at the supermarket. Damage from the 2022 hurricane season, combined with the impact of citrus greening disease, is ravaging the Sunshine States orange crop. This will likely cause citrus prices to skyrocket nationwide, as Florida farmers recorded its smallest orange harvest in 90 years, according to the states latest agriculture report. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in January that only 18 million boxes of Florida oranges would be on the market in 2023, a 56 percent drop from last year. Peak orange production in Florida is normally at 244 million boxes a year. No doubt, as the supply of juice continues to rise because of the storms and the low harvest. The prices of oranges are gonna go up and thats simple supply and demand, Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, told Fox Business. We are devoted to getting back into production and making sure that the orange juice that Americans know and love is available to them. Hopefully, well see these prices come back down soon. Oranges hang on a tree at one of the Peace River Packing Company groves in Fort Meade, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Sparking Worldwide Shortages The collapse of Floridas orange harvest is having effects worldwide, as the Sunshine State, along with Brazil, produces the majority of oranges for the global citrus market. The Wall Street Journal reported that the price for a gallon of orange juice in some parts of the United States is already above $6. U.S. orange prices have already risen 25 percent, while other countries have seen prices more than double. Congress, back in December, appropriated money for disaster relief, and there was money for agriculture nationwide, which would include the disasters here in Florida from 2022, said Joyner. Unfortunately, weve not seen any of that aid make it down to the state yet, but we continue to have conversations with USDA, and were hopeful that maybe some of those funds will start flowing, he added. The $9 billion citrus industry employs more than 76,000 full- and part-time workers and provides over 90 percent of orange juice consumed in the United States. Natural Disasters The University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences estimated that Hurricane Ian caused more than $1 billion in damage to the states agriculture industry, including $247 million to the citrus crop. Massive winds, rainfall, and flooding caused damage in nearly 77 percent of the states counties. Workers attempt to prop up with stakes the new growth orange trees in an orange grove in Arcadia, Fla., on Oct. 20, 2022, in the wake of Hurricane Ian. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) However, the situation worsened with a hard freeze in January that ruined many surviving oranges. Its eight months after the storm and you can imagine the difficulty that growers are having in recovering and going on with their operations without any kind of disaster relief at all, said Joyner. The advocacy group Florida Citrus Mutual, along with a delegation of citrus growers, met with USDA officials and members of Floridas Congressional delegation in May to discuss further hurricane relief Farmers are currently more worried about the spread of citrus greening disease which was first detected in 2012 in California and is beginning to sweep the Florida peninsula. Some growers have planted disease-resistant orange tree rootstocks developed by University of Florida citrus researchers in a bid to save the industry. The bacteria are a threat to most of Floridas citrus trees, leaving bitter, greenish fruits that are inedible. Former Trump Lawyer Files Petition With US Supreme Court A former lawyer to Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse lower court rulings that enabled the now-defunct House January 6 committee to access information, arguing that those decisions harm the former presidents presidential aspirations. A petition (pdf) filed by John Eastman with the Supreme Court argued that a March 2022 ruling handed down by Judge David O. Carter, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, created a stigma for both Petitioner and his client, the former President of the United States and current candidate for the presidency. Carter had written last year that his court found it more likely than not that President Trump corruptly attempted to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021 along with Eastman. Both Trump and Eastman have denied wrongdoing, while Trump has often pointed to public statements he made on Jan. 6 that protesters should demonstrate peacefully and respect local law enforcement officials. The California-based judge, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Californias 38th Congressional District years ago, also claimed that the illegality of the plan was obvious and said the United States was founded on the peaceful transition of power, epitomized by George Washington laying down his sword to make way for democratic elections. Eastman had claimed attorney-client privilege, but Carter rejected the claim and ruled that attorney-client privilege does not apply if the discussion involved an alleged crime. At the time, he ordered Eastman to turn over documents and electronic communications to the House Jan. 6 committee, which was scrapped after Republicans took control of the lower congressional chamber earlier this year. He alleged that 33 documents were emails that allegedly demonstrated an effort by President Trump and his attorneys to press false claims in federal court for the purpose of delaying the Jan. 6 certification. That was in connection to Eastman having written a memo outlining a legal strategy for Vice President Mike Pence to reject the Electoral College votes for then-candidate Joe Biden while he presided over the Jan. 6 session. Pence did not ultimately go through with what was outlined in Eastmans document, and Trumpnow a 2024 presidential candidatecriticized Pence on social media for the move. Pence is reportedly slated to announce a presidential bid of his own in the coming weeks. In late 2022, Trump criticized Carter for what he described as a partisan ruling. Whos this Clinton appointed Judge, David Carter, who keeps saying, and sending to all, very nasty, wrong, and ill informed statements about me on rulings, or a case (whatever!), currently going on in California, that I know nothing aboutnor am I represented, Trump wrote on social media. With that being said he shouldnt be making statements about me until he understands the facts, which he doesnt! Former lawyer of former President Donald Trump, John Eastman, appears on screen during the fourth hearing by the House Select Committee in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, on June 21, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Petition In his Supreme Court petition, Eastman argued that the respondent committees action of accessing disputed documents while a motion to stay was pending, and then publishing in a public filing a live link to the confidential documents that were the subject of the appeal, deprived Petitioner (Eastman) of the opportunity to show that the crime-fraud conclusions of the District Court were clearly erroneous, thus clearing his name and that of his former client, former President Trump, according to his petition. Because the law is clearly established and the facts are not in dispute, this case is a candidate for summary reversal with an order that the District Court judgment and orders be vacated, he also wrote. Eastmans filing was made in late April but was only made public on the Supreme Courts docket this week. Notably, Eastman is a former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and was a law professor at Chapman University. This case became moot by the unilateral action of the defendant that prevailed in the District Court, the filing concluded. Respondent committees action of accessing disputed documents while a motion to stay was pending, and then publishing in a public filing a live link to the confidential documents that were the subject of the appeal, deprived Petitioner of the opportunity to show that the crime-fraud conclusions of the District Court were clearly erroneous, thus clearing his name and that of his former client, former President Trump. In January, the then-House select committee, which was dominated by Democrats and prominently featured former Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), issued a subpoena to from Eastmans Chapman college email account between late 2020 and early 2021 regarding the memo. The committee also recommended that Eastman face prosecution on two counts. The evidence shows that Eastman knew in advance of the 2020 election that Vice President Pence could not refuse to count electoral votes on January 6th, the committee wrote in a report. But Eastman contended that the House committee only showed information that would be politically advantageous for Democrats. Whats more, hes told reporters that claims he tried to block certification are distorted and merely recommended that the vice president delay certifying the electoral count. By cherry-picking the things that supported their position and ignoring all the rest, they had a preponderance of the evidence, Eastman told reporters last year. French Magistrates Probing 27 Migrant Deaths File Charges Against English Channel Maritime Rescuers A damaged inflatable small boat on the shore in Wimereux, Calais, northern France, on Nov. 25, 2021. (Michel Spingler/AP Photo) PARISFrench 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. G-7 and China (L to R) U.S. President Joe Biden, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take part in a working lunch session as part of the G-7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19, 2023. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is angry at the G-7 statement, while Taiwan is happy, and Russia and China are moving closer together. The G-7 meeting, which ended on May 21, concluded with a joint statement saying that the group condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine. It also stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, an apparent reference to China. The statement cited Chinese incursions in the East and South China seas, calling for a peaceful resolution. Short of condemnation or confrontation, the group stressed its desire to de-risk but not decouple from China. This mitigating language suggests that the G-7 is recognizing the threat from the Chinese regime but is still softening its words, trying to avoid an outright confrontation. The desire to preserve economic relations prevents the group from taking more drastic actions. The G-7 joint statement referenced Chinas non-market behavior and economic coercion but still prioritized the importance of continued cooperation with China. The G-7s position can be seen as somewhat duplicitous. The CCP has repeatedly been and continues to be the aggressor, transgressor, and violator of trade deals and norms. And yet the G-7 and others are afraid to upset Beijing because they believe they need China trade. They even recognize that China supports the war in Ukraine but fail to bring meaningful sanctions, such as a trade ban, against China. On the other hand, the G-7 leaders are united. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at the conference that China poses the greatest challenge to global security and prosperity in our time. This sentiment is shared by other G-7 leaders. The group is also taking a harsher stance on Moscow, collectively bringing greater sanctions against Russia, demonstrating that the war in Ukraine has shifted the global power dynamic, bringing the allies closer together and cementing Washingtons position as leader of the free world. The United States could use its leadership role to encourage its allies to shift trade and investment away from China, relocating manufacturing to India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other friendly nations. This would help these countries develop economically while also pulling them further into the Western orbit rather than allowing them to be co-opted by China. At a May 21 press conference, President Joe Biden stated that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) military activity in the Taiwan Strait has intensified and that he expects it to increase further ahead of Taiwans presidential and legislative elections next year. The president reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to providing Taiwan with weapons. He said, There is clear understanding among most of our allies that, in fact, if China were to act unilaterally, there would be a response. The president appears to be saying that the United States and its allies would come to Taiwans defense if the PLA invades. U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Group of Seven leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 18, 2023. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) Earlier this year, the Japan Times issued an article outlining how Japanese military support would be crucial to successfully defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on May 10 said, The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait is critical not just for our country [Japan], but for the whole international community. Japan, Canada, South Korea, and France have all expressed some interest in joining or participating with AUKUS, the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. South Korea is also vying to become a global pivotal state. Previously, Seouls focus on the threat from North Korea had prevented South Korea from playing a larger role in regional politics. Increasingly, however, President Yoon Suk-yeol has been holding meetings with the United States and other nations, discussing the war in Ukraine and improving ties with Japan. Participating with AUKUS and other counter-CCP military alliances could help to increase South Koreas political clout. Taiwans reaction to the G-7 meeting was positive. Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a May 20 statement in which it reiterated G-7 comments regarding the maintenance of peace in the Taiwan Strait while also outlining examples of the CCPs aggression toward Taiwan. The CCP reacted negatively to the G-7 summit. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the G-7 was a real threat to global security. Immediately after the G-7 meeting, China and Russia held their own summit. Moscow issued a statement, calling the G-7 meeting an incubator for Russia and China hate. Both Moscow and Beijing are accusing NATO of aggression and interfering in other nations sovereign affairs. Meanwhile, the West and NATO are increasing their support for Ukraine while signaling that they are willing to increase their support for Taiwan and to contain the CCP threat in the South China Sea. Tokyo is in discussions regarding opening a NATO office in Japan. This is significant, as Japan is not a NATO member, and it represents a shift of NATOs area of operations and primary mission from Europe and Russia to the Pacific and China. Ultimately, the result of the G-7 summit is greater cohesion between the member nations and other allies, while Russia and China are more committed to building an opposing bloc. The CCP and the West have issued statements saying they do not want a new cold war, but this is where we are headed. The difference between this cold war and the one with the Soviet Union, however, is that the West continues to trade on a massive scale with China, indirectly funding the PLA. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. G-7 Statement on China Just Lip Service: Former US Official European Council President Charles Michel, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a group photo after laying flower wreaths at the Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims in the Peace Memorial Park on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 18, 2023. (Franck Robichon - Pool/Getty Images) The G-7 statement on China is just lip service, according to Steve Yates, former deputy national security adviser at the White House. The G-7 countriesthe United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, and Italyannounced on May 20 their plan to address the disturbing rise in incidents of economic coercion. We will work together to ensure that attempts to weaponize economic dependencies by forcing [G-7] members and our partners, including small economies to comply and conform will fail and face consequences, the G-7 leaders statement on economic security reads. We express serious concern over economic coercion and call on all countries to refrain from its use. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who briefed reporters on the sidelines of the G-7 summit on the same day, said the leaders agreed to deploy a common set of tools to confront the Chinese regimes economic coercion. These economic security tools will include steps to build resilience in our supply chains. They will also include steps to protect sensitive technology, like export controls and outbound investment measures, Sullivan said. However, the leaders emphasized that their goal is to reduce risk, not decouple from China. Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart Chinas economic progress and development, reads the G-7 summit communique. A growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest. We are not decoupling or turning inwards. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying. Mixed Message Yates said the G-7 statement sends a mixed message. And so there was just a ton of mixed messaging out of this. And it seemed to me like a basic kindergarten tutorial on dealing with the Chinese Communist Party. They deal in actions and power, Yates told China in Focus on NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. So theres no more unity among the G-7 on China than there has been on Russia, Ukraine. We still have France, Germany, and some others engaged in hot pursuit of economic opportunity and dependence upon both of those countries [China and Russia] while giving lip service to deterrence and needing to take a tougher approach, he added. Pacific Island Nations 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 deal with the Marshall Islands would allow China to control the island chains and ports of influence across the Pacific, according to Yates. And the more that China solidifies these island chains or ports of influence across the Pacific, the more it could choose to disrupt flows of goods, flows of signals, undersea cables. A whole host of things come into play if [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping wants to use his full toolbox of ways to make things difficult or complicated for the United States and our allies, he said. Counter China Threat According to Yates, the United States needs to work with its Pacific allies to deter the growing influence of the Chinese regime in the region. And so what were talking, whether about missile defense or a forward deployment of other kinds of capabilities, keeping these governments and peoples friends and having them on our side in this struggle for mastery over the Pacific is a very important value added to extended deterrence, so that were not having to deter threats from our shores that is the homeland of the United States but can do so effectively with partners forward deployment out into the world, he said. And I think it just adds a layer of complication for China. As it tries to step out and somewhat cheaply achieve influence, we should be competing and making them have to pay more and work harder for these kinds of posts of influence in strategic regions. Emel Akan and Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Turkmenistan and the EU discussed prospects for further development of partnership, Trend reports. These issues were discussed between Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala, as well as the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson. During the meeting, cooperation on regional security and development, environmental issues and issues of climate change, environmental protection, "green" and digital transformations, interaction in the energy sector and the transport and logistics industry were identified as priority areas. The parties discussed the agenda of the meeting of special representatives of the Central Asian countries and the EU, which will be held on May 26 in Ashgabat. Furthermore, the upcoming major events in the Central Asia EU format were discussed. G-7 Targets Chinas Aggression G-7 defends human rights and 'de-risking' regarding China (LR) European Council President Charles Michel, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participate in a photo with G-7 leaders before their working lunch meeting on economic security at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The G-7 summit of developed democracies ended on an unprecedentedly tough note against the regime in China. The seven economically strongest democraciesthe United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Canadadistributed a May 20 statement with a list of complaints against the regime in Beijing, including its failure to pressure Russia into ending the Ukraine invasion. The communique also addressed a list of China concerns related to Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, the South China Sea, political interference in democracies, climate change, environmental conservation, vulnerable countries debts, global public health, and macroeconomic stability. The statement hastened to reassure Beijing that the G-7 countries sought cooperation with China. But it implied that such cooperation was not forthcoming from the regime. The G-7 rejected economic decoupling from China but supported other closely associated strategies, such as de-risking and diversifying supply chains. Beijing was not pleased. Whether one calls it decoupling or de-risking, the end result is the same: a gradual diversification of supply chains away from China to more friendly countries. We will seek to address the challenges posed by Chinas non-market policies and practices, which distort the global economy, the communique read. We will counter malign practices, such as illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure. The G-7 countries made clear that they sought resilience to economic coercion by China and would protect certain advanced technologies that could be used to threaten national security without unduly limiting trade and investment. On May 22, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called China an epoch-defining challenge and said the West needed a robust approach to protecting sensitive technologies, including semiconductors, quantum computing, and dual-use equipment. The G-7 communique categorically rejected Beijings attempts to infringe on other countries claims in the East and South China seas. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, it stated. There is no legal basis for Chinas expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose Chinas militarization activities in the region. Human rights and democracy played an important part in the statement, which noted concerns over forced labor in Tibet and Xinjiang and Beijings violation of its Hong Kong treaty. We call on China to honor its commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, which enshrine rights, freedoms and a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong, the communique read. In an apparent reference to a Chinese ambassador who rejected the sovereignty of former Soviet republics and potentially Beijings recently revealed interference in Canadas democratic processes, the statement implied that China violated the most basic of international agreements on diplomacy and respect for democracy. We call on China to act in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular relations, and not to conduct interference activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities, the integrity of our democratic institutions and our economic prosperity, it stated. The G-7 countries were unequivocal in supporting Ukraine, whose president was present for some of the meetings. We call on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine, the statement read. We encourage China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine. Beijing reacted to the statement with outrage, depicting the G-7 as an anti-China workshop and focusing its ire on Japan and the United Kingdom. Chinas foreign ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing for censure. The G-7 statement increased pressure on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to abide by basic human rights and respect the territorial integrity of sovereign states in the international system. The worlds most powerful democracies, which together have a far larger GDP than China, have now shown that they take a unified stand against the CCPs aggression and back it up with their considerable economic heft. This G-7 achievement is a rarity in international politics and a testament to the importance of working closely with our nearest allies and partners, with whom we share not just trade and investment but democratic values and rights that all people deserve to enjoy. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. G-7s De-Risk, Not Decouple Approach to China Is Three Pronged: Experts Putting the brakes on China's industrial upgrade (L-R) Italy's Primer Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participate in a family photo with G7 leaders before their working lunch meeting on economic security at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) A communique issued at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan, says G-7 members are seeking to de-risk rather than decouple from China on economic issues. China experts say the statement encompasses a three-pronged approach that will make it difficult for China to upgrade its industries. Following the summit, China called on the G-7 to deliver on their commitment not to decouple, a Ministry of Commerce spokeswoman said Thursday. She expressed hope that they will not abuse trade and investment restrictions. Chinas state mouthpiece Global Times slammed the summit as an anti-China workshop in an editorial earlier this week. However, experts say that although de-risking will inevitably hurt the Chinese people, they have been victimized by the actions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that led to the measures. The G-7 Hiroshima Leaders Communique, released on the afternoon of May 20, states that G-7 partners stand prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China, and at the same time, reduce excessive dependencies on the communist regime. The summit took place May 19-21. Leaders of the G-7 nationsthe United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Canadamet with representatives from the EU and other invited guests. Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart Chinas economic progress and development, the communique says. Looking for a China That Plays by International Rules A growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest. We are not decoupling or turning inwards. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying. We will take steps, individually and collectively, to invest in our own economic vibrancy. We will reduce excessive dependencies in our critical supply chains. The statement also declares that G-7 members will seek to address the challenges posed by Chinas non-market policies and practices, which distort the global economy. We will counter malign practices, such as illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure. We will foster resilience to economic coercion. We also recognize the necessity of protecting certain advanced technologies that could be used to threaten our national security without unduly limiting trade and investment, the communique says. The CCP expressed anger at the G-7 statements about economic de-risking. This is not just a matter of brutal interference in Chinas internal affairs and smearing China, but also an undisguised urge for confrontation between the camps, the state-run Global Times said in its Monday editorial. However, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the media earlier that nothing in the G-7 joint statement should come as a surprise to China, given that the concerns of G-7 members were well known to Beijing. It is what we have been saying, and it is now a reflection of the alignment that has occurred, Sullivan said May 20. De-risk, Not Decouple: A Three-Pronged Approach According to China expert and veteran journalist Shi Shan, the G-7 s de-risk, not decouple approach to China has three aspects. The first is targeting high-tech research and development and the supply of precision semiconductors, which the G-7 leaders want to isolate from the CCP. The second aspect is to restrict Chinas precision manufacturing and production of important raw materials, such as rare earths, and to find other sources of supply. The third is the production of consumer goods for the general market, such as shoes, toys and clothing, and other low-end manufacturing industries. In this area, the G-7 partners are essentially open to cooperation with China. However, as the cost of land and labor in China continues to rise, Shi predicts that these industries will naturally relocate to other countries. Shi spoke to The Epoch Times about the nuances of the de-risk, not decouple approach. They [the G-7 countries] are not saying that they are going to stop buying Chinese products, he said. But they are dealing a blow to the most crucial part of what the CCP needs to transform the economy in the future, which is industrial upgrading. According to Shi, the CCP is most concerned about the restructuring of the global supply chain. At present, the CCP does not have control over core technology or key products in some crucial areas of economic development. China lacks sufficient mineral resources such as iron and copper, as well as oil and food. In fact, China is currently grappling with a severe food shortage and must import substantial amounts of food staples to address the issue. This series of supply chain issues is making the CCP very nervous, Shi said. Moreover, he said, The G-7 summit this time is not only for the G-7 countries. Australia, Brazil, India, South Africa, and several other countries were also invited. If all these countries agree to cooperate and establish certain rules, the CCP will not be able to achieve its goals. CCP Has Brought Great Disaster to China Ye Zhiqiu, a New Zealand-based journalist and current affairs commentator, told The Epoch Times that although G-7 countries will still have economic dealings with China in certain areas, their aim is to prevent the CCP from expanding its influence and posing a threat to the security of other nations through malign practices. The current cooperation is actually limited to labor-intensive, low-tech processing industries, Ye said. With regard to more technical industries, he feels that measures by the G-7 to curb them are necessary: If the CCP is allowed to control or acquire these technologies, it will pose a threat to these countries. The CCP will also use undue competition and economic coercion to achieve its goals of expansion and penetration abroad. He emphasized that the G-7 is targeting the CCP, not the Chinese people. The CCPs misdeeds have brought great disaster to China, Ye continued. Profits in the processing industry are very thin, he added, especially as China has lost its demographic dividend and labor costs have continued to increase. China should have been moving in the direction of industrial upgrading, and enhancing the technological and technical aspects is essential for achieving industrial upgrading. But over the years, the CCP has been using its technology to expand brutally to the outside world, posing a threat to the world, so that other countries around the world have to take measures to contain it for the sake of national security, he said. Neglecting Chinas internal development for the sake of outward expansion was a critical mistake, Ye said: one that will cripple Chinas future economic development. In fact, this is a disaster that the CCP has brought to China. If it hadnt been aggressive and ambitious in its outward expansion, this wouldnt have happened. The CCP has hijacked the country. While it is unfortunate that global sanctions will inevitably affect Chinas economy, and in turn affect the Chinese people, Ye said, We cannot blame other countries for taking defensive measures to protect their democratic system[s] and national security. We can only say that it is the CCPs shameless behavior that is harming the Chinese people. Hes Not Impartial: Poilievre Says He Wont Meet With Johnston as Interference Probe Continues Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to reporters at a media roundtable event in Toronto on May 24, 2023. (Allen Zhou/The Epoch Times) Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is maintaining his position against meeting with David Johnston, citing the special rapporteurs lack of impartiality in probing foreign interference related to Canadas federal elections. Trudeau appointed the former governor general to act as special rapporteur on March 15, following multiple media reports that suggested interference by the Chinese regime in Canadas 2019 and 2021 campaigns. But the appointment has been heavily criticized due to Johnstons close relationship with the Trudeau family and his previous position in the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. No. Because [Johnston] is not impartial, Poilievre said during a media roundtable event in Toronto on May 24 when asked if he would meet with Johnston as the interference probe continues. He is Justin Trudeaus ski buddy, cottage neighbour, 40-year-long family friend, and member of the Beijing-financed Trudeau Foundation. 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) Citing similar reasons, Poilievre also refused to meet with Johnston ahead of the release of his first report, saying that his mandate to investigate election interference was just a fake job. Meanwhile, Erin OToole, who was the Conservative leader when the party suffered defeat in the 2021 election, said Johnston did not offer to meet with him to address the issue of foreign interference until a week before the reports due date. OToole also expressed disappointment that he learned midway through their meeting that the report was already completed and under French translation for its release on May 23. Chinese Donation Poilievre pointed to media reports that Zhang Bin and Niu Gensheng, two wealthy Chinese businessmen with links to Beijing, made a $1 million donation to the Trudeau Foundation and the University of Montreals Faculty of LawPierre Trudeaus alma mater and former workplaceshortly after Justin Trudeau attended a cash-for-access Liberal Party fundraiser in 2016. The donation issue recently came to light after the Globe and Mail reported in February that Canadas intelligence service had intercepted a conversation in 2014 between Zhang and a Chinese consulate official in Canada, reportedly discussing how the Liberals would defeat the Conservatives in the upcoming election. The Chinese diplomat asked Zhang to make the $1 million donation, which would be reimbursed by Beijing, the report said. A Trudeau Foundation sign at its office in Montreal on April 19, 2023. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) David Johnston was on the Trudeau Foundation. So how can he possibly investigate the organization in which he was a part? Poilievre said on May 24. We all see this is a game here, he added. It involves moneya foreign dictatorship buying the loyalty of our prime minister. Alexandre Trudeau, the brother of the prime minister and member of the Trudeau Foundation, denied the organizations involvement in foreign interference while testifying before the House of Commons ethics committee on May 3. Next Step Johnston said in his report that he initially supported holding a public inquiry on foreign interference, but later decided that the classified material informing the matter cannot be revealed to the publica decision that has prompted criticism from members of the opposition as well as advocates. On May 23, a group of six MPs from the Conservative, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois parties issued a letter demanding that Johnston appear before the Procedure and House Affairs Committee to explain his rationale. On that same day, the NGO Democracy Watch said it was filing a complaint to the federal ethics commissioners office, arguing that Johnston has violated the Conflict of Interest Act in serving as special rapporteur while being a friend to the Trudeau family. Democracy Watch further revealed on May 24 that Johnstons adviser, Sheila Block, who assisted him in reviewing secret documents related to the matter of foreign interference, was a donor to the Liberal Party. Elections Canada records Block making a cumulative donation of over $7,500 between 2006 and 2022. Poilievre said his next step would be to call on the NDP, which has a coalition agreement to support the Liberal minority, to join in continued demands for a public inquiry on foreign interference. The NDP, theyre the coalition partner, theyre the ones with all the power, they have to force a public inquiry. That or else they are just protecting Justin Trudeau, he said. Nothing short of an independent public inquiry on foreign interference is good enough. Im deeply disappointed in the rapporteurs report. Well be taking these concerns directly to the PM and use all our tools in Parliament to get answers for Canadians. Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) May 23, 2023 NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh issued a statement on May 23 expressing disappointment in Johnstons decision against holding a public inquiry. Nothing short of an independent public inquiry on foreign interference is good enough, Singh wrote. Well be taking these concerns directly to the PM and use all our tools in Parliament to get answers for Canadians. Roger Li from NTD Television, Noe Chartier, Matthew Horwood, Omid Ghoreishi, and Peter Wilson contributed to this report. House GOP Investigating Bank of America for Voluntarily Giving Jan. 6 Records to FBI An ATM machine outside of a Bank of America branch in Chicago on April 9, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) House Republicans are mounting an investigation into whistleblower findings revealing that Bank of America (BOA) had voluntarily handed over Jan. 6 bank records to the FBI without any legal process. In a 78-page whistleblower report released by the House Judiciary Committee on May 19, it was alleged that in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach on the U.S. Capitol, Bank of America gave the FBI information about customers who made transactions in the Washington, D.C., area on or near Jan. 6. Those who had used Bank of America accounts to purchase a firearm, regardless of when or where the transaction took place, were bumped to the top of that list. George Hill, a retired FBI supervisory intelligence analyst, told the panel, The Bank of America, with no directive from the FBI, data-mined its customer base. And they data-mined a date range of [Jan. 5, 2021 to Jan. 7, 2021] any BOA customer who used a BOA product, meaning a Bank of America credit or debit card. They compiled that list. And then, on top of that list, they put anyone who had purchased a firearm during any date. So it was a huge list. According to testimony from the special agent in charge of the Boston field office, which received the information, no further action was taken with the information. Now, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chairman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are demanding answers. In a May 25 letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, the lawmakers expressed concern over these allegations, which they called alarming. Aside from other privacy concerns, they wrote, This information undoubtedly included private details about BOA customers who had nothing at all to do with the events of January 6. Even worse, BOA specifically provided information about Americans who exercised their Second Amendment right to purchase a firearm. The lawmakers explained that they were mounting an inquiry into the matter because Congress has an important interest in ensuring that Americans private information is protected from collection by federal law enforcement agencies without proper due process. Thus, they asked Moynihan for information about how and to what extent [Bank of America] worked with the FBI to collect Americans data. They requested relevant documents from Moynihan, including internal communications about the decision to transfer the information to the FBI, any communications they had with the agency, and any other information. The lawmakers gave Bank of America a June 8 deadline to comply. The request likely comes as part of Jordans larger investigation into allegations of misconduct by the FBI and Department of Justice, which Republicans say has become weaponized against conservatives. Bank of America did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Huge Fire That Toppled Sydney CBD Building Contained A wall collapses during a building fire in the Central Business District of Sydney, Australia on May 25, 2023. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) Firefighters who battled a huge blaze that destroyed a seven-storey building in central Sydney saved adjacent apartments by quickly hosing down flaring spot fires. More than 120 firefighters from 30 fire trucks battled the blaze at a heritage-listed former hat factory in Surry Hills which broke out in the afternoon of May 25, consuming the building as thousands of people watched on. Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell told reporters it was incredibly lucky that no one was badly hurt in the dangerous conditions of one of the CBDs biggest fires in years. He praised the work of firefighters and said it was a very significant fire and it was concerning how quickly it developed. On Thursday evening, Fewtell said the blaze had been effectively contained, with crews expected to work through the night to ensure it was fully out. Three ladder trucks were used along with tenders on the ground to hose down the intense blaze which sent a huge plume of dark smoke across the city. The factorys roof collapsed, then the floors, before parts of the buildings walls fell down shortly before 5pm, sending red hot bricks tumbling to the streets below. A ute parked beside the building was also lost in the fire. Fewtrell praised the residents of nearby apartments and other buildings for evacuating promptly when multiple fire alarms went off. There were some fires that spread into the apartment buildings firefighters were able to extinguish those and prevent them further penetrating into the buildings and causing significant damage. Fewtrell said it was believed the two buildings involved in the blaze were vacant. It was an incredibly intense fire and the age of the building, the type of construction with lots of timber frames and floors, and obviously with that, very well seasoned and dry timber. Fewtrell said there were no reports of injuries to members of the public but one firefighter suffered a minor burn to his arm. He said firefighters still had a lot of work to do and that would continue into Friday as fire and police investigators try to determine the cause of the blaze. The fire closed nearby streets and forced the rerouting of buses and the shutdown of the nearby light rail service, affecting travel for thousands of commuters. Terrible fire in Surry Hills in my electorate, Sydney federal MP Tanya Plibersek wrote on Twitter. Please stay safe and listen to instructions from emergency services. There were plans to turn the former hat factory in Randle Street into a 114-room Hat Hotel, the Daily Telegraph reported. IN-DEPTH: Why Are Canadian Privacy Commissioners Worried About ChatGPT? A smartphone with a displayed ChatGPT logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken on Feb. 23, 2023. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Canadas federal privacy commissioner and several of his provincial counterparts are in the midst of an investigation into the artificial intelligence (AI) company that makes ChatGPT because of a confidential complaint alleging the technology has been violating Canadians privacy. Specifically, the complaint alleges that U.S.-based OpenAI engaged in the collection, use and disclosure of personal information without consent, according to a press release issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) on April 4. The OPC has not released further details as the investigation is ongoing. Each of the offices of the Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia privacy commissioners, as well as the OPC, issued press releases on May 25 announcing that they will jointly investigate the company behind ChatGPT. The Alberta information and privacy commissioners office didnt mention in its release that it joined the probe as a result of a complaint. However, both the Quebec and British Columbia privacy authorities referenced the complaint mentioned by the federal privacy watchdog. Given the broad scope and significant privacy impact of artificial intelligence and its relevance to all Canadians, the four offices have decided to jointly investigate the matter, said the B.C. information and privacy commissioners office on May 25. The Epoch Times asked the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPCO) if it also plans to join the investigation, and it said Ontario does not have its own private sector privacy law covering private sector organizations. As a result, the IPCO said it has called on the provincial government to establish clear and binding rules around the public sectors use of AI technologies, including ChatGPT. Our office will be following the federal investigation, given the significant impact of artificial intelligence on privacy. ChatGPT Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT uses information available across the internet to provide detailed responses to users inquiries. The platform has been used to complete numerous tasks, including debugging computer programs, writing essays, and simulating chat rooms, among many others. The platform has grown rapidly since its introduction. Two months after being launched by OpenAI, ChatGPT had an estimated 100 million active monthly users, making it the fastest-growing consumer platform in history. The Epoch Times asked the OPC for further details of the investigations nature as well as clarification of whether the complaint made against ChatGPT took issue with the platforms general operations or with a specific instance of privacy violation. Tobi Cohen, the OPCs senior communications adviser, said federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne decided to launch the investigation after considering the level of risk that the complaints subject matter posed to the privacy of Canadians. Prior to initiating the investigation in early April, Cohen said the OPC considered the general impact that ChatGPT could post to Canadians privacy rights, along with the impact on affected individuals, the scope of the actions of the organization in question, and whether the matter involves novel or systemic issues warranting examination. Cohen said Dufresne has also expanded the investigations scope in addition to carrying it out with some other provinces. In particular, the investigation will now examine if OpenAI obtained valid and meaningful consent for the collection, use and disclosure of the personal information of individuals based in Canada via ChatGPT, and also if it has maintained its obligations with respect to openness and transparency, access, accuracy, and accountability. Lastly, the privacy commissioners will seek to determine if OpenAI has acted in a way that a reasonable person would consider appropriate, reasonable or legitimate in the circumstances, and whether this collection is limited to information that is necessary for these purposes. The Epoch Times contacted OpenAI for comment and asked what specific information ChatGPT collects from its users, but didnt hear back before press time. Concerns OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appeared before a U.S. Senate hearing on May 16 to discuss the potential effects of ChatGPT on the broader economy and whether the federal government should consider intervening with legislation, as some European lawmakers have done. Altman acknowledged public concerns surrounding ChatGPT and its most recent iteration, GPT-4. He said OpenAI shares some of those concerns, but noted its important to understand that GPT-4 is a tool, not a creature. He said that while ChatGPT will do away with some jobs, he believes it will replace them with far greater jobs. GPT-4 and other systems like it are good at doing tasks, not jobs, and so you see already people that are using GPT-4 to do their job much more efficiently, Altman said at the hearing. GPT-4 will, I think, entirely automate away some jobs, and it will create new ones that we believe will be much better. He went on to say that he believes federal governments have a role to play in facilitating this change. There will be an impact on jobs. We try to be very clear about that, and I think it will require partnership between the industry and government, but mostly action by government to figure out how we want to mitigate that. TikTok Privacy Investigation A number of Canadas provincial privacy commissioners along with the OPC are also investigating the Beijing-linked video-sharing app TikTok over concerns that its data collection practices may violate its users privacy. The OPC said in a Feb. 23 news release thatalong with the privacy authorities for British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebecit will be examining if TikToks data-collection practices are compliant with Canadian privacy legislation and if the application obtains valid and meaningful consent before collection, using, and disclosing users personal information. A TikTok spokesperson previously told The Epoch Times that it is committed to operating with transparency to earn and maintain the trust of the many Canadians who create and find joy on our platform. The privacy commissioners undertook the investigation, which is still ongoing, just days before Ottawa banned TikTok effective Feb. 28 on all federal government-issued devices over concerns that the apps data collection methods leave users open to cyber attacks. The Associated Press, The Canadian Press, and Matthew Horwood contributed to this report. Irvine Councilors Debate Over Leaving Orange County Power Authority, Decide to Stay The city of Irvine briefly discussed the possibility of exiting the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), again, during their regular May 23 city council meeting, but decided to stay, without taking an official vote. The discussion came on the heels of Huntington Beachs vote to exit the agency on May 16. Agendized by Councilmen Larry Agran and Mike Carroll over concerns about the green energy agencys future, the motion was met swiftly with opposition. We need to stay consistent on who we are, what were about, [and] what our commitment is Irvine has made this commitment, and Irvine will see it through, said Vice Mayor Tammy Kim, who also sits on the board of the OCPA, during the meeting. Mayor Farrah Khan called the council an embarrassment, for bringing up the issue again. We are flip-flopping, and we keep coming up with ways to bring this exact same issue back every time Ive said it can work. It will work, Khan said. Im really losing my patience here. The embattled agency has faced three audits, recently fired its CEO, and lost two of its members with the County of Orange opting out first last December. Agran, who has been critical of the agency since its 2020 formation, called the OCPA a failing enterprise, citing concerns over the agencys promise to deliver cheaper and cleaner energy at lower rates than its competitor Southern California Edison (SCE) and delivered with full transparency, all which were lies, he said. All of those promises, all of them have been broken, and they were broken very early on, he said. On May 8, the agencys board selected an interim CEO to replace the recently fired Brian Probolsky, whose last day is May 31. Since its inception, the OCPA has received criticism over what some say is a lack of transparency and inexperienced management. Several audits of the agency have been issued, including by an Orange County Grand Jury last June, the Orange County Auditorat the request of Orange County Supervisorsin December, and the California State Auditor in February. The State Auditors findings revealed that Probolsky improperly executed agreements worth $1.8 million with marketing and financial services, while skirting required board procedures in the process. Joe Mosca, the OCPAs director of communications, will temporarily replace Probolsky beginning June 1, until a new permanent CEO is hired. Councilwoman Kathleen Treseder, who also sits on the board of the OCPA and advocated for Probolskys firing, said she is hopeful of the agencys future. OCPA did have a rough start for sure. My colleague Vice Mayor Kim and I have been serving on the board for the last four and a half months and weve already seen, I think, great progress, she said. She said the agency is in the process of replacing its general counsel and has completed around 90 percent of the reforms suggested in the audits, in addition to replacing the CEO. During the meeting, Councilman Carroll offered a motion to request the agencys other members, Fullerton and Buena Park, to commit and shoulder [some] financial responsibility, for the agency. Irvine provided a $7.5 million loan to help launch the agency, which wasnt matched by the other founding cities. The motion failed 32, with Khan, Kim, and Treseder voting no. During the meeting, Carroll said he fears the issue of staying or leaving will resurface, as other cities weigh their choices. I think we might be back here in a few weeks and I think we might have [fewer] options, he said. Fullerton also discussed withdrawing from the power agency on May 16, directing city staff to seek information on the costs of withdrawal. Buena Park has also included a discussion in their June 6 council meeting to withdraw from the agency. And while it hasnt been posted publicly yet, Treseder said the OCPA will schedule a discussion to dissolve the agency during an upcoming June board meeting, at the request of board member Casey McKeon and board alternative Tony Strickland, who also represent the Huntington Beach City Council, the most recent member to abandon the agency. According to city staff, if the agency were to dissolve, OCPA would need to sell off energy contracts they acquired on behalf of its city members. If the energy sells for more than its purchase price theres a chance extra funds could pay off Irvines loan to the agency, but theres no guarantee, according to the city attorney. Irvine city councils Kim told The Epoch Times its unlikely the discussion to dissolve the agency will lead anywhere, most likely not receiving enough support. They asked for it to be agendized, but theyre not going to have the votes in order to do it, she said. Jitneys Could Improve Californias Mass Transit Commentary Numerous stories show Californias mass transit is suffering big problems. And thats not even counting the High-Speed Rail boondoggle. On May 22, Calmatters provided a summary, noting transit agencies are seeking $5.5 billion more in operating funds, even as the state faces a budget deficit of at least $31.5 billion. But heres a solution: more jitneys. They are private transportation systems, including small buses, that predate Uber and Lyft. A good example comes from the Philippines, where Jeepneys, as theyre called, started out as jeeps from the American military forces that liberated the country from occupation by Imperial Japan. Theyre still operating, despite ongoing attempts by the government to replace them with clean fuel minivans. Benar News reported in March: Thousands of drivers in the Philippines on Wednesday ended their transport strike over government plans to phase out jeepneys, a cultural icon and one of the countrys cheapest modes of public transportation. Passenger jeepneys commute along a road in Manila on Sept. 7, 2021. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images) The strike, which began on Monday, largely paralyzed a portion of the commuting Filipino public, especially in Metro Manila, a megacity where the colorful vehicles are vital for transporting many people from its population of 14 million. The problem with mass transit in California is its too rigid. Trains obviously only go on tracks. But buses take specified routes that dont necessarily coincide with what people want. When I first came out to California to work for the Orange County Register in 1987, I lived in Huntington Beach. To check it out, I used the bus system to get to work in Santa Ana. It took more than an hour and a half, hopping on three different buses. By contrast, the car drive took 22 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. And was much more comfortable. Some years later, I considered doing it again. But by then, they had canceled the line that went right next to my apartment. Meaning I would have to walk half a mile just to get to the first bus. A jitney system would get around that because a small van would set up service between two pointssay, Huntington Beach and Santa Anawithout all the other stops and detours. It would depend on actual traffic demand, instead of planners designs. Of course, this being California, the vehicles would have to be clean and get state approval. Wheezing old diesel buses wouldnt work. But it could be done. A passenger disembarks from a jeepney on a street in Manila on Sept. 7, 2021. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images) Historical Jitneys We actually once had jitneys here. According to a KCET report, they sprung up in 1914-17, the early days of cars and buses: Jitneys were out-lobbied then and to this day by large transportation authorities or companies. In Los Angeles, the illegalization of jitneys came via a series of laws supported by the Los Angeles Railway, owners and operators of some of the citys fabled streetcars. A 1922 summary of the 1917 law read in part: In California, the operator of automobiles engaged in carriage must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the [Railroad] Commission, except those operating in good faith at the time the act became effective. Another key line: The Commission, in denying an application for a certificate of convenience and necessity for the operation of a stage line, said: No person has a vested right to engage in a public utility service. Problems Now Jitneys would be a kind of intermediate service between Uber and Lyft on the one hand, and large buses and trains on the other hand. Why dont we have them? Scott Beyer of the Independent Institute explained: The U.S. cities where these rideshare services operate must truly legalize them. Contrary to popular opinion, that has never happened. Regulations that city governments put on rideshare establish, de facto, what the business climate will be for larger shared mobility options. A tough climate discourages these companies from investing their resources to develop larger and more sophisticated services. To name one example, Uber has a bus line (Uber Bus) that it rolled out in Cairo and Monterreytwo cities that already have liberalized transport markets and a critical mass of patrons. It is unsurprising that Uber Bus hasnt opened in the U.S. They had enough trouble gaining permission for small carpools, and there are even greater regulations, dating back a century, that outlaw buses. In addition to the Jeepney, Beyer lists some of the private bus services around the world: Collectivo in Buenos Ares; Tro Tro in Ghana; and Van Ja in Hong Kong. The latter is interesting because, It seems that the wealthier the country, the likelier that it outlaws private transit and replaces it with public transit. But Hong Kong is an outlier, with a mostly private model. It provides public transit by bus, but franchises provision to 5 different companies. The 427 square mile special administrative region also allows thousands of non-franchised buses. A passenger boards a San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency bus in San Francisco, Calif., on June 3, 2014. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Can It Be Done? San Francisco allowed jitneys in 2011 due to a brief deregulation. But that quickly was changed, and the two major jitney companies, Leap and Chariot, went broke. New Jersey already has jitneys. Jersey Digs reports, Jitney drivers charge slightly under the NJ Transit fare. The charge for short distances is $1.50. Fares to and from New York are $3 or more. So we could have jitneys again in California. Doing so also would help reduce cars from the road, cutting congestion, commute times, and greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, allowing jitneys while mandating that they be zero-emission vehicles would push forward the states goal of all new vehicles being ZEVs by 2035. Yet I dont see anyone advancing this reform. Why cant a billionaire take this up and put a jitney reform proposal on the ballot as an initiative in 2024? John Seilers email: writejohnseiler@gmail.com Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. LA Nonprofit Giving Meth Pipes to Homeless Sparks Debate Over Harm Reduction Approach Homeless Health Care Los Angeles workers distribute items in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles on May 16, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The so-called harm reduction model of providing drug equipment and a supervised place to inject or consume the drugs is saving lives in downtown Los Angeles, advocates say, while others contend that its harmful and only exacerbates the citys and the states homelessness crisis. A nonprofit organization called Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, stirred controversy earlier this month, after a video went viral on social media showing workers passing out the government-funded methamphetamine pipes in downtown Los Angeless Skid Row neighborhood. Resident Tony Anthony, who lives in a nearby apartment and filmed the video, told The Epoch Times he first heard about the issue in April and then began encountering it himself. I went out there to see for myself. Its wrong what theyre doing, theyre giving them the tool to go out and get the drug, he said. I dont think its helping them. Anthony said he understands why some services offer needle exchanges to prevent the spread of deadly diseases, but meth pipes just encourage drug use. Youre supposed to be helping people get off drugs, not helping them to stay on drugs, he said. Ive seen what it does to people. When they smoke that methamphetamine, they go crazy, they take off their clothes, they run down the street, they break windows and break into cars and do all kinds of crazy things. According to the countys Department of Public Health, the harm reduction model focuses on meeting people where they are, by offering pipes and clean needles, supervised drug use, and overdose medication to help save lives. A worker from Homeless Health Care Los Angeles was seen handing out meth pipes to a homeless person. (Screenshot via TikTok/tony1963iceman) But Anthony said he and others who live in the neighborhood are concerned that some agencies that are supposed to be helping the homeless are more interested in receiving government funds than getting to the root of the problem. The more homeless people that are out on the street, that dont want to get off the street, theyre making money off them. Its called soliciting to the homeless, he said. Theres money in homelessness, he said, pointing to a Fox LA News news report that showed the nonprofit in question received nearly $12 million in government funding in 2019. That was an increase from $5.7 million in 2016, tax records show. Of the nonprofits reported $12.4 million total revenue in 2019, employee salaries and benefits made up $7.2 million. The organization operates four locations in Los Angeles, it says on its website. In Skid Row, they offer syringe exchange, Naloxonean opioid reversal medicationwound care, acupuncture, food, clothing, and hygiene kits. Meth pipes arent mentioned specifically. Representatives of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Differing Opinions on Methodology Other organizations serving Skid Rows homeless population said they support the harm reduction approach; they say it saves lives. J. Ellis McGinnis, the director of communications for the Los Angeles Mission, also located in Skid Rowand which offers over 1,000 daily meals, hot showers, and temporary or long-term sheltersaid while the facility doesnt offer paraphernalia like other places and nonprofits, it supports the concept behind supervised drug use and offering pipes or needles, since theres evidence that approach can save lives. In the system that we havewhich is to preserve liveseverywhere that there are safe injection sites, ambulance visits are less by [around] 60 percent, HIV transactions are decreased, theres less of a demand on our ER and theres less people who are dying, he said. Supervised injection sites decrease overdose-related deaths by 88 per 100,000 person-years of data in Vancouver, according to data published in 2017 from The College of Family Physicians of Canada, a professional organization representing family physicians in Canada. Overdose-related ambulance calls were reduced by 67 percent and HIV infections fell, although researchers debate over to what degree, according to the Vancouver study. McGinnis said when it comes to viral videos such as Anthonys, sometimes people will make judgments without seeing what goes on behind the scenes. Its the visuals and images of a caseworker handing out a meth pipe that goes viral, but you dont see how sometimes the same caseworkers are able to provide support during the comedowns because theyve now built a relationship with the community, saving lives, he said. Sidewalk encampment in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles on May 16, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) But some others say they fear the harm reduction approach isnt saving lives. Andy Bales, president and CEO of the Union Rescue Mission, which has a location in Skid Row, said he believes theres no situation where free pipes or needles are beneficial to drug-addicted individuals. Were totally against the harm reduction model. We believe its deadly and its the [reason why] nearly one-half of the unsheltered people in the U.S. are in California, he told The Epoch Times. Federal data released in December showed that 30 percent of the United States homeless population is in California. The Union Rescue Mission is a Christian-based nonprofit that provides meals, showers, temporary and longer-term housing, and recovery programs to the homeless and drug addicts, with locations in downtown Los Angeles and Sylmar, California. He tied the increase in homelessness and drug use in California to welcoming state laws. Our policies in California have doubled down only on Housing First, which advocates for unrestricted housing, he said, as well as Harm reduction and the free flow of hard drugs. Bales said he specifically blames a 2016 California Law, SB 1380, which cut off state funds to facilities like his that have sobriety or treatment requirements for housing the homeless. As for the facility passing out meth pipes, he said that could lead to deadly results. Homeless Health Care handing out meth pipes is irresponsible because, on Skid Row, theres a combination of meth, fentanyl, and horse tranquilizer, he said. Although Narcan can prevent fentanyl overdoses, the recent addition of horse tranquilizer on Skid Row streets cant be combated, according to Bales. Nobody knows whats going to be put in the meth pipe. In the case of Skid Row, sometimes its meth mixed with fentanyl, now mixed with horse tranquilizer, and Narcan doesnt work on horse tranquilizer, he said. A homeless person in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles on May 16, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued a health alert in March warning residents to watch out for horse tranquilizerknown as xylazinein illicit drugs, after increases in drug samples were found in San Francisco and San Diego. Bales said the risks associated with a harm-reduction approach outweigh the benefits. We believe not in reversing overdoses as a practice but in moving people to recovery. Harm reduction without the intent to end addiction is unlikely to deliver any permanent reduction at all, he said. He argued that safe consumption sites may successfully help reverse overdoses for drug users, but the lasting impact is harming users brains. Every time you overdose, you lose 2 to 3 percent of your brain power or mental capacity, according to Bales. According to the National Library of Medicinethe worlds largest medical library, located in Marylanddrug overdoses can cause cerebral hypoxia, which results from cutting off the brains supply of oxygen and nutrients. A lack of such can lead to brain cells dying in less than five minutes, rapidly causing severe brain damage. Last year, there were about 300 overdoses at a safe consumption site in San Franciscoknown as the Tenderloin Linkage Centeraccording to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Since the centers closure on Dec. 4, 2022, overdose-related deaths between January and April of this year have increased by 42 percent from the year-earlier period, according to data released by San Franciscos chief medical examiner. One representative who worked at the Tenderloin Center claims the rise is a result of the consumption sites closure, according to an article in the San Francisco Public Press. When [it] was open, and we had a safe place for folks to go, the numbers went down, Gary McCoy, vice president of policy and public affairs for HealthRight360a nonprofit that provides health services, told the news outlet. Texas Childrens Hospital, the nations largest childrens hospital, will no longer offer transgender medical procedures for children, according to the hospitals CEO Mark Wallace. The decision will place the hospital in compliance with legislation, Senate Bill 14, which passed in a vote mainly along party lines on May 11. The legislation will take effect on Sept. 1 once it is signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signaled he will do so. Under the legislation (pdf), procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria that are intended to transition a childs biological sex, will be banned. Such procedures include those that sterilize children, such as castration, vasectomy, hysterectomy, and vaginoplasty, as well as drugs that induce temporary or permanent infertility, or block or delay normal puberty. In a memo to staff shared on Twitter, Wallace said the bill has clear and direct programmatic implications for our patients, families, faculty, staff, and care teams adding that over the next few months, the hospital will modify its gender-affirming care to comply with the new law. The CEO said the hospital will work with patients and their families to find alternatives for gender surgeries and hormone therapies out-of-state, and will continue to offer psychological support and any form of care within the bounds of the law. The transition we will embark on is going to be immensely heart-wrenching, but we will lead through this adversity and navigate these next steps together with grace, love, and compassion like we always do, Wallace said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in Austin, Texas, on March 15, 2023. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Painful Decision Wallace noted that as the largest pediatric health care provider in the nation, being unable to serve and support these children and families the way we have in the past is painful. It is difficult for me, the In-Chiefs & Chairs, executives, faculty, staff, and care teams to know that this is where we find ourselves, he continued. A spokesperson for Texas Childrens Hospital confirmed the authenticity of the memo when contacted by The Epoch Times. The spokesperson said the hospital is not canceling any current appointments. The memo from Wallace comes just days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Texas Childrens Hospital over claims that it provided gender transition-related care to minors, despite stating last year that it would stop. Abbott previously issued an order asking state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care as child abuse. Ive been clear that any gender transitioning procedures that hurt our children constitute child abuse under Texas law, Paxton said in a statement released May 19. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on July 11, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Whistleblower Claims The attorney general noted that recent reports indicate that the hospital may be unlawfully performing such procedures and that his office is working to uncover the truth. A whistleblower claimed the hospital continued to secretly perform transgender medical interventions on minors despite the announcement last year, including one procedure on an 11-year-old girl just three days after its announcement. I am committed to investigating any entity in our state to ensure that our children are protected. Though many unhinged activists compromising the healthcare field think otherwise, children are not to be treated as science experiments. Doctors and hospitals should not be pushing mutilative and irreversible gender transitioning procedures that will negatively impact innocent children for the rest of their lives, Paxton said. Paxton is also investigating Dell Childrens Medical Center over unlawful behavior related to gender transitioning procedures. Senate Bill 14 includes exemptions such as in cases where treatments are needed for the purpose of normalizing puberty for a minor experiencing precocious puberty, or if a child was born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development, among others. Republicans have argued that the legislation is needed to protect children from making potentially fatal life-altering decisions and have pointed out that there is no high-quality scientific evidence suggesting that gender-affirming procedures help children overcome gender dysphoria. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. In recent years, hundreds of projects and enterprises have been launched in Uzbekistan in priority sectors with the participation of companies from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, Trend reports. He made the remark while addressing the participants of the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow on May 25. According to the President, effective platforms have been created between the members of the Union to stimulate business dialogue, while harnessing regional development in EAEU countries. "As an example, I would like to mention the traditional "INNOPROM. Central Asia" International Industrial Exhibition held for the third time in Tashkent in April, to which more than 2,000 companies from EAEU countries joined. As a result, investment agreements and trade contracts worth over $10 billion were concluded," he added. Los Angeles Returns to COVID-Era Zero Cash Bail After Court Ruling Los Angeles was allowed to bring back a pandemic-era zero bail policy on May 24 following a judges decision to bar the city and county from demanding cash bail from arrestees who havent yet been arraigned. The decision (pdf) by California Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff placed a preliminary injunction on resuming the countys pre-COVID-19 bail policy on May 16. As a result, suspects arrested for nonviolent crimes will again be released without bail while they wait for a court date. Riff wrote in his ruling that enforcing the secured money bail schedules against poor people who are detained in jail solely for the reason of their poverty is a clear, pervasive and serious constitutional violation. The courts injunction will remain in place for 60 days to allow Los Angeles city and county to create and submit by July 5 new plans for enforcement around the zero-bail system. A feasibility hearing is set for July 10. Under the countys bail system (pdf), a defendant must deposit with the court an amount of money, or bail, before they can be released while awaiting a court date. The bail amount is determined by the severity of the crime for which theyre charged. The defendant can pay in cash or a bond received from a bail bond company, which is returned when the court proceedings end. A group of citizens and faith-based representatives filed a class action suit in 2022 against Los Angeles County, the city, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department (LASD), and the states attorney general, claiming that the wealth-based detention system used by local government and officials is unconstitutional under the due process and equal protection clauses in the U.S. and California constitutions. Attorneys for the plaintiffs, who include six formally arrested citizens, a rabbi, two reverends, and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), a Los Angeles-based faith organization, applauded the decision. Our clients were arrested and kept in jail for five days because they simply couldnt pay money to buy their release, Brian Hardingham, senior attorney of Public Justices Debtors Prison Project, said in a statement. Pre-trial detention destroys lives, and we hope this ruling will pave the way for lasting policy changes that will strengthen and protect communities of color and low-income people disproportionately harmed by the for-profit bail industry. According to its website, the project combats the criminalization of poverty through litigations. They sought a court order to prohibit the sheriffs and police departments from enforcing the money bail schedules to determine whether arrestees should be released before they were brought before a judge. Defendants usually wait between one and five days before they appear in court, Riff said in his ruling. Pretrial detention of presumptively innocent people based upon their poverty is neither intended nor permitted to operate as a form of punishment, but that is, plaintiffs say, what is actually happening every day, he wrote. Riff, who was appointed by former California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, in 2015, estimated that the parties in the lawsuit would be ready for a trial on the merits in about 12 months. Until then, tens of thousands of people would be arrested and jailed by the LASD and LAPD because theyre too poor to pay the bail, according to the judge. The city, county, and law enforcement agencies reportedly didnt defend the current cash bail system in court. The reinstated no cash bail policy will cover misdemeanor and felony nonviolent offenseswith some exceptions, including battery of a police officer, human trafficking, rape, manslaughter, domestic violence, rioting, looting during an emergency, stalking, transmission of a communicable disease, child abuse, and driving under the influence. Law Enforcement Impacted The LAPD is reviewing the ruling, a spokesman told The Epoch Times. The Los Angeles Police Department remains committed to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all individuals while also working with our criminal justice partners in addressing the community safety concerns related to individuals accused of serious crimes, LAPD officer Drake Madison said. Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanuevawho lost his reelection bid in 2022 for another four-year term and spoke out against the zero-bail initiative while in officetold The Epoch Times that the effects of the ruling would have a greater impact on the 45 police departments in Los Angeles County that arent the LASD or LAPD because the burden of holding [suspects] in city jails until arraignment will fall on them and not the sheriff. [It was] a bad decision where the DA, the sheriff, and [LAPD] Chief [Michel] Moore failed to go to court and outline the impact of zero bail schedule. It further emboldens those who are already committing crime, Villanueva said. Los Angeles has gone back and forth on zero-bail policy for a few years. It was first implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate inmate crowding and reduce the spread of COVID-19before its expiration on July 1, 2022. The LAPD tracked the effects of removing cash bail and reported that 649 people had been rearrested during the period that it was in place. Some examples include a person being rearrested for domestic battery; someone who was arrested twice for assault with a deadly weapon in one day; and a human trafficking suspect who had been arrested earlier that same day for being a felon in possession of a firearm, the department reported. Two suspects were arrested five times during the tracked periodbetween March 28, 2021, and June 25, 2022according to LAPD. Zero Bail Championed by District Attorney On his first day in office in December 2020, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon instituted a policy to end money bail in the county. He directed his deputy district attorneys to stop seeking money bail for misdemeanors and felony offenses that are classified as nonviolent. The district attorney, whose campaign was funded heavily by mega-donor George Soros and his affiliated organization, has survived two recall efforts from groups saying his policies have created room for more criminal activity. Gascon, who previously implemented similar policies when he served as district attorney in San Francisco, said he believes that cash bail undermines the judicial systems presumption of innocence. Money bail is as unjust as it is unsafe, Gascon said in a 2021 statement. It allows wealthy people who are dangerous to purchase their freedom while those without means who pose no risk to public safety languish in jail awaiting trial. Some nonviolent crimes that will be covered by the zero cash bail policy include drug crimes, trespassing, disturbing the peace, driving without a license, making criminal threats, drinking in public, loitering to commit prostitution, and resisting arrest. Man Arrested After Car Collides With Gates of Downing Street; Police Dont Suspect Terror Attack Police at the scene after a car collided with the gates of Downing Street in London on May 25, 2023. (Alastair Grant/AP Photo) LONDONA car collided Thursday with the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British prime ministers home and offices are located, setting off a rapid, intense security response at one of Londons 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 Londons 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 Londons 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. Police at the scene after a car collided with the gates of Downing Street in London on May 25, 2023. (James Manning/PA via AP) 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 ministers 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 (IRA) 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 ISIS terrorist 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. By Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui Mining Magnate Calls for Australia to Work Harder to Develop Its Trade Relationship With India Gina Rinehart is the Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a privately-owned mineral exploration and extraction company founded by her father, Lang Hancock, in Australia on Dec. 1, 2022. (Courtesy of Hancock Prospecting) Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart has described Australias trading potential with India as huge as she calls on the country to work harder on developing closer trade ties with the worlds largest democracy. During a meeting on May 23, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted to Rinehart the reforms and initiatives being undertaken in India and also invited the mining magnate to partner in technology, investment, and skills in the mining and minerals sectors, according to a statement by Indias Ministry of External Affairs. It was a very interesting and exciting meeting with Prime Minister Modi, who I have met with several times in the past, in both Australia and New Delhi, she told media after the meeting. The potential for our two countries is huge. You just need to look at the investment that has flowed to India from about 60 different countries under Prime Minister (Modi). Australia really needs to work harder to develop its relations with India. Rinehartwho is the executive chairman of the highly successful Hancock Prospecting, a privately owned mineral exploration and extraction company, and is worth an estimated $37.4 billion (US$24.3 billion)commented on Indias growing economy, which has seen the countrys GDP grow from US$1 trillion to US$3.5 trillion in just five years, with plans in place now for the economy to grow to US$32 trillion in the next 25 years. The growth in the future is going to be huge, Rinehart said. She also spoke of Modis terribly important mantra, which she described as from red tap to red carpet. In other words, cut approvals, cut regulations, so you can welcome investment, Rinehart said. And thats what hes done, and thats what he wants to do for his country. The comments from Rinehart follow her recent urging for the Australian federal government to reduce regulations for the mining industry so that the countrys natural minerals and resources can be better utilised to provide security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. India wants to double its steel production by 2030, meaning Australia should ramp up our critical metallurgical coal exports to help our ally, Rinehart said on May 16. Modis Visit Receives Bipartisan Support During a stadium visit at Olympic Park in Sydney on May 23, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia and India have a rich friendship and a very affectionate sporting rivalry. We are both part of a growing, dynamic region, and Prime Minister Modi is a very welcome visitor to our shores, Albanese said. This comes after Albaneses visit to India in March, where he declared India a top-tier defence partner. Australia and India share a commitment to a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Together, we have an important role to play in supporting this vision, Albanese said in a statement. Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Dutton described the Indian prime minister as a great friend of Australia and was proud that the relations between both countries were growing. Wonderful to catch up again with a great friend of Australia, @narendramodi. Proud of the special and growing relationship Australia has with India, and may it go from strength to strength in the years ahead, Dutton wrote in a tweet. Additionally, Indias Ministry of External Affairs wrote in a tweet that the prime minister appreciated the strong bipartisan support that our partnership enjoys. Also discussed various aspects of bilateral ties, including people-to-people linkages as well as regional developments. AustraliaIndia Relationship Indias growing diplomatic relationship with the United States has been integral to the reshaping of the AustraliaIndia relationship, according to Manoj Joshi, a Distinguished Fellow at New Delhis Observer Research Foundation, reported the Voice Of America (VOA). This is in contrast to the relationship previously when India rejected the Australian Navys role in the Exercise Malabar military drill, which Australia was allowed to attend only as an observer. But the relationship between Australia and India has grown since 2020, when Australia was invited to join the annual naval Malabar exercises that India conducts with the United States and Japan. Moreover, Australia, along with India, the United States, and Japan, are part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad), which seeks to counter Beijings efforts to dominate the Indo-Pacific. Further, trade sanctions by Beijing on Australian products have prompted calls for Australia to diversify its trading markets, following calls for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 by then-PM Scott Morrison. In 2022, Australia and India signed a Free Trade Agreement known as the Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement (ECTA), under which tariffs were removed from more than 85 percent of Australian exports and from 96 percent of Indian imports. Trade, investment, defence, education, and supply chains of critical minerals are important aspects of the relationship between the two countries, former Indian high commissioner to Australia Navdeep Suri said. Additionally, bilateral trade accounted for US$27.5 billion in 2021. Under ECTA, there is potential for bilateral trade to reach US$50 billion in five years. India imports 50 million tonnes of Australian coal per year, accounting for 80 percent of Indian coal imports. Moms for Liberty Website Shut Down by Anonymous Hackers 'We just had another massive attack. It's down again right now.' A hooded man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him May 13, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters) The Moms for Liberty website was shut down multiple times by unknown hackers. On May 24, the website for the national parents rights group, Moms for Liberty, came under attack by Anonymous hackers and was completely shut down several. While speaking with The Epoch Times, the co-founder of the organization said the website had just been hit again. We just had another massive attack, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice told The Epoch Times around 2:30 p.m. EST on May 25. Its down again right now. A video was posted online by an unknown hacker who goes by the screen name @iamanonlegion. In the dark, 43-second clip, you see the shadowed and distorted image of someone wearing a hood and the classic Anonymous mask, with its grotesquely exaggerated smile, declaring that Anonymous Operation GOP has taken down the website belonging to Moms of Liberty. We told you it was too late to expect us, the unknown hacker says, again using the incorrect word of rather than for in the groups name. Now, Moms of Liberty is offline internationally. We demand equality for all humans. Not just GOP and those like-minded to them. This is non-negotiable. The clip ends with the ominous clap of thunder. A graphic materializes against the blackened background, saying: Anonymous. We are legion. A video posted on social media by a hacker after shutting down the Moms for Liberty website, on May 24, 2023. (Screenshot/Moms for Liberty website) While speaking with The Epoch Times on May 25, the Moms for Liberty website was hit a second time. We experienced a cyber attack yesterday and now today, Justice said, adding that multiple hackers tried to claim credit for the attack. Our mission is to unify, educate and empower parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government. So I really think people need to stop and ask themselves why our parental rights are such a threat to these organizations, Justice said. Asked if the hackers had been identified, Justice said the organization had been advised not to name any of them. Were trying not to glorify their actions, Justice explained. What were being told is that we need to not glorify their actions. Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice (C) addresses the media near Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 23, 2023. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Periodically, when trying to log on to the Moms for Liberty website, visitors were greeted by a 504 Gateway time-out screen. According to How-To-Geek: A [Gateway time-out error] happens when a server that was attempting to load a web page did not get a response in time from another server. Almost always, the error is on the website itself, and theres nothing you can do about it but try again later. Error code message displayed when trying to log on to the Moms for Liberty website around 4:30 p.m., on May 25, 2023. (Screenshot/Moms for Liberty website) Justice shared her thoughts on possible motives for the attack. The question really becomes, what is it about parental rights that the people who seek to radically change our country are so afraid of? She asked, suggesting, There are people who dont agree with parental rights. There are Marxists who are teaching our children in school that America is not a great country, she said, noting that the head of the American Library Association is a self-proclaimed Marxist. Why are parental rights such a threat? Justice wondered. The answer is parental rights and the family unit stands in the way of communism. We are standing in defense of liberty and freedom and against communism in America. Why are people fighting so hard to have parental rights not recognized in law? Americans Need to Wake Up This was not the first time Anonymous hackers targeted conservative websites. In 2011, Townhall reported that conservative websites like Americans for Prosperity came under assault by Anonymous hackers. Reuters reported that Anonymous threatened to shut down the Fox News website for its coverage of Occupy Wall Street. In 2018, Newsweek reported that at least three conservative websites were hit repeatedly over the course of several days. Justice could only marvel at the way some cheered the attack on the Moms for Liberty website. People are celebrating it, Justice said. Its fascinating to me. For the rest of the day, efforts to log on to the website were hit and miss. Around 4:30 p.m. EST, the website was down again. While it came back online briefly, it was down again an hour later. Despite the disruption to the Moms for Liberty website, Justice remained resolute. Obviously, their goal is to try to silence us, she said. But moms and dads are going to continue fighting for their kids and their rights to raise their children. These are fundamental rights. The government doesnt give us these rights, and they cant take them away. Certainly, a hacker cant take them away. So we will keep persevering and keep getting the site put back up. Mother of Mississippi Boy, 11, Shot by Police at Home Demands Officer Be Fired The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer responding to a domestic disturbance call at her home in Mississippi is demanding that body camera footage be released and the officer is fired. Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest by Indianola Police Department officer Greg Capers in the early hours of the morning on May 20 as he responded to a domestic disturbance at the home, his mother Nakala Murry, and family attorney Carlos Moore said. The young boy was unarmed and following instructions from Capers, according to Moore. He was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment and released on Wednesday. According to CNN, the younger Murry was placed on a ventilator after suffering from a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, and a lacerated liver from the shooting. Speaking to ABC News on Thursday, Murrys mother said her son had called the police to their home after she was threatened by a man at 4 a.m. According to Nakala Murry, the manher daughters fatherhad knocked on her window and appeared to be irate. I noticed he was kind of irate. And from dealing with him in the past, I know the irate version of him, what it could lead to, she said. I Dont Wanna Die Amid concerns about the mans behavior, Nakala said she told her son to call his grandmother on the phone, which he did. He also called the police and informed them of the situation, according to the older Murry. Two officers subsequently responded to the home in Indianola, roughly 100 miles northwest of Jackson, the states capital city, at which point they told Murry to open the front door. My childs father was still there, he was like, Dont open the door. I was telling him that Im going to open the door, she said. He ran toward the back at which point the police started kicking on the door with their foot, like they were trying to break it down. I opened the door. When I opened it, [an officers] gun was up. He was telling me to come out, she said. I went out, I got out of the way. I walked out toward the end of my driveway where my mom was. And I heard a shot and I saw my son run out toward where we were. He fell, bleeding, she said. I put pressure on it to stop, help stop the bleeding. The mother added that her son told her I dont wanna die as he lay on the ground. Officer Suspended Murrys daughter and 2-year-old nephew were also at home at the time of the shooting, she told CNN. The incident was captured on police body camera video, according to Murry, who is calling for the footage to be released. She also called for the officer to be fired and prosecuted for aggravated assault. Were demanding justice, Moore said. We want immediate termination. We want prosecution and we want the family to get some answers. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) is probing the incident. Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone told ABC News that Capers has been suspended. Moore also said on Twitter that the officer has been suspended. No officers were injured during the incident. A minor occupant of the residence received significant injuries and has been transported to a local hospital, MBI said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office. The Epoch Times has contacted the Indianola Police Department. Reuters contributed to this report. New Jersey County Votes Unanimously Against Offshore Wind Farm Waves break out at sea in front of Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm near New Brighton, at the mouth of the river Mersey in northwest England on March 13, 2019. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images) A county in New Jersey unanimously voted against an offshore wind farm proposed along its coastline, citing the developments potential negative environmental and tourism impact. The Cape May Board of Commissioners voted (pdf) 40 this week on an ordinance opposing farms that are being developed by a Denmark-based firm, Orsted, under its Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 projects. The county also indicated that it will seek legal avenues to block such projects and will appeal a New Jersey state utility permit that transfers property interests from county residents to Orsted. The commissioners noted that upwards of 200 large windmills will be installed around nine miles off the coast of Cape May County and would be easily visible from its beaches. The project would also reportedly have two transmission line corridors with one substation located in Cape May County. It also stated that Orsted did not listen to the countys suggestions and attempted to push aside Cape Mays commissioners and transfer their authority to the unelected members of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. At first, the County of Cape May was interested in trying to work with Orsted to find a way forward, perhaps with some modifications to the project to reduce visual, environmental, and economic impacts, Cape May County Board of Commissioners Director Len Desiderio said in a statement after the vote. We would like to see land-based offshore wind facilities and supply chain infrastructure built here in New Jersey, since that would create good opportunities for trade workers and others, Desiderio also remarked. But we cannot sit quietly by as hundreds of windmills are installed off our beaches as state and federal government agencies ignore our legitimate and serious concerns. Their resolution also said that the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy concluded that the construction of offshore wind projects along the East Coast wont have much impact on the climate, according to a county news release issued on Thursday. The resolution, meanwhile, made reference to a study commissioned by Harvard University that windmill arrays may reduce sea breeze and trigger warmer ocean temperatures. Desiderio also criticized Orsted. As time went by, it became clear that Orsted was not interested in finding any compromise, he alleged. It is clear to us now that the approach among this foreign corporation and their partners in the state and federal governments is to build these things as fast as they can despite the potential for devastating environmental and economic impacts. On behalf of the people of Cape May County, we will not let that happen without a fight. Earlier in the week, the state Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued its final environmental impact statement for Ocean Wind 1, which is the final step before it makes a decision on whether the project can go ahead. Whale Deaths In March, a large number of Cape May residents turned out at a public forum to largely oppose the wind farms construction, according to local media reports at the time. It came as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a statement saying that wind farm projects are to blame for the whale deaths along the East Coast since late last year amid allegations that sonar mapping for the wind farms may have led to their deaths. A man takes pictures of a dead whale in Lido Beach, N.Y., on Jan. 31, 2023. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo) As of March 2023, no offshore wind-related construction activities have taken place in waters off the New Jersey coast, and DEP is aware of no credible evidence that offshore wind-related survey activities could cause whale mortality, the state environmental agencys statement said. However, data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that at least 30 whales have washed up along the East Coast since Dec. 1, a spokesperson said in March. On March 16, four Republican Congressmen held a hearing in Wildwood, New Jersey, to call for a pause on all offshore wind projects. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) called for a pause on such work until the U.S. Government Accountability Office can investigate the sufficiency of the environmental review processes for offshore wind projects. He was joined by fellow Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), and Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in promising additional hearings and demands for information, and claiming federal agencies have ignored expressions of concern by one of their own scientists about the effects of wind farms on whales. A federal agency, the Mammal Marine Commission, issued a report (pdf) earlier this year that said the deaths are not new, nor are they unique to the U.S. Atlantic coast. It also claimed that there is no evidence to link these strandings to offshore wind energy development. Cape May County, with a population of about 95,000 people, is the southernmost county in New Jersey. The Epoch Times has contacted Orsted for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NIH Warned of Biosafety Concerns at Wuhan Lab Where COVID-19 May Have Originated The P4 laboratory on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on May 13, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) warned of potential issues at the Chinese laboratory complex thought by same to be the originating location for COVID-19, according to a newly released letter. The NIH has been made aware of reports that Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has been conducting research at its facilities in China that pose serious bio-safety concerns and, as a result, health and welfare threats to the public, both in China and other countries, including the United States, Dr. Michael Lauer, an NIH official, said in the missive. Lauers letter was sent on May 20, 2020, to the University of California, Irvine, which had been funneling some of the taxpayer funding it was receiving to the WIV. The NIH said it was suspending funding for the WIV subaward due to the concerns, effective immediately. That meant the university must not allow further research under the project to be conducted by WIV and must provide no further funding. The letter was released on May 24 by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. The University of California, Irvine informed WIV officials six days after receiving the letter that the WIV must stop work effective immediately on any and all activities supported by the subaward, according to another letter obtained by the House panel. After receiving the letter, the university promptly complied with the directive and communicated to WIV that the research should not move forward, a university spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email. The university did not release any funding to the WIV and the planned work was never undertaken there, according to the spokesperson. The planned work was later done at the university. The research in question was aimed at developing herpes virus neural circuit tracers. It received $4.3 million, of which 216,000 was sent to the WIV. At least one research paper published by Chinese scientists cited the award and thanked the university and the NIH. The letter provides additional evidence that NIH officials were concerned about the U.S.-funded experiments at the Wuhan lab, Justin Goodman, senior vice president at the White Coat Waste Project, told The Epoch Times via email. Yet, NIH bureaucrats kept their concerns quiet, coordinated to cover up a possible lab leak, and even fought to keep funding the Wuhan lab, Goodman added, referring to how some NIH officials worked to promote the COVID-19 natural origin theory and lobbied for continued funding for the WIV. Wants Answers Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), chairman of the panel, wrote to Dr. Lawrence Tabak, NIHs acting director, asking for answers on the newly revealed documents. Wenstrup requested all documents and communications regarding the letter from the NIH to the university and all materials supporting the statement that the NIH had become aware that the WIV had been reportedly conducting research raising biosafety concerns. The May 2020 letter is another acknowledgement by the NIH that risky research and lackluster bio-safety were determining factors in revoking U.S. taxpayer funding from the Wuhan lab, the panel said in a statement. The NIH failed to share these concerns with the American people. The NIH did not respond to a request for comment. Wenstrup asked for the documents by June 8. I think its appropriate for the NIH to suspend awards to scientists and institutions found to be carrying out dangerous research, Justin Kinney, an associate professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and co-founder of Biosafety Now, told The Epoch Times via email. In this case, I think the public has a right to know what specific biosafety concerns the NIH had about the WIV, what information those concerns were based on, and if those concerns were related to the origins of COVID-19. Different Grant In a different letter in 2020, Lauer used the same language as in the newly released letter. Lauer told the EcoHealth Alliance, which had been funneling money to WIV, that the NIH had received reports that the WIV has been conducting research at its facilities in China that pose serious bio-safety concerns and, as a result, create health and welfare threats to the public in China and other countries, including the United States. The alliance had been sending some of the money from a different grant to the WIV. The NIH also expressed concerns that the alliance had not been properly monitoring WIV and thus suspended its grant to the organization. The $4.3 million grant was for studying bat coronaviruses. Federal officials ultimately terminated the subaward to WIV, though they restored the grant to EcoHealth. More recently, the NIH quietly removed the WIV from a list of foreign facilities that are eligible to receive U.S. taxpayer funds to conduct animal experiments. Weve documented how the NIH was also bankrolling other experiments in Wuhan where animals were deprived of water, drilled into, restrained and electroshocked, Goodman said. Shipping tax dollars to a rogue animal lab run by an enemy nation was a recipe for disaster. The group will keep working, he added, to ensure the Wuhan animal lab and others like it never receive another red cent of taxpayers money. NYC Commission Votes to Freeze Municipal Deposits at Capital One, KeyBank The logo for Capital One Financial is displayed above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, on July 30, 2019. (Richard Drew/AP Photo) New York Citys banking commission voted Thursday to freeze new deposits at Capital One Bank and KeyBank, saying that the banks failed to submit a plan detailing steps theyre taking to root out discrimination in their operation. The 3-0 vote by the commission, consisting of New York Mayor Eric Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, and Commissioner of Finance Preston Niblack, means that Capital One and KeyBank wont receive new deposits from the Big Apples public agencies for up to two years. In addition, the banks wont be able to renew contracts or enter into new agreements with the city during the suspension. At the end of April, Capital One held $7.2 million in city funds across 108 accounts, while KeyBank held $10 million across three accounts, according to the commission. The two banks outright refused to certify their policies of nondiscrimination in hiring, promotion, and delivery of banking services, and for bank closings, the commission said in a statement following its first-ever public hearing Thursday. During the hearing, the three-member panel heard testimonies from Muslim New Yorkers who have experienced discrimination in the process of opening or closing accounts, tenants who complained about predatory lending practices, as well as climate change alarmists who condemned banks for lending fossil fuel companies billions of dollars despite their pledge to eliminate carbon emissions, according to the statement. Brad Lander, a progressive Democrat who co-founded New York City Councils Progressive Caucus, also voted against making Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, and International Finance Bank eligible for holding the citys deposits. Despite several opportunities to do so, five banks failed to comply with the New York City Banking Commissions designation processleaving us to conclude that they are not taking meaningful actions to combat discrimination in their operations and are not responsible stewards of public dollars, Lander said. A KeyBank spokesperson said Thursday that the bank had provided the required information and is looking forward to clarifying any misunderstanding with the commission. A Capital One spokesperson said what the banks 2023 submission was consistent with what it submitted in previous years. Capital One prohibits discrimination and harassment against any applicant, intern, Associate, vendor, contractor, customer, or client on the basis of protected characteristics, the spokesperson added. In February, the New York City Banking Commission announced new requirements for banks wishing to become approved depositories for municipal funds, demanding that they demonstrate a meaningful commitment to combat discrimination in employment, services, and lending. That decision came about a year after the city said it would not open any new depository accounts at Wells Fargo due to allegations of racial discrimination, including a federal lawsuit accusing the bank of being biased against black homeowners seeking a refinance. Wells Fargo denied those allegations, saying they are against racism and do not believe that these claims are based on factual analysis. Woke vs. Anti-Woke While Democrat-run New York City shuns banks for not being committed enough to progressive social causes, governments of several Republican-led states have stopped doing business with banks that align themselves with left-wing woke ideology. In Texas, a 2021 law bans certain state and local government entities from working with financial institutions contracting with banks that have adopted the so-called Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies against the fossil fuel and firearms industries. This means Texas cities may no longer hire ESG-minded banks to underwrite their bonds. Among those affected banks is Citigroup, one of the largest underwriters for municipal bonds across the Lone Star State. In February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office has determined that Citigroup discriminates against firearms manufacturers and dropped it from a planned $4.3 billion dollar municipal bond deal. The ESG movement refers to the practice by investment firms and fund managers of screening investments based on a set of progressive social criteria, such as whether a company promotes climate change activism or creates a racially diverse workforce, as a way to encourage businesses to adhere to the left-wing woke social agenda. The law also prohibits certain state agencies from investing funds in financial companies taking any action intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on or limit commercial relations with an energy company that doesnt commit or pledge to ESG goals. The investment provisions cover a $56 billion public school fund, as well as the retirement systems for public school teachers, law enforcement officers, and emergency responders. Were concerned the ESG framework has become more of a marketing tool than a tool for making investment decisions, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said in a report released this week. It lacks transparency and has evolved into a campaign by financial institutions to push a political agenda while restricting access to capital needed by the oil and gas industry, which is a critical sector of our states economy. At least eight other statesnamely Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wes Virginia, have enacted similar boycott laws or rules against ESG investing with public funds. The founder of Oath Keepers gets 18 years in prisonthe longest sentence handed down so far in connection to Jan. 6. President Joe Biden is giving the latest updates on debt ceiling talks while making a promise. And theres a new nominee for the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. House Republicans gain support from the Biden White House on a bill cracking down on illegal fentanyl. But many Democrats break with the White House, opposing the measure. Find out more about how this House-passed bill aims to counter the synthetic opioid crisis. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is changing the states election laws while announcing his run for president. Part of the changes will make it easier for him to run. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is defending the courts reputation amid new controversies. Meanwhile, Democrats are renewing their push to expand the court. What is a legal expert saying about this? Is the World Health Organization (WHO) gaining too much power over U.S. public health policies? Todays guest will discuss the political interests influencing the WHO. One of Rwandas Most Wanted Genocide Suspects Arrested in South Africa After 22 Years on Run CAPE TOWN, South AfricaOne of the most wanted suspects in Rwandas 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 tribunals 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 Kayishemas 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. Family photographs of some of those who died hang on display in an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial centre in the capital Kigali, Rwanda, on April 5, 2019. (Ben Curtis/AP Photo) 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 refugeesmen, women, and childrenat 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 Kayishemas 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. By Gerald Imray and Ignatius Ssuna BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Uzbekistan supports the development of the North-South Transport Corridor project, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, Trend reports. He made the remark while addressing the participants of the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow on May 25. "Cooperation in the field of transportation and transit is a strategic direction of cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries. In the current realities, it is important to strengthen collaborative efforts in shaping alternative transport corridors and establishing sustainable logistics chains. We support the development of the North-South corridor and other routes that connect our region with China, the countries of the Middle East, and South Asia. We advocate for close coordination in tariff policy matters," he said. Mirziyoyev also invited the EAEU member states to join the Project Office for the implementation of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway construction project. The foundation of the International North-South Transport Corridor was laid on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran, and India on September 12, 2000. In total, 13 countries have ratified the agreement, including Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Russia, Turkiye, etc. As a French trained chef, Indian cooking had been out of my comfort zone. Recently, my friend Laurie Burrows Grad sent me her favorite quick chicken curry recipe for me to try. First, I wanted to make the curry powder from scratch, as my esteemed colleague, the late Raghavan Iyer, recommended in his latest book, On the Curry Trail. If you are interested in curry and how it is used around the world, check out his amazing book. I quickly realized that his many-ingredients curry powder recipe wasnt ideal for my Seriously Simple recipes, so I settled for a good quality curry powder, which you can find on Amazon. While this may not be authentic, it has the hallmarks I am looking for in a curry recipe: spicy, aromatic and soul satisfying. This is a recommended dish for a dinner party since it is made all in one pan and served in one bowl. Seriously Simple? Yes! To make this, I always have all the ingredients measured out. Chicken tenders are easy to work with; be sure to remove the white tendons that can make the tenders rubbery. To grate the ginger, peel it with a peeler or use a spoon to remove skin. Use a microplane or hand grater to grate the peeled ginger root. Full-fat coconut milk is a must or else the result will be watery. Serve this with raita or plain Greek yogurt, toasted coconut flakes and mango chutney. You can make your own raita by adding some finely chopped cucumber, chopped mint and cilantro to plain yogurt. Look for a full-flavored mango chutney for best flavor. Carefully toast coconut to make sure it doesnt burn. Serve each guest a bowl with rice and the chicken curry on top to each person. Make sure to garnish each bowl. Set out small bowls of condiments for each guest to add their favorite curry additions. Serve immediately. One Pan Chicken Curry Serves 4 Ingredients 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 tablespoons canola oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 teaspoons ground cumin 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 (13-ounce) can coconut milk (full-fat) 3/4 cup chicken broth Juice of 1/2 lime To Serve Lime wedges Mint leaves, torn Cilantro leaves, torn Cooked jasmine or basmati rice Condiments: toasted coconut, plain Greek yogurt, mango chutney Directions 1. Toss the chicken pieces in a bowl evenly with salt and pepper. In a high-sided skillet over medium-high, heat 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add chicken pieces and saute on all sides, using tongs, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Remove the chicken to a side bowl. 2. Add remaining tablespoons of oil and saute onion, over medium-high heat, until tender and translucent, about 9 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste. 3. Add garlic, ginger, curry powder and cumin; cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. Add tomato paste and cook until darkened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes more. 4. Add coconut milk and broth; bring to a simmer. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in lime juice and garnish with mint and cilantro. Serve hot with rice and condiments. Oprah Responds to Rumors She Could Take Feinsteins Senate Seat U.S. media executive and talk show host Oprah Winfrey talks to the press as she arrives to the opening celebration of the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island at the Statue Cruises Terminal in Battery Park in New York on May 15, 2019. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images) Media mogul Oprah Winfrey said through a spokesperson that she does not intend to replace the seat held by Sen. Dianne Feinsteins (D-Calif.) if she steps down from office before her 2024 term ends. This week, rumors and speculative reports emerged claiming that Winfrey, a longtime talk host worth billions, could be tapped to hold Feinsteins seat ahead of the 2024 election. There has long been speculation that Winfrey could run for office but shes repeatedly turned down those appeals. In statements to multiple news outlets, a Winfrey spokesperson threw cold water on a California Senate run. Oprah Winfrey is not considering the seat should it become vacant, a spokesperson for Winfrey said. A report from The Associated Press stated that California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has previously said he would try to appoint a black woman for Feinsteins seat, could name Winfrey, who owns a home in Montecito, California. That report was entirely speculative and named no source. Meanwhile, Winfrey has ruled out the possibility of running for office several times after some floated her as a possible candidate for president. In a 2019 speech, while campaigning for twice-failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, Winfrey said that she wouldnt run. I am not here because I am making some grandstand, because Im thinking about running myself, Winfrey said at the time. I dont want to run. I am not trying to test any waters, dont want to go in those waters. Last fall, Winfrey, a reliable donor to Democrats, endorsed Democrat John Fetterman in the Pennsylvania Senate race. His opponent, Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, was a mainstay on Winfreys talk show for decades and previously worked with her. If Feinstein steps down, Newsom would be under considerable pressure to name someone to her seat in the interim as Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate. In 2020, the governor appointed Alex Padilla, who was the California secretary of state, after then-Sen. Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president. Already, a number of California Democrats have demanded that Newsom name a black woman to the seat. For example, Democrat Assemblymember Lori Wilson, who is black, told AP: Newsom must honor his promise to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein resigns, adding that California has zero black women in the Senate, although the state only has two U.S. Senate seats and Census data shows that black people make up about 5 percent of the states population. In a recent interview with Fox 11 TV in Los Angeles, 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. He noted that the primary was quickly approaching in March, and added that he was sensitive to criticism that voters should be picking their elected officials, hinting that he might choose a caretaker to hold the spot, if one occurs. I get it. For those who say, Enough of Newsom making these picks! I get it. Im with you. I understand, he said. Feinstein Speculation It comes as Feinstein, who turns 90 next month, was gone from the Senate for more than two weeks as she battled a shingles infection. She returned back to Congress several weeks ago, confined to a wheelchair, and delivered unusual remarks to reporters saying she was still working in the Senate when she was recovering in the hospital. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) attends a Senate hearing in Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, on June 16, 2020. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/POOL) But Feinsteins illness was more severe than previously reported by her office. A spokesperson, responding to those reports, told media outlets that the senator previously disclosed that she had several complications related to her shingles diagnosis those complications included Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis. While the encephalitis resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital in March, she continues to have complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, Feinsteins spokesperson said a week ago. Earlier this year, Feinstein confirmed that she wouldnt be seeking reelection for the seat shes held since the early 1990s. California Democrat Reps. Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, and Katie Porter have officially announced they would run for her seat in 2024. On the advice of doctors, Feinsteins 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 Feinsteins 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. Feinsteins 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. The Epoch Times has contacted a Winfrey spokesperson for comment The Associated Press contributed to this report. Over Half of Canadians Say Johnston Should Have Called for Public Inquiry: Poll Then-Governor General of Canada David Johnston (L) meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (not shown) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on July 13, 2017. (Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/Getty Images) Slightly over half of Canadians believe that Special Rapporteur David Johnston should have called for a public inquiry into foreign election interference, according to a new Angus Reid poll. Released on May 26, the national public opinion survey found that 52 percent of respondents said an inquiry should have been called, while 32 percent thought it was unnecessary, and 16 percent were unsure. Additionally, the poll found that Canadians who followed the foreign interference issue very closely or closely were more likely to say Johnston was the wrong choice (73 percent and 50 percent, respectively), compared to Canadians not following closely or not following at all (34 percent and 22 percent.) Opposition parties and others have criticized the appointment of Johnston to the role of special rapporteur due to his close relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus family and his former membership with the Trudeau Foundation. When asked about their confidence in the federal governments ability to combat foreign election interference, a total of 63 percent of Canadians said they were either not really confident or not confident at all. Conservative and Bloc Quebecois voters were more likely to say they were not confident (86 percent and 70 percent, respectively), while the proportion was smaller among Liberal and NDP voters (37 percent and 52 percent.) The survey found that 57 percent felt Trudeau and his Liberal government have been evasive on the issue of foreign interference, while 16 percent say they have been transparent. After media reports suggested there was widespread interference by Beijing in Canadas last two federal elections, Trudeau appointed Johnston to be the special rapporteur on March 15. Rather than launching a public inquiry, which opposition leaders have repeatedly called for, Trudeau said he would follow Johnstons recommendations. 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. Divided by Political Party Angus Reid said the data revealed deep political chasms dividing Canadians on the issue of attempted meddling by the Chinese government, and Ottawas reaction to it. When survey respondents were asked if Trudeau and the Liberal government have been transparent regarding foreign interference, 86 percent of Conservatives and 87 percent of Bloc Quebecois voters believed they had not been. Meanwhile, left-leaning voters were more likely to say that the Liberals had been transparent, or that they were unsure. When it came to Liberal voters, 35 percent said the government had been transparent, 32 percent said it had been evasive, and 33 percent said they werent sure. A total of 19 percent of NDP voters said the Liberal government had been transparent, 41 percent said they had been evasive, and 41 percent said they were not sure. The survey found that 57 percent of Liberals believe a public inquiry is unnecessary, while 39 percent of NDP voters felt the same, 25 percent of Bloc Quebecois voters agreed with the sentiment, while just 12 percent of Conservative voters said so. Democratic Pillars Are Weakening Angus Reid said that in the wake of the revelations about Beijings potential influence on Canadian politics, there is a growing sense among Canadians that fundamental democratic pillars are weakening in their country. The survey found that between January 2022 and May 2023, more Canadians believed that the countrys free and fair elections had become weaker (34 percent compared to 43 percent). During the same time period, the percentage of Canadians who held the belief that anyone can participate in politics and civic life if they choose to also experienced a decline, moving from 29 percent to 24 percent, while the same decline was reflected for the belief that the rule of law applied equally to everyone, falling from 59 percent to 52 percent. Pennsylvania Doctor Gets 6 Months for Illegally Prescribing Opioids A doctor based in Clarksville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on Thursday to six months in prison, as well as a year of supervised release after that, and a fine of $5,000, for an opioid scheme. The 46-year-old also had to surrender his medical license, as well as his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate of registration. He also agreed not to re-apply for the certificate to dispense any Schedule II controlled substances. Gullett was illegally signing multiple oxycodone prescriptions for a customer of HOPE (Hitech Opioid Pharmachovigilance Expertise) Clinic. It purported to be a pain management clinic that operated in Beckley, Beaver, and Charleston in Pennsylvania, as well as in West Virginia, and Wytheville, Virginia. The prescriptions Gullett signed were for 120 pills (30 mg each) and 30 pills (15 mg each) for a customer at the clinics Charleston location, in March 2013. The customers medical chart didnt support the prescriptions, and the prescriptions werent for a legitimate medical purpose, the former doctor admitted. Gullett also noted he didnt discuss with the customer the possibility of addiction or the potential need for addiction treatment. The criminal conduct in this case exploited and worsened an already devastating opioid crisis, U.S. Attorney Will Thompson said in a statement. This office and its law enforcement partners are resolved to bring to justice those who allow greed to outweigh their oaths and duties as health care professionals. According to evidence noted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, evidence showed that Gulletts customer had multiple failed drug screenings, reported being addicted to pain medication, bought pills on the street, and sold pills from his HOPE Clinic prescriptions to others. The attorneys office also cited court documents and statements made in court showing that other medical practitioners associated with the HOPE clinic had prescribed thousands of oxycodone- and morphine-based pills to individual customers from November 2010 to June 2015. Some of these prescriptions provided customers with an average of four to seven pills per day, according to the office. Several HOPE Clinic locations averaged 65 or more customers a day during a 10-hour workday with only one practitioner working. Gullett was one among others indicted in 2018. The others include the owners, managers, and other doctors associated with the HOPE Clinic and PPPFD, Inc., the company that managed the daily operations of the HOPE Clinic. Five other doctors have also pleaded guilty and they are awaiting trial. Medical professionals who circumvent the rules for prescribing powerful and potentially addictive pain-killers contribute to the opioids crisis facing our nation, George Scavdis, the special agent in charge at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office, said in a statement. Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who see addiction as an opportunity for profit. Opioids have been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the United States over the last two decades. Governments have alleged in legal challenges over decades that pharmacies have filled prescriptions they should have flagged as inappropriate. Since the 1990s, the United States has seen increasing waves of opioid abuse. The first wave hit in the 1990s, driven by prescription opioids. The second wave was driven by illicit heroin in 2010. The third wave, starting from 2013, is from illicit synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and tramadol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in February 2022 proposed new opioid prescribing guidelines for doctors, in the hopes it could help improve individualized patient care to reduce instances of untreated pain, serious withdrawal symptoms, and addiction. Marina Zhang contributed to this report. Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano Not Running for US Senate The then Republican candidate for Pennsylvania Governor Doug Mastriano addresses the media after a rally at Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, Pa. on Oct. 29, 2022. Mastriano announced on May 25, 2023, that he wont be running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano has announced he is not running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Sen. Bob Casey Jr. He made the announcement Thursday evening with his wife, Rebecca Rebbie Mastriano, in a Facebook Live post. In a bid for Pennsylvanias governor seat last year, Rebbie Mastriano campaigned alongside her husband and is well known to supporters. Mastriano was considered a likely Republican candidate. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Mastriano and held a rally in Pennsylvania days before the election for governor. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also visited Pennsylvania in 2022 in support of Mastrianos campaign. Mastriano said on the Facebook Live post that he considered where he could be most effective and decided it would be in his current state senate position. At this moment, the way things currently are, I am not running for the U.S. Senate seat that is going to be hopefully vacated by Casey. We need to beat him, Mastriano said. Doug and Rebbie Mastrianos U.S. Senate race announcement was done via Facebook Live on May 25, 2023. (Beth Brelje/The Epoch Times) So while I have decided not to run, someone else will decide to run, and someone else will win the primary next year and be the nominee, he said. And whoever is that nominee, Rebbie and I will support them, and we hope you will too because I dont want any other Republican candidates to go through what we went through last year when our own party betrayed us. Mastriano was not well funded for the gubernatorial race. While he has a solid base of supporters who donated as individuals, the state and national GOP were not helpful in funding that campaign. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro far outspent him. I dont want any nominee for any future seat to be abandoned or betrayed by their party. So Rebbie and I pledged to stand with the person you pick, he said. Walk as Free People While Mastriano is not running, he says the Walk as Free People movement is not dead. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, he went live nightly on Facebook, updating the public on what the Pennsylvania General Assembly was doing in response to the pandemic. In response to some COVID measures that many felt was the government overreaching its authority, Mastriano encouraged viewers to walk as free people and not give up their rights. He hopes to expand the movement. Were going to continue to grow our statewide network across the state in every county. Were going to continue to be relevant and active, said Mastriano, adding that this is part one of a two-part plan to move forward. The second part of their plan is to hold an annual Freedom Conference where ordinary people can connect, encourage one another, and equip themselves through grassroots education about the workings of local government Its a way for us to be able to have a larger understanding of our local government and have a better understanding of what are our specific gifts that we can plug into and impact our local community and our state, Rebbie Mastriano said. Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the then-Republican nominee for governor, and his wife, Rebbie, speak at a campaign rally at the Star Barn in Elizabethtown, Pa., on Aug. 24, 2022. (Beth Brelje/The Epoch Times) Mastriano is a combat veteran who was commissioned in the Army in 1986. While serving along the East German and Czechoslovakian borders, he witnessed the end of the Cold War and was later deployed to Iraq for Operation Desert Storm. He has served in Washington, D.C., the 3rd Infantry Division, and U.S. Army Europe. After 9/11, Mastriano was the lead planner for the operation to invade Iraq via Turkey. He served for four years with NATO and was deployed three times to Afghanistan. He was the director of NATOs Joint Intelligence Center in Afghanistan, leading 80 people from 18 nations. He completed his career as a professor at the U.S. Army War College and retired at the rank of colonel. He has said his 2019 entry into politics was a continuation of service to the country. The Field So Far Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) speaks in Washington in a 2017 file image. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Casey, who has held the seat since 2007, announced his plan to seek another term in April. At 62, Casey was treated this year for prostate cancer. He took minimal time off for treatment and posted photos of himself working from home while he recovered. Casey is a reliable Democratic vote in the Senate, with a non-abrasive personality and high name recognition in Pennsylvania. His father, Bob Casey Sr. was governor of the state from 1987-1995. Bob Casey Jr. has long served in public office, as auditor general of Pennsylvania, then state treasurer before being elected to the U.S. Senate. For years Pennsylvanias two senators have been split by party, with one Democrat and one Republican. But when former Republican Sen. Pat Toomey decided not to run for reelection, the seat flipped to Democratic control with the election of Sen. John Fetterman. Possible Republican Candidate Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick holds a campaign rally at Frosty Valley Resort in Danville, Pa., on April 20, 2022. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) David McCormick, a former Bridgewater Associates hedge fund CEO, has signaled he plans to run but has not announced yet. He ran for Senate last year but lost in a very close primary to Mehmet Oz. McCormick has kept a high profile, appearing at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference in March, where he carried himself like a candidate. Around the same time, he was circulating on talk shows promoting his book, Superpower in Peril: A Battle Plan to Renew America. McCormick was very well funded for his previous run for Senate, and he can likely bank on support from longtime established Republicans for fat funding, if he gets into the race. Although most eyes will be on the presidential campaigns in 2024, the U.S. Senate race promises to be intense as both parties seek control of the Senate chamber in Washington. Police Make Arrest of Suspect in Toronto Aggravated Assaults Police also search for unrelated suspect in unprovoked bus stop stabbing Toronto police have made an arrest in connection with two aggravated assaults that took place in Toronto against what are believed to be random victims. On May 23, the Toronto Police Service issued a news release, requesting the publics help in locating a suspect involved in an aggravated assault investigation stemming from May 22. The report said police were called to an incident in the Yonge Street and Elm Street area, where it was reported a man assaulted another male victim, who sustained life-threatening injuries. At the time, police identified the suspect as Robert Dewitt, a 42-year old Toronto man, wanted for aggravated assault and assault. Police released a photo of the suspect, who was described as 60, with curly blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a dark leather coat, grey pants, light coloured New Balance shoes, and riding a purple e-bike. In a May 24 news release, police said Dewitt had been arrested the day prior. A suspect wanted in connection with two aggravated assaults against separate victims, in a photo released by Toronto police on May 23, 2023. (Courtesy of Toronto Police Service/Handout) Toronto police indicated there were further allegations against the suspect from an incident on May 23. Police received a call about an assault in the area of Jarvis Street and Carlton Street. It is alleged that the suspect approached a random man and began taunting him to fight. According to police, the victim declined to fight and backed away. Police say he was assaulted and sustained minor injuries. Dewitt has been charged with aggravated assault, two counts of assault, and breach of probation. He was scheduled to appear in court virtually on May 24. Police told reporters that they believe the attack was random. Police are concerned there may be more victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com, said the news release. Random Attacks Toronto Police also issued a news release on May 25, following an unprovoked and random assault with a weapon in an unrelated incident, this time in the Islington Avenue and Elmhurst Drive area. Officers responded to a call about a stabbing on May 23 at approximately 9:05 p.m. local time, and police are searching for a suspect described as 56, with a dark complexion, wearing black pants and a grey sweatshirt, and carrying a black backpack and a green/blue shopping bag. In this random attack, the victim was sitting at a bus stop, according to police, when an unknown stranger assaulted the victim with a knife or edged weapon. The victim suffered two separate wounds. There is no further word on the victims condition as of press time. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police. Charles Francis Hall (18211871) was born in Vermont, moved with his family as a child to New Hampshire, and then moved westward to Cincinnati when he married. It was in Cincinnati that he developed his entrepreneurial spirit by founding a seal-engraving business and then starting two newspapers, the Cincinnati Occasional and the Daily Press. During his Cincinnati days, his business mind was aroused by the curiosity of exploration. Charles Francis Hall in the only known photograph taken in Washington in the winter of 1870. (Public Domain) To Find the Lost Expedition In 1845, news had broken that Britains Franklin Expedition, which had set out to discover the Northwest Passage, had been lost. An award was announced, and by 1848, expeditions embarked to find Franklin, his crew, and their two ships. Numerous attempts were made only to succeed in finding remnants of the fateful voyage, yet arousing rumors of their possible survival. Hall believed he could find the lost expedition. When he met Henry Grinnell, a philanthropist and Arctic exploration enthusiast, Hall convinced him of the possibility of finding Franklin. Grinnell helped finance Halls first attempt. In addition, and more consequently, he introduced him to the whalers of New London, Connecticut. In 1860, Hall met Sidney Budington, who captained the whaling ship George Henry. Budington agreed to sail north in Halls search for Franklin survivors. They made it as far as Baffin Island, situated north of Canadas mainland. (Incidentally, Budingtons uncle, James M. Buddington, had captained the George Henry when it rescued the crew of the icebound HMS Resolute, which had also been searching for the Franklin Expedition.) Budington introduced Hall to numerous native Inuits they called Esquimauxs (Eskimos), including two English speakers, Hannah (Tookoolito) and Joe (Ebierbing). Hannah and Joe befriended Hall and joined him in the States to promote the exploration of the Arctic. They would often do so in their native garb, which helped garner attention and increase their own celebrity. Budington would navigate all of Halls future exploratory endeavors. Hall and the crew of the George Henry remained in the area of Baffin Island for two years. They sailed the Frobisher Bay, named after Sir Martin Frobisher, that resulted in the important discovery that Frobisher Bay was indeed a bay and not a strait as had been believed. Hall returned to the States to promote another expedition. While stateside, he wrote the book Life with the Esquimaux about his first expedition. Halls study and documentation of the Inuit culture was greater than any other at that time. The publisher-turned-explorer continued to lecture about the Arctic. And despite the passing of nearly two decades, the possibility of finding Franklin Expedition survivors, specifically on King William Island, remained. Grinnell again came to Halls aid, along with members of the American Geographical and Statistical Society. In 1864, Hall, Hannah, Joe, and a crew, with navigator Budington, sailed the whaler Monticello to the northwest tip of Hudson Bay, reaching Roes Welcome Sound. Hall remained in the bitter cold for four years, researching the landscape and seeking clues to the Franklin Expedition whereabouts. Hannah and Joe remained faithful to Halls exploratory spirit, but the American explorer ran into trouble when a whaler threatened mutiny. Hall was forced to shoot and kill the mutineer to stave off disaster. It was not until the spring of 1869 that Hall was able to make his way to King William Island. In a sense, he had been correct. He discovered relics of the Franklin Expedition, along with several skeletal remains. When Hall returned to America, his exploration aspirations changed. His objective would be to reach the North Pole. He received the support of President Ulysses S. Grant and several members of Congress. Hall received the first U.S.-funded commission to explore the Arctic. The Polaris (R) on the right and Congress at Godhaven, Disco Island, off the Coast of Greenland. A wood engraving from Harpers Weekly, May 1873. (Public Domain) Provided with $50,000 for the voyage and a retrofitted Union steamer renamed the USS Polaris, Hall and 25 others, along with Budington, Hannah, and Joe, set sail on June 29, 1871. The Polaris made history by reaching the latitude of 82 29 Nthe furthest of any ship to that point. But the expedition would go no further north as the ice of the Lincoln Sea barred its movement. The expedition turned around and made port in Greenland at a location Hall called Thank God Harbor. Hall would die and would be buried at Thank God Harbor under mysterious circumstances. When the crew, which itself narrowly avoided disaster, returned, they had differing accounts of just what had happened to Hall. Some suggested murder, although the naval courts ruled that out. The on-board doctor diagnosed the death as apoplexy. When Halls body was found and exhumed, an autopsy was performed, which indicated the explorer had consumed large amounts of arsenic in the final two weeks of his life. The man who had no military naval experience nor navigational training, however, still lived a life that made great contributions to the efforts of Arctic exploration, including the study of the Inuit people and that it was possible to live in the harsh conditions of the Arctic if one adopted the ways of the Inuitan idea that was not accepted by Anglo populations until Hall. During one of his lectures before the Polaris expedition, Hall said, The Arctic Region is my home. I love it dearly; its storms, its winds, its glaciers, its icebergs; and when I am there among them, it seems as if I were in an earthly heaven or a heavenly earth. Putin Stations Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus, Raising Alarm From White House Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on Feb. 17, 2023. (Vladimir Astapkovich/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin earned fresh condemnation from President Joe Bidens administration on Thursday after moving forward with a plan to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring ally Belarus. Putin first described plans to move tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in March. On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told the Russian state-owned news outlet Sputnik that the tactical nuclear deployment had begun. The deployment marks the first time Russian tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed outside of Russia since 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia has armed Belarus with Iskander-M missiles, which are hypersonic missiles that can carry conventional or nuclear warheads. He also said Russia had transferred some Su-25 aircraft that have been converted to be able to launch nuclear weapons. Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training, Shoigu was quoted as saying by his ministry. Tactical Nuke Deployment Irresponsible and Provocative: White House Tactical nuclear weapons are envisioned as a means of delivering the destructive power of a nuclear weapon in a relatively limited battlefield space. These weapons are usually smaller in yield than the strategic nuclear weapons designed to destroy entire cities during the Cold War. Weve seen the reports of the Russia, Belarus arrangement and will continue to monitor, certainly, the implications here, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Thursday White House press briefing. Jean-Pierre said the U.S. side has not seen indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon and so the United States will not change its own nuclear posture in response. She did, however, condemn the move. 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 Ill just leave it there. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller similarly criticized the tactical nuclear weapon deployment in Belarus. We strongly condemn the arrangement, Miller told reporters at a Thursday press briefing. Its the latest example of irresponsible behavior that we have seen from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over a year ago. Miller added that the use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be met with severe consequences, though he did not elaborate on what those consequences might be. Tit-For-Tat Escalations Russian officials have tied the tactical nuclear deployment in Belarus to U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) support for the Ukrainian government, which has been fighting Russian invasion forces since February of last year. The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, said at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, according to Russias defense ministry. The U.S. and NATO have gradually escalated support for Ukrainian forces, beginning by sending man-portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft launchers at the start of the war in February. As time has progressed, western allies have provided Ukrainian forces with self-destructing anti-personnel drones, advanced HIMARS rocket launchers, armored fighting vehicles, and tanks. Biden ruled out transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in January of this year, but reversed course after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G-7 summit of world leaders in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend. After relenting to Zelenskyys requests for fighter jets, Biden said, I have a flat assurance from Zelenskyy that they will not use [the F-16s] to go on and move into Russian geographic territory. Russian officials have also raised alarm this week after a group of self-described Russian rebels carried out a cross-border raid from Ukraine into the Belgorod region of western Russia. Photographs and videos purported to show some of these cross-border raiders using U.S.-made Humvee and MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. On Wednesday, Miller said the U.S. side was investigating whether U.S. equipment was in-fact used in the cross-border raid and said we dont support the use of U.S.-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia. Reuters contributed to this article. From NTD News Rapper Fetty Wap Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Drug-Trafficking Scheme Fetty Wap arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Aug. 26, 2019. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y.As friends and family looked on, rapper Fetty Wap on Wednesday apologized for his actions and said he was exactly where Im 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 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. Fetty Wap arrives at the 2016 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2016. (John Salangsang/Invision/AP) 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. Maxwells 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 Maxwells fame as a performer. The defendant did actually sell drugs, Caffarone said. The defendant did actually sell cocaine. Seybert told Maxwell, Youve got a lot going for you. See if you can put it together. Republicans Demand Answers on Politically Motivated Delay Picking Space Command HQ Rep. Mike Rodgers (R-Ala.) leaves the office of U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 27, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Al.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is demanding answers from the Pentagon over delays in selecting the new headquarters for the U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM). The location of the SPACECOM headquarters has been a point of contention in recent years. The SPACECOM headquarters are currently located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. However, on January 13, 2021, the Space Force announced the headquarters would be relocated to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The decision to relocate SPACECOM to Huntsville came in the final days of Donald Trumps presidential term. The pause on the relocation process has persisted under President Joe Bidens administration. The delay in relocating SPACECOM to Huntsville has led Rogers and fellow Alabama Republican Rep. Dale Strong (R-Al.) to allege political pressure has altered the course of the project. On May 19, Rogers sent a letter (pdf) to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, demanding they provide documentation that may explain the delay in the SPACECOM relocation process. Rogers specifically asked the military officials for any documents or communications with any officials in the Biden Administration concerning SPACECOM Headquarters and any documents pertaining to a new announcement on where SPACECOM will be relocated. Was SPACECOM Decision Politically Motivated? Several political leaders in Colorado decried the Trump-era decision to move SPACECOM out of their state, including Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, Republican Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers and Republican Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn. Reports that the in-depth military process found Colorado Springs to be the best location for military readiness and cost and recommended Colorado to the President only to be overruled for politically motivated reasons are deeply concerning, Polis and Democratic Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera said in a January 13, 2021 press statement. The Denver Post reported that Suthers said Trump led the decision to relocate SPACECOM to Alabama and suggested he did so to reward Republican members of the Alabama congressional delegation who supported his challenges to the 2020 election results. The Department of Defense Inspector General investigated the SPACECOM basing decision and, in a May 2022 report, determined the DoD complied with law and policy, and was reasonable in identifying Huntsville as the preferred permanent location. In June 2022, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published its own analysis, which concluded that the January 2021 selection of Redstone Arsenal as the preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters was consistent with the Air Forces analysis but our assessment of the Air Forces revised selection process and attendant analysis against our [Analysis of Alternatives] best practices identified significant shortfalls in its transparency and credibility. The GAO advised the Air Force to implement additional transparency measures to help prevent bias, or the appearance of bias, from undermining their credibility. In March, Kendall said that a location decision for SPACECOM would come fairly soon, but were doing some additional analysis; we want to make very sure we got this right and have a well-defended decision. Rogers has criticized the continued delay and said that the politicization of the decision is coming from the Biden administration. The fact is, the Air Force already made the correct decision well over two years ago. That decision was affirmed by the GAO and the DoD Inspector General over a year ago, Rogers said Thursday. This decision was based on multiple factors, and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, was the clear winner in the Evaluation and Selection phase. I am deeply concerned that the continued delays in making this move final are politically motivated and damaging to our national security. The Administrations delay risks politicizing a process which must remain fact-based. Injecting politics into Americas basing decisions serves to do unprecedented harm to our national security, Strong added. From NTD News BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. France is concerned about Iran having tested a ballistic missile with a declared range of 2,000 kilometers, calling it a violation of UN resolution, Trend reports. "France condemns this new violation of resolution 2231 adopted in 2015 by the United Nations Security Council. These activities are all the more worrying in the context of the uninterrupted escalation of Iran's nuclear program," Anne-Claire Legendre, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on France, told reporters at a daily briefing. Meanwhile, on May 25, Iran has conducted a test for a ballistic missile with the potential of 2,000-kilometer range. US State Department Spokesman also expressed concern on this move, saying that "Irans development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security and remains a significant nonproliferation challenge". The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the nuclear deal, was signed by Iran and world powers in July 2015. The agreement required Iran to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, the United States withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, leading Iran to reduce its nuclear commitments. Talks for the revival of the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Vienna. Despite the lack of a breakthrough since the latest round of negotiations in August 2022, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian's positive outlook signifies Iran's determination to find a resolution and restore the nuclear deal while advocating for the removal of sanctions through diplomatic channels. Republicans Move to Recognize and Honor Marine Vet Charged in Death of Homeless Man Daniel Penny is walked by police detectives out of the 5th Precinct in New York on May 12, 2023. (Jeenah Moon/AP Photo) A House resolution aims to correct the record of what occurred earlier this month when U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny placed a homeless man, Jordan Neely, in a fatal chokehold on a New York subway train. Neelys May 1 deathruled a homicide by the medical examiners officesparked protests across the city and ultimately resulted in Penny being charged with manslaughter by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. However, according to a resolution (pdf) introduced May 26 by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), the 24-year-old veteran deserves to be commended for his actions, not convicted. Specifically, the resolution recognizes and honors Penny for his heroism and courage in apprehending a threat to public safety. According to witness reports, Neelya 30-year-old black man with a history of mental illnesswas acting erratically on the train that day, frightening other passengers with statements like, Im ready to go back to jail, and Ill hurt anyone on this train. Pennys attorneys have argued that he was acting in self-defense when he restrained Neely, and that no harm was intended by the maneuver, which he learned in the Marines. In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, Ogles decried the charges against Penny as a disgusting abuse of power by Bragg and 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, the congressman noted. 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. 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. Bragg is the same district attorney who is prosecuting former President Donald Trump on falsification of business records charges. Other Republicans have spoken out in support of Penny as well, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). On May 6, as protesters swarmed the New York subway to decry Neelys death, Greene took to Twitter to defend his actions. The Marine who stepped in to protect others is a hero, she wrote. The left always chooses career violent criminals and/or drug addicts as their heroes & martyrs, and communists anarchist like AOC blow the dog whistle. Jordan Neely was a violent criminal who should have been behind bars. Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy asserted that Neelys death was a direct result of government officials reckless abandonment of respect for the law. The former subway performer, he noted, would still be alive behind bars or else in a mental health institution if New York Citys police had actually been allowed to do their jobs. He added: When the chief agency in charge of enforcing the federal law, the FBI, itself abandons the rule of law, then how can we possibly expect anyone else in the country to abide by the rule of law either? Ogles resolutionbacked by Reps. Greene, Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.)has been referred to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee for consideration. Retired Metropolitan Police Officers Admit Possessing Child Abuse Images Met boss reveals content was most serious the force had ever seen Undated images of (L) Jeremy Laxton and (R) Jack Addis, retired Metropolitan Police officers who admitted possessing child abuse images at Southwark Crown Court in London on May 25, 2023. Two retired officers with the Metropolitan Police officers have admitted possession of thousands of child abuse images after a lengthy and complex investigation which was linked to a third officer who apparently committed suicide rather than face charges. Jeremy Laxton, 63, who now lives in Lincolnshire, and Jack Addis, 63, from Perthshire in Scotland, admitted the charges during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London on Thursday and will be sentenced later in the year. A third officer who was under suspicion, Richard Watkinson, 49, was found dead at his home in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, in January, on the same day he was due to be charged with conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent photos of a child, voyeurism, and two counts of misconduct in public office. At the time Watkinson was the West Area Command Units chief inspector in charge of neighbourhood policing in west London. Laxton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent photos of a child, possession of prohibited images of a child, possession of extreme pornographic images, and intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence of misconduct in a public office. He was released on conditional bail ahead of the sentencing hearing. Addiswho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or show indecent images of childrenappeared by video link from Dumfries prison in Scotland, where he is serving an 18-month sentence for three counts of voyeurism and possessing indecent photographs of a child. Commander Jon Savell, the Metropolitan Polices head of professionalism, 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. Sexual Gratification From Suffering 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, Savell added. He said: 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. The convictions of Laxton and Addis followed a complex investigation by the Met in partnership with Police Scotland and Lincolnshire Police. Laxton was first arrested in September 2021 and Addis two months later. Their homes were searched and thousands of child abuse images were found on the hard drives which the pair had concealed in their homes. Detectives found 2,516 images and videos graded as Category A, which is the most serious level of violence and sexual abuse, as well as 1,032 Category B images and videos and 1,701 Category C. Laxton had his own collection over 6,000 Category A, 4,039 Category B and 3,597 Category C images and videos. Earlier this year The Sun reported that when Watkinson when arrested and his home searched in July 2021 a hard drive containing his stash of child abuse images was hidden behind a trapdoor. He was suspended from duty and released on bail and was duty to return on Jan. 12 this year, when he would have been charged. But he was found dead the same day. In a statement released on Thursday, the Met said: As part of the same investigation, charges had also been authorised against a then-serving officer attached to the West Area Command Unit, Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson. Coroner to Investigate Watkinson Death Commenting on Watkinsons death, the Met said: This matter is led by Thames Valley Police, who are treating the death as unexplained but not suspicious, and are preparing a file for the coroner. We will provide every assistance while that process is ongoing. Watkinsons death and the charging of two retired officers come only days after David Carrick, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, admitted to 49 offences, including 24 rape charges against 12 women over the space of 20 years. Carrick had served as an armed officer in the same Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command as Wayne Couzens, who was given a whole life sentence. Carrick was later jailed for life, with a minimum term of 30 years. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, has promised to root out corrupting behaviours in the force after a series of scandals which led to the resignation of his predecessor, Cressida Dick. Savell said he shared the publics deep disappointment in the conduct of Laxton, Addis and Watkinson and added: The commissioner has set out how the Met will achieve its mission for more trust, less crime and high standards over the next two years through the turnaround plan. A draft plan has been published and, following further consultation, will be finalised soon. The plan is clear on the need for us to get the basics right to better serve Londoners. San Clemente Appoints Former Police Officer as New City Councilman Retired law enforcement officer Rick Loeffler was appointed to fill a vacant seat in a 3-1 vote by the remaining four San Clemente city councilors during a special meeting on May 23. Loeffler promised city councilors that he would treat the appointment as a placeholder and would not run for reelection in 2024. The position should go to a qualified placeholder until the voters have the opportunity to decide who will fill the seat for the full term at the next general election, Loeffler said during the meeting. All the candidates in 2024 should start on an even playing field and not have the advantage of running as an incumbent based on the vote of three councilmembers. Loeffler said his focus as a councilman will be to make decisions without bias as a non-party registered voter, to commit to doing the work and responding to all citizens concerns, and to take action instead of pushing off important decisions which could help the city. During the meeting, councilors asked him about how he would address crime, homelessness, sand retention at their beaches, and national issues on a local levelsuch as critical race theory (CRT) in schools. We have to get away from what the concepts that are national, because Congress and Senate all have their opinions, and we need to keep that out of the city, said Loeffler. Our issues are local issues, sand, beaches, homeless, and how we manage that. Loeffler said he believes city deputies are doing the best they can to combat crime with the restraints they have, and that they should continue working to enforce the citys laws. Regarding CRT and whether the city should invest in it, Loeffler wasnt in support. CRT doesnt have a place in schools, said Loeffler. When youre talking about critical race it should be addressed at home because its a difficult curriculumit depends on where you live and its different everywhere you go. Regarding the homeless situation, Loeffler believes the city needs to take action to provide shelter access as the first step to reducing homelessness. Loeffler has been a resident of San Clemente for 23 years and attended California State UniversityLos Angeles and the University of Southern California, with a bachelors degree in political science. He retired from law enforcement in 2011 after nearly 38 years of service. Following retirement, he became active in city functions to improve the quality of life for residents, according to his application. Loeffler is currently the president of the Beaches, Parks, and Recreation Foundation, a nonprofit organization in San Clemente which organizes fundraising events and donates the money back to the city. He is also the chair of the Public Safety Committee which serves as an advisory committee to the city council to recommend ways to enhance law enforcement, fire, and marine safety. Senate Republicans Press FBI to Investigate Pentagon Official Who Allegedly Leaked Classified Information Dr. Colin Kahl, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, is seen in a file photograph. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Senate Republicans are pressing the FBI to investigate whether Colin Kahl, the Pentagons top policy official, disclosed classified information to the public, according to a May 22 letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray. The senators said their concerns have grown after Kahl reportedly leaked classified information about Chinese spy balloons to deflect blame about the Biden administrations mishandling of a similar spy balloon in U.S. airspace in February. They pointed to a March 8 letter by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), in which Kahl was identified as a source for reports about Chinese spy balloons that may have been flying over the United States during the Trump administration. It remains unclear whether this leak was cleared internally through the proper channels. Either way, it was a brazen attempt to shift blame, reads the March letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Most egregiously, Dr. Kahl omitted a key detail in his distribution of this sensitive information to the press the prior Chinese balloons were only discovered much later. The Trump administration did not have an opportunity to respond at the time. They noted 18 Senate Republicans sent a letter to Wray in April 2021 seeking an FBI probe into whether Kahl disclosed classified or sensitive national security information to the public, especially on social media. Wednesdays letter, they said, was to request an update on the previous letter. Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Wicker, and Rubio, said in the letter that they continue to believe that Kahls actions require investigation by the FBI to determine whether any laws were broken. The FBI confirmed it received the senators letter and has no further comment on it. The Department of Defense didnt respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 23, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool/Getty Images) In 2021, Republican senators asked the FBI to look into four questions: Did Kahl disclose classified information on social media or to other media outlets? Did Kahl communicate with U.S. government officials about classified information, especially regarding the activities of the National Security Council? Did Kahl receive any classified information from U.S. government officials? Did he violate his classified information nondisclosure agreement? They highlighted Kahls past Twitter posts, accusing Kahl of leaking classified information, including details of a 2017 National Security Council meeting concerning U.S. operations in Yemen. Kahl, who at that time was President Joe Bidens nominee for the top Pentagon post, denied sharing classified information. I have never publicly shared information I knew to be classified and take my obligations to protect classified information seriously, Kahl wrote in a March 2021 letter to the chairman and ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. But Republicans, in an April 2021 letter (pdf) to Wray, said Kahls response raises more questions than it answers and may even further implicate him in the mishandling of classified information and controlled unclassified information. By publicly sharing internal military plans and deliberation, Kahl appears to have exposed U.S. national security interests, reads the letter. Kahl will step down from the Defense Departments No. 3 post in mid-July, Austin announced earlier this month. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attends a press conference at State Department in Washington on April 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) Since his appointment, Dr. Kahl has been a trusted adviser and a resolute leader in our mission to safeguard American interests, both inside the Pentagon and across the interagency. His strategic insights, deep understanding of international relations, and staunch commitment to strengthening our national defense have been crucial in shaping our policies, seizing geopolitical opportunities, and tackling a range of challenges around the world, Austin said in a May 17 statement. Under Kahl, the Defense Department rolled out its national defense strategy, with a focus on the pacing challenge posed by the Chinese communist regime and the acute threat of Russia, Austin said. Kahl also played a key role in ensuring steadfast U.S. support for Ukraine through billions of dollars of security assistance, he added. Kahl previously served during the Obama administration as national security adviser to then-Vice President Joe Biden and the Pentagons Middle East policy official. Masooma Haq contributed to this report. Shell Agrees to Pay $10 Million for Air Pollution at Massive New Pennsylvania Petrochemical Plant Construction is under way on Shell Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex and ethylene cracker plant in Potter Township, Pa., on May 12, 2020. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo) Shell has agreed to pay $10 million to resolve allegations that it polluted the air around its massive new petrochemical refinery in western Pennsylvania, the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday. Shell acknowledged that the plant, located along the Ohio River about 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh, violated air emissions limits, officials said. The multibillion-dollar facility opened in November, only to be shut down months later after the company said it identified a problem with a system thats designed to burn off unwanted gases. Shell said it has made repairs and planned to restart the plant on Wednesday. Under an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Shell Chemicals Appalachia LLCa subsidiary of British oil and gas giant Shell plcwill pay a civil penalty of about $5 million, a portion of which will go toward environmental projects in Beaver County. The company will funnel a total of $6.2 million to the community, according to state officials. Pennsylvania is taking steps to hold Shell accountable and protect Pennsylvanians constitutional right to clean air and water while encouraging innovation and economic development in the commonwealth, Rich Negrin, the states acting environmental secretary, said in a written statement. The plant uses ethane from a vast shale gas reservoir underneath Pennsylvania and surrounding states to make polyethylene, a plastic used in everything from consumer and food packaging to tires. At full capacity, the plant is expected to produce 3.5 billion pounds of polyethylene annually. Shell had projected to spend $6 billion on the refinery, which took years to build. Environmental advocacy groups had fought the plant and predicted that it would generate more plastic pollution, as well as compounds that form smog and greenhouse gases. The Clean Air Council filed suit against Shell earlier this month. Environmentalists likened the penalty announced Wednesday to a parking ticket that would have little impact on Shells bottom line. The overwhelming and toxic pollution residents have been exposed to has already harmed this communitythere is no price tag that will allow for this to be acceptable, said Andie Grey, who lives 3 miles from the Shell plant and is part of the Eyes on Shell watchdog group. Grey said, there is ample evidence Shell has no desire to protect this community. Shell has said it is using the best available technologies to try to minimize air pollution. Weve learned from previous issues and remain committed to protecting people and the environment, as well as being a responsible neighbor, Shell spokesperson Curtis Smith said Wednesday. The plant exceeded rolling 12-month emission limits for volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other hazardous pollutants, according to state regulators. The state said Shell also violated limits on visible emissions from its flares, allowed foul odors to be released by its wastewater treatment plant, and committed other violations. Shell warned it would continue to exceed air emissions limits through the fall as the plant ramps up production. It will be required to pay additional civil penalties for any future violations. Shell CEO Wael Sawan had cast the problems as expected technical niggles. The plants startup phase has been slower than we would have hoped for, Sawan said on a conference call with analysts earlier this month. But the team is dong a great job battling with some of the obvious technical niggles that startups typically have. By Michael Rubinkam South Korea, US Troops Hold Large Live-Fire Drills Near Border With North Korea SEOUL, South KoreaThe 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 KoreanU.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 United States 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. South Korean air force F-15K fighters drop bombs during South KoreaU.S. joint military drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, on May 25, 2023. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) 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 state-run Korean Central News Agency said the United States 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 United States 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 KoreaU.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 KoreaU.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 BidenYoon agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further strengthen the North Korean regimes 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. By Hyung-Jin Kim Special Rapporteur Johnston to Testify Before Committee on Foreign Interference Report David Johnston, special rapporteur on foreign interference, presents his first report in Ottawa on May 23, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Special Rapporteur David Johnston has been invited to testify before a House of Commons committee after tabling his first report which recommended against holding a public inquiry on foreign interference. The House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) passed a motion on May 26 re-inviting Johnston to appear no later than June 6. The final motion was adopted after hours of wrangling between the committee members over its language and implications, with the initial Conservative motion calling to summon Johnston to appear. The committee meeting, held during constituency week while the House was adjourned, had been requested by opposition parties to call Johnston to testify, right after he tabled his report on May 23. The committee had called Johnston to testify close to two months ago, but committee Chair Liberal MP Bardish Chagger said during the meeting Johnston had previously responded he would only be available after tabling his report. Johnston, a former governor general, was appointed special rapporteur by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 15 amid calls for a public inquiry into Beijings meddling in Canadas elections. Trudeau gave Johnston the mandate to review the threat along with the governments response and to provide a recommendation on whether to hold an inquiry. While Johnstons review found that foreign governments are undoubtedly meddling in Canadas democracy, he recommended against holding an inquiry, citing as a main argument the need to protect classified information. Opposition parties, which have voted in the House to hold a public inquiry, have called Johnstons advice a slap in the face of groups subjected to intimidation by hostile governments. The motion adopted also calls PROC to report to the House that it re-affirms its support for a national public inquiry and calls the government to begin consultations with parties within 24 hours with a view of launching the inquiry within two weeks. Such motions are non-binding. Liberal and NDP MPs on the committee worked jointly to add an amendment calling on the opposition leaders to obtain security clearances to read the confidential section of Johnstons report. While NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has expressed an interest in consulting the classified annex, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet have both refused, saying that reading it would bound them to secrecy and hence limit their ability to criticize the government. PROC has been studying foreign interference since early November 2022. Its work picked up as national security leaks on Chinese regime interference appeared in the media. The committee has recently been tasked by the House to investigate Beijings targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong as a result of one such leak. State Organs: New Documentary Exposes Chinese Communist Partys Medical Genocide Film receives nominations in multiple categories for the 2023 Leo Awards When two young people vanished during the Chinese communist regimes brutal campaign to exterminate adherents of a peaceful spiritual practice, their families embarked on a 20-year journey to search for them. Little did they expect it would reveal something far more sinister: a comprehensive state-sponsored industry targeting innocent citizens in China for their organs. A new documentary, titled State Organs, delves into the stories of Yun Zhang and Shawn Huang, who both disappeared about 20 years ago, shortly after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated a violent persecution campaign against Falun Gong practitioners on July 20, 1999. The poster of the new documentary film State Organs, depicts the Chinese Communist Partys crimes of forced organ harvesting and persecution of adherents of Falun Gong. (Courtesy of Rooyee Films) Zhang, also known by her full name Yunhe, resided in Qingdao City in Chinas northeastern Shandong Province, where she had shared a happy life with her husband, Sonny Zou, until their family was shattered by the relentless persecution. On the evening of July 21, 1999merely a day after the CCP announced its campaign against Falun Gongpolice laid siege to the couples home and detained Zou. While detained at a local police station, Zou was subjected to brutal beatings and torture, according to reports from Minghui.org, a website that documents the persecution against Falun Gong. Zou was briefly released a year later, but he was deceived by the police into visiting the Qingdao Police Station in July 2000, where he was arbitrarily sentenced to three years in a labour camp. On Nov. 4, 2000, the police informed Zhang that her husband fell seriously ill; he was pronounced dead the following day. Zous body was immediately cremated without his familys consent, and no explanation was provided as to the circumstances surrounding his death. Zou was just 28 years old, leaving behind his wife and their 11-month-old daughter. Zhang reportedly faced police intimidation and surveillance for protesting her husbands death. In February 2002, her family lost contact with her. Despite the family receiving information from various sources indicating Zhang was being held in a detention centre in Qingdao City, the Chinese authorities denied this, leaving her whereabouts shrouded in mystery to this day. A scene of Falun Gong practitioners performing a meditative exercise from the documentary film State Organs. (Courtesy of Rooyee Films) Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice rooted in Buddhist traditions that involves a set of five meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, forbearance. Following its introduction in China in 1999, the practice quickly gained widespread popularity due to its health benefits. By 1999, it was estimated that there were between 70 million to 100 million Falun Gong practitioners in China alone. However, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin saw Falun Gongs popularity as a threat to the communist regimes totalitarian rule, and pledged to eradicate the practice in the country. On April 25, 1999, thousands of Falun Gong adherents from across the country travelled to Beijing to petition the authorities against suppressing the practice. Their peaceful gathering was met with riot police armed with high-pressure water cannons and clubs, resulting in dozens of arrests. Over the next two years, a massive operation targeting Falun Gong practitioners ensued, with incidents involving arrests that ranged from a few hundred to up to 50,000 individuals, according to a 2001 report by the American University Washington College of Law. Shawn Huang, another central figure in the documentary, participated in the 1999 petition. He was arrested in February 2000. Following his release, Huang was resolute in dispelling the CCPs propaganda demonizing Falun Gong. In April 2003, he embarked on a mission to bypass a local television station to broadcast uncensored news about the CCPs persecution of the spiritual practice. But a final phone call with his brother just before setting off on that quest was the last that Huangs family ever heard from him. Forced Organ Harvesting Chinas organ harvesting industry saw an exponential growth in the early 2000s, occurring simultaneously with the CCPs extermination policy against Falun Gong. As it is a Chinese custom for bodies to remain intact after death, the country did not start a pilot organ donation system until 2010, calling into question the sources of the massive quantity of organs used in the burgeoning transplant business. In 2006, Winnipeg-based human rights lawyer David Matas and the late former Canadian MP and cabinet minister David Kilgour released a ground-breaking report, Bloody Harvest, concluding that the Chinese regime was implicit in forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners of conscience on a large scale. The report was later published as a book of the same name in 2009. An update report was published in 2016 with the joint efforts of the two authors and investigative journalist Ethan Gutmann. The report garnered testimonies from Falun Gong practitioners who survived detention in China, showing that they had been systemically blood tested and organ examined, whereas non-Falun Gong detainees did not undergo that same procedure, according to the 2006 report. Testimonies from people who travelled to China for transplants also showed that organs were available on short noticeoften obtainable in a matter of just weeksand in secrecy, with a heavy involvement of military personnel and institutions, according to the 2016 report. Human rights lawyer David Matas, co-author of an investigation report on organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China, holds up a copy of the report during a hearing in Canadas Parliament on May 29, 2007. (The Epoch Times) The film State Organs presents the testimonies of the families and friends of the hundreds upon thousands of Falun Gong practitioners who have been subjected to the brutality of the communist regime, with many ending up as victims of the forced organ harvesting enterprise. The viewers are treated like a jury sitting in a court hearing. The prosecutors job is not to convict a person, but to present all the relevant facts honestly and accurately, even if the facts may lead to acquittal. Thats how we picture our role. We do not position ourselves as an advocate, Cindy Song, producer of the documentary, told The Epoch Times. The creation of this film, aptly described as 20 years in the making, mirrors the enduring international efforts to combat Chinas medical genocide over the past decades. In December 2022, Canada passed anti-forced organ harvesting legislation, previously known as Bill S-223, making it a criminal offence for a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to travel abroad to receive an organ taken from an individual who did not give informed consent to the removal of their organs. I am proud that our Parliament is taking on the issue seriously. By standing together with the real Chinese people, they [the lawmakers] are more pro-China than the Chinese Communist Party is, Song said. The 75-minute documentary film has received nominations in multiple categories for the 2023 Leo Awards, including Best Feature Length Documentary, Best Direction, Best Screenwriting, Best Picture Editing, Best Sound, and Best Musical. Isaac Teo contributed to this report. Sunak Wants More Knighthoods for Northerners in Bid to Level Up Honours System British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference following the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 21, 2023. (Issei Kato - Pool/Getty Images) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to level up the honours system by giving more knighthoods, damehoods, and other honours to people living in under-represented areas of the country, according to a new report. In the foreword to a new report on the operation of the honours system, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said that Sunak is determined to make sure our honours represent the length and breadth of the country. The prime minister has tasked the Cabinet Office with levelling up the system so that it captures every corner of the UKparticularly regions that have too often been underrepresented, Dowden wrote. The Levelling Up Plan Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson adopted the levelling up slogan in the 2019 election, which saw the Conservative Party make huge gains in Labours previously impregnable red wall heartlands. It is a shorthand for tackling regional inequalities, particularly between the former industrial red wall areas in the north of England on the one hand, and London and the southeast on the other. Unveiling the governments levelling up plan in February 2022, Johnson said it had been the defining mission of this government to break the link between geography and destiny and equalize opportunities across the country. Michael Gove, the minister in charge of the levelling up agenda, said that it was about ending this historic injustice and calling time on the postcode lottery. Challenging More than one year on, the report notes that regional diversity remains challenging in the honours system, as statistical analysis shows that some parts of the UK are consistently better represented in honours lists than others. In particular, Northern Ireland and London tend to have a greater number of recipients than would be expected from their share of the population. Conversely, the north east and north west of England, east of England, and East Midlands are all less well represented relative to their population sizes. In the New Years honours list for 2023, for example, 21 percent of recipients were from Londondespite the city making up 13 percent of the UK population. Some 6.5 percent of recipients were from Northern Ireland, which only accounted for 2.8 percent of the UK population. By contrast, the East Midlands had 2.3 percent of recipients despite having a 7.2 percent population share. Sunaks Priorities According to the report, Sunak also set a key priority when rewarding public servants, to recognise those who have saved the taxpayer money. The government is here to serve the British people; it is our duty to make sure we are delivering value for money on their behalf wherever we can, Dowden wrote. He added: At the same time, the prime minister wants future awards to be targeted at those who are helping tackle todays biggest challenges. He has asked the honours system to prioritise those who provide high-quality healthcare and education; who tackle crime; who support families to contribute to society and help children achieve their potential; and to recognise our most inspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and philanthropists. All of these people deserve recognition for the incredible contribution they make across every part of the UK and they will be our focus moving forward. The report said the government has taken a number of steps over the past few years to increase both the number and diversity of nominations received, reflecting the broader focus on reform within the system. It said around 70 percent of recipients on each honours list are recognised for community, voluntary, and charitable service. In the New Years honours list for 2023, 45.1 percent of higher awards went to women, and 16.4 percent of recipients were from ethnic minority backgrounds. Some 29.2 percent of recipients considered themselves to be from a lower socio-economic background, the report said. PA Media contributed to this report. Teen, 17, Dies During Apparent Social Media Stunt on Los Angeles Bridge: Police Cars move along the 6th Street Viaduct in Los Angeles on July 27, 2022. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo) A 17-year-old boy fell off one of the 6th Street Bridges arches and died May 20 while attempting to film a social media stunt, authorities said Tuesday. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responded to the fall around 2 a.m. Saturday, Officer Melissa Podany told The Epoch Times. Paramedics transported the boy to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. [The teen fell] when climbing upon one of the arches, in order to post, apparently, a social media broadcast, Police Chief Michel Moore said at Tuesdays meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners. He slipped and fell to his death. It was unclear which social media platforms was he planning to use for the broadcast, according to the police. Moore said that the department has since added more patrols at the location to prevent such reckless actions. The teen was identified as Anthony by his father Paul Luna, KTLA reported. He was just a joker, Luna told the outlet. For people who met him, who had the opportunity to meet him, that was the No. 1 thing. Luna also said it was unlikely his son was filming for social media, saying his son didnt care about such attention, according to KTLA. The 6th Street Bridgewhich connects the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles with the Boyle Heights neighborhoodhad been a hotspot for illegal street takeovers, street racing, TikTok challenges, and graffiti tags following its reopening in July 2022. The LAPD had to shut it down multiple times since then due to reoccurring illegal events. Tragically we see that location, while it has spawned a great deal of pride in Los Angeles, it has also unfortunately served as a backdrop now for tragedies such as this, Moore said. The original bridge was opened in 1932 and was demolished in 2016 over the structures seismic instability concerns. The well-known local landmark has been featured in numerous films, videos, television shows, and artworks. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Nasser Kanaani, Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, has commented upon the statements of France and the US over Iran having violated nuclear deal, Trend reports. "They are against a powerful Iran," the spokesman wrote on his Twitter page. On May 25, Iran has conducted a test for a ballistic missile with the potential of 2,000-kilometer range. France MFA Spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre has called this acts "worrying in the context of the uninterrupted escalation of Iran's nuclear program". US State Department Spokesman also expressed concern on this move, saying that "Irans development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security and remains a significant nonproliferation challenge". The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the nuclear deal, was signed by Iran and world powers in July 2015. The agreement required Iran to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, the United States withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, leading Iran to reduce its nuclear commitments. Talks for the revival of the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Vienna. Despite the lack of a breakthrough since the latest round of negotiations in August 2022, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian's positive outlook signifies Iran's determination to find a resolution and restore the nuclear deal while advocating for the removal of sanctions through diplomatic channels. Texas AG Sues Biden Administration Over App Allowing Immigrants to Register Unlawful Crossings Texas National Guard troops set up a "choke point" near an illegal border crossing near El Paso, Texas, on May 9, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration over a new asylum rule that he argues encourages immigrants to unlawfully enter the United States through the use of a mobile app. Paxton claims in his lawsuit that the Biden administration intentionally streamlined the preapproval process for immigrants who might otherwise be denied entry (pdf). The Biden Administration deliberately conceived of this phone app with the goal of illegally preapproving more foreign aliens to enter the country and go where they please once they arrive, Paxton announced on May 23 in a press release. Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the entire Biden Administration have prioritized creating and protecting new ways for illegal aliens to stream into this country, no matter the cost or consequence to struggling American citizens. Time after time, my office has shown that we will fight back in court to defeat their unlawful open-borders policies. We intend to stop this rule from wreaking further havoc on the people of Texas. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) CBP One app, launched in late October 2020, was recently expanded to allow immigrants to schedule appointments at a point of entry to be processed. The app is available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The lawsuit targets the Biden administrations Final Rule that rolled out as the Title 42 public health order ended on May 10. Under the newly-implemented rule, migrants are presumed to be ineligible for asylum if they failed to claim asylum in a country through which they traveled or if they crossed into the U.S. illegally. Unaccompanied children are not subject to the rule. However, migrants who schedule an appointment through the CBP One app will not be barred from asylum under the new rule. The final rule is designed to address the current and anticipated surge in immigration throughout the hemisphere and further discourage irregular migration by: encouraging migrants to use lawful, safe, and orderly processes for entering the United States and other partner nations, imposing conditions on asylum eligibility for those who fail to do so; and supporting the swift return of migrants who fail to do so; and supporting the swift return of migrants who do not have valid protection claims, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) Fact Sheet: Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule. The fact sheet dated May 11 goes on to add that DHS has taken significant steps to expand safe and orderly pathways for migrants to lawfully enter the United States. Paxton is pushing back, citing that federal law is clear that those entering the country illegally should be expelled from the United States, except in rare circumstances. He says the app is the Biden administrations attempt to circumvent the law to streamline the process of illegal immigration. However, the Biden border app does not and cannot verify that an illegal immigrant would qualify for an exception, which would prevent them from being deported, Paxton said in the release. Paxtons lawsuit aims to permanently enjoin the rule and prevent it from drawing continued immigration surges at the U.S.-Mexico border. Troubles in the House Earlier this week, Paxton called for the resignation of Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, accusing him of being drunk while presiding over proceedings on the House floor on May 19. Videos circulating online showed Phelan appearing to have difficulty speaking during the proceedings. His behavior appeared normal during most of the two-part session that lasted approximately 14 hours. None of the other lawmakers appeared to question Phelans behavior, and his speech seemed normal minutes later. The Republican lawmakers office has offered no explanation. Some have speculated he may have had a medical emergency. Paxton also requested the Texas House General Investigating Committee to open an investigation into the matter. The speakers office said Paxtons call for Phelans resignation was motivated by the House Ethics Committees investigation of a $3.3 million whistleblower settlement the attorney general reached with four former employees who accused him of corruption. This afternoon, the Texas House General Investigating Committee directed the issuance of a preservation letter to the Office of the Attorney General, the state agency that is the subject of Matter A, to ensure that all evidence relevant to the committees inquiry is not destroyed or concealed, Cait Wittman, spokesperson for Phelan, told The Epoch Times in a statement. Wittman said Paxtons claims about Phelan amount to little more than a last-ditch effort to save face. On Thursday, a 42-year-old woman was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety for allegedly starting a dumpster fire outside Paxtons offices on May 23. A video posted to the AG Twitter account showed a video of the woman discarding what appears to be a cigarette into a waste receptacle. As it turns out, the fire was unintentionally started by a cigarette that the woman tossed into the dumpster behind the building. But the incident sparked some reports speculating about the cause of the fire. I strongly condemn the irresponsible and reckless speculation by journalists and other public figures who misled the public about the nature of this crime, Paxton said in a statement. the employees who work in this building could have been injured or killed if this fire had not been detected early and extinguished. I have no doubt that those with a responsibility for informing the public of the truth will issue retractions and apologize for spreading disinformation about this incident. The woman was charged with criminal mischief equal to or greater than $25,000 but less than $30,000, according to the Attorney Generals office. Texas Lawmakers Issue 20 Articles of Impeachment Against AG Ken Paxton Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office in Austin, Texas, on May 26, 2023. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing possible impeachment after a Texas House committee voted unanimously to recommend the move following several hours of testimony regarding his alleged wrongdoings. Late on May 25, the House General Investigating Committee filed 20 articles of impeachment against the states top prosecutor (pdf). The accusations against Paxton, 60, include misuse of official powers, bribery, and abuse of public trust over several years. There is a reason CNN called Texas a legal graveyard for Biden policies, Paxton said in a statement posted on Twitter. I am doing exactly what the voters elected me to do. It 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. The House of Representatives will vote on the committees recommendation on May 27. Texas faces a critical moment for the rule of law and the will of Texas voters. Only months ago, Texans went to the polls and made a choice. They made their choice during a primary where over 1.5 million Texans cast their vote. They made a choice again where over 8 million people voted in the general election, Paxton said. He accused the committee members of attempting to oust him from office over false claims. Just yesterday, four liberal lawyers put forward a report to the House General Committee based on hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims. Today, that Committee has asked the House of Representatives to use their unsubstantiated report to overturn the results of a free and fair election, he continued. Paxton said that neither he nor his office had been given an opportunity to address the allegations. This process has provided no opportunity for rebuttal or due process. They even refused to allow a senior attorney from my office to provide the facts, he said. They rejected every attempt to seek a full accounting of the truth. Paxton Makes Accusation On May 23, Paxton accused House Speaker Dade Phelan of being drunk while presiding on the House floor on May 19, calling for the fourth-term Republican lawmakers resignation over his conduct. The speakers office said Paxtons call for Phelans resignation was motivated by the House Ethics Committees investigation of a $3.3 million whistleblower settlement the attorney general reached with four former employees who accused him of corruption. Phelan did not respond to Paxtons allegations of misconduct. By attacking the Office of the Attorney General, corrupt politicians in the Texas House, led by liberal Speaker Dade Phelan, are actively destroying Texas position as the most powerful backstop against the Biden agenda in the entire country, Paxton said in the statement. They want nothing more than to sabotage our legal challenges to Bidens extremist agenda by taking me out as the states Attorney General. Much of the House Committees inquiry during a May 24 hearing revolved around allegations made by the whistleblowers who accused Paxton of using his offices resources to help campaign donor and real estate developer Nate Paul on several occasions in 2020. When Did Investigation Begin? In March, Paxton asked the House Appropriation subcommittee to fund the multimillion-dollar whistleblower settlement. At about the same time, the House Committee began its investigation into the allegations surrounding the case. In October 2020, eight top deputies in Paxtons agency told the FBI that they believed the attorney general had used his office to help Paul, who had donated $25,000 to Paxtons reelection campaign in 2018. All of the whistleblowers were fired or resigned, but the allegations led to a federal investigation into Paxton. In February, the Department of Justice took over the investigation, but no federal charges have been filed against Paxton or Paul. Paul had come under federal investigation in 2019 relating to a legal conflict between his businesses and a charitable organization. The real estate developer was entangled in lawsuits and facing as many as 13 foreclosures by 2020, according to the House Committee hearing transcript (pdf). When a case involves a charitable organization, the office of the attorney general is notified. According to testimony, Paul allegedly renovated Paxtons home in 2020 as a gift. What Happens Next? If the GOP-majority House gets enough votes to move forward, the Senate would hold a trial to determine whether to remove the Republican lawmaker who was elected to a third term in November. Paxtons wife, Angela Paxton, who is a member of the Senate, would be required to vote on her husbands fate. Texas law states that each member of the [S]enate shall be in attendance when the [S]enate is meeting as a court of impeachment. Angela Paxton has not yet publicly commented on the allegations against her husband, which include the cover-up of an alleged affair with a woman who got a job working for one of her husbands campaign donors. Senator Angela Paxton reportedly learned of the affair in 2019, that the affair ended briefly, but then it resumed in 2020 and was underway again in 2020, according to the transcript of the committees hearing on May 24. Gov. Greg Abbott has not commented on the articles of impeachment against Paxton. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told WFAA-TV that if the impeachment goes to a Senate trial, We will all be responsibleas any juror would beif that turns out to be. Patrick refused to comment on whether the Senate would have enough votes to convict. The Republican lawmaker would preside over the trial but would not cast a vote. Chris Hilton, Paxtons chief of general litigation, called the committees investigation illegal, NBC News reported. Hilton said the impeachment is completely foreclosed by Texas Law in Paxtons case because the allegations predate the most recent election, Hilton said. Removal from office would require a two-thirds majority of the Senate. There are 31 members of the Senate: 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats. If the House is conducting impeachment proceedings when the regular legislative session ends, it will be allowed to continue, adjourn, or reconvene at a later time, according to The Texas Tribune. The Texas Legislative session ends on May 29. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Founders and the Constitution, Part 11: George Mason Portrait of George Mason (17251792), American patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention. He is called the Father of the Bill of Rights. For all of these reasons he is considered to be one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. (Dominic W. Boudet, after John Hesselius [17281778]/Public Domain) Commentary If the Govt. is to be lasting, it must be founded in the confidence & affections of the people George Mason, at the Constitutional Convention, Aug. 13, 1787. George Mason of Virginia helped construct the Constitution. He then opposed ratifying the very document he helped construct. Through both courses of action, he strongly influenced the Constitutions final form. Mason was born on Dec. 11, 1725 (by the current calendar), in the region later known as Fairfax County, Virginia. About the time of Georges tenth birthday, his father was drowned in the Potomac River. His uncle, the noted legal scholar John Mercer, took charge of his education. Through Mercer and private tutors, the boy received a thorough grounding in Latin and the classics. The lad also helped his mother in managing their extensive family estate. George proved to have an ample talent for business. In 1750, he married Anne Eilbeck. He and Anne had nine children, of whom three died in infancy. She died in 1773. Seven years later, he wed Sarah Brent, then past her childbearing time. Mason was essentially a private man with no strong desire for public office. He preferred to manage his affairs from the home he had builtGunston Hall. He also was plagued by ill health. However, he agreed to serve in Virginias House of Burgesses (17581761) and in some of the varied assemblies that governed Virginia during the Revolution. He steadfastly declined election to the Continental and Confederation Congresses and, subsequently, to the U.S. Senate. Mason commanded great respect for his wisdom and ability. Men more active in politics distributed his writings and adopted his ideas. For example, in 1774 his neighbor and friend George Washington convinced the citizens of Fairfax County to endorse Masons statement of colonial rights known as the Fairfax Resolves. Mason also was the principal author of Virginias first constitution (1776). That document contained both a Declaration of Rights and a Form of Government. Much of the substance and phrasing of the Virginia Declaration of Rights appeared later in the United States Declaration of Independence and in the Bill of Rights. In early 1785, Mason served as one of Virginias commissioners for negotiating with Maryland over navigation of the Potomac River. In 1786, the state legislature likewise named him as a commissioner to the Annapolis Convention, but the notice of his appointment arrived too late for him to attend. Later that year, the legislature designated him as one of seven delegates to the Constitutional Convention, scheduled to meet the following May. The Constitutional Convention The records of the first 10 weeks of the Constitutional Convention contain little to suggest that Mason would oppose the final product. This senior statesman (he was then 62) firmly believed that a stronger central government was necessary. He spoke frequently and to good purpose. The views he expressed were well within the convention mainstream. Of course, sometimes his colleagues rejected his ideas. For example, he advocated a plural executive, but the convention opted for a single president. But far more of his views were accepted. Here are some of them: The central government should be able to enforce its laws directly rather than asking the states to do so; members of Congress should be paid by the federal rather than the state treasuries; each state should have two senators, selected by their state legislatures; Representatives should be elected by the people for two-year terms; each Representative should be at least 25 years old and at least seven years a citizen of the United States; the president should be able to veto bills, subject to override by a super-majority of Congress; the president should be required to take an oath of office; the Constitutions definition of treason should be based on specific language from a venerable English statute; the Constitution should include guards against Congress being co-opted by the executive; other high Crimes and Misdemeanors should be grounds for impeachment; Congress shouldnt be able to veto state laws; and the states should be able to amend the Constitution without the approval of Congress. Mason also was one of several delegates who pointed out that the convention had full authority to propose a new form of government. As the proceedings wore on, however, Mason began to raise serious objections to how the document was shaping up. For example, he fiercely opposed the bargain by which the Constitution temporarily accommodated the slave trade. Here is Madisons report of a portion of Masons speech, delivered on the convention floor on Aug. 22, 1787. This infernal trafic [sic] originated in the avarice of British Merchants. The British Govt. constantly checked the attempts of Virginia to put a stop to it Maryland & Virginia had already prohibited the importation of slaves expressly. N. Carolina had done the same in substance. All this would be in vain if S. Carolina & Georgia be at liberty to import. Slavery discourages arts [i.e., crafts] & manufactures. The poor despise labor when performed by slaves. They prevent the immigration of Whites, who really enrich & strengthen a Country. They produce the most pernicious effect on manners. Every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant. He held it essential in every point of view, that the Genl. Govt. should have power to prevent the increase of slavery. (Note how the facts recounted in Masons speech contradict some of the dubious claims of the New York Times notorious 1619 Project.) Masons Other Objections When the Constitutions final draft was almost complete, Mason summarized some of his reservations in a short paper. This paper was widely disseminated, and during the ratification debates opponents relied on it for talking points. At the Virginia ratifying convention in June 1788, Mason delivered about 45 floor speeches. He elaborated on his original objections and raised others as well. Among opponents, Patrick Henry provided most of the eloquence, while Mason provided most of the substance. On the Founding-era political spectrum (discussed in the first essay in this series), Mason was not, like Henry, a firm Antifederalist. Rather, like Gov. Edmund Randolph, he was a conditional federalist. In other words, both Randolph and Mason supported ratifying the Constitution if certain conditions were met. The difference between the two was that Randolphs conditions had been fulfilled or rendered irrelevant, but Masons had not. Most of Masons positions can be summarized by saying he thought the U.S. Constitution should be more like the one he had drafted for Virginia. His central fear was of a federal government that was too aristocraticin which control was concentrated in a cabal consisting of the president and a small Senate. He wanted the federal government to be more democratic. Accordingly, he proposed enlarging the House of Representatives, depriving Congress of power to manipulate its own elections, checking the president with an executive council, imposing term limits on some officers, and banning the Senate from initiating financial appropriations. And most importantly, he sought a bill of rights to protect individual liberties and the reserved authority of the states. He suggested other changes as well. He would have limited Congresss power to impose direct taxes. He wanted a requirement that bills regulating foreign commerce obtain a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress. He thought that Congresss unlimited authority over the capital district (now Washington, DC) might be abused. And he worried that the Constitutions ban on state ex post facto laws might impede useful civil legislation. (As I related in an earlier essay, Mason made this point by quoting a line from the Roman poet Virgil.) Mason advocated a second federal convention to consider suggested amendments. Masons Influence This Virginia senior statesman influenced the Constitution through his many contributions at the drafting convention. He also supported the compromises that made the document possible. His subsequent oppositionand especially his support for a bill of rightslaid the groundwork for the gentlemens agreement by which the Constitution ultimately came into effect. The agreement was that moderate opponents would vote to ratify, and proponents would help secure a bill of rights (pdf). Thus, if Mason hadnt paved the way, the Constitution might never have been adopted. Or if adopted, it might not include the Bill of Rights. Subsequent Life In 1789, Madison shepherded the Bill of Rights through Congress. Mason was, of course, delighted. By that time, he was 64 years old. During the three years left to him, he attended to his children, his plantation, and study of the Greco-Roman classics. On Oct. 7, 1792, he died at his home, Gunston Hall. Incidentally: Historian Brent Tarter has called Gunston Hall one of the jewels of eighteenth-century Virginia architecture. Ive been there, and I heartily recommend a visit. Read prior installments here: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Jack Phillips, a cakemaker, and Lorie Smith, a graphic designer, want to use their artistry to create products and services that align with their faith, protected under the First Amendment. However, Colorados Anti-Discrimination Act compels companies to act against their beliefs and silences businesses from voicing their belief statements. After winning his first court case, Phillips continues to face targeted attacks by people trying to force him to act in ways that violate his beliefs. Phillipss lawyers argue that the issue is not who he serves but what they ask him to do. They say the line is not hard to draw and that the government should not force anyone to say or speak a message they disagree with. Phillips hopes that the courts will also draw that line to protect himself and others in the future. The Push Has Started to Let Adults Have Sex With Adolescents Commentary In 1977, movie director Roman Polanski was accused of drugging, raping, and anally sodomizing a 13-year-old girl named Samantha Gailey (now Geimer). Polanskis excuse for this abominable abuse was that the girl consented, which isand should beno defense to such a heinous crime. He subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, but fearing he would be imprisoned, Polanski fled the country in 1978. He has lived in Europe as a coddled fugitive ever since. Despite his crimeand other accusations by women that he assaulted them as girlsPolanskis career as a film director has continued successfully for decades. Why do I bring up that old and sordid story? Because efforts are underway to normalize and legitimize sexual behavior between adults and adolescents. Indeed, recent statements by Polanskis victim downplayed the intrinsic wrongness of such relations. While originally claiming his behavior was wrongtalk about an understatement!she recently met with Polanski in Paris and took a smiling photo with him, proclaiming in a French media interview that not only was her sodomizing not a big deal but that its a terrible burden on her that Polanski suffered legal consequences for the sexual assault. All in all, the Polanski saga demonstrates that for many prominent people, sex with an underaged person no longer matters anymore. The International Community Pushes the Adult/Adolescent Sex Agenda The push toward allowing adults to have sex with adolescents isnt limited to show business decadence. Two U.N. agencies participated in the public launch of a long report called the 8 March Principles (pdf) published by the International Commission of Juristsan influential nongovernmental organization that works to develop national and international human rights standards. Part of their effort calls to decriminalize consensual sexual couplings as a human rightincluding, in some circumstances, with the underaged if the minor is deemed mature. The report is as eye-popping as it is disturbing. It argues that consensual sexual conduct, irrespective of the type of sexual activity may not be criminalized in any circumstances. More relevantly to the subject of this essay, that apparently includes some sex between adults and minors. From the report: With respect to the enforcement of criminal law, any prescribed minimum age of consent to sex must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner. Sexual conduct involving persons below the domestically prescribed minimum age of consent to sex may be consensual, in fact, if not in law. In this context, the enforcement of criminal law should reflect the rights and capacity of persons under 18 years of age to make decisions about engaging in consensual sexual conduct and their right to be heard in matters concerning them. In other words, if a minor is sufficiently mature, that choice should be honored, even with an adult and regardless of age of consent statutes. This is profoundly subversive to protecting vulnerable underaged teenagers. If national laws are changed in line with this recommendation, it would essentially gut what are commonly known as statutory-rape protections that legally protect minors from sex with adultsregardless of whether they consentedbased on the commonsense theory that minors are definitionally incapable of agreeing to intercourse and need protection from coercion by more sophisticated adults. These are the same reasons that minors also cant legally consent to tattoos or enter into binding contractual obligations. Minors Already Consent to Serious Life-Altering Decisions Unfortunately, protecting teenagers is no longer a societal priority when it comes to issues of sexuality and lifestyle decisions. Thus, minors, sometimes as young as 12, can now consent in some jurisdictions to acts that are far more potentially life-altering than having ink indelibly injected under their skin. For example, in California, a minor girl can unilaterally consent to receive contraception or an abortionboth without parental consent or even notification. Many mental health decisions, including medical ones, are now allowed to be made by minors. In the transgender controversy, politically progressive states have enacted laws permitting minors to consent to serious transition procedures such as puberty-blocking and mastectomiesusually known by the misnomer gender-affirming careeven though those decisions can profoundly impact both the childs physiology and psychology. Meanwhile, in Canada, mature minors are allowed to legally refuse life-sustaining medical treatment without parental consent, and indeed, theres now political pressure to allow those legally younger than the age of consent to similarly request lethal injection euthanasia. So its only logical. If these (and other) significant life-impacting decisions can be made by minors deemed by law and enforcement practices to be capable of making the most serious of life choices even though legally underage, why not allow them to consent to sex as well? At the very least, insinuating such adult choices into adolescence certainly is the direction toward which the establishment trend line is pointing. Powerful cultural forces in our hyper-sexualized society want to shatter one of the last legal protections remaining that shield adolescents from undue sexual influence by adults. We cant let that happen. Our teenagers already face a profound mental health crisisincluding increases in suicides, drug abuse, addiction to pornography, and other destructive behaviors. The potential associated consequences of intense sexual affairs with adults, such as emotional turmoil, unplanned pregnancies, and pressures to abort, are burdens against which all young people should be protected. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Trudeau Will Waive Cabinet Confidence for Committee Investigations Into Foreign Interference: Report Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters before heading to a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 10, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will waive cabinet confidence so that both a committee made up of parliamentarians from all parties and a federal agency investigating foreign election interference can review classified documents that special rapporteur David Johnston used to inform his recent report. This means that both the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) will have access to previously confidential cabinet documents. The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) told CBC News on May 25 that cabinet confidence would be waived as soon as possible. The Epoch Times contacted the PMO to confirm, but didnt hear back before press time. Both NSICOP and NSIRA have been tasked with reviewing matters of national security and intelligence as well as reports sent by intelligence agencies to the prime minister. NSICOP is made up of four Liberal MPs, two Conservatives, one Bloc Quebecois MP, one NDP MP, and one independent senator. NSIRA, the national intelligence watchdog agency, is also independently examining foreign election interference. NSIRA is chaired by former Supreme Court judge Marie Deschamps, while other members include a law professor, a law dean, a former national security and intelligence adviser who served under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and a practising lawyer. Former governor general David Johnston, whom Trudeau appointed special rapporteur on foreign election interference in March, also informs the work of both NSICOP and NSIRA. Johnstons Report In his report published on May 23, Johnston said that all NSICOP members have sufficient security clearances to view a comprehensive range of material and are bound, by law, to maintain its secrecy. He also said NSIRA members have relevant security clearances, adding that he provided it and NSICOP with a confidential annex that provides additional detail for those with the relevant clearances. Trudeaus planned waiving of cabinet confidence for both NSICOP and NSIRA follows a recommendation from Johnston to do so. I recommend the government disclose to NSICOP and NSIRA those cabinet confidential documents provided to me. They were instructive and, in my opinion, reflect careful consideration of difficult issues by the federal cabinet, Johnston wrote. NSIRA and NSICOP would benefit from reviewing them to ensure these review bodies have access to the same information I gathered and reviewed. Johnston said all federal opposition party leaders should seek top-secret security clearances so they can review the confidential annex he provided to NSIRA and NSICOP and observe NSICOPs proceedings. He also recommended that Trudeau and his cabinet fully cooperate with NSICOP, including appearing at NSICOP to respond to questions and provide information if invited to do so. Trump to Join Fox News Sean Hannity for 2nd Town Hall (left) Former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association Convention in Indianapolis on April 14, 2023. (Michael Conroy, File/AP Photo); (right) Fox News host Sean Hannity speaks at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 4, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, is set to partake in a town hall hosted by Fox News next week, NTD has learned. A spokesperson for the network confirmed with NTD early Friday that the event is set to be pre-taped in Clive, Iowa, on June 1 and air at 9 p.m. ET later that day. The town hall will be moderated by Sean Hannity, host of the cable news channels primetime program, The Sean Hannity Show. During the town hall, Hannity will take questions from the audience and speak about a range of topics related to the 2024 presidential race. Earlier this month, Trump appeared on CNN for the first time in several years to participate in a town hall held at Saint Anselm College. It marked Trumps first appearance on CNN since before he became president in 2016. It was also the first major televised event of his 2024 presidential campaign. Throughout the event, Trump presented his vision for the country as he fielded questions from the audience and a CNN moderator, who asked the former commander-in-chief what he would do to tackle skyrocketing prices, the nations debt crisis, the U.S. mental health crisis, the RussiaUkraine war, and more. Next weeks event will be Trumps second major town hall on a cable news channel since he announced his third campaign for the White House on Nov. 15, 2022, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Trump last appeared on Hannitys program in March to respond to questions about allegations that he might be charged by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. In April, Bragg charged the former president with 34 felony-level counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments. Hannity is no stranger to hosting town hall events with Trump. He previously moderated similar events in September 2016 and June 2020. Trump and Fox In recent months, Trumps relationship with Fox News has been frosty. The former president criticized the Rupert Murdoch-owned network for its positive coverage of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Just watching Fox News. They are desperately pushing DeSanctimonious who, regardless, is dropping like a rock, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. FoxNews has become the DeSanctimonious Network, but it will never work because he doesnt have the goods. Without my Endorsement, he was a dead man walking. Even with Fox, hes already pretty close to that again! he added. On May 24, DeSantis posted a video on Twitter hours before he filed paperwork confirming his long expected White House bid, saying hes running for president to lead our great American comeback. The governors entry into the GOP field has been all but confirmed for months, and he is considered the partys next strongest candidate after Trump, who is currently dominating the field. According to an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics, Trump has a significant lead over DeSantis. Fox News this time around has not carried Trumps rallies or live speeches like it previously did. Some of Trumps allies, including his former 2016 campaign manager, Steve Bannon, have been especially critical of the network for allegedly cutting or not broadcasting Trumps live remarks. Note to Fox News senior management: When Donald J. Trump talks, its newsworthy, Bannon told a Conservative Political Action Conference crowd in March. Is there really that much going on at two in the afternoon on Fox News that you cant cover him live, he added. They dont respect you they have a fear, a loathing, and a contempt for you. Trump Effect When Trump participated in CNNs town hall event, the cable news channel garnered 3.12 million total viewers for the 8 p.m. Trump specialfar more than the network usually draws on a weeknight, according to Mediaite, citing Nielsen data. However, the ratings boom did not last for CNN, which has drawn criticism from a range of Democrat and left-wing pundits, who complained about the network giving Trump a platform to speak. In response to the backlash, CNN CEO Chris Licht was defiant, arguing that Trump enjoys widespread support across the United States. While we all may have been uncomfortable hearing people clapping, that was also an important part of the story, Licht said on a conference call, according to reports. He noted that the people who clapped are a large swath of America, arguing that corporate media outlets have for years failed to acknowledge these people. In a front-page CNN article and in his email newsletter, media reporter Oliver Darcy appeared to be critical of his employer and Licht. Darcy, a frequent critic of Trump, wrote that its hard to see how America was served by the spectacle of lies that aired on CNN Wednesday evening, although he did not provide many specifics in his newsletter. He described the performance as Trumps unhinged social media feed brought to life on stage and claimed that CNNs Kaitlan Collins had been put in an uncomfortable position, given the town hall was conducted in front of a Republican audience that applauded Trump, giving a sense of unintended endorsement to his shameful antics. On the other side of the aisle, Fox News contributor Ben Domenech said Trump held a successful forum, telling host Laura Ingraham: This is exactly the kind of forum in which he succeeds. We know this now. And CNN should know this now. Bannon, meanwhile, also praised the former commander-in-chief, saying the CNN town hall was a humiliation of the mainstream media and called CNN a disgrace. The Trump 2024 campaign didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. From NTD News US Confident It Can Win a War Over Taiwan: Admiral Aquilino Admiral John C. Aquilino discusses U.S.China strategic competition at the Paley Center for Media in New York City on May 23, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) The United States is confident that it could win in a war defending Taiwan should China choose to mount an invasion, said United States Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral John C. Aquilino. The United States does not choose to escalate, we are not being provocative. That said, Im confident that wed be able to fight and win wherever it went, he said at a panel titled Preserving a Legacy of Liberty and Peace in the Indo-Pacific on May 23. Aquilino, during the event hosted by the National Committee on United StatesChina Relations, said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden have tasked him with two missions. The first is to prevent this conflict, and then the second one is if I fail at mission one, to be ready and prepared to fight and win, he told the attendees. No matter when it happens, he added, the United States military is man trained, equipped, postured, and ready to execute both of those missions. A possible invasion from China of the democratically ruled Taiwan, which the Chinese regime has long eyed to take over, by force or not, has seemed increasingly possible since Russias attack on Ukraine in early 2022. The tensions around the Taiwan Strait have continued to grow as Beijing escalates its threat campaign toward the island by sending missiles and warplanes close to the territory. Taiwanese Navy personnel maneuver around a Newport-class tank landing ship in Yilan, Taiwan, on May 24, 2023. (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images) Last month, a record 91 Chinese aircraft and 12 naval vessels appeared around Taiwan as Beijing concluded its three-day military drills in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens stopover in the United States. Dozens of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into the islands air defense identification zone, the airspace that serves as a buffer outside its territorial airspace. The Chinese military, during the drills, conducted simulated joint precision strikes on key targets in Taiwan and its surroundings, and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command declared that the Chinese troops are ready to fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and external interference. Russias illegal and illegitimate, unprovoked attack on Ukraine has given the rest of the world a new view of how authoritarian regimes work, Aquilino said on Tuesday. The globe was woken up, he said. I think the rest of the global community has a view that authoritarian nations and the decision of one manif he or she, man or woman, were to take that choice, it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks. He warned that military aggression on Taiwan would cost the Chinese leader blood and treasure, and the global community can be pulled together quickly when they disagree with actions taken in that fashion, subjecting Beijing to global condemnation. In March, Paul Freisthler, chief scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agencys Directorate for Analysis, told the House Armed Services Committee that China is ahead of Russia in developing hypersonic missiles and may have tested an arsenal capable of hitting U.S. military bases in the Western Pacific. Responding to concerns about the aggressive Chinese military buildup, Aquilino noted that the United States utilizes the entire joint force to deter military threats. If we were to, unfortunately, get any kind of conflict, for the United States, its the synchronization integrated efforts of the entire joint force undersea, on the sea, above the sea, in space and cyberspace. So if anyone were to choose to take on the United States, theyre going to get the full monty. Admiral John C. Aquilino (R) and National Committee on United StatesChina Relations President Stephen Orlins discuss U.S.China strategic competition at Paley Center for Media in New York City on May 23, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) While stressing that conflict with China is not inevitable, Aquilino noted that options to communicate with Beijing remain limited at the moment. One of those thats critically important for me is that of communication, and its precisely for this reason that Ive repeatedly requested to speak with my counterparts in the PLA, he said. It has yet to be approved. Theres a technical connection in the defense telephone line that could be used. If there were an event, I can tell you, I would pick up the phone and dial. Im not sure anybody would answer on the other side. Aquilino said that he has called for communication for two years without progress. I do believe establishing routine communication between our two militaries is critically critical to responsibly manage competition, to mitigate risks, and to avoid miscalculation, he said. I do not believe that engaging in an open and candid discussion should be used as a bartering chip. The stakes today are too high, and the conflict costs would be too great. US Mortgage Rates Hit 6-Month High as Home Sales Decline A for sale sign is posted in front of a home on in San Anselmo, Calif., on March 22, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Mortgage rates in the United States have hit the highest level in six months while loan applications and home sales are declining. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate hit 7.12 percent on May 25, according to a May 25 post by Mortgage Daily News (MDN). The previous high of 7.10 percent was hit on March 2. This is also the highest rate since Nov. 9, 2022. Over the past year, the mortgage rate has jumped from 5.36 percent to 7.12 percent, once more putting downward pressure on the volume of mortgage applications. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), loan application volume fell by 4.6 percent for the week ending May 19 from the previous week. MBA Vice President Joel Kan blames the decline on borrowers remaining sensitive to higher rates, according to a May 24 news release. Since rates have been so volatile and for-sale inventory still scarce, we have yet to see sustained growth in purchase applications. Refinance activity remains limited, with the refinance index falling to its lowest level in two months and more than 40 percent below last years pace. The surge in rates and decline in mortgage applications are happening amid disappointing home sale numbers. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing-home sales slid 3.4 percent from March to 4.28 million units in April. On a year-over-year basis, sales were down by 23.2 percent. Meanwhile, the Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, remained unchanged at 78.9 in April. Year-over-year transactions fell by 20.3 percent. Affordability challenges certainly remain and continue to hold back contract signings, but a sizeable increase in housing inventory will be critical to get more Americans moving, said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, according to a May 25 press release. Higher Mortgage Payments Housing payments hit a new high this week due to the rise in mortgage rates, according to real estate brokerage Redfin. The current weekly average mortgage rate is 6.57 percent, which brings the monthly mortgage rate to a record-high of $2,614, Redfin said in a May 25 press release. Potential sellers are backing away from the market as homeowners want to hold on to the lower rates on their existing homes, it said. As a result, new listings of homes for sale have dropped by 24 percent, which is one of the biggest declines since May 2020. Recent developments have put people looking to buy affordable homes in a tough spot. Rates hitting 7 percent is pushing some homebuyers entirely out of the market, especially those with lower budgets. But a lot of them are just pushing their price range down, said Bliss Ong, a Redfin Premier agent who works mainly in the city of Seattle. Heather Kruayai, a Redfin Premier agent from Jacksonville, Florida, pointed out that while expensive listings are getting sold quickly, it is the affordable listings that are going stale. Thats usually because those buyers can lessen the impact of high rates by making huge down payments or paying in all cash, she said about people who are buying expensive homes. Other than cash buyers moving in from out of town, the only people buying and selling are the people who need to because theyre retiring or going through another major life change. Expensive Mortgage Payments High mortgage rates have made mortgage payments more expensive than rents in some places per a Redfin report. California accounted for seven of the top 10 cities where mortgage payments exceeded rental prices, with places like San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento taking the spots. A home mortgage in San Jose was found to be 2.65 times the cost of renting, the biggest such gap among the 50 cities in the analysis. The median monthly mortgage in San Jose came to $11,049 compared to the median monthly rent of $4,176. In San Francisco, mortgages were 2.39 times the cost of renting. In Oakland, mortgages were 99 percent higher while in Anaheim, mortgages were 91 percent higher. Buying a home often makes more financial sense than renting if you can afford a down payment and monthly mortgage because youre building equity, said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. But buying isnt a feasible option for everyone. Victorian Private Schools to Foot an Additional $7M Under State Tax Changes A photo shows the main entrance to the exclusive Melbourne Grammar school in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 14, 2004.(WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) Victorias peak body representing the states independent schools has expressed alarm over the Andrews governments payroll tax levy that could see private schools pay up to $7 million (US$4.5 million) in additional tax per year. This follows Victorias state budget, in which Premier Daniel Andrews said private schools have had a sweetheart taxation deal that was unaffordable under the states current debt. From July 1, 2024, high-fee private schools in Victoria will lose their payroll tax exemption, in addition to paying the mental health tax levy and having a temporary increase in the payroll tax. Chief Executive of Independent Schools Victoria, Michelle Green, said in a statement that the news of the Andrews governments looming tax imposition is a shock to independent schools and to parents who send their children to independent schools. Independent schools, which are not-for-profit operations, have been exempt from payroll tax for decades in recognition of their long-standing contribution to the community, Green said. It was made without consultation and is based on an arbitrary definition of a high-fee school. It is likely to have a damaging impact on the operations of many Independent schools, with the potential to disrupt the education of their students. The budget decision is expected to affect more than 130 independent and Catholic schools in Victoria. According to the Victorian government, schools that charge more than $7,500 per year are defined as high-fee, and will be ineligible for government support programs. High-Fee Independent Schools Running Like Businesses, Premier Says Premier Daniel Andrews said that independent schools have had preferential treatment for a long time, and said they were running like businesses. These schools have always been judged to be in a unique category. They have not been eligible for our other support. They are not low-fee schools. They are very high-fee, elite schools, and therefore theyre in a very different position. And they have now a tax treatment that recognises their profitability. Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews speaks to the media following the branch stacking allegations in Melbourne, Australia, on June 17, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) However, Green said the Andrews governments classification of high-fee schools assumes that schools that charge more than $7,500 per year have the funds to navigate through these changes without cutting services or raising fees. Either course of action will be a major cause of concern for the growing number of parents who make significant financial sacrifices to send their children to an Independent school, Green said. Well be seeking urgent talks with the government to establish the rationaleand to point out the implicationsof this decision, which will require legislative change. Among other things, we will seek clarity on the budget announcement that the Education Minister and the Treasurer will be able to exempt some schools from the tax. Meanwhile, Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins said the Andrews government was supporting low-fee Catholic and independent schools alongside public education throughout the budget, with $450 million for a grants program to build better facilities. One Independent School Says New Tax Unreasonable Independent school Caulfield Grammar principal Ashleigh Martin told parents in a note on May 24 that it was incomprehensible as to why the Andrews government did not consult with the education sector prior to its decision. With the previously exempt payroll tax of 4.85 percent, plus the COVID impact and mental health levies estimated to total one percent, initial analysis suggests Caulfield Grammar Schools costs will increase approximately $6-7 million annually to cover the increased tax and levy, Martin said, reported The Australian. Considering the material impact on independent schools, it is difficult to comprehend that no consultation occurred prior to the announcement. To expect independent schools to be able to budget for such an unanticipated cost burden by July 2024 is completely unreasonable. The funding formula for non-government schools has also changed, with students parental income being assessed rather than the socioeconomic profile of a schools postcode. As such, many independent schools lost funding, particularly in regional and outer suburbs. Shadow Minister for Education, Matt Bach, said that the Andrews Labor government is making life harder for Victorian families and punishing schools and students for their incompetence. The tax announced in yesterdays state budget will add thousands of dollars to school fees by forcing independent schools to pay a tax of up to 5.85 percent of their payroll, Bach said on May 24. Taxing independent schools is a step in the wrong direction and will only make life harder for Victorian families. The Andrews Labor Government must explain to the community which schools they intend to hit with their new schools tax and how much fees will rise as a consequence. In addition to the tax changes applied to independent schools, the Andrews government has added new taxes on Victorian housing investors and businesses. The Victorian budget handed down by the states Treasurer on May 23 revealed a 10-year plan to repay the states $31.5 billion COVID-19 debt. The 202324 budget forecasts Victoria will post a $1 billion surplus in two years$100 million more than predicted before the November state electionand another of $1.2 billion for 202627. Meanwhile, net debt is expected to hit $135.4 billion at the end of the next financial year before rising to $171.4 billion by mid-2027, equating to 24.5 percent of gross state product. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. The recent elections once again serve as strong evidence of Turkiye's unwavering dedication to democracy and its continuous progress. In essence, the government's commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent political campaigns has invalidated the claims of those who unjustly criticize Turkiye as being undemocratic. According to the results of the counting of votes in the presidential elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.50 percent of the votes, Kemal Kilicdaroglu - 44.89 percent, Sinan Ogan - 5.17 percent, and Muharrem Ince - 0.44 percent. Since no one has won more than 50 percent of the vote, the second round of presidential elections will be held in Turkiye on May 28. As we approach the second round of the presidential election scheduled for May 28th, two parties have emerged as the main contenders. On one side, there is the opposition candidate Kemal Kilichdaroglu, whose campaign promises raise doubts about his long-term commitment to Turkiye's best interests. His statements also suggest a willingness to rely on external forces, potentially compromising Turkiye's independence. On the other side stands Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who, during his tenure, has established an independent foreign policy for Turkiye, earned global recognition, and secured Turkiye's status as an independent NATO member. The endorsement of Recep Tayyip Erdogan by Sinan Ogan, the ATA Alliance presidential candidate, in the second round of the country's elections is a clear indication of what is in the best interest of the Turkish people. Turkiye finds itself in an exceptionally robust period in its history. Recent advancements in various fields have propelled it to become one of the world's most influential nations. Notably, Turkiye has made significant strides in the defense industry, resulting in groundbreaking innovations such as the domestic unmanned vehicle TCG Anadolu, the Kzlma drone, the HURKUS training aircraft, the KAAN combat aircraft, the GOKBEY and ATAK helicopters, and the Altai tank. National projects like TOGG, the country's first electric vehicle manufactured locally, also play a crucial role in Turkiye's development. Moreover, Turkiye is emerging as a prominent player in the energy sector, asserting its own voice. The discovery of natural gas reserves in the Black Sea and oil reserves in the Mount Gabar Area, southeast Turkiye, previously a region plagued by terrorism for many years, has significantly contributed to reducing Turkiye's energy deficit. Furthermore, Turkiye has been actively addressing its most significant challenge of counter-terrorism, specifically targeting the PKK/YPG terrorist organization through successive operations and robust attacks. In terms of foreign policy, Turkiye prioritizes cultivating friendly relations with neighboring and other nations. Its role in Africa and Central Asia has been further strengthened, engaging in discussions with both sides involved in the Russia-Ukraine war and effectively mediating important regional issues such as Syria and Libya. Turkiye's commitment extends beyond diplomatic efforts, actively participating on the ground and at the negotiation table. On the domestic front, the government has consistently supported its people and ensured they are not left alone. Following the devastating earthquake, which impacted 11 provinces and was dubbed the "disaster of the century," immediate projects were initiated to restore affected areas, rebuild damaged houses, and generate employment opportunities. Undoubtedly, these dynamic developments are closely associated with the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkiye's relationship with Azerbaijan has reached an unprecedented high, and this close alliance also resonates with Turkic-speaking nations. Turkiye's status as a developed country in various spheres, including the economy, politics, and more, plays a significant role in fostering these strong connections. Kilichdaroglu's lack of importance placed on crucial matters such as the Turkic world, national values, morality, free politics, and a strong Turkiye with global influence is evident in his campaign promises and endorsements. The alliances supporting Kilichdaroglu clearly reveal their priorities. The relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkiye goes beyond individual personalities; it is deeply rooted in the shared history and connection between the two peoples. Azerbaijan consistently seeks to enhance these relations based on the unity of the Turkish people. Regardless of the election outcome, Azerbaijan respects Turkiye's internal affairs, and their bond will remain unharmed. The upcoming elections on May 28 hold immense significance, ranking among the most crucial processes worldwide in recent years. The outcome of the second round will significantly shape the destiny of global, geopolitical, and international dynamics in the years to come. It will also play a determining role in Turkiye's immediate future and foreign policy direction. Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye are determined not by personalities, but by people. The two peoples are connected by historical roots. Azerbaijan always strives for further development of relations on the basis of the Turkish people. In all cases, Azerbaijan respects the internal affairs of Turkiye, and relations will not be damaged regardless of the outcome of elections. Turkiye's simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections have garnered global attention, once again setting an exemplary precedent. These elections stand out for their innovative approach to Turkish politics and public administration, making Turkiye a role model for numerous countries. The triumph of democracy has become evident as a superior form of governance. The upcoming presidential elections in Turkiye on May 28th have captured the world's gaze. Nevertheless, the destiny of these elections has largely been shaped already. The results from the first round indicate that Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains a capable leader who enjoys the support of the Turkish people. This outcome reflects the choice made by the Turkish electorate. The significant voter turnout and Erdogan's lead over his opponent in the first round affirm that the people are poised to make the right decision in the second round. They will not allow Turkiye to be manipulated by foreign forces, which would impede its progress. Conversely, Turkiye will forge its own path and resist anything that may lead to its demise. The Turkish people are acutely aware that the future of their nation is at stake. Consequently, they will not entrust their fate to external influences. They are determined to safeguard their country's sovereignty and independence. Virginia Mom Turning to Courts After Failing to Secure Harsher Punishment for Sons Assault Bullies are not held accountable, she says A Virginia mother has decided to take legal action against Fairfax County Public Schools because she believes the district did not take the assault and battery of her son seriously or do enough to keep him safe after he suffered physical and emotional injuries. Taylor Brocks son, a seventh grader, was assaulted on the school bus by a female student. After exhausting all school district options for keeping the girl away from her son, unsuccessfully pushing for a harsher consequence for the girl, and being unable to find mental health support for her son, Brock is now looking for a lawyer to take legal action against the school districts careless handling of the incident. John Whitbeck, a lawyer who specializes in school litigation, told The Epoch Times that parents are increasingly turning to the courts to resolve issues with schools. Theres a tremendous increase in litigation, he said. When have you ever seen a superintendent of a local school district, like Loudoun County, be indicted? Whats happening right now with this, with parents asserting their rights, is an extraordinary situation. Whitbeck was referring to Fairfax Countys neighboring district, Loudoun County Public Schools, where former Superintendent Scott Ziegler was charged with three misdemeanor counts following an investigation into how the school district handled sexual assaults at two Loudoun County schools in 2021. The Assault and Alleged Racial Word In the bus assault of Brocks son, a 60-second video captured by another student showed a portion of the incident, which took place on Jan. 23. The video starts in the middle of an altercation between the two students, with the female student, who is black, seemingly accusing the boy, who is white, of doing or saying something she didnt like. Their statements are only partially audible. Near the end of the video, the girl grabs the boys throat and pushes him against the bus seat. A still from a video shows a seventh-grade boy being choked by an unidentified female student on a school bus in the Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax County, Va., on Jan. 23, 2023. (Courtesy of Taylor Brock) Brock said her son returned home in tears and had red bruising on his neck. She immediately went to the police to make a report and got a two-week protection order. No one responded back when I sent the video, Brock said, referring to the school board, adding that no one from the school initially reached out to her about the incident. Because Brock received no calls from the middle school administrators about the attack and the protection order, she said she had to go to her sons school to finally talk directly to Craig Herring, the school principal. Herring told her he would follow the schools policy in this instance, but according to Brock, the school officials did not take even the basic steps to keep her son safe, like informing her sons classroom teacher of the assault and protection order, even though the division superintendent, Jesse Kraft, told Brock they had informed the teacher. Brock said its not fair that the girl gets to stay with her friends and ride on the same bus while her son has had to switch schools, and although the bruises around his neck have healed, the emotional strain is still there. I think it also hurts my son to feel like no one really cared that this happened to him, said Brock. Because she wanted to bring attention to the negligence, Brock consulted with her family and decided to go to the media. The Epoch Times reached out to Whitman Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools, and the school board for comment. A Fairfax County Public Schools seventh grader had red marks on his neck after being choked by a female student on the bus in Fairfax County, Va., on Jan. 23, 2023. (Courtesy of Taylor Brock) Although the district officials did not respond to The Epoch Times, in a Feb. 16 message to families about the incident, Whitman Middle School administrators wrote that media reports do not tell the full story, and FCPS is unable to share specific details due to federal student privacy laws, and we began a full investigation the day the incident occurred. Brock said that in the case of her sons assault, the video should have left no question about what happened and should have motivated the school administrator to offer an apology. She said the girl should have received a longer suspension or been expelled and that a school board member should have responded to her emails. When Brock questioned the vice principal, who was handling the incident, about why the girl was not expelled or given a harsher punishment, Brock said the vice principal told her it was because her son called the girl black. Brock said she and the vice principal watched the school bus video footage together and that she never heard her son say black, but the principal said other students claimed that he did. In the end, Brock said that even with video footage and two eyewitnesses confirming her sons claim that he never said anything about the girls race, the school did not believe her son. Brock obtained a second protective order, which was issued to keep the girl away from her son for two years, but it was not enforceable at school. Frustrated, she transferred him to a different school. After the video of her son being assaulted and choked went public, over 100 parents messaged Brock, many from Fairfax County Public Schools, with stories of their own children being bullied at school and saying there was no meaningful response from the district to ensure safety, she said. After the incident, school officials told Brock that by law, they could not tell her what consequences the girl would face for assaulting her son. A few months later at an April diversion hearing held by the district, Brock was able to ask the girl in the video a few questions. Brock said the girl told her that she had received a short-term five-day suspension, half of the allowable maximum for assault resulting in bodily injury. The girl also had to take an anger management class once a week for three months. FCPS Revising Bullying Policy At a May 11 meeting of the Fairfax County School Board, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Boyd delivered a short presentation on proposed changes to the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook. For a student who bullies another student, including assault and battery, the new policy would mandate that school administrators use a culturally responsive intervention. The school district did not respond to The Epoch Times request for clarification about the meaning of culturally responsive intervention. However, according to the little information available about CRI from a California school district, CRI requires that teachers interpret a childs behavior through the childs culture, not the teachers, to prevent labeling the child or giving too harsh a punishment. Misreading behavior of diverse students can wrongly assess them as defiant, disabled or in need of special education and interpreting behaviors through one cultural lens contributes to disproportionality in special education and discipline, according to the Oakland Unified School District (pdf). Brock said she believes that even before the revision of the bullying policy, her son would have been expelled for doing what the girl did to him. Inconsistent Discipline Whitbeck said he is seeing more cases in which different demographics of students get different consequences for the same infractions. One of the things were seeing is the application of disciplinary policies, different towards children of a specific demographic. In other words, children who are of one particular demographic are being treated differently than others, Whitbeck told The Epoch Times. We have seen examples of school districts that are selectively applying these policies, and theyre punishing a student or a teacher, in one instance, but in another instance when its a student or a teacher of a different demographic, for example, theyre not punishing it, Whitbeck continued. Virginia Department of Education data shows an important change after the Virginia Legislature passed laws in 2020 to stop black and Hispanic students from being disproportionally disciplined. According to the Virginia Department of Education, in the 20192020 school year, black students made up 21.9 percent of the total student population and accounted for 52.9 percent of short-term suspensions, while white students made up 47.6 percent of the student population and accounted for 28.9 percent of suspensions. In 20202021, those numbers changed. Black students made up 22.1 percent of the student population and accounted for 26.1 percent of short-term suspensions, while white students made up 46.4 percent of the student population and accounted for 54.2 percent of short-term suspensions. Virginia Department of Education graph showing short-term suspensions for the 20192020 school year by race. (Courtesy of Virginia Department of Education) Virginia Department of Education graph showing short-term suspensions for the 20202021 school year by race. (Courtesy of Virginia Department of Education) The School-to-Prison Pipeline The fact that black students were more often disciplined at school was dubbed the school-to-prison pipeline. A 2018 report by Virginias Legal Aid Justice Center (pdf)based on data from the U.S. Department of Educationshows that black students, Latino students, and those with disabilities were suspended and expelled more often than their white peers. These punishments, along with arrests at school, often lead to students having a criminal record, according to the NAACP (pdf). Democratswho had full control of the Virginia Legislature and governors mansion in 2020passed SB 3, which prohibited students from being charged with disorderly conduct during school, on buses, or at school-sponsored events, and SB 729 (identical to HB 257), which removed a requirement that school principals report student acts that constitute a misdemeanor, such as assault, to law enforcement. Democrats insisted that misdemeanors including sexual assault be excluded from reporting requirements in House Bill 257. This change required that unless the offense is a felony, its up to the school principal to judge whether its worth reporting to the police. In the 2022 legislative cycle, Democrats walked back part of a 2020 law, with a new bill that once again requires school principals to report any misdemeanor-level offenses to law enforcement, in large part because of the Loudoun County sexual assault case. Wagner Boss Excoriates Moscow, Says Ukraine Invasion Fell Short of Objectives Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement on the start of withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut and handing over their positions to regular Russian troops, on May 25, 2023. (Press service of "Concord"/Handout via Reuters) The head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has sharply rebuked leaders in Moscow on May 23 saying Russias 15-month-long invasion of Ukraine had failed to achieve its primary aims. A private military company with close ties to the Kremlin, the Wagner Group has led much of the fighting in Ukraine, especially in the eastern Donbas region. Prigozhin, known for his biting criticisms of Russias military establishment, made the claims in an interview with Konstantin Dolgov, a popular pro-Kremlin blogger. Weapons and other military hardware delivered by the U.S. military at Boryspil Airport near Kyiv, in Boryspil, Ukraine, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) After expounding his views on the factors that led to the conflict, Prigozhin reiterated the invasions chief aims, one of which was the demilitarization of Ukraine. But according to the Wagner chief, Moscows special military operation has only served to flood Ukraine with Western-supplied arms and equipment. Since the invasion began early last year, Ukraines Western allies have provided Kyiv with vast amounts of sophisticated arms and equipment. These have included HIMARS rocket launchers, advanced combat tanks, and American-made Patriot air-defense batteries, among other high-tech weapons systems. Last week, Washingtonand several of its alliesannounced plans to start training Ukrainian pilots how to operate F-16 fighter jets. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group military company, holds a Russian national flag in front of his soldiers in Bakhmut, Ukraine, in a still from video released on May 20, 2023. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP) If they [Ukraine] had 500 tanks at the outset of the special operation, they now have 5,000, Prigozhin said in the interview. If they had 20,000 capable fighters [before the invasion], now they have 400,000 who know how to fight, he added. Prigozhin went on to hail his Wagner Group as the most effective fighting force in the world, with the Russian army coming in second. But he also praised the Ukrainian military, saying it had become one of the worlds strongest armies in terms of organization, training, and intelligence. Whats more, Prigozhin added, Ukrainian military personnel were capable of operating both Soviet-era and NATO weapons systems with equal success. The Wagner chief also lamented the fact that the ongoing invasion had raised Kyivs international profile, making Ukraine known to everyone in the world. Bakhmut and Belgorod Last week, Moscow declared that its forces had captured the town of Bakhmut, a key transport hub in the Donetsk region, after nine months of grueling ground combat. Prigozhins Wagner Group led the fighting in Bakhmut (Artyomovsk in Russian) and is now in the process of handing the war-torn town over to Russian regular forces. In an apparent jibe at the military leadership in Moscow, Prigozhin said in the interview: If they [Russian regular forces] cant take it over, that will raise questions about the military. He went on to assert that the Wagner Group had lost roughly 20,000 of its fighters in the months-long battle for Bakhmut. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with senior military officers in Moscow, Russia on Dec. 21, 2022. (Sergey Fadeichev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Prigozhin also slammed the militarys handling of a cross-border attack on Russias western Belgorod region, which was carried out earlier this week from Ukrainian territory. Its unprecedented for a nation not to have its borders secured during wartime, he said. Russias military leadership, he added, will not wake up to the imminent threat that it faces until enemy forces roll into the streets of Moscow. Prigozhin also took aim at Moscows political elite, whose children, he claimed, were partying abroad while everyday Russians were receiving zinc caskets containing the dead bodies of their sons. In a comment sure to raise hackles in Moscow, he added: This can only lead to a revolution. Officials in Moscow, for their part, have yet to formally comment on Prigozhins assertions. Treason Claims It was hardly the first time the Wagner chief has had harsh words for Russias military establishment. In February, after Wagner fighters captured the salt-mining town of Soledar, Prigozhin accused Russias top brass of failing to send adequate munitions to the frontline. In a video message posted on Telegram, he blamed Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu for the alleged supply failurea failure, he said, that amounted to treason. To drive his point home, Prigozhin shared graphic images of slain Wagner fighters, whose deaths he blamed on the defense ministrys negligence. In a statement, the ministry called the accusations completely untrue, insisting that all supply requests from the frontline were immediately met. It went on to warn that attempts to drive a wedge between elements of the Russian military only served to play into the hands of the enemy. Nevertheless, Prigozhin has continued to call for Shoigus resignation, along with that of Valery Gerasimov, chief-of-staff of the Russian military. In a May 25 video message, Prigozhinwearing full combat gearconfirmed that his fighters would complete their withdrawal from Bakhmut by June 1. He added, however, that they were prepared to return to the town if Russian regular forces were unable to hold it. West Dead in the Water If Identity Politics Persists Warns UK Author Doug Stokes, professor in International Security and the director of the Strategy and Security Institute at the University of Exeter, during an interview with NTD's British Thought Leaders programme. (NTD) The West will be dead in the water if identity politics continue to undermine its culture, a British author warned. Doug Stokes, professor in international security and the director of the strategy and security institute at the University of Exeter, said identity politics are absorbing way too much of the Wests cultural bandwidth while there is bigger existential stuff going on right now, such as the rise of communist China. Speaking to NTDs British Thought Leaders programme about his upcoming book Against Decolonisation: Campus Culture Wars and the Decline of the West, Stokes highlighted the Race Equality Charter, to which 100 British universities are currently subscribed. The alleged anti-racist drive hardwired the ideas of structural racism and the perfidious malign nature of whiteness throughout the British university system and it has all kinds of ramifications for pluralism, equality, fairness, and academic freedom, Stokes said. With the lack of overt racism, They go down the subjectivity route. So now its all about microaggressions, he said. If you raise an eyebrow when youre talking to a non-white student, that can be coded as a racial microaggression. Stokes was referring to a now-deleted microaggressions list reportedly published by the University of Cambridge in 2021. According to The Telegraph, the controversial list also included offences such as giving backhanded compliments, turning ones back on certain people, or referring to a woman as a girl. The list was reportedly published on the universitys Report and Support website, on which students can make allegations against teachers, staff, fellow students, or members of the public. It was removed from the website days after the Telegraph report was published. The University of Cambridge is one of the 100 higher education providers subscribed to the Race Equality Charter. The Individual Doesnt Matter The charter states in its guiding principles that racism is an everyday facet of UK society and racial inequalities are a significant issue within higher education that manifest themselves in everyday situations, processes and behaviours. It also said solutions to racial inequalities should be aimed at changing institutional culture instead of the individual, and that universities should consider the intersection of an individuals multiple identities wherever possible. Intersectionality is a term coined by U.S. black feminist scholar Kimberle Williams. Its now used by critical race theorists and activists to describe how privileged or oppressed someone is based on a growing list of characteristics such as the persons race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexuality, and disability. The same list is also increasingly adopted in equality laws and hate crime laws. Under the framework of intersectionality, the individual doesnt matter, what matters ultimately are the immutable identity characteristics of groups, Stokes argued. Tracing the idea to French philosophers Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, whose theories on power and knowledge led to the belief that we need to deconstruct Western narratives, science, objectivity, and truth, which arent seen as things in and of themselves, or goods. Theyre seen as ultimately ideological categories that have been used to oppress people throughout the global south, Stokes said. The West Will Go Under Without Sense of Self He called intersectional identity politics an endless, endless kind of psychodrama, of self-flagellation, and said it has absorbed way too much for our cultural bandwidth while Russian and Chinese regimes have begun weaponizing it to demoralise the West. In addition, the mass immigration to the West is also resting on an institutional architecture thats under massive strain and massive creaking, he said. Stokes argued that Western countries will go under unless they re-discover their sense of self and identity. Because ultimately, any culture and society, if its going to project itself, or just exist, has to have a degree of self-confidence and a belief in itself, he said. If its constantly being deconstructed and pulled apart, and endlessly denigratedyoure wrong, youre bad, youre evil, youre immoral, your history is badyou know youre dead in the water. The UKs Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill was recently passed into law. Under the new law, universities and student unions have a legal obligation to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom, and universities that fail to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom would be in breach of the conditions of registration. Stokes said he believes the new law is quite strong, and hopes it would switch universities back to pluralism, equality of opportunity, and an emphasis on human dignity. Why We Need Local Fiscal News Coverage Commentary I am fully aware that probably some 8 out of 10 people do not appreciate media pieces that are heavily focused on numbers. When I practiced as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, I realized that most people need professional assistance for many of their fiscal decisions. Watching personal finances is critical. But, our focus should also be on the financial well-being of our homeowners association, city, state, and nation, as it has an impact on our budgets. Do we know how they are doing? Since you rarely receive financial statements, somebody should be informing the public. Whats happening to the balance sheets and income statements of your municipalities will impact you in some form or fashion. Are they exercising proper fiscal stewardship? Or have they been manipulated into stretching tax dollars too thinly, thus reducing law enforcement staffing or other critical services? The recent daily news seems to be about the debt ceiling. And household consumer debt has reached a new high watermark of $17.5 trillion. Collectively, do we know how to manage money properly? Back in 1994, while a candidate for Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, I tried to explain the craziness of the incumbents investment scheme. The mainstream media just didnt get it. The visual media completely ignored the race, as television reporters do not seem to do numbers. Dealing with members of the media was very aggravating. John Moorlach at his office in Newport Beach, Calif., on March 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) At the time, now-United States Congressman Tom McClintock told me that raising concerns about accounting and investment matters was a MEGO issue (My Eyes Glaze Over). Really? The media just ignores the fact that a municipality maybe going broke the old-fashioned way, by spending more than it takes in, and doesnt cover it? Even though I clearly spelled out what was going on, when the ship hit the sand, with Orange Countys nearly $1.7 billion in investment losses, it supposedly came as a complete surprise to the local media. Consequently, in the countys bankruptcy story, the media shares a portion of the blame. The March 1995 issue of the American Journalism Review had a full accounting by Susan Paterno, now with Chapman University, titled When the Watchdogs Dont BarkThe story of Orange Countys imminent financial debacle was handed to the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times. But the rivals in one of the nations most bitter newspaper wars blew it. Should a recession arrive, and they do on a regular basis, it will have a significant impact resulting from reduced city revenues and growing pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities. The financial squeeze could be very detrimental to the provision of services. It may even, as was the case for the California cities of Vallejo, San Bernardino, and Stockton, lead to the filing of Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection to deal with creditors. Will newspapers cover this potential before its too late? Is Your City on the Brink of Bankruptcy? Many cities are on the fiscal precipice. And it could mean higher taxes, severe budget cuts, refinancing of debts, sales of property, or all of the above to make it through a serious recession. Or, in the case of bankruptcy, reducing or eliminating employee benefit liabilities. How is the media preparing you? First, lets find out if your city should be a news story. The State Auditor provides a scoring dashboard to address the fiscal status of Californias cities. If you want to know how your city is performing with its fiscal stewardship responsibilities, just go to https://www.auditor.ca.gov/local_high_risk/dashboard-csa. Its updated every year, and news releases occasionally announce changes in the status of various cities. The data for 2021-2022 was released the week of Oct. 15, 2022. Second, lets take the recent example of a city with poor metrics that somehow has escaped good reporting by the major media outlets. Where did the city of Costa Mesa place? Answer: In 26th. But the ranking started at the bottom. Out of 482 California cities, 95 percent ranked higher! According to the State Auditors Dashboard, Costa Mesa was in 60th place the prior year. Dropping 7 percent, 34 places, should be big news. Shouldnt Costa Mesa homeowners know how poorly its city ranked? Costa Mesa Civic Center and City Hall in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) CalMatters? Nothing. Voice of OC? They did not cover the 2022 data release. The Daily Pilot and the Los Angeles Times were silent. Why would liberal-leaning publications say anything? Costa Mesa is a progressive-run city, like San Francisco. This is not something these publications would want to bring up. Is it collusion? Intentional? Or financial ignorance? Finally, lets acknowledge some coverage of the State Auditors hard work. The Orange County Register at least provided a piece the week the updated listing came out. It was by long-time reporter Teri Sforza and it was titled Is your Orange County city at risk of financial meltdown? But it was a lets move alongnothing to see here story: Costa Mesa also struggled with downward revenue trends, which dropped by about 1 percent a year over the past few years, as well as the burden posed by pension costs. But the revenue situation is looking up this year, Costa Mesa said, with sales taxes surpassing pre-pandemic levels and hitting the highest level ever at the close of Fiscal Year 2022 in June (about $77.3 million). General fund reserves also increased despite the pandemic, and at 33% of general fund revenue far exceed the industry baseline of 10%, said finance director Carol Molina. With one recent year of increased revenues, should that make residents feel comfortable? No. At least the Orange County Registers Editorial Board was more honest about the State Auditors findings in their Oct. 2, 2022 piece: Costa Mesa went from 137 in 2016-17 to 52nd in 2019-20 [with] annual pension spending roughly 18% of government-wide revenues. Southern California News Group Editorial Board member John Seiler notes Costa Mesas last place position in Orange County in his Oct. 15, 2022 op-ed. After the November elections, its Editorial Editor, Sal Rodriguez, noted the 26th worst standing in his Nov. 27, 2022 op-ed. The newspaper providing the hard numbers was The Epoch Times, providing visual graphs, showing Costa Mesa in 34th place out of 34 Orange County cities for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 on April 14, 2021. A graph showing how far Costa Mesa dropped in a ten-year period, from 20th to 34th, from 2010 to 2020, was provided on June 24, 2021. The 2021 rankings were provided on May 27, 2022. The rankings for 2022 will be ready soon, as the city of Laguna Beachs outside independent auditors are taking a very long time to complete their engagement. Spoiler alert: Costa Mesa is still in last place. Its great to see good coverage on such a critical subject. The joke back in 1995 was that a reporter could understand an elected official accepting an unreported $10 gift, but not a $7 billion portfolio on the verge of imploding. Even recently, reporters in California could understand a small amount of the inappropriate state spending of $280,000, which for Sacramento is mere budget dust, but they are ignoring that Costa Mesa had an unrestricted net deficit of $244 million as of June 30, 2021. The Epoch Times is leading the Orange County media community in providing the data its subscribers need to make better choices about where to live and how to vote intelligently for city leaders. When municipal finances start to unravel, with a recession on the horizon, its readership will not be surprised. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Woman Denied Transplant for Refusing COVID Vaccine Gives Emotional Testimony at National Citizens Inquiry A woman who urgently needs an organ transplant but has been pushed to the bottom of the waiting list because doctors say she must have a COVID vaccinesomething she maintains would be unsafe given her conditiontold her moving story recently during testimony at the National Citizens Inquiry. Whatever these doctors are doing, youre evil, theres no other word for it, said Sheila Lewis, speaking virtually during the National Citizens Inquiry in Ottawa on May 17. I always thought a doctor took a Hippocratic Oathdo no harm, she said. Well theres an awful lot of harm going on and Im going to plead with you, please, please for the love of God, give people their transplant. Lewis, an Edmonton resident who has a terminal illness, said she cant cook, clean, or walk even a few steps without difficulty, and that she has three oxygen machines on the go and wears two hoses 90 percent of the time. The National Citizens Inquiry, which describes itself as a citizen-led and citizen-funded initiative that is independent of government, has been examining how COVID-19 pandemic measures put in place by all levels of government impacted Canadians in the areas of health, fundamental rights and freedoms, social well-being, and economic prosperity. After holding eight hearings in cities across the country, with testimony from expert witnesses and members of the public, the inquiry ended in Ottawa on May 19. Lewis told the inquiry is under a court order that prevents her from even mentioning the name of the organ she needs, as well as the names of doctors and any locations or names of hospitals involved in her case. She told the inquiry commissioners that after completing a series of required tests that took a full year, she made it onto the organ transplant list. One of the doctors said I was an ideal candidate and they said they looked forward to transplanting me because I was in such good health, Lewis explained. I was so excited. It would be a gift of life and I could go on. I was really happy. When doctors couldnt find her childhood vaccine records, Lewis consented to get them all again. This took an additional year, she said, because there were a lot of vaccines and some of them had to be taken months apart. COVID Vaccine When the pandemic hit, Lewis was told shed be required to get the COVID vaccinations as well. She asked the doctor about the vaccines safety. He looked at me and he didnt even blink and he said, 100 percent safe, she recounted. I said theres no data. It hasnt even been out very long we dont know anything about it, how can it be 100 percent safe? He said Its 100 percent safe. He said hed bet his life on it. Lewis went home to think about it. The more I found out, the more I didnt feel good about it, she said. She told the commissioners she was concerned because it normally takes many years of testing before a vaccine can be approved and that this hadnt been done with the COVID vaccines. Because of this and some other reasons, she decided against getting vaccinated. When she told the doctor she would not get the vaccine, her status on the transplant list reverted back to zero, and she says the only reason they havent removed her from the list completely is because she initiated a court action. With the help of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms Lewis began court proceedings to get her status on the transplant list restored. However, she said, the court agreed with the doctors that I should get the vaccine in order to get a transplant and they also agreed with the doctors to put a gag order on me. She then appealed the decision to a higher court, which basically upheld the lower courts decision. I was hoping somebody had a heart some kind of compassion, but I guess not, Lewis said. Natural Immunity Lewis said she got her childhood vaccinations, and, because shed had COVID twice, she even had natural immunity, but doctors still maintained their position. When the head doctor in the transplant team refused her requests to do a natural immunity test, she got tested by a doctor in B.C. I have such extreme high levels of antibodies to COVID-19, she said. And another scientist told me about a spike protein in the vaccine that will do a lot of damage as well because I already have a damaged organ. We Just Want the Gift of Life Lewis has now applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada and is awaiting a response. She says if the court will not hear her case, she will be taken off the transplant list altogether. In the meantime, her four sons have rearranged their lives so that one of them would always be home with her. I really cant do anything anymore, she said, speaking through tears. All I wanted was a transplant. I didnt do anything wrong. I just couldnt take that vaccine because it was going to do a lot more damage. Doctors and nurses will lose their licence if they speak out, she added. Somethings wrong and needs to be fixed, fast, Lewis said. Theres a lot of people dying, and its not just me. Im not the only one that was refused a transplant because they chose not to get a vaccine. We just want the gift of life. If its there and its possible, please give it. I dont want to die, God help me, she cried, covering her face with her hands. The testimony moved commissioner Janice Kaikkonen to tears. Sheila you have a purpose, as difficult as this may seem right now, youre standing in the gap for every other Canadian who is experiencing the same and standing up and fighting for justice and compassion in our country, she said. Your testimony is a reminder that our government has forgotten how to govern. Your testimony is a reminder that our courts have lost their way in terms of justice. She told Lewis her testimony has given the inquiry a further purpose to continue to share the real-life experiences of Canadians. Shawn Buckley, lead counsel for the NCI, said in conclusion: There are people watching online and I think I can safely say that every Canadian that is watching is pretty ashamed to be a Canadian right now. You cant see, Buckley added, but theres a standing ovation for you, Sheila. All PEs to complete verification of headers, content templates soon Business Bureau TRAI on Thursday said all principal entities, like banks, financial institutions, and others, need to complete the process of verification of message headers and content templates immediately, as the telecom regulator forged ahead with its drive to crackdown on pesky messages to safeguard consumers. Any delay on part of Principal Entities (PEs) to get the reverification of headers and content templates may result in the blocking of their headers, content templates and messages, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) cautioned. TRAI said it will review the progress in the next two weeks and may issue suitable directions, if required. Therefore, all the PEs should complete the process of verification of Headers and Content Templates immediately,TRAI said in a statement. Entities such as banks, other financial institutions, insurance companies, trading companies, business entities etc. send commercial messages to the telecom subscribers through SMS, and these entities are referred to as Principal Entities (PEs) in TRAI regulations. As per the regulatory framework, any commercial communication can only take place using registered Headers assigned to the PEs for this purpose. Header refers to an alphanumeric string assigned to PEs under the regulations to send commercial communications. These commercial entities are required to get content templates registered with the access providers (telcos). Any commercial communication through SMS is subjected to scrubbing against the content template registered by PEs with Access Provider and, if it fails, then those SMSs are not allowed to be delivered to the consumers. TRAI has observed that some PEs have registered a large number of Headers and Content Templates and, at times, some of these are misused by some telemarketers. To stop the same, TRAI on February 16, 2023, directed for reverification of all registered Headers and Content Templates on DLT (Distributedledger technology) platformand block all unverifiedHeaders and MessageTemplates within 30 and 60days respectively. In February 2023,TRAI wroteto RBI, SEBI, NHA and allCentral/State GovernmentDepartments requesting themto sensitise various institutionsand departments, under theirambit, who send bulk SMS,about the action required to betaken at their end to ensurethat header and message templates are not misused. It has been seen that manyPEs have not yet completed theverification of Headers andContentTemplates. Due to lackof timely action by PEs, Headersand Content Templatesassigned to such PEs remainvulnerable for likely misuseand may result in inconvenience to the public in the formof spam and also financialfrauds, TRAI said. 20% dip in crime rate after implementation of Police Commissioner System in cities: Mishra Man behind pioneering several initiatives from razing criminals houses, connecting social fabrics with the police and accelerating offices working, the Bhopal Police Commissioner, Harinarayan Chari Mishra, in an exclusive talk with The Hitavada Senior Special Correspondent Bhavana Aparajita Shukla spoke on a variety of issues pertaining to law & order situation and nature of crime in big cities of the State. Q 1 You have been posted at all the major cities of the State namely Jabalpur, Indore and now in Bhopal. How do dynamics differ from a law enforcement agencys point of view in these cities? Ans: Of course! Nature of crime changes with the city. Every city has its own kind of challenge. In Bhopal, sensational crime is not much as compare to other major cities like Indore where murder, theft, property related are on higher side. There is huge difference in populations. Bhopals population is around 25 lakh and that of Indore is around 40-45 lakh. At administrative capital, VVIPs movements are frequent so as the role of police personnel gets change. But still challenge persist as sensitivity and prompt and constant response is in demand. Q 2 Not more than two months have been completed since you took the charge of Police Commissioner of Bhopal. Being political and administrative capital, the city has always been in prime focus. In election year, challenges before police become manifold. There are talks about mobilising team to a greater extent in such a short period. How are you channelising things ? Ans: With planning and effective execution, we can achieve desire results to a greater extent. In Bhopal, we are conducting review meetings in every 10 days. Most importantly, we conduct one-to-one meeting with zonal official. In review task, we discourage group discussion/evaluation. It makes official more responsible as well as answerable. In addition to proper in-depth focus on a particular zone, a comprehensive analysis about the incidents and its chain in broader perspective can be understood. Q 3 As you have earlier mentioned, in Bhopal your priority will be womens safety. How you are going to achieve this? Ans: I always believe we should focus on vulnerable section of the society which are mainly children, women and elderly people. Sometimes if police personnel have to go extra mile to achieve this we should do. As far as control over crime against women is concern in the State capital, our teams have been instructed to keep a track record of localities and area from where number of complaints are higher. patrolling has been increased in those patches accordingly. Q 4 Recently, one year of implementation of Police Commissioner System has been completed. Now, we can evaluate its results. What are the findings? (Contd on page 3) Amit Shah appeals for peace in Manipur, assures justice for all GUWAHATI, 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 the society. Shah, while laying the foundation stone of the tenth campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to be set up in Changsari area in Assams 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. Govt issues fresh rules for SPG; ADG to head special force that guards PM NEW DELHI, 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. The appointment for the second tenure may be done with the prior approval of the Central Government for reasons to be recorded, it said. Himisha Jain probable second topper in Arts Staff Reporter MY mother always said that as a girl it is very important to be independent and I believe that to be true. It motivates me to study and do better, said Himisha Jain, probable second topper with a score of 94.8 per cent in Arts Maharashtra State Board HSC (Class 12) examination conducted by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). The results were declared on Thursday. She scored 100 in Sanskrit, 94 in English, 82 in Sociology, 99 in Philosophy, 98 in Psychology, 96 in Economics. She is a student of Hislop College and is an active participant in debate and elocution competitions. She also takes keen interest in writing poetry. While talking to The Hitavada she said, It is difficult for me to study for more than 3 hours. So I managed my study time around it and my mother was always there to push me to study harder. She highly recommends customizing study plans to fit learning styles. It should be an important part of the scoring well in boards journey. I deactivated my social media accounts but engaged in intellectually stimulating games. It helped me relax and take the edge off, added Jain. She believes that relaxing is just as important and should be prioritize in the study plan. She aspires to be a psychologist and a professor like her mother. Her mother Varsha Jain is a professor of Sanskrit. She wishes to pursue psychology at St Xaviers College, Mumbai. She credits her success to her parents Varsha and Anurag Jain and her teachers. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Turkiye positively assesses Armenia's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a speech in Antalya, Trend reports. "Azerbaijan has proposed a comprehensive peace treaty. If Armenia responds positively to this, then a peace treaty can be signed between the two countries," Cavusoglu said. He added that Turkiye will also take positive steps in this regard. The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that 86,600 sq. km of the territory of Azerbaijan, recognized by Armenia, includes Karabakh. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict were introduced on Nov. 10, 2020. MiG-29K fighter makes maiden night landing on INS Vikrant NEW DELHI : Navy terms it historic milestone The milestone was achieved on Wednesday night when the ship was sailing in the Arabian Sea FOR the first time, the MiG 29 K 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 milestone was achieved onWednesday night when the ship was sailing in the Arabian Sea, officials said. The Indian Navy achieves another historic milestone by undertaking the maiden night landing of MiG-29K on INS Vikrant. This is indicative of the Navys impetus towards Aatmanirbharta (selfreliance), Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. This challenging night landing trial also demonstrates the resolve, skill and professionalism of theVikrant crew and the Naval pilots, he said. 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. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Indian Navy for the successful maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on INSVikrant. Congratulations to the Indian Navy for successfully undertaking the maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on #INSVikrant, Singh 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. In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned Indias first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant that made the country part of an elite group of nations capable of manufacturing air craft carriersabove40,000tonnes category. The Navy had said the aircraft carrier would be able to play a role in ensuring peace andstability inthe 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 ceremonyofthevessel,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 aspart 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. Modi has shown respect to all PMs, show big heart and attend Parlt building inauguration: BJP to Oppn NEW DELHI, THE BJP 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. Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the new building is a symbol of Indias 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 dont want to drag the post of the President into any controversy today by recalling what Congress said about her. But Indias 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 Humayuns 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 Bhawan, Prasad said, and asked What did we built in 75 years of Independence? After 75 five 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 countrys democracy, he said. MPBSE X, XII results out, girls again outshine boys Staff Reporter Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) has released result for classes X and XII on Thursday. State School Education Minister Indar Singh Parmar released the result digitally with single click. Molee Nema from Amarwada in Chhindwara district is the State topper in XII. Sonakshi Parmar from Bhopal and Samika shared second position in the State while Aarya Jhiri from Narsinghpur is third topper in State. This is the second time when board has declared result of both the classes together. Class X exam was conducted from March 1 to 27 and class XII exam was held from March 2 to April 1. There were total 3,852 exam centres across the State, including 3099 centres at Government schools and 753 centres at private schools. More than 35,000 teachers evaluated the copies in 60 days. Girls outshine boys in both X and XII. In comparison to year 2022, class X result remained better while class XII result has dropped by a few percentage. In the year 2022, 75.64% girls passed the exam and total passing percentage remained as 69.94 %. Student unsatisfied with the result can apply for scrutiny. Mridul Pande from Indore (494/500) got first rank in State in class X, Prachi Garhwal from Indore, Kirtiprabha Mishra from Sidhi and Sneha Lodhi from Narsinghpur (493/500) shared the second position. Anubhav Gupta from Umaria, Abhisekh Parmar from Shajapur, Unnati Agrawal from Tikamgarh, Astha Singh from Chhattarpur, Radha Sahu from Dabara, Sudiksha Katare from Gwalior and Priya Thakre from Balaghat shared the third position in State in class X. After result, MPBSE has also released the merit list of both classes. Passing percentage of class X remained as 63.29 per cent while for class XII passing percentage remained as 55.28 per cent. A total of 18 lakh students appeared in both the exams. Students can check their result from portal and MPBSE mobile app. MPBSE is also providing retotalling and copy checking facility to the students. Students interested for the same are allowed to apply within 15 days of result. Any student having doubt on evaluation can apply for re-totalling or copy checking. After finding any mistake, rectified result will be released by the board. PM Modi lauds presence of ruling party,Oppn members at event in Australia NEW DELHI : PRIME Minister Narendra Modi onThursday asserted that he used every moment during his six-day tour across three countries for Indias good as BJP workers and supporters accorded him a warm welcome on his return. Addressing people who had gathered to welcome him outside the Palam airport here, he noted that not only Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and that countrys ruling party functionaries but a formerPrimeMinister and Opposition members were present as well during the Indian communitys programme in Sydney where he had spoken. Thiswas the atmosphere of democracy that everyone joined in the Indian communitys programme, Modi said, lauding this show of democratic soul and strength. Every one accorded respect tothe Indian representative, and it was not about Modis glory but about Indias strength,headded.His comments came against the backdrop of Opposition parties, including the Congress and many of those in power in several States, announcing their boycott of the new Parliament buildings inauguration by him on Sunday. The Prime Minister, 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 peoplehere electeda majority Government. World leaders know that what he says is the voice of the140 crore people of India, the Prime Minister added. India, he said, 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, the Prime Minister said, exuding confidence in front of a cheering crowd that his Government will succeed in meeting these expectations in time. Global expectations from the country have been rising, he said, adding that theworldnowwantstoknow what India is thinking. Modi spoke about the respectaccordedbythepeople of Pacific island countriesduringthevisit,andsaid they were thankful to India for the COVID-19 vaccines senttothemduringthepandemic. Taking a swipe at his critics, the Prime Minister saidtheyquestionedhimfor sending the vaccines. Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it is the land of Gandhi.Wecare even forour enemies, we are the people inspiredby com PM Modi to chair NITI Aayogs eighth Governing Council meet tomorrow Delhi bureau and Agencies NEW DELHI, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi will chair NITI Aayogs eighth Governing Council meeting on May 27, which will deliberate on several issues including, health, skill development, women empowerment and infrastructure development, with an aim to make India a developed nation by 2047. The council, the apex body of NITI Aayog, includes all Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and several Union Ministers. Modi is the Chairman of NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog will be organising its 8th Governing Council Meeting on the theme of Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India on May 27, 2023, the Aayog said in a statement. The statement noted that 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 statement said the 8th Governing Council Meeting provides an opportunity to create a roadmap for Viksit Bharat by 2047 in which Centre and states can work together as Team India. The cup that cheers THE World Tea Day was celebrated recently. The souls of the Chinese emperor who accidentally discovered the drink and the tree that had been shedding its leaves for years without anyone taking a second look at them must be wondering how the beverage became so famous in all corners of the world. During my childhood, no one had heard of green tea or tea bags. A morning without a glass of tea was unimaginable. There were a few teashops near my home. They were called so even though tea was only one of the items sold there apart from coffee and dishes like idlis and dosas in the morning. Most menfolk would walk towards the nearest shop early in the morning, sit on one of the benches kept outside the shop, and order tea from the bare-chested owner standing before the wood-fired hearths with copper pots of different sizes on them with boiling water, hot milk and other items. Most people ordered tea without milk mainly because they were cheaper than that with milk and partly because they had the original flavour of tea grown in the estates of the neighbouring districts. There was a fishing village with no teashops across the river. Men would cross the river that flowed between our villages in their small country boats and head towards their regular teashops. While returning, most would carry parcels of idlis or dosas for the other family members. Tea was made in a style unique to Kerala. After deftly mixing the ingredients of the concoction in a tall metal glass, the beverage was cooled by pouring it to and fro between two mugs before pouring it into a glass. It was jocularly called one-metre tea, referring to the vertical distance between the mugs when the tea was poured. The more the distance, the fluffier the froth and the tea would be tastier if there was more froth. While waiting for the beverage, the customers would go through the days Malayalam newspaper, each detachable sheet in different peoples hands, and discuss the days news items heatedly. As the readers would have allegiance to several political parties, it would be a heated discussion, but they remained friends. Tea was the drink offered when one visited another house, and nobody bothered to ask the quantity of sugar to be added. Whether it was a drink mixed with milk depended on the availability of milk in the house, and again no one bothered to ask if one preferred black tea or one with milk. Teashops were usually a family affair with the parents managing them with grown children rending a helping hand. The dosa batter would be prepared with soaked urad, fenugreek and parboiled rice the previous evening in a large grinding stone with a heavy mortar and pestle. The same stone would be used to make coconut chutney in the morning. Perhaps believing in the Chinese saying that tea awakens the mind and arouses the senses but calms the heart, numerous glasses of tea were drunk when children burnt midnight oil during examination time. It was believed sleep would not go near a glass of black tea. UNFORTUNATE IT IS really, really unfortunate that as many as 19 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building at the hands of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. They are insisting that not the Prime Minister but President Mrs. Droupadi Murmu should inaugurate the grand new edifice. This is nothing but an initiation of political machinations about a year ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. These parties are trying to whip up public sentiment against Mr. Narendra Modi as as part of their preparations for the electoral battles ahead. That their efforts would not succeed is another matter, but unfortunate it is that these 19 political parties would miss the grand and momentous occasion that would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Indias parliamentary democracy. Of course, all Opposition parties are not joining the boycott. There are many whose leaders have other purposes to serve, and therefore are not part of the boycott. Obviously, there are fissures operating in the Opposition camp -- to a clear advantage to the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Some Opposition party leaders are insisting that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha should inaugurate the new building and not the President or the Prime Minister. The main thrust of the Opposition argument is that the President is the head of the State and therefore should be the person to inaugurate the new building of Parliament. They are accusing the Prime Minister of trying to garner all popular focus on himself in the pre-election time. Of course, the Government has trashed all such arguments and has pointed to many occasions in the past when various buildings in Parliament complex in the past so many years were not inaugurated by the President. The Government has also pointed to other similar facts about various legislative building in different States when Chief Ministers inaugurated those facilities and not the Governors. It is obvious that the Government is not going to relent on this issue and the Opposition parties would continue with their resolve to boycott the inauguration. A great and historic occasion, thus, would get marred by the boycott and the accompanying political machinations. Frankly speaking, the Opposition boycott of the inaugural ceremony is not going to serve any political purpose. It would not impede the electoral prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party nor would those enhance those of the Opposition parties. In other words, this is going to be a much-ado-about-nothing event. Yet, as is their habit of the past so many years, the Opposition parties would not miss a single occasion to castigate the Prime Minister and his Government -- though, of course, to no avail. Despite this, the Opposition has been picking up such issues only to kick up some political dust that actually smudges the reality of its core weakness of having lost touch with the reality. They find fault with everything the Prime Minister and the Government led by him does. Many issues are very trivial and make little sense to the electorate as such since most Indian voters have realised by now the hollowness of the Oppositions anti-Modi narrative. A couple of exceptions notwithstanding, the BJP has been registering big electoral victories, in the process pushing the Opposition down and out. Despite this, the Opposition does not see the reality as it is and is seen colouring facts to suit its whatever purpose. As the summer of 2024 approaches and the Lok Sabha elections come closer, the Opposition parties will step up their anti-Modi tirade that may not serve their purpose. The decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building at the Prime Ministers hands is one such. USD 300 mn of Indian oil firms stuck in Russia NEW DELHI, 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 Moscows 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 Russias 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 Moscows 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. 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 Vankornefts 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. CANNES, France (AP) To the Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher, fairy tale is an often misunderstood concept. For many, it suggests kings and queens, a light kind of fantasy. But Rohrwacher is devoted to obsessed with she says the tradition of Italian fairy and folk tales, which tend to feature peasants, animals and doors between reality and magic that never close." They have deeply informed and enriched Rohrwacher's lyrical, ramshackle and wonder-filled films. For me, its something planted in the ground," says Rohrwacher says of fairy tales. Its not something in the air. Rohrwacher's latest enchantment, La Chimera, digs deeper. The film, which premiered Friday at the Cannes Film Festival, is about the tombaroli: Italian tomb raiders who hunt ancient graves to find artifacts to sell. Josh O'Connor stars as an Englishman with a special gift for sensing where to dig, a mystical talent connected with mourning for a lost love. It's said that in the tombs of the dead, he's seeking a door to the afterlife. La Chimera, a radiant and melancholy highlight of this year's Cannes, concludes what Rohrwacher considers a triptych of films about the past and its connections to today. Her 2015 film The Wonders is about a young family of beekeepers whose threadbare pastoral life collides with reality television. Happy as Lazzaro, which won best screenplay at Cannes in 2018, follows a farmhand from a feudal-run estate who wanders into a modern city. What we do with our past is my big question, Rohrwacher said in an interview in Cannes a few days before the La Chimera premiere. Normally, people either glorify the past or want to forget about it. But these two directions are not my path. We are in every gesture what we were and what we will be. Rohrwacher grew up in the Umbria region of Italy fascinated by the tombaroli. It was less the illegality that impressed Rohrwacher than that they weren't disturbed by their grave robbing. How can you find the authority to destroy something that is sacred? said Rohrwacher. In making La Chimera, Rohrwacher accompanied a group on an archeological dig. When we put the light inside this place, there was a plate. He said this is the first time in 3,000 years that there are eyes on this. That was so impressive to me, she says. I could never have at home something like this, with all this power. La Chimera, though, isn't just about the gravitational pull of the past. It concerns a merry band of male tombaroli in pursuit of Etruscan treasures, relics from an ancient time in which women were proudly independent. La Chimera, which co-stars Carol Duarte, Isabella Rossellini and Rohrwacher's sister, Alba Rohrwacher, is a work of social archeology, too, boring into Italian machismo past and present. Its a lot a movie about masculinity and maybe also the sadness of having to play a role of macho, Rohrwacher says. Normally in the movies or books that tell how honorable it is to be macho. But, in fact, I think these men have to be macho but theyre not very good at being macho and maybe a little bit sad to be macho. Now we are in a different era, I think, I hope. In making films tethered to folktales with an earthy realism, Rohrwacher is herself bridging grand Italian traditions. She has one foot in centuries-old fables and one in neo-realistic masterworks of Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica. She calls her films magical neo-realism. The visible is always connected to the invisible, Rohrwacher explains. Things go always together like souls inside the bodies. Rohrwacher is now preparing what she calls a large work on fairy tales. She has concluded something in finishing her trilogy on the past, or maybe not. Even if she made a film about the future, Rohrwacher says, It would also tell us also about our past. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DARIEN John Geoghegan had a deep love for his country, his family and his community, according to those who knew him. The World War II veteran and longtime Darien resident, who died May 9 at age 98, was remembered as a humble war hero, a loving father and a kind neighbor. He fought for this country, and he was part of the reason why we're free today, said his daughter-in-law Stephanie Maker-Geoghegan, following his funeral, which took place Friday at the United Church of Rowayton,. He was very brave. He took the risks that a lot of people wouldn't take, and he was humble at the same time. I think that makes a hero, someone that doesn't brag about how great they are. They just are. At 17 years old, on Feb. 3, 1942, John Geoghegan enlisted in the Navy after getting special permission from his parents. He had already been learning about radios at the RCA Institute for Electronics in New York City and was a part of the radio club at Greenwich High School. When German U boats sank a destroyer or two in the Atlantic circa 1942, I wanted to join the Navy and be a radioman, he told the Darien Times in 2018. He was first stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Wasp, running missions, delivering torpedoes and dropping bombs on enemy runways and bases. Just him flying through the clouds and trying to find the target was a challenge, said his son Edward Geoghegan. They didn't have the technology to just do it that easily, so he was awesome to be able to figure this out and run these missions, multiple missions in a day in different locations, different weather patterns. Once while positioned as a radioman gunner, Geoghegan was shot in the leg but refused to be transported to a hospital, choosing instead to stay with his squadron. When bandages failed, he said he used his own microphone cord as a tourniquet. Thats a great detail, Edward Geoghegan said. Improvisation he was great at that. Once the war ended, John Geoghegan was discharged in 1946 as a First Class PO, with several awards including the Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Shortly after returning from the war, he met a young woman, Betty Rucker, on a blind date and the two hit it off almost instantly. They married five months later and remained married until she died in 2004. John and Betty Geoghegan had three children John, Robert and Edward eventually moving from Virginia to Connecticut in 1950. I left active duty but stayed in the US Navy reserves as a weekend warrior, John Geoghegan told the Darien Times. I felt a strong reserve would be a deterrent and would keep my children safe from military service. Geoghegan also became an avid pilot, a passion he discovered shortly after being discharged while on base in San Diego, Calif. He would continue flying until his late 70s, when he could no longer pass the eyesight and hearing tests. Edward Geoghegan remembered his father teaching him to fly and passing on his interest in electronics to his Edwards brother Robert, who died in 2011. His older brother John followed in his father's military footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving in Germany. Some of Edward Geoghegan's fondest memories were taking the plane on camping and fishing trips, once spending a night in the Adirondacks sleeping in the plane to hide from a nearby bear. John Geoghegan did not talk often about his time in the war not because he did not want to, but because it simply was not in his nature to talk about his own accomplishments, his family said. According to his son, he did not even mention to them that he was serving as the Memorial Day Parade grand marshal in 2012 until the day of the parade, despite them only living a short distance away in Newtown. He just didn't talk about himself a lot, Edward Geoghegan said. (He was) not reluctant. He just preferred to talk about other people. Every so often, though, he would share some of his experiences and the things he learned while abroad. When his granddaughter Elizabeth Maker signed up for a class in Mandarin, he brought out a guide he kept that had English to Chinese translations since China was a member of the Allied Forces. He showed me it, and sometimes he knew some of the phrases that were on it, she said. Sometimes he would say hello to me in Chinese. Geoghegan was also a beloved figure in his community. He was a member of the Darien Mens Club, served on the towns Monuments and Ceremonies commission and was a constant presence at the United Church of Rowayton. Maker-Geoghegan said even into his 90s, he would happily talk about which neighbors daughter just got into college. He was kind, and he always knew everything about everybody, she said. The neighbors would come out on his street and greet him like he was a celebrity. After Betty Geoghegans death, all the neighbors chipped in for a bench with a plaque honoring her memory. John Geoghegan would often walk down Harriet Lane and sit there to be with his wife. Even as his health declined, he insisted on staying in his home Darien. He couldnt even last past one night with his son Edward's family in Newtown, grabbing his walker and heading right out the door the next morning, fully intent on walking home. He goes down our driveway, down the street in his walker going down to route 25, Maker-Geoghegan said. Eds running to chase him and get him. We couldn't believe he was really doing it. John Geoghegan got his wish and remained in Darien,dying in his home. Over his bed, he kept a sign that read Time spent flying is not deducted from ones lifespan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. A group of members of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan visited Turkiye to get acquainted with the preparations for the second stage of the presidential election in the country, Trend reports. Members of the Parliament, Tahir Rzayev, Aydin Mirzazade, Rashad Mahmudov, and Sevil Mikayilova got acquainted in Antalya with the preparations for the second round of presidential election. Within the framework of the visit, a meeting of the Azerbaijan Friendship Organization was held with the participation of the delegation. The delegation visited the Azerbaijani association of culture in Antalya, and also met with the governor of the city. In addition, the delegation visited the headquarters of the local cell of the Justice and Development Party of the country, and met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the fraternal country Mevlut Cavusoglu. To note, according to the results of the counting of votes in the presidential elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.50 percent of the votes, Kemal Kilicdaroglu - 44.89 percent, Sinan Ogan - 5.17 percent, and Muharrem Ince - 0.44 percent. Since no one has won more than 50 percent of the vote, the second round of presidential elections will be held on May 28. NORWALK The city has until the end of June to come to an agreement with developer Jason Milligan to buy his property near the Norwalk Public Library for parking before a five-year deal expires. Common Council discussed the option to purchase the parking lot of 11 Belden Ave. during an executive session on Tuesday night. During Common Council meeting public comments this week, Milligan and his attorney said they want to open a dialogue with the city and council. I want there to be a relationship where you feel like there is an open dialogue with me, Milligan said. I am the largest property owner in the area. I spend an incredible amount of time in the Wall Street area. Alex Knopp, former Norwalk Mayor and former president of Norwalk library board, urged the council to consider the parking lot as an essential municipal service. I believe there is a consensus in the city, widely agreed to, that onsite free public parking is essential to the survival and enchantment of the Norwalk Public Library, Knopp said. The creation of the parking lot in 2017 and 2018 with the support of the council and mayor was crucial to the rejuvenation of the library, and without this onsite free, adjacent public parking I think the Norwalk Library faces a very dire future. Prior to the meeting Knopp and Milligan negotiated a deal for the city to buy the property from Milligan for $1.75 million. This price was a decrease from Milligan's initial offer of $2 million. According to Knopps statement, the city originally offered $1.2 million for the lot. In a 2018 appraisal of 11 Belden Ave., shared by Milligan, the property, including the building and the parking lot, was valued at $4.36 million. Milligan's $1.75 offer would include the parking lot only. Knopp suggested the city allocate money from the American Rescue Plan Act to purchase the lot. ARPA money is being used at the beach, it is being used at other places in the city, this would be a perfect place to close the gap between what the city has already offered and what Milligan has already agreed to by using $550,000 of ARPA money to obtain this essential service, Knopp said. According to the terms sheet shared by Milligan, the offer lasts until June 30. After that, Milligan said he would move forward with developing apartments on the property. I am a big fan of libraries, and I am a big fan of this library and I am a big fan of the neighborhood, Milligan said. The library should be a pillar and its an important cultural institution. Need for parking The other public parking in the area is the Yankee Doodle parking garage which is about 0.2 miles away from the library and the Fraternal Order of Eagles lot which is behind 11 Belden Ave. None of the alternatives to onsite public parking work, Knopp said. The Eagles parking lot is fine as supplemental use but is questionable in the long term as permanent use. The Yankee Doodle Garage is simply too far away for people with strollers, for people with disabilities and seniors to conveniently use the library. In addition to discussing purchasing 11 Belden Ave. the Common Councils agenda included discussing potential acquisition of real property at 3 Belden Avenue, owned by the Norwalk First Taxing District. Knopp said 3 Belden Ave. alone would not make up for the parking lost by not purchasing 11 Belden Ave. lot from Milligan. The 3 Belden Ave. property is small building next to the library with a few parking spots. Former teacher and resident Bette Bono commented that she believes the city needs to own the parking. I believe the cost of loosing the onsite parking would be astronomical, the library could no longer host large events, could not function as a polling place, it would become inaccessible to many with mobility challenges. In short it would mean stagnation for our wonderful library," Bono said. Milligan and his attorney, Marc Grenier, both called for a meeting with Milligan and the Common Council to discuss the property together. My client is open to having a public discussion with all of you for a fair and speedy resolution," Grenier said. "All the decision makers are here tonight what better way to have an open and transparent discussion about how best to collaboratively work on this important issue. The city and Milligan have a long and contentious history. The parties settled last month a five-year long legal battle over a disputed property in the Wall Street area. Milligan reiterate his desire to work with the city and joked about the long saga of lawsuits over the POKO property deal. I just want to celebrate that I am lawsuit free for the first time in almost seven years, and it's been a great feeling and I hope we can keep it rolling, Milligan said. The Common Council did not publicly reveal any information about the discussion in executive session. HARTFORD The state Senate early Friday approved legislation aimed at providing more oversight of the state's electric utilities and increasing protections for consumers that was one of the top legislative priorities this year of both the Democratic majority and minority Republicans. The bill, which builds on 2020 legislation in the wake of massive statewide outages from Tropical Storm Isaias, passed in a unanimous 35-0 vote after an hour-long debate. It next heads to the House of Representatives. If approved there before the June 7 legislative deadline and signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont, utilities including United Illuminating and Eversource would be prohibited from passing on to consumers the costs of applying for rate increases, marketing their products, lobbying and membership in professional organizations. It would also emulate 16 states and establish a fund for ratepayers to oppose rate-increase proposals, and according to legislative proponents, create a tougher regulatory structure overseeing state utilities. "Public utilities do not operate in a free market," said Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, co-chairman of the legislative Energy & Technology Committee, when debate started shortly before midnight Thursday night. "They have every right to make a profit but they have found a way to make a lot of money." He noted that in February, Eversource announced record profits of $1.4 billion in 2022, even as it was sharply raising electric rates. "These profits are not made from competing with other private companies to provide the products and services," he said. "They are earned from our constituents who have no other choice in the market for a vital service. Let's prioritize the interests of millions of rate payers. They deserve reliable electricity at a fair price and utilities that are responsive to the needs of their rate payers. There are many, many event and organizations that are utility-sponsored and I applaud their efforts. We just want to make sure those efforts are not recovered on the backs of rate payers." The bipartisan bill, which includes a tactic called decoupling, would also separate utilities' revenue from the needs of customers, setting up better oversight by establishing key metrics, including renewable sources, energy efficiency and customer satisfaction. "In the winter, when residents of Connecticut saw a startling rise in their energy bills, it was important for this state government to act," said Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, a top Republican on the Energy Committee. "Of course we see market fluctuations in the cost of electricity all the time, but we know that Connecticut's rates are too high, And we know that our residents are not satisfied with the level of service that they're receiving from the utilities that serve them. We need to put consumers first and we need a long-term strategy for reducing rates and improving the reliability of our grid." Customer bills would be revised to better inform ratepayers. "We need an all-the-above clean energy strategy in our state that incorporates wind and solar and hydro and nuclear and geothermal and everything that we have at our disposal to meet our environmental goals, but also to ensure that we have a reliable grid and that we have the lowest costs possible for consumers, for the working class, for the middle class, for small businesses in our state," Fazio said. "This is positive bill. This is the correct first step and this is the product of bipartisan policy making." Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, agreed, recalling that when the legislative session began in January, the issues of utility transparency, energy costs and service was a priority for both Republicans and Democrats. "I think this is a positive step forward, one that will reduce the costs for the homeowners across Connecticut," Kelly said. "These cases that are associated with rate proceedings, including the cost of attending and preparing for the hearings, really should be paid by the shareholders' profits to level the playing field and not by the rate payers," Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, a former co-chairman of the Energy Committee, said the legislation is part of an long-term, incremental attempt to hold utilities more accountable. "We have all been in so many storms and so many times where we are frustrated by events that occur, natural events and responses as well, and doing what we can in this legislature to act on our constituents who have spoken so loudly and clearly about the issues that frustrate them on energy issues in Connecticut," Duff said. "It has been a frustrating time because when we have thought we have made good improvements, sometimes it has not been enough. We have a regulated monopoly that is a public company that is also multi-state, which makes it very difficult for a legislative body in one state to have truly the impact that we want to have." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTON Jim Kohler wanted to travel the world. So, like many young men his age, he enlisted in the Army when he graduated from Staples High School in 1963. The older I get, the prouder I feel having served, he said. Weston resident Kohler, 78, who served in Korea and Vietnam, is one of the veterans speaking at the Wilton Memorial Day parade and is also a member of Wiltons Post 86 American Legion. With the theme "Honor Their Sacrifice, the parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day from 21 River Road, heading through Wilton Center. It includes bagpipers, veterans, military and emergency vehicles, antique cars, the Wilton High School band and more. Kohler said, this year, there is a focus on the Vietnam-era veterans, which is why he is one of the speakers. He has received multiple medals, such as an air medal and a sharpshooter badge. Because of the camaraderie of being in the service and working with people, the first thing that it taught me was responsibility that was an important thing for an 18-year-old coming out of high school, Kohler said. Youre responsible for yourself; youre responsible for the men in your company and your unit; and responsible for your country, he added. After basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey, Kohler was sent to Korea, serving in a security group for an artillery battalion. He then went back to the states, landing in Fort Hood, Texas, serving in the second armor division. With about a year left of service, he was sent to Vietnam in the fall of 1965. When I arrived in Saigon, they were looking for volunteers for helicopter door gunners, and I volunteered to do that, he said. He said this took him to the 155th helicopter company in the central highlands of Vietnam for his last year in service. His job entailed being "strapped into an open door of the helicopter with a machine gun covering insertion and extraction of infantry personnel," according to organizers of the Wilton parade. Coming home, he spent three years at the University of Bridgeport, where he met his wife. He ended up in the restaurant business for about 40 years, eventually owning his own restaurant called One Front Street for about 10 years, located in Bethel. Reflecting on his time in the Army, he said he learned to say what you mean and mean what you say, a lesson he taught to his sons. Kohler said he once heard another veteran say few young adults are given the responsibility to maintain and handle a tank or helicopter that may be worth millions of dollars. It elevates, certainly, the feeling of doing something for the country, as well as being responsible for what your actions are going to do, he said. During the parade, Kohler said he plans on speaking about his experience in helicopters, including his job within different missions. He said he is happy to have served, and that theres much he has benefited from, such as his livelihood, his job, his family and being able to be free. Kohler mentioned the brotherhood that is the military. Reflecting on those serving in the military now, he said it's about respecting what youre doing today, and while others have gone before you, simply knowing that we stand behind you as veterans, welcome you home and look forward to whatever help we can offer in returning to civilian life. LAS VEGAS (AP) Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback had been dreaming about writing something together for a few years. The two actors, both native New Yorkers, would meet up from time to time and talk about what it could be. They knew that it would have to be epic and so Brooklyn. But they would have never predicted that their first chance would come in the form of a Transformers movie. We had no idea it would be this epic and this Brooklyn, Fishback told The Associated Press, sitting beside Ramos, her friend and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts co-star in Las Vegas last month. Theyd made the journey to attend CinemaCon, a convention of the worlds theater owners to help drum up buzz for the new film that debuts June 9. Though technically the seventh Transformers movie, Rise of the Beasts is both a franchise prequel, set in 1994, and sequel to 2018s Bumblebee, which was set in the 1980s. Director Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) took the helm for this globetrotting film that pairs the Autobots with the Maximals, another faction of transformers, in the fight to save Earth. Peter Cullen returns to voice Optimus Prime in a diverse cast that also includes Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo and Cristo Fernandez. Caple didnt know when he started casting that Ramos (In the Heights) and Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah) knew one another. They were both just separately on his list to read for Noah, an ex-military man and electronics expert, and Elena, an artifacts researcher at a museum. That they came in as friends meant that the chemistry test was great. But early in filming, Caple had to remind them that their characters dont know each other well yet. We were too familiar, Ramos laughed. The two actors met around 2017, when Ramos performed a reading of something Fishback had written. They started piecing together their six degrees of separation, with Ramos having grown up in Bushwick and Fishback in East New York, and all the times they *could* have met. But even after a major blockbuster that took them from Montreal to Machu Picchu, theyre still learning things about one another. Both, they realized during the interview, had been rejected by LaGuardia, the famed New York performing arts school. High five, Fishback said. Team reject, baby! Ramos grew up watching Transformers on Saturday mornings. One of his first toys was even the Stingray Transformer, one of the characters from the Beast Wars storyline that the new movie draws on, which made him feel like a kid again. I would wait every weekend for the newest episode to drop," Ramos said earlier on stage. "Being a part of Transformers universe is beyond my wildest dreams. My 13-year-old self would be like, Yo, thats fire. Fishback came in a little reticent, knowing that sometimes character can get lost in big, GCI-driven spectacles. Sometimes theyre toying with the idea of adding a person of color, but you dont really know if theyre going to go into who the person actually is, Fishback said. Steven affirmed that that was not the case. He wanted it to be authentically Brooklyn, he wanted Elena to have autonomy over her body, her mind and the things that she wanted to achieve in life, and that we would know that she had things that she wanted to achieve. And that was important. One of the highlights of the shoot was filming in Peru, at Machu Picchu. They used local kids as extras, had a Shaman come to bless the production and had oxygen tanks at the ready for anyone having trouble acclimating to the elevation. And theyre excited about the possibility for more films, but that all depends on the audience. Stevens already working on the next one, Ramos said. But it all comes down to whether people go see it. It seems like people are really excited by the trailer. So hopefully they take that excitement and get some tickets to go see it in a movie theater. Tell your friends, take your family. This is a movie you can see multiple times. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois GLEN CARBON Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has announced the five girls who were named Outstanding Graduating Girl Scouts at the annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony on May 21. Outstanding Graduating Girl Scouts are awarded a scholarship for demonstrating their extraordinary leadership in the Girl Scout Movement, in school and in their communities, according to a press release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE Four priests with substantiated child sexual abuse allegations against them served in Catholic churches in Edwardsville between 1954 and 1980, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Illinois attorney general. One priest listed among clergy who abused children served in Maryville from 1982-84. Of those five, sexual abuse of children is reported to have occurred in Edwardsville and Maryville parishes by at least three of them. State Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday that a four-and-a-half-year investigation found 1,997 children were abused by 451 Catholic clergy in Illinois between 1950 and 2019. In the Diocese of Springfield Illinois, which includes Madison County, 32 clergy members were identified as having sexually abused children, according to the attorney general's 700-page report. In Edwardsville and Maryville, revelations in the investigation include the following priests named in the report. George Faller , Saint Boniface Catholic Church, 1954-61 , Saint Boniface Catholic Church, 1954-61 Robert Dodd , SIUE Newman Catholic Community, 1968 , SIUE Newman Catholic Community, 1968 Garrett Neal Dee, Saint Boniface, 1973-76 Dee, Saint Boniface, 1973-76 Walter Weerts , Saint Thomas, Edwardsville, 1964-68; Saint Boniface, 1979-80 , Saint Thomas, Edwardsville, 1964-68; Saint Boniface, 1979-80 Alvin Campbell, Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville, 1982-84 Two of the five are listed as not having reports of child abuse against them while they served locally. Given the years that priests who sexually abused children were assigned to Edwardsville's Saint Boniface, the parish was served by a clergyman who at some point preyed on children for a total 13 out of 26 years from 1954 to 1980. Of the Diocese of Springfield, the attorney general's report issues a scathing narrative. "The Diocese of Springfields handling of child sex abuse allegations is a story of failed leadership leadership that allowed clerics to sexually abuse children in the diocese for decades," the report states. "Through it all, men leading the Diocese of Springfield for 50 years chose to protect the reputation of the church and its clerics, rather than attempt to ensure the physical and mental well-being of its children." Bishops of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois William A. OConnor, 1949-1975 Joseph A. McNicholas, 1975 to 1983 Daniel L. Ryan, 1984 to 1999 George J. Lucas, 1999-2009 Thomas John Paprocki, 2010-present O'Connor, McNicholas and Ryan all are mentioned in the report. Ryan himself is a child sexual predator listed with five survivors. He died in 2015. See separate story for a list of Catholic clergy from the wider Edwardsville area who are named on the predator list. The following information is directly from the state attorney general's report. George Faller Survivors: 3 Area assignments included: 1918-19 at Saint Paul in Highland 1919 at Saint Simon and Jude in Gillespie 1919-22 at Saint Mary in Alton 1922-24 at Saint Anseim in Kampsville 1954-61 at Saint Boniface in Edwardsville 1961-69 at Saint Joseph in Benld Father Faller is reported to have abused children sometime during 1954-56 at Saint Boniface in Edwardsville. The Springfield Diocese stated that it first received a report about Faller in 1985; he was placed on their public lists of abusive priests on Nov. 29, 2018. He retired in 1969. He died in 1975. No further information about Faller is provided in the state attorney general's report. Robert Dodd Survivors: 2 Area assignments included: 1964-68 at Saint Paul in Highland 1968 at SIUE Newman Catholic Community in Edwardsville Father Dodd is reported to have sexually abused children over more than a decade. The attorney general's report lists the abuse as occurring between 1960 and 1971 at Saint Paul parish in Highland. The Springfield Diocese said it first received a report of criminal behavior by Dodd in 1968. He was placed on the Catholic church public lists of abusers on Nov. 29, 2018. From 1970 to 2004, Dodd was listed as absent on leave. He was removed from the ministry in 2004 and laicized (removed from status as clergy) in 2013. He died in 2018. No further information about Faller is provided in the state attorney general's report. Garrett Neal Dee Survivors: 4 Area assignments included: 1968-71 at Immaculate Conception in Alton 1968 with Dominican Sisters at Bethalto 1973-76 at Saint Boniface, Edwardsville 1980-81 at Saint Elizabeth in Marine The attorney general's report states that Father Dee abused children during the following years and at these locations: 1964-1967: Blessed Sacrament, Springfield 1971: Holy Family, Decatur 1978: Church of the Little Flower, Springfield 1981-1987: Visitation, Illiopolis The Springfield Diocese says it received a first report of abuse by Dee in 2002. He was placed on the Catholic church public lists of abusers on Nov. 29, 2018. From 1987-88, Dee was absent on leave. He was assigned outside the diocese from 1988 to 2003. He retired from active ministry in 2002. No further information about Dee is provided in the state attorney general's report. Walter Weerts Survivors: 22 Area assignments included: 1955 at Catholic Childrens Home in Alton 1957 at Camp Pere Marquette in Grafton 1961-63 at Saint Ambrose in Godfrey 1963-67 at Sacred Heart in Granite City 1972 at Saint Paul in Highland 1979-80 at Saint Boniface in Edwardsville The attorney general's report states that Father Weerts abused children during the following years and at these locations: 1964-68: Saint Thomas, Edwardsville 1964-70: Collinsville 1967-68: Granite City 1970s: Saint Paul, Highland 1975-76: Sacred Heart, Villa Grove 1978-81: Saint Thomas, Decatur 1978-82: Unknown Unknown: St. Louis, MO Unknown: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee The Springfield Diocese says it received a first report of abuse by Father Weerts in 1978, the attorney general's report states; the report also says the diocese said it did not receive reports that Weerts may have been sexually abusing children until 1985. He was placed on the Catholic church public lists of abusers on Nov. 29, 2018. Other actions/status reports on Weerts are: 1978: Resigned from Sacred Heart, Villa Grove, Saint Michael, Hume, and Saint Thomas, Brocton 1985: Resigned from Saint Brigid, Liberty, and Saint Thomas, Camp Point; granted leave of absence for "health reasons" 1986: Pleaded guilty in Illinois to sexually abusing three boys; sentenced to six years in prison. 1989: Removed from ministry by request 1989: Laicized Father Weerts was stationed at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 110 N. Buchanan St., from 1979-80. Prior to that, from 1961 to 1978, he was assigned to eight different parishes by Bishop O'Connor; those include Catholic congregations in Godfrey, Alton, Granite City, Highland and Brocton. The diocese told state investigators that it did not receive reports that Weerts may have been sexually abusing children until 1985. "The diocese's own files prove otherwise," the attorney general's report states. The state alleges that reports of Weerts' inappropriate conduct with children came to O'Connor's attention in 1962. Weerts was assigned to Saint Ambrose parish in Godfrey that year, and Father Frank Westhoff, who also is a substantiated child sex abuser listed in the state report, told O'Connor that "Weerts was engaging in inappropriate activities with young boys," the attorney general's report states. Years later, Westhoff told diocesan officials about a 1962 meeting he had with O'Connor. The diocese recorded the statements by Westhoff in an internal 2003 memo. The priest said he was approached by parents who told him their son was doing strange things with Father Weerts, namely, wrestling. Westhoff said that was not strange but they replied that it happened in the nude," the state report notes. According to what Westhoff told the diocese, eight other families came forward at that time with similar complaints, so he initiated a meeting with O'Connor and took a list of children who might be at risk. But Westhoff told the diocese that when he told the Bishop about Father Weerts, the Bishop replied that Father Westhoff was just engaging in self-aggrandizement at the expense of the reputation of another priest. The Bishop simply refused to accept the list of names Father Westhoff had prepared and told him to take it home," the state report said. After that warning by Westhoff that he said O'Connor dismissed in 1962, there were 22 children reported as abused by Weerts over the next 24 years. The attorney general's report found that the Springfield diocese was warned again in 1978 about inappropriate behavior by Weerts. Parents of a boy in the Sacred Heart parish in Villa Grove, where Weerts was assigned at that time, requested a meeting with Bishop McNicholas because they were considering filing criminal charges against Weerts for taking "indecent liberties" with their young son. Please dont feel that we are making these accusations without much soul searching, the boys parents wrote the bishop. We are concerned not only with [Weertss] mental health, but also with his future moral character. We will pursue this not only for our son, but for the other children that Father will come in contact with in the future. McNicholas did not meet with the parents, according to the attorney general's report. He accepted Weerts's resignation and transferred him to parishes in Ste. Marie and Bend. Weerts was assigned to five parishes thereafter, including St. Boniface in Edwardsville. In total, Weerts sexually abused approximately 20 young boys before he was criminally charged in 1985. Even then, according to the Illinois attorney general's report, the diocese praised him: With the exception of the matters for which he is under indictment, it said, Weertss behavior has been of the very best. In 1986, Weerts pleaded guilty to sexually abusing children and was sentenced to six years in prison. Alvin Campbell Survivors: 34 Area assignments included: 1982, Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville Father Campbell sexually abused children at several locations where he was assigned over a period of approximately 13 years, the attorney general's report stated. The abuse was reported during the following years and at these locations: 1969-1970: Fort Carson, CO 1978: Saint Jude, Rochester 1979-1985: Saint Mary, Assumption 1979-1985: Saint Maurice, Morrisonville 1981: Unknown 1982-1984: Mother of Perpetual Help, Maryville The diocese claims it received the first report of abuse by Alvin Campbell in 1980. He was placed on the Catholic church's public lists of abusers on Nov. 29, 2018. In 1985, Campbell pleaded guilty but mentally ill in Illinois to sexual assault of children. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In 1992, he was laicized by the church. He died in 2002. Diocese of Springfield Bishop McNicholas was warned in 1978 about Campbell by a senior army chaplain who knew the priest when he served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army. The chaplain, in a call to the diocese, had said: Campbell has a moral problem with boys/young men and this has surfaced and was being brought against him when he chose to resign. . . . [T]he matter had been handled sub secreto through the Military delegate in Germany and there had been no scandal through publicity. The bishop assigned Campbell as pastor at Saint Jude in Rochester less than a month later anyway. In 1979, he was named pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Assumption, and diocesan records show that Campbell began sexually abusing children in Assumption almost immediately. The diocese had notice of the abuse as early as January 1980 and, in December 1981, a family contacted McNicholas about Campbells conduct with their daughter. That same month, Campbell resigned as pastor for health reasons. He was assigned to another parish within months. From 1982 through 1985, Campbell ministered at Saint Maurice in Morrisonville, and the diocese has records that show Campbell abused 26 children while there. Those same records contain survivors descriptions of the abuse, including reported group masturbation, Campbell photographing abuse acts, groping and engaging in other sexual behavior with children. The diocese left Campbell in place. Law enforcement, however, was alerted and criminally indicted Campbell in 1985 for molesting boys between the ages of 11 and 15. He pleaded guilty but mentally ill and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Records from the diocese show that Campbell is reported to have sexually abused 33 children while ministering in the Diocese of Springfield. Each was abused after McNicholas was warned by the U.S. Army senior chaplain that Campbell has a moral problem with boys. Out of those, 26 of them were sexually abused after the diocese received the first report of abuse at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Church's response The state report lists the clergy abusers and also details church leaders' failure to protect victims while covering up the allegations to protect the clergy. Current Diocese of Springfield Illinois Bishop Thomas John Paprocki issued this statement this week after the report was released: 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. 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. As difficult as this process has been for all involved, especially the victim survivors, we credit the Attorney Generals office for bringing about greater transparency, and, especially for keeping the spotlight on this issue to help us sustain the vigilance with which we guard against any future threat of abuse. We hope the Attorney Generals office continues this vigilance for creating a safer environment with other institutions, and it doesnt stop with just the Catholic Church. We stand with the other five dioceses in Illinois in the commitments to accountability, transparency, reform, and sustained vigilance. Like the other five dioceses, we report allegations to civil authorities and encourage victim survivors to do the same, and we have a victim assistance ministry and special offices to handle childhood sexual abuse allegations. Our Review Board includes lay professionals with backgrounds in areas such as law enforcement, education, psychology, and medicine. They review and make recommendations to me regarding the withdrawal of clergy. We also conduct robust safe environment abuse prevention programs, which includes background checks for everyone who works and volunteers in the Church. We have also listed all substantiated cases of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy in this diocese on a public website. "Our diocese has a Victim Assistance Coordinator ready to help anyone who has been victimized. I pledge to support victim survivors in any way we can and to sustain vigilance and take all the appropriate measures to prevent any future recurrence. A statement by the Illinois Catholic Dioceses said procedural changes have been made to better protect victims of sexual abuse and to find justice. Policies include fair and respectful treatment for anyone bringing forth allegations of abuse, assistance from the diocese's victim assistance ministry, all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are reported to civil authorities, abuse by those who have died or have been laicized are investigated and handled in the same manner as all other allegations, and the diocese will cooperate with any and all investigations. More detailed procedures can be found on individual diocese websites. Attorney general is critical Raoul's report, however, suggests Paprocki could have done more. It states that the diocese didn't list substantiated child sex abusers placed online until November 2018 and it was not until September 2022 that Paprocki authorized the dioceses homepage to include a link to a List of clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Prior to the report, the Catholic Church had named only 103 clergy abusers in Illinois, far fewer than the 451 identified in the report. In the Diocese of Springfield, a minimum of 163 victims were linked to the 32 clergymen identified in the new report. Raoul said his office has provided recommendations to dioceses on how best to protect their members and investigate allegations to prevent the number of cases from rising. 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 Tuesday. 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. Hearst Illinois reporter Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree and editor Ron DeBrock contributed to this report. ROCHESTER, N.Y. Molly Stout of Edwardsville graduated Summa Cum Laude from Nazareth College with a bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre during the 96th Commencement ceremony on campus at the Golisano Training Center on May 13. Nazareth College is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected. Drury University deans list given SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Earning a spot on Drury University's dean's list is a significant accomplishment. The recognition means a student earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury, a top Midwestern university, according to US News & World Report. In the spring semester, the following students made the day school dean's list: Connor Bain, Triad High School Tyler Frolik, Edwardsville High School Robyn Herndon, Edwardsville High School Founded in 1873, today Drury University blends academic and pragmatic studies taught within a collaborative and personalized setting. Drury's academic program, Your Drury Fusion, uniquely prepares students for life and career through a blending of academic and professional learning. The program empowers students to develop intellectually, gain marketable competencies and earn credentials in specialized areas while gaining practical real-world experience. Harding University deans list released SEARCY, Ark. The following students are among more than 1,100 Harding University students included on the dean's list for grades achieved during the spring 2023 semester. Sam Yager of Troy, a junior, studying data science Preston Weaver of Glen Carbon, a junior, studying data science Harding University is a private Christian liberal arts university located in Searcy, Arkansas. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it is the largest private university in the state. Harding's student body represents students from across the U.S. and more than 50 nations and territories. The university offers more than 110 undergraduate majors; 14 preprofessional programs; more than 40 graduate and professional programs; as well as numerous study abroad opportunities including locations in Australasia, Peru, England, Greece, Italy and Zambia. Zerby graduates from Harding SEARCY, Ark. Peyton Zerby of Glen Carbon is one of more than 600 students who received diplomas and were recognized as Harding University graduates for Spring 2023 during a commencement ceremony on May 6. Zerby received a Master of Business Administration in management and business ethics. Graduates included students from the College of Allied Health, College of Arts and Humanities, College of Bible and Ministry, Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration, Cannon-Clary College of Education, Carr College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Sciences, and University College. University President Mike Williams recognized the candidates as they were recommended by the faculty for graduation. Harding University is a private Christian, liberal arts university located in Searcy, Arkansas. Fulbright College deans list given Fayetteville, Ark. Local students were named to the spring 2023 dean's list in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. To qualify for the dean's list, the following local students achieved at least a 3.75 grade-point average for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours. Megan Fitzgerald of Edwardsville Madeline Lautz of Glen Carbon Olivia Ramirez of Edwardsville The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with three schools, 16 departments and numerous academic programs and research centers. The college provides the majority of the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students. Get the inside scoop on all things Fulbright College by subscribing to the digital Fulbright REVIEW publication. As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE The upcoming trial of a 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 court 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. 'More than one victim' 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 Department 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. Two distinct crimes 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. CAIRO (AP) Saudi Arabia and the United States said Friday the warring sides in Sudan's conflict are adhering better to a new, weeklong cease-fire following days of sporadic fighting. The truce, brokered by Riyadh and Washington, went into effect on Monday, but fighting continued in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and the western Darfur region. Particularly intense clashes flared up on Wednesday, the two mediators said in a joint statement. The conflict in Sudan erupted in mid-April after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has killed at least 863 civilians, including at least 190 children, according to the most recent numbers from the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate. The latest, weeklong cease-fire is the seventh attempt at a truce after the others were violated. A new cross-party committee tasked with monitoring potential violations observed Wednesday the use of artillery and military aircraft and drones, credible reports of airstrikes, sustained fighting" in Khartoum and Darfur. Amid the reported calm on Thursday, humanitarian missions were able on to deliver "urgently needed medical supplies to several locations in Sudan, the joint statement said. Efforts were also underway to restore telecommunications services in Khartoum and other areas of the country, it said. On Friday, Khartoum residents reported only sporadic gunfire. However, the Sudanese Defense Ministry issued a statement calling on all non-commissioned and retired officers under 65 to re-enlist. It remains unclear if the call-up is mandatory. Earlier in the day, Sudan TV had broadcast a military statement asking former soldiers and men capable of fighting to head to the nearest military command to arm themselves for their own self-protection. Over the past six weeks, looting has become widespread across many Khartoum districts, which are also without water and electricity. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned both parties of possible sanctions if the latest cease-fire was not adhered to. The United Nations says that more than a million Sudanese have been internally displaced, while some 300,000 have fled to neighboring countries. The conflict has pushed the East African country to the brink of collapse, with urban areas of Khartoum and its adjacent city of Omdurman disintegrating into battlegrounds. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday that the World Food Program has 60,000 people with food and nutrition since restarting distributions including some 180,000 in Darfur. The WFP plans to start distributions also in central Darfur in the coming days and resumed aid in the Blue Nile state on Friday, he said. Dujarric said the World Health Organization has verified eight attacks on health care facilities during the past two weeks, bringing the total to 38 health care facilities attacked since fighting erupted in mid-April. Riyadh and Washington called on the Sudanese military and the RSF to continue to respect the cease-fire. ADS ADS Over 50 years after the birth of the Heuer Monaco, TAG Heuer is releasing three new models, taking a further step towards a unique Monaco design by incorporating a skeleton dial. This marks the first time that the collection unveils the mechanism of the watch. The modern skeleton watch comes in three different dials, Original Blue, Racing Red, and Turquoise, all uncovering a soon-to-be iconic open work. These timepieces were designed to offer an avant-garde interpretation of the racing universe, featuring a vibrant contemporary style intended to resonate with collectors and the youth alike. Each TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial piece has a unique history. The Original Blue draws inspiration from the first-ever TAG Heuer Monaco blue dial. The blue and red colours are featured on the dial, the blue on the column wheel and the oscillating mass engravings an overall design paying homage to the TAG Heuer Monaco 1969 and its original success. 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This movement employs a conventional column wheel to activate the chronograph and boasts an 80-hour power reserve, one of the biggest for a chronograph in the watch industry. Moreover, the exquisite finishing of the Heuer 02 is accentuated by an engraved oscillating mass showcased through the sapphire case back. Monaco Chronograph TAG Heuer The new Monaco skeletons are endowed with a technical and rugged appearance thanks to their sandblasted titanium grade 2 case. Being a high-performance material, titanium offers a remarkable blend of strength and lightweight properties while also being corrosion resistant and has become a signature element of the brand. The Super-LumiNova treatment on the carved indexes and hands of the watch adds an edgy and futuristic touch to this collection additions. The date window with the same luminous treatment is also a first for the TAG Heuer Monaco, making it easy to read in low-light conditions. The hands are also treated with luminescent elements, which ensures optimum legibility in any conditions, day or night - a detail Jack Heuer always liked to pay attention to. The newly released TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial watches have been meticulously crafted to embody technical excellence with thorough attention to detail. Amongst its notable features is also the innovative bi-material strap, thoughtfully designed with a combination of rubber and leather for optimal comfort and style. These straps come in black or blue respectively, adding to the watches overall racing appeal. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Josa Lukman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 26, 2023 16:01 5 8c59b90329e48fb699327dfce9a9352f 4 Environment Lake-Toba,high-school Free Twelve students presented ideas and real actions that brought meaningful change to the Earth, in a symposium event held by the Jakarta Scholars Symposium (JSS). The symposium titled Saving our Earth was held at Soehana Hall in Jakarta on May 24. The JSS is an independent, non-profit coalition dedicated as a forum for young people to lead their generation in creating awareness of topics that are most relevant and of concern to the world today. Wednesday's event was the first symposium for JSS, presenting 12 works that are real solutions to problems that are of global concern. Participants not only presented ideas according to their respective interests, but also demonstrated the results of real actions that have proven their effectiveness and influence in bringing about change. The 12 works that were presented covered various categories, such as environment and nutrition. These projects include business projects to reduce carbon footprint, clean water conservation projects and fortified rice development projects. One of the standout works that has received much appreciation is the work of Stefan Fredrick Atmadja, who turned eceng gondok (water hyacinth weed) that devastated Lake Toba in North Sumatera into a biofertilizer for local farmers. Stefan developed an organic fertilizer which he named Steba, short for Sahabat Petani Toba (Friends of Toba Farmers). The biological fertilizer has been tested, with results showing the quality as above average and can increase farmer productivity. The project started with Stefan's concern when he saw the picturesque Lake Toba covered with water hyacinth. Even though Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, is very beautiful and is one of UNESCOs Global Geoparks, unfortunately it is covered by water hyacinths whose growth is not controlled," explained Stefan, a grade 11 student at the Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS). The water hyacinth that covers the lake causes three significant problems. First, the density of water hyacinths blocks sunlight, blocking the photosynthesis process of organisms in the lake. Second, they reduce oxygen levels, which will inhibit the growth of other living beings. And third, the problem of tourism, as it can reduce the beauty of the scenery which will then result in a decrease in tourism attractiveness," he said during the presentation. Stefan emphasized that the aim of running the project is to restore the beauty of Lake Toba, while at the same time transforming the invasive water hyacinth into something that can benefit the local community. That is by collecting and processing the water hyacinth into fertilizer. The nitrogen content in water hyacinth is quite high, which of course is a good material for fertilizer," he explained. Apart from obtaining laboratory test results from Sucofindo, this biofertilizer product has even been used by a number of farmers in the Lake Toba area. "Based on the research I did, the use of water hyacinth fertilizer on rice plants accelerates rice growth compared with those who do not use this fertilizer. I hope this project can have an impact on increasing the productivity of farmers, and at the same time making the lake beautiful again and maintaining the value of Indonesian tourism," he added. In his presentation, Stefan explained the process of how the fertilizer was made from the water hyacinth plant, which is considered a weed, starting from the collection, chopping and drying to the fermentation process. The symposium was also attended by Sally Kailola, head of communications at the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), who expressed her appreciation of the event. "After witnessing the presentations given by the students, I am very impressed and proud at the same time. This is an extraordinary leap, where students as the younger generation have made a real contribution, namely solutions to the problems found. They are the ones who will make changes in the future, she concluded. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yohana Belinda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 26, 2023 08:49 5 8c59b90329e48fb699327dfce9a24ffb 1 Lifestyle therapy,Primal-Scream,psychological Free A growing number of Indonesian are finding relief in catharsis therapy In October 2021, Wulan Amiruly experienced a panic attack due to her gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Knowing something was wrong with her body, she looked for a solution to her problem by visiting a doctor and was administered GERD medication. The 39-year-old needed to take at least 24 GERD medication pills daily to compensate for her inability to heal her illnesses. Yet, her sicknesses remained uncured. As a result, she decided to join a catharsis class conducted by a Bali-based doctor, Gusti Putu Darmika, also known as Darmika, in Bali, to improve her health and well-being. Initially, Wulan was not fully aware she once experienced such problematic developmental years of her life, until she decided to enroll in the screaming catharsis session. "After the session of being able to let out my emotions, I realized my inner child is hurt, and that it affects my mentality and health," Wulan says. Wulan claims after starting the therapy, neither her GERD nor panic attacks returned. Meanwhile, regarding her horrific background, she refuses to divulge additional information about her "traumatic" upbringing. Shedding tears According to Darmika, catharsis is a therapeutic practice that facilitates the expression of deep emotions in a nonjudgmental and accepting environment. He further says releasing emotional expression and processing it had been demonstrated to reduce the prevalence of depressive and anxious thought patterns while increasing the possibility of a more constructive and hopeful worldview. In general, catharsis is acknowledged as a technique that promotes emotional release through mechanisms such as screaming, crying or engaging in rage room activities. Some may consider the screaming mechanism to be an emotional release. Darmika initially thought such a mechanism was related to mysticism. Thus, he initially avoided counseling because he regarded himself as an adamant thinker. "After teaching and participating in various catharsis sessions that used screaming as a strategy, I discovered that it [screaming] impacts everyone uniquely," he says. There is a science that explains why venting can help people release their frustration. According to an article published by Harvard University, it is reported that crying effectively flushes stress hormones and other harmful chemicals from the body. When someone is crying, their body releases endorphins and the feel-good chemical oxytocin. Thus, individuals can relieve mental and physical suffering by crying or releasing emotions. The 40-year-old doctor claims people experience greater happiness when they are authentic and make "no mask" efforts to appear otherwise in social situations. Yet, Darmika later emphasized many people hid their emotions to please others or conceal their true feelings. "Heed the warning of the wise: repressing the emotions won't do you any good and can even lead to depression," says Darmika, who has been handling catharsis for the past decade. He says although tears can express happiness and grief, many people only equate tears with sadness. However, other people worry about being criticized for having a dramatic response, so they end up bottling their feelings. We should not, however, treat the matter of mental health lightly. The Health Ministry reported over 19 million people in Indonesia (over the age of 15) have suffered from emotional and mental health concerns. Moreover, at least 12 million people (older than 15) suffered from depression in 2018, according to Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) research. Therefore, there is an urgency in calling off the stigma around the mental health issue in the country. Depression is considered a severe medical emergency because it can lead to suicidal ideation and conduct if left untreated, without professional help. However, there may be other warning signals someone is unhappy or has developed a mental health problem. One of the alleged causes is a person's inability to concentrate, even complying with the most basic task, such as their job, regardless of the severity of the underlying problem. Let it out: Expressing bad feelings could relieve stress, and it was possible doing so could lead to a happier life, according to Dr. Darmika, a doctor residing in Bali. (Courtesy of Dr. Darmika) (Archive/Courtesy of Dokter Darmika) "The cause of your unhappiness, even the conflict with your coworkers, is probably from within yourself; the trigger may be you are disappointed within yourself," Darmika adds. Hence, Darmika suggests catharsis for people who want to express their suppressed feelings. He further explains experts regularly accompany people who undergo catharsis; if necessary, they must be supervised by a psychologist. "Even though catharsis regulates the process of letting go of the repressed [negative] feelings, it is not adequate on its own because once the feelings have been expressed, what else must be done for the person to feel better?" he says. Jakarta-based clinical psychologist Yunike Balsa Rhapsodia explains expressing emotions with a companion is advisable because screaming or venting is part of an overall therapeutic approach and cannot be done alone. She further advises individuals not to self-diagnose, adding anyone needing medical attention should seek it out from trained professionals. She further noted it was advisable for trauma victims to frequently seek a psychologist's advice after navigating the origin of their issue. "Because, once again, it depends on the case-by-case basis, as there are some instances where individuals, who eventually remember traumatic events, are not in a good state," Yunike says. "Accepting the events that have occurred, however, may occasionally assist some individuals in letting go of their repressed feelings to engage more with the therapeutic process for better mental health treatment. Nevertheless, some people may experience subsequent trauma due to remembering it, she continues. The 32-year-old continues by pointing out emotions were energy that could not be destroyed but could be directed; thus, trauma was retained in the body. This situation emerges because sometimes unexpected events happen. Moreover, she adds if the trauma was not communicated, catharsis could play a role through a screaming mechanism to release suppressed feelings. Yunike later gives an analogy to illustrate how trauma may be observed in an accident that almost happens. Trauma, however, can occur indirectly. As an illustration, the outcome may be adverse when emotional needs are not addressed. "Over time, a person may lose themselves, their voice, identity and emotions if their traumas are not addressed. The social influence may cause insecurity in social settings," Yunike adds. Healing the inner child Tingga Sari, a 28-year-old senior high school teacher in Jakarta, reveals she joined catharsis to overcome the sexual abuse she experienced as a child at the hands of a neighbor. Tingga has always felt guilty because she grew up in a culture where a solid religious foundation was valued. Understandably, Tingga is going through an emotional crisis, as abuse victims often do. Her religiously devout family has added stress to her life, which has led her to feel overwhelming shame on numerous occasions. She remarks, "I haven't been able to tell anyone about the compromising events in my life for years." Tingga's life has not ever been easy; aside from her abusive childhood experience, being the oldest of three siblings, she prioritizes her siblings' needs before her own, making it unbearably challenging to understand herself as a person. As a result of keeping others as her priority ahead of her own self, she admits she previously could not express herself for at least eight years. "Upon joining the session [catharsis], I can release my burden in life, and in the last couple of years, I've been able to put myself first before everybody else; not in a selfish way, but more about appreciating myself a bit," Tingga says. Tingga's therapy has helped her make peace with her painful past experiences and gain more self-awareness. She has found her husband, who accepts her for who she is and is willing to carry her past together. "I can recall vividly when Darmika told me, You're not wrong, and it's not your fault, and eventually I could recollect my thoughts such that I could get through this [the trauma]," Tingga shares. Tingga is not alone. Santi Johar, a resident of Jakarta who currently works in the private sector for an insurance company, says she had occasionally had suicidal thoughts due to her inability to express her emotions after experiencing "life turbulence", which she chose not to share during the interview. To avoid negative thoughts, Santi tried to engage in several activities, including her favorite pastimes, such as mountain climbing. "I need to have an activity that makes me want to have a purpose. Even if it's just a temporary relief, I'll do it," Santi says. Santi tells The Jakarta Post there were times when she was just too desperate and she attempted to commit suicide three times due to her depression, inability to understand herself and inability to find the meaning of her life, during an interview on April 18. "It seems even death won't accept me," she says. However, she is gratefully aware that what she did was ineffective; therefore, she looks for expert aid for additional support in dealing with her depression. But it was not an easy journey; Santi feels isolated because many people draw the link between one's mental health and religious beliefs. She recalls when others said her lack of religion or adequate prayer time was the root of her mental health issues. "I want to get across the idea that people's mental health and their religious or philosophical convictions are not related," Santi says, sharing her frustration from the judgment she endures from society. "Once more thing to note: people must be conscious in selecting therapy, because studies on mental health exists, and people such as psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists are devoting their expertise to it," Yunike concludes. 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 Tenggara Strategics (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, February 20, 2023 07:02 100 c0f035956148c129441f4eba493bc554 4 Academia the-brief Free When President Joko Jokowi Widodo exits the political stage in October 2024, Indonesia will likely be a more corrupt nation than when he moved into the presidential palace a decade earlier, unless he can turn things around. This is hardly a legacy that Jokowi wants to be remembered by. In the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) published this month, Indonesia saw not only the biggest drop in its score to 38 in 2022 from 34 a year earlier, but also in the global ranking from 96th to 110th of 180 countries surveyed. In 2014, the year Jokowi took the helm, Indonesia scored 34 and ranked 107 out of 175 countries surveyed. The index, published annually by Transparency International, gathers the perception from a sample of the public in each country. It assigns countries scores from 0 for very corrupt, to 100 for very clean. Indonesias Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Year Score (out of100) Global ranking/ countries surveyed 2014 34 107/175 2015 36 88/168 2016 37 90/176 2017 37 96/180 2018 38 89/180 2019 40 85/180 2020 37 102/180 2021 38 96/180 2022 34 110/180 Source: Transparency International The drop indicates that in the last eight years, Jokowi has undone many of the achievements painfully fought for in the countrys anticorruption drive of the last two decades, including those that occurred under his watch. Based on the CPI, Indonesia had the best performance in 2019, the year Jokowi was reelected for a second term, when it scored 40 and ranked 85th out of 180 countries surveyed. Unless Jokowi makes a bold move in the coming months, the downward trend will continue in the next few years. While his administration is not seen as corrupt, his policies have facilitated the return of Indonesias corrupt ways of the past, or he has turned a blind eye to corruption by people in his inner circle. Indonesia has come a long way since the days of Soehartos dictatorship. In 1998, the year he left the stage, Indonesia was the most corrupt nation on earth, according to Transparency International, which then surveyed 80 countries. In 1999, the year after his departure, Indonesia still ranked 96th out of 99 countries surveyed. So cynical was the public that a joke making the rounds at the time asked how much money Indonesia paid Transparency International to get it off the top rank. Post-Soeharto, the anticorruption drive became a central theme to the reform movement in ushering in democracy in the country. Candidates running for office were judged based on their commitments to weed out massive corruption. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) won the presidential elections in 2004 and 2009 campaigning on the promise of a clean government. Jokowi also championed the antigraft drive when he won the election in 2014. This perception has changed in his second term, as confirmed by the latest CPI report. One of the most drastic steps Jokowi has taken is by dismantling the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Set up in the early years of the reform movement in 2004 to go after big-time corruption committed by people in high positions, the KPKs victims have included top judges, powerful politicians, cabinet ministers and police generals. The KPK has many enemies in powerful places and only a few friends, among them the public and the media. Politicians have been eager to dismantle the KPKs power. Whats more President SBY used his power to foil many attempts by the House of Representatives to dissolve the KPK, even when some of his Cabinet ministers fell prey to the commission. He could not save then-deputy governor of Bank Indonesia Aulia Pohan, who is the father-in-law of his son, from going to jail because off the KPK. Jokowi has allowed the House to push ahead with amending the KPK Law. The first attempt was foiled by a massive and violent street student protest in 2019, but the bill was presented again to the House the following year and became law, which defanged the commission. The House has also used its power to determine who gets to sit on the commission and pick those considered friendly and unthreatening. The current KPK chair Firli Bahuri hailed from the National Police, shielding the institution from corruption investigations. The KPK under Jokowi has become a toothless tiger, a big come down from the days when it was widely feared and respected and enjoyed massive public support. Despite the negative publicity about his failing in eradicating corruption following the CPI report, the President responded calmly, summoning some of his top Cabinet ministers last week to work out ways to correct this perception. He said he remained committed to eradicating corruption. One indication why he is tolerating a level of corruption came from a statement by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who criticized the sting operations the KPK had conducted to nab corruption in the act. Luhut said these operations were a source of embarrassment for the country, although they have become few and far between. This looks like a page from the Soeharto book that tolerated some corruption with the popular theory that it greases the economic wheels in a developing country. This theory has since been proven to be fatal. Corruption became so rampant and out of control that it bankrupted the country in 1998, unraveling all the developments carried out during his time and impoverishing the nation once again. The oil windfall of the 1970s and 1980s went mostly into the pockets of his cronies. Indonesia today is a far cry from the corrupt nation that it was some 20 years ago, but we are moving back in that direction. As President Jokowi prepares to leave the stage, leaving a nation that is more corrupt than before he came to power would be a tragic legacy that will eclipse many of his other achievements. What weve heard President Joko Widodo summoned Coordinating Politics, Law and Security Minister Mahfud MD, National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin and KPK chairman Firli Bahuri to the State Palace on Feb. 7 to discuss Transparency Internationals release of their Corruption Perception Index where Indonesia only scored 34. In a public statement, President Jokowi believed the CPI will not affect the investment climate, because investors will think about profit or loss. However, a source from the government said that the President is worried about the declining trend of the CPI. The source added the President was afraid it would affect the integrity of the government. Thats why the president summoned the heads of law enforcement agencies to evaluate how this happened, the source revealed. Apart from discussing strategies to improve the CPI, the source said that another topic discussed at the meeting was Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitans open challenge to KPKs sting operations. During the meeting Jokowi also ordered the KPK, the Attorney Generals Office (AGO), and the National Police to strengthen law enforcement against corruption. A law enforcement officer said after the meeting, KPK and AGO agreed to jointly monitor and oversee the handling of corruption cases. The government wants to simplify the coordination between law enforcement agencies in the fight against graft, said the source. Disclaimer This content is provided by Tenggara Strategics in collaboration with The Jakarta Post to serve the latest comprehensive and reliable analysis on Indonesias political and business landscape. Access our latest edition to read the articles listed below: Politics Humanitarian pause flops, Papua conflict resolution in limbo Politics of nahdliyin: Impartiality and NU-PKBs uneasy relationship KPK increasingly turns into one-man show Business and Economy RI-China reach agreement on Jakarta-Bandung HSR cost-overrun Coal to remain as dominant energy source even after energy transition Waskita Karya shares trading halted after coupon payment deferment Govt to require forex to enter, as country records 33-month trade surplus Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 26, 2023 04:15 5 8c59b90329e48fb699327dfce99f1d65 1 Editorial tobacco,smokers,omnibus-bill,health,Excise,tax,death,FCTC,industry,advertising Free Few would still remember when an article from 2009 that classified tobacco as an addictive substance was removed from the final draft of the health bill that would be signed by the president. The article was later reinstated, but nobody was held responsible for the criminal act as the police dropped their probe into the case. Efforts to eliminate the article, however, continued through judicial review motions. That the article stands until today only shows the wisdom of the Constitutional Court in turning down the petitions. There seems to be no end to the debate over the issue, as long as policymakers consider the tobacco industry an unchangeable source of state revenue or too big to ignore, regardless of the harm it causes. Anti-tobacco groups have therefore warned the public of a possible repeat of the foul play in 2009 now that the House of Representatives are deliberating the omnibus bill on health. But even if such a conspiracy is absent, the House-initiated bill and its inventory of issues submitted by the government to the House speak volumes of reluctance to get tough with tobacco. The government does insist that tobacco contains addictive substances, just like narcotics, but is mum about the mechanisms to restrict its distribution. The governments lack of commitment, if not double standard, has been evident in its refusal to ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), making us among only seven non-parties to the international anti-tobacco treaty. The omnibus bill is in general generous to the tobacco industry as it maintains tobacco advertising on TV and in print media, albeit in a limited manner. The bill also says that office buildings and public places located in smoke-free zones are required to provide smoking areas, which marks a setback from the prevailing Health Law which does not stipulate such a requirement. The government will continue to befriend the tobacco industry. According to Statistic Indonesia (BPS), the industry contributed 1.7 percent to Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 only, mainly through taxes, export revenues and job creation. The official data also found the industry created about 6.3 million jobs in the same year. However, facts show that tobacco does more harm than good. The cost of its impact on health far outweighs the benefit it generates to the economy. The economic burden of smoking in the country reached Rp 531.8 trillion (US$35.6 billion) in 2017, or about 3.6 times greater than the tobacco excise revenue of that year. By reducing the number of smokers, the government can alleviate this burden on the healthcare system and free up resources for other important health issues. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco claims around 8 million lives every year, with many of these deaths being premature. In Indonesia the fatality rate stood at 290,000 annually, which certainly bodes ill for a country poised to boost productivity to become a high-income economy by 2045. In fact, the government has taken measures to discourage smokers. Quite regularly the government has increased cigarette excise, but the disincentive policy fails to live up to expectations. The 2021 Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) discovered that within a decade, from 2011 to 2021, the number of smokers increased by at least 8 million people. More worryingly, the prevalence of young smokers aged 18 below has been on the rise from 8.8 percent in 2016 to 9.1 in 2018 and 10.7 in 2019. BPS has warned the figure could reach a staggering 16 percent by 2030 if the government fails to reduce tobacco consumption through intervention policies. The omnibus bill on health deliberation should therefore provide the government a new opportunity to put public health behind the economy if it really wants to implement its responsibility to protect the people from a possible smoking pandemic. The nations hope for a healthier Indonesia should not go up in smoke. 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 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kornelius Purba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 26, 2023 21:20 4 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05752576 1 Academia Timor-Leste,ASEAN,membership,observer,economic-growth,oil-and-gas,summit,Xanana-Gusmao Free With the victory of his CNRT Party in the May 20 elections, and his ability to form a strong coalition with a smaller party, Timor-Lestes independence hero Xanana Gusmao is moving closer to realizing his ambition to integrate the young nation into the globally influential ASEAN, with the strong backing of its former colonizer Indonesia. Initially other ASEAN members, notably Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, were reluctant to accept a new member, as it was feared it would slow ASEANs quest to establish a regional economic community. ASEAN, for example, found in a study in 2016 that Timor-Leste lacked human resources to catch up with the economic growth of ASEAN member states. But Indonesia succeeded in convincing them that Timor-Lestes inclusion is in the interests of the bloc amid the growing rivalry between China and the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. For the same reason, Australia, the main supporter of Timor-Lestes independence has signed a security and defense agreement with Timor-Leste. It is very true that Timor-Leste remains poor now, but it has abundant oil and gas reserves that will earn it billions of dollars if it can resolve its dispute with Australia and start exploiting these natural resources. The CNRT won 41.6 percent of the vote in the election last month for 31 parliamentary seats, forcing Xanana to build a coalition in the 65-member parliament. The choice went to the tiny Democratic Party, which won six seats. Fretilin, the party of Prime Minister Jose Maria Vasconcelos, better known as Taur Matan Ruak, won 25.7 percent of the vote. Xanana led his nation in the guerrilla war against Indonesia from 1976 until 1992, when the Indonesian military captured him and imprisoned him in Jakarta. The Central Jakarta Court sentenced him to 20 years for treason. He was released just a few weeks before the United Nations-organized referendum was held in then-East Timor on Aug. 30, 1999. The majority of the people voted for independence from Indonesia. On May 20, 2022, East Timor became a fully independent nation and was renamed Timor-Leste. Xanana was elected the first president of Timor-Leste in 2002 and served until 2007. From 2007 until 2015 he became prime minister. He is slated to be sworn in as prime minister late next month. He will work closely with his close ally, President Ramos Horta. The two national heroes will leave a memorable legacy if Timor-Leste joins ASEAN as the 11th member state. Thanks to the strong endorsement of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Timor-Leste looks set to secure ASEANs full membership. ASEAN only began to seriously considering Dilis integration bid 11 years after it formally applied for ASEAN membership in 2011. Timor-Leste is luckier than Papua New Guinea (PNG) in this case. The entreaty of PNG, which shares huge Papua Island with Indonesia, has not received a response from ASEAN since its submission in 1976. Practically, the two sides have lost their appetite to continue the negotiations, while PNG has opted to concentrate more on the progress of the Pacific Islands Forum. President Ramos Horta attended the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh last November at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. On May 20, 2022, ASEAN accepted Timor-Leste as an observer, with the right to attend ASEAN meetings. ASEAN has started to formulate a dedicated road map that outlines various steps that Timor-Leste has to go through in order to gain full membership. The steps include the obligation to fulfill agreements or treaties under the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars of ASEAN. During the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, earlier this month the road map was finalized and agreed by the groups leaders. Timor-Lestes PM Taun Matan Ruak was present in the summit. The full membership will be very dependent on the speedy realization of the road map by Timor-Leste. Indonesia and other ASEAN members are committed to helping Timor-Leste, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said when asked whether ASEAN would accept Timor-Leste as its new member during Indonesias rotary chairmanship, which will end in December. Singaporean PM Lee promised to help the acceleration of Timor-Lestes membership, but warned that it might take a while to accede to agreements that ASEAN has signed. There are something like 66 ASEAN agreements, and it will take a while for Timor-Leste to accede to all of them. And I think its important that Timor-Leste completes all this process so that by the time it joins ASEAN, its really truly an ASEAN member and not just a half-member or member-in-waiting, Lee was quoted by The Straits Times as saying after the Labuan Bajo Summit. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn concurred, saying Timor-Leste would become a full member as soon as it has completed its homework, including its adoption of ASEANs three main pillars on security, economy and socio-cultural aspects. The road to integration with ASEAN may look short, but it can be so bumpy that no one, including Xanana, can reach the finish line. He may capitalize on his good terms with Indonesian and other ASEAN leaders to accomplish the mission, but that will not be enough. For sure full membership of ASEAN, a fast-growing market of 600 million people, will be beneficial for Timor-Leste, but also for the existing 10 members of the regional grouping. Now the ball is in Timor-Lestes court. The enthusiasm of ASEAN member states to assist the country should be answered with its determination to fulfill all the requirements to join the bloc. Timor-Leste has to prove it deserves the ASEAN membership. *** The writer is a senior editor at The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Melanie Burton (The Jakarta Post) Reuters/Melbourne, Australia Fri, May 26 2023 The state of Western Australia has agreed to compensate an Aboriginal group for historic acts including issuing mining leases on their traditional lands, setting a precedent that is set to allow indigenous groups a greater say in future developments. The state has been strengthening its laws to protect indigenous cultural heritage since iron ore mining operations by Rio Tinto three years ago destroyed historic rock shelters that showed human habitation dating back 46,000 years. The Western Australian government said it had reached a "historic settlement" with the Tjiwarl people of the state's northern Goldfield's region for three native title compensation claims and had finalized an agreement for land use in future. 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 Aditya Hadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 27 2023 At the age of seven decades, PT GA Tiga Belas, the company behind local bookstore chain Gunung Agung, plans to shut down its last five outlets this year after gradually closing its stores across the country since 2020. The company said it was unable to overcome the mounting operating losses it had endured since 2013, and which was exacerbated by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. GA Tiga Belas said it had made efforts to cut operating costs during that period, while admitting that these efforts had not been enough. Several stores in Surabaya, Semarang, Gresik, Magelang, Bogor, Bekasi and Jakarta were affected in 2020 as it started to scale down operations to stay afloat. 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 Panu Wongcha-um (Reuters) Bangkok Fri, May 26, 2023 20:10 4 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b057520b8 2 Asia and Pacific Government-Politics,Conflicts-War-Peace,military-conflicts,Thailand,elections,insurgency Free Thailand's new government must continue engaging with insurgents in the country's south to ensure peace, a top Thai official involved in the talks said on Friday. An alliance led by the progressive Move Forward party, which won this month's general election, says it will prioritize peace-building in the predominantly Muslim and ethnically Malay southern provinces, where conflict has flared on and off for decades. General Wanlop Rugsanaoh, head of Thailand's Peace Dialogue Panel said the next government must "maintain continuity and momentum of the talks", which resumed last year after a two-year suspension due to the pandemic. "The process must continue no matter what," he said adding that his team will work with all stakeholders to ensure continuity of the talks until a new government is formed. The main insurgent group, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), which calls for independence from Thailand and participates in the talks, did not respond to a request for comment. The region shares a border with Malaysia and was part of an independent Malay sultanate, Patani, before it was annexed by Thailand in 1909 as part of a treaty with Britain. The most recent phase of conflict erupted in 2004, and more than 7,300 people have been killed since then, according to Deep South Watch, a group that monitors the violence. Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat has said under his leadership, the peace process will be led by civilians rather than the military, and will take into account human rights, coexistence in a multicultural society and greater public participation. Analysts say a Move Forward-led government could foster more participation from the public and the international community. "The peace talks are part of a larger negotiation between the Thai state and the people of Patani," said security analyst Don Pathan, using the traditional name of the border region. "The challenge is to come up and identify what are the terms for peaceful co-existence between all sides." Egypt's parliament the House of Representatives provisionally approved Sunday legislative amendments to three laws stipulating new tax and fee hikes on a number of imported goods and entertainment activities despite being rejected by six political parties. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Reuters Stockholm Fri, May 26, 2023 19:09 4 8c59b90329e48fb699327dfce9ab2ba5 2 Europe defense,Civil-Unrest,European-Union,North-Atlantic-Treaty-Organization,Diplomacy-Foreign-Policy,military-conflicts,Sweden,NATO,Russo-Ukrainian-War Free Sweden still hopes to be a member of NATO by the time of the alliance's summit in Vilnius in July, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Friday. Russia's invasion of Ukraine convinced Sweden and Finland last year to ditch long-held policies of military non-alignment and seek security of NATO's collective defense commitment. Finland joined NATO last month, but Sweden's membership has been held up by objections from Turkey and Hungary. "There isn't going to be any plan B or anything like that. Plan B is plan A - that is full membership in NATO and that is what I and the government are going to work for all the way to Vilnius," he told reporters. Turks vote in the second round of a tight presidential election on Sunday, with incumbent Tayyip Erdogan leading after the first ballot. Billstrom said he hoped Turkey's parliament would begin the ratification process after the dust has settled. "It is time for Turkey to start its ratification process and uphold its part of the bargain," Billstrom said. Sweden and Finland struck a three-way deal in Madrid in June last year aimed at addressing Turkey's security worries. But Ankara has continued to drag its heels over Sweden, saying Stockholm harbors members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. Hungary has also objected to Sweden's application citing grievances over Swedish criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's record on democracy and the rule of law. Billstrom said it was unclear what objections Budapest had to Sweden's membership. "Hungary gave its support at the summit in Madrid last year for Sweden to be given invitee status without any conditions," he said. "It is our firm opinion that they should start ratification." Bison Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 680 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $249,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of S&P Global during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Exos TFP Holdings LLC bought a new position in S&P Global in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Capital Directions Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in S&P Global in the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Elequin Securities LLC bought a new position in S&P Global in the 4th quarter worth $44,000. Finally, BDO Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in S&P Global by 35.6% in the 4th quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 141 shares of the business services providers stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. 87.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get S&P Global alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades SPGI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on S&P Global from $393.00 to $401.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $434.00 price target on shares of S&P Global in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on S&P Global in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. They issued an overweight rating and a $415.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on S&P Global from $388.00 to $403.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price target on S&P Global from $403.00 to $405.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $395.71. S&P Global Trading Up 0.4 % NYSE SPGI traded up $1.39 during trading on Friday, hitting $359.71. The stock had a trading volume of 40,547 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,275,975. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $115.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.12. S&P Global Inc. has a one year low of $279.32 and a one year high of $395.80. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $349.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of $350.26. S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The business services provider reported $3.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.92 by $0.23. S&P Global had a net margin of 23.50% and a return on equity of 10.06%. The firm had revenue of $3.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.06 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.89 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that S&P Global Inc. will post 12.5 earnings per share for the current year. S&P Global Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Investors of record on Friday, May 26th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.00%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 25th. S&P Globals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.35%. Insider Buying and Selling In other S&P Global news, CEO Douglas L. Peterson sold 7,500 shares of S&P Global stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $358.96, for a total value of $2,692,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 163,770 shares of the companys stock, valued at $58,786,879.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other S&P Global news, CEO Douglas L. Peterson sold 7,500 shares of S&P Global stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $358.96, for a total value of $2,692,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 163,770 shares of the companys stock, valued at $58,786,879.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Steven J. Kemps sold 820 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $362.81, for a total transaction of $297,504.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,148 shares in the company, valued at $779,315.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 14,020 shares of company stock valued at $5,013,375 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. About S&P Global (Get Rating) S&P Global, Inc engages in the provision of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide. It operates through the following segments: Market Intelligence, Ratings, Commodity Insights, Mobility, Indices, and Engineering Solutions. The Market Intelligence segment provides multi-asset-class data and analytics integrated with purpose-built workflow solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for S&P Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for S&P Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brookfield Renewable Co. (TSE:BEPC Get Rating) dropped 2.9% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as 45.84 and last traded at 45.93. Approximately 151,650 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 278,543 shares. The stock had previously closed at 47.29. Brookfield Renewable Price Performance The stock has a market cap of $7.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 0.80. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of 45.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of 42.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 88.80. Brookfield Renewable Company Profile (Get Rating) Brookfield Renewable Corporation owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy power generating facilities primarily in the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Brazil. It operates hydroelectric, wind, and solar power plants with an installed capacity of approximately 12,723 megawatts. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Renewable Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Renewable and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Get Rating) by 48.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,284 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,373 shares during the period. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLCs holdings in Zoetis were worth $1,068,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in ZTS. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Zoetis by 0.9% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,550,676 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,420,101,000 after buying an additional 315,032 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Zoetis by 0.4% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 19,803,022 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,936,590,000 after buying an additional 83,221 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its position in Zoetis by 2.2% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 19,102,111 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,832,652,000 after buying an additional 408,379 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in Zoetis by 4.0% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,406,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,548,588,000 after buying an additional 395,882 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Zoetis by 1.3% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,362,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $498,628,000 after buying an additional 43,387 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.23% of the companys stock. Get Zoetis alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Zoetis in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Zoetis from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Zoetis from $220.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Bank Of America (Bofa) raised their price target on shares of Zoetis from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Zoetis has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $221.14. Insider Buying and Selling at Zoetis Zoetis Trading Up 0.3 % In other Zoetis news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 4,338 shares of Zoetis stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.94, for a total value of $763,227.72. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,357 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,637,250.58. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. NYSE ZTS traded up $0.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $165.73. 292,881 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,005,307. Zoetis Inc. has a one year low of $124.15 and a one year high of $187.82. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $173.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $162.60. The stock has a market cap of $76.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 3.27 and a quick ratio of 1.94. Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.04. Zoetis had a net margin of 25.59% and a return on equity of 50.26%. The business had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. Zoetiss quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Zoetis Inc. will post 5.4 EPS for the current year. Zoetis Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 21st will be paid a $0.375 dividend. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 20th. Zoetiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.86%. About Zoetis (Get Rating) Zoetis, Inc engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic products and services, biodevices, genetic tests, and precision animal health technology. The firm operates through the United States and International geographical segments. The United States segment is involved in U.S. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ZTS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Zoetis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zoetis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canada Goose (NYSE:GOOS Get Rating) updated its first quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of -$0.66$0.61 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of -$0.49. The company issued revenue guidance of $51.78 million-$59.18 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $55.66 million. Canada Goose also updated its FY 2024 guidance to $0.89-$1.09 EPS. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently issued reports on GOOS shares. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on Canada Goose from C$30.00 to C$36.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Cowen cut their price target on Canada Goose from $26.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Bank of America cut their price target on Canada Goose from $17.00 to $14.80 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. UBS Group cut their price target on Canada Goose from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Barclays downgraded shares of Canada Goose from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canada Goose has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $25.85. Get Canada Goose alerts: Canada Goose Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:GOOS traded down $0.13 during trading on Friday, reaching $16.02. 99,567 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,958,080. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 2.45 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Canada Goose has a 12 month low of $14.51 and a 12 month high of $24.73. The company has a 50 day moving average of $18.76 and a 200-day moving average of $19.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.63. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canada Goose Canada Goose ( NYSE:GOOS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 18th. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by $0.04. Canada Goose had a net margin of 5.58% and a return on equity of 25.45%. The business had revenue of $216.84 million during the quarter. On average, equities analysts expect that Canada Goose will post 1.06 EPS for the current year. Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GOOS. Raymond James & Associates bought a new stake in shares of Canada Goose during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,061,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Canada Goose in the first quarter worth about $286,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Canada Goose by 0.5% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 465,058 shares of the companys stock worth $12,244,000 after purchasing an additional 2,086 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Canada Goose by 1.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,626,615 shares of the companys stock worth $42,828,000 after purchasing an additional 20,326 shares during the period. Finally, USS Investment Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Canada Goose in the first quarter worth about $949,000. 42.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Canada Goose (Get Rating) Canada Goose Holdings, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, distribution, and retail of outerwear for men, women, and children. It operates through the following segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Wholesale, and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment comprises of sales through country-specific e-Commerce platforms and its company-owned retail stores located in luxury shopping locations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canada Goose Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canada Goose and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ Get Rating) (NYSE:CNQ) Director Stephen W. Laut sold 60,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$75.46, for a total transaction of C$4,527,600.00. Stephen W. Laut also recently made the following trade(s): Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: On Wednesday, March 8th, Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.00, for a total transaction of C$400,010.00. On Monday, March 6th, Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.78, for a total transaction of C$403,875.00. Canadian Natural Resources Stock Up 0.6 % Canadian Natural Resources stock traded up C$0.43 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting C$75.60. The company had a trading volume of 318,335 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,489,004. The stock has a market cap of C$82.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.83, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.02. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 1 year low of C$58.75 and a 1 year high of C$87.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.14. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$77.18 and a 200 day moving average of C$77.46. Canadian Natural Resources Dividend Announcement Canadian Natural Resources ( TSE:CNQ Get Rating ) (NYSE:CNQ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$1.96 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$2.21 by C($0.25). The company had revenue of C$9.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$9.46 billion. Canadian Natural Resources had a net margin of 23.94% and a return on equity of 25.00%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Canadian Natural Resources Limited will post 7.9854922 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.76%. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.30%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. National Bank Financial upped their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$100.00 to C$110.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. National Bankshares reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$110.00 to C$105.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$76.00 to C$82.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$90.00 to C$87.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$86.00 to C$87.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Canadian Natural Resources has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$91.79. About Canadian Natural Resources (Get Rating) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers synthetic crude oil (SCO), light and medium crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), primary heavy crude oil, and Pelican Lake heavy crude oil. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eagle Materials (NYSE:EXP Get Rating) had its price target upped by Loop Capital from $160.00 to $181.00 in a research report report published on Monday, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. DA Davidson lifted their target price on Eagle Materials from $140.00 to $175.00 in a research note on Monday. Raymond James boosted their price target on Eagle Materials from $140.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. StockNews.com started coverage on Eagle Materials in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Eagle Materials from $130.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Stephens boosted their price target on Eagle Materials from $170.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Eagle Materials presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.75. Get Eagle Materials alerts: Eagle Materials Price Performance EXP opened at $166.56 on Monday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $149.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $141.91. Eagle Materials has a 1 year low of $101.98 and a 1 year high of $169.19. 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 market capitalization of $5.89 billion, a PE ratio of 13.37 and a beta of 1.31. Eagle Materials Dividend Announcement Eagle Materials ( NYSE:EXP Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 18th. The construction company reported $2.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.35 by $0.44. Eagle Materials had a return on equity of 40.09% and a net margin of 21.49%. The company had revenue of $470.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $452.11 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.90 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Eagle Materials will post 13.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.60%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. Eagle Materialss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.03%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP William R. Devlin sold 4,914 shares of Eagle Materials stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.30, for a total transaction of $827,026.20. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 26,269 shares of the companys stock, 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 Investors Weigh In On Eagle Materials A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 905 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 5,821 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 993 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 1,347 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.67% of the companys stock. About Eagle Materials (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. Recommended Stories 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. EnerSys (NYSE:ENS Get Rating) had its price objective upped by investment analysts at Oppenheimer from $99.00 to $110.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Oppenheimers target price suggests a potential upside of 14.32% from the stocks previous close. Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of EnerSys in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Get EnerSys alerts: EnerSys Trading Up 14.4 % Shares of ENS stock opened at $96.22 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $83.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $81.30. EnerSys has a fifty-two week low of $55.60 and a fifty-two week high of $96.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The stock has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.36. Institutional Investors Weigh In On EnerSys EnerSys ( NYSE:ENS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The industrial products company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.44. EnerSys had a net margin of 4.74% and a return on equity of 15.11%. The business had revenue of $990.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $953.05 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.20 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that EnerSys will post 6.13 EPS for the current year. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in EnerSys in the 1st quarter valued at about $87,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in EnerSys by 32.3% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 120,770 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $10,492,000 after buying an additional 29,481 shares in the last quarter. Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. purchased a new stake in EnerSys during the first quarter valued at about $955,000. Cim Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in EnerSys by 3.6% during the first quarter. Cim Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,559 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its stake in EnerSys by 218.3% during the first quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 23,305 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,025,000 after buying an additional 15,983 shares in the last quarter. 95.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About EnerSys (Get Rating) EnerSys engages in the provision of stored energy solutions for industrial applications. It operates through the following segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The Energy Systems segment combines enclosures, power conversion, power distribution, and energy storage used in the telecommunication, broadband, and utility industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for EnerSys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EnerSys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Colonial River Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) by 12.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,138 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 347 shares during the quarter. Colonial River Wealth Management LLCs holdings in General Mills were worth $263,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV increased its holdings in General Mills by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 13,284 shares of the companys stock worth $1,114,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI lifted its position in General Mills by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 11,193 shares of the companys stock worth $939,000 after buying an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Rossmore Private Capital lifted its position in General Mills by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Rossmore Private Capital now owns 10,375 shares of the companys stock worth $795,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc lifted its position in General Mills by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc now owns 7,262 shares of the companys stock worth $609,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Buckhead Capital Management LLC lifted its position in General Mills by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Buckhead Capital Management LLC now owns 27,544 shares of the companys stock worth $2,310,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.48% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Price Performance NYSE GIS traded down $0.35 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $84.16. The stock had a trading volume of 736,574 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,195,399. 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 company has a 50 day simple moving average of $86.83 and a 200 day simple moving average of $83.10. The company has a market cap of $49.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.27. General Mills, Inc. has a 52-week low of $64.94 and a 52-week high of $90.89. Insider Transactions at General Mills General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. General Mills had a return on equity of 24.51% and a net margin of 14.04%. The firm had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.84 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was 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 directly owns 47,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Jacqueline Williams-Roll sold 18,517 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.47, for a total value of $1,656,715.99. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 47,163 shares in the company, valued at $4,219,673.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total transaction of $1,866,081.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 47,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 55,371 shares of company stock worth $4,849,178. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In GIS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on General Mills in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on General Mills from $76.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on General Mills from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Mizuho raised their price target on General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on General Mills in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $84.76. About General Mills (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. Featured Articles 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. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has estimated the number of migrants and host community members in Egypt at 9,115,929 million from 133 countries, according to a statement released on Sunday. The number of migrants and host community members in Egypt is equal to 8.7 percent of the country's total population, the IOM added. It noted that the most numerous nationalities in Egypt are Sudanese (four million), Syrians (1.5 million), Yemenis (one million) and Libyans (one million), with these four nationalities constituting 80 percent of the international migrants currently residing in the country. "There has been a noticeable increase in the number of migrants since 2019, due to the long-standing instability in Egypt's neighbouring countries, which has driven thousands of Sudanese, South Sudanese, Syrians, Ethiopians, Iraqis and Yemenis to seek refuge in Egypt," the statement pointed out. The IOM considers a migrant to be any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his/her habitual place of residence, regardless of the persons legal status; whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary; what the causes for the movement are; or what the length of the stay is." While offering assurances that Egypt is not a transit point for illegal migrants to Europe, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has repeatedly asserted that the country does not have refugee camps, describing refugees hosted in Egypt as guests in the country. The refugees in Egypt live within society, and have access to education, medical treatment and work, El-Sisi has pointed out. The IOM said the Egyptian governments positive attitude towards migrants and refugees may be seen as a pull factor for the recent migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. "Egypt has been generous in including migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in the education and national health systems, [putting them] on equal footing with Egyptians in many instances despite the challenges these two sectors are facing and the high economic costs," it added. The inclusion of migrants in the national COVID-19 vaccination plan is a clear recent example of Egypt's approach to treating migrants as equal to Egyptian citizens, stressed the IOM. The IOM's analysis on migrants in Egypt showed that the average age is 35 years old with a balanced percentage of males (50.4 percent) and females (49.6 percent). Furthermore, the majority of them (56 percent) reside in five governorates namely Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Damietta and Daqahliya. Most of the remainder live in Assiut, Aswan, Gharbiya, Ismailia, Luxor, Matrouh, Menoufiya, Minya, Port Said, Qaliouyiba, Qena, and Red Sea. Small numbers of migrants live in the Sinai peninsula (specifically Dahab), Sharqyia, Sohag and Suez, the statement added. Additionally, the data collected from embassies and IOM studies revealed that more than one third of the population (37 percent) are working in stable jobs, which indicates that the migrants in Egypt are positively contributing to the labour market and the Egypts economic growth. Syrians migrants, who constitute 17 percent of international migrants in Egypt, are one of the top contributors to the labour market and the Egyptian economy. The IOM estimated that the amount of funds invested by 30,000 registered Syrian investors in Egypt is approximately $1 billion, saying that this reflects the importance of enhancing the integration of migrants to positively impact their host society. The analysis of the duration of stay of migrants in Egypt showed 60 percent living in Egypt for more than 10 years, with six percent living in the country for 15 years or more (second generations included). IOM Egypt started its assessment in October 2021 and concluded it in June 2022. IOM said it has used multiple research methods to get the most accurate number and profile of migrants in Egypt, including conducting consultations with diplomatic representations of more than 100 countries present in Egypt. It also included data collected via the daily interaction with migrants, as well as academic reviews and studies. IOM policies and programmes consider human mobility as a source of prosperity and sustainable development for countries of origin and hosting communities, the statement noted. Combating irregular migration Egypt has stepped up its efforts since 2016 to deal with irregular migration, setting a legislative framework to combat the smuggling of migrants. In 2016, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi launched the countrys first national strategy to combat irregular migration, and Law 82 of 2016 set out penalties criminalising all forms of migrant smuggling, in addition to combating the activities of those involved in such acts. The law punishes whoever commits, attempts, or is involved in the crime of smuggling migrants with strict imprisonment and a fine ranging from EGP 200,000 to EGP 500,000. In 2022, the country toughened the law, forcing those who commit the crime of smuggling or aiding in the smuggling of migrants to pay a fine equal to the value of the amount they profited from the operation. Additionally, those who witnessed irregular migration crimes and chose not to report them to authorities will be sentenced to one year in prison and forced to pay EGP 50,000-200,000 in fines. Furthermore, public servants who fail in their assigned responsibilities to fight irregular migration will be sentenced to between three to five years in prison. In 2019, Egypt launched its Lifeboats Initiative in order to provide job opportunities in villages seeing significant levels of irregular migration, with EGP 250 million allocated to support and implement it in 70 villages across the country. Search Keywords: Short link: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL Get Rating) from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a report released on Monday, The Fly reports. Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $20.00 price objective on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on Greenhill & Co., Inc. in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Greenhill & Co., Inc. from $9.50 to $8.50 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $11.38. Get Greenhill & Co. Inc. alerts: Greenhill & Co., Inc. Price Performance GHL opened at $14.63 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.09. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a 12 month low of $5.64 and a 12 month high of $14.85. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.06. The stock has a market cap of $268.02 million, a P/E ratio of -21.51 and a beta of 1.21. Greenhill & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greenhill & Co., Inc. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 21st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.73%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 6th. Greenhill & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is -58.82%. Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 460,587 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,721,000 after acquiring an additional 17,621 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $63,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $72,000. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. grew its holdings in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 118.9% in the 3rd quarter. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 97,502 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $579,000 after acquiring an additional 52,959 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Acrisure Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter valued at about $192,000. Institutional investors own 74.14% of the companys stock. About Greenhill & Co., Inc. (Get Rating) Greenhill & Co, Inc is an independent investment bank, which engages in the provision of financial and strategic advice. It specializes in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, and capital raising. The company was founded by Robert F. Greenhill in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, NY. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Humm Group Limited (ASX:HUM Get Rating) insider Andrew Abercrombie purchased 591,311 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$0.44 ($0.30) per share, with a total value of A$262,542.08 ($175,028.06). Andrew Abercrombie also recently made the following trade(s): Get Humm Group alerts: On Wednesday, May 17th, Andrew Abercrombie purchased 213,367 shares of Humm Group stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$0.43 ($0.29) per share, with a total value of A$91,747.81 ($61,165.21). On Thursday, May 11th, Andrew Abercrombie acquired 217,751 shares of Humm Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$0.42 ($0.28) per share, for a total transaction of A$90,802.17 ($60,534.78). On Tuesday, April 11th, Andrew Abercrombie 2,632,829 shares of Humm Group stock. On Thursday, March 9th, Andrew Abercrombie acquired 58,599 shares of Humm Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$0.51 ($0.34) per share, for a total transaction of A$29,826.89 ($19,884.59). On Tuesday, March 7th, Andrew Abercrombie acquired 253,201 shares of Humm Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$0.51 ($0.34) per share, for a total transaction of A$128,372.91 ($85,581.94). On Thursday, March 2nd, Andrew Abercrombie acquired 175,092 shares of Humm Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$0.49 ($0.33) per share, for a total transaction of A$86,320.36 ($57,546.90). On Tuesday, February 28th, Andrew Abercrombie acquired 81,364 shares of Humm Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of A$0.51 ($0.34) per share, for a total transaction of A$41,170.18 ($27,446.79). Humm Group Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 550.54, a quick ratio of 4.11 and a current ratio of 65.86. Humm Group Dividend Announcement About Humm Group The company also recently declared a Interim dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th were issued a $0.01 dividend. This represents a yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. (Get Rating) Humm Group Limited provides various financial services in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company operates through four segments: BNPL, New Zealand Cards, Australia Cards, and Commercial and Leasing. It offers buy now, pay later solution under the bundll brand name; humm, an interest-free payment platform with repayment options; long term interest free finance and everyday spend solutions under the humm90 brand; humm pro, a buy now pay later solution for small to medium businesses; Q Mastercard, an interest free credit card; FlexiCommercial, a business financing solution, which includes leasing and chattel mortgages for small and medium businesses; and leasing solutions and SME financing services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Humm Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humm Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA Get Rating) Director Akbar Mohamed bought 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $14.37 per share, for a total transaction of $143,700.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 83,689 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,202,610.93. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Sunnova Energy International Stock Up 0.2 % NOVA opened at $16.18 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $15.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.13. Sunnova Energy International Inc. has a 1 year low of $12.46 and a 1 year high of $31.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.18, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 1.57. Get Sunnova Energy International alerts: Sunnova Energy International (NYSE:NOVA Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported ($0.70) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.58) by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $161.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $159.54 million. Sunnova Energy International had a negative net margin of 30.75% and a negative return on equity of 13.47%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 146.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.30) earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Sunnova Energy International Inc. will post -1.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Sunnova Energy International Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mariner LLC lifted its position in shares of Sunnova Energy International by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 123,835 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,230,000 after acquiring an additional 587 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sunnova Energy International by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 24,399 shares of the companys stock valued at $439,000 after acquiring an additional 591 shares during the period. Kepos Capital LP lifted its position in shares of Sunnova Energy International by 18.1% during the 4th quarter. Kepos Capital LP now owns 4,012 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 615 shares during the period. Cim Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sunnova Energy International by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Cim Investment Management Inc. now owns 19,647 shares of the companys stock valued at $307,000 after acquiring an additional 676 shares during the period. Finally, Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Sunnova Energy International by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 21,510 shares of the companys stock worth $496,000 after buying an additional 710 shares during the last quarter. Several equities research analysts have commented on NOVA shares. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $43.00 target price on shares of Sunnova Energy International in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Barclays lowered their price target on Sunnova Energy International from $31.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Sunnova Energy International from $24.00 to $23.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Sunnova Energy International from $35.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Capital One Financial reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Sunnova Energy International in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $34.95. Sunnova Energy International Company Profile (Get Rating) Sunnova Energy International, Inc operates as a residential energy service provider. It offers solar energy systems, electric vehicle chargers, and home solar protection. The company was founded by William Jackson Berger in 2012 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Sunnova Energy International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sunnova Energy International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toubani Resources Inc. (ASX:TRE Get Rating) insider Mark Strizek purchased 125,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was bought at an average cost of A$0.17 ($0.11) per share, with a total value of A$21,125.00 ($14,083.33). Toubani Resources Stock Performance About Toubani Resources (Get Rating) Toubani Resources Inc, an exploration and development company, engages in the exploration and development of gold properties in West Africa. It focuses on the Kobada Gold project located in Southern Mali. The company was formerly known as African Gold Group, Inc and changed its name to Toubani Resources Inc in June 2022. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Toubani Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toubani Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Infosys (NYSE:INFY Get Rating) in a research note published on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. The firm issued an underweight rating and a $14.00 price target on the technology companys stock. A number of other brokerages have also commented on INFY. Macquarie lowered shares of Infosys from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Sunday, April 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Infosys from $21.00 to $18.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 14th. Credit Suisse Group lowered shares of Infosys from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Citigroup lowered shares of Infosys from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Wedbush reduced their target price on shares of Infosys from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $18.57. Get Infosys alerts: Infosys Stock Performance Shares of INFY stock opened at $15.66 on Tuesday. Infosys has a 52-week low of $14.71 and a 52-week high of $20.60. The stock has a market cap of $64.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $15.94 and a 200-day moving average of $17.73. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Infosys ( NYSE:INFY Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 13th. The technology company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.73 billion. Infosys had a return on equity of 31.78% and a net margin of 16.37%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.18 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Infosys will post 0.76 earnings per share for the current year. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of INFY. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Infosys by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 16,735 shares of the technology companys stock worth $417,000 after acquiring an additional 652 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in Infosys by 39.8% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 157,264 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,914,000 after buying an additional 44,768 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL acquired a new stake in Infosys during the 1st quarter worth approximately $465,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in Infosys by 108.3% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,017,100 shares of the technology companys stock worth $25,315,000 after buying an additional 528,900 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its holdings in Infosys by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,051,193 shares of the technology companys stock worth $26,164,000 after buying an additional 16,102 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 12.68% of the companys stock. About Infosys (Get Rating) Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Infosys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Infosys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NPV Get Rating) saw a significant decrease in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 11,200 shares, a decrease of 47.2% from the April 30th total of 21,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 20,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days. Institutional Trading of Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. AMG National Trust Bank lifted its position in shares of Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund by 60.3% in the first quarter. AMG National Trust Bank now owns 20,212 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $230,000 after buying an additional 7,600 shares in the last quarter. Dudley Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund by 7.1% in the first quarter. Dudley Capital Management LLC now owns 15,000 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $171,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund by 93.4% in the first quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 53,834 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $614,000 after acquiring an additional 26,001 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund by 26.8% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 37,088 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $423,000 after buying an additional 7,838 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund by 6.3% in the first quarter. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 53,503 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $610,000 after buying an additional 3,164 shares during the last quarter. 7.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund Price Performance NPV traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $10.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,930 shares, compared to its average volume of 21,313. The stocks 50-day moving average is $11.20 and its 200-day moving average is $11.53. Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 1 year low of $10.62 and a 1 year high of $14.89. Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund Dividend Announcement About Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.034 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.83%. (Get Rating) Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Virginia. The fund invests primarily in municipal securities rated Baa/BBB or better. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSE:ONC Get Rating) fell 14.3% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$2.44 and last traded at C$2.51. 100,643 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 100% from the average session volume of 50,308 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$2.93. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have issued reports on ONC shares. HC Wainwright reissued a buy rating on shares of Oncolytics Biotech in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Jonestrading set a C$9.00 target price on shares of Oncolytics Biotech and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a C$9.00 price target on shares of Oncolytics Biotech in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$6.75. Get Oncolytics Biotech alerts: Oncolytics Biotech Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 13.88, a quick ratio of 8.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. The company has a market cap of C$157.66 million, a P/E ratio of -6.19 and a beta of 1.79. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$1.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$2.11. About Oncolytics Biotech Oncolytics Biotech ( TSE:ONC Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, March 3rd. The company reported C($0.14) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C($0.07) by C($0.07). Sell-side analysts predict that Oncolytics Biotech Inc. will post -0.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. (Get Rating) Oncolytics Biotech Inc, a development-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of cancer. Its lead product is pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Oncolytics Biotech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oncolytics Biotech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PAX Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE:DIN Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 4,666 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $301,000. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in Dine Brands Global by 132.3% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 929 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 529 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of Dine Brands Global in the 1st quarter worth $85,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in shares of Dine Brands Global by 57.0% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,094 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Dine Brands Global in the 3rd quarter worth $74,000. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Dine Brands Global during the 1st quarter worth $241,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.20% of the companys stock. Get Dine Brands Global alerts: Dine Brands Global Price Performance Dine Brands Global stock traded down $0.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $63.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 35,437 shares, compared to its average volume of 265,428. The stock has a market cap of $986.74 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.08 and a beta of 1.84. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $66.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $70.44. Dine Brands Global, Inc. has a 12 month low of $61.03 and a 12 month high of $82.43. Dine Brands Global Dividend Announcement Dine Brands Global ( NYSE:DIN Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.70 by $0.27. Dine Brands Global had a net margin of 9.37% and a negative return on equity of 35.04%. The company had revenue of $213.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $207.04 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.54 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Dine Brands Global, Inc. will post 6.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 16th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.24%. Dine Brands Globals payout ratio is 39.01%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Dine Brands Global in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Dine Brands Global from $100.00 to $92.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $85.00 price target on shares of Dine Brands Global in a research report on Monday, March 27th. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on shares of Dine Brands Global from $83.00 to $78.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Dine Brands Global from $84.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Dine Brands Global has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $84.00. Insider Activity In other Dine Brands Global news, Director Larry Alan Kay sold 600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.19, for a total transaction of $41,514.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,639 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $528,542.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 3.03% of the companys stock. Dine Brands Global Profile (Get Rating) Dine Brands Global, Inc owns and franchises casual and family dining restaurants. It operates through the following segments: Franchise, Rental, Company Restaurant, and Financing Operations. The Franchise Operations segment consists of royalties, fees, and other income for Applebees and IHOP franchised and area licensed restaurants. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DIN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE:DIN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Dine Brands Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dine Brands Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Rating) (TSE:RY) Equities researchers at Cormark reduced their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for Royal Bank of Canada in a research note issued on Tuesday, May 23rd. Cormark analyst L. Persaud now forecasts that the financial services provider will post earnings of $2.14 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.18. The consensus estimate for Royal Bank of Canadas current full-year earnings is $8.62 per share. Get Royal Bank of Canada alerts: Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Desjardins upped their price target on Royal Bank of Canada from C$145.00 to C$147.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. CIBC downgraded Royal Bank of Canada from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Barclays downgraded Royal Bank of Canada from an overweight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Royal Bank of Canada in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $138.33. Royal Bank of Canada Stock Performance Shares of NYSE RY opened at $89.10 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $96.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.89. Royal Bank of Canada has a one year low of $83.63 and a one year high of $106.43. The company has a market capitalization of $123.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.82. Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Rating) (TSE:RY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $11.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.67 billion. Royal Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 16.17% and a net margin of 18.77%. Royal Bank of Canada Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 25th were given a dividend of $0.992 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 24th. This is a positive change from Royal Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. This represents a $3.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.45%. Royal Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is 48.45%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 50,653,309 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,560,824,000 after purchasing an additional 1,191,987 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its position in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 24,144,366 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,269,999,000 after purchasing an additional 2,392,959 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its position in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 10.6% in the 1st quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 21,119,042 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,023,058,000 after purchasing an additional 2,029,807 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 18,183,866 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,737,263,000 after purchasing an additional 890,328 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Royal Bank of Canada in the 4th quarter worth $1,583,609,000. 41.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Royal Bank of Canada Company Profile (Get Rating) Royal Bank of Canada engages in the provision of banking and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management, Insurance, Investor and Treasury Services, Capital Markets, and Corporate Support. The Personal and Commercial Banking segment deals with a broad suite of financial products and services in Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SCSK Co. (OTCMKTS:SCSKF Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 405,000 shares, a decrease of 49.0% from the April 30th total of 794,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently days. SCSK Price Performance Shares of SCSKF remained flat at $15.00 during mid-day trading on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $15.63 and a 200 day moving average of $16.20. SCSK has a 12 month low of $15.00 and a 12 month high of $15.00. Get SCSK alerts: SCSK Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading SCSK Corporation provides information technology (IT) services in Japan and internationally. It operates through six segments: Industrial IT Business, Financial IT Business, IT Business Solutions, IT Platform Solutions, IT Management Service, and Others. The Industrial IT Business segment offers various IT solutions comprising core systems, manufacturing management systems, information management systems, supply chain management systems, customer relationship management systems, e-commerce systems, and other systems for manufacturing, communication, and energy industries. Receive News & Ratings for SCSK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SCSK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Carl-Hermann Gustav handed over AMCOW presidency to Egypts Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Sewilam. During the virtual session, Gustav encouraged Sewilam to carry on the work of AMCOW to facilitate the delivery of the African water agenda. In a speech after the handover, Sewilam affirmed Egypts aspiration to cooperate with all African countries to enhance economic integration and ensure prosperity, security, peace, and stability for the continent. The Egyptian minister also affirmed keenness to prioritise the water axis within the context of the issues that serve the development goals in Africa. He stressed his belief in African countries ability to turn challenges into opportunities for ensuring cooperation, exchanging expertise, addressing the informational and technological gap, and boosting investments in the water sector. The minister also highlighted the importance of building the capacities of workers in the water sector and raising awareness on the importance of water to improve water management and tackle the issues of overpopulation and water scarcity. Sewilam highlighted the vital role played by the AMCOW through its ambitious programmes and initiatives to provide the necessary directives to implement measures that achieve sustainable social and economic development. He also hailed the role of AMCOWs programmes in preserving the African ecological systems and confronting challenges that obstruct the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Africa Water Vision 2025, and Africas Agenda 2063. During his speech, Sewilam stressed the need to translate policies in this regard into actual measures on the ground, boost the reliance on innovative policies and practices, and develop technology in order to reach tangible results in water management and to face climate change. The minister called for all countries to support the global initiative that Egypt launched along with international partners at the 27th UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh city last November, which aims to encourage comprehensive cooperation in the field of water amid climate change. During the COP, Sewilam had announced the launch of the Action on Water, Adaptation, and Resilience (AWARe) initiative in partnership with several international parties, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The initiative seeks to offer transitional adaptation solutions for the planet and people, starting with the worlds most vulnerable communities and ecosystems in Africa. In his Thursday speech, Sewilam affirmed Egypts keenness to become an African hub for training and capacity building under the initiative to train African technical cadres in the water field. Founded in 2002 in Nigeria, 55-member AMCOW aims to promote cooperation and development and eliminate poverty among the African Unions member states through effective water resources management in Africa. DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY Get Rating) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a drop of 97.1% from the April 30th total of 10,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 268,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. DNB Bank ASA Stock Up 0.4 % DNBBY traded up $0.07 during trading on Thursday, hitting $16.85. 196,036 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 110,345. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $17.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.56. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.48. DNB Bank ASA has a 12-month low of $15.58 and a 12-month high of $21.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.87, a PEG ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.26. Get DNB Bank ASA alerts: DNB Bank ASA Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 27th were paid a $1.0048 dividend. This is an increase from DNB Bank ASAs previous dividend of $0.90. This represents a dividend yield of 5.44%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 26th. About DNB Bank ASA DNB Bank ASA provides financial services for retail and corporate customers in Norway and internationally. The company offers personal banking products and services, including savings and investment products; loans, such as home mortgages, and car and consumer loans; pet, home and property, travel, and personal insurance products, as well as insurance products for vehicles; retirement savings products; foreign exchange and treasury activities; and Internet and mobile banking services, as well as cards. Read More Receive News & Ratings for DNB Bank ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DNB Bank ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, May 24th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.05 per share by the investment management company on Thursday, August 24th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 16th. The Gabelli Utility Trust Price Performance Shares of NYSE GUT opened at $6.77 on Friday. The Gabelli Utility Trust has a twelve month low of $6.41 and a twelve month high of $8.05. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $7.17. Get The Gabelli Utility Trust alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in The Gabelli Utility Trust during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. MAS Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Gabelli Utility Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $78,000. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in The Gabelli Utility Trust by 5,457.2% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 16,894 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 16,590 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in The Gabelli Utility Trust in the first quarter worth $117,000. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in The Gabelli Utility Trust in the first quarter valued at $119,000. The Gabelli Utility Trust Company Profile The Gabelli Utility Trust is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc It is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It makes its investments in stocks of companies providing products, services, or equipment for the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, water, telecommunications services, and infrastructure operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for The Gabelli Utility Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Gabelli Utility Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Rating) (NYSE:TD) had its price objective decreased by Credit Suisse Group from C$88.00 to C$85.00 in a research note issued on Friday, The Fly reports. Credit Suisse Groups price objective points to a potential upside of 9.28% from the companys current price. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. CSFB cut their price target on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$97.00 to C$94.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Scotiabank upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$110.00 to C$95.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. National Bank Financial reduced their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$98.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Finally, National Bankshares reduced their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$98.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$94.89. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Down 4.2 % Shares of TD opened at C$77.78 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of C$142.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.41, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.84. The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$81.09 and a 200 day moving average of C$86.35. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12 month low of C$76.40 and a 12 month high of C$97.13. Insider Buying and Selling at Toronto-Dominion Bank Toronto-Dominion Bank ( TSE:TD Get Rating ) (NYSE:TD) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$2.16 by C$0.07. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 14.29% and a net margin of 31.78%. The business had revenue of C$12.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$12.12 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 8.7335456 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, Senior Officer Riaz Ahmed sold 37,832 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$89.01, for a total value of C$3,367,426.32. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Toronto-Dominion Bank (Get Rating) The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking segments. The company offers personal deposits, such as checking, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. X Financial (NYSE:XYF Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 39,700 shares, a growth of 802.3% from the April 30th total of 4,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 34,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.2 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On X Financial Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in X Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $99,000. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of X Financial by 6.3% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 87,308 shares of the companys stock worth $241,000 after acquiring an additional 5,183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AWH Capital L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of X Financial in the first quarter worth $1,036,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.71% of the companys stock. Get X Financial alerts: X Financial Price Performance NYSE:XYF traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $3.30. The stock had a trading volume of 113,949 shares, compared to its average volume of 58,502. The businesss 50 day moving average is $3.20 and its 200 day moving average is $3.08. X Financial has a fifty-two week low of $1.62 and a fifty-two week high of $4.50. The stock has a market cap of $181.01 million, a P/E ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.53. About X Financial X Financial engages in the development and provision of technology platform for personal finance services. The company was founded by Yue Tang on January 5, 2015 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for X Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for X Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH Get Rating) fell 3.8% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $0.96 and last traded at $0.96. 695,207 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 4,036,129 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.00. Zhihu Trading Up 1.5 % The firm has a market cap of $648.79 million, a P/E ratio of -3.70 and a beta of 0.24. The companys 50-day moving average is $1.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.34. Get Zhihu alerts: Zhihu (NYSE:ZH Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 22nd. The company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $161.51 million during the quarter. Zhihu had a negative net margin of 29.93% and a negative return on equity of 19.57%. Research analysts anticipate that Zhihu Inc. will post -0.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Zhihu About Zhihu Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ZH. Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its holdings in Zhihu by 628.2% in the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 17,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 15,077 shares during the period. Focused Wealth Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Zhihu during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Vident Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Zhihu during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Zhihu during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Zhihu during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.39% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Zhihu Inc operates an online content community in the People's Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company also offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services; information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Zhihu Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zhihu and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue has approved the agenda for the sessions of the third week of the dialogue, which is set to begin on Sunday 4 June, Diaa Rashwan, the dialogues general coordinator said. In a statement on Thursday, Rashwan explained that the agenda was agreed upon after consulting with the general rapporteurs and assistant rapporteurs of the three axes of the dialogue (political, economic and social). It will include several sessions on promoting civil work, freedom of information law and public investments. Rashwan noted that all conclusions and proposals resulting from the plenary sessions will be formulated and presented to the Board of Trustees to be discussed before being submitted to the president. This, he added, requires holding a number of specialized mini-meetings expressing all points of view after each several plenary sessions. The Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on Saturday in order to form these committees and determine their tasks, Rashwan pointed out. The National Dialogue kicked off on 3 May with broad participation from public figures, political forces, civil society groups as well as professional and labour unions, who discussed key political, economic and social issues. Search Keywords: Short link: The first private refinery in Nigeria, the Dangote Refineries, built at the cost of $19 billion and with refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day has just been commissioned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. President Muhammadu Buhari has also been doubling as Nigeria's minister of petroleum resources for eight years. Dangote Refinery is owned by Aliko Dangote who is taunted to be the richest man in Africa. Beyond the razzmatazz of the inauguration of the giant refinery, there is little cause for cheers and more cause for concern and alarm. Even though the capacity of the Dangote refinery is more than the cumulative capacity of the four existing federal government refineries, holds promises to ease the perennial fuel scarcity in Nigeria and create jobs, it stands out and will continue to stand out as a giant monument of corruption in Nigeria and an irrevocable effigy of the triumph of corruption in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. The above submission does not detract on Mr. Aliko Dangote deserves congratulations for filling the gap of need in the petroleum sector which drivers of successive administrations in Nigeria, especially the Buhari administration, seem to have been corruptly exploiting to enrich their private pockets. Buhari is one man who seems to have no value for his words. His promises did not matter to him and one takes them seriously at one's peril. The same thing goes for the lieutenants he recruited in the petroleum sector. For instance, in 2017, the immediate past minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, promised to revive the four refineries to installed capacity. He sealed the promise with a vow to resign upon failure to deliver on the promise. After failing to deliver, Kachikwu hanged on in office till he was dropped by the President and minister of petroleum for some other reasons and not for nonperformance. In the same vein, while taking over from Maikanti Barau as the group general manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on 8th July 2019, the current helmsman of the corporation, Mele Kyari, promised to fix all the government refineries by May, 2023. By May, 2023, no Nigerian refinery has been fixed by Kyari. Nigeria is still relying on foreign countries for refined products while the petroleum subsidy bills keep increasing in geometric proportions. In the place of functional government refineries, Nigerians are having a first-of-its-kind private refinery and Buhari, Kyari and ilk want the citizenry to clap even when no explanation has been made about the huge financial investments into the repairs of the non-finctional refineries. This is scandalous. As at 2021, the federal government was said to have spent a whopping $26.5 billion on the turn around maintenance of the four public refineries which have a cumulative refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day. The fact that $19 billion could build a modern refinery like Dangote's calls to question the managerial acumen and integrity of President Buhari who allegedly squandered a mindblowing sum of $26.5 billion on the maintenance of low capacity refineries that never worked. This painful scenario has equally betrayed Buhari's ineptitude in handling the Nigerian oil sector and, especially, the four government owned refineries all these years he appropriated the lucrative oil sector to himself. It is disheartening to note that none of the refineries ever worked close to half of its installed capacity. One therefore wonders who the contractors that the minister of petroleum, Muhammadu Buhari, engaged were? What was in their respective profiles that compelled Buhari to continue to patronize them to the tune of $26.5 billion without tangible results? Where did Buhari place the collective interest of ordinary Nigerian masses while making those weird approvals? What could make an acclaimed leader like Buhari to continue to approve such cost intensive contracts without exploring the option of cost effective alternatives like building new refineries? What informed Buhari's continued investments in the maintenance of refineries even when such investments were not yielding results? Why were those involved in these obviously failed refineries maintenance deals not prosecuted? If one is to guage the anti-corruption mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari using the petroleum sector which he presides over as a reference point, the hypocrisy of the anti-corruption mantra easily manifests. Corruption is not just about stealing funds. Wasting public resources or encouraging others to steal through irrational approvals is corruption. This is enough to say in the words of Ghanaian literary icon, Ayi Kwei Armah, that even with Muhammadu Buhari, "The beautyful ones are not yet born"! Buhari and his APC administration which rode to power on the mantra of zero tolerance for corruption and promises of rehabilitation of Nigeria's refineries to installed capacities should be probed for mismanaging Nigeria's funds under the guise of maintenance of refineries. The long arms of the law should be stretched to reach his proposed hiding place in his beloved Niger Republic. Congratulations, Aliko Dangote, for doing what corruption could not let PMB, Kachikwu, Barau and Kyari do for Nigerians! The dismantling of the subsidy corruption enclave is certainly at sight. Every May 27, the global community celebrates one of its annual rituals tagged the Children Day, aimed at promoting mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to promote the ideals of the UN Charter and the welfare of the worlds children. Historically, the event has been celebrated since 1950; it is celebrated on June 1 in most Communist and post-Communist countries. World Childrens Day is celebrated on the 20th November to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1959. In some countries, it is Childrens Week and not Childrens Day. While it defines a child as any person under the age of 18, the United Nations Children's Fund,( UNICEF ), an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, in one of its Convention on the Rights of the Child, outlined specific rights for children including the right to: survival, a name, family life, private life, dignity, recreation, cultural activities, health services, and education. To further explain this provisions, the world governing body added that all children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, if they are boy or girl, if they have a disability, if they are rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families are or what their parents or families believe or do. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason. UNICEF insisted that when adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents or by other people when this is needed. Governments, the Covenant added, must do all they can to make sure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights. Even as it argued that government of every nation should let families and communities guide their children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way, UNiCEF submitted that every child has the right to be alive and Governments must therefore make sure that children survive and develop in the best possible way. For me, UNICEFs position is well understood and appreciated particularly when one remembers that children are not only innocent but the most treasured possessions on earth that are loved by one and all and as grown-ups, we have the job of nurturing our kids to be strong and independent. And as parents and caregivers, we are doing the most important job here. We all have a role to play in treasuring our children. No one needs to do the big job of being a parent by themselves. Friends and family is the best people to lend a helping hand. The above fact notwithstanding, another area of concern that is as important as the celebration itself is parents inability to regulate the activities of their children on social media and the governments payment of reluctant respect to quality education to these children. To shed more light on the above, there was a veiled agreement among participants in a focused group discussion held recently in lagos, Nigeria, that what users make out of social media depends largely on their ability to perform, and engage their minds on tasks such as learning, reasoning, understanding and other activities known for its far reaching positive impacts. But in the present circumstance in Nigeria, the vast majority of parents have at different times and places, in their concern for values such as Work, success, prestige, and money advocated that social media like a free press is an organic necessity in a society and if children are precluded from using social media to ventilate their sentiment on a matter which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind; their freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent they may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. Undoubtedly, looking at the crowd of Nigerian children that fraternize with the social media with ' exiting progress, recorded in this direction, and instincts coming from the larger society, it is evident that the social media has great power to educate, create new ideas and promote human relations. But just as an unchained torrent of water submerges whole country sides and devastates crops, even so, uncontrolled use of the social media serves but to destroy. This is the reality confronting our nation. If this line of reasoning is correct, it will necessitate the posers as to; how many of the children/youths in Nigeria would stand the test? Who will stop those that cannot apply the virtue of moderation in their use of social media? And who should be the judge? Or must we as a nation allow the useful and the useless like good and evil go on together allowing our nation to reap whatever fruit that comes? Again, aside from the fact that many who originally supported children's unhindered access to social media have recently come to realize that such judgment was plagued with both moral and ethical issues, there are questions of what the parents and government are doing to regulate the access from within? Why have Nigerian children for the moment lost all fear of punishment and yielded obedience to the power of social media? The solution to these problems, urgent as they are, must be constructive and rational. First, parents must not fail to remember that the formation of a child is a delicate one. In fact, experts have described adolescence as a period of the storm, a stage in the developmental growth of the child that drives the youths to explore and express their psychosexual self to possibly know more about the world around them. Once the point is missed, such ignorance and mistake by the parents causes on the child an opening that many a time is voluntarily but wrongly filled by the social media posing as a friend. In the opinion of this piece, what children desire most from their parents are love, solidarity, peace, faith and not unhindered or uncensored access to social media. Beyond the above concern, lays the question as to how the government contributes to the children abuse of social media. certainly, the not too impressive educational system characterized by incessant industrial action on one hand, and the quality of materials youths are exposed to by teachers in the name of education should be a source of worry to all. After all, its established that one can be extremely educated and at the same time be ill-informed or misinformed. For example, between 1930s and 1940s, many members of the Nazi party in Germany were extremely well educated but their knowledge of literature, mathematics, philosophy, and others simply empowered them to be effective Nazis. As no matter how educated they were, no matter how well they cultivated their intellect; they were still trapped in a web of totalitarian propaganda that mobilized for evil purpose From the foregoing, it is important to underscore that the menace posed by the activities of our youths was created by the youth, accelerated by parents and government. An effort, therefore, must be made by all to end its existence and erase the guilt. Catalyzing the process will require parents becoming more religious in monitoring the activities of their wards. Similarly, it will be rewarding in social and economic terms if the government pays more attention to the nations educational sector as a way of getting these youths gainfully engaged-this, no doubt holds the possibility of ending fake news scourge on our political geography. Nigerian children/youths on their parts must develop the Spartan discipline to reorganize, and go for activities with high moral values. Utomi is the Program Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via;[email protected] or 08032725374. Regional Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Menghestab Haile announced the provision of $100,000 to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to enhance knowledge exchange efforts with Egypt. The announcement came on Thursday during a high-level panel discussion on enhancing economic integration in Africa through South-South and tripartite cooperation as part of the annual meetings of the African Development Bank in Sharm El-Sheikh. The panel discussion was chaired by Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and the Executive Director of the African Union Development Agency (NEPAD) Nardos Bekele-Thomas, according to a statement by the ministry. In her speech, Al-Mashat emphasized that cooperation between countries of the global South can advance development. Egypt deals with all development partners, including multilateral and bilateral partners, and has a development cooperation portfolio worth $26 billion in all sectors, Al-Mashat noted. The minister added that knowledge and experience from this portfolio can be exchanged with African countries. Al-Mashat also discussed the role of the ministry in promoting South-South cooperation through the renewed launch of the Academy of South-South Cooperation between countries in 2021. The Academy of South-South Cooperation is the first integrated institutional framework in the Middle East and Africa to support development efforts in the region, she explained. Search Keywords: Short link: Cambodian union leader jailed over casino strike PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian court jailed a woman union leader for two years yesterday (May 25) for leading a strike against the countrys biggest casino to demand the reinstatement of workers laid off during the pandemic. COVID-19 By AFP Friday 26 May 2023, 07:46AM A supporter of Cambodia union leader Chhim Sithar holds up a placard outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh yesterday (May 25). Photo: AFP 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 yesterday, 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 Sithars 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 Amnestys 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. Election Commission confirms Move Forward MPs for Phuket PHUKET: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has confirmed in its official results of the national election on May 14 that Move Forward candidates won all three Phuket seats for Members of Parliament. politics By The Phuket News Friday 26 May 2023, 10:31AM Image: Election Commission of Thailand The results were released through the official ECT website yesterday (May 25). Somchart Techathavorncharoen was declared the unofficial winning candidate for Constituency 1, which comprises Phuket Town (Talad Yai and Talad Neua subdistricts), Koh Kaew and Ratsada. Mr Somchart garnered 21,252 votes. Piya Sidokbuap of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party placed second in the constituency, with 16,483 votes, followed by Jirayut Songyos of the Palang Pracharat Party, who garnered 10,639 votes. Of the 76,178 eligible voters in the district, 75.43% turned out to cast votes. In total 70,733 valid votes were counted for the constituency. There were 1,996 spoiled ballots and 3,449 ballots had the No vote option selected. Chalermpong Saengdee won Constituency 2, which comprises Wichit, Chalong, Rawai, Karon, Patong and Kamala, with 21,913 votes. Nuanchan Samart of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party placed second with 14,967 votes, followed by Wongsakorn Chanakij of the Bhumjaithai Party, who garnered 9,596 votes. Of the 75,074 eligible voters in the district, 73.32% turned out to cast votes. In total 70,176 valid votes were counted for the constituency. There were 2,113 spoiled ballots and 2,783 ballots had the No vote option selected. Thitikan Thitipruekthikul won Constituency 3, which comprises all of Thalang District along with Kathu subdistrict, with 20,421 votes. Of the 83,826 eligible voters in the district, 76.33% turned out to cast votes. In total 78,282 valid votes were counted for the constituency. There were 2,423 spoiled ballots and 3,120 ballots had the No vote option selected. Orathai Kerdsap of the Chart Phattana Kla Party placed second with 16,469 votes followed by Wiwat Jindapol of the Bhumjaithai Party, who placed third with 13,692 votes Of the 83,826 eligible voters in the district, 76.33% turned out to cast votes. In total 78,282 valid votes were counted for the constituency. There were 2,423 spoiled ballots and 3,120 ballots had the No vote option selected. With all three candidates winning their seats by strong margins, immediately after the release of the unofficial results counted by the Phuket office of the ECT (ECT Phuket), the three MPs-elect took to the streets to thank their supporters. The three candidates will officially become MPs once they have been sworn in, which at this stage is only a formality. The Phuket Move Forward MPs-elect have not wasted any time since being elected, and have already started tackling some of the critical issues affecting tourists and residents on the island. Mr Somchart, winning candidate for Constituency 1, 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. Also discussed on Tuesday was the problem of corrupt police, or people impersonating police officers, extorting monthly payments from local people. Mr Somchart has also already 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. Mr Chalermpong, winning candidate for Constituency 2, has already targetted the dangerous landslide risk beside the main road in Kamala for repairs and corrective action as quickly as possible. MFP to shield registered businesses BANGKOK: The Move Forward Party (MFP) assured registered marijuana growers and cannabis business operators yesterday (May 25) that they would be protected, even when the new government re-lists cannabis as a narcotic. Cannabispolitics By Bangkok Post Friday 26 May 2023, 07:43AM On a Senate mission: Move Forward Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun waves to supporters at a press briefing regarding efforts to gain Senate support for party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister. Photo: Varuth Hiranyatheb The main objective of the partys plan to put cannabis back on the narcotics list under a ministerial regulation of the Ministry of Public Health is to allow all state officials, including police and the Office of Narcotics Control Board, to work fully to control the abuse of cannabis, said deputy MFP leader Sirikanya Tansakun. Some new laws will be passed to control the use, production, growing, and import and export of cannabis, which is work left undone by the caretaker government, the Bangkok Post reports her as saying. I insist cannabis business operators and marijuana growers will also be protected and allowed to go about their business as usual as long as they have registered and have permission to do so. A proper announcement will be issued to ensure this, she said. She was responding to concerns raised by groups of cannabis-related business operators and growers following the vow to list cannabis as a narcotic again, which the MFP made in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with seven prospective coalition partners on Monday. Further discussions on the matter will be conducted among coalition partners when the new coalition is formed before any changes to the current legal measures used to control cannabis are proposed and implemented, she said. At this point, business operators and marijuana growers who have registered properly with the government shouldt be worried, she said. Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of a civic group calling itself the Network Writing Thailands Cannabis Future, on the same posted on Facebook an open letter intended for MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat. The group called on Mr Pita to handle the cannabis issue in a democratic way, saying leaping to the conclusion that cannabis must be listed as a narcotic again will adversely affect medical cannabis. Instead of carrying on portraying cannabis as an evil product in order to justify the move to re-list it as a narcotic, the new government should discuss more seriously and openly the facts about cannabis, as the public perception of it has now been misguided by fierce anti-cannabis campaigns by two highly popular political parties, said Mr Prasitchai. And in the next step, all parties concerned should then be allowed to take part in discussions over which forms of legal mechanisms are suitable for use to control cannabis better, he said. The front of the Boardwalk Lofts at 15 Main St. in downtown Cambridge on a chilly winter 2023 day. This article is part of the New in Town series in Cambridge, which will be regularly updated as we learn of new businesses and restaurants opening (within one year of opening) or closing in Cambridge. We also write about businesses growing, including founding anniversaries. Spot a new business or know of a longtime business closing its doors? Share it with our newsroom at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com and mrosalesgerpe@metroland.com with the subject line: New in Town. COLOUR DRESS BOUTIQUE GETS A THESIS-WORTHY MAKEOVER As recently reported by the Cambridge Times, a student from the University of Waterloos School of Architecture, Jessica Hanzelkova, will be showcasing her thesis project on the windows of the chic Colour Dress Boutique at the corner of Ainslie Street North and Dickson Street thanks to a partnership between the downtown Cambridge BIA and the School of Architecture. Hanzelkova constructed intricate 3D masks that evoke feelings of identity and belonging as a way of paralleling the value of a buildings facade with that of human faces. Her work will be on display until July 2023. Check out the video below to understand more about the project. Have you seen it yet? WHERE: 34 1/2 Ainslie St. N. WHEN: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CLOSED on Monday and Tuesday CONTACT: 226-444-9460 WEBSITE: https://www.colourdressboutique.com/ SOCIALS: https://www.facebook.com/ColourDressBoutique/, https://www.instagram.com/colourdressboutique/, https://www.pinterest.ca/Colourdress/ NEURON PILOT PROJECT: E-SCOOTERS AND E-BIKES TO ROLL AROUND UNTIL OCTOBER 2023 Spotted with teens taking a break from scooting at Cambridge Centre, or with young professionals crossing Franklin Boulevard: e-mobility vehicles (mostly scooters, and some bikes) are available to rent in Cambridge from the downtown core. According to the city, effective July 1, 2022, e-scooters are permitted within the City of Cambridge on all roads 50 km/h or less, all roads with bike lanes, regardless of speed limit, and on all boulevard multi-use paths, e.g., paved trails next to roads like Franklin Blvd or Fountain Street. Engage Region of Waterloo announced that a shared micromobility program will be piloted until the end of October. To learn more about the program, visit the Engage WR website here: https://www.engagewr.ca/shared-micromobility-program. Heres what Sheri-Lyn Roberts, Ward 5 councillor, said about the new program on her Instagram page: A couple of my family members have tried them and theyre really fun! WHERE: Cambridges downtown core WHEN: Any time CONTACT: 519-626-0347 or waterlooregionsupport@neuron.sg WEBSITE: https://www.scootsafe.com/learn/start_riding and input Waterloo Region as the city when prompted. SOCIALS: https://www.youtube.com/@neuronmobility4662 and https://www.instagram.com/rideneuron/?hl=en COMING SOON BOARDWALK TOWER LOFTS AND RESTAURANTS COMING TO 15 MAIN ST. According to the downtown Cambridge BIA Instagram page, 20 residential apartments, and a restaurant will occupy the space at 15 Main St. dubbed the Boardwalk Tower Lofts. Where will the restaurant be? The alley connecting Main Street to the parking area by Monigram Coffee Roasters will be enclosed and transformed into a patio. The patio will be home to the new restaurant at 15 Main St. Read more about the transformation on this recent article by Bill Doucet for the Cambridge Times. WHERE: 15 Main St. WHEN: To be announced CONTACT: To be announced WEBSITE: https://www.downtowncambridgebia.ca/news/main-street-history-reborn MODERNA PARTNERS WITH CAMBRIDGE-BASED NOVOCOL PHARMA FOR VACCINE MANUFACTURING Cambridges Novocol Pharma, a Septodont company, will be getting new manufacturing capabilities to complete the final steps of preparing and packaging respiratory mRNA vaccines for distribution in Ontario and throughout Canada, according to a recent news release by the province as published on The Record. With the presence of the Toyota Motors Manufacturing Company, Cambridge is already known as a big manufacturing hub for the automotive industry. But this partnership, supported by the Ontario Together Fund, represents an important step for the 50-years-young city, whose neighbours, particularly Kitchener and Waterloo, have witnessed exponential growth in the tech sector for the past decade. WEBSITE: https://novocolpharma.com/ SOCIALS: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novocolpharma/ Spot a new business or know of a longtime business celebrating an anniversary or closing its doors? Share it with our newsroom at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com and mrosalesgerpe@metroland.com with the subject line: New in Town. SHARE: Global Pet Foods Hespeler is bringing the dog days of spring to Cambridge. With Customer Appreciation Day on June 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Jamieson Parkway store will be bringing in The SuperDogs! The acrobatic dogs will be on-site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a Pat N' Chat, where patrons can meet the stars of the show and see some tricks. As well, there will be a loot bag for the first 50 people, with sales announced daily for the store. Vendors will be on site to answer questions and hand out samples. SHARE: The fried chicken is golden brown, crispy and moist inside. The nondescript commercial building at 73 Hincks St. with its dull brown-brick exterior, brown siding and little esthetic charm belies the fact that inside theres some pretty good chicken frying in unit No. 5. Open since 2021, Mario Chang Chicken was the vision of Mario and Jazmin Chang he from Guatemala and she from Bolivia sharing a blend of their Chinese and Latin heritages through their fried chicken. However, their small takeout restaurant was an unintended consequence of the couple helping a local church. We got compliments about our chicken when we made it for a fundraiser in 2020. So, we opened the restaurant, Jazmin says. The inside is just as matter of fact. A small counter area has a jug of hand sanitizer and behind a plastic shield is the electronic menu board, bright and clear, on a television screen. A pair of pop coolers hum their pop-cooler hum and fried-chicken photos adorn the cinder block walls. Theres seating for people waiting for pickup and poster art with a Henry David Thoreau quotation about chickens crossing the road: I remember Thoreau for a treatise on civil disobedience but hadnt realized there was wry comedy coming out of Walden Pond. The menu is dedicated to fried chicken pretty much exclusively, ranging from single buckets of 10, 15 or 20 pieces to family combos with freshly cut fries or potato wedges and a soft drink. Two pieces of chicken with fries and a pop costs $11.50. Further down the short menu are wraps, sandwiches and tenders that get topped with lettuce and tomato and a slathering of ranch, chipotle or buffalo sauce. Some chicken is grilled rather than fried. Wings can be seasoned with about a dozen sauces, and there is also house-made poutine in a couple of sizes, fresh coleslaw and gravy as sides. The chicken is marinated a day ahead, but thats all Jazmin will disclose about how it's made (I think I detected a touch of cumin and coriander seasoning). I will say its the love that makes it taste so good. We just try to cook food the way we would want to eat it. If youre planning to cross the road for fried chicken, the best strategy is to call 15 or 20 minutes ahead. We fry your chicken from fresh when you call, she adds. Eating fried chicken is a dining-out pleasure because the complexity of getting a big pot of vegetable oil rocking hot to 375 F, cooking the chicken and then disposing of the oil afterwards makes it a messy business to do at home. With proper restaurant equipment, the technique and the food science is simple: rather than pan frying in a thin layer of cooking oil, pieces of chicken, bone-in or bone-out, are immersed in the piping hot oil. Its essentially boiled chicken, but in a liquid that can be heated to a much higher temperature than the relatively benign 212 F (100 C) for water. The result of the oil immersion, properly done and with the right seasonings applied, is a wonderfully crisp outer layer of poultry protein that is basically dried out (in a very good and crunchy way) and pleasingly browned by the Maillard reaction. But at the same time, the interior meat remains hot, juicy and moist. RELATED STORIES Vegas-born chef brings the mein event to Cambridge brewing company Crispy, hot and juicy is the way Id describe Mario Chang chicken and many of their customers likely do too: its why they keep crossing the road. We love our customers and many return often, including some that come twice a week, says Jazmin. They keep us going. Visit the spot at 73 Hincks St., Unit 5 (enter off James Street), New Hamburg, online at www.mariochangchicken.com or call 519-390-0060. (Note: Before visiting, check with the venue regarding dish availability and hours of opening.) Andrew Coppolino of Kitchener is the author of Farm to Table and co-author of Cooking with Shakespeare. He is the 2022 Joseph Hoare gastronomic writer-in-residence at the Stratford Chefs School. Follow him on Twitter at @andrewcoppolino. SHARE: UPDATE (Tuesday, May 30) 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 30: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 154.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 164.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 151 Columbia St. W., 245 Weber St. N. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 157.4 cents/litre at Pioneer, 1205 Fischer-Hallman Rd., to 165.0 cents/litre at Esso, 1321 Courtland Ave. E., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In Cambridge, gas prices range from 155.9 cents/litre at A&S Petroleum, 450 Franklin Blvd., to 164.9 cents/litre at Esso, 105 Hespeler Rd., 277 Hespeler Rd., Shell, 800 Franklin Blvd., Canadian Tire, 11 Dundas St. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 157.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 164.9 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 (Monday, May 29) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Monday, May 29: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 155.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 164.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 440 Columbia St. W., 730 Glen Forrest Blvd., 151 Columbia St. W., 245 Weber St. N., Shell, 70 Westmount Rd. N. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 155.2 cents/litre at Pioneer, 1205 Fischer-Hallman Rd., to 165.0 cents/litre at Esso, 1321 Courtland Ave. E. (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In Cambridge, gas prices range from 159.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 900 Jamieson Pkwy., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 164.9 cents/litre at Shell, 209 Pinebush Rd., Canadian Tire, 11 Dundas St., BB, 55 Beverly St. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 157.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 164.5 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 (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: WATERLOO REGION A window cleaner works high off the ground at an apartment building on Father David Bauer Drive in Waterloo. Although there was a frost warning by Environment Canada on Thursday, the forecast appears to be moving in a warmer direction, with daytime highs in the low-to-mid-twenties over the coming days. This weekend in Waterloo Region is expected to be sunny, with highs of 23 and 26 on Saturday and Sunday. SHARE: KITCHENER The new apartments in downtown Kitchener stood mostly unfurnished and empty on Friday, save for a steady stream of visitors having a look during an open house. But within a few days, most of the units will be occupied by single women and their children a new home, and a new chapter, for a diverse group of residents that includes new Canadians and people in Waterloo Regions shelter system. When women have come to see their units, there were tears of joy, tears of relief, tears of understanding this is a transition in their lives, said Katherine Bitzer, affordable housing co-ordinator for The Working Centre, which undertook the project. I think it means a new start, an opportunity to find stability in housing which theyve not had, which then allows other pieces to stabilize in their lives. The Working Centre bought a Queen Street South building next to its two other properties, and created a total of 21 deeply affordable units in the combined properties. Its really meaningful for The Working Centre to have done this work in downtown Kitchener, said co-founder Joe Mancini. Located in the Bricker Block, the same historic block of buildings where The Working Centre has grown its roots since 1985, the new apartments will provide convenient access to the centres hub of income, employment and community supports. Its a thriving community in this space, Mancini said. The Working Centre bought 44-54 Queen St. S. in 2021, and began building 19 new apartments and refurbishing two others on the second and third floors of 44-54 and 58 Queen St. S.; The Working Centre has owned 58 and 66 Queen St. S. for about two decades. The apartments range from 330 to 600 square feet; most are between 400 and 450 square feet, and each has a full kitchen, three-piece bathroom and high ceilings. Sixteen of the units have a second-level loft space, while two larger units have multiple bedrooms, a larger loft space and additional storage. Exposed brick and large windows complement new, modern finishes in the century-old buildings. The apartments also use air source and in-unit heat pumps for heating and air conditioning. The federal governments Federal Rapid Housing Initiative-2 provided a total of $3.6 million. The Working Centre also received about $2.6 million in donations, and the city and the Region of Waterloo waived $475,000 in permit and development fees. RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region Working Centre to build 19 affordable units in downtown Kitchener The project team included architect Robert Dyck and Just Working Construction; its on-site lead, Kelvin Chatinyara, came to Kitchener as a refugee from Zimbabwe and used The Working Centres services. You can really feel the quality thats gone into this work, Mancini said. In some cases, the women will be arriving with nothing, Bitzer said. The Working Centre is working to provide such things as kitchen, bath and bedding essentials where necessary. We want them to have the best start they can. SHARE: WATERLOO Local community health providers scrambled to help meet the medical needs of almost four dozen refugees who arrived in the region last week. The 45 children, adults and families are staying at the Best Western hotel on Waterloos King Street North. But providing medical care for the new arrivals has proven to be a struggle for community organizations supporting refugees. Many of the refugees had health needs when they arrived, such as needing to renew prescriptions, book appointments with specialists and manage chronic conditions. But that the region lacked the resources to provide, There was nowhere for them to go for that, said Tara Groves-Taylor, the CEO of Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre and Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre. That led the health centre, the Centre for Family Medicine, Grand River Hospital and St. Marys General Hospital to team up. Physicians, nurses and medical office assistants have worked out of a hotel room at the hotel since Monday to meet with the refugees and offer health care. This emergency response ends on Friday. One doctor commuted about two hours from Collingwood to help. With a shortage of family doctors in the region, refugees are left to go to emergency departments for care, waiting upwards of 10 hours and struggling to navigate language and cultural barriers, said Groves-Taylor. Including the most recent arrivals, 159 Afghan refugees have arrived in the region since April, including 60 children, said Groves-Taylor. Groves-Taylor said her organizations are maxed out with the influx of refugees and a lack of regular funding. Both centres serves more than 6,000 patients, and is serving about 1,000 more refugees than it is funded for, she said. Thousands more people are on the wait-list, she said. The strain will only continue, as significantly more immigrants and refugees are expected to arrive in the region over the next five years. Groves-Taylor expects the local newcomer and refugee population to triple within five years. Reception House, a local organization that supports refugees, is the first point of contact for new refugees, then reaches to community health care partners, like Groves-Taylor, to co-ordinate a medical response. We want to continue to be a chosen place of settlement (for refugees). We want to continue to accept these refugees into our community and to do so, we have to have the supports, said Groves-Taylor. The team involved in this weeks emergency response will be reviewing how effective that response was and figuring out who can help with medical follow-ups for the refugees. Groves-Taylor said the Ministry of Health and the Ontario Health West Region team need to hear our struggle and help us figure out what the solution is from a resource perspective. Read more about: SHARE: Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi discussed the need for the UN body to mobilize humanitarian and medical aid for countries hosting displaced Sudanese fleeing violence in their country. Shoukry also highlighted Egypts commitment since the beginning of the crisis to open its borders to those fleeing the conflict in line with its international and regional obligations. So far, Egypt has received 121,000 Sudanese, most of them are women, children and the elderly, according to Egypt's top diplomat. The discussion came during a meeting in Geneva on Thursday that also touched on ways the UNHCR can help Egypt bear the enormous burden of hosting a huge number of migrants and refugees, especially from Sudan. Shoukry told Grandi that Egypt is already hosting nine million migrants and refugees from various countries. Egypt is committed to respecting their human rights and dignity, and not discriminating against them, providing them with equal services, including access to health and education, Shoukry explained to the UN official. Following the meeting, Grandi tweeted "Grateful to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry for visiting us in Geneva. I look forward to travelling tomorrow to Cairo, where we will discuss how best to support Egypt the country currently receiving the largest number of refugees from Sudan." On Monday, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) announced allocating $5 million to support the UN efforts in Egypt to help people fleeing conflict in Sudan. Search Keywords: Short link: Two injured | MOIRANG, May 26 : At least two persons sustained injuries in Bishnupur today as they got hit by tear gas shells fired by police. The injured have been identified as Thingujam Lupobati Devi (60), w/o Joykumar from Bishnupur Ward no 5 and Moirangthem Jiten (54) of Nachou Ward no 6. It is reported that a large number of enraged people came to vandalise the BJP office of Bishnupur near Nachou Panthong for the Government's failure to control the situation and protect lives and properties. The police, however, dispersed the protesters by firing rounds of tear gas shells. Waiting for the Union Home Minister Homework for the Govt | The date is May 29. How ready is the Government of Manipur to set the narratives right ? Or is it just going to be satisfied with ingesting what the Centre already thinks the issue is all about ? This would be a travesty and the proposed visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah shoud be taken as the right time to set right the narrative that has been doing the round and which the media in other parts of the country has been lapping up. Indications are that the Centre is under the impression that the ST demand for the Meiteis is the reason for the ethnic clash that started on May 3 evening and this is borne by the fact that the Union Home Minister more than indicated this during his speech at Guwahati on May 25. The same point was carried forward by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai during a media interaction at the Darbar Hall of the Chief Ministers Secretariat in the evening of May 25. That this was pointed out by one reporter during the conference did not elicit any specific response from the Union Minister and this is saying something a lot. Or is it a case of sticking to a political line that says that the Centre will only stick to the less controversial point to resolve the whole issue ? And obviously the ST demand for the Meiteis would appear to be less controversial and much less colourful than the crackdown launched on the vast poppy plantations, the eviction drive at Reserved and Protected Forests, the destruction of places of worship built on Government land, the increasing call for a National Register of Citizens with the base year set at 1951 or 1961 and the demand that all illegal immigrants should be identified and weeded out. There may be serious political compulsions for the Centre to stick to the said line, but this is no reason for the State Government to stop short of laying out the whole unadulterated truth before the Union Home Minister. It should also be made clear that it is not a case of the minorty versus the majority nor is it a case of Christians versus Hindus, for this is a carefully crafted plot floated by those whose main interest is balkanising Manipur and the creation of a separate administration, an agenda which has been made clear by the open declaration of the ten MLAs who belong to the Kuki-Chin community. The unsaid but loud point in the line, solution first, peace next should also be laid clear before the Union Home Minister when he comes visiting. Solution here means a separate administrative set up for the Kuki-Chin folks and this could mean taking the areas which fall in Churachandpur district and Kangpokpi under the separate administrative arrangement and this is also a point which should be highlighted before Amit Shah. More importantly will classifying Kangpokpi as the land of the Kuki-Chin community be acceptable to the Nagas of Manipur ? This is another point that should be spelt out to the Centre. The crux is, the State Government should do its job effectively and should prepare what it is that needs to be presented or submitted to the Union Home Minister. Civil Society Organisations, which have been at forefront, particularly COCOMI, should also get down to the job of preparing what points it can and should place before Amit Shah. The call to abrogate the SoO pact is one such point and let it be clear no slip-shod report would be entertained at all. Any case that is presented before the Union Minister should be water tight cases, else it would be back to square one. This is not the time to demonstrate ones strength or muscle power on the streets of Imphal but to get down to the serious business of presenting ones case before the Centre. The importance of the proposed visit of the Union Home Minister should not be lost on anyone. CANCEL CULTURE Re: Trustees need history lesson, May 8 Thanks to Corrie Duyzer, who wrote about Henry Dundas and the ill-informed criticism. Somehow the story about his stance on slavery was lifted out of context and has caused Toronto city council in their ignorance to decide to spend millions to get rid of all references to Dundas Street cancel culture gone wild. The facts are he was an abolitionist, as well as an astute politician and lawyer. He knew the first motion to abolish slavery would not have enough support in parliament, so recommended against it at that time. But six years later when the votes could be found, he was a strong supporter. Henry Dundas undertook, pro bono, the defence of a black youth who had been taken to Scotland and pressed into slavery. His impassioned advocacy succeeded in getting the youth his freedom. Today information is shared on Twitter and accepted by millions at face value, however wildly detached from the facts. School trustees should desist from jumping to conclusions. Maybe we should cancel (Queen) Victoria Day, as she presided over a strongly colonial empire! Simon Irving Dundas URGENT NEEDS ADDRESSED Re: We have more urgent needs, May 18. The writer makes some peculiar assertions. Your councillor has been hard at work on many urgent needs. Fulfilling the large demand for improved road safety is a priority and progress is being made with imminent traffic calming in Maywood on Sulphur Springs Road and around Bishop Tonnos high school with more to come. Working to protect our city from the deleterious effects of the provinces forced urban expansion and incursion into the greenbelt is another. Sprawl development would drive up property taxes and only worsen our infrastructure maintenance backlog. Ive been working on the homelessness and housing crisis (a strategic road map has just been approved); on plans to attract more investment into our city; and how to improve service levels at city hall. A final item to mention is the recently approved biodiversity action plan, which is Hamiltons contribution to address the sixth great extinction currently underway (one million species are at risk). Working to preserve the foundation of our food chain certainly ranks as an urgent need. See updates at craigcassar.ca. Craig Cassar, Ward 12 Coun. Ancaster SHORT-SIGHTED DECISION Re: McMaster University Dundas property listed for sale (May 9). Premier Doug Fords Bill 23 ensures our communities past will truly become history. Fords apathy toward our built heritage means he is amenable to sacrificing it in favour of More Homes Built Faster. Many non-designated heritage sites in Dundas have become a species at risk, including the former Osler family house on South Street. I am disappointed in McMaster Universitys short-sighted decision to sell the Osler house because of racist opinions professed by Sir William Osler more than a century ago. While such views are unacceptable today and justifiably so, this should not diminish the contributions of a former Dundas resident who is referred to as the father of modern medicine or his family who each were equally as distinguished. This was a chance to honour the man and his accomplishments while acknowledging his racist views of that time. Bellevue House National Heritage Site in Kingston successfully incorporates honouring Sir John A. Macdonalds time in Kingston, his contributions to Canada, while acknowledging his role in the establishment of residential schools. An Osler family heritage site could use the same model in dealing with the life and times of Sir William Osler. A golden opportunity for historical and social enlightenment has been squandered by a supposed higher institution of learning and has potentially exposed an important cultural site to the wrecking ball. Please, McMaster, reconsider this regressive decision. Stan Nowak Dundas WE CAN CLOSE THE CLAREMONT ACCESS The city is considering removing the remaining steel walls from the escarpment. It seems more like we are tampering with the escarpment, if not blindly chipping away at it, then helping it. The escarpment is already under undue stress, eroding in front of our eyes every day. Vehicles, buses, constantly going up and down the escarpment, for example, create vibration, causing the ground to tremble, accelerating the escarpments erosion process as a result. The Claremont access has served us well for so many years; maybe its time we gave back to our escarpment, preserving whatever beauty is left of it for us to enjoy, and not use the downbound Claremont access for our gain any more. We should consider closing the access permanently. It seems the escarpment is telling us so too. There are other roads to conveniently get about the Mountain. Tina Maini Hamilton SHARE: Members of Knox Presbyterian and St. Marks United church congregations look forward to their combined resources allowing them to serve the community together under the name Highland Hills Faith Community. The two Dundas churches formed an Ecumenical Shared Ministry partnership, at St. Marks 1 Lynndale Dr., just over a year after Knox sold its historic church building at 23 Melville St. and started sharing space with St. Marks. An Ecumenical Shared Ministry is defined as people worshipping and serving God in a unified way while still maintaining their denominational identity and connections. It is any combination of denominations sharing a program, ministry or building. The two Dundas congregations are joined by Binkley United and Rock Chapel United churches. We are excited at what our combined human and financial resources will allow us to do in the greater community, Highland Hills Faith Community joint council co-chair Leslie Powers said in an emailed statement. Knox sold the 149-year-old Melville Street church building to Grace Valley Church for $3.5 million in March 2022 and held its final sermon there on Sunday, March 27. The congregation started gathering at St. Marks in early April 2022. During a special covenanting service on May 7, United minister Rev. Peg Turner and Presbyterian minister Rev. Dr. Ian McPhee affirmed their vows to lead the new joint ministry. Powers, also Knoxs clerk of session, said members of the faith community and church staff also committed to contribute their gifts and talents and affirmed they all have unique gifts to offer within the church and the greater community. All who are looking for an inclusive, welcoming environment, where social justice and environmental issues are valued, are invited to visit on Sundays, Powers said. SHARE: Newport Yacht Club of Stoney Creek is working to reduce the amount of plastic and debris in local waterways with its new Clean Marine certification and the installation of a Seabin in the marina. The member-run, not-for-profit Newport Yacht Club is a partner in the Clean Marine Program from Boating Ontario. Newport has recently activated a new committee to create real-world initiatives for its members to assist in reducing pollution and debris on the water and land. The committee will launch the initiatives on Saturday, May 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its annual public and member open house, at the marina clubhouse, at 711 North Service Rd. The new Clean Marine plan includes a Seabin waste collector. In partnership with Nicholas Foxcroft, managing director of the Silver Salmon Community (SSC), Newport Yacht Club, will facilitate the installation of the device, which removes microplastics and garbage. The Silver Salmon Community is a not-for-profit organization that aims to support the great lakes fisheries with responsible environmental conservation. The Seabin is a sieve for floating garbage debris. It can collect litter ranging from larger plastics to microplastics, such as cigarette butts and disposable cups, and hydrocarbons, such as fuel and oil. The device poses no danger to marine life. Newport Yacht Club was thrilled to be approached by the Silver Salmon Community and asked to partner with them on the Seabin project, said Zena Thomas, Commodore, Newport Yacht Club, in a news release. To be a part of the solution of cleaning up our waterways and environment aligned with our new Clean Marine partnership with Boating Ontario it seemed like a perfect fit. Although the trash collected by the Seabin represents a small drop in the ocean its estimated 10,000 tons of plastic waste enters the Great Lakes annually the Seabin project is primarily about public awareness. The SSC will install the Seabin devices at Newport Yacht Club. Newport staff and volunteers will be responsible for the daily emptying of the Seabin. The contents will be weighed, photographed and uploaded to the University of Torontos Data Trapper Application and analyzed as part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup project. Our angling and lake communities are excited to collaborate with our stakeholders and community leaders, and we appreciate the ongoing support, Foxcroft said in the release. SHARE: Her familys United Empire Loyalist roots in Stoney Creek ran deep, but Marie Robbins had a passion for helping people who were new to Canada to learn English and pass their citizenship test. A charitable foundation honouring the memory of Stoney Creeks 2016 Citizen of the Year is keeping that spirit alive, offering an annual $5,000 scholarship to help young newcomers pursue post-secondary education. Applications are being accepted via the foundations website for this years award and newcomer students completing studies at any Stoney Creek high school are eligible to apply. Son Mark Robbins said his mom had many volunteering interests, both during and after her three decades of running a flourishing flower business that included Smith/McKay and Stoney Creek florist shops. But nothing turned her crank like helping newcomers. The lifelong Stoney Creeker volunteered to teach English as a second language, helped newcomers prepare for citizenship tests and hosted exchange students from around the world so they could learn about Canadas culture and society, he said. She loved attending the citizenship ceremony for the people she helped with their tests and was always very proud of that. It was just something that she was so, so happy to be involved in, he said. Mark said a scholarship helping newcomers became an obvious choice when he and his dad, Doug, decided to create a foundation with their inheritance from Marie, who died at 69 from breast cancer three years ago. He said it also embodies Maries own tenacious pursuit of a degree in sociology at McMaster University, where she graduated in 1988 while pregnant with him. My mother was the first person in her family to go to university and it took her 20 years of night school because other things were going on and it was difficult to find the time and money, and find both at the same time, he said. It was a point of pride. As a business owner, she didnt require the degree for anything. She just wanted to pursue education. Mark said he believes the $5,000 scholarship is Canadas largest for newcomers and is intended to be generous enough to cover all or most of a first-year university or college tuition. If youre new to Canada and have competing pressures, for too many people its, Do I study or do I work? Theres not really a third option for a lot of folks, Mark said. This is to give somebody who might otherwise not had the chance to go to university or college and is a newcomer to Canada the ability to really just go out and do it and focus on it. Eligible students can learn how to apply by visiting the Marie Robbins Scholarship Fund website at marierobbins.ca. SHARE: Torontos Caribbean carnival has gone through some changes in its 56 years, so asking stakeholder groups to join its management board may sound like a small thing. It isnt. For years, theres been tension between masquerade bands, steel pan and calypso performers who produce the festival and the Festival Management Committee which runs it. Adding stakeholders to FMC as directors earlier this year has taken the tension away, presidents of the stakeholder groups said recently. We have become a team, Terrence Wilson, president of the Ontario Steelpan Association said in an interview. The festival administrators felt it was important to get stakeholders on the board because their input was invaluable, Jennifer Hirlehey, FMC chairperson, said in a statement. They have contributed greatly toward our planning of the carnival this year and the new initiatives that we have. We felt that the carnival would benefit from having them as partners, she wrote. Speaking at a north Scarborough restaurant, other stakeholders said the new management structure helps the festival show a united front to governments that havent given the carnival financial support it deserves. The festival, launching on July 11 and ending with the Grand Parade Aug. 5 on Lakeshore Boulevard, started as a project for Canadas Centennial year, 1967. Last year, it injected $467.6 million into Ontarios economy and there were 1.76 million attendees for the weekend of the parade alone, FMC estimates. Its mind-blowing how much carnival helps governments, airlines, vendors, restaurants and hotels which dont produce it, said Louis Saldenah, president of Caribbean Arts Canada and the citys most celebrated mas band leader. Mas bands like Saldenahs take risks to produce costumes rent on his warehouse alone costs him $73,000 and end up making money for others, he said. Saldenah wants carnival to have a permanent home where winning costumes can be displayed, steel bands can practice, and traditions learned in Trinidad and elsewhere can be taught to future generations. We should have gotten that a long time ago. Its good FMC brought stakeholders to the table, where three key organizations can advise them one on one, figuring out how to improve the festival for everyone, said Saldenah. Henry Gomez, founding member in 1992 and now president of the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes, the group representing calypso and soca performers, used to think the economics of the festival would speak for themselves with governments. Its simply stating the obvious, Gomez said, adding carnival has helped put Toronto on the international map. Its exciting and bodes well for the festival that FMC has made stakeholders directors, he added. It has opened my eyes to things I didnt know before, said Gomez. People are willing to give it a chance. If FMC succeeds, we all succeed. Wilson, who became the steel pan community groups president in 2018, said its foremost need is a home. Right now, its my house; we dont have a set address, and after summer, most pan bands must pay for storage, he said. SHARE: Brantford police are seeking the publics assistance identifying a vehicle they believe is connected to the abduction and sexual assault of a woman. In a media release Thursday, police said at around 3:30 a.m. on April 27, a woman was kidnapped by an unknown man in the area of Barton and Wellington streets in Hamilton. Police said the victim was drugged and then driven to a secluded location in Brantford, where she was then sexually assaulted and abandoned. The suspect is described as a white man believed to be in his late 30s to early 40s. He stands around five-foot-11 with a medium to heavy build, a balding head with a brown goatee-style beard and wearing frameless eyeglasses. The man is also reported to have a tattoo on the upper portion of his right arm, according to police. Police said the man was driving a red, two-door Jeep Wrangler with a black hardtop and black plastic fenders at the time of the incident. According to the press release, the investigation is ongoing by both Hamilton and Brantford police. Hamilton police directed questions to the Brantford force when reached by The Spectator. Police are asking anyone with information on the identity of the suspect or the vehicle to contact Brantford police Det. Const. Philip Minotti at 519-756-7050 ext. 2265 or Hamilton police Det. Paul Cottrill at 905-540-5544. To remain anonymous, contact Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers at 519-750-8477 or 1-800-222-8477 or submit tips to crimestoppersbb.com/submit-a-tip/. Resources for survivors of sexual violence: Sexual Assault Centre of Brant 24-hour crisis and support line: 519-751-3471; sacbrant.ca SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre, Hamilton and Area) 24-hour support line: 905-525-4162; sacha.ca SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services of Halton): 905-875-1555 Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences: 905-521-2100 ext. 73557 SHARE: Participants in the National Dialogues Education Committee agreed on the importance of changing negative perceptions of technical education in Egypt and revising its curricula to meet the needs of modern job markets. The Education Committee, which is part of the dialogues social axis, met for the first time on Thursday to discuss priorities in pre-university education. In the meeting, General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan argued that a unified education law based on the committees discussions would significantly advance the educational system in Egypt. He emphasized the need to expedite the law given educations importance to the future of the country. One of the hurdles facing the development of technical education, Rashwan explained, is its name; some people perceive it as inferior to general education. The general coordination proposed changing the names of technical secondary schools to technological high schools or agricultural high schools, and commercial schools to business administration schools. In addition, curriculum should be adjusted to align with the job market. The Ministry of International Cooperation should also seek additional grants to develop and establish new technical schools with new names and curricula, he added. Rashwan suggested that manufacturers should be obligated to establish industry-related schools, subject to specific criteria such as the number of employees. He emphasized that unions have their own governing laws and should not be interfered with in any way. Meeting the needs of job markets Nehal El-Ashkar, a member of the Ebda (Start) presidential initiative, highlighted the initiatives efforts to provide technical, professional and educational training to the Egyptian workforce since it was launched in April 2022 Developing state-owned technical and professional education institutions to international standards can help meet the specialized needs of local, regional, and international job markets, El-Ashkar added. She emphasized the need to change the false perception of technical education as inferior, pointing to some negative portrayals in media. She also noted that that there is legislation hindering the development of technical education. Safaa Hosny, a member of the Committee of Party's Youth Leaders and Politicians (CPYP), pointed out that the most significant challenge facing industrial technical education in Egypt is the mismatch between curricula in certain specializations that do not align with the needs of the job market. One of the main challenges facing graduates of industrial technical education is the lack of a clear career path, Hosny added. Mohamed Ghanem, also a member of the CPYP, stated that challenges in pre-university education include a shortage of teachers, high demand for private lessons, lack of financial resources and a shortage of school supplies. Search Keywords: Short link: Hamilton police have located a missing 14-year-old who was last seen on Monday night. Out of concern for the teens well-being, police issued a call to public for assistance locating the youth on Thursday evening. On Friday afternoon, police said the teen had been located safe, while thanking the public for sharing information that contributed to them being found. SHARE: Trevor McIsaac screamed for his kids. Were here, they cried from across the hall. Their mother was silent. I told them to get down and try to get your mom up; that I was coming to get them, he said. I know they were scared to death. The two-storey house on Hamiltons east Mountain was ablaze. The heat was unbearable. Smoke was everywhere. I tried to get across to the kids, but the heat was so intense. It was insane, the father said, describing the harrowing moments through tears. My body wouldnt even allow me to go across. The smoke filled his room, thick and black. He tried desperately to find the bedroom door. I couldnt even breathe. He never heard his childrens voices again. They were so young, he said, sobbing, during a recent interview with The Spectator. Wed just done our Christmas that day. Lambeau McIsaac, 8, Khaleesi McIsaac, 7, and their mother, Kassie Chrysler, 40, died in that house fire at 14 Derby St., Unit 4, on Dec. 29. A fourth person, William (Bill) Davies, McIsaacs roommate, also died. Photos from the scene following the fire show an open second-storey window at the front of the house, from which McIsaac said he and a friend, who was staying with him and was in his room at the time, escaped onto the pitched roof over the garage. The back of the Derby Street townhome the day after a fatal fire on Dec. 29 that claimed four lives. The Hamilton Spectator file photo The back of the house, where the kids and their mother were sleeping, was black, the siding charred from top to bottom. Today, people have as little as 60 seconds to get out of a burning house, fire authorities say. Once, it might have taken 10 minutes for a house to become consumed by flames, said Dave Cunliffe, chief of the Hamilton Fire Department. But modern-day synthetic materials burn hotter and faster: Its now down to minutes. The Derby Street blaze started in an upholstered couch on the main floor, but the fire marshal hasnt yet said what caused it. All six occupants McIsaac, Chrysler and the two children, as well as a roommate and a friend were upstairs at the time. The investigation is ongoing. The question of smoke alarms is just one of the many that hang over this tragedy. There were no working smoke alarms in the house, authorities say, when the house was engulfed in flames. With warning, the four who died may have lived. Valery Homes, the property management company, says it tests smoke detectors regularly. They told The Spectator the tenants had removed them. But McIsaac said the company hadnt checked them since his mother, who died in September 2021, signed a lease in 2014. He also said he and his roommate never removed the smoke detectors. Local fire authorities said in January they were looking to pursue charges against the townhomes owner, Valery Homes, who under the Ontario Fire Code is responsible for ensuring smoke alarms are installed and in working condition. Authorities have not confirmed whether or not charges have been laid. The cause of the fire is unknown. McIsaac wonders if it could have been a fibre-optic Christmas tree in the living room. Or a cigarette? Both McIsaac and his house guest were smokers, but McIsaac said he usually prohibited smoking when the kids visited. A memorial was left outside Trevor McIsaac's home on the Mountain in the wake of a fatal fire in December that claimed four lives, including his two young children. The Hamilton Spectator file photo The fire marshals office says the investigation is ongoing. But the larger issue of the long, sad road that led to this calamity lingers. Chrysler and her children lived in a low-rise apartment building on Melrose Avenue South, a residential street that runs between Barton Street East and Main Street East in the citys east end. The buildings unlocked front entrance opens into a tiny foyer, with a few short steps up to the first floor, where Chrysler and her kids lived. The night of the fire, the trio spent the night at McIsaacs Derby Street townhouse on the Mountain, a common occurrence. Extreme situation For Chryslers landlord in east Hamilton, this was a tragic end to a tragic life, based on living conditions he observed for Chrysler and the kids. The state of Chryslers apartment was unbelievable, said Ned Janjic, who, after 40 years of being a landlord, isnt surprised by much. Janjic described horrific living conditions when he cleared out the apartment after their deaths: All the windows were broken. There were bags of garbage everywhere. The mattresses were soiled a dark brown. They had two small dogs that tenants in the 12-unit building heard, but never saw. The dogs soiled the apartment for four years, he said. Kids were living in this situation. Eight or nine truckloads of garbage were removed from the apartment and taken to the dump after Chryslers tenancy was terminated following the 30-day period after death required by the province. We just put up a flatbed in front of the front windows and just shovelled everything right out, he said. Photos taken between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 shared with The Spectator by the Melrose landlord show piles of garbage, some in black bags and some loose. In one room, the floor is completely concealed by clothes, toys and empty boxes. Several windows appear boarded up, one partially covered by a door, another with plywood and other scrap material. The bathtub is filled to the lip with a door, bucket, clothes, broken glasses and an action figure hidden underneath. A memorial was set up outside the apartment on Melrose Avenue South where Kassie Chrysler and children Lambeau, 8, and Khaleesi, 7, lived. All three were supposed to go home on the evening of Dec. 29, but they died in a fire at dad Trevor McIsaac's townhome on the Mountain. The Hamilton Spectator file photo A stuffed horse, a Scooby-Doo suitcase and a cutout of a heart fixed to a white piece of paper a kids craft or card, perhaps serve as reminder of little lives lost. Chryslers brother, Wesley Genereaux, said their families usually got together at their moms place, so he didnt know how bad the apartment was until he helped clean it out in January. You could see into the basement from the first floor, he said, describing a moment in which someone downstairs looked up at him through a hole on the floor beside the toilet. The house was falling to pieces. He blames the landlord for the sorry state of the apartment, claiming he only started doing repairs after Chrysler died. The apartment was atrocious, McIsaac agreed, with mould and bugs bedbugs and cockroaches that scattered when they switched on the lights. A construction worker by trade, McIsaac said he used to fix things himself when he lived there. Nobody should live there, he acknowledged. But he also felt his ex-partner knew how to handle her own and was withholding rent until repairs were done. Janjic said damage to the unit, like smashed windows, was so frequent, he stopped doing repairs. McIsaac, he said, would take a bedroom door, cut it in half and bolt it over the window. Post-renovation photos shared with The Spec show clean floors, freshly painted walls, a new Frigidaire stove and windows with blinds. Regardless of who was to blame, there were kids living in those conditions and Janjic wonders why no one was able to protect them. He claims there were other issues, too. The landlord says there were various incidents there involving police. Drug use. Property damage. Friends sleeping on the back deck in the summer. An uninvited guest defecating outside the apartment door. I have a lot of friends, I shouldnt be punished for that, McIsaac contended. When asked by The Spec, Hamilton police said a search of calls to the building would take significant resources and meets the threshold of a freedom-of-information request. More than once, tenants found the kids in the hallway in the early-morning hours and were met with silence when they knocked on Chryslers door, Janjic said. Several times, alarms in the hallway would sound after smoke from Chryslers apartment escaped into the hallways. Burnt popcorn was a common explanation, but Janjic didnt buy it. The landlord banned McIsaac who wasnt officially a tenant, but lived there from the building several years ago. McIsaac said he was run off the Melrose property following altercations with Chrysler. He blamed meddling neighbours and a nosy landlord for calling the police unnecessarily. Janjic tried to evict Chrysler several times for both property damage and failure to pay in fact, there was an outstanding application at the time of her death but occasional repayments and slow legal processes ensured she was never successfully evicted. As of Dec. 26, 2022, a few days before she died, Kassie owed more than $13,000 in rent arrears according to an order from the Landlord and Tenant Board on Jan. 27. Janjic said he called the local Childrens Aid Society dozens of times. All I had to say was Kassie Chrysler, and they all knew, he said, adding that he never knew what came of those calls. McIsaac has flaws, and hes quick to admit to them. Hes been in jail a lot, he says for fighting and break-and-enters, among other crimes and had an on-again, off-again relationship with Chrysler that wasnt always happy. Lambeau was in foster care with a family in Dundas for the first year of his life, McIsaac explained, because his then-partner had had past dealings with childrens aid. Lambeau McIsaac, who, along with his sister, was among the four killed in a Dec. 29 fire on the Mountain, was a Grade 3 student at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School. Brandy Rennick They just wanted to make sure our parenting was on track, he said. We got him back as soon as we went to court, and hes been home ever since. Childrens aid workers would check in once or twice a year, but they never took the kids, the father said, describing the organization as pretty lenient. Janjic wonders why Chrysler and her kids werent receiving more support from police and social services agencies. How do you guys think this is going to end? he would often say. In the meantime, two kids die, he said. How does anyone expect those kids to stand a chance? Living is hard Sitting at a window table of a Tim Hortons on Barton Street East, McIsaac sips a vanilla milkshake, keeping a watchful eye on his unlocked black BMX leaning on a stand outside. He starts to talk about April 4, what would have been his sons ninth birthday. But, instead of words, tears surface. Through them, the heartbroken father manages: It was rough, McIsaac said. Every day is. Living is hard, McIsaac says. He lives with the memories of his kids young lives and the trauma of a house ablaze. He also lives with the fact that he survived. McIsaac, who was never on the lease, is now homeless, sleeping on friends couches. He has no ambition anymore. I dont want to do anything, he said. McIsaacs two adult children and the news of a grandchild on the way keep him going. Khaleesi would have loved to be an aunt, he said. In an interview with The Spec earlier this year, McIsaac pulled a stack of photos from his backpack, the first of Lambeau, sporting a jersey from his namesake team, the Green Bay Packers. In others, he and his sister are dressed up for Halloween, his dads favourite holiday. Lambeau was all superheroes, he said, adding that his son was crazy about Spider-Man. In a Facebook post, McIsaac referred to his son as his twin. He was a nut just like I am. He was always good for a laugh, the father said. The kids went to school at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School in Hamiltons east end near their moms Melrose apartment, but McIsaac said they visited him at his home often daily during some stretches. Khaleesi, in particular, liked to visit Castro, her dads Havana rabbit, who also died in the fire. Khaleesi McIsaac, who died in the fatal fire, was a Grade 2 student at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School. Brandy Rennick The seven-year-old, born Sept. 25, 2015, at the height of popularity for the TV series Game of Thrones, loved animals and princesses. Her dad had gifted her a blue cape like the one worn by Elsa from Disneys Frozen the day she died. Khaleesi was so smart. Id get new cellphones and shed set them up for me, he said. Her dad, in turn, taught his kids to draw. As McIsaac spoke, he sketched a cartoon character with his mouth ajar, a banana with eyes and a skinny cow on Tim Hortons napkins in colourful artists markers, which he usually keeps with him. I can draw for hours, he said, explaining that cartoons and tattoos including many of his own are his specialties. I used to draw pictures of the kids, making them do something weird. Melrose neighbour Cheryl Villeneuve said she and others in the community would occasionally take the kids on trips to the store. Khaleesi loved the milkshakes at Big Bee Convenience, a five-minute walk from the building, while Lambeau always got a bag of chips or candy. Villeneuve described their mom as a quiet person who stuck to herself. Chryslers relationships with others in the building were limited to their kids. Neighbours occasionally picked Lambeau and Khaleesi up from school. Chrysler was born Nov. 11, 1982. She had just turned 40, a mid-life milestone that for many marks a new chapter. Instead, her story ended soon after. Chrysler grew up in Hagersville before moving to Brantford and later to Hamilton when her brother was a toddler. The siblings mother is from Six Nations, where her brother Wesley now lives on inherited land, their dad from Saskatoon. More than 10 years her junior, the 30-year-old Wesley said he and his sister had grown closer as adults. Wesley even lived with Chrysler for five or six years when he first moved out of his moms place. He describes his sister as assertive. When she believed something, that was it, he said. My whole familys like that, were all stubborn. For the last several years, shed been into fixing computers, he said. At one point she worked at Tim Hortons in Burlington, but shed been a stay-at-home mom for years. She has three surviving children, two are adults and one who was adopted, her brother said. She didnt drive, so she used public transit and cabs to get around the city. In the days after the fire, her mom, Wendy Genereaux, told The Spectator the family wasnt the wealthy kind, but shared what they had. Were not a perfect family, but there were moments, she said in a Jan. 4 interview. The single mother was broke, relying on social assistance and support from McIsaac and family to make ends meet, Wesley said. She was always a good mom and stuff, it was just she didnt ever work really, he said. She never really had any real money to be like, Hey, lets go do something. Wesley, who works in construction, said he had come into his role as uncle to her kids, often taking them to Gage Park, monster truck rallies and festivals around the city. Lambeau and Khaleesi were always together and could often be found starring in self-directed movies recorded on a tablet, he said. The uncle had always had a relationship with Lambeau, older and a boy, but quieter Khaleesi took longer to warm up. We started to get along more just as she passed. It sucks, he said. The night of the fire The kids were never supposed to be at the Derby Street home the night of the fatal fire. The townhouse is one of about 50 in a complex off Rymal Road East near Upper Gage. The homes, some owned, some rented, share walls and driveways. After the fire, rumours about a possible meth lab in the townhouse quickly circulated among neighbours and on social media. McIsaac refuted them, chalking it up to neighbourhood gossip. If there was a meth lab, what am I doing walking on the street still? McIsaac said. What eats at McIsaac is that the kids should have been at their moms. He says Chrysler told him she was taking the kids home at 5 p.m., since McIsaac was feeling unwell. They said they were going to go home and theyd come back up on New Years Eve, he said. They never did. I dont understand why. Now homeless and jobless, McIsaac spent the winter months in a recurring hell, chopping firewood to heat the trailer he shares with Wesley to avoid being frozen solid. Its hard for me, because I hate fire, he said. But youve got to stay warm. SHARE: Canadas competition watchdog is putting its weight behind some longtime cannabis industry asks including easing restrictions on cannabis packaging and adjusting limits on how much of pots psychoactive component can be in edible products. In a submission to Health Canada and a panel reviewing cannabis legislation published Friday, the Competition Bureau positioned changing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limits and giving pot companies more freedoms around packaging and marketing as a way to boost competition. The bureau believes that stronger competition in the cannabis industry would help foster innovation and benefit consumers by providing them with increased choice and quality, it wrote in its submission. Importantly, these benefits would serve to further displace illicit market activity and bolster the legal cannabis industry. A 2022 survey from Health Canada found nearly half of the 10,048 respondents who used cannabis in the past year purchased the substance exclusively from legal sources, an increase from 43 per cent in 2021. Some believe the true share of the illicit market is higher because of the stigma around revealing cannabis use. Pot producers and shops have long felt THC and packaging changes would chisel away at the market share illicit sellers have and help them reduce the hefty number of layoffs, facility closers and writedowns theyve taken in recent years to keep their businesses afloat. Their calls for change have grown in recent months after Ottawa launched a review last year of the Cannabis Act, which set purchase and possession limits and established safety requirements for growing, selling and transporting the substance. When legalization legislation came into effect in 2018, it prevented cannabis products from being packaged in a way that is enticing to youths and limited THC in edibles to 10 mg per package. Illicit products often exceed the limit. Stakeholders have told the bureau increasing the limit to 100 mg could make edible cannabis products more appealing to consumers, especially those currently sourcing them from the illicit market. The bureau suggested easing restrictions on cannabis promotion, packaging and labelling would also give producers more room to innovate and help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions. To comply with regulations, most pot companies package their products in staid, black or white containers devoid of eye-catching branding, which could help differentiate one product from another. The bureau also took aim at the cannabis licensing process and compliance costs, suggesting they be made minimally intrusive to competition, where possible. The process currently requires cannabis producers to have facilities nearly completed a process often costing millions before they can receive licenses. Then, there are lengthy and costly security requirements and annual regulatory fees. By minimizing the regulatory burden of the licensing process and reducing compliance costs, where possible, decision-makers can reduce barriers to entry and expansion, as well as stimulate even more effective competition, said the Bureau. Rounding out its recommendations was a suggestion regarding excise duties, an area outside of the panel reviewing the acts purview. The duties are imposed on products when theyre delivered to buyers. For dried and fresh cannabis, plants and seeds, they amount to the higher of $1 per gram or a 10 per cent per gram fee. For edibles, extracts and topicals, its a flat rate based on the number of milligrams of total THC in the product. There are additional duties in Alberta, Nunavut, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The total amount of unpaid cannabis excise duties has risen since legalization, the bureau said. As of September 2022, 66 per cent of licensees required to remit excise duties had an outstanding debt with the Canada Revenue Agency, the bureau said. Many stakeholders interviewed by the bureau raised Canadas excise duty framework and excise duty rates specifically as a major barrier to competition in the cannabis industry, the submission said. These stakeholders told the bureau that the current excise duty regime makes profitability and viability in the industry very challenging. Canopy Growth Corp., a Smiths Falls, Ont. cannabis company, welcomed the Bureaus recommendations, chief executive David Klein said. He found the suggestions mirror many of the industrys pleas. Legal producers need to be able to deliver the range of formats and potency that consumers are looking for to compete with the illicit market and support a sustainable cannabis industry in Canada, he said in a statement. Its equally critical that restrictions on engagement with consumers be revised to facilitate informed purchasing decisions and we hope government will act swiftly on these recommendations as time is of the essence. Organigram, a Moncton, N.B.-based cannabis firm, is also aligned with the Bureau, especially because it believes changes to the THC cap are necessary. The cap drives consumers to the illicit market, chief executive Beena Goldenberg said in an email, while packaging restrictions hinder our ability as licensed producers to effectively communicate and differentiate our products. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. 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: MONTREAL - A major fire at a Montreal heritage building was still not under control Friday and authorities were not able to provide a firm timeline of how long it would take to extinguish the blaze. The fire broke out late Thursday afternoon at the Monastere du Bon-Pasteur, a 19th century former monastery, and quickly became a five-alarm blaze requiring the intervention of 150 firefighters. Fire Chief Richard Liebmann told reporters Friday that the fire seems to have started in the attic, but bringing it under control hasnt been easy. Its a fire thats extremely difficult to extinguish, Liebmann said. Because of the nature of the construction, the shape of the building and the construction materials, its very difficult to reach the source of the fire, (both) from above and from inside. Liebmann could not say what the extent of the damage could be or how long operations might continue. The downtown Montreal building was built in 1846 for the Surs de Notre-Dame du Bon Pasteur dAngers who set up in Montreal. It retained its religious vocation until the 1960s. It was formally recognized as a heritage site by the province in 1979. It now serves as a multiservice centre that includes a residence for seniors, a housing cooperative, a daycare centre and condominiums.The building also houses the offices of Heritage Montreal, a non-profit that promotes and protects the citys heritage. The chapel, located in the centre of the complex, is now a concert hall that is part of the citys cultural centre network. According to the City of Montreal, its one of the most prestigious halls, known for exceptional acoustics in a historic and intimate atmosphere. The venue houses a pair of unique instruments: a Fazioli concert grand piano and a 1772 Kirckman harpsichord. It wasnt clear whether those items had been saved. Liebmann said 39 people were evacuated and 27 of them are being taken care of by the Red Cross. Two people were treated for minor injuries, a firefighter who was fighting the blaze and a man in his 80s found overnight in a part of the complex not on fire. Liebmann could not explain why the octogenarian wasnt discovered when the building was searched earlier in the evening. Preliminary and secondary searches were done and a building manager had said everyone was accounted for. So how someone was still inside will be the subject of an investigation because theres a lot of contradictory information circulating right now, Liebmann said. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says word of the fire brought feelings of immense sorrow. Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe said once the fire is brought under control, the conversation will turn to how to rebuild. Environment Canada issued a special bulletin for poor air quality due to the smoke created by the fire,which causes high concentrations of fine particles. Plante called on people to stay away from the area due to the poor air. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: One person is in hospital with serious injuries after a shooting near the Woodbine Centre mall in Rexdale on Thursday, said Toronto police. According to police the shooting happened just before 8:15 p.m. near Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27 North, near the mall. Officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area and located a car with multiple bullet holes. Police said a black, four-door Infiniti sedan was seen leaving the area. One victim was later found in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-2222. MB Marissa Birnie is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marissabirnie SHARE: Nine schools in Brampton were under hold-and-secure protocols Friday as Peel police responded to a daylight shooting that sent a teen girl to hospital. Officers were called to the area of Central Park Drive and Grenoble Boulevard on Friday morning around 11:30 a.m. for a weapons dangerous call. Police confirmed the shooting took place in a plaza and that injuries were sustained by a replica firearm. Police initially said in a news conference from the scene just before 1:30 p.m. that the victim was a 13-year-old girl. In a tweet Friday afternoon, police clarified the victim was in fact 17. The teen was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition, police said. As a precaution, one school in the area was put under lockdown police said earlier Friday while the others were placed under hold and secure. Police confirmed by tweet around 4 p.m. that the protocols had been lifted at all of the schools. Police are still on the hunt for a male suspect however no description has been provided to the public. Peel police is encouraging the suspect to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in. Peel District School Board spokesperson Malon Edwards told the Star that security protocol had been put in place at each of the affected schools due to a threat in the community. Judith Nyman Secondary School went into lockdown about 40 minutes after hold-and-secure measures took effect at the remaining public board schools at 11:40 a.m., Edwards said Friday. Edwards was not able to confirm, Friday afternoon, if the teen victim was a student of one of the affected high schools. MH Mahdis Habibinia is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mhabibinia@thestar.ca Jason Miller is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering crime and justice in the Peel Region. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @millermotionpic Read more about: SHARE: HAGATNA, Guam (AP) Chainsaws buzzed Friday as neighbors helped neighbors clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of Typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades but appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake. While it was still early going in the recovery effort, police Sgt. Paul Tapao said there did not seem to be any major damage, main roads were passable and Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries. To Tapao, the roar of the mechanical saws was a reminder of the resilience of the storm-prone U.S. Pacific territory and its people. Everyone helps out with the cleaning, he said. Thats the Guamanian way thats embedded in the blood. He added that theres a saying in Chamorro the indigenous language of the Mariana Islands inafa maolek, that means cooperation, a concept of restoring harmony or order. Storms have taught our island to be resilient, he said. Were still here. Still, officials said it could take weeks to clean up the mess after Mawar briefly made landfall as a Category 4 storm Wednesday night on the northern tip of the island of roughly 150,000 people, flipping cars, tearing off roofs and leaving trees bare. Some villages had little or no water Friday, Tapao said. About 51,000 customers were without electricity, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There were 725 people in shelters Friday, down from nearly 1,000 on Thursday, officials said. Water contamination from the heavy rains and runoff was a concern: The Guam Waterworks Authority issued a notice advising residents to boil water before drinking it, and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency warned people to stay out of the sea at all beaches because of high bacteria content. The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The swirling typhoon churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs and swamped houses. In the southeastern village of Yona, the floodwaters reached above the waist at the home where Alexander Ken M. Aflagues mother-in-law and sister-in-law live, he said. Two trucks and an SUV were completely submerged. Aflague said the mood on the island was like after every storm, as people assess the damage and move toward rebuilding their lives back to normal. His major worry was shortages, saying supplies were at levels similar to what they were during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cleanup is the struggle but we all pitch in and help each other, he said via text message. Also in Yona, winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Bazas mothers house, allowing water to damage everything inside. His mother rode out the storm with him at his concrete residence, he said, but my moms house didnt escape. He drove around in a pickup after the storm passed looking for supplies to repair her roof, but most stores were without power and accepting only cash. Many wooden or tin homes were badly damaged or had collapsed outright. Its kind of a shock, Baza said. On Friday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists for Guam and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts. There were long lines at ATMs and some stores and gas stations on Friday. Officials said they anticipated being able to resume operations at the flooded A.B. Won Pat International Airport next Tuesday. Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero gave the all-clear Thursday evening, returning the island to its typical condition of readiness as the National Weather Service lifted its typhoon watch. We have weathered the storm, Leon Guerrero said. The storm is forecast to continue moving northwest before turning sharply north Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Taiwans Central Weather Bureau. That track would keep the typhoon at sea for days as it gradually weakens. Mawar had 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. On Friday morning, Mawar was centered 345 miles (555 kilometers) west-northwest of Guam and 360 miles (579 kilometers) west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 14 mph (23 kph). Carlo Quinonez, who lives near Tamuning, said he rode out the storm in a hotel and felt very lucky that the building was largely unscathed. A nearby abandoned building lost many of its windows and part of a wall on the fifth story, Quinonez said. It was the peak that had us questioning our safety. Floors rattling and walls creaking. Tossing debris, and roots, and fruit everywhere, he wrote in an email. The Navy has 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. ___ 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, Ed Komenda in Seattle and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed. SHARE: PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo were put on high alert Friday following clashes inside Kosovo between police and ethnic Serbs that injured more than a dozen people. Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, who are a majority in that part of the country, had tried to block recently-elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings earlier Friday. Last months snap election was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs and only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies. Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Several cars were set ablaze. Kosovo Serb hospital officials said about 10 protesters were injured. Police said five officers were injured as protesters hurled stun grenades and other objects. A police car was burned. In response to the clashes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he put the army on the highest state of alert and ordered an urgent movement of troops closer to the border. He also demanded that NATO-led troops stationed in Kosovo protect ethnic Serbs from the police. The United States condemned Kosovos government for using police to forcibly enter the municipal buildings. These actions have sharply and unnecessarily escalated tensions, undermining our efforts to help normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia and will have consequences for our bilateral relations with Kosovo, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday. Vucic spoke at a rally Friday evening in Belgrade as tens of thousands of people turned out to support the government in the wake of two mass shootings earlier this month that killed 18 people and wounded 20 others, stunning the nation. We will preserve peace but I am telling you that Serbia wont sit idle the moment Serbs in northern Kosovo are attacked, he told the crowd. Vucic has previously warned that Belgrade would respond to violence against Serbs, and has stepped up combat readiness several times during moments of tension with Kosovo. However, any attempt by Serbia to send its troops over the border would mean a clash with NATO troops stationed there. Zdravko Ponos, a former Serbian army chief turned opposition politician, criticized Vucics response as inappropriate. This is only saber-rattling that serves as face-saving for Vucic, Ponos told the N1 regional television network. Kosovo police acknowledged their increased presence to assist mayors of the northern communes of Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok to exert their right of work. New mayors in three northern communities were prevented from entering municipal buildings, with small groups of Serbs raising their hands at the entrances, apparently to show they were not there to take part in violence, according to Albanian news outlet indexonline.net, which also published photos. In Zvecan, the news website Kosovo-online.com showed clashes with police in front of the municipal building, while in Leposavic the main square was blocked with cars and trucks. Local elections were held in four Serb-dominated communes in northern Kosovo after Serb representatives left their posts last year. They had resigned in protest because Kosovo authorities refused to allow an ethnic Serbian association to coordinate work on education, health care, land planning and economic development at the local level. A 2013 Pristina-Belgrade agreement on forming the Serb association was later declared unconstitutional by Kosovos Constitutional Court, which said the plan wasnt inclusive of other ethnicities and could entail the use of executive powers to impose laws. The two sides have tentatively agreed to back a EU plan on how to proceed, but tensions still simmer. The U.S. and the EU have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo they must normalize relations to advance in their intentions to join the bloc. The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbias rule, and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died. NATOs military intervention in 1999 eventually forced Serbia to pull out of the territory. Washington and most EU countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China have not. ___ Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Associated Press writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report. SHARE: CAIRO (AP) Saudi Arabia and the United States said Friday the warring sides in Sudans conflict are adhering better to a new, weeklong cease-fire following days of sporadic fighting. The truce, brokered by Riyadh and Washington, went into effect on Monday, but fighting continued in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and the western Darfur region. Particularly intense clashes flared up on Wednesday, the two mediators said in a joint statement. The conflict in Sudan erupted in mid-April after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has killed at least 863 civilians, including at least 190 children, according to the most recent numbers from the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate. The latest, weeklong cease-fire is the seventh attempt at a truce after the others were violated. A new cross-party committee tasked with monitoring potential violations observed Wednesday the use of artillery and military aircraft and drones, credible reports of airstrikes, sustained fighting in Khartoum and Darfur. Amid the reported calm on Thursday, humanitarian missions were able on to deliver urgently needed medical supplies to several locations in Sudan, the joint statement said. Efforts were also underway to restore telecommunications services in Khartoum and other areas of the country, it said. On Friday, Khartoum residents reported only sporadic gunfire. However, the Sudanese Defense Ministry issued a statement calling on all non-commissioned and retired officers under 65 to re-enlist. It remains unclear if the call-up is mandatory. Earlier in the day, Sudan TV had broadcast a military statement asking former soldiers and men capable of fighting to head to the nearest military command to arm themselves for their own self-protection. Over the past six weeks, looting has become widespread across many Khartoum districts, which are also without water and electricity. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned both parties of possible sanctions if the latest cease-fire was not adhered to. The United Nations says that more than a million Sudanese have been internally displaced, while some 300,000 have fled to neighboring countries. The conflict has pushed the East African country to the brink of collapse, with urban areas of Khartoum and its adjacent city of Omdurman disintegrating into battlegrounds. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Thursday that the World Food Program has reached more than half a million people in nine states in Sudan with food and nutrition support since restarting distributions about three weeks ago. Riyadh and Washington called on the Sudanese military and the RSF to continue to respect the cease-fire. Read more about: SHARE: China and the Democratic Republic of Congo will strengthen their partnership and step up cooperation, Beijing said Friday, as talks over renegotiating mining contracts for the African country's valuable mineral reserves continue. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi's trip, his first state visit to China, is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures between Beijing and African nations. Tshisekedi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday "announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship from a strategic partnership of win-win cooperation to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership", China's foreign ministry said in a statement. China is a major investor in DRC, where the Asian power dominates the lucrative mineral mining industry. But Tshisekedi has vowed to renegotiate Congolese mining contracts, which include those signed with China under his predecessor, to achieve better terms for his country. On Friday, he was greeted by an honour guard and cheering children between meetings with Xi and Premier Li Qiang. Li told Tshisekedi that he believed "China-DRC relations will surely achieve greater development, and benefit the two peoples". The large central African country is a major exporter of copper, uranium and cobalt -- a key ingredient in batteries for consumer gadgets -- but remains one of the world's poorest states. Senior DRC official Erik Nyindu Kibambe told reporters in Beijing that mining renegotiation talks were going "wonderfully", with the Congolese side hoping for a deal by the end of this year. He said they were aiming to make a state-to-state deal, rather than agreements between DRC and individual mining companies. Tshisekedi is the latest in a series of African leaders to visit China in recent weeks, following delegations from Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Gabon. The continent has found itself at the centre of a tussle for influence among the major powers, with China, Russia and the United States all sending foreign ministers to the region on rival diplomatic offensives this year. Search Keywords: Short link: GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Guatemalas top court blocked the candidacy of another presidential hopeful on Friday, this time ending the campaign of poll leader Carlos Pineda for alleged violations of electoral law. The Constitutional Court rejected Pinedas appeal after electoral authorities had ruled him ineligible only a month before the first round of voting June 25. Pineda is the third presidential candidate ruled ineligible to run. The court rejected the final appeals of candidate Roberto Arzu on Thursday, and previously had ruled against Thelma Cabrera because of a paperwork issue with her running mate. Some observers have accused Guatemalas electoral authorities of using the judicial system to pare down the field to candidates acceptable to the establishment. Pineda, a conservative populist, running a campaign that caught fire on social media, emerged as the surprise leader atop the polls earlier this month. Authorities said there were problems in the way his party selected its candidate that voided his candidacy. SHARE: ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistans government said Friday that 17 more supporters of Imran Khan would be tried in military courts over recent anti-government violence, bringing the overall number of followers of the former prime minister facing military tribunals so far to 33. The development comes amid a government crackdown on Khans opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its supporters over the violent demonstrations that followed Khans arrest earlier this month in Islamabad. For days, Khans followers attacked public property and military installations across the country. The violence subsided only after Khan was released on orders of Pakistans Supreme Court. At least 10 people were killed in clashes between Khans supporters and police. Interior Minister Rasan Sanaullah Khan, who is not related to the former premier, said that only 33 suspects have been selected for military trials although police arrested nearly 5,000 of Khans supporters over the past two weeks. The minister said about 80% of those detained were released on bail pending trials in civilian courts. He also denounced Imran Khan, a crocket star turned Islamist politician, saying that as opposition leader, he was the mastermind of the violent attacks on military installations. We have evidence to back it up, the minister said without elaborating. Khan himself faces more than 100 legal cases, including on graft charges during his 2018-2022 term as premier, and has also been charged with terrorism for inciting people to violence. In courts, he has won protection from arrest in multiple cases, pending trial. On Thursday, Khan proposed talks between the government and his party with the aim to end the ongoing political turmoil. The government has not responded to the offer. On Friday, Khan claimed that several of his party officials and lawmakers have quit at gunpoint and have not left his camp because of the rioting by his supporters, as some have said. Separately from the political turmoil, Pakistan is also struggling with an unprecedented economic downturn. Talks between the government of Khans successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the International Monetary Fund for the revival of the $6 billion bailout package have been on the hold since December. Khan has claimed that his April 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote in Parliament was illegal and a conspiracy by Sharif, Washington and the military to discredit him. All three have denied the allegations. Read more about: SHARE: HONG KONG (AP) A Uyghur student has been missing in Hong Kong for more than two weeks since he sent a message saying he was being interrogated by Chinese police at the citys airport, a human rights group said Friday. Amnesty International said Abuduwaili Abudureheman, who was born in Xinjiang in western China, traveled to Hong Kong from South Korea to visit a friend on May 10 but has not been heard from since he texted his friend about being interrogated after his arrival. The unknown fate of Abuduwaili Abudureheman is deeply worrying, given the background of crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs by the Chinese government in Xinjiang, and its ongoing pursuit of Uyghurs who have traveled overseas, Amnesty International China researcher Alkan Akad said in a statement. He said the student appears to have been detained and interrogated, and that raised questions about the Hong Kong governments possible involvement in human rights violations committed against Uyghurs by the Chinese government. The Hong Kong government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hong Kong is a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a promise that it could retain its Western-style freedoms and autonomy for 50 years. But critics say Beijing is increasing its control over the territory and reducing its liberties. The United Nations and human rights groups accuse China of detaining a million or more Uyghurs and members of other predominantly Muslim groups in camps where many have said they were tortured, sexually assaulted and forced to abandon their language and religion. China denies the accusations, which are based on interviews with survivors and photos and satellite images of the Xinjiang region where many Uyghurs live. Amnesty International said it understood that Abuduwaili Abudureheman was on a Chinese government watch list because of his history of overseas travel, and urged Hong Kong authorities to reveal his whereabouts. (He) is at grave risk of torture based on his ethnicity and religion. If he is detained, he must be provided with access to a lawyer and relatives, and protected against any ill treatment, Akad said. Read more about: SHARE: TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albanian police on Friday said they have arrested six migrant traffickers for allegedly organizing an illegal border crossing for people from Arab countries and opening fire on border police. No injures were reported. A police statement said that the traffickers were operating late Thursday in Morine village, close to the Kosovo border, 165 kilometers (around 100 miles) north of the capital, Tirana, where they were conducting criminal activity assisting emigrants from third countries to cross the border illegally in exchange for financial compensation. The traffickers responded with gunfire when they were asked to stop, police said. Following hours of pursuit in coordination with neighboring Kosovo counterparts, five Syrians and one Algerian were arrested early Friday, police said, adding that another Algerian suspect is still at large. They are accused of assisting migrants from Arab or Asian countries to illegally cross from Greece to Albania, Kosovo and Serbia, who then try to make their way to a Western European country. They also face charges of attempted murder for opening fire on border agents and illegal weapons possession. If convicted on all charges, they face up to life in prison. Albania isnt a preferred route for migrants, but some try to use the tiny Western Balkan country to move toward Western Europe. SHARE: ROME (AP) A ruling by an administrative court in Italys Alpine region on Friday spared, for now, the life of the bear who fatally attacked a runner last month. The brown bear, identified as Jj4, was captured on April 18 following an intensive, two-week, hunt launched after a 26-year-old local man was killed while running on a mountain trail. The court panel in the city of Trento requested more details about the dynamics of the attack by the 17-year-old female bear and thus suspended an order by local authorities to have the animal euthanized. The suspension lasts until June 27. But the bears fate might not even be decided then, since a hearing was set for Dec. 14 to decide the merits of animal rights advocates proposals to transfer the bear to a refuge just where is unclear where the animal wouldnt be a danger to humans. The Italian agency ANSA also said the court concluded that more details from the autopsy of the runner were needed before any decision comes on the bears fate. Animal rights groups had challenged the order issued by authorities in Trento province to have the bear killed. It was unclear if Jj4 might have attacked Andrea Papi, who was on a training run, because cubs were nearby. His family has said they oppose killing the bear. The provincial president has argued that Papis death could have been avoided if the bear had been euthanized after it attacked two people, wounding them, in 2020. The parents of Jj4 were brought to Italy from Slovenia two decades ago as part of a project, funded by the European Union, to increase the brown bear population that was then feared to be dwindling toward near extinction. The bear population thrived, with the animals increasingly encountering people. SHARE: BERLIN (AP) A German government spokesperson on Friday rejected the notion that comments by Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticizing climate activists might have prompted raids against them this week. Police on Wednesday searched more than a dozen properties across Germany linked to the group Last Generation, seizing assets as part of a probe into its finances. Prosecutors in Munich said they are investigating whether the group constitutes a criminal organization after its repeated road blockades and other protests drew numerous complaints from the public. Days before the raids, Scholz said he thought it was completely nutty to somehow stick yourself to a painting or on the street. Members of Last Generation have hit back, describing the raids as a blow to democracy and accusing Scholz of belittling young peoples fears about global warming. Scholzs spokesperson, Wolfgang Buechner, said he didnt know whether the chancellor had advance knowledge of the raids but that it would be unusual if that were the case. Asked whether prosecutors in Bavaria could have taken Scholzs comments as a signal to crack down on the group, Buechner strongly rejected the idea. It has to be possible for the German chancellor to answer a question about what he thinks of the protests in a plain-spoken way, he said. I think the chancellor did this in an appropriate way. Buechner said the German government remains committed to tackling climate change and protesters must abide by the law. A United Nations spokesperson said Thursday that while governments have a duty to uphold the law, people also have a fundamental right to demonstrate peacefully to have their voices heard. And it is clear that a lot of the progress that we have seen on awareness on climate change and positive movement on climate change is due to the fact that people have been demonstrating peacefully throughout the world, Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York. Climate advocates led by the moral voice of young people have kept the agenda moving through the darkest of days. They must be protected, and we need them now more than ever, he told German news agency dpa. Last Generation and other groups have said they plan further protests in Germany over the coming days. Read more about: SHARE: BERLIN (AP) The German military has ordered 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles that were sent to Ukraine earlier this year, a leading defense company said Friday. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann said a contract for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was signed with the federal office for military equipment. It didnt give financial details, but the German parliaments budget committee on Wednesday approved funding of some 525 million euros ($563 million). The company said that delivery of the new tanks is scheduled to start in 2025, and that the deal includes options for another 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann also will produce 12 new self-propelled howitzers for the German military as part of an option agreed to in March, the company said. Germanys defense minister pushed for new tanks to be acquired as quickly as possible after the government agreed in late January to provide 14 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks to Ukraine. That number was increased a few weeks later to 18 as Berlin and others scrambled to assemble two batallions of Leopard 2 tanks for Kyiv. Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands also have agreed to provide Ukraine with refurbished Leopard 1 tanks, an older model that the German military hasnt used for two decades. __ This story corrects a typographical error in the name of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Read more about: SHARE: MOSCOW (AP) Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has appealed a three-month extention of his detention on espionage charges, a Russian court data website indicated Friday. Gershkovich, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested in March while on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges. A Moscow court on Tuesday extended his detention until Aug. 30. According to the court website, the appeal was filed on Thursday. There was no information whether a date has been set for a hearing. Gerhskovichs case has been wrapped in secrecy. Russian authorities havent detailed what if any evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges. Various legal proceedings in the case have been closed to the media. State news agency Tass said Tuesdays hearing was held behind closed doors because the reporter was accused of possession of secret materials. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that Gershkovichs parents, Soviet emigres living in New Jersey, were visiting Moscow and saw their son during the short hearing. I dont know how to describe this happiness and this sadness at the same time, the newspaper quoted the reporters mother, Ella Milman, as saying. She said Gershkovich looked relaxed and well, and that they communicated through smiles. The U.S. State Department said at least one U.S. Embassy official also attended the hearing. Gershkovichs arrest has rattled journalists in the country and drawn outrage in the West. The U.S. government declared Gershkovich to be wrongfully detained and demanded his immediate release. Hes being held in Moscows Lefortovo prison. U.S. Embassy officials were allowed to visit Gershkovich once in prison since his arrest in Yekaterinburg on March 29, but Russian authorities have denied two more recent requests to see him. Read more about: SHARE: KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire Friday, authorities said, hours after at least one nighttime blast rocked a Russian city in a region next to the annexed Crimea peninsula. The Kremlins forces, meanwhile, struck a clinic in Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing one person and wounding 16, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Also, a Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, placing nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. The Belgorod town of Graivoron, some 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was under fire for several hours, with four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line damaged, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the border, a recreation center, a shop and an uninhabited house sustained damage in the village of Glotovo. There were no casualties, according to Gladkov. The Belgorod region was earlier this week the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky, as Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unconfirmed local reports said Fridays explosion in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, was caused by drones. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged but there were no casualties. Drone attacks against Russian regions on the border with Ukraine have been a regular occurrence since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with attacks stepping up last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two consecutive days. In another apparent incident of Kyivs forces harassing Russia, Ukraines defense ministry on Thursday published footage that appeared to show an unmanned drone boat attacking Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video did not show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed claims by Russias Ministry of Defense on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three boats attacked and destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released footage allegedly showing the destruction of one of the uncrewed boats. At least two civilians were killed and three wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. ___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read more about: SHARE: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Belgium and Iran exchanged prisoners on Friday in a controversial move that saw an Iranian diplomat convicted of attempting to bomb exiles in France returning to Tehran bedecked in flowers while a visibly gaunt aid worker headed back to Brussels. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement that the aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, had been freed and said that for him, the choice was always clear: Oliviers life was always the most important. He said Vandecasteele had been unjustly held in Iran for 455 days and added that in Belgium, we abandon no one. Not least someone who is innocent, whatever the legal and diplomatic consequences. Iranian state television later showed the diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, being welcomed at the airport by Irans judiciary chief and the secretary of human rights council Kazem Gharibabadi. Assadi had a floral wreath placed around his neck and held a bouquet of flowers a heros welcome in Iran. Despite the contentious optics, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said he would do it again, anytime. There is a moral compass. If you have the choice between freeing someone innocent or keeping one, or 10 guilty in prison, then you always have to choose the fate of the innocent, he told VRT network. He compared the exchange to last Decembers U.S.-Russian prisoner swap between WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges in Moscow. The United States did it too, Van Quickenborne said, adding that it is his absolute duty to help every innocent Belgian. The swap took place in Oman, long an interlocutor for the West with Iran. Its foreign ministry said and added that the sultanate of Oman appreciated the high positive spirit that prevailed in the talks in Muscat between the Iranian and Belgian sides, and their keenness to settle this humanitarian issue. Muscat is Omans capital. In January, Iran sentenced Vandecasteele to a lengthy prison term and 74 lashes after convicting him of espionage in a closed-door trial. He was also fined $1 million. Vandecasteele was arrested in Iran in February 2022 while packing up his belongings, after working with the Norwegian Refugee Council and Relief International in the Islamic Republic from 2015 to 2021, according to Amnesty International. His family and the Belgian government strongly denied Irans claims, made without offering evidence, that he was a spy. In 2021, Belgium convicted Assadi of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors tied Assadi to a couple, stopped by the Belgian police and found with 550 grams (1.21 pounds) of TATP explosives and a detonator in 2018. They had been trying to target a meeting in Villepinte, France, of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, an exiled Iranian opposition group known as the MEK. Among dozens of prominent guests at the rally in Villepinte that day were then-President Donald Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; Newt Gingrich, former conservative speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Assadi was arrested a day later in Germany and transferred to Belgium. Belgian intelligence identified him as an officer of Irans intelligence and security ministry who operated undercover at the Iranian Embassy in Austria. Iran denied Assadis involvement. Iran has carried out abductions and other plots against dissidents abroad in the past. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian referred to Assadi as an innocent diplomat in a tweet after his release on Friday. Iranian state television called the case against him bogus accusations. In a statement, the MEK condemned Assadis release, calling it a shameful ransom to terrorism and hostage-taking. This will embolden the religious fascism ruling Iran to continue its crimes in Iran through repression and regional and international terrorism, the group said. Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them following secretive trials in which rights groups say they have been denied due process. Critics have repeatedly accused Iran of using such prisoners as bargaining chips with the West. Iran, facing Western sanctions over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, has faced protests in recent months and economic strain. Omans Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was already scheduled to visit Tehran this weekend before the announced prisoner swap. ___ Casert reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. SHARE: Belgium and Iran conducted a prisoner exchange Friday in Oman, with officials saying Tehran released a Belgian aid worker in exchange for an Iranian diplomat convicted of attempting to bomb a meeting of exiles in France. The initial announcement by Oman's Foreign Ministry did not identify the prisoners being swapped. Later Friday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement that the aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, had been freed. Iranian state television later confirmed that the diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, was freed as well. Oman's Foreign Ministry said that those released were transferred from Tehran and Brussels to Muscat today, Friday, in preparation for their return to their countries. It added that "the sultanate of Oman appreciated the high positive spirit that prevailed in the talks in Muscat between the Iranian and Belgian sides, and their keenness to settle this humanitarian issue. De Croo said Vandecasteele was transferred to Oman on Thursday night. He was received by a team of Belgian diplomats and military officials, then was assessed by doctors. Olivier spent 455 days in prison in Tehran. In unbearable conditions. Innocent, De Croo wrote. Olivier Vandecasteeles return to Belgium is a relief. A relief for his family, friends and colleagues. Oman has long served as an interlocutor for the West with Iran. In January, Iran sentenced Vandecasteele to a lengthy prison term and 74 lashes after convicting him of espionage in a closed-door trial. He also was fined $1 million. Vandecasteele was arrested in Iran in February 2022 while packing up his belongings, after working with the Norwegian Refugee Council and Relief International in the Islamic Republic from 2015 to 2021, according to Amnesty International. His family and the Belgian government strongly denied Iran's claims, made without offering evidence, that he was a spy. To make the swap with the Iran diplomat possible, Belgium had adopted in March a controversial prisoner exchange treaty that was upheld by the countrys constitutional court. In 2021, Belgium convicted Assadi of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors tied Assadi to a couple, stopped by the Belgian police and found with 550 grams (1.21 pounds) of TATP explosives and a detonator in 2018. They had been trying to target a meeting in Villepinte, France, of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, an exiled Iranian opposition group known as the MEK. Among dozens of prominent guests at the rally in Villepinte that day were then-President Donald Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; Newt Gingrich, former conservative speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Assadi was arrested a day later in Germany and transferred to Belgium. Belgian intelligence identified him as an officer of Irans intelligence and security ministry who operated undercover at the Iranian Embassy in Austria. Iran denied Assadi's involvement. Iran has carried out kidnappings and other plots against dissidents abroad in the past. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian referred to Assadi as an innocent diplomat in a tweet after his release on Friday. Iranian state television called the case against him bogus accusations. In a statement, the MEK condemned Assadi's release, calling it a shameful ransom to terrorism and hostage-taking. This will embolden the religious fascism ruling Iran to continue its crimes in Iran through repression and regional and international terrorism, the group said. Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them following secretive trials in which rights groups say they have been denied due process. Critics have repeatedly accused Iran of using such prisoners as bargaining chips with the West. Iran, facing Western sanctions over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, has faced protests in recent months and economic strain. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was already scheduled to visit Tehran this weekend before the announced prisoner swap. Search Keywords: Short link: TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Leaders of Kansas Republican-controlled Legislature backed off a threat to sue the states Democratic governor for vetoing parts of a GOP education funding bill, saying Thursday that they still doubt the legality of her actions but now question whether a court challenge would be worth it. Gov. Laura Kelly nixed items in a $6 billion measure that provides the bulk of the funding for public K-12 schools for the 2023-24 school year. The vetoes changed how state funds are distributed to protect rural schools, though the move helped a majority of the states 286 local districts and took funds away from only 25 of them, according to State Department of Education data. Kelly also didnt touch the only school choice initiative that divided Republicans were able to pass this year, expanding an existing program for private school scholarships of up to $8,000 a year for low-income public school students. While public education groups strongly opposed it, some GOP conservatives had hoped to pass the kind of sweeping plan to use state education dollars to help parents pay for private or home schooling that states such as Iowa,South Carolina and Utah enacted. Republican leaders contend that Kelly exceeded the power granted to governors under the Kansas Constitution to veto individual spending items in budget bills. The education funding bill mixed spending with policy, and Kelly deleted six pages of language and also made a technical adjustment at the end of the bill. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, told reporters Thursday at the Statehouse that GOP leaders initially feared she would go after more parts of the bill. I dont know that its worth the fight now, Masterson said. I dont think were going to do anything with this one. When Kelly announced her vetoes last week, Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, called on GOP Attorney General Kris Kobach to review them, suggesting they were poised for a lawsuit. Kellys actions rejected a GOP-backed change for local school districts with declining student numbers more than half of them. The state distributes its dollars with a per-student formula, so funding drops as enrollments decline, but the state phases in the decrease over several years. The GOP change would have allowed less time for districts to adjust to a funding loss, and top Republicans contend the move would have helped growing districts. But Hawkins said in a statement that the issue can probably be addressed in a more efficient way than suing Kelly. The governor told reporters Thursday after a Statehouse event that she believes the six pages she vetoed clearly represented a budget item. She said she wasnt sure she could go after other parts of the bill, and I didnt want to test it out. Kellys vetoes benefitted more than 150 districts, giving them more state funds than they would have received otherwise, according to State Department of Education data. More than 100 others saw no difference. Kansas has boosted aid to public schools over the past decade, with an increase of about 3% coming for 2023-24. Even with fewer students across much of the state, only 10 districts will receive less aid overall than they did in 2022-23. All of those have fewer than 500 students, and four have fewer than 100. Without Kellys vetoes, 29 districts would have received less money overall than in 2022-23. If they continue to put really bad policy in appropriations bills, you know, I probably will continue to line-item (veto them), the governor said. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna SHARE: MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Federal traffic investigators said Thursday that unsafe driving speeds of multiple vehicles on wet roads in low visibility was the probable cause of a fiery 2021 interstate crash in Alabama that killed nine children and one adult. The National Transportation Safety Board released a report about the June 19, 2021 crash that involved 10 passenger vehicles and two commercial trucks on Interstate 65. The report described a horrific chain of events as the trucks and an SUV slammed into cars that had slowed because of minor crashes on the rain-slick highway. But it did not assign blame or cause beyond unsafe driving speeds for road conditions. Driving at speeds above the speed limit or too fast for conditions can have serious consequences, including a loss of vehicle control, increased crash severity, and more severe injuries, investigators wrote in their conclusion. Investigators wrote that that the probable cause of the crash was the unsafe speeds of multiple vehicles during rain, low visibility, and wet road conditions. A post crash fire likely started after a fuel tank on one of the commercial vehicles ruptured during the crash consumed six vehicles and contributed to the fatal injuries of the eight children in a transit van, investigators said. The crash happened after the remnants of a tropical depression had crossed the state. Light rain was falling at the time of the crash and watery spray was reducing visibility for drivers, the report said. The Alabama Department of Transportation had previously identified an increase in the percentage of motor vehicle crashes and had planned a paving project at the location, the report stated. The van was from a group home for abused or neglected children and was returning from a beach trip. The van was in a queue of cars that had slowed or stopped because of earlier crashes, when a chain reaction occurred as three striking vehicles identified as a Freightliner truck, an auto-transporter and a Ford Explorer came upon the traffic queue and struck vehicles in the queue. The Ford Explorer hit an Acura in the queue at an estimated speed 2730 mph (43-48 kph), pushing the cars ahead into one another. The Volvo auto-transporter then hit the Ford SUV at an estimated speed of about 51 mph (82 kph) and also made contact with other cars. The Freightliner truck, which had been behind the auto-transporter, braked and struck the van as it traveled through the median and forced the van into the Volvo auto-transporter. Many of the data recorders were destroyed in the fire, making it difficult to know the speed of the vehicles. The report did not give the Freightliners estimated speed but said the driver estimated that he had been traveling at 60 mph (95 kph) before braking. The Ford Explorer had been traveling at 81.5 mph (131 kph) five seconds before impact. A fire then engulfed the van and five other vehicles that came had come to rest in the median. The exact cause of of the fire couldnt be determined because of the extent of the damage but was likely fueled by a ruptured gas tank on one of the commercial trucks. The eight children in the van died from thermal and blunt-force trauma injuries, and autopsy reports indicated all had inhaled soot before they died. The driver of the van, the director of the girls home for abused or neglected children, was the only survivor in the vehicle. Two of her own children, her two nephews and four girls from the home were killed. A Tennessee man and his baby, who were passengers in the Ford Explorer, also were killed. SHARE: ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told newly commissioned officers at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday that they are ready to defend our democracy with honor, courage and commitment. Austin, speaking during the ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium after President Joe Biden addressed graduates last year and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks in 2021, acknowledged the Navys role in training allies, helping expand Ukraines maritime capabilities in its fight against Russian invasion and bringing relief to international conflict zones. Class of 2023, wherever your career takes you, remind the world of what you stand for and what America stands for: Honor. Courage. And commitment. Democracy. Liberty. And the rule of law, Austin told 1,018 graduates at the academys commissioning ceremony. The secretary said naval officers have a special understanding of the power of teamwork, and we need that spirit for the crucial mission that youre all here to shoulder. Austin said U.S. Marines are training alongside allies in Japan and the Philippines to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. He also said the Navy is driving forward the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the U.K. In Europe, he said, U.S. sailors are operating shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO allies. He told the graduating class that their leadership will be at the center of American efforts for a more peaceful future. Our competitors openly challenge that vision, he said. They want to replace the hard-won postwar system of rules and rights with a lawless world of autocracy and aggression. But the American flag atop a U.S. Navy ship has long been the symbol of hope for a more free and secure world. The secretary noted that the class rose to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic in their first year at the academy. It separated you from your classmates as you were just starting to feel like a family, but you hung in there, Austin said. You took care of each other. The class included 751 men and 267 women. There were 744 graduates who were commissioned as Navy ensigns, including 539 men and 205 women. There were 257 commissioned as 2nd lieutenants in the Marine Corps, including 198 men and 59 women. The newly commissioned officers will serve at least five years. SHARE: CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) The mother of the man who killed Gabby Petito told her son in an undated letter that she would dispose of a body if needed because she loved him so much, according to copies of the note shared publicly for the first time this week by attorneys for Petitos parents. The handwritten note by Roberta Laundrie that says burn after reading on the envelope was released after a Florida judge ruled on Wednesday that the letter could be used as evidence in a lawsuit. The Petitos sued Brian Laundries parents, accusing them of knowing that their son had murdered Gabby Petito and helping him with the coverup for nearly a month before her body was found in western Wyoming in September 2021, causing mental anguish, pain and suffering. The letter reads in part: 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. Whether the letter was written before or after Brian Laundrie strangled Petito is in dispute between the parents. Roberta Laundrie claims in a sworn statement in the Florida case that she gave it to her son just before he and Petito left on a cross-country van trip in early June 2021. Roberta Laundrie and her son were having difficulties in their relationship at the time, three months before Brian Laundrie, 23, killed Petito, 22, the court-filed statement said. I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home, the statement said. I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him. The Petito family expressed doubt about Roberta Laundries claimed timing of her letter, suggesting it was in fact written after Petitos death. A reasonable inference may be made from the letter that Roberta Laundrie knew of Petitos demise when the Laundries issued a statement Sept. 14, 2021 five days before her body was found saying they hoped she would be reunited with her family, the Petito family said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written, the statement reads. A search for Brian Laundrie ended with his suicide and discovery of his body in a Florida nature preserve in October 2021. The letter may appear to be unfortunately worded, but that was never its intention, the Laundries attorney, Matthew Luka, wrote in a March motion trying to persuade the judge not to allow the letter to be used in the case. Along with the statements about disposing of a body and a cake with a file in it, Roberta Laundries letter tells her son she would get new guts if he said he hated hers, and watch the skies for his return if he ever flew to the moon, Luka pointed out in an emailed statement Friday. The statements were written before the van trip and demonstrably not intended to be serious because they are not events that would realistically occur, Luka said. Roberta Laundrie added Friday in a statement through her attorney: Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby. Brian Laundrie and Petito were engaged and traveled by van across the U.S. in the summer of 2021, visiting scenic places in Colorado and Utah before heading north. They documented their trip in detail, in real time, on social media. Police in Moab, Utah, pulled over the van after it was seen speeding and hitting a curb at the entrance to Arches National Park in August 2021. Petito told police she and Laundrie had been fighting. Officers separated the couple for the night and didnt pursue charges. Searchers found Petito's body Sept. 19, 2021, near a campground on the edge of Wyomings Grand Teton National Park. A coroner determined shed been strangled a few weeks earlier. ___ Associated Press writer Terry Spencer in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. SHARE: Ontarios Progressive Conservative (PC) government has the power to value education by investing in their educators. Weve known for quite some time that educators have the most significant influence on the outcomes of students. However, since 2019 weve witnessed a government that threatens public education. By implementing its education playbook, the PCs weaponize data and ignore research to push irresponsible and misleading policies, while abandoning educators, students, and families to fend for themselves. Rule No. 1: Manifest a Crisis Lets remember that this is not the first time that the Progressive Conservatives (PCs) attempted to create a crisis in education. Back in 1995, Premier Mike Harris and Education Minister John Snobelen were crusading under the Common Sense Revolution. It did not sit well with Ontarians when Snobelen was caught on tape outlining the PCs mandate to create a crisis in education. In May 2018, we saw the playbook dusted off and re-enacted by the PCs with Ford promising to scrap the math curriculum. From Fords perspective, kids used to learn math by doing things like memorizing a multiplication table, and it worked. After taking office in 2019, the PCs continued to tout their going back to the basics campaign. During that time the PCs own agency, Education, Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), published a document based on three years of EQAO results from elementary student results (approximately 745,000 students). Grade 3 and 6 students demonstrated high levels in their fundamental math skills (i.e., basics), however, their ability to apply math knowledge and think critically were areas of challenge. The government ignored the advice of its agency and continued to promote a back to basics mantra. Rule No. 2: Ignore Research Instead of valuing educators, Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce required preservice teachers to pass a high stakes math proficiency test (MPT) to be an Ontario certified teacher. Prior to implementing the MPT, EQAO released a literature review on teacher testing and student outcomes (August 2019). The conclusion of the review cautioned that the potential benefits of teacher testing were often not realized. In fact, the MPT policy would likely push marginalized groups out of teaching. Again, the government ignored EQAO, taking its fight to the courts. In December 2021, the Ontario Superior Court found that the MPT violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as it would have a serious impact on racialized candidates entering the field of education. Further, the ruling found that there were other alternatives to the MPT such as more math courses in teacher education programs. Rule No. 3: Abandon educators to fend for themselves Historically in Ontario, curriculum documents have been released a year in advance, before implementation, to allow for schools, districts, and faculties of education to develop resources, offer professional learning, and offer crucial time to compare the curriculums. However, the government displayed no respect for its educators by releasing the new elementary mathematics curriculum on June 23, 2020 for immediate implementation. This last-minute policy change gave educators only two months to prepare during the pandemic, a time when districts, schools, and educators were focused on keeping people alive. Deja vu for Ontarians as the newly designed Grade 9 curriculum was released in June 2021 for a September 2021 launch. These actions prove once again that the Ontario government devalues publicly funded education and disregards its educators and students. Summary When we review the PCs policies to improve education, its clear that the government has very little understanding of learning, research, or general principles of how to motivate educators. With significant efforts on behalf of the government to manifest a crisis, ignore research, and leave educators to fend for themselves, there seems to be an insidious plan to dismantle publicly funded education. The limited supports provided by the government like math tutoring, brings back memories of the Harris PCs announcement of its plans to provide parents with subsides for private education, while positioning the funding as the Equity in Education Tax Credit. Those opposed to this credit warned that this money would primarily support the wealthy, revealing the PCs vision of a two-tier education system. The actions of Ford and Lecce clearly demonstrate their lack of respect for Ontarios public education system. Ontario deserves a government that believes in public education and values its educators, students, families, and communities. Steven Reid is an assistant professor at Queens University and teaches graduate students (master and doctoral) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)/University of TorontoMary Reid is an associate professor, in the department of curriculum, teaching at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Read more about: SHARE: Last month, a friend was told by his doctor it would take a year to have a colonoscopy performed in his local hospital. (A highly dubious claim.) Then, he was told he could have it done in the same physicians private clinic faster if he pays $75. That is an outright violation of the Canada Health Act. A Toronto woman wrote on May 7: I just had cataract surgery at a private clinic. I was not warned until I got to the doctors office that it would cost me just under $2,000. I asked the referring ophthalmologist why I was charged so much. She said I could have asked to waive the fees. But I was not offered that by the doctor who performed the cataract surgery. Last week, a man in Southwestern Ontario told me he has to pay for laser cataract surgery because it isnt covered by OHIP. (It is.) When Premier Doug Ford announced plans to expand private clinics, he promised patients would never have to pay with their credit card. Yet, existing private clinics in Ontario, already force or manipulate patients into paying outrageous extra costs. And the clinics are extra-billing with impunity. The Ford government used its majority to pass Bill 60 earlier this month. This new law expressly enables the transfer of surgeries and diagnostics from public hospitals to for-profit clinics. It puts foundational principles of our public health system that people get care based on need, not wealth in real and urgent danger. Patients need to know two things: First, patients have a Bill of Rights under the Canada Health Act. If youre covered by OHIP, all medically necessary hospital and physician services including cataract surgeries, colonoscopies and MRIs must be provided without extra user charges, whether in a public hospital or private clinic. To be clear: No amount can be charged to a patient for medically necessary lenses and eye tests, nor for the premises, equipment or personnel. Second, private clinics generate profit from upselling to patients pushing a dizzying array of add-ons that are medically unnecessary. Bill 60 does not ban this practice. Shockingly, it actually invites the new private clinics to lay out their plans for upselling to the government. If they are not stopped, can anyone doubt its only a matter of time until were being manipulated into paying thousands of dollars for extra-special joint replacements and more? What is most appalling is that this privatization puts our public health care at risk for no reason. We categorically do not need private clinics to cut surgical wait times. Virtually every public hospital has operating rooms that are closed evenings, overnight and on weekends. They should be funded and staffed to open to full capacity to clear backlogs. Lest anyone believe we cant afford it, Ontario funds its hospitals at the lowest rate in Canada. Our public hospitals have been developed over a hundred years. Communities built hospitals to care for victims of the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-20. Veterans memorial hospitals were built after the world wars. Over generations, Ontarians volunteered, fundraised and built our hospitals. They are ours: our public assets, our inheritance, our legacy. With no democratic mandate whatsoever, sixty-eight MPPs voted to pass Bill 60, privatizing the core of our public hospitals. In response, the Ontario Health Coalition is organizing a massive volunteer-run referendum. More than 150,000 people have already voted online and in advance polls. Community votes across Ontario will be held outside local businesses and public spaces on Friday and Saturday. When governments take away our democracy and threaten what is ours, we have to find ways to empower people to have their voices heard. And, if we speak in large enough numbers, the Ford government will ultimately have to listen. Natalie Mehra is executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition Read more about: SHARE: Special adviser David Johnston says a full-scale public inquiry into attempts to subvert Canadian democracy would serve no purpose. Hes mostly right. A public inquiry might go over well with members of the chattering classes. But as a strategy for dealing with real threats to Canadian democracy it simply wouldnt work well. The logic is brutally straightforward. An inquiry into national security must rely on information that to all intents and purposes is secret and because such information is secret it cannot be revealed publicly. The result would be to lock any serious judicial inquiry into a classic Catch-22 situation. You cannot talk openly about secret information before such an inquiry. But at the same time you cannot ignore it. Johnstons solution appears to rely for oversight on existing parliamentary committees that are made up of parliamentarians with security clearance. The opposition Conservatives say this isnt enough and want more. Its not clear, however, how much more Pierre Poilievres party will demand. It seems they will not be satisfied until the Liberals ditch Johnston and his recommendations completely. Poilievre will not accept anything less than full capitulation. This is unfortunate since much of Johnstons report is useful. His section on media, for instance is worth reading. Much of the controversy whipped up over the last few weeks is the result of information leaked to media. Johnston makes the valid point that these leaks are too often taken out of context. In one case, Johnston says, one media outlet published information about a leaked document that was patently false. All and all, Johnstons report will do us all a favour if it encourages media to be more careful when reporting on attacks against Canadian democracy. Some of the so-called leaks reported in the press make no sense when examined more carefully. Others, such as the threats allegedly levelled by the Chinese government against the family of Conservative MP Michael Chong, have proven more complicated under scrutiny than they initially seemed. Only upon seeing the full picture with the benefit of all relevant information can one conclude that much of reported intelligence has been misconstrued in media reports, Johnston wrote. In general terms, it is possible to construct a scenario where a committee of inquiry was formed to examine threats against democracy. As lawyer Paul Cavalluzzo pointed out on CBC this week, the years-long inquiry into political prisoner Maher Arar was an example of a judicial inquirys ability to exist under conditions of extreme secrecy. Theoretically, a similarly broad inquiry could be held under Johnston. But it would be expensive and a lot of work. Im not sure it would be worth it. SHARE: Ontario passes health-reform bill that expands private delivery of care, May 8 With the passage by the Ford government of Bill 60, Your Health Act, Ontario voters should be concerned and alarmed. It is not our health act at all: far from it. The door has been opened for the Americanization of our health care system: privatization for profit, not for people. The Ford governments hospitalization privatization plan is a take away from our local community public hospitals, especially rural. Because of consistent underfunding estimated at $1.25 billion we are now seeing the closures of ERs and under use surgery rooms across Ontario. Wait times are of course longer, and our caring heath staff are overworked, tired and burned out. Many are leaving. It is shocking most people dont seem to care that our cherished health care system is under attack: it is indeed bleeding. It is unfortunate voters in Ontario dont seem to realize this government had the support of only 18 per cent of eligible voters in last Junes election. It begs the question of legitimacy and honesty since 82 per cent of eligible voters did not support this government. The scope of this privatization policy was not mentioned in the run up to last Junes election. If the Ford government was forthright, they would follow the lead of the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) which is now holding a province-wide citizen referendum this month with a simple straightforward question: Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics? Yes or no. This should not be a partisan issue: it is too important. I ask Premer Ford to do the right and honourable thing: delay the implementation of this U.S.-style health care takeover and hold your own provincial referendum. Let 100 per cent of Ontarians have a say about this major health care shift. Patrick J Mullin, Owen Sound SHARE: A great many people are glad that U.S. President Joe Biden has finally agreed that Ukraine can be supplied with modern Western aircraft specifically F-16s but they are still cross about his procrastination and worried that he has waited too long. From Ukraines point of view, they have a case. Ukraines dwindling fleet of elderly ex-Soviet combat aircraft cannot provide adequate air support to the countrys long-awaited counteroffensive this summer. They are too few and too old to survive against the full array of Russian anti-aircraft missiles and the much larger numbers of Russian fighters. The F-16s would change that narrative. They, too, are old (first operational squadron 1980), but their electronics have been continuously updated and in practice they are a full generation ahead of the Russian fighters they would confront. In air combat, that usually means grotesquely lopsided kill ratios in favour of the aircraft with the better electronics. However, the White House is talking of a minimum of three to six months to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16, and it is still being coy about how many F-16s will actually be handed over to the Ukrainians and when. Whereas the Ukrainian counteroffensive has to happen in the next four months, or else it risks being slowed to a halt by the autumn rains. Was Joe Biden unaware of this? Of course not. Its just that he has his own list of priorities, and Ukraine comes third. Priority One is not blundering into a nuclear war. Biden has been in active politics through most of the Cold War era, and he remembers that avoiding direct fighting between the United States and the Soviet Union was quite literally an existential issue. That is why the president has been so cautious in upgrading the categories of weapons he and his NATO allies provide to Ukraine. The pattern has been that he lets Ukraine have some kind of NATO weapons system (American howitzers with longer ranges, say), and then wait for the Russian reaction. The Russians threaten bloody murder, draw a new red line NATO must never cross, and hint at nuclear weapons use. But they dont actually do anything. So after a couple of months Biden moves onto the next category of NATO weapons the Himars rocket launchers, in this example and waits again. And so on, through half a dozen rounds. We have arrived at combat aircraft, the last item on Bidens list, so now the time pressure moves to the other side. Bidens second priority, obviously, is being re-elected to the presidency 18 months from now. For that, he needs a convincing Ukrainian victory and a satisfactory end to the war within the next fifteen months. Biden would be offering an open goal to Donald Trump (or some other Republican rabble-rouser, if Trump is in jail by then) if the war in Ukraine is still raging in November 2024. He has to get it finished before that, so the Ukrainians will soon get their F-16s. Its been the same balancing act right from the start. Biden is obviously cutting it very fine, but has he actually miscalculated? We shall find out in the next few months, but he may have a card up his sleeve. It might not really be three to six months before the Ukrainians have operational F-16s. There is reason to believe that some Ukrainian pilots have already been trained on fourth-generation fighters (not necessarily F-16s) by friendly European countries, though not by the United States. . A decisive Ukrainian military victory, Bidens third priority, is still far from guaranteed, but Ukrainian air superiority over the front, at least, may be within reach. Read more about: SHARE: The German military has ordered 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles that were sent to Ukraine earlier this year, a leading defense company said Friday. Kraus-Maffei Wegmann said a contract for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was signed with the federal office for military equipment. It didn't give financial details, but the German parliament's budget committee on Wednesday approved funding of some 525 million euros ($563 million). The company said that delivery of the new tanks is scheduled to start in 2025, and that the deal includes options for another 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks. Kraus-Maffei Wegmann also will produce 12 new self-propelled howitzers for the German military as part of an option agreed to in March, the company said. Germanys defense minister pushed for new tanks to be acquired as quickly as possible after the government agreed in late January to provide 14 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks to Ukraine. That number was increased a few weeks later to 18 as Berlin and others scrambled to assemble two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks for Kyiv. Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands also have agreed to provide Ukraine with refurbished Leopard 1 tanks, an older model that the German military hasn't used for two decades. Search Keywords: Short link: The world has been more used to reports on the human rights situation in various developing countries coming from developed countries, so many people were surprised to see a report on the human rights record of the USA released recently by China at an official level ( The Report on Human Rights Violations in the USA in 2022 The State Council Information Office, The Peoples Republic of China). This report is mostly a compilation of information and statistics from a wide range of sources covering only the adverse aspects of US society and policy, with hardly any space for analysis of data or for any positive aspects. Most of the studies and sources cited are those from within the USA. The scholars who made these studies may have a different interpretation of their studies than the one made in this compilation which has been mainly to put all the adverse information at one place. One aspect that the Chinese study should have considered is that these critical reports and studies had been generated from within American society with the objective of some corrective actions being taken. Those who made these studies were able to publish their results in relatively free conditions and have been able to continue their work over a long period of time. To give an example, the Brown University study on the USAs War Against Terror of about two decades has been quoted in the Chinese study. However it should also be appreciated that such a study could be conducted openly within the American system and the researchers could continue their work over a long period of time, with their work being widely quoted within and outside the country. Such studies can be important calls for corrective action. A question for the Chinese government is can equally critical studies of Chinese government policy and systems be made within China over a long period of time? For example, while the US system has space for highly critical reports on the War on Terror to be prepared and widely circulated within the country, will the Chinese system allow for an equally critical report on the devastation caused to the people and culture of Tibet over a period of more than six decades, or will it allow for a free appraisal of the impact of the Chinese governments support for many authoritarian regimes over the years, or will it allow adequate (or even inadequate) space for those who may like to campaign for a less aggressive, more persuasive pursuit of the One China policy in keeping with wider considerations of democracy and peace? Coming to the USA, without doubt its human rights record has much to worry about, internally as well as externally, and enough evidence of this is available in the form of documentation done in careful ways within the country. While the corrective mechanisms within American democracy sometimes succeed in making good contributions for internal reform, these mechanisms do not appear to be very effective in correcting external human rights violations, as was seen in the course of the War on Terror. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the USA remains a source of hope for several victims of human rights abuses carried out by authoritarian regimes in several parts of the world. This hope comes not just from US government agencies but even more from independent human rights organisations in the USA. The American government has from time to time imposed certain costs on human rights violators which are likely to have been helpful for victims and potential victims of human rights abuses in several parts of the world. However such policies are likely to be more useful if these are not influenced by narrow interests. In reality, the USA has often been selective in targeting countries hostile to it with excessive allegations of human rights violations, while going soft on the human rights record of friendly authoritarian regimes. In fact, its attitude towards violations by the same country may change significantly depending on whether it is in a friendly or hostile phase of relationship. Human rights policies and regulations of the American government have not come in the way of sending massive aid to some of the worst dictators, military aid and weapons included. On the other hand, the policy pursued by China and Russia of more or less ignoring human rights issues in the name of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries is no less harmful. A highly authoritarian regime like that of Myanmar today is facilitated in its crushing of democratic protest by the support that comes from China. Clearly both the USA and China need to look more critically at their internal human rights record as well as reform their external policies in the context of human rights. (The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril and A Day in 2071.) The revelation that his nephews were selling Bengals rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islams fame for money over the years by using the official seals and letterheads of a governmentowned body, without permission, has shocked state ministers, senior administrators of the Kazi Nazrul University (KNU) here, as well as the poets direct descendants who now live in Kolkata and Dhaka. State law minister Moloy Ghatak said, This is a misdemeanour and the offenders need to be penalised. Ill ask the KNU authorities to initiate legal steps against such miscreants. Dr Somnath Mukherjee, deputy director, KNUs research centre said, After the Nazrul Mela is over on Sunday, the university will initiate proper actions against the ousted general secretary of the Churulia Nazrul Academy (CNA) as weve collected evidence of some financial irregularities against him as hed remained a habitual offender in using the poets name and fame for his personal and familys gain in an unauthorized way. Kazi Rezaul Karim, the general secretary of the CNA, was removed after the academy was acquired by the KNU, but continued to issue letters seeking financial assistance from traders and industrialists. What weve gathered, hes minted several lakhs of rupees this way, said a KNU official. Im shocked to learn that Rezaul uncle is still doing such a nuisance. I condemn his acts as its already maligned the dignity of my grandfather, said Arindam Kazi, poets direct descendant and grandson. Rezaul, once a country liquor retailer and owner of a transport company, however helped his two sons, Supriyo Kazi and Shanto Kazi to manage berths at the newly-constituted KNU as office staff. In his letters to the entrepreneurs seeking financial assistance, Rezaul mentioned his identity as by birth, nephew of Kazi Nazrul Islam Two officials of the Excise and Taxation Department landed in the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) net for seeking Rs 15,000 as bride for not cancelling the Goods and Services Tax (GST) number allotted to a firm. The accused have been identified as Vikram, an Inspector, and Vinay, a data entry operator with the Excise and Taxation Department, Faridabad. Sharing the information on Friday, a spokesperson said a complaint in the case was filed by one, Parvinder Singh, a resident of sector 55, Faridabad. The complainant alleged that Vikram and Vinay were demanding Rs 15,000 in exchange for not canceling the Goods and Services Tax (GST) number of his firm. After verifying the allegation, the ACB conducted a raid, catching data entry operators red-handed accepting the bribe of Rs 15,000 on the inspectors behalf. Both accused have been arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. A case has been registered against them at the ACB Police Station in Faridabad. The investigation is currently ongoing to gather further information for their involvement in corrupt activities, the spokesperson said. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he has sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi for their support in Parliament against the Centres ordinance giving control of services back to the Delhi lieutenant governor. In a tweet, Kejriwal said, Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation. On Thursday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had offered his support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the matter. Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann had met Pawar in Mumbai to seek NCPs support against the Centres ordinance on control of administrative services in the National Capital. Earlier, Kejriwal and Mann had met former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday and also secured the Shiv Sena-UBTs support on the matter. 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. Delhis architectural identity, the circular Parliament House, will cease to function as the venue for Parliament of India after the new building for Parliament is opened on 28 May. The iconic Parliament House, with a circumference of one-third of a mile and a colonnade of 144 columns on the first floor, saw the First Day of the First Session of the First Parliament of India on 13th May, 1952. The four-day first week of the session, beginning Tuesday, saw oath-taking by members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. President Rajendra Prasad delivered his first address to a joint sitting of Parliament on Friday, the 16th May. Before the Presidential address, there were felicitations for Lok Sabhas first Speaker G V Mavalankar on the 15th May. When the two Houses met after the Presidential address the next day, the Rajya Sabhas first Chairman S Radhakrishnan was felicitated. After the address, the Lok Sabha saw rejection of the first three adjournment motions sought by members on food subsidies. On the first day, the Lok Sabha met at a Quarter to Eleven of the Clock. The proceedings began with observance of silence for two minutes. After this, the Secretary of the House, M N Kaul, read out orders of the President to appoint G V Mavalankar and M Ananthasayanam Ayyangar to be the persons before whom the members could subscribe to their oath. On Thursday, the 15th May, the Secretary read out the Presidents order appointing another member of the House, B Das, to perform the duties of the Speaker, till the election of the Speaker during the day. The Prime Minister moved G V Mavalankars name for the Speakers post and it was seconded by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Satya Narayan Sinha. A K Gopalan moved the name of Shankar Shantaram More for the Speakers post and it was seconded by T K Chaudhuri. In the contest that followed, Mavalankar won by getting 394 votes against Mores 55 votes. Mavalankar was conducted to the Chair by the Prime Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and A K Gopalan. The Prime Minister said Sir, It is a very high honour for any person to be, as Speaker, the head of this great Parliament and if I may say so, it is an honour and a privilege for us in the House to have you in that Chair. S S More (Sholapur) said Sir, I congratulate you. I am the defeated candidate and yet none is happier on your election than myself. In the best traditions of Parliament, a gracious custom prevails by which where two candidates are proposed for the Speakership, each candidate votes for the other candidate. l have observed that custom by voting for you. A K Gopalan said Mr Speaker, on behalf of the hon. Members belonging to the Communist Party, the single largest party in this Parliament on this side, I heartily greet you and congratulate you on this occasion because you have been elected as the Speaker. Replying to the felicitations, the Speaker said this House is different from its predecessors. Uptill now, whatever our ideologies and notions of public welfare and the functions of Government, we were all engaged in dislodging the foreign rule in our land; we have been successful in achieving independence, and we are now masters of our own destinies. But the very fact of the end of the foreign rule has brought to the forefront, the vast differences in ideologies; and though our objective is common, as defined in the Constitution, we differ widely and sharply as regards the ways and means. This is but natural, and in a sense necessary also, for any parliamentary Government to function properly and for the real benefit of the people, he said. He said At the same time, each one of us has to remember that, howsoever great the difference in viewpoints and methods, we are all meeting here, as representatives of the nation, for one common cause, which is, in the language of the Preamble to the Constitution,to secure to all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. A parliamentary Government is described as Government by discussion. Every Member has the fullest liberty to express his own views, remembering that every other Member has the same liberty, he said. Replying to felicitations, the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Radhakrishnan said A democracy is distinguished by the protection it gives to minorities. A democracy is likely to degenerate into tyranny if it does not allow the opposition groups to criticise fairly, freely and frankly the policies of the Government. He said But at the same time minorities also have their responsibilities. While they have every right to criticise, their right of criticism should not degenerate into wilful hampering and obstruction of the work of Parliament. All groups, therefore, have their rights, and have their responsibilities. The two Houses of Parliament met separately after a short interval after the Presidents address. In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker said he had received three notices of three differently worded adjournment motions, two from K Subrahmanyam and one from A K Gopalan. They dealt with the question of food subsidies. The Speaker said The position is that so far as the importance of the matter is concerned, so far as the definiteness of the motions are concerned and so far as the urgency of the matter is concerned, I am in full agreement with the hon. Members, but the right to move adjournment motions has certain limitations. One of the limitations is that it should not anticipate a debate in the House. The Speaker said there will be a motion of thanks coming from the Government side in respect of the Presidents Address, and the members could move amendments and bring up the subject they wanted to raise in the House. Therefore, I do not think I should give my consent to these adjournment motions. The Gajraj Corps of the Indian Army as part of Operation SADBHAVANA has been undertaking a variety of projects in underdeveloped areas of Assam with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance to the less privileged, stated an official release. To empower visually challenged children living in remote areas of Assam, Gajraj Corps has helped with the construction of a school at village Khatkati in district East Karbi Anglong in a phased manner. In the year 2021, Phase I of the project was executed by constructing the blind school building. This year, the Indian Army as part of Phase II of the project has constructed another building which caters for additional classrooms and administrative setup towards enhancing the overall functionalities, stated an official release. The school was eventually dedicated to the nation and handed over to Madhumita Bhagwati, DC, East Karbi Anglong by the Indian Army in the presence of civil administration and the local populace, it said. Citizens from nearby villages gathered in large numbers on the occasion and conveyed their appreciation to the Indian Army for the construction of the school building. Which was done after taking local aspirations into consideration, it further said. Gaon Bura of Khatkati Village Babu Bongong and President United International Mission Christopher Prince Fernandes thanked the Army besides lauding the efforts made by it towards the onerous task of guarding the borders as well as undertaking efforts to mitigate the sufferings of people and improving quality of life of the deprived and physically challenged children of North East states of the country. The Telangana BJP on Friday gave Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao the tag of bunking master for once again skipping the meeting of Niti Aayog slated for tomorrow at the national capital. In the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, however, flew to New Delhi right after completing his official programme of distributing more than 50,000 house pattas in Amaravati among poor women. He is expected to stay back and participate in the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. Reddy, who managed to secure Rs 10,460 crore as revenue deficit compensation for 2014-15 again met the Union finance minister today before Niti Aayogs meeting tomorrow. Meanwhile, BJPs state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar came up with a list of past programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi abstained by KCR. Absent at Niti Aayog meeting, prime ministers programmes, Presidents dinner, Republic Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan, Southern Zonal council meeting, he tweeted. Stating that Rao does not even care to meet the common man, Bandi Sanjay went on to add, KCR always disregards the federal structure, repeatedly insults Dr BR Ambedkars Constitution and fails to work in the interest of people. It may be noted here that Rao had boycotted the Niti Aayog meeting held last year on the grounds that the Centre was being dictatorial, burdening states with undesirable schemes. He had announced Under serious protest I am boycotting the Niti Aayog. Although the chief ministers office did not issue any statement in this matter, Rao apparently will be meeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvin Kejriwal tomorrow. The Telangana chief minister also seems to be busy chalking out programmes and preparing for the 21-day long celebrations of Telangana Formation Day as the state completed its ninth year of statehood. Although Rao remained silent on the issue, BRS spokesperson responded to Bandi Sanjays tweet dismissing the Niti Ayog meeting as nothing more than a photo-op for the prime minister. Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, Forum for Good Governance urged the chief minister to attend the meeting of the Niti Aayog pointing out that this does not augur well for the people of Telangana. The state government may be having differences with the Union government, but one of the forums to address the grievance is the Niti Aayog. Continuously boycotting the Niti Aayog will not augur well for the people of Telangana. The civil society has a reason to believe that personal ego was overtaking the interests of the state, said the forum in its letter to the chief minister. Kochi city police commissioner has, on Thursday, claimed that drug addiction was growing in Kerala and the children of police officers are not immune from the menace. Speaking at a meeting organised by the Kerala Police Officers Association (KPOA) at Angamaly near Kochi, Police Commissioner K Sethuraman said drug use is rampant among the youth in the state. Narrating a shocking case, he recounted how the family of a superintendent of police (SP) was pushed into a crisis as both his sons became drug addicts. Sethuraman asked police personnel to keep a strict vigil on the drug menace and find out why this is happening even in the police quarters. While we are part of the police community, we have no clue why and how our children are falling prey to drugs. Police officials should find a way out of this menace, he said. There are instances where children of policemen of all ranks are addicted to drugs. Two sons of SP are addicted to drugs. The family itself is in trouble. This needs to be taken very seriously, the Kochi City police commissioner said. He cited an incident where the son of a police officer was killed in Thiruvananthapuram. He turned out to be a drug addict. He said while the use of cannabis and MDAA is increasing in Kerala, the silver lining is that the states average drug use is still way below the national figure. The national average of people using some form of drugs is 2.5 per cent whereas it is only 1.2 per cent in Kerala. However, the rate is likely to rise fast, Sethuraman said. Egyptian diplomat Mona Omar argues for the need to boost Egypts relations with the African continent on every level in an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly. Military confrontations in any place in the world leading to the deterioration of living standards and the deaths of civilians are a major concern for any country, Mona Omar, former assistant foreign minister for African affairs and African Union affairs and former presidential envoy to the African Union (AU) told Al-Ahram Weekly in an interview this week. During her visit to Sudan less than a year ago, she saw that much of the countrys infrastructure was in a bad state. After the recent fighting, she added, it is now dilapidated. Main services are not available, and there is no water and no electricity, and there is a shortage of food. Omar was referring to the conflict that started in April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) loyal to Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who follow Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Local people have been forced to leave to neighbouring countries including Egypt, she said. Over one million people have been displaced within Sudan and to neighbouring countries according to UNHCR. Some Sudanese have been forced to leave for Chad, a country that is already suffering from pressing economic problems as well as previous border disputes with Sudan and fighting among tribes from both states. Hemedti was at some point accused of attempting a coup against the present Chadian president. Thus, there are also vendetta feelings between the two countries, Omar said. Chad has sent the refugees to a remote area out of fears that they may interfere in the domestic affairs of the country. Thus, Omar added, Sudanese refugees in Chad are not only suffering from leaving their own country, but also from going to a place where they are not welcome. As for South Sudan, another neighbouring country forced to receive Sudanese refugees, Omar said it is also suffering from pressing economic problems and in no need of further burdens. In Ethiopia, she elaborated, the fighting has provided an opportunity for the country to consider claiming part of the border areas that were the subject of disputes with Sudan less than three years ago. In Egypt, there are between four and five million Sudanese refugees, a sizeable number considering that Egypt is already densely populated. Any more refugees are likely to present further burdens on Egypt, either on food supplies, services, education or job opportunities, Omar said. Almost 110,000 Sudanese refugees entered Egypt, said UNHCR spokesperson on May 19. Sudan has long been suffering from divisions and the presence of militias in various areas in the country including Darfur and Kordofan, Omar said. If the present conflict is extended to involve other militia, this could ignite a war across the country, she added. Omar said that there are signs that the Wagner Group of Kremlin-backed mercenary forces that are already in control in the Central African Republic are involved behind the scenes in the latest fighting in Sudan. She warned that the presence of external parties is very likely to widen the circle of the internal conflict, a fact that poses a real danger for Sudan. The situation in Sudan will also impact on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is not only a complicated but also a suspended issue. There are no negotiations and no developments on the ground to give us a glimmer of hope of a breakthrough on this matter, Omar said. The statements issued now and then by Egyptian and Sudanese officials on rejecting Ethiopias unilateral acts in building the GERD have not stopped Ethiopia and will not stop it, she added. Omar said that the issue started in January 2011 when the Egyptian government was only able to focus on internal problems. Addis Ababa then took the opportunity to initiate the GERD project. The post-Omar Al-Bashir regime in Sudan has showed some understanding of the dangers that building the GERD presents to Khartoum. Sudans stand has undergone some changes, but at least it has been mostly unbiased if not supportive of Egypt, she said. If Sudans stand remains neutral, Egypt will be capable of dealing with the issue, she said, pointing to Cairos efforts in the last three years to raise the issue on the bilateral, regional, and international levels and referring it more than once to the UN Security Council. However, after the latest fighting in Sudan, Omar expressed her expectation that there will be indifference in Sudan to the issue as the priority now is internal affairs. This will have an impact on Egypts stand on the GERD, she added. When Egypt senses that its water security is jeopardised or the Egyptian citizens are facing danger from the GERD, it will not hesitate to act, she said. DIALOGUE Omar is also taking part in Egypts National Dialogue, launched by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in 2022. The aim is to bring together stakeholders to discuss the priorities of national action, and the sessions of the dialogue began this month. Omar said she was happy that the dialogue is underway because it gives room for discussing issues that had been taboo in the past, like governance and how to activate the role of political parties. It provides room for various parties to express themselves, she said. However, she said that for the National Dialogue to achieve its promise, there must be proper skills among those who run it. It could be hollow talk that achieves nothing, or it could be run in a systematic way through which every issue is highlighted, discussed, conclusions reached and submitted to the government, she said. Omar regarded the fact that issues like Egypts foreign policy and national security will not be included in the dialogue as a negative point. The government needs to listen to the viewpoints of the participants in the dialogue, who are influential figures in their fields, she said. During her career as a diplomat, Omar focused on Africa because she is convinced that the most important continent to Egypt are the African countries. President Al-Sisi is interested in improving Egypts relations with Africa, she said, and he has paid special attention to the African countries, especially during Egypts chairmanship of the AU in 2019. Under former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Egypt played a historical role in supporting the African liberation movements in their struggle against colonisation. Late president Hosni Mubarak was interested in the African continent at the beginning of his rule, until the assassination attempt against him in 1995, she said. During the 1980s, Egypt managed through the Egyptian Fund for Technical Support in Africa (EFTCA), established in 1980, to dispatch some 7,000 to 8,000 Egyptian experts in various disciplines to different place throughout the continent. Their mission was to transfer their expertise to the African countries, However, Egyptians should know more and belong more to the continent, Omar said. Various African countries have taken sizeable leaps in various fields including education, economy and democracy, she elaborated. Rwanda is one of the best examples, she added, saying that she had worked there after the massacres in the 1990s. Today, thanks to the vision of the countrys people and rulers, Rwanda is the first state in representing women in parliament in the world, with participation reaching 66 per cent. Egyptians should also know that Africa is part of Egypts national security and food security and that Egypt relies on the support of the African states whenever it applies for an international post or membership in an international organisation, she said. Omar pointed to the importance of Egypts cultural presence in Africa. There should be continuous communication on the cultural and popular level, among political parties, young people, women, civil society organisations and the like, she said. She remembers the incident when Egypts membership of the AU was suspended in 2013 and she was dispatched to correct the misinterpretations in Africa about Egypts 30 June Revolution. Had we had an active media that was present in the African states, we would not have had to explain to the AU and African presidents the truth about what happened, she said. We are exerting great efforts on the political and diplomatic levels, but unless these are accompanied by similar efforts on the other levels they will not be useful. WOMEN As a member of the board of the National Council of Women (NCW), Omar said that this has taken huge leaps to advance the status of women over the last few years, starting from the number of articles in the constitution that support womens rights to dedicating a year for women in 2017 to the strategies prepared to empower women and the capacity-building programmes that are present in all the governorates. The NCW has issued laws further punishing female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual harassment. However, more important is the appreciation that the President has given to women whose role is acknowledged on every occasion, she said. Egypt is the first Arab country to have prepared a strategy to combat violence against women, she noted. Omars mission to empower women is not only through the NCW, but also through her role in various NGOs, including Women of the Nile, an NGO that she established in Egypt and that aims to include women from the different Nile Basin countries to establish cultural links and act as a pressure group on decision-makers. The January 2011 Revolution hampered the project, but there are plans to revive it with Minister of Planning Hala Al-Said, Omar said. She is also a member of Salema, another NGO that aims to combat violence against women. Omar is also a member of organisations that work to improve the conditions of African citizens, including the UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent. She heads to New York late this month where she will attend a second meeting. Traditionally, they used to focus on black people who live in the Caribbean and Latin America. However, I believe that that the issue of discrimination should be extended to our continent, she said. As an Egyptian of African descent, I may be subjected to discrimination because of my nationality, colour, or beliefs, Omar said, arguing strongly for the issuing of a declaration protesting against this. Finally, Omar is also a member of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a group of experts that follows the development of policies in African countries in terms of democracy, human rights, and good governance, and produces a report to be discussed with the leader of each state. The group casts light on best practices in each country and urges others to follow suit. * A version of this article appears in print in the 25 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: 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 Gandhis 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 NRIs 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 Gandhis 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. The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail of six weeks to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds amid fierce opposition from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which alleged that the that medical papers being relied upon for the bail issued by the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash and the G B Pant Hospitals could have been fudged. Brushing aside the EDs objections to the veracity of the medical papers produced by Satyendar Jain and insisting that he be sent for independent examination by AIIMS or RML Hospital, a vacation bench comprising Justice J K Maheshwari and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha directed that Jain will take treatment from a private hospital of his choice and place before the court all the medical papers relating to his treatment during the period of interim bail. Ordering the release of Satyendar Jain on the condition to be imposed by the trial court, the top court said that during the period of bail he will not try to meet or influence the witnesses or leave the NCT Delhi without the permission of the court. On the request of the Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, the court asked Jain not to meet or speak to the media on any issue. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that Satyendar Jain was suffering from Vertebral spinal problem and had lost 30 kg of weight during his incarceration. Singhvi said that Jain has good grounds to seek bail on the merits but for now he was seeking interim bail on medical conditions. Apprising the court that Jain has lost weight because being a Jain he was not eating Tihar Jail food, ASG Raju, alleging that the medical papers being relied upon by Jain were issued by the doctors of LNJ and GB Pant Hospitals could have been fudged, said that he was Health and Prisons Minister in Delhi government and exercised influence there. ASG Raju said that Jains medical papers could be accepted not just with a pinch of salt but with a large volume of salt. He questioned as to why Jain was shying away from an independent examination by the doctors from AIIMS or the RML Hospital. He said that ED was not opposed to his plea for bail on medical grounds, if the medical conditions cited by Jain are confirmed by the AIIMS or RML Hospital. Jain, being investigated by ED for alleged money laundering, has approached the top court challenging April 6 Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail plea. He is facing prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Special PMLA court had on November 17, 2022, dismissed his bail plea. Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, and charged under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by Enforcement Directorate and is presently in Judicial Custody. The ED case is based on a CBIs complaint alleging 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 golden Sengol, which was kept in Allahabad Museum has been moved to the national capital ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. Notably, Sengol, which marked the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India, will be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. The Curator of the Allahabad Museum, Waman Wankhede told ANI that the whole collection of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has been kept in Allahabad Museum and the historic Sengol was transferred to the National Museum last year. The Curator of the Allahabad Museum, Waman Wankhede told ANI, The foundation stone of this museum was also laid by former PM Nehru. He donated more than 1200 materials to Allahabad Museum, under then-curator SC Kala. Nehru wanted his whole collection to be kept here only. Along with all the things, this golden stick was also kept in the collection. It (Sengol) is a 162 cm long stick with gold polish. It was transferred to the national museum on November 4, 2022, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting the PM with the Sengol. The same Sengol from 1947 will be installed by the Prime Minister 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. As many as 12 people were killed while 40 others were injured, many of them admitted to a number of government hospitals, in the Tonk district of Rajasthan when squalls triggered by a Western Disturbance and upper air cyclonic system swept through parts of the state. The squalls coupled with high velocity winds and hailstorm damaged scores of thatched roofs, uprooted trees and electric poles in Rajasthans Tonk district alone in the last 24 hours. Among the casualties, three each took place in Newai and Tonk, two each in Devali and Malpura, and one each in Uniara and Todarai Singh, an official of the State Disaster Management Relief and Civil Defense Department told The Statesman when contacted. Sachin Pilot, Tonk MLA, demanded an ex gratia for next of kin of the deceased from the state government, and medical care for the injured immediately. Meanwhile, the state government has directed district collectors to conduct a survey on the present calamity and provide an ex-gratia of Rs. 4 lakh to each of the kin of the deceased. Last night, thunderstorms with a velocity of 96 kmp were recorded at the Jaipur Airport and the temperature plummeted by 12 degree C. Jaipuriites woke up to a cold breeze this morning amidst drizzle. Erratic power cuts and water supply were also affecting normal life in the state capital since last night. At least, 15 districts of the state are in the grip of squalls accompanied with dust storms, hail, and heavy rains affecting normal life and traffic movement since yesterday. The state Meteorology Centre here has issued Yellow alert in Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Bundi, Kota and nearby cities during night today. The Weather Department predicted a fresh round of Western Disturbance causing squalls in parts of Rajasthan from May 28 for two days at least. One child was killed and as many as 28 people were left injured after a bus and a truck collided in Uttar Pradeshs Noida. Gautam Buddha Nagar Police told the mediapersons that one child has been killed while 28 people are injured in the accident. The incident happened at the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, near the village Ladpura area, under the Kasna police station. As per the police, the deceased has been identified as Aashish (11) and his body has been sent for post-mortem. All the injured people are being treated at the hospital and further investigation is underway, the police said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep grief over the incident and expressed condolences to the deceased and his bereaved family members. He has also directed the officials of the district administration to ensure proper treatment of the victims and wished speedy recovery for them. The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Telangana High Court order directing the release of T. Gangi Reddy accused in Y S Vivekananda Reddy murder case who now will continue to remain in judicial custody even beyond June 30. The The Telangana High Court by its April 27 order had on a plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ordered Gangi Reddy to surrender on or before May 5, 2023, upon which he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, which was the outer limit fixed by the top court for the completion of investigation by the CBI. However, the high court by the same order had directed the Principal Special Judge holding trial in the case to enlarge Gangi Reddy on bail on July 1, 2023 on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000 with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the Court. Vivekanand Reddy was uncle of present Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and brother of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Putting on hold the later part of the order on the release of Gangi Reddy alias Yerra Gangi Reddy, a vacation bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha clarified that the accused will continue to remain in judicial custody even after June 30. As senior advocate Sidharth Luthra appearing for the petitioner Suneetha Narreddy pointed out that the High Court had ordered Gangi Reddy to be remanded to judicial custody till June 30 and urged the court to clarify that custody is not limited to June 30, the bench said that once the later part of the order directing the Principal Special Judge to enlarge Gangi Reddy on bail on July 1, 2023, is stayed then nothing more needs to be said. Having stayed the order relating to the release of Gangi Reddy, the bench noted that the investigating agency has to file its response to Gangi Reddys plea challenging the cancellation of his bail and remanding him to judicial custody at the plea of the CBI. The court was informed that Gangi Reddy is alre4ady in judicial custody. The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 14. On April 27, 2023, the Telangana High Court had allowed the CBIs plea for the cancellation of bail to Gangi Reddy. The High Court ordered Gangi Reddy to surrender on or before May 5 2023, upon which he shall be remanded to judicial custody till June 30, which is the outer limit fixed by the top court for the completion of investigation by CBI. However, the high court at the same time had directed the CBI court Principal Special Judge to enlarge Gangi Reddy on bail on July 1, 2023 on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000 with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the Court. Challenging the Telangana High Court order, petitioner Suneetha Narreddy had said that the high court order is neither legally justifiable, nor in accordance with the law, particularly the direction giving a pre-fixed and a predetermined date for the release of the accused on bail. The CBI took over the investigation in July 2020 on the orders of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. The case was earlier registered at Police Station Pulivendula in Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh). Late Vivekanand Reddy had represented Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency. A month before the general elections in 2019, Vivekananda Reddy, a former MP, was found murdered at his residence at Pulivendula on March 15, 2019. The central probe agency further submitted that there is a need to interrogate Avinash Reddy in police custody since he did not cooperate during the investigation. There were inconsistencies in his account and he was not forthcoming about the larger conspiracy, and the IPDR analysis of his phone showed he was active on WhatsApp and voice calls just before the murder. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy today is in New Delhi to attend the meeting of NITI Aayog and inauguration of the new Parliament Building. It may be mentioned that initially it was reported that Vivekananda Reddy died of a heart attack and attempts were made to compromise the crime scene by washing off blood stains. Mentioning the Chief Minister Reddy in its affidavit, the CBI stated: It is submitted that further investigation in the larger conspiracy aspect revealed that Shri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the present chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, had been informed about the death of Shri YS Vivekananda Reddy in the early hours of 15-03-2019, much before the information about the death of Shri YS Vivekananda Reddy broke out by MV Krishna Reddy at around 6:15 am on 15-03-2019. It further submitted that since YS Avinash Reddy was active before and after the commission of murder, his role in the death of YS Vivekananda Reddy was to be investigated. While the CBI arrested YS Avinash Reddys father YS Bhaskar Reddy, the Kadapa MP evaded the probe agencys summons on 16 and 19 May, the last time citing his mothers illness. Today he accompanied his mother to Hyderabad who was admitted to a private hospital. YS Bhaskar Reddy who is in judicial remand was admitted today to Osmania Hospital. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the arrest in South Africa of Fulgence Kayishema, one of the most wanted suspects of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a UN spokesman said. According to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Kayishema, who had remained at large since 2001, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Paarl, South Africa, in a joint operation. Guterres commended the cooperation between the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the South African authorities for the arrest of Kayishema, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying. In 2001, Kayishema was indicted by the defunct International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on multiple charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture, during the genocide. Kayishemas 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, Dujarric said. Until Yemen resolves its own challenges internally, no regional powers can really improve the prospects for peace. Many are thinking about the cessation of hostilities in Yemen in the wake of Chinas successful mediation to resolve the political and diplomatic schism between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the principal parties involved in the conflict between Yemeni factions. One significant moment was 10 March, the eighth anniversary of the Saudi-led intervention to support the internationally recognised Yemeni government against the Iran-backed Houthis, aka Ansar Allah. Since the intervention, Yemen had turned into a battlefield for the proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran supports the Houthis, who belong to the Zaydi Shias, a group that makes up under half of the population, while Saudi Arabia supports the Sunni camp representing a somewhat larger demographic segment. A year into the war, in 2016, Tehran and Riyadh severed diplomatic ties following the storming of the Saudi diplomatic headquarters in Iran as part of the protests organised by the authorities against Saudi judicial rulings. Despite Iraqi efforts towards a rapprochement ties had remained severed until the Chinese mediation. Saudi Arabia and Iran are involved in conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, but what sets Yemen apart is that the conflict has turned it into the worst humanitarian crisis in the world in decades, bringing the poorest Arab country to the brink of famine, according to the UN. A UN-brokered truce signed in 2022 had failed, and the fighting claimed numerous lives, causing scores of injuries and leaving more than half the population in urgent need of relief. The fact that even the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement has not helped is making it clear that the conflict has its own internal causes that can only be addressed domestically. It was the end of World War II that ushered Yemen into modern times, but it wasnt until the (Sunni) republicans triumph over the (Shia) monarchists after a decade of Civil War that the country began to experience some semblance of stability. This coincided mainly with the tenure of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled for 33 years from 1978 to 2011, which also saw the unification of Yemens two historical states in the north and south into a single republic in 1990. Development did not take place as effectively as had been hoped due to scarcity of resources, inadequate educational infrastructure, and the dominance of tribal and sectarian affiliations, making the country historically known as Happy Yemen the poorest in the Arab world and driving Saleh to forge a robust alliance with Saudi Arabia, which provided aid for decades, improving conditions even as Yemen remained at the bottom of the Arab development index. Yemen lacks resources and education, and Salehs manipulation contributed to the countrys backwardness, said Fadl Al-Lahgi, a professor of economics and former official in the Yemeni Ministry of Finance. Education improved during Salehs tenure, but given the growing population, this was not enough. War played a major role in normalising underdevelopment. Even before the unification of Yemen, the Yemenis fought on all fronts, and this exhausted the state, says Naguib Seddik, editor-in-chief of the Aden-based state-owned daily 14 October and former chairman of the South Yemen Press Syndicate. South Yemen fought several battles with North Yemen. In addition, the conflict in Sanaa was bitter until Saleh rose to the helm. Since the late 1940s, Yemen had witnessed numerous attempts by tribal and military factions to stage coups against the rule of the Zaydi Mutawakkilite dynasty, which had gained independence from the Ottoman empire in 1918, until a revolution led by colonel Abdullah Al-Sallal overthrew Imam Ahmad in 1962. In the following decade, Yemen witnessed a succession of presidents, including Abdel-Rahman Al-Iryani (1967-1974), Ibrahim Al-Hamdi (1974-1977), Ahmed Al-Ghashmi (1977-1978), and Abdel-Karim Al-Arashi, who held the presidency for only three weeks between late June and mid-July of 1978, before Saleh assumed power. The struggle for power during this period was marked by violence, exemplified by the assassination of Al-Hamdi and Al-Ghashmi in two consecutive years. On the other hand, the socialists in the south deposed their leader, Qahtan Al-Shaabi, in 1969, only two years after independence from Britain with Egyptian support. Several presidents assumed power, some of whom were assassinated, such as Abdel-Fattah Ismail in 1980, until the regime collapsed in the late 1980s with the cessation of Soviet support, forcing the leadership in Aden to unite with the north, led by Saleh. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the two Yemens fought their own cold war. By the end of Salehs era Yemens political map was tangled, Seddik said, with various groups vying for power: the Iranian-backed Houthi faction seeks to establish a regime modelled on the mullahs rule in Tehran, presenting a retrograde version of Hizbullah in Lebanon. On the other hand, the Southern movement comprises several factions and figures with divergent demands, ranging from the reinstatement of an independent South Yemen to a federal or confederal system that would ensure more equitable sharing of power and resources. In the middle are the republicans, who espouse the republican system established by overthrowing the imams rule. Although they are not an organised entity, most of them align with the Saleh regime. Additionally, there is the Muslim Brotherhood, which the government employs against the Houthis and the Southern factions. The situation in Yemen grew more complex following the ousting of Saleh, as tribal leaders and a segment of the military aligned with the Houthis based on their conservative beliefs, regardless of their affiliation with the Zaydi sect. Conversely, the republicans, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Southern factions sided with the internationally recognised government, along with members of the armed forces who rejected the Houthi insurgency. Seddik noted that these factions lack unity, and infighting emerged between the Transitional Council representing the Southern factions and the Muslim Brotherhoods Islah Party, which further muddled the situation for the governments armed forces. He added that the republicans, comprising mainly the working middle class, have largely fled Yemen, resulting in their diminishing influence on events. According to Yemeni journalist Mohamed Omar, who previously served as press secretary to former South Yemen president Ali Nasser Mohamed, an independent South Yemen is not a viable option. No faction has a clear vision for achieving a resolution that preserves Yemens unity while avoiding sectarianism from groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the Houthis and promoting political and societal compromises. Omar added that there are no forces capable of eliminating the Houthis and the Brotherhood, and their presence only exacerbates the conflict, while the Republicans are fragmented and the army is unwilling to engage in further fighting, as that would entail fighting fellow Yemenis. Omar stressed that the root cause of the conflict lies in Yemens internal issues, not external interventions, and regional powers cannot broker a peace agreement until those issues are adequately addressed. * A version of this article appears in print in the 25 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Shares of Nvidia, already one of the worlds most valuable companies, have soared after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue Suspect in killing of 4 people, including 2 police officers, in Japan captured after standoff Police say they have arrested the suspect who holed up in a house in central Japan after allegedly killing four people, including two police officers New Bedford once lit the world with whale oil. Now it wants to do the same with wind power Commentary: Want to land at the top of future employers hiring lists? Start learning Spanish Southeast Missouri State University ALTON Jaina Bemis of Alton graduated May 13 with a bachelors degree in forensic chemistry from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. She is now starting her doctoral program at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill doing research on polymers. EDWARDSVILLE A Cahokia man was charged Thursday after a carjacking and armed robbery was reported by the Glen Carbon Police Department. Ronnel T. Edwards, 19, of Cahokia, was charged May 25 with aggravated vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony; and aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony. The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department. According to court documents, on May 19 Edwards allegedly carjacked a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee by threatening the imminent use of force, while armed with a deadly weapon. He also allegedly took the victims purse and wallet while indicating he was armed. It was later determined to be an airsoft gun. Bail was set at $250,000. In an unrelated case, an East Alton man was charged with multiple weapons, battery and assault charges. Anthony C. Davidson, 52, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, possession of a firearm with revoked Firearm Owners ID Card and unlawful use of weapons, all Class 3 felonies, and domestic battery and aggravated assault, both Class A misdemeanors. The case was presented by the East Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on May 24 Davidson allegedly had a Mossberg New Haven 12-gauge shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches in length while having a revoked Firearm Owners Identification Card. He also is accused of striking a household or family member about the head, causing injury, and pointed the shotgun at the victim. He has a conviction for unlawful use of a credit card out of Madison County in 2009, making him ineligible to possess weapons. A shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches is considered a sawed-off shotgun and is illegal in Illinois and regulated by federal law, but rarely prosecuted at the federal level. Bail was set at $75,000. Kaliese A. Sims, 35, of St. Louis, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. According to court documents, on May 24 Sims allegedly fire a gun in a reckless manner, endangering another person. Bail was set at $40,000. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Police are reminding people to wear life jackets anytime theyre on the water and to only operate boats while sober. In 2022, there were 52 reportable boating accidents on Illinois waters, resulting in six fatalities and 40 injuries, according to statistics compiled by the Illinois Conservation Police. None of the six boating-related fatalities involved alcohol or drug impairment. Of the six fatalities, four who died were not wearing life jackets or vests. Prior years statistics: 2021: 93 boating accidents with 16 fatalities and 28 injuries 2020: 81 boating accidents with 21 fatalities and 36 injuries 2019: 72 boating accidents with 14 fatalities and 42 injuries Life jackets save lives, period, said Illinois Conservation Police Lt. Curt Lewis, the states boating law administrator. Everyone who heads out on the water should wear a life jacket, regardless of whether theyre on a motorboat, a kayak, a canoe, or a stand-up paddleboard. We want you to have fun, but most importantly, we want you to be safe. Statistics show most boating accidents occur between noon and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays between June and August. Conditions are usually clear with good visibility, light winds, and calm water. Most accidents involve operators between the ages of 20 and 40 who have more than 100 hours of boating experience but little or no classroom boating safety instruction. They also usually involve open motorboats cruising in a careless or reckless manner, culminating in a collision with another boat. IDNR offers free boating safety courses that provide a review of boating laws and regulations, as well as instruction on the safe and attentive operation of watercraft. The department encourages boaters of all ages to take a safety course. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, must pass a course and have a valid Boating Safety Certificate to operate a motorboat (with over 10 horsepower). State law also requires boating safety education for people ages 12 to 17 to operate a motorboat. Free safety courses are taught by volunteer instructors and are available throughout Illinois. Find a schedule of courses at https://dnr.illinois.gov/safety/boatingsafety.html. For a fee, online boating safety courses are also available. As part of the Illinois Conservation Police boating safety enforcement effort, officers also strictly enforce laws regarding operating under the influence (OUI) for boat operators. Operating a boat under the influence is in some ways riskier than operating a motor vehicle under the influence, Lewis said. On waterways, there are no lane markers, boats have no seatbelts, and there is little protection for occupants should a collision occur. In 2022, Illinois Conservation Police officers arrested 72 boaters for OUI, a 10% increase from the previous year. In 2021 they arrested 65 boaters for OUI. Illinois law requires that personal floatation devices, or PFDs which are life jackets or life vests be available for each person aboard a boat or other watercraft. The law also requires Illinois law requires everyone to wear a PFD while operating a personal watercraft or jet ski. Under 625 ILCS 45/4-1I, the Boat Registration and Safety Act, no person may operate any watercraft unless an approved and appropriately sized wearable U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device is being properly worn by each person under the age of 13 on the deck of a watercraft or in an open watercraft at all times in which the watercraft is underway; however, this requirement shall not apply to persons who are enclosed in a cabin or below the top deck on a watercraft, on an anchored watercraft that is a platform for swimming or diving, or aboard a charter "passenger for hire" watercraft with a licensed captain. Russia and Belarus signed a pact Thursday allowing Moscow to relocate an undisclosed number of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as Russia's 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. Roxana School District ROXANA Donations are being accepted for a 12-by-18-foot flag that will electronically roll down in the middle of the Larry Milazzo Gymnasium for the playing of the National Anthem. Donations of any amount are being accepted. People can make checks payable to the Roxana Schools Foundation and mail them to Roxana Community Unit School District #1, 401 Chaffer Ave., Roxana, IL 62084. EDWARDSVILLE An Edwardsville High School assistant principal accused of criminal sexual assault of a student has pleaded not guilty and been released from custody after posting bail and being ordered to have no contact with the teen. Erin L. Hamilton-Foley, 50, of Edwardsville was released Wednesday from the Madison County Jail on $25,000 cash bail, according to Madison County Court records. She had to provide 10% of the $250,000 bond set in the case to be released. The office of Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine filed for and was granted additional conditions on Foley's release; namely, that she not contact the 17-year-old alleged victim, not get within 500 feet of him and not "harass, intimidate or interfere with the personal liberty" of the boy. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 2. On Wednesday, defense attorney Jessica Koester of Edwardsville filed a not guilty plea on Foley's behalf and requested a speedy trial. On Monday, Edwardsville Police Department officials received information alleging that Foley had sexual contact with a juvenile who was younger than 18. The ensuing investigation led to Foley's arrest Tuesday. She was charged Wednesday with two counts of criminal sexual assault, both Class 1 felonies. Foley was teen's 'assigned mentor' A Wednesday afternoon press release from Haine and Edwardsville police Chief Michael Fillback stated the charges allege that Foley held a position of trust, authority or supervision in relation to the 17-year-old victim, being that she was an assistant principaland his assigned mentor. Police ask that anyone with information about this case or the possibility of any additional victims contact Detective Sgt. Matt Senci of the Edwardsville police at 618-656-2131. It is a crime when adults in positions of trust, authority and supervision over our youths let alone their own students manipulate that power dynamic for sex, Haine said. We take such crimes seriously, and prosecute them accordingly. "Such actions undermine confidence in our schools and teachers while causing a great disruption in many personal relationships and throughout our community," he added. "The safety and well-being of children and vulnerable youths will always be a primary concern of this office. Also Wednesday afternoon, Edwardsville school District 7 released the following statement: "We are aware that a District #7 employee has been criminally charged. There is no greater priority than the health, safety, and welfare of our students. To that end, District #7 fully cooperates with local law enforcement anytime there is an investigation which may involve a District #7 student or staff member. District #7 cannot comment further on personnel matters." Longtime educator District 7's website lists Foley as in charge of 11th-grade students, with responsibilities of curriculum: math; CASTLE/FLS/PAES; Tiger Den, Sophomore Class Officers 2023; and Senior Awards Night. According to her teaching license, Foley has endorsements as a school social worker, issued in 2002, grades pre-kindergarten through age 22; for general administrative, issued in 2005, for grades kindergarten through 12; and for superintendent duties, issued in 2020, for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. According to court records, the first count against Foley alleges that she "committed an act of sexual penetration" on the victim "between her sex organ and (the 17-year-old's) sex organ." The second count alleges that Foley "committed an act of sexual penetration" on the victim "between her mouth and (his) sex organ." Haine commended the work of police and prosecutors, including Assistant States Attorney Ali Foley, who is the head of the Childrens Justice Division. This specialized unit within the States Attorneys Office fights for justice for child victims, working closely with the children and families throughout the process, to ensure that these types of cases are resolved in a way that allows them to begin the healing process, according to the state's attorney's press release. The state's attorney's press release noted: This charge and the statements made herein are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A Pennsylvania doctor was sentenced to six months in federal prison Thursday for his role in a pain pill prescription scheme. Dr. Brian Gullett also was fined $5,000 and surrendered his medical license. Gullett, 46, of Clarksville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty last September to a felony count of aiding and abetting obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Gullett was indicted in 2018 along with the owners, managers and other physicians associated with the Hope Clinic and a group that managed Hope's daily operations. Hope Clinic had offices in Beckley, Beaver, and Charleston, West Virginia, and in Wytheville, Virginia. Five other physicians have pleaded guilty. The remaining defendants are awaiting trial. West Virginia has by far the nations highest drug overdose death rate. The criminal conduct in this case exploited and worsened an already devastating opioid crisis, Will Thompson, the U.S. attorney for West Virginia's southern district, said in a statement. The scheme involved prescribing oxycodone and other controlled substances that werent for legitimate medical purposes from 2010 to 2015. Some prescriptions provided up to seven pills per day, and several Hope locations averaged 65 or more daily customers during a 10-hour workday with only one practitioner working, prosecutors said. Gullett admitted he signed multiple oxycodone prescriptions for someone at the Charleston location in March 2013 even though that persons medical chart did not support the prescriptions and the customer had failed multiple drug screenings, was addicted to pain medication, purchased pills on the street and sold his pills from the clinic to others, prosecutors said. Gullett admitted he didnt discuss with the customer the possibility of addiction or the need for addiction treatment. news, Glen Carbon, Mid-America 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 at a public hearing set for 7 p.m. June 20 in the Glen Carbon village hall at 151 N. Main St. Dr. Ryan Diederich and Mid-America Plastic Surgery Center, currently in Maryville, have 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. EDWARDSVILLE A South Roxana woman faces multiple felony charges including drug, possession of forged license plate and driving offenses. Elizabeth A. Hargrove, 32, was charged May 25 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a forged license plate, both Class 2 felonies; and one count of driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony. A separate charge of driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony, was also filed. The two cases were presented by the South Roxana Police Department. According to court documents, on May 18 Hargrove allegedly had 5-15 grams of methamphetamine and a forged or converted license plate with a purported Missouri registration number. She allegedly was driving with a revoked drivers license on April 20 and May 18. Her license was revoked in 2015 due to a DUI conviction; she has a prior conviction for driving while license revoked. Bail was set at $75,000 for the May 18 charges, and $50,000 for the April 20 charge. Other felony charges filed May 25 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include: Freddie L. Odell Jr., 39, of East St. Louis, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class 3 felony; and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on May 24 Odell allegedly had more than 30 grams of cannabis with the intent to deliver and was carrying an accessible Smith & Wesson 9 mm MMP Shield handgun unloaded, with ammunition immediately accessible, in a motor vehicle. Bail was set at $75,000. Trevor Callahan, 43, of Hillsboro, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and driving under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On March 12 Callahan allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine and was driving a 2007 Dodge Dakota northbound on Interstate 55 in Troy while under the influence of a drug or combination of drugs. Bail was set at $40,000. Michael G. Phillips, 52, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On June 25, 2022, Phillips allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALTON A Mexican national accused of a fatal stabbing in 2010 in Alton is now in custody at the Madison County Jail after being extradited from Mexico, according to Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford. Odilon Villagran Gudino, also known as Jose Villagran, 56, of Washington Park, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, a Class M felony; armed robbery, a Class X felony; and concealment of homicidal death, a Class 3 felony, in the stabbing death of Jose Randolfo Pagoada in Alton on Dec. 1, 2010. The charges were originally filed July 26, 2018 and sealed, with amended charges filed Aug. 1, 2018. The charges remained sealed until May 19 after Gudino was served with the warrants while in custody in Mexico. According to court documents, during an armed robbery Gudino stabbed Pagoada in the torso and took money from him, then placed his body in a vehicles trunk. Ford announced Gudinos extradition May 26, praising Alton Police Department Detective Joe Splittorff for working the case since 2014. I am beyond proud of Detective Splittorff and his incredible resolve to ensure justice in this case, Ford said. This is one of the best pieces of investigative work I have ever seen. It is no doubt a once in a career type case. His hard work has ensured that Jose Randolfo Pagoadas loved ones now have answers as to what happened to their beloved family member, Ford added. I say it often, but this is truly a prime example of the extents the Alton Police Department will go in order to ensure perpetrators of violence are held accountable. Ford said the investigation began in August 2014 when Alton police officers responded to a report of suspected human remains being found inside an abandoned vehicle in the 2100 block of Seminary Street. The vehicle was inside an open-air carport attached to an enclosed garage and officers found what appeared to be highly decayed human remains inside the rear seat and trunk area of the vehicle. Due to the condition of the body, a forensic investigator and anthropologist with the St. Louis County Office of the Medical Examiner was called in to assist local investigators. It was determined the victim's cause of death was homicidal violence. From the start of the investigation through mid-2018, detectives from the Alton Police Department specifically Splittorff followed up on a variety of leads. Ford said Splittorff went through extensive efforts to determine the victims identify, which included a heavy focus on DNA collection and testing. Based on information obtained during the investigation and the results of DNA analysis, the victim in this incident was positively identified as Pagoada, a Honduran national. Splittorffs efforts also identified a suspect, identified as Odilon Villagran Gudino, a Mexican citizen, Ford said. He added Gudino was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the murder and returned to Mexico shortly after. On July 26, 2018, the Madison County States Attorneys Office issued an arrest warrant for Gudino. In April 2021, a provisional arrest warrant authorizing Gudinos arrest in Mexico was sought and obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs with the assistance of Alton Police Department. In late April 2021, Gudino was arrested in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, and held in Mexico pending extradition proceedings. On May 16, 2023, Mexican authorities transferred custody of Gudino to U.S. authorities. He was flown to the United States and transported to the Alton City Jail that same day and is now in the Madison County Jail in Edwardsville with bond set at $500,000. I would like to send my sincere thanks to all the many people and agencies that assisted the Alton Police Department in this investigation, Ford said. Participants included the Illinois State Police, Madison County Sheriffs Office, Washington Park Police Department, Madison County Coroners Office, St. Louis County Office of the Medical Examiner, University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, FBI, Immigration Customs Enforcement, United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the Honduran news outlet Canal 35. Ford also praised both the Madison County and St. Clair County states attorneys offices and their respective states attorneys, Tom Haine and James Gomric. WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. on Thursday sanctioned the leader of Russia's 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 Russia's 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 Russia's 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 John Badman|The Telegraph Show More Show Less 2 of 3 John Badman|The Telegraph Show More Show Less 3 of 3 ALTON It was a perfect week for concrete work and the crew was doing plenty of it at the new Alton Starbucks coffee under construction at 1725 Homer Adams Parkway. "Coming Soon" signs have been hung on the construction fencing. No date has yet been set for opening. 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 week's 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, MSF's 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 it's 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 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. BERLIN (AP) A German government spokesperson on Friday rejected the notion that comments by Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticizing climate activists might have prompted raids against them this week. Police on Wednesday searched more than a dozen properties across Germany linked to the group Last Generation, seizing assets as part of a probe into its finances. Prosecutors in Munich said they are investigating whether the group constitutes a criminal organization after its repeated road blockades and other protests drew numerous complaints from the public. Days before the raids, Scholz said he thought it was completely nutty to somehow stick yourself to a painting or on the street. Members of Last Generation have hit back, describing the raids as a blow to democracy and accusing Scholz of belittling young people's fears about global warming. Scholz's spokesperson, Wolfgang Buechner, said he didn't know whether the chancellor had advance knowledge of the raids but that it would be unusual if that were the case. Asked whether prosecutors in Bavaria could have taken Scholz's comments as a signal to crack down on the group, Buechner strongly rejected the idea. It has to be possible for the German chancellor to answer a question about what he thinks of the protests in a plain-spoken way, he said. I think the chancellor did this in an appropriate way. Buechner said the German government remains committed to tackling climate change and protesters must abide by the law. A United Nations spokesperson said Thursday that while governments have a duty to uphold the law, people also have a fundamental right to demonstrate peacefully to have their voices heard. And it is clear that a lot of the progress that we have seen on awareness on climate change and positive movement on climate change is due to the fact that people have been demonstrating peacefully throughout the world, Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York. Climate advocates led by the moral voice of young people have kept the agenda moving through the darkest of days. They must be protected, and we need them now more than ever, he told German news agency dpa. Last Generation and other groups have said they plan further protests in Germany over the coming days. LIMA, Peru (AP) Peruvian anti-drug police seized 58 one-kilo packages of cocaine Thursday bearing a picture of a Nazi flag on the outside and the name Hitler printed in low relief. The discovery occurred in the port of Paita, on Peru's northern Pacific coast close to its border with Ecuador. The drugs were hidden inside a shipping container carrying asparagus on the Liberian-flagged vessel SC Anisha R that had earlier anchored in the Ecuadorian port of Ecuador, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press. It said the shipment was destined for a port in Belgium. The Peruvian polices anti-drug directorate showed videos and photographs to AP revealing that the drugs were inside the ventilation system of a container. Police continued to search the more than 80 containers on the vessel. Peruvian authorities have previously reported finding cocaine in brick-shaped packages with various and strange symbols, but never with one of the flag of Nazi Germany. Authorities in Peru estimate that the country produces around 100 tons of drugs per year and most leave for Europe by sea, but also through small planes that carry cocaine to Bolivia, on its way to Atlantic ports. Peru is the worlds second-largest grower of coca leaf, according to the United Nations, and the worlds second-largest producer of cocaine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. WARSAW, Poland (AP) A large unexploded bomb from World War II discovered in the Polish city of Wroclaw forced the evacuation of 2,500 residents on Friday. The bomb weighing 250 kilograms (550 pounds) was found near a railway overpass in the city in southwestern Poland during construction work. As a first-generation college student, Victoria Vences enrolled in the criminal justice program at Westwood College in 2007 believing it would help her land a job as a probation officer or with the immigration service. After three years of juggling a full-time job while being a full-time student, Victoria started applying for law enforcement jobs, showing potential employers her certificate from Westwood. They told her that, unfortunately, the certificate was essentially worthless. By the time she recognized her situation, Victoria had taken out $50,000 in student loans. Not wanting to take on more debt for a worthless degree, she dropped out. She found meaningful work with the Illinois Domestic Violence hotline, but continued to struggle to cover her bills, including student loan payments. Victoria was one of thousands of students who suffered because of Westwoods lies. Victorias story is a familiar one to thousands of student loan borrowers across Illinois and millions more across the country. It shows the need for stronger protections for students who are targeted for these low-quality and even predatory high-debt postsecondary programs. The good news is that the President Joe Bidens administration is moving to do just that. Earlier this month, the administration released a set of proposed regulations designed to ensure colleges preparing students for careers wont leave them under an onerous amount of debt that they have little possibility of repaying. One of those rules, known as gainful employment, would restore a protection rescinded by the administration of former President Donald Trump in 2019. The principle behind the gainful employment rule is simple: Students should not be left worse off financially for having pursued higher education. Under the Biden administrations proposed rule, colleges would have to prove that their programs adequately prepare graduates for work in a recognized career field such as medical assistants and heating and air conditioning technicians without student debt payments taking up a burdensome share of their monthly incomes. The rule would also set the expectation that those who complete a program earn more than the median worker in their state who holds a high school diploma. If a program cant clear these thresholds over time, it will lose eligibility for federal student aid. And the college would have to show improvements to the program to regain access to federal funding. The rule protects students like Victoria, and it protects taxpayers across the nation, too. These expectations should be seen as a floor, not a ceiling. But that wont stop industry lobbyists from for-profit colleges a sector notorious for predatory recruiting, misrepresentation, fraud and poor student outcomes from crying foul and claiming they are being targeted unfairly. Unfortunately, policymakers know what happens when we loosen the rules for colleges focused on boosting the profits of their owners and investors, rather than supporting students. Bad actors find ways to exploit loopholes, push vulnerable students into low-quality programs and leave students drowning in debt they cant repay. For-profit colleges will claim they provide access to post-high school training for marginalized student populations. But research has shown that for-profits target Black and Latino communities through a phenomenon of reverse redlining that exacerbates racial income inequality. For-profit colleges will claim they provide needed flexibility for student veterans. But for years, until a bipartisan measure from Congress closed an obscure legal loophole, for-profits targeted veterans education benefits to pad their revenues, viewing veterans as little more than dollar signs in uniform. Students who went to for-profit colleges fare worse in the labor market than if theyd never gone to college at all, even though the credentials they offer tend to be 30% to 40% more expensive than the same credentials from a public institution. Now is not the time to weaken student and taxpayer protections. As the experiences of Victoria and so many other student borrowers show, too many bad actors will continue to take advantage of loose regulations and fleece students and federal taxpayers. The gainful employment rule and other accountability measures from the administration will help improve college program quality across the board, save taxpayer dollars from waste and abuse and put bad actors on notice. We need to make stories like Victorias less common, and my colleagues in Congress should back the Biden administrations efforts to make the gainful employment rule as strong as it can be. The new sedan, the eighth-generation 5 Series, will be launched in the global market in October. It will come in gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions. The 5 Series is one of the best-selling imported cars in Korea, with sales topping 20,000 units here last year. This will be the first time that the German carmaker has released an all-electric 5 Series, named i5, which can travel up to 582 km on a single charge. With 10 minutes of fast charging, it can travel 156 km. The gasoline and diesel models employ mild hybrid technology, meaning the engine is supported by an electric motor. The specifications for the plug-in hybrid model will be disclosed later. The new car is 97 mm longer and 32 mm wider than its predecessor. The Race of the Saints in Jessup is rich with heritage and tradition, something participants hope continues to grow thanks to new gifts that arrived from Gubbio, Italy. While the St. Ubaldo Society prepares to host la Festa dei Ceri on Saturday, on Sunday, children participating in the la Festa dei Ceri Piccoli, or the St. Ubaldo Day Childrens Race, will run with new ceri the assembled pieces the runners hoist on their shoulders donated from Gubbio. The ceri currently used for the childrens race date back to the 1800s. Now fragile, repairs are no longer possible, and the St. Ubaldo Society has been working hard on replacements. We worked directly with the Eugubini nel Mondo (citizens of Gubbio in the world) and the citizens of Gubbio to get this done, explained Michael Cappellini, executive vice president of the St. Ubaldo Society. It has been at least a five-year process. Donated items include the statues of St. Ubaldo and St. Antonio, new cero (the octagon piece) and stanga (H-shaped piece that sits on runners shoulders). The statue of St. Giorgio will arrive next year. Retiring the previously used statues leaves Cappellini, who first participated in the festival in 2000 running in the childrens race, hopeful for the events future. As festivals tend to dwindle or stay stagnant, la Festa dei Ceri has been growing year after year, explained Cappellini. An addition like this enhances the future of the festival here in Jessup. For Paul Cacciamani of Jessup, reminiscing about the statues gave him goosebumps. Cacciamani oversaw the childrens race for a number of years. There is so much history in the statues, he said. It is nostalgic to think about how many kids ran underneath (the statues) that became adults and ran with the saints and now their kids run. Mario Mariani of Peckville echoes Cacciamanis sentiments. Marianis family supports St. Giorgio, and his son and grandson now represent the family in the race. We have a lot of good memories, said Mariani. Both my son and grandson ran in the childrens race. The (race) is getting bigger and bigger. It is nice that the kids are getting into it and the excitement of the new statues will bring more. For Franco Loranzetti of Jessup, tradition is the biggest part of St. Ubaldo Day. Born in Isola Fossara, Italy, Loranzetti attended Corsa dei Ceri in Gubbio when he was 16 years old. Now 86, Loranzetti hopes to see the tradition continue in Jessup through the younger generation. With the new saints, tradition will carry on long after we are gone, said Loranzetti who supports St. Antonio. My hope is that they carry on the tradition, and they love it as much as those in the past have. Like Loranzetti, tradition is what keeps lifelong members like Cappellini, Cacciamani and Mariani coming back year after year. I am excited to have another year of tradition brought to this country by our forefathers in the hopes of carrying every one of them with us under the ceri in spirit, said Cappellini. Caccimani agrees. I would love to keep the tradition alive, he said. There are only two places in the world Gubbio and Jessup. And for me, that is an honor. For Mariani, it is a family custom. It is heritage, he said. My father ran in Italy, and were trying to keep it going. While older members usher in a new generation of runners, their passion for the Race of the Saints is ever present. On race day, 78-year-old Cacciamani says he feels like hes 25 again. As you get older, you cannot run anymore, but the fire in your heart is still there, and that is the most important thing, said Cacciamani. And for the younger generation of runners, Cacciamani has some advice. It does not matter what saint you represent; it is what you feel in your heart and what you believe. It is a team. You pick your color, and you stay with your team. For information on Saturdays events and the history of St. Ubaldo Day, visit the St. Ubaldo Society, Jessup, PA Facebook page or saintubaldosociety.org. Researchers have found an altered serotonin 2A/C receptor in infants who died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a biological abnormality that they think made these infants vulnerable to death under certain circumstances. SIDS is the inexplicable death of an infant, generally in their sleep, before their first birthday despite a thorough investigation for its cause. Previous research in rodents has shown 2A/C receptor signalling to contribute to arousal and autoresuscitation, protecting brain oxygen status during sleep. In this study, the researchers, including those from Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts, US, examined the brain stems of 70 infants, who died between 2004 and 2011, and tested them for consistent abnormalities. They found that that the serotonin 2A/C receptor was altered in sudden infant death cases compared to control cases of infant deaths. They have published their findings in the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. The investigators believe that sudden infant death syndrome occurs when three things happen together: a child is in a critical period of cardiorespiratory development in their first year, the child faces an outside stressor like a face-down sleep position or sharing a bed, and the child has a biological abnormality that makes them vulnerable to respiratory challenges while sleeping. "The work presented builds upon previous work by our laboratory and others showing abnormalities in the serotonergic system of some SIDS infants. "Although we have identified abnormalities in the serotonin 2A/C receptor in SIDS, the relationship between the abnormalities and cause of death remains unknown. "Much work remains in determining the consequence of abnormalities in this receptor in the context of a larger network of serotonin and non-serotonin receptors that protect vital functions in cardiac and respiratory control when challenged. "Currently, we have no means to identify infants with biological abnormalities in the serotonergic system. Thus, adherence to safe-sleep practices remains critical," said said the paper's lead author, Robin Haynes. The National Investigation Agency is pulling out all stops to lay its hands on Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 terror attacks, before 2024 which can be a feather in the cap of the BJP government ahead of Lok Sabha polls, as he will be the first key conspirator of the Mumbai attacks to be extradited to India. After the US district court in Los Angeles approved Ranas extradition, the central counter-terror agency is treading carefully to examine all possibilities of bringing him back- including a possible delay that may be caused if Rana goes to appeal in a higher court. There are at least two stages of appeal in a higher court (circuit court in the US) that are available to Rana and it is likely he will exhaust his options before he is extradited on the orders of the US Secretary of State, security sources said. Even if Rana does not avail his legal options, his extradition proceedings are unlikely to complete before October and could spill over to next year as well. In case Rana goes for appeal, it may take another year or more for him to exhaust his legal options. What is working in favour of the Indian government is the fact that Ranas extradition case is being fought by the US authorities on its behalf, which is rare, particularly in extradition matters related to another country. The fact that the US is supporting Indias stance on bringing the 26/11 perpetrators to book is reassurance for investigators who believe that Rana, who is Pakistani by birth and a Canadian citizen, will not be given shelter in the US. Unlike David Coleman Headley, a US citizen, who recceed the 26/11 targets and used Rana as a cover, the Americans are not interested in keeping him(Rana) on its soil, said an official. Rana was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in 2013 by a US federal court for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba which executed the attacks. As Ranas days in the United States are numbered, the NIA is keen to jump on the opportunity to bring him back at the earliest and not allow him to return to Canada. If Rana completes his sentence and returns to Canada without being extradited to India, New Delhi may have to pursue the matter afresh with Canadian authorities. The key is a quick extradition from the US. Based on these legal tangles, the NIA is examining what could be the contours of delay, whether it can be resolved or does it need diplomatic intervention at the highest level with the Biden administration. These are issues being discussed among various stakeholders before Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his visit to the US. If the extradition comes through, Rana can spill beans on the key conspirators hiding in Pakistan like Lashkar patron Hafiz Saeed, project manager of the attack Sajid Mir and Lashkar commander Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi among others. The fact that the main conspirators are in Pakistan, NIAs best bet is Rana, as none of the other main accused are likely to be brought to justice in the biggest case of terrorism in recent times. The NIA has travelled to Chicago to meet its counterparts earlier and pursue the extradition. Sources said the US law enforcement officers have been extremely cooperative and discerning to New Delhis concerns around Ranas role and the trial and have approached the extradition case on their behalf in a strong manner. It may be recalled that Headley has entered a plea bargain with the US authorities to escape extradition and heavy punishment, but Rana enjoys no such immunity. Ranas role in the 26/11 conspiracy was first revealed when details of his First World office in Mumbai was spilled out in Headleys confessions in the US. It was in June 2006 Headley visited Chicago to obtain Ranas approval for opening an immigration office called First World in Mumbai. Rana owned and controlled the offices of First World, which also had set-ups in New York and Toronto in Canada. Rana then directed an individual associated with First World to prepare documents to support Headley's plan. The 26/11 probe in the US court revealed that top Lashkar commanders Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal gave monetary assistance to the tune of $25,000 to Headley to operate the Mumbai office of First World among others and later in 2008 suggested closing it down and provide an alternate cover for Headley. Ranas role becomes key as he conspired with Headley at the behest of Pakistani spy agency ISI to recce the targets and provide maps and coordinates to ISI and LeT to carry out the attacks. On May 29, 1994, seven weeks after Kurt Cobain died by suicide, the British music magazine Q brought together the American artist Tori Amos, Englands PJ Harvey and Icelands Bjork, beneath the title Hips, Lips, Tits, Power. The women had released five albums between the three of them, and the only thing that they shared was the uniqueness of their far-from-commercial musical styles. But what none of them would imagine is that, with the passage of time, the encounter would become historic: not just because of the cover, shot by photographer John Stoddart, but for the anger it passed down to future generations of artists. After years marked by the testosterone of grunge, a new batch of women was claiming their spot in the industry. In the early 1990s, the third wave of feminism and the alternative scene gave rise to movements like the Riot Girls, with Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and Heavens to Betsy. But as sexist as it seems now, at that time, women needed to do something different in order for the media and the general male public to take them seriously. The protagonists of this story managed to do so. The famous Q cover with PJ Harvey, Bjork and Tori Amos. Their groundbreaking discourse, as well as their desire to be heard by the masses, brought a paradigm shift, says Toni Castarnado, author of the book Las Chicas del Q [The Q Girls], published by Silex Ediciones. Bjork innovated with her mix of pop and electronica, since before [the album] Debut nothing similar had been heard. PJ Harvey, above all in her first albums, stood out because of the electricity, sensuality and viscerality of her lyrics. And Tori Amos, despite her more classic appearance, was tremendously daring: on her first album, Little Earthquakes, she opened up, as on songs like Me and a Gun, where she narrated how she survived a rape at 21 years old. Without them, future stars like Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette would not have enjoyed too much attention and recognition. Castarnado recalls that the Q cover was not immediately considered ironic. It started to be seen that way years later, when the three consolidated their careers and became untouchable, he says. But for me, personally, I was always curious what was behind it, how it came together, why the magazine chose them and not others. Though three decades have passed, there are still more questions than answers. It is a known fact that the women attended a shoot on February 24, 1994, in a photo studio in the London neighborhood of Islington. Any other available information is thanks to the photographer Stoddart. In 2006, during the presentation of the exhibition Q Idols at the British capitals Getty Images Gallery, he said, Bjork, PJ Harvey and Tori Amos represented a new wave of female rock. They didnt know each other beforehand. I thought it would be a real headache to have these three egos in the studio, but they couldnt have been friendlier to each other. There was no prima donna behavior, and they all exchanged numbers afterwards. The only thing I regret is that Bjork had the worst hairstyle of her career at that time. Hairdos aside, Castarnado writes that the portraits timelessness lies in its simplicity: Stoddart reflected their distinctive attitudes, power and features without artifice. PJ Harvey faces the camera cold and distant, Bjork looks more eccentric and Tori poses looking relaxed and trusting. The closeness, as well as the communion among the three of them, is what made the image transcend. The session had the same effect as Peter Lindberghs shoot for British Vogue in January 1990, which catapulted Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Burlington and Linda Evangelista to supermodel status. The interviews in the magazine were conducted by Adrian Deevoy. The journalist provokes them, asking if they have ever felt in competition with the two others. They respond with a resounding no. Tori Amos, in particular, adds, Its funny for women because journalists pit women against each other. If you think about Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, they were all much more similar to each other than we are. We have tits. We have three holes. Thats what we have in common. We dont even play the same instruments. It really disappoints me when some sort of competition has to be manufactured for their little minds and fantasies. Thats not growing, thats not support. There is room for everybody on the planet to be creative and conscious if you are your own person. If youre trying to be like somebody else, then there isnt. We see things from different points of view and that affects people in different ways and I think that should be encouraged. It shouldnt be like, two tits too many. Like with radio in America, they tell you, Well, were already playing one female this week. They wouldnt think about that with guys. Another memorable point, which reflects the discrimination the women faced, occurred when Deevoy asked whether they had been heckled at concerts. All three had: Get off the stage, you fucking whore! They shout that and so you go, Look, Im here for an hour and fucking 20 minutes and if you dont have a gun to blow me off the stage then Im staying. When that happens, your first reaction is to just crawl into a bubble bath and have a pizza. But you have to respect yourself and draw the line and deal with it. I dont like confrontations, but you have to do something, Tori said. PJ Harvey answered: Ive had people from beginning to end just shouting, You fucking bitch! Go back to fucking Yeovil! I always wonder why theyve paid money to do that. I just smile and sing at them, and that seems to work. Dedicate a song to them, maybe. That always works. Bjork, in addition to remembering that she was once called Meat Loaf, added: You learn, after a while, to turn everything into something that turns you on. Its like youve got this button. You learn to use things. If someone shouts at you, you can use it to make a song better. Paradoxically, despite the harmony between the three women, the encounter did not lead to any significant collaborations. The only one occurred days before the photo shoot and interview, February 14, 1994, at the fourteenth edition of the Brit Awards: despite the organizers planning for Bjork to sing with Meat Loaf and PJ Harvey with Jamiroquai, both of them ended up covering (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones. Writing the essay, I discovered that Tori Amos, in some of her concerts, played Bjorks Hyperballad, Castarnado recalls. But the fact that the three did not become close friends, or do anything else together, makes the cover even more important. It captured a moment in Islington that would never occur again. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In order to take stock of the situation and resolve the ethnic crisis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit the violence-hit Manipur on Monday. The recent clashes between the Meiteis and tribalsNagas and Kukishas paved way for unrest in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah would stay for three days and would work to end the ethnic crisis and deliver justice to all the people, said Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Shah on Thursday appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain peace and promised justice to all sections of the society. "We will talk with people at different places and listen to their views and opinions," Rai said while addressing a press conference. The recent unrest has only impeded development, Rai added. He also assured the people that the issues and problems of the their communities will be discussed and solved in a peaceful manner. Rai urged the people to have faith in the government as well. "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 had said. During the last six years, there was no blockade or bandh 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. Meanwhile, curfew has been relaxed in East and West Manipur for seven hours from 5 am to 12 noon on Friday. People can step out of their homes for purchase of essential items including food and medicines. The fresh violence that broke out in the state left infrastructure damages. Two houses were torched by the miscreants. The curfew imposed in the area was tightened following the incident. Reportedly, a delegation comprising representatives of various political parties from Manipur met with Shah and discussed the situation. The 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status led to a clash in Manipur on May 3. 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. Over 70 lives were claimed so far in the clashes. Around 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel was deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. (With PTI inputs) Income Tax authorities on Friday launched coordinated searches around 40 locations in Tamil Nadu allegedly linked to state Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji. The searches were being held in cities including Karur and Coimbatore, at the premises of individuals allegedly linked to the minister, reported PTI. #WATCH | IT raids across Tamil Nadu in around 40 locations at various Government contractors' residences and offices who have alleged connection with Minister Senthil Balaji. Raids are currently underway in Chennai, Karur and other places. More details awaited: Sources (Visuals pic.twitter.com/vSM3gYYxiQ ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023 Close relatives of the minister and some contractors were reportedly among those whose premises were being searched by the tax authorities. Balaji, a senior DMK leader from Karur, also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. (More details awaited) The Income Tax sleuths on Friday conducted searches in multiple locations in Tamil Nadu linked to Electricity, Prohibition and Excise minister V Senthil Balaji. The coordinated search operations by the Income Tax sleuths began on Friday morning in Karur, Coimbatore, Chennai and many other places linked to Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar. When the IT officials tried entering one of the premises linked to his brother Ashok Kumar at Ramakrishnapuram in Karur, the DMK supporters raised slogans against the Union Government and Prime Minister Modi and indulged in ruckus. The DMK supporters surrounded one of the officers and asked her to show her identity card. The rear view mirror of one of the vehicles used by the officials was also damaged by the supporters. Senthil Balaji hails from Karur and is considered one of the most powerful ministers in MK Stalins cabinet. Balaji is believed to be one of the money bags of the DMK, who is also the minister in-charge for Karur and Coimbatore districts. He was instrumental in making the DMK win all the 139 wards in Coimbatore during the local body polls last year. The DMk had lost in all the 10 assembly segments in the district in 2021 general elections. The raids comes days after Tamil Nadu opposition leader Edappadi K Palanisamy and Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai raised several accusations of corruption against the minister and scam in the government owned TASMAC bars. Annamalai also petitioned Governor RN Ravi seeking to relieve Senthil Balaji from the cabinet saying that "he acted against his oath of office and Indian constitution." It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had recently allowed a batch of appeals against an order of the Madras High Court for conducting a fresh inquiry against Senthil Balaji in a job racket case. Balaji was accused of scam in job recruitment when he was a minister in Jayalalithaas cabinet during the 2011-2016 AIADMK regime. Balaji is accused of having accepted bribes for giving jobs in the transport department when he was the transport minister between 2011 and 2015. The Supreme Court had also set aside the Madras High Courts order staying the proceedings of the money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). With Stalin in Japan to seek investments to Tamil Nadu, the income tax raids and the continuous attacks against Senthil Balaji by the opposition BJP and the AIADMK might bring trouble for the government. At least 20-24 new ministers are likely to be inducted into the Karnataka Cabinet on Saturday as talks between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar are in progress in Delhi. The state leaders arrived in the national capital on Thursday for talks regarding cabinet expansion. Both Siddharamaiah and Shivakumar met Congress general secretary in-charge for state Randeep Surjewala and the partys general secretary K C Venugopal. They also met Kharge separately at his residence. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, along with Surjewala, then held a meeting at the party's Gurudwara Rakabganj Road office and discussed the names that could be included in the expanded cabinet of the state, said reports. "Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been actively lobbying for their trusted supporters to be included in the cabinet. Kharge has cancelled his meetings for Friday to finish the deliberations," a senior Congress leader told Hindustan Times on conditions of anonymity. Despite the duo and eight other ministers swearing in, there was a delay in cabinet expansion as differences cropped up between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar over names of probable ministers with both pushing the case of MLAs close to them. Eight ministers who have been sworn in haven't been allocated portfolios yet. Karnataka can have a maximum of 34 ministers and the Congress will find it difficult to accommodate all the aspirants. Sources told PTI that only the names of MLAs who represented all sections and were senior most have been cleared by the High Command. The list included people who faced no objections from any side. The names on the probable list include 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. There are also speculations that a sizable chunk of ministers will be from the Lingayat community, who voted in favour of the party. Recently, the BJP traded barbs with Congress over the delay in choosing ministers. Former chief minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai had recently questioned the delay in selecting ministers but Congress retorted by stating that former Cheif Minister B S Yediyurappa too was alone in the cabinet for days before the ministers were chosen. The Centre has decided to mint a special 75 coin to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The coin, made of quaternary alloy, will bear the image of the new Parliament complex. A notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday said the commemorative coin made of 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper, 5 per cent nickel, and 5 per cent zinc, will be circular. It will have a diameter of 44 millimetres and bear 200 serrations along its edges. While the obverse side of the coin will feature the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre, with the inscription "Satyameva Jayate" and the word "Bharat" in Devnagri script, the reverse side, the coin will showcase an image of the Parliament Complex. On the right periphery of the obverse side will be the marking "India." The coin will also bear the Indian Rupee symbol "" and the denomination "75" in international numerals below the Lion Capitol, the notification added. On the obverse side, the upper periphery will feature the inscription "Sansad Bhavan" in the Devnagari script. The lower periphery will display "PARLIAMENT COMPLEX" in English. The coin, weighing 35 grams, will also have the year "2023" inscribed on it in international numerals below the image of the Parliament Complex. Meanwhile, the row over the Parliament inauguration continues to rage after 19 parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, announced the boycott of the event, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". However, much to the relief of the BJP, seven non-NDA parties will attend the ceremony besides the 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. SC to consider PIL today The Supreme Court will hear on Friday the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India Droupadi Murmu instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PIL filed by advocate Jaya Sukin said the Lok Sabha Secretariat violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for the inauguration. "The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President of India is authorised to appoint constitutional functionaries such as Governors, Judges of both the Supreme Court and high court, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, chairman and manager of the Union Public Service Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, Financial Commissioner, and other Election commissioners," the PIL said. The Lok Sabha Secretariat, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Law and Justice are parties in the case. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate the new Parliament building to the nation on May 28. The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to former minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain for six weeks on medical grounds. Jain on Thursday was admitted to Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital after he collapsed inside the Tihar jail. The order was passed by a vacation bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice P.S. Narasimha. He was granted bail by the top court to get treated in a private hospital of his choice. The bail was set to conditions by the apex court. Jain shall not go the media "to make any statement on any issue", the bench said. He was also asked not to influence the witnesses. The next hearing in the case is set on July 11. The latest medical reports of the Jain would be considered by the bench as well. Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, said that he had lost 35 kg and he was suffering from spine-related issues. While, additional solicitor general S.V. Raju, appearing for the ED, sought Jain's examination by an independent panel of doctors at the AIIMS. "He was the Health Minister, these hospitals were under him. The medical records can be fudged. Let him be examined by a panel of doctors from AIIMS or Delhi. If the report is in his favour, I will concede," said ASG. Raju also added that till May 13, he was fit and on the next day, he suddenly developed illness. Singhvi said that LNJP hospital is the mandatory referral hospital for Tihar Jail. However, the bench said that they will look into the matter for the next hearing. Earlier, Jain, who has been lodged at Tihar Jail since his arrest in connection with a money laundering case, was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital for a neuro consultation for his spinal injuries. ED had arrested Jain on May 30 last year in the aftermath of a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Seeking the grand old party's support in the fight against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has sought a meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday. A tweet posted by the Delhi Chief Minister read: "Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation." Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic n unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 26, 2023 This comes as Kejriwal on Thursday urged the non-BJP parties to unite and defeat in the Rajya Sabha the bill related to the Centre's ordinance. Though Congress has been at loggerheads with the AAP, Kejrwal's seeking a meeting with the top brass comes as a shot in the arm for the opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal met NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Thursday seeking his support. Pawar, after offering his backing, had mentioned how "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). I have been a parliamentarian for 56 years. This is not a matter of Delhi or AAP but of saving parliamentary democracy," Pawar suggested. Kejriwal too had mentioned how defeating the Centre's ordinance is not a matter of politics but that of the country. He had urged all parties who love the country should come together. However, Congress had so far not given any hint of softening its stance. Senior leader Pawan Khera on Thursday too hit out at Kejriwal, stating that he is the only chief minister of Delhi who has sought full powers to function. "Whenever we raised the demand from the central government, we tried to work together with it and worked successfully. No wonder 150 flyovers were made, the metro was introduced and CNG/ clean fuel was brought and industries were relocated," he said. Khera also claimed Kejriwal was unique in his insistence on grant of full powers to him as Delhi's chief minister, something no other politician who headed the state ever did. "What is the reason that Arvind Kejriwal is alone in asking all powers? Neither Madan Lal Khurana, nor Sahib Singh Verma, nor Sushma Swaraj, nor Sheila Dikshit ji sought so, but Arvind Kejriwal is the only CM who wants full powers to function. You blame external factors for your failure," Khera told PTI. "The Hindi proverb 'Naach na jaane, aangan tedha' ideally fits Kejriwal," he said when asked about Delhi chief minister's opposition to the Centre's ordinance which seeks to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi. A group of prominent citizens, including former military officers, bureaucrats and academicians, came out with an open letter to the opposition, criticising it for deciding to stay away from the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. According to media reports, former NIA director Yogesh Chander Modi, former ambassadors Bhaswati Mukherjee, Niranjan Desai, Virender Gupta and JS Sapra, former DGPs SP Vaid, and BL Vohra among others, in their letter, claimed that those who are boycotting the inauguration are "sucking the soul of democracy." The citizens who signed the open letter include 88 retired bureaucrats, 100 veterans and 82 academicians. They claimed that the move is undemocratic claimed that the "nature of the present Congress Party has always been undemocratic and their hubris has always come in the way of the nations progress. "If only the Congress and its allies would ponder deeper, would they get that it is not the soul of democracy that has been lost but that the oppositions popularity which has been lost," the letter read. The opposition doesnt get that resorting to its modus-operandi to hold placards and vociferous sloganeering, disrespecting the most important institutions of the country, they stated. As many as 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi, 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. Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a jibe at the Congress party on Friday on the 'Sengol' issue, accusing it of hating Indian traditions and culture. Shah's sharp reaction came after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said there was no evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the 'Sengol' as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick', " tweeted Amit Shah. This came as the golden 'Sengol', kept at the Allahabad Museum, was moved to the national capital ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The saffron party plans to install the 'Sengol' in the Lok Sabha close to the Speaker's podium. It will be taken out on special occasions. The 'Sengol' was reportedly handed over to Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of the countrys independence by the deputy chief priest of the Thiruvadutharai Adheenam a Shaivite mutt located in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, the mutt had handed it over to Lord Mountbatten first before taking it back. According to the BJP leaders, Sengol symbolises the transfer of power to India from the Britishers on 14th of August 1947 and represents the values of fair and equitable governance. However, Jairam Ramesh said there was no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the 'Sengol' as a symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India. On Twitter, Ramesh said, "The sceptre is now being used by the PM (prime minister) and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament." Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 He claimed that a majestic sceptre conceived of by a religious establishment in the Madras province and crafted in Madras city (now Chennai) was indeed presented to Nehru in August 1947. "There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- bogus," he said. "Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," the Congress general secretary communications said. BJP had earlier too hit out against the Congress for what it said was "disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to India's first prime minister Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. Scientists at Columbia University have developed an algorithm that improves the accuracy of predicting extreme weather events. The algorithm addresses the issue of cloud organization, which has been lacking in traditional climate models. Cloud organization plays a crucial role in predicting precipitation intensity and variability. The research team, led by Pierre Gentine, director of the Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP) Center at Columbia University, utilized global storm-resolving simulations and machine learning techniques to create an algorithm capable of handling two distinct scales of cloud organization: those that can be resolved by climate models and those that are too small to be resolved. Their groundbreaking findings have been published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Accurate weather predictions have become increasingly important in light of the rising frequency of extreme weather events caused by global warming. While precipitation in nature exhibits significant variability, climate models tend to underestimate this variability and often bias towards light rain. Consequently, accurately predicting precipitation intensity, particularly during extreme events, has proven challenging. Pierre Gentine, a professor of Geophysics at Columbia University, expressed excitement about the study's results, stating, "Our findings are especially exciting because, for many years, the scientific community has debated whether to include cloud organization in climate models." He added, "Our work provides an answer to the debate and a novel solution for including organization, showing that including this information can significantly improve our prediction of precipitation intensity and variability." To achieve these improved predictions, Sarah Shamekh, a PhD student working with Gentine, developed a neural network algorithm that harnesses the power of machine learning. This algorithm learns the relationship between fine-scale cloud organization and precipitation. The algorithm autonomously measures the clustering of clouds, a key metric of cloud organization, and employs this metric to enhance precipitation predictions. Shamekh trained the algorithm using a high-resolution moisture field that encodes the level of small-scale organization. The study's lead author, Sarah Shamekh, explained, "We discovered that our organization metric explains precipitation variability almost entirely and could replace a stochastic parameterization in climate models." She further highlighted that including this information significantly improved precipitation predictions, accurately forecasting extremes and spatial variability. This groundbreaking research not only improves weather prediction accuracy but also opens up new avenues of investigation. The researchers are now exploring the concept of precipitation memory, wherein the atmosphere retains information about recent weather conditions, influencing future atmospheric conditions within the climate system. The implications of this research extend beyond weather prediction, with potential applications in modeling ice sheets and ocean surfaces. By incorporating cloud organization into climate models, scientists are taking a significant step towards better understanding and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events driven by climate change. Carmona is a town that lies in southwestern Spain, in the province of Seville. Between the first and second centuries A.D., it was one of the main municipalities of the Roman province of Betica, exhibiting the same buildings, institutions and customs as any great city within the empire. Today, Carmona still preserves outstanding archaeological remains from that time, including the largest funerary complex in the Iberian Peninsula. The survival of these millennial vestiges drew special attention in 2019, during the renovation of a building on the main road. Beneath the structure, a family mausoleum was found, with six occupied niches, or spaces for urns: three for men and three for women. Inside them, numerous funerary offerings were discovered, including a delicate little bottle carved from quartz crystal, with a solid mass inside. Researchers from the University of Cordoba have now analyzed the composition within the crystal bottle. Its the first time that the smell of a Roman perfume made 2,000 years ago has been identified with scientific accuracy. The university, in an informative note, is concise: The Romans smelled of patchouli. While inspecting the burial chamber of the mausoleum which is decorated with paintings eight niches were found in magnificent condition, although two of them were never used. It has also been verified that the space was never looted. Inside each niche, various objects related to funeral rituals and offerings were found, such as cremated bones, the remains of a cloth bag, three amber beads and an egg-shaped lead box, inside of which the solidified ointment was found. This was the scented offering that someone had placed in the niche of a woman who, when she died, was aged around 40. The study, titled Archaeometric Identification of a Perfume from Roman Times, has been published in the Swiss scientific journal Heritage. It is co-authored by experts Daniel Cosano, Juan Manuel Roman, Fernando Lafont and Jose Rafael Ruiz Arrebola. Quartz vessels were very rare luxury items, the paper reads. Typically, they were not carved, but [formed with heat]. The vessel was, therefore, a rather unusual archaeological find and even more unusual was that it was hermetically sealed and had a solid mass inside. This provided a unique opportunity to determine the chemical composition of the substances in this high-quality perfume or cosmetic bottle. The specialists recall that, although the finding is rare, there have been other such cases, such as two small bottles found in London and Naples but with animal fat inside as well as a perfume found in Egypt that was 5,000 years old. The Egyptians thought that perfume came from Ra, the sun god. From ancient Egypt, perfumes spread to other places like Greece and, later, Rome. The Romans only began to appreciate perfumes after the conquest of the eastern fringe of the Mediterranean, the authors write. Two researchers inside the mausoleum found in Carmona, circa 2019 Ayuntamiento de Carmona Fragrances were produced on a large scale during the Roman Empire. The physician Pedanio Dioscorides Anazarbeo (40-90 A.D.) compiled several recipes with aromatic oils, which were used for both perfumes and medicines, while the writer Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.) described how to make them. According to the latter, perfumes or ointments had to contain a liquid part and a solid part. Coloring agents could also be added, to make them more attractive to the eye. The oils most used by the Romans were those extracted from sesame, horseradish, almonds or, especially, from olives. This ingredient had to be extracted from green olives, since they resist oxidation better than ripe ones. In any case, the experts from the University of Cordoba point out, the recipes detailed by the classical authors were very vague or confusing, regarding the proportions of the components and the procedures for making them. The Romans used perfumes not only in daily life, but also on special occasions such as funerals, where incense was mandatory. In addition, the fragrances were also used as ointments when embalming the deceased. When a corpse was cremated, the bones and ashes were kept in an urn together with somewhat expensive perfumes, which were preserved in metal, glass, ceramic or rock containers, depending on the wealth of the deceased, or the support from their relatives, heirs and friends. To identify the substance inside the Carmonan vessel and the material with which it was made, the specialists carried out multi-analytical and archaeometric studies. The report reads that this included various instrumental techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman (Raman) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies, as well as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Detailed analysis reveals that the vessel was made out of a limestone called dolomite and sealed with bitumen, which allowed the state of conservation to be magnificent. Regarding the perfume and as recommended by Pliny two components were used: a base or binder, which facilitated the preservation of the aromas and the essence. In this case, the base was vegetable oil, possibly olive. And the essence? According to the analytics, [the Romans] smelled of patchouli. This essential oil was obtained from a plant of Indian origin Pogostemon cablin (also known as stink weed, or pucha pot) which is widely used in contemporary perfumery, but was not common in the Roman era. This was a very difficult element to obtain at the time of the death of the woman, which shows that she belonged to a high social class. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) finding unprecedentedly extensive usage in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Russian air defence system is underlining its efficacy and pivotal role by neutralizing these drones in huge numbers. According to a special report published by the London-headquartered Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on May 18, Russia is taking down about 10,000 Ukrainian UAVs a month mostly along the roughly 1,200 km of front along which the opposite forces are engaged at varying levels of intensity. The UAVs are being neutralized by a dense network of Electronic Warfare (EW) systemswith approximately one major EW system on every 10 km of frontage usually situated approximately 7 km from the frontline, with more specialised EW capabilities sat at higher echelon. These EW systems usually aim to control and defeat the UAVs. RUSI is the worlds oldest and the UKs leading defence and security think tank. The report has been prepared from interviews with and observations of Ukrainian military units in April and May 2023 that operated in the defence of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Bakhmut and Avdiivka, and participated in offensive operations in Kherson and Kharkiv. Inputs were also taken from Ukrainian military officers involved in data collection, assessment and dissemination of lessons. At any given point in time, Russia and Ukraine operate between 25 and 50 UAVs over the contested area between the forward line of own troops (FLOT) and the forward line of enemy troops (FLET) at any given time for each 10 km of frontage, the report says. Among Russias military weaknesses, RUSI identifies the low morale among the forces as a key one. Generally, it is low, with a rise in prosecutions for desertion, observed instances of wounded comrades being abandoned, and very little depth of junior leadership. Personnel are also rarely rotated and there is considerable weariness across the force. But at the same time, a certain resilience is coming to the fore. The report adds: In theory, this (low morale) should make Russian units brittle. In practice, they appear to be able to take very heavy punishment without collapsing. But what should be of concern to Moscow should be the abundant use of artillery ammunition which is much more than the scale of manufacturing. The rate of Russian fire during the first quarter of 2023 fluctuated between 12,000 and 38,000 rounds per day. The number of days in which Russian fires exceeded 24,000 rounds is now much scarcer, and it is notable that in terms of the allocation of fires Russian artillery ammunition and barrel allocations are assigned to fewer priority axes. Thus, whereas total ammunition expenditure in 2022 was approximately 12 million rounds, fluctuating between 20,000 and 60,000 rounds fired per day, Russian fires in 2023 are currently trending closer towards 7 million rounds if the current rate of fire is maintained for the remainder of the year. Ukrainian estimates place current Russian shell production at 2.5 million rounds per year> the RUSI report says. A notable conclusion that the report draws is the shift in Russias use from 152-mm fire to 120-mm mortar fire. An interesting finding is the way the Russians have modified their tanks using anti-thermal material to good effect thereby reducing the effectiveness of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Modification to the engine deck and thus the heat plume from the vehicles exhaust and engine is reducing the reliability of where certain ATGMs engage the target (And) by fighting at dusk and dawn when the vehicle temperature is most similar to the ambient temperature of the surroundingsknown as thermal crossoverthe vehicles are harder to detect through thermal imagery, the report reveals. Another highlight of the Russian military capability proven in the ongoing conflict is the efficiency of Russian long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) against the Ukrainian Air Force. The longest-known shoot-down against Ukrainian aircraft was at 150 km when the aircraft was flying lower than 50 feet, the RUSI report added. A passenger who opened the emergency door of a South Korean flight minutes before landing was detained by police on Friday. According to authorities, the flight landed safely and they have started investigation against the passenger. Some people aboard the Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft tried to stop the person from opening the door but it was eventually opened partially, the Transport Ministry said. The plane with 194 people was heading to the southeastern city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju. The flight is normally about an hour, and details of the incident, including how long the door was open, were under investigation, according to Asiana Airlines. Video footage, apparently taken by a person on board that was posted on social media, show some passengers' hair being whipped by the air blowing into the cabin through the open door. Police detained the unidentified person who opened the door, the airline said. Their motive wasn't immediately known. The passengers included teenage athletes who plan to attend track and field competitions in Ulsan, another southeastern city. The incident terrified some passengers but no one was injured, though some passengers were assessed at a hospital, Asiana and Transport Ministry officials said. Reuters reported the plane landed safely at 12.40pm and nine teenage passengers were rushed to the hospital after they complained of breathing issues. Reuters quoted an official of Transport Ministry saying that it was possible to open the emergency exit when the aircraft was near the ground as the pressure inside and outside the cabin were similar. The plane was two or three minutes away from landing when the male passenger sitting next to an emergency exit opened a cover and pulled a lever so the door opened with the plane about 200 metres (656 ft) off the ground, Reuters quoted an Asiana spokesperson as saying. (With PTI inputs.) Ukraine has claimed to have shot down ten Russian missiles and 25 drones in an overnight attack in the cities of Kyiv and Dnipro and eastern regions. 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, Reuters reported. According to the Ukrainian side, 17 missiles and 31 drones were launched starting at about 10 pm local time on Thursday. The attack continued until the early hours of Friday. Several drones hit targets in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. No deaths have been confirmed so far. It was a very difficult night," Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said on the Telegram. "It was loud the enemy launched a mass attack on the region with missiles and drones. Dnipro has suffered. According to Lysak, infrastructures including civilian houses, cars, and companies, including a transport company and a gas station were destroyed. US Army Gen. Mark Milley on May 25 said that Russia will not achieve a military victory in Ukraine. He also added that Kyiv won't be able to push Moscow's troops out of their country any time soon. Speaking at a virtual meeting of defence leaders from around the world to discuss the ongoing military support for Ukraine, he said providing 10 F-16s could cost $2 billion, including maintenance. "The Russians have a thousand fourth and fifth-generation fighters, so if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're going to need a substantial amount of fourth and fifth-generation fighters." US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to New Delhi next week to meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, the Pentagon has announced. The visit precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the White House next month. Austin will visit New Delhi to meet with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as the United States and India continue to modernise the US-India Major Defense Partnership, the Pentagon said on Thursday, announcing the defence secretary's trip to Japan, Singapore, India and France next week. This visit provides an opportunity to accelerate new defence innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and drive ongoing efforts to expand operational cooperation between the US and Indian militaries, the Pentagon said. Austin will begin his trip from Japan, as part of his seventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region. In Tokyo, he plans to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukasu Hamada and other senior leaders and also visit the US troops stationed in Japan, it said. The visit also comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernise alliance capabilities, optimise US force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic US-Japan 2+2 ministerial meeting earlier this year, the Pentagon said. From there, Austin will travel to Singapore where he will deliver plenary remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue. On the margins of the Dialogue, the secretary will meet with key leaders to advance US defence partnerships across the region in support of the shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in ASEAN centrality. After Singapore, Austin will visit New Delhi and then conclude his trip in France to participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day, and meet with French and the United Kingdom defence leaders, it added. Washington, May 26 (PTI) India-born US District Judge Amit Mehta had some tough words for Stewart Rhodes before he sentenced the founder of a far-right anti-government militia for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that ended with the violent attack on the US Capitol. Mehta, in his early 50s, handed down an 18-year prison sentence to Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, on Thursday for his role in the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Rhodes' sentence was the longest handed out so far for the riot, where thousands of supporters of former president Donald Trump who objected to the result of the 2020 presidential election won by Democratic leader Joe Biden. The supporters of Trump, a Republican, stormed the US legislature and stopped the constitutional proceedings of the counting of the electoral votes for Biden. Before announcing the sentence, 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, CNN reported. "I dare say, 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, 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." The sentence is the first handed down in over a decade for seditious conspiracy and Mehta said he wanted to explain the offence 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 offence against the government to use force. It is an offence against the people of our country," the judge said. Mehta said Rhodes, 58, has expressed no remorse and continues to be a threat. "It would be one thing, 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." Mehta echoed these warnings later on 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 don't rush into the US Capitol with the hope to stop the electoral vote count." Meggs, the leader of the militia's Florida chapter, was jailed for 12 years. Prosecutors had asked for 25 years for Rhodes and 21 years for Meggs. Mehta was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on December 22, 2014, by former US president Barack Obama. Born in Patan, Gujarat, Mehta received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Georgetown University in 1993 and his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1997. After law school, Mehta worked in a law firm in San Francisco before clerking for Susan Graber of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Mehta worked at a Washington, DC-based law firm. He is also a former Director of Facilitating Leadership in Youth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to after-school activities and mentoring for at-risk youth, according to his profile on the website of the US District Court, District of Columbia. Islamabad, May 26 (PTI) Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the decision to attend the SCO's Foreign Ministers meeting in India earlier this month proved "productive and positive" for the country. Addressing a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Bilawal said that it was important for his ministry to project Pakistan's case and point of view not only in India but also in front of other participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). "As far as the Kashmir issue, bilateral issues between Pakistan and India and the responsibilities of multilateralism are concerned, my conclusion after the trip is that it is a productive and positive decision to participate in the event, he said. "We thought we should project Pakistans case and point of view in front of not only Indian but the other participant countries, he informed the committee. Bilawal travelled to Goa on May 4 to attend a conclave of the SCO the next day, the first such high-level visit to India from Pakistan since 2011. Bilawal's visit came amid continued strain in ties between India and Pakistan on a number of issues including Islamabad's continued support to cross-border terrorism. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who hosted the SCO meeting in Goa, accused his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal of being a "promoter, justifier and a spokesperson of a terror industry." Jaishankar also asserted that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and will" always be part of India. Bilawal acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to participate in the SCO meeting and a lot of work was done by the Foreign Ministry to evolve a consensus. He said that former foreign secretaries, leaders of allied parties and other stakeholders were taken on board for their feedback regarding participation in the event in India. "SCO is a multilateral forum and it provided opportunities to hold meetings with the world leadership and project Pakistans point of view on various points, he said. Bilawal said that the second point that had been considered for attending the event was that Pakistan's all-weather-ally China and Russia were the founders of the SCO. He said that Pakistan wanted to fight terrorism in the best interest of the country. Bilawal said that Pakistan would host the SCO conference in 2026-2027 and there was hope the Indian counterpart would attend the meeting. Responding to a question regarding Afghanistan, he said a stable, prosperous and secure Afghanistan was in the interest of the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries. He said that it was the request of the interim government of Afghanistan to address the core issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP) operating from its soil against Pakistan. He said that after the taking over of the interim Afghanistan government, terrorist attacks in Pakistan have spiked. "The issue of Afghanistan had also been discussed with the participants of the SCO conference during sideline meetings," he said. Kyiv, May 26 (AP) Russia's southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack on Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscow's forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometres (more than 4 miles) from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation centre, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russia's southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom, said resident Tatiana Safonova. We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said described the sound beforehand like a growling, noisy moped driving by. Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. Ukraine's Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russia's Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russia's Defence Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian president's office reported on Friday. (AP) PY PY Kathmandu, May 26 (PTI) Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" will embark on a four-day official visit to India from May 31 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Foreign Ministry sources said here on Friday. This will be Prachandas first foreign visit after assuming the high office for the third time in December last year. Foreign Ministry sources here said the visit will take place from May 31 to June 3 and the Ministry will make a formal announcement on Saturday. The foreign ministry will make a formal announcement of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachandas official visit to India on Saturday. The visit will take place from May 31 to June 3 and he will hold high-profile meetings, including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on bilateral ties," the official, who is an aide to Foreign Minister N P Saud, said. "The preparations for the visit have reached its final stage. Foreign Minister Saud last week held consultations with former foreign ministers and foreign Secretaries to discuss various issues related to the visit," the official said. Meanwhile, Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma called on Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar in New Delhi this week and discussed Prime Minister Prachanda's upcoming visit. Matters related to energy cooperation, water resources, trade, commerce, transit and infrastructure would mainly figure during the bilateral talks in Delhi between the two leaders, according to foreign ministry sources. Pristina (Kosovo), May 26 (AP) Serbia put its troops on the border with Kosovo on the highest state of alert on Friday following clashes between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo police that left more than a dozen injured on both sides. The Serbs in northern Kosovo, who represent a majority in that region, were trying to block the entrance of municipal buildings to prevent recently-elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering them. Police fired tear gas and several cars were set ablaze. In response to the clashes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that he put the army on a highest state of alert. Vucic also said that he ordered an urgent movement of Serbian troops closer to the borderline with Kosovo. Vucic will attend a rally in support of him in Belgrade after two mass shootings earlier this month that killed 18 people and left 20 others wounded. He said in a statement that because of violence against Kosovo Serbs, Serbia demanded that NATO-led troops stationed in Kosovo protect them from the Kosovo police. Kosovo police acknowledged their increased presence in the north to assist mayors of the northern communes of Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok to exert their right of work." Police said that five officers were injured by stun grenades and other hard objects thrown from protesters. A police car was burned while three others were damaged. Police also reported that shots were heard. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Kosovo Serb hospital officials said that about 10 protesters were injured. US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeff Hovenier condemned the ongoing action by Kosovar authorities to access municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo. Today's violent measures should be immediately halted, he tweeted. New mayors in three communes in northern Kosovo, which is mostly populated by an ethnic Serb minority, were prevented from entering the buildings with small groups of Serbs keeping their hands up at the entrance of the municipalities, apparently in a sign that they were not there to take part in violence, Albanian indexonline.net website wrote, also showing photos. In Zvecan, the Kosovo-online.com site showed clashes with police in front of the public building while in Leposavic they also had blocked the main square with cars and trucks. Earlier, Serbs also switched on their alarm sirens in the four communes, including in the main northern Mitrovica town, in a warning sign and call to gather, sirens which are used by criminal structures for mobilisation and gatherings, according to police. The April 23 snap election was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs and only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies. Local elections were held in four Serb-dominated communes in northern Kosovo after Serb representatives left their posts last year in protest at the establishment of the association, which would coordinate work on education, health care, land planning and economic development at the local level. With Kosovo's ethnic Serbs demanding autonomy, Kosovar Albanians fear that the association may turn into a new ministate like Srpska Republika in Bosnia. A 2013 Pristina-Belgrade agreement on that plan was later declared unconstitutional by Kosovo's Constitutional Court, which ruled that it wasn't inclusive of other ethnicities and could entail the use of executive powers to impose laws. The two sides have tentatively agreed to back a EU plan on how to proceed, but tensions continue to simmer. The association issue is among the main ones, for which both the United States and the European Union are pressing Kosovo. The United States and the EU have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as the war rages in Ukraine. The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo they must normalize relations to advance in their intentions to join the bloc. The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbia's rule, and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died. NATO's military intervention in 1999 eventually forced Serbia to pull out of the territory. Washington and most EU countries have recognised Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China have not. (AP) PY PY Mumbai, May 26 (PTI) The Mumbai police have arrested five persons for allegedly beating to death a 29-year-old man on the suspicion of being a thief in suburban Borivali, an official said on Friday. The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, he said. A mob of local residents assaulted the victim, Pravin Shantaram Lahane, around 1.15 am suspecting him to be a thief when he passing through their locality in the jurisdiction of Kasturba Marg police station in Borivali (East), he said. A police team rushed to the spot after being informed, and rescued him. He was then taken to a nearby hospital, the official said. "He was discharged after preliminary treatment and brought to the police station. But as he complained of uneasiness after some time he was again rushed back to the same hospital where he died," he added. A first information report (FIR) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), was registered and five accused were arrested, the official said, adding that the police are on the lookout for a couple of more persons. 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 At the Cannes Film Festival, the kids at the center of Riddle of Fire have been dubbed the Goonies, in reference to the classic 1985 adventure movie. However, Riddle of Fire, an American indie film shot on 16mm by the debutant Weston Razooli, has its own personality and very little in the way of nostalgia. It all begins when three friends Hazel, Alice and Jodie steal a video game, only to come up against their worst enemy: the parental-control PIN. This launches them into an adventure featuring a blueberry pie, a dozen speckled eggs, a gang of criminals, and the daughter of one of its members: Petal, a girl blessed with magical powers and a way with words. A movie that has been a mini-sensation in Cannes, Riddle of Fires appearance at the festival coincides with entries by Wes Anderson and Michel Gondry, two members of indie royalty whose youthful universes are now starting to sprout gray hairs. In Andersons entertaining movie Asteroid City, which is in the official selection of contenders for the Palme dOr, the aesthetic hallmark of the directors films continues to stand the test of time, thanks to a backdrop that idealizes 1950s America, that period of naive suburban prosperity in which the forces of consumerism began to unfurl their tentacles. Andersons new visual fantasy is dominated by a pallet of turquoise, beige and coral blues that hog the spotlight. It doesnt matter how stellar the cast is, or how absurd the storyline is; everything is engulfed by the movies aesthetic. In The Book of Solutions, which is alongside Riddle of Fire in Cannes Directors Fortnight section, Gondry returns from an eight-year hiatus to join the growing trend among filmmakers for autofiction (following in the footsteps of movies like Victor Erices Close Your Eyes and Nanni Morettis A Brighter Tomorrow). The Book of Solutions tells the story of a bipolar, paranoid director who must confront a harsh reality: the people paying for his film are going to take control of the project away from him, because the movie is incomprehensible. Accompanied by his film editor, the director runs away to his aunts house in the country, where he faces up to his creative difficulties. While The Book of Solutions is a love letter to cinema, Riddle of Fire is a love letter to life. Although the central characters set off on an adventure on their bicycles, were not talking about a calculated 80s-nostalgia rehash in the mold of Stranger Things. Yes, you hear the 70s song Baby Come Back by Player, but the films emotions are new, fresh. Its revamped fantasies lead to a kind of pop magical realism in which witches, fairies and toy guns evoke a childhood in which Hansel and Gretel co-exist with the PlayStation. Together with the Spanish film Robot Dreams, an animated delight by Pablo Berger thats part of Cannes Special Screenings section, Riddle of Fire is proof that alternative family films capable of opening up new horizons can be made. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Mumbai, May 26 (PTI) The Customs department on Friday destroyed drugs worth over Rs 1,500 crore at an incineration facility, officials said. Mumbai Customs Zone-III burnt down the narcotic substances at the Mumbai Waste Management Limited at Taloja in Navi Mumbai, he said. The destroyed drugs included 9 kg of high-purity cocaine and 198 kg of methamphetamine (meth) which were seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, from a fruit consignment in October 2022, the official said. This was one of the biggest seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine and would have fetched Rs 1,476 crore in the illicit drug market, he said. Party drug MDMA, mandrax and ganja seized in various parts of Mumbai and its neighbouring areas were also destroyed, he said. Kolkata, May 26 (PTI) With Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing nine years in office, the Trinamool Congress on Friday said the last nine years will be remembered as a period of "failed promises and disastrous policy decisions". TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O' Brien, in a tweet, said the last nine years were "high on promises and low on delivery", with the weakening of the country's institutions and misuse of central agencies to target the opposition being key achievements of the BJP government. "Nine years of failed promises and disastrous policy decisions. The floundering nine: Failing to check price rise. Failing to provide jobs. Destroying social harmony. Destroying federalism. Undermining the Constitution. Weakening India's institutions - Parliament to Election Commission. Misusing central agencies only to target opponents. Notebandi? Farm Bills? Anti Labour Code? Anti Industry Disinvestment? Privatisation of profitable PSUs? Nine years. High on promises. Low on delivery," O'Brien tweeted. The BJP, however, rejected the TMC's criticism of the Narendra Modi government on its ninth anniversary as an "effort to divert attention from its failures''. "The TMC must first assess its performance while being in power in West Bengal for the last 12 years. The state government and the ruling party are neck-deep in corruption, and its administrative failure is evident from the worsening law and order situation," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said. Kolkata, May 26 (PTI) Environmentalists are sceptical about the West Bengal governments plans to put an end to illegal firecracker units by locating all factories dealing with sparklers in clusters where they can be regulated and forced to follow green norms. Similar endeavours had been initiated by the state earlier but they remained only on paper, the environmentalists claimed. According to a decision taken at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, the clusters will be set up in areas that have been identified as hubs of illegal firework manufacturing. Noted environmentalist Subhas Dutta told PTI the move to set up clusters was a stunt devised by politicians before elections which will not yield any result. Dutta, an environment crusader, said earlier too there had been talks of setting up fireworks clusters during the Left Front rule and recent years but nothing materialised. "Instead of making such an announcement, the state should address the core issue of livelihood opportunities for those involved in this business. "It is a fact that the demands for firecrackers have risen in West Bengal in recent years and to meet the burgeoning demand, many illegal units are coming up. So the twin issue of meeting the demand for fireworks and bringing the sector under proper safety cover must be addressed," Dutta said. Added environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh, the planning for development of clusters for fireworks factories had started in 2012 and a detailed project report (DPR) was ready in 2018. However as Covid pandemic came up, the plan could not be implemented. The net worth of the firecracker business, which is a cottage industry in the state, is Rs 6,000 crore and 4 lakh people are employed in the sector, according to sources in the fireworks makers association. A senior environment official said, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Environment department in coordination with Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) held workshops with the association of fireworks makers in South 24 Parganas district, like Pradesh Atasbaji Byabasayee Samity (PABS), since October 2022 on producing green fireworks conforming to safety guidelines, where the issue of setting up of clusters came up. While there were talks for setting up fireworks clusters even in the 2012-18 period, it did not take off, the official said. The state government had firmed up the plan to set up a cluster as soon as possible after Calcutta High Court ordered last year that only green fireworks bearing QR codes can be sold, another government official pointed out. However, Sara Bangla Atash Bazi Unnayan Samity (All-Bengal fireworks development society) chairman Babla Roy said the process of setting up the clusters has already started in fireworks hubs at South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas . PABS secretary Sukhdeb Naskar said "Work on such clusters has already started in Maheshtala area, away from congested localities, in South 24 Parganas district from April, and it is expected to be functional before Durga Puja-Kali puja festivals. At least 17 people recently died in three incidents of blasts and a devastating fire at a godown in the state. The explosion at Egra in Purba Medinipur on May 16 claimed 12 lives, including that of the prime accused, while three members of a family succumbed in Budge Budge in South 24 Parganas on Monday. There was no casualty in another blast at Dubrajpur in Birbhum district the same day. The fire at a carbide godown in Malda district on Tuesday killed two persons. "The explosions at Egra, Budge Budge and elsewhere were due to non-adherence of standard safety guidelines by the fireworks makers who had stocked their material and gunpowder at home illegally," Naskar said. The state government held a meeting with firecracker manufacturers on Tuesday during which it was decided that various types of clusters will be set up for making and storing firecrackers legally. Babla Roy, who was present at the meeting, said the administration will help them build sheds and godowns on government or private land. The clusters will be built in open spaces at least 300 metres away from congested areas, and experts will hold workshops on how to manufacture green firecrackers, he said. In West Bengal, firecrackers are made in all districts except Darjeeling . They are mostly concentrated in Champahati, Haral, Baruipur, Mahestala, Nungi, Budge Budge, Mahestala, Satgachhia in South 24 Parganas, Barasat, Narayanpur, Nilganj, Barrackpore, Naihati in North 24-Parganas, Gangnapur, Kalyani in Nadia, Pingale, Egra, Sabong in Purba Medinipur, Dubrajpur, Narajol, Debra in Paschim Medinipur, and Belur, Uluberia, Bagnan of Howrah. New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Congress parliamentary party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi at their residence here. Siddaramaiah is in the national capital to discuss matters related to the expansion of his Cabinet and this is his first meeting with Sonia Gandhi after the Congress formed government in the southern state. The Karnataka chief minister is learnt to have assured the CPP chairperson of good governance in the state and also thank her for her guidance and campaigning during the assembly elections. Top Congress leaders on Thursday had held discussions with Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar over expansion of the state Cabinet. The leaders had met Congress general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, party general secretary organisation K C Venugopal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Sources had said around 20 more ministers are likely to be inducted in the Karnataka Cabinet and added that another round of discussions will be held before the it is finalised. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were sworn in as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively along with eight cabinet ministers on May 20. The Congress high command had approved the first list of eight ministers against the earlier plan of inducting a much higher number of around 28 legislators into the Cabinet. Karnataka can have a maximum of 34 ministers and the Congress will find it difficult to accommodate all the aspirants. Sources said the names of only those MLAs were cleared who represented all sections and were senior-most, and there were no objections from any side over the choice. Differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are emerging over names of probable ministers with both pushing the case of MLAs close to them. Jammu, May 26 (PTI) Security forces on Friday arrested an associate of the banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen along with a Chinese grenade in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, police said. The terror associate has ben identified as Mohd Yousaf Chouhan of Chhar Cherji village in Kishtwar. Based on the information about involvement of Mohd Yousaf Chouhan in terror-lated activities, a case was registered, police officials said. Teams of police along with the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation in Cherji, Chicha and Padyarna areas of the district and arrested the Hizb associate, they said. On his disclosure, police recovered one Chinese grenade from Cherji area, the officials said. A major search operation has been launched in the area to nab active terrorists of the district and further develop leads into the case, they added. Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police Khalil Poswal warned the youths not to fall pray to the evil designs of terrorist organisations which will spoil their career. so that immediate counter action is taken against them accordingly, he said. Chandigarh, May 26 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will not attend the Niti Aayog meeting in the national capital on Saturday to protest the alleged discrimination against the state by the Centre over the issue of grant of funds, a party leader said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting. Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab unit chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said the chief minister has taken up with the Centre the demand to release Rs 3,600 crore outstanding rural development fund (RDF), but the Centre has been sitting over it. He said Mann has in the past met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal in this regard. "The Centre is discriminating against Punjab...so in protest, the chief minister will not be going for the NITI Aayog meeting," Kang said. "Sometimes it is the RDF issue, sometimes it is value reduction imposed by the Centre on wheat crops damaged due to untimely rains, GST compensation delay, sometimes it is the coal issue..they 'discriminate' against Punjab. But we want to tell them that the country runs according to the Constitution," Kang told PTI over phone. The Niti Aayog meeting will deliberate on several issues, including, health, skill development, women empowerment and infrastructure development, with an aim to make India a developed nation by 2047. The council, the apex body of Niti Aayog, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers. Among other issues, the Punjab government had last year said the Centre has turned down the state government's proposal of contributing to the cash incentive to farmers for not burning stubble. The state government had proposed to give Rs 2,500 per acre to paddy growers. It suggested that the Centre pay Rs 1,500 per acre while Rs 1,000 per acre will be borne by Punjab and Delhi governments. Another issue which had witnessed friction between the state and the Centre pertained to Mohalla Clinics. Earlier this year, the Union Health Ministry had said the Punjab government was converting the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) into Mohalla Clinics, a pet project of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, and had warned of stopping the funds for the scheme. The AB-HWC is formulated with a 60:40 contribution ratio by the Centre and the state. New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) A Delhi court on Friday granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for issuance of an 'ordinary passport' for three years instead of 10, the period for which it is normally issued, following an objection raised by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. The former Congress president had surrendered his diplomatic passport upon his disqualification as an MP. "I'm partly allowing your application. Not for 10 years but three years," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vaibhav Mehta told Gandhi's counsel while pronouncing the order in a packed courtroom. The court noted the National Herald case was pending at the stage of cross examination of the complainant in pre charge evidence and Gandhi has been regularly appearing either in person or through his counsel and has not hampered or delayed the proceedings. Rahul Gandhi is an accused in the case in which Swamy is the complainant. This court has to take into account the public interests involved and also has to keep in view the rights of the applicant to travel abroad. Therefore, this court after going through the submissions of both the sides and after perusal of the record is of the view that ends of justice would suffice if the applicant is granted NOC for renewal of the passport of the applicant as per rules for a period of three years, the judge said. Gandhi is scheduled to visit the United States in the first week of June during which he will attend meetings and interact with university students. He is slated to visit Washington DC, New York and San Francisco. The Congress leader will likely address Indian Americans, meet lawmakers at the US Capitol, and interact with members of think tanks, Wall Street executives and university students during his stay. The magisterial court, in the forenoon, reserved its order on Gandhi's plea for grant of NOC after hearing submissions of his lawyers and Swamy. Swamy opposed the application, saying it was "devoid of any merit" and insisted the passport should be issued only for one year and renewed every year thereafter. It is a special case. The passport should not be issued for 10 years. It seems wrong, he said, and claimed Gandhi's Indian citizenship was under question. He alleged Gandhi was a British citizen. Gandhi's advocate Tarannum Cheema contested Swamy's claim and said two petitions asking for initiating criminal proceedings against the Congress leader on the citizenship issue have already been dismissed by higher courts. Cheema, along with advocates Nikhil Bhalla and Sumit Kumar, urged the court to allow the passport to be issued for 10 years since such relief has been granted by higher courts in cases involving more serious offences. They said in the present case even charges have not been framed. The National Herald case is based on a private criminal complaint by Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others, accusing them of cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. Swamy has accused them of cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the now-defunct daily newspaper National Herald. All of them were directors of Young Indian Ltd (YI), a company that was incorporated in 2010 and which took over the "debt" of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of National Herald. Swamy has accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 50 lakh by which YI obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which the AJL owed to the Congress party. Earlier, the magisterial court had granted an opportunity to Swamy to file his reply to Gandhi's plea seeking a no-objection certificate, and observed that the right to travel is a fundamental right and courts had placed no restrictions on his movement. It said he has travelled several times without having to obtain permission. The ACMM had also said, while granting bail to Gandhi in December 2015, the court had placed no restrictions on his travel and Swamy's plea for imposition of restrictions had been rejected. The magisterial court, while granting bail to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in 2015 had said the accused are reputed persons having deep political roots and there is no apprehension that they will flee. "The applicant ceased to be a Member of Parliament in March 2023 and as such he surrendered his diplomatic passport and is applying for a fresh ordinary passport. By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking permission and no objection from this Court for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him," Gandhi said in the application. An ordinary passport that is generally issued to adults it is valid for 10 years. On March 24, Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala was declared vacant after Rahul Gandhi, who represented it in the Lok Sabha, was disqualified following his conviction in a defamation case in which he was sentenced to a two-year jail term. The Congress leader, whose sentence has been suspended in the defamation case filed over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname, had moved the court seeking a no-objection certificate on Tuesday. Idukki (Kerala), May 26 (PTI) 'Arikomban', the rogue tusker translocated to Periyar Tiger Reserve last month, has been spotted roaming around the inlands of Kumily in the hill district of Idukki in Kerala causing some worry among locals, forest officials said on Friday. The jumbo was found just some metres away from an inhabited area in Kumily, around 85 kilometres away from its original abode Chinnakkanal, on Thursday night, they said. The elephant, notorious for its ration shop raids and love for rice, was spotted in the Rosapookkandam area last night and the wildlife officials fired in the air to drive it back to the forest, a senior forest official said. Forest officials have been closely monitoring presence of the translocated tusker through GPS signals from the radio collar attached to it. "Arikomban was found just six kilometres away from the Kumily town. When it reached some 100 metres away from the inhabited area, we fired in the air to scare the animal and drive it back to the forest," the official told PTI. The official said as per their assumption, the jumbo went back to Medakanam in the Thekkady area by Thursday night itself. When asked whether there is any chance of the elephant going back to Chinnakkanal, he said the possibility is remote as of now. "It seems that the animal is moving within a particular circle in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu forest area. As there is plenty of water, it frequently comes back to Periyar Tiger Reserve region," he added. A bull elephant notorious for breaking into homes and ration shops to steal rice earning him the moniker of 'Arikomban' or rice-loving tusker in Malayalam, the jumbo had been released into the deep interiors of Periyar Tiger Reserve after tranquilising it through an hours-long mission on April 30. As the tusker has been radio-collared, signals from it are being received, officials added Kota, May 26 (PTI) The Rajasthan anti-corruption bureau has arrested a Delhi Police assistant sub-inspector for accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe from a Kota-based man, an official said on Friday. Rekha Singh, posted at the Mansarovar Park Police Station in Delhi's Shahdara, was apprehended in a Delhi-bound passenger train on Thursday night, the bureau's additional superintendent of police in Kota, Vijay Swarnkar, said. The assistant sub-inspector will be produced before a court later in the day, he said. Singh had demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the man for dropping the names of his family members from a case related to unlawful demand of property from his wife, officials said. The case was registered at the Mansarovar Park Police Station in September last year, Swarnkar said. The man, who is the complainant in bribery matter, had said he had already paid Rs 14,000 to Singh when she called him at the police station for interrogation, the official said. The man then told her that he would pay the remaining amount in Kota and invited her here, Swarnkar said. He lodged a complaint then with the bureau in November last year. The assistant sub-inspector reached Kota on Thursday and visited the complainant's house, he said. Singh took the bribe amount of Rs 20,000 just before the Nalanda Express departed from Kota for Delhi on Thursday night. The bureau's team caught her with the money and they got down at the Gudla railway station, Swarnkar said. The complaint was verified before the operation, officials said. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Areas of patchy fog early. Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 69F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. The first film adaptation of Hans Christian Andersens classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, was a live-action production released in 1952, more than 35 years before Disney created its animated version. One of Hollywoods most successful directors at the time, Charles Vidor, took the helm of the project, delivering a musical that gives a false account of the authors inspirations for his most well-known fairy tales, including a sequence which references the story of the mermaid and the prince who couldnt fall in love with her. Since then, a great number of films and TV projects have adapted Andersens story into live-action or animation, including several Japanese anime television series, a Spanish anthology film, other Hollywood productions, and, of course, the Walt Disney 1989 production, which is now credited for breathing life back into the art of Disney animated feature films and is being re-adapted into live-action. Every version differs from the original story, with some being more light and kid-friendly, and others more mature and dark, with every creator trying to bring it to life with their own style. Although the Disney version is definitely the most popular, its far from being the most interesting adaptation of Andersens tale. That honor could easily go to Mala morska vila, a 1976 live-action Czech film, a creatively brilliant vision of the story that, despite its limitations, manages to tell the story of the young mermaid with fantasy, wonder, and a visual style influenced by surrealism and the Czechoslovak New Wave movement, resulting in one of the strangest but most beautiful versions of The Little Mermaid. Miroslava Safrankova and Petr Svojtka in a scene from 'Mala morska vila.' Filmove studio Barrandov (IMDB) Mala morska vila Mala morska vila (Little Mermaid) was directed by the rebellious director Karel Kachyna, who was well known for his politically critical movies like Long Live the Republic! and The Ear, in which he developed his style of strange narration with surreal or odd elements within the stories. During the 70s, he focused on historical movies, dramas and childrens movies, but his sense of experimentation didnt stop. Miroslava Safrankova stars in the film as the Little Mermaid, in a role that was one of her first acting credits. Famous Czech actors like Radovan Lukavsky, Petr Svojtka, and Libuse Safrankova appear in supporting roles. The film presents the underwater world in a unique way. The director uses slow motion and blurring techniques to make the audience feel like theyre underwater, which, aligned with the fantasy setting, gives it a very psychedelic feel throughout. The mermaids are not presented with fish tails but as water spirits. The makeup, costumes, and hairstyles turn every underwater character into a kind of elf or magical creature, while the real world looks plain and uninteresting. This strong contrast further separates both worlds. However, its the story and the performances that make this film one of the best versions of Andersens work. Although its not a completely faithful adaptation, it manages to deliver the light and the dark of the original while inserting new elements that give the story more depth. The story begins with a bright moment: the Little Mermaid plays with her sister before they discover the remnants of a shipwreck in which she finds a drawing of the surface world. The Little Mermaid and the Prince in 'Mala morska vila'. Filmove studio Barrandov (IMDB) The Little Mermaid is interested in the fate of her mother, who is not part of her life even though mermaids are supposed to live for hundreds of years. Shes also set to be married to a prince, although shes not convinced by the match; the marriage also involves some political and social conflict between her family and his, adding yet another layer of complexity to a simple fairy tale. The rest of the film closely resembles other versions. However, Kachynas script (which he penned with childrens literature writer Ota Hofman) introduces the concepts of feminism, social change and revolution, possibly due to his work on his early films and his political influence. During that time, Czechoslovakia (then a part of the Eastern Bloc of the Soviet Union) experienced a period of relative political stability compared to the preceding years, but it also suffered limitations on civil liberties and political freedoms. The government exercised strict control over the media, promoting mainly communist ideology. The Soviets censored several of Kachynas scripts, and he was pushed to create other types of films. Its possible that he used Mala morska vila to make social and political commentary under the guise of a childrens film. Either way, Mala morska vila still stands out as one of the most interesting adaptations of The Little Mermaid with its psychedelic aesthetics, its mixture of beauty and haunting imagery, and its complex script. The good news for those who remain unconvinced by the Disney movie is that Mala morska vila is available on YouTube. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Citroen is to sell 1,000 new, upgraded 'My Ami Buggy' electric vehicles, of which 40 will go on sale online (citroen.co.uk/ami) in the UK at 2pm on June 20, priced at 10,495. The first people to order will receive their vehicles from the end of September. Quirky: Officially a quadricycle rather than a car, buggy will be available in nine countries including the UK, France and Italy The vehicle has no doors or roof and a khaki body It comes with additional accessories including transparent door covers for weather protection Officially a quadricycle rather than a car, the quirky buggy will be available in nine countries including the UK, France and Italy. It follows the success in 2022 of 50 of the 'My Ami Buggy Ultra-Limited Series' which sold out in France in just two minutes, 53 seconds. The vehicle has no doors or roof and a khaki body. It comes with additional accessories including transparent door covers for weather protection, a removable zipper bag positioned in the centre of the steering wheel to store small everyday objects, and a new roof closure system with a zipped canopy. Irish oil and gas developers were hit hard on AIM this week after Ireland's Green Party stifled plans for an offshore Cork project. Barryroe Offshore Energy shed 32 per cent to 1.2p while Lansdowne Oil and Gas lost 21 per cent to 0.16p. Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland's coalition government sent a letter to the partners in the Barryroe venture stating he is 'not satisfied with the financial capability of the applicants.' According to the Irish government, the companies now have no rights over the asset. The licence expired in July 2021 and Barryroe and Lansdowne, which have invested US$20million into the project, had been seeking for it to be extended or renewed. If successful, a new project could have moved into the appraisal and development phase. Steve Boldy, chief executive of Lansdowne, said it will now 'resort to legal proceedings in relation to our investment.' 'We believe we have a very strong claim against the Irish government and the company will be resolute in defending and protecting the rights and investment of our shareholders,' Boldy added. Across the broader market, the AIM-All Share Index fell 2.4 per cent to 792. London's blue chip companies on the FTSE 100 didn't fare much better, shedding 2.1 per cent to 7,587, while the FTSE 250 slipped 2.4 per cent to 18,811. It wasn't all bad news for oil and gas firms across London's junior market, however. Corcel added around 8 per cent to 0.32p this week after it struck a deal to buy onshore oil assets in Angola. The firm agreed to buy a 90 per cent stake in Atlas Petroleum Exploration Worldwide, which has interests of between 20 per cent and 35 per cent in a total of seven oil fields in Angola. Consideration for the deal is pitched at 800,000, paid in shares at a premium price of 0.4p each - which will be 'locked up' preventing the vendors selling for 18 months. Active Energy rocketed 34 per cent to 6.2p after the firm, which develops biomass fuels, said Player Design received a permit for the construction and operation of a CoalSwitch facility in the US. CoalSwitch, according to the company, is a biomass fuel that can replace the traditional coal fired-power industry. Sticking with positive news and Phoenix Copper told investors it is edging closer to production at the Empire copper mine, which sent shares climbing 21 per cent to 27.4p. The US-focused precious metals exploration and production company added it is also seeking funding for first production at minimum additional dilution to shareholders. Byotrol, the infection prevention and control company, surged 40 per cent to 2.1p after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the virucidal claims for its 24-hour germ kill surface sanitizer Byotrol 24. Onto some fallers, and Pressure Technologies certainly felt the squeeze as shares slipped 4 per cent to 42p. The industrial valve manufacturing company published results which showed an operating loss of 2.6million in the year to 1 October 2022. The AIM-quoted firm had told investors in November it made a loss of 1.4million, but had to recalculate the figures as a result of a historic accounting error. Another engineering group to make losses in London this week was 600 Group, tumbling 15 per cent to 7.5p. Specialising in industrial laser systems, the group warned it expects to make an operating loss for the full-year due to the delivery of unprofitable customer contracts. Shares in Physiomics, the company that uses mathematical models to develop cancer treatments, warned that total income for the year will fall short of guidance. Shares fell 25 per cent to 2p after telling investors it expects income to be 660,000 this year, down on previous guidance of 750,000. The law could require companies like OpenAI to reveal which copyrighted material they used to train their systems He previously threatened to quit Europe due to 'over-regulating' upcoming law The boss of ChatGPT's developer has said the company has no plans to leave Europe, despite criticism of upcoming laws on artificial intelligence. Sam Altman, the chief executive of Silicon Valley's start-up OpenAI, made a U-turn following his previous comments that the company might leave the bloc if it becomes too difficult to comply with regulations. Altman this week said the current draft of the EU AI Act - the very first set of rules to govern artificial intelligence anywhere - was 'over-regulating', but today he backtracked. U-turn: OpenAI's chief, Sam Altman, has criticised EU planned law on AI as 'over-regulating' 'We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave,' Altman tweeted on Friday. Under the proposed law, which the EU started drafting two years ago, MEPs want to impose new transparency measures on 'generative' AI applications like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Generative' Large Learning Model (LLM) systems deploy massive data sets to analyse and generate content. The law could require companies like OpenAI to reveal what copyrighted material they used to train their systems to create text and images. Facial recognition in public spaces and predictive policing tools could also be banned under planned regulation. Microsoft-backed ChatGPT was unveiled late last year and became the fastest-growing consumer application in history, reaching 100million monthly active users in a matter of weeks. Microsoft acquired a $13billion stake in OpenAI in 2019 and plans to integrate the start-up's technology into all its products. OpenAI first clashed with regulators in March, when Italian regulator Garante shut the app down domestically, accusing the company of flouting European privacy rules. ChatGPT came back online after the company instituted new privacy measures for users. Pressure on the world's largest oil firms ramped up as Norway's titanic sovereign wealth fund threw its weight behind climate activists against US oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron. The 1.1trillion fund, the largest of its type in the world, will support proposals by shareholders in both firms at their annual general meetings (AGMs) on Wednesday to introduce targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The move came as French fossil fuel giant Total's AGM descend into chaos yesterday when police were forced to intervene to stop protesters from disrupting it. Officers clashed with activists outside the venue in Paris, spraying activists with tear gas and dragging others away so investors could attend. The furore continued inside, when 30.4 per cent of voting shareholders backed a motion calling for Total to speed up cuts to its greenhouse gas emissions. Under pressure: Norway's sovereign wealth fund has thrown its weight behind climate activists against US oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron It followed a tumultuous meeting in London this week for rival Shell where protesters heckled the board. Around 20 per cent of voting investors also opposed its energy transition strategy while another 20 per cent supported a motion to make environmental targets more ambitious. Last month saw similar scenes at the annual meeting of fellow oil major BP which was disrupted by protesters after the firm scaled back commitments to cut oil and gas production and reduce its emission reduction targets. With the upcoming AGMs for Exxon and Chevron set to be mobbed by climate protesters, Carine Smith Ihenacho, the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund's chief corporate governance officer, said it did not think the two US giants were 'ambitious enough' about cutting emissions. The fund is the sixth-largest investor in Exxon with a stake of nearly 1.2 per cent. It controls 0.9 per cent of Chevron, making it the tenth-biggest shareholder but has faced allegations of hypocrisy for pushing oil companies to adopt stricter climate change targets while raking in vast sums from Norway's fossil fuel reserves. Some activists have questioned why it supports climate change proposals for Exxon and Chevron and has not backed similar resolutions tabled at BP, Shell and Total. 'This jeopardises their credibility as stewards of the global economy,' said Mark van Baal, founder of shareholder climate activist group Follow This. They are saying to Shell, BP and Total: you don't have to reduce emissions this decade. We expect them to correct this oversight next year.' Topping up your state pension can give a boost of thousands of pounds to your retirement income - but Britons only have until July to meet this year's deadline. Since 2001 over four million people have made Class 3 National Insurance Contributions, allowing them to fill old gaps in their NI records and get a higher state pension. Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show that on average 193,000 people topped up each year from the 2000/01 tax year up until the 2020/21 tax year, wealth management company Quilter said. The average cost of contribution for the four million people who topped up was 474 over the period. State pension top up: It's worth checking if you can fill gaps in your National Insurance record and boost your pension. In March the Government caved in to pressure and extended a crunch deadline to buy extra state pension top-ups after frustrated savers jammed its phone lines for weeks. People trying to boost their state pension now have until July 31 to do so at current rates of up to 824 for each year, and less for a part-year gap. Normally 2016/17 would be the earliest year in which NI records could be filled in during 2022/23, but until the end of July people can fill in gaps all the way back to 2006/07. Buying state pension top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy or fill up the correct years. According to the most up to date data available from the Department for Work and Pensions, nearly 3.8 million people - around 34 per cent of those who get the state pension - missed out on the full amount, as of March 2020. Furthermore, around 805,000 people do not receive the full new state pension, equating to 55 per cent of the nearly 1.5 million people who get it. They may get less than the full state pension because of gaps, but also if they contracted out of paying additional NI contributions - S2P and Serps - during their working lives. Jon Greer, head of retirement policy at Quilter, said: 'The Government made the correct decision to extend the deadline to July. Still having issues buying top-ups? This is Money receives many complaints from readers about the confusing and at times chaotic state pension top-ups system. A constant issue is the phone gridlock that prevents callers getting through to top up their state pension. We flagged the issue with DWP and the deadline was later extended. But if you are still having issues please write and tell us your story at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk Please put STATE PENSION TOP-UPS in the subject line. This is Money will not use your information for any marketing or other purposes. Unfortunately we will not be able to reply to everyone. You might also want to contact your MP for help. 'But that new deadline is fast approaching and again it is important to appeal to anyone that might think they have gaps to check and think about filling them if, it is of benefit to them, and they can afford to. 'Filling these gaps represents one of the best investments you can make. To put it into perspective someone with ten missing years could pay a little over 8,000 to fix the gaps and boost their state pension income by 55,000 over a typical 20-year retirement.' Generally, the new full state pension is paid out to those who have at least 35 years of NI contributions. The new state pension can be claimed if you have at least ten years National Insurance contributions and are: a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953. If you were born before these dates, you will get the basic state pension instead. People aged between 45 and 70 who have gaps in their NI record are most likely to benefit from the current concession to buy top-ups all the way back to 2006, and should act now in order to meet the deadline. Gaps in records can occur due to a variety of reasons such as having been employed on low earnings or unemployed but not claiming benefits. You can check if you have gaps in your record via the government's state pension forecast tool on gov.uk. If you are not predicted to get the full amount of new state pension (currently 203.85 a week) it is worth going through your record for holes. However, it can be tricky to work out which years you could benefit from, if any, so the Government and money experts recommend checking with the Future Pensions Centre before handing over your cash. Greer adds: 'Paying voluntary contributions won't benefit everyone and it is key to contact the Future Pension Centre on 0800 7310175 who will be able to tell you if paying extra will increase your state pension entitlement. 'It could be one of the most fruitful calls you make.' Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. decreased its position in shares of Invitae Co. (NYSE:NVTA Get Rating) by 21.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,415,682 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 391,747 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. owned about 0.58% of Invitae worth $2,633,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Invitae by 33.5% during the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 122,893 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 30,807 shares in the last quarter. Longitude Cayman Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Invitae by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Longitude Cayman Ltd. now owns 415,000 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $772,000 after acquiring an additional 35,000 shares in the last quarter. Deuterium Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Invitae by 200.0% during the 3rd quarter. Deuterium Capital Management LLC now owns 30,000 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $74,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invitae during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Invitae by 219.2% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 83,287 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $205,000 after acquiring an additional 57,196 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.79% of the companys stock. Get Invitae alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CAO Robert F. Werner sold 21,559 shares of Invitae stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.20, for a total transaction of $25,870.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 354,748 shares in the company, valued at $425,697.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CAO Robert F. Werner sold 21,559 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.20, for a total value of $25,870.80. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 354,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at $425,697.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Yafei Wen sold 43,452 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.99, for a total value of $86,469.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 700,297 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,393,591.03. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 136,919 shares of company stock worth $198,630 over the last three months. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Invitae Price Performance Shares of NYSE NVTA opened at $1.08 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $1.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $1.94. Invitae Co. has a 1 year low of $1.05 and a 1 year high of $9.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.65, a quick ratio of 2.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.68. Invitae (NYSE:NVTA Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The medical research company reported ($0.37) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.41) by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $117.36 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $116.57 million. Invitae had a negative net margin of 611.14% and a negative return on equity of 285.28%. The businesss revenue was down 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.78) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Invitae Co. will post -1.48 EPS for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have weighed in on NVTA shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Invitae in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Invitae from $1.75 to $1.50 in a research report on Monday, May 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Invitae from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $2.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James lowered shares of Invitae from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $3.88. Invitae Profile (Get Rating) Invitae Corp. engages in the provision of genetic information into mainstream medical practice. It includes comprehensive panels for hereditary conditions in cancer, cardiology, neurology, pediatric, and rare diseases. The company was founded by Randal W. Scott and Sean E. George on January 13, 2010 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVTA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invitae Co. (NYSE:NVTA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Invitae Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invitae and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telia Company AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:TLSNY Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at Citigroup from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report issued on Friday, The Fly reports. Separately, Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Telia Company AB (publ) from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $33.25. Get Telia Company AB (publ) alerts: Telia Company AB (publ) Stock Down 2.0 % TLSNY stock opened at $4.86 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Telia Company AB has a 12 month low of $4.83 and a 12 month high of $8.49. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $5.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $5.19. About Telia Company AB (publ) Telia Company AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:TLSNY Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The technology company reported $0.03 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter. Telia Company AB (publ) had a negative net margin of 15.36% and a negative return on equity of 16.68%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Telia Company AB will post 0.25 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Rating) Telia Co AB engages in the provision of network access and telecommunication services. It operates through the following geographical segments: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and TV and Media. It focuses on mobile, television, and fixed-line operations. The company was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in Solna, Sweden. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Telia Company AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telia Company AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Family photographs of some of those who died hang on display in an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial centre in the capital Kigali, Rwanda on April 5, 2019. One of the most wanted suspects in Rwandas 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 tribunals 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 Kayishemas 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 Kayishemas 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The waters of the Hagatna River overflows its banks and encroaches into the Bank of Guam parking lot in Hagatna, Guam, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar. Guams 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 islands 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 agencys 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 hotels 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 Bazas mothers 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 familys 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [May 26, 2023] Canada Post reports $107-million loss before tax in the first quarter Increased competition and softer ecommerce market negatively affected Parcels revenue and volumes OTTAWA, ON, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Canada Post recorded a loss before tax of $107 million in the first quarter of 2023 as Parcels revenue was relatively flat and Transaction Mail and Direct Marketing revenue declined. The Canada Post segment's loss before tax in the first quarter improved by $22 million compared to a loss before tax of $129 million in the same period of 2022. Revenue fell by $32 million, or 1.7 per cent, compared to the same period of 2022. Parcels revenue was relatively flat as volumes declined slightly from the same period of the prior year. Direct Marketing revenue and volumes fell as businesses continued to pull back on marketing. Transaction Mail revenue and volumes continued to erode. In the first quarter of 2023, the cost of operations fell by $34 million, or 1.7 per cent compared to the same period of 2022. This was largely due to lower employee benefits which were partly offset by higher non-capital investment costs. With Parcels representing approximately half of Canada Post's revenue, the Corporation is investing to better position itself in a competitive market and ensure the postal service continues to be a valued delivery partner. The Corporation is making significant strategic investments to improve service and tracking, enable its network, increase capacity and enhance the customer experience. Parcels In the first quarter, Parcels revenue increased by 0.2 per cent, or $1 million compared to the same period a year earlier, as volumes fell by 7.6 per cent, or five million pieces. The competitive landscape continued to have an impact on the Parcels business as low-cost new entrants and rate-shopping platforms have disrupted the package delivery sector. A softer ecommerce market related to lower consumer spending also affected volumes. Transaction Mail Transaction Mail revenue fell by 2.7 per cent, or $18 million, compared to the first quarter of 2022, as volumes declined by 3.4 per cent, or 23 million pieces. Consumers and mailers continued to shift to digital channels. The Corporation maintained regulated stamp prices at 2020 levels, which also negatively affected revenue in the quarter. Direct Marketing In the first quarter, Direct Marketing revenue declined by 4.5 per cent, or $11 million, as volumes decreased by 5.5 per cent, or 52 million pieces. General economic uncertainty continued to impact volumes and revenue as businesses pulled back on marketing. Group of Companies The Canada Post Group of Companies1 recorded a loss before tax of $58 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to a loss before tax of $100 million in the same period a year earlier. Purolator's profit before tax of $46 million in the quarter increased from $28 million in the same quarter of the prior year. SCI's first-quarter profit before tax of $3 million rose from $2 million compared to the same period of the previous year. Background The Canada Post Group of Companies' operations are funded by revenue generated by the sale of its products and services, not taxpayer dollars. 1. The Canada Post Group of Companies consists of the core Canada Post segment and its three non-wholly owned subsidiaries, Purolator Holdings Ltd., SCI Group Inc. and Innovapost Inc. SOURCE Canada Post [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] VERSES AI CEO Gabriel Rene to Deliver Keynote Address at LD Micro Invitational XIII VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VERSES AI Inc. (CBOE: VERS) (OTCQX: VRSSF) ("VERSES'' or the "Company), a cognitive computing company specializing in the next generation of artificial intelligence, is pleased to announce that the Companys CEO, Gabriel Rene, will be the keynote speaker at the opening of this years LD Micro Invitational held at the Luxe Sunset Hotel in California from June 5th to 8th, 2023. LD Micro is an exceptional platform for exchanging ideas, knowledge and fostering meaningful connections," commented Gabriel Rene. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to address such a prestigious gathering of industry professionals and thought leaders. I look forward to sharing the companys vision, experiences and insights that have contributed to our success in the Artificial Intelligence space." Verses AI is scheduled to present its keynote speech on Monday, June 5th at 4:00pm PDT and company presentation on Wednesday, June 7th at 11:00am PDT. Interested parties can register for the event here: https://ldinv13.sequireevents.com About LD Micro LD Micro, a wholly owned subsidiary of Freedom US Markets, wasfounded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the micro-cap space. Whether it is the Index, comprehensive data, or hosting the most significant events annually, LD's sole mission is to serve as an invaluable asset for all those interested in finding the next generation of great companies. For more information on LD Micro, visit www.ldmicro.com . About VERSES VERSES is a cognitive computing company specializing in next-generation Artificial Intelligence. Modeled after natural systems and the design principles of the human brain and the human experience, VERSES flagship offering, GIA , is an Intelligent Assistant for everyone powered by KOSM , a network operating system enabling distributed intelligence. Built on open standards, KOSM transforms disparate data into knowledge models that foster trustworthy collaboration between humans, machines, and AI, across digital and physical domains. Imagine a smarter world that elevates human potential through innovations inspired by nature. Learn more at VERSES , LinkedIn , and Twitter . On Behalf of the Company Gabriel Rene VERSES Technologies Inc. Co-Founder & CEO [email protected] Media and Investor Relations Inquiries Leo Karabelas Focus Communications President [email protected] CBOE Canada has not reviewed or approved this press release for the adequacy or accuracy of its contents. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Bosch Home enters Vietnam with a German quality HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bosch Home Appliances, a premium German brand owned by BSH Vietnam, has officially launched its products in the Vietnamese market. The company introduced an experiential event, named "Bosch: Chu?n Ch?t ?c" (Bosch German quality) to demonstrate its readiness to provide world-class products and services to Vietnamese consumers. Established on January 1st, 2023, BSH Vietnam aims to contribute to the building of a Europe-standard lifestyle in Vietnam through top-quality household appliances and services. During the media launch event, Bosch's products made a lasting impression with their sleek and classy design, along with their highly advanced integrated technologies. The event showcased BSH's commitment to Vietnam, and its ecosystem of authorized products will appeal to mid-end/high-end Vietnamese customers who take an interest in the latest life-improvement trends. "We hope our distributors and customers felt Bosch's distinctive German essence shining through at the event. Our true German quality is not just about products with sleek and minimal design that operate with enduring stability, but also in the creation of modern, classy, and creativity-fueled lifestyles. We are confident that brands under BSH will become top European brands in Vietnam in the near future," said BH Vietnam CEO, Ms Becky Vo. Until now, BSH Vietnam has expanded their distribution network of 1,000 distributor stores selling home appliances across Vietnam, along with official stores on two leading e-commerce sites: Lazada, Shopee, and plan to expand their footprint to all distribution channels in Vietnam in coming time. "As the needs for improving the quality of life of Vietnamese consumers increase, constant competition against other home appliances brands, both domestic and international, is simultaneously an opportunity and a challenge for Bosch when entering Vietnam. Bosch always have Vietnamese consumers' best interests at heart, strive for constant innovation to meet their needs, and provide dedicated post-purchase care," said Mr Oguzkan Akar Chief Finance Officer of BSH Vietnam. In celebration of the media launch event, customers purchasing Bosch home appliances via the Bosch Home Appliances authorized flagship store on Lazada and Shopee will enjoy the promotion up to 50% for Bosch Home Appliances's products, and three years of warranty coverage along with professional customer care services. About BSH The name Bosch is known worldwide as a symbol of excellent quality and reliability. For more than 85 years now, its home appliances have also honoured this claim: Bosch is Europe's leading household appliances manufacturer. Its products are based exclusively on the real requirements of modern households. Thanks to trendsetting technology and surprisingly simple solutions, they effortlessly achieve perfect results and simplify everyday life. In addition, high quality, precisely finished materials and a timeless, internationally acclaimed design ensure unmistakable quality and sustainability. A recognised high service quality cements the trust of the user in the brand and underpins the Bosch guiding principle, "Invented for life". For more information, visit https://www.bosch-home.com.vn/vi/ Hotline: 1800 8167 (open from 8:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday, except on holidays) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BoschHomeVietnamOfficial Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/congdongboschhomevn Shopee: https://shopee.vn/bosch_home_appliance_2023 Lazada: https://lnkd.in/gh9CivWP View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bosch-home-enters-vietnam-with-a-german-quality-301835358.html SOURCE Bosch Home Appliances [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Alex Colville masterpiece June Noon illuminates Heffel auction and surpasses $2 million mark Heffel auction soars to $17.2 million in sales, ignited by intense global bidding in sales, ignited by intense Alex Colville masterpiece June Noon dominates, surpassing $2 million dominates, surpassing Emily Carr , Lawren Harris and E.J. Hughes each broke the million dollar mark with major, well-known canvases TORONTO, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Heffel Fine Art Auction House , leading force in the art market, presented a remarkable collection of artworks at its highly-anticipated spring auction this evening in Toronto. The works were presented in Heffel's brand new Yorkville auction room, with participation from a global audience, as the live and online experiences were seamlessly married through Heffel's Digital Saleroom. In the spotlight were museum-quality and fresh to the market masterworks by Alex Colville, Emily Carr, Lawren Harris and E.J. Hughes, among many others. Heffel's marquee sale demonstrates the power and resilience of the art market, with an unwavering apetite for important works of art. (All prices are in Canadian dollars and include a buyer's premium.) The packed saleroom witnessed an exhilarating moment as the iconic masterpiece by Alex Colville, June Noon found a new home amidst intense bidding. With its commanding presence and thoughtful depiction of the artist and his wife, Rhoda, June Noon achieved an explosive result, selling for an impressive $2,161,250. Fresh to the auction market after spending more than 50 years in the famous Langen Collection in Germany, the important 1963 masterpiece was shown at the 1966 Venice Biennale and has been widely exhibited and sought-after ever since. "We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming success of tonight's auction," said Robert Heffel, Vice President of Heffel. "The extraordinary results achieved reflect the imressive works on offer, the passion of collectors across the world and the vibrant and incredibly strong auction market. We are deeply grateful for the continued support and trust bestowed upon us by our consignors." Highlights from the Spring 2023 Live Auction Alex Colville led the Heffel sale as the acclaimed June Noon surpassed the $2 million mark . The work was admired at Heffel's cross-country previews and found a new home tonight after it had been well cared-for in an important European collection for half a century (est. $1,500,000 2,500,000). led the Heffel sale as the acclaimed surpassed the mark The work was admired at Heffel's cross-country previews and found a new home tonight after it had been well cared-for in an important European collection for half a century (est. 2,500,000). Emily Carr's exceptionally rare and brightly coloured canvas, Sitka Totem Pole surpassed the million dollar mark at the Heffel auction and sold for three thousand times its original selling price of $400 , which is inscribed on the back of the painting. The beloved work has been cared for by the same family since it was first acquired from Carr's dealer, and has only been seen by the public once in the last 100 years when it toured with the National Gallery of Canada's 2006 exhibition, Emily Carr : New Perspectives on a Canadian Icon. exceptionally rare and brightly coloured canvas, surpassed the million dollar mark at the Heffel auction and sold for three thousand times its original selling price of , which is inscribed on the back of the painting. The beloved work has been cared for by the same family since it was first acquired from Carr's dealer, and has only been seen by the public once in the last 100 years when it toured with the National Gallery of 2006 exhibition, Lawren Harris's mesmerizing Northern Image , consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia was standout at the Heffel auction, captivating attendees with its dynamism and beauty. This cherished artwork from Harris's abstract period commanded significant attention and achieved a remarkable sale price of $1,021,250 and became the most valuable abstract work by the artist ever sold at auction (est. $450,000 550,000). mesmerizing , consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the was standout at the Heffel auction, captivating attendees with its dynamism and beauty. This cherished artwork from Harris's abstract period commanded significant attention and achieved a remarkable sale price of and became the most valuable abstract work by the artist ever sold at auction (est. 550,000). E.J. Hughes' masterpiece canvas Abandoned Village, Rivers Inlet, BC fetched an impressive $1,801,250 at auction, exceeding presale expectations. The widely known and exceptional example by Hughes was consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia and made its market debut at Heffel this evening. fetched an impressive at auction, exceeding presale expectations. The widely known and exceptional example by Hughes was consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the and made its market debut at Heffel this evening. Arthur Lismer's remarkable An Ontario Village ( Meadowvale ), a treasure among the artworks on offer, emerged as a highlight in the sale as it far surpassed its estimate of $250,000 to $350,000 and sold for a monumental $751,250. The large scale canvas, commanding in scale and rich in colour, is a museum quality example by the Group of Seven artist. remarkable a treasure among the artworks on offer, emerged as a highlight in the sale as it far surpassed its estimate of to and sold for a monumental $751,250. The large scale canvas, commanding in scale and rich in colour, is a museum quality example by the Group of Seven artist. Two iconic works by Andy Warhol garnered heavy competition in the Post-War & Contemporary Art session, following Heffel's global Warhol record last fall. The highly-coveted portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from the Reigning Queens series sold for $277,250 and the Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species series sold for $301,250 , a new world auction record for the iconic image globally. garnered heavy competition in the session, following Heffel's global Warhol record last fall. The highly-coveted portrait of from the Reigning Queens series sold for and the from the Endangered Species series sold for , a new world auction record for the iconic image globally. Jean Paul Riopelle's market is stronger than ever, as Canada prepares to celebrate his centenary. The Automatist artist shined bright in the spring auction, with the sale of four examples from important periods in his incredible career, all of which surpassed their estimates. The outstanding works were led by the dynamic 1958 canvas Foison which sold for $661, 250 (est . $250,000 350,000). Heffel is now inviting consignments for the fall 2023 auction season, encompassing international and Canadian works of art. The deadline for spring consignments is August 2023. For more information on the works included in Heffel's spring live auction, visit www.heffel.com . About Heffel Fine Art Auction House Since 1978, Heffel has connected passionate collectors across the world with outstanding works of art, with sales totaling three quarters of a billion dollars. With facilities in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary, Heffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides premium client service to both sellers and buyers internationally. For additional information, to schedule an interview, or for images and b-roll, please contact: Rebecca Rykiss Heffel Fine Art Auction House [email protected] 647-361-4607 SOURCE Heffel Fine Art Auction House [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, during an official act in Havana. YANDER ZAMORA (REUTERS) Josep Borrells first trip to Havana as high representative of Foreign Policy for the European Union began on Thursday with a clear show of support to the increasingly important Cuban private sector and a message to the authorities that Brussels is willing to collaborate in the deepening of the economic reform taking place on the island, as the country is going through one of the worst crises in its history, which has resulted in unprecedented social unrest. Borrells visit, which will last until Saturday, comes at a particularly complex moment for the government of Miguel Diaz-Canel, which in recent months has exponentially increased its economic and political rapprochement with Russia. Given this situation, European diplomacy is trying to keep the channels of dialogue and influence open, preserving the spaces created since 2017 with the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the EU, which put an end to the two decades of estrangement that involved the so-called European common position promoted by former Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar. Within this dialogue, of utmost importance for the EU, is the always delicate issue of progress in the field of human rights, which will be discussed on Friday in the official talks and which generates quite a few frictions on the Cuban side, although at least now it can be officially discussed. For Havana, one of the key issues is the European condemnation of the U.S. embargo and support for its diplomatic efforts to get the Biden Administration to remove the island from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, something that Borrell has already raised in the past with his Washington counterparts, although nothing has moved so far. The image in Cuba, basically, continues to be that of a cold war, with Russia ever closer and immersed in the war in Ukraine and the Cuban government entrenched against U.S. policy, which it considers the cause of all its ills. In this scenario, Europe is playing its cards, which are of constructive but at the same time critical engagement on various issues; that is, not to break the deck and little by little to achieve progress. In the midst of the current galloping crisis, the green light given in 2021 to the creation of private MSMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises), with legal personality and up to 100 workers, has opened a new scenario on the island. Nearly 8,000 have already been created, and although they still operate with many bureaucratic obstacles, they have changed Cubas economic panorama -one out of every three Cubans now works in the private sector, which contributes almost 12% of the GDP, a reality unthinkable just a decade ago. Precisely, Borrells first public act in Cuba was a meeting with representatives of the new MSMEs, who explained to him the potential of this opening and the problems they face for their businesses to prosper. We know that the current context is full of challenges for MSMEs and new economic actors, but also of formidable opportunities, said the head of European diplomacy, noting that the EU was at their service to support them and work with the authorities in the search for solutions to make their contribution to society more viable. The EU is committed to working with the relevant Cuban ministries to exchange best practices and experiences in terms of legislation that contribute to the modernization of the economy and stimulate MSMEs in various ways - with training courses, technical support, advice, access to financing, etc. - and also contribute to greater legal certainty, said Borrell. In the afternoon, he was scheduled to meet with European businessmen - the EU is a leader in investment and trade with the island - to also express their support and backing. In the period 2021-2024, the EU plans to invest 91 million euros in various collaboration agreements, of which 14 million euros are earmarked for the emerging MSME sector, a figure that could increase in the coming years. On his first day in Cuba he also held a meeting with the Cuban episcopate, and on Friday he will meet with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez to hold the third EU-Cuba Joint Council, as part of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the European Union. The last physical meeting of this format was held in September 2019, when EU diplomacy was still in the hands of Federica Mogherini. A month later, Borrell traveled to Havana, albeit in his capacity as Spanish foreign minister, on one of his last missions before taking over the diplomatic portfolio from the Italian, in December of that year. Two years later, in 2021, with Borrell at the helm, the appointment was limited to a mere informal meeting by videoconference, due to the pandemic. Prior to Borrells trip to Cuba several NGOs asked him to address in his high-level talks the issue of the more than 700 prisoners from the massive demonstrations of July 11, 2021 -something Borrell already condemned at the time- and to demand their release. How the issue will be touched upon, and whether the head of European diplomacy will ask for some kind of gesture from the Cuban side, is not known. It is presumable that it will happen, but in any case it will be in a discreet way, since the current European position is to keep the channels of communication open in order to exert influence, besides the fact that Borrells visit must also be read in a multilateral key, as part of the approach of the EU to the Latin American and Caribbean countries on the eve of the next EU-CELAC summit, to be held in Brussels on July 17 and 18. European sources point out that Cuba is an important voice among developing countries as president pro tempore of the group of 134 developing countries that make up the G-77+China. And if Cuba asks Europe to become more actively involved in getting the U.S. to change its policy of suffocation and remove the island from the list of countries that do not collaborate in the fight against terrorism, the old diplomatic dilemma of help me and I will help you is there again. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [May 25, 2023] Integrating digitalization and industry: Guizhou's agricultural modernization accelerates in the fast lane GUIYANG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Huanqiu.com: In recent years, Guizhou Province has experienced a remarkable transformation in its agricultural and rural sectors, thanks to the rapid growth of the big data industry. This development has propelled the province to expedite the establishment of digital scenarios in agriculture, fostering the digitalization and intelligent evolution of traditional farming practices. The integration of digital technology has permeated every aspect of agricultural production, distribution, operation, and sales, spanning from the cultivation of crops to their ultimate consumption. This seamless fusion of digitalization and industry has led to a profound "Butterfly Effect". At the front end, Guizhou Province boasts over 1,000 local digital sales platforms, such as "ONE MA Guizhou", which have emerged as pivotal gateways for external sales. At the middle end, the integration of logistics infrastructure, exemplified by the "Cloud Warehouse of Guizhou Products", spanning provincial, city, county, town, and village levels, has expedited the efficient transport of agricultural goods from Guizhou. Finally, at the back end, the user-friendly "Guizhou Intelligent Agriculture Cloud Platform" has emerged as a reliable digital steward, facilitating enterprise growth and data collection. This newfound "wisdom" derived from big data has fundamentally reshaped the production and operation way of farmers in Guizhou. In the Luoye New Village of Longtan Sub-district, Guanling Autonomous County, Guanling County Prickly Ash Industry Data Center serves as a hub for agricultural information. Here, a large LED screen showcases comprehensive data on the cultivation base of prickly ash. Through this robust big data platform, real-time information on growth, pest control, soil pH levels, and other essential factors are collected for over 400 acres of prickly ash planting in the Luoye New Village, Longtan Sub-district. These valuable data enable the provision of diverse agricultural guidance, environmental monitoring, and early warning services for the cultivation base of prickly ash. div id="DivAssetPlaceHolder7421"> Furthermore, Prickly Ash Industry Data Center is equipped with an array of advanced systems, including automatic drip irrigation, Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring, standardized management, and AI-based agronomic services. This comprehensive infrastructure is complemented by weather stations, soil monitoring stations, and pest measuring lights strategically placed throughout the prickly ash cultivation area. These devices enable real-time monitoring of crucial factors such as soil conditions, temperature, humidity, and pest activity. At the farm of Guizhou Shenghai Ecological Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd. in Kaiyang County, a cutting-edge big data intelligent management system has revolutionized the concept of automated green ecological intelligent pig farming. This system facilitates real-time video monitoring of the entire pig farming process while intelligently regulating factors such as temperature and humidity. As per the provided information, each pig at the pig farm is equipped with an intelligent ear tag that allows for continuous data collection. These smart ear tags capture various information, including sounds and body temperature, round the clock. By analyzing this data, breeders can effectively monitor the growth and health status of the pigs. In Guizhou, the integration of digital technology and modern agriculture is exemplified in the thriving rural e-commerce sector. Mainstream e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and Jingdong have significantly expanded their presence in the region, with a particular focus on rural areas in recent years. Live broadcast hosts have become a common sight, connecting thousands of households and fostering direct interaction between farmers and consumers. Simultaneously, local e-commerce platforms and logistics infrastructure have been steadily improved, revolutionizing the agricultural production and marketing scenarios. In Rongjiang County, located in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province, a unique job has emerged known as "live-streaming host in rural areas". Among them, Wang Qihong, a village resident and live-streaming host, has transitioned from selling her own agricultural products to assisting entire villages in increasing their income. Over the past six years, she has hosted more than 3,000 live shows, successfully selling over 400,000-Jin (200,000-kg) of vegetables and agricultural goods. Rongjiang County has made dedicated efforts to cultivate and support numerous live-streaming teams in recent years. As a result, the county achieved the cumulative sales exceeding 300 million yuan for various products, both online and offline, in 2022. The integration of the booming big data industry with the rural revitalization of Guizhou is bringing forth a new wave of digital economic growth. Recently, the "Thousands of Enterprises Integration" Empowerment Action Plan of Guizhou Province was issued. As per the plan, substantial progress is expected in enhancing the digitalization of agriculture in Guizhou by 2025. The goal is to significantly raise the index of integration between big data and agriculture from 39.8 in 2020 to 45 in 2025, further driving the synergy between these sectors and unlocking the potential for transformative advancements in the region's agriculture. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/integrating-digitalization-and-industry-guizhous-agricultural-modernization-accelerates-in-the-fast-lane-301833016.html SOURCE Huanqiu.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Guizhou uses big data tech to develop smart healthcare GUIYANG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Huanqiu.com: "It always took me over half a day to take my child to go to the county and see a doctor for a minor illness several years ago. Now we can get remote diagnosis and treatment services from the higher-level hospital when we stay at the township health center. This is very convenient!" A villager of Guiding County, Guizhou Province, is grinning from ear to ear when he talks about the new experience of easily seeing a doctor near his home. As the villager mentioned, it was difficult to ensure the timeliness and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment in a rural health center in some remote areas of Guiding County due to the lack of adequate medical resources. However, Guiding County has comprehensively promoted the construction of "Internet + health care", by vigorously developing medical services such as remote ECG, remote imaging, remote inspection, so that rural patients can get the medical services of hospitals above the county level in township health centers. According to the data provided by Guiding County, from January to August 2022, remote imaging diagnosis was initiated by grassroots medical institutions for 7,889 cases on the remote imaging platform of the medical community, and remote ECG diagnosis for 580 cases on the remote ECG platform of the medical community. Today, the first diagnosis rate at the local grassroots level remains above 50.56%, and the diagnosis rate within the county reaches 91.78%, realizing the access to high-quality resources at the grassroots level. Not only more and more rural residents get convenient medical services, but also urban residents have personally experienced the convenience of smart hospitals in Guizhou. "Patients don' need to bring their medical insurance card or queue up at the counter. They can complete the medical insurance settlement by just logging in the system with their mobile phones." a responsible person of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital told the reporter. Since the launch of the medical insurance mobile payment on the WeChat public account in October 2022, patients with Guiyang medical insurance can complete medical insurance settlement in real time through mobile phones anywhere. For patients, it solves the problem of repeated traveling for registration and payment and thus greatly improves the service efficiency of medical insurance settlement to conduct medical insurance settlement with mobile phones and use "data transmission" to replace patients' running. In the opinion of Ge Bing, Deputy Director of Guiyang Bureau of Health, it can not only fully improve the technical ability and service level in the medical field, but also effectively break the time and space limitations of the traditional diagnosis and treatment mode to innovate and develop the big health industry by means of big data and comprehensively build a smart medical system, so that people can get medical treatment more conveniently. The deep integration of big data and the big health industry has made high-quality medical and health services near at hand. In recent years, Guizhou has made full use of big data to gain insight into people's livelihood needs, optimize people's livelihood services, constantly strengthen the application of big data in the informatization construction of health services, and continuously promote the convergence, integration and sharing of medical and health data. It will explore new ways to demonstrate comprehensive and innovative health reform via the application of big data in the governance of the medical and health industry, medical clinical and scientific research, public health and other scenarios. According to the Health Information Development Plan of Guizhou Province during "14th Five-Year Plan", Guizhou will continue to promote the construction of the support platform for the west health and medical big data center, establish the provincial public health big data center, and build a smart public health system in the next step. It can be expected that with the continuous improvement of the smart medical system, more and more people will truly experience the universality and convenience brought by the application of big data in medical treatment and health care. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/guizhou-uses-big-data-tech-to-develop-smart-healthcare-301833019.html SOURCE Huanqiu.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Guizhou digital government takes a lead in "Park Affairs, Park Management" GUIYANG, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Huanqiu.com: "The 'Smart Micro Hall' in Guiyang Nanming Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park is incredibly convenient. It allows us to handle tax-related tasks in the park, without making trips to the tax office. This not only saves our valuable time but also significantly reduces manpower and associated costs." Recently, the person in charge of a relevant enterprise had the opportunity to experience the self-service taxing service at the 'Smart Micro Hall,' and expressed his happiness with the seamless and efficient self-service taxing process. Furthermore, apart from tax services, enterprises can conveniently access over 300 government services through self-service in the "Smart Micro Hall" now. These services cover tasks such as invoicing, printing tax certificates, and obtaining licenses. The self-service equipment within the hall is equipped with advanced features like "face recognition", "remote video communication" and "all-in-one network" which can realize one-stop and intelligent handling of government services. The "Smart Micro Hall" holds significant importance in Naming District, Guiyang City, as it continues to enhance the reputation of the "Guizhou Service" brand and drive the digitization of government services. It serves as an innovative initiative by the Naming District to enhance the "Park Affairs, Park Management" processes. After conduting thorough preliminary visits and research, Nanming District carefully selected the East Tower of Huaguoyuan Twin Towers, Fuzhong International Company, and Nanming Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park as the initial pilot sites for their extensive reach and promising development potential. In recent years, Guiyang Gui'an has made substantial efforts to significantly expand the availability of government services online, aiming to achieve the vision of "all-in-one network " and "all-in-one window." Currently, the average online processing rate stays at an impressive 82.72% and the satisfaction rate of government services has soared to 99.9% in Guiyang Gui'an. Gao Shan, Deputy Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Big Data Application Technology to Enhance Government Governance, expressed, "over just several years, Guizhou has diligently prioritized the establishment of a national big data (Guizhou) comprehensive pilot zone and a digital economy development innovation zone. We have had the privilege to witness the impressive growth trajectory of Guizhou's big data industry." The National Engineering Research Centre for Big Data has accumulated extensive practical experience in bolstering government governance, fortifying the construction of a digital government, and driving the advancement of the digital economy. With its robust technical capabilities and wealth of talents, the centre stands at the forefront of these endeavors. Guiyang Gui'an, as the core area of the first state-level Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone sanctioned by the government, has been deeply committed to implementing the "digitally activating city" strategy. The successful realization of this strategy is inseparable from the innovative leadership and intellectual support provided by the "state-owned" platform. "In the digital economy era, urban governance has evolved from relying solely on human governance to embracing a combination of human governance and intelligent governance," emphasized by Duan Zhongxian, Deputy Director of Guizhou University's Guizhou High-end Think Tank for Grassroots Social Governance Innovation. Duan highlighted that while the hardware infrastructure for this transformation may not pose significant challenges, the true difficulty lies in the shift from traditional ideologies to institutional mechanisms, methodologies, and approaches. At the core of a digital government lies the fundamental objective of optimizing public services. Duan Zhongxian emphasized that digitally empowered domains such as security, environmental protection, water management, transportation, landscaping, public healthcare, and education should be transformed into "open-source" platforms. This transformation enables the public, as well as scientific and innovative professionals, to access critical resources that drive scientific progress and innovation. In recent years, Guizhou has been resolutely advancing the strategic initiatives in the field of big data. Following the guiding principle of "strategic coordination," Guizhou has made significant efforts to strengthen the construction of a digital government, in particular, to emphasize "aggregation and mutual utilization" of government data resources. Through continuous efforts, it has achieved significant progress in establishing initial data sharing and promoting cross-regional, cross-departmental, and cross-level collaboration. These endeavors have resulted in notable improvements in the scientific basis of governmental decision-making and the efficiency of management services. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/guizhou-digital-government-takes-a-lead-in-park-affairs-park-management-301833680.html SOURCE Huanqiu.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor Group to Establish Battery Cell Manufacturing Joint Venture in the U.S. The new battery cell JV will be located in Bryan County , Savannah, Georgia where Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is currently being built Total investment amount of over USD 4.3 billion; LGES and HMG to take a 50 percent stake respectively JV's battery production aimed to start at the end of 2025 with an annual production capacity of 30 GWh, capable of supporting the production of 300,000 EVs Building the second battery manufacturing JV, LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to continue strengthening the ties with their long-time partnership in electrification efforts SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hyundai Motor Group announced an EV battery cell manufacturing joint venture in the U.S. today. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding to produce EV batteries in the U.S. and further accelerate the Group's electrification efforts in North America. The signing ceremony took place in LGES's headquarters in Seoul on May 26 with the attendance of Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution and Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group will each hold a 50 percent stake in the JV, which will involve the investment of over USD 4.3 billion (KRW 5.7 trillion). "Two strong leaders in the auto and battery industries have joined hands, and together we are ready to drive the EV transition in America," said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. "By further advancing our product competitiveness and global operational expertise, LG Energy Solution will commit our best efforts to offering theultimate sustainable energy solutions to our customers." "Hyundai Motor Group is focusing on its electrification efforts to secure a leadership position in the global auto industry. We will create a strong foundation to lead the global EV transition through establishing a new EV battery cell plant with LG Energy Solution, a leading global battery producer and long-time partner," said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. The annual production capacity of the new joint venture is at 30 GWh, able to support the production of 300,000 units of EVs annually. The facility will be in Bryan County, Savannah, Georgia adjacent to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, currently under construction. Starting construction in the second half of 2023, the joint venture plans to start battery production at the end of 2025 at the earliest. Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the plant, then supply them to the Group's U.S. manufacturing facilities for production of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models. The new facility will help create a stable supply of batteries in the region and allow the Group to respond fast to the soaring EV demand in the U.S. market. With this JV, LGES now has seven battery plants currently operating or being constructed in the U.S., where the company is concentrating most of its resources to expand the production capacity. By ramping up its local production, LGES aims to provide innovative products both in scale and with speed, thereby expediting the clean energy transition in the U.S. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group have long been partners in the field of electrification having worked on the supplies of EV batteries for vehicles, including Elantra Hybrid, Kona Electric, and IONIQ 6 dedicated EV. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, LPi hybrid vehicle introduced in 2009, was the Group's first electrified model. In 2021, both started construction of the Indonesia battery cell JV which is set to start production in the first half of 2024. LGES and Hyundai Motor Group aim to further strengthen the ties going forward with the EV battery cooperation. About LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 25,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers such as General Motors, Stellantis N.V., Hyundai Motor Group, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. At the forefront of green business and sustainability, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com . About Hyundai Motor Group Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT, and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Group's mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on any challenges, we strive to create a better future for all. More information about Hyundai Motor Group, please see: www.hyundaimotorgroup.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-energy-solution-and-hyundai-motor-group-to-establish-battery-cell-manufacturing-joint-venture-in-the-us-301835407.html SOURCE LG Energy Solution [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] Unveiling Black Desert SEA's New Region Land of the Morning Light Launching on June 14 SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Abyss announced today that the "Land of the Morning Light'' region will be released on June 14. According to the Developer's Commentary Video, Black Desert SEA will bring a broad range of new content in the near future, including Woosa's Awakening class on May 31 and Maegu's Awakening class in June. The video mainly focused on showcasing a whole new fully-explorable region in the Land of the Morning Light. Comprising over 80 story cutscenes, 40 vignettes, and 6,000 full-dubbed lines, Adventurers will be able to fully immerse themselves in the new region. Adventurers will receive Yeonhwa's invitation and head off to Nampo Harbor. From then, Dolswe, their trusty companion, will join in for a vast adventure revolving around defeating ferocious bosses and solving riddles in order to uncover the true evil lurking in the shadows. Immersive Boss Fights: Black Desert Boss Blitz The global launch of the new region introduces an additional new boss, "Imoogi," adding up to a total of 9 bosses. By completing each boss's main questline, Adventurers can challenge themselves to defeat those bosses again through the "Black Desert Boss Blitz." The level of difficulty of each boss ranges from "Calamity" Level 1, the lowest, to Calamity Level 10, the highest. The content is structured to be enjoyable for all new, returning, and veteran Adventurers alike. Fundamentally, the 9 bosses tat appear in the Blitz are set to deal and take 90% of their damage according to the newly introduced "attribute," while the remaining 10% depends on the character's original stats. Each boss possesses one of three attributes: Sun, Moon, or Earth, which directly affect their AP and DP. Adventurers will need to strategically enhance the attribute to which each boss shows weakness. New Top-Tier Gear Piece: Dahn's Gloves The highly anticipated new gear, "Dahn's Gloves," has unveiled itself in the video. This gear comes in one of two types that Adventurers can attempt to acquire, either damage reduction or evasion. Most importantly, upon defeating the ferocious bosses, Dahn's Gloves have a low chance of dropping as loot. It can also be crafted with materials such as the "Flame of Hongik," which is also dropped by the bosses or crafted using "Crystallized Despairs" from Elvia Calpheon. New Accessories: Belt of Taebaek and Deboreka Earrings The "Belt of Taebaek" will be introduced along with the region. By equipping this belt, Adventurers can immediately activate a new skill, "Blessing of Taebaek." While the cooldown duration is relatively long, Adventurers can take full advantage of the strong protective buffs it applies to them and nearby allies. In addition, Adventurers can now complete a set of three Deboreka accessories with the "Deboreka Earring." Not only does it possess its own inherent attributes, but this will also play an essential role in acquiring the 3-set effect. Traditional Korean Housings, Carrack, and More As the new region inherits many aspects from the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, Joseon, Adventurers can experience unique terrain, housings, and a carrack. This includes, "Shimhyangje," a spacious manor with rooms for decorations with new traditional furniture. The new carrack, the "Panokseon," can be customized for many different purposes as it is able to hold a large crew. Adventurers can attempt to construct the Panokseon using "Sea Coins" and other materials that can be obtained in the Land of the Morning Light. Watch the full Developer's Commentary Video here to learn more about the new upcoming Land of the Morning Light Beyond the New Region: Twin's Awakening Classes For Woosa's Awakening class launch on May 31, detailed footage of her skills and combat style were revealed. Using her hybrid combat style with a focus on mid-range attacks, she uses the souls that emerge from her book, constructed from the same type of charms that Maegu uses as a main weapon. Additional footage during the premiere also provides a glimpse at Maegu's Awakening class. She wields dual fans, duplicates of her sister's main weapon, and pierces through enemies with fiery attacks using her melee combat style. Maegu's Awakening class will join Black Desert SEA in June. Watch the Twin's Awakening trailer here . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unveiling-black-desert-seas-new-region-land-of-the-morning-light-launching-on-june-14-301835420.html SOURCE Pearl Abyss [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] LG U+ Introduces Exclusive eSIM Marketing Campaign SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LG U+, a leading telecommunications enterprise in South Korea, is launching a marketing campaign featuring a complimentary T-Money card for all travelers in South Korea who obtain a prepaid eSIM via its official web portal (https://www.lguplus.com/ib-roaming/pc/eng). The eSIM is a downloadable service that enables dual numbering without the hassle of replacing the current SIM card. LG U+'s eSIM, a data product of unparalleled convenience, can be swiftly utilized in Korea by scanning the QR code delivered via email upon purchase, eliminating the need to visit physical retail outlets such as airport counters. Customers are presented with the opportunity to choose a plan duration ranging from a minium of 5 days to a maximum of 60 days, with unlimited data usage available for the entire plan period. Moreover, customers have the flexibility to extend the term at any point during its usage via the homepage. Should the period reach its conclusion, they retain the option to apply for an extension once more within three days. Starting May 20, 2023, LG U+ is implementing a special campaign where each customer purchasing an eSIM through the website will receive a T-Money card. This transportation card is valid across all public transit systems in Korea and is an essential commodity for travel within the nation. This special deal grants customers the privilege of a 10% discount on their purchase, saving them the inconvenience of acquiring a separate T-Money card. The T-Money card can be obtained from the LG U+ Customer Center at the airport by presenting the email received after the website purchase. Ha Dong-hoon, Team Leader of LG U+, stated, "LG U+ conceived this promotion with the intent of providing convenience to our customers touring Korea, and we are optimistic they will enjoy the ease of travel accompanied by LG U+'s fast communication speeds within Korea." LG U+ Website : https://www.lguplus.com/ib-roaming/pc/eng LG U+ eSIM : https://www.lguplus.com/ib-roaming/pc/eng/product/esim-data For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lg-u-introduces-exclusive-esim-marketing-campaign-301835441.html SOURCE LG U+ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] SPIC inks multiple cooperation agreements during China-Central Asia Summit XI'AN, China, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from GLOBAL TIMES ONLINE: Chairman Qian Zhimin of State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, who was attending the China-Central Asia Summit and paying a state visit to China, joined a Kazakh-Chinese investment roundtable in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. They exchanged views on the implementation of renewable energy projects and the cooperation on green hydrogen generation and signed a memorandum of understanding on building a large-scale wind power and energy storage plant with a capacity of 1 GW in Kazakhstan. On the same day, a meeting between the President of Kyrgyzstan and the hinese business world was held, during which SPIC signed an agreement with Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy on the major terms of a 1000MW solar farm project in Issy-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. SPIC, actively responding to the Belt and Road Initiative and engaging in close cooperation with enterprises in Central Asia, has built a series of new energy projects in the region, including the Zhanatas Wind-Power Project in Kazakhstan and the 1000MW solar farm project in Issy-Kul. These projects mirror SPIC's advantages in clean energy development, contribute to local power supply and promote local energy restructuring. SPIC will further strengthening energy cooperation with Belt and Road countries, so as to power local economic and livelihood development, and help these countries achieve energy security, independence and stability. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/spic-inks-multiple-cooperation-agreements-during-china-central-asia-summit-301835532.html SOURCE GLOBAL TIMES ONLINE [May 26, 2023] Coalesce Launches New Partner Initiatives to Help Automate the Modern Data Stack SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coalesce , the data transformation company, today announced a new partner program to expand training options and teamwork, as well as to help Snowflake Data Cloud customers more effectively manage their modern data stack. The Coalesce Partner Program now features three tiers Select, Premier, and Elite offering various incentives including training, sales and marketing, and referral commissions. Coalesce partners are equipped with resources to build their Coalesce expertise and bring innovative joint solutions to the data market. Since day one, our partners have been a valuable extension of our team and critical to the success of the company. Weve designed our partner program around three core principles: collaboration, automation, and respect, said Courtney Heithoff, Head of SI Alliances North America at Coalesce. We would not be where we are today without our partners, and the expansion of these programs will allow us to better support current and future partners, and most importantly, to ensure the success of our mutual customers. Coalesce is the only transformation solution built exclusively for the Snowflake Data Cloud. Coalesce revolutionizes the T (transformation) in the ELT data management process by combining the flexibility of code and the speed of automation, in an intuitive visual interface. The Coalesce Partner Program puts this next-generation transformation solution in the hands of partners with the following benefits based on their partner tier: Select Partners - Designed for partners who are just getting started with Coalesce, this level includes referral commissions, access to training, and a presence on the Coalesce website. Premier Partners - Designed for partners who have an established track record of onboarding certified team members and delivering solutions to joint customers, this level includes extensive company support and a dedicted partner manager. Elite Partners - Designed for partners who have demonstrated exceptional expertise and success in delivering Coalesce solutions, this level includes instructor-led training, broader marketing support, and dedicated team office hours. Weve worked with Coalesce for over a year now and have experienced first hand the impact of their team and technology, said Erik Duffield, co-founder and CEO at Hakkoda, a Coalesce Elite Partner. The product alone is powerful and makes data transformations easy, but the biggest selling point is the Coalesce team. They are quick to answer questions and will work to ensure the platform can solve any challenge encountered. They have a truly best-in-class offering. All partners are empowered with capabilities that are unique to Coalesce, including: Data Team Productivity - Coalesce enables faster, sustainable development by standardizing and governing work across data projects. This allows projects to scale with secure and more predictable DataOps while shortening ramp-up time and boosting the effectiveness of all data team members. Exclusively Built for Snowflake - Coalesce is built by data warehousing industry experts to work specifically for Snowflake, offering full support for Snowflake functionality and automatically generating standardized, Snowflake-native code. Data teams can work more effectively by templatizing, extending, and documenting their work easily. Adaptable Approach to Automation - Data transformations are accelerated by using column-level metadata, a novel approach for the data warehousing and ELT space. This enables users to work more efficiently with full context into data lineage and transformation history. Coalesce and Resultant have a similar vision to advance data modernization across industries, said Michael Tantrum, National Sales Director at Resultant, a Coalesce Elite Partner and Coalesce 2022 System Integrator Partner of the Year. We have always been committed to getting Coalesce's innovative platform in front of organizations and with the revamped partner program, we have even more tools at our fingertips to continue driving success." The revamped program, which will be rolled out to dozens of partners across the globe, now includes training, exams, and product certifications for experts in building data pipelines with Coalesce. To learn more about partnering with Coalesce, please contact: [email protected] Resources Coalesce Partner Page Follow Coalesce on LinkedIn Follow Coalesce on YouTube Coalesce Website About Coalesce Founded in 2020, Coalesce is the only data transformation tool built for scale. As the first data transformation platform to combine the speed of an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI), the flexibility of code, and the efficiency of automation, Coalesce empowers its customers with increased data team productivity and insights. Based in San Francisco, Calif., Coalesce is backed by Emergence Capital, 11.2 Capital, GreatPoint Ventures, and Industry Ventures and supports customers worldwide. Learn more at https://coalesce.io/ . Media Contact Stephanie Schlegel Offleash for Coalesce [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture convenes key stakeholders for "Made in Japan" or "Wagyu-like" cultivated meat, in response to Japan PM Kishida's intention to promote the industry Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA), a Japan-based non-profit research institute hosted the inaugural meeting in Tokyo, in response to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement in February 2023 of the intention to develop the domestic cultivated food industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005071/en/ Introduction of JACA by Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, the Representative Director of JACA (Photo: Business Wire) JACA convened around 150 stakeholders from the Japanese Parliament, government officials from Japan and abroad, industry associations, member companies, academia, and meda representatives to build a consensus of necessary measures on food safety requirements for cultivated food; treatment to protect Japanese farmers' rights on branded-animal cells such as "Wagyu"; proper usage of "Wagyu" term in the cellular agriculture field; food labeling requirements including the definition of "Made in Japan" cultivated products; guidelines for transparent consumer communications; and more. Congratulatory speeches and a panel discussion The event included an introduction of JACA and congratulatory speeches from Norihiro Nakayama, The Executive Director of Japan's Parliamentary Group for Cellular Agriculture; the representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and Japanese food majors such as NH Foods Ltd. and Ajinomoto Co., Inc. A panel discussion including seafood major Maruha Nichiro Corporation followed. Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, Representative Director of JACA, stressed that "Japan should leverage its global presence in food and regenerative medicine area to show its presence in cellular agriculture field". On "Mock BBQ" of cultivated meat JACA demonstrated "Mock BBQ" for the guests to experience the aroma of grilled cultivated meats such as 3D bio-printed cultivated marbled beef from Consortium for Future Innovation by Cultured Meat; cultivated chicken from Diverse Farm; cultivated beef from Tokyo Women's Medical University-Waseda University Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences. JACA avoided providing tasting opportunities during the event due to the lack of clear rules in Japan as well as to show consumers that safety consideration is of utmost concern for the industry. For a more detailed explanation, please see the official article and download material from the link here. About Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA) JACA aims to form policy recommendations about cultivated food, to contribute to key issues in Japan such as food security and sustainability. https://www.jaca.jp/top-en View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005071/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] Evermos Announces Largest Fundraise at USD39 million to Fuel Business Expansion of Connected Commerce Network BANDUNG, Indonesia, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Evermos, Indonesia's largest social commerce platform, successfully raised USD39 million in its Series C funding round. Led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) a member of the World Bank group and followed by returning partners such as Jungle Ventures, Shunwei Capital, UOB Venture Management, and Telkomsel Mitra Inovasi, this funding round also saw investment from new partners, SWC Global, Endeavor Catalyst, and Uni-President Asset Holdings. With this latest funding round, Evermos remains firmly on track towards its mission of elevating local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) to make a positive impact on the national economy and beyond. Ghufron Mustaqim, Co-Founder and CEO of Evermos said, "We have stayed true to our commitment to supporting local brands since day one. In the process of solving the logistical issues Indonesian brands face due to the country's unique geographical and economic challenges, we have realised that brands face diverse challenges beyond distribution. We will thus continue to harness innovation to connect local brands and customers in lower-tier cities more efficiently. This achievement reflects the trust of our investors in executing our mission and their dedication to empowering vulnerable communities by providing them with a sustainable and flexible source of income through our connected distribution network and services for commerce." Since being founded in November 2018, Evermos has been dedicated to solving the complex challenges impacting local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), which account for 99.9% of businesses in Indonesia, according to the Republic's central bank. Though MSMEs contribute to 60.3% of GDP[1], not more than 0.5% are able to scale up, in part because of the logistical challenges that abound in Indonesia's market. With more than 17,000 islands that span 5,100 kilometres from west to east, the Indonesian market's unique geography makes nationwide expansion costly and time-consuming, especially in lower-tier cities. Evermos has thus been committed to mitigating these logistical challenges since its inception, in order to ensure a level-playing field for all Indonesians, regardless of geographic lcation, income level, or gender. This includes establishing direct relationships with local brands to bring them closer to consumers and offering comprehensive solutions for each brand's specific commerce needs. By joining Evermos' ecosystem, brands are able to tap into 500 cities, where its 160,000 resellers can operate without requiring capital-intensive resources. Evermos will channel this latest funding towards strengthening its reseller network by deepening penetration in Java and expanding to Sumatera, making it faster for brands to reach more of Indonesia's growing population in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Evermos will continue driving its efforts of empowering local brands to make a positive impact on the Indonesian economy, expanding services across the retail value chain to support their continued growth. In addition to growing its reseller network, Evermos will continue to spearhead upskilling efforts for resellers to expand their customer base beyond personal network through digital advertising. The company saw 18x higher sales of resellers who leverage digital tools compared to those relying on personal network only. Further, the proceeds will fuel the development of Evermos' array of AI-powered tools and solutions for resellers to understand consumers better through customer relationship management. Evermos is Indonesia's largest social commerce network, with 160,000 monthly transacting resellers as of January 2023. Founded in November 2018 by Ghufron Mustaqim, Arip Tirta, Iqbal Muslimin, and Ilham Taufiq, Evermos has experienced tremendous growth. Since the pandemic, Evermos has shown 17x gross merchandise value (GMV) growth from Financial Year 2020 to Financial Year 2022. "Scaling up tech-enabled social commerce platforms such as Evermos can spur economic growth and make a huge contribution towards unlocking access to markets, creating jobs, and lifting prosperity for millions of MSMEs and entrepreneurs, many of whom are women and are the backbone of Indonesia's economy," said Randall Riopelle, IFC Acting Country Manager for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. "Our investment in Evermos will not only promote shared prosperity and financial and digital inclusion, but it will also contribute significantly to further advance the rapidly ever-growing digital economy in Indonesia." Yash Sankrityayan, Managing Partner at Jungle Ventures added, "Jungle Ventures is proud to back Evermos for the third time since leading the Series A round in 2019. Since that time, Evermos has established the largest distribution network of consumer discretionary products across Indonesia while also adding meaningful household income to hundreds of thousands of Indonesians living in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. " Wendi Xiang, Vice President of SWC Global said, "We are thrilled to support Evermos, which has clearly demonstrated their ability to meaningfully impact the economy over the past four years. As SWC Global focuses on growing Asia's start-ups across multiple sectors such as mobile internet, deep technology and consumer IoT, we have found that Evermos delivers impressive growth with solid business fundamentals that have brought positive social impact to resellers in Indonesia's lower-tier cities and rural areas. We are confident that our investment in Evermos will drive meaningful change for generations of the future while creating value for stakeholders." About Evermos Evermos is a social commerce platform that empowers local brands and underserved communities by providing a connected distribution network and commerce services focusing on curating Sharia-compliant products. It is a one-stop platform that provides local brand partners with comprehensive commerce solutions, and resellers with required tools for success including training, helping to level the playing field for all resellers regardless of their gender, educational background, geographical location, or income level. Founded in November 2018, Evermos has built Indonesia's largest reseller-based social commerce network with more than 160,000 active resellers across Indonesia and 1,600 brand partners. Evermos has garnered significant industry accolades to date, such as Forbes Asia 100 to Watch in the Asia-Pacific region, the UN Women 2022 Indonesia Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Award, and inclusion into the Endeavor Entrepreneur global network. Evermos is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community, an invitation-only group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of ethical technological and business model innovation. For more information, please contact: Redhill, on behalf of Evermos [email protected] [1] https://unctad.org/publication/asean-investment-report-2022 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/evermos-announces-largest-fundraise-at-usd39-million-to-fuel-business-expansion-of-connected-commerce-network-301835542.html SOURCE Evermos [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The last rally of the 'Yes' campaign for Quebec independence before the referendum in 1995. Quebecs legislature on Thursday adopted a motion calling for the release of documents and testimonies related to the independence referendum held in that Canadian province in 1995. The motion targets information from an investigation into how opponents of separation from Canada the federalists funded their campaign, which narrowly won the 1995 vote. The motion, introduced by the Parti Quebecois (PQ) and unanimously approved by the regional parliament, calls on the provinces chief electoral officer to release those files as soon as possible. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon described the parliamentary vote as a great victory for Quebecs democracy. On May 20, 1980, Quebec voted in a first independence referendum. That day, the No side won with 59.56% of the votes. On a second attempt made on October 30, 1995, opponents of secession won again, but this time with 50.58%; an advantage of just 54,288 votes. In 2006, Quebecs electoral authorities asked retired judge Bernard Grenier to carry out an investigation into the No campaign of the 1995 referendum. A year later, after summoning 90 witnesses and reviewing some 4,500 documents, Grenier submitted a report that found that two federalist organizations Option Canada and the Canadian Unity Council failed to report spending of $539,000, a much lower figure than the estimate provided by the media. Following the publication of the report, the documents and testimony were classified indefinitely at Greniers request. At a press conference on Tuesday to announce the motion, the leader of PQ, Quebecs main pro-independence group, said that regardless of whether one is for or against independence, or somewhere in between, the issue at hand is a fundamental principle of transparency towards the population and respect for our democracy. When we look at the United States, even the assassination of John F. Kennedy did not justify withholding documents forever, he told reporters. Quebec Prime Minister Francois Legault, leader of the Coalition for the Future of Quebec (CAQ), said he agreed with the proposal. We have nothing to hide, he said, although he said he needed more information about the procedure. A considerable amount of supporters of independence continue to hold that the defeat in the 1995 referendum was due in large part to the funds allocated to the No campaign. On the night of October 30, 1995, Jacques Parizeau, Quebecs prime minister at the time and one of the main supporters of independence, alluded to this in the concession speech he gave after learning the results of the vote. He also made a remark that, according to various analysts, considerably affected the independence movement in later years. Parizeau declared that Yes had lost because of money and ethnic votes. A day later, he submitted his resignation as prime minister and PQ leader. Polls in recent years place support for Quebecs independence at just over 30%. However, polls have also shown that it is an issue that is receiving increasingly less attention from voters. The results of the PQ at the last two elections reflect this: in 2018 it won 10 constituencies, while in 2021 it obtained only three seats. By contrast, Francois Legaults CAQ achieved resounding victories both times. Legault, a former promoter of independence who served in PQ governments, defends the idea of a strong Quebec but within the Canadian federation. Considered a conservative nationalist politician, he ended the two-party system by which the Quebec Liberal Party and the PQ took turns in power; both of these parties had structured much of their program around the independence issue. Following the second independence referendum, in June 2000 Canadian lawmakers approved a series of conditions for future secessionist votes that take into account issues such as the wording of the question and the interpretation of the results. [May 26, 2023] Minister Champagne highlights renewed funding for the Digital Technology Cluster while visiting Ideon Technologies Inc. A total of up to $298 million to mobilize Canadian industry to build world-leading digital technologies RICHMOND, BC, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, met with representatives of Ideon Technologies Inc. in Richmond, British Columbia, to discuss how they are accelerating the transition to low-impact mining through projects like the Earth X-ray for Low-Impact Mining . Minister Champagne also had the opportunity to congratulate the Digital Technology Cluster on its recently renewed funding, bringing the total Government of Canada funding of the cluster to up to $298 million. This reinvestment in the Digital Technology Cluster will help mobilize Canadian industry to build digital technologies that will continue to make Canada a global leader in clean, healthy economic growth and see Canadian companies scale and grow. Through the Global Innovation Clusters program, the government established a new approach to innovation: building accelerated and strong ecosystems in industries where Canada leads and has a significant competitive advantage. Since the launch of the program, the clusters have been finding new ways to build connections, bringing together experts in their respective fields to create high-quality, well-paying jobs, invest in promising projects, help firms scale up, and position Canada as a global leader in the innovation space. The Earth X-ray for Low-Impact Mining project is a great example of how the Digital Technology Cluster is expanding its global presence, greening the economy, building more resilient supply chains and supporting the growth and scale-up of Canadian companies. The project recently won a Governor General's Innovation Award for its outstanding work on a discovery platform that will help target deposits with greater precision and create the environmentally responsible mineral supply needed to fuel the clean energy transition. Quotes "On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate the Digital Technoloy Cluster on announcing 94 projects to date, making a significant contribution to the digital technology ecosystem, both here at home and abroad. I look forward to seeing future made-in-Canada innovations in human and environmental health and deepening the digital talent pool as a result of this new funding." Philippe Champagne , Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry "Achieving a net-zero future hinges on the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian natural resource industry. To cement the transition to low-carbon economies, we need sustainable, low-impact methods of locating and extracting critical minerals. DIGITAL is proud to partner with pioneers like Ideon Technologies, which are driving the development of transformative made-in-Canada solutions that are addressing this need. It's our honour to continue fostering synergies between the best in Canadian industry and academia to become global leaders in driving digital innovation for some of the world's most pressing issues." Sue Paish, CEO | DIGITAL "Digital's powerful innovative framework has been instrumental in driving our creation of breakthrough technology for the global mining industry, at a time when the industry and the world need it the most. The Earth-X consortium has enabled us to massively scale our ambitions and potential impact, within Canada and globally. By combining our strengths, our consortium has transcended traditional boundaries between academia and industry to achieve outcomes that extend far beyond the sum of the parts. This collective achievement is underscored by our being selected for the Governor General's Innovation Awarda recognition that is testament to the transformative power of collaborative innovation." Gary Agnew, CEO and Co-Founder of Ideon Technologies Inc. Quick facts Budget 2022 confirmed Canada's commitment to the clusters, with an additional investment of $750 million through to 2028, to support the further growth and development of Canada's Global Innovation Clusters, formerly called the Innovation Superclusters Initiative. commitment to the clusters, with an additional investment of through to 2028, to support the further growth and development of Global Innovation Clusters, formerly called the Innovation Superclusters Initiative. As of March 2023 , the clusters have announced more than 500 projects worth $2.37 billion , involving more than 2,500 partners. , the clusters have announced more than 500 projects worth , involving more than 2,500 partners. The Global Innovation Clusters program has strong measures in place to support intellectual property (IP) value creation and maximization of benefits for Canada and Canadians. In this regard, more than 855 IP assets have been generated since the program's inception. and Canadians. In this regard, more than 855 IP assets have been generated since the program's inception. Clusters are on track to meet or exceed the overall job creation target of 15,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs by 2023 and 50,000 by 2028. The clusters are also helping to build a skilled and diverse workforce by creating opportunities for women, racialized Canadians, Indigenous communities and other under-represented groups and by offering workshops and formalized training in response to the industry's need for members of these groups to develop their talent, learn about topics or gain new skills. Associated links Global Innovation Clusters Digital Technology Cluster Stay connected Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED . Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. Twitter: @ISED_CA , Facebook: Canadian Innovation , Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] Quibim, a company leveraging artificial intelligence to improve cancer diagnostics, makes key move into U.S. by hiring Boston-based chief medical officer More patients will soon benefit from ability of A.I. tech to highlight lesions and to provide better data to physicians BOSTON, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Catching cancer earlier and achieving more accurate initial diagnostics are two of the key benefits of breakthrough artificial intelligence technology that a European company is now bringing to U.S. patients. For Quibim, a leading provider of imaging technology in the E.U., that path began with the recent approval they received from the U.S. FDA to apply their patented A.I. powered technology to domestic prostate cancer diagnostics. More patients will soon benefit from ability of A.I. tech to highlight lesions and to provide better data to physicians With today's announcement of bringing on their first U.S.-based chief medical officer, that path has now led the A.I.-driven company to Boston's hub of medical talent. Widely sought-after oncology leader Dr. Glen J. Weiss, MD, MBA, will serve as the chief medical officer for Quibim as the company expands its relationships with hospitals and life science companies across the U.S. The move signals a key juncture in the proliferation and mainstreaming of A.I.-based technology into the U.S. patient experience. As an established and major European A.I.-based imaging provider, Quibim has played a vital role in enhancing clinical trial design, optimizing drug development, and managing large volumes of imaging data while creating new predictive imaging biomarker panels that benefit patients, providers, and companies alike. Now, the company is seeking to broaden those impacts in the U.S. with a chief medical officer at the helm who has deep ties to Massachusetts. While the company will maintain its U.S. headquarters in New York, Boston is among the markets where the company anticipates increased adoption of its A.I driven imaging technology platforms, including "QP-Prostate". According to data adapted from the American Cancer Society and other sources by Cancer.net , prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, except for skin cancer. Weiss is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member and was a Director of Phase I Clinical Research at Beth Israel Medical Center (BIDMC), and an associate member of the BIDMC Cancer Research Institute. Weiss' background encompasses over 100 phase 1-3 oncology studies and significant experience in biomarker/translational research studies. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Nature Communications, Clinical Cancer Research, and Cancer Cell. "Quibim is revolutionizing medical imaging and advancing personalized medicine," said Angel Alberich-Bayarri, CEO at Quibim. "Dr. Weiss' expertise and visionary approach will greatly contribute to our mission, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities and achievements that lie ahead for our company." Quibim's medical division incorporates innovative tools into imaging software and data extraction analytics, as well as into therapy effectiveness assessment specifically by enabling "lesion highlighting" and "volumetric data analysis". Quibim aspires to be the go-to provider and category leader in predictive imaging biomarkers, novel diagnostics, and IP development for personalized medicine imaging solutions. The hiring of Dr. Weiss marks a significant milestone in Quibim's growth and development in the U.S. positioning the company for substantial expansion in research exploration, collaboration, and business development. As CMO, Dr. Weiss will lead Quibim's medical division, providing strategic guidance on personalized medicine, scientific development of platforms, and clinical applications. "I can envision a future where medical imaging evolves from a diagnostic tool to a dynamic theranostic for clinical drug development," said Dr. Weiss. "Harmonization of medical solutions, particularly in imaging, to enhance real-world evidence interpretation and clinical trial reporting is critical. Quibim has mastered this." About Quibim Quibimwith offices in New York (United States), Cambridge (UK), and Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona (Spain)was born from the ambition of transforming imaging into a catalyst for precision health. They do this by designing pioneering tools that unlock imaging data to improve patient outcomes. The brand is linked to company values, based on a deep understanding of the modern science of imaging data and finding a way to transform this data into actionable predictions. To achieve this, Quibim partners with top-tier biopharma companies to detect pathologies early and to predict outcomes in oncology/immunotherapy, immunology, inflammation, and neurology using MRI, CT, and PET imaging, leading to new regulatory cleared Medical Devices marketed to healthcare providers. The company is specialized in the development of AI models created by the use of real-world evidence (RWE) projects and biopharma partners to extract new insights from images; thereby developing novel quantitative imaging biomarkers to deeply analyze disease mechanisms, advance drug development, and monitor treatment progress using a whole-body approach. Media Contact: Hallie Kogelschatz [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quibim-a-company-leveraging-artificial-intelligence-to-improve-cancer-diagnostics-makes-key-move-into-us-by-hiring-boston-based-chief-medical-officer-301835725.html SOURCE Quibim [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] The Inner Circle Acknowledges, Thomas Sumter Tisdale Jr as a Top Pinnacle Attorney for his contributions to the legal field CHARLESTON, S.C., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Thomas Sumter Tisdale Jr. is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Attorney for his contributions to the legal field. Mr. Tisdale began his educational career at the University of the South in 1961 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He then attended the University of South Carolina School of Law and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Prior to working at his own firm, Mr. Tisdale was a lawyer with Hellman, Yates, and Tisdale from 2013 to 2021, and a partner with Nexsen Pruet from 2004 to 2013. Mr. Tisdale was also a partner and founder of Young, Clement, Rivers and Tisdale from 1964 to 2004. A testment to his professionalism and tenacity, the attorney is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of South Carolina, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. With more than 58 years of experience in the field, Mr. Tisdale currently works in private practice at The Law Offices of Thomas S. Tisdale LLC. He has been the owner and publisher of Home House Press since 2010 and has several written works including "Carolina Sunrise" in 2016; "Truth in Cold Blood, A play in Three Acts", in 2013; and "A Lady of the High Hills: Natalie Delage Sumter" in 2001. Among his career accomplishments, Mr. Tisdale has served as the youngest president of the South Carolina State Bar and maintains affiliation with numerous professional organizations. He is a member of the Historical Society of the Supreme Court of South Carolina; the Preservation Society of Charleston; the General Society of Colonial Wars; and is the Officer of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, among other organizations. He is also a member of the prestigious Society of the Cincinnati, the nation's oldest patriotic organization founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army who served together in the American Revolution. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inner-circle-acknowledges-thomas-sumter-tisdale-jr-as-a-top-pinnacle-attorney-for-his-contributions-to-the-legal-field-301835803.html SOURCE The Inner Circle [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] CANADA INVESTS $1.2 BILLION TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT RICHMOND HILL, ON, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Majid Jowhari, Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill, and Mayor David West, City of Richmond Hill announced the launch of the Canada Greener Affordable Housing (CGAH) program, which will modernize affordable multi-unit residential buildings by making them more energy efficient and affordable to operate, while also extending building lifespans. The CGAH program will make available $1.2 billion in low-interest repayable and forgivable loans over the next four years to help affordable housing providers complete deep energy retrofits on residential rental buildings. The program will offer contributions for completing the pre-retrofit activities needed to plan, prepare, and apply for the retrofit funding and will be administered by CMHC. Affordable housing providers interested in the CGAH program can begin preparing applications as the application portal will open this June. This funding will allow affordable housing providers to make improvements to aging buildings that will improve energy efficiency and extend their lifespan. In the long-term, this will reduce the operating costs of affordable housing so they can continue to serve low-income households for many years to come. For affordable housing residents, this program will improve indoor air quality, comfort, and quality of life through retrofits which may include updates like the installation of heating and cooling systems, and energy-efficient appliances, windows, and doors. An investment in sustainable affordable housing is an investment in strong communities communities where people have a good place to call home, and clean air for generations to come. CGAH gives affordable housing providers the necessary support to make energy efficient upgrades that will lead to deeper reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. For details on the CGAH program, including eligibility criteria and a checklist of what is required to apply, please visit cmhc.ca/CGAH online. CMHC will also hold information sessions for stakeholders and potential participants. Quotes: "Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why today we launched the Canada Greener Affordable Housing (CGAH) program, which will make significant improvements to affordable housing benefiting residents for decades to come. CGAH will mean real results for residents, while helping our environment. By launching the CGAH program, the Government of Canada is taking a significant step towards improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in residential buildings while making them more sustainable, affordable, and comfortable for future generations." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion "Canada Greener Affordable Housing is the kind of program we need more of: a program that doesn't treat our national challenges as separate issues. With this program, the Government of Canada is, at once, strengthening our country's affordable housing stock while also getting us closer to net-zero carbon emissions. Affordable-housing providers get support for retrofits, reidents get better living conditions, and all of us get fewer greenhouse gases. Affordable housing is at the forefront of our government's priorities and today's announcement brings Richmond Hill and its residents one step closer to accessing more affordable housing units across our community"? Majid Jowhari, Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill "Affordable homes and housing options for everyone are essential to a welcoming and inclusive city, and are the core of strong, caring and safe communities for all. At the same time, climate change is a pressing issue that affects us all. Adopting environmentally friendly practices and ensuring financial sustainability are essential objectives for well-functioning cities. That's why programs like this are critical to improving the lives of our residents, now and for years to come, and why I'm pleased to welcome our federal partners to the City of Richmond Hill to help unveil it. Together, we are committed to fostering a more sustainable future."" Mayor David West, City of Richmond Hill Additional Information? The Government of Canada is taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and CGAH is committed to supporting these efforts through climate change mitigation and adaptation in the housing system. To support CMHC's efforts to build a climate-compatible future for people living in Canada, we're taking steps across its programs, activities, and operations to make this transition more affordable and sustainable for individuals and our housing partners.?? Canada's ageing infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to more frequent and intense extreme weather and other climate-related impacts, putting the health and safety of people living in Canada at risk. CGAH will help improve the quality of residential buildings, adapt to climate change, and extreme weather events, resulting in increased overall comfort and quality of life for residents.???? To make this transition possible for affordable housing providers, CGAH has two funding opportunities. The first funding opportunity provides contributions for pre-retrofit activities needed to plan, prepare, and apply for retrofit funding. The second one provides forgivable and low-interest loans to help finance building retrofit measures and activities needed to meet climate objectives.??? Eligible applicants include affordable housing providers (such as social housing organizations, non-profit housing organizations, and rental co-operatives), municipal, provincial, and territorial governments and agencies; and Indigenous governments and organizations (including First Nation Bands, Tribal Councils, and Indigenous housing providers).?? To be eligible, applicants must be an affordable housing provider with an affordable housing purpose and a proven mandate to provide housing deemed affordable.??? The housing project is considered affordable if it is mandated to follow:??? a municipal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous government, or CMHC program or product affordability criteria; or other affordability criteria such as rent-geared-to-income, low-income, moderate-income, established income, or rent limits/thresholds, or other criteria as accepted by CMHC. CGAH aims to achieve net-zero and climate resilience and contribute to Canada's Emission Reduction Plan and the forthcoming Green Buildings Strategy (GBS) to help meet net-zero emission by 2050. Specifically, deep energy retrofits under the CGAH program must target:????? a 70% reduction in energy consumption relative to pre-retrofit performance; and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to pre-retrofit performance. The CGAH falls under the suite of programs delivered through Canada Greener Homes Initiative. This includes the Canada Greener Homes Grant (CGHG), and the Canada Greener Homes Loan (CGHL) for homeowners.??? As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca?? Consult the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map?to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.???? SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] Hiroshima Watch, Stolen From UN, Remains Missing - Documentary "8:15 Hiroshima" A Warning to G7 Leaders. - ICAN Sponsored Virtual Screening (Free, May 26-29) Following the G7 Summit and in collaboration with ICAN - Virtual Screening of Rare First Person Account of a Hiroshima Survivor to Remind the World of The Horrors of Nuclear War and The Power of Love and Forgiveness - From May 26-29 (11:59pm EST) NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Runaway Horses announce, Film 8:15 Hiroshima | From Father To Daughter in collaboration with International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons announces Free Virtual Screening available here: https://watch.showandtell.film/watch/815hiroshima-G7 Virtual Screening of Rare First Person Account of Hiroshima Survivor's Message to World Leaders Free May 26-29 "What has kept the world safe from the bomb since 1945 has not been deterrence, in the sense of fear of specific weapons, so much as it's been memory. The memory of what happened at Hiroshima." - John Hersey 8:15 Hiroshima, an award-winning film by American Director J.R. Heffelfinger and produced by Akiko Mikamo, the daughter of a hibakusha (nuclear bomb survivor), to illustrate her father's remarkable true story, message for peace and vision for a world without nuclear weapons. Narrated in English with Japanese subtitles, this hybrid doc-narrative film weaves never before seen video and audio recordings of hibakusha Shinji Mikamo, evocative reenactments (in Japanese with English subtitles), and archival images "bringing the past into the present." (Modern Times Review) "My father told me, 'I don't want anybody else to ever have to go through the agony of another nuclear war,' and asked me to spread his message to younger generations throughout the world," said Dr. Akiko Mikamo, Executive Producer of 8:15 Hiroshima and Author of 8:15 A True Story of Survival and Forgiveness from Hiroshima. https://www.815documentary.com/ 8:15 Hiroshima 2020, United States, 50 min Director J.R. Heffelfinger Executive Producer Akiko Mikamo Producer: Nini Le Huynh In association with: Runaway Horses "A highly artistic work with a prayer for peace." - Asahi Family Newspaper For more information/interview requests: Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.815documentary.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hiroshima-watch-stolen-from-un-remains-missing---documentary-815-hiroshima-a-warning-to-g7-leaders---ican-sponsored-virtual-screening-free-may-26-29-301835924.html SOURCE Runaway Horses [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] Minister Wilkinson Provides Spring Update on Support for Canadian EV Economy, Announces Nearly 3,000 New Chargers in Ontario OTTAWA, ON, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Electric vehicles (EVs) are not only helping keep our air clean, they are helping Canadians save money from cheaper refuelling to lower maintenance costs. The widespread shift to EVs is also a tremendous economic opportunity as manufacturing jobs are being created across the country to meet the demands along the EV value chain. To help drivers feel confident in making the switch to an EV, the Government of Canada is building a coast-to-coast network of charging stations along highways and in communities' public places, on-street, in multi-use residential buildings, at workplaces and for vehicle fleets. To date, the government has supported the installation of over 45,000 chargers across the country. Thousands of New Chargers Coming to Communities Across Ontario To keep building Canada's network of EV chargers, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced support for 30 Ontario-based partner organizations to help install up to 1,908 Level 2 and 100 Level 3 chargers. These new chargers will be installed at multi-use residential buildings (MURB), public places, fleets and workplaces. The Government of Canada is also providing funding toward five existing EV projects with delivery organizations, which will install up to 1,328 new EV chargers. Today's announcement represents nearly $25 million in federal investments provided through Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) and the Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative . Funding was also provided by the 30 organizations and their partners, bringing the total of these investments to over $35 million. Recent NRCan Announcements in the ZEV Economy Today's investments in EV charging build on recent announcements, including: Finding the Right Charger for You Before hitting the streets, Canadians can easily map out their rout by consulting NRCan's electric charger and alternative fuelling stations locator. This tool is helping Canadians to find the right charger at the right time, whether it is for planning a road trip or parking between errands. The Government of Canada is working with vehicle manufacturers and charging service providers to advance the deployment of charging infrastructure while supporting Canadians to make the switch to an electric vehicle. As part of this collaborative effort, Tesla will open a portion of its existing Canadian Supercharger network to non-Tesla electric vehicles, wherever site hosts allow. Later this year, an open Supercharging route will be piloted for EV drivers between Sudbury and Ottawa. Then, by the end of 2025, 750 charging connectors in public locations will be made available to non-Tesla EV drivers, through a combination of retrofits and new construction, of which at least 350 will be 250kW Superchargers. The open chargers will be distributed across Canada, and the route will include the Trans-Canada Highway from Ottawa to Calgary. Affordability and Incentives Many Canadians who are making the switch to an EV are benefitting from the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program, which offers Canadians up to $5,000 to help reduce upfront costs. This incentive is additional to any provincial/territorial incentive offered. To date, more than 210,000 incentives to purchase a zero-emission vehicle have been provided to Canadians and Canadian businesses. When considering the total cost of ownership, including maintenance and fuel, drivers could save over $1,000 per year by choosing an EV. More Canadians are choosing to transition to EVs each year, with access to wider model availability, increased performance and improved driving range. Canadians are encouraged to test drive an EV and to learn more about the vehicle purchase incentives available to them and their businesses. Quotes "The Government of Canada is supporting the made-in-Canada EV economy. From securing jobs building electric vehicle batteries at the Volkswagen Gigafactory in St. Thomas, Ontario, to today's announcement of nearly 3,000 new chargers across Ontario, we are investing in the clean economy. As we advance toward our 2035 electric vehicle target, we are partnering with industry, workers and local and Indigenous partners to build out our charging infrastructure while creating good jobs and affordable transportation options in communities across Canada." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Natural Resources "Our government is committed to building a cleaner Canada while creating good jobs for middle-class Canadians. Thanks to investments to position our country as a leader in the manufacturing of electric batteries, in addition to the rebate of up to $5,000 from Transport Canada for the purchase of a zero-emission vehicle, and in the construction of charging stations, including the announcement I made last week regarding the first EV corridor between Canada and the United States, we will achieve our goal of 100-percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035." The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport "It is increasingly attractive for Canadians to make the switch to EVs, and today's announcement of nearly 3,000 new chargers helps. Making the switch to an EV will help save Canadians money while also cutting the pollution causing climate change. While transportation accounts for a quarter of all emissions, our government has a comprehensive plan from the mine, to the auto plant, to the consumer to quickly ramp up EVs across the country." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Environment and Climate Change Quick Facts Making the shift to EVs is critical to decarbonizing on-road transportation, which accounts for about 20 percent of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions. total greenhouse gas emissions. Federal rebates of up to $5,000 , as well as provincial incentive programs, are available to help more Canadians purchase an EV. , as well as provincial incentive programs, are available to help more Canadians purchase an EV. The government's purchase incentive program has been extended to March 2025 , and the types of vehicle models eligible under the program now include more vans, trucks and SUVs. , and the types of vehicle models eligible under the program now include more vans, trucks and SUVs. To date, more than 210,000 incentives to purchase a zero-emission vehicle have been provided to Canadians and Canadian businesses. NRCan's fuel consumption ratings search tool can help drivers identify the EVs that best suit their needs. EV charge time varies by the level of charger used. A Level 2 charger has a charge rate of 30 km per hour, whereas a Level 3 charger typically found on highways for punctual charging can charge 80 percent of the battery in 2030 minutes. Over 80 percent of EV owners in Canada charge at home to meet most of their needs. charge at home to meet most of their needs. In cold weather, preheating an EV while plugged can improve range loss by up to 20 percent. Federal investments are supporting the establishment of a coast-to-coast charging network along highways and the deployment of chargers in local areas where Canadians live, work and play, with a goal of installing 84,500 EV chargers and 45 hydrogen refuelling stations by March 2029 . . To date, the government has approved funding for the installation of over 45,000 chargers across the country. Since 2019, NRCan has supported 77 ZEV awareness and education projects from coast to coast with more to come, including on clean fuels and Indigenous-led projects. Related Information Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada [May 26, 2023] Blockchain Venture Capital Inc. Announces Closing of Private Placement /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS./ TORONTO, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Blockchain Venture Capital Inc. (the "Company" or "BVCI") announces that its non-brokered private placement offering previously announced on October 21, 2022, December 16, 2022 and April 21, 2023 (the "Private Placement") has closed. In the final traches of its Private Placement, the Company issued a total of 492,000 Common Shares (the "Shares") and 1,080,000 units, each at a price of $1.25, with each unit comprised of one Share and one-half of a warrant, for total gross proceeds of $1,965,000.00. Each warrant issued as part of a unit will be exercisable for one Share at an exercise price of $1.50 for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. The Company issued an aggregate of 2,398,134 Shares and 540,000 warrants under the Private Placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,997,667.50. Blockchain Venture Capital Inc.announces its non-brokered private placement offering previously announced has closed. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to fund corporate expenditures and general working capital purposes in respect of the development of the Company's BvcPay platform and CADT, including expenditures related to seeking applicable regulatory approvals in respect of dealer registrations to permit BVCI to carry out its CADT related business. All securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under U.S. federal and state securitie laws or an applicable exemption from such U.S. registration requirements. About the Company BVCI is an Ontario incorporated company and is registered as a money service business with the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). It is a provider of an innovative technology infrastructure to participants in the emerging blockchain and distributed ledger technology industry. Instrumental to BVCI's business and growth strategy is BVC Chain, a proprietary blockchain platform and distributed ledger technology, which can operate as a centralized or decentralized ledger. BVC Chain was designed to be a turnkey solution, which can be customized and implemented by organizations wishing to deploy blockchain platform based solutions, products or services. BVC Chain will also serve as the platform and infrastructure for BvcPay and CADT. BvcPay is a cloud based mobile application that is intended to have the capability to function as a Digital Currency wallet and which can facilitate point of sale and online transactions using Bitcoin, Ethereum and CADT. CADT is the native Digital Currency of the BVC Chain, and it is intended to be a stablecoin. BVCI's CADT business division is expected to issue CADT, a cryptographic stablecoin supported on a 1:1 basis with an equivalent amount of Canadian dollar held in a custodial account. CADT is expected to support real time pricing, payment, settlement, digital asset issuance and ledger capabilities. To allow BVCI to carry out its CADT related business, BVCI filed an application on June 17, 2021 to obtain registration as an exempt market dealer in accordance with applicable securities laws in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Such application is pending, and there is no assurance that BVCI will obtain such registration. Unless and until the Company is registered under applicable securities laws for purposes of carrying out its CADT related business, or the Company is otherwise satisfied that it can conduct such business in compliance with all applicable securities laws, it intends to have all its CADT trading occur through a dealer (via the BVC Chain) that is registered in a category of registration under applicable securities laws which permits CADT to be traded through it, which dealer arrangement is subject to finalization. Accordingly, there is no assurance BVCI will be able to pursue its proposed CADT business or any related BvcPay business that relies on CADT. Forward-Looking Information and Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the industry in which it operates to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "may", "should", "will", the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to statements related to: the Company's business plans and strategies; use of proceeds from the Private Placement; and closing and size of the Private Placement. Such statements reflect the current expectations of the management of the Company with respect to future events based on currently available information and are based on certain assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including assumptions and risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals, the Company obtaining registration as an exempt market dealer or implementing its arrangement with a registered dealer. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time, including, without limitation, under the heading "Risk Factors", in the Company's listing statement, which is available on www.sedar.com., and in other continuous disclosure documents that are filed by the Company from time to time with the Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia Securities Commissions which are available at www.sedar.com and to which readers of this press release are referred for additional information concerning the Company, its prospects and the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its prospects. New risk factors may arise from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of those risk factors or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results, performance and achievements of the Company to be materially different from those contained in forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent and investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is current only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake or assume any obligation, except as required by law, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. No securities commission or regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release nor have they approved or disapproved of the content hereof. SOURCE Blockchain Venture Capital Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 26, 2023] HappyMiner Provides Cloud Mining Options so that everyone can Make Money through Cryptocurrency Mining OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HappyMiner, a leading cryptocurrency cloud mining, has recently announced a groundbreaking development set to revolutionize the world of cryptocurrency mining. With its innovative approach, HappyMiner is set to revolutionize cryptocurrency mining with affordable cloud mining plans. This innovative approach has the potential to democratize the mining industry and empower individuals with diverse backgrounds and resources to participate in this lucrative field. With new affordable cloud mining options, HappyMiner aims to make the process of mining digital currencies accessible to a wider audience. The new cloud mining plans offer a simplified and cost-effective way for individuals to engage in cryptocurrency mining. The users can now leverage HappyMiner's state-of-the-art mining infrastructure through affordable subscription plans. This approach eliminates the need for significant upfront investments and technical know-how, making it easier for anyone interested in mining cryptocurrencies to get started. The platform facilitates its investors with a variety of features that enhance its credibility, such as: Sign up to get $10 immediately. to get $10 immediately. Automated daily payouts. The free package can be purchased daily. An affiliate program with 4.5% lifetime rewards. Different Crypto contracts to choose from. No overhead or electricity fees. 24-hour online support. DDoS and SSL protect the system. In addition, HappyMiner's cloud mining platform provides a user-friendly interface that allows even novice miners to participate in the process with ease. Users can simply signup for an account, choose a subscription plan, and begin mining their preferred cryptocurrency. Also, the platform offers a seamless experience, providing real-time monitoring, transparent reporting of mining activities as well as regular payouts to users' designated cryptocurrency wallets. When it comes to cloud mining services, Happyminer stands out from the crowd, and one key factor that sets us apart is our exceptional profit packages. We understand that different users have different needs and investment goals. Thats why we offer a diverse range of packages, each tailored to suit a variety of preferences. Heres a closer look at what sets our packages apart: Free Primary Mining : Ideal for those looking to dip their toes into cloud mining, this package is priced at just $10 and remains valid for one day. With a fixed return of $10.8, it offers a risk-free opportunity to explore the world of mining. : Ideal for those looking to dip their toes into cloud mining, this package is priced at just $10 and remains valid for one day. With a fixed return of $10.8, it offers a risk-free opportunity to explore the world of mining. Bitcoin Mining : Priced at $100 and valid for 3 days, this package provides a solid return on investment. With a fixed return of $104.5, it appeals to users with a bit more experience in the field. : Priced at $100 and valid for 3 days, this package provides a solid return on investment. With a fixed return of $104.5, it appeals to users with a bit more experience in the field. Litecoin Mining : Designed specifically for Litecoin enthusiasts, this package is priced at $500 and remains valid for 7 days. With a fixed return of $563, it presents a lucrative opportunity to capitalize on the rising popularity of Litecoin. : Designed specifically for Litecoin enthusiasts, this package is priced at $500 and remains valid for 7 days. With a fixed return of $563, it presents a lucrative opportunity to capitalize on the rising popularity of Litecoin. BitcoinCash Mining : With the skyrocketing popularity of BitcoinCash, our BitcoinCash Mining package offers an exciting investment opportunity. Priced at $1200 and valid for 15 days, it promises a fixed return of $1545, giving users a chance to ride the wave of BitcoinCashs success. : With the skyrocketing popularity of BitcoinCash, our BitcoinCash Mining package offers an exciting investment opportunity. Priced at $1200 and valid for 15 days, it promises a fixed return of $1545, giving users a chance to ride the wave of BitcoinCashs success. Dogecoin Mining : Designed for those looking for a more extended mining period, this package is priced at $3000 and remains valid for 30 days. With a fixed return of $4890, it provides an attractive option for maximizing earnings over a month-long period. : Designed for those looking for a more extended mining period, this package is priced at $3000 and remains valid for 30 days. With a fixed return of $4890, it provides an attractive option for maximizing earnings over a month-long period. Filecoin Mining: Our Filecoin Mining package is tailored for Filecoin enthusiasts who want to make a long-term investment. Priced at $9600 and valid for 90 days, it offers a fixed return of $29644, providing a substantial profit potential for dedicated miners. Furthermore, the platform prioritizes the security and satisfaction of its users. The company employs advanced security measures to safeguard users' funds and personal information and utilizes encryption protocols. Additionally, HappyMiner provides a unique referral link to its customers, which can be shared with anyone. The customers can invite to start using HappyMiner. Any new user who registers using their referral link becomes a lifetime referral. As a referrer, the customers can receive up to a 4.5% referral reward for every purchase made by any of their referrals; the referral reward is added to their account's balance after the purchase is confirmed. About HappyMiner: HappyMiner is a licensed cloud mining company founded in 2018 the United States. Like any certified hash provider, HappyMiner owns industrial facilities with a big tech park of professional Bitcoin mining rigs. Data centres are located in Iceland, Norway, and Canada. 2,800K+ individuals from all around the globe currently earn cryptocurrency on HappyMiner. YOUTUBE TWITTER Website: https://happyminer.us/ Michael Junius HappyMiner support at happyminer.us [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Greek bonds are already trading as though the country has regained investment grade, bank analysts that deal with Greek government debt told Reuters on Friday, with the news agency reporting that investors consider Greece's return to investment-grade credit ratings "a done deal", ANA reports. "Investors are hopeful that the New Democracy Party - the clear winner in Sunday's election though it fell short of an outright majority - will stay in power after a repeat vote in June and continue reforms, paving the way for Greece to reclaim the ratings," Reuters noted. According to analysts, "after this week's sharp drop in borrowing costs, the bonds were already trading like investment-grade paper," while Reuters notes that Greek 10-year bond yields around 3.9 pct "are now trading about 50 bps below Italy's", which "has investment-grade credit ratings from three big ratings agencies". RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The bridge leading from Fort Myers to Pine Island, Fla., is heavily damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Pine Island, Florida, on October 1, 2022. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The human need to believe in eternal life, or at least to look younger for longer is reflected in the worlds most successful religions and on the shelves of drugstores. Aging remains shrouded in mystery, but scientific progress over the last few decades has identified various biological processes that help to explain the phenomenon. And the findings have once again fed the age-old desire to do something about it. Among the signs of aging is telomere attrition. The length of these protective sheaths at the ends of the chromosomes (where we store the information that tells our bodies how to stay alive) is related to the number of times a cell can divide to make daughter cells. Having telomeres that are too short has been linked to accelerated aging and diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. Some companies, such as Telomere Therapeutics, led by Maria Blasco, from the Spanish National Cancer Research Center, and Fatima Bosch, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, want to develop treatments to activate the production of telomerase (an enzyme that repairs the wear and tear on the sheaths) and treat the ailments that occur when the telomeres are too short. Other companies, such as BioViva in the United States, are proposing similar therapies to slow down aging in healthy people, and there are already creams based on telomerase that promise to remove wrinkles. The view of telomerase as a magic potion against aging a process in which a large number of interacting and sometimes counteracting mechanisms operate has been widely criticized. Although telomeres that are too short cause predisposition to some diseases, having excessively long telomeres has been linked to an increased risk of developing certain tumors. A few days ago, the medical journal The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that has reignited the debate on telomeres role in aging. The authors, led by Mary Armanios, director of the Johns Hopkins University Telomere Center in Baltimore, Maryland, followed 17 people with a mutation in the POT1 gene for two years. This characteristic means that, in most cases, their telomeres do not lose length with each cell division as is the case with most cells and so they are excessively long. The researchers observed that this characteristic was associated with a blood disease (clonal hematopoiesis), which favors the proliferation of cell mutations and, in some cases, of various types of tumors. Four of the patients studied by Armanios team died of cancer and others were more prone to the disease. One of the conclusions of this paper is that long telomeres maintain mutations. We develop most of the mutations when we are developing and it is the long telomeres that allow them to survive long enough to cause problems, explains Armanios. I think telomeres dont explain all forms of aging, only one subtype, and thats the type of aging that has to do with clockwork mechanisms, where cells divide too many times or too few times, she continues. In cases of low partitioning, pulmonary or immune system diseases would appear, and excess partitioning would facilitate the growth of cancerous tumors. My interpretation is that in humans both extremes are bad and cause disease, albeit of different types, she adds. Long or damaged Maria Blasco disagrees with the interpretation of the results and attributes the increased risk of cancer to the POT1 mutation, which belongs to a group of proteins, known as shelterins, that protect telomeres. In my group and others we have shown that when this protein is missing or defective, telomeres are longer, but they are dysfunctional, she notes. She recalls a paper she co-authored in 2013 (published in the scientific journal, Nature Genetics) and carried out as part of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia genome study project, in which they already identified POT1 mutations as a risk factor in the onset of cancer. For the researcher, the particularity of the telomeres studied, which came from of a mutation, does not allow us to conclude that a long telomere is bad. Another point of view is advocated by Titia de Lange, who is the director of the Anderson Cancer Research Center at Rockefeller University in New York and the person responsible for coining the term shelterin. Following the publication of the link between POT1 mutations and long telomeres, there was a lot of follow-up work in the years that followed because it was unclear whether POT1 mutations simply produced the long telomere phenotype or did something else to instigate cancer, De Lange says. For the scientist, recent work from her laboratory and that of Dirk Hockemeyer at the University of California at Berkeley, California, suggests that POT1 and similar TIN2 mutations produce cancer because the patients have long telomeres. We have shown that there is nothing wrong with telomeres beyond being long, she adds. We and other groups have demonstrated that [in cases of normal length] lengthening telomeres is not desirable and that telomere shortening is a good thing that protects us from cancer, she asserts. Regarding the application of telomerase as a treatment, Blasco points out that there is currently no research on activating telomerase in order to have longer telomeres and live longer. The interest is in activating telomerase to combat diseases associated with short telomeres, such as pulmonary fibrosis, she explains. Luis Batista, of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, agrees on the usefulness of these treatments for extremely short telomeres, because in those cases the individuals tissues can be revitalized, but considers that the therapies to lengthen telomeres that can be found on the internet do not make any sense from the point of view of normal physiological aging, which is what most of us have. From what results like Armanios show, it can even be dangerous, he adds. The gray hair paradox The complexity of telomere length as a therapeutic target has been observed in studies such as the one led by Nilesh Samani, of the University of Leicester (U.K.), in which almost half a million participants in the UK Biobank were analyzed. In that work, published in Nature Genetics in 2021, an increased risk of cardiovascular or respiratory diseases was observed when telomeres were shorter and of several types of cancer when they were longer. This is possibly because long telomeres allow cells to divide more and increase the likelihood of harmful mutations. The authors also recognized that, although different diseases are associated with longer or shorter telomeres, people with the shortest telomeres at age 40 lived about 2.5 years less on average, compared to 10 years less in people who smoke for many years or 6 years less in people with diabetes. Mary Armanios points out the paradoxes she observed in some of her patients. Those who had extraordinarily long telomeres, didnt get gray hair, and they looked young, but at the same time they developed cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that keep their hair from turning gray. Its as if the cosmetic changes of aging that we dont like, prevent us from developing some types of cancer, she says. In the researchers opinion, lengthening the telomeres is possible, and you are going to make the cells live longer. And it is possible that the individual will live longer, but it is going to do so with these tumors, she continues. Its not about long telomeres being a good thing and short telomeres being a bad thing, the good thing is probably in the middle. Perhaps we should accept that evolution generated these constraints to protect us from developing too many tumors as we age, she concludes. Despite the appeal of the fountains of eternal youth that abound in mythology, and treatments that attempt to combat the passage of time, Armanios, like other researchers, is doubtful about the possibility of acting in a meaningful way on a biological mechanism that, distressing as it is, seems very well programmed. While acknowledging the potential of some treatments for accelerated aging, she considers it unlikely that a drug that will add 20 years to a normal life expectancy will be developed. However, she warns that we sometimes forget one aspect where there is enormous room for improvement: the socioeconomic gap. In countries like Spain, there can be a difference of more than a decade in life expectancy between rich and poor, a problem that can be addressed without the side effects of manipulating telomeres. Queen Rania of Jordan got emotional after she attended her youngest son Prince Hashem's high school graduation along with the rest of the royal family. Queen Rania shared pictures from the graduation ceremony on Instagram and wrote a heartfelt note, which said "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 royal family sat in the front row at the ceremony as Prince Hashem received his King Academy high school diploma from King Abdullah II of Jordan. Along with Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein, Princess Salma, and Princess Iman were also in attendance. Princess Iman attended the event with her husband Jameel Thermiotis who she wed in March. Queen Rania recently hosted a henna party for her Rajwa Al Said, the bride-to-be of Crown Prince Hussein. The royal wedding will take place on June 1st. 2023 Legacy Lecture to feature author, historian Mary Ehrlander Mary Ehrlander The University of Alaska Fairbanks 2023 Legacy Lecture will honor author and professor emeritus Mary Ehrlander. The lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 5, in the BP Design Theater, Room 401 of the Usibelli Building. The annual Legacy Lecture celebrates UAF alumni who have made significant contributions to the community. Ehrlander is professor emeritus of history and former director of the Arctic and Northern studies program at UAF. She is the author of numerous books and publications, including Walter Harper, Alaska Native Son, for which she received the Alaska Library Associations Alaskana Award, and Equal Educational Opportunity: Browns Elusive Mandate. She received the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award in 2016. The Legacy Lecture is presented by UAF Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning. The event, which will be followed by a reception, will be livestreamed on the universitys media site. For those unable to attend, the talk will be recorded and posted to the web. For more information, visit the Summer Sessions events page or call 907-474-7021. 185-23 Norway will support programs to train Ukrainian war pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said on Wednesday. Thats according to Reuters citing NRK, Ukrinform reports. "The government backs this initiative and is considering how Norway can contribute together with allies and partners," Gram said. The Norwegian government has not decided whether to give any of its F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, the minister told public broadcaster NRK. As reported by Ukrinform, Portugal can train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets but cannot send its planes at the moment, Foreign Minister Joao Gomesch Cravinho said on Tuesday. Denmark also expressed readiness to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighters. Italy is currently considering, together with its allies, the possibility of training Ukrainian pilots on Western-made warplanes. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group has allocated about $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine to further strengthen and improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force in real time and in the long run. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said this in his opening remarks at the 12th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "In total, the Contact Group has committed nearly $65 billion in security assistance. Now, Putin was hoping that our resolve would fade. And he was betting that our unity would crack. Instead, we remain as united as ever," Austin said. He noted that since the Ukraine Defense Contact Group met last month, the United States has committed an additional $1.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. That includes a recent package of $375 million with equipment such as HIMARS ammunition, anti-tank systems, and laser-guided rockets. As part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the United States funded additional air-defense systems and munitions. That package also includes equipment that will integrate Ukraine's legacy air-defense systems with air-defense launchers, missiles, and radars from members of this Contact Group. "We are focused on contributions that make a real difference in real time. Yet the United States is also committed to standing with Ukraine for the long haul. And so are the countries that have gathered here today," Austin said. In this regard, he recalled that Germany had pledged to provide Ukraine with more Leopard tanks, ammunition, combat drones, and more, in a package worth nearly $3 billion, which "reflects Germany's drive to meet Ukraine's near-term needs, and Germany's investment for the long haul." In addition, Austin noted the efforts of Denmark, which provided Ukraine with air defense support, mine-clearing vehicles, mobile field bridges and recovery vehicles, as well as the contribution of France that has committed more light tanks and armored vehicles. "We've trained nine motorized and mechanized brigades, and continue to execute collective training for Ukrainian combat units," Austin said. According to him, all these donations respond to Ukraine's top-priority requirements and reflect the sustained resolve of this Contact Group. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group last met in Germany on April 21. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, discussed with the Minister of Defense of Sweden, Pal Jonson, the start of a separate training program for Ukrainian war pilots on modern Western-made aircraft. The Head of State announced this on Telegram. "During a meeting with Minister of Defence of Sweden Pal Jonson, we 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," Zelensky wrote. He thanked Sweden for the 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. 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, president emphasized. As reported, Sweden will continue to coordinate the efforts of EU nations to provide military aid to Ukraine, which remains one of the key priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the EU, and will 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. Russia is preparing a large-scale provocation by simulating an accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. That's according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Ukrinform reports. "In the coming hours, the rashists are preparing a large-scale provocation by simulating an accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. For this purpose, a strike will be carried out directly on the territory of the ZNPP. After that, an emergency leak of radioactive substances will be announced. Ukraine will traditionally be blamed for the incident," the Ukrainian intelligence said. According to the report, in order to hide their actions, the invaders disrupted the staff rotation of the IAEA's permanent monitoring mission scheduled for today. "The purpose of this action is to provoke the international community to conduct a detailed investigation, during which all hostilities will be stopped. In this way, the rashists hope to get the long-awaited pause that will be used to regroup the occupation contingent and stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive," the report said. At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov said in a comment to RBC-Ukraine that "the occupiers have already placed appropriate means of destruction" at the ZNPP. According to him, immediately after that, the occupiers want to involve so-called Rosatom experts in "recording" the strikes and invite representatives of international agencies and organizations, including the IAEA. Yusov also noted that the Russian occupiers could soon stage such provocations using elements of nuclear materials and chemical weapons along the entire front line in eastern and southern Ukraine. A batch of short-range air-to-air missiles will soon arrive in Ukraine from Canada. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense of Canada following the regular meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Canada will hand over 43 AIM-9 missiles to Ukraine free of charge from its army stocks, according to Canadas Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defense added that this would help Ukraine secure its skies against the background of Russias ongoing attacks. Read also: Canada gives Ukraine batch of demining suits In addition, Canada will expand the training of Ukrainian military medics in Poland as part of Operation UNIFIER. Five more medical instructors of the Armed Forces of Canada will be seconded to Poland, where they will join the seven Canadian servicemen already stationed there, who are running a training program to share their skills with the Ukrainian military. The expansion of the medical training mission is expected to double the number of potential Ukrainian graduates. It should be recalled that as part of Operation UNIFIER, Canadian servicemen have been training Ukrainian soldiers in modern combat skills since 2015. After Russias full-scale invasion, Canadian instructors left Ukraine, within months resuming training for Ukrainian recruits in Great Britain and Poland. In total, more than 36,000 Ukrainian defenders have completed the course. Photo: ausairpower.net Elon Musk in a live broadcast with the surgical robot that would place the implants, in August 2020. Neuralink (AFP) Neuralink, Elon Musks brain implant company, announced on Thursday that it has received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out its first clinical trial on humans. The controversial businessman had predicted in December that permission from the regulator would arrive during the first half of this year. He was correct, although the approval process was not easy and included a refusal last year. Neuralink, founded in 2016, said in a statement that this is the first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people. Recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial, added the company on Twitter, promising more information in the coming days. Neuralink has been raising expectations about its products for several years. In 2020, Musk claimed in a presentation that chips made by the company would be able to cure some conditions such as paralysis and insomnia. The entrepreneur, who this week helped Florida governor Ron DeSantis launch his 2024 presidential campaign on Twitter and who is not known for carefully measuring his words, added that Neuralink chips might even give users superhuman vision. At the time, the company was showing off the capabilities of its first implants in a pig. In 2021, Neuralink made one of its most viral presentations. A monkey named Pager sat in front of a television and closely followed what was happening on the screen, a Pong video game. The primate controlled the movements with his eyes alone, thanks to a pair of semiconductors the size of a 25-cent coin implanted in both hemispheres of his brain. Musk holds an implant at a presentation in August 2020. Neuralink (AFP) Musk had boasted several times since 2019 that he was seeking FDA approval for human clinical trials. But it was not until 2022 that company officials filed a request with the regulator. According to Reuters, the first application was rejected by the FDA shortly after it was submitted. The agency was reportedly concerned about the lithium battery of the device, the possibility of the implants wires migrating within the brain, and the challenge of safely extracting the device without damaging brain tissue. In a special Reuters report from March, several Neuralink employees expressed doubts that Neuralink could quickly correct the issues of concern to the FDA. Kip Ludwig, a former program director for neural engineering at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), told Reuters that Neuralink doesnt appear to have the mindset and experience thats needed to get this to market anytime soon. Neuralink is not the only company preparing to carry out clinical trials on humans. One of its main rivals, Paradromics, is also seeking approval. Founded in 2015, the Austin-based neurotech startup has made leaps and bounds with its implants and has increased its workforce to 50 employees. Its product, called Connexus Direct Data, is described as an assistive communication device for patients whove lost the physical ability to speak or type. The promising technology has led the FDA to award Paradromics the Breakthrough Device designation, a program where 32 applications undergo a faster review process, as they could benefit patients in their treatments and diagnoses. Another company breaking into the nascent brain-computer interface (BCI) industry is Synchron. These companies differ as to the size, weight, and performance of their semiconductors and in the surgical methods for attaching them to the human brain. But they are all equally optimistic about the future benefits they could bring to millions of people. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published May 26, 2023 CAPTION:(L-R) Outstanding Faculty Rebecca Hamm, Shining Star Miraida Christian, Outstanding Undergraduate Noor Farhat, Outstanding Graduate Kallie Davis MONROE, LA The School of Allied Health (SOAH) under the College of Health Science (COHS) held its annual Spring 2023 Professional Business Luncheon Networking event and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 4 at Bayou Pointe where a total of 300 people attended which included health science students, healthcare community leaders, and faculty. Seven different Health Science (HS) programs participated in the Professional Business Luncheon Networking event which included a total of 182 students from Dental Hygiene, Health Studies, Kinesiology, Medical Laboratory Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Radiologic Technology and Speech-Language Pathology. The purpose of this professional business luncheon was for students to gain knowledge and application of appropriate business etiquette, interpersonal communications, and networking with healthcare professionals in their discipline. Students were assigned to exact tables with their specific discipline leaders which allowed for meaningful dialogue about careers in their field. As preparation to the business luncheon, these HS students participated in a 3-hour interactive, Skills Camp Workshop led by the ULM Career Development Student Center and the College of Health Sciences which focused on topics of professionalism, dining etiquette, professional dress, and career readiness. In addition, students had to develop work-related questions to ask their leaders which provided an excellent background to conversation during the lunch. Dr. Paula Griswold, Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences explains, The luncheon is a collaborative endeavor with students, faculty, and community leaders. The event provides a real-world experience for students to practice those non-technical skills needed to enter the healthcare workforce and have a positive career. It was a very successful event for our students and community leaders. The professional luncheon helps students learn first-hand what employers are looking for in college graduates and students begin to see how they can put their degree to work, Dr. Jessica Dolecheck, event organizer and Program Director for Health Studies. Having a focused and personal lunch with healthcare professionals allows students to engage and ask insightful career related questions. During the Professional Business Luncheon event, SOAH Outstanding Awards for faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students were presented recognizing their outstanding achievements in their discipline. The chair of the 2023 SOAH Awards Committee, Ms. Kim Whorton, points out that It is remarkable to see the dedication of these nominees and how committed they are to supporting our programs. These awards are a way of celebrating their outstanding efforts. Rebecca Hamm Outstanding Faculty Award The School of Allied Health presented the Outstanding Faculty Award to Rebecca Hamm, Associate Professor of Radiologic Technology. The award honors a full-time faculty member who demonstrates exceptional teaching effectiveness, mentorship to students and other faculty, involvement in research, and service to the community outside of campus. Mrs. Hamm excels in teaching, with a focus on radiographic procedures by incorporating student engagement through classroom activities and assignments. Her external service includes being actively involved in the Louisiana Society of Radiologic Technologists, recently completing her tenure as President of the organization, as well as active participation in the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the Association of Educators in Radiologic Sciences, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology as an accreditation site visitor. Her internal service includes participation in numerus program, college, and university committees, faculty advisor to the programs student organization, and involvement in many programs and events at the University. She has also secured funding via several grants, most recently a $25,000 grant to install a digital x-ray unit in the radiographic lab. Mrs. Hamm continues to publish and present on a regular basis, and will also be defending her dissertation on the topic of Accreditation Assessment in the Spring of 2024. Noor Farhat Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award was presented to Noor Farhat. The award honors an undergraduate student who demonstrates exceptional scholarship, character, and service. Noor Farhat is an excellent student, peer, and leader for the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program. She maintains a 4.000 GPA while completing the rigorous MLS curriculum. Noor holds an academic excellence scholarship, is a member of ULM Honors Program, and has been on the ULM President's list throughout her college career. She demonstrates leadership skills by serving as the MLS Student Society secretary and the Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (LSCLS) Student Forum chair. She was instrumental in writing and receiving a grant through the ULM Office of Student Development for funding to assist MLS students. This past summer, she represented LSCLS at the national American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) in Grand Rapids Michigan as a member of the House of Delegates. As a member of the MLS Student Society, Noor participated in several service and recruiting events including the Christmas Project for the Center for Children and Families, Browse on the Bayou, and the ULM blood drives. For her notable service and outstanding abilities, Noor was awarded the 2022 LSCLS Student of the Year. Kallie Davis Outstanding Graduate Student Award The Outstanding Graduate Student Award was presented to Kallie Davis from the Speech-Language Pathology program. The award honors a graduate student who demonstrates exceptional scholarship, character, and service. Kallie Davis is an outstanding student, earning a 4.0 GPA in a very rigorous program. In both her personal and professional demeanor and interactions, Kallie represents the many characteristics that the program desires for all of its students. She has a thirst for knowledge and exudes enthusiasm for all aspects of the profession. Her professionalism and her positive outlook draw others to her. She is a positive influence on others as she exemplifies knowledge of best practices and is willing to confidently share her knowledge and experiences with others. Miraida Christian Shining Star Award The 2023 Shining Star Award is given to a staff member in the COHS who demonstrates outstanding customer service, initiative, dependability, teamwork, and a positive attitude in our School and College of Health Sciences. The 2023 Shining Star Award recipient is Ms. Miraida Christian from the College of Health Sciences. Ms. Miraida Christian is described as a model employee. She is smart, organized, and has multiple degrees in business. She has exceptional experience and skills in accounting and finance. Ms. Christian has gone above and beyond to keep supplies coming in for our programs/students and managing travel for faculty. She has put in unlimited hours in trying to keep these tasks up to date and the college moving forward. She is even on campus during holiday breaks and in the middle of hurricanes inspecting offices and classroom space. She has a great working relationship with other offices on campus. She is always professional and treats everyone with respect. She has volunteered to assist with college events such as homecoming, commencement, and the ULM Foster Care day. Someone once said, If I won the lottery, I would want her managing my winnings! She is a true asset to our college. The COHS and SOAH committees are commended for their work on facilitating the luncheon and awards event for ULM students, community leaders and faculty within their programs. Innovative projects such as these will help students feel more confident in workplace environments which will likely translate into more successful healthcare outcomes. | By January Payne With heart disease the most common cause of death worldwide, researchers have attempted to quantify how cumulative exposure to multiple risk factors, like high blood pressure, obesity, and elevated cholesterol, affect an individuals risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Using sophisticated modeling techniques, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have developed a new tool that can predict the risk of heart disease in those over 40 based on their total exposure, through the years, to heart disease risk factors. The new research findings, published in March in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which recruited about 5,000 healthy young adults from four U.S. cities and followed them for 30 years. The researchers were able to calculate from this data the cumulative effect of individual risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and the additive effects of multiple risk factors that can cause cardiovascular disease. Michael J. Domanski, MD Black patients were found to have a 46 percent greater risk of developing heart disease compared to white patients. This finding is independent of other risk factors, including family history, smoking habits, and college attendance (a marker of socioeconomic status). Black patients also were found to be more susceptible to cardiovascular effects of uncontrolled high blood pressure as compared to white patients. White patients, on the other hand, were found to be more susceptible to elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels than Black patients. These data make clear the importance of instituting risk-factor reduction strategies as early in life as is feasible to reduce time-related cumulative exposure to harmful risks, said study lead author Michael J. Domanski, MD, professor of medicine at UMSOM. These results suggest that a self-declared Black racial status is a marker of underlying and unexplained differences in risk-factor impact. The results of this study could help guide physicians in developing personalized prevention strategies for individual patients. Public health policymakers also could use the new risk calculation tool to assess the likely impact of proposed heart disease prevention programs, while researchers could use it to help design clinical trials to test heart disease prevention strategies. By examining the long-term impact of multiple risk factors on cardiovascular disease, our study highlights the importance of cumulative exposure in determining an individual's risk, said Xin Tian, PhD, adjunct professor at UMSOM and a biostatistician at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our findings underscore the need for personalized prevention strategies that address both the time course and severity of these risk factors. As scientists, our duty is to use this knowledge to inform the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies that can reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease on individuals and society as a whole. The R Shiny app, developed in this study, is a tool that allows medical providers to insert cardiovascular risks, patient history, and patient race to determine individual risks and how best to address them. Electronic medical records are now widely available, making the development of tools such as the R Shiny app possible. R Shiny can be used to estimate cardiovascular risks after age 40 based on the severity of risk factors earlier in adulthood. The app is hosted on NHLBIs website. Our study demonstrates the power of innovative statistical data-science approaches in enabling biomedical researchers to gain deeper insights into complex health issues, such as cardiovascular disease. We were able to develop risk-prediction models that provide a more accurate and personalized assessment of an individuals risk, said Colin Wu, PhD, adjunct professor of medicine at UMSOM and a mathematical statistician at NHLBI. During the two-decade follow-up period after age 40, the researchers found that 316 people in the study experienced their first cardiovascular event, including heart disease, strokes, and congestive heart failure. This new tool could be used by cardiologists to convince patients to take the necessary steps to lower their risk of heart attack or stroke by quantifying how much their risk would improve if they better managed, for example, their cholesterol and hypertension, said Mark Gladwin, MD, dean, UMSOM, vice president for medical affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. That could have a significant impact particularly in vulnerable populations who have not been aggressively treated for cardiovascular risks in the past due to longstanding health inequities. The CARDIA data used for this research is supported by NHLBI in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (HHSN268201800005I and HHSN268201800007I), Northwestern University (HHSN268201800003I), the University of Minnesota (HHSN268201800006I), and the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (HHSN268201800004I). A headstone for George Floyd stands int the "Say Their Names" cemetery at George Floyd Square on May 25, 2023, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. 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. 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 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 and a half 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 the 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. 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition (@ChaudhryMAli88) The European Union is hesitant about enforcing controls on investments into China despite prodding from the United States, Bloomberg reported on Friday citing its sources MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2023) The European Union is hesitant about enforcing controls on investments into China despite prodding from the United States, Bloomberg reported on Friday citing its sources. "We are in the early stages of the discussion and will require substantial engagement with member states when the work is more advanced," European Commission Vice President for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis was quoted by the agency as saying following a meeting in Brussels. At the meeting, plans to monitor investments that could pose a risk to European security were discussed by EU trade ministers, a source told Bloomberg. The European Commission is reportedly working on a legal tool, which would enable the EU to monitor outbound investments, particularly into China, as part of the EU's economic security strategy, although some officials are doubtful whether such instruments could be viable. "It is an instrument that is extremely difficult to apply ... Nobody is enthusiastic about it," Xiana Mendez, Secretary of State for Trade at the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, was quoted by the report as saying. In early May, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said that the Biden administration was discussing restrictions on investments into China, which could promote the development of technologies potentially endangering the US's national security. She added that the measures would be very specific and focused only on technologies that could undermine the security of the US. She also noted that some of the G7 states share the US's concern about China allegedly enforcing 'economic duress' against third countries. In March, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU intended to change some of the provisions of the 2020 comprehensive agreement on investment with China due to the recent international developments. She pointed out that some investments could pose a risk to the national or economic security of the EU member states. The EC chief added that the EU must consider diplomatic as well as economic risks resulting from the cooperation with China and take into account China's growing ambitions in the international arena. (@ChaudhryMAli88) New Zealand, , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2023 ) :More than 20 Kiwi exporters have signed up for the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand said Friday. More Kiwi exporters are welcome to join this year's CIIE, said Ning Feng, President of the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center during a roadshow for the event. Chen Zhiyang, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, highlighted the resilience and recovery of China's economy. He said, "Our government at all levels put economic stability and growth the top priority. The recovery of China's economy has injected more confidence into the global economy, and to further the development of China-New Zealand trade and investment cooperation." In a recent survey released by New Zealand Trade and Enterprises (NZTE), 64 percent of urban, middle-class consumers in China recognize the premium quality of New Zealand products, the highest rate among all the surveyed markets. Jane Liu, Market Manager for Greater China NZTE confidently anticipated that more Kiwi companies would travel to the market for the CIIE this year, with the aim of building engagement with customers, channel partners, and consumers. This was echoed by Justine Arroll, Trade Strategy Manager of Fonterra. She said CIIE is now the seminal event on Fonterra's Calendar in China. "Fonterra has been involved from the inception of CIIE from 2018 and over that time, we have grown the footprint of our booth from 50 square meters to 260 square meters in 2023." Arroll added. She also revealed that Fonterra is going to launch a brand-new high-protein UHT milk during the upcoming CIIE in Shanghai. Another dairy company, Milk New Zealand Dairy is also a beneficiary of CIIE. Managing Director of Milk New Zealand Dairy Terry Lee said, "Participating in the CIIE brings great benefits to Milk New Zealand Dairy. We consider the CIIE as a platform for launching new products, gaining media attention, expanding distribution channels, and engaging in exchanges and learning with our peers."The event is co-organized by the New Zealand China Chamber of Commerce and the China International Import Expo Bureau. Representatives from Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, New Zealand China Council, New Zealand China Trade Association, New Zealand Trade and Enterprises, as well as around 200 government and business figures attended the roadshow. BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2023 ) :China and Bhutan held the 12th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on the China-Bhutan Boundary issues on Wednesday and Thursday in Thimphu, Bhutan. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the positive consensus reached at the 11th EGM in Kunming, China, and held frank and constructive discussions to take forward the implementation of the Three-Step Roadmap on speeding up border negotiations between the two countries. The two sides expressed satisfaction on the progress made in the implementation of the Three-Step Roadmap during the 12th EGM. The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, director-general of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. The Bhutanese delegation was led by Letho Tobdhen Tangbi, secretary of the International Boundaries of Bhutan. The two sides expressed their confidence in the Three-Step Roadmap and reiterated the importance of increasing the frequency of their meetings to make further progress in its implementation. They agreed to hold the next EGM in Beijing at an early date. The two sides also agreed to hold the 25th Round of China-Bhutan Boundary Talks as soon as possible at mutually convenient dates. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere in keeping with the close ties of friendship and cooperation between China and Bhutan. (@FahadShabbir) Bogota, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2023 ) :The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Affairs Envoy, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, met Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alvaro Leyva Duran during his current visit to the Republic of Colombia. During the meeting, the two ministers discussed Riyadh-Bogot relations and ways to enhance them in all fields and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest. (@Abdulla99267510) The bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Shahid Waheed, will commence the hearing at 11 am today. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 25th, 2023) A larger bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan is scheduled to hear petitions challenging the audio leak commission's proceedings regarding various audio leaks involving judges and politicians. The bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Shahid Waheed, will commence the hearing at 11 am today. Previously, the Federal government had established a three-member inquiry commission to investigate the leaked audio recordings purportedly involving the judiciary, former chief justices, and a judge. The government expressed concerns over the conversations, which raised doubts about the impartiality of judges. The three-member commission is chaired by Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court, with Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq serving as its members. Imran Khan, the Chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, approached the Supreme Court to challenge the validity of the commission. In his constitutional petition, Khan urged the apex court to declare the commission null and void. He contended that the appointment of any judge as a member of the judicial commission required permission from the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Khan argued that the appropriate platform for investigating or taking action against any judge was the Supreme Judicial Council. The petition was filed on behalf of Imran Khan by his legal representative, Babar Awan. Recently, the federal government handed over alleged audio recordings to the inquiry commission for meticulous examination. The commission has made substantial progress in its investigation and received eight audio files from the government. Accompanying these recordings are their corresponding transcripts, duly signed by an authorized officer, which provide Names, positions, and contact information of the individuals involved. The Supreme Court's larger bench will now assess the petitions and thoroughly deliberate on the audio leak commission's proceedings, ensuring a fair and impartial analysis of the matter at hand. The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) hosted the three-day final meeting of the HEC-National Technology Council (NTC) National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) for BSc Industrial Engineering Technology Academic Programs from May 24-May 26 MUZAFFARABAD , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2023 ):The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) hosted the three-day final meeting of the HEC-National Technology Council (NTC) National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) for BSc Industrial Engineering Technology Academic Programs from May 24-May 26. The objective of the meeting was to develop a national-level curriculum for the Industrial Engineering Program. Esteemed guests and experts from various universities and institutions came together to collaborate on the development of the Industrial Engineering Curriculum. During the concluding ceremony, Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi hailed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for implementing a policy to establish a standardized curriculum for industrial engineering programs. He congratulated the members of the curriculum committee for their dedicated and committed efforts in developing a curriculum that would address the country's significant needs. Prof. Dr Abbasi specifically acknowledged the contributions of Prof. Dr Saadat Hanif Dar, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at UAJK, for organizing a gathering of renowned academics and experts to discuss the proposed syllabus for these programs. He encouraged stakeholders to arrange conferences and seminars, and involve industry experts in the curriculum development process to align it with market demands. The VC emphasized the importance of addressing local, regional, and national issues through the industrial engineering curriculum and programs. Focal Person NTC HEC Islamabad, Hafiz Ghulam Muhammad, also delivered remarks during the occasion. The ceremony concluded with the VC presenting certificates to the committee participants as a token of appreciation. The meeting was attended by distinguished individuals, including Dr Muzaffar Ali from UET Texila, Dr Hussain Jaffari from NUST Islamabad, Dr Shahab Niazi from Islamia University Bahawalpur, Dr Hassan from Hamdard Islamabad, Dr Khalid from UAJK, Dr Sheeraz from UAJK, Dr Basit from UAJK and others. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said on Friday that its military base in the southwest of the country was attacked by militants from the al-Shabaab terrorist group (affiliated with al-Qaeda, banned in Russia) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2023) The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said on Friday that its military base in the southwest of the country was attacked by militants from the al-Shabaab terrorist group (affiliated with al-Qaeda, banned in Russia). "At around 5 a.m. today, ATMIS Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Buulo Mareer, approximately 120-km (75 miles) southwest of Mogadishu in Lower Shabelle region was attacked by Al-Shabaab militants using Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) and suicide bombers," the mission said in a statement. With reinforcements from the ATMIS aviation unit and allies, the soldiers were able to destroy the militants' weapons and force them to retreat, the mission said, adding that it remains committed to counter-terrorism and will continue to work with the Somali government and international partners to secure the country from militant groups. The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) said later in the day that a Ugandan contingent had been attacked by militants at an ATMIS base. "There was an early morning attack on our troops in bulo-marer-Somalia by elements of Alshabaab. We are cross-checking with African Union Transition Mission in Somalia headquaters for more details," the UPDF tweeted. Al-Shabaab is a jihadist military and political organization based in Somalia. Linked to al-Qaeda, it wages armed resistance against the Somali government and obstructs UN humanitarian missions in the country. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Ankara is ready to make "positive steps" in relations with Yerevan if Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on a peace agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2023) Ankara is ready to make "positive steps" in relations with Yerevan if Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on a peace agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. Earlier in the day, Reuters reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev may sign the peace agreement on June 1 during the European Political Community summit in Moldova. "We evaluate Yerevan's latest statement positively, they declare that they recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, there are mutual positive statements. We support this. Azerbaijan has proposed a comprehensive peace agreement, if Armenia says yes, discussions will take place very soon and it (the agreement) will be signed. We, as Turkey, will take some positive steps in this situation," Cavusoglu told reporters. 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. 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. The convictions were a major blow for the Oath Keepers, which Rhodes founded in 2009 and grew into one of the largest far-right anti-government militia groups. Recruiting past and present members of the military and police officers, the group promotes the belief that the federal government is out to strip citizens of their civil liberties and paints its followers as defenders against tyranny. 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. 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. In conference call days later, Rhodes urged his followers to let Trump know they were willing to die for the country. One Oath Keeper who was listening was so alarmed that he began recording the call and contacted the FBI, telling jurors it sounded like we were going to war against the United States government. Another man testified that after the riot, Rhodes tried to persuade him to pass along a message to Trump that urged the president not to give up his fight to hold onto power. The intermediary who told jurors he had an indirect way to reach the president recorded his meeting with Rhodes and went to the FBI instead of giving the message to Trump. Rhodes told the man during that meeting that the Oath Keepers should have brought rifles on Jan. 6. 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2023) Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said Thursday that the Ukraine conflict would persist for a very long time, possibly for decades, and would repeat after a possible ceasefire. "This conflict is for a very long time. It is all probably for decades. It is a new reality, new living conditions. As long as there is such power there (in Kiev), there will be, let's say, three years of ceasefire, two years of conflict, and then everything will happen again. The very nature of Nazi power in Kiev must be destroyed," Medvedev told journalists during his visit to Vietnam. Fulgence Kayishema, one of the last fugitives sought over the 1994 Rwanda genocide, appeared before a court in the South African city of Cape Town on Friday, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run Cape Town, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2023 ) :Fulgence Kayishema, one of the last fugitives sought over the 1994 Rwanda genocide, appeared before a court in the South African city of Cape Town on Friday, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run. He allegedly took part in one of the genocide's bloodiest episodes, when thousands of men, women and children who had sought shelter in a church were slaughtered. Wearing a blue jacket, black trousers and spectacles, he denied any role in the massacre after being quizzed by a local journalist before entering the packed courtroom. "What I can say, we are sorry to hear what was happening," he said, asked if he had anything to say to the victims. "There was a civil war in that time and people were killing each other... I didn't have any role." Flanked by armed officers with helmets and bullet-proof vests, Kayishema briefly held up a prayer book titled "Jesus First" before identifying himself to the court. The 62-year-old appeared calm and composed as a state prosecutor read out the accusations against him. They include "genocide" and conspiracy to commit genocide "relating to the slaughter of more than 2,000 people in Rwanda in 1994," prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse told the court. At the end of a short hearing, magistrate Ronel Oliver remanded him into custody. He is to be held at Cape Town's maximum security Pollsmoor prison until a next court appearance scheduled for June 2. The former Rwandan police inspector was arrested on Wednesday at a grape farm in the small winelands town of Paarl, 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Cape Town. He had been living in South Africa under an alias for more than two decades, prosecutors said. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th May, 2023) The US government has charged two Chinese nationals for their involvement in a bribery scheme allegedly orchestrated by the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Justice Department said. "John Chen and Lin Feng allegedly furthered the PRC government's transnational repression campaign against the Falun Gong by Bribing a Purported IRS (Internal Revenue Service) official," the Justice Department said in a press release on Friday. The US government has charged Chen and Feng for acting and conspiring to act in the United States as unregistered agents of the Chinese government; conspiring to bribe and bribing a public official; and conspiring to commit money laundering, the release said. Chen and Feng were arrested in California earlier on Friday and will make an initial court appearance later in the day, the release said. The Justice Department said Chen and Feng worked inside the United States at least since January 2023 with the goal of repressing and harassing followers of Falun Gong, an organization banned in China, the release added. The defendants may receive a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to the release. Professor Almaraz was a pioneering scholar of the American Southwest. This is a region that had been sorely neglected by the historical profession until more recent years, said UTSA Department of History Professor Emeritus John Reynolds on Almarazs significant contributions to the field of Southwest history. His many publications focusing on Spanish Texas helped draw scholarly attention to the area and to UTSA. He entered the profession in the 1970s when Hispanic historians were rare. In 1973, Almaraz accepted an appointment to the Bexar County Historical Commission, where he would serve on and off for nearly 50 years. He was responsible for many historical markers across Bexar County and served as the first chairman of the Historical Commission. He developed a successful three-year Tricentennial Symposium, Spains Encounter with the New World and helped with the World Heritage nomination for the San Antonio Missions. For his efforts, the County awarded him with multiple Hidalgo Awards, which recognize those who have made tremendous contributions in service to the San Antonio community. One of his proudest honors was a book by his students entitled, Tejano Epic: Essays in Honor of Felix D. Almaraz Jr. Tejano Epic is a tribute to Almaraz, compiled to recognize his outstanding service on behalf of Texas history and the states Hispanic past. The book shares several essays in honor of Almaraz. All of the contributors are well-known scholars in the field of Tejano history such as Arnoldo De Leon and Jesus F. de la Teja; all were touched by Almarazs exemplary scholarship, warm friendship and consummate professionalism. Department of Anthropology Professor Robert Hard shared his fond memories of Almaraz. As a junior professor and archaeologist in our former Division of Behavioral and Cultural Sciences, Felix was warm and welcoming and would occasionally drop by my office. We both received our doctorate at the University of New Mexico and enjoyed our recollections of UNM and the Lobos. We also shared interests in the past of Texas and the American Southwest. His resonant voice energetically pronouncing the name of each student at Commencement is another warm remembrance. Steve Bannon, the conservative strategist and longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, will stand trial next May on charges that he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S. southern border, a judge said Thursday. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan set Bannons trial in the We Build the Wall case for May 28, 2024, amending his calendar after realizing that the date he announced in court May 27 is next years Memorial Day holiday, when courts will be closed. If the schedule holds, Bannon will stand trial soon after Trump is slated to do so in the same Manhattan courtroom in an unrelated criminal case. Bannon, 69, pleaded not guilty last September following his indictment on state money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg took up the case after Bannons federal prosecution was cut short by a Trump pardon. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes, not state offenses. Bannon is accused of falsely promising donors that all money given to the We Build the Wall campaign would go toward building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Instead, prosecutors allege that the money was used to enrich Bannon and others involved in the project. Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato pleaded guilty to federal charges and were sentenced to prison. A third defendant, Timothy Shea, was convicted in October and is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Merchan is presiding over both the Bannon and Trump cases. Bannon is free pending trial. Thursdays hearing lasted all of four minutes. Well see you back in here in May, Bannon said as he left the courthouse in a black SUV. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The two children squinted to see through the thick smoke that hung in the air after a deafening blast shook their small home in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region. The pair, ages 9 and 10, called out for their father. Only eerie silence followed. Then Olha Hinkina and her brother, Andrii, rushed to the bomb shelter, as they had been taught. When the booms stopped and the smoke cleared, they found their father on the porch motionless and covered in blood after being struck by a Russian projectile. Father was killed at seven in the morning, said Andrii, who now lives in the safer western city of Lviv, near the border with Poland. The two siblings join a generation of Ukrainian children whose lives have been upended by the war. Russias full-scale invasion has subjected them to constant bombardment, uprooted millions from their homes and turned many into orphans. Hundreds of kids have been killed. For the survivors, the wide-ranging trauma is certain to leave psychological scars that will follow them into adolescence and adulthood. Even if children fled to a safer area, it doesnt mean they forgot everything that happened to them, said psychologist Oleksandra Volokhova, who works with children who escaped the violence. At least 483 children have lost their lives and nearly 1,000 have been wounded, according to figures from Ukraines general prosecutors office. Meanwhile, UNICEF says an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainian children are at risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, with potentially lasting effects. Nearly 1,500 Ukrainian children have been orphaned, the National Social Service of Ukraine said. The largest number of child casualties comes from Donetsk, the epicenter of many battles, where 462 children have been killed or wounded, according to Ukrainian officials. That figure does not include casualties from the Russian occupied city of Mariupol, which is also part of Donetsk province, where Ukrainian officials have found it difficult to track the dead and wounded. Before the war tore them apart, the Hinkin family was like any other living in the village of Torske, which today is just 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the front. With the death of their father in October, the children were orphaned. Their mother died years before the war. Six months later, the siblings appear to be moving past the worst of their ordeal. Police and volunteers evacuated them to a safer area in western Zakarpattia region, where they were cared for by government social services and a Ukrainian charity organization called SOS Childrens Villages, which provided housing and counseling. Their story became known in and around Torske after police released a widely seen video that showed their fathers body being removed from the family home. We knew the village. We knew where they lived. We knew these people, said Nina Poliakova, 52, from the nearby town of Lyman. Although she fled last year with her family to Lviv, Poliakova continued to follow news from her native area. Then tragedy struck her life as well when her 16-year-old foster son died suddenly from a heart condition. She also has a 16-year-old foster daughter she took in with her husband in 2016 from the occupied town of Horlivka, where hostilities with Russian-backed separatists began, years before the 2022 invasion. Mired in grief, Poliakova received a call one day from a local center supporting children. The caller asked if she would be willing to meet the Hinkin siblings. At their first meeting, they talked mostly about the Hinkin family home and the domestic animals they had. One of Andriis favorite activities was to feed the pigs. Poliakova decided to welcome the two children into her extended family. We had that tragedy in our family, and then fate just brought us together, Poliakova said. Now many children have been left alone, without parents. Children need care, love. They seek to be embraced and comforted. Many foundations have emerged to help children overcome the trauma of war, including a group called Voices of Children, which has processed around 700 requests from parents looking for help with children suffering from chronic stress, panic attacks and symptoms of PTSD. The pleas have changed as the war has progressed, according to a report issued by the charity. During this past winter, parents sought help after noticing behavioral changes in their children including apathy, aggression and anxiety, sensitivity to loud noises and anti-social habits. A childs psyche remains more malleable than that of adults, and with timely and quality support, we understand that a child can more easily overcome any traumatic events, said Olena Rozvadovska, the head of Voices of Children. Recovering from months living so close to combat lines was difficult for the siblings, Poliakova said. They were very scared, she said. Olha would cry and hug her every time she heard the air-raid sirens. Andrii was relatively calm during the day but would start screaming in the middle of the night. A charity known as Sincere Heart has operated short-term recovery camps for children and their mothers since the start of the invasion last year. More than 8,000 people have used the camp services. Poliakova took her three foster children there. She wanted to help revive the childhood they lost to the war. At the camp they played with other children who had similar experiences and took part in art sessions, dance classes and other activities designed to help children express emotions. Sounds of laughter and play resonate at the camp full of kids from the war-ravaged regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and other areas. Many witnessed bombings and experienced the loss of a parent. Some recovered from war-related wounds. During an art session, the children were given white T-shirts and instructed to express their feelings through drawing. Most painted in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag and scribbled the phrase glory to Ukraine. Olha Hinkina painted a heart in blue and yellow. Children reflect what lies on the surface, Rozvadovska said. They are growing up in an atmosphere of the colors of our flag, the daily updates from the front line, the pride for the army that is standing. Recovery is within reach for the children, she added. They can grow stronger because they have survived. They carry the experience that helped them to survive, she said. Maybe it even made them more resilient and adaptive. When Andrii Hinkin remembers his hometown, he doesnt recall the bombs, the smoke or the thunderous explosions. He remembers it as a beautiful village. Asked what are his biggest dreams, he responds timidly. I want to grow up. Officials in Somalia say Al-Shabab militants early Friday stormed a military base manned by African Union forces from Uganda, multiple sources said. The dawn attack took place in Bulo Marer, an agricultural town in Lower Shabelle region, about 110 kilometers south of Mogadishu. The militants detonated four to six explosions, including improvised bombs in vehicles driven by suicide bombers, three sources, including a local official and a security commander requesting anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, told VOA Somali. According to the sources, the militants penetrated perimeters of the base after the explosions, which were followed by a fierce firefight. The militants were also seen inside the town. The base is just outside town. The situation of a second base manned by Somali forces not far from the AU base that al-Shabab claims to have attacked is unclear. The group sent a message via Telegram early Friday claiming they were overrunning the base. The Africa Union military command and the Somali government have not yet commented on the attack. The group sent a message via Telegram early Friday claiming they were overrunning the base. The AU mission confirmed the attack, and said they are assessing the security situation. An al-Shabab attack on the same base in April 2018 failed after the Ugandan forces held their positions. Somali officials said dozens of militants were killed at the time. This latest attack comes as the Somali government prepares the second phase of military operations against al-Shabab. The first phase, launched in August, drove al-Shabab from vast territories in central Somalia. The Somali government said it will raise enough forces to takeover security responsibilities from the AU peacekeepers by Dec 2024. 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 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 cease-fire 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 organization helping children with cancer said a guesthouse it operates had been raided, including its safe and patients' rooms. The children had been previously transferred. More than 30 women abducted by separatist rebels for protesting illegal taxes imposed on them have been released, the Cameroon government said Friday. The women were taken earlier this month from Babanki, a farming village in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, along the border with Nigeria. "We have taken the women to hospitals where they are being treated for injuries and supported psychosocially," said Simon Emil Mooh, a local government official. The separatists were collecting monthly payments from children, women and men, imposing taxes on couples before they got married, and forcing families to pay $1,000 to bury their relatives, he said. The Central African nation has been plagued by fighting since English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion in 2017, with the stated goal of breaking away from the area dominated by the French-speaking majority and setting up an independent, English-speaking state. The government has accused the separatists of committing atrocities against English-speaking civilians. The conflict has left more than 6,000 people dead and displaced more than 760,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group. Some of the women released told The Associated Press that they were tortured while in captivity. "The separatist fighters beat me with their guns after [they] stripped me naked," Vubom Elizabeth told the AP by phone on Friday from the hospital where she was being treated. The rebels broke her left leg and arm, she said. Separatist leader Capo Daniel said the women were freed after promising to stop protesting but warned that people would continue to be punished if they continue. The governor of Cameroon's Northwest Region, Deben Tchoffo, called on the collaboration of communities to stop the atrocities and said the government will do what it takes to protect the women from separatist brutality. Former U.S. Congresswoman Liz Cheney implored new college graduates to not compromise when it comes to the truth, excoriating her House Republican colleagues for not doing enough to combat former President Donald Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen. In a commencement speech at Colorado College, the Wyoming Republican repeated her fierce criticisms of Trump but steered clear of talking about his 2024 reelection campaign or her own political future. Cheney, who graduated from Colorado College in 1988, recalled being a political science student walking into a campus building where a Bible verse was inscribed above the entrance that read, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." "After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of January 6th wasn't a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn't dangerous," Cheney said Sunday in Colorado Springs, connecting her experiences as a student to her work in the U.S. House of Representatives. "I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership." In three terms in office, Cheney rose to the No. 3 GOP leadership position in the House, a job she lost after voting to impeach Trump for the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol and then not relenting in her criticism of the former president. Cheney's speech touched on themes similar to those she has promoted since leaving office in January: addressing her work on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and standing up to the threat she believes Trump poses to democracy. She also encouraged more women to run for office and criticized one of the election-denying attorneys who worked for Trump after the 2020 election for recent remarks about college students voting. "Cleta Mitchell, an election denier and adviser to former President Trump, told a gathering of Republicans recently that it is crucially important to make sure that college students don't vote," Cheney said. "Those who are trying to unravel the foundations of our republic, who are threatening the rule of law and the sanctity of our elections, know they can't succeed if you vote." In an audio recording of Mitchell's presentation from a recent Republican National Committee retreat, she warns of polling places on college campuses and the ease of voting as potential problems, The Washington Post reported. Most students and parents in the audience applauded throughout Cheney's remarks, yet some booed. Some students opposing the choice of Cheney as speaker turned their chairs away from the stage as she spoke. Cheney's busy speaking schedule and subject matter have fueled speculation about whether she may enter the 2024 GOP presidential primary since she left office. Candidates ranging from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have calibrated their remarks about Trump, aiming to counter his attacks without alienating the supporters that won him the White House seven years ago. Though some have offered measured criticisms, no declared or potential challenger has embraced anti-Trump messaging to the same extent as Cheney. She did not reference her plans on Sunday but has previously said she remains undecided about whether she wants to run for president. Though she would face an uphill battle, Cheney's fierce anti-Trump stance and her role as vice chairwoman of the House committee elevated her platform high enough to call on a national network of donors and Trump critics to support a White House run. A super PAC organized to support of her candidacy has remained active, including purchasing attack ads on New Hampshire airwaves against Trump this month. After leaving office and being replaced by a Trump-backed Republican who defeated her in last year's primary, Cheney was appointed to a professorship at the University of Virginia and wrote "Oath and Honor," a memoir scheduled to hit shelves in November. Two of Cheney's five children as well as her mother are also graduates of the liberal arts college. Cheney's speaking tour appears to be picking up. She is scheduled to appear Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group met on Thursday to discuss a plan for training F-16 pilots as a hospital is destroyed in Dnipro. UNICEF looks at kids mental health in the war, our daily update from Kyiv. Plus more and more people are signing up to take Ukrainian language classes. With time running out to avert an unprecedented U.S. default, word of progress but no deal yet. Ukraine shoots down 36 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks. A small company with big plans for a mission to put an uncrewed lander on the moon. Japan and the United States will issue a joint statement on technology cooperation on Friday that will commit them to closer cooperation in research and development of advanced chips and other technologies, a Japanese government source said. Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will meet in Detroit in the U.S. on the sidelines of the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, Yomiuri reported earlier. In addition to semiconductors, they will discuss artificial intelligence and quantum technology, the newspaper added. They want to deepen ties between research and development hubs in Japan and the U.S., the Japanese official told Reuters, asking not to be identified because he is not authorised to talk to the media. It will be another incremental step as they map out their future technology cooperation, he added. As Washington and Tokyo reduce their exposure to Chinese supply chains amid growing tension, they are working together to expand chip manufacturing to ensure access to advanced components that they see as essential for economic growth. Japan has established a new chip maker, Rapidus, that is working with International Business Machines Corp (IBM)(IBM.N) to develop advanced logic semiconductors, and is offering subsidies to U.S. memory maker Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) 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 in China. The meeting between Nishimura and Raimondo comes after the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies agreed at a meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, to reduce their exposure to China because of its "economic coercion." Raimondo on Thursday met China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Washington where the pair exchanged views on trade, investment and export policies. Russia's southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscow's forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russia's southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. "We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom," said resident Tatiana Safonova. "We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on." She said described the sound beforehand "like a growling, noisy moped driving by." Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. "Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory." Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that "Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "I'm somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war - so it's quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded." Ukraine's Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russia's Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russia's Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed, and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian president's office reported Friday. In Moscow, China's special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged "opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict," according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited "serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers," the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinping's government says it's neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraine's allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin first must withdraw his forces. KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2023 - 20:09 | All, World 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. Supplies of food, energy and key industrial products, such as semiconductors, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine. The IPEF partners, also including Australia, Indonesia, India, South Korea and Thailand, aim to respond to emergencies more promptly, ensuring the procurement of vital goods and sharing of information, under a new scheme, according to the sources. The U.S.-led initiative covers four pillars -- fair trade, supply chain resilience, clean energy and proper taxation and anti-corruption -- and is also regarded as a symbol of the world's biggest economy's reengagement in the fast-growing region after its withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal in 2017. Russia and China, which are deepening their economic and security partnership amid increasing tensions with the United States and other countries, are not part of the IPEF. On Thursday, trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region opened a two-day meeting in Detroit ahead of the IPEF ministerial meeting to discuss ways to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, even as the rift over Russia's war on Ukraine hampers efforts to boost regional cooperation. The 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum include Russia and China, and whether the ministers can find common ground on key issues remains unclear. The United States, chair of this year's forum, aims to compile a joint statement at the conclusion of the meeting. Also on Thursday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met in Washington and had "candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the U.S.-China commercial relationship," the U.S. side said. Two Army veterans who stormed the U.S. Capitol in a military-style formation with fellow members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced Friday to prison terms, a day after the far-right extremist group's founder received a record-setting 18-years behind bars in the January 6, 2021, attack. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Jessica Watkins, of Woodstock, Ohio, to eight years and six months behind bars and sentenced Kenneth Harrelson, of Titusville, Florida, to four years in prison. A federal jury acquitted Watkins and Harrelson of the seditious conspiracy charge that Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of in November. But jurors convicted Watkins and Harrelson on other January 6 charges, including obstructing Congress' certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. Rhodes' 18-year term is the longest prison sentence that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The charges against leaders of the Oath Keepers and another extremist group, the Proud Boys, are among the most serious to be brought in the Justice Department's massive investigation of the riot. Mehta agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes and the other Oath Keepers' actions could be punished as "terrorism," increasing the recommended sentence under federal guidelines. But the judge ultimately gave Watkins and Harrelson far less time than prosecutors were seeking. The Justice Department had requested 18 years for Watkins and 15 for Harrelson. Watkins and Harrelson marched toward the Capitol with other Oath Keepers members in "stack" formations as a mob of Trump supporters clashed with outnumbered police officers. Harrelson was the group's "ground team lead" on January 6. Watkins, who formed a separate Ohio-based militia group, recruited others to join the Oath Keepers in Washington that day. No mere 'foot soldier' Mehta said that while Watkins was not a top leader, like Rhodes, she was more than just a "foot soldier," noting that at least three others charged in the riot wouldn't have been there if she hadn't recruited them to join. "Your role that day was more aggressive, more assaultive, more purposeful than perhaps others," he told her. Watkins tearfully apologized for her actions before the judge handed down her sentence. She condemned the violence by rioters who assaulted police, but conceded that her presence at the Capitol "probably inspired those people to a degree." She described herself as "just another idiot running around the Capitol" on January 6. "And today you're going to hold this idiot responsible," she told the judge. The judge said Watkins' personal story of struggling for years to come to terms with her identity as a transgender woman made it especially difficult for him to understand why she has shown "a lack of empathy for those who suffered" on January 6. Watkins testified at trial about hiding her identity from her parents during a strict Christian upbringing and going AWOL in the Army after a fellow soldier found evidence of her contact with a support group for transgender people. Harrelson told the judge he went to Washington after another Oath Keeper offered him a "security job," but said he has never voted for a president in his life and doesn't care about politics. Some of the Oath Keepers provided security for Trump ally Roger Stone and other right-wing figures at events before the riot. "I have totally demolished my life," he said as he broke down in tears. "I am responsible, and my foolish actions have caused immense pain to my wife and our children." Mehta said he didn't agree with the government's portrayal of Harrelson as a "midlevel organizer" for the Oath Keepers. Unlike many other group members charged in the attack, Harrelson didn't send any messages "that anyone would consider extremist," the judge said. But the judge said he was struck by an image of Harrelson patting down a police officer on his way out of the Capitol. "You weren't just there that day because you got swept in," the judge told him. 'I need you fighting fit' During a nearly two-month trial in Washington's federal court, lawyers for Watkins and the other Oath Keepers argued there was no plan to attack the Capitol. On the witness stand, Watkins told jurors she never intended to interfere with the certification and never heard any commands for her and other Oath Keepers to enter the building. Evidence shown to jurors showed Watkins after the 2020 election messaging with people who expressed interest in joining her Ohio militia group about "military-style basic" training. She told one recruit, "I need you fighting fit" by the inauguration, which was January 20, 2021. On January 6, Watkins and other Oath Keepers wearing helmets and other paramilitary gear were seen shouldering their way through the crowd and up the Capitol stairs in military-style stack formation. She communicated with others during the riot over a channel called "Stop the Steal J6" on the walkie-talkie app Zello, declaring, "We are in the main dome right now." Harrelson screamed "Treason!" an epithet directed at members of Congress as he entered the Capitol on January 6, a prosecutor said. Rhodes, 58, of Granbury, Texas, was the first January 6 defendant convicted of seditious conspiracy to receive his punishment for what prosecutors said was a weekslong plot to forcibly block the transfer of power from former President Donald Trump to Biden. Four other Oath Keepers convicted of the sedition charge during a second trial in January will be sentenced next week. U.S. military leaders are starting to unveil the updated Defense Department cyber strategy, calling for troops to "campaign in and through cyberspace" in order to defend the country. The Pentagon on Friday announced it shared a classified version of its 2023 Cyber Strategy with Congress earlier this week and promised to produce an unclassified summary of the new strategy in the coming months. The new cyber strategy updates the previous one, issued in 2018, and "is informed by years of real-world experience of significant [Defense Department] cyberspace operations," according to a Pentagon statement. Those operations include 47 deployments to 22 countries by U.S. Cyber Command "hunt forward teams," most recently to Latvia and Albania. Hunt forward teams also played a role in securing the 2020 presidential election. U.S. officials have likewise been learning from Russia's attempts to use cyberattacks as part of its invasion of Ukraine. "The department will maximize its cyber capabilities in support of integrated deterrence, employing cyberspace operations in concert with other instruments of national power," the Defense Department said Friday in a separate, unclassified fact sheet. It also warned that U.S. military cyber teams "will campaign in and through cyberspace below the level of armed conflict to reinforce deterrence and frustrate adversaries." In line with previous statements and congressional testimony from top Pentagon officials, the new cyber strategy lists China as the main threat. "The People's Republic of China (PRC) represents the department's pacing challenge," according to the strategy fact sheet. "The PRC has made significant investments in military cyber capabilities and empowered a number of proxy organizations to pursue malicious cyber activities against the United States." Earlier this month, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, warned that China would very likely turn to cyberspace should tensions between Beijing and Washington boil into something more. "In the event of a conflict with the U.S., we will almost certainly see China use aggressive cyber operations against our critical infrastructure and almost certainly be able to disrupt critical infrastructure," Jen Easterly told a forum organized by the Special Competitive Studies Project. Just this past week, CISA, along with the FBI, the U.S. National Security Agency and partners from Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, issued a warning about cyber activity by a China-linked threat actor known as Volt Typhoon. A separate report this week, issued by tech giant Microsoft, warned that Volt Typhoon "is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises." It also cautioned that the Chinese-backed cyber actor already "has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere." Other top threats in the 2023 Pentagon Cyber Strategy include Russia, North Korea, Iran, terror organizations and crime syndicates. Additionally, the Pentagon said the new strategy complements the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy, launched by the White House earlier this year. White House cybersecurity officials said the national strategy calls for a more aggressive response from all aspects of the U.S. government to any malicious cyber activity. "We are certainly in a more forward-leaning position to make sure that we're protecting the American people from these threats," a senior administration official said during the rollout in March, adding that that included the use of military tools. "These are options that the president has, and we're certainly open to using all of them," the official noted. Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. Tens of thousands of people converged on the Serbian capital on Friday for a major rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, who is facing an unprecedented revolt against his autocratic rule amid the crisis triggered by two mass shootings that stunned the nation. The event was somewhat overshadowed by a new crisis in Serbia's former province of Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police on Friday and Vucic ordered Serbian troops to be put on a "higher state of alert." Vucic also said he ordered an "urgent" movement of Serbian troops to the border with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Answering Vucic's call for what he called "the largest rally in the history of Serbia," his supporters, many wearing identical T-shirts with his portrait, were bused to Belgrade from all over the Balkan country as well as neighboring Kosovo and Bosnia. Those working in state firms and institutions were told to take a day off from work to attend the rally in front of the parliament building. Some said that they were warned that they could lose their jobs if they didn't show up on the buses, which started arriving hours before the gathering was to start. Serbian officials said the rally promotes "unity and hope" for Serbia. At three large anti-government protests held earlier this month in the capital, demonstrators demanded Vucic's ouster and the resignation of two senior security officials. They also demanded the withdrawal of broadcasting licenses for two pro-Vucic television stations that they say promote violence and often host convicted war criminals and other crime figures. Opposition protesters blame Vucic for creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and division in the country that they say indirectly led to the May 3 and May 4 mass shootings that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them schoolchildren who were gunned down by a 13-year-old schoolmate. Vucic has vehemently denied any responsibility for the shootings, calling organizers of the opposition protests "vultures" and "hyenas" who want to use the tragedies to try to come to power by force and without an election. "They are not against violence, they want my head," he said. Analysts believe that by staging the mass rally, Vucic, who has ruled the country for more than a decade with a firm grip on power, is trying to overshadow the opposition protests with the sheer number of participants. "For the first time, Vucic has a problem," said political analyst Zoran Gavrilovic. "His problem is not so much the opposition, but Serbian society that has woken up." During the rally, Vucic is expected to announce he is stepping down from the helm of his Serbian Progressive Party and forming "a movement" that will unite all "patriotic forces" in the country. He also could call for a new parliamentary election for September something unlikely to be accepted by the opposition under the current conditions where he has full control over all pillars of power, including the mainstream media. Vucic, a former pro-Russia ultranationalist who now says that he wants to take the country into the European Union, has alleged that "foreign intelligence services" are behind the opposition protests. He said that he received the tip from "sisterly" spy agencies "from the east" thought to mean Russia. There are widespread fears that violence could erupt during the rally on Friday that could then be used as a pretext for a crackdown on future opposition protests, including one that is scheduled in Belgrade on Saturday. Similar big rallies were held in Serbia in the early 1990s when strongman Slobodan Milosevic delivered fiery speeches that heralded the violent breakup of Yugoslavia and rallied the masses for the wars that followed. As concerns grow over increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, the nations financial watchdog says its working to ensure that companies follow the law when theyre using AI. Already, automated systems and algorithms help determine credit ratings, loan terms, bank account fees, and other aspects of our financial lives. AI also affects hiring, housing and working conditions. Ben Winters, senior counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said a joint statement on enforcement released by federal agencies last month was a positive first step. Theres this narrative that AI is entirely unregulated, which is not really true, he said. Theyre saying, Just because you use AI to make a decision, that doesnt mean youre exempt from responsibility regarding the impacts of that decision. This is our opinion on this. Were watching. In the past year, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau said it has fined banks over mismanaged automated systems that resulted in wrongful home foreclosures, car repossessions and lost benefit payments, after the institutions relied on new technology and faulty algorithms. There will be no AI exemptions to consumer protection, regulators say, pointing to these enforcement actions as examples. Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra said the agency has already started some work to continue to muscle up internally when it comes to bringing on board data scientists, technologists and others to make sure we can confront these challenges and that the agency is continuing to identify potentially illegal activity. Representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Justice, as well as the CFPB, all say theyre directing resources and staff to take aim at new tech and identify negative ways it could affect consumers lives. One of the things were trying to make crystal clear is that if companies dont even understand how their AI is making decisions, they cant really use it, Chopra said. In other cases, were looking at how our fair lending laws are being adhered to when it comes to the use of all of this data. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act, for example, financial providers have a legal obligation to explain any adverse credit decision. Those regulations likewise apply to decisions made about housing and employment. Where AI make decisions in ways that are too opaque to explain, regulators say the algorithms shouldnt be used. I think there was a sense that, Oh, lets just give it to the robots and there will be no more discrimination, Chopra said. I think the learning is that that actually isnt true at all. In some ways the bias is built into the data. EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows said there will be enforcement against AI hiring technology that screens out job applicants with disabilities, for example, as well as so-called bossware that illegally surveils workers. Burrows also described ways that algorithms might dictate how and when employees can work in ways that would violate existing law. If you need a break because you have a disability or perhaps youre pregnant, you need a break, she said. The algorithm doesnt necessarily take into account that accommodation. Those are things that we are looking closely at. ... I want to be clear that while we recognize that the technology is evolving, the underlying message here is the laws still apply and we do have tools to enforce. OpenAIs top lawyer, at a conference this month, suggested an industry-led approach to regulation. I think it first starts with trying to get to some kind of standards, Jason Kwon, OpenAIs general counsel, told a tech summit in Washington hosted by software industry group BSA. Those could start with industry standards and some sort of coalescing around that. And decisions about whether or not to make those compulsory, and also then whats the process for updating them, those things are probably fertile ground for more conversation. Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, said government intervention will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems, suggesting the formation of a U.S. or global agency to license and regulate the technology. While theres no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules as European lawmakers are doing, societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House this month to answer hard questions about the implications of these tools. Two U.S. Park Police officers used excessive force against two journalists during a crackdown on racial justice protesters outside the White House almost three years ago, the U.S. Department of the Interior Inspector General said in a report publicly released Wednesday. The two journalists known in the report not by name but as the cinematographer and the reporter were in Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C., June 1, 2020, to cover protests over the police killing of George Floyd for an Australian television network. The police officers who also arent named in the report and each had over 10 years of experience used force against them during the subsequent operation to disperse protesters in and around the area ahead of then-President Donald Trumps photo op in front of St. Johns church. During the operation, one officer struck the cinematographer with his shield and then grabbed and pushed the cinematographers camera. The report determined that the first use of force the shield strike complied with department policy, but the second use of force the camera push did not. The camera push caused the cinematographer to see stars and suffer a bit of whiplash and damaged his camera, he said in the report. Meanwhile, a second officer struck the reporter with a baton. The report said the baton strike did not comply with use of force policy because the reporter was retreating, following officer orders and was not a threat. The report matches footage and testimony showing police striking Australian reporters Amelia Brace and Timothy Myers, according to The Washington Post. Eric Feder, an attorney with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, who represents Myers and Brace, told The Post that the details all match up completely with the experiences of his clients, even though a representative from the U.S. Department of the Interior Inspector General did not directly tell them the report was about them. "We appreciate the Inspector Generals close attention to this troubling incident," Feder told VOA. "We dont agree with all aspects of the report from our perspective, nothing about what the Park Police officers did to Mr. Myers and Ms. Brace that day was appropriate. But we are pleased that the report correctly concluded in the end that the officers plainly did use excessive force on our clients. "No one should be subjected to violence by law enforcement for peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights whether journalists or protesters," Feder added. I appreciate the Department of the Interior Office of the Inspector Generals (OIG) thorough investigation and I am reviewing the full report, Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor said in a statement to VOA. Consistent with USPP policy, following the completion of the OIG report this matter was referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to recommend any corrective actions, including disciplinary actions, if warranted. The Australian journalists were part of a much larger pattern because they were among the nine journalists assaulted that same day while covering the protests in the nations capital, according to Kirstin McCudden, vice president of editorial for the Freedom of the Press Foundation. The acknowledgement that law enforcement used excessive force on journalists Amelia Brace and Tim Meyers is an important first step in accountability when it comes to protecting the right of the press to be present and safe when documenting historically important news events, McCudden told VOA. The rest of the month of June only worsened for the free press as we documented nearly 100 assaults of journalists covering protests across the U.S., McCudden said. One of the Rwanda genocide's most wanted remaining suspects, accused of ordering the deaths of 2,000 people hiding in a church, denied any involvement but said Friday that he was "sorry" for the 1994 killings. On the run for two decades, Fulgence Kayishema was arrested Wednesday under a false name on a grape farm in South Africa where, according to a prosecutor, fellow refugees gave him up. Entering court for a first hearing with a Bible and a book emblazoned with "Jesus First," the 62-year-old was asked by a journalist if he had anything to say to victims. "What I can say? We are sorry to hear what was happening," he responded, coming up from the holding cells at Cape Town Magistrates' Court. "It was a war at that time. ... I didn't have any role." He was a fugitive from justice since 2001, when the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) indicted him for genocide over his alleged role in the destruction of the Nyange Catholic Church in Kibuye Prefecture. An estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed during Rwanda's genocide, orchestrated by an extremist Hutu regime and meticulously executed by local officials and ordinary citizens in the rigidly hierarchical society. At the Nyange church, Hutu militia lobbed grenades then doused it with fuel to set it ablaze. When that failed, they knocked down the church with bulldozers. Most of those sheltering inside died. Hiding among refugees According to a charge sheet seen by Reuters, Kayishema faces five charges in South Africa, including two for fraud. The fraud counts relate to applications he made for asylum and refugee status in South Africa, where the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleges he gave his nationality as Burundian and used a false name. Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the successor to the ICTR, told the BBC broadcaster that Kayishema fled Rwanda after the genocide and was hiding among refugees. "First, he went to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) for a number of months, then he went to a refugee camp in Tanzania. From there he moved to Mozambique. Then two years later to Eswatini and then in the late 90s he ended up in South Africa," Brammertz said. The prosecution persuaded a small number of former Rwandan soldiers with false identities living in South Africa as refugees to provide information on Kayishema's whereabouts, he added. Kayishema briefly appeared in court Friday, accompanied by masked police officers with automatic weapons and bullet-proof vests. The NPA said the case was postponed to June 2 to allow it time for further investigation. "While he was being arrested, more information came, which could mean us adding more charges," NPA provincial spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told journalists. Ntabazalila said prosecutors would oppose bail should he seek it. Kayishema will be held at Cape Town's Pollsmoor Prison ahead of extradition to Rwanda. Residents in Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland cast votes in local elections on Thursday, despite an opposition boycott that led to security incidents in the days before the polls. A VOA journalist reported seeing long lines of voters at polling stations in 30 districts. In Bosaso, the largest town and the commercial hub of the region, some voters were in line as long as two hours before polling stations opened at 7 a.m. Mohamed Abdullahi Qurshe, the electoral chairman of Bari region, said the polling stations closed at 6 p.m. "The elections were conducted in a peaceful and democratic manner," said Qurshe. "The vote counting begins immediately after the polls close." Among those voting was 64-year-old first-time voter Sirad Ahmed. "I think it was my lucky day, and I am very delighted to vote in this age and chose the candidate I want freely and democratically," she told VOA. "I'm very happy." Speaking to local reporters in Bosaso, Puntland Interior Minister Abdi Farah Juha said the region has made history. "Puntland had achieved a significant historic victory, with 30 districts holding peaceful elections," Juha said. "This is not a victory for Puntland alone, but a victory for whole Somalia and the democratic world." One person, one vote Thursday's Puntland polls are the first one-person, one-vote elections to be held in more than half a century in the conflict-ridden, fragile Horn of Africa nation, excluding the unrecognized breakaway region of Somaliland, which considers itself as an independent republic. The country's international partners, including the United Nations, European Union and the International Authority on Development also have hailed the district council elections as historic. "The partners believe that Puntland's experience with direct elections has the potential to inform and inspire the expansion of democracy across Somalia, at all levels of government," they said in a statement ahead of the vote. The Puntland local elections were held ahead of a regional parliamentary poll set for January. Opposition boycott According to election authorities, nearly 400,000 people had registered to vote, and a total of 3,775 candidates representing seven political parties, including the ruling Kaah party, were on the ballot Thursday. Some powerful politicians and members of the Puntland opposition groups in Nugal region in Puntland had boycotted Thursday's polling, forcing the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission to postpone polls in three of the region's 33 districts, including the state provincial capital, Garowe. A day before the elections, members of the Puntland forces loyal to the opposition leaders confiscated ballot boxes and other election materials from six polling stations in three districts and burned them to prevent the voting. A statement from the opposition politicians said they were not against a democratic election but described the process as illegal and manipulated by state President Said Abdullahi Deni. Deni's term is set to end in January, and the opposition has warned he may try to change Puntland's constitution to extend his mandate. Deni has accused the leaders of the central government in Mogadishu of intervening in their democratic process, an accusation repeatedly denied by Mogadishu. Struggles Somalia has been struggling for many years to stand on its legs again after more than three decades of conflict and lawlessness, deadly terrorism, piracy and natural disasters including a punishing drought that has driven the poor, aid-dependent nation to the brink of famine. Puntland, an arid region in the northeastern tip of Somalia, declared autonomy in 1998, and relations with the central government in Mogadishu have often been tense. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected by lawmakers a year ago, announced in March that the next national elections would be by universal suffrage. Currently, voting follows a complex indirect model where state legislatures and clan delegates pick lawmakers for the national parliament, who in turn choose the president. Faadumo Yaasiin contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse. Even though China is South Korea's top trading partner, Seoul's tightening ties with the U.S. and other wealthy democratic countries reveal its interest in countering Beijing's economic coercion, experts say. After a monthlong diplomacy effort that included summits with the U.S. and G-7 leaders, "reducing our reliance on China" and "diversifying our trading partners will help our economy," South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said Wednesday at a hearing in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol held a Cabinet meeting on Monday after the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, and said he "secured the basis of cooperation" with G-7 countries including Canada, Australia and Germany on "safeguarding supply chain networks" in critical minerals and semiconductors. South Korea was invited by Japan to the May 19-21 summit as a nonmember of the G-7, which consists of the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. At the summit on Saturday, the members seven of the world's wealthiest countries announced in a joint communique that they would "foster economic resilience" and counter Beijing's "economic coercion" and "malign practices" by "de-risking and diversifying" their trade away from China. In a separate statement released on the same day, they said countries making "attempts to weaponize economic dependencies" will "face consequences," without naming any countries. Experts said Yoon's participation at the summit where the G-7 countries unified against China's economic coercion, in addition to his close alignment with Washington, implies Seoul has joined their efforts. "The Yoon government seeks to join Washington and other allies in addressing supply chain and other economic security issues," said Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution. "This may entail Seoul joining Washington to some degree in countering Chinese economic coercion, but the Yoon government will still move cautiously on how it navigates issues like export controls directed against China," Yeo continued. VOA's Korean Service contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington for comment on the G-7's efforts to counter economic coercion and South Korea's participation at the G-7 summit and was referred to comments made at a Chinese Foreign Ministry news briefing. At the briefing, Wang Wenbin, a ministry spokesperson, accused the U.S. of being "the very origin of coercive diplomacy." Economic coercion As the world's second-largest economy after the U.S., China has been accused of using its economic standing for political and military purposes. According to the Mercator Institute for China Studies, based in Berlin, China engaged in 123 cases of economic coercion worldwide between February 2010 and March 2022. The Cyberspace Administration of China on Sunday said products from the U.S. company Micron Technology presented security risks. It gave no details as China banned Micron's high-end semiconductors from computers that handle sensitive information. China banned Australian coal and slapped tariffs on wine, lobsters, timber and barley in 2020 when then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 virus first found in humans in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Beijing relaxed the coal ban this January. When U.S. missile defense system THAAD was deployed to South Korea in 2017, Beijing banned its tourists from traveling to South Korea and canceled K-pop concerts in China. "The Yoon administration, not just by going to the G-7 and participating in discussions of economic coercion but a range of other actions, most notably the summit in Washington a few weeks ago, has signaled clearly that it's aligning itself with the United States more completely, more firmly and is willing to go along with many of the approaches that the U.S. is proposing, including an economic coercion," said Matthew Goodman, senior vice president for economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Yoon made a state visit to Washington in April. Restricting high-end chips Experts said one of the major expectations Washington holds for Seoul is for it to restrict exports of high-end chips to China. South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix are top global chip producers. "The administration has been very clear to South Korea that semiconductors used in Chinese supercomputers that can help the Chinese military develop very sophisticated weapons is an area that the United States wants to see restricted," said Dennis Wilder, who was senior director for East Asia affairs at the White House's National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. "China's building its military" and "I'm not prepared to trade certain items with China," President Joe Biden said at a news conference after wrapping up the summit on Sunday. He continued, "When I was asked by [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] why, I said, 'Because you're using them to build nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.'" Biden added, "We've now got commitment from all of our allies they're not going to either provide that kind of material that allows them to do that." Experts said Micron chips, although advanced, are not the kind of high-tech semiconductors that Washington wants to prevent Beijing from accessing for its military. Reducing dependence on China Troy Stangarone, senior director at Korea Economic Institute, said, "The most important role that Korea can play is reducing its dependence on China by diversifying its imports." Out of 3,941 kinds of products that South Korea imports, 1,850 are imported from China, Stangarone said, citing a study by the Korea International Trade Association. Before the G-7 summit, Seoul made an agreement on May 17 to import critical minerals from Canada. "Canada has the world's sixth-largest reserves of lithium, seventh-largest reserves of nickel and cobalt, all minerals used in the production of EV batteries," Stangarone said. "[South] Korea is currently highly dependent on China for these inputs and the agreement with Canada will help in diversifying their supply chains." Experts said although Seoul has a strong interest in minimizing China's economic leverage over it so as not to repeat the THADD experience with China restricting travel, it has to take a cautious approach in selectively reducing dependence on Beijing. South Korea is "one of the countries most affected by Chinese economic coercion," said Wilder. "It's difficult for South Korea because of its geographic location and other factors to wean itself from the Chinese market." He added, "The administration is not trying to get South Korea to stop buying from China or selling to China. It's just in certain very targeted categories." Two Taiwanese reporters who had been accredited to cover this week's World Health Assembly in Geneva were told on Monday they would not be allowed to obtain their press passes in a move press freedom advocates say was likely caused by pressure from China. On Monday, Judy Tseng and Tien Hsi-ju, reporters with Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA), were blocked from covering the 76th World Health Assembly held by the World Health Organization (WHO), even though the reporters had their press credentials approved a week earlier. This is the latest incident in which the World Health Assembly, or WHA, has denied media accreditation to Taiwanese nationals and media, which observers say underscores the intersection of press freedom and global politics. The WHA has regularly denied them accreditation since 2017, according to the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, or RSF. The WHA also rejected Taiwan's request to join the gathering this year. A Central News Agency report on this week's incident written by Tseng and Hsi-ju cited a United Nations staff member who blamed the situation on pressure from China. "They know everything," the staff member reportedly said. Wanchi You, a member of the Association of Taiwan Journalists executive committee, said, "China has for years used its influence to restrict the participation of Taiwanese reporters in international events. And this limits the ability of Taiwanese media to report on global issues and undermines the principles of transparency, accountability and equal access to information." The Chinese Embassy in Washington said it was "not aware of the specifics" of this week's WHA incident and directed VOA to China's Permanent Mission in Geneva, which did not immediately reply to VOA's email requesting comment. Beijing claims Taiwan, a self-ruling island, as its own territory and perceives the accreditation of Taiwanese reporters at international events as an affirmation of Taiwanese sovereignty, RSF's East Asia Bureau Director Cedric Alviani said. Barring Taiwanese reporters from covering international events is just one way Beijing tries to isolate Taipei on the international stage. The Association of Taiwan Journalists said in a statement, "It is imperative for the United Nations and its affiliated organizations to uphold the value of press freedom they endorse while urging the WHA to abstain from restricting journalists' interviewing rights based on their nationality." Out of 180 countries, China ranks 179 in terms of press freedom, according to RSF. Taiwan ranks 35. "We ask for the United Nations to respect the right of journalists to do their job irrespective of their nationalities, a CNA spokesperson said in a statement. The World Health Organization should mend its way by opening the proceedings of the current World Health Assembly to reporters from Taiwan." "The United Nations headquarters are open to individuals in possession of identification from a State recognized by the UN General Assembly," Rolando Gomez, a spokesperson at the UN office in Geneva, told VOA in an emailed statement. Taiwan is not a U.N. member state. "The accreditation for journalists entering the premises of the United Nations (U.N.) in Geneva is handled by the U.N.," WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said in an emailed statement. "The WHO secretariat made no decision related to the accreditation of reporters to the U.N. premises," including Tseng and Hsi-ju. There was a period between 2009 and 2016 when Taiwanese reporters had an easier time covering these sorts of international events, according to RSF, but that period ended in 2017. RSF's Alviani said that now Taiwanese reporters sometimes don't even bother requesting accreditation for these events because they assume they'll be denied. "Somehow it's about Taiwanese sovereignty," Alviani told VOA. "I want to insist on the fact that we are talking of journalists. We are not talking about government representatives." Alviani added that there is not a clear U.N. policy on how to handle these issues. "It is inconsistent, it is discriminatory and it is unacceptable," he said. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said Washington was disappointed that Taiwan was not permitted to attend the WHA. "We did strongly encourage the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at the World Health Assembly," Miller said during a Thursday briefing. "We were disappointed that they decided not to do so." The top Chinese and U.S. business and trade officials met Thursday in Washington, an infrequent direct conversation between leaders of the worlds two biggest economies. The U.S. Commerce Department said in a statement Thursday that Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimond had candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the U.S.-China commercial relationship. Thursdays meeting, the department said, was part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the U.S.-China relationship. While U.S. President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Bali last November, Thursdays trade talks in Washington were 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 a city in the U.S. state of Michigan on Thursday and Friday. Common concerns In the Washington talks, China expressed its 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, 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. 'De-risk' without 'decoupling' Wang's trip to the U.S. follows a recent summit in Hiroshima, Japan, of the leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries, at which 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 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. By Eduardo Martinez, KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2023 - 11:22 | Arts, Feature, All One of Asia's largest short film festivals will celebrate its 25th anniversary next month in Tokyo, with this year's theme exploring diverse stories within the context of a world emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia will showcase 270 works by seasoned international filmmakers and newcomers across 20 programs, with some productions already available for online viewing and others to be screened in theaters around the capital from next month. The international program will feature films such as veteran British director Sally Potter's drama "Look at Me," starring Spanish actor Javier Bardem and American comedian Chris Rock. Meanwhile, this year's festival theme, "Unlock," will showcase a series of films depicting life after COVID-19 in its "Unlock -- Jumping into a New World Program," as seen in a documentary created by four young female filmmakers from Japan and South Korea addressing gender inequality and social pressures in their respective countries. Also featured is a work by Ukrainian director Natalka Vorozhbit called "Are You Ok?" that tells the story of a young mother and her daughter who flee Ukraine following Russia's invasion. The films were selected from 5,122 submissions in 120 different countries and regions. Accredited by the Academy Awards, the festival has often acted as a springboard for directors to achieve international recognition. Technology is another theme of the festival, which takes place in hybrid form with both online and in-person screenings, while audiences can vote for films to win awards using NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. Tech is also seen in the featured film "Hysteresis," an animated short by German director Robert Seidel included in the "Unlock" program, that explores the impact of artificial intelligence on art. This year will additionally mark the first time in three years that overseas filmmakers will visit Japan for the event following the pandemic outbreak. "I hope this festival can be a reunion for everyone who has supported us from our opening year," said Japanese actor Tetsuya Bessho, who founded the festival in 1999. Among the filmmaking heavyweights and star-studded casts, "Teleporting" is a documentary featured in the program by four young directors. Nana Noka and Chifumi Tanzawa are both 24 and from Japan, while Nam Arum and Kwon Ohyeon, both 27, hail from South Korea. Having met online during the pandemic, the four could not meet in person due to travel restrictions, but they discovered they had similar experiences as women growing up and now identify as feminists. For the film, they used augmented reality-generated avatars to "teleport" themselves into each other's cell phone cameras and appear as though they were in each other's countries. In an interview with Kyodo News, the four explained that they decided to use the avatars to cover their faces and assumed pseudonyms to protect their identities. One point the filmmakers wanted to drive home was the phenomenon of non-consensual photography of women in both their countries. Noka, who goes by Mia in the film, relates how she became fearful of uploading photos of her face to social media after she discovered in high school that one of her male classmates was saving all her pictures to his iPad to share with other boys. Nam, who has assumed the name, Kitty, similarly tells of how a man used a spy camera to take photos of women at her university and that many women in South Korea have learned to plug holes in public bathrooms with toilet paper for fear of hidden cameras. The women talk about a host of women's issues, as well as negative perceptions of feminism in both countries. "The bad image of feminism has taken on a life of its own," Tanzawa, who plays Emma, said. Like her fellow group members, Tanzawa is excited for the film to screen for the first time in Japan but also feels anxiety as she has been a victim of online harassment for her views. Kwon, who plays Tommy, said, "in Korean society, there are so many conservative views of gender, asking girls to be calm, pretty, and sit quietly." "This kind of representation needs to change," she said. Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia will screen at several cinemas in Tokyo from June 6-26. Some films are already available to watch online until July 9. Ahead of Turkeys presidential runoff election on Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main contender Kemal Kilicdaroglu are both eyeing voters who back the countrys various nationalist parties. Nationalist parties like Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Good Party (IYIP), Victory Party (ZP) and Great Unity Party (BBP) received more than 23% of the votes in the parliamentary election on May 14, which made Turkish nationalists the winner of the election, according to some experts. Political parties and candidates that define themselves [as] nationalist achieved an outstanding number of votes that no one could foresee, Ismet Akca, a political scientist formerly with Istanbuls Yildiz Technical University, told VOA. Kemal Can, a veteran journalist and commentator at digital media outlet Medyascope, does not find the increase in the nationalist votes significant, but thinks that the nationalist parties gained bargaining power. As a result of these elections, we can say that both the visibility and bargaining ability of nationalism increased rather than the numerical increase, Can told VOA. Endorsements On Monday, the nationalist ATA alliances presidential candidate Sinan Ogan, who placed third in the first round of the presidential election May 14, announced his endorsement of Erdogan, who got 49.52% of the votes in the first round. Ogan also highlighted that his candidacy made Turkish nationalists the key players in the election and explained why he is backing Erdogan as his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Peoples Alliance hold the majority in the parliament. Even though Ogan received 5.2% of the votes in the first round, Kemal Can thinks that Ogan will not be able to carry his support in its entirety to Erdogan. Ogan was presented as a candidate in front of a group of voters and [received] a reaction, Can told VOA. He did not collect these votes; they are not his own votes. They are the votes of an alliance and reactionary votes, Can added. On Wednesday, Umit Ozdag, the head of the far-right Victory Party, the leading party in the ATA alliance, endorsed Erdogans rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who received 44.88% of votes in the first round. Kilicdaroglu has toughened his tone before the second round of the election as he pledged to send Syrian refugees back and to end terrorism in his campaign posters. At the same time, Erdogan has repeatedly suggested links between him and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Kilicdaroglu has denied this allegation. Kurdish support Ozdag and Kilicdaroglu also signed a seven-point protocol Wednesday on the principles of their cooperation. The protocol promises to deport all the refugees, including 3.6 million Syrians in Turkey, within a year and to replace elected mayors with state-appointed trustees with court rulings in case of legal proof that shows their links with terrorism. Akca thinks the protocol is a success for Ozdag, but it puts Kilicdaroglu at risk of not receiving the Kurdish votes as he got in the first round because of the trustees. Since the 2019 local elections, at least 48 out of 65 municipalities won by the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party have been run by government-appointed trustees over terrorism allegations. Following Ogan and Ozdags endorsements, the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party (YSP) on Thursday reiterated its support for opposition against Erdogan in the runoff without naming Kilicdaroglu. YSP endorsed Kilicdaroglu by name in the first round. Even though the party has declared its support for Kilicdaroglu, it remains a question how far it can mobilize its voters to go to the ballot box amid this radical nationalist frenzy, Akca told VOA. Key party Kemal Can said that during this years campaign, the opposition asked the public if they wanted to see a change from the countrys current direction. The government instead framed the question as who should decide if there will be change: the Kurds or the nationalists? We see that nationalists entered into a power play demanding the decision-making power in a reactionary way, Can said. According to political scientist Akca, nationalists in Turkey see refugees and the Kurds as their main problems. Existing nationalism [in Turkey] has two main problems, and one is refugees because the nationalist movement has caught a streak over the refugee problem among the public. We see a nationalism based on xenophobia, Akca told VOA. The second is the Kurds. Lets not allow the Kurds and the political movement representing them to become the key party. Sinan Ogan and the Victory Party voiced this as they were saying, Everyone will see who the key is, Akca added. Akca views the two different endorsements by Ogan and Ozdag, the two main actors of the nationalist ATA alliance, as a gamble on their political futures. Here, I find Umit Ozdag, who has an organization like the Victory Party behind him, more advantageous than lone-wolf Sinan Ogan, Akca said. A London court jailed a British man for life on Friday for traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State group nearly a decade ago. Judge Mark Lucraft handed Shabazz Suleman, from High Wycombe northwest of London, the prison term for making his way to Syria to enlist in the terror group, which is barred by English law. "You went to Syria in order to join IS. You understood IS was a proscribed organization in English law," the judge said as he passed sentence at London's Old Bailey criminal court. "Your ambition was to become a sniper," he noted. Suleman, 27, pleaded guilty last month of preparing acts of terrorism by traveling from the U.K. to Turkey in August 2014, when he was 18, to join IS in Syria. He disappeared while on a family holiday to Turkey, which borders Syria and has long been a gateway to the war-ravaged country for Western would-be jihadists. Suleman was arrested at Heathrow Airport in September 2021 and charged with various terror offenses, including receiving training in the use of firearms as well as belonging to a proscribed organization. Suleman will serve a minimum term of nine years and six months under the life sentence. Tried to desert IS Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson told the court that while attempting to travel to Syria, Suleman was held by Turkish forces before opting to be part of a prisoner swap with IS. Once inside Syria, he posted on social media about his experiences in IS territory and later gave incriminating interviews to Britain's Sky News. Later he became disenchanted with jihadism and tried to desert the terrorist group, the court was told. Following the collapse of IS, he was taken captive by a faction of the Free Syrian Army in 2017, before being transferred to Turkey and then Pakistan. His lawyer, Abdul Iqbal, said Suleman had been an "immature and idealistic" young man who wanted to help people "in distress" and who participated in "non-combat duties" with IS. He added that his client had decided within five months of joining the terrorist organization that he wished to flee. Despite renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on May 17, exports of grain and food from Ukraine have slowed to their lowest levels since they resumed last August under the deal, while Russian officials repeat complaints that Moscow is not benefiting enough from the initiative. The Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Center (JCC) that oversees the implementation of the deal said Friday that only two of the three Ukrainian ports authorized to receive and send ships are working, and no new vessels have been registered to participate in the initiative in nearly a month. Earlier this month, Russia had threatened to withdraw from the grain deal, which has facilitated the export of more than 30 million metric tons of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine in the past 10 months, helping to lower global food prices. A parallel Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the United Nations has made inroads in easing concerns of anxious banks, insurers, shippers and other private sector actors about doing business with Russia. Moscow agreed on May 17 just hours before the deal would have lapsed to renew it for another 60 days. However, on Friday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin again said the deal is not working. "Not only is the Russian-U.N. memorandum not being implemented, but even the Russian ammonia exports stipulated under both agreements, including from the port of Yuzhny, as mentioned in the Black Sea initiative, are not being made, Vershinin said, according to Russian news agency Tass. The export of fertilizer, including ammonia, is part of the initiative, and on Friday the JCC said there have been no such exports so far. Food and fertilizer products are not under Western sanctions, and the U.S., Britain, and the European Union have provided so-called letters of comfort to businesses to ease their concerns about trading in them with Russia. Were trying to push things forward on different tracks, all with the same aim of getting as much food and fertilizer to those who desperately need it, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said of the organizations efforts to lower barriers to Russian exports. Ukrainian exports are moving slowly. Data from the JCC show that Mays exports are far below their monthly averages and capacity. Just over 1 million metric tons have been exported so far in May from the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Odesa, and none from the port of Pivdennyi/Yuzhny. In previous months, it has averaged around 3 million metric tons. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said Thursday on Twitter that Russia is obstructing exports from Pivdennyi and that 28 vessels are waiting to enter the port. Ships must be inspected by the JCC on their inbound and outbound journeys to Ukraine. Vessel inspections have substantially slowed to an average of 3.2 a day, down from a high of 10.6 in October. Diplomats have previously blamed Russia for slowing inspections at the JCC. The JCC said based on information it received from Ukraine, there are 54 vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports. Out of these, 11 applications have been shared with the JCC for registration. There are also 13 vessels loading in Ukrainian ports six in Chornomorsk and seven in Odesa. Before Russias invasion of Ukraine, the World Food Program purchased more than half of its wheat from Ukraine. Since the Black Sea Grain Initiative began in August, WFP has been able to retrieve 625,000 metric tons of grain for its operations. On Friday, the JCC said it registered two WFP-chartered vessels to sail to Ukraine to pick up cargo. Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch. Seven-day cease-fire in Sudan The United Nations welcomed the start on Monday of a U.S.-Saudi brokered 7-day cease-fire across Sudan, intended to allow civilians and humanitarians to move safely. While fighting has continued during previous cease-fires, this one was agreed upon during formal negotiations and has a basic monitoring mechanism. As of Friday, sporadic clashes had been reported between the warring Sudanese army and rival Rapid Security Forces in the capital, Khartoum and in West Darfur, which has seen deadly fighting. 7-Day Cease-Fire Starts in Sudan The U.N. refugee agency is moving tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees in Chad away from the Sudan border into new camps. UNHCR's visiting deputy says concerns about security and access to aid are increasing, along with the number of refugees. Watch this report from Henry Wilkins at the Gaga refugee site in Chad: UN Moves Sudanese Refugees in Chad Away From Border UN chief: Warring parties must protect civilians U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the world is failing to live up to its commitments to protect civilians, an obligation that is preserved in international humanitarian law. Guterres said international humanitarian law is the difference between life and death in conflict zones. UN Chief: Warring Nations Must Protect Civilians Ukrainian exports at their lowest since grain deal began Despite renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on May 17, exports of grain and food from Ukraine have slowed to their lowest levels this month since they resumed under the deal in August, as Russian officials repeat complaints that Moscow is not benefiting enough from the initiative. The Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Center that oversees the implementation of the deal said Friday that only two of the three Ukrainian ports authorized to receive and send ships are working, no new vessels have been registered to participate in the initiative in nearly a month, and the number of daily ship inspections have dropped significantly. Ukrainian Exports Under Black Sea Deal Hit Lowest Levels UN rights chief urges Iran to decriminalize mandatory hijab for women The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Iran on Wednesday to decriminalize mandatory veiling laws, warning that the harassment of women, including what they do or do not wear, appears to have intensified as street protests have died down. Volker Turk urged Tehran to heed Iranians calls for reform, and to begin by repealing regulations that criminalize violations of mandatory dress codes. Parliament is considering tightening penalties for people and institutions that fail to comply with regulations. UN Rights Chief Urges Iran to Decriminalize 'Mandatory Veiling Laws' Funding for Horn of Africa drought-affected countries falls far short Donors raised around $1 billion 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. The U.N. says the $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 caused unprecedented drought. UN: Substantial Funds Still Needed for Drought-Stricken Horn of Africa In brief Secretary-General Guterres welcomed the arrest of Rwandan fugitive Fulgence Kayishema in South Africa, for allegedly committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Rwanda in 1994. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda charged him in 2001 with having orchestrated the killings of more than 2,000 people on April 15, 1994, at a church in Nyange, Kibuye Prefecture, in western Rwanda. A U.N. spokesperson 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 humanitarian community appealed for $333 million on Tuesday to help 1.6 million people impacted by Cyclone Mocha in the Myanmar states and regions of Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing and Kachin. The U.N. says its in a "race against time" to provide people with shelter and prevent the spread of water-borne diseases. The World Health Organization will begin Africas largest polio vaccination campaign since 2020 on Saturday, aiming to immunize 21 million children under the age of 5. Vaccinations will begin in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the Central African Republic. The Lake Chad region has one of the highest proportions of so-called zero dose children those who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. The campaign comes in response to 14 detections of the poliovirus this year. Quote of note But the fact of the matter is that todays world leaders have thus far failed miserably by putting selfish national interests ahead of urgent global needs. They have failed to see the big picture that the world will sink or swim together or they have decided to play a dangerous game of chicken demanding that others do more to curb CO2 emissions. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and current member of The Elders, regretting that his generation is passing the climate crisis to the next, during his commencement address to graduates at Harvards Kennedy School this week. What we are watching next week The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to brief the Security Council on Tuesday. Rafael Grossi has been seeking a demilitarized zone around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for months and has made several trips to Ukraine and Russia in its pursuit. Did you know? The U.N. marked the 75th anniversary of U.N. Peacekeeping on Thursday. The first U.N. mission of military observers was deployed to the Middle East in 1948. Since then, there have been 71 operations around the world. More than 2 million peacekeepers or blue helmets as they are known for their distinctive colored head gear from 125 countries have served. Women did not really participate until the 1990s. Today, women make up about 9% of the 87,000 peacekeepers serving in a dozen missions. It is not easy or safe work; more than 4,200 have died in the line of duty since 1948. New developments: Russia accused Ukrainian militia of using U.S.-made armored vehicles in a cross-border incursion on Monday In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized Thursday that U.S. is not at war with Russia Army General Mark Milley said Washington asked Kyiv not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia U.S. military leaders were careful Thursday to distinguish between Washingtons continued support for Ukraine's fight against Russia and its insistence that it is not itself at war with Russia. At a news conference following a virtual meeting of dozens of countries supporting Ukraine militarily, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin responded to concerns that a militia's reported use of U.S. military vehicles in an incursion into Russia on Monday could be used as a pretext by Moscow to bring the United States directly into the war. We are not at war with Russia. This is Ukraines fight," Austin said. "Our goal is to make sure that were doing everything that we can to make sure Ukraine is successful. The United States has long asked Ukraine not to use U.S. weaponry inside Russian territory, Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday. "I can say that we have asked the Ukrainians not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia, Milley said. This is a Ukrainian war. It is not a war between the United States and Russia. Its not a war between NATO and Russia. Earlier Thursday, Ukraine said 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 released 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 afterward in fierce combat with better-trained Ukrainian troops. White House officials said Prigozhins casualty estimate was in line with their own and that Russian losses have accelerated. Russia claimed in recent days that it had captured Bakhmut, while Ukrainian officials said they had not given up the fight for the city and were trying to surround it. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The United States and South Korea are kicking off three weeks of massive military drills. The move is part of a show of force against North Korea, which has accelerated its own missile launches. More from VOAs Bill Gallo, who reports from Pocheon, South Korea, near the demilitarized zone. The White House on Thursday released the first-ever national strategy aimed at countering antisemitism amid a rise in violence against members of the Jewish community and a gain in antisemitic beliefs among Americans. Prominent American religious advocacy groups noted that the White House strategy would placate critics who worry about conflating criticism of the Israeli state with antisemitism. The White House did this by not basing the strategy solely on the definition used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Although its definition of antisemitism does not mention Israel, many of its cited examples of antisemitism do. "At its core, antisemitism divides us, erodes our trust in government, institutions and one another," said second gentleman Douglas Emhoff at the launch of the strategy. "It threatens our democracy while undermining our American values of freedom, community and decency. Antisemitism delivers simplistic, false and dangerous narratives that have led to extremists perpetrating deadly violence against Jews." Emhoff, who is Jewish, described disturbing incidents in recent American life, such as schoolchildren finding swastikas drawn on their desks and parents of young children being met with slurs at school drop-offs. In 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League, there were nearly 3,700 antisemitic incidents throughout the United States. More than one-third of those incidents involved vandalism or assault. The White House said 63% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes affect members of the Jewish community although Jews account for only 2.4% of the nation's population. Overall, Jews are the target of 4% of all reported hate crimes in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And the ADL, which helped the White House shape the new strategy, reported earlier this year that 85% of Americans believe at least one anti-Jewish trope a jump from 61% in 2019. Global implications Antisemitism also has global implications, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in praising the strategy. "The strategy reaffirms the United States' commitment to combat antisemitism globally including efforts to delegitimize or isolate the state of Israel at the U.N.," she said in a statement. The four-pillar plan which includes increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism and why it matters; improving safety for Jewish communities; reversing the normalization of antisemitism; and building cross-community solidarity has gained support from prominent American Jewish and Muslim groups. "We welcome President Biden's commitment to confronting the threat of antisemitism, a dangerous and pervasive form of bigotry that has become even more widespread in recent years, largely due to the rise in extremist, far-right political leaders, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement. His statement continued: "We also look forward to the release of the White House's strategic plans to confront other forms of bigotry, including Islamophobia. We also appreciate the White House's use of language which makes clear that these national strategies should not be used to either infringe upon the constitutional guarantees of free speech or to conflate bigotry with human rights activism, including advocacy for Palestinian freedom and human rights." And T'ruah, a Jewish human rights organization that also worked with the White House, praised the White House's decision not to adopt the IHRA's working definition of antisemitism as its only definition. Larger fight "We are glad to see the administration taking the threat of antisemitism seriously, and we welcome the announcement of a national plan that situates the fight against antisemitism within the larger fight against white nationalism, violent extremism, rising authoritarianism and hate in all its forms," said Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the organization's leader, in a statement. "The administration made the right decision by not codifying a definition of antisemitism, which would only have made it harder to recognize and respond to antisemitic attacks in context, and which would have opened the door to infringement of First Amendment rights, the statement said, adding, There is a long road ahead, and we look forward to continuing to work with the White House to stop antisemitism and other forms of bigotry." Emhoff said his own family history was shaped by antisemitism. His great-grandparents, he said, escaped persecution in what is now Poland, around the turn of the 20th century. They fled to the United States, where, 120 years later, their great-grandson became the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president. "We must not forget the joy that comes from celebrating our faith, celebrating our cultures and celebrating our contributions to this great nation," he said. "There is more that unites us than divides us." Columbus Mavhunga HARARE, ZIMBABWE 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. Columbus Mavhunga HARARE, ZIMBABWE Rights groups in Zimbabwe are up in arms after President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government ignored details of its own clemency order and paroled thousands of prisoners, including dangerous convicted rapists. Lawyers and rights groups say those convicted of rape should not have been released as their offenses are classified as "specified," which do not qualify for presidential pardons, according to a government clemency order issued before the pardons. Last week, government officials released 4,270 inmates who were granted amnesty by Mnangagwa as part of his effort to decongest the countrys 47 prisons. Women's and childrens advocacy groups in particular were incensed by a local television interview with four recently released inmates who confirmed they had been serving sentences for rape or statutory rape. Wounds 'reopened' In an interview, Pamellah Musimwa of Justice for Children said those convicted of rape or statutory rape should not be eligible for pardons and should be required to serve their full sentences. It is very concerning that convicts of rape and other sexual offenses were also released through the amnesty, she told VOA. These offenses involve trauma and shock on the survivors who at least felt safe after the accused have been convicted and imprisoned. Their wounds, which were probably healing because of the sentence, are now being reopened, she added. They now have to interface with unrepentant perpetrators. Besides affecting the survivor, the convicts release seems to trivialize the offenses. The released rapists, she said, were bragging about their releases during the interview. As a nation, have we done good? ... Are we saying the commission of rape is now trivial, such that the perpetrators could be released anyhow without fully serving their sentences? Musimwa said, adding that she feared the released offenders might strike again. I feel the release of these people is a threat to the welfare of child survivors, their relatives and even to the welfare of those that have not been abused. A representative of Mnangagwa directed VOAs request for commentary to the Ministry of Justice. In a brief phone call with VOA, Justice Minister Virginia Mabiza said that rapists were not supposed to have been released on parole - and then the phone call abruptly cut out. Several attempts to reach Mabiza a second time were unsuccessful. Another child rights group, Equality Now, said Zimbabwe's premature release of convicted of sexual offenders compromised public safety, denied survivors the closure they deserved and eroded faith in the criminal justice system. By releasing prisoners convicted of sexual offenses, Zimbabwe has relegated the rights of women and girls and thus exposes them to further violation, said Equality Nows Jean-Paul Murunga. We therefore call [for] immediate reversal of the decision. Further, we call [for] effective implementation of the laws against sexual violence, including proper implementation of a sexual offenders register, to ensure such [a] release is not repeated in future. Prematurely freeing convicted rapists and perpetrators of gender-based violence sends a chilling message that these violations are not taken seriously, he said. Granting early release disregards the severity of the crimes and undermines the rule of law and the trust placed in the legal system by victims and the public alike, said Murunga, a Kenyan national. Musimwa of Justice for Children said the clemency order on which the inmates were released does not allow rapists to be on parole. Previous releases Zimbabwes former president, the late Robert Mugabe, pardoned thousands of inmates to make room in the country's overcrowded, cash- and resource-strapped prisons in 2016, according to the state-run Herald. The decision followed a March 2015 prison uprising over food shortages that turned violent as some prisoners attempted to break out of jail, said then-Vice President Mnangagwa. The protests resulted in the deaths of five inmates who were shot by police. As president, Mnangagwa pardoned 3,000 to ease overcrowding in 2018. Neither the 2016 nor 2018 pardons extended to those convicted of murder, treason, rape and armed robbery. Some information for this report came from Reuters. KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2023 - 14:07 | All, Japan, World 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. Hamada said at a press conference that the destroyer will display the flag when participating in the drill "in accordance with" the domestic legislation that mandates MSDF vessels to fly the rising sun flag as their official ensign. In recent months, bilateral relations have been improving with South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office in May 2022, pledging to resolve tensions with Japan after their ties sank to their lowest point in decades under his predecessor Moon Jae In. In March, Yoon proposed a solution to a long-standing bilateral dispute over compensating wartime laborers. As a sign of a thaw in relations, Japan and South Korea have resumed reciprocal visits between their leaders, following their suspension in December 2011. During Moon's time in office, the two Asian countries were at odds over the rising sun flag, with South Korea claiming it is associated with the World War II-era Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. In 2018, Japan canceled its attendance at a naval event in South Korea after Seoul demanded that Tokyo refrain from displaying the rising sun flag. The United States, Australia and Canada are also scheduled to join the upcoming drill, aimed at strengthening capabilities to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the South Korean Defense Ministry said. ==Kyodo Israel is attempting to deepen its already close ties with many African countries by providing access to technology that can help Africa deal with its growing population. Officials from six African officials visited Israel last week to discuss more cooperation. Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem 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. On getting drunk to film Barbarella, competing with Katharine Hepburn, dealing with Jean-Luc Godards bullshit, and quitting the Book Club movies. Photo: Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images On the final, unseasonably hot Friday afternoon of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, everyone at the Palais was sweating except for Jane Fonda, who took the stage in a chic gray suit for a 90-minute conversation about her decades-long career as an actress and activist. Fonda was disarmingly open, answering every question from the moderator and energetic audience: She spoke alternately about being in love with and despising her various co-stars over the years. She talked about never wanting to do another movie in the vein of Book Club: The Next Chapter or 80 for Brady. She remembered getting drunk to film her opening striptease in Barbarella. And she insulted Jean-Luc Godard and told an incredible story about competing for an Oscar with Katharine Hepburn. . Right off the bat, Fonda explained why she was able to understand the French moderator without a translator, as she dipped in and out of French throughout the conversation: One of my husbands Ive had three was French, she said, referring to Roger Vadim Plemiannikov, who directed her in Barbarella. She launched into an anecdote about becoming aware of labor rights on the set of 1965s Cat Ballou (I thought it was gonna be terrible, but when I saw it, I was like, Oh my gosh!), where she and Lee Marvin were hired cheap under contract and forced to work 14-hour days. I loved it, because I ride horses and Im a tomboy and I could shoot people, she said, and Lee Marvin was fabulous. He was very funny, and he was always drunk. We stayed at the same motel, and they had to carry him up the stairs. But Marvin taught me something very important, she added. At one point, my tooth got knocked out, and they didnt stop shooting they just shot me from the back. He took me aside and said, Fonda, were the stars of this movie. If we allow them to work us so many hours, were not the ones that get hurt its the crew. We have to stand up for the workers. That was a huge lesson from Lee Marvin, who wasnt a revolutionary. He was a fabulous drunk and a wonderful human being. . Next up was a question about the films shed made with Robert Redford: 1966s The Chase, the 1967 screen adaption of Barefoot in the Park, 1979s The Electric Horseman, and 2017s Our Souls at Night. Well, I was in love with him, Fonda said. I made four films with him, and for three, I was in love with him. Which meant I had a really good time. The only problem, she explained, was that he did not like to kiss. And he was always in a bad mood, and I always thought it was my fault. When they made their last film together six years ago (What was I, about 80 years old, or something like that?), she said, I knew I was finally grown up, because when hed come on to the set three hours late in a bad mood, I knew it wasnt my fault. We always had a good time. Hes a very good person He just has an issue with women. (She did not elaborate.) . Fonda recalled making 1964s Joy House with French actor Alain Delon, about whose good looks she exclaimed, Oh, my lord! Not so much now. Hes had a rough life. But then, he was the most beautiful human being. Unlike Redford, he did like to kiss. We had nice love scenes. She was less thrilled, at least initially, about the intimate scenes in Barbarella. I didnt like it at all when I was making it, she said of the campy 1968 sci-fi flick. At the beginning of the movie, I did a striptease in space. I was very shy, believe it or not, so I had to get drunk, and I drank a lot of vodka. The next day when we saw the dailies, a bat kept flying between the camera and me. And we had to do the whole thing over again the next day only I had a hangover. When the movie was released, Fonda was shocked to see herself nude onscreen. Vadim promised me it would be covered up with titles, and it wasnt. She took a pause, then grinned. We arent married anymore! But over the years, she has come to love the movie: Now when I see it, I think its fun. . Fonda credited Klute, her 1971 neo-noir about a New York City sex worker assisting a detective in a missing-persons case, with turning her into a feminist. She recalled installing herself with a group of prostitutes and their Madame Claude for a week in France to prepare for the role, and not one man winked at me. Nobody asked me to sleep with them or anything, she laughed. I said to Alan [J. Pakula, the director], Let me out of my contract. Hire Faye Dunaway. Shell be good. They wanna sleep with her. He just laughed and sent me away. To get further into character, Fonda went to a morgue, where she was shown photos of hundreds of women whod been beaten to death by men. She remembered these women while filming her final scene and began to cry, not out of fear but of sadness and horror. One half of me was there [in the scene], and the other half of me was saying, Holy shit. Im becoming a feminist. It was so powerful. (She says her feminist instincts were later codified by a trip to see Eve Enslers The Vagina Monologues.) . Fonda breezily answered questions about her looks including one from a woman in the audience who stood up and identified herself as an actress who did a movie with Vadim in 1982 and asked Fonda how she stayed so beautiful. Years and years ago, I had plastic surgery, said Fonda. Im not proud of that. Besides that, I have a very good makeup person, and I sleep. Do you know how many hours I slept last night? 13. I eat healthy. I work out. I walk a lot. And Im curious. And the most important part of that is curiosity. Fonda explained why she eventually cut off her hair. Nobody has ever asked me that. I always had all of this blonde hair, especially when I was with Vadim, she said. It made me feel safe and feminine. When I was starting to become political, I decided I needed to get rid of it all. I went to Vadims barber for men, and he cut it all off. I felt so liberated. Shortly thereafter, she divorced Vadim after meeting American soldiers whod deserted their posts in Vietnam and told Fonda what was really happening in the war. After meeting them, she said, I was a different person. I knew I had to leave Vadim and go back to America to become an organizer. She almost left Hollywood entirely until one organizer told her, Fonda, we have a lot of organizers. What we dont have is movie stars. Make movies that matter. So I did! . To that point, Fonda recalled replacing Richard Dreyfuss in The China Syndrome He dropped out because he decided he liked nuclear energy or something and putting together 9 to 5. I became friends with a woman who organized office workers, and shed tell me stories about what secretaries had to put up with: wage theft, sexual harassment. I said, Oh my God, I better make a movie about this. Originally, the script was a really dark comedy. But shortly thereafter, she saw Lily Tomlin in a play, and I fell in love. I said to myself, Im not going to ever do a movie about secretaries unless Lily Tomlin is in the movie. On the drive home, she turned on the radio, and there was Dolly Parton singing Two Doors Down. I suddenly had this image of Dolly typing, recalled Fonda. She cant see her fingers. Shes so funny. She once said to my son, who was very little at the time, Do you know why my feet are so small? Things dont grow big in the shade. . As for her more recent output, Fonda seemed less enthusiastic. Im still amazed that people offer me movies. Im almost 86 years old, she said. I normally would not have wanted to make two movies in one year that have four old women in each of them: 80 for Brady, though I finally got to work with Sally, whos my heroine. And in Italy, we made Book Club again. But I dont want to do that anymore. I dont know whats coming next, except that I dont want to do any more movies that dont challenge me as an actor. I want to be challenged. And I want to play something really complicated. Any ideas on what might be next? No, she said. Im too busy trying to fight the climate crisis. Among many other things shes previously spoken about at length via her Jane Fonda Climate PAC, she suggested we arrest and jail the men theyre all men responsible for the current crisis. Later, she added that there would be no climate crisis if there was no racism or patriarchy. So when I say that Im fighting the climate crisis, I also feel that Im fighting patriarchy and racism. Its important, because we have to get out of the silos feminists over here, environmentalists over here. Thats what I learned when I started being an activist around the Vietnam War. The more you go down any issue, whatever it is, you realize that its all connected. And if we solve the climate crisis and we havent solved those other things, were gonna be in trouble. . Fonda waxed poetic about the power of female friendship, calling Tomlin my favorite man Ive ever worked with she is my sister, and I love her more than anything. Otherwise, I dont feel that Im really a part of Hollywood, she admitted. I dont go to the parties. I wish I did. I dont always get invited. In part, thats because she always cared about other things besides my career, she said. If I really cared about my career, I would never have done what I did, which was leave America and move to France and live in an attic in Le Marais with Vadim It was a terrible move to make from a career point of view. But then I had activism, she added, which finally gave her life meaning not Hollywood. It took me until I was 70 to become a person, she said. While answering a womans question about how to break into the industry, Fonda was characteristically blunt. Dont let the fuckers get you! she said. Youve gotta be strong and stand up to them, but do it in a diplomatic way. You dont want to make enemies. Its all about relationships. Thats the big mistake I made. I never built relationships. Michael Douglas [with whom she starred in The China Syndrome] is great at building relationships. I dont think he really likes me, but hes very diplomatic. . Fonda continued to be delightfully undiplomatic when answering a question about her relationship with Jean-Luc Godard, with whom she made 1972s Tout Va Bien and who then made a postscript film about her called Letter to Jane. I thought it was a big pile of bullshit, she proclaimed of the latter. It was narcissistic. Hes a good example, Godard: We always ask ourselves, How much does who someone is in their private life affect their art? He was a great filmmaker. I take my hat off. But as a man? Im sorry, no. . Fonda concluded the chat with a lovely anecdote about her father, Henry Fonda, and Katharine Hepburn, with whom she made On Golden Pond in 1981. My dad was very ill, he had heart disease, and I didnt want him to die without us having worked together, she said. So I bought the play and turned it into a movie with him. We hadnt even begun to think about who should play Ethel, and one day in my office, the phone rings. Here, Fonda launched into a raspy impression of Hepburn: Hello? I hear youre making a movie of On Golden Pond It was Katharine Hepburn. She called us! You cant make it in May, the trees will turn red She was telling us how to make the movie, Fonda laughed. Of course, we hired her. It was one of the most glorious experiences of my life. I made the movie for my father, but the person I learned from in the movie was Katharine Hepburn. The reason Hepburn was so interesting, said Fonda, was that she wanted me to keep talking about her after she was dead, and I talk about her all the time. At the end of the affectionate anecdote, Fonda added a surprising aside: She didnt like me, she said. All three of us were nominated for Oscars, and I didnt win, and they did. And I called Hepburn up to congratulate her and she said, Youll never catch me now! One of the great pleasures of Asteroid City is reflecting on how this duos collaboration has changed over the decades. Photo: Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images I was 17. He was the first person that wasnt in my family and was over the age of 20 that actually asked me a question and cared what I said. That was how Jason Schwartzman recalled meeting Wes Anderson so many years ago. Speaking at the Cannes press conference for Asteroid City yesterday, the actor added, He was curious about what I was interested in. One of the great pleasures of Andersons new film, at least for those of us who have followed their careers, is reflecting on how this duos collaboration has changed over the decades. Schwartzmans feature debut came in Andersons acclaimed 1998 film, Rushmore, in which he played the precocious but underachieving high-schooler Max Fischer, a character who became instantly iconic, at least among a certain subset of viewers. The actor has appeared in many of the directors subsequent films (and has even co-written a couple of them), but Asteroid City feels like a full-circle moment. In Rushmore, Max was matched against Bill Murrays Herman Blume, a melancholy, middle-aged, overwhelmed father and Vietnam veteran. Murray was 48 at the time of Rushmore; Schwartzman is 42 now, and Anderson himself is 54. In Asteroid City, Schwartzman is Augie Steenbeck, a melancholy, middle-aged, overwhelmed father; hes not a veteran (unlike many of the dads in the film), but he is a war photographer and has seen his share of horrible stuff. It was moving to watch the actor and director talk about their work at some length during the press conference. Anderson, who was 29 when Rushmore came out, also marveled at how young Schwartzman was when they first worked together and how long their collaboration has lasted. (Longer than I would like to think, the director said with a chuckle.) He recalled that with Rushmore, Schwartzman shared some similarities with the character of Max. We were using you as you existed in a lot of ways, Anderson said, addressing his friend and colleague directly. You were different from the character, but you had so much that connected with the character that we could put in it. Andersons style has evolved over that period, becoming more precise, mannered, and elaborate (Rushmore is practically neorealist compared to Asteroid City), and both his casts and his themes have widened. Many actors have come and gone from his company. But Schwartzman has remained a constant. And in some ways, he has evolved as well. There has always been a streak of nervous calm in Schwartzmans performances for Anderson depending on the movie, it can read as sadness or deadpan or sad-deadpan but it gains great complexity and tenderness in Asteroid City, in which hes actually playing two interrelated characters. Given the films framing device, Augie turns out to be a fictional figure being portrayed by an (also fictional) actor named Jones Hall in 1955. Jones is somewhat boyish, a far cry from Augie, the grieving and confused dad. A running idea throughout the film is Joness questions and anxiety about how to properly convey Augies sadness; its part of Asteroid Citys evocative connection of scientific curiosity with attempts to understand the human soul. This, too, feels like a reflection of Anderson and Schwartzmans relationship. At the press conference, the director said he now marvels at Schwartzmans level of preparation, much of which Anderson doesnt get to see. Jason came with me to the set in costume whether he was in a scene or not, he said of the Asteroid City shoot. But I realized, at a certain point, that I had no idea of the work youd done and the preparation youd done. He recalled that, at one point, he asked Schwartzman if he could film a scene that wasnt on the schedule for the day. I asked you to do a scene that we had not planned to do, and you were not meant to work that day. Suddenly I said, Could we go do this? We can do it right now. And you said, I need an hour because of my stuff. And I realized he had a ritual of tasks that he was doing to prepare that I had no knowledge of! They were absolutely crucial to the character he was playing that I was enjoying him play so much. Anderson continued, noting how far Schwartzman has come from their early days together: How totally different it is, this person who was a teenager and now has command of his craft and his medium in a way that I wasnt even aware of. Al Taylor, Pet Names, 1991, from the Morgan collection. Photo: Glenn Steigelman, Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum Almost 70 works from the Morgan Librarys wunderkammer collection have been organized by artist Nina Katchadourian in her new show, Uncommon Denominator. Her own work is installed alongside diaries, maps, a UFO photograph, a seaweed specimen, bookbinder tools, bric-a-brac, and various arcana. Dates range from 3,400 BCE to the present. Sections of the show are accompanied by short statements by Katchadourian, 54, about visual coincidence, record-keeping, mending, how one kind of art might refer to another kind of art, geography, and, crucially, how to survive at sea. The whole calls to mind Jorge Louis Borgess taxonomy of fictitious animals, organized into numerous categories, including those that belong to the Emperor, embalmed ones, and those that tremble as if they were mad. Katchadourians phenomenological exercise similarly encourages free-floating slippages in thinking, the euphoric discovery of hidden connections. Katchadourian is something of an insider outsider, who has shown all over the world but not a lot of late in New York. Shes a conjuror conceptualist with a tinkerers touch, eccentric and cerebral. Born to a Swedish mother who grew up in Finland and an Armenian father raised in Beirut, Katchadourian went to school in California and now divides her time between New York and Berlin. Her father was a psychiatrist, a former dean at Stanford, and a professor of human biology; her mother, a literary translator, writer, and an expert in Esperanto. Katchadourian has written about meals in which conversations were carried on in four languages. Katchadourian has a need to restore things. Using tweezers, thread, and glue, she repaired damaged spider webs on an island in Finland in 1998. Overnight, the spiders excised her fixes, dropped them to the ground, and carried out their own fixes. Louise Bourgeois called the spider a repairer, an occupation that Katchadourian interpreted as an attempt to keep things together and make things whole. She has also patched damaged mushrooms with a bicycle-repair kit; another astounding work is a small plastic lid that her maternal grandfather meticulously repaired in 1959. Katchadourian imposes meaning on things that catch our attention but may be meaningless. In 1993 she labeled patterns and colonies of rock lichen according to the islands they resembled: Iceland, Ireland, Australia, Hawaii. Shes a pattern-recognition machine who has tried to translate the sound of popcorn popping into Morse code. In Lavatory Self-Portraits in the Flemish Style (2011), Katchadourian entered airplane bathrooms, adorned herself in tissue and toilet paper, and took pictures of herself in the style of Flemish self-portraits. Uncommon Denominator is about the delight taken in close observation, obsession, natural science, documentation, found objects, anonymous photographs, and other strange paraphernalia. These include a foldout, three-dimensional rendition of a tunnel under the Thames from 1830. In the anatomy section, theres a beautiful Watteau drawing from 1716, and her own anatomy book from the 1970s. Also on hand is her 1981 Beatle Log, noting every Beatle song heard on the radio. Elsewhere are locks of hair decoratively arranged; John Pierpont Morgans own diary of steamers from Liverpool; and a book of autographed letters between Walt Whitman and his mother only every example has been cut out. Its a ghost book. One wall is devoted to the 1973 book Survive the Savage Sea. This is a saga of six people enduring 27 days on the Pacific Ocean in a six-foot dingy. Katchadourian has read the book over 40 times. She presents numerous other books whose covers are arranged to retell the story of setting to sea, being wrecked, becoming castaways, battling the ocean, and being rescued. Katchadourian uses survival as a grand metaphor for what being an artist is: hyperattentive, mentally flexible, adaptable, and creative in any space, with any material at hand. This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows a seabuckthorn forest and wetlands in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) LHASA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. "Through the analysis of the snow samples from Mount Qomolangma, it is found that solid pollutants have little impact on the environment of the mountain," said Kang Shichang, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Kang said it is inevitable that glaciers will retreat globally as the climate warms. However, glaciers in the Mount Qomolangma region and on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have retreated more slowly than in other parts of the world. An increase in the number of snow leopards -- a rare species under first-class state protection in China -- in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve also reflects the healthy development of the ecosystem of the region, according to the forestry and grassland bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Preliminary estimates put the population of snow leopards in the reserve area at more than 100. Covering an approximate area of 33,800 square kilometers, the reserve is home to one of the world's most vulnerable ecosystems. Established in 1988, the reserve has protected well the representative ecosystems and natural environment in Tibet, including habitats for rare and endangered species, wetlands where birds migrate, and natural landscapes, geological relics and biological fossils. The 2023 Mount Qomolangma expedition is part of the second comprehensive scientific expedition to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which was initiated in 2017. Since the end of April, a total of 170 scientists have been conducting research on the water, ecology and human activities around the Mount Qomolangma region. This photo taken on May 13, 2023 shows a blue sheep and a yellow-billed chough in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Photo by Tenzin Norbu/Xinhua) This photo taken on May 14, 2023 shows yellow-billed choughs at the foot of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows wetlands in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) This photo taken on May 20, 2023 shows a blue sheep in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) This photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows trees at the foot of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows blue sheep at the foot of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows wetlands in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) This photo taken on May 14, 2023 shows Tibetan snowcocks at the foot of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows trees at the foot of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows an eco-friendly bus carrying tourists heading for Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The ecology of the Mount Qomolangma region continues to improve, as China has made progress in ecological and environmental protection over the years, experts have said as scientific research on the world's highest peak continues. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Sheff G inside the Brooklyn Supreme Court building. Photo: New York Daily News via Getty Images Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, two prominent drill rappers, were among the 32 named as alleged members of Brooklyn-based gangs in a 140-count indictment brought on May 16 alleging shootings, gun possession, stealing cars to use for criminal activity, and conspiracy to commit murder. Kings County district attorney Eric Gonzalez claims that Sheff G, 24, whose real name is Michael Williams, used the money earned from his songs to help facilitate further gang activity and encourage alleged gang members with celebratory dinners, jewelry, and video appearances, per the New York Times. Sleepy Hallow, 23, whose real name is Tegan Chambers, faces conspiracy charges. The rappers are close friends and known as pioneers of the New York drill scene Sheff G earned acclaim for his tracks No Suburban and Weight on Me, while Sleepy Hallow is known for his songs 2055 and Deep End. Sheff G is signed to RCA Records and a founder of the Winners Circle label, which represents Sleepy Hallow. The indictment comes at an unfortunate time for both rappers especially for Sheff G, who is currently serving a two-year sentence at Rikers for a gun charge. He was on track for release in June but now faces more time behind bars as a result of the new charges. The pair also had big plans to perform at hip-hop festival Rolling Loud in Miami on July 21. Below is everything we know about Sheff G and Sleepy Hallows charges. Have Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow been arrested following the indictment? Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City mayor Eric Adams and police commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, held a press conference on May 16 to announce that the rappers were taken into custody and arraigned at Brooklyns Supreme Court. Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow were arrested as part of a large-scale indictment involving 32 alleged members of Brooklyn-based gang 8 Trey Crips and its affiliated 9 Ways gang, which operate in multiple neighborhoods including Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Canarsie. What does the indictment allege? The 140-count indictment variously charges alleged members with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree assault, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree gang assault, first-degree attempted gang assault, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and related charges, per a press release. Prosecutors added that defendants allegedly conspired to eliminate rivals in the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples and the ICG Babiiez gangs. Gonzalez, the district attorney, said the indictment comes after a long-term investigation by his offices Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD into shootings and gun possession, accusing the defendants of involvement in 12 shootings and one murder. Authorities heavily surveilled the group, combing phone calls, text messages, and social media posts for evidence. They claim that the alleged associates used pig latin to discuss their crimes over the phone. Prosecutors accused Sheff G of ordering and funding shootings in Brooklyn. He was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with multiple incidents including a 2020 mass shooting on Folk Nation territory that killed one person and injured five others, per the Los Angeles Times. It is alleged that the rapper sent a text message to confirm that the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways members scored against rivals, according to the press release, noting that a separate message to his sister contains pictures of the victims and news articles about the shooting. Sheff G allegedly hosted a festive dinner at Manhattans Brooklyn Chop House to celebrate after the incident. He was also cited as a getaway driver for an 2021 revenge shooting in Flatbush that injured two bystanders on the scene. It was allegedly captured in surveillance footage. The indictment named Sleepy Hallow as a co-conspirator. Investigators spotted the rapper in a video in possession of a gun with a co-defendant and appearing in a social media post that allegedly disrespects the rival gangs hand gesture. In a separate incident, prosecutors accuse the rapper of exchanging phone calls and text messages with a co-defendant the same day the latter allegedly stole a car that another member used during the aforementioned 2020 shooting that left one dead and five others injured, claiming he attended the celebratory dinner. Were rap lyrics cited? Prosecutors appeared to preemptively address the ongoing issue of authorities using song lyrics as evidence, saying that the arrests have nothing to do with art. This is not an indictment of rap music, Gonzalez stressed. In fact, this investigation did not rely on a single lyric to prove any of the alleged crimes. However, the indictment does have two instances of lyrics mentioned, citing the Sheff G track For the Members and a verse from a defendants phone note, per Rolling Stone. Are these RICO charges? RICO stands for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act a federal law established in 1970 to combat organized crime. (States have their own versions of this law.) Because of the difficulty of charging each member of a criminal organization at once, lawmakers give prosecutors the ability to charge anyone who engages in a pattern of racketeering activity (like murder, arson, bribery, money laundering, drug trafficking, and robbery) in connection to an enterprise. To be charged with a RICO violation, a person must have allegedly engaged in two of the aforementioned acts or have co-conspired with someone who did over the course of a ten-year period on behalf of an organization. In this case, the co-defendants were variously charged with a total of 140 counts by the State of New York, not the federal government, so the charges cannot be federal RICO violations. In short: No, Sheff G, Sleepy Hallow, and their co-defendants are not facing RICO charges. Are they still in jail? Both Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow will remain incarcerated while they await the next court hearing on August 9. A judge could potentially agree to release the rappers on bail. Before the May 16 indictment, Sheff G was serving a two-year term at Rikers for a state gun charge with his earliest projected release date set for June 15. Photo: Scott Eisen/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management New Jersey has joined the great war to welcome Taylor Swift to town. Ahead of her Eras Tour performances at MetLife stadium on May 26, 27, and 28, Governor Phil Murphy has declared that the official state sandwich is now called the Taylor Swift ham, egg, and cheese. There has long been a debate in Jersey over whether to call a ham sandwich a Taylor ham or a pork roll. Usually, we let you call it what you want, Murphy said in a Twitter announcement video stuffed with Swift-related puns. But since we have a superstar coming to town, we know all too well that we should commemorate the occasion. Other stops on Swifts tour have temporarily renamed their city in her honor, offered her temporary mayorship, and more. An official sandwich seems like an odd choice, but we imagine its gotten harder to think of something unique to do the more she travels. As the last stop, Los Angeles had better start brainstorming. Welcome to New Jersey. Weve been waiting for you, @taylorswift13. In honor of Taylor Swift bringing The Eras Tour to @MetLifeStadium, I am declaring the Taylor Swift Ham, Egg, and Cheese the official state sandwich. pic.twitter.com/ilOSvUVGl6 Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 25, 2023 William Jackson Harper in Primary Trust, at the Laura Pels. Photo: Joan Marcus Theater seems to have loneliness on the mind. In recent works like King James and Summer, 1976, Ive seen intimate explorations of friendship, and in plays like The Trees, a consideration of the dynamics of communityall tinged by a few pandemic years spent with little human interaction. A stage is a good space to conjure togetherness, and so is an audience. That can be a straightforwardly joyful process, if, say, youre watching a comedy that ends with a wedding celebration, or a more complex one if it all ends in tragedy. Primary Trust is a sweetly melancholy new play by Eboni Booth that falls on the lighter side of the spectrum, and along the way it examines just how the relationship between a character and an audience worksespecially since its main character is quite isolated, and his biggest relationship is fictional. Kenneth, played by The Good Places William Jackson Harper, lives in a quiet suburb of Rochester and spends most evenings at a local tiki bar sipping mai tais with his friend Bert, played by Eric Berryman. The catch is that Bert is imaginary. Not imaginary in the way that youre thinking. More likeexists only in my head, Kenneth fails to clarify, in a line thats typical of the eddying monologues Booth has written for him. Bert, to Kenneths mind, has a wife and a family and a whole ordinary life that no one else can see. Imaginary as it is, the dynamic works well enough for Kenneth. He explains to us that hes an orphan and has spent the past decade and a half settling into a routine built around working at a local bookstore and stopping in with Bert at the tiki bar. When the bookstores owner (Jay O. Sanders, king of avuncular grumps) decides to retire to Arizona for his health and close the store, Kenneth suddenly has to confront non-imaginary reality, finding a new job as a bank teller and trying to navigate a fledging actual friendship with a waitress at the bar named Corrina (April Matthis, who also flips through a Rolodex of accents and postures to play all the other waiters and a series of bank customers). Harper describes all this to us while standing on a set, designed by Marsha Ginsberg, thats a shrunken-down replica of a northeastern small-town square. Youll think of Our Town, as you inevitably must when you see the steeple of a meeting house onstage, and director Knud Adams (who previously collaborated with Booth on Paris) heightens the sense of dislocation by having a musician (Luke Wygodny) at the side of the stage ring a bell during pauses in Kenneths speeches and between scenes, as if hes being jarred awake by the demands of other people. The setup tiptoes toward a worrisome level of whimsy, but Adams pulls back from laying it on too thick, and Harper is always there to ground things. Hes familiar as a worrywart (consider his performance as Chidi) and has a shy chin-down eyebrows-up smile that wins you over immediately. As Booth introduces more aspects of Kenneths past, his voice takes on an affecting quaver. Though you do learn more about that past, Primary Trust is not a play where a grand revelation is coming toward you. Its more about the climb Kenneth faces as hes slowly becoming reacquainted with the world, turning from an imaginary friendship to real ones. Its a significant thing to surmount, considering his level of isolation at the start of the play and the distanced nature of suburban life in generalpointedly, Kenneth, Bert, and Corrina are further isolated by all being Black in a predominantly white townand doing so brings rewards. Booth writes lovingly about the pleasure of small-scale routine familiarity, the kind of thing that undergirds any long-term friend- or acquaintanceship but is nearly impossible to create out of the blue. Corrina complains about her roommate not scooping cat litter often enough. Kenneths new boss (also played by Sanders) describes the particular office politics of their own happy hour. Kenneth himself has a great little line about how there was a daily, quiet happiness that I lost when his mother died. You can get all that from interacting with real people in person, but Booth doesnt discount that theres a depth to Kenneth and Berts dynamic too, even if its imaginary. You feel for him whenever he worries about whether Bert will show up to get mai tais again. Its an interesting proposition to present a play written by someone whos also a frequent performerBooth regularly acts, notably as the formidable Zuzu in Dance Nationbuilt around the idea that a fictional dynamic has its own push and pull, and its own little routine pleasures. Its a little like the relationship between performers and audiences, too. Theyre here to introduce us to these imagined realities, if only also to get us to turn around and reconnect to our own. The characters of The Fears are all trying to connect and center themselves in their own ways, though they tend more often to interrupt and yell at each other. Emma Sheanshangs play is set at a Buddhist center in New York City, where members of a trauma support group gather to work through meditation exercises and try to block out the noise from the streets below (credit to Jane Shaws sound design, full of the screeches of the city). At the top, a put-together newcomer played by Kerry Bishe arrives with a skeptical eye, setting off the other members of the group, including their de facto leader played by an en-scarved Maddie Corman, and leads to some not-very-zen chaos. From The Fears, at the Signature Center. Photo: Daniel Rader Sheanshangs premise is ripe. Theres much to make fun of in the pretensions of a white woman leading a Buddhist group and in the prickly defensiveness of everyone around her. But where something like Primary Trust uses heightened comedy to work toward its themes, The Fears struggles to locate its center, both in its writing and in Dan Algrants direction, which pushes the performers toward breathless jokiness. For a time, it seems as if the play may be arcing towards having Bishes character accept the groups teachings, or toward Cormans growing confidence in the absence of the groups original teacher, or in our slow discovery of the depth of the trauma everyone has experienced. All might be valid directions in which to take this, but The Fears tries to reach in every direction at once and never starts moving. I kept waiting, as the scenes passed, for the feeling that each was building upon another, but instead felt as if we kept returning to similar premises. Its not a bad time, watching some talented actors go after each other, but its also not any journey toward enlightenment. Primary Trust is at the Laura Pels Theatre through July 2. The Fears is at the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center through July 9. BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, which opened on Thursday in Beijing. As a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation continues to evolve, mankind needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever in order to address common development problems, Xi said. Committed to a win-win strategy of opening-up, China is ready to join hands with other countries to promote sci-tech innovation and make science and technologies better serve people of all countries, he said. Xi stressed that Beijing should fully leverage its strengths in education, science, technologies and talent, coordinate sci-tech and institutional innovation, continue to promote pilot reforms in Zhongguancun, further accelerate the construction of a world-leading sci-tech park, and strive to take the lead in the innovation of cutting-edge technologies and the development of advanced and sophisticated industries. 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. 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) New Starbucks outlet is second in Rome, with another set to open soon. Italy's newest Starbucks opened at Termini train station in Rome on Thursday, two weeks after the American multinational coffee chain launched in the Italian capital. The 150-sqm outlet is located in the "Food Lounge" of the upstairs Terrazza area of Rome's main train station, near Five Guys, and will be open every day from 06.00 to 21.00. Starbucks made international headlines on 11 May when it launched its first Rome venue, on a side street opposite the Italian parliament in the historic centre of the city. Starbucks continues to expand in Italy with a new outlet in Romes central Termini train station, its second in the Italian capital. pic.twitter.com/suBhnqnjIq Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) May 25, 2023 Another Starbucks is set to launch on the ground floor of Termini station in the coming days, where commuters will be offered Frappuccino, Salted Caramel Cool and the new olive oil-infused Oleato coffee drinks. The new openings come as Starbucks continues to expand in Italy, more than a year after the launch of an outlet at the Castel Romano shopping mall in the greater Rome area. As debate rages over Italys newest Starbucks, in the heart of Rome, the queue to get in stretches down the street. pic.twitter.com/l5SE5hHptN Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) May 11, 2023 Vincenzo Catrambone, general manager of Starbucks for Percassi, the coffee giant's licensee partner in Italy, said recently: "We truly believe that many outlets will open in Rome," adding that the goal is to open "one for each district of the capital." Starbucks launched in Italy in 2018, at Piazza Cordusio in Milan, and after Rome the coffee giant plans to head further south, launching in Naples and Bari, as well as Genoa in the north. By the end of this year the coffee chain plans to have opened 13 new Starbucks in Italy, bringing the total number in the country to 36. Photo Wanted in Rome Letizia Battaglia Senza Fine from 27 May to 5 November. The Baths of Caracalla hosts a tribute to Letizia Battaglia - the legendary Italian photographer best known for her powerful images of Mafia murder scenes and arrests in Sicily - who died last year aged 87. Curated by Paolo Falcone, the exhibition features a selection of 92 large format photographs charting 50 years of Battaglia's photographic work (1971-2020) with iconic images as well as those that are less known or unpublished. The exhibition, part of the Rome opera house summer festival at the Baths of Caracalla, coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Mafia attacks on the Roman churches of S. Giovanni in Laterano and S. Giorgio al Velabro. Letizia Battaglia. L'arresto del feroce boss mafioso Leoluca Bagarella. Palermo, 1979. The festival will host three evenings of talks dedicated to Battaglia, on 25 and 28 July and 1 August, along with the launch of the book Letizia Battaglia Senza Fine. For exhibition visiting details see Coopculture website. Cover image: Letizia Battaglia. Boris Giuliano, capo della Squadra Mobile, sul luogo di un omicidio a Piazza del Carmine. Palermo, 1978. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share In recent days, Ukraine may or may not have started taking the war to the Russians in their own country. Lets say it did or that it plans to. Would that be a good idea? This week, paramilitary forces crossed from Ukraine into Russia and caused a major ruckus though so far not much more. The Russians, as is their wont, immediately blamed the incursion on Ukrainian terrorists and fascists. You can ignore all that and indeed everything coming out of the Kremlin, whose specialty is lying. The groups claiming credit for the attacks instead consist of Russians who defected from the army of their president, Vladimir Putin, and are now fighting against him, and for Ukraine. One outfit calls itself the Freedom of Russia Legion. Another is the ultra-nationalist Russian Volunteer Corps. Little is known about these Russian anti-Putin paramilitaries and specifically, whether they take orders from Kyiv or act autonomously. But they seem to be at least loosely affiliated with Ukraines International Legion, a force of foreign volunteers thats been compared to the international brigades that fought in the Spanish Civil War against General Francisco Francos Nationalists. Advertisement Kyiv, for its part, denies being involved in the cross-border attacks. Perhaps. But lets put that aside and ask a bigger question: Would launching attacks into Russia proper and I mean more than skirmishes make strategic sense? Some of the greatest military minds in history have won defensive wars in exactly that way. The idea is to threaten an invaders home base, forcing him to withdraw, wholly or partially, from the original frontline in order to protect the rear. On a grand scale, thats what the Roman commander Scipio Africanus did between 210 and 202 BCE. Hannibal, the most fearsome enemy the Romans had ever encountered, had been terrorizing Italy with his Carthaginian invasion force for eight years. So Scipio took a Roman army to Iberia, to capture Hannibals bases there. A few years later, Scipio crossed to northern Africa to threaten Carthage itself. Only at that point did Hannibal leave Italy to defend his homeland. Scipio defeated him, and Rome won the war. Advertisement In the same way, Ukraine could open up new fronts inside Russia. Putin would then have to pull parts of his invasion forces out of Ukraine and send them to Russia. That would weaken Russian positions in Ukraine, and help the Ukrainians retake their own territories. Putin would also start looking weak in his own country, and would become vulnerable politically or physically to coups. But Ukraine isnt ancient Rome, and Russia isnt Carthage and Putin certainly isnt Hannibal, one of the greatest military geniuses in history, despite his eventual defeat. The strategic situation is completely different. The first difference is that Putin, unlike Hannibal, has nukes, and has repeatedly threatened to use them if backed into a corner. For now, the world including his ostensible ally China has convinced him that nuclear escalation wouldnt be tolerated. But Russian doctrine does envision using atomic weapons when the Russian state itself is at risk. Since Putin equates that state with himself, he might decide that he has nothing left to lose, and deploy. Advertisement Another distinction is that Ukraine, though it now has the most battle-hardened army in the world, relies on continued Western support. It defends its skies with American anti-missile rockets, will launch its counterattack with German battle tanks, and may yet dominate the air with F-16 fighter jets. But all this help has so far been predicated on the assumption that Ukraine only defends its own territory. The greatest fear in the West is that NATO could get dragged into a shooting war with Russia, which could escalate into World War III. Some Western countries possibly even the US after the election of 2024 could stop supporting Ukraine if it adopted offensive tactics. The so-called Global South, already on the fence, would probably turn against Kyiv. A subtler version of a Scipionic strategy would therefore be to attack Crimea. That peninsula is Ukrainian territory in international law, even though Putin already annexed it in 2014. (He illegally grabbed another four Ukrainian regions last year.) Psychologically, Putin and Russians consider Crimea part of their country, but the world does not. So its fair game. Advertisement Retaking Crimea would cost a lot of Ukrainian blood. Kyiv doesnt have the long-range missiles, air power or amphibian forces to go around Russian troops in two other occupied Ukrainian regions, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. So it would have to go through those areas, crossing the Dnipro and frontally attacking the Russians, who are well dug in. A better approach might be simply to cut Crimea off from Russian supply lines. To do that, the Ukrainians would use their new Western tanks and other weapons to punch through Zaporizhzhia and to the Sea of Asov, severing the land bridge the Russian have built for themselves there between Luhansk and Crimea. If this offensive succeeds, the Ukrainians could make Russian positions in Kherson and the Crimean peninsula indefensible in the long run. With luck, Putin would at that point decide that hes had enough and grudgingly enter peace negotiations, somehow spinning his special military operation as a success at home with maximally coercive propaganda. By contrast, if Putin came under military pressure in Russia proper, he couldnt pretend to have won anything. Hed have to double down on the narrative that hes defending Russia from alien enemies. Advertisement So the Ukrainians shouldnt attack Russia proper, nor encourage proxies such as the Russian anti-Putin paramilitaries to do it for them. Better for them to make clear to the world that theyre purely defending their country. The strategy must remain to win global support and then retake as much of Ukraine as feasible. More From Bloomberg Opinion: The Kremlin Offers a Trump-Putin Ticket for 2024: Andreas Kluth Bakhmut Falls But Is It Really a Russian Victory?: Leonid Bershidsky China Cant Afford Xis Quest for Security: Minxin Pei This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. A former editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist, he is author of Hannibal and Me. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share CANNES, France To the Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher, fairy tale is an often misunderstood concept. For many, it suggests kings and queens, a light kind of fantasy. But Rohrwacher is devoted to obsessed with she says the tradition of Italian fairy and folk tales, which tend to feature peasants, animals and doors between reality and magic that never close. They have deeply informed and enriched Rohrwachers lyrical, ramshackle and wonder-filled films. For me, its something planted in the ground, says Rohrwacher says of fairy tales. Its not something in the air. Rohrwachers latest enchantment, La Chimera, digs deeper. The film, which premiered Friday at the Cannes Film Festival, is about the tombaroli: Italian tomb raiders who hunt ancient graves to find artifacts to sell. Josh OConnor stars as an Englishman with a special gift for sensing where to dig, a mystical talent connected with mourning for a lost love. Its said that in the tombs of the dead, hes seeking a door to the afterlife. Advertisement La Chimera, a radiant and melancholy highlight of this years Cannes, concludes what Rohrwacher considers a triptych of films about the past and its connections to today. Her 2015 film The Wonders is about a young family of beekeepers whose threadbare pastoral life collides with reality television. Happy as Lazzaro, which won best screenplay at Cannes in 2018, follows a farmhand from a feudal-run estate who wanders into a modern city. What we do with our past is my big question, Rohrwacher said in an interview in Cannes a few days before the La Chimera premiere. Normally, people either glorify the past or want to forget about it. But these two directions are not my path. We are in every gesture what we were and what we will be. Rohrwacher grew up in the Umbria region of Italy fascinated by the tombaroli. It was less the illegality that impressed Rohrwacher than that they werent disturbed by their grave robbing. Advertisement How can you find the authority to destroy something that is sacred? said Rohrwacher. In making La Chimera, Rohrwacher accompanied a group on an archeological dig. When we put the light inside this place, there was a plate. He said this is the first time in 3,000 years that there are eyes on this. That was so impressive to me, she says. I could never have at home something like this, with all this power. La Chimera, though, isnt just about the gravitational pull of the past. It concerns a merry band of male tombaroli in pursuit of Etruscan treasures, relics from an ancient time in which women were proudly independent. La Chimera, which co-stars Carol Duarte, Isabella Rossellini and Rohrwachers sister, Alba Rohrwacher, is a work of social archeology, too, boring into Italian machismo past and present. Advertisement Its a lot a movie about masculinity and maybe also the sadness of having to play a role of macho, Rohrwacher says. Normally in the movies or books that tell how honorable it is to be macho. But, in fact, I think these men have to be macho but theyre not very good at being macho and maybe a little bit sad to be macho. Now we are in a different era, I think, I hope. In making films tethered to folktales with an earthy realism, Rohrwacher is herself bridging grand Italian traditions. She has one foot in centuries-old fables and one in neo-realistic masterworks of Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica. She calls her films magical neo-realism. The visible is always connected to the invisible, Rohrwacher explains. Things go always together like souls inside the bodies. Rohrwacher is now preparing what she calls a large work on fairy tales. She has concluded something in finishing her trilogy on the past, or maybe not. Even if she made a film about the future, Rohrwacher says, It would also tell us also about our past. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share DECATUR, Ga. The family of a Georgia woman who died last year after she fell from a moving patrol car has filed a civil rights lawsuit, saying sheriffs deputies improperly arrested her and ultimately caused her death, attorneys announced Wednesday. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The deputies who put Brianna Grier in the back of a patrol car to take her to the Hancock County Sheriffs Office failed to close the rear passenger-side door before driving away, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found. The 28-year-old woman suffered brain trauma when she hit her head in the July 15 fall and was in a coma until she died July 21 at an Atlanta hospital, her family said. The federal wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses Hancock County Sheriff Tomlyn Primus, his brother Lt. Marlin Primus and Deputy Timothy Legette of gross negligence leading to Griers death. A message seeking comment was left with a person who answered the phone in the sheriffs office Wednesday. Advertisement Grier was arrested after sheriffs deputies were called to her parents home in Sparta. Her family called 911 for help because Grier was experiencing a mental health crisis, said prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, whos representing Griers family. There is no excuse, no justification why Brianna Grier is dead and why she died in such a horrific manner, falling out the back of an unsecured police vehicle traveling on the highway, her head colliding with the concrete on the street, Crump said during a news conference announcing the lawsuit Wednesday. The deputies put Grier in the back of a patrol car, but she was not wearing a seatbelt, her hands were cuffed in front of her and the rear passenger-side door was never closed, according to GBI investigators. The GBI announced in November that its investigation was complete and that the Ocmulgee Circuit district attorney had decided not to bring the case before a grand jury for possible charges. Advertisement My baby, Brianna Grier, she wasnt an animal. She wasnt a bad person, Griers mother, Mary Grier, told reporters. She just had some problems she couldnt control. Griers family had previously called law enforcement for help with her episodes and the responding deputies were aware of her history as a diagnosed schizophrenic and knew she was having an acute mental health episode, the lawsuit says. Lawyer Eric Hertz, another lawyer for the family, said theres a big problem in Georgia with the way people who are experiencing mental health problems are dealt with by police. This is not the first incident, but we hope it will be the last, he said. It is our goal in this case to get the highest verdict theres ever been in Georgia for a case of this type to send a message all the way up to the top that this should not happen. Advertisement Attorney Gerald Griggs, whos president of the Georgia NAACP, said Georgias mental health services must be fully funded and there should be a mandate that every police department send crisis interveners for mental health calls. Brianna Grier should be here raising her two beautiful daughters instead of us standing outside of a courthouse demanding justice for her, Griggs said. Mary Grier said her 5-year-old twin granddaughters, Maria and Mariah, constantly ask for their mother. Mary Griers husband Briannas father died a couple of months after Brianna did, and she said she feels broken, truly broken. GiftOutline Gift Article Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, meets with Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, wife of President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. Denise Nyakeru is accompanying Tshisekedi on his state visit to China. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, met with Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, the wife of President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, in Beijing on Friday. Peng appreciated Denise Nyakeru's efforts to improve the health and well-being of African women, children and adolescents as vice president of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD). Peng said that the Chinese side maintains friendly exchanges with the OAFLAD and is willing to strengthen cooperation and work together to contribute more to promoting the cause of women and children and building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Peng introduced the positive achievements of the Spring Bud Project, a program launched by China Children and Teenagers' Fund to help dropout girls return to school and improve teaching conditions in impoverished areas. Peng added it is hoped that the two sides could strengthen the exchange of experience in girls and women education to benefit the two peoples. Noting this is the first time she and President Tshisekedi visited China, Denise Nyakeru thanked President Xi and Madame Peng for their warm and thoughtful reception, and they were deeply impressed by the vitality of China and the hard-working, heroic, and tenacious Chinese people. Denise Nyakeru highly appreciated Peng's long-term concern and support to the development of women, children and adolescents in African countries and looks forward to further strengthening exchanges and cooperation and jointly contributing to promoting Africa-China friendship. Last year, lying in hospital, afloat on painkillers, I lost my day-to-day bearings. Machines beeped. Drips dripped. Kabuki shadows slid across the curtain. Next, a nurse appeared in the dark, a voice promising an orchestra in the morning. This made no sense, but things rarely do in hospital. Capsules and tubes preserve their own mystery, along with language, the acronyms and pulse rates. Hence an orchestra felt as logical as anything else. Besides, a bit of Mozart might brighten the stay. Turns out the VSO, as Id heard my nurse, wasnt the Victorian Symphony Orchestra but physio, a bloke to poke my limbs, rather than a bedside Puccini. I blamed the drugs, though humans mishear words daily, even clear-headed humans. Messages engulf us, shredding our attention. What we think we hear is what we deem to understand, an accidental brand of fake news. I have a case of wind ... I mean wine. Credit: Jo Gay Ivan Aristeguieta knows this delusion first-hand. The Venezuelan comic recently became an Australian citizen, despite believing he lived among savages. The culprit was a phrase hed misheard on arrival. In Ivans words, Imagine how shocked I was when this guy explained tall puppy syndrome. He told me that if a puppy grows taller than the rest, it gets cut off. Decapitated! Its barbaric! 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. 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]. Beijing: The cancellations rippled across China: a Japanese choral band touring the country, stand-up comedy shows in several cities, jazz shows in Beijing. In the span of a few days, the performances were among more than a dozen abruptly called off some just minutes before they were supposed to begin. Just before the performances were scrapped, authorities in Beijing had fined a Chinese comedy studio around $US2 million ($3 million), after one of its stand-up performers was accused of insulting the Chinese military in a joke; police in northern China also detained a woman who had defended the comedian online. A bookstore in Zibo, China. Literature is also closely regulated by the authorities. Credit: Qilai Shen/The New York Times Those penalties and the sudden spate of cancellations that followed point to the growing scrutiny of an already heavily censored creative landscape. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made arts and culture a central arena for ideological crackdowns, demanding that artists align their creative ambitions with Communist Party goals and promote a nationalist vision of Chinese identity. Performers must submit scripts or set lists for vetting and publications are closely monitored. This week, Xi sent a letter to the National Art Museum of China for its 60th anniversary, reminding staff to adhere to the correct political orientation. 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. UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations on Thursday called on the international community to ramp up backing for financing African Union (AU)-led peace operations. In February this year, the AU summit adopted a consensus paper, stressing the need to provide AU-led peace support operations with adequate, predictable and sustainable funding and calling for support from the United Nations. "Aspirations of African countries in this regard are legitimate and reasonable, and merit great attention and active support from the international community," Zhang Jun told a Security Council briefing. He said that when addressing the funding of AU peace operations, the fundamental principle of solving African problems in an African way should be embodied. AU-led peace support operations, after taking UN's funding support, will remain operations of the AU, Zhang said. "It is about resolving funding issues, not about turning AU forces into another UN peacekeeping force." He pointed out that the protection of human rights is part of the focus of peace support operations, but it should be put in the right place. "Human rights accountability provisions must not be used as a pretext to indefinitely delay the discussion of funding options and defer decisions thereon," he said. Support from UN-assessed contributions should be a complement to the existing funding modes of the AU, Zhang said. Developed countries, who are the traditional financial contributors, must not reduce their funding support for Africa due to this, and must refrain from simply submitting the contributions already intended for Africa to the UN with a changed name to shirk their historical responsibility towards Africa, he added. He stressed that the funding of AU peace operations should be considered together with the reform of UN peacekeeping operations in a holistic manner. China supports decisive and necessary streamlining and optimization of some UN peacekeeping operations, the resources saved from which could be used to better support AU peace operations, said the envoy. China firmly supports Africa in improving its own peace support capacity, and supports the provision of adequate, predictable and sustainable funding support to AU-led peace support operations, he said. "We expect the Security Council to take this meeting as an opportunity, stay pragmatic and results-oriented, and work for early and substantive progress on the relevant issues," Zhang said. From 21-24 May 2023, following a series of virtual workshops on internal affairs, key staff from the Customs administrations of Jordan and Palestine came together at the WCO Regional Training Centre (RTC), in Amman, to learn more from WCO experts and other Members, and from each other, regarding strengthening the internal affairs function in a Customs context. This activity aimed at both administrations further developing their Internal Affairs capacity around three essential processes: Corruption, misconduct or malpractice reporting; Administrative investigation and; Discipline. The approach allowed the participants to identify some gaps and challenges of their respective internal affairs processes and procedures, but most importantly, to benefit from best practices sharing by the experts from Mauritius and the United States. The principle of collective action for results was emphasized throughout the week by bringing together participants from different areas around a common goal and having neighbouring Customs administrations collaborate and share views and perspectives. The WCO Anti-Corruption & Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme supports more than 20 WCO Member administrations, with funding from Norad and Canada. For more information, please contact: capacity.building@wcoomd.org. Following the agreed work plan of the WCO Customs Work Organization Forum (CWOF) and the outstanding achievements of its first meeting held on 13 December 2022, the WCO organized virtually on 23 May 2023, the 2nd meeting of the CWOF with the participation of high-level representatives from WCO Members and partners, including the private sector, international organizations, academia, private consultants, and civil society. Through the CWOFs meetings and activities, the WCO is aiming at creating a knowledge management ecosystem where experiences, practices and initiatives are generated taking into consideration all perspectives (client, staff, process, technology.) but also shared effectively with all Customs and Trade communities through several channels (guide, compendium, conference, forum, Community of practices, capacity building). During this meeting, the participants had the opportunity to hear from Customs Administrations (all WCO six regions represented) who have engaged in a learning process and have adopted new sustainable working models in the new normal, including innovative approaches to Customs Work setup and Customs day-to-day operations, Workplace design and Workforce management, to share their initiatives, challenges, benefits and way forwards. Six insightful presentations covering the three areas of the Customs organization were delivered, including (i) Creating a Maritime Workforce NZ Customs Service, (2) Reengineering Nigeria Customs Service operational processes and Digital Transformation, (iii) Workplace Design in Canada Border Services Agency as part of the Future of Work, (iv) Workplace Design Strategy in Finish Customs in the New Normal, (v) Zakat, Tax and Customs Authoritys Programme for Employees Well-being, and (vi) Fostering Trust in the Employment Relationship at the Mauritius Revenue Authority (all presentations and meetings document are available in the event webpage). In addition, participants approved the structure of the WCO Compendium of best practices on work organization, workplace design and workforce management. The participants were strongly encouraged to share their case studies to enrich the compendium. As a way forward, the last meeting of the WCO CWOF is expected to hold in October or November 2023, where a draft compendium will be presented. In addition, the WCO, in collaboration with the CWOFs participants, will develop the WCO guide on Hybrid Customs Administrations - Towards a Sustainable Working Model and organize the WCO Global Conference on Working Model in Customs in the New Normal. For more information about the CWOF and its activities and the WCO People Development offer, please contact: capacity.building@wcoomd.org. BEIRUT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- An "all-out war" will include all the fronts of the axis of resistance, said Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday in response to the Israeli military's warning. "Never miscalculate; any folly may lead you to the abyss," Nasrallah said in a televised speech on the Resistance and Liberation Day. "It is not you who are threatening a great war, but we are the ones who are threatening you with it," he said. The Hezbollah held a massive military show in southern Lebanon on Monday, ahead of the annual Resistance and Liberation Day which marks the Israeli troop pullout from southern Lebanon on May 25, 2000. In response, Israeli Defense Forces warned Nasrallah against making "a mistake that could plunge the region into war." Nasrallah said that "the growing deterrent power of the resistance and the erosion of the Israeli deterrent power" was demonstrated by the recent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The Lebanon-Israel border has been mostly quiet since Israel fought a 2006 war against Hezbollah, except for occasional tensions caused by rockets fired on Israel by Palestinian factions in Lebanon. HOUSTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A Texas House committee on Thursday voted unprecedentedly and unanimously to recommend that Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the second largest U.S. state, be impeached and removed from office for yearslong accusations of corruption, lawbreaking, and power-abusing. Paxton, a powerful Republican politician in the state, is facing the prospect of indictment by the GOP-led state legislation, which means a political feud and reckoning within his own party. The Texas House General Investigating Committee, consisting of three Republicans and two Democrats, held a specially called meeting on Thursday afternoon after months of investigation, which was not revealed until Tuesday, and voted to refer articles of impeachment to the full chamber. Impeachment proceedings could begin as early as this weekend. If the 149-member House approves the impeachment before the regular legislative session concludes on Monday, state senators would need to convene a special session to hear the case. Unlike in Congress, impeachment in Texas requires immediate removal from office until a trial is held in the Senate. Paxton was reelected in the 2022 midterm elections despite being under indictment on felony securities fraud charges as well as an FBI probe into whistleblowers' bribery claims against him. The committee on Wednesday listened to three hours of detailed testimony by investigators over criminal charges against the state's top lawyer for securities fraud and allegations by his former top deputies that Paxton used his office to benefit a friend and political donor. According to the investigators, Paxton repeatedly abused his office and may have committed at least three felonies in an effort to help a friend and political donor, Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, with various legal troubles. These included spending 72,000 U.S. dollars in staff labor on tasks that benefited the developer, providing him with an internal FBI file related to an investigation into Paul, and hiring an outside lawyer for 25,000 dollars to conduct work that primarily benefited Paul, according to a report from the Texas Tribune. The accusation is largely based on claims made by four former senior staff who filed a whistleblower lawsuit last year, arguing that Paxton improperly fired them after they reported related concerns to federal and state investigators, said the report. Committee investigators also discussed criminal charges that have been pending against Paxton since 2015, when a Collin County grand jury indicted him on two counts of felony securities fraud related to private business deals in 2011. According to those charges, Paxton solicited investors into Servergy Inc. without disclosing that the McKinney tech company was paying him to promote its stock. He was also accused to have accepted 100,000 dollars from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton's office for Medicaid fraud. The attorney general also reportedly accepted additional 50,000 dollars donated by an Arizona retiree and later hired the donor's son to a high-ranking job. The donor's son was soon fired after trying to make a point by displaying child pornography in a meeting. "This is as detrimental and important a scandal as we've seen in Texas political history," Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, told the New York Times. "Not just because of what happened, but because of how long it's been going on and how Paxton has been able to survive it." Paxton has denied all wrongdoing, though earlier this year he agreed to a 3.3-million-U.S.-dollar settlement with the whistleblowers, who were former lieutenants in his office. Chris Hilton, a senior lawyer in the attorney general's office, told reporters before Thursday's committee vote that what investigators said about Paxton was "false," "misleading," and "full of errors big and small." Paxton previously also suggested that the investigation is a politically motivated attack by a "liberal" Republican Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan. Ahead of Wednesday's hearing, Paxton called on Phelan to resign over alleged drunkenness while leading the House. Phelan's office later called it a ploy and "a last-ditch effort to save face." The speaker said Wednesday that Paxton "appears to have routinely abused his office for personal gain," describing the revelation of the hearing as "extremely disturbing." However, so far no Texan Republican lawmakers have yet called for Paxton's impeachment. Both Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, two top Republicans in the state, have declined to comment on the committee's allegations against Paxton. Impeachment requires a two-thirds vote of the Texas House chamber, where Republicans hold an 85-64 majority. The third-term state attorney general, a firm ally of former President Donald Trump, is seen as a popular politician among Texan conservative voters. He filed an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. "Few in America have done more to advance the conservative legal movement," former Trump adviser Stephen Miller tweeted on Thursday. "Stand with Ken." Texas Democrats, a minority in the state legislation, have for years cast Paxton as corrupt. Only the Texas House can bring impeachment proceedings against state officials, which would lead to a trial by the Senate. Removal requires two-thirds support in both state chambers. Only twice has the Texas House impeached a sitting official: Governor James Ferguson in 1917 and District Judge O.P. Carrillo in 1975, according to local media. Despite being in existence for only 33 years, a former Welland school once had ties to one of the citys oldest families: the Balds. Thomas Bald was born in 1746 in Blackhouse, Selkirkshire, Scotland and came to Canada circa 1794 after he became unhappy with the political situation at home. When Bald, with his two-year-old son Thomas Bald Jr., arrived and settled in Thorold he had a lot of money due to sale of his assets, and almost immediately bought land to establish his homestead. As the family grew, many members became involved in the community. Thomas Jr. fought in the War of 1812, and Thomass son William became Welland County reeve, coroner and town council member both pre- and post-incorporation. Williams daughter, May B. Bald, was the first woman in Ontario to receive a bachelor of arts university degree. James Cook Bald, the man after whom the school was named, was born in 1873, and was son of David Bald, the son of Thomas Bald Jr. and Catherine. James mother, Hannah Estelle Cook, is thought to be the first female teacher in Welland County, and James would join the ranks of the teaching profession alongside others in the family. In total, eight members of the family were involved in teaching. J.C. later joined Wellands school board, serving as secretary-treasurer of Union School Section No. 2 for 20 years, and as a trustee for 30. The building at 269 Thorold Rd. was constructed to replace two rural schools: the junior school, also known as the Green School due to its exterior colour, on the corner of Prince Charles Drive and Thorold Road, and the brick school on Fitch Street. With steady growth and an influx of new students, the schools experienced overcrowding. By 1943, it was necessary to build a new structure, but due to the ongoing war, plans were shelved until 1945. On Nov. 14 of that year, ratepayers authorized construction of the school. Local architect Arthur B. Scott was engaged to design it, with R. Timms Construction Ltd. hired as general contractor. Contracts were let June 12, 1947, and construction began the same month. Designed to be one of the most modern rural schools in the province, the single-storey building featured radiant heating, mechanical ventilation, bilateral lighting and separate washrooms for classrooms, and canted chalkboards of green nucite, among other features. Initially, the school consisted of five classrooms, with additional areas such as a large playroom, an all-purpose room, a domestic science room, a principals office, teachers and nurses room, and an agricultural room with greenhouse facilities. A Grade 1 classroom featured a specially constructed bay window that took up the entire wall, designed to brighten the room and give it an almost circular appearance. The schools overall cost was $125,000. In 1950, the City of Welland annexed the area between Welland River and Thorold Road, and the school was renamed in honour of J.C. Bald. Over the years, the school remained largely the same as when constructed. In 1981, with enrolment declining, the then Niagara South Board of Education decided to close the location and transfer students to other schools. On June 6, 1982, an open house was held by former and current students to celebrate the end of the schools 33-year history. The building lasted until 1986 as James C. Bald Centre and the Reach & Gifted Program home, until being replaced in 1989 by the a YMCA Day Care and Early Childhood Centre. The location is now owned by Niagara Catholic District School Board and is home to the Father Patrick H. Fogarty Adult and Continuing Education Centre. All information courtesy of the Welland Museum and Welland Public Library archives SHARE: Dealing with an auto service repair facility doesnt have to be a stressful experience. At its core, this is a customer service industry, you are the client, and the goal for the provider should be to address your needs while offering you as pleasant of an experience as possible. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, it doesnt always play out like that. Car repair maintenance also falls under that heading is big business, estimated to be an industry of more than $10 billion in Canada last year alone, so theres a very real risk of paying more than is absolutely necessary. Add to that the fact that many folks dont really understand how a vehicle works, and a simple service visit can become a daunting task laced with pitfalls, both real and imagined. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to minimize that angst. In a previous piece, I talked about finding a service provider that makes you comfortable, how once youd made the primary decision as to the type of facility youd prefer (dealership service department, chain store/franchise, or privately-owned independent), referrals from customers would be the number one way to increase your odds of picking a winner, with online reviews having some value as well. Ideally, your first visit to a new service provider should be for a simple maintenance item such as an oil change, or a tire rotation and brake inspection something relatively straightforward to allow you to get a feel for the place and its staff without the stress of having to sort out some kind of potentially expensive issue with your car. Of course, reality may dictate otherwise. An unexpected warning light or the sudden squeal of worn brakes might be what gets you headed to that prospective shop. It happens. Whichever way youve ended up there, some of the responsibility for keeping costs in check lies with you. Particularly when it comes to maintaining a newer car thats still under warranty, there are two key tenets: understand the difference between recommended services and required services, and, as the internet so eloquently puts it RTFM! or read the (bleeping) manual! Your Owners Manual contains maintenance schedules and information that are important for keeping your warranty intact and extending the life of your vehicle, and it can offer you insight as to whether the advisers recommendation of a coolant flush at two years old is actually necessary, or simply a wallet flush in disguise. (Insider Tip: Most new vehicles use coolant whose initial replacement interval is between 6 and 10 years .) If youre there for a specific concern, it can be intimidating to try and describe the problem to the technician or service adviser, but it shouldnt be. Just do your best. Being able to describe the circumstances under which the issue occurs is helpful. Were you accelerating? Braking? Does it do it over bumps or turns, or at/above a certain speed? More likely right after start-up, or perhaps only when it rains? Is it a clunk, squeak, rattle, grind, or hum? It often seems that customers are hesitant to share information, as though we mechanics knowing more will cost them more. In reality, the opposite is true; to diagnose a complaint, the more I know, the faster Im likely to zero-in on or at least replicate and experience it. One thing Id recommend against mentioning (especially beforehand) is your budget. As my boss tells oversharing customers, feigning shock, Arrrgh! Never tell the guy behind the counter that! Next thing you know whatever you need will cost that plus $100! After a test drive, inspection, or some initial diagnostics have been performed, weve reached the point that something has been found or is at least suspected, and repairs or invasive diagnostics (time-consuming processes or taking things apart to verify the concern) are required. Now is when you should be aware of Ontarios Consumer Protection Act. Among its stipulations are the right to an estimate, that said estimate cannot be exceeded by more than 10 per cent, but also that the estimate does not have to be provided for free, should parts and/or labour be required to produce it, although you must be made aware of the cost beforehand. The CPA also spells out minimum warranty periods of 90 days and 5,000 kilometres for any labour and parts paid for, which most service providers will tend to exceed anyway. If the folks behind the counter are doing their job correctly, you should have a reasonable understanding of whats required and why. If youre still not comfortable with what youre being told, remember that you have the right to decline repairs, and to seek out a second opinion. Ask a Mechanic is written by Brian Early , a Red Seal-certified automotive technician. You can send questions to wheels@thestar.ca SHARE: Police say a fourth suspect has been arrested and charged in the kidnapping of a woman who was abducted from a home in Ontario more than a year ago. Police have said Elnaz Hajtamiri was taken on Jan. 12, 2022 from a relatives home in Wasaga Beach, Ont., where her family says she was hiding out after an alleged attack weeks earlier. Ontario Provincial Police say a 29-year-old man from Brampton, Ont., is now facing charges that include kidnapping and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Police have alleged 37-year-old Hajtamiri who remains missing was abducted by three suspects dressed in police gear weeks after she was allegedly assaulted with a frying pan in an underground parking lot in Richmond Hill, Ont. Police say they have an arrest warrant for another suspect. A $100,000 reward has been issued for anyone with information that could locate Hajtamiri. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2022. SHARE: VICTORIA - The BC Prosecution Service says it has named a special prosecutor in a case involving a New Westminster school board candidate who was later appointed a government adviser at the beginning of May. The service says Vancouver lawyer John Gordon will give legal advice to investigators and handle the potential prosecution of Gurveen Dhaliwal, who was elected to the New Westminster school board as chair before being named a ministerial adviser to Health Minister Adrian Dix on May 1. Dhaliwal is being investigated for possibly breaking election rules by being present at a voting place as a scrutineer, which the Local Government Act prohibits, as candidates are only allowed at polling stations to vote on election day. The prosecution service says Gordon was appointed on May 4, three days after Dhaliwal was appointed a ministerial adviser to B.C.s health minister. Dhaliwals appointment to the Health Ministry was rescinded May 15, and she was made a ministerial adviser to the labour minister that same day. In a statement issued Friday, the prosecution service says special prosecutors are appointed to avoid any appearance of improper influence over the administration of justice in cases involving elected officials or government appointees. Opposition BC United MLA Peter Milobar said Friday that the party welcomes Gordons appointment, calling it deeply troubling that Dhaliwal was given a government appointment after the allegations came to light. He called on Premier David Eby to put Dhaliwal on administrative leave. The premiers office said in a statement that Dhaliwal has been placed on leave from her position as ministerial adviser. We take any such investigation very seriously, the statement said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. - One man has been arrested and another is recovering from stab wounds following an attack on the Merritt Trail in St. Catharines Thursday afternoon. Niagara Regional Police were called to the trail near Martindale Road and Erion Road just before 3:30 p.m., where officers found a 47-year-old man with stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, and has since been released to recover at home. A 56-year-old suspect was arrested at a home in the Vansickle Road North area near Barton Street shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday. Richard Frank Stephen is charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. SHARE: LIMA, Peru (AP) Peruvian anti-drug police seized 58 one-kilo packages of cocaine Thursday bearing a picture of a Nazi flag on the outside and the name Hitler printed in low relief. The discovery occurred in the port of Paita, on Perus northern Pacific coast close to its border with Ecuador. The drugs were hidden inside a shipping container carrying asparagus on the Liberian-flagged vessel SC Anisha R that had earlier anchored in the Ecuadorian port of Ecuador, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press. It said the shipment was destined for a port in Belgium. The Peruvian polices anti-drug directorate showed videos and photographs to AP revealing that the drugs were inside the ventilation system of a container. Police continued to search the more than 80 containers on the vessel. Peruvian authorities have previously reported finding cocaine in brick-shaped packages with various and strange symbols, but never with one of the flag of Nazi Germany. Authorities in Peru estimate that the country produces around 100 tons of drugs per year and most leave for Europe by sea, but also through small planes that carry cocaine to Bolivia, on its way to Atlantic ports. Peru is the worlds second-largest grower of coca leaf, according to the United Nations, and the worlds second-largest producer of cocaine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. SHARE: TOKYO (AP) Japan on Friday approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to Russian military-related organizations. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the Cabinet approval shows Japan is in step with the rest of the Group of Seven countries that agreed during their summit in Hiroshima last week to maintain and strengthen sanctions against Russia. He said Japan is committed to working with other G7 countries and the broader international community to improve the situation for Ukraine. Matsuno also sharply criticized the signing of a deal between Russia and Belarus on Thursday formalizing the deployment of Moscows tactical nuclear weapons in its allys territory as a move that further escalate tensions. As the worlds only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, Japan finds Russias threats of nuclear weapons and their use absolutely impermissible, Matsuno said. Japans government demands Russia and Belarus stop actions that further escalate tensions as we continue to watch the development with strong concern. Japans additional sanctions and export restrictions reflect the G7s aim to prevent the evasion of sanctions by third countries and include a ban on exporting materials that would help strengthen Russias industrial base, Matsuno said. According to a statement jointly issued by the foreign, trade and finance ministries, 24 individuals and 78 organizations were added to a list of those subject to asset freezes, including those who allegedly helped to divert and evade sanctions. Japan also imposed an export ban on 80 Russian military-related organizations, including machinery makers. The provision of construction, engineering and other services for Russia will also be banned. Japan has been closely cooperating with the G7 to impose sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine amid growing concern about the conflicts impact in Asia, where China has been expanding its military presence and threatening to use force to exert its control over self-governed Taiwan. Read more about: SHARE: MEXICO CITY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday urged the Hispanic community in the United States not to vote for anti-immigration candidates, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. "Do not vote for those who persecute migrants or don't respect them, because the migrant, as the Bible says, deserves respect," the president said during his daily press conference at the National Palace here. On Wednesday, DeSantis announced his intention to seek the U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination for the November 2024 elections. DeSantis has seized on such issues as immigration and drug trafficking to drum up support among U.S. conservatives, but scapegoating migrants is just an electoral ploy, said Lopez Obrador. "Ask DeSantis because ... as they are very hypocritical, he might have migrants working for him," said the president. The U.S. government has blamed Mexico for the fentanyl crisis in the United States, claiming that migrants are helping to smuggle illicit drugs. Mexico's government accused the United States of not doing enough to combat drug abuse, especially among youth. 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: NWS Weather Alert NOTE: This information is provided by the National Weather Service. Forecast may differ from local information provided by our own 69News Meteorologists ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 31... The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert Wednesday for The Lehigh Valley/Berks County area. A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children...people suffering from asthma... heart disease or other lung diseases...and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles...visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us Two grandparents and their 6-month-old granddaughter were killed when a house southwest of Fort Pierre, S.D., exploded on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Investigators were still working Thursday to determine the cause of the explosion in Stanley County, that also left two boys injured. WASHINGTON (AP) Two Army veterans who stormed the U.S. Capitol in a military-style formation with fellow members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced Friday to prison terms, a day after the far-right extremist group's founder received a record-setting 18-years behind bars in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Jessica Watkins, of Woodstock, Ohio, to eight years and six months behind bars and sentenced Kenneth Harrelson, of Titusville, Florida, to four years in prison. A federal jury acquitted Watkins and Harrelson of the seditious conspiracy charge that Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of in November. But jurors convicted Watkins and Harrelson of other Jan. 6 charges, including obstructing Congress certification of President Joe Bidens victory. Rhodes' 18-year term is the longest prison sentence that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The charges against leaders of the Oath Keepers and another extremist group, the Proud Boys, are among the most serious brought in the Justice Department's massive investigation of the riot. Mehta agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes and the other Oath Keepers' actions could be punished as terrorism, increasing the recommended sentence under federal guidelines. But the judge ultimately gave Watkins and Harrelson far less time than prosecutors were seeking. The Justice Department had requested 18 years for Watkins and 15 for Harrelson. Watkins and Harrelson marched toward the Capitol with other Oath Keepers members in stack formations as a mob of Trump supporters clashed with outnumbered police officers. Harrelson was the groups ground team lead on Jan. 6. Watkins, who formed a separate Ohio-based militia group, recruited others to join the Oath Keepers in Washington that day. Mehta said that while Watkins was not a top leader, like Rhodes, she was more than just a "foot soldier, noting that at least three others charged in the riot wouldnt have been there if she hadnt recruited them to join. Your role that day was more aggressive, more assaultive, more purposeful than perhaps others," he told her. Watkins tearfully apologized for her actions before the judge handed down her sentence. She condemned the violence by rioters who assaulted police, but conceded that her presence at the Capitol probably inspired those people to a degree." She described herself as just another idiot running around the Capitol on Jan. 6. And today youre going to hold this idiot responsible, she told the judge. The judge said Watkins' personal story of struggling for years to come to terms with her identity as a transgender woman made it especially difficult for him to understand why she has shown a lack of empathy for those who suffered on Jan. 6. Watkins testified at trial about hiding her identity from her parents during a strict Christian upbringing and going AWOL in the Army after a fellow soldier found evidence of her contact with a support group for transgender people. Harrelson told the judge he went to Washington after another Oath Keeper offered him a security job," but said he has never voted for a president in his life and doesnt care about politics. Some of the Oath Keepers provided security for Trump ally Roger Stone and other right-wing figures at events before the riot. I have totally demolished my life, he said as he broke down in tears. I am responsible, and my foolish actions have caused immense pain to my wife and our children. Mehta said he doesnt agree with the governments portrayal of Harrelson as a mid-level organizer for the Oath Keepers. Unlike many other group members charged in the attack, Harrelson didnt send any messages that anyone would consider extremist, the judge said. But the judge said he was struck by an image of Harrelson patting down a police officer on his way out of the Capitol. You werent just there that day because you got swept in, the judge told him. During a nearly two-month trial in Washington's federal court, lawyers for Watkins and the other Oath Keepers argued there was no plan to attack the Capitol. On the witness stand, Watkins told jurors she never intended to interfere with the certification and never heard any commands for her and other Oath Keepers to enter the building. Evidence shown to jurors showed Watkins after the 2020 election messaging with people who expressed interest in joining her Ohio militia group about military-style basic training. She told one recruit, I need you fighting fit by the inauguration, which was Jan. 20, 2021. On Jan. 6, Watkins and other Oath Keepers wearing helmets and other paramilitary gear were seen shouldering their way through the crowd and up the Capitol stairs in military-style stack formation. She communicated with others during the riot over a channel called Stop the Steal J6" on the walkie-talkie app Zello, declaring, We are in the main dome right now. Harrelson screamed Treason! an epithet directed at members of Congress as he entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, a prosecutor said. One of their other co-defendants, Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs, was sentenced Thursday to 12 years behind bars for seditious conspiracy and other charges. Rhodes, 58, of Granbury, Texas, was the first Jan. 6 defendant convicted of seditious conspiracy to receive his punishment for what prosecutors said was a weekslong plot to forcibly block the transfer of power from former President Donald Trump to Biden. Four other Oath Keepers convicted of the sedition charge during a second trial in January will be sentenced next week. During his sentencing Thursday, Rhodes defiantly claimed to be a political prisoner, criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration and tried to play down his actions on Jan. 6. The judge described Rhodes as a continued threat to the United States who clearly wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence. The Oath Keepers' sentences this week could serve as a guide for prosecutors in a separate Jan. 6 case against leaders of the Proud Boys. Earlier this month, a different jury convicted former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and three other group leaders of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors said was another plot to keep Trump in the White House. Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years and two months 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. Richer reported from Boston. 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." PARIS (AP) French police threw a security cordon around a shareholders' meeting in Paris of oil giant TotalEnergies on Friday, spraying tear gas and pushing back climate protesters who chanted, Be gentle, police officers, we're doing this for your kids!" Shareholders, some escorted into the meeting by police, ran a gauntlet of the peaceful, earnest and mostly young demonstrators, who waved signs attacking the climate record of the French energy company that has reaped colossal profits from price surges that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Their signs declared, The last pipeline before the end of the world and Listen to the scientists: No more fossil projects. Protesters sat down in surrounding streets and linked arms to block access to the meeting in a famed Paris concert hall. Police officers carried some protesters to move them out of the way. They sprayed tear gas to force people back. It comes after climate protesters tried to rush the stage of the Shell shareholder meeting in London on Tuesday, with security guards dragging and carrying them away. Dozens of activists forced the delay of the start of the meeting by chanting Shut down Shell, while others shouted, held signs and linked arms outside as security tried to remove them. More climate protests could be ahead as U.S. oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron hold their shareholder meetings Wednesday. The burning of coal, oil, natural gas and biomass is blamed for air pollution that researchers say kills 1.2 million people worldwide per year and is driving the climate crisis, causing deadly weather extremes, hunger, heat deaths, migration and environmental destruction. The United Nations chief has pleaded for an end to new fossil fuel exploration and for rich countries to quit coal, oil and gas by 2040. Citing the protests, TotalEnergies had told shareholders beforehand that they could vote remotely. A resolution from activist investors urging the company to align its goals on reducing emissions from the use of its energy with the Paris climate agreement was defeated. Protesters came hours before the meeting, as dawn was breaking, to try to stop it from going ahead. The standoff with police evolved from there. We have no choice but to be here every single time they are here, demonstrator Camille Etienne said. Follow APs climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Buddhist Association of China on Friday held a commemorative event to observe this year's birth anniversary of the Buddha at Guangji Temple in Beijing. Participants at the event included representatives from China's major Buddhist communities, envoys to China from nine countries including Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal, as well as members of the public. Generations of Buddhist followers have adhered to the Buddha's teachings, served society, promoted exchanges among civilizations, and built a friendly bridge of harmony, mutual respect, and common development among people of different countries, said Master Yanjue, head of the Buddhist Association of China, in his speech. During the event, the master led Buddhist monks chanting in front of the statue of the infant Buddha and pouring water on the statue. The ceremony is also known as the Bathing of the Buddha, symbolizing the moment of the Buddha's birth. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russias southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine came under attack Friday from Ukrainian artillery fire, mortar shells and drones, authorities said, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in an area next to the annexed Crimea Peninsula. Moscows forces, meanwhile, struck a building containing psychology and veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, killing two people and wounding 30, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Video released by regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak showed fire engulfing the three-story building that appeared almost destroyed, with only parts of a wall standing, as firefighters battled the flames. A Russian S-300 missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, threatening nearby settlements with flooding. The town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region, about 7 kilometers (more than 4 miles) from the Ukrainian border, came under fire for several hours, damaging four houses, a store, a car, a gas pipeline and a power line, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Closer to the frontier, a recreation center, a shop and an empty house were damaged in the village of Glotovo. One woman was wounded when nearby Novaya Tavolzhanka was shelled, Gladkov said. Earlier this week, the Belgorod region was the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Details of the raid were murky. Russia blamed the Ukrainian armed forces, but two Russian groups said they were involved, with the aim of bringing down Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials in Russias southern city of Krasnodar, in the region of the same name bordering Crimea, said two drones struck there. Witnesses told local media they heard something like the sound of a moped and then two explosions. The blasts smashed a hole in the roof of one building and blew out windows in an apartment building. We just went to bed and then there was such a strong, terrible boom, said resident Tatiana Safonova. We ran outside. There were people running, but nothing else was going on. She said described the sound beforehand like a growling, noisy moped driving by. Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties and that some buildings were damaged but essential infrastructure was unharmed. Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov said a residential building and an office building were damaged. Drone attacks against Russian border regions have been a regular occurrence since the start of the invasion in February 2022, with attacks increasing last month. Earlier this month, an oil refinery in Krasnodar was attacked by drones on two straight days. At a meeting in Estonia, German and Baltic leaders played down concerns about fighting spilling over into Russia. Russia attacked Ukraine, and so Ukraine can defend itself, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "It is clear that the weapons we have delivered will only be used on Ukrainian territory. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that Ukraine does not have any wish to invade Russia," and Lithuanian Prime Minster Ingrida Simonyte added: "Im somewhat puzzled by the worry of Russia, because Russia is at war - so its quite strange to think that the war can only be in that other territory that you invaded. Ukraines Defense Ministry on Thursday published video that appeared to show a marine drone heading for Russias Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship in the Black Sea. The video didn't show the drone hitting the ship. The video followed reports by Russias Defense Ministry on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched an unsuccessful attack on the Ivan Khurs using three unmanned speedboats, with all three destroyed prior to reaching the ship. Moscow released video allegedly showing the destruction of one of the marine drones. At least two civilians were killed and three others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidents office reported Friday. Late Friday, officials in the Russian-held sector of Donetsk reported two missile strikes on the city of Mariupol, where a monthslong siege early in the war left much of the city in ruins. Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed official as saying the missiles were long-range Storm Shadows, which the United Kingdom delivered to Ukraine this month. In Moscow, Chinas special envoy Li Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and they exchanged opinions on the situation around Ukraine and prospects for resolving the conflict, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov cited serious obstacles to the resumption of peace talks created by the Ukrainian side and its Western handlers, the statement said, but it did not disclose what Li said or proposed. Li visited Kyiv earlier this month. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says its neutral and wants to serve as mediator in the conflict, but has supported Moscow politically. Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, but Ukraines allies largely dismissed it, insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin must first withdraw his forces. Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Elise Morton in London, contributed. Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The first three buildings at Lou Pektor's River Pointe Logistics project were deemed not consistent with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's regional plan on Thursday. The LVPC, a regional planning agency, reviews big developments in Northampton County to see if they conform to its FutureLV standards. At the suggestion of Commissioner Charles Elliott, LVPC staff recommendations for each of the three buildings will note that they are inconsistent with the regional plan. That wording has no actual effect. The LVPC is an advisory body that does not approve or block development. Final decisions on land use will be made in Upper Mount Bethel Township, where Pektor is developing his 800-acre, 12-building industrial park. Pektor owns the land and it is zoned for industrial use, and as UMBT Supervisor Martin Pinter said in 2020, "We can't stop Lou from building." The three buildings discussed at Thursday's LVPC meeting will cover 1.9 million square feet, close to a third of the total planned development. Pektor contends that the development, known as RPL, will bring in thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the township, Northampton County and the Bangor Area School District. Opponents say it will bring in traffic, pollution and noise, changing their rural way of life. RPL is on the eastern edge of the township, just off the Delaware River and near the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge, providing access to Interstate 80 in New Jersey and New York City-area markets. The potential for warehouses has been used to attack RPL, but Pektor says the land's location and access to rail service make it too valuable for distribution centers. He has said he plans to bring in food processors and other manufacturers. The LVPC objections came down to the size of RPL, although supporters say it will cover just 3% of the township's 44 square miles. Despite the "inconsistent" ruling, the commission finds some good things in RPL. The development "has the potential to provide numerous economic benefits to the Township and Lehigh Valley, including jobs and tax revenues." Then the report notes, "However, the size and scale of the project significantly surpasses any existing development and infrastructure in the surrounding area." The LVPC staff review went on to raise issues of traffic and a lack of housing for workers in the immediate area, leading to lots of commuting from Monroe County in Pennsylvania and Warren County, across the river in New Jersey. The commission report estimates RPL will generate 15,475 passenger-car trips and 3,015 truck trips on a typical weekday. It is, as the staff report notes, "The largest development the Lehigh Valley has seen in recent memory." RPL is in the northeastern corner of the region. The LVPC also noted that "The potential for this development to pay for itself now or in the future is questionable," a point that was disputed by Lou Pektor's daughter Lisa Pektor, who is project manager for RPL. She pointed out that River Pointe includes an assessment on buildings that will fund emergency services and more in the township, compensating for a tax break granted to RPL by Northampton County. LVPC Executive Director Becky Bradley said the commission does not consider taxing issues when reviewing plans. Lisa Pektor also said that RPL is in talks with the Norfolk Southern Railroad about a rail bridge that the LVPC says may be too low for trucks. "We know that some improvements do need to be made there," she said, adding that the bridge is not as low as indicated in the LVPC report. Lou Pektor said that while RPL will have one major entrance, it will have four emergency access roads. PHILADELPHIA An Allentown couple is being accused of filing false Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications and fraudulent federal tax returns using stolen identities. Jose Baez and Jessenia Cordero are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to certain claims, conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. Baez and Cordero used stolen identities to file at least 316 fraudulent federal tax returns and 168 fraudulent PUA applications, the DOJ said. The DOJ says Baez and Cordero filed the false returns with designated tax preparer identification numbers registered under their name. Baez and Cordero used the corporate alter ego, JB Multiservices, a company owned by Baez, and of which Cordero was an employee, to file the fraudulent returns, according to the DOJ. The false returns were filed using an IP address registered to Baez at the business's location, according to the news release. Additionally, at least 674 false returns were filed by the IP address registered to that location by Baez, Cordero, Person 1, and Person 2, the DOJ said. Per Internal Revenue Service records, the 316 false returns filed by Baez and Cordero requested at least $1.8 million in fraudulent tax refunds, according to the news release. The DOJ says the IP address registered to Baez at his and Cordero's home was used to file 168 fraudulent PUA applications. After the fraudulent applications were filed, the respective state workforce agency responsible for administering the PUA benefits dispersed funds on the fraudulent PUA applications by mailing PUA debit cards to addresses in Allentown and elsewhere, according to the DOJ. Over $1.4 million in PUA benefits were withdrawn at ATMs on the cards, the DOJ said. PUA debit cards were also issued under Baez and Cordero's names and mailed to an Allentown address, according to the news release. The PUA debit cards issued under the names of Baez and Cordero were often used at ATMs immediately before or after PUA debit cards were issued on other applications filed with stolen identities, according to the DOJ. During a July 6, 2022 search warrant, that was executed pursuant to a federal search warrant issued in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania of Baez and Cordero's home, federal agents recovered lists of identities and documents that were used to file the fraudulent tax returns and PUA applications, the DOJ said. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Allentown Resident Agency, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Mary A. Futcher. The argument about the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's move to the Allentown waterfront is not over yet. Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure complained about the planned move March 16, and on Thursday, Commissioner John McGorry objected to the process. The decision to move was made by the LVPC's executive committee, not the full 37-member commission. McGorry said all members should make the decision about the move, "which will cost us more" and make it more difficult for Northampton County commissioners to attend meetings. "The vote was taken and acted upon based on the nature of the organization," Chairman Steven Glickman said during the LVPC's regular meeting. "It was ridiculous that we can't have our members who are all coming to these meetings have a say in this," McGorry said. He has objected earlier to moving the LVPC headquarters from 961 Marcon Blvd. in Hanover Township (Lehigh County) to The Waterfront, a Jaindl Properties project. The Jaindl name is linked to warehouse developments that some LVPC members have objected to. Glickman said the LVPC will save as much as $1 million over five years by moving. Staying at the Marcon Boulevard office would require as much as $2 million in renovations, some commissioners have said, but McClure and others have questioned that number. McClure has referred to the new location as "a cool space" that will cost more than the current location. McClure's counterpart in Lehigh County, Executive Philips Armstrong, supports the move and says it will save money. McGorry, a financial advisor, questioned the economics behind the decision before the discussion ended. The commission also reviewed plans for three buildings at Lou Pektor's River Pointe Logistics in Upper Mount Bethel Township; a proposal to put a warehouse at the site of the Best Western hotel in Hanover Township, Northampton County; and 420 apartments to be built in Forks Township. The LVPC consists of a professional staff that reviews plans, and 37 commissioners appointed by Lehigh and Northampton counties. The commissioners go over staff recommendations, sometimes alter them, and then vote on approving them. Recommendations are then sent to municipalities and developers. Final land-use decisions are made by each municipality. The LVPC does not approve or reject developments. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission reviewed plans for 420 apartments in Forks Township, a development that could add quite a few residents to a municipality that has a population of about 16,000. The "Legacy at Sullivan Trail" complex would have 19 apartment buildings, about 14,000 square feet each of office and retail space, and a recreation center. The Sullivan Trail development is proposed for land just north of the intersection with Uhler Road, and a traffic estimate provided at Thursday's LVPC meeting says it will generate 3,745 vehicle trips per day. "Forks Township is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the region," according to the LVPC report. As of July 1, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the township had 16,311 residents. The plan is to combine four lots into one, providing space for 20-plus buildings and 420 residences. The commission's staff review of Legacy includes typical comments about pedestrian access and bike racks, but also touches upon affordable housing. "The township's Comprehensive Plan identifies the importance of providing a variety of housing choices and prices to accommodate changing housing demands," according to the review. "The location of these housing units in close proximity to employment areas" creates opportunities for "residents to live near where they work." The commission encourages Forks Township to work with developer Larken Associates of New Jersey "to ensure apartment prices are accessible for a wide range of individuals and households, taking into consideration the wages of workers employed at nearby businesses." The LVPC's appointed commissioners approved the staff comments, which will be sent to Forks Township, its neighbors Tatamy and Stockertown, and the developer for consideration. Also Thursday, the commission reviewed three buildings at River Pointe Logistics in Upper Mount Bethel Township and a warehouse that would take the place of the Best Western Hotel off Route 22 in Hanover Township (Northampton County). The LVPC has a professional staff that reviews plans and 37 volunteer commissioners appointed by Lehigh and Northampton counties. The commissioners go over staff recommendations, sometimes alter them, and then vote on approving them. Recommendations are then sent to municipalities and developers. Final land-use decisions are made by each municipality. The LVPC does not approve or reject developments. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The first day of the Mayfair Festival of the Arts is kicking off Memorial Day weekend today at 4 p.m. In order to get ready for the event, the campus operations vice president says they've been setting up since Wednesday. That includes getting the tents put up, getting the two stages built, and making space for vendors and food trucks. "It's a real process to be able to get set up and ready for an event like this, and it takes a whole community of people," Katy Kresge said. The event has been going on since the 1980s, but Cedar Crest College took it over in 2018. Going on its fifth year of hosting, Kresge says this year is expected to be better than ever with the most participants in past years. "We've got just about 50 artists and crafters, 20 bands, and we are at 13 food vendors, I believe." One of those vendors is Isasuma. It's a family-owned company that selling handmade products straight from Colombia. Angela Mordan says her brother, who started the company, goes to struggling communities in Columbia and brings back their products here to make a profit. "These are like the means to help the community, you know, provide water and then financial means over there," Mordan said. Isasuma has been a vendor at the Mayfair festival before, and Mordan says they love coming back because it's a chance to get involved in the community. In addition, it helps financially support Columbians. "You have no idea how rewarding it is. When we see some people like wearing a bag and then we see like, oh, that [person] is contributing to something good." In years past, the event has either been canceled or severely impacted because of the weather, but not this year. There is beautiful weather in store and organizers hope close to 20,000 people will come out to visit. "We're really excited to be able to get the community on campus and do this round has been a tradition for so long," Kresge said. "It's really our honor to be able to carry that tradition forward." The festival is a free three-day event. Parking is also free for visitors. DELAWARE TWP., N.J. - A 33-year-old man was found guilty in a deadly stabbing in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. A jury found Brandon E. Petersen, of Newton, Sussex County, guilty of first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, according to a news release from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office. The jury acquitted Petersen of third-degree witness tampering. The prosecutor's office says the guilty verdicts follow an approximately three-week long trial before the Honorable Angela F. Borkowski, J.S.C. On December 6, 2020, at approximately 9:13 p.m., officers from the Delaware Township Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing victim at a residence on Kingwood Stockton Road. Upon arrival, they discovered that the victim, 38-year-old Michelle Carkhuff, was transported by her friend to a local hospital in Mercer County, where she died. The suspect, later identified as Petersen, had fled the residence before officers arrived at the scene, the prosecutor's office said. Following a joint investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office and the Delaware Township Police Department, Petersen was arrested the following morning in Pennsylvania. Petersen faces a mandatory state prison term between 30 years and life imprisonment, of which he must serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. Petersen was taken to the Warren County Correctional Center pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 14. HAGATNA, Guam (AP) Chainsaws buzzed Friday as neighbors helped neighbors clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of Typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades but appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake. While it was still early going in the recovery effort, police Sgt. Paul Tapao said there did not seem to be any major damage, main roads were passable and Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries. To Tapao, the roar of the mechanical saws was a reminder of the resilience of the storm-prone U.S. Pacific territory and its people. Everyone helps out with the cleaning, he said. Thats the Guamanian way thats embedded in the blood. He added that there's a saying in Chamorro the indigenous language of the Mariana Islands inafa maolek, that means cooperation, a concept of restoring harmony or order. Storms have taught our island to be resilient, he said. Were still here. Still, officials said it could take weeks to clean up the mess after Mawar briefly made landfall as a Category 4 storm Wednesday night on the northern tip of the island of roughly 150,000 people, flipping cars, tearing off roofs and leaving trees bare. Some villages had little or no water Friday, Tapao said. About 51,000 customers were without electricity, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There were 725 people in shelters Friday, down from nearly 1,000 on Thursday, officials said. Water contamination from the heavy rains and runoff was a concern: The Guam Waterworks Authority issued a notice advising residents to boil water before drinking it, and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency warned people to stay out of the sea at all beaches because of high bacteria content. The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The swirling typhoon churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs and swamped houses. In the southeastern village of Yona, the floodwaters reached above the waist at the home where Alexander Ken M. Aflague's mother-in-law and sister-in-law live, he said. Two trucks and an SUV were completely submerged. Aflague said the mood on the island was like after every storm, as people assess the damage and move toward rebuilding their lives back to normal. His major worry was shortages, saying supplies were at levels similar to what they were during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cleanup is the struggle but we all pitch in and help each other, he said via text message. Also in Yona, winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Bazas mothers house, allowing water to damage everything inside. His mother rode out the storm with him at his concrete residence, he said, but my moms house didnt escape. He drove around in a pickup after the storm passed looking for supplies to repair her roof, but most stores were without power and accepting only cash. Many wooden or tin homes were badly damaged or had collapsed outright. Its kind of a shock, Baza said. On Friday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists for Guam and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts. There were long lines at ATMs and some stores and gas stations on Friday. Officials said they anticipated being able to resume operations at the flooded A.B. Won Pat International Airport next Tuesday. Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero gave the all-clear Thursday evening, returning the island to its typical condition of readiness as the National Weather Service lifted its typhoon watch. We have weathered the storm, Leon Guerrero said. The storm is forecast to continue moving northwest before turning sharply north Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Taiwans Central Weather Bureau. That track would keep the typhoon at sea for days as it gradually weakens. Mawar had 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. On Friday morning, Mawar was centered 345 miles (555 kilometers) west-northwest of Guam and 360 miles (579 kilometers) west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 14 mph (23 kph). Carlo Quinonez, who lives near Tamuning, said he rode out the storm in a hotel and felt very lucky that the building was largely unscathed. A nearby abandoned building lost many of its windows and part of a wall on the fifth story, Quinonez said. It was the peak that had us questioning our safety. Floors rattling and walls creaking. Tossing debris, and roots, and fruit everywhere, he wrote in an email. The Navy has 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. 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, Ed Komenda in Seattle and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed. 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. TEHRAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein, calling for expanding Iran-Iraq banking relations. According to a report on Iran's Foreign Ministry's website on Friday, the two sides discussed the latest developments in the bilateral ties and highlighted the necessity of improving the gas transfer pipelines from Iran to Iraq. They also talked about the implementation of a security agreement the two countries signed in March on ensuring security along the common border, as well as other regional cooperation. Amir-Abdollahian thanked Baghdad for its cooperation in making payments for the Iranian Hajj pilgrimage from Iran's resources in Iraq. In early March, Hamid Hosseini, the chairman of the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, said the United States has let Iraq release 500 million U.S. dollars of its debts to Iran. Iraq is an importer of electricity and natural gas from Iran and owes the country over 10 billion U.S. dollars, as the U.S. banking sanctions forbid dollar transfer to Iran. The United States, however, has allowed the Iranian money frozen in Iraq to be used for Iran's imports of goods not included in the American sanctions list and for other payments, such as settling the country's foreign debts. UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the arrest in South Africa of Fulgence Kayishema, one of the most wanted suspects of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. According to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Kayishema, who had remained at large since 2001, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Paarl, South Africa, in a joint operation, Guterres commended the cooperation between the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the South African authorities for the arrest of Kayishema, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, told reporters. In 2001, Kayishema was indicted by the defunct International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on multiple charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture, during the genocide. Kayishema's 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, Dujarric said. WELLINGTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Experts have called for urgent action to reduce New Zealand's high aviation emissions which ranks sixth in the world in terms of per capita emissions. New Zealand's total emissions rose 116 percent from 1990 to 2019. This rapid growth path is incompatible with the Paris Agreement on climate change, according to research conducted by scholars from the Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University. Reducing air travel is challenging for New Zealand considering its remote location, high proportion of globally dispersed families, tourism industry, and poor public land transport system, said the research article published Friday on the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. While technological innovations have been proposed to reduce emissions, researchers said that none of these will lead to a significant reduction in the short to medium term, and that "the growth in air traffic seems likely to defeat even the most ambitious technological improvements." Researchers called for a national aviation action plan including avoiding air trips or shifting them to lower impact modes of transport, noting the need for urgent action to ensure that aviation emissions remain permanently below 2019 levels. Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX:BOQPG Get Rating) declared a interim dividend on Thursday, April 20th, MarketIndexAU reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be given a dividend of 1.245 per share on Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date is Sunday, May 28th. Bank of Queensland Stock Performance Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Queensland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Queensland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:BEI Get Rating) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of 112.97 ($122.79) and traded as high as 127.40 ($138.48). Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft shares last traded at 126.65 ($137.66), with a volume of 227,544 shares traded. Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft Trading Down 2.0 % The businesss 50 day simple moving average is 122.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is 113.06. The stock has a market cap of $27.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.58, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09. Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft Company Profile (Get Rating) Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft engages in the manufacture and distribution of consumer goods in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It operates in two segments, Consumer Business and Tesa Business. The Consumer Business Segment offers skin and body care products. The Tesa Business segment provides adhesive tapes and self-adhesive products and system solutions for industries, craft businesses, and consumers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:BCAUY Get Rating)s stock price traded up 2.2% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $4.80 and last traded at $4.60. 2,100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 64% from the average session volume of 5,787 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.50. Brilliance China Automotive Stock Performance The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $4.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.60. About Brilliance China Automotive (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. Read More 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. Citigroup restated their buy rating on shares of South32 (ASX:S32 Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Digital Look reports. A number of other analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays restated an underweight rating on shares of South32 in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of South32 from GBX 450 ($5.60) to GBX 460 ($5.72) and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Get South32 alerts: South32 Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 2.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.64. The companys fifty day simple moving average is A$224.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is A$237.13. South32 Increases Dividend Insider Transactions at South32 The business also recently disclosed a Interim dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 5th were given a $0.071 dividend. This represents a yield of 1.56%. This is a boost from South32s previous Interim dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 8th. South32s payout ratio is 37.33%. In other South32 news, insider Graham Kerr 1,976,772 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. Corporate insiders own 0.49% of the companys stock. About South32 (Get Rating) South32 Limited operates as a diversified metals and mining company in Australia, Southern Africa, North America, and South America. The company operates through Worsley Alumina, Brazil Alumina, Brazil Aluminium, Hillside Aluminium, Mozal Aluminium, Sierra Gorda, Cannington, Hermosa, Cerro Matoso, Illawarra Metallurgical Coal, Australia Manganese, and South Africa Manganese segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for South32 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for South32 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends and addresses the reception celebrating the Africa Day in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the reception celebrating the Africa Day on Thursday in Beijing, putting forward propositions on further deepening China-Africa cooperation. Addressing the reception, Qin congratulated the Organization of African Unity on its 60th anniversary on behalf of the Chinese government, noting that Africa has become an important force with global influence and rising international status. Entering a new era of building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, China and Africa need to strengthen unity and cooperation more than ever, Qin said. He called on China and Africa to firmly safeguard each other's legitimate rights and interests and further strengthen mutual support on issues concerning each other's sovereignty, development and dignity. China and Africa should actively promote modernization programs with distinctive features, Qin said, calling on both sides to promote synergy among the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the African Union's Agenda 2063 and other development strategies of African countries, and help Africa accelerate industrialization, localization and economic diversification. Qin said China and Africa should jointly promote the reform of the global governance system, safeguard the common interests of developing countries and continue to pool the strength of developing countries. China and Africa need to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative, de-escalate hotspot issues in Africa and around the world, and jointly address non-traditional security challenges, Qin said, calling for improving the UN's efforts to promote peace and stability in Africa, and enhancing Africa's capacity to fight terrorism and maintain stability. Qin also called for further strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and accelerating the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative in Africa. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Christophe Lutundula, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attended the reception. They said China has become the most important partner for African integration, and Africa is ready to carry forward the spirit of partnership and jointly build a community with a shared future for Africa and China as well as for mankind. Coca-Cola HBC (OTCMKTS:CCHGY Get Rating) had its price objective increased by investment analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 2,740 ($34.08) to GBX 2,950 ($36.69) in a report issued on Friday, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on CCHGY. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,250 ($27.99) to GBX 2,350 ($29.23) in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,500 ($31.09) to GBX 2,700 ($33.58) in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,200 ($27.36) to GBX 2,600 ($32.34) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Get Coca-Cola HBC alerts: Coca-Cola HBC Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of CCHGY stock traded up $0.08 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $29.60. 10,218 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,183. Coca-Cola HBC has a 12 month low of $19.83 and a 12 month high of $32.19. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $29.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Coca-Cola HBC Company Profile Coca-Cola HBC AG engages in the production, sale and distribution of non-alcoholic and ready-to-drink beverages. It operates through the following segments: Established Markets, Developing Markets, and Emerging Markets. The Established Markets segment consists of Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Switzerland. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola HBC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola HBC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV Get Rating) by 4.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,836 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 150 shares during the quarter. Continuum Advisory LLCs holdings in IQVIA were worth $786,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IQV. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise boosted its position in IQVIA by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 5,244 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,075,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management boosted its position in IQVIA by 40.3% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 167 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. boosted its position in shares of IQVIA by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 1,859 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $381,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Humankind Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of IQVIA by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Humankind Investments LLC now owns 3,362 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $609,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. boosted its position in shares of IQVIA by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 1,604 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. 86.20% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get IQVIA alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently weighed in on IQV shares. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on IQVIA from $265.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on IQVIA from $257.00 to $263.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. SVB Leerink restated an outperform rating on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Guggenheim cut their price target on IQVIA from $266.00 to $258.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, IQVIA has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $253.25. IQVIA Stock Performance IQVIA Profile NYSE IQV traded up $1.83 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $199.30. The company had a trading volume of 121,199 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,060,200. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $165.75 and a 1-year high of $249.11. The company has a market cap of $36.98 billion, a PE ratio of 35.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.39. The business has a 50 day moving average of $194.16 and a 200-day moving average of $208.10. (Get Rating) IQVIA Holdings, Inc engages in the provision of analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. It operates through the following segments: Technology and Analytics Solutions, Research and Development Solutions, and Contract Sales and Medical Solutions. The Technology and Analytics Solutions segment supplies mission critical information, technology solutions, and real-world solutions and services to the firms life science clients. Read More Receive News & Ratings for IQVIA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IQVIA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc (LON:EFM Get Rating) crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 400.50 ($4.98) and traded as high as GBX 402.36 ($5.00). Edinburgh Dragon Trust shares last traded at GBX 400.50 ($4.98), with a volume of 296,613 shares. Edinburgh Dragon Trust Price Performance The stock has a market cap of 513.41 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -17.34. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 400.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 400.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.76. About Edinburgh Dragon Trust (Get Rating) Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc is an investment trust. The Companys objective is to achieve long-term capital growth through investment in the Far East with the exception of Japan and Australasia. The Companys assets are invested in a diversified portfolio of securities in quoted companies spread across a range of industries and economies in the Asia Pacific region, excluding Japan and Australasia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Edinburgh Dragon Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edinburgh Dragon Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Colombia Gold Corp. (OTCMKTS:FCGD Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 40,900 shares, a decrease of 69.8% from the April 30th total of 135,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 329,332,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. First Colombia Gold Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:FCGD remained flat at $0.00 during trading on Thursday. 17,783,809 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 35,231,758. First Colombia Gold has a 52-week low of $0.00 and a 52-week high of $0.00. Get First Colombia Gold alerts: About First Colombia Gold (Get Rating) Featured Articles First Colombia Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, development, and advancement of natural resource, energy, and real estate projects. Its project portfolio includes Boulder Hill Gold and South Idaho Silver. The company was founded on September 5, 1997 and is headquartered in Torrance, CA. Receive News & Ratings for First Colombia Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Colombia Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Frontline plc (NYSE:FRO Get Rating) shares gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $14.35, but opened at $15.00. Frontline shares last traded at $14.94, with a volume of 594,159 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth FRO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Frontline from $16.50 to $19.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Frontline from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $17.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Frontline in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Get Frontline alerts: Frontline Stock Up 3.2 % The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 2.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The company has a market capitalization of $3.30 billion, a PE ratio of 6.90 and a beta of 0.21. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $15.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $14.91. Frontline Increases Dividend Frontline ( NYSE:FRO Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The shipping company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.08 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $530.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $363.39 million. Frontline had a net margin of 33.05% and a return on equity of 17.23%. Frontlines revenue for the quarter was up 148.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.02) EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Frontline plc will post 3.03 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 16th were issued a $0.30 dividend. This is an increase from Frontlines previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 15th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.10%. Frontlines dividend payout ratio is currently 199.07%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Frontline A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FRO. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Frontline by 20.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 461,429 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $4,061,000 after buying an additional 78,255 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Frontline by 10.6% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 212,836 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,873,000 after purchasing an additional 20,417 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Frontline by 7.0% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,457,223 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $39,225,000 after purchasing an additional 293,141 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC bought a new stake in shares of Frontline in the first quarter valued at approximately $112,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Frontline by 6.0% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 274,217 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $2,414,000 after acquiring an additional 15,618 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 35.91% of the companys stock. About Frontline (Get Rating) Frontline Plc is an international shipping company, which engages in the ownership and operation of oil and product tankers. It also offers the seaborne transportation of crude oil and oil products. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Limmasol, Cyprus. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Frontline Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Frontline and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Great Portland Estates Plc (LON:GPOR Get Rating) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 735.50 ($9.15) and traded as high as GBX 767.50 ($9.55). Great Portland Estates shares last traded at GBX 735.50 ($9.15), with a volume of 442,820 shares. Great Portland Estates Price Performance The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.29. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 735.50 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 735.50. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.87 billion and a P/E ratio of 124.66. Great Portland Estates Company Profile (Get Rating) We are a FTSE 250 property investment and development company owning A2.6 billion of real estate in central London. We proactively manage our portfolio, flexing our activities in tune with London's property cycle to deliver long-term out-performance. We create in-demand spaces that people want to be part of; helping our occupiers, local communities and the city to thrive. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Great Portland Estates Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Great Portland Estates and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gulf Investment Fund plc (LON:GIF Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 2.26 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 2.26 ($0.03), with a volume of 25081 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.19 ($0.03). Gulf Investment Fund Stock Up 1.3 % The stock has a market cap of 920,950.00 and a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.56. The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 2.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 1.98. About Gulf Investment Fund (Get Rating) Qatar Investment Fund plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Epicure Managers Qatar Limited. The fund is co-managed by Qatar Insurance Company SAQ. It invests in public equity markets of Qatar. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Qatar Exchange Index. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Gulf Investment Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gulf Investment Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL Get Rating) Director Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen sold 318,325 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.97, for a total transaction of $24,819,800.25. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 20,167,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,572,460,520.79. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen also recently made the following trade(s): Get Royal Caribbean Cruises alerts: On Monday, May 22nd, Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen sold 375,000 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.74, for a total transaction of $30,277,500.00. Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Performance RCL traded up $1.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $79.00. The company had a trading volume of 1,971,744 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,697,648. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.26. The stock has a market cap of $20.20 billion, a PE ratio of -19.38 and a beta of 2.43. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has a 12-month low of $31.09 and a 12-month high of $81.16. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $67.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $63.85. Institutional Trading of Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean Cruises ( NYSE:RCL Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.71) by $0.48. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a negative net margin of 9.72% and a negative return on equity of 25.86%. The firm had revenue of $2.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($4.57) earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 172.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Quantinno Capital Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 8,977 shares of the companys stock worth $444,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 10.5% in the 4th quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC now owns 1,484 shares of the companys stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust increased its holdings in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 5,401 shares of the companys stock worth $353,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund increased its holdings in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 31,078 shares of the companys stock worth $1,536,000 after buying an additional 158 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 25,855 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,688,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.27% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on RCL. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note on Friday, April 28th. They set an overweight rating and a $94.00 target price for the company. Argus raised shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $88.00 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $80.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $86.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Five 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.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $84.71. Royal Caribbean Cruises Company Profile (Get Rating) Royal Caribbean Group is a cruise company, which engages in the ownership and operation of the following global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. The firm also holds interest in TUI Cruises GmbH, which operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Royal Caribbean Cruises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Caribbean Cruises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morningstar Investment Services LLC cut its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF (NYSEARCA:EWG Get Rating) by 1.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,742,205 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 19,356 shares during the period. Morningstar Investment Services LLC owned approximately 3.12% of iShares MSCI Germany ETF worth $44,775,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of EWG. Zions Bancorporation N.A. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Germany ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI Germany ETF during the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $50,000. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $57,000. Get iShares MSCI Germany ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Germany ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:EWG traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $28.58. The company had a trading volume of 832,160 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,647,474. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $27.17. The firm has a market cap of $1.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.82 and a beta of 1.07. iShares MSCI Germany ETF has a 1-year low of $19.35 and a 1-year high of $29.56. iShares MSCI Germany ETF Profile iShares MSCI Germany ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the German market, as measured by the MSCI Germany Index (the Index). See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Germany ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Germany ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM Get Rating) had its target price cut by Jefferies Financial Group from $20.00 to $16.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Several other research firms also recently issued reports on ZIM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $27.00 to $20.80 in a report on Friday, April 21st. TheStreet downgraded ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from $15.00 to $13.00 in a report on Tuesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $23.96. Get ZIM Integrated Shipping Services alerts: ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Price Performance ZIM stock opened at $14.17 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has a 52-week low of $12.95 and a 52-week high of $70.85. The stocks 50 day moving average is $19.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.14. The company has a market capitalization of $1.70 billion, a PE ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 2.11. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Increases Dividend ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ( NYSE:ZIM Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 22nd. The company reported ($0.50) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by ($0.32). ZIM Integrated Shipping Services had a return on equity of 51.73% and a net margin of 27.90%. The business had revenue of $1.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.56 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $14.19 earnings per share. Analysts predict that ZIM Integrated Shipping Services will post -1.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 24th were issued a $6.40 dividend. This represents a $25.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 180.66%. This is an increase from ZIM Integrated Shipping Servicess previous quarterly dividend of $2.95. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 4th. ZIM Integrated Shipping Servicess payout ratio is 108.15%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 166.9% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 4,062,538 shares of the companys stock valued at $295,387,000 after purchasing an additional 2,540,500 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 25.1% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,011,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $94,591,000 after purchasing an additional 804,958 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,361,309 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,990,000 after purchasing an additional 95,106 shares during the period. Altshuler Shaham Ltd boosted its position in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 2,565,395 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,099,000 after purchasing an additional 14,254 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 158.2% during the 3rd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,592,960 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,438,000 after purchasing an additional 976,018 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.74% of the companys stock. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Company Profile (Get Rating) ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides container shipping and related services in Israel and internationally. It provides door-to-door and port-to-port transportation services for various types of customers, including end-users, consolidators, and freight forwarders. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CANBERRA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appealed for people to be on the right side of history in the referendum for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Friday marked the six years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a petition that called for the constitution to be changed to establish the Voice, was first unveiled by more than 250 Indigenous delegates. "A 'Yes' vote at the 2023 referendum is a chance for all of us to take the next step on the journey to reconciliation," Albanese said in a media release on Friday. "To be counted -- and heard -- on the right side of history." Addressing the parliament on Thursday, he defended the Voice proposal from criticism and ruled out change to the word of the referendum, which is expected to be held late in 2023. If successful, the referendum would establish the Voice as a body that would advise the federal parliament on issues relating to Indigenous Australians. Albanese, a strong proponent of the Voice, called for non-Indigenous Australians to imagine they were on the other side of the disparity faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. "Imagine your brothers and sisters are likely to die a decade younger than the general population. Imagine your daughter is more at risk during childbirth -- and your grandchild more at risk of infant mortality. Imagine your son statistically more likely to go to jail than university," he said. "Imagine all of this -- and then imagine that after generations of being sidelined and ignored, you are finally given an opportunity to change it. To be heard." The prime minister on Friday said next week the Constitutional Alteration is expected to pass the House of Representatives, one step closer to a referendum to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice to Parliament in Australia's founding document. JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust (LON:JPB Get Rating) shares crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 66.50 ($0.83) and traded as high as GBX 66.50 ($0.83). JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 66.50 ($0.83), with a volume of 31,267 shares trading hands. JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust Stock Performance The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 66.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 66.50. About JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust (Get Rating) JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Brazil. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalizations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Enhabit, Inc. (NYSE:EHAB Get Rating) Director L Edward Shaw, Jr. acquired 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $11.98 per share, for a total transaction of $119,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 38,989 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $467,088.22. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Enhabit Trading Down 6.4 % Shares of EHAB stock opened at $11.64 on Friday. Enhabit, Inc. has a 1 year low of $11.50 and a 1 year high of $25.25. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $12.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $13.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $583.16 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.92. Get Enhabit alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently weighed in on EHAB. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Enhabit in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $15.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Enhabit from $17.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of Enhabit in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Enhabit from $18.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $16.13. Institutional Trading of Enhabit About Enhabit Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Enhabit during the 3rd quarter valued at about $97,492,000. Vanguard Group Inc. bought a new stake in Enhabit during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $77,886,000. State Street Corp purchased a new stake in Enhabit in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $22,827,000. Systematic Financial Management LP bought a new position in Enhabit in the 3rd quarter valued at $20,566,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in shares of Enhabit by 976.7% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,487,331 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,573,000 after purchasing an additional 1,349,187 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.55% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Enhabit, Inc provides home health and hospice services in the United States. Its home health services include patient education, pain management, wound care and dressing changes, cardiac rehabilitation, infusion therapy, pharmaceutical administration, and skilled observation and assessment services; practices to treat chronic diseases and conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, low vision, spinal stenosis, Parkinson's disease, osteoporosis, complex wound care and chronic pain, along with disease-specific plans for patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure, post-orthopedic surgery, or injury and respiratory diseases; and physical, occupational and speech therapists provide therapy services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Enhabit Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enhabit and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Rating) insider Geoffrey E. Molson sold 1,840 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.62, for a total transaction of $111,540.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 25,904 shares in the company, valued at $1,570,300.48. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Molson Coors Beverage Trading Down 0.1 % Molson Coors Beverage stock traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $60.64. 1,739,473 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,920,427. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Molson Coors Beverage has a 12 month low of $46.69 and a 12 month high of $66.67. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $57.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -50.98, a PEG ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.83. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.28. Molson Coors Beverage had a negative net margin of 1.97% and a positive return on equity of 7.16%. The firm had revenue of $2.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.29 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Molson Coors Beverage will post 4.34 EPS for the current year. Molson Coors Beverage Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. Molson Coors Beverages payout ratio is -137.81%. A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Roth Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $68.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $54.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $57.87. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 17.8% in the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 27,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,404,000 after acquiring an additional 4,113 shares in the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 29.6% in the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 12,403 shares of the companys stock valued at $641,000 after acquiring an additional 2,833 shares in the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage in the 1st quarter valued at $591,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 9.9% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 446,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,084,000 after acquiring an additional 40,234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 21,227 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,095,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.24% of the companys stock. About Molson Coors Beverage (Get Rating) Molson Coors Beverage Co is a holding company, which engages in the production and sale of beer. It operates through the following segments: Americas, and EMEA and APAC. The Americas segment operates in the U.S., Canada and various countries in the Caribbean, Latin, and South America. The EMEA and APAC segment operates in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Serbia, the UK, various other European countries, and certain countries within the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. 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. Morningstar Investment Services LLC decreased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Get Rating) by 9.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,897,491 shares of the companys stock after selling 207,591 shares during the period. Morningstar Investment Services LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF were worth $58,895,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 309.6% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 61,163 shares of the companys stock worth $2,058,000 after purchasing an additional 46,230 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 14.3% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 25,435 shares of the companys stock worth $856,000 after purchasing an additional 3,178 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 3.9% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 151,249 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,157,000 after acquiring an additional 5,653 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 3.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,158,217 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,962,000 after acquiring an additional 34,341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 7.2% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 127,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,273,000 after acquiring an additional 8,559 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF alerts: iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Stock Performance iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF stock traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $32.41. The stock had a trading volume of 2,445,217 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,919,343. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a twelve month low of $25.36 and a twelve month high of $34.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.13 billion, a PE ratio of 13.02 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $32.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.04. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as $13.62 and last traded at $13.58, with a volume of 22509400 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.84. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth PLTR has been the subject of several analyst reports. DA Davidson began coverage on Palantir Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. They set a neutral rating and a $8.00 target price for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Palantir Technologies from $6.00 to $7.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Palantir Technologies from $9.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Citigroup reaffirmed a sell rating and issued a $5.00 target price on shares of Palantir Technologies in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Palantir Technologies from $8.50 to $10.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Palantir Technologies has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $8.54. Get Palantir Technologies alerts: Palantir Technologies Price Performance The companys 50-day moving average price is $8.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $7.95. The company has a market cap of $29.73 billion, a P/E ratio of -104.46, a P/E/G ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 2.85. Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Trading of Palantir Technologies In other news, insider Ryan D. Taylor sold 18,700 shares of Palantir Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.05, for a total value of $187,935.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 210,260 shares in the company, valued at $2,113,113. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, insider Shyam Sankar sold 269,510 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.76, for a total value of $3,169,437.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,603,950 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,862,452. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, insider Ryan D. Taylor sold 18,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.05, for a total value of $187,935.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 210,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,113,113. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders sold 511,341 shares of company stock worth $5,586,327. 13.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mandatum Life Insurance Co Ltd raised its holdings in Palantir Technologies by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Mandatum Life Insurance Co Ltd now owns 57,591 shares of the companys stock valued at $487,000 after acquiring an additional 1,292 shares in the last quarter. Utah Retirement Systems increased its holdings in Palantir Technologies by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 95,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $778,000 after buying an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC raised its position in shares of Palantir Technologies by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 30,470 shares of the companys stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 1,325 shares in the last quarter. Sepio Capital LP lifted its holdings in shares of Palantir Technologies by 9.0% during the 1st quarter. Sepio Capital LP now owns 16,181 shares of the companys stock worth $137,000 after acquiring an additional 1,333 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Palantir Technologies by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 51,712 shares of the companys stock worth $479,000 after acquiring an additional 1,348 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.90% of the companys stock. About Palantir Technologies (Get Rating) Palantir Technologies Inc builds and deploys software platforms for the intelligence community in the United States to assist in counterterrorism investigations and operations. The company provides palantir gotham, a software platform which enables users to identify patterns hidden deep within datasets, ranging from signals intelligence sources to reports from confidential informants, as well as facilitates the handoff between analysts and operational users, helping operators plan and execute real-world responses to threats that have been identified within the platform. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Palantir Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Palantir Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PAX Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:USFD Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 15,396 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $524,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in USFD. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of US Foods by 33.8% during the 3rd quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC now owns 7,631,985 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,790,000 after buying an additional 1,928,245 shares during the period. Boston Partners lifted its holdings in shares of US Foods by 13.7% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 14,928,566 shares of the companys stock valued at $509,765,000 after buying an additional 1,804,364 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of US Foods by 373.3% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,095,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,960,000 after buying an additional 863,900 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in US Foods by 121.0% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 658,823 shares of the companys stock worth $20,213,000 after purchasing an additional 360,724 shares during the period. Finally, Clearfield Capital Management LP raised its holdings in US Foods by 108.8% in the 3rd quarter. Clearfield Capital Management LP now owns 678,600 shares of the companys stock worth $17,942,000 after purchasing an additional 353,600 shares during the period. 97.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get US Foods alerts: US Foods Price Performance Shares of US Foods stock traded up $0.59 during trading on Friday, reaching $39.88. 214,940 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,172,467. The company has a market capitalization of $9.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.27 and a beta of 1.47. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $37.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $36.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 0.81. US Foods Holding Corp. has a 52-week low of $25.49 and a 52-week high of $41.76. Insider Activity US Foods ( NYSE:USFD Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $8.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.52 billion. US Foods had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 1.02%. Sell-side analysts expect that US Foods Holding Corp. will post 2.41 EPS for the current year. In other news, EVP Andrew E. Iacobucci sold 21,954 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.67, for a total transaction of $761,145.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 108,546 shares in the company, valued at $3,763,289.82. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Andrew E. Iacobucci sold 21,954 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.67, for a total value of $761,145.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 108,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,763,289.82. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Kkr Group Partnership L.P. sold 7,600,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.83, for a total transaction of $295,108,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 37 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,436.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 7,628,094 shares of company stock worth $296,093,869 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts recently commented on USFD shares. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on US Foods from $47.00 to $51.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on US Foods from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. BTIG Research raised their target price on US Foods from $45.00 to $48.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on US Foods from $49.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price target on US Foods from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $46.00. US Foods Profile (Get Rating) US Foods Holding Corp. operates as a foodservice distributor. Its products include frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers throughout the U.S. The company offers services under brands Chefs Line, del Pasado, Glenview Farms, Cattlemans Selection, Cross Valley Farms, Harbor Banks, Hilltop Hearth, Devonshire, and Metro Deli. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USFD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:USFD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for US Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for US Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shore Capital reaffirmed their house stock rating on shares of Petro Matad (LON:MATD Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Digital Look reports. Petro Matad Trading Up 2.1 % MATD stock opened at GBX 4.80 ($0.06) on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 5.10 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 3.96. The stock has a market capitalization of 53.28 million, a PE ratio of -15.50 and a beta of 2.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 17.93 and a quick ratio of 16.91. Get Petro Matad alerts: About Petro Matad (Get Rating) See Also Petro Matad Limited, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, and produces oil in Mongolia. It holds 100% interests in production sharing contract blocks, including Ongi Block V that covers an area of approximately 7,937 square kilometers; and Matad Block XX that consists of an area of approximately 218 square kilometers in Mongolia. Receive News & Ratings for Petro Matad Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petro Matad and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE:DM Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 120,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock, valued at approximately $163,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Alphabet Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Desktop Metal in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,616,000. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Desktop Metal by 60.8% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,742,775 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $14,834,000 after purchasing an additional 2,550,024 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC bought a new stake in shares of Desktop Metal in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,449,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Desktop Metal by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,673,313 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $56,134,000 after purchasing an additional 675,320 shares during the period. Finally, Financial Architects Inc bought a new stake in shares of Desktop Metal in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,684,000. Institutional investors own 42.58% of the companys stock. Get Desktop Metal alerts: Desktop Metal Price Performance Shares of DM traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $1.77. 1,756,234 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,115,540. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $2.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.89. The company has a market cap of $567.38 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.77 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 3.79, a quick ratio of 2.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Desktop Metal, Inc. has a 1 year low of $1.13 and a 1 year high of $3.65. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Desktop Metal ( NYSE:DM Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The pipeline company reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by $0.03. Desktop Metal had a negative net margin of 349.92% and a negative return on equity of 24.26%. The company had revenue of $60.56 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $54.79 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Desktop Metal, Inc. will post -0.29 earnings per share for the current year. DM has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Desktop Metal from $1.75 to $1.90 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Desktop Metal in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $2.20 price objective on shares of Desktop Metal in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Scott J. Dussault sold 26,969 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.40, for a total value of $64,725.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 16.78% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Desktop Metal Company Profile (Get Rating) Desktop Metal, Inc engages in manufacture and sale of additive manufacturing technologies for engineers, designers, and manufacturers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia- Pacific. The company offers Production System, an industrial manufacturing solution; Shop System, a mid-volume binder jetting platform; X-series platform for serial production binder jet 3D printed metal, ceramic, or composite parts, balancing speed, and quality; and Studio System, an office metal 3D printing system; and Fiber platform that offers a desktop 3D printer. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE:DM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Desktop Metal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Desktop Metal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quanex Building Products Co. (NYSE:NX Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Friday, May 26th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.08 per share by the construction company on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Quanex Building Products has a payout ratio of 14.1% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Get Quanex Building Products alerts: Quanex Building Products Stock Performance NX traded up $0.35 on Friday, reaching $21.09. The company had a trading volume of 43,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 163,121. Quanex Building Products has a 1 year low of $18.00 and a 1 year high of $27.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $701.03 million, a PE ratio of 8.76 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $20.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.93. Analyst Ratings Changes Quanex Building Products ( NYSE:NX Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The construction company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $261.92 million during the quarter. Quanex Building Products had a net margin of 6.50% and a return on equity of 18.33%. A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on NX. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Quanex Building Products in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and set a $28.00 price target on shares of Quanex Building Products in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quanex Building Products Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. State of Wyoming grew its holdings in Quanex Building Products by 40.4% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,435 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in Quanex Building Products by 63.1% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,316 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 896 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in Quanex Building Products by 139.2% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,600 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $66,000 after acquiring an additional 2,095 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its stake in Quanex Building Products by 43.7% during the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,938 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $67,000 after acquiring an additional 893 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its stake in Quanex Building Products by 244.3% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 7,574 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $172,000 after acquiring an additional 5,374 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.49% of the companys stock. Quanex Building Products Company Profile (Get Rating) Quanex Building Products Corp. engages in the manufacture of components sold to original equipment manufacturers in the building products industry. It also designs and produces energy-efficient fenestration products in addition to kitchen and bath cabinet components. The firm operates through the following segments: North American Fenestration, European Fenestration, North American Cabinet Components, and Unallocated Corporate and Other. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Quanex Building Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quanex Building Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank reiterated their buy rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a GBX 6,600 ($82.09) target price on the stock. Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on RIO. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,100 ($63.43) to GBX 5,000 ($62.19) in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,840 ($72.64) to GBX 5,800 ($72.14) in a research note on Monday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,110 ($63.56) to GBX 5,250 ($65.30) in a research note on Friday, April 28th. UBS Group set a GBX 5,000 ($62.19) price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 6,134.62 ($76.30). Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Price Performance RIO stock traded up GBX 171.50 ($2.13) during trading on Thursday, hitting GBX 4,929.50 ($61.31). The stock had a trading volume of 2,349,562 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,796,198. The companys 50 day moving average price is GBX 5,176.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 5,592.43. Rio Tinto Group has a 1-year low of GBX 4,424.50 ($55.03) and a 1-year high of GBX 6,406 ($79.68). The stock has a market cap of 61.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 805.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.47, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.63. Insider Transactions at Rio Tinto Group Rio Tinto Group Company Profile In other news, insider Kaisa Hietala bought 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 5,313 ($66.08) per share, for a total transaction of 26,565 ($33,041.04). In other Rio Tinto Group news, insider Peter Cunningham sold 5 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 5,586 ($69.48), for a total value of 279.30 ($347.39). Also, insider Kaisa Hietala purchased 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 5,313 ($66.08) per share, with a total value of 26,565 ($33,041.04). In the last quarter, insiders bought 1,910 shares of company stock worth $9,916,080. 14.67% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. (Get Rating) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company offers aluminum, copper, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, iron ore, and lithium. It also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, mills, refineries, smelters, power stations, and research and service facilities. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 26 years after Hong Kong's return, Britain still hasn't woken up from its colonial dream and continues seeking to interfere in Hong Kong affairs through a misleading "report", which has gravely violated the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday. "We strongly deplore and reject this," spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing. Mao made the remarks when asked for comments on a so-called six-monthly report issued by the British government on Hong Kong on Thursday, which asked for the "removing of the National Security Law" and said that Britain will continue to monitor the proposed electoral changes to Hong Kong's District Council. Mao said that the so-called report is steeped in ideological bias and inconsistent with the facts. Noting Hong Kong residents now enjoy far more rights and freedoms in accordance with law than they did before 1997, Mao said that the effective implementation of the law on safeguarding national security and the new electoral system has enabled Hong Kong to enter a new stage in which Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive. "The United Kingdom has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of 'supervision' over Hong Kong after its return to China," said Mao, adding that the legal basis for the Chinese government's governance of Hong Kong is China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. To smear Hong Kong or talk down its prospects will not sway China's steady course of advancing 'one country, two systems'," Mao said. Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY Get Rating) (TSE:RY) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 12,800,000 shares, a decline of 48.3% from the April 30th total of 24,740,000 shares. Currently, 0.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 875,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 14.6 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Royal Bank of Canada A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of RY. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA acquired a new stake in shares of Royal Bank of Canada in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Syverson Strege & Co acquired a new position in Royal Bank of Canada during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN acquired a new position in Royal Bank of Canada during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Royal Bank of Canada during the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Tradition Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Royal Bank of Canada during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Institutional investors own 41.19% of the companys stock. Get Royal Bank of Canada alerts: Royal Bank of Canada Trading Up 1.2 % Shares of RY traded up $1.07 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $90.17. The stock had a trading volume of 293,290 shares, compared to its average volume of 873,767. Royal Bank of Canada has a fifty-two week low of $83.63 and a fifty-two week high of $106.43. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $97.92. The firm has a market cap of $125.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Royal Bank of Canada Increases Dividend Royal Bank of Canada ( NYSE:RY Get Rating ) (TSE:RY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.26 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $11.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.67 billion. Royal Bank of Canada had a net margin of 18.77% and a return on equity of 16.17%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Royal Bank of Canada will post 8.62 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 24th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 26th will be given a $0.996 dividend. This is a positive change from Royal Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 25th. This represents a $3.98 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.42%. Royal Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.57%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on RY shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Royal Bank of Canada in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. CIBC downgraded shares of Royal Bank of Canada from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Desjardins boosted their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$145.00 to C$147.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays downgraded shares of Royal Bank of Canada from an overweight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Royal Bank of Canada currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $138.33. About Royal Bank of Canada (Get Rating) Royal Bank of Canada engages in the provision of banking and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management, Insurance, Investor and Treasury Services, Capital Markets, and Corporate Support. The Personal and Commercial Banking segment deals with a broad suite of financial products and services in Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC cut its stake in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (NYSE:BGT Get Rating) by 4.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 36,302 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 1,857 shares during the quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust were worth $397,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in BGT. MML Investors Services LLC raised its position in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 88,107 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $957,000 after purchasing an additional 2,343 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 28,705 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $366,000 after acquiring an additional 2,817 shares during the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management purchased a new stake in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its position in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 19,334 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $211,000 after acquiring an additional 3,547 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC increased its position in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 23.2% during the 4th quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 21,124 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $231,000 after buying an additional 3,979 shares in the last quarter. Get BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust alerts: BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:BGT traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, reaching $11.00. 34,645 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 84,682. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $11.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $11.28. BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust has a 52-week low of $10.56 and a 52-week high of $12.17. BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust Cuts Dividend About BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.108 per share. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.78%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. (Get Rating) BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust is a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. The companys investment objective is to provide high level of current income and secondary objective to seek the preservation of capital to the extent consistent with its primary objective of high current income. The company was founded in August 2004 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BGT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (NYSE:BGT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group decreased its position in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Rating) by 18.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,043,505 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 243,176 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 0.28% of Equity Residential worth $61,567,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its position in Equity Residential by 35.5% during the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 7,569,290 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $446,588,000 after purchasing an additional 1,983,672 shares during the period. Centersquare Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Equity Residential by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 4,455,292 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $400,620,000 after purchasing an additional 327,435 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its stake in shares of Equity Residential by 10.6% during the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,331,905 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $291,191,000 after purchasing an additional 414,645 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Equity Residential by 34.9% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,647,722 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $328,002,000 after purchasing an additional 943,870 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Equity Residential by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,319,973 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $298,533,000 after acquiring an additional 112,358 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.62% of the companys stock. Get Equity Residential alerts: Equity Residential Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of NYSE:EQR traded down $0.16 on Friday, hitting $59.47. 1,535,701 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,656,150. Equity Residential has a 12 month low of $54.60 and a 12 month high of $80.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $60.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $61.48. Equity Residential Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 27th were given a dividend of $0.6625 per share. This is an increase from Equity Residentials previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 24th. This represents a $2.65 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.46%. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 109.05%. EQR has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their target price on Equity Residential from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. StockNews.com started coverage on Equity Residential in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Equity Residential from $72.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Raymond James lowered Equity Residential from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price target on Equity Residential from $59.00 to $63.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.18. Insider Transactions at Equity Residential In other news, Director Mark S. Shapiro sold 42,435 shares of Equity Residential stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.91, for a total value of $2,627,150.85. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,497 shares in the company, valued at $773,689.27. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.69% of the companys stock. Equity Residential Company Profile (Get Rating) Equity Residential operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in the acquisition, development, and management of rental apartment properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents. The company was founded by Robert H. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EQR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) by 4.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 629,758 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 29,524 shares during the quarter. Sei Investments Co.s holdings in Novartis were worth $57,132,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in NVS. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Novartis by 193.0% in the 4th quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 293 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its stake in shares of Novartis by 2,018.8% in the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 339 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novartis in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Front Row Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Novartis by 38.3% in the 3rd quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC now owns 498 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.12% of the companys stock. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Stock Performance Shares of NYSE NVS traded up $0.69 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $98.47. 997,674 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,110,663. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $97.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $91.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $208.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.09, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.05. Novartis AG has a one year low of $74.09 and a one year high of $105.56. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $12.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.60 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 23.29% and a net margin of 13.78%. The companys revenue was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 6.67 EPS for the current fiscal year. NVS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup cut Novartis from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Novartis in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, BTIG Research upped their price objective on Novartis from $75.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Novartis has an average rating of Hold and a consensus 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. Featured Articles 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. Kesko Oyj (OTCMKTS:KKOYY Get Rating) and Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI Get Rating) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends and profitability. Institutional and Insider Ownership 4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Kesko Oyj alerts: Valuation and Earnings This table compares Kesko Oyj and Sendas Distribuidoras gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kesko Oyj N/A N/A N/A $0.81 11.53 Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion 0.29 $236.31 million $0.78 14.65 Dividends Sendas Distribuidora has higher revenue and earnings than Kesko Oyj. Kesko Oyj is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sendas Distribuidora, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Kesko Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.45 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.9%. Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Kesko Oyj pays out 56.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Sendas Distribuidora pays out 10.3% 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. Profitability This table compares Kesko Oyj and Sendas Distribuidoras net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kesko Oyj N/A N/A N/A Sendas Distribuidora 1.86% 29.13% 2.88% Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings for Kesko Oyj and Sendas Distribuidora, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kesko Oyj 0 1 1 0 2.50 Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00 Summary Sendas Distribuidora beats Kesko Oyj on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Kesko Oyj (Get Rating) Kesko Oyj engages in the development, ownership, and management of store network. It operates through following segments: Grocery Trade, Building and Technical Trade, Car Trade, and Common Functions. The Grocery Trade segment comprises wholesale and business to business (B2B) trade of groceries; and retailing of home and specialty goods. The Building and Technical Trade segment focuses on the chains concepts, marketing, purchasing, logistics services, and store site network. The Car Trade segment includes business operations of K-Auto, K-Caara; and AutoCarrera; and importing and marketing of Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Porsche passenger cars, and Volkswagen and MAN commercial vehicles. The Common functions segment refers to the s group support functions. The company was founded on October 14, 1940 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. About Sendas Distribuidora (Get Rating) Sendas Distribuidora S.A. engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. As of March 31, 2022, the company operated 216 stores under the Assai banner, as well as 13 distribution centers. It serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. The company sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. Sendas Distribuidora S.A. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Receive News & Ratings for Kesko Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kesko Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. (OTCMKTS:TYCMY Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a growth of 300.0% from the April 30th total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Trading Down 1.9 % Tingyi (Cayman Islands) stock traded down C$0.61 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting C$31.28. 1,880 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,443. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$33.76. Tingyi has a 1-year low of C$27.19 and a 1-year high of C$36.96. Get Tingyi (Cayman Islands) alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Tingyi (Cayman Islands) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. About Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp., an investment holding company, manufactures and sells instant noodles, beverages, and instant food products in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Instant Noodles, Beverages, and Others segments. It offers ready-to-drink teas, juices, milk tea, bottled water, and carbonated soft drinks, as well as coffee drinks/functional drinks/probiotics. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simplify Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC Get Rating) by 7.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 27,753 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,018 shares during the quarter. Centene accounts for 0.4% of Simplify Asset Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Simplify Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Centene were worth $2,276,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its stake in Centene by 1,401.4% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 46,333 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,901,000 after purchasing an additional 43,247 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in Centene by 7.2% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 9,734 shares of the companys stock worth $841,000 after acquiring an additional 657 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in Centene by 104.7% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 43,760 shares of the companys stock worth $3,684,000 after acquiring an additional 22,382 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new position in Centene during the first quarter worth $203,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its stake in Centene by 10.0% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 37,404 shares of the companys stock worth $3,149,000 after buying an additional 3,414 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.28% of the companys stock. Get Centene alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Centene news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 1,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.59, for a total transaction of $93,226.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 8,508 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $566,547.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Sarah London purchased 30,000 shares of Centene stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $62.60 per share, for a total transaction of $1,878,000.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 313,953 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,653,457.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 1,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.59, for a total transaction of $93,226.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,508 shares in the company, valued at $566,547.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Centene Stock Down 1.2 % Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Centene from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $94.00 to $79.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on Centene from $94.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Loop Capital dropped their target price on shares of Centene from $110.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Centene from $79.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Centene from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.00. CNC stock traded down $0.75 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $62.68. 1,289,493 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,659,179. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $66.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $73.43. The firm has a market cap of $34.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.07. Centene Co. has a 1-year low of $61.71 and a 1-year high of $98.53. Centene (NYSE:CNC Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by ($0.12). Centene had a return on equity of 13.61% and a net margin of 1.01%. The firm had revenue of $38.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.83 EPS. Centenes revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Centene Co. will post 6.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. Centene Profile (Get Rating) Centene Corp. operates as a healthcare enterprise, which engages in the provision of programs and services to government sponsored healthcare programs. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Centene Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centene and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO Get Rating) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $65.19, but opened at $67.27. Southern Copper shares last traded at $66.81, with a volume of 178,908 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have commented on SCCO shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Southern Copper in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Southern Copper from $53.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Southern Copper from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Southern Copper from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $70.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Southern Copper from $55.00 to $56.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have issued 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 $62.29. Get Southern Copper alerts: Southern Copper Price Performance The stocks 50-day moving average is $74.46 and its 200 day moving average is $69.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 4.17 and a quick ratio of 3.38. The company has a market cap of $51.74 billion, a PE ratio of 18.90, a PEG ratio of 13.36 and a beta of 1.23. Southern Copper Cuts Dividend Insiders Place Their Bets The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th were issued a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 8th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.68%. Southern Coppers dividend payout ratio is currently 115.94%. In related news, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.50, for a total transaction of $39,250.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,014 shares in the company, valued at $472,099. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Southern Copper A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SCCO. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 10.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,797,970 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $594,595,000 after buying an additional 756,555 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Southern Copper by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,325,160 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $193,942,000 after buying an additional 145,261 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 43.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,763,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $209,759,000 after purchasing an additional 835,044 shares in the last quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 761.9% in the 1st quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,756,533 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $210,186,000 after purchasing an additional 2,436,727 shares in the last quarter. Finally, abrdn plc grew its stake in Southern Copper by 134.8% in the 1st quarter. abrdn plc now owns 2,702,309 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $206,051,000 after acquiring an additional 1,551,189 shares during the last quarter. 7.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Southern Copper (Get Rating) Southern Copper Corp. engages in the development, production, and exploration of copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. It operates through the following segments: Peruvian Operations, Mexican Open-Pit Operations, and Mexican Underground Mining Operations. The Peruvian Operations segment focuses on the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad, and port facilities that service both mines. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Southern Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the biopharmaceutical companys stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Price Performance Shares of NBY opened at $0.68 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.27 million, a PE ratio of -0.12 and a beta of 2.69. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $1.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1.59. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a 1 year low of $0.65 and a 1 year high of $12.64. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($4.33) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $3.64 million during the quarter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 21.09% and a negative return on equity of 18.62%. Institutional Trading of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Company Profile A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at $289,000. Altium Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at $121,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 103.5% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 409,544 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 208,322 shares during the period. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 260.4% during the 1st quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 163,451 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 118,099 shares during the period. (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. Further Reading 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. V.F. (NYSE:VFC Get Rating) had its target price dropped by research analysts at Bank of America from $20.00 to $18.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Bank of Americas target price suggests a potential upside of 3.15% from the companys current price. Several other research firms have also recently commented on VFC. StockNews.com cut shares of V.F. from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, May 20th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of V.F. from $22.00 to $20.00 in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of V.F. from $24.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of V.F. from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $30.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of V.F. from a sell rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $26.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.42. Get V.F. alerts: V.F. Trading Down 4.9 % Shares of VFC stock opened at $17.45 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $21.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $26.02. V.F. has a fifty-two week low of $17.43 and a fifty-two week high of $51.40. Insider Transactions at V.F. V.F. ( NYSE:VFC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The textile maker reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.03. V.F. had a net margin of 1.02% and a return on equity of 25.10%. The company had revenue of $2.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.72 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.45 EPS. The firms revenue was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that V.F. will post 2.15 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, Director Carol L. Roberts bought 7,109 shares of V.F. stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $21.07 per share, for a total transaction of $149,786.63. Following the purchase, the director now owns 7,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at $149,786.63. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On V.F. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in V.F. by 345.7% during the 4th quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 927 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 719 shares in the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its holdings in V.F. by 50.4% during the 4th quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 1,006 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 337 shares in the last quarter. General Partner Inc. purchased a new position in V.F. during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in V.F. during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC increased its holdings in V.F. by 878.9% during the 4th quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 1,116 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 1,002 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.89% of the companys stock. V.F. Company Profile (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. Featured Articles 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. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo here on Friday. Noting that China and the DRC are good friends, partners and brothers, Li said under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral relations will surely achieve greater development and better benefit the two peoples. China is willing to further synergize development strategies with the DRC, work for open cooperation that is mutually beneficial, share development opportunities, jointly promote the development and prosperity of the two countries, said the premier. Li urged efforts to further expand trade and investment cooperation, boost cooperation in such traditional fields as infrastructure construction and mining industry, and actively explore new growth drivers of cooperation in such areas as agriculture, finance, new energy, and cultural and people-to-people exchange. It is hoped the DRC can provide a fair and just business environment for Chinese enterprises to make investment in the country, and better guarantee the security and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and institutions there, Li said. China will further enhance unity and cooperation with African countries at large including the DRC, support the implementation of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the economic recovery and sustainable development in Africa after the pandemic, Li added. Noting the DRC highly values cooperation with China, Tshisekedi said the country is willing to learn from China's experience in its leapfrog development, further promote bilateral cooperation, consolidate friendship between the two peoples, and jointly respond to climate change and other global challenges. Vedanta Resources plc (LON:VED Get Rating)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 832.60 ($10.36) and traded as high as GBX 838 ($10.42). Vedanta Resources shares last traded at GBX 832.60 ($10.36), with a volume of 162,101 shares traded. Vedanta Resources Stock Performance The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 832.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 832.60. About Vedanta Resources (Get Rating) Vedanta Resources plc operates as a diversified natural resources company in India, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Australia, and Liberia. It primarily produces zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, and aluminum deposits. The company also explores for, extracts, and processes minerals, as well as oil and gas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vedanta Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vedanta Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE Get Rating) had its price target boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from $110.00 to $112.00 in a research note published on Monday, The Fly reports. Several other brokerages have also recently commented on VTLE. Raymond James increased their price target on Vital Energy from $59.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Vital Energy from $53.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Vital Energy from $57.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Get Vital Energy alerts: Vital Energy Price Performance VTLE stock opened at $43.34 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $806.12 million, a PE ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 3.35. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $45.78. Vital Energy has a fifty-two week low of $39.74 and a fifty-two week high of $120.86. Insider Transactions at Vital Energy Vital Energy ( NYSE:VTLE Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $4.50 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.69 by ($0.19). Vital Energy had a net margin of 48.36% and a return on equity of 34.78%. The company had revenue of $332.51 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $328.67 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $5.17 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 37.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Vital Energy will post 21 EPS for the current year. In other news, Director Edmund P. Segner III sold 1,155 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.00, for a total transaction of $50,820.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 14,328 shares in the company, valued at $630,432. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. 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. See Also 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. China is home to porcelain. There are thousands of art forms related to porcelain in the country. Among these art forms, Beijing carved porcelain embodies unique artistic charm. Porcelain carving is derived from jade carving and stone carving. It first appeared during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and prospered in the late Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). By carving, the sleek surface of porcelain is engraved with different patterns and/or poem inscriptions, adding a three-dimensional effect to the porcelain. Beijing carved porcelain is unique among various types of carved porcelain across China. As an element designated Beijing's intangible cultural heritage, Beijing carved porcelain originated during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) in the Qing Dynasty. There was an office in the imperial palace, especially set up to recruit skillful craftsmen from around the country to work for the imperial family. In the late Qing Dynasty, a high-ranking official Yin Chenbi set up an arts and crafts school (in Beijing), which provided training courses on various arts and crafts, including Beijing carved porcelain. A brief introduction to its history reveals the characteristics of Beijing carved porcelain: Closely connected with imperial families' needs, the porcelain is considered noble and thus favored by collectors. Refined Craftsmanship As its name indicates, carved porcelain refers to porcelain carved by specially made knives. The carvings might be deep, shallow, thick or light, which is controlled by the artist to express the spirit of the calligraphy and/or images to be carved. As a result, the paintings and the porcelain are complementary and add color to each other. To create a fine carved porcelain, craftspeople must complete two procedures. The first one is designing. Before carving, artists usually design and visualize the whole crafts in their minds, which requires them to possess and draw on both artistic technique and experience. After designing comes drafting. The artists need to outline the patterns of what they've conceived on the surface of the porcelain, laying a foundation for carving. There are three kinds of skills in the carving of porcelain. The first one is chiseling. An artist normally grips a small cuboid wood block with two adjacent fingers as a hammer, and then with it he knocks the top of the diamond chisel rhythmically. Through different levels of strength used during chiseling, varied shades and patterns can be created. The second kind of skill is carving. After drawing the outlines, the artist starts carving the patterns on the surface of the porcelain with a diamond knife. The third kind of skill is engraving, mainly used for outlining patterns. For example, when an artist carves a human figure on the porcelain, he/she engraves the outlines of the figure's clothes, before he/she chisels or carves for further refining. After the carving process is completed, the artist fills in the patterns with colors. This step might be repeated several times for a natural, clean, and detailed result. Normally, a finished piece might need a dozen or dozens of layers of coloring. Beijing carved porcelain is crafted on the glazed surface of porcelain by utilizing the skills of chiseling, engraving, and carving to present various details of a traditional Chinese painting. The carved images are colored with Chinese ink or colorful pigments. Given the clear contrast between the smooth glaze and the harsh carved tracks (on the porcelain), many collectors consider the items have high artistic and collectible value. Today, few pieces of carved porcelain from the Qing Dynasty remain in the world. This is mainly due to two reasons. First, this craft requires advanced skills, as porcelain is hard and brittle with a slippery surface. Second, as porcelain carving is integrated with the elements of painting and carving crafts, creating a piece of porcelain requires much time and effort. Chen Yongchang Life-Long Devotion In the 1900s, learning crafts was the best way to make a living for those who lived at the subsistence level. As his family was poverty-stricken, Chen Zhiguang, a Beijinger, dropped out of school in 1904. His parents sent him to the arts and crafts school, in Beijing's Xuanwu District, to learn porcelain carving from the famous artist Hua Yuesan. Chen Yongchang, Chen Zhiguang's son, is the third-generation inheritor of the craft of creating Beijing carved porcelain. Chen Yongchang began his career at the age of 16. Over the following 60 years, he got the essence of his father's skills, and incorporated his own style of Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting into his carving, creating works with profound cultural appeal to viewers. Now in retrospect, Chen says the biggest lesson he learned throughout his career was that inner peace is critical to creating excellent porcelain carvings. He stresses an artist must focus his/her full attention when carving, as a reconnected line is easily noticeable. The whole process demands patience, which can only be cultivated through practice. For a long time, Beijing carved porcelain remained little known in China. In 2009, the craft (of creating the porcelain) was added to the list of Beijing's items of intangible cultural heritage, which brought it attention and financial aid from the Beijing's municipal government. In 2014, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Beijing's Xicheng District organized an activity to pool volunteers, who were interested in China's traditional craftsmanship, and teach them the skills. In 2017, the government held lectures, in Beijing Union University, to publicize Beijing carved porcelain among college students. Chen Yongchang hopes more young people will join him and other craftspeople in promoting the traditional craft. Now, Chen is passing this craft on to his student Zhou Xiaoming, who was one of the volunteers in 2014. Injecting Emotions Zhou Xiaoming is one of those referred to as millennials. She is now the fourth-generation inheritor of the craft of creating Beijing carved porcelain. Born in the suburbs of Zibo (a city in East China's Shandong Province), Zhou says she grew up in a ceramic production center, and became familiar with the craft from an early age. In addition, she majored in ceramic design in college, and has studied Chinese painting since her childhood. In Zhou's eyes, porcelain carving is quite an art, and the deep understanding of its theory is the essential prerequisite for its innovation. The injection of new blood into this venerable art is revitalizing Beijing carved porcelain. There is still much lying ahead for us to further explore the two-century old art. Photos Supplied by Deng Di and VCG (Source: China Today/Women of China English Monthly April 2023 issue) Protect your financial well-being in the case of a US default if the debt limit doesnt get raised. BEIRUT, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank on Friday approved 300 million U.S. dollars in additional financing to the Emergency Crisis and COVID-19 Response Social Safety Net Project (ESSN) in Lebanon. A statement released by the World Bank noted that "the additional financing will expand and extend the provision of cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Lebanese households and further support the development of a unified social safety net delivery system in Lebanon to allow a better response to ongoing and future shocks." The statement noted that the ESSN project was initially approved in January 2021 to help address the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic at a sum of 246 million dollars and benefitted from a first additional financing of 4 million dollars in May 2022. "The financing will facilitate the integration of existing Social Safety Net (SSN) programs into a unified SSN program in line with the government's vision articulated in the National Social Protection Strategy," said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Middle East Country Director. According to the statement, 160,000 households will receive cash transfers from the ESSN project and its additional financing for 24 months, including the current ESSN beneficiary households and new families meeting poverty and vulnerability criteria. Households will receive a monthly 25 dollars flat amount and 20 dollars per household member with a maximum amount of 145 dollars monthly per household. The project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Central Management Unit at the Presidency Council of Ministers, which contracted the World Food Program to conduct eligibility verification visits and payments of cash transfers. On Thursday, Judge Amit P. Mehta sentenced the founder of the Oath Keepers militia group, Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, of Granbury, Texas, to 18 years in federal prison on the charge of seditious conspiracy in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Rhodes was found guilty last November of seditious conspiracy and other charges linked to the attack on Congress. In the same courtroom later that day, Judge Mehta sentenced Kelly Meggs, of Dunnellon, Florida, the leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, to 12 years in prison. Meggs was also convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges last year. On May 25, Elmer Stewart Rhodes III was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after being found guilty of seditious conspiracy. [Photo: Alexandria Sheriff's Office] Federal sentencing guidelines require those convicted to serve out at least 80 percent of their sentence regardless of good behavior, meaning that Rhodes, 58, will be in his 70s before he is released, while the 54-year-old Meggs will be in his mid-60sbarring any presidential pardons. Prior to his sentencing, Rhodes delivered a fascist diatribe in which he denounced the charges for which he was convicted and pledged his allegiance to the aspiring dictator Trump. Rhodes told Mehta that he was a political prisoner and like Trump his only crime was opposing those who are destroying our country. Rhodes claimed that the only thing the Oath Keepers were guilty of was protecting vulnerable Trump supporters from attack by Black Lives Matter protesters and Antifa. Rhodes said that every person charged with crimes related to January 6 is a political prisoner. He added, All are being grossly overcharged. Mehta, an Obama appointee, refuted Rhodes claims of a being a political prisoner, noting that he was in front of him because 12 jurors in Washington D.C., who acquitted you of multiple counts, found you guilty of sedition. Prior to sentencing Rhodes, Mehta emphasized the danger the fascist militia leader presented and his lack of remorse for his actions. He said, I dare say Mr. Rhodes, and I have never said this to anyone I have sentenced: You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, the republic and the very fabric of democracy. Mehta added, The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government. While the 18-year sentence handed down by Mehta to Rhodes is the most severe penalty imposed in any of the over 1,000 January 6 cases, it was significantly shorter than the 25-year sentence requested by prosecutors and three years less than the minimum recommended under sentencing guidelines detailed by Mehta earlier in the day. In arguing for a longer sentence for Rhodes, federal prosecutors wrote in pre-sentencing filings that the former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer presented a current and unique danger to the community and to our democracy, noting that in an interview four days prior to sentencing, Rhodes had called for regime change in the United States. The 12-year sentence Mehta imposed on Meggs was also below prosecutors request of 21 years, and on the lower end of the recommended sentencing guidelines, which ranged from 11.25 to 14 years. While Judge Mehta imposed a level 6 terror enhancement on Rhodes, he rejected prosecutors request for a level 4 terror enhancement on Meggs, which would have increased his sentence. Since its founding by Rhodes in 2009, the Oath Keepers, wearing body armor and armed with military grade weaponry, have deployed around the country in support of right-wing causes, such as countering protesters against police violence. They have provided security for Republican politicians, including at Stop the Steal events in the lead-up to January 6. Over 20 members of the group have been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the attack on Congress. In addition to the Civil War-era charge of sedition, Meggs and Rhodes were convicted of several other serious felonies as part of their plot to stop the certification of Joe Bidens victory in the Electoral College and keep the defeated Donald Trump in power. Three other Oath Keepers tried at the same time as Meggs and RhodesJessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwellwere acquitted of seditious conspiracy, but found guilty of other felonies for their actions in furtherance of Trumps coup. Watkins and Harrelson will be sentenced by Mehta on Friday. Following his clear election defeat to Joe Biden, Trump, who repeatedly insisted he would not accept the results of the election if he lost, set into motion his plan, which included summoning the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, III Percenters and other violent white supremacists and fascists to Washington on January 6, 2021. On election night 2020, Kelly Meggs texted his wife Connie, who was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction earlier this year, that it was time to go on a killing spree, starting with Pelosi. The Meggses participated in multiple Stop the Steal rallies in the lead-up to January 6, with Kelly taking charge of forming an alliance between the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys prior to the attack. Despite months of these fascists openly telegraphing and planning their attack online and on social media, virtually no security forces were predeployed to the Capitol complex, even as both chambers of Congress and the vice president gathered to certify the election. Once the attack began and police lines were overrun, Trump accomplices in the Pentagon deliberately prevented the deployment of National Guard troops. This gave the small fascist militia groups ample opportunity to carry out their objectives, which included capturing and/or killing Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other politicians. During the attack, Oath Keeper Quick Reaction Forces, or QRFs, were deployed around the Capitol with other militia members stationed outside the city waiting on Rhodes orders to bring military grade weaponry to bear. As the attack was underway, Meggs led a stack of Oath Keepers into the Capitol rotunda, overrunning the limited police presence. While Rhodes and many lower-level fascists have been convicted, and now sentenced, for their actions on January 6, Trump and his co-conspirators in Congress, the Pentagon and the Supreme Court have yet to be charged, more than 860 days after the failed coup. That the architects of the conspiracy remain free underscores that the defense of democratic rights cannot be left in the hands of the Democratic Party, a party of Wall Street and war, no less than the Democrats Republican colleagues. Reflecting the transformation of the Republican Party into a fascist political organization and the immense support Trumps footsoldiers retain within the ruling class, two days prior to the sentencing of Rhodes, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky defended Rhodes on Twitter. He wrote that Rhodes never entered the Capitol and didnt commit acts of violence or destruction, yet hes going to be sentenced Thursday for seditious conspiracy, obstructing an official preceding, and tampering with docs (deleting stuff on his phone!) Weaponization of speech? Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, who has not embraced Trumps stolen election lies, in an interview Thursday said that if he were elected president, on day one he would have folks that will get together and look at all these cases, people who are victims of weaponization or political targeting, and we will be aggressive at issuing pardons. Asked by his host if these pardons included any possible convictions against Trump, 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. Yesterday, the Kurdish-nationalist Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) endorsed Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Klcdaroglu, despite mounting popular opposition to Klcdaroglus reactionary campaign. The HDP and countless pseudo-left groups embraced Klcdaroglu as the candidate most likely to unseat incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the event, Klcdaroglu came in second with almost 2.5 million fewer votes than Erdogan. Klcdaroglu responded by signing a protocol on Wednesday with Umit Ozdag, the leader of the far-right Victory Party, aiming to capture Victory Party votes. The protocol pledges to deport in one year 4 million refugees who have fled NATO wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria to Turkey. This effectively abolishes the right to asylum, in flagrant violation of domestic law and international agreements to which Turkey is a party. The protocol also pledges to continue the fight against terrorism, the pretext Erdogan has used to arrest thousands of HDP members, to dismiss elected HDP mayors in Kurdish provinces and mount illegal cross-border military operations into Syria and Iraq. This makes a mockery of claims by the HDP and the pseudo-left that Klcdaroglu's election will make the current reactionary regime democratic. In Diyarbakr, outraged Kurdish HDP voters denounced Klcdaroglu in interviews with BBC Turkish, as anger mounts among the 5 million voters who voted HDP in the parliamentary elections. Klcdaroglu won 72 percent of the vote in Diyarbakr, thanks to HDP support. One of these voters, Nurten, told the BBC she would not vote Klcdaroglu in the second round, because the protocal with Ozdag equates Kurds with terrorism. Even right-wing parties allied to Klcdaroglu felt compelled to distance themselves from Klcdaroglus fascistic policies. Eleven officials of the Future Party of Ahmet Davutoglu, a former prime minister of Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP), announced their resignation in protest. They issued a statement declaring: We will not stand for language that insults refugees who seek asylum in our country and who have no other goal than to live and survive in safety and peace. We will stand against those who, instead of criticizing the immigration policy and proposing a more substantive and correct policy, promise to throw refugees into trucks and deport them like Nazis. Mustafa Yeneroglu, deputy chairman of the DEVA party, a former AKP deputy and now a deputy of Klcdaroglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP), also criticized his own candidate. Yeneroglu said: I do not look at the identity of the marginalized, and I do not listen to the explanation of evil. I will trample on any policy that tramples on human dignity. Yesterday, however, HDP leaders issued a press statement announcing that their support for Klcdaroglu in the second round remains unchanged. The statement sought to appease voters with token criticisms of Klcdaroglu. It said: We do not approve of any political approach that breaks, exploits, dampens or distracts the resistance for democratic change in society. We will continue our democratic struggle against such approaches until the end. We have evaluated the protocol signed yesterday between the Victory Party and the CHP in this context and shared our criticism with the public. In fact, the HDPs brief statement on Wednesday complained about the dismissal of its elected officials and was silent on plans to deport millions of refugees this year. And so, the HDP statement yesterday added a few lines on this issue. It is wrong and inhumane to turn migrants or refugees into an instrument of political interests, the HDP cynically declared, adding: The responsibility for this situation lies not with the victimized migrants or refugees, but directly with the government that insists on war policies and instrumentalizes refugees for economic and political gain. The refugee and migrant problem can only be solved by waging a strong peace struggle against war policies. That is to say, the HDP admits that it is endorsing a candidate with a wrong and inhumane policy, victimizing innocent refugees for political gain. It is a statement of the HDPs own utter bankruptcy. Imperialist wars and regime change operations have continued almost uninterruptedly since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tens of millions of people in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia were forced to flee their homes and live in misery in foreign countries, without basic rights. Both the Turkish and the Kurdish bourgeoisie are complicit in these crimes, committed above all by the leading NATO imperialist powers. The HDPs talk of waging a strong peace struggle against war policies is also a fraud. It did not oppose Finlands NATO membership, which Erdogan brought to parliament, and declared that the countrys security concerns are legitimate. The HDP thus helped bring Finland into NATO as it wages war on Russia. Klcdaroglu has outlined deeply unpopular policies, pledging to be a better NATO ally than Erdogan and endorsing the economic program of the TUSIAD business federation. He clearly plans to clamp down on working class opposition to his agenda by massively mobilizing the police state, on the pretext of anti-refugee and anti-terror operations. Nevertheless, Klcdaroglu has maintained the support of Turkeys main pseudo-left parties, who like the HDP are being exposed as bankrupt and reactionary tools of imperialism, austerity and police-state rule. The pseudo-left Workers Party of Turkey (TIP), an HDP ally, has remained silent on Klcdaroglus filthy campaign, which aims to divide workers along national lines. It continues to enthusiastically support Klcdaroglu. This [refugee] issue should not be turned into a daily political instrument that appeals to the sentiments of society, TIP leader Erkan Bas told Sozcu TV. However, Bas did not mention Klcdaroglus name and refused to condemn him. Bas called to replace the AKPs foreign policy by a peaceful policy in the Middle East. He then incoherently invited the US imperialism and its alliesthe regions chief warmongersto resolve the war crisis. Bas said, An international law must be implemented in order to force Israel, the US, the Gulf states, all those who are involved in the process of dragging Syria into a civil war, to take responsibility for the compensation of this process. The Left Party, the sister party of Greeces Syriza, declared: It is clear that the economic and social crises of the country cannot be overcome with an opposition [i.e., Klcdaroglus] approach that does not take into account any of the demands of the people and is stuck on a nationalist, right-wing axis by inciting anti-refugee sentiments. The Left Party will continue its struggle against the reactionary fascist policies based on ethnic and sectarian divisions. Nevertheless, the Left Party declared that it would continue to support Kemal Klcdaroglu in order to put an end to political Islamist fascism. That is, the Left Partys position is that to combat fascism, it must support a candidate advancing policies it describes as fascist. Yesterday, Labour Party (EMEP) leader Selma Gurkan similarly endorsed Klcdaroglu against Erdogan in order not to give way to racist, chauvinist and nationalist policies that set people against each other in order to prevent the policies against immigrants that are being negotiated with the imperialists at the negotiating table from finding an answer. The unconditional surrender of the HDP and the pseudo-left to Klcdaroglu is an undeniable declaration of loyalty to imperialism and of hostility to the working class. They are, by their own admission, in alliance with fascistic forces. They do not oppose war, fight for democracy or defend the working class. They are reactionary parties speaking for affluent sections of the middle class oriented to imperialism. The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu, the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, calls on the workers and youth to reject both Erdogan and Klcdaroglu. A politically independent movement must be built in the working class. The way forward is the mobilization of the working class internationally in a struggle for power, based on a socialist and revolutionary program. On May 18, the misnamed Left and Workers Front-Unity (FIT-U) in Argentina co-hosted a Federal March in downtown Buenos Aires with several organizations that directly belong to the government of President Alberto Fernandez. Ostensibly organized to protest social austerity, several FIT-U outlets and officials presented this event as a united front with the Peronists. The march included large contingents of the piquetero movements led by the Workers Party (PO) and the Socialist Workers Movement (MTS), as well as representatives of the Socialist Workers Party (PTS)all leading partners of the FIT-U. The piqueteros arose spontaneously amid the economic crises of the 1990s in the form of marches and roadblocks by thousands of workers thrown into unemployment or precarious and largely informal labor conditions, where they demanded jobs, training, social assistance and other social rights. Peronist and pseudo-left organizers then formed organizations to bring their protests under control. Leader of Polo Obrero, Eduardo Belliboni (left) hugs Juan Grabois at a demonstration, March 31, 2022 [Photo: Twitter] The Federal March was led by the Peronist piquetero organizations, including most prominently the Unidad Piquetera coalition and the Trade Union of Popular Economy Workers (UTEP) founded and co-led by Juan Grabois, who is also a Vatican official and a presidential candidate for the ruling Peronist coalition Frente de Todos. The UTEP is currently led by Esteban Gringo Castro, a close friend and favorite organizer of President Fernandez. While these forces had already organized joint demonstrations against the IMF, the Federal March and the press conference to announce it a week earlier had the character of joint political rallies. The march helps set the stage for an electoral bloc between the main pseudo-left coalition in Argentina, which received 1.2 million votes nationally in 2021, and a section of the countrys main bourgeois party. But even if the Peronists decide against such a coalition for now, the FIT-U has already provided a major service to the electoral calculations of a section of the Frente de Todos. The Federal March was widely covered by the corporate media. Several thousand participants marched to the iconic Plaza de Mayo and then to the Ministry of Social Development, where they picketed for a few hours blocking streets until officials agreed to meet with them. It was a staged affair they have carried out numerous times. The main slogan of the protests was Drive out Tolosa Paz and the IMF, referring to the hated minister of Social Development, Victoria Tolosa Paz, and the austerity program agreed between the Fernandez administration and the IMF. The FIT-U representatives also used the event to channel growing opposition behind the union bureaucracy more generally. For instance, the PTS called for the so-called recovered unions led by pseudo-left officials to join their unity with the Peronists, while appealing to the Peronist CGT and CTA union confederations to organize a general strike. During the march, Eduardo Belliboni, the leader of the POs piquetero movement, called Polo Obrero, declared: Hundreds of thousands will participate across the country in this action, which doesnt erase our differences with the UTEP, because they contribute to an austerity-driven government, and we are fighting it. But we are going to be united for our demands, which is always what really matters. Gabriel Solano, the PO leader and potential presidential candidate, said: We are demanding from here that the unions break with the government, that they fulfill their responsibility. Its not right that the CGT carries out electoral rallies in support of [Economy Minister] Massa, when he should be defending the workers. The claim that their Peronist allies merely contribute to the government and the demand that they break with it only serve to hide the character of these forces, which openly belong to the capitalist government in power as it implements a historic attack on living standards at the behest of global finance capital. The leader of Movimiento Evita, Emilio Persico is the Secretary for Social Economy within the Ministry of Social Development. Persico has declared, We will support this government until its last day, and his symbolic criticisms are no indication that this will change. Several piquetero officials also belong to government advisory councils. Moreover, these organizations manage massive funds from the Ministry of Social Development, while the UTEP and other unions manage multi-million cash cows named social works to hire private health care providers (in many cases owned by their own families and partners) for their members. Camouflaged as protest organizations, these are in reality branches of the state bureaucracy, independent of which party is in power. The march has quickly confirmed the warnings made for years by the World Socialist Web Site about such a betrayal. Only three weeks before the march, the WSWS wrote, The record of the Argentine pseudo-left shows that the calls for unity are nothing but shameless efforts to form a coalition like Syrizathe Coalition of the Radical Left that was voted into power in Greece in 2015 promising to oppose the austerity diktats of the IMF only to impose even more draconian measures than its predecessors. This has nothing to do with a united front as understood by the Marxists: a set of immediate, practical and concrete measures by parties and organizations of the working class to defend workers and their organizations from the repressive onslaught of its class enemy. The pseudo-left claims that the participants at the march and all trade unions are workers organizations based on the claim that they enjoy a mass adherence of workers. Based on this standard, the Vatican, where their friend Grabois is an official, as much as the Peronist parties and the Peronist trade union bureaucracy are all workers organizations. Along with all other nationally based labor and reformist organizations, the Peronist bureaucracy responded to the globalization of production and finance capital by abandoning all serious efforts to defend workers living standards and rights in order to extract concessions and attract capital. Like trade union apparatuses elsewhere, the Peronist unions are controlled by a petty-bourgeois, nationalist bureaucracy that is deeply hostile to the working class and integrated into the capitalist state. The Federal March has provoked limited criticisms from Workers Politics, a substantial faction driven out of the PO in 2019 led by Jorge Altamira. The group marched separately on May 17 demanding that the Ministry of Social Development receive their list of economic demands and give them a hearing. It has maintained its own piquetero faction, named Polo Obrero Tendency. No different from the official Federal March, the Tendency blocked the 9 de Julio Avenue until they received an appointment with the government. Workers Politics condemned their former comrades for becoming troops for the maneuvers of the UTEP and Grabois a prop of the state, adding that, We are witnessing a complete violation of the basic principles of class independence. However, the Polo Obrero Official and the Tendency both fulfill the role of props for the union bureaucracy and the Peronist government, making the most impoverished and casualized sections of working class believe that all they can hope for is holding talks with right-wing capitalist authorities while protesting to pressure them and their union backers. In fact, this was always the purpose of Polo Obrero. In the 1999 statement calling for its formation, the Partido Obrero warned that struggles against social attacks were increasingly and fundamentally taking place outside of the trade unions, including the movements of piqueteros and the self-organized. In response, the PO proposed another strategy and leadership that would claim to be fighting to drive out the bureaucracy and renew the trade unions as organs of the class struggle. Today, like the UTEP and other piquetero organizations, the Polo Obrero operates no differently from a trade union bureaucracy and is financed through dues that add up to hundreds of millions of pesos yearly. The opportunism of the constellation of pseudo-left tendencies in Argentina was actually summarized by Workers Politics in an article trying to square its ongoing call for an electoral coalition of the entire left with its criticisms of the FIT-U. Its former legislator and leading member, Marcelo Ramal wrote on May 16: Every front, if you think about it seriously, is an opportunist formation because it groups different positions and strategies. Under certain circumstances, given everything, they may allow the real movement to move forward. Its considerably better to have a front between organizations with perfectly differentiated programs from each other than a dissolution into a common party. Such a formulation opens the door to fronts with any political force as long as its characterized as part of the real movement. The origins of the MST, PTS and the Socialist Left in the FIT-U date back to the implosion of the Movement Toward Socialism after the death in 1987 of its leader Nahuel Moreno, who had broken with the International Committee of the Fourth International to join the Pabloite United Secretariat in 1963. Along with the degenerated Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in the United States, which had previously led the ICFIs struggle against Pabloism, Moreno had used the 1959 Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to openly abandon Trotskyism. Along with the Pabloites, Moreno held that a petty-bourgeois guerrilla movement had accomplished a socialist revolution and the establishment of a workers state in Cuba, proving that the development of a Marxist party in the working class was no longer required. The PO was founded in 1964 by Jorge Altamira as a middle-class group radicalized by the Cuban Revolution that had belonged to the Guevaraist Movement of the Revolutionary Left (Praxis), founded by Silvio Frondizi. The PO aimed to regroup all the tendencies claiming to be Trotskyist and has since worked to provide a revolutionary cover to Pabloites, Morenoites, Lambertistes, and most recently, Russian Stalinists. The pseudo-left milieu in Argentina and internationally speaks for layers of the middle class that find in their political accommodation to the existing bureaucracies that defend capitalism a tool to politically disarm the working class and advance their careers within politics, the trade unions, academia and other realms. These forces have not only adapted to sections of the Argentine ruling class, who ultimately do the bidding for US imperialismfor instance, Graboiss Frente Patria Grande party joined a unanimous vote of the Peronists in Congress for welcoming US troops to Argentina. But the FIT-U has directly aligned itself with US imperialism, with several of its leading partners supporting and sending funds and volunteers for NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine. As the pseudo-left accelerates its preparations for another historic betrayal of the working class, the urgency for the building of sections of the ICFI in Argentina and throughout Latin America as the genuine Trotskyist leadership of the international working class cannot be overstressed. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's power consumption, a key barometer of economic activity, has logged steady expansion since the beginning of this year amid the country's economic rebound. Electricity data especially highlights the growth in the industrial and service sectors, as factories operate at full capacity and consumer demand further expands. Total power use in China grew 4.7 percent year on year to 2.81 trillion kilowatt-hours between January and April, data from the National Energy Administration (NEA) showed. Specifically, the country's power consumption rose 2.3 percent yearly during the first two months. The growth accelerated to 5.9 percent in March and rose further to 8.3 percent in April, forming a solid trend of continuous rebound. April's figure underlined robust recovery in multiple fields of the industrial sector. For example, electricity use in automobile manufacturing surged 33.8 percent year on year, while that for electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing jumped 28.8 percent. Power consumed by China's secondary industry increased by 5 percent in the January-April period. The figure went up 7.6 percent in April, indicating an accelerating recovery of the industrial and construction sectors. Yang Kun, vice president of the China Electricity Council (CEC), stressed the month-by-month power consumption increase of the secondary sector, noting that industrial power consumption growth outpaced the country's average level. "The continuous recovery of production is an important driving force for the sustained expansion of industrial electricity consumption," Yang said. During the first four months, power use in China's manufacturing sector rose 4.5 percent annually to about 1.38 trillion kilowatt-hours. The CEC said that consumption went up 7.1 percent in April. Among various fields in manufacturing, high-tech and equipment manufacturing attracted specific attention with rapid power use growth, indicating China's progress in industrial transformation and upgrade. Data from the CEC showed the combined electricity use of China's high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors climbed 6.4 percent year on year in the first four months. In April alone, consumption soared 13.4 percent. "China's industrial power use has seen steady expansion since the beginning of this year, and the growth rate has significantly picked up," said Zheng Haifeng, a researcher with the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid). Zheng expected the growth rate will continue to rise in the second quarter. Similar to the secondary sector, China's service sector also registered considerable expansion in power consumption this year. Statistics showed the sector's electricity use was up 7 percent year on year to 485.2 billion kilowatt-hours in the January-April period, and the growth hit 17.9 percent yearly in April. Several major sub-sectors, including accommodation and catering, transport, warehousing and postal services, and wholesale and retail services, all reported year-on-year power consumption growth of over 25 percent. "A distinctive feature of power consumption in April is the rapid growth of electricity use in the tertiary industry," said Li Xinggui, a China Southern Power Grid manager. "This shows the full recovery of the country's service industry and consumption." For example, power use of the service sector in south China's Guangdong Province climbed 9 percent year on year in the first four months, contributing 54 percent of the province's total power consumption growth. In the same period, electricity use of the service sector accounted for more than one-third of Shenzhen's total power consumption, data collected from the company's service regions showed. Electricity data also tracked the boom in consumer goods production. Power use of consumer goods manufacturers went up 2.5 percent year on year in the first four months, with a pace 1.2 percentage points faster than that in the same period last year, noted State Grid's service data. Ten out of the 13 sector fields recorded year-on-year power use growth, with that for pharmaceutical manufacturing hitting 9.5 percent. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis formally announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination Wednesday evening in an audio-only appearance on Twitter Spaces hosted by the billionaire owner of the social media company, Elon Musk. This was followed by interviews on Fox News and several ultra-right podcasts. Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses attendees during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit on July 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) [AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack] The corporate media has focused its attention mainly on the technical problems in the initial program, which forced Musk to shift to a different Twitter Spaces feed and cost DeSantis two-thirds of his audience. There has been little examination of the significance of the ultra-right program advanced by the candidate, who is opposing the fascistic Donald Trump almost entirely from the right. The decision to announce his campaign arm in arm with one of the richest men on the planet was highly significant. DeSantis was making it clear that despite his occasional fascistic sallies against the Walt Disney Company and other supposedly woke corporations, he is a dedicated defender of the capitalist system. And he is signaling to his rivals for the nomination, including Trump, that he will have ample financial backing for his campaign. According to opinion polls, Trump is the frontrunner, leading DeSantis by a margin of two-to-one, with all other candidates, announced or prospective, trailing far behind. The two combined have nearly 80 percent of the Republican voters who have responded to the polls, demonstrating that the vast majority of this party are supporting candidates who advocate fascist authoritarianism and the overturn of what remains of democratic forms of rule in the United States. Trump bases his campaign on the claim that the 2020 election was stolen by Biden and the Democrats, making him the rightful claimant of the White House. He openly defends the thugs who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, seeking to block the certification of Bidens victory and keep Trump in office. DeSantis is running on his record as the would-be Mussolini of Florida, who has imposed the full wish list of the Christian fundamentalist right, using the large Republican majority in the state legislature to ride roughshod over democratic rights. This includes a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, severe restrictions on discussions of race, gender and sexual orientation in the public schools, and the firing of local prosecutors who show the slightest inclination to restrain police violence against the working class. One of his signature issues is Floridas early exit from any form of lockdown or mitigation measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis has criticized Trump for turning over the country to Dr. Fauci by initially going along with lockdowns and launching a program to speed the development and mass distribution of vaccines. Florida was one of the first states to reopen schools and went even further, effectively barring school districts and businesses from imposing mask mandates or requiring staff to be vaccinated. As a result, nearly 80,000 residents have lost their lives, and Florida has the second highest death rate as a percentage of the population among the 10 largest states. DeSantis embraced the criminal quack theories put forward by the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, the manifesto of the herd immunity advocates, and one of these, Jay Battacharya, participated in the campaign launch and asked a few fawning questions of the governor. DeSantis appointed another quack, Joseph Ladapo, as the state surgeon general, putting him in charge of spearheading the attack, not on the coronavirus, but on any local officials who sought to maintain any form of mitigation. This is what the Wall Street Journal praised as his greatest achievement, writing that Mr. DeSantis did his own homework on Covid health risks and the costs of economic and school lockdowns. In other words, he weighed lives against profits and came down decisively on the side of profits. The newly announced presidential candidate, despite his right-wing populist rhetoric, is a product of the top levels of the Ivy League, graduating from Yale, followed by a Harvard law degree. He went immediately into the Navy as a legal adviser, first supervising waterboarding and other torture at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, then in a tour of duty with SEAL Team 1 in Iraq, an elite unit engaged in assassinations and other top secret missions. His ultra-right views were first expressed in a book published in 2011 under the title, Dreams from Our Founding Fathers, a play on the Obama autobiographical best seller, Dreams from My Father. This volumea screed that aligned DeSantis with the extreme right originalist wing of the Supreme Courtaccompanied his first campaign for Congress in 2012, when he won a seat on Floridas Atlantic Coast left open by redistricting. He joined the Freedom Caucus, the ultra-right faction among House Republicans. The Orwellian twist to his concept of freedom became evident after DeSantis won a narrow victory in the Florida gubernatorial election in 2018. It was the freedom of the Christian fundamentalist right to take away everyone elses freedom, including the right to an abortion, the right to public education, the right of teachers to teach, the right to demonstrate, the right to vote, even the right to survive a deadly pandemic. The WSWS has detailed many of the state laws adopted during the five years DeSantis has occupied the governors mansion. These were not the result of any great leadership on his part, but the product of top-heavy Republican majorities in both houses of the state legislature and the utter spinelessness on the part of the Democratic Party, the unions and the official bourgeois civil rights and civil liberties groups. As his poll numbers and campaign contributions rose among Republicans, DeSantis pushed through increasingly provocative laws useful to his political aspirations as gestures and gratuitous demonstrations of cruelty: allowing non-unanimous juries to impose the death penalty, banning therapy for transgender youth, suppressing all teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 education, outlawing the teaching of critical race theory (which was not being taught) in state-supported colleges. Last fall, the Florida state government flew migrants from Texas to Massachusetts and released them on the island of Marthas Vineyard. There are only two issues where DeSantis has held back. He has not repeated Trumps lies about the stolen election in 2020, in part, presumably, because declaring Trump the rightful winner in 2020 would make it more difficult to deny him the nomination in 2024. He has, however, fervently supported the thugs who attacked the Capitol, claiming they are the victims of persecution by the FBI and the Biden Justice Department. On the war in Ukraine, he initially declared it a territorial dispute that did not involve vital US national security interests. When this led to denunciations by Republican warhawks in Congress, he fell silent, apparently not wishing to choose between the isolationist and interventionist factions within the party. It is virtually certain, however, that as his campaign develops, DeSantis will have to align himself with the war drive of American imperialismin which he previously played a criminal personal role. According to the New York Times, the Political Action Committee established by DeSantis wealthiest backers plans to spend $200 million, a staggering sum for a primary campaign, and hire thousands of field representatives to work in the four early primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada in the hopes of overcoming Trumps apparent lead in the race. His political criticism of Trump has largely focused on the former presidents failure to accomplish his ultra-right goals. DeSantis claims that he will actually build a complete wall on the US-Mexico border, purge the federal bureaucracy, dominate Congress, outlaw abortion and wage war on the influence of cultural liberalism in every aspect of American life. In his interview on Fox News, he criticized several of Trumps appointments, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell and FBI Director Christopher Wray, and called for an even more aggressive anti-China policy, including revival of the Monroe Doctrine in opposition to Chinese economic activity in Latin America. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) departs Naval Station Norfolk on its first deployment, Oct. 4, 2022. [Photo: US NAvy] Following the Biden administrations announcement at last weeks G7 meeting that it would send F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine, the US and its Ukrainian proxy forces have carried out a series of provocative actions aimed at further escalating the conflict. As the Ukrainian military continues to suffer military setbacks on the groundmost clearly demonstrated by the fall of Bakhmutthe US and the NATO powers are preparing for the potential direct entry of air, land and sea forces into the conflict. On Wednesday, the USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in Oslo, Norway. The USS Ford is the largest warship ever constructed and the first of a new generation of such carriers commissioned by the United States. The carrier strike group led by the Ford includes two nuclear-powered attack submarines, two Ticonderoga-class cruisers and a squadron of destroyers. Manning the strike group are many thousands of naval military personnel, who will be operating within striking distance of Russian territory. Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishee, the commander of the US Sixth Fleet, explained that upon leaving Oslo the carrier strike group would travel north to the Arctic to carry out freedom of navigation operationsa term used by the United States to describe provocatively sailing ships into contested waters. In other words, this massive armada with its thousands of troops will sail near the Russian coastline under conditions of a rapidly escalating proxy war that Biden said last year would threaten a nuclear Armageddon. What weapons this massive armada carries are not known to the public. While the United States has a policy of neither confirming or denying the presence of nuclear weapons on its warships, leading US military think tanks have for years advocated the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on US carriers. The deployment of the carrier to Norway is part of a series of major escalations of the conflict. On Monday, a group of far-right Russian militia men, operating in coordination with the Ukrainian military, crossed into Russia, carrying out a series of attacks on the Belgorod region. Russian officials showed images of the militia driving US-provided vehicles, including MRAPs, the heavily armored vehicles developed for the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Wednesday, the New York Times published an article confirming that a series of drone attacks on the official residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin were carried out by a faction of the Ukrainian state, allegedly without the foreknowledge of Zelensky or the United States. Perhaps most provocatively, in an interview with the right-wing German daily newspaper Die Welt, Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraines military intelligence service, said that the Ukrainian government officially supports the assassination of Putin and directly carries out attacks inside Russia. In an article entitled, Putin is at the top of the list. Were trying to kill him, Skibitsky is asked, Who is at the top of the [kill] list? to which he replies, Putin, because he coordinates and decides what happens. Asked, Are the attacks in the north, in Russia, also carried out by you: on the railways, warehouses and airports? Skibitsky replies, All supplies come from Rostov or via the Crimea. The interviewer asks, And you will attack these areas too? Skibitsky answers, Of course. If there is fuel, weapons and ammunition there, it will be destroyed. The official declaration by a leader of the Ukrainian intelligence forces that it is a state policy to seek to murder the president of Russia makes all the more ominous the statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken following the May 3 drone attacks on the Kremlin. When asked if the US supports such attacks on leadership. he replied, These are decisions for Ukraine to make about how its going to defend itself. The clear conclusion is that strikes inside Russia, including the assassination attempt on Putinwhich the press now admits was carried out by Ukraineare done in the closest coordination and with the approval of the United States. US officials are increasingly openly advocating attacks on Russian territory. On Thursday, a far-right reporter asked Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Are you concerned that [Ukrainian forces] will enter into Russian territory? To which Nadler replied, Im not concerned. I wouldnt care if they did. In its own desperate and reckless response to the provocative US efforts to expand the conflict, Moscow announced that it would be stationing tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus. 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, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. Earlier this week, the World Socialist Web Site noted that the decision to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine was, in fact, worked out months earlier, as part of a long-term plan to expand US involvement in the war with Russia. While the Biden administration is operating with a systematic plan to escalate the war, we wrote, all of its actions are presented as semi-spontaneous, reactive responses to external pressure. This analysis was confirmed, almost word for word, in statements Thursday from Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley. He explained, Its not a question of will we agree later or agree now or under pressure. Thats not at all with whats getting done here. This was hardcore military analysis that looks at cost, benefit and risk, and what is the need on the battlefield now and in the near future. Contrary to the presentation in the media, the closed-door meetings at the G7 summit last weekend were not over the sending of fighter jets. Rather, as the WSWS wrote, they served two purposes: First, to bring into line any dissidents in the cabal of imperialist conspirators, and, second, to discuss the overriding question: What next? It has not taken long for the answer to the question, What next?, to emerge in developments. Confronting military setbacks in Ukraine and an escalating economic, social and political crisis at homeabove all, in the explosive growth of the class strugglethe capitalist ruling elites, as Trotsky wrote on the eve of World War II, toboggan with eyes closed toward catastrophe. The WSWS spoke with Gabriel Shipton, Julian Assanges brother, and Stephen Kenny, the WikiLeaks publishers Australian lawyer on Wednesday. Both men addressed a Sydney protest demanding freedom for Assange which was attended by some 800 people, despite being held on a weekday morning. The featured speaker was Stella Assange, Julians wife, who had travelled from London. Gabriel Shipton campaigns full-time for his brothers freedom. He has recently toured across the United States, as well as Mexico and South America, campaigning against the attempted US extradition and prosecution of Assange for exposing US-led war crimes. Shipton produced Ithaka, a moving documentary about his familys fight for Assanges freedom. It has been screened by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the British television network ITV and in a host of cinemas around the world. Stephen Kenny is a well-known and widely-respected defence barrister. As he notes in the video below, Kenny represented David Hicks, an Australian citizen who was rendered to the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay as part of the bogus war on terror. Having helped to secure Hickss freedom, Kenny is now Assanges Australian legal representative. Kenny has a lengthy record of fighting for democratic rights. He was previously the Chairperson of the South Australian Council for Civil Liberties and has acted in a pro bono capacity for indigenous people, migrants and other oppressed groups. Dr. Benjamin Mateus is a practicing physician in the United States and has written extensively on the COVID-19 pandemic for the World Socialist Web Site. To get involved in the fight for safe schools, contact the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee at educators@wsws.org, or fill out the form at the end of this article. The cause of death for Jimari Williams, the kindergarten student who died on April 26 after an outbreak of illnesses at Marcus Garvey Academy in Detroit, was finally revealed this week through a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA) filed by the Detroit News. The News writes that the Wayne County Medical Examiners Office determined the manner of [Jimaris] death to be natural and lists Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome due to Haemophilus influenzae beta [also known as Hib] as the cause of death. Information surrounding Jimaris death and the outbreak at Marcus Garvey was initially covered up by both the Detroit Health Department, which as late as May 3 issued a statement on the outbreak at Marcus Garvey that failed to even mention the death of a child, or that the illnesses were linked to Hib; and by the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), which held a poorly promoted online meeting on May 5 where questions about Jimari were banned. Jimari Aiden Williams (April 24, 2017 April 26, 2023) That state officials did not release the autopsy result sooner, and that it took a FOIA request by a journalist to reveal it to the public, are further indications that, after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US public health system has been largely destroyed. In fact, Hib is a reportable condition in every state, and all cases should be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What is Haemophilus influenzae beta, or Hib? Haemophilus influenzae beta, known as Hib, is a respiratory bacteria that can be transmitted through the air in the same way as airborne viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Common types of Hib disease are pneumonia, bacteremia (the spread of bacteria in the blood vessels), meningitis (bacteria in the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain), as well as cellulitis, ear infections, and abscesses around the sac containing the heart. People who are immunocompromised, who have sickle cell disease, or have cancer and are undergoing treatment, are at increased risk of developing Hib disease. If Hib disease is suspected or diagnosed, immediate hospitalization is often required, and treatment with antibiotics. After the development of Hib conjugate vaccines, which were first licensed in 1987, Hib disease became increasingly rare. Before the vaccines, there were about 20,000 cases of H. influenzae disease reported annually in the US, two-thirds of them in children aged 18 and younger. Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and other invasive bacterial disease, with around one in 200 children five and younger developing invasive Hib disease. But by 2018, just 38 cases of invasive H. influenzae were reported annually in the United States. The rate of Hib disease has plummeted to around one case for every 2.5 million people in the population. Between 2009 and 2018, just 36 invasive Hib cases in those younger than five were reported to the CDC: Two of the 36 were too young to have received the Hib vaccines; 12 were never vaccinated; and 14 were under-vaccinated. Eight that had received age-appropriate vaccinations had no underlying causes. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, Hib vaccination rates in children have dropped considerably. Jimari Williams was almost 3 years old when the pandemic began. Children his age are more likely to have missed primary or secondary vaccine shots for Hib disease. Additionally, the CDC estimates that over 96 percent of US children (more than 65 million) have had COVID-19 at least once. The disease is known to potentially damage all organ systems, including the immune system, making those who have had COVID-19 more likely to get seriously ill from other pathogens. Marcus Garvey Academy [Photo: WSWS] What is Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome? Jimari Williams autopsy cites Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome as his cause of death. The syndrome was first described by Rupert Waterhouse and Carl Friderichsen in the first decade of the 20th century among children who developed bacterial sepsis. This is a rare, life-threatening complication of systemic infection that leads to bleeding into the adrenal glands and leads to adrenal insufficiency. The adrenal glands are critical in the production of hormones that regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions. Such a rare complication during initial treatment is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can masquerade as septic shock, which is a sharp fall in blood pressure that leads to organ failure. Jimaris deterioration in the last hours of his life must have been harrowing. What can teachers and parents do? Jimaris death and the official cover-up show that after three years of the COVID-19 pandemicwhich has killed well over 1 million Americans, including over 2,000 childrenthe state has all but abandoned what was once known as public health. As we wrote on May 9: The example of Jimari Williams shows how the population will be treated by the capitalist state and media from now on: Workers and children will get sick and die at school and work and nothing will be done. Causes of death will not even be identified. No one will be told what is happening. Reporting will be suppressed. And when another pandemic emerges, which scientists warn is increasingly likely as climate change deepens, there will be no attempt to stop it. Nothing at all will be done to save lives. Pathogens like COVID-19 and Hib spread through the air, and because schools bring together children and teachers from throughout the community, the schools always function as major sources of community spread. In order to take control of the situation in the schools, stop the spread of diseases and save lives, teachers and school workers must link up with parents and students by building Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees in every school. These committees should work with trusted scientists to monitor the spread of diseases in the schools, inform parents and the community about outbreaks, and shut down schools when they deem conditions to be unsafe. To get help building a committee at your school, contact the Michigan Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee with the form below, or write to educators@wsws.org! TEHRAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday that an Iranian diplomat imprisoned in Belgium for almost five years will return to his country in a few hours. Nasser Kanaani made the remarks in a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, announcing the release of Assadollah Assadi five years after his arrest in Germany and consequent transfer to a prison in Belgium. Kanaani said Assadi was "taken hostage" in Germany on June 30, 2018, as a result of a "conspiracy organized by Israel" and implemented by certain European intelligence services. He added Assadi's arrest was an "Israeli-U.S. plot" played out to sabotage relations between Iran and Europe right after Washington's unilateral withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in May 2018. He stressed that Iran has adopted "logical" positions in defense of its citizen, and in addition to protesting and condemning the violation of Assadi's diplomatic immunity, did its best to free him. Kanaani said following continuous joint security meetings between the two countries and consultations between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Belgian counterpart Hadja Lahbib, eventually Iran managed to release the diplomat through a bilateral agreement with the Belgian government. Assadi, who was transferred to Belgium in October 2018, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Belgian court in February 2021, after being accused of planning an alleged "attack" against the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, which Iran designates as a terrorist group. In late April, the Iranian judiciary spokesman Masoud Setayeshi said Assadi will soon be released in a prisoner swap, after Tehran and Brussels finalized a swap deal over a Belgian citizen named Olivier Vandecasteele, who was arrested by security forces in Iran in February 2022 on a charge of "spying against Iran under the guise of an aid worker and smuggling." 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. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng meets with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland in Washington, D.C., the United States, May 25, 2023. TO GO WITH "New Chinese ambassador urges U.S. to move in same direction with China on ties" (Xinhua) WASHINGTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has urged the U.S. side to move in the same direction with China and jointly explore the right way to get along. During a meeting with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on Thursday, Xie said that the China-U.S. relationship bears on the well-being of both peoples and the future of the world. He voiced the hope that the U.S. side will move in the same direction with China, take concrete actions to deliver on the important 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. It is important to uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, enhance dialogue, manage differences and promote cooperation, so as to bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track, Xie noted. Nuland, for her part, welcomed Xie to his new post, saying that the U.S. State Department is ready to provide convenience and support for Xie to perform his duties. The two sides also exchanged views on issues of common interest and agreed to maintain close communication. Yemenis visit the beach to avoid power outages amid scorching summer heat in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, on May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo) 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." Children play on the beach to avoid power outages amid scorching summer heat in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, on May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo) 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. The photo taken on May 25, 2023, shows a power station in Aden, Yemen. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo) 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." A child plays on the beach to avoid power outages amid scorching summer heat in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, on May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo) 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. 2016 - The American Electric Power (AEP) building in downtown Columbus , Ohio. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Doral Chenoweth III) Taken Sept. 11, 2016. The cost of staying cool this summer for many AEP Ohio customers is about to get more expensive. Rates are going up 28% on June 1, meaning an average residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month will see their bill increase from around $155 to $198. Customers will see the increase on bills generated on or after that day. The increase does not apply to customers who have shopped for another provider or are covered by a government aggregation program. Blame the increase on the higher cost of energy. Utilities that distribute electricity, such as AEP Ohio, conduct auctions where the price of electricity is set. AEP Ohio has said the higher prices from the auctions are a result of assorted issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to global demand and supply chain problems. AEP Ohio won't profit from the rate increase. It passes along those costs to customers. This increase will remain in effect until May 31, 2024. AEP Ohio serves 1.5 million customers throughout the state. This hike is separate from one that AEP Ohio is seeking that it filed with state regulators in January. Under that proposal, customers would pay, on average, 2% more per year over the six years, or about $4 per month for a family that uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. That case is pending before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and wouldn't go into effect until at least June 2024. AEP at the time said the increased revenue would help replace aging equipment as it reaches the end of its life expectancy, including 350 transformers and equipment in substations. The money would also be used to improve hundreds of circuits that led to power outages last summer, and to build new lines and substations needed to meet the changing needs of customers, AEP said. How can I mitigate the increase? AEP Ohio and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio offer a number of tips to decrease electrical use during the summer months. Among them: Story continues Bump up the thermostat a few degrees. Raising the thermostat by 5 degrees can cut cooling costs by 20%. Cover your windows especially those that get the most sunlight during the day with light-colored shades. That can reduce cooling costs by 10% to 25%. Avoid using appliances that produce heat, such as ovens and dryers, when its hot outside. Set the ceiling fan to rotate counterclockwise so it pushes cool air down. Ceiling fans create a wind chill effect that can reduce the room temperature. Be sure floor returns and air vents are not covered. Also, many consumers can shop around for lower rates. They can go to Energy Choice Ohio where they can compare electric and natural gas offers. Many communities offer aggregation programs that can lower bills as well. What should I do if I can't pay my bill? AEP Ohio and other utilities offer several plans to help consumers with their utility bills, including budget payments and extended payment plans. AEP Ohio offers grants of up to $500 under its Neighbor to Neighbor program and the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides eligible Ohioans assistance with their home energy bills. There are income requirements for both programs. mawilliams@dispatch.com @BizMarkWilliams This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What customers can do to mitigate the upcoming jump in electric rates The Albion Dam is photographed on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Albion, Michigan. ALBION The city of Albion has received $1 million from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for removal design of the Albion Dam, as well as four other unregulated dam structures. The Albion Dam is one of 16 Michigan dams receiving safety upgrade funding through EGLE's $15.3 million Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program. The City of Albion is thrilled to have been awarded these funds by EGLE, Albion City Manager Haley Snyder said in a release. This is a significant funding source to help address one of the many extensive infrastructure repairs needed in the city of Albion. A feasibility study found that removing the dams is the best solution for reducing safety hazards, restoring the waterways to their natural flows and enhancing the area for more recreational activities. The Albion Dam is photographed on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Albion, Michigan. The city-owned Albion Dam is located on the south branch of the Kalamazoo River near Victory Park. Originally constructed in 1856, the retired hydroelectric dam is the largest in Albion. The dam has been in poor condition for several years. It was last inspected in 2021, according to EGLE. At that time, it was rated as a significant downstream hazard potential. The citys primary goals with the EGLE grant funding include reduction of public safety hazards, softening the shoreline while improving floodplain connectivity and conveyance, maintaining and improving recreational amenities and opportunities and restoring aquatic animal habitat passage. This is yet another great funding win for Albion. Its an important step toward opening up the waterways in the city this will improve the floodplain and help in maintaining our beautiful recreational areas, State Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) said in a release. Importantly, it will also reduce safety hazards that means increased public safety for the people of Albion and an all-around more protected community. Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Albion Dam receives $1M in safety upgrade funding from EGLE Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday touted American sea power and teamwork in the tense Indo-Pacific region, as well as among NATO allies amid Russias war in Ukraine as he addressed graduates at the U.S. Naval Academys commencement. Americas sea power lets us sail and fly and operate alongside our unrivaled network of allies and partners, from the South China Sea, to the Gulf of Aden, to the Caribbean. It lets us project power around the world, Austin said at the ceremony in Annapolis, Md. It helps us secure the sea lanes for the free movement of people, goods, and ideas. More than 1,000 graduates make up the U.S. Naval Academys class of 2023, which now will move on for more advanced training and eventual deployment with the Marines or Navy. This years graduates will enter the force as the U.S. has increased its presence in the Indo-Pacific amid heightened tensions with China, which historically sees self-governed Taiwan as part of the mainland and is building up its military installations across the region. Washington has increased security partnerships with the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, and it plans to step up military drills in the region with both nations. On Friday, Austin also noted the partnership with Australia and the U.K., which is working to shore up Australias defense in the Indo-Pacific Your mission and your leadership will be at the very heart of Americas work to forge a more open, more peaceful 21st Century, he said. The American flag atop a U.S. Navy ship has long been the symbol of hope for a more free and secure world. Austin also mentioned Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying U.S. sailors are operating shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO allies. The Navy has helped to expand Ukraines maritime capabilities as Ukraine fights against Russias cruel and reckless war of choice, he told the graduates. While he noted several critical battles that U.S. Navy sailors have fought, including Iwo Jima in World War II, Austin said the sea force has been historically most powerful in preventing wars and violence. Story continues They deterred conflict, they kept the watch and they reminded the world what America stands for, he said. The Pentagon chief said graduates will now deploy forward and travel the globe to defend our democracy. And you will learn that the lifeblood of the rules-based international order is actually seawater, Austin said. You will defend our democracy with honor, courage and commitment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ChatGPT, OpenAI's text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm. It's able to write essays, code and more given short text prompts, hyper-charging productivity. But it also has a more...nefarious side. In any case, AI tools are not going away -- and indeed has expanded dramatically since its launch just a few months ago. Major brands are experimenting with it, using the AI to generate ad and marketing copy, for example. And OpenAI is heavily investing in it. ChatGPT was recently super-charged by GPT-4, the latest language-writing model from OpenAIs labs. Paying ChatGPT users have access to GPT-4, which can write more naturally and fluently than the model that previously powered ChatGPT. In addition to GPT-4, OpenAI recently connected ChatGPT to the internet with plugins available in alpha to users and developers on the waitlist. Heres a timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, starting with the latest, to be updated regularly. We also answer the most common FAQs (see below). Timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates May 25, 2023 OpenAI announced in a tweet that the ChatGPT mobile app is now available on iOS in the U.S., Europe, South Korea and New Zealand, and soon more will be able to download the app from the app store. The ChatGPT app for iOS is now available to users in 11 more countries Albania, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, Korea, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and the UK. More to come soon! OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 24, 2023 May 18, 2023 ChatGPT is officially going mobile. The new ChatGPT app will be free to use, free from ads and will allow for voice input, the company says, but will initially be limited to U.S. users at launch. When using the mobile version of ChatGPT, the app will sync your history across devices meaning it will know what youve previously searched for via its web interface, and make that accessible to you. The app is also integrated with Whisper, OpenAIs open source speech recognition system, to allow for voice input. Story continues May 3, 2023 Meta said in a report on May 3 that malware posing as ChatGPT was on the rise across its platforms. The company said that since March 2023, its security teams have uncovered 10 malware families using ChatGPT (and similar themes) to deliver malicious software to users devices. In one case, weve seen threat actors create malicious browser extensions available in official web stores that claim to offer ChatGPT-based tools, said Meta security engineers Duc H. Nguyen and Ryan Victory in a blog post. They would then promote these malicious extensions on social media and through sponsored search results to trick people into downloading malware. April 28, 2023 VC firms including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive and K2 Global are picking up new shares, according to documents seen by TechCrunch. A source tells us Founders Fund is also investing. Altogether the VCs have put in just over $300 million at a valuation of $27 billion to $29 billion. This is separate to a big investment from Microsoft announced earlier this year, a person familiar with the development told TechCrunch, which closed in January. The size of Microsofts investment is believed to be around $10 billion, a figure we confirmed with our source. April 25, 2023 Called ChatGPT Business, OpenAI describes the forthcoming offering as for professionals who need more control over their data as well as enterprises seeking to manage their end users. ChatGPT Business will follow our APIs data usage policies, which means that end users data wont be used to train our models by default, OpenAI wrote in a blog post. We plan to make ChatGPT Business available in the coming months. April 24, 2023 OpenAI applied for a trademark for GPT, which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, last December. Last month, the company petitioned the USPTO to speed up the process, citing the myriad infringements and counterfeit apps beginning to spring into existence. Unfortunately for OpenAI, its petition was dismissed last week. According to the agency, OpenAIs attorneys neglected to pay an associated fee as well as provide appropriate documentary evidence supporting the justification of special action. That means a decision could take up to five more months. April 22, 2023 Auto-GPT is an open source app created by game developer Toran Bruce Richards that uses OpenAI's latest text-generating models, GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, to interact with software and services online, allowing it to "autonomously" perform tasks. Depending on what objective the tools provided, Auto-GPT can behave in very unexpected ways. One Reddit user claims that, given a budget of $100 to spend within a server instance, Auto-GPT made a wiki page on cats, exploited a flaw in the instance to gain admin-level access and took over the Python environment in which it was running and then killed itself. April 18, 2023 FTC chair Lina Khan and fellow commissioners warned House representatives of the potential for modern AI technologies, like ChatGPT, to be used to turbocharge fraud in a congressional hearing. AI presents a whole set of opportunities, but also presents a whole set of risks, Khan told the House representatives. And I think weve already seen ways in which it could be used to turbocharge fraud and scams. Weve been putting market participants on notice that instances in which AI tools are effectively being designed to deceive people can place them on the hook for FTC action, she stated. April 17, 2023 The company behind the popular iPhone customization app Brass, sticker maker StickerHub and others is out today with a new AI chat app called SuperChat, which allows iOS users to chat with virtual characters powered by OpenAIs ChatGPT. However, what makes the app different from the default ChatGPT experience or the dozens of generic AI chat apps now available are the characters offered which you can use to engage with SuperChats AI features. April 12, 2023 Italys data protection watchdog has laid out what OpenAI needs to do for it to lift an order against ChatGPT issued at the end of last month when it said it suspected the AI chatbot service was in breach of the EUs GSPR and ordered the U.S.-based company to stop processing locals data. The DPA has given OpenAI a deadline of April 30 to get the regulator's compliance demands done. (The local radio, TV and internet awareness campaign has a slightly more generous timeline of May 15 to be actioned.) April 12, 2023 A study co-authored by scientists at the Allen Institute for AI shows that assigning ChatGPT a persona for example, a bad person, a horrible person or a nasty person through the ChatGPT API increases its toxicity sixfold. Even more concerning, the co-authors found having ChatGPT pose as certain historical figures, gendered people and members of political parties also increased its toxicity with journalists, men and Republicans in particular causing the machine learning model to say more offensive things than it normally would. The research was conducted using the latest version of ChatGPT, but not the model currently in preview based on OpenAIs GPT-4. April 4, 2023 YC Demo Day's Winter 2023 batch features no fewer than four startups that claim to be building "ChatGPT for X." Theyre all chasing after a customer service software market thatll be worth $58.1 billion by 2023, assuming the rather optimistic prediction from Acumen Research comes true. Here are the YC-backed startups that caught our eye: Yuma, whose customer demographic is primarily Shopify merchants, provides ChatGPT-like AI systems that integrate with help desk software, suggesting drafts of replies to customer tickets. Baselit, which uses one of OpenAI's text-understanding models to allow businesses to embed chatbot-style analytics for their customers. Lasso customers send descriptions or videos of the processes they'd like to automate and the company combines ChatGPT-like interface with robotic process automation (RPA) and a Chrome extension to build out those automations. BerriAI, whose platform is designed to help developers spin up ChatGPT apps for their organization data through various data connectors. April 1, 2023 OpenAI has started geoblocking access to its generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in Italy. Italys data protection authority has just put out a timely reminder that some countries do have laws that already apply to cutting edge AI: it has ordered OpenAI to stop processing peoples data locally with immediate effect. The Italian DPA said its concerned that the ChatGPT maker is breaching the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and is opening an investigation. March 29, 2023 The letter's signatories include Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak and Tristan Harris of the Center for Humane Technology, among others. The letter calls on all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. The letter reads: Contemporary AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks,[3] and we must ask ourselves: Should we let machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth? Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete and replace us? Should we risk loss of control of our civilization? Such decisions must not be delegated to unelected tech leaders. Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable. March 23, 2023 OpenAI launched plugins for ChatGPT, extending the bots functionality by granting it access to third-party knowledge sources and databases, including the web. Available in alpha to ChatGPT users and developers on the waitlist, OpenAI says that itll initially prioritize a small number of developers and subscribers to its premium ChatGPT Plus plan before rolling out larger-scale and API access. March 14, 2023 GPT-4 is a powerful image- and text-understanding AI model from OpenAI. Released March 14, GPT-4 is available for paying ChatGPT Plus users and through a public API. Developers can sign up on a waitlist to access the API. March 9, 2023 ChatGPT is generally available through the Azure OpenAI Service, Microsofts fully managed, corporate-focused offering. Customers, who must already be Microsoft managed customers and partners, can apply here for special access. March 1, 2023 OpenAI makes another move toward monetization by launching a paid API for ChatGPT. Instacart, Snap (Snapchats parent company) and Quizlet are among its initial customers. February 7, 2023 At a press event in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft announced its long-rumored integration of OpenAIs GPT-4 model into Bing, providing a ChatGPT-like experience within the search engine. The announcement spurred a 10x increase in new downloads for Bing globally, indicating a sizable consumer demand for new AI experiences. Other companies beyond Microsoft joined in on the AI craze by implementing ChatGPT, including OkCupid, Kaito, Snapchat and Discord -- putting the pressure on Big Techs AI initiatives, like Google. February 1, 2023 After ChatGPT took the internet by storm, OpenAI launched a new pilot subscription plan for ChatGPT called ChatGPT Plus, aiming to monetize the technology starting at $20 per month. December 8, 2022 A week after ChatGPT was released into the wild, two developers -- Steven Tey and Dom Eccleston -- made a Chrome extension called ShareGPT to make it easier to capture and share the AIs answers with the world. November 30, 2022 GPT-3.5 broke cover with ChatGPT, a fine-tuned version of GPT-3.5 thats essentially a general-purpose chatbot. ChatGPT can engage with a range of topics, including programming, TV scripts and scientific concepts. Writers everywhere rolled their eyes at the new technology, much like artists did with OpenAIs DALL-E model, but the latest chat-style iteration seemingly broadened its appeal and audience. FAQs: What is ChatGPT? How does it work? ChatGPT is a general-purpose chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to generate text after a user enters a prompt, developed by tech startup OpenAI. The chatbot uses GPT-4, a large language model that uses deep learning to produce human-like text. When did ChatGPT get released? November 30, 2022 is when ChatGPT was released for public use. What is the latest version of ChatGPT? Both the free version of ChatGPT and the paid ChatGPT Plus are regularly updated with new GPT models. The most recent model is GPT-4. Can I use ChatGPT for free? There is a free version of ChatGPT that only requires a sign-in in addition to the paid version, ChatGPT Plus. Who uses ChatGPT? Anyone can use ChatGPT! More and more tech companies and search engines are utilizing the chatbot to automate text or quickly answer user questions/concerns. What companies use ChatGPT? Multiple enterprises utilize ChatGPT, although others may limit the use of the AI-powered tool. Most recently, Microsoft announced at it's 2023 Build conference that it is integrating it ChatGPT-based Bing experience into Windows 11. A Brooklyn-based 3D display startup Looking Glass utilizes ChatGPT to produce holograms you can communicate with by using ChatGPT. And nonprofit organization Solana officially integrated the chatbot into its network with a ChatGPT plug-in geared toward end users to help onboard into the web3 space. What does GPT mean in ChatGPT? GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer. What's the difference between ChatGPT and Bard? Much like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Bard is a chatbot that will answer questions in natural language. Google announced at its 2023 I/O event that it will soon be adding multimodal content to Bard, meaning that it can deliver answers in more than just text, responses can give you rich visuals as well. Rich visuals mean pictures for now, but later can include maps, charts and other items. ChatGPT's generative AI has had a longer lifespan and thus has been "learning" for a longer period of time than Bard. What is the difference between ChatGPT and a chatbot? A chatbot can be any software/system that holds dialogue with you/a person but doesn't necessarily have to be AI-powered. For example, there are chatbots that are rules-based in the sense that they'll give canned responses to questions. ChatGPT is AI-powered and utilizes LLM technology to generate text after a prompt. Can ChatGPT write essays? Yes. Can ChatGPT commit libel? Due to the nature of how these models work, they dont know or care whether something is true, only that it looks true. Thats a problem when youre using it to do your homework, sure, but when it accuses you of a crime you didnt commit, that may well at this point be libel. We will see how handling troubling statements produced by ChatGPT will play out over the next few months as tech and legal experts attempt to tackle the fastest moving target in the industry. Does ChatGPT have an app? Yes, there is now a free ChatGPT app that is currently limited to U.S. iOS users at launch. OpenAi says an android version is "coming soon." What is the ChatGPT character limit? Its not documented anywhere that ChatGPT has a character limit. However, users have noted that there are some character limitations after around 500 words. Does ChatGPT have an API? Yes, it was released March 1, 2023. What are some sample everyday uses for ChatGPT? Everyday examples include programing, scripts, email replies, listicles, blog ideas, summarization, etc. What are some advanced uses for ChatGPT? Advanced use examples include debugging code, programming languages, scientific concepts, complex problem solving, etc. How good is ChatGPT at writing code? It depends on the nature of the program. While ChatGPT can write workable Python code, it cant necessarily program an entire apps worth of code. Thats because ChatGPT lacks context awareness -- in other words, the generated code isnt always appropriate for the specific context in which its being used. Can you save a ChatGPT chat? Yes. OpenAI allows users to save chats in the ChatGPT interface, stored in the sidebar of the screen. There are no built-in sharing features yet. Are there alternatives to ChatGPT? Yes. There are multiple AI-powered chatbot competitors such as Together, Googles Bard and Anthropics Claude, and developers are creating open source alternatives. But the latter are harder -- if not impossible -- to run today. How does ChatGPT handle data privacy? OpenAI has said that individuals in certain jurisdictions (such as the EU) can object to the processing of their personal information by its AI models by filling out this form. This includes the ability to make requests for deletion of AI-generated references about you. Although OpenAI notes it may not grant every request since it must balance privacy requests against freedom of expression in accordance with applicable laws. The web form for making a deletion of data about you request is entitled OpenAI Personal Data Removal Request. In its privacy policy, the ChatGPT maker makes a passing acknowledgement of the objection requirements attached to relying on "legitimate interest" (LI), pointing users towards more information about requesting an opt out when it writes: See here for instructions on how you can opt out of our use of your information to train our models. What controversies have surrounded ChatGPT? Recently, Discord announced that it had integrated OpenAI's technology into its bot named Clyde where two users tricked Clyde into providing them with instructions for making the illegal drug methamphetamine (meth) and the incendiary mixture napalm. An Australian mayor has publicly announced he may sue OpenAI for defamation due to ChatGPT's false claims that he had served time in prison for bribery. This would be the first defamation lawsuit against the text-generating service. CNET found itself in the midst of controversy after Futurism reported the publication was publishing articles under a mysterious byline completely generated by AI. The private equity company that owns CNET, Red Ventures, was accused of using ChatGPT for SEO farming, even if the information was incorrect. Several major school systems and colleges, including New York City Public Schools, have banned ChatGPT from their networks and devices. They claim that the AI impedes the learning process by promoting plagiarism and misinformation, a claim that not every educator agrees with. There have also been cases of ChatGPT accusing individuals of false crimes. Where can I find examples of ChatGPT prompts? Several marketplaces host and provide ChatGPT prompts, either for free or for a nominal fee. One is PromptBase. Another is ChatX. More launch every day. Can ChatGPT be detected? Poorly. Several tools claim to detect ChatGPT-generated text, but in our tests, theyre inconsistent at best. Are ChatGPT chats public? No. But OpenAI recently disclosed a bug, since fixed, that exposed the titles of some users conversations to other people on the service. Who owns the copyright on ChatGPT-created content or media? The user who requested the input from ChatGPT is the copyright owner. What lawsuits are there surrounding ChatGPT? None specifically targeting ChatGPT. But OpenAI is involved in at least one lawsuit that has implications for AI systems trained on publicly available data, which would touch on ChatGPT. Are there issues regarding plagiarism with ChatGPT? Yes. Text-generating AI models like ChatGPT have a tendency to regurgitate content from their training data. American poet Amanda Gorman reads her commissioned poem The Hill We Climb during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. | Patrick Semansky, Associated Press A Florida school has restricted students access to the poem Amanda Gorman read at President Joe Bidens January 2021 inauguration after a parent filed a complaint claiming the book functions to cause confusion and indoctrinate students. Children who attend Bob Graham Education Center a K-8 school located in Miami Lakes will no longer be able to read or check out The Hill We Climb, the slim volume that contains the inaugural poem by the same title. While some news outlets initially reported the schools move as a book ban, the book remains available to middle school students. The schools decision to restrict student access to The Hill We Climb came after Daily Salinas, the mother of two children who attend the Miami-Dade County public school, filed a complaint in March, claiming that the book is not educational and includes indirect hate messages, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by the Florida Freedom to Read Project and published on NPRs website. In early April, a school committee decided to make the book off-limits to elementary students but to preserve middle schoolers access to the book due to its historical significance, The Washington Post reported. Salinas challenged four other books in the Bob Graham Education Center library, according to the Miami Herald: The ABCs of Black History, Cuban Kids, Countries in the News Cuba and Love to Langston. She filed a separate form for each of the five books, the Florida Freedom To Read Project told the Deseret News via email. In the Request for Reconsideration of Media forms, which were shared with the Deseret News, Salinas cited CRT short for critical race theory in her challenge to Love to Langston, remarking, 1st page wit (sic) CRT and more page have the same. A screenshot shows that Salinas objected to The ABCs of Black History due to CRT and Gender Ideology. She said Cuban Kids functions as Indoctrination to socialism and that she also requested Countries in the News Cuba to be removed because of indoctrination. Story continues Salinas did not immediately respond to a Deseret News inquiry. Related News of restricted access to the book sparked an outcry. Taking to social media, Gorman wrote, Im gutted. I wrote The Hill We Climb so that all young people could see themselves in a historical moment, Gorman said in a letter published on Twitter and Instagram. Ever since, Ive received countless letters and videos from children inspired by The Hill We Climb to write their own poems. Robbing children of the chance to find their voices in literature is a violation of their right to free thought and free speech. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also responded, with Miami-Dade branch president Daniella Pierre telling NPR, It is our collective goal to work on amending school board policy and effectuating changes to ensure that it takes more than one form to remove our history and heritage. Amid the controversy, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools also took to Twitter, saying that the book 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. Its the latest skirmish in the culture wars that are increasingly putting libraries on the front lines. During another controversy in March of this year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, now a GOP presidential candidate, issued a press release referring to what he called a book ban hoax. In the same press release, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. said, Education is about the pursuit of truth, not woke indoctrination. Under Governor DeSantis, Florida is committed to rigorous academic content and high standards so that students learn how to think and receive the tools necessary to go forth and make great decisions. Bob Graham Education Centers decision to move Gormans book also comes amid the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples travel advisory, warning tourists not to go to Florida, which the governors spokesperson called nothing more than a stunt, CBS News reported. The Bob Graham Education Center is named after the Florida Democrat and two-term governor who went on to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate for 18 years. 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. Just a few weeks after severe weather prompted Donald Trump to cancel a planned rally for thousands of people in the heart of Des Moines, the former president will return to Iowa to rub shoulders at a small county breakfast club over plates of bacon and eggs. His arrival comes just after his main opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is also scheduled to make multiple appearances in the state. Trump will speak at a meeting of the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale June 1, a campaign official told the Des Moines Register. The twice-a-month breakfast club meets at the Machine Shed restaurant where servers dressed in overalls and checkered shirts pour coffee to patrons seated below vintage advertisements and decorative farm implements. The club is a staple for Republican candidates running for local government all the way up to president. Though the space can hold more than 100 people, it's far smaller and much more intimate than the large rallies Trump typically holds in the state. More: Will young Iowa Republicans stick with Trump? Millennial, Gen Z leaders size up candidates It's a signal the former president is leaning in to retail campaigning as he seeks to woo Iowans in his bid for a second term a practice he largely eschewed in his 2016 campaign. Former President Donald Trump stops at the Machine Shed Restaurant in Davenport, Iowa, on his way to speak at the Adler Theater on Monday, March 13, 2023. Its the kind of retail stop the candidate for president never made while running in the 2016 Iowa caucuses. Later in the day, Trump will film a Fox News town hall, the network announced Thursday. He will also attend a private meeting with pastors, his campaign said. More: At the Westside Conservative Club, it's hotcakes and hot takes that draw the political right Visit creates another split-screen moment for Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis Trump's visit comes the day after DeSantis, his chief rival, is planning to make his first swing through Iowa as a declared presidential candidate. DeSantis, who announced his candidacy Wednesday night in a Twitter event, is scheduled to hold a formal campaign launch in Des Moines May 30. On May 31, he will hold events in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella and Cedar Rapids. Details of those events have not yet been released. Story continues Trump is set to arrive in Des Moines Wednesday night, his campaign said, before the June 1 events. It once again will create a split-screen moment between the pair, who appear to be on a collision course in Iowa as they fight for the support of Iowa Republicans ahead of the GOP's first-in-the-nation caucuses. More: Iowa Republicans eye a January caucus date: Why the calendar is more complicated this year. When DeSantis made his first trip to Iowa in March, Trump held a rally in the same city just days later. And earlier this month, the pair were scheduled to hold dueling rallies on the same day. Trump canceled his outdoor rally amid the threat of tornados, clearing the way for DeSantis to claim the spotlight with a last-minute meet-and-greet at a Des Moines BBQ restaurant. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visits with supporters after making an unscheduled visit to the Jethros BBQ Southside in Des Moines on Saturday, May 13, 2023. They pair lead the growing pack of contenders according to polling. A Real Clear Politics rolling average of Iowa polling puts Trump well ahead with about 48% of the vote compared with DeSantis' 25%. No other candidate currently cracks double digits. But a bevy of other contenders will also be on hand next week as they arrive for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's annual Roast and Ride fundraiser, set for June 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. So far, radio personality Larry Elder, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Perry Johnson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott are all set to speak. More: See where presidential candidates are campaigning with the Des Moines Register candidate tracker Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Donald Trump travels to Iowa just after Ron DeSantis campaigns in state Jason Davis/Shutterstock Shes now a mom of two! Duck Dynastys Sadie Robertson and her husband, Christian Huff, have welcomed their second child, daughter Haven Belle. Haven has brought a touch of heaven , Robertson, 25, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, May 25, confirming her newborn child arrived three days earlier. Life got a whole lot sweeter! The former reality star gushed: Peep the time on our phone in slide two and the sheer joy on my face! Christian and I could not be happier and more grateful. Soaking in every single moment. Courtesy of Christian Huff/Instagram Huff, 24, beamed with pride in his own social media announcement on Thursday, writing, Surreal seeing a little miracle up so close blown away by God. He added: Love you so much Haven. Some of the sweetest moments ever. The Dancing With the Stars alum who also shares 2-year-old daughter Honey with her spouse took to Instagram in November 2022 to reveal her second pregnancy. Another little miracle is in motion , Robertson wrote alongside a sweet photo of the couple and daughter Honey, who showed off a picture of the ultrasound. The news came shortly after Robertson confessed to E! News that she and the Auburn University alum were already thinking about giving Honey a sibling. One day well say [we want] four kids, one day well say three, the TV personality told the outlet at the time, adding that they would maybe consider adoption too. Ive just seen the beauty of it, what a blended family can look like from adoption. The couple started quietly dating in September 2018, but officially confirmed their relationship on social media in February 2019. Courtesy of Cheri Huff/Instagram Celebrating this kind of love everyday, but with a teddy bear and balloons today, the Louisiana native shared via Instagram next to a photo of she and Huff at the time. Thank you for how you love and who you are! The Florida native and Robertson got engaged in June 2019 and officially tied the knot that November. Nearly one year later, the couple revealed in October 2020 that they were expecting their first child. Story continues Honey was born in May 2021 after what Robertson described as a chaotic birth. All of a sudden I was pushed down on the bed, they pushed my mom, [Korie Robertson], out of the way and every nurse in the room was just over me, and they were pulling my legs and pushing my stomach as hard as they could, the Live Original author recalled during an episode of her podcast Whoa! Thats Good in July 2021. I thought they cut me open because of how painful it was when they pressed on my stomach. Now I know they were pressing my pelvis bone to get her out because what happened was Honey got stuck. Her shoulder got stuck. Robertson has also been open about her struggle with postpartum. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! Its just, you know, the most raw version of you. Its hard and its a struggle. I think it makes you the mom that youre gonna be, the Gods Not Dead 2 actress exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2021. Dont be discouraged if you feel like, Im losing my mind, because you probably will feel like that. [But] youre gonna come out and youre gonna be, like, Wow, Im so much stronger. 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. BAGHDAD, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi political leaders met on Thursday with visiting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky to discuss bilateral ties and economic cooperation. During a meeting with a delegation led by Lipavsky, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani lauded the Czech role in supporting the efforts of the Iraqi security forces in combatting terrorism, the media office of the prime minister said in a statement. Al-Sudani also discussed with Lipavsky the means "to promote cooperation in the fields of agriculture, energy, health, air transport, and scholarships, as well as ways to increase trade volume between Iraq and the Czech Republic," the statement said. For his part, Lipavsky said a delegation of businessmen and representatives of 20 Czech companies are currently in Iraq to discuss opportunities for economic cooperation, according to the statement. Lipavsky extended a visit invitation from the Czech president to al-Sudani to further strengthen bilateral relations, said the statement. During his visit, Lipavsky also met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and the need to enhance cooperation and coordination in various fields, particularly in commercial, economic, and industrial sectors, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi presidency. 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. Story continues 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 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 Last February, the Biden administration unveiled its $5 billion plan to expand EV charging infrastructure across the country. Not only with the Department of Transportation help states build half a million EV charging stations by 2030, the White House also convinced Tesla to share a portion of its existing Supercharger network with non-Tesla EVs. On Thursday, Ford became the first automaker to formalize that pact with Tesla, announcing during a Twitter Spaces event that "Ford electric vehicle customers access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada," starting in Spring 2024, per the company release. Because Teslas uses a proprietary charger port design for its vehicles, Ford owners will initially need to rely on a Tesla-developed adapter connected to the public charging cable in order to replenish their Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit vehicles. Ford also announced that, beginning with the 2025 model year, it will switch from the existing Combined Charging System (CCS) port to Tesla's now open-source NACS charge port. These 12,000 additional chargers will join Ford's 84,000-strong Blue Oval charging station network. Tesla has led the industry in creating a large, reliable and efficient charging system and we are pleased to be able to join forces in a way that benefits customers and overall EV adoption, Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer of Ford Model e, said in the release. The Tesla Supercharger network has excellent reliability and the NACS plug is smaller and lighter. Overall, this provides a superior experience for customers. 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! Story continues 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 An illustration of two supermassive black holes about to collide as gravitational waves spill into space On May 24, scientists at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) began an 18-month campaign to detect the most distant collisions between black holes and neutron stars ever observed. "We're very excited," said Michael Landry , head of LIGO Hanford Observatory. Thanks to upgrades, LIGO's detectors are now so sensitive they can measure gravitational waves ripples in the fabric of space-time first predicted by Albert Einstein emitted from colliding black holes in galaxies more than 5 billion light-years from Earth. The hunt for gravitational waves will be extended into a worldwide effort. Later in the campaign, LIGO's two U.S. facilities in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana, will be joined by the Virgo detector in Italy and the Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA) in Japan. Studying the black hole population Black holes are bottomless pits in space-time where gravity has become so strong that not even light can escape. Just as planets can orbit stars, and stars can move around other stars, so black holes can circle one another. "A black hole warps space-time, and when they circle around each other they create ripples in space-time," said Sheila Dwyer, staff scientist at LIGO Hanford. These ripples, or gravitational waves, carry energy and angular momentum away from the two black holes, causing them to spiral closer and closer toward each other until they eventually collide in one of the most energetic events in the universe. In September 2015, LIGO detected the first gravitational waves ever observed. "I will remember that day for the rest of my life. It was a great moment," Landry said. The waves were emitted by two black holes with masses roughly 30 times that of the sun. These cosmic monsters crashed into each other at nearly half the speed of light, at a distance more than 1 billion light-years from Earth. LIGO detects the gravitational waves emitted by such collisions by observing the minute displacement of mirrors that hang at the end of two long tunnels. As a gravitational wave passes through LIGO's facilities, the positions of the mirrors shift by less than the size of a proton. Such miniscule displacements can be measured with the help of laser beams that bounce off the mirrors. Story continues "The mirrors have to be a factor of 10 billion times more still than the ground at Hanford that we are standing on," Landry told Live Science. "This is a really difficult experiment, and reaching this goal is one of the most difficult parts of it." After several decades of struggles to overcome technological challenges, the chief architects behind LIGO Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss and Barry C. Barish were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 for the first gravitational wave detection. Since this initial detection, LIGO and Virgo have observed 90 gravitational wave events created by colliding black holes or neutron stars, which are highly compact remnants of massive stars that have exploded in a supernova. An artist's depiction of two black holes merging within the disk of a supermassive black hole, later releasing a burst of light. Even more detections are forthcoming thanks to the upgraded instruments. Were going to get several hundreds of events in this 18-month-long run, Landry said. Thanks to these detections, astronomers can study not only single black hole pairs but the entire population of such pairs. "We will be able to pin down the origin of these binary black holes," explained Landry. "Do the black hole binaries come from two stars that were born together and then lived through two successive supernovae? Or are they objects that were captured around one another?" In 2017, LIGO detected the extraordinary collision of two neutron stars . While LIGO and Virgo detected the gravitational waves from the collision, telescopes around Earth observed the electromagnetic radiation. This was the first time that both gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation were observed simultaneously from the same source. Using these observations, researchers could study how colliding neutron stars form a kind of cosmic nuclear laboratory where elements heavier than iron are created. For the upcoming observations, new kinds of sources might be detected. "This observation run is our best chance to date to see a new source of gravitational waves, such as an isolated neutron star in our galaxy," Landry said. "It would produce a continuous gravitational wave signal thats present for the lifetime of the experiment. If we detect that, it would be a huge deal." Upgraded LIGO On May 18, LIGO gave scientists a preview of what is possible with the new upgrades, when it detected what may be a collision between a neutron star and a black hole. This detection occurred even though LIGO's facilities were in what's known as an "engineering run," which means that tweaks to the instrumental setup can still be made by LIGOs engineers before the start of the observations. In the coming months, LIGO is projected to measure at least one event from colliding black holes and neutron stars every week. Future upgrades towards the end of this decade will make it possible for LIGO to observe a few such events every day. Recently, the Indian Cabinet approved the construction of a gravitational wave detector in India. Related stories To Hunt Gravitational Waves, Scientists Had to Create the Quietest Spot on Earth One of the world's largest lasers could be used to detect alien warp drives Physicists want to use gravitational waves to 'see' the beginning of time "With the addition of LIGO India in the early 2030s, we will have five observatories worldwide, which will be fantastic," Landry said. New types of observatories are also planned the Cosmic Explorer in the U.S. and the Einstein Telescope in Europe that promise the detection of even more distant black hole mergers. "If the detectors are a factor of 10 more sensitive, we could look back to the very first stars and see all the stellar mass black hole mergers in the history of the universe," said Sheila Dwyer. "Its kind of mindblowing." 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." 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. Story continues 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. 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 After the Curious Case of Natalia Grace documentary series was announced in April 2023, true crime viewers all asked the same question: Who is Natalia Grace Barnett and what is her story? The orphans case gripped the nation, especially since many avid horror fans went so far as to wonder if the 2009 movie Orphan was based on this true story. Keep reading to find out everything we know about the Natalia Grace case. Who Is Natalia Grace Barnett? Natalia was an orphan from Ukraine and was adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett in April 2010. The couple went through an emergency adoption process with whom they were told was a 6-year-old child. However, the Florida couple later grew concerned over Natalias alleged troubling behavior and believed that she was actually an adult with a form of dwarfism known as spondyloepiphyseal. Spondyloepiphyseal (SEDc) is a rare genetic disorder that results in short stature and skeletal anomalies that primarily affect the spine and long bones of the arms and legs, according to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. After Natalia allegedly exhibited violent and aggressive behavior while at home with the Barnett family, Michael and Kristine were worried about their three biological children, as the pair claimed that Natalia tried to stab the family while they were asleep. According to the ID docuseries trailer, one of the Barnett sons alleged that he didnt feel safe around Natalia. Michael also claimed that he woke up to see Natalia standing at the foot of his and Kristines bed, holding a knife. During a 2019 interview on Good Morning America, Michael claimed that he and his now-ex wife were told by doctors [that] this person is a sociopath, this person is a con artist, you are all in danger. Where Is Natalia Grace Now? In 2013, the Barnetts moved to Canada and left Natalia in America in a rental apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. Michael and Kristine later divorced but maintained their claims about their adopted child. Story continues Even though Michael and Kristine filed a petition in 2012 to the Marion County Probate Court to change Natalias birth year from 2003 to 1989, they eventually faced charges in the state of Indiana. The parents were charged with several counts of neglect in September 2019. Michael faced counts including neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury, neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury and conspiracy to neglect a dependent. However, four counts of neglect of a dependent were dismissed against Michael in February 2022. He then appeared in court in October 2022 for his trial. That month, the father of three was found not guilty, and charges against Kristine were dropped in March 2023, less than one month before her scheduled trial. As of now, Natalia Grace is still seemingly living in Indiana and is still alive today. She even appeared on Dr. Phil in November 2019 with a family that took her in when she was placed in her apartment. Antwon and Cynthia Mans spoke alongside Natalia during the interview, noting that they were not concerned about her in any way. "We have other children. We have a grandson," Cynthia explained at the time, adding, [Natalia] does nothing but love her siblings and her nephew." Three years later, Natalia testified during Michaels October 2022 trial in Indiana. I wanted to be with the Barnetts. I wanted to live with them, she said at the time while explaining why she didnt want to live on her own. Was Natalia Grace Really a Child? Though Natalias birth year was legally changed from 2003 to 1989, a woman named Anna Volodymyrivna Gava who claimed to be her biological mother came forward to tell her alleged side of the story in an October 2019 interview with Daily Mail TV. In her interview, Anna claimed she was "forced to give up Natalia 16 years ago, when the girl was an infant." Curious Case of Natalia Grace Docuseries Streaming The docuseries is set to air on May 29, 2023, on the ID network. However, a streaming platform has not been announced. Having fun in the California sun! Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Jennie Garth shot to fame playing Kelly Taylor on the teen drama from 1990 to 2000. These days, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends down by the beach. Jennie shares kids Luca, Lola and Fiona with her ex-husband, Peter Facinelli, whom she was married to from 2001 to 2013. The Dancing With the Stars alum is currently married to Dave Abrams. Their love for traveling and spending time together outdoors is evident in all of their sweet Instagram posts. In July 2015, the blonde beauty and her hubby took a trip to Hawaii with her kiddos. During the vacation, Jennie was photographed walking along the beach in a black bikini and floppy hat. The sitcom star showed off two floral tattoos on her thighs and hips in her two-piece. Jennie previously spoke out about her love for tattoos and hinted at getting some more ink. Im still getting tattoos, she said at a Crest and Oral-B event in August 2012. I love body art, so its something that I love. It doesnt mean something that Lola will love or Fiona. The Illinois native loves showing off her ink in gorgeous swimsuits and beachy outfits whenever she gets the chance. In June 2019, Jennie had a bikini-clad reunion with some of her 90210 castmates. She posed in a black bikini alongside Tori Spelling and Gabrielle Carteris. The trio enjoyed dinner on a rooftop in their swimwear and sported makeup-free looks. Jennie hasn't changed a bit!!! one fan commented on the post shared on Toris Instagram page. Fans of 90210 have loved seeing that Jennie and Toris friendship has withstood the test of time. Its a true friendship, the Mommywood author shared during a 2014 appearance on The View. We were friends when we were in our teens. And you never know. In our 40s, you dont have those friendships that are lasting and ours have. The duo currently cohosts the 9021OMG podcast and they love making listeners laugh with their hilarious commentary and stories from their past. Tori also loves sharing stunning bikini photos on her Instagram page, proving that the California coast is truly a beachy paradise! Scroll below to see Jennies rare bikini photos. KHARTOUM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and the United States on Friday announced that Sudanese warring sides improved compliance with the cease-fire deal. The two countries said in a joint statement posted by the U.S. Embassy in Sudan on Twitter that the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were better adhering to the Agreement on a Short-Term Cease-fire and Humanitarian Arrangements signed on May 20. "Although there was observed use of military aircraft and isolated gunfire in (Sudan's capital) Khartoum, the situation improved from May 24 when the cease-fire monitoring mechanism detected serious breaches of the agreement," it said. The statement further stated that "the facilitators cautioned the Sudanese parties against further violations," urging them to uphold their commitments under the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan signed on May 11. On May 20, the Sudanese Army and the RSF signed the Agreement on a Short-Term Cease-fire and Humanitarian Arrangements in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah under Saudi-U.S. patronage. According to the 7-day deal, which entered into force on May 22, the parties shall guarantee the freedom of movement of civilians throughout the country and protect them from violence, harassment, recruitment, or other abuse, as well as refrain from any violations of international human rights law. The parties shall also provide security guarantees for safe, unhindered access for humanitarian agencies. 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. Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the RSF in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15. Shant Joshis Los Angeles and Toronto-based company Fae Pictures (2023 Cannes title In Flames) has boarded Cape Town-based company Giant Films Runs in the Family. Fae will executive produce and handle the festival launch of the LGBTQ+ road trip family drama, a clip for which has been unveiled. The film is by real-life father-son duo Ian Gabriel (Ludik) and Gabe Gabriel (No Hiding Here). Ian directed and Gabe wrote and stars in Runs in the Family. The film marks Gabes first professional role since he came out as trans in 2019. More from Variety The film follows a reformed con artist, Varun (Ace Bhatti), and his transmasculine son, River (Gabe Gabriel), on a road trip across South Africa to break Rivers estranged mother (Diaan Lawrenson) out of rehab. When injury befalls Ollie (Cleo Wesley), Rivers drag partner and best friend, his mother propels father and son to partner up for a drag competition that could win River his gender-affirming surgery. Runs in the Family will have its world premiere on June 1 at the Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto followed by its Asian premiere at the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival on June 10. The film is produced by Amina Thornton and executive produced by Cindy Gabriel (Four Corners) and Joshi. Indigenous Film Distribution is handling South African distribution. Fae Pictures is handling festival distribution internationally. Gabe Gabriel said: Writing something so close to home, yet fictional, was an interesting new challenge. While based on my own complex, but positive relationship with my father as a young trans man coming into his own in South Africa, the story had to eventually separate itself from us and become its own magical thing in order to really take off. I took anecdotes from my life and my real fathers life and the qualities of our relationship and infused them into these fictional characters in order to both humanise them and make them interesting and specific and kind of quirky. One of my main goals was to represent something I have in real life but have never seen before in tv and film a positive father-and-trans son relationship. Story continues Runs in the Family marks my first serious acting role since I came out as trans in 2019. The first thing Ill say is what a relief it is to spend all my energy on acting rather than half on the character and half on performing a gender that never felt like it fit me. It was also extremely rewarding to play my first trans role to portray a trans experience in all of its very specific and beautiful, nuanced complexities, Gabe added. Ian Gabriel said: Its been a joy building Runs in the Family as a father-son team, as a director working with my son, Gabe Gabriel (writer, lead actor and second unit director). So far, weve never yet seen a representation of a relationship like ours, on film. So we decided to create one. A positive one. A familiar yet untold heartfelt father-son family road trip comedy. Every time you decide to make a film, its something new, a rebirth. That is the most promising aspect for any discussion of the filmmakers vision: that something new and not seen before will be given the chance to evolve. The magic of film offers up hope for opportunities. We hand the film over to the audience and invite them to see and hopefully recognise some of the memories and thoughts of their own life, reimagined, binding us all together in the democratic dreamworld of cinema. Runs in the Family is a Giant Films presentation in association with Indigenous Film Distribution, The National Film and Video Foundation, The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition and Fae Pictures. Watch the clip here, which contains NSFW language: 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. A Republican in the Louisiana Senate who derailed a bill to ban gender affirming healthcare for transgender minors in the state is facing a blistering wave of social media attacks threatening his political future and accusing him of siding with "butchers and groomers." Acadiana Sen. Fred Mills, the GOP chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, cast the tie-breaking 5-4 vote Wednesday to kill House Bill 648 by Republican Pollock Rep. Gabe Firment. The other votes were cast along party lines, with four Republicans supporting Firment's bill and four Democrats opposing it. The blowback was immediate from national conservatives who have been advocating for anti-LGBTQ laws in state legislatures. Matt Walsh, who has 1.8 million Twitter followers, responded with this tweet: "Fred Mills has sided with the butchers and groomers. He will regret it. This is the biggest mistake of his political career, and also the end of his career. Hes going to be infamous and disgraced by his own base. Well make sure of that." Mills is actually term limited and can't run for a fourth term in the Senate. Mills told USA Today Network he was made aware of the criticism, "but I don't read it." "Anytime you have to break a tie vote, no matter which way you vote, there's going to be backlash, and this is a national topic," Mills said. "I did like I always do. I listened to the debate and made the vote I thought was right. Why would I want to handcuff a doctor and his or her decision? I think they know more about this than politicians." Greg Price encouraged his 277,000 Twitter followers to contact Mills' office and accused him of being swayed by drug companies that have contributed to his campaigns: "One look at his donors shows massive contributions from Big Pharma, which gets rich off giving these drugs to children," Price tweeted. Andy Ross, president of the State Freedom Caucus Network, tweeted: "This RINO Republican - Louisiana State Senator Fred Mills - once dressed in drag as a 1st grader in a TV commercial. And now he just killed the bill that would ban transgender surgeries on minors." Story continues But there was praise as well, including a tweet from Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, the first openly LGBTQ person to be elected to a state office: "We dont talk enough about the statesman Fred Mills is. Thank you, Chairman" It was a rare victory for LGBTQ advocates during this Louisiana Legislative Session. Bills to prohibit discussion of gender and sexuality in public school classrooms, referred to by critics as "Don't Say Gay," and a bill to restrict minors' access to public library materials deemed "sexually explicit" remain in play. Gender affirming healthcare can range from counseling to puberty blockers to surgery. Louisiana Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, is pictured here during a town hall meeting in Carencro on Dec. 1, 2020. Firment's bill, which secured a veto-proof win in the House, would have almost certainly cleared the full Senate had it been advanced from MIlls' committee. Republicans hold a super majority in both the Louisiana Senate and House. "The legislation passed easily through the House with bipartisan support, and I am confident that the full Senate would have passed this important legislation that is overwhelmingly supported by the people of Louisiana," Firment said in a statement to USA Today Network. "It is unfortunate that the voice of the people was silenced in a state Senate committee room. "Louisiana remains the only state in the South to allow its children to be harmed by these experimental procedures, but we will keep fighting to pass this legislation and protect Louisianas children no matter the cost and despite the forces aligned against us." More: Louisiana advancing wave of anti-LGBTQ bills from 'Don't Say Gay' to library restrictions Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1 This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana GOP senator blocks ban on transgender healthcare for children A new law in Colorado says providers must get a patients prior consent for medical students to perform pelvic exams while the patient is unconscious during a procedure. Proponents of the law say it protects patients from feeling violated, and in some cases, retraumatized after surviving sexual assault. However, medical providers say it was already considered a standard practice of care. Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, as acting governor, signed the law Thursday that puts Colorado in company with at least 20 other states with consent laws including Montana, Missouri and Ohio, among others, according to Associated Press. However, Colorados law, which had bipartisan support, goes a step further by requiring medical students be named and meet the patient prior to the procedure. Learning of a nonconsensual 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. 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 the 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. But health care providers says this is a standard practice in most learning medical institutions. This is something weve been doing for 20 years, said Dr. Emily Schneider, assistant professor obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorados school of medicine. To do a pelvic exam on a woman under anesthesia without their consent is already prohibited and considered assault. The law is just redundant. Long COVID: Study identifies symptoms that distinguish long COVID an essential step toward much-needed treatment Story continues Schneider, who is also the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists legislative chair for Colorado, said patients typically meet everyone who will be in the operating room before undergoing surgery. Theyre also informed that pelvic exams during surgery help with the operative planning process, she added. You cant know until the muscles are relaxed where to make the incision, Schneider said. It does help with our surgical decision-making skills. There are certain caveats. Under the new law, 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. As states also pass laws against gender-affirming care and abortion, some providers worry prior consent laws may be another example of government unnecessarily meddling in womens health, arguing that guidance should come from medical associations. This is something we deal with in womens health on a daily basis. Were used to people who have no business regulating medicine passing bills that affect the care that we provide patients, Schneider said. But we also want to be very conscientious and protective of our patients and make sure theyre truly informed when they go into the operating room. Contributing: Associated Press. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. Prior authorizations: Doctors and patients are worried this large health insurer's new policy will delay care This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado now requires patient consent for med students, pelvic exams I wonder what the Harlock brothers' perspective would be these days. Sitting in air-conditioned comfort, many of us grouse about this and that and whos to blame: gasoline, insurance and food prices; tipping and toilet paper, funding Ukraines defense. We listen to politicians of various persuasions, dividing rather than uniting, warning of threats to our nation. But was there any greater threat than during World War II, when Nazi U-boats lurked off Treasure Coast beaches? Axis armies swept across Europe, Asia and Africa, committing atrocities some folks say now are too explicit to be read in school libraries? From left, a person identified only as Walter, sits with Robert, Arthur and Charles Harlock of Wabasso, Florida, in this undated family picture. One Harlock brother sent back to Vero Beach Arthur Harlock, who died at 83 in 2008 after a woodworking career in Indian River County, lived through those threats. A Vero Beach High School graduate, he joined the Navy at 17 in 1943, then was forced to return home to serve at the Vero Beach Naval Air Station after basic training. In town, he dealt with rationing and intentional blackouts to keep Nazi ships and possible planes in the dark. Unrelated, more than 100 fellow soldiers at his base died by the end of the war, many in plane crashes. Why was Harlock sent home? Because his two brothers died earlier in a war that took an estimated 407,000 U.S. soldiers' lives. The Harlocks were the only Indian River County family to lose two siblings in the war. Wabasso brothers Charles (left) and Robert Harlock died while serving overseas during World War II. Arthur Harlock, a third brother, in the Navy, returned to Vero Beach to serve at its Naval Air Station after his brothers died. The first edition of the Vero Beach High School newspaper, The Blotter, published in the Press Journal Oct. 22, 1943, was dedicated to the 300 local "service boys," including those on the Gold Star Honor Roll, serving in World War II. Among them: Charles and Robert Harlock. Remembering Charles Harlock on Memorial Day When Charles Harlock, a Navy gunner's mate protecting Merchant Marine ships delivering Allied supplies overseas, wrote his mother in Wabasso that summer, he wished the teacher luck finding gasoline to travel to North Carolina for summer classes. His sister, Wanda, and her parents made it by bus to Boone, where Margaret Alma Emmitt Harlock went to what is now known as Appalachian State University. The Navy tracked down the Harlocks, telling them Charles, 20, had been struck and killed Aug. 10, 1943, by a taxi in Liverpool, England. The hit-and-run led to a criminal investigation. Story continues Injured on Merchant Marine vessel Charles Harlock, center, of Wabasso, Florida, sits with buddies in this undated picture from World War II. A survivor: Eyeing World War II memorial, Vero Beach group honors medic, 97, who saw horrors Memorial Day 2023: Indian River County Veterans Council sets events for the day "It was terrible," Wanda Harlock Anderson, told me in 2008. "I think I cried all the way from North Carolina home." Her brother's remains were not returned to Indian River County until 1949. The veteran, who joined the Navy after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, survived an incident seven months earlier in which the SS Pan Royal he was on was rammed by two other vessels and sunk, killing eight. Harlock was injured and treated in a New York military hospital before returning to England. Life magazine makes pictures of the USS Dorado Y2 Robert E. Harlock is seen in an undated wartime photo housed in the National Archives. Defending liberty: After month in Ukraine, he'd go back; but U.S. veteran has message for Americans Remembering their service: World War II medals returned, sort of Robert Harlock, the oldest of five siblings, joined the Navy in 1940. In 1943, the yeoman second class received orders to relocate from the Panama Canal Zone to launch a new submarine in Groton, Connecticut. His USS Dorado, named after a fish we frequently call "mahi-mahi," would go down in history for at least two reasons. In 1942, the Electric Boat Co., hired its first female welders, machinists and sheet metal workers to build the ship, according to TheDay.com. Life magazine sent a photographer to record the women at work, and the color images show them in overalls and gloves, with sleeves rolled up and hair in kerchiefs, as Dorado comes together beneath their hands, The Day reported. For reasons unknown, Life never published the photos. Yeoman has heartfelt surprise for parents The USS Dorado is shown in an undated U.S. Navy image. It disappeared en route from Groton, Connecticut, to the Panama Canal Zone in October 1943. A Navy Court of Inquiry determined the Dorado likely was the victim of friendly fire, according to TheDay.com. About a week into the Dorado first mission, 77 officers and crew died. Remembering heroes on Memorial Day: Veteran doesn't want Americans to forget effort of special forces Video: Learn more about how special forces helped win World War II The story goes on to say some early crew thought the ship might be jinxed because men and women worked together below decks. On Sept. 30, 1943, Robert Harlock, 22, sent home a two-page, single-spaced, typed letter thanking his family for a birthday present and offering news: The Dorado would head out soon.I now have one very big surprise for you, putting it bluntly, I was married 2:30 Monday afternoon in Baltimore, Maryland, he wrote, adding his wife was "attractive," "nice" and was from Boston. Theyd dated four months, and he planned to send her to live with his parents once the Dorado departed. Also in the letter was heartfelt appreciation: My folks are the best a person could ask for, he wrote, noting he yearned to come home for a visit, but had no time to do so. This tragedy (his brother's death) that has occurred in our family has really and truly brought us much closer together. Two weeks later, six days after leaving Groton, the Dorado disappeared. It has never been found, becoming one of 52 U.S. submarines lost in the war. When the sub failed to arrive at the Panama Canal unsuccessful searches were launched in the Caribbean, The Day reported. A Navy Court of Inquiry decided Dorado had probably been the victim of friendly fire by bombers thinking they saw a U-boat. Another theory is a U-Boat, known to have been in the vicinity, dropped mines the Dorado ran into. What will you do Memorial Day? The USS Dorado Memorial in Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, Kansas, reflects the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II's commitment to remember their brothers lost at sea. More: stories of World War II heroism: Even before 9/11, some patriots never forgot the date Whose vision was it to build memorial? Remember World War I fallen; hero survivor behind Vero Beach veterans sanctuary Harlock was one of 77 men lost. They are memorialized at the USS Dorado Memorial in Wichita Veterans Memorial Park in Kansas. Each state was designated to honor a lost submarine. The other day in Vero Beach, the community gathered at Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary to dedicate a monument honoring merchant mariners from World War II. Its part of ongoing improvements at the memorial. In November, organizers hope to unveil a World War II memorial, which will be incorporated into a permanent stage for ceremonies. An amazing story: Paintings shed light on secret of former Vero Beach family who came from Hungary Funds are needed to complete the project. Donations can be made online via the Cultural Council of Indian River County or mailed to the council at 1216 21st St., Vero Beach, FL 32960. A Pearl Harbor remembrance: 90th birthday sure beats sweet 16 on Pearl Harbor Laurence Reisman This weekend, Ill be thinking of the Harlock brothers and their family. It was crushed with the loss of their two oldest sons under unusual circumstances leaving them without closure all in the service of our great nation. Thats what our Memorial Day remembrance should be about. This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com, phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the latest local news on the Treasure Coast. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Bitter? Want to blame Dems, GOP? Remember Vero Beach High brothers Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember and honor military personnel who died while serving the nation. It's also a time to celebrate the unofficial start of summer, and metro Detroit has plenty to offer on both fronts. Several communities will have parades with patriotic displays and floats this holiday weekend, including one of Michigan's oldest Memorial Day parades. Metro Detroiters can also get out and experience the aroma of barbecue in the air at the Novi BBQ fest, stroll a lakefront art fair in Milford; or catch some live music and get free health screenings in a southwest Detroit community fair. Here are 5 things to do for the weekend of May 26. This juried art fair combines a lakefront setting and the work of more than 100 artists from Michigan and across the country, spread out in Kensingston Metroparks natural setting. A variety of mediums will be featured including paintings, sculpture, functional art, jewelry, mixed media, metal, fiber, clay, wood, photography and more. Kensington Art Fair on the Lake at Kensington Metropark in Milford. The Detroit Institute of Arts and the Huron Valley Council for the Arts will be onsite to help with art projects for guests. Musicians will play unique world music throughout the event and food trucks and specialty food will be onsite. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday at Kensington Metropark, Maple Beach in Milford. Admission to the air fair is free, but a Metropark pass is required to enter the park. Daily admission is $10. More: Movement festival 2023: What to know as the techno music world converges on Detroit Parades This parade returns for its 97th year and is hosted by the city of Dearborn and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council. Parade attendees watch Dearborn police march during the 96th Memorial Day Parade along Michigan Avenue in Dearborn on Monday, May 30, 2022. The parade returned after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. The event features more than 80 regional officials, marching bands and community groups and concludes with a Remembrance Ceremony in honor of the fallen. The parade will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday with a military funeral procession. Grand Marshal and parade groups to follow. Story continues Due to planned road construction, the parade route will be moved to west Dearborn, along Michigan Avenue. The parade will begin at Nowlin Street and end at the Dearborn Historical Museum's McFadden Ross House at 915 S. Brady St., where a Remembrance Ceremony will be held on the lawn at noon. Festivities for this 44th annual event begin with a 9 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony in the courtyard between City Hall at 40555 Utica Road and the Police Department. Tribute to Tuskegee Airmen, with a P-51 Mustang flyover at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. At approximately 9:30 a.m., authentic Tuskegee Airmen WWII airplanes will fly over the event. The parade has more than 60 entries that include floats, veterans, community organizations and high school marching bands. The Moslem Shriners and their team of clowns, cowboys, musicians, motorcyclists and more will make an appearance. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday from Dodge Park and ends at Heritage Jr. High, at Metro Parkway in Sterling Heights. This festival in southwest Detroit, put on by Tri-City Community Development Corporation, will include live music, food, a petting zoo, free health screenings, a salute to veterans, dance lessons, a chef competition and more. Attendees at a community festival in southwest Detroit posing in front of a bounce house. Free health screenings will be offered both days by Hygienist on Wheels, the University of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Clinic, Wayne State University Sight Savers and Authority Health. Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Eden Park, 12001 Gleason in Detroit. Local and national BBQ trucks, live music, a variety of craft beer (about 300 to choose from), face painting, magic shows and more are expected at this fest. Novi BBQ Fest. 5-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; Noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at 12 Mile Crossing, 44175 W. 12 Mile in Novi. Free admission and free parking. Interact with life-size dinosaurs and dragons that have been produced with advanced animatronics and sound technology that brings these creatures to life at this walk-through experience throughout Canterbury Village. Dino and Dragon Stroll at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, Michigan. Dinosaurs range from babies to a huge brachiosaurus that stands 20 feet tall and 36 feet long, a mamenchisaurus that stands over two stories high and 60 feet. long, the mammoth spinosaurus, also over two stories high and over 45 feet long, the T-Rex at 28 feet tall and over 60 feet long and the apatosaurus at 24 feet tall and 65 feet long, to name a few prehistoric creatures that will be at this outdoor experience. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Canterbury Village, 2357 Josyln Court in Lake Orion. $24.99 for adults and children ages two and up. Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Memorial Day parades, animatronic dinosaurs: 5 things to do The 2022 Mansfield Memorial Day Parade Here's a rundown of some of the Memorial Day events in Richland, Ashland and Crawford counties: Richland County Memorial Day parades, events: The Mansfield Memorial Day Parade is 10:30 a.m. Monday and begins at the 5-way intersection of Park Avenue West and Marion Avenue, and continues east on Park Avenue to the gazebo in Central Park on the downtown square. There is a memorial service at the gazebo immediately following the parade with speaker Doug Theaker, a Korean War veteran. Placing of flags in Mansfield Cemetery The public is invited to help honor veterans by placing a flag on their grave at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Mansfield Cemetery, 389 Altamont Ave. Look for the Richland County Veteran Services van and trailer at the Veterans Honor Grounds to pick up flags. Starting here avoids traffic congestion at the front gate. Avenue of the Flags observance in Ontario The annual Avenue of Flags Ceremony sponsored by the VFW Post 9943 Auxiliary will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mansfield Memorial Park, 2507 Park Avenue West in Ontario. Speaker is U.S. Army veteran Ken Estep, who is director of the Richland County Veteran Service Commission. More than 200 flags have been donated. Five new flags will be presented honoring the following: Joseph J. Bapka - U.S. Army; Richard L. Geog - U.S. Army; Gene A. Hartland - U.S. Navy; Robert G. Keller - U.S. Marines; and Raymond T. Shaum Jr. - U.S. Marines. Bellville Memorial Day Parade Bellville Memorial Day Parade will line up at the corner of Bell and Ogle streets at 10:30 a.m. Monday with the parade starting at 11 a.m. The parade is sponsored by the American Legion Post 535. No preregistration required and no political entries permitted. There will be a Memorial Day service in the cemetery following the parade. Butler Memorial Day Parade The Butler Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. on College Street; parade lineup is at 8 a.m. and the ceremony honoring veterans following the parade will be at Memorial Park. Story continues Lexington Memorial Day Parade The Lexington Memorial Day Parade will kick off at Lexington High School at 10 a.m. Monday and travel onto Delaware Street to Main Street to the Lexington Cemetery where there will be a service. Plymouth Memorial Day Parade The Plymouth Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 10:30 a.m. near the village hall at 48 W. Broadway St. with a service to honor veterans to follow at Greenlawn Cemetery. Shelby Memorial Day Parade The Shelby Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 10 a.m. Monday at The Boulevards. A Memorial Day service will be held at 11 a.m. in Oakland Cemetery. Shiloh Memorial Day Service to Honor veterans The Shiloh Memorial Day Service will be at 8:15 a.m. Monday at Mt. Hope Cemetery on Noble Road West at Shiloh-Norwalk Road. There is no parade. Picking up flags at Mansfield Cemetery Anyone wanting to volunteer to help pick up flags in Mansfield Cemetery may do so at 10 a.m. June 10. There will be two locations to drop off flags: at the Veterans Honor Grounds and by the Vasbinder Monument near the Old Soldiers Ground. All volunteers are welcome. Crawford County Memorial Day parade, events Memorial Day will be observed on Monday. Weather permitting, the day will begin with a parade forming at Washington Square at 9 a.m. The parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. and head toward Oakwood Cemetery where the program will begin at 10 a.m. at the Lemert Memorial unless the ground is too wet, then it will be moved to the columbarium at the northeast corner of the cemetery property. If it is raining Monday morning, the parade will be canceled and the program will be moved to Bucyrus Elementary School, 245 Woodlawn Ave. The parade marshal this year will be WW II veteran Harold Eppley. Epply was born in 1925, the second son of Chester and Grace Heiber Eppley in Seneca County. The family moved to Heiber Road in Crawford County when Harold was 5 years old. Harold enjoyed the agriculture classes at Homes Liberty and graduated in 1943 during the height of World War II. In 1945 he was drafted by the U.S. Army, but was declined due to a heart murmur. Later that year he was called back and sent to Ft. Knox, Kentucky for basic training. From there he went to California, before being shipped out to the Philippines. While on the ship they received news that Japan had surrendered, however they still found themselves under sniper fire from the mountains, even after the surrender. He was sent home just before Christmas for a furlough, and then was sent to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania where he was scheduled to deploy to Europe before an appendicitis changed those orders. He was sent to Ft. Mead, Maryland and finally to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he worked many jobs until his discharge in November 1946. In 1948 Harold married Faythe Yaussy and began farming. In 1982 they bought Faythes father Austin Yaussys insurance agency, which they operated until the mid-90s. Harold and Faythe had enjoyed many years of square dancing and church activities with Howard and Martha Yaussy. Several years after they both had lost their spouses, Harold and Martha decided that they missed square dances and they married in 2003. Harold has served our community in several capacities over the years through various boards and organizations. Assistant parade marshals are all current and honorably discharged veterans. This years master of ceremonies will be Robert Bob Laipply, Jr. Bob is an Army veteran serving from 1968-1970, stationed at Fort Claytons Corozal Area, in the U.S. Panama Canal Zone. As an Airborne Infantryman, Bobs assigned duties were as a military policeman serving Tropical Test Site and staffing security patrols for the Southern Command Headquarters. Bob achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5 before being honorably discharged from active duty in May of 1970. He is a retired teacher from the Bucyrus City School system. Bob and his wife Sandy (McGraw) both graduated from Bucyrus High School, as did their three children, Jason, Jennifer and Judson. They have three grown grandchildren, Beth and Carly Graham and Ryan Hawkins. Father Paul Fahrbach Holy Trinity Church will give the invocation and benediction. This years keynote speaker is Richard Eugene Johnson, a 1964 graduate from Wynford High School. Because of his interest in the sciences of mechanical and electrical equipment he went into the Army Security Agency right out of high school. He served 9 months in telecommunications training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, then 18 months in Ethiopia and 18 months in California to complete the four-year enlistment. He received a bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering at DeVry University. He spent the next several years working in that field before returning to the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University, where he earned a business masters degree. On a part-time and weekend basis, he has spent 34 years in emergency medical services and as volunteer fireman, and is a nationally registered paramedic. For 25 years he has been an instructor with the American Heart Association as a BLS/Heart Saver Instructor in First Aid, CPR-AED classes. The Bucyrus High School Marching Band will play the National Anthem. General John A. Logan's General Order No. 11, designating May 30 as the day to remember our nations war dead, will be read by Bucyrus High School graduate Ethan Huff. Fellow BHS graduate Madalyn Kimmel will recite President Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address. The Bucyrus Middle School Marching Band will play "Hail Columbia." The Salute to the Dead will be presented by the Bucyrus Veterans Honor Guard, followed by the playing of "Taps" by Jayda Pickens, and "The Echo" by Jenna Ashley. The program will be broadcast later in the day on Facebook Iconic Rock Q92.7 WQEL Any veteran who would like to be in the parade is welcome to participate. Members of Moose Lodge 669 will have vehicles available to drive those veterans in need. Area Scout troops are invited to participate in the parade. Those interested should meet at Washington Square at 9 a.m. This week members of the Veterans Memorial Society have placed more than 3,500 flags on the graves of veterans in Bucyrus and surrounding township cemeteries. The Veterans Memorial Society is a group of honorably discharged veterans from all wars and peace time. They meet three to four times a year to prepare for the Memorial Day Services and place flags on the graves of area veterans in observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Remember to fly your flag every day if possible, but especially on holidays. Remember also that the proper way to display the flag on Memorial Day is to fly it at half-staff until noon and then back to full-staff after noon. American Legion Post 181, 123 E. Rensselaer St., Bucyrus, will have a hog roast after the services from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. This meal is free to all honorably discharged and active duty veterans, though family and friends may join for a freewill donation. Ashland Memorial Day Parade The speaker for the city's Memorial Day service at Ashland Cemetery will be a retired National Guard colonel from Somerville. Ashland Honor Guard leads the Memorial Day parade down Main Street to the Ashland Cemetery on Monday, May 30, 2022. TOM E. PUSKAR/TIMES-GAZETTE.COM Christopher E. Killer joined the Guard in 1985, and upon completing Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1989. He returned to active duty August 1994 as a captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. He retired at the end of September 2022 after 37 years of service that includes deployments during Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Joint Guard/Forge and Enduring Freedom, according to the Ashland Times-Gazette. Master of Ceremonies at the May 29 service will be E. Wayne Risner and vocalist will be Melanie Miller, singing the national anthem and "God Bless America." Chaplain will be Jerry Shearer. Flower representatives from the area veterans organizations will place bouquets of flowers at the monument during the service. The parade will kick off at 10 a.m. and proceed down Union Street to Main Street and disband at Ashland Cemetery. Parade lineup begins at 9 a.m. on Fourth Street. Parade marshals will be the Ashland Veterans Honor Guard, which is composed of volunteers from the veteran organizations in Ashland. They participate in parades, events and ceremonies. The most common service they provide is at funerals of fellow veterans, where they perform and fold and present an American flag to the next of kin, perform a 21-gun salute and play taps. They will be honored during the service at Ashland Cemetery. The entry process for the parade is open for residents, churches, businesses and organizations that would like to participate. Every person/group in the parade should focus on patriotism. lwhitmir@gannett.com 419-521-7223 Twitter: @LWhitmir This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Memorial Day parades, services in the area 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 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. Story continues 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 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. Story continues 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. The funeral for Oconee County deputy Lt. Scott Underwood is Friday. A funeral service for Oconee County sheriffs Lt. Scott Underwood will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Prince Avenue Baptist Church off U.S. Highway 78 in Bogart. The public is invited to the service; however, the visitation and graveside burial is private. Underwood, an officer in the sheriffs office for 21 years, was killed in an accident May 19, when his riding lawn mower overturned in the backyard of his home in Farmington community. 'Tragic and terrible': Oconee County deputy dies in lawn mower accident A highway procession from the church after the service is also available for the public to stand along the route for people to pay their respects, according to the sheriffs office. Oconee County Sheriff James Hale said Wednesday that the procession will leave the church after the service and travel Highway 78 to Georgia 316, then to the Oconee Connector. The procession then heads south on Mars Hill Road to Butlers Crossing in Watkinsville, where it will move to U.S. Highway 441 and head south to Farmington. In lieu of flowers, people can donate to the Scott M. Underwood Benefit Account at Oconee State Bank. All funds will go to the Underwood family. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Highway procession set for Oconee deputy killed in accident WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese side has expressed key concerns on the U.S. China policies on economy and trade, and semiconductor, as well as issues concerning export control and outbound investments review during Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao's talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday. The Queen's trip to California came during the Troubles, the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland where more than 3,500 people were killed Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Queen Elizabeth The FBI was aware of frightening threats against Queen Elizabeth during her tour of California 40 years ago. For the first time, recently declassified documents reveal that the federal law enforcement agency was aware of assassination threats against Queen Elizabeth during her visit to the U.S. with Prince Philip in 1983. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were invited by then-President Ronald Reagan to see his home state, and authorities learned a few weeks before that an alleged sympathizer of the Irish Republican Army wished to do her harm. The royal couple arrived on the Royal Yacht Britannia on February 26 and spent a week exploring the best of California, The New York Times reported at the time. David Levenson/Getty Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan In FBI files seen by PEOPLE, in February 1983, a San Francisco Police Department officer was contacted by another officer who "is a regular patron and regular acquainted with [an unidentified patron] of the Dovre Club. (The Dovre Club has a popular reputation as a "republican bar" that is frequented by sympathizers with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA).) RELATED: Meet the British Royal Family: A Complete Guide to the Modern Monarchy David Cairns/Getty Queen Elizabeth According to the report, the unidentified patron told the latter officer that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet and that he planned to harm the British monarch. This man additionally claimed he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth and would do this either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge when it sails underneath or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park, the documents state, noting that the Secret Service planned to close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge when the ship neared. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty President Ronald Reagan and Queen Elizabeth RELATED: Every Photo from the Coronation of King Charles III Story continues The files added that authorities planned to contact the patron, who has been interviewed in PIRA cases and has been generally cooperative, although he makes no secret of his sympathies for the IRA. The royal visit to the U.S. came during the Troubles, the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland that divided unionists and nationalists over whether Northern Ireland should stay within the U.K. or join the Republic of Ireland, the BBC reported. Groups from both sides like the IRA and Ulster Volunteer Force carried out attacks, and British troops were deployed to Northern Ireland. Anwar Hussein/Getty Queen Elizabeth Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Over 3,500 people were killed in related violence during the years-long conflict, including Prince Philips uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was assassinated by an IRA bomb in 1979. The Troubles came to a close when the Good Friday agreement was signed in 1998. Despite the threat, the FBI reported that Queen Elizabeths visit to California wrapped without incident, and the case was closed. Elsewhere in the extensive file, before the Queen visited Kentucky in 1989, the FBI noted that the possibility of threats against the British monarchy is everpresent from the Irish Republican Army. Two years later, in 1991, the federal law enforcement agency was on alert for protests when she attended a Baltimore Orioles game with President George H.W. Bush. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. 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. More: Ex-boyfriend charged with rape, murder in death of Moore teen Madeline Bills 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. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Police: US Marshal kills Shari Vincent in Oklahoma trying to arrest her 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. Story continues 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. The post Pulp Reunite for First Show in 11 Years: Videos + Setlist appeared first on Consequence. Pulp kicked off their long-awaited 2023 This is What We Do For an Encore Tour at the Bridlington Spa in Bridlington, England on May 26th. The newly-reunited Britpop icons played a set full of fan favorites and deep cuts, marking their first show in a decade: We are Pulp Ive not said that for quite a long time, vocalist Jarvis Cocker greeted the packed crowd. Cocker and company tore through the majority of their 1995 masterpiece Different Class, opening with I Spy and saving their smash Common People until their first of two encores. The set also included some highlights from 1994s His N Hers like Do You Remember the First Time? and Babies; deeper cuts like Weeds and Glory Days; and their 2013 single After You. An encore happens when the crowd makes enough noise to bring the band back to the stage, the band said in a statement announcing the reunion last October. So We are playing in the UK and Ireland in 2023. Therefore Come along and make some noise. See you there. From the looks of it, folks certainly came along and made some noise. See videos of the evening as well as Pulps setlist below. Notably, this marked Pulps first show since the death of longtime bassist Steve Mackey in March 2023, whod previously announced that hed be sitting out on the reunion tour. Pulp will continue their tour through the UK and Ireland through July. You can find tickets at Viagogo. Pulp are back. First gig in ten years at Bridlington. @welovepulp pic.twitter.com/YoFRU74TP8 David Prescott (@DavidPrescott) May 26, 2023 Best version of Disco 2000 Ive ever heard. @welovepulp are going to blow you away this summer. Pulp. Are. Back. pic.twitter.com/QIYaWIyJax David Prescott (@DavidPrescott) May 26, 2023 Pulp Setlist: I Spy Disco 2000 Something Changed Dishes Pink Glove Sorted for Es & Wizz This Is Hardcore Weeds F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. Do You Remember the First Time? Babies Sunrise Story continues Encore: Like a Friend Underwear Common People Encore 2: After You Mis-Shapes Glory Days Pulp Reunite for First Show in 11 Years: Videos + Setlist Abby Jones 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. The 14-legged isopod is RamenBoy's "dream ingredient," the restaurant said in a Facebook post. RamenBoy A ramen shop in Taiwan is offering a giant isopod as part of a new signature ramen dish. The 14-legged "Great King-Legged Worm" tastes like lobster and crab, restaurant Ramen Boy says. The ramen goes for around $48 per bowl, and is served with shell and antennae. A deep-sea isopod called the "Great King-Legged Worm" is now the centerpiece of a new dish at a ramen shop in Taipei. The giant, 14-legged creature, found at depths of at least 550 feet in the Atlantic, is the store's "dream ingredient," the restaurant Ramen Boy said in a Facebook post on Monday. Ramen Boy assured customers that the crustacean tastes just like lobster and crab meat when steamed, and that its "yellow glands taste like crab roe." Boiled in chicken soup and served with squid and bonito flakes, the King-Legged Worm ramen costs around $48 a bowl, according to Ramen Boy. Diners will receive their ramen topped with the isopod's shell and antennae, which the restaurant said is just for decoration. "The Great King-Legged Worm is very cute, when I go to Japan, I'll visit an aquarium to see it," Ramen Boy's Facebook post said. "The takeaway girl has just said she doesn't dare to come to work," the post added. The giant isopod in question is the Bathynomus giganteus, a carnivorous species distantly related to shrimp, crabs, and common woodlice. They're not usually fished for commercial consumption because they live at depths of up to 7,000 feet. But giant isopods are sometimes found in Japanese cuisine. In 2015, a Japanese company started making crackers out of the crustaceans. That hasn't stopped people in the comments from reacting with some caution to Ramen Boy's new dish, or comparing the "dream ingredient" to oversized cockroaches. "I did hear that it tastes very sweet, but I'll pass," said the top comment. "That really looks way too scary," said another. Nonetheless, Ramen Boy appears to be confident that the dish has its merits. "We of course think the appearance is very impressive," a representative told Insider on Thursday. Read the original article on Insider LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss attend the "Vanderpump Rules" Party For LALA Beauty Hosted By Lala Kent at Beauty & Essex on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) They were getting bold. More is coming to light about the illicit affair between Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval. And it seems the Schwartz & Sandys co-owner was trying to legitimize his trysts with Raquel by taking her to his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri to meet his family. Not only that, but the couple made the trip more than once. Ariana Madix had a chance to say her piece at the Vanderpump Rules reunion. What she presented during Part 1 was absolute dynamite. Since filming the reunion, Ariana made a comeback appearance on Watch What Happens Live, as well as doing the interview circuits. Most recently, Ariana appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast to reveal new tidbits. Because there is so much still coming to light. Raquel was relegated to a hotel room Indeed, Ariana only came to know within the last month that Sandoval took his mistress to meet the family. To add insult to injury, it happened more than once. Sandovals family may have known about Raquel, but they were hardly supportive. As evidenced by the sleeping arrangement provided. Its hard to say what exactly they knew or when they knew, Ariana explained. I think, at one point, they knew but they were definitely not condoning [the relationship] and [Sandoval] was putting [Leviss] up in a hotel. Perhaps the couple felt they could fly under the radar out of state. But Raquel and Sandoval did not avoid detection. Ariana referenced that, there were rumblings of that on the internet. So definitely somebody had seen something at some point, Ariana opined. It was during this interview that the Something About Her co-owner made the shocking admission that Sandoval was intimate with Raquel while she was sleeping in her bed. They had sex in my guest room while I was sleeping in my own bed that he and I went to bed in together and then he left the bed and went to the guest room and fed her, Ariana revealed. Thats bold. Though shameless is a better word. More negative connotations with that one. Story continues But Ariana has moved on from all that toxicity. Her sandwich shop is due to open soon and she was cast in a Lifetime movie. On a personal front, Ariana has been dating NYC-based fitness trailer Daniel Wai. They recently spent a whirlwind couple of days in the Big Apple and shared pictures on social media. Meanwhile, the skewering of Sandoval continues on Part Two of the Vanderpump Rules reunion. Catch it on Bravo, May 31 9/8c. TELL US WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO RAQUEL MEETING SANDOVALS FAMILY MORE THAN ONCE? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE FACT THAT SHE STAYED IN A HOTEL ROOM? The post Raquel Leviss Has Met Tom Sandovals Family More Than Once appeared first on Reality Tea. The post Roger Waters Under Investigation by German Police For Suspected Incitement appeared first on Consequence. Roger Waters is reportedly under criminal investigation by German police for suspected incitement following his concerts in Berlin on May 17th and 18th. As Stereogum points out, Waters came under fire for wearing a uniform of a leather jacket, gloves, armband, and rifle that appeared to resemble that of a Nazi SS soldier. His stage design also featured an inflatable pig covered in Third Reich-esque imagery and a Star of David, a prop Waters has been using since 2010. Per The Jerusalem Post, Waters began the show with a message on a screen announcing: I condemn antisemitism unreservedly. The context of the clothing worn is deemed capable of approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a manner that violates the dignity of the victims and thereby disrupts public peace, police chief inspector Martin Halweg told the Jewish News. After the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Berlin Public Prosecutors Office for legal assessment. Waters uniform was meant to reference Bob Geldofs character Pink in The Wall, the 1982 film based off Pink Floyds album of the same name; the symbol on the armband features a pair of crossed hammers that somewhat resemble a swastika. Additionally, the screen behind Waters displayed the names of people he believes ere murdered by governments, including George Floyd; Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman believed to have been beaten to death by Irans morality police for not wearing a hijab; and German anti-Nazi activist Sophie Scholl, who was beheaded by guillotine in 1943 after being convicted of high treason for distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich. The screen went on to flash Anne Franks name before then showing Shireen Abu Akleh, the Palestinian-American journalist who is believed to have been killed by shots from Israeli soldiers during a shootout with Palestinian militants last May. The contrast sparked outrage from Israels Foreign Ministry, who 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. Story continues Update: Waters responded to the investigation in a statement posted on Friday. My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear me because they disagree with my political views and moral principals, he wrote. The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition of fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms. Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated. Rogers has been especially vocal about the Israel-Palestine conflict in recent years, having described Israels treatment of Palestinians as an apartheid and ethnic cleansing, and likening Israel to Nazi Germany. Frankfurt, Germany canceled his show in the city on May 28th, calling him one of the worlds most well-known antisemites, although the show is now scheduled to go on after Waters took legal action. 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. pic.twitter.com/4tcrV6f8mt Israel (@Israel) May 24, 2023 Roger Waters Under Investigation by German Police For Suspected Incitement Abby Jones 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. The Rwandan genocide Fulgence Kayishema, one of the last fugitives sought over the 1994 Rwanda genocide, appeared before a court in Cape Town on Friday, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run. He allegedly took part in one of the genocide's bloodiest episodes, when thousands of men, women and children who had sought shelter in a church were slaughtered. Wearing a blue jacket, black trousers and spectacles, and flanked by armed officers with helmets and bullet-proof vests, Kayishema identified himself before the packed courtroom. The 62-year-old appeared calm and composed as a state prosecutor read out the accusations against him. They include "genocide" and conspiracy to commit genocide "relating to the slaughter of more than 2,000 people in Rwanda in 1994," prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse told the court. At the end of a short hearing, magistrate Ronel Oliver remanded him into custody. He is to be held at Cape Town's maximum security Pollsmoor prison until a next court appearance scheduled for June 2. The former Rwandan police inspector was arrested on Wednesday at a grape farm in the small winelands town of Paarl, 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Cape Town. He had been living in South Africa under an alias for more than two decades, prosecutors said. - Church massacre - He is described by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) -- the successor to the UN court that prosecuted scores of major suspects -- as "one of the world's most wanted genocide fugitives." Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Kayishema and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 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 MICT said on Thursday, announcing his arrest. Story continues "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." South African police said the arrest was made in response to an Interpol red notice, and the suspect had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba. Eric Ntabazalila, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said Kayishema applied for asylum in South Africa in January 2000, pretending to be a citizen of Burundi. Four years later he used the same alias to apply for refugee status, Ntabazalila said, adding the suspect was understood to be a "family man". On Friday, the court was told Kayishema would be facing additional charges of fraud and contravening immigration laws in South Africa, and further charges were likely to follow. - Aliases - The hunt for Kayishema spanned countries across Africa, targeting a man who used many aliases and false documents and relied on a "network of trusted supporters", the MICT 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." The United States had offered up to $5 million reward for information leading to Kayishema's arrest, transfer or conviction, but there have been no details as to whether this played a role in the capture. The MICT in 2015 took over the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), set up by UN after the genocide. Before handing over the reins, the ICTR sentenced 62 people, including a 30-year term handed to former minister Augustin Ngirabatware, and acquitted 14. 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. bur-sn-ub/ri Robert De Niro has played gangsters, boxers, comics, financiers, and politicians now he can add "stylist" to that list. In About My Father, in theaters today, De Niro plays Salvo, a sweetly stubborn Italian American hairdresser modeled on the pop of star and co-writer Sebastian Maniscalco. To prepare, De Niro went straight to the source. "My father came to set. Bob wanted him to teach him how to do a dye job. And I'm sitting on set and watching my dad with the foil, watching him teach him how to do the thing and I'm, like, wow," Maniscalco says. "I never would've thought that I would see my father teaching Robert De Niro how to do hair." "And a scalp massage, too!" chimes in costar Kim Cattrall. Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro in 'About My Father' Lionsgate Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro in 'About My Father' Maniscalco, De Niro, and Cattrall recently sat down with About My Father director Laura Terruso and fellow stars Leslie Bibb, Brett Dier, Anders Holm, and David Rasche for EW's Around the Table video series to discuss family, fragrances, and how wild it was for Maniscalco to see his father portrayed by an actor they grew up watching together. "I had posters of his movies Casino, Goodfellas on my wall," he says of De Niro. "It's just a crazy experience for me that, growing up watching this man's movies and then, now, watching [About My Father], my father sitting in front of me and I'm watching the movie, I'm watching my father... I still pinch myself." What was even wilder for the comedian was hearing about his dad's trip to the set of Martin Scorsese's upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon to spend time with De Niro. "I was shooting Killers of the Flower Moon in Oklahoma, so I asked if Salvo could come down for a day or two to meet, and he did and I went over the script with him, certain scenes, we do this, do that," De Niro says. "And it was good, very helpful. He was a good guy. And then I brought him over to the set to meet Marty Scorsese." Story continues "Yeah, he goes down there and I tell him, 'You gotta call me right when you get out of the meeting, I gotta find out what happened between you two,'" recalls Maniscalco. "It was a pretty surreal moment when I was in Los Angeles and my dad's in Oklahoma sitting in De Niro's trailer discussing the script and my father is, like, working with a script. This is crazy." About My Father is currently in theaters. Watch the full conversation with the director and cast above. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: 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. Story continues 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 Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland Birgir Armannsson via video link, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Birgir Armannsson, the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland, here on Friday, calling for enhanced exchanges between legislative bodies at all levels. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago, the two countries have developed bilateral relations based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect. Zhao said China stands ready to work with Iceland to make bilateral relations a model of harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different political systems and economic sizes. Noting that China has been Iceland's largest trading partner in Asia for 15 years in a row, and this year marks the 10th anniversary since the signing of a free trade agreement between the two countries, Zhao said it is hoped that the two sides will deepen practical cooperation, expand trade, jointly promote green development, deepen cooperation in renewable energy and other fields, and help their respective countries achieve green and low-carbon development. The NPC of China attaches great importance to friendly exchanges with the Iceland's parliament, Zhao said, calling on both sides to strengthen exchanges between legislative bodies at all levels, enhance experience sharing in legislative supervision, governance and environmental protection, enhance mutual trust, and provide sound legal guarantee for bilateral cooperation in various fields. Armannsson said Iceland is willing to strengthen cultural exchanges and mutual learning with China. He said Iceland hopes to further expand bilateral cooperation on economy, trade, green energy, tourism, climate change and Arctic affairs. The parliament of Iceland is willing to deepen friendly exchanges with the NPC of China and make positive legislative contributions to the development of bilateral relations, he added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland Birgir Armannsson via video link, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) PRESS-EXCLUSIVE-2-tqum-Sofia-Reyes-Danna-Paola - Credit: Directora Miami* Mexicos pop princesses Sofia Reyes and Danna Paola are joining forces for their newest single. On Friday, the two stars released Tqum, or I love you a ton, and its silly video, which captures the two crossing paths on the unluckiest flight imaginable. Whenever I fly, I get vulnerable. I start to reflect, miss people, or feel inspired, Reyes tells Rolling Stone about the song. The song is about remembering the person you used to be with and how you miss him and want to be back with him. More from Rolling Stone The video, directed by Mamo Vernet, sees both artists singing about that past relationship while theyre confronted with the worst parts of being stuck on a plane: people leaning their heads on the middle seat, passengers eating eating smelly food, androids kicking the back of your seat. (Reyes says this was the perfect excuse to fulfill her dream of having a video filmed on an airplane.) Flying isnt very comfortable so I wanted to include all those silly, annoying things that could happen, Paola says, adding that some of the characters in the visual are played by her closest friends. By the end of the video, Paola and Reyes locking themselves in the planes restroom and taking selfies before the in-air turbulence transforms the previously shitty plane into a party. The new collaboration marks the first time the two stars work together on a project, and Reyes hopes it helps put Mexicos pop scene en alto. I love Danna so much. I feel like Ive known her for years. Thats the truth, Reyes says. Its all been so genuine and fun. Were tuned to the same channel, were the same age, were in the same industry. We have so much in common. Its so important to support each other as Mexican artists, she adds. I think we, as Mexicans, need to learn to be happy when another Mexican person succeeds. Theres so much talent in Mexico. I want for us to support each other without competition or jealousy or any of that. Story continues Paola says she shares the sane sentiment, describing her connection with Reyes magical. Im thrilled, and really happy that my first Mexican colab is with Sofia, we both are so connected with our music, and our sound, Paola tells Rolling Stone. I love Sofia, love her art, and I admire her so much since the first day we met. As a Mexican artist, I feel this is a great moment in the music industry to come together and create a movement that impacts the world. Paola is set to go on her first tour across the United States later this year. Bringing my music live for the first time to the U.S. is a dream come true and it is a very big door for me at this time of my career, she told Rolling Stone. I cant wait to meet all my fans and conquer new hearts with my music. The new tour is named after her viral single XT4S1S, which she dropped last year. Among her recent releases are 1Trago this year, along with her collab with New Hope Club Know Me Too Well and Mexico with Ne-Yo. She also says her album is ready to be released. For her part, Reyes dropped a collab with Kris Kross Amsterdam titled How You Samba earlier this year, and dropped single Luna last year, following her LP Mal de Amores. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Keanu Reeves and Sofia Coppola are returning to their respective career roots. Twenty years after Coppola directed her breakout 2003 film Lost in Translation in Tokyo, the filmmaker returns to Japan with a short film for the Suntory Whisky Anniversary Tribute. Suntory Whiskey has become cinematically synonymous with Lost in Translation for Bill Murrays quip, For relaxing times, make it Suntory Time, as his character is a fading-out actor sent to Tokyo to hawk the brand. More from IndieWire Actor Reeves, who previously starred in a 1990s Suntory ad, leads the commercial, a montage that celebrates 100 years of the iconic liquor brand The House of Suntory. The ad shows Reeves walking through nightlife in Japan before ducking into a nondescript bar and ordering a glass of Suntory on the rocks as a vinyl record plays. The ad is set to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts cover of Crimson and Clover. It was cool [to get] a chance to work with Sofia Coppola and to work with [her brother] Roman Coppola on a kind of short commercial and then a docu-series, Reeves told People magazine of the project. It was a really special opportunity. Reeves and Sofia Coppola briefly dated after meeting during the making of Bram Stokers Dracula, which her father Francis Ford Coppola directed in 1992. The John Wick: Chapter 4 actor added, It was wonderful, really wonderful. It was extraordinary to have the opportunity to spend time with people from Suntory, in terms of going to the founding distillery Yamazaki, then going and just meeting master blenders and all the craftspeople. I got to meet some of the artisans, Kabuki actors, calligraphists, being an outsider and getting to spend time with people and talk about their passion and their craft. Story continues Up next from Coppola is the Priscilla and Elvis Presley biopic Priscilla starring Cailee Spaeney and Jacob Elordi. Meanwhile, Reeves is attached to Jonah Hills Apple Original film Outcome which follows a damaged Hollywood actor who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip resurfaces. Reeves is additionally set to star in Aziz Ansaris Good Fortune alongside Seth Rogen; however, production has been halted due to the ongoing WGA strike. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. 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 An Arizona man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a woman who was killed on a hiking trail last month. Zion Teasley, 22, was indicted on Monday by a Maricopa County grand jury on first-degree murder charges in the vicious attack on 29-year-old Lauren Heike, who was found stabbed to death on a trail in north Phoenix, the Associated Press reported. His defense attorney entered a plea of not guilty in court on Tuesday. Prosecutors at the Maricopa County Attorneys Office are currently reviewing whether theyll seek the death penalty for Teasley. His case is expected to go to trial in January. RELATED: Josh Powell Said He Loved His Two Sons More Than Anything" Months Before Killing Them, Blowing Up Home On April 29, Heikes body was found in the 6500 block of East Libby Street, approximately half a mile from her home. Shed sustained at least 15 wounds, according to authorities. At the time, police said it appeared that Heike was attacked from behind and that she suffered defensive wounds on her hands. Authorities also speculated that Teasley had stalked Heike on the walking path prior to attacking her. She may have fled her killer through a barbed wire fence as well, investigators said, per the Associated Press. A photo of Lauren Heike Lauren Heike Photo: Facebook I believe Lauren fought off her attacker and was able to flee, but her injuries were just too severe, Phoenix Police Lt. James Hester said during a press conference in the immediate aftermath of the deadly confrontation, CNN reported. Following Heikes murder, authorities zeroed in surveillance footage, which appeared to capture the suspect, who police later identified as Teasley, fleeing the scene of the crime. DNA evidence found near Heikes body also linked him to her murder, according to authorities. A motive in the brutal killing hasnt been released. Heikes family described her as beautiful inside and out. "She had such a kind heart, her mother, Lana Heike, previously told reporters, per CNN. Everybody who met her, loved her. She was super funny. She was just a sweet child just everything to us. Teasley was previously convicted for armed robbery and other felonies. He spent 16 months in state prison before being released in November 2020. Horrific new details involving the killing of an Illinois woman who was allegedly fatally shot by her husband, a one time Family Feud contestant, were revealed in court this week. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Timothy Bliefnick used a crowbar to pry open his wife Rebecca Bliefnick's second-story window before shooting her 14 times in February. The shocking revelation came during prosecutors opening statements on the trials first day. RELATED: 'Family Feud' Contestant Pleads Not Guilty In Estranged Wifes Killing According to Adams County Assistant States Attorney Josh Jones, Rebecca died terrified, bleeding, and alone after she was fatally shot at her Quincy, Illinois home on Feb. 23. Police responded to Rebeccas home to conduct a welfare check after she failed to pick her children up from school. Officers who descended on the scene found her bleeding in the bathroom with a towel underneath her. Prosecutors this week also unveiled additional evidence linking Timothy to his wifes murder, pointing specifically to his suspicious internet search history prior to his wifes murder. A police mugshot of Timothy Bliefnick Timothy Bliefnick Photo: Quincy Police Department They allege Timothy scoured the internet for instructions on how to craft a homemade silencer, how to remove gunpowder residue, the average police response times for emergencies and how to open a door with a crowbar, the Daily Beast reported. Prosecutors also say that Rebecca messaged a relative before her death, advising that if she ever abruptly died, that Timothy was likely responsible. RELATED: Former 'Family Feud' Contestant Charged With Murder Of Estranged Wife In Her Illinois Home Timothy is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Rebeccas killing. Hes pleaded not guilty. If convicted, hes facing life in prison. Timothy had been separated from his wife for approximately two years prior to her death. They married in 2009. Rebecca had also previously filed a restraining order against her spouse and his father, KHQA-TV reported. Story continues A personal photo of Becky Bliefnick Becky Bliefnick Photo: Facebook In their opening statements, Timothys own defense lawyers, however, painted a very different picture, insisting that the evidence tying their client to his wifes killing is inconclusive. During pre-trial proceedings, his lawyers insisted a "prowler" was responsible for Rebecca's murder. Last month, they also petitioned the court on his behalf to cover the cost of a private investigator to probe the speculative theory. A police mugshot of Timothy Bliefnick Timothy competed on a 2020 episode of Family Feud alongside other family members. During his television appearance, he threw a tongue-in-cheek dig at his now-dead wife. When Family Feud host Steve Harvey asked Timothy what the biggest mistake he made at his wedding was, Bliefnick responded, Said, 'I do,' referring to his vows. Timothy is being held at an Adams County detention center, according to online jail records previously obtained by Oxygen.com. The 2023 amfAR Gala in Cannes, France took place Thursday night to commemorate the conclusion of the Cannes Film Festival, as well as to raise money toward AIDS research, as the organization has done since 1985, as per Deadline. This years host, Hip-Hop legend Queen Latifah, arrived on the red carpet in an all-white ensemble with longtime partner Eboni Nichols by her side. The Jersey rep later changed into an elegant, black gown for her onstage duties, snapping photos with several guests as their gracious host. One of those guests was Harlem multi-hyphenate Teyana Taylor, who arrived on the blue carpet in a sleek, black, cut-out dress that showcased her chiseled abs. She was soon joined by model Lori Harvey, who also chose to rock a belly-baring dress, but in a fiery red shade. Other stars who attended the star-studded charity event included Eva Longoria, Storm Reid, Jeffrey Wright, Winnie Harlow, Kyle Kuzma, Heidi Klum, Halsey and more. Check out snaps from the 2023 amfAR Gala below. More from VIBE.com Best of VIBE.com Click here to read the full article. Tina Turner was a global superstar born in the United States but the music legend, who died Wednesday at 83, took solace living in Switzerland for decades. The "Proud Mary" singer filed paperwork to relinquish her U.S. citizenship in 2013, at which point, she'd lived in Switzerland for nearly 20 years. She also took Swiss citizenship in 2013. The singer died at her Switzerland home after battling poor health, including a stroke in 2013, intestinal cancer in 2016 and a kidney transplant in 2017. The pioneering soul-turned-rock star enjoyed a life in the country that provided her more discretion, and Switzerland enjoyed having Turner as a resident. Mourners laid flowers and candles Thursday outside the gate of her lakeside villa where Turner lived with her husband, German producer Erwin Bach, 67, according to the Associated Press. Here's what to know about Turner's life abroad. 'You are strength and resilience': Lizzo, Beyonce, the White House honor Tina Turner Why did Tina Turner move to Switzerland? Turner's relationship with her husband Bach may have been one of the reasons that she found refuge in Switzerland. She moved there to join Bach where he had set up a home in the mid-1990s, almost a decade after they met. In 2013, the couple married in a civil ceremony with a Buddhist celebration said to follow at their home. She told USA TODAY in 2020 that "Buddhism literally saved my life." Turner was 73 when she married Bach. In a 1997 interview with Larry King, Turner answered questions about her residency abroad. "I have left America, because my success was in another country and my boyfriend was in another country," she said, noting Europe has been very supportive of her career even more so than the U.S. Turner noted she also spent time in the U.K., Germany and owned a house in the south of France. Zurich, though, she said was home "because my boyfriend moved there to run the company and I always wanted to go to Switzerland and I was very happy." Story continues Where did Tina Turner live in Switzerland? Turner and Bach lived in a rented lakeside villa called Chateau Algonquin, which is located in Kuesnacht, a high-end town situated southeast of Zurich. In 2019, Amanda Hess described the villa which she visited while reporting for the New York Times. She wrote it had "cartoon palace energy." "Ivy snaking up the walls, gardeners manicuring the shrubs, a life-size two-legged horse sculpture suspended from a domed ceiling, a framed rendering of Turner as an Egyptian queen, a room stuffed with gilded Louis XIV style sofas," Hess wrote in her description. The Associated Press reported in January 2022 that the duo had purchased a house in Switzerland. They bought a sprawling $76 million estate made up of 10 buildings, pond, stream, swimming pool and boat dock on Lake Zurich in September 2021 in the village of Staefa. Swiss news reports said at the time the couple would be nearby neighbors to Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer, who reportedly also looked at the property before settling on a different one further east along the lake. Tina Turner's memoir The 5 most shocking revelations in 'My Love Story' A woman pays her respects outside the estate of late singer Tina Turner following the announcement of her death. What was Tina Turner's life like in Switzerland? Turner who was well-known across the world, was able to enjoy a semblance of privacy during her life in Switzerland. Neighbors didnt stare, bother her for autographs or take photos as so often happens when a celebrity is out and about in public. It afforded her 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. Markus Ernst, the mayor of Kuesnacht, told the Associated Press that 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 her enjoy a private life, too. "One of the reasons she came to Switzerland was to have a completely normal life," he said. "She could go to restaurants without being photographed all the time in the street, people didnt stare at her or ask for her autograph." 'The path to true happiness': Tina Turner shares her secrets to creating joy in new book Tina Turner during the presentation of the music project "Beyond - Three Voices For Peace" on May 14, 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland. Why did Tina Turner relinquish her U.S. citizenship? In 2013, Turner applied to give up her U.S. citizenship. Turner, who was able to speak fluent German according a report from the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland cited by The Washington Post, Turner had been at the embassy on Oct. 24, 2013 to sign a "Statement of Voluntary Relinquishment of U.S. Citizenship under Section 349 (a)(1) of the INA." She had previously sworn an oath of Swiss nationality on April 10, 2013. At the time, she said she didn't have strong connections to the U.S. "except for family, and has no plans to reside in the United States in the future," according to the report. Other celebrities have moved to Switzerland, too 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 worlds financial magnates and business gurus have been attracted by the countrys relatively low taxes and secrecy about money matters. Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tina Turner renounced US citizenship, moved to Switzerland: Here's why Attendees at trans prom A Mississippi transgender teen who missed her graduation because of dress code rules got to have an alternative celebration Monday with more than 100 others at a first-of-its-kind trans prom in Washington, D.C. Today we are here, united, doing whats right, and stronger than ever before, the teen, who has been identified only as L.B., said in a speech at the Trans Youth Prom, according to ABC News. Together one by one, state by state, vote by vote, we can construct a better world. Transgender youth have always been here, and rest assured we are here to stay. L.B. had planned to wear a white dress and heeled shoes to her graduation from Harrison Central High School last weekend. But school officials consider her male, and the dress code for males called for black suits. Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and its Mississippi affiliate, she filed suit against the school district, seeking an injunction that would allow her to graduate in her dress, but a judge denied her request, and she opted out of the ceremony. But she had her chance to celebrate at the Trans Youth Prom, organized by four trans young people Daniel Trujillo, 15; Libby Gonzales, 13; Grayson McFerrin-Hogan, 12; and Hobbes Chukumba, 16. Drag performer Stormie Daie emceed the event, while trans DJ Nico Craig provided music. It was held on the National Mall. Trans Prom is a celebration of affirming love and support. It is trans joy in full display, Trujillo said during the event. We are proud. We are visible. We will not be erased. And we courageously stand here today in defiance of those who say we are too young to know who we are. Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the nation this year, and many have passed, with the bulk of them specifically targeting trans youth. Nearly 20 states have enacted bans on gender-affirming health care for trans minors, with sponsors of such legislation contending that young people arent mature enough to make decisions about these procedures, even though they do so in consultation with doctors and parents or guardians. Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the American Civil Liberties Unions LGBT and HIV Project, gave a shout-out to trans resilience in addressing the attendees. If they try to take away our health care, we will get each other health care. If they try to take away our books, we will make our books available, Strangio said, according to ABC. And if they to cut off our history by cutting us off from ourselves, from our elders or from our youth, we will tell our stories over and over again. Denmark and the Netherlands will lead a European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday. Denmark and the Netherlands will lead a European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. During today's meeting, several allies and partners also discussed plans for training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16, Austin said. Planning and executing this training will be a significant undertaking, but the coordination of this contact group will help make that possible. But I especially wanted to thank Denmark and the Netherlands, which have decided to lead a European coalition in providing F-16 training for Ukrainian forces. https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1661829429549473803 Austin said that in the coming weeks, my Dutch and Danish counterparts will work with the United States and other allies to develop a training framework. Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to train. We expect more countries to join this important initiative. You can get a sense of how long it would take to train a Ukrainian pilot on the F-16 in our deep dive here. Asked why it has taken the U.S. so long to come around to supporting the concept of providing Ukraine with Western fighter jets and training for its pilots - something the Biden administration only agreed to last week - Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley told reporters that cost was a huge factor. The Ukrainians have been provided nine brigades of combat capability platforms and trained troops, said Austin. That's as big as many of the Western nations have in our land forces. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1640419664818782222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1640419664818782222%7Ctwgr%5Ebcbc008d37c976e666f297104639bd2a61b49702%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-challenger-tanks-stryker-armored-vehicles-arrive-in-country Story continues That would not have been possible, Milley said, had funds first been invested in F-16s. Milley added that Ukraine had much greater needs than F-16s, like ground-based air defenses as the best and quickest way to deny Russia air superiority over Ukraine. The U.S. and allies have provided a number of ground-based air defense systems, including Patriots, National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles Systems (NASAMS), IRIS-T, SAMP/T, Crotale, Gepard and others. https://twitter.com/oleksiireznikov/status/1648627423636799488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1648627423636799488%7Ctwgr%5E4abc5a94ebaca56908af99ff47e53f242ca125e3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-u-s-patriot-missile-battery-has-been-delivered Just 10 F-16s would cost $2 billion in procurement and sustainment, he said. "The Russians have thousands of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters," said Milley. "So, if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're going to need a substantial amount of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. 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 defense to cover the battlespace and deny the Russians the airspace. And that is exactly what happened." https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1661715751860830209 While no magic weapon, because there are no such things, F-16s have a role for Ukraine in the future, said Milley. But it is "going to take a considerable length of time to build up an air force that's the size and scope and scale that'll be necessary." The U.K. also plans to train Ukrainian pilots as well. "Approximately 20 Ukrainian pilots will be entering initial training, a British government spokesperson said," according to Foreign Policy. 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 said. There wasn't much talk during the press conference about providing Ukraine with F-16s, which a number of U.S. allies are considering. But Austin did mention that donations of those jets are likely to come. "The proficiency of Ukrainian forces and operating [previously donated weapons] systems as fast as they did is testament to their skill and adaptability under pressure," Austin said. "It's another example of the Ukrainians leveraging the tools provided by the international coalition into the tangible success on the battlefield from anti-tank weapons like Javelins at the beginning of this fight all the way to Patriots today and we'll soon see the same with F-16." You can read more about where those F-16s might come from in our deep dive here. Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest With images emerging on social media purporting to show U.S.-supplied vehicles operating during Monday's incursion into Russia, Milley told reporters during Thursday's press conference that he cannot confirm nor deny that, and has tasked staff to look into it. https://twitter.com/JulianRoepcke/status/1661315398220886016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1661315398220886016%7Ctwgr%5E3fff036f35473bd59303de028b4e8d264e55f209%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-white-house-investigating-u-s-vehicles-used-in-raid-into-russia In a statement released Wednesday, the Freedom For Russia Legion said the vehicles used were captured from the Russians, and they captured them from Ukrainians. https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1661412119491878912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1661412119491878912%7Ctwgr%5E3fff036f35473bd59303de028b4e8d264e55f209%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-white-house-investigating-u-s-vehicles-used-in-raid-into-russia But regardless of what his staff determines, Milley said Thursday that Ukraine is not allowed to use U.S.-supplied equipment in Russia. "The rules that we have established with Ukrainians is not to use U.S.-supplied equipment to attack into the geographic space of Russia," said Milley. "Look, they are a country at war. There is an existential threat. They're fighting for their survival. I can't say with definitive accuracy right this minute whether that's U.S.-supplied equipment or not, what was the nature of the attack or who did what to whom. I can't say that definitively. But I can say that we have asked the Ukrainians not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia." The reason, Milley said, is "because this is a Ukrainian war. It is not a war between the United States and Russia. It's not a war between NATO and Russia, it is a war between Ukraine and Russia and we are supporting and supplying training and advising and assisting. But it is not a direct conflict between the United States and Russia." Speaking of that incursion, the Russia Volunteer Corps (RDK), one of the two self-proclaimed anti-Putin Russian partisan groups that staged the raid along with the Freedom For Russia Legion, claimed to be back inside Russia Thursday. RDK released a video it says was taken Thursday in front of a post office in Russia. "Of course, this time no one needs to prove that we filmed our video not in the Kyiv region, but in the Motherland," the RDK fighters say. "Nevertheless, we decided to make such videos our good tradition! Glory to RDK!" https://twitter.com/natalkakyiv/status/1661724740547903489?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A On the battlefield, Donbas remains the "epicenter of hostilities," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday on her Telegram channel. "There, the enemy is making an offensive in several directions - Avdiivskyi, Marinskyi, Lymanskyi, Kupyanskyi and Bakhmutskyi," she wrote. "On Avdiivskyi and Mar'inskyi - enemy attacks were repulsed. The offensive actions of the enemy are unsuccessful." In Lymansky, "the enemy took a break and did not carry out offensive actions," said Maliar. "Battles are currently ongoing on Kupyanskyi. The enemy attacks, tries to capture a bridgehead for further advance, suffers losses." Meanwhile, in the Bakhmut area, "the enemy is trying to stop our advance on the flanks with artillery fire. Now the enemy is pulling up additional units to the flanks for reinforcement." In the suburbs of Bakhmut, "the enemy replaced Wagner's units with army regular units. At the moment, the Wagnerites remain in the same city of Bakhmut. Our troops control the outskirts of the city in the southwestern part in the 'Airplane' area." You can see how fierce the urban fighting in Bakhmut has been in this video below. https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1661675364811169793?s=20 As part of his efforts to leave Bakhmut, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, prepared caskets of foreign troops fighting in that city on behalf of Ukraine. https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1661741100485476354?s=20 There is also video of his troops leaving Bakhmut. https://twitter.com/warmonitors/status/1661659290342440961?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A But as a parting gift, he promised to leave two of his soldiers behind, though it is unclear if he is serious, or trolling the Kremlin. https://twitter.com/gerashchenko_en/status/1661682770190520321?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Images are emerging on social media claiming to show a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-held port city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. "Berdyans report the sounds of detonation!" according to the Telegram channel of Berdyansk Today, "an independent media resource created to cover the life of Berdyansk." "Ambulances also rushed by! " Berdyansk Today reported. "There were also explosions near the village of Osypenko. At least the locals heard very loud noises and shaking houses! There were several previous arrivals! The loudest was in the districts: AKZ (territory of Azovkabel), Port, Azmol (plant territory)." It's unclear what exactly was hit with what. We will update this story with verifiable information when it becomes available. https://twitter.com/GeoConfirmed/status/1661842679938818056 https://twitter.com/revishvilig/status/1661841583652610077 https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1661826401492672536?s=20 Russia and its client state of Belarus agreed today on a plan to store Russian tactical nuclear weapons in that nation on Ukraine's northern border. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin "put their signatures on documents outlining the process for storing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special facility at the Republic of Belarus," Russia's Defense Ministry (MoD) announced today on its Telegram channel. "Russia is not transferring nuclear weapons to the Republic of Belarus. Control over them and the decision on their use remains with the Russian side," Shoigu stated when signing the documents. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin sign an agreement to place Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. (Russian MoD photo) "Shoigu stressed that the actions taken by Belarus and Russia 'comply with all relevant international legal responsibilities,'" according to the MoD. Shoigu claimed the activities of NATO's joint nuclear missions pushes Belarus and Russia to take proper retaliatory action. In the circumstances of an extremely sharp escalation of threats and activity of NATO joint nuclear missions, we are compelled to take retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere, said Shoigu. The deployment of Russian Federation non-strategic nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus has been planned in accordance with the decision of Supreme Commanders-in-Chief of the Russian Federation. Shoigu emphasized that Belarus has already received the Iskander-M tactical missile system, which can employ missiles in both conventional and nuclear warheads. Some Belarusian aircraft have been upgraded for potential nuclear weapon employment. Military personnel have received the appropriate training, he added. That agreement lives up to a promise Russian President Vladimir Putin made in March. "We have handed over to Belarus our well-known and very effective Iskander system that can carry [nuclear weapons]," Putin said at the time. "On April 3, we will start training the crew and on July 1 we will complete the construction of a special storage for tactical nuclear weapons on the Belarusian territory." https://twitter.com/HannaLiubakova/status/1661647148587401216 The Ukrainian National Guard said one of its soldiers, known as the "Zaporizhzhia Avenger" downed his seventh Russian Su-25 Frogfoot attack jet today with a man-portable air defense system (MANPAD). The Frogfoot was one of two Ukraine claimed it downed over Zaparizhzhia Oblast today, the Ukrainian National Guard reported on its Facebook page. On May 25, the occupation troops of the Russian Federation tried to affect the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces with the use of a pair of Su-25s, the Ukrainian National Guard reported. As a result of the combat, the first Su-25 aircraft was completely destroyed, its pilot managed to catapult over the temporarily occupied territory. The second plane was [hit] by the famous Zaporizhzhia Avenger. After being shot, the enemy Su-25 was seriously damaged and forced to enter an emergency landing in Melitopol. At the end of the runway, Melitopol residents observed a black pillar of smoke. Before that, there were deafening explosions. How much of the "Zaporizhzhia Avenger" story is real and how much is "Ghost of Kyiv" level myth mixed with a dose of propaganda is unclear at this point. We've reached out to the Ukrainian national guard to see if we can interview him, if he exists, and will update this story if and when that happens. https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1661717520225533957 Spanish troops offered a teary sendoff to the Ukrainian troops they were training, alternately pumping fists into the air, wiping their eyes, and saluting as their trainees departed. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1661714874794229761?s=20 There was a prisoner exchange today near Bakhmut, with 106 Ukrainians being returned. https://twitter.com/noelreports/status/1661695135246065665 You can watch British-donated WS-62 Sea King helicopters in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Those helicopters made their official debut in Ukraine in January even sporting patriotic high-visibility Ukrainian markings less than two months after London announced they would be donated to Kyiv's cause. https://twitter.com/anno1540/status/1661685110226264065?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Ukrainian Gen. Valeri Zaluzhny, commander and chief of the Armed Forces, had not been seen in public for a while, creating speculation on Russian Telegram channels that he may have been injured in battle. But he had been in recent contact with Milley and today he surfaced publicly in a video that acknowledged that there have been conspiracy theories swirling around him. https://twitter.com/SlavaUk30722777/status/1661761183299571714 And finally, move over trench beaver wherever you are, there's a new critter winning the hearts and minds of Ukrainian troops. https://twitter.com/evatrmx86qc7r/status/1661464162210312195?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 The University of Iowa has filed its own lawsuit in response to accusations that it has failed to pay the companies contracted to run its utility system, and the parties have agreed to move their dispute from federal court to the Iowa Business Specialty Court for further litigation. The University of Iowa Energy Collaborative filed its lawsuit in January accusing the university of a breach of contract, claiming the institution had come up short on payments while also mishandling insurance claims. Now UIHC has agreed to withdraw its federal lawsuit, according to court documents filed Tuesday. The filing comes after the university and the Iowa Board of Regents countered with a lawsuit of their own in March, claiming the energy companies that make up the UIEC and operate the universitys utilities have withheld financial records needed to make proper payments. Previously: Power plant operators file lawsuit against University of Iowa alleging breach of contract The school also accuses the UIEC of making requests for duplicate payments in addition to a failure to perform necessary duties. Although UIEC is dropping its federal lawsuit, it can still pursue its claims against the university. Tuesday's court filings give the utility partnership until June 13 to file its answer and any counterclaims to the university's lawsuit. The agreement to move the case to state court comes as the federal court was considering the university's motion to dismiss the case, arguing that federal courts could not hear the case because the university, as an arm of the state, has immunity under the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A $1.2 billion utility partnership The Iowa Board of Regents in 2019 awarded a 50-year contract to the University of Iowa Energy Collective to operate the University of Iowa's utilities in exchange for a $1.2 billion payment upfront, meant to pay off $153 million of debt while adding "nearly $1 billion" to the school's endowment. Story continues The University of Iowa Energy Collaborative is a partnership between Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. of New York, ENGIE North America Inc. of Texas, Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. of Maryland and other unspecified individuals who own 2% of the company and do not reside in Iowa, according to the lawsuit. The deal required the university to pay the UIEC $35 million annually for the first five years of the contract, though the UIECs lawsuit claimed the university had broken that agreement. UIEC says in court documents the university has refused to make overdue payments, while they also accuse the institution of failing to file claims for casualty insurance coverage. Issues arise amid contract disputes The Collaboratives lawsuit, filed Jan. 26, claimed the university refused to pay $1.5 million compensation packages for the company's CEO and CFO, the company's administrative costs and corporate overhead, and the cost to the company of maintaining its investment-grade credit rating. The UIEC sought $2.5 million for overhauling a utility system turbine, which the company says the university committed to under the agreement. The lawsuit alleges the turbine was in bad repair because of the universitys "inadequate maintenance." The lawsuit stated in the late fall of 2020, before the overhaul work had started, the turbine suffered an overspeed event that left it damaged and significantly increased the cost of the overhaul. More: Power plant operators file lawsuit against University of Iowa alleging breach of contract The universitys March lawsuit, meanwhile, claims the UIEC has refused to provide critical financial information needed to accurately determine monies owed. The suit also says the UIEC has improperly attempted to expand the scope of purported costs eligible for reimbursement, and accused the UIEC of trying to seek duplicate payments. Additionally, the suit claims the UIEC hasnt performed its tasks as agreed upon in its contract with the University, saying they have failed to perform its operational duties in a manner consistent with prudent utility practices and key performance indicators. The Iowa Business Specialty Court, where the dispute will be heard going forward, is designed to "move business and complex commercial litigation cases through the court system more expeditiously." The University and UIEC agree in court filings their dispute is eligible for the specialty court because it would involve more than $200,000 in compensatory damages, among other criteria. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: UI Energy Collaborative claimed Regents, University breached contract A Chinese man plays African drum with a Zimbabwean during a cultural exchange event marking the 60th anniversary of Africa Day in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe, May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara) GOROMONZI, Zimbabwe, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese invested lithium mining and processing firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) on Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of Africa Day with a cultural exchange event where guests were entertained by cultural performances from Zimbabwe and China. The event, which was held in Goromonzi, a mining region southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, was attended by traditional leadership, representatives from the government, Chinese nationals, school children as well as local villagers. The event also saw the performance of traditional Zimbabwean dances and a fashion show in which models showcased locally made colorful African print costumes. Chinese nationals demonstrated the cooking of dumplings, the use of chopsticks and other cultural items. Locals also had an opportunity to taste Chinese dumplings. Africa Day, which is celebrated annually on May 25, commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity -- now known as the African Union -- on May 25, 1963. The Day provides an annual opportunity to celebrate the rich diverse cultures of the African continent and reflect on the challenges and achievements of the peoples of Africa. Yu Long, director of the General Manager's Office at PLZ, said given the cordial relations between China and Zimbabwe, the Chinese celebrated Africa Day with the rest of the continent. "Today is Africa Day. It's a very important day in Africa. We are very happy celebrating with all these kids and our friends in this school. We used this opportunity to bring gifts from China and just take an opportunity to exchange cultures between two countries, Zimbabwe and China," Yu said. Rugare Dhobbie, an executive for public relations at PLZ, said the event was meant to bring the two cultures together. "So it was a day when we were exchanging cultures, we were showcasing what China does, what Zimbabwe does, so that we try and synergize," Dhobbie told Xinhua. "Cultures are diverse, and people do things differently, but when we meet and come together, we can compromise and find ourselves a way forward." She said the event also afforded the Chinese investors an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the tradition and customs of the community they work with. PLZ, which was acquired by Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed Huayou Cobalt in a deal completed in 2022, has heavily invested in the lithium-rich Goromonzi area where it operates as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility through the construction or refurbishment of classroom blocks, roads and clinics. A Chinese man interacts with a Zimbabwean during a cultural exchange event marking the 60th anniversary of Africa Day in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe, May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara) 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 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. Story continues 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. 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. Story continues 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. The mother of a man who killed his girlfriend on a cross-country trip in an infamous murder case wrote him a letter offering to help him "dispose of a body." It's the latest revelation in the case of Brian Laundrie, who killed himself at some point after receiving the letter. Police say Laundrie killed Gabby Petito in 2021 while the couple was trekking across the country in a conversion van, publishing blissful romantic videos of their travels. Her body was found in Wyoming. "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," Roberta Laundrie wrote in a letter she instructed her son to destroy after reading, which was provided to USA TODAY by her lawyer. The letter was undated and was in an envelope that said Laundrie's name and "(burn after reading)." "I just want you to remember I will always Love you and I know you will always Love me. You are my boy," the letter reads. The envelope of a letter Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son, Brian Laundrie, instructs him to "burn after reading." The letter was handed over to Gabby Petito's parents in their lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents. Petito's disappearance that summer gained national attention, with weeks of speculation about what happened to her and whether Laundrie, her fiance, had killed her. Laundrie returned from the trip without her, and her family reported her missing. Laundrie later also disappeared. The case drew attention to domestic violence, and police footage showed officers in Utah speaking to the couple after they were pulled over in a traffic stop. They said they had been fighting and police ultimately let them leave. A review found Moab police made mistakes and missed signs of domestic violence, and Petito's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the police. PREVIOUSLY: Gabby Petito's family sues Brian Laundrie's parents, alleging they knew of her murder Petito's body was found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in September 2021. A coroner ruled her death homicide by strangulation. Laundrie admitted killing her in writings found with his body at Carlton Reserve, nearly 25,000 acres of land in southern Sarasota County in Florida, in October 2021, authorities said. Story continues Gabby Petito is pictured in materials by the North Port, Florida police and the FBI asking for help to find the 22-year-old, whose remains were later discovered near a Wyoming campground in September 2021. MATT HOUSTON/HERALD-TRIBUNE His mother's letter was the subject of a court hearing Wednesday. Petito's parents filed a lawsuit against Laundrie's parents claiming they knew of her death and took actions to conceal it from Petito's family and from law enforcement investigating her disappearance. Petito's family lawyer argued the letter was relevant to the lawsuit, while the Laundries' lawyer had tried to withhold it, court records reviewed by USA TODAY show. A judge ordered the letter released to Petito's family. An attorney for the Laundries said the letter was written before their son's trip with Petito and was not about her. Matt Luka, the Laundries' lawyer, said in a statement to USA TODAY the examples Roberta Laundrie listed of things she would do for her son were "farcical" and "demonstrably not intended to be serious." "In hindsight, the letter may appear unfortunately worded, but that was never its intention," lawyers wrote in a court filing. Roberta Laundrie said in an affidavit obtained by USA TODAY that she doesn't remember the exact date she wrote the letter but that she was trying to "reach out to" her son while they went through "a difficult period in our relationship." She said her instructions to burn the letter after reading it were a reference to a book Petito gave her son called "Burn After Reading." She also said she didn't intend for anyone else to read it. "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 Briand and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter," Roberta Laundrie wrote in the affidavit. Roberta Laundrie asked that people read the letter in its entirety in a statement provided by Luka. Roberta Laundrie, the mother of Brian Laundrie, wrote him a letter she told him to "burn after reading." It was handed over to Gabby Petito's parents as part of their lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents. Patrick Reilly, the attorney representing Petito's parents, said in court Wednesday that a jury should determine when the letter was written. "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," Reilly said in a statement. "We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written at the time of trial." The case is expected to go to trial in May 2024. Contributing: Gabriela Szymanowska and Earle Kimel, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brian Laundrie letter from mother released to Gabby Petito's parents This unsung grape is the key to everything from juicy, fire-up-the-grill reds to ageworthy, ambitious bottlings. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Ah, Grenache, the wonder grape. Cabernet Sauvignon may be more famous, Pinot Noir more acclaimed, but once you get to know it, Grenache sneaks in and steals your heart. It can make wines that are as light as a feather or that are dark, powerful, and intense; it grows everywhere, effortlessly, yet only in a few places reaches its greatest heights. And for some damn reason, U.S. wine lovers still dont know much about it. Go figure. While the Spanish and the Italians fight over where it grew first the first historical mentions in both places come in the late 1500s and early 1600s the French seem to have won out in terms of the name most people know it by. In Spain, its Garnacha; in Sardinia, Cannonau; Abundante in some parts of Portugal; the list goes on. It plays well with others: Great Chateauneuf-du-Papes are usually blends of Grenache with other grapes; humble Cotes du Rhones, the same. Lately, some of the most exciting wines coming out of California, Australia, and other New World regions are made from Grenache, from excellent, quaffable, everyday reds to age-worthy, ambitious bottlings. Isnt it time to check out the wonder grape for yourself? 6 Bottles of Old World Grenache to Try Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis 2021 Borsao Garnacha Seleccion ($11) Year in and year out, this widely available Spanish red offers far more pleasure than its price would suggest, with juicy, bright berry flavors and a hint of fresh herbs on the finish. Pour it with a light chill on a hot day. 2019 Clos St. Antonin Cotes du Rhone ($18) This steal of a Cotes du Rhone, loaded with black cherry fruit, aromatic mint and rosemary notes, and elegant tannins, comes from Isabelle Sabon, winemaker for Chateauneuf-du-Pape benchmark Domaine de la Janasse. 2021 Anne Pichon Sauvage Grenache Noir ($20) French vintner Anne Pichon created this peppery, lively cuvee for New Yorkbased wine importer T. Edward using organic grapes from the lesser-known Vaucluse section of the Rhone. Its an absurdly good value. Story continues 2020 Anna Espelt Pla de Gates Negre ($25) Organically farmed grapes go into this chewy red from talented winemaker Anna Espelt, who is based in the Emporda region in northeastern Spain. This wines flavors are all wild, tart cherries and hints of dry earth. Related: How to Find the Best Wines from Spain 2020 Bodegas Frontonio Microcosmico Garnacha ($30) Fernando Mora started off making wine in his bathtub; today, he has an actual winery, plus several acres of high-altitude, organic grapes, and makes wines like this crisp, oak-free, red-fruited Grenache. 2020 Cuevas de Arom As Ladieras Garnacha ($35) This Spanish redfrom the indefatigable Fernando Morauses high-elevation vineyards for a medium-bodied, crisp, and remarkably expressive red. Theres no oak here, but lots of savory tea-leaf and spice notes. 10 Bottles of New World Grenache to Try Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis 2020 Ver Sacrum Garnacha ($20) Winemaker Eduardo Soler and two friends started Ver Sacrum in Argentinas Uco Valley to focus on light, approachable wines like this almost rose-hued Grenache. It has soft tannins and lots of wild strawberry fruit. 2018 Grounded Wine Co. Public Radio Red ($25) Wine wunderkind Josh Phelps is the California talent behind this transparently ruby-hued, kirsch-scented, silky Grenache. A touch of Syrah (about 10%) gives it a layer of savory, peppery complexity. 2021 Tim Smith Bugalugs Grenache ($25) Australian vintner Tim Smith chose bugalugs, an Aussie term of endearment for little kids, as the name for his more affordable line of reds. This juicy, peppery wine from the Barossa Valley is top among them. 2018 DArenberg the Derelict Vineyard Grenache ($29) Lightly herbal and earthy, with wild-berry flavors and gripping tannins, this impressive Grenache comes from a number of small, old-vine, once-abandoned vineyards throughout Australias McLaren Vale. 2021 Thistledown Thorny Devil Old Vine Grenache ($30) Masters of Wine Giles Cooke and Fergal Tynan started Thistledown specifically to focus on Grenache. The Thorny Devil is juicy and bright, with raspberry-pomegranate flavors and lots of white pepper on the end. 2020 Lindquist Family Grenache ($42) Bob Lindquist was an early champion of Rhone varieties in California at his Qupe winery, which he left in 2019; now, he works under the Lindquist Family name. This floral, seductive red grows on you with every sip. 2019 Latta Upland Vineyard Grenache ($45) Andrew Latta makes some of Washington states top Rhone-style wines, among them this Grenache. Its raspberry-cherry aroma lifts from the glass; the wine glides across your palate with blue fruit and dark chocolate notes. Related: How to Find the Best Wines from Australia 2019 I. Brand & Family la Marea Besson Vineyard Old Vine Grenache ($45) Winemaker Ian Brand sources fruit from non-irrigated vines planted in 1910 for this lovely, layered Grenache. It has a remarkable texture, somehow caressing but firm and structured all at once. 2020 Kings Carey Spear Vineyards Grenache ($45) My notes start off, Wow what a seductive wine, and that about covers it. Winemaker James Sparks uses organic grapes for a silky, raspberry-inflected red that somehow seems almost weightless. 2018 Yalumba the Tri-Centenary Ancestor Vine Grenache ($70) Australias wine history goes back a long way; the gnarly Barossa bush vines that produce this Grenache were planted in 1889. Its full of saturated red-cherry flavor, shifting into subtle spice notes. For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. Sixtine was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Hunza G. Earrings by Sophie Buhai. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Sixtine, a 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie, loves to travel. She has spent the past few summers in various countries across Europe, and now shes sharing all of her favorite spots. The Texas native, who now lives in New York City, is constantly traveling for workwhether its a photo shoot in Portugal with Anthropologie, a spontaneous week in London, or a quick 36-hour trip in Hawaii, the 25-year-old is always on the go. The body neutrality TikToker was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica for this years SI Swimsuit Issue. Below are Sixtines top three countries to visit in the summer and her favorite cities in each. Portugal Sixtine visited Lisbon, Portugal, with a group of girls in 2019 and says she would go back to the stunning city in a heartbeat. Spain Sixtine. Courtesy of Sixtine. I went to Madrid [and] Barcelona with my best friend Julia, she shares. But different people met us along the way. Those [cities] were both so much fun. Italy Sixtine. Courtesy of Sixtine. This last summer, I did three weeks in Italy, and of course, it was the summer that everybody took their Italian vacation, Sixtine said. I started in Milan and then went to Lake Como. From there I went to Venice, Rome, Sorrento, Capri and Naples. The TikTok influencer even created an Italy playlist on the video-based platform for her 801,000 followers. Summer in ItalyoofI would do it again, she says, making a chefs kiss motion with her hands and pursing her lips. Sixtine. Courtesy of Sixtine. Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! Got a month and $270,000 to spare? Book this Distilleries of the World by Private Jet Trip, and invite us as a plus-one. Courtesy of TCS World Travel Havent gotten anything for your dad or father figure for Fathers Day? Thats OK. If you're looking to go big, youve still got time to book this 34-day Distilleries of the World by Private Jet trip with TCS World Travel. Yes, you read that correctly. TCS World Travel, which specializes in all-inclusive jet itineraries, is taking to the skies once more with a trip to taste the best spirits all over the world. The trip begins in New York City, where guests take off to visit Louisville, Kentuckys Bourbon Trail, then making its way to Oaxaca, Mexico for private mezcal tastings, and on to Peru for a Pisco or two a stop that also includes a visit to one of the oldest working distilleries in the Americas. Related: This Private Jet Tour Around the World Is a Bucket List Trip for Food and Wine Lovers But it doesnt end there. The trip also jets off to St. Lucia, where guests can partake in a cacao tour and swim in the azure waters with a day trip to Martinique, where theyll also learn more about the local rum distilleries. Flying further east, guests will land in the Azores to taste Portuguese wines and head north for whisky tastings in Scotland, including at The Macallan Estate in the Scottish Highlands, Glenfiddich Distillery, and Glenmorangie Distillery. Those onboard will then fly to Poland for vodka tastings, before making their way to London for the final stop on the tour. Courtesy of TCS World Travel Of course, the trip comes with more than just spirits tastings. Guests will also be treated to fine dining opportunities across the globe and take a break from flying with overnight stays in luxury resorts like Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia and Claridges in London. Guests will also get the chance to take part in local excursions, including hot air balloon rides over the Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico and a flight over the storied Nazca Lines in Peru. Story continues The journey takes place aboard an Embraer Legacy 650, or a plane like it, which comes with just a handful of business class seats and a dedicated crew to attend to your every need. Ready to book? Great. You just need $270,000 to reserve your spots (price based on six travelers). Learn more about the trip at www.tcsworldtravel.com. For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Brooke Shields, 57, posted a series of makeup-free poolside selfies for her daughters birthday. In the photo, the mother-daughter duo smiled while on vacation in Thailand. Best few days with my birthday girl, Shields wrote. We may be used to seeing Brooke Shields in full glam on the red carpet or on the big screen, but shes no stranger to keeping it real (just check out her Pretty Baby series on Hulu). The 57-year-old is continuing to bare it all with a series of makeup-free poolside selfies with her daughter on Instagram , and fans cant get enough. The post consisted of a series of selfies featuring Shields and her daughter, Rowan Henchy, while on vacation in Thailand. In the first image, Shields is wearing a stylish and effective sun protection hat, a black bikini, and a charm necklace while her daughter smiles next to her in the pool, wearing a floral bikini and colorful necklaces. The mother-daughter duo celebrated Henchys 20th birthday: Look who came to visit mom best few days with my birthday girl. I still cant believe shes 20 , Shields captioned the photo. In another selfie, Shields and her daughter posed fresh-faced and smiling on the beach with their hair tied back. More photos include Shields and Henchy performing yoga together and posing with drinks in hand at a poolside bar. The 57-year-olds skin glows in every photograph. Fans flooded the comments with compliments. One fan wrote, Beautiful, both of you. Enjoy your time. Another commented, Awesome pic, happy birthday to your beautiful daughter!. Another fan wrote, Mom and daughter days are the best days!! Not only are Shields and Henchy adorable together, but Shields previously shared that her daughters helped improve her own body image, discussing their bond and how they learn from one another. And if these photos are any indication, the mother-daughter duo is thriving and full of confidencewhich fans loved. Story continues Of course, we have to mention Shields glowing makeup-free skin. And lucky for us, shes been vocal about her favorite products. In an interview with Vogue, Shields revealed the skincare she uses in her daily routine. She loves the True Botanicals Renew Nourishing Cleanser, 111SKIN Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask to reduce puffiness and brighten dark circles, and the True Botanicals Chebula Active Serum. Of course, Shields never forgets her face sunscreen, and sings the praises of Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40. If you want to up your routine for glowing skin like Shields (for your next makeup-free selfie and beyond), check out some more of the stars must-haves below. You Might Also Like Eighty goats seized from a Norway property on Military Road Tuesday with numerous health concerns including bacterial infections in their hooves, unkempt fur and unclipped horns have been relocated. Animal rescue service Pause 4 All Paws founder Johanna Stock, who helped relocate the animals to a nearby farm, said several goats were pregnant, and two of the goats had to be carried because their hooves were in such bad condition. "They couldn't walk at all," Stock said. A few of the 80 goats rescued by authorities and volunteers from Pause 4 All Paws from a property in Norway. The eighty-two goats Stock said two ran off during the rescue process were voluntarily surrendered by their owner, Lorraine Rose, 60, who New York State Police said became overwhelmed while attempting to care for the animals. "It didn't appear like there was any criminal intent, just that she became overwhelmed and didn't have the ability or funds to maintain it," said Jack Keller, NYSP Troop D's Information Officer. "Unfortunately there were such a number of animals that were in grave condition." Troopers had responded to the address to assist a Herkimer County Animal Cruelty Officer in the rescue, joined by members of NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Newport and Norway Dog Control Officers and NYS Animal Industry Field Veterinarians. Donkeys and cows were also being improperly cared for on the property, New York State Police said. More: A pit bull was abandoned at Herkimer humane society parking lot: How to adopt Miracle More: Herkimer County establishes animal abuse registry after dog abandoned at humane society More: Arrest made after dog abandoned outside Herkimer County Humane Society on freezing night The animals were given ample pasture in which to graze on the property, Stock said, but many of the goats had horns and hooves that were clearly overdue for a clipping, as well as unkempt fur. They also suffered from "foot rot," a contagious bacterial infection that leads to tissue death. Story continues "They had maggot infestations in their hooves from not being taken care of," she said. "It can ultimately kill them." The goats are in need of deworming, vaccinations, neutering, and iodine treatment to their hooves. Stock said that the most important thing to do if you possess more animals than you can care for is to ask for help. "A lot of people don't know how to ask for help, or won't swallow their pride and ask for help," said Stock. "It's about swallowing your pride, and doing what's best for the animals." Stock said Paws 4 All Paws volunteers are working to relocate the two goats who got away during the rescue. Rose has been charged with five misdemeanor counts under the state Agriculture and Markets Law. Authorities are continuing to investigate. This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: 80 goats rescued from Norway property relocated: What to know We called on Paris-based designers for their expert tips on creating timeless, chic interiors. Jessica Antola Open up an international design magazine, and I bet you can spot the French homes. Theres something about French interior design that is instantly recognizablea certain je ne sais quoi. While you cant import views of Pariss mansard rooftops or the Provencal countryside, there is much you can do to bring the character of French interiors to your own home. We called on three Paris-based design pros to ask them about the most important characteristics of French interior design and how to create the look in your own homeeven if you're miles from la Republique. Meet the Experts Related: 10 Interior Design Secrets Only the Pros Know Embrace the past Photo by Jessica Antola, from the book Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life In France, there is an acceptance of design history, says Ajiri Aki, the founder of Madame de la Maison, a French lifestyle brand, and author of the new book Joie: A Parisians Guide to Celebrating the Good Life. The French appreciate the design of the past, says Aki. They respect the bones of a space and then they layer in their contemporary life. Say "Yes" to moldings Photo by Xavier Bejot, from the book "Parisian By Design" All three of the experts we spoke to pointed to historic moldings being an essential element of French interiors. You cant recreate French interior style in a drywall box, cautions Penny Drue Baird, an interior designer with offices in New York and Paris, who is the author of two design books about French interior style. Luckily, adding molding is a relatively easy and affordable update that you can do yourself or hire out. And it doesnt need to be ornate, says Baird, It can even be just a ceiling molding and basic crown molding. Story continues Related: 10 Small Design Upgrades to Add Character to a New Home Fake a fireplace Getty Images/Andreas von Einsiedel Another architectural element that appears in many French rooms is a fireplace. While adding a working fireplace would constitute a major renovation, Baird suggests you can simply add a mantle and dress it, noting that it becomes almost architectural. Related: 8 Stunning Fireplace Mantel Decor Ideas for Every Season Make magic with mirrors Photo by Jessica Antola, from the book Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life Above those French fireplaces, youll often find gilded inset mirrors. Any antique mirror and a gilded wood mirror, for sure, adds French style, Aki says. Not only will placing a large mirror above your fireplace echo French interiors, it will also bounce light around the room. PssstIf you currently have a television in that prime spot above the mantle (or on the primary wall in your living room), try to find a new location for it: The design pros say the French prefer not to make the TV the focal point of the room Weave in antiques, especially French ones Photo by Xavier Bejot, from the book "Parisian By Design" Even the most contemporary French home is likely to have some antiques in the mix, says David Jiminez, an interior designer based in Paris who wrote the book Parisian By Design. For the most iconic French style, look to Louis the XV and XIV furniture. This is furniture that was created three hundred years ago and still looks fresh today in so many environments, says Jiminez. Related: Home Decor You Should Thrift Instead of Buy New, According to Experts Incorporate iconic French patterns Getty Images/Liliboas When it comes to patterns that are a hallmark of French interior style, Baird points to toile de Jouy, a generic term for fabrics featuring pastoral romantic scenes and motifs. The printed fabric was originally Irish, but it became popular in France in the eighteenth century, and, "It never went out of style, Baird says. However, if you prefer something less traditional, Jiminez suggests a classic awning stripe. You see it everywherethe Palais-Royal, awnings on the street, curtains, upholstery on chairsits very uniquely French, he says. But not any wide stripe will do. Jiminez says the consistency of the width of the stripe is key: 7 centimeters wide is the classic French stripe. Display some copper pots Getty Images/Esperanza33 While a big La Cornue or Lacanche range is the hallmark of a French cooking space, they are beyond most peoples budget. Instead, If you want to give your kitchen a quintessentially French vibe, hang up some copper pots, Aki says. Jiminez also points out that these can often be found secondhand for very little moneyyoull just need to do the work to polish them up. Use the good china Photo by Jessica Antola, from the book Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life According to Aki, the French dont save their best for special occasions: They use it every day and usually the best stuff is old. Theres a lot of mix and match dishes in French homes, she says. Everyone flea markets, there are pieces passed down, they dont need to have everything shiny and brand new. Hang your art like the Louvre Photo by Xavier Bejot, from the book "Parisian By Design" Any time you hang your art salon style, it makes it feel a little more European, says Jiminez. (Salon style hanging is essentially a clustered and crowded gallery wall that is intentionally mismatched.) So, to really nail this look, you shouldn't go buy a salon-wall set at a big-box store. The frames are very purposefully not matching, says Jiminez. The more mixed a grouping is, the more interesting it is. Shop the flea market Getty Images/digitalimagination The French people I know take great pleasure in not spending a lot of money: Theres a deep appreciation for going to the flea market, says Jiminez. Of course, who wouldnt choose to shop at the Paris markets, which Jiminez describes as unlike any other place in the world? But even stateside, flea markets are a great source for antiques on a budget, including those copper pots, fine china, and vintage art. Make your bed the French way Getty Images/Andreas von Einsiedel French beds are looser in style, there is some ease to how the bed is put together: Think a great looking duvet not perfectly tucked in, Jiminez says. The experts also say that the French often prefer classic white or solid beddingnot a bold print, and Aki says she sees a lot of linen sheets in French homes. Splurge on fresh flowers Photo by Xavier Bejot, from the book "Parisian By Design" Perhaps the easiest way to add French style of all? Display a gorgeous bouquet. All the experts noted that the French never hesitate to treat themselves to flowersalways fresh, never fake! For more Real Simple news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Real Simple. WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese side has expressed key concerns on the U.S. China policies on economy and trade, and semiconductors, as well as issues concerning export control and outbound investments review during Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao's talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday. During their meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in the United States from Thursday to Friday, the two sides had candid, professional and constructive exchanges on bilateral economic and trade ties as well as related issues of common concern. They agreed to set up communication channels to maintain and strengthen exchanges on specific economic and trade concerns and issues concerning cooperation. 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. Story continues 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. A walk near the shore led beachgoers to a big surprise a bundle of suspected cocaine, deputies told Alabama news outlets. The bundle contained at least 20 packages believed to be holding the illegal drug, according to photos shared with WPMI. The discovery was made May 20 in the West End Beach area of Dauphin Island. The bundle, which appeared to have been there for some time, was pulled from the coast and taken to narcotics investigators, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office told WKRG. Now, deputies said two people have been arrested and face charges of cocaine trafficking, WALA reported. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is expected to help with the investigation, multiple news outlets reported. The Mobile County Sheriffs Office didnt immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on May 23. Dauphin Island is along the Gulf Coast, roughly 35 miles south of Mobile. Four college students likely drugged after rideshare driver offers drink, AL cops say 85 arrested after drugs sent in checked bags through Orlando airport, Florida cops say CANTON - After over a century of service providing the town with thousands of jobs, the Canton paper mill sounded its final bell May 24, signaling the permanent closure of the iconic site. It's a sad day they're gonna lose homes, they're losing their insurance. They're losing everything," Canton resident Keitha Oldham said of the mill workers. Pactiv Evergreen, the packaging company that owns the Canton mill, announced the closure on March 6 with under 90 days of notice for Canton citizens. The residents of Canton are already mourning the shocking loss of the iconic building not only for the sake of nostalgia, but for the many livelihoods the mill created. Layoffs due to the mills closure number over 1,000. For many Canton citizens, this is a frightening prospect. Longtime friends and former coworkers, Butch Medford, left, and Thomas Bryant, hold their hats as they listen to the final shift whistle across from Evergreen Packaging May 24, 2023. Its a sad day, said Bryant, who worked at the mill for 33 years, where Medford also worked for 24 years. More: Canton paper mill closing a 'regional crisis,' mayor says; Buncombe also affected Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said after learning of the planned summer shutdown of the paper mill he contacted North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Rep. Chuck Edwards to ask for assistance. Cooper went on to write an open letter to the CEO of Pactiv Evergreen suggesting they reconsider the closure or search for a buyer for the mill, stating that their announcement was a clear violation of a 2015 contract between Pactiv Evergreen and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. According to Cooper, the contract provided Pactiv Evergreen with $12 million in grant money in exchange for retaining at least 800 full-time employees until Dec. 31, 2024. Josh Scott, a fourth generation mill worker, is held by his wife, Brooke, as they listen to the final shift bell across from Evergreen Packaging at Sorells Park May 24, 2023. I feel like my granddaddys dying all over again, said Scott, who likened the final shift whistle to the plant flatlining. More: Cooper urges Evergreen to keep Canton paper mill open, looks to recover $12M in incentives More: As Canton mill closure looms, Rep. Chuck Edwards seeks $9.8M in aid. Here's what it's for The final ring of the bell occurred at noon May 24, and many Canton residents came together on the lawn of Sorrells Street Park directly across from the mill to see it off. Emotions were high in residents of all ages but perhaps most of all in Cantons senior citizens, many of whom had worked at the mill for their entire lives. Story continues Oldham held back tears as she explained her own familys relationship to the mill. This is history, this is their life. This is all they know. This is what Canton is," Oldham said. "My Papaw helped build this, and most of my family works in there, and did work there, and retired from there. Like so many in Canton, Oldhams response to the mills closure went deeper than her own family connection, extending into worry over the entire population of the town. My heart goes out to them," she said. "I don't think its right, the way they done, and I hope something good will come out of all of this. Canton community members gathered across from Evergreen Packaging at Sorrells Park May 24, 2023, to listen to the final shift bell. More: Opinion: Closure of Canton paper mill is devastating blow for the people of Canton, WNC More: Canton native, NC former top poet Chappell, speaks on mill's closure; 'devastating' The communitys grief over the closure is proportional to the role the mill has played for 115 years not only sustaining the towns residents, but also playing a huge part in the original establishment of the town. Construction began on the mill in 1908, only 16 years into the towns history. The towns population is said to have grown from 230 to 1,393 between 1900 and 1910 due to the availability of jobs through the mill. Curator of the Canton Area Historical Museum Caroline Ponton paused her photography of the sprawling mill to comment on this role. This is part of their roots, Ponton said. Its part of their culture. It's a part of who they are. So it's a loss. Canton community members gathered across from Evergreen Packaging at Sorrells Park May 24, 2023, to listen to the final shift bell. More: Gov. Cooper in Asheville, Canton talks layoffs More: Canton mill closing: officials express hope, warn of environmental, mental health risks As a reflection of the depth of this loss, several separate pages have been published in the hope to provide valuable resources to those effected by the Canton shutdown. Cooper provided a page on his website including information on unemployment insurance and family resources. The city of Canton in partnership with several other organizations published its own website to provide the public with an array of resources including job training opportunities, health insurance, financial assistance and simple displays of appreciation for mill workers such as a planned June 16 cookout for Canton mill workers. More: As Canton mill closure looms, Rep. Chuck Edwards seeks $9.8M in aid. Here's what it's for Canton Chief of Police Scott Sluder and several of his officers joined the Sorrells Street Park gathering to show their solidarity to their community. Sluder said he understands how meaningful the mill is to his community and said he believes they will need time to heal from the loss of what many see as the heart of their town. There's gonna be feelings that are gonna go on for for a long time to come, and it's just like a loss of anything else," Sluder said. "We've got to cope with that. We've got to go through those phases of loss, and we've got to move forward. However, Sluder says he is remaining cautiously optimistic for the future. We are a strong community, and we're made up of good people," Sluder said. "And I believe that if we all come together, and we're towards this unified goal of coming out stronger, that we can do it. I believe if anybody can do it, this town and this county can do it. Canton community members gathered across from Evergreen Packaging at Sorrells Park May 24, 2023, to listen to the final shift bell. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Iconic Canton paper mill closed after 115 years The chances of getting bitten by a shark while you're swimming at the beach are surprisingly low Great White sharks are just one type of shark known to occasionally attack humans. Pterantula/Wikimedia Commons The chances of being attacked and killed by a shark are one in 3.75 million . The US and Australia consistently report the most shark attacks each year. But your chances of dying from a shark attack are rare and lower than death by a lightning strike. Shark attacks are one of the most notoriously feared dangers to beach-going humans but how likely is it that you'd actually get bitten? Despite the mass fear surrounding the deadly animals, the chances of being attacked and killed by a shark are one in 3.75 million, according to the International Wildlife Museum. The chances are lower than the possibility of dying by a lightning strike, a firework accident, or a stroke. In the wake of a shark attack over the weekend in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, we've examined the data behind shark attacks in the US and worldwide. The US has recorded over 1,500 shark attacks in the last 185 years High drone panoramic view of South Beach in Miami from South Pointe Park, Florida, USA - stock photo World famous South Beach at Miami South Pointe Park with high skyscrapers and a blue sunny summer sky, Florida, USA. Panoramic high view of the Art Deco district close to downtown Miami in the southern spot of South Beach. Florida is the shark attack capital of the US and home to many beaches, including Miami Beach, shown here.Getty Images/Pola Damonte Since 1837 there have been 1,596 recorded unprovoked shark attacks in the US, according to data obtained by the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File. The most common place to be attacked in the US is Florida, with 912 attacks since 1837. Hawaii, California, and South Carolina have all had between 100 and 200 attacks in that timeframe. It appears that last weekend's attack in Stone Harbor was uncommon, with only 15 attacks recorded in New Jersey since 1837. The teenage girl who was attacked was in the water when a shark bit her foot. She survived and was walking around on crutches shortly after getting stitches at Cape Regional Medical Center, CBS News reported. The attack at Stone Harbor followed an attack in the Florida Keys just days prior. Two men were bitten by sharks while fishing last week, CNN reported. The US had the most recorded shark attacks in 2022 Sharks that attack humans are usually hanging out near the shore in search of food. Gerard Soury/Getty Images Around the world, there have been more than 3,000 shark attacks recorded in the last 50 years. Story continues In 2022, the US had the most recorded shark attacks in the world with 41, one of which was fatal. Australia, meanwhile, ranked second with nine attacks, but no fatalities. This is lower than Australia's five-year average of 15 attacks per year. Shark attacks in the US are concentrated in Florida Oceans off of Australia are known for being the habitat for deadly sharks, including the Great White, Bull, and Tiger sharks. Most shark attacks occur near the shore, typically in sandbars or between sandbars where sharks can become trapped during low tide. In deeper areas, like spots with steep drop-offs, sharks congregate because creatures they feed on also gather there. Shark attacks are lower than in the past Industrial factory chimneys like these are contributing to climate change, which is warming ocean waters and forcing sharks to move inland, closer to humans. Stock Photo/Getty Images The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2022 was 57 significantly lower than the annual average between 2017-2021, which was 70. "It's likely that fatalities are down because some areas have recently implemented rigorous beach safety protocols, especially in Australia," Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History's Florida Program for Shark Research, told Forbes in February. But it's important to note that shark attack numbers tend to fluctuate and just because they've been lower recently doesn't necessarily signal a continuous downward trend. Time will tell if this is the case. Meanwhile, beachgoers, especially in hot spots in the US and Australia, should try to avoid waters with sharks as much as possible. What to do if you're attacked by a shark A tiger shark. Getty Images If you see a shark while in the water, keep your eyes on it while slowly swimming back to shore. Eye contact signals to the shark you know of its presence and are not easy, unsuspecting prey. If you see a shark charge and it attacks, hit its eyes or nose and, if possible, stick your hands into its gills and pull hard. While humans can sometimes be victims of sharks, far more sharks are victimized by humans each year. Shark attacks worldwide are concentrated in the US Made with Flourish The worldwide shark population is in decline because of over-fishing approximately 100 million sharks are killed every year by fisheries, according to the International Wildlife Museum. Moreover, the destruction of their habitat due to climate change has forced sharks closer to land, thus closer to humans. Malin Pinsky, an associate professor at Rutgers University's Department of Ecology, perhaps put it best in an interview with The Guardian in 2021: "Climate change is scrambling our ocean ecosystems and sometimes it produces surprises with a whole lot of teeth." Read the original article on Insider 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. MUNCIE, Ind. A two-vehicle crash on Ind. 32 east of Muncie claimed two lives Thursday evening. According to Chief Deputy Jeff Stanley of the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, an eastbound Chevrolet Impala was stopped on the highway near Truitt Road, waiting for traffic to clear before it could turn north, when it was struck in the rear by a Chevrolet Equinox, also eastbound. A two-vehicle crash Thursday evening on Ind. 32, near Truitt Road east of Muncie, resulted in two deaths. The impact of the rear-end crash forced the Impala driven by a Delaware County woman who was six months pregnant 122 feet before it came to rest in the four-lane state highway's westbound lanes. The woman later identified as Brittany N. Wilson, 32, of Liberty Township was transported by Delaware County EMS ambulance, but she died en route to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, according to Stanley. Emergency personnel were able to deliver the baby, but the infant died at the hospital, the chief deputy said. The driver of the Equinox was taken to the hospital for a blood draw, standard procedure in a crash involving serious injuries or death. He was believed to be from Grant County. The sheriff's crash reconstruction team was investigating the accident, which was reported to emergency dispatchers about 6:30 p.m. Also responding to the scene were personnel with the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, the Liberty Township Fire Department and Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene's office. Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Two-vehicle crash east of Muncie claims lives of pregnant woman, baby Remote Lands and Aman Resorts teamed up to create three unique itineraries throughout Asia. Courtesy of Aman Two Asian-based travel companies known for ultra-luxury, Remote Lands and Aman Resorts, have partnered up again for a series of newly announced private jet expeditions, all taking flight this fall, mixing personalized service with upscale touch points throughout the journeys. With three itineraries departing between September and November, each trip is an intimate experience with less than 20 guests jet setting between destinations on an Airbus ACJ 319, only staying at Aman properties. And just to show how exclusive these tours are, each pair of travelers will get their own private car, driver, and guide. The first trip, dubbed A Mindful & Cultural Journey, is focused on Asia with stops in Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka on a 14-night trip departing September 29. With stays at five Aman hotels, highlights include dinner with a former United Nations Bhutan ambassador, a tiger safari in India, and a visit to the Taj Mahal. There's also a private helicopter trip to Mount Everest for a champagne breakfast with the grandson of legendary sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, who made history summiting the peak with Sir Edmund Hillary. Courtesy of Aman Led by a philosophy and religion expert Shantum Seth, there will be optional circle meditations and discussions throughout the trip. The goal is to have a deeply meaningful and educational journey, to learn about each country in depth as well as to have fun, drink some champagne, and meet other interesting people, the company explained on its site. The trip starts at $98,888 per person. Next up is Temples, Beaches & Riads: Kyoto to Marrakech, departing October 16 for 18 days. While starting in Remote Lands Asian roots with visits to Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Oman, the trip also touches down in Europe in Turkey and Africa in Morocco, making it an epic three-continent getaway across six Aman hotels, from $155,888 per person. Story continues Courtesy of Aman Finally, the Southeast Asia journey takes flight November 5 for 10 nights starting at Vinh Hy Bay in Vietnam for two nights, before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention-listed town of Luang Prabang in Laos for three nights. Then it's off to Siem Reap in Cambodia for three nights before ending in Phuket, Thailand, for two nights and it's all led by the co-founder and CEO of Remote Lands, Catherine Heald. Prices start at $68,888 per person. Applications are now open for the limited spots on all three tours by visiting emailing amanprivatejet@remotelands.com, or calling 212-518-1801. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. 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? Story continues 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. The Foo Fighters launched their first tour with new drummer Josh Freese on Wednesday night (May 24) at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook in Gilford, N.H. The bittersweet evening marked the bands first tour in a quarter century without beloved late drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died last March while on tour with the group in South America at age 50. Related Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters Foo Fighters Introduce New Drummer Josh Freese During Preparing Music for 05/25/2023 05/25/2023 In his stead was recently revealed new timekeeper studio and touring veteran Freese (NIN, Guns N Roses, A Perfect Circle), who made his official debut behind the kit on Sunday during the Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts livestream event. More from Billboard According to Blabbermouth, the 21-song set included the live debuts of four songs that appear on the bands upcoming 11th studio album, But Here We Are, including set-opener and first single Rescued, as well as new songs Under You, Nothing at All and the title track. Before the show, the band posted a two-minute video of their stage walk-on at the Gilford show with the message Thank you so much for coming. Weve missed you. During the gig, Grohl introduced Freese to the Foo family, telling the crowd, And thats why we hired him everybody, would you please welcome the man behind the drums, Josh Freese, as the drummer stood up and saluted while wearing a black t-shirt with the words Employee of the Month across the front in red letters. We would not be here to night if it werent for Josh, so everybody give Josh a big fking round of applause please. The Foos next show is Friday night (May 26) at the Boston Calling Festival. On Thursday morning (May 25), the band released the nature-themed video for the third single from But Here We Are, the meditative Show Me How. Story continues Check out fan video of the show below, the groups stage walk-on clip and the Show Me How video below. Thank you so much for coming. Weve missed you. pic.twitter.com/t0oqqQoCwm Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 25, 2023 Best of Billboard Click here to read the full article. The Columbus Alternative High School (CAHS) is at 2632 McGuffey Rd. in the Linden neighborhood. The school is known for stringent academics. It is one of 19 high schools in the Columbus City Schools system. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Doral Chenoweth III) A former Columbus Alternative High School teacher pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges related to accusations he secretly took videos up the skirts and shorts of students and other females. Justin Robert Foley, 47, of Delaware, Ohio, appeared Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Columbus and entered guilty pleas under an agreement with federal prosecutors to two felony counts: sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. Foley was employed as a chemistry teacher at Columbus Alternative High School when he committed these crimes between approximately June 2018 and September 2022, according to court records. The first count is related to producing images of a 15-year-old girl's genitalia area, court records state. Court records state that videos and photos recovered from Foley's accounts showed "females of various ages in department stores around the Columbus area, Downtown Columbus public areas, near Ohio Wesleyan University, downtown Delaware areas and outside Conger Elementary School" in Delaware. The victims were not aware they were being recorded, police said. A federal judge will sentence Foley at a later date. The sexual exploitation of a minor charge alone is punishable by a minimum 15 years in prison. Past reporting: Former Columbus teacher faces federal charges of taking sexual videos, photos of students The investigation into Foley arose after Google sent a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which passed the tip onto Delaware police in August. Foley had uploaded numerous images of child pornography via Google email accounts, according to court records. Foley was arrested on Sept. 20 by the Delaware Police Department on state charges after admitting to having more than 5,000 images and more than 160 videos of child pornography on his cellphone and other electronic devices. A criminal complaint against Foley was filed in federal court in November, superseding the local charges. Story continues jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Columbus City teacher pleads guilty to taking 'upskirt' videos UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) addresses an event entitled "Dag Hammarskjold Medal Ceremony and Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award" at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 25, 2023. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that for civilians caught in conflict, UN blue helmets who support security, stability and the rule of law in host countries are seen as "a beacon of hope and protection." UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations held ceremonies at its headquarters in New York on Thursday, to honor the memory of the peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives while serving under the UN flag. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in honor of the more than 4,200 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. Moments later, he presided over a ceremony in the General Assembly Hall at which Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded posthumously to 103 military, police and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag in 2022. In remarks at the ceremony, Guterres said that for civilians caught in conflict, UN blue helmets who support security, stability and the rule of law in host countries are seen as "a beacon of hope and protection." "They represent the beating heart of the United Nations' commitment to peace," he said. "By bringing peacekeepers together from around the world, peacekeeping has also become an inspiring symbol of multilateralism in action." Thursday's ceremonies were staged to observe the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29, and to mark the 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping. The first UN peacekeeping mission was established in May 1948, when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. According to a UN press release, more than 2 million peacekeepers from 125 countries have since served in 71 operations around the world. Today, 87,000 women and men are serving in 12 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (at podium and on screens) addresses an event entitled "Dag Hammarskjold Medal Ceremony and Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award" at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 25, 2023. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Guterres pointed out that peacekeepers face a daunting array of rising global tensions and divides, and "are increasingly working in places where there is no peace to keep." "Despite all obstacles, our personnel persevere, risking their own lives in service of others," said the UN chief. "I pay tribute to their service and sacrifice, which inspire our work every day." He expressed the commitment that the United Nations will do its utmost to support the peacekeepers, including improving their safety and security and the effectiveness of peacekeeping. Guterres also presented the 2022 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Captain Cecilia Erzuah, a military officer from Ghana who served with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. Created in 2016, the award recognizes the dedication and effort of an individual peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The resolution is a reminder that there can be no lasting peace without involving women at every step, Guterres said, noting that many negotiating teams and peace processes today are totally dominated by men. "It's up to all of us -- governments, communities and local officials -- to ensure that women play their full part, including as leaders, in building and maintaining peace," he said. 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 In an effort to cut down on carbon emissions, France has officially banned many short-haul domestic flights. The country will no longer allow flights within its borders when similar high-speed train service takes two-and-a-half hours or less. As we fight relentlessly to decarbonize our lifestyles, how can we justify the use of the plane between the big cities which benefit from regular, fast and efficient connections by train? Minister Delegate for Transport Clement Beaune said in a statement. The ban currently affects three routes, from Paris-Orly airport to Nantes, Bordeaux, and Lyon. The country plans to reevaluate the ban in three years, with the potential for more routes to follow suit. The law requires there to be high-speed train service between the destinations, as well as trains that run early and late in the day to allow at least eight hours spent at the destination in question. The law originally looked to ban journeys less than four hours by train, but was rolled back after pressure from airlines. Environmental groups criticized the law for not going further, noting that these routes represent just 3 percent of domestic emissions from airlines and only .3 percent from all airline activity in France. No one will be fooled by this measure: passengers are naturally turning away from taking flights on these routes, said Guillaume Schmid the former vice president of Air Frances pilots union, on Twitter. The United States has many similar flights connecting destinations as close together as New York City and Hartford, CT. However, France's extensive high-speed rail system offers more workable alternatives to flying. ALSO READ: 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. Story continues 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 She was unharmed, and found in good spirits. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office A giant cow is back home in Mandeville, Louisiana, after a group of pranksters managed to pull off quite the heist this week. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office received a call early Thursday morning about the iconic cow that stands outside Saia's Super Meat Market. It had reportedly been stolen in the middle of the night by mischievous youths and its longtime owner, understandably, wanted it back. According to officials, its not the first time the big bovine has gone missing. Fortunately, it's never hard to find. The 46-year-old cow is, by all accounts, udderly unmistakable. "Shortly after the call comes out, our friends at the Mandeville Police Department come over the radio... 'Hey, I just found a massive cow on the lakefront. Must be her.'" the sheriffs office wrote on Facebook. The owner of Saia's told deputies he believes high school seniors executed the cow-napping, noting that they took care to ensure that the famous statue had a comfortable ride. The heifer heisters even added air to the purposefully deflated tires of its trailer before they gently rolled her away for a night out on the town. The owner is thankful she was located quickly, and does not wish to press charges, the sheriffs office wrote. However, let this be a warning that he may not be so forgiving to the next heisters. Sounds like everyone was amoosed by this senior prank! For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. The Princess of Wales reveals Prince William's least desirable habit. WPA Pool / Getty Images Kate Middleton and Prince William have been married for 12 years, but that doesnt mean they dont get on each others nerves every now and then. In fact, the Princess of Wales says that her husband has one bad habit that she finds particularly annoyingand it's surprisingly relatable. According to The Mirror, Kates biggest marriage pet peeve is when William eats pizza on the couch. Kate first mentioned the pet peeve while visiting a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, Greece, in 2018, but the exchange, in which she calls Will a nightmare for the way he eats the meal, has recently resurfaced. After the base opened a new recreational area, William spotted the bright yellow couches and joked, Keep the pizza off the sofas, to which Kate responded, Youre a nightmare with that. Kate's not opposed to her husband eating pizza, thoughjust as long as it's not on their couch. During a recent visit to Wales in April of 2023, Kate and William took part in training activities, like rappelling, medical support exercises, and a search dog rescue demonstration. After working up an appetite, the duo headed to Dowlais Rugby Club to meet members of the community, and they ordered 22 pizzas from the Little Dragon Pizza Van, People reported. The pies included pepperoni, Margherita, barbecue chicken, and goat cheese. Kate and William probably would have polished off the slices themselves, but they shared the meal with the rescue team. Related: The Fun Way Kate Middleton and Prince William Keep Their Marriage Fresh Pool / Getty Images While ordering the pizzas last month, Peter Morris, owner of Little Dragon Pizza Van, said Kate inquired about the ingredients. The princess asked if we make our own dough, he recalled. Kate also shared with the owner that making pizza has become a fun family activity. She said she loves preparing the dish with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Story continues In 2014, reports from Us Weekly resurfaced that pizza was one of Kates cravings when she was pregnant with Princess Charlotte. According to the outlet, the royal mom ordered three very specific pies from Serafina while staying at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side. Her choices? Spicy sausage without mushrooms and prosciutto without sliced tomatoes, the publication reported. A source close to the couple revealed to the outlet that William requested two pizzas from Pizza Express to be delivered to the hospital on the day Kate gave birth to Prince George on July 22, 2013. "They both really love their pizza," the insider told the publication. Kate doesnt just order takeout, though. According to the source, shes been buying frozen pizzas at the supermarket for years. Up Next: Creative Ways to Serve Pizza at Your Wedding Mango is on a store opening spree in the U.K. The Spanish fast-fashion chain on Friday opened a new U.K. store in Westfield Stratford City in London. More from Sourcing Journal The new store opening is part of Mangos expansion plan for the U.K. market. The 13 new locations it plans to open this year will bring its total count to 66, including company-owned doors, franchises, nine department store corners with the John Lewis Partnership and four wholesale stores with Morleys Department Stores. Mango also runs an e-commerce site tailored to the British market. The new doors will focus primarily in the south and center of the country in major cities that include Bristol, London, Manchester and Leeds. It also includes new cities, such as Brighton for the first time. Stores in Bristol, Solihull and Leeds opened earlier this year. New locations in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and London are still in the works. The United Kingdom is one of the key markets for Mangos international expansion. Our arrival this year in cities we have not been present in until now and in some of the largest shopping centres in the country will consolidate the Mango brand and allow us to strengthen our position internationally, Daniel Lopez, Mangos global expansion director, said. The new Westfield Stratford City store, in one of the largest shopping centers in the U.K., has a selling space of 4,520 square feet that exclusively stocks the Woman collection. The upcoming store opening in Brighton at the Churchill Square shopping centre is larger at 5,059 square feet. The UK stores feature the brands New Med concept inspired by classic Mediterranean living, using natural materials, such as ceramic, tuff, wood, marble, sparto grass and leather. A look at the Mango Woman collection inside its new Westfield Stratford City store in London. Last year, Mango opened stores in Glasgow Fort, Bluewater shopping centre in Dartford, Battersea Power Station in London, and in Newcastle at the Eldon Square shopping centre. The company been in the U.K. since 1999. Story continues In December Mango opened its first New Med concept store in Singapore, and in January announced plans to triple its presence in India in two years, including the opening of its first Mango Man store in New Delhi. Sustainability remains a key focus for the fast-fashion chain. Earlier this month, the high street retaileras part of its Sustainable Vision 2030 sustainability strategyjoined the Pakistan Accord, the first expansion of the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry outside Bangladesh. Mango was one of the initial signatories to the original Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a binding agreement to protect workers following the deadly Rana Plaza collapse a decade ago. Click here to read the full article. 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. close up photo of a light brown brown recluse spider on a black background In the first known case of its kind, a man in Michigan developed recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in both legs after reportedly being bitten by a brown recluse spider. Previously, "no case of deep vein thrombosis has been reported following a brown recluse spider bite," according to a new report of the unusual case, published in April in the journal Clinical Case Reports . Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) aren't typically found in Michigan. However, rare, isolated populations have sometimes been identified in the state, and some studies suggest that the arachnids might spread northward from their native range as the planet warms . The six-eyed, solid-brown spiders are considered native to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as parts of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. Related: What is the deadliest spider in the world? The 45-year-old man in the new case report went to an emergency department in Michigan following the brown recluse bite. (The case report does not note how the spider's identity was verified, but in any case, there are no medical tests available to definitively identify a brown recluse bite.) The man was experiencing left calf pain, as well as swelling and ulcers around the bite site. Upon examining the patient, doctors also noted swelling, tenderness and fluid buildup (known as edema) in his right calf. Based on the results of various tests, the doctors made a provisional diagnosis of DVT, and treated the man with saline, morphine and a medicine to counter blood clotting. When the man's pain and swelling persisted, he underwent a balloon thrombectomy, a surgery to physically remove the blood clots, and had stents placed in several affected veins. He was then discharged with prescriptions for various medications to decrease the chance of further blood clotting. However, the man was "noncompliant with medication" and returned to the emergency department four days later with discoloration, mild swelling and worsening leg pain, the case report authors wrote. He underwent another thrombectomy and was advised to continue his anti-blood-clotting medications. Story continues At a follow-up visit the next month, "he complained of persistent leg pain and leg swelling despite medication compliance" and was treated with a venoplasty, a procedure that helps open a narrowed vein using a small balloon. But again, another month later, the man's symptoms persisted, and shortly after, he went to the emergency room for an acute episode of leg swelling and pain, the authors wrote. RELATED STORIES Venomous spiders take advantage of pandemic, move into college buildings Do brown recluse spider bites really lead to amputations? Deadly spiders that can kill in minutes and survive underwater are hiding out in swimming pools He was then sent to a venous thromboembolism clinic, where doctors discovered scar tissue in the patient's veins that likely contributed to his persistent symptoms. After that visit, the patient was advised to take anticoagulants for life and to use compression stockings and a compression pump for symptom relief, the authors wrote. He was then lost to follow-up, so long-term data are not available. How could a brown recluse spider bite trigger such persistent DVT? It's possible that a molecule called phospholipase D (PLD), found in the spider's venom, could have partially driven the condition's development, the study authors suggested. PLD has been linked to "massive inflammation" and the accumulation of platelets , cell fragments that stick together to form blood clots. "In our patient, we did not find any other cause which might have contributed to DVT," the authors wrote. "Hence, PLD can be attributed to the development of deep venous thrombosis." Brown recluse bites can cause mild to severe symptoms, Live Science previously reported. Most bites cause inflammation but ultimately resolve on their own. However, in people who are sensitive to the spiders' venom, bites can cause skin cells to rapidly die, leading to the development of circular "necrotic lesions" that sometimes linger for months. Ray Liotta is being remembered by his loved ones on the first anniversary of his death. The Goodfellas star died in his sleep while in the Dominican Republic on May 26, 2022. He was 67. Now, exactly one year later, his fiancee Jacy Nittolo is honoring his memory with an emotional tribute to her late partner. "A year ago today I was on a flight home from the Dominican Republic by myself in shock," Nittolo, 48, wrote in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Friday, which included a collection of sweet photos of the pair before Liotta's death. "My entire world unexpectedly turned upside down," she recalled, going on to detail a kind woman on her plane ride home who helped comfort her in a terrible time of need. "Ill never forget the beautiful woman, a complete stranger, who sat next to me and didnt say a word. She gently grabbed and held my hand the entire flight as I cried and looked out the window," Nittolo remembered. "When we landed she looked at me and said everything is going to be ok. Your [sic] going to be ok." "I walked off the plane and met Ray's sister for a connecting flight to LA and I dont know what I would have done without Linda that night," her caption continued. "Its been a heavy year of pain, heartache, healing, growing and accepting what is. Learning to smile at what was." View the original article to see embedded media. "It supposedly gets easier with time," she added. "No time will change a loss so great. You just learn to live with it and keep going, trusting that all will be ok." Nittolo then mentioned Liotta's daughter, Karsen, as well as her own four kids from a previous marriageDax, Chazz, Jade and Joeyall of whom she said "keep me going every single day." She also mentioned her late grandmother, who helped raise her, who actually passed away on the same exact date 20 years ago: "She was the other love of my life and one of my favorites of all time. Both on 5/26." Story continues Earlier this month, Liotta's official cause of death was revealed, with documents listing respiratory insufficiency (fluid in his lungs) and pulmonary edema (acute heart failure). The manner of his death was listed as natural and nonviolent. He was also honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in February, nearly nine months after his death. Next: Ray Liotta's Daughter Karsen Honors Late Dad at Walk of Fame Ceremony 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. Story continues 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 BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China will scale up investment in the construction of a national water network, an official said Friday. The central budget will focus on bolstering water network construction projects that extend across different regions, or aim to improve the country's capabilities regarding flood prevention and grain production, said Zhao Chenxin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference. Local governments will be required to prioritize investment in the construction, and ensure the solid implementation of related projects, Zhao said. Following a market-oriented and law-based principle, the country will encourage all types of investors to partake in the construction, especially those in the private sector, Zhao added. China has recently issued a guideline for the construction of a national water network throughout the 2021-2035 period, amid efforts to enhance the capability to safeguard water security. The guideline sets multiple long-term goals, including seeing a national water network take shape, creating water networks at the provincial, municipal, and county levels, and fostering a national water security system that meets the requirements of realizing socialist modernization. Norse Atlantic Airways is offering flights between Europe and the United States at a steep discount this summer. Courtesy of Norse Atlantic Airways With summer vacation airfares climbing to record levels, and with some flights completely sold out, this low-cost carrier is providing a reprieve for travelers looking to book a last-minute getaway. Norse Atlantic Airways, a low-cost carrier offering flights between Europe and the United States recently shared a listing of their discounted summer fares with Travel + Leisure on flights for popular routes. Some of the top deals that are currently available include flights from New Yorks JFK Airport to Berlin and London Gatwick, which are both only $189 one-way. Flights from JFK to Oslo, Norway are only $215 one-way, and flights from JFK to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are only $235 one-way. Starting June 1, Norse will offer discounted fares from Washington D.C. (IAD) to London Gatwick for only $205 one-way. Additional upcoming flight deals from Norse include New York to Rome for only $259 one-way starting on June 20, and Los Angeles to London Gatwick for only $209 one-way starting on June 30. Norse shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure that the fares are seasonal and will be valid until the end of the summer, and also points out that the one-way fares are subject to availability, additional taxes, and fees. Norse offers packages such as Economy Light which include only one personal bag, or Economy Classic which includes one carry-on, one personal item, one standard checked bag, and a meal. The airline operates on 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which feature modern amenities such as large windows, LED lighting, and a more comfortable cabin altitude, with cleaner air and better humidity according to the airlines site. Each aircraft is named after a different national park from around the globe such as Sequoia, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Rondane. On May 25, Norse launched new routes from Londons Gatwick airport to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale We look forward to a busy summer ahead as we bring value fares and a fantastic service to passengers looking to travel across the Atlantic, Norse Atlantic Airways CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said of the new route. Story continues For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. 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. Story continues 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 Michael and Chantell Sackett of Priest Lake, Idaho, pose for a photo in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 14, 2011. The Supreme Court on Thursday, May 25, 2023, 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. The justices boosted property rights over concerns about clean water in a ruling in favor of the Sacketts, who sought to build a house near Priest Lake. | Haraz N. Ghanbari, Associated Press In a victory for private property rights, landowners, farmers and ranchers, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down an Obama-era rule defining what constitutes a wetland or navigable waterway. In a case brought by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of an Idaho couple, Mike and Chantell Sackett, the foundation successfully argued that the rule was too broad and constituted regulatory overreach. The courts ruling returns the scope of the Clean Water Act to its original and proper limits, said Damien Schiff, a senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation 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 Sacketts bought the land in Idaho with the intention of building their dream home, but were thwarted by a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision that critics said literally muddied the waters on the issue and resulted in the implementation of an EPA rule. The Sacketts vacant lot neighbors Priest Lake, which is 300 feet away and behind two rows of houses, said Tony Francois, a former attorney with the foundation who was involved in the suit brought in 2008. Francois said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have construed a rule, called Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, to expansively extend their authority beyond what is reasonable due to the earlier Supreme Court decision that gave little to no clarity on the issue. Related What is a wetland? The agencies insisted the residential lot was a wetland subject to federal authority and ordered their construction work stopped under threat of tens of thousands of dollars a day in fines unless they secured a federal permit. The Sacketts spent the next 16 years fighting for the right to use their property, according to the foundation. Their battle spanned four presidential administrations and every level of the federal court system, it added. Story continues Related A majority of the justices held to a plurality opinion in the 2006 case that the Clean Water Act applies to only those wetlands or water which must be relatively permanent and connected to traditional interstate navigable waters. Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the opinion, warned that under the EPAs interpretation of the Clean Water Act, nearly all waters and wetlands are potentially susceptible to regulation under this (significant nexus) test, putting a staggering array of landowners at risk of criminal prosecution for such mundane activities as moving dirt. Utah was among an 11-state coalition that successfully got the rule put on hold with a federal injunction issued in 2018, and Utahs state Legislature has weighed in with a resolution opposing the WOTUS rule. President Joe Bidens administration is now considering what next steps to take after a ruling that it said upends protections for critical wetlands and waterways. The courts decision today aims to take our country backwards. It will jeopardize the sources of clean drinking water for farmers, businesses and millions of Americans, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, according to The Washington Post. But know this, that President Biden will use every legal authority available to him to ensure Americans in every state have clean water. Jonathan Wood, vice president of law and policy at the Property and Environment Research Center, said he believes Thursdays ruling will have a boomerang effect by bringing renewed emphasis on wetlands conservation. Todays ruling brings significant clarity to federal wetlands regulation but also signals the need to ramp up voluntary wetland conservation. For decades, uncertainty over the extent of Clean Water Act regulation has made wetlands a liability for private landowners, he said. All nine justices rejected the prior vague standard in favor of relatively narrow understandings of federal authority over private property. Now that fewer wetlands will be regulatory liabilities for private landowners, its time for voluntary conservation efforts to make wetlands an asset to landowners. The good act and the bad act In his opinion, Alito hailed the success of the Clean Water Act over the years. This case concerns a nagging question about the outer reaches of the Clean Water Act, the principal federal law regulating water pollution in the United States. By all accounts, the act has been 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, he wrote. But Alito criticized the uncertainty embodied in the act. 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? Justice Brett Kavanaugh said while he agreed with the decision, he objected to the courts new test of what waters are covered under the Clean Water Act. 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. He went on to add: The courts erroneous test not only will create real-world consequences for the waters of the United States, but also is sufficiently novel and vague (at least as a single standalone test) that it may create regulatory uncertainty for the federal government, the states, and regulated parties. The man accused of shooting and killing Takeoff last year has been indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder, according to the Harris County District Attorneys Office. The suspect, Patrick Xavier Clark, was arrested in 2022, following the November shooting that left Take ne Kirsnick Khari Ball dead after attending a party with his group member and uncle Quavo. Police arrested the 33-year-old a month after the shooting during a traffic stop by the Harris Police Department Gang Division. At that time, Clark reportedly had a lump sum of cash, a passport, and a gun with him. Per PEOPLE, Clark tried to obtain an expedited passport to Mexico shortly after the shooting, but was detained before he could flee. Clark was released from jail after posting a $1,000,000 bond on Jan. 14 and has remained free until his indictment on Thursday (May 25). Takeoff was only 28 at the time of his death and has been commemorated by his peers, fans, and family since his passing. During his home-going ceremony, stars shared memories and personal reflections of the rapper as Jhene Aiko and Justin Bieber sang live. Sentiments also came from stars including Migos rappers Quavo and Offset, Cardi B, Drake, and more. Offset paid tribute to his brethren in music on Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 23), posting a photo while expressing his grief. Missing everything bout you specially that smile, the Clout rapper wrote in the posts caption. He also included an open letter to Takeoff in the slide show, describing the killing as a nightmare. (L-R) Takeoff and Offset of Migos perform at halftime of the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Dear Take, The pain you have left me with is unbearable. My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I cant find the words, he wrote. Ive been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream, but its reality and reality feels like a nightmare. Every time you would see me, you didnt give me a dap you gave me a hug. Story continues I wish I could hug you one last time, he continued. Laugh one last time. Smoke one one last time. Perform one last time. I know someone with a soul like yours is in heaven now. I hope you can see how much we love you and miss you. You have left a hole in my heart that will never be filled. Give me strength, give your brothers strength, give your family strength. Takeoff was gunned down on Nov. 1 while standing outside a bowling alley after attending a private party with Quavo in downtown Houston. Police say there was an altercation happening in front of the building that Takeoff was not involved in, but he got caught in the crossfire. An autopsy revealed the 28-year-old died from two gunshot wounds one to the head and one to the torso. More from VIBE.com Click here to read the full article. As the father of twin boys with differing academic abilities, Krit Patel, of Troy, said honors classes are helpful in improving the learning of all students. "I love them equally," Patel said of his twins in middle school. "They're not academically on the same end of the spectrum. I have a son that's a special needs student and I have a son that's in the honors class. They are not equal. They should not be in the same class. ... Not all kids learn at the same speed and have the same ability." So when the father of four children in Troy Public Schools heard the district had canceled its honors English program for ninth graders and was planning to end its honors-track math classes for some grades in middle school, he and others grew concerned. A petition asking the district to keep the current system garnered almost 2,900 signatures. And hundreds have jammed meetings in recent weeks voicing their opposition. The frustration has grown in Troy among parents in a district where 39% of the students are Asian American, many of whom are the children of immigrant parents who stress the importance of education. It's a discussion that has taken place in other Asian American communities across the U.S. such as in Virginia and California, where there are similar debates over math instruction and tracking programs. And it comes at a time when Michigan is trying to compete with other states on attracting an educated workforce; parents have sought to convince the Troy school board that the district's moves would weaken standards and the competitiveness of the region. The Troy school board on May 16, after listening to speakers who pleaded with the district not to remove the honors classes, voted 6-1 to change its middle-school math curriculum by delaying until eighth grade the first opportunity for students to take advanced math. At a Troy schools board meeting on May 16, 2023, parents protest changes to math classes that would affect honors-track opportunities in middle school. At the three-hour meeting, the board voted 6-1 to approve the changes, despite the protests. Vital Anne, the only board member to dissent and the only member of Asian descent, drew loud and lengthy applause as she declared she would vote, no, saying: "Our community has spoken very clearly that they want a rigorous curriculum that challenges our students." Story continues School officials and most of the board members strongly defended the changes, saying the move does not technically remove honors classes and can help more students prepare for advanced math later. They said they're making their decision based on research and studies. Concerned parents pack meetings Patel joined a number of concerned parents and students who packed the May 16 Troy school board meeting to protest the plan to approve a new curriculum called "Illustrative Math" that would end accelerated math classes for sixth and seventh grades. Several parents held up placards that read "Keep Honors, Keep Troy Excellence" and "Eliminate Honors Hurts Most Disadvantaged Families." Security and Troy police officers kept watch during the three-hour meeting that at times drew angry outbursts. They escorted out a couple of angry parents. Parents accused the board of not being open with their plans, failing to provide data to back up their proposals and ignoring the concerns of parents in a district with schools that have among the highest SAT scores in the state. When Patel moved from Oregon to Michigan 10 years ago and was deciding where to live, the engineer chose Troy because he felt its school district was known for its academic excellence and options for advanced students. "I would not make the same decision today based on what you guys are proposing," Patel told the board at a public meeting earlier this month. Parents said some students are actually not challenged enough and need even more rigorous classes. "Why are you stepping backwards and not challenging the kids?" Purinma Patel Gupta, a longtime math teacher in Troy, told the board. "We're competing globally with everybody on the Earth. So why are you telling the students who have the ability to learn ... we're going to set you back? What's wrong with you guys?" They also were upset over an email sent May 2 by Troy Superintendent Richard Machesky that accused opponents of being part of a "politically motivated group funded by outside interests ... orchestrating a campaign of misinformation here in Troy." Machesky didn't specify which group, but parents said he was falsely accusing them of being right-wing even though they said many of them are Democrats or not politically aligned. On May 11, some Troy district officials had an online discussion with members of the Troy Democratic Club to talk about their proposed changes. School officials and board members defended their plans. "I have spent more time talking to community members about this decision than any other decision I've been asked to make as a board member," board member Nicole Wilson said at the meeting. "The research we have seen .... overwhelmingly supports the need for pushing our kids to a new kind of thinking." More: Dearborn Mayor in first State of City: We're building a 'landscape of opportunity' More: Police: Woman charged in synagogue vandalism wanted to blame Ukraine, start Hamtramck war Board President Karl Schmidt, citing the views of a Stanford University professor he consulted, Brian Conrad, said the changes are not similar to more radical changes made in San Francisco that outraged Asian American parents there. In 2015, San Francisco's school district delayed all algebra classes until the ninth grade in order to promote equity, which led to a decline in the number of Asian American students taking AP Calculus, outraging some parents. Conrad "said ... the Troy plan is not the same as the San Francisco plan. He described our plan as the exact opposite of that," Schmidt said. Schmidt also sought to reassure parents these changes would not hurt their children's college admissions. Protect our rights, parents plead Most of the speakers at the meeting, a mix of white people and Asian American people, opposed the board's decision. "Our rights should be protected," Steven Chen told the board during the three-hour meeting in Troy. "I don't see any collaboration. You do not compromise." Another parent, Yawen Li, told the board: "As Troy residents, we pay plenty of taxes. ... We trust the board members to make the right decision that is not based on ideology, that is based on strong research and data." Yawen Li addresses the Troy school board May 16, 2023. She was one of a number of parents protesting changes to math classes they said would remove honors-track opportunities in middle school. At the three-hour meeting, the board voted 6-1 to approve the changes, despite the opposition. Proponents of revising math classes and standards say it can help promote inclusion and diversity, but parents said the opposite is true, that it will actually hurt them and other minority groups by lowering expectations. By eliminating honors programs, "the fast learners get totally disengaged and the slow learners become discouraged or give up on the class," Troy parent Jing Xu said after the meeting, holding a placard that read "Choice promotes DEI (Diversity Equity Inclusion)." "If we do not have a choice for the students, I would not have come here (to live in Troy). Period. ... Troy has all different needs among kids. ... Some kids are really strong in arts, some kids are really strong in math, science. So if you give them choice, they're motivated, they learn faster, they engage in the classroom." Xu and others are also concerned the changes will eventually reduce property values in Troy since nearby districts still have similar honors classes. Last year, voters in the district approved a hefty $555 million bond proposal to improve its buildings. Opponents said the district will be spending a lot of money while watering down its standards. District defends math class changes Kerry Birmingham, a spokeswoman for the Troy School District, said in an email the proposal does not remove honors courses and will "better prepare our students for high level mathematics in high school and beyond." "Instead of a heavy focus on computation, these new courses will require students to identify problems, find solutions and apply those solutions to new concepts," Birmingham said. "This will make students more successful when they decide to enter Honors Algebra 1 in 8th Grade or when they decide to take a newly designed 8th Grade Mathematics course." Birmingham added that "this only impacts 6th and 7th grade math." Purinma Patel Gupta, a private math teacher in Troy, criticizes the board for eliminating some honors-track classes in middle school. "Why are you stepping backwards and not challenging the kids?" she asked. "We're competing globally with everybody on the Earth." "It simply delays the decision from age 10 to age 12 and better prepares students with the kinds of skills they need for advanced mathematics in high school, including multiple AP courses and college-level Calculus," she said. Wilson said a math teacher in the district who "wasn't willing to speak at a meeting because she didn't want to get hung" by opponents, supports the changes, saying students are often being pushed too fast and aren't retaining information. Another board member who voted to approve the changes, Nancy Philippart, said the teaching of math has to evolve. "We don't need our kids to be supercomputers," Philippart said. "We need to ... change with the times." Growing Asian American population Many of the opponents to the removal of honors classes are of Asian descent and immigrants. The city of Troy is 29% Asian American, many of them immigrants from India, China, South Korea, the Philippines, and their children. Immigrants make up 29% of the city's residents, one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents among cities in Michigan. In the district, more than 39% of the students are of Asian descent, not including those who are part Asian, and white people are at 49%. In Troy High School, which has the highest SAT scores in the state among regular public schools, Asian Americans are now the largest group, making up 45% of the student population, slightly outnumbering white people, at 44%. But Asian Americans are underrepresented in city government and among district officials. There has never been a city councilperson of Asian descent, only one school board member is Asian American and few school leaders are Asian. Carlo Toppi addresses the Troy School District board in Troy, Michigan on May 16, 2023, expressing opposition to the removal of honors and honors-track classes in some grades. The board later voted 6-1 to approve the changes. At the meeting, some attendees said the plans would disproportionately hurt Asian Americans and also immigrant groups with roots in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. "So many things are wrong at all levels about this," Hengguang Li, a Troy parent who also is chair of the math department at Wayne State University, told the board. "Little collaboration effort and consensus with the community you serve. ... You're rushing through changes at the cost of valuable trust from the Troy community." Li blasted the email from Superintendent Machesky accusing the opponents of being part of a political movement. "The politically charged message to Troy parents is a disgrace," Li said. Moreover, "particular racial and ethnic groups are disproportionately affected (by the proposed changes): East Asians, Indians, first-generation immigrants from Europe, Africa and the Middle East. An unjustified policy like this will increase racial disparity and inequality," Li said. "Taxation without representation is never, ever a good idea." The crowd applauded and cheered after Li's remarks. District leaders say opponents are dishonest In his May 2 email to parents, Machesky sought to provide more information amid a growing uproar in Troy. "We rarely respond to this kind of dishonesty, but this has reached a point where we need to make sure that our community has accurate, truthful information," Machesky wrote. "Here are the facts: There is no plan to remove honors opportunities from the Troy School District. ... Our changes to the 6th and 7th grade math structure are deliberately designed so that students have a better preparation for advanced mathematics in high school and beyond and so that more students are prepared to take AP and advanced math. ... The change in structure simply moves the timeline for the selection of an advanced track to 8th grade." An earlier town hall meeting before Tuesday's board meeting was held May 9 to address some of the issues. Suril Patel, a parent whose child will be entering Troy schools, spoke at both meetings. He said "a lot of parents did not even know about" the elimination last year of the honors English class in ninth grade. Regarding the concerns expressed by parents at the meeting, school spokeswoman Birmingham said: "We appreciate the dialogue with our community over this process and are thankful that we have so many families passionate about math in our district." Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or Twitter @nwarikoo. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Troy School District removes some honors math, English classes Photo: FotoCuisinette (Shutterstock) I tell people I have a pretty great job, says Jimmy Kennedy, professional bass fisherman, restaurateur, and test kitchen chef at Cabot Creamery. Getting to work with the cheese and the butter and the yogurt, its easy. It really is. For years, Kennedy has worked as a spokesperson for Cabot, a farmer-owned cooperative whose cheddar and other dairy products are sold nationwide. Though he now experiments with the best uses for cheese in a professional capacity, that curiosity was born of necessity some 30 years ago, when he had a crash course in restaurant cookery. Read more I moved to Vermont and decided to open a restaurant, and I wasnt going to cook, Kennedy tells The Takeout. We had someone scheduled and they didnt show up the first day, and Ive been cooking ever sinceI had to fill that void. I didnt think anybody would come back after that first day, it was so bad, he adds, laughing. Ive learned. In his time at Cabot, Kennedy has learned a lot about how to make cheese the centerpiece of any spread. With summer grilling season upon us, we asked Kennedy to illuminate some unique uses for cheese at any backyard barbecuebecause who among us isnt looking for an excuse to consume more of it? We should all heed this expert advice. Combine different cheeses Mixing and matching when youre grilling works really well, Kennedy explains, tossing out Cabot varieties as an example of how to do it. A lot of people like a little spice, so the Habanero is great, or the Pepper Jack. If you were even to put the cracker-cut slices on there, because theyre smaller, [you could combine] maybe one Seriously Sharp and one Habanero, it gives you a different flavor profile for each different bite of the burger, or chicken, or whatever it is. On a big burger, you might even have room to layer three or four cracker-sized slices of cheese in place of one larger slice, creating a patchwork of different flavors and heat levelsbonus points for getting the cheese nice and melty on top of whatever youre grilling. Story continues Go with soft, creamy cheese, not just slices When Kennedy, whos from Mississippi, first suggested pimento cheese to Cabot, he says the company was hesitant, being unfamiliar with the product back in the early 00s when it was still a fairly regional specialty. Now, though, its more widely known to be a crowdpleaserand it has lots of uses at cookouts. Using pimento cheese on hamburgers or anything you grill is just great, he says. Its already got the cheese, plus extra flavor. I put it on right at the end. You dont want to melt it a lot. Its great to have at a barbecue, and its great for kids, because if they dont want a big burger, they can just have a pimento cheese sandwich, too. Cabot has a recipe for the stuff, and so does The Takeout. Pair cheese and butter Maybe you already know all about how easy it is to make rich, complex compound butter simply by mixing any number of herbs or other flavorings with quality butter. But Kennedy highlights two intriguing points: that compound butter can involve cheese, and that its the ideal topping for whatever youre grilling. What Ill usually do is use Garlic Herb cheese and the Alpine, maybe even the Horseradish, and you just shred that up, mix that into softened butter, roll it up like a tube, and wrap it, he says. Once it has set up in the fridge, you can slice off rounds to top steaks, chicken, burgers, or anything else that could use a rich, melty boost of dairy. Doing this right before serving creates a highly photogenic dish, and Kennedy points out that its an easy way to fancy up a backyard barbecue. Cater to the vegetarians, too As a test kitchen chef, Kennedy has developed a versatile dish using something you might otherwise toss in the trash as you prep for your cookout: corn husks. I dont even know if I have a name for this thing, he notes. Heres what to do: Break the corn cob out of the husk, clean off the husk, and put the husk in water briefly so it saturates. Cut the corn off the cob, and place it in the husk along with either beef, chicken, fish, or veggies, plus cheddar cheese. Wrap it all up and grill it; the result is a steamy, sizzling package you can unwrap on a plate and eat straight from the husk. Its a really cool way of cooking just about anything on the grill, and the flavors fantastic, Kennedy says, noting that its a nice way to cater to vegetarians so that they dont always get the black bean burger or the portobello. Even if you dont go the corn husk route, make sure your non-meat-eating guests have an opportunity to eat something flavorful and indulgent, too. Cheddar... smores?! Yep, cheddar smores. Kennedy, who developed the recipe, notes that while the combination might sound odd, a graham cracker topped with marshmallow, chocolate, and cheddar tastes like a rich bite of cheesecake. The official recipe can be found here. Its a divisive recipepeople either love it or hate it, Kennedy saysbut when he debuted the concoction at a boat show in Rhode Island, hundreds of people lined up just to taste it. Even if some of the guests at your cookout dont like the sound of it, everyone will at least be curious about it. Best case scenario, you look like a culinary genius. More from The Takeout Sign up for The Takeout's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Two planes were forced to abort landings at San Francisco International Airpot last week after pilots spotted a Southwest Airlines jet taxiing across runways they had been cleared to land on. The Federal Aviation Administration says that the Southwest plane cleared the runways while the other planes passed overhead and that a decision to abort the landings was precautionary. An air traffic controller at the airport told the Southwest pilots they should not have been on the runways during the 19 May incident, according to The Associated Press. Officials say that an inbound United Airlines plane was as low as a few hundred feet over San Francisco Bay before its pilots saw the Southwest jet on the same runway. A short time later, pilots of an inbound Alaska Airlines plane saw the same Southwest jet crossing a second, parallel runway, and the pilots aborted their landing as well. Both planes circled and landed safely at the waterfront airport, which is the second busiest in California after LAX in Los Angeles. An air traffic controller told the crew of the Southwest jet, You shouldnt be on the runway, according to a recording of the incident on LiveATC.com. And when one of the pilots tried to explain why they were there, the controller quickly cut them off, saying, I dont need an argument. The FAA looked into the events and determined the appropriate steps were taken to ensure safe operations, the agency said in a statement. The National Transportation Safety Board said it has not opened an investigation into the incident. The FAA says that there has not been a fatal crash involving a US airline since 2009. FORT BRAGG Paratroopers who died in combat in service to the nation were remembered Tuesday during the 82nd Airborne Divisions weeklong observance known as All American Week. There are 5,090 names etched onto the divisions memorials, Maj. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, commander of the 82nd Airborne Divison, said during Tuesdays memorial ceremony. Capt. Henry Lee Jewett Williams, a 31-year-old husband and father killed in action June 9, 1918, in Albert, France, was the first paratrooper in the division to die in combat. Sgt. Bryan Mount, 25, of St. George, Utah, was the last paratrooper killed in combat during Operation Resolute Support on July 21, 2020, in Syria. The loss of a paratrooper is just impactful, whether here at home, preparing for a war, or in a distant field in places like La Fiere Causeway, the jungles of Vietnam, the shores of the Dominican Republic, or the island of Grenada, LaNeve said. Stan White uses a yellow rose to point to his son's name, Staff Sgt. Robert White, after an 82nd Airborne Division memorial ceremony Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Fort Bragg. More: 'We will never tarnish their memory': 82nd Airborne Division adds 2 more names to memorial Among several Gold Star families who attended Tuesdays ceremony and placed yellow roses at the stone memorials to remember their loved ones were Stan and Shirley White, who drove from West Virginia. The Whites had three sons who served in the military. Staff Sgt. Robert Bob White, 34, was killed Sept. 26, 2005, in Afghanistan after his mounted patrol came under enemy fire. He served with the division's 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. His brother, Cpl. Andrew White was a Marine who was in Iraq at the same time his brother was deployed to Afghanistan. Cpl. White died a few years after his brothers death from complications from his PTSD, which is post-traumatic stress disorder, Stan White said. Stan White uses a yellow rose to point to his son's name, Staff Sgt. Robert White, after an 82nd Airborne Division memorial ceremony Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Fort Bragg. A family member takes a photo of the name of her loved on the 82nd Airborne Division's memorial Tuesday, March 23, 2023, at Fort Bragg, following a division memorial ceremony. Shirley White said Staff Sgt. White was an active child who always wanted to join the military. Stan White said his son hated airplane landings, but liked to jump out of them. Story continues The Whites said theyve attended every 82nd Airborne Division memorial ceremony, except one, in the 18 years since Staff Sgt. Whites death. Just honor and remember and say their name, Stan White said of how he hopes others will pay tribute to his sons. Shirley White said she is part of a Gold Star mothers organization that educates non-military civilians about Gold Star families and works with school systems to get youth involved in projects. Its basically honoring and remembering the sacrifice of each individual, especially now for Memorial Day, because for us, every day is Memorial Day, she said. Pfc. Brady Callahan is another Gold Star family member who attended Tuesdays ceremony. Callahans father, Sgt. 1st Class Keith Callahan, 31, was killed after a roadside bomb detonated near his patrol Jan. 24, 2007, in Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Pfc. Callahan was 4 years old at the time of his father's death. Gage Bell, places a yellow rose on a memorial with his father's name, 1st. Sgt. Russell Ryan Bell, after an 82nd Airborne Divison memorial ceremony Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Fort Bragg, as his mother LaToya Bell looks on. More: Gold Star family given car in honor of fallen Fort Bragg soldier He said that as he was growing up he learned about his father through photos and family stories. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, and he always put his men, his family and his country first, Callahan said. Thats what he loved, and thats one of the main reasons I joined was to be like that. Sue Harris places a yellow rose on a memorial with her son's name, Spc. Christopher Harris, during an 82nd Airborne Division memorial ceremony Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Fort Bragg. The younger Callahan is now part of the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team with the 37th Engineer Battalion. Never forget, never forget what they do and the sacrifice they made and the reasons why they do it, Callahan said. LaNeve said the names etched into the stone of the division's memorials are an unspoken reminder of the price to answer the call to preserve freedom. Freedom is a word that has been paid for by the blood of normal humans that were called to serve to do superhuman things for their friends, their family and their country, LaNeve said. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 82nd Airborne Division honors fallen paratroopers during All American Week A woman has criticised Frontier Airlines luggage policy, with claims that the company gaslit passengers into paying to bring their bags on a flight. Moriah, who goes by the username @moriahdoesmagick, reflected on her flight with Frontier from Las Vegas, Nevada to Charlotte, North Carolina in a recent video on TikTok. She said that two days before the flight, she discovered her reservation was separated into two and that she was making a stop in Denver, Colorado, where shed get a connecting flight to Charlotte. As a result, she claimed that she and her friend had to re-check their bags and each pay for two sets of bags, resulting in $250 spent on luggage. Every single person who got on that plane, [the airline] was making them put their stuff in the personal storage container, Moriah explained. And literally, were looking at people whose bags were completely in the storage container, and [workers] being like, It doesnt fit. And the person who they were talking and everyone around them were like: What the f*** are you talking about? Like it fits perfectly. They were just gaslighting these people. According to the companys official website, passengers on Frontier are allowed one personal item that is 14Hx18Wx8D, including handles, wheels and straps. If the items are not this size, they will be charged an additional cost during boarding. Passengers can check their bags or bring another carry-on on the plane for an additional cost. In her video, Moriah claimed that the bags fit in the sizing tool, which is what is used to determine if personal items are too big for the plane. However, she claimed that airline workers still told passengers that the bags were too large and they had to pay. They were just gaslighting these people. They were like: You can go and pay at the desk or youre not getting on the plane, she said. I watched them do this to literally so many people. She said that when she and her friend got on the plane with their backpack style purses, they noticed a woman ahead of them who repacked her backpack four times to make it fit in the size container, even though it allegedly already fit in the first place. Moriah said that when she told the Frontier employee that she couldnt afford to pay for her carry-on, they told her it was not [their] problem. Story continues From there, Moriah offered to help and told the woman to give her some of her clothes, since the stranger initially said that she was going to throw her clothes away to make the bag smaller. However, the TikTok user claimed that Frontier wasnt happy when she offered to store these clothes in her bag. So she hands me like a couple pairs of jeans, a top, whatever, right? And we worked it out, she said. Those people saw me do that and get angry. They get upset. She also claimed that the Frontier workers responded by asking her to take off the layers and accessories that she was wearing, including her belt and sweater. She said that she only kept on her t-shirt and pants, before Frontier told her to put those other clothes in her bag and then in the bin sizer. They told me that if all of that stuff and plus [the womans] stuff could not fit into the personal bin, they would not let me on the plane, or I had to pay, Moriah added. She went on to acknowledge that as someone who travels a lot, she has realised that the low cost flights on airlines like Frontier are not worth your time, due to the money she paid for luggage. Speaking to The Independent, Moriah said that she didnt end up having to pay extra for her personal items. My best friend and I split what I had so that we each had a reasonable amount of things in the bin sizer, she said. Frontier was absolutely not happy about me helping her and none of us paying. The glares from employees were sharp and the anger was palpable. She also described how shocked she was by Frontier workers reaction to the woman who said that she couldnt afford to check her bag. I think the most appalling part of the incident was how genuinely mean these employees were. This woman was almost in tears. Im not a person who is afraid of confrontation and I can not imagine that situation had I not been there, she said. As of 25 May, Moriahs video has more than 179,500 views, with viewers in the comments criticising Frontier and its bag policy. The Independent has contacted Frontier. This isnt the first time that travellers have spoken out about their experiences with Frontier. Last month, a man named Cole shared a video to TikTok to recount the craziest experience he had with the airline, in which Frontier lost his checked luggage, before the airline employees grandfather brought it to him. During the video, he also claimed that when passengers boarded the plane, airline workers told them that their personal items wouldnt fit and needed to be checked. They sent everyone to the counter, he claimed. People were, like, filming. Some people were crying because they were being so sticklers, and peoples bags were, like, actually fitting. In March, the budget airline also came under fire after a passenger claimed to have been charged $100 to check a bag that appeared to fit the size requirements. Dyana Villa shared a video of her experience travelling with Frontier on TikTok, in which she and her friends can be seen fitting their bag into the baggage sizer. She later shared an update and claimed she was contacted by a Frontier Airlines attendant, who said staff are eligible for a $10 bonus for every passenger bag they check and collect a fee for. A Frontier spokesperson told The Independent that the fee is simply an incentive for our airport customer service agents to help ensure compliance with our policies and that all customers are treated equally. Photo: @FROzenLiberal/Twitter We all know what Juneteenth is, right? It is the celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1965, Union troops announced in Galveston Bay, Texas, that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were freed by executive order. Hence the name Juneteenth (June plus nineteenth). Read more So why in the world would a South Carolina town use white people to promote the historical holiday thats meant to celebrate Black people being freed?! Earlier this week, Juneteenth GVL, a community organization in Greenville, S.C., released some of the banners they planned to use to advertise the events they are organizing for people in the city. Photo: Juneteenth GVL/Facebook The banners featured many people of color including Black and Hispanic people. But one of them featured a white couple, which got Black people in Greenville and on social media questioning why the organization would do such a thing, with many people wondering why they are gentrifying a Black holiday. Welcome to South Carolina where black people are played by white actors. #juneteenth #racists pic.twitter.com/4PJ4qAjQlR FRO (@FROzenLiberal) May 26, 2023 Damn, they even stole Juneteenth from us. pic.twitter.com/49xi5JPKYS Rell (@rellydibiasi) May 25, 2023 Not them gentrifying Juneteenth https://t.co/mSFz2oDU2B Smooth Reet Notorious, Glorious (@theNFLchick) May 24, 2023 Trying to rebrand Juneteenth is the most late stage America thing ever https://t.co/bFxp5PCtfm True Villain Academia (@TrueVillainy_) May 26, 2023 Why are they trying to appropriate Juneteenth???? https://t.co/95oSY8FkIT Hopey_70 (@Hopey_70) May 25, 2023 The backlash on social media led the executive director of Juneteenth GVL, Reuben Hays, to release an apology that read: Story continues Juneteenth GL would like to offer an apology to the community for the presence of non-black faces being represented on two flags representing Juneteenth. We acknowledge this mistake having been made and will correct the error quickly. This error was an attempt at uniting all of Greenville and thereby a slight oversight on one individuals part that prevented us from fully embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of the black culture through the message and meaning of Juneteenth, and for that, we apologize to you the entire community. To foster solidarity and inclusivity, we will continue to work to make all communities better. We take full responsibility for this misstep in this regard, and pledge to rectify the situation promptly and responsibly. Again, the flags in question will be removed as soon as possible. We deeply value the voice of our community, Juneteenth GVL has accomplished many commendable achievements and we hope to work to continue to do so with your continued support. Over the past eight months, our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to curate remarkable Juneteenth experiences for the upstate community, and we anticipate a beautiful celebration that everyone will be pleased with and proud of Once again, we sincerely apologize for any disappointment or frustration caused by this oversight. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that our events fully reflect the diversity, inclusivity, and historical significance of Juneteenth. With humility and a renewed commitment." Moving forward, I suggest you just dont put any white faces on the Juneteenth banners, or Black people in the city may never let you organize another Juneteenth celebration again. 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. Delegates attend the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Detroit, the United States, on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Nick Starichenko/Xinhua) DETROIT, the United States, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers are meeting "at a time of shared uncertainty and challenges in the global economy," said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Thursday. "We meet at a time of shared uncertainty and challenges in the global economy including fragile supply chains, growing inequality, and a worsening climate crisis," said Tai, chair of the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting, in her opening remarks at the event being held at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. "These challenges were exacerbated through the pandemic and increasing geopolitical tensions that we see today. In light of this, we must assess where we are and think creatively, to better prepare ourselves for a more resilient and sustainable future," said Tai. Tai said the trade ministers are scheduled to have the World Trade Organization discussion Thursday afternoon, and on Friday they will turn their attention to "fully integrating the principles of sustainability and inclusion in our respective trade policies and our engagements with other trading partners." While attending the event, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao will hold talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Tai respectively, and exchange views with the U.S. side on China-U.S. economic and trade relations as well as issues of common concern, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting said on Thursday. The APEC region's economic growth is expected to expand slightly to 3.1 percent in 2023, following a 2.6 percent moderation in 2022. Growth is expected to slow down to 2.8 percent in 2024, according to a new economic analysis published by the APEC Policy Support Unit. Delegates attend the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Detroit, the United States, on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Nick Starichenko/Xinhua) U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai (C, Front) speaks at the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Detroit, the United States, on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Nick Starichenko/Xinhua) Ashley Burton, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, and Koko Da Doll Remembering the Trans and Nonbinary People Lost to Violence This Year Ashley Burton, Manuel Esteban Paez Ter\u00e1n, and Koko Da Doll From left: Ashley Burton, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, and Koko Da Doll The epidemic of violence against transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people continues in the U.S. While the reported number of violent deaths among this population has gone down somewhat since 2021 set a record with 57, there are likely many more deaths that go unreported or inaccurately reported due to deadnaming and misgendering. Many of those killed are women of color, indicating an intersection of racism, transphobia, and sexism that contributes to the danger trans people face. Read on to learn about those we've lost so far this year, some of whom have been killed by authority figures. Jasmine "Star" Mack Jasmine "Star" Mack Black transgender woman Jasmine "Star" Mack, 36, was stabbed to death January 7 in Washington, D.C., the first reported violent death of a trans person in the U.S. in 2023. She found lying on a street "in an unconscious and unresponsive state with an apparent stab wound to their right leg," according to a police report. She had no fixed address at the time of her death. No arrest has been made. Friends and family remember her fondly. "She loved everybody," her sister Pamela Witherspoon told TV station WUSA. "Most of all I'm going to miss her saying 'I love you sister, I love you.'" Trans activist Earline Budd knew Mack as a client of HIPS, a social services organization. "She was really one for the books," Budd told WUSA. Mack was high-spirited and "would always keep you laughing," she said. KC Johnson KC Johnson KC Johnson of Wilmington, N.C., was last seen alive January 12 or 13, and police believe she was killed January 13. Her remains were found in April on the Savannah River in Georgia. Police have arrested William Hicks, 26, of South Carolina, and he is charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and kidnapping. Police say he met Johnson on social media. Story continues Johnson was a native of Wilmington who attended Abide University and worked as manager of a Dominos. Her partner, Bulla Brodzinski, described Johnson as the love of her life. I think any time we have someone from within the community the LGBTQ community as a whole but especially the trans and nonbinary community when theyre murdered its an immediate message to us that something is happening that were already familiar with," Caroline Morin, executive director of the LGBTQ Center of the Cape Fear Coast, told TV station WWAY. "So a big thing that kind of comes for us next is whats going to happen as our community going to respond appropriately. Will some sense of justice happen in this instance, and then what do we do to keep moving forward for those of us who are left behind? Manuel Esteban Paez Teran Manuel Esteban Paez Ter\u00e1n Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, a queer, nonbinary environmental activist, was shot to death by police in Atlanta January 18. Teran, 26, who went by the name Tortuguita, or Little Turtle, was part of a group of protesters encamped in a forested area to take a stand against a police training center under construction there. Georgia authorities say Teran shot and wounded a Georgia State Patrol officer, who returned fire, killing the activist. But Terans mother, Belkis Teran, told The Guardian, Im convinced that [Teran] was assassinated in cold blood. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the bullet taken from the officers body came from a gun possessed by Teran, but the activists family and fellow protesters are not convinced. A report from the DeKalb County medical examiner, released in April, indicated Teran was shot at least 57 times and did not have gunshot residue on their hands. The case remains under investigation. Maria Jose Rivera Rivera Maria Jose Rivera Rivera Latinx transgender woman Maria Jose Rivera Rivera was killed in January in Houston in an apparent murder-suicide by her intimate partner. Her body was found January 21, but she may have been dead for up to three days, according to local media. Neighbors had reported an odor coming from Riveras apartment, and they saw that the mail had been piling up. The cause of death has not been released. Rivera, 22, was an immigrant from El Salvador. Her immigration attorney, Cristian Sanchez at RAICES Texas, told the Human Rights Campaign that all evidence indicates that she was killed by her intimate partner. Maria Jose was a joy to work with, he said in a statement to HRC. I always looked forward to speaking with her. She was lively, funny, and dynamic. My heart hurts from her loss. Transgender people who are immigrants suffer two levels of oppression and marginalization from society. This makes them especially vulnerable to harm. The transgender immigrant community deserves respect and safety. Unique Banks Unique Banks Unique Banks, a 21-year-old Latinx transgender woman, was fatally shot during a home invasion in Chicago January 23. Bankss mother, Alexsandra Olmo, was also killed in the invasion of the familys apartment. Three other people Olmos boyfriend and two trans women were seriously wounded, a law enforcement source told the Chicago Sun-Times. The source added that there was no evidence of anti-trans motivation, although police said the attack was not random. But Bankss father, Omar Burgos, said many questions remain. Nobody just goes to your house and just starts killing people, Burgos, who lives in Orlando, told the Sun-Times. Something happened, but what happened? I dont know. He said he worried about Banks and her two siblings after he moved to Florida, where he is a mechanic for American Airlines, more than a decade ago. He had hoped she would come to Florida to live with him, he said, noting that his heart is torn apart. The Chicago Police Department released a statement saying the department is still investigating this incident and will provide additional information after speaking with people close to the victims, out of respect for the victims and their families. Zachee Imanitwitaho Zachee Imanitwitaho Zachee Imanitwitaho, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed just outside her workplace in Louisville, Ky., February 3. Zachee had immigrated to the U.S. from Rwanda in 2019 and worked at the JBS meat-processing plant in Louisville. A coworker at the plant, Edilberto Lores-Reyes, 58, has been charged with her murder. Police say he turned himself in. Police have not stated a motive for the crime, but another coworker, who did not give her name to local media, said she believes Zachee was killed because she was trans. She was well-liked by many of her colleagues. She was always happy. Always walking down the hallways smiling, the anonymous coworker said. Even when she knew they were talking about her, she didnt care. She was always happy. On a GoFundMe page raising money for funeral expenses, her family said, We are heartbroken that her conviction to live her life as herself may have led to her death. Zachee was a light to those around her and we are memorializing her so that her light can live on after her death. Cashay Henderson Cashay Henderson The body of Black transgender woman Cashay Henderson was found in a burning apartment building in Milwaukee February 26. She had been fatally shot before the fire was set. Henderson was 31 years old and had lived in Milwaukee before recently returning to Chicago, where she was born. She attended Dunbar Vocational High School and Prologue Early College High School in Chicago, and she was later active with a Milwaukee organization called Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity. She went by the name Gemini Shanti with SHEBA. The group tweeted a tribute to her, saying, She was nothing less than a joy to be around. Another Wisconsin organization, the Black Rose Initiative, tweeted that Henderson was a great friend and great influencer in our community. Cordell M. Howze, 33, of Neenah, Wis., was charged a few days later with first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Howze had been in jail until two days before Hendersons death. He was taken into custody in Winnebago County, Wis., January 28 for violating terms of his extended supervision from a prior felony conviction, according to the Journal Sentinel. He had fled from police the day before. He was released February 24. Winnebago County prosecutors filed charges February 27 in connection with his flight. Ashley Burton Ashley Burton Black transgender woman Ashley Burton, a 37-year-old hairstylist and makeup artist in Atlanta, was shot to death at her apartment complex April 11. Burtons body was found shortly after 4:30 a.m. in the breezeway of her building, according to local media. Police and her loved ones say she likely knew her killer. She ran out of the house, hollering and screaming, beating on doors, her cousin Ivory Carter told Atlanta TV station WXIA. This got to be personal. You shot her in her house, then you followed her outside and shot her. Burton and Carter grew up together in South Carolina. She was a sweetheart, Carter said. She wasnt nasty. She wasnt disrespectful. She just wanted to live her life. Carter added, Im tired of all these incidents with transgender women just being pushed up under the rug. We are human beings. Patrick Burton, the victims brother, told Atlanta station WAGA that Ashley was very loved all the way across the board, like from South Carolina to Atlanta. Tasiyah Siyah Woodland Tasiyah \u201cSiyah\u201d Woodland Tasiyah Siyah Woodland, an 18-year-old Black transgender woman, was found shot to death March 24 near a bar in Mechanicsville, Md. Deputies from the St. Mary County Sheriffs Office were called to the parking lot of the Big Dogs in Paradise bar in Mechanicsville due to a report that gunshots were fired. They found Woodland nearby, dead after being shot several times. St. Marys County sheriffs deputies and District of Columbia detectives arrested Darryl Carlton Parks Jr., 29, in D.C. March 28. He faces charges including first-degree murder and second-degree murder. St. Marys County authorities said there was some type of confrontation before she was killed, but they dont believe her gender identity was a factor in the crime. Her family contends, however, that she was the victim of a hate crime. Woodland, who lived in Lexington Park, Md., had attended Great Mills High School and was studying at the College of Southern Maryland. She worked at a Hollister clothing store. She had multiple social media profiles, but heartbreakingly set up what she described as her new & last page two days before her death, Sue Kerr reports at Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents. She had hopes, ambitions, dreams. She celebrated her accomplishments and triumphs. All things she deserved, things ripped away from her by gun violence and the transphobia and misogynoir that permeates our society. Her family started a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses. The page describes Woodland as high spirited and protective of those she loved. After her mothers death, Woodland got the courage to start living in her truth and started her transition, which her family accepted with open arms, the page notes. Koko Da Doll Koko Da Doll Koko Da Doll, one of the stars of the documentary Kokomo City, was found dead April 18 in Atlanta. She was 35. Koko, whose non-performance name was Rasheeda Williams, starred in the Sundance Film Festival documentary Kokomo City along with Daniella Carter, Liyah Mitchell and Dominique Silve. The documentary depicts the lives of several Black transgender sex workers who live in Atlanta and New York City. It has been lauded for its realistic depiction of the various ways the women navigate their identities and their work. Atlanta police found Koko with a gunshot wound around 11 p.m. at a shopping center. Authorities announced her dead at the scene. Rasheeda, aka Koko Da Doll, was the latest victim of violence against Black transgender women, Kokomo City director D. Smith, who is also a Black transgender woman, wrote on Instagram. Its extremely difficult to process Kokos passing, but as a team we are more encouraged now than ever to inspire the world with her story. Besides appearing in the film, Koko was a rapper. "I will be the reason there's more opportunities and doors opening for transgender girls," Koko once wrote on Instagram. "What you've done here for me is going to save a lot of lives." A 17-year-old male, whose name was not released, was arrested April 26 in connection with Koko's death. He turned himself in after Atlanta police issued a warrant for murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Banko Brown Banko Brown Black transgender man Banko Brown, 24, was shot to death by a security guard April 27 near a Walgreens in San Francisco. The guard, Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, was arrested on suspicion of homicide, but San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins decided not to prosecute him on that charge. The evidence clearly shows that the suspect believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self-defense, said a statement from Jenkins, who has been widely criticized for her decision. Police said Brown was not armed. Jenkins has said the case remains under investigation and that other charges may be brought. Brown was experiencing homelessness and sometimes spent the night on Bay Area Rapid Transit trains. He was seeking housing while also trying to help others, working as a community organizing intern with the Young Womens Freedom Center, which assists young women and trans youth who have experienced poverty and other difficulties. Banko was a loving person, Julia Arroyo, co-executive director of the center, said at a rally on Browns behalf. Every time Banko walked into the center, he was surrounded by small children and a gang of people around him. And even when he was turned away from doors, he still brought people to get resources. A West Virginia 7 year old set a home on fire while the child's parents were inside, investigators said. And though the child was detained as part of the arson investigation, the child's stepfather was also arrested on child-abuse allegations. The investigation began Wednesday when a home in Jackson County, about 40 miles northwest of Charleston, was set on fire while the child's parents were asleep inside, the Jackson County Sheriffs Department posted in a news release on Facebook. The adults in the home suffered minor burns and the child was taken into custody and charged with first-degree arson, investigators said. Authorities said they are limiting the information they release because of the sensitive nature of the case." A photo posted on the departments Facebook page Wednesday shows the home engulfed in flames. The next day, the department said the childs stepfather was arrested on suspicion of child abuse. Investigators believe the stepfather was abusing the child who started the fire, according to the sheriff's department. More coverage from USA TODAY network Mississippi 11-year-old Mississippi boy who called 911 shot by responding officer: 'Why did he shoot me?' Iowa West Des Moines dentist accused of improper sexual conduct for second time in five years Michigan: 2-year-old fatally shoots self in Michigan, mother's boyfriend charged with manslaughter Ohio Court records: Columbus police officer took upskirt video of girl at Illinois anime event Rhode Island City smashes dirt bikes in warning to riders ahead of Memorial Day weekend This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: West Virginia kid sets home on fire, stepdad faces child abuse charge Elias was at home in Venezuela awaiting word from his 21-year-old son, Jose, who, after weeks of crossing Central America and traveling on foot through the dense jungle separating Panama and Colombia, had finally made it to the U.S.-Mexico border. The phone finally rang on Tuesday, but it was not the call Elias was expecting. His son had been kidnapped along with 14 other migrants as they traveled on a bus through Reynosa, a Mexican town across the border from McAllen, Texas. If Elias wanted to see Jose again, the caller on the line said, he would need to send $1,000. Then the caller passed the phone to Jose. He said, Dad, I need that money for them to free me because I have just been kidnapped, said Elias, who spoke to the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald but asked that neither his nor his sons last name be used. Before he could ask any questions, they grabbed the phone and warned that if they didnt receive the money by the next day, the boy will be taken to the bushes. Read more: Drug gangs, smugglers, corrupt cops: The ordeals Venezuelans face on the way to U.S. border As migrants continue to make their way through Mexico in hopes of getting to the U.S. border and across, concern is growing among immigration advocates that they will be targeted by gangs. Just weeks before ending a pandemic-era public health order known as Title 42 and ushering in new asylum rules that allows the U.S. to return up to 30,000 migrants back to Mexico each month, the State Department issued a travel warning about the country. Though aimed at spring breakers and U.S. citizens, the warning came after a string of kidnappings and high-profile violent crimes. One such incident involved the March kidnapping of four African Americans, two of whom were killed, in the northern Mexican town of Matamoros. The incident occurred not far from a migrant encampment, leading the Haitian Bridge Alliance to issue a statement warning Black asylum-seekers to be highly cautious. Story continues These cruel acts of violence show that whether you are seeking asylum or just U.S. citizens of African descent visiting the Matamoros area, there is no safe place for Black people at the U.S.-Mexico border, Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, said at the time. But its not just Black people, other advocates say. Asylum-seeking migrants are routinely victims of extortion, kidnapping and murder by gangs, they say, and often the incidents go unreported due to fear of being deported.. Last week, just days before Joses kidnapping, 49 migrants from Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela were kidnapped from a bus as they traveled through central Mexico. Mexicos Defense Ministry, which confirmed the abductions, later reported that they had located many of the migrants in the central state of San Luis Potosi and the neighboring state of Nuevo Leon to the north following a search by members of the armed forces. In the case of Jose, there was no armed search, underscoring how many incidents fail to attract media attention or that of Mexican officials. It also is a reminder of the dangers that U.S. bound migrants face as they attempt to get to the U.S. border, where the Department of Homeland Security this month rolled out tougher repercussions for those trying to cross illegally. Jose, in a series of voice notes sent to the Herald, shared his ordeal. His abductors, he said, used a new Customs and Border Protection smartphone application, CBP One, that migrants are now required to use to request an asylum appointment at U.S. ports of entry, as their lure. We were in the bus and they got on and started to ask us for our documents, he said. They took us, telling us lies, saying we had to do the CBP One, which they will help us to process.... In the end they took us down by force and took us to a hotel and placed us inside a room. After about spending half an hour at the hotel, Jose and his fellow passengers were taken by cars to a house, where the windows and doors were barred shut. There was no water, there was no bathroom. We were held as if we were pigs. It was all really sad, he said. Inside the house were other hostages, including 10 women and eight children. They were Hondurans, Ecuadorians and one Nicaraguan, but most of the hostages were Venezuelans. There were people who had been there for two weeks, others had been there for months, Jose said. The one who was there the longest, had been there for four months. Some of the passengers were tortured by the kidnappers, he added. They also cut people right there. We had no water or food. They gave us a small piece of bread, said Jose. I thank God that I was able to get out of there because if we hadnt paid, they would have killed me. Elias, his father, said it took him some time to raise the money to free his son and at one point, the kidnappers called again with threats. They were asking what had happened, where is the money? We give you 15 minutes, Elias said. By then, he had only been able to raise part of the money and asked for more time. I told them I would get the money somehow but that I didnt want them to hurt my boy, to please spare his life, he recalled. Later we were able to gather the rest and wired the money via Western Union. We sent them four million [Colombian] pesos, the equivalent of $900. Hours passed and they did not tell us anything. We kept waiting into the night without hearing from them, Elias said. We later found out in the early hours of Thursday that they had freed him by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Left him walking alone in the dark while starving, without money or food. Jose, his father said, told him that he was taken by a mysterious drug cartel, known as M2. Currently, Jose is back in Reynosa, where the local shelter is full and there is no way of getting help. [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: Video of Singaporean man leading Christian worship songs on a plane mid-flight sparks debate 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: Dancer for HK boy band Mirror may be paralyzed after giant screen crashes down on him during show 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. Story continues 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: 'Just stare back': Woman applies full face of makeup while on moving train in viral TikTok 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. Topeka High biology teacher Rosalina Nitollama opens the doors to her classroom as she has for the past 16 years teaching biology. Rosalina Nitollama is for Topeka, and Topeka is for her. The teacher never would have thought that just 16 years ago. She hadn't even heard of Kansas when she had been teaching in the Philippines and she was recruited by Topeka USD 501 to come to the U.S. as a biology teacher. Nitollama jumped at that chance. More: Topeka USD 501 cultural innovation focused on Ukrainian students, bilingualism this year And as the veteran educator prepares to retire and head back home to the Philippines, she said she found a home in Topeka, and it's one she'll miss. "I found so many helpful and appreciative and welcoming people," Nitollama said. "When I had a few medical emergencies, I had a lot of love from my co-workers and (Principal Rebecca) Morrisey. Even though I was a minority, I felt welcome. They made me feel like this could be my home. I felt so accepted." Rosalind Nitollama was recruited from the Philippines to Topeka High Topeka High biology teacher Rosalina Nitollama looks over a selection of leftover plants Tuesday as she wraps up her time at the school she's taught at for the past 16 years. It was pretty much by accident that Nitollama even became a teacher in the first place. She had been studying science at a university in the Philippines when she too a temporary job as a substitute teacher during a break in classes. But it turned out she loved teaching, and she made a career out of that position for two decades. When Topeka USD 501 officials came to the Philippines, though, Nitollama was willing to give the Sunflower State a shot, even if she had never heard of Kansas and had looked at jobs elsewhere in the country. More: After 40 years in education, Topeka High principal Rebecca Morrisey to retire When she got here, though, she and her fellow Filipino teachers were amazed by the support they found among other Filipino emigres, as well as the school district. Although much of her family and children live thousands of miles away elsewhere in the U.S. and the world, those people are why Nitollama never felt alone. A stem from a cucumber catches the attention of Topeka High biology teacher Rosalina Nitollama as she combs through the selection of plants left over from her last semester's class this past Tuesday. "It was a struggle at first," Nitollama said. "One thing was the language, and the communication. I understand English, but I still have to speak and listen to it slowly. But other teachers were a big help to my transition. The students were also a big help to learning the different cultural norms of the U.S." Story continues Even if she never worked elsewhere, Nitollama took advantage of her time in the U.S. to visit 44 of its states, with only Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Washington, Oregon and Alaska remaining. Nitollama is excited to see family back in Philippines After 16 years teaching biology and physical science classes, Nitollama decided she is finally in a position in her career where she's ready to retire. After teaching her last class, Nitollama is preparing to move back to the Philippines to see family, including her husband, whom she has not seen since 2019. Family was a big reason why she moved to the U.S. in the first place, in trying to make sure her children had better opportunities in the country. "It's been wonderful for them here, and they had the chance to have a good life here," she said. "And even though I have a good life here, Im excited to go back to the Philippines." More: She put books into the hand of every Topeka USD 501 child over a five-decade career "Ms. Nitollama left her country to serve our students," said Morrisey, the Topeka High principal who is also retiring. "I cant imagine being gone so long from her family, but she has done that with excellence while shes served our students. Shes always been present for the people she cares about, and Topeka High will miss her." When she does leave, though, she said she'll be sure to tell the rest of the world about what she found in Topeka. Rosalina Nitollama describes the impact her students have given her over the years teaching biology at Topeka High on Tuesday. "When I go around the world, I will tell everyone about how much I love Topeka. Its the perfect sized place. Its an easy, affordable life. And theres so much culture and history to explore. I never understood students who didnt see that. Thats why I never moved. I felt love here, even though my actual family lived several hours away. That's not something you find everywhere. "And I would know Ive been to more than 40 states." Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at 785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka High teacher Rosalina Nitollama retiring back to Philippines The family of Gabby Petito, a van life influencer murdered by her fiance Brian Laundrie in 2021, now have their hands on a burn after reading letter in which Laundries mother wrote that she would bring a shovel and help him dispose of a body. In the undated letter, which the Laundries fought to block the court from releasing, Roberta Laundrie vowed to always love her son and alluded to possibly assisting in the cover up of Petitos murder. The message, released to the Petito family Wednesday, was found when investigators located Brian Laundries body in October 2021. Petitos family sued Laundries parents and their attorney Steven Bertolino in March 2022 for emotional distress a case making its way through Sarasota County courts as the two year anniversary of Petitos death approaches. If youre in jail I will bake a cake with a file in it, Roberta Laundrie wrote in the letter. If you need to dispose of a body I will bring 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. A photo of the outside of the letter Brian Laundries mother Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son after the murder of Gaby Petito. She even quoted the Bible in her note, writing: Nothing can separate us; not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not threats, not even sin, not the thinkable or unthinkable can get between us. Attorney Patrick Reilly shared the familys statement, in which they commend Judge Danielle Brewer for releasing the letter, with the Miami Herald on Thursday. ...While Roberta Laundrie has suggested it was written before Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito left on their trip, ...[it] is evidence that the Laundries and Attorney Bertolino were aware of Gabby Petitos demise... Laundrie, 23, murdered Petito, 22, during a cross-country road trip she posted about on social media. Millions around the world followed the case, speculating about Petitos disappearance and grieving her death when the young womans body was found in a Wyoming national park in September 2021. Story continues Days before Petitos death, Moab, Utah police responded to a domestic dispute between Petito and Laundrie. The officers ultimately allowed the couple to reunite despite warning signs of domestic violence. The case concluded a month later, when Laundries remains were found in a Sarasota County nature preserve. Police say Laundrie died by suicide and left a note confessing to Petitos murder. In November, the Petitos settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Laundries parents for $3 million. The money from the settlement, which was signed by Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll, will benefit the Gabby Petito Foundation, founded to stop domestic violence and search for missing persons. READ MORE: Gabby Petitos family settles wrongful death suit for $3 million a year after her murder That same month, the Petitos filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Moab, Utah police. The lawsuit names the police department, three of its officers and 10 other defendants for their negligent failure in investigating the fight. Read the letter for yourself Memorial Day event set for Monday at Oconee Veterans Park in Oconee County. The Oconee Veterans Memorial Foundation Inc. will play host to its annual Memorial Day program at 11 a.m. Monday at the memorial site in Oconee Veterans Park on Hog Mountain Road in Watkinsville. This years program will include an update on the continuing construction plans for the memorial. Brigadier Gen. John Gentry, a foundation member and Assistant Adjutant General in the Georgia National Guard, is the guest speaker. Gentry is retiring in July. Veteran organizations are encouraged to set up displays beginning at 10 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, as seating is limited. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved into the parks Community Center. Next oresident: Retired Army officer, picked as next president of University of North Georgia 'Tragic and terrible': Oconee County deputy dies in lawn mower accident The Foundation will present an additional six names to the Wall of Honor. The foundation and the architects, Beall & Company, will have drawings of phase III for the Wall of Honor on site for viewing. General donations are encouraged to provide for the continued maintenance of the memorial grounds. All proceeds from the Wall of Honor capital campaign offset construction and maintenance of the wall honoring the 39 killed in action from Oconee County. The Wall of Honor tiles and a complete list of nominees to date will be available for review. The Foundation will virtually broadcast the Veterans Day Program on the Foundations Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/OconeeVeteransMemorial/. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconee Veterans Memorial Foundation plans observance It appears Joe Manchin may be gauging whether to launch a third-party presidential bid. It appears Joe Manchin may be gauging whether to launch a third-party presidential bid. As if we have not suffered enough, Joe Manchin is said to be flirting with the idea of running for president. Earlier this month, the U.S. senator from West Virginia offered what many speculated to be a tease of a presidential bid. For some time now, the political group No Labels, a mix of centrist Republicans and Democrats, has been open about its desire for a third-party unity ticket in the coming 2024 presidential election pledging to spend $70 million to make it a reality should they find preferable candidates. It appears Manchin, a conservative Democrat, is actively gauging whether he should headline such an effort. Though the group has largely been secretive about its inner workings and general strategy, Puck secured audio from a conference call No Labels recently organized with its donors. The hope is to keep the country that we have, and you cannot do that by forcing the extreme sides on both parties, Manchin, who joined the call as a closer, said. Lets try to make people come back together for the sake of the country, not just for the sake of the party. Separately, Manchin delivered a speech to Iowa business and community leaders in Washington, D.C. which others took as a sign of him prepping to make a third-party bid for the presidency. When people say, Whats your politics? I say Im fiscally responsible and socially compassionate, which I think most Americans are, Manchin said in a 30-minute speech, Axios reported. When a politician employs empty jargon to elites residing in early presidential primary states, its right to deduce what prize they might have their sights set on. For the record, when someone like Manchin says hes fiscally responsible and socially compassionate, it loosely translates to, Poverty is bad, but dont tax me to help end it. But it is the kind of shallow statement to expect from a corporate shill like Manchin. And its the type of meaningless, trite political catchphrase that draws the interest of people just like him. Story continues Unfortunately, those people dominate the media and how news is crafted, so its not a shock that someone like Manchin, known for his attention-whoring, is exploring his options here. President Joe Biden is currently on course to have a rematch with his predecessor, former President Donald Trump a scenario that remains deeply unpopular with Americans, as expressed in polling. Given the rampant lack of enthusiasm the general public has for another Biden vs. Trump election cycle, groups like No Labels purportedly are seeking 50-state ballot access for a hypothetical bipartisan presidential ticket in 2024. Let them tell it, America needs a centrist alternative to the extremism of both political parties. While one cant dispute how the racism, queer and trans antagonism, and general authoritarianism that fuels GOP ideology makes them extremists, the Democratic Party is led by Joe Biden, an old white centrist. Biden has passed some surprisingly progressive legislation, but a wrecking ball to political conventions he is not. There is a limited appeal for a third party full of self-described moderates, no matter how much attention it might get in the coming months as the press fills the void between now and Trumps presumed formal coronation as the Republican nominee next year. Others, however, are worried about what damages a Manchin presidential bid might bring. If No Labels runs a Joe Manchin against Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I think it will be a historic disaster, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota told The New York Times. And I speak for just about every moderate Democrat and frankly most of my moderate Republican friends. I can think of nothing worse than another Trump presidency and no better way of helping him than running a third-party candidate, Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois told the outlet. This is needless anxiety. Every election cycle brings forth complaints about third-party candidates from political parties looking to make excuses for their failures. Much as one might understand why the likes of Ralph Nader and Jill Stein irritate select Democrats, Al Gore did not run the best campaign and ultimately lost to the Supreme Court anyway. In the case of Stein, perhaps the votes she got did not help Hillary Clintons efforts to beat Trump, but the fact remains that Clinton was told for months leading into Election Day that her support among Black voters was soft. The white moderate is not the miracle worker or election decider that some already complaining about a potential Manchin candidacy would like to make it to be. Manchin is one of the most unpopular senators in the country. He has until January to decide whether to run for reelection a race he is expected to lose if his opponent is current GOP West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice. With a tough election cycle ahead, hes looking for something to do. This prospective third-party bid sounds like his latest attempt to showboat and spotlight-steal while he still can. Some close to him, however, argue that he wont really join a No Labels ticket, which is why he is also reportedly considering another option: becoming president of West Virginia University. Manchin hasnt publicly expressed interest in the job, but at age 75, The Spectator predicts he will be weighing all options that dont entail a near-certain defeat at the ballot box in West Virginia next year. That includes fear of an embarrassing defeat on a third-party ticket. I dont like Joe Manchin. I find his politics cruel, and his attention-seeking for them irredeemable. He is the kind of politician who best exemplifies why so many Americans deeply resent politicians. Still, in the interest of not wasting anyones money, he should take that job as president of his alma mater. Its as close to the presidency as hell ever get. As for anxious Democrats fretting over what Manchin will do next year, please stop fretting and focus on the Democratic base, which will actually determine whether Biden gets reelected. Rachel Garcia-Morales was enjoying her freshman year of high school and raising her 6-month-old daughter when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. Garcia-Morales, then 14, found herself suddenly cut off from her support system of other young parents and friends. At the same time, the number people in her home almost doubled when relatives moved in at the start of quarantine. "It was really physically and mentally exhausting for me," said Garcia-Morales, now 17, "but I managed to do it." More: Class of COVID: Iowa's graduating seniors share how pandemic shaped their futures Rachel Garcia-Morales She joined thousands of Des Moines Public Schools students, and millions from around the world, who struggled when schools closed in spring 2020 in an effort to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. For more than a year, the Roosevelt High School student and her daughter, Fatima, isolated in a three-bedroom home she shared with her mother, father, older sister and her aunt's family of four. Garcia-Morales' aunt who is high risk for COVID and her family came to Des Moines from New York City at the start of the pandemic. Related: Des Moines names ex-Olympian as superintendent first person of color to lead district Before her sophomore year started, the family decided to continue to isolate together in an effort to protect both Fatima and the aunt from the virus. During the first semester that year, Garcia-Morales stayed up until 3 a.m. some nights in an effort to balance motherhood and family and finish homework for her online classes, which included Advanced Placement courses. Garcia-Morales, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, used to excel at school, but she found herself falling behind due to exhaustion. "It kind of ruined my family time because even after school was done, I still had assignments to do," she said. "So, I didn't spend so much time with my family or with my daughter." Story continues Related: Iowa families can apply May 31 for education saving accounts to pay for private school Despite ongoing concerns about the virus, she went back to school in person for her junior year. Luckily, she had to make up only one English class to stay on track for graduation. At the time, Des Moines students received an incomplete instead of a failing grade if they were struggling in a class. Students could then make up the work. Garcia-Morales spent her senior year taking AP courses to prepare for the rigors of college. She plans to attend Drake University in the fall to study law and Spanish. "I do think it was a chaotic time to raise a child and be a student at the same time," Garcia-Morales said. "And I really wish it could have been a different circumstances, but it wasn't." Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines student struggled to juggle motherhood, school during COVID We can all agree that robocalls are the worst. While there might never be a way to get rid of them entirely (though agencies are certainly working on it), one the most prolific sources of these intrusions is finally getting hauled into court. CBS News reports that Attorneys General from 48 states (as well as DC) are coming together to file a bipartisan lawsuit against Arizona-based Avid Telecom, its owner Michael D. Lansky and vice president Stacey S. Reeves. The 141-page suit claims that the company illegally made over 7.5 billion calls to people on the National Do Not Call Registry. Arizona Attorney General Kris Meyes claims that nearly 197 million robocalls were made to phone numbers in her state over a five-year period between December 2018 and January 2023. The lawsuit says that Avid Telecom spoofed phone numbers, including 8.4 million that appeared to be coming from the government or law enforcement, and others disguised as originating from Amazon, DirecTV and many more. The suit alleges that Avid Telecom violated the Telephone and Consumer Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule and several other telemarketing and consumer laws. The AGs are asking the court to enjoin Avid Telecom from making illegal robocalls, and to pay damages and restitution to the people it called illegally. They're also pursuing several statutory avenues to make Avid cough of money on a per-violation basis, which given the enormous volume of calls it has made, could add up quickly. Sumco Panama, which was responsible for a comparatively smaller 5 billion robocalls, was fined nearly $300 million by the FCC late last year. Earlier this month, it was reported that XCast Labs is being sued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over allegedly helping other companies call those on the National Do Not Call Registry. In 2017, Dish reached a settlement that cost them $210 million. The company allegedly made millions of calls in an attempt to sell and promote its satellite TV service. Dish ultimately had to pay a $126 million civil fine to the US government, and $84 million to residents in California, Illinois, North Carolina and Ohio. Hopefully, well see a similar result with Avid Telecom. HONG KONG, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday evening vehemently refuted, strongly disapproved and firmly rejected remarks made in United Kingdom's (UK) so-called "Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong". The so-called report made slandering remarks and ill-intentioned political attacks on the HKSAR under the successful application of the "one country, two systems" principle, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said. The spokesperson said that the improved electoral system of the HKSAR puts in place legal safeguards to ensure full implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong". Regardless of one's background, whoever meets the requirements and criteria of patriots, can participate in elections in accordance with the law. The 2022 Legislative Council Election Committee Constituency by-election was successfully held by the HKSAR government on Dec. 18, 2022 in strict accordance with the electoral laws of the HKSAR in an open, fair and honest manner. On safeguarding national security, the spokesperson said national security is a matter within the purview of the Central Authorities. It is the responsibility and right of every country to safeguard its national security. The UK also has many laws on national security. The HKSAR government firmly opposes the UK's repeated malicious slander against the National Security Law in Hong Kong in attempts of interfering in Hong Kong's law-based governance and undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong in the so-called report. The law has achieved the intended effect, and has swiftly and effectively restored stability and security. The HKSAR government seriously reiterated that all law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies under the National Security Law in Hong Kong, or any local laws, are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the people, institutions or organizations concerned, and have nothing to do with their background or occupation. Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law. All Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law, the spokesperson said. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress exercises the power of interpretation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the constitution and the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which is a fundamental aspect of the "one country, two systems" principle, and a manifestation of the principle of the rule of law. It did not in any way impair the independent judicial power and the power of final adjudication of the Hong Kong courts. In the UK, there is simply no regime for ad hoc admission of overseas lawyers similar to that in Hong Kong. Any comment on the case of the overseas lawyer's application for ad hoc admission is a paradigm case of double standards and hypocrisy. The spokesman for the HKSAR government reiterated Hong Kong residents enjoy the rights and freedoms under the Basic Law of the HKSAR and other relevant laws. However, such rights and freedoms are not absolute. The exercise of such freedom may be subject to restrictions that are provided by law and are necessary for pursuing legitimate aims such as the protection of national security or public order. Since the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the media landscape in Hong Kong has been as vibrant as ever. The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR also expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the so-called report. A spokesperson for the office said that the so-called report finger-pointed at Hong Kong affairs, distorted and smeared the Chinese government's policies towards Hong Kong, wantonly attacked on the National Security Law in Hong Kong and the electoral system of the HKSAR, and denigrated Hong Kong's human rights and rule of law. The office urged the UK side to abide by the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop its political manipulation of crude interference in Hong Kong affairs. The spokesperson said that the National Security Law in Hong Kong and the new electoral system have successfully closed the loopholes in Hong Kong's electoral system and in safeguarding national security, and the situation in Hong Kong has turned from chaos to governance and from governance to prosperity. The legal rights and freedoms of speech, press and association enjoyed by Hong Kong residents are better protected in a safer environment. The so-called report blamed China for its just actions to safeguard national security, made irresponsible remarks about the HKSAR government's administration, and made arbitrary comments on the fair trial of the HKSAR courts, which has completely become a political performance tool and has no credibility at all. The spokesperson stressed that after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the legal basis for the Chinese government to administer the HKSAR is the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The British side has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or supervision over Hong Kong after its return to the motherland. The British side kept talking about the so-called "historical responsibility" in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which is purely a distortion of history and jurisprudence. The spokesman pointed out that Hong Kong remains a paradise for investors from all over the world, and continues to be rated as one of the freest and most competitive economies in the world. The office firmly believed that with the strong backing of the great motherland, diligent people in Hong Kong, and the solid foundation of good governance, Hong Kong will have better development and brighter prospects. The spokesperson urged the Uk side to recognize the reality, conform to the general trend, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs. 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. Story continues 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 Charlotte can expect a drastic shift in its weather for Memorial Day weekend, with plummeting temps and rain-drenched skies that could delay or postpone Sundays Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, National Weather Service meteorologists said Thursday. They might want to consider rescheduling to Monday night, meteorologist Doug Outlaw of the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina, told The Charlotte Observer. At Sundays 6 p.m. start time of the race, it will be raining over most of North Carolina, including the Charlotte region, Outlaw said. Concord has a 70% chance of showers throughout Sunday, according to the NWS Concord forecast at 10 a,m. Friday. The heaviest weekend rains are expected to fall Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning across the Charlotte area, Foothills, mountains and elsewhere across the state, according to an NWS hazardous weather alert Friday morning. The storm could dump 1 to 3 inches across most of the Carolinas and up to 5 inches in the mountains, NWS forecasters said. Flooding could result, according to the NWS alert. Gusty winds will also develop, and a few trees may be blown down due to wet soil conditions, meteorologists warned in the bulletin. Up to 2 inches of rain could fall in Charlotte, much of it Saturday afternoon through Sunday, meteorologist Harry Gerapetritis of the NWS office in Greer told The Charlotte Observer Thursday. Better weather Memorial Day Good news for Memorial Day cook outs: Most of the rain should leave the area by later Monday morning, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast at 11 a.m. Friday. Charlotte has a slight 30% chance of rain throughout the day, with mostly cloudy skies and a predicted high of 73, the forecast showed. Temperature drop, breezy conditions Expect falling temperatures and breezier conditions this weekend, according to the forecast. After Fridays predicted high of 72, Saturdays could plummet to 56, which would be 23 to 28 degrees below average for May 27, NWS Greer meteorologists said on Twitter. Story continues Winds are predicted to increase, from gusts as high as 24 mph Friday to 30 mph Saturday, NWS forecasters said. Highs are expected to improve to 64 Sunday, 77 Tuesday, 80 Tuesday, 78 Wednesday and 84 Thursday. Headed to the beach or mountains? Rain also is likely in the mountains and at the coast, McClatchy News reported.. Flooding and 40-mph winds are possible in the Wilmington area and rip currents in both southeastern NC and the Outer Banks, according to McClatchy News. 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. Story continues 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. (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. Story continues 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. 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. Story continues 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) 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. 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. Story continues 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. Indianas state medical licensing board decided late Thursday to reprimand the doctor who raised alarm bells around the country last year when she told a reporter that a 10-year-old rape victim had sought her out for care due to the extreme anti-abortion laws in the girls home state. The board chose to fine Indianapolis OB-GYN Dr. Caitlin Bernard $3,000 and issue her a letter of reprimand. But it declined to impose more severe penalties, and absolved her of accusations that she failed to properly report the patients rape to authorities, according to The New York Times. The Indianapolis Star reported that two of the boards seven members had donated thousands of dollars to Todd Rokita, the Republican Indiana attorney general pursuing the complaint against Bernard. All seven members were appointed by the states Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. During the hourslong hearing, lawyers for Bernard argued that the information she shared with the Indianapolis Star last year the patients age, gender and state of residence was not personally identifiable and thus did not violate patient privacy laws. I think its incredibly important for people to understand the real world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion or otherwise, Bernard said Thursday, according to 19th News. Dr. Caitlin Bernard is pictured in September 2022. Dr. Caitlin Bernard is pictured in September 2022. The Indianapolis Stars July 1 story about the young girls abortion received instant viral attention, and President Joe Biden ended up citing it a week later when he spoke about the need to protect abortion access in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The newspaper reported that Bernard had received a call from an Ohio colleague just three days after the shock Supreme Court ruling, asking if Bernard could help a 10-year-old patient who was six weeks and three days pregnant. In Ohio, abortion was banned after the six-week mark. But at the time, the procedure was still permitted under Indiana law, and Bernard agreed to help. Story continues A man accused of raping the girl was arrested in mid-July. While Bernards employer, Indiana University Health, issued a statement saying she did not violate any HIPAA laws, the state attorney general took issue with her conduct. Rokita took it upon himself to pursue punishment for Bernard, even using taxpayer funds to bring in an expensive Washington law firm to assist the effort. He applauded his team on Thursday night, tweeting approvingly that the abortion doctor got the maximum civil fine for violating three counts of privacy laws and received a public reprimand to go into a national database. A representative for Bernard did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment on the boards decision. Related... The Indiana Medical Licensing Board found an Indianapolis doctor violated privacy laws in her handling of a 10-year-old abortion patients information last summer but cleared her of the charge that she failed to report abuse of the girl quickly enough. The case, brought by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, could have cost Dr. Caitlin Bernard her license but the seven-member board found her fit to continue practicing medicine. Most of the board agreed on the privacy laws issue, and they unanimously agreed on the reporting charge. She will be fined $3,000 and receive a letter of reprimand. The board, which is appointed by the governor, has 90 days to finalize its decision, after which both sides have 30 days to appeal in Marion Superior Court. 'Chilling effect': National experts decry decision against abortion doctor Caitlin Bernard 10-year-old rape victim's story became national news The girl's story appeared in a July 2022 IndyStar article about reduced abortion access following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health. From there, abortion rights advocates and politicians, including President Joe Biden, used the story to support their arguments while some conservatives questioned whether the story was true. Indiana Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight told the medical licensing board at Thursday's hearing that as a result of Bernards disclosure, "everyone the country learned about her patient. Learned a 10-year-old little girl was raped and had an abortion. Timeline: An Indiana doctor spoke up about a 10-year-old's abortion. Here's what happened since Dr. Caitlin Bernard, center, reacts as Indiana's medical licensing board finds she committed three privacy violations in the case of a 10-year-old rape victim. Voight also said Bernards failure to immediately report the child abuse ended with a child returning to live with her rapist for five days in Ohio. Bernard's attorney, Alice Morical, said Bernard properly reported abuse "as she does in every case." The day she spoke to an Ohio physician who wanted to refer the patient to her, Bernard told an IU Health social worker, Morical said, in line with IU Health policy. Story continues Rokita, who promised to investigate Bernard in an appearance on the Fox News show Jesse Watters Primetime shortly after the IndyStar story first published, was not present at the hearing. Preview: Medical board to hear Attorney General Todd Rokita's case against abortion doctor Bernard testified, however. "I think that it's incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country," Bernard said when Rokita's attorneys asked why she didn't share a hypothetical story with the IndyStar reporter instead of an actual patient's story. "That's not your patient's conclusion, right?" Voight replied. "I can't know what her conclusion would be," Bernard said. "But I can imagine that she would also have knowledge and experience of the impact that the anti-abortion legislation in (her state of) Ohio could have on her." American Medical Association official testifies to ethical obligation Bernard's employer, IU Health, said she didn't violate HIPAA privacy laws. Her attorneys noted that she reported the girl's abuse on a state form and it had already been reported to law enforcement in Ohio, where the crimes took place. A suspect was subsequently arrested and charged in Ohio. Peter Schwartz, chair of the Council of Ethical & Judicial Affairs at the American Medical Association, said Thursday Bernard had an affirmative obligation to speak out when faced with the "most compelling ... ethical dilemma of our lifetimes," referring to the end of the right to an abortion. An expert witness for the state Andrew Mahler, a former official with the federal Office for Civil Rights said the doctor violated federal privacy laws because it certainly is possible the girl could have been identified based on the facts Bernard gave the IndyStar reporter. The reporter, Shari Rudavsky, said in videotaped testimony that Bernard gave her no information beyond that which was published. Another one of Bernards expert witnesses, Paige Joyner, a privacy compliance officer and past auditor for the Office for Civil Rights, disagreed with Mahler. The information she shared was age, gender and state," Joyner said. "Thats not protected health information." Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Bernard, Indiana doctor, violated privacy laws, board rules Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with visiting President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with visiting President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo here on Friday. Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China and the DRC enjoy profound traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation. "China is ready to work with the DRC to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, advance practical cooperation, strengthen coordination in international affairs, and push bilateral relations to a higher level," he said. Zhao said that the NPC of China is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the DRC parliament and jointly promote the building of democratic politics suited to national conditions. For his part, Tshisekedi said that the DRC side attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in various fields to improve the well-being of the two peoples. 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 DUBAI (Reuters) -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 U.S. and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its "defensive" missile programme. "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," Iranian Defence Minister Mohammadreza Ashtiani said. State TV broadcast a few seconds of footage of what it said was the launch of an upgraded version of Iran's Khoramshahr 4 ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and able to carry a 1,500-kg (3,300-pound) warhead. The state news agency IRNA said the liquid-fuel missile had been named the "Kheibar", a reference to a Jewish castle overrun by Muslim warriors in the early days of Islam. "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," it said. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "Iran's development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security and remains a significant non-proliferation challenge." Iran was continuing to seek missile technology from foreign suppliers and conducting tests in defiance of a UN Security Council resolution, Miller told reporters at a regular press briefing, adding that Washington would continue to use tools including sanctions to counter those efforts. Story continues 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 mooted possible military action against Iran as efforts by six world powers to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal have stalled since last September, amid growing Western fears about Tehran's accelerating nuclear advances. The deal, which Washington ditched in 2018 under then President Donald Trump, had imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear activities that extended the time Tehran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it chose to do so. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; additional reporting by Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem and Simon Lewis in Washington; writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Gerry Doyle, Mark Heinrich and Hugh Lawson) The Kansas woman who drowned earlier this week at Glacier National Park was identified as a 28-year-old University of Kansas graduate student Atheer Abdulrahman S. Alquahtani, park officials said Friday. Alquahtani, who was from Saudi Arabia and living in Lawrence, was visiting the park after finishing the first year of her masters degree program at the University of Kansas, according to a news release from the park service. She was on a road trip touring national parks with friends to celebrate. Alquahtani fell off a rocky overhang into Avalanche Creek and was swept into the gorge. Bystanders spotted her in the creek passing under the bridge of Trail of the Cedars. They waded in, pulled her out and began CPR. They sent others to notify rangers and call 911. National Park Service staff, along with an ALERT medical/rescue helicopter and Three Rivers EMS ambulance, responded to the area. She was pronounced dead at the side of the creek. Friends who were traveling with Alquahtani described her as a risk taker who loved getting in and being near water, according to the park service. Investigators said there were no indications of foul play, according to the news release. The area where she fell is off-trail and an area where other visitors take the same risk. Water-related incidents like the one that killed Alquahtani are the number one cause of death at Glacier National Park, according to the park service. Visitors are encouraged to take extra precautions when approaching areas with water, especially during spring runoff. Prisoners in Kansas and Missouri are placed in restrictive housing, including solitary confinement, at higher rates than the national average, according to a report released Tuesday. Solitary confinement, which is sometimes referred to as administrative segregation, is a day to day assault on the mind and soul, Antwann Johnson, a prisoner at Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri, told The Star. Some men could not handle the lights being on all day, Johnson said. Others were called racist names by guards. A few resorted to killing themselves, he recalled. Nationally, more than 122,000 people were in restrictive housing for 22 hours or more on a given day in mid-2019, the report found. Across the U.S., about 6% to 7% of prisoners were in restrictive housing in state and federal prisons. In Kansas, though, that figure was 10.5%, while in Missouri, it was 11.9%. Between state and federal correctional facilities, that meant 3,356 of 28,172 prisoners in Missouri were in restrictive housing in 2019. In Kansas, it was 1,010 of 9,631. Nearby Arkansas sat at 13.5%. Nevada topped all other states at nearly 26%. The report was put together by Solitary Watch, a nonprofit watchdog group, and Unlock the Box, a campaign advocating for the end to solitary confinement. They called it a first-of-its-kind analysis that compiled data on solitary in jails and prisons across the U.S. Karen Pojmann, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said the reports data is more or less accurate for Missouri state prisons, but clarified that not every state has the same definition for segregated housing. In the last year, about 2,500 to 3,000 people on average were in some form of restrictive housing on a given day in Missouri prisons. Missouri DOC has three types of restrictive housing: administrative segregation, used for institutional security; disciplinary segregation, where prisoners with conduct violations can be sent; and protective custody, used for the safety of prisoners. Story continues But Pojmann said what the report refers to as solitary is not like what people see in movies. In the vast majority of cases, people in restrictive housing in Missouri are housed with cell mates, Pojmann said. Theyre also surrounded by other people in other cells, and theyre able to correspond with and visit with family members. David Thompson, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said officials were not familiar with the organizations that wrote the study or their analysis, so they could not confirm their findings. However, he said, residents placed in restrictive housing can include those sentenced to death and violent or high profile residents who may be targeted. Still, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, told NBC News that the report emphasizes a catastrophe. Inflicting solitary on one person is a moral blight on this nation, she told the outlet. Inflicting it on hundreds of thousands of people disproportionately Black, brown and Indigenous people is a disaster. We as public officials must act now to stop this widespread infliction of torture. Bush tweeted Monday about the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear the case of Dennis Hope, who has spent 27 years more than half his life in solitary confinement in a 54-square-foot Texas cell. Saying Hope spent that time without meaningful human contact, Bush called on Congress to end the use of solitary confinement. Johnson, who was convicted of a 1997 murder in St. Louis, said he has been placed in solitary confinement four times; the longest stay was nearly two years. He was locked in a cell for 23 hours a day and pretty much left alone with just your thoughts. He got one hour of recreation time in what he described as a dog-sized pen. The experience is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually, he said. Johnsons experience is backed by research, which shows solitary confinement can cause severe psychological damage, anxiety and hallucinations, among other health issues. One study of nearly 230,000 people released from North Carolina prisons found that those who spent time in solitary were more likely to die prematurely within a year of their release by suicide, homicide or opioid overdose. Mark Powell, a prisoner in eastern Missouri who was convicted of a sex crime, said he had problems getting health care in the hole, as solitary is sometimes referred to, and that he knows of people who had died by suicide. Mentally the hole is to break you, he said. Pojmanns said Missouri DOC created a restrictive housing committee last year to review practices and find ways to reduce the number of people in restrictive housing. It made recommendations that will be piloted at two facilities in August. Ensuring that restrictive housing is being used as a last resort is a significant part of the plan, Pojmann said. Units for reintegration will also be used to assist prisoners in segregation to readjust to the general population, she said. Nearly 20 years in solitary Another man, who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution, served about three years in the Kansas Department of Corrections for a sex offense. He has been released, but his account echoed the Missouri prisoners experiences. Solitary is incredibly lonely, he said, it can break a person. He was put in solitary confinement about six times. Solitary was 24/7 they did not get one hour out, he said. His cell was about the size of a walk-in closet and had a bunk, toilet, sink with a drinking fountain and a stainless steel mirror. Food was distributed through a port for trays. Some guys made fishing lines out of strips of sheets, which they tossed to other prisoners so they could trade items like food or stamps. The man said the Kansas Department of Corrections should improve its process for reviewing who is placed in solitary and for how long. Some prisoners were there for months, he said, and felt like they were lost through the cracks. On average, residents are placed in restrictive housing for 190 days, Thompson, with KDOC said. As of Thursday, the longest current resident in restrictive housing had been there for 3,523 days, or over nine years. In 2016, the Kansas Supreme Court ordered judges to consider a prisoners duration in solitary when considering if their rights had been infringed upon. That landmark decision came in the case of James Jamerson, who was erroneously held in solitary for more than 1,000 days at El Dorado Correctional Facility. In another case, a prisoner named Richard Grissom who killed three women in Johnson County was put in solitary in 1996 on accusations that he was trafficking narcotics. Between El Dorado, the Lansing Correctional Facility and Hutchinson Correctional Facility, he remained there for nearly 20 years before being returned to general population in 2016, according to court records. One of the reasons he stayed in administrative segregation, as Kansas prisons call it, was because he had a history of influencing and compromising staff and other offenders who will supply him with contraband, including cell phones, a warden once said. Grissom reported suffering from insomnia and paranoia. Detached emotionally, he said human contact caused him discomfort. His marriage collapsed because of his psychological changes. An appeals court in 2018 noted that Grissom, now 62, was not totally isolated from other prisoners while in solitary. Inmates stated in affidavits submitted by Grissom that inmates in segregation communicated by speaking through vents and even played chess that way, the judges wrote. More recently, a lawsuit filed in 2020 against the Kansas Department of Corrections argued that its policy at the time to automatically and permanently hold prisoners who are sentenced to die in solitary confinement was unconstitutional. They could only get out of solitary if their death sentence was overturned or they died. One of the prisoners suing, Sidney Gleason, was held in solitary confinement for more than 14 years at El Dorado Correctional Facility, his lawyers said. The other, Scott Cheever, was in solitary for more than 12 years at Lansing Correctional Facility. In response, the Kansas Attorney Generals Office said the policy the suit challenged was already being revised. KDOC adopted a new policy in 2021 so that residents convicted of capital offenses will not be placed in administrative segregation based solely on that conviction. A four-step review process was implemented with the goal of housing death-sentenced prisoners in general population, according to filings in the lawsuit, which the prisoners then moved to dismiss. Similarly, prisoners on Missouris death row generally are part of general population at Potosi Correctional Center. However, lawyers for Johnny Johnson, who is scheduled for execution on Aug. 1, say he has been in solitary confinement because of his severe mental illness. Kent Gipson, an attorney for Johnson, said administrative segregation makes people with serious mental illnesses even worse off. Its a sad situation, he said. The Tuesday report cautions that the data was self-reported by correctional facilities and does not include numbers from immigration detention centers or youth facilities, indicating that the actual number of people held in restrictive housing is likely higher. Even given all these excluded factors, the numbers far exceed those of other recent counts, which, in the absence of more comprehensive figures, have been widely quoted by media outlets and even scholars and advocates, its authors wrote. The authors issued recommendations, such as limiting solitary confinement to minutes or hours for emergency situations and prohibiting its use with the most vulnerable. No measures on the use of solitary confinement were proposed by state lawmakers in Kansas or Missouri, according to bill searches for the 2023 sessions. A Texas-based neo-Nazi group that recently distributed flyers in a North Naples neighborhood tried to intimidate minorities especially, says a civil rights group. Seventy Ziploc bags containing flyers that stated ITS OK TO BE WHITE were distributed on Naples Park driveways the morning of May 14 Mothers Day by the Aryan Freedom Network. Collier County sheriffs deputies said they collected the bags, which also contained rice to act as a weight. They also said the suspicious incident, as they termed it, did not appear to target specific people. The flyers also included the wording WHITE-POWER.ORG; DISTRIBUTED RANDOMLY WITHOUT MALICIOUS INTENT, with the Aryan Freedom Network logo (a Totenkopf, German for skull and crossbones, surrounded by acorns and oak leaves) and an image of a white couple with a baby, deputies reported. 'Low-cost' way to disseminate hate The Aryan Freedom Network has been identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a "loose network of neo-Nazi activists," said Hannah Gais, senior research analyst Hannah Gais with the Montgomery, Alabama-based center especially known for monitoring hate groups across the U.S. The Aryan Freedom Network typically works in cooperation with other extremist groups like the National Socialist Movement and the Atomwaffen Division, making AFN what Gais refers to as an "umbrella group, she said. "Particularly last year, they have tried to do much more of a push to make themselves seem like they're much more of a national organization," Gais said. Flyers are a low-cost and low-effort means of establishing and disseminating evidence of activity, she said. The Naples Park community in North Naples, Florida, in May 2023. Seventy Neo-Nazi flyers showed up on residents' driveways the morning of May 14, which was Mother's Day. "One or two people can distribute hundreds of flyers over the course of just a couple of hours, just by driving around and just tossing them into driveways, which is what's happened here," Gais said. 'Intimidation toward minorities' Because the Aryan Freedom Network is based in De Kalb, Texas, it is likely that the effort in Naples was done in collaboration with another extremist group, she said. Story continues The Florida chapter of the Council American-Islamic Relations issued a news release immediately after the Aryan Freedom Network's distribution of flyers in Naples, hoping to bring the matter to the attention of federal law enforcement. "A very well-known and documented hate group that we know is now operating in Florida. This is the first step they take as to representing themselves as 'we are present in this state' and that itself sends a very strong message," said Wilfredo Ruiz, the media and outreach director of CAIR-Florida. CAIR-Florida has called on the FBI to dig deeper into this incident because the flyers are not only an announcement of the AFN's newfound presence in Florida, but also an act of intimidation toward minorities living in the area. "This hate group that, today is sending anti-Semitic messages, tomorrow will be targeting a mosque because for them, there's no difference," Ruiz said. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a civil advocacy group that aims to address the victimization made by hate groups like the Aryan Freedom Network and to "to promote a more just and equitable society." "With these groups, what we do is help in identifying the activity, making their activity public, making the law enforcement aware of their activities and perhaps collaborating with other organizations that help identify and keep track of those hate groups operating nationwide, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center," Ruiz said. Hate propaganda increasing, report says The Anti-Defamation League, a New York City-based Jewish international group specializing in civil rights law and known for tracking hate speech, in March released a report that revealed an increase in white supremacist propaganda. The report showed that, in 2022, the number of hate incidents increased by 38 percent in the U.S. from 2021 6,751 cases reported in 2022 compared to 4,876 the previous year. And the report said the Aryan Freedom Network was among several antisemitic white supremacist groups that formed in 2022 as membership organizations. AFN claims to have chapters in 25 states, the ADL said on its website. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: CCSO: Racist flyers left in Naples Park not aimed at 'specific people' 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) He was only 4 years old when his family landed in a prison camp in Arkansas for Japanese-Americans. Robert Yoshiaki Yada had been forced with his family to leave their home in Stockton, California, under an executive order to relocate in 1942 as a World War II prisoner. Since he was a child, he did not know why. He only knew that he had fun during play-time and being together with his friends and family, who couldn't leave. Yada died May 15 at the age of 85 after a long battle with cancer. Yada's life was celebrated Friday at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith. From left to right: Haruye Yada (Bob Yadas mother), Richard Yada (Bobs brother in mothers lap), Bob Yada, and Sadami Hamamoto (Bobs aunt). This is believed to be taken circa 1944 (Richard was born in August 1943). Yada and his brother, Richard Yada, were two of about 8,000 Japanese-Americans imprisoned with their family at Rohwer Internment Camp in McGehee, Arkansas. His son Greg Yada, 57, of North Little Rock remembers his grandfather, Samuel Yutaka Yada, telling the story of how the family slept in a horse stall after being rounded up in California, before heading to the prison camp in Arkansas. "They were in temporary quarters at the Stockton, (California) racetrack from what I remember. I remember my grandfather told us that they were one of the fortunate families because they were assigned to a horse stall for a period of time. I don't know where the others lived but he said they were fortunate to have a horse stall. That resonated with me as far as how they were treated," Greg Yada said. After the war, Robert Yada, who was born in Hawaii, remained in central Arkansas and worked as a sharecropper on a vegetable farm. He later joined the Army that imprisoned him. At Fort Chaffee, Robert Yada worked as a civil engineer responsible for all the facilities that were designated for Vietnamese refugees in 1975. Greg Yada said his father influenced his career choice in civil engineering. "He was an inspiration to me as a role model," Greg Yada said. Painful memories Robert Yada and Sarah Yada were married for 58 years. She said the memories of the WWII prison camps for most Japanese-Americans are painful and were not discussed when Robert Yada was young. Story continues She heard stories of what it was like in the Rohwer prison camp in McGehee. How his family and other Japanese-Americans in California had to leave their property and pets behind and take a rail car to a camp in Arkansas. The people were forced from their homes in California where they were successful farmers. When they were released, they were given $50 and a ticket to take a train. "The people there, the adults at the camp did not, after they left the camp, speak very much about the camp at all," Sarah Yada said. She said it wasn't unusual for the children to learn nothing about the internment camps from their parents. "They did not talk about it very much at all. It was very painful," she said. Sarah Yada said she heard the stories of how Yada's family persevered, worked hard and became successful. Robert Yada was a patriotic man, who loved Arkansas, and the people in the state. He was also a big Razorback fan, she said. Sarah Yada was a student at Little Rock University, later UA-Little Rock, where she met Robert, who was also a student in 1959. They both attended Central High School in Little Rock, where Robert Yada was a few years ahead of Sarah. "We dated for a long time because I was a pre-nursing student. ... When we met, I had three more years of college to go and I had no intention of getting married at the time ... so we didn't marry until (February) 1964, " Sarah Yada said. She said her late husband told the stories of his life over and over to those he knew. She said only five Japanese-American families released from the McGehee camp stayed in Arkansas, and the Yada family would be the only one to plant their roots in the state. "One by one, the families started going back to California. And Bob's family was the only one from the camp that stayed continually in Arkansas," Sarah Yada said. "They stayed in Arkansas because they liked the people here," Sarah Yada said. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Robert Yada of Fort Smith was a prisoner of war as a child in WWII Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez shows off his skills with ingredients from the Yucatan in a very unexpected place: Cancun, Mexico's Xcaret Water Park. Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels Cured in seaweed, an order of tuna crudo arrives topped with a green sea jelly rendered from the fishs head. Draping the dish is something luscious; it looks and tastes like scrambled duck egg, but it's actually ant larvae. Corn fritters wear a neon squiggle of blue spirulina, a sea algae. The gelee garnishing the chocolate pudding was made from the pulp of the cacao pod, an ingredient that's typically discarded, and a tea brewed from cacao leaves accompanies it. It was a characteristically inventive meal by Virgilio Martinez, the chef designated the second-best in the world and who is ever aiming for "fine dining that has meaning. But I enjoyed his delicious fare not in Lima, at his flagship restaurant Central, nor in the Andean highlands, where his culinary laboratory Mil is located. I was instead dining in a Disney-like development built around a theme park. La Casa de la Playa, a luxury hotel on Mexico's Riviera Maya, opened in December 2021 at a natural water park called Xcaret. The Disney World of the Yucatan, Xcaret is a sprawling development that includes two 900-room hotels; water, cultural, and adventure parks; the worlds busiest zip line; and now La Casa de la Playa, a 63-room property where my 1,065-square-foot Wellness Ocean View Suite featured a balcony infinity pool, a lava-stone jacuzzi, an in-wall jellyfish tank, and butler service. In addition to a chocolateria, tequila bar, and wine cave (all open 24/7 for self-service indulgence), La Casa de la Playas culinary offerings include restaurants by noted Mexican chefs Martha Ortiz and the Rivera-Rio Brothers. But the big opening this winter was Martinezs Estero, a Mexico-meets-Peru endeavor where the all-day dining culminates in a seven-course prix fixe meal, at which I devoured ant eggs and a tuna-head gelee. Story continues Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels I brought in what I've been working on in Peru, applying those techniques and ways of seeing, Martinez told me before I ate at Estero's inaugural dinner service. But we're taking inspiration from Mexican ingredients. Pureed local squash, for instance, was coated with what looked like a thick layer of ash. It was an assemblage of dried spices that recalled a Oaxacan mole: black and pink pepper, coriander seed, sesame, cumin, star anise, cinnamon, and black recado a traditional spice from the south of Mexico, as Martinez described it. Using endemic products and presenting them in a fine way is putting a value on and preserving the culture. We need to innovate in order to keep traditions alive. Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels Designed by the chef, Esteros unique plateware thick, contoured stone blotched with colored glass abets the chefs mission. Though Martinez told me the ceramics were inspired by the colors and shapes of the Peruvian landscape, theyre so evocative that they help tell a more local story. Waygu tartare with caviar and potato puree is a more generic dish by Martinez, but here he flavors the potatoes with the Mexican epazote and hides the dish inside in a spherical bowl with a shimmering, blue interior glaze it evokes the Yucatans many cenotes, waterlogged caverns that are sacred to the Maya. Waygu and caviar may be omnipresent at haute dining rooms all over the globe, but Martinez said international tastes can to influence his cooking organically, thanks to the diversity of his home country. Apart from being one of the most biodiverse territories in the world, Peru is also a melting pot of cultures, from the ones that arrived in the past centuries the Japanese and Chinese, the Spaniards and Africans to the local communities from the Andes and the Amazon. All this diversity influences the way I create my dishes, he said. A puffed seaweed cracker topped with crunchy, dried river shrimp tasted like a Japanese snack. There was pork hiding beneath the pureed squash, and it had been braised in the sauce for lomo saltado, a Peruvian-Chinese stir-fried steak. Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels Martinezs mission is to preserve both biological and cultural diversity. Items like the cacao leaf tea derive from the fact that the chef hates waste. When I was working in the past for French chefs, the idea was looking for perfection. We threw away lots of food. But coming from a society where people are starving, for me, it was like, 'Why?' We focus on sharing what nature gives us and try to be creative to use it in different ways. Despite the foods flamboyance, theres a humility to that approach thats a relief for diners. Interrupted by wood-clad walls that might hide support beams, Esteros basement space is humble. Much of it is taken up by the open kitchen, but the chefs arent putting on a show. Theyre working, with Martinez quietly instructing them, his demeanor serious but calm. The floor staff exhibits none of the yes, chef-style hero worship found elsewhere. Instead, they just seem happy to be working for the guy. All of this makes a fascinating dining experience feel relaxing, too. Erik Ruiz/Courtesy of Xcaret Hotels What was the reason for fine dining? It is not about luxury anymore, Martinez said. You go to a restaurant that has a boring, four-hour tasting menu, or you go to a restaurant that makes you think. Thats what I want: a restaurant that makes you think. Exacting in his execution, Martinez restlessly reaches for ideas. I was in the kitchen just now ready to make changes to 50 percent of what we are doing, Martinez told me just before service. But if ideas drive him, the end result is delight. For a quick lunch on my balcony one afternoon, I ordered one of the chefs suggestions from the in-room dining menu: lobster, grouper, sea grapes, seaweed, and avocado dressed in subtle, silky tigre de leche. It was the most delicious and delicate ceviche Ive ever eaten. And it was the hallmark of a Peruvian master whos enjoying unleashing his talents on the fresh ingredients of the Yucatan coast. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. 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. Black and Hispanic drivers were slightly more likely to face discretionary searches during traffic stops in Pennsylvania last year, according to a report released Tuesday that examined interactions between Pennsylvania State Troopers and motorists. The analysis, conducted by criminologist Robin Engel and a team of researchers at the National Policing Institute, found no disparity among racial and ethnic groups for warnings, citations and arrests statewide, but found State Police were slightly more likely to search Black and Hispanic drivers than white drivers during searches where the trooper initiated the investigation based on probable cause, reasonable suspicion or permission from the driver. These kinds of stops are rare, constituting only 2.8% of more than more than 440,000 stops conducted in 2022, but Black and Hispanic drivers were more likely to be subject to them than white drivers. Black and Hispanic drivers were 1.9 and 1.3 times more likely to be subject to a discretionary search than white drivers, according to the report. At a news conference on Tuesday, Engel said she is optimistic the numbers will continue to improve given their decline overtime. The disparities peaked in 2008 when Black and Hispanic drivers were 3.0 and 2.6 times more likely to be subject to a discretionary search than white drivers. Researchers also found disparities in the rates of seizures during discretionary stops. The seizure rate for such searches conducted in 2022 is much higher in general across racial and ethnic groups than rates from between 2002 and 2010, according to the report. But differences remain. As in previous analyses, the researchers found police most often seized items including drugs, weapons, and money from the cars of white drivers. Story continues During searches based on probable cause or reasonable suspicion, where troopers had reason to believe the driver could be committing a crime, they found items to seize in 75.8% of cars of white drivers, 73.5% cars of Black drivers, and 65.1% cars of Hispanic drivers. In searches initiated only with the consent of the driver, troopers seized items in 52.4% of the vehicles of white drivers, 41.5% of the vehicles of Black drivers, and 32.9% of the vehicles of Hispanic drivers. The 2022 analysis is the first in more than a decade after State Police ceased collecting traffic stop data in 2012. State Police announced in 2021 that they would again have Engel independently analyze traffic stop data. The announcement followed a 2019 Spotlight PA investigation that found the department halted the practice without explanation or public notice. Engel and her team were slated to produce their first new report by April 2022, but the researchers found the first year of data unusable because 85% of trooper stations did not record demographic information during all types of traffic stops. This was mostly because troopers in some stations did not realize they had to complete the form for stops that resulted in only a verbal warning, Engel told Spotlight PA last year. The newest report examines stop outcomes, but does not examine whether certain drivers are more likely to be pulled over than others. This is because the research team was unable to find a reliable benchmark to use to compare the data. In 2022, Pennsylvania State Police made 441,329 traffic stops. Of those, officers marked 71.1% as white, 14.4% as Black, and 8.2% as Hispanic. Officers are required to rely on their perception to record race or ethnicity, a common practice among departments that collect data to better understand how an officers bias might affect policing outcomes. But comparing these findings to the most readily available benchmark, residential population, is inadequate, Engel said at the news conference, because where people live is not necessarily the same as where they drive. It doesnt tell you where you drive, when you drive, how you drive, what you drive, whether or not theres an organizational enforcement in a particular community at a communitys request, whether or not theres a DUI traffic point as part of your travels, Engel said. Theres a whole host of reasons why you could be stopped or at risk of being stopped, none of which is measured by the residential census population. Engels team attempted to find a better benchmark in the early 2000s with assistance from Pennsylvania State University students, who sat beside roads and interstates across the state to observe the characteristics of drivers. The results confirmed the people driving in an area are not necessarily the same as the people living in that area. Decades of research have not produced a reliable, affordable way of finding a benchmark comparison, Engel said, so thats why its so important to take that next step and say okay, given that a stop has been made, what do we see in terms of the treatment of motorists after that stop is made and thats the best indicator that we have. In the newest report, the researchers made several recommendations for State Police. They encouraged the agency to continue to refine data collection methods; assess patterns and trends in traffic stops at the troop and station levels; and enhance accountability and oversight mechanisms for trooper conduct during traffic stops, particularly those that result in a consent search. The researchers also recommended continued study of the departments specialized criminal interdiction training courses, which are designed to prevent crimes from occurring on state highways. While citizens often demand training to address issues such as implicit bias or deescalation in policing, few studies have determined if these courses actually affect police behavior, Engel said. This is true across all types of police training and its true across the country, which is why the Pennsylvania State Police willingness for an outside research team to come in and look at and study their criminal interdiction training is quite significant, she said. State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris endorsed Engels work Tuesday and said the department would continue to use the findings to improve police services. I fundamentally believe in all sectors that which gets measured gets improved, he said at the news conference. ...The fact that we can track this data over time, you know, really we think is only a positive, so I would expect our members to embrace this. Throughout 2022, the researchers audited the data to identify additional collection issues and ensure the number of stops officers recorded matched the stops in the departments dispatch system. I am really thrilled to say the error rate is well below 10%, Engel said Tuesday, and for the missing data fields, its in the less than 1%, well below the threshold the researchers established. The researchers will work with State Police through 2025 and plan to provide annual reports to the department for the next three years. The four-year contract will cost State Police $696,000. This is the second time State Police have partnered with Engel to examine traffic stop data for evidence of racial disparities. Officials initially told Spotlight PA they stopped collecting the data because the analysis, which spanned 2002 to 2010, showed no evidence that troopers conducted traffic stops based on race or ethnicity. While Spotlight PAs review confirmed that researchers did not find evidence that state troopers stopped Black and Hispanic people at a disproportionate rate, the analysts did find that once pulled over, troopers subjected people of color to citations, arrests, and searches more often than white people. 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. 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. Story continues 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) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- In the wheat fields of Guwei Village, located in Lujiang County in east China's Anhui Province, a bustling fleet of agricultural drones can be seen spraying pesticides. What was once a rare sight has now become commonplace in numerous rural areas across China. Among the farmers who have embraced this technological advancement is 29-year-old Yu Xiaojun, who is also a drone operator. In April 2016, Yu founded an agricultural machinery services cooperative in partnership with his friends to provide services such as plowing, sowing, crop protection, and harvest for large-scale farms. He explained that large-scale farming needs the support of science and technology, which motivated him to venture into this domain. The cooperative now has over 100 sets of machinery and equipment and more than 20 staff members, serving three counties. Many young people go to Yu to acquire the skills of drone piloting. Tech-savvy farmers like Yu are bringing new ideas and innovative technologies to boost agricultural and rural development across China. At the Oriental migratory locust breeding base of Mengshi Group, located in Laoling City in east China's Shandong Province, one can witness swarms of locusts flying amidst a vast expanse of hundreds of plastic greenhouses. Innovatively exploring the realm of unconventional cuisine, the Mengshi Group, under the visionary leadership of its chairman Meng Fanjia, has transformed locusts into delectable leisure snacks. "From an overseas returnee to a new-age farmer, what changes is not just occupation and identity but also ideas," Meng said. At present, with support from the Mengshi Group, more than 500 farmers in Laoling have engaged in the locust breeding business, significantly boosting the income of some 1,500 households. Reflecting on her decision to return to her rural hometown after graduating from university in the city, Xue Lina confidently asserts that it is a decision she will never regret. Together with her husband, Xue started a cooperative and established a demonstration base covering 40 hectares for the promotion of agricultural techniques. "For me, the rural area is a better place to apply my knowledge," Xue said. The cooperative has purchased high-precision planters, drones, corn harvesters, and other equipment, providing various services including plant protection, harvesting, and disease and pest control for more than 2,667 hectares of farmland in the vicinity, Xue added. According to Gao Xiangzhao, an expert with the National Agro-tech Extension and Service Center, the new-age farmers of China have set a good example. By actively providing social services, they not only promote new kinds of agriculture and new technologies but also help farmers to increase production and incomes, Gao said. Allison Foster, the Sarasota County School District's executive director of human resources, was unanimously appointed in February to serve as interim superintendent after Brennan Asplen was forced out. As the Sarasota County school year ends, the school district's superintendent search is heating up, as it published a list of all 20 candidates for the open job this week. The collection of 20 applicants includes widespread geographical representation, including from California, Illinois, Texas, Mississippi, New Jersey, Colorado and Florida, among others. Only one current Sarasota district employee applied the district's current interim superintendent Allison Foster, whom the School Board appointed following the removal of Brennan Asplen in December. Asplen's removal came following a conservative-leaning makeover of the board caused by the 2022 elections. Minutes following the new majority being sworn in, the new board moved toward terminating Asplen, who had been with the district since 2020, later prompting criticism that the superintendent's treatment would make it harder to recruit a high-level education administrator. The applicant pool includes current and former superintendents, charter school executives and high-level district administrators. Several applicants are also candidates for other school district superintendent openings in Florida. One applicant was fired from his superintendent position in North Carolina, while another was accused of plagiarizing research, but later cleared. Another applicant has appeared on Fox News several times to discuss parental involvement in education. Below are brief, alphabetical summaries of each candidate. Higher Ed: New College of Florida faculty votes to censure university's board of trustees More: Manatee School Board hires Jason Wysong from Seminole County as next superintendent Wayne Alexander Wayne Alexander, who was the superintendent of Hernando County Public Schools from 2007 to 2009, is the principal of a school in Connecticut and sat on the board of a now-defunct Hernando County charter school. He holds an education doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and applied for superintendent openings in Charlotte, Osceola and Broward counties. Story continues Christopher Burr Christopher Burr was the superintendent of the Upper Rio Grande School District from 2016 to 2021. Burr stepped down, and a Change.org petition exists from that time with more than 250 signatures asking for him to be removed on grounds that he "created confusion, chaos, avoidable injuries, and division among the community." Burr was earning his education doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and is currently a middle school principal. Nicola Campagna Nicola, or Nick, Campagna holds a master's degree in curriculum and supervision and superintendent certification from Central Connecticut State University. He's been the principal of several public schools in the New England area and was also an applicant for Broward County's superintendent vacancy. Terrence Connor Terrence Connor has been deputy superintendent and chief academic officer at Hillsborough County Public Schools since 2020, and has held positions in schools and the district level in Clay and Duval counties dating back to 2004. He holds a master's in administration and management from Nova Southeastern University. Margarita De La Rosa Margarita, or Maggie, De La Rosa, currently serves as the chief of strategic initiatives for the Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District in Texas, which serves about 25,000 students. She holds an education doctorate from Southern Methodist University, and her dissertation topic was on successful superintendent and school board relationships. James Drake James Drake was an associate superintendent handling human resources and finances for the Gonzales Unified School District in California from September 2020 until July 2022. He holds an education doctorate from Northern Illinois University and also applied for the superintendent vacancy in Broward County. Allison Foster Allison Foster is the current interim superintendent in Sarasota County and was the director of human resources before being appointed to the district's top position. She holds an education doctorate from the University of Florida and was also the principal of Phillippi Shores IB School from 2008 until 2021. Ken Goeken Ken Goeken is the director of special education and support services for the Rocklin Unified School District in California. He holds an education doctorate with a focus in special education from Northcentral University and also applied for the superintendent vacancy in Broward County. Kelly Linkenhoker Kelly Linkenhoker is a public school principal in Virginia and was an assistant superintendent for Buena Vista City Public Schools from July 2020 to June 2021. In May, she is set to earn her education doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Linkenhoker also applied for a superintendent position in Kingsport, Tennessee. Krish Mohip Krish Mohip is the deputy education officer for the Illinois State Board of Education and was previously the chief of schools for Chicago Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the country. Mohip is set to earn an education doctorate from National Louis University. He was also a finalist for the superintendent position for the School District of Philidelphia. Mathew Neal Mathew Neal is the president of MRJB Educational Consulting and has served as a superintendent in Colorado and for American IB schools in Kuwait. Neal holds an education doctorate from the University of Southern California and has appeared on Fox News to discuss parental involvement in education. He was also a candidate for a superintendent position in Billings, Montana. Virgilio Ogando Virgilio Ogando has worked in administrative roles at several Catholic schools in New York and was also the religious education director at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in St. Cloud. He holds a master's degree in building leadership from Mercy College and is a candidate for Broward County's superintendent vacancy. Wanda Paul Wanda Paul is the chief operating officer of the Houston Independent School District and held the same position at the School District of Palm Beach County from 2018 to 2021. She holds a master's in business administration from the University of St. Thomas and a master's of education from National Louis University. Paul is also a candidate for Broward County's superintendent vacancy. Josiah Phillips Josiah, or Joe, Phillips is the chief information officer for Broward County Public Schools and held the same position at Volusia County Public Schools from June 2021 to April 2022. He holds an education doctorate from Liberty University. Adam Pugh Adam Pugh was the superintendent of Lafayette County Schools in Oxford, Mississippi, from 2011 to 2021, where he led the district to several consecutive "A" ratings. He holds an education doctorate from the University of Mississippi. Marianne Simon Marianne Simon is the elementary region superintendent at Duval County Public Schools and was a principal in Duval County from 2007 to 2019. She holds an education doctorate from the University of North Florida and was a finalist for the superintendent vacancy in Collier County. Art Stellar Art Stellar was a superintendent at Burke County Public Schools in North Carolina from 2009 to 2011 and Taunton Public Schools in Massachusetts from 2005 to 2009. He was fired from his position in Taunton following complaints about his management style and inability to connect with teachers, parents and students, according to a news account. His resume states he holds three degrees from Ohio University, but doesn't specify further. Charles Van Zant Charles Van Zant was the superintendent for the Clay County School District from 2012 to 2016, and was a school board member in Clay County prior to his time as the district's top administrator. Van Zant was reported to have been investigated by the Florida Ethics Commission in 2017 following allegations by a former high school principal who accused him of plagiarizing her research, which led to him getting a professional certification that resulted in a salary increase. The commission cleared Van Zant of wrongdoing. He holds a master's in organizational leadership from Regent University and is a finalist for Collier County's superintendent vacancy. Melissa Whitfield Melissa Whitfield currently serves as the superintendent for Berkely Heights Public Schools in New Jersey, and was the superintendent of the Florham Park School District in New Jersey from 2015 to 2019. She holds an education doctorate from the University of Georgia. Caprice Young Caprice Young has served as a superintendent for several charter school districts in California dating back to 2010 and founded the California Charter Schools Association. She was also a school board member for the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1999 to 2003. Young holds an education doctorate from the University of California. Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Meet the candidates to be next Sarasota County schools superintendent Chinese startups aspiring to make it big in the West now face a major hurdle: their connections to home. The scrutiny faced by TikTok in the U.S. over its management structure and data practices is a poignant reminder that relinquishing one's Chinese affiliations might be essential for gaining acceptance overseas. In their expansion to the West, Chinese startups are now decoupling from home, as we have detailed in a series of stories (here and here). The process could include moving their controlling entity to a foreign country, switching to overseas cloud centers and relocating their executives abroad. Against the backdrop of decoupling, one company is taking an unconventional path. Instead of trying to mask its Chinese identity, Seafile, a low-code application developer founded in 2012, has expanded internationally by forging a symbiotic relationship with its German joint venture, SeaTable. Since its founding in 2020, SeaTable has amassed nearly 200,000 users for its cloud-based database platform outside China while the software's on-premise version boasts about 500 clients, including the German Armed Forces, a corporation listed in the German stock index Deutscher Aktien Index (DAX) and several universities. Unlike many globalizing Chinese startups that are fueled by heavy venture investment, Seafile has an enviably self-sustaining business. The company has raised no outside funding since nailing a one million yuan (~$142,000) angel round from Matrix Partners China a decade ago. Today, it's profitable and funds all of SeaTable's ongoing development in-house. Seafile has 40 employees in China and 10 in Germany. Forgoing control In 2019, Seafile's two Chinese co-founders, Daniel Pan and Jonathan Xu, approached their future partners, Christoph Dyllick-Brenzinger and Ralf Dyllick-Brenzinger, with an intriguing proposition: set up a joint venture to help Seafile grow overseas. At the time, the two German brothers, who were consulting veterans, had been helping Seafile distribute its other product, a sync-and-share solution, for a few years. They were enticed by the opportunity to have a stake in a product they genuinely believed in -- a low-code database tool that gives a self-hosting option. Story continues SeaTable offers both cloud-based and on-premise solutions, a strategy it believes sets it apart from the industry giant Airtable. "Europe is all about data privacy, data sovereignty," Ralf, chief executive at SeaTable, told TechCrunch in an interview. "So there is going to be big market demand for the product in Europe." The Dyllick-Brenzingers took on the challenge and founded SeaTable GmbH, with Seafile holding a 50% stake to keep its commitment to product development while maintaining a firm separation from the German firm's management and access to customer data. Focusing on Europe, SeaTable is multilingual and comes in English, German, French and Russian, with Spanish and Portuguese under development. Language may seem like an inconsequential feature, but in underserved markets with high purchasing power, like France and Japan (as is the case with meeting productivity tool Airgram), having the localized option could help a startup get ahead. SeaTable also boasts a capacity of storing millions of records compared to Airtable's scale of tens of thousands, according to Ralf. In retrospect, the two Chinese founders have picked the best possible path for Seafile's global expansion at a time when the public and government in the West are increasingly skeptical of companies' Chinese links. But entrepreneurs who want to run an empire don't let go easily, much less deal with partners who live thousands of miles away. As Ralf remarked: "I think it needs a lot of trust between the two sides." Data separation SeaTable's low-code database platform. Image Credits: SeaTable Though Seafile doesn't engage in SeaTable's day-to-day operation, it plays a key role by developing the database platform from Guangzhou, a setup that's common amongst global tech firms that want to tap China's affordable, quality engineers. "The China team gives us a piece of software... that everyone can download from the internet, from the repository, and we the German team run with that. The repository is kind of like the separation line. Everything on this side of the repository is managed by Jonathan and Daniel and everything on that side is managed by us," explained Ralf. A repository, in computer programming, is a centralized digital storage that developers use to make and manage changes to an application's source code. SeaTable's SaaS version is fully operated by the German joint venture and stores data in Europe. All customization and services happen at its German office, which handles everything from installing the software, running upgrades, managing backups, troubleshooting, reading and interpreting logs, to optimizing system performance. "Managing the system are German nationals or European nationals. Apart from the fact that SeaTable is developed in China, it's about as European as it can get," the founder added. "It's ironic that we all have hardware manufactured in China... but Chinese software has a difficult position in Europe." The German brothers admitted that SeaTable's way of marketing isn't the "safest." While some customers are fine with its Chinese roots, others, including a ministry in France, have reservations about software originating from China. But this proactive approach sometimes leads to amicable discussions on new forms of cross-border collaboration that leverage software development in China on the one hand and localization efforts in the target countries on the other. "Some customers I speak to are totally oblivious of the Chinese origin of SeaTable and it's me who discloses it to them. We don't want to engage in discussions and then at the very end it comes up like SeaTable is Chinese and then they say, look, you should have told us earlier," said Ralf. "So we are very proactive about that and many customers find this interesting because, in the early 2000s, the typical joint venture model was that European and American companies went to China and looked for a Chinese partner to build their business in China. Now we are an example of a Chinese company coming to Europe to form a joint venture. People realize that 'oh, this is actually interesting,' so they are curious to learn more about that." 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. Story continues 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 Bryan Kohberger (left) and Dana Smithers (right) (AFP/Facebook) 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 is 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. 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. What was especially odd was that Smithers cellphone, wallet and daily medication were all found at her home. Dana Smithers was found dead last month (Stacey Smithers) 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. Story continues 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. Back in January, Stacey 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. YOKOSUKA, Japan - Fireman Ethan Garcia, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, serves in Japan aboard a forward-deployed U.S. Navy warship. Garcia joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Garcia serves as a damage controlman aboard USS Shiloh. I joined the Navy because a lot of people in my family served in the military, said Garcia. Fireman Ethan Garcia, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, serves in Japan aboard a forward-deployed U.S. Navy warship. Growing up in Shreveport, Garcia attended Woodlawn Leadership Academy and graduated in 2022. Today, Garcia relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Shreveport to succeed in the military. I learned the importance of having the right people around you who are trying to do better for themselves, said Garcia. Modern U.S. Navy surface ships provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments. A Navy surface ship is capable of operating independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups or expeditionary strike groups. Jobs aboard a U.S. Navy ship are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times. As a member of the Navy, Garcia is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy. The Navy is important to national defense because we provide a presence throughout the world and protect the country from potential threats, said Garcia. Garcia serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world. As the largest force in our nations front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence," said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. "Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend - across all domains - any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partners security, freedom and well-being." Story continues Garcia and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service. I am proud of being forward deployed in Japan and continuing to seek new opportunities, said Garcia. As Garcia and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy. Serving in the Navy means protecting those at home and keeping our country safe, said Garcia. Garcia is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible. I would like to thank my uncle, Staff Sergeant Michael Garcia, added Garcia. "He was a big inspiration to me." This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport native serves aboard forward-deployed Navy warship in Japan Two Tennessee women are suing the state over its public employee health insurance plans after learning their health care policies specifically exclude coverage for gender-affirming care. Gerda Zinner and Story VanNess, the plaintiffs in the case, realized the gap in the coverage after they scheduled surgeries to address their gender dysphoria and were denied insurance coverage. "It's very much like what you see in any of the research that you read about: anxiety, depression, increased risk factors," VanNess said at a news conference Thursday morning. "That's what I experience. Gender dysphoria is a pretty powerful thing, and I have not been able to find health care that has allowed me adequate access." The lawsuit alleges state policies exclude "otherwise covered" treatments except for, or related to, sex transformations," which the plaintiffs argue is discriminatory and unconstitutional. VanNess worked as a special education teacher at a Knox County public school from 2016 until 2022, and Zinner is an adviser at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Both accessed Tennessees public employee health benefits program through their jobs. Story VanNess hugs Shannon Brown in Knoxville after the Tennessee Senate in February passed a bill banning gender transition health care for minors. VanNess has now filed a federal lawsuit against the state, alleging she was denied transgender health care under her plan as a Knox County public school teacher. The University of Tennessee and Knox County Board of Education, in addition to several Tennessee insurance committees, are named as defendants in the suit along with the state. "We have not seen the lawsuit yet, but look forward to reviewing it and vigorously defending the State," said Elizabeth Lane, a spokesperson for the Attorney General's office. A Knox County Schools spokesperson Carly Harrington said the district cannot comment due to the pending lawsuit. A spokesperson for the University of Tennessee System said the university generally does not comment on pending lawsuits. "As a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters under litigation," said Melissa Tindell, a spokesperson for the University of Tennessee System. "The UT System, its campuses and institutes do not have a separate health insurance policy. Our employees are provided the opportunity to participate in the State of Tennessee's health insurance plans." Story continues Care for minors: Department of Justice challenges Tennessee's ban on transgender care for minors Both women filed complaints of sex discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in August 2022, and each were issued a notice of rights to sue by the Department of Justice in May, according to the lawsuit. "Unlike all my co-workers, who are cisgender, as a trans woman the health insurance that I pay for the same as all my co-workers doesn't give me all the care that I need, because of this discriminatory exclusion," Zinner said. "Because I'm transgender, I have been denied medical treatments that I spent a long time thinking about, and talking with my doctors about. We all agree this is the next step forward." VanNess left her job last summer, in part because her insurance did not cover the transgender-related procedures she required. "It was rewarding work," VanNess said. "It was amazing. I loved my students, and they loved me, but I made a difficult decision to leave that work, partly because I was not able to access the same care as the other teachers that I worked alongside. I'm not able to live my life in as fulfilling a way, in a healthy way, due to this discriminatory practice." Ezra Cukor, the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund attorney representing Zinner and VanNess in the suit, encouraged the state to settle the case and expand insurance coverage. "Every major medical association agrees, and employers and insurers throughout the South and around the nation cover it," Cukor said. "But the state of Tennessee refuses to cover transgender care for its own hardworking employees and their families just because of who they are." The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Nashville. A federal judge last year ruled against a Georgia county in a similar case, finding its health care policy discriminatory because it only affected transgender employees. LDEF represented the employee, a Houston County sheriff's deputy, in the case. "Time and time again, courts have ruled that denying health care to people because they're transgender is not only morally wrong, it's also illegal," Cukor said. Areena Arora and Keenan Thomas in Knoxville contributed to this report. Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tennessee transgender health care: State sued over coverage BOSTON South Shore billionaire Rob Hale took his tried-and-true gift for new college graduates to a new school last week: the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Hale, who owns Quincy-based Granite Telecommunications, spoke at the college's Wednesday commencement ceremony, where he gave each undergraduate student $1,000 as a parting gift $500 to keep for themselves and $500 to give to someone else in need. Hale started the tradition at Quincy College in 2021 and repeated it in 2022 at Roxbury Community College. Hale said he had several pieces of advice for the graduates, learned from his own "checkered history": Don't be afraid of failure, take chances, live as a leader and "give a little more than you get." "I have seen failure, face to face," he told graduates. "It stings. It hurts. It didn't kill me. ... Don't let the fear define you. Defy it." Quincy: Business owner ranks among the world's richest people on Forbes billionaires list After speeches, songs and processionals, just before graduates were set to walk across the stage, Hale interrupted Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco to announce his gift to an eruption of cheers, applause and chants. These are turbulent times. You guys have survived, you have prospered, you are to be celebrated, Hale said. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also spoke at the ceremony, where she told students to "rub it all over yourself, roll around in it and enjoy every minute." "Surely you face more challenges than most any graduating class in history. And yet, Im here today to counsel: Choose hope," she said. "In fact, Im here today to tell you that I choose hope. That I am, in fact, hopeful." UMass-Boston graduated more than 3,646 students in the Class of 2023 2,518 undergraduates, 998 graduate students and 130 doctoral students. $406 million budget proposed in Quincy: 'We have not taxed to the max' Story continues Quincy College graduates first bachelor's degree students :'We are so very proud of you' Hale earlier this year was named by Forbes magazine as one of the world's top billionaires with an estimated net worth of $5 billion. As of Friday, he was ranked as the 550th richest person in the world on a list that changes daily. When he was named to the 2022 list, he was ranked 999th. Hale joined The Forbes 400 list in the fall of 2022, something he said came about after the magazine featured the commencement speech he gave at Quincy College. He was featured by Forbes last fall for his and his wife's promise to donate $1 million each week to local nonprofits committed to doing good on the South Shore and beyond. The project led to a Forbes cover story in October. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Rob Hale of Granite Telecommunications gives UMass-Boston grads $1,000 U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai, left, moderates a discussion on trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference Thursday in Detroit with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond and UAW President Shawn Fain. UAW President Shawn Fain and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond called for trade policies Thursday that improve the lives of workers and benefit their communities rather than force a race to the bottom through deals that boost the fortunes of wealthy people at the expense of others. The labor leaders spoke in Detroit to trade officials from countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Chile, among others, as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in a session moderated by U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai. Fain, whose union represents about a million active and retired members, said trade policies have not been kind to working-class Americans. Anti-worker trade policy has been the single biggest source of damage to working-class people in our country over the last 40 years, Fain said. Ive watched how plant closings destroyed families, they destroyed communities. More: UAW isn't ready to endorse Biden for another term yet, UAW president says. Here's why Corporate greed and trade policies that arent focused on workers, rather than technological advances, were actually to blame, he said, asserting that the Detroit Three, for instance, had made a quarter of a trillion dollars in profits in the last decade while continuing to close plants. He described how General Motors had closed its Lordstown Assembly Plant in 2019 and later reopened a joint venture to produce electric vehicle batteries nearby, driving wages down in the process from $32 an hour to $16.50 an hour to start. Jeep- and Chrysler-parent Stellantis, he noted, had also idled its Belvidere Assembly Plant this year, leaving the community there reeling. Workers have little choice but to uproot themselves and take jobs elsewhere or opt for retirement in many cases, he said. Union leaders and their members dont have an issue with companies making money, but with estimates that 26 individuals control as much wealth as half of the global population, balance is needed, Fain said, describing that level of inequality as criminal. Story continues More: UAW's Shawn Fain makes national remarks to members, vows to hold carmakers accountable. Fain and Redmond, who both described the positive impact that good union jobs had on their personal and family trajectories, pushed back against the notion that unions are opposed to companies making money or that they are anti-trade. Trade policies, however, need to be fair. Here in America, free trade deals, they had a disproportionately negative impact on communities and particularly workers of color. These trade deals, they gutted communities, and they really deepened inequality in this country amongst workers, said Redmond, whose union represents 12.5 million members. We have the opportunity to reverse the damage through trade policies with workers at the center. But worker-centered trade policies, with strong protections for worker rights, dont mean sacrificing profits, which Redmond said is a misunderstanding in the business community. Tai emphasized that, the Biden administration wants to focus trade policy on workers. More: The UAW's top negotiator against GM made this pact with his GM counterpart ahead of talks For too long, our trade policies have been focused on liberalization, efficiencies, lowering costs to the exclusion of other goals, she said, noting that while that has produced benefits, it has also been accompanied by widening inequality and significant displacements. Other outcomes are possible, she said. We want to use trade as a force for good, a race to the top for our workers and for their working conditions, said Tai, who noted in her comments the impact of the labor rights enforcement mechanism that was included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement when it was negotiated. That mechanism has provided an avenue to address worker complaints in Mexico involving U.S. automakers and suppliers. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW, AFL-CIO leaders tell APEC crowd that trade policies must be fair Wagner's influence in Mali has been growing since France withdrew its troops last year The US has announced sanctions on the local boss of the Wagner private military group in Mali, Ivan Maslov. The Russian mercenary group could be secretly trying to obtain military equipment for the war in Ukraine through its operations in Mali and other African countries, the US says. The Treasury Department said Wagner employees could be trying to procure mines, drones and radar equipment. Wagner is known to be operating in some African countries, including Mali. The group has been providing Mali's military government with assistance in the fight against Islamist insurgents. Mr Maslov is seen as a key figure in Wagner, working with Malian officials to build Wagner's presence. The US accusations suggest the group might be trying to exploit the abundance of arms in Mali. The country saw an influx of weaponry after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in 2011, as mercenaries fighting for the former leader returned home. The group's overall boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has accused Russia's defence ministry of failing to provide his personnel with weapons and ammunition for operations in Ukraine. Wagner has led Russia's offensive in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, although it began withdrawing on Thursday in order to hand control over to the Russian military. Earlier this year, the US designated Wagner as a transnational criminal organisation. Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders are already subject to sanctions. Prigozhin has regularly complained of lack of weapons and ammunition in Ukraine "The Wagner Group's presence on the African continent is a destabilising force for any country that allows for the deployment of the group's resources into their sovereign territory," the US Treasury Department statement said. Wagner committed widespread human rights abuses and appropriated natural resources, it added. The Treasury also suggested Wagner might be "seeking to transit material acquisitions for Ukraine through Mali" and was "willing to use false paperwork for these transactions". Story continues The statement also accused Wagner of supplying Sudan's Rapid Support Forces with missiles for its conflict with the Sudanese army. Russia has been seeking to expand its influence in Africa as it seeks new allies in the war with Ukraine. Its involvement in West Africa predates the war, but evidence suggests Wagner's operations there have not been any more successful than those of other forces, such as former colonial power France. France withdrew its troops from Mali in February last year following disagreements with the military government, which seized power in 2020. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has discussed the participation of the Scandinavian countries in the aviation coalition at a meeting with Pal Jonsson, Defence Minister of Sweden, in Kyiv. Source: Press service of Ukraines Presidents Office on Thursday, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "The parties also 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 message said. Details: Zelenskyy also noted Sweden's decision to join the international tank coalition in support of Ukraine and transfer 10 Leopard-2 tanks. Separately, the president thanked Sweden for its leadership in the formation of the CV-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Coalition. Background: Pal Jonson, Minister of Defence of Sweden, has announced the training of several Ukrainian pilots on Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets in response to the Ukrainian side's request. At the same time, Jonson emphasised that the six JAS 39 Gripen squadrons in service with the Swedish Defence Forces are needed for their defence needs, so the supply of at least one aircraft does not seem likely. In addition, according to the media, about 20 Ukrainian pilots will begin the first phase of training on F-16 fighter jets in the UK. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Beijing on Friday. Noting that China and Ethiopia are comprehensive strategic partners of cooperation, Han expressed appreciation to Ethiopia for resolutely supporting China in safeguarding core interests. China also firmly supports Ethiopia in consolidating unity and peace and realizing economic recovery, Han said, adding that China stands ready to work with Ethiopia to jointly build a Belt and Road of high quality, expand practical cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges. Demeke expressed his appreciation for China's strong support for Ethiopia in restoring peace and responding to challenges, adding that Ethiopia is willing to actively participate in the implementation of China's important initiatives. Ethiopia regards China as an important partner in achieving its independent development goals, hopes to continue to receive China's support in areas including post-war reconstruction and economic development, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Ethiopia, Demeke said. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) 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. 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. NAIROBI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the European Union (EU) on Friday announced the setting up of Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratories to boost land governance in rural Kenya. Husna Mbarak, Lead in land and natural resource governance at the FAO, said the agency plans to set up 34 GIS laboratories, a system that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data in different parts of the country. "We have set up nine laboratories so far and we are currently in the process of completing another 25 before the end of June 2023," Mbarak said at a briefing in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. She revealed that nine counties now have digital registries complete with GIS laboratories and are already benefiting the population with clear land administration processes. Mbarak also said that there are a number of trainings that are going on in the 34 counties where the laboratories will be located to empower personnel on how to use the equipment that includes hardware and software. Myra Bernardi, head of agriculture at the European Union (EU) to Kenya, said the importance of having GIS laboratories is to facilitate land use planning and management through digital maps and this planning can help in the development of hospitals, schools, roads, natural resources and water access points. She reckoned that improved land governance through the use of GIS can contribute significantly to some of Kenya's Vision 2030 priorities such as the creation of jobs, food and nutrition security, natural resource management and mitigation of conflicts. Bernardi disclosed that the EU has embarked on supporting a number of climate mitigation and adaptation projects that promote sustainable small-scale electrification and green Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). And the EU is also supporting projects that integrate biodiversity conservation and conflict sensitivity in arid lands in northern Kenya. Bernardi said the EU is supporting the application of GIS in land programs, adding that lapses in land governance use can worsen poverty. The GIS system, Bernardi said, will lead to improved land governance to reduce conflicts on land and increase efficient and optimal use of natural resources. NAIROBI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan police on Thursday shot dead four people after rowdy youth demonstrating against insecurity stormed a police station in western Kenya. Three police officers were injured in the chaos when protesters tried to overrun the police station in Isebania, a town in Migori County, county police commander Mark Wanjala said Friday. The protesters, angry over insecurity at the border between Kenya and Tanzania, attempted to set fire to the police station, Wanjala said. He said the group, pretending to be mourners, were armed with stones and other crude weapons when they stormed the station, engaging police in running battles that forced the officers to use live bullets. The protestors attempted to free suspects in police custody and also targeted the armory, Wanjala said. He said the unrest began when a group of protestors stormed the station carrying the body of a local businessman killed by robbers about a week ago. It was the second time the station came under attack this month. On May 20, at least 12 police officers were injured when a group of protesters raided the station at the Kenya-Tanzania border. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Approximately 209,100 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 55,000 means of transport, carried out, on Friday, the control formalities (both on entry and exit ways) through the border points throughout the country.According to the Border Police, 104,498 people entered Romania, including - 1821 - Tudor Vladimirescu, leader of the 1821 Revolution, is killed by order of Eteria organisation leader Alexandru Ipsilanti CITESTE SI Bucharest Gendarmerie: Additional measures to control vehicles and people at 'Metalhead Meeting 2023' 26/05/2023 11 ForMin Aurescu has telephone conversation - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, had a telephone conversation on Friday with his counterpart from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, a context in which they discussed the security situation in the Black Sea and the Middle East, the Romanian Foreign Ministry - IGPF: Almost 227,000 people cross borders on Sunday. Approximately 227,000 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with over 53,700 means of transport, underwent control formalities (both on the way in and on the way out) through border crossing points throughout Romania on Sunday, the General Inspectorate - Romania is placed on the clean energy map of the world thanks to the constant and substantial support offered by the United States of America and the coherent vision of the Romanian state for the development of the national civil nuclear program, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Saturday. - Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu met on Saturday at the Official Lounge of Henri Coanda Airport with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Catherine Colonna, on the occasion of the technical stopover in Bucharest of President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, on his - Premierul a dat asigurari ca situatia din judetele afectatee de ninsori este sub control, aratand au fost luate mai multe masuri, inclusiv suplimentarea mijloacelor tehnice de dezapezire si mobilizarea militarilor. - As many as 82,428 people, including 8,103 Ukrainian citizens, entered Romania on Saturday, March 4, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) reported on Sunday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends Socant! O femeie s-a dat drept medic estetician si a mutilat mai multi pacienti O femeie a fost retinuta pentru 24 de ore, dupa ce ar fi efectuat mai multe operatii estetice asupra a doua tinere, fara a avea dreptul de exercitare a profesiei, in urma carora acestea au necesitat interventia in regim de urgenta a unor [citeste mai departe] TRIPOLI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that its air force launched airstrikes on human and fuel traffickers in western Libya, in the first such operation since the Government of National Unity took office two years ago. "This morning, the National Air Force carried out precise airstrikes against the hideouts of fuel, drug and human trafficking gangs in the western region," the ministry said in a statement. The airstrikes were "successful and achieved the intended goals", the statement noted, adding that the airstrikes were carried out in accordance with instructions from Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah "as a part of a military plan to clear the west coast and the rest of Libya" of traffickers. The ministry called on citizens to "fully cooperate with the military forces in the military operations that will not stop until all of its objectives are achieved." Local media reported that there were no human casualties as a result of the airstrikes on traffickers in the western cities of Zuwara and Zawiya, which are among the largest trafficking hubs in Libya. TRIPOLI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Libya said on Thursday that it welcomes Turkish investment in its private sector as well as industrial and agricultural projects. Libyan Minister of Economy and Industry Mohamed Howej made the remarks in a meeting held on Wednesday with a Turkish economic delegation led by Murtaza Karanfil, head of the Libyan-Turkish Businessmen Association, the Libyan government said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen economic ties in the sectors of infrastructure, oil and gas, as well as building a joint hospital and an exhibition city in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, the statement said. The Libyan Ministry of Economy and Industry said in a separate statement on Wednesday that Howej urged Turkiye to enhance ties with Libya's private sector, participate in the construction of ports and free economic zones, activate transit trade in the African market, and contribute to the industrial and agricultural projects in Libya. Howej met with Karanfil and a number of Turkish businessmen in Turkiye's largest city Istanbul, where they discussed the operations of Turkish companies in Libya and ways to overcome difficulties in resuming Turkish companies' work in Libya in accordance with the Libyan government's action plan, the statement said. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Aproape 10.000 de militari din tari membre NATO si din state partenere se antreneaza impreuna de astazi in Romania. Saber Guardian 2023 este cel mai mare exercitiu militar gazduit de tara noastra in acest an, iar ceremonia de deschidere a avut loc la Smardan, in judetul Galati. Ministrul apararii, Angel - Un contingent al Armatei Nationale participa, in perioada 29 mai 9 iunie curent, la exercitiul multinational Saber Guardian 2023 (SG23), care face parte din complexul de exercitii Defender Europe 23. SG23 este condus de Fortele Terestre ale Statelor Unite din Europa (USAREUR) si Comandamentul - The government approved on Friday the National Strategy for the Integrated Management of Romania's State Border over 2023 - 2027.The strategy ensures the fulfillment of Romania's relevant commitments as an EU and NATO member state, the Executive said in a release. CITESTE SI German President - President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday in Timisoara that after his three-day state visit to Romania, he returns to Berlin strongly impressed by the fact that not only Bucharest is developing, but all the regions of our country, including Timisoara.The German president underlined - Romania reports 731 COVID-19 hospitalisations, 29 COVID-related deaths in the week of May 15 - 21. A total of 2,379 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered in the week of May 15 - 21, and 29 COVID-related deaths: 18 men and 11 women, aged between 50 and 80+, the Health Ministry announced - Bucharest Tech Week kicks off in Bucharest on Monday. Bucharest Tech Week - the largest technology and innovation festival in Central and Eastern Europe - starts on Monday in Bucharest and brings together over 70 speakers, international and local tech experts, 1,500 professionals from various areas - The German Ambassador to Romania, Peer Gebauer, visited, on Friday, the humanitarian hub in Suceava, which is located near the "Stefan cel Mare" Airport, and talked with representatives of the county and local administration, the president of the Suceava County Council (CJ), Gheorghe Flutur informed. - Hell on earth, "the city where there is no living place" or "the hottest place in the world", this is how Bakhmut is described, the city in eastern Ukraine where the fiercest battles are taking place between the Ukrainian troops, who are trying to defend their country, and the Russian troops, interested The success of European Romas hinges on their ability to adapt, resist and persevere even amid extreme difficulties, Livia Jaroka, an MEPof ruling Fidesz, said, marking the anniversary of the Roma uprising in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Marking the anniversary of the uprising on May 16, 1944, almost 80 years after it happened is important so that the horrors of that war shall never be repeated, she said. Romas have faced all kinds of ostracism, exclusion and discrimination. They faced new challenges year after year as Europe refused to accept their way of life. But Romas have not disappeared. They are still among us, the largest minority in Europe, and have had many achievements and successes, Jaroka said in a statement. The European Union has a duty to fight for the rights of ethnic and national minorities with every means at their disposal, she said. It needs to stand up against all forms of discrimination and promote a real and successful minority policy, she added. May 16th has been celebrated as the Day of Romani Resistance since 2005 in western Europe and since 2015 in Hungary. The European Commissions negotiations with Hungary on releasing EU funds have made little progress recently, while major issues still remain unresolved, EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn told the European Parliament. The disbursement of EU funds might be extended to 2024, and Hungarian students could be left out of the Erasmus programme due to the lack of an agreement, he added. We currently do not have a deadline, he pointed out. We sit down, we discuss, I make a report, and then we meet again. Perhaps the whole matter will extend after the establishment of the next European Commission. "The ball is on the Hungarian side, the Hungarians have to make a decision, not just make announcements. We will only be able to evaluate these", he said. The Hungarian side claimed that we moved the goalposts. No. We have always clearly stated what we expect, he added. Hahn said the establishment of the Integrity Authority in Hungary is a step forward, but he believes that the Hungarian government is still failing to meet expectations. He said it is not true that the European Commission is hindering an agreement with Hungary, adding that the Commission has an interest in finding a solution, but a solution is needed that serves the interests of Hungarian citizens. Meanwhile the Hungarian cabinet and EU Funds Minister Tibor Navracsics are not very optimistic either. He said the government has tried in negotiations to refute allegations that the cabinet is politically biased in allocating EU funds. Speaking about the Erasmus issue, he said a new commissioner will take over the area of education in the EU, and the government will contact the appointee on this issue. The European Commission has approved the modifications to the contracts of the expansion of Hungarys Paks nuclear power plant, allowing for the project to be speeded up, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said. The changes to the contracts and the European Unions approval will make it possible for the plants new blocks to begin operating by the very beginning of the next decade, with the project applying the strictest nuclear regulations, Szijjarto said on Facebook. The Paks project guarantees the long-term security of Hungarys energy supply, the minister said. The new Paks investment is the guarantee that we can preserve the achievements of the price caps on utility bills in the long run and sustain Europes lowest prices for the Hungarian people, Szijjarto said. He said the recent months had proven that countries that can produce as much of their own energy as possible will be the most secure in the coming period. Hungarys natural resources and geographical position make nuclear energy the most suitable to protect the country from the uncertainties of the international markets, he said. This makes it important for the new blocks to be completed as soon as possible, he added. Szijjarto noted that because the projects construction and financing contracts had been signed nine years ago, and the legal, technical and physical circumstances had all changed since then, it was necessary to modify the contracts with a view to speeding up the project and ensuring Hungarys independence from the international energy markets. He noted that the Hungarian government reached an agreement with the Russian government and Rosatom in April on the changes to the contracts, adding that these could only enter into force after being approved by the EU. Hungary submitted the draft modifications to the European Commission, which gave us the green light yesterday, Szijjarto said. MTI Photo: Tamas Soki The Hungarian biochemist Katalin Kariko, whose work in mRNA research helped develop Covid vaccines in record time, has just been awarded an honorary degree by Harvard University. At a special ceremony, Kariko was one of six eminent figures granted the award. At the event, Harvards 372nd commencement that conferred 1,850 college degrees to graduates, Hollywood star Tom Hanks gave a keynote speech, urging students to resist manipulating the truth for personal gain. The responsibility is yours. Ours, said Hanks, invoking his role as a Harvard professor in the Da Vinci Code films. The effort is optional. But the truth is sacred. Unalterable. Chiselled into the stone and the foundation of our republic. Born in Hungary in 1955, Kariko emigrated to America with her family 30 years later. There she met immunologist Drew Weissman and their collaboration in mRNA research would prove vital in the development of a vaccine during the Covid pandemic. Following her work with German biotechnological company BioNTech, behind the Pfizer vaccine administered to millions, Kariko has been presented with many prestigious awards across the world, from Stanford University to the tiny community of Kisujszallas where she grew up. Words by Peterjon Cresswell Peterjon has been researching the bars and byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com Photo: Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer Ildiko Gall Pelcz, a Hungarian member of the European Court of Auditors, has suffered a petty leftist political attack, MEPs of ruling Fidesz said in a statement. Gall Pelcz, nominated for another term in the audit office, was interviewed in the European Parliament Committee for Budgetary Control, where leftist members of the body voted against her clearly for political reasons and in disregard of all professional arguments, the statement said. Signatories to the statement insisted that Gall Pelz was one of the most suited and most excellent members of the audit office. The EP is scheduled to vote on Gall Pelzs re-election on June 1, while the final decision is up to the European Council, the MEPs said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Parts of southwest Nebraska saw heavy rain Friday morning that led to flash flooding that closed several highways as well as a state park. McCook, in Red Willow County, had officially received more than 6 inches of rain as of 1 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a flash flood warning for the northwestern part of the county. The weather service said U.S. 83 south of McCook was underwater,. There were reports of more than 7 inches in Wauneta in Chase County. In Dundy County, the sheriff's office posted on social media that several roads were closed as of Friday afternoon and were likely to stay that way for days, including Nebraska 61, which it said was underwater. The sheriff's office also reported that a bridge was out on Max-Wauneta road, which runs north and south between the two towns. In Hayes County, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission temporarily closed the Frenchman Wildlife Management Area north of Palisade on Friday. The commission said in a news release that the road leading into the area was flooded, as were parts of the park. "These conditions are dangerous for guests, as well as Nebraska Game and Parks employees," the news release said. The weather service issued flood warnings for several rivers and creeks, including the Republican River at both McCook and Stratton, Frenchman Creek near Culbertson and Driftwood Creek near McCook. Eight years ago: Floodwaters swamp Lincoln, surrounding areas It has been over three and a half decades since Anil Kapoor and late actress Sridevi's iconic film Mr India hit theatres and went on to create history in Bollywood. Mr India not only became the second-highest grossing film of that time but also continued to remain a crowd-puller, thanks to the legendary characters played by Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, and Amrish Puri as Mogambo. With that said, it has been 36 years since the film was released and it wouldn't be wrong to say that its songs and dialogues are still fan favourites. As Mr India completes 36 years, producer Boney Kapoor went down the memory lane and he recalled some "cherished memories" from the days of the film's shoot. Boney Kapoor, who was the producer of the 1987 film, shared a video featuring some BTS pictures from the film's sets. "The watch of invisibility turns 36! Cherished memories of Mr. India, a film that has gained the adulation of India and Indians and has become a cult classic over the decades," the caption of his post read. Fans immediately reacted to the post with fire and red heart emojis. Boney Kapoor and Sridevi's younger daughter Khushi Kapoor has reshared the post on her Instagram Stories. Khushi will make her Bollywood debut with The Archies, directed by Zoya Akhtar. About Mr India Directed by Shekhar Kapur and produced by Boney Kapoor, Mr India was a hit. The credit goes to its unique superhero concept that came with a proper blend of science fiction, action and comedy. Anil Kapoor who played the lead role of Arun, a man who finds his late father's invisible watch was paired with Sridevi as Seema. The film shows how he goes on to retaliate against a local gangster, Mogambo. Apart from the film and its engaging content, the iconic songs 'Hawa Hawai' and 'Kate Nahi Kat Te' have also become synonymous with Bollywood nostalgia. The film also featured late actor Satish Kaushik in the prominent role of Calender. WBJEE Result 2023 Declared: The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board (WBJEEB) declared the WBJEE Result 2023 today, May 26. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now check and download their WBJEE 2023 Results from the official websites - www.wbjeeb.nic.in and www.wbjeeb.in. Candidates can download their WBJEE 2023 Scorecards following the simple steps given here or through the direct link given below. Step To Download WBJEE 2023 Result Step 1: Visit the official websites - wbjeeb.nic.in, wbjeeb.in. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link that reads "WBJEE 2023 Result" Step 3: In the newly opened tab entre your roll number, dop and other required details Step 4: Click on submit and your WBJEE Result 2023 will appear on the screen Step 5: Now download your WBJEE 2023 Result and take a printout for future reference WBJEE 2023 Result: Toppers' List Rank 1: Md Sahil Akhtar Rank 2: Soham Das Rank 3: Sara Mukherjee This year 97, 524 candidates appeared for the West Bengal JEE examination of which 99.4% passed the exam, said state Education Minister Bratya Basu in a Tweet. MOGADISHU, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Friday confirmed that al-Shabab militants stormed its military base in southern Somalia. Reinforcements from the ATMIS and its allies managed to repel the attacks launched by suicide bombers and other al-Shabab fighters earlier in the day in Bulo Marer, about 120 km southwest of Mogadishu, the mission said in a statement. However, the AU mission did not reveal the number of casualties, saying it will continue working closely with the Somali government and other international partners to protect the country from al-Shabab and other armed groups. After the impressive first season, Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden starrer Citadel will come with its second season. The development was confirmed by Amazon Prime Video on Thursday, 25 May. As per the latest reports, while David Weil will be returning as showrunner for the second season, filmmaker Joe Russo will be helming every episode of season 2. Apart from the lead characters, the second season will also feature Lesley Manville and Stanley Tucci again. Sharing the news on Instagram, Priyanka Chopra said that she looks forward to the show's second season. Priyanka Chopra has also urged fans to watch the finale episode of Citadel Season 1. "S2 is coming!! Looking forward to it. But for now, watch the finale episode on Amazon Prime Video," she wrote. As soon as Priyanka Chopra shared the post, many took to the comment section and cheered in her support. Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan commented, "Interesting" while actress Sameera Reddy wrote, "I absolutely love the first season! You go girl!" About Citadel Season 1 A spy-thriller from Amazon Studios and the Russo Brothers' AGBO, Citadel features Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden in lead roles. The show explores how former Citadel (global spy agency) agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra) go on a mission, years after they were presumed dead during an operation in Italy. The show is currently the second most-watched new original series outside the US and the fourth most-watched worldwide on Prime Video. Presently, all the episodes of the series first season are available for viewers. Speaking on the same, executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo in a statement said that AGBO is thrilled to embark on the "next phase of the spyverse" with Jen, Vernon, and the entire team at Amazon. In the meantime, while the show gears up for the second season, Prime Video has also planned for the Italian and Indian versions of Citadel. The Indian version is said to be directed by Raj and DK and will feature actors Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in pivotal roles. As per a Deadline report, the second season's production is expected to move to California. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail for six weeks to AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds. The SC has also laid some conditions for Jain to follow such as he cannot leave Delhi without permission and cannot make any statement before the media. The former Delhi health minister 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 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 Earlier on Monday, 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. The Sengol, destined for the new Parliament building, has ignited a contentious dispute between the ruling BJP and the Congress. The Centre has accused the Congress of disrespecting Indian traditions, while the grand old party has dismissed the saffron party's allegations as baseless. Amidst the verbal sparring, the resplendent 'Sengol' has been relocated from the Allahabad Museum to the national capital in preparation for the upcoming inauguration of the new Parliament building. Notably, 'Sengol', which marked the symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India, will be kept as a legacy in the new Parliament building. It will be installed by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium. The new building of Parliament will witness Adheenam (Priests) from Tamil Nadu performing rituals and vesting PM Modi with the Sengol. Congress Vs BJP Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed no documented evidence to show that the Sengol was handed over to former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru as the symbol of the transfer of power. "There is NO documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji & Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple BOGUS. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media," said Ramesh in a tweet. Reacting to his tweet, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of hating Indian traditions. "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour," said Shah. Sengol's Tamil Nadu Connection The historic sceptre 'Sengol' was received by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, to represent the symbol of the transfer of power from the Britishers to India. It was made by the Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers then. As per the official document, Jawahar Lal Nehru was asked by Lord Mountbatten how the transfer of powers would be symbolized. Nehru consulted C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor General of India, who told him about the ceremony performed during the Chola dynasty. In the ceremony, the power transfer from one king to another was depicted by handing over of 'Sengol'. C Rajagopalachari was given a task by Jawahar Lal Nehru to arrange the sceptre- the 'Sengol' and he then reached Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam in Tamil Nadu, "Vummidi Bangaru Chetty" jewellers manufactured the 'Sengol'. The 'Sengol' is five-feet-long and has a 'Nandi' bull on the top, which symbolises justice. Notably, a replica of the 'Sengol' is still kept by the descendants of Vummidi Bangaru. This iconic ceremony was reported by local as well as international media. Just after the ceremony, PM Nehru delivered his famous 'Tryst with Destiny' speech to the nation. The five-foot long intricately carved, unbending gold-plated silver sceptre, with a finial of Nandi (divine bull deity) on top, was specially commissioned by the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. A replica of the Sengol is still kept in the Vummidi Bangaru Jewellery and maintained by the descendants of Vummidi Bangaru. BJP, Tamil Nadu and Sengol Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the BJP is using the Sengol to gain a foot in Tamil Nadu. "The sceptre is now being used by the PM & his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives," he said. The BJP does not have any Lok Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu. The state has 39 Lok Sabha seats and the saffron party desperately hopes for winning some parliamentary seats from the South as it might lose several Lok Sabha seats from the north in the 2024 polls owing to altered political equations. The BJP is out of power in Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. This may affect the BJP's Lok Sabha tally and thus if the party manages to make inroads into south India, it may work wonders for the ruling party. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP stood second in five seats of Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari and Thoothikuddy. The saffron party will contest the polls in alliance with AIADMK. With a weaker opposition in Tamil Nadu following J Jayalalithaa's demise, the BJP has adopted an aggressive posture in the state under the leadership of state party chief K Annamalai. The head priest of Madurai Adheenam, Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal, who will be presenting the 'Sengol' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has said that Modi should return as the PM again in 2024. This shows that PM Modi and the BJP's efforts are slowly bearing fruits and the people of Tamil Nadu are opening the door of their hearts for him. Prime Minister Modi has displayed a keen involvement in Tamil Nadu's affairs, exemplified by his active participation in events such as the Kashi Tamil Sangam and the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express trains for the state. PM Modi has consistently lauded the Tamilian community and the Tamil language, hailing it as India's oldest language and a symbol of Indian culture. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently out of power from its 'Gateway of the South' (Karnataka), a successful foray into the stronghold of Tamil Nadu would serve as a significant boost for the saffron brigade and yet another accolade for Narendra Modi. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday in Hyderabad to seek his party Bharat Rashtra Samithi's (BRS) support against the Centre's ordinance which nullifies the Supreme Court order on services matters in the national capital. "Meeting CM of Telangana tomorrow in Hyderabad to seek support against unconstitutional and undemocratic ordinance passed by BJP govt against the orders of SC," Kejriwal tweeted. The Delhi Chief Minister is on a nationwide tour visiting different states and meeting leaders of various political parties to seek their support in Rajya Sabha to defeat the Bill when it is moved in the Upper House of the Parliament. (Also Read: Congress' 9 Questions To PM Modi On 9 Years Of His Govt) Kejriwal 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. On Thursday, Delhi CM Kejriwal met Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. 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. After his talks, 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." "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 said. Delhi CM also met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. 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. 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. NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought time to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi for their support to oppose the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. "Sought time this morning to meet Congress president Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted. The ordinance 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. It 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 top court verdict. Chief Minister Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convener, has sought support of various political parties, including the NCP, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the TMC, on the Delhi services issue. 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. "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. New Delhi: In a veiled attack on his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said his demand for compensation to candidates affected by an exam paper leak reflects "intellectual bankruptcy". Gehlot also said the opposition has started talking about the paper leak as it does not have any issue to target the Congress government in Rajasthan. "Since the opposition does not have any issue, it has started talking about the paper leak and is saying give compensation to them (the candidates). Give compensation to the 26 lakh people who took the exam? The papers got leaked, so they should get compensation?" the chief minister asked during in his address after inaugurating a newly-constructed state-of-the-art bus terminal at the Jaipur Central Bus Stand, Sindhi Camp in the evening. "Such a demand is made that the papers got leaked, so they (candidates) should get compensation. What would you call this? Would this not be called intellectual bankruptcy?" he asked the gathering. Gehlot's comments were in reference to Pilot's demand for compensation to the affected candidates, which were later endorsed by some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Also Read: Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot's Welfare Blitz Leaves BJP Gasping For Poll Issues The other demands of Pilot are reconstituting the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) by disbanding it and forming a high-level committee to investigate corruption during the previous BJP rule in the desert state. Also Read: Congress Distances Itself From Sachin Pilot's 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' Gehlot said, "In the history of the world, has anyone ever demanded that since papers got leaked, the children who could not take the exam should be given compensation? Can the government give it?" He said in the paper leak case, his government has enacted a law and put the accused in jail, which no other state has done. The Union Government on Thursday said that it will release a commemorative coin of Rs 75 to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building. In a gazette notification issued on May 25, the Finance Ministry said that the coin will be issued under the rule 'Coinage (Issue Of Commemorative Coin on the occasion of Inauguration of New Parliament Building) Rules, 2023. "The coin of Rs 75 denomination shall be coined at the Mint for issue under the authority of the Central Government on the occasion of Inauguration of New Parliament Building," it said. The coin will have a diameter of 44 mm and it will have 200 serrations. The coin will be made up of 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper, 5 per cent nickel and 5 per cent zinc. "The face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashika Pillar in the centre with the legend 'Satyamev Jayate' in Hindi inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word 'Bharat' in Devnagri script and on the right periphery with the word 'India' in English. It shall also bear the Rupee symbol and denominational value 75 in the international numerals below the Lion Capitol," said the ministry. On the reverse of the coin, there will be an image of the Parliament Complex. "The inscription 'Sansad Snakul' shall be written in Devnagri script on the upper periphery and the inscription 'Parliament Complex' in English shall be written on the lower periphery of the coin. The year 2023 in international numeral shall be written below the image of Parliament Complex," it further said. The weight of the coin will be 35 grams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28. PM Modi will also install the ceremonial sceptre 'Sengol' in the new Parliament building. The 'Sengol' was given to the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power in August 1947. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building on December 20 in 2020. The new Parliament also has a National Emblem made of bronze with a total weight of 9500 Kg and is 6.5m in height. It has been cast at the top of the Central Foyer of the New Parliament Building. A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6500 Kg has been constructed to support the Emblem. New Delhi: Amid a row over installation of sceptre Sengol in new Parliament building, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday slammed Congress for belittling the Sengol and calling it a 'walking stick'. Shah condemned the Congresss assertion that there was no proof of the Sengol being a sign of the British handing over power to India in 1947, as the new Parliament buildings inauguration sparked a verbal clash between the ruling and opposition parties. He said the Congress should introspect on its conduct. Taking to Twitter, Shah said, "Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'." Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize Indias freedom but it was banished to a museum as a walking stick. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 26, 2023 "Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India's freedom," he said. Congress, he further posted, is calling the "Adheenam's history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour". Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of Indias freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenams history as BOGUS! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour. May 26, 2023 Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday claimed there was no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the Sengol as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India. The Sengol will be installed near the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker after the new Parliament building is inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. The event is being boycotted by 20 Opposition parties, including the Congress. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday quashed a plea seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu, who is the "first citizen of India and the head of the institution". A bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha told petitioner in-person advocate Jaya Sukin that the court understands why and how this petition was filed and it is not inclined to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. Sukin said under Article 79, the president is the executive head of the country and she should have been invited. He, however, said if the court does not wish to entertain the petition, he be allowed to withdraw it. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said if the petition is allowed to be withdrawn, then it will be filed in the high court. The bench then dismissed the petition as withdrawn. The petition said the respondents -- the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Union of India -- are "humiliating" the president by not inviting her for the inauguration. Also Read: Centre To Issue Rs 75 Coin To Mark Inauguration Of New Parliament Building; Check Details The petition by an apex court lawyer was filed amid a controversy over the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Twenty Opposition parties have decided to boycott the ceremony to protest the "sidelining" of the president. In a joint statement on Wednesday, 19 political parties said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out of Parliament, we find no value in a new building." The BJP-led NDA shot back, condemning the "contemptuous" decision. Also Read: 'PM Modi's Ego Denied Prez Murmu Of Her Constitutional Privilege': Congress On New Parliament Inauguration "This act is not merely disrespectful; it is a blatant affront to the democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation," parties belonging to the ruling NDA said in a statement on Wednesday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had recently met the prime minister and invited him to inaugurate the new building. Modi had also laid the foundation stone for the building in 2020 and most opposition parties had stayed away from the event even then. 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. 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. MBOSE SSLC, HSLC Result 2023: The date and time for the Meghalaya Board of School Education, MBOSE SSLC, HSSLC Arts Result 2023 have been confirmed! As per the official notice issued by the Meghalaya Board, the MBOSE 10th and MBOSE 12th Arts Result 2023 will be declared today, May 26, 2023, on megresults.nic.in and mbose.in The Meghalaya Board Results for SSLC and HSSLC Arts Stream will be announced today, May 26, 2023, as per the official notice. The timing of the result declaration will be during the office hours of the board. Based on previous results, the MBOSE Results are expected to be announced between 10 AM and 11 AM. MBOSE SSLC, HSLC Result 2023: Here's how to download scorecards Visit the official website of the Meghalaya Board Click on the highlighted link tab available on the homepage Enter your roll number Your result will be displayed on your screen Download it and take a screenshot of it for future reference. Once the Meghalaya Results are declared, students will be able to check it on the official website -mbose.in. Students will also be able to check their MBOSE SSLC and HSSLC Arts Result 2023 will be declared on the official results portal - megresults.nic.in. MBOSE conducted the Meghalaya Board SSLC 10th Exams from March 3 to March 17, 2023The HSSLC 12th Exams 2023 were held between March 3, 2023 and March 30, 2023. Challenging Elon Musk's full self-driving claims, a Tesla whistleblower has reportedly leaked 100GB of data to a German media outlet that contains thousands of customer complaints about the automaker's Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. The documents obtained by Handelsblatt detail about 2,400 self-acceleration issues and more than 1,500 braking problems with Tesla cars. The Tesla FSD complaints were reported across the US, Europe and Asia from 2015 to March 2022, reports The Verge. According to Handelsblatt, there were 139 reports of "unintentional emergency braking" and 383 reports of "phantom stops" from false collision warnings from customers. According to the media company, when they made Tesla aware about the data it received, the electric car-maker allegedly "demanded that the data be deleted and spoke of data theft." Some of the customer incidents include descriptions of how cars "suddenly brake or accelerate abruptly." Some Tesla drivers "ended up in a ditch, hit walls or crashed into oncoming vehicles." Tesla's FSD capability enables all the features that come with Tesla's Autopilot and Enhanced Autopilot features, including automatic lane changes, autosteering, auto parking, and more. Despite several concerns, Tesla made its FSD beta available to everyone in November last year. Tesla is under intense scrutiny for its Autopilot and its FSD software driver assistance features. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also investigating self-driving claims made by Musk. The SEC probe is to determine if the electric car-maker flouted its rules in promoting its FSD and Autopilot software. Last month, in some relief for Tesla CEO Musk, jurors in an Autopilot-related 2019 crash in the US gave the verdict in favour of the electric car company. The jury in the California state court awarded plaintiff Justine Hsu, who sued Tesla in 2020, no damages. In February, Tesla received a clean chit from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S Autopilot system in 2021. New Delhi: Actor Ali Fazal, who plays the role of Kahil in the theatrical film 'Kandahar', has shared the BTS pictures from the sets as the film debuts in U.S. theatres on Friday. 'Kandahar', which is an action film, also stars Gerard Butler. Ali recently took to his social media to share the images from the sets. The actor posted the pictures as he wrote in the caption: "Behind some greatness is always a director orchestrating it all. Kandahar hits hard today. North America. I cannot thank you both enough." He further mentioned in the caption: "Ric for bringing me on board this journey. And Mr Gerard Butler, for all things notorious on and off camera (and much more) and to the entire crew of Kandahar on-sets and off the sets. You people are the real heroes." 'Kandahar', directed by Ric Roman Waugh, is Ali's first action film and was shot extensively in the Al Ula region in Saudi Arabia. The film is expected to release in India in a few weeks. NEW DELHI: 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. Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami today came up with a new term - Land Jihad - for alleged illegal encroachments for religious structures in border areas. The Chief Minister, who has ordered a massive drive for the removal of illegal structures, said that he will get not allow illegal structures to vitiate the atmosphere of the state. "Uttarakhand shares its borders with two countries (China and Nepal). A particular community had illegally encroached land and raised structures in the border areas of the state which are being removed as part of a drive," Dhami said while addressing the concluding session of the two-day meeting of the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal in Haridwar. "Illegal encroachments in the name of land jihad will not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in Uttarakhand", Dhami said. He said the state government has already appealed to encroachers to remove such structures on their own or the administration will demolish them. Last month, Dhami warned occupiers of illegally built mazars (tombs) to remove those on their own and reiterated that his government would not allow "land jihad" in the state. Under a conspiracy, thousands of shrines have been built illegally on public and forest land without permission, he had said. "Not a single illegally built religious structure will be allowed to remain standing in the state. All illegal structures will be completely demolished," Dhami said on Friday. He said Uttarakhand will be the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). "The committee constituted to prepare a draft of the UCC has done 90 per cent of its job and will submit its report to the state government by June 30," he said. The UCC will be implemented after being examined, he said, adding that it will apply to people of all religions and communities. Uttarakhand's UCC will become a model for the entire country, Dhami said. The two-day meeting debated a range of issues including conversion, land jihad, same-sex marriages and live-in relationships. Dhami took the blessings of over 250 seers participating in the meeting. NEW DELHI: 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. Expressing displeasure over the Congress` stance on Sengol -- the sceptre that will be placed in the new Parliament building in the national capital, the pontiff of a Tamil Nadu `math` on Friday said "this is the same Sengol which was given in 1947 to India`s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and it is the pride of Tamil Nadu". Earlier, on Friday, the Congress hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for spreading "false narrative" about "Sengol", saying that there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing this "as the symbol of transfer of British power to India" and all claims to this effect are plain and simply "bogus". Speaking to reporters, the pontiff of Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam (math), said: "We are disappointed by the lies that are being spread by some people. This is a great pride for Tamil Nadu. The Sengol went from Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam, from Chola Nadu. "On May 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the Sengol once again. It will be installed in the new parliament building. We are happy. We have been invited to Delhi, and we will be going there," he said. The Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam pontiff further said the same Sengol was kept hidden for many years. "Now, it is being brought back to the limelight. We were informed 1-2 months ago about the inauguration of the new Parliament. They asked us to come and told us that Sengol would be installed," he said. "Sengol was given to the late PM Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 by the Adheenam. Rajaji (C Rajagopalachari) was asked how to symbolise freedom and India`s Independence. At that time, our chief pontiff had asked Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers to make the Sengol," the Thiruvavuduthurai Adheenam pontiff said. "The Sengol was sent in a flight to Delhi and it was given to Lord Mountbatten. It was later handed over to then PM Nehru by Adheenam pontiffs," he added. "We have pictures to show how the Sengol was handed over. Some people are spreading wrong information. In 1947, many English newspapers reported about it. The pictures are enough for evidence," he said. NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday claimed there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the 'Sengol' as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his drum-beaters are using the ceremonial sceptre for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. The 'Sengol' will be installed close to the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker after the new Parliament building is inaugurated by Modi on May 28, an event 20 Opposition parties, including the Congress, are boycotting. On Thursday, the BJP had alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to India's first prime minister Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. 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, BJP leader Amit Malviya had said. On Twitter, Ramesh said, "The sceptre is now being used by the PM (prime minister) and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament." He claimed that a majestic sceptre conceived of by a religious establishment in the Madras province and crafted in Madras city (now Chennai) was indeed presented to Nehru in August 1947. "There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- bodgus," he said. "Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media. Two of the finest Rajaji scholars with impeccable credentials have expressed surprise," the Congress general secretary communications said. While announcing the boycott, the Opposition parties had 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". "Is it any surprise that the new Parliament is being consecrated with typically false narratives from WhatsApp University? The BJP-RSS distorians stand exposed yet again with maximum claims, minimum evidence," Congress general secretary communications Ramesh said in his tweet. He said the sceptre presented to Nehru was later kept for display at the Allahabad Museum. What Nehru said there on December 14, 1947 is a matter of public record despite whatever labels may say, Ramesh said. This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows vehicles working on the road of the 4th Bridge of Abidjan project in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. A Chinese-built bridge project in Cote d'Ivoire is set to transform commuting between Abidjan's major communities, providing an alternative to the often heavily congested Northern Highway. (Zhang Chaoqun/China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) ABIDJAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese-built bridge project in Cote d'Ivoire is set to transform commuting between Abidjan's major communities, providing an alternative to the often heavily congested Northern Highway. The 4th Bridge of Abidjan, now more than 80 percent complete, will connect Yopougon, the largest commune of the country's economic capital, to Plateau via Attecoube and Adjame. Qiao Weidong, head of the project at the Cote d'Ivoire branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), told Xinhua that the bridge, once operational, is expected to accommodate tens of thousands of vehicles daily, substantially easing traffic congestion in the bustling West African metropolis. Tan Dengfeng, responsible for the project's market relations at the CSCEC, said that traffic in Abidjan presents major challenges, with lagoons dividing the city into several zones that require bridge connections. "During peak hours, the existing three bridges are particularly prone to severe congestion," Tan said. Luc Koula, a local resident, emphasized the importance of the bridge, saying that Plateau serves as the city's business district and government administration hub. Many residents have to spend two to three hours commuting from Yopougon to Plateau for work, with the Northern Highway being the primary route. While ferries are available for crossing the lagoons, car travel is more practical for those residing further inland. The 4th Bridge of Abidjan project, spanning approximately 7 km, started in August 2018 as a vital component of the Abidjan Urban Transport Project. It consists of seven different types of bridges, including a main bridge and a viaduct forming 1.4 km of the main structure, along with a 4-km municipal road. The project created some 1,500 local employment opportunities in Abidjan and helped generate an additional 2,000 jobs in associated industries, Qiao said. Begre Eve, an Abidjan resident, has opened two kiosks near the construction site selling beverages and cigarettes to the workers. "I get along well with the Chinese companies and workers," she said. "They are very kind to me. The Chinese have helped me a lot. They even gave me the two refrigerators you see." Eve eagerly awaits the completion of the bridge, saying that it will not only facilitate smoother transportation for residents but also bring more business opportunities for her. According to the CSCEC, the bridge segment of the project is over 90 percent complete, while the road section has 45 percent to go. The bridge will strengthen transportation links within Abidjan, enhance the city's competitiveness and attractiveness, and potentially contribute to Cote d'Ivoire welcoming visitors from around the world during the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, the Chinese firm said. This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows the 4th Bridge of Abidjan project under construction in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. A Chinese-built bridge project in Cote d'Ivoire is set to transform commuting between Abidjan's major communities, providing an alternative to the often heavily congested Northern Highway. (Zhang Chaoqun/China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows the 4th Bridge of Abidjan project under construction in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. A Chinese-built bridge project in Cote d'Ivoire is set to transform commuting between Abidjan's major communities, providing an alternative to the often heavily congested Northern Highway. (Zhang Chaoqun/China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) ULAN BATOR, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's 33rd National Book Festival, with the theme "Let's Read More," was kicked off on Friday to encourage reading and develop a public appreciation for literature. The three-day festival is held at the central square in Ulan Bator, and will be celebrated throughout Mongolia. Cultural events will be organized, including exhibitions of rare books, photo exhibitions and meetings of writers and readers. More than 500 book publishers and authors have set up pavilions in the square to display their works, according to the organizers. The festival, which takes place twice a year, is the largest book event in the country. SYDNEY, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The police force in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) confirmed on Friday that two 13-year-old schoolchildren handed themselves in over a major blaze destroying buildings in central Sydney. "We are aware of reports overnight of a group of young people that were seen running from the fire scene shortly after 4:00 p.m.," said NSW Police Force Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan at a press conference on Friday morning. Dunstan pointed out that the two 13-year-old teenagers handed themselves in at two separate police stations in the late hours of Thursday night and are now assisting police with inquiries. "I can further confirm that we are aware of a further three or four other young people who were present during the fire," the police officer said, asking the young people to come forward with their parents. Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell also briefed reporters on the latest development regarding the fire, which broke out in a multi-story building in Surry Hills at about 4:00 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Thursday and then upgraded into a "10th alarm" status, the most severe type of fire. "There was extensive damage to the two buildings that were involved in the fire and that resulted in significant structural collapse," Fewtrell noted. The acting commissioner mentioned that extinguishing the remaining pockets of fire was "quite challenging" due to the debris from the collapsed buildings. "We continue to just sort of keep wetting down the hotspots, and it will continue for some time to get final extinguishment there," Fewtrell added. WHA rejects Taiwan-related proposal again, a legitimate move wins public support 08:46, May 26, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The General Committee and the Plenary Session of the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) on May 22 respectively decided to reject the so-called proposal of "inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer" submitted by certain countries. For the seventh year in a row, the WHA has rejected the Taiwan-related proposal, which fully indicates that the one-China principle has international support and represents the prevailing trend that cannot be challenged. China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations, including the WHO, is consistent and clear. It must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. This is a fundamental principle affirmed in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1. For eight consecutive years from 2009 to 2016, the Taiwan region participated in the WHA as an observer in the name of "Chinese Taipei." This is a special arrangement made through cross-Strait consultation on the basis of adherence by both sides of the Taiwan Strait to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle. After coming into power in 2016, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has placed political calculations before the Taiwan people's welfare and remained headstrong on "Taiwan independence," refusing to admit the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle. As a result, the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists. To uphold the one-China principle and the sanctity and authority of relevant UNGA and WHA resolutions, China has decided not to agree to let the Taiwan region participate in this year's WHA. This is a just and necessary action. This decision has received broad-based understanding and support from the international community. Recently, nearly 140 countries made clear to China their position of adhering to the one-China principle and opposing Taiwan's participation in the WHA. Nearly 100 countries wrote to the WHO Director-General or issued public statements on the issue, reiterating that Taiwan's participation in the WHA lacks political foundations and that Taiwan-related issues shouldn't disturb the assembly. These voices of justice fully prove that the overwhelming majority of countries uphold the just and right position on the Taiwan region's participation in the WHA, and once again indicate that the one-China principle cannot be distorted, denied or challenged. Any attempt to play the "Taiwan card" to contain China will not succeed. The real intention of certain countries to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer is to politicize health issues and interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of the Taiwan question. Before the WHA kicked off this year, the United States Department of State said in a so-called statement that it strongly advocated for Taiwan's participation in the WHA, and pressured the WHO not to obstruct it. The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee even adopted a so-called act that claims the representation of China doesn't include the Taiwan region. In defiance of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, the United States exploits Taiwan-related issues to engage in political manipulation in an attempt to contain China. It was under the instigation and consent of the United States that a few other countries submitted the proposal to the WHO, attempting to discuss the Taiwan region's participation as a supplementary item on the WHO agenda. The WHO soon rejected the ridiculous proposal, which marked another heavy blow to the hegemonic, domineering and bullying practice of the United States. The DPP authorities hyped up an alleged "international epidemic prevention gap" if Taiwan can't join the WHA, which is totally groundless. The Chinese central government has always attached great importance to the health and well-being of the Taiwan compatriots. It has updated the Taiwan region over 500 times about the pandemic situation since the start of COVID-19. According to the arrangement agreed on between China and WHO, Taiwan's medical and health experts can participate in WHO technical meetings given that the one-China principle is upheld. Over the past year alone, medical and technical experts from China's Taiwan region took part in WHO technical activities 24 times, which involved 26 participants. There is an International Health Regulations Contact Point in the Taiwan region for it to promptly access and report information related to health emergencies. Taiwan has timely access to WHO information on global public health emergencies and reports to WHO in a timely manner the information of public health emergencies in Taiwan. The DPP authorities are hyping up Taiwan's WHA participation not because this is necessary for epidemic response, but because they see it as a potential way to expand international space for "Taiwan independence." There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. The DPP authorities, engaging in political manipulation for its own interests and seeking "Taiwan independence" under the pretext of COVID-19, are going toward a dead end. A handful of countries have encouraged and emboldened this move overtly or covertly, which goes against the trend of history and is doomed to fail. (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) KABUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A direct flight route linking Afghanistan and China resumed on Wednesday, following three years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The flights between the Afghan capital Kabul and the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi were operated by Afghan flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines. The airline relaunch its passenger air services to Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, once in a week on Wednesday and return to Kabul on the same day. Afghans are sanguine about the development of the route, which is expected to enhance trade and economic relations between Afghanistan and the world's second largest economy, as Afghan businesses eye flow of investment in the war-torn nation. "We consider this flight as a good omen for enhancing bilateral relations. We want to sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Urumqi's commercial authorities to set up procedures for boosting trade between the two countries," Mohammad Younus Mohmand, head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, told a press conference at Kabul airport. "I am sure that the flight resumption will improve our trade," he added. Data from the General Administration of Customs of China showed that bilateral trade between the two neighbors in 2022 exceeded 40 billion yuan (5.67 billion U.S. dollars). "I also invite Chinese investors to invest in natural resources in Afghanistan. We want to process our natural resources inside Afghanistan. Therefore, we request Chinese investors to work with us so that we can use their experience and solve the economic problem of Afghanistan," said Mohmand, who is also a businessman. Afghanistan's export to China mostly includes carpet, pine nut and saffron. According to Sayed Bilal Farooqi, a member of the Afghanistan Carpet Union, the country exports 10,000 square meters of carpet to China annually and the volume of trade to China would increase with flight resumption to Urumqi. Ghulam Jilani Wafa, deputy head of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, also hailed the flight resumption to China. "Opening the air corridor would have a direct positive impact on trade and economic relations between Afghanistan and China," he said. "I am excited about the resumption of flights between Urumqi and Kabul, and I am sure it will contribute to economic growth, as well as political and social relations between the two countries," Wafa said. "The resumption of flights will enhance our economic, political and social relations with China," another official Hafiz Sibghatullah said. Opening air corridors, according to Afghans, could better help the landlocked, impoverished country develop its economy. Welcoming the resumed flight route, Kabul International Airport's chief Abdul Hadi Mohammad has assured the international community of restored peace in Afghanistan, and called for more flight resumption to Kabul. TOKYO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The son of a city assembly chief in central Japan was arrested by police on Friday on suspicion of killing four people, including two police officers, in a shocking stabbing and shooting rampage, local police said. The suspect, Masanori Aoki, 31, the eldest son of Masamichi Aoki, speaker of the city assembly in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, was finally arrested at around 4:40 a.m. local time on Friday, after police were alerted to an incident at 4:30 p.m. local time on Thursday in which a man had stabbed a women. The man proceeded to open fire on officers when they arrived at the scene with what is believed to be a hunting rifle, killing two officers, with another women who was at the scene later being pronounced dead, according to local media reports. The suspect dressed in camouflage, a hat and mask, fled the scene of the fatal attacks, local media said, and barricaded himself in what was later confirmed to be his father's house. Two women, including the suspect's mother, managed to escape from the house, local media said. The 57-year-old assembly chief has also been confirmed to be safe. Last year, there were nine gun-related incidents that lead to four people being killed reported nationwide, Japan's public broadcaster NHK said, in stating that gun crime in Japan is rare. Representatives from Myanmar and China attend a signing ceremony of business agreements during a forum on Myanmar-China trade cooperation in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on May 26, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) NAY PYI TAW, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A forum on Myanmar-China trade cooperation was held here on Friday to further promote private sector cooperation between the two countries. By strengthening private sector cooperation, the two countries' bilateral trade cooperation will increase, Daw Naw Muta Kapaw, director-general of the Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization under the Ministry of Commerce, said at the forum. The Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization is mainly working on promoting Myanmar's foreign trade, she said, adding that it also supports the two countries' businesspersons to get business opportunities by participating in the trade fairs. Speaking at the forum, Tan Shufu, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, said that China and Myanmar have "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, and the two countries continue to promote trade cooperation. China is Myanmar's largest trading partner and one of Myanmar's top foreign investors as well as Myanmar's biggest export market. The two countries also have many opportunities to cooperate in such fields as agriculture and production, he said. Traders and private companies from Myanmar and China also signed business agreements during the forum. Participants pose for a group photo during a forum on Myanmar-China trade cooperation in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on May 26, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) KIEV, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 106 Ukrainian soldiers taken captive in the Bakhmut direction have been released following a prisoner exchange with Russia, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak said Thursday. The released troops include eight officers and 98 soldiers, Yermak wrote in a Telegram post. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set a target to bring home all Ukrainian soldiers captured in the conflict with Russia, Yermak said. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said that the bodies of two foreigners and one Ukrainian citizen were returned to Ukraine. Since March 2022, a total of 2,430 Ukrainians, including 139 civilians, have been freed in prisoner exchanges with Russia, the agency said. Last week, Russia said that its forces had taken full control of the eastern city of Bakhmut, while Ukraine said it still controls certain facilities and the private sector in one of the city's districts. LANCASTER, Britain, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The third Interdisciplinary Conference on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held by Britain's Lancaster University here from Wednesday to Friday. The conference, hosted by the Lancaster University Belt and Road Initiative Research Consortium (LUBRIC), featured individual speeches and panel discussions, during which academic experts focused on the initiative's development over the past decade in many parts of the world. Other related topics are finance, investment, technology, environment and international relations. Yang Zhiyu, China's deputy consul general in Manchester, United Kingdom, told Xinhua that this is the third time that the LUBRIC has held an interdisciplinary conference on the initiative, which shows the influence of the initiative in Britain. Compared with the previous two conferences, the number of participants has increased, and so has the number of countries from which they come, demonstrating the vitality of the initiative after a decade of development, Yang said. When assessing the prospects of the initiative, Andy Schofield, vice chancellor of Lancaster University, told Xinhua that all nations can do to help to mitigate the impact of climate change and to reduce any further deterioration in the climate should be done in collaboration and cooperation between countries. "The BRI therefore should be an important part of the world's resilience to that uncertain future we face," professor Schofield said. Professor Zeng Jinghan, head of the LUBRIC, told Xinhua that "the BRI is quite resilient, especially in the past three years." According to his observation, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the BRI focused on promoting physical connectivity. In the wake of COVID-19, the initiative has quickly shifted its emphasis to developing the "Digital Silk Road" and promoting virtual and digital connectivity. Liu Hong, associate vice president of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told Xinhua that the initiative impressed him most is the infrastructure construction in the Global South. There are still a large percentage of population in Africa, Southeast Asia and Central Asia that have been in lack of infrastructure such as power, roads and so on. "By investing heavily in infrastructure projects in these regions, the BRI has significantly contributed to local economic development and also the improvement of a livelihood for people in those regions and countries," said professor Liu. LOS ANGELES, May 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 American patients could be at risk of fungal meningitis after having surgical procedures at clinics in a Mexico border city, according to the latest warning of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC said Wednesday it was 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. Officials had identified two clinics associated with the outbreak, River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3. These clinics were closed on May 13 this year. The CDC is working with 25 state and local health departments to contact people in the United States with potential exposure and advise them to go to their nearest health center, urgent care, or emergency room for diagnostic testing for meningitis. Moscow: The leaders of bitter rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan declared they were moving closer to normalising relations after recognising each other's territorial integrity ahead of talks in Moscow on Thursday. Prior to their meeting in person later on Thursday and the subsequent talks that will be hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a conversation. For decades, Baku and Yerevan have been at war over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of Azerbaijan that is largely populated by Armenians. Also Read: Focus on British-Pakistani men in addressing child sexual abuse has the UK government on high alert Given that Armenia has formally recognised Karabakh as being a part of Azerbaijan, there is a chance of reaching a peace agreement, Aliyev told the Eurasian Economic Union, which is led by Russia. No territorial claims to Armenia are made by Azerbaijan, he continued. The two nations, according to Pashinyan, are "making good progress in normalising relationships, based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity." He declared that Yerevan was prepared "to unblock all the regional transport links that pass through Armenian territory." Also Read: Japan and the UAE have signed a deal to transfer defence technology With the assistance of the European Union and the United States, the Caucasus neighbours have been attempting to negotiate a peace agreement. At a meeting Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, hosted in Brussels on May 14, they decided to recognise each other's territorial integrity. Russia, a longtime regional power broker, is displeased with the West's diplomatic efforts in the Caucasus. For control of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in two wars, one in 2020 and the other in the 1990s. After six weeks of fighting in the autumn of 2020, a cease-fire mediated by Russia saw Armenia give up large portions of territory it had long controlled. Also Read: Four dead in a gun and knife attack in Japan; suspect arrested Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has relied on Russia for military and economic support and has accused Moscow of failing to uphold peace in Karabakh. The United States and the European Union have worked to mend relations between the Caucasus rivals because Russia is mired in the conflict in Ukraine and is unwilling to put undue pressure on Turkiye, a key ally of Azerbaijan. Netherlands could become first country to transfer F-16s to Ukraine, after pilot training Bloomberg 26 May, 05:50 PM F-16 (Photo:REUTERS/Lukasz Glowala) The Netherlands is likely to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine after pilot training, Bloomberg reported on May 26, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The Dutch government has been in discussions with the U.S. administration to give the green light for the transfer of the aircraft, sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Kyiv and other allied governments have been pressing the Biden administration on the issue for months, Bloomberg notes. As a result, Biden announced last week that the United States would support efforts to train Ukrainian pilots in the use of the aircraft. Video of day The Netherlands and Denmark, with support from the United Kingdom and Belgium, are leading the coalition to train pilots. The Dutch government is already considering possible deployment plans and discussing them with its allies. One source noted that while Amsterdam is willing to help strengthen Ukraine's air defense, training pilots and putting together plans and logistics could take many months. Currently, the Netherlands has 42 F-16s in its inventory, 24 of which are used by the Dutch army and cannot be sent to Ukraine until mid-2024. A dozen of the 18 remaining jets were reportedly to be sold to Draken International, but the Dutch government postponed the transfer in December without explanation, citing commercial confidentiality. Although no final decision has been made on the deployment of the aircraft to the Ukrainian army, it is possible that Ukraine could receive some of the aircraft on sale or use some of the 24 aircraft currently in service. Depending on the timing of pilot training, the transfer of the aircraft could take place next year. It is worth noting that the Netherlands maintains all its F-16s to keep them airworthy. Infographics: NV The Netherlands would become the first country to provide Kyiv with F-16s, Politico reported on April 23, citing and advisor to Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Sak. NV reported on May 22 that the Dutch government is ready to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters in the near future. Kyiv hopes that the F-16s will arrive in Ukraine in the fall, said Sak. 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 Russia threatens captive US journalist Evan Gershkovich 26 May, 11:56 PM Evan Hershkovich (Photo:REUTERS/Yevhenia Novozhenina) Detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich will face consequences if his employer, the Wall Street Journal, continues to publish "disinformation about Russia," an informed source in Moscow told Russian news agency RIA Novosti on May 26. "If the Wall Street Journal continues to engage in activities not related to journalism, publishing disinformation about Russia, it would mean that the editorial board is not at all concerned with the fate of Gershkovich," the agency quotes its source. A few days ago, a court in Moscow extended the arrest of journalist Gershkovich for another three months, until August 30. He is being held in a pre-trial detention center, on alleged espionage charges. Video of day After Gershkovich's arrest, the Wall Street Journal denied Russia's accusations against the reporter. The newspaper demanded the immediate release of Gershkovich and also asked to expel the Russian ambassador and all Russian journalists from the United States. The Lefortovo Court in Moscow arrested Evan Gershkovich on March 30. Russian security services claim that he collected information on a state defense enterprise "at the request of the United States." He was detained in Yekaterinburg, accompanied by publicist Yaroslav Shirshikov, who said that Gershkovich was preparing a report on Wagner PMC and the war in Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal rejects the Russian regime's allegations and demands the immediate release of the journalist. The United States recognized Gershkovich's arrest as unlawful, allowing the state to negotiate on his behalf. His case will be handled by the State Department unit that typically handles hostage negotiations. According to Bloomberg, the arrest of the journalist was personally approved by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. 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 " " What have we created?! Bettmann/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images "Hear my tale; it is long and strange ... " Withered lips utter these words. The speaker's face seems nothing more than a rotting mask of skin, barely stretched into place over sinew and vein. Wild, black hair cascades down the figure's massive shoulders, and gleaming eyes stare out through the tangled strands. Tattered garments adorn his towering frame. Advertisement Despite his size, the monster moves with agility and grace. Despite his brutish appearance, his speech betrays a formidable intellect. He is nameless. He is angry. His words steam in the cold air as he confronts the tormented chemist responsible for his very existence, a man named Victor Frankenstein. Related in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's original 1818 novel, this encounter occurs halfway through a book already marked by the power of science and human misery. For Victor Frankenstein, this exchange is a confrontation with his brother's murderer, as well as the shameful fruit of his own scientific recklessness. For the creature, it is an audience with the man who formed his disfigured body out of cadavers and animal parts -- who gave him life only to abandon his creation to an unforgiving world. This reunion of creator and creation results in a fleeting truce. Victor agrees to assemble a female companion for the creature, who in turn promises to spare the lives of Victor's remaining loved ones and depart for the wilds of South America. When Victor reneges on his promise, however, their peace collapses into a bloody feud. This conflict is the backbone of the famous fictional work "Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus," a tale of vast scientific achievement and deep existential failure. The relationship between Victor and his creation is a complex one, far more nuanced than the man-versus-monster and brains-versus-brute scenarios splashed all over popular culture. Just who is this nameless, synthetic being? What cultural ideas does he embody, and why does his presence continue to haunt us? In this article, we'll uncover the heart of Frankenstein's monster. Robert has resided at the museum since 1994, retired from children's play, but not from his mischievous antics. The East Martello Museum asks that visitors seek Roberts permission before taking photographs; those unwilling to do so are supposedly met with horrible misfortune. Despite working for The Artist House for several years, it took Schreckengost a while to finally visit the doll. When she did, it was a moment she'll never forget. "I couldn't bring myself to ask a doll for its permission to take a photo. So, I didn't. I was using a digital camera and as soon as I left, I tried to look at my photos. Only the last few pictures I took were on it, and it wouldn't save any more pictures ever again," she says. Most people are just curious about the century-old doll. "I think he has a charming side to him," says Schreckengost. "I believe that a lot of people have an attachment to him. He's not outright evil, he is more playful than anything." Advertisement " " Robert now lives in a display case at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-2.0) At The Artist House, Robert isn't just a story. Guests, including ghosthunters, film crews and Robert groupies, come to stay a night in the infamous house. "People love the story. It's fascinating and they love being able to stay in Robert's room," says Schreckengost. "I believe that even if we didn't share the story, it would still be well known. We're part of the various ghost tours that feature the property nightly." Abnormal activity continues in the house, even for Schreckengost. "We had a brand-new computer that worked great for three months. One day as I'm typing, the words all were typing backward," she explains. "I couldn't fix it with a new keyboard, mouse, computer reset, etc. The technician that came out was baffled and had no explanation." Guests aren't spared from the paranormal either; they write about their experiences in the B&B's guest book. "We have guests that report strange incidences, nothing scary, that can't be reasonably explained. I have a logbook in which I ask guests who experience anything to share their stories," says Schreckengost. Is Robert playing games from afar, just like old times? Or is he lurking in the shadows trying to find a comfy chair in a window? Others have speculated about Robert's intentions, and he was even the subject of a 2015 horror movie, appropriately titled "Robert." There have since been four sequels, "The Curse of Robert the Doll," in 2016, "The Toymaker," in 2017, "The Revenge of Robert the Doll," in 2018, and "Robert Reborn," in 2019. Colombia Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio 2023: Growing Adoption of Cloud-Based Services Fuels Sector Company Logo Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Colombia Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database (excel) product covers the Colombia data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide the following information on the colocation data centers: Detailed Analysis of 19 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 9 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali and Medellin. 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.) 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. In terms of geography, Bogota 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 below: 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. 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 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/builqb About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Company Logo Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Taiwan Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database (excel) product covers the Taiwan data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide the following information on the colocation data centers: Detailed Analysis of 15 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 7 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Taipei, Taoyuan, Zhubei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Changhua. 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: Taiwan is the major adaptor of cloud computing, IoT, AI, and smart technologies, which drive the demand for data center infrastructure in the country. Taiwan is one of the emerging data center markets in Asia. Taiwan is a growing economy and has a trade surplus. China is the largest importer of the country. The service sector dominates the Taiwanese economy and has a 60% share of the GDP, while the industrial sector is around 36% and the rest by other sectors. The Top 2 operators, Chunghwa Telecom and Chief Telecom, contribute 70% of the white floor area in the Taiwan Data Center Market. In terms of geography, Taipei accounts for more than 80% of the existing IT Load capacity in the Taiwan Data Center Market. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: EXISTING DATA CENTERS (15 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (Taipei 3 or LY2.) 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 (7 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 Chunghwa Telecom, Chief Telecom, Acer eDC, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone Telecommunications, NTT Communications, AnsonNet, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), Vantage Data Centers, Empyrion DC, SC Zeus 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 Chunghwa Telecom Chief Telecom Acer eDC Taiwan Mobile Far EasTone Telecommunications NTT Communications AnsonNet Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) Vantage Data Centers Empyrion DC SC Zeus Data Centers. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eh0y88 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 HOKITIKA, New Zealand, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ -- On May 23, Yili's subsidiary Westland Milk Products held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its NZD 70 million (USD 42.58 million) lactoferrin plant at Hokitika, New Zealand. The ceremony was attended by New Zealand's Trade, Export and Agriculture Minister and MP for West-Coast Tasman, Damien O'Connor; Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries, Ray Smith; Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiao Long; and Chinese Consul-General in Christchurch, He Ying. Groundbreaking ceremony - Yilis Subsidiary Westland Milk Products Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Lactoferrin Plant in New Zealand Westland CEO Richard Wyeth welcomed guests and provided them with an overview of the background of the lactoferrin project. Yili Westland's Resident Director, Zhiqiang Li, spoke about the global market advantage that both Westland and Yili would gain from Yili's investment in the new lactoferrin plant. The investment will enable Yili to rank amongst the top three leading global companies in the lactoferrin category, with a market share of approximately 10 per cent. "Today's launch of the lactoferrin program will secure Westland as one of the world's leading producers of highly prized bioactive ingredients," Li told invited guests. "The investment also signals Yili's commitment to take the global lead in the high-value bioactive dairy ingredients sector." "We were one of the first to market with this highly specialised protein ingredient, and over the past 20 years have established a reputation as a manufacturer of a product of exceptional quality," Wyeth said. "Our bioactive ingredients innovation pipeline is well advanced, and we're excited to be a step closer to bringing these concepts to commercialisation." Westland Milk Products in Hokitika, New Zealand Lactoferrin, a multifunctional natural protein, offers immune benefits as well as antibacterial and antioxidant functions and is now widely used in food, pharmaceutical products and in other industries. As a consumer-oriented enterprise, Yili has anticipated consumers' needs for products such as lactoferrin and is determined to bring more nutritious and healthy products to global markets. The company has invested considerable resources in R&D to tackle lactoferrin extraction challenges. Over the years, Yili has successfully developed its own directional lactoferrin extraction and protection technology, which can significantly enhance the quality of protein ingredients and increase extraction efficiency. According to analysts, lactoferrin is a crucial and scarce resource for the dairy industry. This project is therefore a significant step in Yili's efforts at overcoming core technological barriers, strengthening its global influence, and developing its long-term strategic layout. The groundbreaking event was also attended by other notable guests, including: Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, Chen Zhiyang; First Secretary at the Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, Pan Jiansheng; Consul at the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, Xu Li; Vice-Consul at the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, Li Muqing; Director of Industry and Stakeholder Management at MPI, Steve Cunningham; Mayor of Buller, Jamie Cleine; Development West Coast CEO, Heath Milne; and Westland Deputy Mayor, Ashley Cassin. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yilis-subsidiary-westland-milk-products-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-lactoferrin-plant-in-new-zealand-301835650.html SOURCE Yili Group Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/26/c6045.html Description Just in time for Memorial Weekend in the Hamptons Madhappy is opening its brand new seasonal shop in the East Hamptons! Opening on Friday, May 26th, the brand is not only opening this brand new store but also dropping an exclusive East Hampton collection that will only be sold at this location. Placed in the vibrant East Hamptons community and on a major shopping street, Madhappy is excited to be joining the Hamptons community in time for Summer. After other successful seasonal shops in New York, East Hampton was the perfect place for the next seasonal shop, and the exclusive collection is great for an East Coast Summer! 10 best Memorial Day weekend sales to shop at Samsung, Paramount+, Macy's and more Shop the best Memorial Day weekend sales at Samsung, Solo Stove, Macy's and more. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases you make through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Memorial Day 2023 is just about here on Monday, May 29, and you can celebrate the warmer weather with the best weekend sales available right now. We found some of the lowest prices on everything from Leesa mattresses to Charlotte Tilbury makeup and Samsung tech. Keep scrolling for the best discounts at a few of our favorite retailers, including The Farmer's Dog, Paramount+ and more. 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This Memorial Day weekend, Solo Stove is offering up to 49% off its Bonfire 2.0 fire pit and Bonfire bundles through Sunday, June 4. That means you can get the acclaimed device on its own, with a stand and cover or with all that and travel accessories at prices easier on your budget. Shop the Solo Stove sale 5. The Farmer's Dog You can save 50% on your first order of The Farmer's Dog fresh dog food today. The dog days of summer are almost here, and that means new customers can get up to 50% off their first order of dog food from The Farmer's Dog. The vet-developed meal plans are formulated with fresh, human-grade ingredients so your furry friends can eat healthy for years to come. The refrigerated deliveries are flexible based on your schedule and feature eco-friendly packaging. Meal plans start at about $2 per day and delivery options range from one week to three months of food and include free shipping. 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Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews and more. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Best Memorial Day weekend sales: Samsung, Charlotte Tilbury, Macy's andresr / Getty Images The ratio of high-stress jobs that dont pay you nearly enough is unfortunately higher than it should be. When the goal is to aim for the opposite and find low-stress jobs that pay you a well above-average annual salary, you need to do some research as to what fields out there best fit your skillset and your idea of a positive work environment. What Jobs Are Low Stress but Pay Well? The following professions have a median salary of at least $100,000 or more, according to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and offer a low-stress worklife overall: Junior College Professor Art Director Economist Mathematician Actuary Optometrist Computer Hardware Engineer Computer Information and Research Scientist Dentist Orthodontist There are a variety of jobs in fields such as business and healthcare that are reported to be less prone to stressful situations. Though most workplaces come with some level of stress you will have to accept feedback and deal calmly with both the good and bad it throws at you it doesnt mean you have to settle for less than you are worth. 1. Junior College Professor Median Annual Salary: $123,000 Post-secondary teachers tend to enjoy flexible schedules and are usually required to hold a Ph.D. or graduate degree. While some must teach classes at night or on weekends, which may not be ideal for everyone, these professionals generally find their jobs rewarding and appreciate the opportunity to share their expertise with students who are typically fresh out of high school. In addition to teaching, university professors advise students and conduct research in their fields. 2. Art Director Median Annual Salary: $100,890 Art directors have the potential to earn impressive paychecks. Responsible for overseeing the style and image choices for publications, movies and television, art directors also can find lucrative jobs at advertising and publishing companies. Art directors do have to meet deadlines, which means working overtime on occasion, even when self-employed. The art directors who work for themselves can create their own hours, a fact that helps them achieve a better work-life balance. To pursue this career, youll need some prior work experience and a bachelors degree in art or design. 3. Economist Median Annual Salary: $105,630 Economists spend their time studying the production and distribution of resources, goods and services. Economists work in both the private and public sector, with federal, state and local governments in need of their expertise. A bachelors degree is sufficient for some entry-level positions, but most economist jobs require a masters degree or even a Ph.D. 4. Mathematician Median Annual Salary: $108,100 Mathematicians utilize techniques to solve problems in business, engineering and other fields. It should be noted that mathematicians enjoy a variety of professional opportunities. To qualify for a mathematics position, youll need at least a bachelors degree in math. Some positions require further education. 5. Actuary Median Annual Salary: $105,900 An actuary analyzes the financial costs of risks taken by businesses and clients. However, pursuing a career as an actuary involves little risk and plenty of rewards. South Dakota State University touts the profession for its high pay, low stress, good job security and contribution to solving important problems. Actuaries commonly hold bachelors degrees in math or related analytical fields. Additional certification is needed to achieve full professional status. 6. Optometrist Median Annual Salary: $124,300 Optometrists diagnose and treat patients vision issues. While an aspiring optometrist needs to spend eight years completing first a bachelors degree and then a doctor of optometry program, the payoff is a generous salary and high job satisfaction with lots of job security, too. However, even with flexible hours, some optometrists do choose to see patients in the evenings or on weekends. All states require optometrists to have an O.D. degree from an accredited school and pass at least one test before they will be granted a license. 7. Computer Hardware Engineer Median Annual Salary: $128,170 If you are tech-savvy and want the potential to earn a six-figure salary, you might consider a career as a computer hardware engineer. These professionals research problems, design systems, create solutions and run tests on computers, processors, routers and memory devices. Many computer hardware engineers work for high-tech manufacturing firms. A viable candidate should hold a bachelors degree in computer engineering from an accredited program, but employers often expect knowledge of computer programming. 8. Computer and Information Research Scientist Median Annual Salary: $131,490 Computer and information research scientists regularly earn more than six figures, and moreover, these experts are in high demand in a variety of fields, including business, medicine and science. Computer and information research scientists are responsible for identifying issues and creating technologies to address them. A significant percentage of jobs in the field are in the federal government. Those looking to enter the field might need to invest more time upfront, as many positions require an advanced degree, such as a masters or Ph.D. 9. Dentist Median Annual Salary: $163,220 If you dont mind looking at teeth for a living, a career as a dentist could provide you with both monetary rewards and flexibility. Full-time dentists typically work 36-hour weeks in their practices. And because dentists are often self-employed, they get to make their own schedules. Still, the road to becoming a dentist is a long one. Youll have to attend dental school and pass exams, as well as secure a state license. 10. Orthodontist Median Annual Salary: $216,320 Orthodontists improve both the appearance and function of teeth. To become one, youll need to earn a bachelors degree, attend dental school for four years and complete a residency program. After all that education, you can relax in a career known for its low-stress levels and high pay. In fact, U.S. News & World Report found that the job offers great flexibility and below-average stress. Final Take To GO Whether or not you already specialize in certain areas or need to develop a skill set through higher education, there is no limit to what you can do, and more importantly what you can get paid for doing it. If you are unhappy with your current work environment or trying to decide which career you should pursue after school dont settle for years in a job that doesnt serve you well, mentally or financially. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. Information is accurate as of May 26, 2023. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com 100% Ownership and Green Goals: ConocoPhillips Buys Out Surmont Partner for 3B ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) disclosed exercising its preemption right to purchase the remaining 50% interest in Surmont from TotalEnergies SE (NYSE: TTE) TotalEnergies EP Canada Ltd for approximately $3 billion (C$4 billion) and contingent payments of up to roughly $325 million (C$440 million). ConocoPhillips currently holds a 50% interest as the operator of Surmont and will own 100% upon closing. Also Read: Suncor Buys TotalEnergies' Canadian Operation For CA$5.5B, Plans To Raise Dividend by 10% Post Closure The transaction will likely close in the second half of 2023. Based on $60 WTI, the transaction will add approximately $600 million of annual free cash flow in 2024, including about $100 million of yearly capex for maintenance and pad development costs. Since 2016, Surmont's GHG emissions intensity has declined by about 20%, and ConocoPhillips plans for future emissions reduction by applying current and new technology. ConocoPhillips held $8.9 billion in cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2023. Price Action: COP shares are trading higher by 0.39% at $102.12 on the last check Friday. TTE shares traded higher by 0.61% at $59.66. 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 100% Ownership and Green Goals: ConocoPhillips Buys Out Surmont Partner for 3B originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. In this article, we will look at the 16 largest iron ore-producing countries in the world. If you are not interested in reading the details, head straight to the 5 Largest Iron-Ore-Producing Countries in the World. Iron ore, a critical natural resource, is the backbone of modern industry, playing a vital role in steel production, infrastructure development, and countless consumer goods. Global iron ore production in 2021 was estimated at 2,537 million tons, with Australia leading as the top producer, accounting for 35% of the total. Data Bridge Market Research reports that the global iron ore market was valued at $2675.00 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $4,596.15 million by 2029, with a CAGR of 7.00% from 2022-2029. The demand for steel, driven by construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects, has steadily increased. As a result, the competition to secure iron ore resources and ensure a stable supply chain has become increasingly fierce among countries worldwide. Efforts to improve production efficiency, invest in exploration and mining technologies, and maintain sustainable practices are crucial in meeting the rising demand for iron ore and ensuring the availability of this essential mineral resource. Navigating the Iron Ore Industry: Important Features Shaping Global Production and Supply Demand For Steel: Iron ore production is primarily influenced by the demand for steel, which is extensively utilized in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. The level of steel demand directly drives the need for iron ore, and factors such as economic growth, industrial activities, and infrastructure projects in different nations contribute to the overall market. Environment And Regulatory Factors: Environmental regulations and sustainability measures influence global iron ore production. Stricter emissions standards, water management regulations, and biodiversity protection impact mining operations and production volumes. Technological Advancements: Technological advancements improve iron ore production efficiency and profitability through enhanced extraction techniques, automation, and process optimization, resulting in increased yields, cost reduction, and improved environmental performance. It is important to note that the impact of these factors may differ depending on the specific country or region, resulting in diverse outcomes in global iron ore production. The Impacts of COVID-19: Resilience and Recovery in the Global Iron Ore Production The global iron ore production has faced significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Mining Technology, global iron ore production declined by around 3% in 2020 compared to 2019, reaching approximately 2.1 billion tons. This decline can be attributed to the restrictions and disruptions caused by the pandemic, including containment measures and reduced workforce availability. The impact varied across regions, with some countries experiencing more significant production declines than others. The COVID-19 pandemic also caused fluctuations in steel demand, which impacted the demand for iron ore. Global steel production witnessed a decline in 2020, reaching approximately 1,864 million tons, representing a decrease of around 0.9% compared to 2019, as reported by World Steel Association. On the other hand, mining companies like Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), and BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) have been playing an essential role in maintaining iron ore production. With its vast reserves and extensive production capacity, Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is a significant contributor to global iron ore supply, producing approximately 315.6 million metric tons in 2021. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), known for its high-quality iron ore products and efficient supply chain management, had around 283.2 million metric tons in 2022. BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP), involved in exploration, production, and marketing, produced approximately 253.2 million metric tons in the same year. These key players and others actively strive to meet the increasing global demand for iron ore through efficient production, infrastructure development, and sustainable practices. The iron ore industry has shown resilience and adaptability amidst the challenges of the pandemic. With the anticipated rebound in steel demand and the adoption of sustainable mining practices, the iron ore industry is well-positioned for recovery. According to GlobalData estimates, there is a projected steady increase in global iron ore production, with a forecasted amount of 2.7 billion tons by the year 2025. 16 Largest Iron Ore Producing Countries In The World Pixabay/Public Domain Our Methodology Our methodology involved ranking the 16 largest iron ore producing countries in the world based on their total iron ore production as of 2021, arranged in ascending order. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, we have extensively researched and gathered the data from various credible sources, including USGS, among others. The export values for each country were obtained from the OEC. Here is our list of the 16 largest iron ore producing countries in the world: 16. Turkey Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 16 million tons In recent years, Turkey has experienced a notable increase in iron ore production, reaching a total of 16 million tons in 2021. The country boasts significant iron ore reserves, with major deposits located in provinces such as Kayseri, Sivas, and Balkesir. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, iron ore imports in December 2021 witnessed a substantial increase of 30.6%, amounting to 1.22 million tons. However, compared to December 2020, there was a decrease of 33.5%. The value of these imports also exhibited a significant year-on-year increase of 54.1%, totaling $168.1 million, and a 14.1% increase compared to the previous month of November. 15. Peru Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 16 million tons Peru has emerged as a prominent player in the iron ore production sector, with abundant reserves in regions like Arequipa and Ancash. The country's strategic investments in mining infrastructure have significantly strengthened its capacity for iron ore production. Notably, in 2021, Peru's iron ore exports reached a substantial value of $1.78 billion, solidifying its position as the 12th largest global exporter of this valuable resource. 14. Mexico Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 17 million tons Mexico plays a significant role in iron ore production with abundant reserves. It aims to meet domestic demand and contribute to the global market. Mexico is a significant exporter of mining products, with a trade surplus of $14.87 billion in 2021. The country's mineral and ore exports reached $18.9 billion in 2021. 13. Chile Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 19 million tons Chile is a prominent global player in iron ore production due to its significant reserves in Atacama and Coquimbo. In 2021 Chile produced 16.3 million tons of iron ore, with Q3 2022 alone contributing 4.4 million tons. Strong domestic demand and thriving exports, supported by advanced infrastructure and sustainable practices, drive Chile's success in the iron ore sector. 12. Sweden Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 40 million tons In recent years, Sweden has established itself as a reliable and significant iron ore producer. As of 2021, the country's annual iron ore production reached approximately 40 million metric tons. This robust production substantially impacts Sweden's economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and creating numerous employment opportunities. In 2021 alone, Sweden exported a remarkable $4.68 billion worth of iron ore, solidifying its position as the 6th largest exporter of this crucial resource worldwide. The success of Sweden's iron ore industry has undoubtedly played a vital role in fostering economic growth and development within the country. 11. United States Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 46 million tons The United States holds a significant position in global iron ore production, benefiting from substantial reserves and diverse deposits in states such as Minnesota, Michigan, and Utah. To reduce dependence on imports, the USA is actively working towards enhancing its self-sufficiency in iron ore production, which involves developing new mines and modernizing existing operations to meet growing domestic demand. 10. Iran Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 50 million ton Iran is a significant global iron ore market player with substantial reserves and production. In 2021, its iron ore exports reached $333 million, ranking the country 22nd worldwide. The Iranian government is implementing policies to enhance domestic production and processing capabilities and support the steel sector, aiming to strengthen its global market position and stimulate economic development. 9. South Africa Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 61 million ton South Africa has largely contributed to the global iron ore market. Despite challenges, the industry remains resilient with support from mining companies and the government. In 2021, South Africa ranked fourth in iron ore exports, valued at $7.68 billion. Its production supports domestic consumption and international trade, driving economic growth and job creation. Continued investments in infrastructure and technology aim to enhance production efficiency and maintain South Africa's position as a critical player in the global iron ore market. 8. Kazakhstan Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 64 million tons Kazakhstan is also one of the most prominent countries in the iron ore production sector, with significant reserves in Karaganda and Akmola. Kazakhstan's iron ore industry has grown steadily, driven by infrastructure investments and technological advancements. The country focuses on expanding its production to meet domestic and global demand. Notably, in 2021, Kazakhstan exported $1.47 billion of iron ore, solidifying its position as the 14th largest exporter of this valuable commodity worldwide. 7. Canada Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 68 million ton Next on the list, we have Canada. Its iron ore production meets domestic and international demands, fueling economic growth and creating job opportunities. In 2021, Canada's iron ore exports reached nearly 54 million tons, valued at $10.1 billion, showing an increase from the previous year. Concentrates comprised 72% of exports, while pellets made up 28%. This strong performance underscores Canada's position as a leading exporter, contributing to the country's economic prosperity. 6. Ukraine Total Number Of Iron Ore Produced: 81 million ton Ukraine holds a prominent position as one of the largest producers of iron ore globally. Its extensive, high-quality iron ore deposits are primarily concentrated in the Kryvyi Rih region. Despite facing challenges from geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuations, Ukraine's iron ore industry has showcased remarkable resilience and remains a critical sector for the country's economy. In 2021, Ukraine solidified its status as the fifth-largest exporter of iron ore, with exports valued at $6.83 billion. This impressive performance highlights the significance of Ukraine's iron ore production in the international market. Click to see and continue reading the 5 Largest Iron Ore Producing Countries in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure. None: The 16 Largest Iron Ore Producing Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we are going to discuss the 16 largest pig iron producing countries. You can skip our detailed analysis of the manufacturing of pig iron, the impacts of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war on the global pig iron supply chains and current market trends and go directly to 5 Largest Pig Iron Producing Countries. Iron is the least expensive and most widely used metal in the world. Pig iron, or crude iron, is an intermediary good that is produced by smelting iron ore or scrap iron, with coke in a blast furnace or an electric arc furnace. On the other hand, cast iron is the purest form of iron. Cast iron contains only 3% carbon while the carbon content of pig iron is around 4%. Pig iron is hard and brittle and also has other impurities, such as sulphur, manganese, silicon and phosphorus mixed into it, while cast iron contains no impurities and can be cast into any shape. Pig iron, while not very useful on its own, is used as a raw material for manufacturing steel. The difference lies in the percentage of carbon present. Those irons that have a carbon content of less than 2% are called steels. Pig iron was not produced in Europe until the Middle Ages, but China was producing it as early as 256 B.C. According to a report by the United States Geological Survey, the World Steel Association forecasts a decrease of 2.3% in the global consumption of steel in 2022, followed by a 1% increase in 2023. This decline in 2022 was mainly related to events affecting consumer demand, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the continuing Covid-19 mitigation measures in China, rising energy costs and interest rates, and inflation. This also led to a decrease in the global production of pig iron, with a total global production of 1.3 billion tons in 2022, while production stood at 1.35 billion tons in 2021, revealing a decline of 3.7% in the pig iron industry. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has had a huge impact on the global pig iron trade. According to SteelMint, Russia and Ukraine together controlled a whopping 50% of the global trade of the metal in 2021, which stood at around $7.16 billion. However, following Russias aggression last year, pig production in Ukraine decreased by around 9.5%, mainly due to problems in logistics and energy supply, which is unstable due to constant Russian shelling. On the other hand, following the conflict, the U.S. and other nations have imposed strict sanctions on Russia, which was the largest exporter of pig iron in 2021, but this changed significantly in the following year. Russia was the largest supplier of pig iron to the U.S. in 2021, with a volume of more than 2 million tons. However, in 2022, the U.S. only imported 637.9 thousand tons of the metal from the Russian Federation, and imports were only carried out from January to May. In April of 2023, the U.S. announced to impose a 70% tariff on pig iron imports from Russia. The war caused an increase in the global pig iron prices due to supply chain issues but these have since settled down because of a lack of demand in world markets. A big reason for this is the economic conditions in China, which saw a 4% decrease in steel consumption in 2022, owing to extended Covid-19 mitigation strategies that led to decreased demand for real estate and construction sectors. 16 Largest Pig Iron Producing Countries Photo by the blowup on Unsplash Methodology: The total production of pig iron in 2022 was around 1.3 billion metric tons and over 90% of this was produced by only 16 countries. Since pig iron is an essential raw material for producing cast iron and steel, these countries have been making hefty profits due to the virtual monopoly that they enjoy. For this article, we have referred to the reliable Mineral Commodities Summaries 2023 report by the United States Geological Survey, to rank these countries. 16. South Africa Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 2.4 million metric tons South Africa produced 17.5% less pig iron in 2022 as compared to 2021. This is mainly due to the inefficiency of the state-owned railway operator. Most of the iron ore and coal in the country is transported by rail and so producers had to hire trucks to transport raw material, leading to an increase in the cost of logistics. ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:MT), with its subsidiary ArcelorMittal South Africa, is a key manufacturer in the South African iron and steel industry. 15. Mexico Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 3 million metric tons The production of pig iron in Mexico in 2022 remained unchanged from a year before in 2021. The two states that contribute majorly to pig iron production in the country are Michoacan and Colima. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, In 2021, Mexico exported around $23,000 worth of pig iron while importing about $135 million worth of it, hence making the country a net importer of the metal. One of the key players in the Mexican iron and steel market is Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX), through its subsidiary Ternium Mexico SA de CV. The company Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX) is the leading steel company in Latin America, with production centers in Mexico, Brazil, Argentia, Colombia and some other countries. With a market cap of $7.52 billion, Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX) employs over 21,000 people around the world. 14. Iran Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 3 million metric tons Iran, with its reserves in Kerman and Yazd provinces, also witnessed no difference in the production of pig iron from 2021 to 2022. A key player in the Iranian pig iron industry is the private Mobarakeh Steel Company. Located in the southwest province of Isfahan, this company is the largest manufacturer of steel in the entire MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). 13. Italy Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 4 million metric tons Italy imported about $678 million worth of pig iron for its steel industry needs in 2021, while the total pig iron exports were around $40 million, with the majority of these exports going to Austria. A big player in the Italian pig iron market is the steel manufacturer, ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:MT), with its Italian subsidiary ArcelorMittal Italia SpA. ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:MT) was formed in 2006, with the takeover and merger of Arcelor with the Indian-owned Mittal Steel. 12. Turkey Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 10 million metric tons Despite being one of the largest producers of pig iron in the world, Turkey remained the third-largest importer of the metal in 2021, with imports of $713 million, the majority of which came from Russia and Brazil, according to SteelOrbis. Based in the province of Zonguldak, Erdemir is the largest iron and steel manufacturer in the country. 11. Taiwan Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 15 million metric tons The total pig iron production in Taiwan remained the same in 2021 and 2022. Established in 1997 and based in Kaohsiung, Yieh Corp. is a key player in pig iron and steel manufacturing in Taiwan. According to the company, the pig iron imports in Taiwan in 2021 amounted to approximately 430,000 tons, a YoY increase of 119% due to the steel mills active purchase. 10. Vietnam Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 15 million metric tons Vietnam was a net importer of pig iron in 2021, with imports worth $38.5 million, majority of which came from South Korea. Thach Khe Iron Mine, located in central Vietnam, is an important reserve for the metal, but according to a report by VNExpress, the mine has stood abandoned since 2011 due to investment issues and environmental fears. The Hoa Phat Group (HGP) is an important player in the Vietnamese pig iron market. 9. Ukraine Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 19 million metric tons Ukraine produced about 21 million metric tons of pig iron in 2021, hence, the Ukrainian market witnessed a decline of around 9.5%. A big part of this decline is attributed to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to OEC, Ukraine was the third-largest exporter of pig iron with exports of $1.61 billion in 2021. 8. United States of America Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 21 million metric tons The US was the largest importer of pig iron in the world in 2021, with $2.93 billion of imports, 34% of which came from Russia. However, this number declined rapidly in 2022 due to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Pig iron and raw steel are produced in the US by three companies operating integrated steel mills in 11 locations. Large reserves of iron ore are found around Lake Superior, in the states of Michigan and Minnesota. The United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X), founded in 1901, is an important player in the US market. Among the founders of the United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) are also the famed business tycoons Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) has over 24 thousand employees and a market cap of over $4.86 billion. 7. Germany Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 24 million metric tons Germany is the largest producer of pig iron in the EU, though production decreased by 7.7% from 2021, when it stood at 26 million metric tons. Germany still remained a net importer of the metal in 2021, with imports of $180 million, majority of which came from Brazil. Thyssenkrupp AG is an important player in the German iron and steel market, with a market cap of $4.09 billion. 6. Brazil Production of Pig Iron in 2022: 26 million metric tons As the largest producer of pig iron in South America, Brazil is also currently the largest exporter of the metal in the world. The country exported $1.69 billion worth of pig iron in 2021, majority of which went to the US. However, production in 2022 was around 7% less than in 2021, when it stood at 28 million metric tons. Brazilian iron ore is known to have high iron content and low cost and is widely available in the country. The largest company in the Brazilian iron and steel market is Gerdau, with ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:MT) also having an important presence. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Largest Pig Iron Producing Countries. Suggested Article: Disclosure: None. 16 Largest Pig Iron Producing Countries is originally posted on Insider Monkey. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in FleetPartners Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price 53% of the business is held by the top 8 shareholders Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock A look at the shareholders of FleetPartners Group Limited (ASX:FPR) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 76% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about FleetPartners Group. View our latest analysis for FleetPartners Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About FleetPartners Group? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. FleetPartners Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of FleetPartners Group, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in FleetPartners Group. Yarra Funds Management Limited is currently the largest shareholder, with 11% of shares outstanding. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP is the second largest shareholder owning 7.8% of common stock, and Australian Retirement Trust Pty Ltd holds about 7.3% of the company stock. On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 8 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of FleetPartners Group While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of FleetPartners Group Limited in their own names. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. It has a market capitalization of just AU$570m, and the board has only AU$5.3m worth of shares in their own names. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 22% stake in FleetPartners Group. 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: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - FleetPartners Group has 3 warning signs we think you should be aware of. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 13% in the last quarter. On the other hand the share price is higher than it was three years ago. Arguably you'd have been better off buying an index fund, because the gain of 35% in three years isn't amazing. While this past week has detracted from the company's three-year return, let's look at the recent trends of the underlying business and see if the gains have been in alignment. Check out our latest analysis for AXIS Capital Holdings There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. AXIS Capital Holdings became profitable within the last three years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). It is of course excellent to see how AXIS Capital Holdings has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. This free interactive report on AXIS Capital Holdings' balance sheet strength 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, AXIS Capital Holdings' TSR for the last 3 years was 49%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Investors in AXIS Capital Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 6.0% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 2.1%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 1.7% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for AXIS Capital Holdings that you should be aware of before investing here. We will like AXIS Capital Holdings better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 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 (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Carlos Slim is making one of his biggest oil investments after agreeing to purchase a minority stake in a local producer that allows his Grupo Carso SAB to enter the Zama field, one of Mexicos most promising energy projects. Most Read from Bloomberg Grupo Carso is purchasing a 49.9% minority stake in the local unit of Houston-based Talos Energy Inc. for $125 million. The deal gives Carso a 17.4% stake in Zama, with the price implying a minimum valuation of about $250 million for the oil field stake. Talos will retain control of the local unit through a 50.1% stake. The transaction is pending approval from the local regulator. Lea la nota en espanol. Slim, Latin Americas wealthiest person with a fortune estimated at $90 billion, is expanding his energy bets in Mexico at a time when President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rolled back some of the previous administrations opening of the industry as he insists that the government maintain control of key assets through Petroleos Mexicanos and utility CFE. Slims vast empire was built on telecommunications company America Movil SAB, while Grupo Carso also has retail, construction, manufacturing and real estate interests. The group has exploration, oil drilling and services operations through Carso Energy in Mexico and Colombia, and exploration contracts in Mexico. The company also operates several natural gas pipelines in northern Mexico and Texas. Talos previously had sparred with Pemex, as the state-run energy company is known, over the development of Zama after authorities said Pemex would operate it following the discovery that it bled into a reservoir owned by the state oil behemoth. The companies finalized in March a plan to develop the field through a partnership. Read More: Billionaires Spat With AMLO Threatens Investor Appeal in Mexico The divestment by Talos comes at a time when companies are facing increasing uncertainty after a series of unfriendly business moves by Lopez Obrador, including the expropriation of a rail line that led Grupo Mexico SAB to back away from a plan to buy Citigroup Inc.s local unit. Slims Inbursa fund owns a 17% stake in the Grupo Mexico transport unit that operated the rail line. We celebrate yesterdays announcement, also because its a Mexican company thats going to be part of the partnership, Lopez Obrador said Friday during his daily press conference. Grupo Carsos participation is important because they own oil rigs, so its not going to take long. This is good news. The expectation is for Zama to start producing oil by 2025 and for it to produce 150,000 to 180,000 barrels a day by 2029, the president said. Slims drilling unit performs work for Pemex, while his construction units are involved in the Dos Bocas refinery project along with Lopez Obradors Maya Train project in the Yucatan peninsula. Shares of Grupo Carso, which has a market value of about 234.5 billion pesos ($13.3 billion), rose 2.6% at 8:40 a.m. local time. Talos shares fell 0.5% in New York. Lopez Obradors six-year term ends late next year. --With assistance from Andrea Navarro. (Updates to add details of Slims holdings in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Billionaire Ray Dalio's family built a huge extension on the roof of their NYC building. Now, a neighbor is worried his entire apartment will collapse he's suing. A neighbor of Ray Dalio's family, Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa (left), is suing him over a home improvement project. Lars Niki/Getty Images for The Industry Model MGMT and Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Ray Dalio's neighbor is suing over a renovation project at his family's SoHo residence. The Dalio family is building a penthouse on top of its sixth-floor apartment, the NYT reported. The Dalios' neighbor said in a lawsuit that the project could cause his nearby apartment to collapse. A neighbor is suing billionaire hedge funder Ray Dalio after his family built an addition on top of their New York City apartment. The neighbor says he's worried his own apartment could collapse, the New York Times reports. Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa, the Dalio family's neighbor and the former CEO of Pier 59 Studios, told the Times he's been avoiding his SoHo apartment because he's concerned about the renovations, which added a floor on top of a historic building and have, he argues, led to potential structural issues. A spotlight is again on the suit, which was filed last year, after the Times' recent profile, which sets up millionaire vs. billionaire in the rarified world of high-end New York City real estate. (Forbes estimates Dalio is worth $19 billion and the Times called Pignatelli a "millionaire," but didn't put specifics on his net worth.) "I'm Italian, Ray's Italian," Pignatelli told the Times. "We're neighbors!" He said he no longer sleeps in the apartment. "We should be respecting each other and helping each other, but he's incredibly arrogant," Pignatelli said of Dalio. For his part, Dalio's attorney said his family handled the renovations properly. "We have confidence that the legal system will handle this situation appropriately," attorney Tom Sinchak told the Times. In a statement to Insider. Sinchak said Dalio didn't own the apartment that it's "owned and inhabited by his children." Dalio is named in the suit. Pignatelli is asking for relief and "in excess" of $10 million in damages, according to documents filed in New York Supreme Court. In the initial complaint, Pignatelli says that he was not given prior notice of the construction, which he said are essentially plans for a "building on a building." He said he's also "observed substantial collateral structural and other damage to its apartment." During the pandemic, the Dalio family began construction on a penthouse on top of their sixth-floor SoHo apartment, the Times reported. The project includes building a penthouse with a kitchenette and half-bathroom, as well as a 2,000-square-foot deck on top of the building, the publication said. The Times said the SoHo residence has been a home to some of Dalio's children for years. The Times reported that Pignatelli's concerns about the project escalated recently after reports of a parking garage in Manhattan that had collapsed in April. Pignatelli wrote in a 24-page letter to the mayor and New York City officials in April that the project is "effectively a new 7th floor" and it is too heavy for the building to support, the Times reported. A spokesperson for the city's Department of Buildings said that it found the structure "did not fully comply" with the plans the city had approved but "did not observe any structurally hazardous conditions" when inspectors reviewed the project last year, the Times said. At the time, the department had issued an order for the Dalio's to halt construction and said it planned to take back the permits, the Times reported. Meanwhile, Pignatelli said in his lawsuit that he has seen signs the construction project is affecting his apartment. He said he's seen cracks in the wood columns supporting his residence, tilted columns, water leakage from his ceiling, damage to his floors, paint coming off his walls, and a door that would no longer properly fit into its frame. Last year, Pignatelli said his housekeeper discovered the mirror in his bathroom had broken an incident Pignatelli attributes to a "structural shift" in the building, but was dismissed by his insurance company, the Times reported. In court documents for the case, Dalio denies Pignatelli's claims. Sinchak, Dalio's lawyer, said in a statement to Insider that the Dalios offered to hire an independent engineer "to conduct an objective assessment and to compensate him for any damages that might have been caused. Mr. Pignatelli instead chose to commence a lawsuit shortly thereafter, improperly including Mr. Dalio as a defendant in an obvious effort to try to embarrass him into a settlement." Pignatelli has sued the co-op board for the building in the past, the Times said. Both cases were settled. Update, May 24, 2023: This story was updated with comment from Ray Dalio's attorney. Read the Times' full story on the battle between Pignatelli and the Dalio's on its website. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes will revive a stalled A$30 billion ($20 billion) plan to export solar power from Australia to Singapore after acquiring the assets of the failed Sun Cable project. Most Read from Bloomberg The deal gives Cannon-Brookes and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners control of a vast renewable energy development in northern Australia, which went into voluntary administration in January following a dispute between the Atlassian Corp. co-founder and fellow billionaire Andrew Forrest, both key investors. The two disagreed over a plan to transport electricity to Asia through a 4,200-kilometer (2,600-mile) submarine cable. Weve always believed in the possibilities Sun Cable presents in exporting our boundless sunshine, and what it could mean for Australia, said Cannon-Brookes, who backs the export plan. The project has been touted as among initiatives that could help Asias fossil-fuel dominated economies particularly space constrained nations like Singapore with little room to install major renewables sites to shift to lower-emissions electricity sources. Developers envisioned Sun Cable as part of a potential super-grid that could connect Japan to India. Cannon-Brookess Grok Ventures and Quinbrook, which is developing solar assets in the US and UK, aim to progress plans for a first stage project that would to deliver 900 megawatts of clean electricity to Darwin and export 1.8 gigawatts to Singapore. Their deal covers Sun Cables intellectual property, a solar farm site in the Northern Territory, and advanced permitting for a transmission line to Darwin. No construction work has yet begun. The buyers and administrator FTI Consulting Inc. didnt disclose details of the acquisition price. Read more: Clash of Green Billionaires Upends Asias Undersea Solar Quest Forrests Squadron Energy had put forward a proposal earlier in the sale process, according to people familiar with the matter. Squadron did not submit a final bid and isnt swayed on the merits of exporting power to Singapore, Forrest said in a statement Friday. We remain unconvinced of the commercial viability of the Australia-Asia Powerlink but if others believe it can be achieved, we wish them all the best, said Forrest, founder of iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (Updates to add details from first paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Binance today announced its joint venture with Gulf Innova Co., Ltd. has received digital asset operator licenses from the Ministry of Finance of Thailand, opening the way for the launch of a crypto exchange and broker. Crypto operators are overseen by Thailands Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), meaning the new platform will be regulatory compliant, said Binance. The new platform is expected to open in Q4 2023, with more details to be revealed closer to the launch, Binance said. We are grateful and honored to be granted digital asset operator licenses for Gulf Binance in Thailanda country with a thriving crypto space that has demonstrated strong commitment in embracing blockchain technology, said Binance's head of Asia, Europe, and MENA Richard Teng in a statement. Sawasdee Thailand! Our joint venture, Gulf Binance, has now been granted digital asset operator licenses by Thailand's Ministry of Finance. This opens up access to digital assets for even more people, building on our dedication to bring crypto and Web3 to the world. Binance (@binance) May 26, 2023 Gulf Innova is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gulf Energy Development PCL, a Thai conglomerate helmed by billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi. The Bangkok-based firm and Binance signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of opening a digital asset exchange in Thailand in January 2022. "Binance's decision to partner with Gulf for this joint venture stems from the company's extensive experience and expertise in the digital asset trading business, a Binance spokesperson told Decrypt. The crypto firm also stressed that Gulf is one of the biggest and fastest-growing conglomerates in Thailand, with a large ecosystem covering energy production, telecommunications, and digital businesses. Thailand Bans Use of Cryptocurrencies for Payments In terms of the partnership agreement, Gulf Innova will be providing governance and oversight of the joint venture to ensure that it operates in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. This partnership brings together Binance's unparalleled growth and expertise in the digital asset space with Gulf's established presence and knowledge in Thailand, added the spokesperson. By joining forces, Binance and Gulf aim to create a powerful synergy that will drive innovation, foster growth, and deliver exceptional value to users in the digital asset ecosystem. With a population of almost 72 million, Thailand has emerged as a major crypto hub in Southeast Asia, with the countrys capital Bangkok ranked 10th globally in The Crypto Readiness Index, published by cryptocurrency tax software company Recap in January this year. This is despite the government banning cryptocurrencies as a payment method last year. "While Thailand banned the use of cryptocurrencies as a method of payment last March, the regulation doesn't affect trading or investment activity," Recap CEO Daniel Howitt told the Bangkok Post in February. Thailand was also ranked 8th in Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index for 2022, ahead of the likes of Russia, China, Nigeria, Turkey, Argentina, and the UK. Yaroslav Astakhov / iStock.com Got the travel bug? The start of summer is here and you might be itching for a spontaneous weekend getaway. But airfare on last-minute bookings is sky-high, and youll be pressed to find hotels offering competitive rates or so you think. See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Read More: 10 Small Towns Where You Should Buy Vacation Property Here are some of the best ways to save big on last-minute travel. Although booking through travel sites sounds like a good idea, you might be losing out on some perks that can save you money later. For example, many hotels offer loyalty points, which can help you get free room upgrades and even free stays. With travel sites, you cant always count on these types of rewards. Another reason to book direct is that comparison sites generate at least some of their revenue through bookings. So, you might be paying extra for the convenience of using those sites. Some hotels even actively encourage direct bookings. For example, The Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif. offers a best-rate guarantee for guests booking through its website. Meanwhile, airlines can help you book vacation packages. United Vacations offers an online portal for vacationers and over-the-phone booking. The service will help you book airfare, accommodations, and a car rental. It offers a best-price guarantee to ensure your vacation is the cheapest available. 1. Search for Last-Minute Offers Specific travel sites offer limited-time specials and last-minute deals for spontaneous travelers. You can even find deals for a low-cost vacation getaway. Travelocity, for example, dedicates a segment of its site to last-minute getaways. The site recently offered round-trip airfare from New Yorks JFK airport to the Bahamas for $302 for the weekend of June 9. Thats much cheaper than booking directly through American Airlines, where a round-trip ticket for the same weekend will cost $646. TravelZoo offers last-minute deals that offer low prices on getaways. For example, one that was offered was an all-inclusive trip to Punta Cana with airfare starting at $519 a person. For vacation packages, start your search on Expedia and Travelocity. Even if you dont find the perfect travel deal, you can get inspiration for a weekend getaway, such as to Las Vegas or Boston. One all-inclusive Expedia package to Cancun costs $487 a person. For car rentals, Alamo has a section dedicated to last-minute specials. Simply enter your pickup location and dates of travel, and youll see rates on different categories of vehicles. These specials are available in as little as one hours notice. 2. Check Groupon and Costco Travel Costco is notorious for deals on bulk items, and Groupon is famous for deals on tourist attractions and local services, like massages and fitness classes. But, dont overlook these offline and online resources for booking cheap travel. While Groupon offers vacation deals across the U.S., its international vacation packages are top-notch. One deal to Tuscany costs $699 a person and includes hotels and airfare. Although Sams Club suspended its travel services starting in 2017, Costco offers cruise and vacation packages. A three-night cruise from Sydney starts at $204 a person. The Costco site even has a section dedicated to last-minute cruise deals. You can find Carnival, Celebrity, Disney and Royal Caribbean cruises, with travelers receiving Costco Cash cards following their vacations. 3. Use Mobile Apps You might be used to making travel plans on your home computer, but you might be paying more on reservations if youre neglecting to use mobile apps. Although research from Skyscanner debunked the travel myth that sites raise pricing based on your browsers cookies, mobile apps, and email newsletters offer exclusive deals to subscribers and these resources give you greater access to potential deals to your dream vacation spot. Mahesh Chaddah, co-founder of hotel reservations website Reservations.com, agreed with the sentiment. He recommended using apps because many hotels offer limited discount rates to mobile users only. After all, these brands want to encourage you to use their apps whenever you research pricing and good deals are one way to keep you an active user. Not sure which apps to download? Travelocity and Orbitz are good options. Each offers mobile-exclusive deals through their apps. 4. Comparison Shop Dates and Airports The best way to plan a trip is to allow for some flexibility in your schedule. Not having exact dates in mind can help you find the best deal. A round-trip Spirit Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Seattle on Friday, Jun. 2 and returning Monday, Jun. 5 costs $226 round trip, but youll save $28 if you leave Saturday instead. Similarly, if you are flying to or from a big city, you can find cheaper airfare to nearby airports. A weekend trip to Miami from Dallas costs $728 round-trip on American Airlines for the same dates listed above. However, if you fly out of Fort Lauderdale (a 30-minute drive from Miami), it only costs $238. 5. Travel to Lesser-Known Destinations If its Monday and you can hardly wait until the weekend to scratch that travel itch, theres no reason you cant be a little flexible about where you travel. Airfare to Las Vegas can be tough to beat. Youll find fares from Los Angeles to Reno, Nev., and Atlantic City, N.J., costing hundreds more for the last weekend in February. But who says you have to fly to Vegas to gamble? The iconic city is great for photo ops, but if youre looking for a wild weekend gambling, drinking and dancing the night away, nothings stopping you from booking a room at a local casino and clubbing downtown. But if you need to get out of town, look for lesser-known destinations. Going to Los Angeles from Salt Lake City to hit the beach will cost you about $150 from Jun. 9-12. Itll only cost you $115 to go to San Diego from Salt Lake City, and you still get to visit the beach. No matter when and where you plan to travel, you can find plenty of ways to save on bookings. Use online comparison sites to find good deals, and then call hotels and airlines directly for even better pricing. Look to lesser-known travel destinations and use mobile apps to find exclusive deals. That way, you can vacation knowing you got the best deal possible. More From GOBankingRates Sabah Karimi and Sam DiSalvo contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Book Last-Minute Travel Plans on the Cheap BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next four days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date, which is the cut-off date for shareholders to be present on the company's books to be eligible for a dividend payment. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. Therefore, if you purchase BorgWarner's shares on or after the 31st of May, you won't be eligible to receive the dividend, when it is paid on the 15th of June. The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.17 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$0.68 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, BorgWarner stock has a trailing yield of around 1.5% on the current share price of $46.86. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing. View our latest analysis for BorgWarner Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. BorgWarner has a low and conservative payout ratio of just 17% of its income after tax. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether BorgWarner generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 26% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio. 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? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. For this reason, we're glad to see BorgWarner's earnings per share have risen 14% per annum over the last five years. Earnings per share have been growing rapidly and the company is retaining a majority of its earnings within the business. This will make it easier to fund future growth efforts and we think this is an attractive combination - plus the dividend can always be increased later. The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. BorgWarner has delivered 3.1% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. It's good to see both earnings and the dividend have improved - although the former has been rising much quicker than the latter, possibly due to the company reinvesting more of its profits in growth. The Bottom Line Should investors buy BorgWarner for the upcoming dividend? We love that BorgWarner is growing earnings per share while simultaneously paying out a low percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. These characteristics suggest the company is reinvesting in growing its business, while the conservative payout ratio also implies a reduced risk of the dividend being cut in the future. There's a lot to like about BorgWarner, and we would prioritise taking a closer look at it. So while BorgWarner looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for BorgWarner you should know about. A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield 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 Britain is on the brink of a retirement crisis heres how we got here FILE PHOTO: Boats are anchored in the River Thames, with buildings in the City of London financial district seen behind, as the British government announced it was accelerating plans to protect London from flooding caused by a warming climate and rising sea levels, in London, Britain, May 17, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo - REUTERS/Toby Melville Across government and the city, policymakers and politicians are singing from the same hymn sheet: the City of London needs to start taking more risks. Britain is facing a looming retirement crisis unless more can be done to boost pension saving returns, as the Telegraph has outlined in detail over the past week. A combination of regulatory failures, undersaving and decades of inertia by fund managers have now come to a head, sparking a scramble to figure out what to do. Jeremy Hunt is focusing on how the UK can maximise returns for savers while investing more in home-grown assets. By unlocking the billions stashed away in British funds for investment in things like infrastructure and start-ups, the Chancellor hopes to create a virtuous circle of better returns for savers, boosted economic growth and a reduction in reliance on foreign investment. How long as a nation do we want to be dependent on imported capital for our growth economy? says Sir Jonathan Symonds, who is advising the Chancellor on how pension funds can get better returns. Its hard to accept that Canadian teachers invest more in the UK growth sector than UK teachers. More than a decade ago Sir Jonathan served as AstraZeneca's finance chief, where it was his job to ensure the pension promises made to staff came good while costing his company as little as possible. Today, Sir Jon is chairman of rival GSK and a member of the Capital Markets Industry taskforce, which is responsible for examining how the UK can scale up businesses and keep them here. In his mind, policymakers and the private sector aren't doing enough to deliver returns for savers because of a super-cautious investment approach, particularly for millions of members of so-called defined contribution (DC) schemes who rely on stock market returns for their retirement funds rather than the promise of their employer to sustain their incomes. Returns do matter for an increasingly significant part of the UK population, he says, adding: There is a very wide gap between the average returns of UK schemes compared to similar schemes in Canada and Australia. DC schemes in Britain have returned an average of 6pc a year over the last decade, compared with double digit returns in Canada. Compounded over 30 years, it makes a huge difference. Downing Street believes the solution lies in scale. Britain is bedevilled by too many smaller pension funds that hit members with high running costs and are reluctant to risk their capital. There are currently over 5,300 defined benefit (DB) schemes in operation with an average size of just 330m. The dynamic is even starker for DC schemes: there are around 26,990 in operation, according to the Pensions Regulator (TPR), and more than 25,000 of them have fewer than 12 members. Rolling up these smaller pension schemes into a larger pool of investable capital would lessen the impact of losses from riskier bets and help money managers diversify their investments. Many smaller DC schemes are already being moved into bigger pots. There are around thirty or so master trusts that collectively pool investments, including the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) and Universities Superannuation Scheme. Together, these account for 23.7m DC memberships managing over 105.3 bn in assets. Sir Jon argues that inertia is part of what perpetuates the problem and says more needs to be done to make people aware of how investment choices made today can make a difference to their retirements. Getting people to recognise at the right time that returns matter is a big issue, he says, While he refuses to talk about policy options that are on the table, he says consolidation is a very good idea. I think there needs to be some incentives to encourage defined contribution schemes to begin to either consolidate or pool assets, Sir Jon says. Some believe the Pensions Protection Fund, which normally serves as a safety net for retirement savers when companies go bust, could be used as a souped-up investment vehicle. The Tony Blair Institute will recommend in a report next week that sponsors of the smallest 4,500 UK defined-benefit (DB) schemes should be allowed to roll their schemes into the PPF to produce a superfund of around 400bn, propelling it into the top 10 global investment pots. Sir Jonathan describes the PPF as a hidden gem in the whole system because it has the scale to take risks. The PPF already manages 39bn, and has a portfolio that ranges from stocks and bonds to property and even forests. In 2021, it bought a majority stake in Wenita Forest Products the largest producer of timber in Otago, New Zealand. A spokesperson for The Pensions Regulator said: Consolidation is continuing at pace in the defined contribution (DC) sector and our position is clear: no saver should be in a poorly performing scheme that does not offer value for money. Trustees need to ask themselves tough questions: can I compete with the biggest master trusts? If not, it is likely time to move your members to a better value scheme and leave the market. The other major topic being discussed at the moment is whether pension funds should be compelled to invest in certain asset classes. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested Labour would be willing to force pension funds to back a 50bn growth fund that would invest in riskier start-ups. While many start-ups fail, the few that succeed often deliver outsized returns and a willingness to back risky ventures can make a big difference to the performance of funds. Sir Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General, has said soft compulsion might be needed to get pension funds to invest more in British growth companies. However, many in the industry are against telling pension funds where to put their money. Aviva boss Amanda Blanc insisted this week: I dont think compulsion is ever a very good thing in free markets. I dont think making it mandatory is a good idea at all. The Chancellor has stated hes uncomfortable with the idea of mandating where pension funds invest and it is understood that the government's policies will instead focus on incentives rather than mandates. Mr Hunt will outline more details of his vision in Julys Mansion House speech. Lord Darling, who was Chancellor during the financial crisis, says reforms are unlikely to unlock an immediate investment spree. He tried to reform the system himself during his time as Chancellor between 2007 and 2010. Then, Lord Darling created Infrastructure UK and set out an ambition for pension funds to bankroll everything from low-carbon energy to waste management projects. Ultimately, the responsibility of protecting peoples retirement incomes means the industry is inherently nervous about taking big risks with pension savings. Trustees of pension funds have a duty to their pensioners, Lord Darling says. I don't think you could ever require them to do something which they think is reckless or inappropriate. However, there's a balance here. For example, pension funds own lots of buildings, and governments of both colours have said: 'Wouldn't it be good if we could invest in things like infrastructure?' There are good reasons to want them to invest in infrastructure. A balance needs to be struck. 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. Somersham, UK, 9, February,2023 Paragraf graphene-chip manufacturing plant. Paragraf is the first company in the world to mass produce graphene-based electronic devices using standard semiconductor processes. See Gareth Corfield for story - business. CEO. Dr Simon Thomas Photography by Jason Bye t: +44 7966 173 930 e: mail@jasonbye.com w: http://www.jasonbye.com - Jason Bye One of Britain's most prominent microchip companies has applied for a US subsidy after criticising Rishi Sunak's flaccid semiconductor strategy. Simon Thomas, the founder of chipmaker Paragraf, is seeking money from US President Joe Biden's Chips Act, which is handing out billions of dollars to manufacturers in a bid to onshore supplies. If the money is secured, it will allow the Cambridge-based company to follow through on warnings that it will relocate to the US. Paragraf is expected to make a decision on whether to relocate in the next year or two. Last week Mr Thomas described Rishi Sunaks 1bn semiconductor strategy as flaccid, dismissing the Prime Minister's efforts to focus on UK strengths such as research and design instead of competing with the tens of billions in subsidies on offer in the EU and US. The lack of direct support for chip manufacturing has led to warnings that companies could move investment overseas. The US Chips Act contains $39bn (31bn) in incentives to companies that open a factory there. Mr Thomas said Paragraf, a Cambridge University spin-out, had recently applied for funding under the programme, which would support manufacturing in a specific US state. He said details of the funding were due to be released in July and October or November, with government officials deciding how much money would be available. Mr Thomas said: Government support is a massive catalyst for inbound investment. The the ability to go to the US and say we've got Chips Act money, it acts as a multiplier because you can go back to private capital and say I've got this great support from the government. Paragraf has raised around 67m in funding led by UK growth investor Parkwalk Advisors. Its ultra-thin and sensitive graphene-based chips can be used in digital medical tests, electric motors and precision agriculture. The taxpayer is also a shareholder through the British Business Banks patient capital fund. Mr Thomas has said he would like to continue to base his company in the UK and expand in Britain, but has expressed repeated frustration about access to talent and delays getting manufacturing facilities connected to the energy grid. Most of the companys customers are in the US, and Mr Thomas said if more of its business takes place there, it would increase pressure to move the company abroad. He said: If we start to have infrastructure and capability and mass-scale manufacturing where our markets exist, a decision will need to be made within the next year or two years. IQE, another British semiconductor company, said it would also consider applying for funding in the coming weeks. Its chief executive Americo Lemos met US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo last week as the US seeks to attract overseas semiconductor companies. 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. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, UEM Edgenta Berhad fair value estimate is RM1.03 With RM1.03 share price, UEM Edgenta Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Our fair value estimate is 25% lower than UEM Edgenta Berhad's analyst price target of RM1.37 How far off is UEM Edgenta Berhad (KLSE:EDGENTA) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for UEM Edgenta Berhad Crunching The Numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM84.0m RM89.0m RM95.0m RM101.0m RM102.0m RM103.7m RM106.1m RM108.9m RM112.1m RM115.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 1.71% Est @ 2.27% Est @ 2.66% Est @ 2.93% Est @ 3.12% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 14% RM73.9 RM69.0 RM64.8 RM60.7 RM53.9 RM48.3 RM43.5 RM39.3 RM35.6 RM32.3 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM521m The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 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) = RM116m (1 + 3.6%) (14% 3.6%) = RM1.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM1.2b ( 1 + 14%)10= RM334m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM855m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM1.0, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at UEM Edgenta 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 1.251. 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 UEM Edgenta Berhad Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For UEM Edgenta Berhad, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should look at: Risks: As an example, we've found 1 warning sign for UEM Edgenta Berhad that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does EDGENTA's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every 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 CAIRO, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading multi-asset brokerage CFI Financial Group continues its international expansion strategy with the official launch of its newest global entity, CFI Egypt, which launched this week after months of careful planning and preparation. Opening of the CFI Office in Cairo. In the picture, from left to right: Mr. Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder & Managing Director, CFI Financial Group; Mr. Sameh El Azab, CEO, CFI Egypt; Mr. Eduardo Fakhoury, Co-Founder & Managing Director, CFI Financial Group The move brings CFI's mastery and expertise as a world-renowned online trading provider to the vastly expanding country of Egypt, where the demand for financial market access is rapidly on the rise. CFI Egypt brings investors in the region access to 200+ EGX-listed stocks including Commercial International Bank, QNB ALAHLI, Telecom Egypt, and much more, all with highly competitive trading conditions and ultra-low trading fees. Following the official launch of CFI Egypt, Co-Founder and Managing Director of CFI Financial Group, Hisham Mansour, commented the following: "CFI's leading position in MENA is very strategic for us, and the launch of CFI Egypt aims to solidify our position even further. The Egyptian market is a major one in the region, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead for Egyptian investors wanting to access the markets and invest. I would like to thank the regulators and all the local authorities who assisted us to start our operations here smoothly, as well as our CFI Egypt team in whom I have full confidence to secure a leading position in Egypt. My message to them is to preserve and grow the positive reputation that CFI is known for, for over 25 years, to enable them to achieve that." CFI Egypt is regulated by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), ensuring its dedication to upholding the region's strict regulatory framework and client safety measures. This comes as CFI's ninth license, adding to its other regulations in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Lebanon. In addition, CFI Egypt is also heavily regulated in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Mauritius, Seychelles and Vanuatu. CEO of CFI Egypt, Sameh El Azab, also commented: "We are excited to bring our expertise as a global trading provider to the Egyptian market. The Group is always pushing towards more and better, and we aim to bring our clients in the region a seamless trading experience with better access and highly competitive conditions." The launch commenced with an inaugural event held at CFI Egypt's main office in Cairo, hosted by Mr. Hisham. To commemorate the launch, CFI hosted an incredible ceremony and celebration later that evening at the St Regis Hotel, where industry experts, regulators and other distinguished guests came together to celebrate the official launch. The event showcased CFI's commitment to fostering strong relationships within the industry, and marked the beginning of an exciting and promising journey towards redefining the trading and investing experience in Egypt. About CFI Financial Group CFI Financial Group is an award-winning trading provider with 25+ years of experience and operating through different entities worldwide, including London, Larnaca, Beirut, Amman, Dubai, Port Louis, and others. CFI offers highly competitive trading conditions with spreads from zero pips, zero commissions, fast execution, and no minimum deposit across 23+ global markets, including stocks, forex, commodities, indices, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. In addition, the Group is renowned for its top-notch client support, daily technical reports, free webinars, and dedicated account managers, ensuring a best-in-class trading experience for its clients in more than 100+ countries. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2086351/CFI_Financial_Group.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cfi-egypt-officially-launches-in-cairo-301835469.html SOURCE CFI Group (Bloomberg) -- Shanghai Ruitian Investment LLC, a top Chinese quantitative hedge fund founded by an ex-Citadel researcher, lost a high-profile lawsuit claiming a former staff member infringed its technology secrets when he joined a larger rival. Most Read from Bloomberg The case centered on Ruitians former head of high-frequency trading strategy, Yang Yunhao, who joined Zhejiang High-Flyer Asset Management. The Shanghai First Intermediate Peoples Court supported an earlier ruling that Ruitian should pay Yang about 3.5 million yuan ($495,000) in economic damages including for a non-compete agreement, and rejected the firms other requests on appeal, according to court documents released this month. The court also overthrew an earlier order for Yang to pay Ruitian 4 million yuan for breach of contract. The final ruling promises to end a legal battle between two of the nations best known quants that highlighted the cutthroat competition for top talent. Managers are seeking to expand in the 1.6 trillion yuan industry by constantly upgrading algorithms to keep their products attractive. Rivalry among quants has reached a point where any strategys alpha would keep falling every year, putting pressure on managers to develop new ones, Ruitians founder and Chief Executive Xu Xiaobo told a forum last month in Yangzhou of Jiangsu Province. Technology development is the core competitiveness of quantitative investment managers, Ruitian said in the court document posted May 15 on China Judgements Online. Yangs move to High-Flyer led to losses and the destruction of competitive edge that can be measured in hundreds of millions of yuan, it said. Ruitian didnt immediately reply to a request for comment. Yang, 32, couldnt be reached for comment. High-Flyer declined to comment. Ruitian, founded in 2013 by Xu after he left Citadel in the US, said Yang possessed quantitative strategy codes that amounted to core commercial secrets. It also sought 5 million yuan in compensation in a separate unfair competition case, according to a February document. While that suit hasnt reached its final verdict, the courts recent ruling supported High-Flyers statements and noted that Ruitian had no evidence to prove Yang violated his non-compete commitments. High-Flyer said at the time that its hiring process was prudent and compliant, and the relevant employee joined only after the non-compete obligations ended. The litigation has shed rare light on the profitability of quants and the huge price theyre paying in the talent war. Ruitian gives millions of yuan a year to recruiters, and research-related costs like data and servers exceed 10 million yuan annually. The company signs strict non-compete agreements when it hires strategy development staff, and pays them non-compete compensation thats equivalent to salary after they leave, in order to prevent leakage of secrets. Such talent and the strategy codes are the core of Ruitians commercial secrets and losing them could be catastrophic to the company, it said in the court document. Pay Dispute Ruitian, which manages close to 10 billion yuan, paid Yang a combined 16 million yuan over three years, including a 7 million yuan bonus in 2019 for the profit his team contributed, according to the court. Yang claimed his 2020 bonus should be 22 million yuan before tax as his team made more than 500 million yuan that year for Ruitian, while the company only paid 2.5 million yuan after tax, leading to a dispute that culminated in his departure. In a more dramatic episode, Yang said Ruitian tried to prove he poached two former colleagues, who resigned from his department shortly after his departure, by secretly videotaping him in April 2021 when they appeared in the same building with him. Xu even showed him the footage along with notes detailing his whereabouts. Yang said he was just attending online Harvard University courses there while the two former colleagues visited to chat. The recording was insufficient to prove any role Yang played in the other resignations, the court ruled, while Ruitian denied secret videotaping. Chinas quant hedge funds managed an estimated 1.6 trillion yuan in assets as of March 31, up about 3.5% from the start of the year, according to a Citic Securities Co. report this month. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. China plans to send more emergency food aid to the Horn of Africa and will also fund the reconstruction of Ethiopian infrastructure destroyed in the Tigray war, Foreign minister Qin Gang said in Beijing on Thursday. In a meeting with Ethiopia's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Qin said China had already delivered two batches of food aid to the region and was "considering providing a new batch ... to help countries alleviate their urgent needs". Qin also said China supported the Ethiopian peace process and "is willing to deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields to help Ethiopia's post-war reconstruction, development and revitalisation". 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. "Ethiopia is in a critical period of consolidating peace and focusing on development," he said. Qin pledged China's help to rehabilitate and rebuild infrastructure destroyed by the hostilities that ended in November after two years of fighting. Qin also expressed China's gratitude for the Ethiopian government's support and help in evacuating its citizens from Sudan, and for rescuing Chinese nationals who were robbed and detained in Ethiopia. He hoped the Ethiopian government "will take effective measures to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel", Qin told Demeke, who is on a five-day official visit to China. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang meet in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua alt=Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang meet in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua> "Ethiopia attaches great importance to improving the domestic security situation, and will continue to make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Ethiopia," Demeke said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Demeke also noted that as Ethiopia's leading source of foreign direct investment - as well as the country's largest trading partner and development financier - China had a big role to play in its future growth. The Ethiopian foreign ministry said Demeke also met the head of China's overseas aid agency, Luo Zhaohui, who described Ethiopia as not only a great partner but also an influential country in Africa. Luo, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said Ethiopia deserved "necessary support" in agriculture, education, riverside development and other areas. Demeke commended China for providing Ethiopia both monetary and non-monetary help based on the principles of mutual benefits, with no conditions on internal political issues. It is not clear if discussions included the restructuring of Ethiopian debt, which Addis Ababa has been seeking under the Group of 20's Common Framework. China has been a key supporter of the Abiy Ahmed government in the face of pressure from Western countries over alleged human rights violations committed by Ethiopian forces in Tigray. When the United States cut aid and suspended Ethiopia from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act - which gives African countries duty-free access to US markets - China accused the US of "meddling" in Ethiopia's internal affairs. Qin's first overseas visit as foreign minister in January - a five-country tour of Africa - started in Addis Ababa, which China regards as a crucial ally partly because of its geopolitical significance as the seat of the African Union. Between 2000 and 2020, China pledged US$13.7 billion in loans to Ethiopia, according to data from Boston University's Global Development Policy Centre. These funds have gone into building roads, power dams and railways. Beijing funded the building of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, part of China's transcontinental Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Addis light rail, and Riverside Green Development. China has its first overseas military base as well as vast investments to protect in the Horn of Africa - home to Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, as well as Ethiopia, and torn by civil wars, Islamist insurgencies and military coups. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has also warned that the longest and most severe drought on record is forecast to continue in the region, worsening the food emergency and pushing 26 million people into crisis. The situation has been exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, since most countries in the region were heavily dependent on wheat from the two nations. Last year, China proposed a peace initiative to support the Horn of Africa countries to tackle the triple challenges of security, development and governance. Beijing also sent food aid to Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti in a demonstration of practical action. Beijing's special envoy to the region, Xue Bing, hosted the first Horn of Africa peace conference in Addis Ababa in June and offered to mediate "for the peaceful settlement of disputes based on the will of countries in this region". This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. (Bloomberg) -- ConocoPhillips exercised its right to acquire TotalEnergies SEs 50% stake in the Surmont oil-sands field for as much as $3.33 billion, giving it full control of the Canadian operation and thwarting efforts by Suncor Energy Inc. to buy into the site. Most Read from Bloomberg The purchase includes a $3 billion price tag and as much as $325 million in contingent payments, Houston-based ConocoPhillips said Friday. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year and will be funded with cash and short- and medium-term financing or a combination of those options. Taking full control of Surmonts low-cost production helps ConocoPhillips Chief Executive Officer Ryan Lance meet a commitment to return $11 billion in cash to shareholders this year by letting the company generate free cash flow at even lower crude prices. ConocoPhillips projected the purchase would add about $600 million of annual free cash flow next year, assuming a benchmark US oil price of $60 a barrel. They are thinking about returns and free cash flow and being stewards of capital and putting shareholders first, Phil Skolnick, an analyst at Eight Capital, said in an interview. Surmont is a very good project, he said. Read more from Bloomberg Intelligence: Conocos Surmont Deal a No Brainer at 18% Cash Flow Yield Suncor, one of the largest players in Canadas oil sands, had agreed in April to buy TotalEnergies assets in the region in a roughly $4 billion deal. ConocoPhillips, however, had the right of first refusal on the French companys 50% stake in Surmont. Suncor has said it reached out to ConocoPhillips about the Surmont stake, with a message that it was willing to invest and grow the asset. Suncor said Friday that both it and TotalEnergies now have the right to terminate their agreement because of ConocoPhillips decision and that it will be assessing the transaction in light of this change. TotalEnergies said in a statement that it would be open to completing a transaction with Suncor for the remaining assets from the original package. ConocoPhillips rose after the announcement, reversing earlier losses to trade up 0.4% to $102.07 at 2:33 p.m. in New York. Calgary-based Suncor fell about 1% to C$38.42 in Toronto. For Suncor, the Surmont site wasnt an essential part of the deal with Total, which also included a 31% stake in the Fort Hills project and was focused on ensuring supplies for its Base Plant upgrader when other production streams run out as early as the next decade, Skolnick said. While Suncor has an offramp from the TotalEnergies deal, it wouldnt surprise me if they continue to go with it and just buy the Fort Hills portion, he said. Oil is produced at Surmont, located in northeastern Alberta, by injecting steam into underground wells to force the regions heavy bitumen to the surface. Surmont is the fourth-largest oil-sands well site in Canada, producing about 135,000 barrels of oil a day in April. Taking control also gives ConocoPhillips autonomy to operate the assets at a pace it prefers instead of coordinating with partners. (Updates with TotalEnergies response in sixth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. When it comes to short-term investing or trading, they say "the trend is your friend." And there's no denying that this is the most profitable strategy. But making sure of the sustainability of a trend to profit from it is easier said than done. The trend often reverses before exiting the trade, leading to a short-term capital loss for investors. So, for a profitable trade, one should confirm factors such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate revisions, etc. that could keep the momentum in the stock alive. Our "Recent Price Strength" screen, which is created on a unique short-term trading strategy, could be pretty useful in this regard. This predefined screen makes it really easy to shortlist the stocks that have enough fundamental strength to maintain their recent uptrend. Also, the screen passes only the stocks that are trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, which is usually an indicator of bullishness. Copa Holdings (CPA) is one of the several suitable candidates that passed through the screen. Here are the key reasons why it could be a profitable bet for "trend" investors. A solid price increase over a period of 12 weeks reflects investors' continued willingness to pay more for the potential upside in a stock. CPA is quite a good fit in this regard, gaining 13.5% over this period. However, it's not enough to look at the price change for around three months, as it doesn't reflect any trend reversal that might have happened in a shorter time frame. It's important for a potential winner to maintain the price trend. A price increase of 21.4% over the past four weeks ensures that the trend is still in place for the stock of this holding company for Panama's national airline. Moreover, CPA is currently trading at 98% of its 52-week High-Low Range, hinting that it can be on the verge of a breakout. Looking at the fundamentals, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than the 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises -- the key factors that impact a stock's near-term price movements. The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> Another factor that confirms the company's fundamental strength is its Average Broker Recommendation of #1 (Strong Buy). This indicates that the brokerage community is highly optimistic about the stock's near-term price performance. So, the price trend in CPA may not reverse anytime soon. In addition to CPA, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our "Recent Price Strength" screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria. This is not the only screen that could help you find your next winning stock pick. Based on your personal investing style, you may choose from over 45 Zacks Premium Screens that are strategically created to beat the market. However, keep in mind that the key to a successful stock-picking strategy is to ensure that it produced profitable results in the past. You could easily do that with the help of the Zacks Research Wizard. In addition to allowing you to backtest the effectiveness of your strategy, the program comes loaded with some of our most successful stock-picking strategies. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The credibility of Russian oil sanctions is at risk if the West doesn't lower its price cap, think tank says Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mikhail Metzel/Getty Images Russia's oil export revenue is climbing back up from early 2023 lows, a CREA report said. It shows a weakening in the effectiveness of the Western price cap, the think tank warned. This could threaten the West's oil sanctions, and a price cap of $30 a barrel may be necessary. Russia's oil export revenue rebounded in March and April from earlier in the year as prices exceeded the West's cap, according to a report from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Revenue climbed 14% from February to April, hitting the highest level since November a month before the price cap took effect. "The price cap coalition countries need to get a grip on their own policy to avoid losing the initiative in the sanctions game of whack-a-mole to Putin permanently," the CREA report said. "Without an effective price cap policy being enforced and adhered to, the price cap will be unsuccessful in its aim of lowering Putin's revenues to fuel the war against Ukraine." In December, the European Union and G-7 countries banned companies in their jurisdictions from facilitating the export of Russian oil, unless it was sold for less than a $60 per barrel. For the first months of 2023, the price proved effective, as both the tax revenue on oil products and the price of Russia's Urals crude fell. But prices climbed above the cap in April, with European-owned and insured tankers still moving Russian oil, indicating enforcement was effective, CREA said. What's more, CREA pointed out that the European Union had not maintained its plan to revise the cap every two months, dulling its usefulness. The think tank proposed a price cap of $30 per barrel, which would be closer to Russia's production costs of $15 per barrel but still high enough to keep supplies flowing to global markets. A cap at that level would have slashed Russia's oil revenue by 37%, CREA estimated. "Unless the price cap coalition takes action, changes to Russia's oil taxation structure will force the price of Russian crude oil closer to international benchmarks, leading to further recovery of Russia's oil revenue, which would damage the impact and credibility of the sanctions," the report said. "Strengthened enforcement of the price caps and lower price cap levels are needed if the architects of the oil price cap policy want it to function as a credible policy and to lower Russia's oil export revenues." Read the original article on Business Insider Insiders who acquired AU$300k worth of Creso Pharma Limited's (ASX:CPH) stock at an average price of AU$0.04 in the past 12 months may be dismayed by the recent 44% price decline. Insiders invest with the hopes of seeing their money grow in value over time. However, as a result of recent losses, their initial investment is now only worth AU$68k, which is not what they expected. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. See our latest analysis for Creso Pharma Creso Pharma Insider Transactions Over The Last Year The Independent Non-Executive Director Bruce Linton made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$200k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.04 each. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$0.009 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. 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. In the last twelve months Creso Pharma insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Insider Ownership Of Creso Pharma For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company 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. Insiders own 27% of Creso Pharma shares, worth about AU$5.9m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. What Might The Insider Transactions At Creso Pharma Tell Us? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Creso Pharma shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Creso Pharma insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 5 warning signs for Creso Pharma (of which 4 shouldn't be ignored!) 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 Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange run by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, announced it has chosen the Republic of Ireland as its new European home. The announcement followed a meeting between the crypto co-founders, the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and the representatives of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), the body responsible for foreign investment into Ireland. Were grateful for the support of the Irish government and the IDA as we embark on the next, exciting steps in our journey. We look forward to being a part of and adding to the vibrant tech community in Dublin," the Winklevoss brothers said in a statement shared with Decrypt. "Crypto is as transformative as the Internet, and we are committed to unlocking the opportunities it represents. Taking to Twitter, Gemini CEO Tyler Winklevoss said yesterdays discussions in Dublin were centered on the profound promise of crypto and the importance of common sense regulation to realize that promise. Awesome meeting this morning with @LeoVaradkar, the Prime Minister of Ireland. We talked about the profound promise of crypto and the importance of common sense regulation to realize that promise. We believe MiCA is that common sense regulation. We also announced that @Gemini has pic.twitter.com/Iv3NmPTmju Cameron Winklevoss (@cameron) May 25, 2023 The CEO also stated that Gemini believes that Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA), the recently adopted regulatory framework to govern cryptocurrencies in the European Union (EU), is that common sense regulation. We also announced that Gemini has made Ireland its European HQ. Onward!, added Tyler Winklevoss. Gemini was the first crypto company to be registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) by the Central Bank of Ireland in July 2022. In an interview with The Irish Times, Gemini's president Cameron Winklevoss said that Ireland will be the exchanges entry point into the rest of Europe once the MiCA regulation is fully implemented across the EU by 2025. Crypto Exchange Gemini Expands to 5 More European Countries Gemini to stay in the US Amid a wave of wider crackdowns on cryptocurrency companies in the U.S., which also targeted rival companies Kraken and Coinbase, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January charged Gemini with the sale of unregistered securities related to the now-terminated Earn program, with the regulators action prompting the exchange co-founders to begin looking at other jurisdictions. Earlier this week, the Winklevoss twins visited London, where they met officials at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Bank of England, hinting at the UK as a possible new base for the crypto exchange. There are so many headwinds right now in the U.S. its hard to get anything done there. And so in order to keep building our business and invest in hiring, we have to look elsewhere, Cameron Winklevoss told The Telegraph earlier this week, adding that the UK is a great market to consider that. Still, Gemini has no intention of leaving the U.S. entirely. Were not leaving the US, were going to continue to fight the good fight there. But we also understand that you can vote with your feet, and thats our right and we will do that when faced with a hostile environment, added Cameron Winklevoss. (Bloomberg) -- Cummins Inc. spinoff Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. raised $275 million in an initial public offering, pricing its shares in the middle of a marketed range. Most Read from Bloomberg The company sold about 14 million shares Thursday for $19.50 each after marketing them for $18 to $21, according to a statement. At the IPO price, the Nashville, Tennessee-based company has a market value of about $1.6 billion based on the outstanding shares listed in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The listing, the seventh-biggest on a US exchange this year, adds to a slowly brightening market after a dismal first quarter, which was the slowest start to a year since 2016, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Atmus follows the trading debut this month by another spinoff, Johnson & Johnsons consumer health products company Kenvue Inc. Kenvues $4.37 billion offering, including so-called green-shoe shares, has been the only IPO to top $1 billion in the US this year. Atmuss Fleetguard products include fuel, air, hydraulic and other filters for commercial vehicles as well as agricultural, construction, mining and power-generation equipment. Reaching 150 countries, the company derived 51% of its net sales last year from the US and Canada. As a business within Cummins, the units net sales have grown over the past three years, from $1.23 billion in 2020 to $1.56 billion last year, according to the filings. Its $170 million in net income for 2022, though down slightly from the previous year, was a 19% increase from 2020. Cummins will own 83% of Atmuss shares and will continue to control the company after the listing, according to the filings. The offering is being led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. As part of the transaction, the spinoff of Atmus will include a debt-for-equity exchange with the two banks, rather than Cummins selling its shares to the underwriters for cash. Atmus plans for its shares to begin trading Friday on the the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ATMU. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. David Einhorn Doubles-Down on These 2 Energy Stocks Heres Why You Might Want to Follow in His Footsteps David Einhorns hedge fund, Greenlight Capital, enjoyed some big gains in 2022, being one of the few to benefit from last years bear market. The conditions suited the value investors style, and the fund had its best year in a decade. However, it has been a different story so far this year, as Greenlight has been underperforming the broad markets. Einhorn, however, is not about to bang his head against the wall and try to fit a square into a circle. In a recent letter to shareholders, he stated, Many have commented that what worked in 2022 didnt work in the beginning of 2023, and vice versa. That seems about right to us. While the economy is flashing conflicting signals employment, wages, and household balance sheets look quite strong against concerns that tightening lending standards will constrain the economy and create a substantial slowdown Einhorn remains receptive to whichever way the wind blows. Our net long exposure is now back in line with its long-term average, he stated. We are equally open-minded to becoming even more net long or pivoting back to bearish as economic events unfold. In the meantime, Einhorn has been doubling down on the equities he believes will do well whatever the economic backdrop and among those are a pair of under-the-radar energy stocks. We ran these tickers through the TipRanks database to find out Wall Streets stock experts view of them. Lets check the results. Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) The Energy sector was one of the few segments to shine in 2022, and while Einhorn is open to new ideas, it appears that he is still backing its chances. He has been loading up on shares of Gulfport Energy Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) firm based in Oklahoma City. With operations primarily focused on the Appalachia and Anadarko basins, the company engages in the acquisition, development, and production of oil and gas reserves. Gulfport boasts a portfolio that includes both conventional and unconventional assets, with a particular emphasis on shale formations such as the Utica Shale in Ohio and the SCOOP play in Oklahoma. The company adheres to a disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritizing high-quality assets with favorable risk-reward profiles. Its a strategy that helped Gulfport deliver a solid set of results in the most recently reported quarter for 1Q23. In the quarter, revenue rose by 5% year-over-year to $1.05 billion. The company exceeded expectations with a total production of 1,057.4 MMcfe (million cubic feet of gas equivalent) per day. Gulfport achieved $523.1 million of net income and $229.7 million of adjusted EBITDA, surpassing consensus estimates. Additionally, the company generated $63.1 million of adjusted free cash flow. The market reacted well to the results, and most likely, Einhorn too. In Q1, he increased his GPOR stake by 126% with the purchase of 157,500 shares. He now holds a total of 283,000 shares, currently worth $28.26 million. Truist 5-star analyst Neal Dingmann is also a fan and thinks the company has some differentiating attributes. Gulfport has a number of variables that set itself apart from most other small cap, gassy E&Ps resulting in continued, notable FCF generation despite weak natural gas prices. The companys minimal/maintenance capital will drive production growth in a program that should see upside from operational efficiencies and lower OFS costs, all the while having nearly all production hedged this year and 60%+ next year at +$3/mcf. The low existing debt allows GPOR to distribute most FCF to shareholder return in the form of material share buybacks, Dingmann opined. Putting these thoughts into ratings and numbers, Dingmann considers GPOR a Buy while his $122 price target suggests shares will climb 22% higher over the coming months. (To watch Dingmanns track record, click here) Elsewhere on the Street, this under-the-radar name receives an additional 1 Buy and Hold, each, all coalescing to a Moderate Buy consensus rating. Going by the $114.67 average target, the shares have room for ~15% growth in the year ahead. (See GPOR stock forecast) CONSOL Energy (CEIX) The next Einhorn-endorsed name well dig into is CONSOL Energy, a leading U.S. coal producer and exporter. With its active mining operations dating back to 1864, the company owns a diversified portfolio of coal assets, encompassing both underground and surface mining operations. Its flagship operation is the Pennsylvania Mining Complex, which has the capacity to produce around 28.5 million tons of coal per year. The complex consists of three large-scale underground mines: Bailey Mine, Enlow Fork Mine, and Harvey Mine. Additionally, the company owns a full export terminal in Baltimore. In fact, given the anticipated drop in US coal consumption, CONSOL Energy has been shifting its focus overseas, making the export business increasingly important. The company has also benefited from Russias war on Ukraine, as Europe has looked for alternative coal supplies rather than rely on Russias coal exports. The latest set of quarterly results show how CONSOL has been positively impacted. Q1 GAAP net income reached $230.4 million compared to a $4.4 million loss displayed in the same period last year, while adjusted EBITDA climbed from $169.2 million a year ago to $346.3 million. On the top-line, revenues increased by 92.1% year-over-year to $688.6 million, while beating the Streets forecast by almost $96 million. Along with the quarterly results, CONSOL also announced its dividend distribution, set at $1.10 per common share. This represented 17% of the cash available for distribution. The $1.10 dividend annualizes to $4.40 per share and gives a high yield of 7.52%. As for Einhorn, he must have been pleased with the results. In Q1, he bought 904,190 shares, upping his stake in the firm by 50%. In total, he now holds 2,716,741 shares, representing a current market value of $158.41 million. Einhorn is not the only bull on CONSOL. Nathan Martin, a 5-star analyst with Benchmark, is impressed with the companys execution in recent months, writing, CEIX is now near-fully contracted for 2023 and 60% committed and priced for 2024 based on our estimates, providing improved cash flow visibility. Moreover, it has nearly completed its debt reduction goals. As such, the company has increased its shareholder return program to 75% of FCF and raised its repurchase authorization to $1 billion as it expects to pivot to buybacks. These comments underpin Martins Buy rating while his $80 price target implies investors will be pocketing returns of ~39% a year from now. (To watch Martins track record, click here) CEIX definitely fits the under-the-radar description. Martin is currently the sole analyst to have posted a review of the companys prospects over the last 3 months. (See CEIX stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Washington faces a series of hard decisions if no agreement happens, starting with billions due to Medicare, Social Security and military veterans. It is impossible to predict exactly how things would unfold if the US takes the unprecedented step of defaulting on its debt in June. What seems likely, experts tell Yahoo Finance, is that America and the world would experience a shocking initial crisis followed by more economic damage with each passing day. Markets could plunge just as Social Security and Medicare become unable to distribute money to those who need the government safety nets. It's also clear US policymakers would have to make perilous choices about millions of other bills the federal government has to pay each month, especially if they want to buy more time and mitigate the fallout. Who would be paid first: Treasury bondholders or retirees? Veterans or tax-refund recipients? Defense contractors or federal employees? If bondholders get special treatment instead of Social Security recipients, the US would effectively be paying wealthy investors around the world instead of paying off your grandma, said Kroll's Global Chief Economist Megan Greene. That's pretty politically toxic. The odds of a crisis rise each day even as Democrats and Republicans in Washington appear to be moving toward a deal. There is still a fear that the delicate talks could collapse as both sides try to resolve final issues; one lead negotiator, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), warned reporters Thursday that "nothing is resolved." JPMorgan Chase recently pegged the chance of a default at 1 in 4. If the previously unthinkable does happen, "I think just the notion that the US isn't making good on its promises is an initial shock," Greene said. "Then the cumulative effect will get much bigger" if the default continues. In a file photo, trays of printed Social Security checks wait to be mailed. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower) First up: a 'mess' Markets would almost surely be in for a wild ride if the day known as the "X-date" arrives when the US government is no longer able to pay all its bills. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Friday that could happen as early as June 5 without a deal, updating her previous estimate of June 1. What could happen on that first day? White House Press Secretary Karine-Jean Pierre said "it would throw the economy into chaos." Moodys Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi largely agrees, saying "I think it will be very chaotic." On that day, he said "markets will be down, it'll be a mess." But some say the underlying economic damage could be less than feared in those early hours if the Biden administration - as it is expected to do - enacts a plan to keep paying government bondholders and staves off a true default for at least a few days or weeks. Wall Street is counting on such a move to temporarily avert a worst-case scenario. Strategas Securities Managing Director Jeannette Lowe even recently said that such prioritization could mean June 1 "actually wouldn't be a real default." But even if the Treasury Department were to find a way to keep paying bondholders, far from a sure thing, there are also questions about whether investors would panic and push the economy into a recession no matter what. "We know that the economy is often driven by consumer and business sentiment and if that falls off a cliff quickly, it's hard to get it back," notes Shai Akabas, the Bipartisan Policy Center's director of economic policy. JPMorgan predicts adverse effects in the short term, including a possible downgrading of the US credit rating followed by much worse outcomes if the crisis drags out. Up next: risks to Social Security, Veterans benefits, and more If the government misses critical payments to high-profile programs, that could ratchet up the political pressure in the days following a default. Some big ones are due at the beginning of June. On the first day of the month the government is scheduled to make $47 billion in Medicare payments and provide $24 billion for government retirement plans and veterans benefits, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, which recently compiled a detailed schedule of government payments that could be at risk. The very next day, on June 2, $25 billion is due for Social Security recipients. Then billions more are scheduled to follow around things like Medicaid, government salaries, tax refunds and more. Analysts at the Bipartisan Policy Center have zeroed in on a "elevated risk" of default happening between June 2 and June 13 while Yellen has maintained that the X-date could happen anytime after June 1. June 15 is another critical date. Moodys Investors Service told Bloomberg that $2 billion in interest payments on Treasuries due that day are critical for the US to maintain its AAA credit rating. A rating downgrade is likely if those payments aren't made. All bets would be off, of course, with a default that stretches for months. The economic costs would be severe. The White House has said that a protracted default - meaning one lasting a full quarter - would lead to a sharp recession, eliminate over 8 million jobs, and cause the stock market to plummet 45%. Hard choices Treasury Secretary Yellen has provided mixed signals on how she much she might be able to prioritize which bills to pay if the US defaults, adding to the uncertainty. On May 21, during an appearance on NBCs "Meet the Press," she signaled that servicing the debt is the top priority with checks to Social Security recipients and military employees close behind. "There will be hard choices to make about what bills go unpaid she said. But in a virtual conversation at the Wall Street Journals CEO Council on May 24, she cast doubt on the notion that the detailed prioritizing of payments was "operationally feasible." The Treasury Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) "Our payment systems have been constructed to pay our bills, not to decide which bills to pay and which bills not to pay," she added. Another often discussed form of prioritization would be to delay all payments except for principal and interest on the debt. Then - with the money left over - Treasury would pay its other bills in the order that they are due. This option, which was weighed during the debt ceiling crisis of 2011, might be simpler operationally but is not so easy politically. What happens, Akabas said, if the Treasury announces "Don't worry guys, we're making principal and interest payments, but everybody else is gonna have to wait in line." "I wouldn't be filled with confidence as an investor if that's what I heard." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Jennifer Schonberger contributed reporting. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Recently, Wisconsin Watch revealed how members of the Wisconsin Legislatures powerful budget committee secretly hold up projects or programs they dont like. They often do so, reporter Jacob Resneck found, without following a state law that requires the committee to schedule a hearing within 14 working days of such an objection. The hearings are designed to let the public, stakeholders and other lawmakers debate the merits of the expenditure. And even in cases where a hearing is held, agencies and interested parties may not be allowed to speak. The effect is a secretive pocket veto over projects and programs, ranging in recent years from $15.5 million for recreational access along the Pelican River, to a historic fraternity house remodel in Madison, to a $17.5 million program to encourage low-income Wisconsinites on Medicaid to become vaccinated all without a public hearing or explanation. Backers of some of these projects say they are left in the dark about who is objecting or why, with no opportunity to address concerns. Theres no transparency to the process, obviously. We dont even know where to go, said Bart Kocha, director of a nonprofit whose grant to restore an historic mansion near Madisons Lake Mendota was secretly blocked without a hearing. Dee Hall. Republicans who run the Legislature have used the maneuver more frequently in recent years, Resneck found, especially to halt recreational or conservation projects. But these anonymous vetoes have been around for years, used by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. That doesnt make it right. This stealth maneuver also opens the door to corruption. Imagine the power a lawmaker wields by single-handedly and secretly blocking a project that a person or group has worked months or years to bring to fruition. What would that lawmaker want in return for lifting the objection? This is not a theoretical threat. In 2002, then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala, D-Madison, was charged with extortion for pressuring backers and opponents of an historic preservation project to donate to state Senate candidates of Chvalas choosing. Both sides coughed up money to win Chvalas approval, according to the criminal complaint. The extortion charge was later dismissed as part of a plea deal, but Chvala still ended up being sentenced to nine months in jail for other offenses. In his 2023-25 budget, Gov. Tony Evers is proposing to do away with this secretive process when it comes to conservation and recreational projects paid for by stewardship funds. But GOP lawmakers have already vowed to rip up the document and start over, leaving little chance the Legislature will adopt Evers idea. This is not the only stealth move lawmakers use. They also can add anonymously authored amendments to the state budget, which carries its own opportunity for mischief. The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Councils Legislative Wish List includes a call to lawmakers to prohibit any rule, motion, bill or amendment from being introduced without a clearly identified sponsor and cosponsors. Lawmakers have the chance to do the right thing and finally let some sunlight into their murky budget process. Your Right to Know is a monthly column distributed by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council (wisfoic.org), a group dedicated to open government. Dee J. Hall, the Councils secretary, is the managing editor of Wisconsin Watch. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Law allows lawmakers to secretly block items they don't like. Key Insights The projected fair value for Hour Glass is S$2.27 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Hour Glass' S$1.99 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Hour Glass' peers seem to be trading at a lower discount to fair value based onthe industry average of 11% Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of The Hour Glass Limited (SGX:AGS) 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. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! 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. Check out our latest analysis for Hour Glass Step By Step Through The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last 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 (SGD, Millions) S$106.6m S$102.4m S$100.1m S$99.1m S$99.1m S$99.6m S$100.5m S$101.8m S$103.3m S$105.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -6.56% Est @ -4.00% Est @ -2.21% Est @ -0.96% Est @ -0.08% Est @ 0.53% Est @ 0.96% Est @ 1.26% Est @ 1.47% Est @ 1.62% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 8.0% S$98.7 S$87.7 S$79.4 S$72.8 S$67.3 S$62.6 S$58.5 S$54.8 S$51.5 S$48.4 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$682m The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = S$105m (1 + 2.0%) (8.0% 2.0%) = S$1.8b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$1.8b ( 1 + 8.0%)10= S$812m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is S$1.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$2.0, the company appears about fair value at a 12% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Hour Glass 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 8.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.024. 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 Hour Glass Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Specialty Retail industry. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Specialty Retail market. Opportunity Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat No apparent threats visible for AGS. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Hour Glass, there are three additional elements you should look at: Risks: Take risks, for example - Hour Glass has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does AGS's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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) -- 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. FRANKFURT (Reuters) - As banks came under mounting pressure in March, Deutsche Bank used big trades to give its cash buffers a temporary boost, employing a method that European regulators have raised concerns over, two sources familiar with the situation said. Deutsche swapped billions of euros in securities for cash and government bonds, the sources told Reuters, which count towards its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR). This is meant to determine the extent of a bank's access to ready cash to fund outflows such as depositor withdrawals. While a legitimate banking practice, the move underscored concern at Deutsche over the wider turmoil. Having a large cash pile would have reassured investors and clients after Credit Suisse and a number of U.S. banks suffered deposit runs. The trades caught the attention of European Central Bank (ECB) supervisors, who questioned Germany's largest lender about them during routine exchanges, the sources said. Even without the trades, Deutsche would have far exceeded a 100% LCR regulatory requirement and overshot its own target, the sources said, adding that its liquidity is not a concern. The important thing for the ECB, they said, is to establish how much liquidity a bank has at that given moment, as well as what it plans on having in the following months. A Deutsche Bank logo in Brussels The issue is that liquidity can evaporate if short-term trades are not renewed, clouding the longer-term view. "These things can shift around very quickly, but as a supervisor I would be worried if they were doing this at the end of quarter, just to look nicer, and I would want to look into it," said Thorsten Beck, Director of the Florence School of Banking and Finance and a co-chair of the Advisory Scientific Committee of the European Systemic Risk Board. Deutsche's use of such trades to improve its liquidity position at the height of the recent banking turmoil has not been previously reported, and conversations with the regulator are confidential. The practice is not unusual among big banks, but it was flagged by the ECB in a 2019 stress test as a technique for making a bank look stronger. Deutsche's trades allowed it to post an increase in its LCR in March, helping chief executive Christian Sewing praise the bank's "resilience" and "solid foundation" to analysts when presenting the first-quarter figure in April. Deutsche "actively manages to a conservative liquidity profile across a number of liquidity metrics," a spokesperson told Reuters. Its liquidity level reflects "prudent steering in an uncertain market environment" and the late March increase was "mainly driven by seasonal movements," they added. An ECB spokesperson declined to comment. 'SOLID FOUNDATIONS' March was a tense period for banks. Days after Switzerland engineered the rescue of Credit Suisse, Deutsche's customers began withdrawing deposits, its executives later said, while shares in the bank dropped as much as 15% on a single day. One concern in the market at the time was whether banks had enough cash on hand to meet the demands of depositors. Euro zone banks are required to have an LCR of at least 100%, meaning they have enough liquid assets to cover a month's worth of outflows. Deutsche's trades helped it raise its LCR to 143% at March 31, its report published in April showed. The figure stood at 137% on March 23, it had reported in a filing at the time, in an unusual move meant to calm markets. The sharp increase came as a surprise, however, after Deutsche said in February that it would steer the LCR ratio lower towards its 130% target during the year. Such short-term fixes, which generate big LCR moves, are likely to raise fresh questions from regulators and analysts about the reliability of requirements introduced after the global financial crisis of 2008. Credit Suisse said it had an LCR of around 150%, calculated using a three-month average, less than a week before being declared non-viable by Swiss authorities and taken over by UBS. One source said that if there is one thing that the ECB had learned from the rapid demise of Credit Suisse is that the LCR is an unreliable indicator, as deposits can disappear overnight. The 2019 ECB stress test on liquidity found that a number of banks were using "collateral swaps aimed at improving the quantity (or) quality of the LCR buffer". One weakness the ECB found then was that a number reported a "pronounced" liquidity drop after day 30, which may result from 'optimisation' strategies. It also said that the strategy had become a source of "interconnectedness among banks", which regulators see as a source of systemic risk for the sector. Hans-Peter Burghof, a professor of banking and finance at Germany's University of Hohenheim, said the debate about the usefulness of liquidity metrics has been going on for decades. "Trust can't be measured with numbers," he said. "If I were a regulator, I would hate it," Burghof added of practices such as banks raising their LCRs using swaps and other trades. (Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi, Paritosh Bansal and Alexander Smith) Exxon LNG Terminal In Italy Attracts Bid From BlackRock And Three Others, Transaction Could Be Worth $881M Four international groups are contending to purchase Exxon Mobil Corp's (NYSE: XOM) majority stake in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal offshore Italy. BlackRock, Inc (NYSE: BLK), Igneo Infrastructure Partners , German asset manager IKAV , and energy infrastructure group VTTI , linked to commodity trader Vitol and Australian infrastructure fund IFM , have been short-listed to buy the majority stake in the terminal, Reuters cites familiar sources. The deal could value the entire LNG terminal at nearly 800 million ($881 million). Also Read: What's Going On With Exxon Mobil Shares Today In March, Exxon started weighing the sale of its majority stake in Adriatic LNG, Italy's main regasification terminal, in a bid to divest non-core assets. Exxon's sale has attracted interest from several infrastructure funds and international groups as they expected Italy to increase its LNG imports to partly replace the gas it used to get via pipeline from Russia. Exxon's subsidiary ExxonMobil Italiana Gas has a 70.7% stake in the terminal, with QatarEnergy subsidiary Qatar Terminal Company Limited at 22% and Italian gas grid operator Snam S.P.A (OTC: SNMRY) at 7.3%. Price Action: XOM shares traded lower by 0.50% at $105.13 on the last check Friday. Photo via Wikimedia Commons 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 Exxon LNG Terminal In Italy Attracts Bid From BlackRock And Three Others, Transaction Could Be Worth $881M originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare fair value estimate is NZ$18.66 Current share price of NZ$23.98 suggests Fisher & Paykel Healthcare is potentially 29% overvalued Analyst price target for FPH is NZ$24.53, which is 31% above our fair value estimate Does the May share price for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited (NZSE:FPH) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare The Model We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$63.1m NZ$180.9m NZ$323.4m NZ$359.0m NZ$479.7m NZ$571.8m NZ$652.6m NZ$721.4m NZ$779.5m NZ$828.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 19.22% Est @ 14.12% Est @ 10.55% Est @ 8.06% Est @ 6.31% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.5% NZ$58.7 NZ$157 NZ$260 NZ$269 NZ$334 NZ$370 NZ$393 NZ$404 NZ$406 NZ$401 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$3.1b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = NZ$829m (1 + 2.2%) (7.5% 2.2%) = NZ$16b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$16b ( 1 + 7.5%)10= NZ$7.8b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is NZ$11b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of NZ$24.0, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare 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 7.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.890. 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 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Medical Equipment market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the New Zealander market. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, there are three relevant elements you should assess: Financial Health: Does FPH have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does FPH'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 New Zealander 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 Fitch Ratings, one of the three major firms that grade sovereign debt, announced late Wednesday that the United States perfect AAA credit rating is now at risk due to the ongoing political battle over the debt ceiling, which is raising the odds that the Treasury could miss payments on some of its obligations. The agency said U.S. credit is now rating watch negative, signaling that Fitch could reduce the countrys bond rating if lawmakers fail to act in time to address the debt limit. The Rating Watch Negative reflects increased political partisanship that is hindering reaching a resolution to raise or suspend the debt limit despite the fast-approaching x date (when the U.S. Treasury exhausts its cash position and capacity for extraordinary measures without incurring new debt), Fitch said. A deterioration in governance and a growing debt load also weigh on the U.S. rating, Fitch added. The rating agency said it thinks that lawmakers will act in time to avoid a default. Even so, it warned that failing to raise the debt ceiling by the X date would be a negative signal of the broader governance and willingness of the U.S. to honor its obligations in a timely fashion, which would be unlikely to be consistent with a 'AAA' rating. Using a workaround to avoid defaulting on debt payments, such as invoking the 14th Amendment or minting a trillion-dollar coin, would also likely be problematic, Fitch said, and could cause a rating downgrade. The Treasury Department said the potential downgrade shows just how important it is for lawmakers to resolve the issue quickly. 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, a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement. Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at the consulting firm RSM, warned that the debt ceiling showdown was already imposing an economic cost, just as a similar battle did in 2011, even though there was ultimately no default. The longer this episode continues, the greater the risk that the global reserve status of the U.S. dollar will be put in danger, he wrote Thursday. Like the 2011 debt ceiling debacle, equity valuations that underscore American households retirement accounts will suffer while corporate and consumer confidence will almost surely decline. All of these factors will create an adverse wealth effect that will show up on growth in the second half of the year. Brusuelas called on lawmakers to end what is essentially a political battle. This is an artificial crisis that has nothing to do with the underlying health of the American economy, excessive imbalances or malinvestment within financial markets or the security of the country, he said. It is time to bring it to an end. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. By Shivansh Tiwary and David Shepardson (Reuters) -Ford Motor Co shares jumped by more than 7% on Friday after the No. 2 U.S. automaker announced a deal allowing its electric-vehicle owners to access rival Tesla Inc's charging stations in North America. Tesla's Superchargers could become the standard for EV charging in the United States, Ford CEO Jim Farley told CNBC, but added: "With adapters and software, we really don't have to make a choice right now what the standard is, but I think it's going to play out in the free market." Ford shares were up 7.6% at $12.25 in afternoon trade, while Tesla shares rose 7.5% to $197.95. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised the Ford-Tesla deal, but told CNBC that the Biden administration would not dictate an EV charging standard. "Tesla has built an extraordinary network ... For them to be part of this effort I think is terrific news." Access to charging stations is considered one of the main hurdles so far to broader acceptance of electric vehicles, analysts have said. Farley added that General Motors Co and other automakers are going to "have a big choice to make" in selecting between Tesla's EV chargers and the Combined Charging System (CCS). CCS is a competing charging-plug standard for DC fast-charging. GM said open charging networks and standards are the best way forward to enable EV adoption across the industry, and it has worked with other automakers to develop an open connector standard in the CCS, which is a "a truly universal solution" available now for fast charging. "We believe the move will ultimately increase BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) penetration in North America, and in a rising-tide-lifts-all-boats rationale, increase Tesla sales," RBC Capital Markets analysts said in a note. Since 2012, Tesla has developed and deployed its own high-speed vehicle charger, called Supercharger, which can add up to 322 miles (518 km) of range in just 15 minutes. Farley said Ford had about 10,000 fast chargers and that the agreement with Tesla will double that. (Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Reshma George; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Matthew Lewis and Devika Syamnath) (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. struck a deal with rival Tesla Inc. to give its electric-vehicle customers access to the Tesla Supercharger network, a move toward a single industry standard to simplify recharging. Most Read from Bloomberg The Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit vehicles will be able to power up on 12,000 Superchargers across North America starting next year, using an adapter. Fords next-generation electric vehicles, starting in 2025, will have the Tesla charging capability built in. The partnership makes Ford the first major automaker to adopt Teslas so-called North American Charging Standard, giving its customers access to the largest, fastest and most reliable network of EV chargers. Access to reliable charging is a major concern among those interested in purchasing an EV. The deal may ease consumer concerns about the availability and reliability of chargers in the US, Kevin Tynan, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, said in a note. The move may represent a step back for other companies in the EV charging market. Fords shares rose 7% as of 2 p.m. Friday in New York, while Teslas were up 6.2%. Were really pumped up about working with Tesla, Ford Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley said on a Twitter Spaces session with Elon Musk on Thursday. Both characterized the partnership as helping to improve EV adoption. Musk is the CEO of Tesla and owns Twitter. Read More: Ford Sidesteps Tesla, BYD Competition With New Oversized EV Some new customers who otherwise might have signed up with ChargePoint Holdings Inc., Blink Charging Co. or EVgo Inc. could opt for Teslas chargers as a result of the Ford deal, according to Gabriel Daoud, managing director of equity research with Cowen Inc. Shares of Blink fell 2.5% and EVgo declined 4.5%. ChargePoint rose less than 1%. Teslas charging network already has a better reputation for reliability than its competitors, ranking highest in a recent J.D. Power survey of EV drivers. The rest of the charging industry may need to adopt Teslas charging connector as a de facto standard by retrofitting existing stations with new plugs should other automakers sign on. If the other OEMs follow suit, the charging companies will have no choice but to adapt, Daoud said. The deal does not necessarily mean other charging companies will get squeezed out of the market due to the sheer number of public charging stations the EV transition will require. Not Cost Prohibitive Ford said for customers to use the Superchargers next year theyll also need to do a software update and make a payment. Musk said the charging adapters wouldnt be cost-prohibitive, though neither CEO gave an exact price. Farley said Ford customers will still be able to use their old chargers, known as Combined Charging System connectors. The partnership is an obvious big win for Ford by giving its customers convenience when charging, Tom Narayan, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, said in a note. For Tesla, it can help by speeding up EV adoption and potentially allow it to qualify for more federal funding, he said. In a blog post in November, Austin-based Tesla said its charging standard is now the most common in North America, with a network twice as large as the Combined Charging System network. In February, the Musk-led EV maker said it would give other car companies more access to its chargers by the end of 2024. Farley and Musk also praised one another for their respective companies, with the Ford CEO saying he wanted to make his companys electric vehicles fully available to software updates, like Tesla vehicles. Its super hard what Tesla has done, Farley said. And I totally respect them. Tesla controls nearly 60% of the US electric vehicle market and Ford was a distant second last year. Farley has said he is aiming to eventually overtake Tesla. --With assistance from Dana Hull, Sean O'Kane and David R. Baker. (Updates with analyst comment about other charging companies from seventh paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- French grocer Casino Guichard Perrachon SA is beginning court-supervised talks with its creditors, a process that could clear the way for the debt-laden company to land an equity investment from Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky. Most Read from Bloomberg The so-called conciliation process will last up to five months, the company said in a statement Friday. Casino shares, which had been suspended since before the market opened Tuesday, dropped 8.2% to 6.205 at 11:02 a.m. in Paris. Notes due in March 2024 are now indicated at 21 cents on the euro, after starting the week at 27, according to CBBT pricing compiled by Bloomberg. Separately, Casino announced an agreement to sell some stores with about 1 billion ($1.1 billion) in annual sales to retailer Groupement Les Mousquetaires, which runs the Intermarche supermarket chain in France. Casino also has the option to sell another group of outlets, with about half that amount of combined sales, to Les Mousquetaires within three years, the company said. Casino sought the talks to negotiate with creditors in private about a proposal from Kretinsky, whos an existing shareholder in the company, to fix its balance sheet. That could potentially solve Casinos debt problem, while taking control out of the hands of Chairman Jean-Charles Naouri, who has a majority stake via his Rallye SA holding company. Casino will also discuss with creditors a plan to merge its assets in France with retailer Teract SA. The company said todays agreement with Les Mousquetaires is in line with talks underway with Teract. Last month, Kretinsky proposed that Casino raise 1.1 billion in equity, of which he would provide 750 million. One of the conditions of the offer is that the grocer needs to buy back unsecured debt and convert a substantial amount into equity. Casinos consolidated net debt stood at 5.1 billion as of March 31, the latest report available. Casino said at the time that it would consider seeking a conciliation process to win creditor approval for the deal. Read more: Casino Guichard Lenders Engage Advisers Ahead of Debt Talks Creditors agreed to let Casino ask the Paris Commercial Court to open the conciliation proceedings without it being considered a default, Casino said. Conciliation is a voluntary proceeding in French law in which a company and its lenders renegotiate debt terms under the supervision of a court-appointed agent. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says: Groupe Casinos acceptance of a future 100 million equity investment from Groupement Les Mousquetaires in return for selling some stores seems to signal that there will be heavily dilutive new equity investment, with Teract and, likely, EP Global Commerce (which has proposed a 1.1 billion equity raise) participating. This comes in parallel with the opening of conciliation with financial creditors, which implies that despite 4.2 billion in French asset disposals and the 723 million stake sales in Assai, the companys debt burden is unsustainable. Casino Lines Up New Equity as Debt Conciliation Starts: React Casino has been struggling in particular with its operations in France, where its been burning cash. Last year the company had an average drawdown of 1.23 billion out of the 2.1 billion it had available, pointing to a liquidity stretch. Read more: Paris Grocery Titan Naouri Turns to Protege to Save Empire In the deal with Les Mousquetaires, Casino didnt disclose how many stores would be sold and for how much. Les Mousquetaires will also take a minority 100 million equity investment in the future financing round of Casino, the grocer said. This wont clash with Casinos plan to negotiate a joint venture with Teract, the food-retail startup backed by billionaire Xavier Niel, according to Casino. Casinos shares have plunged more than 90% over the past decade, touching a record low in March, while its bonds are priced at distressed levels as investors bet a default is looming. The conciliation procedure only applies to the financial debt of the group and some of its subsidiaries including Cdiscount and will have no impact on operational partners including suppliers or company employees, Casino said. --With assistance from Giulia Morpurgo. (Updates with stock move in second paragraph, more details in fifth.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. DUBLIN, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Shrimp Market, Volume, Size, Forecast 2023-2028, Industry Trends, Growth, Share, Outlook, Impact of Inflation, Opportunity Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo Global Shrimp Market is expected to be US$ 69.35 Billion by 2028, according to the publisher, making shrimp one of the most traded species of seafood worldwide. The demand for shrimp is increasing not only in the food industry but also in other sectors such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and cosmetics, mainly because of its beneficial properties such as antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Shrimp is an excellent source of protein, phosphorus, and selenium, making it highly nutritious and easy to obtain. The shrimp industry's stable long-term growth prospects are due to its high demand and improved supply. This makes it a significant driving force behind the growth of the global seafood industry. Additionally, shrimp is a popular ingredient in various dishes, especially in Asian cuisine, which can further increase its popularity and contribute to market expansion. Global Shrimp Market is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.72% between 2022 and 2028 To meet market requirements, small-scale farmers in Asian countries are being empowered by governments and organizations to increase stakeholder interaction and involvement in the cluster. Additionally, fiscal reliefs and incentives are being provided by governments to promote shrimp cluster farming in response to the rising global demand for shrimp. The seafood sector has been identified as a high-priority industry by major producing countries. Therefore, adopting cluster farming through a participatory approach increases shrimp production, promotes sustainability, and reduces the risk of diseases. During the forecast period, the Global Shrimp Market is expected to witness growth, driven by government support for shrimp culture through cluster farming in countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Thailand. This support is likely to attract new investors to the industry. In 2022, the global shrimp market size was valued at US$ 46.94 Billion. India and Vietnam have emerged as the World's leading Shrimp Producers The Global Shrimp market is categorized by producing countries, including China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Latin America. India is recognized as a significant supplier of value-added shrimp globally, thanks to its low labor costs and the economy of scale it has achieved by becoming one of the most extensive producers of farmed shrimp. The existing hatcheries, feed mills, and processing plants' capacity provide a solid foundation for future expansion. Vietnam's shrimp industry faces a persistent challenge of ramping up production to meet the rising demand in both domestic and global markets, fueled by improving living standards. The country's shrimp production has grown significantly over the years, nearing the one million tons mark, mainly due to the cultivation of vannamei shrimp, which offers high yields through intensive farming, unlike black tiger shrimp that have low productivity in extensive farming. Vietnam's shrimp production is expected to rise by expanding the farming area and boosting the productivity of vannamei shrimp. China becomes the Top Shrimp Importer Globally The Global Shrimp Industry is categorized by importing countries, with China now ranked as the world's top shrimp importer. The other countries in this category include the European Union, EU28, United States of America, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Vietnam. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, China has experienced a decline in domestic seafood production, leading to a high demand for imported shrimp. As a result, imports have increased to meet supply gaps, especially in the retail and catering industries. Ecuadorian shrimp is the most commonly imported product, other countries such as India, Vietnam, Canada, and Greenland. The United States of America is also one the largest importer of shrimp in the world. The majority of imported frozen shrimp comes from India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. India Shrimp Exports are facing competition from Ecuador, which is emerging as a major player in the Global Shrimp Market By Exporting Countries, Worldwide Shrimp Market was classified into Ecuador, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Thailand and Argentina. Ecuadorian shrimp is known for its high quality and is becoming increasingly popular in international markets, including the United States, China, and Europe. Ecuador's emphasis on sustainable production and implementation of technology to drive efficiency may potentially enable it to overtake other countries and emerge as the top player in the global shrimp market. It is anticipated that the future of farmed shrimp production could shift towards South and Central America. India is benefiting from the increasing demand for disease-free and healthy shrimp, and has now become one of the largest shrimp exporters to both the US and the European Union. An expanding food industry is also being observed in India due to the rising demand for ready-to-eat food products, driven by forces such as rapid urbanization, changing lifestyles, hectic work schedules, and an increasing population of working women. Additionally, the rising worldwide demand for shrimp is positively affecting shrimp imports from India. Litopenaeusvannamei (L. vannamei) is the most commonly sold Species of Shrimp Worldwide The global shrimp market is segmented by species into L. vannamei, P. monodon, M.rosenbergii, and others. Litopenaeusvannamei, also known as the Pacific white shrimp, has emerged as the most popular species in the market, accounting for over 50% of the global shrimp industry's production. This is due to its adaptability to a wide range of environments, high growth rates, and ability to withstand extreme conditions. Ecuador, China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam are the major producers of L. vannamei shrimp. It is anticipated that the market for M.rosenbergii and P. monodon shrimp will see further growth in the future, driven by heavy imports from major shrimp-consuming countries such as China and the USA. Shrimp that fall in the 21-25 Size Range belong to the Medium-sized category, and are commonly used in a variety of Shrimp dishes due to their Popularity By Size Category, Global Shrimp Market is sub-divided into <_5_ _5-20_="_5-20_" _1-25_="_1-25_" _6-30_="_6-30_" _1-40_="_1-40_" _1-50_="_1-50_" _1-60_="_1-60_" _1-70="_1-70">70. The 21-25 size range of shrimp is a common size range for shrimp sold in the market. Shrimp that falls within the 21-25 size range is considered a popular medium size and is often sold as 'jumbo' or 'extra-large' both fresh and frozen. The top shrimp-producing countries in the world are China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Thailand. The shrimp industry also commonly sells the 26-30 size range of shrimp, which is another popular size range referred to as 'large' or 'extra-large' shrimp. These shrimp are commonly sold in both fresh and frozen forms, and their market demand and production are similar to those of the 21-25 size range. The largest shrimp-producing countries in the world, including China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Thailand, also produce significant quantities of this size range. Green/head-on Shrimp Industry is a significant sector of the Global Seafood Market, serving an important segment of Seafood Consumers Global Shrimp Industry is divided by product form into Breaded, Cooked, Peeled, Green/Head-off, Green/Head-on, and Other Forms. Green or head-on shrimp refers to shrimp that has not been peeled, deveined, or had its head removed. These shrimp are usually sold fresh or frozen and are often considered a delicacy due to their rich flavor and texture. The green/head-on shrimp industry plays an important role in the global seafood market, catering to a significant segment of discerning consumers and high-end restaurants. The production of green/head-on shrimp is similar to that of other shrimp products, with major producing countries including China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Ecuador. Production - Shrimp Market & Volume breakup of top 10 Countries 1. China 2. India 3. Viet Nam 4. Indonesia 5. Thailand 6. Philippines 7. Bangladesh 8. Malasia 9. Latin America 10. Others Countries Import - Shrimp Volume breakup of top 7 Countries 1. European Union (EU28) 2. United States of America 3. China 4. Japan 5. South Korea 6. Canada 7. Vietnam Export - Shrimp Volume breakup of top 7 Countries 1. Ecuador 2. India 3. Vietnam 4. Indonesia 5. China 6. Thailand 7. Argentina Species- Shrimp Volume breakup in 4 parts 1. L. vannamei 2. P. monodon 3. M.rosenbergii 4. Others By Product Form - Shrimp Volume breakup of 6 Form 1. Breaded 2. Cooked 3. Peeled 4. Green/Head-off 5. Green/Head-on 6. Other Forms All companies have been covered from 3 Viewpoints Overview Recent Development Revenue Company Analysis 1. Avanti Feeds Ltd. 2. High Liner Foods Inc 3. Surapon Foods 4. Thai Union Group 5. The Waterbase Ltd. 6. Royal Greenland 7. Maruha Nichiro Corporation 8. Marine Harvest 9. Mowi ASA Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research & Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 5. SWOT Analysis 6. Porter's Five Forces 7. Global Shrimp Market 8. Global Shrimp Volume 9. Market Share - Global Shrimp Analysis 10. Production - Global Shrimp Market & Volume 11. Import - Global Shrimp Volume 12. Export - Global Shrimp Volume 13. Species - Global Shrimp Market 14. Size Category - Global Shrimp Market 15. Product Form - Global Shrimp Market 16. Company Analysis - Global Shrimp Market For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uhnp5e 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 press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-shrimp-market-report-2023-sector-to-reach-69-35-billion-by-2028-at-a-6-7-cagr-301835697.html SOURCE Research and Markets For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad. So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad (KLSE:PERSTIM). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it. Check out our latest analysis for Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad How Fast Is Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad Growing? If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS) outcomes. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. Impressively, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad has grown EPS by 18% per year, compound, in the last three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about. It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. EBIT margins for Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 43% to RM1.6b. That's encouraging news for the company! The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers. Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of RM567m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength. Are Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It should give investors a sense of security owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, creating a close alignment their interests. Shareholders will be pleased by the fact that insiders own Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad shares worth a considerable sum. To be specific, they have RM67m worth of shares. This considerable investment should help drive long-term value in the business. As a percentage, this totals to 12% of the shares on issue for the business, an appreciable amount considering the market cap. Is Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad Worth Keeping An Eye On? If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad's strong EPS growth. This EPS growth rate is something the company should be proud of, and so it's no surprise that insiders are holding on to a considerable chunk of shares. Fast growth and confident insiders should be enough to warrant further research, so it would seem that it's a good stock to follow. However, before you get too excited we've discovered 1 warning sign for Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad that you should be aware of. Although Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Singapore --News Direct-- Huobi Singapore / May 26, 2023 / Huobi announced the launch of Huobi HK and stated that they will provide cryptocurrency trading services to users in HK. Huobi HK will play a significant role in driving Hong Kong towards becoming the global hub for Web3. In the future, users will be able to buy, sell, and hold mainstream cryptocurrencies such as BTC and ETH, as well as other major cryptocurrencies listed on the independent index through Huobi HK. Huobi aims to deliver an excellent trading experience to Web3 users in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been gradually implementing crypto-friendly policies since last year and recently announced the introduction of "crypto regulations." The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has also announced that more details regarding virtual asset trading regulations will come into light starting June 1st, and retail investors may be able to trade digital assets on licensed platforms as early as the second half of 2023. As a cryptocurrency exchange platform with a decade-long history, Huobi is actively involved in the development and construction of Hong Kong's Web3 ecosystem. It is worth noting that during this year's Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, Huobi became a significant contributor to Hong Kong's first Web3 ecosystem fund. Additionally, Huobi is actively preparing to apply for a cryptocurrency trading license in Hong Kong. Huobi aims to open the Hong Kong market in a compliant and regulated manner that will accelerate the development of Hong Kong's Web3 ecosystem. A representative from Huobi stated, "Regulation of Web3 in Hong Kong will contribute to the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies on a global scale. Huobi will continue to collaborate with regulatory authorities in Hong Kong to support the development of a vibrant Web3 hub." About Huobi Founded in 2013, Huobi has evolved from a crypto exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, wallets, research, investment, incubation and other areas. Huobi serves millions of users worldwide, with a business presence covering over 160 countries and regions across five continents. Its three development strategies - "global development, technology drives development, and technology for good" - underpin its commitment to providing comprehensive services and values to global cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@huobi.com Company Website https://www.huobi.com/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/huobi-set-to-launch-trading-service-in-hong-kong-144405010 Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Eneraqua Technologies plc (LON:ETP) Independent Non-Executive Chair, Richard Guy Stenhouse, recently bought UK53k worth of stock, for UK1.94 per share. While we're hesitant to get too excited about a purchase of that size, we do note it increased their holding by a solid 38%. See our latest analysis for Eneraqua Technologies Eneraqua Technologies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In fact, the recent purchase by Richard Guy Stenhouse was the biggest purchase of Eneraqua Technologies shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being UK1.75). 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. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. While Eneraqua Technologies insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. Their average price was about UK1.84. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! There are 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 Eneraqua Technologies Boast High Insider Ownership? For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Eneraqua Technologies insiders own 64% of the company, worth about UK37m. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Eneraqua Technologies Insiders? The recent insider purchases are heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about Eneraqua Technologies. Looks promising! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Eneraqua Technologies. Be aware that Eneraqua Technologies is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 2 of those are significant... But note: Eneraqua Technologies 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 International Game Technology PLC (NYSE:IGT) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 12% in the last month. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been very strong. In three years the stock price has launched 187% higher: a great result. After a run like that some may not be surprised to see prices moderate. Only time will tell if there is still too much optimism currently reflected in the share price. Since the long term performance has been good but there's been a recent pullback of 6.3%, let's check if the fundamentals match the share price. Check out our latest analysis for International Game Technology 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, International Game Technology moved from a loss to profitability. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). It is of course excellent to see how International Game Technology has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling International Game Technology stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for International Game Technology the TSR over the last 3 years was 204%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective It's good to see that International Game Technology has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 21% in the last twelve months. Of course, that includes the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 3% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. 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 International Game Technology is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those can't be ignored... If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 The projected fair value for Raytheon Technologies is US$121 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Raytheon Technologies' US$93.12 share price signals that it might be 23% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 9.6% higher than Raytheon Technologies' analyst price target of US$110 Does the May share price for Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Raytheon Technologies Is Raytheon Technologies Fairly Valued? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$4.88b US$6.67b US$8.40b US$9.72b US$10.2b US$10.6b US$11.0b US$11.3b US$11.6b US$11.9b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x11 Analyst x10 Analyst x8 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.81% Est @ 3.30% Est @ 2.94% Est @ 2.69% Est @ 2.52% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.4% US$4.5k US$5.8k US$6.8k US$7.3k US$7.2k US$6.9k US$6.7k US$6.4k US$6.1k US$5.8k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$63b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.4%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$12b (1 + 2.1%) (7.4% 2.1%) = US$230b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$230b ( 1 + 7.4%)10= US$113b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$176b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$93.1, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 23% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. 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 Raytheon Technologies 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 7.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.888. 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 Raytheon Technologies Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Aerospace & Defense market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. 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. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Raytheon Technologies, we've put together three fundamental elements you should look at: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for Raytheon Technologies we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for RTX's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But many of us dare to dream of bigger returns, and build a portfolio ourselves. Just take a look at Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), which is up 95%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 32% (not including dividends). So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. View our latest analysis for Ford Motor 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 flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During three years of share price growth, Ford Motor moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). It is of course excellent to see how Ford Motor has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Ford Motor the TSR over the last 3 years was 117%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective Investors in Ford Motor had a tough year, with a total loss of 4.7% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 2.1%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 4% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Ford Motor better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Ford Motor (including 1 which is a bit concerning) . But note: Ford Motor may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). 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 By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But many of us dare to dream of bigger returns, and build a portfolio ourselves. For example, the Crescendo Corporation Berhad (KLSE:CRESNDO) share price is up 32% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 2.3% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 5.6% in the last year , including dividends . With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Check out our latest analysis for Crescendo Corporation Berhad To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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. Over the last three years, Crescendo Corporation Berhad failed to grow earnings per share, which fell 2.3% (annualized). Based on these numbers, we think that the decline in earnings per share may not be a good representation of how the business has changed over the years. So other metrics may hold the key to understanding what is influencing investors. We doubt the dividend payments explain the share price rise, since we don't see any improvement in that regard. Revenue has been falling at 2.9%, so that isn't exactly encouraging. So it isn't easy to explain why the share price is up - maybe a closer look at revenue and earnings trends could help us understand. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). Take a more thorough look at Crescendo Corporation Berhad'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. 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Crescendo Corporation Berhad, it has a TSR of 49% 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 We're pleased to report that Crescendo Corporation Berhad shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 5.6% over one year. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 3% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. 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. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Crescendo Corporation Berhad (including 1 which is significant) . If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The Brainy Insights The global invoice factoring market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.16% from 2023 to 2032. The rise in demand for alternate forms of finance for micro, small and medium-sized businesses contribute to the market expansion. Newark, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 2,740.47 billion in 2022 invoice factoring market will reach USD 6,004.70 billion by 2032. It is anticipated that the widespread adoption of machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to profitable expansion opportunities for factoring during the projected period. The COVID-19 outbreak brought a more collaborative approach, with banks and Supply Chain Finance (SCFs) working together to benefit the client ecosystems. For Right Perspective and Competitive Insights, Get Sample Report at: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/13488 Key Insight of the Invoice Factoring Market Asia-Pacific is anticipated to expand at the highest CAGR of 11.37% over the projection period. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 11.37% over the forecast period. It is because economies like India and those of other Southeast Asian nations have seen manufacturing sectors grow. Their economies are fast transitioning from agricultural to manufacturing and export-oriented economies, which has promoted the expansion of invoice factoring in the area. The Asia Pacific region is also home to a significant number of rising economies, including China, Thailand, India, and the Philippines, which are attracting investments from developed markets that are saturated and looking for new business prospects in the area. Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), which make up more than half of all businesses in Asia Pacific, frequently seek financial assistance to maintain the smooth functioning of their operations. The international segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 10.49% over the projected period in the invoice factoring market. The international segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 10.49% in the invoice factoring market. Regardless of the size or the sector company serve, international factoring services are a must for companies doing business internationally. Increased open account trading has encouraged this market segment to expand further, and importers in industrialised nations are considering factoring as a viable alternative to traditional forms of trade financing. In addition, the increased awareness of global trade and the relocation of production facilities, particularly following the COVID-19 epidemic in China, to other economies like Vietnam, Mexico, and the Philippines are promoting the expansion of this segment. Over the projected period, the non-recourse segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 10.75% in the invoice factoring market. Over the forecasted period, the non-recourse segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 10.75% in the invoice factoring market. This is because non-recourse factoring services are used more frequently in developing countries. The non-recourse factoring provides firms with total credit security, the primary factor promoting growth. Businesses with a broad customer base may seek to offload their accounts receivable to clean up their balance sheet; in this instance, non-recourse factoring is a viable choice. Since the factoring company is responsible for any bad debt in the case of non-recourse factoring, they have stricter credit standards. Truckers at the bottom of the food chain employ non-recourse factoring frequently because they desire financial stability when getting paid for cargo. The non-banking financial institutions segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 10.99% over the projected period in the invoice factoring market. The non-banking financial institutions segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 10.99% in the invoice factoring market. The flexibility and openness that non-banking financial companies provide their customers can be associated with the development. To compete with banks, non-banking financial institutions are progressively implementing cutting-edge technology. For instance, RTS Finance, one of the best invoice factoring businesses for trucking, offers mobile and online browser apps for more significant platform interaction. Truckers may follow the transaction's progress and benefit from several advantages, including fuel card savings and the absence of any unstated fees for automatic clearing or invoice submission. Get a detailed analysis: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/invoice-factoring-market-13488 Market Dynamics Driver: Rising fintech solution adoption rate among SMEs The adoption of fintech has been accelerated by a rise in public knowledge about developments in financial technology in areas including payments and money transfers, financial planning and budgeting, borrowing, saving, and investing, as well as insurance. Adoption rates for China and India were 87% and 58%, and 50%, 67%, 67%, 71%, and 46%, respectively, for Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As an example, the global adoption of fintech has been rising gradually. Most companies offering payment services support small business owners' faith in their ability to compete in the market. Because most banks are unwilling to issue multiple paychecks, fintech solution companies provide an automated option. Fintech offers cost-effective bulk payment services. This increases banks' or third-party insurers' return on investments (RoI) by enabling SMEs to access fintech companies. The primary legitimacy and safety solutions offered by Fintech companies keep an eye on the SMEs transaction process. This creates a situation where everyone benefits from invoice factoring, including major banks and SMEs. Opportunity: Invoice factoring using blockchain The banking industry has seen a considerable transformation due to information technology. Due to innovative financial technologies, the transaction procedure in the factoring company has been automated. The development of automated solutions has also contributed to expanding the financial sector by enhancing planning and security. The adoption of crypto-solutions has improved transaction accuracy and secured sensitive data for all parties (including suppliers and invoice factoring buyers), reducing the likelihood of financial fraud. The invoice factoring market can improve financial transactions through a centralised and encrypted method by integrating smart contracts into the blockchain. The open blockchain systems include R3CORDA, Hyperledger, NEO, and Ethereum. Ethereum is the most appreciated of these platforms. The platform enables a smart contract to be decentralised, stored, and executed, enabling local hashing. The public disclosure of the processed data assists in boosting network security. Interested in Procure Data? Visit: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/buy-now/13488/single Some of the major players operating in the invoice factoring market are: American Express Company ICBC Lloyds Bank Sonovate Velotrade Adobe Intuit Inc. Waddle Porter Capital Barclays Bank UK PLC Key Segments cover in the market: By Category: International Domestic By Type: Non-Recourse Recourse By Financial Institution: Non-Banking Financial Institutions Banks By Region North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America) The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) About the report: The market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analyzes driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining critical insight into the market. The study includes porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, product analysis, supply, and demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution, and marketing channels analysis. About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: http://www.thebrainyinsights.com DEARBORN, Mich., May 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ford President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley will discuss the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation leveraging software and deep customer understanding in a new era of connected, electric vehicles at the Alliance Bernstein 39th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. ET. In a fireside chat with technology analyst Toni Sacconaghi, Farley will describe how Ford is shaping the future of the automotive industry by delivering on the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. Farley and other company leaders described this past Monday at Fords Capital Markets Day the journey to transform a 120-year-old, purpose driven company into an industry pacesetter in digital electric, ICE and hybrid vehicles. Hell illustrate how Ford is delivering incredible customer experiences and unlocking new growth by creating vehicles as software platforms, with the Ford Pro commercial business as the best example today of whats possible across all customer segments. The fireside chat can be viewed online. Additional information will be available at shareholder.ford.com. People who are unable to view the live webcast will find a replay at the same site shortly after the event About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The companys Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines always-on digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 174,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230526005033/en/ Contacts Equity Investment Community: Lynn Antipas Tyson 914.485.1150 ltyson4@ford.com Fixed Income Investment Community: Jessica Vila-Goulding 313.248.3896 jvila5@ford.com Shareholder Inquiries: 800.555.5259 or 313.845.8540 fordir@ford.com Media: Artealia Gilliard 347.571.7127 agillia3@ford.com 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. Financial giant JPMorgan Chase filed a trademark application for a finance-themed chatbot called IndexGPT earlier this month. According to the application filed on May 11 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the chatbot would be used for advertising and marketing services, an index of securities values, and online financial information and investment advice. "AI and the raw material that feeds it, data, will be critical to our companys future success," JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said in a letter to shareholders in April. "The importance of implementing new technologies simply cannot be overstated." In a February survey by JP Morgan, more than half of the institutional traders surveyed said that artificial intelligence and machine learning would be the most influential technology in shaping the future of trading over the next three years. Warren Bitcoin Is Rat Poison Buffett Likens AI to the Atom Bomb As JP Morgan looks to leverage artificial intelligence in its financial systems, it said the company is dedicating over 2,000 data managers, data scientists, and machine learning engineers to build its AI capabilities, calling it "inextricably linked" with cloud-based systems, whether public or private and digital capabilities. "Native cloud-based approaches will ultimately be faster, cheaper, and aligned with the newest AI techniques, and they will give us easy access to constantly evolving developer tools," Dimon said. Since the public launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November and its latest version, GPT-4, in March, companies worldwide have been in a race to develop tools based around AI in what has been likened to an "arms race" by Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO Warren Buffett. New AI Tool Named for Warren Buffett Makes Quick Work of Corporate Filings The financial industry has been particularly interested in AI's ability to process data. In March, an artificial intelligence engineer in the UK, Mayo Oshin, developed a bot named after Buffett to analyze large financial documents. While AI continues into the mainstream, more and more voices are sounding the alarm about the potential harm of unregulated artificial intelligence, including Microsoft President Brad Smith. Government needs to move faster, Smith said during a Thursday morning panel discussion in Washington, D.C. JP Morgan Chase declined Decrypt's request for comment. White House and congressional negotiators are reportedly nearing a budget deal that would cut spending and raise the debt ceiling to avert an unprecedented default on U.S. debt and members of both the Republican and Democratic parties are fuming and fretting about it, even as difficult issues remain unresolved. President Joe Biden said Thursday afternoon that the negotiators were making progress and he believed that a bipartisan agreement will be reached. But he said that the two sides have very different visions for the country. Speaker McCarthy and I have a very different view of who should bear the burden of additional efforts to get our fiscal house in order, Biden said. I don't believe the whole burden should fall on the backs of middle-class and working-class Americans. My House Republican friends disagree. The deal could be sealed as early as tomorrow, Republican Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas told CNN Thursday morning. And Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma told Reuters that negotiators are inching closer to a deal and an agreement is likely by Friday afternoon. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his negotiators also indicated that the talks were advancing but remain at a delicate stage. Are we closer? Yes, Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina said. Is it more difficult? Yes. McHenry said nothing had been finalized yet and that talks are entering the most difficult phase. Nothings done, and were at a sensitive phase with sensitive issues that remain. Those sensitive issues are the thorniest issues that weve been discussing, he told reporters. The emerging deal reportedly would extend the debt limit through 2024 and include a strong incentive for Congress to pass all 12 annual spending bills: a mechanism that would automatically extend federal funding at a capped level agreed upon by the two sides if the appropriations bills arent enacted by the end of the fiscal year. The deal reportedly also would claw back unspent Covid funding and could still include some of the stiffer work requirements sought by Republicans for certain safety net programs. The deal could include some surprises. Defense spending remains a sticking point in the talks, with Republicans looking to exempt the military from any spending caps and instead make deeper cuts to non-defense programs like education, Jim Tankersley of The New York Times reports. But the Associated Press says that Republicans may be willing to pull back on their demands for defense spending and could be eyeing at least a modest victory on one of their biggest priorities, IRS funding. 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 AP reported. The Republicans may achieve their goal of rolling back bolstered funding for the Internal Revenue Service if they agree to instead allow the White House to push that money into other domestic accounts, the person said. 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, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon tweeted in response to that report. The Washington Post adds that Biden officials may see the tradeoff as a good way to preserve funding for programs like nutrition assistance, rental aid and scientific research without giving up too much: It is unclear exactly how much money the final agreement might strip from the IRS, but one of the people familiar with the matter said it is unlikely to be more than $10 billion. As indications grew that a deal may be within reach, some conservatives and progressives expressed heightened concerns that their leaders will give up too much to get to a final agreement. What Republicans are angry about: As the deadline nears, its clear the Republican speaker who leads a Trump-aligned party whose hard-right flank lifted him to power is now staring down a potential crisis, the AP said. Conservatives were angered by the likelihood of a larger increase in the debt ceiling than House Republicans had included in the bill they passed last month, which would lift the limit 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 of Virginia. If that were true, that would absolutely collapse the Republican majority for this debt ceiling increase. Members of the House Freedom Caucus sent McCarthy a letter Thursday calling a larger debt-limit hike outrageous and Bidens position preposterous. The conservatives urged McCarthy to add border provisions to the Republican bill and end funding for the FBIs new headquarters. The letter also questioned the validity of the June 1 deadline provided by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and suggested that McCarthy offer a stopgap measure to extend the deadline by clawing back unspent Covid money and repealing funding for the IRS enacted by Democrats last year. On the Senate side, Utah Republican Mike Lee threatened to derail quick passage of any deal, tweeting: 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. McCarthy acknowledged the anxieties. I dont think everybody is going to be happy at the end of the day, he told reporters. Thats not how this system works. What Democrats are angry about: Many progressives are worried that the administration will agree to spending cuts they see as too steep and they worry that the administration, and Biden specifically, has been too restrained in fighting back against the GOPs demands and public posturing. The scale of the cuts is staggering, which really the public knows very little about, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democratic appropriator, per Politico. The president should be out there. Dozens of Democratic votes may be needed to pass any deal, and some in the party feel they have not gotten concessions to match their role. Many rank-and-file Democrats feel as if theyre going to be asked to vote for a package that is slanted toward Republican demands with little for them in return, Punchbowl News reported Thursday morning, adding that Biden and Democratic leaders will have a lot of work to do to round up the necessary votes. This will be a big test for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clark. Theyll have to deliver dozens of Democratic votes for Biden on a deal that benefits the presidents reelection campaign perhaps more than anyone else, Punchbowls Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan suggested. Whats next: Maybe, just maybe, well see a deal tomorrow. The talks continue, but with just a week to go before the June 1 deadline the earliest the government might run out of cash to pay its bills and no agreement in place just yet, the House has left town for its Memorial Day recess. McCarthy has promised to allow 72 hours for members to read any legislation, and lawmakers can be called back with 24 hours notice. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Theyll pry my Yahoo email from my cold, dead hands: A recruiter on TikTok just shared 4 controversial red flags that could cost you the job and what you can do about it Theyll pry my Yahoo email from my cold, dead hands: A recruiter on TikTok just shared 4 controversial red flags that could cost you the job and what you can do about it It was a teenage rite of passage in the 2000s to create an email address that was cute, clever, or funny but now that cringey reminder of your misspent youth could cost you a job. Don't miss Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds Here's how much money the average middle-class American household makes how do you stack up? This janitor in Vermont built an $8M fortune without anyone around him knowing. Here are the 2 simple techniques that made Ronald Read rich and can do the same for you A recruiter on TikTok has exposed what she calls the secrets of her industry to help job hunters across America succeed in their search. She lists several red flags that some not all recruiters look out for, a few of which may catch you by surprise. Bonnie Dilber, a Seattle-based recruiting manager for the software development firm Zapier, set tongues wagging after she posted a TikTok video entitled: You might be surprised to learn [what] some recruiters (NOT ME!!) hold against candidates. What some recruiters see as red flags, many commenters called out as simple discrimination. Here are four things Dilber says could be held against you when job hunting and what you may want to change: Your email address Dilber says there are two email-related issues that job hunters should be aware of. The first is using some sort of vintage, old-school account like AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo instead of something like Gmail, she says. I dont personally hold those things against people and Ive hired people with those email addresses but I have heard recruiters talk about how it signals that someone isnt using modern, up-to-date technology, and therefore, it just raises a flag for them. While you may not want to get rid of your classic Tr0yB0lton4Eva@hotmail.com email for nostalgias sake, Dilber says its wise to get a fresh, professional Gmail account to apply for jobs. She also advises you use your full name in your email address. If [your email is] something inappropriate or unprofessional, its actually going to raise a lot of concerns, she says. She adds that even if your email isnt going to embarrass you, it could cause a problem if its something other than an iteration of your full name. This could make it harder for someone to contact you for an interview if they cannot type your name into their email client and have you pop up. These alleged email red flags raised the hackles of TikTok users. Many replied to Dilber asking what makes AOL or Yahoo outdated. She replied: Lol, I dont even know. One user said it sounds like age discrimination, while another said: They'll pry my Yahoo email from my cold, dead hands. Read more: 'Hold onto your money': Jeff Bezos says you might want to rethink buying a 'new automobile, refrigerator, or whatever' here are 3 better recession-proof buys Your location When assessing job applicants, some recruiters will look at your home location, Google how long your commute is, and use that to determine if theyll bring you in for an interview, according to Dilber. Their thinking here is that if you have a really long commute, you may be more likely to miss work, be late to work, request to work remote, those sorts of things, she explains. And so, they may want to prioritize candidates that are closer. Dilber recommends that you only include a general metro area as your location in your job application, not your home address. In my opinion, your commute is your decision, she says. I wouldnt personally give them that information and let them hold it against you. This tip was called spot on by Shanaeya Williams, who commented on the clip saying: A recruiter told me I was qualified, but was concerned about my 30 min commute, so they didn't offer me the position. Your social media If youve ever done a mad scramble to delete old photos and embarrassing statuses on Facebook before a big job interview, youre not alone. This is a tip youve probably heard before: Consider cleaning up your social media and getting rid of any NSFW (not safe for work) content. Employers are definitely screening candidates presence online, because they want to see if theres any sort of risk to bringing that person on board, Dilber says . I would personally keep your social media locked down and make sure to keep pretty neutral if youre going through an interview process and want to maximize your chances, she says, adding that its smart to not use your full or real name on social media. Your references In a similar vein, Dilber says that anything thats happened in the workplace in the past is fair game for a future employer to dig into. This is especially true for people applying for more senior positions, where back-channel references where they talk to people in your network to find out more about you are really common, according to the recruiter. If you want to make sure that no one at your current employer finds out that youre interviewing, youll need to make that really clear to the company that is considering your application, Dilber adds. Otherwise, you need to be aware that they could be contacted with questions about you. This again triggered comments from fellow TikTok users. One person said, Ive had online applications ask for references and they check them before calling me. So now I leave them blank until I talk with someone, to which Dilber replied: I do the same (leave blank!) So these three basic things your dated email address, your home address, and your digital presence could all work against you when applying for a job. One TikTok user commented that these nitpicky complaints just seem like ways to eliminate people from a pool of candidates, without actually considering their skill. Sounds like discrimination to me, one person wrote in the comments. Dilber replied: I just tell y'all what I see people discussing in these recruiter boards. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. What to look for as logistics industry preps for back-to-school season Back-to-school season is near, and planning is underway among shippers and logistics companies. (Photo: Shutterstock) Peak season expectations are some of the most currently discussed topics in logistics, but there is another key consumer metric not being considered: back-to-school shopping season. Just like ordering for the holidays, this season which usually runs from mid-July through early/mid-September follows a similar pattern of calendar predictability. The planning and ordering happens at the same time every year. Calls between shippers and logistics companies are currently underway for back-to-school logistics planning. This period of time could be used as a good barometer for the retail sectors expectations on consumer spending. While the logistics industry looks at the totality of volumes being moved during the back-to-school season or peak season, to declare a success you need to dig deep into the metrics in order to understand the future. To anticipate the true health of the consumer, you need to break out the different verticals within the supply chain. The status of the supply chain is not a black-and-white issue its made of shades of gray. Consumer appetite within product segments of the different verticals will enable companies better ways to manage their inventory. We expect back-to-school orders to be similar to last year or have a slight uptick, said Drew Wilkerson, CEO of RXO, the fourth-largest North American freight broker. We are seeing a lot of apparel orders. Orders for technology are also key for this time. This is the second year that students are back in school full time since the COVID pandemic began. We are not seeing any major variances with orders from our customer base, explained Alan Baer, CEO of OL USA. Volume from tech companies appears steady. Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal for ITS Logistics, told American Shipper that year over year, the company is still seeing softness in all aspects of retail. We are seeing considerable softness in all segments of back-to-school goods year over year from both retailers and those that are supplying those retailers, he said. Volumes are down 30%-35% compared to last year due to significant inventories still sitting in shipper [distribution centers]. Those SKU segments include office supplies, clothing and electronics. Though volumes are down considerably, higher-end goods are outperforming discount goods for import volume. This is attributed to the fact that discount retailers are sourcing inventory from the overstock in U.S. [distribution centers] and not overseas, as has been the case in the past. No apples-to-apples comparison As we head into this peak season, the year-over-year (y/y) comparisons will, in reality, be nothing more than splashy headlines and not reflecting true fundamentals. The COVID impact is still backed in. This part of the calendar year is tilted because of the front-loading of holiday items. This resulted in the flat 2022 peak season. FreightWaves SONAR shows this apples-to-oranges y/y comparison of ocean TEU volumes. The TEU Volume Index is down 33% and ocean shipments are down 37%. Using 2018 and 2019 data could help provide further clarity when comparing the mindset of todays consumer. Breaking out the segments of trade, the types of products ordered and sold will give the world a better sense of how consumers will be spending their dollars. Wilkerson said food and beverage continues to be strong as well as pharmaceuticals. Another data point to flag is the continued softness in the load-to-truck ratio. The load-to-truck ratio 2:1 has not dipped for a sustained amount of time, Wilkerson said. I have not called the bottom, but we have to be close to it. More carriers are exiting the market, and thats good, but not enough have come out to move the needle. Bottom line: The more we peel away at the layers of trade data, the better we will be able to understand what kind of spending consumers might make. The post What to look for as logistics industry preps for back-to-school season appeared first on FreightWaves. eyetoeyePIX / Getty Images According to the Federal Reserve System, the total amount of wealth transferred from one generation to the next amounted to approximately $350 billion per year. However, only around two million American households less than 2% of all households in the country receive any type of intergenerational wealth or inheritance each year. See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Whether its cash or an asset like a business or real estate, building generational wealth plays a key role in securing any familys financial future. But so many people dont know where to start, or what to invest in, to set their family on this path. If youre trying to figure out how to build generational wealth for your loved ones, heres some advice from the experts on how to do it. Understanding Generational Wealth Most people think of generational wealth as the Rockefellers, Kennedys, and having trust funds being passed down for multiple generations, but generational wealth has many forms, said Jen Reid, financial planner and founder of BASE Planning. Generational wealth can be something simple like getting help with your college education so you dont graduate with student loans. Or it can be something with even greater, reaching effects like a large inheritance that makes it where you never have to work again. The first step is to determine what generational wealth means to you and why you want to build it. After that, you can start focusing on what to invest in like these seven investments. How To Buy ChatGPT Stock: Your 2023 Guide to AI Investing 1. Get a Life Insurance Policy and Quickly A life insurance policy is essentially a contract between the policyholder you and an insurance company. When you take out a life insurance policy, youll typically need to make regular payments for the duration of the contract. In return, the insurer agrees to pay out a specific sum of money to any beneficiaries listed on that policy. This is called a death benefit. Depending on the policy, your beneficiaries may receive this payout upon your death or in the event of a terminal illness. You are your biggest asset, said Reid, and protecting the ability to produce income while you are alive will be the most effective way to build generational wealth and support your loved ones. Simple term life insurance that gives you a high death benefit with [a] low monthly cost is the best way to go, and what I recommend to my clients. Life insurance policies come in many forms, such as term or whole life policies, and coverage amounts. Its important to review your options carefully so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and plans. The CEO and founder of Masutes Group and mySTAYINN, Pavinder Singh (or Pav Masutes), also recommends having a life insurance policy even if youre a successful business owner. No matter how successful any business is, many families have almost all of their wealth taken from them in the case of an unexpected passing without a good life insurance policy, Singh said. It gives security to your children while also preventing any investments you have from going down the drain. 2. Secure Investments That Pay Out in Dividends Publicly traded energy-focused limited partnerships, publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), and blue chip stocks with a clear focus on dividend payments are the top three smartest investments one should make to create generational wealth because they pay a high amount of current income, said Christopher Manske, founder and president of Manske Wealth Management. Investing in stocks and other assets that yield dividends can help you generate income not only for yourself but for your family. You can also reinvest those dividends to continue building your portfolio and adding to your income. Whatever amount your portfolio is paying out each month is the extra money your heirs can enjoy for the rest of their lives, added Manske. If they choose to spend only half of that income, the other half can remain in the portfolio and continue to grow the holdings which increases the income generated. But remember, not all companies in the stock market are created equal. Young Pham, co-founder and investment analyst associated with BizReport, suggests, If you are looking to build generational wealth, it is advisable to pick companies that not only offer the potential for capital appreciation but those that offer regular cash flow each year. Focus on companies with a history of paying dividends to their shareholders. 3. Get Into Value Investing Value investing is another investment strategy that works by identifying stocks that are currently undervalued. Value investing is a time-tested strategy for building long-term generational wealth, said Pham. The idea is based on trying to find robust undervalued companies that have the potential to blow up in the future. With value investing, it can be tricky to find a worthwhile investment. Be prepared to do thorough research before buying any discounted stocks. Weigh the companys assets and equity and compare that to the price of its stock. If the assets value is higher than the stock price, then the stock could be undervalued. 4. Invest in Real Estate The cost of real estate has gone up significantly over the years, which is why it might be wise to keep an eye on property values in your area and, if the timing is right, secure a few. You can keep some of these for yourself as primary or secondary residences, but you can also invest in rental properties. Owning property can be a surefire way to build wealth, said Nick Ganesh, marketing manager at Endeavor Metals. It tends to appreciate over time. Plus, if its a rental, youve got some nice cash flow! Say, for example, you purchase a rental property and rent it out to someone. You could earn some extra income on the side while building equity in the property. The good thing about rental property is that it can literally provide you with a steady income stream that you can use to invest in more rental property, added Pham. Besides, you do not have to limit yourself to residential property alone. You can also consider commercial property as well. 5. Start a Business and Leave It to Your Children Creating a business that you can pass down to your descendants is another great way to build intergenerational wealth. Around 30% of businesses are passed down to the next generation below, said Singh. This may not sound like that much, but when compared to other risky investments, this is a promising proportion. By building a successful business for the next generation, youre providing them with more job security. But youre also giving them the opportunity to expand and grow in their own way. This can also lead to more wealth for the next generation and the next. 6. Invest in Gold Theres a reason why so many financial experts suggest investing in gold. It tends to be more stable than some other assets. Plus, its a good way to diversify your portfolio and balance out your investments during times of economic uncertainty. Its like a security blanket during economic shake-ups, said Ganesh. When economies wobble and currencies falter, gold tends to hold its ground or even gain in value. 7. Invest in an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney You might not realize it yet, but having an experienced estate planning attorney can help you secure your funds or assets when you pass them down to your family. By working with a knowledgeable estate planner, you will be able to hedge against probate and any additional attacks on the generational wealth that you plan to build, said Reid. It will also ensure that your exact wishes with the assets you create will have a plan after your death. While youre at it, consider creating a family council to help secure your familys financial security. If your family is serious about creating intergenerational wealth, establishing some kind of family council to discuss and monitor family spending is important, said Singh. Not only will this educate your family members about your financial goals, but it will also stamp out any unnecessary spending or risk exposure. Securing Generational Wealth: Stick to the Basics Building intergenerational wealth is a long-term game, one that can involve tangible or intangible assets and other investments. But it can seem complicated at the onset. Thats why its so important to stick to the basics. Choose investments that make sense to you and your family and your risk tolerance. Along with this, assess your portfolio and reinvest where you can. Doing this can help ensure you have something to pass along to the next generation. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Financial Planning Expert: Here Are 7 Investments You Should Make To Secure Generational Wealth FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo - REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Microsoft has accused Britains competition authority of irrationally blocking its 55bn takeover of the Call of Duty video game maker Activision. In its appeal to the Competition and Market Authoritys (CMA) decision, Microsoft, which makes the Xbox games console, accused the regulator of making fundamental errors. Microsoft said in its filing with the Competition Appeal Tribunal that the CMA had not taken proper account of three long term commercial agreements which [Microsoft] had entered into with cloud gaming companies. Microsoft has announced several decade-long deals with gaming companies to ensure their access to Call of Duty. The CMA blocked Microsofts takeover of Activision in April, arguing it would stifle competition in the growing market for streaming video games. Following the decision, Microsoft president Brad Smith hit out at the regulator and claimed the move sent a clear message that the EU was a more attractive place to start a business than Britain. Meanwhile Activision, which also makes the mobile game Candy Crush, accused the UK of being closed for business. Since the CMA halted the merger, European officials have given the deal the green light. Sources in Brussels dismissed British concerns about the so-called cloud gaming market, arguing it accounts for a tiny fraction of the video games sector. FILE - Microsoft President Brad Smith addresses a media conference regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the future of gaming in Brussels, on Feb. 21, 2023. The European Union on Monday approved Microsoftas $69 billion purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard, deciding the deal wonat stifle competition for popular console titles like Call of Duty and accepting the U.S. tech companyas remedies to boost competition in cloud gaming. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) - Virginia Mayo/AP The call by regulators to block the deal has also sparked pushback from politicians. Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, said he felt regulators needed to understand their wider responsibilities for economic growth after the deal was blocked. It comes amid fears that tech businesses are turning away from the UK despite government efforts to unleash a new Silicon Valley in Britain. Revolut, the fintech giant, has said it would seek to go public in the US after struggling to secure a UK banking licence, while chip designer Arm has snubbed the City to float in New York. Writing in the Telegraph last week, Marcus Bokkerink, chairman of the CMA, said he fundamentally disagreed with claims it was discouraging investment by blocking the takeover. He said: If we allow entrenched market power to grow, we all suffer. In a filing with the tribunal, Microsoft said the CMAs decision was wrong because it had failed to take into account a series of long-term commitments the tech giant had made with rival console makers to maintain their access to Call of Duty. Microsofts takeover of Activision had been opposed by Sony, which makes the Playstation, over fears it would cut it off from access to Call of Duty. Microsoft argued the CMA had not taken on board evidence that it had no incentive to block its rival and that it had been disproportionate in its decision to ban the takeover. A CMA spokesman said: We prohibited this deal as we had concerns that it would reduce innovation and choice in the cloud gaming market in the UK. We will defend our position in court. 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. Moderna says looking for opportunities in China after registering legal entity BEIJING (Reuters) -Vaccine maker Moderna Inc said on Friday it was looking for opportunities in China after confirming that it had registered a legal entity in the world's second largest economy. The U.S. biotech firm registered a unit called Moderna (China) Biotech Ltd in Shanghai on May. 24 with capital of $100 million, according to Chinese data providers including company database Qichacha. "We are exploring opportunities to engage in the market and bring the power of Moderna's mRNA platform to the people of China," a company spokesperson said in response to a query from Reuters. Moderna's shares rose 2.1% to $129.06 in U.S. premarket trading. The company prior to this had no presence in mainland China. It opened an office in Hong Kong last year as part of an Asia expansion. Its establishment of a mainland China unit comes as its revenue growth slows sharply due to waning global demand for its COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. company's only approved product. Moderna in February forecast a possible net loss for 2023, calling it a transition year before it starts to see sales from experimental vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu. Those vaccines, based on the same mRNA platform as its COVID shot, have yet to be filed for regulatory approval decisions. Moderna has said that it was keen to sell its mRNA vaccine to China but the company and its foreign peers have so far been kept out as Beijing has insisted on using only Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines for its population. CEO Stephane Bancel visited Shanghai last month during which he said Moderna will accelerate its investment in Shanghai and work with Chinese partners on local research and development, according to local media Yicai Global. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom and Brenda Goh; Additional reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Jason Neely, Philippa Fletcher and Shounak Dasgupta) Immerse in an interactive roving art installation based on a Southeast Asian artwork that raise awareness for sustainability and the importance of forest conservation. SINGAPORE, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National Gallery Singapore is proud to announce Frasers Property Singapore as a Supporter for its outreach programmes, in a partnership that reinforces a shared commitment to community engagement and art accessibility. The collaboration aims to bring modern Southeast Asian art beyond the Gallery's walls by co-creating immersive retail experiences that educate and inspire visitors to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. Render of Gatot Indrajatis Forest Explorer. 2023. Cardboard, acrylic colour, dimensions variable. As part of this partnership, National Gallery Singapore and Frasers Property Singapore have debuted Forest Explorer, an innovative and interactive roving art installation created entirely out of recyclable materials by Indonesian artist Gatot Indrajati. The installation will travel to four different Frasers Property Singapore's malls from 27 May 2023 to 25 June 2023 and encourage visitors of all ages to learn about the importance of protecting the forests and take action to support sustainability. Visitors to Frasers Property Singapore's malls can make their own cardboard creation by utilising A4 activity templates and adding it to the installation to help the forest grow. With a shared commitment to accessibility, the installation has been thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and inclusive experience for individuals with disabilities. An art cart by the Gallery will be placed outside the installation for visitors to learn about the artwork that the installation was based on Boschbrand (Forest Fire) by Raden Saleh and offers self-guided interactive activities for a deeper understanding. Dee Chia, Deputy Director of Audience Engagement at National Gallery Singapore says, "Our partnership with Frasers Property Singapore will allow us to interweave Southeast Asian art with the everyday lives of Singaporeans through hands-on, participatory activities in popular public spaces. Making art publicly accessible to a broader community is a core principle of our work. By doing so, we hope to inspire conversations about what it means to cultivate a deeper and more intimate relationship with our natural environment." For Gatot Indrajati, he uses cardboard structures to represent the tropical forests and wildlife in Southeast Asia, where forest fires are started by both natural and human causes. The artist hopes to inspire audiences to protect, preserve and care for the environment around us including Singapore's many urban forests. The launch of Forest Explorer as a roving art installation is held in conjunction with the Gallery Children's Biennale 2023: Let's Make a Better Place and the inaugural The Children's Festival 2023 by Frasers Property Singapore's malls. National Gallery Singapore and Frasers Property Singapore hope to ignite a sense of responsibility towards the environment and inspire community action. Soon Su Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Property Singapore, said, "We are proud to present Forest Explorer together with National Gallery Singapore. Everyone can make a difference to our community and our environment, regardless of abilities. Through the activities of The Children's Festival held across our malls, we hope to echo the call to co-create a more inclusive and sustainable world for our future generations." Forest Explorer by Gatot Indrajati, which is free for visitors to explore and participate, will travel across four Frasers Property Singapore's malls in 2023 Waterway Point (27 May 4 June), Century Square (5 June 11 June), The Centrepoint (12 June 18 June) and Northpoint City (19 June 25 June). The roving art installation is one of the highlights of The Children's Festival organised by Frasers Property Singapore. Through a series of exciting and engaging activities held across Frasers Property Singapore's malls from 26 May to 25 June, the Festival brings across the message that everyone has a role to play in building an inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/TheChildrensFestival2023. About National Gallery Singapore National Gallery Singapore is a leading visual arts institution which oversees the world's largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art. Situated at the birthplace of modern Singapore, in the heart of the Civic District, the Gallery is housed in two national monuments - City Hall and former Supreme Court - that have been beautifully restored and transformed into this exciting 64,000 square metre venue. Reflecting Singapore's unique heritage and geographical location, the Gallery aims to be a progressive museum that creates dialogues between the art of Singapore, Southeast Asia and the world to foster and inspire a creative and inclusive society. This is reflected in our collaborative research, education, long-term and special exhibitions, and innovative programming. The Gallery also works with international museums such as Centre Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay, Tate Britain, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT) and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA), to jointly present Southeast Asian art in the global context, positioning Singapore as a key node in the global visual arts scene. In 2020, the Gallery was the only museum in Southeast Asia that received a ranking in The Art Newspaper's annual global survey of attendance at art museums, taking 20th place. It was the first museum in Asia to receive the Children in Museums Award by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums in 2018. The Gallery also won the awards for "Best Theme Attraction" at TTG Travel Awards 2017, "Best Attraction Experience", "Breakthrough Contribution to Tourism" and "Best Customer Service (Attractions)" at the prestigious Singapore Tourism Awards in 2016 for its role in adding to the vibrancy of Singapore's tourism landscape. About Frasers Property Singapore Frasers Property Singapore is a strategic business unit of SGX-listed Frasers Property Limited, a multinational company that invests, develops, and manages a diverse and integrated property portfolio. Frasers Property Singapore owns, develops and/or manages residential, retail, office and business space properties in Singapore. Over the years, it has developed over 22,000 quality homes. It oversees a portfolio of 13 shopping malls in Singapore and six office and business space properties. Ten of the retail assets and one office property is held under Frasers Centrepoint Trust, and another office property is held under Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust. For more information on Frasers Property Singapore, please visit frasersproperty.com/sg . Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/national-gallery-singapore-and-frasers-property-singapore-debut-forest-explorer-as-part-of-new-outreach-partnership-301835500.html SOURCE National Gallery Singapore Norway will support the training and education of Ukrainian pilots and personnel on F-16 fighter jets. Source: NRK, citing Norway's Defence Minister Bjrn Arild Gram, as European Pravda reports On Wednesday, the head of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence informed the parliament about the government's decision to support the training of Ukrainian pilots. Quote: "Norway will consider various ways of facilitating the training and preparations of Ukrainian personnel on F-16 fighter jets," Gram said. The United States and several European countries have indicated that they are positive about training Ukrainian personnel for the F-16. According to Gram, Norways government has a positive attitude towards the initiative to create the so-called fighter jet coalition. "Together with allies and partners, Norway is now evaluating how we can contribute to the training," Gram said. Norway's F-16s were decommissioned last year after 42 years of service. In November of the same year, the government signed an agreement with Romania to sell 32 Norwegian F-16 fighter jets, but the planes are still in Norway. According to the Norwegian Armed Forces, they must undergo extensive modernisation before being transferred to Romania. At the same time, Norway signed a contract with Draken International to sell up to 12 F-16 aircraft for pilot training. Both deals are subject to approval by the US and Norwegian authorities, and the process is still ongoing. Background: The day before, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that his country was considering options to support a coalition of countries to train Ukrainian pilots in operating F-16 fighters. However, he mentioned that Berlin's possible contribution could be limited. Last week, the United Kingdom announced the establishment of an international coalition of countries aimed at training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighters, including F-16s. The coalition already includes the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, the United States, and Portugal. Acting Minister of Defence of Denmark Troels Lund Poulsen said that Ukrainian pilots could start training on F-16 fighter jets in July. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Bloomberg) Traders betting against Nvidia Corp. suffered massive losses as the chipmakers stock surged to a record high after it forecasts sales that far surpassed the average analyst estimate. Most Read from Bloomberg Short sellers are facing $2.3 billion in paper losses on Thursday alone amid the tech giants 27% intraday jump, data from S3 Partners LLC show. Thats pushed mark-to-market losses for the contrarian traders to $8.1 billion in 2023 as Nvidias price has more than doubled this year. To be sure, many short sellers have dumped their positions in the chipmaker amid its record rally. In the last 30 days, the number of shares shorted decreased nearly 11%, signaling that traders are covering their positions at a loss. So far this year, total shares shorted are down roughly 23%. Still, Nvidias notional short interest value the amount of money short sellers have bet on the stocks decline is more than $9 billion. That makes Nvidia the fourth most-shorted stock in the US, behind only Apple Inc., Tesla Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Nvidia has been one of the biggest beneficiaries from the growing craze surrounding artificial intelligence, and there could be more pain ahead for short sellers if Nvidias winning streak continues as many on Wall Street believe it will. The stock currently has 47 buy ratings, 10 holds and no sells with an average price target of $429, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Our expectations for NVDAs future revenues are lifting substantially, Wedbush analyst Matt Bryson wrote in a note upgrading Nvidia to outperform from neutral. He pushed his price target to $490, implying an additional roughly 29% in upside for shares from Wednesdays close. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Oil rose a second consecutive week as investors monitored progress made Friday on debt-ceiling talks to avoid a US default. Most Read from Bloomberg Republican and White House negotiators were moving closer to an agreement to raise the debt limit, according to people familiar with the matter. Still, the agreed-upon details are tentative, and a final accord isnt in hand. Supply dynamics remain in focus, with Saudi Arabia and Russia offering conflicting statements on the potential for more cuts from OPEC and its allies. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that OPEC+ wasnt likely to take further measures at its gathering in Vienna in June, contrasting with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salmans remarks earlier in the week that speculators should watch out. Read more: US Inflation Picks Up, Keeping Fed Tilted Toward Another Hike To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter direct into your inbox, click here. Crude has still sunk almost 10% this year amid the lackluster economic recovery in top importer China and the aggressive monetary tightening campaign by the US Federal Reserve. More US rate increases may be in store, with traders pricing in another quarter-point hike within the next two meetings. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The one-year underlying earnings growth at Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI) is promising, but the shareholders are still in the red over that time Passive investing in an index fund is a good way to ensure your own returns roughly match the overall market. When you buy individual stocks, you can make higher profits, but you also face the risk of under-performance. That downside risk was realized by Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 23%. That contrasts poorly with the market return of 2.1%. Longer term shareholders haven't suffered as badly, since the stock is down a comparatively less painful 18% in three years. Furthermore, it's down 21% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. After losing 4.6% this past week, it's worth investigating the company's fundamentals to see what we can infer from past performance. Check out our latest analysis for Armstrong World Industries While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the unfortunate twelve months during which the Armstrong World Industries share price fell, it actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 9.1%. It's quite possible that growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. It's fair to say that the share price does not seem to be reflecting the EPS growth. So it's well worth checking out some other metrics, too. Given the yield is quite low, at 1.6%, we doubt the dividend can shed much light on the share price. Armstrong World Industries managed to grow revenue over the last year, which is usually a real positive. Since we can't easily explain the share price movement based on these metrics, it might be worth considering how market sentiment has changed towards the stock. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It is of course excellent to see how Armstrong World Industries has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 2.1% in the last year, Armstrong World Industries shareholders lost 22% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 1.8% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Armstrong World Industries better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Armstrong World Industries that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course Armstrong World Industries may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 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 It is doubtless a positive to see that the Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (ASX:EOS) share price has gained some 60% in the last three months. But the last three years have seen a terrible decline. In that time the share price has melted like a snowball in the desert, down 85%. So we're relieved for long term holders to see a bit of uplift. The thing to think about is whether the business has really turned around. We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway. 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. See our latest analysis for Electro Optic Systems Holdings Electro Optic Systems Holdings isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth. In the last three years Electro Optic Systems Holdings saw its revenue shrink by 1.1% per year. That's not what investors generally want to see. Having said that the 23% annualized share price decline highlights the risk of investing in unprofitable companies. We're generally averse to companies with declining revenues, but we're not alone in that. There's no more than a snowball's chance in hell that share price will head back to its old highs, in the short term. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts A Different Perspective Investors in Electro Optic Systems Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 55%, against a market gain of about 3.5%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 11% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - Electro Optic Systems Holdings has 5 warning signs we think you should be aware of. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Passive investing in an index fund is a good way to ensure your own returns roughly match the overall market. But if you buy individual stocks, you can do both better or worse than that. For example, the TSH Resources Berhad (KLSE:TSH) share price is down 30% in the last year. That contrasts poorly with the market decline of 1.4%. On the other hand, the stock is actually up 19% over three years. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. Check out our latest analysis for TSH Resources Berhad In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the unfortunate twelve months during which the TSH Resources Berhad share price fell, it actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 59%. It could be that the share price was previously over-hyped. It's surprising to see the share price fall so much, despite the improved EPS. So it's well worth checking out some other metrics, too. We don't see any weakness in the TSH Resources Berhad's dividend so the steady payout can't really explain the share price drop. In fact, it seems more likely that the revenue fall of 4.9% in the last year is the worry. So it seems likely that the weak revenue is making the market more cautious about the stock. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). We know that TSH Resources Berhad has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at TSH Resources Berhad's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, TSH Resources Berhad's TSR for the last 1 year was -25%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 1.4% in the twelve months, TSH Resources Berhad shareholders did even worse, losing 25% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 2% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with TSH Resources Berhad (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. But note: TSH Resources Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- Pacific Investment Management Co. is considering joining hundreds of investors in challenging the Swiss regulators decision to wipe out about $17 billion of Credit Suisse Group AG bonds following the banks takeover by UBS Group AG. Most Read from Bloomberg Pimco, which filed a suit against Finma in order to meet an early May deadline for such submissions, has not yet joined any of the bondholder groups, according to a person familiar with the situation. The firm is weighing whether to potentially pursue legal action to recoup some of its $800 million of Credit Suisses so-called Additional Tier 1 bonds, according to people familiar with the matter. Those bonds were written down to zero after the acquisition and the Newport Beach, California-based asset manager was among the largest holders of the bonds. Pimco, which runs one of the worlds largest actively managed bond funds, also held almost $3 billion of Credit Suisse senior bank bonds before the acquisition, Bloomberg previously reported. Read More: Pimco, Invesco Face Losses in Credit Suisse Debt Writedown Bondholders have argued the writedown was an unfair and disproportionate move that put shareholders before bondholders. Defenders of Finmas decision point out that the risk of a writedown was laid out in the bonds documents. The Swiss Federal Administrative Court has said it has received around 230 appeals, involving roughly 2,500 claimants, against the March 19 writedown. Law firm Pallas Partners, which filed a suit in April, is seeking full compensation for its clients, which as of early May included 90 institutional investors and asset managers with $1.35 billion in AT1 bonds, as well as 700 retail and family office clients accounting for some $300 million. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan filed in April and has now amassed more than 1,000 clients, including institutional investors, that held around $6 billion in the bonds. Besides these, at least three other complaints have been filed. Read More: Credit Suisses AT1 Wipeout Is Destined for Court: QuickTake Earlier this month, Credit Suisse withdrew an appeal over the writedown of its AT1 bonds. The bank had argued that the wipeout of the junior debt should not have applied to so-called contingent capital awards made to some bankers, because they were not issued by the lender itself but awarded instead by other group companies to their respective employees. --With assistance from Allison McNeely. (Adds details of Pimcos holdings in fourth paragraph and Credit Suisse appeal in last paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- As global liquefied natural gas prices nosedive, traders are bracing for the possibility that US cargoes will be canceled in the coming months. Most Read from Bloomberg Asian LNG spot prices are down more than 85% from last years record highs, falling to lows not seen since May 2021. European gas prices have slumped 70% over the past year. Traders gathered at an annual energy fair in Essen, Germany, this week debated whether slumping prices and lackluster demand could trigger a supply-side response. If prices fall further, it may not make economic sense to export LNG from the US a reversal of the situation a year ago, when prices hit record highs following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The market is not that far from US LNG cargo cancellations, Gyorgy Vargha, chief executive officer at Swiss trader MET International AG, said in an interview in Essen. We are not that far away from the bottom. Should steep declines continue, then by September when European storage sites are full companies contracted for US cargoes may cancel scheduled shipments to avoid massive losses. This hasnt happened since 2020 when cargoes were refused in droves and millions of dollars in penalties were paid out. The impact could be significant with gas trapped at home in the US, that could send domestic prices plummeting to fresh lows. For Europe, it would put at risk a fragile market balance after nations beefed up security of supply following the turmoil that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine. To be sure, current price spreads to Europe and Asia still show wide enough margins to justify US cargo loadings. BloombergNEF data shows US LNG is still in the money through November, based on global spreads. Any tightening of global supply, such as from maintenance or the Atlantic hurricane season, could also contribute to keeping price spreads wide and justifying US loadings. Cancellations are unlikely unless LNG spot prices reach the low single digits, said Kazunori Kasai, who leads the Singapore-based trading arm of Jera Co., one of the worlds largest buyers of the fuel. The company currently isnt considering the cancellation of shipments, he told media in Tokyo on Friday. Supply Response LNG traders in Europe and Asia echoed that sentiment, saying prices need to fall below $5 per million British thermal units before scrapping scheduled US deliveries comes into play. Prices are presently about $9 per million Btu, after soaring above $71 in August. Contract notice can vary but typically, purchasers must provide two months advance notice to LNG producers such as Cheniere Energy Inc. for any cargo cancellations by the 20th of the calendar month. This means that any decisions around September loadings would be made in the month of July. European gas prices are now more likely to get close to the levels needed to shut in US LNG by late summer, consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. said in a note, though that isnt its base case. While US LNG is in focus, its possible that a supply response may also be seen elsewhere. Export projects from Australia to Malaysia may use this period of lower prices to schedule maintenance, and thereby effectively tighten global supply, traders said. Reduced supply could act as a floor, helping to keep prices from plummeting further, they added. As the prices are going down so strongly, I am wondering will there be a point at which LNG suppliers start scaling down production? Andy Sommer, head of fundamental analysis and modeling at Axpo Solutions AG, said in an interview in Essen. American suppliers are most visible but this would not be exclusive to US LNG plants if prices continue in this direction. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Key Insights Significant control over Luxchem Corporation Berhad by private companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions 50% of the business is held by the top 4 shareholders Insiders own 24% of Luxchem Corporation Berhad To get a sense of who is truly in control of Luxchem Corporation Berhad (KLSE:LUXCHEM), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 44% stake, private companies possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Meanwhile, individual investors make up 30% of the companys shareholders. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Luxchem Corporation Berhad, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for Luxchem Corporation Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Luxchem Corporation Berhad? 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. Since institutions own only a small portion of Luxchem Corporation Berhad, many may not have spent much time considering the stock. But it's clear that some have; and they liked it enough to buy in. If the company is growing earnings, that may indicate that it is just beginning to catch the attention of these deep-pocketed investors. When multiple institutional investors want to buy shares, we often see a rising share price. The past revenue trajectory (shown below) can be an indication of future growth, but there are no guarantees. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Luxchem Corporation Berhad. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Chemplex Resources Sdn. Bhd. with 39% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.6% and 3.9%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Furthermore, CEO Ying Tang is the owner of 3.0% of the company's shares. On looking further, we found that 50% of the shares are owned by the top 4 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company. 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. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held. Insider Ownership Of Luxchem Corporation Berhad The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. 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. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Luxchem Corporation Berhad. Insiders have a RM121m stake in this RM497m business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 30% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Luxchem Corporation Berhad. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 44%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Luxchem Corporation Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Luxchem Corporation Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free free list of interesting companies. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 People attend a rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic in front of the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, May 26, 2023. At three large anti-government protests held earlier this month in the capital, demonstrators demanded Vucic's ouster as well as the resignation of two senior security officials.(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Tens of thousands of people converged on the Serbian capital on Friday for a major rally in support of President Aleksandar Vucic, who is facing an unprecedented revolt against his autocratic rule amid the crisis triggered by two mass shootings that stunned the nation. Addressing the rain-drenched crowd, Vucic blasted the opposition for seeking his resignation for mishandling the crisis and creating divisions within the country. The two shootings early May left 18 people dead. Referring to large anti government protests held in the past weeks, Vucic accused opposition politicians of trying to abuse the tragedy. The politicians will go down in history of dishonor because they abused the biggest tragedy in the history of our nation, he said. Those politicians deserve only contempt. But Vucic still invited the opposition to dialogue about their demands. All along they had just one desire, to topple me and topple the government of Serbia, he said. Those politicians werent even interested in children. Vucic reiterated he will step down as his Serbian Progressive Party's leader on Saturday and announced plans to form a new, nation-wide movement that is to include politicians, prominent intellectuals, artists and others. I am not going anywhere, he said. We will defend Serbia together. The rally Friday was somewhat overshadowed by a new crisis in Serbia's former province of Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs clashed with Kosovo police on Friday and Vucic ordered Serbian troops to be put on a higher state of alert. Vucic also said that he ordered an urgent movement of Serbian troops to the border with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Answering Vucics call for what he called the largest rally in the history of Serbia, his supporters, many wearing identical T-shirts with his portrait, were bused to Belgrade from all over the Balkan country as well as neighboring Kosovo and Bosnia. The organizers said that hundreds of thousands of participants attended the gathering in front of Serbia's National Assembly amid rain and a thunderstorm that drove many to find a shelter. Those working in state firms and institutions were told to take a day off from work to attend the rally in front of the parliament building. Some said that they were warned that they could lose their jobs if they don't show up on the buses which started arriving hours before the gathering was to start. Serbian officials said the rally promotes unity and hope for Serbia. At three large anti-government protests held earlier this month in the capital, demonstrators demanded Vucic's ouster as well as the resignation of two senior security officials. They also demanded the withdrawal of broadcasting licenses for two pro-Vucic television stations that promote violence and often host convicted war criminals and other crime figures. Opposition protesters blame Vucic for creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and division in the country that they say indirectly led to the May 3 and May 4 mass shootings that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them schoolchildren who were gunned down by a 13-year-old schoolmate. Vucic has vehemently denied any responsibility for the shootings, calling organizers of the opposition protests vultures and hyenas who want to use the tragedies to try to come to power by force and without an election. Analysts believe that by staging the mass rally, Vucic who has ruled the country for more than a decade with a firm grip on power, is trying to overshadow the opposition protests with the sheer number of participants. For the first time, Vucic has a problem," said political analyst Zoran Gavrilovic. His problem is not so much the opposition, but Serbian society that has woken up. Vucic, a former pro-Russia ultranationalist who now says that he wants to take the country into the European Union, has alleged that foreign intelligence services are behind the opposition protests. He said that he received the tip from sisterly spy agencies from the east thought to mean Russia. Similar big rallies were held in Serbia in the early 1990s when strongman Slobodan Milosevic delivered fiery speeches that heralded the violent breakup of Yugoslavia and rallied the masses for the wars that followed. - AP reporter Jovana Gec contributed. What underlying fundamental trends can indicate that a company might be in decline? A business that's potentially in decline often shows two trends, a return on capital employed (ROCE) that's declining, and a base of capital employed that's also declining. This indicates to us that the business is not only shrinking the size of its net assets, but its returns are falling as well. Having said that, after a brief look, Aevis Victoria (VTX:AEVS) we aren't filled with optimism, but let's investigate further. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Aevis Victoria: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.0041 = CHF6.0m (CHF1.8b - CHF334m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Thus, Aevis Victoria has an ROCE of 0.4%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Healthcare industry average of 7.8%. See our latest analysis for Aevis Victoria roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you'd like to look at how Aevis Victoria has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What Can We Tell From Aevis Victoria's ROCE Trend? In terms of Aevis Victoria's historical ROCE movements, the trend doesn't inspire confidence. About five years ago, returns on capital were 2.1%, however they're now substantially lower than that as we saw above. And on the capital employed front, the business is utilizing roughly the same amount of capital as it was back then. This combination can be indicative of a mature business that still has areas to deploy capital, but the returns received aren't as high due potentially to new competition or smaller margins. So because these trends aren't typically conducive to creating a multi-bagger, we wouldn't hold our breath on Aevis Victoria becoming one if things continue as they have. In Conclusion... In the end, the trend of lower returns on the same amount of capital isn't typically an indication that we're looking at a growth stock. Yet despite these concerning fundamentals, the stock has performed strongly with a 70% return over the last five years, so investors appear very optimistic. Regardless, we don't feel too comfortable with the fundamentals so we'd be steering clear of this stock for now. One final note, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Aevis Victoria (including 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) . For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here purplebricks Beleaguered estate agent Purplebricks has received a rival takeover offer from one of its major shareholders, a week after agreeing to sell its business for just 1 in a cut-price rescue deal. Lecram Holdings, which owns just over 5pc of the company, has tabled a 1.5m offer for Purplebricks, and claimed that the current proposal to sell the company to rival Strike is not in the best interest of shareholders. Property portal Strike, which is backed by Carphone Warehouse and TalkTalk founder Sir Charles Dunstone, last week agreed to rescue struggling Purplebricks for a token consideration of 1. Lecram Holdings said: We believe that the Strike transaction agreed by the board of the company is not in the best interests of shareholders and could end up with them receiving nothing. We believe our offer gives shareholders the certainty of cash now rather than vague promises from a discredited board of something more somewhere down the line. Shares in the company jumped 40pc to 0.66p, above Lecrams offer price of 0.5p per share. The leap suggests traders now expect a bidding war for the company. Purplebricks board urged shareholders to ignore the new offer and back the Strike deal. The company said in a statement: The Board does not currently consider that the proposal reflects an improvement on the proposed sale of business and assets to Strike Limited. The Board therefore continues to recommend the company's shareholders vote in favour the resolutions being proposed at its general meeting. Shareholders will vote on the Strikes deal on June 2. Purplebricks was forced to put itself up for sale after over expansion and regulatory mistakes at its lettings business left it struggling with high costs and falling revenues. Sir Charles Dunstone - David M. Benett/Getty Images Contributor Upon announcing the sale to Strike, Sir Charles Dunstone told The Telegraph that Purplebricks was too big and cumbersome. Sir Charles said: Purplebricks listings have shrunk in the last few years. It was too big a business for such few listings. Now either we get more listings or we shrink the business. Lecram Holdings pursued an activist campaign against the Purplebricks board prior to the sale, calling for the companys chairman, Paul Pindar, to step down. Mr Pindar survived an attempt by Lecram to oust him last 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. Your latest info on all things cold chain Hello, and welcome to the coolest community in freight! Here youll find the latest information on warehouse news, tech developments and all things reefer madness-related. Im your controller of the thermostat, Mary OConnell. Thanks for having me! All thawed out (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Shippers of temperature-controlled goods have a lot to contend with, especially in regard to shipping goods and sending freight on a pallet or in a small parcel. At the International Safe Transit Association forum on TempPack in Houston, Lee Menszak, associate director and engineer at Merck, gave everyone the rundown on what large and small shippers should be mindful of when shipping products. For large shippers on a global scale, they have to know regional user requirements, especially in regard to safety. One of the examples Menszak highlighted is that in the Netherlands warehouse workers have to wear full backpack respirators when loading dry ice. n the U.S. that requirement isnt necessary. Something that is an easy test for various vendors and operating locations of a large shipper is a small test. In theory if everyone is following the same policies and procedures there should be no issues with a test. However, it could be a great way to find a facility that has some shortcomings. That test looks a little something like this, according to Menszak. Load [the packages inside the facilities] up with dry ice, put the temperature monitors in at minimum temp, and you let them run. It doesnt require a laboratory; it can be in the warehouse. At the end of testing, you may, as I have, find one thats an underperformer. So from Day One, you have a troublesome shipper. Heres your justification. Go back to the vendor and say, This ones bad, we need a replacement. And they also know they better give you a good one back because youre going to test it to find out. Temperature checks (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) The freezer aisle is going to get a little beefier as the maker of everyones favorite dollar burritos and box of taquitos expands its operations. Ruiz Foods, the U.S. largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer, is expanding its manufacturing operations to Texas. It is still maintaining its operations in San Joaquin Valley, California. Following the announcement last year of having co-headquarters in both California and Texas, the company has decided to move all corporate operations to Frisco, Texas. Ruiz Foods president and chief executive officer, Dan Antonelli, said in a news release, As a national business with locations and customers throughout the U.S., being in the center of the country allows us same day access to each of our facilities, puts us closer to our customers, and provides us with a larger metropolitan market for talent recruitment. Food and drugs (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Its unofficially summertime and with that comes the endless invitations to cookouts, most starting this holiday weekend. It turns out more than a few Americans are looking to fire up the grills over the long weekend. According to a FoodMarket article, meat purchases for this weekend are expected to total $1.6 billion, with beef claiming the top spot at 27.3%. Comparing meat prices this year with those from last years holiday weekend showed that overall meat prices are up only a small amount from last year. The star of every barbecue is the beef burger. Ground beef prices this year for the 74-84% lean average $4.62 per pound, discounted, which is up 3% from last year. The good news is that beef thats 90-94% lean is actually down 20 cents per pound from last year. The one category that is coming out cheaper than last year is about all things pork: ribs complex and back, spare ribs, bacon, steaks and the best cut, in my opinion, the St. Louis-style ribs. All of these cuts have decreased at least 30 cents per pound or more from last years prices. However you slice it, its a big weekend for the grill. Im accepting grill pics via Twitter. You can tag me @MaryO_119. Cold chain lanes (SONAR Tickers: ROTVI.DSM, ROTRI.DSM) This weeks market is Des Moines, Iowa, home of the pork chop and corn, two things that summer would be nothing without. Since this weekend is Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, its fair to say that reefer activity in Des Moines will become quite the market over the next few weeks. Outbound tender volumes have risen 8.54% week over week and will continue to rise as summer gets into full swing with cookouts and barbecues galore. Outbound tender rejections are elevated 912 basis points w/w. There will be another spike in rejections as the holiday weekend comes and goes. Is SONAR for you? Check it out with a demo! Shelf life Survive PGA Championship with a personal reefer truck Good time to rework UPS contracts, consultant says Fewer trucks inspected, better compliance rate for CVSAs Brake Safety Day Frozen Food takes over Wanna chat in the cooler? Shoot me an email with comments, questions or story ideas at moconnell@freightwaves.com. See you on the internet. Mary If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you must be pretty chill. Join the coolest community in freight and subscribe for more at freightwaves.com/subscribe. The post Running on Ice: Putting cold chain to the test appeared first on FreightWaves. MUMBAI, India, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Custodian, a leading international publication covering securities services, conferred Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE with 'Lifetime Achievement Award - Leaders in Custody Awards for Asia Pacific' held in Singapore on May 25th, 2023. This prestigious award recognizes Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan as a visionary business leader, with an outstanding contribution in the Indian securities market, who has been at the helm of both the Indian stock exchanges. He was a founding team member of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and is currently the MD & CEO of NSE. Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE honored with Lifetime Achievement award by Global Custodian in Singapore This award ceremony for 'Leaders in Custody Awards for Asia Pacific', honor the achievements of securities services, infrastructure and technology providers across the Asia Pacific region, along with 'Editors' Choice awards', 'Innovation awards' and coveted individual awards including 'GC Legend' and 'Industry Person of the Year'. Lifetime achievement award is given to a single individual with a track record of huge contribution over a period of many decades. Global Custodian is known for its editorial views of the global securities services industry spanning over the past three decades. Global Custodian publishes quality editorial and its series of annual surveys have become benchmarks for the industry. About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE): National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is the world's largest derivatives exchange by trading volume (contracts) as per the statistics maintained by Futures Industry Association (FIA) for calendar year 2022. NSE is ranked 3rd in the world in the cash equities by number of trades as per the statistics maintained by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) for calendar year 2022. NSE was the first exchange in India to implement electronic or screen-based trading. It began operations in 1994 and is ranked as the largest stock exchange in India in terms of total and average daily turnover for equity shares every year since 1995, based on SEBI data. NSE has a fully integrated business model comprising exchange listings, trading services, clearing and settlement services, indices, market data feeds, technology solutions and financial education offerings. NSE also oversees compliance by trading, clearing members and listed companies with the rules and regulations of SEBI and the exchange. NSE is a pioneer in technology and ensures the reliability and performance of its systems through a culture of innovation and investment in technology. For more information, please visit: www.nseindia.com Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/shri-ashishkumar-chauhan-md--ceo-nse-honored-with-lifetime-achievement-award-by-global-custodian-in-singapore-301835671.html SOURCE NSE India Looking at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:SBGI ) insider transactions over the last year, we can see that insiders were net buyers. That is, there were more number of shares purchased by insiders than there were sold. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. View our latest analysis for Sinclair Broadcast Group The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Sinclair Broadcast Group In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when insider Mario Gabelli bought US$757k worth of shares at a price of US$20.22 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of US$15.17. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. 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. Mario Gabelli was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. We note that Mario Gabelli was both the biggest buyer and the biggest seller. Mario Gabelli bought 52.50k shares over the last 12 months at an average price of US$14.60. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Insiders At Sinclair Broadcast Group Have Bought Stock Recently There has been significantly more insider buying, than selling, at Sinclair Broadcast Group, over the last three months. In total, insider Mario Gabelli bought US$757k worth of shares in that time. But insiders only sold shares worth US$139k. The buying outweighs the selling, which suggests that insiders may believe the company will do well in the future. Insider Ownership Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Sinclair Broadcast Group insiders own about US$411m worth of shares (which is 43% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Sinclair Broadcast Group Insiders? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Sinclair Broadcast Group. Nice! While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Sinclair Broadcast Group (including 2 which are a bit concerning). Of course Sinclair Broadcast Group 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 How the sleepy world of insurance found itself on the frontlines of a net zero battle MccLi0004434 Climate protestors gather at Lloydas Bank as it holds its AGM today. Probitas, a subsidiary of Lloyd's, is involved in sponsoring Adanias coal projects. Image shot on 25th May 2023. A Belinda Jiao - Belinda Jiao US Republicans are going to war against what they call a radical environmental agenda being pushed by the insurance industry, blaming it for pushing up premiums and fuel prices for millions of Americans. At the same time, climate campaigners are piling pressure on the same companies, arguing their green policies are too weak. The dilemma underscores how insurers found themselves an unlikely target in a battle over net zero. The furore has left the usually sleepy and solid industry struggling to respond. Attention is not something most insurers are used to. Many are choosing to retreat into their shells: this week a string of insurance giants quit the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), a United Nations group set up by former Bank of England governor Mark Carney. It came after US Republicans attacked the industry for promoting environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns. More than 20 attorneys general claimed that a requirement for NZIA members to stop providing cover for fossil fuels may violate competition laws. The plan was also driving up fuel prices for ordinary Americans, they argued. The ESG movement has spread to every corner of the worlds financial and energy sectors, and unsuspecting Americans are paying the price, said Sean D Reyes, Utahs attorney general. Insurers have an obligation to protect the interests of their clients, not to advance a radical environmental agenda. Companies that have quit the NZIA since the letter was sent include AXA, Allianz, SCOR, Swiss Re, Munich Re, Zurich Insurance and Hannover Re. Many insurers that have left have said they will still stick to their own climate targets regardless. The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, the umbrella organisation above NZIA, said political attacks were blocking efforts to price climate risk, which will harm policyholders, main street investors and local economies. UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance Mark Carney looks on during a session at the Congress centre during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 17, 2023. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) - FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images The UN this week said it stood behind the aims and policies of the NZIA. The group still retains 23 members, including Aviva, Lloyds of London and Tokio Marine Holdings. While the departures have been cheered by Republicans, activists on the other end of the political spectrum have denounced the exodus as cowardice. Patrick McCully, a senior analyst at pressure group Reclaim Finance said: Real climate leaders need to fight climate denial, not cave to it. The upheaval reflects splits within the insurance industry itself over how to respond to climate change. Insurers were among the first businesses to take an interest in the science behind man-made global warming, seeing quickly how it could impact their business. Climate disasters such as floods and wildfires translate into higher claims on insurance, so it was in their interest to understand the issue. Annual insured losses from natural catastrophes over the past five years have averaged more than $110bn, more than double the average of $52bn for the previous five year period. Insurers paid out $125bn to cover the impacts of natural disasters in 2022, out of total damage worth $275bn, according to research by Swiss Re. However, Swiss Re believes the main drivers of rising claims are economic: more people are moving to catastrophe-prone areas such as Florida for sunshine and jobs, while the rising costs of construction materials are driving up the costs of post-disaster repairs. Still, the company has warned that climate change will only aggravate the situation in the coming years, making disasters more common. Many insurers have responded by allocating more of their investments towards green infrastructure and shunning companies involved in the extraction of coal, the fuel responsible for most carbon emissions globally. Climate Change protesters with Extinction Rebellion stage an occupation and succeed in closing trading at Lloyds of London, an insurer of fossil fuel companies, in the City of London, in 2022 - Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty Images/Richard Baker In addition, NZIA members have agreed to make their insurance portfolios net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, consistent with the Paris climate accords. There remain differences between how far individual companies are willing to go, however. Whereas some firms including Swiss Re, one of the worlds largest reinsurers, have halted cover for new oil and gas projects, others such as syndicates of the Lloyds of London market continue to offer it. In the process, the industry is pleasing no one. While Republicans have taken to bashing them for driving up premiums and even the cost of petrol, climate protesters chide the industry for not doing enough. Demonstrators outside of Lloyds of Londons annual general meeting last Thursday waved banners proclaiming the market was insuring the climate crisis. Lindsay Keegan, from campaign group Insure our Future, points to International Energy Agency forecasts that show net zero targets will be missed even if just the currently discovered fossil fuel resources are used in full. Campaigners such as Keegan are targeting insurers because they believe they are uniquely positioned to do something. While BP or Shell can simply ignore their demands, it is all but impossible for the oil giants to develop new drilling sites if they cannot get insurance. The global insurance market doesnt need the fossil fuel companies, its the other way around, he adds. Some graduates of top universities have now threatened to boycott the insurance industry en masse for their climate policies. A letter from more than 500 current students attending University College London, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Edinburgh University and others, warned that they would not put our professional careers at the service of climate wreckers that insure those responsible for the climate crisis. The letter was organised by Sacha Ruello-Jossic, a political studies student at UCL. Would she and her friends really turn down a high-paying job in insurance just out of principle? Its not just about pay, she says. We deserve better than jobs which will destroy our future. It's possible for these companies to change, if they want my generation to come and work for them. Keegan says the power of insurers to influence big issues was highlighted in the months after the Ukraine war first erupted, when Lloyds deprived ships carrying Russian oil of their insurance cover hitting the Kremlins exports. By contrast the industry continues to reinsure fossil fuel projects, despite the albeit less visible threat posed by global warming. Campaigners point to the undeveloped Rosebank oil field in the North Sea that is currently being explored by state-owned Norwegian giant Equinor. Some insurers have refused to rule out covering the project. Agents at Lloyds have not ruled out supporting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, a project of French energy company TotalEnergies that would run through Uganda and Tanzania. Insurers argue they are already taking substantial action to help combat climate change, by pressuring companies they invest in to cut carbon emissions and demanding that those who want insurance plan for the green transition. This represents an opportunity for people to make a real positive impact through their career, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers says. More can always be done However, it is ultimately up to governments to determine how they generate energy for their citizens. While some insurers have opted to decline to cover certain projects, such decisions are only ever taken after careful consideration as they may have knock-on effects on the protection of workers and those living near such facilities. Meanwhile, the changing climate is also wrecking havoc with the fundamentals of insurance. Eric Andersen, president of London-based reinsurer Aon, told a Senate committee in March that climate change had created a crisis of confidence around the ability to predict loss. Keegan claims the insurance industry has failed to properly heed its own warnings. Their own models and insurance generally are based on historical weather data and dont work anymore, he says. The mismatch of insurance to claims has consequences. When insurers get their sums wrong and are forced to pay out more than they bargained for, they tend to become more risk-averse or put up premiums to cover losses. In Florida, a growing number of insurers have simply withdrawn from the state altogether following a surge in claims after storms such as Hurricane Ian and other extreme weather events. It underlines how catastrophic climate change global warming of 2 degrees celsius or more on pre-industrial levels threatens the business model of the industry itself. In the meantime, however, insurers are getting it from both barrels from climate campaigners and Republican critics alike. For a profession unused to the limelight, the attention has been uncomfortable. Unfortunately, they may have to get used to it. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. StealthGas Inc. (NASDAQ:GASS) investors will be delighted, with the company turning in some strong numbers with its latest results. It was overall a positive result, with revenues beating expectations by 3.7% to hit US$38m. StealthGas also reported a statutory profit of US$0.44, which was an impressive 159% above what the analyst had forecast. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what expert is forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimate to see what could be in store for next year. See our latest analysis for StealthGas Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus, from the solitary analyst covering StealthGas, is for revenues of US$128.8m in 2023, which would reflect a definite 17% reduction in StealthGas' sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to drop 10% to US$1.01 in the same period. In the lead-up to this report, the analyst had been modelling revenues of US$146.8m and earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.79 in 2023. So there's been quite a change-up of views after the latest results, with the analyst making a serious cut to their revenue forecasts while also granting a massive increase in to the earnings per share numbers. There's been a 75% lift in the price target to US$7.00, with the analyst signalling that the higher earnings forecasts are more relevant to the business than the weaker revenue estimates. These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the StealthGas' past performance and to peers in the same industry. One more thing stood out to us about these estimates, and it's the idea that StealthGas' decline is expected to accelerate, with revenues forecast to fall at an annualised rate of 22% to the end of 2023. This tops off a historical decline of 1.3% a year over the past five years. Compare this against analyst estimates for companies in the broader industry, which suggest that revenues (in aggregate) are expected to decline 3.4% annually. While this is interesting, StealthGas', revenues are still expected to shrink next year, and at a faster rate than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around StealthGas' earnings potential next year. Unfortunately they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and our analyst estimate suggests that StealthGas is still expected to perform worse than the wider industry. Even so, long term profitability is more important for the value creation process. There was also a nice increase in the price target, with the analyst clearly feeling that the intrinsic value of the business is improving. Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. At least one analyst has provided forecasts out to 2024, which can be seen for free on our platform here. That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with StealthGas , and understanding it should be part of your investment process. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The post Steve Albini Reveals How Nirvanas In Utero Recording Sessions Were Kept a Secret appeared first on Consequence. Legendary recording engineer and producer Steve Albini has opened up about the historic recording sessions with Nirvana that produced the bands final album In Utero. Speaking with NME, Albini revealed the lengths he and the band went to in order to keep the recording sessions secret. I had to do everything I could to keep it under wraps to make sure that we didnt get overrun by fans and the added nonsense, Albini said. This included booking the studio in a remote location under a pseudonym inspired by the Sex Pistols. It was 1993, and Nirvana had become global superstars due to the success of 1991s Nevermind. Albini who had already built up a reputation for himself as an engineer and member of the punk rock outfit Big Black had never met the band prior to their working together, but knew that he would need to find a secluded place for them to focus on the task at hand. He landed on Pachyderm Studios, around 40 miles from Minneapolis in the forests of Minnesota. It was far enough away from anybody that the band knew socially, and we wouldnt have a fucking TV crew out front every day or any drug dealers trying to do business, Albini explained. We had to make sure that word didnt get out. Continuing, Albini described the lengths he went to in order to keep the session from gaining too much publicity. I didnt really want to trust [the studio] with the secret, so I booked the studio on my account under the pseudonym the Simon Ritchie Band, which was of course Sid Vicious real name, Albini said. Until the flight cases started arriving from the cartage company the day before we started, nobody knew even the people who owned the studio didnt know that Nirvana was going to be recording there. Beyond the secrecy, Albini claims that there was nothing else out of the ordinary with the sessions. I mean, apart from [Nirvana] being extremely famous, he said. That was the only thing that was weird about it. Albini discussed more in the interview, touching on the legacy of In Utero, and even sharing a story in which a young, then-unknown Kurt Cobain took a piece of his smashed guitar off the stage of a Big Black show. Read the full interview at NME. Outside of music, Albini has made a name for himself recently in a whole new endeavor: professional poker. Last fall, he beat out 773 players and won $196,089 in prize money for a World Series of Poker event. In other Nirvana news, a guitar Cobain smashed (perhaps inspired by Albini?) during the Nevermind tour was recently sold for $595,900, which was 10 times more than the auction estimate. Meanwhile, former-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl just hit the road again with Foo Fighters, featuring their new drummer Josh Freese. Steve Albini Reveals How Nirvanas In Utero Recording Sessions Were Kept a Secret Jo Vito 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. "The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but no more." With those words, Chief Justice John Roberts and a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a 94-year-old Minnesota woman who got no compensation when the government seized her home over a small unpaid tax bill and pocketed the profit. In his opinion, Roberts said the state of Minnesota violated the Fifth Amendment's prohibition against government taking private property without "just compensation" in 2015 when it took Geraldine Tyler's one-bedroom condominium. "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 that she owed," Roberts wrote. MORE: Supreme Court unanimously rules to limit states' ability to seize private property involved in a crime Tyler's legal team applauded the ruling as a victory for property rights. "Today's decision is a major victory for property rights in the United States," said attorney Christina Martin with the Pacific Legal Foundation, which represented Tyler in the case before before the Court. "This decision affirms that property rights are fundamental and don't depend solely on state law. The Court's ruling makes clear that home equity theft is not only unjust, but unconstitutional." PHOTO: Geraldine Tyler and her family. Tyler, 94, is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to recoup money from a home seized and sold by Hennepin County, Minn., for an amount greater than taxes and fees she owed. (Pacific Legal Foundation) Thomas Berry, a constitutional lawyer with the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank, also celebrated the ruling, saying, "After this decision, states will no longer be able to get away with the pernicious practice of 'home equity theft.'" The court rejected arguments made by Hennepin County, which seized the home, that Tyler essentially abandoned her property and could have sold it herself to pay the debt and keep any excess. Roberts noted that Minnesota was also an outlier in not providing any opportunity for Tyler to obtain the excess after the state's sale. Thirty-six states and the federal government require that excess value be returned to the taxpayer, the court said. "The County had the power to sell Tyler's home to recover the unpaid property taxes," Roberts wrote. "But it could not use the toehold of the tax debt to confiscate more property than was due." PHOTO: The Supreme Court is seen, April 21, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Brandon/AP, FILE) The decision clears the way for Tyler to return to a lower court to seek compensation from the state. It also effectively strikes down the laws like Minnesota's, which has been branded as "equity theft" by critics. So-called home equity seizure is legal in roughly a dozen states that authorize municipalities to take possession of a home in the event of delinquency, sell the property and keep the entirety of earnings, regardless of the value of the outstanding tax bill. Supreme Court sides with 94-year-old woman who accused government of stealing her home equity originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- The bankruptcy liquidator in charge of Silicon Valley Banks Canadian unit is set to receive offers for its loan book on Monday, and the biggest asset is a loan to e-commerce lender Clear Finance Technology Corp., according to people with knowledge of the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Toronto-based Clear Finance, which operates under the name Clearco, is an alternative lender that offers cash advances to e-commerce and software startups. Its struggling amid the tech sector downturn after its cost of capital jumped. The company has done extensive staff cuts and exited markets outside North America. Clear Finance was co-founded by Michele Romanow, who came up with the idea after appearing on Dragons Den the Canadian television show that inspired Shark Tank, in which investors get pitched business ideas by contestants. The firm is in the process of raising equity and its investors need assurances on the status of the loans before signing off on a deal, one of the people said. The company declined to comment. SVB Canada has about 200 borrowers, primarily in the technology, life sciences and clean technology industries, the people said, speaking on condition they not be named because the matter is still private. The portfolio consists of term loans, revolving credit lines, and venture capital and private equity call facilities, according to documents filed by the liquidator, PricewaterhouseCoopers, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Potential bidders whove been looking at the assets say the loan portfolio doesnt appear to be in good shape, the people said. Silicon Valley Bank crumbled in early March when its capital-raising plans failed, leaving it exposed to a bank run in which depositors tried to pull out $42 billion in one day. Canadas banking regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, took control of SVBs local branch on March 12 and days later got a court order to wind up the operation, appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers to oversee it. The portfolio wasnt included in the sale of SVB assets to First Citizens BancShares Inc. SVB Canada, which had a license to lend but could not accept retail deposits, was small it had just $301.3 million in outstanding loans as of April 11, according to a report by PwC. But capital commitments to its existing debtors are creating uncertainty for potential bidders, according to the people. The second phase of the bidding takes place on June 26, according to a document posted to PwCs website. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. TD to build U.S. business brick by brick, after First Horizon set back The TD bank logo is seen on top of the Toronto Dominion Canada Trust Tower in Toronto By Nivedita Balu TORONTO (Reuters) -Canada's no.2 lender TD Bank Group will push ahead with its U.S. expansion by focusing on organic growth, after its M&A-led strategy in the world's biggest banking market suffered a setback this month, a top official told Reuters on Thursday. TD has made U.S. growth a key priority as it deals with a saturated market at home and had pinned its hopes on $13.4 billion bid for regional lender First Horizon, but that was scrapped after hitting regulatory hurdles. With about $18 billion in excess capital, it now plans to focus on opening branches and building its wealth business in the U.S., Chief Financial Officer Kelvin Tran said in the first comments since the First Horizon deal was pulled. "In the U.S., we are still a relatively young bank. We have a lot of white spaces there," Tran said. "We continue to make referrals to our wealth business. That's still a new business in the U.S. ... So lots of opportunities still there in the U.S.," he added. The bank has not ruled out other acquisitions. "When we look at deployment of capital, it's about what we can invest to drive organic growth, we look at whether there are opportunities for M&A ... and then also opportunities to return capital to shareholders," Tran told Reuters. TD announced plans to buy back 30 million shares along with its quarterly earnings that missed expectations. The uncertainty of the First Horizon deal has weighed on TD shares, which are down more than 7% so far this year, compared with a 3.6% drop in TSX's banks sub-index. Some shareholders are willing to be patient as TD seeks to grow its U.S. business. Anthony Visano, a portfolio manager at Kingwest, a long-term TD investor, said the U.S. expansion strategy makes sense, but TD needs to shift towards wealth management. "So, do they build or do they buy? I think they can do both in parallel. They can build locations and they can acquire the other pieces that are missing from the platform," Visano said. OPENING NEW BRANCHES Masrani told investors on Thursday the bank plans to open 150 new stores by 2027 and double wealth adviser hiring. That includes opening 18 stores in the U.S. this year, on top of the 1,100 it operates in 16 U.S. states and its 12% stake in Charles Schwab. It has already opened five new branches, including in south Florida, Atlanta and North Carolina - areas considered to be First Horizon's turf - while also looking at the U.S. northeast. "Think Boston, Philly, New York, where we think there are expanding communities, growing communities where we'll lean into ... But the Southeast is going to be a very important part of the overall equation," Leo Salom, the head of TD's U.S. Retail business said. The bank earned about 40% of its second-quarter adjusted net income from its retail business in the United States, where TD is the eighth-biggest lender, as did its Canadian rival Bank of Montreal, which acquired San Francisco-based Bank of the West. Some analysts said TD should rethink its U.S. M&A strategy. "TD should revisit the idea of whether or not they should be pursuing aggressive growth in United States banking through acquisitions," Veritas analyst Nigel D'Souza said. "My argument is that they should deploy excess capital to grow their wealth management and capital markets franchises." (Reporting by Nivedita Balu Additional reporting by Maiya KeidanEditing by Denny Thomas and Sonali Paul) Texas-based Peace Equipment files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeks to reorganize. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves Peace Equipment LLC, a company headquartered in Edcouch, Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, citing rising operating costs and reduced income in the trucking industry. The company also noted merchant cash advances as being a contributing factor to Peace Equipments financial issues, according to court filings. Peace Equipment filed its Chapter 11 petition, which seeks to reorganize, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on Wednesday. The company, which has been operating since 2016, has 38 drivers and 27 power units and hauls general freight, fresh produce and refrigerated food throughout the U.S. In its filing, Peace Equipment lists both its assets and liabilities as between $1 million and $10 million. The petition states the company has up to 49 creditors and maintains that funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors once it pays administrative fees. Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez authorized Peace Equipments interim order on Thursday, authorizing the temporary use of its cash collateral to continue operating. The petition lists 41 creditors, though no amounts were given, including Commercial Credit Group Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Crestmark Bank of Troy, Michigan, which purport to hold liens or security interests in Peace Equipment. Reese W. Baker, attorney for Peace Equipment, failed to respond to FreightWaves request seeking comment. Over the past 24 months, Peace Equipments trucks have been inspected 37 times and four have been placed out of service for a nearly 11% out-of-service rate. That is significantly lower than the industrys national average of around 22%, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The companys drivers had been inspected 99 times and four were placed out of service, resulting in a 4% out-of-service rate. The national average for drivers is around 6.6%. The court also approved Peace Equipments interim budget, which includes payroll, fuel and operating expenses. Rodriquez has set a final hearing for June 5 on the trucking companys use of cash collateral. Do you have a news tip to share? Send me an email or message me @cage_writer on Twitter. Your name will not be used without your permission. Read more articles here: TQL hits ex-broker with 2nd noncompete lawsuit Former employees sue NC-based trucking firm over mass firing Insiders say Flock Freight is a toxic dumpster fire with only months of cash left The post Texas-based trucking company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection appeared first on FreightWaves. Company Logo Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Thailand: Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database (excel) product covers the Thailand data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide the following information on the colocation data centers: Detailed Analysis of 28 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 14 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Bangkok, Chon Buri and Saraburi 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 I. Quarter Rack (1/4) II. Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) III. Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing Key Market Highlights: Investors namely, SC Zeus Data Centers, Data Center First, Nautilus Data Technologies, Korea Telecom - Jasmine Group and Advanced Info Service (AIS)+Singtel+ Gulf Energy have announced or planned to invest in the market. In Thailand, retail colocation contributed to around 85% market share in 2022, where wholesale colocation accounted for the remaining 15%. As of January 2022, the country's population was over 70 million. The internet penetration rate is high at over 75%, and it has over 80% of active social media usage. The peak internet traffic in the country stood at around 136.93 Gbps in 2022 Bangkok contributed to over 65% of the existing IT capacity in Thailand. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: EXISTING DATA CENTERS (28 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (Banga Data Center or Genesis 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 (14 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 AIMS Data Center, CAT Telecom, CSL (AIS Business), Fujitsu, Etix Everywhere (Genesis Data Center), Internet Thailand, NTT Global Data Centers, Pacific Internet, Poren Internet, STT GDC + Frasers Property Thailand, SUPERNAP Thailand, TCC Technology, True IDC, United Information Highway (UIH), Chindata Group (WHA). TARGET AUDIENCE 1. Data center Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) 2. Data center Construction Contractors 3. Data center Infrastructure Providers 4. New Entrants 5. Consultants/Consultancies/Advisory Firms 6. 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 AIMS Data Center CAT Telecom CSL (AIS Business) Fujitsu Etix Everywhere (Genesis Data Center) Internet Thailand NTT Global Data Centers Pacific Internet Poren Internet STT GDC + Frasers Property Thailand SUPERNAP Thailand TCC Technology True IDC United Information Highway (UIH) Chindata Group (WHA). For more information about this database visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lvkgeq About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Cincinnati-based TQL has filed a second lawsuit against ex-broker Jacob Patterson over his noncompete agreement. (Photo: Shutterstock) Since leaving Total Quality Logistics in April 2021, ex-broker Jacob Patterson has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Cincinnati-based freight brokerage over claims that he has violated his noncompete agreement twice in the past two years. The latest suit, filed by TQL on May 12 in Ohios Clermont County Court of Common Pleas, claims Patterson breached his noncompete agreement by founding a freight brokerage, Hyperlux Logistics, in January. TQL is seeking damages and injunctive relief against Patterson and Hyperlux Logistics, claiming Hyperlux directly competes with TQL even though Pattersons company isnt open for business until September. Attorney Matthew Wiles, who is representing TQL in the action, failed to respond to FreightWaves request seeking comment. Preparing to compete is not competing Attorney Pete Patterson, a partner at Washington-based boutique litigation firm Cooper & Kirk, is representing his brother, Jacob Patterson, in TQLs suits against him and his suit against TQL. We are disappointed that TQL has once again sued Jacob, this time for his ownership interest in Hyperlux Logistics. As we explained in recent court filings, Hyperlux has not begun conducting business operations, and case law establishes that preparing to compete is not equivalent to competing, Pete Patterson told FreightWaves. [Jacob] Patterson owns a 50% stake in Hyperlux, though he has never earned any money from his ownership interest for the simple reason that Hyperlux has never undertaken business operations, according to the motion opposing the temporary restraining order and injunctive relief filed by Pete Patterson. Pete Patterson has been involved in his brothers legal fight since May 2021, after TQL claimed that Jacob Patterson had violated his noncompete when he went to work as vice president of operations for asset-based carrier PBJ Express of Joplin, Missouri. Jacob Patterson started at TQL in August 2007 and rose through the ranks to become a senior logistics account executive. He is married with five preteen children and struggled with work-life balance at TQL. He even accepted a lower-earning position to reduce his workload, becoming a senior enterprise account manager to continue to work at the freight brokerage giant, second in size only to C.H. Robinson, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. However, after five months in the new role, his work-life balance was substantially worse, according to court documents. My brother left TQL and did not want to do anything improper, so he didnt go to work for a broker. But he went to a trucking company, which was a supplier for TQL, Patterson said. The same month, Jacob Patterson was hit with his lawsuit from TQL. According to the 12-month noncompete Jacob Patterson signed, it prohibits him from working for a competing business defined as any person, firm, corporation, or entity that is engaged in shipping, third-party logistics, freight brokerage, truck brokerage or supply chain management services in the Continental United States for one year after leaving TQL. The freight brokerages overbroad language in the noncompete is so expansive that it would prohibit him from even driving for DoorDash, the lawsuit states. He resigned from PBJ in August 2022 after discovering that TQL intended to file a motion seeking to add PBJ Express as a defendant in the ongoing lawsuit. TQL did add Missouri-based PBJ Express to the suit, which was removed to federal court the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. PBJ has filed a motion to dismiss on personal jurisdiction grounds. Jacob Patterson files suit against TQL In August 2022, Patterson filed a lawsuit against TQL seeking damages and injunctive relief. His suit, filed in Clermont County, alleges the case demonstrates the extraordinary measures TQL will take to harm the career prospects of an employee who has the temerity to leave the company. Litigation in the case against TQL remains ongoing. As Patterson was preparing to leave his job at PBJ Express, he started looking for employment outside the transportation industry and entered employment discussions with Justin Austin, who was recently promoted to Midwest regional select practice leader/partner for USI Insurance Services. Austin also worked at TQL for seven years, according to his bio on LinkedIn. USI, headquartered in Valhalla, New York, is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, according to its website. However, employment talks with Patterson ended two weeks later after Austin spoke with Chris Brown, TQLs general counsel. According to court documents, Austin was told that hiring Patterson would hurt [USIs] business relationship as TQL is a 20-year client of USI. Watch FW NOW as TQL files second suit against Jacob Patterson Push to end noncompetes Matthew Leffler, known as the Armchair Attorney, is an advocate for ending noncompetes. The overbroad noncompetes like TQL has in place ruins peoples lives and starve their competitors of talent, Leffler told FreightWaves. They dont really care if the person stays or doesnt, but they want to get them out of the industry. Leffler described companies that force employees to sign overbroad noncompetes as lazy management. Companies like TQL have found this way [noncompetes] that they think will drive retention and reduce competition, but the tides are turning, he said. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a nationwide ban on noncompetes. More than 20,000 comments were posted to the rulemaking docket regarding the noncompete clause rule prior to the comment period ending on April 19. Among those was Jacob Patterson, who submitted a two-page comment to the docket about his firsthand experience with TQLs aggressive enforcement of noncompete agreements. I write both to highlight the way these agreements often work, in practice, to the detriment of workers and the labor market at large, and to highlight features of TQLs noncompete agreements which make them particularly damaging to the labor market and which independently should be considered unfair methods of competition regardless of whether the Commission adopts its proposed rule, Patterson wrote. Its unclear when the FTCs final rule will be released. However, Leffler said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups say they will challenge the rule, claiming FTC lacks the authority to ban noncompetes. More than 30 million people in many industries are bound by noncompete agreements, Leffler said. Congress is also taking aim at limiting the use of noncompete agreements. In February, Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., introduced the Workforce Mobility Act, along with co-sponsors Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Kevin Cramer, R-ND. The bipartisan legislation seeks to limit the use of noncompete agreements that negatively impact American workers. Almost one in five American workers 30 million people are constrained by a noncompete agreement, which block workers from working for a competing employer or starting a competing business, according to a news release about the bill. U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., Scott Peters, D-Calif., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., introduced a companion bill in the House. Since 2020, I have worked to limit the use of noncompete agreements that slow economic innovation and productivity, Peters said in a statement about the Workforce Mobility Act. These agreements restrict workers, disrupt labor markets, and impede economic prosperity for Americans. By banning these agreements nationally like in California, we give the power back to the American worker and ultimately strengthen our economys competitiveness. The FTCs proposed rule, the Workforce Mobility Act and state action may be enough to move the needle and make these absurd noncompetes go away, Leffler said. My hope is we will continue to see the trend of states banning or eliminating them. I look forward to the FTCs final rule coming out, he said. Do you have a news tip to share? Send me an email or message me @cage_writer on Twitter. Your name will not be used without your permission. Read more articles here: Former employees sue NC-based trucking firm over mass firing Insiders say Flock Freight is a toxic dumpster fire with only months of cash left Lipsey Logistics cites weak freight market for layoffs The post TQL hits ex-broker with 2nd noncompete lawsuit appeared first on FreightWaves. Cultural salon in Cairo showcases charm of Chinese tea culture Xinhua) 08:57, May 26, 2023 People attend a Chinese tea culture event in Cairo, Egypt, on May 25, 2023. A tea-themed cultural salon was held on Thursday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, with more than 200 people gathering to taste famous Chinese tea, experience tea-making art, and enjoy cultural performances. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) CAIRO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A tea-themed cultural salon was held on Thursday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, with more than 200 people gathering to taste famous Chinese tea, experience tea-making art, and enjoy cultural performances. Held under the theme of "Tea: a Gift from China for the World," the gathering was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang, former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, and Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Khalil Ebrahim Mohammed Saleh Althawadi, as well as government officials, media representatives, and tea lovers from both China and Egypt. "Tea is not only the spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, but also the link and bridge between China and the rest of the world," Liao said in his speech. The ambassador noted that China's traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices, which were inscribed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022, have become the common fortune of all mankind. He expressed the hope that tea would contribute to strengthening the ties between China and Egypt. In addition to various tea-themed activities, the event also featured performances of Chinese folk dances and Shaolin Kungfu, which received rounds of applause from the audience. Jointly sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the General Secretariat of the Arab League, the event was the latest stop of a global tour called "Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon" to promote the tradition of tea-making and its rich culture in China. People watch traditional Chinese dance performance at a Chinese tea culture event in Cairo, Egypt, on May 25, 2023. A tea-themed cultural salon was held on Thursday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, with more than 200 people gathering to taste famous Chinese tea, experience tea-making art, and enjoy cultural performances. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) People learn about tea culture at a Chinese tea culture event in Cairo, Egypt, on May 25, 2023. A tea-themed cultural salon was held on Thursday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, with more than 200 people gathering to taste famous Chinese tea, experience tea-making art, and enjoy cultural performances. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) People learn about tea culture at a Chinese tea culture event in Cairo, Egypt, on May 25, 2023. A tea-themed cultural salon was held on Thursday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, with more than 200 people gathering to taste famous Chinese tea, experience tea-making art, and enjoy cultural performances. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) People watch traditional Chinese dance performance at a Chinese tea culture event in Cairo, Egypt, on May 25, 2023. A tea-themed cultural salon was held on Thursday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, with more than 200 people gathering to taste famous Chinese tea, experience tea-making art, and enjoy cultural performances. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) (Bloomberg) -- The US Treasurys cash and borrowing situation is getting very tight. Most Read from Bloomberg While negotiators in Washington struggle to try and hammer out a deal on the statutory debt limit that will be amenable to both sides of politics, the Treasurys cash balance is dwindling rapidly and the amount of accounting gimmicks that it has up its sleeve to avoid breaching the debt cap is declining. The Treasurys cash balance fell to $38.8 billion as of Thursday, the lowest since 2017, according to data published Friday. Thats down from from $49.5 billion a day earlier and $140 billion on May 12. The Treasurys bank account has been under downward pressure recently because of measures being taken to avoid breaching the $31.4 trillion debt cap. Meanwhile, the so-called extraordinary measures that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is using to avoid the borrowing limit are being exhausted too. As of May 24, the US Treasury had just $67 billion of the special measures left, the department said in a statement Friday. Thats out of a total of $335 billion of authorized measures that were available and is down from around $92 billion on May 17. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the government could run short of funds as soon as early June. But there have been signs of progress toward a deal between Republicans and Democrats in Washington, although no agreement just yet. In looking at the extraordinary measures and settlements coming next few days, it seems like theyre using up all of it by June 1, said Deutsche Bank strategist Steven Zeng. The premium investors demand to hold US paper thats most at risk of default if Congress and the White House fail to strike a deal continued to retreat Friday, with yields sliding below 6%. (Updates to add information on extraordinary measures) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. While Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 23% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been pleasing. To wit, the share price did better than an index fund, climbing 62% during that period. Since the long term performance has been good but there's been a recent pullback of 4.3%, let's check if the fundamentals match the share price. See our latest analysis for Tronox Holdings To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. 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, Tronox Holdings moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. 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? 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. As it happens, Tronox Holdings' TSR for the last 3 years was 76%, 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 Tronox Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 35% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 2.1%. 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 5% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - Tronox Holdings has 3 warning signs (and 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) we think you should know about. Tronox Holdings is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. 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 (Bloomberg) -- Kenvue Inc., the consumer health business that Johnson & Johnson spun off this month, will be eligible for ratings from a slew of major Wall Street banks next week, offering a chance to see how analysts are assessing initial public offerings amid the latest equities volatility and recession worries. Most Read from Bloomberg Shares of the company have climbed about 20% since May 3, when it raised $3.8 billion in the largest US IPO since 2021. It went public during the slowest period for share listings since 2016, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. The so-called quiet period for ratings from analysts at firms that participated in the IPO ends May 30. The list of underwriting banks includes Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities, BNP Paribas, HSBC, RBC Capital Markets, UBS and Siebert Williams Shank. Kenvue produces a slew of popular products, including Tylenol, Listerine, Neutrogena and Nicorette. Like J&J, it has been sued over talc-injury claims and it has cautioned that more may arise outside the US and Canada. Still, the business had a net income of about $1.5 billion on nearly $15 billion in sales for the year ended Jan. 1 on a pro forma basis, according to company filings. In a May 4 IPO research note, David Trainer, chief executive officer of New Constructs, gave the company a neutral rating and said it lacks the margins of many competitors. Trainer, who wasnt subject to the ratings quiet period, added that profitability doesnt always mean a good stock. He said Kenvues more than $41 billion valuation at its IPO may be at the high end, leaving little upside potential for investors. The company may also have to increase investment and marketing spending to grow, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Diana Gomes said in a May 18 note. Read More: Kenvue Might Sacrifice Margin Through 2024 to Revive Growth Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Inchcape plc (LON:INCH), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the LSE over the last few months. As a mid-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Today I will analyse the most recent data on Inchcapes outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists. Check out our latest analysis for Inchcape Is Inchcape Still Cheap? Good news, investors! Inchcape is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is 9.75, but it is currently trading at UK7.76 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Inchcapes beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What does the future of Inchcape look like? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Inchcape's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 78%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? Since INCH is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on INCH for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy INCH. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed investment decision. If you want to dive deeper into Inchcape, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Inchcape (including 1 which is concerning). If you are no longer interested in Inchcape, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here A top European Union official has used a high-profile meeting with a Chinese envoy in Brussels to press Beijing again to use its leverage with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Li Hui, Beijing's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, who is leading China's peacemaking effort, met Enrique Mora, the EU's deputy secretary general for political affairs, on Thursday. After the meeting, the EU said that Mora had stressed "the necessity to respect" Ukraine's sovereignty. 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 EU expects China ... to play a constructive role and to use every occasion to uphold and promote the UN Charter and international law, and to recall the necessity to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity," the EU statement said. That expectation includes efforts by Beijing to get Russia "to stop the bloodshed and indiscriminate targeting of civilians by immediately and unconditionally withdrawing all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders". The statement did not include any details of Li's response and Beijing did not immediately release its own readout of the meeting. Mora's comments were in line with a warning by the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, earlier this month that Beijing "cannot expect to be good friends" with the bloc without Chinese efforts to end Russia's assault against its neighbour. Li has faced a consistent message on this front throughout his extended trip through Europe, which started in Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Zelensky's office posted a lengthy statement after his meeting with Li promoting the 10-point formula it put forward in November, which demands Russia's withdrawal and the return of all territory seized by Moscow. Li Hui, who is leading China's peacemaking mission, with Polish deputy foreign minister Wojciech Gerwel on May 19. Photo: Poland Embassy in China alt=Li Hui, who is leading China's peacemaking mission, with Polish deputy foreign minister Wojciech Gerwel on May 19. Photo: Poland Embassy in China> Similar messaging during subsequent stops on Li's tour have underscored a coordination that Borrell spoke of during a debate on China in Stockholm involving the bloc's 27 foreign ministers. Borrell issued his warning there, even if some ministers did not fully embrace efforts to stymie Russian President Vladimir Putin. The EU's largest members, France and Germany, have said European policies toward China should not necessarily be in lockstep with Washington, but have backed calls for Beijing to take a harder line against Russia's efforts to subdue its neighbour. Borrell claimed that the EU's 27 member states "are united behind the music" of a position paper on China written by the bloc's foreign service and sent to members during the meeting in Sweden after intense internal haggling about its content. Polish deputy foreign minister Wojciech Gerwel told Li last Friday that peace in Ukraine could only be achieved through the withdrawal of Russian troops and return of "unlawfully seized territories", and that any military support for Moscow would result in "grave consequences for the bilateral relationship between Europe and China". And in an interview with the South China Morning Post this week, Jan Lipavsky, the Czech foreign minister, said that the EU "has to cooperate with the US, much more than [with] China". Li is expected to travel next to Moscow to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 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. If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. That's why when we briefly looked at United Parcel Service's (NYSE:UPS) ROCE trend, we were very happy with what we saw. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for United Parcel Service, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.23 = US$13b (US$72b - US$16b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023). So, United Parcel Service has an ROCE of 23%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Logistics industry average of 15%. Check out our latest analysis for United Parcel Service roce In the above chart we have measured United Parcel Service's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering United Parcel Service here for free. How Are Returns Trending? In terms of United Parcel Service's history of ROCE, it's quite impressive. Over the past five years, ROCE has remained relatively flat at around 23% and the business has deployed 68% more capital into its operations. With returns that high, it's great that the business can continually reinvest its money at such appealing rates of return. If these trends can continue, it wouldn't surprise us if the company became a multi-bagger. The Key Takeaway In short, we'd argue United Parcel Service has the makings of a multi-bagger since its been able to compound its capital at very profitable rates of return. Therefore it's no surprise that shareholders have earned a respectable 72% return if they held over the last five years. So while investors seem to be recognizing these promising trends, we still believe the stock deserves further research. One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing United Parcel Service that you might find interesting. United Parcel Service is not the only stock earning high returns. If you'd like to see more, check out our free list of companies earning high returns on equity with solid fundamentals. 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 FILE - Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo speaks during a Senate Appropriations hearing on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 16, 2023. Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, expressed concern Thursday, May 25, 2023 about policies of each others governments following Chinese raids on consulting firms and U.S. curbs on exports of semiconductor technology, their governments said. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, expressed concern Thursday about policies of each others governments following Chinese raids on consulting firms and U.S. curbs on exports of semiconductor technology, their governments said. The two sides announced no progress in disputes over technology and security but said Raimondo and Wang promised to strengthen exchanges on trade issues. Companies from both sides have been buffeted by tighter official controls on trade in semiconductors and other activity on security grounds. Political relations between the two governments are at their lowest level in decades following disputes over technology, security, China's territorial claims and Beijing's treatment of Hong Kong and ethnic minorities. Raimondo raised concerns about Chinese actions against U.S. companies in China, her office said in a statement. It said they also discussed the trade and investment environment and areas for potential cooperation but gave no details. Chinese police raided offices of consultants Bain & Co. and Capvision and a due diligence firm, Mintz Group, following the expansion of national security and intelligence laws. Authorities have given no explanation for the raids. The raids rattled foreign companies, which the British Chamber of Commerce in China said this week want greater clarity about enforcement. Chinese authorities have said companies are obliged to obey the law but have given no indication whether they see possible violations. Wang expressed key concerns about U.S. policy on semiconductors, exports and trade, his ministry said. It gave no details. Chinese leader Xi Jinping in March accused Washington of trying to hold back Chinas development after the U.S. government blocked access to technology to manufacture advanced processor chips, hampering the ruling Communist Party's efforts to develop its own semiconductor producers for smartphones, artificial intelligence and other advanced applications. President Joe Biden has tightened restrictions imposed by his predecessor, Donald Trump, on access to design, manufacturing and other technologies that Washington and its allies say might be used to improve Chinese weapons at a time when Beijing is threatening to attack Taiwan and is involved in territorial disputes with other neighbors. The two governments have yet to resume face-to-face negotiations over ending a tariff war that was sparked by Trumps increase in import taxes on Chinese goods over complaints about Beijings industrial policy and complaints about technology theft. Wang was due to meet later with the U.S. trade representative, Kathering Tai, according to the Chinese government. Wang is in the United States to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Detroit. FILE PHOTO: The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City By Blake Brittain (Reuters) -Alphabet Inc's Google must pay $32.5 million in damages for infringing one of smart-speaker maker Sonos Inc's patents in its wireless audio devices, a San Francisco federal jury decided on Friday. The case is part of a sprawling intellectual property dispute between the former collaborators that includes other lawsuits in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The companies previously worked together to integrate Mountain View, California-based Google's streaming music service into Sonos products. Sonos first sued Google for patent infringement in Los Angeles and at the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2020, accusing the tech giant of copying its technology during their collaboration in devices including Google Home and Chromecast Audio. Sonos last year won a limited import ban on some Google devices from the ITC, which Google has appealed. Google has countered with its own patent lawsuits in California and at the ITC, accusing Sonos of incorporating the tech company's technology into its smart speakers. Sonos has called Google's lawsuits an "intimidation tactic" to "grind down a smaller competitor." Santa Barbara, California-based Sonos lost nearly one-fifth of its market valuation earlier this month after cutting its revenue forecast. The jury found Google infringed one of Sonos' two patents at issue in the trial. Sonos had previously asked the court for $90 million in damages, a request Google said in a court filing that Sonos had reduced from $3 billion after U.S. District Judge William Alsup narrowed the case. A Google spokesperson said on Friday the case was a "narrow dispute about some very specific features that are not commonly used," and that the company was considering its next steps. Google also said it has "always developed technology independently and competed on the merit of our ideas." A Sonos spokesperson said the verdict "re-affirms that Google is a serial infringer of our patent portfolio." (Reporting by Blake Brittain in WashingtonEditing by David Bario, Rosalba O'Brien and Matthew Lewis) (Bloomberg) -- An alleged campaign by Chinese state-sponsored hackers on targets in the US and Guam has raised fears that Beijing is preparing to disrupt communications in the Pacific in the event of a conflict. Most Read from Bloomberg The hacking campaign was first identified by Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday and quickly confirmed by authorities in the US, UK and other allied nations. Microsoft said the hacking group, which it dubbed Volt Typhoon, had breached government, communications, manufacturing and IT organizations in the US and Guam, a crucial military post in the western Pacific Ocean. While the identities of most of the hacking victims remains unknown, US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told CNBC on Thursday that the Navy was impacted by the intrusions. The extent of the breach wasnt immediately known. A spokesperson for the US Navy declined to discuss the status of our networks. Meanwhile, Rob Joyce, the director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, told CNN Thursday that Chinese hackers could still have access to sensitive US networks that theyve targeted. Joyce said the intrusions stood out in how brazen they were in scope and scale. A NSA representative declined to comment and referred instead to a release by the NSA and other US agencies on the Chinese hacking group. Microsoft said it had moderate confidence the breaches were carried out in preparation to upend communications in the event of a future crisis. The companys disclosure came amid mounting concerns that China might take military action to enforce its claim to the self-ruled island of Taiwan. Jon Darby, NSAs director of operations until his retirement after 39 years at the spy agency in August, said the operation matched a well-known way to infiltrate networks by accessing them at the edges rather than at what he called the bulls-eye and then staying undetected for years. The interesting thing is they got in from home routers all the way into the US Navy infrastructure, said Darby, who is not familiar with the details of this specific case. The scary thing is they could then launch disruptive or destructive attacks when things are hitting the fan, he said. If theyre in these networks they can wreak havoc. Youve got to identify and plug up the vulnerabilities that allowed them to get into these networks and eradicate them. The NSA, along with intelligence agencies from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada also shared more details on the hackers. Those countries are all part of a key intelligence alliance, which includes the sharing of cybersecurity information, known as the Five Eyes. China has denied the hacking accusations. We noted this extremely unprofessional report a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence, Chinas Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said. 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. The US has previously accused Chinese hackers for espionage and intellectual property theft, including a data breach of the Office of Personnel Management in 2015 and a hack of Equifax in 2017. In 2014, a Senate panel found that Chinese government-affiliated hackers accessed the data of military contractors including airlines and tech companies. Its not clear why Microsoft, the US and its allies decided to shine a spotlight on the hacking group this week. One reason may be to give private companies a head start on defending from this group of Chinese hackers long before a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, said John Hultquist, chief analyst at Mandiant Intelligence, a subsidiary of Google. The burden of protecting critical infrastructure from serious disruptive cyberattacks lies with the private sector. They have to defend these networks, Hultquist said. Thats why its so important that this intelligence makes its way into their hands. If it doesnt, its practically useless. Details about the alleged attacks offer rare insights into potential sabotage efforts by Chinese hackers, whose alleged theft of intellectual property and espionage capabilities are better known. By contrast, cybersecurity experts have documented Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, including hacks of the power grid in Ukraine are well documented. The organization has been around a long time, said Dakota Cary, a consultant at Krebs Stamos Group, describing the hacking group. When they walked over a line to get something of military operational value, thats when it changed. --With assistance from Margi Murphy. (Updates with additional information throughout. A previous version of this story corrected a misspelling.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. Having said that, from a first glance at GDB Holdings Berhad (KLSE:GDB) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. To calculate this metric for GDB Holdings Berhad, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.06 = RM9.7m (RM336m - RM174m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023). Therefore, GDB Holdings Berhad has an ROCE of 6.0%. On its own, that's a low figure but it's around the 5.5% average generated by the Construction industry. Check out our latest analysis for GDB Holdings Berhad roce Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for GDB Holdings Berhad's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you'd like to look at how GDB Holdings Berhad has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. The Trend Of ROCE In terms of GDB Holdings Berhad's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 55% over the last five years. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased. On a side note, GDB Holdings Berhad has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 52% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. Keep in mind 52% is still pretty high, so those risks are still somewhat prevalent. The Key Takeaway We're a bit apprehensive about GDB Holdings Berhad because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Long term shareholders who've owned the stock over the last five years have experienced a 14% depreciation in their investment, so it appears the market might not like these trends either. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere. GDB Holdings Berhad does have some risks, we noticed 4 warning signs (and 1 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about. While GDB Holdings Berhad may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here This Week in Policy & Public Interest News: 13 Stories You Need to See A roundup of the week's most newsworthy policy and public interest press releases from PR Newswire, including tips for staying safe on the road and in the water this summer. NEW YORK, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the policy and public interest industries stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. PR Newswire Weekly Policy & Public Interest Press Release Roundup, May 22-26, 2023. Photo provided by National Water Safety Coalition. https://prn.to/3outwDg The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Read more of the latest policy-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNpolicy and @prnedu on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at media.relations@cision.com. Cision PR Newswire logo (PRNewsfoto/PR Newswire) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-week-in-policy--public-interest-news-13-stories-you-need-to-see-301835226.html SOURCE PR Newswire Company Logo Western European Data Center Construction Market Western European Data Center Construction Market Dublin, May 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Western Europe Data Center Construction Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Western Europe data center construction market is expected to reach a value of $10.61 billion by 2028 from $8.22 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 4.33% during 2022 to 2028 There is a high demand from organizations for retail colocation services in developing countries. Enterprises having limited budgets and demanding geographical distribution capacities will drive the demand for retail colocation services. There is an increasing demand for computing power from cloud providers, enterprises, IoT, and Big Data organizations, which will drive wholesale colocation demand. Germany leads the Western Europe data center market with an overall investment of over USD 1.8 billion in 2022. The country's cumulative growth is expected to be more than USD 12 billion during the forecast period. The growth in data center development has led the contractors to implement new sustainable methods, increasing the competition among them. Operators opt for these contractors to enhance their green credentials. There is significant growth in greenfield and modular data center developments. The modular data center developments are increased as the construction methods are seemed inefficient due to labor shortages, budget constraints, and construction delays in certain countries across the region. The increased demand for modular solutions from data center operators is increasing the revenue of modular data center solutions providers such as Vertiv, Dell, and HPE, among others. The power capacity is expected to grow significantly in the region with the advent of colocation and hyperscale operators investing highly in the market. There is a trend of procuring energy harnessed from renewable power sources by colocation, hyperscale, and colocation service providers. KEY TRENDS & DRIVERS Growing Adoption of Artificial Intelligence The adoption of artificial intelligence is fueling data generation and the technology market, thereby increasing the need for data center construction. Eurostat released a report according to which Ireland ranks at the top in Europe in using AI/ML technologies by businesses and enterprises in their infrastructure or applications. Several AI initiatives in countries across the region include global partnerships on artificial intelligence, a mission on artificial intelligence, a national strategy on artificial intelligence, and others. For instance, The Government of France invested around USD 1.7 billion in its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. The high adoption of AI/ML solutions is prompting the installation of a highly efficient cooling infrastructure. Liquid cooling is the prominent technology for supporting AI/ML workloads in High-Performance Computing (HPC). Direct-to-chip and liquid-immersion cooling markets, through OEM, are making strong bonds. Research & Development centers are being set up for innovations in AI and other applications across various Western European countries. For instance, R&D centers for AI have been set up by companies such as Google, Oracle, and Huawei. Increase in Sustainable Initiatives Data centers, the major sources of carbon emissions worldwide, are looking for sustainable initiatives to reduce the high quantity of CO2 emissions generated by the facilities. According to the Europe Climate act, a part of the European Green Deal, countries across the continent are aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. Various operators in Western Europe are a part of the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact act, such as Interxion (Digital Realty), Aruba, OVHcloud, Equinix, and Scaleway data center, among 17 industry associations. The pact states that the facilities part of it must be powered completely using energy harnessed from renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, and others by 2030. The Government of the UK aims to achieve 100% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2035. Rising Colocation Data Center Investments The Western Europe data center construction market has shown signs of growth with the development of hyperscale data centers by cloud service providers such as Microsoft, IBM, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle, Google, and Tencent. The prominent investors in the Western Europe data center construction include Equinix, Interxion (Digital Realty), NTT Global Centers, Echelon Data Centres, Iron Mountain, OVHcloud, Vantage Data Centers, and VIRTUS Data Centres. In August 2022, Proximity Data Centres opened a data center in Buckinghamshire. A loan of USD 30.8 million was granted to the operator for its UK expansion, with a total investment of USD 99 million. OVHcloud, a cloud computing, has planned to invest around USD 101 million by 2027 for its upcoming data center in Limburg. Telehouse has planned an investment of around USD 988 million for its European expansion. Telehouse plans an investment of around USD 988 million for its expansion in countries across Western Europe and other regions in Europe. An increase in data center investment will provide huge revenue opportunities for construction contractors and colocation and infrastructure providers worth billions of dollars. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS Some of the major vendors operating in the Western Europe data center construction market include Arup, AECOM, Ariatta, Bouygues, ICT facilities, Mercury, Metnor Group, Oakmont Construction, ARC:MC, Kirby Group Engineering, DPR Construction, Turner & Townsend, Gruner, Lupp Group, Max Bogl, Exyte, DBA PRO, Future-tech, ISG, and NORMA. SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS Significant investment growth due to the advent of technologies such as cloud computing, Big data & IoT, and M/L Technologies. Increasing growth in the construction of modular data centers is being observed. Operators are adopting the turnkey approach for designing new data center facilities. Greenfield projects will encounter more growth as compared to brownfield. The brownfield development of data centers will continue to grow along with installing on-site renewable power sources. Support of The Government For Data Centers One of the prominent enablers for the Western Europe data center construction market is breaks and tax incentives offered in various countries, which generate significant savings and incorporate other benefits. The Government of Spain is investing highly in the country's overall digitalization. The government has planned around USD 720 million to strengthen Artificial Intelligence in the country. The Government of France reduced the electricity taxes and will help attract investments in the country. The UK government has placed a corporate tax of 20%, the lowest amongst G20 countries. The Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) in Switzerland includes a few GDPR adaptations, which will aid in attracting further investments for data centers in the country. The French Government offers tax incentives for Research & Development up to 30% and has a limit of USD 97.48 million. The Dutch government is undertaking initiatives to bring the country to the forefront of the Western Europe data center construction market. The sales and VAT rate in the country is over 20%. The Government of the Netherlands is taking initiatives to increase the country's data center market portfolio and reach. The VAT and sales tax in the country stands above 20%. Tax incentives are available in most Western European countries. More tax breaks will be concentrated on less developed countries to attract investment in the Western Europe data center construction market. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 467 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $8.22 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $10.61 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.3% Regions Covered Europe Market Overview Data Center Design Certifications Uptime Institute Tier Standards Leed Certification Tia 942 Certification Market Opportunities & Trends Higher Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Increasing Adoption of District Heating Systems Data Centers Prioritizing Sustainability Innovations in Data Center Technologies Market Growth Enablers Increasing 5G Deployments Fueling Edge Data Centers Growth in the Adoption of Cloud Services Increasing Adoption of Big Data & Iot Support from the Government Modular Data Center Construction Growing Submarine & Inland Connectivity Adoption of Ocp & Hyperscale Infrastructure Market Restraints Security Challenges in Data Centers Carbon Emissions Affecting Data Center Sustainability Location Constraints on Data Center Development Lack of Skilled Data Center Professionals Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers 3M ABB Airedale International Air Conditioning Alfa Laval Carrier Caterpillar Condair Climaveneta Cummins D'HONDT THERMAL SOLUTIONS Daikin Applied Delta Electronics Eaton ebm-papst EMICON INNOVATION AND COMFORT Enrogen FlaktGroup Grundfos Guntner GESAB HiRef HITEC Power Protection Honeywell International Johnson Controls KOHLER-SDMO KyotoCooling Legrand Mitsubishi Electric Munters Nlyte Software (Carrier Global Corporation) Perkins Engines Piller Power Systems Riello Elettronica ( Riello UPS) Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec STULZ Trane (Ingersoll Rand) Vertiv ZIEHL-ABEGG Prominent Construction Contractors AECOM AEON Engineering ARC:MC APL Data Center Ariatta ARSMAGNA Artelia Arup Atkins Basler & Hofmann BENTHEM CROUWEL ARCHITECTS Bouygues Construction Callaghan Engineering Cap Ingelec Collen Deerns DPR Construction Eiffage EYP MCF Ferrovial Future-tech ICT Facilities IDOM ISG JCA Engineering JERLAURE Kirby Group Engineering Linesight LPI Group M+W Group (EXYTE) Mercury Metnor Construction Nicholas Webb Architects (NWA) NORMA Engineering Oakmont Construction PM Group (PQC) Power Quality Control Quark RED Reid Brewin Architects Royal HaskoningDHV Skanska SPIE UK Starching STO Building Group STS Group TPF TTSP Turner & Townsend Winthrop Engineering and Contracting Prominent Data Center Investors AtlasEdge Aruba China Mobile Colt Data Centre Services (COLT DCS) CyrusOne DATA4 Digital Realty Echelon Data Centres EdgeConneX (EQT Infrastructure) Equinix Euclyde Data Centers Facebook Global Switch Google Iron Mountain KDDI Liberty Global Microsoft Nautilus Data Technologies NDC-GARBE Data Centers Europe NTT Global Data Centers Orange Business Services Proximity Data Centres Pure Data Centres T5 Data Centers Telecom Italia Sparkle Vantage Data Centers Virtus Data centers (ST Telemedia Global Data Centres) Yondr New Entrants Global Technical Realty Stratus DC Management For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ka82ij 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 CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Beefeater chef Whitbread is laying the groundwork for a sale of part of its 700m pub and restaurant arm in a move that could place its Beefeater steakhouse chain on the chopping block. The FTSE 100 hospitality giant is understood to have hired advisers to explore options for the division, which also houses the Brewers Fayre pub chain, amid concerns that poor food and drink sales are weighing on the wider business. The move marks the latest chapter in the sell-off of the one-time brewer as bosses focus on repeating the UK success of its flagship hotel chain Premier Inn, in Germany. Sources said that discussions are at a preliminary stage and may not result in the business being offloaded. They insisted that only a "small part" of Whitbreads food and drink operations was under consideration. It follows a warning in Whitbreads recently published annual report of the increasing divergence of performance of the hotel business and the food and beverage business. This could have a detrimental effect on the premium charged by Premier Inn for rooms compared with its rivals, Whitbread said. Whitbreads accommodation group sales grew by 27pc in the year to March compared with a year earlier, while food and beverage sales by 4pc. The expected bounce back following the removal of trading restrictions last year has not materialised fully, the company said in its annual report. Beefeater is the oldest brand owned by the FTSE 100 company after being set up by the then Whitbread Brewery almost half a century ago. It is one of Whitbreads two biggest food and beverage businesses alongside 161-site pub chain Brewers Fayre. Whitbreads advisers are understood to have begun contacting potentially interested parties, asking them to sign non-disclosure agreements ahead of a formal sales process. Many of Whitbreads pubs and restaurants operate under a co-lo arrangement next to or part of Premier Inn hotels, often serving breakfast on behalf of its sister company. Bankers are understood to have championed the chains freehold properties against which bank financing could be secured. The sales process is at an early stage and Whitbreads advisers have not guided parties on the valuation of the business, sources said. Whitbread does not break down the financial performance of its individual restaurants. UK and Ireland food and beverage annual sales were 712.7m. The decision to offload the business is the first major move since Whitbread sold Costa Coffee to Coca-Cola for 3.9bn in 2018. Whitbreads history can be traced back to 1742 when Samuel Whitbread went into partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell. Whitbread remained a brewer until 1974 when its first Beefeater Steakhouse was opened. In 1987 the company ventured into hotels with Travel Inn, which would eventually become Premier Inn. Whitbread declined to comment. 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. Why 70% of People Are Concerned About the Safety of Their Bank Accounts iLexx / iStock.com Fears over the solidity of banks have surged in recent months. According to a new poll by GOBankingRates, 70% of Americans are concerned about the safety of their money in bank accounts. See: Why Stealth Wealth Is the Best Way To Handle Your Money Learn: How To Guard Your Wealth From a Potential Banking Crisis With Gold Why are the vast majority of Americans feeling this way and is their concern valid, from a finance experts perspective? Additionally, what are some appropriate steps one might take to quell their anxiety and ensure the safety of the money they keep in banks? The Collapse of SVB Set Fears in Motion The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March is largely what triggered recent rising concerns over the security of banks. But it isnt the first time Americans have expressed worry. Following the 2008 recession, people trusted banks and financial services the least in comparison to other industries, said Christopher Colley, global head of industry advisory, financial services at Qualtrics. While sentiment towards banks has gone back to neutral in the years since the crash, the recent string of banking failures at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), First Republic and Credit Suisse has put customer trust on unsteady grounds and customer concerns are running high as a result. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Concern Is Valid, But Not Necessarily for the Reasons You Think Heres the scoop: If your bank is backed by the FDIC (most are) and you have less than $250,000 across all of your accounts in the bank (this is the maximum amount the FDIC insures) then your money is guaranteed safe and you will get it back if your bank fails. All of this said, threats are real, and you should always practice safe behaviors in relation to your bank accounts. The prevalence of cybersecurity threats and the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals make it imperative for individuals to prioritize the security of their financial information, said Adam Garcia, CEO of The Stock Dork. Data breaches, phishing attacks, malware and hacking attempts are all real and persistent risks in todays digital landscape. These threats can lead to significant financial losses, identity theft and long-lasting repercussions on personal credit and financial stability. Spread Money Across Different Banks Your first step in practicing bank-safe behavior is to keep money in multiple accounts (in different banks) if you have more than $250,000. It is important to diversify any bank savings across institutions if your deposit balance exceeds $250,000, said Jennifer White, senior director of banking and payments intelligence at J.D. Power. This is the FDIC protection limit, and shifting deposits reduces your risk of losing your bank savings. If you are not familiar with FDIC and how it works, now is the time to do some research or ask your bank about how this covers your deposits. Use Complex Passwords Did you know the most commonly used password in the U.S. is 123456? Yikes! Stay far, far away from this and other passwords that are exceedingly easy to figure out. Choose a unique and complex password by combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, said Robert Siciliano, CEO of ProtectNowLLC.com. Avoid using easily guessable information like your name or birthdate or consecutive numbers. Consider a password manager software. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Federal law actually requires banks to provide the option to enable 2FA. This builds in an extra layer of security. This typically involves receiving a verification code on your mobile device or email or identifying a photo or identifying the device itself, in addition to your password, when logging in, Siciliano said. Monitor Your Accounts You dont have to be paranoid, but you should always keep an eye on your bank account transactions and statements. Review them frequently to identify any suspicious or unauthorized activities, Siciliano said. Set up push notifications or push alerts to get notified of any and all transactions in real time. If you notice anything unusual, report it to your bank immediately. Look Out for Phishing Garcia highlighted the very real threat of phishing. Stay alert. Be wary of emails, phone calls or messages that ask for your bank account information or personal details, Siciliano said. Never click on links or download attachments. If there is a link to be clicked or a download to be made, all of it can be done in your account when logging in directly on the web. Legitimate banks will never ask you to provide sensitive information through email or text. Secure Your Devices The onus of protection doesnt just fall on you, it also falls on whatever device youre doing your online banking on. Install antivirus software on your devices, including computers, smartphones and tablets, Siciliano said. Keep your operating system and applications up to date to benefit from the latest security patches. Use Secure Networks When Online Banking Though it can be tempting, you should avoid accessing your bank account on public Wi-Fi networks, as they could be unsafe connections. Use secure trusted networks, such as your home or mobile network, Siciliano said, and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) for added protection. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why 70% of People Are Concerned About the Safety of Their Bank Accounts Compassion International prioritizes a two-fold response to a worsening global food crisis COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday is World Hunger Day, when we take time to reflect on the global crisis of hunger and highlight sustainable solutions. The world is hungrier than ever in 2023, with children in poverty among the most vulnerable. According to World Food Program, as many as 828 million people will go to bed hungry each night, and extreme weather, rising costs, and conflict continue to worsen the global food crisis. Children receive food at a Compassion child development center in Kenya. That's why Compassion International is leading a local-first response in nine of the world's hunger hotspots in partnership with 1,600 frontline churches to provide both immediate and long-term support. Compassion provides food packs and cash transfers to stop hunger in its tracks and empowers families with seeds, fertilizer, livestock, and training so they'll have sustainable food supplies over time. Over the past year alone, Compassion supported more than 1.4 million people through its distribution of food packs. Palamanga Ouali, Compassion's regional vice president for Africa, explains, "To thrive, children and youth must first have access to the basics of life. There is nothing more basic than food. The worry for most of us is about the ability of donors to commit and raise funds for the necessary interventions short-term and medium to long-term sustainable interventions to address the root cause of this problem." The statistics are alarming, and the impact on children is severe. One UNICEF study looked at 15 developing countries and found that every minute, another child will suffer from severe malnutrition. The World Food Program reported that more than 345 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity in 2023. With numbers like these, children are more vulnerable to death, life-threatening illnesses, poor academic performance and intellectual development, gender-based violence and abuse, child marriage (as girls are offered in marriage for dowries that will feed their families), and child labor (as children leave school to support their families). As hunger soars, how can the rest of the world make a difference for these hungry children and families? As a child development organization committed to caring for more than two million babies, children, and young adults, Compassion shares five ways: Get the facts on the global food crisis . Learn how hunger affects children and their families. Explore how conflict creates chronic hunger. Watch this urgent video message from Compassion's church partners. Educate yourself on the link between poverty and hunger . Read up on topics like food security or malnutrition . Use your voice . Share what you learned about hunger on social media or with those in your sphere of influence this May 28 on World Hunger Day. Raise awareness about the worsening global food crisis and spread the word about the needs of families and children in poverty. Become part of the solution through support . Find humanitarian organizations that work with developing nations and support them. You can donate to Compassion to provide both immediate and long-term support to malnourished children and families. A $50 food pack will provide a family of five with a one-month supply of essentials, like rice, eggs, meat, milk, and corn; and sustainable solutions, such as livestock (chickens, goats, or pigs), mitigation (seeds, basic tools, and training), or agriculture (vegetable seeds or fruit trees), will help families find hope and build resilience over time. Sponsor a child . Sponsoring a child in a hunger-affected country helps provide food security and gives children the opportunity to learn, play, grow, and reach their potential. Pray . Compassion works with more than 8,500 frontline church partners all over the globe, and each church partner is trained to identify malnutrition and hunger and take immediate action to address it. Pray that God would equip these churches and staff members with wisdom, protection, endurance, and the resources to fight hunger and provide food security to children and families in their communities. And pray for God's comfort and provision to families struggling with food insecurity. To learn more about poverty, hunger, and Compassion's solutions in the midst of a global food crisis, visit compassion.com/worldhungerday or compassion.com/globalfight. About Compassion International Compassion International is a Christian child development organization working to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Founded in 1952, Compassion partners with more than 8,500 local churches in 29 program countries to deliver spiritual, economic, social, and physical care to over two million babies, children, and young adults in poverty. Ranked No. 12 in Forbes' America's Top Charities List in 2022, Compassion is a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. For more information, visit compassion.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Wilburn 219-384-8177 awilburn@compassion.com Compassion International Logo (PRNewsfoto/Compassion International) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-world-hunger-day-in-2023-the-world-is-hungrier-than-ever-301835397.html SOURCE Compassion International New York City is sinking under the weight of its iconic buildings, lower Manhattan could end up underwater literally. Here are 3 stocks to hedge against climate catastrophe New York City is sinking under the weight of its iconic buildings, lower Manhattan could end up underwater literally. Here are 3 stocks to hedge against climate catastrophe New York City is sinking under the weight of its iconic buildings and towers, which may threaten some of its most prestigious real estate over time, a new study has found. There are over one million buildings across the city, collectively weighing 1.68 trillion pounds, according to researchers. This immense weight is partly causing New York to sink an average of one to two millimeters a year. Certain spots are sinking even faster, including lower Manhattan. Don't miss Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds You could be the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods and CVS (and collect fat grocery store-anchored income on a quarterly basis) UBS says 61% of millionaire collectors allocate up to 30% of their overall portfolio to this exclusive asset class It may not sound like much, but extended across several decades, coupled with the rise of sea levels and threat of natural disasters, some experts fear New Yorks coastal areas will one day be unrecognizable. There could be as much as six feet of sea level rise [give or take] by the end of the century, Klaus Jacob, a geophysicist and professor emeritus at Columbia University, told the New York Post. The best way to deal with rising sea levels combined with storm surge would be, of course, retreating to higher ground, Jacob added. But tell that to the property owners in lower Manhattan and other places that they have to move skyscrapers to a higher ground. Thats not going to happen. Real estate investors and developers dont seem to be taking this risk very seriously, according to the study. About 90% of the 67,400 structures in the expanded post-Hurricane Sandy flood-risk areas have not been built to floodplain standards. In terms of future real asset value exposed to flood risk, New York ranks third in the world. Investors on Wall Street are just as exposed. Rising sea levels are likely to impact the stock valuations of insurance firms, banks and property managers across the world. On the other hand, some stocks could serve as a hedge against the effects of climate change. Here are the top three picks. Read more: Blackrocks CEO says art is a serious asset class heres how you can own a piece of a Pablo Picasso AECOM Engineering is a key part of the solution and the government seems to recognize this. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have proposed a $52 billion coastal seawall strategy that could protect New York City, for example. This could be a tailwind for government contractors like AECOM (ACM). The company has worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for over 40 years and has assisted 3.5 million disaster survivors while responding to over 400 disasters worldwide. This engineering giant trades at 29.7 times earnings per share. Tesla A key part of the consumer fight against climate change may very well be transitioning to electric vehicles. This is an area being led by Tesla, one of the largest EV makers in the world. In addition, Tesla is a supplier of grid-scale batteries, which could help clean up and secure power supplies in many regions. Tesla stock is currently down 55% from its all-time high, which could be an opportunity for investors seeking exposure to the green energy sector. Brookfield Renewable Partners Transitioning to green energy may be a longer-term solution to climate change as many nations work toward decarbonization. On the receiving end is Canadian company Brookfield Renewable Partners. It owns and operates clean energy production plants across the world. Its already one of the largest suppliers of hydroelectricity and is rapidly scaling up its wind and solar farms. The companys stock value has nearly doubled in the past five years on the NYSE (82%), although it peaked in January 2021 when it was nearly triple its May 2018 value. For long-term investors worried about climate change, Brookfield Renewables is a top pick. What to read next Want to invest your spare change but don't know where to start? There's an app for that Owning real estate for passive income is one of the biggest myths in investing but here is 1 simple way to really make it work Here's the annual income you need to fall in America's lower, middle, and upper class plus 3 simple tips to boost you up the ladder This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. New York City is withholding new deposits at five banks accused of inaction on discrimination Holding banks to a new standard. New York City is taking its business away from banks that lack anti-discrimination plans. Following the first-ever public hearing held by the New York City Banking Commission yesterday (May 25), all three members voted to limit deposits at Capital Onethe ninth-biggest bank in the US and KeyBank. The authorities alleged the two banks not only failed to submit required plans demonstrating their efforts to root out discrimination, but also outright refused to submit required policies, according to their press release. Read more As a result, New York City comptroller Brad Lander joined the mayors office and the department of finance in freezing new deposits at the banks. (The halt applies only for City agency funds, and not New York City residents.) The latest actions are the result of new requirements introduced in February that assess banks commitment to non-discrimination practices in lending, employment, and other services. Quotable: Demanding fairness from banks 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. Unfortunately, despite several opportunities to do so, five banks failed to comply with the New York City Banking Commissions designation processleaving us to conclude that they are not taking meaningful actions to combat discrimination in their operations and are not responsible stewards of public dollars. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander in a May 25 statement. New York City banking commissions verdict, by the digits 26: Banks that received approval at the first-ever Banking Commission public hearing, based on their non-discrimination practices, and stronger scrutiny for soundness in light of recent bank failures. All of the applicants passed the soundness review, including assessing unrealized losses, uninsured deposits, and capitalization ratios of banks seeking to hold funds on behalf of city agencies 5: The number of banks, including Capital One and KeyBank, that failed to comply with the designation process. The other three banks the Comptroller voted against holding public funds are International Finance Bank, PNC Bank, and Wells Fargo, neither of which currently hold any City deposits $7.2 million: The amount of City deposits Virginia-based Capital One held at the end of April across 108 accounts $10 million: The amount of City deposits Ohio-based KeyBank held at the end of April across three accounts Up to 2 years: The length of the freeze on new deposits in Capital One and KeyBank 1 year: How much longer can Capital One and KeyBank service existing contracts for A non-exhaustive list of banking practices denounced at the public hearing At the public hearing, the Banking Commission heard testimony from a wide array of residents: Muslim New Yorkers who experienced discrimination in the process of opening or closing accounts. Racism has been an issue for black and brown Americans trying to join the financial system. Tenants worried about predatory lending practices by banks that jeopardize their rights and safe living conditions. It contributed to the downfall of the now-defunct Signature Bank. Climate advocates who condemned banks that continued to lend billions of dollars for fossil-fuel expansion, ignoring their net-zero commitments. Frontline bank staff that faced illegal and abusive practices. People worried about bank operations contributing to gun manufacturing. The public airing of issues gave rise to support for the idea of a public bank that would instead put those dollars to work for our communities, Annie Levers, the citys deputy comptroller for policy, said yesterday. The flip side: Texas and Florida penalized woke banks While New York City is featuring community reinvestment and fair credit practices in its criteria for monitoring financial institutions, some Red states are doing the opposite. For instance, two 2021 Texas bills bar state government entities from doing business with companies that discriminate against the firearm or ammunition industries, ones that prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies and boycott energy companies. In March this year, the Texas comptroller added HSBC to its blacklist over the banks refusal to fund new oil and gas projects. Earlier this month, Florida governor and 2024 Republican presidency hopeful Ron DeSantis signed into law a February bill that bars big banks, trusts, and other financial institutions from discriminating against customers for their religious, political, or social beliefs, including their support for securing the border, owning a firearm, and increasing our energy independence, as well as taking ESG out of consideration in all investment decisions at the state and local level. The law, set to go into effect on July 1, eliminates, in DeSantis words, an ideological litmus test. Related stories Goldman Sachs is paying $215 million to settle a gender discrimination case and avoid an embarrassing trial Wells Fargo is getting sued for mortgage discriminationagain Texas blacklisted HSBC over the banks refusal to fund new oil and gas projects More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A King George man who was caught on camera breaking into a county car dealership where he once worked was ordered Thursday to spend two years in prison. Tony Bae, 31, was sentenced in King George Circuit Court after pleading guilty to burglary and larceny of a vehicle. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years with all but two suspended. According to court records and police, officers went to Elite Auto Nation on U.S. 301 early Nov. 30 after an employee discovered that an exterior window had been broken. Some vehicle keys and a 2019 Kia Forte were missing. The car was recovered a short distance away, and Bae was identified as the suspect through the investigation and surveillance footage. He was arrested about a week later after he cashed a stolen check in Fredericksburg. He was convicted in the city earlier this month on charges of forgery and obtaining money by false pretenses, and received a year to serve on those convictions, court records show. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Spotsylvania man who gained considerable local attention after he was featured in a televised high-speed chase in the county Jan. 27 was convicted of multiple charges Thursday. Colby Michael Trowbridge, 20, pleaded guilty in Spotsylvania Circuit Court to two felony charges, eluding and hit and run. He was also convicted of four related misdemeanors, including reckless driving and driving on a revoked license. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11. The Sheriffs Office was being featured on the Reelz TV program On Patrol when 1st Sgt. Ray Pittman noticed two lanes of Plank Road (State Route 3) sitting side by side in the travel lanes revving their engines. Pittman suspected they were getting ready to race, and both cars accelerated rapidly once the light turned green. Pittman turned on the emergency lights in his unmarked vehicle and went after Trowbridges vehicle. Trowbridge failed to stop and a pursuit began during which speeds exceeded 100 mph. Court records state that Trowbridge ran several red lights and made multiple unsafe lane changes. He drove through several neighborhoods at high speeds and led police up and down Plank Road and through Central Park in Fredericksburg. The chase ended 15 minutes later in the area of the Valor Apartments in Fredericksburg, where Trowbridge was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit. He rammed Pittmans cruiser during the incident, and deputies eventually struck his vehicle and disabled it. When asked why he took off like he did, court records state that Trowbridge told police hed been recently stopped by Virginia State Police for driving without a license and had been told he would go to jail if he was caught doing it again. As part of his plea agreement, Trowbridge has agreed to pay restitution totaling $11,167 to the Sheriffs Office. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. RAPIDAN Alumni of a historic Black school in Culpeper County waited decades for the facade on the stone front of their beloved alma mater to be restored. As of this week, in time for the local institutions 75th anniversary year, the scaffolding is gone and the original school name is in full view George Washington Carver Regional High School. Stone blocks inscribed with the old name, Piedmont Vocational School, were removed, the back of the facade stabilized, the new blocks etched, shipped and set in place. Dominion Traditional Building Group, based in Marshall, started the county-funded project in late November. From 1948 until full integration in Culpeper County in 1968, the facility was a hub of community, family and public education for Black students and families in Culpeper, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties. Carvers name was removed from facade soon after desegregation when the school shifted uses. Alumni never knew why GWC was removed and had long requested the original name be put back. Last year, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors took action, agreeing to restore the famed agricultural inventors name. Carver alumna, Dr. Hortense Hinton-Jackson, alumni association history vice chair and president of the Carver 4-County Museum, provided a statement Wednesday evening about what it means to students who attended the school. We did not realize the emotional impact of again seeing our schools name on the building we walked away from more than 50 years ago, she said. Certainly we did not expect that the name that represented the persistent efforts of African American parents more than 75 years ago and the life-changing education of hundreds of African American youth for 20 years, would ever be removed. Hinton-Jackson continued, Today an entire community revisits a history steeped in families and friends from not only Culpeper, but Orange, Madison and Rappahannock. And today an entire community celebrates an integrated approach to education, arts, culture, agriculture and technology that we are proud to call George Washington Carver Regional High Schools legacy. We appreciate the response to our persistent requests by the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors to restore the name. In the words of Lizzo, Its about damn time, she concluded. The Rev. Frank Lewis, of Madison County, president of the Culpeper Branch NAACP, is another Carver graduate. He spoke at an event May 20 at the school when the scaffolding was still in place, but the name restored. I am blessed to have you all here at this old building I attended for four years, blessed in the past couple of weeks to get the name back on the front of the building George Washington Carver Regional High School, he said to applause the auditorium. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Local activists spearheading efforts to remove what they believe are inappropriate, sexually explicit and obscene books from Keene Memorial Library said they are eagerly awaiting the next steps in regard to possible changes to the city librarys policies. After almost six months of debate over what books are appropriate for the city library, a new idea proposing changes to book purchasing, selection and display policies was presented at the May 15 meeting of the Keene Memorial Library Advisory Board meeting. The proposal was in-part formulated, according to Ward 1 City Council Member Paul Von Behren, by Fremont City Administrator Jody Sanders along with Library Director Laura England-Biggs in late April and early May. The proposals, officials have said, are viewed as a potential solution to the ongoing discussion over books at the library which have consumed hours of time as debate and discussion dominated some meetings. A lengthy report and presentation on the proposed policy changes was presented at the May 15 library board meeting, however, according to England-Biggs and board member Becky Pence, no action was taken on the item and discussions are expected to continue at the June library board meeting. Local residents Scott Preston and Sandra Murray, two of the most outspoken advocates for eliminating books and materials they claim are akin to pornography from the city library, both spoke to the Tribune about the proposed changes. Attempts seeking comment on the issue made to England-Biggs and library board President Linda McClain were not responded to. Preston attended the May 15 library board meeting, however, Murray said, she was unable to attend the meeting, but received updates from others present. Both have passionately expressed their goal of protecting children from content they say should be considered obscene and not be allowed in the government-managed library. In an email interview with the Tribune, Preston stated that he believes, theres definitely some work that still needs to be done on the selection policy. The current draft seems to be written in such a way that almost any book could be justified and theres nothing that would exclude juvenile and young adult books with explicit sexual content, Preston stated. I had quite a few specific points of feedback for them, but the two most concerning things are, there is no language restricting juvenile or young adult books with explicit sexual content, and I dont think adding a section addressing that should be at all controversial. Preston also criticized the role the American Library Association has played in the book debate, a theme and argument that had been also used by other advocates of removing what they believe are inappropriate books. There is a heavy reliance on the American Library Association, which has become a pretty radical organization over the years, Preston added. I dont believe their values really align with Fremonts values, as a whole. Murray spoke to the Tribune via telephone, noting she had not attended the library board meeting, but has been briefed on the meeting by other attendees as well as reviewed the proposed policy changes in the meeting agenda. What they have on the table now, is to change the policies. We are patiently waiting for the next meeting to see if they do anything worthwhile or not, Murray said. I would say, theyre probably not going to do anything. But, the changes to the policy wed like to see is (the library) cannot buy these books. We will see what happens. Murray also said the basis for her objections to certain books are primarily due to her belief the books in question are obscene or could qualify as pornographic under state law, and hence should not be available for minors. Since her Dec. 27, 2022, complaints to the Fremont City Council on controversial books, she has repeatedly stressed she is not anti-LGBTQ+ and that her aim is to protect children. I realize people think, (Im) a Christian and really prude. The people advocating keeping the books think I am being very prude about it, Murray added in reference to her objections. "People see me as a Christian (in my objections) but there is a common point of reference, and that is the state law. That is what the arguments should be based around." In regard to the 5-3 vote by the city council on May 9 to retain This Book is Gay, Murray said she did not believe the council listened to residents who she believes overwhelmingly wanted the book removed. The (city council) voting no and not listening to the community (on May 9) was very discouraging. I feel like they think they have appeased us. Hopefully, the (library) will change policy, she said. Preston said he, too, is eagerly waiting for the next steps in the book debate. Since the issue erupted in late December 2022, Preston has been one of dozens of local residents to speak out against certain books in the library, often reading direct passages from the tomes being scrutinized. As far as being hopeful, time will tell. I know (England-Biggs) is a former president of the Nebraska Library Association, which is the state chapter of the ALA, so Id be pretty surprised if she strays very far from their desired policies, Preston said. Id love to be wrong about that and see Fremont have a library policy that puts us on the cutting edge of both intellectual freedom and protecting kids, he added. If theres a willingness on the librarys part to do both of those things, I do think theres a way. Those two things are not mutually exclusive. Authorities say Russias southern Belgorod region that borders Ukraine came under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in a region next to the Crimea Peninsula. The Kremlins forces meanwhile struck a clinic in Dnipro on Friday, killing two and wounding another 23, including two children. Ukrainian officials also said a Russian missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine. That placed nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. Russia's Belgorod region was earlier this week the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago. Fremont Police officers were dispatched at 1:53 a.m. Thursday, May 25, to the area of 12th and D streets in reference to an earlier trespassin Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Burger King customer allegedly threw a milk bottle at an employee in midtown Omaha after reportedly being informed the order was $1 less than expected. Around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, the employee was working the drive-thru at the fast food restaurant located at 5155 Center St., Omaha police reported. A customer, described as a middle-aged white woman with gray hair, pulled into the drive-thru in a white Dodge Caravan with Iowa license plates and was originally told the order would be about $8, according to a police report. When the customer pulled up to the window, the employee handed the customer a small bottle of milk and told her the order was about $7. The employee told police the customer seemed upset by the lower-than-expected total and responded by throwing the milk bottle back, striking the employee in the chest. The employee was not injured. The employee told police the customer drove off without paying for or receiving the food order. The restaurant's security cameras recorded video of the incident. Memorial Day: Remembering Nebraskans loved and lost Gaylord L. Blanc Veteran Edward E. Kimm William E. Phalen Kenneth H. Carnicle Richard L. Monnier Veteran PFC Franklin W. Ritter Pvt. James Svec Fritz Grant Minder William G. Rockel Leslie Clymer and Milton Clymer Lt. James Edwin Kelley Jeffrey Alan Alexander Robert Schenaman E.W. Stevens Cory R. Mracek Frank Stuart Lomax Harry Perkinton Claude A. Fiedler Mike Doheny Lawrence Wilcox Wilfred M. Schutz E.W. Stevens Joseph A. Gilmore Melvin Leroy Fertig Jay Dana Morse Harvey Hubka Hank Krass Clair Geiger Sgt. Jed Marsh Chuck van Rossum Kenneth W. Wright Miguel Beltran Dean Wright Staff Sgt. Patrick Hamburger Sgt. Jason T. Palmerton Pauley, Betty J. Thompson, William Bill Rollin Fritch Wittrock, Raymond R. "Red" "Woody" Bopp, Walter D. Blum, Harry J. Benjamin G. Prange Robert Woody Donald K Schwab Wachtel, C.L. "Vern" Rex Fuller Jess Hartsell Martin, Eugene R. Gayle Eyler Sage brothers Hoppe, Frank Henry Doran, Ivan E. Jack Allsman Hunter Hogan 'Searching for Stanley' Linda Tarango-Griess Staff Sgt. Lillian Clamens Special Agent Nathan J. Schuldheiss Spc. Nathaniel A. Caldwell Pfc. Eric Paul Woods Staff Sgt. Jason Fegler Spc. Dustin L. Workman II Capt. Matthew Nielson Capt. Travis A. Ford Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher Staff Sgt. Daniel Bader Spc. James R. Wolf Sgt. Dennis A. Corral Sgt. Cory Mracek Pvt. Noah Lee Boye Spc. Dennis Morgan Matthew Henderson Lance Cpl. Kyle Codner Sgt. Jeremy Fischer Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Knott 1st Lt. Edward Iwan Lance Cpl. Shane E. Kielion Sgt. Nicholas Nolte Staff Sgt. Tricia L. Jameson Spc. Darren Howe Capt. Joel Cahill 1st Lt. Garrison Avery Sgt. Lonnie Calvin Allen Jr. Lance Cpl. Brent Zoucha Pfc. Benjamin Slaven Spc. Jeremy Jones Spc. Joshua Ford Staff Sgt. Jeffrey J. Hansen Spc. Germaine Debro Staff Sgt. Scott E. Nisely Lance Cpl. Michael Scholl Staff Sgt. Jeremy W. Mulhair 1st Lt. Jacob Fritz Sgt. Randy Matheny Sgt. Wayne R. Cornell Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Adam McSween 1st Lt. Kevin Gaspers Sgt. Kenneth E. Locker Jr. Cpl. Matthew Alexander Spc. William Bailey III Spc. Adam G. Herold Spc. Val John Borm Spc. Josiah W. Hollopeter Sgt. Jacob Schmuecker Sgt. Justin Duffy Pfc. Michael Jarrett John Douangdara Jeffrey Chaney PFC Leonard F. Preister Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Those afraid that the 2024 GOP presidential contest will become a repeat of 2016 need not worry. The race is radically different this year. It will not play out the same. First, former President Donald Trump is greatly diminished compared to 2015, when he first glided down his escalator at Trump Tower in New York City to announce his campaign. Second, the rest of next years budding GOP candidates are well-acquainted with the former presidents playbook and will know how to fight him. Third, the unstoppable sheen that Trump once had has vanished after losses in every major election from 2018 onward. He must now labor under the worst label any politician can have: loser. Instead of a repeat of 2016, 2024 looks more like a continuation of what we saw in 2020: Trump cannot compete anywhere new, and he cannot put any new voters or states in play. In short, hes playing a losing game of being able to attract only voters who had previously supported him. Jennifer Krantz: Republicans falling into the same Trump trap A large field of qualified candidates is setting up the Republican primaries for a repeat of 2016. While he can still persuade many GOP donors to send their hard-earned dollars to his campaign, his political message now falters more than it inspires. Plus, the party has produced a few non-Trump grievance candidates, so voters still attracted to that style of messaging now have options they didnt have in 2016. More GOP primary voters will cast strategic votes in the 2024 primary because they know we need a stronger general election candidate than Trump. And now the balance of the Republican field cant be snuck up on, as so many of them were back in 2016. Trump is a one-trick pony. His trick is a good one, but his opponents know whats coming. (A word of advice to them: Dont go easy on Trump out of fear that his voters wont return to you in the fall. None of them will ultimately vote for President Joe Biden.) Finally, Trumps opponents know the American people have rejected him, not once but three times: In 2018, when the GOP lost the House. In 2020, when Republicans lost the presidency and the Senate twice (on Election Night and again on runoff day in Georgia). In 2022, when Republicans failed to take the Senate and narrowly captured the House during a midterm election when the party out of power historically does much better. Trumps invincibility cloak is tattered, torn and useless. This is driving the entry of so many new candidates and so much new funding. And dont forget the myriad legal issues Trump faces in multiple jurisdictions from local, state and federal prosecutors. Unlike the civil trial he legally skipped recently in New York, he would need to actually attend any criminal trial, say in Fulton County, Georgia, or in federal court. Besides sapping his time, this would forcefully reiterate to the country in general, and to Republican primary voters in particular, that Trump is damaged goods, on the decline and most important the only GOP nominee who could lose to Biden. In 2016, Trump barely beat Hillary Clinton, the most compromised Democratic nominee in modern history. In 2020 he lost decisively to the second most compromised Democratic Party nominee. Lets hope the other candidates in the Republican field act accordingly and that GOP voters realize our 2024 nomination needs to be stronger and more decisive. Colorado Springs has another top ranking to add to its trophy case and one that should interest young people. In a report this week, Zillow, the Seattle-based, online real estate service, has tabbed the Springs as the nations No. 1 market for college graduates to live. Other metro areas in Zillows top 10, in order, were: Spokane, Wash.; Des Moines, Iowa; Phoenix; Buffalo, N.Y.; Albuquerque; Bakersfield, Calif.; Albany, N.Y.; Portland, Ore.; and Little Rock, Ark. Its ranking follows U.S. News & World Reports recent release of its annual Best Places to Live list, where Colorado Springs placed No. 9 out of the nations 150 biggest cities. A new Zillow index combined each metro areas rent-to-income ratio (how much income tenants need to pay their rents), average salary for recent college graduates, job openings and percentage of local population in their 20s. Zillow sought to identify cities that offer graduates promising career prospects and manageable rent burdens. Colorado Springs, with a smaller population compared with other cities, has relatively affordable rents and lots of career prospects that contribute to a high quality of life for college graduates, Zillow said. Typical Springs graduates can expect to earn about $63,000 a year, though theyll spend around 35% of their income on rent without roommates, which is on the pricier side of rent burdens, Zillow said. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Zillows ranking was good news for Colorado Springs, which competes with other cities to woo young, talented workers and needs them to create a quality workforce and to fill jobs many of which are well paid, high-tech positions, Bob Cope, the citys economic development officer, said via email. When you combine economic opportunity with our natural beauty and active outdoor lifestyle, we become very attractive to college graduates and the great employers who follow them here, Cope said. Many longtime Colorado Springs residents might remember the Springs reputation as a place where kids graduated college, but then left town for Denver or other cool cities, Cope said. That is no longer the case, he said. We have created our own cool city as evidenced by all the restaurants, bars, unique venues and environments being built throughout our city. And while Springs rents have soared of late, many cities face similar affordable housing issues, Theresa Metcalf, economic development vice president for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, said via email. The public and private sectors are working to increase the housing supply, including affordable units, she said. Just days after Gov. Jared Polis signed a law giving the state more authority over managing wild horse herds, a Congressional trio has taken another attempt to ban one of the most controversial tools for rounding up wild horses helicopters. On Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) reintroduced the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act, which would prohibit helicopter roundups of wild horses. Titus sponsored a similar measure in 2022 that stalled in a congressional committee, but which drew two Colorado co-sponsors: Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, and Joe Neguse, D-Lafayette. The American Wild Horse Campaign cheered the legislation, saying helicopter roundups are expensive, with the overall cost for roundups and lifetime captivity of horses pegged at $50,000 each. In Colorado, helicopter roundups of wild horses in several Horse Management Areas (HMAs) on the Western Slope have resulted in panicking the horses, which has led to injuries and fatalities. BLM rounds up some 650 wild horses in Colorado, concerns remain about animal welfare The rounded-up horses, numbering more than 1,800 over the last two years, were then sent to Canon City, where an outbreak of equine influenza resulted in the deaths of at least 146 just over a year ago. Out of those 146 fatalities, 22 were foals, less than a year old. Actions by the Bureau of Land Management, which has oversight over horse management areas, led the American Wild Horse Campaign and its Colorado allies, including the governor and his husband, Marlon Reis, an animal rights activist, to advocate for Colorado lawmakers to respond. That resulted in Senate Bill 275, which Polis signed on May 20 at the BLM-managed Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range northeast of Grand Junction. Under the new law, the state will provide $1.5 million for scaled-up on-range and off-range wild horse conservation efforts by local volunteer groups. That includes creating the Wild Horse Management Project within the Colorado Department of Agriculture as a nonprofit, state-owned entity. Putting the project at the Department of Agriculture turned out to be the biggest sticking point for the measure as it went through the General Assembly. Supporters of SB 275 told Colorado Politics the department did not want the project to be housed at the agency. The project will manage a Wild Horse Stewardship Program and a Wild Horse Working Group, both established under the legislation, along with hiring a director for the project by August 1. The Wild Horse Working Group will be tasked with identifying and pursing "humane, nonlethal alternatives for wild horses taken off-range or held in federal holding facilities in Colorado, opportunities for long-term care and management, and adoption partnerships." The stewardship program will work with the BLM on range infrastructure. A second program established under SB 275 takes on one of the most controversial management aspects horse fertility. That program will use the funds annually appropriated under the legislation to award grants to volunteer groups that will be trained in how to administer humane, nonlethal and safe fertility controls, often through remote darting with an air rifle. Since 2012, one of the primary controls has been with a vaccine known as PZP, although, according to BLM, its efficacy lasts only one to two years. Another vaccine, GonaCon-Equine, which BLM started using in 2020, shows potential for longer-term control. A fertility program operated by the American Wild Horse Campaign in Nevada reduced the foal birth rate by 61% over two years. 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. Finally, SB 275 prohibits surgical sterilization or other "lethal population management." The new law also requires heightened coordination between the state and the BLM. Wild horse advocates have tried for several years to raise awareness about the problems attributed to BLM roundups in the Piceance Basin near Meeker and the Sand Wash Basin near Rangely, both in Rio Blanco County. Last year's roundup, which used helicopters contracted by BLM, resulted in the deaths of several horses during the roundup. After the outbreak of equine influenza, both Polis and Neguse called on the BLM to delay future roundups until the problems could be investigated. An internal BLM assessment released May 24 last year documented significant mismanagement at the Canon City corrals, including understaffing, vaccination and other biosecurity failures, poor record-keeping, poor animal management, lack of basic equine care, inadequate shelter, and substandard facility maintenance. The assessment found 13 areas of noncompliance with the federal program standards. About 1,400 wild horses roam on four herd management areas. The cost in FY 2021 to operate the program stood at more than $115 million. Keeping a wary eye on the program are agricultural interests, including ranchers whose livestock graze on some of the same public lands. The American Wild Horse Campaign claims 7.8 million acres of public land in Colorado are used for grazing, versus 365,000 acres used by wild horses and burros. Austin Vincent of Colorado Farm Bureau said his organization's members appreciated the state's efforts to come up with solutions for wild horses and to make sure the money goes to the volunteers, who, he maintained, will take the concrete steps to address the population problem. The concern among ranchers is competition for the land and grazing, and that the lands should only be used for wild and feral horses meaning horses that have been abandoned by their owners. Grazing permit holders have a right to graze on those lands but they also want to ensure the land is not over-grazed, Vincent said. And, with increasing horse populations, they worry about the effects on the land, he said. Ranchers are required to have grazing permit with a stocking rate, which dictates how many animals a rancher can have on those federal lands, Vincent said. "That's why population control is so important," he said, adding that's also why they appreciate how the bill deals with long-term fertility control and adoption. The Northwest Council of Governments supported SB 275. Dianna Orf, who represents the council, said overgrazing and poor weather result in starvation when the herds grow too large. "There's nothing more cruel than allowing them to starve to death," Orf told Colorado Politics. Managing the herds is necessary, and it's been a problem for at least 50 years, she said. SB 275 was sponsored House Majority Leader Monica Duran (D-Wheat Ridge), House Minority Leader Mike Lynch (R-Wellington), Sens. Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins), and Perry Will (R-New Castle). The legislation passed the General Assembly on the session's last day, May 8. 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 4th Infantry Division soldier killed in World War II was reunited Thursday with his living next of kin in Texas. Pvt. Myron Williams went missing in 1944 during a battle in the German Hurtgen Forest and later was buried in Belgium without being identified, said Major Gen. David Hodne during a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Carson on Thursday. He was identified in 2022 through dental and anthropological analysis, as well as DNA analysis, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Fourth Infantry Division soldiers are expected to pay tribute to Williams at his funeral this week, Hodne said. The general also highlighted a Korean War Medal of Honor recipient, Cpl. Luther Story, who was identified in April and will be buried in four days near his home in Georgia. The soldier died in 1950 during a battle near the Naktong River, when among other heroic acts, the wounded man stayed behind to hold off an assault as his company withdrew, according to the Medal of Honor Museum. "The stories of Pvt. Williams and Cpl. Story should encourage us," Hodne said. "I am grateful for the steadfast and loyal efforts of dedicated citizens who meticulously poured over all available information to provide closure to their families to resolve to leave no one behind and to expend incredible effort so the nation could honor and remember them again." The ceremony also commemorated the 407 soldiers from Fort Carson killed since 2003 in the Global War on Terror and whose identities are inscribed in the stones of the Mountain Post Warrior Memorial. Col. Sean Brown, the garrison commander of Fort Carson, served with some of the people commemorated on the wall, making it a personal ceremony for him. 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. "When I come to visit the memorial, I remember how much they meant to me then and it just renews how much they mean to me still today," he said. Robert and Lenora Wichmann were attending the ceremony for the 14th time, to honor their son Sgt. Grant Wichmann, who fought in Afghanistan and died in April 2010. For the pair, it is the first in a series of events over the Memorial Day weekend. "We feel compelled to do it out of honor and respect for him," said Robert Wichmann, who is also a volunteer for TAPS, a group that supports those grieving the deaths of service members and veterans. He noted oftentimes those serving don't have a chance to grieve because they must stay focused on their missions. "They have brothers on each side of them, in front of them, behind them, they have to protect," he said. Hodne honored families like the Wichmanns who attended the ceremony for reminding the attendees of the real cost of duty. "We are saddened by your sacrifice, inspired by your resilience and grateful for your continued service to our communities," he said. The House Armed Services Committee is launching an investigation into the delay around a decision on a permanent home for Space Command and changes to the requirements for a future headquarters. The permanent home of Space Command, currently in Colorado Springs, has been a contested issue for two years since President Donald Trump announced it would move from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama in January 2021. Since then Colorado lawmakers have advocated for retaining Space Command in Colorado Springs, where many other Space Force guardians work and would remain if Space Command moved. In a letter sent Thursday, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, said he was alarmed that fundamental changes had occurred to Space Commands mission and headquarters requirements, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. The secretary told Rogers and other members of the Alabama delegation about these changes in a recent meeting and stated he would launch his own investigation as well, according to the letter. The Department of Defense proposed a new headquarters facility for Space Command that could house approximately 1,800, including contractors in 464,000 square feet of office space, according to the Environmental Assessment. Currently, Space Command is housed in existing office space at Peterson Space Force Base. In those offices, 1,200 people from all services, protect an area 100 kilometers above the Earth to the edges of the universe, Space Command Gen. James Dickinson said previously. The requirements for a new headquarters have changed with the Department of Defense, the letter stated. "These apparently sweeping unilateral changes to policies and posture seem to have been made with zero civilian oversight at the Department of Defense," the letter states. "Secretary Kendall also stated that he was unaware who, if anyone, at the Department of Defense approved expenditures of taxpayer funds to unilaterally change the mission or headquarters requirements of SPACECOM." The letter called on Space Command to stop any "scheme to alter the mission or headquarters requirements." It also asked Kendall and Gen. James Dickinson, head of Space Command, to provide documents related to changes to mission or headquarters requirements and documents related to updating repairing or modernizing the temporary headquarters since Jan. 2021, among other documentation. 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. The letter calling into question changes to headquarters requirements followed a May 19 letter by Rogers expressing concern that a decision over a permanent headquarters had been delayed two years. The letter said the delay was politically motivated by Biden appointees, citing a news story by NBC. Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper hit back saying that Trump's decision was politically motivated. Trump said in during a 2021 interview with an Alabama-based radio show that he single-handedly picked Huntsville. Facts are facts: Space Command is very nearly at (full operational capability) in Colorado. Moving it to Alabama now would be based solely on politics, Hickenlooper said in a written statement. Space Command expects to reach full operational capability by the end of the summer and that could be a factor in the final basing decision, said Congressman Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, in a statement. "I have continually asked the Air Force to make full operational capability, or FOC, the highest priority for the sake of national defense. If this can be achieved fastest and best by repurposing existing infrastructure at Peterson Space Force Base, this would serve our country best," he said. He noted that Kendall told him the Air Force is repurposing infrastructure in Colorado Springs. An aide for Sen. Michael Bennet's office said that the overall case for keeping the command in town has not changed. Our case has not changed: this decision needs to be rooted in what's best for our national security, the aide said. Colorado's second-highest court on Thursday once again overturned a defendant's conviction because an Adams County judge illustrated reasonable doubt to jurors in a way that improperly lessened the prosecution's burden to prove him guilty. The Court of Appeals has repeatedly reversed the convictions of defendants for more than a year exclusively from Adams County after the Colorado Supreme Court decided last January that some judges' well-meaning attempts to explain reasonable doubt in plain English actually lowered the threshold for a guilty verdict. Previously, the appellate court warned judges away from trying to liken reasonable doubt to everyday concepts, but some Adams County judges continued to do so. The Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Tibbels v. People, which was the first time the justices reversed a conviction due to a reasonable doubt analogy, likewise arose from Adams County. In Tibbels, a trial judge had compared reasonable doubt to the crack in the foundation of a "dream" home, suggesting a homebuyer would hesitate to purchase the house once they discovered the defect. The Supreme Court instead found the illustration made it seem as if the defendant was presumed guilty unless a significant "crack" appeared in the prosecution's case to cause an acquittal. In reality, the opposite is true: Defendants are innocent until proven guilty. The latest case before the Court of Appeals concerned the 2019 trial of Michael Kourosh Sadeghi, who shot and killed his neighbor, Dustin Schmidt. Sadeghi argued he was acting in self-defense at the time, but jurors rejected that claim. During jury selection, District Court Judge Sharon D. Holbrook attempted to explain the concept of reasonable doubt by likening it to the purchase of a used car. She described finding a car "that you absolutely love," where the "price is good" and "it is within your budget." But on a test drive, there were noticeable defects. Would jurors still buy the car, Holbrook asked. "I would have my doubts," one juror responded. "OK," the judge continued. If the person selling the car was "a sweet little nun" and "you were not worried about her at all," would the juror buy the car? Yes, the juror responded. Holbrook added one more variation on the example, now asking whether the juror would buy the car if there was a problem with the transmission. No, the juror said. 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. "There is enough there that would cause you to hesitate to act in a matter of importance to yourself," Holbrook explained. "If you think that there is too much wrong with this 'car,'" meaning the case, then jurors had to acquit Sadeghi. The defense objected to her analogy, calling it a "totally incorrect" statement of reasonable doubt. Holbrook overruled it. Sadeghi appealed, alleging multiple errors with Holbrook's handling of the case. In particular, he argued the used car illustration wrongly suggested to jurors that the prosecution's case had to be "riddled with doubts" in order to find him not guilty. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals agreed Holbrook's analogy, like the "dream" home example in Tibbels, likely caused Sadeghi's jury to misunderstand when they should convict him. First, Holbrook made it seem that the prosecution's case had to contain "significant" defects equivalent to a car's faulty transmission for jurors to acquit. Second, the jury instruction for reasonable doubt explains that a failure to prove even one element of the crime is grounds for acquittal. "Here, though, the courts analogy had several things wrong with the car, from minor to significant, which suggested that the jury needed to also have numerous doubts and some significant ones before they could acquit. But that is not the standard," wrote Judge Sueanna P. Johnson in the panel's May 25 opinion. Finally, the analogy implied that buying the car and finding Sadeghi guilty was the default path unless there were concrete reasons to abandon the purchase and to acquit him. The Court of Appeals ordered a new trial. The case is People v. Sadeghi. Two men incarcerated for sex offenses, who have been moved around to various facilities where they were unable to participate in legally required treatment, may sue Colorado corrections officials for violating their constitutional rights, a federal judge ruled this week. Gino Lerner and Brian Aigner filed suit last year, alleging the only thing preventing them from being paroled is their failure to complete sex offender treatment. However, according to Lerner and Aigner, the Colorado Department of Corrections is not abiding by its own policy for prioritizing detainees for treatment and is instead considering "the convenience of CDOC staff" in its decisions. U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang agreed the men had credibly alleged the state is violating their right to due process. Without questioning the legitimacy of Colorado's entire scheme for punishing sex offenses laid out in the Sex Offender Lifetime Supervision Act of 1998 Wang believed one specific aspect is problematic: SOLSA requires treatment as part of sex offender sentencing, but the state is not providing it. "Without treatment, the conditions of SOLSA confinement are fundamentally and irretrievably altered: the inmate loses a segment of the sentence, which the General Assembly deemed necessary and appropriate to punishment, rehabilitation, and reentry into society at large," she wrote in a May 23 order. Wang also took the unusual step of authorizing pro bono legal representation for Lerner and Aigner, who have litigated their case by themselves from prison. Judges can make such a decision when, among other things, there is merit to a self-represented party's claims. Sara Neel, senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Colorado, applauded Wang's decision for effectively recognizing a right to treatment for those convicted of sex crimes. "It's up to the government to allocate sufficient money to this issue in order to meet the constitutional requirements," she said. Colorado lawmakers enacted SOLSA with an assumption that the "majority" of people convicted of sex offenses will continue to be dangerous unless they are treated and supervised, sometimes for the rest of their lives. There is no cure for sex offenders, said then-Rep. Norma Anderson, R-Lakewood, a sentiment that more recent data suggest is incorrect. Lerner was sentenced in 2003 to a term of 22 years to life under SOLSA, and Aigner was sentenced in 2019 to six years to life. Both men are eligible for parole, but they require treatment before they can leave custody. In their lawsuit, they allege CDOC transferred them to facilities that do not offer treatment. The CDOC's prioritization system, known as the Global Referral List, includes parole eligibility date and detainee behavior as criteria for treatment. But Lerner and Aigner contended their housing assignments, based on "convenience" for staff, amounted to an unlisted criterion barring them from getting on the list. 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. "Were it not for CDOC," they wrote, "both Mr. Lerner and Mr. Aigner could have successfully progressed in treatment numerous years ago prior to their parole hearings and would remain actively engaged in treatment." They claimed CDOC officials are violating their due process rights by denying access to the treatment program. They asked for a court to immediately order them into treatment. The state sought to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing Lerner and Aigner had no "liberty interest" in accessing treatment. Therefore, the Due Process Clause of the Constitution, which guards against deprivations of liberty, does not apply. Initially, U.S. Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter reviewed the case and recommended against dismissal. He noted Colorado law does not require detainees to have access to sex offender treatment prior to their parole eligibility date and that "budget constraints" are a legitimate reason to restrict access to such programming. "However, this does not mean that unreasonable or excessive delay or denial of initial access," he wrote, "can never constitute an unlawful deprivation." Based on the allegations, the state is improperly using a detainee's housing assignment as grounds for denying access to treatment, which is not consistent with policy, Neureiter concluded. The government objected to Neureiter's recommendation. Wang, the district judge, agreed with Neureiter that budgetary or capacity limitations may well be legitimate reasons to deny Lerner and Aigner placement. At the same time, she observed the legislature has determined treatment to be a "necessary" component of sex offenders' sentences. Given that treatment is not simply an avenue to parole but is also part of the plaintiffs' sentences, Wang determined the denial of access affects the men's liberty and, potentially, violates their rights. "Incarceration under SOLSA without the opportunity to access treatment alters the conditions of an inmates confinement in a way that can only set back his rehabilitation," she wrote. "In that sense, the inmate has been subjected to a harsher sentence than was handed down by the sentencing judge." Last fiscal year, there were 2,693 inmates serving lifetime sentences under SOLSA, or 10% of the entire prison population. In a given month, approximately 350 people participated in treatment. As of June 30, 320 people were on the Global Referral List awaiting treatment. The case is Lerner et al. v. Stancil et al. Over a year following the incident, officials with the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office have ruled an officer-involved shooting on Jan. 19, 2022, justified, according to a press release Friday. The involved officer was Jared Houston with the Colorado Springs Police Department. Austin Hood, the man who was shot, has since been charged for his actions leading up to the officers shooting at him, and is serving time with the Colorado Department of Corrections. Following the shooting, Officer Houston was put on administrative leave, per CSPD policy. According to the release, on Jan. 19, 2022, Officer Huston was speaking with another officer car to car near the 4700 block of Harrier Ridge Drive in marked police cars when they heard a bullet fly over the cruisers. Officials said officers began searching the nearby area for suspicious activity when they spotted an SUV with its brake lights on in the area of Morning Mist Drive. As the officers approached the vehicle, the suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Austin Hood, fled at a high speed. Through following tire tracks on the freshly fallen snow, officers were able to relocate the vehicle driving westbound on Drennan Road. Behind the wheel of the SUV, Hood turned around in a nearby cul-de-sac and drove past the officers, who were waiting for him with their overhead emergency lights activated near the intersection of the cul-de-sac. Police eventually followed the SUV to the Colony Hills apartment complex parking lot, and witnessed Hood entering the complex. Officer Huston activated his body-worn camera, and began to pursue Hood on foot. 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. According to the press release, Officer Huston chases Hood through the stairwell of the complex, repeatedly identifying himself as an officer, and calling for Hood to put his hands up. Officer Huston chased Hood into the apartments common area. The press release says that Officer Huston chased Hood into a stairwell, and saw the man point a handgun at him. According to the release: As Officer Huston ran towards the center column and looked to the left, Mr. Hood was still standing pointing the gun at him. Believing he was about to be killed, and worried for the safety of the residents in the occupied apartments all around them, Officer Huston fired two shots from his duty handgun. Huston struck Hood, who dropped his weapon and fell to the ground. Additional officers with CSPD arrived on the scene and helped to secure Hood and provide medical aid. As officers removed some of Hoods clothing in order to better tend to his injuries, it was discovered Hood was wearing Kevlar body armor. Hood was transported to a nearby hospital where it was found he has sustained a through-and-through gunshot to his left shoulder, as well as a superficial abrasion to his left outer thigh. Hood was charged, and later pleaded guilty, to first-degree assault against a peace officer and menacing. Hood is currently serving a 25-year sentence in the Department of Corrections. Officer Hustons use of force in the incident was investigated by the multi-agency Deadly Force Investigation Team, which reports its findings to the District Attorney's Office. Mr. Hood posed an immediate threat to Officer Huston and others in the immediate vicinity, the District Attorney's analysis reads, After completing a thorough review of the facts and evidence, Colorados 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office has determined the use of deadly force by Officer Jared Huston was justified based on all the facts and circumstances of this case under the law of the State of Colorado. 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. None of the invited reporters noticed "South Park" co-creator and Casa Bonita co-owner Matt Stone stroll over the cliff diving lagoon bridge and past overhanging coconut trees dressed in a t-shirt and jeans Friday. May 26 is Stone's and "South Park" character Kyle Broflovski's birthday and also the day the press was invited to tour the new and improved, $12 million renovation of Casa Bonita, the "Disneyland of Mexican restaurants." When the place will be fully open to the public is still a secret there will be a soft opening for "invitation only" patrons who are on the Casa Bonita email list but here is a sneak peak of what's changed and what remains the same according to what reporters were allowed to experience Friday: SAME 1. Food will be served cafeteria-style with the sliding trays and roped-off food line for everyone. 2. Casa Bonita is very dark inside! The entire place is still dimly lit with wall sconces which give off an amber-colored light. 3. The heavy wooden southwest-style front doors are an exact replica of the old ones. 4. The walls are decorated with nostalgic posters including a 5 Cent Coca-Cola and Refriscos Jarritos sign. There's also an old framed menu from the Tulsa, Oklahoma Casa Bonita. 5. Casa Bonita Plaza still has the wishing well fountain out front welcoming guests, except it is restored to the original light grey stonework 6. Divers dressed in bright orange jump from the cliffs at Acapulco into a lagoon pool which has been widened for safety. 7. The sopapillas are the same warm, airy shell which can be enhanced with honey and a cinnamon-sugar. DIFFERENT 1. The kitchen is brand new. It was gutted all the way down to the studs. 2. Added to the original 52,000 square feet is a 4,000-square-foot room designed to mimic the town square of Oaxaca, Mexico. 3. Tortillas will always be warm and fresh, as will vegetables. Kitchen cooks were busily chopping tomatillas and green chilis and shredding a light yellow cheese. 4. There will be something called a "Casa Bonita" cake, which a woman was mixing up. The batter was a delicious-looking yellow. A sign for Casa Bonita Cake orders was seen near the entrance. 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. 5. There's a lift to get to the second floor and the height of the black rails have been changed. STILL UNKNOWN 1. Anything pertaining to Black Bart's Cave. 2. Anything pertaining to the old-time jail photos room. 3. Anything pertaining to the arcade. 4. Anything pertaining to a wandering Mariachi band. NOTE: There was no known references to "South Park" in the restaurant. Reporters were restricted to taking photos only of the cliff divers and the sopapillas, and not allowed to see Black Bart's Cave! "It's like Fort Knox," remarked 5280 Magazine's Lindsay King as she waited inside the pink doorway for a personal guide, which reporters could listen to but not quote. Casa Bonita's hush-hush re-opening has only heightened the excitement. Ask Lance Castillo, who has been waiting in his mini-Cooper since Monday staying alive on pork rinds and cheddar fries to ensure first place in line. He and his friend, Chaira Fortney wore t-shirts which read "Not homeless. Here for the sopapillas." Castillo was determined. To keep from getting kicked out of Lamar Station Plaza, he had to move every two hours and get a receipt from various businesses which he showed to any security guard who questioned him. "I asked for the week off from my boss to do this," said Castillo, of Lakewood, who said he might consider changing his name to "Lance Casa Bonita." The 49-year-old Lakewood landmark has been shuttered since March of 2020, due to the pandemic. Previous owners of 25 years, Summit Family Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2021. "South Park" creators Stone and Trey Parker soon bought the 52,000-square-foot, pink hued family restaurant. Parker and Stone announced the deal in August 2021 during a sit-down interview with Gov. Jared Polis celebrating the 24th anniversary of the show. Denver's Dana Rodriguez has been named the new executive chef at Casa Bonita, which is located at 6715 W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Rodriguez has opened three restaurants: Super Mega Bien, Work & Class, and Cantina Loca. She is a three-time James Beard award finalist nominee. The new owners filed paperwork with the City of Lakewood estimating they'd sink more than $12 million in renovations and upgrades. Many questions remain as to any South Park-themed additions, but Stone and Parker have kept the staple cliff divers, Black Bart's cave and sopapillas on-call with a table flag. They also hired some 550 employees to operate it. It gained national and international attention after being featured in a 2003 episode of "South Park." The United States Drought Monitor has published their weekly update and it shows that the drought situation in Colorado continues to improve. According to the US Drought Monitor, just 7.83 percent of the state is experiencing drought. This compares to 10.76 percent of the state that was experiencing drought last week and roughly 44 percent of the state being in drought a month ago. All of the current drought exists on the Eastern Plains, though there's also a pocket of dryness centered in the mountainous Lake County home to Leadville and the headwaters of the Arkansas River, though it's not quite dry enough there to be considered technical drought. The service also judges dryness based on their 'Drought Severity and Coverage Index' (DSCI). This week, Colorado scored a 39, which is the lowest score since the week of August 27, 2019. To put that number in perspective, Colorado reached a high score of 434 in 2002 and more recently reached a score of 398 in January of 2021. Thus far in 2023, this number peaked at 119 near the end of April. Find additional updates on drought in Colorado here. STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here) Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has worked to position himself as a better version of Donald Trump, but he'll lean on key differences with The Donald to court one of the GOP's most important voting blocs. DeSantis has embraced a firm pro-life policy stance and highlighted, subtly, his status as a solid family man, both of which contrast sharply with the Republican front-runner. BIDEN AND REPUBLICANS BLAME EACH OTHER FOR DEFAULT THEY INSIST WON'T HAPPEN "One of the things I'm most proud of is that the state of Florida stands unequivocally in defense of the family and in defense of our children," DeSantis told a gathering of Christian broadcasters Monday night. "And we have done more to protect children than any state in the country. Of course, just a short few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to sign the heartbeat bill, which is the strongest pro-life bill Florida has seen in its modern history." The remarks were delivered in Orlando at the National Religious Broadcasters convention before thousands of Christians in the media. DeSantis's embrace of a six-week abortion ban is a sharp contrast with Trump, who forged an uneasy alliance with evangelicals en route to winning the White House in 2016 but has since kept his distance by embracing a hands-off "states right" stance. In his speech, DeSantis also touted Florida legislation that increases support for a pregnancy support services program, along with efforts to give parents greater access to and influence in local schools. One of his favorite phrases is "education, not indoctrination." All of that could be a boost for DeSantis as he attempts to pry evangelical Christian voters away from his top GOP rival. "You cannot win Iowa without the support of conservative evangelicals," said Drake University political professor Dennis Goldford, who has written a book on the Iowa caucuses. "They are an essential Republican constituency." Trump left a big opening to his right when he indicated he would not support a six-week abortion ban, Goldford argues, which DeSantis walked into by signing one into law in Florida. That will give him a chance with evangelical voters, who make up roughly half of Iowa Republicans, when they vote next January. DeSantis has already made stops in the state, hanging out with Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) and Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA). But Goldford, who has witnessed every Iowa caucus since 1988, says that facing voters one-on-one still matters a lot in the Hawkeye State and that doing so is not a strength for DeSantis. "One of the good things about the caucuses is they make candidates treat voters as real human beings and not just campaign props for photos," he said. "You have to be able to look somebody in the eye and win them over with your charm, and by all accounts, DeSantis struggles with that." Along with policy, DeSantis may be able to use his background and personal life to his advantage. Unlike Trump, DeSantis is a military veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy as a legal adviser to SEAL Team One before being deployed to Iraq. And DeSantis remains married to his first wife, Casey DeSantis, in contrast to the thrice-divorced Trump. FILE - Incumbent Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, his wife Casey and their children on stage after speaking to supporters at an election night party after winning his race for reelection in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) Rebecca Blackwell/AP Those factors can aid the Florida governor to an extent, argues Cedarville University political professor Marc Clauson, so long as he's careful about bringing them up. "DeSantis can talk about his military service, but I think he has to wait for the occasion to come to him rather than being proactive about it," he said. And when it comes to his family, Clauson says DeSantis would do best simply being seen and photographed with them rather than bringing the issue up directly. DeSantis has alluded to Trump's moral failures before, reacting to the Manhattan district attorney's charges against Trump by saying he doesn't know much about "paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair." That led to a harsh response from Trump, who hasn't stopped attacking DeSantis since and has been widening his lead in the polls. Other candidates have attacked DeSantis as well, including former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) and even President Joe Biden. DeSantis has mostly shied away from punching back directly, but that could change now that he's officially in the race. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER A Catholic himself, DeSantis alluded to the battle ahead by quoting from the New Testament's Book of Ephesians during his Monday speech. "Get ready. Put on the full armor of God," he said. "Stand up for your faith, and don't ever, ever back down." Original Location: DeSantis makes big bet with evangelicals in GOP presidential primaries Washington Examiner Videos An Indiana doctor has been disciplined for speaking publicly after providing an abortion for a 10-year-old Ohio rape victim who traveled to Indiana for the medical procedure. A majority of Indiana's Medical Licensing Board ruled that Dr. Caitlin Bernard violated privacy laws by speaking about the abortion, and they voted to fine her $3,000 in addition to the reprimand. FITCH THREATENS TO DOWNGRADE US'S 'AAA' CREDIT RATING OVER DEBT CEILING STANDOFF Dr. Caitlin Bernard raises her right hand as she is sworn in Thursday, May 25, 2023, during a hearing in front of the state medical board at the Indiana Government South building in downtown Indianapolis. Bernard is appearing before the board for the final hearing in a complaint filed by Attorney General Todd Rokita saying she violated patient privacy laws and reporting laws. (Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star via AP) Mykal McEldowney/AP Bernard appeared in front of the board on Thursday after being accused by Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita of violating Indiana law in not reporting the rape to authorities and violating federal patient privacy laws when she told the Indianapolis Star about the case just days after the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The story was cited by pro-abortion activists as a consequence of the Roe overturn, as Ohio's heartbeat bill, banning abortion at about six weeks, went into effect. Bernard has denied claims that she broke Indiana reporting laws and maintains that she did not release any information that could identify the girl. On Thursday, she maintained that position. "I think that it's incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country, about abortion or otherwise," Bernard said during the daylong hearing in Indianapolis, per NPR. "I think it's important for people to know what patients will have to go through because of legislation that is being passed." Dr. Caitlin Bernard, left, sits between attorneys John Hoover and Alice Morical on Thursday, May 25, 2023, before a hearing in front of the state medical board at the Indiana Government South building in downtown Indianapolis. Bernard is appearing before the board for the final hearing in a complaint filed by Attorney General Todd Rokita saying she violated patient privacy laws and reporting laws. (Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star via AP) Mykal McEldowney/AP Bernard's attorney argued that her client did not break the law because she was allowed to speak to the media and did not share any protected health information of the patient. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER A review last year by Indiana University Health, Bernard's employer, found that she had complied with patient privacy laws. The Indiana medical board is made up of six doctors and one attorney, all of whom are appointed by the governor. According to the Indianapolis Star, some of the members of the board have made political contributions to Rokita. Original Location: Indiana fines doctor who spoke publicly after giving 10-year-old abortion Washington Examiner Videos John Durham is slated to testify before the GOP-led House in both a public hearing and behind closed doors in June, addressing his special counsel investigation into the Trump-Russia investigators and the findings of his bombshell report. Durham will testify in a public hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee, which is led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), on June 21, GOP congressional staffer Russell Dye told the Washington Examiner, and the special counsel will also speak behind closed doors with the House Intelligence Committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), the day prior on June 20. WHITE HOUSE NOT BUDGING ON WORK REQUIREMENTS Durham's report revealed that evidence of Trump-Russia collusion never materialized and that British ex-spy Christopher Steele's discredited dossier was linked to Russian sources. It also concluded that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's campaign played an outsize role in pushing such collusion claims to the media and the FBI. Jordan formally invited Durham to testify before his committee the day the special counsel's report was released. The House Judiciary Committee tweeted the day the Durham report was released that "they all lied to us" in reference to fired FBI Director James Comey, fired FBI deputy assistant director of counterintelligence Peter Strzok, and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, key figures in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, as well as Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who pushed baseless claims of Trump-Russia collusion and read portions of Steele's discredited dossier into the congressional record in early 2017. "The Durham Report revealed that the FBI dropped four criminal probes into the Clintons, but had no problem at all pushing a fake dossier to take down Trump," Jordan tweeted last week. "What happened to equal justice under the law?" Durham's report revealed that then-vice president and now-President Joe Biden was briefed in the summer of 2016 by former CIA Director John Brennan about an alleged plan by Clinton to tie former President Donald Trump to Russia to distract from her own use of an illicit private email server while secretary of state. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, referred to it as "the discredited Durham report" and to the special counsel as "the discredited Mr. Durham" during a House hearing last week. Durham will speak with the House Intelligence Committee in private the day before he is questioned by Jordan and Nadler. "The report confirms that FBI personnel repeatedly disregarded critical protections established to protect the American people from unlawful surveillance," Turner said in a statement the day after the Durham report was released. "Such actions should never have occurred, and it is essential that Congress codifies clear guardrails that prevent future FBI abuses and restores the public's trust in our law enforcement institutions." There have also been hints of frustration with Durham's investigation by Republicans, too. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) sent a letter to Durham, noting that "it seems odd that individuals would be allowed to avoid fully cooperating with your office, particularly given your authority to compel testimony and records." The GOP letter specifically pointed to the refusal by Comey, Strzok, fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, former assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division Bill Priestap, convicted ex-FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, and Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson to either fully cooperate with Durham or to even cooperate at all. Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed in 2017 to investigate claims of Russian interference in the 2020 presidential election between Trump and Clinton. Mueller "did not establish" any criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. His congressional appearances in the summer of 2019 disappointed Democrats and were widely panned by Republicans. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "We conducted an extensive investigation over two years. In writing the report, we stated the results of our investigation with precision. We scrutinized every word," Mueller said. "I do not intend to summarize or describe the results of our work in a different way in the course of my testimony today. As I said on May 29: The report is my testimony. And I will stay within that text." Durham was appointed by former Attorney General William Barr in 2019 to investigate the origin of the FBI investigation into the Trump-Russia collusion claims. Durham's final report did not recommend any new criminal prosecutions. Original Location: John Durham to testify before GOP-led House Judiciary Committee in June Washington Examiner Videos House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) negotiators have been making "forward progress" in the talks with the White House on raising the debt ceiling, but there is still no agreement. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) told reporters as he left the Capitol that they have been in constant communication with the White House negotiators, and while they have made some progress, the main sticking points holding negotiations up still remain. WHITE HOUSE NOT BUDGING ON WORK REQUIREMENTS, CAUSING AN IMPASSE IN NEGOTIATIONS "Each time there's forward progress, the issues that remain become more difficult and more challenging," McHenry said. "So that is, step by step, small step by small step, and at some point, this thing can come together or go the other way around." Currently, there is no plan to meet with the White House negotiators in person on Friday. Still, the team of McHenry, McCarthy, and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), the speaker's chief negotiator, will keep meeting throughout the day. There is expected to be a House GOP whip call at 8 p.m. Friday evening to discuss the progress of the negotiations, according to two sources. This call won't be to whip votes as there is not a deal yet. Rather, it's to talk about the progress that's been made, one source emphasized. The two parties are still far apart on spending and work requirements for welfare services two areas where neither side wants to budge. On Thursday night, as he left the Capitol, Graves told reporters that the White House has been unwilling to negotiate on work requirements. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER McHenry said because of the June 1 deadline to raise the debt ceiling, the negotiations "have to be in the closing hours" and that a deal must come together in "the next day, or two, or three." Members are currently home for Memorial Day recess but are anticipating being called back early next week when they can vote on a deal. Once an agreement between the two parties is made, a bill must be written and filed, and then from there, it takes 72 hours before any bill can be voted on. House leadership will send a 24-hour notice for members to return to Washington, D.C., once they have a bill and it can be voted on. Original Location: McHenry says there has been 'forward progress' on debt ceiling talks but still no deal Washington Examiner Videos By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday 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. The justices ruled 9-0 in the property rights case to overturn a lower court's decision to throw out Geraldine Tyler's proposed class action lawsuit accusing Hennepin County, which contains Minnesota's most-populous city Minneapolis, of violating her rights under the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed with Tyler's view that the county violated the Fifth Amendment's bar on the uncompensated taking of private property by a government for public use, a provision known as the "Takings Clause." Tyler had owed roughly $15,000 in property taxes, including interest and fees. The county foreclosed on her home and in 2016 sold it at auction for $40,000, keeping the balance for its own use. "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," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. "The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but no more," Roberts added. Under Minnesota's tax regime, the state takes "absolute title" of a property if an owner fails to pay property taxes for five years. Under the system, counties may keep any tax-delinquent property for a public purpose or sell it to other government entities or private buyers. After covering expenses, any remaining proceeds are given to the local school district, city and county. None is refunded to the former owner. "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 said in a statement released by the Pacific Legal Foundation conservative legal group, which represented her. "Today's decision is a major victory for property rights in the United States," said Christina Martin, an attorney with the group. "The court's ruling makes clear that home equity theft is not only unjust, but unconstitutional." Tyler's lawyers said in a court filing that 13 other states have similar policies that let government or private investors benefit when collecting delinquent property taxes. "Hennepin County represented the interests of Minnesota and many other states with laws that transfer title of abandoned property to reduce the burden to the public," Assistant County Administrator Dan Rogan said. "Hennepin County will work closely with the Minnesota Legislature to create a process that is consistent with the Supreme Court's decision." In 2010, Tyler moved out of her one-bedroom condominium in Minneapolis and into an apartment building for elderly people. She then stopped paying taxes on the condo. The county said she refused other options to recoup the equity in her condo, including selling it, refinancing her mortgage or signing up for a 10-year tax payment plan. Retaining the excess value of her home beyond the tax debt constituted a "$25,000 windfall for the public" at her expense, Tyler's lawyers had argued. The county said that, far from a windfall, tax forfeitures "do not break even." States have long permitted forfeitures of an entire property for neglecting to pay taxes, which are a reasonable condition of property ownership, the county said. The St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld a judge's dismissal of the case. President Joe Biden's administration had backed Tyler's claim that the county engaged in an unconstitutional taking. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) Well say it again now that Gov. Jared Polis has inked his purported relief for soaring property taxes: His plan is largely an illusion. Ignore the stagecraft of Wednesdays signing ceremony for Senate Bill 23-303. It was a nice publicity stunt the governor and assorted lawmakers turning up at the home of a Commerce City resident who supposedly would benefit. It was all sleight of hand. As we noted here only weeks ago, the Polis plan is as if someone offered to help you pay your bills then reached into your pocket, grabbed your wallet, pulled out some money and handed it to you. Which was motivation enough for the ballot measure that is the centerpiece of SB 23-303 to be challenged in court. A lawsuit was filed in Denver District Court this month by the government watchdog group Advance Colorado Institute, asserting Proposition HH is unconstitutional because it attempts to cover too many subjects. A slate of Colorado counties and other local governments and elected officials joined the court action as plaintiffs this week. Make no mistake, Polis complicated legislation will ask voters on this Novembers statewide ballot to pay for their own property-tax relief. It will lower the states assessment rate slightly for residential and commercial property for the next decade but then offset the lost revenue by tapping taxpayers pending refunds of surplus revenue the state expects to collect each year in excess of constitutional limits on year-to-year budget growth. The measure also would ask voters to raise those limits in future years, allowing the state to keep another 1% each year. The bottom line is that money that was supposed to be returned to the public instead will be used to make up for a modest reduction in property taxes. Its a make-believe solution to the very real surge in property tax bills thats coming next spring. It follows a decision by Colorado voters in 2020 to eliminate the state constitutions longtime hedge against such increases in homeowners property taxes. 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. That hedge, the Gallagher amendment had served as a check on rising property tax bills for decades by limiting revenue government could derive from residential property taxes. With Gallagher gone and property values soaring across the state taxes are expected to skyrocket as much as 50%. Assuming voters go along with HH, the state is supposed to use much of its revenue windfall to backfill local governments that theoretically will be shorted by the lower property tax assessment rate. Yet, even at the lower rate, local governments still can anticipate their own windfall due to the leap in property values and resulting property tax bills in much of Colorado. So, why would they need to be reimbursed even more money from the state? They dont. But heres the clincher: Even Polis doesnt claim the 10-year reduction in the statewide assessment rates comes close to offsetting the untold leap in property tax liability in coming years for Colorado homeowners since Gallagher was repealed. The plan merely lowers the amount of the increase. Meanwhile, the scheme will claim, by the state legislative staffs projections, about $525 million yes, over half a billion dollars of refunds that otherwise would have gone back to taxpayers in just the first two years it is in effect. The states fiscal analysis of the measure estimates that after 10 years, Proposition HH likely will be hauling in an additional $2.2 billion that should have gone back to taxpayers. Alongside that, only $128 million has been budgeted out of current state revenue for only the first year of the plan to provide property-tax relief; the rest will be new revenue out of taxpayers pockets for years to come. Critics are calling it the shift and shaft. That sounds just about right. The Gazette editorial Board For students at Denver's East High School, the issue of gun violence became personal this year. A 17-year-old student shot and wounded two deans inside of the school in March, and later fatally shot himself. Weeks earlier, 16-year-old East student Luis Garcia died after being shot while sitting in his car on the school campus. A freshman was similarly shot near the campus in September, and the school went into lockdown multiple times after false swatting reports. In the face of such unthinkable tragedies, the students of East High School turned to their state lawmakers for help. Hundreds of East students flooded the state Capitol four times throughout the legislative session, demanding action be taken to combat gun violence. East students were present to testify at nearly every public hearing on gun control measures in one case merely hours after suffering a school shooting. "We don't feel like we're choosing to do this. We feel like we have to do this because we're not safe otherwise," said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East student about to finish her sophomore year. Gracie and her twin sister Clara Taub were behind much of the school's advocacy this year. The sisters founded the East High School chapter of the gun violence prevention organization Students Demand Action during their freshman year. They are currently co-presidents of the group. "I don't think either of us imagined the scale that we would be doing this on," Clara said. "We've just kind of been winging it. ... We're going through this trauma and then advocating for how we can make things better." The students saw successes during the session, most notably the passage of a nation-leading package of gun control bills, including increasing the age to purchase firearms to 21, expanding the state's red flag law and establishing a three-day waiting period to deliver purchased firearms. They also fought against rejected bills to nullify federal firearm regulations in Colorado and to give immunity to business owners, employees and customers who kill intruders. But the session wasn't only wins. An effort to ban assault weapons in Colorado failed to pass, with many opponents arguing it should be a national policy. Gracie and Clara said this is an issue they faced many times throughout the year. In the wake of their school's explosion of gun violence, East students didn't only go to the state Capitol. They also appealed to their school board and the Denver City Council to take action to protect them. 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. "It's passing the blame off to somebody else," Gracie said. "Our school board said this is the city council's job. The city council said this is the state's job. The state says this is a federal thing. ... They're not necessarily wrong, but someone needs to claim responsibility." East students said they also experienced some lawmakers slamming doors in their faces, insulting them on social media, and "ignoring the facts" about gun violence and prevention. Gracie and Clara called the legislative process slow, and lamented how it is "so hard to change minds." "Some of that is ignorance, definitely. But some of that is just cowardice. They don't want to do the right thing because it's going to affect their political seat," Clara said. "A personal view is not going to overpower all of the lives that have been lost. So, that's frustrating. But it's actually incredible to see teenagers handle these situations with such grace." New laws set to vault Colorado up gun safety rankings | 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION Overall, Gracie and Clara said they are happy with the progress made this session, but they are not yet satisfied. They are particularly excited about the bills that raised the minimum age for firearm purchases and expanded the state's red flag law. They hope these changes will help prevent school shootings by making it harder for 18-year-old high school students to access weapons, and by allowing teachers and school counselors to seek extreme risk protection orders. Next, they want to see lawmakers pass an assault weapons ban and pursue legislation to strengthen requirements for background checks, firearm storage and permitting of firearm sellers. And the East students will be there to keep pushing lawmakers along the way. Gracie and Clara said East students plan to stay involved with the state legislature next session, advocating for bills and potentially helping to write legislation or ballot measures. They also want to engage in their upcoming school board election. "This is the only option. Because the other option is that we're silent, but still have to experience these traumatic events," Gracie said. "There's so much that needs to change. ... I'm pleased, but I'm excited to see what else we can achieve in the future because this is not enough." The sisters will also return to East High School for their junior year in August, though they said many of their fellow students, and even teachers, will not. "That was definitely something that came up with our parents that we both fought very hard against," Clara said. "The reality is gun violence is everywhere in America. We wouldn't be sheltered if we went to another school." In a rare finding of prosecutorial misconduct, Colorados second-highest court reversed a mans convictions for attempted murder and assault on Thursday because an El Paso County prosecutor misled jurors into thinking defendant Charles Eugene Jefferson was responsible for the victims failure to testify at trial. Andrew Lower, a deputy district attorney, told jurors the reason the alleged victim had not testified was because Jefferson succeeded in deterring him from taking the witness stand. In reality, the victim did not speak because he was also implicated in a potential crime and wanted to avoid incriminating himself a fact Lower knew but did not tell jurors. The prosecutions characterization of (the victims) choice not to testify was grossly misleading and inaccurate and warrants reversal on its own, wrote Judge Craig Welling for a three-member panel of the Court of Appeals. The appellate judges also found District Court Judge Gregory Werner improperly allowed a police officer to effectively give the victims alleged account of the crime an account Lower referenced repeatedly to the jury. Jefferson stood trial in 2019 on charges that he caused a car accident with the victim, then fired multiple shots. Once in jail, Jefferson asked his girlfriend for help in getting the victim to not testify or to recant his accusation that Jefferson was the shooter. Jurors convicted Jefferson of attempted murder, attempted assault, witness tampering and obstructing a peace officer. He received a 120-year prison sentence. The victim did not testify at trial. At the time of the shooting, the victim had a prior felony conviction, making him ineligible to possess a firearm, but there was evidence he fired a gun during the encounter. His lawyer advised him to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, given that prosecutors did not offer the victim immunity in exchange for his testimony. Nevertheless, Officer Jared Butcher, who responded to the accident site, testified about what the victim told him. Butcher recounted the victims version of events in detail, said the victim identified Jefferson with 100% certainty, and agreed that Jefferson, sitting in the courtroom, was the shooter according to the victim. The defense objected to Butchers testimony for introducing hearsay, meaning out-of-court statements that are intended to prove the truth. Werner overruled the objection. He later clarified that jurors could only use the victims alleged statements when considering whether Jefferson tried to tamper with a witness who would have identified him as the shooter. During closing arguments, Lower repeatedly referenced the officers testimony as proof of the victims story. In doing so, he misled jurors about why the victim was absent, and also suggested falsely there was more than one witness who was prepared to testify. 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. You didnt hear from those people because of him, Lower said, referring to Jefferson. The defendant basically made sure you didnt get to hear any of that testimony. Lower added that the victims absence was proof Jefferson succeeded in his witness tampering. The threshold is high for reversing a conviction based on a prosecutors misconduct at trial. The actions must be flagrantly, glaringly or tremendously improper, given the leeway prosecutors have to make their arguments. The Colorado Attorney Generals Office maintained on appeal that because Jefferson tried to deter the victim from testifying, and the victim did not end up testifying, Lowers characterization of events was acceptable. Any misstatements were minor, wrote Assistant Attorney General Patrick Withers. The Court of Appeals panel, however, found two critical problems. First, Butchers testimony about the shooting itself was unnecessary to show Jefferson was guilty of witness tampering. By allowing the officer to narrate what the victim allegedly said about the shooting, Jefferson could not cross-examine his accuser. To compound the problem, Lower repeatedly cited the victims secondhand story to the jury as factual. By admitting the hearsay statements, the trial court permitted the prosecution to do indirectly what it could not do directly admit (the victims) statements and build an attempted murder and attempted assault case around them, Welling wrote in the May 25 opinion. Second, Lowers suggestion that the victim would have testified if not for Jeffersons tampering efforts was untrue. The errors here werent fleeting they fed into one another, Welling said. Its impossible to disentangle the effect of these errors from the entirety of Jeffersons trial. Disregarding the victims alleged account of the shooting, the panel concluded the evidence, albeit circumstantial, could still support a charge of attempted murder and attempted assault. It ordered a new trial for Jefferson. His convictions for witness tampering and obstruction were not challenged on appeal. A spokesperson for District Attorney Michael Allen said the Court of Appeals decision is under review by our office. Lower died in 2021. 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: Leaders talked this Friday, 26th, by telephone; PT reiterated Brazils willingness to talk to Kiev and Moscow about seeking peace for the conflict in Eastern Europe PAULO BOMTEMPO/FRAME/ESTADAO CONTENT President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) participates in the inauguration ceremony of the Council for Social Participation this Wednesday (19), at the Escola Superior do TCU (Tribunal de Contas da Uniao), in Brasilia The President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), refused this Friday, the 26th, during a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, leader of Russia, an invitation to attend the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, which will be held from 14 to 17 June. I just spoke by phone with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. I was grateful for an invitation to attend the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, he wrote on Twitter, adding that he cannot go to Russia at this time, but I reiterate Brazils willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in search of peace, he said, referring to the war in Ukraine, which is heading into its second year. Putin interrupted a business meeting to speak with the Brazilian leader. During his participation in the G7 last week, Lula condemned the violation of the Eastern European countrys territorial integrity, but stated that the two countries were not willing to talk about peace. I feel that neither Putin nor Zelensky are talking about peace at the moment. It seems to me that both believe that someone is going to win and there is no need to discuss peace, said the PT. I am convinced that if there is no discussion about peace, this war could be very long. And I think it is important for us to prevent people from dying, he continued during his speech to the press after the end of the G7. When the conflict completed a year, Lula proposed the creation of a group to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine. Putin became interested in the Brazilian plan, but, so far, there has been no further information on how it proceeded. In a note, the Kremlin also spoke about the conversation between the leaders, which it classified as constructive and informative. According to them the President of Brazil shared his impressions on the participation in the recent G7 summit (Japan, Hiroshima, 20-21 May 2023) and also outlined his vision of possible mediation efforts to find ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine , adding that the president of Russia made a fundamental assessment of the development of the situation around Ukraine, while confirming the openness of the Russian side to dialogue on the political and diplomatic path, accusing Kiev and the West of not being cooperating. The Kremlin also highlighted that issues related to joint work within the BRICS were considered and some current aspects of the Russian-Brazilian strategic partnership were discussed, and mutual interest was expressed in its progressive development and deepening of practical cooperation in various fields. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The former Globe Gazette building at 300 N. Washington Ave. will be converted into a 15-bed live-in residential mental health care facility by 43 North Iowa, according to executive director John Derryberry. The facility should be completed in 12 to 18 months. Every client has unique needs, and 43 North Iowa is designing a number of programs to meet them. From crisis stabilization to residential care facilities and supported community living, each step is intended to provide assistance while supporting the level of community involvement for which a client is prepared. In essence, 43 North Iowa is strengthening a safety net social service agencies in the area have been building for decades. "Things have changed in the past 10 or so years in social services. We're focused on keeping people who can be active in the community active. An RCF (residential care facility) isn't a lockdown facility. There is intensive, inpatient treatment that people sometimes need. This is a transition after that," Derryberry said. There are diverse levels of care and support offered to clients. Inpatient care is often crisis care. There are times when people suffering from mental illness need full-time care. Once a crisis has been addressed, there options for continuing care. A step down from inpatient care is residential care. Plans for the iconic former Globe Gazette building are to turn it into a homey, 15-bed facility that allows residents to work, socialize and live with full-time support and guidance from staff. "It was important for us to choose a location downtown. We want clients to have access to events, services and whatever else may interest them," Derryberry said. Once clients are comfortable and confident with activities of daily living, they may be ready to transition to what's known as supported community living. Clients live independently with access to full-time staff to address any challenges that arise. A robust supported community living program already is offered at 43 North Iowa. "Some of our SCL clients stop in once a week, some once or twice a day. It's about what they need in the moment," Derryberry said. He also extolls the virtues of the linked programs. "There are setbacks. There are struggles. If someone has stepped down in their care and needs to step back up, we're ready for them. We understand that. It's not a failure by the client to ask for more help," Derryberry said. Many people experiencing mental illness have encounters in which they do not feel help is available. Many self-medicate using alcohol or drugs. In decades prior, help could be restricted until a client got clean. Today, substance abuse issues are dealt with as part of the entire treatment plan. "We (43 North Iowa) treat substance use as a behavior," Derryberry said. "There are lots of negative behaviors we all have. There's self-sabotage, substance use, avoidance. We address those behaviors as we go and support our clients where they are at." North Iowa has multiple agencies tasked with mental wellness support and treatment in addition to those provided by 43 North Iowa. MercyOne Behavioral Health Center offers both inpatient and outpatient treatment. Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare also has inpatient and outpatient services with a focus on substance use. For a list of mental health resources by county, visit masoncity.net. Mental illness or crisis can strike anyone at any time. If you or someone you know has experienced changes in personality, a withdrawal from social activities, a lack of personal care or major changes in emotion, support and treatment are recommended. The 988 suicide and crisis line is available 24 hours a day. This article has been updated to clarify the number of beds in the facility. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Because this section is free of charge, community events are subject to run based on available space. Religion items are published on the Saturday church page. Email events to news@registerbee.com. TRAFFIC ALERT DANVILLE: Alternating lane closures are started Monday on Memorial Drive between West Main Street and the back entrance to the Danville Police Department. The lane closures will allow for replacement of two failed corrugated metal storm pipes with reinforced concrete pipe. The work is expected to be completed in early June. Traffic on Memorial Drive will be maintained throughout the project to the maximum extent practicable. Flaggers will direct traffic as necessary. Whites Construction from Sutherlin is the contractor. Motorists are urged to slow down and be alert to altered traffic patterns, allow more time to reach their destination or consider an alternate route. FRIDAY, MAY 26 DAN RIVER BLUEGRASS MUSIC EVENT: Dan River Bluegrass Association Monthly Music Event will be held at 7 p.m. at Danville Community College, 1009 Bonner Ave., with featured band Virginia Carolina Travelers. Admission $5. Please bring canned food items to donate to God's Storehouse. For questions, call 276-638-2742. SATURDAY, MAY 27 PELHAM COMMUNITY CENTER INDOOR YARD SALE: Yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at 161 Community Center Drive, Pelham, North Carolina. Indoor seller space available for $5 per table; outside space also available for $5 but must provide own table/tent/etc. Call or text 434-489-9747 for more information. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31 BLOOD DRIVE: The United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County in coordination with the American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 1 to 5 p.m. at 308 Craghead St., Suite 102E. For registration information call (434) 792-3700. SATURDAY, JUNE 3 LAUREL GROVE VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE FUNDRAISER: Fundraiser will begin with a Cruise In from 3 to 6 p.m. at Sutherlin Barn, 10064 Melon Road, with dinner 5 to 7 p.m. and live music by Matt Boswell and the HBB Band. A $20 donation request. For information call 434-250-6809. TUESDAY, JUNE 6 PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY NAACP TO MEET: The Pittsylvania County NAACP meeting will be held at Silver Creek Missionary Baptist Church, 1317 Stony Mill Road, 6 p.m. Pastor, Bruce Featherstone. CLIFTON TAULBERT: "An Evening with Clifton Taulbert: The Entrepreneurial Mindset" at 5:30 p.m. at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Registration through the chamber of commerce's website is required and registration will close on May 30. This is a free community event with dinner provided. THURSDAY, JUNE 8 LET'S TALK HISTORY: Lets Talk History: White Rock Hill Conversations. Sessions will discuss White Rock Hill community will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 418 Locust Lane. Sponsored by the White Rock Neighborhood Empowerment Association, the sessions are led by local historian Katrice Luck-Brimmer. One other session on June 22. No fee. Call 434-228-3180. SATURDAY, JUNE 10 RUN FOR JUSTICE: The 22nd annual "Run for Justice" Kid's 2K, 5K walk or run and 10K run community events will commence at Angler's Park and Danville Riverwalk Trail starting at 9 a.m.; late registration at Angler's Park starts at 7:30 a.m.; Kid's Run begins at 9:10 a.m. The annual "Run for Justice" features awards, refreshments and door prizes. Walkers/runners can pick up a registration forms at The Brick Running & Tri Store, 410 Main St. Registration also is available at the Danville Running & Fitness Club Website or at active.com. For more information, call race director and chapter advisor John Wilt at 434-770-8822. THURSDAY, JUNE 22 LET'S TALK HISTORY: Lets Talk History: White Rock Hill Conversations. Sessions to discuss White Rock Hill community will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 418 Locust Lane. Sponsored by the White Rock Neighborhood Empowerment Association, the sessions are led by local historian Katrice Luck-Brimmer. No fee. Call 434-228-3180. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Nearly three-quarters of more than 100 law enforcement agencies across much of the U.S. don't reflect the racial makeup of their communities, data supplied by the departments to Lee Enterprises shows. As part of a seven-month investigation by Lee and Type Investigations, agencies were ranked based on the gap between the proportion of officers and leadership in the agency who identify as people of color and the percentage of people of color in the communities they serve. Lee reporters sent surveys to more than 170 law enforcement agencies and then zeroed in on "diverse" communities, defined in this research as places where at least 10 percent of the residents are non-white. Of 105 agencies that provided demographic data and served diverse communities, 76 underrepresented the percentages of people of color in their communities by 10 points or more. Some had gaps of more than 30 percentage points. 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. These are among several key observations drawn from data submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies largely in the Midwest and East, near areas where Lee properties are based. The data show that thousands of people of color live in communities where the force looks nothing like them, despite calls for increased law enforcement diversity that echoed through U.S. streets three years ago following the murder of George Floyd. Twenty of the 105 agencies serving diverse communities have no people of color or only one such person on the force. Also, in nearly half of the 93 agencies serving diverse communities that gave data on leadership, there were either zero or only one person of color in leadership. Why police diversity matters Experts within and outside law enforcement say the continued representation gap the subject of discussions that go back decades underscores existential questions about how police protect and serve people of color. A study released in November by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that collected data in 2020 about interactions with police over the previous year showed that Black people were three times more likely than white people 6 percent vs. 2 percent to have experienced the threat of force or use of nonfatal force during their most recent police contact. The report also showed that during that time frame, Black people had the highest likelihood of experiencing any type of police misconduct (5%), more than double that of white people and Hispanic people combined. While improving diversity doesnt solve issues like excessive force or biased policing, it can begin to cause a shift. The more diverse we are as it relates to race and ethnicity, the more diverse we are also in life experiences, which helps agencies to better inform policies, also better inform their training, and better inform their support systems as well, said Darryl McSwain, chief of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police force and a 2021 finalist for the post of top cop in Lincoln, Neb. So I think that's why it's so crucial that we continue to diversify. Outside the lines The Lee law enforcement survey is an update and expansion of a similar effort launched in the Midwest in the summer of 2020 as the nation was reeling from weeks of protests after Derek Chauvin, a white then-police officer in Minneapolis, pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd for more than 9 minutes, according to prosecutors who won a murder conviction against Chauvin. For the current investigation, police and sheriffs departments along with state patrols in more than a dozen states responded to a two-page survey seeking data on topics including the demographic breakdown of the sworn personnel and leadership, the use of body and dashboard cameras, and the number of racial profiling and excessive force complaints. Nearly 120 agencies provided demographic information on race and ethnicity. Most also provided information on the gender breakdown of the department. In 14 of the communities, people of color identifying as Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/First Nation and Asian American/Pacific Islander made up less than 10 percent of the population served. Not surprisingly, the law enforcement agencies there were all or largely white. Lee also received demographic data from 105 agencies serving diverse areas based on 2020 U.S Census data, which Lee also used to draw comparisons with their respective police-force demographics: Seventy-six of the 105 agencies, or about 72 percent, underrepresented their communities of color by 10 percentage points or more. In Martinsville, Va., more than half of the community roughly 57% was composed of people of color, while people of color accounted for about 12 percent of the force. The largest agency to respond to the survey was the 4,741-member New York State Police. People of color made up about 45% of the population in the departments jurisdiction and 12 percent of the force a gap of 33 percentage points. Twenty-eight departments came within 10 percentage points of matching the diversity levels of their communities. They range in size from the seven-member Hebron Police Department in Indiana to the 488-member police department in Madison, Wisconsin. In Hebron, about 12% of the population and 14 percent of the force were people of color. In Wisconsins capital, 28% of the community and 23 percent of the force were made up of people of color. As a group, the 119 agencies police departments, sheriffs offices and state police that supplied diversity data appear to skew whiter than local law enforcement across the U.S. overall. This is based on part- and full-time personnel numbers provided by the 119 agencies compared with the latest law enforcement demographics for full-time personnel collected by the Department of Justice in 2020. In the 82 police departments in the group, nearly 79 percent of sworn members identified as white versus about 69 percent of full-time sworn officers in local police departments in 2020. Lee found similar disparities among the 31 sheriffs departments in the group. Eighty-seven percent of sworn members identified as white, 16 percentage points greater than the roughly 71 percent of full-time sworn officers in sheriffs departments nationwide who identified as white in 2020, according to the DOJ. A numbers game The Greensboro Police Department, which is nearly 70% white in a community that is less than 40% caucasian, had 121 biased-based policing allegations, including bias other than race, between 2017 and 2022. It also had 14 allegations of excessive force during that same period. Allegations are not always sustained by the department once investigated. In an email, the department said its investigations found that three of four allegations of excessive force were found to be valid in 2021-22, and no allegations of biased policing initiated by citizens were sustained in that period. Stephanie Mardis is captain of the departments Professional Standards Division, which handles matters related to internal affairs. She told Lee she recognizes the need for improving diversity in the departments ranks. Having a force that was more representative of the community may not necessarily mean that our complaints will decrease, she said. It may not necessarily mean that we will have less use of force, but on its face, if a police department reflects the community in itself, it inherently gains trust with people from all walks of life. In Martinsville, Va., which describes itself as a city without limits, the lack of diversity on its police force has not gone unnoticed. Of a force of 41 sworn members, the Martinsville Police Department has four Black officers and one Hispanic officer, said Maj. Chad Rhoads, part of the department's leadership team. I certainly do acknowledge the gap, Rhoads, who is part of the department's leadership team, said. It's certainly not representative of the community, but we want to get it there. But it's just something that we've always struggled with. Rhoads said the department tried attending job fairs at nearby historically Black colleges and universities but got no applicants, a problem it has experienced at college job fairs in general. He said the department does not have a specific program to recruit people of color. It relies on grassroots efforts including using school resource officers to forge connections with students. Of course, Martinsville is far from the only city with a force that does not reflect the population. Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a police trainer and spokesperson for the National Police Association, an educational and advocacy group, links the quest for diversity to law enforcements challenge of attracting applicants overall. Since 2020, American law enforcement, we, have (had) a very difficult time just recruiting and retaining police officers of any race and any gender, said Brantner Smith, who was a police officer for 29 years beginning in 1980. So right now, as a country we're just trying to get people to come to the law enforcement profession. People are leaving in record numbers. They are leaving prior to receiving their retirement, and its becoming a real crisis. Departments are increasing their use of technology and social media and beginning to recruit more broadly to boost ranks, Brantner Smith said, but whether we're talking post-George Floyd or we're talking in general, not everyone is attracted to this profession. Call for police diversity reaches zenith Long before Floyds murder sent thousands of protesters into the streets, community activists and private citizens had called for a more just and representative law enforcement system. That chorus reached a crescendo after Floyds Memorial Day 2020 murder and included a 21 pillar proposal outlined in 2021 by the National Urban League, which, among other demands, called on communities and law enforcement leadership to increase diversity and equity in both the leadership and ranks of local, state and federal law enforcement. Most law enforcement leaders and experts interviewed for this story listed similar reasons to push for more diversity in police forces, including helping to establish better relations with diverse communities and having role models who can attract other diverse candidates. If we want to have a relationship with our community, and we want our community to be a part of this ecosystem of public safety, then we want our police force to be reflective of the communities that we're in, said Regina Holloway, vice president of community impact for Axon, maker of equipment for law enforcement, notably Tasers and cameras. I think it's not impossible by any stretch. We want all officers to be equitable across the board, but I do think that there's this opportunity for an officer of color a Black officer, a brown officer to have lived experience that they can relate to community members that are having challenges around public safety, challenges in the community, right? There's going to be a kinship there, possibly, that will create a deeper relationship at the on-site of that interaction. She referred to a study of the Chicago Police Department, published in Science magazine, examining data on officer demographics and behavior from 2012-2015 that found that when compared with white officers, Black and Hispanic officers made far fewer stops and arrests and used force less often, especially against Black civilians. What we know is that Black and brown officers are less likely to stop people for low-level offenses, Holloway added. And they're less likely to have sort of these negative interactions with community. Debate over 'biased culture' That assertion fueled major debates earlier this year in two highly publicized deaths of Black citizens following interactions with law enforcement members, most of whom were people of color. In late April, the family of Tyre Nichols filed a $550 million federal lawsuit against the city of Memphis, the citys police department, and what the suit described as unqualified, untrained and unsupervised officers who severely beat the 29-year-old Black man after a traffic stop and brief foot chase Jan. 7, according to news reports and video that was later shared with the public. He was hospitalized and died three days later. Five former Memphis police officers all Black were fired within weeks of the incident. Each faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, according to news reports. In Virginia, in a death that conjured images of Floyd pinned beneath Chauvins knee, Henrico County deputy sheriffs piled onto Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man in shackles suffering a mental health crisis, as he was being admitted to Central State Hospital. He died of asphyxiation, a medical examiner found. Otieno, whose family said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, died March 6 while in custody of the Henrico County Sheriffs Office. Hospital video shows the group pinning him down for close to 12 minutes, and theres no audio. The sheriffs office told Lee it does not use body cameras. Of the seven sheriff's deputies charged with second-degree murder in the case, five are Black, two are white. In fact, Henrico County's sheriff's office was among the most-diverse departments in the Lee survey when compared to the population of the county. People of color made up 49 percent of the population and about 68 percent of the force, for an overrepresentation of nearly 20 percentage points. In the Nichols case, Benjamin Crump, a noted civil rights attorney representing the Nichols family, told ABC News that he believes Nichols was a victim of an implicit bias police culture that exists in America. Crump said Nicholss death occurred despite recent police reform in Memphis because of the institutionalized police culture that makes it somehow allowed that they can use this type of excessive force and brutality against people of color. And it doesn't matter if the officers are Black, Hispanic, or white. Its part of the culture, this biased culture that said this is allowed. Leaders seek change and better data Attempts to steer departmental culture in a more inclusive direction often fall to the chief or sheriff. It can be a daunting task regardless of their ethnicity. Jamal A. Simington, chief of the Bloomington Police Department in Illinois, identifies as African American and is the only person of color in leadership in his 123-member department, with less than 10 percent of the force composed of people of color. Thats in a community where 27 percent of residents are people of color. Simington, who said he has been called the N-word and Uncle Tom, thinks leaders must foster and model a culture of professionalism regardless of race. You need the representation with high levels of professionalism, said Simington, who was drawn to law enforcement by family members who served. When asked about the roles of officers of color in the deaths of Otieno and Nichols, Simington said, It does reflect horrible on the badge. It tarnishes everything we stand for, right? It's supposed to be a noble occupation. So the nobility comes from our capability and our mindset on how to treat people [in a way thats] fair and appropriate. That's if you're a person of color or not. There has been limited research on the role of officers' race on their interactions with citizens. The latest report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics on encounters with police did not list the race of the officers involved. A database by The Washington Post tracking fatal police shootings since 2015 shows that Black Americans, who account for about 14 percent of the population, are killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans. The database also does not list the race of officers. The Lee survey asked agencies to share numbers for excessive force and racial profiling complaints logged between 2017 and 2022. More than 100 responded. Some declined to provide data or suggested other sources for it. Thirty-nine agencies surveyed said they had no complaints fitting in either category in any of those years. There is also variation in how each agency categorizes complaints. Some responded with numbers for allegations described in broader terms such as "biased policing and use of force. Tracie L. Keesee is president and co-founder of the Center for Policing Equity, which uses data and science to help law enforcement look at harm reduction when it comes to issues of race and reimagine public safety in a way that centers community. She feels there should be more robust, peer-reviewed studies that look closely at the differences in negative outcomes for people of color when interacting with diverse vs. non-diverse departments. The science is so scant, she said. For starters, Keesee said, law enforcement agencies need to better track both the diversity of their members and how they interact with citizens. We want law enforcement departments to start collecting data appropriately, and we want to make it available to everyone so we can do exactly what you're talking about, she added. So we can look at and be able to try to begin to answer those questions." Photos: Scenes from the racial justice protests after George Floyd's death Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. GREENSBORO Among the 13 recent graduates of the Greensboro Police Academy, minorities were the majority for the first time. The Greensboro Police Department is nearly 70% white in a community that census data says is 39.5% white. Lt. Kory Flowers, who oversees recruiting for the Greensboro Police Department, said he is encouraged to see such diverse representation among those dedicated to becoming the citys next officers. Flowers said his team has embraced an old-fashioned approach to recruiting future officers in person, in addition to social media and advertising through bilingual publications and radio stations. Because of the success of this personal approach, the department is hosting recruiting events for the community at its police academy. We value those conversations, Flowers said. Its the job everybody wants to do. Working in law enforcement, officials acknowledge, can be tough on good days, and even tougher without the communitys trust and support. Meeting recruiters and talking with them in person, Flowers said, has encouraged dozens of interested candidates from diverse backgrounds to pursue the career. Recruiters also travel to colleges and job fairs, Flowers said, where candidates often ask about quality of life, starting salaries, cost of living and taxes in North Carolina, housing and patrol schedules. We have the best patrol schedule in the United States, Flowers said. You have four days on, four days off. Thats a big draw. That schedule, he said, allows officers to use that time for family, hobbies or an opportunity to earn supplemental income. As for starting salaries, Chief John Thompson has told city officials that Greensboro needs to be competitive with other agencies in and around the Triad to help attract and retain officers. With a shortage of 120 officers out of an allocated 691 Thompson received a recent commitment from City Council to direct staff to seek funding in its next budget cycle to raise starting salaries from $46,000 to $57,000. Compensation is recognition of what officers do for the city and the community, Thompson said. The $57,000 is to bring people to the organization. It lets them know we value the work you do. Among its applicants, the police academy will usually accept 25% to 35%, Flowers said. About half are from the Triad region, and the department receives a lot of interest from people in New York and New Jersey. Were casting a very wide net, Flowers said. In April, the department held an open house at the academy, which prompted 25 applications overnight. Thats in comparison to the 30 applications a month the department normally receives without a big recruitment push. Flowers said the 113th academy class that graduated March 7 completed more than 900 hours of training and instruction in more than 40 different areas of study including interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and using technology to make communities safer. As part of the recruits communications training, they learn the principals of procedural justice and implicit bias. Procedural justice is a collaborative method of listening and talking that increases mutual understanding and trust among members of the public and police. Understanding Implicit Bias training examines the inherent biases present in all people. Stephanie Mardis, captain of the Greensboro Police Departments Professional Standards Division, said that its important for a police department to reflect its community because it inherently gains trust with people from all walks of life. Thats crucial, Flowers said, as the department seeks to continue to recruit new officers who will represent and serve a diverse city in good and challenging times. We share our stories, Flowers said. Its not a sales job. Its not a hard pitch. Were humans. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. GREENSBORO A pygmy hippo calf was born Wednesday at the Greensboro Science Center, officials announced Friday. The calf was born to Holly and Ralph, marking a significant milestone in the centers most recent zoo expansion, Revolution Ridge. This is the first pygmy hippo born at the center, according to a news release from the center. The calf is too young to determine its gender and a name has not yet been chosen, a center spokeswoman said. We have been monitoring Hollys pregnancy through the duration of her gestation, but with a first-time mom, we remained cautious, Jessica Hoffman, the centers vice president of Animal Health & Welfare said in the release. We collectively released a huge sigh of relief and cheered when we saw our adorable new calf take its first steps. Holly is proving to be a very vigilant and caring mother, and we cant wait for our GSC community to meet this latest addition! Hoffman said in the release. Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa and are considered endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. It is estimated fewer than 2,500 adult pygmy hippos remain in the wild. Holly and Ralph were recommended for breeding by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan Program, With only ten breeding pairs of pygmy hippos within AZA institutions, we knew this would be a monumental milestone if Ralph and Holly were successful, Hoffman said. Pygmy hippopotamuses (Choeropsis liberiensis) are much smaller than their cousin, the common river hippopotamus. While common river hippos weigh between 2,900 and 4,000 pounds, pygmy hippos weigh between 350 and 600 pounds. At about 5 months old, pygmy hippos calves are about 10 times their weight at birth. Revolution Ridge opened in June of 2021. The 12-acre, 10-exhibit expansion was designed to be a breeding center for unusual and endangered wildlife from all over the world. Many of the animal exhibits were designed to support breeding programs and it is quite a testament that, within a little more than two years, the GSC is now home to its first pygmy hippo calf, Beth Hemphill, the centers chief operating officer, said in the release. This birth will continue to spark greater awareness about protecting lifes magnificent diversity within the animal kingdom. Holly is a hippo with a bold personality, while Ralph is an easy-going individual and we are excited to see what personality comes through in their offspring, Mike Motsch, the centers lead pygmy hippo keeper, said in the release. Holly has received prenatal care the past six months, he said. Viewing of the hippo indoor holding area will be intermittent and remain at the discretion of the centers staff over the next few days as keepers continue to monitor Holly and her new calf. Photos: New pygmy hippo calf Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Consider a revolutionary act on this Memorial Day: Finally honoring nearly three dozen, possibly more, African American and other patriots of color who fought for American freedom right here at the pivotal Battle of Guilford Courthouse. On March 15, 1781, a determined, ragtag American militia, fighting alongside Continental Army soldiers under the command of Gen. Nathanael Greene, lost the battle but won the war. The victory proved so costly to the British that it led to their humiliating surrender months later at Yorktown, Va. At Guilford Courthouse, at least 14 African American soldiers fought in the North Carolina militia, as did others in the Maryland and Delaware Regiments, historians say. Now, 242 years later, if you stroll along the carefully maintained pathways and trails of the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, youll see 29 statues, monuments and plaques. Yet, while those engraved bronze and granite markers rightly honor the service of some of the patriots who fought there, they also raise a question: Where are the monuments that honor to the Black patriots who fought and died there? This shameful omission came to mind while I was attending a recent commemoration of Black Patriots of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse at the parks visitor center. Who else doesnt know this history? Under the collaborative auspices of the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Greensboro Public Library and Greensboro History Museum, this exhilarating program provided dramatic context of the significant participation of Black and mixed-race patriots. As a journalist and descendant of Revolutionary War Maj. Joseph Winston, Joanna Winston Foley, wrote, Now contemporary scholars are filling in those gaps in history. Theyre digging deeply into a rich treasure trove of early pension records. These historic documents allow the soldiers of every race to describe their military experiences in their own words. Briefly, in the late 1880s, the markers we do see today began to appear as white citizens sought to commemorate the valor and sacrifices of colonial soldiers. Given the pervasive racial attitudes at the time, that meant honoring only white people, with some monuments dedicated as bands played Dixie and The Star-Spangled Banner. Over the years, the battlegrounds permanent recognition included a trio of North Carolina signatories to the Declaration of Independence Joseph Hewes, William Hooper and John Penn as well as military units that were vital in the battle. For nearly 140 years, all those impressive statues, monuments and plaques have stood. But without Black patriots and other people of color, the American forces could not have succeeded. At the commemorative program here, the enduring significance of Black participation emerged in the emotionally intense presentations of descendants of Ishmael Titus, who fought in 1780 in the battle of Kings Mountain, S.C. (where an African American Patriots marker does exist) and at Guilford Courthouse and Deep River in 1781. Through indefatigable research, Solomon Titus Taylor of Rochester, N.Y., discovered a distant cousin in Greensboro, Sage Chioma. For years earlier Chioma walked the hallowed grounds of the miltary park, unaware that her ancestor had fought there. When she learned of the incredible connection to Ishmael Titus, she said, she fell to her knees in tearful praise. That knowledge now compels her to learn more and, with her cousin, to advocate for more recognition and celebration of the Black patriots of the American Revolution. The current superintendent of the Guilford Military Park, Aaron LaRocca, who is African American, is fully cognizant of his responsibility to inform, guide and educate visitors about the full significance of the battlegrounds history. On this Memorial Day, as we honor all who have served and sacrificed for the United States, please share the blossoming pride in knowing the role of Black patriots who have fought for freedom. History cant wait. The time for a monument honoring Guilford Battlegrounds Black patriots is long overdue. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Deer Lodge man was found guilty Thursday in Powell County District Court for sexually assaulting a minor, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. The jury unanimously convicted Charles Michael Byrne, 51, of three counts of sexual intercourse without consent following a four-day jury trial. Byrne was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor girl three separate times between 2010 and 2016, authorities said. He will be sentenced at a later date. Byrne was previously sentenced to three consecutive 100-year sentences in 2019 after a jury found him guilty of the same crime. However, the Montana Supreme Court overturned that conviction necessitating a retrial, Knudsen said. The state Supreme Court said prosecutors placed too much emphasis on the credibility of the alleged victim when that was a matter for the jury to decide. Assistant Attorneys General Meghann Paddock and Patrick Moody prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Powell County Sheriffs Office. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Gov. Greg Gianfortes veto pen hasnt run dry yet, and $23 million in proposed infrastructure projects this week fell victim to the executives check on legislative spending. The mark-downs have rankled some lawmakers who object to his characterization of their projects as pork-barrel spending. The Republican governor on Tuesday issued line-item vetoes for several projects approved by the Legislature in House Bill 5, the main infrastructure spending bill that funds most state-owned buildings and capital development projects in Montanas two-year budget. The list included $3.8 million in spending proposed by the Department of Military Affairs that Gianforte said will not go forward, along with an additional cottage proposed for the Southwestern Montana Veterans Home in Butte, for $6 million. But Gianforte also took aim at several projects tacked onto the bill during a Senate Finance and Claims Committee meeting in April, in which lawmakers added a flurry of line items that would direct funds to their districts or hometowns. As the meeting stretched into the evening, Sen. John Esp, the Republican chairman of the budget committee, at one point lamented, I just wish we were doing this out on the floor of the Senate, where God and everybody could see it. Unfortunately, projects were added into House Bill 5 at the last minute without being properly vetted, discussed and debated, Gianforte wrote in his veto letter, dated May 23. ... While the federal appropriations process in Washington, D.C., is notorious for larding up appropriations with pork, Montana is different. His language echoed that of Senate Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick, who accused colleagues of gluttony when he urged them to subsequently reject many of those projects on the Senate floor. His efforts succeeded only in removing a $9.6 million appropriation for Buttes World Museum of Mining. After the bill cleared the Legislature, Fitzpatrick sent a follow-up letter to the governor requesting the removal of some of the remaining projects, which he characterized as unnecessary and wasteful spending. Sen. Tom McGillvray, a Billings Republican, disagreed. Among the line-item vetoes was an $8 million appropriation McGillvray successfully added for the Yellowstone Conservation Area on the west side of Billings. It would give a boost to the $150 million project, for which the bulk of funding has been raised through city ratepayers. People came from Billings and testified on that amendment, McGillvray said in an interview Friday. There was no under-the-table secret. This was out in the open. He reiterated his argument from the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, that the request is a pittance compared to the degree to which Billings contributes to the states tax base. And the project is one thats critical for ensuring a reliable supply of city drinking water and averting a potential breach of the "Big Ditch" irrigation canal that runs through the city, Billings City Administrator Chris Kukulski said in an interview Friday. One of our greatest risks that we have in town for resiliency, and the governor specifically came to Billings and highlighted the issue, is the Billings Bench Water Association ditch, he said. Its 125 years old and its in serious, serious need of maintenance. Billings biggest flood in history came from this ditchs failure back in the '30s. Last year, when historic rainfall upstream pushed the Yellowstone River in Billings to a new high water mark, the citys water treatment plant had to be taken offline. That left a city of more than 100,000 people with less than two days supply of drinking water. The reservoirs and secondary water treatment plant that would be built as part of the proposed project would extend that emergency supply to 40 days, Kukulski said. Gianforte also struck more than $6 million in other projects he characterized as last-minute additions: $2 million for local park improvements $1 million for sewer system upgrades in Columbus $1 million for the Chippewa Cree Cultural Ceremony Building $1 million for the Chippewa Cree Language Immersion School $250,000 for Missoulas Riverfront Trail One item that didnt get removed, however, was a $2 million appropriation for the Miles City Train Depot. It was added by Sen. Kenneth Bogner of Miles City, at the same time as the World Museum of Mining, Yellowstone Conservation Area and Columbus sewer system projects were being tacked onto the bill. Bogner is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. When I initially heard about this project, I thought the project should be removed, Fitzpatrick wrote in his letter to the governor. However, it is my understanding the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has been actively engaged in the project prior to the session. Thus, I believe it would be appropriate to keep this project in House Bill 5. Sen. Ryan Lynch, a Butte Democrat who was able to amend a pair of substantial additions into the bill for the Butte veterans home and mining museum rejected the governor's argument that spending was "snuck" into the bill. The characterization that it was this late night, secret meeting, it was actually the legislative process, Lynch said. The senator who carried HB 5, however, had objected at the time to many of the Senate budget committees amendments. Mike Cuffe, a Eureka Republican, was the vice chair of the budget subcommittee on infrastructure, which spent the first half of the session vetting applications and holding hearings for projects that ended up in HB 5 and other infrastructure legislation. Cuffe maintained that adding projects subsequently wasnt fair to other applicants who had lined up to pitch their proposals to the subcommittee. Because House Bill 5 passed both chambers with two-thirds votes, the Secretary of States office will automatically poll lawmakers on whether they want to override each of the governors line-item vetoes. Legislators have 30 days to vote. McGillvray said hes lobbying his colleagues to keep the $8 million for the Yellowstone Conservation Area in the bill. Im disappointed, but well try to override, McGillvray said. Thats all we can do. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Missoula County Commission on Thursday requested that the U.S. Forest Service offer 60-day public comment periods on future proposals for Holland Lake Lodge including whether to grant a new special-use permit to Utah-based ski resort corporation POWDR and asking that any future development at the site adhere to state and local land-use, building, water and shoreline regulations. The letter, sent to Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele, stated: "The Missoula Board of County Commissioners continues to hear concerns from a diverse range of constituents regarding public engagement and regulatory review of proposed changes at Holland Lake Lodge. Many of the concerns have also expressed questions about whether proposed changes to Holland Lake Lodge are in the public interest. "Based on the input we received, we believe a more transparent decision-making process and robust approach to public engagement would be beneficial." The letter asked the Forest Service to "incorporate a minimum 60-day public comment period as part of any consideration of the issuance or re-issuance of a Special Use Permit for Holland Lake Lodge," and for "any process that considers changes to ownership, management, site modifications or master plan review for Holland Lake Lodge." The letter also asked the agency to require any permit holder for Holland Lake Lodge to adhere to state and local regulations that "could include, but are not limited to, public health, water, wastewater, land use, building, shoreline, etc." Developments on Forest Service land are generally not required to follow local development regulations unless the Forest Service voluntarily chooses to enforce such regulations. Whether a new special-use permit should come under public review has become yet another point of contention in the saga of POWDR's deeply unpopular quest to drastically expand the historic lakeside lodge near Condon. Earlier this year, POWDR, through a newly created subsidiary, applied for its own special-use permit to operate Holland Lake Lodge Inc. A special-use permit is the foundational document that allows a business to operate on public land. Such arrangements are common, including widespread use for ski areas and similar guest lodges in Montana and across the West. POWDR's application for a new special-use permit came after two Hamilton-based attorneys released a legal memo last fall stating that the Forest Service should have terminated Holland Lake Lodge's existing special-use permit because the permit's terms clearly prohibit a change of ownership and/or control of the permitted business. POWDR President Justin Sibley and POWDR CEO Tim Brennwald have purchased a stake in Holland Lake Lodge Inc. The lodge company's primary business address was changed to POWDR's corporate headquarters in Park City, and a POWDR executive now owns the lodge's liquor license. Christian Wohlfeil the longtime lodge owner who still holds a stake in the company has stated that POWDR Vice President of Communications Stacey Hutchinson represents and speaks for Holland Lake Lodge. Last week, the attorneys behind last fall's memo released a new memo arguing that Steele should be removed as the decision maker for Holland Lake Lodge because he violated federal ethics standards by admitting in internal emails that he was biased toward POWDR's proposal. 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 and has indicated it will. In March, The Center for Biological Diversity, Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Save Holland Lake threatened to sue the Forest Service after Steele, the forest supervisor, said that POWDR would be granted its own special-use permit for Holland Lake Lodge if the company simply shows it's capable of running the business. Steele wrote that "as long as (POWDR) is deemed financially and technically capable and is planning to meet the intent of the special use permit, a new permit is issued." But federal law requires the Forest Service to consider public interest when deciding whether to grant POWDR a special-use permit, the groups stated, citing federal law stating that the agency must deny the proposal if it finds that "the proposed use would not be in the public interest." A denial on those grounds would have precedent, they noted: The Forest Service denied an expansion of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, citing split public opinion and environmental concerns. The groups also criticized Steele for amending the existing special-use permit to allow two wells to be drilled at the site, and for allowing a modular housing trailer to be placed on site despite not being allowed by the permit all without public review. Both actions were related to POWDR's future development plans, as acknowledged by agency officials in internal communications obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, and by law should have been lumped in with a larger public process and analysis of the overall expansion. The groups threatened to sue if the well permits were not revoked and if the modular home was not removed. In response, Steele revoked the amendment allowing the wells and ordered the modular housing removed. Swan District Ranger Chris Dowling gave POWDR a May 15 deadline to remove the housing. As of Thursday, the modular housing was still at Holland Lake Lodge, according to photos provided to the Missoulian. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Steele amended Holland Lake Lodge Inc.'s special-use permit to allow modular housing on the site. In fact, the amendment pertained to drilling two wells on the site. The modular housing was allowed to be placed on site despite not being covered by the existing permit. The story has been updated. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. When Neal Whitney drew a coveted bighorn ewe hunting tag this spring he was excited, and then concerned, then excited again before being disappointed. Up and down, up and down, he said of his emotions. Whitney was attempting to draw a ewe tag in Hunting District 482-30 in Fergus County. Only five were being issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in that district. Whitney was looking for a place where there wouldnt be many other hunters. Prostate cancer had metastasized into his spine causing permanent damage, making it harder for him to hike in the rugged hills where bighorn sheep thrive. Thats one of the reasons I picked that district is because the quota was down at five, and to me thats less competition out there for hunting sheep, he said. Because of my mobility issues that was a consideration for me picking that particular district. Errors Unfortunately for Whitney, he was one of the victims of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recent licensing problems. Two moose hunters and 54 other bighorn sheep tag applicants in seven hunting districts after checking their status online and finding they had successfully drawn a tag were told days later there was a Licensing Division error. As a result, they were notified by FWP they were not successful in drawing a tag. Heres how the error occurred. Months before the drawings are held, quota ranges are approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. In HD 482-30, the approved range was two to 40 ewes. FWP biologists then set annual quotas for each species within the ranges approved by the commission based on how the specific population is doing. In HD 482-20, the biologist set the quota at five, but the Licensing Division issued 40 tags. Whitney explained the Wildlife and Licensing divisions computers do not interface, so all of the quotas for special drawings even deer and elk have to be entered by Licensing Division personnel by hand. The 62-year-old retiree knows this because he worked in the division for most of his 38 years with FWP going all the way back to the mid-1980s. Two years ago he retired, a year after a fellow veteran in the division. Since then, licensing problems in FWP have seemed more prevalent. To me, most of these quota errors are just a fact of looking to see if everything is right and communicating between the different divisions within the agency, he said. Cancelled Because of the error in HD 482-30, 35 extra hunters were wrongly told they had drawn one of the coveted permits, including Whitney. As a result, he was excited. Then he saw an FWP news release days later saying there had been an error. In his reading of the statement, Whitney thought he would be blocked from buying the license if he wasnt one of the authorized tag winners. So he tried to buy his ewe tag and was successful. I was assuming I was one of the lucky five rather than the unlucky, he said. Then he received a call from a former co-worker notifying him they were rescinding the tag and refunding his money. In addition, bonus points he had used to boost his odds of drawing the tag were returned. To be fair, they were real nice about calling and apologizing, Whitney said. At first, he was mad at the sudden turn of events. Since then, hes adjusted to the letdown and plans to apply again next year. I still have faith in the drawings, and I like the fact that after they made the mistake they owned up to it right away and let people know, he said. If they decided to allow those additional ewe tags in that district I would have been reluctant to go out hunting there due to the added competition. Legacy Whitney was born in Missoula and grew up in Helena where his father, Art Whitney, led the FWP fisheries division when it quantified that stocking trout in rivers depressed the wild trout population. Thanks to his heritage, Neal Whitney has been hunting since he was 12-years-old, passing the tradition on to his own children. In all of those years, hes been lucky enough to draw two other bighorn ewe tags. Last year, however, the port installed into an artery in his right shoulder through which he was given his chemotherapy treatments for six months kept him from shooting his rifle. He was worried the jolt of the rifles recoil could dislodge the port. Since he couldnt get clearance from a doctor to use his rifle he bought a pistol to use for hunting. I ended up buying a Thompson Contender pistol so I would still be able to hunt, because to me that was easier than trying to shift and shoot (a rifle) left-handed, he said. This year, he got the OK from his doctor to use his rifle. The doctor assured him the ports are sturdy enough to withstand the shock of a rifle recoil. So cancer hasnt been all bad, he joked, since he got a new gun out of the deal. Issues Whitney could only speculate as to why the Licensing Division is having so many problems recently. When he first started with the division, a lot was still done by hand before the agency went to its Automated Licensing System. When the computer system was installed, FWP chose to keep the work in-house rather than go to an external provider. Many state licensing officials were jealous, he said, since it was easier for Montana to make changes to the system rather than go through a provider. Whitney admitted the Licensing Division had suffered from errors in the past, but they were often limited to only one or two districts and within the parameters of the quota so licenses werent taken away after a drawing. Because the Wildlife and Licensing division computers cant talk to each other, thousands of quotas have to be input by hand, hundreds just for coveted moose, sheep and goat permits that are hard to draw. As Whitney was retiring two years ago, FWP decided to upgrade the computer system rather than replace it, or farm the work out to a third party. The goal was to help the system function better and more quickly. Whoever is providing that service, Whitney said, should be checking to make sure there arent errors. Despite having raised and then dashed his hopes, Whitney still has confidence in the capability of the system. Knowing how the drawing works and knowing how they can identify (the unsuccessful applicants), I feel confident in that part of the drawing. So I know its fair that I dont get the license this year, he said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DECATUR Police described the bloody scene that confronted them when they arrived at a Forsyth group home and found three female residents badly beaten; one of whom later died. The prosecution evidence was presented Thursday at what is known as a discharge hearing for mentally ill defendant Carson H. Hagood, 41, who was also a resident of the Hickory Point Terrace group home. The hearing, which is not finished, will leave Macon County Circuit Court Judge Lindsey Shelton to decide whether Carson is guilty of murder but mentally unfit to stand trial and so must remain in a secure state treatment facility, where he is now. Or the judge could rule he is not guilty by reason of insanity. If the judge were to reach that decision, and assuming she finds Carson in need of further treatment, the law says he could be held in a secure hospital for up to the maximum time he would have been sentenced to for murder in this case, 60 years. Macon County Sheriffs Deputies Brian Hickey and Evan Ryan said they responded to frantic 911 calls from group home staff in the early morning of Jan. 26, 2022. The police found victims Susie Lauderdale, 56, Kara Norrington, 48 and Lynn Umphreys lying on the floor bleeding from head wounds after having been beaten and stomped. The 58-year-old Umphreys would die from her wounds about two weeks later. Hagood is pleading not guilty to her murder and the attempted murder of the other women. Hickey said when he arrived at the home he had been met by a desperate worker pleading for help: She was frantically screaming for me to enter the group home Before he kills somebody, Hickey told the court. Upon entering, I found a white male subject (Carson) laying face down on the floor; next to him was a female subject (Norrington) who was very badly beaten lying inches from him. Hickey said Carson was unhurt but turned out to be spattered with the blood of his victims. Ryan said the other victims all had similar injuries resulting from severe head trauma. Hagood was taken to HSHS St. Marys Hospital where he spoke briefly to police and attending doctors. Macon County States Attorney Scott Rueter, questioning Deputy Ryan, asked: And did he (Carson) indicate something to the effect of I tried to kill three people because this morning I prayed to Satan? Yes, he said that as well, replied Ryan, who also said Carson spoke in a calm voice and wasnt aggressive. Detective Cody Woods said he heard Carson explaining what he had done to the hospital doctors. He made a statement that he attempted to kill three people this morning and he purposely put his shoes on because he knew it would cause more damage to the victims. Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders had earlier cross-examined Alicia J. Cofer, a non-medical worker at the group home, about the circumstances surrounding Carson at the time of the attacks. The 35-year-old woman had been an eye-witness before fleeing outside because she feared for her own life. Sanders asked her if Hagood had been on a suicide watch, subject to checks every 15 minutes, after threatening to kill himself by drinking anti-freeze. Cofer said the suicide watch was correct, and she had heard from others about him talking of ending his life with anti-freeze. So while he was on suicide watch he wasnt restricted to his room or anything like that? Sanders asked. I dont believe so, Im not quite sure, Cofer replied. She had testified that she found Hagood roaming the home before attacking his victims and he had chased down Umphreys before assaulting her. With the prosecution evidence concluded, Sanders was granted more time to present the defense argument in the case and Shelton scheduled the final part of the hearing for July 12. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DECATUR Two arrests have been made in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Kemareon L. Rice, officials said. Decatur Police Lt. Scott Rosenbery said in a news release issued Friday that Travell D. Washington, 22 , and Freiashya L. Ayers, 23, were taken into custody earlier in the day in Rantoul by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. Arrest warrants had been issued for Washington, 22, and Ayers, 23, on preliminary charges of first-degree murder. The release states they will be booked into the Champaign County Jail. Preliminary charges are subject to review by the state's attorney's office. Rice, 17, died just after 12 a.m. March 6, 2022 from a gunshot wound to the back as he tried to flee from his killers in a car driven by a family member. During a Macon County coroner's jury inquest into the death, Decatur Police Detective Scott Marquis explained that police were already nearby, and even heard the fatal gunshot. Marquis told the jurors that officers had been called earlier to reports of a group of young people causing a disturbance in the area of the parking lot of the Walmart store on East Maryland Street. There they encountered a group of juveniles and included in that group was Mr. Rice, said Marquis. As he was being escorted off the property its clear on body and in-car camera (police video footage) he was 100% healthy. He walks towards the McDonalds parking lot at which time witnesses described a vehicle pulling up and an occupant in that vehicle opening fire at him. Marquis said officers still in the area heard the sound of gunshots and rushed to the McDonalds lot in time to see a fleeing vehicle which turned out to be the one carrying Rice. It gets pulled over in the 3300 block of East Fitzgerald Road and emergency medical help is summoned when officers realize Rice had been shot. Responding to questions from Macon County Coroner Michael E. Day, the detective said police have a clear record of the last moments of Rices life thanks to video surveillance footage pulled from McDonalds. It does show a vehicle and in that video we can see one occupant does open fire in the direction of Mr. Rice, said Marquis. He is running from the suspects in this incident and he runs around the vehicle he later ends up in. As he is trying to get in he starts on the passenger side and he runs around to the drivers side and actually jumps into that vehicles drivers door. Marquis told the coroner the other occupants of the car were trying to get Rice to a hospital when they were pulled over. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. THUMBS UP! And thanks for the warning. Police throughout Illinois are increasing seat belt enforcement as part of a statewide Memorial Day Click It or Ticket campaign. The campaign, designed to remind motorists to buckle up and save lives, will run through May 30. The first such statewide campaign took place in North Carolina in 1993. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a car accident by 45%. Illinois has a 93% seat belt use compliance rate but unbelted occupants account for more than half of those killed in motor vehicle crashes THUMBS UP! To proposing a new state flag for Illinois. Under the plan, a committee would be charged with envisioning a potential replacement. More incidental than iconic, the flag redesign would be accompanied by places for citizens to suggest possibilities and by a website tracing the history of the flag. Of course, there have been the obligatory objections. But the idea of exposing a younger generation to something civic-minded through their involvement in community groups of activities like redesigning a flag is a needed idea all on its own. And for those jokes and derogatory statements, lets set those aside and ponder them when the time is right. A similar effort in Utah resulted in 7,000 submitted flag designs and 44,000 comments received, THUMBS DOWN! To YouTube algorithms. Researchers simulated two 9-year-olds who both liked video games, especially first-person shooter games. The accounts were identical, except that one clicked on the videos recommended by YouTube, and the other ignored the platforms suggestions. The account that clicked on YouTubes suggestions was soon flooded with graphic videos about school shootings, tactical gun training videos and how-to instructions on making firearms fully automatic. YouTube says it has protections in place, but in this case, something is clearly incomplete. If we cant figure out how to hold YouTube to its own standards, we have little societal hope about cleansing some of the poison from the internet. THUMBS DOWN! To continually ignoring planet warming warnings. The latest United Nations warning says natural weather phenomenon El Nino will super-charge human-caused warming and Earth will have a year averaging a temperature above the number set in the international 2015 Paris climate agreement. The problem? So many of the possibilities are projecting theories that have to be couched with excuses that leave skeptics ignoring likelihoods and leaning on the potential if improbable outs in the stories. THUMBS DOWN! To Twitter deleting accounts. Social media can get messy when a person passes. Facebook is one site that allows users to designate individuals to have access to their account in certain cases. Elon Musks Twitter is deleting accounts that might have been dormant for years but still viewed by people missing the person. Of all the problems with Twitter, this one doesnt seem large enough to make even a list of mediocre ideas. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Areas of fog early, becoming sunny this afternoon. High 89F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BRISTOL, Tenn. YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia this week announced the recipients of its 2023 Tribute to Women Awards. The award honors the trailblazers who strive to improve the quality of life for women, girls and families in our region, according to a written statement. The women we celebrate are the best of all of us; they are regional leaders who demonstrate their compassion, intelligence, and experience every day. We are honored to celebrate each of them, said Anne Godfrey, chair of the Tribute to Women committee. This year, the YWCA introduced new Tribute to Women categories that reflect the many avenues women utilize to effect change in our region. They include Business and Industry, Finance, Healthcare, Mission Impact, and STEAM/Education. These categories provide an opportunity to highlight a broad array of professional leaders. Many outstanding women across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia were nominated by area organizations for the 2023 Tribute to Women Award; from these nominees five were chosen by an independent panel of judges for recognition. Business and Industry: Mary Johnson Johnson founded Land Partners in 2010, a female-owned real estate company that specializes in commercial real estate across the eastern U.S. Her passion for professionalism, new ideas and relationship building has contributed to her success. She has volunteered for over 50 years, serving over 20 organizations at the local, state, and national levels. Her love for the outdoors inspired work to secure $12 million in funding for the establishment of Rocky Fork State Park in East Tennessee. Her advocacy for womens rights has been instrumental in helping pass legislation requiring insurance companies to cover post-mastectomy reconstructive surgeries for breast cancer survivors as well as legislation criminalizing the act of stalking. Finance: Jennifer Owen Owen is known for her attention to detail, positive attitude and excellent customer service skills. In less than five years, she has climbed the ladder of success from senior commercial loan officer to her most recent leadership position, senior vice president and market president for Appalachian Highlands at Truist Bank. Her accomplishments include graduating from Leadership Kingsport and being a past recipient of 40 Under Forty. Her dedication to empowering others is reflected in her role as a mentor and her commitment to community service. Jennifer serves the community through numerous committee and chair positions, including YWCA, United Way, Northeast State Community College, and The Crumley House Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center. Healthcare: Dr. Michelle Durham Durham, clinical director of audiology at Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center, is widely respected for her leadership skills and tireless advocacy for patients. Her high standards inspire coworkers to strive for success, and her transparent communication style fosters an environment of trust and open dialogue. Dr. Durhams visionary leadership keeps the organization at the forefront, while her tireless work securing insurance coverage for services delivered has earned her admiration from colleagues and patients alike. She takes special joy in seeing hearing-impaired babies and children becoming able to hear out of both ears for the first time. She continually looks for ways to improve speech and hearing services in the region, and her leadership is a testament to her dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families. Mission Impact: Vanessa Bennett Bennett is a leader at the forefront of diversity, equity, and inclusion she has a heart that believes in dignity for all. She is currently chief operating officer and former executive director of operations and talent development for the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for community service and humanitarian initiatives is evident in her innovative approach to developing new programs, events and celebrations that benefit Kingsport. She has been instrumental in the organization and success of Healthy Kingsport, SAFE Spaces, and Project HOPE and she is one of this years Juneteenth Festival leaders in Downtown Kingsport. Vanessas unique ability to develop fresh ideas is a critical factor in the success of these initiatives. STEAM/Education: Donna Henry Henry made history in 2013 when she became the first female Chancellor at University of Virginias College at Wise. With a wealth of experience in higher education, she is widely recognized as a leader among her peers and is a staunch advocate for STEM-H. Her expertise has made her a sought-after voice on various boards, councils, and panels at conferences across the Commonwealth. She has dedicated herself to equality, diversity, and inclusion creating the Colleges first office specifically devoted to that mission. She has worked to increase diversity among her cabinet and senior administrators. Henrys efforts have brought forth new concepts and understanding that benefit the world and all those who live in it. We are thrilled to recognize our 2023 Tribute to Women honorees, said Kathy Waugh, CEO of the organization. These five women are not only leaders who are impacting our communities across multiple sectors, but they represent the many others whose encouraging stories we read about each year during our nomination process. It is truly inspiring to see their accomplishments and dedication, and we are privileged to honor them. The 2023 Tribute to Women recipients will be honored at a gala on June 8. The first in-person award event since 2019 will be held at the historic Bristol Train Station. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, call (423) 968-9444 or visit www.ywcatnva.org. 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. 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 can't 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 Floyd's 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 we're 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 haven't slowed down. But the beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long it's taking to achieve meaningful change. "I don't 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 Floyd's 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. 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? 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. 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. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge, admitting that keeping his knee on Floyd's neck resulted in his death. In that case, he received a concurrent sentence of 21 years. The three others were also convicted of violating Floyd's rights and got much shorter sentences. *** 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, 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 Floyd's killing, which included the burning of a police station. But few officers faced disciplinary action. *** WHAT'S 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 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 urged for legislation changes, George Floyd's 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 didn't happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didn't 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." Photos: Scenes from the racial justice protests after George Floyd's death Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Morganton man was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon of mass destruction on Wednesday. Joshua Phillip Steffey, 41, was charged 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. Public safety investigators responded to the scene and determined the two firearms had been modified, the release said. Steffeys bond was set at $25,000 secured. More charges are possible in the case, authorities said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Kong Cheng Yang still laughs when he thinks back to the time a mouse ran out from behind a shelf in his world history class during his sophomore year. That was a really fun experience because a lot of teachers were really chasing it around everywhere, Yang said. It went back and forth in the hallway and it was really fun to just see them run after it. That moment is among Yangs favorite memories from his time at Fred T. Foard High School. Yang was one of the 212 students who graduated from Foard on Thursday evening. As he reflected on his high school years, Yang is also looking to the future. He plans to go to Catawba Valley Community College for two years before finishing his degree at North Carolina State University. Im not really set on what I really want to do but I have an idea about going into engineering, and Im going to CVCC to find out what I want to do in the future, he said. Other graduates had clearer ideas of what they wanted to do professionally. Like Yang, Pierce Pruitt said he also wants to attend CVCC to get general education requirements out of the way before moving on to getting the training he needs to become a commercial pilot. Im locked in on aviation, Pruitt said. Brooklyn Paige Bess delivered the student address, advising her fellow graduates to live in the moment. She displayed emotion as she delivered her final words to her classmates: One day everything you experience will be a memory, just like high school is now a memory for all of us. Hold onto every moment, every relationship, every high, every low and everything in between. We are only given so many chapters in this life so make sure to make the next chapter count. GALLERY: 2023 Fred T. Foard Graduation Foard Class of 2023 (25).jpg 2023 Foard Graduation (9).jpg 2023 Foard Graduation (18).jpg 2023 Foard Graduation (27).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (1).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (2).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (3).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (4).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (5).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (6).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (7).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (8).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (10).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (11).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (12).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (13).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (14).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (15).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (16).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (17).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (18).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (19).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (20).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (22).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (23).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (24).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (26).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (27).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (28).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (29).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (30).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (32).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (33).jpg Foard Class of 2023 (34).jpg Available 5/25/2023 Great location for this 2 bedroom 1 bath duplex. Fridge incl, Washer and Dryer Connection. Close to Hickory, Lenoir-Rhyne, Rec Center and walking distance to shopping. Please review our rental policies and qualifications under the lease tab on our website. 1 small dog (25 lbs or less) ok w/ $500 pet fee. Our office hours are M-F 9-5. If you inquire on a weekend we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please check our website, under the Lease tab, to see if a property is still available as well as review our policies and our requirements there to see if we are a good Fit. A credit and criminal background check are a part of the application process. $100 application fee per adult, 18+. Small pet ok with a non-refundable $500 annual pet fee two max under 45 lbs). Review requirements and rental policies before submitting an inquiry. Photos are from prior to the current tenant and unit is in the process of being repainted. View More Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. When Powell Sigmon went to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., he was worried he would not be able to find the name he was seeking. The name was Ralph Dunn. Like Sigmon, Dunn was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot. Sigmon was called out to respond after Dunns chopper was shot down amid the fighting. Dunn had only been in Vietnam for three weeks, Sigmon said. Thats very tough to take when youve just got in country, Sigmon said. It was his first actual combat mission and hed been killed in the first mission. As Sigmons wife encouraged him to visit the memorial, he was concerned that locating Dunns name among the tens of thousands etched on the monument would be too difficult. That did not turn out to be a problem. It was amazing. I dont know whether it was some kind of divine intervention or what, but we walked up there and I walked right straight to his name and put my finger on it out of 58,000 names, Sigmon said. So how that happened, I dont know. Sigmon, an 83-year-old resident of Conover, is one of four local veterans to donate items to an exhibit on the Vietnam War at the Catawba County Museum of History. The exhibit also features photographs that are part of a traveling exhibit. Conover resident Richard Bowers, 79, is another veteran whose personal items are featured in the exhibit. When asked about memories of service members who lost their lives, Bowers pauses, shuts his eyes briefly and lets out a sigh. Theres 29 men that I remember, Bowers said. I do not remember their names. I served with them. They were killed. And yes, do I remember them? Yeah I do. Those members of Bowers' unit were killed in an ambush, Bowers said. He added: I just think of them every day of my life. The veteran whose keepsakes are featured in the exhibit sees the museum display as a means of educating younger people about the war and honoring those who fought it. Having this is having another way of having a positive attitude about the guys who actually served over there, U.S. Marine veteran Robert Rowe said. Rowe, a 79-year-old Conover resident, donated a jacket, sea bag and other items for display in the exhibit. While the men expressed pride in their service, the veterans also expressed criticisms about the way the war was handled. I served in Vietnam and I served proudly in Vietnam, Bowers said. Fifty-eight thousand men and women got killed in Vietnam for absolutely no reason whatsoever. To me it was a political war and thats all it was. He added: And would I go back and do it again? Id leave today if theyd let me. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The FBI has increased the rewards offered to capture individuals on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list to $250,000. Alejandro Alex Castillo was added to the list in October 2017. Castillo is accused of killing 23-year-old Truc Quan Sandy Ly Le. Her body was found in Cabarrus County, on Aug. 17, 2016. The case initially began as three separate missing person reports for Castillo, Ly Le and another person. The three had worked together at a Charlotte restaurant. The investigation uncovered evidence Ly Le had lent Castillo money. On Aug. 15, 2016, the victim's vehicle was found in Phoenix, Arizona, parked at a bus station. On Aug. 16, 2016, Castillo was seen on surveillance video crossing the border from Nogales, Arizona, into Mexico. Castillo, who is now 24 years old, may be living in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes where he has relatives. FBI agents and CMPD 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 Nov. 2, 2016, charging Castillo with first-degree murder. On Feb. 10, 2017, a federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte, charging Castillo with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. Castillo was the 516th person to be placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. A wanted poster is available on the FBI's website and is posted on various social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Anyone with information on Castillos whereabouts should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Charlotte-Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Tips can also be provided online to the FBI. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the homicide. The FBI 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 the victim and her family. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Greetings from North Myrtle Beach. The news never stops, especially in these days of small staffs, so I am working remotely and squeezing in some vacation time between the news. No. 1 A piece of history saved. Ive already received emails and phone calls, Hey what are they putting in over there at A.L. Brown? Kannapolis City Councilman Ryan Dayvault solved the mystery (not much of a mystery). Earlier this week the old cupola that was on the top of the Cannon Mills offices was erected onto a base between A.L. Brown High School and the Kannapolis City Schools Office. The cupola was on the offices during Pillowtex and Fieldcreat-Cannon days too but we know it was always really Cannon Mills. Its a very bittersweet and sentimental day for the history of our city. As we mourn the passing of our citys most famous historian Norris Dearmon (Monday) at 100 years old, today we celebrate a historical moment when the Cannon Mills Main Office Cupola has been put back together and will be finished soon for all to see, Dayvault said Tuesday. Charlie Parker of Parker Crane Service donated the time and service to set it onto the base. Jim Busse and his carpentry class at A L Brown High School have painstakingly reconstructed and restored the cupola over the past couple years, Dayvault said. After setting since 2005, it now will have life once again as a beacon to welcome people into Kannapolis across from Kannapolis City Schools office building, Dayvault said. It was very emotional to think that this is the last remaining structure from Plant 1 and of all the folks who made this day possible. I also thought about my Papaw Paul Chapman who bought the Grove Crane for Cannon Mills (that looked just like this crane used today) and of my late uncle Carlton Chapman who use to be the mills crane operator. I wish Norris could have seen this today but I think he did see it, just not in person. Yes he will. There arent many people as nice as Norris Dearmon. No. 2 A soldier, a historian and a community leader. Were told Mr. Dearmon passed peacefully with his family. In print today on A2, weve got a picture of Norris and Dot from back in his military days. It seems fitting to have that as our historic photo. He had been a driving force in preserving local history for years. His friends with the Kannapolis History Associates plan to sit together at the funeral service. Funeral services with be Saturday, May 27, at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church in Kannapolis. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon with the service to follow. His burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kannapolis History Associates, P. O. Box 21, Kannapolis, NC 28082 or Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church,101 Vance Avenue, Kannapolis, 28081 would be appreciated. Kannapolis History Associates plans to dedicate its July program to his memory. He leaves big shoes to fill. No. 3 Hats off to the participants of the Harrisburg Multi-cultural Festival. April was Diversity Month and the festival committee and volunteers took the opportunity have a food drive for those in need. It was a great success. They collected 2,140 cans and 256 packets of food, totaling 2,200 lbs. A big thank you to our this years stars: the students, teachers, staff and parents at Carl A Furr Elementary School who contributed 1,124 cans, said Jitendra Jeet Hiremath, chair of the festival. One of our HMCF Team Leader Karen Andrade who is also a teacher at Carl A Furr Elementary School was instrumental in coordinating this effort. The food was dropped off at the Harrisburg Food Pantry earlier this month. The 5th Annual Harrisburg Multi-cultural Festival will be held Sept. 16 at Harrisburg Park. No. 4 A new pet bakery opens. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, the national pet service company, has opened a new location in Concord at 5011 Weddington Road NW, Suite 60, Concord, NC 28027, This store will have oven-baked treats and trendy, fun accessories that the luxury pet store is known and loved for. To celebrate the newest North Carolina location, Woof Gang has decided to give back to its community with fun offers and raffles all week long beginning Saturday, May 27: Free treats for 1 year: The first 20 dogs who visit the store on May 27 will receive free treats for a whole year. Complimentary upgrade on all groomings: From May 27 through June 3, any grooming appointment booked during the week will receive a free blueberry facial upgrade for their pup. Half off all nail trims: Customers will receive 50% off nail trims from May 27 to June 3. Win big with fun raffles: Customers can enter raffles throughout the week to win other prizes, such as three months of high-quality and nutritious dog food offered at Woof Gang and toys your pup will love. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is a dog lovers one-stop shop for all their pet-related needs, from grooming sessions to delicious birthday biscuits. No. 5 A successful litter pick-up. Volunteers for ELK (Eliminating Litter in Kannapolis) collected bags and bags of litter, a shopping cart and a bicycle. Yes that right a bicycle and it worked. The clean-up Saturday, May 20, was along a section of Concord Lake Road near Concord STEAM Academy. We had another great turn out, according to Rita Bliven, the leader of ELK. The A.L. Brown Beta club continues to put in a lot of volunteer hours. Also, we had our first two volunteers from the West Cabarrus Beta Club. Maybe next school year we can have a little friendly competition between the schools. The next clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, June 3. No. 5 Why wont you paint the lines? Is there a shortage of paint? Dont you think we need lines on roads and parking lots? The worst is on the street leading out of NorthLite Shopping Center (Walmart, Sams Club, Hobby Lobby etc.). When the lines split before the signal light it is unclear which lane goes where. I nearly ran into somebody the other day. It is like that all over. Please fix this. Or are getting a kickback from the body shops? And while I am ranting: Sams Club painted their lines at the gas pumps and they have nice signs up telling you which way to go. Yet there are jerks who insist on entering the wrong way. The rules do apply to you? BTW, I got gas for $2.99 a gallon at Sams. When I drove home I passed several stations with gas ranging from $3.19 to $3.39. I realize Sams cuts their price to attract customers, but they arent that far below the market. If you have a Friday Five, story suggestion or something I can rant, email mplemmons@independenttribune.com or call or text 704-786-0001. GUEST OPINION: Whether you're a landlord trying to increase tenant appeal or an apartment hunter speculating about what type of apartment you want to rent, you should carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks of smart home technology for renters. As a renter, the presence or absence of smart home tech could inspire you to seek out alternative arrangements. As a landlord, youll need to analyze the perks and downsides of smart home tech before installing it. So what are the pros and cons youll need to keep in mind? Smart Home Technology Varies First, understand that we're using the term smart home technology quite generically, referring to a wide range of different smart home devices and apps. Thermostats, locks, cameras, appliances, garage doors, and automation systems can all fall into the smart category. To qualify as a property that offers smart home technology, you may need only one of these systems; at the other end of the spectrum, you may have thousands of dollars of equipment capable of automating almost every aspect of everyday life. The point is smart home technology varies, so the pros and cons of this technology are going to strongly vary depending on what types of devices and apps you offer. Still, we can make a general assessment. The Benefits of Smart Home Technology for Renters These are some of the greatest benefits of smart home technology for renters. Energy efficiency. Smart home tech can greatly improve energy efficiency in an apartment or house. With a proper smart thermostat, you can easily control the temperature even remotely and set a schedule for your heating and cooling needs. Some types of smart thermostat systems also have analytics, so you can track your energy usage and minimize your energy consumption overall. Renters who use this technology can potentially save lots of money this way. Smart home tech can greatly improve energy efficiency in an apartment or house. With a proper smart thermostat, you can easily control the temperature even remotely and set a schedule for your heating and cooling needs. Some types of smart thermostat systems also have analytics, so you can track your energy usage and minimize your energy consumption overall. Renters who use this technology can potentially save lots of money this way. Higher security. Many smart home systems are focused on security, providing greater security controls for the people using it. From doorbell cameras to smart locks, your renters can feel more autonomous and more secure, even in questionable neighbourhoods. Many smart home systems are focused on security, providing greater security controls for the people using it. From doorbell cameras to smart locks, your renters can feel more autonomous and more secure, even in questionable neighbourhoods. Flexible accessibility. What happens if a tenant locks themselves out of the house? What if they need to grant access to a friend when they're away? With smart home technology, tenants often have the option of granting access as they see fit. As long as they have the right app installed, they can open the garage door remotely or unlock the house. What happens if a tenant locks themselves out of the house? What if they need to grant access to a friend when they're away? With smart home technology, tenants often have the option of granting access as they see fit. As long as they have the right app installed, they can open the garage door remotely or unlock the house. Easier transitions. Though this benefit is mostly for landlords, installing smart locks on a home makes transitions easier. And as a tenant moving into a property for the first time, you can rest assured that the previous tenant won't be able to access the property. Though this benefit is mostly for landlords, installing smart locks on a home makes transitions easier. And as a tenant moving into a property for the first time, you can rest assured that the previous tenant won't be able to access the property. Convenience for tech enthusiasts. For people who appreciate new technology, smart home tech offers boundless potential. It can automate your life in amazing ways and increase the convenience of even the most trivial matters of upkeep. The Drawbacks of Smart Home Technology for Renters These are the drawbacks you'll need to consider. Higher upfront costs. On average, if youre willing to install everything yourself, you can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $3,000 for smart home tech. Considering the potential value of this technology, this is an investment worth considering; however, it means you'll bear increased upfront costs and increased risks. On average, if youre willing to install everything yourself, you can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $3,000 for smart home tech. Considering the potential value of this technology, this is an investment worth considering; however, it means you'll bear increased upfront costs and increased risks. Wi-Fi reliance. Remember that smart home technology is almost entirely dependent upon internet access. If your internet connection goes out for any reason, you may lose access to all of your smart home devices and apps. If you're too dependent on smart home technology, this can be a major problem. Remember that smart home technology is almost entirely dependent upon internet access. If your internet connection goes out for any reason, you may lose access to all of your smart home devices and apps. If you're too dependent on smart home technology, this can be a major problem. Privacy issues. Some people are concerned about privacy issues related to smart home technology. Most smart home devices and apps gather significant data on the consumers using them and not all consumers are comfortable with this level of data collection. Some people are concerned about privacy issues related to smart home technology. Most smart home devices and apps gather significant data on the consumers using them and not all consumers are comfortable with this level of data collection. Apprehension from non-tech enthusiasts. For millions of people, smart home technology is an exciting additional value in almost any property. But for approximately 46.7 million households, smart home tech is a non-starter. If youre specifically trying to appeal to older people, people in rural areas, or other demographics that are reluctant to adopt new technologies, smart home tech may be a poor choice. As a renter, your personal position on smart home technology is going to play a massive role in whether you accept it in your next living space. As a landlord, you'll need to think about your budget, your vision for the future, and the types of demographics you want to attract. In either case, there's no clear answer on whether smart home technology is worth installing but from a high level, there are at least a few more benefits than drawbacks. GUEST RESEARCH: On 24 May 2023, the US National Security Agency (NSA) issued a joint cybersecurity advisory highlighting a cluster of activity it attributes to a People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored threat group. Secureworks Counter Threat Unit (CTU) researchers attribute this activity to Bronze Silhouette (referred to in the advisory as Volt Typhoon) and have observed the threat group conducting network intrusion operations against US government and defence organisations since 2021. The tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and victimology observed during Secureworks incident response (IR) engagements suggest Bronze Silhouette targets organisations for intelligence-gathering purposes that are in alignment with the requirements of the PRC. The threat group has demonstrated careful consideration for operational security such as the use of preinstalled binaries to live off the land, incorporation of defence evasion techniques, and reliance on compromised infrastructure to prevent detection and attribution of its intrusion activity, and to blend in with legitimate network activity. June 2021 IR engagement During a June 2021 engagement, Secureworks incident responders discovered that Bronze Silhouette had gained initial access to the compromised organisation's single-factor Citrix environment via a domain administrator account. It is unclear how the threat actors obtained these credentials. Bronze Silhouette moved laterally to another web server and dropped a simple Java-based web shell (AuditReport.jspx). Secureworks incident responders observed the threat actors execute a series of reconnaissance commands via the web shell (see Figure 1). Figure 1. Reconnaissance commands issued through Java-based web shell. (Source: Secureworks) Bronze Silhouette then wrote Base64-encoded text to C:\Windows\Temp tuser.ini and decoded it to C:\Windows\Temp\iisstart.aspx via the certutil command (see Figure 2). Figure 2. Web shell written to disk, decoded, and copied to remote web server. (Source: Secureworks) The iisstart.aspx file is a C# web shell that is likely a derivative of the Awen web shell and is used for remote command execution (see Figure 3). The threat actors copied the web shell to a second web server in the environment and used it to gather system information via the whoami' and tasklist' commands. Figure 3. Snippet from the C# web shell deployed by Bronze Silhouette. (Source: Secureworks) Secureworks incident responders observed Bronze Silhouette using the AuditReport.jspx web shell to perform the following tasks on the first web server: Used Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to execute the Ntdsutil Active Directory (AD) management tool on the domain controller (see Figure 4). This command creates a copy of the ntds.dit AD database for credential attacks such as pass the hash or offline password hash cracking. Figure 4. Credential dumping using Ntdsutil. (Source: Secureworks) Copied the ntds.dit database to the web server via xcopy, compressed the database as a multi-volume password-protected archive via 7-Zip, and saved the volumes to a public-facing directory on the same server with legitimate-sounding filenames and a .gif extension. Used the rd command with the /S switch to delete the threat actors' working directories and files. The threat actors then exfiltrated the dumped AD database to an external IP address. This IP address belonged to a compromised server at an organisation in the same vertical as the compromised organisation. September 2021 IR engagement Bronze Silhouette reappeared in a September 2021 Secureworks IR engagement against an organisation in the U.S. The threat actors gained initial access by exploiting a vulnerability in an internet-facing ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus server (likely CVE-2021-40539). Bronze Silhouette deployed a web shell (ReportGenerate.jsp) and interacted with it to run reconnaissance commands using built-in Windows tools such as net user, nltest, netstat, and systeminfo (see Figure 5). Figure 5. Bronze Silhouette reconnaissance commands. (Source: Secureworks) Secureworks incident responders observed the threat actors executing ADSSPlus.exe, which is a renamed csvde.exe file. The csvde.exe command-line utility provides import and export functionality for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) repositories. The threat actors used the '-f' switch, which exports a list of AD objects to the ADSSPlus.dat file (see Figure 6). Figure 6. Threat actor command to export AD objects to ADSSPlus.dat. (Source: Secureworks) Bronze Silhouette used the Windows makecab command to compress the ADSSPlus.dat file into a cabinet (.cab) file, but Secureworks incident responders did not observe the threat actor exfiltrating the file. June 2022 IR engagement During a June 2022 engagement, Secureworks incident responders discovered that Bronze Silhouette had deployed a single web shell to multiple servers across the environment after likely exploiting an internet-facing PRTG Network Monitor server. The web shell was also a derivative of the Awen web shell but included key modifications such as the addition of AES encryption and decryption for command and control (C2) communications. Based on web shell file creation timestamps, the network was likely compromised in May 2021. The threat actors used WMI to execute the native vssadmin command on a domain controller to create a volume shadow copy (see Figure 7). They then extracted the ntds.dit AD database and the System registry hive from the volume shadow copy (see Figure 7). Figure 7. Threat actor WMI commands to extract the ntds.dit database. (Source: Secureworks) Secureworks incident responders observed the threat actors using 7-Zip to create an archive file containing the System registry hive and ntds.dit, likely for exfiltration. A few days later, the threat actors moved laterally to a ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus server and ran reconnaissance commands. One command revealed Bronze Silhouette searching for one of its C2 IP addresses (see Figure 8). Figure 8. Threat actor commands run under the ManageEngine Java process. (Source: Secureworks) A CTU investigation into the attacker-controlled C2 infrastructure revealed at least three PRTG servers belonging to other organisations. This discovery suggests that BRONZE SILHOUETTE targets vulnerable PRTG servers for initial access into a target environment and to establish its C2 infrastructure. Bronze Silhouette: A member of the new wave of Chinese threat groups? CTU analysis of the direct observations from Bronze Silhouette intrusions reveals a threat group that favours web shells for persistence and relies on short bursts of activity primarily involving living-off-the-land binaries to achieve its objectives. For example, the June 2021 IR engagement determined that the threat actors were inside the compromised network for only 90 minutes before obtaining the ntds.dit AD database. The threat actors also take steps to identify and remove evidence of their presence on a network, such as inspecting server logs for their C2 IP address and deleting files used during their intrusions. Bronze Silhouettes use of other organisations' compromised servers in its C2 proxy network may help obfuscate the source of the intrusion activity and make attribution more challenging. In some intrusions, the C2 communications could blend in with legitimate business network traffic to reduce the likelihood of detection. Bronze Silhouette has consistently focused on operational security, including a minimal intrusion footprint, incorporation of defence evasion techniques, and use of compromised infrastructure in multiple intrusions. This focus suggests a high level of operational maturity and adherence to a blueprint designed to reduce the likelihood of the detection and attribution of its intrusion activity. This attention to operational security, particularly when targeting Western organisations, is consistent with network compromises that CTU researchers have attributed to Chinese threat groups in recent years. 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, public exposures of this type of activity by security vendors, and the consequential likely increased pressure from PRC leadership to avoid public scrutiny of its cyberespionage activity. Bronze Silhouette likely operates on behalf the PRC. The targeting of U.S. government and defense organisations for intelligence gain aligns with PRC requirements, and the tradecraft observed in these engagements overlap with other state-sponsored Chinese threat groups. To mitigate exposure to this threat, CTU researchers recommend that organisations use available controls to review and restrict access using the indicators listed in Table 1. Note that IP addresses can be reallocated. The IP addresses may contain malicious content, so consider the risks before opening them in a browser. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MATTOON Motorists lined up early Thursday evening for a Circle K fuel sale in anticipation of prices at the pump increasing nationwide for the Memorial Day weekend. Circle K announced this week that it planned to hold this Fuel Day sale at participating service stations nationwide, including in Illinois. The service stations offered 40 cents off per gallon of fuel between 4 and 7 p.m., plus a limited number of fuel discount cards for 10 cents off per gallon. At the Mattoon station, the price at the pump was $3.19 per gallon for regular unleaded during the sale. Jeri Huckaba of Mattoon said news about this sale prompted her to bring her vehicle and a gas can for lawnmower fuel to the Mattoon Circle K, 1821 DeWitt Ave. "I might as well fuel it up. That's what I thought," Huckaba said. She added that she keeps watch for low gas prices and fuels up at a Tuscola service station, where prices are typically 30 cents per gallon lower than in Mattoon, whenever she drives through that Douglas County town. The Fuel Day sale took place as many motorists were commuting home at the end of the workday and passing by Circle K, located at the busy intersection of Illinois 121 and U.S. 45. Motorists pulled into the station and formed lines a few vehicles deep at each lane of pumps. Those motorists included Jade Bennett of Mattoon, a regular customer at Circle K. Bennett said she learned about the sale while stopping to get her favorite fountain pop there, so she fueled up her vehicle and called her husband to bring his vehicle. "We are always on the lookout for price drops," Bennett said, adding that her teenage son's commute to Cumberland High School necessitates a lot of fuel usage. Todd Laake of Mattoon said he decided to pay a visit to Circle K after hearing about the Fuel Day sale on the radio. The motorist said he is concerned about fuel prices increasing 30 cents per gallon over Memorial Day weekend. "I was like, 'I might as well go and take advantage of the sale,'" Laake said. "I travel a lot, so if I find gas that is for less, I will go for it." The AAA Auto Club Group reported that Illinois gas prices are still declining as nearly 2 million Illinoisans prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend. According to AAAs holiday travel forecast, more than 1.8 million Illinoisans will take a road trip. AAA reported that Illinois gas prices have declined 15 cents per gallon over the course of the past 30 days and, a regular gallon of gas was $4.98 a year ago. The average price today is $3.93 per gallon. "Its looking like Illinois drivers will spend a dollar per gallon less for gasoline than they did last Memorial Day weekend," said AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart. "However, even if pump prices do suddenly rise this week, its unlikely itd be by a large enough margin that Illinois drivers would change their plans, since most travel plans have already been finalized by now." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ron DeSantis apparently wants to be president. His pitch rests on the "Florida blueprint," the stuff he's done as the state's governor. But the assumption that the American majority wants much of the DeSantis program is shaky. It's not even clear that Floridians do. A Pew poll has 56% of Floridians supporting legal abortion in all or most cases. And that was taken before DeSantis actually made abortion illegal. Polls also show most Floridians are opposed to permitless, concealed carry of weapons. Thanks to DeSantis, angry shoppers mumbling to themselves at Publix can hide weapons of war in their backpacks. One doubts that many residents of Florida lose sleep over drag queens. (I don't think about drag queens for months at a time.) But strictly regulating them is a DeSantis obsession he includes in his blueprint. Of greater concern are his unhinged attacks on business, and of all businesses, his state's biggest private employer and taxpayer, The Walt Disney Co. As for his jihad against Disney, I simply can't explain it. Lynn Schmidt: It's too late to challenge Trump and his control of the party and base It is 2016 all over again, and very few have seemed to learn the lesson when it comes to Donald Trump. He most likely be the 2024 Republican nominee. Then there's his ban on vaccine mandates. He even mocks Donald Trump's Operation Warp Speed program for developing a COVID vaccine, one of the former president's few glories. With the virus largely corralled, there are few mandates anymore. But in the jaws of the pandemic, DeSantis forbade cruise companies operating in his state from requiring proof of COVID shots. Can you imagine the strain on businesses trying to lure older customers to a crowded ship during a potentially deadly pandemic? DeSantis has apparently never held a serious job in the private sector. Now onto Florida politics. Florida has not become a solidly red state as pundits confidently declare. Barack Obama won the state twice, and a Democrat just got elected mayor of Jacksonville, the state's largest city. Joe Biden thinks Florida is up for grabs in 2024, and his political antennae are pretty sensitive. As for DeSantis' commanding victory in 2022, he was running against a ghost candidate and a Democratic Party that couldn't find a pulse. In 2018, he defeated Andrew Gillum, an ethically challenged Democrat who had called for abolishing ICE, the immigration enforcement agency. Even then, he won by less than a point. Densely populated South Florida is not the American South. It teams with migrants from the North who may like Florida's lower taxes and its weather in February. And they may dislike left fringe ideas on gender pronouns and such. I know lots of these people, and one thing they want is access to abortion. And their reasons go beyond wanting a way to end their 16-year-old daughter's unwanted pregnancy. They can afford to do so, even if that means a trip back to New Jersey. But they do understand that abortion bans force mostly poor women into having children they can't afford. Unwanted children living in poverty are more likely to fall into lives of crime and other dysfunction. These voters know that even in a state with a meager social safety net, the bills come to them. QUOTE One doubts that many residents of Florida lose sleep over drag queens. (I don't think about drag queens for months at a time.) Meanwhile, Florida is one of only 11 states that hasn't expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, thanks in part to DeSantis. That's even though the state would never have to bear more than 90% of the cost. And who pays for the unnecessary emergency room care -- for the sore throats or a couple of stitches? Guess who. By the way, Florida has the most expensive emergency room care in the country, averaging $3,102 a visit. If Florida Democrats find an acceptable candidate, they might just recapture the governorship. America probably doesn't want to become DeSantis' Florida. Florida may not like that either. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. North Carolina farmers will have access to nearly $825,000 in funding for planting crops aimed at improving soil health and protecting 25,000 acres of soybean and corn fields from erosion during extreme weather events. The grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be distributed through the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association. The funding will support farmers who plant and maintain cover crops and take other steps to make their fields more resilient in the face of weather conditions tied to climate change. Cover crops, including rye and oats, are used for scavenging unused fertilizer and releasing nutrients back into the soil for the next crop to use, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says in an explanation of the practice. The repurposed crops also prevent soil from washing away in heavy rain events, which are expected to increase in number and intensity as heat-trapping pollution continues to drive up temperatures, causing the atmosphere to absorb more moisture. Robeson County farmer Adrian Locklear who planted soybeans into a crop mix of rye, vetch, radish and rapeseed this year is already sold on the process. The cover crop helps to suppress weeds, improve soil structure and conserve soil moisture ahead of hot summer days, Locklear said. Use of a cover crop improves my soil health and farm profitability. Farmers for Soil Health, created in 2022 by the United Soybean Board, National Pork Board and National Corn Growers Association, will assist North Carolina farmers in incorporating cover crops. A portion of the funding also will be used to create a position through the N.C. State Extension service to support farmers who take part in the program. Farmers will be paid by the acre for existing and new cover crops. The Extension program (also) will develop diverse and dynamic educational content centered around cover crops and other climate smart agricultural practices while providing direct technical assistance to farmers, the Soybean Producers Association said in its announcement of the grant. Agriculture is North Carolinas largest industry. Sales of crops grown on 4.4 million acres of farmland in the state topped $3.4 billion in 2020, according to the Office of State Budget and Management. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Q: I heard there was a fire Sunday at Compare Foods grocery store on Silas Creek Parkway. Is the store open? E.T. Answer: Yes, Compare Foods at 951 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, is open for business. Manny Pena, the store manager, said there was fire about 1 a.m. Sunday behind the store. But the store was not damaged and has been open since Sunday. He said that business has been down about 30 to 40 percent this week. Weve been getting calls from people asking if were open, Pena said. Were open. Q: What is going to happen to the land off of Wendover Avenue in Greensboro where the old Guilford County Animal Shelter was located? S.S. Answer: Its too early to tell what the property will eventually be used for. Currently, the property is being cleaned up, stabilized, and the buildings are being torn down, according to Julie Smith, a spokeswoman for Guilford County. Commissioners voted on Jan. 19, 2023, to declare the property located at 4525 W. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, NC as surplus and direct staff to solicit bids in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to clear the property as soon as possible, she said. The bids were under the budgeted amount, so the clean-up work has begun. The board has not yet voted on the future disposition of the site, so it has not been put up for sale. That would be determined at a future meeting, Smith said. Q: I read in the Journal about the graduation ceremonies from Forsyth Technical Colleges early college and middle college. What is the difference between these two programs? B.Y. Answer: To answer this question, SAM turned to Brent Campbell, a spokesman for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Middle College of Forsyth is for students in the 11th and 12th grades. Middle College is a magnet school for students who want to learn in a college setting and is a joint program of the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools and Forsyth Technical Community College. Students in the program earn a high school diploma while also earning college credits through Forsyth Tech that are transferrable. They do not have to pay tuition or book fees to Forsyth Tech while in the program, according to the Middle College website. The Early College of Forsyth program is also a joint program between the WSFCS and Forsyth Tech. It is for students in the 9th through 12th grades. The students will graduate from high school in four years and also earn an associate degree from Forsyth Tech, according to the programs website. The Early College students have small classes and academic support from the school. Parents will also be involved in the program, to help their child with their progress and activities. Students are accepted into the programs by application. The classes are held at Forsyth Tech Main Campus. Shredding events We have not heard from any groups that are planning to hold a shredding event. If your group is planning a shredding event and you want to be included on the list, you can email the information to asksam@wsjournal.com or mail it to Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., #100, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Walkertown man was injured Wednesday during a robbery at a home in Winston-Salem, authorities said. Winston-Salem police were dispatched at 11:57 p.m. to the 2500 block of Greenwich Road on a reported assault involving weapons, police said. When officers arrived, they found a house party with multiple adults and juveniles. Timothy Everett Green, 21, of Belews Creek Road was suffering from minor head injuries and was treated at the scene by emergency medical technicians, police said. Investigators determined that Montez Jaheim Young, 20, of Rachael Drive in Kernersville and Joshua Lebron Edmonds, 18, of Saratoga Court in Winston-Salem assaulted Green and used a gun to rob Green of his personal property, police said. Officers detained Young and Edmonds as well as Joshua Franklin Shields, 23, of Greenwich Road, a resident and the partys host, police said. Police executed a search warrant at the home and seized three handguns, 1.26 pounds of marijuana, 74 Xanax pills, one Oxycodone pill and $256. Young and Edmonds were charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, police said. Young was charged with additional drug offenses. Shields was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and other drug offenses, police said. Young, Edmonds and Shields were being held Friday in the Forsyth County Jail with Youngs bond set at $75,000, Edmonds bond set at $50,500 and Shields bond set at $51,500, police said. Winston-Salem police are asking for the publics assistance in this case. Anyone with information about this robbery can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The top tier of executive compensation in the Triad is no longer exclusive to banks and manufacturers. Healthcare executives took three of the top-10 spots in the Winston-Salem Journals annual review of the compensation packages paid primarily in the previous year. The 11th annual analysis puts a spotlight on 38 publicly-traded corporations and 15 nonprofit organizations based in the Triad or with major operations here. The healthcare presence comes courtesy of stock- and stock-options awards for corporate chief executives Tim Bertram of ProKidney Corp. (No. 1 at $46.1 million in total compensation) and Adam Schechter of Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (No. 8 at $14.9 million). In Bertrams case, theres a strong likelihood that he would receive just a fraction of the money that ProKidney made him eligible for in 2022 given the medical research group has yet to turn a profit. Meanwhile, compensation for the heads of five large not-for-profit healthcare systems and 10 nonprofit community agencies are based on annual company bondholder documents and their most recent IRS filings, most of which are from 2020 and 2021. Because nonprofit healthcare systems dont have stock to offer top executives, salary and other payouts are the main compensation resources. Those compensation categories lifted Advocate Health co-chief executive Eugene Woods into ninth overall in the analysis at $13.9 million (Advocate is the parent company of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist). Not only that, but Woods topped the list for base salary at $3.7 million nearly 50% higher than Wells Fargos Charlie Scharf at No. 2. Wells Fargo disclosed in January that Scharf requested to the board of directors that his base salary of $2.5 million be unchanged from 2021. The board cited the remaining work left to be completed and therefore, (he) did not believe an increase in compensation level was appropriate this year. Meanwhile, Novant Healths Carl Armato was No. 3 in base salary at $2 million and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptists Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag was No. 4 at just under $1.9 million. How it works Corporations are required by Congress to report in its annual shareholder proxy filings the base salary, bonus/incentive pay, stock and stock-option awards, deferred compensation (typically pensions) and perks of their five highest-paid executives. Stock- and stock-option awards are valued in the annual proxy filings on the day they are awarded by the company. However, they can vary in value with the corporations share price. Although federal regulators require corporations to declare the value annually, executives typically are required to wait a specified amount of time often one to three years to receive those shares or exercise the options. The prevailing theory is that executives will be more inclined to be prudent with shareholder value, potentially taking less risk, if their own compensation is weighted primarily toward share-price performance. As such, paying chief executives $1 million in annual base salary continues to become more outdated for corporate America during 2022 in lieu of more lucrative incentive pay and stock- and stock-option awards. Of the 38 chief executives in the analysis, 21 were paid at least $1 million in base salary. Yet, in most instances, their base salary typically ranked second and often third in their compensation categories behind stock and stock-option award, and incentive pay. There remains an unchanging attitude toward corporate executive compensation even during the pandemic, said Bowman Gray IV, a local independent stockbroker. On balance, there was little to no impact, Gray said. In many cases, pay at the top continued to rise just as it has in the previous years even in the face of weakened balance sheets. Seven other chief executives with Triad ties had $10 million-plus stock and stock-option award compensation. Among them: Wells Fargos Scharf at $16.6 million; Raytheon Technologies Gregory Hayes ($15.7 million); Nucor Corp.s Leon Topalian ($13.6 million); Caterpillars Jim Umpleby ($13.5 million); and VF Corp.s Steven Randle ($10.2 million). In fact, only seven of the 38 corporations provided their chief executives with less than $1 million in stock and stock-option awards. Incentive-based stock awards and grants have become a massively disproportionate component of total executive compensation, said Tony Plath, a retired finance professor at UNC-Charlotte. ProKidney example ProKidney, based in Winston-Salem, is a late clinical-stage cellular therapeutics company focused on chronic kidney disease. It has 80 employees. The Guilford County Board of Commissioners has set a June 1 public hearing on ProKidney's request for $15.3 million in performance-based incentives in return for a proposed $458 million operational facility with 330 new jobs attached. The company also is likely to be offered incentives by Greensboro City Council. The commissioners' notice also cited potential state incentives, which typically signals a company is considering out-of-state options. However, the vast majority of companies tend to commit to a local project often within days or weeks once approved for local and state incentives. ProKidney noted in its proxy filing to investors the stock and stock-option awards amounts represent the accounting costs of these awards, and do not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by the named executive officer. Similar to a recent pattern among corporations, ProKidney said its executive compensation is designed to align senior managements interests with ProKidneys equity owners long-term interests through equity participation and ownership. Justified? The blurring of the lines between corporate and not-for-profit executive compensation has become more pronounced in recent years. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has more than 22,000 employees overall and is the largest employer in Forsyth County at about 14,000. In its fiscal 2022 report on executive compensation, Atrium embraced that reality by saying Woods pay is justified, given the complexity of managing a large hospital system. Atrium Health continues to recruit and retain some of the most respected leaders in the industry, Atrium said in a statement included with the filing. Those leaders have positioned Atrium Health in such a way that, today, we are part of an organization that is larger than both McDonalds and Kraft Heinz, as well as leading local Fortune 500 firms like Duke Energy and Truist, in terms of total annual revenue. Novant, meanwhile, has more than 35,000 employees overall in its four-state network, including about 8,145 in Forsyth County. According to the Novant Board of Trustees, executive compensation must follow very specific checks and balances. It must be considered reasonable and within an acceptable range compared to similar organizations. Critics of large healthcare compensation packages, foremost state Treasurer Dale Folwell, say the systems use their nonprofit status for tax advantages and public relations purposes, while leaders have sought to justify corporate-level wages and benefits for top executives. These nonprofit hospital executives have lost their mission, Folwell said in February. They are supposed to make people better, not make themselves richer. In February, Folwell released the latest in a series of investigative reports into what he unabashedly calls a healthcare cartel that linked the annual compensation of the systems top executives with rank-and-file employees and the quality of patient care. Folwells primary interest in the healthcare systems is his oversight authority of the State Health Plan, which has more than 727,000 participants that include current and retired state employees, teachers and legislators. It is North Carolinas largest purchaser of medical and pharmaceutical services. Folwell says the 144-page report demonstrates a decade of growing wage inequity across nonprofit hospitals. Folwell has opposed major healthcare system mergers affecting North Carolina, whether its Atrium Healths acquisition of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the subsequent merger of Atrium with Advocate Aurora to form Advocate Health or Novants purchase of New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Talking about the states healthcare systems chief executives, Folwell has said they seem to be paid to merge and raise prices. Frontline workers risked their lives to care for patients, but nurse and physician wages have risen far more slowly than executive pay over the past decade. In a trickle-down effect, healthcare executive compensation played a role in the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recently failing to approve about $200,000 to the Forsyth Medical Center Foundation as part of an opioid treatment package. Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt complained that Novant, which would end up receiving the opioid treatment money from the hospitals foundation, spends too much on salaries for top officials and doesnt provide enough money to care for those who cant afford to pay. They are tax exempt for a reason and that, Whisenhunt said, is to provide charitable care. Properly designed If stock awards and options are properly designed, the benefits received by the corporation will exceed the compensation that is offered to the executive, said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University. He cited as an example if an executive increases the value of a company by $100 million over and above what would be expected if the executive had merely reached the benchmark that other companies in the industry have realized. It is not unreasonable that the executive might receive $50 million in deferred compensation since the benefits to the stockholders in terms of additional stock value exceed the costs of giving the stock grant. Where some corporations have misfired, Madjd-Sadjadi said, is when the stock awards are not properly designed. This is why a superior method is to require corporate executives to own at least 1% of the companys common stock, and require them to purchase it with their own money and hold onto it for the entire time they are an executive. Authorities say James Phillip White, 48, of Kernersville, was shot and killed by a deputy after he tried to attack law enforcement officers with a sledgehammer. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. When asked about the Republican demand for stricter work requirements during ongoing negotiations to raise the debt ceiling, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said: I dont think its right that we borrow money from China to pay for somebody that has no dependents, able-bodied, to sit on a couch. Few would disagree, in the abstract, with McCarthys comments. Unfortunately, we dont live in the abstract. McCarthys comments are valid, but not for the individuals one readily assumes. Could it be that part of McCarthys motivation for holding the global economy hostage is to safeguard against those potential deadbeats over 55, who are not covered under existing work age requirements, from gaming the system? The federal budget reflects the nations moral priorities. It was not designed to assuage ones preconceived suppositions. The nuance that McCarthy, et al., apply to, say, gun violence, citing the dearth of mental health services, is not applied to economically vulnerable portions of the population. McCarthy, instead offers a one-dimensional straw person as justification for what can only be deemed as fiscal immorality. McCarthys comments hearken back to the trope popularized by former President Ronald Reagan, the infamous welfare queen. According to Reagan, this person drew a six-figure income based on multiple aliases; she basked in opulence at taxpayer expense. Reagan conveniently omitted the fact that this mythical person lived adjacent to the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot. Who comes to mind when McCarthy references an able-bodied person sitting on the couch? Where is this fictitious individual who dwells in the bowels of luxury, endlessly feeding at the government trough? According to The New York Times, the Republicans proposed spending cuts would eliminate 80,000 students from receiving Pell Grants, remove 200,000 slots from Head Start, evict an estimated 430,000 from Section 8 housing, deny 640,000 families access to rental assistance, and close access for 2 million families to community health centers. Are these the able-bodied McCarthy had in mind? If the aforementioned numbers are accurate, it would certainly spell out the House Republicans moral priorities. The proposed spending cuts do nothing to address McCarthys concern about the able-bodied man on the couch. If such individuals exist, they are more likely to be found at the other end of Americas economic ladder as beneficiaries of tax cuts passed by President Joe Bidens immediate predecessor. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, extending those tax cuts would add $3.5 trillion to the deficit by 2033. When factoring the tax cuts instituted by former President George W. Bush along with those by Bidens immediate predecessor, the wealthiest Americans and corporations account for a 57% increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio since 2001. Could this actually be the immoral rationale motivating House Republicans to play chicken with the global economy? Are they advocating that debt created largely by irresponsible fiscal policies that are increasingly unsustainable must be solely financed at the expense of the most vulnerable segments of society? Tax cuts are most effective when they are used as a short-term stimulus to get a sluggish economy moving; they are not as effective when they are positioned as a sustained economic growth policy. Moreover, it is demand-side cuts, not the supply-side championed by the former presidents, that tend to spur economic growth. House Republican spending cuts merely provide eloquence to the quote offered by Gordon Gekko from the movie Wall Street: Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Is greed good when the choice is to further stimulate the already economically stimulated at the expense of those on societys margin? How many individuals would be ruined economically if tax cuts were repealed versus those who would be hurt should House Republican spending cuts were fully implemented? This is not the false equivalency of both sides but a choice between a moral vision for the nation that emphasizes a budget based on me as opposed to one focused on we. The deficit is an issue and the current levels are unsustainable, but to protect the sacred cows largely responsible for the deficit, while being pernicious to the vulnerable and threatening global economic chaos, seems to be the height of fiscal irresponsibility. George Bernard Shaws words once again bear repeating: Democracy is a device that ensures the people are governed no better than they deserve. Note: I am once again offering my civics course in July. If you are interested email me at the address below. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Eyes open The Golden Rule was proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth during his Sermon on the Mount and described by him as the second great commandment (according to Wikipedia). The common English phrasing is Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It is the definition of Woke. Peter Hairston Winston Salem A silly process It is easy to blame either side of the aisle for the current debt-ceiling crisis in the halls of Congress. We could mark it up to politics, which is what sets governance in motion. Since the early 1980s, we have grown less and less congenial. Yet its harder to see that the system itself is broken and needs mending. The process of approving a budget, then having to go back and vote to raise the debt limit to pay for it is silly. If a budget has already been passed, what is the need to revisit it? That is almost quite literally the definition of the pejorative term Byzantine. There should be a council of budgetary actors instead of a discombobulated political process of budgetary jousting. Now, I am no fool who believes this is an easy fix. But systematic issues like this one will begin to erode our institutions to rubble. Some people hate the word incrementalism and centrism, but these are the ones who believe that total control of government should gravitate to their favored party. This process is being held hostage because of a power struggle. It is extremely annoying to say for the thousandth time, Lets come together and make good decisions. However, it is the only way forward. This is not a Democratic or Republican country, it is a United conglomerate of people with differing views and outlooks. If we want this country to progress, we must set aside our ndividual pride and prejudices. Troy Chavez, M.P.A. Winston-Salem Coopers hypocrisy Regarding your editorial about vouchers for private schools (May 24): I think it is rich that Gov. Cooper declares a North Carolina state of emergency over the legislatures school voucher vote when he himself sent his own kids to private schools. Parents should have a choice of where their own kids go to school and thus should be able to use their own tax dollars to help send their kids to that school. The voucher program serves all families and it is only being expanded to more North Carolina families. John Nelms Advance Governors right Gov. Roy Cooper has sounded the alarm about the threat to public schools in North Carolina. He is calling us to demand that our legislators: 1. Invest in teachers and early childhood education, not tax cuts for the wealthy. 2. Use public money for public schools, not private academies. 3. Keep politicians out of the classroom, textbooks and lesson plans. This alarm reverberates in me and compels me to write this letter. I currently have two granddaughters in public schools in North Carolina. Both of them are being supported and stretched by the curriculum and their teachers. The third grader was recently in a school play in which she sang three solos and had a significant speaking role. The production was excellent, with the third graders responsible for acting, stage management and lighting. What a wonderful way to develop language skills, technical ability and working as a team! The other granddaughter is in the 12th grade. Her interests range from English literature to engineering. She understands the challenges and shortcomings of our society and at the same time is looking forward to playing her part in creating our future. She was offered scholarships by several colleges and chose one that she thought would challenge her. So I am very grateful for the public education that they are receiving and dismayed at the prospect of the educational system being gutted. I fully support the governors call and hope you will too. John De Beer Greensboro Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. On the day after Thanksgiving 1985, Willem de Koonings Woman Ochre was stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art, disappearing from public view for 30 years as its value increased to $160 million, making the theft one of the biggest art heists of the 20th century. In 2017, Woman Ochre turned up, hanging behind a door in a strangely designed house in the tiny desert town of Cliff, New Mexico. Found by a local company that purchased the homeowners estate, Woman Ochre, which was damaged in the heist, was returned to the museum. Since the presumed thieves were dead, case closed. Thats the crime at the center of The Thief Collector, director Allison Ottos sharp, often funny documentary thats the story of the heist and is as much about the mysterious, secretly odd couple who stole the painting than the crime itself They were, this is no spoiler, Jerry and Rita Alter, a pair of international travel-obsessed New York school teachers he taught music, she taught speech pathology who moved to New Mexico when he was forced to retire because of health issues. Their self-constructed house was filled with small sculptures, pottery, masks, spears and textiles gathered on their trips, along with 40-some very odd, very bad abstract paintings done by Jerry. As the auction company examines the estate, including finding the de Kooning, Otto starts to unravel the couples story, starting with their nephew charged with liquidating the estate, who had no clue that his aunt and uncle, who were his role models, might have been art thieves of the highest order. That unraveling of the heist and the couple brings de Kooning biographers amid speculation that the couple might have encountered him in the 1950s, crusty old men at the local combination liquor store and coffee shop, FBI art crime agents who investigated the heist, and friends and family members of the Alters. The final clue thats unearthed: The Cup and The Lip, a book of stories written by Jerry Alter that he told his nephew were all based n his experiences. And those stories point the filmmakers, and law enforcement, to a very dark, if unproven conclusion. The Thief Collection adds some re-enactments to the standard documentary mix, with a pair of actors winking their way through the adventures of Jerry and Rita including the heist that are lifted from the book. That adds some fun to the documentary as well as, in the end, dramatizing how the bohemian couple that everyone thought they knew were far different, much weirder people than they appeared to be. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. OPENING About My Father. Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert DeNiro star in this culture clash comedy that was not screened in time for Ground Zero deadlines. PG-13. (Grand) Kandahar. A CIA operative stuck in hostile territory in Afghanistan has to fight his way to an extraction point in this action picture that was not screened in advance for critics. R (Grand, Edgewood). The Little Mermaid. The somewhat drab The Little Mermaid suffers from the same problem that has plagued "The Lion King," "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast" that the live-action films have prioritized nostalgia and familiarity over compelling visual storytelling. PG. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: C The Machine. Stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer, aka the Machine, returns to Russia, kidnapped along with his estranged father, to atone for something he may or may not have done on the college trip that was the basis for his stand-up success in this film that was not screened in advance for critics. R. (Grand, East Park, SouthPointe). The Thief Collector. This smart, often funny art-heist documentary looks at the mysterious New Mexico couple who stole a multimillion-dollar Willem de Kooning painting from an Arizona museum. Unrated. (Ross) Grade: A- You Hurt My Feelings. Julia Louis-Dreyfus shines as a would-be novelist who has to deal with the complications of every-day life in this modest relationshkip comedy. PG-13. (Grand, Edgewood) Grade: B NOW SHOWING Book Club: The Next Chapter. This sequel that finds the four old friends traveling to and through Italy proves that its possible to make an entertaining, full-length picture with nearly no story. PG-13. (Grand) Grade: B Carmen. "Carmen is a spectacle of a film that reinterprets Georges Bizet's classic 19th-century opera as a dance-filled, tragically romantic, sweeping, visually dazzling border story. R. (Ross) Grade: B+ Evil Dead Rise. The long-dormant horror franchise returns for a fifth installment about a pair of sisters who open a mysterious book that unleashes a host of demons. R. (Grand) Grade: B Fast X. Vin Diesel and company return for a formulaic 10th installment of the popular, car-based action series that may have run out of gas. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: C Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The overstuffed end to the trilogy of Guardian films finds the ragtag "family" rallying to protect the universe is sincere, poignant and kind of cornball. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: B Nefarious. This horror film about a serial killer who claims he's a demon and his psychiatrist doesn't work on any level, from the casting up. R. (Grand) Grade: D The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It's mildly amusing, swift, noisy and unrelentingly paced, which is par for the course considering this is the studio that brought us the Minions. PG. (Grand, East Park) Grade: C Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. B&R Stores, the Lincoln-based supermarket chain, has announced another acquisition. The company said Friday that it has agreed to buy Mason's Market in Minden. Terms of the deal, which is scheduled to be finalized on June 19, were not disclosed. The store has been a fixture in Minden since the 1950s, when it was opened by Tom and Edda Mason. Craig Space assumed ownership of the store in 1984 and his son Riley has operated it since 2011. "I would like to thank the community for shopping with my family for many years and thank the employees for their loyal service," Craig Space said in a news release. "The support we have received has been truly remarkable." B&R Stores President Mark Griffin said the store will continue to operate as Mason's Market, and, "We look forward to working with the current employees of the store," he said. "We are proud to have the opportunity to serve the customers of Minden and endeavor ourselves to uphold the same high standards established by Riley and his family," Griffin said. The purchase is B&R Stores' second in as many months. Last month, the company agreed to buy Joe's Market in Loup City. The acquisitions add to B&R Stores' growing portfolio of small-town grocery stores. The company that owns Russ's Market and Super Saver has bought more than a dozen locations in small towns in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri since 2017. 12 Nebraska shops to check out Suite Child York Boot 'N Repair Platte River Outdoors Marah's Treasures The Most Unlikely Place Fort Cody Trading Post Hollywood Candy Brown Sheep Co. Mill Store Master's Hand Candle Co. North Platte Art And Gift Gallery Park Avenue Antiques The Keeping Room Marshall Custom Hats Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned two men's murder convictions and life sentences for a 2018 home-invasion robbery that left a 36-year-old Lincoln woman dead. The ruling had to do with how Tawhyne Patterson Sr. and Damon Williams Jr.' cases were charged for Jessica Brandon's killing, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that came down after their convictions in a similar case. On July 31, 2018, Patterson Sr., Williams and his younger brother, Dante Williams, kicked in the front door of the home where Brandon and Michael Robertson lived, Patterson and Damon Williams with guns in tow. The brothers went from room to room zip-tying Brandon's children, a friend and the girls' grandmother and taping their mouths shut as Patterson fired off 13 rounds into the stairwell, where Brandon, 36, suffered a fatal gunshot wound. Prosecutors said the men were trying to steal marijuana and money from Robertson but left empty handed. At trial in 2021, they alleged Patterson and Damon Williams had killed Brandon with a firearm during a crime of violence, specifically an attempted robbery under the Hobbs Act, which makes it a federal crime for anyone to impede or affect interstate commerce "in any way or degree" by committing robbery or extortion. The jury found them guilty of murder, two counts of attempted robbery and a firearms conspiracy. (Dante Williams pleaded guilty on the eve of trial for his role in the crime and got 55 years in prison. The court overturned his conviction, too.) But last year, the Supreme Court held in a similar case in federal court in Virginia, United States v. Taylor, that a Hobbs Act robbery or robbery attempt does not qualify as a crime of violence as defined by statute. By then, the Nebraska case was on appeal to the 8th Circuit, after U.S. District Judge John Gerrard sentenced them to life in prison on the murder charge, plus 20 years on the attempted robbery and gun charges. Following the ruling, both sides agreed Patterson's and Williams' convictions and sentences on the murder charge should be vacated in light of the Taylor decision. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods argued the firearms conspiracy should stand. On the other side, defense attorneys Michael Tasset and Korey Reiman argued it should be vacated, too, because the government's case had focused on the attempted Hobbs Act robberies to prove it. In a decision this week, an 8th Circuit panel (Judges Duane Benton, Jane Kelly and Ralph R. Erickson) ultimately sent the case back to district court and directed the judge to dismiss the murder counts and resentence the men on the remaining three counts: two counts of attempted interference with commerce by robbery based on attempted break-ins July 30, 2018, and July 31, 2018, and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime or crime of violence. In a generally concurring opinion, Kelly said she would've vacated the firearms conviction, too. Patterson's and Williams' attorneys are expected to ask for the full panel to review the decision on the gun charge. And the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nebraska didn't respond to a request for comment on the decision and what their next steps may be. Nor did Brandon's mother. As things stand, Patterson, 30, and Damon Williams, 31, would face up to 20 years on each of the three remaining counts at their resentencing, which hasn't yet been set. There is no parole in the federal system. Remembering Lincoln's homicide victims of 2023 1. Julian A. Martinez 2. Rudy Requejo Jr. 3. Ronald Gonzalez Rivas 4. Christopher Karmazin 5. Damien Brave 6. Mark Kruger 2023 Zhongguancun Forum opens in Beijing, highlighting int'l cooperation, openness Xinhua) 09:00, May 26, 2023 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. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. One of the YMCA of Lincoln's longest-serving leaders plans to step down this fall. Barbara Bettin, president and CEO of the organization since 2002, on Thursday announced plans to retire in October. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the YMCA of Lincoln for 39 years (and) as its president & CEO for 21 years, but it is now time for another chapter in my life, Bettin said in a news release. The support that the staff and board of directors have given me to advance the mission and impact of this organization in our community is one of the greatest honors of my life. During her time leading the local YMCA, Bettin oversaw the opening of two new branches built in conjunction with Schoo and Moore middle schools. She also shouldered the tough task of closing the YMCA's downtown branch during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 leaving the area without a YMCA presence for the first time since 1871. Lori Druse, current YMCA board chairwoman, said she was grateful to Bettin for her service and commitment to the organization. She has been a visionary leader for this organization and throughout the YMCA nationally," Druse said in the news release. She is heading up a selection committee that will lead the search for Bettin's successor. The job will officially be advertised Friday and will remain open through June 21. I am grateful to Barb for her commitment to the YMCA, Druse said. "As we look for our next leader, I have complete confidence that our committee will find an experienced and passionate leader, who will successfully set and execute a strategic vision that is responsive to the community we serve. Photos: Downtown YMCA Working out Pumping iron In the pool Golden Warriors Goldfish Pick-up basketball 1.26.2012 Track Joggers To the hoop Racquetball YMCA shut down Tim Houlihan Pain relief Outdoor Bob Hotel Capital-YMCA building YMCA shut down YMCA shut down Downtown YMCA Georgian Place Rokeby Kids Rokeby kids If the US is not able to pay all its bills for the first time ever, senior citizens could quickly feel the pain. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In a split decision Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed Dawes County Sheriff Karl Dailey's conviction for official misconduct for his failure to house a man arrested at his jail over an apparent turf war with the Nebraska State Patrol. The case involves the arrest of Jesse Sierra, a South Dakota man who had been arrested on sexual assault and kidnapping allegations for which he's now serving a life sentence. On July 21, 2019, multiple law enforcement officers started searching for him after his girlfriend showed up at a hospital in Chadron saying he had assaulted her at a motel in Crawford. The Chadron Police Department reached out to the State Patrol and Dawes County Sheriff's Office, but didn't directly contact Dailey. When he learned of the search, he called a State Patrol commander to convey that he "was unhappy (with) how things were unfolding." "According to the commander, Dailey believed that the NSP should have checked with him to make sure it was okay . . . to be assisting the (CPD) in Crawford, Justice Jeffrey Funke wrote for the majority. At the motel in Crawford, Dailey told State Patrol troopers they could expect zero cooperation from me and my people in the future, and that, if he could arrange it, "you wont be booking prisoners in my jail anymore; you can take them all the way to Scotts Bluff from now on." In the meantime, a Chadron Police officer found Sierra with a small bruise on his face and limping. He said he'd been run over, so they took him to the hospital in Chadron where he was examined but not admitted. At trial on the misdemeanor, Dailey admitted he was "abusive" toward NSP officers because he was upset. But he said he wouldn't take Sierra because of his high-risk status and the fact that he was injured. The Box Butte County jail and Sheridan County jail also declined to take him. So the State Patrol had to take him 100 miles away to the jail in Scotts Bluff County. After, Dailey was charged with official misconduct for refusing to receive Sierra at the jail. At a bench trial, the judge found him guilty and fined him $750. Dailey appealed to the district court, which found "that Dailey was 'upset' that he was not personally involved in the search for Sierra and 'decided to flex his authority.'" He appealed again to the Supreme Court, which on Friday affirmed his conviction, rejecting Dailey's arguments that as jailer he had authority to decline to take Sierra because he'd been arrested without a warrant or other court order and "by law" sheriffs have discretion to determine who is admitted to jail. "We disagree," Funke wrote. Chief Justice Mike Heavican said, while he agreed with much of the majority's opinion, he wouldn't have affirmed Dailey's conviction because the state hadn't shown that he failed to comply with his obligations as jailer. He said the evidence is uncontroverted that the Nebraska State Patrol did not present Sierra at the Dawes County jail. Nor was evidence presented that Dawes County jail staff declined to take him after he was medically cleared. "Instead, (the State Trooper) concluded, largely based upon Daileys prior statements, that 'Dawes County was not going to take (Sierra),'" Heavican wrote. Douglas County District Judge Kimberly Miller Pankonin, who sat with the Supreme Court on the case, joined him in his dissent. Biggest tornadoes in Nebraska of the past decade Biggest tornadoes in Nebraska of the past decade #15. Apr. 14, 2012 #14. Jun. 12, 2017 #13. May. 26, 2021 #12. May. 27, 2013 #11. Jun. 16, 2014 #10. Jun. 25, 2015 #9. Aug. 19, 2017 #8. Oct. 4, 2013 #7. Mar. 18, 2012 #6. May. 17, 2019 #5. Jun. 17, 2014 #4. May. 11, 2014 #3. May. 11, 2014 #2. Jun. 16, 2014 #1. Oct. 4, 2013 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. Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Nebraska lawmakers handed Gov. Jim Pillen a big win Thursday by passing a trio of bills cutting taxes and boosting state school aid. The bills together are projected to cut or offset more than $6 billion worth of property taxes and income taxes over the next six years, changes that supporters said would make Nebraska more competitive but skeptics said could prove unsustainable. Pillen called the package "transformative" and state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, the Revenue Committee chairwoman, said the bills represent "a huge win for all of Nebraska." "The passage of this package is an historic measure of tax relief and education funding reform," said Sen. Tom Briese of Albion. "It puts more dollars back into the hands of everyday Nebraskans. By doing so, it will generate economic activity and help grow our state." But Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington said the income tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Nebraskans rather than those with more modest incomes. She noted that Pillen had just issued budget vetoes on Wednesday on several programs serving children and low-income Nebraskans. "It doesn't seem fair to working Nebraskans," she said. Rebecca Firestone, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, warned that the tax cuts could make it harder to maintain the increase in funding for schools during economic downturns. She said the money "that the governor and Legislature committed to tax cuts thrusts instability into the states fiscal outlook at a time when we are enjoying a budget surplus." The three measures are: LB683, introduced by Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue and passed 44-0. It would increase state support for schools by about $305 million annually with the goal of driving down property taxes. That's a nearly 25% increase over the $1.3 billion in state support for schools estimated for the upcoming school year. The measure would nearly double the amount of state aid for special education and guarantee $1,500 of state support for every public school student. The bill would benefit all 244 Nebraska school districts. But the biggest property tax impact would be felt by the 160 districts that do not qualify for equalization aid under the current funding formula. Those tend to be rural districts with lower property tax levies. Money for the increase would come from a new Education Future Fund. The state budget will put $1.25 billion into the fund during the two fiscal years ending June 30, 2025. Plans call for adding $250 million to the fund in each of the following years, for a total cost of $2.25 billion over six years. LB243, introduced by Briese and passed 44-0, would increase Nebraskas two property tax credit programs, cap school property tax growth and eliminate almost all community college property taxes. All told, the changes would cost $1.76 billion over six years. The bill would ratchet up a long-standing property tax credit program, which uses state money to offset a portion of property owners bills. LB243 would increase the program from $313 million this year to more than $550 million by 2029, after which it would grow by the same percentage as the assessed valuation of property statewide. LB243 also would remove a 5% growth cap on the state's other property tax credit program, which provides income tax credits to offset a portion of school property taxes paid. The change would allow the program to grow at the same rate as the assessed valuation of property statewide, even if that rate exceeds 5%. An additional $75 million would be added to the program for 2029. The bill would limit the growth of school revenues to 3%, with some exceptions, with the goal of forcing schools to reduce property taxes when they get additional state aid. Districts could override the cap through a 70% vote of the school board or a 60% vote by the public. Finally, LB243 would end community colleges ability to levy property taxes, except for building needs, starting in 2024. The bill would replace those tax revenues with state aid. State aid to the colleges would increase by 3.5% annually, with additional money available based on enrollment growth. Community colleges could levy property taxes to fill the gap if the state does not meet its funding obligations. LB754, introduced by Linehan and passed 39-2, would cut the states top individual and corporate income tax rates by nearly one-third and make other income tax changes worth about $3.3 billion over six years. The measure would gradually reduce the top rate for individual and corporate income taxes to 3.99% by 2027, bringing down the rate paid by taxpayers in the top two individual tax brackets and both corporate brackets. The top individual rate is 6.64% this year, and the top corporate rate is 7.25%. Both had been slated to drop to 5.84% by 2027 under a law passed last year. At least half of Nebraska income tax filers could save money with the 3.99% tax rate, but the new top rate offers little for Nebraskans in the middle- to lower-income tax brackets. LB754 also would speed up full exemption of Social Security benefits and exempt benefits paid by the Federal Employees Retirement System or the Civil Service Retirement System. In addition, the bill would provide up to $15 million a year of tax credits for parents with children in child care enough to help 15,000 children at most. It also would offer $2.5 million a year in credits for people who donate to child care programs and another $7.5 million in credits for child care programs and child care workers. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Thursday recommended restoring not quite half of the $119 million that Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed out of the state budget bills. Committee members voted in favor of overriding the governor on three vetoed items but rejected proposed override motions for five others, including one that would have provided larger raises for legislative employees in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The recommended overrides included $15.2 million in increased Medicaid payment rates for hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other health care providers during the second year of the upcoming budget period. 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. The committee also voted to restore $40 million to two programs that work to build housing for rural workers and middle-income families. The final recommendation would restore $1.1 million allocated so State Auditor Mike Foley could hire two additional staff and provide salary increases. Pillen vetoed those and other items out of the state budget bills Wednesday. In a message to the Legislature, he said the state needed to "fight against excessive governmental spending" in order to provide tax cuts for Nebraskans. "I am writing to you to stand up to the special interests who stand to gain from growing government spending and deliver the money back to hard-working Nebraskans!" he wrote. With or without the governors budget vetoes, and with passage of all bills at the second and third stages of consideration, the state is projected to remain in the black through June 30, 2025, the end of the two-year budget period. However, with or without the vetoes, projections suggest that it would slip into the red during the following two-year period. Some members of the Appropriations Committee urged their colleagues to respect the governor's vetoes. Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk said he was looking at working with Pillen over the long-term and didn't want to cross him now. He argued that maintaining a continuing relationship was vital and that overriding a veto would be "a slap in the face." Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha said she was concerned that it would be damaging to put the governor "in a corner." But she also expressed concern about the provider rate vetoes and said she had differences with Pillen about the health care industry. Others argued that the Legislature has the responsibility to craft the budget and consider the needs of the state. Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha argued that it would not be giving Pillen enough credit to believe he would take a veto override as a slap in the face. He said overrides are part of the process. Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams said respect goes both ways. "There's a responsibility for our committee to look at everything and not rubber-stamp what the governor wants," Dorn said. Committee members voted against proposals to restore funding for expanding home visitation for young families, increasing funding for court interpreters and public guardians, and funding a full-time sign language interpreter for the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They also rejected a proposal to fund the second year of enhanced pay raises for legislative staff, opting to follow the governor's advice to use built-up savings for that year. In other budget cuts on Wednesday, Pillen 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. The full Legislature is expected to consider the Appropriations Committee's override motions and other override attempts on Wednesday. Photos: The business of governing in Nebraska in 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. From 2011 to 2021, Nebraskas prison population grew by 21% and created the nations most overcrowded corrections system. During the same time period, national prison numbers fell by 24%. The latter is an indicator that, first, the country didnt experience a prison-filling crime wave in the last decade and, second, justice reinvestment reforms, implemented by 40 states, work. The Legislature and then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, however, refused to examine the states get-tough-on-crime policies that have overfilled Nebraskas prisons. Rather, they consistently rejected reform efforts, including last year, when then-Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln led the effort to scuttle a reform package from the recommendations of a study committee, most of which were policies that have been successfully implemented in other states. Until Monday, it appeared that the 2023 Legislature might not address criminal justice reform and prison overcrowding at all. Then Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, brought an amendment to a criminal justice bill that included a package of reforms, along with measures aimed at reducing the number of people who jam out" of the system, completing their sentences without necessary programming. That plan grew out of talks Wayne held with prosecutors and others who have opposed past justice reforms. And he credited Gov. Jim Pillen, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, a former Lancaster County Attorney and Attorney General Mike Hilgers for convening the group an indication that the package would be widely supported. That, however, wasnt the case as senators, several from the Judiciary Committee, raised concerns about the measures, echoing criticisms from the county attorneys association, which has opposed other reform efforts. Sen. Carolyn Bosn argued that it would allow some habitual criminals to end up with reduced sentences and would let some incarcerated persons be granted parole earlier. Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, an experienced public defender and trial attorney, rebutted the first concern, noting that the measure wouldnt reduce sentences for habitual criminals but would adjust options for judges in sentencing repeat offenders. And other senators dealt with Bosns second objection by noting that because incarcerated persons become eligible for parole doesnt mean they get it. The Legislature reluctantly advanced the bill to the second round of consideration Monday, But with senators demanding negotiation on its provisions, it appears that, to quote Yogi Berra, there could be deja vu all over again for criminal justice reform. There is nothing in Waynes proposal that is soft on crime nor any measure that would endanger public safety. Rather the provisions, like making geriatric parole available for most inmates aged 75 and up, expanding the use of problem solving courts and creating a pilot program for a halfway back house for parolees who commit technical violations, immediately begin to impact prison overcrowding. And, the formation of a task force to look at modernizing and reforming the states sentencing laws needs to happen as quickly as possible in order for its suggested reforms to be approved next year. Otherwise, the Nebraska prison population will continue to grow faster than any other state and the states corrections crisis, which cant be solved by building more and bigger parsons, will continue for years to come. Antonio Wilder-Lackey Jr., 300 block of North Memorial Drive, Racine, burglary (commit battery on a person), substantial battery (domestic abuse assessments), criminal damage to property (domestic abuse assessments), felony bail jumping (domestic abuse assessments), robbery with use of force (domestic abuse assessments), pointing a firearm at another (domestic abuse assessments), stalking resulting in bodily harm (domestic abuse assessments), attempting to flee or elude an officer, criminal trespass, obstructing an officer. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. RACINE Excitement filled the air Tuesday morning as elementary schoolers planted hundreds of flowers. They put on gloves, grabbed trowels and went to work. Students at Fratt Elementary, 3501 Kinzie Ave., helped create a pollinator patch in the schoolyard as a way to increase the areas biodiversity and receive hands-on learning. On Monday and Tuesday, students from all grades at Fratt planted about 500 flowers, one tree, several shrubs and grasses. The project was months in the making. Students prepared the ground for the pollinator patch earlier this year with cardboard and wood chips. For many students, it was their first time planting, and most seemed eager to dig in. Several exclaimed with delight, or fear, when they encountered a worm or grub. One student introduced her classmates to a worm she named Charles. Fourth grade student Jayceon Sims also happily displayed a worm. A few minutes later, Sims said, This is hard work, but kept digging. Dantri Woods, Fratt science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics specialist, said it was nice to provide students with a hands-on learning experience. We thought this would be a really great opportunity for kids to take their learning outside of the classroom and into the pollinator patch, Woods said. The pollinator patch has an oak tree in the middle that is surrounded by perennials. The tree is about 10 feet tall but is expected to grow to a height of about 50 feet. According to Woods and Kristi Heuser of the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, planting hundreds of flowers with deep roots will help filter groundwater and increase the areas biodiversity, thus attracting creatures like bees, butterflies, beetles, bats and hummingbirds for years to come. The plants came from Johnsons Nursery, and Heuser said grant funding for the project was provided by the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. Heuser, who worked with students Monday and Tuesday, said all the plants are native to Wisconsin except for some grasses that will help the pollinator patch deal with weeds. Woods enjoyed seeing students embrace the project. Seeing their appreciation for what were doing here is definitely whats been most rewarding, Woods said. After preparing the ground and placing the plants, students will be able to see the results of their work for years to come. Seven photos of Fratt students planting a pollinator patch Students prepare to plant Students planting with teacher Jaylen and Jayceon Kristi Heuser Dantri Woods Jayceon with worm Jaylen and Jayceon 2 Photo: The Canadian Press New modelling shows British Columbia is the most severely affected province for COVID infections, health care system impact and death in the country. According to the hazard index published by COVID-19 Resources Canada, a grassroots initiative with the objective of facilitating Canadas response to the pandemic, B.C. has had the highest score across the country for more than a month. The index is calculated from current infections and spread, health care system impact and mortality. Tara Moriarty, an infectious-disease researcher and co-founder of the group, said the high score in B.C. is driven by a combination of first-time infections and the effectiveness of COVID vaccines starting to wane. She added people who were infected early in the Omicron wave have begun to lose antibodies providing protection. Until the end of 2022, B.C. had not had as many first-time infections as other provinces, she noted. Were guessing that as the protective effects of vaccines of the new doses that people had in the fall campaign are starting to wear off that B.C. is starting to catch up in the number of first-time infections. The modellings hazard index scores are grouped into six ranges, from low to severe. According to Dr. Moriarty, who is also an associate professor at University of Toronto, they rank as severe when they expect there will be more than 8 per cent excess mortality in the province from infections on that date. B.C.s hazed index score, between May 20 and 26, is 13. Its at least two times higher than then we would expect over the course of an entire year. British Columbia is followed by Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan, which are all marked severe. Dr. Moriarty said PEI has a surge of infections around April 9. The provinces infections and hospitalizations are now moderate but the deaths are severe. She suspects that in Saskatchewan, some of the people who are infected in the first period of Omicron are losing the infection-induced protection and are able to get reinfected at this point. She said based on data from the UK Health Security Agency, new variants such as BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5 appear to be more able to infect people sooner after vaccination She said these numbers fluctuate. But generally, were still in a situation where we may not be seeing enormous peaks the way we did back in January and March of 2022. But we are still living in a very high endemic period, where there are times when the situation is quite serious, and there are still a lot of people who are dying from COVID, being hospitalized with COVID. Health policy researcher Andrew Longhurst said hes astonished that officials are acting like there is nothing to be concerned about. He called the removal of masks in health care and long-term care settings a massive mistake. He added that reporting from some jurisdictions such as Britain show hospital-acquired COVID-19 is significant. He said governments across the country need to start looking at setting indoor air quality standards. Belgium has done so, he noted. Both experts addressed the importance of governments and health authorities being transparent about COVID data. I think that the practice of, for example, not really communicating with the public, or saying that the situation is stable, but without telling people what is actually happening, is pretty problematic, Dr. Moriarty said. People assume that things are okay. And they make decisions accordingly. And thats how people end up in hospital and dying. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry said in a statement that her team continues to closely monitor the number of lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, severe illness and hospitalizations because of COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as complete whole genome sequencing on all positive COVID-19 PCR tests and viruses detected through waste water surveillance. All indicators stated above have been declining in recent weeks, reads the statement. As of Thursday, 162 people are in hospital with COVID-19 and 16 are in intensive care. This is the lowest number of people weve had in hospital with a positive COVID-19 test in over a year. We are in a much better position now, compared to earlier in the pandemic, Dr. Henry said. She said thanks to the high level of population immunity, the virus is no longer causing severe disease in most people, and this is why the public can now move forward with confidence and remove some of the COVID-19 measures that were in place. Dr. Henry said with regards to the Moriarty lab COVID-19 forecast, neither the Ministry of Health nor the BC Centre for Disease Control were involved in the preparation of the forecast, so it is unclear what metrics or what methodology they used to develop their reporting. Dr. Moriarty said her group has been using data from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Dr. Henry said there will still be some situations where masks will be required in health care settings, or situations where they have always been required to protect high-risk patients against respiratory transmitted infections and protect workers against high-risk exposure to infectious diseases. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Government leaders of the influential Group of Seven (G7) 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 which 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 Zelensky 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 G7 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 (OPEC). Other members are Canada, Italy and Japan, with the European Union (EU) also engaged. Emphasis on non-military 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 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 Photo: The Canadian Press 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. 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. The convictions were a major blow for the Oath Keepers, which Rhodes founded in 2009 and grew into one of the largest far-right anti-government militia groups. Recruiting past and present members of the military and police officers, the group promotes the belief that the federal government is out to strip citizens of their civil liberties and paints its followers as defenders against tyranny. 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. 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. In conference call days later, Rhodes urged his followers to let Trump know they were willing to die for the country. One Oath Keeper who was listening was so alarmed that he began recording the call and contacted the FBI, telling jurors it sounded like we were going to war against the United States government. Another man testified that after the riot, Rhodes tried to persuade him to pass along a message to Trump that urged the president not to give up his fight to hold onto power. The intermediary who told jurors he had an indirect way to reach the president recorded his meeting with Rhodes and went to the FBI instead of giving the message to Trump. Rhodes told the man during that meeting that the Oath Keepers should have brought rifles on Jan. 6. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KEARNEY A Kearney man has pleaded guilty to incest of a minor. On Wednesday, an 18-year-old Kearney man pleaded guilty in Buffalo County District Court to felony incest of a person under 18 years of age. The alleged incident happened between June 1, 2022 and Feb. 6, 2023. The arrest affidavit in the case has been sealed. The mans name is being withheld by the Hub in an effort to protect the identity of the alleged victim. Sentencing is scheduled for July 28. Pending sentencing, the man will be held in Buffalo County Jail. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KEARNEY A Kearney man will serve up to five years in prison for drug charges. On March 28, Austin Harris, 38, pleaded no contest in Buffalo County District Court to felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, and felony possession of psilocybin with intent to distribute. In exchange for his plea, Buffalo County Deputy Attorney Kari Fisk dropped charges of felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; felony possession of concentrated cannabis with intent to distribute; felony possession of a controlled substance, buprenorphine hydrochloride; felony possession of a controlled substance, tramadol hydrochloride; felony possession of a controlled substance, acetaminophen/oxycodone hydrochloride; and possession of drug paraphernalia. A no contest plea is neither an admission nor denial of guilt, but the plea is treated the same as a guilty plea. On Tuesday, Buffalo County District Judge Ryan Carson sentenced Harris to two to five years in state prison for each drug charge, and the two sentences will be served concurrently. Harris was given 126 days credit for time already served. On July 22, a Kearney Police Department officer was monitoring traffic near the 2800 block of Avenue A when he clocked a car speeding in a 25 mph zone. The officer stopped the car, contacted the driver and identified him as Harris. Police said Harris allegedly failed to exit his car and sit in the cruiser after being asked twice. Harris eventually sat in the front seat of the cruiser, where records say his story was inconsistent, and the officer became suspicious of criminal activity. A KPD K9 unit was called to the scene, and the dog indicated drugs on the vehicle. During a search, records say police located unused baggies, 18 grams (.6 ounce) of suspected marijuana, 33 grams (1.16 ounces) of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 26 grams (.9 ounce) of an unidentified substance, 51 grams (1.79 ounces) of suspected meth as well as numerous pills in baggies. Police also found $1,491 in cash in Harris wallet in denominations of $100, $20, $10 and $5 bills. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KEARNEY A Kearney woman will serve up to 10 years in prison for a drug charge. On March 29, Minnie Donner, 46, pleaded no contest in Buffalo County District Court to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, 10-28 grams of methamphetamine, a felony. As part of the plea bargain, Buffalo County Deputy Attorney Kari Fisk amended the charge from felony aiding and abetting possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, meth, more than 140 grams. Fisk also dropped a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, meth, as part of the plea bargain. A no contest plea is neither an admission nor denial of guilt, but the plea is treated the same as a guilty plea. On May 19, Buffalo County District Judge John Marsh sentenced Donner to three to 10 years in state prison with 254 days credit for time already served. The arrest affidavit and a Nebraska State Patrol police report outline the case: Around 10 p.m. Sept. 6, 2022, the Kearney Police Department notified the Nebraska State Patrol to be on the lookout on Interstate 80 for a black Buffalo County-licensed Chevrolet Impala believed to be headed to Kearney with a large amount of suspected meth. An NSP police report said the driver was believed to be Randall Lizer Jr., 49, of Kearney. A second vehicle, a silver Ford Edge, was believed to be traveling with Lizer and driven by Michael Dodrill, 38, of Elm Creek. Around 5 a.m. Sept. 7, 2022, a trooper saw the Chevrolet and Ford exit I-80 at the Elm Creek interchange and head north on U.S. Highway 183. A trooper attempted a traffic stop on the Chevrolet. The car came to a brief stop, then fled north at a high rate of speed, according to the arrest affidavit. Dodrill stopped his vehicle and stayed at the scene. A trooper initiated a pursuit with the Chevrolet while another trooper ahead of the pursuit successfully deployed stop sticks, deflating the Chevrolets drivers side rear tire. The car continued north at 95 mph, although it progressively began to lose tire tread. The car continued north on Highway 183 for about eight miles before slowing to turn west onto 145th Road, the police report said. A trooper then performed a tactical maneuver with his vehicle to bring the Chevrolet to a stop. Lizer attempted to flee on foot and refused repeated commands to stop. Another trooper deployed a taser and took him into custody. Troopers searched the Chevrolet and found and seized roughly eight pounds of meth as well as drug paraphernalia, according to the arrest affidavit. KPD estimated the meth is valued at $100,000. When troopers contacted Dodrill in his vehicle, they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. Dodrill, along with his passengers, Hallie Deleon, 23, of Elm Creek and Donner, were all arrested. During a search of the Ford, troopers located two 9 mm handguns, three 9 mm magazines, a small amount of marijuana, a marijuana pipe and a vial of suspected THC. Troopers also located multiple pieces of paraphernalia and vials, unused plastic bags, a digital scale and a colored dabber with meth, according to the arrest affidavit. At the jail, corrections officers located 27.5 grams (less than one ounce) of suspected meth in Deleons panties, according to the arrest affidavit. Deleon is scheduled to give her final pleas in Buffalo County District Court on July 6. She is facing charges of felony aiding and abetting possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, meth, more than 140 grams; felony distribution of a controlled substance, meth, 10-28 grams; two felony counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony; and two misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon, first offense. Dodrill is also scheduled to give his final pleas in Buffalo County District Court on July 6. He is facing charges of felony aiding and abetting possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, meth, more than 140 grams; two felony counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony; and two misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon, first offense. Lizer has a warrant out for his arrest. After being released on bail, he failed to appear in court. The warrant was issued on Dec. 1, 2022. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Health inequities for Black Americans have their roots in a long history of medical racism. Here's a small sample of that history related to every phase of life: Birth: Gynecology James Marion Sims, a 19th century Alabama surgeon heralded as the father of modern gynecology, pioneered a treatment for vesicovaginal fistulas, a condition that affects bladder control and fertility in women. Between 1845 and 1849, Sims carried out the once-experimental surgical treatment on a dozen enslaved women without the use of anesthesia. He has been both defended as a product of his era and panned as unethical and inhumane. Sims' belief that Black people could endure more pain than white people is considered a form of racism and still present in the field of medicine. From medical school students of various racial and ethnic backgrounds to primary care providers of small and large practices, this bias has adversely impacted the health outcomes of Black Americans. It's also a source of Black American skepticism of modern medicine. Childhood: Behavioral treatment Behavioral challenges in Black children, throughout history and typically in educational settings, have been met with inequitable, inhumane and even extreme treatment. Systemic racism in behavioral counseling and psychotherapy for school-age children has meant lifelong adverse consequences for generations of Black children from the funneling of Black students with learning disabilities into special education tracks that lack resources and overreliance on suspension and expulsion to institutionalization and experimental brain operations. Dr. Orlando J. Andy's work at the University of Mississippi Medical School in the 1960s is one example. The neurosurgeon testified that he performed 30 to 40 lobotomies and other brain operations on Black children and other people with behavioral problems who had been institutionalized. Although Andy said his operations were a last resort for patients who lived with uncontrolled destructive hyperactivity, the procedure was performed on institutionalized Black boys as young as 6. Some patients lived the rest of their lives with deteriorated intellectual capacity. Teen years: Adultification Black children and teens are often perceived as much older than they are. Because of this bias known as "adultification," they get viewed as less innocent and less deserving of empathy resulting in harsher, disparate treatment in health care and other systems. The attitudes date back to slavery, when Black children as young as 2 were made to work and punished for developmentally appropriate child behavior, according to scholars Michael J. Dumas and Joseph Derrick Nelson. Research shows these attitudes still drive disparities in outcomes for Black children and teens. A Yale study found Black children are 1.8 times more likely to be physically restrained in a hospital emergency room than white kids, a gap that may be driven by hospital staff's view of Black children. Georgetown researchers have found that adultification of Black girls is linked to them being treated more harshly in school. Adulthood: Studying Black bodies University of Cincinnati researchers led an experiment from 1960 to 1972 that exposed about 90 poor, mostly Black, terminal cancer patients to extreme levels of radiation without their consent. The Department of Defense funded it as part of Cold War radiation experiments, according to Associated Press stories. Dr. Eugene Saenger, one of the chief researchers, said the study was meant to find experimental treatments for patients with inoperable cancer to see if he could stop the growth of tumors. But the patients and their families said they were not fully informed of the risks or asked to sign consent forms. They also weren't told of the Defense Department's involvement or that the results would be used to learn what might happen to troops exposed to radiation. A federal court ruling noted the patients were told they were receiving radiation for their cancer. The families' attorneys said many of the patients died after the radiation or experienced shortened life expectancies. A judge approved a $5.4 million settlement for the families. Death: Stealing Black bodies Even in death, Black Americans haven't escaped racist acts denying them the dignity their final resting places should have afforded them. Graveyard diggers were often hired to exhume and remove the bodies of Black people for the sake of medical research and studies, unbeknownst to family members. Harriet Washington, author of the book "Medical Apartheid," noted that Black graveyards were regularly targeted including by Dr. John D. Goodman, who in 1829 wrote that he paid the manager of a public graveyard "for the privilege of 'emptying the pits' of about 50 to 85 cadavers a month during each 'dissection season.'" Bodies were typically exhumed during the cooler months to align with the academic year. Washington wrote that historian Todd Savitt said Black people were well aware of the grave robbery that occurred, as evidenced by one elderly, enslaved Virginia woman who once said: "Please God, I hope when I die, it'll be the summertime." Photo: The Canadian Press The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration stripped one of the nation's largest drug distributors of its license to sell highly addictive painkillers Friday after determining it failed to flag thousands of suspicious orders at the height of the opioid crisis. The action against Morris & Dickson Co. that threatens to put it out of business came two days after an Associated Press investigation found the DEA allowed the company to keep shipping drugs for nearly four years after a judge recommended the harshest penalty for its cavalier disregard of rules aimed at preventing opioid abuse. The DEA acknowledged that the time it took to issue its final decision was longer than typical for the agency but blamed Morris & Dickson in part for holding up the process by seeking delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its lengthy pursuit of a settlement that the agency said it had considered. The order becomes effective in 90 days, allowing more time to negotiate a settlement. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in the 68-page order that Morris & Dickson failed to accept full responsibility for its past actions, which included shipping 12,000 unusually large orders of opioids to pharmacies and hospitals between 2014 and 2018. During this time, the company filed just three suspicious order reports with the DEA. Milgram specifically cited testimony of then-president Paul Dickson Sr. in 2019 that the companys compliance program was dang good and he didnt think a single person has gotten hurt by (their) drugs. Those statements from the president of a family-owned and operated company so strongly miss the point of the requirements of a DEA registrant, she wrote. Its acceptance of responsibility did not prove that it or its principals understand the full extent of their wrongdoing ... and the potential harm it caused." Shreveport, Louisiana-based Morris & Dickson traces its roots to 1840, when its namesake founder arrived from Wales and placed an ad in a local newspaper selling medicines. It has since become the nation's fourth-largest wholesale drug distributor, with $4 billion a year in revenue and nearly 600 employees serving pharmacies and hospitals in 29 states. In a statement, the company said it has invested millions of dollars over the past few years to revamp its compliance systems and appeared to hold out hope for a settlement. Morris & Dickson is grateful to the DEA administrator for delaying the effective date of the order to allow time to settle these old issues, it said. We remain confident we can achieve an outcome that safeguards the supply chain for all of our healthcare partners and the communities they serve. Morris & Dicksons much larger competitors, a trio of pharmaceutical distributors known as the Big Three, have already agreed to pay the federal government more than $1 billion in fines and penalties to settle 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. While Morris & Dickson wasnt the only drug distributor who the DEA accused of fueling the opioid crisis, it was unique in its willingness to challenge those accusations in the DEAs administrative court. In a scathing recommendation in 2019, Administrative Law Judge Charles W. Dorman said Morris & Dicksons argument that it has changed its ways was too little, too late. Anything less than the most severe punishment, the judge 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. But as the ensuing years passed, neither the Biden-nominated Milgram nor her two predecessors took any enforcement action. Past DEA officials told the AP such decisions usually take no more than two years. As the pills kept flowing, Morris & Dickson attempted to stave off punishment, appealing directly to Milgram to order a reopening of the proceedings, arguing it would introduce new evidence showing it had implemented an ideal compliance program with the help of a consultant who is now second-in-command at the DEA, Louis Milione. The DEA said that Milione has recused himself from all agency business related to Morris & Dickson. Milione retired from the DEA in 2017 after a 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 went to work as a consultant for some of the same companies he had been tasked with regulating. Milione was hired by Morris & Dickson in 2018 as part of a $3 million contract and later testified that the company spared no expense to overhaul its compliance systems, cancel suspicious orders and send daily emails to the DEA spelling out its actions. A footnote of the DEAs order Friday said that since Milione returned to the DEA as principal deputy administrator in 2021, he has not had any contact with Milgram or other agency staff about the Morris & Dickson case due to his prior involvement with the company. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KEARNEY Ray Lampman, a U.S. Army veteran, will quietly mark Memorial Day on Monday. His military story isnt as dramatic as those of the soldiers who stormed beaches at Normandy, tramped through jungles in Vietnam or fired at the elusive enemy in Fallujah, but it is no less dedicated. When he was drafted in 1953 during the Korean Conflict, he expected to be sent overseas shortly after he completed basic training at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas. They ended that Korean Conflict right after I got out of basic training, he said. I was glad. He remained stateside during his two years of military service and trained at numerous places, from Camp Polk (now Fort Polk) in Louisiana to bases in Wisconsin and Kansas. Lampman started in the infantry, moved to artillery training and then did anti-aircraft training. I was trained in everything, he said. He spent the last six months of his military service in Chicago. We checked every airplane coming in or going out, including commercial flights. We were protecting the city. I was in the office that helped to do that, he said. The U.S. Army had nine gun sites circling the city. Groups of soldiers were stationed at these sites, along with the artillery they would need to shoot down enemy airplanes. Those soldiers lived in tents. I lived in a hotel, he said. No enemy aircraft was ever sighted. In fact, Lampman was never quite sure how that word "enemy" was defined, or what planes the government was concerned about, but he did his job and was honorably discharged after two years. He had earned the rank of private first class. One hot afternoon A native of Anoka, Lampman grew up on a farm, the youngest of five children. When he was just a year and a half old, his mother died shortly after giving birth to her sixth child. The infant died, too. His father farmed and successfully raised five children alone. Lampman returned to the family farm when he was honorably discharged, but the first year he was back, there was no rain and the crops were a complete loss, so he moved to ONeill and found a job with a trucking company. He met his future wife Marilyn one hot afternoon in 1956 at the O'Neill swimming pool. Marilyn had moved to O'Neill to teach, but after two years, she went to work for Consumers Public Power District, now part of the Nebraska Public Power District. Lampman went to the pool alone on that hot summer day to cool off. There he spotted an attractive young woman. He couldnt take his eyes off her. Marilyn noticed him, too. We had both been in ONeill such a short time. He came over. He had sparkling bright eyes. My instinct told me I kinda liked him, she said. They went to a cafe and talked for 90 minutes. Thats the way it started, she said. They were married April 30, 1957. They have been married for 66 years. They lived in ONeill for five or six years before returning to Lampmans childhood farm in Anoka in 1961. Three years later, Lampmans father decided to sell the farm. Lampman, seeking farmland of his own, put an ad in the ONeill paper. A Kearney man responded, saying he had land to sell in Axtell. The Lampmans bought it and moved south. I moved all the machinery down here, he said. The couple worked hard at what they called a mom-and-pop operation. They grew corn, soybeans and a bit of wheat and milo. Marilyn helped with irrigation pivots and much more. I was a typical farm wife. That was when I was young and limber, she said. They also raised a daughter, Angel, who owns the new A&R Detailing at 1220 Second Ave. in Kearney. They eventually purchased a 30-foot fifth wheel RV. For 13 years, after the harvest, they headed south to Arizona or Texas or Florida for the winter. We were snowbirds, Marilyn said. The couple retired from farming in 1999. Hero Flight Eight years ago, the Lampsons were part of a Hero Flight, a 48-hour all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., with other Korean Conflict veterans. It was their first trip to the nations capital. Among other sights, they visited the Vietnam Wall. The thing that hit me more than anything else was the expressions on the faces of the statues. They were walking into jungley weeds, and those statues showed the emotion of those guys. They were absolutely miserable. You could see it, Marilyn said. Lampman, a member of the American Legion, used to participate every year in Memorial Day observances at the Axtell Cemetery. This year, he'll remember the holiday quietly, perhaps attending ceremonies at the Kearney Cemetery. He is grateful for the gifts left to this nation by its military personnel, including, humbly, himself. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Government leaders of the influential Group of Seven (G7) 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 which 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 Zelensky 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. 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 (OPEC). Other members are Canada, Italy and Japan, with the European Union (EU) also engaged. Emphasis on non-military 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 Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon delivers a welcome speech during the World Climate Industry Expo (WCE) at BEXCO, Thursday. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City By Lee Kyung-min Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon has been seeking support from eight of his peers for the port city's bid to host World Expo 2030, during a session on Friday at the World Climate Industry Expo (WCE), being held in Busan from May 25 to 27. The international climate event was organized in order to help paint a picture of how Korea is not only willing but able to host the Expo. Among the attendees were world-renowned scholars and opinion leaders, as well as 500 local and foreign firms and organizations. Park's pitch was presented alongside other discussions by participating mayors, including on joint cooperative measures to tackle climate crisis-related problems and case studies of sustainable green city planning. Among the attendees of the City Summit, organized by Busan Metropolitan City, were Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, Casablanca Deputy Vice Mayor Abderrahim Outass, Dili Municipality Authority President Guilhermina Filomena Saldanha Ribeiro, Esbjerg Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen, Luanda Province Governor Manuel Homem, Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Santiago Carlos Metropolitan Regional Council Deputy President Ward Edwards. They shared the best practices of their respective cities and policy ideas to achieve carbon neutrality, and agreed to seek joint development plans. Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, front row fourth from left, poses with representatives of cities in Africa and Southeast Asia during a sister city friendship signing ceremony at The Westin Josun Busan, Thursday. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City A night view of Seoul's Yeouido, with the current tallest building in the region, Parc.1, at the center / Courtesy of LG Energy Solution Yeouido's building height cap lifted By Lee Yeon-woo Seoul revealed its blueprint to establish Yeouido as a global financial hub, but concerns are rising that the city still has a long way to go before it can emulate its models London and Singapore. On Thursday, Seoul began soliciting public opinions on its plans to elevate the environment of the district to international standards, as part of its aim of transforming the city into a global financial hub. The city plans to scrap height limits on new buildings and boost the floor area ratio to up to 1,200 percent. That is expected to pave the way for a dynamic skyline with the construction of a skyscraper standing 350 meters tall, surpassing the height of Parc.1 (333 meters), the current tallest building in Yeouido. "Yeouido is an area that requires flexible planning as various projects such as the financial center district plan, the apartment district plan and the second Sejong Cultural Center are being promoted simultaneously," said Cho Nam-joon, chief of the urban planning bureau at the city government. "We hope that Yeouido will leap forward as an international digital finance hub, moving away from a paradigm centered on regulation (with these measures)." Since the district was designated as a financial hub by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in 2009, along with Busan's Munhyeon Industrial Complex, it has become home to many of Korea's major financial firms. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), 28 large securities firms and numerous investment firms have all established their presence in the district. However, some raise skepticism that simply allowing super-tall buildings in Yeouido won't be enough to attract global financial companies to set up operations there. Unlike in Munhyeon Industrial Complex, financial firms in Yeouido have not received reductions in income and corporate tax, given that the district is located in a densely populated area of the capital city. The Assembly is currently considering a revised bill, aiming to exempt firms established or opening new operations in Yeouido from all income and corporate taxes for three years and reduce the taxes by half for an additional two years. However, it's stalled in the legislative process as some argue it hinders balanced development between regions. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon pointed to this issue as well during his visit to London in March, stating that the city will actively support the passage of the bill. It is also unlikely that the five major financial groups in Korea will set up new operations or move their headquarters to Yeouido. Hana Financial Group is already in the process of establishing a base of operation, named Hana Dream Town, in Cheongna International City, aiming to complete it by 2025. KB Financial Group completed its move to Yeouido in 2020. The remaining groups, Woori, Shinhan and NH Nonghyup, currently have no plans to establish new headquarters. The potential relocation of the Korean Development Bank (KDB) from Yeouido to Busan also appears to be a hurdle to Seoul's initiative. The move, one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's presidential election pledges, is gaining momentum as the bank is currently preparing a blueprint for its relocation. 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 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ANCHORAGE, AKJoan Elizabeth Matthews, who enjoyed being called Grammy by not only her grandchildren, but by most people she came in contact with, passed away on May 12, 2023 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, AK following a very brief illness. Joan was born in Chippewa Falls, WI to John and Caroline Goettl on October 14, 1942. Joan was raised on the family farm with her five sisters and three brothers. She is survived by all sisters and one brother. Joan was preceeded in death by her son, Riky and husband, Morris and is survived by her children: Karlyn (Mike) Herrera, and David (Victoria) Matthews; granddaughters: Amanda Matthews and Erica Tresham; grandsons: Derek and Spenser ONeill; and five great-grandchildren. Joan married Morris Matthews on August 19, 1961. She was a military wife who raised her children all over the country. Joan was an adventurer who exposed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to various cultures and influences during her lifetime. Joan held many jobs in her life that she was quite proud of, but her real passion(s) started after she retired. She became involved in the Alaska Special Olympics as a fund raiser, mentor and all around fan. Later in her retirement she became a personal care attendant to many people and families in the Mat-Su Valley. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 35, VMW Post 9365, and AMVETS Post 9 in Wasilla, and a 40+ year member of Sacred Heart Parish. If there was work to be done to support others Joan was available and willing to help in any manner that she could. A private funeral was held at JBER National Cemetery in Anchorage, AK on May 22, 2023, and a Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion Post 35 in Wasilla, AK on June 17, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A physician from Rochester, Minnesota, who had been practicing medicine in La Crosse at the time of his arrest has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in a La Crosse County child sexual assault case. Joseph Thomas Poterucha, 42, pleaded guilty Friday in La Crosse County Circuit Court to one felony count of second-degree sexual assault of a child and a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree sexual assault. Judge Todd Bjerke accepted the plea and set a sentencing hearing for July 31. Prior to the plea, a jury trial was scheduled to begin July 10. Poterucha was arrested Oct. 15, 2021, after he was accused of sexually assaulting three children under the age of 13. He was released from the La Crosse County Jail on Oct. 18 after posting a $25,000 cash bond. Poterucha was practicing at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse as a pediatrician at the time of his arrest. None of the charges involve patients he treated, and Mayo immediately suspended him from seeing patients. The safety of our patients is a top priority. Mayo Clinic Health System cooperated with law enforcement and completed an internal investigation, a Mayo representative said in a statement Friday. No evidence of inappropriate interactions with patients during his employment was found during both law enforcement and internal investigations. Mayo Clinic Health System ended its employment relationship with Joseph Poterucha in December 2021. Poterucha faced up to 180 years in prison prior to the plea agreement. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. An arrest warrant has been issued for a 43-year-old La Crosse man who reportedly fled a May 4 traffic stop and left behind drugs and weapons inside a vehicle. Diaunte J. Shields faces a felony charge of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, five felony counts of felon in possession of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer. Judge Ramona Gonzalez issued the arrest warrant May 15. According to a criminal complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court, Shields was pulled over for speeding shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Farnam Avenue in La Crosse. The complaint says Shields immediately exited the vehicle and ran north into an alley. Police then lost sight of him. Police searched the vehicle and reportedly found 2.2 pounds of cocaine/fentanyl, five firearms and $15,000 in cash. One of the firearms was reported stolen from Eau Claire. Shields has felony drug convictions in Wisconsin and Kentucky and is under state Department of Corrections supervision for his latest drug offense. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two new single family homes are coming to the north side of La Crosse next summer after an application for federal housing money from the city was awarded to Habitat for Humanity La Crosse area. Habitat for Humanity and YWCA La Crosse presented community housing plans to the citys Economic Community Development Committee meeting Wednesday. The respective groups were each seeking a $101,900 grant from the federal Housing and Urban Development money the city received. The committee voted unanimously to approve and award the full $101,900 available to Habitat for Humanity for their housing plan to build two single family homes. The YWCA proposed purchasing a property or duplex for fair market rate rentals. Kahya Fox, executive director of Habitat for Humanity La Crosse, said she is very excited for this opportunity and thankful to the city for the funds. Its not just about affordable housing for the families. Its about economic development and neighborhood Improvement, Fox said. (Habitat) tears down a lot of ugly houses and does a lot of improvements that a lot of times doesnt happen on resale of properties in the La Crosse area. Over the years, Habitat for Humanity has increased the citys tax base by millions through property renovations and builds. There are currently six Habitat homes under construction in the city. The city is required to reserve 15% of HOME grant money from the federal department for Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). This year, the city received $339,600 from HOME Investment Partnership through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Diane McGinnis, community development administrator with the city, said the city saves up the 15% over a couple years in order to provide a larger CHDO grant. With the grant, Habitat will purchase two land plots on Onalaska Avenue from the city for $10,000 each. Habitat is the only bid on the lots, which have been on the market since 2019. Fox anticipates closing on the property purchases July 1, construction to begin in October and hopes to have families move in by March 2024. The homes will be restricted to first time homeowners who meet the income eligibility under 80% of the county median income, which is about $32,500. Both lots are in the floodplain so Habitat plans to bring in fill material to build the foundation out of the floodplain. Habitat is utilizing modular housing as a cost-effective option for affordable housing development which greatly reduces construction time and costs. The modular homes are factory built to local municipal code. Fox said the homes will meet the citys single family home standards and look the same as a stick built home. Each home will be 1,400 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The estimated assessed value is $175,000 each. This will be Habitats first modular home project since becoming a licensed manufactured housing dealer, which allows them to buy directly from the manufacturer for a reduced price. Habitat is working in collaboration with Couleecap on this development. The land underneath the home will be placed into the Coulee Community Land Trust, a shared equity ownership model to keep the home permanently affordable. The partnership is an opportunity for Habitat to ensure perpetual affordability of that property for low income homeowners into the future, Fox said. As the gap between housing costs and wages just keeps rising, we have to come up with other solutions to make sure that homes we build remain affordable. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A two-year pilot program providing legal assistance and representation for tenants facing eviction in La Crosse County is expected to launch in June. With financial support from the city of La Crosse and La Crosse County, representatives from Legal Action of Wisconsin La Crosse will be available Friday mornings before small claims court to meet with people showing up for eviction cases, no appointment needed. Amanda Schamens, managing attorney with Legal Aid Wisconsins La Crosse office, hopes the Eviction Defense Program makes tenants more likely to show up for the hearing and avoid a default eviction hearing. The overarching goal is to keep people in their homes and increase housing stability for low-income households, Shamans said. Were hoping that once the program is established, people facing evictions know that theres an attorney at the courthouse that they can talk to, Schamens said. Having an attorney either talk to you beforehand or in the mediation process is beneficial for the tenants as they know what their rights are and what their rights arent. Attorneys will represent clients in court to prevent eviction when a defense is possible. In other cases, the attorneys will work to negotiate with the landlord for reasonable terms to move out to avoid or reduce periods of homelessness. Legal Action of Wisconsin will receive $60,000 each from La Crosse County, the city of La Crosse and the La Crosse Community Foundation for the program over two years. Of the 10 counties Legal Actions La Crosse office serves, La Crosse County has the largest number of housing cases which includes evictions, mediating the return of a security deposit or housing conditions. Most of the cases are evictions, Schamens said, because keeping people in their homes is one of the legal groups main goals. In the last three months, Schamens said evictions have increased since Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance ended in January. Over 180 evictions have been filed in La Crosse County this year an average of 1.4 evictions filed per day. Schamens estimates her group will be able to help three to six tenants each week. Of 396 evictions filed in 2022, 44.7% of filings resulted in an eviction based on an analysis from Coulee Tenants United. La Crosse County Board chair Monica Kruse hopes the program will reduce the disruption that periods of homelessness cause for many people. At a time when homelessness is already consuming a lot of time, energy and resources from local governments, this is a way to get upstream of the problems that cause people to become unsheltered, Kruse said. We hope it will reduce the costs to the public of homelessness by keeping more people in their homes, or at least giving people additional time to arrange a move. The county board approved funding for the two-year pilot program in November 2021, but it has taken longer than expected to get additional staffing at Legal Action to launch the project. La Crosse city officials were not made available for comment. Hetti Brown, executive director of Couleecap, is looking forward to the start of the program. Evictions often mean that temporary hardships have permanent consequences, said Brown. Access to legal counsel through eviction proceedings is important to ensure that the individuals rights are protected as they remedy the situation and also that housing security throughout our community is strengthened. Legal Action recently added a new attorney to its La Crosse team, allowing the program to start in June. Similar programs are in existence in a number of cities around the country and have shown promising results. People can reach out to get information on the program at the Legal Action office at 700 Third St. N., Suite 203, La Crosse. Flyers will be available at the REACH Center and Couleecap. Photo: The Associated Press Swift water rescue teams conduct an exercise on the American River in Sacramento. California rivers fed by this winter's massive Sierra Nevada snowpack have been turned into deadly torrents, drawing warnings from public safety officials ahead of the Memorial Day weekend's traditional start of outdoor summer recreation. At least seven people, including two children, have died or gone missing this spring in the grasp of powerful rivers plunging down from California's towering mountain range, and there have been numerous rescues. This year were seeing higher water, faster water and colder water, said Capt. Justin Sylvia, a fire spokesperson in Sacramento, which is crossed by the American River. Sacramento has already had 20 water rescues this year, nearly as many as all of 2022, Sylvia said Tuesday as crews practiced swift-water rescues on the lower American River near its confluence with the Sacramento River. Memorial Day weekend is typically one of the busiest, if not the busiest, times of the year, and floating down the American River is like a quintessential Sacramento activity, said Ken Casparis, spokesperson for Sacramento County regional parks. Probably thousands of people use the river for floating or swimming or rafting, what have you, and this weekend conditions are shaping up to be pretty dangerous, so we have been urging people to stay off the river, he said. Even just wading along the shore is being discouraged, said Casparis, who was hoping for chilly weather to discourage river use. Forecasters predicted mild weather in the interior of Northern California except for chances of thunderstorms in the mountains. With Californians expected to flock to the outdoors, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services on Thursday issued a broad caution about conditions they might encounter, including fast-moving water, following months of severe weather. An extraordinary series of storms this past winter buried the Sierra range in deep snow that is now melting, swelling Central Valley rivers that just months ago were running low because of years of extreme drought. Reservoirs that store water and provide flood control must release high flows into rivers to maintain room for incoming runoff. That, in turn, changes rivers. Sandbars and ledges may become steep drop-offs and lead to an unexpected plunge into cold water. It can really give a shock to the body, said Daniel Bowers, Sacramento city's director of emergency management. Experts say muscle control can be lost in minutes. The recent tragedies include an 8-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother, who were swept away by the Kings River on Sunday. The girl's body was found that afternoon and the boy's body was found nearly 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) downstream on Monday, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said. The fatal accident occurred even though both the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers have been ordered closed to recreational users since March 14. In the Sierra northeast of Sacramento, a man was swept away by the American River on April 29, two days after Placer County authorities first issued warnings. His body was found Friday in a lake miles away. Another man who vanished in the river on Mother's Day remains missing. Placer County's messaging about the risk is blunt. If the public doesn't listen to our warnings this year, people are going to die, more people than we've seen over the last few years, sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Griffiths says in a public service announcement video. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON Phoenix retiree Saundra Cole has been watching the news about the debt limit negotiations in Washington with dismay and limiting her air conditioning use to save money just in case her monthly Social Security check is delayed due to a default. For her, air conditioning is no small thing in a city where the average daily high hits 94 degrees in May. If the government can't make good on its obligations, she says, I would be devastated. What Im worried about is food banks and electricity here because you know, weve had deaths with seniors because of the heat, says Cole. Politicians in Washington may be offering assurance that the government will figure out a way to avert default, but around the country, economic anxiety is rising and some people already are adjusting their routines. Government beneficiaries, social service groups that receive state and federal subsidies and millions more across the country are contemplating the possibility of massive and immediate cuts if the U.S. were to default on its financial obligations. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week that a default would destroy jobs and businesses, and leave millions of families who rely on federal government payments to likely go unpaid, including Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families. A default could cause widespread suffering as Americans lose the income that they need to get by, she said. The number of people potentially impacted is huge. According to the Census Bureau, in 2020 roughly 35% of U.S. households included someone receiving Social Security benefits, 36% received Medicaid benefits and more than 13% of the total population received food stamps. A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 66% of Americans said theyre very or extremely concerned about the impact on the U.S. economy if the debt limit is not raised and the government defaults, though only 21% said theyre following the debate closely. Robert Gault, 63, who depends on a $1,900 monthly Social Security disability payment, says an economic default would make life so real awfully hard on me. The former longtime factory worker from Bradford, Pennsylvania, said he suffers from chronic back pain caused by degenerating disks in his spine. He hasn't made any drastic changes to the way he lives, but said, I'm more conscientious of everything and I think about everything I do now. Negotiations between the president and congressional leaders are down to the wire as they try to break an impasse. GOP lawmakers have been pressing for spending cuts in exchange for agreeing to increase the government's borrowing authority and President Joe Biden wanted a clean debt ceiling increase without conditions. Without a deal, the U.S. could default as soon as June 1, according to Yellen. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was asked Monday if people should start preparing for default, and insisted no, no, no, no. But people on fixed incomes and organizations that serve the poor are bracing for a potential debt default that would deal an overwhelming blow to their finances. Clare Higgins, executive director of Community Action Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts, said demand at the organization's food banks has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic, and is growing again. With a possible debt default, she said, she's seeing more demand for food from the three pantries that the organization either runs or financially supports. "Yes, demand has gone up but it was already up before," she said. We're already behind the eight-ball in what we're able to pay teachers, she said of the organization's head start and early learning programs. William Howell, a political science professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, said the notion of older people and recipients of government benefits doomsday prepping for disruptions every time budget season comes around is symptomatic of a dysfunctional democracy. Its not how a healthy democracy handles its business, he said, adding that the consequences of the brinksmanship will impact the government's ability to function and plan in coming years. In this era of hyper-polarization, the way you get compromise is walking right up to the edge of economic catastrophe and threatening default on the other side we have a president almost threatening to invoke the 14th Amendment to do away with the debt ceiling," he said. This is the stuff of partisan politics." At the Kids' Stop Learning Center in Rome, Georgia, Lance Elam, owner of the family business that has been in operation since 1984, says hes not worried that a default will actually occur. But he still has done the calculation on how long operations could last without the subsidies that the organization receives for its three locations in Rome and Cartersville, Georgia. We have enough liquid funds to carry on for six to eight months, he said, adding that state and federal funds helped the Kids' Stop Learning Center stay in business through the pandemic. We have so many kids on our waiting list, he said, that the center would likely begin dropping kids who couldn't pay without subsidies and prioritize families that can pay out of pocket. 10 states where inflation is hitting the hardest 10 states where inflation is hitting the hardest National outlook: Southern states are among those struggling the most #10. Connecticut #9. Florida #8. Arkansas #7. Texas #6. New Mexico #5. Alabama #4. Nevada #3. Oklahoma #2. Louisiana #1. Mississippi 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 Sunday. 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. 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. WDPD and Columbia County Sheriff's Office expressed appreciation for the outside law enforcement agencies working Automotion weekend for their quick response. 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 A man who drove the car that helped pull down the statue of a Civil War hero and abolitionist outside of the Wisconsin state Capitol during a night of protests in 2020 has been sentenced to six months in jail. The statue of Hans Christian Heg was toppled and beheaded during a protest in downtown Madison in June 2020 against police brutality. Protests began a month earlier over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and flared up again that June after Madison police arrested a Black activist. The Wisconsin State Journal reported Friday that Kelsey D. Nelson was sentenced for his role in damaging the Heg statue and for looting a nearby jewelry store about a month earlier. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. About 10:55 a.m., May 25, officials from the Elkhorn Police Department and Elkhorn Fire Department responded to a report of a body found in a retention pond located in the 200 block of West O'Connor Drive. Members of both departments located and recovered a body that is believed to be that of 27-year-old Dexter A. Johnson, who was reported missing May 22, according to a press release from the Elkhorn Police Department. The male was pronounced dead at the scene and no foul play is suspected at this time, according to the press release. Officials from the Walworth County Medical Examiner's Office will make an official identification and will rule on the cause of death. The Elkhorn Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Walworth County Medical Examiner's Office, Walworth County Sheriff's Office, City of Lake Geneva Police Department, Town of Linn Police Department, City of Delavan Police Department, Twin Lakes Police Department, Town of Delavan Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Southern Waukesha County Canine Search and Rescue, and Wisconsin K9 Search and Rescue. 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.] Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warns the public that the next two months could bring the worst spongy moth caterpillar outbreak in more than a decade. Invasive spongy moth caterpillars, formerly known as gypsy moth, strip trees of their leaves, potentially killing high-value trees. They prefer to feed on oak, birch, crabapple, aspen and willow leaves, but will also feed on many other tree and shrub species. Southern Wisconsin and parts of the north are already in a high-population outbreak that is predicted to continue and spread. Populations have remained high due to a low incidence of caterpillar-killing diseases last summer, said Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist in Oshkosh. In addition, weather conditions are favorable for the caterpillars and unfavorable for Entomophaga maimaiga, a fungus that kills spongy moth caterpillars. Property owners are encouraged to examine their trees and take action. Specifically: Visit the Wisconsin Spongy Moth Information Portal for information about managing spongy moth. Management options for the caterpillars include using burlap collection bands, physically destroying caterpillars and applying insecticide to protect trees and reduce nuisance caterpillar numbers. Learn how to use burlap collection bands online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwwwD5BT2pA. These are a non-pesticide option to help reduce populations when checked daily while large caterpillars are present. Insecticide treatments can be a suitable option for high-value host trees, but are usually not practical for woodlots. Insecticide treatments are most effective when the caterpillars are small. Water yard trees weekly during dry periods to help reduce tree stress and aid a trees recovery from heavy leaf loss by the caterpillars. Wait to cut down any trees that have lost their leaves. Healthy hardwood trees usually produce a new set of leaves a few weeks later. Forest management may need to be postponed in forest stands with expansive leaf loss. Trees will be stressed from heavy leaf loss and often unable to handle the additional stress from forest thinning. Those who find spongy moth caterpillars should avoid touching them as the hairs often cause a skin rash, welt or other irritation. Rubbing alcohol can help to remove the hairs and chemical irritants from skin that is exposed to the hairs. Plan for insecticide treatments ahead of time to help secure an applicator and avoid a last-minute rush when pesticide application businesses may already be very busy. Resources for finding a qualified pesticide applicator include the Wisconsin Arborist Association, International Society of Arborculture and a local phone book. Stressed trees are already at an elevated risk of dying and will often die if they lose a lot of leaves in 2023. Low-vigor oak trees are likely to be infested by the native beetle twolined chestnut borer, contributing to tree decline and death. Consult an arborist or forester for additional management recommendations. Spongy moth populations may have a temporary, large increase in an area about every 10 years. Many areas currently experiencing a second or third year of the spongy moth outbreak will likely see a population decline or collapse due to diseases or starvation. Predicting where and when the decline will happen is difficult, and heavy leaf loss often occurs before the caterpillar population collapses. For more information about spongy moth caterpillars, visit https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/spongymothinwisconsin/life-cycle-and-biology-3/life-cycle-and-biology/. In 57 Photos: Scenes along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Bumble bee feeds on Dame's Rocket along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Black Raspberry along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Black Walnut along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Box Elder along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Overgrown Milwaukee Road concrete electrical box base along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Canadian Anemone along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Carolina Rose along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Cleavers (Catchweed bedstraw, stickyweed) along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Common Burdock (Cuckoo-button) along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Common Milkweed along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Common Yarrow along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Cow Parley (Wild Chervil) along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Dame's Rocket along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Eastern Daisy Fleabane along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Eastern Trailhead signs at Farmer's Gateway Park in downtown Clinton Milwaukee Road electrical box along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail American elm along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail End of the line at the western trailhead of the Pelishek-Tiffany nature trail at North Road at Allens Grove near Darien Scenic farm view along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie) along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Hoary Alyssum patch along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail PT Looking south at the Milwaukee Road switching station at Bardwell rail line junction near Darien, June 1983..jpg Milwaukee Road freight train heading northeast on the Southwest Division toward the Bardwell junction near Darien, 1976..jpg Multiflora Rose along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Nature overtakes old Milwaukee Road telegraph polealong the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Ohio Spiderwort along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Old Milwaukee Road concrete box drainage culvertalong the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Oxeye Daisies along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Old Milwaukee Road telegraph pole along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail between Allens Grove and Clinton still bears its "54" mile marker Prickly Wild Rose.along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Patch of purple and white Dame's Rockets along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Circa-2000 Tiffany/Turner Memorial Rest Area along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Riverbank Grape (Frost Grape) along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Milwaukee Road signal stand remnants hidden in the brush along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Shaded trail section along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Abandoned Milwaukee Road signal control box hidden in undergrowth along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Sulphur Cinquefoil along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Telegraph pole with enduring wires and glass insulators along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Traces of the old Milwaukee Road line along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail near Clinton in Rock County Trail view along the rails-to-trails Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Trail view along the rails-to-trails Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Trail view along the rails-to-trails Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Trail view along the rails-to-trails Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Treacle Mustard along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail White Campion along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Wild Asparagus along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Wild Four O'Clock along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Wild Parsnip along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Wild Parsnip along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Dames Rocket along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Discarded Milwaukee Road telegraph wire along the Peleshek-Tiffany Nature Trail Paradise apple along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail main trailhead at Farmers Nature Trail Gateway in Clinton Honey Locust along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail White Mulberry.along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Smooth Solomon's Seal along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Farming scene along the Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Should the City of Lake Geneva provide designated parking for employees of Downtown business? That is a topic that continues to be discussed among local officials. Members of the Lake Geneva Parking Ad Hoc Committee discussed the issue of employee parking during their May 17 meeting. Sherri Ames, member of the parking ad hoc committee, said she does not feel the city should supply designated parking for Downtown employees. She said there are several areas including the parking lot near Eastview Elementary School where employees can park for no cost. "In my opinion, it is not up to the city to supply parking for Downtown employees or building a parking structure for Downtown employees," she said. Terence Pisano, parking ad hoc committee member, said he feels it is an issue that should be discussed, and the city could adopt a parking sticker for Downtown business employees, which they could purchase to park in the Downtown area while they are at work. He said establishing a parking sticker program for Downtown employees could provide additional revenue for the city. "This, to me, is nothing more than a sticker that they would pay for," Pisano said. "That sticker can be finite. Work around here is very seasonal, so you can make that seasonal as well if you want to. But I think it's another opportunity for us to sell a sticker to people who are already parking either in the free spaces or in the metered spaces, and you can generate revenue." Mayor Charlene Klein said she would like representatives from the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District to partner with the city on the employee parking sticker program if it is adopted. "The Business Improvement District should take some ownership of this if they want to underwrite some of the costs for their employees parking Downtown," Klein said. The city currently offers a parking lot permit pass, which allows people to park in any of the paid parking lots. The pass costs $400 a year. Pisano said he feels the city should increase the cost of that pass. He said some business owners purchase the pass for their managers. "That pass should be a little bit more. It's pretty inexpensive right now," Pisano said. "It's $400. I don't think it should be $1,000, but if it's around $600 or $700 it's still a very cost effective price point. It's going to generate more money for the city." After some debate, the parking ad hoc committee approved, by a 3-1 vote, to continue discussion on the proposed employee parking sticker program during their next meeting, with Ames voting "no." The parking ad hoc committee's next meeting is scheduled to be held 4:15 p.m., May 31 at the city hall building, 626 Geneva St. The employee parking sticker would have to be approved by the Lake Geneva City Council in order to be established. Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after a child was found dead in Hamilton Township at the same address they had been reported missing from. OPP say they received information about a child who had gone missing from the address in the township north of Cobourg, Ont., shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday. Police say the child was later found dead at the same address. They say the force's crime unit and forensic identification services are conducting a death investigation at the residence, alongside the Office of the Chief Coroner. Police say there is no threat to public safety. The investigation is ongoing. This article appears in the May 26, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. [Print version of this article] RFK, Jr.: My Uncles Most Important Speech Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. interviewed by Russell Brand on Rumble, May 13, 2023 (excerpts). We were sold on the fact that [the war in Ukraine] was a humanitarian war, and we were sold using these kinds of formulaic narratives that Putin is an evil, Hitler-like figure, or Saddam Hussein, whoever it isthe one that we need to go to war [against]we are the good guys, and that it is a humanitarian war. But, we have not been acting like its a humanitarian war. And by the way, my own son went over there and was fighting over there. He was a machine gunner in a Special Forces unit; he joined the Foreign Legion, and fought in the Kharkiv events; motivated by those impulses, by the humanitarian impulses, by the courage of the Ukrainian people, by the brutality of the Russian invasion, etc. But if you look at the history of why, whats happened over there, and you go back a little bit in history, in 1990-91, when the Soviet Union was collapsing, we made a deal with Gorbachev, Britain and the United States. It was over the reunification of Germany, which was a very dicey issue. The Russians had 400,000 troops in East Germany, and we wanted to reunite East Germany under NATO, which had been the Russian enemy. So, the Russians were naturally worried, and said, if we take our troops out, we want to make sure that youre not getting a beach-head, and youre not going to move NATO into all of our former satellite states and make us feel like were under attack; like were being encircled. And President Bush famously told them, We will not move NATO one inch to the East. Well, since then, weve moved it a thousand miles to the East, and weve incorporated 14 of the former Russian satellite states. And weve put nuclear-missile-capable systems, the Aegis missile system which is manufactured by Lockheed, in both Romania and Poland. And the Russians were terrified wed put that in Ukraine, which is only 400 miles from [Moscow]. And they repeatedly said to us, you cannot incorporate Ukraine into NATO. We then unilaterally walked away from our two intermediate nuclear weapons treaties with Russia. So, we had treaties saying you cant use intermediate nuclear weapons. These were huge steps in progress, and we cancelled them both unilaterally. We told the Russians, were not doing that anymore. Surrounding [them with] these missile systems, we started practicing incorporating Ukraine into interoperability with NATO forces. Zelensky then runs in 2020. We helped to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Ukraine in 2014, and installed a very ultra-nationalistand that is a polite way of describing themultra-nationalist government. Theyre extremely anti-Russian. That prompts the Russians to go in and invade Crimea, because theyre terrified that now that we [the U.S.] have our own government in place there, were going to put our U.S. Navy fleet in a warm water port that theyve had for I think 370 years [Sevastopol]. Its their only warm water port; its their way of having a military presence in the Black Sea. Theyre terrified were going to go in there, so they invade Crimea. Put yourself in our position. I was here in 1962 when the Russians put nuclear missile sites in Cuba; and we were ready to invade. Even though we didnt know that they were armed at that point. Meanwhile, weve never been invaded. The Russians have been invaded three times through Ukraine. The last time they were invaded, during World War II, they were invaded through Ukraine. One of every seven Russians was killed; 13% of the population. Russia was levelled. My uncle in 1963 gave his most important speech, the American University speech. In that speech, he tried to do what Im doing right now. It was a speech to the American people. Youve got to put yourself in the shoes of the Russians and understand how they have a worldview. You have to put yourself in the shoes of your adversary. He went through this history of the suffering that Russia endured during World War II, explaining why it would want to have a legitimate claim to protect its borders. Ukraine today is a victim of U.S. aggression. Zelensky ran in 2019. Heres a guy whos a comedian and an actor. The reason Im saying that is, the only reason he won that election is, he ran on a peace platform. He was going to ratify the Minsk Accords, which was the Russian-supported agreement. The Donbass would remain part of Ukraine, even though it had voted to join Russia. Russia said, we dont want them; they stay in Ukraine, but you need to protect them. You need to make them semi-autonomous so theyre not getting killed. Zelensky then gets in there, he gets surrounded by U.S. neo-cons, including most prominently Victoria Nulandand shes the one who sort of orchestrated the U.S. walking away from all these nuclear treaties. All of Zelenskys peace professions suddenly disappear. He is pressured by ultra-nationalists within Ukraine and by the U.S. government to start having a military response instead of going to the table with the Russians. Now, weve pumped $113 billion into that proxy war, and our government has admitted, President Biden has admitted that the old neo-con aspirationthis war is about getting rid of Putin. His Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, acknowledged in April 2022 that the U.S. purpose of engaging in this war is to exhaust and degrade the Russian army so theyre incapable of fighting anywhere else in the world. So, that is our objective in this war, and it is a proxy war that is using the bodies of the flower of Ukrainian youth, where theyre being mercilessly killed. Its 60% unemployment; the infrastructure of the country has been destroyed, for U.S. geopolitical machinations. Its not right. None of this is stuff that we should be doing if we really want peace. This is a war where Ukraine has been made a victim, not just by Russia, but by the United States government. This article appears in the May 26, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. The Kennedy LegacySleepers Awake! [Print version of this article] May 21In introducing President John F. Kennedys call 60 years ago to prevent nuclear war, and the reflections by writer Donald Phau on the unrealized significance of the assassinated 1968 Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, we supplyby way of reporting some of the replies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now himself a 2024 Presidential candidate, to certain questions during recent interviewsan indispensable historical overview for readers and interventionists. Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News May 8, 2023, said the following about the day his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963: The day that my uncle was killed, I was picked up at Sidwell Friends School and brought home. The first phone call that my father made after J. Edgar Hoover told him that his brother had been shot, was to the CIA desk officer in Langley, which was only a mile from our house. And my father said to him, Did your people do this? His next call was to Harry Ruiz, one of the Cuban Bay of Pigs leaders who had remained very, very close to our family and to my father. My father asked him the same question. Then my father called John McCone, the head of the CIA, and asked him to come to the house. And McCone came over, and when I came home from Sidwell Friends School, my father was walking in the yard with John McCone, and my father was posing the same question to him: Was it our people who did this to my brother? It was my fathers first instinct that the agency had killed his brother. The current, real historical circumstance of 2023 could only be efficiently understood from the standpoint of the current history by which the present events are actually being shaped, including events that are about to occur, to which those bereft of this overview are irreparably blindedfor example, the absolutely unavoidable implosion of the trans-Atlantic monetary system, including its new digital dictatorship component. Averting Nuclear War Now Take, also, the disastrous, Vietnam-like policy of the United States now underway in the form of the Ukraine proxy war, which must end, not only in its defeat, but if pursued, in the dissolution of the United States itself [see interview following with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. regarding the current war in Ukraine]. As Helga Zepp-LaRouche asserts in her Urgent Appeal to the (Next) President of the United States, by Citizens and Institutions from All Over the World: Today we are faced with a strategic situation far more dangerous than that at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. Offensive NATO weapon systems are much closer to the border of Russia than Cuba is to the United States. The destructive power of the NATO weapons is even greater, the warning time before their launch shorter, and the trust between the leaders of the big nuclear powers is virtually non-existent, compared to that between Kennedy and Khrushchev. Therefore, we must awaken, we must bring ourselves, with the aid of principles of Classical drama, to confront the failures of our United States citizenry to even notice the historical tragedy in which they are participantsthe ship of fools on which they are presently passengers. With the specter of thermonuclear war now hovering over the global horizon, the unfinished business of the 19631983 era of United States foreign policy toward todays Russia, China, and the global majority of the worlds nations, especially as regards questions of war and peace, has now come to center stage. The aborted policy-actions to prevent thermonuclear war, taken by two PresidentsJohn F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, one assassinated, the other nearly soin proposing a higher peace approach to the then extant Soviet Union, reveal the strategic mind-set that must inform our war-avoidance approach today, and without which the human race has no chance of surviving. Kennedys approach was announced in a speech at American University June 10, 1963 (excerpted more extensively in a following article): Total war makes no sense in an age when great powers can maintain large and relatively invulnerable nuclear forces and refuse to surrender without resort to those forces. It makes no sense in an age when a single nuclear weapon contains almost ten times the explosive force delivered by all the allied air forces in the Second World War. It makes no sense in an age when the deadly poisons produced by a nuclear exchange would be carried by wind and water and soil and seed to the far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn. The sentiments he expressed that day, are so different from the present foreign policy of this nation, that they might well be called treason in todays reactionary political atmosphere. They were far from it. They were a change in Cold War axioms, one which the intelligence factions represented by the CIAs Allen Dulles and Londons Bertrand Russell would not accept. Eight months after the thermonuclear near-Armageddon of the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis, JFK would reverse course toward his, and Americas arch-enemy, the Soviet Union. He would emphasize that the two most powerful nations in the world were, precisely because of their power, therefore also the most vulnerable to complete annihilation. This meant that the two powers must quickly shift the world toward the direction of sanity. Today, as in 1963, the survival of humanity demands a higher mode of conflict resolution than total war, or little wars that can turn into total war in a matter of hours, or even minutes. Since JFKs time, ten presidents ago, no American leader, with the exception of the unelected president Martin Luther King, in his April 4, 1967 nonviolence or nonexistence Riverside Church speech against the war in Vietnam, has successfully challenged Americans to walk the narrow path of peace in the same waywith one exception. On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan ended a nationally televised speech with this formulation: Let me share with you a vision of the future which offers hope. It is that we embark on a program to counter the awesome Soviet missile threat with measures that are defensive. Let us turn to the very strengths in technology that spawned our great industrial base and that have given us the quality of life we enjoy today. What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest upon the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to deter a Soviet attack, that we could intercept and destroy strategic ballistic missiles before they reached our own soil or that of our allies? I know this is a formidable, technical task, one that may not be accomplished before the end of the century. Yet, current technology has attained a level of sophistication where its reasonable for us to begin this effort. It will take years, probably decades of efforts on many fronts. There will be failures and setbacks, just as there will be successes and breakthroughs. And as we proceed, we must remain constant in preserving the nuclear deterrent and maintaining a solid capability for flexible response. But isnt it worth every investment necessary to free the world from the threat of nuclear war? We know it is. The policy of defensive weapons, a policy that, had it been implemented, would have prevented todays present situation that places the world on the brink of thermonuclear Armageddon from even arising, originated with economist and statesman Lyndon H. LaRouchethough that has never been generally reported to the American people in the corporate press, up to today. That higher peace policy was the reason for the persecution and incarceration of LaRouche and his associates, and is the great secret of the past four decades of thermonuclear strategic policy, and current history. It is not fashionable, nor considered acceptable, to discuss the relationship between the foreign policy axiom shift of JFK in 1963, and the proposal of Ronald Reagan to the Soviet Union in 1983. It blows the circuitry of contemporary historical myth-making, but it is nonetheless true. It is also true, that unless and until the truths of contemporary history are revealedfrom the 196368 assassination of four Americans, John and Robert Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X (and other murders conducted by the International Assassination Bureau in Germany, Italy, etc. in the 1960s and 1970s), to the 1983 true story of the Strategic Defense Initiative and the subsequent illegal persecution and incarceration of Lyndon LaRouche by the United States Department of Justice (the precedent for those actions now being conducted against a former American President and private citizens)the danger of thermonuclear war, whether sought or unsought, will continue to mount by the day. It is possible to not be tragic, to not repeat the lessons of history. As Robert Kennedys favorite poet, Aeschylus, wrote: He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God. Sleepers, awake! This editorial appears in the May 26, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. [Print version of this editorial] EDITORIAL JUNE 10 DAY OF ACTION Urgent Appeal to the (Next) President of the United States By Citizens and Institutions from All Over the World The Schiller Institute issued the following appeal May 17, 2023 for signatures of endorsement and immediate international circulation. It will be used to rally forces around the world for an International Day of Action for world peace on June 10. June 10 will be the 60th anniversary of the famous American University speech by President John F. Kennedy on what he himself called the most important topic on Earth: world peace. President Kennedy gave that speech less than a year after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, in the middle of the Cold War, but he was able to elevate his listeners to see above the geopolitical conflict and to look at the interest of humanity as a whole. Today we are faced with a strategic situation far more dangerous than that at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. Offensive NATO weapon systems are much closer to the border of Russia than Cuba is to the United States. The destructive power of the NATO weapons is even greater, the warning time before their launch shorter, and the trust between the leaders of the big nuclear powers is virtually non-existent, compared to that between Kennedy and Khrushchev. The doomsday clock has been set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at 90 seconds before midnight, and that may be overly optimistic. The world is in danger of splitting into two blocs, a NATO-U.S./UK-EU bloc, and a Russia-China/Global South bloc. This represents the acute danger of a new world war, which would be nuclear, and would therefore mean the annihilation of the human species. Since Russia and the U.S. presently have 90% of all nuclear weapons directed against each other, which weapons could destroy the world many times over, it is an urgent matter of concern for every human being on earth that we find a way out. The solution must be on a plane that overcomes geopolitics and takes the perspective of the interest of the one humanity. We, the undersigned, therefore, express our hope, that the (next) president of the United States finds the greatness in herself or himself to adopt the viewpoint which was expressed by JFK in his historic speech. President Kennedy said on June 10, 1963: What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave, or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on Earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their childrennot merely peace for Americans, but peace for all men and womennot merely peace in our time, but peace for all time. Many may think that it is impossible today for an American President to make such a speech. And indeed, Russian President Putin is today portrayed as more evil than Khrushchev was at the time, and China is also painted as a great threat. But President Kennedy nevertheless praised the Russians, and lauded their great contributions in science, industry, and culture. He praised their courage in defeating Hitler in World War II, in which cause they sacrificed more than 26 million lives. The world needs an American president who can see the best tradition in every nation, including Russia and China, as the basis for mutual trust and the basis for peace. We the undersigned want America to be again the America expressed in that beautiful speech of JFK. We want the United States to be again a beacon of hope and a temple of liberty. We believe that this is the basis for peace for all time, as JFK said. If you agree with the sentiment expressed in this leaflet, please add your name, country of residence, and affiliation (for identification purposes only). Should you not wish for your name to be published, please so indicate. For more information, please contact: bit.ly/nextuspres. Initiating Signer: Helga Zepp-LaRouche (Germany): founder, Schiller Institute EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR FRIDAY MAY 26, 2023 Thinking Small Creates Big Problems May 25, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Happiness and the beautiful were the subjects of Chinas President Xi Jinping in a critical address to the Eurasian Economic Forum May 24 plenary session in Moscow. Xi was explaining why he thought the synergy between his Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) nations can and should be deepened. This is the tenth anniversary of Xis presidency and of his Sept. 13, 2013 launching of the Belt and Road Initiative in Kazakhstan. Its mission is to discover and realize the common development for countries, and so, to open up a path of happiness that benefits the entire world. Common development amongst different countries with different cultural strengths and weaknesses is not as easy as it sounds. But, as with the U.S. Declaration of Independences life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, happiness is the characteristic of a created world, where the Creator made mankinds liberty, its freedom of thought to create new scientific breakthroughs, necessary for the possibility for life, for solving the recurring existential problem of running out of resources for the present state of technology. In such a created world, it is not possible that different cultures exist in fundamental opposition to each other. If there is a seeming conflict between cultures, there is a resolution on a higher level. Xi situated the basis for an actual synergy between the BRI and the EAEU. He reasoned that Eurasia, of which China is a part, has the largest population, the largest number of countries, and the most diverse civilizations in the world. Hence, it had the most possibilities for a future world of lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperitya beautiful world. More than 300 years ago, the great European genius, Wilhelm Gottfried Leibniz, the author of the concept of pursuit of happiness that Benjamin Franklin brought to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, posed that, if China and Europe had elements of a very high culture, it could not be the case that they were doomed to keep to themselves. Clearly, expansive Russia had the mission of transmitting both such cultures to each other, taking the world to the next higher level to which it had to go. Its timeand President Xi qualifies. Also yesterday, Xi met with Russias Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing. Mishustin had just signed some huge trade deals with China on energy and agriculture. He posed to Xi that the partnership between Russia and China was of particular importance for us in the wake of increasing turbulence in the international arena. Our countries stand shoulder-to-shoulder fending off the collective Wests attempts to preserve global.... I am convinced that Russia and China will offer a resolute response to those dangerous aspirations and will create favorable conditions for steady progresstoward our common strategic goals. European culture has seen better times. Leibnizs quality of statesmanship, as with Abraham Lincoln and the modern-day Leibnizian, Lyndon LaRouche, has made appearances in the United States. Yet the overriding strategic reality is that the better angel of China and that of the U.S. need to find each other. Russia still has a key role to play. Sending arms to Ukraine for neo-Nazi grouplets to invade Russia, to help drain Russia, is probably not the place to start. Xi certainly showed yesterday that a lot can get done in a day. The West needs to re-learn how to think big, because thinking small has gotten us into quite a big problem. Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault. More than half of the provinces' ministers have skipped out on a meeting with the feds and Indigenous leaders to discuss halting land and water loss in Canada. Environment ministers from Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories attended the meeting. The other provinces and territories sent their deputy ministers. The Liberal government is leading a 2030 biodiversity strategy to protect 30 per cent of land and water by 2030, but it will be a difficult target to reach without the help of provinces and territories. The federal ministry of environment and climate change says they have a critical role to play because they have significant authority over land use. At the end of 2022 almost 14 per cent of Canada's land and freshwater and almost 15 per cent of marine areas and coastline were under some kind of conservation protection. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its latest report that extreme weather caused more than 2 million deaths over the past 50 years. Weather and water-related events also caused economic damage estimated to cost $4.3 trillion around the world over the same period. The United Nations weather agency said the economic damage continues to rise. But it says improvements in early warning systems have helped reduce casualties. Economic losses have soared. But improved early warnings and coordinated disaster management has slashed the human casualty toll over the past 50 years, the WMO said in a statement. The weather agency, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has repeatedly warned about man-made climate change. It says rising temperatures have increased the number and intensity of extreme weather events. These include floods, storms, extremely hot weather and a lack of rain. The WMO said most of the economic damage between 1970 and 2021 took place in the United States. The damage there totaled $1.7 trillion. However, 90 percent of the deaths worldwide took place in developing countries. The agency said developing countries suffered a high cost when the size of their economies is considered. WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said Cyclone Mocha showed how at-risk countries bear the brunt of weather, climate and water-related hazards. The powerful ocean storm swept across Myanmar and Bangladesh this month. In the past, both Myanmar and Bangladesh suffered death tolls of tens and even hundreds of thousands of people, he said. Thanks to early warnings and disaster management these catastrophic mortality rates are now thankfully history. Early warnings save lives, he said. 12,000 extreme weather events The WMO identified nearly 12,000 extreme weather events in its Atlas of Mortality and Economic Loss from Weather, Climate and Water-related Hazards. It is an update to a report, which covered a nearly 50-year period through 2019. WMO admits that the number of disasters could have risen because of increased reporting on extreme weather events. The agency also said that the reports could underestimate the economic damage. In Africa, the WMO counted more than 1,800 disasters and 733,585 deaths related to extreme weather, including flooding and storms. The U.N. agency said the costliest was Tropical Cyclone Idai in 2019, which reportedly caused $2.1 billion in damage. Nearly 1,500 disasters hit the southwest Pacific, causing 66,951 deaths and $185.8 billion in economic losses. Asia faced over 3,600 disasters, costing 984,263 lives and $1.4 trillion in economic losses, mostly due to the impact of cyclones. South America had 943 disasters that resulted in 58,484 deaths and over $115 billion in economic losses. Over 2,100 disasters in North America, Central America and the Caribbean led to 77,454 deaths and $2 trillion in economic losses. Europe had nearly 1,800 disasters, leading to 166,492 deaths and $562 billion in economic losses. Earlier in May, the WMO said world temperatures are likely to rise 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2027. The U.N. agency said that was a dangerous level, which could result in deaths and damage to the worlds ecosystems. Im Jill Robbins. Hai Do adapted this Associated Press report for VOA Learning English. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story casualty n. a person hurt or killed in an accident, disaster or war soar v. to reach very high levels slash v. to cut sharply toll n. a total number of people who were killed or injured in an accident, or destructive event brunt n. the heaviest or most harmful part of something hazard n. a dangerous or destructive incident catastrophic adj. extremely disastrous Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. PHOENIX A polygamous sect leader and some of his followers have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to travel across Arizona state lines and get wives for him, authorities said Thursday. A federal grand jury on Wednesday issued a superseding indictment against 47-year-old Samuel Rappylee Bateman of Colorado City, Arizona, and 10 of his followers. Authorities accuse Bateman of taking more than 20 wives, including 10 girls under the age of 18. They said Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska and he allegedly had sex with the minor girls on a regular basis. The superseding indictment also charges Bateman with the production of child pornography. It alleges that in late November 2020, Bateman coordinated group sexual activity in a Colorado Springs hotel room with some of his followers, and that included underage girls. Bateman was arrested last year and remains in federal custody pending his trial, which is scheduled for March 5, 2024. Bateman was previously charged with kidnapping, child abuse and tampering with evidence, and he pleaded not guilty. A call to one of Bateman's lawyers seeking comment about the case wasnt immediately returned Thursday. Bateman and three of his 10 followers charged in the superseding indictment were scheduled to be arraigned Friday in a Phoenix federal court. Authorities said five others were to have their initial court appearances Thursday in St. George, Utah, while one woman is detained pending trial in Phoenix and another awaits a May 30 detention hearing in Flagstaff, Arizona. Photos: UNL celebrates largest-ever graduating class Emperor Akihito of Japan has spoken of his deep sorrow and pain over the suffering inflicted by his country during World War II, but did not apologise for the treatment of prisoners in work camps. Addressing a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, attended by the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Mother and 11 other senior Royals, the Emperor said he could never forget the many kinds of suffering experienced by so many. War veterans said that Emperor Akihito had not gone far enough and demanded a real, meaningful apology. They are angry with Japan over its refusal to offer more substantial compensation and a full apology for their suffering during the war. Earlier, in a gesture of contempt, former prisoners of war turned their backs on Emperor Akihito and whistled the wartime anthem Colonel Bogey as he rode with the Queen in a Royal carriage down The Mall. Later, outside nearby Westminster Abbey where the emperor laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial to the dead of World War I, around 500 protesters repeated their protest, turning their backs and humming Colonel Bogey again. Under the post-war Japanese constitution, Emperor Akihito is a non-political figurehead and, as such, cannot formally apologise for the suffering inflicted by the Japanese imperial army. But in the banquet speech on Tuesday, delivered in Japanese, he came close to saying sorry. It truly saddens me, however, that the relationship so nurtured between our two countries should have been marred by the Second World War. The Empress and I can never forget the many kinds of suffering so many people have undergone because of that war. At the thought of the scars of war that they bear, our hearts are filled with deep sorrow and pain. All through our visit here, this thought will never leave our minds. We sincerely hope that such a history will never be repeated between our two nations. Courtesy BBC News In context Of the 50,016 British military personnel taken captive by the Japanese 12,433 died or were killed in captivity. The survivors campaigned for years for extra compensation for the horrors they endured. On 26 November 1998 a Japanese court ruled against them saying the issue was settled when Japan made a token payment of 76 (the equivalent of 1,200 today) to the servicemen in the early 1950s. Two years later, the British government granted a total of 100m to 16,700 former PoWs or their widows in recognition of the unique circumstances of their captivity. The chairman of the Japanese Labour Camp Survivors Association, Arthur Titherington, said the veterans would continue to seek a full apology from the Japanese emperor. A Hong Kong man was sentenced to more than five years in prison for participating in a thwarted bomb plot that aimed to build resistance forces, in a closely watched case involving high school students accused of serious crimes following the 2019 anti-government protests. Prosecutors said Alexander Au, 21, and the five others in court yesterday had planned to manufacture explosives and target court buildings. Their 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 Kongs 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 are 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, admitted to the terrorism charge. Ho was described as one of the plot masterminds. Judge Alex Lee said at yesterdays 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 Au was more culpable since he was involved in renting a room in a guesthouse for making explosives and inspecting targeted buildings with Ho. Three defendants, who were younger than 21 and had relatively minor roles, would be sent to rehabilitation-focused training centers, Lee said. They could be held for up to three years, but the true 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. The pair only stayed briefly in the court room. While Lee was handing down the penalties, two of the defendants who stayed slightly shook their heads. When police raided the guesthouse room in 2021, officers seized equipment believed to be used for making explosives. They also alleged Ho had written in notes that his goal was to destabilize Hong Kong, promote conflicts between the central government and others, then build up a resistance group. 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. KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG, MDT/AP A total of 41 suspected illegal workers were detected across the city in April, according to data from the Public Security Police. Alongside the Labour Affairs Bureaus operations, they inspected 291 locations in April to identify illegal workers. Last month, 38 illegal workers were found following inspections of 509 sites. Related Many residents of Guam remained without power and utilities yesterday after Typhoon Mawar tore through the remote U.S. Pacific territory the night before and ripped roofs off homes, flipped vehicles and shredded trees. There were no immediate reports of deaths and injuries but the central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet of rain as the eyewall passed. The islands 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, said Landon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Most of Guam is dealing with a major mess thats gonna 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. The scope of the damage was difficult to ascertain early on, with power and internet failures making communication on the far-flung island difficult. Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in a video message late yesterday morning that roads were passable, but residents should avoid driving and stay home due to ongoing strong winds. We have weathered the storm, Leon Guerrero said, adding that the worst has gone by. As the typhoon crept slowly over the island, it sent solar panels flying and crumbled part of a hotels 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 Bazas mothers 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 northeastern 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 familys 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. In a sign of how much help Guam might need, 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. Guam is about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii and 1,600 miles east of the Manila, the capital of the Philippines. By yesterday afternoon, Mawar was centered 135 miles northwest of Guam and 150 miles west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 7 mph. Power was also knocked out for all of Rota, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. said late Wednesday. The island has about 2,500 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The storm strengthened to 155 mph winds yesterday and regained its status as a super typhoon, according to the weather service. Mawar, a Malaysian word that means rose, was forecast to maintain this intensity for the next two days. After moving away from Guam, the storm is expected to track generally northwest over a large, empty of expanse of ocean for days, and it could threaten Taiwan next week. 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. GRACE GARCES BORDALLO, HAGATNA, MDT/AP The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong, yesterday began her visit to Portugal by meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, Zhao Bentang. Following in the footsteps of a larger delegation, led by the Chief Executive, that toured Portugal last month, Ao Ieongs visit aims to exchange views on the continued strengthening of Sino-Portuguese cooperation on social affairs and culture, with the area of Big Health as a main focus. In the meeting with Zhao, the Secretary presented work related to the area of social affairs and culture within the framework of the development strategy of adequate diversification 1+4 of Macau, including projects to promote the development of priority industries, such as the health industry (Big Health) and culture and sport. She noted a cooperation project in the field between the Polytechnic University of Macau and China Media Group Asia-Pacific headquarters, which will use technology from the Chinese-Portuguese-English Machine Translation Laboratory to translate news from the mainland into Portuguese and broadcast it to Portuguese-speaking countries. The Secretary also mentioned that, during her trip, meetings will also be held with the Portuguese health authorities, as well as several higher education institutions and local museums, with some cooperation agreements to be signed. As on previous occasions, Ambassador Zhao expressed his willingness to serve as a bridge for communication between Macau and Portugal, coordinating and reinforcing exchanges and cooperation between the two parties. The delegation from the Social Affairs and Culture department includes staff from the cabinet of Ao Ieong, the director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Kong Chi Meng, the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Deland Leong, the Director of the Health Bureau, Alvis Lo, and the Deputy Head of the Economic and Commercial Delegation of Macau in Lisbon, Lucia Abrantes dos Santos. Although some Western countries have expressed their disapproval of Sino-Russian cooperation and seek to distort the economic and trade ties between the two countries as proof that China is supporting Russias special military operation in Ukraine, this is part and parcel of the evil empires guff they are peddling to the gullible. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated categorically that China-Russia cooperation does not target any third party, nor is it subject to disruption or coercion by any third party. Her back-in-your-face response was a rebuttal of the disapprobation voiced by the usual parties at China hosting a delegation led by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The visit is intended to give substance to the agreement reached between the two heads of state to promote greater complementarity and joint development of traditional trade and emerging areas of cooperation. China is Russias largest trading partner, with trade between the two sides reaching a record $190 billion last year, according to Chinese customs data. Energy is an obvious lubricant for greater cooperation. Russia has it to sell and China wants to buy it. China became Russias top energy customer last year. But trade between the two countries is more than just energy. Thanks to their complementary trade structures, the value of China-Russia imports and exports soared 41.3 percent on a yearly basis to $73.15 billion in the first four months of 2023, indicating a bright prospect for the two countries to realize the goal of $200 billion for bilateral trade, a target set by the two leaders for this year. In todays turbulent world, that China and Russia are making efforts to expand their cooperation and strengthen ties should be perceived as a contribution to world peace, stability and development. Only those with a narrow world view and clinging to the Cold War mentality would question its purpose. Guided by the two heads of state, China and Russia have blazed a path of major-country relations featuring strategic trust and good neighborliness, setting a good example for international relations. But China, like the majority of the countries in the world, has adopted a different stance than the West over the Ukraine conflict, which forms a stark contrast to what the US-led Western countries have been doing in imposing sanctions on Russia and constantly fanning the war flames in Ukraine. For this reason, the US-led clique is trying to stigmatize Chinas relations with Russia. Despite all the brickbats, China will continue to strengthen its cooperation with Russia while at the same time pushing for a lasting diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis. Editorial, China Daily Photo: Union of Canadian Correctional Officers The defendants named in a civil lawsuit have issued a distinctly different account of a strip search of a man serving a life sentence for the murder of a rival just outside Prince George. Darren Cayley Daniel Sundman is seeking damages from Correctional Services Canada, the Attorney General of Canada, the warden at Kent Institution and three unnamed people, alleging in a notice of claim filed in March that a guard probed his anal cavity and left him with abrasions and bruises and psychological trauma. Sundman claims the search occurred when, while in the process of being transferred to another prison, he was taken into a washroom and while fully nude, dropped a small cellphone, a USB cable and a charging block from his buttocks. Sundman was immediately thrown to the ground and handcuffed, then one of the guards inserted two fingers into his anus to "dig around" the cavity, the claim says. No more objects were recovered. But in a response filed May 19, the defendants deny the allegation. Instead, they say that in the course of the search, a guard found a roughly six-inch length of sharpened metal hidden inside one of Sundman's shoes and that a small cellphone "approximately the size of a thumb" fell on the floor when he removed his underwear. The USB cable and the charger were also observed and Sundman was instructed to leave the items on the floor. At that point, Sundman became "non-compliant" and the two attending guards had to physically restrain him and other guards were called in to help. Once Sundman was restrained, the cable and charger were retrieved but not the cellphone. Upon arrival at the new prison - Sundman was being transferred from Kent Institution in Agassiz, B.C. to Donnaconna Institution in Quebec - he was placed in a cell for inmates suspected of having ingested or hidden contraband in a body cavity. Subsequent checks with a metal detector confirmed the presence of an object inside him. Roughly a day later, Sundman "passed the cellphone during a bowel movement" and it was recovered by guards. Both parties agree that Sundman was being subject to an involuntary transfer. He was served notice in Dec. 3, 2020 and the transfer took place on Feb. 19, 2021. In the process, the emergency response team at Kent had to be deployed because Sundman had barricaded himself in a cell. Sundman eventually calmed down and was taken to admissions and discharge for the search. The defendants deny that it was carried out in a "washroom with no door" and instead say he was taken to a "designated strip search area" blocked off by a curtain. Originally found guilty of second-degree murder in January 2015 for the shooting of Jordan Taylor McLeod, the conviction for Sundman was upgraded to first-degree murder upon appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada and he is now serving a sentence of 25 years to life. None of the allegations have been tested in court. * Resurrecting strong Macau is rebounding quicker than expected; future of the city just fine without junkets, said Rob Goldstein, CEO of Las Vegas Sands, in an exclusive interview with the Times * Events | Harry Potter Exhibition to open at The Londoner * Economy | GDP up 38.8% year-on-year in Q1 * Secretary Elsie Ao Ieong U in Portugal with aims to strengthen Sino-Portuguese cooperation on Big Health * Unemployment rate drops to 3.6% from February-April * After Typhoon Mawar battered GUam, what used to be a jungle looks like toothpicks DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, May 26, 2023 edition no. 4254 A Hong Kong-flagged ship briefly ran aground yesterday in Egypts vital Suez Canal, though authorities said they were able to refloat it after it momentarily disrupted the waterway. The Xin Hai Tong 23 ran aground at the southern mouth of the Suez Canal, the body that oversees the waterway said in a statement. The ship was being towed to another area by three tug boats after an emergency malfunction, it said, that caused it to stop sailing. The Suez Canal Authority said that traffic flow had returned to normal in the canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Leth Agencies, which oversees traffic in the canal, had said that four other vessels were stopped in line behind it after it ran aground. The ship is a bulk carrier, which typically carries cargo. The ship measures some 190 meters by 32 meters. 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. MDT/AP The South African government was under more pressure yesterday [Macau time] 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 Africas ruling party added to the scrutiny of the countrys 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 ANCs 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 hasnt 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 ANCs 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 Africas government since Russias 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 Africas 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 hasnt categorically ruled out the possibility that another entity did so secretly. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an inquiry. Yesterday, South Africas 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 Rs visit to the Simons 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 governments 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. Modises 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. GERALD, CAPE TOWN, MDT/AP Two men in their fifties have reportedly died by suicide in Macau just a few hours apart. The cases, as reported by the Judiciary Police (PJ), appear unrelated. In the first case, a 51-year-old male was found dead in the bathroom of a hotel room in downtown Macau. According to the PJ the man was a resident from the mainland. In the second case, reported yesterday morning, a 52-year-old male resident of Macau was found dead at his home. According to the PJ, which deployed investigators to the scene after the body was found by members of the Fire Services Bureau, the man was last seen by family members around May 21 and no one reported knowing of any problems which might have contributed to his death. In both cases, the PJ said there were no suspicions of criminal activity, with suicide suspected. The causes of death for both men will be confirmed later through forensic examinations. This is the third suicide the PJ has reported this week. The Social Welfare Bureau encourages residents to be conscious of their psychological and emotional state as well as those of their relatives and friends. If in need of support, residents can call Caritas Life Hope hotline (28525222) or IAS counseling hotline (28261126). Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. 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. Photos: The search for Brian Laundrie 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 one's 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. It's 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 bill's 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 can't 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 didn't feel comfortable in their surroundings. A seventh grader, Rayyang Gorman, said he had wanted to change his name because his peers and teachers couldn't 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 didn't 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 bill's passage for years but wasn't present at Thursday's hearing, said in written testimony. "And I couldn't 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 bill's passage, would almost certainly sign it into law. A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, didn't respond to a request for comment on whether he'd 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 he's hopeful the bill will get passed by the Legislature this session. He said he hasn't 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. "They've been asking for it for a long time. I'm not sure why the previous chairman would never give it a hearing." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Local business owner Janice Durands new book, The Magic Hour: A Very Personal History of State Street, is a look at the history of Madisons iconic State Street and her time as owner of the Puzzlebox toy store starting in 1979, and Little Luxuries, which is now owned by Amy Moore. Durand, whose book came out last month, said she loved writing the book and has had a good response from readers. I think what theyre responding to is that I took risks based on my intuition, she said about her career as a business owner. In business, its important to remember that its not a disaster if you make a mistake, she said. Indeed, Durand says she likes the old phrase follow your bliss. I really did follow my bliss, but it did become my agony for a while, she said. Durand will discuss her book during an event at Mystery to Me in early June. Q: Congratulations on The Magic Hour. Most people know you as the owner of the Puzzlebox. Can you tell us a little more about your background? A: I am a Wisconsin native. I grew up in Chippewa Falls. I came from a farming family, the youngest in a family of eight. Only I and my next-oldest brother went to college. I talk about the new class system in the book quite a bit. It was my high school English teacher who told my mother I should go to college. Q: Where does your history with State Street start? A: I was the first mall coordinator. The State Street mall opened in the late 70s. I had done some other things that prepared me for a career in business. I had worked two years at the Minnesota State Fair managing a boutique called Mother Earth for my brother-in-law, so I knew how to run a store. When I was looking for work after raising my kids for 10 years, I applied at the Elvehjem Arts Center. I had also published, with my husband, a guidebook to Madison. Those two things got me the job doing the new State Street mall, but I only did it for a year. I loved it, but it burned me out. Q: What made you decide to start the toy store, the Puzzlebox? A: My first husband, John, really wanted to have a business, and I needed a job. We were on a family vacation to New Orleans. We went into a toy store that was like none Ive ever seen. The only toy store Id known was the dime store in my hometown, standard toys that werent very interesting. These toys were a combination of imports and small American companies. I thought, Wow, that would be good on State Street. When the mall job got too hard, the space on upper State Street became available. It just happened to be across the street from the new civic center that would open in 1980. Q: What were some of the challenges in opening the store? A: Another store owner on the street told me, Janice, there are no children downtown, what are you thinking? That put me in a panic. At the same time, a neighbor came by our house to borrow something and said, Janice, two out of three retail stores fail. To hedge my bets, I went to a really good craft show in New York and bought things for adults beautiful kaleidoscopes and wood game sets. I happily ended up with a toy store for all ages. Q: How would you summarize the first 10 years of the business? A: The first 10 years were everything. When I opened in 1979, no one had seen a lot of these products. It did take a while to build the business. The magic hour were the first five years. It was phenomenal and very gratifying. Because it was so popular I expanded. One store was in Milwaukee and one in St. Louis. Then I had to change and figure out how to run multiple stores. However, later, when the stock market crashed in 1987 ... that was a harbinger as to what would happen in the economy. Q: How did you handle that next, difficult period? A: By 1990, I had sold the Puzzlebox in Madison and was in the process of selling off the St. Louis store. I realized I needed to get back to the smaller model. So I opened another new store, Little Luxuries. That was the store that was really right for the street. It has a formula that works in that it sells seasonal items and accessories that can be renewed every season. If you find something thats not at a chain store, then youve got a pretty good formula. The theme I talk about a lot in the book is that in 1979, the U.S. was at the height, economically. By the time my business ended after 2000, we were in a different era. What I try to do in the book is track the changes ... and show what a fragmented market this is. Q: What are some changes you have noticed about State Street during your time as a business owner in Madison? A: State Street has changed so much. I think its just in another one of its changes. The book starts when I encounter tear gas on the Library Mall. State Street is always where political movements get expressed. That can be ironic, because the social justice demonstrations a few years ago made some people not want to come Downtown. I also think were in the middle of a changing economy. I dont think we know whats going to happen. But I think State Street will always be there. People worry about chain stores on State Street. There are some towering buildings going up that will have a big footprint ... thats what could really kill State Street if you take away those small spaces that are so affordable for startups. I think its a very important street economically to the city and spiritually to the city, and I think we should pay all the attention in the world to it. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Sid Korn could very well be a walking definition of recovery. Born in New York in 1944, Korn experienced a severe run-in with polio as a young child and throughout his 79 years has dealt with aggressive forms of cancer, medical ailments, alcoholism and trauma, as well as a learning disability and mental health struggles. Throughout his schooling, he was very socially awkward and ostracized for his differences. Making friends was difficult, he said, as was finding love at the time. All of that caused great suffering for Korn, who now with his wife, Nancy, has a daughter, also in the area, and a son with four children in Alaska. Korn, who has lived in the Madison area since the early 1990s, said he plans to visit his grandchildren in September. But through that adversity, Korn has traveled various parts of the world, from the coldest parts of Siberia to the majestic landscapes of Israel, as well as Switzerland and Canada. Artifacts and pieces of art from those travels adorn the walls and line the shelves of his Middleton home. One of those artifacts is a boot made of reindeer from an excursion to Siberia, where Korn lived and learned the ways of the native Yakut tribes in Russias most frigid parts. Another is a ritual cup for drinking fermented mares milk, or Kourchah, a popular Yakut dessert. Korn also through his suffering discovered the Bahai faith, which according to its website holds that the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society. Members of the faith also believe in an elimination of prejudice and that all religions of the world came from one source and are successive chapters of one religion from God. Bahais share a common goal of serving others, even going as far as traveling and living among other cultures. Having studied at the now-closed Nasson College in Sanford, Maine, Korn has a background in biology. College is where he had his first bouts with alcoholism not liking where I was and escaping the reality of being lonely. After graduating from college in 1966, after almost flunking his junior year, Korn said he went on to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Missouri, where he tested the carcinogenic effects of oil compounds. He attributes that experience to his later cancer diagnoses. Korn also worked at fisheries in California, where he met Nancy, as well as Alaska, before his pilgrimages as part of his Bahai faith. Korn didnt find out he had had polio as a young child until the age of 43. Mental health diagnoses, including bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder, also didnt come until late in life. Korn recalled the medication he took for his bipolar diagnosis as making him all mind but no heart. His saving grace instead: Korns faith, and other support groups that have aided in his overcoming alcoholism and cancer. Tell us about your first run-in with a major medical issue besides polio. (In the 1970s) I had a swollen left breast. I knew something was very wrong. (Some doctors) did some X-rays and my whole chest was full of tumors. (The doctors) did a biopsy. Amazingly, it was benign. But (I had to have a major surgery on my chest). I still have the twist ties in there. I remember waking up with a tube down my throat and receiving morphine shots every four hours. I (later) tried to drink the terror away. How did you first discover the Bahai faith and confront your drinking? We transferred (from California) to a fishery lab in Juneau, Alaska. I was drinking a lot. My wife and I were walking through a park when we encountered a Bahai musician named Red Grammar, who is well-known for his childrens songs. Nancy started to learn more about the faith. Im from a Jewish background agnostic with all the dogmas and rituals. She finally became Bahai, and I found out there were people saying prayers for me in a building across the bay. Suddenly I pick up a book and I read (about Bahai) for myself. Everything made sense. (I saw how) the world has to come together (and agreed) with the total equality of men and women. The elimination of prejudice. No clergy. No drugs or alcohol. Tell us more about getting to know Yakut people of Siberia as part of one of your Bahai travels. They are some of the most wonderful people. My job was to go to their villages and help teach English. They had never seen foreigners. Youd go to the schools and the students would gather up to ask various questions. When did you get cancer? What was that like? In 2013, I was diagnosed with large B cell lymphoma. I remember I felt kind of tired a year before. Statistically, there was a 50% chance that I could live. I could have freaked out with anxiety and died, but (what I learned in recovery and in my faith) saved my life. (The doctors eventually) cured me with chemo, and life got really good. I found another wonderful support group through Gildas Club. Theres a location (in Madison). There was yet another medical ailment. Can you describe what that was like? The last one was a little over a year ago. I was diagnosed with Merkels cell carcinoma (a rare disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the skin). This time, I knew to take life one day at a time. I could have died of stress. Theres a Bahai saying that has helped you through your adversity. What is that saying and what does it mean to you? The quote is: My calamity is my providence. Outwardly it is fire and vengeance. Inwardly it is light and mercy. As a Bahai in recovery, it all came together. The faith alone wasnt going to work. I needed to seek support. How have all your lived experiences shaped your philosophies around life, death and the human condition? What could Madisonians learn from you? I believe that we are all put on this Earth to help others. I believe I was put on this Earth to help people in need and Ive had a lot of opportunities to do that. For fellow Madisonians, some kind of meaningful spiritual life is essential. One of the biggest addictions is to the material. But nothing is solid. Man will never know everything about anything. Everything is infinitely complex. Its amazing. Photos: Stoughton Norwegian Dancers perform at Wisconsin state Capitol for Syttende Mai Norwegian dancers Norwegian dancers Norwegian dancers 05172023 Norwegian Dancers SKM 5-05172023140742.jpg 05172023 Norwegian Dancers SKM 7-05172023143453.jpg 05172023 Norwegian Dancers SKM 8-05172023140742.jpg 05172023 Norwegian Dancers SKM 9-05172023140742.jpg 05172023 Norwegian Dancers SKM 10-05172023140742.jpg Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Employees of the Madison School District communications department complained in October that director Tim LeMonds routinely bullied and abused staff and others outside the department, especially female reporters and other district employees, according to documents released Friday by the school district. In writing this complaint, it is difficult to fully convey the effect years of screaming, demoralizing criticism, name-calling, belittling, lying and intimidation has had on us as employees, communications department employees Ellie Herman, Brad Mackey and Mike Wetzel wrote. For current employees, every day there is a gnawing knot in the pit of our stomachs, a constant anxiety that one phone call or unsuspecting Zoom meeting could end with being yelled at or having our jobs threatened. While there had been some hope for a resolution over time, they wrote, It is clear that Tims attitude and actions toward his coworkers cannot be resolved it is a deep, inherent belief that others are not worthy of basic respect. We do not feel Tim LeMonds is fit to work in our department. They wrote that LeMonds targets women for criticism more often and that the actions and words themselves are insults traditionally used to belittle women phrases like youre so sensitive, or youre too emotional. LeMonds has denied the allegations and in a brief statement Friday said: All allegations in the complaint of emotional abuse, bullying, unequal pay, and harassment on the basis of gender, and race or ethnicity were thoroughly investigated and determined to be without merit. LeMonds unsuccessfully sued to block the release of the records, arguing that the documents would almost certainly subject Mr. LeMonds to unwarranted, unfair and irreversible public ridicule and gossip, negative public perception, and jeopardize his ability to credibly perform his duties as (the districts) chief public spokesperson especially since all of the accusations in the complaint were found to be without merit by (the district). The documents were released in response to open records requests from WMTV (Channel 15) reporter Elizabeth Wadas and other media outlets. On Thursday, Dane County Circuit Judge Rhonda Lanford denied LeMonds request to block their release. Whether or not any of these allegations were found to have merit, the idea that there was ever any question about whether the public had a right to see this detailed complaint is frankly obnoxious, said Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. In my opinion, the provision of the law that allowed this document to be withheld for weeks pending hopeless legal maneuvering ought to be reconsidered. According to the documents released Friday, LeMonds said in April 2022 during a Zoom meeting with Herman and Amy Knight, also from the communications staff, that Wadas was quickly becoming the sleaziest journalist in Madison ... What a pig of a journalist. In August, he told Knight, I (expletive) hate Beth Beyer, who was the K-12 education reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal at the time. In another instance in March 2022, the complaint states he admitted during a conference call that he bullied Madison Police Department spokesperson Stephanie Fryer, saying, I became unglued, and really railed into her, I mean full on yelling. Shes an idiot. She clearly doesnt know what shes doing. Then he laughed, according to the complaint. The districts legal team and human resources department investigated the complaint, which included 11 interviews with LeMonds, the staff who filed the complaint and other staff, and a review of documents and recordings, according to LeMonds civil complaint to try to stop the release of the records. In December 2022, the district issued a formal letter finding the accusations against LeMonds to be without merit and decided no further action would be taken. Messages left with Madison schools Superintendent Carlton Jenkins and Madison School Board President Nichelle Nichols were not returned Friday. Reached Friday, Herman said she and her colleagues had no comment on the records. Pay inequity In complaints filed on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, the group of communications employees, along with some former district employees, said they and others had been subjected to years of emotional abuse and bullying by LeMonds, along with unequal pay, harassment on the basis of gender, and race or ethnicity in violation of district policies. In November 2021, according to the complaint, LeMonds asked Herman to temporarily oversee two high school attendance areas while the district worked on finding new employees in the new year, doubling her workload. In January, when new employees had not yet been hired, LeMonds told Herman on Zoom that she would receive a raise to match standard market rate, adding a month later that she would receive a salary increase and take a senior communications title. When Herman hadnt seen an increase in her pay by the following March, she asked for back pay for her extra workload. LeMonds told her the raise was coming soon, attributing the delay to HR being so slow. Herman then asked Human Resources for an update on May 13 and was told that same day there was no record of LeMonds requesting a raise or back pay for her. In a text, LeMonds told Herman he was both surprised and frankly disturbed that she went to HR and said she needed to be patient and wait until a new teacher contract was settled. Since then, Herman has been scared to inquire about the raise for fear of further backlash, the complaint said. We respectfully request a full review of the materials below, which up until now we have been too afraid to address to HR and MMSD administration due to a fear of additional retaliation by Mr. LeMonds, the group wrote. In full honesty, we are still afraid, but have reached a breaking point due to the toll our mental, emotional and physical health have taken trying to address the issue ourselves. The letter continues: The consistent bullying and retaliation have created a disrespectful, toxic work environment that inhibits the efficacy of the districts communications department, one that were unable to fix ourselves no matter how hard we work. The complaint cites at least four communications employees who have left, specifically citing LeMonds behavior as a factor in their exit interviews. One of them, who left in October, lasted only 31 days. Nasty reporters In a section of the complaint detailing LeMonds interactions with local media and the districts community partners, LeMonds frequently expressed his disdain toward certain reporters, all of them women. On Oct. 6, 2022, he allegedly told members of the districts communications department that there was no way he would respond to three interview requests from an unnamed reporter, described as a woman of color, because he didnt like her. In that same meeting, he asked staff to share any negative experiences they had with Beyer, whom he called a horrible human being. Herman said shed had only positive interactions with Beyer and attempted to defend her, to which LeMonds said, according to the complaint: I basically told her editors we want her removed, I never want to work with her ever again. The bosses said we need to meet and mend our relationship, well, to me that was enough. Im like, screw her. And uh, thats why Beth Beyer is gone, because we just werent working with her. In fact, Beyer left to take a congressional fellowship with the American Political Science Association in Washington, D.C., where she continues to work as a House committee staff member. In a recording taken during an early August department retreat, according to the complaint, LeMonds complained of an aggressive and nasty local news media that he said declined to report on positive stories about the district. Later that month, LeMonds told Beyer that reporters were not allowed to enter any schools on the first day of classes, claiming it was a district policy. However, a male reporter, Scott Girard with The Capital Times, was granted access to a school, along with a photographer, for student interviews and photographs inside the buildings. State Journal reporter Anna Hansen contributed to this report. Re. Poll: Should Canada re-establish full diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia? (Castanet, May 24) Of course our government will want to re-establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. That is whatit does. It disapproves of their actions, but later goes back to business as usual. I wrote this letter to Chrystia Freeland (who was then foreign affairs minister) in Sepember 2019. Needless to say, I got no acknowledgment or reply. "Dear Ms. Freeland, I was very disturbed two days ago to read about another bombing in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners. The death toll from this attack has yet to be finalized, but we know that it is at least 100. Many more will of course have catastrophic injuries and lost limbs. I think what disturbs me most about this, which is the latest in a long line of atrocities, is that your government talks about Saudi Arabia as an ally. In what way are they our ally? Their country shares nothing of our Canadian values and yet apparently we give them a free pass, either because we want their oil, or because we are doing the bidding of the US. I have yet to hear any condemnation of their action from you or the prime minister, and yet if this happened in any other country world leaders would have been outraged. To make matters worse we continue to supply that barbaric country with armaments knowing full well that they will be used against their own citizens, and anyone else who disagrees with their extreme views. So far the best estimates are that 70,000 people have died in Yemen since the Saudis started their campaign. Most of these will have been innocent civilians, when exactly are you going to decide that enough is enough? I have a son in the army but Canada's traditional role has been that of mediator, or of peacekeeper, a force for good, not a force for murder and destruction. It is time to disassociate our country from this alliance." In nearly four years nothing has changed. Peter Emery, Kelowna 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. I was walking with another international activist March 7 near Tuba village in Masafer Yatta, a group of villages at the southernmost end of the West Bank, when Israeli settlers from the nearby outpost of Havat Maon attacked us. One settler chased my companion, wielding an iron bar, and another struck me from behind with a large stick, knocking me out, fracturing my skull and causing bleeding in my brain. As a U.S. citizen with supporters here at home, I was able to get the State Department and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, to press my case with Israel. As a result, the settler who hit me was arrested and charged with assault though the odds of him being convicted or suffering more than a slap on the wrist are slim. For Palestinians living in Masafer Yatta, such attacks are an almost-daily occurrence. Recently, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed 34 Palestinians including at least 13 civilians, seven of whom were children and injured 147 between May 9 and 13. But amid the destruction, a small crack has appeared in the United States decadeslong commitment to funding the Israeli occupation of Palestinian areas. We should be doing all we can to widen that crack. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., joined 12 other lawmakers to call on the Biden administration to undertake a shift in U.S. policy in recognition of the worsening violence, further annexation of land and denial of Palestinian rights by Israel. Their letter, delivered in mid-April, recommends attaching conditions to the $3.8 billion Israel receives from U.S. taxpayers annually. Wisconsin volunteer attacked in West Bank but remains committed to help Cassandra Dixon, a volunteer observer who works in Madison and lives near Wisconsin Dells, said she does not know why she was attacked. The letter also requests that no U.S. funds be used to support illegal settlements, and urges that existing regulations prohibiting assistance to military forces that commit gross human rights violations should be applied to Israel. Above all, the letter is a progressive recognition that our tax dollars will be used to violate the human rights of Palestinian civilians as long as we keep giving Israel a blank check to do just that. Supported by Israeli military and police, illegal settlers regularly and violently attack people and animals, and destroy crops and property. To file a complaint, Palestinians must go to the police station inside of a settlement, where they are more likely to be arrested or interrogated for hours than having any action taken against their attackers. Of the legal complaints made against settlers, the vast majority are dismissed by Israeli courts. Ive been doing accompaniment and solidarity work as a volunteer in these villages for a dozen years, spending about two months in the area each spring. From my firsthand experience, I know that settlers in Masafer Yatta have become even more brazenly engaged in a violent and systemic campaign to drive Palestinians out and permanently seize their land. As part of that campaign, the areas 1,300 residents are also facing imminent destruction of their homes to make way for the Israeli militarys war exercises. This is what U.S. taxpayers are buying with the millions of dollars we give Israel each day, which amounts to the strangulation of villages caught between illegal outposts. As concerned citizens, we have a responsibility to insist the Biden administration stop making exceptions for Israel when it comes to human rights abuses in Palestinian areas. We know better than to stand by and allow an occupying power to demolish schools and homes. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MINNEAPOLIS The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the protests that erupted around the world in response, looked like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee into the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, "I can't breathe," echoing Eric Garner's last words as he died in a police chokehold in 2014. Video footage of Floyd's May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch, demands for change came from across the country. In the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major reforms many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Now, three years since Floyd's 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 we're in the midst of, I see no evidence of that," Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts said during a recent news conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective. The beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long it's taking to achieve meaningful change. Pressley said, "we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives." Push for accountability Soon after Floyd's 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 called a consent decree. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. There were also immediate cries to defund the police and instead fund public housing, infrastructure and mental health services. A ballot measure on that failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. Remembering Floyd Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday "George Floyd Remembrance Day" in Minnesota. Minneapolis activists planned 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. 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 and awaits sentencing. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge, receiving a concurrent sentence of 21 years. The three others also were convicted of violating Floyd's rights and got much shorter sentences. Police misconduct 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, which fueled calls for accountability. That so far largely has come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers committed misconduct at protests, including 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, officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, a grand jury indicted 19 officers. Few have been convicted. Minneapolis agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyd's killing, but few officers faced disciplinary action. 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 also would create a database listing officers disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. 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, he renewed his call for Congress to act in order to bring "real and lasting change at the state and local levels." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ILLINOIS CHICAGO More than 450 Catholic clergy in Illinois sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950, the state's 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 Raoul's 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 Raoul's announcement, the state's Catholic dioceses said the attorney general's investigation prompted a years long 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 state's 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. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DEBT LIMIT 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 said he directed his negotiating team "to work 24/7 to solve this problem." At the Capitol, McCarthy, R-Calif., said that "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. In remarks at the White House, Biden said, "It's 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 Trump-aligned 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. Stalled negotiations 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." 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. 'Ways to go' 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, in-stead 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BURLEY It was a jubilant scene for the seniors of the Class of 2023, who capped off their high school experience and looked forward to the future. One of the largest classes in the history of Burley High School, 240 seniors collected their diplomas at commencement on Thursday night. As a packed crowd waited for the moment the graduates would begin the procession, they were treated to festive music from the BHS Jazz Band, which kept the vibe of the already-enthusiastic crowd buzzing. Salutatorian Sage Baker told fellow graduates that the moment that seemed to take a lifetime to arrive was finally here. She also pointed out that over an average life span of 77 years, high school accounts for just 5% of life. Now that this 5% of our lives is over, we can move on and face what comes next, Baker said. She listed the things learned in school that might not matter so much in the future, like remembering to format papers in 12-point Times New Roman font, or knowing that the mitochondria was the powerhouse of the cell. Being a kind, honest, hardworking and loyal person can get you lots of opportunities, Baker said. Pattern your life after those people who lifted you up: that teacher, that friend, that family member ... use this 5% to 100% change you for the better. Each of the speakers thanked parents, families, staff, and especially teachers who helped guide their way. Longtime teacher Craig Mills, who is retiring after decades at the high school, was honored with thunderous applause. School Board Chair Jeff Rasmussen invited Mills to stand for recognition and thanks. Every one of my children said that they will always be grateful and remember Mr. Mills, Rasmussen said. As the seniors depart Burley to head into the next phase of their life, Vice Principal Andrew Wray told the Times-News that this class was special. This years group is one thats going to be hard to see go on, Wray said in a phone call. Theyve been leaders, theyve accomplished some amazing things over the last few years. The schools Business Professionals of America chapter had three individuals place in the top five at the National BPA competition in Anaheim earlier this month. Valedictorian Cree Milliron, who serves as treasurer for the Idaho chapter of FFA, placed first in the nation in his event at BPA. Milliron used his opportunity to address the crowd to share some of what he had learned about life so far. I could stand up here and tell you how we got extremely close after the past four years and tell you to follow your dreams and shoot for the stars, but instead Im going to be brutally honest, Milliron said. Milliron said he was never the most popular kid in school, nor the best athlete, nor the smartest, but he had been driven by an unbearable internal pressure to succeed and reach perfection. I now realize that leaving a legacy is less about accomplishing perfection and more about the unique impacts I can make, Milliron said. Congratulations Class of 2023. You made it, lets let the party begin. Following graduation, 56% of Burley graduates said in a survey that they plan on attending a university or state college within two or three years after graduation, and around 10% plan on attending a trade school. This year, 84 seniors graduated from Burley with a Technical Diploma, indicating they have completed two years of classes in the same technical program at places like the Cassia Regional Technical Center or the College of Southern Idaho. Nine students received associate degrees from CSI, along with their diploma. According to the graduate survey, more than 52% of this years graduating class have been in Cassia County schools since kindergarten. 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Its parachuting with a purpose. BASE jumpers plan to complete 22 jumps apiece Saturday off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls to bring attention to the scourge of traumatic brain injuries. Its not a number picked at random, but symbolic for the estimated average number of U.S. servicemembers and veterans who take their own lives each day. BASE jumping 22 times in a single day wont be an easy task, requiring focus, physical effort and skill, organizers say, but they believe it is an appropriate way to bring attention to people who have struggled with brain injuries. An estimated 2.5 million people in the U.S. sustain traumatic brain injuries every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Besides the older adults and children, members of the military are vulnerable during combat or training exercises, and that is how the nonprofit group 22 Jumps was formed. TBIs and post traumatic stress disorder often leave both servicemembers and civilians feeling hopeless as they live with debilitating symptoms and few treatment options, officials say. 22 Jumps founder Tristan Wimmer knows firsthand how devastating TBIs can be to families. In November 2015, after suffering for nearly a decade with a traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq, his brother Kiernan took his own life. In seven events held the last three years, in Idaho, Arizona and West Virginia, 22 Jumps has raised almost $230,000 for TBI research. Events were held the last two years in Twin Falls, and the group will be back on Friday, kicking things off with a speakers series at 5 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre, with leaders in the field of mental health, physical health and TBI research. Keynote speaker Ph.D. Allyson Gage, chief medical officer of Cohen Veterans Bioscience, will discuss the state of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder research. Other speakers will include Dr. Amy Killen, Human Optimization Project; Dr. Carrie Esopenko, Mount Sinai Brain Injury Research Center; and Dr. Andrea Kalvesmaki, University of Utah Health. Ticket price is $22. At 7 p.m., a fundraising concert by Nashville-based musician Brandon Mills, known for his emotionally charged storytelling, will take place at Koto Brewing, 156 Main Ave. W. Admission is free, and Koto will donate a percentage of sales that night toward 22 Jumps. BASE jumping will officially start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Perrine Bridge, with the national anthem by Canyon Ridge High School graduate Savannah Slagel, who held a 22 Jumps event in 2021 as her senior project. The motorcycle group Magic Valley Kingdom Kruisers will also ride across the bridge at that time, followed by flag jumps, with BASE jumpers jumping and flying the flag of the United States and each branch of the military as well as one for Ukraine. Cohen Veterans Bioscience will also have a booth and employees will be available to talk with the public about TBI and brain health. Among the BASE jumpers are Maj. Theresa Nafis, F-35B pilot, U.S. Marine Corps; PO1 Kristen Jacobson, explosive ordnance disposal, U.S. Navy, Firefighter Carly Lucas of the San Jose Fire Department; and Michael Byrnes, 160th SOAR Veteran, U.S. Army. BASE jumping holds a special place in Wimmers heart. Brother, Kiernan, who had suffered the TBI in 2006 while serving in Al Anbar, Iraq, inspired him to become involved with the sport. In fact, Tristan relates that he was mesmerized the first time he saw his brother BASE jump. Tristan said his family helplessly watched as his brothers brain injury deteriorated his quality of life, causing him to become emotional and violent. No amount of intervening, pleading, or outward expressions of love seemed to help. Kiernan refused to admit he had a problem and instead covered up vulnerability with bravado, impulsivity and alcohol, Tristan said. To people closest to them, it was evident things were slowly becoming unglued. Tristan hoped that through BASE jumping, the two, both Marines, could heal together. Kiernans tragic story is just one of thousands of veteran suicide stories over the past 20 years, said Tristan, who adds that there is a large body of evidence that supports a link between TBI and suicides. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Boise Police Department is looking for a vulnerable adult who might be traveling to Jerome, officials say. Paul Brent Williams, 59, is a white male who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 175 pounds. Police officers are concerned for his safety due to ongoing health concerns. He has gray hair and blue eyes, and was last seen at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Boise wearing a gray T-shirt and dark slippers. He is believed to be traveling in a 2002 dark green Suzuki Esteem with Idaho license plate 1AJB81U. He could possibly be headed to Mountain Home or Jerome, police say. Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - Elon Musk departs the Phillip Burton Federal Building and United States Court House in San Francisco, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Musks brain implant company Neuralink says its gotten permission to begin testing its device in people. The company made the announcement on Twitter Thursday, May 25, but has provided no details about a potential trial, which was not listed on the U.S. government database of trials. (AP Photo/ Benjamin Fanjoy, File) Elon Musks brain implant company Neuralink says it's gotten permission from U.S. regulators to begin testing its device in people. The company made the announcement on Twitter Thursday evening but has provided no details about a potential study, which was not listed on the U.S. government database of clinical trials. Officials with the Food and Drug Administration wouldnt confirm or deny whether the agency granted the approval, but press officer Carly Kempler said in an email that the FDA acknowledges and understands that Musks company made the announcement. Neuralink is one of many groups working on linking the nervous system to computers, efforts aimed at helping treat brain disorders, overcoming brain injuries and other applications. Earlier this week, for example, researchers in Switzerland published research in the journal Nature describing an implant that restores communication between the brain and spinal cord to help a man with paralysis to stand and walk naturally. There are more than 30 brain or spine computer interface trials underway, according to clinicaltrials.gov. Musk who also owns Twitter and is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX said last December that his team was in the process of asking regulators to allow them to test the Neuralink device. The device is about the size of a large coin and is designed to be implanted in the skull, with ultra-thin wires going directly into the brain. Musk has said the first two applications in people would be to attempt to restore vision and try to help people with little or no ability to operate their muscles rapidly use digital devices. He also said he envisions that signals from the brain could be bridged to Neuralink devices in the spinal cord for someone with a broken neck. After Musk made a presentation late last year about the device, Rajesh Rao, co-director of the Center for Neurotechnology at the University of Washington, said he doesnt think Neuralink is ahead of other teams in terms of brain-computer interface achievements but is quite ahead in terms of the hardware in the devices. Its unclear how well this device or similar interfaces will ultimately work, or how safe they might be. Neuralinks interface is considered an investigational device at this point, and clinical trials are designed to collect data on safety and effectiveness. In its tweet this week, Neuralink said that its not yet recruiting participants for the study and will provide more information soon. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In 1964, only 568 people lived in one legislative district in Nevada, while approximately 127,000 lived in another. Idaho had a similar gap in voting power, with 969 people in the smallest district and 93,400 in the largest. These types of differences in the power to choose state legislators led to the United States Supreme Court decision in Reynolds v. Sims, explaining that such unfair voting power violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Court held that the effect of each vote should be nearly the same and ordered states to redistrict so that the number of people allowed to vote for each office was roughly equal. In his majority opinion, Chief Justice Warren wrote, The right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizens vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the franchise. This means that when one persons vote counts for less than another persons, it is as bad for democracy as just blocking a person from voting. In common talk, the rule that each persons vote should carry equal weight is called one man, one vote. OUR VIEW: How do you feel about ranked choice voting? Think carefully. OUR VIEW: Were not spooked by an open primary, as proposed by Idahoans for Open Primaries, but were still trying to figure out ranked choice voting. Today, in Idaho, every persons vote does not carry equal weight. Idaho is a very Republican state. In every statewide election, whoever wins the Republican primary wins the general election. The Republican primary is closed to all but the party faithful. As former longtime Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa put it, The whole ballgames in the primary. In the 2022 primary, only 32.4% of Idahos voters turned out to vote. When it takes only about a third of the Republican primary voters to guarantee a win for a candidate in the general election, its clear that the votes of others do not count as much as that one third of the Republican Party. This unfair difference in the worth of each vote is becoming worse because the Republican Party recently adopted a rule to limit party crossover from Democrats and Independents who try to join the Republican primary to make their votes count. There is a new move afoot in Idaho to restore the equal worth of each voters ballot in line with one person, one vote. That is a voter initiative for an open election process called ranked choice voting. Anyone, regardless of party, can run in the primary election and every voter can select among them. The top four go on the general election ballot, where each voter ranks his or her choices in order of preference. The candidate who gets a 50% majority in the general is elected. If no one gets a majority, the candidate receiving the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated and the votes of those who made that candidate their first choice then go to their second-choice candidate in a second count. If a candidate gets a majority in the second count, they win. If not, the process repeats until a candidate gets a majority. If a voter s first choice does not win, their second choice might. What would ranked voting mean for Idaho? It would require candidates to temper extremist positions because 32.4% of the Republican Party can no longer guarantee a win and control who is in office. A candidate must appeal to other voters to capture the No. 1 or No. 2 positions on ballots to reach a 50% majority vote. To appeal to these needed voters requires a moderation of extremist positions that now appeal to only the Republican primary voters. It requires an outreach to most voters in Idaho. The ultimate result will be more tempered and moderate politics. We will be electing candidates less focused on the cultural issues driving doctors out of state, harassing librarians, and losing expensive lawsuits. Instead, candidates will focus on residential property tax relief, economic development, roads and bridges, and education. Beneficiaries of the Republican Partys lock on Idaho offices frantically oppose ranked-choice voting, arguing it is a recount of votes, it will detract from a voters first choice, or it offers too many candidates. Not hardly. Every vote is counted only once. No one has a first-choice guarantee in any election of any type. And in the 2022 Idaho primaries, Republican and Democrat combined, there were nine candidates. We seem to have survived. Perhaps the dizziest argument against ranked-choice voting comes from Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, who opines ranked-choice voting violates the one man, one vote rule. As the Reynolds case guides us to know, the Equal Protection Clause and the one man, one vote rule require equal voting power. What ranked choice voting will do is rebalance and make equal the weight of each citizens vote, as Warren put it, and as one man, one vote requires. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In a groundbreaking decision, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a monumental victory for property rights with its ruling in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday. The ruling, which has far-reaching implications for property owners in Idaho and across the nation, represents a significant victory for landowners, reaffirming their rights and providing essential clarity on the scope of federal regulatory authority. The Sacketts, a couple from Priest Lake, purchased their land in 2004 and began construction on their home in 2007. They found themselves in a frustrating predicament when, in 2007, the EPA issued a compliance order, alleging their property contained wetlands and thus fell under the purview of the Clean Water Act. The agency claimed the Sacketts had violated federal law by commencing construction on their lot without obtaining the necessary permits. This order effectively prevented the Sacketts from using their own land for over 15 years and left them with no recourse but to comply or face severe penalties. Supreme Court limits EPA's authority over wetlands, boosts property rights over clean water 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. The Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision in favor of the Sacketts, with all nine justices agreeing that the wetlands on the Sacketts property are not covered by the Clean Water Act, and that the CWA applies only to wetlands that are as a practical matter indistinguishable from the waters of the United States and that the wetlands on the Sacketts land are distinguishable from any possibly covered waters. This ruling is a significant victory. Justice Clarence Thomas stated that this decision curbs a serious expansion of federal authority that has simultaneously degraded States authority and diverted the Federal Government from its important role as a guarantor of the Nations great commercial water highways into something resembling a local zoning board. In Idaho, where the preservation of private property rights are highly cherished, the Supreme Courts ruling carries exceptional significance. The states vast landscapes and natural resources make it particularly vulnerable to overreach by federal agencies in environmental regulation. The Sackett decision reinforces the principle that landowners in Idaho have a right to maintain control over their properties and ensures the balance between responsible environmental stewardship and individual liberties. The significance of this ruling impacts property rights throughout the country, reaching beyond the boundaries of Idaho. It serves as a powerful precedent, establishing a clear standard for federal jurisdiction, ensuring that property owners in every state are protected from excessive regulatory control. The decision strengthens the rights of individuals and is a resounding affirmation of property rights and a crucial check on the power of federal government agencies. It serves as a beacon of hope for property owners, fostering a system in which private property is respected and protected from undue government interference. As chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party, I would like to sincerely thank our Attorney General Raul Labrador, and the 25 other state AGs for their leadership on this critical issue. This victory is yet another example of Idahoans leading the way. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Quality child care is essential. It is key to the healthy development of our youngest children. It is also a building block of our economy because parents cant work without it. Sadly, nearly half of Idaho families lack access to the care they need and challenges are especially severe in rural areas. As the Idaho Legislature continues to kick the can down the road, our child care crisis will only become worse. Most families rely on two income-earners to get by, which means finding child care. Before the pandemic, Idaho was short an estimated 20,000 child care spots according to the nonprofit organization, Idaho Voices for Children. Since then, over 200 child care businesses have permanently closed, resulting in an even greater shortage. This shortage impacts our workforce and economy. For working parents, it leads to missed work days and even being pushed out of the labor market. Employers experience higher turnover and an inability to fill open positions. In fact, Idaho loses an estimated $479 million each year in costs to business and lost tax revenue due to child care issues. Conversely, investments in our kids yield long-term dividends. Every $1 invested in quality preschool returns up to $16 to our economy by better preparing our children to become productive, self-sufficient adults. The biggest challenge families face is financial. Idaho parents pay hundreds of dollars each month for care, with the market rate for one infant costing upwards of $800 more than the cost of full-time, in-state tuition at Boise State University. The math simply isnt working for too many Idaho families, while Republican lawmakers vacillate between ignoring the problem and making it worse. Idaho is one of a handful of states that refuses to invest any state funding to make preschool and child care more accessible. In 2021, GOP representatives rejected a three-year $18 million federal grant that Idaho was awarded to support homegrown early learning solutions across the state. One Republican legislator declared he would oppose any bill that makes it easier or more convenient for mothers to come out of the home. This year, Republicans voted against distributing federal funds to child care businesses struggling to keep their doors open. Only after severe public outcry and protests by child care providers and parents, did they reverse course. But this funding stream will end soon, putting even more pressure on working families, child care providers, and businesses struggling to find workers. As an Idaho Democrat, I have been frustrated watching the Republican supermajority throw away promising opportunities for our kids. We understand that investments in our youngest children are the wisest investments we can make. And we will continue to advocate for their future. Theres nothing wrong with promoting emerging and lesser-known destinations across the Philippines to make it a tourism powerhouse in Asia. The sector needs all the help it can get to compete with rival tourism spots in the region, especially in Southeast Asia. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco was spot-on when she vowed to prioritize the marketing of unsung destinations in the country, akin to a successful tourism program in her home province Cebu, which aided local governments in developing lesser-known tourism sites. Frasco referred to Cebus experience, its Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program, which her mother, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, introduced in 2004. Ms. Frasco wants to replicate Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, or wandering in Cebu, throughout the Philippine archipelago. The travel industry credited the program for making destinations like Bantayan, Camotes and southern Cebu more popular to local and international tourists. But bringing in tourists to less-traveled destinations will remain a challenge. Potential visitors to these little-known places will never get to see them if the government does not provide infrastructure and logistics support to the tourism sector. The Philippines, for one, does not offer modern airports that could provide seamless travel to the preferred destinations of tourists. The Philippines is probably the only nation in the world that does not have a modern airport with railway links. For one foreign tourist, traveling from the airport to his local destination spot could be a nightmare. American and European airports complement theirs with metros, or subways. The rail connection offers foreign tourists in the Philippines an option to avoid chaotic road traffic conditions in getting to their next immediate destination. Getting out of the airport and motoring to lesser-known destinations as suggested by Ms. Frasco will not be a smooth ride for the travel-weary tourist. Besides, the countrys transport logistics are not run by professional organizations. How many times have we heard of foreign tourists being milked by cab drivers from the airport on their way to their dream tourism spot? Additional sanction Ride-hailing app Grab Philippines found itself in hot water again after the Philippine Competition Commission slapped it with another P9-million fine for failure to fully refund its customers more than three years after the PCC first ordered the reimbursement. The PCC first ordered Grab to refund P25.45-million to riders in 2019 and issued a second order in December of the same year. The agency then issued a third refund order in October 2020 for failure to deliver on the price monitoring commitment of the foreign-owned ride hailing service. The PCC in 2022 told Grab to immediately release the remaining P19.3 million in refund to passengers after finding the ride-hailing apps low disbursement of the refunds from previous fines. After reviewing the compliance reports for previous penalties, the PCC found that just 24.1 percent of the total refund has been claimed from Grab by eligible passengers as of June 15, 2021, or P6.15 million out of the total P25.45-million penalty required by the PCC to be returned to Grab users. The latest fine consists of P6 million for its alleged violation of the three separate orders issued by the PCC and P3 million for providing incorrect and misleading information in the compliance reports that the company submitted on the refund orders. The latest penalties are on top of the over P63 million in fines the PCC imposed on Grab for violation of orders from the anti-trust body following its acquisition of Uber way back in 2018. Grab did not take the latest penalties lightly. we are surprised at PCCs decision to fine usgiven that weve been proactively engaging with them for over a year with proposals for alternative mechanisms to disburse the remaining administrative fees, said Grab in a statement. The company added it would evaluate legal options over the additional P9-million fine. Grab should tread the industry carefully after virtually creating a monopoly in the Philippines and giving the Filipino riding public little option in the ride-hailing service. The domination of one industry sector invites regulatory scrutiny and carries a price. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno signed on Friday the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 Rehabilitation Project loan agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency, represented by Chief Representative in the Philippines Sakamoto Takema, at the Department of Finance office in Manila. The rehabilitation project was originally approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board on Aug. 22, 2018 with the aim of improving the safety and service of the MRT 3a 16.9-kilometer mass rail transit system with 13 stations along EDSA Corridor from North Ave. in Quezon City to Taft Ave. in Pasay City. The rehabilitation includes provisions for capacity including rolling stock, rail tracks, signaling system, power supply system, overhead catenary system, communications system and depot and station equipment. The 17.4-billion-yen or $130-million supplemental loan for the MRT 3 was approved by the NEDA board on Feb. 2, 2023 to finance the increase in the total project cost amounting to P29.6 billion, following the additional scope of work submitted by the Department of Transportation. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin in due course, holding out the prospect of resuming contact after a near-total breakdown in relations since the Ukraine war. My last telephone call was some time ago, Scholz told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper in an interview published Friday. But I plan to speak to Putin again in due course. The leaders last spoke by telephone in early December. During that hour-long call, Scholz urged Putin to withdraw Moscows troops from Ukraine, while the Russian leader accused the West of pursuing destructive policies. Since then, tensions have only escalated between Moscow and Berlin, particularly over the decision by Scholzs government in January to allow German-made heavy battle tanks to be sent to Ukraine. In the interview, Scholz insisted that his aim remained to actively support Ukraine, but at the same to prevent a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. And never to act alone, but in close coordination with our friends and allies, he said. Asked about the prospect of halting the conflict through negotiations, Scholz said that Putin had to understand that the war could not be ended by making some kind of cold peace. For instance, by turning the current front line into the new border between Russia and Ukraine, he said. Rather it is about a fair peace, and the prerequisite for that is the withdrawal of Russian troops, he added. Ties between Russia and Germany plunged into a deep freeze after Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine in February last year. The invasion, and Moscows move to slash gas supplies to Europe, hit Germany particularly hard as the country had come to rely on inexpensive Russian energy to power its economy. The conflict has prompted Germany to drop a traditionally pacifist stance, with Berlin sending a barrage of weaponry to help Kyiv in its fight against Moscow. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Philippines and Saudi Arabia are developing a joint special hiring program for skilled Filipino workers, the Department of Migrant Workers said Friday. DMW Secretary Susan Ople said the possibility of the joint special hiring program was raised due to Saudi Arabias push to develop its tourism sector. We discussed the possibility of the Philippines and Saudi Arabia having a joint special hiring program for skilled Filipino workers because they are expecting a huge demand, especially for their tourism sector. They are embarking on expansion plans, and they want to attract more tourists to Saudi Arabia, Ople said at a press conference. We said that perhaps if they give us the numbers and the profile ofworkers needed, then we will continue to discuss if there is a needfor the DMW to work closely with TESDA and other institutions and to put together a special hiring program just to meet the demands and requests of Saudi employers for skilled workers as well as the Saudi government, she added. Saudi Arabia plans to bring investments to the Philippines as well, Ople also said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) I also met with the Minister of Investment, and he echoed the same thing. He said he would also like to explore the possibility of bringing Saudi investments to the Philippines, facilitating Saudi investments in the Philippines, and looking at tourism opportunities parang exchanges for both countries, she said. Meanwhile, Ople disclosed that significant progress has been made on the long-standing issue of unpaid claims of OFWs in the Saudi kingdom. To those claimants waiting, it is clear and we really feel the commitment of the KSA, we have already achieved significant progress, Ople said. This is a firm commitment on the part of the Saudi government, by virtue of order coming from the Crown Prince (Mohammed bin Salman) himself, she added. Ople said authorization has already been given for funds to be processed, not only for Filipino claimants, but also for other nationalities including that of KSA. The funds to pay for the unpaid claims are now with the Ministry of Finance of the Saudi government, under the full authorization of the central government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, she said. Although the committee of the KSA government is still in the discussion stage for the implementation of claims processing, Ople noted that the country will have direct coordination for updates through the newly designated focal persons. They requested for a specific focal person from the Philippines side, and they appointed one focal person, before it was mostly by committees, now two individuals were designated as the focal person for each country, she said, referring to Migrant Undersecretary Bernard Olalia as the countrys focal person. Ople, meanwhile, said that details, such as the exact figure of claims as well as the mechanism for claiming, are still to be disclosed in the next coming weeks or months. As to the rollout, the Migrant Workers secretary did not give a specific timeline. However, she mentioned that the DMW has proposed a government-to-government payment mechanism for easier processing of OFW claims, especially considering the cases of deceased claimants. Moreover, Olalia said that claimants shall receive their full payment alongside end-of-service benefits for the entitled ones. The KSA government is said to conduct its validation and processing of claims through its employment database and other legal references. We have validated over 12,000 [claimants], and we included them in what we call green list that we have submitted before May 24. We have submitted the list of those claimants and their representative received it he said. Olalia likewise said e KSA shall still include those claimants only found in their employment database, even if their profiles are not found in the updated list of claimants submitted. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Reacting to lawmakers call for a total deployment ban to Kuwait, Mr. Marcos expressed opposition to the idea, saying he does not want to burn any bridges with the Arab nation. Well, will we impose a ban? Me, Im never very comfortable to impose a ban because when you do that, you are saying that it will forever be implemented. The President said it was improper to overreact to Kuwaits recent move to suspend the issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos. For now, the Philippines will respect Kuwaits decision, Mr. Marcos said. The President added that he preferred to settle the issue through diplomatic negotiations. Its their country. Those are their rules. So, we will just leave that issue open, he said while remaining bullish that Kuwait might reconsider accepting OFWs and lift its deployment ban in a little while. Hopefully we will continue to negotiate with them, we will continue to consult with them and we are hoping that down the road the situation will change and we will be able to send our workers there, especially those who were unable to go there, Mr. Marcos said. Kuwait imposed an entry ban and suspended the visa issuance to all Filipinos coming to the Gulf state in May, or 10 months after the Philippine government halted the deployment of first-time household service workers there. Kuwait did not formally disclose the reason behind its decision, but the local media reported that it stemmed from the Philippines alleged non-compliance with the 2018 labor agreement concerning the operation of a temporary shelter for distressed Filipinos inside the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. There are about 800 who were supposed to go to Kuwait but were unable to go because of the new ban, Mr. Marcos said. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Philippine government is studying the possible lifting of the deployment ban in Kuwait. Last February, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) banned the deployment of first-time domestic workers to Kuwait following the death of overseas Filipino worker Julleebee Ranara and other cases of maltreatment of OFWs. The DFA and the DMW said the Philippines will only lift the deployment ban if Kuwait can guarantee the protection of workers there, including allowing shelters run by the Philippine government for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In another interview, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Paul Raymund Cortes said Manila respects the Gulf states laws and regulations and that the DFA would reach out to Kuwait to convene another meeting over the issue. Kuwait is a sovereign country, they have their own laws, they have their own regulations, we respect them, and we also want to make sure that when were in another country, we abide by their lines and not cross it, he said. Regrettably, there were actions that were construed as violations, but we will continue working with the Kuwaitis on what we consider when it comes to taking care of the well-being of our Filipinos are within the bounds of their laws, he added. Cortes said Manila is grateful that Kuwait continues to welcome the over 200,000 Filipinos living and working there. We will continue that dialogue so hopefully in the future, magkaroon ng (there would be) better understanding on what constitutes as assisting our nationals within the bounds of their law, he said. Kuwait has suspended all new visas for Philippine nationals indefinitely, the interior ministry confirmed Friday, as the row between the oil-rich Gulf state and Manila over worker protections and employer rights escalated. This developed as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected imposing a total deployment ban of Filipino workers to the Middle Eastern state, saying the government will continue to negotiate with Kuwait to improve the current stalemate. The Kuwaiti interior ministry earlier said the Philippines had violated a bilateral labor agreement they signed in 2018 following a previous row over worker protections in the wake of deaths of several Filipino domestic workers. Listed violations include housing workers in shelters, searching for runaways without involving state institutions, communicating with Kuwaiti citizens without permission from authorities, and pressuring Kuwaiti employers to add clauses to employment contracts. Neither the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait nor Malacanan Palace had a comment as of press time. Earlier, Mr. Marcos told the media after gracing the 125th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy: Im never very comfortable with banning like that, because its like banning is saying that its forever, its not possible anymore. Sometimes, the ban is an overreaction. As long as were just banned, its not right, he added. The President said the administration will pursue negotiations with the Kuwaiti government, which suspended issuing work visas to Filipinos. The problem we have is that we are talking to the people of Kuwait, and they dont want to issue new visas. We dont get along because they say we are violating their rules, but we dont see anything, so thats the situation, he said. But you know, I dont want to burn any bridges We have to react to the situation as it is, and I think the proper reaction is to take the decision of the Kuwaiti government to no longer issue new visas, the President added. State-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday said the Ministry of Interior has reaffirmed the suspension of issuance of all visas to Philippine passport holders after Manila rejected Kuwaits request for it to recognize the alleged violations of the Philippine Embassy there. Citing the Kuwait Public Authority of Manpower, KUNA said one of Manilas violations was lodging Filipinos in shelters and camps run by the embassy. Following this development, the Kuwait Ministry of Interior said it will outsource the skills and expertise needed for its labor market through contracts with other countries. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. It was already raining cats and dogs outside that Wednesday afternoon after the ceremonial ribbon was finally cut and officials together with the huge number of guests then went inside the well-lighted showroom to start the long-delayed prepared program. It was a very successful twin-launch of two of Willy Tee-Tens Kia dealership Kia Marikina and Kia Otis Manila held at the busy corner of UN Avenue and Otis in Pandacan. It was under the umbrella of the Autohub Group and these two new Kia showrooms is now Kia Philippines 43rd and 44th dealership, respectively. To Willy Tee-Ten, president of Autohub Group, the return of Kia to his number of various car brands is very special as he reminded of his first Kia dealership in Jose Abad Santos Avenue, also in Manila. The popularity of the brand in the country today plus its thrust and focus towards electrification could be a big factor for Willy to choose and get not one but two dealerships for his burgeoning Autohub Group. Willy is one true-believer that the country would turn to electric vehicles in the near future. But he is not the only one who is seeing the electrification of the car industry sooner than expected. One other main man that night is Manny Aligada, the president of Kia Philippines, who said that they didnt wink an eye in giving Willy two Kia dealerships at the same time. Opening not just one but two new dealerships is indeed a milestone for us. Under the experienced management of the Autohub Group, we are confident that Kia Otis and Kia Marikina will bring even more joy to our treasured customers. We look forward to a meaningful and fruitful partnership with the Autohub Group in the years to come, Manny Aligada said during his speech. Later on, when we caught Manny Aligada at the sideline, he gave us a good view of what Kia Philippines is going to now that they had already a whopping 44 dealerships in the country. With the eye-catching Kia EV6 in one corner of the showroom that night (yes, Willy was able to borrow one in order to show it to his prospective guests and buyers), Aligada said that Kia Philippines is definitely going electric with the introduction of the very popular and award-winning Kia EV6 last February here in the country. He said that Kia Philippines and some of its dealerships four to be exact are now investing quite heavily in order to accommodate the Kia EV6 that will herald the entry of the brand towards electrification. Aside from the usual charging station to be set up, there needs to be a special platform for the servicing of Kia EV6 to be added aside from that standard equipment being seen in the regular Kia dealerships. What we are putting up is a new ecosystem solely for the entry of the Kia EV6 here in the country, according to Aligada. There are lots to be considered when a dealership chooses to become part of the said ecosystem. Yes, its a little bit pricey but Kia Philippines is putting up part of the expenses. Aligada said that the Kia Philippines is getting a big boost from its mother company the Ayala Group especially in the setting up of infrastructure for the very important charging stations. At this early, we have already 20 charging stations that were put up in various Ayala-owned venues where these Kia EV6s can go to. And the Ayala Groups vision of going zero-emission by 2030 is a big help too in enticing its own huge number of clients in going electric in the future. With this, Kia Philippines has already shown its readiness in embracing the march to the EVs. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HOMECOMING Mill Creek Baptist Church, 6200 Henry Road, Henry, will hold its 139th Homecoming Celebration at 10 a.m. June 4. The guest speaker will be Rev. Ron Brown, with special music by The Whites. PENTECOST Renewed Faith Covenant Ministries, 3404 Virginia Ave., Collinsville, will host a Pentecost Sunday Family and Friends Day service at 11 a.m. Sunday. The guest preacher will be Dr. Dorothy L. Greene, pastor of Willing Workers Miracle Tabernacle of Rocky Mount and Mother of the Southern District UHC. The hosts are Pastor Gaston and Lady Darcell Battle. ANNIVERSARY Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., 601 Third St., Martinsville, will celebrate the 19th Pastoral Anniversary of Reverend Dr. Eric F. Hairston Sr. at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 4. The Rev. Xavier V. Jackson, senior pastor of Chapman Grove Baptist Church of Charlottesville, will speaker. Masks will be required. AUTHOR Grace Presbyterian Church, 216 Fayette St., Martinsville, will host a book signing and discussion with former pastor Rev. Jimmie Hawkins for his new book, Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America from 3-5 p.m. Saturday. He will also speak for regular morning worship at 11 a.m. Sunday . BIBLE STUDY Traditional Christian Church, 2630 Virginia Ave., Collinsville has begun holding a weekly non-denominational Bible study each Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their Bibles. Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church, 120 Old Bassett Heights Road, Bassett, hosts Community Bible Study, a gathering of Christians of various denominations for Bible study, every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon in the fellowship hall. MUSIC Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church holds Pickers and Fiddlers on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Breakfast-type refreshments are served, and both the program and refreshments are free. Come to listen or bring your harmonica or stringed instrument and join in. CLOTHES Christ Church Community Clothes Closet is open on the fourth Saturday of each month. MEALS Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, corner of John Redd Boulevard and Daniels Creek Road, Collinsville, serves take-out community meals each month every other Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. Call 647-8150 before 3:30 on Wednesday to reserve meals. The next meal will be May 31. Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church, 120 Old Bassett Heights Road, Bassett, holds its monthly community meals at 6 p.m. each third Thursday of the month, in the fellowship hall. Starling Avenue Baptist Church, 932 Starling Ave., Martinsville, serves meals in the fellowship hall the last Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. The next meal is May 30. Christ Episcopal Church, 311 E. Church St., Martinsville, will serve a free community meal the last Wednesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. in the Undercroft with a sit-down community meal (and takeout will be available only at the end of the meal if there are any leftovers). There are limited parking spaces behind the church for people with mobility issues. Masks are required for unvaccinated adults. Hand sanitizer is available for use. Publication of church events is free in the Bulletin. Announcements received by the newspaper by 3 p.m. Wednesday will qualify for publication the following Friday. Pictures are welcomed. Send information to accent@martinsville bulletin.com or Martinsville Bulletin, P.O. Box 3711, Martinsville, Va., 24115.